Muhammad Abdel Aziz ⁽¹⁾ Ammar Zyoud ⁽²⁾ , and Fatima Antar ^(1)*

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

(2) Agricultural Research Centre in Al-Ghab, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research, Hama, Syria.

(*Corresponding author, Fatima Antar, Email:  anter fatemah@gmail.com)

Received:  30/05/2021                   Accepted: 14/10/ 2021

Abstract: 

A field experiment was conducted in Al-Ghab to study the different effects of irrigation schedules and fertilization with potassium and zinc and the interaction between them on some qualitative indicators of sorghum cultivar (Zraa 7). This was done by designing the split complete random sectors for two times and three replications, where irrigation dates were distributed to the main plots (7,14,21 days) in addition to the control treatment (14 days without adding potassium and zinc fertilizer), while the secondary treatments included potassium fertilization rates (60,80, 100 kg/ha), and sprayed with zinc (0.4, 0.8, 1.2 kg/ha). In Salhab village in Al-Ghab area – Hama governorate, during the agricultural season 2020. The results indicate that the highest percentage of protein was obtained in the leaves (11.7%) when using the 7-day irrigation schedule with K100 and Zn0.4 potassium fertilization (noting that the zinc and potassium added are impure). And carbohydrates (24.99%) at irrigation time of 21 days with potassium K100 and Zn1.2 fertilization dose. And for fat (21.61%) when the irrigation date is 7 days with the dose of potassium fertilization K80 and zinc Zn0.8 and for moisture (9.21%) the date of irrigation is 7 days with the dose of potassium fertilization K60 and zinc Zn0.4 (9.21%). And for ash (11.82%) when the irrigation time overlapped 7 days with the potassium K80 and Zn0.4 fertilization dose.

Key words: potassium, White corn, irrigation, fertilization, zinc.

Full paper in Arabic: pdf

Safa B. A.AL-Aboudy⁽¹⁾, and Sundus A. Alabdulla^(1)*

(1).Field Crops Department, Agriculture College, Basrah University,Iraq.

(*Corresponding author, Sundus A. Alabdulla sundus.mohammed@uobasrah.edu.iq)

Received:  22/11/2021                   Accepted: 4/02/ 2022

Abstract: 

The study was conducted in Agriculture College farm / Basra University (Karmat Ali), during autumnal season / 2020, to study the effects of Nitrogen fertilizer levels (0, 150, 200 and 250 kg N ha^-1), and three split application of nitrogen fertilizer which is: (¼ after two weeks of sowing, + ½ after the first cut + ¼ after the second cut , ½ after two weeks of sowing + ¼ after the first cut + ¼ after the second cut, ⅓ after two weeks of sowing, + ⅓ after the first cut + ⅓ after the second cut), on N,P,K concentration ,green forage yield and quality of the hybrid of Sudangrass. The results showed that the  level 200 kg N ha^-1 was superior and gave the highest green forage yield of 66.196, 82.407 and 20,533 μg ha^-1,for the three cuts respectively.The  second split application of nitrogen fertilizer achieved the highest green forage yield in the first and second cuts  were  57.382 and 71,855 μg ha^-1. The interaction  of  200 kg N ha^-1 with The  second split application  gave the highest green forage yield at the first cutting while, at the second cutting the level of 200 kg N ha^-1 with The second split application gave the highest average green forage yield .

Keywords: Sudangrass, Nitrogen   fertilizer, Splitting, Forage yield, Protein.

Full paper in Arabic: pdf

Sokrat Ahmad*⁽¹⁾  Muhamad Manhal Alzoubi ⁽²⁾  and Issa Kbaybu ⁽¹⁾

(1) Soil and Water Science Department, Agriculture Faculty, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.

(2) Natural Resources Administration, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR),Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Sokrat Ahmad, E-mail: Socrates.82.sy@gmail.com)

Received:  25/08/2021                   Accepted: 4/11/ 2021

Abstract: 

Biogas technology mainly depends on Anaerobic digestion of organic wastes. It is considered one of the most spread technologies worldwide to treat the agro-residues in an economical and effective way. Moreover, it protects the environment from pollution and produce Methane gas as a renewable source of energy as well as the production of biogas fertilizer (digestate). Anaerobic co-digestion experiment was conducted of olive mill wastewater with cattle manure at a ratio of (60:40) using the digester located at Zahid Research Station for organic farming in Tartous Governorate. The aim was to minimize the adverse effects of OMWW on the environment, measuring the amount of produced biogas, and to evaluate the biogas fertilizer leftover at the end of the digestion process. There was a delay in biogas production due to the decrease in the pH of the fermentation solution at the beginning of the digestion process and to the acidic nature of the OMWW. After 15 days of feeding the digester, the biogas started to release and continued for 45 days, and the total production reached 195.4 m³ at a constant pressure of 0.02 bar. The results of the digestate analysis at the end of the digestion process showed a decrease of organic matter percentage and increase of pH compared to the organic wastes used in addition to good amounts of macro and micro nutrients. This study proves that mixing of OMWW with cattle manure is promising in enhancing biogas production and removing high organic load of OMWW.

Kew wards: Anaerobic digestion, Olive Mill Wastewater, Biogas, Digestate.

Full paper in Arabic: pdf

Dima Shareef ^*(1), Wael Ali⁽¹⁾ , and Wala’a Adra⁽¹⁾

(1). Forestry and Environment Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dima SHareef. E-Mail: dimashareef147@gmail.com)

Received:  11/06/2021              Accepted: 14/10/ 2021

Abstract: 

This research aims to construct some mathematical equations, used for estimating the total height of pinus brutia trees(pinus brutia). Some statistical methods were done to assess model goodness then  select the best one to estimate the height of  brutia pine trees in  Balloran, 40 kilometers north of Lattakia . This will enable us to estimate woody stock and in turn helping  in forest  management of the site. 20 circular  plots with a radius of 11.3 meter were sampled. All variations in the study area were taken into account. Diameter on breast height dbh of all trees in plots were measured. In order to construct height curves 30 tees covering diameter range were selected and there diameters and heights were also measured. Where 15 trees were used to construct models of height curves and determine the constants, and another 15 trees were used to test the quality of the models. For tree height modelling several mathematical equations were used:. Michailoff, Prodan, Petterson, Parabel, Logarithmic, Freese and  Korsun. Tthe models were  quantitatively examined by calculating average model bias (ē) which tests the systematic deviation of the model from the observations, average model bias % or relative bias (ē %), model precision which is defined as the standard deviation of the bias (Se and Se%), model accuracy which describes the distribution of the total differences between predicted and observed values (mx and mx %). Logarithmic model was selected for tree height modelingof brutia pine   in the area of study. The future studies can be based on the current work in order to help in forest management of the site of study and  similar areas.

Keywords: Height curves, pinus brutia– Model goodness, basal area –baloran region.

Full paper in Arabic: pdf

Batool Salameh^{* (1)}, Leila Habib ⁽¹⁾, and Areej Adra ⁽²⁾

(1). Department of soil and water sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University- Lattakia-Syria.

(2). Department of Environmental Chemistry, Higher Institute for Environmental Research, Tishreen University. Lattakia. Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Batool Salameh. Email: Batoolzaka@gmail.com)

Received:  15/04/2022              Accepted: 27/07/ 2022

Abstract: 

The objective of this study was to investigate the ability of surfactant-modified nano-zeolite to adsorb phosphate anions from aqueous solutions. Nano- zeolite prepared by grinding Syrian zeolite ore taken from Tel Alsis area (south west Damascus) to nano-scale, this sample called Natural Nano Zeolite (NNZ). To prepare surfactant modified nano-zeolite, samples of NNZ treated with Hexadecyl Trimethyl  Ammonium Bromide (HDTMA-Br) to achieve many levels of surface coverage, the used HDTMA concentrations were 50, 100, 200, 300% of external cation exchange capacity, the obtained samples called SMZ1, SMZ2, SMZ3, SMZ4 respectively. Phosphate adsorption was investigated in a batch system from aqueous solution of P concentrations ranged between 0 to 60 ppm.  Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-radushkevich models used to discuss adsorption data and parameters. The results demonstrated that: NNZ had low capacity to adsorb phosphate from aqueous solution. Adsorption isotherms curve takes the linear form for NNZ, whereas it was Langmuir form in SMZ samples. Langmuir model fit better to the adsorption data in SMZ samples, whereas Freundich was better for NNZ sample.  The coverage of nanozeolite with HDTMA increase its capacity to adsorb phosphate compared to NNZ. Maximum adsorption capacity, calculated from Langmuir model, was it reach to 4289 µgP/g when nano-zeolite treated with HDTMA (300% of ECEC) (SMZ4).The calculated adsorption energy by the use of Dubinin-Radushkevch model demonstrated that adsorption mechanism was physic between phosphate anion and modified surface. The research was conducted in 2021.

Keywords: Phosphate, adsorption, nano-zeolite. surfactant modified zeolite.

Full paper in Arabic: pdf

Fatima ALBarram^(1)*, Maisaa Kakeh⁽¹⁾, Kheir Eddine KURDI⁽²⁾, and Muhammad Zain Alddin⁽³⁾

(1). Dept. of Renewable Natural Resources and Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria.

(2). Dept. of Engineering Materials Science, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria.

(3). Aleppo Chamber of Industry, Ministry of Industry, Aleppo, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Fatima ALBarram, E. mail:alibarram20181992@gmail.com)

Received:  7/04/2021     Accepted:4/11/2021

Abstract: 

The paper pulp industry is one of the important industries that depend on wood as raw material, as it does not need large logs, beside of the scarcity of forest areas in our country and its further deterioration, The research aim was to make paper pulp from brunches of  Pinus and Eucalyptus trees resulting from the pruning process, in addition, to make paper paste mixture of both types of wood using the chemical Kraft method to extract the cellulosic fibers, where the cooking process was carried out using an autoclave at a pressure of 7-8 kg / cm² for a period of 3 Hours, and the three doughs were tested (dough yield, density, soluble solids percentage, Kappa figure). A paper was made from paper pulp by sedimentation method and then the resulting papers were tested (moisture content, grammage, tensile strength, burst strength), and raw gelatin was added to each of the protein pine paste and eucalyptus paste, and then the resulting paper was tested and compared with the paper without adding gelatin, The results showed that the paper produced from the mixture of pine nuts and eucalyptus was superior to the paper manufactured from each of them separately, with the average tensile strength of 16.32 kN / m, while the average blast strength was 0.85 kg / cm², The paper manufactured from eucalyptus and raw gelatin surpassed the paper manufactured without adding gelatin, as the average tensile strength was 18.11 kN / m, and the average burst strength was 0.85 kg / cm², in addition to the Kappa number test, the highest value for it was in the protein paste of pine nuts, which was 5.72, These results show that the manufacture of paper pulp by mixing proportions of Pinus brutia (long fibers) with Eucalyptus camaldulensis (short fibers) and then adding gelatin, gives the best types of paper according to our experience and according to the properties tested.

Key words: Paper, Pulp, Kappa number, Kraft, Total soluble solids ratio.

Full paper in Arabic: pdf

Mohamad Al -Ahmad^(1)*, Najwa Muslmani ⁽¹⁾, Imad aldeen ALKhalaf ⁽¹⁾, and Aya kanawaty⁽¹⁾

(1) Dept. of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Mohamad Al-Ahmad E-Mail: mo.alahmad93@gmail.com).

Received:27/07/ 2021          Acceptance: 9/10/ 2021

Abstract: 

Air pollution with gases is one of the biggest challenges facing the world at the present time, as it threat life in all its plant and animal forms, The research was carried out to study the response of the morphological and physiological characteristics of sunflower plants when exposed to SO₂ and NO₂ gases individually and together. The experiment was factorial, as it was carried out in a random sector manner. The first factor was the type of gas with three treatments SO₂, NO₂, SO₂ + NO₂, and the second factor was the number of days of exposure to gases, which was four treatments. Sunflower plants at the age of 4 weeks were exposed to SO₂ alone with a concentration of (0.5) ppm and SO₂ alone. NO₂ alone at a concentration of (0.5) ppm and for a mixture of the two gases together for two hours daily. The first treatment was within four days, the second was eight days, the third was 12 days, and the fourth was 16 days. At the end of the 16-day experiment, the vegetative growth indicators of sunflower plants were calculated, represented by the height of the plant, the length of the root system, the wet weight of the vegetative and root groups, and the area of plant leaves. The chlorophyll content and carotene content, soluble sugars and proline concentrations were also measured. The results showed the similarity of the effect of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, individually and collectively, on the decrease in the chemical and biological morphological vegetative growth indicators compared with control, where the average of plant height and root length when treated with SO₂ gas ranged between (6.8-13.05) cm and (9.23-16.2) cm consecutively, A gradual significant increase with time compared with the control was observed for the vegetative and root wet weights respectively, where the values ranged between (3.83-2.33) g and (1.32-0.33) g, and the value of total chlorophyll and soluble sugars in plants treated with SO₂ gas decreased from 9.24 mg/g in control plants to 2.33 mg/g, and from 103.52 to 86.3 mg/g soluble sugars, The value of proline increased in plants treated with SO₂ gas to reach 2.76 μl/g compared with the control (0.71 μl/g), and no significant differences were recorded for the leaf area index between the different treatments and the control (15.35-12.91) cm².

Key words: sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, growth parameters, sunflower.

Full paper in Arabic: pdf

Saud shehab^(1)*, Thamer Alhenish⁽¹⁾, Khakid Esmaeel⁽²⁾, Razan Al Njar⁽¹⁾, Ryad Baleesh⁽¹⁾ and Mohamed Ali⁽¹⁾

(1) Crops Research Administration, GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.

(2) Homs Research Center, GCSAR, Homs, Syria. 

(*Corresponding author: Dr.Saud Shehab E-Mail: saudshehab@gmail.com).

Received: 29/06/ 2021          Acceptance: 4/11/ 2021

Abstract: 

The experiment in Qarahta Research Station – GCSAR in 2019. The objective was to determine the best date for planting the panicum crop and compare wet and dry green yield with millet and some qualitative traits.  The experiment was laid according to a split plot design with two replications, wet and dry green yields, and protein, Carbohydrates, fibers, and fats percentages were studied. The Results showed the superiority of the second sowing date (15 April) at 1^st and 3^rd sowing dates in the wet and dry green yields with values (26.92 , 6.62 t/h) respectively, also the panicum crop showed the superiority at millet crop in the wet and dry green yields with values (26.80 , 6.66 t/h) respectively. While the first cutting showed superiority at other cutting in the wet and dry green yields with values (34.89 , 8.67 t/h) ) respectively, while millet had the highest protein and carbohydrates percentage (15.4, 42.89) respectively, while the panicum had the highest fat percentage (1.746 %). The panicum crop is recommended to plant on 15 April to produce a high amount of wet and dry green yields.

Keywords: Panicum, Millet, Green yield, Qualitative characteristics, Nutrition content.

Full paper in Arabic: pdf

Amani Alhaiji^(1)*

(1) Crops Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Damascus University, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Amani Alhaiji E-Mail: ahmadnjm126@gmail.com).

Received: 18/08/ 2021          Acceptance: 18/11/ 2021

Abstract: 

A field experiment was conducted in Abe Jarash Farm at the Faculty of agriculture affiliated with the University of Damascus, during the growing seasons (2020/2021), in order to evaluate the response of four barley cultivars (Arabic white, Arabic black, Furat-3, Furat-6) for the fertilizer in four different levels of nitrogen fertilizer (T1:without fertilizing،T2: N80،T3: N100،T4: N120) kg.h^-1depending on some Morphological and Productivity Traits associated with improving the grain yield. The experiment was carried out according to split plots design in three replicates. The results showed significant differences among mean values of studied parameters, where barley cultivar Furat-6 recorded significantly highest mean values under  level of fertilizer N120 kg.h^-1 , In leave area index , number of spikes / plant ,weight grains / plant, number of grains/plant , and grain yield (5.65, 12.56 spikes.plant^-1,9.25  g, 194.5grains.plant^-1,  3450kg.h^-1 respectively) as compared to barley cultivar  Arabic black which recorded lowest mean values under zero fertilizer level (2.06, 3.62 spikes.plant^-1, 2.50g, 52.50 grains/plant^-1, 2750 kg.h^-1 respectively). study indicates the importance of using mineral fertilizers at an average rate (N120 kg.h^-1) and (N100 kg.h^-1)  in order to improve the productivity of barley crops under  Damascus city conditions.

Keywords: barley, cultivar, fertilizer, Yield.

Full paper in Arabic: pdf

Qusay Al-Hamadany^(1)*, Abd Alkareem Yesser⁽¹⁾,and Shaymaa AAl-Jumaiee⁽¹⁾

Dep. of Marine vertebrates, Marine Science Center, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq.

(*Corresponding author:. Qusay Al-Hamadany E-Mail: qusayhamid@yahoo.com).

Received: 28/05/ 2022          Acceptance: 20/07/ 2022

Abstract: 

As natural fish stocks have declined and food demand has increased, the importance of the aquaculture sector has grown, particularly for animal protein, which has become an important component of the aquaculture sector. The most expensive component of aquaculture is fish feeding, which accounts for more than 60% of total production costs. A 60-day laboratory study was conducted to compare three types of commercial fish feed. The first feed was locally related to the College of Agriculture – at the University of Basra and assigned the code (T1), the second was imported from the Al-Tayseer Company (Jordan) and assigned the code (T2), and the third feed was imported from the Iranian Kimia grand Company and assigned the code (T3) to determine the extent to which it meets the nutritional requirements and growth performance of Nile tilapia fingerlings Oreochromis niloticus. The chemical composition of the three commercial fish feeds revealed differences in protein content, with the T2 feed having the highest protein content. The statistical analysis revealed significant (P ≤0.05) differences in growth performance in Nile tilapia fed on the three commercial feeds. T2 produced higher final weight, relative, and specific growth rates. T2 had the highest food conversion ratio of 1.6.  The three-feed physical tests revealed that the T3 (1.02 g/cm3) had a lower specific density than the T1 (1.95 g/cm3) and T2 (1.48 g/cm3). With the longest floating period of 75 minutes. The T2 feed had the highest water stability (90.38 minutes), while the T3 feed had the lowest (70.16 minutes). The study found that the T2 feed encourages better growth performance in Nile tilapia fish than in other tested feeds.

  Keywords: commercial diets, physical properties, Oreochromis niloticus, growth performance, chemical composition.

Full paper in Arabic: pdf