Mesopotamia Journal of Agriculture

A nursery experiment was conducted in the College of Agriculture and
Forestry, University of Mosul, Ninevah, Iraq to evaluate the effects of soaking
periods (12 and 24 hours), Gibberellic Acid ( 0, 100 and 200 mg.l-1 GA3) and
Benzyladenine (0,50 and 100 mg.l-1 BA) on pistachio seeds germination and
subsequent seedlings growth of Pistacia vera Ashoury cultivar.Soaking seeds for
12 hours in (200 mg.l-1 GA3 + 100 mg.l-1 BA) showed the highest germination
percentage (88.5%). Better seedling growth parameters (seedling height and
diameter) were obtained with seed soaking in 200 mg.l-1 GA3 for 12 hours, while
the internode length was significantly improved by soaking seeds in 200 mg.l-1
GA3 for 24 hours . Dry weights of seedling shoot and root were significantly
increased by soaking seeds for 24 hours in (200 mg.l-1 GA3+100 mg.l-1 BA) and 24
hours in (200 mg.l-1 GA3), respectively

There is a growing public interest in sustainability and environmental
conservation. This growing public concern implies the need for focusing
programs on sustainable agriculture, where by, agriscience college teachers,
and extension agents can play a key role.. However, the question is whether
agriscience teachers, and extension agents have been prepared to carry out this
task? The focus of this study was to identeify agriscience teachers', and
extension agents' perceptions regarding sustainable agricultural practices. This
study used survey design and was conducted on 68 agriscience teachers and
112 extension agents in Ninavah. An instrument was developed to collect data
consisted of two parts utilized to identify their perceptions regarding
importance and impacts of sustainable agrecultural practices. The form also
consisted of two questions, one about the importance of diffusion of sustainable agriculture concepts among agriscience teachers, extension agents, and farmers,
and the other about their perceptions regarding importance of including
agricultural education programs a subject on sustainable agriculture. The
results showed that both agriscience teachers and extension agents perceived
importance and impacts of sustainable agricultural practices.However
agriscience teachers were more positive toward instruments items than
extension agents. Both teachers and extension agents interested in diffusion of
sustainable agricultural concepts among agriscience teachers, extension agents,
and farmers, as well as they had apositive view towards including agricultural
education programs a subject about sustainable agriculture in agricultural
college, institutes, and schools.

This experiment was carried out during the growing season of 2004 –
2005 at Horticulture field researches, Agriculture and Forestry College, Mosul
University to evaluate five faba bean cultivars for water stress and
supplementary irrigations by withholding complementary watering at either
vegetative (RWW), flowering (WRW), pod developments and seed fillings
(WWR) stage, whereas the check and other treatments were watered whenever
25% soil AWC is depleted to a depth of 25 cm. The results revealed that Pod
developments and seed fillings was the most drought susceptible stage where
supplementary irrigation should be applied to improve yield and yield quality.
However, other stages were less sensitive, particularly the early vegetative
stage. The five cultivars were categorized in the following order according to
their performance at the most drought susceptible stage: Local Syrian >
Aquadulce > Towaytha > Babylon > Taka357. Subsequently, forecasting
depending up on cultivar seeds germinations under sub-optimal conditions
could not be used as indicator for the approval of drought resistance cultivars.
Finally, results confirmed the Taka357 was the most drought susceptible during
all stages particularly in seed filling stage.

The study aims at estimating and analyzing some of the factors affecting
the growth of agricultural production in selected developing countries for the
period 1970–2000. A sample of the developing countries have been selected
and divided into two groups, the first of which is the countries with higher
medium income, including: Turkey, Thailand, Tunisia, Syria and Yemen. The
second group is the countries with low medium income, including: Morocco,
Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. An econometrical model was used
with three models: linear, semi logarithmic, and double logarithmic where
concepts of the economic theory and previous studies concerning estimating
and analyzing the factors affecting the agricultural growth obtained from time
series data for each country are used as they reflect the factors affecting the
agricultural growth of each country as related to their characteristics differing
from the other country.

The present study succeeded in the initiation of callus from different
explants of axenic Tagetes patula Marigold seedlings using Murashige and
Skoog medium MS supplemented with 5 mg/L benzyladenine BA and 0.5 mg/l
naphthalene acetic acid NAA or with 0.05 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic
acid 2,4-D alone or together with indole acetic acid IAA 5 mg/l. The results
confirmed the differentiation capability of callus to produce plants in agar
solidified MS medium containing 5 mg/L of BA and IAA. Cotyledons and leaf
callus exhibited their spontaneous formation of intact plants in one step. Also
Tagetes plants were produced from differentiated of other cultures of
cotyledons and leaf callus in agar solidified MS medium containing 10 mg/L of
gibberellic acid GA3 and 3 mg/L of IAA with 5 mg/L of BA. The produced
plants were readily rooted, and subsequently were adapted to the environmental
conditions through transplanting them in soil. These plants showed Somaclonal
variations including plants height, number of leaves, branching system with reduction of flower size and their pedicle length as well as number of seeds, but
flowers kept their red color.

This research was conducted out Nenava research station during 2001-
2002 season to study the effect of four levels of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 10, 20
and 30kg N/donum (2500 m2)) and four concentrations of kinetin (0, 50, 100
and 150 ppm) and their interaction on the growth of one year old of apple
(Malus communis L.) seedlings. A factorial experiment with three replications
was carried out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), each replicate
was consist of (30) seedlings. Data Obtained of this research was tested by
using Duncan Multiple range test at 5% level, the important results of this
study could be summarized as following: The addition of the nitrogen fertilizer
caused significant increases in all the characters for the vegetative growth of
the apple seedlings stem length, stem diameters, dry weight of vegetative
growth. Also dry weight of roots and the contents of nitrogen in leaves, total
chlorophyll content in leaves. The addition of the kinetin treatments revealed
significant increases in dry weight of the vegetative growth, dry weight of roots in apple seedlings and nitrogen content in the leaves, total chlorophyll content,
but there is no significant increase stem length, stem diameter. The interaction
between nitrogen and kinetin affected significantly in most of the characters of
the vegetative growth, dry weight of roots, nitrogen content in leaves, total
chlorophyll content in apple seedlings. The best treatments in apple was 20kg
N/donum + 50 mg/L kinetin in stem length, 20kg N/donum + 100 mg/L
kinetin in stem diameter, 30Kg N/donum + 100 mg/L kinetin for dry weight
vegetative growth dry weight of roots, nitrogen content in leaves, total
chrophyll content.

Urea , sheep manure , and mix (urea + sheep manure ) fertilizers were
added to calcareous soil of northern Iraq / Mosul. Soil which classified as calcicamborthids.
Fertilizers were added at rate 80 kg N. D-1 for each fertilizers,
surface, and subsurface (depth 15cm) application for four season (Spring ,
Winter, Summur and Autumn) in order to study the effect of type and depth of
fertilization and ecologyical conditions on ammonia volatilization. The results
indicated that the, urea application produced ahigh ammonia volatilization
(19.76, 51.14, 38.82 and 0.34 %)of nitrogen added for surface application
during four seasons respectivily, and 3.03, 13.69 ,9.15 and 0.103 of nitrogen
added for sub surface application during four season repectivily, while sheep
manure record less amount of ammonia volatilization, comparing with urea
fertilizer. The amount of ammonia volatilization were (6.66, 7.58, 12.19 and
0.14 %) of nitrogen added for surface application during the four seasons
respectivily. Sub surface application of fertilizers reduced the amount of
ammonia volatilization and reductive percent were 2.75, 4.66, 6.85 and 0.042%
of nitrogen added during the four seasons respectivily .The low in temperature
has caused a significate reduction in ammonia volatilization and increasing of
temperature caused increase in ammonia loss.

The present investigation was conducted to study behavior of boron
adsorption in six Ninevah soil samples, different in clay and available boron
contains, by using isotherm equilibrium adsorption with boron solutions at
different concentrations (0,0.5,1,2,4,6,8,10,20) mg B. L-1 . Results show that
adsorption phenomena was successfully described by using langmuir one and
two surface and freundlich equations. Langmuir two was the best fitting
equation. A maximum adsorption was in fine texture and adsorption parameters
(cm,k)were have a highly significant relations with calcium carbonate, clay and
(clay+silt). The results also show there are two types of adsorption-sites
according to langmuir two surface equation. The first site had a high bonding
energy with low adsorption capacity while the second site had low bonding
energy with high adsorption capacity. The average of adsorption capacity were
(3.56 , 246.58) mg B. kg-1 for first and second surface adsorption respectively.
While bonding energy were (14.79 , 0.0099) cm3. μg-1B, respectively.

Five hundred and seventy one records of birth weight and 540 records of
weaning weight of Hamadani sheep were collected to study body weights and
dimensions at birth and weaning weights The overall mean of body weight. and
dimensions at birth were 4.62 kg , and 28.83, 37.82, 38.84 , 40.64 , 8.81 and
10.54 cm for the body length , heart girth , height at shoulders , height at hip ,
width at shoulders and at hip, respectively. The overall mean of body weight
and dimensions at weaning were 23.23 kg , and 49.63 , 61.10 , 54.54 , 56.47,
14.47 and 16.59 cm for body length , heart girth , height at shoulders , height at hip , width at shoulders and at hip, respectively .The effects of flock – year ,
and sex of lamb on birth , and weaning weights and body dimensions were
significant (p< 0.01) .The effects of type of birth on birth and weaning weights
and most of body dimensions were significant (p< 0.01) .Whereas the effect of
age of dam at birth was significant (p< 0.01) on most studied traits.
eritability estimates for birth and weaning weights were 0.14 and 0.18,
respectively .Heritability estimates for body dimensions ranged between 0.02–
0.23.Genetic correlations between body weights and body dimensions at birth
and weaning were positive and heigh (0.22 – 0.99) .While the phenotypic
correlations were (0.08 -0.63 )

This study was designed to determine the ability of hydrogen peroxide
(0.5 %) consumed in drinking water to induce oxidative stress in lying hens
and to make sure of oxidative stress interference occurred in creating fatty liver
hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS) in this pattern. Oxidative stress was determined
through measuring the levels of glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde
(MDA) in liver tissue and of Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate
aminotransferase (AST) aspartate amino enzymes levels . H2O2 treatment
showed significant increase in glucose , cholesterol and triglycerides levels and
significant decrease in liver tissue glutathione GSH and asignificant increase in
liver tissue malondialdehyde MDA . The levels serum AST and ALT were
significantly increase also , the above changes indicate the ability of oxidative
stress in laying hens . Methionine was used to determine its ability in
preventing oxidative stress or to remove the effects of oxidative stress .
The methionine was used as capsules given orally . Laying hens were
divided into (5) groups . Each group included (7) birds were treated daily for
(28) days .
Methionine was chosen in order to test their ability to protect birds against
oxidative stress or To remove the effect of oxidative stress as follow :
1- Treating the laying hens with methionine with out oxidative stress for 28
days .
2- Treating the laying hens with H2O2 together and methionine from beginning
of treatment .
3- Stressing the laying hens from the beginning of treatment water with then
treat it with methionine from the (15th) day of the beginning of H2O2
treatment .
The treatment of methionine showed similar effects when it was used . It
reduced the levels of glucose , cholesterol , triglycerides , ALT and AST in
serum . Also the level of GSH increase whereas the level of MDA decreased ,
as well as decrease in the fat liver % . The results of this study were identical
with the hypothesis that states : free radicals are considered strong causative
factor in (FLHS) in laying hens so the H2O2 (0.5 %) induced oxidative stress in
laying hens can be considered anew experimental pattern to be used in
different scientific studies in order to create asimilar case of fatty liver
hemorrhagic syndrome .

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of some antioxidants
( Methionine , Vit.C and Vit.E ) in lipid peroxidation Malondialdehyde ( MDA
) and Glutathione ( GSH ) level in heart , kidney and pancreas tissues in laying
hens . Hens ( 8 weeks old ) were divided into four groups ( 10 hens each – 2
replicates ) randomly , the 1 st group was given the standard ration , the 2 nd
group was treated with methionine ( 450 mg/ kg. ration ) , the 3 rd group was
treated with Vit.C ( 300 mg/ kg. ration ) and the 4 th group was treated with
Vit.E ( 600 mg/ kg. ration ) daily for 12 weeks . At the end of the experiment ,
tissue samples were collected from heart , kidney and pancreas .Results showed
that the treatment with antioxidants causes a significant decrease in lipid
peroxidation MDA , and a significant increase in GSH levels in heart , kidney
and pancreas . In conclusion , the study revealed that the antioxidants used in
the study enhance the antioxidant status of the laying hens tissues

Seeds of local black and Shoa’a barley cultivars were germinated for
different periods (24-72h). The relative viscosity was reduced by 80% at 60 and
48h of germination of local black and Shoa’a barley cultivars, respectively. The
effect of germination on chemical composition of the germinated seeds was
studied. In the first experiment, feeding trial was carried out to investigate the
effect of germinated local black barley cultivars on broiler diets, corn was
substituted by germinated barley seeds for 60, 80 and 100% of corn content (30
40 and 50% of all ingredients in the basal diet, respectively). Meanwhile, in the
second feeding trial, corn was substituted by germinated Shoa’a barley
cultivars for 40 and 60% of basal diet, respectively. The results indicated that
substitution of the diets with germinated barley resulted no significant variation was observed between the germinated barley seeds and the corn based diet.
Moreover, chicks fed the diet containing germinated barley, compared to those
fed the ungerminated barley diet had reduced the incidence of sticky droppings
and improved litter condition. Therefore, it may be concluded that corn can be
Substituted by germinated barley seeds in the broiler diets.

The study aims at constructing regression predictive equations for
quantity loss of some varieties of wheat under the effect of different forward
speed of harvester. The results showed that the saberbeak variety surpassed
significanty in giving the least quantitative loss, maximum performance
efficiency and maximum capacity ton/hr, where as the maxibac variety gave
the highest quantitative loss and the minimal performance efficiency and the
minimal capacity. The speed 1.6 km/hr gave less quantitative loss and maximal
performance efficiency and minimal capacity while the speed 4.8 km/hr gave
highest quantitative loss and minimal performance efficiency and maximal
capacity. The highest positive correlation was between the loss in the
separation unit and the threshing unit, highest negative while the correlation
was between performance efficiency and cutting unit loss.

The research was carried out in location of Khor-Cibat in the North-East
Of Mosul City which is characterized by Clay Soil. Three ground speeds 1.5 , 2
& 2.5 km/h , and two relative speed 1.38 & 1.15 for separation device were
used for both lifters (The locally designed lifter with cylindrical separation
system and the traditional one with vibrating chain separation system) to
determine their effects on the quantitative crop. loss & the ratio of the
undamaged tubers, slightly damaged tubers, severely damaged tubers. The time
of the lifting operation was determined in Autumn 2004 season after the death
and putrefaction of most of the green parts. The most important results obtained
from the study were as following:
There was significant difference between the two separation devices of
lifters machines in their effects on all the studied properties with better results
obtained by the locally designed lifter than the chain (Algerian) one. Also there
was significant difference of the effect of relative speed at the property of
undamaged tubers only the better results obtained was 1.15 relative speed.
significant differences showed between different ground speeds of the lifting
operation on property of undamaged tubers and slightly damaged tubers only,
the better results obtained was 1.5 km/h, forward speed. Also there were
significant differences on the effect of the interaction between type of
separating device and relative speeds on all studied properties. The locally lifter
gave a better results at relative speed of 1.38 for all the properties except for the
quantitative loss, which showed better results obtained by use of the locally
lifter at the two relative speed of 1.38 & 1.15 together

This study was carried out during Agriculture season 2001-2002 to
calculate quantity and quality losses of wheat by using John-Deere harvester at
two sites in Nenevieh governorate. The first was in Basheka region under rain
fed conditions, the second was in Talafer region under sprinkler irrigation
system. The experiment was conducted according to RCBD by three factors
combine ground speed, Reel speed and cylinder speed by three replications. the
harvesting speed 2.5-3 km/hr with the reel speed 21 rpm with the cylinder speed
950 rpm surpassed in giving the least loss in quantity at both sites with the
highest performance efficiency. The harvesting speed 3.5-4 km/hr with the reel
speed 26 rpm with the cylinder speed 950 rpm surpassed in giving the least
visible qualitative loss rate in Basheka region while the same ground speed and
cylinder speed, but the reel speed 21 rpm surpassed in giving the least visible
qualitative loss rate n Talafer region. the harvesting speed 3.5-4 km/hr with the
reel speed 31 rpm with the cylinder speed 950 rpm surpassed in giving the
highest seed dead rate at both sites. the losses average was about 16.5% from
the total yield, and the wheat yield quantity for one Donum was 616.5 Kg/Do.
It means that there is losses quantity 90.84 Kg/Do. than the international
standard losses 2%.

The results of egg treatment by sub lethal concentration of Bacillus
thuringiensis strains and their mixtures and chemical insecticides Fastac,
Medamec, Runner, showed a different effect on biology of Phthorimaea
operculella (Zell). Eggs hatchability reached zero percent when treated with the
B.t. alesti strain alone and its mixtures with B.t. kurstaki. Eggs treatment also
led to the depression of pupation percentage and adult eclosion percentage from
pupae. The results of treating eggs by chemical insecticides showed a superior
effect of Runner in reducing eggs hatchability, in comparison with Medamec
and Fastac and control treatment and the average eggs hatching percentage
reached 28.7, 31.7, 45.3 and 43.6% respectively, while eggs treatment by
chemical insecticides had no clear effect on larval, pupal and adult stage of
potato tuber moth.

The result of the integration study between insect growth inhibitor
regulator nomolt and two predators Metasyrphus corollae F. (Syrphidae :
Diptera) and Coccinella undecimpunctata L. (Coccinellidae : Coleoptera) to
control Aphis fabae Scop. show the significant interaction effect between
density of each predator and nomolt to kill percentage of A. fabae at 20 , 40
nymph/plant indicated the significant interaction effect between density of each predator (one and two larvae) and a prey density 20 and 40 nymph/plant its
about 100% then 77.70% when we use single larval from each predators in 40
nymph/plant. The best result registered when the killed percentage in Aphis
fabae were 85.70% when controlled with nomolt only, comparasim with
(53.58, 53.41)% when used biological factor.

Codling moth is very common pest that infesting the apples in addition to
pear and quince. Also produce high economic looses. The percentage of fallen
fruits as a result of infestation was 60.34 %. Infestation by this pest also caused
that the fruits to be not approached to the normal size and weight as well. The
size of invaded fruits was 56.18 cm3 ،while that of the non-invaded was 71.68
cm3 in average. The average weight of infested fruits was 46.78 gr. and that of
the non-infested was 59.98 gr. Chemical control of the pest was conducted
using three concentrations of the pesticides: Actellic (1, 1.35 &1.6 cm3 / L.), Danitol (0.6, 0.9 & 1.2 cm3 / L), and Sumicidin (0.67, 0.95 & 1.2 cm3 / L) at
the three peaks 20 April, 21 May & 1 July according to the threshold level.
Results of control showed high activity for the three insecticides giving 0.77,
0.87 & 4.74 % as an average of infesting fruits respectively, while that of
control was 77.59 % . It can be concluded that for successful control it must be
precisely define the emergence of the pest using the light and food traps which
considered being very important issue to demonstrate spray times for the
chemical control.

Biological activities of Citrus aurantifolial and Achillea Fragrantissmal
extracts were tested against two species of Gram positive bacteria , Staph.
lococcus aureus , Bacillus subtilis and four species of Gram negative bacteria ,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Proteus vulgaris , Kiebsilla pneumonia , Escherichia
coli . Fruit of Citrus aurantifoliaL. and flowers of Achillea FragrantissmaL. were
extracted using Dist water and Soxhlet apparatus in presence of Ethanol ,
Chloroform , and Aceton . Water extract of Achillea FragrantissmaL. showed no
activity against all bacterial species tested , but the water extract of Citrus
aurantifoliaL. showed a good antibacterial activities using disc diffusion method
and comparing with the standard antibiotic (Gentamicin and Tetracycline ) . Result
also indicated that ethanol extract showed high antibacterial activities in all types
species tested . Chloroform extract of Citrus aurantifoliaL. and Acetone extract
of Achillea FragrantissmaL.on the other hand, showed no activity on all species of
bacteria tested , The study also detected the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration
(MIC) and the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of the two plant
extracts , tested bacterial showed high sensitivity against acetone extract of Citrus
aurantifoliaL. , Staph. aureus , B.subtilis , Pr.vulgris and E.coli was more
sensitive than other tested bacteria , the calculated (MIC) reached 0.125 mg/ml
while the ( MBC) reached 0.5 mg/ml .

This study was conducted in College of Agriculture University of Mosul
during 2004 to show the light color (blue, green, red and white) and light
density (100, 160, 250 W) which was used in Hestand light trap on adult
trapping of lepidoptera. The effect of color and density of light on adult of
some specis of order lepidoptera cutworm attractively was studied, the result
showed that the traps with blue color bulb were more effective than of green,
red & white color where the average of captivity were the 2.80, 1.93, 0.67 &
0.93 adult night, respectively. The study also showed that there were no
significant differences between the traps of the white light density of with
160W bulb power and 250W bulb power which gave average captivity of 7.17
& 7.43 adult night, respectively, while traps of 100W bulb showed lower effect
in adult capture.