Thi-Qar University Journal for Agricultural Researches

Agricultural mechanization is crucial to accelerating farming operations and increasing the area under cultivation of
various crops since technology reduces costs, shortens working hours, and provides control over numerous factors
that affect production. Granular mineral fertilizers are frequently distributed using centrifugal disc spreaders because
of their excellent distribution efficiency, ease of construction, and ease of usage. Having precise fertilizer placement
results in lower costs and more productive output. Despite differences in soil properties and spatial diversity within
the field or among plants, Variable Rate Technology (VRT) is used to guarantee that every plant receives an equal
amount of nutrients.. Fertilizer application performance is considered to depend approximately one-third on the
fertilizer, one-third on the spreader, and one-third on the operator’s characteristics. As a research objective, the
centrifugal fertilizer spreader was adapted to operate using electric power supplied by the tractor instead of the PTO,
in order to reduce the load on the tractor engine. The spreader’s operation is managed by an electronic circuit that
allows adjustment of the application rate and the rotational speed of the spreading disc, thus controlling the spreading
width behind the tractor. A factorial experiment of the RCBD type was conducted to evaluate the fertilizer granule
breakage rate under the influence of two factors: disc angular speed and blade angle. In the conventional method, the
average breakage rate was 9.6%, while the highest value recorded under the VRT system was 6.9%. A noticeably
higher breakage rate was observed at the -25° angle with increasing speed. More stable breakage rates were recorded
at 0° and 25° angles when using disc rotational speeds of 500 or 550 rpm. The effect of these factors, in addition to
the tractor's forward speed, had a minimal impact on the electric power consumption per hectare.

Wild birds can indeed play a role in carrying various pathogens such as viruses, parasites and bacteria
into environment along their migration routes. They can shed these pathogens into the water bodies via
their saliva, feces, or other biological fluids. This might be resulting to disease outbreaks and effecting
aquatic ecosystem. The role of wild birds in introducing of fish diseases highlights the
interconnectedness of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Understanding these interactions is critical for
effective controlling and conservation efforts aimed at maintaining the health and integrity of both bird
and fish populations. This review highlights the role of water birds for transmission the bacterial and
parasitic agents to fish. Also, this paper focused on integrating rules and measures regarding wildlife
managing and disease control in aquaculture sites.

A laboratory experiment was performed in the Aquaculture Unit at the College of Agriculture, University of Basra, to
assess the impact of various nutrient solutions and seed rates on the productivity of hydroponically cultivated barley
fodder, aiming to generate cost-effective and sustainable aquatic fodder year-round. The experiment encompassed two
variables: the first variable comprised three categories of nutrient solutions alongside a control treatment, which included
(N0) a control treatment devoid of fertilization, (N1) humic acid (12%), (N2) humic acid (20%) supplemented with
nitrogen (15%), phosphorus (8%), and potassium (14%), and (N3) fulvic acid (70%). The second component consisted of
three seed rates: 2 kg m-2 (S1), 2.5 kg m-2 (S2), and 3 kg m-2 (S3), each with three repetitions. The experiment used a
fully randomized block design (CRBD). The averages were analyzed using the LSD test at a significance level of P ≤ 0.01
to evaluate the differences among the treatments regarding plant height, total fresh weight, total dry weight, protein
percentage, and total ash content. The findings indicated that fulvic acid fertilizer (N3) excelled in all examined
characteristics. While the seed rate of 3 kg m-2 (S3) excelled in all measured parameters (plant height, total fresh weight,
and total dry weight), it did not significantly influence the protein % or total ash content. The interaction between fertilizer
type and seeding rate was insignificant for all features, except for total ash content, in which the N2S2 treatment surpassed
the other treatments.

Abstract: The experiment was conducted in Diyala Governorate, Al-Shamsiya area, in one of the fields belonging to
the Baladrooz Agricultural Division (Plot 8, Sa’da and Namla) during the 2024–2025 agricultural season for
cultivating yellow maize. A modified moldboard plow was used, and the experiment included three factors: tillage
depth at two levels (10 cm and 15 cm), PTO rotational speed at two levels (540 rpm and 1000 rpm), and forward speed
at three levels (2.625 km/h, 3.779 km/h, and 5.031 km/h). The parameters studied were fuel consumption, Power
Requirements, and Draft Efficiency. The results showed that the lowest fuel consumption (4.32 L/ha) was recorded at
a depth of 10 cm, PTO speed of 540 rpm, and a forward speed of 2.625 km/h, while the highest value (14.02 L/ha)
was observed at 15 cm depth, 1000 rpm, and 5.031 km/h. Power requirements increased significantly with operating
conditions, from 12.47 kW at 10 cm, 540 rpm, and 2.625 km/h, to a maximum of 44.35 kW at 15 cm, 1000 rpm, and
5.031 km/h. Draft efficiency values ranged between 63.30% and 68.55%, with no significant differences among
treatments, indicating stability of this parameter under different tillage conditions.

This study aimed to detect and compare the glycogen content in the skeletal muscles of Green-Winged Teal and
domestic ducks. The birds used in this study were purchased from private commercial markets in Kut City and
included 10 adult male Green-winged Teal and 10 adult male domestic ducks. Skeletal muscle samples were taken
from the chest and leg regions. Tissue sections were prepared from these samples and stained with acid-Schiff's
periodic reagent to determine the amount of glycogen in them. The results of the study showed variation in the
glycogen content of the two bird species. The different amounts of glycogen in skeletal muscle are related to different
species and muscle fiber types.

The study was conducted during the 2024 growing season at the Garmat Ali district, Agricultural Research Station,
College of Agriculture, University of Basrah, Iraq. Five 9-year-old female date palm trees cv. 'Barhi' was selected.
These trees were pollinated with red Ghanami pollen on March 17, 2024, by hand pollination. The palm bunches were
sprayed with two concentrations of pollen extract, 30 and 60 gL-1, and four concentrations of gibberellic acid, 25, 50,
75, and 100 mgL-1, in addition to the control treatment with two sprays, the first one month after fruit set and the
second one month after the first spray. The effect of these treatments on some anatomical characteristics of the fruits
during the Khalal stage was studied. The 75 mgL-1 gibberellic acid treatment recorded the largest thickness of the
cuticle and epidermis layers compared to the other applications, reaching 12.92 and 17.27 µm, respectively. The 60
gL-1 pollen extract treatment recorded the largest diameter of parenchyma cells and the highest thickness of the outer
mesocarp layer, reaching 49.55 and 692.45 µm, respectively. The 30 gL-1 pollen extract treatment recorded the largest
diameter of tannin cells in the fruit pulp, reaching 64.12 µm. The control treatment recorded the highest diameter of
stone cells in the fruit pulp, reaching 28.31 µm.

This study aimed to explore the personal, social, and communication characteristics of vegetable farmers and assess
their knowledge regarding the harms of excessive use of agricultural pesticides. Additionally, it sought to rank the
importance of different research items and examine variations in knowledge levels based on independent variables.
The research was conducted in Dhuluiyah district, targeting all registered cucumber and tomato farmers in the
Dhuluiyah and Hardaniyeh Agriculture Divisions, totaling 364 farmers. A proportional random sample of 25% (91
farmers) was selected, with 90 valid questionnaires analyzed after excluding one for inconsistent responses. A pre-
test involving 20 farmers was conducted to validate the instrument.Results revealed that respondents' characteristics
mostly hovered around average levels. Key sources of information included agricultural office owners, friends and
neighbors, and radio and television programs. Overall, farmers' knowledge of pesticide harms was low to moderate,
with awareness related to vegetable crop damage ranking third in importance. Statistical analysis showed significant
differences in knowledge across personal, social, and communication variables. The study highlights the need to
enhance farmers’ awareness of pesticide risks through targeted agricultural extension activities. Recommendations
include providing extension bulletins and organizing field visits to improve farmers’ understanding and promote safer
pesticide practices.

mproving maize production is an important step in reducing agricultural costs. This study aimed to use artificial
neural networks to simulate grain yield, protein ratio, and 1000-grain weight of maize. A field experiment was
conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, College of Agriculture, University of Basrah, Garmat Ali area, to
demonstrate the effect of irrigation water salinity and nitrogen and potassium fertilization on crop traits, including
grain yield, 1000-seed weight, and protein ratio, of maize using Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). Three levels of
irrigation water salinity (1, 4, and 8) dS-1 were used, four levels of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 60, 120, and 240) kg N ha-1
in the form of urea (46% N), three levels of potassium fertilizer (0, 80, and 160) kg K ha-1 in the form of potassium
sulfate (52% K2O) were used, and one level of phosphate fertilizer (60) kg P ha-1 in the form of high-phosphorus NPK
was also added. ANN yielded highly reliable results for predicting grain yield, protein ratio, and 1000-grain weight
under the influence of irrigation water salinity and nitrogen and potassium fertilization. The neural network using the
Levenberg-Marquardt training algorithm demonstrated the best prediction ability for grain yield (R2= 0.99992, MSE=
0.00014571), protein ratio (R2= 0.9992, MSE= 0.00055522), and 1000-grain weight (R2= 0.99994, MSE =
0.00010432).

Through the images and clips that showed us the shape of the buds, which shows the structural and cellular differences
observed in adaptations to nutritional and environmental needs, Cyprinus Carpio exhibit more specialized gustatory
structures and functions than Ctenopharyngodon Idella. These differences underscore the evolutionary diversity of
sensory systems among freshwater fish. Morphological and histological studies have revealed that taste buds are
denser and more clustered in C. Carpio compared to C. Idella.
The nerve integration is such that the cranial gustatory nerves have shared connections, while the nerves are isolated
in C. Idella. The connective tissue is also thicker, providing greater support for the taste buds, as well as a high vascular
supply compared to the thinner, less vascularized connective tissue of C. Idella .
In addition to the complexity of the basal layer and its high organization in C. Carpio compared to its lower
organization in C. Idella, a detailed examination of these structures sheds light on their roles in enhancing taste
perception in both C. Idella and C. Carpio.
The organization and specialization of these components reflect evolutionary adaptations that allow fish to thrive in
their aquatic environment by efficiently detecting and responding to various chemical signals. Understanding these
structures not only provides insights into fish biology but also underscores their ecological importance in aquatic
ecosystems

A field experiment was carried out in the fields of the Agricultural Research Station affiliated with the College of
Agriculture - University of Basra, Iraq, in a clayey mixture soil during the winter agricultural season 2024-2025, with
the aim of knowing the effect of four levels of N, P and K are F1 (0) F2 (90:50:30 kg NPK ha-1) F3 (120:75:60 kg NPK
ha-1) F4 (150:100:90 kg NPK ha-1) and four concentrations of humic acid are H1(0) H2 (6 g L-1) H3 (12 g L-1) H4 (18 g
L-1). The experiment was carried out according to the factorial method using the randomized complete block design
(RCBD) with three replicates.
The results showed that the fertilizer level (120:75:60 kg NPK h-1) was superior significantly affected grain yield and
biological yield (5.204 and 22.99 ton.ha-1) In sequence As a result of its superiority in the number of panicles, the
number of grains per panicle, and the weight of 1000 grains, it also has a superior protein yield (0.680 ton.ha-1) As a
result of the superiority of the protein percentage and grain yield, while the fertilizer level (150:100:90 kg NPK h-1)
was superior in the harvest index trait.
The concentration (18 g L-1) recorded the highest number of panicles, number of grains per panicle, 1000-grain weight,
grain yield, biological yield and harvest index. The concentration (12 g L-1) achieved the highest protein percentage
and protein yield.
I achieved Treatment of overlap between the fertilizer level (120: 75: 60 kg NPK h-1) With spraying with humic acid
at a concentration of 18 g L-1 The highest grain yield on average was 5,790 ton.ha-1 While he achieved fertilizer level
(120: 75: 60 kg NPK h-1) Spraying with humic acid at a concentration of 12 g L-1 Highest number of panicles, number
of grains per panicle and percentage Protein percentage and protein yield.

This study aimed to evaluate the microbial and chemical safety of chilled foods circulating in Iraqi markets by isolating
and identifying pathogenic microorganisms, determining their levels of antibiotic resistance, detecting virulence
genes, and estimating their heavy metal content. Twelve diverse chilled food samples (meat, dairy, salads) were
collected and analyzed with five replicates for each sample, using a set of culture media and biochemical tests such as
IMViC, catalase test, and sugar fermentation. Susceptibility tests were also performed against nine antibiotics using
the Kirby-Bauer method.
The results showed significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in microbial contamination levels among the samples, where
ready-made vegetable salad recorded the highest contamination rate of psychrophilic organisms and staphylococci,
followed by chicken sausages in terms of enterobacteria. Multiple bacterial and fungal strains were isolated and
identified, most notably
Achromobacter xylosoxidans, Pseudomonas stutzeri, Aeromonas spp. ,
Staphylococcus spp. , in addition to yeasts and molds. Susceptibility tests revealed multidrug resistance in some
isolates, particularly
Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas spp..
These findings highlight the presence of complex threats in chilled foods, including antibiotic-resistant microbes,
which pose a direct risk to public health and necessitate strengthening food control programs and applying strict
biosafety practices in the chilled food production and distribution chain.

In light of the environmental challenges and stresses facing the agricultural sector, it has become imperative to seek effective
solutions to enhance the productivity of field crop varieties. This includes selecting varieties that possess genetic stability
and a high tolerance to salt and water stress. Environmental challenges such as drought, salinity, high temperatures, and the
accumulation of heavy metals in the soil place significant pressure on agricultural productivity, especially in light of
accelerating climate change.
Field crop varieties are the cornerstone of achieving food security and agricultural sustainability in the face of growing global
challenges such as climate change and population growth. These varieties play a pivotal role in meeting human needs for
food, feed, and industrial raw materials, while also enhancing the ability to adapt to challenging environmental conditions.
The mechanism of plant tolerance to stress (stress) is a complex molecular genetic mechanism, with interconnected actions,
which varies according to the type and intensity of stress and is linked to the type of plant and its growth stage, in addition
to the type of soil and other factors. These mechanisms also include the physiological, chemical and anatomical effects,
reaching the phenotypic effect, in addition to the molecular effect, which overlap with each other in general to be reflected
in the performance and production of the plant, so its growth rate, number, number of flowers, fertilization rate, leaf area and
other characteristics of vegetative and fruit growth are affected until the yield deteriorates or may disappear under severe
stress for a long period.

Rice is a staple food crop that provides a primary source of energy and essential nutrients worldwide. This study aimed
to assess the physicochemical characteristics and seven elemental compositions of fourteen locally cultivated rice
varieties. Fourteen rice samples were collected from various locations throughout Iraqi Kurdistan. Physiochemical
properties, such as grain size and shape, thousand-grain weight (TGW), percentage of chalky rice grain, bulk density,
moisture content, ash content, gel consistency, and amylose content were quantified according to established
protocols. The elemental composition (Al, Ba, Ca, K, Mg, Na, Se) was analysed using inductively coupled plasma
mass spectrometry (ICP-OES). The findings demonstrated significant variability among rice samples, with grain sizes
varying from medium to short and shapes primarily categorised as bold or medium. Thousand grain weight (TGW)
showed significant variation, with Shex Tawil and Kani Krmanj reaching the highest values. The gel consistency (41–
54%) and amylose content (16.2–19.1%) revealed variations in cooking quality, with Akre Tahalwf demonstrating the
softest texture and Shex Tawil the firmest. Calcium concentrations fluctuated between 333.5 and 535.6 mg/kg,
magnesium ranged from 319.2 to 660.8 mg/kg, and potassium varied from 500.8 to 1148.4 mg/kg, indicating
significant variations among locations. Sodium levels were comparatively low across samples, with Batas (115.8
mg/kg) exhibiting the highest concentration, while selenium levels were generally minimal, with Bazian presenting
the highest value (0.319 mg/kg). Barium concentrations, while lower, demonstrated considerable variation among
samples. Comparisons with contemporary literature reveal that the elemental concentrations of Kurdish rice align
generally with global findings, although certain landraces displayed increased levels of potassium and calcium,
indicating enhanced nutritional potential. In conclusion, the studied Kurdish rice grown in Iraqi Kurdistan revealed
significant diversity in grain morphology and elemental composition, highlighting their value as a local genetic
resource for nutrition, breeding, and enhancement of food security.

Six bacterial isolates, labeled B1 to B6, were isolated from healthy wheat plants grown in the wheat field at the
Agricultural Research Station, College of Agriculture, Tikrit University. These isolates were differentiated based on
colony texture, color, margins, and size. Results shown in Figure 1 indicated that isolate B2 exhibited the highest
inhibitory effect on the growth of the pathogenic fungus, reaching an inhibition zone of 41.5 mm, while the inhibition
zones of the other isolates ranged from 3.3 to 13.7 mm, except for isolates B3 and B4, which showed no inhibition of
fungal growth. Molecular identification of the most potent inhibitory isolate, B2, designated as Bacillus velezensis
strain Jwan-2, was recorded in the global genetic database NCBI under accession number PP320456.1. This isolate
showed 99.47% sequence similarity with eight Bacillus velezensis isolates previously reported from China, Indonesia,
India, and Portugal. The application of the mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus intraradices in combination with Bacillus
velezensis and Azolla pinnata under Fusarium culmorum infection induced a higher systemic resistance in the plant
compared to the individual bioagents, with peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase enzyme activities reaching 3.723 and
3.351 units/mL, respectively. Disease severity significantly decreased in all tested treatments, and the combined
treatment of bacteria and Azolla recorded the lowest disease severity of 11.01%, compared to the highest severity of
88.14% observed in plants infected with the pathogen alone without mycorrhizal inoculation. The integrated treatment
of bacteria and Azolla under pathogen infection and mycorrhizal inoculation also achieved the highest vegetative
growth parameters, with dry weights of shoots and roots and chlorophyll content measuring 8.21 g, 4.57 g, and 45.44
SPAD units, respectively. These values were significantly higher than those recorded in plants treated only with the
pathogenic fungus without mycorrhiza, which were 4.31 g, 2.07 g, and 22.4 SPAD units, respectively. Furthermore,
this integrated treatment resulted in the highest wheat yield of 22.32 g per plant, compared to 5.16 g per plant in the
pathogen-only treatment.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the allelopathic effects of wheat residues and their aqueous extracts on
the germination, seedling emergence, and dry weight of Hordeum bulbosum (wild barley) and Malva parviflora
(mallow). The results revealed that the aqueous extracts of wheat residues exhibited significant inhibitory effects,
particularly those of the Jihan cultivar. At a concentration of 20% of the shoot residues, Jihan extracts completely
inhibited (100%) the growth of M. parviflora. Residues also suppressed seedling emergence by up to 42.8% in M.
parviflora, which proved to be more sensitive than H. bulbosum (14.8% inhibition). In terms of biomass reduction,
the dry weight of H. bulbosum decreased by 45.7% with residues of the Abaa-99 cultivar, while M. parviflora recorded
the highest reduction (81.6%) under Jihan residues. Both species also exhibited varying degrees of inhibition in
plumule and radicle elongation depending on the cultivar, with Jihan shoot residues exerting the strongest suppressive
effects across most treatments.

The present study was conducted at the Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Tikrit University,
with the objective of managing white mold disease caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (K-5) on pepper (Capsicum
annuum L.) and assessing the synergistic effects of CO₂ gas with Streptomyces albidoflavus and compost in enhancing
plant resistance. Results demonstrated that the combined treatment of Luna fungicide, S. albidoflavus, and organic
compost exhibited the highest efficiency across all evaluated parameters. Disease severity significantly decreased
from 64.85% in the pathogen-inoculated plants to 14.05% under the triple treatment, and further declined to 8.13% in
the presence of CO₂. Peroxidase activity increased from 2.105 to 3.63 units/mL, while chlorophyll content reached
45.82 SPAD, compared to 29.85 SPAD in infected plants. Moreover, vegetative dry weight increased from 71.38 g to
176.68 g, root dry weight from 9.83 g to 49.77 g, and fruit yield from 612.15 g to 1280.66 g. Vitamin C concentration
also increased markedly from 50.54% to 85.67%. The presence of CO₂ further enhanced plant performance, with
improvements ranging between 8–12% across different traits. In vitro experiments evaluated various concentrations
of organic compost extract (5, 10, and 15%) and S. albidoflavus filtrate in combination with the half-dose of Luna
fungicide (0.07) against S. sclerotiorum. Treatments combining the fungicide with either compost extract or bacterial
filtrate achieved complete inhibition of fungal growth (colony diameter = 0 cm) compared to the control (5.74 cm).
These findings highlight the potential of integrating CO₂ enrichment with beneficial microorganisms and organic
amendments as an eco-friendly strategy to enhance disease resistance and reduce the reliance on chemical fungicides
for sustainable pepper production.

In order to study the spatial distribution and develop maps for the assessment of available copper in agricultural soils
of Basrah Governorate in southern Iraq using geospatial technologies, two regions were selected—one in southern
Basrah and the other in the north—covering areas of 4,086.58 hectares and 34,561.50 hectares, respectively. A total
of 36 representative soil samples were collected from each region. Satellite imagery from the Landsat 8 sensor for
October 2023 was utilized. Laboratory analyses were conducted, and correlation relationships were evaluated between
available copper content and various soil properties. The results showed that in the southern Basrah region, the study
area was classified into two categories: 69% of the total area exhibited a deficiency in available copper, while 31%
had low available copper content. In contrast, the northern Basrah region was classified into four categories: 17.5%
of the area had very low available copper content, 32% had low content, 36.5% had medium content, and 14% had
high content of available copper. Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between available copper and
both soil pH (r = 0.351) and organic matter content (r = 0.384) in the soils of northern Basrah. A significant correlation
was also observed with electrical conductivity (r = 0.368) in the soils of southern Basrah. These findings indicate that
most soils in the study areas require copper supplementation through fertilization in order to achieve optimal
productivity and ensure food security.

Al-Badaa River was chosen for the study as the main source of drinking water in the city of Al-Shatrah and the
surrounding areas. Al-Badaa River water was studied when it entered Shatrah district. Three replicates were taken
from the river water from the southern side of Al-Badaa Dam on 12/14/2022. Some physical and chemical properties
(pH, Total Dissolved Salts (TDS), Calcium (Ca), Carbonate (CO=
3), Bicarbonate (HCO-
3), Turbidity (TUR), Electrical
Conductivity (EC), Chlorine (Cl)) were measured. The pH value was 8.622, EC was 1080 dsm-1, TDS was 705 ppm,
Cl was 17 meq/L, HCO-
3 was 3.5 meq/L, and Ca value was 6.3 meq/L. The turbidity value was 36.42 FTU. Comparing
the results with WHO specification shows that the levels of all studied properties did not exceed the permissible limits
according to those specifications. Also, it was found that Al-Badaa River water is suitable for human use. In order to
show the suitability of Al-Badaa River water for animal husbandry purposes, the obtained values were compared with
international standard specifications for public USA veterinary services, the studied water quality was found to be
very good for animal husbandry purposes and is excellent quality for irrigation.

Wheat is considered a strategic crop of great importance for food security, making the development of harvesting
technologies and the improvement of machine efficiency essential factors for reducing losses and increasing yield.
This research aims to study the effect of two main variables in the harvesting process—harvesting speed and cutting
angle—on the efficiency of the wheat harvester. The focus was placed on key performance indicators such as grain
loss rate, percentage of broken grains, energy consumption, and overall harvesting efficiency.
Field experiments were conducted at different harvesting speed levels (low, medium, and high), in addition
to adjusting cutting angles to suit the position of the spikes as they enter the cutting unit. The results showed that
although high harvesting speed increases the machine’s production capacity, it also leads to a significant rise in grain
loss due to ejection outside the harvesting unit, as well as an increase in breakage caused by the violent collision of
grains inside the machine. In contrast, low speeds reduce both loss and breakage but also lower the machine’s
production capacity, making them uneconomical under large-scale practical conditions. Medium speed, however,
proved to be the optimal choice, as it achieved a remarkable balance between productivity, operational efficiency, and
reduced losses.
Moreover, the study demonstrated that the cutting angle plays a fundamental role in determining the
efficiency of spike entry into the harvesting unit. Inappropriate angles cause difficulties in feeding the spikes into the
machine, leading to increased losses and negatively affecting process consistency. Conversely, adopting an optimal
cutting angle improved the flow of spikes and reduced breakage, which positively reflected on overall harvesting
efficiency.
The study concludes that improving harvesting efficiency requires adjusting both harvesting speed and
cutting angle within optimal limits that maximize grain yield while minimizing field and energy losses. It recommends
adopting a moderate harvesting speed combined with a suitable cutting angle as a technical option that can enhance
harvesting efficiency, reduce operating costs, and promote agricultural production sustainability.

This study was conducted at the poultry farm animal Production Department, College of agricultural Engineering
Sciences, University of Baghdad, during the period from 5/3/2022 to 27/5/2022 (12 weeks) . to study the Effect of
adding different levels of olive leaves on productive Performance and Bacterial a count in Laying hen. A total of 126
Lohmann Brown Classic Laying hens 52 weeks of age were used randomly distributed among seven treatments, each
treatment contained 18 hens, with three replicates and each replicate contained 6 hens per replicate. The females of
the first treatment (T1) were fed a standard diet for Laying free of addition, while the other treatments T2, T3, T4, T5
, T6 and T7 were added the different levels of olive leaves powder (20, 40, 60, 80,100 and 120 )g /kg diet respectively.
The result showed that adding different levels of olive leaves powder to layer hens significant increase (p≤0.05) total
average HD%, at period 2, 3 and total average egg weight, period 3 and total average on egg production, Feed a
consumption rate three periods and total average, some egg quality and Lactobacilli and decrease significant (p≤0.05)
in E. coli in duodenum and Jejunum.

The research dealt with a manual classification of land uses in Al-Rifai area using (220) satellite images taken from
Google Earth and captured at an altitude of 831 m. Each image was divided into squares with dimensions of 2 cm x 2
cm, which equals to 0.2 km2 as an actual area. Red color represents to residential (urban) lands, green color represents
agricultural lands, and brown color represents barren lands, while water areas were colored blue. Through the manual
classification of land uses in the areas located within the administrative boundaries of Al-Rifai city, with a total area
of 1610 km2, it became clear that the areas of residential areas were approximately (763) km2 with a percentage of
(47.39%), agricultural areas were approximately (555) km2 with a percentage of (34.47%), barren areas were
approximately (263) km2 with a percentage of (16.33%), and water areas were approximately (29) km2 which equals
about (1.80%). Using the drawn color map, it can be predicted that the agricultural areas (green), located in scattered
patches between residential areas (red), could shrink due to population growth and family division.

Agricultural mechanization is crucial to accelerating farming operations and increasing the area under cultivation of
various crops since technology reduces costs, shortens working hours, and provides control over numerous factors
that affect production. Granular mineral fertilizers are frequently distributed using centrifugal disc spreaders because
of their excellent distribution efficiency, ease of construction, and ease of usage. Having precise fertilizer placement
results in lower costs and more productive output. Despite differences in soil properties and spatial diversity within
the field or among plants, Variable Rate Technology (VRT) is used to guarantee that every plant receives an equal
amount of nutrients.. Fertilizer application performance is considered to depend approximately one-third on the
fertilizer, one-third on the spreader, and one-third on the operator’s characteristics. As a research objective, the
centrifugal fertilizer spreader was adapted to operate using electric power supplied by the tractor instead of the PTO,
in order to reduce the load on the tractor engine. The spreader’s operation is managed by an electronic circuit that
allows adjustment of the application rate and the rotational speed of the spreading disc, thus controlling the spreading
width behind the tractor. A factorial experiment of the RCBD type was conducted to evaluate the fertilizer granule
breakage rate under the influence of two factors: disc angular speed and blade angle. In the conventional method, the
average breakage rate was 9.6%, while the highest value recorded under the VRT system was 6.9%. A noticeably
higher breakage rate was observed at the -25° angle with increasing speed. More stable breakage rates were recorded
at 0° and 25° angles when using disc rotational speeds of 500 or 550 rpm. The effect of these factors, in addition to
the tractor's forward speed, had a minimal impact on the electric power consumption per hectare.

The beginning of the 21st century has witnessed a clear superiority in the manifestations of scientific and technological
progress in our contemporary life and in almost all fields. However, this was accompanied by global concern about the
excessive or misuse of our planet's precious natural resources and environmental damage. The march of progress has caused
significant pollution of the air, water, and land, and as a result, ecosystems face numerous risks. The severe and widespread
pollution of land and water resources with metalloids and heavy metals raises widespread environmental and societal
concerns. The poisoning of agricultural soils with heavy metals poses a serious threat to the global food supply, human
health, and plant life. Soil pollution occurs as a result of the significant increase in industrial, agricultural, and technological
production, as heavy metals are used in their processes, which increases air, soil, and water pollution. Moreover,
technological development has produced complex electronic waste containing toxic metals such as lead and cadmium,
which leak into the environment in harmful or excessive quantities when disposed of improperly. The health, quality and
production of plants are negatively affected when the levels of heavy metals in agricultural soil reach dangerous levels.
Major heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, nickel, copper, chromium, arsenic and zinc are present everywhere in
the environment and their increase causes changes in soil properties and harms plants, reducing their productivity.

Pumpkin seed oil was extracted using a saxophone device in the laboratories of the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
Unit, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Basrah, during the 2024 season. The quantity and quality of fatty acids
present in the extracted oil were determined using gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in the
Food Engineering Laboratory of the Department of Food Sciences, University of Basrah. The results revealed the
detection of 12 compounds, with saturated fatty acid stearic acid accounting for the highest percentage, at 54.3%,
followed by cyclopropane octanic acid (2-(2-ethylcyclopropyl)methyl) at 21.56%. These compounds are the main
compounds of pumpkin seed oil.

This study was conducted in two parts. eggs were injected, As for the second experiment In it, the hatched chicks from
the first experiment were raised . results of this experiment showed:
Significant differences were observed between treatments in the percentage of dead embryos, with treatment T3
recording the highest percentage for this trait, at 3%, compared to treatment T5.Chick vitality was observed to be two
seconds higher in treatments T2, T5, and T6, compared to broiler chick vitality in treatments T1, T3, and T4, which
was one second higher.At 35 days of age, significant differences (P<0.05) were observed between all treatments.
There was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in glucose concentration in treatments T2, T3, T4, T5, and T6 compared to
treatment T1. There was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in protein concentration in treatment T1. There was a
significant increase (P<0.05) in globulin concentration in treatments T4, T5, and T6 compared to treatment T1. On
the first day of the chicks' life, significant differences (P<0.05) occurred, as the cholesterol concentration increased
significantly in treatments T2 and T5 compared to treatment T4, and there was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the
triglyceride concentration in treatment T3, and the VLDL concentration increased significantly (P<0.05) in treatment
T5, and significant differences (P<0.05) occurred in treatment T5 compared to treatment T1 in the LDL concentration.

Two laboratory experiments were counducted in eight soils from different locations in Southern Iraq to study
the adsorption thermodynamics using the terms of the standard free energy change (∆Go), enthalpy change (∆Ho), and
entropy change (∆So) at temperatures (15, 25, 35, 45) oC, in addition to studying the kinetics of the selenium element
in soils with time through the kinetic equations (Elovich, Fraction power, Zero order, First order, Pseudo First order,
Second order, Pseudo Second order, Intraparticle diffusion). The results showed that the values of the standard
enthalpy change (∆Ho) were positive values ranging from (2.13-9.00) KJ mol-1, which indicates that the adsorption of
selenium is of the endothermic type, while the values of the standard entropy (∆So) ranged from (0.0258-0.047) KJ
mol-1 K- which indicates the randomness of the reaction in the system. While the values of the standard free energy
change (∆Go) for selenium adsorption on the studied soils colloids were negative values indicating that the reaction
was spontaneous and ranged from (-4.633--6.076) KJ mol-1 k-1. The kinetic model (Fractional Power) showed the best
description of selenium adsorption data with time for the soils of (soil 1,2,3,5 and 8) through the highest regression
R2 and the lowest MPSD value. while the kinetic model (Zero order) gave the best description of the selenium
adsorption reaction with time for the (soil 4, 6). As for the Maysan soil (soil 7), the pseudo-first order kinetic model
equation succeeded in describing the selenium adsorption data with time.

This study was conducted on three sites (isolation area, Al-Mubarak area, Al-Burhan area) in Al-Bu Hamza area
affiliated to Al-Rifai district/Dhi Qar Governorate - southern Iraq. These areas were on three dimensions from the oil
isolation site. Soil samples were collected on (2/11/2024) for to estimat the concentration of some heavy metals which
are Cadimium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Cupper (Cu), and Nicle (Ni) in soil samples of the study sites. The results
showed a high concentration of Cd in the isolation area closest to the oil isolation site, which reached (0.097) mg/kg
compared to Al-Burhan area, the farthest from the oil isolation site, which reached (0.082) mg/kg. The concentration
of Pb in the isolation area reached (9.47) mg/kg, which is the highest compared to the Al-Burhan area, which reached
(9.15) mg/kg. The concentration of Zn reached (72.48) mg/kg in the isolation area, compared to its concentration in
the Al-Burhan area, which reached (53.09) mg/kg. The concentration of Cu in the isolation area was (31.4) mg/kg,
which was the highest compared to its concentration in the Al-Burhan area, which reached (20.4) mg/kg. As for the
Ni, its concentration in the isolation area was (74.9) mg/kg, which was higher than its concentration in the Al-Burhan
area, which reached (43.8) mg/kg.

This study was conducted on three sites (isolation area, Al-Mubarak area, Al-Burhan area) in Al-Bu Hamza area
affiliated to Al-Rifai district/Dhi Qar Governorate - southern Iraq. These areas were on three dimensions from the oil
isolation site. Soil samples were collected on (2/11/2024) for to estimat the concentration of some heavy metals which
are Cadimium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Cupper (Cu), and Nicle (Ni) in soil samples of the study sites. The results
showed a high concentration of Cd in the isolation area closest to the oil isolation site, which reached (0.097) mg/kg
compared to Al-Burhan area, the farthest from the oil isolation site, which reached (0.082) mg/kg. The concentration
of Pb in the isolation area reached (9.47) mg/kg, which is the highest compared to the Al-Burhan area, which reached
(9.15) mg/kg. The concentration of Zn reached (72.48) mg/kg in the isolation area, compared to its concentration in
the Al-Burhan area, which reached (53.09) mg/kg. The concentration of Cu in the isolation area was (31.4) mg/kg,
which was the highest compared to its concentration in the Al-Burhan area, which reached (20.4) mg/kg. As for the
Ni, its concentration in the isolation area was (74.9) mg/kg, which was higher than its concentration in the Al-Burhan
area, which reached (43.8) mg/kg.

A field experiment was carried out during the winter season of 2023–2024 at the Agricultural Research Station of
the College of Agriculture, University of Basra. The aim was to meticulously detect the influence of sowing date (20
October, 5 November, and 20 November) on different seeding rates (140, 160, and 180 kg ha⁻¹) in growth
characteristics and yield. The experiment followed a randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement
and three replications. The sowing dates were assigned to the main plots and the seeding rates to the sub-plots. Results
revealed that sowing date and seeding rate significantly affected all major yield components and overall productivity.
Early sowing on 20 October (treatment D1) consistently outperformed later dates, producing the greatest spike length
(9.98 cm), spike number (618.28 spikes m⁻²), grains per spike (52.85), thousand-grain weight (40.21 g), grain yield
(4.94 t ha⁻¹), and biological yield (16.27 t ha⁻¹). Delaying planting to 20 November (treatment D3) reduced these traits
because of higher temperatures, shorter photoperiod, and a shortened grain-filling period. Seeding rate also had
marked effects. The medium rate of 160 kg ha⁻¹ (treatment S2) achieved the highest grain yield (4.54 t ha⁻¹) and
biological yield (15.97 t ha⁻¹) by maintaining an optimal balance between plant density and resource use, while the
lowest rate of 140 kg ha⁻¹ (treatment S1) improved spike length, grains per spike, and thousand-grain weight but
lowered total spike density. Significant interactions between sowing date and seeding rate (D by S) showed that
combining early sowing (D1) with the medium seeding rate (S2) produced the highest grain yield (4.92 t ha⁻¹) and
biological yield (16.57 t ha⁻¹). Overall, sowing on 20 October with a seeding rate of 160 kg ha⁻¹ provided the most
favorable conditions for balanced vegetative and reproductive growth, leading to maximum productivity of triticale
under the arid climate of Basra, Iraq.

The overprescription and uses the antibiotics which are produced to rise of drug-resistant bacteria, and this
causes a significant global public health threat, this led to discovery phytochemicals compounds such as natural
products of medicinal plants which have antimicrobial agent. This study was aimed to evaluate antibacterial activity
of alkaloids and phenols extracts of Borago officinalis against urinary tract infection UTI in waist province, Gram-
positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella
pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Phenol extracts were having significant highest antibacterial activity at
p≤0.05 against bacteria than alkaloids. The results showed the B. officinalis contains gallic, rutin, alkaloid, glycoside,
tannins, and saponins through the estimation of active compounds in plant, The results of High-performance liquid
chromatography (HPLC) showed occurrence Gallic acid, Apigenin, Ferulic acid, Qurcetine, Rutin, Sinapic acid
compounds, the higher concentration compound was gallic (93.6mg/gm), while, Ferulic acid (44.6 mg/gm) lower
concentration in plant. The results showed S. aureus was more sensitive for B. officinalis extracts, while P. aeruginosa
was more resistance for each extract

This study conducted to estimated the effect of probiotic, Glycyrrhizic Acid and antibiotic to reduce the effect of
Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infection in broilers chickens by measuring immune response against MG by
ELISA and roles of this treatment in reducing clinical signs and gross lesions for this purpose The experimental groups
(30 chicks in each group) of the study include: Group1 (G1): control negative group was not received any treatment.
Group2 (G2): Control positive chicks were infected by Mycoplasma gallisepticum strain (MG) at dose 0.2 ml from
106 CFU of MG, Group3 (G3): 30 chicks were received two types ND vaccine at first day with MG infection at 5th
day the same dose as before. Group4 (G4): chicks were received MG infection at the same dose as before with
probiotic at dose 2 ×1011 CFU / kg. Group 5 (G5): chicks were received MG infection at above dose with Glycyrrhizic
acid at of dose 1 ml contain (165mg) / litter of D.W- orally with drinking water. Group6 (G6): chicks were received
MG infection at above dose with tylosin at dose 1 gm/ 2 litter of D.W- orally with drinking water. The blood samples
were collected from wing vein at 5th, 10th, 16th, 26th, and 35th day for immunological tests from 5 chicks of each group
The MG antibody titers at 10th day in group 1 was recorded the lower MG antibody titer than other groups. While,
the group 2 showed the higher titer level than other groups. In the group 3, 4, and 5 were displayed a significantly
moderate MG titer level. this result indicated that this treatment enhancing resistance the MG infection through role
the probiotic in the decrease the lung injury by reducing MG colonization and pro-inflammatory cytokines and
improving the role of microbiota in the MG infection.

An electric sheller was manufactured locally to shelled corn in the engineering workshop of the College of Agriculture
of the University of Basrah. The sheller is equipped with a 745.7 W electrical motor. The sheller was tested after
drying the corn kernels to a moisture content of 15%. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of three rotational speeds
of 85, 120, and 150 rpm and two sheller machines. One sheller with metal fingers and the other with metal fingers
heavily coated with rubber. Compare them in terms of shelling efficiency, productivity, spreading grains, and damage
to the grains. percentage.The experiment was conducted with three replicates according to a completely randomized
design (CRD) and the comparison was made using the least significant difference (LSD) method at a significance
level of 0.05. The results showed that the shelling machine with metal fingers covered with a large percentage of
rubber achieved high shelling efficiency and productivity with less spreading and mechanical damage at all rotational
speeds of the shelling machine compared to the shelling machine with metal fingers, It reached its highest average at
a rotational speed of 150 rpm, 60.67 kg h-1, 96.67%, 92.00% and 2.548%, respectively.

New method was used to separate and collect of curcumin compound by analytical HPLC machine. The result was
more economic method as the level of absorbance for the collected peak of Bisdemethoxycurcumin compound was
high at low injection volume so the yield was enough to assay the biological activity of the compound. LCMS results
supported the success of separation of the compound. The results showed significant inhibitory effects of
Bisdemethoxycurcumin on the growth of various pathogenic bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14.81),
Staphylococcus aureus (14.08), E. coli (15.15), Enterococcus faecium (16.50), Staphylococcus homolyticus (17.54),
and Staphylococcus lactis (17.50). Additionally, Bisdemethoxycurcumin exhibited strong antifungal activity against
Candida albicans (14.04) and Candida rusei (23.38). These findings align with previous studies, which demonstrated
that Bisdemethoxycurcumin exerts antibacterial and antifungal properties by disrupting microbial cell structures and
vital intracellular components

A field experiment was conducted in a field in the Shatrah region in Iraq seson 2025 to study Mechanization reducing on fuel consumption and energy consumption by using disk plow in silty clay soil texture. The main plots represented the plowing depths at three levels: (12.5, 14 and 18) cm, while the secondary plots represented the forward speeds of the tractor at three levels (3.5,4.70,6.25) km.hr-1 ). The complete random design with three replications was used in the research. The results showed that the tractor speed of 6.28 km.h-1 achieved the less fuel consumption amounting to (15.56) L. ha-1and energy consumption (733.34) m. ha-1and highest slippage percentage (11.95)% by used disk plow. The tillage depth of (12.5) cm resulted in the lowest fuel consumption amounting (17.32 )L.ha-1 energy consumption at (704.96 )m.ha-1 and slippage percentage (9.12) % , the depth of(18 )cm achieved the highest of fuel consumption (20.74 L.ha-1) energy consumption (844.24m.ha-1) and slippage percentage (11.53 )%.

I. Abstract:
In light of the environmental challenges and stresses facing the agricultural sector, it has become imperative to seek effective solutions to enhance the productivity of field crop varieties. This includes selecting varieties that possess genetic stability and a high tolerance to salt and water stress. Environmental challenges such as drought, salinity, high temperatures, and the accumulation of heavy metals in the soil place significant pressure on agricultural productivity, especially in light of accelerating climate change.
Field crop varieties are the cornerstone of achieving food security and agricultural sustainability in the face of growing global challenges such as climate change and population growth. These varieties play a pivotal role in meeting human needs for food, feed, and industrial raw materials, while also enhancing the ability to adapt to challenging environmental conditions.
The mechanism of plant tolerance to stress (stress) is a complex molecular genetic mechanism, with interconnected actions, which varies according to the type and intensity of stress and is linked to the type of plant and its growth stage, in addition to the type of soil and other factors. These mechanisms also include the physiological, chemical and anatomical effects, reaching the phenotypic effect, in addition to the molecular effect, which overlap with each other in general to be reflected in the performance and production of the plant, so its growth rate, number, number of flowers, fertilization rate, leaf area and other characteristics of vegetative and fruit growth are affected until the yield deteriorates or may disappear under severe stress for a long period

This study was conducted to comparatively investigate the morphological, characteristics of the poll gland in adult male dromedary camels during the breeding season (December to March) versus the non-breeding season. Ten sexually mature male camels were used during the breeding season, and ten others during the non-breeding season.
The morphological component of the study involved describing the shape and anatomical location of the poll gland in sexually mature males, along with gross measurements including size, weight, length, width, and thickness. These parameters were analyzed statistically across both seasons.
Morphological findings revealed that the poll gland in adult males consists of two lobes connected by connective tissue enclosed within a distinct capsule. The gland is located subcutaneously in the nuchal region behind the ears and has an ovoid to almond-like irregular shape.Its color ranges from pale pinkish-gray during the breeding season to dark gray or yellowish-brown during the non-breeding season. Histologically, the capsule was composed of two layers: an outer fibrous layer and an inner smooth muscular layer containing smooth muscle cells. Seasonal changes in capsule structure were observed, with significant variations in alveolar lumen diameter and connective tissue thickness between the lobules.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of stocking density on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Ross 308 broiler chickens. 188-day-old chicks were raising for 35 days of age. Four stocking density treatments (9, 10, 13, and 15 birds/m2) were applied. The results showed no significant differences in body weight at 1 day and 5 weeks of age, and a significant decrease in body weight for density treatments T4, T3, and T2 (P≤0.05) compared to treatment T1 (control) at 3 weeks of age. The results also revealed a significant decrease in weight gain rate for density treatments T4, T3, and T2 (P≤0.05) compared to T1 treatment (control) during the period (0-3) weeks, while the treatments did not differ in weight gain rates during the periods (3-5) and (0-5) weeks. No significant differences were observed between the treatments in feed consumption rates for the period (0-3) weeks. Treatments T4 and T3 significantly superior (P≤0.05) in feed consumption compared to treatment T2 and treatment T1 (control) during the periods (3-5) and (0-5) weeks. The results indicated that there was no significant difference between treatments in feed conversion ratio of birds during the period (0-3) weeks, while treatments T2, T3 and T4 showed the best feed conversion ratio compared to treatment T1 (control) during the periods (3-5) and (0-5) weeks. Treatment T3 recorded the highest carcass weight significantly (P≤0.05) compared to the other treatments. While the treatments did not differ significantly (P≤0.05) in the average weight of breast and thigh cuts, their relative weights, average weight of pectoralis major muscle and dressing percentage. No significant(P≤0.05) differences were observed between treatments in color indices and cutting strength. T4 treatment significantly superiority (P≤0.05) in sarcomere length compared to other treatments

The purpose of this study was carried out on five males and five females of Lovebirds, morphologically, this study was demonstrated that the crop was oval shape in both sexes and located out of the body cavity in neck region before the entrance to the thoracic region. The results were showed that the esophagus was a muscular tube extend on right side of neck and composed two parts, cervical and thoracical parts with crop.
Also the mean total length of males esophagus was larger than females in addition this study was recorded that the cervical part of males was larger than the female