ANBAR JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES

Starting from Volume 23, Issue 2 (December 2025), the Anbar Journal of Agricultural Sciences (AJAS) formally implements a comprehensive AI-based Academic Integrity and Quality Assurance System as part of its ongoing commitment to transparency, ethical publishing, and scientific reliability.
This editorial policy update represents a strategic step toward strengthening research integrity and safeguarding the peer-review process through advanced analytical tools designed to detect citation irregularities, unethical practices, and potential editorial and ethical risks related to authorship, collaboration networks, and referenced literature.
The adoption of this framework aligns fully with internationally recognized standards and best practices in open-access publishing, including the DOAJ Guide v2.6 (2025), COPE, and OASPA principles. By integrating artificial intelligence into its integrity checks, AJAS aims to enhance trust in published research, protect authors and reviewers, and reinforce the credibility of Iraqi scholarly journals at the regional and international levels.
This Editor’s Note serves as an official record of the journal’s policy implementation and applies to all manuscripts submitted and published from this issue onward

A field experiment was conducted in one of the agricultural fields located on the right bank of the Euphrates River in Heet District, Anbar Governorate, during the 2022 agricultural season to study the effect of mineral and bio-fertilizers and the growth regulator brassinolide on growth traits and oil percentage of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). The experiment was arranged using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in a split-plot arrangement with three replications. The main factor included brassinolide spraying stages (no spray, one spray at the beginning of flowering, and two sprays—first at the beginning of flowering and the second at the beginning of peg formation). The sub-factor included fertilization treatments (full mineral fertilizer recommendation, bio-fertilizer only, 25% mineral fertilizer + bio-fertilizer, 50% mineral fertilizer + bio-fertilizer, and 75% mineral fertilizer + bio-fertilizer). The results showed that the full mineral fertilizer recommendation achieved the highest number of branches and leaf chlorophyll content (4.72 branches plant⁻¹ and 41.39 SPAD, respectively). Meanwhile, the treatment with 50% mineral fertilizer + bio-fertilizer recorded the highest values for shoot dry weight and oil percentage (368.9 g and 52.37%, respectively.

A new record of soft-winged flower beetles, the Malachius scutellaris Erichson, 1840, is described for the first time in Erbil governorate, Kurdistan, Iraq. The specimens were collected from the Silybum marianum (L.) flowers, Malva pusilla Sm., and Cardaria draba (L.) using an air net. The main characteristics of the species include mandibles with bidentics of equal length. The dark-brown antennas consist of 10 antennomeres, of which the 1st - 4th antennomeres are cup-shaped, while the 5th - 10th are almost tubular. The 9th antennomere is 1.1 times as long as the 10th, elytra pale brown, with one-fourth of the basal part black. The protarsus is five-segmented, of which the 1st to 4th segments are nearly serrate-shaped, and the 5th tubular-shaped, 1.2 times longer than the 2nd, with the eighth abdominal sternite black and triangular-shaped; the posterior margin has profound medial margination. The eighth abdominal tergite is black and rectangular, with the posterior margin somewhat emarginate medially. The aedeagus is tubular-shaped, slightly curved, with a spear-like apical part. The habitus and the photos of essential parts were taken, and the sites, dates, and host plants of sample collections were reported.

The investigation aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of rosemary oil (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and regular and nano chitosan in reducing the severity of tomato seedling infection caused by Fusarium oxysporium, as well as evaluating some growth parameters and chemical properties. The results of the study showed that all treatments achieved a significant increase in germination rates and protection of tomato seeds and seedlings from infection by the disease before and after emergence, as well as reducing the severity of infection compared to the treatment with the pathogenic fungus. The treatment of extracted rosemary oil and nano and regular chitosan in the presence of the pathogen reduced the severity of infection to 9.38%, 6.75%, and 23.56%, respectively, compared to 70.34% in the pathogen treatment. The effect was also positively reflected on the fresh and dry weight of the shoot and root system. The used factors proved their efficiency in inducing systemic resistance in tomato plants by increasing the activity of the peroxidase enzyme and phenols in the plant leaves.

and the most cut-flower species around the world. This study was conducted in two experiments using the split-plot design at the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, College of Agricultural Sciences, University of Baghdad during spring 2023-2024. Seedlings of the 10-12 cm tall Grace variety carnation imported from Turkey were sowed in small pots and transferred to the soil after the appearance of the 4th leaf. Straw wheat and palm waste compost were added to the soil after removing the soil from the panel at a depth of 30 cm and mixing with the removed soil. The concentrations of straw wheat (A1 and A2) and palm waste (A3 and A4) were 2 and 4 kg, respectively, together with the spraying application of aloe vera extract (B1 and B2) at 10 and 20 g/l. Seven growth and flowering characters were measured i.e., number of flowers/plants, flower stem length, flower stem diameter, carbohydrate percentage in flowers, anthocyanin pigment percentage, fresh flower weight (g) before storage, and the vase-life of stored flowers. The results showed a significant effect of using palm waste (4 kg) and 20 g of aloe vera gel over the other treatments and control in all the tested parameters. For instance, number of flowers/plants recorded the highest value at 13.93 together with flower stem length (66.5 cm), carbohydrate percentage (0.893%), flower stem diameter (22.51 mm), fresh flower weight (35.16 g); anthocyanin pigment percentage (94.63%), and the vase-life of stored flowers (8.574 days). As such the use of 4-kg palm waste and spraying with 20 g of aloe vera gel on carnation plants is recommended to enhance their growth and flowering characteristics.

This study evaluated the impact of adding powdered sumac seed powder (SSP) as an antimicrobial and antioxidant on the microbiological activity, oxidative stability, and breast meat quality characteristics of local Kurdish rooster during postmortem aging. A total of 108 local Kurdish roosters aged 20 weeks were divided into 4 groups (n=27) of three replicates each. The first groups received the basal diets without supplements (control treatment) while the other three had, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0% SSP added to their feed. At 26 weeks the roosters were slaughtered for meat quality measurements. The findings shows that the breast meat of the roosters fed diets with SSP had the lowest values for pH, TBARS, drip loss, cooking loss, total aerobic count, coliform bacteria, and pseudomonas bacteria compared to the control. Additionally, adding 1.0% SSP improved water holding capacity with the highest rate reached at one day of storage. However, the values for all the above parameters increased gradually with higher postmortem refrigerated storage periods. The lightness (L*) and redness (a*) color parameters increased while yellowness (b*) decreased with SSP addition especially at 0.75% SSP. In conclusion, adding SSP to the rooster diets can enhance the physical attributes and reduce oxidative stability and microbial activity during postmortem aging.

In the winter of 2023, four isolates of rhizobacteria were obtained from the root nodules of several leguminous plants gathered from various agricultural locations in the northern part of Iraq to investigate their antibacterial activity. The application of the liquid fermented filtrate medium of the rhizobacteria ER6 isolate demonstrated an inhibitory impact on the pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli isolate ER51. At the time of testing the antibacterial activity, the average diameter of inhibition was 16 mm. The ER9 isolate exhibited antibiotic activity against the isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae (ER54), Bacillus cereus (ER53), and Staphylococcus aureus (ER52). A maximum average inhibition zone of 18 mm was observed against Staphylococcus aureus ER52. Of the four isolates, ER38 and ER14 demonstrated the highest mean zone inhibition against the ER53 Bacillus cereus isolate at 28 and 29 mm, respectively. PCR results from rhizobacterial isolates were sent for sequencing. The ER6 isolate and the Enterobacter quasihormaechei strain WCHEs120003 (accession no. NR_180451.1) were 97% similar while the ER9 isolate and Kosakonia oryzendophytica strain REICA_082 (accession No. NR_125586.1) had 98% homology. The ER14 isolate's homology percentage with Cronobacter turicensis z3032 (accession No. NR_102802.1) was 99% while that between Kosakonia pseudosacchari strain JM-387 (accession No. NR_135211.1) and ER38 was 98%. The findings show that the rhizobacteria ER6 isolate has potential antimicrobial activity against the three studied pathogenic isolates E. coli ER51, B. cereus ER53 and K. pneumoniae ER54, respectively.

Cotton plants have a wide range of industrial uses. However, various factors affect crop quality, necessitating the use of different approaches to achieve optimal crop production. In this study, the BM 455 and Golda genotypes were cultivated at two locations (TazaDe and Kani Panka) to evaluate the effects of applying organic (500 kg ha-1) and inorganic (NPK-15:15:15; 200 kg ha-1) fertilizers. NPK application significantly increased growth and yield in BM 455, whereas organic fertilizer was more effective for textile quality in both genotypes. The BM 455 had superior values, whereas Golda recorded the highest values in biological yield, fiber uniformity, elongation, and reflectance in both locations. There were significant differences across all parameters, with TazaDe being more suitable for cultivation than Kani Panka, except for biological yield. Depending on the phenotype and fertilizers, the growth and yield of the BM 455 genotype responded to NPK fertilizers, whereas both genotypes showed significant effects on quality characteristics under organic fertilizers. The untreated plants constituted a minority in this study. These findings will aid growers in cultivating the ideal genotypes under appropriate fertilization and optimal environmental conditions.

The research was conducted in fall 2019 on silty clay soil at the Center of Scientific Agricultural Research in Latakia. It involved nine treatments comprising additions of olive mill wastewater at 0, 2, 4 L.m-2 and potassium humate at 0, 10, 20 kg.ha-1. The results showed a significant decrease in bulk density at 0.26 g.cm-3 from the highest rates of each treatment compared to the control at 1.4 g.cm-3. Increasing the treatment levels improved soil porosity compared to the control, while the a and b values of the constants also increased. This is considered a good indicator of better water availability to the plant for the olive mill wastewater treatments. Potassium humate was added at the same moisture tension value. The average production of potato tubers at the highest treatment levels was significantly above that for other treatments, increasing by 80%. This was followed by the 64.45% and 63.43% production increase from the olive mill wastewater and potassium humate treatments of 4 L.m-2 and 10 kg. ha-1 and 2 L.m-2 and 20 kg.ha-1, respectively.

Creating sustainable landscapes is one of the priorities in designing and planning for campuses, as they offer a healthy and safe external environment, a place to meet and exchange ideas, and increase social relations between the different campus groups. Furthermore, they enhance the site's aesthetics and achieve the elements of environmental, social, and economic sustainability. This research aims to identify the challenges and obstacles, and to develop essential strategies to transform local campuses and their landscapes into sustainable environments. It studied the campuses and landscapes of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia and the American University in Cairo, Egypt and compared them with those of the University of Baghdad. The study found that developing certain critical strategies to obtain a sustainable campus and landscapes would also promote high energy and renewable energy efficiency, and rationalize consumption and environmental compatibility. In this regard, the strategies promoted greater efficiency of building materials, resources, lighting, ventilation, maintenance, and efficient water use, besides acquiring the factors of sustainability.

This research investigated the effect of salt stress from the use of relatively saline water on the growth and yield of soybean cultivars (Glycine max L.) through foliar application of the growth regulator kinetin. It was conducted at the Field Crop Research Station (FCRS), Field Crop Department, Tikrit University. The experiment employed two types of irrigation water namely river water from the Tigris River and well water of the research station. It also involved two treatments comprising kinetin and without kinetin growth regulator application, and four soybean cultivars, Shaima, Laura, Dee, and Lee. The experiment was applied using a Randomized Complete Block Design with as split-plot arrangement. Three plants were sourced during the soybean growing season from each experimental unit at 30, 60, 90, and 120 days after planting (DAP) to measure leaf area and dry weight to estimate relative growth rates (RGR), crop growth rates (CGR), and net assimilation rates (NAR). Chlorophyll content in the leaves was measured 50 DAP, and at the end of the season, oil percentages and yields were assessed. All studied traits were significantly affected by the quality of irrigation water, the application of the growth regulator kinetin, the soybean cultivars, and the interaction among these factors. For instance, irrigation with well water reduced chlorophyll content, oil percentage, and yield by 15%, 36%, and 17%, respectively compared to river water irrigation. The findings show that the soybean crops in the Salah al-Din (Tikrit City) area which is characterized by gypsum soil, showed weak growth and yield. The use of river water irrigation, the Shaima cultivar, and kinetin did not elevate yield to global production standards.

An assessment was conducted on livestock feed resources, seasonal availability, and strategies for managing feed-related issues in the Burji District of Southern Ethiopia. A total of 134 households involved in livestock production activities were randomly selected for an interview. The results indicated that the majority (74.96%) of interviewed respondents were males, while 25.04% were females. The average number of livestock owned by households in the study area was 11.17 ± 0.29 tropical livestock units (TLU), with cattle predominating at 93.91%. Natural grazing pastures and crop residues were the primary feed sources, though chemical analysis revealed that they are deficient in nutritional quality. The results indicated the feeds contained 4.1-7.5% crude protein (CP) and 63.2-71.5% neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Crop residues and saving natural pasture as hay are the most common coping mechanisms in times of feed shortages. The use of supplementary feeds and crop residue treatments are recommended to address the low crude protein content in primary feeds and to improve the palatability of crop residues.

This study was conducted in the Kassab area in Lattakia to examine the effect of spraying apple trees with marine algae extract, potassium, and boron. It dealt with eight factors: spraying with potassium (0.5%), boron (0.2%), marine algae extract, mixing potassium and boron, potassium and algae, algae, potassium, and boron, and with water only. The complete randomized design was used covering 24 trees with each transaction having 3 trees with one repeater tree. Averages were compared by the GenStat program and the lowest moral extent. The leaf content of nutrients and chlorophyll was significantly affected. The findings showed an increase in the ratios of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium-calcium-magnesium-boron and total chlorophyll in the leaves. The nitrogen content of the leaves increased significantly by 2.447% when sprayed with marine algae extract for an average of two years compared to 1.63%. The marine algae extract treatment offered the highest phosphorous at 2.447%. The treatment with boron, potassium and marine algae outperformed the others for the two years at 1.203% and 1.293%, respectively. The boron treatment gave a significant effect over the others at 0.551%. The interaction between boron, potassium and marine algae showed remarkable improvement over the rest with the boron content in the leaves reaching 46.21 pm. For leaf chlorophyll content, the mixing treatment of potassium and boron outweighed the rest at 2.22 mg/g compared to the 1.29 mg/g for the control and exceeded that for marine algae extract of 2.30 mg/g while the control had 1.41 mg/kg. Total chlorophyll content for the boron and potassium was highest at 4.25 mg/g compared to the control (2.70 mg/g).

The first factor is The P. aeruginosa bacteria-based bacterial inoculate at two levels, B0 and B1. The second factor is white fungus waste, which was added at three levels and coded as Ab0, Ab1, and Ab2. Thirdly, Zinc and boron nanoparticles was incorporated into four levels coded N0 minus addition, N1 nano Zinc, N2 nano Boron, and N3, a combination of both nano boron and nano zinc. It was carried out under field conditions employing a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Its presence was ascertained by subjecting the initial soil sample to the estimation of the pesticide accumulated in it by GC-MS. They further identify the kind of pesticide accumulating in the soil and then select for that specific high-resistant bacterium strain against such high concentrations of that identified pesticide. From the rhizosphere of the sugar bean plant, P. aeruginosa was isolated and used as a bacterial inoculum during a series of laboratory and field experiments. All combinations with a bacterial inoculum were degraded entirely compared to their control; their control had 18.090 mg kg-1 soil.

The objective of this experiment was to increase the productivity per unit area and improve the qualitative characteristics of okra plants. It was conducted at the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad in summer 2023. Four concentrations each of humic acid at 0, 1, 2, 3 g L-1 and magnesium sulfate at 0, 0.5, 1.5, 2.5 g L-1 were used to study their role and interaction in improving the plants’ qualitative and quantitative characteristics. The experiment used a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates with each including 16 experimental units. The results were analyzed using the Gen stat statistical program and compared with the least significant difference (LSD) test at a 0.05 probability level. The interaction treatment between humic acid and magnesium (H3M3) showed significant superiority, as the dry weight of the okra plant totaled 446.0 g plant-1. The percentage of potassium in the okra pods and leaves was 1.55% and 1.95%, respectively while protein content was 14.25%. The highest amount of carbohydrates was 20.36%, the lowest amount of fiber in the pods was 6.02% while oil levels were 2.67%. H3M3 also gave the highest percentage of total soluble solids, reaching 7.87%, while H3M2 showed superiority in pod weight at 4.68 gm. pod-. Early yield was reached at 767.0 kg. ha-1.

The research aimed to estimate cotton production in Syria (2024-2030) based on time series data on cultivated area and productivity from 1993 to 2023. The descriptive approach summarized time series data for the research variables using statistical methods like tables and charts and descriptive measures of central tendency and dispersion. A standard analytical approach was employed using a neural network model, specifically multi-layer perceptron, to fit the data. The results indicated significant instability in cotton cultivation areas in Syria, with a coefficient of variation of 59.37%. Cotton production exhibited notable fluctuations, reflected in a coefficient of variation of 68.23% while cotton crop productivity showed reasonable stability at a CV of 22.61%. The neural network model 3, 2, 1 was used in the prediction by the feed-forward method, and the backpropagation method updated the weights after calculating the difference between the expected and actual values to improve the model predictive accuracy. The neural network model proved highly efficient in predicting cotton production, recording significant decreases in the squared error 0.009 and the relative error rate 0.001, indicating its ability to analyze the data effectively. The production forecasts for the period 2024-2030 showed a positive trend with an annual growth rate ranging between 0.19% and 0.58%, indicating the possibility of achieving sustainable gains in production.

This research aimed to identify the obstacles facing the practice of change leadership in agricultural extension organizations to achieve sustainable development in Iraq. The research community included 15 provinces in Iraq, except for the Kurdistan region. A random 50% sample was taken in 8 provinces. A proportional stratified sample was taken from workers in agricultural extension organizations within the Agricultural Extension and Training Department and the Directorates of Agriculture in the relevant governorates. The sample involved 721 workers of which 251 or 34.8% were selected. A questionnaire comprising 47 paragraphs covering five topics was administered for data collection from the workers. The findings showed that economic issues led in terms of importance with a weighted average of 4.06 degrees and a percentage weight of 81.2%, while social and behavioral obstacles were the least important at 3.65 degrees and 73%. It can be concluded that the general orientation toward economic constraints falls within the high range. This indicates that participants recognize the importance of economic resources as a potential area for change, as their diverse activities offer significant opportunities to improve income and enhance economic prospects.

The experiments were conducted at the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Plant Protection Department, University of Baghdad. Morphological identification of the pathogen agent revealed it to be the Fusarium oxysporum fungus. Identification was also affirmed molecularly using the general primers ITS1/ITS4 which yielded a 500 bp band of molecular weight when amplifying the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region in the most pathogenic isolate using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A hit of 100% identity was achieved with the worldwide isolates in the NCBI GenBank. Sequencing data obtained from the fungal isolate were submitted to the gene bank with accession number PP273503. These data revealed that the isolates ranged from highly to weakly pathogenic. Both general and nanoparticle iron and copper oxides could prevent the growth of the pathogenic fungus. The treatment with nano iron oxide recorded the highest inhibition rate of 100% at 3% concentration showing no fungal growth compared to S. copper oxide’s at 77.0% for the same concentration. The findings also confirmed that both materials offered 100% control of fungal development on the Dracaena leaves in a laboratory setting at 0.0 cm2 compared to 70.91 mm2 and 75.88 mm2 in the ordinator iron and copper oxide treatments, respectively. The materials showed the ability to control the fungus when applied with iron and copper oxide at 69.88% and 67.77% in the Dracaena plants, 0% in the treatment containing only the pathogenic fungus, and 100% with the nano iron and copper oxide treatment.

Foliar spraying using different levels of meta-topolin (0, 10, 20, and 30 mg L-1) and tryptophan (0, 50, and 100 mg L-1) was done to investigate their influence on the seedling growth and chemical composition of Flying Dragon rootstock. Additionally, a factorial experiment was conducted utilizing three replications following a randomized complete block design on the success of Washington navel orange scions. The study was conducted from September 2022 to June 2023 at a lath house at the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Gardening, College of Agriculture, University of Anbar, Iraq. The results revealed that the two study factors significantly impacted all traits, particularly at higher concentrations. The 30 mg L-1 meta-topolin treatment significantly increased plant height, leaves number, leaves area, stem diameter, number of buddable seedlings, vegetative dry weight, stem total carbohydrate, leaves nitrogen content, and total chlorophyll content, and scion success. Moreover, 50 mg L-1 tryptophan foliar spraying significantly increased all the above traits, while the control treatment had the lowest values.

A 100 Ross 308-type broiler birds were raised in the College of Agriculture, University of Anbar fields for 42 days, and 60 were selected at the end of the feeding period. Blood samples were taken from the birds by slicing the jugular vein, and the slaughtering process was accomplished. The blood samples were transferred to the molecular genetics laboratories in Baghdad to obtain DNA to determine the phenotype of the FGFBP2 gene. The gene was identified in experimental birds based on the bands resulting from DNA relocation. The genetic phenotypes were determined using PCR-RFLP technology and the Alu 1 restriction enzyme based on the size of the fragments obtained from the FGFBP2 gene. They comprised CC, CD, and DD with allelic frequencies of 26.67, 51.66, and 21.67, respectively and with C and D allelic frequencies of 0.53 and 0.4y, respectively. Birds carrying the DD genotype were superior in breast weight traits of the FGFBP2 gene at 17.484±0.640 compared to CC and CD genotypes at 15.608±0.530 and 15.929±0.503, respectively. A study of the FGFBP2 gene sequences showed 65% substitution mutations in the nitrogenous base sequence of the broiler samples. The study aimed to identify the relationship between the genotypes and the allelic frequencies of the FGFBP2 gene with carcass traits (carcass weight, covering percentage, and weights of the breast, thigh, and thigh pieces) of broiler chickens and the possibility of genetic improvement to obtain the most economically viable characteristics.

Laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the Allelopathic potential of essential oils isolated from Eucalyptus, Clove, and Lemongrass plants with different concentrations on seed germination and seedling growth of Silverleaf nightshade invasive weed Solanum elaeagnifolium. 1,8 cineole was the dominant compound in eucalyptus oil, 61.70%±3.0. Eugenol accounted for 68.7%±3.05 of the total identified compounds in clove oil, while Neral 25.4%±1.07 and Geranial, 22.7%±0.96 were the highest compounds found in Lemongrass oil. The results show that essential oils extracted from Eucalyptus and clove, with a concentration of 10 µl ml-1, showed a high effectiveness (100%) in inhibiting seed germination completely. Also, the concentration showed high efficacy for reducing seedling development; a weed seedling was achieved at 10 µl ml-1 concentration, even for essential oils, which did not show a significant effect in suppressing seed germination. Based on the results above, Eucalyptus and Clove essential oils have interesting herbicidal activity against seed germination and seedling development of S. elaeagnifolium. These compounds are interesting as they can be used as effective and safe alternatives to conventional synthetic herbicides, effective and safer against seed germination and seedling development of weeds.

Integrated aquaponic vertical farming (IAVF), which combines aquaponics and vertical farming, is considered a modern and environmentally friendly method of farming. It takes sustainability a step further by making greater use of available resources, space, and the environment. This approach enables the co-farming of fish alongside plant growth using hydroponic methods, utilizing water instead of soil, in a vertically stacked system. This integration of aquaculture and hydroponics enables plants and fish to be cultivated together, with the waste produced from one system serving as nutrients for the other, thus closing the biological cycles of agriculture. IAVF is based on concepts of a circular economy and gradual farming expansion that seek to address contemporary food production challenges, such as the lack of freshwater, soil degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions. This overview presents the concept of IAVF, its historical development, and discusses the use of organic-based fertilizers for agricultural sustainability. It also states the aim and outline of the review article.

This study aimed to evaluate the structural development of the main stem and spike productivity elements in a number of spring bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties and lines that carry introgressed chromosomal segments from related species associated with genetic resistance to leaf rust (Puccinia recondita). This study included thirteen varieties developed using introgressive breeding, in which resistance genes (Lr) were introduced from different wheat species, and they were tested under the conditions of the 2023 growing season in the Saratov region. The results of the structural analysis showed a clear genetic variation among the studied genotypes in the morphological traits of the stem and spike productivity elements, reflecting differences in the degree of balance of morphogenetic processes during the stages of spike formation, flowering, and grain filling. The results indicated that most genotypes were characterized by an imbalance in the morphogenetic system of spike productivity elements, whereas only one variety was distinguished by possessing a balanced morphogenetic system, indicating higher developmental stability. The morphogenetic productivity index (MPI) proved its effectiveness as a criterion for evaluating spike productivity, through which varieties with genotypes more tolerant to dry environmental conditions were distinguished. These results confirmed the importance of introgressive breeding in enhancing wheat resistance to leaf rust, and also support the adoption of structural analysis and the morphogenetic productivity index as effective tools in wheat breeding programs.

This study examined the impact of technologies from the United Nations-supported project "Restoring and Strengthening the Resilience of Food Systems" on the equitable distribution of production and income among milk buffalo owners in Iraq. The Lorenz and Gini indices collected data from 2644 producers in the Maysan, Dhi Qar, and Basra governorates during the 2023-2024 season. The Gini index for milk producers who adopted new technologies was 65.53% compared to 65.70% for those who did not, indicating a more equitable wealth distribution among adopters. The Lorenz curve analysis supports this, showing that technology adopters have wealth distribution closer to equality. Overall, milk producers involved in the project to strengthen food systems exhibited more equitable wealth and production distribution over non-participantraqs. This was confirmed by the t-test comparing the two samples, which showed a significant difference between their income levels, and preference being given to the program participants. The research recommends adopting modern feeding technologies for buffaloes to improve income distribution among milk producers in the area.

This research investigated the effect of nutritional restrictions and glycerol addition on the growth performance of local male lambs. The experiment was conducted on 24 local male lambs aged 3 - 3.5 months weighing 18±1.13 kg on average. The lambs were randomly assigned to six treatment groups. In Phase 1, the findings showed that the control group was more efficient in reducing the cost of producing 1 kg of weight gain than the glycerol group. The 0% feed restriction group outperformed the 70% and 50% groups in most production traits, with the 0% and 70% groups showing better feed conversion ratios and lower production costs than the 50% group. In Phase 2, adding glycerol reduced dry matter intake but maintained the lower cost for weight gain in the control group. The 0% feed restriction outperformed other treatments in terms of weight and feed intake. However, the 50% feed restriction group showed better feed efficiency, with the best feed conversion ratio and production cost. For the combined phases of nutrition restriction and free re-alimentation, the study found the control group had a significantly lower cost for producing 1 kg of weight gain compared to the glycerol addition group. Among the feed restriction treatments, the 0% group led in effectiveness followed by the 70% and 50% groups in terms of weight gain, feed intake, and other production indicators. In conclusion, the best treatment was recorded by the 70% feed restriction without glycerol group in terms of lowest cost for weight gain, reduced feed intake, and final weight similar to the control.

This study investigated the influence of long-term dietary supplementation of defatted black soldier fly larvae Hermetia illucens meal (DBSF-M) on the live performance, carcass%, edible giblets and lymphoid organs weight %, blood biochemicals and histological features of liver and lymphoid organs in a slow-growing chicken. One hundred- eighty chicks, aged one week, were divided into three groups (group/ 5 replicates) according to the dietary DBSF-M supplementation levels. The 1st group was fed a basal diet, which served as a control. The 2nd and 3rd groups were fed basal diets with 3 and 6 g DBSF-M / kg feed, respectively, for 10 weeks of age. Then, five chicks per treatment were sacrificed to obtain organs and blood samples. Both levels of DBSF-M supplementation reduced feed intake, increased body weight gain, and enhanced the feed conversion ratio of chicks. They also increased the thymus weight and reduced liver weight. In addition, they reduced triglycerides and AST levels and increased the anti-oxidant capacity level of treated chicks. The low dose of DBSF-M (3g/kg feed) did not affect the liver, or thymus while increasing the measures of the bursa; (medulla width, cortex thickness, and follicle width), and white pulp of spleens. Meanwhile, the high dose of DBSF-M (6 g/kg feed) negatively altered the structure of the examined tissues. Conclusively, 3 g BSF/ kg feed can be a sustainable feed additive for enhancing the feed conversion ratio and immune indices of the growing chicks.

The study was conducted at the Al-Khalis dairy production station in Diyala Governorate during the 2021-22 production season on 63 Holstein cows to determine the effect of polymorphism of the prolactin gene (PRL) on their milk production, its components, and their reproductive traits. The results showed that the three TT, TC, and CC genotypes had highly significant different ratios at 77.78%, 19.05%, and 3.17%, respectively. The frequency of the T and C alleles was 0.87 and 0.13, respectively. Total milk yield was significantly higher in the TC genotype at 4398.00 kg followed by the TT and CC genotypes at 3957.98 kg and 3505.00 kg, respectively. The polymorphism of PRL had a significant effect on milk composition but did not affect the reproductive traits of the cows. Therefore, the selection of hybrid individuals according to the prolactin gene will help increase milk production, and economic returns, and can thus be used for improving the genetics of dairy cows.

This field experiment assessed the performance of 50 newly introduced bread wheat genotypes acquired from the ICARDA agency. The genotypes were sown under rainfall conditions at two separate locations at the end of November 2022. The planting was organized in lines spanning three meters in length and 0.5-meters apart. The study employed a randomized complete block design. The findings showed significant variations among the bread wheat genotypes for all evaluated traits, except for flag leaf area and spike length, across both locations. This pattern persisted in the interaction between genotypes and locations with the Zenawa location outperforming Semel. Subsequently, to advance the program, ten superior genotypes (G1, G6, G7, G12, G13, G25, G27, G37, G38, and G40) were selected based on their high yield and favorable growth traits. These were subject to further investigation in three separate locations during the winter season of 2023-2024. This research initiative received support from the MCC and ZSVP organizations, underscoring the collaborative efforts driving the investigation. This study offers valuable insights into the adaptability and productivity of recently introduced bread wheat genotypes, with implications for future breeding programs and agricultural practices to enhance wheat cultivation in Iraq under diverse environmental conditions.

Soil erosion is a major natural hazard in the Mediterranean Rif mountainous, leading to dam siltation, land degradation, and other environmental and economic problems. The eight thematic areas selected in this study for water soil erosion mapping were rainfall, lithology, LULC, slope, soil, soil (USLE), NDVI, and temperature. The analysis of the spatial distribution of the classes within the qualifying soil erosion maps indicates that PAP/RAC is the most convincing, while EPM is the most effective for quantifying models. Field validation confirmed the accuracy and consistency of the PAP/RAC model with the observed data, reinforcing its reliability for capturing erosion processes in the Boudinar basin and highlighting areas for potential improvement in future modeling efforts. To address soil erosion in the basin, the use of the EPM model to estimate average annual soil erosion and PAP/RAC to generate a potential erosion map is recommended.

This research evaluated the application levels for agricultural extension agents in precision agriculture techniques for improving agricultural resource usage in Salah Al-Din governorate. It examined their effectiveness, organizational planning, monitoring, implementation, and evaluating abilities and analysed differences based on specific variables. These included productivity gains from precision agriculture techniques, agricultural extension fields, qualifications, length of service, job grade, and participation in activities related to precision agriculture techniques. For this purpose, a questionnaire was prepared (with verified virtual and content validity) covering two areas, namely personal characteristics, and 30 norms comprising five measures that were developed after reviewing the literature and conducting interviews with specialists. Data was collected from 1/11/2024-28/1/2025. The research community represented 14.54% of the total 385 respondents, with the sample of 56 employees in Tikrit Governorate. Twenty employees were excluded from the final research sample. The statistical methods employed were the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests, and the Z-score. Key findings on the effectiveness of precision agriculture revealed a mixed picture, with two factors being particularly significant, i.e., agricultural extension and office qualifications. These had a substantial impact on how precision agriculture is evaluated. The main conclusions highlight the crucial role of specialists and senior staff in extension programs, who play a vital part in precision agriculture.

Active compounds from annatto seeds were extracted using alcoholic solvents (ethanol) and synthesized with chitosan nanoparticles (CsNPs) to analyze their properties and antibacterial activity. The annatto seed extracts yielded 4.3% of the powder. The CsNPs were synthesized via ion coagulation which is simple and does not require harsh chemicals. The particle sizes ranged from 39.48 to 43.48 nm. UV-Vis analysis showed an absorption peak at 214 nm for the annatto extract/ chitosan nanoparticles (A Ex/CsNPs), indicating their formation by the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomenon. The presence of functional groups such as alcohols, phenols, and alkaloids in the extract and nanoparticles was confirmed. Heightened intensity of the amide peak of 1580–1650 cm⁻¹ in the nanoparticles was also shown, indicating the interaction of the bioactive compounds with chitosan. The nanoparticles exhibited two peaks at angles of 19.9° and 23.7°, confirming their crystalline structure. Lower peak intensity was observed upon incorporation of the extract, indicating increased flexibility of the polymer chains. Microscopic images revealed nanoparticles of sizes 39.48–43.48 nm with rough surfaces, which may enhance interaction with biological targets. The alcoholic extract (A Ex) showed activity against bacteria such as E. coli and S. aureus at a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1.17 mg/ml, while the A Ex/CsNPs recorded higher activity of 92.08 μg/ml with three replicates. This activity is attributed to phenolic compounds, flavonoids (antioxidants), and alkaloids that weaken bacterial membranes, and disrupts their cellular functions. It can be concluded that nanoparticles loaded with annatto extract have superior antibacterial activity compared to the crude extract due to their greater stability and surface area. These findings offer new avenues for applications in the pharmaceutical and food industries as natural alternatives to synthetic preservatives.

This study investigated the development and application of sodium alginate film combined with nisin and pomegranate peel extract (PoPE) to improve the preservation of minced meat. Five different edible film levels were evaluated, namely control (T1), sodium alginate with 2.5% PoPE and nisin (T2), sodium alginate with 5% PoPE and nisin (T3), sodium alginate with 7.5% PoPE and nisin (T4), and sodium alginate with 10% PoPE and nisin (T5). It was then applied to minced beef and stored for examination at 0, 7, and 14 days at 4 °C. All coated meat except for the control were found to be significantly acceptable. The physical, antioxidant, and mechanical properties of the alginate films with varying concentrations of PoPE and nisin were characterized. They exhibited significant increases in antioxidant activity, reduced water solubility, and improved tensile strength in line with the amount of PoPE content. Over the 14 day period, these active films, particularly those with higher PoPE and nisin, significantly inhibited microbial growth including aerobic, sychrotrophic, and Enterobacteriaceae counts, and slowed lipid oxidation on the minced meat. This decrease TBARS and peroxide values. Active films substantially improved the color, aroma, appearance, and overall acceptability of the meat in comparison to the control. The results suggest that alginate films containing PoPE and nisin provide a promising natural and biodegradable solution for extending the shelf life, maintaining quality, and enhancing the safety of minced meat. This solution has potential for enhancing food preservation in the meat industry.

This laboratory experiment was conducted at the College of Agriculture of the University of Anbar to study the effect of soil gypsum content, water salinity level, and application method (continuous and intermittent water addition) on cumulative water infiltration rates in soil. Three soil types containing 90 g kg-1, 197 g kg-1, and 463 g kg-1 gypsum were packed into 40-cm-long transparent columns up to a height of 30 cm in bulk densities approximating field conditions. Saline water was applied at electrical conductivity levels of 2, 4, and 8 dS m⁻¹ using both continuous and intermittent application techniques. Cumulative infiltration was measured over time by tracking the volume of absorbed water. Results indicated that infiltration increased with higher gypsum content, peaking at 14.70 cm after 30 minutes in the soil with 463 g kg-1 gypsum, while the lowest rate of 10.91 cm was observed in the soil with 90 g kg-1 gypsum. Conversely, higher water salinity reduced infiltration, with values decreasing from 10.90 cm at 2 dS m⁻¹ to 6.00 cm at 8 dS m⁻¹. Under continuous irrigation, infiltration reached 13.7, 10.7, and 8.3 cm for increasing salinity levels, whereas intermittent irrigation resulted in 12.09, 9.5, and 7.5 cm, respectively. These findings emphasize the combined effects of gypsum content, salinity, and irrigation technique on soil water dynamics.

This field experiment was conducted in the spring of 2023 at Agricultural Research Station 1 of the College of Agriculture at the University of Anbar in Ramadi, Iraq. It investigated the effect of different levels of nano and conventional potassium (0, 300, 15, 30 kg K2O ha-1 designated K0, Kt, Kn1, and Kn2, respectively), spraying nano silicon (0, and 4 ml L-1 or Si0 and Si1, respectively), and different irrigation levels (35, 45, 55% or I1, I2, and I3, respectively) of plant-available water on the available and absorbed concentrations of potassium and silicon, potato yield, some production indicators, element utilization efficiency, and water use efficiency. The results show that water stress level I1 had the highest value for water use efficiency at 5.967 kg m-3. Treatment I1Kt recorded the highest value for available potassium concentration in the soil after harvest, at 181.57 mg kg-1, the highest dry matter yield of aerial parts (4693 kg ha-1), and the highest percentage of dry matter in tubers (22.29%). The I3Kn2 treatment achieved the highest values in potassium concentration in potato tubers (2.335%), total potassium uptake (143.04 kg ha-1), and total silicon uptake (15.54 kg ha-1). The I3Si1 treatment gave the highest value of 0.420% in silicon concentration in the vegetative part, and I1KtSi1 recorded the highest marketable yield with a value of 52.418 Mg ha-1. Treatment I3Kn2Si1 registered the highest potassium concentration in the vegetative part (3.855%) and the highest silicon concentration in tubers (0.338%).

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) have specific properties enabling them to be a drug delivery system and to be incorporated into animal feed. Toxicity has received much attention due to nanoparticles for their natural and therapeutic risks. This experiment investigated the protective effects of resveratrol on liver function and histological damage from ZnONPs. Resveratrol was extracted from grape skins by analytical methods while nano zinc was prepared bioactively from plant extracts. For this investigation, 24 albino rats were utilized and divided into four groups of six rats each. Group 1 (control) did not receive any treatment, group 2 received 50 mg/kg of ZnONPs and 100 µg/kg resveratrol, group 3 received 50 mg/kg of ZnONPs and 150 µg/kg of resveratrol, and group 4 received only 50 mg/kg of ZnONPs. The rats were euthanized and their blood samples collected by cardiac puncture for analysis at the end of the experiment. Results from the ZnONPs group showed a significant increase in liver enzymes (such as ALT and AST) and oxidative stress indicators compared to the control group (P<0.05). Histological examination confirmed severe damage, manifested by sinusoidal dilatation and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the liver. In contrast, co-treatment with resveratrol significantly decreased these biomarkers, returning them to near-normal levels (P<0.05 in most measurements). The samples also showed a significant improvement in liver structure and a reduction in inflammatory damage indicators. However, administering resveratrol in combination with ZnONPs significantly reduced the activity levels of these enzymes. These results indicate that treatment with ZnONPs led to certain changes or abnormalities, such as having a protective effect on liver tissues, mitigating the observed changes. Also, protection of hepatocytes was observed from deleterious effects solely due to cellular degeneration and temporal blockage during the zinc nanoparticle treatment. Therefore, it can be concluded that resveratrol can effectively prevent liver dysfunction in mice and protect their cells from symptoms caused by ZnONPs.

The study was conducted at the Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Anbar University to detect toxigenic fungi contaminating poultry feed and the concentrations of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) in them. The results showed the feed contaminated with various fungi, the most prevalent being Aspergillus spp at 57%, followed by Penicillium spp, Fusarium spp, and Mucor spp at 26, 9 and 3%, respectively. Colorimetric analysis on thin layer chromatography (TLC) plates revealed that isolates producing AFB1 formed 66.66% of the total number of isolates while it was 100% for OTA. AFB1 detection in poultry samples showed that the highest concentration of the toxin was in samples from the city of Hit at 50-120 ppb, 30-75 ppb in those from Saqlawiyah, and 40-60 ppb in samples from Fallujah and Al-Qa`im city. As for OTA, the results showed lower contamination levels than for AFB1 at 45-50 ppb in samples from the city of Al-Karmah, and 30-40 ppb in Ramadi and Al-Qa`im. Samples from Fallujah city recorded the lowest OTA concentration at 30-40 ppb while none was detected in feed samples from the city of Saqlawiyah, Hit, and Ana.

Organic rice farming is receiving greater attention from the community due to their increasing awareness of healthy food consumption patterns. This study aimed to determine the level of welfare of organic rice farmer households in Central Java and Yogyakarta. Sampling was carried out using proportional stratified random sampling from five districts for a total of 150 respondents. Data analysis used the good service ratio (GSR), farmer household income exchange rate (FHIER), and farmer exchange rate (FER) approaches. Farming households with GSR values of 0.36 and FER values of 108.66, respectively are classified as prosperous. Meanwhile, farmers are still classified as not prosperous because of the FHIER values of 0.89. The results also show that incomes from organic rice farming contributed to around 31.51% of household incomes. Therefore, farming is feasible to be developed because it has the potential as a source of income for the welfare of farmer households. In addition, the results of the study can be used by stakeholders in supporting productivity, welfare, and even the food security of farmers to encourage economic growth.