The present experiment was carried out to define the efficiency of foliar applications (3 times) with chelated magnesium (0, 200, 400 and 600 ppm) and iron (0, 150, 300 and 450 ppm) for improving growth, productivity and anthocyanins content in calyces of roselle. Results showed that calyces production and their contents of anthocyanins were significantly increased with increasing either Mg or Fe concentration. The combination of Mg at 600 ppm and Fe at 450 was the most effective combined treatment in stimulating number of leaves and flowers, flower weight per plant, calyces dry weight per plant, seed dry weight per plant, weight of 1000 seeds and calyces content of anthocyanins. However, calyx fresh weight attained the highest values when the medium concentration of Mg (400 ppm) combined with Fe at the highest concentration (450 ppm) was employed.

The current experiment was conducted to study the response of Ficus elastica var. decora air-layers to seven treatments of IBA (control, 50 and 100 ppm in rooting substrate, 1500 and 3000 ppm by painting girdled zone, and 1500 and 3000 ppm in talc paste) in the presence of root promoting microorganisms including Bacillus subtilis and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The obtained results indicated that 3000 ppm IBA applied by painting girdled zone gave a significant increase in rooting percentage and the best root and growth characteristics (number of days for root appearance, number, length, fresh and dry weights of roots per rooted air-layer, survival percentage, plant height and number of leaves and shoots) as well as total content of carbohydrates and phenolics, and showed the shortest period required for root appearance in comparison with the other treatments. Air-layers treated with B. subtilis were superior to those treated with AMF. The best results concerning rooting percentage, root characteristics, total contents of carbohydrates and phenolics, survival percentage, increment in growth of air-layers after six months from detachment were observed in airlayers treated with 3000 ppm IBA by painting girdled zone in combination with B. subtilis followed by the same IBA treatment combined with AMF.

The current experiment was conducted to study the response of Ficus elastica var. decora air-layers to seven treatments of IBA (control, 50 and 100 ppm in rooting substrate, 1500 and 3000 ppm by painting girdled zone, and 1500 and 3000 ppm in talc paste) in the presence of root promoting microorganisms including Bacillus subtilis and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The obtained results indicated that 3000 ppm IBA applied by painting girdled zone gave a significant increase in rooting percentage and the best root and growth characteristics (number of days for root appearance, number, length, fresh and dry weights of roots per rooted air-layer, survival percentage, plant height and number of leaves and shoots) as well as total content of carbohydrates and phenolics, and showed the shortest period required for root appearance in comparison with the other treatments. Air-layers treated with B. subtilis were superior to those treated with AMF. The best results concerning rooting percentage, root characteristics, total contents of carbohydrates and phenolics, survival percentage, increment in growth of air-layers after six months from detachment were observed in airlayers treated with 3000 ppm IBA by painting girdled zone in combination with B. subtilis followed by the same IBA treatment combined with AMF.

The current experiment was conducted to study the response of Ficus elastica var. decora air-layers to seven treatments of IBA (control, 50 and 100 ppm in rooting substrate, 1500 and 3000 ppm by painting girdled zone, and 1500 and 3000 ppm in talc paste) in the presence of root promoting microorganisms including Bacillus subtilis and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The obtained results indicated that 3000 ppm IBA applied by painting girdled zone gave a significant increase in rooting percentage and the best root and growth characteristics (number of days for root appearance, number, length, fresh and dry weights of roots per rooted air-layer, survival percentage, plant height and number of leaves and shoots) as well as total content of carbohydrates and phenolics, and showed the shortest period required for root appearance in comparison with the other treatments. Air-layers treated with B. subtilis were superior to those treated with AMF. The best results concerning rooting percentage, root characteristics, total contents of carbohydrates and phenolics, survival percentage, increment in growth of air-layers after six months from detachment were observed in airlayers treated with 3000 ppm IBA by painting girdled zone in combination with B. subtilis followed by the same IBA treatment combined with AMF.

This study was conducted to define the best auxin application method with or without the inoculation with beneficial microorganism (Bacillus subtilis and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi “AMF”) to improve rooting characteristics of F. benjamina air-layers. The treatments were arranged in a split-plot design. Seven combined treatments of auxin concentrations and application methods (control, 50 and 100 ppm IBA in rooting substrate, 1500 and 3000 ppm IBA by painting girdled zone, 1500 and 3000 ppm IBA in talc paste) were assigned to the main plots. The sub-plots comprehended the application of B. subtilis and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in addition to the control. Data recorded on air-layers performance exhibited significant variation among different application methods and concentrations of IBA compared with the control with clear superiority of applying IBA at 3000 ppm by painting girdled zone in enhancing rooting%, number, length, fresh and dry weights of roots per rooted air-layer, as well as total contents of both carbohydrates and phenolics, and showed the shortest period required for root appearance. Similar trend was noticed regarding survival percentage, increment in plant height and number of leaves and shoots after detaching air-layers from mother plants. All root and growth characteristics showed significant increment when air-layers were treated with B. subtilis or AMF compared to the control with clear superiority of B. subtilis. The combined treatment of IBA at 3000 ppm by painting girdled zone and B. subtilis recorded the highest rooting (100%) and survival percentages (100%) and the best root and growth characteristics. This treatment could be recommended for propagation of Ficus benjamina by air layering.

This study was conducted to define the best auxin application method with or without the inoculation with beneficial microorganism (Bacillus subtilis and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi “AMF”) to improve rooting characteristics of F. benjamina air-layers. The treatments were arranged in a split-plot design. Seven combined treatments of auxin concentrations and application methods (control, 50 and 100 ppm IBA in rooting substrate, 1500 and 3000 ppm IBA by painting girdled zone, 1500 and 3000 ppm IBA in talc paste) were assigned to the main plots. The sub-plots comprehended the application of B. subtilis and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in addition to the control. Data recorded on air-layers performance exhibited significant variation among different application methods and concentrations of IBA compared with the control with clear superiority of applying IBA at 3000 ppm by painting girdled zone in enhancing rooting%, number, length, fresh and dry weights of roots per rooted air-layer, as well as total contents of both carbohydrates and phenolics, and showed the shortest period required for root appearance. Similar trend was noticed regarding survival percentage, increment in plant height and number of leaves and shoots after detaching air-layers from mother plants. All root and growth characteristics showed significant increment when air-layers were treated with B. subtilis or AMF compared to the control with clear superiority of B. subtilis. The combined treatment of IBA at 3000 ppm by painting girdled zone and B. subtilis recorded the highest rooting (100%) and survival percentages (100%) and the best root and growth characteristics. This treatment could be recommended for propagation of Ficus benjamina by air layering.

This study was conducted to define the best auxin application method with or without the inoculation with beneficial microorganism (Bacillus subtilis and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi “AMF”) to improve rooting characteristics of F. benjamina air-layers. The treatments were arranged in a split-plot design. Seven combined treatments of auxin concentrations and application methods (control, 50 and 100 ppm IBA in rooting substrate, 1500 and 3000 ppm IBA by painting girdled zone, 1500 and 3000 ppm IBA in talc paste) were assigned to the main plots. The sub-plots comprehended the application of B. subtilis and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in addition to the control. Data recorded on air-layers performance exhibited significant variation among different application methods and concentrations of IBA compared with the control with clear superiority of applying IBA at 3000 ppm by painting girdled zone in enhancing rooting%, number, length, fresh and dry weights of roots per rooted air-layer, as well as total contents of both carbohydrates and phenolics, and showed the shortest period required for root appearance. Similar trend was noticed regarding survival percentage, increment in plant height and number of leaves and shoots after detaching air-layers from mother plants. All root and growth characteristics showed significant increment when air-layers were treated with B. subtilis or AMF compared to the control with clear superiority of B. subtilis. The combined treatment of IBA at 3000 ppm by painting girdled zone and B. subtilis recorded the highest rooting (100%) and survival percentages (100%) and the best root and growth characteristics. This treatment could be recommended for propagation of Ficus benjamina by air layering.

In order to study the effect of foliar spray by antioxidant (salicylic and ascorbic acids) and intercropping patterns on the production of both maize and soybean. Two field experiments were conducted at Agronomy Department Farm, Agriculture Faculty, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt during 2016 and 2017 seasons. Two factors were studied, the first one was foliar application of Antioxidant compounds (control, ascorbic acid at 200 ppm, salicylic acid at 200 ppm and ascorbic acid + salicylic acid at 200 ppm). Four intercropping patterns were used (maize-soybean 2:2, maize-soybean 2:1, sole maize and sole soybean) as a second factor. The obtained results showed that: The results indicated that foliar spraying with antioxidant and intercropping patterns enhanced significantly all traits in this study except plant height of maize in both seasons. Thus, the highest values of measured traits where observed from plants which sprayed with salicylic acid at rate of 200 ppm of the two crops in the two successful seasons. Maximum yield and its attributes of maize were produced from the sole maize sown followed by the intercropping pattern of 2:1 of maize and soybean in both seasons. In addition, maximum soybean yield and its related traits were produced from the sole sown followed by the intercropping pattern 2:2 of maize and soybean in both seasons. It could be concluded that intercropping pattern 2:2 of maize and soybean with foliar spraying salicylic acid at rate of 200 ppm recorded the maximum of land equivalent ratio (LER) and monetary advantage index (MAI) of the unit area under Assiut Government condition.

A field experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Department Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University during 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 seasons to study the effect of preceding crop, rates and splitting of nitrogen fertilizer on bread wheat production and nitrogen use efficiency. The experiment was carried out in randomization complete block design (RCBD) using split-split plot arrangement with three replications. Cropping system (corn-clover-wheat and corn-fallow-wheat) were assigned in main-plots while nitrogen fertilizer rates (56.25, 75.00 and 93.75 kg N/fed) were allotted in sub-plots and splitting doses of nitrogen (two, three and four equal doses) were allocated in sub-sub plots. The obtained data showed that plant height, spike length, number of spikes/m2, number of grains/spike, weight of grains/spike, seed index, grain yield, straw yield and nitrogen use efficiency were significantly affected by cropping sequence in favor of planting wheat after clover (fahl berseem) in the two growing seasons except nitrogen use efficiency in the first season. Increasing nitrogen fertilizer rates resulted in significant increase in all previous traits except nitrogen use efficiency trait which was decreased by increasing nitrogen fertilizer rates in both seasons. Moreover, splitting nitrogen rates into four equal doses significantly increased all studied traits as compared to three or two equal splits in the two growing seasons. Also, all interactions had a significant effect on all studied traits in both seasons. The highest mean values of grain yield (27.47 and 28.22 ard/fed in the first and second seasons, respectively) were obtained from the sequence of corn-clover-wheat when received highest nitrogen rate (93.75 kg N/fed) which was applied at four equal doses.

A field experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Department Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University during 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 seasons to study the effect of preceding crop, rates and splitting of nitrogen fertilizer on bread wheat production and nitrogen use efficiency. The experiment was carried out in randomization complete block design (RCBD) using split-split plot arrangement with three replications. Cropping system (corn-clover-wheat and corn-fallow-wheat) were assigned in main-plots while nitrogen fertilizer rates (56.25, 75.00 and 93.75 kg N/fed) were allotted in sub-plots and splitting doses of nitrogen (two, three and four equal doses) were allocated in sub-sub plots. The obtained data showed that plant height, spike length, number of spikes/m2, number of grains/spike, weight of grains/spike, seed index, grain yield, straw yield and nitrogen use efficiency were significantly affected by cropping sequence in favor of planting wheat after clover (fahl berseem) in the two growing seasons except nitrogen use efficiency in the first season. Increasing nitrogen fertilizer rates resulted in significant increase in all previous traits except nitrogen use efficiency trait which was decreased by increasing nitrogen fertilizer rates in both seasons. Moreover, splitting nitrogen rates into four equal doses significantly increased all studied traits as compared to three or two equal splits in the two growing seasons. Also, all interactions had a significant effect on all studied traits in both seasons. The highest mean values of grain yield (27.47 and 28.22 ard/fed in the first and second seasons, respectively) were obtained from the sequence of corn-clover-wheat when received highest nitrogen rate (93.75 kg N/fed) which was applied at four equal doses.