Jornal of Al-Muthanna for Agricultural Sciences

A field experiment was conducted during the agricultural season 2023-2024 inside
the greenhouse at the Second Agricultural Research Station of the College of Agriculture/AlMuthanna University in the Al-Bandar region. The aim of this study was to evaluate the
response of eggplant (variety Barcelona hybrid) to fractionate of potassium fertilizer and
humic acid on the phenotypic and nutritional qualities. Potassium was added according to
the (N:120 P2O5:160 K:120) fertilizer recommendation and the fractionation required was as
P1: Without fertilization, P2: Full recommendation for potassium in one does, P3: Full
recommendation for potassium in two doses, P4: half recommendation for potassium and in
one does, P5: half of the recommendation for fertilizer and in two doses. Humic acid was
added by spraying on the plant and soil in three doses and the concentrations were as (0, 5,
10 ml liter-1
of water) and symbolized by the symbols (H1, H2, and H3) after three weeks for
planting and sprayed on plants in the experimental unit. A factorial experiment was
conducted using Random Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications and the
indicators of study were averaged and compared using the Least Significant Difference (LSD)
test at a probability level of 0.05. The results showed that a significant superiority of the full
recommendation treatment of potassium in two doses and the treatment of spraying with
humic at a concentration of 10 ml liter-1
separately in all the studied traits, and the plants of
2
MJAS
the interaction treatment (H3P3) in the characteristic of plant height, chlorophyll content
(SPAD readings), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and content of elements N,
P and K in the plant, where it reached to 102.330 cm, 74.000, 0.901, 5.500%, 0.450%, and
3.780%, respectively.

At the Department of Agricultural Research's Salinity Research Station, a Factorial experience
using an RCBD design was conducted. The Ministry of Science and Technology, southeast of
Baghdad, in salt-affected land, conducted a combined experiment with three components: Conocarpus,
palm frond compost, three levels of each, and two levels of phosphogypsum. There were twelve
treatments, with three replicates, making a total of 36 experimental units. The plate area was 4 m2
(2
m×2 m), with soil that had a silty clay texture and was planted with white corn (Sorghum bicolor L.),
classified as 70 research class.
In August 2023, in two phases, soil samples were collected from each plate: once prior to
planting on August 6, 2023, and again following the conclusion of the experiment, for three depths: 0-
20, 20-40, and 40-60 cm, wherein the EC, organic matter (OM), and available elements (NPK) were
calculated in order to compare the salt movement at every depth, after harvesting, and the outcomes
show the impact of the organic amendments (M1 and M2) and its levels (L0, L1 and L2) , following
harvesting at depths 0–20, the average electrical conductivity of the soil significantly decreased due to
the amount of phosphogypsum (G0 and G1). While it raised considerably and saw the biggest increase
receiving the same care, with two increase rates of 37.01 and 36.28% at depths 20–40 and 40–60,
respectively, the M2L2G1 treatment experienced the highest decrease, with decrease rates reaching
36.62%. After harvest, the soil's surface layer contained ready-made elements of potassium,
phosphorus, and nitrogen, and the average amount of organic matter increased significantly, with the
M2L2G1 treatment showing the largest increase at 46.27%. with corresponding growth rates of 46.27%,
14.13, and 33.65%, the M2L2G1, M1L2G1, and M1L2G0 treatments showed the largest increase.

A field experiment was conducted in Al-Muthanna Governorate within latitude(31.368475N)
and longitude (45.259249E) during the winter season 2023_2024 to know the effect of the
biofilm of Azotobacter viellandii bacteria and levels of organic fertilizer made from the Nile
flower plant on the growth and yield of barley. The experiment included two factors: the first
factor was two levels of biofilm (B0) without inoculum and (B1)) the biofilm of Azotobacter
viellandii bacteria. The second factor included 3 levels of Nile flower compost: the first level
(C0) without addition, the second level (C1) 1.5% by volume of organic fertilizer, and the third
level 2% by volume of organic fertilizer. Laboratory experiments showed that ten isolates of
Azotobacter bacteria were obtained and two isolates were identified as Azotobacter viellandii.
The results of adding biofilm showed that treatment B1 was superior in plant height, but did not
excel in the biological yield, 1000-grain weight, and dry weight. While the results of adding
organic fertilizer to the Nile flower plant showed that treatment C2 was superior in the trait
(plant height, 1000-grain weight), and treatment C1 was superior in the biological yield. As for
the interaction between the two factors, there were no significant differences.

An experiment was carried out in one of the greenhouses at the College of Agricultural Engineering
Sciences –University of Baghdad /Al-Jadriyah during the Winter season of 2024. The experiment
aimed to evaluate the performance of a thermal weeder for weed control in greenhouses. The
experiment was designed using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) to study the effects of
three factors: nozzle type at three levels (cone nozzle, flat nozzle, barbecue nozzle) exposure time at
two levels (40 and 60 seconds), and nozzle height at two levels (2 and 12 cm). The study focused on
several indicators, including the percentage of weed control, energy consumption rate, energy
consumption costs, and productivity. Statistical analysis results showed significant differences in the
three-way interaction between nozzle type, exposure time, and nozzle height. The first nozzle (N1) at
the second exposure time (60 seconds) and the first height (2 cm) achieved the highest percentage of
weed control at 82.50%. In contrast, the third nozzle (N3) at the first exposure time (40 seconds) and
the second height (12 cm) recorded the lowest energy consumption rate at 1925.2 kWh. Regarding
energy consumption costs, the lowest cost was recorded at the third nozzle, first exposure time and the
second height, amounting to115,512 IQD. The highest productivity was achieved at the "third nozzle",
second exposure time" (60 seconds) and" the second height: (12 cm), with a value of 0.000909 ha.h⁻¹ .