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Studying Rain Water Catchment Potentialities in the Northwest Coast of Egypt Using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System
2019
Asmaa Khater | Ayman Abouhadid | Usama Elbehairy | Mohamed Aboelghar | Abdelraouf Aly
Sustainable agricultural development of the desert areas of Egypt under the scarcity of irrigation water is a significant national challenge. Existing water harvesting techniques on the northwest coast of Egypt do not ensure the optimal use of rainfall for agricultural purposes. Basin-scale hydrology potentialities were studied to investigate how available annual rainfall could be used in agriculture irrigation to increase crop production. The present study includes data related to agricultural production in the form of geospatial layers including climate, soil, land covers unite and rain water catchment areas. Thematic classification of Sentinal-2 imagery was carried out to produce the land cover and crop maps following based on the (FAO) system of land cover classification. Contour lines and spot height points were used to create a digital elevation model (DEM). Then, DEM was used to delineate basins, sub-basins, and water outlet points using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (Arc SWAT). Main soil mapping units of the study area identified from Land Master Plan maps it was(Very shallow gravelly and rocky soils and barren rock). Climatic data collected from the Central Laboratory for Climate. The results showed that the study area receives a significant amount of precipitation almost every three years, however, water harvesting methods are inappropriate to store water to be used in agricultural during drought seasons. The amount of precipitation(81.9 mm), surface water runoff(4.46 mm), potential evapotranspiration(70.5 mm), and actual evapotranspiration(7.10 mm) for the years (2004 to 2017) shown as results of (Arc SWAT). The land cover map showed that tree crops (olive and fig) cover 195.8 km2 when herbaceous crops (barley and wheat) cover 154 km2. The maximum elevation was 250 meters above sea level while the lowest one was -3 meters below sea level. The study area receives a massive variable amount of precipitation; however, water harvesting methods are inappropriate to store water for purposes.
Show more [+] Less [-]Cytogenetic analyses of the anti-mutagenic effect of Tamarix nilotica in mice bone marrow
2019
Shaimaa Shebl | Fathy Abdeltawab | Neima Elsenousy | Halima Abdou | Mahrousa Hassanein | Hassan Darwish
The usages of medicinal plants as therapeutic agents have been practiced in a large scale of applications that make studies of their mutagenicity and/or anti-mutagenic /anti-carcinogenic effects very essential. The current investigation is focused on the anti-mutagenic effects of the Tamarix nilotica (Ehrenb) crude extract using chromosomal aberrations analysis in mice bone marrow. In fact, a single plant may have diversity of phytochemicals ranging from bitter compounds that stimulate digestive system, phenolic compounds for antioxidants and many other pharmacological properties, antibacterial, and antifungal, tannins that work as natural antibiotics, diuretic substances and alkaloids, etc. Tamarix is represented in Egypt with two indigenous species which are Tamarix aphylla (L.) (H.Karst) and T. nilotica (Ehrenb.) Bunge (T. nilotica (Ehrenb.). In addition, it was used in Egyptian traditional medicine as an antiseptic agent. Extracts of Tamarix species have been widely used in traditional medicine in Asia and Africa mainly for their antiseptic, astringent, diaphoretic and diuretic properties. The current investigation is focused on the anti-mutagenic effects of the Tamarix nilotica crude extract using chromosomal aberrations analysis in mice bone marrow. Mitomycin C (MMC) was administered to mice as a positive control alone before and after treatment with 5 or 0.5 mg/ kg b.wt Tamarix crude extract as acute (24 and 48 h) and sub-acute (15 consecutive days) doses respectively. Results indicated that the Mitomycin C (MMC) exposure induced statistically significant increase in chromosomal aberrations compared to the control, however T. nilotica revealed slight insignificant effect on aberrant mitosis rate. Chromosomal aberration domain structural and numerical aberrations. The frequency of chromosomal aberrations (CA) and mitotic index (MI) decreased with increasing the dose and time of T. nilotica treatment, especially pre-treatment (plant + MMC). This effect was found to be dose-dependent. In conclusion, the results showed that T. nilotica could be considered as a good anti-mutagenic agent.
Show more [+] Less [-]EVALUATION OF SOLAR POWERED DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM SYSTEM
2019
Norhan Sadek | عبد الغني محمد الجندي | Ahmed Hegazi | Osma Beder
Egypt’s demand for electricity is growing rapidly and the need to develop alternative power resources is becoming ever more urgent. It is estimated that demand is increasing at a rate of 1,500 to 2,000 MW a year as a result of rapid urbanization and economic growth. Egypt is now struggling to meet its own energy needs. Egypt has been suffering severe power shortages and rolling blackouts over the past years, necessitating the requirement to look to alternative energy options. Energy demand is increasing fastly so as to meet the requirements of growing population in the world. This study aimed to compare between traditional energy and solar generators in terms of energy consumption and cost effectiveness. Pumping systems were used to operate units of drip irrigation for the crop which was planted, so as to determine the best and least expensive energy consumption under this system. The required hydraulic experiment and measurements were performed on a private farm at Beni Salama, Giza which lies at latitude 30.32°N, 30.80°E during 2016 and 2017. Measurements were done at two days randomly selected in the months of December and March. This study evaluated the average monthly measurements for December 2016 and March 2017 where onions were grown. Maximum and minimum for Pv system DC power output were 6398 and 5755 W, the maximum and minimum for AC current were 5814 and 5548 W, respectively. Maximum and minimum for hydraulic power were 5911 and 3553 W, respectively. Efficiency of both photovoltaic, inverter, pump and overall system were also calculated for these days. Maximum and minimum for module efficiency were 14% and 13.2%, respectively, and maximum and minimum for inverter efficiency were 95%, 89%, respectively. Maximum and minimum for pump efficiency were 64%, 54%, respectively. While for overall efficiency, they were 8% and 3%, respectively. The results showed that solar pumping system is a reliable system
Show more [+] Less [-]ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF THE PACKAGING INDUSTRY OF DATES IN NEW VALLEY GOVERNORATE (CASE STUDY)
2019
Elham Abo Elyazed | M. El Santrisi | A. Abdelmaqsoud
Projects of various sizes and types contribute to the success of the economic development plans in general. Agricultural industrial projects are the basis for agricultural development in the economies of many countries, so this research aims to identify the economic feasibility of one of the productive activities in the New Valley governorate, On the efficiency of the work in the manufacturing units and the possibility of expansion in the future establishment in addition to identify the implications of the establishment of those units. The problem of research is that the packaging industry is very important because of its ability to absorb a large proportion of the labor force by creating many direct and indirect employment opportunities, from agriculture to storage of agricultural and industrial products that are produced to distribution to complementary industries such as Packaging The focus was on date factories as the main product of the New Valley Governorate. However, the expansion of these units has led to an imbalance between the production capacities and the availability of commodity inputs on the one hand, and the extent to which the revenues and investment profits of that unit. The research aims to identify the current status of agricultural processing in the New Valley Governorate by identifying the number of factories, their relative importance and the activities of agroindustries, focusing on the most important activities of agro-industries and the importance of agricultural processing, especially in the field of date industry. In addition to trying to identify the most important problems and obstacles that hinder the development of the industry of processing and preserving dates in the New Valley Governorate for the development of this sector by evaluating the factories that rely on agricultural products as raw material. The questionnaire was prepared and completed by (16) establishments working in the field of packing dates, semi-automatic, The research data were collected in 2019 through a personal interview with the factory managers, The questionnaire included data on production values, raw materials, wages, commodity and service inputs, number of workers, … etc., These data were analyzed using financial and economic criteria. As it achieves an annual trading profit ranging between ( 9.6–092.61) million pounds, which represents a commercial profitability ratio ranging from (1.50 - 2.59) pounds, which is a high percentage reflecting the profitability of this productive activity, while the income of the investor invested between (0.50 - 1.59) pounds Which indicates the efficiency of this industry economically, while the value of the break-even point ranged from (6.77-104.94) million pounds, while the percentage of the margin safety of production ranged between (32.18 - 61.16)%showed the ability of these manufacturing units to cope with the potential risk conditions of lower production. Or lower product price.
Show more [+] Less [-]EFFECT OF IRRIGATION LEVELS, SOIL CONDITIONER AND FOLIAR APPLICATION OF POTASSIUM SILICATEOR GLYCINE BETAINEON VEGETATIVE GROWTH AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GARLIC
2019
Walaa Sapt | Hany Metwally | Aboelezz Shehata Omran | Mohamed Ragab
The field experiment was carried out during the two growing seasons of 2013-2014 and 2014-2015, at the farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Shoubra El-Kheima, Egypt, to investigate the effect of irrigation after the depletion of different available soil water levels, soil conditioner, foliar application of glycine betaine and potassium silicate on vegetative growth and chemical composition of garlic (Allium sativum L.), cv. Sids-40 under water stress conditions. The experimental treatments were arranged in a split split plot design, with three replicates Irrigation levels were conducted after the depletion of 60%, 75% and 90% of available soil water in the main plots. Irrigation treatments were started six weeks from planting, soil conditioner at the rates of 2 m3/Fed and control were distributed in the sub-plots. Foliar applications of glycine betaine was used at 2 mM/Land potassium silicate was used at 0.5 g /L, after 50, 65, 80, 95, 110, 125 and 140 days respectively, from planting compared with control were devoted in the sub-sub plots. The results indicated thatthe irrigation after depletion of 60 % available soil water with applying soil conditioner and glycine betaine or potassium silicate increased the Plant lengthof garlic after 150 days from planting. Bulb diameterand nitrogen contentshowed significant increase as a result of irrigation after depletion of 60 % available soil water with applying soil conditioner in addition to the foliar application ofglycine betaine.Prolin content was significantly increased as a result of irrigation after depletion of 90 % available soil water without applying soil conditioner with the foliar application of distilled water (control).Whereas, the lowest value of Prolin content appeared with irrigation after depletion of 60 % available soil water with applying soil conditioner and foliar application of glycine betaine.Total soluble solids (TSS) andtotal Sugarsincreased significantly as a result of irrigation after depletion of 90 % available soil water without applying soil conditioner with the foliar application of glycine betaine.It was therefore concluded that vegetative growth and chemical analyses of garlic responded positively to irrigation, applying soil conditioner and foliar application of 2 mM/L glycine betaine or 0.5 g/L potassium silicate
Show more [+] Less [-]Protective activity of sweet sorghum and sugarcane syrups against oxidative stress induced by cadmium in albino rats
2019
Yara EL-Geddawy | El-Sayed Abou Elsoud | Nessrien Yasin | Samir Besheit
The present study was designed to investigate the effect of sweet sorghum and sugarcane syrups as antioxidants on oxidative stress biomarkers and the lipid profile i.e. serum total triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoproteins cholesterol (LDL-C)) in male rats. Cadmium was received orally to rats daily at a dose of 10mg/L in drinking water. Rats were divided into four groups,-eight rats for each- as follow: (I) control group, (II) cadmium treated group, (III) sweet sorghum syrup solution (500 ppm) once daily at a dose of 1 ml/kg body weight of cadmium acetate solution, (IV) sugarcane syrup solution (500 ppm) and cadmium acetate solution. Bioactive compounds of syrups under investigation were identified, total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined as well. Results cleared that the effect of variation in varieties on total phenol (mg GAE/ml sample) and antioxidant activity determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) assay of syrup was significant (P≤0.05) while it was not significant (P˃0.05) on total flavonoid (mg CE/ml sample).The highest total phenolic content was recorded by sweet sorghum syrup (1.87 mg GAE/ml sample) meanwhile, total flavonoid content varied between (1.09 and 1.36 mg CE/ml sample). Results also cleared that G.T.54-9 sugarcane and Rex sweet sorghum syrup samples exhibited significant (P≤0.05) scavenging activity compared to commercial sugarcane sample that gave lower scavenging activity (97.16, 96.07 and 74.22, respectively).Sweet sorghum and sugarcane syrups significantly affected (P≤0.05) absolute weight of organs and relative weight of both heart and kidney, while the effect on relative weight of liver was not significant (P>0.05). The treatment of sweet sorghum and sugarcane syrups during cadmium acetate administration in rats led to reduction in alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), antioxidant enzymes, urea, creatinine and biomarkers in rat livers, like reduced glutathione , catalase ,malondialdehyde ,serum total triglyceride, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoproteins cholesterol back near to normal when compared to control rats. In general, the treatment with sugarcane syrup reduced the cadmium acetate induced hepatotoxicity in rats.
Show more [+] Less [-]PERFORMANCE AND COMBINING ABILITY FOR STRAW YIELD AND RELATED CHARACTERS IN A DIALLEL CROSS OF FLAX (Linum usitatissmum, L.) UNDER DIFFERENT SOWING DATES
2019
Amany Sayed | A. El-Marakby | Afaf Tolba | Sabah Abo El-Komsan
Thirty six entries of flax (Linum usitatissmum, L.) involving eight parental genotypes and their twenty eight hybrids were evaluated for straw yield and its related traits in the F1 during (2015/2016) and F2 populations during (2016/2017) under early (F2D1) and late (F2D2) sowing dates (two environments) in the Agricultural Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams Univ., Shalakan, Kalubia Governorate. Mean squares due to genotypes, parents and crosses were highly significant for straw yield, plant height, technical stem length, fiber yield/plant, fiber percentage, fiber length and fiber fineness in the F1 and F2 generations (at early and late sowing dates), indicating that parental genotypes as well as their F1 and F2 generations exhibited reasonable degree of variability for all studied traits. Highly significant variations mean performance were found for parental genotypes and hybrids for straw yield/plant and its related traits in the F1, F2D1and F2D2, indicating presence of wide genetic variability among studied genotypes. The highest mean values were recorded under all studied environments, for straw yield/plant, fiber yield/plant and fiber fineness were found by S. 402/1 genotype, while Sakha 5 gave the highest mean values for plant height, technical stem length and fiber length. General and specific combining ability mean squares were highly significant for all studied traits in F1, F2D1 and F2D2 with the exception of a few cases, indicating the importance of both additive and non-additive gene effects in the expression of straw yield and its components. The additive effects were more important than non-additive effects under all studied environments for straw yield/plant (except at F2D2), plant height (except at F1), fiber percentage and fineness. On the other hand, the non- additive effects were more effective than additive effects for technical stem length, fiber yield/plant and fiber length. Results showed that the parents; Giza 11and Giza 12 for straw yield/plant, Sakha 5 for plant height and fiber length, Sakha 6 for fiber yield/plant, Jowhar for fiber percentage and S. 402/1, Sakha 2, Giza 12 and Sakha 5 for fiber fineness, these parents appeared to be the best general combiners for these traits. Some of the crosses exhibited highly significant and positive SCA effects included high x high and high x low general combiner parents, suggesting that the breeding procedure which utilize both additive and non-additive genetic variances would be more useful for improvement of straw yield and its components of flax.
Show more [+] Less [-]Comparative Studies on Gene Expression of Rice and Wheat in Response to Fungal Infection
2019
Nermin Mohamed
Cereals are the foremost necessary foods for growing population of human. Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is the first important and strategic cereal crop for the majority of world’s populations. It is the most necessary staple food. Although rice (oryzae sativa) has the second place because of planted area but it serves as the most important food source for Asian countries. Wheat and rice production may be severely restricted by biotic and abiotic constraints. Disease is the major biotic stress in several regions.Comparative sequence analysis is a powerful tool to study homologous gene families, define conserved gene functions between orthologs, and identify lineage- and species-specific genes. Most annotations of newly sequenced genomes are based on similarity with sequences for which functional information is available. Apart from conserved sequences, inter-species differences provide important clues about evolutionary history and species-specific adaptations. In our study, two RNA-sequencing data sets of resistant variety of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.,) after infection with leaf rust fungus, Puccinia triticina and resistant variety of rice (Oryza sativa L.,) after infection with blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae were compared. 31768 up-regulated genes in wheat and 3902 up-regulated genes in rice were filtered according to fold change more than 3 and removing variants, 250 upregulated genes of wheat and rice were aligned and phylogenetic tree was generated. The result of phylogenetic tree showed close relationship between ten aligned gene pairs of wheat and rice. Two pairs of aligned gene pairs were selected randomly, super family of these pairs were obtained, the result showed that each aligned pair of proteins shared the same protein family and the same annotation and all pairs participate in plant defense pathways. Then, the gene expression of the two pairs were validated by Real-time PCR after infecting wheat with Puccinia triticina and rice with Magnaporthe grisea. Each aligned pair of the two pairs shared the same manner of expression with few exceptions in rice.
Show more [+] Less [-]ANALYSIS OF THE EXTERNAL DEMAND FOR EGYPTIAN ORANGE EXPORTS USING ALMOST IDEAL DEMAND SYSTEM
2019
Amr Ewida | M. Nasr | H. Sarhan
The agricultural foreign trade sector is one of the most important sectors that have a direct impact on the economic development programs. Oranges occupy the first place among Egyptian citrus varieties, with Egyptian production of about 3.014 million tons representing about 70.4% of the total citrus production of 4.3 million tons (2012-2016). Its productive area reached 294.5 thousand feddans representing about 68% of the total area of citrus fruits, which amounted to about 433 thousand feddans during the same period. The problem of the study is the volatility of the quantity of Egyptian exports of oranges during the period of study (2000-2017), which made the Egyptian exports of oranges face great competition from many countries in foreign markets, which may lose them in their foreign markets and allow the competition to win these markets, The available statistics indicate that the average production of Egyptian oranges was about 2.6 million tons as an average for the period 2005-2017. However, the quantity of exports is only 23.5% of this production. The objective of the research is to analyze the structure of the demand for Egyptian exports of oranges by achieving two main objectives: The first aims to study the development of Egyptian exports of oranges and the main importing countries. The second deals with estimating the price and cross price elasticities through the almost ideal demand system for Egyptian orange. The research was based on the use of descriptive statistical analysis in the presentation and characterization of export prices of Egyptian orange, and the variables of quantities and prices of the most competitive countries in each of the studied markets, The econometric analysis was used to estimate the market model of the demand for Egyptian oranges in each of the markets studied using the Linear Almost Ideal Demand System (LAIDS) model. The research was based on UN.org data. Comtrade http: //, Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (2005-2017), as well as some scientific references related to the subject.
Show more [+] Less [-]RESPONSE OF SOYBEAN GROWTH TO NANO-MINERAL FERTILIZERS UNDER TWO IRRIGATION INTERVALS
2019
hossam mohamed | Nemat Nour El-Din | R. Abd Rabou | M. Abd El-Hady
During summer seasons of 2015 and 2017, a field experiment was conducted at the Research and Experimental Station (30°19′ N, 31°16′ E), Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University at Shalakan, Kalubia Governorate, Egypt, to investi-gate the effects of combinations between hydroxyl apatite nanoparticles (0, 3, and 6 kg/fad) and cal-cium carbonate nanoparticles (0, 500g/fad) as nano-fertilizers under irrigaton intervals, (irrigation every 2 or 3 weeks whereas irrigation every 2 weeks as a recommended practice) on growth of soybean plants. Irrigation intervals had statistically significant effect on plant height (cm), number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, leaf area index, number of pods per plant, number of root nodules per plant, root dry weight per plant, stem dry weight per plant, leaves dry weight per plant and pods dry weight per plant. These results were fairly true in the two studied seasons 2015, 2017 and combined result. plant height, numbers of branches per plant, numbers of leaves per plant, leaf area index, number of nodules per plant and number of pods per plant of soybean plants which treated with 500 g/fed surpassed untreated plants in the two studied seasons 2015, 2017 and com-bined. Soybean plants treated with 6 kg hydroxyl apatite nanoparticles per feddan out-numbered other plants in its numbers of leaves per plant, leaf area index, number of root nodules per plant and number of pods per plant in the two growing sea-sons 2015, 2017 and combined data. Results showed that normal irrigation x 500g/fed calcium carbonate nanoparticles x 6kg/fed hydroxyl apatite nanoparticles was the effective combination for producing the highest values of plant height (cm), number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, leaf area index, number of pods per plant, number of root nodules per plant, root dry weight per plant (g), stem dry weight per plant (g), leaves dry weight per plant (g) and pods dry weight per plant (g). There weren’t significant results be-tween plants treated with nano-mineral fertilizers under irrigation every 3 week and plants untreated but irrigated every 2 week in all growth traits, which reflect appositive result of this chemical substance in mitigation harmful effect of water shortage in season 2015, 2017 and combined data.
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