Euphrates Journal of Agricultural Science

Biochar is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective adsorbent made from plant and animal materials. The ability of biochar to reduce pollutants is attributed to its physicochemical unique properties. To study the efficiency of biochar for reducing mobility and bioavailability of lead element in two contaminated soils, incubation experiments including pot and column leaching experiments were conducted. The results showed that adding lead concentrations (75, 150, and 300 mg.kg-1) had a significant effect by increasing the concentrations of available lead in the soils. As for the effect of adding levels of biochar (7.5, 15, and 30 gm.kg-1), it was noted that there was a significant decrease in the values of available lead with increasing levels of added biochar in the two soils which leached with distilled and salt water. The highest concentrations of available lead were recorded in clayey soil leached with salt water, which was 47.84 mg.kg-1, while sandy soil gave the lowest concentration, which amounted to 34.82 mg.kg-1.

The study dealt with the use of two effective compounds: 1-octadecene and Isopropyl myristate, which were extracted from bacteria and filamentous bacteria technology, HPLC. We saw their effect on the tomato plant with two therapeutic and preventive lines. at two concentrations of 5% and 10% when the tomato plant was infected with the pathogens Pseudomonas sp. Erwinia sp. and the fungus F. solani. the results showed that the quality of their secondary metabolic components was determined using high-performance cosmography linked to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The analysis revealed many active components in bacteria and filamentous bacteria. The results of the pot experiment also showed 16 treatments. The percentage of NPK and chlorophyll in the leaves of the tomato plant were measured. In the preventive treatments, the effective compounds were added to the plant when planting, or in the therapeutic treatments, the plant was infected two weeks after the infection, and the compounds were added by spraying, as the preventive treatments gave better results than the curative treatments, as they gave the highest chlorophyll treatment in the preventive treatments: 1-Octadecene + Isopropyl myristate + Pseudomonas. sp reached 52.0 and 54.4% for the two concentrations, 5 and 10%, respectively, and the percentage of nitrogen 1-Octadecene + Pseudomonas sp reached 42.2 and 47.1%, respectively. As for phosphorus and potassium, it gave the highest percentage of phosphorus, 1-octadecene + and Erwinia sp.0.26 and 0.56% for the two concentrations, respectively. As for the peroxide enzyme, it gave the highest protective coefficients of 0.16 and 0.45% for the two concentrations of 5 and 10%.

A study was conducted to evaluate the levels of some heavy metals (total and available) in the soil within the boundaries of Babylon City to assess its suitability for agricultural purposes. The elements assessed were Lead, Cadmium, Copper, and Nickel, over four time periods (June 2023, September 2023, December 2023, March 2024), and across different regions (Al-Latifia, Al-Suwayrah, Al-Muamara, Al-Shumali). Additionally, concentrations of these elements in plants (vegetative part and roots) were studied.
The results showed that the total concentrations of lead ranged from (47.28 - 7.25) mg kg-1, while the available concentrations ranged from (2.57 - 0.46) mg kg-1. Cadmium concentrations ranged from (0.99 - 0.18) mg kg-1 (total) and (0.09 - 0.01) mg kg-1 (available). Copper concentrations ranged from 30.98 to 18.1 mg kg-1 (total) and (2.8 - 0.52) mg kg-1 (available). Nickel concentrations ranged from (16.25 - 10.99) mg kg-1 (total) and (1.3 - 0.1) mg kg-1 (available). These results indicate that all these elements were within the permissible limits according to the classification of the World Health Organization.
Regarding heavy metals in plant tissues (vegetative part and roots), the concentrations of lead ranged from (2.891 - 1.053) mg kg-1 and (3.522 - 1.165) mg kg-1 (dry matter) respectively, Cadmium concentrations ranged from (0.356 - 0.309) mg kg-1 and (0.294 - 0.251) mg kg-1 (dry matter) respectively, Copper concentrations ranged from (4.329 - 2.99) mg kg-1 and (5.198 - 3.713) mg kg-1 (dry matter) respectively, Nickel concentrations ranged from (0.527 - 0.277) mg kg-1 and (0.517 - 0.227) mg kg-1 (dry matter) respectively, These results indicate that they are within the permissible limits except for cadmium, which exceeded the permissible limits for all sites according to the classification of the World Health Organization.
Keywords: Pollution, Heavy Metals, Soil, Plant.

The effect of drainage water contaminated with heavy metals (lead, cadmium, and nickel) on irrigation of agricultural lands was studied, and four sites were selected in Babil Governorate. In order to determine the extent of the effect of contaminated drainage water on agricultural soil, the concentrations of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, and nickel) in the soil were estimated. The results of the study showed that the concentrations of heavy metals in stations 3 and 4 in the soil of S1 are higher than their concentrations in stations 1, 2, 3, and 4 in the soil of S2 and S3. It showed higher concentrations of heavy metals in the summer season compared to their concentrations in the winter season, where the highest concentrations of heavy metals were cadmium, lead, and nickel, respectively, in both seasons, and the cadmium element exceeded the permissible limits according to FAW/WHO (2003)
Add keywords: Heavy metals, lead,cadmium, nickel, soil pollution.

Two experiments were conducted in two fields, one of which was irrigated by rain and the other was irrigated with supplementary irrigation, in the winter season of 2022-2023 in the district of Tel Kayf in the city of Mosul. They were implemented according to a randomized complete block design (RCBD), in Three replicates, in a field experiment arrangement to study the effect of soaking and spraying treatments with glycine betaine and microelements for two varieties of soft wheat (Baghdad 1 and Buhoth 22). The treatments were: 1- Without soaking and spraying 2- Soaking the seeds with glycine betaine 3- Soaking the seeds with the elements Zn, Mn, B, Cu, and Fe 4- Soaking the seeds with the elements Se, Zn, Mn, B, Cu, and Fe 5- Spraying plants with glycine betaine 6- Spraying plants with the elements Zn, Mn, B, Cu, and Fe 7- Spraying plants with the elements Se, Zn, Mn, B, Cu, and Fe. Characteristics were studied: flag leaf area, chlorophyll content index, and number of spikes per square meter, the number of tillers per square meter, the number of seeds per spike, the weight of a 1000 seeds, the grain yield per plant (gm), and the protein yield. The results showed the superiority of the Baghdad 1 variety by giving the highest yields of 1662.32 and 1431.34 gm m-2 in the supplementary and rain irrigation experiments respectively, due to its superiority in most of the studied characteristics. Likewise, the treatment of spraying plants with glycine betaine excelled in the supplemental irrigation experiment with the highest yields of 1969.3 gm m-2, due to its superiority in the highest Chlorophyll content (47.4 spad), the highest number of spikes (652 spike m2), the lowest number of inactive tillers (16 tillers m2), the highest number of spike seeds (69.5 seed spike-1), the highest protein yield (2.15 tons ha-1), and the treatment of spraying the plants with glycine betaine did not differ significantly from the treatment of soaking seeds with this substance, with a yield of 1933.39 g m2, which did not differ significantly from the characteristics of chlorophyll content (47.2 spad), the number of spikes (639 spike m-2), the number of seeds per spike (68.4 seed spike-1) and the weight of 1000 seeds (41.7 gm) and protein yield (2.19 tons ha-1). Also, in the rain irrigation experiment, the treatment of spraying plants with glycine betaine excelled with the highest yield of 1727.68 gm plant-1 due to its superiority in the highest flag leaf area (34.35 cm2), the highest chlorophyll content in the leaves (43.1 spad), the highest number of ears (727 spikes per m2), and the lowest number of inactive tillers (2.5 tillers m2), the highest number of seeds of spike (58.65 seed spike-1), the highest weight of 1000 grains (93.0 g), and the highest protein yield (1.99 tons ha-1), and the treatment of spraying the plants with glycine betaine did not differ significantly from the two treatments of spraying the plants with the elements. Se, Zn, Mn, B, Cu, and Fe, and soaking the seeds with glycine betaine, with yields reaching 1642.99 and 1533.35 gm2.

The study aimed to use Moringa oleifera leaf extracts(MOLP) to improve the nutritional propertiesand inhibit lipid oxidation and the proliferation of microorganisms in fish meat. The results of the peroxide number of fish meat samples of the Epinephelus coioidis type stored in cold storage to which extracts were added indicated that the alcoholic extract at both concentrations was significantly excelled on the synthetic antioxidant (BHT) compared to the aqueous extract and the control sample. The alcoholic extract at a concentration of 400PPM recorded the lowest values of the peroxide number (1.11, 1.32, 3.12). , 6.16, 7.51, 8.71, 9.89, 10.03, 10.23) Meq/kg during a period of (0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15) days, respectively, compared to the rest of the treatments and the control sample. The results of thiobarbituric acid values for cold-stored Epinephelus coioidis fish meat samples to which extracts were added showed that the alcoholic extract with a concentration of 400PPM was significantly excelled on the synthetic antioxidant (BHT) compared to the rest of the treatments and the control sample. The alcoholic extract with a concentration of 400PPM recorded the lowest values for thiobarbituric acid (0.32, 0.34, 0.69, 0.87, 0.92, 1.42, 1.72, 1.89, 2.13) mg malone aldehyde/kg over a period of (0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15) days, respectively, compared to the rest of the treatments and the control sample The addition of Moringa oleifera leaf extract can be used in other food applications.
Keywords: Moringa oleifera; fish meat; plant extracts ; lipid oxidation

The field experiment was conducted in Baquba Nursery, Diyala Agriculture Directorate, Iraq, for the period from 1/3/2022 to 1/11/2022 to evaluate the effect of some stimulating materials such as Aloe vera gel (100%), mycorrhizae inoculum (125 g/m2), gibberellin (10%), and the stimulator (rootex) (4.5%) on the rooting of myrtle plant cuttings with a length of 15 cm and a diameter of 1 cm and approximately 12–16 buds per cutting. A factorial experiment with two factors was carried out within a randomized complete block design (RCBD). There were eight treatments, with three replicates per treatment. Thus, the number of experimental units was 24, with 5 pots per replicate. The results showed that inoculation of soil with mycorrhizae led to an increase in percentage of nitrogen and phosphorous in leaves, rooting of cuttings, plant length, root length, and dry root weight, which amounted to 2.17%, 0.165%, 68.25%, 52.83 cm, 26.16 cm, and 3.69 g, respectively, while Aloe vera gel recorded an increase in nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, rooting of cuttings, plant length, root length, and dry root weight, which reached 2.40%, 0.180%, 3.10%, 75.50%, 54.50 cm, 29.00 cm, and 4.26 g, respectively. Aloe vera gel with mycorrhizae was superior in recording the highest rates of nitrogen, phosphorous, rooting of cuttings, plant length, root length, and dry root weight, which amounted to 2.92%, 0.188%, 85.33%, 57.66 cm, 31.33 cm, and 5.06 g, respectively.

Keywords: Myrtle, Aloe vera gel, Mycorrhizae, and root stimulators

With the aim of evaluating the performance of genotypes of beans (Spanish, Italian, local) and testing them under two levels of plant density (80 and 160 thousand plants ha-1), and determining which genotypes give a higher yield and at what plant density, and calculating some of their genetic parameters, a field experiment was carried out in the winter season 2023-2024 in Station A in the Department of Field Crops - College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences-University of Baghdad-Al-Jadriya, a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used with three replications, in a split plot arrangement. Plant densities represented the main plots and the secondary plots represented the genotypes. Studying the traits plant height, the number of branches, the number of leaves, the number of pods, the wet weight of the pods, the length of the pod, the number of seeds in it, the dry weight of the pods, the weight of 10 seeds, the plant yield, and the unit area yield. The results showed that there were significant differences between the plant densities, the high density excelled by giving its plants the highest mean yield per unit area was 16,802 tons/ha-1, due to the increase in the number of plants per unit area. The genotypes also differed significantly, and the Spanish genotype excelled in giving highest mean yield per unit area, reached to 14,950 tons/ha-1, followed by the local genotype with mean of 13,004 tons/ha-1, that the Spanish genotype was superior due to its superiority in yield components and giving it the highest pod length (21.00 cm) and the highest seed weight (15.67 g). The results also showed that the interaction was significant between the genotypes and plant densities for most of the studied traits. The results also showed that the values of genetic variation for most studied traits were higher than environmental variation at the two plant densities, with the exception of the traits of number of pod seeds and individual plant yield at low and high densities, respectively. Broad-sense heritability was high at low densities, reaching 99%, 87%, 96%, 88%, 61%, 96%, 98%, 99%, 99%, and 99% for the traits of plant height, number of branches, the number of leaves, the number of pods, the length of the pod, the number of its seeds, the weight of wet and dry pods, the yield of an individual plant, the weight of 10 seeds, and the yield of unit area, respectively. However, at high density, the heritability was high for the traits of plant height, number of leaves, number of pods, number of pod seeds, weight of wet and dry pods, weight of 10 seeds, and yield of unit area, reached 99%, 89%, 88%, 67%, 99%, 84%, 83% and 93%, respectively, which indicates the possibility of improving these traits through selection for their high genetic variation.
Keywords: Broad-sense heritability, Vicia faba L., genotypes.

The experiment was carried out at the Agricultural Research Station of the College of Agriculture / University of Kufa during the fall season 2023-2024 using an experimental area was 200m2 (20m length *10m width). to study the effect of different sources of potassium fertilizer and the quantity used on some yield quality and components of zucchini plants. The experiment was factorial RCBD with two factors and three replicates. The first factor was potassium fertilizer from three sources which are potassium sulphate fertilizer (S), potassium nitrate fertilizer (N), Grow Plus fertilizer (G). While, the second factor was fertilization at four levels of 0, 40, 80, or 120 Kg ha-1. The findings showed that fertilization with Grow Plus fertilizer at 120 Kg ha-1 was significantly superior to the other levels of potassium sources in most of the fruit quality characteristics and yield components resulting in higher fruit content of N(1.53 % ) P (0.27% ) and K(2.85% ) of especially where using higher levels of fertlization. Best results of fruit quality and plant yield were always obtained from fertilizer Growth Plus, followed by potassium nitrate P(0.33% ) and potassium sulphate K(2.58% ) respectively. In most cases the fertilization with 120 Kg.h-1 resulted in better indicator valeu regardless the type of fertilizer used.
Keywords: cucurbits, fertilizers, potassium sulphate, potassium nitrate, Growthplus

The experiment was conducted in the spring season of 2023 in a field located 5 km south of Babylon province. The experiment was implemented as a factorial experiment consisting of two factors, a main factor and a secondary factor, using a split plot system. According to the randomized complete block design (R.C.B.D.) with three replicates, treatments were placed in the main plots, which are: S1 (spraying with water only), S2 (spraying NAA at a concentration of 100 mg.L-1), S3 (spraying organic nutrients at a concentration of 3 g.L-1), S4 (soaking the seeds with GA3 at a concentration of 750 mg.L-1 for 24 hours before planting), and S5 (Soaking the seeds with ethephon at a concentration of 100 mg.L-1 for 10 hours before planting) The genotype was placed in sub plots, which are V1 (genotype , Babylon Province), V2 (genotype , Najaf Province), V3 (genotype , Al-Qadisiyah Province), and V4 (genotype , Dhi Qar Province).) and V5 (genetic structure of Nineveh Province). The results showed a significant excelled of the V3 genotype in the traits: plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, dry matter percentage, number of female flowers, number of fruits, and the superiority of the V2 and V3 genotype s with no significant differences between them for the two traits. Plant yield and total yield. Treatment S2 was also significantly excelled in traits: plant height, number of main branches, number of leaves, leaf area, number of female flowers, number of fruits, plant yield, and total yield. As for the binary interactions, treatment (S2V3) was significantly excelled in traits. Plant length, number of main branches, number of female flowers, number of fruits, plant yield, total yield.

This investigation was carried out with the objective of identifying the types of fungi that are found in saline soils in the Wasit Governorate. There were five primary sites chosen from which to collect random samples of saline soil, and these samples were gathered from the following locations: (Al-Maleh area located between Wasit and Babil governorates, Numaniyah district, Badra district, Al-Hay district, Wasit governorate center) As a consequence of these findings, a large number of fungus belonging to 15 different genera were successfully isolated ( Alternaria solani, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium solani, Penicillium sp, Fusarium oxysporum Penicillium italicum, Alternaria alternata, Pythium sp, Rhizoctoniasolani, Bipolaris sp, Aspergillius flavus, Curvealarea sp, Drechslera sp, Pythium aphanidermatum, ، Macrophomina phaseolina). In pathogenicity testing employing radish seeds, the fungus Alternaria alternata was shown to have the ability to lower the percentage of germinated seeds to 11.1%, compared to the control treatment\'s 100% germination rate. When compared to the control treatment, in which the percentage of radish seeds that germinated was 100%, the effect that the fungus Fusarium solani had on the germination of radish seeds was the least significant. The germination rate was only 94.4%.
Keywords: Soil fungi, Fungi isolation, Pathological test

This study was conducted under the conservative conditions of Babil during the agricultural season 2023-2024 in a private field in the Musayyib area (45 km north of the center of Hilla) located at longitude E44.5 and latitude N32.7. The aim was to study the effect of different biofertilizer treatments on the growth and yield of two varieties of Romanesco cauliflower plants (Brassica oleracea var. Botrytis Romanesco). The experiment applied a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The first factor was biofertilizer application (comparison, Biohealth fertilizer, Novatec21 fertilizer), and the second factor was two varieties of Romanesco cauliflower (8026 and Sow).
The research results showed significant differences between the varieties in most vegetative growth and quantitative and qualitative yield indicators. Variety 8606 showed significant superiority in all vegetative traits and yield, with a plant height of 96.20 cm, 24.306 leaves per plant, 21.68% leaf dry matter content, leaf area of 7344 cm2 per plant, total chlorophyll content of 64.7 spad, flower head diameter of 21.378 cm, flower head weight of 928.3 g per plant, and a total yield of 37132 tons per hectare, while the Sow variety showed significant superiority in the percentage of Calcium in the flower heads 0.2246%, sulfur content 0.676%, and magnesium content 0.208%.
The results indicated significant differences in the majority of vegetative growth and yield quality indicators for Bio fertilizers. The treatment of adding Novatec21 fertilizer excelled in plant height by 91.90, dry matter content by 21.68%, total chlorophyll content in leaves by 63.7%, leaf area by 7781 cm2 per plant, disc diameter of 23.179 cm, disc weight of 975.7 grams per plant, and total yield of 39013 tons per hectare. The Biohealth fertilizer treatment excelled in the number of leaves by 24.403 per plant.
The results showed significant interaction between the variety and Bio fertilizer in most vegetative growth indicators and yield quality indicators for Romanesco cauliflower. The interaction of variety 8606 × Novatec21 significantly excelled in floral disc weight by 978.4 grams per plant and total yield of 39138 tons per hectare.
Keywords. Cauliflower Romanesco , Surface layer, Bio Fertilization.

The research aimed to identify the size of the obstacles to extension communication from the point of view of agricultural employees in Salah al-Din Governorate, as well as to identify the variation in the respondents’ point of view in determining the size of the obstacles to extension communication according to personal factors (age, gender, educational attainment, and upbringing). A questionnaire was prepared. A questionnaire consisting of two sections. The first section included some independent factors related to employees, while the second section included (54) statements representing obstacles to guidance communication distributed among the research areas represented in (obstacles to individual communication, obstacles to group communication, obstacles to mass communication).
The research community included all agricultural employees in the Salah al-Din Governorate Agriculture Directorate and its affiliated agricultural divisions. A simple random sample of (50%) was selected from the agricultural divisions, bringing the number of divisions included in the final research procedures to (13) agricultural divisions that include (230) employees. A percentage (50%) of the employees of each division was selected, so that the number of respondents became (103) after excluding the employees of the Tuz Khurmatu Agriculture Division, who numbered (31) employees, as a survey sample.
The results showed that the size of the obstacles to guidance communication is large, tending to the average. It was also found that the obstacles to group communication ranked first from the point of view of the respondents in Salah al-Din Governorate. It also showed that there was a discrepancy in the viewpoints of the respondents regarding the size of the obstacles to guidance communication according to the personal factors of the respondents. The two researchers concluded that the counselors Agriculturalists suffer from major obstacles that affect their implementation of extension activities in the research area
The researchers recommend overcoming the obstacles to guidance communication and providing the necessary capabilities to implement guidance activities, taking into account the personal factors that showed a significant difference in the size of the obstacles to guidance communication when assigning counselors to implement guidance activities.
Keywords: 1- Communication, 2- Extension, 3- Technology.

The study was conducted during the winter season 2022-2023 in a farmer’s field in Baladruz District, Diyala Governorate. Four varieties of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were used (IPA 99, ADNA, Al-Faris, and Baghdad) under the influence of three planting dates (11/5, 11/20, 5/12), to determine the effect of planting dates on growth traits and yields. Randomized Completely Block Design used with three replications. The date 5/11 gave the highest average for leaf area traits (38.1 cm2), the number of seeds per spike (49.0), and the weight of 1000 seeds (43.7 g). While date 5/12 gave the lowest average for leaf area traits (26.3 cm2), plant height (59.1 cm), number of seeds per spike (41.5), weight of 1000 seeds (34.1 g), biological yield (13.3 g), individual plant yield (5.5 g), and harvest index (40.7%). The varieties differed significantly in the studied traits, where (ADNA) cultivar giving the highest value for the traits of number of shoots/plant (7.7), spike length (12.1 cm), number of grains per spike (54.4), biological yield (21.5 g), and individual plant yield (9.8 g). Al-Faris variety gave the highest averages for leaf area (35.4 cm2), plant height (68.6 cm), and weight of 1000 seeds (3.53 g). The overlap between the varieties and planting dates was significant, as the (ADNA) variety planted on 5/11 gave the highest plant height (74.7 cm), the number of grains per spike (63.3), the biological yield (24.3 g), and the individual plant yield (11.6 g). While the variety IPA 99, which planted on 5/12, gave the lowest average for leaf area traits (16.4 cm2), plant height (56.0 cm), spike length (8.5 cm), weight of 1000 seeds (19.4 g), individual plant yield (5.0 g), and harvest index (34.6%).
Keywords : Bread wheat, varieties, planting dates

A field experiment was conducted during the spring season (2022-2023) in two locations: the first in Erbil city (Grdarasha field), and the second in the district of Khabat, located it become west of Erbil province and (37) km far away from the city center, This study was aimed to the growth response and yield of three varieties of sunflower to foliar nutrition with nano boron. The experiment was conducted using a split-plot randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates and two factors, The first factor included four concentrations of nano-boron (0, 1, 2, 3 g/L), besides the second factor included three varieties of sunflower (Leviathan, Aqmar, Banam). The results revealed significant differences between the levels of nano boron fertilizer and varieties in all studied traits. Nano boron recorded the highest averages for plant height, leaf area, chlorophyll content in leaves, head diameter, seed number per disc, 1000-seed weight, seed yield, seed oil percentage, and oil yield at both locations. Additionally, clear significant differences were observed between the doses (2 g/L) and (3 g/L) of fertilizer, where it gave the highest averages. Varieties showed significant differences among them, that Aqmar variety recording the highest averages in most of the studied traits such as seed number per disc, seed yield, oil percentage, and oil yield at both trial locations. on the other hand, Leviathan variety recorded the highest averages in some growth traits such as height and chlorophyll content at the research locations. About the interaction between nano boron fertilizer and varieties, it significantly affected some studied traits. The highest number of seeds per disc, seed yield, and oil yield were obtained from the interaction between the dose (2 g/L) of nano boron with Banam variety, with average yields reaching (1276.97 seeds disc-1, 1540 seeds disc-1), (158.27 g disc-1, 241.41 g disc-1), (57.60 g disc-1, 92.31 g disc-1), respectively.
Keywords: Nano boron, Growth, Yield, Nutrition, Sunflower.

One of the problems facing Arab countries, including Iraq, is the problem of fresh water due to the population increase that has occurred in recent years with limited water resources. In this research, the focus was on the principle of virtual water and how to benefit from this principle in the field of the agricultural sector, by calculating the amount of virtual water in relation to a group of agricultural crops, which are considered important strategic crops in Iraq, hypothetical water indicators have been estimated due to the importance of these criteria in determining the amount of increase and decrease in the area of crop cultivation and in line with foreign trade policy. The study has reached the average water requirement for crops ( Wheat, barley, rice, corn) during the study period respectively (2976.08, 3779.00, 11451.81, 9307.64) m3/ton, and the average amount of water used in local crop production is (8.07, 2.82, 2.47, 2.71) billion cubic meters, and that The average amount of virtual water imported for crops is (2.92, 0.001, 14.94, 0.001) thousand dollars. The study reached a set of recommendations to include the virtual water strategy within water resources departments and link agricultural policies to water and economic policies to achieve the aim of water and food security.
Keywords: virtual water, strategic crops, water needs, water rationing

A field experiment was carried out on 15/11/2022 in a private agricultural field at longitude 45.26° east and latitude 31.31° north in Muthanna Governorate, during the winter agricultural season (2022 - 2023) with the aim of studying: response of four genotypes of barley crop (Hordeum vulgare L.); three of them were newly introduced to Iraq, namely: Gzmeab, Gzmemb, and Cos-Aluetmarpc 2, and the fourth was one of the varieties cultivated Ibaa 265, to foliar spraying with four concentrations of metallic iron 6% (0, 50, 100, and 150 mg L-1) on the plant’s shoots. The experiment was designed according to a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and a split plot arrangement with organization for a factorial experiment consisting of two factors. The first factor included four barley genotypes that represented the main plots, while the second factor included four iron concentrations that represented the secondary plots with three replicates for each treatment, and all combinations of the factors’ treatments were distributed randomly within each block, including the entire experiment, 48 experimental units.
Results were summarized by the Gzmeab genotype recording the lowest significant mean for the number of days from emergence to 75% flowering (90.47 days). The significant superiority of the Ibaa 265 genotype was in achieving the highest significant mean for plant height (116.98 cm). The highest significant mean were recorded for the number of fertile spikes (457.00 spike m-2) and the biological yield (20.18 ton ha-1) in the Gzmemb genotype. The Cos-Aluetmarpc 2 genotype was significantly superior in the number of grains per spike (59.61 grain spike-1). The significant role of mineral iron at a concentration of 150 mg L-1 in recording the highest significant means for the number of days from emergence to 75% flowering (94.75 days), plant height (114.95 cm), number of tillers (549.50 tiller m-2), and number of fertile spikes (437.50 spike m-2), grains yield (7.919 ton ha-1), and biological yield (18.88 ton ha-1). Also, the interaction of genotypes with iron at the highest concentration (150 mg L-1) achieved the best combinations for the best results for growth indicators, yield and its components for the barley crop with the same single effect of each factor.
Keywords: genotype, barley, iron.

Rice is widely consumed worldwide. Rice consumption studies can provide an essential information that help in developing the best strategies for rice production and display. The study was conducted in Babylon Province, Iraq; to investigate rice consumption of rural household. Four hundred rural household were randomly selected to respond to the questionnaire by personal interview from 1-20 August 2023. Major households consumed imported rice, five times or more per a week, consumed 0.5 - 1 kg each time. Aroma, taste, cooking time, expands well when cooked and degree of whiteness was the most attributes prefer in rice. Rice consumption increased in holidays and occasions, and affected by family size and monthly income. An effective strategy is needed to increase local rice production and enhance its physical, chemical and nutritional properties.
Keywords: attribute; consumer; food; Iraq; rice ; preferences.

Post-harvest practices played an important role in maintaining quality and extending shelf life of vegetable. study of post- harvest practices used by vegetable farmers can provide crucial information that help in in improving and maintaining the quality of vegetable. The study was conducted in AL-Qassim District, Babylon Province, Iraq, to investigates the post- harvest practices used by summer vegetable farmers. Two hundred and fifty summer vegetable farmers were randomly selected. Most of respondents harvest their crops at full ripe stage, leave their crops out in the sun, carry out the sorting process, don’t grading their crops, pack their crops in plastic bags, use an open vehicle as a mode of transport, and marketing their crop at morning. An effective agricultural extension strategy is needed to diffusion modern and effective post-harvest practices.
keywords: handling; harvesting; Iraq; shelf live; vegetable.