Iraqi Journal of Science and Technology

The natural food of golden fish Carassius auratus L.were studied in the Euphrates River at Al-Musayab city during the period from 2/1/2014 to 31/12/2014. The foregut contents of 295 fish were examined depending on Importance Relative Index (IRI%). In winter, the results showed that insects came firstly with 19.8%, followed by non-diagnosed digested food (16.7%). Detritus came firstly in spring by 41% followed by aquatic plants (18 %), in summer, detritus also consisted of the food in the first rank 28.21% followed by non-diagnosed digested food 23.87%. In autumn detritus also came firstly in 32.1% followed by non-diagnosed digested food 16.9%. The results indicated that the higher feeding intensity was recorded in spring 30.55 points/fish, while the lowest was 17.69 in autumn. This fish was more active to feed in spring (95.65%) while the least in winter (88.46%). It was concluded from the current study that the fish was omnivorous.

This study was carried out to evaluate the susceptibility of four rice genotypes: HH12-DT10SAL1-DT1, IR08N150, R10A267, and IR06A145 to six Phytopathogenic fungi Fusarium oxysporum R6, Fusarium solani R11, Bipolaris spicifera R15, Nigrospora oryzae R9, Exserohilum rostratum R19 and Curvularia lunata R21. The results of this study showed that all tested genotypes were susceptible to all pathogenic fungi that mentioned above, and all these pathogens reduced seed germination. Statistical analysis exhibited significant differences (P≤0.05) in rate of the pre-emergence seedling for both genotypes IR08N150 and R10A267 with pathogens C.lunata R21 (100% respectively). Also, this study indicates that F. oxysporum R6 with genotypes IR06A145, IR08N150 and R10A267 recorded the highest percentage of disease infection (100% respectively). Furthermore, disease severity of these genotypes HH12-DT10SAL1-DT1 IR06A145, IR08N150, IR10 that used in this experiment with fungi F. solani R11, N. oryzae R9, F. oxysporum R6, E. rostratum R19 and C. lunata R21 were reached up to 100% for all pathogens.

The study included measuring the concentration of radon -222 in ground and surface water in the Al- Rustumiya and Al- Tuwaitha regions southeast of Baghdad. Measurements were made by radon detector RAD7 on samples of groundwater which were taken from wells in eight locations of the study area as well as samples of water from the surface of the Tigris and Diyala rivers is during three periods (March, June, and October). The results showed a clear variation in radon gas concentrations in all samples according to their different locations. Where the highest concentrations were in well water for the Al-Rustamiya region and ranged between (2.5-6.4 Bq/L) followed by radon gas concentrations in well water for the Al-Tuwaitha region and ranged between (0.12-0.65 Bq / L), as for the lowest concentrations, they were in the surface waters of the Tigris and Diyala rivers and ranged between (0.1-0.23 Bq / L). The results also showed that all measured samples were within the internationally permitted limits (11.1 Bq/L). The annual effective dose calculations were performed, and their values ranged between (0.5-35 µSv.y-1).

Niobium Oxide (Nb2O5) films were prepared on glass substrates using a plasma sputtering system with different ratios of (O2/Ar) gas mixture. The annealing process of all samples was done at (650 °C) for one hour. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results of the Niobium oxide (Nb2O5) films of ratios in group-1, group-2 and group-3 show that the phase of Niobium Oxide was not present before and after annealing, due to the decrease in the ratio of oxygen gas compared to the ratio of Argon gas. While the X-ray diffraction (XRD) of Niobium oxide films of ratios in group-4 and group-5 indicated the phase of Niobium Oxide (Nb2O5) after the annealing because the heat treatment led to the crystalline uniformity of the layer of Niobium oxide and thus the growth of the phases. Also, the X-ray diffraction (XRD) of (Nb2O5) films of ratio in group-6 demonstrates the presence of multiple and clear phases of Niobium oxide (Nb2O5) before and after annealing, as a result of the large increase in the proportion of oxygen gas compared to the proportion of the Argon gas, which led to the growth of the phases and the largest crystalline system.

This study aims to use licorice roots powder as animal food additive to support rations of common carp and improve growth parameters and blood indicators. It was carried out for period of 60 days from (6/4/2017 to 4/6/2017) at nutrition laboratory/Fish Department. 50 fish of common carp Cyprinus carpio L. with average weight (15 ± 0.66) gm were distributed to five treatments (T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5-as control) with two replications, fed on 0.2, 0.4, 0.6,0.8, and 0% of Licorice Glycyrrhiza glabra respectively as additive food in fish rations. Results showed that T4 (0.8%) was exceeded significantly (P≤ 0.05) all other treatments in all growth parameters (Weight Gain, Specific Growth Rate and Food Conversion Efficiency) and blood indicators measurement (RBCs, WBCs, PCV, and Hb) also results revealed that all licorice treatments were excelled control treatment in both parameters and indicators (Growth and Blood). In conclusion, the addition of 0.8% licorice roots powder achieved higher values of growth parameters and blood indicators measurement than the other concentrations.

Research was conducted at Al-latifia Research Station of Plant Breeding and Improvement Center, Agricultural Research Directorate, during spring season of year 2016 to study the effect of some biofertilizers on growth and yield of Eggplant plant under greenhouse conditions. A factorial experiment was designed in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replicates and the means of traits compared by L.S.D. at 5% level. The main factor included methods of adding biofertilizers to seeds (A1) and transplants (A2). The secondary factor was biofertilizers included: without adding any Biofertilizer (control) (T0), Pseudomonas fluorescence, (T1), Azospirillum brasilense (T2), Bacillus subtilis (T3) and Azotobacter chroococcum (T4). The results showed that Azotobacter chroococcum treatment significantly increased the plant height (87.70 cm) compared with (57.70 cm) in the control treatment. Moreover, Azotobacter chroococcum treatment showed significant increases the yield per plant and the total yield which were, (1000.00 gm.plant-1 and 899.00 Kg.greenhouse-1) respectively in comparison with the control treatment which were (553.00 gm.plant-1) and (498.00 Kg.greenhouse-1) respectively.

This present study demonstrated the phytoremediation potential of Polygonum sp. for the removal of Copper (Cu) and Lead (Pb) from contaminated water and using different concentration (10, 20 and 30) ppm. The duration of experiment time (3, 6, and 9) days for each concentration and estimated the plant efficiency to remove (Cu) and (Pb) as a percentage removal. Result of the statistical analysis showed significant differences between concentrations and days at a probability level (p > 0.05) and recorded significant differences from the 3rd day to 9th day in all concentration plant. The experiment showed that both (Cu) and (Pb) have effects on plant. The plant at all the concentrations used in the experiment had percentage removal of (Pb) more than percentage removal of (Cu).

GIS and image processing a great tools for identification of morphometric parameters such as stream length (Lu), stream number (Nu), stream order (Su), bifurcation ratio (Rb), drainage density (Dd), hypsometric integral (Hi), Hypsometric Curve, elongation ratio (Re), circularity ratio (Rc), and form factor ratio (Rf) The Morphometric based GIS was used to analysis a in Northern part of western desert, Iraq the result revealed that, Six Stream order identify in study area with Stream length (Lu) Km and Stream number (Nu) was: 1st order 1670.889 -642, 2nd order -744.559 -166, 3rd order -429.152- 37, 4th order- 302.677- 8, 5th order- 33.795- 2, and 6th order-58.526-1. Bifurcation ratio (Rb) to all stream orders (first to sixth Order) vary between (2- 4.84) with average value 3.79. Form factor is 0.107. Drainage density ranged from 0-4.3 Km/Km². The calculated value for the hypsometric integral (Hi) = 0.45. The elongation ratio of study area is (0.24). The circularity ratio value of the basin is 0.104. Which refers elongated basin in shape with low active tectonic characterizing a mature drainage basin.