Munir Hussain Zia

Fauji Fertilizer Company, Pakistan · Research & Developement

Zinc (Zn) is deficient all over the world, mainly in the developing countries and zinc sulphate is applied as a source of Zn fertilizer. However, the major portions of applied zinc sulphate become unavailable to plant in the soil and can be reverted back to available by inoculating zinc solubilizing bacteria. Given the significance of the problem,...

Background The poor nutrient recovery of phosphatic (P) fertilizers in calcareous soils is a serious worldwide problem resulting in sub‐optimal P use efficiency. This is mainly attributed to P fixation with calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) ions in the soil solution. As a result, most of the applied P (in the form of fertilizer) becomes insoluble or...

Background Zinc biofortified wheat may be a sustainable strategy to increase zinc intake in areas where fortification and dietary diversification are not feasible or are limited by household purchasing power. This convergent mixed methods study aimed to explore the farmers’ and millers’ experiences and attitudes towards the production and processin...

Less than 50% of the applied urea fertilizer is taken up by plants due to poor nitrogen (N) use efficiency which affects overall agricultural productivity and leads to serious environmental and economic problems. Additionally, soils with high salinity might limit zinc (Zn) availability. Low Zn use efficiency (<30%) when applied as synthetic salts,...

Urea is the most applied nitrogenous fertilizer with 46% nitrogen (N) among available synthetic fertilizers. On the other hand, uncoated urea is subjected toward quick nutrient loss due to its higher solubility. This problematic issue could be addressed by applying slow-release fertilizer. The main aim behind this research was to model and simulate...

Zinc (Zn) is an indispensable element for proper plant growth. A sizeable proportion of the inorganic Zn that is added to soil undergoes a transformation into an insoluble form. Zinc-solubilizing bacteria (ZSB) have the potential to transform the insoluble Zn into plant-accessible forms and are thus promising alternatives for Zn supplementation. Th...

Nitrogen (N) losses from conventional fertilizers in agricultural systems are very high, which can lead to serious environmental pollution with economic loss. In this study, innovative slow-release fertilizers were prepared using zinc (Zn) [nanoparticles (NPs) or in bulk], using molasses as an environmentally friendly coating. Several treatments we...

There is a pressing need for the development of sustainable and high-use efficiency nitrogen (N) fertilizer formulations to ensure food security and climate change mitigation. Recently, nanotechnology has shown a potential to contribute to sustainable agrochemicals production by the coating of organic and inorganic nanomaterials. Here we explored t...

Micronutrient research has been an important component of the soil fertility and plant nutrition program in Pakistan since the identification of zinc deficiency in rice in 1969. Since then, considerable progress has been made on diagnosis and management of micronutrient nutrition problems in crops. Also, now there is growing R&D evidence that micro...

Slow release urea has been widely tested in recent past as an effective method to enhance the crop productivity with fewer environmental concerns. However, very few research studies have been performed using micronutrients as a source of slow release of urea nitrogen. A laboratory and field study were carried out to check the agronomic effects of z...

Biofortification of wheat is potentially a sustainable strategy to improve zinc intake; however, evidence of its effectiveness is needed. A household-based, double-blind, cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in rural Pakistan. The primary objective was to examine the effects of consuming zinc-biofortified wheat flour on the zinc...

When the SEGH international board released a short editorial paper back in 2019, we described an aim to increase the membership offering, whilst improving the diversity of input regionally, by scientific discipline and to ensure greater and more regular contact across the regions from 2020 onwards. Wider aspirations described in 2019 (Watts et al....

A new variety of zinc biofortified wheat (Zincol-2016) was released in Pakistan in 2016. The primary aim of this study was to examine the effects of consuming Zincol-2016 wheat flour on biochemical and functional markers of zinc status in a population with widespread zinc deficiency. An individually-randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled cros...

Pakistan is a country where population is increasing at the rate of 2% and about 38% labor force is dependent on agriculture. About 60% livelihood of rural population is agriculture dependent. Counting 58% agricultural exports, contribution of agriculture to national GDP is 18.5% as per economic survey 2018–19 of Pakistan. The crop sector of nation...

Nitrogen (N) has played an important role in the global economy, food security, and environmental sustainability. However, the recent developments in nitrogen science have raised concerns about the negative impacts of the excessive and imbalanced use of N on human health, ecosystem, and environmental sustainability. It is being argued that improvin...

Surveys of soil fertility and quality provide essential information, at multiple scales, for policy and management decisions on agricultural and environmental questions. Such surveys are expensive, and national-scale agricultural or geochemical surveys are conducted infrequently by public sector organisations. Where resources are scarce, the costs...

Low nitrogen (N) use efficiency from urea fertilizers due to environmental losses results in high cost of fertilizers for agricultural productions. Coating of urea with biodegradable polymers makes them effective for control and efficient N release. In this study, starch and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were used in combination with acrylic acid (AA), c...

Introduction: Micronutrient deficiencies, commonly referred to as ‘hidden hunger’, affect more than two billion people worldwide, with zinc and iron-deficiency frequently reported. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of consuming zinc biofortified flour (Zincol-2016) on biochemical and functional measures of status in adolescent girls an...

Low nitrogen (N) utilization efficiency due to environmental N losses from fertilizers results in high-cost on-farm production. Urea coating with biodegradable polymers can prevent these losses by controlling the N release of fertilizers. We calculated N release kinetics of coated granular with various biodegradable polymeric materials and its impa...

Background: Biofortification of wheat with zinc (Zn) through breeding and agronomy can reduce Zn deficiencies and improve human health. ‘High-Zn’ wheat varieties have been released in India and Pakistan, where wheat is consumed widely as a dietary staple. The aim of this study was to quantify the potential contribution of a ‘high-Zn’ wheat variety...

The application of urea-based fertilizers in developing countries has gained significant momentum over time. urea usage is to meet demand and supply gap of food resources as world population is increasing at a fast pace. urea contains largest content of nitrogen (46%) among all the solid nitrogenous fertilizers. However, main drawback of urea is it...

Presently, about 200 million tons of urea fertilizer is produced worldwide to meet supply and demand. However, a quarter of the urea applied to soils is lost to the environment due to poor efficiency. Poor efficiency can be prevented by slowing the release of urea - nitrogen. One mechanism to do this is ‘Encapsulation’. Encapsulation allows for hig...

The challenges of sustainable development are ever more pressing, and the skills, interests and capabilities of the SEGH member are well-placed to continue to make more meaningful contributions to the environment , society and well-being. We reflect on the historical development of the society, its response to the dynamic international research lan...

201x. Evaluating organic materials coating on urea as potential nitrification inhibitors for enhanced nitrogen recovery and growth of maize (Zea mays L.). Intl. J. Agric. Biol. 00: 000-000 Abstract To slow down the urea hydrolysis and inhibition of nitrification process is a promising approach for enhancing crop production and reducing environmenta...

The challenges of sustainable development are ever more pressing, and the skills, interests and capabilities of the SEGH member are well-placed to continue to make more meaningful contributions to the environment, society and well-being. SEGH has been a welcoming society for early career researchers (ECRs) over the years, providing a supportive a...

Effect of agronomically biofortified zinc flour on zinc and selenium status in resource poor settings; a randomised control trial - Volume 76 Issue OCE4 - M.J. Khan, U. Ullah, Usama, N. Lowe, M. Broadley, M.Z. Afridi, M. Zia, H.J. McArdle, S. Young doi:10.1017/S0029665117003457

Zinc deficiency is a global public health problem, affecting ~17% of the world's population, with the greatest burden in low‐ and middle‐income countries. An increasing body of evidence suggests that biofortification may be a cost‐effective and sustainable approach to reducing zinc and other micronutrient deficiencies. Biofortification enhances the...

Dietary characteristics of adult women participating in the BiZiFED trial (Biofortified Zinc Flour to Eliminate Zinc Deficiency), Pakistan - Volume 77 Issue OCE4 - M.J. Khan, U. Ullah, Usama, B. Shahzad, G. Khubana, R. Mehdi, H. Ohly, M.R. Broadley, M. Zaman, M.H. Zia, H. J. McArdle, S.D. Young, N.M. Lowe

The research was focused on the synthesis and characterization of zinc (Zn)-coated urea fertilizer. Zinc oxide (ZnO) particles were coated on urea granules through two different coating techniques, i.e., slurry coating and wet coating, and the release rate of the coated Zn was measured up to 24 hours. Slurry coating technique showed better Zn relea...

Introduction: Dietary zinc (Zn) deficiency is a global problem, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries where access to rich, animal-source foods of Zn is limited due to poverty. In Pakistan, Zn deficiency affects over 40% of the adult female population, resulting in suboptimal immune status and increased likelihood of complications...

Effect of agronomically biofortified zinc flour on zinc and selenium status in resource poor settings; a randomised control trial - Volume 76 Issue OCE4 - M.J. Khan, U. Ullah, Usama, N. Lowe, M. Broadley, M.Z. Afridi, M. Zia, H.J. McArdle, S. Young

In the developing world, vegetables are commonly grown in suburban areas irrigated with untreated wastewater containing potentially harmful elements (PHEs). In Pakistan, there is no published work on the bioaccessibility aspect of PHEs and dietary minerals (DMs) in sewage-irrigated soil or the vegetables grown on such soils in Pakistan. Several ind...

Use of zinc (Zn) fertilisers may be cost-effective in increasing crop yields and in alleviating dietary Zn deficiency. However, Zn fertilisers are underutilised in many countries despite the widespread occurrence of Zn-deficient soils. Here, increased Zn fertiliser-use scenarios were simulated for wheat production in Punjab and Sindh Provinces, Pak...

p>The content of arsenic (As), a naturally occurring toxic element found in soils worldwide, has gone substantially high in agricultural soils due to various anthropogenic activities. The responses of seed germination, seedling growth, photosynthetic pigments and the components of the ascorbateglutathione (AsA-GSH) pathway were analyzed in Indian m...

Growing use of chemicals in agricultural fields and heavy industrialization is responsible for introducing and mobilization of heavy metals into the biosphere. In addition, application of industrial and urban effluents in agricultural fields is responsible for further mobilization of heavy metals into the biosphere and ensuing in a serious threat t...

A study was carried out across 86 locations of the country to investigate iodine supply potential of soils, grains and underground waters for onward design of an environmental intervention in Pakistan. Wheat crops were the principal crop in this study since it supplies 75 % of calorific energy in an average Pakistani diet. TMAH-extractable iodine i...

Overall thirty six types of land degradation could be assessed including 4 types emerged in the last 50 years (pollution, loss of arable land, artificial radioactivity and land use constraints). All these usual (water, wind, mechanical erosion, physical, chemical and biological degradation) and newly emerged types are induced by anthropogenic activ...

Ten Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) genotypes were screened for their nickel (Ni) phytoremediation potential under controlled environmental conditions. All ten genotypes were grown hydroponically in aqueous solution containing Ni concentrations (as nickel chloride) ranging from 0 to 50 μM and changes in plant growth, biomass and total Ni uptake...

We investigated the role of ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) and somaclonal manipulation on improving lead (Pb) phytostablization in mat rush (Juncus effusus L.). Seedlings were raised from seeds and callus to study variations in Pb uptake and tolerance. The seedlings were treated with 0.5 and 1.0 mM Pb as alone, and each with 2.5 and 5.0...

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Potential for carbon dioxide (CO 2) biosequestration was determined during the reclamation of highly saline–sodic soils (Aridisols) after rice (2003) and wheat (2003–2004) crops at two sites in District Faisalabad, Pakistan. Two treatments were assessed: T 1 , tube-well brackish water only; and T 2 , soil-applied gypsum at 25% soil gypsum requireme...

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Zinc deficiency is most prevalent in alkaline/calcareous, inherently low organic carbon, heavily limed, light textured, salt prone, and waterlogged soils. In this review the diagnosis and correction of Zn deficiency in several important crops in a wide range of soils has been discussed. Crop yield increases up to 120% in wheat, 48% in rice, 50% in...

Zinc deficiency is most prevalent in alkaline/calcareous, inherently low organic carbon, heavily limed, light textured, salt prone, and waterlogged soils. In this review the diagnosis and correction of Zn deficiency in several important crops in a wide range of soils has been discussed. Crop yield increases up to 120% in wheat, 48% in rice, 50% in...

Boron (B) is a unique micro mineral nutrient required for normal plant growth and optimum yield of crops. Its deficiency is widespread in alkaline/calcareous, coarse-textured and low organic matter soils in many countries of the world. Annual [fiber (cotton), cereal (rice, maize/corn, wheat), legume/pulse (soybean), oilseed (groundnut/peanut, oilse...

The study examines if a short period of reaction after addition of biosolids to soils can reduce the solubility and potential phytotoxicity of biosolid-borne Zn and Cu. The effects of period of aging (zero, 60, and 120 days) of biosolids (applied at 0, 10, 20, and 30 g kg⁻¹) with an acid, neutral, or alkaline soil on pH and concentrations of Zn, Cu...

Seven extractants widely used to determine plant-available boron (B) from either acidic or alkaline soils were tested for 20 alkaline and calcareous soil series from cotton belt of Punjab, Pakistan. The hot-water-soluble boron (HWS-B) extraction procedure was used as a benchmark to see any relative variation in available B in comparison with altern...

Phytoextraction has received increasing attention as a promising, cost-effective alternative to conventional engineering-based remediation methods for metal contaminated soils. In order to enhance the phytoremediative ability of green plants chelating agents are commonly used. Our study aims to evaluate whether, citric acid (CA) or elemental sulfur...

Chelating agents are commonly used to enhance the phytoremediative ability of plants. The type of chelating agent applied and the selection of plant species are important factors to consider for successful phytoremediation. This study investigates the effects of four different rates (0, 2, 4, 8 mmol kg-1) of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) o...

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic heavy metal for both plants and animals. The presence of Cd in agricultural soils is of great concern regarding its entry into the food chain.Cadmiumenters into the soil–plant environment mainly through anthropogenic activities. Compounds of Cd are more soluble than other heavy metals, so it is more available and read...

A pot study was used to examine the effects of amendments such as EDTA and elemental sulfur on the growth potential, gas exchange features, uptake and mobilization of Pb by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in two texturally different contaminated soils at three levels of EDTA (2, 4, 8 mmol kg(-1) dry soil) and two levels of elemental sulfur (100, 200 m...