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Urban Water Crisis in Kabul City: Key Challenges and Solutions
Get PDFWater is an essential human need for survival. However, billions globally wake up daily with accessible and affordable clean water. Rapid population growth, urbanization, climate change, precipitation regime changes, industrial development, and environmental degradation increase pressure on urban water resources. As a result, water demand is continuously rising, leading to prominent shortages in many cities in developing and developed countries, regardless of their developmental condition. One such city facing significant water scarcity is Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, where rapid urbanization has outpaced local water supply infrastructure, resulting in unsustainable exploitation of groundwater resources. This directly threatens the well-being of millions of residents in this city. In anticipation of the exhaustion of local water sources, Kabul will soon need to explore alternative water supply methods, such as inter-basin water transfers, to meet the growing demand. This paper aims to offer a broad overview of urban water crises, evaluating the key drivers of water shortages, exploring the specific water crisis facing Kabul, and analyzing previous research, reports, papers, flow data, groundwater data, maps/charts, field observations, surveys, GIS data, and statistical analysis as the methods for this work. So, to combat declining groundwater levels, a sustainable groundwater management approach is crucial. The approach includes water conservation methods, the implementation of efficient irrigation techniques, and the adoption of water pricing mechanisms
Baseline Survey of Plant Species Along Salang Road in Afghanistan
Get PDFThe Salang Road, a critical transportation corridor, serves as a vital link connecting the northern and southern parts of Afghanistan. In response to the government's decision to upgrade this road, assessing and documenting the plant species in the region is crucial. This study was conducted to catalog the plant species along the Salang Road, aiming to establish a comprehensive understanding of the area's botanical diversity. Plants were recorded using the quadrate sampling method at 35 sampling points. A transect line was set up at each sampling point, 5 quadrats were established along each line, and the occurrence of plants within the quadrat frame was recorded. Quadrat sizes, determined using the minimal area method, were 10×10 m for trees, 2×5 m for shrubs, and 1 m2 for herbs. Plants were identified with the help of literature and by comparing with the deposited specimen of Kabul University Faculty of Sciences Herbarium (KUFS). Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel. 135 diverse species, including trees, shrubs, and herbs, representing various ecological niches were documented. These species belong to 46 plant families, and the most abundant ones were Asteraceae, Apiaceae, Rosaceae, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, and Polygonaceae. The survey additionally examined road construction's impact on plant species' distribution and diversity. The survey provides valuable insights into the Salang corridor area's botanical diversity and ecological significance, serving as a foundational dataset for future environmental conservation and land management efforts. The information obtained from this study can support qualified decision-making and sustainable development practices in the region
Effects of Climate Change on Animal Production
Get PDFThis paper examines the impact of global warming on animal production worldwide. The accumulation of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere is causing changes in extreme weather patterns and consequent climate variations, substantially affecting crop and animal production. Climate change is altering the meadows and pastures that serve as the primary feed sources for animal husbandry, leading to production losses and threatening the sustainability of this sector. A holistic approach is proposed to mitigate the adverse effects of heat stress on animal production. This involves identifying gene regions resistant to heat stress through breeding studies, improving the physical environment by modifying diets, and enhancing the genetic resilience of animals to climate change. Understanding the adaptation mechanisms of these genes will be crucial for future selection programs, enabling breeding animals better suited to the emerging environments resulting from climate change. Selection and breeding of climate-tolerant animals that can survive and reproduce under extreme conditions will ensure their contribution to future generations. Furthermore, responsible practices throughout the production and consumption chain are necessary to preserve a habitable environment for upcoming generations. The solution lies in a multi-pronged strategy that combines genetic research, environmental improvements, responsible practices, and sustainable animal husbandry to combat the challenges posed by global warming and ensure the long-term viability of animal production
Identification and Ranking of Factors Affecting the Emission of CO Gas in Karkar Coal Mine
Get PDFKarkar coal mine is one of the biggest mines in the country, where mining has been going on since 1938. During the mining period, the Karkar mine has witnessed unfortunate incidents caused by the release and explosion of gases, which have caused substantial financial and human losses. Carbon monoxide gas is one of the essential factors in the occurrence of accidents in the Karkar mine. This research includes literature reviews, field data collection using the CEM CO-181 model gas meter, and statistical calculations using Shannon entropy and Promethee methods. First, the concentration of CO gas was measured in ventilation tunnels, development, and excavation areas. Extraction workshops of the Karkar coal mine at different working times, and then 26 cases that may result in a reduction in accidents were used as effective criteria, and 9 cases were used as influential factors on CO emissions through the order and distribution of questionnaires and interviews with identified experts. The final weights of twenty-six effective criteria on the emission of CO gas were calculated based on the Shannon entropy method. As a result, the criterion of consumed oils with a final weight of 0.1790 was ranked first, and the criterion of lack of experience with a final weight of 0.1065 was ranked last. The influential factors have been ranked based on the amount of net flow and the parameter method. As a result, the factors of mining fire and coal dust explosion ranked first and last, respectively, with net flows of 0.55 and -0.84, and the rest of the factors are placed in different positions according to their net flow rate and have their effects on the emission of CO gas
Impacts of Humic Acid on Growth and Yield of Wheat: A Review
Get PDFWheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a crucial crop, providing 20% of caloric intake for many populations worldwide. Soil organic matter, an essential component of soil, directly influences soil fertility and texture. Humic substances, derived from biomolecules' physical, chemical, and microbiological transformation, are integral to soil humus. Humic acid has become a standard method for enhancing crop growth, yield, and soil fertility. While the effects of humic acid on wheat have been extensively studied, the optimal type and application method for wheat cultivation remain undetermined. This review investigates sustainable wheat production methods using humic acid to mitigate the negative impacts of chemical fertilizers and climate change factors. Research indicates that humic acid significantly increases wheat plant growth parameters: shoot length (18%), root length (29%), shoot dry weight (76%), root dry weight (100%), and chlorophyll content (96%). Moreover, humic acid substantially improves wheat yield and yield components, including spike length (14.66%), number of spikes per square meter (28.73%), number of spikelets per spike (23.52%), and 1000-grain weight (23.90%). As a sustainable organic substance, humic acid application offers a promising approach to improving wheat production. This method could help meet the food demands of the growing global population, particularly in countries like Afghanistan, where food security is a pressing concern
Influence of Silicon Application Timing on the Performance of Rice Under Limited Water Supply
Get PDFThe beneficial impact of Silicon (Si) in mitigating diverse abiotic stresses, such as drought stress, has been extensively recorded across various crops. A pot experiment was conducted at the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, to evaluate the performance of a popular Thai rice variety (RD57) commonly cultivated in Thailand's central plains under three soil moisture levels as affected by five Si application timings. Si was added to the soil at 300 kg Si ha–1. Reduced water supply (75% field capacity [FC] and 50% FC) caused lengthening of the growth period with reduced yield and its components. Si application resulted in an enhanced root and shoot growth irrespective of application timings, compared with the control. However, Si application with split doses of 25% at basal, 50% at panicle initiation (PI), and 25% at the heading stage was found to be the most effective. Even under severe water stress, more root growth and panicle numbers were found during this application timing. Si absorption was also found more for all application timings than the control; however, the same application timing resulted in the highest absorption (8.62%). A strong positive correlation was observed between Si uptake and grain and straw yield under all moisture-deficient conditions. Si application can be recommended in split doses for rice cultivation under a limited water supply
Evaluating the Yield Performance of Eight Cotton Improved Varieties with Two Local in the Agro-Ecological Zone Western, Kandahar
Get PDFCotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is a crucial crop that produces fluffy fiber essential for the global textile industry. Cottonseed is also a valuable raw material for oil and feed industries due to its high protein content. This study compared nine varieties (Namken, Agosta, N726, Turkish, CD-401, Acala 151799, Blanka, Paloma, and Acala 1517-75) with two local standard cultivars (F-108 and Acala) to identify highly adaptable and sustainable varieties for regional and global markets based on yield performance. The trial was conducted in 2018 at the Kokaron research farm in Kandahar, a semi-arid region. The experiment was established by ARIA using a randomized complete block design with four replications, with each plot measuring 12 m². Results revealed that Agosta produced the highest cottonseed yield, followed by Namken. Furthermore, Agosta achieved the highest total yield, with Namken, Blanka, Paloma, and N726 following in descending order among all tested varieties. Fiber length varied significantly among all varieties under investigation. In conclusion, eight varieties (Agosta, Namken, Blanka, Paloma, N726, Turkish, Acala 151799, and CD-401) demonstrated higher economic production compared to the regional standard varieties, with Agosta emerging as the most promising variety for the research area
de Nova Whole Genome Sequencing of Marssonina Juglandis Causing Walnut (Juglandis Regia L.) Anthracnose and Development of PCR-Based Diagnosis Using Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) Markers
Get PDFWalnut anthracnose, caused by Marssonina juglandis, is one of the economically important diseases of walnuts worldwide. The pathogen is a filamentous fungus belonging to the class Leotiomycetes. In this study, we isolated and purified the Marssonina juglandis from walnut leaves collected from the walnut orchard of SKUAST-Kashmir. The whole genome of the pathogen was sequenced using the Illumina HiSeq NGS platform. The whole genome of the pathogen was found to be 63.6354 Mb in size with 1916 scaffolds, 12086 genes, 205 total tRNAs, and 6884 SSRs containing 5861 SSRs with 150 flanking regions. A phylogenetic analysis using whole-genome alignment revealed that Marssonina juglandis is closely related to Cryphonectria parasitica and Coniella lustricola. The BlastP analysis using Uniprot, Pfam, and KOG showed 7612, 5515, and 5163 protein hits out of 12086 proteins. The total number of genes responsible for biological processes, molecular function, and cellular components were 1583, 1429, and 1843, respectively. In the Venn diagram, 3912 genes were found to be common in all three software, namely Uniprot, Pfam, and KOG including NR. In addition, we developed the SSR markers based on the whole genome and standardized them against 25 isolates of the Marssonina juglandis collected, isolated, and purified from the walnut-infected leaves in Jammu and Kashmir, India. Out of 30 randomly selected SSRs, 17 SSRs showed successful PCR amplification in 25 pathogen isolates that were found to be highly polymorphic. Further, a PCR-based detection protocol using SSR markers was also developed for early detection of the disease in the field for timely management. We found two primers that could successfully amplify the pathogen in DNA extracted directly from the infected walnut leaves.
Roadmap for Integrated Pest Management in Afghanistan
Get PDFIntegrated Pest Management (IPM) is a sustainable, science-based decision-making process broadly implemented in agriculture to identify and reduce risks from plant pests and their management-related strategies. In the IPM roadmap program, along with identifying strategic directions for research, implementation activities are essential to realize the full benefits of IPM adaptation. International markets demand high-quality agricultural products without pesticide residues or low Maximum Residue Limits (MRL). Meeting these market demands poses a challenge for growers, given the rise in production costs and the concurrent decline or instability in commodity prices. As the country’s preferred method of tackling crop protection issues, the government has not adopted IPM as a national policy. The Roadmap for the IPM program identifies strategic directions for research, implementation, and measurement activities needed to realize the full benefits of IPM adoption. Their information and views on IPM approaches were collected through consultation with Afghan stakeholders. Based on these views and the facts stated above, this Roadmap has been developed for the country’s agriculture sector
Development Approaches of Wheat (Triticum Aestivum) Cultivars for Achieving Food Security in Afghanistan
Get PDFWheat (Triticum aestivum) is considered a staple crop that provides most of our energy and nutritional needs while also making up most of our diet in Afghanistan. However, drought stress and climate change are the obstacles to producing enough wheat. High-yielding cultivars resistant to biological and non-biological stresses must be produced using various techniques, including genetic modification and selection. Afghanistan has recently experienced extreme weather variations, which have significantly impacted the evolution of diseases, pests, and the climate. Rapid genetic improvement is required for crop resistance to remain stable in challenging conditions. The major objective of this article is to review wheat breeding methods such as rapid breeding (RB), double haploid (DH), biotechnological improvement (BI), genomic selection (GS), and Genotype-phenotype interaction evaluation (G x E). The traditional development period, which is typically 10–12 years, can be shortened to less than 5 years by integrating the techniques above simultaneously. The precise information on breeding techniques appropriate for Afghanistan's climate and topography is the main focus of this research, and it will be crucial to the wheat breeding program