Ahmed Bamouh | Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II (original) (raw)

Papers by Ahmed Bamouh

DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals), May 31, 2022

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Mar 16, 2022

Eight Polysaccharides Enriched Extracts (PEEs) obtained from Moroccan seaweeds were selected to t... more Eight Polysaccharides Enriched Extracts (PEEs) obtained from Moroccan seaweeds were selected to test their effectiveness on the natural defense of tomato plants. Firstly, we examined the effect of the 8 PEEs at 4 concentrations (0.02, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mg. mL-1) with 3 application methods (T1: root irrigation, T2: foliar spray, and T3: combining the 2 methods T1 and T2) on protein content and plant defense enzyme Phenylalanine Ammonia-lyase (PAL) on tomato plants in absence of a pathogen. In the second part, we analyzed the ability of PEEs to induce protection against Botrytis cinerea, causative agent of gray mold, by testing PEEs on detached tomato leaves. Results showed that the PEEs obtained from Codium tomentosum, Ulva rigida, and Bifurcaria bifurcata at 0.1 mg. mL-1 and Gelidium crinale, Schizymenia dubyi and Fucus spiralis at 0.02 mg. mL-1 were the best treatments that significantly stimulated protein content and PAL activity in tomato plants with the three application methods. The same extracts at the same concentrations, in addition of PEEs from G. pistillata at 0.02 mg. mL-1 were the treatments having the greatest inhibitory effect on the lesion diameter of B. cinerea in detached leaves when compared to the control. The principal component analysis showed a correlation between PAL content and the reduction of lesion diameter. The comparison of the application method in our study did not show differences. These findings confirmed that these algal polysaccharides treatments could be a promising method to reduce dependency on synthetic fungicides. The presence of uronic acid and sulfated groups in the extracts could explain the elicitation mechanism induced in plant cells.

This study investigated the response of corn silage to different combinations of zinc (Zn) and ph... more This study investigated the response of corn silage to different combinations of zinc (Zn) and phosphorus (P) soil supply when grown in sandy soil. The soil was naturally poor in extractable Zn and rich in plant-available P. The experiment was conducted in outdoor containers. The treatments consisted of soil supply combinations of 3 levels of Zn (0, 5 and 10 mg Zn kg −1 of dry soil) and 4 levels of P (0, 12, 36 and 72 mg P2O5 kg −1 of dry soil). The results showed the absence of a significant effect (at p ≤ 0.05) of Zn-P interaction on plant growth, plant mineral content or total aerial dry weight at harvest. P application depressed Zn shoot content, and conversely, Zn supply slightly reduced P shoot content. The total aerial dry weight at harvest was not enhanced by P application. However, it was significantly increased by Zn supply of 5 mg•kg −1 only for the highest P (72 mg•kg −1) application (at p ≤ 0.05). This increase was around 15% compared to no Zn soil supply. It was especially linked to kernel dry weight and particularly to pollination rate. For the highest level of P supply, Zn applications significantly enhanced (at p ≤ 0.05) the kernel dry weight and the pollination rate by 22.1% and 38.4% respectively, compared

Morocco is increasingly confronted with drought effects on crop production as 93% of the country ... more Morocco is increasingly confronted with drought effects on crop production as 93% of the country is semi-arid. To mitigate the effects water scarcity on agricultural production, farmers should combine all available production technologies and practices to produce more food per cubic meter of water. Direct seeding or no till is one of those practices. The objectives of this study is to (1) evaluate direct seeding technology (DS) on lentil productivity and profitability in the Zaer region and (2) assess with farmers the ease of implementation and adoption of direct seeding technology of lentils. Two sets of farmer's lentil fields, one under direct seeding and the other under conventional cultivation (CS), were compared for their productivity during the 2015 season. In addition, 80 lentil farmers from Brachwa, Ain-Sbit and Merchouch regions, were surveyed to get their experience with lentil direct seeding and their prospects for its adoption for the coming years. The main four sections of the survey questionnaire are (1) information about the farmer and the farm, (2) cultivation practices of lentil production, (3) economics of lentil production and (4) farmer attitude toward the technology of lentil direct seeding. Results from on farm trials, comparing conventional and direct seeding of lentils, and from a survey of 80 lentil fields showed that for this year, direct seeding is not superior to conventional cultivation in either grain yield or profitability. The average yields obtained in direct seeding (DS) lentil cultivation vary from 0.40 to 1.35 t/ha and those from conventional lentil cultivation (CS) vary from 0.40 to 1.50 t/ha. Lentil production charges are on average about 5300 Dh/ha, with no significant difference between conventional and direct seeding systems. Weed control and harvest are the two operations that dominate production charges of lentils, in either conventional or direct seeding system. They respectively represent 30% and 23% of total production charges. Regarding adoption of lentil direct seeding technology, 33% of farmers think that they will adopt it while the remaining 67% are not yet ready for adoption.

Canadian journal of botany, Mar 1, 2005

We hypothesized that the differences in the amount of abscission of reproductive structures in th... more We hypothesized that the differences in the amount of abscission of reproductive structures in three physiological types of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) were due to different physiological responses to an internal competition for resources in the plant. Vicia faba 'Aguadulce' has an indeterminate growth habit and a dichotomous system of vascularization in its inflorescences. Vicia faba 'D83146-123' has a determinate growth habit and a dichotomous system of vascularization in its inflorescences. Vicia faba 'B 87.151' has an indeterminate growth habit and an independent vascular system in its inflorescences. Flower and pod abscission were related to growth and developmental attributes using multiple regressions as well as path analysis. The path models showed that abscission in the determinate growth cultivar was positively related to plant height and branch number, suggesting that competition for vegetative growth is still responsible for abscission in this cultivar. Future breeding should focus on reducing branch number in this cultivar. Results suggest that competition between reproductive structures has been attenuated in the independent vascular system cultivar even if flowers and pods continue to abscind. Further selection should be concentrated on a reduction of height and an independent vascular system within the stem to reduce competition between inflorescences. Key words: faba bean, flower abscission, pod abscission, path analysis, Vicia faba.

Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture

The subsurface drip irrigation technique is introduced in many agricultural areas of Morocco, par... more The subsurface drip irrigation technique is introduced in many agricultural areas of Morocco, particularly in the forage production systems. This study aims to determine the optimal sowing pattern of forage corn equipped with a subsurface drip irrigation system. A field experiment was carried out on sandy soil. Five rows spacing were evaluated: 40 cm, 55 cm, 70 cm, 85 cm, and 100 cm. The sowing rate was around 120000 plants ha-1. The subsurface irrigation system consisted of drip lines buried at 30 cm and separated by 100 cm with 1 L h-1 emitters and 50 cm as emitters spacing. The results revealed that the fraction of PARi and the accumulated PARi were not influenced by the sowing pattern. The highest corn dry biomass was recorded at 40 cm, 70 cm, and 85 cm row spacing. The biomass increase was mainly attributed to grain yield. The lowest irrigation water use efficiency was recorded at 100 cm row spacing (4.3 kg m-3). Concerning the forage quality, the sowing pattern did not influen...

SAINS TANAH - Journal of Soil Science and Agroclimatology

Intensive dairy farming systems in the sandy soil of northwestern Morocco are based on three succ... more Intensive dairy farming systems in the sandy soil of northwestern Morocco are based on three successive forage crops per year, including corn. The aim was to evaluate the productivity and the quality of different intensive crop successions based on corn in sandy soil. Three forage crops per year (winter, spring, and summer cropping seasons) were tested according to six successions: 1. fallow-corn-corn, 2. oat-corn-corn, 3. berseem-corn-corn, 4. pea/triticale-corn-corn, 5. oat-soybean-corn, and 6. berseem-corn-soybean. Each succession of crops was evaluated in two years field experiment using a randomized complete block design. Results revealed that oat-corn-corn and pea/triticale-corn-corn successions produced the highest dry biomass (46.5 t ha-1 year-1). The crop succession of berseem-corn-soybean resulted in the lowest biomass (30.8 t ha-1 year-1). The highest net energy for lactation was recorded at oat-corn-corn and pea/triticale-corn-corn successions (303 103 MJ ha-1 year-1). T...

Horticulturae

This research aims to evaluate the effect of the potassium–nitrogen balance on strawberry product... more This research aims to evaluate the effect of the potassium–nitrogen balance on strawberry productivity and quality parameters in soilless conditions. A trial was conducted at the Agronomic and Veterinary Hassan II Institute glasshouse in Rabat, during the 2018–2019 crop year. The pot experiment began on November 13 using three different strawberry cultivars: Fortuna, San Andreas and Sabrina. Three nutrient solutions were tested by increasing the potassium–nitrogen balance during the growth stage and decreasing it during the fruit-production stage: S1 (1.3/2.0), S2 (2.6/1.0) and S3 (3.0/0.6). For all treatments, the total dose of fertilizing elements N, P, K, Ca and Mg was identical. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replications. The results show that strawberry plants receiving a nutrient solution with a high K:N balance during the growth period and a low balance during the production period present the higher growth and fruit levels. Moreover, the ...

Acta Horticulturae, 2019

On-farm trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of potassium foliar fertilization on yield a... more On-farm trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of potassium foliar fertilization on yield and fruit quality of strawberry, raspberry and blueberry at Gharb region (Morocco) in 2017. The foliar fertilization treatments were: (T0) Control without foliar application, (T1) A foliar application of 1.6% K2SO4 at flowering stage, (T2) A foliar application of 1.6% K2SO4 at fruit growing stage and (T3) Two foliar applications of 1.6% K2SO4 at flowering and fruit growing stages. The experimental design for each crop was a completely randomized block with 3 replications. Data collected on the trials included growth parameters, fruit production and fruit quality parameters. For strawberry, a single foliar potassium spray at flowering increased yield by 10%. Two sprays increase yield by 7%. A single foliar application during fruit growth did not affect yield but increased fruit size by 4%. Foliar potassium fertilization improved sugar content and acidity of strawberry fruits but did not affect dry matter content. Chlorophyll content, leaf area and stomatal resistance of strawberry leaves were increased by foliar potassium fertilization. For raspberry, foliar potassium fertilization increased leaf chlorophyll, stomatal resistance and yield. Two foliar sprays of potassium sulfate increased yield by 40%. A single foliar application during fruit growth stage increased yield by 29% but had no effect on yield when applied at flowering. Two foliar sprays of potassium increased raspberry fruit size by 6%. Raspberry fruit titratable acidity was reduced by 13% with a single foliar potassium application and by 6% with two applications. Foliar potassium fertilization had no effect on sugar or dry matter content. For blueberry, a foliar potassium application during fruit growth improved fruit yield by 13% and fruit size by 19%. Application at early flowering increased fruit size by 13%. Foliar potassium fertilization increased sugar and dry matter content without affecting acidity. Foliar potassium fertilization increased leaf chlorophyll content and reduced stomatal resistance. Overall, results showed that potassium foliar fertilization significantly improved berries yield and fruit quality as well as crop growth parameters. The observed effects of foliar potassium fertilization on chlorophyll content, leaf area, stomatal regulation, cell turgor and translocation of assimilates contributed to improved fruit yield and quality.

American Journal of Plant Sciences, 2022

The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of potassium fertilization source and d... more The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of potassium fertilization source and dose on productivity and quality parameters of strawberry. The trial was conducted in 2016-2017 at the experimental greenhouse of Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Sciences in Rabat. Strawberry plants of the cultivar "San Andreas" were planted on November 6 th in 12 liter pots equipped with a gravity fertigation system. The experimental design was a split-plot with eight treatment combinations of two potassium fertilizer sources: 1) Potassium Sulphate for the whole growing cycle (PS/PS); 2) Potassium Nitrate during the vegetative period and Potassium Sulfate during the fruit production period (PN/PS) and four potassium fertilizer doses: 100, 200, 300 and 400 kg/ha of K 2 O replicated thrice. Potassium sulfate source was superior to potassium nitrate on the improvement of productivity and quality parameters of strawberry fruit. Potassium sulphate improved the number of flowers by 16%, fruit production by 21%, sugar content by 3%, and titrable acidity content by 0.5 g/L. The highest yield was recorded in plants receiving 300 kg/ha K 2 O as potassium sulphate. The 300 kg K 2 O/ha dose gave also superior results regarding quality parameters of strawberry fruit. This optimum potassium dose enhanced number of flowers by 35%, fruits produced by 44%, sugar content by 25% and titrable acidity content by 0.9 g/L.

This study investigated the response of corn silage to different combinations of zinc (Zn) and ph... more This study investigated the response of corn silage to different combinations of zinc (Zn) and phosphorus (P) soil supply when grown in sandy soil. The soil was naturally poor in extractable Zn and rich in plant-available P. The experiment was conducted in outdoor containers. The treatments consisted of soil supply combinations of 3 levels of Zn (0, 5 and 10 mg Zn kg −1 of dry soil) and 4 levels of P (0, 12, 36 and 72 mg P2O5 kg −1 of dry soil). The results showed the absence of a significant effect (at p ≤ 0.05) of Zn-P interaction on plant growth, plant mineral content or total aerial dry weight at harvest. P application depressed Zn shoot content, and conversely, Zn supply slightly reduced P shoot content. The total aerial dry weight at harvest was not enhanced by P application. However, it was significantly increased by Zn supply of 5 mg•kg −1 only for the highest P (72 mg•kg −1) application (at p ≤ 0.05). This increase was around 15% compared to no Zn soil supply. It was especially linked to kernel dry weight and particularly to pollination rate. For the highest level of P supply, Zn applications significantly enhanced (at p ≤ 0.05) the kernel dry weight and the pollination rate by 22.1% and 38.4% respectively, compared

Sains Tanah - Journal of Soil Science and Agroclimatology, 2016

This study investigated the effect of different leaching amounts on the downward movement of zinc... more This study investigated the effect of different leaching amounts on the downward movement of zinc applied, as fertilizer, on the surface of a sandy soil. The experiment was conducted in polyethylene bags filled to 30 cm depth with sandy soil. A zinc supply of 15.3 10-3 cmol c kg-1 was applied to the soil surface as a solution of zinc sulfate. Three leaching amounts were tested: 31 mm, 208 mm and 497 mm. Results showed the absence of zinc in the leachate for all leaching amounts. Within the soil profile, the highest content on exchangeable zinc (15.3 10-3 cmol c kg-1) was recorded in the top soil layer (0-10cm) for all leaching amounts. In the middle (10-20 cm) and in the lower (20-30 cm) layers, the exchangeable zinc content remained similar to that recorded before leaching (0.76 10-3 cmol c kg-1). The percentage of the cation exchange capacity occupied by zinc in the top soil layer increased after leaching. It averaged 0.35% for all leaching amounts while it remained similar to that recorded before leaching (0.03%) for the middle and the lower layers. This increase was linked to the adsorption saturations sites particularly released by manganese, potassium, calcium and ammonium after their downward movement.

Moroccan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Jul 1, 2020

Morocco is increasingly confronted with drought effects on crop production as 93% of the country ... more Morocco is increasingly confronted with drought effects on crop production as 93% of the country is semi-arid. To mitigate the effects water scarcity on agricultural production, farmers should combine all available production technologies and practices to produce more food per cubic meter of water. Direct seeding or no till is one of those practices. The objectives of this study is to (1) evaluate direct seeding technology (DS) on lentil productivity and profitability in the Zaer region and (2) assess with farmers the ease of implementation and adoption of direct seeding technology of lentils. Two sets of farmer's lentil fields, one under direct seeding and the other under conventional cultivation (CS), were compared for their productivity during the 2015 season. In addition, 80 lentil farmers from Brachwa, Ain-Sbit and Merchouch regions, were surveyed to get their experience with lentil direct seeding and their prospects for its adoption for the coming years. The main four sections of the survey questionnaire are (1) information about the farmer and the farm, (2) cultivation practices of lentil production, (3) economics of lentil production and (4) farmer attitude toward the technology of lentil direct seeding. Results from on farm trials, comparing conventional and direct seeding of lentils, and from a survey of 80 lentil fields showed that for this year, direct seeding is not superior to conventional cultivation in either grain yield or profitability. The average yields obtained in direct seeding (DS) lentil cultivation vary from 0.40 to 1.35 t/ha and those from conventional lentil cultivation (CS) vary from 0.40 to 1.50 t/ha. Lentil production charges are on average about 5300 Dh/ha, with no significant difference between conventional and direct seeding systems. Weed control and harvest are the two operations that dominate production charges of lentils, in either conventional or direct seeding system. They respectively represent 30% and 23% of total production charges. Regarding adoption of lentil direct seeding technology, 33% of farmers think that they will adopt it while the remaining 67% are not yet ready for adoption.

Journal of Applied Phycology, 2018

Revue Marocaine des Sciences Agronomiques et Vétérinaires, 2015

L’influence de l’epoque d’apport au sol du Zinc (Zn) sur la croissance, le rendement et le statut... more L’influence de l’epoque d’apport au sol du Zinc (Zn) sur la croissance, le rendement et le statut nutritif en Zn du mais ensilage a ete etudiee au niveau du sol sablonneux du Loukkos. Cinq epoques d’apport au sol de 5 mg/kg du Zn ont ete testees au sein d’une experimentation menee en plein champ: 1) apport bloque a la levee, 2) apport bloque au stade 5-6 feuilles, 3) apport bloque au stade 8-9 feuilles, 4) apport fractionne (50% a la levee, 25% au stade 5-6 feuilles et 25% au stade 8-9 feuilles) et 5) apport de 10% de la dose totale chaque 7 jours depuis la levee jusqu’a la fin d’apparition des soies (apport continu). Le Zinc a ete apporte sous forme sulfatee (ZnSO4. 7H2O). Un traitement sans apport du Zn a ete garde comme temoin. Les resultats ont montre que le stade adequat d’apport du Zn est entre le stade 5-6 feuilles et le stade 8-9 feuilles. Les apports du Zn bloque au stade 5-6 feuilles, continu et fractionne ont montre une teneur adequate en Zn au sein de la plante (22 mg/kg...

Revue Marocaine des Sciences Agronomiques et Vétérinaires, 2018

Polysaccharides extracted from seaweeds can function as plant biostimulants. The aim of this stud... more Polysaccharides extracted from seaweeds can function as plant biostimulants. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of Polysaccharide Enriched Extracts (PEEs) obtained from 17 Moroccan seaweeds, on tomato seed germination and plant growth. Three concentrations (0.02, 0.05 and 0.1 mg mL −1 ) of PEEs were applied to tomato seeds to evaluate their effect on 3 germination parameters: germination percentage (GP), germination speed (GS) and mean germination time (MGT). Metabolomic analysis by GC–MS was subsequently performed on seedlings. In the second experiment, four PEEs concentrations (0.02, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mg mL −1 ) were used as foliar spray or as soil application to tomato plants. Their growth parameters (number of leaves, shoot length, fresh and dry weight of stem and roots) and biochemical parameters (chlorophyll a and b) were measured. Results indicated a significant increase of GP and GS associated with a significant reduction of MGT of tomato seeds treated with 0.02...

This study investigated the effect of different leaching amounts on the downward movement of zinc... more This study investigated the effect of different leaching amounts on the downward movement of zinc applied, as fertilizer, on the surface of a sandy soil. The experiment was conducted in polyethylene bags filled to 30 cm depth with sandy soil. A zinc supply of 15.3 10 -3 cmolc kg -1 was applied to the soil surface as a solution of zinc sulfate. Three leaching amounts were tested: 31 mm, 208 mm and 497 mm. Results showed the absence of zinc in the leachate for all leaching amounts. Within the soil profile, the highest content on exchangeable zinc (15.3 10 cmolc kg ) was recorded in the top soil layer (0-10cm) for all leaching amounts. In the middle (10-20 cm) and in the lower (2030 cm) layers, the exchangeable zinc content remained similar to that recorded before leaching (0.76 10 cmolc kg ). The percentage of the cation exchange capacity occupied by zinc in the top soil layer increased after leaching. It averaged 0.35% for all leaching amounts while it remained similar to that record...

DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals), May 31, 2022

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Mar 16, 2022

Eight Polysaccharides Enriched Extracts (PEEs) obtained from Moroccan seaweeds were selected to t... more Eight Polysaccharides Enriched Extracts (PEEs) obtained from Moroccan seaweeds were selected to test their effectiveness on the natural defense of tomato plants. Firstly, we examined the effect of the 8 PEEs at 4 concentrations (0.02, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mg. mL-1) with 3 application methods (T1: root irrigation, T2: foliar spray, and T3: combining the 2 methods T1 and T2) on protein content and plant defense enzyme Phenylalanine Ammonia-lyase (PAL) on tomato plants in absence of a pathogen. In the second part, we analyzed the ability of PEEs to induce protection against Botrytis cinerea, causative agent of gray mold, by testing PEEs on detached tomato leaves. Results showed that the PEEs obtained from Codium tomentosum, Ulva rigida, and Bifurcaria bifurcata at 0.1 mg. mL-1 and Gelidium crinale, Schizymenia dubyi and Fucus spiralis at 0.02 mg. mL-1 were the best treatments that significantly stimulated protein content and PAL activity in tomato plants with the three application methods. The same extracts at the same concentrations, in addition of PEEs from G. pistillata at 0.02 mg. mL-1 were the treatments having the greatest inhibitory effect on the lesion diameter of B. cinerea in detached leaves when compared to the control. The principal component analysis showed a correlation between PAL content and the reduction of lesion diameter. The comparison of the application method in our study did not show differences. These findings confirmed that these algal polysaccharides treatments could be a promising method to reduce dependency on synthetic fungicides. The presence of uronic acid and sulfated groups in the extracts could explain the elicitation mechanism induced in plant cells.

This study investigated the response of corn silage to different combinations of zinc (Zn) and ph... more This study investigated the response of corn silage to different combinations of zinc (Zn) and phosphorus (P) soil supply when grown in sandy soil. The soil was naturally poor in extractable Zn and rich in plant-available P. The experiment was conducted in outdoor containers. The treatments consisted of soil supply combinations of 3 levels of Zn (0, 5 and 10 mg Zn kg −1 of dry soil) and 4 levels of P (0, 12, 36 and 72 mg P2O5 kg −1 of dry soil). The results showed the absence of a significant effect (at p ≤ 0.05) of Zn-P interaction on plant growth, plant mineral content or total aerial dry weight at harvest. P application depressed Zn shoot content, and conversely, Zn supply slightly reduced P shoot content. The total aerial dry weight at harvest was not enhanced by P application. However, it was significantly increased by Zn supply of 5 mg•kg −1 only for the highest P (72 mg•kg −1) application (at p ≤ 0.05). This increase was around 15% compared to no Zn soil supply. It was especially linked to kernel dry weight and particularly to pollination rate. For the highest level of P supply, Zn applications significantly enhanced (at p ≤ 0.05) the kernel dry weight and the pollination rate by 22.1% and 38.4% respectively, compared

Morocco is increasingly confronted with drought effects on crop production as 93% of the country ... more Morocco is increasingly confronted with drought effects on crop production as 93% of the country is semi-arid. To mitigate the effects water scarcity on agricultural production, farmers should combine all available production technologies and practices to produce more food per cubic meter of water. Direct seeding or no till is one of those practices. The objectives of this study is to (1) evaluate direct seeding technology (DS) on lentil productivity and profitability in the Zaer region and (2) assess with farmers the ease of implementation and adoption of direct seeding technology of lentils. Two sets of farmer's lentil fields, one under direct seeding and the other under conventional cultivation (CS), were compared for their productivity during the 2015 season. In addition, 80 lentil farmers from Brachwa, Ain-Sbit and Merchouch regions, were surveyed to get their experience with lentil direct seeding and their prospects for its adoption for the coming years. The main four sections of the survey questionnaire are (1) information about the farmer and the farm, (2) cultivation practices of lentil production, (3) economics of lentil production and (4) farmer attitude toward the technology of lentil direct seeding. Results from on farm trials, comparing conventional and direct seeding of lentils, and from a survey of 80 lentil fields showed that for this year, direct seeding is not superior to conventional cultivation in either grain yield or profitability. The average yields obtained in direct seeding (DS) lentil cultivation vary from 0.40 to 1.35 t/ha and those from conventional lentil cultivation (CS) vary from 0.40 to 1.50 t/ha. Lentil production charges are on average about 5300 Dh/ha, with no significant difference between conventional and direct seeding systems. Weed control and harvest are the two operations that dominate production charges of lentils, in either conventional or direct seeding system. They respectively represent 30% and 23% of total production charges. Regarding adoption of lentil direct seeding technology, 33% of farmers think that they will adopt it while the remaining 67% are not yet ready for adoption.

Canadian journal of botany, Mar 1, 2005

We hypothesized that the differences in the amount of abscission of reproductive structures in th... more We hypothesized that the differences in the amount of abscission of reproductive structures in three physiological types of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) were due to different physiological responses to an internal competition for resources in the plant. Vicia faba 'Aguadulce' has an indeterminate growth habit and a dichotomous system of vascularization in its inflorescences. Vicia faba 'D83146-123' has a determinate growth habit and a dichotomous system of vascularization in its inflorescences. Vicia faba 'B 87.151' has an indeterminate growth habit and an independent vascular system in its inflorescences. Flower and pod abscission were related to growth and developmental attributes using multiple regressions as well as path analysis. The path models showed that abscission in the determinate growth cultivar was positively related to plant height and branch number, suggesting that competition for vegetative growth is still responsible for abscission in this cultivar. Future breeding should focus on reducing branch number in this cultivar. Results suggest that competition between reproductive structures has been attenuated in the independent vascular system cultivar even if flowers and pods continue to abscind. Further selection should be concentrated on a reduction of height and an independent vascular system within the stem to reduce competition between inflorescences. Key words: faba bean, flower abscission, pod abscission, path analysis, Vicia faba.

Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture

The subsurface drip irrigation technique is introduced in many agricultural areas of Morocco, par... more The subsurface drip irrigation technique is introduced in many agricultural areas of Morocco, particularly in the forage production systems. This study aims to determine the optimal sowing pattern of forage corn equipped with a subsurface drip irrigation system. A field experiment was carried out on sandy soil. Five rows spacing were evaluated: 40 cm, 55 cm, 70 cm, 85 cm, and 100 cm. The sowing rate was around 120000 plants ha-1. The subsurface irrigation system consisted of drip lines buried at 30 cm and separated by 100 cm with 1 L h-1 emitters and 50 cm as emitters spacing. The results revealed that the fraction of PARi and the accumulated PARi were not influenced by the sowing pattern. The highest corn dry biomass was recorded at 40 cm, 70 cm, and 85 cm row spacing. The biomass increase was mainly attributed to grain yield. The lowest irrigation water use efficiency was recorded at 100 cm row spacing (4.3 kg m-3). Concerning the forage quality, the sowing pattern did not influen...

SAINS TANAH - Journal of Soil Science and Agroclimatology

Intensive dairy farming systems in the sandy soil of northwestern Morocco are based on three succ... more Intensive dairy farming systems in the sandy soil of northwestern Morocco are based on three successive forage crops per year, including corn. The aim was to evaluate the productivity and the quality of different intensive crop successions based on corn in sandy soil. Three forage crops per year (winter, spring, and summer cropping seasons) were tested according to six successions: 1. fallow-corn-corn, 2. oat-corn-corn, 3. berseem-corn-corn, 4. pea/triticale-corn-corn, 5. oat-soybean-corn, and 6. berseem-corn-soybean. Each succession of crops was evaluated in two years field experiment using a randomized complete block design. Results revealed that oat-corn-corn and pea/triticale-corn-corn successions produced the highest dry biomass (46.5 t ha-1 year-1). The crop succession of berseem-corn-soybean resulted in the lowest biomass (30.8 t ha-1 year-1). The highest net energy for lactation was recorded at oat-corn-corn and pea/triticale-corn-corn successions (303 103 MJ ha-1 year-1). T...

Horticulturae

This research aims to evaluate the effect of the potassium–nitrogen balance on strawberry product... more This research aims to evaluate the effect of the potassium–nitrogen balance on strawberry productivity and quality parameters in soilless conditions. A trial was conducted at the Agronomic and Veterinary Hassan II Institute glasshouse in Rabat, during the 2018–2019 crop year. The pot experiment began on November 13 using three different strawberry cultivars: Fortuna, San Andreas and Sabrina. Three nutrient solutions were tested by increasing the potassium–nitrogen balance during the growth stage and decreasing it during the fruit-production stage: S1 (1.3/2.0), S2 (2.6/1.0) and S3 (3.0/0.6). For all treatments, the total dose of fertilizing elements N, P, K, Ca and Mg was identical. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replications. The results show that strawberry plants receiving a nutrient solution with a high K:N balance during the growth period and a low balance during the production period present the higher growth and fruit levels. Moreover, the ...

Acta Horticulturae, 2019

On-farm trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of potassium foliar fertilization on yield a... more On-farm trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of potassium foliar fertilization on yield and fruit quality of strawberry, raspberry and blueberry at Gharb region (Morocco) in 2017. The foliar fertilization treatments were: (T0) Control without foliar application, (T1) A foliar application of 1.6% K2SO4 at flowering stage, (T2) A foliar application of 1.6% K2SO4 at fruit growing stage and (T3) Two foliar applications of 1.6% K2SO4 at flowering and fruit growing stages. The experimental design for each crop was a completely randomized block with 3 replications. Data collected on the trials included growth parameters, fruit production and fruit quality parameters. For strawberry, a single foliar potassium spray at flowering increased yield by 10%. Two sprays increase yield by 7%. A single foliar application during fruit growth did not affect yield but increased fruit size by 4%. Foliar potassium fertilization improved sugar content and acidity of strawberry fruits but did not affect dry matter content. Chlorophyll content, leaf area and stomatal resistance of strawberry leaves were increased by foliar potassium fertilization. For raspberry, foliar potassium fertilization increased leaf chlorophyll, stomatal resistance and yield. Two foliar sprays of potassium sulfate increased yield by 40%. A single foliar application during fruit growth stage increased yield by 29% but had no effect on yield when applied at flowering. Two foliar sprays of potassium increased raspberry fruit size by 6%. Raspberry fruit titratable acidity was reduced by 13% with a single foliar potassium application and by 6% with two applications. Foliar potassium fertilization had no effect on sugar or dry matter content. For blueberry, a foliar potassium application during fruit growth improved fruit yield by 13% and fruit size by 19%. Application at early flowering increased fruit size by 13%. Foliar potassium fertilization increased sugar and dry matter content without affecting acidity. Foliar potassium fertilization increased leaf chlorophyll content and reduced stomatal resistance. Overall, results showed that potassium foliar fertilization significantly improved berries yield and fruit quality as well as crop growth parameters. The observed effects of foliar potassium fertilization on chlorophyll content, leaf area, stomatal regulation, cell turgor and translocation of assimilates contributed to improved fruit yield and quality.

American Journal of Plant Sciences, 2022

The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of potassium fertilization source and d... more The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of potassium fertilization source and dose on productivity and quality parameters of strawberry. The trial was conducted in 2016-2017 at the experimental greenhouse of Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Sciences in Rabat. Strawberry plants of the cultivar "San Andreas" were planted on November 6 th in 12 liter pots equipped with a gravity fertigation system. The experimental design was a split-plot with eight treatment combinations of two potassium fertilizer sources: 1) Potassium Sulphate for the whole growing cycle (PS/PS); 2) Potassium Nitrate during the vegetative period and Potassium Sulfate during the fruit production period (PN/PS) and four potassium fertilizer doses: 100, 200, 300 and 400 kg/ha of K 2 O replicated thrice. Potassium sulfate source was superior to potassium nitrate on the improvement of productivity and quality parameters of strawberry fruit. Potassium sulphate improved the number of flowers by 16%, fruit production by 21%, sugar content by 3%, and titrable acidity content by 0.5 g/L. The highest yield was recorded in plants receiving 300 kg/ha K 2 O as potassium sulphate. The 300 kg K 2 O/ha dose gave also superior results regarding quality parameters of strawberry fruit. This optimum potassium dose enhanced number of flowers by 35%, fruits produced by 44%, sugar content by 25% and titrable acidity content by 0.9 g/L.

This study investigated the response of corn silage to different combinations of zinc (Zn) and ph... more This study investigated the response of corn silage to different combinations of zinc (Zn) and phosphorus (P) soil supply when grown in sandy soil. The soil was naturally poor in extractable Zn and rich in plant-available P. The experiment was conducted in outdoor containers. The treatments consisted of soil supply combinations of 3 levels of Zn (0, 5 and 10 mg Zn kg −1 of dry soil) and 4 levels of P (0, 12, 36 and 72 mg P2O5 kg −1 of dry soil). The results showed the absence of a significant effect (at p ≤ 0.05) of Zn-P interaction on plant growth, plant mineral content or total aerial dry weight at harvest. P application depressed Zn shoot content, and conversely, Zn supply slightly reduced P shoot content. The total aerial dry weight at harvest was not enhanced by P application. However, it was significantly increased by Zn supply of 5 mg•kg −1 only for the highest P (72 mg•kg −1) application (at p ≤ 0.05). This increase was around 15% compared to no Zn soil supply. It was especially linked to kernel dry weight and particularly to pollination rate. For the highest level of P supply, Zn applications significantly enhanced (at p ≤ 0.05) the kernel dry weight and the pollination rate by 22.1% and 38.4% respectively, compared

Sains Tanah - Journal of Soil Science and Agroclimatology, 2016

This study investigated the effect of different leaching amounts on the downward movement of zinc... more This study investigated the effect of different leaching amounts on the downward movement of zinc applied, as fertilizer, on the surface of a sandy soil. The experiment was conducted in polyethylene bags filled to 30 cm depth with sandy soil. A zinc supply of 15.3 10-3 cmol c kg-1 was applied to the soil surface as a solution of zinc sulfate. Three leaching amounts were tested: 31 mm, 208 mm and 497 mm. Results showed the absence of zinc in the leachate for all leaching amounts. Within the soil profile, the highest content on exchangeable zinc (15.3 10-3 cmol c kg-1) was recorded in the top soil layer (0-10cm) for all leaching amounts. In the middle (10-20 cm) and in the lower (20-30 cm) layers, the exchangeable zinc content remained similar to that recorded before leaching (0.76 10-3 cmol c kg-1). The percentage of the cation exchange capacity occupied by zinc in the top soil layer increased after leaching. It averaged 0.35% for all leaching amounts while it remained similar to that recorded before leaching (0.03%) for the middle and the lower layers. This increase was linked to the adsorption saturations sites particularly released by manganese, potassium, calcium and ammonium after their downward movement.

Moroccan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Jul 1, 2020

Morocco is increasingly confronted with drought effects on crop production as 93% of the country ... more Morocco is increasingly confronted with drought effects on crop production as 93% of the country is semi-arid. To mitigate the effects water scarcity on agricultural production, farmers should combine all available production technologies and practices to produce more food per cubic meter of water. Direct seeding or no till is one of those practices. The objectives of this study is to (1) evaluate direct seeding technology (DS) on lentil productivity and profitability in the Zaer region and (2) assess with farmers the ease of implementation and adoption of direct seeding technology of lentils. Two sets of farmer's lentil fields, one under direct seeding and the other under conventional cultivation (CS), were compared for their productivity during the 2015 season. In addition, 80 lentil farmers from Brachwa, Ain-Sbit and Merchouch regions, were surveyed to get their experience with lentil direct seeding and their prospects for its adoption for the coming years. The main four sections of the survey questionnaire are (1) information about the farmer and the farm, (2) cultivation practices of lentil production, (3) economics of lentil production and (4) farmer attitude toward the technology of lentil direct seeding. Results from on farm trials, comparing conventional and direct seeding of lentils, and from a survey of 80 lentil fields showed that for this year, direct seeding is not superior to conventional cultivation in either grain yield or profitability. The average yields obtained in direct seeding (DS) lentil cultivation vary from 0.40 to 1.35 t/ha and those from conventional lentil cultivation (CS) vary from 0.40 to 1.50 t/ha. Lentil production charges are on average about 5300 Dh/ha, with no significant difference between conventional and direct seeding systems. Weed control and harvest are the two operations that dominate production charges of lentils, in either conventional or direct seeding system. They respectively represent 30% and 23% of total production charges. Regarding adoption of lentil direct seeding technology, 33% of farmers think that they will adopt it while the remaining 67% are not yet ready for adoption.

Journal of Applied Phycology, 2018

Revue Marocaine des Sciences Agronomiques et Vétérinaires, 2015

L’influence de l’epoque d’apport au sol du Zinc (Zn) sur la croissance, le rendement et le statut... more L’influence de l’epoque d’apport au sol du Zinc (Zn) sur la croissance, le rendement et le statut nutritif en Zn du mais ensilage a ete etudiee au niveau du sol sablonneux du Loukkos. Cinq epoques d’apport au sol de 5 mg/kg du Zn ont ete testees au sein d’une experimentation menee en plein champ: 1) apport bloque a la levee, 2) apport bloque au stade 5-6 feuilles, 3) apport bloque au stade 8-9 feuilles, 4) apport fractionne (50% a la levee, 25% au stade 5-6 feuilles et 25% au stade 8-9 feuilles) et 5) apport de 10% de la dose totale chaque 7 jours depuis la levee jusqu’a la fin d’apparition des soies (apport continu). Le Zinc a ete apporte sous forme sulfatee (ZnSO4. 7H2O). Un traitement sans apport du Zn a ete garde comme temoin. Les resultats ont montre que le stade adequat d’apport du Zn est entre le stade 5-6 feuilles et le stade 8-9 feuilles. Les apports du Zn bloque au stade 5-6 feuilles, continu et fractionne ont montre une teneur adequate en Zn au sein de la plante (22 mg/kg...

Revue Marocaine des Sciences Agronomiques et Vétérinaires, 2018

Polysaccharides extracted from seaweeds can function as plant biostimulants. The aim of this stud... more Polysaccharides extracted from seaweeds can function as plant biostimulants. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of Polysaccharide Enriched Extracts (PEEs) obtained from 17 Moroccan seaweeds, on tomato seed germination and plant growth. Three concentrations (0.02, 0.05 and 0.1 mg mL −1 ) of PEEs were applied to tomato seeds to evaluate their effect on 3 germination parameters: germination percentage (GP), germination speed (GS) and mean germination time (MGT). Metabolomic analysis by GC–MS was subsequently performed on seedlings. In the second experiment, four PEEs concentrations (0.02, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mg mL −1 ) were used as foliar spray or as soil application to tomato plants. Their growth parameters (number of leaves, shoot length, fresh and dry weight of stem and roots) and biochemical parameters (chlorophyll a and b) were measured. Results indicated a significant increase of GP and GS associated with a significant reduction of MGT of tomato seeds treated with 0.02...

This study investigated the effect of different leaching amounts on the downward movement of zinc... more This study investigated the effect of different leaching amounts on the downward movement of zinc applied, as fertilizer, on the surface of a sandy soil. The experiment was conducted in polyethylene bags filled to 30 cm depth with sandy soil. A zinc supply of 15.3 10 -3 cmolc kg -1 was applied to the soil surface as a solution of zinc sulfate. Three leaching amounts were tested: 31 mm, 208 mm and 497 mm. Results showed the absence of zinc in the leachate for all leaching amounts. Within the soil profile, the highest content on exchangeable zinc (15.3 10 cmolc kg ) was recorded in the top soil layer (0-10cm) for all leaching amounts. In the middle (10-20 cm) and in the lower (2030 cm) layers, the exchangeable zinc content remained similar to that recorded before leaching (0.76 10 cmolc kg ). The percentage of the cation exchange capacity occupied by zinc in the top soil layer increased after leaching. It averaged 0.35% for all leaching amounts while it remained similar to that record...