ORCID Profile
0000-0001-8811-1247
Current Organisation
COMSATS University Islamabad vehari campus
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Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 30-09-2020
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 25-11-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.ECOENV.2017.11.054
Abstract: Lead (Pb) contamination is ubiquitous and usually causes toxicity to plants. Nevertheless, application of compost and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria synergistically may ameliorate the Pb toxicity in radish. The present study assessed the effects of compost and Bacillus sp. CIK-512 on growth, physiology, antioxidants and uptake of Pb in contaminated soil and explored the possible mechanism for Pb phytotoxicity amelioration. Treatments comprised of un-inoculated control, compost, CIK-512, and compost + CIK-512 plants were grown in soil contaminated with Pb (500mgkg
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-01-2019
DOI: 10.1007/S11356-018-04068-Z
Abstract: Reutilization of putrescible municipal solid wastes (MSW) in agriculture can provide valuable plant nutrients. However, it may pose serious noncarcinogenic health risks for a human when contaminants, especially the heavy metals in MSW, end up in plants through the waste-soil-plant continuum. This study examined the effects of composting methods viz. aerobically (AC), anaerobically (ANC), and aerobic-anaerobically (AANC) composted MSW material on (i) fertilizer value: vegetable yield, nitrogen (N) mineralization, and apparent N recovery (ANR) and (ii) associated health risks: selected heavy metal concentration, daily intake of metals (DIM), health risk index (HRI), hazard index (HI), and target hazard quotient (THQ) when applied to a loamy soil. All the aforementioned compost materials were incorporated into the sandy loam soil filled in pots and carrot and spinach were cultivated for 85 and 90 days, respectively. After soil application, between 51 and 56% of the applied organic N was mineralized from ANC material, while the values in case of AC and AANC were 26-31% and 34-40%, respectively. Consequently, dry matter yield and vegetable N uptake from composts were in the order ANC > AANC > AC (P < 0.05). Further, vegetable ANR was the highest from ANC (56 and 56%) than AANC (42 and 45%), and AC (30 and 33%) for spinach and carrot, respectively (P < 0.05). Interestingly, plant uptake of lead and cadmium was lowest from ANC as compared to AC or AANC (P < 0.05), irrespective of the vegetable type. Consequently, DIM, HRI, and THQ for these metals were substantially lower in the former as compared to the latter compost materials. Further, HI from ANC material was 50% lower over the unfertilized control indicating the absence of noncarcinogenic human health risks via vegetable intake. This all indicates that from viewpoint of sustainable waste recycling in agriculture, anaerobic composting is superior to the other composting methods.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 08-02-2021
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 18-03-2021
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-10-2017
Publisher: PAGEPress Publications
Date: 28-11-2019
Abstract: Salinity is a devastating problem of arid and semi-arid climatic regions with uneven salt accumulation which hinders growth and development of crops. The deleterious effects of salinity mainly depend on level and source of salinity. We hypothesized that types of sodium salt (NaCl and Na2SO4) might cause variable toxicity in maize (Zea mays L.) plants. The objective of the present study was to compare the effect of different types of sodium salt (NaCl and Na2SO4), each at EC 5 and 10 dS m–1 on growth, physiology and nutrient contents of maize plant grown in earthen pots under wire house conditions. Results revealed toxic effects of salt stress on seed germination, root and shoot growth and biomass. Maize physiology in terms of sub-stomatal CO2 index, chlorophyll and relative water contents, photosynthetic and transpiration rate also reduced under salt stress. Among the types of salt and levels of salinity, NaCl applied at the rate of 10 dS m–1 caused the highest reduction in seed germination, growth and physiology due to high accumulation of Na and Cl ions whereas low in K ion in maize plant tissues. Based on the findings, we do conclude that NaCl applied at the rate of 10 dS m–1 has more negative impact on maize growth and nutrient acquisition than Na2SO4 at same level of salinity.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 23-11-2016
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.CHEMOSPHERE.2019.04.022
Abstract: Recycling of industrial wastewater meeting quality standards for agricultural and industrial demands is a viable option. In this study, paper and pulp industrial wastewater were treated with three biological treatments viz. aerobic, anaerobic and sequential (i.e. 20 days of anaerobic followed by 20 days of aerobic cycle), associated with simulation modeling by Mamdani Fuzzy Logic (MFL) model of some selected parameters. Electric air diffuser and minimal salt medium in sealed plastic bottles at control temperature were used for aerobic and anaerobic treatments, respectively. The significant reduction in chemical (COD: 81%) and biological oxygen demand (BOD: 71%), total suspended (TSS: 65%), dissolved solids (TDS: 60%) and turbidity (68%) was recorded during sequential treatment. The treated water was irrigated to determine its phytotoxic effects on seed germination, vigor and seedling growth of mustard (Brassica c estris). Sequential treatment greatly reduced phytotoxicity of wastewater and showed the highest germination percentage (90%) compared to aerobic (60%), anaerobic (70%) treatments and untreated wastewater (30%). Regression analysis also endorsed these findings (R
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 10-05-2021
Publisher: Pakistan Journal of Botany
Date: 30-07-2018
Publisher: Springer Singapore
Date: 2019
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 04-11-2022
DOI: 10.3390/SU142114523
Abstract: Arsenic (As), the silent poison, is a widespread environmental pollutant which finds its way into drinking water supplies from natural or man-made sources and affects over 200 million people worldwide, including in Pakistan. It has been demonstrated that As causes serious health complications as well as social and economic losses. A quick, cost-effective, and simple method for efficiently filtering As from drinking water is urgently needed. The present study evaluates the ability of chemical treatment solutions to activate the sorption capacity of biochar derived from cotton stalks. The surface characteristics of CSB (cotton stalk biochar), HN-CSB (treated with nitric acid: HNO3), and Na-CSB (treated with sodium hydroxide: NaOH) were investigated for their As sorption capacities and efficiency in removing As from contaminated drinking water. The chemical modification of biochar significantly increased the surface area and pore volume of CSB, with a maximum observed in HN-CSB (three times higher than CSB). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed several functional groups (OH−, −COOH, C=O, N-H) on CSB, though the chemical modification of biochar creates new functional groups on its surface. Results showed that the maximum sorption capacity of CSB was (q = 90 µg g−1), of Na-CSB was (q = 124 µg g−1) and of HN-CSB was (q = 140 µg g−1) at an initial As concentration of 200 µg L−1, an adsorbent dose of 1 g L−1, with 4 h of contact time, a pH of 6 and a temperature of 25 ʰC. However, As removal was found to be 45–88% for CSB, 62–94% for Na-CSB and 67–95% for HN-CSB across all As concentrations. An isotherm model showed that As sorption results were best fitted to the Langmuir isotherm model in the case of CSB (Qmax = 103 µg g−1, R2 = 0.993), Na-CSB (Qmax = 151 µg g−1, R2 = 0.991), and HN-CSB (Qmax = 157 µg g−1, R2 = 0.949). The development of the largest surface area, a porous structure, and new functional groups on the surface of HN-CSB proved to be an effective treatment for As removal from contaminated drinking water. Both HN-CSB and Na-CSB are clearly cost-effective adsorbents under laboratory conditions, but HN-CSB is cheaper and more efficient in As removal than Na-CSB, allowing it to be used as a powerful and promising adsorbent for the removal of pollutants like Arsenic from aqueous solution.
Publisher: Pakistan Journal of Botany
Date: 16-01-2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.CHEMOSPHERE.2017.09.136
Abstract: A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential of two plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) viz. Bacillus sp. CIK-516 and Stenotrophomonas sp. CIK-517Y for improving the growth and Ni uptake of radish (Raphanus sativus) in the presence of four different levels of Ni contamination (0, 50, 100, 150 mg Ni kg
Publisher: Pakistan Journal of Botany
Date: 30-01-2020
No related grants have been discovered for Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad.