Kufa Journal for Agricultural Sciences

This investigation was carried out during growing season (2015 – 2016) on Strawberry (Fragaria X ananassa Duch) Tioga cv. Planted in the farm of college of Agriculture, university of Duhok, Kurdistan regions / Iraq to study the effect of GA3 with concentration (0, 100, 200 and 300 mg.L-1), and Zinc with concentration (0, 2 and 4 g.L-1), on growth, yield and quality ofstrawberry plant. According to the obtained results the GA3 and Zinc spraying especially at (300 mg.L-1 and 4g.L-1) respectively caused to improve most of the studied parameters, except of total acidity, decreased with increasing GA3 and Zinc concentrations. The interaction between GA3 and Zinc at high concentration resulted in the maximum values of leaf area (30.81cm), leaf chlorophyll content (42.53 SPAD), number of fruit per plant (21.07), yield (269.63g.plant-1), Total soluble solids (8.00 %) and anthocyanin (25.43 mg.100-1 g F. Wt).

This study was carried out during the Agricultural season 2016 -2017 in the College of Agriculture/ University of Dohuk /Kurdistan region/ Iraq to study the effect of spraying Humic acid at three concentrations i.e. (0, 9 and 18ml.L-1on four cultivars of potato(Solanumtuberosum L.) i.e.(Sifra, Ravila, Silvana and Fabyoula ) that grown under plastic houses conditions.

A total number of 300 unsexed Japanese quail chicks one day old were randomly distributed in the metal cages to determine the optimal age of sexual activity for quail in Iraq by studying the growth and development of the gonads pre-to post sexual maturity. Data were collected during 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks. Steroids hormone and gonads and oviduct development were studied. Highest testosterone and estrogen hormone levels were recorded on 8 and 10 weeks of age. Left and right testis weight, height, width and volume were recorded highest values on 8 and 10 weeks compared with 4 and 6 weeks . Histological parameter of testes sections indicated a complete development for a seminiferous tubules beginning 8 to 10 weeks . Ovary weight with follicles and oviduct weight were given highest values at 10 weeks old. It has been concluded that the optimal age of sexual activity for quail in Iraq could be situated around 8 weeks.

This research was done in it in the laboratories of department of animal production/agriculture college/Tikrit university from 2/12/2016 to 2/2/2017 the beef meat loin samples collected from the butchers shop. Then the muscle (longissimussdorsi) separated for use in the manufacture of jerky. The meat dried in the oven after treated with some additives divided into four treatments: control treatment1(without additions) , treatment2 (Soya Sauce added) , treatment3 (special spices added) , treatment4(sweet chili sauce added). The moisture and protein percentage of jerky pieces were measured then panel test was conducted by specialized professors in the department .

The study was carried out in the field of Agriculture College, Duhok University in 2015-2016 growing season to study the growth and yield of four different wheat cultivars (Adana99, Iraq; locals, Zinzbar and Nigal; newly introduced cultivars) using different methods of fertilizers application; fluid seed treatment in ecoZinc, foliar ecoZinc (Black Rocks company, Turkey 0.01Zn), in addition to traditional NPK and control treatments under rain fed conditions of Duhok Governorate. Randomized complete block design was used with four replications.

Some chemical and physical properties in soil- water interface in ponds of fish rearing in Duhok city Iraqi-Kurdistan region in summer 2014 such as (redox potential, exchange acidity, total and active calcium carbonate, soil pH and salinity, cation exchange capacity, particle-size distribution, Olsen extractable phosphorus, water total alkalinity, hardness, dissolved oxygen and water-extractable phosphorus) were studied to determine the impacts of variation in these properties on the fish biology and survival in the pond. Result showed that the clayey and very low permeable of bottom soil of pond was a suitable condition for anaerobic respiration, as a result of producing organic acid and alcohol, formation of hydrogen sulfide, nitrite, manganese, ferrous iron, and methane that makes hard poisonous conditions which negatively affect on fish survival and growth, it reduced the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the water of pond to 5.96±1.0 (mgL-1)..In addition long days, (16 hour), and high temperature degree ,40-50C°, during summer season, and high fertilizing led to increase the accumulation of organic matter (%) 5.84± 1.53 that serve the raw material of anaerobic respiration leading to high mortality and sensitivity to disease among fish in the pond.

The present study was conducted, to determine the bactericidal effects of aqueous and ethanol extracts of vegetative parts of Akaka plants Allium Akaka Gmel. On some standard pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus(ATCC 25923),Escherichia coli (ATCC 35218),Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) and Klebsiella Pneumoniae (ATCC 1031). Plant vegetative parts were extracted (crude extraction) using distilled water or ethanol (80%). Concentrations of 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000, 10000 and 20000mg ml-1ormg disc-1using Disk Saturation Technic (DST) and Disk Loading Technique (DLT) respectively and 20000 mg ml-1 delusions using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) were applied .Sterilized water and Streptomycin were used as control. Data was analyzed statistically using SPSS and treatment means were compared using Duncan Multiple Range Test at probability range 0.01. Results showed that Akaka plant extracts contains antibacterial chemical compounds that affect bacterial growth. Minimum Inhibition Concentrations (MIC) of aqueous extract was 4000mg disc-1for Staphylococcus aureus and 8000 mg disc-1for other three bacteria using DLT. MIC of ethanol extract was 2.48mg ml-1for Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae and 4.95mg : ml-1for E. coli. Minimal Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of ethanol extracts using ELISA Technique was 10000mg ml-1for Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae,20000 mg ml-1for E. coli and 625mgml-1for Klebsiella pneumoniae.

The primary productivity was calculated depending on pelagic and benthic biomass. Monthly samples were obtained from four study stations (February 2015 to January 2016). The pelagic primary productivity values were ranged between1.26 mg. cm-2. year-1 to4.31mg. cm-2 .year-1, and benthic primary productivity was ranged between 0.01mg. cm-2.year-1to 0.12 mg cm-2.year-1.The highest pelagic productivity was observed in spring and the lowest one was in autumn while the highest benthic productivity was obtained in autumn and the lowest productivity in winter. The highest phytoplankton abundance was observed in spring and the lowest was recorded in summer, while the highest Epipelic abundance was observed in autumn and the lowest in spring. Statistical analysis showed that spring significantly affect pelagic net primary productivity, while autumn significantly affect benthic net primary productivity