IRAQ JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

Quinoa is one of the main food crops in Latin America. In recent decades it receives international attention because of its tolerance to a biotic stresses, the wide genetic variability, and its high nutritional value. This study was conducted to evaluated 9 accessions of quinoa for their adaptation to the local climatic conditions. The experiment was designed in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed that there were significant differences among the accessions for plant height, days to physiological maturity, number of panicles per plant, panicle weight, thousand seed weight, seed yield per plant and seed yield per area unit. The accessions Q21 and Q22 registered the highest productivity with mean values of 957 and 933 kg.ha-1 respectively. High estimates of genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation and broad sense heritability were observed in all of the studied traits. The genotypic correlations were higher than the phenotypic correlations for all the characters under study. Seed yield had positive and significant correlations at genotypic and phenotypic levels with all the traits except days to physiological maturity which had significant negative correlations. It was concluded that seed yield could efficiently be increased by obtaining maximum expression of number of panicles per plant, panicle weight, and thousand seed weight as an effective selection criteria. The study results also demonstrated that quinoa has a high adaptability under the conditions of middle region of Iraq.

Two field experiments were carried out at the experimental field of Field Crop Dept. - College of Agriculture -University of Baghdad/AL-Jadriya, during spring and fall seasons of 2017. RCBD design by split plot arrangements with three replicates was used, water quantity,100,75 and 50% from water requirements occupied the main plots and genotypes from Abo- Akefa and Red seed occupied the sub plots. The results shown that selectees from earliness by honey comb method from its origin (Abo- Akefa) that after the first selection cycle, gave higher LAI (2.62), CGR at 50% flowers and maturity(18.71 and 19.54 g.m-2 day-1 respectively), NAR(7.18 g.m-2day-1), and higher TDM at 50% flowers and maturity(149.48 and 218.78 g, respectively), that reflected on grain growth rate (0.99,0.95 mg day-1 ),and higher grin yield per plant(86.44 g). It is found significant differences between irrigation treatments, the water quantity, 100% from water requirement gave higher grain yield per plant (73.35g) but75% from water requirements gave only 14% decrease in productivity, this mean reduced of 25% of water requirements, which indicates the possibility of 75% of full irrigation, especially in areas suffering from water scarcity, such as southern Iraq.

A field experiment was carried out in the autumn of 2017 to Evaluation of the SALTMED program efficacy to predict the yield of wheat irrigated with saline water under the sprinkler irrigation system, three varieties of wheat crop sowing (Abu Ghraib V1, Ibaa 99 V2, and Al Furat V3) and Five treatments for irrigation water quality which are: F (1.2 dS m-1), D (3 dS m-1), S (4.8 dS m-1), A1(two irrigation with saline water of 4.8 dS m-1 and one irrigation by river water of 1.2 dS m-1) alternately and A2(One irrigation with river water of 1.2 dS m-1 and one irrigation with saline water of 4.8 dS m-1) alternately. The results showed the High efficiency of the SALTMED program in simulating the effect of irrigation water quality in two varieties wheat yield (Abu Ghraib and Ibaa) and soil Ec, and SALTMED gave a high correlation between the simulated values and measured values of the grain yield and soil Ec in experimental conditions

The importance of research to promote the cultivation of amber varieties in Iraq, and the elimination of the idea of abandonment of cultivation by professional rice growers to cultivate it for decades to decrease its productivity in the unit area compared to the variant Jasmine, and the price and marketing policy set out of state did not do justice to this cultivar price, distributed form A questionnaire distributed to a random sample of amber and Jasmine in the governorates of Najaf and Qadissiyah, including 104 farmers planting rice in different areas, divided 80 forms for the farmers of the category Jasmine, 24 forms for the farmers of the category Anavar, and the use of the data Envelope analysis Method (DEA) to estimate the efficiency of production of professionalism, economic efficiency and allocative efficiency assuming stability and change in the yield of the input capacity under the production function variables, and allocative efficiency and economic efficiency were estimated according to the cost function variables.Reached search to The average technical efficiency of the cultivar was found to be 80% and 89%, assuming stability and change in the rate of the amplitude, indicating that a large percentage of the farmers are working within the optimum capacity returns and that the average technical efficiency of the cultivar Jasmine reached 82% and 85% assuming stability and change of capacity returns respectively, indicating However, a smaller proportion of amber rice farmers work beyond the limits of optimum capacity returns. However, the likelihood of productivity and income of dunums for the Jasmine cultivar and the absence of a difference in the average variable costs of the two categories, which justifies the phenomenon of farmers abandoning the rice of amber varieties and their desire to cultivate the cultivar jasmine. The average efficiency of the allocative of Amber and Jasmine is 91%, 89% Their convergence in the reallocation of economic resources to the availability of 9% of productive resources and lower production costs in the same proportion of those resources. Therefore, the research recommended the interest in the cultivation of amber-type rice because of its importance and desire to consume both inside and outside the country to be privileged with some of the desired qualities of the consumer and its obvious advantage about the cultivar Jasmine even if its productivity is lower, and raise the price of amber Rice by the state to encourage cultivation by farmers And compensate his low productivity compared to the Jasmine cultivar.

A field experiment was carried out in the field of experiments of the Medical and Aromatic Plants Research Unit - college of Agriculture - University of Baghdad during the Season 2016 - 2017 to studying the effect of chemical fertilizers in the growth of Egyptian and white henbane and the content of total alkaloids. The experiment was design within the Splint Plot Design. The experiment included two factors: the first two species are Egyptian and white henbane ( main plot) and the second factor include four levels of fertilizers are B1 without the addition ( Control ), B2 (N75, P50, K50), B3 (N100, P75, K75) and B4 (N150, P100, K100) within the Sup plot. The results showed no significant differences between the species of plant in all vegetative traits as well as the nutrients (N, P, K). The interaction treatments were significant differences between them, reached the highest leaf area, dry weight of the plant and leaves at Egyptian henbane with level of fertilizer B3 (85 ds2 , 156 g , 43.98 g. plant-1, plant and 1100 kg. h-1 respectively). A significant difference was recorded in the percentage of P at the level of fertilizer B2 and B3 with white henbane plant for the same percentage (0.710%), while the K element recorded the highest percentage at the level of fertilizer B4 with white henbane (1.557%). The highest percentage of total alkaloids recorded at the level of fertilizer B4 fertilizer with the white and Egyptian henbane(21.53 and 13.1%) were compared with the control which given 8.12 and 10.31% for the two species respectively

For the purpose of determining the residual effect of phosphogypsum (PG) in the removal of sodium from the profile of saline soil irrigated by saline ground water after two years from addition . Afield experiment was conducted in saline soil at Al-Tuwaitha Salinity Research Station 25 Km south of Baghdad (first season at year 2012 ) added rates of different phosphogypsum 25 , 50 , 75 , 100 and 125 (%) from gypsum requirements equal to 3.25 , 6.50 , 9.75 ,13.00 and 16.58 ( tan h-1 ) compared to control to remove sodium from soil profile to be suitable to plant . local variety of barley was planted as a biological indicator. Results showed that the percentage of sodium removal by Phosphogypsum were 52.00 , 30.54 and 26.26 (%) for the depths of 0-20 , 20-40 , 40–60 (cm) respectively after two years from addition compared with control and no effect of Phosphogypsum at depth of 60-80 cm because sodium ion accumulated in this depth. Also results showed decrease in sodium uptake by Barley percentage were 0. 42 % comparative with control as a result of Phosphogypsum , this results explain the residual effect of phosphogypsum addition after second season.

Afield experiment was conducted in Talha–modina district during the planting season of 2013 on a soil of silt loam texture to study the effect of magnetize irrigation water and manure levels on the some physical properties of the soil . These properties are soil moisture content, soil bulk density, total porosity, penetration resistance and Okra plant growth properties .The Okra plant growth properties are (leaf area, plant height and biological production) at the end of the growth season .The magnetized irrigation treatments includes un magnetized water (M1), magnetized water by magnetize system which was locally manufactured (M2) and magnetized water by care free water conditioner system (M3). The manure treatments were zero level 0.0% (OM1), 0.5% level (OM2) and 1.0%level (OM3). The experiments were conducted using factorial experiments according to randomized complete block design (RCBD). The irrigation water was added according the reduction in the evaporation water basin. The amount of water added was 100% of the amount vaporized water plus 20% as leaching requirements. The results showed that: The magnetized water(M2) increased un significantly the soil moisture content, total porosity and reduced the soil bulk density. However, the soil penetration resistance is significantly decreased whereas, significantly increased leaf area ,plant height and biological production. The values of the above parameters are 174 kN m-2 , 77.88 cm2 , 29.00 cm and 1702.47 kg. ha-1 respectively compared with treatments M1 and M3 .The manure levels treatments showed following sequence, OM3> OM2 > 0M1 in decreasing the soil bulk density, soil penetration resistance. The results showed that the soil moisture content, total porosity, plant growth properties increased with increasing manure level.
The results also showed that the soil bulk density, penetration resistances increased while the soil total porosity and moisture content decreased with soil depth.

The study area is located in Wasit province, represented in Al-Shuhaimia about 100Km south of Baghdad. GIS technique was used to predict some of soil fertility parameters and to produce a final fertility map by standard method of assessment, building a database of soil characteristics in GIS environment. The results showed three classes of fertility assessment in the study area, very fertile soil class was absent because the study area did not contain the ideal state of the indicators used in soil fertility assessment. The fertile soil class in the study area was 10.4% from the total area were silty clay loam texture, high organic matter, neutral pH, moderately CaCO3, very high CEC, high contain NPK, low ECe, and low ESP. The moderately fertile soil class in the study area was 84.99% from the total area were silty clay loam texture, low organic matter, neutral pH, high CaCO3, high CEC, good NPK contain, low ECe, and low ESP. The slightly fertile soil class in the study area was 4.74% from the total area were silty clay loam texture, low organic matter, neutral pH, moderately CaCO3, high CEC, good NPK contain, moderately ECe, and low ESP. The non-fertile soil class did not appear in the study area. This indicates that the Shuhaimia area contains good soil of fertility and must be managed well to avoid fertility degradation.

A study was conducted to determine some basic concept associated with moisture characteristics such as Pore sizes, distribution and air entry value of soil at different gypsum content 0 -40% gypsum for the main Drying Curve (MDC) and Main Wetting Curve (MWC), under unsaturated condition. Van Genuchen equation used to describe the experimental data curve of the soil characteristic curve and determine the best-fit parameters m,n,α. Data moisture characteristic curve with capillation equation were used to find pore sizes distribution as a function of θ. Veng and M. Fredlund parameters were used for calculated air entry value (AEV). Results showed that the effective value of pore sizes diameter (d) increasing by increasing moisture content. Soil with the 0% gypsum content the highest value of pore sizes diameter (d) was 0.03762 cm and 0.022387 cm for both MDC and MWC, and the 5% gypsum treatment the lowest value of pore sizes diameter (d). Air entry value decreased with increasing of the soil gypsum content from 11.77 cm to 6.3638 cm for treatment 0% to 40% gypsum for the MDC respectively

Shaikh Sa'ad project, in Wasit province, was chosen to conduct the current study, which located between . 15' 46˚ and 35' 46˚E, and . 30' 32˚ and 45' 32˚N, , Tigris river at the south, and Al-Jabbab river at the west. The project area was about 75000 ha. Auger holes samples were taken as a grid system of 100 m in terral between each two points in three transects set for two depths (0 – 25 and 25 – 50 cm) in a totel of 75 samples. Fifteen soil profiles were exposed for the the most extensive and freguented soil units .Fourteen locations were determined out of the chosen area to represent the rest of the soil units as the requirements of EM38 device across readings of the same points which were read for two depths, vertical and horizontal. Vegetation spectral indices of the saline soils were evaluated through evaluating non-vegetation indices of the saline soils. Soils Salinity mappings were according to Kriging and Cokriging for the laboratory measurements soil Salinity and the data from the satellite I mage Statistical Analysis 1-The statistical analysis were conducted to obtain correlation relationships between laboratory ECe and EM38 readings as well as predicting formula. 2- ArcGIS was used to conduct Geostatistico analysis to account estimate ranges of , spatial dependancy, and the number of representative samples. The study results indicated that pH of the study area ranged between 7.1 – 7.9, ECe with a mean of 69.4 dS.m-1 ranged between 2.7 – 100 dS.m-1 . Exchange Sodium Percentage (ESP) ranged between 8.1 – 14.1% with mean 12.1%. Total CaCO3 content ranged between 27 – 46 %, while the gypsum ranged between 0 – 25.5%. Organic Matter (OM) ranged between 0.1 – 1.1% for surface horizons. The results of statistical relationships were tasted between EM38 readings and salinity values, where the determination coefficient (R2 ) of the salinity values, measured in the laboratory of the surface horizons, and the vertical readings of EM38 were high significant of 72% while with the horizontal readings of 70%. High significant R 2 , of the laboratory salinity values for the sub-surface depth and EM38 vertical reading, was 66% while with the horizontal values was 70%. The results showed that the high significant R2 of the relationship between ESP, measured in the laboratory for the surface depth, and EM38 vertical readings of 62% while for the horizontal readings of 60%. For the sub-surface depth, the high significant R2 of 61% was between ESP and EM38 vertical readings while was high significant of 44% for the horizontal readings.The results showed the higher Salinity Index (SI) with high significant positive correlation of 0.68 followed by Normalized Difference Salinity Index (NDSI) with significant correlation which indicated that increasing soil salinity values led to increasing SI values between (0.34-0.52) The results of Kriging study explained the ESP value for the class E0 which occupied 2.22 ha with ratio of 0.002% while the larger area was for the class E3 of 53562 ha with a ratio of 55.1%. The results of Cokriging study explained salinity values and horizontal readings for the class S0 which had an area of 0 ha with a ratio of 0% while the class S5 had the higher area of 64082 ha with a ratio of 65.92%, but Cokriging indicated that of the relationship between the salinity and NDVI for the class S0 had an area of 0 ha with a ratio of 0% while the class S5 had the higher area of 64257.9 ha with a ratio of 66.1%. Crokriging's results, between salinity values and SI, showed that the class S0 had an area of 0 ha with a ratio of 0% while the class S4 had a higher area of 64241.49 ha with a ratio of 66.08%. Also, the results showed, ESP values with EM38 horizontal readings, that class E0 had an area of 2.38 with a ratio of 0.002% while the class E3 had the higher area of 54425.3 ha with a ratio of 55.98%.Between ESP values and EM38 vertical readings, the results showed that class E0 had an area of 2.21 ha with a ratio of 0.002% while the class E3 had the highiest area of 52655.7 ha with a ratio of 54.16% of the project area .results between ESP values and NDVI showed that the class E0 had 0.008 area while the class E3 had the highiest area of 53690.1 ha with ratio of 55.23%. The results, between ESP values with Brightness Index (BI), showed that the class E0 had an area of 2.22 ha with a ratio of 0.002% while the class E3 had the higher area of 53562.03 ha with a ratio of 55.09%. Geostatistics The results showed that the Electrical Conductivity (EC) was a variable property from a horizon to anether where the Coefficient of Variation (C.V) value of Ap horizon was 93.5%. The spatial variability of EC 1.08 where the spherical model was the best to predict EC variation. In Ap horizon, ESP values ranged between 1 – 81, the lowest value was in the pedon 5 and the higher was in the pedon 9 of the Ap horizon. C.V value was50.01%. Spatial Dependancy The required representative samples ranged between 4 – 20 samples, where the limited were for NDVI and the higher unit was for EC. NDVI had the least variation, compared with EC, required a large number of samples ranged between 102 – 296 samples according to random selection. The smaller number of samples was for BI and the larger was for ESP. The results showed that, when geostatics analysis was conducted, spherical model was appropriate for most of studied properties with ratio of 71.5% followed by circular model of 28.5%.

This research was aimed to identify the causal agent of root rot disease of cowpea in three Iraqi provinces of Qadisia, Babil and Diyala, and evaluate its pathogenicity and control by using beneficial bacteria of Bacillus cereus (Bc) and Pantoea agglomerans (Pa) which isolated from the rhizosphere of healthy cowpea plants, and silicon (Si) and copper (Cu). The fungus Fusarium solani was predominant, while its percentage of appearance was 82.2% with frequency of 52.7%, Isolate Bfs-7 was most virulent which prohibited germination of the cowpea seed totally in vitro compared to control. The bacterial isolates D6 and Q10 exhibited 100% percentage of inhibition against the pathogen in vitro. Results of bacterial isolates identification using Vitiq2 Compact System showed that they belong to B. cereus and P. agglomerans respectively. Under greenhouse conditions the treatment with (Bc+Pa+Si+Cu) was superior in controlling the disease, while it exhibited 100% percentage of seed germination compared to the negative control (Fungus alone) which achieved 52.2% and the percentage of disease incidence and severity were 7.5%, 1.0% respectively compared to the negative control which were 95.0%, 70.5% respectively. And it exhibited significant increase of plant growth criteria represented by the dry width of plant, while it achieved 2.03 gm/plant compared to negative and positive control which were 0.88, 1.76 gm/plant respectively.

The present taxonomic of Dubas bug pest Ommatissus lybicus (Ber.) was undertaken the distinguished characters of this species, which belongs to family Tropiduchidae and its ability to the ecological adaption, geographical distribution and its hosts plants as well as genera and species which has economic importance a serious pest causing big damage to the date palms trees in nymphal and adult stages by its behavior in laying eggs in plant tissue and the secretion of the honey dew. The taxonomic position has been given for the genus Ommatissus which is including twelve species different in a shape and position of dark spots on face and male genitalia, the important taxonomic characters was under taken of the genus, and description all of the morphological structures of the species like head, pronotum, mesonotum, wings and legs with its differences spines, the morphological differences for the male and female abdomen, genitalia, and the individual variation for the albino shape in both Nymphal, and Adult stages.

Afield study was conducted at a greenhouse belonging to the Department of Research and Studies / Horticulture Department / Abu Ghraib and during two seasons. The spring season of 2016 included seeds planting of promising parents which used for production of five local hybrids (F1). While the spring season of 2017 included the evaluation of locally produced hybrids under the influence of plant densities and potassium levels in non-heated greenhouses . The experiment was carried out according to the Split Split Plot design, and the analysis of the path was conducted to determine the direct and indirect effects of characters (plant height, number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, dry weight, length of internode , number of days to 50% flowering of plants, fruits set percentage, number of pods per plant, weight of pod and number of seeds per pod) on plant yield. The results of analysis of the path showed that the characteristics of plant dry weight, number of leaves per plant, number of pods and their weight and the number of branches have a direct positive effect on plant yield, noting that the effect varied according to plant density and levels of potassium also the characters of number of leaves per plant, plant dry weight, plant height and fruits set percentage had an indirect effect on yield characters . Therefore, these characteristics can be used as indicators for plant breeders to increase the yield of okra through breeding and Selection programs.

The aim of this work was to study the effect of different Hydrocolloid Coatings solution on Chicken breast during deep-fat frying on cooked yield ,moisture content , oil condtent, and sensory properties. coating takeup were also determined. Coating solutions 4% Pectein, 4% Gelatein and 4% Corn Starch were prepared separately and cooled. Chicken breast were dipped separately in each coating solution, then coated with bread flour .The control chicken breast coated separately with bread flour only.
All treatments were fried in oil at 180◦c and analyzed for the reduction of
oil uptake and moisture loosing . Sensorial attributes were also evaluated .The obtained results have shown that all coating treatments were reduced oil content and moisture loose during deep fat frying ,compared with control .Pectein coating films was reducing oil content and moisture loose more than Gelatein and Corn Starch. All samples were found to improve all sensorial features of fried Chicken breast compared to control.

A study was carried Department of animal Reproduction, College of Agriculture, university of Diyala during the period 20/11/2016 to 20/1/2017 to investigate the effect of adding omega3 to tris extender on the some semen characteristics (individual motility ,live sperm ,abnormal sperm%, Acrosome integrity %, ALT and AST) to (3-5( day after storage at (5°C).Semen was collected from 4 bucks 1.5-2 years old and( 43-51) kg weight. the semen. All Semen in the groups were pooled and divided into four parts adding different concentrations of omega3 to the tris extender ( T0=0, T1=2.5, T3=5, T4=10 %)from percentage of egg yolk in extender.The results showed that there were significant differences (P≤0.05) in individual motility between (T2,T3) comparison to (T0,T1) to (3-5( day after storage at 5°C (Table 2,3). And in live sperm percentage comparison to T0 at Third day Table (2), there was significant differences (P≤0.05) in live sperm percentage between (T2,T3) comparison to (T0,T1) at fivth day. There was non significant differences (P≤0.05) between treatment in abnormality sperm percentage (Table 2,3). The results showed that there were significant differences (P≤0.05) in Acrosome integrity between (T2,T3) comparison to (T0,T1) to (3-5( day. The results showed that there were dicrease significant differences (P≤0.05) in AST, ALT between (T2,T3) comparison to (T0,T1) to (3-5( day after dilution and storage at 5°C.

The research aims to determine the effect of the macroeconomics variables of agricultural exports, which have small contribution to the total volume of exports. As agricultural imports increase, this leads to a deficit in the agricultural trade balance. Exports can increase the contribution of agricultural production to GDP on foreign currencies that can be invested in expanding investment and productive projects in addition to maintaining prices and expanding markets. In order to achieve the objective of the research, the long-term relationship between the macro-policy variables (exchange rate, investment expenditure, and agricultural GDP) and the dependent variable agricultural exports were examined for the period 1990-2014 using the Johansen and after testing the stability of the time series of the variables of the study the VECM model was chosen. The results of the estimation of the function in the short term showed that agricultural exports are affected by macro-policy variables. Both the exchange rate and the agricultural output have been found to have a positive and significant effect.1% increase in the exchange rate will lead to an increase in exports 0.35% in the short term and 0.22% in the long term .The increase in agricultural GDP by 1% will lead to an increase of agricultural exports by 3.08% in the short term and 3.30% in the long term .this is consistent with economic logic. The size of the surplus exceeds the local need of the country and the surplus is exported to other countries as requested by the importing countries, and the export earnings from foreign exchange can expand the agricultural investment. Therefore, the study recommends that the Central Bank of Iraq and the financial authorities adopt policies that stimulate agricultural exports of raw materials and processed materials and reduce reliance on imports from abroad for both agricultural products and production requirements. Through the provision of loans and financial allocations to farmers and researchers in the agricultural sector in order to increase rates of productivity growth and government spending in the fields of scientific research. Government spending in the fields of scientific research and management of the agricultural sector should be directed efficiently and determine the impact of the exchange rate in both exports and agricultural imports

The cucumber crop is one of the important summer vegetable crops, and it is characterized by its high nutritional and medical value because it contains nutrients and vitamins, including vitamin (c,B1,B2), Therefore, the study aimed at estimating the response of the width of the supplied areas of the cucumber crop using the joint integration tests and the error correction model (VECM), The results showed that the most important factors influencing the response of the display of cultivated areas of cucumber crop are (the area supplied by the crop for the previous year, the previous year's crop price, the previous summer vegetable price rate, the irrigation water, the Productive risk and the price risk), using the logarithmic formula, The elasticity of cucumber yield was 2.91 in the long term, while the elasticity of cucumber (-5.61) in the long term, and the elasticity of cucumber yield for irrigation water (-30.73), The results also showed a significant error correction at (1%) and a negative signal, which is identical to economic theory (0.892) This means that the cultivated area of the cucumber crop takes about (1.12) years towards the equilibrium in the long term after the impact of the shock in the model due to the change in the explanatory variables .

The study used the policy analysis matrix to measure the effects of intervention in the production of meat broilers for the period 2000-2014 in Anbar province to measure the profitability of production and to analyze the efficiency of these policies in achieving their objectives and their impact on producers and consumers.
The study showed that the return in private prices amounted to 28125000 million dinars / hall, while the total cost of local resources at special prices amounted to 20480460 million dinars / hall while the private profitability amounted to 4842872 million dinars. The return at social prices was 32.623312 million Dinars, but the total cost of local resources at social prices amounted to 23095243 million dinars and social welfare 9528269 million This indicates that the commodity system loses its profits in favor of other sectors due to the influence of the state intervention policy in the commodity system based on the value of the PC (0.50) coefficient, while the PSR ratio was negative (-14.36%). Indicates that there are inhibitors facing the local product, while the percentage of special costs (PCR value of (0.57) and a positive signal, less than the right one in the sense that investment in these projects make a profitable profit for the product, and that the commodity system has the ability to compete. Support for meat production projects that have a greater comparative advantage in order to expand In the production in order to achieve self-sufficiency and support the establishment of refrigerated warehouses raise the level of technology in production and link the official exchange rate at the equilibrium price.

Field observation revealed that companion weeds of corn crop (Zea mays L.) were significantly reduced in corn field. This interference could be attributed to competition and/or allelopathy. To test if allelopathy of corn is involved in the observed interference, several field measurements and plastic house and laboratory experiments were conducted. Results of field measurements revealed that weed density in corn stands was reduced between 49 and 68% of control (non-corn stand) and reduced weed biomass between 68 and 50% of control. Subsequent plastic house experiments showed that incorporation of root residues of corn in soil at 4 and 8 g/kg soil reduced whole plant dry weight of Echinochloa colonum L by 64 and 71% of control, and whole plant dry weight of Amaranthus retroflexus L by 54 and 63% of control, respectively. These results of the experiments suggest that allelopathy of corn root residues is responsible for weed reduction and it contains allelopathic compounds which may release during decomposition into the soil and become available to be up taken by test weeds. Subsequent work confirmed this suggestion. Analyses by high pressure liquid chromatograph (HPLC) h\\\\ave shown that the root extracts contain sizeable amount of phenolics and these phenolics comprised of 4 mono phenolics (gallic, p-coumaric, ferulic and p-hydroxy benzoic acids) and 5 polyphenolic compounds (catechin, rutin, qurcetine, luteolin and kaemferol). Subsequent work on the extraction of phenolics by root exudates using XAD-8 resin and identification by HPLC indicated the presence of all the above phenolics except gallic and p-hydroxy benzoic acids. Biological activity test showed that root exudates reduced germination of P. oleracea and E. colomum by 65 and 62 % of control and seedling length by 28 and 28% of control, respectively. These results suggest that allelopathy of root exudates is involved in the interference of crop with weeds in addition to root residues.
Thus it appears that allelopathy is involved in the interference of corn-weeds, with competition accentuating its effect.

The quality of surface water and groundwater in the Ameriyat Al- Falluja area was assessed using a water quality index. Data of eleven, physico-chemical parameters of three surface water and five groundwater wells were used to calculate the water quality index (WQI). A heterogeneous water quality was reported, most the groundwater samples were unsuitable for drinking and all the surface water samples were suitable for drinking. The values of WQI ranges from 50.6 to 422.2, indicating a suitable to unsuitable water quality.

This study was conducted to investigate boron (B) desorption in three calcareous soils with different texture (clay, loam and sandy loam). The experiment included study boron desorption with time at three temperatures and use 11 time periods between 0.0-720 hours at temperatures of 5, 25 and 35° C.
The results revealed that boron desorption decreases with increasing incubation time from 0.0-720 hours for all incubation temperatures; also the increase in temperature from 5 to 35 ° C increased the boron desorption.
The results also showed the effect of soil texture in boron desorption whereas, the loamy soil outperformed compared with the other soils by given the highest values of boron desorption (16.5 mg Kg-1).