Purpose Enhancing agricultural and environmental benefits of biochar through physical, chemical, or thermal modifications is frequently employed, but information on the concentration, transformation rate, and half-life of available phosphorus (P) in chemically modified-biochar amended P-fertilized calcareous soils is yet lacking. For this reason, we investigated here the effect of citric acid–modified biochar (CAMB) derived from low-ash agricultural wastes (wheat straw) on P transformation and changes in its plant availability indices in a calcareous sandy soil.Methods An incubation experiment comprising three biochar treatments, viz. control (CK, unamended soil), soil amended with 4% CAMB (CAMB1), and soil amended with 8% CAMB (CAMB2), was conducted under laboratory conditions. The soil samples were incubated at 80% soil moisture (v/w) for 9, 18, 27, 36, 46, and 54 d at 25 ± 1 °C, and Olsen-P was meas-ured after each incubation period. Soil pH and EC were also measured after 9 and 54 days of incubation. To describe the release of P and to determine its rate of transformation, first-order equation, parabolic diffusion, power function, and simple Elovich were used.Results Parabolic equation exhibited a good ability to describe the decrease in P release in soil (0.82 R2 and 0.2 SE). Plant available P in CAMB-amended soil was substantially higher than the unamended soil. The lower pH and P transformation rate indices and the release of available P for a more extended period were found in CAMB-amended soils. The half-life of available P in the CAMB-amended soils exceeded 80% over unamended soil. The rate of P diffusion in CAMB-amended soils was lower (0.05–0.06  day−1) than the unamended soil (0.2  day−1).Conclusion Integrated use of citric acid–modified biochar with inorganic P in calcareous sandy soil acts as a slow-release fertilizer, has a low cost, and is a clean alternative to mineral fertilization.

The goals of the current study were to examine the effect of different kinds of acidic biochar [orange peel biochar (OPB),
sorghum panicle biochar (SPB), and wood chips biochar (WCB)] and doses as well as incubation periods on (1) carbon
emission, (2) carbon mineralization kinetic, and (3) soil properties in calcareous sandy soil. One hundred grams of air-dried
soil was placed in plastic jar for this experiment, which is composed of 10 treatments: control (unamended treatment), 1%
OPB, 3% OPB, 6% OPB, 1% SB, 3% SB, 6% SB, 1% WCB, 3% WCB, and 6% WCB. The biochar was added at three levels:
1, 3, and 6% (w/w). All the treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. The doubleexponential equation described the kinetics of carbon mineralization better than first-order and second-order equations. The
half-lives of the carbon remaining in the soil were 2.13, 3.13, 4.79, 6.76, 3.33, 5.66, 7.77, 3.50, 5.39, and 7.75 years for
control, 1% WCB, 3% WCB, 6% WCB, 1% SPB, 3% SPB, 6% SPB, 1% OPB, 3% OPB, and 6% OPB treatments, respectively.
The results revealed that the biochar application at different levels significantly decreased soil pH compared with the control
treatment. Applying WCB at all levels and 1% SPB caused a significant decrease in electrical conductivity compared to the
control. Available phosphorus and potassium in the soil are significantly enhanced via adding different types and doses of
biochar compared to unamended soil. Our study is useful when using acidic biochar producing at low temperature in soils
with high pH. That can be improving chemical properties, supplying available nutrients, and carbon sequestration of infertile
soils in arid regions. Additionally, biochar applications into the soil are relatively cheap.
 

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different
pyrolysis temperatures on the properties of produced bovine bone char
and to evaluate their suitability as phosphorus resources in P-poor sandy
soil. An incubation experiment was performed and comprised of five
treatments: unamended soil (CK), soil amended with the bovine bone
(SBB), soil amended with bovine bone char at 300 °C (SBBC300), soil
amended with bovine bone char at 500 °C (SBBC500), and soil amended
with bovine bone char at 700 °C (SBBC700). Our findings demonstrate that
pyrolysis temperature greatly affects the chemical properties of bovine
bone char. The results obtained from the incubation experiments showed
that adding bovine bone char produced at different temperatures significantly increased Olsen-P in P-poor sandy. Olsen-P concentrations
increased significantly with increasing incubating period. The highest
Olsen-P values existed in SBBC500 treatment at all incubation periods.
Compared to unamended soil, adding SBBC500 to the soil increased
Olsen-P by 41.7%, 42.9%, 35.5%, and 31.6% after 7, 15, 29, and 47 days
of incubation, respectively. Consequently, use of bovine bone char produced at 500 °C may be an alternative option for phosphorus as
a renewable, economical, and environmentally friendly source.
 

The study was performed to evaluate the influence of coating and wrapping treatments used singly or in combination on improving postharvest quality of Manfalouty pomegranate cultivar during 2019 and 2020 seasons. Fruits were coated with any of turmeric oil or ginger oil at 10% and wrapped with waxed paper then stored under cold conditions at (7°C) with R.H 85-90% and analyzed at 2-week intervals to study the changes in physical and chemical quality of fruits. The obtained results revealed that by prolong storage period all the studied fruit properties (fruit weight loss %, fruit decay %, total soluble solids % and reducing sugar %) were increased significantly. However, total acidity % was decreased. All tested treatments had a significant effect on reducing changes in the above mentioned quality parameters but the coating with essential oils, when combined with waxed paper surpassed other treatments in controlling weight and decay. Also, the highest content of total acidity and the lowest percentage of total soluble solids and reducing sugar were recorded in fruits treated with essential oils when combined with waxed paper. Therefore, it could be recommended to use turmeric and ginger essential oils coating in combination with the waxed paper wrapping for improving quality and prolong the storage life of pomegranate fruits. Moreover, the previous treatments can provide a safe and healthy product as they are an alternative to harmful chemical applications

Orange is one of the most important citrus crops in Egypt. It subsists plentiful of impact issues such as pesticide residues regardless of the unwise use of pesticides. Herein, determination and quantification analyses of pesticide residues were determined by using LC-MS/MS and quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method in orange samples marketed in El Badari, Assiut city, Manfalut, El Qusiya, and Dairut that located in Assiut governorate, Egypt. As a result, 14 pesticide residues were found in total. one pesticide residue exceeded the maximum residue levels (MRLs) in two cities, i.e. El Badari and El Qusiya, (Fluzilazole 0.02 and 0.03 mg/kg, respectively). Pyridaben was the most frequently found pesticide residue in 3 cities (Assiut city, Manfalut, and Dairut). Further, there was no health risk index appeared among the pesticide residues. Consequently, a regular pesticide residue analysis program is recommended to monitor pesticide residues in orange samples to retain the food safe, especially in upper Egypt.

The study was conducted at the University of Baghdad (Aljadiria) by taking samples from three sites (water environments) per week, which are the stagnant water environment (Site A), the water table (Site B) and the water basin (Site C) for the purpose of studying the population density of mosquitoes and their accompanying predators. The results showed that the population density of mosquito larvae was the highest in the stagnant water environment (Site A), followed by the water table (Site B), and then the water basin (Site C). As for predators, the results indicated that small water bugs were more present in site A and in large numbers, followed by small tremors, then Gambusia fish, while large tremors and large water bugs were relatively few. It was found that using clove extract (Syzygium aromaticum) reduced mosquito larvae by 100%, at highest concentrations 10 and15% , the mortality was 100% after 2 hours. Plus, it was found that apple of sodom extract (Calotrpis procera) affected the second and fourth instars less than cloves extract. The lantana extract (Lantana camara) was the least effective extract against mosquito larvae.

The impact of increasing resistance of mosquitoes to conventional pesticides has led to investigate various unique tools and pest control strategies. Herein, we assessed the potency of flupyradifurone, a novel pesticide, on fourth instar larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus Say. Further, we evaluated the synergistic action of piperonyl butoxide (PBO) and the octopamine receptor agonists (OR agonists) chlordimeform (CDM) and amitraz (AMZ) on the toxicity of flupyradifurone in comparison with sulfoxaflor and nitenpyram to increase their toxicity on Cx. quinquefasciatus. Results demonstrated that flupyradifurone was the most potent pesticide followed by sulfoxaflor and nitenpyram. Further, the synergetic effect of PBO, CDM, and AMZ was significant for all selected pesticides especially flupyradifurone. However, AMZ had the most significant effect in combination with the selected pesticides followed by CDM and PBO. The toxicity of the pesticides was time-dependent and increased over time from 24, 48, to 72 h of exposure in all experiments. The results indicate that flupyradifurone is a promising component in future mosquito control programs.

Flowering time is an important agronomic trait that determines the distribution and adaptation of plants. The accurate prediction of flowering time in elite germplasm is very critical for maize breeding. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying photoperiod response remain elusive in maize. Here we cloned the flowering time controlling gene, ZmNF-YC2, by map-based cloning and confirmed that ZmNF-YC2 is the protein of nuclear transcription factor Y subunit C-2 and a positive regulator of flowering time in maize under long-day conditions. Our results show that ZmNF-YC2 promotes the expression of ZmNF-YA3. ZmNF-YA3 negatively regulates the transcription of ZmAP2. ZmAP2 suppresses the expression of ZMM4 to delay flowering time. Then we developed a gene regulatory model of flowering time in maize using ZmNF-YC2, ZmNF-YA3, ZmAP2, ZMM4 and other key genes. The cascading regulation of …