Mesopotamia Journal of Agriculture

The Elm species Fraxinus ornus L. was selected to study the effect of
some topographical factors on the anatomical characteristics of its
wood. Three trees of this species were selected from each site. Three
areas were chosen in the Rewandiz District of Erbil Governorate,
northern Iraq. The area is 123 km from Erbil. Their elevations range
between 685 and 1180 meters above sea level latitude, longitude, and
Aspects ratios. Slope and the sites from which the samples were taken
were recorded. The results of this study showed a significant
environmental influence and variation among the studied trees on the
anatomical characteristics of the wood. A variation was found in the
average dimensions of the vessel elements in the three studied sites.
Environmental effects were also found on the dimensions of the fibers,
according to the facades, elevations, and slope. One of the most
important diagnostic results for the wood of this species is the recording
of the presence of separated fibers in this study. It was also found that
the qualitative characteristics are of great diagnostic importance, as the
number of rows of interlaced holes in the samples ranged from one row
(Uniseriate) to two rows (Biseriate), while the perforated plate was of
the simple perforation plate type the presence of thickenings, Spiral. The
study was reinforced with illustrative images of the separated cells.
Illustrative images of the separated fibers enhanced the study.

The current research was aimed to a proposed vision for strategic
planning in agricultural extension work in Iraq, and includes the
following fields: (the field of job description for employees, the field of
employee training, the field of infrastructure, the field of objectives, the
field of applied technologies, the field of vision, the field of mission,
and the field of evaluation). The research methodology was classified as
a descriptive approach, and the research population included functional
and research categories in the fields of agricultural extensional,
management, economics, agricultural development programs, and
specialists in agricultural extensional, numbering 950 respondents. A
proportional stratified random sample was selected at a rate of 3% from
the research community, and thus, the total number of the research
sample reached 29 respondents. The research included a number of
recommendations that contribute to improving the level of performance
of the agricultural extension organization, its growth, continuity, and the
effective achievement of its objectives. These include spreading
awareness of the importance of strategic planning, whether within the
agricultural extension organization or the targeted development
agencies, in the process of transferring modern agricultural
technologies. It is one of the most important elements for achieving
sustainable development, and the failure to provide all areas and
sections of strategic planning leads to weak performance and
effectiveness of the organization due to their interconnectedness and
integration with each other.

Aquaculture plays an important role in Vietnam's economic development,
particularly in terms of export turnover and aquaculture producers’
income. However, climate change and environmental pollution strongly
impact Vietnam's aquaculture industry. In this paper, the panel data
collected from eight provinces in the eight coastal provinces from 2014
to 2023 were employed. A fixed-effects model was applied to determine
relationships between climate variables (temperature, rainfall, humidity,
sea level rise, and sunshine hours) and environmental factors (dissolved
oxygen, lead contamination, and ammonia) with aquaculture output. The
results showed that factors such as dissolved oxygen, lead contamination,
production area, humidity, and seawater level reveal strong relationships
with aquaculture production at a statistically significant level.
Meanwhile, the factors such as ammonia, rainfall, sunshine hours, and
temperature did not have statistically significant correlations with
aquaculture production. The findings highlighted the need for
policymakers and other stakeholders to address climate resilience issues
in planning, investment, and technological transformation for aquaculture
development.

This study discusses the bioactive composition of the methanolic extraction
and the biological activities of Momordica charantia. Dried fruit slices of
100% pure organic Momordica charantia fruit were used to prepare a
methanolic extract using by Soxhlet extractor device. The GC-MS Profiling
was performed. The separation product was analyzed based on the resulting
mass spectra and compared with a database of reference spectra (NIST20.L)
library to identify the chemical compounds present in the extract. Different
chemical constituents were contributed to the final phytochemical profile,
which enhances the phytochemical profiles identified in previous studies of
Momordica charantia fruit, the major constituents in this study included: 6-
pentylpiperidin-2-one; 1,4-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester;
Myo-Inositol, 4-C-methyl-; 1-Methyl-5-fluorouracil; 1,3,5,7-Tetroxane;
Butanenitrile, 4-(dimethylamino)-; 1,4-Butanediamine, 2,3-dimethoxy-N, N,
N', N'-tetramethyl-, [S-(R*,R*)]-; Propane, 2-fluoro-2-methyl-; nHexadecanoic acid; Phenethyl alcohol, 2,5-dihydroxy-.alpha.-methyl-, (-)-;
and Maltol. The potential components and their derivatives were confirmed to
have important biological effects for health, such as antibacterial, anticancer,
antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, antiviral,
antimalarial, antipyretic, and antitumor applications. These biological effects
of the methanolic extract of Momordica charantia fruit can directly affect
human health. The results of this study are essential, as they can inform
subsequent research into the extraction of bioactive components from
Momordica charantia and their uses

Global rangelands have experienced severe degradation over the past
three centuries due to anthropogenic and climatic pressures. Rapid
population growth, urbanization, and socioeconomic transformations
have driven widespread overgrazing, threatening both ecosystem
integrity and the livelihoods of over one billion dependents.
Degradation manifests through vegetation shifts, desertification, and
productivity declines, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, while
climate change intensifies these challenges through altered precipitation
patterns and temperature extremes. Key socioeconomic drivers include
rising meat demand, pastoral sedentarization, and inadequate land-use
policies that prioritize short-term gains over sustainable management.
This study provides a systematic evaluation of rangeland degradation
through three analytical dimensions: (1) ecohydrological consequences
of poor management practices, (2) socioeconomic pressures influencing
grazing systems, and (3) identification of critical knowledge gaps in
mitigation strategies. Findings reveal that effective solutions require
understanding complex interactions between vegetation dynamics,
water cycles, and human decision-making processes. The research
advocates for integrated multidisciplinary approaches that combine
ecological restoration with adaptive governance frameworks.
Recommended strategies include developing predictive models for
degradation hotspots, implementing incentive-based conservation
programs, and bridging scientific and traditional knowledge systems.
Such coordinated efforts offer the most promising pathway to enhance
rangeland resilience against escalating climatic and anthropogenic
pressures while maintaining vital ecosystem services.

This research was carried out in the Soil Sciences and Water Resources
Department labs at the College of Agriculture, University of Baghdad,
over the 2024-2025 period. The goal was to investigate how certain
phosphate fertilizers affect soil and white maize plants by contaminating
them with heavy metals. We tested four widely used commercial
fertilizers: Concentrated Superphosphate (CSP), NPK fertilizer (15-15-
15), Diammonium Phosphate (DAP), and Rock Phosphate (R.P). The
experiment followed a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three
repeats per treatment, giving us 12 experimental units. Our findings
showed clear differences in contamination levels depending on the
fertilizer. Rock Phosphate (RP) stood out with the highest levels of
cadmium (140.77 mg kg⁻¹) and lead (221.60 mg kg⁻¹), making it the main
culprit behind soil and plant pollution. The other fertilizers also showed
varying degrees of contamination; in some cases, heavy metal levels
exceeded what’s allowed under international guidelines (USEPA, FAO,
OECD, AAPFCO). These results underline the pressing need for tighter
controls on the quality of phosphate fertilizers in farming to cut down on
pollutant buildup in soil and crops, and to lower the environmental and
health risks that might follow.

A field experiment was conducted in the Yusufiyah region, Baghdad
Governorate, to cultivate maize during the fall agricultural season of
2022. The study was designed using a randomized complete block design
arranged in a split-plot layout with three replications. The main plots
included different irrigation treatments: conventional furrow irrigation,
alternate partial root-zone irrigation, and fixed partial root-zone irrigation.
The subplots involved different fertilization treatments: mineral NPK
fertilizer applied according to the recommended rate for maize, 50%
mineral fertilizer combined with biofertilizer (Azotobacter chroococcum
as nitrogen-fixing bacteria and Pseudomonas fluorescens as phosphatesolubilizing bacteria), 50% mineral fertilizer combined with natural
organic fertilizer (Orgevit), and 50% mineral fertilizer combined with
both the biofertilizer and the organic fertilizer. The organic and
biofertilizer + 50% mineral fertilization treatment under alternate furrow
irrigation recorded the lowest water consumption at 275 mm season-1
,
followed by the organic fertilizer + 50% mineral fertilization treatment
under alternate furrow irrigation, which recorded a water consumption of
310 mm season-1
. Water productivity values were 1.73, 2.95, and 1.97 kg
m⁻³ for conventional furrow irrigation, alternate furrow irrigation, and
fixed partial root-zone irrigation, respectively

In order to study the effect of temperature on magnesium
adsorption in different calcareous soils, adsorption equations such as the
Langmuir, the Freundlich, and the Temkin equations were used to
describe the adsorption process. The study was conducted on five
different agricultural exploitation sites in Nineveh Governorate - Iraq,
and each site was divided into two depths (surface, subsurface). the
study was conducted at three temperatures (278, 298, 318 Kelvin), when
comparing these equations through the values of (R2
) and (SE), the
Langmuir equation outperformed both the Freundlich and Temkin
equations in the first place, while the Temkin equation in the last place,
some functions derived from the Langmuir equation were studied
(maximum adsorption capacity, binding energy, maximum buffering
capacity, the results of the study showed that the effect of temperature
on the maximum adsorption capacity values was negatively related to
the equilibrium temperature (R2=91), when the temperature increased
from 278 to 298 K, it led to a decrease in the maximum adsorption
capacity by 18.89%, as for the effect of temperature on the average
binding energy values, there was a weak positive correlation between
the average binding energy values and the equilibrium temperatures
(R2=0.006), when the temperature increased from 278̊to 298̊K, it led
to an increase in the average binding energy by 74.39%, and increasing
the temperature from 278̊ to 318̊ K led to an increase in the average
binding energy by 6.76%. The effect of temperature on the maximum
buffering capacitance values did not have a consistent pattern

A study was carried out to assess the impact of using SWRT on irrigation
water use efficient IWUE and yields of chili pepper. Experiments were
performed by planting chili pepper in greenhouses during the spring of
2015 in Najaf Province. Soils of the location are classified as sandy loam
texture. The experiments included four treatments: SWRT, organic
matter, tillage and no–tillage farming, and the design was a randomized
complete blocked design RCBD with four replications. Irrigation
scheduling was performed according to soil moisture content, as 35% of
available water was depleted, then irrigation water was added from the
subsurface drip system to bring soil moisture content back to field
capacity. Soil sensors GS3 from Decagon Devices, USA, were used to
measure volumetric water content. The results showed the use of SWRT
technology leads to saving 22% and 36% of the amount of irrigation water
added to the pepper crop compared to the organic matter treatment and
the tillage (Control) and no tillage treatments. Increasing the productivity
of the agricultural unit in SWRT with improved quality of fruits, the
increase percentage of pepper 13%, 8% and 20% compared to the
treatment tillage, organic matter and no tillage treatments, respectively.
The decrease in the amount of irrigation water added leads to an increase
in water use efficiency in SWRT 78%, 38% and 89% compared with
control treatment, organic matter and no tillage treatments, respectively

Amid efforts to integrate advanced technologies into agriculture,
aquaponics has emerged as an integrated solution for developing
sustainable agricultural systems. It combines aquaculture and soil-less
culture, providing an ideal environment for plant growth. Based on this,
research was conducted to propagate Syngonium podophyllum using this
technology, while also studying the effect of synthetic nano-NPK fertilizer
and comparing it with conventional NPK fertilizer on the growth and
propagation of this plant. The experimental data conclusively demonstrated
that foliar application of nano-NPK fertilizer at 1 and 2 mg L-1
concentrations enhanced key plant grow parameters (p<0.05), contributed
to stimulating plant growth, particularly plant height and stem diameter. It
also noted an increase in the length of the longest root. Furthermore, the
concentrations of nitrogen and potassium in treated plants significantly
increased compared to conventional fertilizers, both of which outperformed
the control treatment. Chlorophyll and carotene concentrations also
increased, reaching 22.664 and 102.86 mg L1
, respectively, when fertilized
with nano-NPK fertilizer at a concentration of 1 mg L1
. This is due to the
unique properties of nano-fertilizers, such as increased absorption, slow
release of nutrients, and other advantages. These results open new horizons
for enhancing the efficiency of aquaponic systems through nanotechnology
applications, contributing to higher productivity and better quality of plant
crops, supporting the development of modern agriculture in Iraq

A factorial field experiment was implemented during the agricultural
season 2023-2024 in two mid-rainfall area locations, Sahleg and
Kahreez villages. The factorial experiment included two factors. The
1st. was the locations, and the second factor was the Tillage systems,
which were Conventional Tillage (CT) and Zero Tillage (ZT). Wheat
grains (Ipaa 99 var.) were sown at a sowing rate of 100 kg hectare-1
.
Fertilizer was added (DAP) and Urea by 100 kg hectare-1
. The
experiment was designed according to the factorial experiment system
using a Randomized complete Block Design with three replications, the
results showed that Sahleg location was superior in all traits of yield and
its components due to the difference in rainfall precipitation in it
compared to Kahreez location ZT treatment was also superior to CT in
all traits of yield and its components with highly a significant difference.
The highest value of grain yield was achieved ZT at the Sahleg
location by 281g.m-2
.

The study aimed to know the effect of goat milk as a functional
food to get rid of chemical toxins that laboratory animals are
exposed to, the compound CdCl2, and the element Pd, by examining
creatinine, urea, and histological .This study was the use of 36
white male albino rats, which were randomly divided into six equal
groups and the experience lasted six weeks, the control group (C)
and the rest of the groups were injected with the compound CdCl2
or the element Pd and dosed with goat milk in specific quantities to
know the effect of milk on the levels of creatinine and urea in the
kidneys, as well as their histological .The results were that the
animals exposed to CdCl2 and Pb poisoning, where Creatinine
reached 0.4412, 0.4057 mg/dl, respectively, compared to the
control treatment, which reached 0.2059 mg/dl, while the urea level
reached 65.32, 66.68 mg/dl, respectively, compared to the control
treatment, which reached 39.72 mg/dl—the protective role of goat
milk in improving kidney function.

The objectives of this study were the determination of the phthalates
Diethyl phthalate (DEP), Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), Tributyl 2-acetyl
citrate (TB2-AC), Diethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP), and Diisononyl
phthalate (DiNP) in food products packed in plastic containers and to
estimate the daily intake and the daily intake per kg body weight for a
group of fifty volunteer. Food samples were obtained from markets in
the city of Mosul, Iraq, and their chemical compositions, which may
affect the migration of phthalates to the foods, were determined.
Results showed that all phthalates were found in almost all food
products, with the phthalate TB2-AC the most abundant. Water,
pickled mango, and sesame tahenia samples contained the highest
quantities of phthalates at 3.994, 3.229, and 3.058 ng/g(ml). Sesame
tahenia contained the highest amounts of DEP (0.900 ng/g). In
contrast, water contained the highest amount of DBP (1.430 ng/ml),
pickled mango was highest in TB2-AC (3.015 ng/g), ketchup was
highest in DEHP (0.438 ng/g), and lemon juice concentrate was
highest in DiNP (0.084 ng/ml). Results also revealed that the highest
intake of phthalates was TB2-AC, DBP, and DEP, with 2304.873
ng/day, and the intake per kg of body weight was 433.16 ng. For the
daily intake of total phthalates, water participated in the highest intake
with 5043.597 ng/day, with a daily intake per kg body weight of
72.570 ng, milk and sesame tahenia resulted in daily intakes of
240.643 and 88.658 ng and a daily intake per kg of body weight of
3.462 and 1.277 ng, respectively.

The study was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station for two
months. Thirty Awassi lambs were divided into 15 males and 15 females
(aged 3 months and 22 kg ±800 g weight). The animal groups were
randomly distributed into three transactions (5 lambs of each
sex/group). The first group was considered as control group, the second
and third were injected with sheep placenta extract (SPE) (2 and 4
ml/head/week), respectively. The first treatment was significantly
(P≤0.05) superior to the second treatment in body weight .The results
also did not show any significant effect of placental extract treatments
on the blood physiological indices and compared to control, except for
MCH level, which was significantly (P≤0.05) lower in the first
treatment than in the second treatment. A significant (P≤0.05) effect of
animal sex was observed with a higher concentration of Hb, RBC, PCV,
WBC, and AST enzyme in female lambs than in males. Cholesterol and
LDL levels were significantly (P≤0.05) higher in the second treatment
compared to the control. In addition, there was a significant (P≤0.05)
increase in HDL and glucose levels in the treatment groups compared
to the control. The results in this study indicated that the administration
of sheep placenta extract did not negatively affect lambs' productive and
physiological performance.

The tomato crop is an important and major vegetable crop on the Iraqi
table. His entry into a lot of food industries, like tomato paste and some
products, among them, the research aimed to derive the resource
demand function and the output supply function of the production
function, and identify the optimal resource combinations of tomato
farmers in the basin of Al-Alil for the 2023 agricultural season, as one
of the cultivation areas of this crop in Nineveh. The production
function was estimated as a Cobb-Douglas type, and in the long term,
as optimal amounts of maximized profit resources were achieved and
compared to actual reality. Among them was derived output display
function and resource demand function, through data collected by a
questionnaire form prepared for this purpose for a random sample of
(31) farms produced, It accounted for 40% of the study community,
and one of the most important findings of the research was that the
volume of the maximum production of profits was (15,643)
kg/dunum. Profits reached (3537567) dinars/dunums compared to the
actual production of (12,799) kg/dunums and profits (2269187)
dinars/dunums. In light of these findings, the study recommends that
tomato farmers use optimal amounts of maximized profit resources to
increase their profits.