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Silybum marianum L. is medicinally important for its active principle component silymarin. Silymarin regenerates damaged hepatic tissues. On the basis of such regenerative properties, the radical scavenging activity (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)) of different tissues and the phenotypic difference of the hepatoprotective species, S. marianum L. were evaluated. There was less phenotypic difference in purple and white varieties of S. marianum. Assay of the antioxidant potential of different parts of the plant revealed that significantly higher activity (78.2%) was observed in seeds of the purple flowering plant than seeds of white flowering plant (49%) after different time intervals. Young leaves collected from white flowering plant exhibit 64.8% activity, which is higher than the purple flowering plant (55.1%). Significantly, same activity was observed in mature leaves of white (52%) and purple flowering plants (50%). The main stem collected from both the varieties exhibits similar activity from 50 to 52%. A 67.2% activity was recorded for mature roots of white flowering plant followed by roots of the purple variety (65%). The present study revealed that seeds and roots of both the varieties scavenge and detoxify more DPPH free radicals than other plant parts and can be used as a source of natural antioxidants and food additives.

A field experiment was conducted at New Developmental Farm, The University of Agriculture Peshawar during rabi 2012-2013 to study the effect of N and P fertilization of improved varieties for enhancing yield and yield components of wheat varieties. Randomized Complete Block (RCB) Design with split plot arrangement having three replications was used. A sub plot size of 12 m 2 having ten rows of 4 m length was used. N levels (100, 125 and 150 kg ha-1) and P levels (60, 90 and 120 kg ha-1) were applied to the main plots and wheat varieties (Siran-2010 and Atta-Habib) were assigned to the sub plots and one control having no N and P was maintained in main plot treatment. All of the phosphorus and half of the nitrogen were applied at sowing time. The remaining N was applied at tillering stage. The results of the experiment showed that maximum days to anthesis (137), days to maturity (167), number of leaves tiller-1 (6), leaf area tiller-1 (117 cm 2) and leaf area index (4.38) were produced by Siran-2010 while maximum plant height (98 cm) was maintained by Atta-Habib. Maximum leaf area index (4.64), were produced by 125 kg N ha-1 while nitrogen application at the rate of 150 kg ha-1 took maximum days to anthesis (140), days to maturity (170), number of leaves tiller-1 (6), leaf area tiller-1 (121 cm 2), non-productive tillers m-2 (19) and plant height (100 cm). Phosphorus application at the rate of 90 kg ha-1 produced highest leaves tiller-1 (6), leaf area tiller-1 (121 cm 2) and leaf area index (4.61). Phosphorus level of 120 kg ha-1 produced maximum non-productive tillers m-2 (19) and plant height (100 cm). Fewer days to anthesis (130) and maturity (160) were taken by control plots. It is concluded that wheat variety Siran-2010 produced better phonological traits when treated with 125 kg N ha-1 and 90 kg P ha-1 .

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. Effect of nitrogen rates and application times on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L. Abstract A field experiment was designed to study the effect of nitrogen rates and application time on growth and yield of maize at Agronomy Research Farm, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar during summer 2014. An experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design using three replications. Four nitrogen rates (80, 120, 160 and 200 kg ha -1 ) were applied as full at sowing ( AT1), ½ at sowing + ½ at 25 days after sowing (AT2) and 1/3 at sowing + 1/3 at 25 days after sowing + 1/3 at 50 days after sowing (AT3). Results showed that all studied parameters were significantly affected by N-levels. Maximum mean leaf area (258.19 cm 2 ), plant height (188 cm), grains ear -1 (369), 1000-grains weight (245 g), biological yield (9593 kg ha -1 ), grain yield (4109 kg ha -1 ) and harvest index (42 %) were observed with application of 160 kg N ha -1 . The results further revealed that maximum mean leaf area (260 cm 2 ), plant height (184 cm), grains ear -1 (380), biological yield (9195 kg ha -1 ), 1000-grains weight (247 g) and grain yield (3707 kg ha -1 ) were recorded when N was applied ½ at sowing + ½ at 25 days after sowing. The interactive effect of N rates and application time was found significant for mean leaf area. It was concluded that nitrogen at the rate of 160 kg ha -1 and application of N ½ at sowing + ½ at 25 days after sowing is most reliable for yield and production of maize crop in the study region and thus optional for general use in agriculture.