Salinity is affecting a large area of Pakistan. The country is situated in a semiarid and arid region where the climate is subtropical continental and the process of salinization and sodification is in progress. Excessive salt rates are adversely influencing the biological, chemical, and physical properties of soils. These physical and chemical changes influence the activity of soil microbes and plant roots, and eventually affect the crop growth and yield. Therefore, it is essential from the food security viewpoint to bring these salt-affected lands into agriculture production for the promptly growing population. The paper provides a brief overview of the different aspects of salt-affected soils regarding their extent, origin, existence, nature, types, causes, characteristics, visual diagnosis, effects on soils and plants, salttolerant plant species, management, strategies adopted in Pakistan to overcome salinity, saline, and bio-saline agriculture. Different issues of salinity can be managed by adopting strategies that are helpful in reclamation of such soils. The overview focuses on chemical and biological amendments as they are the most effective implements in improving various soil properties (soil permeability and structural stability) of saline/sodic soils for sustainable food production, thus, authenticating the potential of inorganic and organic amendments to reinstate soil quality. Salinity effects can be reduced to a higher level by the addition of fertilizers and these amendments may also improve nutrient use efficiency. Other sustainable agronomic practices (crop diversifications, leaching by irrigation water, scraping, etc are also pointed out that may inhibit and, in some cases, reverse the conditions of soil salinization.

Continuous application of phosphate (P) mineral to soil renders apatite addition during each crop growing season which is of great concern from a sustainable agriculture viewpoint. Use of efficient phosphate solubilizing microbes (PSB) is one of the most effective ways to solubilize this apatite mineral in the soil. The current study targeted hydroxyapatite mines to explore, isolate and characterize efficient P solubilizers to solubilize apatite in the soil. Efficiency of isolated microbes to solubilize rock phosphate (hydroxyapatite) and tri-calcium phosphate (TCP) as well as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (ACC) activity were tested. Identification and phylogenetic analysis of bacterial and fungal isolates were carried out by 16S rRNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequence analyses, respectively. The isolated bacterial strains were identified as Staphylococcus sp. , Bacillus firmus, Bacillus safensis, and Bacillus licheniformis whereas fungal isolates were identified as Penicillium sp. and Penicillium oxalicum. Results showed that the impact of identified strains in combination with three phosphate fertilizers sources (compost, rock phosphate and diammonium phosphate (DAP)) was conspicuous on maize crop grown in pot. Both bacterial and fungal strains increased the P uptake by plants as well as recorded with higher available P in post-harvested soil. Penicillium sp. in combination with compost resulted in maximum P-uptake by plants and post-harvest soil P contents, compared to other combinations of P sources and bio-inoculants. Screening and application of efficient P solubilizers can be a better option to utilize the indigenous phosphate reserves of soil as well as organic amendments for sustainable agriculture.

Vegetable oils have their specific physicochemical properties due to which they are playing vital role in human nutritional diet for health benefits. Cottonseed oil is obtained from various species of cotton seeds that are famous to be grown mainly for their fiber quality. The most prominently used specie is Gossypium hirsutum. It is obvious that the seeds of different variety of cotton vary as grown in diverse agroclimatic conditions with respect to oil, fats and protein contents. Cottonseed oil is routinely used for cooking and food manufacturing products. Cottonseed oil obtained after proper extraction/processing steps from crude state to refined oil in a variety of ways. Cotton crop is considered for their dual-use purpose, for fiber quality and oil production to promote health benefits in the world. Keeping in view the above facts, this review clearly demonstrated an overview about physicochemical and functional properties of cottonseed oil to promote health benefits associated with the use of this oil. The overall characteristics and all concerned health benefits of CSO will further improve their usefulness is a compact way. We have summarized a brief multi-dimensional features of CSO in all aspects up to the best of our knowledge for the end researchers who can further research in the respective aspect.

‘ Kinnow’ mandarin (Citrus nobilis L.× Citrus deliciosa T.) is an important marketable fruit of the world. It is mainstay of citrus industry in Pakistan, having great export potential. But out of total production of the country only 10% of the produce meets the international quality standard for export. Pre-harvest fruit drop and poor fruit quality could be associated with various issues including the plant nutrition. Most of the farmers do not pay attention to the supply of micro nutrients which are already deficient in the soil. Furthermore, their mobility within plants is also a question. Zinc (Zn) is amongst those micronutrients which affect the quality and postharvest life of the fruit and its deficiency in Pakistani soils is already reported by many researchers. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate the influence of pre-harvest applications of zinc sulfate (ZnSO4; 0, 0.4%, 0.6% or 0.8%) on pre-harvest fruit drop, yield and fruit quality of ‘Kinnow’ mandarin at harvest. The treatments were applied during the month of October i.e. 4 months prior to harvest. The applied Zn sprays had significant effect on yield and quality of the “Kinnow” fruit. Amongst different foliar applications of ZnSO4applied four months before harvest, 0.6% ZnSO4 significantly reduced pre-harvest fruit drop (10.08%) as compared to untreated control trees (46.45%). Similarly, the maximum number of fruits harvested per tree (627), fruit weight (192.9 g), juice percentage (42.2%), total soluble solids (9.5 °Brix), ascorbic acid content (35.5 mg 100 g-1) and sugar contents (17.4) were also found significantly higher with 0.6% ZnSO4 treatment as compared to rest of treatments and control. Foliar application of 0.6% ZnSO4 also significantly improved total antioxidants (TAO) and total phenolic contents (TPC) in fruit. In conclusion, foliar spray of ZnSO4 (0.6%) four months prior to harvest reduced pre-harvest fruit drop, increase yield with improved quality of ‘Kinnow’ mandarin fruit.

Rock phosphate is a non-renewable resource and a basic raw material of all the water soluble phosphatic fertilizers. The experiment was conducted to estimate usage of different organic amendments on release of P from rock phosphate using maize (Zea mays L.) as a test crop. In the first phase, phosphate rich organic manure (PROM) was prepared using cow dung, press mud and rock phosphate. In the second phase of study, efficiency of thus prepared PROM was evaluated for P release and uptake by maize plants. Treatments of the experiments were; T1 = Recommended NPK, T2 = Recommended NK + zero, T3 = Recommended NK + half Recommended P + Half P from PROM, T4 = Recommended NK = Recommended P + All recommended P from PROM, and T5 = Recommended NK + Recommended P + All recommended P from PROM. The results reveal that the combination of PROM and DAP improved the growth components of maize. PROM also indicated the changes to other soil associated properties like EC (dS m⁻¹) and soil pH. Similarly, PROM and recommended N, K, P from DAP produced the highest value of organic matter (0.94%), soil phosphorus concentration (20.06 mg kg⁻¹), soil potassium concentration (286.2 mg kg⁻¹), nitrogen concentration in plants (3.12%), phosphorous concentration in plants (0.31%), and potassium concentration in plants (3.50%) as compared to other treatments. The results suggest that rock phosphate is an environmental friendly and can be used as an alternate tool to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers.