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Oystershell scale, Lepidosaphes ulmi (L.) (Homoptera: Diaspididae) is one of the most common scale insects that attacks olive trees in Egypt. Therefore, the population density fluctuation of L. ulmi and its parasitoids, and their relations to some weather factors were investigated on three olive varieties (Picual, Coratina and Chemlali) at Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Egypt, during 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 seasons. The results indicated that the pest population was concentrated during the period from April to September. The highest average of L. ulmi population was recorded on picual variety (7.81 and 8.96 insect/ 10 leaves) during 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons, respectively. While the lowest population average was recorded on coratina (4.72 and 5.01 insect/ 10 leaves) during 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons, respectively. During both seasons, there were significant differences in the average numbers of L. ulmi among the olive varieties, picual, coratina and chemlali. Theresults also showed that picual variety was more infested than other two varieties. Survey of L. ulmi parasitoids resulted in two species of parasitoids, Aphytis chrysomphali (Mercet) and Aphytis disppidis (Howared). The average percentage of parasitism was relatively high during, May, June, July and August on picual and chemlali varieties. While on coratina variety the average percentage of parasitism was relatively high during, April, May, September, December, and January during 2018-2019 season. Statistical analysis of the data indicates that, no significant differences among the percentage of the average annual parasitism on the three varieties (4.86 % on chemlali, 4.22 % on picual and 3.89 % on coratina variety). The effects of weather factors on the population of L. ulmi and its parasitoids and the effects of these parasitoids on the population of the pest were also studied. The results might be helpful in an IPM program to control the oystershell scale insect, L. ulmi and to settle the best time for pesticide application on olive varieties.

Oystershell scale, Lepidosaphes ulmi (L.) (Homoptera: Diaspididae) is one of the most common scale insects that attacks olive trees in Egypt. Therefore, the population density fluctuation of L. ulmi and its parasitoids, and their relations to some weather factors were investigated on three olive varieties (Picual, Coratina and Chemlali) at Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Egypt, during 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 seasons. The results indicated that the pest population was concentrated during the period from April to September. The highest average of L. ulmi population was recorded on picual variety (7.81 and 8.96 insect/ 10 leaves) during 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons, respectively. While the lowest population average was recorded on coratina (4.72 and 5.01 insect/ 10 leaves) during 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons, respectively. During both seasons, there were significant differences in the average numbers of L. ulmi among the olive varieties, picual, coratina and chemlali. Theresults also showed that picual variety was more infested than other two varieties. Survey of L. ulmi parasitoids resulted in two species of parasitoids, Aphytis chrysomphali (Mercet) and Aphytis disppidis (Howared). The average percentage of parasitism was relatively high during, May, June, July and August on picual and chemlali varieties. While on coratina variety the average percentage of parasitism was relatively high during, April, May, September, December, and January during 2018-2019 season. Statistical analysis of the data indicates that, no significant differences among the percentage of the average annual parasitism on the three varieties (4.86 % on chemlali, 4.22 % on picual and 3.89 % on coratina variety). The effects of weather factors on the population of L. ulmi and its parasitoids and the effects of these parasitoids on the population of the pest were also studied. The results might be helpful in an IPM program to control the oystershell scale insect, L. ulmi and to settle the best time for pesticide application on olive varieties.

This investigation was conducted to evaluate the productivity of certain number of sunflower genotypes under different treatments of Nanoparticles of Zinc Oxide (ZnO NPs). Seventeen sunflower lines (S6 generation) were evaluated under three level of ZnO. Results indicate that Line 7 surpassed all the other genotypes in achene yield / plant and 100 achenes weight and occupied the fifth place for oil content. The highest mean values for all studied traits were obtained when plants were sprayed by 15 nm ZnO NPs, also spraying Zinc led to the early push of plants to flowering compared to plants that were not sprayed by it. Otherwise, the lowest achene yield obtained from Line 2 without ZnO NPs spray. Maximum oil content obtained from Line 7 when sprayed by 15 nm ZnO NPs. On the other hand, the minimum oil content obtained from Line 17 without ZnO NPs spray.

This investigation was conducted to evaluate the productivity of certain number of sunflower genotypes under different treatments of Nanoparticles of Zinc Oxide (ZnO NPs). Seventeen sunflower lines (S6 generation) were evaluated under three level of ZnO. Results indicate that Line 7 surpassed all the other genotypes in achene yield / plant and 100 achenes weight and occupied the fifth place for oil content. The highest mean values for all studied traits were obtained when plants were sprayed by 15 nm ZnO NPs, also spraying Zinc led to the early push of plants to flowering compared to plants that were not sprayed by it. Otherwise, the lowest achene yield obtained from Line 2 without ZnO NPs spray. Maximum oil content obtained from Line 7 when sprayed by 15 nm ZnO NPs. On the other hand, the minimum oil content obtained from Line 17 without ZnO NPs spray.

This investigation was conducted to evaluate the productivity of certain number of sunflower genotypes under different treatments of Nanoparticles of Zinc Oxide (ZnO NPs). Seventeen sunflower lines (S6 generation) were evaluated under three level of ZnO. Results indicate that Line 7 surpassed all the other genotypes in achene yield / plant and 100 achenes weight and occupied the fifth place for oil content. The highest mean values for all studied traits were obtained when plants were sprayed by 15 nm ZnO NPs, also spraying Zinc led to the early push of plants to flowering compared to plants that were not sprayed by it. Otherwise, the lowest achene yield obtained from Line 2 without ZnO NPs spray. Maximum oil content obtained from Line 7 when sprayed by 15 nm ZnO NPs. On the other hand, the minimum oil content obtained from Line 17 without ZnO NPs spray.

INTERCROPPING cereal-legume (wheat + faba bean) is essential to enhance productivity per unit area, land use efficiency and decreasing the gap between production and consumption in Egypt. Furthermore, we are trying to find the best concentration of humic acid foliar application which could improve the production of wheat and faba bean. A field experiment was set with a combination of five crop sequences and intercropping systems (clover/wheat; wheat + faba bean; clover/wheat + faba bean; sole wheat; sole faba bean) in addition to, three foliar application treatments of humic acid at the rate of control (0.0), 2.0 and 4.0g/L. Results show that foliar application of humic acid and intercropping systems affected significantly all traits of wheat and faba bean except number of branches/plant and plant height in the first season for faba bean. The highest mean values of yield and its components of wheat were obtained when wheat was sown after clover under foliar application with 4g/L humic acid as compared with sole wheat with no foliar application in both seasons. The 2g/L humic acid and wheat + faba bean give higher land equivalent ratio and the lowest values of aggressivity. whereas the highest mean values of area time equivalent ratio and monetary advantage index were obtained from 4g/L humic acid foliar application with clover/wheat + faba bean in both seasons.

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Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) plant is a valuable medicinal crop in arid and semi-arid regions. The use of microbes as bio-fertilizers in enhancing crop production is more favorable than chemical fertilizers due to food safety. A pot experiment was conducted to explore the effect of Azotobacter chroococcum and Azospirillum brasiliense as a bio-fertilizer on the growth, yield, and quietly of roselle plants. Roselle seeds were mixed with the tested biofertilizer and cultivated on plastic pots filled with a sandy clay loam soil. The bio-fertilization significantly (p0.05) increased the growth, nutrients uptake, yield, and quality of roselle plants compared to the untreated plants. The inoculation of roselle plants with the bio-fertilizer increased the total chlorophyll, carotenoid, total anthocyanin (TAC), and total flavonel (TF) by 16.45, 26.10, 8.44, and 14.27%, respectively, above the control. The bio-fertilization increased the soil available nitrogen by 14.33% above the control, and increased the uptake of N, P, and K by 18.8, 17.81, and 12.75%. The biofertilization not only increased the quality of roselle plants but also increased the fresh and dry weights of sepals yield by 5.89 and 3.55%, respectively.

Adequate amount of essential plant nutrients and plant density are vital factors influencing the productivity of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). Field experiments were conducted in southern China to study the influence of different fertilizing levels and planting densities on the seed yield, chlorophyll content and some growth traits of winter oilseed rape. Five fertilizing levels and six planting densities were set in a randomized block design. The tested planting densities were D1, D2, D3, D4, D5 and D6 with 7.5 × 104 , 15 × 104 , 22.5 × 104 , 30 × 104 , 37.5 × 104 and 45 × 104 plants ha−1 , respectively. The tested fertilizing levels were F0 (control without fertilization), F1 (N = 60, P2O5 = 30, K2O = 52.5, S = 3.75, B =0.3 kg ha−1 ), F2 (N = 120, P2O5 = 60, K2O = 105, S = 7.50, B =0.60 kg ha−1 ), F3 (N = 180, P2O5 = 90, K2O = 157.5, S = 11.25, B =0.90 kg ha−1 ) and F4 (N = 240, P2O5 = 120, K2O = 210, S = 15, B =1.20 kg ha−1 ). The results showed that there were close relationships between the seed yield and fertilizing levels × planting densities. Below the fertilization level of F2, the seed yield increased as the planting density increased. Application of F3 caused a seed yield decline when the planting density surpassed 37.5 × 104 plants ha−1 . The tested fertilizing levels caused remarkable increases in the seed yield but the plant density had little effects. The highest seed yield (2487 kg ha−1 ) was recorded in F4D3 followed by F4D1 (2308 kg ha−1 ), F4D5 (2303 kg ha−1 ) and F3D6 (2302 kg ha−1 ); while the minimum yield was obtained from the unfertilized soil treatments. The current research paper highlighted the importance of balanced N, P, K, S and B application under the different plant densities in winter oilseed rape. The individual growth of plants compensated the low plant density, but increasing the fertilization rates caused remarkable increases in the oilseed rape, suggesting that optimum nutrients rates are a critical factor in seed yield production.