Category Archives: Natural Resources

Limestone Dust as an Abiotic Disease Factor Affecting Vegetables and Olives in Palestine

Hazem Sawalha*(1) Lamya Shalabi(1) and Anan Hussein(2) and Nasser Sholi(1)

(1). Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, Arab American University, Palestine.

(2). Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Arab American University, Palestine.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Hazem Sawalha. E-Mail: hazem.sawalha@aaup.edu).

Received: 28/01/2019                                Accepted: 25/03/2019

Abstract

An experiment was carried out in 2011 to study the effect of limestone dust of quarries on agricultural crops of vegetables and olive trees. The effect of such dust on vegetables including tomato and pepper plants was studied in the open fields of the Arab American University of Jenin (AAUJ). In addition, the effect of such dust was studied on olive orchards nearby quarries in Qabatya region. The Two-Sample Test of Proportions (TSTP) was used as a statistical method to analyze data obtained from the studied regions. The results showed that plant exposure to dust causes drastic negative effect on leaf surface area and productivity for both vegetable crops and olive trees. Chlorophyll content and flowering percentages of pepper plants decreased with increasing the amount of dust. Furthermore, the results revealed that long-term exposure of olive trees to dust decreases oil productivity by 55.3-84.4% and minimizes the percentage of seed maturity and germination percentages.

Keywords: Limestone dust, Olive trees, Vegetable, Palestine.

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Phytochemical Detection of Active Ingredients in the Syrian Medicinal Plant Tribulus terrestris L. from the Family Zygophyllaceae

Abdel Aleem Bello*(1)

(1). Plant Biology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Abdel Aleem Bello. E-Mail: abdelaleembello@gmail.com).

Received: 15/07/2018                                Accepted: 01/10/2018

Abstract

Syrian plants are a natural heritage and precious treasure, which efforts must be directed to study and discover their active constituents and benefits. One of these plants is Tribulus terrestris, which is naturally spread medicinal plant in Aleppo city. This research was carried out at the Laboratory of Plant Taxonomy and Medicinal Plants Research, Faculty of Science, Aleppo University, within the period 15/10/2017 and 5/6/2018. In this research, the active constituents in the extracts of this plant were detected using various chemical tests and specific reagents. Flavonoids, coumarins, glycosides, alkaloids, phenols and tannins were recorded in most extracts of the plant, while anthraquinones and fixed oils were not observed in any extract. Saponins were recorded in the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the aerial parts and in the aqueous extract of the fruits. The present study was unique in detecting coumarins and diterpenes in this plant. It was concluded that many medical activities of this plant can be interpreted by having a wide range of active constituents. Refer to previous studies, it is believed that this research on Tribulus terrestris is the first of its kind at the local level.

Keywords: Tribulus terrestris, Phytochemical screening, Active constituents.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Estimation of the Trees Height of Cupressus sempervirens L. Using the Mathematical Modelling in Misiaf Region

Ali Thabit*(1)

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

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Ali Thabit. E-Mail: alithabt@yahoo.fr).

Received: 02/08/2018                                Accepted: 24/09/2018

Abstract

The aim of this research was to design and test height-diameter models of Cupressus sempervirens in Misiaf, Syria. Modelling techniques were applied at four sampling plots that were selected throughout the natural distribution area of Cupressus sempervirens in Misiaf region. The tree height (h) and diameter at breast height (dbh) of eighty-four trees (84) were measured. Different forms of mathematical models (Michailoff, Parabel, Prodan, Petterson, Korsun, and Logarithmic) were selected to estimate the trees height of Cupressus sempervirens using diameter at breast height (dbh) as independent variable. Models were examined using different statistical tests i.e. absolute mean of the model error, relative mean of the model error, standard error of the absolute mean of the model error, model accuracy, model accuracy % and coefficient of determination R2, which showed the proportion of the total variance that is explained by model. These statistical tests were done to select the best model to estimate the trees height of Cupressus sempervirens in Misiaf region in Syria. The results of model’s efficiency tests showed that the best function was Parabel equation, this model had a high R-squared value (R2 = 60.8 %), less error value (0.21), and best accuracy value (mx = 19 %). The results of this research could be a good tool in management of Cupressus sempervirens sites and could help forest managers in the future studies in the field.

Keywords: Cupressus sempervirens, Height–Diameter relationships, Mathematical modelling, Syria.

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Irrigation Programming Using WEAP – MABIA Model in Al-Kabir Alshamali Basin, Syria

Marina Al-Ali*(1) Jamil Abbas(1) Emad Kubeli(1) and Hussen Saleh(2)

(1). Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen university, Lattakia, Syria.

(2). Higher Commission for Scientific Research, Damascus, Syria

Received: 02/08/2018                                Accepted: 24/09/2018

Abstract

This research was conducted at Al-Kabir Alshamali basin in Lattakia Governorate, this area in located between Syrian-Turkish border, and the Syrian coastal strip within an area of 835 km2, to evaluate the current status of water resources of the agricultural sector, and suggest future scenarios to reduce water deficit using MABIA and WEAP 21. Water evaluation and planning depended on the data from the Directorate of Water Resources in Lattakia, including: river flow, storage capacity, monthly storage, volume curve of dam’s lakes (Tishreen, AlHaffa and AlThoura), evaporation, and losses to ground water in addition to springs monthly flow of and groundwater recharge, besides the data of climatic factors from General Directorate of Meteorology, data of the Ministry of Agriculture (land use including irrigated areas and cultivated crops) and data from the General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (mechanical and chemical soil analysis) to calculate the basic moisture parameters. The previous mentioned data were interred for the base year 2011. The results showed that improving irrigation cannels reduced water deficit from 4.2 million m3 in the year 2011 to 2.8 million m3 by the year 2050. While when field Irrigation efficiency scenario is applied, water deficit was reduced to reach 2.2 M.m3 in the year 2050. But when the two previous scenarios are combined, the water deficit which is expected to decrease to 2.1 M.m3 by the year 2050. While when water harvest scenario is applied water deficit will be reduced to reach 1.5 M.m3 by the year 2015. From the above, the importance of applying mathematical modeling using water planning and assessment MABIA and WEAP 21.

Keywords: Water resources, Agricultural sector, Al-Kabir Alshamali basin, Water deficit, MABIA, WEAP21.

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Harvesting and Spreading of Water in Closed Contour Dykes for The Development of Vegetation Cover and Desertification Reduction in The Syrian Badia

Atef Abdul Aal*(1) Linda Droubi(2) and Ameera Al-Khazaal(3)

(1). Sweida Research Centre, General Commission for Scientific Agriculture Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

(2). Latakia Research Centre. GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.

(3). Homs Research Centre, GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.

(*Correspondin author: Eng. Atef Abdul Aal. E-Mail: atefabdulaal@yahoo.com).

Received: 25/12/2017                                Accepted: 06/07/2018

Abstract

The research was carried out near one of the main seasonal valleys of the basin in Qaryatein village during the seasons 2009, 2010 and 2011, on a watershed area about 62 km2, and an annual rainfall rate of 118 mm. The research designed to create four closed contour dykes with perpendicular bunds at each end of the dyke, according to the topographic slope, and the maximum height of 120 cm for the dyke, with diversion bunds on the valley bed, to concentrate the surface runoff, and turn part of it into the contour closed dykes, to study the effect of the average depth of storage (17 and 35 cm, and the control without storage), to ensure the appropriate soil moisture for the production of fodder crops (vetch, and barley), and to increase the pastoral grazing capacity under dry land conditions, as well as soil conservation and erosion control. Diversions of contour dykes converting part of the water runoff to only 29% of the total flood into the effluent outside the valley, where the lower areas were not deprived of flood water. The results showed the improve efficiency of the use of runoff water at a rainfall rate of (118 mm/year) to 400 mm/year due to storage behind the of dykes, and increase the soil moisture from (6%) in the control to more than (16%) behind the dykes. All depths of storage gave good productivity, amounted to an average of 2600 kg/ha barley seeds and 1600 kg/ha straw, 2600 kg/ha barley and 1600 kg/ha straw, but did not exceed 120 kg/ha seeds, 70 kg/ha straw. For vetch, the average yield was 2.300 kg/ha seeds, and 1850 kg/ha straw, while the control had 155 kg/ha seeds, and 110 kg/ha straw. Water erosion was controlled by (55%) compared to the control, without techniques, and the pastoral grazing capacity increased from 25 ha/head/year to less than 0.1 ha/head/year.

Keywords: Dams, Runoff, Water harvesting, Erosion.

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The Effect of Different Types of Organic Fertilizers on Some Soil Properties and Olive Trees Productivity in Homes Province, Syria

Dima AlSaid(1) Nisreen Nikedly(2) Nabila Kredi(1) Malak Jzaeirly(1) Huda Masalati(2) Salwa Wabeh(2) Lama AlZein(2) Bushra Khozam(2) and Muhammad Manhal AlZoubi*(1)

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

(2). Agricultural Research Center of Homs, GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Muhammad Manhal Al Zoubi. E-Mail: manhalzo@yahoo.com).

Received: 13/07/2017                                Accepted: 01/10/2017

Abstract

The effect of organic fertilizers (sheep manure, cow manure and olive residue compost) on some soil properties and olive productivity was studied at Homs Scientific Agriculture Research Center, General Commission for Agricultural Scientific Research (GCSAR)/Syria during the seasons 2013, 2014 and 2015. The experiment was designed on the basis of completely randomized block design (RCBD), with five treatments (control, cow manure, sheep manure, olive residue compost and mineral fertilizers), with three replicates. The organic fertilizers were added according to total nitrogen analysis of the organic fertilizers, also, depending on the mineral nitrogen analysis in the soil and the recommendations of Ministry of Agriculture. The results showed an increase in soil organic matter and soil total nitrogen in all treatments amended with organic fertilizers compared to the control. Meanwhile soil total nitrogen was significantly increased in treatment amended with olive residue compost compared to treatment amended with mineral fertilizers. Also, significant difference was noticed in soil available phosphorus in treatments amended with cow manure and sheep manure compared to the control, and in treatment amended with sheep manure compared to mineral fertilizers. Also, available potassium was significantly increased in treatment amended with sheep manure compared to the control. Furthermore, results showed significant differences in oil productivity of cow manure treatment (14.77%) compared to the control (11.27%). According to the yield average of the three seasons, it is concluded a significant increase in olive productivity (4.74, 0.29 and 12.16 ton/ha) respectively in treatment amended with sheep manure compared with the control (1.19, 0.013 and 5.65 ton/ha) respectively.

Key wards: Organic manure, Soil fertility, Olive residue compost.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Phosphate Adsorption from Aqueous Solutions by Syrian Zeolitic Ore:  Kinetic Study

Zyad Hatem*(1) Leila Habib(1) and Mohammad Ghafar (2)

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

(2). Department of Environmental Chemistry, High Institute of Environmental Researches, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria.

* (Corresponding author: Zyad Hatem. E-Mail: zyad.s.hat@gmail.com).

Received: 11/09/2017                                Accepted: 29/10/2017

Abstract

Kinetic study aimed to describe the performance of natural Syrian zeolitic ore (NSZO) for Phosphate (P) adsorption from aqueous solutions, and the contribution of NSZO components on P- adsorption. Obtained results demonstrated that parameter derived from kinetic models predicted two accompanied mechanisms affected P- adsorption: Intraparticle diffusion mechanism in presence of film diffusion. Besides, carbonate removal promoted P- adsorption more than 40 % comparing with the sample removed carbonate and oxides, this led to fact that the efficiency of NSZO in P adsorption belongs to iron oxides coatings zeolite particles, and it explains the decrease of adsorbed P in samples removed from Fe oxides and carbonate components.

Keywords: Phosphate removal, Zeolite, Kinetics, Purification, Intraparticle diffusion.

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Use Some Mathematical Models to Describe the Infiltration Process in Different Land Uses and Different Moisture Levels

Magda Bashir Elbeshti*(1) Ali Ahmed Belhaj(1) Abeer Fayez Alkrekshe(1) and Siham Ibrahim Asker(1)

(1). Soil and Water Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tripoli University, Tripoli, Libya.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Magda Bashir Elbeshti. E. Mail: melbeshti@yahoo.com).

Received: 03/05/2017                                 Accepted: 03/10/2017

Abstract

This study was conducted to measure the rates of infiltration in the soil of four different areas in use, and at different moisture levels, and to test some of the mathematical models that describe them at Research Station of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tripoli, Libya. The different uses of the studied lands were: land sown with cereal crop, land planted with olive trees, land used as a passageway for the passage of agricultural machinery and equipment, and land of the cowshed. The aim of this study was to describe the efficiency of some mathematical models to study the effect of different land uses and moisture content on the infiltration rates, and determine their ability to describe the infiltration process in some Libyan soils. The rate of infiltration was measured using the double ring apparatus (Measured), while Horton, Philip, and Kostiakov models were used to estimate the infiltration rates. The results showed that both land use and moisture content had an effect on the infiltration rates. This effect was evident on the estimated and measured infiltration rates. The estimated values were higher or lower than the measured values during the experiment, but the differences were not significant according to F test at (P=0.05) level pf probability, except for the infiltration rates estimated by Phillip model at the site grown with cereal crop, after rainfall. There were significant differences compared with the measured. The constants or parameters of these models also differed by changing the initial moisture content (before and after rainfall) and from site to site. When examining the effect of the initial moisture content change on the behavior of these models, the results showed that the efficiency of these models increased with the increase of the initial moisture content according to the coefficient of determination (R2) and the correlation coefficient (r).When examining the effect of land use on these models, there was a difference in the behavior of the model from one location to another as a result of different in soil construction resulting from different use. Soil samples have been taken from sites for chemical and physical analysis to determine their properties. The results showed that there were no significant differences at (P= 0.05) between the measured infiltration rates in the field, calculated using Horton model before and after rainfall in all sites despite the low in (r) between them before the rain, while (r) values after the precipitation raised up to (0.67, 0.78, 0.71, 0.65) in trees site, pathway, cereal crop and cow barn, respectively. The model constants (i0, ic, k) differed according to moisture content. Kostikove model behaved as Horton model in all the sites studied, whereas, the differences between the infiltration rates of this model and the double ring were non-significant at (P= 0.05) before and after rainfall, and the variability was different at different levels of moisture, also its constants (⍺, K)  differed at different levels of moisture. However, the change of the constant K at the site of cereal crop after the rainfall is different from the other sites, and (r) values generally increased after the rain. While, the behavior of Philip model differed according to the different locations and levels of moisture. F test at (P= 0.05) showed significant differences between the estimated and the measured of this model in the location that grown with cereal crop after the rainfall only, while the differences were not significant in the rest of the sites before after rainfall, (r) values also decreased before and after rainfall compared with other models.

Key words: Infiltration rate, Double ring, Moisture content, Horton model, Philip model, Kostikov model.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Hydrological Study and Monitoring of Some Pollution Indexes of Nahr Al-Kabir Al-Shamali Basin

Hussam H. Husein*(1) Mustafa Beda(2) Eissa F. Ali(3) Ibrahem Zaghteti(1) and Abeer Karbouj(2)

(1). General Commission for Scientific Agriculture Research, Administration of Natural Resources Research, Damascus, Syria.

(2). General Commission for Scientific Agriculture Research, Administration of Natural Resources Research, Department of Drainage and Water Quality, Damascus, Syria.

(3). General Commission for Remote Sensing, Lattkia Branch, Lattakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Hussam Haj Husien. E-Mail: hussam_syr1@yahoo.com).

Received: 24/07/2016                           Accepted: 05/10/2016

Abstract

The study was carried out to assess water pollution of Nahral-Kabir Al-Shamali according to the Syrian National Standard (SNS), because of that the following thematic maps of water streams, water catchments, Water bodies, concentration and draining points were developed. Those thematic were carried out using ArcHydro extension of GIS in order to select sampling sites along the river course. Water samples were taken from 9 permanent measurement points along the river during two seasons 2009 and 2010. The locations were: Estuary, Souq al-Hal, Jisr Ata Allah, Al-Saffkoun, Kafrya, Khan Al- Jouz, Wadi Al- Sheikhan, Marj Al-Zhour and Ein Al-Ashra. However, The changes in elements concentration i.e. NO3–, NO2–, SO4-2, Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+, K+, pH, TDS, EC and TOC were studied. The findings showed a variation in pH values by the changes in the studied observation points, but they had almost similar behavior for the observation point itself. The pH value exceeded the permissible limits of the Syrian National Standard (SNS) in the observation points of Souq Al-Hal, Jisr Ata Allah, Al-Saffkoun and Ein Al-Ashra in all the studied months. The highest pH value was 9.52 in June at Al-Saffkoun, while the lowest one was 7.83 in February at Marj Al-Zhour. According to the study findings, the same behavior was for EC values and total dissolved salts (TDS). Most of the observation points didn’t exceed the permissible EC values and total dissolved salts (TDS), except for the observation points of the Estuary and Souq Al-Hal, where the value exceeded the permissible limits in all the studied months, and the lowest EC value for both observation points were 0.803 and 0.93 in March, respectively, and for total dissolved salts (TDS) the lowest values were 372 and 386 mg/L. The highest values of EC were 1.33 and 1.745dS/m in January, respectively, and for total dissolved salts (TDS) the highest values for both points were 630 and 860 mg/l. In terms of Na, the study showed that the obtained values of the studied samples had no excess of permissible limits in SNS i.e. 69 mg/l except for the Estuary, where the value exceeded the permissible limits in most of the studied months, and the highest value was 117.4 mg/l in January. Mg concentration exceeded the permissible limits of SNS i.e. 60.8 mg/l in the Estuary and Souq Al-Hal in June and November, so the highest value was in the Estuary in November i.e. 69.31 mg/l. K values exceeded the permissible limits of SNS in all sites and months with the highest value of 19.3 in the Estuary in November and the lowest value of 2.3 mg/l in February at Kafrya site. TOC values exceeded the permissible limits of SNS in all months and for most sites, so the highest value was 14.85 mg/l in August at Souq Al-Hal, and the lowest value was 2.26mg/l in November at Kafrya. On the other hand, NO2–, and NO3– have had different behavior, where the nitrite values exceeded the permissible limits of SNS in most of the studied months except for March and August, which didn’t exceed these limits at any point of observation points. On the contrary, the nitrate values didn’t exceed the permissible limits of SNS at most observation points in most months, thus the highest value of nitrite was 0.8mg/l in February at Wadi Al- Sheikhan. The highest nitrate value was 80.76mg/l in June at the Estuary point. This is attributed to the untreated industrial wastewater of some factories (iron rolling and mineral oils) at Estuary point.

Keywords: Nahr al-Kabir al-Shamalli, Thematic maps.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF