A study on the heavy metal impact of a paint industry effluent on the surrounding water and soil environment was carried out. This investigation included a variety of sample types essentially related to the impact assessment.

Burning of crop residues in semi-arid region with hot climate and less than 1 % soil organic matter not only pose severe threat to global climate but also become the reason of ever decreasing organic matter status. Keeping in view the objective to monitor the impacts of crop resides, burning and incorporation into the soil on crop yield, nutrients uptake and soil physico-chemical properties, this long-term study was planned and conducted at Soil Chemistry Section, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad. Four treatments (sub plots) viz; 0 fertilizer, 50% of recommended fertilizer, 75% of recommended fertilizer and 100% of recommended fertilizer were applied under split plot design repeated thrice with 3 major plots (methods of residues management) i. traditional practice by complete removing (C) whole crop biomass from field, ii. burnt (B) practice by burning the crop biomass in field after threshing and iii. Residue's (R) incorporation practice by rotavating the crop biomass into the soil. The selected field was sufficient in exchangeable K and available P but was deficient in organic matter contents. The results showed that in first year the wheat yield was maximum in T 4 (5.04 t ha -1 ) in complete removal plot followed by residues incorporated (4.43 t ha -1 ) and burnt plots (3.72 t ha -1 ) respectively. It was observed that yield in residues incorporated plots was declined in next year after that, an increasing trend was witnessed. Burning of residues caused decrease in yield up to 11 % as compared to complete removal and up to 17% than residues incorporation. Organic matter status of soil before start of experiment was 0.69 %. Mean organic matter contents in residues incorporated plots was increased up to 27% than complete removal and up to 32% than burnt plots. Nitrogen and phosphorus uptake were maximum in residues incorporated plots followed by complete removal and burnt plots, however potassium uptake was maximum in complete removal followed by residues incorporated and burnt plots. ECe of burnt plots was increased by 100 dS m -1 than complete removal and 200 dS m -1 than residues incorporated plots. Other physicochemical properties were not affected significantly.

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S alt stress is the most common and serious problem of agriculture. According to Ashraf et al. (2008) 40,000 ha area of arable land in Pakistan has been lost due to salinity and is increasing quickly each year. Due to high salinity toxicity, soil water potential is decreased, so plants become incapable to absorb sufficient extent of water from soil, ultimately reduction in plant growth rate occur (Tester and Davenport, 2003). Wilting occurs by constant salinity stress alike to drought symptoms, with waxed and thickened leaves and with a greenish blue color (Fraga et al., 2010). By the osmotic effects salt stress Abstract | In Pakistan many soils out of total lands are occupied by sodic soils which in turn is upsetting farmer's income and cause soil quality decline. This trial was led to appraise the toxic consequences of NaHCO 3 on growth as well as rice yield parameters. Various levels of NaHCO 3 or Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) were developed in the normal soil. This experiment comprised of 7 treatments that were repeated three times according to Completely Randomized Design (CRD). These treatments included; T 1 = Control, T 2 = 15 SAR, T 3 = 20 SAR, T 4 = 25 SAR, T 5 = 30 SAR, T 6 = 35 SAR and T 7 = 40 SAR. Subsequently NaHCO 3 was added to the soil as per treatment plan and adequate time was allowed to accomplish chosen sodicity levels. Later on, rice nursery was transplanted in all the pots. Various agronomical operations were carried out as per crop requirement. At maturity, rice was harvested from all pots. Various yield contributing components like plant height, fertile tillers, total biomass, straw and paddy yield were noted for all pots of the experiment. Statistical analysis of all collected data was accomplished. It was noted from the results that control (T 1 ) proved superior with regard to plant height, fertile tillers/pot, total biomass, straw and paddy yield. All these yield contributing components indicated a declining trend in all subsequent treatment. Treatment T 7 (40 SAR) proved inferior to all others in these regards.

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