This study aimed to determine the effect of different salinity and anti-transpiration levels on the growth and biochemical composition of Panicum maximum plants (Guinea grass) during the spring and summer of 2020. Two different anti-transpiration treatments [molasses (sugarcane) (5 mL/L), kaolin (50 g/L) and control] and three salinity levels (S1 well water as the control and salinity S2 2000 ppm; S3 4000 ppm, S4 6000 ppm) were used in 12 treatments in 72 pots (3 anti-transpiration treatments × 4 salinity treatments × 6 replicates); a randomized complete design was used. Results revealed that the plants achieved the highest plant height (123.77 cm) and dry weight (521.87 g/m2) with kaolin and no salt addition treatment during summer. A higher percentage of proteins and carbohydrates were found in spring than in summer, but there was no significant difference in the salinity levels. A high percentage of ash and fiber contents was also observed during summer, with no significant differences between the anti-transpiration treatments. It could be concluded that P. maximum, as one of the most important fodder crops, could be cultivated in marginal lands, especially during the summer season.

Tamarix nilotica is a perennial halophyte growing naturally at the Mediterranean coastal salt marshes. Vegetative parts were collected in two successive winters and summers to investigate the seasonal effects on the ecomorphological and physiological responses of T. nilotica. The results indicated that either in winter or summer seasons, T. nilotica can reduce the effect of soil salinity by excreting salts outside its body through salt glands. Summer season was characterized by low content of soil moisture (due to rare rainfall), high soil EC, high light intensity and high temperature; there-fore, plant induced certain morphoanatomical changes in leaves and stem to face the previously mentioned adverse conditions. The most remarkable changes to reduce transpiration process was found by decreasing leaf area and increasing cuticle thickness and mesophyll tissue thickness. In addition, the most marked physiological changes in summer were the significant in-crease in total phenols, proline, free amino acids and total soluble sugars. These compounds can work as osmotic regulators and/or antioxidants. These features enhance the defensive mechanism against dehydration and permit T. nilotica to tolerate the stress conditions in salt marsh habitat.

The combined data from two growing seasons in a field experiment study by using two irrigation systems (surface and subsurface drip) in terms of additional water for sugar beet plants under saline conditions are used to estimate root and sugar yield, water use efficiency and root penetration power at the time of harvest. Water salinity levels of 6000 and 8000 ppm were applied to irrigate sugar beet from the time of planting on October 3 to the time of harvest on April 22 with three additions of water (limited 1750, moderate 2500 and optimum 3250 m3/fed). The results are summarized as follows: The heaviest root and highest sugar yield as well as highest water use efficiency were recorded when using subsurface irrigation system, 6000 ppm water salinity level, and moderate or optimum irrigation water (2500 or 3250 m3/fed). Oppositely, the highest penetration power values were obtained using drip irrigation systems with low water quantity (1750 m3/fed) and high-water salinity level (8000 ppm).

Tamarix nilotica is a perennial halophyte growing naturally at the Mediterranean coastal salt marshes. Vegetative parts were collected in two successive winters and summers to investigate the seasonal effects on the ecomorphological and physiological responses of T. nilotica. The results indicated that either in winter or summer seasons, T. nilotica can reduce the effect of soil salinity by excreting salts outside its body through salt glands. Summer season was characterized by low content of soil moisture (due to rare rainfall), high soil EC, high light intensity and high temperature; there-fore, plant induced certain morphoanatomical changes in leaves and stem to face the previously mentioned adverse conditions. The most remarkable changes to reduce transpiration process was found by decreasing leaf area and increasing cuticle thickness and mesophyll tissue thickness. In addition, the most marked physiological changes in summer were the significant in-crease in total phenols, proline, free amino acids and total soluble sugars. These compounds can work as osmotic regulators and/or antioxidants. These features enhance the defensive mechanism against dehydration and permit T. nilotica to tolerate the stress conditions in salt marsh habitat.

The combined data from two growing seasons in a field experiment study by using two irrigation systems (surface and subsurface drip) in terms of additional water for sugar beet plants under saline conditions are used to estimate root and sugar yield, water use efficiency and root penetration power at the time of harvest. Water salinity levels of 6000 and 8000 ppm were applied to irrigate sugar beet from the time of planting on October 3 to the time of harvest on April 22 with three additions of water (limited 1750, moderate 2500 and optimum 3250 m3/fed). The results are summarized as follows: The heaviest root and highest sugar yield as well as highest water use efficiency were recorded when using subsurface irrigation system, 6000 ppm water salinity level, and moderate or optimum irrigation water (2500 or 3250 m3/fed). Oppositely, the highest penetration power values were obtained using drip irrigation systems with low water quantity (1750 m3/fed) and high-water salinity level (8000 ppm).

The main objective of this investigation was to evaluate the determination effect of salt tolerance of five new almond× peach hybrid rootstocks namely hybrid 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 through their vegetative growth parameters and chemical concentrations. This evaluation aimed to recommend these rootstocks for the commercial use. This experiment was carried out at the Horticulture Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Giza, Egypt, during two successive seasons (2018-2019 and 2019- 2020) respectively. Rootstocks chosen for this study included new almond× peach rootstocks which are resistant to nematode. Salinity irrigated water included four levels of NaCl salt which was 500, 1000, 1500, 2000 ppm and the control which was the usual irrigated water. Results cleared that increasing salinity levels led to reduction in all growth parameters including seedling stem diameter, heights, average leaves number and buds per one, leaf area, fresh and dry weights. High salinity levels declined gradually mineral concentrations like N, P, K, Mg%, Fe and Mn ppm. Moreover the highest level of salinity conducted to the highest level of Na and Cl ppm concentrations. Chlorophyll values take the same trend while proline values take the opposite trend with high salinity due to it considered an indicator to high salinity. Moreover, there were differences between rootstocks to salinity tolerance. Hybrid No.5 was the most resistant hybrid to high salinity concentration followed by hybrid No.4 while hybrid No.3 was the least one. Hybrid No.5 reached the highest values of growth parameters and it shared with hybrid No.4 the highest values of N, P and K, Mg concentrations and the highest levels of Fe, Mn, Na and Cl. Chlorophyll values take the same trend with slightly differences with hybrid No.4. On the other hand hybrid No.3 was the least hybrid in all growth measurements, mineral concentration and chlorophyll except proline concentration it recorded the highest value. From the above investigation we can recommend hybrid number5 or hybrid number4 which had the best results compared to other seedlings rootstock under experiment salinity conditions.

The present work was aimed to evaluate Chenopodium quinoa cultivar CICA (Chenopodium quinoa Willd. cv. CICA), in field experiments, as a new and non-traditional leafy crop in Egypt under saline (ECe 17.9 dSm-1) and non-saline (ECe 1.9 dSm-1) soil conditions. Production of biomass, some morphological, physiochemical and yield components traits were estimated at 40 days from sowing date. Biomass production of young quinoa shoot under saline soil was significantly higher by 25% than non-saline soil. Quinoa plants cultivated under saline soil also showed significant high performances for most of morphological traits. Although salinity led to accumulate Na+ concentrations in the leaves by six folds higher than that found in the leaves produced under non-saline soil conditions, but no significant reduction has been observed for K+ concentrations. Moreover, salinity was significantly increased magnesium concentrations in quinoa leaves. On the other hand, no significant increase has been detected of proline or total soluble carbohydrates concentrations in leaves of quinoa grown under saline soil as compared to non-saline soil. This clearly indicated that quinoa plants, during early growth stage, tended to utilize inorganic ions rather than organic solutes to regulate its osmotic potential under saline conditions. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid concentrations were significantly decreased under saline soil. Also, concentrations of crude fiber, crude fat and iron in the leaves of quinoa plants grown under saline soil conditions were significantly decreased. Meanwhile, salinity has no significant influence on crude protein concentrations. These results revealed that the quinoa has the ability to grow and produce considerable high leafy vegetable yield with good quality, in terms of high protein, in land unsuitable for conventional vegetable crops.

Salinity is one of the major environmental factors limiting crop productivity. For this reason, two greenhouse experiments were conducted in Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Egypt, during the year 2015 using two rice varieties to evaluate the effects of various levels of osmotic stress caused by polyethylene-glycol 6000 (PEG) and NaCl. Furthermore, it was tested whether the inhibitory effect of salinity on growth, sodium and chloride concentration by two different varieties was greater under NaCl or PEG treatment. The first experiment was undertaken to separate osmotic and ionic aspects of salinity damage to rice (Oryza sativa L.).Seedlings of IR28 (salt-sensitive) and Nona Bokra (salt-tolerant) rice varieties were transferred to salinized nutrient solution containing 85 mol m-3NaCl (-3.0 bars) with or without   PEG 6000 (-2.0 bars, 45 gL-1).  Plants were grown up to 30 days in the salinized solutions. The second experiment was designed to determine the effect of salinity (85 mol m-3NaCl) with or without PEG 6000 (-0.5 bar, 11 g L-1)on growth, uptake and transport of sodium and chloride in two rice varieties differing in salt tolerance.  The results indicated that survival of salt-tolerant variety (Nona Bokra) was increased significantly by adding PEG (-2.0 bars). The addition of PEG also reduced the rate of death of rice plants compared with NaCl alone. Also, data showed that PEG 6000 (0.5 bar, 11 gL-1) reduce sodium concentration in root of IR28 and   Nona Bokra but its effect upon sodium concentration in shoot of the two varieties was more pronounced than the reduction of Na+ concentration in root.  Highly significant differences were obtained between zero and 11 gL-1 PEG. The result of this study is strongly indicated that addition of PEG dramatically lessened the toxicity of NaCl to rice seedlings.

Salinity is a stress factor affecting the production of crop in many regions.  Calcium can reduce Na+ transport to shoots in rice. Two greenhouse experiments were conducted in Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Egypt, during 2015 growing season of rice to evaluate the effect of different calcium concentrations on survival percent along with uptake of Na+ and Cl- ions by two varieties of rice (Oryza sativa L.) differing in salt-tolerance. The first experiment was undertaken to study the effect of different calcium concentrations on survival percent of IR28 (salt-sensitive) and Nona Bokra (Salt-tolerant) seedlings which were transferred to salinized nutrient solution containing 0.5% NaCl and a variable calcium concentrations at 4, 40, 100 and 200 ppm; plants were grown up to 40 days. The second experiment investigated the effect of different calcium concentrations on growth, uptake and transport of Na+ and Cl- ions in the two rice varieties differing in salt-tolerance. The seedlings were transferred to salinized nutrient solution containing 0.5% NaCl and calcium ion concentrations at two levels, 4 and 40 ppm. Plants were harvested at 0, 1, 3, 5 and 7 days from salinization. The results indicated that the salt-tolerant variety (Nona Bokra) survived for more than 40 days under exposure to 0.5% NaCl when calcium concentration of the culture solution ranged from 40 to 200 ppm Ca++. The low calcium ion concentration (4 ppm) depressed the growth of plants at 5 and 7 days after salinization.  In Nona Bokra, the shoot had less sodium and Cl than the root. This implies that the salt tolerance of Nona Bokra may be attributed to the restricted translocation of Na+ and Cl- from the root to the shoot. Sodium as well as cloride content in the shoot of IR28 was more than twice that of Nona Bokra.  An adequate amount of Ca+2 tended to lower the salt injury caused by high levels of salinity in rice plants. The effect of calcium ion on salt tolerance varied greatly between Nona Bokra and IR28 varieties.

This study aimed to determine the effect of different salinity and anti-transpiration levels on the growth and biochemical composition of Panicum maximum plants (Guinea grass) during the spring and summer of 2020. Two different anti-transpiration treatments [molasses (sugarcane) (5 mL/L), kaolin (50 g/L) and control] and three salinity levels (S1 well water as the control and salinity S2 2000 ppm; S3 4000 ppm, S4 6000 ppm) were used in 12 treatments in 72 pots (3 anti-transpiration treatments × 4 salinity treatments × 6 replicates); a randomized complete design was used. Results revealed that the plants achieved the highest plant height (123.77 cm) and dry weight (521.87 g/m2) with kaolin and no salt addition treatment during summer. A higher percentage of proteins and carbohydrates were found in spring than in summer, but there was no significant difference in the salinity levels. A high percentage of ash and fiber contents was also observed during summer, with no significant differences between the anti-transpiration treatments. It could be concluded that P. maximum, as one of the most important fodder crops, could be cultivated in marginal lands, especially during the summer season.