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Soil degradation with salinity and sodicity has become a major issue in Egypt causing a decline in soil quality and crop productivity in these soils. The addition of gypsum (G), rice straw compost (C) and foliar application of ZnO nanoparticles (Z) as foliar application and their combinations to improve soil quality and physiology of wheat plants in saline-sodic soil is unclear. We studied the effects of G, C, Z and their integrated application in the field experiment during the two winter seasons in full form design on some soil properties, proline content, antioxidant enzyme activity and yield of wheat plants grown in the saline – sodic soil. The results showed that the addition of G, C or Z alone or their integrated application led to a significant increase in soil total porosity, infiltration rate, organic matter (OM), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and zinc (Zn) uptake, the yield of wheat plant and a decrease in soil salinity and exchangeable sodium percentage in both seasons. The proline, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase content increased by 605.0%, 20.5% and 12.1% for Z while it increased by 617.5%, 34.4% and 15.2% for G + Z, respectively, compared to the control. The experimental results confirmed that integration of G or C with foliar application of Z can be a promising strategy to alleviate abiotic stresses wheat plants grown under saline-sodic soil and improve their quality. [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]

Elements accumulation in crayfish is proportional to the increase in bioavailability (direct contact) with the surrounding water, sediment, and feeding. Five heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Mn, Ni, and Ag) and lithium (Li) were analyzed in the sediment, water, and crayfish tissues. Elements (heavy metals and lithium) concentrations in sediment, water, and crayfish tissues showed significant differences between the two sampling stations (El-Qanatir and El-Rahawi drain). However, the levels of elements in crayfish tissues were arranged in declining order as hepatopancreas > gills > exoskeleton > muscles for Cu and Cr; hepatopancreas > exoskeleton > gills > muscles for Ni and Ag; and exoskeleton > gills > hepatopancreas > muscles for Li and Mn. The human health hazard evaluation of heavy metals and lithium exposure via edible tissue consumption was assessed for both children and adult consumers. The target hazard quotient THQ values of crayfish edible tissues (less than 1) will not impose any health implications for consumers who ingest edible tissues in sufficient quantities. Furthermore, the hazard index (HI) values reported for children and adult consumers were lower than one, indicating non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic hazards, suggesting that crayfish edible tissues are safe for human ingestion. This evidence also found that Procambarus clarkii could be a good bio-indicator organism for monitoring potentially metals in aquatic systems., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Climate change poses a serious threat to arid and low elevation coastal zones. Kafrelsheikh governorate, as a large agricultural and coastal region on the Egyptian North Nile Delta, is one of the most vulnerable areas to higher temperature and global sea level rise. Two DSSAT wheat models (CERES and N-Wheat) were calibrated using a local cultivar (Misr3) grown under irrigated conditions in Egypt. Experimental data of two successive growing seasons during 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 were used for calibration using different treatments of irrigation, planting dates and fertilization. Both models simulated the phenology and wheat yield well, with root mean square deviation of <10%, and d-index > 0.80. Climate change sensitivity analysis showed that rising temperature by 1 °C to 4 °C decreased wheat yield by 17.6%. However, elevated atmospheric CO 2 concentrations increased yield and could overtake some of the negative temperature responses. Sea level rise by 2.0 m will reduce the extent of agricultural land on the North Nile Delta of Egypt by ~60% creating an additional challenge to wheat production in this region., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)