Earth Sciences Pakistan (ESP)

Plant health and biomass relies on nutrient availability and the efficiency with which nutrients are taking in by plants. Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) is a symbiotic association between plant roots and fungus. VAM improve plant growth by modifying its rhizosphere soil and helps in nutrient uptake by plants. Our aim was to evaluate the growth of maize (Zea mays) and quantify mycorrhizae under different textures and in phosphorous deficient soils. Treatments include different types of soil texture (pure soil, pure sand and 1:1 soil+sand) along with recommended rate of nitrogen and potassium fertilizer while no phosphorous fertilizer was used. Root colonization, growth rate of plant, biomass of plant root and shoot and effect of VAM and roots on rhizosphere soil pH were observed. Results showed that shoot biomass was significantly improved in plain soil treatment as compared to sandy texture soils. Root:shoot ratio was significantly decreased in plain soil as compared to plants in sand. pH was reduced in all treatments significantly. Root colonization ranges from 40-49% and colonization rates higher in sandy soils than others. Results suggested that VAM infection show well growth in its natural environment and improve plant growth and yield.

Citrus waste is solid residue that remains after fresh fruits are squeezed for their juices. Pakistan is among the top ten citrus producing countries in the world. Pakistan is contributing 2.16 million tons per annum in fruit waste generation. Fresh food waste is often used locally to feed animals as milk enhancer. When fresh fruit are squeezed, a solid residue is produced which is commonly known as citrus waste. Fresh citrus waste has a natural acidity, but it is still a perishable product due to its high moisture content and soluble sugar. Dehydration method is usually applied for the removal of moisture content up to less than 10 % to increases the shelf life for easy handling and transportation. The present study enables the design of a rotary-hot air dryer having an internal rotating body. The drying efficiency increased with the increase in the internal temperature and the air flow rate in the rotary drum, while the drying efficiency decreases with increasing the drum speed. The drying process provided the optimal results with respect to drying time and Vitamin C concentration. The present designed hot-air dryer provides fundamentals for fruit pulp industry who can easily adopt this technology. This dryer can be installed within pulp industry and waste can be processed at source point. The dehydration process increases the shelf life of citrus fruit waste and it will be available throughout the year around the country. The dehydrated material can enhance the milk quantity of animal.

Detailed petrographically studies and microfacies analysis of the Lower Cretaceous Lumshiwal Formation from the eastern Hazara, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan have been carried out from a number of sections. Fourteen microfacies including glauconitic sandstone have been identified. These studies have contributed towards the interpretation of its provenance, diagenetic components combined with the environment of deposit. It can help to understand the difference between the Lumshiwal formation of eastern Hazara with other type sections in Kala-Chita Range and Samana Range by correlating them with respect to environments of deposition.

Bottled water is perceived by many people of Pakistan and other countries as well a safer alternative to other sources of water such as tap water. This may be attributed to consumers disliking the taste of tap water or it’s organoleptic. Bottled water usage has increased even in countries where clean tap water is present such as in Germany, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia etc. The objective of present study was to compare the drinkable bottled water quality between different countries along with ZamZam water. Eleven different brands of bottled water including one un- bottled water (zamzam) collected from Pakistan, U.A.E, Kuwait, Germany and Saudi Arabia. They were analyzed for physiochemical and microbiological parameters for estimation of quality of water. For physio-chemical analysis, the pH meter, EC meter, Flame photometer and UV-Spectrophotometer were used respectively. For bacteriological parameters like Total Coliforms, Fecal Coliform and E. coli, filtration technique is adopted. In this study, comparison of mineral contents with labeled values mentioned on different brands of the countries like Rawdatain(Kuwait), Al- Ain(UAE), and Masafi (UAE) which have difference in actual measured values and labelled but all within WHO and IBWA standards. Bottle water companies claim, the water from different sources such as spring, deep ground and natural water but no doubt it may be taken from different natural sources and they are saying it a mineral water when it was not pass through any treatment processes. These bottles water are actually processed/treated water which does not contain sufficient amount of minerals necessary for the health.

About 44% citizens of Pakistan do not have access to safe drinking water. Good quality filters used for the purification of water are out of range for people of remote areas. This study has been conducted to check the efficiencies of different environment friendly materials which are locally available like Rice husk, incomplete burnt rice husk, Wheat husk and Saw dust. Collected materials were passed through pretreatment process like washing, drying and setup developed. Rice husk is burnt under solar concentrators. Samples of drinking water collected from different points from University of Agriculture Faisalabad. The results show that incomplete burnt rice husk is most efficient among all others in controlling different parameters of drinking water like TDS, EC, PH, DO etc. For future it is recommended use rice husk in clay for the formation of filter setup and burns it in kiln. Biological parameters will also be check of drinking water after passing through this setup.

This study was carried out to map and characterize the water bearing formations (aquifers) in Abia State, southeastern Nigeria. Aquifer hydraulic properties were obtained from existing borehole logs and pumping tests data obtained from the field. More recent productive boreholes in the study area were accurately geo-referenced by taking GPS elevations and coordinates. A synergy of all data collected during field visits and those gleaned from the literature, and the geologic information available were analyzed and interpreted to meet the broad framework and specific objectives of this study. Vertical electrical resistivity depth sounding for inferring the resistivity and thicknesses of the vertical succession of different conducting zones in the subsurface was employed in characterization of the subsurface auriferous units. The depth of the boreholes drilled varies from 21.02m – 250m, while the static water level (SWL) varies between 4.57m around Ukwa-West to about 35.97m around Aba South. The depth range of 9.15m to 53.05m to the auriferous zone for Umuahia Local Government Area is in agreement with the value of 35.0m. Very productive aquifers in Abia State are limited to the alluvial deposits and the Coastal Plain Sands lithologies comprising: fine, medium and coarse-grained and often pebbly sands with some intercalations of clays. The alluvium occurs mainly in Ukwa West and East Local Government Areas. Drilling depths in this aquifer range from 30 to 140m. Prolific production is expected from this alluvium which has an approximate permeability of 35m2/day. The High production rate (Permeability = 35m2/day) is expected in the Coastal Plain Sands sediments found in all Local Government Areas stretching south of Umuahia and Bende. Drilling depths ranging from 40 to 250 m are recommended for boreholes in these LGAs. However, more precise drilling depths must be confirmed by hydro-geophysical site survey, because the geology of Abia State becomes more complicated north of Umuahia and Bende LGAs. This complication in geology affects all other LGAs north of Umuahia.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the measure of carbon footprint transmitted from diesel generators to the extent carbon dioxide. One of the diesel generator was selected for this study that are available in the University of Agriculture Faisalabad. A reliable load demand of 180 ampere, 100 ampere, and 90 ampere with six hours of operation of a diesel generator for consistently was decided for this examination. The fuel usage rate is 550 liters per week and carbon foot prints to the extent carbon dioxide (CO₂) were settled. It was found that transmission of carbon foot prints as release part was 2.7kgCO₂/liters (consistent component) of diesel fuel used. It was observed that the enlargement of the kilowatts extends the fuel usage and surge of the carbon dioxide. It is revealed that the efficiency of diesel generator is inversely proportional to its rated power, fuel consumption rate and CO₂ emissions. Therefore, the rated power of selected diesel generator should be close to the required load demand.

Faisalabad is considered among the third most populated city in Pakistan. Industrialization and transportation framework has contributed essentially to the improvement of human progress and has enormously affects the encompassing ambient air quality. The rapid increase in particulate matters in Pakistan as well as all over the subcontinent over the last three to four years has a potential for significant health implications. The motivation behind this paper is to survey the preparatory air quality parameters including particulate matter PM10, CO, SO2 of city Faisalabad, Pakistan. The concentrations of pollutants were measured at 4 sites with weekly rotations for a specific period. Results demonstrated that concentration of PM10 in the surrounding area of Faisalabad city was higher during the study period while levels of SO2 and CO are relatively lower as compared with NEQS. In addition, it has been observed that residential area is less polluted while the commercial, vehicular and industrial areas are extremely polluted. Ambient air quality may be improved by adopting different mitigation measures like reduce fugitive emissions, reduce vehicle emissions by using catalytic converter and plantation etc, which leads towards sustainable environment.

Inappropriately solid waste handling and disposing are promoting environmental problems in Pakistan. Deteriorating environmental quality is a serious consequence of open dumping site and is rapidly increasing concern for public. To investigate, the causes Muhammada Wala dumping site was chosen. There is a tremendous amount of solid waste generating and dumped without any precautionary measures. Due to development of industries and urban areas the condition is going to be harsh. The aim of this study is the site investigation of the dumping site and its consequences on environment. Water samples were collected near the site, analyzed in the laboratory and interviews were taken. Significant high TDS was observed in ground water. Communicable diseases and unhygienic environment were revealed from this research. The main collapses of municipal solid waste systems are unplanned management of the city, intense climatic conditions, absence of awareness of users and community participation, inadequate resources including machinery and lack of funds.

Waste water contains hazardous chemicals released from industries and affects adversely aquatic life as well as deteriorates surface and groundwater quality. The industrial effluent is disposed into drains without treatment thus worsening condition. It alters the living condition of aquatic life and effects the environment adversely. It affects human being some time directly and sometime indirectly. Chromium contamination is a serious problem because of cancer-causing effect of the pollutants and low recovery rate of chromium owing to the existence of organics, such as protein as well as fat. Objective of this study was to determine viability of adsorbents like fly ash and red brick dust for chromium ions recovery from tannery wastewater. Aqueous solutions of Cr(III) was prepared by dissolving the specific amounts of chromium Sulphate in de ionized water. Concentration of Cr (III) was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The adsorption of chromium on fly ash as well as red brick dust was determined at different Cr (III) concentrations, contact time, adsorbent dosage and pH. By comparing results of both adsorbents it was concluded that performance efficiency of both fly ash and red brick dust was good for removal and recovery of chromium. But red brick dust was more effective as compared to fly ash. Because maximum recovery of chromium was observed at pH 4; adsorbent red brick dust; contact time 3hours; and adsorbent dosage 1000g. Red brick dust declared as good adsorbent for the recovery of chromium from tannery waste water.