Nangarhar University International Journal of Biosciences

Effects of Inorganic Phosphorus and Organic Fertilizer on Growth and Yield of Common Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) under Kabul Conditions

Abdullah Aram — 2024-09-04

In Afghanistan, the main reasons for low crop yields are low soil fertility. Growing human populations has resulted in shrinking land areas and decreased soil fertility. Also, the overuse of chemical fertilizers is considered to be the main cause of soil characteristics deterioration, such as soil fertility, soil biology, and soil physical properties. On the other hand, no research has been done to find the ideal phosphorus and organic (ORGOFERT) fertilizer rate for improving common bean production in Afghanistan. Thus, it is pertinent to determine the optimum phosphorus and organic fertilizer dose for common bean cultivation in Afghanistan, where this crop is grown expensively. In 2020, a field trial took place at the agriculture faculty research farm of Kabul University during the growing season. The trial utilized a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Each plot measured 200cm x 300cm, with plants spaced 40 cm apart in rows and 20 cm apart within rows. Different amounts of phosphorus and organic fertilizer were applied in the experiment. The results indicated that employing 50 kg of ORGOFERT and 80 kg of P2O5 fertilizers per hectare led to enhanced growth parameters such as plant height, number of branches per plant, and number of green leaves per plant, as well as improved yield attributes including the number of pods per plant, number of grains per pod, 100-grain weight, and total grain yield per hectare. The ideal amount of phosphorous and ORGOFERT fertilizer to improve the growth and production of common beans under field conditions might be the rate of 80kg P2O5 + 50 kg ORGOFERT fertilizer ha-1 under Kabul's agro-ecological conditions.

Effect of different nitrogen fertilizer rates on wheat yield under the arid and semi-arid climatic conditions of Nangarhar province

Bakht Munir Baber — 2024-09-04

Nitrogen is one of the essential and primary elements among plant nutrients and it is mainly around 30% accessible to plants as applied. Nitrogen is losing around 70% from the soil due to multiple factors. Therefore, the excessive nitrogen fertilizer application rate can cause soil, air, and underground water pollution and increasing temperature and can create different disorders. Thus, an experiment was conducted to find a suitable nitrogen fertilizer rate to improve the production of PBW-154 wheat variety under arid and semi-arid climatic conditions. The experiment consisted of seven different nitrogen rates, T₁ 0, T₂ 80, T₃ 100, T₄ 120, T₅ 160, and T₇ 180 kg ha^-1. Nitrogen was split 25% at germination and initial vegetative growth stage, while the remaining 50% was applied at tillering and flowering stages. Data was collected for vegetative (plant height, number of leaves, number of tillers) and reproductive (length of spike, number of grains per spike, 1000 grains weight, yield kg/ha) growth parameters accordingly. The results revealed that significantly (P < 0.05) higher values of vegetative growth and reproductive growth parameters, including production weight, were observed in the T₆ treatment compared to other treatments. Additionally, the T₆ treatment exhibited the highest yield (39.2 gr weight of 1000 grains and 4.47 tons/ha of grains weight). It increased by 41 % suitable nitrogen fertilizer application rate under the arid and semi-arid climatic conditions. The suitable nitrogen rate for arid and semi-arid climatic conditions is 160 kg ha^-1 compared to 180 kg ha^-1 and above. It could reduce the extra expenses of the farmers, protect the air, soil, and water from pollution, and increase the benefit-cost ratio of field cultivation for the reference crop.

Prevalence of Malocclusion among School aged Children and Adolescents in Kabul, Afghanistan

Rafia Hussaini — 2024-09-04

One of the major public health concerns is the prevalence of malocclusion among school-aged children. Malaligned teeth and incorrect jaw posture are referred to as malocclusion, and they can cause a number of functional and cosmetic problems. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of malocclusion in school-aged children and adolescents in Kabul, Afghanistan. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Faculty of Dentistry, Kabul University of Medical Sciences “Abu Ali Ibn Sina” (KUMS). The data were collected from High schools in Kabul, Afghanistan during 2019 and 2020. A sample of 479 children and adolescents, 236 females (49.3%) and 243 males (50.7%) 8-18 years old (mean age 14.16±2.8) were randomly selected from four high schools of different districts of Kabul city. We used the angle classification for sagittal plane malocclusion; open bite and deep bite for vertical plane malocclusions; cross bites for transverse plane malocclusion; midline diastema, spacing and crowding show the tooth material and arch length discrepancies. This study demonstrated that only 41 (8.6%) of subjects had normal occlusion while 92.4% of subjects had different types of malocclusions. Class I malocclusion was found in 275 subjects ( (57.4%, class II Division 1 in 63 subjects (13.1%), Class II Division 2 in 64 subjects (13.4%), Class III malocclusion in 36 subjects (7.5%), moreover, crowding in 183 (38.2%), spacing in 79 (16.5%), midline diastema in 54 (11.3%), crossbite in 77 subjects (16.1%), open bite in 23 subjects (4.8%) and deep overbite in 44 subjects (9.2%) were found. According to Angle’s classification of malocclusion class I malocclusion was the most prevalent malocclusion and class III was the least prevalent malocclusion in school-aged children and adolescents in Kabul city.

Livestock Sector's Economic Significance and Livelihood Support in Afghanistan: A Focus on Small Ruminants

Sher Ali Jawhar — 2024-09-04

Afghanistan predominantly an agrarian nation with a significant rural population, relies heavily on livestock for various purposes. Despite its pivotal role in the country's economy and the sustenance of rural communities, the livestock sector, particularly small ruminants like sheep and goats, often lacks the attention it deserves. This review seeks to evaluate the economic importance of small ruminants and address the challenges faced by livestock farmers, including insufficient pastures, imbalanced nutrition, and limited access to clean water. The analysis encompasses the contribution of small ruminants to the national economy, their impact on rural livelihoods, and the impediments encountered by small-scale farmers. Additionally, the study delves into the intricacies of production systems, market dynamics, and value chains associated with small ruminants, highlighting their role in income generation, employment, and food security. Exploring socio-cultural dimensions, the paper acknowledges the significance of small ruminants in traditional practices and social norms. However, it also underscores challenges in animal health, breeding, feeding, marketing, and infrastructure that hinder the sector's growth. The review underscores the necessity for targeted interventions, including improved veterinary services, enhanced extension support, better market linkages, and policy reforms, to fortify the small ruminant sector. By offering recommendations, the paper aims to guide policymakers, researchers, and practitioners toward fostering sustainable development and inclusive expansion of the small ruminant sector, ultimately uplifting the livelihoods of Afghanistan's small-scale livestock farmers.

Prevalence of Foreign Bodies in the Rumen and Reticulum of Goats Slaughtered at Herat Governmental Slaughterhouse, Afghanistan

Abdullah Tahier — 2024-09-04

Goat rearing plays a crucial role in fighting poverty and food insecurity in Afghanistan. However, devastating droughts and poor environmental management systems cause various health issues, such as the ingestion of indigestable foreign bodies (IFBs). The ingestion of IFBs can have serious consequences for goats, including reduced production, weight loss, electrolyte imbalances, and even death. The current study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of IFB ingestion in goats in Herat Slaughterhouse, Herat, Afghanistan. A cross-sectional study was performed at Herat Governmental Slaughterhouse, Herat-Islam Qala Highway, Herat Province, Afghanistan, from July to September 2023. A total of 600 goats were included in this study. The age, sex, and body condition of all included goats were recorded. After the slaughter, the goats were inspected for IFBs, and their rumen and reticulum were incised and examined. Indigestable foreign body classifications were noted and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26. out of six hundred goats (487 male and 113 female), 147/600 (24.5%) had IFBs in their rumens. No IFBs were observed in the reticulum. Plastic was the most commonly detected IFB at 86/600 (14.33%), followed by a plastic thread at 27/600 (4.5%), bag thread at 7/600 (1.16%), lather at 8/600 (1.33%), mixed at 6/600 (1%), chocolate cover at 3/600 (0.5%), balloon at 4/600 (0.66%), wood at 2/600 (0.33%), piece of cloth at 1/600 (0.16%), camel dung at 1/600 (0.16%), cotton thread at 1/600 (0.16%), and wire at 1/600 (0.16%). A total of 116/600 (19.33%) of the goats aged ≥ 1 and ≤2 years presented a high frequency of IFBs. The lowest prevalence of IFBs was detected in goats aged 6 years (1/600; 0.16%). There was no correlation between IFBs and body condition in the examined goats in the current study. The occurrence of IFBs was demonstrated in goats slaughtered at Herat Governmental Slaughterhouse, which can negatively affect the overall productivity and production of goats in Herat Province. In conclusion, effective environmental management systems, safe waste disposal, and prompt foreign body removal are crucial preventive measures.

Effects of GA3 Concentrations and Mechanical Scarification on Germination and Seedling Growth Performance of Sour Orange (Citrus aurantium L.) Rootstock

Mohammad Ghani Raghib — 2024-09-04

The current experiment was conducted in Agriculture Faculty Lab (pro trays), at Nangarhar University, Afghanistan. As the germination of the sour orange seed is very poor and needs a long time for their competent germination, it was aimed to enhance germination and produce standard seedlings for proper growth and development. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) having six treatments, T₁ (50 ppm + scarification), T₂ (100 ppm + scarification), T₃ (150 ppm + scarification), T₄ (200 ppm + scarification), T₅ (250 ppm + scarification) and T₆ (Control) with three replications. The scarification was done manually for seed coat removal after the extraction of seeds from fruits. Analysis of variance revealed to be significant for most of the characters under study. The study revealed that among all treatments, T₅ (250 ppm + scarification) was the best treatment for growth and root parameters, followed by T₄ (200 ppm + scarification) while the lowest of growth and root parameters were registered in T₆(control). This investigation confirmed that high concentration of GA₃ significantly affected the seed germination of sour orange.

Staying Active, Minding Health: Does Exercise Influence Depression and Anxiety in Herat University's Education Students?

Marouf Noorzai — 2024-06-25

Mental health issues are a major concern for public health worldwide, affecting a large segment of the global population. This study aims to investigate the association between physical activity, depression, and anxiety among students in the Faculty of Education at Herat University. A cross-sectional study was conducted during the fourth quarter of 2023 (October-December) encompassing a 204 sample of male students enrolled in the Faculty of Education at Herat University. We used a 13-item self-administered questionnaire to collect information on the participants’ sociodemographic details and physical activities. We assessed depression and anxiety using the standardized Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) questionnaire, respectively. The data was scored and categorized according to the guidelines set for each instrument. Statistical analyses were performed in IBM SPSS Statistics (version 27). Of all participants in this study, 86.3% suffered from various degrees of depression and 71.6% suffered from various degrees of anxiety. A lack of a regular and organized weekly plan involving sports activities was associated with depression (p=0.009) and anxiety (p=0.024). Lack of regular weekly exercise in the past due to physical problems was associated only with anxiety (p=0.023). This study explored how physical activity relates to depression and anxiety in students at Herat University's Faculty of Education. We found that being physically active was linked to both lower depression and anxiety levels. The higher rates of depression and anxiety in our study might be due to social and environmental factors that the other studies didn't account for.