The present study was carried out at animal production farm, Assiut University during the period of 2007 to 2009.Two dominant species of rodent were included in the study, white bellied rat, Rattus rattus frugivorus and grey rat, Rattus rattus alexandrinus with den-sity of 69.16% and 30.84%. The rodent ectoparasites were found to be fleas, lice, ticks and mites. The dominant spe-cies of fleas were the oriental rat flea, Xenopsylla cheopis and the human flea, Pulex irri-tans. The highest average den-sities of ectoparasites associ-ated with white bellied rat were observed in autumn and spring by 34.08% and 27.99%, and the lowest one was ob-served in winter by 15.62%. The highest average densities of ectoparasites associated with grey bellied rat were ob-served during spring and summer seasons by 40.96% and 27.39% and the lowest one during winter by 9.58%. In both species of rodent fe-males exibibited higher num-bers of ectoparasites because of females are larger and less active than males.

Field experiment was performed during the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 seasons at the Floriculture Nursery, Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University to investigate the effects of plant spacing (15 and 30cm) and various fertilizer treatments; cattle manure (15m3/feddan), NPK fertilization [ammonium nitrate (33.5% N) 60, calcium superphosphate (15.5%P2O5) 45, and potassium sulphate(48%K2O) 48kg/feddan] and bio-fertilizers [Biogen (500g) and phosphorein (300g/Kg seeds) were added either individually or in combination]. A complete randomized block design in a split-plot arrangement with four replicates was used in this experiment. Plant spacing was randomly distributed in the main plots and fertilizer treatments in the sub plots. Data obtained showed that significant increases were found in branch number, seed production, yields of volatile and fixed oil in seeds in relation to plant spacing of 30cm comparison to that of 15 cm. Moreover, leaf contents of carbohydrates, nitrogen, phos phorous and potassium recorded similar trend. All fertilizer treatments significantly increased plant height and branch number per plant compared to unfertilized plants. However, cattle manure was more effective in this concern. Cattle manure produced higher yields of seeds and volatile oil than other treatments. In addition, it significantly increased leaf contents of carbohydrates, N,P and K. The interaction among treatments cleared that the space of 30 cm along with cattle manure yielded the best results.

Field experiment was performed during the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 seasons at the Floriculture Nursery, Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University to investigate the effects of plant spacing (15 and 30cm) and various fertilizer treatments; cattle manure (15m3/feddan), NPK fertilization [ammonium nitrate (33.5% N) 60, calcium superphosphate (15.5%P2O5) 45, and potassium sulphate(48%K2O) 48kg/feddan] and bio-fertilizers [Biogen (500g) and phosphorein (300g/Kg seeds) were added either individually or in combination]. A complete randomized block design in a split-plot arrangement with four replicates was used in this experiment. Plant spacing was randomly distributed in the main plots and fertilizer treatments in the sub plots. Data obtained showed that significant increases were found in branch number, seed production, yields of volatile and fixed oil in seeds in relation to plant spacing of 30cm comparison to that of 15 cm. Moreover, leaf contents of carbohydrates, nitrogen, phos phorous and potassium recorded similar trend. All fertilizer treatments significantly increased plant height and branch number per plant compared to unfertilized plants. However, cattle manure was more effective in this concern. Cattle manure produced higher yields of seeds and volatile oil than other treatments. In addition, it significantly increased leaf contents of carbohydrates, N,P and K. The interaction among treatments cleared that the space of 30 cm along with cattle manure yielded the best results.

Field experiment was performed during the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 seasons at the Floriculture Nursery, Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University to investigate the effects of plant spacing (15 and 30cm) and various fertilizer treatments; cattle manure (15m3/feddan), NPK fertilization [ammonium nitrate (33.5% N) 60, calcium superphosphate (15.5%P2O5) 45, and potassium sulphate(48%K2O) 48kg/feddan] and bio-fertilizers [Biogen (500g) and phosphorein (300g/Kg seeds) were added either individually or in combination]. A complete randomized block design in a split-plot arrangement with four replicates was used in this experiment. Plant spacing was randomly distributed in the main plots and fertilizer treatments in the sub plots. Data obtained showed that significant increases were found in branch number, seed production, yields of volatile and fixed oil in seeds in relation to plant spacing of 30cm comparison to that of 15 cm. Moreover, leaf contents of carbohydrates, nitrogen, phos phorous and potassium recorded similar trend. All fertilizer treatments significantly increased plant height and branch number per plant compared to unfertilized plants. However, cattle manure was more effective in this concern. Cattle manure produced higher yields of seeds and volatile oil than other treatments. In addition, it significantly increased leaf contents of carbohydrates, N,P and K. The interaction among treatments cleared that the space of 30 cm along with cattle manure yielded the best results.

A field experiment was conducted in Agriculture Faculty Farm, El-Azhar University, Assiut Branch in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 seasons to study the effect of foliar Lithovit fertilization at different doses on yield and growth of two broccoli cultivars using two planting methods. Randomized Complete Blocks Design (RCBD) in split-spilt-plot arrangements with three replicates was used. The two planting methods (direct sowing and transplants) occupied the main plots. While, the Broccoli cultivars (Calabrese and Waltham 29)were arranged in the sub- plots. The Lithovit levels were; 0% (control), 0.05%, 0.10 % and 0.20 %.These concentrations were distributed in the sub- subplots. The obtained results revealed that planting method affected significantly most of the studied traits. But insignificant differences were detected for number of branches/plant in both seasons and No. of curds/plant, main head weight and total head yield (ton/feddan) in the first season. Most of studied traits reacted significantly to splanting method except plant height. The tallest plants were obtained from direct seed sowing method. Also, Broccoli cultivars varied significantly in all tudied traits except plant height in the first season and number of days from planting to heading in both easons. Here too, Calabrese cultivar surpassed Waltham 29 in all studied traits except number of branches /plant in both seasons. The foliar application of Lithovit enhanced ignificantly plant height, main head length, main head diameter, main head weight and total head yield (ton/feddan) in favor of 0.05% concentration in the two growing seasons. The highest broccoli yield was obtained from Calabrese cultivar planted with direct seeds and subjected to 0.05% Lithovit as foliar application. Also, transplanting the same cultivar without using Lithovit fertilizer gave better growth and higher yield.

Two cycles of pedigree selection for earliness index and lint yield/plant were achieved in two populations of Egyptian cotton (G. barbadense L.) under late planting condition. The genetic materials were the F6, F7 and F8- generations of (Giza 80 x Pima 56)/Giza 91 (pop. I) and Dandara/ Giza 80 (pop. II). The genotypic coefficients of variation (gcv) in the F6-genreation were 13.35 and 14.69% for earliness index, and 23.70 and 27.60% for lint yield/plant for pop. I and pop. II; respectively. The remained gcv after two cycles of pedigree selection were 8.12 and 10.60% for earliness index, and 22.59 and 21.50% for lint yield/plant for pop. I and pop. II; respectively. The respective realized heritability was 0.4550 and 0.2731 for earliness index, and 0.4128 and 0.3970 for lint yield/plant. The average direct observed gain was significant and accounted for 5.59 and 3.80% for earliness index, and 6.68 and 5.45% (ns) for lint yield/plant from the bulk sample for pop. I and II; respectively. Two promising superior families were isolated from each population in both of earliness index and yield. For example, concerning earliness index, the best superior family No. 175 showed significant (P0.01) observed gains from the better parent of 26.81, 49.99, 18.17, 9.87, 43.19 and 13.78% for seed cotton yield/plant, lint yield/plant, lint percentage, seed index, lint index and earliness index; respectively.

Two cycles of pedigree selection for earliness index and lint yield/plant were achieved in two populations of Egyptian cotton (G. barbadense L.) under late planting condition. The genetic materials were the F6, F7 and F8- generations of (Giza 80 x Pima 56)/Giza 91 (pop. I) and Dandara/ Giza 80 (pop. II). The genotypic coefficients of variation (gcv) in the F6-genreation were 13.35 and 14.69% for earliness index, and 23.70 and 27.60% for lint yield/plant for pop. I and pop. II; respectively. The remained gcv after two cycles of pedigree selection were 8.12 and 10.60% for earliness index, and 22.59 and 21.50% for lint yield/plant for pop. I and pop. II; respectively. The respective realized heritability was 0.4550 and 0.2731 for earliness index, and 0.4128 and 0.3970 for lint yield/plant. The average direct observed gain was significant and accounted for 5.59 and 3.80% for earliness index, and 6.68 and 5.45% (ns) for lint yield/plant from the bulk sample for pop. I and II; respectively. Two promising superior families were isolated from each population in both of earliness index and yield. For example, concerning earliness index, the best superior family No. 175 showed significant (P0.01) observed gains from the better parent of 26.81, 49.99, 18.17, 9.87, 43.19 and 13.78% for seed cotton yield/plant, lint yield/plant, lint percentage, seed index, lint index and earliness index; respectively.

Agricultural sector is the most water-consuming sector in Egypt, where it utilizes around 85% of the available water resources. This is because of the main dependence of crop production on traditional irrigation methods. The adoption of the traditional irrigation methods in the Egyptian agricultural system is the core of the current research issue since it leads to many problems including degradation of arable land, increasing of the underground water level and consequently decreasing the yield of various crops. In addition, drainage and misusing of water resources represent the major challenge facing the implementation of horizontal expansion projects. Hence, there is a crucial need for enlightening the agricultural producers about the importance of the modern technological methods of irrigation and their possible useful application through measuring their effects on the efficiency utilization of agricultural economic resources. The most important results of the research are as follows: 1) Increasing of the production costs in case of sprinkle irrigation as compared to their counterpart in case of drip irrigation for all studied crops under both the Assiut governorate Level and nation level. 2) Increasing the total production and the total revenue in case of drip irrigation comparing with drip irrigation for the wheat crop, while the increase was greater in case of sprinkle irrigation for maize and sorghum. Accordingly, the drip irrigation method suits wheat crop whereas sprinkle irrigation was superior for the cultivation of maize and sorghum. 3) Increasing net for all crops under this study both on the Assiut governorate Level and national level in case of drip irrigation in contrast to its counterpart in case of sprinkle irrigation. 4) The rate of the increase in the cultivated area raised as a result of saving irrigation water for all crops under study both at Assiut province and the national levels in case of drip irrigation as compared to sprinkle irrigation. Also it was indicated that the rate of the increase in the production, revenue and net return for the crops under study were almost equal in case of sprinkle irrigation both at Assiut province level and the national level in case of drip irrigation as compared to sprinkle irrigation and likewise equal percentage of increase in case of drip irrigati.

Agricultural sector is the most water-consuming sector in Egypt, where it utilizes around 85% of the available water resources. This is because of the main dependence of crop production on traditional irrigation methods. The adoption of the traditional irrigation methods in the Egyptian agricultural system is the core of the current research issue since it leads to many problems including degradation of arable land, increasing of the underground water level and consequently decreasing the yield of various crops. In addition, drainage and misusing of water resources represent the major challenge facing the implementation of horizontal expansion projects. Hence, there is a crucial need for enlightening the agricultural producers about the importance of the modern technological methods of irrigation and their possible useful application through measuring their effects on the efficiency utilization of agricultural economic resources. The most important results of the research are as follows: 1) Increasing of the production costs in case of sprinkle irrigation as compared to their counterpart in case of drip irrigation for all studied crops under both the Assiut governorate Level and nation level. 2) Increasing the total production and the total revenue in case of drip irrigation comparing with drip irrigation for the wheat crop, while the increase was greater in case of sprinkle irrigation for maize and sorghum. Accordingly, the drip irrigation method suits wheat crop whereas sprinkle irrigation was superior for the cultivation of maize and sorghum. 3) Increasing net for all crops under this study both on the Assiut governorate Level and national level in case of drip irrigation in contrast to its counterpart in case of sprinkle irrigation. 4) The rate of the increase in the cultivated area raised as a result of saving irrigation water for all crops under study both at Assiut province and the national levels in case of drip irrigation as compared to sprinkle irrigation. Also it was indicated that the rate of the increase in the production, revenue and net return for the crops under study were almost equal in case of sprinkle irrigation both at Assiut province level and the national level in case of drip irrigation as compared to sprinkle irrigation and likewise equal percentage of increase in case of drip irrigati.

This research aimed at shedding light on the merit of coriander production in the main production governorates in Egypt during the period (1998 - 2011). through, the identification of the average yield per feddan the deference's between these governorates. The study also, identified the economic efficiency of coriander to assess the efficiency of export coriander. The data of this research were taken from bulletins issued by the Central Administration of the Agricultural Economy of the Ministry of Agriculture, Foreign Trade data base system, Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, and bulletins issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The study revealed following findings: -The existence of statistically significant differences between the average coriander production per feddan in the main producing governorates in Egypt. -The existence of moral statistical differences of the net return per feddan, total revenue and total costs of production in the main governorates. -Orientations existing between producers in Egypt would induce increase in production. -Exporting efficiency of coriander can be raised by geographical distribution of exports. It seems produces of coriander crop aims to increase their production per feddan than to increase profitability.