Significance of nutrient and water sustainability: Effect of land leveling, cut off irrigation and N- fertilization on maize yield

A wide variety of soil, nutrient, and irrigation management practices are available to farmers, most of them concerned with the basic building block of agriculture, the soil. Soil management practices include the tillage and cropping systems and crop rotations used on a farm. Therefore, sustainable crop production should be managed to enhance soil ecosystems, improving soil health and fertility and reversing degradation and pollution of land. As well as, it should be contributed to maintaining and improving, and efficiently utilizing, water resources (quantity, access, stability and quality), especially promoting practices that minimize risks of water pollution from agrochemicals and save water. It is well documented that fertilizer N is the most costly input in maize production and its effective management is a major challenge for improving productivity and environmental sustainability. In present study, the effect of land leveling, cut off irrigation and N- fertilizer on yield and yield components of maize have been studied. The results showed that the highest yield of grain and straw of maize was obtained with using N-fertilization rate 288 kg N ha-1, land levelling rate 0.01 % of surface slope and cut off stream of irrigation rate 75%. The results of this study suggest that, irrigation application efficiency (%) increased from 71 % (for control) to 80 % for cut off 75 % of stream irrigation and land leveling with 0.01 % slope. Thus, about 20 % from the applied water for irrigation is saved by the previous treatments

In vitro regeneration of parsley and coriander plants: uptake, translocation and accumulation of nicotine

It is well known that, nicotine is a type of alkaloids found in some plants of family Solanaceae but some other plants can produce it under different stresses. Medicinal and spice plants cannot synthesize nicotine under normal growth conditions as well as the fate and behavior of nicotine in plant tissues are not understood totally. Many medicinal plants and plant derived products as spices may be contaminated by nicotine from different sources. This contamination could be considered the main problem facing the exportation of these plant products. On the other hand, determining of nicotine putative sources and detecting its uptake from nicotine contaminated soils and tobacco smoke using peppermint plants have been already studied under greenhouse conditions in Germany. These results from pot experiments demonstrated that, peppermint had the ability to uptake and metabolize nicotine endogenously. So, some plants including parsley and coriander were selected to investigate the nicotine uptake mechanism from culture media supplemented with different nicotine concentrations, which extracted from cigarette tobacco (Matosian Egyptian Spirit) comparing with nicotinic acid (as a pure chemical of nicotine) in Egypt. Moreover, this in vitro study aimed to focus on the translocation and accumulation of nicotine in plant tissues. Hence, in virto research has been already begun using parsley and coriander plants. The preliminary results indicated that, regenerated plants of parsley and coriander were successfully obtained on MS medium supplemented with 1 mg L-1 benzyl adenine + 0.01 mg L-1 naphthalene acetic acid. Furthermore, callus cultures have been initiated on MS medium fortified with 1 mg L-1 benzyl adenine + 1 mg L-1 naphthalene acetic acid. Regenerated plants and obtained callus of these plants will be transferred onto MS media supplemented with different concentrations of nicotine and nicotinic acid as mentioned above. In parallel, some field experiments in Egypt have been conducted to get a holistic overview for the object under investigation. Therefore, different experiments including field, pots and in vitro experiments have been conducted in order to reduce the contamination of plants with nicotine

Phosphorus Loss into Ground Water in Paddy Soils as Influenced by Irrigation System and Rate of Added-P

A field experiment was carried out in delta Nile region of Egypt, to elucidate the impact of irrigation system and graded phosphorus fertilizer rates on P loss into ground water in paddy soils (heavy clay soil). Three irrigation system were used: submergence with continuous head of water (about 8 cm), irrigation with saturation percent and discontinous irrigation where soil was irrigated every 7 days. The rate of applied P were 45 and 90 Kg P2O5/acre as super phosphate. Values of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) in ground water increased under saturation and discontinuous irrigation compared to it under submergence condition (e.g.,0.25,0.18 and 0.14 mg P/L, respectively) under 90 Kg P2O5 /ac. and after 15 days of added-P. Accumulation values of DRP in ground water after 105 days at 90 Kg P2O5 /ac. of added-P were 1.18,0.76 and 0.67 mg P/L under saturation, discontinuous and submergence irrigation methods, respectively. The rate of loss for DRP in ground water was the highest under saturation method at 90 Kg P2O5 /ac. ( 0.01 mg P/L/day). Results also showed that, accumulated total phosphorus (TP) at the end of ground water collection (105 days after transplanting) when 90 Kg P2O5 /ac. was added were 2.78,2.18 and 1.69 mg P/L under discontinuous, saturation and submergence irrigation system, respectively. Also, the rate of loss for TP was the highest under discontinuous irrigation condition (0.025 mg P/L). These results indicated that, increasing added phosphorus fertilizer let to increasing P loss into ground water by leaching through the soil profile.In addition, phosphorus loss into ground water was increased with decreasing added water for irrigation in paddy soils (increasing drought regime) and that was not expected

Wheat Fertilization with Special Reference to Soil Properties and Groundwater Composition in Heavy Clay Soil from Egypt

Egypt is considered to be a heavy user of chemical fertilizers, especially NPK fertilizers. Thus, sustainable NPK-fertilizer management should be considered to minimize nutrient losses to the environment via volatilization or leaching. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of different levels of NPK fertilization on some soil chemical properties, the chemical composition of groundwater and the yield and yield components of wheat plant under different treatments of NPK. Field experiments were carried out to study the effect of NPK application on soil properties and groundwater quality as well as wheat yield. Groundwater and soil samples were collected after the first, the third irrigation as well as after harvesting from each treatment for chemical analysis. The highest value of soil salinity was 1.64 dS m-1 after wheat harvesting compared to it before planting (1.13 dS m-1). Values of pH after wheat harvesting ranged from 7.39 to 8.01 (7.67 before planting). Concentration of soluble cations in the ground water after harvesting was higher than it before planting. Concerning soluble salts, Na+ and Cl- was the dominate ions in the soil solution and cation concentration had the descending order: Na+ > Ca++ > Mg++ > K+ and anions had the following order: Cl- > SO4-- > HCO3-. The mean values of available N after wheat harvesting ranged from 8 to 19 mg N kg-1 (38 – 42 mg N kg-1 before planting). The highest value of available phosphorus after wheat harvesting was 11 mg P kg-1 (19.4 mg P kg-1 before planting). Available K ranged from 97 to 204 mg K kg-1 compared to it before planting (160 – 210 mg K kg-1). The balance fertilization of NPK (N80P22K50) gave the highest yield of wheat, improving soil fertility and decrease nutrient leaching to ground water. The grain yield of wheat was highly significant increased with increasing N levels up to 120 kg N acre-1. The highest mean value of grain yield over the two seasons was 3.5 Mg acre-1

Industrial-scale plantlet production by seed priming and nursery tray seeding method in Sida hermaphrodita L. Rushby

Virginia mallow (Sida hermephrodita Rushby), Malvaceae family, is a perspective perennial herb able to yield a biomass crop through the last two decades. In our previous studies, we examined two factors relating to seed germination percent and seed germination power during our research: the influence of hot water treatment and the effect of exogenous or endogenous infection of seed. Following these recognition we modifi ed our technique, in such a way that we fractionated the seeds based on their fresh weight / or relative density before we carried out the treatment. When we fi ltered the fl oating seeds on the surface of water, the hot water treatment was performed considerably better on the sink seeds after separation. Therefore, by this special priming process we were able to reach 80% germination capacity of Virgina mallow seeds under laboratory conditions (26 oC without illumination). From all nurseries tray methods preliminary results, it is clear that, Sida seeds, which were treated with these methods, gave the best growing rate for industrial uses

Industrial-scale plantlet production by seed priming and nursery tray seeding method in Sida hermaphrodita L. Rushby

Virginia mallow (Sida hermephrodita Rushby), Malvaceae family, is a perspective perennial herb able to yield a biomass cropthrough the last two decades. In our previous studies, we examined two factors relating to seed germination percent and seed germinationpower during our research: the infl uence of hot water treatment and the effect of exogenous or endogenous infection of seed. Following theserecognition we modifi ed our technique, in such a way that we fractionated the seeds based on their fresh weight / or relative density beforewe carried out the treatment. When we fi ltered the fl oating seeds on the surface of water, the hot water treatment was performed considerablybetter on the sink seeds after separation. Therefore, by this special priming process we were able to reach 80% germination capacity of Virginamallow seeds under laboratory conditions (26 oC without illumination). From all nurseries tray methods preliminary results, it is clear that,Sida seeds, which were treated with these methods, gave the best growing rate for industrial uses

Effect of different levels of NPK on wheat crop in North Delta

A balanced fertilization of NPK nutrients leads to increase soil fertility, anti soil nutrients depletion and also decrease nutrients losses to ground water and hence decrease its pollution. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted for two growing seasons on wheat in North Delta, Egypt. Different levels of nitrogen (0, 96, 192 and 288 kg N ha-1), phosphorus (0 and 53 kg P2O5 ha-1) and potassium (0 and 120 kg K2O ha-1) as well as 4 doses of N fertilizer were used. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of previous different levels of N, P and K fertilization and N fertilizer splitting on wheat yield and its components as well as uptake of N, P and K by wheat grain under different treatments. The results revealed that yield and its components were significantly affected by graded applied and splitting of N levels. The protein content in wheat grains was increased with increasing N levels up to 288 kg N ha-1 in presence of 53 kg P2O5 ha-1 as well as 120 kg K2O ha-1. The previous treatment recorded the highest values for protein content in wheat grains and total chlorophyll content

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT NITROGEN AND POTASSIUM LEVELS AND FOLIAR APPLICATION OF BORON ON WHEAT YIELD

From the present study, it could be concluded that the highest concentration of nitrogen in wheat grains was obtained at 90 kg N fed-1 in the presence of potassium and spraying with boron. Increasing nitrogen levels increased the amount of nitrogen uptake by grains of wheat. Also the crude protein (%) in grains increased gradually with increasing nitrogen level in the presence of potassium and spraying with boron. The highest concentration of K in grains of wheat was obtained at the high levels of nitrogen in the presence of potassium and spraying with boron. Also the highest amounts of K uptake by the grains of wheat were recorded by the high levels of nitrogen in the presence of potassium and spraying of boron

Selenium enriched vegetables as biofortification alternative for alleviating micronutrient malnutrition

There is a very difficult equation for malnutrition and over-consumption. That means malnutrition even of vitamins and/or minerals (Ca, Cu, Fe, I, Mg, Se and Zn, vitamin A) affects more than two billion people worldwide, largely due to low concentrations or poor bioavailability of the nutrients in the diet. In some developed countries in contrast, over-consumption, particularly of over-refined cerealbased foods, has contributed to the development of an epidemic of metabolic diseases. So, producing nutritious and safe foods sufficiently and sustainably is important target at the same time challenge of modern agriculture. In the past, great efforts have focused only on increasing crop yields, but enhancing the concentrations of mineral micronutrients has become an urgent task. The main daily food source is the staple crops specially in developing countries of the world, i.e., wheat, rice, cassava, beans, sweet potato or maize. These kind of plants are often deficient in some of mineral elements. Thus, the increasing of bioavailable concentration of micronutrients in edible crop tissues (via biofortification) has become a promising strategy in modern agriculture, providing more nutritious foods, to more people, with the use of fewer lands. Biofortification of these trace elements can be achieved application with agronomic process such as soil or foliar fertilization or crop breeding even conventional technic and/or genetic engineering. This review highlight progress to date and identify challenges faced in delivering biofortified vegetable crops as well as the agronomic approaches and tools to improve crop yield and micronutrient content of food crops

Selenium enriched vegetables as biofortification alternative for alleviating micronutrient malnutrition

There is a very difficult equation for malnutrition and over-consumption. That means malnutrition even of vitamins and/orminerals (Ca, Cu, Fe, I, Mg, Se and Zn, vitamin A) affects more than two billion people worldwide, largely due to low concentrations or poorbioavailability of the nutrients in the diet. In some developed countries in contrast, over-consumption, particularly of over-refined cerealbasedfoods, has contributed to the development of an epidemic of metabolic diseases. So, producing nutritious and safe foods sufficientlyand sustainably is important target at the same time challenge of modern agriculture. In the past, great efforts have focused only on increasingcrop yields, but enhancing the concentrations of mineral micronutrients has become an urgent task. The main daily food source is thestaple crops specially in developing countries of the world, i.e., wheat, rice, cassava, beans, sweet potato or maize. These kind of plants areoften deficient in some of mineral elements. Thus, the increasing of bioavailable concentration of micronutrients in edible crop tissues (viabiofortification) has become a promising strategy in modern agriculture, providing more nutritious foods, to more people, with the use offewer lands. Biofortification of these trace elements can be achieved application with agronomic process such as soil or foliar fertilizationor crop breeding even conventional technic and/or genetic engineering. This review highlight progress to date and identify challenges facedin delivering biofortified vegetable crops as well as the agronomic approaches and tools to improve crop yield and micronutrient content offood crops