The National Information and Documentation Centre (NIDOC) affiliated to Academy of Scientific Research and Technology(ASRT)Egyptian Journal of Soil Science0302-670160420201201Agricultural Waste and its Nano-Management: Mini Review34936412217310.21608/ejss.2020.46807.1397ENHassanEl-RamadySoil and Water Dept., Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, EgyptAhmedEl-HenawySoil and Water Dept., Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt0000-0003-0190-6472MegahedAmerSoils Improvement Dept., Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute (SWERI), Sakha Station, Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Kafr El-Sheikh 33717, Egypt0000-0002-6665-4838Alaa El-DeinOmaraAgriculture Microbiology Department, Soil, Water and Environment Research Institute (SWERI), Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Kafr El-Sheikh 33717, Egypt0000-0001-5622-7501TamerElsakhawyAgriculture Microbiology Department, Soil, Water and Environment Research Institute (SWERI), Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Kafr El-Sheikh 33717, EgyptHebaElbasiounyDepartment of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Home Economy faculty, Al-Azhar University, Tanta 31732, Egypt0000-0002-7245-6483FathyElbehiryCentral Laboratory of Environmental Studies, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 33516, EgyptDoaaAbou ElyazidHorticulture Dept., Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 33516, EgyptMohammedEl-MahroukHorticulture Dept., Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 33516, EgyptJournal Article20201018Agricultural wastes are considered residues resulted from the agricultural production and after harvesting fruit and vegetable and their processing, agro-industrial by/co-products from the grapes, banana, olives and milk processing. These wastes may represent a treasure when they are turning into valuable applications (i.e., composting, biochar, removing pollutants from the environment and organic fertilizers) or they may burn in open fields causing some environmental problems such as soil degradation and air pollution. The landfill disposal and open dumping of agro-wastes is a common practice in the developing countries generating huge amounts of ash, which may create serious health and environmental problems, primarily due to pollution of groundwater. Under the umbrella of the bioeconomy and based on industrial innovation and high technology, new and better approaches for the recovery of agricultural wastes have been developed. This has contributed to guaranteeing sustainable production and its consumption, resource efficiency, the conversation of these wastes into valuable products and the reduction of negative environmental impacts. The common management of Agro-wastes may include a lot of suggested uses such as production of biosynthesis of nanoparticles, biotechnological products, composting and biofuel production. A lot of bioactive compounds could be produced from the agro-wastes, which have many application possibilities such as functional food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic approaches. The nano-management of agro-wastes may include using of nanotechnology to convert the agro-wastes into a valuable product. This topic still has several open questions particularly under the sustainable and bioeconomy.The National Information and Documentation Centre (NIDOC) affiliated to Academy of Scientific Research and Technology(ASRT)Egyptian Journal of Soil Science0302-670160420201201CO2 emissions and soil organic carbon in calcareous soils as affected by bonechar and phosphate rock36537511156910.21608/ejss.2020.32612.1363ENMaherSalehAlexandria uni.Ahmed A.El-RefaeyDepartment of Soil and Water Science, Faculty of Desert and Environmental Agriculture, Matrouh University, Marsa Matrouh, EgyptYasser Abd ElazizEldamarawy3Soils and Water Use Department, National Research Centre, Cairo, EgyptJournal Article20200617 <br /> This study aims to identify the role of bone char (BC) application to calcareous soils in reducing CO2 emission and improving soil fertility compared to phosphate rock (PR). The bovine bone was subjected to anaerobic thermal decomposition (pyrolysis) for two hours at a temperature of 650 °C to produce bone char. Closed-system incubation experiments were conducted to follow the CO2 emission from the soil treated with BC or PR by rates 1.25 and 2.5%. CO2 emissions were tracked over 90 days at two different ambient temperatures (15+2 and 27+2oC). Results of the elemental composition of BC were similar to PR, but BC was characterized by the presence of organic carbon. The active surface groups of bone char are very similar to the phosphate rock groups, but the presence of organic matter resulted in the existence of C = C and O = C groups. A laboratory incubation experiment for 90 days was conducted for soil treated with bone char and tracking the emitted CO2. Application of BC to soil increased phosphorus solubility and retention of CO2 compared to phosphate rock (PR). Carbon dioxide (CO2) immobilization was very high in high temperature (27+2oC) reached 3274-3870 mg/kg soil compared to 101-242 mg/kg soil in low temperature (15+2 oC) in BC-treated soils. BC application to the soil in winter increased the organic carbon from 1.1 to 1.52%, while the percentage dropped from 0.79 to 0.55 in high temperature, with increasing of the dissolved organic carbon form by 40-60 mg/kg soil.The National Information and Documentation Centre (NIDOC) affiliated to Academy of Scientific Research and Technology(ASRT)Egyptian Journal of Soil Science0302-670160420201201Effect of Super Absorbent Polymer and Bio fertilization on Maize Productivity and Soil Fertility under Drought Stress Conditions37739511232210.21608/ejss.2020.35386.1372ENRabaaYaseenSoil Fertility and Microbiology Department, Desert Research Center, Cairo, EgyptRehabHegabSoil Fertility and Microbiology Dept., Water Resources and Desert Soils Division, Desert Research Center, Cairo, Egypt.MohammedKenaweyPlant production Dept., Environment and Arid Land Agriculture Division. Desert Research Center, Cairo, Egypt.DoaaEissaDesert Research CenterJournal Article20200711This study was aimed to investigate the response of maize to supper absorbent polymer (SAP) and exopolysaccharides (EPS) producing bacteria under drought stress conditions at Panjar El -Soukkar region, Alexandria government, Egypt. The functional groups and heavy metal contents of SAP were determined. The swelling capacity of the polymer increased with increasing the hydrolysis time up to 30 minutes and the de-swelling water ratios of the polymer varied from 0.25 to 8 days. EPS-producing bacteria, Klebsiella oxytoca, Serratia marcescens, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were selected and classified based on their phenotypic, biochemical, and also their molecular criteria. The EPS production by the selected isolates ranged from 0.85 to 1.24 g/100ml and the total activity of antioxidant of the extracted EPS ranged from 1.464 to 1.827%. The bacterial isolates could tolerate up to -2.24 MPa of water stress and their production of EPS increased with increasing drought stress levels. Different plant growth promoting parameters of selected isolates were evaluated. Two field experiments were conducted during 2018 and 2019 summer growing seasons. The obtained data revealed that drought stress had significant adverse effects on growth and yield parameters of maize plant, NPK uptake by grains, nutrient availability and microbial activities in soil. Seed bacterization of maize with EPS-producing bacterial isolates in combination with SAP improved all measured characters compared to PGPR inocula or SAP used alone. The findings suggested that applying superabsorbent polymer in combination with EPS-producing bacteria could improve tolerance of maize plant toward drought.The National Information and Documentation Centre (NIDOC) affiliated to Academy of Scientific Research and Technology(ASRT)Egyptian Journal of Soil Science0302-670160420201201Spectroscopic Characterization of Plant Cover in El-Fayoum Governorate, Egypt39740811368910.21608/ejss.2020.36730.1377ENGhadaKhderyNational Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences (NARSS), 23 Joseph Tito Street, El-Nozha El-Gedida, P.O. Box: 1564 Alf Maskan, Cairo, Egypt.Abd-AllaGadNational Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences (NARSS), 23 Joseph Tito Street, El-Nozha El-Gedida, P.O. Box: 1564 Alf Maskan, Cairo, Egypt.Ahmed M.El-ZeinyNational Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences (NARSS), 23 Joseph Tito Street, El-Nozha El-Gedida, P.O. Box: 1564 Alf Maskan, Cairo, Egypt.Journal Article20200721EL- Fayoum region is the unique Egyptian western desert depression provided by surface Nile water. It’s one of the global oldest agricultural provinces. Hyperspectral remote sensing plays an important role in assessing the biophysical characters of plant. The current investigation is one of the early attempts to study the hyperspectral characteristics of cultivated crops and wild plants in El-Fayoum Governorate. The work assists in understanding the status of the vegetation structure responding to water scarcity in the study area. Spectral reflectance of cultivated & wild plants was recorded ASD field spec spectroradiometer device and integrated with lab analyses using statistical analyses of SPSS and JMP Software. Optimal waveband and optimal wavelength were calculated by ANOVA and Tukey’s analysis for discriminating of plants in the study area. Remotely sensed hyperspectral data were processed to produce spectral indices of plants to estimate the plant's vitality. Results indicated that Near Infrared (NIR) and Short Wave Infrared II (SWIR II) spectral regions were optimal to discriminate investigated taxa. In the Blue spectral zone no significant reflection was noticed. Spectral characteristics for the Mangifera indica (infected plant) indicated water stress. Spectral Reflectance analysis for Ablmoschus esculentus indicated plant suffered chlorophyll decrease. Plant Senescence Reflectance Index (PSRI) and Moisture Stress Index (MSI) for Mangifera indica (infected plant) and Abelmoschus esculentus (infected plant) were high and indicated that two plants suffer canopy stress. Also, results showed that Citrus sinensis has the highest value of NDVI (0.82) and CRII (7.99) between other plants. It could be concluded that the study of spectral signature is rather valuable in characterizing vegetation cover. Also, growth conditions and the environment can be predicted via spectral characterization curves.The National Information and Documentation Centre (NIDOC) affiliated to Academy of Scientific Research and Technology(ASRT)Egyptian Journal of Soil Science0302-670160420201201Studying the Effect of Spraying Magnetized Fulvate and Humate Solutions on Phosphorus Availability in Sandy Soil Cultivated by Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.)40942311721110.21608/ejss.2020.36394.1374ENMohamedSaad MohamedSandy and Calcareous soil Research Department - Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute - Agricultural Research CenterJournal Article20200719Two field experiments were carried out in sandy soil at the Ismailia Agricultural Research Station during winter seasons of 2017/2018 – 2018/2019. The aim is to study the effect of magnetized aqueous solutions (0.5% v/v) of potassium fulvate (KF) and/or potassium humate (KH) sprayed in presence of soil applied rock phosphate (RP) and/or super phosphate (SP) fertilizers (16.09 Kg P ha-1 application rate) on faba been (Vicia Faba L.) plant. Spraying of solutions was applied four times 30, 50, 70 and 90 days after sowing. Control treatments (0 additions), magnetized (KFM and/or KHM) and non-magnetized (mixed with tab water, KFT and/or KHT) treatments were distributed in a complete randomized block design. Cultivation was performed as recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture. At maturity stage and after harvest, yield (Mg ha-1) and some yield components, percentage (%) of N, P, and K available in soil and total in plant, pH and EC were estimated. Results showed the magnetic treatments KFM and KHM resulted in the most significant increase of the available P (mg kg-1) in soil for RP and SP treatments and the available N for RP. The increase in the available K in soil was non-significant. Magnetic solutions of KFM and KHM also exhibited a significant increase in the seed weight and dry weight of pods (g plant-1) but the increase in the yield of seeds and straw (Mg ha-1) was non-significant. Foliar application of magnetic fulvate and humate solutions may enhance the efficiency of phosphorus fertilization under sandy soil conditions.The National Information and Documentation Centre (NIDOC) affiliated to Academy of Scientific Research and Technology(ASRT)Egyptian Journal of Soil Science0302-670160420201201Mycorrhizae Can Support Squash Plant Growth in Phosphorus Deficient Calcareous Soil42543511762710.21608/ejss.2020.30086.1357ENIslam IbrahimAbou El SeoudDepartment of Soil and Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Saba Basha, Alexandria University, Egypt.0000-0001-7825-9790Nagla MAbd El HamidDepartment of Soil Science, Alex University, EgyptMahmoud WafikSadikDepartment of microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University0000-0001-7825-9790Journal Article20200512This work was aimed to select the proper Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) inocula strain to enhance the growth of squash plants in calcareous P-deficient soil. Three treatments of phosphorus fertilizer of calcium triple phosphate, 15.5% P2O5 were tested at different rates. In parallel, pots were inoculated with 4 AM strains (Rhizoglomus irregulare) namely M49; M139; M301 and M 510. Treatments were repeated 5 times and arranged in the greenhouse in a randomized completely block design (RCBD) and plants were harvested after 57 days. In conclusion, from the results and under the same conditions of this experiment, we recommended that all mycorrhizal strains were effective in improving plant growth. The strain M301 enhanced squash plants growth and P uptake. Also, inoculation with this strain could improve P availability in soil. The two mycorrhizal strains (M49 and M139) can be used for improving the growth of squash plants under low P level and in calcareous soil conditions. This study is one of the few studies that indicate the specialization of mycorrhizal fungi strains on the host plant and this study must be followed by many other studies in different climatic conditions, different soil properties and on different genus and strains of AM fungi on different plants family to confirm or deny this hypothesis.The National Information and Documentation Centre (NIDOC) affiliated to Academy of Scientific Research and Technology(ASRT)Egyptian Journal of Soil Science0302-670160420201201Soil and Air Pollution in the Era of COVID-19: A Global Issue43744812652010.21608/ejss.2020.49996.1411ENHassanEl-Ramadysoil and water dept. faculty of agriculture0000-0002-1113-726XEricBrevikDepartments of Natural Sciences and Agriculture and Technical Studies, Dickinson State University,
Dickinson, ND 5860,1 USAMegahed MohamedAmerSoils Improvement and Conservation Res. Department, Soils, Water and Environment Res. Institute,Agric. Res. Center, Giza, Egypt.0000-0002-6665-4838TamerElsakhawyAgriculture Microbiology Department, Soil, Water and Environment Research Institute (SWERI), Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Agriculture Research Center (ARC), 33717 Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt,Alaa El-Dein AbdelghaffarOmara AhmedSoil, Water and Environment Research Institute, Sakha, ARC.0000-0001-5622-7501HebaElbasiounyDepartment of environmental and biological science, home economy Faculty, Al-Azhar university, Egypt.0000-0002-7245-6483FathyElbehiryKFS uniAhmed AliMosaSoil dept. Fac. of Agric Mansoura University , Mansoura . EgyptAymanEl-Ghamrysoil and water dept. faculty of agriculture, Mansoura Uni.YousryBayoumiHorticulture Dept., Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, 33516 Kafr El-Sheikh, EgyptTarek A.ShalabyArid-land Agriculture Department, College of Agricultural and Food Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, KSAJournal Article20201116By the end of 2019, the universe was woken up to see one of the unprecedented dramatic catastrophes all the over the world, which called the COVID-19 pandemic or coronavirus. This virus already changed the global map and enforced the globe to start a new era that no one can predict the volume of changes worldwide on social, economic and environmental levels. The pollution of soil and air as two compartments of the agroecosystem were and still represent two vital columns of the environment structure. Based on the social distancing, lockdown and quarantine, the air pollution was reduced in several cities worldwide, whereas this relationship on soil as a complex system still needs mor and more investigations. Therefore, the most immediate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on soils and vice versa are mainly depending on the human activities. The managing soils may include both restoring of soils from the virus impacts and to sustain crop yields for long-term sustainability to keep the soil healthy for next generations. Therefore, this review is an attempt to highlight the mutual impact of COVID-19 on pollution of soil and air. Many open questions are needed to be investigated such as what are the expected environmental impacts of COVID-19 on soil and air? Is there any links between air pollution and COVID-19? Is there any role of soil in spreading the COVID-19 pandemic? What about the soil pollution status under COVID-19 outbreak? What is the projected management scenario of soil and air pollution under COVID-19 outbreak? What is the potential presence of COVID-19 and its behavior in the soil?The National Information and Documentation Centre (NIDOC) affiliated to Academy of Scientific Research and Technology(ASRT)Egyptian Journal of Soil Science0302-670160420201201Bio-fortification of Potato Plants with different Nitrogen Rates and Applied Iron Forms in Presence and Absent of Azotobacter sp.44946712701310.21608/ejss.2020.43816.1386ENHanaa MohamedSakarasoil Dep., Agric., Mansoura Univ., EgyptAhmed Gamal El-deenBadourSoil, Water and Environment Res. Inst., Agric. Res. Center, Giza, EgyptJournal Article20200922Field investigation during 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 were carried out to study the effect of nitrogen fertilization and iron applications on potato plants in presence or absence of azotobacter. The experiment was laid out in split-split plot design with three replications having 16 treatments arrangement as; four rates of nitrogen fertilization (0, 50, 75 and 100% N from recommended dose) as main plot, two forms of iron (soil and foliar) as sub plot and Azotobacter inoculation (presence and absence) as sub-sub plot one. The findings indicate that growth parameters (i.e. plant height, fresh and dry weights), yield attributing parameters (i.e. fresh weight of tuber (g plant -1), No. of tubers per plant, average tuber weight (g) and dry matter of tubers (%) as well as total yield; (ton fed-1), chemical content as N, P, K%, Fe mg.kg-1 in leaves and tuber, leaves chlorophyll content as well as potato quality (i.e. total carbohydrates, starch (%), vitamin C (mg 100g -1) and NO3-N;(mg kg -1) ) increased with an increase in nitrogen levels with maximum values being obtained on application of 75% N from recommended dose. However, highest values for all traits were recorded with foliar application of Fe-EDTA, also, in presence of azotopacter. So, it can be concluded that 75% N + Fe-EDTA + azotobacter produced the best potato yield and quality compared to other treatments.The National Information and Documentation Centre (NIDOC) affiliated to Academy of Scientific Research and Technology(ASRT)Egyptian Journal of Soil Science0302-670160420201201Impact of Biofertilizers on Maize (Zea mays L.) Growth and Yield under Calcareous Soil Conditions.46948312708310.21608/ejss.2020.45922.1392ENShimaaGanzourSoils, Water and Environment Research Institute (SWERI), Agriculture Research Center (ARC), EgyptTharwatGhabourSoils & Water Use Dept., National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt0000-0003-0618-8975Nadia M.HemeidSoils, Water and Environment Research Institute (SWERI), Agriculture Research Center (ARC), EgyptKhatab A.KhatabSoils, Water and Environment Research Institute (SWERI), Agriculture Research Center (ARC), EgyptJournal Article20201011The agricultural expansion in Egypt is of great importance to face the shortage in cereal crop production. Biofertilizers recently are used to overcome the deficiency of some nutrients due to their fixation in the soil and consequently increase its fertility especially in calcareous soil. The current work is aiming to assess the use of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and cyanobacteria (Cyan.) for maize production in calcareous soil. A field experiment was conducted to achieve this goal in a split-plot type in three replicates over two years. The obtained results were promising, where all growth parameters; leaf chlorophyll content, plant height, ear length, ear diameter and ear weight, showed a significant increase. Yield parameters; grain weight, weight of 100 grains, grain yield and straw yield were increased by 56, 27, 86 and 26%, respectively compared to control. Effect of the phosphate solubilizing bacteria on yield exceeded that of cyanobacteria but the effect of their combination was the highest. Nutrient uptake by grain and straw was also remarkably increased, where N, P and K uptake by grain showed an increase of about 112, 192 and 198%, respectively of their values of control treatment. Grain components; carbohydrate and protein contents increased by 8.8 and 112%, respectively as compared to control. Carbohydrate content under PSB treatment was higher than its value under Cyan. while protein content showed the opposite. Finally, available N, P and K in soil increased by about 55, 94 and 39%, respectively at the end of the experiment.The National Information and Documentation Centre (NIDOC) affiliated to Academy of Scientific Research and Technology(ASRT)Egyptian Journal of Soil Science0302-670160420201201Soil Mineralogy of North Western Desert, Egypt48550012868610.21608/ejss.2020.48740.1407ENYousif KotbEl GhonameySoils, Water and Environment Research Institute (SWERI) - ARCAbdellatif DeyabAbdellatifSoil, Water and Environment Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt0000-0003-0679-6030Mamdouh KhalilAbdel GhaffarRemote sensing and GIS Unit, SWERI, ARCJournal Article20201104The purpose of this work is to study the mineralogical characteristics in an area north of the Western Desert, Egypt to give an idea about origin and genesis of soils as well as their uniformity and weathering. The study area divided into four main geomorphological units: terraces, escarpment, structural platform and sand accumulation. The sand fraction consists of light and heavy minerals. The light minerals are the main constituent of sand fraction and consists mainly of quartz (≥ 92 %) followed by feldspars (plagioclase and orthoclase) in addition to muscovite and calcite minerals. The heavy minerals consist of opaques and non-opaques. Opaque minerals are the major heavy fraction constituent and composed essentially of iron oxide minerals. The complementary non-opaque minerals consist of:(a) Sedimentary origin minerals, which also named ultrastable or index minerals, are mostly dominating the non-opaque minerals. (b) Igneous origin minerals or unstable minerals are the second abundance minerals. (c) Metamorphic origin minerals or metastable (index) minerals are detected in considerable portions. The vertical distribution of the index minerals and the uniformity ratio values in the studied soils change irregularly depth wise. This indicates that these soils were formed from materials of multi-origin. The clay minerals could be present as a result of inheritance from parent material by alteration, degradation of primary minerals and addition. The variation in the relative content of the present clay minerals may be attributed mainly to sedimentation regime varieties (e.g. recycling from different sedimentary precursors) and /or to the nature of the source rocks.