Ahmad Issa Suliman^*(1) Mahmoud Moustafa Alio⁽¹⁾ Walid Ahmad Alrahmoun⁽²⁾ and Ali Hasan Nisafi⁽²⁾

(1). Department of Agricultural Economy, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria. Email: Ahmadelmariache@gmail.com

(2). Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.

Received: 26/03/2019                               Accepted: 07/05/2019

Abstract

The aim of this research was to obtain the best balanced feed mixture of locally available fodder, to meet the needs of the broiler type chicken, at the lowest possible cost. The nonlinear programming method, which is based on the optimization methodology, has been used mainly in finding solutions through MATLAB program, in order to build and develop a computer program for the formulation of optimal fodder mix, which respects the scientific principles in all economic and nutritional aspects, to obtain the best growth rate and productive performance of the first stage (1 to 3 weeks). The study showed that the best fodder mixture was the following: (yellow corn, 48% soybean meal, wheat bran, di calcium phosphate,  salt, limestone and premix), which were respectively in kg (531, 337, 98, 16, 4, 10 and 0.8), at a total cost estimated at 154,400 Syrian pounds per ton, according to the February prices of 2019. While the cost of this mix in the market was 180,000 Syrian pounds per ton, this meant saving 25600 Syrian pounds per ton. The results of the study indicated the importance of following the scientific methods in the formulation of balanced feed mixes, which comply with health and environmental conditions, and the need to expand the use of modeling methods (optimization) for the formulation of economic feed mixes, and the management of available resources in the best way.

Key words: Poultry feed formulation, Balanced feed formulas, Optimization, Nonlinear programming.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Alawi Ali^*(1) Ibrahim Hamdan Saqr⁽¹⁾ Mohamed Mahmoud⁽²⁾ and Ali Khaddam⁽¹⁾

(1). Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.

(2). Department of Economics and Planning, Faculty of Economics, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Alawi Ali. E-Mail: alaweeali2@gmail.com).

Received: 13/03/2019                               Accepted: 29/05/2019

Abstract

This research contributes to draw a predictive image by looking at the future of barley cultivation in Syria. Therefore, it has an important agricultural policy applications for area and production appropriate for agricultural production planning and crop rotation. It aimed to analyze the area and production of barley depending on five years in order to predict their changes during the period 2019-2025. The research was carried out using the descriptive-analytical approach and the standard quantitative analysis method using box-jenkins method to analyze the time series of production and area of barley within the years 1986-2018. The results showed that the area cultivated with barley crops will increase gradually at an annual growth rate by (2.3) (annual growth rate)  in the upcoming years (2019-2025) with a confidence level 95%, using ARIMA model (0,0,1). The results indicated that the goal of increasing production in the 11^th Five-Years Agricultural Plan was not achieved. The production average of irrigated and rainfed areas reached 904.1 thousand tons, which was below the targeted of 1553 thousand tons. The production average of irrigated and rainfed areas declined during the period (2016-2018) by (-1.8%) and (-20.4%), respectively. The total barley production in Syria will increase at a very low growth rate estimated to 0.3% (annual growth rate) in the upcoming years (2019-2025) with a confidence level 95%, using ARIMA model(1,0,1).    

Key words:  Barley, Five-years agricultural plans, Production, Area.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Louay Mohamad⁽¹⁾ Fayez Al-Mokdad⁽²⁾  Eyad Al-Khaled⁽¹⁾ and Nedal Darwesh⁽³⁾

(1). General Organization of Remote Sensing (GORS), Damascus, Syria.

(2). Socio-economic Studies Research Administration, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

(3). Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Syria.

(*Corresponding: Eng. Louay Mohamad. E-Mail: louaymhd80@gmail.com).

Received: 02/05/2019                               Accepted: 01/10/2019

Abstract

The research was carried out to study the development of the area and production of potato crop in Tartous governorate during the period from 1990 to 2018 and the most important components of the production process for this cultivation, by analyzing a time series that includes production, area, yield and costs related to this crop, and it was used to analyze this series the Stability Sequential Test, Dicky Fuller Test and Unit Root Test) using EVIEWS software. The results of the study showed that there were significant differences between the areas planted with potatoes, production and the cost of production before and after the crisis.

Key words: Economic efficiency, Production function, Mathematical modeling, Autocorrelation function, Dickie Fuller test, Potato, Syria.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Azhar Ibrahim Shukur*⁽¹⁾ Sumyia Khalaf Badawi⁽¹⁾ and Tariq Zaid Ibrahim⁽¹⁾

(1). Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Mosul. Iraq.

(*Corresponding author: Azhar Ibrahim Shukur. E-Mail: azharibrahim333@gmail.com).

Received: 12/05/2020                               Accepted: 11/08/2020

Abstract

The study was carried out at College of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Mosul in 2018 and 2019. The study included milk fortification with vegetable oils rich in omega 3, where its sources from flax oil and omega 6 which its sources from sesame oil, and mixing ratios between them (1: 5). The milk fortification ratios were (0, 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5). Three treatments were made from milk fortified with omega oils, one by adding yoghurt starter bacteria Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus, and the second treatment by adding lactobacillus acidophilus and the third treatment by adding Bifidobacterium bifidum ferments .The chemical and physical properties were studied during the storage period 1-14 days on a temperature of 5 ±2 °C. The results showed a significant decrease in cholesterol values ​​in a manner that is directly proportional to the ratios of consolidation and storage period. Significant in viscosity, by increasing the fortification with the mixture of omega oils, and by increasing the storage period and all yoghurt treatments, the percentage of water retention capacity increased by increasing the fortification, since the treatment of fermented Bifidobacterium bifidum significantly increased, and by a support rate of 3.5% over the rest of the treatments. While the moral significant rise in the whey exudation with the advance of storage and the low rate of replacement, as the treatment of the highest yogurt was clearer.

Key words: Probiotic bacteria, Omega oils, Fortified yoghurt, Cholesterol, Whey exudation.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Iftikhar Khalaf Abbas Aga^*(1)

(1). Faculty of Agriculture, AlFurat University, Deir Ezzor, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Iftikhar Khalaf Abbas Aga. E-Mail: iftekharabbas55555@gmail.com).

Received: 15/11/2019                               Accepted: 27/01/2020

Abstract

A laboratory experiment was carried out at the laboratories of Field Crops Department, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Al-Furat University, during the growing season of 2016/2017 according to the randomized complete block design, in order to study the effect of different seed  seeds sizes on some growth traits, and productivity of the dry matter of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) var. (Izraa-7). The experiment included three sizes of the seeds viz. (3.0-3.5) mm (small), (3.6-4.0) mm (medium) and large (4.0) mm, besides three seed treatments; the control treatment which was (T1) and represented the dry seeds, (T2) where seeds were soaked with distilled water for (10) hours and (T3) where seeds were soaked with potassium chloride with a concentration of (4) g/L for (12) hours, with four replicates per treatment. The results showed the superiority of the treatment (T3) in the initial and final germination percentages, length of radical (cm), length of epicotyls (cm), dry weight of the seedling (mg), (74.0)% (84.8)% (11.79) cm (13.3) (cm) and (14.8) mg, respectively. Also the treatment of seeds with the larger seed size (4.0) mm outperformed the other treatments in the same previous indicators; initial germination percentage, and the final and the length of radical (cm), the length of epicotyls (cm), dry weight of the seedling (mg) as follow (71.03)%, (84.8)%, (11.0)%, (12.73) cm and (15.8) mg respectively. In terms of the interaction between the two factors, the treatment (T3) with the largest seed size (4.0) mm, outperformed the other treatments in initial and final germination percentages, length of radical (cm), length of epicotyls (cm) dry weight of the seedling (mg), as follow (77.4%), (88.2)%, (11.7) cm and (18.5) mg, respectively.

Key words: Growthstimulations, Germination, Sorghum, Growth traits.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Jasim M. Aziz Al-Jobouri ^*(1)  Barzan A. Mohamed Al-Mafraji⁽²⁾  and Omar A. Ahmad Al-Tamimi⁽³⁾

(1). Collage of Agriculture, Tikrit University, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Iraq.

(2). Kirkuk Agricultural Directorate, Ministry of Agriculture, Iraq.

(3). Seed Inspection and Certification, Ministry of Agriculture, Iraq.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Jasim M. Aziz al-Jobouri. Email:  jasim.m.aziz56@gmail.com).

Received: 17/08/2020                               Accepted: 22/09/2020

Abstract

Twenty-one genotypes of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were used in this study, which were planted in three locations (Hawija, Al-Alam, and Baladruz) within the governorates of Kirkuk, Salah Al-Din and Diyala in Iraq, using a complete random block design and with three replications. Data were recorded on the characteristics; number of days to spikes, plant height, leaf area, number of grains per spike, number of spikes per plant, weight of 1000 grains, grain yield, biological yield, harvest index, protein content and gluten content.  Genotype 38 exceeded all genotypes in earliness of heading (101.6 days), number of grains per spike (60.8), number of spikes (561.4 spikes/m^-2), weight of a thousand grains (51.9 g), grain yield (923.7 g), the biological yield (2099 g), harvest index (44) and protein and gluten percentages (16.8 and 66.6%) respectively, also this genotypes was tolerant to yellow rust, and according to the interaction between genotypes and locations, the genotype 38 showed its superiority in most important characteristics, including the grain yield over the three locations, so it could be recommend and launched as a vareity of bread wheat in agriculture.

Key words:  Bread wheat, Genotypes, Yellow rust, Grain Yield.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Razan Al Najjar*⁽¹⁾ Saoud Shehab⁽¹⁾ and Mohammad Ali Ali⁽¹⁾

(1).  Crops Research Administration, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Razan Al Najjar. E-Mail: razanhamoda2009@gmail.com).

Received: 25/01/2019                               Accepted: 09/05/2019

Abstract

The study was carried out at Corn Research Department, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria, during 2011 and 2012 seasons, to estimate the correlation, and path coefficients of some phenological, morphological and yield components traits i.e. days to silking (days),  ear height (cm),  ear length (cm), ear diameter(cm), number of rows per ear, number of grains per row, 100-kernels weight (g)  and grain yield per  plot (ton/ha). In this study, SH maize families were used, which were improved by half sib and full-sib selection by the National Program in Syria. The experiment was conducted using randomized completely block design (RCBD with three replications. The results showed a significant positive correlation between grain yield, and all the studied  traits and the correlations in both selection methods of the traits were: r²=r (r²₌0.82*،0.76*) for days to silking, while the correlation values for ear height, ear length and ear diameter were (r²₌0.85*, and 0.79*) , (r²₌0.67**, and 0.63**), (r²₌0.86*, and 0.79*)  respectively, but for number of grains per row it reached (0.73**, 0.68**) and for number of rows per ear it attained (r²₌0.88*, and 0.82*), finally for 100 grain weight it reached (r²₌0.85*, and 0.80*). According to that, those traits were considered selection criteria to improve grain yields in maize. The study of path analysis revealed that each of ear height, 100 grain weight and number of rows per ear were the most studied traits that contributed to grain yield, which gave the highest values of direct effects on yield status and the percentage of contribution to the total traits studied by the two selection methods were (89.08.77.11) % and thus they could be used as a selection criterion for improving grain yield of maize crop.

Key word: Correlation coefficient, Path coefficient, Grain yield components, Maize.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Ali Abdulhamid Saleh^*(1) Mohammed Moalla⁽¹⁾ and Nizar Harba⁽¹⁾

(1). Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria

(* Corresponding author: Eng. Ali Saleh. E-Mail: ali-saleh@outlook.sa).

Received: 21/09/2019                               Accepted: 07/12/2019

Abstract

A half-diallel cross was carried out among three varieties of Faba bean cultivated in Syria. Crosses and parents were evaluated at the Syrian coast in a village of Sindyanet Obin, which is located in the eastern countryside of Safita, Tartous governorate, during the growing seasons 2016/17 and 2017/18. The cultivation was carried out according to the randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates, with the aim of estimating heterosis, general and specific combining abilities for 100-seed weight/g, plant height (cm), number of pods per plant and productivity seeds per plant. Results reveal highly significant variations between varieties and crosses for all the studied traits, indicating a wide genetic variability for this traits and the possibility of genetic improvement using such genetic pools of faba bean. Both general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining abilities were significant for all the studied traits revealing the important role of both additive and non-additive gene action in the inheritance of these traits. The results indicated that the magnitude of additive genetic variance (A) was positive and lower than those of non-additive (D) for all studied traits, indicating that non-additive gene action played a major role in the inheritance of these traits. All crosses exhibited high significant positive heterosis relative to mid and better parent for 100-seed weight. Heterosis values were also highly significant and ranged between 34.78 – 94.79 (P₂×P₃) and between 91.75 – 141.56 (P₁×P₃) for the number of pods per plants and productivity seeds per plant, respectively. The Cypriot (P₂) proved to be a good combiner for all studied traits (4.578, 11.244, 4.911 and 13.689) for plant height (cm), 100-seed weight/g, number of pods per plant and productivity seeds per plant, respectively). Both crosses (P₁×P₃) 9.967, 28.300, 23.967 and (P₂×P₃) 13.700, 15.367, 10.9 exhibited highly significant and positive SCA effects for plant height (cm), 100-seed weight and productivity seeds per plant, respectively. It was suggested to introduce Cypriot variety (P₂) and both crosses (P₁×P₃) and (P₂×P₃) in the breeding programs of this crop.

Key words: Faba bean, Half diallel cross, General and Specific combining ability, Heterosis.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Obada Attaf⁽¹⁾ Sawsan Haifa⁽¹⁾ Rabie Zaina⁽²⁾ and Majd Darwish*⁽³⁾

(1). Soil and Land Sciences. Faculty of Agriculture. Tishreen University. Lattakia. Syria.

(2). Agricultural Research Center in Latakia, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.

(3). Field Crops Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.

(* Corresponding author: Dr. Majd Darwish. Lattakia. Syria. E-mail: majds26@yahoo.com).

Received: 23/05/2019                               Accepted: 15/07/2019

Abstract

The experiment was carried out at the Agricultural Research Station, Setkhiris, Lattakia, during the agricultural season 2018, according to the randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates per treatment. The research aimed to study the effect of drip irrigation and potassium fertilization that was added to irrigation water or directly to soil on tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum var. Virginie vk51), and on some physical soil properties (bulk density (g/cm³) and total porosity (%)), and morphological and physiological characteristics (the number of leaves per plant, plant leaf area (m²)), and yield of fresh and dry leaves (kg/1000 m²), besides the content of dry tobacco leaf with biochemical compounds (the total protein and the soluble sugars, nicotine (%)) and some mineral oxides (K₂O)). The drip irrigation method with potassium fertilization reduced the bulk soil density, that was positively reflected on the increase of the total porosity during the agricultural season, and increased number of leaves per plant and plant leaf area, and giving the highest fresh yield of leaves (2120.7 kg/1000 m²) and dry yield of leaves (441.31 kg/m²), especially when the whole potassium fertilizer was added to the irrigation water, as well as improving the quality of dry tobacco, where the total protein and nicotine content (%) decreased, and the percentage (%) of total soluble sugars increased. According to the results, it could be proposed the use the drip irrigation method with potassium fertilization added to irrigation water, considering to its significant role in stimulating the growth of the Virginie variety and in improving the quality of tobacco produced.

Keyword: Drip irrigation, Potassium fertilization, Virginie tobacco, Nicotine.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Mohammad Abdel Aziz^*(1)

(1). Crops Field Department. Faculty of Agriculture. Tishreen University. Latakia. Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Mohammad Abdel Aziz. E-Mail: mabdelaziz74@hotmail.com).

Received: 05/04/2019                               Accepted: 07/05/2019

Abstract

The experiment was carried out during 2015 and 2016 seasons at Arab EL-Melk Village, Banias area, Tartous Governorate, Syria, to study the effect of seed size of peanut plant (mixture, small, medium and large) and spraying bread yeast (control, one spray and twice) on plant leaf area (PLA), leaf area index (LA), net assimilation rate (NAR) and yield and dry mater per plant. The experiment arranged according to split plot in a randomized complete block with four replications. The size of seeds allocated in the maine plots and the yeast sparing  in the sub plots. The large seeds gave better plant leaf area (1653.34) , leaf area index (2.22), yield (64.69) g, net assimilation rate of dry pod (0.216) ton/ha/week and dry mater (0.561) ton/ha/week, compared to the other seeds sizes. The spraying with bread yeast once and twice significantly increased for all parameter studied compared to the control, and the spraying twice gave better LA (1678) , LAI (2.25), yield pod/plant (63.68)g, NAR of pods (0.247) ton/ha/week and NAR for dry matter (0.576) ton/ha/week. The interaction between (large size seeds x twice sprays) gave the highest values in PLA (1820.50) <size seeds Xith minetioed above LAI (2.48), yههield plant (73.01) g, NAR for dry pods (0.266) ton/ha/week and (0.597) ton/ha/week for dry matter. while the interaction between (small seed size with the control). Gave the lowest values. The results indicated that the small seeds should be avoided from planting and bread yeast should be applied for two times, the first at 50% of flowering and the second at full flowering plants, because these treatments gave high production.

Key word: Peanut, Seed size, Bread yeast, Leaf area, Net assimilation rate.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF