IRAQI JOURNAL OF DESERT STUDIES

Improving crop tolerance of salinity is one way to maximize production on irrigated land in arid and semiarid areas where the salinity of soils and irrigarion water are problems. A screening and selection techniques were used to examine variability to NaCl tolerance and to improve salt tolerance in five population material. A total of 4-6 of individuals were
obtained from 5,000 seeds of each of the five F2 population sample with improved salinity tolerance in a sand experiment in which samples of the progenies of selected individuals were grown at 100 and 175 mM NaCl. There were differences between individuals in the five F2 populations and between selected wheat lines in their overall sensitivities to salinity. The
progeny of those individals selected and seedling produced significantly higher total dry weight and in all cases except one were superior in yield at maturity when compare to the yield of the F2 controls.

There are many dry wadis in the Iraqi western plateau ,its directions are frome west to east or north-east .Some of these wadis are inland drainage and others end the Euphrates .Four patterns of drainage are distinguished dendritic ,parallel ,centripetal,and radial pattern. The two researcher studied wadi Al-Shuaib and wadi Al-Asadi as example for the others wadis . The bifurcation of the first wadi is 3-3,3 and 2-4 for the second wadi.The basin circularity of wadi Al-Shuaib is 0,42 and 0,38 for wadi Al-Asad.These geometric characterstics indicat that the basins of the two wadis have longitudinal shape . The relief ratio of wadi Al-Shaib is 2,2 m-km and 5,74m-km for wadi Al-Asadi .This fact affects on the geomorphologyical processes.

This study covers the examination of groundwater chemical analyses from the Hydrogeological System between Hemrin Anticline and Tigris River, surrounding the area of Shari Salt Marsh. The established Hydrogeochemical Model shed light on brines enrichment and Thenardite precipitation .
The physico-chemical processes that occurred within the groundwater of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Hydrogeological Units and their interrelationships, could be considered as main direct factor affecting the hydrogeologic regime of brines enrichment and accumulation, followed by the effectiveness of the stream water and sheet runoff water during rainy seasons .
The main hydrogeochemical mechanisms that occurred within the hydrogeologic system are :-
1-Dissolution and leaching mechanisms.
2-Adsorption and ion exchange mechanisms.
3-Mixing and enrichment mechanisms, due to the following processes :
a-Molecular Diffusion Process, (causes a mixing at a contact front between two fluids).
b-Mechanical Dispersion Process, (causes a mixing due to irregular tortuous flow at different velocities).
c-Convection Transport Process, (Solute mixing due to bulk flow of groundwater and velocities).
4-Precipitation of salts hosted in Shari Salt Marsh, included (Thenardite, Halite, Gypsum).

The Experiment has been conduct during spring season of 2005, at Al-Sofiya village, east of Ramadi city . The Experiment was conduct to study the response of Sorghum bicolor L.Moench to Nitrogen fertilizer . Two hereditary structures ( local , Ingath ) were chosen under the effect of four nitrogen levels ( 80 , 120 , 160 , 200 ) kgN/h. Those were put in split plot design with three replicates . The two varieties were planted in the first week of April in lines inside the plots at distance ( 50 x 15 ) cm . The ( Ingath ) cultivar gave the highest rate of ( leaves number , the plant dry weight , seeds yield), while the local cultivar gave high rate of plant height . There is no significant difference between two cultivars in seed weight . The increasingly addition of nitrogen led to the increase of ( plant height , weight of 300 seeds , The plant dry weight , seeds yield ) significantly where the nitrogen level 200kgN/h resulted in a heighest rate for those characteristic ( 180,3 cm , 6.7 gram , 159.8 gram , 8.3 t/h respectively . So we can conclude that the sorghum bicolor L .Moench responds to the addition of Nitrogen at high addition rates .

The project contains six stages, four of them established on the bases of complete reclamation, the other two stages established on partial reclamation . Each stage include a number of agricultural feudal estate(sectors). The first incentive for installing the project is aiming to reclamate the land from salts and to improve the productivity of land. The economical and social objectives of reclamation mentioned later in this research and its great importance.
These drainage systems performed a great function (duty) on the level of salt contention which appears from the stoppage of the prevailing salty phenomenon on the agricultural landing addition to the improvement land productivity, the rise of average of agricultural yields which its study has taken into consideration formal statistics, comparing it through the two stages after and before reclamation.
The long distance for this project is about 90 km, along both side which contain about 314,31 kg of lateral and secondary drainage, but the length of collective drains is about 304,08 km when the covered drains are 790 km long.
On the level of reclamation, the percentage of reclamated land is about 76,84% where the percentage of non reclamated land is 23.16% and that of the total of the all area chosen for this project which is 9000 donum.
The importance of the drainage for combat desertification could be seen through parting on end to prevailing salts which lead to arise (increase) in the general average of agricultural yields from 548.18 kg to general average for these yields which becomes 1315.45 kg according to the official statistics which were depended for this research.

The study deduced to estimate the interaction between chemical fertilization, broadcasting and fertigation and organic fertilization levels 0, 24 and 48 t. hect-1 in tomato. The results showed increasing of soil salinity with increase of peatmoss. The highest increase was obtained from M2 X fertigation interaction of 4.3ds.m-1. The same treatment shows higher increase of T.S.S. reach's about 5.43%, while fruit rigidity was lowered with increase of applied peatmoss.

Characterization and classification of some depression soil in the western desert were studied . The following conclusion :
1- Calcification processes are the important one, while topography is the active factor in the desert zone
2- According to Morphology , Argillic horizons were investigated in some depressions . This horizon fromed under pluvial periods .
3- All the soils were good fetrtile, with good water and soil management , and it classified under class three .

In this study remote sensing was employed with Geographical Information System (GIS) for stuydy the hydrochemistry properties for Haditha dam reservoir waters that is located on Euphrates river because of its important in Iraq , where traditional methods do not fulfill the demands for study quality and situation of water of great areas which need enough time and money . Analytic study was performed on hydrochemical aspect through samples of store water and make physical and chemical water tests with GIS to product layers represent place distribution nature of these elements on the whole area of reservoir .
Also , analytic study for spectrum reflectance value for study area was performed from satelitte image taken by Landsat – 7 that contain ETM+ sensor and for all spectrum bands ranged between ( 0.45 - 12.5 ) micrometer , and extraction correlation factor between spectral reflectance and all water quality parameters whose tests and conclusion the following :
1. High correlation between turbidity and spectral reflectance and for all bands and maximum correlation value that was in band 7 (0.82) and band 3 (0.80) .
2. High correlation between spectral reflectance and reservoir depths in short wavelengths , where the value for band 1 was ( 0.72) ,band 2 ( 0.71) and band 3 (0.64 ) , and other bands have low correlation .
3. A clear correlation between spectral reflectance and tempreature in short wavelengths where values in band 1 ( 0.62) and band 2 ( 0.55) but it disappear in by increase of wavelength .
4. There are no correlation between spectral reflectance with other water quality parameter was tests .

In addition , through satellite image was taken by thermal band for study area extraction the tempreature for the sites which water taken from , and ranged between ( 17-25) c° and compaired with field tempreature that ranged ( 23-26) c° which appear that there is no thermal pollution in the reservoir , and from Arcview - GIS program a reservoir area was calculated from satellite image which was 437 km2 at level 143.75 m above sea level , whereas the area calculated from Haditha dam department was 426 km2 where the difference that is very small between two areas .

The study was conducted in the west desert area of Iraq, southern of Al-Qaim city during the winter season of 2005/2006, to study the response of two wheat cultivars Abu Ghraib and Iba 95 to fertilizer treatments, Diammonium Phosphate DAP + Urea (0+0, 160 +160, 200 +200) kg/h under pivot sprinkler irrigation system from under ground water. The results showed the following:
1- Abu Ghraib cultivar gave significant results at p 5 % compared with Iba 95 cultivar in productivity, morphological and Physiological characters. Abu Ghraib cultivar gave high rate of yield 2560.3 kg/ha in comparison with Iba 95 cultivar, it gave 2246.6 kg/ha.
2- The three fertilizer treatments gave grain yield (1650, 2319, 3712) kg/ha for Abu Ghraib variety respectively, While the same treatments gave grain yield (1240, 2160, 3340) kg/ha respectively for Iba 95 variety.
3- The high fertilizer level treatment (200 +200) kg/ha gave the highest values in all studied characters including percent of N, P, K, in dry weight and grains, and % protein & starch in grains for both cultivars.
4- Abu Ghraib cultivar was more able to bear desert conditions than Iba 95 cultivar.

The experiment had done in a field 15 Km north est of Ramadi City during Autumn Season 2003 to study the effect of soil conditioners under drip Irrigation system on some physical properties for Gypsiferous soil, (55% gypsium) .
The experiment had planned according to R . C . B . D design . treatmeents were distributed in to five blocks with five replicates . Soil conditioners ( Organic matter 0%,O0, 2%,O1 , Bentonite 0%,B0 , 1%,B1 , 2%,B2 ) were added to the soil according to dry weight soil in aplace of tubereles planting by making cylindrical hole for adepth of 40 c.m and diameler 40 c.m . percentage of Gupsum was changed by Addition a loam soil of the field in alevels 0% , 25 % , 50% , 75% , 100% , so percentage of Gupsum in soil became 55% , 43% , 32% , 21% , 12% .
The effect of different treatments on horizantal and vertical water distribution, water conductivity , modulus of rupture , bulk density had studied ,
The results of study in a brevily are the control The treatment which includes aGupsum 55 % causes to increas water conductivity to 21.40 c.m / day , decreas water content to 17 % and modulus of rupture to 5.11 kpa , bulk density were 1.50 , 1.60 , 1.63 , mgm /m3 for depths ( 0-10),( 10-25 ),( 25-40 ) c.m. The adjustment of Gupsum content effect significant on physical property . for example . The changing of Gupsum to 12 % causes to in crease water content more than 30 % . water conductivity was 4.06 c.m / day , modulus of rupture increase to 14.32 kpa , density were 1.25 , 1.35, 1.40 for depths (0-10),(10-25),(25-40)cm.The Addition of organic matter (2%) to soil causes to increase water content more than 19 % ,water conductivity increased to 42.24 c.m / day in atreatment G0O1B0, modulus of rupture decreas to 4.08 kpa in atreatment G0O1 B0, The organic matter causes to decrease bulk density for all depths , The values were 1.50 , 1.60 , 1.63 , Mgm / m3 in atreatment G0O0B0 , while in alevel 2 % , The values became 1.40 , 1.50 , 1.55 Mgm /m3 for adepths (0-10),(10-25), (25-40) cm The Addition of Bentonite to soil causes to decrease water conductivity for soil from 21.40 c.m / day in atreatment G0O0B0 to 2.30 c.m / day in atreatment G4O0B2 , water content in crease to 18 % in alevel of Addition 2 % of Bentonite The values of modulus of rupture were increase to 14.83 kpa in atreatment G4O0B2 , bulk dencity for three depths were increase to 1.75 Mgm /m3 is anAddition level of Bentonite 2 % for adepth (25-40c.m) in atreatment G0O0B2. The Addition of organic matter 2 % , Bentonite 2 % to soil with gupsium content 12 % causes to improve the properties of gypsiferous soil ,by increase contat holding capacity to3.8 % in atreatment G4O1B2 value of water conductivity was 4.50 c.m / day in aprevious treatment , value of modulus of rupture was 12.76 kpa , bulk density for soil were 1.44 , 1.50 , 1.60 , for three depths respectively .

The waters plays basic role not maybe just in the national strategies of counters, but also in each rezone whatever of its area. This is true because water represents the basis for establishing agricultural project and developing human and natural resources. Water has an effective role in social and economic activities. It is vital for every living creature.
In this study data concerning the possibility to exploit underground water in
Al-Anbar Province have been Collected. Some of these data concerning the natural aspects, wells preparation and exploited areas for agricultural production depending of availability water of these wells.
The study has been divided into the following sections:
The first section represents the theoretical formwork which includes the introduction, problem of the study, its hypothesis, objectives and limitation of the area of study and its significance.
The second section deals with the natural texture of the area of study. An emphasis has been placed on the geological structures and weathering and their relationship with the possibility of cultivation.
The third section analyses the results on the basis of the distribution of undergrad wells in the area of study and their hydrological properties.
The fourth section presents phases of agriculture investment of underground water in the area of study by the public and private sectors.
The fifth section introduces future trends to invest underground water in the area of study through projects that aim at future development.
The study ends with results the researcher could amine at and his future recommendations.

The aims of This study were to study Antimicrobial activity of volatile oils from three kinds of plants which are : Nigella sativa , Foeniculum vulgare , Rosmarinus officinalis , a well known medicinal plants and there are used commonly in traditional medicine .
Volatile oils extracted by steam distillation, The study shows that volatile oils of all plants studied were had antibacterial activities . The volatile oil of Nigella sativa was found to be the most active against the gram-positive bacteria .Bacillus cereus is the most sensitive kind of bacteria to volatile oils, as the inhibition zone was( 48 ± 1.1)mm . while the inhibition zone for Echerichia coli was ( 33 ± 1.2) mm.
On the other hand the study shows that Candida.albicans is the most sensitive kind of fungi to volatile oils as the inhibition zone for the was ( 41 ±1) mm when Nigella sativa volatile oil used, while the inhibition zone for Aspergillus niger (which is the least sensitive fungi to volatile oils) was ( 34 ±0.5) mm when the same volatile oil used.
The volatile oil of Nigella sativa and Rosmarinus officalis caused complet inhibition bacterial growth at the concentration 300 and 600 ng/ml respectively, while the Foeniculum vulgare volatile oil caused complet inhibition of bacterial growth at the concentration 2500 ng / ml .
The Nigella sativa volatile oils caused inhibition of fungi growth at the concentration (400) ng / ml , while Rosmarinus.officinalis volatile oil inhibited growth of Candida. albicans and Fusarium oxysporum. at the concentration 600 ) ) ng / ml . Volatile oils of Nigella sativa , Rosmarinus.officinalis and Foeniculum vulgare shows high antibacterial activity as compared with Gentamycine antibiotic . while the same volatile oils shows higher antifungal activity than Miconazol.

Abstract This study was recorded for the first time in Iraq , It is Silene macrodonta Boiss. during the field trips in the Desert Region – West Desert District , in Wadi Swab near the Syria – Iraqian boundaries in aspring seasons of 2006 and 2007 . The species was diagnosed and taxonomic treatment as will as amorphological description with drawings and figures . The plant samples were deposited in the National Herbarium of Iraq with the numbers 57931 , 57932 , 57933 ,and in the Al-Anbar University Herbarium with the numbers 1526 , 1527 , 1528

In this study the specific data of twenty two desert plugging are gathered . some of the plugging were built , one of them is under construction , and the others are completely in design stage.
The surface water area which is exposed to the air in each plugging calculated from the volume and dimension measurements .
According to the atlas of Iraq climate, the average value of rainfall were calculated for the data of twenty years ago, the infiltration and evaporation loss value is of about 191575108.8 m3 / year. which equal to 75.89% of all plugging water. According to new irrigation system . using Surge irrigation , the value loss will sufficient for 278382.58 d . for Wheat crop and 589364.58 d. for Barley crop .in addition to human accumulation, This leads us to say ; that 14966 families can be worked in the suggested area , supposing each family works in 20 d for Wheat crop and also, 31686 families worked in Barley crop. In the trees field state, and according to (PRD)system the value of water loss sufficient for 40181518 Olive trees and 52247756 Grape trees .
86411 and 112360 families can be worked in Olive and Grape field, respectively , when 500 trees were planted by each family.
Any agricultural project may failure in two sequence water deficit periods, but in the periods of water surplus(wet store) the reserved water in ground treasurers can be used for irrigation along twenty aridity years in the following :
19720.08 of wheat crop
39073.83 of Barley crop
2 846380 of Olive trees
3 701129 of Grape trees
To avoid the large loss caused by evaporation and infiltration mechanisms and to create work chances for people, this study which deals with water storage in ground treasurers.
Water recommended to build agricultural villages for investment, finally study includes the consumption of water for human use at every years for every family .