Kufa Journal for Agricultural Sciences

This experiment, which was carried out in the Sako poultry project in Erbil, Iraq, from January 9 to December 10, 2021, sought to ascertain the effects of using anise seed and oils as natural additives in broiler feed on the immune feed response and several blood parameters of broilers. We randomly allocated 180 broiler chicks into four groups. T1: control; T2: a standard diet with 2 g of anise powder per kg of food; T3: a standard diet with 1 ml of anise oil per kg of diet; T4: a regular diet with 1 g of anise powder and 0.5 ml of anise oil; and Results demonstrate that adding anise seed powder and oil as a natural additive to ration boosts broiler immunity and WBC count while having no effect on broiler RBC, PCV, or Hb.

Two field trials were conducted in Babylon governorate, Tufael town which is located in Al-Kifl district in a mixed sandy soil for the growing seasons 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 to assess impact of hornwort extract, phenylalanine amino acid and nano-potassium and it’s interactions on growth and antioxidants accumulation of carrots plant. The treatments were implemented within Randomized Complete Block Design (R.C.B.D) with three factors and three replications. The trial comprised three factors, the first is spraying hornwort extract with three concentrations 0, 4 and 8 ml. L-1, the second factor included the spraying amino acid Phenylalanine with three concentrations 0, 75 and 150 mg.L-1 and the third factor included the spraying nano-potassium fertilizer with three concentrations 0, 1 and 2 g.L-1 . The averages were compared according to the least significant difference (L.S.D) test at a probability level of 0.05. The results showed that the triple-interaction (A3B3C3) between hornwort extract (8ml.L-1), phenylalanine (150mg.L-1) and nano-potassium (2g.L-1) was superior to all treatments in achieving the highest values in leaf area (112.30, 116.10 cm2) , leaves fresh weight (61.25, 66.56 g), total chlorophyll content of leaves (290.09, 305.20 mg.100 f.w ), beta-carotene (10.05, 10.19 mg.100 f.w) and ascorbic acid (7.80, 8.20 mg.100 ml f.w) for two seasons respectively. The favorable formulation that carrot strongly respond with is A3B3C3 treatment.

The study included a field survey to determine the prevalence of fusarium wilt disease on okra in different regions of Najaf, Diwaniyah, and Babylon. It was found that the infection rate in the areas under study was between 18 and 73%. Results of isolation and phenotypic characteristics of wilt-infected okra plants recorded six fungal isolates belonging to Fusarium spp. Also, three isolates of Trichoderma spp. were isolated from the soil surrounding the roots of intact okra plants. The efficiency of biological fungus isolates was studied in addition to a fourth isolate which previously identified as Trichoderma longibrachiatum against the pathogenic fungus. The isolated fungi varied in some phenotypic characteristics regarding color variation and growth rate. The results of testing the pathogenicity of the pathogenic Fusarium spp. isolates on okra in a pot experiment showed that isolate F2 (Isolate Abbasia) was the most pathogenic, used in subsequent studies. The results of the molecular diagnosis using Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that the F2 isolate belongs to the fungus Fusarium solani, which was registered in the Gen Bank under the number OQ729824 Isolate T3 of the biological fungus Trichoderma spp., belonging to the fungus Trichoderma harzianum, was registered with the accession number OQ729823. The isolate T3 T. harzianum showed high antibody efficiency against F. solani on P.D.A culture media with an inhibition rate of 82.8% in the test of fungal isolates' filters. Biologically, isolate T3 gave the highest inhibition in the radial growth rate of F. solani compared to other isolates T1, T2, and T4 Trichoderma spp. In the plastic pot experiment, the isolate of the biologically resistant fungus T. harzianum T3 led to the highest growth indicators of okra plants compared to other biological isolates and worked to protect okra plants from fusarium wilt disease, as no symptoms of the disease appeared on okra plants in the treatment of this isolate compared to that. By treating the pathogenic fungus F. solani, the infection intensity reached 60%.

Yellow rust, also known as stripe rust, is a significant disease that affects wheat in Iraq. The current study was conducted to study host-parasite interaction of some durum wheat cultivars with the new yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici) (Pst) races at adult plant stage in the field during the growing seasons, 2021 to 2023 under rain fed conditions in Sulaimani. Furthermore, Agricultural characteristics of the tested durum cultivar were also determined in the presence of the disease. The findings revealed that most durum wheat cultivars were moderately susceptible to susceptible to yellow rust disease under Sulaimani environmental conditions. The mean coefficient of yellow rust infection ranged from 1.73 in Ofanto to 23 in Cham-5. However, some cultivars, such as Cham-1, Fadda-98, and Ofanto, displayed moderate resistance response to the disease, while others, like Bhuth-5 and Acsad-65, showed moderate susceptibility. Yellow rust parameters (Diseases severity, infection type and coefficient of infection) were higher in 2023 season compared to 2022 in most of the tested cultivars. Additionally, the moderate resistant cultivar cv. Fadda-98 displayed distinct in some plant traits compared to other durum wheat cultivars, such as plant height (101.12cm), awn length (14.21cm), number of grains per spike (60.22), grain weight per spike (2.92g), biological yield (2292.4 g/m2), and grain yield (783.13). The study finding enhances wide cultivation of cv. Fadda-98 in the hot spot of yellow rust lands in Iraq.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of two inclusion levels of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil (LEO) supplementation in broiler diet where broilers were reared under stocking density on productive performance and physiological traits. In this study 378 one-day old Ross-308 broiler chicks were used during 35-day of the study. The birds were randomly assigned into 4 experimental treatments with 3 replicates for each treatment including T0 (Negative control) 72 birds, 24 birds in each replicate, 12 birds in each m2 standard stocking density were given basal diet without additive. From T1 until T3 the birds were reared under stocking density 102 birds, 34 birds each replicate, 17 birds each m2 and the supplementation were T1 (Positive control) basal diet no supplemented, T2 basal diet supplemented with % 0.3 of LEO and T3 basal diet supplemented with % 0.5 of LEO. For analyzing the data Completely Randomized Design (CRD) were used. The results in 35th day showed that experimental treatments had a significant effect on productive performance; live body weight (LBW) T2 2450, T3 2515 g significantly (P≤0.01) compared to T1 2230 g. In addition, improved feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in treatments chickens received LEO and under stocking density. Concerning physiological traits, significantly increased red blood cells (RBCs) 106 cells/mm3, packed cell volume (PCV% ) lymphocyte% decreased heterophil% and H/L ratio. Serum cholesterol and glucose (mg/dL) were significantly decreased. However, increased the production of antibodies against Newcastle disease (ND) and Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). In conclusion, the addition of 0.3 and 0.5% of LEO to broiler chicken diets have the potential effect to improve productive performance, physiological traits, and raising immunity against diseases.

Soft rot disease caused by different species of bacteria Enterobacter cloacae, Pectobacterium carotovorum, Dickeya is one of the most important diseases that destroy most fruits and vegetables globally. Due to the widespread use of chemical pesticides before harvesting, which led to environmental pollution which affects human health, amino acids and seaweed extract were used as natural materials and some chemicals were used to enhance plant defences against the pathogen.The results of the cell membrane revealed that the concentration of 0.5 for each of the amino acids, seaweed extract and copper 0.25 led to inhibition and biofilm formation, reaching <0.12 (0.11), <0.12 (0.10), respectively. In the field, the effect of applying the interactions A.a + Sef + cop + E.c significantly impacted the level of POD enzyme activity in plants treated in the preventive and therapeutic experiment, as it reached 33.7, 29.5 g / fresh weight. The overlap between them amounted to 31.6 g / fresh weight, compared to the control treatments, which amounted to (20.2, 18.3, 19.3), respectively.The combination A.a + Sef + cop + E.c significantly increased the activity of the PAL enzyme, as the enzyme levels reached 40.40 and 39.32 mg/fresh weight for the preventive and therapeutic methods, respectively, compared with the control treatment, which amounted to 21.25 and 20.95 mg/fresh weight. The effect of overlapping the treatment (A.a + Sef + cop) and the preventive and therapeutic experiments was 37.71 mg / fresh weight, with a significant difference from the control treatment, which amounted to 21.10 mg / fresh weight.The treatment of amino acids + E.c influenced increasing the total phenols in the plant, reaching 181.6 in the preventive experiment compared to the control treatment, which amounted to 153.4. Amina and spraying with seaweed extract led to eliminating bacterial soft rot caused by bacteria E.c and prolonging the storage process.

The research was done in the winter period 2022-2023 on a private farm to study the effect of planting dates on 15th November, 1st December, and 15th December, and exogenous application of melatonin at (25 mg.L-1), ascorbic acid (200 gm.L-1), and their mixture on cumin plant. The experimental measures consisted of some indicators of the growth, yield, and antioxidant potential of cumin seeds, and used a factorial experiment was set up in a completely randomized blocks design with three replicates for the dissemination of experimental units, and the treatment means were separated depending on least significant difference test at probability level 0.05.

The mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis is one of the extreme agricultural pests. In this study a series of field and laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of zinc oxide nanoparticles and chemical pesticides Mospilan, Sivanto and Ovitex oil and their combinations against adults of Phenacoccus solenopsis, cotton mealybug. Laboratory study results showed that the corrected percentage of adult mortality of P. solenopsis when using zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) at concentrations of 25, 50 and 75 ppm was 34, 40 and 48%. The results also confirmed that loading ZnO-NPs at 25, 50 and 75 ppm with Mospilan at the recommended concentration (0.5g/L) caused 50, 62 and 75% mortality, respectively. The use of ZnO-NPs at 25, 50, and 75ppm with Sivanto at the recommended concentration (1ml/L) affected the adults by 54, 67.5, and 73.3%, respectively, after 72 hours of treatment. The results of field evaluation of control treatments ZnO-NPs, Mospilan, Sivanto, ZnO -Mospilan, ZnO - Sivanto, Ovitex, Ovitex + Sivanto, Ovitex + Mospilan, in the spring season 2023 showed that decrease on the numerical density of adults the mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis in the field of okra. Tthe average number density of adults reached 1.733, 1.686, 1.752, 1.200, 1.543, 1.633, 1.576, 1.471 adult / leaf, respectively. These results suggest that applying ZnO-NPs, ZnO - ZnO -Mospilan and ZnO – Sivanto can be used as an eco-friendly controlling strategy for P. solenopsis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of feeding different levels of Conocarpus lancifolius silage on body dimensions and blood biochemical parameters of calves. In this study, 12 Holstein calves, 6-8 months old, with an average weight of 109.33 kg were used. Calves were randomly divided into three treatments. The first treatment is control, in which calves were fed a diet consisted of 50% concentrate and 50% alfalfa hay. Calves in the second treatment were fed a diet consisted of 50% concentrate 25% alfalfa hay and 25% Conocarpus plant silage (CS). Calves in the third treatment were fed a diet consisted of 50% concentrate and 50% CS. The results showed that there were no significant differences in the body dimensions of calves including shoulder height, thigh height, chest circumference, and body length among treatments. There was a significant decrease (P≤0.05) in the concentration of serum cholesterol and urea nitrogen in the third treatment as compared with the other treatments. The results also showed a significant (P≤0.05) superiority in the concentration of serum glucose and triglycerides in the third treatment as compared with the other treatments. Conocarpus silage did not affect the concentrations of serum protein, albumin, globulin and liver enzymes.

The research seek to improve the performance of the agricultural innovation system in responding effectively to the challenges of corn farmers in Babylon Governorate by determine the improving the performance of the agricultural innovation system in responding effectively to the challenges of corn farmers in Babylon governorate in general , The correlation between the variable in research , arranging fields to improve the performance of the agricultural innovation system and arranging the items of each of its fields. To achieve the research objectives, a questionnaire was developed based on relevant literature, previous studies, and expert opinions. The questionnaire consisted of 48 items divided into 4 fields: the conceptual framework of the agricultural innovation system, the agricultural innovation system plan, the organization of the agricultural innovation system, and agricultural laws. The research population included all workers in the agricultural innovation system, totaling 104 respondents, including 92 managers and 12 researchers. Data was collected through the questionnaire and personal interviews conducted between November 14, 2022, and January 29, 2023. The research findings indicated that the proposed items related to the conceptual framework of the agricultural innovation system ranked first with a weighted mean of 4.74, representing 94.88% of the total weightage. On the other hand, the proposed items concerning agricultural laws ranked last with a weighted mean of 4.05, representing 80.94% of the total weightage. Additionally, there was a convergence in the weighted means across the fields related to the proposed solutions for enhancing the performance of the agricultural innovation system.

Different fungal pathogens that cause rot root disease have a significant impact on cucumbers, which has a tremendous economic limitation on the yield of this important vegetable crop. The current study aims to examine the effect of cold aqueous extract of three plants (Acacia farnesiana, Myrtus communis and Nerium oleander) on the radial growth and the biomass of some pathogenic fungi (Rhizoctonia solani and Macrophomina phaseolina) with the presence of Trichoderma harzianum as a bio-control agent. Fungal pathogens were isolated from root parts of infected cucumber plants that were collected from different regions of Najaf province, while the bio-control fungus was obtained from the Bio-control Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture - University of Kufa. Results of the current study showed that 20% of the cold aqueous extract of M. communis powder was superior to the rest of the studied extracts in inhibiting the radial growth of studied fungi, as the radial growth of R. solani reached 3.49cm, M. phaseolina 3.02cm, and T. harzianum 3.67cm. Thely apparent effect of the same extra extract on the growth of the fresh and dry biomass of the aforementioned fungi. The outcomes demonstrated that the 20% concentration of cold aqueous extract of M. communis also increased the percentage of seed germination and the fresh weight of cucumber plants. The cold aqueous extract of M. communis leaves and T. harzianum as a biological can be used , to inhibit the growth of both pathogens of rot root disease, thus protecting cucumber seedlings and producing healthy plants.

The research community included all of the farmers in Raqqa village, a total of (80) farmers, after excluding the initial test sample of (20) farmers. A random sample of 75% of the research community was drawn, and thus the number of individuals sampled in the research became (60) farmers. Data was gathered through a personal interview utilizing a two-part questionnaire form designed for this purpose. The first segment contained various independent elements connected to farmers, including (Age, educational level, crop area, number of years of crop cultivation, type of land ownership, Willingness for change and desire for innovation) While the second half covered seven categories to assess potato producers' understanding of scientific advice linked to crop cultivation, namely(Selecting the cultivar, preparing the land and suitable soil, planting date and method, irrigation, fertilizing, ripening and harvesting, marketing and storage). Whereas the study's findings revealed that awareness of scientific advice in agricultural production fields is average and tends to drop People with low and medium expertise made up (75%) of the responses. The study also discovered a link between knowledge level and both (Age, educational level, crop area, number of years of crop cultivation, Type of agricultural land ownership , Willingness for change and desire for innovation