Duaa Alghada⁽¹⁾ , Basima Alcheikh⁽²⁾ and Zuheir Shater⁽²⁾

(1). Roads Department, Technical Services Directorate, Lattakia, Syria   

(2). Forestry and Ecology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Duaa alghada,  E-Mail: duahgd7@gmail.com).

Received:  16/03/2023        Accepted: 31/05/2023

Abstract: 

The study was carried out in 2021-2022. It aimed to identify non-timber forest products (NTFPs), their uses by local communities, and the most important species for these communities in the Lattakia region. Data were collected through direct interviews with the local population (300 people). Non-wood products were divided into plant products, animal products, honey and its products, extractive products, carvings, handicrafts and other services.The number of plant species mentioned by the local population was 113 species, of which edible plants represented 44.25%, medicinal plants 48.67%, while species with other uses represented 7.8%. Cichorium intybus and Eryngium creticum were the most widely used edible plant species, according to the RFC index (0.75), while Origanium syriacum was the most used medicinal plant, RFC (0.7). Turdus sp was the most hunting RFC (0.5), and among mammals Sus scrofa lybics and Lepus capensis syriaca RFC (0.22). The study showed that beekeeping and honey production are important resources for the local population. Extractive products are of interest to the people of the region, especially women. The goals of collection varied from obtaining food, medicine, energy,  and income to benefiting from cultural services. The study indicated that the local population had significant traditional Ecological knowledge (TEK) about these products and their uses acquired from various sources, especially parents and grandparents.

Full paper in Arabic: pdf

Menos Asaad^(1)*  Malek Oumran⁽²⁾ , Nouraldin Daher Hjaij⁽¹⁾ and Khalil Moukayees⁽²⁾

(1). General Authority for Scientific Agricultural Research, Syria.

(2). Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tishreen, Lattakia, Syria

(*Corresponding author: Menos asaad ,  E-Mail: menos.asaad@hotmail.com).

Received:  13/04/2023        Accepted: 19/07/2023

Abstract: 

This research was conducted in the apiary of the Agricultural Scientific Research Center in Latakia in June 2022 on twelve bee colonies with a strength of eight combs. Each assay was repeated three times with an interval of 24 hours in order to evaluate the defensive behavior of honeybee hybrid colonies using three assays (ball, flag, testing honeybee colony). The results of ball assay indicated that the average time for the first sting ranged between 9.66 and 39.33 seconds, and one colony needed only 18.66 seconds to become aggressive, while another colony exceeded one minute (69 seconds) to become aggressive without leaving any stinging needles in the tester’s gloves. The pursuit distance does not exceed 1m. The difference in the results between the colonies is due to the genetic mixing resulting from the introduction of foreign bees and queens. The colonies have also shown similar defensive behavior with regard to flag assay, with no significant differences between the two assays for the same colony. As for their evaluation according to the Ruttner scale, the tested colonies ranged from very aggressive to medium aggressive, and all assays were able to separate between colonies to assess their defensive behavior.

Keywords: Honeybee colonies, defensive behavior, ball assay, flag assay, Syria

Full paper in Arabic: pdf

Zeina. Sadeq. Bddour^(1)*, Ali. Mohamed. Ramadhan⁽²⁾ and Eyad. Mohamed. Mohamed⁽¹⁾

(1). Plant Protection Division, Directorate of Agriculture, Lattakia, Syria.

(2). Directorate of Plant Protection, Ministry of Agriculture ,Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Zeina Baddour, :  Zenabadr80@gMail. com).

Received:  30/03/2023        Accepted: 21/06/2023

Abstract: 

The endoparasitoid Cotesia glomerata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is one of the most important parasites that attack Cabbage Large Butterfly Pieris brassicae (L.) The samples of both parasitoid and insects were collected from cabbage fields in AL-Bassa region in Lattakia Governorate. Biological characteristics of C. glomerata were studied on the larval stage of P. brassicae which reared on three different host plants: White cabbage, Cauliflower and Broccoli. These characteristics included: duration of life cycle, adult fitness: fertility, mortality, longevity, Sex ratio and percentage of parasitism, in addition to the relationship of dry weight of adults with fertility. Experiments were carried out under laboratory conditions (temperature 25±2°C, relative humidity 60±5%, light period (day: night) 16:8 h), in Insects Laboratory of the Department of biological Control in Lattakia Directorate Agriculture during the 2021-2022 season. The results showed that the host plant has a direct impact on the biological characteristics of C. glomerata. Fertility varied depending on the plant species, recording the highest percentage 78.33 % on the white cabbage comparing to 75.66 and 69.24 on Cauliflower and Broccoli. In addition to the difference in the duration of life cycle on the three hosts 23.96,  21.14 and 18.8 on White cabbage, Cauliflower and Broccoli respectively, the rates of parasitization were changed to 70.35% on the broccoli host compared to 90.25 % on white cabbage, and therefore according to the results of this study, white cabbage is the most suitable host plant for rearing the C. glomerata on larvae of P. brassicae under laboratory conditions.

Keywords: Cotesia glomerata. Pieris brassicae. Biological characters. Host plant.  

Full paper in Arabic: pdf

Marah Iskander*⁽¹⁾ Naeema Ajeeb⁽²⁾ and Samir Shamsham⁽³⁾

(1). Department of Environment, College of Civil Engineering, Al-Baath University

(2). Scientific Supervisor, , Department of Environment, College of Civil Engineering, Al-Baath University

(3). Department of Soil and Land Reclamation, College of Agriculture, Al-Baath University

(*Corresponding author: Marah Iskander E-mail: Maraheskandar00@gmail.com)

Received: 18/05/2023         Accepted: 20/06/2023

Abstract: 

The research aims to reduce the concentration of cadmium in the soil of Wadi Rabia – the village of Duhairij, which is contaminated with cadmium due to the discharge of industrial wastewater from the Hasya Industrial City, southwest of Homs. The research was conducted at the Environmental Engineering Laboratory- Faculty of Civil Engineering – University of Al-Baath. Soil samples were collected from a depth of 30 cm, 250 meters away well number 8 for drinking water. The soil was then treated using distilled water, 0.1 M sodium oxalate, a mixture of 0.1M sodium oxalate and 0.1M EDTA, and tap water. Two washing methods were used: non-magnetic solutions and magnetic solutions, with three pollution concentrations (8-12-16) ppm soil to solution ratio (1:10). The effectiveness of each solution in removing cadmium was compared in terms of the impact of pollution concentration, washing method, and individual solution, as well as the combined effect of all three variables. The results confirmed that, compared to the control for the first concentration level,  and for tap water solutions, the magnetic mixture was more effective in removing cadmium at the first concentration (8ppm), with significance compared to the other treatments. The percentage of cadmium removal from the soil decreased with increasing pollution concentration when using the same washing solution, while distilled water with magnetism removed the lowest rate of cadmium compared to the other solutions.

Keywords: Cadmium, Hasya district, Industrial drainage, Soil washing, Sodium oxalate.

Full paper in Arabic: pdf

Kamel Khalil * ⁽¹⁾ Maher Dais ⁽²⁾  and Ahmad soliman ⁽¹⁾

(1). Department of Environmental Prevention, Higher Institute for Environmental Research, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.

(2). The General Authority for Scientific Agricultural Research, Lattakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Kamel Khalil, Email: d.kamelkhalil@tishreen.edu.sy).

Received: 18/04/2023         Accepted: 24/05/2023

Abstract: 

This study aimed to evaluate the levels of soil pollution by the use of some single pollution indexes such as (the Geoaccumulation index I_geo, and Pollution Index PIi) in addition of some integrated pollution indexes, such as (Average Pollution Index Pl_ave and Nemerow pollution index INPI) in soils of Jableh city. Samples taken from two depths (0-20 cm) and (20-40 cm) for five sites (S1 to S5) during the spring (Corona prohibition period) and autumn season of 2020. The concentrations of the metal were determined: lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). The results showed that the overall mean values of element concentrations ranged as follows: [Zn (71.16)> Pb(38.28) > Cu(25.13) > Cd1.81 ppm)] for both seasons (spring and autumn). In general, values of metals were higher in the autumn season compared to the spring season (the prohibition period of the Corona pandemic), especially in the surface depths. The results were shown by calculating the overall mean of the individual pollution index PIi values for each element and defining the pollution Class: copper (0.42) non-polluted, zinc (1.02) lightly polluted, lead (2.73) moderately polluted, and cadmium (12.08) severely polluted. The Igeo values for each element and the defined pollution Class: copper (-1.86) uncontaminated, zinc (-0.060) non-polluted, lead (0.82) non-polluted to medium pollution, cadmium (2.85) moderate to severely polluted. Pl_ave values was (4.06) this means that the city soils were Highly polluted and the value of the INPI was (9.014), meaning that the soil of Jableh city is highly polluted. In summary, we conclude that the soils of the city of Jableh are moderate polluted with lead and severely polluted with cadmium, and in general, the soils classified as highly polluted.

Keywords: Heavy metals – Indexes of soil pollution – city (Syria).

Full paper in Arabic: pdf

Ola Farran^(1)* and Yahya Al Saleh ⁽²⁾

(1). General Center of Agriculture Scientific Researches. Aleppo Centre.

(2). Rural Eng. Dept. Faculty of Agriculture, Aleppo University, Aleppo, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Ola Farran, E-Mail: Ofarran3@gmail.com).

Received: 11/05/2023                Accepted: 26/06/2023

Abstract: 

Despite the advantages of mechanical harvesting in reducing labor and reducing harvesting time and costs, using a combined harvester during the mechanical harvesting of corn causes an increase in the loss rates, the losses occur due to the effect of the various harvesting devices (table, thresher, winnowing, and sifting). This research aims to determine the loss percentages that occur with the effect of each of the different harvesting devices. The experiment was conducted on two cultivars of fodder corn, which are the most common among farmers in Aleppo province. Golden West variety harvested at speed of 2.44 km/h. Indaco variety, harvested at speed of 3.33 km/h. The results showed that for Golden West variety the losses due to the effect of the table was 12.03%, the thresher device 18.4%, and the winnowing and sifting devices 0.15%, thus the total loss was 30.85%. As for Indaco variety, these values were 6.7%, Corn, Combine, Mechanical Harvesting, Total Losses, Quantitative Loss, and Qualitative Losses.14.5%, 0.56%, respectively, and the total loss was 21.74%. Losses in both cases are high and this can attributed to several factors, the most important reason that is the oldness of the machine and the failure to adjust its calibers correctly during harvesting.

Key Words: Corn, Harvesting Devices, Loss Rates, Quantum Loss, Qualitative Loss.

Full paper in Arabic: pdf

Sarah Alsheikh ^(1)* and Osama Radwan⁽¹⁾

(1). Ecology and Forest Department Faculty of Agriculture Engineering, Tishreen Univ, Lattakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author:Salma amairi.E-Mail: sara96alsheikh@gmail.com).

Received: 28/04/2023                     Accepted: 10/07/2023

Abstract: 

This study was conducted in four sites located in Lattakia governorate during the period between 2021-2022, and it aimed to estimate the current plant biodiversity from the city center towards the suburbs and to determine the integrity of the species richness, and compare the change in the diversity of tree species. The results showed that there were clear differences in the distribution of the total number of plant species among the study sites. it was found that the site located in the suburb of Buka, has a greater species richness, which the Arab Technical Institute for Agriculture and Fisheries recorded 90 species, followed by the Panorama garden and gardens of Ain Um Ibrahim with 58 species and 38 species respectively, while the lowest number was recorded in ALmashroa ALsabea garden with 14 species. The results also showed that there is a relative closeness between the city and the suburb in terms of endemic and exotic species, which the percentage of exotic species in the city reached 69,8% and in the suburb 68,9%, while the endemic species recorded a percentage of 30,2% in the city compared to 31,19% in the suburb. The similarity between the city and the suburb was 50%. Most of the families achieved the required percentages in the plant composition of the studied sites, while the percentage of some species and genera exceeded the permissible percentages in the study areas.

Keywords: Tree species, urban forestry, Plant biodiversity gradient, Endemic and exotic species. .

Full paper in Arabic: pdf

Salma Amairi⁽¹⁾, Rita Mansour ⁽²⁾⁽³⁾ Rami Watffa⁽¹⁾ and Nada Ghebeh⁽⁴)

(1). Department of renewable natural resources and environment, Faculty of Agricultural   Engineering, University of Damascus, Syria.

(2). Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Damascus University- Damascus, Syria.

(3). Qasyoun University for Science & Technology, Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus, Syria.

(4)Natural Resource Research Department – General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research – Damascus,Syria.

(*Corresponding author:Salma amairi.E-Mail:Salmaamaery9@gmail.com).

Received: 10/07/2023         Accepted: 23/01/2023

Abstract: 

The experiment was carried out at the Abi Jarash farm, Faculty of Agriculture, the University of Damascus in 2020- 2021.The experiment was conducted according to a Completely Randomized Block Design (CRBD) to calculate the Least Significant Difference (LSD) at a significance level of 0.05. Twenty crop beds were planted with Helianthus annuusL (common name sunflower) andirrigated by five kinds of water (five treatments) at a rate of four replicates per treatment: T1 (100% freshwater), T2 (25% wastewater + 75% freshwater), T3 (50% wastewater + 50% freshwater), T4 (75% wastewater + 25% freshwater) and T5 (100% wastewater).The content of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) in irrigated and filtration water,along with plant parts (root, stem, leaves) were measured at the maturity stage by atomic absorption spectrophotometer and flame spectroscopy. Results showed the concentration of Pb and Cd in filtrate were lower than its concentrations in irrigated water. According to the Syrian Standard for treated wastewater,the filtration water for treatments T3 and T4 is suitable for irrigation (the values of Cd and Pb were 0.032, 3.00 mg/l for T3 and 0.041, 4.00 mg/l for T4, respectively). Conversely, the concentration of K+ and Na+ increased in water filtrate when itwas in irrigation water. The results also showed: significant differences between treatment of T1 and T5 in the plant’s accumulation of Cd. The highest concentration of Cd in leaves were at T5 (0.0647 mg/Kg) and the lowest value in roots were at T1 (0.005 mg/Kg). In addition, there were obvious significant differences between all treatments for Pb accumulation; its highest concentration in the roots was in T5 (17.00 mg/Kg)and the lowest concentration in the stem was in the control(2.00 mg/Kg) . Cd accumulation in the leaves was higher than in the roots, while Pb was concentrated in the lower parts of the plant. Absorption of Na+ and K+ in the root, stems, and leaves decreased when heavy metals accumulated in these plant parts.

Keywords: Helianthus annuusL, Wastewater, Heavy metals, Chemical indicators.

Full paper in Arabic: pdf

Mona Baraka ⁽¹⁾ Mohammad Manhal Alzoubi⁽²⁾ Ola Merhej⁽³⁾ and Ruba Issa^(1)*

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

(2). Agriculture Scientific Research Center, Latakia, Syria.

(3). General Organization of Remote Sensing, Latakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Ruba Mohammad Issa: E-Mail: rubaessa99@gmail.com).  

Received: 29/06/2023                          Accepted: 24/07/2023

Abstract: 

The severity of the fires is a determining factor in assessing the condition of the region after the fire, however the fires that occurred on 10-9/10/2020 were extremely painful after they turned the green cover in the coastal mountains into ashes. The damage was not limited to forest wealth, as  agricultural soils had a big share of it.  Since soil is the basis for the return and renewal of forest wealth and the preservation of biodiversity as well as the sustainability of agricultural production. In this research, (30) sites exposed to fire were identified, distributed over the four regions of Latakia Governorate (Latakia region, Al-Qardaha region, Al-Haffa region, and Jableh region) two weeks after the fire broke out. And then  the Normalized burn Ratio (NBR) index and the difference Normalized burn Ratio index (dNBR)were applied in conjunction with the application of The Composite burn Index (CBI).  The results of the study showed that Latakia governorate exposed to fires that distributed to very low (0.5-1), low (1-1.5), medium (1.5-2) to high (2-2.5) and very high (2.5-3) according to the composite index, which showed the effectiveness of using the index of difference in the standard fire ratio in assessing the severity of the fire, by calculating the total accuracy of this indicator based on the points of the composite index as field checkpoints, which totaled to (84.67)%, The index showed the difference in the intensity of the fire throughout the studied areas, as the fir and Cedar preserve occupied the largest area in terms of high-intensity fires (1674.84) ha with a total burned area of (3466.37) hectares, and the Qardaha area occupied the highest total area of fire by (7830.23 ha), followed by the Latakia region (4931.52) ha, and on the contrary, the lowest total area of fire was in the Kfardabil area (3433.49) ha.

Key words: Composite burn index (CBI) – The Normalized burn Ratio index(NBR) – the difference Normalized burn Ratio index dNBR – fire intensity – Latakia governorate.

 Full paper in Arabic: pdf

Rania Hasan ^(1)*, Mahmoud Ali ⁽¹⁾, Ali Ramadan ⁽²⁾ and Ola Merhej ⁽³⁾

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

(2). Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Tishreen University, Syria.

(3). General Authority for Remote Sensing, Lattakia, Syria.

(* Corresponding author: Eng. Rania Hasan, e-mail: raniahsn1990@gmail.com).

Received: 4/04/2023           Accepted:7/06/2023

Abstract: 

The aim of this research is to study the distribution and spread of the Lebanese cedar trees, Cedrus libani A.Rich, in the Cedar – Fir protected area in the Slenfeh region in Syria, after the reserve suffered from a fire in 2020, which negatively affected the area of cedar natural spread. The squares method was adopted to count the number of trees. 10 squares were chosen on the eastern part and 3 squares on the southern part, where the spread of the cedar is concentrated. The numbers of all the trees spreading in the studied samples were counted, and the plant density in hectares and the relative abundance of the cedar and the associated forest species were calculated. The results showed that the relative abundance and density of Lebanese cedar per hectare on the southern part was the highest compared to the other species, as the relative abundance was 20.2% and the density was 883.33 trees per hectare. On the other hand, only Juniperus drupacea was superior in relative abundance and density to the Lebanese cedar on the eastern part of the reserve, as the density of the cedar reached 478.57 trees per hectare compared to 267.86 trees per hectare for the Lebanese cedar, with a relative abundance of 9.4%.

Keywords: Cedrus libani, Cedar – Fir protected area, Slenfeh, Syria, plant density per hectare, relative abundance.

Full paper in Arabic: pdf