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The absence of calcium decreases the production of peanuts compared to any other element. To investigate the influence of calcium (Ca) applications on the production and seed quality of four diverse peanut cultivars from different regions—USA (NC-7), Egypt (Giza-6) and Nigeria (Samnut-23 and Samnut-24)—under clay soil conditions, two experiments were carried out at the Agricultural Experimental and Research Station, Cairo University, Egypt, during the two seasons of 2016 and 2017. The experimental design was a randomized complete block in a spilt-plot arrangement with three replications. The main plots were allocated to four peanut cultivars (Giza-6, Samnut-23, Samnut-24 and NC-7), and the sub-plots were devoted to calcium applications (soil application in the form of calcium sulfate dihydrate, foliar application in the form of calcium oxide and the control treatment of distilled water). Results indicated that all four peanut cultivars responded differently to the application of calcium fertilizers. The calcium application significantly enhanced peanut growth, yield components, biological, pod, seed, oil yields, seed oil, free fatty acids and seed calcium percentages in different cultivars. Soil calcium application significantly improved peanut production compared to foliar calcium application. NC-7 cultivar treated with the soil Ca application resulted in the maximum values of biological yield (92.9-ton ha−1), pod yield (6.8-ton ha−1), seed yield (4.4-ton ha−1), oil yield (2247.0 kg ha−1), pod index (203.2 g) and seed index (84.1 g). The interaction between the NC-7 cultivar and soil calcium applications is recommended to attain the best combination, leading to the highest yield and seed quality of peanuts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to improve the engineering properties of expansive soil by using locally low-cost materials such as crushed glass wastes and lime. The studied expansive soil is considered unsuitable soil for civil engineering projects such as roads and buildings, as it was classified according to the AASHTO classification A-7-6. This soil was treated only with different ratios of crushed glass wastes (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% by weight of dry soil), as well as the soil was treated only with different ratios of lime (0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% by weight of dry soil). Experiments of Atterberg limits, standard Procter, direct shear, free swell, swelling pressure, and both un-soaked and soaked California Bearing Ratio tests were carried out on the untreated and treated soil. The results showed that by increasing added percentage of crushed glass wastes and lime separately, the consistency properties (Atterberg limits), the shear strength parameters (direct shear test), free swell, swelling pressure, and both un-soaked and soaked California Bearing Ratio of the studied expansive soil were improved; except for compaction characteristics, by adding crushed glass wastes the M.D.D was increased and O.M.C was decreased while by adding lime, the M.D.D was decreased and O.M.C was increased. This helps to make use of low-cost local materials, clean the environment of glass wastes, and recycle these wastes so that they can be used on an environmental, economic, and engineering level. This aligns with Egypt's Vision 2030 sustainable development approach in both the environmental and economic dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current article aimed to examine the effect of organic and biofertilizers on the growth and yield of lavender essential oil (Lavandula Officinalis L.). This experiment was conducted over two consecutive seasons in 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 at the net house of the Central Laboratory of the Agricultural Climate Research Center in Dokki, Giza Governorate, Egypt. To assess the effects of biofertilizers (Azospirillum spp., Azotobacter spp.) and active dry yeast on the vegetative development, chemical composition, yield, and essential oil concentration of lavender. The obtained results showed that, treated plants with compost + Azospirillum spp. + Azotobacter spp. was the superior treatment, which improved plant growth characters i.e., plant height, number of branches, fresh and dry weights/herb. Chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids concentrations, the phenolic compounds, flavonoid content, total carbohydrates content in dry matter of herb, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium, total free amino acids, the total antioxidants and the endogenous hormones in all cuts. Essential oil content carried out to evaluate the quality of oil. Also, significant increase was showed with active dry yeast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity and weed infestation are major challenges to soybean production. Therefore, two field experiments were conducted in a strip plot design including three replicates in the 2019 and 2020 summer seasons at Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Agricultural Research Centre, Egypt, to investigate the effect of three irrigation levels (I0 (100%), I1 (90%), and I2 (80%)), and six weed control treatments of pendimethalin (T1), oxyfluorfen (T2), bentazon + clethodim (T3), imazethapyr (T4), hand-hoeing twice (T5), and untreated check (T6) on annual weeds, physiological traits, water relations, and yield and its components of soybean cv Giza 111. Results indicated that intermediate irrigation levels lead to the highest yield and economic return, while the herbicide program that resulted in the greatest weed control gave the highest yield. The rate of weed infestation in field experiments was 19.7 and 21.8 t ha−1 dry weights, which decreased soybean yield by 56.9 and 57.1%, compared to treatment (T4). The interactions between 100 irrigation level (I0) and imazethapyr (T4), bentazon + clethodim (T3), and hand-hoeing twice (T5) gave the highest significant values of the most studied characters. Furthermore, under 90% irrigation, all weed control treatments give the best control of weeds and the highest values of the economic criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]