Desert Research CenterEgyptian Journal of Desert Research1687-804366220161231EFFECT OF ORGANIC FERTILIZER AND DRY YEAST ON SINAPIS ALBA L. PLANT UNDER SINAI CONDITIONS251266604010.21608/ejdr.2016.6040ENWael I.M.ToaimaDepartment of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Ecology and Dry Lands Agriculture Division, Desert Research Center, 11753 El-Matareya, Cairo, EgyptJournal Article20160716A field experiment was conducted during the two successive seasons of 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 in El-Maghara Research Station, Desert Research Center, North Sinai Governorate to study the effect of organic fertilization and foliar spray with active dry yeast on growth, seeds yield and chemical constituents of <em>Sinapis alba</em> L. seeds. The experiment was carried out in split plot design. The main plots were consisted of three application levels of organic fertilization of 3, 6 and 9 ton compost per feddan. The sub-plots included foliar spray of active dry yeast at three concentrations (0, 3 and 6 g/liter). The interaction effect indicated that the application of the highest compost manure level of 9 ton/fed with foliar spray of the highest yeast concentration of 6 g/liter led significantly to the highest increments in plant height, dry weight per plant, number of siliquae per plant, seeds yield per plant and per feddan, fixed oil yield per plant and furthermore increased total protein content in the seeds over control treatment. Erucic acid was the main dominant fatty acid in fixed oil composition.https://ejdr.journals.ekb.eg/article_6040_d7dfcaf27941963f9630ca1a21cfaea7.pdfDesert Research CenterEgyptian Journal of Desert Research1687-804366220161231EFFECT OF MAGNESIUM FERTILIZATION ON GROWTH, YIELD, CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND ESSENTIAL OILS OF SOME NEW CULTIVARS OF PARSLEY UNDER SINAI CONDITIONS267286650110.21608/ejdr.2016.6501ENWafaa H.Abd El-AleemDepartment of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Desert Research Center, El-Matareya, Cairo, EgyptMansour E.RamadanDepartment of Plant Production, Desert Research Center, El-Matareya, Cairo, Egypt0000-0002-5410-6631Osama A.ShalabyDepartment of Plant Production, Desert Research Center, El-Matareya, Cairo, EgyptJournal Article20160722<strong> </strong><br /> Two field experiments were carried out during 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons to evaluate the effect of different levels of magnesium sulphate (0, 25, 50 and 75 kg/feddan) on growth, yield, chemical composition, essential oils and their constituents of three curly parsley cultivars (Petra, Krausa and Bravour) under South Sinai conditions (Ras Sudr). Results showed that Krausa cultivar surpassed the two others cultivars in stem/leaves per plant, plant fresh weights per square meter, plant fresh yield per feddan, chlorophyll a, carotenoids, nitrogen, magnesium contents and fractions for essential oils responsible on the preferred parsley aroma. On the other hand, Petra cultivar showed the superiority in plant dry weight, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, phosphorus, potassium content, essential oil and total oil yield. Magnesium sulphate at 75 kg/feddan resulted in the best values of the studied characters. The highest growth and yield values were obtained with Krausa cultivar and 75 kg magnesium sulphate per treatment, while, the Petra cultivar with 75 kg per feddan gave the highest content of essential oil under salt stress.https://ejdr.journals.ekb.eg/article_6501_3b2f818f3e499da8ece5d8389aecddc9.pdfDesert Research CenterEgyptian Journal of Desert Research1687-804366220161201STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES ON GROUNDWATER SYSTEM IN ABU SIFIERA AND MUBARAK WADIS, RED SEA COAST, EGYPT287304650210.21608/ejdr.2016.6502ENYehiaShehataDepartment of Hydrology, Desert Research Center, El-Matareya, Cairo, EgyptEzz El-DinAl TablawyDepartment of Hydrology, Desert Research Center, El-Matareya, Cairo, EgyptAmal A.Abel HafezDepartment of Hydrology, Desert Research Center, El-Matareya, Cairo, EgyptJournal Article20160817The establishment and development processes in the promising wadis of the Eastern Desert through cooperation protocol between the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and World Food Program (WFP) in frame of Bedouins communities’ development project, Red Sea Governorate (2004- 2012), have attracted more attentions from the Egyptian government. So, the scientific management of the water resources in these wadis plays an outstanding role to achieve this target. This paper aims to evaluate the groundwater potentials in two promising wadis namely, Wadi Mubarak (75 km south El Qusier city) and Wadi Abu Sifiera (10 km south El Shalateen city). Hydrogeologically, the water bearing formation in Wadi Mubarak consists of fractured basement rocks. It is composed of older granodiorite and fractured metamorphic serpentinite rocks. In addition, the hydraulic parameter of the study aquifer reveals good potentiality and good capability to transmit water through it. On the other hand, the aquifer in Wadi Abu Sifiera is composed of wadi fill deposits of Quaternary aquifer, non-conformably overlie the weathered basement. The investigated aquifer displays show low groundwater potentiality, due to small thickness of saturated zone, low hydraulic conductivity as a result of heterogenic of lithofacies laterally and vertically and low rate of recharge. The aquifers behavior of both aquifers reveals continuous decrease in water level and deterioration of water salinity with time. This phenomenon could be attributed to the mismanagement of water resources and non-implementation of advanced harvesting techniques for surface runoff, as well as, the high rate of evaporation in the study area.https://ejdr.journals.ekb.eg/article_6502_8e879fbc4490227b9f1111a78e47d20e.pdfDesert Research CenterEgyptian Journal of Desert Research1687-804366220161201ROLE OF ENDOPHYTIC PSEUDOMONAS AS PLANT GROWTH PROMOTERS UNDER DESERT CONDITION305326650010.21608/ejdr.2016.6500ENAmal M.OmerDepartment of Soil Fertility and Microbiology, Desert Research Center, El-Matareya, Cairo, EgyptJournal Article20180422Plant growth promoting endophytes enhance the plant growth using multiple metabolic activities directed and contribute to the growth, health and development of plant. A total of 46 strains isolated from the rhizosphere of maize, sorghum, barley and wheat plants were screened for their efficiency as plant growth promoting endophytes. Bacterial isolates induced the highest length and weight of maize seedlings on Hoagland media were selected for further investigations. All selected endophytic bacteria possess HCN and indole acetic acid production, while only four isolates showed phosphate dissolving activities. Using Chrome Azurol S plates revealed that all selected isolates were positive to siderophore production. For characterization of siderophores, ferrate hydroxamate type were detected in five bacterial isolates, ferrate catecholate type detected in only three isolates, while no carboxylate siderophores were recorded for any isolates. HPLC analysis of the highest active two isolates revealed the presence of indole acetic acid and indole butyric acid. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA sequence of the two isolates showed maximum sequence similarity with <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> strain PAO1 and <em>Pseudomonas geniculata</em> strain ATCC 19374. <br /> A field experiment was conducted at El-Qantara Sharq experimental station, Desert Research Center (DRC) for evaluation of <em>Ps. aeruginosa</em> and <em>Ps. geniculata </em>as plant growth promoting endophytes on maize. Bacterial inoculation recorded an increase in biological yield reaching 55.2 and 33% over control for <em>Ps. geniculata</em> and <em>Ps. aeruginosa,</em> respectively. Concerning to chemical constituent of maize grains,inoculation process significantly increased the carbohydrate and oil % with about 4.6 and 4.2% for both bacterial strains. While no change in endophytic <em>Pseudomonads</em> count were detected inside the root of treated plants comparing to control , the inoculation process have a positive effect on the activity and abundance of microbial community in the rhizospheric zone.https://ejdr.journals.ekb.eg/article_6500_cfb3581cf15524f05ad097b0a46eaba5.pdfDesert Research CenterEgyptian Journal of Desert Research1687-804366220161201EFFECT OF BIOCHAR ADDITION ON SOIL PROPERTIES AND CARROT PRODUCTIVITY GROWN IN POLLUTED SOILS327350650310.21608/ejdr.2016.6503ENRehab H.HagabDepartment of Soil Fertility and Microbiology, Desert Research Center, Cairo, EgyptDoaaEissaDepartment of Soil Physics and Chemistry, Water Resources and Desert Soils Division, Desert Research Center, El-Matareya, Cairo, EgyptAhmedAbou-ShadyDepartment of Soil Physics and Chemistry, Water Resources and Desert Soils Division, Desert Research Center, El-Matareya, Cairo, Egypt0000-0001-8247-7491OsamaAbdelmottalebDepartment of Soil Physics and Chemistry, Water Resources and Desert Soils Division, Desert Research Center, El-Matareya, Cairo, EgyptJournal Article20180422Soil contamination with heavy metals has become apparent in many Egyptian areas such as El-Gabal El-Asfer and 10<sup>th</sup> Ramadan areas, as a result to the reuse of contaminated water for irrigation as an alternative to freshwater irrigation in these areas. Biochar plays a major role to stabilize heavy metals contained in contaminated soils by reduction. The study aimed studied effect of biochar application rates (0, 15, and 30 ton/feddan) on carrot production, nutrients content and heavy metals reduction using some of measurements to assess heavy metal accumulation as the bio-accumulation (BCF), and translocation factors (TF) to determine heavy metals in the studied soils. The obtained results showed that carrot yield production and macronutrients content (NPK) increased with elevating biochar and mineral fertilizers application rates. Heavy metals content in shoot and roots of carrot plant reduced with increasing application rates of biochar and highest rates of mineral fertilizers. The most effective treatment was 30 ton/feddan biochar with 41 N, 16.9 P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> and 41.7 K<sub>2</sub>O kg/feddan, which achieved the highest yield of 12.2 and 13.1 ton/feddan of carrot roots in El-Gabal El-Asfer and 10<sup>th</sup> Ramadan soils, respectively, and also it was the highest reduction for heavy metals in comparison with the other studied treatments. Biochar application increased available nutrients (NPK) in both studied soils, and decreased availability of heavy metals in polluted soils. The highest values of BAF were found in the control treatment, while the lowest values appeared with the most effective treatment in the studied soils. The TF value for Fe and Ni was less than 1, while for Zn, Pb, Mn, Co, Cr, and Cu, was higher than 1.https://ejdr.journals.ekb.eg/article_6503_df4278a8e82961e2518a0945f265d8c7.pdfDesert Research CenterEgyptian Journal of Desert Research1687-804366220161201EFFECT OF LOCATION AND PLANTING DATE ON BOTTLE GOURD (LAGENARIA SICERARIA L.) PRODUCTIVITY AT DESERT SOILS3513722963510.21608/ejdr.2016.29635ENKhaled A.SoubeihDepartment of Plant Production, Desert Research Center, El-Matareya, Cairo, EgyptJournal Article20160904Two field experiments were carried out during the summer seasons of 2008 and 2009 to investigate the effect of two various agricultural sites (Ras Sudr region, South Sinai and Al-Maghara region, Middle Sinai) and four sowing dates (March 15<sup>th</sup>, April 1<sup>st</sup>, April 15<sup>th</sup>and May 1<sup>st</sup>) on growth, flowering, fresh fruits, seed yields, accumulated heat units and nutritional values of bottle gourd Egyptian variety. The results revealed that the emergence period (E<sub>p</sub>), foliage fresh weight after 120 days from sowing, absolute growth rate (AGR), number of female flowers, average fresh fruit weight and carbohydrates content of fresh fruits were significantly influenced by agricultural sites. Delaying planting dates increased fresh and dry foliage weight of samples taken after 30 and 75 days from sowing date and decreased flowering period (F<sub>p</sub>), while the earlier sowing dates increased fresh and dry foliage weight after 120 days from sowing, (AGR) and flowering characteristics enhanced in addition to increase seed and fresh yield and its contents of nitrogen, phosphorus and protein. As regard, the interaction among studied factors E<sub>p</sub>recorded the significant latest value in Al-Maghara on May 1<sup>st</sup>, also, foliage fresh and dry weight significantly were affected with interaction and the highest value of (AGR) was recorded in Ras Sudr on March 15<sup>th</sup>, while the earlier sowing dates whether in Ras Sudr or Al-Maghara significantly increased flowering characteristics, fruiting period, fresh fruits and seeds yield characteristics and the content of N, P and protein. Correlation and regression relationship revealed that high significant negative correlation between (F<sub>p</sub>) and the accumulated dry mater after 30 days of sowing. The regression coefficient indicated that for each increase of one gram dry matter, (F<sub>p</sub>) correspondingly decreased by 1.52 days, the same trend was observed between the average of weight and number of fresh fruits, where each decrease of 9.12 gram of each fruit/plant led to correspondingly increase one fruit. On the contrary, the correlation was significantly positive between number of female flowers and foliage dry weight after 120 days from sowing, number of fresh fruit and female flowers / plant besides fresh fruits yield ton/fed and number of fruits/plant. Base temperature of bottle gourd locale cultivar was 10.88˚C (51.58˚F) and the thermal times for 75% of plants emergence, the first flower, last fresh fruit and complete l±20 y mature phase are 57.6±6.6, 399.7±46.6, 1625±59.2 and 2476.0.8 heat units, respectively. So, it could produce the highest fresh fruits and seed yields when plants are sowing on March 15<sup>th</sup>.<br /> https://ejdr.journals.ekb.eg/article_29635_8cbdf9dcb6a240e11ac73ccf9dcb38b0.pdfDesert Research CenterEgyptian Journal of Desert Research1687-804366220161201ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIALS OF ENDOPHYTIC ACTINOMYCETES ISOLATED FROM LEAVES OF ASPHODELUS TENUIFOLIUS (CAV.) (MARSA MATROUH, EGYPT)3733862963910.21608/ejdr.2016.29639ENDina M.FahmyNatural Products Unit, Department of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Desert Research Center, El-Matareya, Cairo, EgyptNagwaSidkeyDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, EgyptMaiElkawagaDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, EgyptDoaa S.ZaidDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, EgyptJournal Article20160823The study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant abilities of four endophytic actinomycetes (strain Act<sub>1</sub>, Act<sub>2</sub>, Act<sub>3</sub>, and Act<sub>4</sub>) isolated from leaves of <em>Asphodelus tenuifolius, </em>as well as assessment of their phytochemical profile. Referring to morphological characters and 16S rDNA sequence analysis, actinomycete (strain Act2) was identified as <em>Streptomyces fenghuangensi</em>s (GIMN4.003T) with 96% identical sequence and accession number (NR1175021). The results showed variant inhibitory activity against pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Act<sub>2</sub>endophytic actinomycete isolate showed broad spectrum activity against all pathogenic tested organisms, recording notable MIC value 10 µg/ml against <em>Bacillus subtilus </em>and<em>Bacillus cereus, </em>while At<sub>3</sub>and At<sub>4</sub>showed strong impact on <em>Candida albicans. </em>All of the ethyl acatate extracts of actinomycete isolates revealed high antioxidant activity ranging from 45-82% using DPPH radical. Phytochemical screening of the isolates indicates the presence of phenolics, flavonoids, sterols, anthraquinones and naphthaquinones.https://ejdr.journals.ekb.eg/article_29639_9c32b3f3c19e88a12bf36112aef3a3c1.pdfDesert Research CenterEgyptian Journal of Desert Research1687-804366220161201DETERMINANTS OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN NEW VALLEY GOVERNORATE, EGYPT3874032964410.21608/ejdr.2016.29644ENAhmed M.DiabDepartment of Rural Sociology and Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, The New Valley Branch, EgyptHussien M.TohamyDepartment of Social studies, Socio-economic Studies Division, Desert Research Center, Cairo, Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, EgyptJournal Article20161004<span>The purposes of this study were to m</span><span>easure respondents’ application</span><span>of sustainable agriculture technologies in the study area, identify factors determining this level of application, and to determine problems facing the agricultural sustainability from the viewpoint of farmers in the study area. Three villages (Al-liwaa Sobieh, Abdel-Mageid Al-Goghail, and Talaat Dergham) belonging to the New Valley observatory for development and cooperatives, Farafrah, New Valley governorate were selected to be the place of the study. Data were collected from a sample of 135 respondents (60, 37, and 38 respectively) during the period of June and July 2016 by personal interviews using a questionnaire form. Frequencies, percentages,</span><span>range, average, standard deviation, Cronbach’s Alpha, one way ANOVA,</span><span>and Step-Wise multiple regression analysis were used for data analysis and</span><span>results’ presentation. Findings of the study revealed that ‘F’ value was not</span><span>significant at any probability level; this indicated that there are no mean</span><span>differences of farmers’ application of sustainable agriculture technologies</span><span>within the three studied villages; this resulted on the combination of the three </span><span>study’s samples into one sample. Results also revealed that farmers’</span><span>application of sustainable management of agricultural resources could be ranked as: animal resources (79.6</span><span>٪ </span><span>of the maximum score), plant resources (64.6</span><span>٪ </span><span>of the maximum score), land resources (61.4</span><span>٪ </span><span>of the maximum score), and finally water resources (56.9</span><span>٪ </span><span>of the maximum score). The</span><span>average score of farmers’ application of sustainable agriculture was 39.81</span><span>(64.2</span><span>٪ </span><span>of the maximum score). The majority of respondents (63.7</span><span>٪</span><span>) were located in the medium level of sustainable agriculture scale. Regarding factors determine level of adoption of sustainable agriculture technologies,</span><span>results show that there are significant relationships between farmers’</span><span>sustainable management of plant resources and 8 independent factors, 3 of them explain about 42.3</span><span>٪ </span><span>of differences in the dependent variable. Five</span><span>independent variables were significantly related with farmers’ sustainable</span><span>management of land resources, 3 of them explain about 23.4</span><span>٪ </span><span>of differences in the dependent variable. Five independent variables were also significantly </span>related with farmers’ sustainable management of water resources, one ofthem explain about 7.6٪ of differences in the dependent variable. Findings also show that there are significant relationship between 9 independentvariables and farmers’ sustainable management of animal resources, 3 ofthem explain about 54.1٪ of differences in the dependent variable. With regard to the total score of sustainable agriculture scale, results show thatthere are 7 independent variables related to farmers’ application ofsustainable agriculture technologies, 2 of them explain about 39.2٪ of differences in the dependent variable. Finally the study determined problems facing sustainability of agriculture and concluded some recommendations.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> https://ejdr.journals.ekb.eg/article_29644_cbad75b69d0f300ca1a0cc852108c959.pdfDesert Research CenterEgyptian Journal of Desert Research1687-804366220161201FARMER'S ADOPTION OF DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM IN BAHARIYA OASIS4054232964610.21608/ejdr.2016.29646ENMohamed A.RishaAgricultural Extension, Agricultural Extension Division, Department of Socio-Economic Studies, Desert Research CenterJournal Article20160807<span>This study aimed to identify the adoption level of drip irrigation system among farmers in Bahariya Oasis, the relationship between degree of adoption to drip irrigation system and farmers' socioeconomic characteristics, and identify the problems </span><span>confront farmers’ adopting of </span><span>drip irrigation system and their suggestions to overcome it. The selected villages of the study were Mendisha, El Zaboa and El Heez as the oldest villages in applying the drip irrigation system, and a simple random sample of about 281 farmers was selected, </span><span>based on farmers’ records in farmers cooperations</span><span>in the three villages. An interview as a questionnaire was utilized to collect data of the study through personal interview in November 2015. Frequencies, mean, percentages and persons' simple correlation coefficient were used to data analysis. Research results showed that 65.5% of farmers have high level of adopting drip irrigation system, while 21.3% of them have moderate level, and 13.2% have low level of adopting drip irrigation system. Results reveal also a significant relationship at the level of 0.01 between farmers' level of adopting to drip irrigation system and the following characteristics: education degree, experience in the agricultural work, monthly income, degree of exposure to the source of agricultural information and attitude toward agricultural innovations. Besides, significant relationship at the level of 0.05 with the following: age and openness degree to civilization. While there was no significant relationship with agricultural area holding.</span><br /> <span>Main problems confront farmers’ adoption of drip irrigation system</span><span>listed by farmers as follows: the high costs of the adopting the drip irrigation system, together with the absence of subsidy organizations efforts (83.6%), the large farm area demands huge investments to apply adopting the drip irrigation system (75.08%), a sense of unconvincing that the recent system didn't save water, labor and time (65.1%), lack of technicians for applying and maintaining the drip irrigation system (41.6%), lack of relevant equipment among input suppliers in Bahariya Oasis (35.2%) and finally lack of the programs of drip irrigation system in the study area (27.7%). Farmers suggestions can be listed as follows: subsidizing drip irrigation system in the study area (67.1%), providing easy loans to make drip irrigation system available for farmers' (62.9%), providing the trained, skilled labor for fitting and maintaining drip irrigation system (47.7%) and </span>finally the agricultural extension should organize programs to increase farmers' awareness and train them on the technical skills relevant to drip irrigation system application and maintenance (28.4%).<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <span> </span>https://ejdr.journals.ekb.eg/article_29646_c4078ee0335e2be8054f533118eccc24.pdfDesert Research CenterEgyptian Journal of Desert Research1687-804366220161201AN ECONOMIC STUDY OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RAIN-FED PLANT MATROUH GOVERNORATE4254492964810.21608/ejdr.2016.29648ENSanaa G.GaberDivision of Economic and Social Studies, Desert Research CenterJournal Article20161101<span>The present study was conducted at Matrouh Governorate, where the area exlends along the coastal plain southward depth 2.5 km (at El Alamien) and disappears in other places, i.e. Fuka and Ras El-Hekma. Due south the coastel phin the plateau rises gradually until Siwa Oasis, where the altitude falls down to around 27 m below sea level. The study aims at evaluating the agricultural resources availability of irrigation water resoures, arable land, the current status of the rainfed agricultural system adopted, in addition to productive and economic efficiency assessment. The study indicited that the net yield of irrigated wheat crops was 2210 pounds/acre, while the net return of the opportunity cost of about 492.8 pounds/acre, while showing that the opportunity cost of agriculture represents the best investment opportunity rain-fed wheat crop cultivated rainy system, where there has been a return of about 151.9 pounds/acre, while they cause the loss of about 460 pounds/acre. Also, data showed that the net yield of the irrigated olive crops was about 6450 pounds/acre, while the net return of the opportunity costs of about 1636.9 pounds/acre, which means productive activity preference for the cultivation of the crop olive about the opportunity cost of this activity represents a better investment opportunity. This study has led to some recommendations, including the need to develop a specific time-plan for the establishment of infrastructures helping in rain water harvesting and provisim. Altmioalah sources needed to identify dams and reservoirs needed for the absorption and maintenance and rainwater.</span><br /> <span> </span>https://ejdr.journals.ekb.eg/article_29648_441ec6acd59d11378605cb6f57244a0b.pdf