Ahmed soufi^1*

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

(*Corresponding author: Ahmed. E-mail: 7mada.movo9@gmail.com, phone:+963991266905).

Received: 23/ 07/  2024     Accepted: 8/ 10/ 2024

Abstract

The research was carried out in 2024, on the experimental farm in the village of Qara Falah in Latakia Governorate- Syria, to study the effect of treatment with melatonin acid at concentrations (50, 100 and 150 microliters) on some biochemical and productive characteristics of the local tobacco plant (Shak Al-Bint) under conditions of drought soil treatments by Poly Ethylene Glycol (PEG) solutions (15, 30 and 45 %), corresponding to final osmotic potentials -0.52, -1.04 and -1.56 MPa, which were distributed according to the randomized complete design (R.C.D) with three replicates. Many important indicators were measured, including: leaf content of: chlorophyll (µg/g), proline (µmol/g), manol d-aldehyde MDA (nmol/g), and yield of green and dry leaves (g/plant). The results showed a decrease in the green tobacco yield (75 g/plant) and dry (20 g/plant) under drought stress conditions at a concentration of 45%. The chlorophyll content of the leaves also decreased steadily with increasing applied stress, which in this context reached (463 μg/g). In contrast, the chlorophyll content of the leaves increased when spraying with melatonin at a concentration of 50 μl (710 μg/g), which was positively reflected on the green and dry leaf yield. The proline content of the leaves also decreased (0.9 μmol/g), especially at a low concentration of melatonin. The results showed that the treatment with a diluted concentration of melatonin acid was superior to all treatments and the control for all studied indicators. Therefore, it is recommended to use melatonin acid, especially at a low concentration (50) μl, for its role in improving many chemical indicators, which is reflected in increasing tobacco productivity under drought stress conditions.

Keywords: melatonin, tobacco, Shak Al-Bint cultivar, drought stress.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Nasma Mustafa Sahrawy^1* and Nasr Sheikh Suleiman¹

¹ Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Nasma Mustafa Sahrawy, Email:  nasma.sahrawy@tishreen.edu.sy, Mob: +963-958472751).

Received: 10/ 1/ 2025      Accepted: 28/ 5/ 2025

Abstract

The study was conducted in Al-Breij village، located 4 km from Jableh city, inside an unheated plastic greenhouse during the 2022–2023 agricultural season. The research aimed to study the effects of foliar feeding with the bio-fertilizer “Marine” Ascophylum nodosum seaweed extract and potassium nitrate NO3 on the vegetative and fruit growth of the cucumber hybrid “Prince.” Seven treatments were applied in the study, including a control (unsprayed), foliar spraying with the bio-fertilizer at concentrations of 1 ml/L and 2 ml/L، potassium nitrate NO3 at concentrations of 4 g/L and 6 g/L and mixed foliar spraying treatments (1 ml/L of “Marine” + 4 g/L potassium nitrate, and 2 ml/L of “Marine” + 6 g/L potassium nitrate NO3). The experiment followed a completely randomized block design, with each treatment replicated four times, and each replicate containing 14 plants. Foliar spraying was conducted in three applications، spaced two weeks apart, with the first application performed three weeks after transplanting the seedlings into the greenhouse. The results showed that all foliar spraying treatments with “Marine” and potassium nitrate NO3 significantly outperformed the control (unsprayed plants) in terms of plant height, leaf area and leaf area index. The mixed treatment of 2 ml/L of “Marine” and 6 g/L of potassium nitrate achieved the largest leaf area of 9156 cm²/plant, while the control plants recorded the smallest leaf area at 5338 cm²/plant. Additionally, the results revealed significant differences between foliar spraying treatments and the control in all flowering, fruiting, and total yield traits. The mixed treatment of 2 ml/L of “Marine” and 6 g/L of potassium nitrate resulted in the highest number of flowers (75.2 flowers/plant) and the highest total yield (16.41 kg/m²).

Keywords: Seaweed, cucumber, greenhouse, vegetative growth, fruit growth, potassium nitrate.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Mais Deeb^1*, Ali Mostafa¹, Ghina Jawhara¹ and Abeer Ali¹

¹ Tartous Research Center, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Mais Deeb, Email: mais.deeb@yahoo.com )

Received: 17/ 10/ 2024     Accepted: 25/ 6/ 2025

Abstract

The study was conducted at the Agricultural Scientific Research Center in Tartous Governorate during the agricultural seasons 2022-2023, 2023-2024 by studying the effect of application three levels of compost of urban waste manufactured in Wadi Al-Hada factory (15, 30, 45 tons/ha) alone and combined with 50% of the fertilizer recommendation for Zea mays, in addition to a control treatment without fertilization, and a mineral fertilization treatment only (100% fertilizer recommendation) on the growth and productivity of Sweet Corn. The complete randomization design was adopted in the research design with three replicates for each treatment, 18 plants in each replicate. The results of the study showed a positive effect of adding a mixture of compost and mineral fertilization in improving the growth and productivity of Sweet corn. An increase was observed in all studied growth indicators with increasing rates of compost addition, where the mineral fertilization treatment with the fertilizer recommendation and the mixed fertilizer addition treatment of 45 tons/ha of compost + 50% fertilizer recommendation gave the highest value for each of the indicators: average plant height (173, 171.3 cm) respectively, wet weight (566, 519.3 g) and dry weight of the plant (92.67, 118 g/plant), and productivity of the unit area (15.8, 13.91 tons/ha) respectively. While the mixed fertilization treatment (45 tons/ha of compost + 50% fertilizer recommendation) gave the highest value for the leaf surface area (7523 cm2), and the leaf surface index (2.69 m2/m2), followed by the mineral fertilization treatment with the fertilizer recommendation, which gave a leaf surface area of 7493 cm2/plant, and a leaf surface index of 2.68 m2/m2.

Keywords: Compost, urban waste, fertilization, growth, productivity, sweet corn.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Majeed Shenawa Safih Al-Omairy^1* and Sabah Muhammad Al-Haj Nasan ²

¹ Department of Pathological Analysis, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shatrah University, Shatrah, Iraq.

² Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Homs University, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Majeed Shenawa Safih Al-Omairy, Email:  dr.majeed@shu.edu.ig ).

Received: 4/ 11/ 2024      Accepted: 3/ 8/ 2025

Abstract

The research reviewed the importance of genetic material (DNA) and its role in regulating vital processes and maintaining genome stability, and the factors that lead to genetic material damage, whether internal, such as oxidative stress, or external, such as harmful radiation and chemicals. The research also focused on the advanced biological mechanisms that cells use to repair DNA damage, such as base excision repair (BER) and double-strand break repair (NHEJ and HR), and the clinical and biological importance of repair mechanisms that contribute in protecting the body from genetic mutations and serious diseases such as cancer.

Keywords: genetic material damage, DNA, repair mechanisms.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Maya Al-Abdala^1*, Afraa Sallowm ² and Safwan Aboassaf ¹

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

² Department of agricultural economics, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Damascus University, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: May Al-Abdala, Email:  Mayaabdala6@gmail.com ).

Received: 11/ 5/ 2024      Accepted: 16/ 9/ 2024

Abstract

The research aims to reach several alternatives of optimal crop structures that achieve minimizing irrigation water consumption, and maximizing the net return from the water unit in Swaida governorate, in the areas of spread of irrigated vegetable cultivation for the 2020 season, within the constraints of available agricultural productive resources. Through the processing and analysis of secondary data, the primary data collected through the field survey form and the formulation of a mathematical linear programming model in which the crop structure was restructured and crop areas and productive resources are redistributed. The results showed that the first alternative achieved an increase of 13.26% over the net return of the irrigation water unit in the actual composition, with a difference of 2.54 million syp. The second alternative achieved savings of 44.86% over the amount of water in the actual structure, so the total water requirement for the proposed structure was 3.25 million m3, compared to 5.9 million m3 of water for the actual structure. The research recommended modifying the crop structure in Swaida to achieve the optimal crop structure that achieves the minimization of irrigation water, and maximizing the net return from the irrigation water unit.

Keywords: Optimal Management, Linear Programming, Minimization, Maximization, Swaida.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Lama Ali Daragham ^1* and Majd Fater Naamah ¹

¹ Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Tishreen University, Syria.

(*Corresponding author Lama Ali Daragham, Email:  drrghamlamaas@gmail.com ).

Received: 3/ 11/ 2024          Accepted: 28/ 5/ 2025

Abstract

The research aimed to analyze the production efficiency of dairy farms in Lattakia Governorate by exploring the factors influencing them. To achieve the research objectives, data was collected from a stratified random sample of 196 farms during the year 2024, including 30 variables using a questionnaire. The research adopted a descriptive analytical approach, in addition to conducting exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to identify the main factors. The results of the principal components analysis (PCA) showed a significant impact of five factors on the production efficiency of dairy farms in Lattakia Governorate: high levels of incentives and training, infrastructure and technology, health and productivity, economic costs and challenges, and resource availability. These factors were reduced at the recycling stage to three main factors: government support and funding, environmental and health impacts, and modern technologies and effective management. The results of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated a statistically significant effect of the three factors on production efficiency. Based on these results, it is clear that improving training, infrastructure, and resource availability, in addition to adopting modern technologies, represent the basis for enhancing production efficiency on dairy farms.

Keywords: Factor analysis, production efficiency, farms, dairy cows, Lattakia.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Ali Jasem Dardar ^1*

¹ Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Homs, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Ali Jasem Dardar, Email:  alidrdr2019@gmail.com, mob.: 0991075595)

Received: 13/ 1/ 2025      Accepted: 23/ 4/ 2025

Abstract

The study was conducted to study the effect of adding different proportions of rice milk to the preparation of yogurt from cow’s milk. 100% cow’s milk was used as a control, in addition to treatments of cow’s milk to which rice milk was added at different proportions (25%, 50%, and 75%). Fermentation was performed using a starter culture consisting of two strains of lactic acid bacteria: Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophiles, with the latter added at 2% and 3%. Fermentation was carried out at 45°C and continued until a pH of 4.6 was reached. The results showed that the concentration of total solids, fat, total protein, ash and acidity in rice milk were lower than those in cow’s milk, and that the fermentation time was shorter and the total acidity was higher in cow’s milk than in the treatments with added rice milk. The titratable acidity in treatments H, I and J was (0.77, 0.75 and 0.62) respectively, while in the control (0.83). It was shown that the addition of 50% rice milk had good sensory characteristics in the final product. Not only were lactic acid bacteria able to grow in rice milk, but their numbers and viability were also higher than in cow’s milk. Moreover, mixing rice milk with cow’s milk increased this effect.

Keywords: cow’s milk, rice milk, lactic fermentation, yogurt.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Ola Ali Merhej^1*

¹ General Organization of Remote Sensing (GORS), Lecturer- Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Ola Merhej, Email:  olamerhej@gmail.com,   mobile: 0932044199).

Received: 6/ 2/ 2025      Accepted: 15/ 6/ 2025

Abstract

The rapid change in land cover has become a major problem resulting from various factors in the Cedar and Fir protected area in Syria, even though it is under protection. This study aimed at evaluating the usefulness of monitoring changes in land cover in the Cedar and Fir protected area in Syria during the last 5 years (2018-2023), using two imageries from the Sentinel-2A (S2A) satellite and applying the Random Forest “RF” algorithm within Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. The overall accuracy (OA) of classification in the resulting land cover maps was 93.4% in the 2018 map, and 92.7% in the 2023 map. The maps showed a decrease in forest cover in the protected area by 36.07% during the study period. In contrast, the results strongly support the use of the GEE platform and Sentinel 2A satellite data in parallel with the random forest algorithm to enhance the accuracy of land cover classification in mountainous regions. This study recommended the need to take rapid action to preserve the rare natural resources in the protected area.

Keywords: Cedar and Fir Protected Area, Google Earth Engine Platform, Random Forest, Remote Sensing, Land Cover Maps.

 Full paper in English: PDF

Safaa Dakhil^1*, Ibrahim Saqr¹ and Rabab Absi

1 Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Lattakia University, Syria.
2 Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Aleppo University, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Safaa Dakhil, Email:  safaadakhil5@gmail.com ).

Received: 17/ 5/ 2025      Accepted: 29/ 6/ 2025

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the economic impact of adopting a modern balanced feeding system for dairy cows and its role in enhancing livestock productivity. The research was conducted in Lattakia Governorate in 2024 through a field survey involving several dairy farms in Center of Lattakia and Jableh regions, Lattakia Governorate, Syria. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using economic and statistical methods via Excel and SPSS software. The results revealed that although the total annual cost per head was slightly higher when using modern feeding (25194720 SYP) compared to traditional feeding (28531200 SYP), the productivity per cow increased significantly. The average annual milk yield per cow was 6600 kg under the modern feeding regime versus 5400 kg with traditional feeding, reflecting a 22.2% increase. The findings underline the importance of promoting silage production, utilizing agricultural by-products, and encouraging local forage crop cultivation to enhance the profitability and sustainability of dairy farming.

Keywords: Traditional feeding, Modern balanced feeding, Total production cost.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Shadi Faskha^1* and Bahaa Alrahban²

¹ Tartous Agricultural Research Center, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Syria.

² Plant Protection Research Administration, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Shadi Faskha, Email:  Shadifaskha5@gmail.com )

Received: 17/ 5/ 2025      Accepted: 29/ 6/ 2025

Abstract

Effect of bio-inseticides: Azadrachtin, Emamectin benzoate, Spinosad and the pathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana with a positive control, insecticide Chlorpyrifos was studied on the rate emergence of Trichogramma principium adults and their longevity after emergence when treating the eggs of the host Sitotroga cerealella parasitized in the pupal stage, under conditions of the Agricultural Scientific Research Center laboratory in Tartous during May 2023. The results showed that there were significant differences between insecticides in the rate of reducing the emergence of parasitoid adults compared to the control (distilled water), where chlorpyrifos achieved the highest reduction rate (99.52%), followed by spinosad with a reduction rate (82.80%) while the insecticides emamectin benzoate and azadrachtine reduced the emergence to (63.69, 51.50%) respectively. On the other hand, the results of the effect of insecticides on the longevity of parasitoid adults after their emergence showed that the chlorpyrifos and spinosad achieved the shortest period (0.20 and 0.42 days) respectively. The pathogenic fungus B. bassiana gave the longest survival period (8.18 days) compared to other insecticides, and the control outperformed all treatments, recording the longevity of (10.78) days.

Keywords: azadirachtin, emamectin benzoate, spinosad, Trichogramma principium, Beauveria bassiana, chlorpyrifos.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF