Two pot experiments were carried out during the summer seasons of 2006 and 2007 to investigate the effect of irrigation with diluted saline water; i.e., 10, 30 and 50% in addition to Tap water as a control on growth, chemical composition, yield and tuber quality of three new sweet potato cultivars (Minufiya 6/96, Minufiya 2/96 and Minufiya 171/96) as well as the local cultivar (Mabrouka). The obtained results revealed that, saline water at 10 and 30% levels stimulated growth of sweet potato plants represented by plant height, number of leaves and branches, dry weight of shoots as well as the contents of photosynthetic pigments, proline, total carbohydrates, N, P, K+ and Ca++ in sweet potato leaves were also increased. Moreover, total water content (TWC), bound water (BW), bound / free water ratio (BW/FW) and relative water content (RWC) increased under these conditions. All these parameters decreased at the level of 50% salinity. Yield and its quality significantly increased at saline water at 10% level. Also, chemical composition of tuber roots; i.e., total carbohydrates, soluble sugars, carotene, starch and dry matter contents were enhanced under these conditions. All previous parameters decreased with increasing saline water up to 50%. Saline water levels increased Na+ content in the leaves. As for the tested cultivars, generally Minufiya 6/96 had the best growth and yield, was more stable in the chemical components and its roots had the highest nutrients value under the control and salt stress conditions, followed by Minufiya 2/96 then Minufiya 171/96. The tuber roots yield of Mabrouka cultivar was completely depressed at 30 and 50% salinity levels. As for interaction between cultivars and salinity levels. The highest level of salinity (50%) lead to a significant decrease in all growth parameters, RWC, TWC, bound water (BW), bound water / free water (BW/FW), chemical composition, yield and its quality in all new tested cultivars. While, Mabrouka cultivar showed a significant decrease in these parameters under the all salinity levels. Accordingly, Minufiya 6/96 was the highest tolerant to the tested salinity stress, followed by Minufiya 2/96 and Minufiya 171/96. On the other hand, Mabrouka cultivar sensitive to salinity.

A pot experiment was carried out in summer season of 2006 to evaluate the different concentrations effect of foliar application of methanol and pink pigmented facultative methelotrophic bacteria (PPFM) on some growth parameters and yield of cotton plant. Data showed that, the highest growth rate value was obtained with PPFM isolates from wheat with 1% methanol. The growth rate of PPFM isolates decreased with increasing the methanol concentration. Foliar applications with 20% methanol with PPFM 3 or 4 spraying times gave the significantly highest values of cotton growth and yield parameters. Such two potent treatments increased  leaf area index (LAI) by 51.4 and 55.8 %; number of fruiting branches / plant by 53.1 and 58.0 %; number of total bolls / plant by 38.1 and 43.0 %; seed cotton weight / boll by 37.1 and 48.2 % and seed cotton yield / plant by 46.1 and 50.8, respectively than the control.

This study was conducted for comparing three slow release N fertilizers namely, sulphur-coated urea (SCU), phosphorus – coated urea (PCU) and Enciabene with the conventional fast release N fertilizer namely ammonium nitrate each at the recommended rate of N i.e., 1000 g N/tree/year for growth characters on the three growth flushes, percentages of leaf N, P and K in the Spring growth cycle, date of first bloom, number of panicles/tree, fruit retention %, yield as well as physical and chemical characters of fruits in two mango cvs Figri Kelan and Keitt during 2004 and 2005 seasons. Results showed that suppling the trees of both mango cvs with the three slow release N fertilizers were superior to the application of the fast one in improving shoot length, number of leaves / shoot and leaf area in the three growth cycles, percentages of leaf N, number of panicles / tree as well as physical and chemical properies of the fruits. The slow release N fertilizers slightly advanced first bloom date. Application of sulphur-coated urea (SCU), phosphorus-coated urea (PCU) and Enciabene (ENC) in a descending order, was very favorable in this connection. These results were true for both mango cvs. It is suggested to fertilize the trees of both mango cvs Figri Kelan and Keitt with N at 1000g/tree/year as sulphur-coated urea fertilizer (2.4 Kg/tree/year) for obtaining an economical yield with fairly good fruit quality