A field experiment was conducted on sandy soil at Ismailia Governorate. The aim of the present study is to improve the productivity of salts affected sandy soil by treat it with different rates of bentonite, chicken manure and their combination. Soil application rates were bentonite (1, 2.5 and 5 %), chicken manure (5, 10 and 15 ton/fed) and their combination (2.5% bentonite with each of 5, 10 and 15 ton /fed chicken manure) were mixed in the upper soil layer (0-15 cm soil depth) and their effects on some soil physical properties and crop productivity of fennel plant (Foeniculum Vulgare Mill.) were investigated during the winter season of 2018. The results revealed that, all studied treatments were significantly decreased of soil bulk density compare to control. The applications of bentonite 1, 2.5 and 5% lead to, reduction of the value of soil bulk density by 4.17, 5.95 and 10.71%. In addition, the applications of chicken manure 5, 10 and 15 ton/fed, lead to reduction of the value of soil bulk density by 8.93, 11.31 and 14.88 %. Also, application of 2.5% bentonite combined with each of 5, 10 and 15 ton/fed chicken manure, lead to reduction of the value of soil bulk density by 11.31, 15.48 and 17.86% as compared with control, respectively. Data indicated also that there are an increase in the percentages of retained moisture in the soil at all treatments under study. Bentonite and chicken manure individually or combined being higher with increasing the applied rate of bentonite and/or chicken manure. Also the application rates of bentonite 1, 2.5 and 5% lead to, increasing the values of water-holding pores (WHP) with 6.87, 8.05 and 10.55%. In addition, WHP values increased to 9.21, 10.43 and 11.27% with the application of chicken manure 5, 10 and 15 ton/fed. Also, data refer that WHP increased to 12.03, 12.81 and 14.11% by application rate of 2.5% bentonite combined with each of 5, 10 and 15 ton/fed chicken manure, as compared with control, respectively. The values of water infiltration rates (cm/h), were affected by different soil applications and can be arranged in the following ascending order: 2.5% bentonite + 15 ton/fed chicken manure < 5% bentonite < 2.5% bentonite + 10 ton/fed chicken manure < 2.5% bentonite < 15 ton/fed chicken manure < 2.5% bentonite + 5 ton/fed chicken manure < 10 ton/fed chicken manure < 5 ton/fed chicken manure < 1% bentonite < control. The water use efficiency values, affected by different soil application can be arranged in the following descending order: 2.5% bentonite + 15 ton/fed chicken manure > 2.5% bentonite + 10 ton/fed chicken manure > 2.5% bentonite + 5 ton/fed chicken manure > 15 ton/fed chicken manure > 10 ton/fed chicken manure > 5 ton/fed chicken manure > 5% bentonite > 2.5% bentonite > 1% bentonite > control. ‎

The effect of chitosan and salicylic acid treatments to investigate the seedling growth parameters of Broccoli seed sprouts (Tiburon f1) cultivar was the aim of this study. Salicylic Acid and Chitosan are the )elicitors( that stimulate the sprout, which are divided into Biotic (biological origin), abiotic (chemical or physical origin) elicitors and phytohormones have been applied alone or in combinations, in hydroponic solutions or sprays, and in different selected time points of the sprout growth or during post-harvest. Cumulative time had been completed (harvest time) using tap water, chitosan at 25, 50,100 ppm and salicylic acid at 65,130,260 ppm for seed soaking and sprouting , then precooled and air-dried sprouts were randomly chosen from glass jar (replicate) to collect data of sprout length, hypocotyl length, radical length, dry weight and fresh weight. Also, Samples of harvested 3, 5 and 7 days old etiolated broccoli dried using air draft oven at 65.5C° then grounded into powder for chemical analysis while fresh sprouts and seeds were analyzed for total phenols. However treatment with chitosan at 100 ppm cleared that the moisture, protein, ash, fiber, calcium , potassium, and total phenols of sprouts were increased by 9.63%, 33.73%, 11.80, 11.67%, 336.50 ppm, 196.43 ppm and 66.51mg/100g, respectively. Treated sprouts with salicylic acid at 65 ppm concentrate were also induced an increments on the same constituents reached 9.53%, 33.40%, 11.63, 10.46%, 333.50 ppm, 190.60 ppm and 62.90mg/100g, respectively over control (untreated). Therefore, treated sprouts with chitosan or salicylic acid could be considered as useful tool for improving the growth characters and bioactive metabolites of Broccoli seed sprouts For their Production of anti-cancer materials, As well secondary metabolic pathways respond to specific treatments with elicitors would be the basis for to enhance the production of secondary metabolites, in order to produce quality and healthy fresh foods

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.

It is estimated that the rice cultivated area in Egypt is estimated at about 1.4 million feddans producing about 3 million tons of rice straw. The same estimates indicate that the cultivated area of summer maize is estimated at 2.1 million feddans, which produces about 5.5 million tons of woodland (in 2013), Most of which are burned and not the maximum benefit. The problem of research is to increase the amount of agricultural waste, especially for rice and maize crops, and not to achieve the economic efficiency of these quantities of agricultural, And the study of the development of the area cultivated for each of the maize, cotton, sesame, sorghum, lupine, black beans, sugar beet, rice and the total of these crops in Egypt during the period (2000-2016) the annual average of about 324.44, 460.06, 72.66, 354.76, 4.07, 1471.2, 298.88, 1452.41, 3114.4 and the total area of the maize crop during the study period. The statistical significance of these equations was proved, while the sesame yield was not substantiated. The development of the production capacity of the most important plant waste was studied in Egypt during the period 2000-2016. The average annual production capacity of the maize, cotton, sesame,  sorghum, lupine, peanut, sugar beet, rice straw, These crops are 5586.12, 871.06, 94.47, 4.53, 235.65, 1711.65, 3217.06, 3217.06 and 2634.6 tons respectively during the study period. The  general trend equations showed a decrease in the production capacity of cotton, sorghum and thermos. While the production capacity of each of the sesame, peanut bean and sugar beet was increasing. The statistical significance of these equations was not proved, nor was the statistical significance of the production of maize, rice straw and total production capacity of these crops. The cost of feeding was about 13505.1 pounds, representing about 78.3% of the total average cost of the head, representing about 96.1% of the total average variable costs of the head of about 14049.2 pounds, and amounted to about 17574.8 pounds without the use of silage, which Indicates that the use of silage in nutrition leads to a reduction in feeding costs by about 4069.7 pounds per year, This is due to the lower daily costs of feeding the head of cows when using silage in feeding. The cost of producing a ton of milk for dairy cows that used silage was about 3849 pounds, while the cost of producing milk for the head of dairy cows that did not use silage for about 13715.1 pounds, The production of milk is about 2805.4 kg, and thus the cost of producing a ton of milk for dairy mixtures that did not use silage about 4888 pounds, due to lower feeding costs for animals that used silage than not used silage in feeding.

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

The present investigation was carried out to study the effect of seed treatments of lupine plants (cv.Giza 2) with chemical inducers Bion (5mM) , salicylic acid (5mM) and saccharin (3mM) as well as as well as Paenibacillus polymyxa and Trichoderma harzianum as biotic inducers on the infection with Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lupine under greenhouse and field conditions. Under greenhouse condition (Agricultural Research Centre, Giza) all treatments significantly reduced the percentages of pre- and post-emergence damping-off compared with the untreated control, the highest percentage of survived plants was achieved 92% by Bion and T. harzianum as well as fungicide Rizolex-T followed by salicylic acid and P. polymyxa as 88%. On the other hand, all treatments decrease significantly the incidence and severity of wilt, also increased the percentage of survived plants compared with untreated control. Under field conditions at Giza and Ismailia Agricultural Research Stations (Giza and Ismailia governorates) during winter season 2016-2017, all the treatments decreased the percentage of pre- and post-emergence damping-off as well as the percentage of wilted plants and increased the percentage of survived plants compared with untreated control in two locations. At Giza research station, the highest percentages of survived plants were recorded with Rizolex-T followed by Bion, P. polymyxa, and salicylic acid. While at Ismailia, the highest percentage of survived plants were recorded with Rizolex-T followed by Bion, P. polymyxa, T. harzianum, and salicylic acid. Meantime, these treatments improved growth parameters i.e. plant height, number of pods/plant, the weight of seeds /plant and the weight of one hundred seed. The higher increase in seed yield (ton /feddan) was obtained with Rizolex-T and Bion treatments followed by Salicylic acid, P. polymyxa, and T. harzianum at two locations. Activities of peroxidase (PO), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzymes and phenol content were determined. Bion treatment showed the highest increase in PO and PPO activity, and total phenols followed by salicylic acid and P. polymyxa treatments in the presence of R. solani or F. oxysporum. f. sp. lupine.

This research is aimed at investigating the evolution of the food gap of faba beans and its underpinning factors. Faba beans constitute the most basic foodstuff Egyptian diet.  Among all legumes the beans crop occupies the largest acreage and provides the beans crop occupies the largest acreage and provides the largest volume of production. However, domestic production of faba beans is increasing falling short of its ability to meet the domestic consumption  requirements. That is the food gap of faba beans is widening year after year. In fact the gap increased substantially from 73 thousand tons in year 2000 to about 650 thousand tons in 2016. By an increase of about 891%, this research is intended to study the evolution of the food gap of faba bean in Egypt During the period (2000-2016).

This research attempts generally to discuss the readiness for using social media in agricultural extension in Assiut governorate, and it endeavors particularly to reach the following aims: (1) Measuring readiness of the extension organization in Assiut governorate to start providing agricultural extension services using social media from the viewpoint of extension employees; (2) Exploring the willingness of farmers in some villages in Assiut governorate to obtain agricultural extension services using social media, and to identify the most significant determinants of the willingness to use social media; (3) Knowing about the respondents’ views about the advantages, disadvantages and suggestions of using social media in agricultural extension. The study was conducted on two groups of respondents who use at least one of social media tools; the first was comprised of 86 extension employees in Assiut governorate, and the second was a sample of 120 farmers selected from four villages in Assiut governorate. Data were collected using questionnaire form during the   period from November to December 2018. Frequencies, percentages, arithmetic mean, and stepwise multiple regression analysis were used for data presentation and analysis. The results indicated a decrease in the extension organization’s readiness for using social media from the viewpoint of extension employees, while farmers have a high willingness to use social media to obtain extension services. Therefore, it is necessary to use the recommendations of improving the extension organization’s reediness to use social media, in order to exploit the high willingness of farmers, and start using social media to provide extension services in Assiut governorate through implementing an initial initiative through farmers who use social media, and then the initiative can be expanded to include non-users through their family members who are using social media, taking into account the respondents’ suggestions for the successful use of social media in the provision of agricultural extension services.

Early blight caused by Alternaria solani (Ell. and Mart.) is one of the most important economic diseases, which caused considerable loss in their yield and quality under Egyptian conditions. Aim the research was to study the relationship between climate change and disease severity for prediction in future seasons. Disease severity was recorded for three growing periods i.e. summer (May. to Aug), autumn (Jul. to Oct) and winter (Nov. to Mar.), at three governorates (Behira, Ismailia, and Assuit) during growing seasons 2016/2017-2017/2018. Severity of early blight disease on tomato has been predicted by regression estimated accumulative disease severity values during 2007/2008 to 2015/2016 season and average max and min temperature and humidity through these seasons. Prediction of disease has been formed as Y= b0+b1x1+b2x2+.......... bqxq. Three models were created to describe the severity disease by multiple regressions (MINITAB® program). The highest value of early blight disease was recorded through season 2017/2018, while the lowest value was recorded during season 2016/2017. Also, highly disease severity was estimated during summer period compared with autumn and winter growing periods, but through winter growing period was the least severity and moderately severity estimated in the autumn growing period. Influence of environmental conditions on the severity of early blight disease during seasons from 2007/2008 to 2015/2016, in Behira governorate, the highest disease severity was showed in season 2010-2011, and the lowest disease was in season 2012-2013, but in Ismailia governorate, highest disease severity was estimated in season 2010-2011and lowest disease was recorded in season 2013-2014 and in Assuit governorate, the highest value of disease was in season 2010-2011, and the lowest value was in season 2013-2014. For Forecasting, significantly differences noticed between disease severity through 2020/2030, 2030/2040 and 2040/ 2050s seasons compared with 2008/2018s seasons and thier relation with climate change in tested governorates, where severity of tomato early blight disease was icreased from 11.8% during 2008/2018s seasons to 2040/ 2050s seasons 15.4% during at Behira governorate, from 18.8% during 2008/2018s seasons to 2040/ 2050s seasons 36.3% during at Ismailia governorate and from 18.8% during 2008/2018s seasons to 2040/ 2050s seasons 40.4% during at Assuit governorate with slight change in maximum or minimum temperatures and percentage of relative humidity.

Accurately estimation of actual crop evapotranspiration (ETa) as a parameter of irrigation scheduling is very critical for efficient use of limited irrigation water resources. The objectives of this study were to (1) build, verify and validate an expert system for managing on-farm irrigation water of some soils under Egyptian conditions, (2) study the effect of coefficient of uniformity (CU) and distribution uniformity for center pivot irrigation system, (3) study the effect of the precise estimation of daily actual crop evapotranspiration (ETa) on maximizing yield and improved water use efficiency. A rule-based program named CPISM-ES (Center Pivot Irrigation System Management- Expert System) was codes and compiled using python3.7.2 language. The program was verified using ready-to-use software programs (cropwat-8 and climwat 2) for estimating the daily reference evapotranspiration and a spreadsheet named the (FAO56Ax8.xls) introduced by FAO-56 for estimating the irrigation water management parameters. It also was validated by carrying out a field experiment at site :-El Salhyia(11.2 m above sea level, 30,35°N,30,26°E), was obtained from several different sources. The irrigation expert system aims to provide the farmers by the irrigation expertise to determine the exact water needed at exact time according to the crop requirements and the environmental factors which effect factors. The experiment included the following factors: a) obtaining climatic data from a weather station b) estimation crop evapotranspiration) coefficient of uniformity (CU) and distribution uniformity for center pivot irrigation system.  1- The estimation of actual crop evapotranspiration (ETa) using crop coefficient. 2- The seasonal cumulative ETa estimated by single-kc approach of El Salhyia (1875 m3 f.1season-1). 3- Yield: the highest of crop potatoes for El Salhyia (16.2 t.fed-1). 4- Water use efficiency: the maximum value of water use efficiency for El Salhyia (0.75 kg m-3).