Science Letters最新文献

World Bank-Assisted Community-Based Development Project for High-Value Crop Production: Failures and Successes 世界银行援助的高价值作物生产社区发展项目：失败与成功

Science Letters Pub Date : 2024-05-15 DOI: 10.47262/sl/12.2.132024260

Dr. Muhammad Asif, Muhammad Asif, Zahoor Aslam, Muhammad Irfan

{"title":"World Bank-Assisted Community-Based Development Project for High-Value Crop Production: Failures and Successes","authors":"Dr. Muhammad Asif, Muhammad Asif, Zahoor Aslam, Muhammad Irfan","doi":"10.47262/sl/12.2.132024260","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.47262/sl/12.2.132024260","url":null,"abstract":"The government of Punjab has recently implemented a World-Bank-assisted community-based development project for the enhancement of farm productivity in water deficit areas of the Punjab province for 11 years. This paper describes a case study from the Faisalabad division, wherein drip irrigation in conjunction with tunnel technology has improved crop and water productivity of fruits, vegetables and cash crops, optimizing farm incomes. Not only crop yields were optimized, but also there were savings on water (30-45%) and other inputs, reduced incidence of pests and diseases (15-20%), early spring production by 35 days and higher quality of produce, which substantially increased farm incomes (19-41%) along with some environmental benefits. A conservative estimate showed a reduction in unemployment by 5% in project areas. Despite these impressive achievements, a post-project survey showed that 93% of beneficiary farmers abandoned drip irrigation systems, soon after project closure. It emphasized that in the Thal area, only a 4% system rolled back, suggesting the better suitability of the high-efficiency irrigation system for water conservation and productivity enhancement in sandy areas. Post-project farmer-participatory rural appraisal (PRA) shows that drip irrigation was rolled back due to multiple constraints. For example, unsuitable/inefficient design, clogging of drippers/drip lines, non-availability of spare parts, poor response of troubleshooters and top-down approach of the project, prompting better planning and implementation, in the future, for similar projects.","PeriodicalId":513088,"journal":{"name":"Science Letters","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140972303","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Strategies for Combatting Brucellosis: A Review on Control and Prevention in Bovines 防治布鲁氏菌病的策略：牛布鲁氏菌病防治综述

Science Letters Pub Date : 2024-04-19 DOI: 10.47262/sl/12.1.132024240

{"title":"Strategies for Combatting Brucellosis: A Review on Control and Prevention in Bovines","authors":"","doi":"10.47262/sl/12.1.132024240","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.47262/sl/12.1.132024240","url":null,"abstract":"Brucellosis, a widespread zoonotic disease, causes substantial economic losses in the livestock industry. The World Health Organization (WHO) and Office International des Epizooties recommend strategies for control, but only three countries achieved freedom from animal brucellosis after decades-long programs. Notably, the absence of a human vaccine underscores the critical interconnection between human and bovine brucellosis. The WHO recognizes the urgency of developing a human vaccine and implementing robust control programs to address this public health threat. Developing countries face challenges in implementing these strategies due to limited resources, making the control of brucellosis a complex and resource-intensive project. This study reviews brucellosis control or eradication programs worldwide, emphasizing the need for effective strategies in developing countries. Despite the resource-intensive nature of control efforts, well-designed programs have proven economically effective. Delving into the intricate landscape of this disease, the article examines a spectrum of measures including vaccination, testing, surveillance, biosecurity and public awareness campaigns. The analysis covers the importance of the One-Health approach and recognizes the interconnectedness of bovine and human health in the context of this zoonotic disease. The synthesis of current knowledge not only highlights the diverse strategy options available but also emphasizes the ongoing challenges that require continuous adaptation. This review provides a valuable source for researchers, policymakers and practitioners engaged in the global effort to mitigate the impact of brucellosis on both animal welfare and public health.","PeriodicalId":513088,"journal":{"name":"Science Letters","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140683387","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Effects of Water Stress and NPK Levels on Growth and Yield Attributes of Greenhouse-Grown Cucumbers 水分胁迫和氮磷钾水平对温室黄瓜生长和产量属性的影响

Science Letters Pub Date : 2024-04-06 DOI: 10.47262/sl/12.1.132024220

Muhammad Asif

{"title":"Effects of Water Stress and NPK Levels on Growth and Yield Attributes of Greenhouse-Grown Cucumbers","authors":"Muhammad Asif","doi":"10.47262/sl/12.1.132024220","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.47262/sl/12.1.132024220","url":null,"abstract":"Judicious use of water and nutrients is a key factor for successful off-season vegetable production in greenhouses. This experiment was conducted under plastic tunnels to evaluate the effect of water stress and NPK levels on the growth and yield attributes of greenhouse-grown cucumbers. Effect of three irrigation levels viz., 100%, 80% and 60% of actual crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and three drip fertigation levels, viz., 100%, 80% and 60% of the recommended dose of NPK (RDF) with control (furrow irrigation with 100% RDF) were studied in a randomized complete block design experiment. The study indicated better plant growth, a greater number of fruits per plant and enhancement in the yield under drip irrigation. Among the various treatments, T5 (W80%ETc.F80% RDF) resulted in the highest mean fresh fruit yield (66.7 ton/ha) while the full irrigation treatments T1 (W100%ETc.F100% RDF) and T2 (W100%ETc.F80%RDF) recorded the lowest mean fresh fruit yield of 12.9 t/ha and 13.9 t/ha, respectively, as against 9.6 t/ha for the control plot. Conversely, the fully stressed T7, T8 and T9 treatments reduced the irrigation requirement by 29%, 26% and 21% but the mean cucumber yield was significantly decreased by 40%, 70% and 59%, respectively. These results suggested that drip irrigation has a great scope for the production of off-season vegetables. A water deficit level of 80% ETc with 80% RDF is the most appropriate treatment and optimal level to obtain better yield, quality and profitability of greenhouse-grown cucumbers under scarce water resources.","PeriodicalId":513088,"journal":{"name":"Science Letters","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140735409","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Biodiversity and Challenges of Honey Bee Population in Pakistan 巴基斯坦蜜蜂种群的生物多样性与挑战

Science Letters Pub Date : 2024-03-25 DOI: 10.47262/sl/12.1.132023950

Mahroo Munir, Anum Rafia Munir, Tahreem Khalid, Anum Rafia, Munir, AR Munir

{"title":"Biodiversity and Challenges of Honey Bee Population in Pakistan","authors":"Mahroo Munir, Anum Rafia Munir, Tahreem Khalid, Anum Rafia, Munir, AR Munir","doi":"10.47262/sl/12.1.132023950","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.47262/sl/12.1.132023950","url":null,"abstract":"Honey bees are important pollinators that support food security and nature’s biodiversity. They are also a source of various honey bee-derived products (api-products) used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. However, various biological, chemical and physical factors threaten the population and biodiversity of feral and managed honey bees. These challenges have not been elaborated upon in the Pakistani context; therefore, this review aims to identify and describe the menaces to feral and domesticated populations of honey bees in Pakistan. Four honey bee species are reported in the country, with the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) currently being the main domesticated species. Climate change and urbanization are altering the habitats of honey bees. Additionally, agrochemicals are extensively used to manage emerging pests, exacerbating environmental pollution. The air quality in the majority of urban areas is toxic for honey bees. Although remote forest areas can provide habitat and food for these insects, low forest cover and non-sustainable silviculture are still significant hurdles. Microplastics and antimicrobials are impacting the fitness of honey bees and also appear in their products, making it a One-Health issue. Electromagnetic signals also influence honey bee health and behavior. Overall, all these factors influence honey bee health and colony fitness, ultimately causing population declines in both managed and wild honey bees. The purpose of this information is to assist decision-makers, researchers, beekeepers and educators in comprehending the obstacles faced by the honey bee population within the context of Pakistan.","PeriodicalId":513088,"journal":{"name":"Science Letters","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140384989","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Comparative Study of Crop and Water Productivity Under Drip and Furrow Irrigation Systems for Plastic Tunnel-Grown Off-Season Vegetables 塑料大棚反季节蔬菜滴灌和沟灌系统下作物产量和水分产量比较研究

Science Letters Pub Date : 2024-03-25 DOI: 10.47262/sl/12.1.132024230

Muhammad Asif, Muhammad Asim Rafique, Muhammad Shoaib, Muhammad Sadiq Munir, Arfan Anjum, Ali

{"title":"Comparative Study of Crop and Water Productivity Under Drip and Furrow Irrigation Systems for Plastic Tunnel-Grown Off-Season Vegetables","authors":"Muhammad Asif, Muhammad Asim Rafique, Muhammad Shoaib, Muhammad Sadiq Munir, Arfan Anjum, Ali","doi":"10.47262/sl/12.1.132024230","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.47262/sl/12.1.132024230","url":null,"abstract":"This study evaluates crop and water productivity of drip and furrow irrigation systems for off-season vegetables under plastic tunnels on farmer’s fields. Drip and furrow irrigation systems were tested on capsicum, cucumber and hot papers in this study. A permanent tunnel of 60 × 3 × 2 m was erected. Each crop was planted on 0.8 × 0.4 m raised beds under drip and furrow irrigation systems. Water productivity was calculated as the ratio of total yield to total water consumed by the crop. Data collected for three off-season vegetables revealed that each crop consumed less water under drip irrigation as compared to the furrow irrigation system. Among crops, hot peppers consumed the least amount of water irrespective of irrigation systems in comparison to furrow irrigation system. In addition, the percent use of all inputs under drip irrigation was reduced: water by 30%-45%, fertilizers by 22%-30% and pesticides by 15%-20% (because of reduced temperature and humidity) for different crops. In comparison to furrow irrigation, yield under drip irrigation was increased by 20%-30% and net farm income by 19%-41% for different crops. Average water productivity (kg/m3) was increased by 141% for capsicum, 165% for cucumber and 109% for hot papers under drip irrigation system compared to the furrow irrigation system. In conclusion, drip irrigation technology is effective in improving crop growth and water productivity, and reducing water scarcity while considerably reducing fertilizer and pesticide use. These results advocate for drip irrigation as an ideal technology to address the issue of freshwater resource scarcity in Pakistan.","PeriodicalId":513088,"journal":{"name":"Science Letters","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140381911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Supplementing Broiler Chicken Diet with Uvaria chamae Leaf Meal: Effects on Immune Response, Gut Microbial Population and Growth Performance 在肉鸡日粮中添加 Uvaria chamae 叶粉：对免疫反应、肠道微生物种群和生长性能的影响

Science Letters Pub Date : 2024-02-26 DOI: 10.47262/sl/12.1.132024210

{"title":"Supplementing Broiler Chicken Diet with Uvaria chamae Leaf Meal: Effects on Immune Response, Gut Microbial Population and Growth Performance","authors":"","doi":"10.47262/sl/12.1.132024210","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.47262/sl/12.1.132024210","url":null,"abstract":"The purpose of this experiment was to determine how supplementing Uvaria chamae leaf meal (UCLM) affects growth performance and a few hematological markers of broiler chicken. For a 56-day study, 500 one-day-old (Ross 307) broiler chicks were randomly assigned to five treatments, each consisting of 100 birds. Standard feed was formulated according to the nutritional standards for broilers. Treatment 1 (T1) was fed a standard diet with 0.25 g/kg oxytetracycline while T2, T3, T4, and T5 were provided a standard diet supplemented with UCLM at 5g, 10g, 15g, and 20g, respectively. The treatments had a significant impact on body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and mortality. In contrast, the mortality rate and Escherichia coli counts were higher in T1 and T2 compared to other groups, whereas body weight gain was higher in T2, T3, T4, and T5 compared to T1. Regarding crude fiber digestibility and average daily feed intake, there was no statistically significant difference. The dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, ash digestibility, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, red blood cell, lymphocytes, monocytes, immunoglobulin A, Y, and M and Lactobacillus sp. counts of the birds supplemented with UCLM at 2 g/kg (T2), 4 g/kg (T3), 6 g/kg (T4), and 8 g/kg (T5) were similar but significantly greater than those of T1 (0.25 g/kg oxytetracycline). It was determined that broilers' diets can include up to 20 g/kg of UCLM supplementation without harming the birds' health.","PeriodicalId":513088,"journal":{"name":"Science Letters","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140430896","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Prediction of Organic Pollution of Waters from the Déganobo Lake System: A Modeling Study 德加诺博湖水系有机污染预测：模型研究

Science Letters Pub Date : 2024-02-12 DOI: 10.47262/sl/12.1.132024960

{"title":"Prediction of Organic Pollution of Waters from the Déganobo Lake System: A Modeling Study","authors":"","doi":"10.47262/sl/12.1.132024960","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.47262/sl/12.1.132024960","url":null,"abstract":"This work aimed to study the modeling of the organic pollution of the waters of the Déganobo Lake system by three models: Multiple Linear Regression model (MLR model), Mutilayer Perceptron model (MLP model) and Multiple Linear Regression/ Mutilayer Perceptron hybrid model (MLR/MLP hybrid model). In its implementation, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of these waters, obtained from August 2021 to July 2022, was used. Two approaches were done in the case of the modeling of their COD by the MLP model and the MLR/MLP hybrid model: static modeling and dynamic modeling. The results have highlighted the low predictions of the COD of these waters by the MLR model (36.2 %) and the MLP models (6-8-1 for the static modeling and 7-3-1 for the dynamic modeling, both predicting less than 35% of the experimental values with high error (RMSE upper than 1.30 and relative error upper than 0.750). However, the MLR/MLP hybrid models (MLR/6-3-1 for the static modeling and MLR/7-3-1 for the dynamic modeling) both well predicted the COD of these waters, around 99% with very low errors (RMSE less than 0.0001 and relative error less than 0.006 in both cases). So, the MLR/MLP hybrid model was the most efficient to predict the COD of these waters. The accuracy of this hybrid model for ecological modeling was again provided during this study.","PeriodicalId":513088,"journal":{"name":"Science Letters","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139841870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Prediction of Organic Pollution of Waters from the Déganobo Lake System: A Modeling Study 德加诺博湖水系有机污染预测：模型研究

Science Letters Pub Date : 2024-02-12 DOI: 10.47262/sl/12.1.132024960

{"title":"Prediction of Organic Pollution of Waters from the Déganobo Lake System: A Modeling Study","authors":"","doi":"10.47262/sl/12.1.132024960","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.47262/sl/12.1.132024960","url":null,"abstract":"This work aimed to study the modeling of the organic pollution of the waters of the Déganobo Lake system by three models: Multiple Linear Regression model (MLR model), Mutilayer Perceptron model (MLP model) and Multiple Linear Regression/ Mutilayer Perceptron hybrid model (MLR/MLP hybrid model). In its implementation, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of these waters, obtained from August 2021 to July 2022, was used. Two approaches were done in the case of the modeling of their COD by the MLP model and the MLR/MLP hybrid model: static modeling and dynamic modeling. The results have highlighted the low predictions of the COD of these waters by the MLR model (36.2 %) and the MLP models (6-8-1 for the static modeling and 7-3-1 for the dynamic modeling, both predicting less than 35% of the experimental values with high error (RMSE upper than 1.30 and relative error upper than 0.750). However, the MLR/MLP hybrid models (MLR/6-3-1 for the static modeling and MLR/7-3-1 for the dynamic modeling) both well predicted the COD of these waters, around 99% with very low errors (RMSE less than 0.0001 and relative error less than 0.006 in both cases). So, the MLR/MLP hybrid model was the most efficient to predict the COD of these waters. The accuracy of this hybrid model for ecological modeling was again provided during this study.","PeriodicalId":513088,"journal":{"name":"Science Letters","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139782030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0