A field experiment was conducted during successive seasons at the experimental station of the National Research Centre in Nubaria region, Egypt to assess the effects of vermicompost and foliar spray of Spirulina platensis extract on vegetative growth, yield and nutrition status of lettuce plant.Results indicated that addition of vermicompost fertilizer at rates of (1, 2 and 3 ton fed -1 ), and foliar spray of spirulina platensis extract (1and 2 gL -1 ) within all tested treatments resulted had significant increases promoted growth characters, yieldand chemical composition (N, P, K, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, and vitamin C) in leaves and roots as compared to the control treatment.The highest valueapplication ofvermicompost at 2 ton fed -1 + foliar spray of spirulina platensis extract 2gL -1 in most growth characters plant height, fresh and dry matter of leaves, number of leaves,fresh and dry matter of rootsg andleaf area) and yield.In addition, data showed that decreasing vermicompost fertilizer and foliar spray of spirulina platensis extract reducedtotal carbohydrate content %in leaves.
Two field experiments were carried out at the Agricultural Production and Research Station, National Research Centre (NRC), Nubaria Province, Egypt during successive winter season 2017 and 2018.The experiment was designed to investigate the effect of vermicompost as an alternative to organic compost and its effect on quality and quantity yield and nutritional status of sweet fennel plants (Foeniculum vulgare var.Dulce) grown in sandy soil.Six treatments were added in five replications, where compost and vermicompost were added at a rate of 100% (5 ton per feddan, which is the recommended doses in the Ministry of Agriculture).Vermicompost was added at rates of 25% and 50%.The compost and vermicompost were mixed at 75% and 25%, and 50% to 50% respectively.The results indicated that the addition of vermicompost to organic compost given higher results than adding them individually.The highest values of branches number per plant, plant length (cm), fresh and dry weight of shoot and bulb (g) and total green yield (ton fed -1 ) were obtained when using 50% vermicompost and 50% compost.The addition of vermicompost (100 %) improved the bulb dimensions (Length, width and thickness) of sweet fennel.As well as the presence of vermicompost improved the nutrients content compared to the compost, even if the vermicompost was added to the compost in different proportions.Through the previous results can be saidsuperiority of vermicompost compared to compost if the two are added to sweet fennel grown in sandy soil.Vermicompost is exemplary organic fertilizer for bestead growth and high yielding of crops.
Bionanocomposites of (polyvinyl alcohol -poly-acrylic acid) blend/ niobium carbide nanoparticles have been prepared with low cost and lightweight.The (PVA-PAA-NbC) nanocomposites have been prepared by using casting technique.Films of (PVA-PAA-NbC) nanocomposites were fabricated for antibacterial activity.The (PVA-PAA-NbC) nanocomposites were examined for antibacterial against Escherichia coli (E.coli).The results of application showed that the (PVA-PAA-NbC) nanocomposites have high activity for antibacterial Escherichia coli.
CONCLUSIONThe absorbance, absorption coefficient and optical conductivity of polyvinyl alcohol are increased with increase in tantalum carbide nanoparticles concentrations.The transmittance and energy band gap for allowed and forbidden indirect transitions are decreased with increase in weight percentages of tantalum carbide nanoparticles.The nanocomposites have high absorbance values at UV region which are may be used as a UV shielding.
Laboratory and field experiments was conducted to evaluate the toxicity of two biocides i.e. onion oil and byrovect (mixture of Bacillus thuingiensis var kurestaki and Spodotera littorales NPV) against Pectinophora gossypiella (PBW) and Earias insulana (SBW). The LC50 & confidence limits (95%) for values of onion oil and byrovect after 2 hours, 2 days and 7 days of treatment were determined. Moreover, the biological effects of LC50 of the onion oil against pre-adult and adult stages of PBW were studied. Also, the two biocides and Chlorofet EC (48%) (As a chemical insecticide) were evaluated in Qalyoubia Governorate cotton field, individually (each one alone in sequence of 4 applications) as well as the three compounds in 2 different sequences program against cotton bollworm complexes, SBWand/or PBW. Present results cleared that the sequencing spray of onion oil (1 spray), chlorofet EC (48%) (2 spray) and byrovect (3 spray) was the most effective program against the PBW cotton boll infestation and larval content. In this respect chlorofet EC (48%) individually revealed high potential efficacy against SBW and boll complexes.
This is the third in a series of papers aimed at spotting any changes might occur in plants of a given flora when grown in another flora (habitat). Three species of Astragalus L.; namely, Astragalus annularis Forssk, A. boeticus L. and A. hamosus L. from flora of Syria were grown under Egyptian conditions side by side their correspondent species from flora of Egypt. In this study, anatomical characters and chemical components were followed up. Data obtained of this study and those of previous papers were subjected to numerical analysis. Results of anatomical features and chemical analysis showed that Egyptian types recorded higher values than their correspondents from Syrian flora in most investigated characters at both vegetative and reproductive growth stages. However, for qualitative characters, studied species almost showed no differences. Both A. annularis and A. hamosus showed similar behavior, but A. boeticus behaved differently in a way of its own. Syrian types were more influenced by variation of habitat, Egyptian types; however, were more adaptal to local conditions. Numerical analysis proved that origin of seeds in case of A. annularis and A. hamosus played a prominent role. They splitted away in clusters process depended on origin where A. annularis and A. hamosus from flora of Egypt grouped together. Similarly, those, from flora of Syria clustered with their own selves. In contrast, A. boeticus from Egypt biased to Syrian group and Vise versa. This means that the response of plants when grown under different habitats (flora) differed according to plant species; where each species showed a distinct response.
The field work was carried out at the Experimental Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt. The seeds of Chenopodium quinoa Willd. were sown at season 2012 to study the micromacromorphological and anatomical characters of quinoa plant. Macromorphological characters of seedling, leaves, stem, inflorescences, pollen, fruits and seeds and the micromophological features of pollen, fruit and seed surface sculptures performance by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), in addition to the anatomical characters were considered. The brief results obtained from the macromorphologyical studies indicated that the germination of quinoa seed is epigeal. The leaves are arranged alternately and lamina is ovatus shape, obtusus apix, breve augustatus base, sinuate margin. The blade is polymorphic in the same plant; rhomboid, triangular or lanceolate. The stem is aerial, erect, cylinder, green color and has a cutinized epidermis. Inflorescence is compound raceme and the panicle is amaranth form. The flowers are small, green, hypogynous and bisexual; the flowers incomplete, sessile and without petals. The pollen grains are circular, polypantaporate and intectate. The fruit of quinoa is coated with a thin pericarp and consists of embryo of two cotyledons, plumule and the radicle wrapping with a curvature at the micropylar end. The seed which envelopes the perisperm like a ring, and has a cellular endosperm tissue. The SEM results revealed that the pollen grains are spherical, pantoporate. The fruit is an achene; with a single seed, pale brown color and oblong shape. The seed surface sculpture is falsifoveate. The anatomical structure of seedling and leaves were investigated; the prophyll has midrib region include concave adaxial epidermis, while the abaxial is convex and covered with a thick layer of cuticle. One vascular bundle in the midrib, surrounded by a layer of thick parenchymatous cells. The blade consists of upper and lower epidermal layers with a mesophyll in between. The mesophyll is composed of unarranged palisade and spongy cells in equal ratio. Hairs are glandular and many crystals of calcium oxalate dispersals in prophyll. The blades of mature leaves number two, six and twelve at age four and six weeks old have compact arrangement of epidermal cells and presence of cuticle layer, anisocytic stomata and glandular hairs. At the midrib region, abaxial and adaxial epidermises are convex. The midivein containing three vascular bundles with the largest in center, xylem contain large and lignificd vessels from each median and basal portion. At the blade region, stomata occur on both surfaces and mesophyll consisting of palisade tissue towards the adaxial surface occupies one-half of the whole thickness of mesophyll. Crystals are druses and abundant from calcium oxalate dispersals on leaf. The hypocotyl has 9 furrows and 9 ridges. The epidermis is one layer of regular compactly cells. Stomata and glandular hairs are present. The cortex has a chlorenchyma cells at the ridge and parenchyma cells in the furrows. Small and large vascular bundles are arranged in a ring. The crystals oxalates are present in parenchyma cells dispersal. The pith consists of polygonal parenchyma cells. The apical internode has 10 to13 furrows and ridges constituting its general outline. Epidermis cells are small, square in shape and covered with a very thin layer of cuticle. Stomata and glandular hairs are found. The cortex has chlorenchyma and parenchyma cells. Minor and major vascular bundles are arranged in a ring, the pith cells are large in size and the crystal more appearance. In the median internode, the ribs are comparatively smaller in size than those associated with apical internode. The cortex of the stem consists of chlorenchyma, fibres and parenchyma. The starch sheath is easily recognized and the pericycle. The vascular cylinder has large (primary) and small (secondary) collateral bundles. The pith diameter is bigger than the apical internode. The base internode is cylindrical in outline; a periderm is formed in the sub epidermal layer. The trichomes and mechanical tissue are absent. The vascular cylinder is composed of collateral bundles; secondary xylem is more complex topography and embedded in lignified parenchyma cells. The primary xylem is recognized abutting the pith.
SOIL physical properties of a growing medium are important ……. for optimal plant growth. The present factorial pot experiment was carried out at the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt, during two successive seasons of 2010 and 2011. The study aimed at investigating the effects of synthetic commercial amendment (hydrogel) levels applied under two irrigation rates, to assess their influence on some sandy soil physical properties and buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus L.) seedlings growth traits. The irrigation rates were 65 and 35% of the available soil moisture depletion (ASMD), whereas the hydrogel levels were 0.00 (control), 0.05, 0.10 and 0.20%. Soil physical properties were evaluated by determining the total porosity, field capacity, wilting point, available water, and soil bulk density. Moreover, the plant height, root length, shoots and roots fresh and dry weights and shoots: roots ratio, as expressions of seedlings growth responses, were also measured. Generally, the sandy soil physical properties, as well as the seedlings shoot and root growths, were improved by increasing hydrogel concentration in the soil when compared to their controls. The two irrigation rates also affected both of the soil properties and the seedlings growth. Furthermore, the highest concentration of the hydrogel amendment under 35% ASMD prolonged the soil water loss time; increased the field capacity, which reflected on the soil available water; encouraged the formation of aggregates that, in turn, decreased the soil bulk densities; and hence improved the seedling shoots and roots growth biometrics. This study demonstrates also that the addition of hydrogel to planting medium under different irrigation rates increases water use efficiency by preventing applied moisture from infiltrating beyond plant root zones and maximizing the portion of applied water available for plant uptake. Thereby amended sandy soil with hydrophilic-gel can be used in arid and semi-arid areas to provide a better environment for seedlings to grow.
