The ability of Diatomacious earth (DAE) in reducing the toxic effects of aflatoxin (AF) in broiler diet was evaluated. DAE was supplemented @ 400 and 800 mg kg-1 of feed along with 0.5 and 1 ppm of AF kg-1 of feed. Healthy unsexed day old broiler chicks (n=360) were assigned to 9 groups comprising of control and treatment groups. Feeding of AF resulted in significantly lower feed intake as well as body weight gain and increase in feed conversion ratio in comparison to the control groups. Supplementation of DAE in aflatoxin mixed diet significantly reduced the deleterious effects of AF on growth parameters. Feeding of AF alone caused significant decrease in serum levels of total proteins, albumin, triglycerides and cholesterol. However, significant increase was found in serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, BUN and creatinine in AF fed broilers. Supplementation of DAE to the AF mixed feed ameliorated the adverse effect of AF on the serum biochemical values by causing increase in serum total proteins, albumin, triglycerides and cholesterol levels. In addition, a significant increase was recorded in AST, ALT, ALP, BUN and creatinine levels in DAE supplemented broilers. The study concluded that diatomaceous earth is an effective adsorbent to decrease the negative effects of aflatoxin in broiler chicken.

Efficacy of diatomacious earth in amelioration of aflatoxin&nbsp;induced toxicity in broiler chicken

<div>Background: The species of the Bunium kinds are aromatic plants with medicinal properties. especially the earth nut. which the fruits are used as aroma.and the leaves and roots consumed as vegetables <a href="#taufel_1993">(Taufel et al. 1993)</a>. The present study was conducted in order to valorize its roots by studying the physicochemical and rheological properties of its flour. 
 
Methods: The study focuses on tuber nuts from different regions Khenchela. Mostaganem. Relizane.and Tissemsilet (Algeria).and the earth nut roots harvested the months of February (Y-1 2018 and Y 2019). Those latter were initially reduced into smaller particles. followed by milling into flour using a laboratory mill and sieving through a 250-300 &igrave; aperture screen. The flour samples were packed in resealable polyethylene bags. Mix flour is prepared from wheat flour containing varying proportions of BN flour (1. 2. 5. 10. 15. 20. and 50%). 
 
Result: The results made it possible to conclude that this gluten-free flour (BF) contains about 7% of proteins; lipid and ash contents are 3.34% and 3.96% respectively. On the sensory level. the color parameters (L *, a *, b *) conclude that there is a significant region effect and the harvest period on the color of the flour. The results reveal that all earth-nut flour (EN) differ significantly (P&pound;0.05) in all the chemical properties investigated. The presence of BF improves P when going from 5 to 50% substitution. improves fat rates. However. it has a negative influence on the W energy. the swelling and the P/L ratio of the dough. This study would suggest that earth-nut flour could be suitably incorporated in wheat flour up to 5%, but at higher doses with gluten-free flours. Mean levels of the metals in samples ranged from 62.91 to 80.08 mg/kg with those of Cu and 0.01 mg/kg with those of Pb, Hg.</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</div>

Physicochemical and Rheological Properties of &ldquo;Bunium bulbocastanum&rdquo; Earth-nut Flour

Background: Pulses hold significant global importance as a food source, with the pulse beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus, being a major pest affecting them. As consumer preferences shift towards insecticide residue-free food, pest management strategies are adapting. Inert minerals and botanicals offer a promising solution to address concerns about insecticide safety, resistance development, and regulatory standards. Hence, this study seeks to assess how these substances impact the emergence of C. maculatus adults. 
 
Methods: One kilogram of blackgram was taken in three replications and treated with inert minerals and botanicals. In each container, ten pairs of newly emerged adult beetles were introduced. A subsample of 50 g was taken in small plastic jars to record, the day when the first adult beetle emerged, the daily count of adult beetles&nbsp;and the overall count of emerged adult beetles.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The research showed no significant difference between treatments and untreated control w.r.t day of first adult emergence of C. maculatus. The percentage of adult emergence of C. maculatus in blackgram seeds treated with diatomaceous earth was 21.06% which was significantly the lowest value when compared to untreated control (86.03%). The total count of emerged adult beetles from the main sample was less in diatomaceous earth (135.33 adults) against untreated control (751.67 adults). Among all the treatments tested, diatomaceous earth performed better in controlling the adult emergence of C. maculatus.

Influence of Inert Minerals and Botanicals on Adult Emergence of Pulse Beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius), in Stored Blackgram

Background: The field experiment was conducted at the Research Farm of Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India during Rabi season 2023-24 to find out the role of planting patterns and weed control methods on growth and development of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.). 
 
Methods: The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. In main plots, four planting patterns i.e. two rows per bed (90 cm), ridge sowing (45 cm), flat sowing (45 cm) f.b. earthing up, flat sowing (45 cm) and in sub plots, four weed control treatments, i.e. black plastic mulch, white plastic mulch, hand weeding f.b. straw mulch (5 t ha-1) and unweeded (control) were kept. 
 
Result: The results of the study revealed that weed count and weed dry matter in flat sowing (45 cm) f.b. earthing up was significantly less than flat sowing (45 cm) and among weed control treatments, black plastic mulch recorded significantly less weed count and weed dry matter than other treatments. Plant height, dry matter per plant, seed yield and biological yield were found significantly higher in flat sowing (45 cm) f.b. earthing up as compared to flat sowing (45 cm). Black plastic mulch and white plastic mulch recorded significantly higher growth and yield parameters than unweeded (control). The seed yield in flat sowing (45 cm) f.b. earthing up was 33.5% higher than flat sowing (45 cm). Black plastic mulch recorded 85.28% higher seed yield over control, which was significantly more as compared to all other treatments. It was concluded that the combination of flat sowing (45 cm) f.b. earthing up and black plastic mulch gave better results as compared to all other treatments. 
&nbsp;

Role of Planting Patterns and Weed Control Methods on Growth and Development of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)

Background: Weed infestation causes serious problem in the corn production and due to limiting land area different planting patterns are required to be adopted to meet the corn demand. A field trail was conducted during spring 2023 and 2024 on agricultural farm of Lovely Professional University, Punjab on &ldquo;The effect of planting patterns and weed control treatments on weed biomass, growth and yield of spring maize (Zea mays L.). 
 
Methods: The study was laid out in split plot design with 3 planting methods i.e. flat planting with single row, flat sowing with paired row and ridge planting as main plots and five weed control treatments that is atrazine + pendimethalin f. b. straw mulching (6t ha-1), pendimethalin + intercropping cowpea f. b. earthing up and straw mulching, inter. dhaincha f. b. earthing up + straw mulching, two hand weeding and unweeded (control) in sub plots with four replications. Variety PMH10 was used is recommended for the spring season under Punjab conditions. 
 
Result: The results indicated that among the planting patterns, the ridge planting produced significantly higher grain yield during both the years as compared to flat sowing with single row and paired row which was due to better growth parameters in ridge sowing. However, the weed biomass was found significantly less in the ridge planting compared to flat planting. Among subplot treatments, the higher grain yield was obtained in treatments that are pendimethalin + intercropping of cowpea f. b. earthing up + straw mulching and intercropping dhaincha f. b. earthing up + straw mulching which were statistically at par with one another during 2023 and 2024 and both treatments were found to be significantly better than all other treatments. The grain yield was significantly less in the unweeded (control) treatment as compared to other treatments. The weed density and biomass was significantly less in the treatments in which mulching was used as compared to two hand weeding and the control treatments.

Effect of Planting Patterns and Weed Control Treatments on Growth and Yield of Spring Maize

<div>Background: Forages of high quality are the most valuable commodity of any livestock activity and they serve as the basis for most of the rations in a forage-based diet. The lack of good quality seedlings/seeds, notably improved varieties, is the primary reason for the slow adoption of improved forage production technologies. Traditional establishment of bajra napier forage incurs more labour costs, harvesting sett material, transporting, preparing two budded setts and carrying to the planting area. Nearly three to four tons of green leaves stem materials are wasted for planting one hectare of area. In this situation, an alternate method is required to produce high-quality seedlings in a short period. This research objective compared single node bud chip seedling in different protray cell cavities and pot mixtures. 
 
Methods: The green shade net field study was carried out between 2019 and 2020, the effect of different pro-tray sizes (50, 60 and 98 cell cavities) and potting mixture (red earth, cocopeat, farmyard manure, vermicompost and root growth promoters like phosphobacteria bio-fertilizer and indole acetic acid (IAA) was taken in different combination for the establishment of Bajra Napier hybrid variety Co (BN)-5 seedling by using single node bud chip technology. The observation was taken up to 30 days in related to seedling growth and development. The observed parameter was statistically analysed in SPSS software. 
 
Result: Among the three different protray cavities and five different pot mixtures, 60 cavity protray with red earth + cocopeat + vermicompost (2:1:1) results revealed significant differences (p&gt;0.05) in seedling growth parameters among the different protray and growing media. The maximum seedling growth parameters like germination, numbers of the leaf, plant height, leaf length, width and root length (94.4 per cent, 8.17, 39.12 cm, 38.14 cm, 2.5 cm and 30.8 cm) were observed at 30 days aged seedlings followed by red earth + cocopeat + farmyard manure (2:1:1 ratio) and treated with IAA substance in 60 cavity protray.</div>

Bud Chip Method: A Potential In vitro Technology for Bajra-napier Hybrid (Pennisetum glaucum L. X P. purpureum Schum.) for Sett Multiplication

<div style="text-align: justify;">The pure of an individual is relative to the hybrid. No two identical organisms are found on the earth at the level of nucleotide sequence. After two parents mating, the variations of their offspring will occur in the nucleotide sequence compared to their parents, which are called biological heterozygous effect. However, the molecular bases for this phenomenon remain elusive. In our view, biological heterozygous effects at least follow the below rules: Firstly, the contribution of the outcome of traits passed from parents to offspring is not equal. Secondly, progeny variation across the heterozygous individuals is lineage-specific dependent and some difference is found among the individuals within a family. Thirdly, biological variation is absolute, random, non-directional, and is fixed and forms a new species while other variation is getting into the blind branch of the species under some circumstances. In summary, Heterozygous effect is the key reason for the formation of biodiversity on the earth.</div>

Some novel rules of the biological heterozygous effects &nbsp;

Background: Cotton crop is sensitive in its young stages i.e. stand establishment. Cotton seeds are fuzzy and messy in handling and field sowing. Delinting is a necessary process done commonly using acids and are comprehensively not protective. Optimal plant population, growth and persistence are strongly influenced by germination and establishment. In line with this, it is necessary and needful of an hour to find an alternative, eco-friendly, ecologically safe and low cost seed treatment method. 
 
Methods: The experiment was conducted in two methods viz., a petridish method and roll-towel method with seed treatment methods viz., cowdung and red earth mix treated with and without biofertilizer and compared with acid-delinted and fuzzy seeds. The germino-metrics were determined using GerminaR package, an interactive web application and statistical analysis was performed using R software package v. 4.2.1. 
 
Result: The summative effect of seed treatment with fresh cow dung, red earth and biofertilizer (Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria) per kg of seeds at respective quantities (0.5:0.25:0.12) recorded significantly maximal germination indices and seedling growth determinants. This present study would be a complementary to comprehensively promote the use of indigenously available natural materials as an alternative to acids in cotton seed delinting.

In silico and in vitro Assessment of Indigenous Organic Practices on Germination and Seedling Metrics of Compact Cotton using GerminaR R Software Package

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Weeds are one of major threats to crop yield and quality. Weeds compete with cane crop and reduce the yield significantly in a very short period. Planned use of all available farm resources leads to integrated control strategy. The current study aimed to study the use of inter row rotary weeder for integrated weeds management to control population dynamics of weeds in sugarcane crop. The objective of experiment is to find out economical, feasible and easy to use approach to minimize the weed density below the threshold level in sugarcane crop and to minimize the use of chemicals for weeds control to promote organic farming. Methods: In this research experiment, at Sugarcane Research Institute, Faisalabad during 2017 and 2018, the treatment includes viz. Application od Click (atrazine and acetochlor) @ 3.75 Liter per hectare as Pre-emergence, Ametryn + Atrazine 80 W.P @ 2.50 kg per hectare as post-emergence, Machanical Inter-culture with Rotary weeder and cultivator plough and earthing up. These treatments in different combinations were compared with control. Result: The application of Pre-emergence weedicide Click (atrazine and acetochlor) @ 3.75 Liter per hectare + Inter culture with Rotary weeder 50 days after planting (DAP) + Inter culture with cultivator plough before earthing up (100 DAP) produced significantly higher cane yield of 105 t. ha-1 and highest net benefits per hectare of Rs. 156250/-. The lowest cane yield of 70 t. ha-1 was noted from the experimental units with Weedy check / control. If farmers use this approach, the use of post emergence weedicides will be minimized and will encourage organic farming with safe and healthy environment.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Valuation of Weed Control Methods by using Inter Row Rotary Weeder in Sugarcane Crop</div>

Background: Azolla is one of the fern plants that has great importance in many fields, such as its value as animal feed and its possession of a number of active substances with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, in addition to its role in consuming carbon dioxide, which has an important role in climate modification. 
 
Methods: This study was conducted to determine the optimal conditions for A. pinnata growth and its reduction of carbon dioxide, which has a positive effect in reducing global warming on planet Earth. Azolla pinnata&nbsp; was isolated from the Tigris River-IRAQ and molecularly identified using nucleotide sequence analysis of ITS within 5.8S rRNA gene. 
 
Result: Azolla isolated for the first time from the Iraqi environment was molecularly identified to the species level Azolla pinnata strain IRAQ-Tikrit.Has,A.A and registered in NCBI under the accession number PQ836460.1. The results showed a significant increase in CO2&nbsp;concentration in A. pinnata culture over time when incubated in the dark at 10-40oC. On the other hand, the results revealed a continuous decrease in CO2&nbsp;concentration with increased light intensity over time. The interaction between A. pinnata growth duration and light intensity, the lowest CO2&nbsp;concentration reached 375.14 and 362.38 ppm when incubated at light intensity of 10000 lux for 10 days at 20 and 3oC, respectively. The results also showed that there was an increase in the growth of A. pinnata with an increase in the depth of the liquid nutrient medium up to 50 cm, the growth indicators such as absolute growth rate (AGR)&nbsp; and Standing A. pinnata crop (yt) reached 10.53 g/m2/day and 106.42 g/m2&nbsp;with a decrease in CO2&nbsp;to 325.64 ppm, with no significant effects on the growth indicators and CO2&nbsp;concentrations when A. pinnata growing at depths of 60-80 cm. Azolla is one of the biological factors that play a role in reducing carbon dioxide, as it plays an important role in modifying the climate of the Earth&rsquo;s surface if the standard environmental conditions for its growth are established.

Molecular Identification of the Iraqi Aquatic Fern Azolla pinnata and Evaluation of its Efficiency in Reducing CO2 under Various Environmental Conditions

Efficacy of diatomacious earth in amelioration of aflatoxin induced toxicity in broiler chicken

Physicochemical and Rheological Properties of “Bunium bulbocastanum” Earth-nut Flour

Influence of Inert Minerals and Botanicals on Adult Emergence of Pulse Beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius), in Stored Blackgram

Role of Planting Patterns and Weed Control Methods on Growth and Development of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)

Effect of Planting Patterns and Weed Control Treatments on Growth and Yield of Spring Maize

Bud Chip Method: A Potential In vitro Technology for Bajra-napier Hybrid (Pennisetum glaucum L. X P. purpureum Schum.) for Sett Multiplication

Some novel rules of the biological heterozygous effects

In silico and in vitro Assessment of Indigenous Organic Practices on Germination and Seedling Metrics of Compact Cotton using GerminaR R Software Package

Valuation of Weed Control Methods by using Inter Row Rotary Weeder in Sugarcane Crop

Molecular Identification of the Iraqi Aquatic Fern Azolla pinnata and Evaluation of its Efficiency in Reducing CO₂under Various Environmental Conditions