Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most important perennial forage crops to build effective diets for livestock producers. Forage crop improvement depends largely on the availability of diverse germplasms and their efficient utilization. The present investigation was conducted at Ismailia Agricultural Research Station to assess twenty-one alfalfa genotypes for yield components, forage yield and quality traits during 2019/2020 and 2020/2021. The genotypes were evaluated in field experiments with three replicates and a randomized complete block design, using analysis of variance, estimate of genetic variability, estimate of broad sense heritability (hb2) and cluster analysis to identify the inter relationships among the studied genotypes as well as principal component analysis (PCA) to explain the majority of the total variation. Significant differences were found among genotypes for all studied traits. The general mean of the studied traits was higher in the second year than the first year. Moreover, the combined analysis showed highly significant differences between the two years, genotypes and the year × gen. interaction for the traits studied. The genotype F18 recorded the highest values for plant height, number of tiller/m2, total fresh yield and total dry yield, while, the genotype F49 ranked first for leaf/stem ratio. The results showed highly significant variation among the studied genotypes for crude protein %, crude fiber % and ash %. Data revealed that the genotypes P13 and P5 showed the highest values for crude protein %, whereas, the genotype F18 recorded the highest values for crude fiber % and ash content. The results revealed high estimates of genotypic coefficient and phenotypic coefficient of variation (GCV% and PCV%) with high hb2, indicating the presence of genetic variability and effective potential selection for these traits. The cluster analysis exhibited considerable genetic diversity among the genotypes, which classified the twenty one genotypes of alfalfa into five sub-clusters. The genotypes F18, F49, K75, S35, P20, P5 and P13 recorded the highest values for all studied traits compared with other clusters. Furthermore, the PC analysis grouped the studied genotypes into groups and remained scattered in all four quadrants based on all studied traits. Ultimately, superior genotypes were identified can be utilized for crop improvement in future breeding schemes.

T WO FIELD experiments were carried out at Giza Agricultural Research Station (30° 02' N latitude and 31° 13' E longitude, altitude 22.50m above sea level), Egypt, during 2017 and 2018 seasons to investigate the effect of three intercropping patterns of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) with teosinte (Zea mexicana Schrad) (1-On the other side of teosinte ridges, 1:1 and 2:2 in alternating ridges) and three seeding rates, (50%+50%, 75%+50% and 50% +75%) teosinte/cowpea of its pure stand on forage yield and its quality. A split plot design with three replicates was used. The results could be summarized as follows:-Intercropping pattern of 2:2 recorded the highest values for total fresh and dry forage yields whereas cowpea intercropped on the other side gave the lowest values in both seasons. Seeding rate of 75%+50% teosinte/cowpea recorded the highest values for total fresh and dry forage yields in both seasons. Intercropping pattern 2:2 with 75% teosinte+50% cowpea gave the highest value of totally fresh and dry yields. Whereas, planting cowpea on the other side with 50% seeding rates of both crops, gave the lowest values in both seasons.-Crude protein and digestible protein percentages, crude protein and digestible protein yields fed-1 were increased by different intercropping patterns. Seeding rates and the interaction between them compared with teosinte pure stand in both seasons, whereas fiber percentage behaved opposite trend in both season.-Land equivalent ratio (LER) and relative crowding coefficient recorded the highest values by the interaction between 2:2 ridges and 75% teosinte+50% cowpea seeding rates of its pure stands in both seasons. Teosinte was dominant crop in 6 out of 9 treatments in both seasons.-It could be concluded that 15kg teosinte+10kg cowpea and 2:2 intercropping pattern in alternate to obtain the highest mixture yield and quality.

A field experiment was carried out on sandy soil of the Agricultural Research Experimental Station, at Ismailia Governorate (latitude 30º 35ʹ 41.9ʺ N and longitude 32º 16ʹ 48.8ʺ E), Egypt, during two successive growing summer seasons; 2013 and 2014. The study aimed to investigate the effect of applying three levels of water supplied through sprinkler irrigation system representing; 100 %, 75 % and 50 % of water supply which corresponding to 2500, 1875 and 1250 m 3 fed-1 , on the forage yield productivity and quality of fodder cowpea. Such levels represented commonly practiced irrigation (control), moderate and severe water deficit stress for fodder cowpea, respectively. Also, to evaluate the role of four rates of potassium sulphate fertilization namely, 24, 36, 48 and 60 K2O kg fed-1 in alleviating the adverse effect of water deficit stress on cowpea plants under these conditions. Three cuts were taken throughout the growth season. The obtained results revealed that decreasing the levels of water from 100% to 75 or 50% level markedly reduced all traits under studied; plant height, leaves number per plant, leaves/stem ratio of cowpea, green and dry forage yield (kg fed-1), at the three cuts as well as the total yield of the three cuts. The reduction noticeably appeared more detrimental under 50% of water stress especially at the 3 rd cut. The results showed that the total green and dry forage yield of the three cuts of plants treated with 48 kg K2O fed-1 , under 50% irrigation level, reduced by 52.4 % and 57.0 %, respectively; compared with the yields obtained by plants received the recommended K rate (48 kg K2O fed-1) under commonly practiced irrigation. Increasing water deficit stress lowered carbohydrate %, crude proteins % and ash content (kg fed-1) in plants as well as K% in leaves. Also, it significantly decreased the contents of Fe, Zn and Mn in plants. Increasing the application rates of K up to 60 K2O kg fed-1 substantially elevated all the aforementioned studied traits under each level of irrigation and the reduction resulted due to water stress, under 75% and 50% levels could be suppressed. Application of the highest K rate (60 K2O kg fed-1) not only considerably heightened all the detected nutrients; carbohydrate % and proteins %, ash and micronutrients (Fe, Zn and Mn) uptake by plants as well as K% in leaves of cowpea, but also it remarkably enhanced the water use efficiency by plants grown under 75% irrigation than all applied K rates treatments under 100% irrigation. From the obtained results, it could be inferred that under moderate water stress 75% of the commonly practiced irrigation application of 60 K2O kg fed-1 could sustain cowpea plant to grow satisfactorily.

A field trial was conducted at Giza Agricultural Research Station, A.R.C., Egypt during 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 winter seasons, to study the response of Fahl Egyptian clover to foliar spray of 5 and 10 ml/L from potassium humate, fulvate as well as amino acids mixture on growth, productivity and chemical composition. Results indicated that foliar spray with 10 ml/L Khumate(10%K2o) increased significantly plant height, number of secondary branches/plant, number of heads/plant, dry leaf/stem ratio, number of seeds/head, 1000 seed weight, fresh and dry fodder yields as well as seed yield, followed by foliar spray with 10 ml/L amino acids mixture. Insignificant differences was observed between such two treatments with respect to fresh, dry and seed yields/fad. The lowest values of such traits were obtained from foliar spray with 5 ml/L K-fulvate compared to treated plants with K-humate and amino acids mixture. The maximum values of crude protein, oil (ether extract, E.E.), N, P and K% were obtained from treated plants by 10 ml/L K-humate followed by 10 ml/L amino acids mixture compared to control. The maximum value of crude fiber % was obtained from spraying plants by water (control), while the lowest value was obtained when plants sprayed with 10 ml/L K-humate.

A field experiment was carried out at El-Serw Station Damietta Governorate Agric. Res. Center during two summer seasons of 2014 and 2015. The present investigation aimed to increase fodder productivity of sudangrass (sorghum bicolor (L.)var. sudanense( piper cv.)under such saline soil and investigate the possibility of partial replacement of Nfertilizer by the application some soil amendments. The amendment gypsum was added at 4 ton fed -1 or without and three N-fertilizer levels (30, 60, and 90 kg fed -1 ) under two bio-fertilization treatments (inoculation and uninoculation). The obtained results were summarized as follows: 1-Application gypsum to salt affected soils promotes the use efficiency of N-fertilizer which was reflected to plant height, fresh and dry yield and gave the better nutritive content as compared to without gypsum. In this concern, the application of 4 ton gypsum fed -1 gypsum and 90 kg N fed -1 with inoculation gave the highest increments of yield quantity and quality parameters under study. 2-Gypsum decreased soil pH and EC, both soluble and exchangeable sodium. However, increased soluble and exchangeable calcium. 3-Application of N fertilizer at 60 kg fed . -1 with bio-fertilizer gave no significant results with those obtained when plants were fertilized by the high level of 90 kg N fed . -1 alone without biofertilizer. 4-Inoculation with nitrobein was resulted significant increases in plant height, fresh and dry yield, and crude protein content compared to untreated. The results could be concluded that the application of 4 ton gypsum fed -1 and 60 kg N fed -1 with nitrobein inoculation was the best treatment to sudangrass under the condition of salt affected soils for increasing fodder productivity and quality as well as improving soil characters.