U. Younis; M. Athar; S.A. Malik; M.H. Raza Shah; S. Mahmood
Abstract
Disastrous effect of nickel on spinach was discussed by number of authors but the effect of amendments like biochar with nickel on Spinacea oleraceaL. is not still discussed by any author of the world because biochar was used as soil amendments which play a vital role in reducing mobilization and uptake ...
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Disastrous effect of nickel on spinach was discussed by number of authors but the effect of amendments like biochar with nickel on Spinacea oleraceaL. is not still discussed by any author of the world because biochar was used as soil amendments which play a vital role in reducing mobilization and uptake of nickel by spinach plants. As nickel contaminated plants are very harmful for the consumption by living organisms. Nickel can be gathered in agronomic soils by anthropogenic actions such as Ni-Cd batteries. In this study, the growth, physiological, photosynthetic and biochemical responses of Spinacia oleracea grown in Ni-spiked soil (0, 25, 50 and 100 mg Ni/Kg soil) at three levels of cotton-sticks-derived biochar “CSB” (0, 3 and 5 %) were evaluated. The results exposed significant decrease in growth, photosynthetic, physiological, and biochemical traits of S. oleracea when grown in Ni-polluted soil. However, this decrease was less pronounced in CSB amended soil. A steady rise in the MDA (0.66 µg/g to 2.08 µg/g), ascorbic acid (1.24 mg/g to 1.57 mg/g)and sugar concentrations (1.73 mg/g to 2.16 mg/g)was observed with increased concentration of Ni. The increasing percentages of CSB from 3 % to 5 % decreased Ni concentrations in root and shoot of experimental plant. Higher production of chlorophyll, amino acids and protein with CSB amendment looked like alleviation in Ni toxicity. Therefore, it is concluded that, Ni toxicity and availability to the plants can be reduced by CSB amendments.
U. Younis; T.Z. Bokhari; S.A. Malik; M.H. Raza Shah; M. Athar; S. Niaz
Abstract
Dust accumulation capacity of Ficus carica L. and Psidium guajava L. was investigated from eight different sites of Multan, Pakistan. Leaves of both plants were used for analyzing biometric (leaf area, fresh and dry weights) and biochemical attributes (chlorophyll contents, carotenoids and ascorbic ...
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Dust accumulation capacity of Ficus carica L. and Psidium guajava L. was investigated from eight different sites of Multan, Pakistan. Leaves of both plants were used for analyzing biometric (leaf area, fresh and dry weights) and biochemical attributes (chlorophyll contents, carotenoids and ascorbic acid). Maximum dust accumulation was occurred in the plants growing near road sites, while, minimum dust accumulation occurred in the plants of Bahauddin Zakariya University. Most of the biometric and biochemical attributes of F. carica showed significant response towards dust but it had not significant influence on some attributes of P. guajava. Biochemical traits of P. guajava appeared to be more prone than foliage ones. A positive correlation was foundbetween dust accumulation and foliage attributes in F. carica. On the other hand,in P. guajava opposite was observed, however, the reverse was true for leaf biomass.Biochemical contents had shown an inconsistency as chlorophylls (a, b & total), carotenoid contents declined but ascorbic acid increased with an increase in dust accumulation in both species.