Available nutrients and some soil properties of El-Qasr soils, El-Dakhla Oasis, Egypt

Ten surface soil samples (0-30 cm) were collected from El-Qasr village, El-Dakhla Oasis, New Valley, Egypt to investigate some soil properties and nutrients availability. The results revealed that most of the soil texture varied clay loam to sandy clay loam. The mean values of bulk density (BD), soil pH, electric conductivity (EC), saturation percentage (SP), calcium carbonate (CaCO3), cation exchangeable capacity (CEC), organic matter (OM), and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) were 1.42 gcm3, 7.89, 3.34 dSm-1, 52.10%, 7.46 %, 28.08 cmol (+) kg-1, and 3.65, respectively. The mean values of N, P, and K were 99.37, 31.32, 121.93, mg/kg, respectively. Meanwhile, the mean values of Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn were 27.39, 18.38, 0.48, and 3.48 mgkg-1, respectively. The correlations coefficient of NPK was strongly positively significant relationship with clay, OM, CEC, and SAR, but they negatively correlated with pH, EC, CaCO3. Meanwhile, Fe, Mn, and Cu were positively correlated with EC, CaCO3, while they negatively correlated with clay, pH, OM, CEC, and SAR. Also, Zn was negatively correlated with clay, pH, EC, OM, and CaCO3, and it positively correlated with CEC and SAR

Modelling and Digital Mapping of the Infiltration Characteristics of Major Agricultural Soils

A study was attempted to assess the infiltration characteristics of major soils of Sohag governorate, Egypt. Twelve soil profiles were exposed and morphologically examined to represent the soils of the study area. Horizon-wise soil samples were taken and analyzed for physical and chemical properties. The infiltration field measurements were made for five hours using a double-ring infiltrometer, and the empirical Kostiakov’s infiltration model was applied. The results indicated that the soils were classified as Aridisols, Entisols, and Vertisols. Initial infiltration rates ranged between 0.80 and 6.67 m/day. The highest values (6.47 and 6.67 m/day) were observed in locations No. 11 and 12, where the coarse texture prevailed. The fine texture soils recorded the lowest values (0.80, 0.81, and 0.82 m/day) in locations No. 8, 4, and 7, respectively. Infiltration rate is classified as very rapid, rapid, moderately rapid, and moderate. A correlation was found between steady infiltration rates and sand, hydraulic conductivity, CaCO3 content, and organic carbon in order r=0.95, 0.93, 0.74, and 0.79. However, were found to be negatively correlated with the infiltration rates (r= -0.80, -0.91, -0.95, -0.97, -0.64, -0.91, respectively. Whereas bulk density showed an insignificant relationship (p=0.05) with infiltration rates in the order of r=0.13. GIS environment was used to generate different maps of soil parameters, and finally, the infiltration map was produced for the study area

Comparing the Effect of Foliar Spraying by Calcium and Boron on Productivity and Quality of Strawberry Fruits under Organic Hydroponic System

The availability of slow-moving elements within the plant is very important for the growth and productivity of crops, the most important of which are calcium and boron, and the deficiency of any of them leads to a significant imbalance in growth and productivity. This experiment was conducted inside a greenhouse at the National Organic Agriculture Center, Unaiza, Qassim, Ministry of Environment Water and Agriculture, Saudi Arabia to investigations made on the effects of foliar applications levels of calcium (Ca) and boron (B) on yield and quality of strawberries (Fragaria X ananassa Duch.). Factorial experiment was used in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four levels of calcium (Ca1=100, Ca2 = 200, Ca3= 400 mg/l), and four levels of boron (B1= 5, B2= 10, B3= 20 mg/l), as well as control treatment (C=0), each treatment was replicated three times. Different treatments with different combinations of both elements were studied. Addition of B and Ca influence vegetative growth parameters, yield attributes and fruit quality parameters significantly compare to the control such as the percentages of Glucose%, Fructose%, vitamin C and Sucrose%. Therefore, results indicated that sprays of mixture contained calcium and boron at different levels of Ca2B1, Ca1B1 and Ca3B1 increased fruit diameter, fruit length, weight /plant, and total weight (g), while with Ca3B1 and Ca3B2 were showed high increment of sugar percentages. According to results authors recommended foliar application of combination of calcium and boron as follow Ca2B1, Ca3B1 and Ca3B2 to improve yield attributes and fruit quality parameters. Keywords: Strawberry, Foliar application, Calcium, Boron, Organic hydroponics DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/13-18-03 Publication date:October 31st 202

Yield and yield components of common bean as influenced by wheat residue and nitrogen rates under water deficit conditions

Incorporation of crop residues into agricultural system has become a worldwide efficient practice for enhancing crop production. The main objectives of this experiment was to investigate the major role of incorporating wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) residues and nitrogen (N) fertilizers rates under different water requirements (WR) on growth, seed yield and yield components of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The results showed that seed yield under 80% WR in retained crop residue plots was & SIM;11% higher than WR treatment with no residue incorporation. Seed yield was not significantly different between residue retention and removal treatments in 2016, whereas it was higher (12% and 17%) under residue retained plots compared to removed ones in subsequent years. Seed yields responded to N up to 170 and 225 kg ha(-1) in removed and retained residue treatments, respectively in 2017 and 2018. Annual increment of seed yield in residue retained plots (36%) was 2.11 times higher than the residue removed ones (17%). There was higher soil N content in 50% residue retention with 225 kg N ha(-1) under both water deficit treatments in all years. The highest soil organic carbon (SOC) was achieved with normal irrigation in retained residue plots with 225 kg N ha(-1) in all years. Overall, wheat residue incorporation into the soil and N-supply substantially contributed to counteracting yield declines of common bean under water deficit conditions.& nbsp;(c) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).Peer reviewe

Perspective Chapter: The Toxic Silver (Hg)

In the late 1950s, residents of a Japanese fishing village known as “Minamata” began falling ill and dying at an alarming rate. The Japanese authorities stated that methyl-mercury-rich seafood and shellfish caused the sickness. Burning fossil fuels represent ≈52.7% of Hg emissions. The majorities of mercury’s compounds are volatile and thus travel hundreds of miles with wind before being deposited on the earth’s surface. High acidity and dissolved organic carbon increase Hg-mobility in soil to enter the food chain. Additionally, Hg is taken up by areal plant parts via gas exchange. Mercury has no identified role in plants while exhibiting high affinity to form complexes with soft ligands such as sulfur and this consequently inactivates amino acids and sulfur-containing antioxidants. Long-term human exposure to Hg leads to neurotoxicity in children and adults, immunological, cardiac, and motor reproductive and genetic disorders. Accordingly, remediating contaminated soils has become an obligation. Mercury, like other potentially toxic elements, is not biodegradable, and therefore, its remediation should encompass either removal of Hg from soils or even its immobilization. This chapter discusses Hg’s chemical behavior, sources, health dangers, and soil remediation methods to lower Hg levels