Abstract: A two-year experimental study was conducted during the 2021 and 2022 seasons on 3-year-old acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) trees budded on Volkamer Lemon rootstock grown in sandy soil under a drip irrigation system in the El Nubaria region, Behera Governorate, Egypt. The study aims to investigate the effect of foliar spraying with three concentrations of both seaweed extract (0, 2, and 4 ml.L-1) and nano-silicon (0, 1, and 1.5 ml.l-1) on the growth and productivity of lime trees, which arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates for each treatment, and each replicate was represented by one tree. The obtained results showed that foliar sprays of seaweed extract combined with nano-silicon enhanced tree vigor, leaf mineral content, number of fruits per tree, total yield, and fruit quality. Combinations of nano-silicon (1 ml) and seaweed extract (4 ml) proved to be the most efficient treatment for enhancing most studied growth parameters during the experiment and achieved yield productivity of 23.09 and 15.31 % greater than the control. In conclusion, the above results showed that foliar application of nano-silicon with seaweed extract could have beneficial influences on growth and tree yield and improve the fruit quality of immature lime trees.

Abstract: Applying restrictions to the division of agricultural land parcels can potentially prevent fragmentation and ensure the efficient use of land. To achieve effective regulation indicators that are justified as targets in evaluating the appropriate dimensions of the plots covered by the legislation need to be defined. This article examines the issues involved in determining the size of land plots that are subject to restrictions, based on efficiency criteria and the necessity to ensure the viability of farms per the goals set for their regulation. To evaluate the size of the areas, it is proposed to use the minimum level of the reference income indicator, which determines the viability of the farm. The authors have prepared formulas for calculating guidelines for the size of the subdivided land areas using the average level of wages in the agricultural sector and the amount of income necessary to meet minimum needs as the basis for the reference income. Using these formulas, the corresponding target indicators, differentiated by regions, are calculated, and advanced proposals are made for their application.

Abstract: In response to demographic pressures and environmental imperatives, this study focuses on the valorization of Chamaerops humilis L. fruit in the Beni Mellal Khenifra region. The native palm, known as "Doum," holds nutritional and medicinal significance, prompting a detailed exploration. Extracts from its leaves and fruits have been historically used in traditional medicine, showcasing anti-oxidant properties and therapeutic effects on various ailments. This study seeks to optimize Chamaerops humilis L. fruit pulp powder production using the design of experiments (DOE) and physicochemical characterization. A full factorial design approach is applied to systematically optimize the process, focusing on key variables like Temperature and Time. Physicochemical analysis reveals essential details concerning pH (4.205), titratable acidity (1.47), moisture content (10.85%), and ash content (2.9325%). The study identifies optimal conditions, such as temperature = 65°C and time = 6 hours, for maximum yield and desirable properties. Additionally, water absorption (WAI) and solubility indices (WSI) are investigated, revealing the influence of drying and different agitation temperatures. The Pareto diagram underscores the significant impact of these factors, contributing to our understanding of the quality parameters of Chamaerops humilis L. powder. The results offer valuable insights for sustainable practices in utilizing this botanical resource.

Abstract: This research delved into the impact of Chitosan and Salicylic Acid (SA) on disease incidence (DI) and the quality of citrus fruit, specifically concerning Penicillium digitatum infection. The study finds the use of the SA effect curbed the growth of green mold decay in citrus fruit due to P. digitatum. Meanwhile, Chitosan-treated fruit exhibited reduced (DI) and lesion diameters in comparison to the control, after 3 or 7 days. However, the combination of Chitosan and SA reduced (DI), plummeting to 36.67% from the control's 83.33% after 7 days. The combined treatment resulted in smaller lesion diameters. (PAL) activity exhibited a consistent increase in all treated fruit during storage. In conjunction with SA, Chitosan demonstrated the highest PAL activity after four weeks. In the case of (POD) activity, treated fruit showcased an increase compared to the control. (C) activity was notably elevated in treated fruit, with the combined treatment revealing the highest activity level. The total phenolic content throughout the treatments and the content of phenolic compounds saw a gradual ascent, culminating after four weeks. The combined treatment displayed elevated phenolic content in contrast to individual treatments and the control. The activities of chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase exhibited an upward trajectory in citrus peel over the storage period. Applying Chitosan and SA led to increased Total Soluble Solids (TSS) and ascorbic acid content after four weeks, with no significant differences in weight loss compared to the control.

Abstract: This study was conducted to clarify the effect of adding different levels of medicinal plants and vitamin E supplements on productive performance, serum physiological, immunological parameters, and antioxidant status of broiler under cold stress 15 ⸰C±2 for 35 days. A total of 600 Ross one-day-old broiler chicks were distributed randomly into eight treatments with five replicates for each (15 birds/replicate) as follows: T1= standard ration (negative control); T2= 50 mg vitamin E /kg ration (positive control); T3= 5g Dill powder /kg ration; T4= 10g Dill powder/kg ration; T5= 5g Adiantum powder /kg ration; T6= 10g Adiantum powder /kg ration; T7=5g Crataegus powder /kg ration and T8=10g Crataegus powder /kg ration. Results showed that adding medicinal plants had a significant effect (p<0.05) on live body weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, mortality percentage, and production index, as well as a significant effect on serum protein, lipid profile, T3, T4, corticosterone hormone, significantly lower malondialdehyde (MDA) stimulator oxidative enzymes and higher the concentration of antioxidant enzymes total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in all additive treatments compared with control groups, all helped to reduce oxidative stress as well as boost antibody titers of ND and IBD when compared with negative and positive control.

Abstract: The current experiment was carried out to determine the effect of zinc (Zn) supplementation on digestibility of nutrients and blood minerals concentration during hot season of local growing lambs. In the current experiment, twenty-seven local growing Awassi lambs with live weight 25.92 kg± SD=4.29, and aged 8 months ±SD=1.1, were allocated randomly in single pens (1.50 x 1.30 m) by live weight in indoor hall to one of three experimental treatments during July (hot season). Zinc was added to drinking water in three different levels, 0 ml/day (0 mg Zn), 3 ml/ day (36 mg Zn) and 6 ml/day (72 mg) as treatments one (T1), two (T2) and three (T3) respectively. The animals were adapted to the experimental treatments for 3 weeks, followed by 5 days of feed and fecal samples collection for further laboratory proximate analysis to determine the digestibility coefficient of nutrients. At day three of sample collection, blood samples were collected by jugular venipuncture at 11 a.m. for blood minerals and biochemical determination. The results showed that Zn supplementation increased (P<0.001) blood serum Zn concentration. In addition, Zn supplementation decreased both blood serum albumin (P=0.001) and glucose (P=0.010) in T3, whereas serum ALP concentration increased (P=0.042) in T3. Zinc supplementation effectively improved nutrient digestibility coefficient, increased NDF (P=0.004) and ADF (P=0.020) digestibility, and tended to increase DM digestibility. The above results indicate that Zn supplementation may have a role in decreasing the negative effect of heat stress.

Abstract: In the spring of 2022, a field experiment was carried out in two locations: the first was in the village of Al-Thalja, which is located 15 km northwest of the city of Mosul, and the second location was in the village of Al-Shuhada, which is located 30 km west of Mosul. The experiment included two factors, the first two types of nitrogen fertilizer: urea (46%N) and DAP (18%N and 46%P). The second factor included four levels of dividing the two fertilizers: the first level was (half the amount of DAP with planting, the other half after 20 days of planting, and the second was half. The amount of DAP with planting and the other half after 40 days of planting, the third level is half the amount of urea with planting and the other half after 20 days of planting, The fourth level is half the amount of urea with planting and the other half after 40 days of planting). The fertilizer rate used for both types was: 100kg/ha. The experiment was conducted according to a split-plate system with a randomized complete block design (R.C.B.D) with three replications, and the results are summarized as follows: All growth, yield, and qualitative traits of the treatments to which DAP fertilizer was added were superior to those to which urea fertilizer was added in the two study locations. The first fractionation of the DAP fertilizer gave a higher Value for all growth traits, yield, and qualitative traits at the two study locations.

Abstract: This study was carried out to evaluate the impact of adding nettle plant to the food on the physiological and productive performance of broiler chickens. Three dietary levels (0, 1.5 and 3 g/kg) of either fermented or non-fermented nettle powder were added to broiler diets. Up to 10 days body weight and weight gain were not significantly elevated. However, the interaction of the experimental factors improved FCR (P<0.05). The interplay of experimental conditions resulted in a rise in FI in the nettle-supplemented groups during the 35-day trial period. Feed intake, body weight and weight gain increased (P<0.05) when the supplementary level of nettle increased in broiler diets. Serum lipid profile of broilers improved by nettle supplementation. Jejunum villi length and intestinal absorptive area were increased with the amount of nettle in broiler meals. Nettle fermentation significantly increased the intestinal absorptive area of broilers. The interaction of experimental factors increased the NDV and IB titers and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the serum of nettle-supplemented birds. The NDV and IB titers were decreased by nettle fermentation; however, the NDV and IB titers and TAC were increased when the supplementary level of nettle increased. The activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase, and SOD increased in nettle-supplemented broilers. Nettle supplementary level and fermentation significantly increased the GPX in broilers. The level and fermentation of nettle increased the catalase activity in the broilers. Nettle fermentation significantly increased the activity of SOD in the broiler chickens.

Abstract: Field studies were conducted in the Sharya-Duhok / Kurdistan Region of Iraq to evaluate the influence of different light colors, three installation heights, and three types of traps on the capture of the tomato leaf miner moth. The light colors tested were yellow, white, green, blue and red. The trap installation heights were 70, 100, and 130 cm above ground level. The traps included a delta trap, a water trap and a new combined pheromone-equipped sticky light trap, referred to as the GLT trap. Results indicated that the white light was significantly more attractive to the tomato leaf miner, capturing 32% of the total moths, followed by the yellow, blue, green and red light with percentages (27, 22, 13, 6%), respectively. This significantly differed from traps installed at heights of 70 cm captured 70% of the total number caught, and it differed statistically from the traps installed at a height of 100 and 130 cm, which captured 19 and 11%, respectively, this suggests that moth flight activity is concentrated at the plant canopy level. The GLT trap demonstrated remarkable superiority over other trap types, capturing 52% of the total moths, significantly differing from the delta and water traps, which captured 37% and 11%, respectively. This suggests that exploiting the pest's behaviors, such as using the GLT trap, could be a promising approach to managing the pest in infested fields within a short period, complementing chemical control methods.

Abstract: This study was conducted to measure the influence of some herbal extracts on performance, egg quality, intestinal histology, and some biochemical measurements in layer local quails. 162 quails, including males and females in their 48 weeks of age were divided equally into 18 separate cages, and where placed different levels of the herbal extract mixture (1 ml/l and 2 ml/l) were placed in drinking water for five weeks. Egg production was monitored daily, performance and egg quality were measured weekly, and intestinal histology and serum biochemical parameters were measured at the end of the experiment. In the results, herbal treatments, age, and interaction significantly improved the body weight, egg mass, egg weight uniformity %, feed conversion ratio, and egg production. However, the egg weight was significantly affected by interaction and age. The egg quality parameters including shape index, shell percentage, yolk height, albumin height, albumin percentage, yolk color, and Haugh unit, were significantly affected by the herbal treatment levels, age, and interaction between them. Although the levels of herbal extracts didn’t affect the shell thickness, yolk width, albumin width, and yolk percentage, these were significantly affected by age and interaction. All of the studied serum biochemical and intestinal histology measurements except the AST enzyme were significantly changed in the treated groups compared to the control group. The present results conclude that the administration of selected herbal extracts improved most of the studied parameters in laying local quails.

Abstract: The study was done in the 2022 growing season on 16-year-old Arbequina olive trees cultivated at 6×6 m apart in clay sandy loam soil under a drip irrigation system in a private orchard located at Zakho region, Duhok governorate, Kurdistan region, Iraq, to study the influence of different types of fertilizers on the growth and productivity of olive trees (Olea europaea L.) cv. Arbequina. The experiment consists of twenty-seven treatments (three levels of soil application of chicken manure 0,5, 10 kg tree-1, foliar application of three conc. of seaweed extract (Sea force) 0,10,20 ml L-1 and soil application of three levels of mineral fertilizer Blaukorn NPK (12:12:16) at level (0, 150, and 200g tree-1), mineral fertilizer was applied three times per season: First: at vegetative growth stage. Second: at full bloom. Third: after setting of fruits. Results indicate that soil application of chicken manure, especially at 10 kg tree-1, and foliar spraying of Sea force at 20 ml L-1 significantly increased all studied characters (average leaf area, total chlorophyll content, number of flowers/inflorescences, fruit set %, fruit length, fruit width, fruit weight, total yield per tree, fruit total soluble solids (TSS%), Percentage of oil). Soil application of Blaukorn, especially at 200 g tree-1, significantly increased (average leaf area, fruits length, width and weight, and TSS). The binary and triple interactions of the study treatments on all the traits under investigation also showed a significant increase, particularly for the high levels of the study factors.

Abstract: The main aim of this study to isolate fungal pathogens from non-sterilized soils and Molecularly diagnosed to know which fungi affected by solar sterilization,Study was made by covering the soil with a black mulch from june to august with (5)cm depth. Isolation after sterilization showed that fungi Neoscytalidium dimidiatum, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Rhizopus and Phoma, were affected with isolation (0)% from the covered soil, while the isolation from untreated soil was (80,5,10,5)% respectively for the same fungi., The maximum temperature recorded was (64.3) °C for the covered soil compared to uncovered soil (42.6) °C, while the lowest temperature recorded was (55) °C for the covered soil compared to uncovered (39)°C, The isolated fungi were examined phenotypically by studying the nature of growth, colors, textures, and the edges of colonies, and the nature of the fungal hyphae. Then diagnosed based on international classification keys (Sutton and Dyko, 1989). when they matched the results of the molecular diagnosis. The analysis showed that diagnosed isolates belonged to: Neoscytalidium dimidiatum, Alternaria alternata, Curvularia, and Fusarium. culmorum. By comparing the sequences of nitrogenous bases with NCBI except Curvularia, were registered under the numbers (OR026671.1), (OR755780.1), and (OR828014.1). By calculating the percentage of dissimilarity and similarity between the fungi there was a genetic closeness between fungi, Neoscytalidium dimidiatum and Fusarium culmorum, at a rate of 0.12. In contrast, the fungi Alternaria alternate and Curvularia showed a percentage of genetic closeness of 0.06, while the percentage of divergence between the two groups was 0.20.