ORCID Profile
0000-0002-6704-3887
Current Organisations
Government College University
,
University of Western Australia
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Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-07-2023
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 20-02-2023
Abstract: Crop cultivation in heavy metal (HM)-polluted soils is a routine practice in developing countries that causes multiple human health consequences. Hence, two independent studies have been performed to investigate the efficiency of rice husk biochar (BC) and three fungal species, Trichoderma harzianum (F1), Trichoderma asperellum (F2) and Trichoderma viride (F3), to improve the growth and physiology of Zea mays L. plants grown on soil contaminated with Cu and Ni. Initially, a biosorption trial was conducted to test the HM removal efficiency of species F1, F2 and F3. Among them, F2 sp. showed the maximum Cu and Ni removal efficiency. Then, a pot study was conducted with two cultivars (spring corn and footer corn) having eleven treatments with three replicates. The results demonstrated a significant genotypic variation among both cultivars under applied HM stress. The maximum decreases in leaf Chl a. (53%), Chl b. (84%) and protein (63%) were reported in footer corn with applied Cu stress. The combined application of biochar and F2 increased leaf CAT (96%) in spring corn relative to Cu stress. Altogether, it was found that BC + F2 treatment showed the maximum efficiency in combatting Cu and Ni stress in spring corn.
Publisher: Elsevier
Date: 2022
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.PLAPHY.2017.05.003
Abstract: Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a traditional Andean agronomical resilient seed crop having immense significance in terms of high nutritional qualities and its tolerance against various abiotic stresses. However, finite work has been executed to evaluate the growth, physiological, chemical, biochemical, antioxidant properties, and mineral nutrients bioavailability of quinoa under abiotic stresses. Depending on the consistency in the stability of pH, intended rate of S was selected from four rates (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5% S) for the acidification of biochar and compost in the presence of Thiobacillus thiooxidans by pH value of 4. All three soils were amended with 1% (w/w) acidified biochar (BC
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 22-12-2020
DOI: 10.3390/AGRICULTURE11010001
Abstract: Cadmium (Cd), a potent heavy metal, causes a significant reduction in plant growth and its yield by interfering with the plant’s mineral nutrition and, primarily, by inducing Cd-induced oxidative damage. Cd mobilization at the soil–root interface is also very important in context of its bioavailability to plants. Therefore, an experiment was carried out to evaluate the mitigating role of iron-enriched biochar (Fe-BC) on Cd accumulation in soil and Cd toxicity in radish plants. Radish seeds were sown in pots, and two levels of Cd (0 and 0.75 mg kg−1) and two levels of Fe-BC (0 and 0.5%) were applied. Cd stress significantly reduced radish fresh and dry biomass production, which was due to high production of malondialdehyde (36%) and increase in cell membrane permeability (twofold) relative to control. Moreover, Cd stress considerably reduced chlorophyll concentrations and uptake of some essential nutrients, such as Ca, K, and Fe. Contrarily, Fe-BC application ameliorated Cd toxicity by triggering the activation of antioxidant enzymes (catalase and ascorbate peroxidase), primary and secondary metabolite accumulation (protein and phenolics concentrations), and by improving plant mineral nutrition under Cd treatment, compared with Cd treatment only. The ability of biosorbent material (Fe-BC) to adsorb the Cd ion on its surface and its immobilization from Cd-polluted soil to plant root was determined by using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. Interestingly, Cd concentration was found in soil as diethylenetriamine (DTPA)-extractable soil Cd on radish root, but not reported in radish shoot with Cd+Fe-BC treatment, compared to Cd treatment suggesting that Fe-BC treatment has a potential to provide extra strength to the root and shoot, and plays an important role in regulation ionic and redox homeostasis under Cd stress.
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 24-02-2022
DOI: 10.1071/CP21342
Abstract: Context Soil salinity mitigation with nanoparticles enriched biochar (Bc) can be a better strategy to resolve the uprising threat against food security. Aim The present study was designed to prepare silicon nanoparticles enriched biochar (Si-En-Bc) and zinc nanoparticles enriched biochar (Zn-En-Bc), which may not only reduced the toxic effects of NaCl stress on initial growth of radish crop but also improved its physiology and defensive mechanism. Method Seeds were germinated in pots with six treatments under normal and NaCl stress, (100 mM NaCl), Zn-En-Bc (1% w/w), and Si-En-Bc (1% w/w). Twenty days old seedlings were harvested and their fresh weight and various germination and biochemical parameters were tested. Key results A significant reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents was observed with Si-En-Bc + NaCl relative to NaCl stress. It might be due to the significant increase in the antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) (42%), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) (38.7%), catalase (CAT) (30.9%) and shoot phenolics (59%) with Si-En-Bc + NaCl over NaCl stress. Application of Zn-En-Bc also caused a maximum increase in root and shoot Zn concentration (76.8 and 54.9%, respectively) under NaCl stress. Conclusions Hence, Si-En-Bc proved to be the best treatment for the radish plant to complete its early growth stage under NaCl stress while Zn-En-Bc not only compensated NaCl stress but also enhanced Zn availability. Implications This study implies that Si-En-Bc or Zn-En-Bc should be applied to the salt affected soil before the crop sowing so seedling can grow under the ameliorative effects of applied amendments. Also, Si-En-Bc or Zn-En-Bc should be tested on a degraded soils at larage scale such as field level.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 13-08-2021
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-07-2019
DOI: 10.1007/S11356-019-05880-X
Abstract: Climatic changes pose serious risks to the rural community's livelihoods of many developing countries whereas people in mountainous regions are exposed to multiple hazards with limited livelihood resources and heavy dependence on natural resources. The objective of the current study is to assess the livelihood practices and adaptive capacity of a mountainous region of Pakistan, the Balakot, where people are highly vulnerable to climatic changes. The study uses a triangulation method to explore various issues and options of climate change risks sand adaptation and impact of well-being on resilience capacity and livelihood strategies. For this purpose, ten focus group discussions (FGDs) with carefully selected key informants and structured interviews with randomly selected 200 local households are conducted to evaluate different hazards and their associated livelihood effects. It is observed that the changing climate has significantly influenced livelihoods of the local community in the recent past through resource degradation, gradual unavailability of sufficient basic services (quantity and quality of drinking water, crop food ersity, fuel wood, and non-timber forest products), low agricultural productivity, and social inequity viz. income distribution, health, education, and food storage. Such a brunt is felt disproportionately more by poor households due to their low adaptive capacity to climate change with constrained livelihood resources. The study emphasizes the need for targeted efforts to move from coping strategies to adaptations among people considering their social inequalities. Timely information sharing, livelihood ersification and preservation of livelihood resources such as crop and forest production, livestock grazing, creating awareness on the pace, and pattern of climate change in the region and subsequent role of adaptation options are major interventions that should be emphasized by the public bodies.
Publisher: CRC Press
Date: 11-05-2023
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 14-06-2016
DOI: 10.1007/S11356-016-7038-X
Abstract: Rice ( Oryza sativa L.) is one of the main staple food crops which is inherently low in micronutrients, especially iron (Fe), and can lead to severe Fe deficiency in populations having higher consumption of rice. Soils polluted with nickel (Ni) can cause toxicity to rice and decreased Fe uptake by rice plants. We investigated the potential role of biochar (BC) and gravel sludge (GS), alone and in combination, for in situ immobilization of Ni in an industrially Ni-contaminated soil at original and sulfur-amended altered soil pH. Our further aim was to increase Fe bioavailability to rice plants by the exogenous application of ferrous sulfate to the Ni-immobilized soil. Application of the mixture of both amendments reduced grain Ni concentration, phytate, Phytate/Fe, Phyt/Zn molar ratios, and soil DTPA-extractable Ni. In addition, the amendment mixture increased 70 % Fe and 229 % ferritin concentrations in rice grains grown in the soil at original pH. The Fe and ferritin concentrations in S-treated soil was increased up to 113 and 383 % relative to control respectively. This enhanced Fe concentration and corresponding ferritin in rice grains can be attributed to Ni/Fe antagonism where Ni has been immobilized by GS and BC mixture. This proposed technique can be used to enhance growth, yield, and Fe biofortification in rice by reducing soil pH while in parallel in situ immobilizing Ni in polluted soil.
Publisher: CRC Press
Date: 11-05-2023
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-12-2016
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.CHEMOSPHERE.2017.07.097
Abstract: The complex interaction of biochar (BC) with soil health reflecting properties, the feedstock used to prepare BC and application rate of BC in sandy soil is still a question for the researchers. An incubation study was conducted where nine different sorts of BC, each prepared from the different feedstock, were applied at 2% rate to evaluate their relative suitability to improve sandy soil health. Results revealed that BC prepared from miscanthus (MIB) significantly increased soil medium and fine pores, available water content (AWC), electrical conductivity (EC), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) while decreased soil wide pores, pH, bulk density (BD) and particle density (PD) compared to the rest sorts of BC. Later, spinach was grown in pots containing same soil but spiked with 50 ppm nickel (Ni) and amended with 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5% rates of MIB. The results showed a significant increment in spinach biomass, reduction in the concentrations of Ni in spinach tissues and DTPA-extractable Ni with the increasing rate of MIB till 3% and later, no significant changes with 4 and 5% rates thereafter. However, significant improvement in the activities of antioxidant enzymes, chemical and biochemical attributes of spinach were observed at 5% MIB when compared to lower rates. Similarly, post-harvest soil physicochemical and enzymatic parameters were also significantly (P < 0.05) improved with increasing rates of MIB. This study implies that application of MIB at 5% rate can improve the nutritional quality of spinach, sandy soil health and can reduce Ni concentrations in spinach tissues.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 09-07-2022
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2016
Publisher: CRC Press
Date: 11-05-2023
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 12-09-2022
DOI: 10.3389/FMICB.2022.990329
Abstract: Soil chromium toxicity usually caused by the tannery effluent compromises the environment and causes serious health hazards. The microbial role in strengthening biochar for its soil chromium immobilization remains largely unknown. Hence, this study evaluated the effectiveness of zinc and iron-enriched rice husk biochar (ZnBC and FeBC) with microbial combinations to facilitate the chromium immobilization in sandy loam soil. We performed morphological and molecular characterization of fungal [ Trichoderma harzianum (F1), Trichoderma viride (F2)] and bacterial [ Pseudomonas fluorescence (B1), Bacillus subtilis (B2)] species before their application as soil ameliorants. There were twenty-five treatments having ZnBC and FeBC @ 1.5 and 3% inoculated with bacterial and fungal isolates parallel to wastewater in triplicates. The soil analyses were conducted in three intervals each after 20, 30, and 40 days. The combination of FeBC 3%+F2 reduced the soil DTPA-extractable chromium by 96.8% after 40 days of incubation (DAI) relative to wastewater. Similarly, 92.81% reduction in chromium concentration was achieved through ZnBC 3%+B1 after 40 DAI compared to wastewater. Under the respective treatments, soil Cr(VI) retention trend increased with time such as 40 & 30 & 20 DAI. Langmuir adsorption isotherm verified the highest chromium adsorption capacity (41.6 mg g −1 ) with FeBC 3% at 40 DAI. Likewise, principal component analysis (PCA) and heat map disclosed electrical conductivity-chromium positive, while cation exchange capacity-chromium and pH-organic matter negative correlations. PCA suggested the ZnBC-bacterial while FeBC-fungal combinations as effective Cr(VI) immobilizers with & % data variance at 40 DAI. Overall, the study showed that microbes + ZnBC/FeBC resulted in low pH, high OM, and CEC, which ultimately played a role in maximum Cr(VI) adsorption from wastewater applied to the soil. The study also revealed the interrelation and alternations in soil dynamics with pollution control treatments. Based on primitive soil characteristics such as soil metal concentration, its acidity, and alkalinity, the selection criteria can be set for treatments application to regulate the soil properties. Additionally, FeBC with Trichoderma viride should be tested on the field scale to remediate the Cr(VI) toxicity.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 29-09-2022
Abstract: Wastewater from tanneries is a major source of heavy metals in soil and plants when used for crop irrigation. The unavoidable toxicological effects of this contamination, however, can be minimized through two independent steps discussed in the present study. In the first step, a batch sorption experiment was conducted in which Cr was adsorbed through bentonite clay. For this purpose, DTPA extraction method was used to analyze Cr concentration in the soil after regular time intervals (0.5, 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 10.5, 11.5, and 20.3 h) which reduced Cr concentration from 38.542 mgL –1 for 30 min to 5.6597 mgL –1 for 20.3 h, respectively, by applying 1% bentonite. An increase in the contact time efficiently allowed soil adsorbent to adsorb maximum Cr from soil s les. In the second step, a pot experiment was conducted with 10 different treatments to improve the physiological and biochemical parameters of the Solanum melongena L. irrigated under tanneries’ wastewater stress. There were four replicates, and the crop was harvested after 30 days of germination. It was seen that the application of wastewater significantly ( P & 0.01) reduced growth of Solanum melongena L. by reducing root (77%) and shoot (63%) fresh weight when compared with CFOP (Ce-doped Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles) chlorophyll a and b (fourfolds) were improved under CFOP application relative to control (CN). However, the deleterious effects of Cr (86%) and Pb (90%) were significantly decreased in shoot through CFOP application relative to CN. Moreover, oxidative damage induced by the tannery’s wastewater stress ( P & 0.01) was tolerated by applying different soil amendments. However, results were well pronounced with the application of CFOP which competitively decreased the concentrations of MDA (95%), H 2 O 2 (89%), and CMP (85%) by efficiently triggering the activities of antioxidant defense mechanisms such as APX (threefold), CAT (twofold), and phenolics (75%) in stem relative to CN. Consequently, all the applied amendments (BN, BT, FOP, and CFOP) have shown the ability to efficiently tolerate the tannery’s wastewater stress results were more pronounced with the addition of CFOP and FOP+BT by improving physiological and biochemical parameters of Solanum melongena L. in an eco-friendly way.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 30-08-2023
Abstract: Cadmium (Cd) pollution is a growing environmental problem that negatively impacts plant growth and development, particularly in maize. In this research, the impact of farmyard manure (FYM) and salicylic acid (SA) on rhizospheric characteristics and the reduction of Cd stress in maize was examined at Government College (GC) University, Lahore, in 2022. The experiment was arranged with a randomized design, including three replications of 12 treatments (T1 = Control T2 = Farmyard manure T3 = Salicylic Acid T4 = 100 mg/kg of soil Cd T5 = 200 mg/kg of soil Cd T6 = Farmyard manure + Salicylic acid T7 = FYM + 100 mg/kg soil Cd T8 = FYM + 200 mg/kg soil Cd T9 = SA + 100 mg/kg soil Cd T10 = SA + 200 mg/kg soil Cd T11 = FYM + SA + 100 mg/kg soil Cd T12 = FYM + SA + 200 mg/kg soil Cd). Results demonstrated that Cd stress negatively affected the maize plant and soil properties, but the application of SA and FYM was effective to mitigate the Cd stress up to a certain level. A reduction of 41.52%, 39.14%, and 39.94% in root length, length of the leaf, and crop growth rate was noticed, due to the Cd stress at 200 mg/kg soil, but this reduction was reduced to 18.83%, 10.35%, and 12.26%, respectively, when FYM and salicylic acid were applied as a combined application under the same stress level of Cd. The root biomass, leaf surface area, and length were all improved by SA and FYM, which enhanced the plant’s capacity to absorb nutrients and improve growth under Cd stress. In conclusion, the use of salicylic acid together with farm manure can be an effective approach to mitigate Cd stress in maize crops.
Publisher: CRC Press
Date: 11-05-2023
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 27-12-2017
Publisher: Elsevier
Date: 2016
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.PLAPHY.2022.05.031
Abstract: Nitrogen (N) deficiency is a primary limiting factor for crop production worldwide. Previously, we reported root system architectural modifications of hydroponically cultured foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) Beauv.] to facilitate N translocation under N limitation. Here, we investigated foxtail millet for its shoot adaptation to low N in terms of internal N regulation under hydroponic culture. The results of this study revealed that the shoot N and nitrate (NO
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.PLAPHY.2017.07.022
Abstract: In situ immobilization of Cd is desirable due to the damaging effects of ex situ remediation techniques on soil. In this greenhouse study, the role of biochar (BC), chitosan (CH), and green waste (GW) was studied for in-situ Cd immobilization and alleviating Cd toxicity in mung bean seedlings. Amendments were applied at rates of 0.5% and 1% (w/w). The minimum mean value of Cd, in root, shoot, and soil (DTPA-Cd) (12.2, 4.7, and 0.7 mg kg
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2023
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-11-2016
DOI: 10.1007/S11356-016-7892-6
Abstract: Calcareous soil, high pH, and low organic matter are the major factors that limit iron (Fe) availability to rice crop. The present study was planned with the aim to biofortified rice grain with Fe, by integrated use of chemical and organic amendments in pH-manipulated calcareous soil. The soil pH was reduced (pH
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2022
Publisher: Institute of Experimental Botany
Date: 11-2018
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 10-12-2016
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 20-09-2016
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2020
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 04-08-2022
Abstract: Crop irrigation with untreated wastewater is a routine practice in developing countries that causes multiple human health consequences. A comparative study was performed to regulate total Cr and Pb stress in soil and Solanum melongena L. plant. For this purpose, 0.2% chitosan polymerized silica gel (CP-silica gel), 1.5% zinc-enriched biochar (ZnBc), and three bacterial species such as Trichococcus sp. (B1), Pseudomonas alcaligenes (B2), and Bacillus subtilis (B3) were selected. Initially, a biosorption trial was conducted to test the heavy metal removal efficiency of three bacterial species B1, B2, and B3 for 24 h. Hence, B3 showed maximum Cr and Pb removal efficiency among the studied bacterial isolates. Then, a pot study was conducted with 12 different treatments having three replicates. After harvesting, different growth and biochemical parameters such as chlorophyll concentration, proteins, phenolics, reactive oxygen species, and antioxidant enzymes were analyzed. The results demonstrated that wastewater application significantly ( p ≤ 0.01) reduced the fresh and dry weights of the root, stem, and leaves due to high total Cr and Pb toxicity. However, CP-silica gel and ZnBc treatments performed best when applied in combination with B3. The concentration of leaf total Cr was significantly decreased (91 and 85%) with the application of ZnBc + B3 and CP-Silica gel + B3, respectively, as compared to control. There was a reduction in stem hydrogen peroxide (87%) and malondialdehyde (81%) recorded with CP-silica gel + B3 treatment due to enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes viz. ascorbate peroxidase (6-folds) and catalase (7-folds) relative to control. Similarly, leaf total phenolics (3-folds) and protein (6-folds) contents were enhanced with CP silica gel+B3 application relative to control. Overall, CP-silica gel and ZnBc with B3 application proved to be the most appropriate treatments and can be used in developing countries to limit the deleterious effects of total Cr and Pb pollution.
Publisher: Elsevier
Date: 2022
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 28-06-2022
DOI: 10.3390/SU14137852
Abstract: The prevalence of abiotic stresses h ers soil health and plant growth in most ecosystems. In this study, rice husk iron-enriched biochar (BC) was prepared and its superiority in terms of nutrients enrichment, porosity and different acidic functional group (O-H, C=O) relative to simple biochar was confirmed through scanning electron microscopic, X-ray fluorescence and Fourier transform infrared analysis. To further evaluate its nickel (Ni), salt (NaCl) and carbonate (CaCO3) stress mitigating impact on wheat physiology and biochemical attributes, a pot experiment was conducted using BC (1%), Ni (0.5 mM NiNO3), Na (100 mM NaCl) and CO3 (100 mM CaCO3) and with twelve treatments T1 Control, T2 NiNO3, T3 CaCO3, T4 NaCl, T5 BC, T6 Ni + BC, T7 CaCO3 + BC, T8 NaCl + BC, T9 Ni + CaCO3 + BC, T10 Ni + NaCl + BC, T11 CaCO3 + NaCl + BC, T12 Ni + NaCl + CaCO3 + BC. The Langmuir isotherm model revealed the maximum Ni adsorption capacity (2433 mg g−1) in treatments where Ni was applied with BC soil. Maximum soil DTPA-extractable Ni was found in the T9 treatment however, Ni concentration was not reported in wheat roots while only trace amounts of Ni were found in wheat shoots with the T9 treatment. It was suggested that BC has the capacity to induce the immunization effect in plant roots by providing additional Fe so their ionic homeostasis and redox metabolism worked properly. This argument was further paved by the enhanced adsorption of these toxic ions in the presence of BC-favored wheat growth as indicated by maximum increases in shoot iron and potassium concentrations under Ni + CaCO3 + BC, relative to control. Furthermore, the decrease in shoot hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (20%) and malondialdehyde (32%) concentrations and increase in shoot ascorbate peroxidase (81%) and catalase (three-fold) activities under Ni + BC relative to Ni + NaCl + CaCO3 + BC controlled the cell membrane damage. In conclusion, BC proved to be an excellent amendment to reduce the toxic effects of Ni, NaCl and CaCO3 stresses and enhance wheat growth and nutrition.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 27-11-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.JENVMAN.2018.08.009
Abstract: The quest for a sustainable environment and combating global warming, carbon capture, and storage (CCS) has become the primary resort. A complete shift from non-renewable resources to renewable resources is currently impossible due to its major share in energy generation making CCS an imperative need of the time. This study, therefore, aims to examine the reckoning of carbon dioxide (CO
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-05-2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.CHEMOSPHERE.2021.133203
Abstract: Use of untreated municipal wastewater (WW) contains toxic trace elements that pose a serious threat to the soil-plant-human continuum. The use of biochar (BC) is a promising approach to minimize trace element induced toxicity in the ecosystem. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the efficacy of BC derived from wheat straw and iron oxide nanoparticles doped biochar (IO-BC) to reduce trace element buildup in soil and plants that consequently affect tomato plant growth and physiological activity under WW irrigation. The BC and IO-BC were applied at four levels (0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5%) in WW irrigated soils. The results indicated that the addition of WW + BC and WW + IO-BC resulted in significant reduction in trace element mobility in soil. Interestingly, the application of WW + IO-BC (1.5%) was more effective in reducing trace element mobility and bioavailability in soil by 78% (As), 58% (Cr), 46% (Pb) and 50% (Cd) compared to WW irrigation, and thus reduced trace element accumulation and toxicity in plants. Results revealed that WW irrigation negatively affected tomato growth, fruit yield, physiology and antioxidative response. Addition of WW + BC and WW + IO-BC ameliorated the oxidative stress (up to 65% and 58% in H
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