Mohamed Abd El-Wahed - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Mohamed Abd El-Wahed

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of Some Microbiological and Chemical Characteristics for Some Water Wells in Sebha

Fayoum Journal of Agricultural Research and Development, Jul 1, 2014

The present study aimed to evaluate some of microbial and chemical qualities of water samples col... more The present study aimed to evaluate some of microbial and chemical qualities of water samples collected from three wells in Sebha-Libya. The microbiological and chemical analysis were carried out on water samples collected from three wells located at different Sebha regions namely; El Thanawia well (ThW), Alminshia well (MW) and Al korda well (KW). The microbiological analyses included heterotrophic plate count (HPC), total coliform (TC), fecal coliform (FC), Escherichia coli (EC) and fecal Streptococci (FS). Chemical analyses included hydrogen ion concentration (pH), electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS) and total alkalinity. Results of this study indicated that water of the three studied wells is not acceptable for human drinking since the number of FS exceeds the permissible limit recommended by WHO, however pH, EC, TDS and total alkalinity of all collected samples were acceptable. Water of the three studied wells should be treated against microbes contamination for human use with no risk. It worthy to mention that water of the studied could be safety used in irrigation of all crops. Key words:Water quality, microbiological analysis and chemical analysis. INTRODUCTION Water resources are scarce in arid and semi arid regions because of low rainfall and extreme climatic conditions, which enhance water losses by evaporation (Shaki and Adeloye, 2006). The situation in Libya is typical, with average yearly rainfall of less than 100mm and average annual evapotranspiration of 6.8 mm/day (IMB, 1980). Sebha is located in Southern Libya. Problems in Sebha include desertification and very limited natural fresh water resources. Thus, one of the main restrictions facing agricultural development in Libya is the shortage of water resources. Therefore, Libyan government decided the exploitation of ground water available in the Southern Libyan desert to domestic drinking water and agriculture. Pedly and Howard, 1997 reported that microbial contamination of ground water has been responsible for many disease outbreaks. The microbiological quality of water is usually determined by looking for the presence of fecal coliform and fecal Streptococci. Their presence, therefore, indicates definite fecal contamination (Greenberg et al., 1992 and Powell et al., 2003). Other microbial parameters included in microbial quality of water such as, total heterotrophic plate count bacteria were reported by Lye and Dufour (1991); Payment et al., (1994) and

Research paper thumbnail of Three New Species of Mites (Acari: Acaridae and Histiostomatidae) Extracted from the Soil under Pomegranate Trees, Assiut, Upper Egypt

Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences. A, Entomology, Sep 1, 2020

Three new species (Caloglyphus punicum n. sp., C. azzai n. sp. and Myianoetus granatum n. sp.) re... more Three new species (Caloglyphus punicum n. sp., C. azzai n. sp. and Myianoetus granatum n. sp.) represented only by their hypopial nymphs (heteromorphic deutonymphs), extracted from the soil under pomegranate trees, Assiut, Upper Egypt. The holotype deutonymph and paratype deutonymphs of each species are deposited in the

Research paper thumbnail of Combined effect of deficit irrigation and potassium fertilizer on physiological response, plant water status and yield of soybean in calcareous soil

Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, Oct 8, 2016

A 2-year field experiment (2013 and 2014) was conducted in calcareous soil (CaCO 3 19.2%), on soy... more A 2-year field experiment (2013 and 2014) was conducted in calcareous soil (CaCO 3 19.2%), on soybean grown under three irrigation regimes 100%, 85% and 70% of crop evapotranspiration combined with three potassium (K 2 O) levels (90, 120 and 150 kg ha −1). The objective was to investigate the complementary properties of potassium fertilizer in improving soybean physiological response under water deficit. Plant water status (relative water content RWC, chlorophyll fluorescence F v /F 0 and F v /F m), had been significantly affected by irrigation or/and potassium application. Potassium improved growth characteristics (i.e. shoot length, number, leaf area and dry weight of leaves) as well as physiochemical attributes (total soluble sugars, free proline and contents of N, P, K, Ca and Na). Yield and yield water use efficiency (Y-WUE) were significantly affected by irrigation and potassium treatments. Results indicated that potassium application of 150 and 120 kg ha −1 significantly increased seed yield by 29.6% and 13.89%, respectively, compared with 90 kg ha −1 as average for two seasons. It was concluded that application of higher levels of potassium fertilizer in arid environment improves plant water status as well as growth and yield of soybean under water stress.

Research paper thumbnail of Macronutrient-rich biochar induces boron nanoparticles in improving the salt tolerance of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in arid degraded soils

Scientia Horticulturae, Apr 1, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of Performance Assessment of Center Pivot Irrigation System Under Arid Area Scondition

Misr journal of agricultural engineering, Oct 1, 2012

This study was planned to evaluate the effects of operating pressure (P), spacing between sprinkl... more This study was planned to evaluate the effects of operating pressure (P), spacing between sprinklers (S) and height of sprinkler above the ground surface (H) on the uniformity parameters[(coefficient of uniformity (CU),distribution uniformity (DU lq) and coefficient of variation (CV)] under center pivot system.The quantitative variables were (

Research paper thumbnail of Calculating Sunshine Hours and Reference Evapotranspiration in Arid Regions When Solar Radiation Data are Limited

Irrigation and Drainage, May 8, 2015

The Penman-Monteith equation is often recommended as the standard for both computing the referenc... more The Penman-Monteith equation is often recommended as the standard for both computing the reference evapotranspiration (ET 0) and evaluating other ET 0 equations. The main shortcoming of this equation is it requires weather data, e.g. solar radiation or sunshine hours (n), that are not always available. Since neither solar radiation nor n data are available in Libya, the main objective of the present study was to develop a reliable equation for estimating the sunshine hours (n e) to estimate monthly ET 0 in arid regions. In this study, three equations were developed for predicting n e based on mean monthly temperature, relative humidity and wind speed. The derived equations were used for calculating the monthly ET 0 based on the Penman-Monteith equation. The ET 0 estimates were compared with ET 0 calculated using observed n. The results indicate that the ET 0 calculated using n e matched well with the ET 0 calculated by n. The ET 0 calculated by the three equations were tested against ET 0 calculated by both the California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS) and Hargreaves-Samani equation. The ET 0 based on estimated sunshine was closest to ET 0 obtained from CIMIS compared to the Hargreaves-Samani equation. In conclusion, the equation to estimate sunshine hours should provide good estimates of the ET 0 for similar desert locations that lack sunshine hours or solar radiation data.

Research paper thumbnail of Harvesting water in a center pivot irrigation system: Evaluation of distribution uniformity with varying operating parameters

Journal of Engineering Thermophysics, Apr 1, 2015

The main objective of irrigation is to apply the optimum amount of water to the crop root zone th... more The main objective of irrigation is to apply the optimum amount of water to the crop root zone that is needed for its growth. Also, when irrigation systems are used to apply fertilizers and pesticides, the irrigation process becomes even more critical in terms of uniformity. Consequently, it is important for center pivot owners and operators to periodically check the uniformity of their systems in order to adjust all the operating parameters involved. To assess the real distribution uniformity of irrigated water, a study was conducted in southern Libya; this paper reports the results of water irrigation in a center pivot system with respect to the effects that the operating pressure (P), the spacing between sprinklers (S), and the height of sprinkler above the ground surface (H) show on the distribution uniformity. Several factors define the uniformity of water distribution; in this work the coefficient of uniformity CU, the low quarter distribution uniformity DU lq , and the coefficient of variation CV are considered. The highest values reached by the uniformity parameters with varying the operating conditions define the best operating practices under which the whole system works efficiently. The final results are given in terms of operating conditions able to save total costs in the studied area and in places characterized by similar geo-hydrological conditions.

Research paper thumbnail of Sprinkler irrigation uniformity: Impact on the crop yield and water use efficiency

Journal of Engineering Thermophysics, 2016

In this work, an assessment of the effect of distribution uniformity over water use efficiency is... more In this work, an assessment of the effect of distribution uniformity over water use efficiency is shown. The experimental study took place in Sebha region, southern Libya, characterized by arid climate and interested a barley field. The results of water irrigation in the sprinkler irrigation system with respect to the operating pressure (P) and raiser height of sprinkler (H) are reported with respect to distribution uniformity and water use efficiency. The main objective of irrigation is to apply the optimum amount of water to the crop root zone that is needed for its growth and maturation, and it is, hence, important for to check the uniformity of irrigation systems in order to adjust the operating parameters involved. To assess uniformity, the coefficient of uniformity (CU), the low quarter distribution uniformity (DU), and the coefficient of variation (CV) were considered, while the grain yield (GY), the crop height (CH) and the water use efficiency (WUE) weremeasured in order to find the best solution in terms of operating conditions. The highest values reached by the uniformity parameters with varying the operating conditions defined the best operating practices under which the irrigation system works efficiently: the results demonstrated that the maximum values for CU and DU, 91.37% and 0.85, respectively, were obtained at the highest P and H, and under the same conditions, also grain yield, plants height and WUE recorded the highest values: 5.50 t·ha−1, 63.49 cm and 0.75 kg·m−3, respectively. The results emerged in this work can be useful for similar arid regions like Sebha region, in order to solve the problems related to water scarcity and water use efficiency.

Research paper thumbnail of Integration of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Rosemarinus officinalis for controlling of potato bacterial wilt

Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control, Mar 13, 2023

Background Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is considered one of the most importan... more Background Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is considered one of the most important diseases that cause economic losses to many economic crops and spread in many regions around the world, especially in the subtropical tropics and some warm temperate regions of the world. In this study the aqueous plant extract of Rosemarinus officinalis and Pseudomonas fluorescens for their antagonistic activity against bacterial wilt in vitro, greenhouse and population of R, solanacearum in plants was study. Results Following intensive screening studies, aqueous plant extract of R. officinalis and P. fluorescens was selected to study their effectiveness against bacterial wilt of potato plants and their antimicrobial activity or induction of systemic resistance in plants. In greenhouse, all soil drenching treatments on potato plants significantly reduced disease incidence of potato bacterial wilt than infected control. R. officinalis, P. fluorescens mixture between plant extract and endophytic bacteria and streptomycin reduced profoundly the disease severity by 75.51, 65.0 77.9 and 81.00%, respectively, than the infected control (83.71%). The plant extract and microorganism significantly increased fresh and dry weight of potato plants (g) per plant compared to non-treated control plants. R. officinalis, P. fluorescens mixture between plant extract and endophytic bacterium and streptomycin increased fresh weight from 100.1 to 169.9 compared to infected control also increased dry weight from 68.4 in streptomycin to 170.4% in mixture of plant extract and endophytic bacterium. The populations of bacterial pathogen R. solanacearum were lowest in stem of potato plants treated with plant extracts than in inoculated control plants (50%). In general, the total phenols increased in both inoculated and non-inoculated potato plants. Conclusions Ralstonia officinalis and P. fluorescens showed a strong in vitro activity in relation growth limitation of R. solanacearum as well as limiting the development of bacterial wilt disease on potato plants under greenhouse conditions.

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of irrigation systems, amounts of irrigation water and mulching on corn yield, water use efficiency and net profit

Agricultural Water Management, Mar 1, 2013

Effect of irrigation systems, amounts of irrigation water and mulching on corn yield, water use e... more Effect of irrigation systems, amounts of irrigation water and mulching on corn yield, water use efficiency and net profit. Agric. Water Manage. (2012),

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of drip deficit irrigation and soil mulching on growth of common bean plant, water use efficiency and soil salinity

Scientia Horticulturae, Nov 1, 2017

The present investigation aimed at assessing the effect of two mulching materials (Rice straw mul... more The present investigation aimed at assessing the effect of two mulching materials (Rice straw mulch (RSM) and Farmyard manure mulch (FYM)), three irrigation treatments (I 100% = 100%, I 85% = 85% and I 70% = 70%) of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and four mulch layer thicknesses (MLT 0 , 3 , 6 and 9 cm) on common bean yield, its components, water use efficiency and soil salinity under drip irrigation. Results obtained showed that the maximum values of bean yield were obtained under FYM compared to RSM. The greatest values dry seed yield of bean were obtained with the no-deficit treatment (I 100%) while the lowest ones were observed in I 70% treatment. The average bean yield value of MLT 9 was increased by 9.67, 25.28 and 45.80% than those of MLT 6,3 and 0 , respectively. The lowest value of soil salinity was obtained under (I 100%), while the greatest one was obtained from (I 70%). The highest soil salinity value was observed under MLT 0 (no mulch) compared to another treatments. The average EC value for treatment MLT 0 was increased by12.80, 18.86 and 28.75% than those of MLT 3 , 6 and 9 , respectively. Under environmental conditions of the study area, the treatment (I 100% × FYM × MLT 9) proved to be the most suitable for producing high bean crop. Under limited irrigation water, application of (I 85% × FYM × MLT 9) treatment was found to be favorable to save 15% of the applied irrigation water with no reduction in bean crop.

Research paper thumbnail of Water Saving and Yield of Potatoes under Partial Root-Zone Drying Drip Irrigation Technique: Field and Modelling Study Using SALTMED Model in Saudi Arabia

Agronomy

This study aims to evaluate the Partial Root Zone Drying Irrigation System (PRD) as one of the mo... more This study aims to evaluate the Partial Root Zone Drying Irrigation System (PRD) as one of the modern technologies that provide irrigation water and increase the efficiency of its use on potato crop. The effect of applying the PRD conventional deficit irrigation (CDI) on the efficiency and water saving in potato crops using the drip surface (S) and subsurface (SS) irrigation methods were investigated. SALTMED model used to predict soil moisture and salinity distribution, soil nitrogen dynamics, and yield of potato crop using the different irrigation levels (150%, 100%, and 50% of Crop evapotranspiration (ETc)). The study showed that the water use efficiency (WUE) decreases with increasing levels of irrigation water, as it ranged between 2.96 and 8.38 kgm−3, 2.77 and 7.01 kgm−3 for surface irrigation PRD and CDI, respectively, when the amounts of irrigation water varied from 308 mm to 1174 mm, respectively. The study showed that the irrigation efficiencies were the highest when using...

Research paper thumbnail of Improving Performance of Glycine max (L.) by α-tocopherol under Deficit Irrigation in Dry Environments

International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 2017

Continuously, plants are exposed to a variety of abiotic and biotic stresses under natural condit... more Continuously, plants are exposed to a variety of abiotic and biotic stresses under natural conditions of dry environments, including Egypt. These stresses, including drought, generate more of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are potentially harmful to cell structures and components. To survive under

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of mulching on plant water status, soil salinity and yield of squash under summer-fall deficit irrigation in salt affected soil

Agricultural Water Management, 2016

Field studies were conducted for two consecutive seasons (summer and fall) under sub-temperate cl... more Field studies were conducted for two consecutive seasons (summer and fall) under sub-temperate climatic conditions at southwest of Cairo, Egypt (29 • 35 N 30 • 23 E) in saline soil (ECe 12.6 dS m −1) to investigate the effect of different mulches (without mulch, WM as a control, farmyard manure: FYM, rice straw: RSM and white polyethylene: PM) on soil salinity, plant water status, water-use efficiency (WUE), and yield of squash under three levels of irrigation (I 100 = 100%, I 85 = 85% and I 70 = 70% of crop evapotranspiration). Under full irrigation, seasonal water use by squash was 479 over 86 days in summer and 306 mm over 91 days in fall season, respectively. Plant water status (as evaluated by relative water content, canopy temperature), fruit quality yield and water use efficiency (WUE) were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected by season and both irrigation quantity and mulching materials. Photosynthesis efficiency, total soluble sugars (TSS), leaf area index, harvest index (HI), yield and WUE were not significantly affected by interaction between growth season and both irrigation and mulching treatments. All mulching materials effectively reduced salt accumulation in the root zone. Mulching treatments markedly increased WUE and yield in the order of FYM > RSM > PM > WM. Results showed that, under different mulches, the I 85% strategy studied here could be successfully applied during summer and fall seasons in commercial squash production allowing water savings of 15% without any detrimental effect on plant growth or yield.

Research paper thumbnail of Improving yield and water productivity of maize grown under deficit-irrigated in dry area conditions

Azarian journal of agriculture, Oct 8, 2016

Scarcity of water is the most severe constraint for development of maize in arid and semi-arid ar... more Scarcity of water is the most severe constraint for development of maize in arid and semi-arid areas. Based on the actual crop need, the irrigation management has to be improved so that the water supply to the crop can be reduced while still achieving high yield. Therefore, the current study has been organized to evaluate the effects of deficit sprinkler irrigation (DSI) and farmyard manure (FYM) on Grain yield (GY) and crop water productivity (CWP) of corn, a 2-year experiment was conducted in arid region of Libya. The DSI treatments were (I 100 = 100%, I 85 = 85% or I 70 = 70%) of the crop evapotranspiration. FYM treatments were (0, 10 ton ha −1) spread either on the soil surface, incorporated with surface or subsurface layer (FYM 10s , FYM 10m or FYM 10ss , respectively) and 20 ton ha −1 spread as before (FYM 20s , FYM 20m or FYM 20ss , respectively). Results indicated that the highest values of grain yield (GY) were obtained from I 100 treatment, while the lowest were observed in I 70. FYM 20ss enhanced GY than other FYM treatments in both seasons. The highest GY and CWP were recorded with I 100 and received FYM 20ss. It could be considered as a suitable under arid environmental conditions and similar regions, the treatment (I 100 × FYM 20ss) is the most suitable for producing high GY and CWP. Under limited irrigation water, application of (I 85 ×FYM 20ss) treatment was found to be favorable to save 15% of the applied irrigation water, at the time in which produced the same GY.

Research paper thumbnail of Salt Distribution and Potato Response to Irrigation Regimes under Varying Mulching Materials

Plants, 2020

Water scarcity and frequent drought spells are becoming critical challenges to sustainable agricu... more Water scarcity and frequent drought spells are becoming critical challenges to sustainable agricultural development, especially in arid and semiarid regions. Thus, this work aims to investigate the effect of deficit irrigation and varying mulching materials on soil moisture content, salt distribution, and potato yield. The experiment consisted of three irrigation regimes (I100%, I80%, and I60%) of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), designated as I100%, I80%, and I60% of ETc, and five mulching treatments viz. (i) without mulch (WM), (ii) poultry manure mulch (PMM), (iii) rice straw mulch (RSM), (iv) white plastic mulch (WPM), and (v) black plastic mulch (BPM), which were continued for two consecutive growing seasons. The results showed that soil salinity was affected by mulching and irrigation levels as the salt content increased from the initial soil salinity. Moreover, I60% recorded the highest salt accumulation in the soil profile for WM treatment compared to the rest of the irrigatio...

Research paper thumbnail of Common Bean Growth, Water Use Efficiency and Soil Salinity as Effect to Deficit Irrigation and Mulching Materials Under Drip Irrigation

Misr Journal of Agricultural Engineering, 2017

This study investigated the combined effects of deficit irrigation and mulches on beans yield, wa... more This study investigated the combined effects of deficit irrigation and mulches on beans yield, water use efficiency (WUE) and soil salinity under drip irrigation. The treatments of the study comprised different combinations of three irrigation treatments (I 100% =100%, I 85% =85% and I 70% = 70% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and three mulching materials (no mulch (NM), rice straw mulch (RSM) and farmyard manure mulch (FYM). The results obtained that the irrigation treatments and mulching materials on yield and WUE were significant. The greatest value of bean yield (941.5and 925.7kg fed-1) were obtained under (I 100%) in the first and second season, respectively, while the lowest ones (706.4 and 710.6kg fed-1) were obtained from (I 70%) in the first and second season, respectively. 39.6 and 11.1 % than NM and RSM in 2014 seasons, respectively increased the average GY of FYM treatment. The corresponding values in 2015 season were 39.6 and 9.3 % in the same order. The average of soil salinity value (I 70%) was increased by 28.26and 13.50% than those of I 100% and I 85% , respectively. 21.9 and 19.7 % than those of FYM and RSM treatments, respectively increased the average EC value of NM.

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluating the Effects of Drip Deficit Irrigation and Thickness of Rice Straw Mulch Layer on Beans Crop and Water Use Efficiency

Misr Journal of Agricultural Engineering, 2017

Two field experiments were conducted during the two growing seasons (2014 and 2015) to investigat... more Two field experiments were conducted during the two growing seasons (2014 and 2015) to investigate the combined effects of three irrigation treatments (I 100% =100%, I 85% =85% and I 70% = 70% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc)and four thicknesses of mulch layer (TML 0 , 3 , 6 and 9 cm) under drip irrigation system. The Results showed that the irrigation treatments and thickness of mulch layer on yield and WUE were significant. The greatest values of bean yield (902.4and 909.6 kg fed-1) were obtained under (I 100%) in the first and second seasons, respectively, while the lowest ones (698.1 and 692.5 kgfed-1) were obtained from treatment (I 70%) in the first and second seasons, respectively. The average bean yield value of TML 9 was increased by 11.5, 30.8 and 40.2 % than those of treatment TML 6, 3 and 0 , respectively, in the first season. Corresponding values for the second season were 12.3, 32.5 and 43.5 % The greatest values of WUE (0.74 and 0.73 kg m −3) were obtained under I 70% compared to I 100% , (0.67 kg m −3) in the two seasons, respectively. The interacting effects between treatment and treatment TML 9 i.e. (I 100 × TML 9) has proved, to be the most suitable for producing high bean crop. Under environmental condition of the studied area. Application of (I 85 ×TML 9) treatment was found to be favorable to save 15% of the applied irrigation water, with no decrease in bean crop yield.

Research paper thumbnail of Sprinkler irrigation uniformity and crop water productivity of barley in arid region

Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture, 2015

An investigation has been organized to study the effect of the sprinkler irrigation system design... more An investigation has been organized to study the effect of the sprinkler irrigation system design on irrigation uniformity and its impact on barley crop yield and crop water productivity (CWP). The spring irrigation operating pressures (P) were 200 kPa (P1), 250 kPa (P2) and 300 kPa (P3). The sprinkler riser heights were 100 cm (H1), 125 cm (H2) and 150 cm (H3) from the ground. The results demonstrated that the maximum values of coefficient of uniformity (CU) and distribution uniformity (DU) (91.37 % and 0.85, respectively) were obtained at P3H3, while the minimum values (78.21 % and 0.71, respectively) were obtained at P1H1.Under P3H3 treatment, the highest values of 5.50 t ha-1 and 63.49 cm of grain yield (GY) and barely plant height (PH), respectively were recorded. The highest CWP value (0.75 kg m-3) was obtained when the P3H3 treatment was applied, while the lowest yield (0.36 kg m-3) was recorded under P1H1 treatment. According to the results of this experiment, under Sebha environmental conditions and similar regions, it is recommended to operate the solid set sprinkler irrigation system at P3H3 to obtain the highest CU and DU and consequently the highest GY, PH and CWP.

Research paper thumbnail of Silicon supplementation enhances productivity, water use efficiency and salinity tolerance in maize

Frontiers in Plant Science

Drought and salinity stress severely inhibits the growth and productivity of crop plants by limit... more Drought and salinity stress severely inhibits the growth and productivity of crop plants by limiting their physiological processes. Silicon (Si) supplementation is considerd as one of the promising approaches to alleviate abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity. In the present study, a field experiment was conducted over two successive growth seasons (2019-20) to investigate the effect of foliar application of Si at two concentrations (1 and 2 kg Si ha-1) on the growth, yield and physiological parameters of three maize cultivars (ES81, ES83, and ES90) under three levels of irrigation salinity) [1000 (WS1), 2000 (WS2) and 3000 (WS3) mg L-1NaCl]. In this study, A trickle irrigation system was used. Si application significantly mitigated the harsh effects of salinity on growth and yield components of maize, which increased at all concentrations of Si. In irrigation with S3 salinity treatment, grain yield was decreased by 32.53%, however, this reduction was alleviated (36.19%) wit...

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of Some Microbiological and Chemical Characteristics for Some Water Wells in Sebha

Fayoum Journal of Agricultural Research and Development, Jul 1, 2014

The present study aimed to evaluate some of microbial and chemical qualities of water samples col... more The present study aimed to evaluate some of microbial and chemical qualities of water samples collected from three wells in Sebha-Libya. The microbiological and chemical analysis were carried out on water samples collected from three wells located at different Sebha regions namely; El Thanawia well (ThW), Alminshia well (MW) and Al korda well (KW). The microbiological analyses included heterotrophic plate count (HPC), total coliform (TC), fecal coliform (FC), Escherichia coli (EC) and fecal Streptococci (FS). Chemical analyses included hydrogen ion concentration (pH), electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS) and total alkalinity. Results of this study indicated that water of the three studied wells is not acceptable for human drinking since the number of FS exceeds the permissible limit recommended by WHO, however pH, EC, TDS and total alkalinity of all collected samples were acceptable. Water of the three studied wells should be treated against microbes contamination for human use with no risk. It worthy to mention that water of the studied could be safety used in irrigation of all crops. Key words:Water quality, microbiological analysis and chemical analysis. INTRODUCTION Water resources are scarce in arid and semi arid regions because of low rainfall and extreme climatic conditions, which enhance water losses by evaporation (Shaki and Adeloye, 2006). The situation in Libya is typical, with average yearly rainfall of less than 100mm and average annual evapotranspiration of 6.8 mm/day (IMB, 1980). Sebha is located in Southern Libya. Problems in Sebha include desertification and very limited natural fresh water resources. Thus, one of the main restrictions facing agricultural development in Libya is the shortage of water resources. Therefore, Libyan government decided the exploitation of ground water available in the Southern Libyan desert to domestic drinking water and agriculture. Pedly and Howard, 1997 reported that microbial contamination of ground water has been responsible for many disease outbreaks. The microbiological quality of water is usually determined by looking for the presence of fecal coliform and fecal Streptococci. Their presence, therefore, indicates definite fecal contamination (Greenberg et al., 1992 and Powell et al., 2003). Other microbial parameters included in microbial quality of water such as, total heterotrophic plate count bacteria were reported by Lye and Dufour (1991); Payment et al., (1994) and

Research paper thumbnail of Three New Species of Mites (Acari: Acaridae and Histiostomatidae) Extracted from the Soil under Pomegranate Trees, Assiut, Upper Egypt

Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences. A, Entomology, Sep 1, 2020

Three new species (Caloglyphus punicum n. sp., C. azzai n. sp. and Myianoetus granatum n. sp.) re... more Three new species (Caloglyphus punicum n. sp., C. azzai n. sp. and Myianoetus granatum n. sp.) represented only by their hypopial nymphs (heteromorphic deutonymphs), extracted from the soil under pomegranate trees, Assiut, Upper Egypt. The holotype deutonymph and paratype deutonymphs of each species are deposited in the

Research paper thumbnail of Combined effect of deficit irrigation and potassium fertilizer on physiological response, plant water status and yield of soybean in calcareous soil

Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, Oct 8, 2016

A 2-year field experiment (2013 and 2014) was conducted in calcareous soil (CaCO 3 19.2%), on soy... more A 2-year field experiment (2013 and 2014) was conducted in calcareous soil (CaCO 3 19.2%), on soybean grown under three irrigation regimes 100%, 85% and 70% of crop evapotranspiration combined with three potassium (K 2 O) levels (90, 120 and 150 kg ha −1). The objective was to investigate the complementary properties of potassium fertilizer in improving soybean physiological response under water deficit. Plant water status (relative water content RWC, chlorophyll fluorescence F v /F 0 and F v /F m), had been significantly affected by irrigation or/and potassium application. Potassium improved growth characteristics (i.e. shoot length, number, leaf area and dry weight of leaves) as well as physiochemical attributes (total soluble sugars, free proline and contents of N, P, K, Ca and Na). Yield and yield water use efficiency (Y-WUE) were significantly affected by irrigation and potassium treatments. Results indicated that potassium application of 150 and 120 kg ha −1 significantly increased seed yield by 29.6% and 13.89%, respectively, compared with 90 kg ha −1 as average for two seasons. It was concluded that application of higher levels of potassium fertilizer in arid environment improves plant water status as well as growth and yield of soybean under water stress.

Research paper thumbnail of Macronutrient-rich biochar induces boron nanoparticles in improving the salt tolerance of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in arid degraded soils

Scientia Horticulturae, Apr 1, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of Performance Assessment of Center Pivot Irrigation System Under Arid Area Scondition

Misr journal of agricultural engineering, Oct 1, 2012

This study was planned to evaluate the effects of operating pressure (P), spacing between sprinkl... more This study was planned to evaluate the effects of operating pressure (P), spacing between sprinklers (S) and height of sprinkler above the ground surface (H) on the uniformity parameters[(coefficient of uniformity (CU),distribution uniformity (DU lq) and coefficient of variation (CV)] under center pivot system.The quantitative variables were (

Research paper thumbnail of Calculating Sunshine Hours and Reference Evapotranspiration in Arid Regions When Solar Radiation Data are Limited

Irrigation and Drainage, May 8, 2015

The Penman-Monteith equation is often recommended as the standard for both computing the referenc... more The Penman-Monteith equation is often recommended as the standard for both computing the reference evapotranspiration (ET 0) and evaluating other ET 0 equations. The main shortcoming of this equation is it requires weather data, e.g. solar radiation or sunshine hours (n), that are not always available. Since neither solar radiation nor n data are available in Libya, the main objective of the present study was to develop a reliable equation for estimating the sunshine hours (n e) to estimate monthly ET 0 in arid regions. In this study, three equations were developed for predicting n e based on mean monthly temperature, relative humidity and wind speed. The derived equations were used for calculating the monthly ET 0 based on the Penman-Monteith equation. The ET 0 estimates were compared with ET 0 calculated using observed n. The results indicate that the ET 0 calculated using n e matched well with the ET 0 calculated by n. The ET 0 calculated by the three equations were tested against ET 0 calculated by both the California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS) and Hargreaves-Samani equation. The ET 0 based on estimated sunshine was closest to ET 0 obtained from CIMIS compared to the Hargreaves-Samani equation. In conclusion, the equation to estimate sunshine hours should provide good estimates of the ET 0 for similar desert locations that lack sunshine hours or solar radiation data.

Research paper thumbnail of Harvesting water in a center pivot irrigation system: Evaluation of distribution uniformity with varying operating parameters

Journal of Engineering Thermophysics, Apr 1, 2015

The main objective of irrigation is to apply the optimum amount of water to the crop root zone th... more The main objective of irrigation is to apply the optimum amount of water to the crop root zone that is needed for its growth. Also, when irrigation systems are used to apply fertilizers and pesticides, the irrigation process becomes even more critical in terms of uniformity. Consequently, it is important for center pivot owners and operators to periodically check the uniformity of their systems in order to adjust all the operating parameters involved. To assess the real distribution uniformity of irrigated water, a study was conducted in southern Libya; this paper reports the results of water irrigation in a center pivot system with respect to the effects that the operating pressure (P), the spacing between sprinklers (S), and the height of sprinkler above the ground surface (H) show on the distribution uniformity. Several factors define the uniformity of water distribution; in this work the coefficient of uniformity CU, the low quarter distribution uniformity DU lq , and the coefficient of variation CV are considered. The highest values reached by the uniformity parameters with varying the operating conditions define the best operating practices under which the whole system works efficiently. The final results are given in terms of operating conditions able to save total costs in the studied area and in places characterized by similar geo-hydrological conditions.

Research paper thumbnail of Sprinkler irrigation uniformity: Impact on the crop yield and water use efficiency

Journal of Engineering Thermophysics, 2016

In this work, an assessment of the effect of distribution uniformity over water use efficiency is... more In this work, an assessment of the effect of distribution uniformity over water use efficiency is shown. The experimental study took place in Sebha region, southern Libya, characterized by arid climate and interested a barley field. The results of water irrigation in the sprinkler irrigation system with respect to the operating pressure (P) and raiser height of sprinkler (H) are reported with respect to distribution uniformity and water use efficiency. The main objective of irrigation is to apply the optimum amount of water to the crop root zone that is needed for its growth and maturation, and it is, hence, important for to check the uniformity of irrigation systems in order to adjust the operating parameters involved. To assess uniformity, the coefficient of uniformity (CU), the low quarter distribution uniformity (DU), and the coefficient of variation (CV) were considered, while the grain yield (GY), the crop height (CH) and the water use efficiency (WUE) weremeasured in order to find the best solution in terms of operating conditions. The highest values reached by the uniformity parameters with varying the operating conditions defined the best operating practices under which the irrigation system works efficiently: the results demonstrated that the maximum values for CU and DU, 91.37% and 0.85, respectively, were obtained at the highest P and H, and under the same conditions, also grain yield, plants height and WUE recorded the highest values: 5.50 t·ha−1, 63.49 cm and 0.75 kg·m−3, respectively. The results emerged in this work can be useful for similar arid regions like Sebha region, in order to solve the problems related to water scarcity and water use efficiency.

Research paper thumbnail of Integration of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Rosemarinus officinalis for controlling of potato bacterial wilt

Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control, Mar 13, 2023

Background Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is considered one of the most importan... more Background Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is considered one of the most important diseases that cause economic losses to many economic crops and spread in many regions around the world, especially in the subtropical tropics and some warm temperate regions of the world. In this study the aqueous plant extract of Rosemarinus officinalis and Pseudomonas fluorescens for their antagonistic activity against bacterial wilt in vitro, greenhouse and population of R, solanacearum in plants was study. Results Following intensive screening studies, aqueous plant extract of R. officinalis and P. fluorescens was selected to study their effectiveness against bacterial wilt of potato plants and their antimicrobial activity or induction of systemic resistance in plants. In greenhouse, all soil drenching treatments on potato plants significantly reduced disease incidence of potato bacterial wilt than infected control. R. officinalis, P. fluorescens mixture between plant extract and endophytic bacteria and streptomycin reduced profoundly the disease severity by 75.51, 65.0 77.9 and 81.00%, respectively, than the infected control (83.71%). The plant extract and microorganism significantly increased fresh and dry weight of potato plants (g) per plant compared to non-treated control plants. R. officinalis, P. fluorescens mixture between plant extract and endophytic bacterium and streptomycin increased fresh weight from 100.1 to 169.9 compared to infected control also increased dry weight from 68.4 in streptomycin to 170.4% in mixture of plant extract and endophytic bacterium. The populations of bacterial pathogen R. solanacearum were lowest in stem of potato plants treated with plant extracts than in inoculated control plants (50%). In general, the total phenols increased in both inoculated and non-inoculated potato plants. Conclusions Ralstonia officinalis and P. fluorescens showed a strong in vitro activity in relation growth limitation of R. solanacearum as well as limiting the development of bacterial wilt disease on potato plants under greenhouse conditions.

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of irrigation systems, amounts of irrigation water and mulching on corn yield, water use efficiency and net profit

Agricultural Water Management, Mar 1, 2013

Effect of irrigation systems, amounts of irrigation water and mulching on corn yield, water use e... more Effect of irrigation systems, amounts of irrigation water and mulching on corn yield, water use efficiency and net profit. Agric. Water Manage. (2012),

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of drip deficit irrigation and soil mulching on growth of common bean plant, water use efficiency and soil salinity

Scientia Horticulturae, Nov 1, 2017

The present investigation aimed at assessing the effect of two mulching materials (Rice straw mul... more The present investigation aimed at assessing the effect of two mulching materials (Rice straw mulch (RSM) and Farmyard manure mulch (FYM)), three irrigation treatments (I 100% = 100%, I 85% = 85% and I 70% = 70%) of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and four mulch layer thicknesses (MLT 0 , 3 , 6 and 9 cm) on common bean yield, its components, water use efficiency and soil salinity under drip irrigation. Results obtained showed that the maximum values of bean yield were obtained under FYM compared to RSM. The greatest values dry seed yield of bean were obtained with the no-deficit treatment (I 100%) while the lowest ones were observed in I 70% treatment. The average bean yield value of MLT 9 was increased by 9.67, 25.28 and 45.80% than those of MLT 6,3 and 0 , respectively. The lowest value of soil salinity was obtained under (I 100%), while the greatest one was obtained from (I 70%). The highest soil salinity value was observed under MLT 0 (no mulch) compared to another treatments. The average EC value for treatment MLT 0 was increased by12.80, 18.86 and 28.75% than those of MLT 3 , 6 and 9 , respectively. Under environmental conditions of the study area, the treatment (I 100% × FYM × MLT 9) proved to be the most suitable for producing high bean crop. Under limited irrigation water, application of (I 85% × FYM × MLT 9) treatment was found to be favorable to save 15% of the applied irrigation water with no reduction in bean crop.

Research paper thumbnail of Water Saving and Yield of Potatoes under Partial Root-Zone Drying Drip Irrigation Technique: Field and Modelling Study Using SALTMED Model in Saudi Arabia

Agronomy

This study aims to evaluate the Partial Root Zone Drying Irrigation System (PRD) as one of the mo... more This study aims to evaluate the Partial Root Zone Drying Irrigation System (PRD) as one of the modern technologies that provide irrigation water and increase the efficiency of its use on potato crop. The effect of applying the PRD conventional deficit irrigation (CDI) on the efficiency and water saving in potato crops using the drip surface (S) and subsurface (SS) irrigation methods were investigated. SALTMED model used to predict soil moisture and salinity distribution, soil nitrogen dynamics, and yield of potato crop using the different irrigation levels (150%, 100%, and 50% of Crop evapotranspiration (ETc)). The study showed that the water use efficiency (WUE) decreases with increasing levels of irrigation water, as it ranged between 2.96 and 8.38 kgm−3, 2.77 and 7.01 kgm−3 for surface irrigation PRD and CDI, respectively, when the amounts of irrigation water varied from 308 mm to 1174 mm, respectively. The study showed that the irrigation efficiencies were the highest when using...

Research paper thumbnail of Improving Performance of Glycine max (L.) by α-tocopherol under Deficit Irrigation in Dry Environments

International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 2017

Continuously, plants are exposed to a variety of abiotic and biotic stresses under natural condit... more Continuously, plants are exposed to a variety of abiotic and biotic stresses under natural conditions of dry environments, including Egypt. These stresses, including drought, generate more of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are potentially harmful to cell structures and components. To survive under

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of mulching on plant water status, soil salinity and yield of squash under summer-fall deficit irrigation in salt affected soil

Agricultural Water Management, 2016

Field studies were conducted for two consecutive seasons (summer and fall) under sub-temperate cl... more Field studies were conducted for two consecutive seasons (summer and fall) under sub-temperate climatic conditions at southwest of Cairo, Egypt (29 • 35 N 30 • 23 E) in saline soil (ECe 12.6 dS m −1) to investigate the effect of different mulches (without mulch, WM as a control, farmyard manure: FYM, rice straw: RSM and white polyethylene: PM) on soil salinity, plant water status, water-use efficiency (WUE), and yield of squash under three levels of irrigation (I 100 = 100%, I 85 = 85% and I 70 = 70% of crop evapotranspiration). Under full irrigation, seasonal water use by squash was 479 over 86 days in summer and 306 mm over 91 days in fall season, respectively. Plant water status (as evaluated by relative water content, canopy temperature), fruit quality yield and water use efficiency (WUE) were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected by season and both irrigation quantity and mulching materials. Photosynthesis efficiency, total soluble sugars (TSS), leaf area index, harvest index (HI), yield and WUE were not significantly affected by interaction between growth season and both irrigation and mulching treatments. All mulching materials effectively reduced salt accumulation in the root zone. Mulching treatments markedly increased WUE and yield in the order of FYM > RSM > PM > WM. Results showed that, under different mulches, the I 85% strategy studied here could be successfully applied during summer and fall seasons in commercial squash production allowing water savings of 15% without any detrimental effect on plant growth or yield.

Research paper thumbnail of Improving yield and water productivity of maize grown under deficit-irrigated in dry area conditions

Azarian journal of agriculture, Oct 8, 2016

Scarcity of water is the most severe constraint for development of maize in arid and semi-arid ar... more Scarcity of water is the most severe constraint for development of maize in arid and semi-arid areas. Based on the actual crop need, the irrigation management has to be improved so that the water supply to the crop can be reduced while still achieving high yield. Therefore, the current study has been organized to evaluate the effects of deficit sprinkler irrigation (DSI) and farmyard manure (FYM) on Grain yield (GY) and crop water productivity (CWP) of corn, a 2-year experiment was conducted in arid region of Libya. The DSI treatments were (I 100 = 100%, I 85 = 85% or I 70 = 70%) of the crop evapotranspiration. FYM treatments were (0, 10 ton ha −1) spread either on the soil surface, incorporated with surface or subsurface layer (FYM 10s , FYM 10m or FYM 10ss , respectively) and 20 ton ha −1 spread as before (FYM 20s , FYM 20m or FYM 20ss , respectively). Results indicated that the highest values of grain yield (GY) were obtained from I 100 treatment, while the lowest were observed in I 70. FYM 20ss enhanced GY than other FYM treatments in both seasons. The highest GY and CWP were recorded with I 100 and received FYM 20ss. It could be considered as a suitable under arid environmental conditions and similar regions, the treatment (I 100 × FYM 20ss) is the most suitable for producing high GY and CWP. Under limited irrigation water, application of (I 85 ×FYM 20ss) treatment was found to be favorable to save 15% of the applied irrigation water, at the time in which produced the same GY.

Research paper thumbnail of Salt Distribution and Potato Response to Irrigation Regimes under Varying Mulching Materials

Plants, 2020

Water scarcity and frequent drought spells are becoming critical challenges to sustainable agricu... more Water scarcity and frequent drought spells are becoming critical challenges to sustainable agricultural development, especially in arid and semiarid regions. Thus, this work aims to investigate the effect of deficit irrigation and varying mulching materials on soil moisture content, salt distribution, and potato yield. The experiment consisted of three irrigation regimes (I100%, I80%, and I60%) of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), designated as I100%, I80%, and I60% of ETc, and five mulching treatments viz. (i) without mulch (WM), (ii) poultry manure mulch (PMM), (iii) rice straw mulch (RSM), (iv) white plastic mulch (WPM), and (v) black plastic mulch (BPM), which were continued for two consecutive growing seasons. The results showed that soil salinity was affected by mulching and irrigation levels as the salt content increased from the initial soil salinity. Moreover, I60% recorded the highest salt accumulation in the soil profile for WM treatment compared to the rest of the irrigatio...

Research paper thumbnail of Common Bean Growth, Water Use Efficiency and Soil Salinity as Effect to Deficit Irrigation and Mulching Materials Under Drip Irrigation

Misr Journal of Agricultural Engineering, 2017

This study investigated the combined effects of deficit irrigation and mulches on beans yield, wa... more This study investigated the combined effects of deficit irrigation and mulches on beans yield, water use efficiency (WUE) and soil salinity under drip irrigation. The treatments of the study comprised different combinations of three irrigation treatments (I 100% =100%, I 85% =85% and I 70% = 70% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and three mulching materials (no mulch (NM), rice straw mulch (RSM) and farmyard manure mulch (FYM). The results obtained that the irrigation treatments and mulching materials on yield and WUE were significant. The greatest value of bean yield (941.5and 925.7kg fed-1) were obtained under (I 100%) in the first and second season, respectively, while the lowest ones (706.4 and 710.6kg fed-1) were obtained from (I 70%) in the first and second season, respectively. 39.6 and 11.1 % than NM and RSM in 2014 seasons, respectively increased the average GY of FYM treatment. The corresponding values in 2015 season were 39.6 and 9.3 % in the same order. The average of soil salinity value (I 70%) was increased by 28.26and 13.50% than those of I 100% and I 85% , respectively. 21.9 and 19.7 % than those of FYM and RSM treatments, respectively increased the average EC value of NM.

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluating the Effects of Drip Deficit Irrigation and Thickness of Rice Straw Mulch Layer on Beans Crop and Water Use Efficiency

Misr Journal of Agricultural Engineering, 2017

Two field experiments were conducted during the two growing seasons (2014 and 2015) to investigat... more Two field experiments were conducted during the two growing seasons (2014 and 2015) to investigate the combined effects of three irrigation treatments (I 100% =100%, I 85% =85% and I 70% = 70% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc)and four thicknesses of mulch layer (TML 0 , 3 , 6 and 9 cm) under drip irrigation system. The Results showed that the irrigation treatments and thickness of mulch layer on yield and WUE were significant. The greatest values of bean yield (902.4and 909.6 kg fed-1) were obtained under (I 100%) in the first and second seasons, respectively, while the lowest ones (698.1 and 692.5 kgfed-1) were obtained from treatment (I 70%) in the first and second seasons, respectively. The average bean yield value of TML 9 was increased by 11.5, 30.8 and 40.2 % than those of treatment TML 6, 3 and 0 , respectively, in the first season. Corresponding values for the second season were 12.3, 32.5 and 43.5 % The greatest values of WUE (0.74 and 0.73 kg m −3) were obtained under I 70% compared to I 100% , (0.67 kg m −3) in the two seasons, respectively. The interacting effects between treatment and treatment TML 9 i.e. (I 100 × TML 9) has proved, to be the most suitable for producing high bean crop. Under environmental condition of the studied area. Application of (I 85 ×TML 9) treatment was found to be favorable to save 15% of the applied irrigation water, with no decrease in bean crop yield.

Research paper thumbnail of Sprinkler irrigation uniformity and crop water productivity of barley in arid region

Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture, 2015

An investigation has been organized to study the effect of the sprinkler irrigation system design... more An investigation has been organized to study the effect of the sprinkler irrigation system design on irrigation uniformity and its impact on barley crop yield and crop water productivity (CWP). The spring irrigation operating pressures (P) were 200 kPa (P1), 250 kPa (P2) and 300 kPa (P3). The sprinkler riser heights were 100 cm (H1), 125 cm (H2) and 150 cm (H3) from the ground. The results demonstrated that the maximum values of coefficient of uniformity (CU) and distribution uniformity (DU) (91.37 % and 0.85, respectively) were obtained at P3H3, while the minimum values (78.21 % and 0.71, respectively) were obtained at P1H1.Under P3H3 treatment, the highest values of 5.50 t ha-1 and 63.49 cm of grain yield (GY) and barely plant height (PH), respectively were recorded. The highest CWP value (0.75 kg m-3) was obtained when the P3H3 treatment was applied, while the lowest yield (0.36 kg m-3) was recorded under P1H1 treatment. According to the results of this experiment, under Sebha environmental conditions and similar regions, it is recommended to operate the solid set sprinkler irrigation system at P3H3 to obtain the highest CU and DU and consequently the highest GY, PH and CWP.

Research paper thumbnail of Silicon supplementation enhances productivity, water use efficiency and salinity tolerance in maize

Frontiers in Plant Science

Drought and salinity stress severely inhibits the growth and productivity of crop plants by limit... more Drought and salinity stress severely inhibits the growth and productivity of crop plants by limiting their physiological processes. Silicon (Si) supplementation is considerd as one of the promising approaches to alleviate abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity. In the present study, a field experiment was conducted over two successive growth seasons (2019-20) to investigate the effect of foliar application of Si at two concentrations (1 and 2 kg Si ha-1) on the growth, yield and physiological parameters of three maize cultivars (ES81, ES83, and ES90) under three levels of irrigation salinity) [1000 (WS1), 2000 (WS2) and 3000 (WS3) mg L-1NaCl]. In this study, A trickle irrigation system was used. Si application significantly mitigated the harsh effects of salinity on growth and yield components of maize, which increased at all concentrations of Si. In irrigation with S3 salinity treatment, grain yield was decreased by 32.53%, however, this reduction was alleviated (36.19%) wit...