Due to the expansion of strawberry nursery cultivation, transplant production has become an important industry in Egypt. Nitrogen and phosphorus are the most important nutrients affecting the number and quality of strawberry transplants. However, no empirical research exists addressing the optimal requirements of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization rates for strawberry nurseries in Egypt, until now. This study was conducted at a private farm in Abo Ghalib, Giza Governorate, Egypt during the two successive summer seasons of 2015 and 2016 to determine the optimal requirements of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizations for Festival strawberry cultivar nurseries via evaluating the influence of four nitrogen rates (83, 100, 117 or 134 kg N/feddan) and five phosphorus rates (38, 62, 74, 86 or 98 kg P2O5/feddan) in a factorial experiment. Results revealed that increasing the rates of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizations increased the number of main runners/mother plant and number of marketable transplants/m2, and enhanced all vegetative growth parameters, leaf SPAD readings, leaf relative water content, crown diameter, crown carbohydrates, and leaf mineral content in both growing seasons. On the contrary, both elements had an inverse effect on leaf total soluble phenols. Thus, the study recommends to the nurserymen of Festival straw-berry cultivar to apply 117 or 134 kg N with 98 kg P2O5 per feddan under pure sandy soil condition which gave the highest number of transplants with high quality and subsequent high quality crop in the field.

This study was carried out in two successive seasons (2014-2015 and 2015-2016) at SEKEM company Farm (Bilbase, Sharkya Governorate) on chia (Salvia hispanica) plant which is  a new crop introduced lately to Egyptian cultivation as  a medicinal plant. The effect of three irrigation levels of different reference evapotranspiration (80, 100 and 120 % ETo) with foliar application of three levels of proline (100, 200 and 300 ppm), salicylic acid (200, 400 and 600 ppm) and putrescine (10, 15 and 20 ppm) in addition to the control treatment (tap water) was investigated on growth and yield of Salvia hispanica cultivated in sandy loam soil with drip irrigation system. The results of the two years experiments indicated that the highest values of plant growth parameters and seeds yield of S. hispanica were obtained from 100 % ETo. While 120 % ETo resulted in the maximum value of roots fresh and dry weights. Foliar-spray application of proline (100 ppm.), salicylic acid (200 ppm) and putrescine (10 ppm) resulted in optimum fresh and dry weights of herbage and roots. Seed yield was higher in plants sprayed with proline (100 ppm) and putrescine (10 ppm), although the differences between them and salicylic acid (200 and 400 ppm) or putrescine (15 ppm) were insignificant in both seasons. This leads us to recommend irrigation of S. hispanica accordingly with 100 % ETo coupled with foliar-spray application of salicylic acid (200 ppm) from the economic point of view.

The experiment was conducted through two successive seasons of 2008 and 2009 at ElBosaily farm, EI-Behira governorate at the North Coastal of the Nile Delta, in Egypt. This work aimed to study the effect of three green-house covers (polyethylene sheet, white and black net) and three irrigation levels [80%, 100% and 120% of the potential evapotranspiration estimated according to class A pan equation (ET,)], applied by drip irrigation system, on plant growth and crop yield of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.. cv. Reda F1). The experimental design was split- plot with three replicates. The results showed that white net green-house cover optimized growth and yield of cucumber plant. White net cover treatment recorded the highest vegetative growth (plant height, number of leaves, total leaves area, total fresh and dry weights), and significantly increased total yield. The highest vegetative growth was obtained by 100% ET, compared to 80 and 120% ETo treatments. The interaction among water treatment and green-house cover indicated the highest vegetative growth and crop yield were obtained under white net cover wi1th 100% ET0,.

Recommended application was done by spray regime for two pesticides, namely diniconazole, fenitrothion and a plant growth regulator (gibberellic acid) and their mixtures. Their residues were determined after different successive treatments in and on grape fruits in two consecutive years. The initial deposits of the fungicide diniconazole when used alone were 0.49 and 0.50 ppm for 2006 and 2007, respectively. While the initial deposits of fenitrothion reached to 11.35 and 11.19 ppm for the same interval, respectively. Initial deposits of the plant growth regulator gibberellic acid were 30.52 and 30.42 ppm for the same period, respectively. After mixing the tested pesticides and the plant growth regulator, the initial deposits loss reached 38.77 and 42.0 % for diniconazole, 43.08 and 48.16 % for fenitrothion and 6.88 and 7.00 % for gibberellic acid for the same seasons, respectively. A significant degradation was recorded with the mixture of the two tested pesticides and plant growth regulator compared with that occurred when pesticide was used alone at' the two studied seasons.

This study was carried out during the two successive seasons (2017 and 2018) on the first and second ratoon of healthy uniform banana cv. Williams (Musa spp.) Plants grown in sandy soil under drip irrigation system in a private orchard located at El-Tahadi region, Cairo Alexandria desert road, Behaira governorate, Egypt. The investigation aimed to study the effect of different slow release potassium fertilizer (SRKF) (50% K2O) rates (100%, 75% and 50%) were added as soil drench during mid March, mid June and mid September while, potassium sulphate dose used in control treatment was added at monthly intervals as soil application from mid March until mid October on vegetative growth, productivity, total yield income and net return/feddan of banana plants. The obtained results showed that, all treatments had a significant effect on enhancing the vegetative growth parameters, i.e. number of green leaves /plant, plant total assimilation area (m2/plant), leaf total chlorophyll content (CCI) and leaf macro element content (N, P and K) as (%) as well as leaf micro element content (Fe, Zn and Mn) as (ppm). Also, improving yield (ton/feddan), bunch weight (kg), number of hands/bunch, hand weight (kg), number of fingers/hand, finger weight (g), finger length (cm), finger circumference (cm), finger pulp weight (g), finger pulp/peel (ratio), TSS (%), TSS/TA (ratio), total sugars (%). In addition, the total yield income (1000 LE) and net return/feddan (1000 LE) in both seasons. Moreover, all treatments had no significant effect on plant pseudostem height (cm), pseudostem circumferences (cm) and leaf area (m2) of plant in both seasons and bunch length (cm) in the first season only. Treatment of: slow release potassium at 100% gave the highest values of physical and chemical properties of banana plants cv. Williams in both seasons compared to, control treatment (100% potassium sulphate) and slow release potassium at 50% gave the lowest values.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic improvement in Zaraibi goats herd raised on El-serw research station located in the north eastern part of Nile Delta, Egypt. The station belongs to Animal Production Research Institute (APRI). Some body weights at different ages were included in genetic and environmental trends. These weights were 4-month weight (4M), 6-month weight (6M), and 12-month weight (12M). Data and pedigree information were collected from 1988 until 2018. The least square means of body weights at 4M, 6M and 12M were 12.14±0.02, 15.49±0.02 and 24.08±0.04 kg, respectively. Year of birth, season, gender of kid, parity of dam and type of birth significantly (P<0.01) affect growth traits. Genetic parameters were estimated using a multi-trait animal model program (MTDFREML). The same previous fixed effects were included in this analysis regarding the animal as random effects. The heritability of the studied body weights tend to increase as age increases. That is inversely matched with the environmental proportion of total variance which was found to be 0.72, 0.66 and 0.62 for M4, M6 and M12, respectively. The heritability value was estimated as 0.28 for 4M. Genetic trends were obtained as the regression of the predicted breeding values on years of birth and Environmental trends were obtained as the regression of year constants on years of birth. The annual genetic change trends were positive and significant for 4M, 6M and 12M (0.091, 0.121 and 0.158 kg/year, respectively) and the annual phenotypic change trends were (0.020, 0.045, 0.117 kg/year, respectively). Genetic trends for M12 trait were higher than those for other traits in this study. Genetic and environment correlations between 4 month body weight and other growth traits were positive. Negative environmental trends indicates poor management system for the flock during studied period. Weight at 12 months of age has the highest heritability in studied body weights and suggested to be selection criteria to improve yearling weight for Zaraibi goat.

The objective of this study was to follow up the growth performance and gonads development of sex reversed male Nile tilapia. Fish fed commercial diet contained 30% crude protein at a rate of 3% of the biomass and 10 fish were randomly taken biweekly during the experimental period (16 weeks). Growth performance, feed utilization and survival rate were calculated. Histological examination of the gonads was done every two weeks to follow the growth and development of the gonads. Results showed positive interactions between growth parameters and reproductive development during different periods of fish productive cycle. Histological examination illustrated that during early ages, testicular sections of mono sex male’s tilapia had abnormal architecture with deterioration of germinative tissue. Despite abnormal testis texture, fish started spermatogenesis, a step toward puberty when their body weight reached 29.16g. As fish reached 4-5 months, male start to recover their testes normal structures and at age of 5.5-6 months, testicular sections appeared normally as pointed out by firmed testicular lobules, existence of all germ cell types and the intensively stored spermatozoa in testicular lumen and testicular ducts, confirming the full maturity of males. Based on the obtained results, it can clearly conclude that there is a relationship between age, body weight and development of sexual glands. It has also been shown that the hormonal treatment of tilapia seeds in the early stages for production of mono sex (all males) leads to a marked deterioration in the testes structure, continues near the fish enters the sexual maturity. At a later age, males can overcome this deterioration, restore the histological  structure of the testes and achieve full sexual maturity at the age around from 5.5 to 6 months.

A total of 320 fertile eggs, were divided randomly into 4 treatments with four replicates and 20 eggs per each replicate. Treatments including: T1; control; without injection, T2; injected with 0.1ml saline solution; sham control, T3, injected with0.1 ml either containing 0.75 ppm inorganic or Nano – iron particles 75 ppm Fe-Nano inorganic, T4, injected with 75 ppm Fe inorganic  On the 7th day of incubation, 0.1 ml solution was In ovo injected into the egg .Body weight and body weight gain were measured at biweekly intervals, at 42d of age, three hens per replicate were weighted, sacrificed for slaughtering weights of carcass, internal organs(heart, liver, and lymphoid organs i.e. (spleen, thymus and Bursa) were recorded. Blood samples were collected at slaughtering bird at 42d of age. There were significant increase in body weight and body weight gain in treatments injected with75 ppm Fe-Nano inorganic and 75 ppm Fe inorganic compared with control. There were no significantly differences among all experimental groups in dressed carcass, gizzard, and heart, liver. Abdominal fat decreased in groups injectedwith75 ppm both iron forms. Compared with the control group. No variation was observed in the weight of bursa and spleen, however thymus weight was significantly higher in both Fe inorganic and Fe nano inorganic injected groups than un-injected control group. High density lipoprotein concentration and cholesterol were significantly decreased by different treatment as compared with the control group. These results suggest that, 75 ppm Fe inorganic or75 ppm Fe-Nano injection at the 7th im proved at the 7th day of incubation improved embryonic growth and development as well as decreasing post hatched chick's plasma cholesterol.

Two pot experiments were carried out at the greenhouse of the Cotton Research Institute, Agric. Res. Cent., Giza, Egypt during 2015 and 2016 seasons to study the response of cotton plant to application of some nutrients to improve the performance of cotton plant under irrigation of saline water to increase growth, yield and yield components and fiber quality of Giza 90 cotton cultivar.  The experimental design was a split plot design with four replications. Main plots included saline water solutions treatments (control, 2000, 4000, 6000 and 8000 ppm), sub plot included four nutrients application (Potassium Humate, Algex, Poly Ethylene Glycol (PEG) 6000 and Potassein compared with control). The obtained results could be summarized as follows: Irrigation with saline  water over seasons significantly decreased plant height, number of fruiting branches/plant, number of open bolls /plant, boll weight, seed index, seed cotton yield per plant, fiber length, uniformity index, fiber strength and micronaire value,  while, lint % was significantly increased. Nutrients application had significant effect on growth parameters, yield and its components and fiber properties under study, All nutrients treatments gave the highest values of growth parameters, yield and its components and fiber properties as compared with the control in both seasons. In general, plants sprayed with PEG gave the highest averages of plant height, number of fruiting branches/plant. Potassium Humate gave  the highest averages of yield and its components and fiber properties followed by plants sprayed with Algex, while the plants sprayed with PEG as came the last in these respect in both seasons. Interaction between irrigation with slain water and nutrients application by salinity tolerance inducers had a significant effect on plant height, number of fruiting branches per plant,  boll weight,  number of open bolls /plant, seed index, seed cotton yield /plant and fiber quality under study in both seasons. Plants treated with foliar nutrients under salinity condation scored the highest average of growth parameters, yield and its components and fiber properties. Potassium Humate, Algex, PEG and Potassein applications to plants under normal and salinity conditions had positive effects on improving the performance of cotton plants, which increased plant growth and yield especially under salinity conditions.

The present study was carried out during 2015 and 2016 seasons on Kitt mongo  trees to evaluate the effect of three irrigation water management (4000  m3 of irrigation water were applied to the four physiological stages of mango tree growth as 15 & 20 & 40 & 25 % ,  30 & 15 & 35& 20 % and  35 & 20 & 30& 15 % m3 / tree/ year,  respectively) as well as  four concentrations  of potassium silicate on avoiding cold injury and  improvement yield of kitt mango .                 Irrigation Mango tree by  the second program water management (30, 15, 35 , 20) recorded The highest values of vegetative growth in terms of number of shoot /tree  and lower values of leaves percentage   affected with cold injury, Also, an evident increase in the content leaves of N  & K elements , C/N ratio  and final fruit set % total yield by divided  irrigation water at the four physiological stages of mango  trees  (30, 15, 35, 20) was recorded compared with  the other two water managements. No significant differences between the second and third irrigation water management programs (30%,  15%, 35%, 20% and  35%,  20%,  30%, 15%) on values of  leaf area, P% and  total carbohydrates as well as on TSS,  acidity and L-ascorbic acid content  of fruits .                 Spraying trees with potassium silicate in three times during the period from October to January at the rate of 1000 ppm  give the highest values of quality characteristics at mango trees and their fruits. While sprayed with potassium silicate at 2000 ppm achieve moderate values of the mentioned characteristics                 It could be recommended from the obtained data that irrigation water management at the four physiological stages (30, 15, 35, 20) of Kitt mango  trees and spraying 1000 ppm potassium silicate in dormancy period is considered  a good treatment to avoid cold damage on leaves and fruits as well as in giving the highest yield and quality of kitt fruit.