Category Archives: vol4-no4 December 2017

An Analytical Economic Study of Consumer Demand for Vegetable Oilin Damascus City

Fayez AL-Mikdad(1) Osama AL-Janadi(1) and Ahamad AL-Rifaee(1)

(1). Administration of Socio-Economics, General Commission of Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Fayez Al-Mikdad. E-Mail: deepmokdad@yahoo.com).

Received: 23/10/2016                                 Accepted: 18/11/2016

Abstract

The vegetable oils are a good source of energy, and are economically important. It is dramatically consumed in dietary patterns in Syria, in addition to the main role of vegetable oils in many food industries. The statistics revealed an increasing in domestic consumption of vegetable oils in Syria, thereby increasing amount of imports. This research aimed to estimate the demand function for vegetable oils, and to describe the relationships among changes in the amount consumed, prices, and income, to achieve that goal. The research has based on secondary data from the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Central Bureau of Statistics, in addition to the cross-sectional data obtained from a simple random sample consisting of 191 consumers in Damascus. The changes in the studied variables were followed periodically, every three months for one year (started from the fourth quarter of 2012 to the third quarter of 2013). The research based on descriptive statistical analysis as well as quantitative analysis to estimate the demand function for vegetable oil, and to derive the price, cross, and income elasticities. The study showed that the price and income elasticities of vegetable oils generally amounted to 0.2258, 0.1782 respectively, and there was a significant cross elasticity between sunflower and soybean oils as alternatives to each other.

Key words: Demand function, price, Cross and income elasticities, Consumption of vegetable oils, Alternative goods.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Determination the Microbial Content of Shami Camel’s Milk

Abd Al-Naser Al-Omar*(1) Fatten Hammed(2) and Mohamed Zuheir Salam(3)

(1). Hama Agricultural Research Center, General Commission For Scientific Agricultural Research (GSCAR), Damascus, Syria.

(2). Food Technology Department, GSCAR, Damascus, Syria.

(3). Animal wealth Administration, GSCAR, Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Omar. E-Mail: abdnaser64@gmail.com).

Received: 23/08/2016                                 Accepted: 20/12/2016

Abstract

This study was carried out at Deir- El Hager Research Station, Damascus countryside, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research, Syria, during 2012 to estimate the microbial content in the milk of Shami Camels, and determine its quality and possible risks resulting from drinking milk as it is. Twenty-eight milk samples were collected from seven camels that seem to be apparently healthy. Laboratories tests were conducted in order to determine the PH of milk at fridge temperature (5 ± 2 °C), and room temperature (20 ±2 °C) for consecutive four days. The average of body cells number by microscopic method were estimated. It was found that there are limited changes in PH degree during storage period whether it is in fridge or in a room conditions. The minimum value of PH in fridge was 5.2 and the maximum value was 6.4. While minimum value of PH was 5.2 in room condition, and the maximum value was 6.2. T-test for double samples, showed that T value was 1.337, which means that there were no significant differences. The average of body cells in the samples that gave negative results using California Test accounted (2.2× 104 – 2.2× 105) cells/ml milk, and (8.6× 104 – 2.4× 105) cells/ml for positive samples. Besides all samples on Mac Conkey media gave a negative result, and no growth plantation of any bacteria was appeared. Whereas the relation between Staphylococcus growth phenomenon blood agar media plantation and the method of conservation at different temperature degrees found that the numerous number of infection with Staphylococcus was in the samples conserved in room temperature, where Square Chi value accounted 42.357 at less than 0.01 level of probability. The results assured not to drink camel milk without pasteurization, because of Staphylococcus germs that existent in the milk cause different human diseases.

Key words: Microbial content, Shami camel milk, Quality traits.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Effect of Mineral, Organic Fertilization, and Application Depth of Phosphate Fertilizer on Phenological Phases of Grapevine Cultivar, Al-Helwani

Mahmoud Al-Shihadat*(1)

(1). Administration of Horticulture Research, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Mahmoud Al-Shihadat. E-Mail: mahmod.h.sh@hotmail.com

Received: 31/05/2016                           Accepted: 19/06/2016

Abstract

The experiment was carried out on vineyard with 10 years old grapevines of cultivar Al-Helwani (Vitis vinifera L.), which grown in Daraa governorate, during three seasons (2008, 2009 and 2010) to study the effect of organic, mineral fertilization rates and the application depth of triple superphosphate (T.S.P) on the phenological phases of grapes. Three mineral fertilizer rates of (N. P. K) were used, i.e., 75-25-50, 150-50-100, and 300-100-200 Kg/ha. The triple super-phosphate was added by broadcast on the soil surface, and in depth of 30 cm, in three replications, in addition to a control without fertilization. Besides the addition of dried granulated manure in January. The results showed that there was no significant effect to the addition of compost and depth phosphate fertilization on the length of flowering stage, and there were no significant differences among the treatments that used. While a significant decrease was achieved in the length of the flowering stage with the addition of NPK fertilization, with the rates of 1.1, 1.08, and 1.05% for the first, second, and third rates, respectively. The results also clarified a delay in maturity with the addition of compost as compared with control (P≥0.05), while in terms of phosphate depth addition, there were significant differences between the treatments on maturity. The maturity was earlier (70 days) when superphosphate was broadcasted, and the maturity took more days (73 days) when was added in depth of 30 cm. The maturity took more time (74 days) with the addition of the third rate of superphosphate significantly. The maturity took (68 days) with the addition of the first rate of superphosphate, while the length of maturity was about (71) days in control.

Key words: Grapevine, Al-Helwani, Phenological phases, Phosphate fertilizer, Organic fertilization.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF