Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L) is an important vegetable crop in Iraq. This horticultural crop is attacked by several insect pest species. Among them, the white y Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and the tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) are the major threat of greenhouse tomatoes in Basrah province in south Iraq. The management of these pests is heavily based on application of chemical pesticides. Vast application of pesticides caused harmful damage to the environment, human health and may increasing the risk of pest resistance on insect populations. One of the promising strategies which are compatible with organic farming is application of silicon for enhancing plant vigor and resistance to pest damage on various agricultural crops. Due to these facts, the experiments have been carried out at Basrah University to evaluate the effects of silicon (Si) fertilization on tomato plants for reducing damage of these two major pests. Treatments comprised two type of Si applications (Soil drench treatment and foliar spraying) with four Si concentrations (0, 0.5, 1 and 2%) of AB Yellow ® silicic acid formulation. The population density of B. tabaci and T. absoluta were studied weekly during the growth season. The results clearly demonstrated that Silicon applications signi cantly decreased the population of immature of both white ies and tomato leaf miner on tomato crop in the greenhouse; Si-Foliar spraying was more effective in reducing the population density of these key pests compared to Si-soil drench application.

The experiment conducted during 2018-2019 to study effect of added 15 and 30 t.h-1 level of three kinds of decomposing organic fertilizers on some chemical properties for two varieties of tomato (Red flower F1 and Waad RZ) in field of agricultural experiments station college of Agriculture, University of Basrah. Results showed a significantly effect of hybrid (Red flower F1) compared with hybrid (Waad RZ) on leaves content of : Total chlorophyll, total N and total soluble carbohydrate, increased 10.6, 14.39 and 8.84% respectively. Results showed a significant effect of organic fertilizer especially 15 t.ha-1 poultry fertilizer on total chlorophyll and total N in leaves content with increase of 67.75 and 110.31% respectively, 30 t.ha-1 poultry fertilizer significantly increased of total P in leaves content increased 143.48%. Decomposing cattle fertilizer with 30 t.ha-1 significantly increased of total K in leaves content with increased 181.30% also corn residues fertilizer with 30 t.ha-1 significantly increased of total soluble carbohydrate with 109.89%. Interaction between experiment factors were significantly effect on total chlorophyll, K and soluble carbohydrate in leaves content. Study also revealed different influences of organic fertilizer as follow: The poultry fertilizer (15 t.ha-1) increased the total leaves content of chlorophyll and N with 67.75 and 110.31% respectively. While the poultry fertilizer (30 t.ha-1) significantly increased the total leaves content of P with 143.48%. The decomposed cattle fertilizer (30 t.ha-1) significantly increased the total leaves content of K with 181.30%. Whereas corn residues (30 t.ha-1) significantly raised the total leaves content of soluble carbohydrate with 109.89%.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L) is an important vegetable crop in Iraq. This horticultural crop is attacked by several insect pest species. Among them, the whitefly Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and the tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) are the major threat of greenhouse tomatoes in Basrah province in south Iraq. The management of these pests is heavily based on application of chemical pesticides. Vast application of pesticides caused harmful damage to the environment, human health and may increasing the risk of pest resistance on insect populations. One of the promising strategies which are compatible with organic farming is application of silicon for enhancing plant vigor and resistance to pest damage on various agricultural crops. Due to these facts, the experiments have been carried out at Basrah University to evaluate the effects of silicon (Si) fertilization on tomato plants for reducing damage of these two major pests. Treatments comprised two type of Si applications (Soil drench treatment and foliar spraying) with four Si concentrations (0, 0.5, 1 and 2%) of AB Yellow ® silicic acid formulation. The population density of B. tabaci and T. absoluta were studied weekly during the growth season. The results clearly demonstrated that Silicon applications significantly decreased the population of immature of both whiteflies and tomato leaf miner on tomato crop in the greenhouse; Si-Foliar spraying was more effective in reducing the population density of these key pests compared to Si- soil drench application.

A field experiment is conducted during the growing season of 2012 - 2013 on a sandy loam soil at Al-Berjsia researches station / Ministry of Agriculture , Basrah province , south of Iraq . The aim of study is to determine the effect of phosphate fertilizer starter solution  on the growth of Two Tomato( Lycopersicon Esculentum Mill ) varieties ( Hotuf and Speedy ) and P-uptake . Phosphate fertilizer as consternated super Phosphate (CSP)is applied at level 120 Kg P ha-1 . An equivalent of 0 , 0.05 , 0.10 and 0.20 % of Phosphor level are added as starter solution either at transplanting time or three days after transplanting . The remaining of Phosphorus level was applied to soil at two doses . Percentage of dead seedling , plant height , number of leaves plant-1 , number of branchesplant-1 , number of flower clusters plant-1 , shoot and root dry weight , P concentration in leaves and P-uptake by plant are investigated . The results showthat addition of CSP starter solution significantly decreases the percentage of dead seedling of compared with the control treatment. Plants received Phosphor starter solution show a higher growth parameters and P-uptake as compared with control treatment plants . Increasing the level of Phosphor starter solution from 0 to 0.20 % decreases percentage of dead seedling by 90.1 % and increased plant height by 19.23 % , number of leaves by 33 % , number of branches by 23.52 % , number of flower clusters by 69.24 % , shoot dry weight by 183.1 % , root dry weight by 175 % , P concentration by 60.8 % and P-uptake by 309.7% . Comparing between two tomato varieties ,results show thatSpeedy tomato varietyis more tolerant to transplanting and gives a higher growth and P-uptake ,the results show also tomato seedlings received starter solutions at three days after transplanting time appear more resistant to soil shuck of transplanting than those plants received starter solution at transplanting.

A field experiment is conducted during the growing season of 2012 -2013 on a sandy loam soil at Al-Berjsia researches station / Ministry of Agriculture , Basrah province , south of Iraq . The aim of study is to determine the effect of phosphate fertilizer starter solution on the growth of Two Tomato ( Lycopersicon Esculentum Mill ) varieties ( Hotuf and Speedy ) and P-uptake . Phosphate fertilizer as consternated super Phosphate (CSP) is applied at level 120 Kg P ha -1 . An equivalent of 0 , 0.05 , 0.10 and 0.20 % of Phosphor level are added as starter solution either at transplanting time or three days after transplanting . The remaining of Phosphorus level was applied to soil at two doses . Percentage of dead seedling , plant height , number of leaves plant -1 , number of branches plant -1 , number of flower clusters plant -1 , shoot and root dry weight , P concentration in leaves and P-uptake by plant are investigated . The results show that addition of CSP starter solution significantly decreases the percentage of dead seedling of compared with the control treatment . Plants received Phosphor starter solution show a higher growth parameters and Puptake as compared with control treatment plants . Increasing the level of Phosphor starter solution from 0 to 0.20 % decreases percentage of dead seedling by 90.1 % and increased plant height by 19.23 % , number of leaves by 33 % , number of branches by 23.52 % , number of flower clusters by 69.24 % , shoot dry weight by 183.1 % , root dry weight by 175 % , P concentration by 60.8 % and P-uptake by 309.7 % . Comparing between two tomato varieties ,results show that Speedy tomato variety is more tolerant to transplanting and gives a higher growth and P-uptake , the results show also tomato seedlings received starter solutions at three days after transplanting time appear more resistant to soil shuck of transplanting than those plants received starter solution at transplanting.