Five sunflower hybrids and one open‐pollinated variety were sown at two locations in West Germany and at two‐sowings at Giza, Egypt (summer and winter seasons). Cultivars showed different response concerning oil and protein contents as well as fatty acid composition. Highest protein content was observed from Giza in winter season. Cultivars differed significantly with this respect under different environments. However, oil content was not significantly affected by environments X cultivars interaction. Regarding fatty acid composition, palmitic and stearic acids were insignificantly affected. However, highest oleic acid percentage (57.5%) was observed at Giza in summer sowing by Nhy, hybrid, while at Giza in winter sowing the highest value (25.7%) was produced by Semu 209 hybrid. The differences between the two Germany locations were relatively low in range from 14.6–17.6%. Concerning linoleic acid, it showed an opposite trend. Environments X cultivars interaction showed significant influence on total tocopherol content.

A steady and progressive increase in rapeseed yield was observed with each increment in applied nitrogen rates up to 213 kg/ha in both seasons. As for nitrogen application times, the analyzed data showed that adding a split dose (either 1/2 or 1/3) before the third irrigation was a common part between high yielding treatments in 1985/86 season. Nitrogen rates X application times interaction affected rapeseed yield significantly during the first winter season. The highest seed yield of 2.5 t/ha was obtained by adding 213 kg N/ha in two split doses at sowing and just before the third irrigation. The second yield value of 2.47 t/ha was produced under the same N rate when applied in two split doses before second and third irrigation. However, in the second season (1986/87), rapeseed plants did not exhibit significant responses to nitrogen rates X application times interaction. Chemical analyses showed that rapeseed oil content and its fatty acids (Palmetic, Stearic, Oleic, Linoleic, Linolenic, Arachidic and Erucic) percentages were not significantly affected by either nitrogen rates or application times in both seasons. A very low content of Erucic acid (0.1–0.9 %) in all tested sample was noticed.

Variations of yield and quality characters of four spring oilseed rape cultivars (B. napus L.) arranged in 16 or 32 cm between drills and under three population densities (30, 60 and 90 plants/nr) were investigated in a split‐plot design with three replications in 1986 and 1987 in West Germany. Cultivar Callypso gave the highest seed and oil yields per plot and the highest seed index, harvest index and seed yield/main stem, per branches and per plant. Differences due to arrangements were significant in 1986 only, i.e., the value of a special plant distribution was more pronounced under unsuitable weather condition (as in 1986). With respect to the three population densities, most of the characters showed significantly higher values with 30 plants/nr. Only seed yield and oil yield per plot that showed 7.27% and 5.6% increase, respectively, under the highest population density (90 plants/nr) but the differences were insignificant. The highest oil content was obtained from cultivar Callypso and from the lowest population density. By contrast, higher protein content was obvious under higher population densities and the differences from the lowest density were significant in both years. Differences in fatty acid composition were not significant for the three main effects.

Two promising selected land races of safflower (Carthamns tinctorious L.) designated as line 11 and line 13, together with the local variety Giza 1, were examined under three levels of moisture depletions, i.e. 40, 60 and 80 % ASMD at Fayoum, Middle Egypt during 1986/87 and 1987/88 seasons. In both growing seasons, the second irrigation treatment i.e. 60 % ASMD gave the highest means for growth characters as well as seed yield and most of its components. Seed oil content per cent exhibited an increased as soil moisture depletion increased with no significant difference between entries. Safflower entries showed clear differences in some yield components which compensate each other and resulted in no significant difference in seed yield per hectar. Consumptive use of water by safflower plants increased as the available soil moisture around the root zone increased. No significant differences were found in water consumed by safflower entries used in all experiments. In the two experimental seasons, the best water use efficiency (WUE) for seed production was obtained also from the second treatment (60 % ASMD). The line 11 gave the best WUE.

Two field experiments were carried out during 1984 and 1985 seasons at the Farm of Shandaweel Agric. Res. Station, A. R. C, Ministry of Agric. (Egypt), to study the effect of five herbicides applied as a single or in tank mixtures as well as hoeing treatment on sesame plants and dominated annual weeds under Upper Egypt growing conditions. The herbicides alachlor at 2.304, pendimethalin at 2.040, linuron at 1.200, diuron at 0.960 and prometryn at 1.920 kg a.i./ha were applied preemergence as a single herbicides, as well as alachlor and pendimethalin combined with linuron, diuron or prometryn at the same rates. Two checks were included, one was left without weed removal, while the other was hand‐hoed. Pendimethalin at 2.040 applied alone or in mixtures with linuron at 1.200 or with diuron at 0.960 kg a.i./ha gave the best grass weed control, while excellent effectiveness against annual broad‐leaves was obtained by linuron at 1,200 and diuron at 0.960 kg a.i./ha alone or in mixtures with pendimethalin at 2.040 kg a.i./ha. Whereas, pendimithalin at 2.040 applied alone or in tank mixtures with linuron at 1.200 or with diuron at 0.960 kg a.i./ha gave the best control for total annual weeds and higher seed yield of sesame as well as other yield contributing characters.