Abstract: Kojic acid (KA) is a multipurpose natural compound, commonly used in the food and cosmetics industry. It is produced by different types of molds especially by the species Aspergillus oryzae. In this study, we test the mutagenicity of local produced kojic acid PKA produced by the wild-type strain of A. oryzae as well as the standard commercially produced kojic acid SKA and ascorbic acid SAA for comparison to stop food manufacturers doubts about using KA. AMES test with Salmonella enterica ATCC 29629 strain TA1535 and S9 liver enzyme for metabolic activation of the tested compounds were utilized in this study by direct and indirect methods were used in the test. The study results showed that the tested PKA kojic acid had cannot induce reverse mutation in the strain ATCC 29629TA1535 used in the test in contrast with the positive control in direct and indirect methods, even where the tested acids were treated with S9 liver enzymes with or without pre-incubation for three hours at 37 °C hadn’t given positive results on TA1535. The used concentration of 1% and 10% S9 liver enzymes hadn’t metabolically activated the three acids. 6 mg/plate of KA inhibited the growth of TA1535. SAA gave the same negative results as PKA and SKA. In conclusion, the tested PKA produced by wild-type A. oryzae was not has mutagenic effect on bacterial strain TA1535   and gave the same effect as the commonly used as food additive SAA and SKA even when treated with S9 liver enzymes.

Abstract:         Two breeds of goats are native to Kurdistan region- Iraq, namely mountainous black goat is raised mainly for meat and milk production, and Meriz which is raised primarily for hair beside meat and milk. The two breeds were exposed over a long period of time to the vigorous and sever semi-dry conditions, drought, feed shortage and prevailing diseases. Hence their adaptation to such conditions was at the expense of important economic traits. From the limited work available for both breeds, it seems that Meriz characterized by smaller size than did black goat, and daily gain in weight is rather low for the two breeds being 0.068-0.140 kg. it seems that black goat in particular have a potential for improvement of milk yield because display over whelming range (127-189 L.). In general, fertility and prolificacy are rather low in black goat and an improvement of the reproductive performance was achieved by hormonal treatment and /or flushing and studies on semen traits revealed that bucks are seasonal breeders especially in Meriz. However, the two breeds are not well characterized and much work is needed to explore the potential of those breeds for economic traits.

Abstract: The objective is to study the challenges of the agricultural sector including field crops, animal production, and extension in the Nineveh plains region after ISIS liberation. Nineveh Plains is considered the "breadbasket” of Iraq, and it is one of the most fertile plains in the country. In 2014, the Nineveh Plain territory was overtaken by the Islamic State of Iraq (ISIS). Close to one million people are estimated to have fled their homes, and at least 20,000 commercial and government buildings, including schools, animal projects, and training institutions, were destroyed. To achieve sustainable agriculture development the ideal use of natural, capital, human and technical resources is necessary. Through a cultural lens, strategies to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and management of agricultural development are being explored. The overall objective of the study is to assess the livelihood of agricultural sub-sectors of rural communities, highlighting farmer needs for restoring agriculture and proposing culturally relevant interventions and solutions. This project strategically selected the districts of Al-Hamdaniya, Tilkaif, and Bashiqa to conduct interviews and needs assessments. Revolution in the agricultural sector can make it an engine of economic development. Post-conflict, agricultural expansion, and improved productivity may be achieved by focusing on agricultural promotion which includes improving the skills of farmers, the investment environment, irrigation, availability of data and information, and minimizing price distortions.

Abstract: To study the effect of feeding two different types of green fodder (Panicum or Alfalfa) on carcass characteristics after a period of ninety days of fattening, twenty-four Arabi lambs were used and divided into three groups: the first group (control) was fed a standard ration with an outing to grazing. The second and third groups reared on the standard ration with Panicum or Alfalfa, respectively. It was found from the results of the statistical analysis of the study data that there was a significant superiority between the two groups of Alfalfa and Panicum (P≤0.05) in live body weight, hot and cold carcass weights, and the percentage of weight at slaughter and the empty weight compared to the control group. While the weight of the tail fat decreased significantly in the Panicum group lambs carcasses compared to the control groups, a significant decrease (P≤0.05) was recorded in abdominal fat and a significant increase in the rib eye area of the Panicum group. While the muscle weight was significantly increased when performing a physical dissection of the three ribs of lamb carcasses fed on Panicum. In general, the two groups of Alfalfa and Panicum excelled in most carcass characteristics, and the lambs of the Panicum group recorded the best carcass traits.

Abstract: The present research is a scientific documentation of a historical environmental event, which is the invasion of two species of non-native (exotic) aquatic plants for the Tigris River flowing in Mosul city center near Al-Dandan water purification plant. One of them is Azolla filiculoides Lam., a fern belonging to the family Salviniaceae, the other being Hydrilla verticellata (L. f.) Royle, a monocotyledons plant belonging to the family Hydrocharitaceae. The most important morphological characteristics of both species’ vegetative parts enable their identification. Morphological examination of H. verticellata leaf, revealed that it is monoecious biotype like that found in the states of America which are located in the northern latitudes, and not dioecious like the type found in southern latitudes states. It is recommend from the relevant specialists to monitor these two species and study the possibility of their conversion to invasive plants, It is also recommended from them   to studying their impacts on the aquatic life of the river. Aim of the present study is to document the invasion of two alien hydrophytes to Tigris river that flow within Mosul city, North of Iraq.

Abstract: This research was conducted at Grdarsha Field, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Salahaddin University, Erbil with a GPS reading of (Latitude: 36° 4’ N and Longitude: 44° 2’ E- elevation 415 Meters above sea level). The factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design using three replicates was done to study the influence of three levels (0, 200, and 400 mg L-1) of each of Zinc and Manganese as foliar application and their combination on their concentration, uptake and fatty acids profile in flaxseed. The results indicate that the Zinc application effect on Zn and Mn concentration with values (0.0032 and 0.0068) % in the treatment (Zn200 and Mn200) additionally caused an increase in the uptake for the two micronutrients in Zn400 and Mn200 with values (15.74 and 14.90) mg plant-1. The treatment combination Zn200 Mn400 caused an increase in palmitic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acid while the treatment combination of Zn400 Mn200 gained the lowest value. Cluster analysis or dendrogram classified the combination of the two micronutrients Zn and Mn into four main clusters depending on Zn, Mn and the fatty acids profile. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) shows the angle value between each of the fatty acids and between the two micronutrients is ≤ 90 º which means there was a significant correlation between them and vice versa. There is a very high correlation between linoleic acid & linolenic and F6 while F7 correlated with oleic, stearic and palmitic acid for the vectors for studied traits.

Abstract: The study evaluates the performance of a new design of blades (T-shape) rotary plow. The field experiment was carried out on the farm of Al-Quba village, Nineveh, Iraq. In the present research, draft force (Df), energy requirement (RE), fuel consumption (FC), soil disturbed volume (SDV), and percentage of the soil clods which have a diameter of less than 5 cm (PSCD) were tested during three soil moisture content levels (10-12, 13-15, and 16-18) %, and two tillage depth levels (5-10, and 10-20) cm. and three rotation speeds of the blade’s axis (140, 180, and 220) rpm. The results showed the superiority of soil moisture content (16-18) % with a rotation speed of (140) rpm and tillage depth (5-10) cm were recorded less Df (5.11) kN. The soil moisture content (16-18) % with a rotation speed of (140) rpm and tillage depth of (5-10) cm has recorded less ER (10.20) kw. hr. /ha. The soil moisture content (16-18) % with a rotation speed of (220) rpm and tillage depth of (5-10) cm has recorded less FC (4.10) L/ha. The soil moisture content (16-18) % with a rotation speed of (220) rpm and tillage depth of (10-20) cm has recorded the highest SDV (1237.77) m3/hr. The soil moisture content (10-12) % with a rotation speed of (220) rpm and tillage depth of (5-10) cm has recorded less PSCD (67.30) %.

Abstract:  To study the influence of castration and slaughter weight, 24 weaned kids from each of Black goat and Meriz kids were divided equally into two groups, the first was castrated, while the second was left intact, and all were fed individually and slaughtered at 15, 20 and 25kg. Results revealed that the overall mean of daily gain (DG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), Dressing percentage (DP), rib eye area (REA) and fat thickness (FT) averaged respectively 0.073±0.003kg, 6.062±0.32kg/kg, 41.17±0.35%, 10.05±0.40 cm2 and 0.33±0.04mm. It seems that breed had no significant effect on DG and DP. Black goat had significantly higher FCR, REA and FT than Meriz kids, and intact kids had significantly (P<0.05) higher DG and FCR than castrated only. A significant effect was noticed of slaughter weight on DG, FCR, REA and FT being highest in kids slaughtered at 25kg. A significant effect was observed for the effect of breed, castration and slaughter weight on some of muscle groups (MG1, MG3, MG4, MG5, MG6, MG7, MG9). Breed and castration had no effect on total carcass fat. Meriz kids had significantly(P<0.05) higher lean: fat ratio and lean: bone ratio.

Abstract:  To study the effect of docking on some blood parameters, 12 Karadi lambs were docked at birth and reared by their dams till weaning, and 12 weaned intact Karadi lambs were bought from the market. Following weaning, the docked (16.83±1.522kg) and intact (19.92± 0.748kg) lambs were distributed equally into 3 treatment groups to be slaughtered at 20, 30 and 40kg. The findings demonstrated that the overall mean of serum total protein, urea, creatinine, glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL and HDL were 5.50±0.13 g/dl, 30.56±1.39, 0.79±0.05, 63.61±3.48, 30.51±3.81, 51.87±4.12, 20.29±2.83 and 34.73±3.53mg/dl, respectively. It seems that docked lambs had numerically higher serum total protein, glucose and triglyceride, and lower serum urea, creatinine, cholesterol, LDL and HDL than intact lambs. Also it was shown that an increase in live body weight resulted in a decrease in LDL, VLDL, triglyceride and cholesterol, and an increase in total protein and HDL. It can be concluded that docking has no effect on studied traits.

Abstract: The Study’s goal was to show the effect of dietary supplementation of mixed vitamin E and Selenium powder (Sodium selenite) in Japanese quail on reproductive hormone levels. The study was conducted on a total number of (128) Japanese quail birds at 12 weeks old. The experimental birds were randomly divided into four groups (32birds /group), each group had eight replicates (1male/3 females /replicate). The four experimental diets were: T1= (Basal diet (control), T2= (vitamin E-Selenium powder 1.0 gm/kg of basal diet), T3= vitamin E-Selenium powder 1.5 gm/kg of basal diet) and T4 (vitamin E-Selenium powder 2.0 gm/kg of basal diet). The results indicated that adding vitamin E and selenium to diet (T4) significantly (P≤0.05) increased the level of plasma concentrations of Estradiol (E2), testosterone and progesterone as compared with the control group(T1) in male and female of Japanese quail. In concerned with the male group the T4 supplemented diet increased the Testosterone level significantly. There was no significant difference for the T2 and T3 in the level of testosterone and Estradiol compared to the control. Although the T2, T3 and T4 diet decreased the level of progesterone hormone significantly. There is a significant decrease of progesterone for the T3 and T4 compared to the control and T2, which lastly do not differ from the control in the female groups.  It was clear that the supplemented diet with vitamin E and Selenium statistically (P<0.05) affected some reproductive hormones. So, it was recommended to perform further advanced, related, and specific nutritional studies through which accurate levels of minerals and trace minerals as supplementations will be added to the basal feed of various bird and animal species in order to increase both reproductive and productive aspects.

Abstract:        This study was consummated during the period 1st Sep 2021 to 1st Jul 2022, in the Field of Horticulture Department/Agriculture Engineering Science College/ Duhok University/ Kurdistan region Iraq, aiming to study the effect of three levels of NPK fertilizer (urea, triphosphate, potassium sulfate) control (0,0,0), low (100,75,50), high (200,150,100) mgl-1 and five media (clay soil, loamy soil, clay soil+ loamy soil, peat moss + clay soil + loamy soil, peat moss + clay soil + loamy soil + compost) by volume, on the growth and Gel production of two species of Aloe (Aloe vera, Aloe butteneri) plant. The results can be summarized as follow. Increased NPK to high (200,150,100) mgl-1 increased significantly leaf size, Gel fresh weight, plant growth index, and leaf area for the two species. Also, the fourth media (peat moss + clay soil + loamy soil) and fifth media (peat moss + clay soil + loamy soil + local compost) were the best media for the most of studied parameters, whereas the third media (clay soil + loamy soil) was the least effect on most of the studied parameter. Aloe vera species a significantly superior to the Aloe butteneri species in all studied parameters.