Al-Qadisiyah Journal For Agriculture Sciences

. A factorial experiment was carried out by foliar application of zinc in two forms zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) prepared from aqueous zinc acetate using a wet chemistry method, which were characterized using an atomic force microscope (AFM) as having dimensions of 40-80 nanometres. The foliar of two zinc forms were applied in three concentrations (25, 50 and 100 ppm) in addition to distilled water with the aim of studying their effect on the growth and productivity of durum wheat plants ( Triticum durum, L var. Sham 7) grown under the conditions of Deir Ez-Zor Governorate-Syria. The results showed that adding zinc had a significant effect on all tested morphological indicators (plant heights - chlorophyll - number of branches/plant - number of spikes /plant) and productivity (1000 kernel weight, grain and straw productivity), as well as the grain content of some elements (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and zinc). The treatments for adding zinc oxide nanoparticles were significantly superior to those of zinc sulphate in all tested indicators. as the lowest values for the tested indicators were recorded in the regular zinc sulphate treatment at a concentration of 25 ppm compared to the rest of the treatments except for the control treatment, while the Nano zinc oxide treatments at a concentration of 50 and 100 ppm showed superiority significantly in all studied indicators especially in increasing wheat productivity by 24- 26%, compared to the control treatment.

This study aimed to extract apple juice from green apple fruits previously treated with aqueous extract of apple peels, before storing the extracted juice at a temperature of (4)°C, for a period of (30) days, and comparing it with the juice of untreated fruits in order to determine the effect of inhibiting the polyphenol enzyme. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) in apple fruits according to the treatments mentioned in some characteristics of apple juice extracted from those fruits. The studied characteristics are: residual enzymatic activity, total soluble sugars, ascorbic acid content, total phenols content, and browning index, as they were immersed in Fruits treated with aqueous extract of apple peels had a significant effect in reducing the residual enzymatic activity and ascorbic acid values of the treated fruit juice, while the total soluble sugars and total phenols content had a significant increase in their values after the end of the storage period, while the browning index values were not affected at the end of storage.

Laboratory experiment was conducted in the College of Agricultural Engineering at Al-Furat University in Deir Ez-Zor. The seeds of durum wheat (Triticum durum L., var. Sham 7) were soaked before planting in Petri dishes with two solutions: silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and regular silver nitrate (AgNO3) at four concentrations (10-20-40-80 ppm) in addition to soaking in distilled water (control treatment) for a duration soaking of 1,2 and 3 hours. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized by green methods from extract of dried Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves and the resulting silver nanoparticles exhibit a spherical shape with dimensions of 12 nanometers as described by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The surface plasmon resonance peak at a wavelength of 450 nm is based on UV-Vis spectroscopy. The results of seed soaking experiment indicated that the seed soaking of durum wheat before planting in silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) or regular silver nitrate (AgNO3) for two hours had a significant effect on the studied germination indicators (germination rate, germination percentage, shoot length, root length, dry weight of shoots and roots). The values were higher when seeds were soaked in a 20 and 40 ppm of silver nanoparticles. The study recommends to soaking wheat seeds in a solution of silver nanoparticles at a concentration of 20-40 ppm for two hours before planting, also recommends to conducting several seed priming experiments with different nanomaterials for other varieties and crops.

Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.)De.Wit is cultivated in Iraq as an ornamental plant .In this paper anatomical characters of different parts of Leucaena leucocephala were studied in details ,the study included the characteristics of the epidermal cells ,as the anticlinal walls and the distribution of stomatal complexes of the leaflet ,stem, calyx and corolla .The ornamentation of cuticle as well as the internal structure of the stem ,pulvinus ,petiole ,leaflet and fruit were described , different types of crystals distribution in different parts of the plant also present .It was found that most characters have a good taxonomic value as a diagnostic characters for this species.

This study aims to estimate the in situ effect of Phoenician juniper leaves on the physicochemical and microbiological quality of fermented goat’s milk stored under ambient conditions. In this study, we used two samples. The first sample was goat's milk flavored with juniper leaves, compared to the control sample without juniper leaves. We analyzed three physicochemical parameters: pH, titratable acidity, and temperature. Furthermore, the bacteriological analysis focused on the following parameters: Total aerobic mesophilic flora (TAMF), total coliforms (TC), fecal coliforms (FC), coagulase-positive Staphylococci (CoPS), and pathogenic bacteria (Salmonella spp and Listeria monocytogenes). The physicochemical results showed a change in the pH and titratable acidity of both samples with a higher acidity for the test sample compared to the control sample. This change was marked by an increase in a load of total aerobic mesophilic flora and lactic acid bacteria, a decrease in the total coliforms and thermotolerant coliforms, and the Staphylococci load in the test sample compared to the control sample, which experienced an increase in these bacterial parameters. For the test sample, juniper leaves reduced bacterial contaminants in fermented goat’s milk by 38% for total coliforms, 41% for fecal coliforms, and 89% for staphylococci. Both samples were free of Salmonella spp and L. monocytogenes. These results are probably due to the effect of bioactive compounds of Juniperus phoenicea L leaves known for their antimicrobial effect. This traditional practice of our ancestors can improve the quality of fermented goat’s milk stored even at ambient temperature.

Improvement in practices among farmers could play a major role in the reduction of brucellosis among farmers in the farming areas. The study aimed at assessing the practices enhancing the prevalence of brucellosis among rural women farmers in Kwara state, Nigeria. Three hundred women farmers were interviewed using a questionnaire with questions about socio-economic characteristics, living conditions of the respondents and their animals, level of awareness about brucellosis and practices they engaged in. Descriptive statistics, chi square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation were used to analyze data collected. About 72.0% of the respondents were aware of brucellosis. The study also revealed that 71.0% identified consumption of raw cow milk as a practice enhancing brucellosis transmission, 71.3% consumed raw cattle milk, majority consumed raw cattle meat products, 65.3% had contacts with infected people, 72.0% also had contact with infected cattle, 66.7% dumped of aborted cattle on the street and 72.0% treated sick cattle at home. Conclusively, Consumption of raw cow milk, consumption of raw cattle milk, consumption of raw cattle meat products, contact with infected people, contact with infected cattle, dumping of aborted cattle on the street and treating sick cattle at home were identified to be practices engaged in by the women farmers that enhanced the prevalence of brucellosis transmission. There is need for training programmes on preventive practices especially the rural women who have closest proximity to livestock in order to prevent human and animal morbidity and reduce the burden of brucellosis.

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of threshing speed and feeding weights on the maize threshing machine efficiency, threshing speed of the threshing machine included 270, 470 and 570 rpm, the feeding weights of the threshing included 4, 7 and 10 kg, in the specific productivity, specific energy consumed, threshing efficiency and broken cobs. The results showed that increasing the speed of threshing unit from 270 to 470 then to 670 rpm had a significant effect on specific productivity, specific energy consumed, threshing efficiency and broken cobs. Increasing the threshing feeding weights from 4 to 7 then 10 kg led to increasing the specific productivity along with a decreasing in the specific energy consumed, threshing efficiency and broken cobs .The highest specific productivity was 7.98 kg/kw.h. The least specific energy consumed 0.127 kwh/kg at the threshing speed of 470 rpm and the feeding weights 10 kg. While the threshing efficiency was 100% with broken cobs of 0%, at 470 rpm threshing speed for all of the feeding weights.

Camel milk is widely used in arid desert areas, and it is of great importance from a health standpoint due to its chemical content and health benefits, which increase after fermentation as a result of the decomposition of its components by lactic acid bacteria. Among these components are the proteins that, when decomposed, produce bioactive peptides that help in the prevention and treatment of many diseases. Thus, it is considered a functional food for human nutrition and to treat health problems in these areas due to its high nutritional value and ease of digestion. It has been proven that camel milk has many beneficial health effects, such as anti-bacterial activities because it contains lactoferrin, lysozyme, immune globulin, and lactoperoxidase, in addition to its ability to adjust cholesterol and blood sugar, and its possession of antioxidant, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, and anti-cancer activities, and to treat digestive system problems. The effectiveness of these activities increases after fermenting camel milk with Lactic acid bacteria and probiotics are a result of the activity of these bacteria to break down the milk components of fats, proteins and carbohydrates into fatty acids, peptides and polysaccharides that are beneficial from a health standpoint and contribute to prolonging the shelf life of fermented products made from camel milk.

The purpose of this article is to rank potential methods for extending the shelf life of Arabic bread. The majority popular kind of bread consumed in world is Arabic bread (AB). It is made from wheat flour which is regarded as having little nutritional value, the phonels and moisture were assessed. This investigation looked at the shelf life of arabic bread that was kept at 25 ºC for three days, using two levels of olive leaf extract 4and 8%, at the end of the three-day storage period, The findings showed that the yeast-mold counts in control rose to 5.77 log CFU/g, However those that contain 8% OLWE showed lower value was 3.47 log cfu/g).beside the total bacteria in control rose to 5.95log cfu/g, while those containing 8% OLWE showed lower value than 3 was 2 log cfu/g), the OLWEs had a favorable impact on the wheat loaves' microbiological shelf life when they were kept at 25 °C.

In southern Iraq, the local buffalo holds significant importance as a domestic animal. This study aimed to contribute to the documentation and preservation of buffalo by examining the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the tongue and lingual papillae in adult buffalo aged 1-1.5 years. Six tongue specimens from each buffalo were analyzed to investigate both anatomical and histological features, including the comparison of statistical data between the tongues. The study delineated various lingual papillae on the tongue, revealing the presence of five identifiable types on the tongue surface. Among these, three were categorized as mechanical papillae (filiform, conical, and lenticular), while two were identified as gustatory papillae (vallate and fungiform). Although certain morphological features of the buffalo tongue resembled those of other ruminants, the lingual prominence in buffalo was notably higher and more developed. Notably, there were more mechanical papillae, covered by a thicker, keratinized epithelium. The research concluded that the buffalo's tongue exhibited strength, highlighting its crucial role in food prehension. The buffalo's tongue, characterized by a gray or blackish color, a rounded margin without a median groove, and a sharp, rounded anterior edge, was found to possess distinctive properties contributing to its efficient grasping of food. Overall, the study identified key attributes of the buffalo tongue, shedding light on its potency and its role in facilitating the buffalo's feeding behavior.

A field experiment was carried out during the spring season of 2022 with the aim of determining the effects of spraying four concentrations of pyridoxine (0, 1500, 3000, 4500) mg/L on some growth characteristics and yield of three maize varieties (Al-Rabi’, Sarah, Baghdad3). The experiment was conducted at the research station of the College of Agriculture - University of Anbar using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The results of the study indicated a significant effect of pyridoxine on plant growth characteristics, and yield and its components. The concentration 4500 mg/L gave the highest average for leaf area, number of grains per ear, weight of 300 grains, and grains yield. The varieties differed significantly in most of the studied traits, as variety (Baghdad3) was distinguished by the shortest period of male and female flowering, the number of grains per ear, and the grain yield; while variety (Al-Rabi’) exceeded in the traits of leaf area and weight of 300 grains. The interaction between the varieties and the concentrations of pyridoxine also had a significant effect on most of the studied traits, as variety (Al-Rabi’) was superior in grain yield at concentration (4500 mg/L).

This study presents a comprehensive examination of the application of intercropping as a pivotal strategy for enhancing agricultural diversity, with a focus on evaluating diverse biological and Zeoponic nutrition systems in the intercropping of smooth vetch (Vicia dasycarpa) and coriander (Coriandrum sativum). The experimental design employed was a randomized complete block format with three replications, conducted at the Kermanshah University Research Farm during the cropping year of 2021-2022. The primary plot configuration included four different fertilizer types: a control without any fertilizer (C), with biofertilizer (B), with Zeoponic fertilizer (Z), and a compound strategy with biofertilizer combined with 50% Zeoponic fertilizer (BZ50). Subplots were dedicated to additive intercropping systems, namely: 100% vetch (V100), 100% vetch intercropped with 50% coriander (V100C50), and 100% vetch intercropped with 100% coriander (V100C100). The findings of this experiment revealed that the highest fresh forage yield (12,227 kg/ha) was achieved through the sole cropping of vetch with biofertilizer and a 50% application of Zeoponic fertilizer. Both species exhibited enhancement of different attributes when intercropped under various fertilization regimes. Particularly, the crude protein content (24.5%) and total ash content (10.25%) of vetch were highest in sole cultivation. Furthermore, in the intercropping system with the application of biofertilizers, the highest levels of indigestible fiber (39.6%) and neutral extract fiber (NDF) (34.44%) were recorded. Consequently, the additive intercropping of vetch and coriander is proposed as a recommendable strategy for a medicinal forage combination within the geographic scope of this study.

The present study concerns the plain of Arta, located in the northwestern part of Greece, in one of the most surplus water areas of the country, where the highest annual precipitation occurs. However, despite the region's water wealth, the plain is experiencing water shortages, posing challenges to agricultural productivity. This study delves into the examination of this paradox with the objective of offering insights into fundamental inquiries such as "What are the annual irrigation requirements of the plain and how are they distributed throughout the year?" “Is the water supplied by the collective irrigation network adequate to meet these requirements?" and "What proportion of irrigation needs are met by groundwater?". In the absence of data and measurements, a methodology was therefore developed for the approximation of the water balance, using software tools and drawing on the experience and knowledge of farmers, thus creating the basis for optimizing agricultural production and addressing management issues. To calculate the water requirements, the CROPWAT 8.0 software was used, utilizing the climatic data from six meteorological stations in the region, while a qualitative survey was conducted to estimate the rate of groundwater consumption, targeting a group of stakeholders and a group of farmers. The crops' annual water requirements were calculated to be 49.1 hm3, with drilled water meeting 41.1% of these needs. The public irrigation system's water supply is sufficient to meet the crops' annual water requirements. Water shortages and over-extraction of groundwater provide substantial management difficulties that need to be tackled. These challenges present significant chances for enhancement and growth and are essential for the region’s economic and social sustainability.