Role of Conservation Agriculture in Increasing Wheat ‎Productivity and Soil Organic Matter Content in Southern ‎Region of Syria ‎

Manal Othman*(1)  Ayman Shehada AL-Ouda(1) and Muhammad Manhal AL-Zoubi(3)         

(1).Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.

(2). Administration of Water Resources, General Commssion for Scientific Agricultural Reseach GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Manal Othman. E-Mail: manalosman709@gmail.com).

Received: 16/01/2020                               Accepted: 06/02/2020

Abstract

The research was conducted at Izra’a Research Station, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), during the growing seasons (2016/2017and 2017/2018), in order to evaluate the response of two durum wheat verities (Douma3 and Cham5) and two bread wheat varieties (Douma4 and Cham6) to Conservation Agriculture (CA) as a full package compared with Conventional Tillage system (CT) under rainfed condition using lentils (Variety Edleb3) in the applied crop rotation. The experiment was laid according to split-split RCBD with three replications. The average number of grains per square meter was significantly higher under conservation agriculture in the presence of crop rotation, when all the crop residues where left on the soil surface (Barley residues) in the variety Cham5 (3070 grain/ m2). The average of fertile to total tillers, 1000-kernel weight and grain yield were, significantly higher under conservation agriculture in the presence of crop rotation, of the variety Douma3 (71.27%, 33.549g, 4162 kg/ ha respectively ). soil organic matter content was significantly higher during the second and first growing seasons, under conservation agriculture, in plots in which crop rotation was applied, at the soil depth (0 – 20 cm) (0. 7483, 0. 6983%  respectively). The two varieties Douma3 and Cham6 are considered more responsive to conservation agriculture system in the southern region of Syria, because they recorded the highest grain yields (2561and 2385 kg/ ha respectively) compared with the other studied varieties (Cham5 and Douma4) (1951 and 1724 kg/ ha respectively).

Key words: Conservation Agriculture, Conventional Tillage, Crop residues, Crop rotation, Wheat, Organic matter.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

A Survey of Wheat Rust Diseases in Al- Hassakeh Governorate

Alan Remo*(1)

(1). Al Qamishly Agriculture Research Center, General Commission for Scientific Agriculture Research GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Alan Remo. E-mail: alanremo123@hotmail.com).

Received: 12/08/2018                                Accepted: 15/10/2018

Abstract

Field survey have been conducted on 120 fields in 2017 and 110 fields in 2018 in zone1 and zone2 in Al- Hassakeh governorate, to identification the distribution of three wheat rust diseases (stripe, leaf and stem rusts) which caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, Puccinia triticina and Puccinia graminis. Diseased leaves samples were collected from farmers’ fields in Al- Hassakeh governorate. It was noticed the infection did not appear on durum wheat during 2017 and 2018, while all infections were recorded on soft wheat. The results of survey showed distributing of rust diseases (stripe, leaf and stem rusts) in a percent of 31.66%, 19.16% and 0% respectively in 2017. While the infected fields percentages were 14.54%, 10% and 7.27% respectively in 2018. The highest severity of stripe and leaf rusts were 70S and 50S respectively. Stem rust disease did not appear in 2017. While the highest severity of stripe, leaf and stem rusts were 40S, 20S and 40S respectively in 2018.

 Key words: Rust, Wheat, Survey, Al- Hassakeh, Syria.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

TheAhmed Moursy*(1) and Mazen Ismail(1)(1). Soil   and   Water Research Department, Nuclear   Research   Center, Atomic   Energy   Authority, Abou-Zaabl, Egypt.(*Corresponding author: Ahmed Moursy. E-mail address ahmad1a2m3@yahoo.com).Received: 07/04/2019                                Accepted: 11/05/2019AbstractAn experiment was conducted at the Soils and Water Research Department, Nuclear Research Center, Atomic Energy Authority, Egypt, in the year 2018, to study the effect of gamma radiation at different doses (zero, 40, 80 and 160 Gy) on growth and yield of wheat fertilized with 0.0, 120 and 240 N kg ha-1 as urea fertilizer. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replicates. Results revealed that, straw and grains yields were significantly fluctuated between the increase and decrease, furthermore, under 80 Gy gamma rays, the highest value was 15.677 kg plot-1, observed at rate of 240 N kg ha-1 in addition to 80 Gy. Grains increased compared to all treatments and control. Under gamma rays, the highest values of straw and grains were 9.974 kg plot-1 and 15.677 kg plot-1 observed rate of 240 kg ha-1 plus dose of 40 and 80 Gy radiation respectively. The data indicated that, N uptake by straw and grains, in non-irradiated treatments, were significantly increased with increasing the doses of nitrogen fertilizer levels 100 kg N fed-1 and gamma rays dose up to 80 Gy. Furthermore, the highest N uptake of 98.3 g plot-1 and 181.1 g plot-1 were observed at rate of 240 kg N ha-1 in addition to zero Gy, compared to control, whereas, under doses 80 Gy the highest values of N uptake were 120.1 g plot-1 and 195 g plot-1 which recorded with straw weight and grains yield, respectively.The Effect of Gamma Rays and Different levels of Nitrogen Fertilizer on the Productivity of Wheat (Triricum aestivum L.)

Ahmed Moursy*(1) and Mazen Ismail(1)

(1). Soil   and   Water Research Department, Nuclear   Research   Center, Atomic   Energy   Authority, Abou-Zaabl, Egypt.

(*Corresponding author: Ahmed Moursy. E-mail address ahmad1a2m3@yahoo.com).

Received: 07/04/2019                                Accepted: 11/05/2019

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the Soils and Water Research Department, Nuclear Research Center, Atomic Energy Authority, Egypt, in the year 2018, to study the effect of gamma radiation at different doses (zero, 40, 80 and 160 Gy) on growth and yield of wheat fertilized with 0.0, 120 and 240 N kg ha-1 as urea fertilizer. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replicates. Results revealed that, straw and grains yields were significantly fluctuated between the increase and decrease, furthermore, under 80 Gy gamma rays, the highest value was 15.677 kg plot-1, observed at rate of 240 N kg ha-1 in addition to 80 Gy. Grains increased compared to all treatments and control. Under gamma rays, the highest values of straw and grains were 9.974 kg plot-1 and 15.677 kg plot-1 observed rate of 240 kg ha-1 plus dose of 40 and 80 Gy radiation respectively. The data indicated that, N uptake by straw and grains, in non-irradiated treatments, were significantly increased with increasing the doses of nitrogen fertilizer levels 100 kg N fed-1 and gamma rays dose up to 80 Gy. Furthermore, the highest N uptake of 98.3 g plot-1 and 181.1 g plot-1 were observed at rate of 240 kg N ha-1 in addition to zero Gy, compared to control, whereas, under doses 80 Gy the highest values of N uptake were 120.1 g plot-1 and 195 g plot-1 which recorded with straw weight and grains yield, respectively.

Key word: Nitrogen fertilizer, Gamma rays, Wheat.

Full Paper in English: PDF

Screening of Some Syrian Wheat (Triticum Spp.) Varieties for Osmotic Stress Tolerance Using Tissue Culture Technique

Fahed Albiski*(1) Ramzi Murshed(3)  Nour Al Qabbani(1) Wasim Mohsen(2) Bassam Al Atalah(2) and Khouzama Al Kountar(2)

(1). General Organization of Biotechnology, Ministry of High Education, Damascus, Syria.

(2). Sweidaa Research Center, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

(3). Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Fahed Albiski. E-Mail: fahedalbiski@yahoo.com).

Received: 23/08/2018                                Accepted: 01/10/2018

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in order to study the effect of osmotic stress on some morphological parameters in eight Syrian wheat varieties (Triticum Spp.) using plant tissue culture technique. Osmotic stress was imposed by adding different concentrations of sorbitol to (C6H14O6) the culture medium (0, 110, 220,330 and 440 mM), which are equal to -0.82, -1.09, -1.44, -1.79 and -2.14 MPa, respectively on the osmotic potential basis. Plant length (cm), number of leaves, number and length (cm) of roots, plant fresh and dry weights (g), plant water and dry weight content (%) were measured. Results revealed a genetic variability in the response of the investigated varieties for osmotic stress based on the studied parameters. Progressive reduction in the studied parameters occurred as osmotic stress increased compared to the control. Cluster analysis, based on the relative values of all the growth parameters response to osmotic stress, showed three distinct groups: the osmotic stress tolerant group, which included four varieties (Doma1, Bohouth11, Bohouth8 and Guolan2); the moderately osmotic stress tolerant group, included three varieties (Doma4, Cham3 and Bohouth7) and the osmotic stress susceptible group, included one variety (Cham10).

Keywords: Screening, Wheat, Osmotic stress, Sorbitol, Tissue culture, Cluster analysis.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Effect of Seed Rate, Spray with Sorghum Water Extracts and Weeding on Wheat Yield (Triticum durum L.)

Sami  Al-Rajjo*(1)Ahmad Mouhanna(1) and Fadi Abbas(2)

(1). Field Crops Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Baath University, Homs, Syria.

(2). Scientific Agriculture Research Center of Homs, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Sami Al-Rajjo. E-Mail: sami.rajjo@yahoo.com).

Received: 20/01/2017                           Accepted: 20/03/2017

Abstract

This research was conducted at Tal Shnan village, located at the eastern of Homs city, Syria during 2012/2013 growing season, using hard local wheat cultivar, Sham 5, to study the effect of seed rates (120, 150, 180, 210 kg/ha), spray with different parts of sorghum water extracts using different, and weeding on wheat yield and weeds accompany with the crop. Results showed that seed rate (180 kg/ha) achieved the highest biological yield and grain yield. Harvest index was increased with increasing seed rate. While, dry weight and number of weeds in 1m2 were decreased with increasing seed rate. Spray with sorghum water extracts (1:10) by 5 L/ha after 60-80 days of sowing caused an increment in biological and grain yields. Also, a decrement in dry weight and number of weeds in 1m2. Water extract of the stems achieved the highest values, followed by (stems+roots), then (stems+leaves) extracts, while (leaves+roots) attained the lowest values. This study concluded that sorghum water extract of the stems achieved a significant increment in wheat yield.

Key words: Seed rate, Sorghum water extracts, Weeding, Wheat.

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Response of Some Spectral Vegetation Indices (Broad and Narrow Band) of Wheat Crop under Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilization Factors

Eyad Al-Khaled* (1) Yousef Nemr (2) and Iman Alhumaer(3)

(1). General Organization of Remote Sensing (GORS), Damascus, Syria.

(2). Crops Field Department, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.

(3). Planning and International Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform (MAAR), Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Eyad Al-Khaled. E.Mail. dr.eyadalkhaled@gmail.com).

Received: 09/09/2016                                 Accepted: 16/10/2016

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the General Organization of Remote Sensing (GORS), Damascus countryside, Syria, during 2013/2014 season, using some spectral indices i.e. NDVI, SRI, EVI, NDVI705, mSR705, mNDVI705, to determine the spectral response of wheat plant throughout its different developing stages under the effect of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization, also using spectral indices in predicting yield, and study the correlation between the spectral indices, and some vegetative and productivity characteristics. The FieldSpecPro RS3 was used to record the radiometric characteristics, each 15 days, also some vegetation indices were recorded (Leaf Area Index LAI, fresh and dry weight, and chlorophyll content in leaves), starting from the beginning to the end of plant growth, besides the yield and yield components at harvest. It was noticed that the performance of all spectral indices was similar, they were low at the beginning of plant growth, then increased to reach their maximum values at the vegetative stage, then decreased again with the development of plant growth and harvest. Nitrogen fertilizer showed a significant effect on spectral indices at the first plant stages, N0 gave the lowest values, while N1, N2, and N3 gave a highest value. In terms of irrigation levels (I1, I2, and I3), a very low difference in spectral indices was noticed at the first plant stages, but the differences began to appear after 97 days from sowing, because of the addition of irrigation during tillering stage. The results showed high significant correlation between the different indices and LAI and fresh weight, it was positive with EVI, at 0.05% level of significance. It was noticed that all three spectral indices had a relation with water content, but the dry weight showed a positive correlation but not significant. It has been found a high significant correlation between the indices and grain yield at each radiometric measurement except after 62 and 208 days after sowing, which are accompany with the first and last stages of growth plant, respectively. It is also noticed that NDVI, recorded the highest correlation values after 145 days from sowing, but the other indices mNDVI705, mSR705, NDVI705, EVI, and SR recorded the highest correlation values after 165 days from sowing, which coincides with the maximum vegetation growth. With respect to yield prediction, it has been found that the best linear model was with the SRI index after 145 from sowing, besides the spectral indices SRI and mSR705 which also gave a good prediction linear model after 165 days from sowing.

Keys Words: Vegetation indices, Broad band, Narrow band, Yield Prediction, Wheat.

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A Study of Inhibition Activity of Lactobacillus spp. Against Fungi and Aflatoxin B1 in Vitro

Keethar Rashid Majeed(1), Amal Khazem Ghadban(1) and Faleh Mehdi Saleh*(1)

(1). Food technology Department, Factual of Agriculture, Al Basra University, Al Basra, Iraq.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Faleh Mehdi Saleh. E-Mail: husienforever1@gmail.com).

Received: 27/07/2017                       Accepted: 18/08/2017

Abstract

This study was conducted in April 2015 to August 2016, to investigate the inhibition activity of Lactobacillus spp. in vitro against fungi and aflatoxin using local isolates i.e., L. casi (AKF 1), L. plantarum (AKF2), L. casi (AKF 3), L. plantarum (AKF 4) and L. Jonsonii (AKF 5). The results of the statistical analyses showed that AKF4 exhibited the highest inhibition activity (97, 62.33 and 97%) among all isolates using live bacteria, thermally killed bacteria, and its metabolic compounds, respectively. In contrasts, the inhibition activity of AKF3 were (59, 14.33 and 59%) using live bacteria, thermally killed bacteria, and its metabolic compounds, respectively. Furthermore, aflatoxin binding was studied in vitro using the isolates (AKF 1,2,3,4,5) in MRS media containing 200 ppb of aflatoxin B1. The results revealed that using live bacteria of AKF4 at concentration 1×108 cfu/ml for 48 h showed highest binding percentage 99.9 %, while thermally killed bacteria of AKF1,2,5 at concentration 500 ppb for 48 h gave the highest binding percentage 100 % at 37 °C and pH 6.5. In addition, AKF 4 had the highest binding percentage 100% for both 24 h and 48 h at the same conditions. Binding efficiency results of thermally killed bacteria was 100 %, while binding efficiency of live bacteria ranged between (99.87-100%) when the bacteria was washed with water, acetonitrile and phosphate buffer saline.

Keywords: Wheat, Lactobacillus, Aflatoxin Binding B1, Fungal growth inhibition.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Evaluation of Some Morpho-Physiological Criteria in Wheat Genotypes to Osmotic Potential  by Polyethylene Glycol (PEG6000)

Ghassan Al Lahham*(1)    Zaynab Tadbeer(1)    Reem Al Mansour(1)  Razan Al Najjar(1) Riad Balish(1)  Mohammed  Ali (1) Saoud Shehab(1) and Thamer Al Henish(1)

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

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Ghassan Al Lahham. E-Mail: gh_lahham@hotmail.com).

Received: 26/08/ 2015                                     Accepted: 09/09/ 2015

Abstract

The experiment was carried out at the General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus/Syria, in 2012, to assess the performance of 15 genotypes of wheat at germination and seedling stages, under artificially imposed of three osmotic potential levels (-0.6, -0.8, -1 MPa), using specific concentrations of poly ethylene glycol PEG6000, in addition to the control, according to splitplot design, according to plant growth stage, with three replicates. The results showed significant differences (P≤0.01), among the genotypes. The genotypes (Hourani , Bohoth 7, Douma 1, Douma 41282, Douma 45367, Douma 4, Golan 2, h-8150) achieved the lowest reduction in relative drought tolerance index (RDTI) about (4, 2, 1, 8, 12, 9, 5, 3%) respectively. The media of osmotic potential caused a significantdecline in growing seedling, but the  genotypes  (Douma 1, HouraniBohoth 7, Douma 41282,Bohoth 8, Golan 2) had the highest seedling superioritywitha remarkableincreaseindry matteraccumulation(DMSI%)at the high level (-1MPa)  about (36، 30، 42 ، 43، 34، 34، 36، 43، 48%) respectively, compared with control. and classified as more tolerance for osmotic potential. A significant correlation between physiological  indicators was determinedwhich appear the importance ofrelative drought tolerance index, duringseed germination,whichreflected onroot lengthincrementlater (r=0.608 **) and havingstrong (r=0.743 **) under stress conditions, during the early growth stages of wheat.

Keywords: Osmotic potential, PEG6000, Relative drought tolerance index, Wheat.

Full paper in Arabic:

تقييم بعض المعايير المورفو-فيزيولوجية في تحمل طرز من القمح للإجهاد الحلولي باستخدام بولي إيثيلين غليكول  (PEG6000)

Economics of Wheat Production in the Work Area of the Project of Enhancing Food Security in Arab Countries/Syria

Abdullah Al-Youssef*(1) Ahmad Shams AldienShaaban(2) Ahmad Haj Suliman(1) Ahmed Mazid(3) Yasmeen Naal(1) and Salim Khoja(1)

 (1). Agriculture Research Center in Aleppo, General Communion for Scientific Agriculture Research (GCSAR), Aleppo, Syria.
(2). Field Crops Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Aleppo University, Aleppo, Syria.
(3). International Center of Agriculture Research in Dry Areas – ICARDA.

(* Corresponding author: Dr. Addullah Al-Youssef . Mobile: 0947273130.
Email: dr.abdalyoussef@gmail.com)

Received: 13/08/ 2015                                     Accepted: 16/09/ 2015

Abstract

The aim of this research is to estimate the technical efficiency levels, wheat production, and cost functions in the work area of “Enhancing Food Security in Arab Countries/Syria” Project. The research was conducted at Al-Bab region depending on 123 Questionnaires. The results revealed that variable costs represented about 67.49% and 65.45% of the total costs for both irrigated and rainfed wheat, respectively. The variable costs are also responsible for the variation the irrigated wheat yield by about 73.7% according to the stochastic frontier production function. The technical efficiency was (92.7%) for irrigated wheat and (79.7%) for rainfed wheat. In general, the technical efficiency of the sample was high, and this is an indication of the experience of the farmers in growing wheat crop. According to the estimates of cost functions, the optimum production accompanied with the lowest costs was 6946.4 kg/ha for irrigated wheat and 2422.2 kg/ha for rainfed wheat.

Key Words: Technical efficiency, Stochastic frontier analysis, Variable cost, Cost functions, Wheat, Syria.

Full paper in Arabic:اقتصاديات إنتاج القمح في منطقة عمل مشروع تعزيز الأمن الغذائي في الأقطار العربية/سورية

Early Detection of Brown Rust (Leaf Rust) Puccinia recondita in Wheat Plant Using Remote Sensing Techniques

Eyad Ahmad Al-khaled*(1) Basel Al-kai(2) and Asmaa Makdah(2)

(1). General Organization of Remote Sensing (GORS), Damascus, Syria.
(2). Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Albaath University, Homs, Syria.
(3). (GORS), Homs, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Eyad Ahmad Al-Khaled, E-Mail: dr.eyadalkhaled@gmail.com).

Received: 29/6/ 2015                           Accepted: 01/08/ 2015

Abstract

The experiment carried out during 2008-2009 season at Homs; the objective was to study the spectral characteristics of healthy and infected wheat plants with brown rust Puccinia recondita, and the possibility of early detection of this disease before the symptoms appearance of disease on the plants. The spectral characteristics of plants showed significance differences in reflectance values, for both healthy and inoculums plants after one week of artificial inoculation with fungi on 9/4/2009 within wavelength 750-1060 nm of near infrared NIR and short infrared wave SINW. The healthy plants recorded higher spectral reflectance values more than the infected plants in range of spectrum, the spectral reflectance value within the wavelength 790-810 nm was 64.68 % for healthy plants and 60.34 % for infected plants, and these differences in spectral reflectance values were increased between the healthy and infected plants in this spectral range with the appearance of disease symptoms on the infected plants, and with the increment of disease severity of the infected plants. In 21/5/2009 the spectral reflectance values in the wavelength 790-810 nm were 44.22 -33.65 % for healthy and infected plants, respectively. It was found that the differences in spectral reflectance values between healthy and infected plants were clear in the spectral area of near and short infrared, which represented the wavelength 750-1120 nanometers, and the best wavebands for early detection of brown rust disease were within the range 750 – 940 nanometers of the near infrared NIR spectral range. Where significant differences were found in this range after one week of inoculation with fungi or before almost 21 days from symptoms appearance of disease of the infected plants to the end of the growing season.

Key words: Wheat, Leaf rust, Spectral reflectance, Artificial inoculation, Syria.

Full paper in Arabic:

الكشف المبكر عن الصدأ البني (صدأ الورقة) Puccinia recondita على نبات القمح باستخدام تقنيات الاستشعار عن بعد