Iraqi Journal of Agricultural Sciences

This study was aimed evaluation, Zinc sulfide-chitosan nanoparticles (ZnS-chitosan NPs) as an antibacterial agent. The nanoparticles of Zinc sulfide-chitosan were synthesized using a single-step colloidal process. Different factors were optimized, which included pH, temperature, reaction time, concentrations of chitosan and Zinc chloride .The optimal conditions was achieved at pH 7, temperature 60℃, reaction time 60min, with 0.04 mg/ml of Zinc chloride, 2.5 ml 0.1mg/ml Sodium sulfide and 0.009 M chitosan. The size of ZnS-chitosan NPs size was tested by using FESEM which were 35nm, surface morphology was done by using AFM. Moreover, X-ray Diffraction (XRD) characterized the crystal structure. While the nature of functional groups present in ZnS-chitosan nanoparticles was determined by Fourier transforms infrared (FT-IR) analysis. The sensitivity of bacterial isolates to antibiotics were tested, the bacteria were more sensitive, resistant, and moderate range to ten antibiotics. Different concentrations (12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 μg/ml) of ZnS-chitosan NPs were investigated against multidrug resistance (MDR) Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive bacteria) and Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative bacteria). The minimum inhibitory concentration of ZnS-chitosan NPs against pathogenic bacteria was 100 μg /ml for Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii, while 50 μg /ml for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Cytotoxicity effects of ZnS-chitosan on normal cell lines (WRL-68) were investigated by MTT assay. The results showed that the ZnS-chitosan nanoparticles no cytotoxic effect on normal cell line.

This study was aimed to isolation of pathogenic bacteria from different clinical cases like burns, wounds &UTI infections, then study the antimicrobial activity of Laurus nobilis leaves water extract on it. From a total of (80) samples were taken from these cases, the most isolated bacteria were related to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staph aureus & Escherichia coli. Antibiotic sensitivity test was done for isolated bacteria against (9) antibiotic and most of them revealed sensitivity to gentamycin, ciprofloxacin& trimethoprim/ sulphamethoxazole. Different concentration of Laurus nobilis leaves water extract (25, 50, 100, 200) mg/ml were tested for detection its antibacterial activity against isolated bacteria .Results revealed that concentration (50, 100, 200) mg/ml revealed high antibacterial activity against Staph aureus & Klebsiella pneumoniae, also showed intermediate level against Escherichia coli, while higher concentration only (100, 200) mg/ml of extract revealed antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

This study was aimed description of morphological features of fruits and seeds of eight species related to Brassicaceae family in Iraq, the study showed number of taxonomic differences as the silique was long in all studied except the species Rorippa amphibian (L.)b Besser was short, however the fruits varied in dimensions where the species Turritis laxa L. recorded the highest average length with (160 mm) while the species R .amphibia was record the shortest length (5 mm), in addition the colors ranged from green to brown. This study showed that all of the species was glabrous except Arabis caucasia Willd. was lanute-woolly. The configuration shapes were linear with except the species Nasturtium officinale W.T.Aiton. was elliptic and R.amphibia was ovoid, moreover, the characteristics of seeds were investigated as taxonomical important traits like dimensions, colors, number of seeds in fruit, surface configuration and the presence of wing, the number of seeds per species as T. laxa have about 75 seeds in one fruit with the highest rate recorded while lowest average number of seeds among species was 12 seeds in Arabis novaVill.

The current research dealt with a comparative taxonomic study of the two types Chenopodium album L. and Chenopodiastrum murale L. at Baghdad , This research was included a cytological study by calculating the chromosome number by sequence n=27,9. and studying the micro-morphological characteristics of the seeds and fruits of the two types, in addition to the surface covering in the leaf part. All phenotypic characteristics of the seeds were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Light microscope (LM) in terms of shape, colour, dimensions Seed size were measured by the program digmizer , as well as the configuration of the seeds surface , The seeds of Ch.album were distinguished by their dark-black color, while the seeds of the other type were greenish-brown, seeds in addition to the fruits, helped to isolate and classify the two types. The surface covering results showed a variation in terms of density and distribution method on the leaf surface , and the presence of glandular-bladder and a glandular hairs was recorded in Ch.album, while for Ch.murale hairs of the a glandular type were observed. It is worth noting that all the results obtained in this research are presented for the first time in Iraq.

Meropenem (MER) antibiotic is removed from an aqueous solution using Mg-Al-layered double hydroxide (Mg/Al-LDHs) which serves to functionalize the principal object of enquiry in this paper–sunflower husks (SFH). The former sample demonstrated a 51% removal of MER while the latter demonstrated a 67% removal of MER. One of the areas explored was the impact of the rise calcination temperatures resulted in a concurrent increase in the surface area and porosity of LDHs which, in turn, provoked a heightened removal efficacy of MER at calcination temperatures between 300 °C and 350 °C. Nonetheless, LDHs experienced structural deformation and thus, diminished removal efficacy of MER when the calcination temperature was over 350 °C. The ideal adsorption conditions were determined via the undertaking of multiple batch studies. Adsorption process was implemented successfully with removal efficiency of 98% under optimal conditions. The adsorption of MER was found to be regulated by the chemisorption mechanism of the best suited second order kinetic model. The adsorption process seemed to be heterogeneous and on a multi-layer as suggested by the high determination coefficient with Freundlich model. Enhanced functional and structural properties were witnessed in this novel adsorbent’s adsorption capacity, thereby highlighting its proficiency as an alternative.

This study was aimed to examine and detect the total flavonoid presence from the crude extract use in phytochemical test and HPLC device, and detecting on both extract by UV-spectrophotometer. The objective of this study for inhibition the pyocyanin pigment that produce by pseudomonas aeruginosa by use Marticaria chamomilla crude and flavonoid extract. The extraction of chamomile was accomplished by methanol 80%, where different concentrations and dilutions of the crude and flavonoid extract and used as anti-virulence factor. 130 clinical samples of burns and wounds where collected from patients in the medical city hospital. The result showed that 44 isolates where identified as P.aeruginosa using the vitik 2 test, and 19 isolates that can ability to produce pyocyanin pigment, when they were sub-culturing on king A medium. Isolate No. 33 was selected are the largest produce of pyocyanin and most resistance bacteria to antibiotics, as the anti-bacterial sensitivity test was compacted using five type antibiotics (Levofloxacin, Polymyxin, Piperacillin, Imipenem, Tetracycline). the result also slowed that the flavonoid extract inhibited pyocyanin pigment better than the crude extract and the concentration of 950 mg/ml in the first dilution where the flavonoid give 28mm in diameter of inhibition zone when compare with crude extract that give 25mm in diameter inhibition zone for pyocyanin.

Freshwater algae (Chlorophyceae-except Zygnematales) were collected from 18 sites (12 springs and 6 streams) in Shaqlawa district within Erbil Province, Kurdistan Region of Iraq from September-2019 to August-2020. Aim of this study isolation and identification new algal species. 27 new algal genera with 40 species records at first time in Kurdistan Region and others provinces of Iraq, which include the following, Scenedesmus considered the most abundance than others algae which seven species identified followed by genus of Chlamydomonas, genus of Chlorophyceae, genus of Characium with three species for each one recorded, but genera Geminella have two species, finally the remaining genera have one species identified for each one

This study was aimed to estimate the antioxidants, antibacterial, and antifungal activities of methanolic extract from soybean seeds against pathogenic microorganisms. The methanolic extract was prepared from defatted soybean flour. Total phenolics content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and the major phenolic, flavonoid, and isoflavone compounds in soybean extract were estimated by HPLC. On the other hand, biological activities such as antioxidants, antibacterial, and antifungal activities were evaluated. The value of phenolic compounds was 8.59 mg GAE/g extract, while the value of flavonoids was 0.82 mg QE/g extract. The chemicals listed below were chromatographed and identified: syringic acid, quercetin, gallic acid, benzoic acid, genistein, daidzein, p-coumaric acid, glycitein, and ferulic acid. The methanolic extract showed the antibacterial and antifungal activity against tested microorganisms. Considering the results, it is possible to employ the methanolic extract from soybean seeds, which is rich in phenolic chemicals, as an antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal agent. It functions well as a pure, natural product.

The current study conducted to identify the bacterial isolates from burns and wound infections that are responsible for various skin complication in such conditions and determination the development of antimicrobial resistance among these bacterial isolates. This study is carried out Between September 2020 to December 2020, a total number of (103) burns and wound swabs were taken from different patients from different hospitals in Baghdad city, the specimens were collected from; burns (57) and wound (46) swabs, the specimens were included; (51) female and (52) Male, the age average between (2 - 70 years). The positive bacterial containing specimens are (93) swabs, most of them are mixed (82 specimens) with different types of bacterial species and only (11 specimens) are contained with one type of bacterial isolate, while the negative bacterial containing are (10) swabs that showed no aerobic bacterial growth.. Staphylococcus sp. is recorded the most prevalence organisms found in wounds and burns 75/163(46%) included 31(41.3%) and 44(58.7%) isolated from burns and wounds respectively. Whereas Enterobacteriaceae sp. revealed that 57/163 ( 35%), 25(44%) from wounds and 32(56%) from burns. Also Pseudomonas sp. 23/163( 14.1%), Acinetobacter sp. 5/163(3.1%), and Corynebacterium sp. 3/163(1.8%) were isolated from infected wound in a percentage (47.8%,60%,and 33.3%) and from burns (52.2%, 40% and 66.7%) respectively. Another experiment was performed to measure the antimicrobial susceptibility against several antimicrobial agents included; Methicillin, Caphalothin, Tobramycin, Azithromycin, Bacitracin, Novobiocin, Levofloxacin and Sulfamethoxazole + Trimethoprim. The results showed increasing the resistance percentages among different bacterial isolates, and developed multidrug resistant bacteria.

The present study was aimed to detect the accumulative effect of polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAHs) in Arabibarbus grypus collecting along the Tigris River Southern of Baghdad City. A total of 130 specimens were taken from three sites in Al-Zafaranyia City from the period between Summer 2020 until Spring 2021.Results of statistical analysis for total PAHs at S3 showed a significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) compared to S1 and S2 for all seasons. Results revealed that the total concentrations of PAHs in both muscles and gills in A.grypus were 57.79, 86.50, 76.90 and 58.20 µg /g during summer, autumn, winter and spring respectively at S1, while at S2 were 83.60, 121.18, 166.90 and 119.90 µg /g during summer, autumn, winter and spring respectively, as well as in S3 the total concentration of PAHs were 139.08, 140.40, 192.70 and 158.80 µg /g during summer, autumn, winter and spring respectively.The highest values of PAHs were recorded during winter at all sites of collection sample either in water or fish, while the lowest values of PAHs were recorded during summer. It can be concluded that the higher concentration of PAHs in fish gills and muscle was recorded at S3 which could be due to its richness of human activities (e.g. industrial, agriculture, urban),have accumulated in sediments which high PAHs compared to S1 and S2.

This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementing fenugreek seed oil to the diet on the physiological, anatomical and histological characteristics of broilers. A total of 200 chicks one day-old of (Ross308) were used in this study and divided into 4 treatments, 5 replicate for each treatment by 10 chicks in each replicate. The treatments were T1(control diet) = without additives (basal diet), T2 = basal diet + 0.25 ml fenugreek oil / kg, T3 = basal diet + 0.50 ml fenugreek oil / kg and T4 = basal diet + 0.75 ml fenugreek oil /kg. The results showed Fenugreek oil inclusion at levels 0.50 ml/kg exhibited significant decrease (P <0.05) in jejunum and ileum relative weight, villi height and increasing (P <0.05) heart relative weight for T3 compare with the other groups. T4 showed significant increased (P <0.05) in lactic acid bacteria count compare with control group (T1). Supplemented 0.25 ml/ kg of fenugreek oil resulted in increasing villi height, thickness and Epithelium thickness for duodenum as compared with control group. It was observed that adding 0.25 ml/kg and 0.50 ml/kg feed fenugreek oil to the broiler chicken diet could be optimum level to enhance the productivity and histological characteristics of broiler.

This work was conducted to study the association of variations in the VLDLR gene and mRNA expression in the liver and the ovary of local Iraqi hens with some productive and blood traits. The VLDLR gene variations were studied using blood samples of 173 pedigreed hens, 47 weeks old while the expression was studied using tissue samples of the ovary and liver in 30 pedigreed hens, 60 weeks old. Genotypic and allelic frequencies, production traits, and biochemical serum blood were investigated. The results showed that the genotypic and allelic frequencies of the VLDLR in 173 chickens did not agree with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P<0.0307). The genotypic frequencies were 94.7 and 5.3% for both GG and GT genotypes respectively, while the allele frequency of genes G and T were 97.4 and 2.6%, respectively. The results showed an increase (P<0.0001) in egg production and egg weight for the groups of birds that follow the GG genotypes compared to those that follow the genotypes GT. High levels of VLDLR mRNA were present in the liver and the ovary of high-egg-yield layers but were absent or rare in hens with low-egg production rates. The high expression of VLDLR mRNA caused a reduction in serum triglyceride; LDL and VLDL compared with a low expression where showed increases in these traits while other traits were not affected between different levels of expression. This study suggests that the expression level of VLDLR may be a new molecular marker to screen for high egg production in low-egg production local chickens.

A Restricted Selection Index was constructed to genetically evaluate animals using a dataset composed of body weights of Shami kids at the ages of birth, weaning, and 6-month. The variance-covariance matrix (VCV) was generated and used to estimate genetic parameters for the index construction after adjusting the fixed effects; year, birth month, kid sex, type (single, twin or triplet) of birth, doe age, weights at kidding (KW), birth (BWT) and weaning (WWT) as covariates. General Linear Model and Restricted Maximum Likelihood methods were used to estimate BLUE for fixed effects and variance components for random effects, respectively. BW was 3.6  0.017, WW 16.8  0.10, and weight at 6 months (MWT) was 26.7  0.21 Kg. With the exception of buck origin and doe age, all tested factors significantly affected growth traits. Heritability for BWT, WWT, and MWT was 0.70 ± 0.10, 0.32 ± 0.075, and 0.41 ± 0.12, and repeatability was 0.78, 0.35, and 0.47, respectively. Genetic and phenotypic correlations were positive and significant between BWT and WWT, and between WWT and MWT. The restricted selection index constructed for increasing weights at MWT and WWT with restriction on BWT yielded a strong correlation coefficient (rIA) between the genetic merit and the index at 0.54 (p<0.01).

Optimal growth of shrimp and harvest in a pond is strongly influenced by water quality because this is a common thing but it cannot be denied that it is also an important thing. The combination of physicochemical parameters and biological indicators has become a classic way of studying water quality. Phytoplankton is a bioindicator that affects the productivity of vannamei shrimp in ponds. Currently, shrimp farming activities are intensive. This study was aimed to analyze the diversity and abundance of phytoplankton and water quality in vannamei shrimp ponds. The research objective was achieved by calculating the abundance, diversity index, evenness index, and plankton dominance index in ponds. The results of the study were that the phytoplankton of Chlorophyta with the highest total abundance in each pond was 18,400x103 individual/liter, 14,900x103 individual/liter, 16,620x103 individual/liter, and 6.410x103 individual/liter. The index of phytoplankton diversity at each location was 0.74, 0.73, 0.87, 0.74. Phytoplankton uniformity index at each location was 0.04, 0.04, 0.05, 0.05. Phytoplankton dominance index at each location was 0.60, 0.38, 0.56, 0.07. The abundance of phytoplankton is an obstacle to the success of vannamei shrimp aquaculture production.

This experiment was aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of adding natural extracts (clove, Mentha and thyme) with synthetic BHT on some physiochemical, microbial, and sensory characteristics of lamb patties stored at 4 Cº for 12 days. Results indicated that there’s a steady rise (P<0.01) in oxidative rancidity, microbial and pH with the increasing time of storage. Also, a significant (P<0.01) reduction in TBA, microbial and pH was observed in patties treated with clove, thyme, mentha and BHT as compared with untreated samples. It was found that adding natural extracts is more effective in inhibiting microbial count than did BHT. The highest score of overall acceptability was noticed in patties blended with thyme and mentha, and the lowest was recorded in control samples

This study examined the effects of genetic and some non-genetic factors on total milk yield (TMY), test-day milk yield (TDM), pre-weaning (PRMY), and post-weaning milk yield (POMY) using a total of 1167 lactation records of (Damascus) does over the years of 1998 to 2001 at Al-Walla Agricultural Research Station, Ministry of Agriculture. The General Linear Model (GLM) was employed to analyze the data. TMY, TDM, PRMY, and POMY had respective overall averages of 280.3 kg, 1.45 kg, 135.7 kg, and 144.5 kg. Age, doe weight, birth type, and year of kidding all significantly influenced the variables under study. Heritability estimates were 0.22, 0.17, 0.17 and 0.26 for TMY, TDM, PRMY and POMY, respectively. The corresponding estimates of repeatabilities were 0.44, 0.50, 0.32 and 0.33. Genetic correlation between studied traits ranged between 0.52 and 0.91.

The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of economic, social and institutional factors on adoption within the national program for the propagation of high-rank seeds of wheat crop. 170 questionnaires were collected, 50% of them were participants in the program from Wasit and Babil governorates. Probabilistic regression models were used to know this effect, and the possibility of adopting Farmers of improved seeds produced from the national program for the multiplication of seeds of higher grades using the (ADOPT) program. The adoption rate was 0.12%, and the total number of adopters were 12 farmers, at a rate of 14.2%. Tobit model was estimated to find out the impact of the profitability of the dunum, capital, farm size, education, type of tenure, and the number of adoption cycles expressed by 1 in the case of adoption and 0 otherwise. It was found that the increase in the size of the farm and the profitability of the dunum by one unit, the probability of adoption will increase by 5.6 and 2.3, respectively. The results of the ADOPT analysis showed that after the first (5) passes after the launch of the program’s seeds and the farmers’ knowledge of its existence, the adoption rate is expected to reach about (90.9%) of farmers, and reaching the top of adoption, which reaches about (95%) of farmers, requires a period up to about (7.4) years. The size of the initial cost of the investment in relation to the potential annual returns from the use of the technology: The size of the initial investment is (low) cost, the seeds produced from the program had a lower cost than the imported seeds and are competitive with them in quality, purity, and desirable genetic characteristics , so the cost the initial investment for these seeds is small compared to the expected return from the seed output.

This research was aimed to study the impact of modern technologies represented by (High-productivity improved seeds, fertilizer of leaves, Atlantis pesticide) on increasing production both quantitatively and qualitatively. The importance of the research comes from take a set of programs and use some modern technologies in order to increase the productivity of the donum for the purpose of vertical increase of production per unit area. The problem of the research was the low rate of wheat crop productivity for Iraq compared to global productivity rates, and given the importance of achieving self-sufficiency in wheat from local production due to the decreasing global stockpile, high supply prices and low local production in the past years with limited available resources. A set of programs have been taken and some modern technologies have been introduced in order to increase the productivity of the donum and achieve the vertical increase of production per unit area through the program to enhance food security. The Harry, Ayer & Edward Schuh model was used in order to measure the degree of transition of the supply function of the program fields compared to the traditional fields, in order to estimate the relative transition coefficient in the supply function resulting from the technical change represented by the adopting of modern technologies from this crop, as the results of the analysis showed that modern technologies lead to a shift in the supply function by (2.9-8.04-5.3%) for the three improved wheat varieties, respectively. The results also showed the presence of a large waste of the water resource that led to a negative impact on the production.

The research aims to study the optimal allocation of irrigation water that is used to irrigate various agricultural crops at the level of Iraq. In order to achieve the goal of the research, two economic models were formulated according to the linear programming technique. The first model aimed to minimize the water needs of the prevailing crop combination during the average period (2017-2020), while the second model aimed to maximize the total profit margin of the water unit for the crop combination that minimizes the water needs during the same period. The first model was estimated with two proposed plans. The first proposed plan included non-imposing legislative restrictions related to the allocation of certain areas for basic agricultural crops that bias the food security requirements of the population, as well as crops that were recently banned from import by the Iraqi government, while the proposed second plan included the imposition and addition of restrictions of legislative areas that did not appear in the table of the optimal solution for the first plan. Results indicated that there is a surplus of water resource for the proposed economic plans according to the two estimated models, its quantity amounted to about 363.361, 9.178 million m3 for each plan, respectively, compared to the total amount of irrigation water needed for the current cropping combination, which was estimated at about 4.736726 billion m3 during the average mentioned period. Results of the analysis of the two estimated models also showed a preference for the results of plans with legislative restrictions as a result of the expansion in the cultivation of most basic and important crops and vegetables for local consumption.

The development of exports in an open economic environment is the best solution in accelerating the pace of economic growth. The research evaluates the competitiveness of Iraqi dates exports based on a set of quantitative indicators and shows the role of Trade activities represented by international marketing that ensures the flow of goods and services from production until they reach the consumer. The research found a competitive advantage for Iraq in its exports of dates, as the Revealed Comparative Advantage - RCA showed a remarkable rise during the years of study and reached 26.98 in 2008, as for the Concentration Index (H), which represents the concentration of exports in a product or a limited number of products. More than 0.5 came in all the years of the study and it reached 0.91 in 2010. That means, the concentration of Iraqi agricultural exports with a large percentage in dates exports, which means placing agricultural exports and the agricultural trade balance in a difficult position if crop production is exposed to shocks that affect the quality and quantity of production, such as epidemic pests, bad weather or price disturbances in global markets. The research recommended using the comparative advantage that distinguishes Iraq in the production of dates and working to increase the market share by finding new marketing channels.

This study was aimed to determined by number of dairy cows breeding projects to produce milk using high productivity cows in Nineveh Governorate. The research aims to study the economic feasibility and environmental impact of the proposed project to be established in Nineveh Governorate using financial evaluation criteria. In order to prove the research hypothesis, the criteria of commercial profitability were used under the condition of certainty and uncertainty. It was found from the results of the research that the value of the net present value, the benefit-cost ratio, and the internal rate of return were 2911447, 1.74, and .18%, respectively. While the time period for recovering the project's investment costs is 5 years and two months. The research concluded that the proposed project is economically acceptable, and that making the investment decision regarding its implementation does not accept hesitation even in the event of negative changes in the components of the evaluation model. By testing the sensitivity of the project to changes in its components, the negative effects of the project on the environment can be mitigated. Therefore, the research recommends financing the project because, the project does not involve environmental risks, the acceptable profits that it will achieve, and to encourage investment in establishing dairy cow breeding projects to contribute to limiting the import of fresh milk.

The experiment was carried out during winter season of 2019-2020 at the fields of directorate of seed testing and certification. This experiment was designed as RCBD factorial experiment included studying the effect of foliar application of four levels of magnesium at 0, 1, 2 and 3 g.l-1 and three levels of boron at 0, 100, and 200 mg.l-1 foliar application and their interactions on broad bean genotype LUZ DE OTONO dry seeds yield and its characteristics and to determine the treatments effect on quality and germination percentage of produced seeds from the filed study. Results showed that concentrations of Magnesium spray at 1 g.l-1 was superior on dry seed yield while boron spray with 100 mg.l-1 was superior in dry pods number, dry seeds weight, dry seeds yield, 100 seeds weight, pods width, protein percentage in dry seeds and seeds germination. There can we recommended that the utilization of foliar application at magnesium 1 g.l-1 and boron at 100 mg.l-1 improved yield and dry seeds qualities.

The aim of this study is evaluating the impact of salicylic acid and Spirulina algae, vermicompost aqueous extracts, on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) traits. Field experiment was implemented at vegetable field of College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences - University of Baghdad during fall season 2021. The experiment was conducted using factorial arrangement within Randomized Complete Block Design with two factors and three replicates (3X3X3). Foliar spraying of salicylic acid represented the first factor (0, 150, 300 µmol.L-1), which symbolized (S0, S1, S2). The second factor was foliar application of distilled water, aqueous extracts of Spirulina (5g.L-1) and vermicompost (2:1 v/v) which symbolized (W, P, V) respectively. The results indicated the significance of interaction treatment S1P in producing the highest outer, inner leaves, head weight, folate content (24.67, 42.44, 916.7g, 142 µg.100 g-1 F.W.) respectively, in compare with control treatment S0W (15.33, 32.67, 550g, 96.3 µg.100 g-1 F.W.) respectively.

This study was conducted at Abi – Jarash farm, Damascus, Syria, during 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 growing seasons. The aim of this study was comparing the effect of three different cultivation techniques of saffron (Crocus sativus L.), which were soilless cultivation, within the nutrient film technique (NFT), and the technique of cultivation in substrates (mixture of peat moss- perlite), in addition to cultivation in soil. An increasing in the vegetative growth measurements was recorded with cultivation saffron in the soil, compared to the cultivation without soil, within the nutrient film technology (hydroponics) ,and the technology of cultivation in the substrates (peat moss and perlite mixture)، Flowering was poor in the hydroponics technique, while non significant differences were observed among the cultivation technique in the peat moss–perlite mixture, and the cultivation in the soil in first and second seasons . Cultivation in the soil achieved a significant increase in the rate of corms multiplication (corm plant-1), and the weight of daughter corms produced from one plant, whereas, a qualitative superiority appeared within the nutrient film technique, in which the percentage of commercial corms (˃ 8 g) reached 100%, and the average weight of the produced corms was 13.65,16.07 g in first and second seasons, respectively .

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of surface sprinkler and drip irrigation systems using a model AquaCrop, irrigation intervals, bio-organic fertilizers and polymers in desert soils. Two field experiments were conducted during the spring season 2020 at Karbala governorate. The experiment included three factors: 1-Irrigation system surface drip T1 and sprinkler T2, 2- The Irrigation interval: every 2 days I1, 4 days I2 and 6 days I3, 3- Addition of soil conditioners: control without any addition C, bio-organic fertilizers (seek) B, polymer (zeba) P, and polymer+ bio-organic fertilizers P+B. The experiment was designed according to the nested design with three replicates results of regional climate models and AquaCrop model. The results showed that there was an increase in the amount of annual precipitation and seasonal during the periods (2016-2035) and (2046-2065) under RCP4.5 scenario, compared to the base period (1985-2005). With an increase in the amount of annual precipitation and seasonal during the period at scenario RCP8.5 with a slight decrease during the period (2046-2065) compared to the base period. Moreover, an increase in the maximum and minimum temperatures according to scenario RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenario during the period (2016-2035) and (2046-2065) compared to the base period. The expected productivity using the AquaCrop, as R2 was 0.85 and 0.81 for twelve years, under surface drip irrigation systems and sprinkler, respectively. The correlation coefficient (r) was 0.95 and 0.90, the root means square error (RMSE) 2.43 and 2.19, and the efficiency coefficient 0.66 and 0.42 for the surface drip and sprinkler systems, respectively. Finally, the increase in water productivity and productivity in the scenario RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 for the treatment of BP and the irrigation interval I1and treatment C and the irrigation interval I3 when comparing the base period with the periods (2016-2035) and (2046-2065) For surface drip irrigation systems and sprinkler.

This study was conducted to show the effect of cows' manure, date palm residues, sand fraction and the interactions between them in treating the common cracking phenomenon in some soils of holy karbala governorate, and their role in improving some of the physical characteristics of those soils, represented in soil aggregates stability, modules of rupture, and linear expansion coefficient.Two agricultural sites were selected whose soils are characterized by heavy clay textures and widespread of cracking phenomenon within the holy Karbala governorate, the first was in Al-Kamaliya area and the second in Al-Khairat area. The results, showed a decrease in number of cracked masses, and their sizes in both studied soils. with an increase in levels of addition of animal manure, and plant residues and sand,and reached to lowest in treatments in which cracks disappeared while the highest values of mean weight diameter were reached in the treatments in which cracks disappeared for the soil of two study sites. Results showed that the decreased values of modules of rupture and linear expansion coefficient of soil with increasing the rates of addition and reaching to the lowest values in the treatments in which cracks disappeared compared to reference treatment.

The current study aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of the synbiotic of eukaryotic and prokaryotic probiotics on the average weights of experimental animals (male rats) per week, the weights of the fed they consume, their activity and their health status daily by dosing each group with a probiotics and synbiotic except for the two control groups (positive and negative) were used. The results showed a decrease in the weights of experimental animals that were dosed with probiotics L.GG, S.boul., L.GG+ S.boul. and the synbiotic (L.GG+ S.bou.l+Psy) even though they were fed a standard diet with adding 10%Kcal, the synbiotic group L.GG+S.boul. +Psy was the most efficient and capable in reducing the rats weight by 11.7% as compared to the positive control group (cont2). The synbiotic group was closest to the negative control group (cont1), at a rate of 4.06%, since the latter feeds on a regular standard diet only, and the decrease in the body weights of the experimental animals of the dosed groups is accompanied by a decrease in the amount feed of consumed for the group of rats that were dosed with synbiotic, reaching a decrease of 8.34% when compared with the cont2 group, while the percentage of feed consumption was 0.73% when compared with the cont1 group. All dosed groups showed an inmprovment in activity and health status compared to the both control groups.

This study was aimed to identify the obstacles that facing cereal farmers that applying the agricultural practices to decrease the effects of climate variation phenomenon in the central region of Iraq. This research was conducted on cereal farmers at Baghdad, Najaf, Babil, and Wasit which were the most cultivated governorates of cereal crops (wheat, rice, and yellow corn). A randomized sample of (227) farmers was taken, that represents 0.25% of the total cereal farmers in the four governorates (90,584 farmers). In order to achieve the research goal, a questionnaire was prepared to collect data related to the research topic, for which a four-way scale was designed (33) paragraphs, and this field included three axes (1. Obstacles related to the farmers), (2. Obstacles related to the extension aspect), (3. Obstacles related to government institutions). The research concluded that the cereal farmers had a lack of knowledge about the effects of the climate variations phenomenon on their crops in the central region of Iraq, they also facing many obstacles that need to be solved, which led to their failure to use the correct agricultural practices.The research recommends the necessity of training farmers about scientific practices, research also recommends the necessity of holding training courses by the Agricultural Extension Organization for cereal farmers in order to increase their knowledge and develop their expertise in dealing with the climate variation phenomenon to advance the agricultural reality.

This research was aimed to study the results of the application of agricultural legislation and the variables affecting compliance with such legislation, as well as knowing the role of agricultural legislation in supporting the agricultural policy steps in Iraq. The results showed that the variable of providing loans increases the probability of farmers’ commitment to the governmental agricultural plan to a large extent, amounting to about (28.7), and the variable of the sale price of the crop to the state has an impact on the probability of commitment to the plan at a degree of (1.02) greater than the chances of non-compliance with the agricultural plan, as well as the variable value of the returns achieved under The existence of government support to a degree or a fixed rate of (1) in favor of adhering to the agricultural plan. As for the farmers' decision to market their crops to the state, it was found that the most influential variables were the commitment to the agricultural plan, almost six times (6.25), which will increase the probability of marketing the crop to the state compared to the commercial one. The other variable was the provision of loans with a double degree of about (2.72). The research concluded that paying attention to the aspect of financing and providing agricultural loans to farmers will lead to farmers getting rid of the financial restrictions imposed on them by the private sector. Also, the continuation of providing support will lead to an improvement in the level of farm income for farmers and not to search for other means to obtain income and thus adhere to the government legislation drawn up. The research recommended the need to provide government support and use modern technologies to increase production rates and achieve greater returns for farmers, and the presence of a supervisory body working to ensure that farmers do not violate the imposed government legislation.

This study was aimed to determine the qualitative and quantitative phenolic compounds. Results revealed that HPLC analysis identified Hydroxy derivatives of benzoic acids, hydroxy-cinnamic acids, in addition to flavonoids. The major compounds detected in clove were eugenol 32.5 mg/L, while in thyme the predominant phenol was gallic acid 35.9 mg/L. Quercetin was the greatest phenolic compound in both eucalyptus and sage 49.8 and 55.6 mg/L, respectively. Clove extract inhibited all selected pathogens entirely when applied at 20%. Subsequently, thyme extract at the same concentration inhibited the growth of B. cinerea completely. Eucalyptus extract revealed a lowest inhibition with 23.2%, 11.83%, and 7.83% after three, six, and nine days, respectively. P. griseofulvum showed remarkable susceptibility to extracts due to 51.99% growth inhibition followed by 25.33% and 20.67% for both A. alternata and B. cinerea, respectively.