Search

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]

Three extractions were used to assess the availability of micronutrients in different soil collections. The suitability of some extractions under the conditions of Egyptian soils will be discussed. Three extraction methods (Mehlic 3, Soltanpour and Kelowna) were used for the determination of available Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu and B content of the soil samples (sand, calcareous and clay) during 2020 season. Surface soil samples (0-30 cm) were collected from three sites of Al Boston area in the new Nobaria, Governorate, Egypt, during 2020 season. From each selected plot, ten points were selected in a zig-zag path. The results revealed that the highest values of available Fe, Zn and Cu were given with the extraction solution of Soltanpour, while the highest values of available Mn and B were given with the extraction solution of Mehlic 3. On the other hand, the results showed that clay soil recorded the maximum available Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu, while calcareous soil recorded the maximum available boron content. The interaction between different extraction methods and soil samples was highly significant during 2020 season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders, 1841) is a destructive polyphagous pest threatening the horticultural production in Egypt. Licorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra (Linnaeus, 1753) is a plant growing in Egypt and many other countries and famous for saponins groups that have insecticidal effect against broad spectrum of insect pests. In the present study, the insecticidal effect of licorice roots aqueous extract (LRAE), petroleum oil, KZ light mineral oil 96% (EC), water and an emulsion (1/4 L LRAE + ? L petroleum oil + ½ L KZ light oil 96% (EC)) treatments in a ratio 1 L: 29 L water were used in Matabi® sprayer of 20 L capacity against B. zonata pupae in sandy and clay soils. In sandy and clay soils LRAE reduced B. zonata population by 74.44% and 87.55% while petroleum oil, KZ light mineral oil 96% (EC) prevented flies emergence (100% reduction). Water treatment suppressed B. zonata population by 78.61% in sandy soil but caused 100% population reduction in clay soil. The emulsion reduced B. zonata population by 96.94% in sandy soil and 100% in clay soil. The best method for application of the emulsion was to spray as one target spray technique for eight seconds that was sufficient to obtain suitable coverage on soil with spray speed 1.2 km / hour. The persistence of the emulsion that highly reduced B. zonata larval populations was 3.5 and 4.5 days in sandy and clay soils, respectively. The flies emerged from B. zonata pupae treated with the emulsion neither feed nor move naturally. The histological studies showed that these flies suffered changes in the eyes, labellum, muscles and midgut tissues that were different from the emerged control treatment flies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiments were conducted during two successive growing seasons ( 2017/2018 and 2018/2019) in Guava orchard at Kafr Al Dawar district, Beheira Governorate, Egypt, to investigate the effect of water regime levels: 100% (E1), 80% (E2) and 60% (E3) of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) under two irrigation systems: furrow irrigation (I1) and surface drip irrigation (I2) on water use efficiency, growth parameters, yield components, and economic analysis of four years old guava trees grown in clay soil. The field experiments were implemented in arandomized complete block design with three replicates.  The obtained results indicated that the highest shoot length, number of leaves/m and leaf area were obtained due to T2E1 treatment (drip irrigation with 100% ETc), followed by I2E2 treatment (drip irrigation with 80 % ETc). The average highest guava yield of the two growing seasons was 26.64 tons/ha which was obtained as a result of I2E1 treatment (drip irrigation with 100% of ETc). The lowest guava yield (20.24 and 17.90 tons/ha) were obtained due to I1E3 treatment (furrow irrigation with 60% of ETc) for the two growing seasons, respectively. Yield components such as number of fruits/m, length of fruit (cm), diameter of fruit (cm), fruit size (cm³), fruit weight (gm.) and yield (kg/tree) were significantly effected (P˂ 0.05)  by water regime levels and irrigation systems. Water use efficiency (WUE) of drip-irrigated treatments was higher than that obtained from furrow irrigated treatments in the two growing seasons. WUE increased from 2.37 to 3.34 kg.m-3 for drip - irrigated treatment, and from 1.63 to 2.18 kg.m-3 for furrow -irrigated treatments.  Fruit quality such as TSS (%), acidity (%) and TSS / Acidity ratio were not significantly affected by irrigation systems and water regime. For the economical results, the maximum value of net return was due to I2E1(24411 LE/fed)treatment for the two growing seasons and the minimum value of total return was the result of T1E3 (6344 LE/fed)treatment for the two growing seasons. The maximum values of water productivity were obtained under T2E1 (5.56 LE/m³) and I2E2 (5.25 LE/m³)  treatments in the two growing seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two field experiments were carried out on Jerusalem artichoke crop during two successive seasons of 2016 and 2017 at Soil Salinity Laboratory Research, Agricultural Research Center, Alexandria Governorate, Egypt. Each experiment included sixteen treatments representing the combination of two types of soils; i.e., clay and calcareous, two trimming treatments; i.e., without trimming (T0) and trimming (T1) [removing of flowering buds before opening with 10-20 cm from ends of vegetative branches], and four fertilization treatments; i.e., 75 kg nitrogen/feddan + Halex-2 (F1), 75 kg nitrogen/feddan + yeast extract (F2), 75 kg nitrogen/feddan + Halex-2 + yeast extract (F3) and 100 kg nitrogen/feddan (F4). The experimental layout was presented as a split-split-plot in a randomized complete blocks design with three replicates. Two types of soil were assigned in the main plots; two trimming treatments were allocated to the sub-plots and four fertilization treatments which were, randomly, distributed in the sub-sub-plots. Planting Jerusalem artichoke tubers in clay soil encouraged each of the vegetative growth, yield and its component characters compared to planting in calcareous soil. Un-trimming Jerusalem artichoke growing plants resulted in positive effects on the vegetative characters, tubers' yield and its components traits compared to trimming treatment. Adding moderate amount of nitrogen fertilizer (75 kg N/ fed.) combined with Halex-2 plus yeast extract yielded statistically equal results if 100 kg N/fed. was added to the growing plants for most studied characters especially the economic ones. Maturity date trait did not affect with any of the applied treatments on Jerusalem artichoke growing plants. It turned out from the obtained results that a quarter of nitrogen fertilizer quantity could be saved by adding a mixture of biostimulants (Halex-2 + yeast extract) to the growing plants, in addition to un-trimming the ends of branching whether the cultivation was in clay or calcareous soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experimental work was carried out at El-Gemmeiza Agricultural Research Station, Gharbia Governorate, Egypt during 2009/2010 winter growing season to study the effect of using sprinkler irrigation in clay soil condition and barley production. The sprinklers layouts were square and triangular. Also, two irrigation levels and two fertilizers levels were used. The results showed that the amounts of applied water were 5077, 4201 and 3068 m3 ha-1 for flood and sprinkler 100% ETc and 50% ETc, respectively. The highest values of coefficient of uniformity, distribution uniformity and application efficiency of low quarter were achieved by the square layout. Grain yield increased from 4.55 Mg ha-1 with flood to 5.70 Mg ha-1 under sprinkler irrigation with square layout at 100% ETc and 100% fertilizer. Straw yield increased from 5.36 Mg ha-1 with flood to 9.65 Mg ha-1 under sprinkler irrigation with square layout at 100% ETc and 100% fertilizer. Water use efficiency increased from 0.90 kg m-3 with flood to 1.64 kg m-3 under sprinkling method with triangular layout at 50% ETc and 100% fertilizer. Energy use efficiency increased from 13.66 kg kW-1 h-1 with flood to 18.20 kg kW-1 h-1 under sprinkler irrigation with triangular layout at 50% ETc and 100% fertilizer.In conclusion, square layout at 100% ETc with 100% fertilizer gave the best results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The symbiotic and competitive performances of two highly effective rhizobia nodulating French bean P. vulgaris were studied in silty loam and clayey soils. The experiments were carried out to address the performance of two rhizobia strains [CE3 and Ph. 163] and the mixture thereof with the two major cultivated bean cultivars in two soil types from major growing French bean areas in Egypt. Clay and silty loam soils from Menoufia and Ismailia respectively were planted with Bronco and Giza 6 phaseolus bean cultivars. The data obtained from this study indicated that rhizobial inoculation of Giza 6 cultivar in clayey soil showed a positive response to inoculation in terms of nodule numbers and dry weight. This response was also positive in dry matter and biomass accumulation by the plants. The inoculant of strain CE3 enhanced plant growth and N-uptake relative to Ph. 163. However, the mixed inoculant strains were not always as good as single strain inoculants. The competition for nodulation was assessed using two techniques namely fluorescent antibody testing (FA) and REP-PCR fingerprinting. The nodule occupancy by inoculant strain Ph. 163 in both soils occupied 30–40% and 38–50 of nodules of cultivar Bronco. The mixed inocula resulted in higher proportions of nodules containing CE3 in silty loam soil and Ph. 163 in clayey soil. The native rhizobia occupied at least 50% of the nodules on the Bronco cultivar. For cultivar Giza 6, the native rhizobia were more competitive with the inoculant strains. Therefore, we suggest using the studied strains as commercial inocula for phaseolus bean. To cite this article: H. Moawad et al., C. R. Biologies 327 (2004). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Potato brown rot, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, ranked globally as the second most important bacterial plant pathogen. In the present study, the influence of different cropping programs in potato brown rot management was investigated in four infected fields in Egypt. Two districts were selected as sandy soils in Giza (Wardan) and Behera (Ganuob El-Tahrir) governorates. The other two were selected as silty clay in Minufyia (Talia) and Beni-Suef (Sids) governorates. The followed crop succession included corn, potato intercropped with cabbage, onion, cowpea, wheat, corn again, and ended by potato. The pathogen was undetectable after corn, onion, and wheat. It decreased in cowpea and cabbage rhizospheres in the clay soils. The pathogen was undetectable at all districts, except at Sids, where the pathogen was significantly decreased but was not eradicated. This was possibly attributed to the high ratio of NO3− and Na+ at this district. Decreased R. solanacearum density after corn coincided with the high ratio of fluorescent pseudomonads, endospores, and actinomycetes, being most clear in the poor soils (Wardan) and less clear under iron excess at Ganoub El-Tahrir as well as the clay soils. Corn rhizosphere supported an array of antagonistic actinomycetes such as strains similar to Streptomyces intermedius, Streptomyces albidoflavus group, Streptomyces argenteolus group, and Streptomyces erythrogriseus. Intercropping potato with cabbage decreased the density of the pathogen in rhizosphere, which is associated with greater antagonistic fluorescent pseudomonads, Bacillus spp. and Serratia spp. Onion soil and rhizosphere associated with abundance of antagonists and fluorescent pseudomonads, followed by S. maltophilia and Bacillus spp. Wheat soil and rhizosphere supported fluorescent pseudomonads and antagonistic Streptomyces spp., especially in sandy soils. The pathogen was undetectable after planting the ending potato in the three districts, Wardan, Ganoub El-Tahrir, and Talia. This was accompanied by a general oligotrophism and increased ratio of fluorescent pseudomonads, endospores bacteria, and actinomycetes along with a diversity of R. solanacearum antagonists such as S. maltophilia, Citrobacter freundii, Acinetobacter sp., Delftia sp., and Serratia marcescens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]