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Papers by Sher Muhammad

Research paper thumbnail of SCREENINGFORLEAFRUSTRESISTANCEANDASSOCIATIONOFLEAF RUSTWITHEPEDIOMOLOGICALFACTORSINWHEAT (TriticumaestivumL.)

Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research

Three hundred and twenty five genotypes of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were evaluated for ... more Three hundred and twenty five genotypes of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were evaluated for leaf rust resistance against local pathotypes under field conditions during crop season of 2010-11 and 2011-12. On the basis of leaf rust severity scale in the year 2010-2011, 225 wheat genotypes showed no reaction against leaf rust, 12 genotypes showed resistance response, 20 moderately resistance, 40 moderately susceptible, 15 moderately resistant to moderately susceptible and 13 genotypes showed susceptible response against leaf rust. During the year 2011-12, 233 wheat genotypes showed no reaction, 8 genotypes showed resistance response, 14 moderately resistance, 40 moderately susceptible, 8 moderately resistant to moderately susceptible and 22 genotypes showed susceptible response against leaf rust of wheat. Slow rusting cultivars corresponded low AUDPC values but high rusting lines corresponded high values. Epidemiological factors have greatly influenced the development of leaf rust. Rust reactions of different genotypes showed statistically significant correlation with environmental conditions. Average temperature, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, rainfall and relative humidity correlated with leaf rust reactions. It was also observed that some genotypes showed varying response during the two crop seasons which may be attributable to variations in environmental factors.

Research paper thumbnail of Comparison of of Two Nutrient Solution Recipes for Growing Cucumbers in a Non-Circulating Hydroponic System

Plants of the cucumber variety 'Market-more' were grown in 13-litre plastic trash bins using ½ an... more Plants of the cucumber variety 'Market-more' were grown in 13-litre plastic trash bins using ½ and full strength Cooper's and Imai's nutrient solutions on a randomized complete block design xperimentin the greenhouse facility of

Research paper thumbnail of Role of Demonstrations in the Dissemination of Rice Production Technology

In Pakistan, rice is the second most important food as well as a cash crop, which occupies 11% of... more In Pakistan, rice is the second most important food as well as a cash crop, which occupies 11% of the country s' cropped area. Pakistan is the fifth largest rice exporting country in the world. It has been generally observed that rice growers who adopt latest plant protection measures and follow other recommended practices; get much higher yield per hectare than those who do not adopt latest rice production technology. The Dept. of Agri. (Ext.) Govt. of the Punjab has been trying its best to increase per hectare yield of various crops including rice by using different extension methods especially the demonstrations. Demonstrations are considered to be the foundation stone of extension teaching. The present paper aims to assess the role of demonstrations in the adoption of recommended agricultural technologies by the farmers. The data show that a simple majority (56.67%) of the respondents was aware of the existence of rice crop demonstration plots in their area/village. None of the respondents acknowledged the role of demonstrations in the dissemination of rice crop recommendations including seed rate, seed treatments, time of sowing/transplanting, seed bed preparation, use of fertilizers, application of Zinc Sulphate, irrigation, weed control, application of plant protection measures and harvesting. While rating the contribution of demonstrations in the dissemination of information about rice recommendations with regard to sowing method of rice, one-fourth of the respondents rated the demonstrations as high, 12.50% rated very high. However, 9.17, 4.17 and 3.33% of the respondents rated the contribution as medium low and very low respectively.

Research paper thumbnail of Factors affecting the effectiveness of print media in the dissemination of Agricultural information

Sarhad J. Agric, 2011

Pakistan is predominantly an agricultural country; its development is mainly dependent on this se... more Pakistan is predominantly an agricultural country; its development is mainly dependent on this sector. However, despite accelerated government efforts which are under way for a rapid breakthrough in agricultural productivity, average per hectare yield of various crops in the country is still much lower than that obtained in many other countries of the world. It may mainly be attributed to poor farm management by farmers. This situation demands proper education of farmers about latest agricultural technology, which can be achieved through non-formal education by extension agencies. Extension teaching methods used for this purpose are classified into three categorizes: individual, group and mass contacts. Individual and group methods cannot reach every one who might need and use the information. So mass media (electronic and print) are used to reach large number of people quickly. Among mass media, print media are the important means to convey the latest agricultural information to the farmers. Presently a lot of printed material is being published by public and private organizations for the dissemination of agricultural information. However, it has been observed that the print media are not playing their expected role. Keeping in view the importance of print media, the present study was designed to determine the factors affecting their effectiveness in the dissemination of agricultural information among farmers in the Punjab. The population for the study was the subscribers of the top three agricultural magazines (with respect to their circulation). A sampling frame was constructed by listing all the subscribers of the selected agricultural magazines. A sample of 361 respondents was selected from the entire population. The data were collected in July-Dec. 2008 with the help of a pre-tested and validated questionnaire designed for this purpose and was analyzed by using computer software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results showed that the print media were major sources of information of the farmers. Some important factors which affected their effectiveness were quality of information, newness, farmers' interest, in time publication, easy access to print media, relevance of information, literacy level of farmers, comprehensiveness, and cost of print media.

Research paper thumbnail of Working of Commodity Specialized Extension Approach Followed by Sugar Mills in Faisalabad–Pakistan

Journal of Agriculture and …, 2005

Agriculture sector not only fulfill the human food and animal feed requirements of the country bu... more Agriculture sector not only fulfill the human food and animal feed requirements of the country but also provides raw material to its agro-based industry. In the foreign trade, it is agriculture, which dominates through exports of raw commodities like rice, cotton and fruits; semi processed and processed products like cotton yarn, cloth, carpets and leather products. To improve agricultural production through effective dissemination of agricultural technology, various extension approaches have been tried from time to time including commodity specialized approach. Data were collected through 120 respondents randomly selected from 10 villages of Chak Jhumra tehsil of Faisalabad. Data were collected with the help of pre-tested interview schedule. The results showed that a large majority (85.0 & 88.3%) of the respondents planted sugarcane during spring and autumn seasons on an area up to 5 acres. One plough with rotavator or disc plough was known to 100.0% of the respondents and it was adopted by 96.7% of them. CP-77-400 and COJ-84 were known to 85.0 and 75.0% of the respondents and in same sequence were adopted by 71.7 and 43.3% of the respondents respectively.

Research paper thumbnail of Adoption of recommended agricultural technologies by farmers as an indicator of effective communication by extension field staff

Int. J. Agri. Biol, 2001

Farmers' awareness of the latest technologies and adoption thereof can mainly be attributed ... more Farmers' awareness of the latest technologies and adoption thereof can mainly be attributed to effective communication by extension field staff. In order to study the existing levels of awareness and adoption by farmers, the recommended sugarcane technologies were selected. The ...

Research paper thumbnail of Combining Offline and Online Preprocessing for Online Urdu Character Recognition

Proceedings of the …, 2009

Urdu online handwriting recognition is a very challenging task due to its cursive nature. Pre-pro... more Urdu online handwriting recognition is a very challenging task due to its cursive nature. Pre-processing of the raw input strokes is crucial part for the success of character recognition system. The findings from online data are not enough for recognition of Urdu due to the complexities of Urdu script. This paper describes the preprocessing steps for online character recognition. A novel technique is presented for preprocessing of Urdu online text in which both online and offline domain are used to remove the variations and to increase the efficiency of the recognition system for online input. The proposed technique is also the necessary step towards character recognition, person identification, personality determination where input data is processed from all perspectives.

Research paper thumbnail of Role of Farmer Field Schools in enhancing skills of farming community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, 2013

Farmer Field School (FFS) is a capacity building approach, which provides opportunities to farmer... more Farmer Field School (FFS) is a capacity building approach, which provides opportunities to farmers of improving various skills through practicing various techniques by themselves. Considering therefore, the importance of this approach, the study was conducted in 2011 to examine the role of FFS in enhancing skills of farming community in the central region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The data were collected through survey method on various aspects from 280 randomly selected farmer respondents. The data collected were analyzed by applying simple descriptive statistics showing means, scores, ranking order and standard deviations. The results show that skills were highly enhanced in st the aspect of nursery raising techniques which was ranked 1 with mean value 3.40 closely followed by timely and balanced use of fertilizers and nd rd using recommended seed rate, which were ranked 2 and 3 with mean value 3.08 and 3.05, respectively. While, skill improvement in plant protection especially in the area of insect pests identification was ranked st 1 with mean value 3.22 closely followed by insect pests control by local nd rd recipes and their mass killing which were ranked 2 and 3 with mean values 3.03 and 2.84, respectively. Likewise, chemical and manual weed st nd control measures were ranked 1 and 2 with mean values 2.99 and 2.97, respectively. Correspondingly, farmers' skills in furrow irrigation was ranked at the top with mean value 3.32 followed by flood, border and basin irrigation techniques with mean values 2.98, 2.85 and 2.76, respectively. Hence, it can be concluded that farmers' skills in all the selected aspects were improved as a result of their participation in FFS' sessions.

Research paper thumbnail of Integrating Copernicus Satellite Products and Ground-Truthing for Documenting and Monitoring the Impact of the 2022 Extreme Floods in Pakistan on Cultural Heritage

Remote Sensing

The catastrophic floods that hit Pakistan in summer 2022 represent the latest example of climate ... more The catastrophic floods that hit Pakistan in summer 2022 represent the latest example of climate change-induced extreme events occurring in South Asia. In addition to the dramatic impact on population and infrastructures, this event threatened UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS) and properties of national interest. However, while a wealth of national and international mapping initiatives were conducted based on satellite imagery to assess damage to people, buildings and economic goods, the impact caused to archaeological sites and monuments has not been fully unveiled yet. To bridge this gap and provide an integrated approach that can be used by local end-users to assess damage and, in turn, collect evidence to inform and improve risk management plans, the present paper integrates Sentinel-1 and 2 imagery and mapping products derived from them (e.g., Copernicus Emergency Management Service Global Flood Mapping) with ground-truthing and geospatial datasets. Through a multidisciplinary ...

Research paper thumbnail of Contemporary Snow Changes in the Karakoram Region Attributed to Improved MODIS Data between 2003 and 2018

Water

Snowmelt significantly contributes to meltwater in most parts of High Mountain Asia. The Karakora... more Snowmelt significantly contributes to meltwater in most parts of High Mountain Asia. The Karakoram region is one of these densely glacierized and snow-covered regions. Several studies have reported that glaciers in the Karakoram region remained stable or experience slight mass loss. This trend has called for further investigation to understand changes in other components of the cryosphere. This study estimates the comparative snow cover area (SCA) and snowline altitude (SLA) changes between 2003 and 2018 in the Karakoram region and its subbasins, including Hunza, Shigar, and Shyok. We used three different 8-day composite snow products of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) in this study including (1) Original Aqua (MYD10A2), (2) Original Terra (MOD10A2), and (3) Improved Terra-Aqua (MOYDGL06*) snow products from 2003 to 2018. We used Mann–Kendall and Sen Slope methods to assess trends in the SCA and SLA. Our results show that the original snow products are sign...

Research paper thumbnail of Spatiotemporal Analysis of Climatic Extremes over the Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan

Water

The Hindukush-Karakoram-Himalayan (HKH) ranges and their massive cryosphere extend over the Upper... more The Hindukush-Karakoram-Himalayan (HKH) ranges and their massive cryosphere extend over the Upper Indus Basin (UIB) and are prone to incapacitated water supply due to the proclivity of globally increased temperature. Due to excessive carbon emissions, frequent incursions including extreme climatic events, are likely to happen sooner than expected on a regional scale due to recent climate change. The present study examined the variability of climatic extremes (18 indices) during 1971 to2018 over the UIB. The Mann-Kendall (MK) test and Sen’s methods were applied for statistical analysis as the former deals with the magnitude of trends while the direction of observed trends was identified by the latter in climatological time-series data. The frequency and intensity of summer days (SU25 > 25 °C/year) at 13 out of 27 stations significantly increased, particularly in lower regions. The same warming proclivity was dominant in tropical nights (TR20 > 20 °C/year) at 20 stations includi...

Research paper thumbnail of Hyperspectral Mapping Methods For Differentiating Mangrove Species Along Karachi Coast

It is necessary to monitor and identify mangroves types and spatial extent near coastal areas bec... more It is necessary to monitor and identify mangroves types and spatial extent near coastal areas because it plays an important role in coastal ecosystem and environmental protection. This research aims at identifying and mapping mangroves types along Karachi coast ranging from 24.79<sup>0</sup> to 24.85<sup>0</sup> in latitude and 66.91<sup>0</sup> to 66.97<sup>0</sup> in longitude using hyperspectral remote sensing data and techniques. Image acquired during February, 2012 through Hyperion sensor have been used for this research. Image pre processing includes geometric and radiometric correction followed by Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF) and Pixel Purity Index (PPI). The output of MNF and PPI has been analyzed by visualizing it in n-dimensions for end member extraction. Well distributed clusters on the n-dimensional scatter plot have been selected with the region of interest (ROI) tool as end members. These end members have been used as an ...

Research paper thumbnail of An improved Terra/Aqua MODIS snow-cover and RGI6.0 glacier combined product (MOYDGL06*) for the High Mountain Asia between 2002 and 2018

Snow is a significant component of the ecosystem and water resources in the High Mountain Asia (H... more Snow is a significant component of the ecosystem and water resources in the High Mountain Asia (HMA). Therefore, an accurate, continuous and long-term snow monitoring is indispensable for the water resources management and economic development. The present study improves Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard Terra 10 and Aqua 8-day composite snow–cover Collection 6 (C6) named as MOD10A2.006 and MYD10A2.006, respectively for HMA by a multi-step approach. The primary purpose of this study was to reduce uncertainty in the Terra/Aqua MODIS snow cover and generate a combined snow cover product. For reducing underestimation mainly caused by cloud cover, we used seasonal, temporal, and spatial filters. For reducing overestimation caused by MODIS sensor, we combined MODIS Terra and Aqua snow-cover products considering snow only if a pixel is a snow in both the products otherwise no snow, unlike some 15 previous studies considering snow if any of the Terra or Aqua pro...

Research paper thumbnail of Association mapping for resistance to leaf rust in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The present study was carried out on spring wheat germplasm to mine the nature and magnitude of m... more The present study was carried out on spring wheat germplasm to mine the nature and magnitude of morphological diversity and LD based association between markers and leaf rust resistance and different yield traits of wheat. The diversity patterns among 325 genotypes on the basis of phenotypic data revealed the extent of diversity which can be exploited for future breeding programs. Out of ten quantitative traits phenotyped, tillers per plant, 1000 grain weight, biological yield and harvest index contributed significant principal components (PCs) and highly significant correlation with grain yield per plant. Leaf rust trait showed negative association with yield related traits in principal components. On the basis of leaf rust reaction and severity of different genotypes, a natural population of 94 wheat genotypes is surveyed to determine marker-trait associations underlying the leaf rust trait on a genome wide level using linkage disequilibrium (LD). SSR markers were scanned to ident...

Research paper thumbnail of Hydrological Response of the Kunhar River Basin in Pakistan to Climate Change and Anthropogenic Impacts on Runoff Characteristics

Water, 2021

Pakistan is amongst the most water-stressed countries in the world, with changes in the frequency... more Pakistan is amongst the most water-stressed countries in the world, with changes in the frequency of extreme events, notably droughts, under climate change expected to further increase water scarcity. This study examines the impacts of climate change and anthropogenic activities on the runoff of the Kunhar River Basin (KRB) in Pakistan. The Mann Kendall (MK) test detected statistically significant increasing trends in both precipitation and evapotranspiration during the period 1971–2010 over the basin, but with the lack of a statistically significant trend in runoff over the same time-period. Then, a change-point analysis identified changes in the temporal behavior of the annual runoff time series in 1996. Hence, the time series was divided into two time periods, i.e., prior to and after that change: 1971–1996 and 1997–2010, respectively. For the time-period prior to the change point, the analysis revealed a statistically significant increasing trend in precipitation, which is also ...

Research paper thumbnail of Flood Hazard Mapping of Rivers in Snow- and Glacier-Fed Basins of Different Hydrological Regimes Using a Hydrodynamic Model under RCP Scenarios

Water, 2021

The global warming trends have accelerated snow and glacier melt in mountainous river basins, whi... more The global warming trends have accelerated snow and glacier melt in mountainous river basins, which has increased the probability of glacial outburst flooding. Recurrent flood events are a challenge for the developing economy of Pakistan in terms of damage to infrastructure and loss of lives. Flood hazard maps can be used for future flood damage assessment, preparedness, and mitigation. The current study focused on the assessment and mapping of flood-prone areas in small settlements of the major snow- and glacier-fed river basins situated in Hindukush–Karakoram–Himalaya (HKH) under future climate scenarios. The Hydrologic Engineering Center-River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) model was used for flood simulation and mapping. The ALOS 12.5 m Digital Elevation Model (DEM) was used to extract river geometry, and the flows generated in these river basins using RCP scenarios were used as the inflow boundary condition. Severe flooding would inundate an area of ~66%, ~86%, ~37% (under mid-21st ...

Research paper thumbnail of A holistic view of Shisper Glacier surge and outburst floods: from physical processes to downstream impacts

Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk, 2021

We observed the surge velocity, terminus advance, lake formation and outburst, as well as its dow... more We observed the surge velocity, terminus advance, lake formation and outburst, as well as its downstream impacts at Shisper Glacier in the Karakoram, Pakistan and suggest potential naturebased risk-reduction solutions. A recent surge started in late 2017 with increased velocity since April 2018 and a resulting terminus advance from June 2018. Bi-modal peak velocity of 19.2 ± 0.16 m/ day was observed in April-May 2018 and May-June 2019. Also, the terminus advance blocked the river from the adjacent Muchuhar Glacier repeatedly since November 2018. Lake outbursts were observed in June 2019 and April 2020. Relying on observations of the lake area and peak discharge of 142 m 3 s À1 in 2019 and 85 m 3 s À1 April 2020, outburst were simulated using the BASEMENT software. Simulations and field observations show that even at high discharge, damages were mainly observed along the main river channel, causing strong bank erosion rather than widespread inundation of land. The ice-dammed lake is potentially hazardous until the blocked stream completely disappears in future. Our results suggest that the biggest lake outburst hazard lies in its erosion potential with damages to infrastructure closest to the river and large sediments transport to the downstream Hunza River.

Research paper thumbnail of Differentiating Snow and Glacier Melt Contribution to Runoff in the Gilgit River Basin via Degree-Day Modelling Approach

Atmosphere, 2020

In contrast to widespread glacier retreat evidenced globally, glaciers in the Karakoram region ha... more In contrast to widespread glacier retreat evidenced globally, glaciers in the Karakoram region have exhibited positive mass balances and general glacier stability over the past decade. Snow and glacier meltwater from the Karakoram and the western Himalayas, which supplies the Indus River Basin, provide an essential source of water to more than 215 million people, either directly, as potable water, or indirectly, through hydroelectric generation and irrigation for crops. This study focuses on water resources in the Upper Indus Basin (UIB) which combines the ranges of the Hindukush, Karakoram and Himalaya (HKH). Specifically, we focus on the Gilgit River Basin (GRB) to inform more sustainable water use policy at the sub-basin scale. We employ two degree-day approaches, the Spatial Processes in Hydrology (SPHY) and Snowmelt Runoff Model (SRM), to simulate runoff in the GRB during 2001–2012. The performance of SRM was poor during July and August, the period when glacier melt contributio...

Research paper thumbnail of Reply to Anonymous Referee #1

The previous data (8-day composite) is not useful for understanding and observation of e.g., snow... more The previous data (8-day composite) is not useful for understanding and observation of e.g., snow onset, the start of snowmelt time, detailed daily snowmelt simulations. In contrast, the daily MODIS (Terra and Aqua) improved snow product in this manuscript will enable the users to derive daily hydro-glaciological (glacier and snowmelt runoff) simulations, snow onset and the start of snowmelt (useful for hydropower and irrigation purposes), and other water-related studies which (daily observations and simulations) were not possible from the 8-day composite data.

Research paper thumbnail of An improved Terra–Aqua MODIS daily cloud-free snow and Randolph Glacier Inventory 6.0 combined product (M*D10A1GL06) for high-mountain Asia between 2002 and 2019

Snow is a dominant water resource in High Mountain Asia (HMA) and crucial for the mountain commun... more Snow is a dominant water resource in High Mountain Asia (HMA) and crucial for the mountain communities and downstream population. Snow cover monitoring is significant to understand regional climate change, managing meltwater, and associated hazards/disasters. The uncertainties in passive optical remote sensing snow products mainly underestimation caused by cloud-cover and overestimation associated with sensorsˈ 10 limitations hamper the understand snow dynamics. We reduced the biases in Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Terra and Aqua daily snow data and generated a combined daily snow product for High Mountain Asia between 2002 and 2019. An improved MODIS 8-day composite MOYDGL06* product was used as a base for reducing the underestimation and overestimation of snow in daily products. The daily MODIS Terra and Aqua images were improved by the corresponding 8-day composite image of the MOYDGL06* product 15 by implementing cloud removal algorithms followed by gap filling and reduction in overestimated snow beyond the respective 8-day composite snow extent. The daily Terra and Aqua snow products were combined and merged with the Randolph Glacier Inventory (RGI) Version 6.0 to make a more complete cryosphere product. The pixel values in the daily combined product are preserved and reversible to the individual Terra and Aqua improved products. We suggest a probabilistic approach for deriving snow cover statistics from our final snow product. The 20 pixels with values 200, 242, and 252 indicate snow in both Terra and Aqua and has a 100 % probability, whereas pixels with snow in one of the Terra or Aqua products have a 50% probability. The data associated with this paper are available for the end-users mainly useful for observation and simulation of climate, hydro-glaciological forcings, calibration, validation, and other water-related studies. The data are available at

Research paper thumbnail of SCREENINGFORLEAFRUSTRESISTANCEANDASSOCIATIONOFLEAF RUSTWITHEPEDIOMOLOGICALFACTORSINWHEAT (TriticumaestivumL.)

Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research

Three hundred and twenty five genotypes of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were evaluated for ... more Three hundred and twenty five genotypes of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were evaluated for leaf rust resistance against local pathotypes under field conditions during crop season of 2010-11 and 2011-12. On the basis of leaf rust severity scale in the year 2010-2011, 225 wheat genotypes showed no reaction against leaf rust, 12 genotypes showed resistance response, 20 moderately resistance, 40 moderately susceptible, 15 moderately resistant to moderately susceptible and 13 genotypes showed susceptible response against leaf rust. During the year 2011-12, 233 wheat genotypes showed no reaction, 8 genotypes showed resistance response, 14 moderately resistance, 40 moderately susceptible, 8 moderately resistant to moderately susceptible and 22 genotypes showed susceptible response against leaf rust of wheat. Slow rusting cultivars corresponded low AUDPC values but high rusting lines corresponded high values. Epidemiological factors have greatly influenced the development of leaf rust. Rust reactions of different genotypes showed statistically significant correlation with environmental conditions. Average temperature, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, rainfall and relative humidity correlated with leaf rust reactions. It was also observed that some genotypes showed varying response during the two crop seasons which may be attributable to variations in environmental factors.

Research paper thumbnail of Comparison of of Two Nutrient Solution Recipes for Growing Cucumbers in a Non-Circulating Hydroponic System

Plants of the cucumber variety 'Market-more' were grown in 13-litre plastic trash bins using ½ an... more Plants of the cucumber variety 'Market-more' were grown in 13-litre plastic trash bins using ½ and full strength Cooper's and Imai's nutrient solutions on a randomized complete block design xperimentin the greenhouse facility of

Research paper thumbnail of Role of Demonstrations in the Dissemination of Rice Production Technology

In Pakistan, rice is the second most important food as well as a cash crop, which occupies 11% of... more In Pakistan, rice is the second most important food as well as a cash crop, which occupies 11% of the country s' cropped area. Pakistan is the fifth largest rice exporting country in the world. It has been generally observed that rice growers who adopt latest plant protection measures and follow other recommended practices; get much higher yield per hectare than those who do not adopt latest rice production technology. The Dept. of Agri. (Ext.) Govt. of the Punjab has been trying its best to increase per hectare yield of various crops including rice by using different extension methods especially the demonstrations. Demonstrations are considered to be the foundation stone of extension teaching. The present paper aims to assess the role of demonstrations in the adoption of recommended agricultural technologies by the farmers. The data show that a simple majority (56.67%) of the respondents was aware of the existence of rice crop demonstration plots in their area/village. None of the respondents acknowledged the role of demonstrations in the dissemination of rice crop recommendations including seed rate, seed treatments, time of sowing/transplanting, seed bed preparation, use of fertilizers, application of Zinc Sulphate, irrigation, weed control, application of plant protection measures and harvesting. While rating the contribution of demonstrations in the dissemination of information about rice recommendations with regard to sowing method of rice, one-fourth of the respondents rated the demonstrations as high, 12.50% rated very high. However, 9.17, 4.17 and 3.33% of the respondents rated the contribution as medium low and very low respectively.

Research paper thumbnail of Factors affecting the effectiveness of print media in the dissemination of Agricultural information

Sarhad J. Agric, 2011

Pakistan is predominantly an agricultural country; its development is mainly dependent on this se... more Pakistan is predominantly an agricultural country; its development is mainly dependent on this sector. However, despite accelerated government efforts which are under way for a rapid breakthrough in agricultural productivity, average per hectare yield of various crops in the country is still much lower than that obtained in many other countries of the world. It may mainly be attributed to poor farm management by farmers. This situation demands proper education of farmers about latest agricultural technology, which can be achieved through non-formal education by extension agencies. Extension teaching methods used for this purpose are classified into three categorizes: individual, group and mass contacts. Individual and group methods cannot reach every one who might need and use the information. So mass media (electronic and print) are used to reach large number of people quickly. Among mass media, print media are the important means to convey the latest agricultural information to the farmers. Presently a lot of printed material is being published by public and private organizations for the dissemination of agricultural information. However, it has been observed that the print media are not playing their expected role. Keeping in view the importance of print media, the present study was designed to determine the factors affecting their effectiveness in the dissemination of agricultural information among farmers in the Punjab. The population for the study was the subscribers of the top three agricultural magazines (with respect to their circulation). A sampling frame was constructed by listing all the subscribers of the selected agricultural magazines. A sample of 361 respondents was selected from the entire population. The data were collected in July-Dec. 2008 with the help of a pre-tested and validated questionnaire designed for this purpose and was analyzed by using computer software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results showed that the print media were major sources of information of the farmers. Some important factors which affected their effectiveness were quality of information, newness, farmers' interest, in time publication, easy access to print media, relevance of information, literacy level of farmers, comprehensiveness, and cost of print media.

Research paper thumbnail of Working of Commodity Specialized Extension Approach Followed by Sugar Mills in Faisalabad–Pakistan

Journal of Agriculture and …, 2005

Agriculture sector not only fulfill the human food and animal feed requirements of the country bu... more Agriculture sector not only fulfill the human food and animal feed requirements of the country but also provides raw material to its agro-based industry. In the foreign trade, it is agriculture, which dominates through exports of raw commodities like rice, cotton and fruits; semi processed and processed products like cotton yarn, cloth, carpets and leather products. To improve agricultural production through effective dissemination of agricultural technology, various extension approaches have been tried from time to time including commodity specialized approach. Data were collected through 120 respondents randomly selected from 10 villages of Chak Jhumra tehsil of Faisalabad. Data were collected with the help of pre-tested interview schedule. The results showed that a large majority (85.0 & 88.3%) of the respondents planted sugarcane during spring and autumn seasons on an area up to 5 acres. One plough with rotavator or disc plough was known to 100.0% of the respondents and it was adopted by 96.7% of them. CP-77-400 and COJ-84 were known to 85.0 and 75.0% of the respondents and in same sequence were adopted by 71.7 and 43.3% of the respondents respectively.

Research paper thumbnail of Adoption of recommended agricultural technologies by farmers as an indicator of effective communication by extension field staff

Int. J. Agri. Biol, 2001

Farmers' awareness of the latest technologies and adoption thereof can mainly be attributed ... more Farmers' awareness of the latest technologies and adoption thereof can mainly be attributed to effective communication by extension field staff. In order to study the existing levels of awareness and adoption by farmers, the recommended sugarcane technologies were selected. The ...

Research paper thumbnail of Combining Offline and Online Preprocessing for Online Urdu Character Recognition

Proceedings of the …, 2009

Urdu online handwriting recognition is a very challenging task due to its cursive nature. Pre-pro... more Urdu online handwriting recognition is a very challenging task due to its cursive nature. Pre-processing of the raw input strokes is crucial part for the success of character recognition system. The findings from online data are not enough for recognition of Urdu due to the complexities of Urdu script. This paper describes the preprocessing steps for online character recognition. A novel technique is presented for preprocessing of Urdu online text in which both online and offline domain are used to remove the variations and to increase the efficiency of the recognition system for online input. The proposed technique is also the necessary step towards character recognition, person identification, personality determination where input data is processed from all perspectives.

Research paper thumbnail of Role of Farmer Field Schools in enhancing skills of farming community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, 2013

Farmer Field School (FFS) is a capacity building approach, which provides opportunities to farmer... more Farmer Field School (FFS) is a capacity building approach, which provides opportunities to farmers of improving various skills through practicing various techniques by themselves. Considering therefore, the importance of this approach, the study was conducted in 2011 to examine the role of FFS in enhancing skills of farming community in the central region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The data were collected through survey method on various aspects from 280 randomly selected farmer respondents. The data collected were analyzed by applying simple descriptive statistics showing means, scores, ranking order and standard deviations. The results show that skills were highly enhanced in st the aspect of nursery raising techniques which was ranked 1 with mean value 3.40 closely followed by timely and balanced use of fertilizers and nd rd using recommended seed rate, which were ranked 2 and 3 with mean value 3.08 and 3.05, respectively. While, skill improvement in plant protection especially in the area of insect pests identification was ranked st 1 with mean value 3.22 closely followed by insect pests control by local nd rd recipes and their mass killing which were ranked 2 and 3 with mean values 3.03 and 2.84, respectively. Likewise, chemical and manual weed st nd control measures were ranked 1 and 2 with mean values 2.99 and 2.97, respectively. Correspondingly, farmers' skills in furrow irrigation was ranked at the top with mean value 3.32 followed by flood, border and basin irrigation techniques with mean values 2.98, 2.85 and 2.76, respectively. Hence, it can be concluded that farmers' skills in all the selected aspects were improved as a result of their participation in FFS' sessions.

Research paper thumbnail of Integrating Copernicus Satellite Products and Ground-Truthing for Documenting and Monitoring the Impact of the 2022 Extreme Floods in Pakistan on Cultural Heritage

Remote Sensing

The catastrophic floods that hit Pakistan in summer 2022 represent the latest example of climate ... more The catastrophic floods that hit Pakistan in summer 2022 represent the latest example of climate change-induced extreme events occurring in South Asia. In addition to the dramatic impact on population and infrastructures, this event threatened UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS) and properties of national interest. However, while a wealth of national and international mapping initiatives were conducted based on satellite imagery to assess damage to people, buildings and economic goods, the impact caused to archaeological sites and monuments has not been fully unveiled yet. To bridge this gap and provide an integrated approach that can be used by local end-users to assess damage and, in turn, collect evidence to inform and improve risk management plans, the present paper integrates Sentinel-1 and 2 imagery and mapping products derived from them (e.g., Copernicus Emergency Management Service Global Flood Mapping) with ground-truthing and geospatial datasets. Through a multidisciplinary ...

Research paper thumbnail of Contemporary Snow Changes in the Karakoram Region Attributed to Improved MODIS Data between 2003 and 2018

Water

Snowmelt significantly contributes to meltwater in most parts of High Mountain Asia. The Karakora... more Snowmelt significantly contributes to meltwater in most parts of High Mountain Asia. The Karakoram region is one of these densely glacierized and snow-covered regions. Several studies have reported that glaciers in the Karakoram region remained stable or experience slight mass loss. This trend has called for further investigation to understand changes in other components of the cryosphere. This study estimates the comparative snow cover area (SCA) and snowline altitude (SLA) changes between 2003 and 2018 in the Karakoram region and its subbasins, including Hunza, Shigar, and Shyok. We used three different 8-day composite snow products of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) in this study including (1) Original Aqua (MYD10A2), (2) Original Terra (MOD10A2), and (3) Improved Terra-Aqua (MOYDGL06*) snow products from 2003 to 2018. We used Mann–Kendall and Sen Slope methods to assess trends in the SCA and SLA. Our results show that the original snow products are sign...

Research paper thumbnail of Spatiotemporal Analysis of Climatic Extremes over the Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan

Water

The Hindukush-Karakoram-Himalayan (HKH) ranges and their massive cryosphere extend over the Upper... more The Hindukush-Karakoram-Himalayan (HKH) ranges and their massive cryosphere extend over the Upper Indus Basin (UIB) and are prone to incapacitated water supply due to the proclivity of globally increased temperature. Due to excessive carbon emissions, frequent incursions including extreme climatic events, are likely to happen sooner than expected on a regional scale due to recent climate change. The present study examined the variability of climatic extremes (18 indices) during 1971 to2018 over the UIB. The Mann-Kendall (MK) test and Sen’s methods were applied for statistical analysis as the former deals with the magnitude of trends while the direction of observed trends was identified by the latter in climatological time-series data. The frequency and intensity of summer days (SU25 > 25 °C/year) at 13 out of 27 stations significantly increased, particularly in lower regions. The same warming proclivity was dominant in tropical nights (TR20 > 20 °C/year) at 20 stations includi...

Research paper thumbnail of Hyperspectral Mapping Methods For Differentiating Mangrove Species Along Karachi Coast

It is necessary to monitor and identify mangroves types and spatial extent near coastal areas bec... more It is necessary to monitor and identify mangroves types and spatial extent near coastal areas because it plays an important role in coastal ecosystem and environmental protection. This research aims at identifying and mapping mangroves types along Karachi coast ranging from 24.79<sup>0</sup> to 24.85<sup>0</sup> in latitude and 66.91<sup>0</sup> to 66.97<sup>0</sup> in longitude using hyperspectral remote sensing data and techniques. Image acquired during February, 2012 through Hyperion sensor have been used for this research. Image pre processing includes geometric and radiometric correction followed by Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF) and Pixel Purity Index (PPI). The output of MNF and PPI has been analyzed by visualizing it in n-dimensions for end member extraction. Well distributed clusters on the n-dimensional scatter plot have been selected with the region of interest (ROI) tool as end members. These end members have been used as an ...

Research paper thumbnail of An improved Terra/Aqua MODIS snow-cover and RGI6.0 glacier combined product (MOYDGL06*) for the High Mountain Asia between 2002 and 2018

Snow is a significant component of the ecosystem and water resources in the High Mountain Asia (H... more Snow is a significant component of the ecosystem and water resources in the High Mountain Asia (HMA). Therefore, an accurate, continuous and long-term snow monitoring is indispensable for the water resources management and economic development. The present study improves Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard Terra 10 and Aqua 8-day composite snow–cover Collection 6 (C6) named as MOD10A2.006 and MYD10A2.006, respectively for HMA by a multi-step approach. The primary purpose of this study was to reduce uncertainty in the Terra/Aqua MODIS snow cover and generate a combined snow cover product. For reducing underestimation mainly caused by cloud cover, we used seasonal, temporal, and spatial filters. For reducing overestimation caused by MODIS sensor, we combined MODIS Terra and Aqua snow-cover products considering snow only if a pixel is a snow in both the products otherwise no snow, unlike some 15 previous studies considering snow if any of the Terra or Aqua pro...

Research paper thumbnail of Association mapping for resistance to leaf rust in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The present study was carried out on spring wheat germplasm to mine the nature and magnitude of m... more The present study was carried out on spring wheat germplasm to mine the nature and magnitude of morphological diversity and LD based association between markers and leaf rust resistance and different yield traits of wheat. The diversity patterns among 325 genotypes on the basis of phenotypic data revealed the extent of diversity which can be exploited for future breeding programs. Out of ten quantitative traits phenotyped, tillers per plant, 1000 grain weight, biological yield and harvest index contributed significant principal components (PCs) and highly significant correlation with grain yield per plant. Leaf rust trait showed negative association with yield related traits in principal components. On the basis of leaf rust reaction and severity of different genotypes, a natural population of 94 wheat genotypes is surveyed to determine marker-trait associations underlying the leaf rust trait on a genome wide level using linkage disequilibrium (LD). SSR markers were scanned to ident...

Research paper thumbnail of Hydrological Response of the Kunhar River Basin in Pakistan to Climate Change and Anthropogenic Impacts on Runoff Characteristics

Water, 2021

Pakistan is amongst the most water-stressed countries in the world, with changes in the frequency... more Pakistan is amongst the most water-stressed countries in the world, with changes in the frequency of extreme events, notably droughts, under climate change expected to further increase water scarcity. This study examines the impacts of climate change and anthropogenic activities on the runoff of the Kunhar River Basin (KRB) in Pakistan. The Mann Kendall (MK) test detected statistically significant increasing trends in both precipitation and evapotranspiration during the period 1971–2010 over the basin, but with the lack of a statistically significant trend in runoff over the same time-period. Then, a change-point analysis identified changes in the temporal behavior of the annual runoff time series in 1996. Hence, the time series was divided into two time periods, i.e., prior to and after that change: 1971–1996 and 1997–2010, respectively. For the time-period prior to the change point, the analysis revealed a statistically significant increasing trend in precipitation, which is also ...

Research paper thumbnail of Flood Hazard Mapping of Rivers in Snow- and Glacier-Fed Basins of Different Hydrological Regimes Using a Hydrodynamic Model under RCP Scenarios

Water, 2021

The global warming trends have accelerated snow and glacier melt in mountainous river basins, whi... more The global warming trends have accelerated snow and glacier melt in mountainous river basins, which has increased the probability of glacial outburst flooding. Recurrent flood events are a challenge for the developing economy of Pakistan in terms of damage to infrastructure and loss of lives. Flood hazard maps can be used for future flood damage assessment, preparedness, and mitigation. The current study focused on the assessment and mapping of flood-prone areas in small settlements of the major snow- and glacier-fed river basins situated in Hindukush–Karakoram–Himalaya (HKH) under future climate scenarios. The Hydrologic Engineering Center-River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) model was used for flood simulation and mapping. The ALOS 12.5 m Digital Elevation Model (DEM) was used to extract river geometry, and the flows generated in these river basins using RCP scenarios were used as the inflow boundary condition. Severe flooding would inundate an area of ~66%, ~86%, ~37% (under mid-21st ...

Research paper thumbnail of A holistic view of Shisper Glacier surge and outburst floods: from physical processes to downstream impacts

Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk, 2021

We observed the surge velocity, terminus advance, lake formation and outburst, as well as its dow... more We observed the surge velocity, terminus advance, lake formation and outburst, as well as its downstream impacts at Shisper Glacier in the Karakoram, Pakistan and suggest potential naturebased risk-reduction solutions. A recent surge started in late 2017 with increased velocity since April 2018 and a resulting terminus advance from June 2018. Bi-modal peak velocity of 19.2 ± 0.16 m/ day was observed in April-May 2018 and May-June 2019. Also, the terminus advance blocked the river from the adjacent Muchuhar Glacier repeatedly since November 2018. Lake outbursts were observed in June 2019 and April 2020. Relying on observations of the lake area and peak discharge of 142 m 3 s À1 in 2019 and 85 m 3 s À1 April 2020, outburst were simulated using the BASEMENT software. Simulations and field observations show that even at high discharge, damages were mainly observed along the main river channel, causing strong bank erosion rather than widespread inundation of land. The ice-dammed lake is potentially hazardous until the blocked stream completely disappears in future. Our results suggest that the biggest lake outburst hazard lies in its erosion potential with damages to infrastructure closest to the river and large sediments transport to the downstream Hunza River.

Research paper thumbnail of Differentiating Snow and Glacier Melt Contribution to Runoff in the Gilgit River Basin via Degree-Day Modelling Approach

Atmosphere, 2020

In contrast to widespread glacier retreat evidenced globally, glaciers in the Karakoram region ha... more In contrast to widespread glacier retreat evidenced globally, glaciers in the Karakoram region have exhibited positive mass balances and general glacier stability over the past decade. Snow and glacier meltwater from the Karakoram and the western Himalayas, which supplies the Indus River Basin, provide an essential source of water to more than 215 million people, either directly, as potable water, or indirectly, through hydroelectric generation and irrigation for crops. This study focuses on water resources in the Upper Indus Basin (UIB) which combines the ranges of the Hindukush, Karakoram and Himalaya (HKH). Specifically, we focus on the Gilgit River Basin (GRB) to inform more sustainable water use policy at the sub-basin scale. We employ two degree-day approaches, the Spatial Processes in Hydrology (SPHY) and Snowmelt Runoff Model (SRM), to simulate runoff in the GRB during 2001–2012. The performance of SRM was poor during July and August, the period when glacier melt contributio...

Research paper thumbnail of Reply to Anonymous Referee #1

The previous data (8-day composite) is not useful for understanding and observation of e.g., snow... more The previous data (8-day composite) is not useful for understanding and observation of e.g., snow onset, the start of snowmelt time, detailed daily snowmelt simulations. In contrast, the daily MODIS (Terra and Aqua) improved snow product in this manuscript will enable the users to derive daily hydro-glaciological (glacier and snowmelt runoff) simulations, snow onset and the start of snowmelt (useful for hydropower and irrigation purposes), and other water-related studies which (daily observations and simulations) were not possible from the 8-day composite data.

Research paper thumbnail of An improved Terra–Aqua MODIS daily cloud-free snow and Randolph Glacier Inventory 6.0 combined product (M*D10A1GL06) for high-mountain Asia between 2002 and 2019

Snow is a dominant water resource in High Mountain Asia (HMA) and crucial for the mountain commun... more Snow is a dominant water resource in High Mountain Asia (HMA) and crucial for the mountain communities and downstream population. Snow cover monitoring is significant to understand regional climate change, managing meltwater, and associated hazards/disasters. The uncertainties in passive optical remote sensing snow products mainly underestimation caused by cloud-cover and overestimation associated with sensorsˈ 10 limitations hamper the understand snow dynamics. We reduced the biases in Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Terra and Aqua daily snow data and generated a combined daily snow product for High Mountain Asia between 2002 and 2019. An improved MODIS 8-day composite MOYDGL06* product was used as a base for reducing the underestimation and overestimation of snow in daily products. The daily MODIS Terra and Aqua images were improved by the corresponding 8-day composite image of the MOYDGL06* product 15 by implementing cloud removal algorithms followed by gap filling and reduction in overestimated snow beyond the respective 8-day composite snow extent. The daily Terra and Aqua snow products were combined and merged with the Randolph Glacier Inventory (RGI) Version 6.0 to make a more complete cryosphere product. The pixel values in the daily combined product are preserved and reversible to the individual Terra and Aqua improved products. We suggest a probabilistic approach for deriving snow cover statistics from our final snow product. The 20 pixels with values 200, 242, and 252 indicate snow in both Terra and Aqua and has a 100 % probability, whereas pixels with snow in one of the Terra or Aqua products have a 50% probability. The data associated with this paper are available for the end-users mainly useful for observation and simulation of climate, hydro-glaciological forcings, calibration, validation, and other water-related studies. The data are available at