Background: Assessment of the oil % in a representative sample of Salicornia bigelovii seeds with different extraction methods using some of the organic solvents to reach the best economic one and determination of the effect of S. bigelovii cultivation under different conditions of irrigation and fertilization on the percentage, composition, and nutrition value of oil were done. From the International Training Centre-Mariut, Alexandria, we obtained representative samples of Salicornia bigelovii seeds which are collected from the sea coast and 17 samples of S. bigelovii seeds which are subjected to different treatments of irrigation and fertilization. The oil % in a blank sample (B) was determined using different solvents (hexane, hexane-isopropanol, and ethanol) with variant methods (shaker, conventional, and ultrasonic). Oil % in 17 samples was evaluated by the ultrasonic probe technique using ethanol. The oil composition was determined in all samples by GC analysis. The phenolic and flavonoid contents in the residue were determined with the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and colorimetric method, respectively. Results: The ethanol has higher extraction efficiency and the ultrasonic probe recovered higher oil % in the blank sample. Seventeen samples of S. bigelovii cultivated under different combined treatments of fertilization and irrigation recorded oil % less than the blank sample. The fatty acids profile cleared that the oil of cultivated samples (17 samples) had power for biodiesel production with high ignition properties and good stability due to the high cetane number and a high percentage of palmitic acid. The nutrition value of the blank sample is higher than that of the other 17 samples. The polyunsaturated fatty acids in the blank sample represent > 63% of the total fatty acids. Conclusion: The different combined treatments of fertilization and irrigation of S. bigelovii changed the fatty acid profiles of all samples, palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids were recognized as the most abundant saturated fatty acids. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents differed in the sample to another one but less than their contents in the blank sample.

Salinity is one of the limiting factors in agricultural production of all crops in the world specifically in cereals crops. There are different ways to decrease the effect of salinity on growth and production of all plants. One of these ways is using salicylic acid which is plant growth regulator; it is able to increase the salt tolerance in crops. The aim of this work was to study salicylic acid effects on alleviation salinity stress and enhance plant growth parameters, physical characteristics, biochemical constituents, element contents, and production of two wheat varieties grown under salinity stress conditions in the North West area of Egypt. The experiment was designed in split plot with using four replicates. The two wheat varieties; Giza 168 a salt sensitive variety and Sakha 93 a salt tolerant variety were used with salicylic acid (SA) foliar application treatments: control, SA100 (100 mg salicylic acid/ L), SA200 (200 mg salicylic acid/ L) and SA400 (400 mg salicylic acid/ L) were applied during tillering and booting initiation stages. Results cleared that salicylic acid foliar application decreased the damage effects of salinity stress in both wheat cultivars especially, in Giza168 which was more sensitive to salinity by increasing growth and production of antioxidant such as ascorbic acid and protect both protein and chlorophyll from breakdown by free radicals. Foliar application of salicylic acid increased grain and straw yield of studied wheat cultivars and also increased potassium content and decreased Na: K ratio in straw. Overall, it can be suggested that foliar application of Salicylic acid is effective strategy to improve wheat productivity under salinity stress especially, for salt sensitive cultivars.

No abstract

Fertilizers use can be optimized through soil testing and leaf analysis. This paper deals with using soil analysis as a base for fertilizer use in maize. A field experiment was carried out in two summer seasons of 2013 and 2014 with maize (triple hybrid) in Oraby Village, Mariut sector, Alexandria, Egypt. Soil testing shows that soil was clay loam, with high Na and CaCO 3 contents with high pH, low organic matter, medium P and K and low micronutrient contents (Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu), seven treatments were designed. The most promising treatment was when P and K were increased and micronutrients were added based on soil testing. This treatment resulted in the highest yield with better grain contents of protein and nutrients which indicated that soil-test based on fertilizer use was superior. Soil analysis at the end of the experiment showed higher P and K contents. This approach could be adopted for regions with similar soil conditions in other parts of the world.

No abstract