Nangarhar University International Journal of Biosciences

Prevalence and Outcomes of Maternal Toxoplasmosis on Pregnancy

Suhaila Rahimi — 2025-10-19

Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Toxoplasma gondii, affects more than one third of the world's population. In developing countries, it is associated with increased complications and peri-natal morbidity and mortality. The screening of pregnant women for antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii is an essential part of prenatal care. Therefore, the current study aimed to identify the prevalence and outcomes of Toxoplasmosis on pregnancy among women attending Nangarhar University Teaching Hospital. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 348 women who were screened for IgG and IgM antibodies from April to November, 2024. A non-probability convenience sampling was used. Data were collected through questionnaires from hospital-based medical records of all participants. Those women visiting the obstetrics and gynecology department with clinically or laboratory-confirmed Toxoplasma gondii infection. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. A total of 2,972 pregnant women attending antenatal care at Nangarhar University Teaching Hospital were screened for Toxoplasma gondii. Among them, 348 (11.7%) tested seropositive, while 2,624 (88.3%) tested negative. The participants’ age ranged between 25 to 35 years, and most presented during the second trimester. Among the seropositive women, reported fetal complications included abnormal development (24.7%), abortion (5.7%), intrauterine fetal death (2.9%), low birth weight (4.0%), stillbirth (2.6%), and central nervous system (CNS) disorders (1.4%). Animal contact was reported in 121 (34.8%) of cases, whereas 226 (64.9%) reported no such history. The study concluded that 11.7% of pregnant women were seropositive for Toxoplasmosis, which is associated with a high risk of fetal complications such as abortion, intrauterine fetal death, low birth weight, stillbirth, hydrocephaly, microcephaly, chorioretinitis, and fetal CNS disorders, thereby highlighting the need for routine screening and continuous monitoring during antenatal care.

Effects of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Growth and Yield of Peanut (Arachis hypogea L.)

Mohammad Agha Daadman — 2025-10-19

Peanut is a vital legume crop that plays an important role in human nutrition and the farmers economy. This valuable crop is widely cultivated in Afghanistan and significantly contributes to the national economy. However, farmers lack proper guidance on fertilizer selection and usage. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted during the summer season of 2024 under irrigated conditions to study the impact of organic and inorganic fertilizers on growth and yield of the local Zarati peanut variety in Hakeem Abad village, Khogyani district of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan. Before sowing, a laboratory soil analysis was conducted, which showed that the soil was slightly acidic and deficient in essential nutrients. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 10 treatments. Each treatment involved different types and amounts of fertilizers: T₁ (no fertilizer), T₂ (farmyard manure (FYM) 20 t/ha), T₃ (poultry manure (PM) 10 t/ha), T₄ (50% nitrogen and phosphorus (NP)), T₅ (100% NP), T₆ (50% NP + FYM), T₇ (100% NP + FYM), T₈ (50% NP + PM), T₉ (100% NP + PM), and T₁₀ (50% NP + FYM + PM). The results showed that T₁₀ (50% NP + FYM + PM) recorded highest plant height (107.6 cm), number of branches per plant (7.6), number of leaves per plant (96.3), number of pods per plant (46.0), number of seeds per pod (3.4), and yield (4.0 t/ha). On the other hand, the highest straw yield (9.1 t/ha) was observed in T₉ (100% NP + PM), indicating the strong effect of full phosphorus and nitrogen application with poultry manure. Additionally, the highest benefit-cost (B:C) ratio of 4.7 was recorded under T₁₀, highlighting the economic viability of this treatment. The combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers (T₁₀) demonstrated that integrated fertilization (50% NP + FYM + PM) significantly enhances peanut growth, yield, and profitability, offering a sustainable solution for peanut production in the region.

Evaluation and Genetic Analysis of Vegetative Traits in Different Genotypes of Bambara Groundnuts According to Seed Weight

Atiqullah Khaliqi — 2025-10-19

Analysis of genetic diversity in wild and cultivated plants is an essential requirement for any crop improvement involving genetic engineering, which includes evolution, ecological, geographical, and human factors, particularly in underutilized crops like Bambara groundnut. Therefore, knowledge of the genetic factors responsible for this character's inheritance is important for initiatives involving breeding that present significant genetic diversity in collections of germplasm. Five Bambara groundnut genotypes were evaluated using randomized complete block design with three replications. Three categories large, medium, and small seed sizes were used to group the seeds. For the majority of vegetative variables in the current study, significant differences were found across all 5 genotypes, 15 combinations of seed size and genotypes, seed size categories, and the interaction between genotype and seed size categories. For the overall variable, the impact of the environment on these traits was demonstrated by the fact that the phenotypic coefficient of variation was greater than the genotypic coefficient of variation. Moreover, low heritability and genetic advance were observed for whole vegetative traits. Both the phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV and PCV) estimation ranged from (0 to 10.71% and 3.84 to 48.36% respectively, for the vegetative parameters. Moderately GCV amounts (10.71%) and high PCV (24.77%) was recorded for the number of branches for each plant and the number of days to emergency. GCV (10.40%) and PCV (29.69%), while low GCV and high PCV have been recorded from rest vegetative variables except days to maturity that was low for both GCV and PCV. Further studies should be carryout for seeds weight on vegetative traits for improvement of these Bambara genotypes under different environments.

Economic Burden and Preventive Strategies for Ketosis and Milk Fever in Dairy Cows: A Systematic Review

Mohammad Monir Tawfeeq — 2025-03-30

Ketosis and milk fever (hypocalcemia) are common metabolic disorders affecting dairy cows, particularly around calving. These disorders significantly impact productivity in dairy farming. They impose substantial economic burdens through direct losses such as decreased milk production and indirect costs including animal treatment, increased culling rates, and labor demands. Several causative factors have been proposed for the occurrence of these disorders in cattle. Despite their global economic importance, limited research exists on the economic and preventive implications of ketosis and milk fever in developing countries such as Afghanistan, where dairy farming plays a critical role in rural livelihoods. The aim of this study is to highlight the economic and preventive significance of ketosis and milk fever, offering insights to farmers, veterinarians, and policymakers to enhance disease management and minimize losses. This article systematically analyzed peer-reviewed studies published between 1982 and 2025, using several electronic search engines. The study found that ketosis and milk fever were prevalent in dairy farms, which result in significant economic losses. Preventive measures including proper nutritional management, use of monensin, balancing of dietary cation-anion, and timely calcium supplementation are proven effective in minimizing the incidence and severity of mentioned disorders. It can be concluded that ketosis and milk fever lead to major global economic losses in dairy farming, but targeted nutritional and management strategies can substantially reduce their burden.

Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application and Rhizobium Bacteria Inoculation on Growth and Yield of Soybean (Glycine Max (L.) Merrill) in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan

Abdul Salam Hilali — 2025-10-19

One of the major advancements in modern agriculture from biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) research is the development of Rhizobium inoculants. Soybean, a legume with high nitrogen demand, forms an effective symbiosis with Rhizobium species, making it highly responsive to BNF. In Afghanistan, however, limited information exists on the combined effects of nitrogen fertilizer and Rhizobium inoculation on soybean productivity. This study evaluated the effects of Rhizobium japonicum inoculation, nitrogen fertilizer at two rates (25 and 50 kg N ha⁻¹), and their integration on soybean growth and yield. A field experiment was conducted during the 2024 summer season in Behsud district, Nangarhar province, using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments included control (no inoculation or nitrogen), Rhizo-Power inoculation, 25 kg N ha⁻¹, and 50 kg N ha⁻¹. Growth, reproductive, and yield parameters were measured, and data were analyzed using ANOVA at p < 0.05. Results showed significant treatment effects. The highest grain yield (1135 kg ha⁻¹), hay yield (821 kg ha⁻¹), and biological yield (1956 kg ha⁻¹) were obtained under full nitrogen application. Rhizobium inoculation alone and 25 kg N ha⁻¹ produced comparable grain yields (1025 and 992 kg ha⁻¹, respectively), while the control yielded the lowest (650 kg ha⁻¹). The findings demonstrate that integrating Rhizobium inoculation with reduced nitrogen fertilizer sustains high soybean yields, offering a cost-effective and environmentally friendly nutrient management strategy for Afghanistan’s agro-ecological conditions.