Managing Weed-Crop Interactions Enhances Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Chemical Components.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a major pulse crop worldwide, renowned for its nutritional richness and adaptability. Weeds are the main biotic factor deteriorating chickpea yield and nutritional quality, especially Asphodelus tenuifolius Cav. The present study concerns a two-year (2018-19 and 2019-20) field trial aiming at evaluating the effect of weed management on chickpea grain quality. Several weed management practices have been here implemented under a factorial randomized complete block design, including the application of four herbicides [bromoxynil (C7H3Br2NO) + MCPA (Methyl-chlorophenoxyacetic acid) (C9H9ClO3), fluroxypyr + MCPA, fenoxaprop-p-ethyl (C18H16ClNO5), pendimethalin (C13H19N3O4)], the extracts from two allelopathic weeds (Sorghum halepense and Cyperus rotundus), two mulches (wheat straw and eucalyptus leaves), a combination of A. tenuifolius extract and pendimethalin, and an untreated check (control). Chickpea grain quality was measured in terms of nitrogen, crude protein, crude fat, ash, and oil content. The herbicides pendimethalin (Stomp 330 EC (emulsifiable concentrate) in pre-emergence at a rate of 2.5 L ha-1) and fenoxaprop-p-ethyl (Puma Super 7.5 EW (emulsion in water) in post-emergence at a rate of 1.0 L ha-1), thanks to A. tenuifolius control, showed outstanding performance, providing the highest dietary quality of chickpea grain. The herbicides Stomp 330 EC, Buctril Super 40 EC, Starane-M 50 EC, and Puma Super 7.5 EW provided the highest levels of nitrogen. Outstanding increases in crude protein content were observed with all management strategies, particularly with Stomp 330 EC and Puma Super 7.5 EW (+18% on average). Ash content was highly elevated by Stomp 330 EC and Puma Super 7.5 EW, along with wheat straw mulching, reaching levels of 2.96% and 2.94%. Crude fat content experienced consistent elevations across all treatments, with the highest improvements achieved by Stomp 330 EC, Puma Super 7.5 EW, and wheat straw mulching applications. While 2018-19 displayed no significant oil content variations, 2019-20 revealed the highest oil content (5.97% and 5.96%) with herbicides Stomp 330 EC and Puma Super 7.5 EW, respectively, followed by eucalyptus leaves mulching (5.82%). The results here obtained are of key importance in the agricultural and food sector for the sustainable enhancement of chickpea grain's nutritional quality without impacting the environment.

Effect of growth medium nitrogen and phosphorus on nutritional composition of Lemna minor (an alternative fish and poultry feed).

Duckweed (Lemna minor L.) is an aquatic macrophyte and grows profoundly on the surface of polluted water reservoirs of Pakistan. The plant can be used as a potential alternative for the fish and poultry industry to meet the promptly growing demand for feed. Our study investigates the effect of varying concentrations (ppm) of nutrients like N, P, and their combination, NP on biomass production, carbohydrate, lipid, protein, and mineral (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn & Zn) contents of L. minor. The varying concentrations of N and P substantially affected the above-stated parameters. The highest biomass yield was recorded in the 30 ppm NP tank as 172 g/m2 day in comparison with the control tank. Higher protein, lipid, and carbohydrate contents were recorded for 30 ppm NP, 20 ppm NP, and 10 ppm NP respectively. Minerals like Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn & Zn increased in 20 ppm P and all N concentrations. The combined application of NP was more effective in boosting the protein, carbohydrate, and lipid content whereas less effective in increasing the mineral contents. A rise in the concentration of N and P showed a positive correlation with the nutritional composition of L. minor.

Effect of salt stress on proximate composition of duckweed (Lemna minor L.).

The shortage of conventional feedstuff is one of the rising issues faced by the developing countries of the world. To bridge the gap between supply and demand of the major feedstuff it is desirable to practice the use of non-conventional feed resources. Duckweeds are the aquatic macrophytes growing in stagnant water bodies that offer a choice to be used as an alternate feed. Before the use of any alternate feed, it is vital to know the nutritional composition of the feed under diverse environmental conditions. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of salinity, abiotic stress, on the proximate composition of duckweed (Lemna minor L.). The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 3 repeats. Data was collected on protein, lipid, carbohydrate, and mineral contents. In the laboratory trial plants were grown under the saline condition of different concentrations ranging from 2 g NaCl L-1 to 12 g NaCl L-1 for a growing period of 20 days. The biomasses obtained were tested for proximate composition. ANOVA of the result exhibited a significant effect of salinity on the proximate composition of the plant. Protein residues of the plant started declining above the concentration of 4 g NaCl L-1 until the lowest value was obtained at 12 g NaCl L-1. Lipid composition showed more sensitivity to the stress with a sharp decline above 2 g NaCl L-1 having a minimum value at 12 g NaCl L-1. Carbohydrate contents increased with increasing salinity up to 6 g NaCl L-1 above which a decrease was observed. The highest accumulation of the macronutrients i.e., Ca, Mg, took place in the lower range of concentration of the salt. The percentage compositions of micronutrients such as Fe, Mn, and Zn percentage were reduced at a higher range of salinity while the optimum level was recorded in plants treated with 2 g NaCl L-1, followed by control. The total accumulation of both macro and micronutrients was higher in the plant material treated with a lower level of salt concentration, concluding a significant effect of salinity on proximate composition. As for the Indus water salinity level, the plant has the capacity of tolerance and can be grown without affecting its proximate composition.