Egypt has an appropriate environment for the cultivation of many medicinal and aromatic plants of great economic potential all over the world. Chamomile is one of the most important crops, especially in Fayoum governorate, where the average of cultivated area under the traditional farming system about 9.8 thousand feddan in the year 2015 represents about 77% of total traditional chamomile area in the whole country, where organic chamomile production area was approximately 6.3 thousand feddan which represent about 84% of total organic Chamomile production area in whole Egypt. This research aimed to evaluate the economic efficiency for Chamomile production under organic farming system compared with traditional system in Fayoum governorate over the growing season 2015 -2016 in the short-run and long-run based on preliminary data of a random sample of traditional and organic chamomile farms. A simple random sample was taken from three districts in Fayoum  governorate (Ebshway, Etsa and Youssef El Siddiq), with 75, 60 individuals for both traditional and organic farms respectively, each sample was divided into two categories; the first category (0.5 feddan – 1 feddan), the second category (1.5 feddan - 2 feddan). Analytical procedures were utilized in processing and analyzing the data. Multiple regressions were used to reach the basic findings of this research. Production and Cost function was specified and estimated, in order to derive some indicators of economic efficiency, production efficiency and economic of scale. The results showed that the total production elasticity for both the selected sample farms in the short and long run, indicating that all farms are produced in the first non-economic phase of the Law of diminishing returns.  The results showed that the net return of organic farms was higher than traditional farms by 63.6% and 52.1% for the first and second category farms, respectively.

Agricultural mechanization is considered one of the most important agricultural technological methods for making fundamental changes in the agricultural sector. Therefore, Egypt has worked on two main axes: horizontal and vertical expansion, using modern agricultural technology, which is one of the important tools of development in the agricultural sector because it has a positive impact on vertical expansion. The study aimed to review the current state of agricultural mechanization at Egypt level and the governorate of Sharkia governorate to find out the availability of modern agricultural machinery and equipment and study the relations of substitution and complementarity between these machines and each other and the relationship of these machines to the crop area and productivity of wheat in Egypt. The most important results were: The number is increasing of tractors, ploughs, shooters, seeders irrigation machines, hoe machines, pesticides sprayers, harvesters, threshing machines in Egypt and Sharkia governorate, The increase in the number of prisons in Egypt and the decrease in the Sharkia of seed dill, and the decrease in the number of transplanters in Egypt and Sharkia governorate. The relationships between agricultural machinery (tractors, ploughs, irrigation machines, hoe machines, pesticides sprayers, harvesters, and, threshing machines) are both linear and statistically significant. This means that there is a complementarity between these machines and each other, As well as relations between the agricultural machinery and the seeders, seed drill and transplanters where the relationship either be positive but they are significantly less  than the equivalent of other machines are either positive or negative, but not statistically significant and therefore it has nothing to do with the other.  There is no statistically significant relationship between the productivity of wheat in Egypt and Sharkia governorate and the machinery (tractors, ploughs, seed drill, hoe machines, harvesters, threshing machines). Decreased total average area per tractor for wheat crop in Egypt and Sharkia governorate. There was no statistically significant relationship between the average crop area for each tractor and the production of wheat crop in Egypt. In Sharkia governorate, the relationship is inverse and statistically significant. There is a statistically significant correlation between the average area per tractor for wheat yield in Egypt and the average area per tractor for wheat crop in Sharkia governorate. There was no statistically significant correlation between the number of tractors and the productivity and the average yield area per tractor for wheat yield for both Egypt and Sharkia governorate. The agricultural mechanization is still in its early stages, economic relations either do not exist or take different signals. The statistical significance of the development of the number of machines at Egypt level or the Sharkia governorate for the first strategic crop in Egypt is not proven. Hence, agricultural mechanization in its broad sense is the use of modern technology in increasing production Which has not yet been achieved and hopes and efforts are required to pursue better policies to achieve the desired goals

Guava (Psidium guajava L.,) die-back disease caused by Botryodiplodia theobromae Pat., is a destructive disease, considered one of the most important and economic disease of guava. Amistar Top 325-32.5% E.C. gave the highest decreasing of linear growth and amount of growth of isolate code No., Q.K.4., followed by Camzin 50% W.P., Monceren 25% W.P. and Montro 30% E.C. Meanwhile, Ridomil Gold/Plus 42.50% W.P., Copral 50% W.P., Eminent 12.50% E.W. and Thiovat Jet 80% W.G. exhibited a lowest effect in reducing of linear growth and amount growth of B. theobromae isolate code No., Q.K.4. Amistar Top 325-32.5% E.C. was the most efficient fungicide in reduce disease incidence and disease severity infield of B. theobromae isolate code No., Q.K.4., followed by Camzin 50% W.P., Monceren 25% W.P., Montro 30% E.C. Meanwhile, Ridomil Gold/Plus 42.50% W.P., Copral 50% W.P., Eminent 12.50% E.W. and Thiovat Jet 80% W.G. showed a lowest efficient in reducing the disease incidence and disease severity. Soil drench method of fungicides application was the higher efficient method in elimination of percentage of disease incidence and disease severity followed by foliar spray application, relatively. Banaty transplant was the most susceptible cultivar to the all tested B. theobromae isolates, whereas cultivar Gizy Ahmr was the lowest susceptible with the same isolates, information about cultivar reaction of guava transplants against B. theobromae is still scanty.

This study aims to study the estimation of production cost functions as it reflects the relationship between total costs and actual production. The main economic indicators that reflect the extent to which the agricultural production units achieved economic efficiency in their use of the productive resources involved in the production process as well as the extent to which they are achieved These units of maximizing the profits of the agricultural product, as well as the study of production costs and the associated indicators are important both on the productivity unit or at the national level, which can be used in the design and analysis of price policies and help the user Farmers in their productive decision-making, which would encourage producers to continue production or stop production. As well as to determine the volume of production that maximizes profits and thus achieve economic efficiency of the use of productive elements.

This study aimed to determine the relationship between preharvest treatments by salicylic acid, Larginine and L-tryptophan with fruit quality of pear cv. Le-Conte during cold storage at 0◦C and 9095% RH for 12 weeks followed by shelf life at 22◦C for 12 days. Treatments included L-arginine at 100 and 200 ppm, L-tryptophan at 50 and 100 ppm, salicylic acid at 100 and 200 ppm and water as control, all treatments were sprayed on mature trees until run off twice; at full bloom stage and at initial fruit set stage. All conducted treatments were effective in maintaining fruit quality compared with control. Tryptophan at 100 ppm showed the highest significant TSS values, while salicylic acid at 200 ppm showed the lowest significant TSS values during cold storage and shelf life circumstances. Salicylic acid at 100 and 200 ppm showed the lowest weight loss percentages, salicylic at 200 ppm decreased the rate of decay incidence, showed the lowest significant respiration rates, also it was effective in alleviating core browning. In addition, salicylic acid at 200 ppm significantly maintained firmness of fruits, and showed higher h° value of fruits peel, ascorbic acid concentrations, total phenols content and antioxidant capacity values of LeConte pear fruits. Preharvest treatments by salicylic acid, L-arginine and L-tryptophan positively influenced postharvest fruit quality, salicylic acid at 200 ppm effectively maintained fruit quality during cold storage and shelf life.

Productivity efficiency is defined as a measure of the efficiency or efficiency of a particular production component of the production component when used with other elements. This section will address the estimation of the production functions and production efficiency of onion crop in Beni Suef Governorate. Problem and purpose of research To identify the most important problems and obstacles faced by onion production farmers in Beni Suef Governorate Of its strategic importance in Beni Suef Governorate. In light of this, the study aimed to identify the most important problems and problems faced by onion farmers in Beni Suef Governorate, the development of Egyptian onion production. Studying the functions of producing onion crop in sandy  soils to find out the most important elements of production that affect its production. Study the cost functions of the onion crop in the land to the sandy to find out the most important elements of production that affect the production. The total production elasticity was 1.12, with production elasticity in the first 0.77 category, while the second category production flexibility was 1.2. Where the productive flexibility in the third category was 1.01. The cost categories revealed that the total cost elasticity was 0.23, with cost elasticity in the first category of 0.09, indicating the elasticity of the costs of the second category 2.1, where the elasticity of the costs of the third category was 0.30.

The agricultural sector plays a vital role in the economic, social and environmental development process. It depends on achieving many objectives such as providing food needs and raw materials for industries, as well as providing the necessary foreign exchange to finance economic, social and environmental development programs. The State has been interested in drawing up plans to maximize the use of available and limited resources, such as water resources in Egypt, due to its limitedity. What distinguishes the water system in Egypt is that it is a closed system, i.e. water is reused several times. The most important of these uses is the reuse of treated wastewater to irrigate areas cultivated with trees of different types, For the purpose of producing oils, dyes and entering into paper industries, and also to establish sustainable wood forests for the purpose of wood production to contribute to reduce the gap of foreign trade of wood in Egypt, and this use may work to preserve water resources and to reduce of water streams that receive this type of water and improve environmental and health conditions as well as contributing to the creation of large green spaces improve the atmosphere characteristics and work as windbreaks around the cities that have a desert back ground and reduce temperatures in by forest areas. The findings show that economic indicators of the most important trees planted in the forest showed that the Red gum trees are came first in terms of the yield of the invested pound, which is  about 246.41 pounds And in first place in terms of lower cost of production per tonne, amounting to about 2.48 pounds, while the trees come Casuarina sp. second in terms of return Pound, which amounted to 153.70 pounds and the fourth in terms of the cost of production of the ton, which amounted to about 3.93 pounds. Cupressus sp. trees came third in terms of the pound, which amounted to 127.49 pounds and the third place in terms of the cost of production of tons, which amounted to about 3.49 pounds, The yield of the pound for the trees of the Asersus, E.Citriodora, Khayasenegalensis and pine reached 81.95, 65.31, 53.79 and 41.79 respectively, while the production cost per ton was 3.31, 9.48, 6.72 and 9.29 respectively. It is noted that the Red gum trees obtained the highest yield in terms of the pound and the minimum cost of production of tons, and that the increase in investment and expansion of agriculture yields a better return and a good opportunity to invest. The average annual net yield of the most important trees planted in the Sarabum Forest in the Sarabum area was 16155.53 LE / feddan / year, if compared to the net yield of the most important traditional agricultural rotations for some major crops, net annual yield of the period from (20002016) and which corresponds to the age of trees in the forest (area of study) was calculated. It was found that the agricultural rotation of crop (continuous clover + rice) represents the highest average net yield of about 7246.2 pounds / feddan / year. Thus, the average net yield of the most important trees is about 2.23 times that of the counterpart calculated from the traditional agricultural rotations. Therefore, the planting of trees in the forest (area of the study) is considered economical, so the cultivation of the trees should be considered, especially in the desert back ground of the governorates. Without prejudice to traditional crops, as the tendency to plant forests is necessary to improve the environment and a safe way to dispose of treated wastewater so as not to adversely affect the waterways. The results of the economic indicators for the use of the water component in the production of different types of trees planted in the forest were also shown. The price per cubic meter of water  (LE / m3) ranged from a minimum of 1.98 (LE / m3) of Cupressus sp. trees to a maximum of 2.78  (LE / m3) for pine trees with an average of about 2.26 (LE / m3). It was found that the value of net return of cubic meters of water ranged between a minimum of about 27.74 (LE / m3) for pine trees and a maximum of 121.87 (LE / m3) for Red gum trees at an average of about LE 56.80 (LE / m3) The yield per cubic meter (tons / m3) was between 0.056 (tons / m3) for Eucalyptus sp. limmine trees and a maximum of about 0.200 (tons / m3) for Red gum trees at an average of 0.121 (tons / m3). As for the return of the pound of irrigation costs per feddan, the value ranged from a minimum of about 149.8 pounds for pine trees and a maximum of about 855.5 pounds for the trees of Red gum with average of about 383.9 pounds. The ratio of irrigation costs to variable costs ranged from a low of about 47.3% for Eucalyptus sp. limestone trees,  kaya trees with the same percentage and a maximum of 53.4% for Red gum trees, Casuarina sp. trees with the same percentage, and with averaging of about 50.7%. The results of the economic evaluation of trees planted in the forest showed that Red gum trees are better and more efficient tree species in the forest and there is economic feasibility of expanding their cultivation, and therefore some financial measures were made to study the economic feasibility of planting Red gum trees. The results showed that the Profitability Index (PI) at 25% discount rate, 28% for Red gum trees palms without change in cost and revenue factors and the project lifetime attained about 2.02 and 1.45 respectively, which confirms the feasibility of the project Greater than the correct one, which means that each pound invested in the project achieves a net return of 1.02, 0.45 pounds, respectively. As reported the current net cash flows or net present value (NPV) of the project is toward the 15,240, 66081 pounds, respectively. And the internal rate of return (IRR) of the project is 31.5%. This means that the rate of return is greater than the opportunity cost prevailing in the community at the study, which is the interest rate, is 25%. Accordingly, the Pay-Back period of the project capital is estimated at 3.2 years, which confirms that there is a capital turnover of the capital. From the above, it is clear that the expansion of the cultivation of the trees Red gum is economically feasible.

Sweet whey was used as medium for microbial alginate production by Azotobacter chrococcum NCBI MH249629. To optimize alginate production and achieve high yield of alginate, sweet whey medium was prepared using different lactose concentrations (20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 g/L), added organic and inorganic nitrogen sources (yeast extract, Malt extract, ammonium sulphate and ammonium nitrate), kept at different temperatures (25, 30, 32, 35 & 37ºC), different pH values (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9),  different agitation speed (100, 120, 150, 170 & 200 rpm), different inoculum size (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10%) and cultivated for different fermentation time (0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, 108 & 120h). After fermentation time, produced microbial alginate was measured. The results showed that sweet whey could be used as a fermentation medium by Azotobacter chrococcum to produce microbial alginate. The highest yield of alginate (12.56%) as well as productivity of alginate (0.08 g/L/h) was obtained by fermentation of Azotobacter chrococcum in sweet whey medium optimized to 45 g/L lactose concentration as a carbon source and by providing the following conditions which yeast extract 1.5 g/L and ammonium nitrate 0.1 g/L as a nitrogen source and growth promoter, Na2HPO4 1 g/L as mineral salts, Initial pH at 7, size of standard inoculums was 9 % of fermentation medium and the incubation period was 72 hrs.

Listeria monocytogenes is a food borne pathogenic bacteria and caused a dangerous infection of humans. Six lytic bacteriophages specific to L. monocytogenes were isolated from irrigation and sewage waters and named ØLG, ØLA, ØLM, ØLD, ØLN and ØLP. The phages were propagated, and then purified by the ultracentrifugation. Morphological properties of Listeria phages showed that the phages were tailed phages, varied in their sizes and assigned to be a member of Siphoviridae (ØLG, ØLA, ØLM) and Myoviridae (ØLN, ØLD, ØLP)   families. All Listeria phages were highly stable under different temperature conditions and its thermal inactivation point was reached to 80°C. The longevity in vitro of the phages was up to 60 days, as well as phages were active at pH values ranging from 4.0 to 12.0. Listeria phages did not lose their infectivity after exposure to UV for 90 min at 35 and 53 cm distances. Results of SDS-PAGE showed that phages had 5-6 protein fragments with molecular weights of 66, 45, 37, 35, 33 and 28 kDa distributed among the six phages.

It is very difficult to find an expert at the desired time and place to give guidance about irrigation scheduling or good management of water and irrigation system. In this study, this problem was tried to be solved by designing and evaluating an expert system for a modified surface irrigation system. A rule-based program named as MSISES (Modified Surface Irrigation System by Expert System) was coded and complied using C#.net programing language. The expert system was designed to support users with information about irrigation scheduling (irrigation operating time and irrigation interval) and the gated pipes as one of the surface irrigation modification tools (gates opening ratio). Two different experiments were held to evaluate the performance of the developed expert system. The first one is to evaluate the irrigation scheduling part by cultivating a field crop (Sweet maize) to make a comparison between the crop yield and water productivity after applying the program’s scheduling and the farmer’s scheduling. The second one is to make a comparison between the fully opened gates situation and when the resulted gates opening ratio is applied. The results indicated that an increase at crop yield and crop water productivity by 9.49% and 32.37% respectively for sweet maize using the developed expert system, and also, there was a slight variation between gates discharges after using the expert system except the last four gates discharge were different because of the superimposed pressure near the closed end.