The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of some pesticides (Methomyl, Deltamethrin and Chlorpyrifos), zeolite, silica gel and ferric oxide on the immobilization of some heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Cr and Pb) in sewage sludge. The results indicated that the application of 3 g of Deltamethrin 100g-1 sludge decreased the DTPA- extractable content of Cd, Ni, Cr and Pb by 25, 21, 46 and 16%, respectively. Adding 1.5 ml Chlorpyrifos/100 g sludge caused significant increase in extractable Cd, Ni and Pb by 39, 38 and 16%, respectively, compared with the control treatment. Application of 15% (w w-1) zeolite to the sludge resulted in the maximum decrease in both extractable Cd (from 0.90 ppm in the control to 0.33 ppm) and Pb (from 26.7 ppm in the control treatment to13.4 ppm). Application of 25% silica gel decreased DTPA extractable Cr by 74%. Application of a mixture of silica gel with zeolite or with ferric oxide completely retained all the extractable Ni.

The enhancement of sewage sludge to decrease its toxic effects on living organisms due to the high content of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb) was studied using some organic and inorganic materials. Four materials (Silica gel, Cement Bypass, Rock phosphate and Charcoal activated carbon) were mixed with the sewage sludge in three rates (5, 15 and 25%) and the mixture of each two materials at a rate of 15% of each. Results indicated that DTPA extractable Cd, Ni and Pb decreased from 0.895, 12.097 and 26.02 ppm in the control to 0.376, 3.13 and 9.06 ppm, respectively (58, 74 and 65% reduction , respectively, compared with the control) with 25% of rock phosphate (RP). The lowest extracted Cr was obtained by the application of 25% silica gel with a reduction of 67% compared with the control. The maximum reduction in extracted Cd, Cr and Pb were resulted by the mixture of charcoal+ silica gel (0.33 ppm Cd), rock phosphate+ Silica gel and cement By-pass+Silica gel (0.04 ppm Cr) and rock phosphate+cement By-pass (9.98 ppm Pb), respectively. While, the mixture of silica gel with any other amendment under discussion always resulted in 100% reduction of extracted Ni.

Two greenhouse pot experiments (clayey and sandy soil) were conducted in order to evaluate the effects of solarization (covering the soil with transparent plastic sheets), inoculation with sulfur oxidizing bacteria SOB (isolated thiobacillus), addition of filter mud cake (one of the sugar industry wastes, Nagaa Hammady Sugar Factory) as a source of organic matter and elemental sulfur (granule or micronize) on some sand and clay soil properties. In both soils, the temperature of solarized soil was always higher than the nonsolarized one with an average of 6oC at 8:00 AM and 14oC at 4:00 PM which resulted in a reduction in OM percentage. Both FMC and S addition had great effects on increasing soil EC compared to the increase that resulted from either solarization or SOB inoculation. The effect of elemental sulfur addition on decreasing soil pH was higher than the other treatments in clay soil, while FMC addition was the most effective treatment in sandy soil. The highest increase in available S was always found when soils were treated with elemental sulfur. Each of the treatments increased the available P in both soils, however the most effective treatment was FMC addition. Soluble Ca+2+Mg+2 and K+ were always increase due to each of the treatments. The highest increase in soluble Na+ was due to increasing soil temperature by solarization compared to the other treatments.

Two greenhouse pot experiments (clayey and sandy soil) were conducted in order to evaluate the effects of solarization (covering the soil with transparent plastic sheets), inoculation with sulfur oxidizing bacteria SOB (isolated thiobacillus), addition of filter mud cake (one of the sugar industry wastes, Nagaa Hammady Sugar Factory) as a source of organic matter and elemental sulfur (granule or micronize) on some sand and clay soil properties. In both soils, the temperature of solarized soil was always higher than the nonsolarized one with an average of 6oC at 8:00 AM and 14oC at 4:00 PM which resulted in a reduction in OM percentage. Both FMC and S addition had great effects on increasing soil EC compared to the increase that resulted from either solarization or SOB inoculation. The effect of elemental sulfur addition on decreasing soil pH was higher than the other treatments in clay soil, while FMC addition was the most effective treatment in sandy soil. The highest increase in available S was always found when soils were treated with elemental sulfur. Each of the treatments increased the available P in both soils, however the most effective treatment was FMC addition. Soluble Ca+2+Mg+2 and K+ were always increase due to each of the treatments. The highest increase in soluble Na+ was due to increasing soil temperature by solarization compared to the other treatments.

Two greenhouse pot experiments (clayey and sandy soil) were conducted in order to evaluate the effects of solarization (covering the soil with transparent plastic sheets), inoculation with sulfur oxidizing bacteria SOB (isolated thiobacillus), addition of filter mud cake (one of the sugar industry wastes, Nagaa Hammady Sugar Factory) as a source of organic matter and elemental sulfur (granule or micronize) on some sand and clay soil properties. In both soils, the temperature of solarized soil was always higher than the nonsolarized one with an average of 6oC at 8:00 AM and 14oC at 4:00 PM which resulted in a reduction in OM percentage. Both FMC and S addition had great effects on increasing soil EC compared to the increase that resulted from either solarization or SOB inoculation. The effect of elemental sulfur addition on decreasing soil pH was higher than the other treatments in clay soil, while FMC addition was the most effective treatment in sandy soil. The highest increase in available S was always found when soils were treated with elemental sulfur. Each of the treatments increased the available P in both soils, however the most effective treatment was FMC addition. Soluble Ca+2+Mg+2 and K+ were always increase due to each of the treatments. The highest increase in soluble Na+ was due to increasing soil temperature by solarization compared to the other treatments.

Boron deficiency is expected to occur on Cotton plants (Gossypium hirsutum L.) grown on clay soil received high rate of P fertilizer and amended with crop residues (CR). This work aims to explore the response of cotton plants grown on such soil to B side- dressing. Two rates of B (0 and 2 kg B fed-1 as boric acid), four rates of P fertilizer (0, 100, 300 and 500 kg superphosphate fed-1) and two levels of CR were tested in an experiment carried out at the Experimental Farm of Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. Heavy application of superphosphate (500 kg SP fed-1) resulted in increasing hot water extractable B from 1.88 to 2.05 and from 2.68 to 3.01 ppm in soil samples collected at peak bloom of two growth seasons. Incorporation of CR into the soil significantly increased hot water extractable B to as high as 32.4, 26.3 and 43.6% more than the untreated soil samples while it significantly decreased B content in cotton leaves by 17.1, 20.9 and 12.2% in samples collected at peak bloom of the 1st season, peak bloom and 50% open boll of the 2nd season, respectively. With the application of 2 kg B fed-1, there were 38.1 and 57.7% increases in B contents of leaves sampled at peak bloom and 50% open boll growth stages, respectively, over control.

Boron deficiency is expected to occur on Cotton plants (Gossypium hirsutum L.) grown on clay soil received high rate of P fertilizer and amended with crop residues (CR). This work aims to explore the response of cotton plants grown on such soil to B side- dressing. Two rates of B (0 and 2 kg B fed-1 as boric acid), four rates of P fertilizer (0, 100, 300 and 500 kg superphosphate fed-1) and two levels of CR were tested in an experiment carried out at the Experimental Farm of Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. Heavy application of superphosphate (500 kg SP fed-1) resulted in increasing hot water extractable B from 1.88 to 2.05 and from 2.68 to 3.01 ppm in soil samples collected at peak bloom of two growth seasons. Incorporation of CR into the soil significantly increased hot water extractable B to as high as 32.4, 26.3 and 43.6% more than the untreated soil samples while it significantly decreased B content in cotton leaves by 17.1, 20.9 and 12.2% in samples collected at peak bloom of the 1st season, peak bloom and 50% open boll of the 2nd season, respectively. With the application of 2 kg B fed-1, there were 38.1 and 57.7% increases in B contents of leaves sampled at peak bloom and 50% open boll growth stages, respectively, over control.

Boron deficiency is expected to occur on Cotton plants (Gossypium hirsutum L.) grown on clay soil received high rate of P fertilizer and amended with crop residues (CR). This work aims to explore the response of cotton plants grown on such soil to B side- dressing. Two rates of B (0 and 2 kg B fed-1 as boric acid), four rates of P fertilizer (0, 100, 300 and 500 kg superphosphate fed-1) and two levels of CR were tested in an experiment carried out at the Experimental Farm of Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. Heavy application of superphosphate (500 kg SP fed-1) resulted in increasing hot water extractable B from 1.88 to 2.05 and from 2.68 to 3.01 ppm in soil samples collected at peak bloom of two growth seasons. Incorporation of CR into the soil significantly increased hot water extractable B to as high as 32.4, 26.3 and 43.6% more than the untreated soil samples while it significantly decreased B content in cotton leaves by 17.1, 20.9 and 12.2% in samples collected at peak bloom of the 1st season, peak bloom and 50% open boll of the 2nd season, respectively. With the application of 2 kg B fed-1, there were 38.1 and 57.7% increases in B contents of leaves sampled at peak bloom and 50% open boll growth stages, respectively, over control.

Pot experiments were performed in the North Carolina State University greenhouse using Phosphogypsum/clay tailing from the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (PCS) phosphate mine site which contained about 2:1 Zn:Cd ratio. In the first season, lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa var. Parris Island) were grown on the PCS soil with increased Zn content (2:1, 5:1, 25:1, 50:1, 75:1, 100:1, 125:1, 150:1 and 200:1 Zn:Cd ratio) and with four levels of rock phosphate (0.5%, 1%, 2.5% and 5%). The residual effect of these treatments were determined by growing swiss chard plants (Beta vulgaris var. Lucullus) on the same treated soils. Five Zn:Cd ratios (2:1, 25:1, 100:1, 150:1 and 200:1) were used with the application of 1or 3% of composted leaves to determine the effect of organic material along with Zn applications on swiss chard uptake of Cd. The obtained results indicated that Cd concentration in lettuce plants was significantly and gradually decreased from 69.95 ppm to 29.64 ppm in the plants grown on the original PCS soil and the soil treated with 50:1 Zn:Cd ratios, respectively. Whereas the decrease of Cd concentrations in swiss chard plants was from 40.41 ppm to 32.11 ppm in plants grown on the original PCS soil and the soil with 25:1 Zn:Cd ratio, respectively. Compared with the original PCS soil, the application of 5% rock phosphate significantly decreased Cd uptake from 19.00 ppm to 12.59 ppm and from 35.17 ppm to 28.19 ppm in Lettuce and Swiss Chard plants, respectively. The application of 3% composted leaves generally decreased the amounts of Cd uptake by swiss chard plants. The goal of this study was to decrease the plant uptake of Cd by increasing Zn content with and without the application of organic material and also by rock phosphate application.

F.verticilliodes (Sacc) Nirenberg (G) is the major pathogen of maize worldwide causing seedling, stalk and ear rots. Five isolates of F.verticilliodes have ability to infect maize Pioneer cultivar plants. The isolates varied in their infectivity, F.verticilliodes isolate 3 gave the highest stalk rot severity in both 2008 and 2009 growing seasons, followed by isolate 4, while isolate 5 was the lowest pathogenic one. In vitro, the microelements [Zinc (Zn, manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu)] reduced linear growth of the pathogen. Manganese exhibited the highest toxic effect followed by zinc while copper exhibited the lowest toxic effect. The antagonistic effects of 3 P. fluresences isolates on mycelial growth on F.verticilliodes were in the range of 55.14 to 79.82%, P. fluresencesisolate (Pf2) considerably more antagonistic than other isolates. Under greenhouse conditions, treatment of maize plants with microelements decreased significantly disease severity. Manganese treatment was more effective than copper and zinc treatments. The bio control with P. fluresences isolate (Pf2) provided moderate level of protection when used alone, while combination of Pf2 with microelements treatment significantly improved the biocontrol activity and significantly reduced disease severity compared with microelements alone. Microelements content increased with P. fluresences treatment comparing with control treatment.