Economics of Scale for Broiler Projects in Swaida Governorate, Syria

Maya Al-Abdala(1), Safwan Abou Assaf (1), Afraa Sallowm(2)

(1). Socio Economic Directorate, Swaida Research Center, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

(2). Department Of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Damascus, Syria.

(Corresponding author: Maya Al-Abdala. E-Mail: mayaabdala6@gmail.com).

Received: 13/02/2020 Accepted: 19/03/2020


Abstract

The broiler sector in Syria is witnessing clear and continuous fluctuations in broiler production, which pays to study the structure of production costs and the optimum capacity for these projects. The research aims to estimate the optimum production volumes for broiler projects in the swaida governorate and compare them to the actual volumes. The research was carried out during the 2017-2018 season using preliminary data from a sample of broilers with 104 breeders. The research has relied on the analysis on descriptive statistical analysis methods to estimate production costs, econometrics models for estimating the cost function in the long run. The results showed that the variable costs represented 97% of the total production costs, and the cost of feed was the primary importance in the variable production costs of broiler poultry, around (69)%.The cube Function is most appropriate after entering the scale factor (number of chicks) to represent the cost function. The optimum production Scales were deviated from the actual Production in the sample, where: the difference between the maximum profit production and the optimum production of the actual production was estimated at 26734 kg and 22154 kg, which is more than the actual production as double 2.17%, 1.8%. The difference between the optimum Scale of the number’ chicks from the actual was estimated at about 17414 chicks, an increase that represented three times what amounted to about 2.68%.The difference between the value of the net profit of the Profit Maximizing Production and Optimum Size of Production from the actual amounted to more than 8.5% and 11.5%, and only 16% of the sample are not subject to this loss. The results of the breeders ’opinion showed that the most important obstacles facing the production process relate to prices, whether they are for the product or the feed price, and the study recommended the necessity of establishing feed factories in the province that depend on local resources and encouraging breeders to expand their actual production capacity..

Keyword: Optimum production, Cost function, Profit maximizing, Broiler, swaida.

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The Use of Panel Models Techniques in Estimating the Grain Production Function of Several Arab Countries During the Period 2014 to 2016

Suha Al Ahmad(1) Mohammad Taher Anan(1) Mustafa Haj Hmaidi(2) Yaeseen Karmota(1)

(1). Dept. of Statistics, Faculty of Sciences, Univ. of Aleppo, Postgraduate Student

(2). Dept. of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Aleppo

(Corresponding author: Suha Al Ahmed. E-Mail suhaalahmed1987@gmail.com)

Received: 02/12/2019 Accepted: 13/01/2020


Abstract

The aim of the research is to estimate the grain production function for several Arab countries, that were selected because they are considered grain producing countries: (Syria, Algeria, Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, Morocco, Saudi Arabia) for the period between 2014 to 2016, where the study included five variables, grain productivity is the dependent variable and the following four independent variables which are: agricultural Labour force, agricultural tractors, consumption of Nitrogen fertilizer and consumption of Phosphate fertilizer.Panel data techniques have been used to estimate the grain production function. By presenting and clarifying how to choose between the three models of the panel: pooled regression model, fixed effects model and random effects model. Several tests were used to select the best model by studying the explanatory variables that affect production.The differential models between panel models indicated that pooled regression model is the model that gives us the best estimate of the amount of production and through which we can also predict.

Keyword: The grain production function, Arab countries, Panel Models, Pooled Regression Models, Fixed effects Model, Random effects Model

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Attitudes of Benefit from The agricultural Media and The extent of Communication with Extension Activities of Vegetable Farmers in The Jableh Region

Maha Ali Abedo(1)* and IbrahimHamdan Saker (1)


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

(*Corresponding author: Maha Ali Abedo. E-Mail: mahaoof1993@gmail.com).

Received: 11/01/2019 Accepted: 29/01/2020

Abstract

The aim of this research was to Attitudes of Benefit from The agricultural Media and The extent of Communication with Extension Activities of Vegetable Farmers in The Jableh Region where the study was carried out during the period 30/8/2018 until 12/28/2018, through a questionnaire distributed to 190 farmers Vegetables, and was based on the descriptive analysis, and on the Likart triangular and quadrilateral scale, and after data collection the results were analyzed based on the percentages, averages and repeats, and the statistical analysis program SPSS. The results concluded that the degree of benefit of farmers from the activities established in the extension units, and of interviewing agricultural extension workers in the field, and the attendance of extension seminars was medium, while the degree of benefit of farmers from field schools and practical data was high, in addition to the lack of permanent and periodic communication of farmers with the units Agricultural extension working in their areas, and a weak, unimportant correlation was found between farmers ’ages, marital status, cultural level and extent of benefiting from extension, radio and television publications in their knowledge and experience The research recommended the necessity of activating the role of the media to increase the confidence of farmers again in the extension work, in addition to providing technical, scientific and educational work requirements, because of their impact on the degree of implementation of the extension units for their service and extension tasks

Keyword: Agricultural Media, Extension Activities, Vegetable Farmers, Likert Scal.

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Economic estimate of the Supply and Demand Functions of Wheat Crop in Syria

(1*)Alawee Ali

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

(*Corresponding author: Dr: Alawee Ali. E -mail: alaweeali2@gmail.com)

Received: 20/7/2020 Accepted: 22/8/2020

Abstract

The importance of this research comes through analyzing the supply and demand of the wheat crop at the level of total production in Syria, which contributes to exploring the future of wheat cultivation, and in revealing the truth about the factors active between the two sides of the market. By achieving the goal of estimating the supply and demand functions, and studying their economic variables. The descriptive analysis approach and the quantitative and quantitative analysis approach were adopted, using data taken from various official sources during the period (1986-2018). The results of the research showed that the relationship between the supply of wheat crop and the cultivated area is flexible, as increasing the cultivated area by one unit will lead to an increase in the quantity supplied by 1.8 units, and the size of the population has a positive relationship with the quantity of demand for wheat, as increasing the population by one unit will lead to the demand for wheat increased by 1.8 units. The results indicated that there is a nonstatistically significant relationship between the import and export variable, the ratio of the rural population to the urban population, and the quantity of demand for wheat.

Keywords: Wheat yield, Economic estimate, Supply function, Demand function, Syria.

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Production Pectinases from Aspergillus by Liquid state fermentation and determination of Optimum Parameters for production

Rasha Taowz * (1), Adib Faleh(1), Fateh Kateeb(2)and Muhammad Alazm(3)

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

2).Dept. of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Aleppo University, Syria.

(3).Dept. of Food Engineering Techniques, Faculty of Technical Engineering,Aleppo, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Rasha Taowz. E-Mail: rashat.310@gmail.com). Received:

25/8/2020 Accepted: 15/10/2020

Abstract

After twenty Fungal isolates belong to Aspergillus Genus were obtained from sixty four samples from Fruits and Vegetables, the action was processed in food science laboratories of Agriculture faculty in Aleppo university (2018-2019), and election the best according to its production Pectinases on solid medium. The strongest five isolates were chosen to produce Pectinases by using solid state fermentation to know the ability of the elected isolates to produce pectinases, and determinate the highest enzyme production isolate, in addition to optimize the enzyme production for that isolate (incubation temperature, incubation period, pectin concentration, inoculum volume, Suspension concentrations of spores, pH of initial medium). Four of these isolates were belong to A. niger and one were belong to A. fumigatus. Citrus peels were used in the fermentation system as pectin resource. The pectin percentage in peels were calculated and it was 5%.The results showed that the activity of pectinases which was produced by isolates from citrus fruits is higher than the other isolates, and it was 51,52 U/ml. When the optimum parameters of production Pectinases were studied, the results showed that the highest activity of pectinases was obtained at 40 ە of incubation temperature, 96 hours of incubation period, 2.5% of pectin concentration in medium, 107 spore/ml of spore concentration in fungal suspicion, 2 ml of indeed suspicion volume.

Keywords: Aspergillus, Enzym activity, Fermentation, Pectinases, Optimization, Pectin

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Determining the Optimal Requirement of Nitrogen for Growth and Productivity of Irrigated Wheat Triticum eastivum (cv. Cham 7)

Fatema abdelrahman*(1) Abdulgani Khorshid(2) Badralden Jalab(1) Mustafa mazen Otri(1)


(1). The Center for Scientific Agricultural Research in Aleppo, the General Authority for Scientific Agricultural Research, Damascus, Syria..

(2). Department of Soil Sciences, College of Agriculture, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria.

(For correspondence: Dr. Fatema Mustafa Addulrahman. Email: heviardam5@gmail. com).

Received:3-9-2020 Accepted:6-10-2020

Abstract

The experiment was carried out at Hamima Research Station, Aleppo Research Center during the season 2019/2020 with the aim of studying the effect of adding different levels of nitrogen on the growth and productivity of irrigated wheat (Cham 7), and the experiment parameters were as follow: N0: without addition, N1: 70, N2: 105, N3: 140, N4: 175, N5: 210 and N6: 245 kg N/hiktar. The experiment was designed in a randomized complete block design with three operations for each treatment, and the results showed an increase in the rate of vegetative traits (spike, plant and spike bearer length and flag leaf area) with an increase in the rate of added fertilizer by 16% for plant length, 22.67% for spike length, 23.02% for spike bearer length, and 34.65% for flag leaf area compared to the control. The treatment N6 gave the highest value in all studied characteristics, and it outperformed the control treatment, but in terms of productive characteristics, the superiority of treatment N5, which gave the highest values, outperformed all treatments, expect for straw weight, where N6 surpassed the other treatments. N5 gave the highest grain yield (8366 kg/ hectare), where the increase rate was 49.72% compared with the control (4192 kg/ha), and the value of the harvest index decreased when the rate of added fertilizer increased.

Key words: Nitrogen Fertilization, Wheat, cv. Cham 7, Vegetative traits, Productivity traits.

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Using the Pruning Residues of Apple Trees in Solid Fuel Industry

Bassam Al Atalah*(1), Jwad Sharaf (1), Safwan Abu Assaf (1), Remal Saab (1), Ali Alhwarin (1), Samer Kiwan(1), Wassim Mohsen (1)and Awad Alflah (1)


(1). Sweida Research Center/ General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR)/ Syria.

Abstract

This study was conducted at Ira Research Station/ Sweida Research Center/ General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research/ Syria during 2019 and 2020. The aim of the current study was determining the possibility of pelletizing heating cylinders from the pruning residues of apple trees, and using them as a source of heating at houses, in addition to determining the properties of the final product. Cylinders were prepared starting from pruning residues after they were cut and mixed with several bond materials (starch, gypsum, glue) at different ratios (5 and 10% for gypsum and glue, 2, 5 and 10% for starch), and finally they were compressed by a hydraulic compressing machine. In addition, several tests were conducted, including compaction, transportation and combustion tests. Statistical descriptive analytical approach was used in this study, in addition to ANOVA analysis to compare means. The results revealed that the general mean for the weight of one cylinder was 471.25 g, and for the size was 1741.41 cm3. In addition, starch treatments were the best for the compaction test, especially 10% starch treatment that registered as an excellent compaction degree. On the contrary, starch treatments lost the greatest weight after transportation test compared to other treatments. As for combustion test, no differences were noticed among all treatments. In general, the mean temperature before starting the combustion test was registered as 12.38 °C, whereas the mean time for reaching 18° C was 11 min, and the maximum temperature reached was 21.25° C. The mean time of dropping the temperature below 18° C was 29.5 min, and the general mean for combustion duration of three cylinders was 55 min. This study recommended pelletizing the pruning residues of fruit trees and other agricultural wastes, and using the resultant product as a heating source at houses.

Keywords: Pruning residues, Heating, Apple trees, Solid fuel, Pelletizing.

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Effect of saline stress of chloride and sodium sulphate on growth and productivity of Atriplex leucoclada and Atriplex cancecens

Dalia, A. Khalouf(1) , Awad, M. Al-Aswad (1) and Goson, Al-Rajab Aga(2)

(1). Department of Ecology and Forestry, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Furat University, Deir Ezzor, Syria.

(2).Department of Ecology and Forestry, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Baath University, Homs, Syria

(Corresponding author: Awad, M. Aswad. E-Mail: dr.awadalaswad@gmail.com).

Received: 23/01/2020 Accepted: 26/02/2020


Abstract

The research was carried out at the nursery of the forestry of the Directorate of Agriculture in the Deir Ezzor Governorate, during the two growing seasons 2014 and 2019, to study the effect of several salinity levels on the growth and productivity of Atriplex leucoclada and Atriplex canescens. Randomized complete block design with four replicates was used. The seeds of the two species were planted in polyethylene bags filled with soil mixture with sand in a 2: 1 ratio. sodium chloride and sodium sulfate with five concentrations (Tap water, 3000, 6000, 12000 and 18000) mg / liter were used, growth and yield parameters were taken after six months of planting in both seasons. Results indicated that Atriplex leucoclada showed significant superiority over Atriplex canescens in all the studied parameters at both of the growing seasons. In general, it was noticed that there was a tendency decrease in all the studied characteristics with increasing the salinity level from the control toward the highest level of 18000 mg/liter. The interaction between plant species and saline type was affected significantly in the studied characteristics at the two studied seasons. Atriplex leucoclada with sodium sulfate was significantly superior on Atriplex canescens and recorded the highest values in plant height (35.00, 30.60 cm), fresh weight of the leaves/plant (23.65, 19.77 g) , dry weight of the leaves / plant (9.95, 8.70 g), fresh weight of the plant (31.30, 27.65 g) and dry weight of the plant (13.90, 12.63 g), in the first and the second seasons, respectively. All traits were affected by the interaction between the plant species and salt concentrations during the two studied seasons, Atriplex leucoclada with control treatment were recorded significant superiority of Atriplex canescens with all salt concentrations in the 2014 season, and the highest values were recorded in plant height (38.25 cm). While in the 2019 season, Atriplex leucoclada with control treatment were superior on Atriplex canescens and recorded the highest values in plant height (33.56 cm), number of branches / plant (7.44 branches), fresh weight and dry weight of the plant (35.06, 13.75 g), respectively).

Keyword: Sodium chloride, Sodium sulfate, Salinity levels, Atriplex leucoclada, Atriplex canescens, Growth and productivity.

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Effect of the space between contour stone bunds on runoff and soil moisture content: Samandeel – Lattakia

Taher Cheikho*(1) and Ahmed Zalita(2) and Linda Droobi

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

(2). Natural Resources Administration (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

(3). Scientific Agricultural Research Center, Lattakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: E. Linda Droobi. E-mail: linda.droobi@yahoo.com).

Received:17-5-2020 Accepted:18-7-2020

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at the Samandeel site which belongs to Stkheres Research Station – Scientific Agricultural Research Center in Lattakia during the 2017/2018 rainy season, to study the effect of the space between contour stone bunds on runoff and soil moisture content. For this purpose, three stone bunds with a spacing of 10, 20 and 30 m were constructed along the contour lines. Three runoff plots were established, each was 5 m wide, with variable lengths of 10, 20 and 30 m, resulting in plot catchment areas of 50, 100 and 150 m2, respectively. The results were compared with the control treatment without stones bunds. The results showed an increase in harvested runoff volumes with increasing space between the stone bunds, their mean values were 6, 9.9 and 12.9 m3 for spacing 10, 20 and 30 m, respectively, but this increase was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Soil moisture content was increased with increasing distance from the stone bunds, their mean values were 24.5, 26.8 and 29.7% for spacing 10, 20 and 30 m, respectively. Significant differences (P  0.05) between soil moisture content of both 10 and 30 m spacing were found. In contrast to the bunds treatments, a decrease in soil moisture content with increasing slope length were recorded at control area, their mean values were 14.1, 13.2 and 12.8% for spacing 10, 20 and 30 m, respectively. By comparing the mean values of soil moisture content of bunds and control treatments for all studied spacing, high significant differences (P  0.001) were found. These findings confirmed the effective role of contour stone bunds in reducing runoff, enhancing water infiltration into the soil and improving water availability during the growing season, thereby protecting crops and trees from dry periods.

Key words: Water harvesting, Contour stone bunds, Runoff, Soil water content, Samandeel- Lattakia.

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Effect of different levels of organic fertilizer on growth and yield of chickpea ( C icer arietinum L.) under conditions of Deir Ezzor Governorate

*(1) Abd AL-Hakeem AL-kasha

*(1)Department of Agronomy, faculty of a(1) Deir Ezzor, Syria.

(*Corresponding author:Abd AL-Hakeem AL-kasham .Email: dr.akasham @gmail.com)

Received:17-1-2020 Accepted:12-3-2020

Abstract

The study was conducted at AL-Husseinia village, north Deir Ezzor governorate, during 2018/2019 growing season, to determining the effect of different levels of organic fertilizer on growth and yield of chickpea. Four rates of organic sheep manure (0,5,15 and 25) ton/ha were used. Results showed that organic manure has accelerated seedlings emergence and plants flowering, where the least period to germination and flowering was at the rates of adding 15 and 25 ton/ha, without significance differences between these rates. The highest values of plant height and number of main branches/plants were achieved when adding organic fertilizer at rates of 15 and 25 ton/ha, and all treatments of organic fertilizer surpassed significantly the control treatment (0 ton/ha). The rate 15 ton/ha gave the highest values of number of pods/plant and 100- seed weight, followed by the rates 5 and 25 ton/ha organic fertilizer, without significance differences between the rates 5 and 25 ton/ha. All fertilization rates significantly surpassed the control treatment in plant dry weight at harvest, and the highest values of this trait were in fertilization rates of (15 and 25) ton/ha,

which gave statistically equal values for plant dry weight. Plants that grown at the addition rate of 15 ton/ha of organic sheep manure gave the highest seed yield and harvest index, (2817 kg/ha and 43.87%), respectively.

Keywords: Chickpea, Organic fertilizer, Growth traits, Yield traits.

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