IRAQ JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

The present study was conducted during the growing seasons of 1998-2000 to test the effects of mechanical and manual ridging methods on yield components of 3 peanut genotypes; IPA 2 (Runner type), IPA 4 (Erect type) and IPA 8 (Semi erect type). None ridging method was also included in the study for comparison. The experiments were conducted in Al-Anbar province fields using randomized block design with 3 replications (R.C.B.D).
The results showed that the genotype IPA 2 surpassed the other genotype in terms of pods number/plant (65.33), pods weight /plant (92.97gm), seeds weight/plant (57.22gm) and pods yield (5894 kg/ha), meanwhile the genotype IPA 8 was superior in terms of 100 seed weight (71.40gm).Results showed that there are no significant differences between the genotypes in shelling percentage.
Mechanical and manual ridging were found to be superior in all test parameters in comparison to non-ridging method. No significant. differences were observed between mechanical and manual methods in pods number, pods weight plant and pods yield which were 5705 and 5505kg/ha respectively. Meanwhile non-ridging method showed a minimum average (46.69kg/ha). Manual ridging recorded the highest 100 seeds weight (72.17g).
The test geantypes expressed different responses to ridging methods. IPA 4 recorded the highest yield of pods 57.97% in mechanical ridging and 52.34% in manual ridging in comparison with non ridging treatment, while IPA 2 yield genotype increase was (0.50 and 16,14%) and in IPA 8 (10.38 and 8.73%) respectively.
The study recommended the necessary of ridging of peanut crop at early stage of pegs formation particularly with erect genotypes.

A field experiment was carried out during three successive growing seasons at Abu-Ghraib Experimental Research Station, Baghdad, Iraq. to evaluate the performance of 15 bread wheat genotypes seven of them were selected from breeding program started in 1989 (Buhoth 3042, 3046, 3041, 3037, 3031, 3036 and Buhoth 2506) and three introduced to Iraq (Kavko, ANZA and Vee\'S\'/Snb\'S). Sham 4, Sham 6, Tamoz 2, Abu Ghraib 3 and Ajeeba Cultivars were used for comparison.
Results showed that Buhoth 3036, Buhoth 3037, Buhoth 3041, Buhoth 3042 and Buhoth 3046 had the highest grain yield (5926, 5934, 6118, 6117 and 5993 kg/ha as average of three seasons respectively). The higher yield may be due to its yield components while the cultivars Sham 4 Sham 6, Tamoz 2, Abu-Ghraib 3 and Ajeeba gave 3623, 4572, 5744, 5676 and 3722 kg/ha respectively. The introduced cultivars Kavko, ANZA and Vee S/Snb S yielded 3032, 3004 and 3545 kg grain per ha respectively.

Experiment was carried out during 1999 and 2000 growing seasons at Abu Ghraib Station of State Board for Agricultural Research. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of different plant populations on yield and quality of two cotton cultivars. Split-split plot with RCBD design was used in three replications. Cultivars (Aashor-1-and Cooker 310) considered as main plots while the intra-row spacing (20, 25 and 30 cm) as sub plots. the sub-sub plots represented as the number of plant per hold (1 and 2 plant per hole). The population resulted from the combination of these variables were: 37,44,74,88 and 10 thousand plant/ha. Seed index, lint percentage, earliness index, yield of seed cotton and lint properties were determined.
Results showed that cooer 310 variety gave the highest cycled of seed (3451 Kg/ha). Intera row spacing of 25 cm significantly increased seed cotton by 4342 Kg/ha. Tow plants per hole gave higher yield of seed cotton. The significant effect on lint properties, earliness index and seed index was attributed to the varities rather than to different population.

An experiment was conducted in the fields of state Board of Agric. Research, during fall seasons in 2000 and 2001. The objective was to estimate the ability of improving F2 and F3 seeds of maize hybrids. The single cross hybrid Shahed (844 x 834) with its inbreds, F1 and F2 plants were used. In the first season, crosses were done between the plants of FI and F2 generations as female parents and inbred lines 834 and 844 as male parents. In the second season variatal trial for 8 genotypes was carried out using a randomized complete block design, with three replications. The single cross hybrid was superior to both parents with positive heterosis for all the characters. The results showed that crossing F1 and F2 plants with the parent 834 decreased inbreeding depression more than the parent 844, in all the traits. This indicates that the effect of crosses difference was due to the genotype of the parent, high heterosis (14.6, 4.5, 15.7, 21.4, 7.1 and 33.6%) and low inbreeding depression (3.0, 5.4, 1.8, 3.0 and 8.3%) for the characters, ear length, number of rows ear, number of grains/ row, grain weight, number of graina/ ear and grain yield (kg/ha.), occurred in the F1 and the crosses of (F1 x 834), respectively. It was concluded that crossing of F1 plants with the best parent, (of higher combining ability) reduced inbreeding depression .

The present study was conducted to evaluate the growing potential of different cultivars of sugar cane introduced to Iraq under the environmental conditions of Dhuloiya region. Results of two years showed the potential of growing sugar cane, in central Iraq as the analysis of sucrose percentage was more than 13% for several varieties. These varieties which belong to the early maturity groups will have great impact on the development of sugar cane productivity in that region. The results also show no restriction on the seed sprouting and plant growth. The study recommended that research should be continued in order to examine the varieties under different planting times and attention should be given to the evaluation of quality characteristics of the varieties.

An experiment was conducted at the College of Agriculture, University of Basrah during 1999; two soils were used, the first was of a clay texture of the dry marshes from Al- Ezar area and the second was loamy sand texture from Berjesia Research Station, Ministry of Agriculture.
The two soils placed in wooden columns with one side glass to study the effect of different aggregate sizes of clay soil (0.51, 0.5-2, 0.5-4, and 8 mm) and of loamy sand soil (<2 mm). Also effect of bitumen emulsion (1%) and the downward soil water movement of the surface irrigation was studied.
Results of water movement indicated that the downward water movement differed with the difference in aggregate size and texture. The highest velocity was observed in the 0.54 mm aggregate treatment and decreased as the aggregate size of the clay soil decreased. Similarly, the velocity in the sand soil was higher than that for the clay soil. Treating the soil with bitumen caused an increase in the downward water movement in both soils.

An experiment was carried out during spring growing season of 2001 and 2002 at the experimental fields of the General Company for Horticulture and Forestry at Abu-graib in order to find out the optimum cultural method and plant spacing between bean plants. Treatment included the combination of three cultural methods (rows, plots, and boards) and three levels of planting distances (20, 25, 30 cm) in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replicates. The main results are as follows:
Plant height was affected significantly by the cultural methods and plant spacing and the highest plant was obtained by planting in rows or plots methods at the narrow spacing 20 cm and 25 cm.
There was no significant effect for the treatments on the length and diameter of pod but the optimum pod weight was noticed by using row method combined with plant spacing of 30 cm.
Early and total yield increased significantly by planting on rows and plots where the early yield increased about 42.3, 21.2% by the row method at plant spaced on 20 and 25 cm respectively and there was an increment by 32.4, 57.7% in the total yield than using wider spaces.

An experiment was conducted at the vegetable farm, Hort. And Forst. Research Station during fall season of (1993-1994) and (1994-1995) to study the effect of three of planting dates (15th, 30th August, and 15th September) on yield of three cabbage cultivars (Broutis, Copenhagen, and Brunswick).
It was found that Broutis cultivars gave significant increase in total yield, head weight, diameter and height, than Copenhagen and Bruhswick cultivars in both seasons.
The interaction was significant, and the planting date 15th, August for Broutis cultivar gave a significant increase in total yield in both seasons which were 5.99 and 6.05 ton/donum, and in head weight, diameter and height in both seasons

Two field experiments were conducted at Muqdadiya and Khanaquin, iyala province during the season 2002, revealed the importance of the fusarium wilt disease caused by the fungus Fusarium solani on peanut plants. The percentage of infected plants ranged between 52.8 and 61.2%, while the yield significantly decreased to 1430 and 866 Kg/donum respectively. Treated seeds with biopesticide Tahadi Trichoderma harzianum at rate 5 g/Kg. seeds or with mixed fungicide Celest at rate 5 cc. /500 cc. water and the insecticide Cruiser at rate 16 cc. /Kg. seeds, achieved highest significant differences in yield components and yield compared to the other treatments. Untreated plants was 1780 and 1303 Kg/donum for Tahadi, while for mixed pesticides was 1820 and 1335 Kg/donum, in both locations respectively.
In spite of the treatment with the fungicides Celest or Captan increased the yield significantly compared to those plants treated with Cruiser, Sevin 85% or untreated plants. The results showed no significant differences between both fungicides, but their efficacy was significantly less than the biopesticide Tahadi or the mixed pesticides (Celest + Cruiser).

Results of insect control showed that Actara 25 WG at 3, 6 gm/tree concentration in Autumn season either of the tree prefery in furrow or trunk application caused high reduction in the population of oriental yellow scale Aonidiella orientalis (Newts.) on sour orange trees after 7 days. In spring season all insecticides used also effective in reducing the population density.
Meantime study showed that the perfect time for application was during spring where the emergence of crawler stage and activity of adults.
Search for natural enemies showed the occurrence of the followings predators feeding on the scale insect
1. Chrysopa mutata Mcl. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)
2. Scymnus apetzi Muls. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
3. Pullus syriacus Mars. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
4. Cybocephalus rufifrnos Ritt. (Coleoptrea: Nitidulidae)
The most domenent predator was Chrysopa mutata which showed high ability for feeding on all stage of the scale.
Mite predators were also recorded associating with scale insect:
1-Pronematus sp. (Acariformes: Tydeidae)
2-Anystis sp. (Parasitiformes: Anystidae)
One Exoparasitoid, Aphytis sp. (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) was recorded on 3rd and 4th male nymphal stage and female stage.

Inhibition of larval development was observed when 2nd and 4th larval instars of Trogoderma granarium were topically treated. Extract of A. micrantha-was more effective than that of R. raphanistrum-followed by C. colocynthis and H. crispum. Ethanol extracts were also examined and found to be more effective than that of water extracts followed by hexan and petroleum ether extracts respectively.
All the extracts had an effect on pupal and adult longevity, pupal weight and the total number of eggs laid by adult female.
Topical application of one day old T granarium pupae with extracts induced various deformations in the emerged adult and produced larval-pupal intermediates as well as arresting pupal development.

A laboratory trials have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Diethyl ether extract of oleander leaves Nerium oleander against three different aphid species, Aphis cracivora, A. gossypii and Acyrthosiphon solani. Three different concentrations were tested 1000,500 and 250 ppm. High mortality rate was obtained 90, 89.9 and72.78% using 1000ppm against the three aphid groups, respectively.

The study was conducted to study the effect of hormonal treatment on Barrenness ewes’ reproductive performance. Fertility (number of ewes lambed per ewes joined), Twinning percentage (number of twinning lambing per ewes lambed), Lambing percentage (number of lambs porn per ewes joined), mortality (number of lambs died ber lambs born) and weaning percentage (lambs weaned per ewes joined) for 25 Barrenness ewes were treated with Veteglan (Cloprostenol) and HCG.
Reproductive performance were affected significantly (P < 0.05) by hormonal treatment. Treated ewes were surpassed control group in there fertility (73.0% compared with 40.0%), twinning percentage (9.1% compared with 0.0%), lambing percentage (80.0% compared with 40%), mortality (25.0% compared with 50.0%) and weaning percentage (60.0% compared with 20.0%)
It was concluded that hormonal treatment increased fertility and weaning percentage in barrenness ewes by 33.0% and 40.0% res..

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of vinegar, sodium bicarbonate and potassium chloride in drinking water on broiler performance exposed to high ambient temperature (39-44C).
Six - hundred day old straight run broiler chicks (faobro) were randomly distributed at 4 - weeks of age to four treatment:
1- Treatment 1 control group.
2- Treatment 2: 0.1% vinegar added to drinking water.
3- Treatment 3: 0.5% sodium bicarbonate added to drinking water.
4- Treatment 4: 0.5% potassium chloride added to drinking water.
The results showed that the addition of potassium chloride to drinking water resulted in a significant (p < 0.01) improvement in body weight. While the addition of sodium bicarbonate and potassium chloride had resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) improvement in daily live weight gain, feed conversion ratio dressing percentage, edible parts percentages, abdominal fat percentage, water Consamption, productive index value, economic figure, and mortality percentage.

This study was conducted to evaluate semen characteristics of acclimatized New Hampshire males at 48 weeks of age supplemented with different levels of Vitamin A (zero, 20, 40 and 60 mg/Kg diet). Weekly evaluation were made for semen characteristics from September 2000 to January 2001.
The semen characteristics of groups treated with vitamin A showed, a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the ejaculate volume, highly significant increase (P < 0.01) in the mass and individual activity of sperms, significant decrease (P < 0.05) and highly significant decrease (P < 0.01) in the percentage of dead and abnormal sperms respectively. While sperm concentration and total number of spermatozoa per ejaculate tended to be higher in supplemented group's compared with control birds, however the differences were not significant.

Three different solutions 1-distilled water, 2- potassium phosphate buffer (0.2 M), pH7 and 3- sodium chloride (6%)+ boric acid (2%) were used separately to extract peroxidase from Calotropis procera leaves and stems at 4 C. The specific activity of enzyme extracted by solution (No. 3) was the highest, and considered as the best extraction solution.
`The enzyme was precipitated by gradual addition of ammonium sulphate to final saturation of 65%. The precipitate was dialyzed against distilled water, lyophilized and then applied on a column of sephacryl S-200 (60 x 1.5cm) for partial purification. The purification folds, enzyme yield and specific activity were 79.05%, 2.8 and 21502.59 respectively. The molecular weight of partially purified enzyme was 55.590 kda as determined by gel filtration chromatography and the carbohydrates content was 14.4%. The optimum temperature for enzyme activity was 55°C, and the enzyme was mest stable at 30-55°C over 10 min. incubation. The enzyme showed maximum activity at pH 5.5 and it retained more than 90% of original activity over 10 min. incubation at pH 5. While it lost more than 90% of the original activity at pH 8.5 over the same incubation period. The activation energy for conversion of substrate to product was 30.702KJ.
It was found that the obtained enzyme was effective against E. coli, B. subtilis and S. typhimurium as used in combination with hydrogen peroxide and sodium thiocyanate. In conclusion this enzyme could be considered to extend the shelf life of raw milk.

Goats and cows a casein were initially purified by fractionation with urea. While, the final purification was done on DEAE-Cellulose. The behavior of these two proteins was similar on the column of ion exchange. The molecular weight of goats and cows proteins were 28846 and 25409 Dalton respectively, while, the isoelectric points of these proteins were 4.5 and 4.2 respectively. The carbohydrate content of goats and cows a casein were 8.47 and 4.37 mg/g respectively, while, their phosphorus content were 17.66 and 9.57 mg/g respectively.
Amino acid analysis of the two pure proteins showed that goats a casein had lower acidic and higher basic amino acids than that of cows as casein, glutamic acidwas the highest concentration in the two proteins, however, no significant differences was noted between these two proteins in acidic and hydrophobic amino acids.

This study was carried out to test the effect of fat content of some local bread wheats on bread making. Results showed that Tammoze 3 flour was signifintly better in specific volume of the bread than the other varieties. Maxi back flour gave the lowest loaf specific volume (25%). No significant differences were found between loaf volumes of Abo-graib and Rabeaa flours. Taste panels were found to be in agreement with that of standard baking test. Lipid content varied among the flours of the tested wheat varieties. Both total and free lipids were lower in Maxiback flour than in the other varieties. Non polar to polar lipid (NL/PL)FL ratio in extracted free lipid was increased in Maxiback wheat while this ratio in Tammoze 3 wheat was decreased.

The research aim was to evaluate agricultural training courses in Nineveh center for extension & agricultural training in 2000The sample of research consisted of 135 trainees. The data collected by questionnaire from which was answered for each course by the trainees them selves. The questionnaire contained five main fields: trainers-training subject-means and aids used-preparation of training courses and results of training. Ten statements were appropriated with five levels. (excellent, very good, good, pass, weak) with degrees (5, 4, 3, 2, 1) respectively. The mean and percentage weight were used in analyzing the data.
The results revealed that trainer has occupied the first rank with percentage weight %73.378 training subject the second with %71.6, the preparation of training courses were in the third arrangement with percentage weight %71.318, means and aids the forth with %70.978 and training results were in the final with a percentage weight %69.422.
The result also showed that %34.074 of the trainees has got weak evaluation, %25.185 medium and %40.741 of high evaluation.
*Center Nineveh for Agric. extension and Cooperation - Nineveh, Iraq.

Many positive and negative effects are caused by the government intervention in price policy. The two kinds of effects affect the various sectors of national economy. It is of great important to evaluate these effects and determine their numeral values to recognize the efficiency or the weakness of this policy. One of these effects is the change in the government revenue and its revenue in foreign exchange and change in both consumer and producer surplus and the net economic loss in both sides of production and consumption. These two losses will be evaluated and calculated in this research.
The findings of the research refer to a net economic loss in both sides of production and consumption of corn occurred in most of the study years.
The value of the net economic loss in the production has been ranged between 2.5 thousand Dinar in 1970 which represents about 1% of the corn production in the same Year, and 956 million Dinar in 1994 which represent about 2% of the production of Corn in the same year too which was 2.24 Million Dinar.
As to the net economic loss in the consumption side, it has been ranged between a lower level of 7.5 thousand Dinar in 1970 which represents about 3% of the domestic consumption of Corn and a higher level of 7040 Million Dinar in 1994 which represents about 13% of the local consumption of Corn in the same Year. The net economic loss in the consumption was more than that of the production.