Potassium solubilizing bacteria (PSB) are able to dissolve K from K-minerals and enhance plant growth and yield. A field experiment was carried out during 2017/2018-2018/2019 growing seasons in a ...randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. This study aims to assess the performance of bio-fertilization (Bacillus cereus) as PSB on the growth of potato (Kara Spp) and availability of N, P, and K. Potato plants were fertilized with K-feldspar and inoculated with PSB. The results showed that the PSB significantly increased the plant height (PH), branches number (BN), and shoot dry weight by about 15%, 27%, and 26%, respectively, compared to the untreated one. Soil available K increased by 42% as a result of PSB inoculation, moreover, K uptake by potato tubers increased by 62% in compassion with untreated plants. Leaf N, P, and K concentrations as well as the uptake were significantly increased in the plants inoculated with PSB compared to the un-inoculated plants. The graded weights of potato were increased by 20%, 26%, and 25%, for large, medium, and small size of tubers, respectively as a result of applying of bio-fertilizer. The bio-fertilization of potato with Bacillus cereus significantly increased the total yield of potato by 21% above the untreated plants. The application of K-feldspar (12% total K
2
O) at a rate of 240 kg K
2
O ha
−1
to potato inoculated with Bacillus cereus gave a total tuber yield of 40 ton ha
−1
.
Enrichment of soils with organic amendments could increase the content of available nutrients, improve soil chemical characteristics and increase plant growth. In the current pots experiment, the ...influences of biochar (BC), humic acid (HA), and compost (CO) on barely growth were investigated under saline conditions. Barely plants grown on a clay loam soil and irrigated with saline water concentration of (EC = 13.8 dS m
−1
) were amended with BC, HA and CO at a rate of 1 or 3% of soil weight. The results showed that BC, HA and CO treatments had significant effects on the soil salinity, pH, organic matter (SOM), and plant nutrients. The results showed that the high rate application of BC, HA and CO increased the SOM by 14, 75 and 58% respectively, above the control. Consequently, the total chlorophyll as affected by the treatments can be arranged in descending order: BC
3
> CO
1
> CO
3
> HA
3
> HA
1
> BC
1
> C. The high rates of BC, HA and CO increased the dry biomass by 28.0, 21.6 and 39.7% respectively, above the control %, respectively, above the control. The investigated organic amendments increased the nutrients availability and uptake and enhanced the synthesis of chlorophyll in the plant tissues and this may be the reason of increasing the ability of barley to tolerate salinity.
Utilizing chemical fertilizers in large quantities leads to deterioration of soil health and consequently the quality of the agriculture product. In return, the application of organic wastes helps to ...maintain good soil microbial population and soil fertility as well as enhance the yield. A field experiment was conducted at Assiut Governorate, Egypt, in seasons of 2017/2018 to investigate the influence of filter mud cake (FMC) either alone or combined with potassium sulfate as a chemical fertilizer (CF) on growth and yield of potato tubers. The results clearly indicated that the plants treated with FMC
75
+ CF
25
treatment gave a significant increase (36.64%) in the plant height. Also, it caused highest increases for N, P and K uptakes by about 4, 7, and 6 times, respectively, compared to the control. However, increase in the total tuber yield (15.10 ton fed-1) was obtained with addition of potassium sulfate while FMC
100
recorded 14.73 ton fed
−1
compared to the control (5.92 ton fed-1). Although the decrease of the total yield, the FMC
25
+ CF
75
treatment showed the highest relative increase (196.21%) in tuber large-size weight. Moreover, FMC
50
+ CF
50
treatment gave the highest increase (130.62%) in medium-size and FMC
100
gave highest increase (124.78%) in small-size over the control. Increasing the medium size (export volume) with adding organic to inorganic fertilizers at ratio of 50: 50 emphasizes the importance of using FMC as an alternative of chemical fertilizers used presence of potassium in the soil in an abundant level.
Shortage of water in arid and semi-arid regions increases the need of applying efficient drip irrigation system. A two-year field study in the semi-arid region of Upper Egypt was carried in ...randomized complete block design with four replicates. Wheat plants were irrigated by 100 or 75% of water requirements (I100 = 5,370 and I75 = 4,027 m3 ha-1). Irrigation of wheat by I100 increased growth and uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium compared to low irrigation level. I100 caused 14 and 5% increase in straw and biological yield, respectively, compared to I75. Grain yield and water use efficiency (WUE) were higher by 20 and 59% in the case of I75 compared to I100. The use of deficit irrigation in drip-irrigated wheat under arid conditions is an effective tool to maximize efficiency of water use; moreover, 4,027 m3 ha-1 is the optimum irrigation rate for maximum WUE and grain yield.
The excessive uses of chemical fertilizers create hazardous environmental effects and unsafe food. Inversely, organic fertilizer usage has an advantage of being cheap, improving soil properties, and ...stimulating root development. The effect of filter mud cake (FMC) as an organic fertilizer and potassium sulfate as a chemical fertilizer (CF), either individually or combined with biofertilizers on potato growth and its yield as well as soil fertility, were evaluated. Field treatments were assigned in a completely randomized block (CRB) for two consecutive years with three replicates. Our results showed that all treatments resulted in an increase in the electrical conductivity (EC) and soil organic matter compared to the control one. The addition of CF alone significantly increased the availability of N, P, and K by 54.72, 2.52, and 32.94%, respectively, over the control treatment. The corresponding values were 94.31, 36.89, and 71.54% using 100% FMC dose (FMC
100
). Total fresh and dry yields were significantly increased by 143.97 and 187.66%, respectively, for FMC
100
addition compared to the control. The utmost relative increase in the large-size tubers was recorded with FMC
100
(2.34 times) while the highest increase of the medium-size ones (97.26%) was observed with CF
100
in comparison to the other treatments. Besides biofertilizers, the individual addition of FMC and its combination with CF realized a positive effect on soil fertility, potato growth, and its yield.
Limited water availability in arid and semi-arid wheat production systems increases the need of applying efficient drip irrigation systems. However, there is little information available about the ...optimum level of nitrogen (N) fertilization for drip-irrigated wheat. A two-years field study in the semi-arid region of Upper Egypt was carried out in a randomized complete block design to investigate the response of drip-irrigated wheat to three levels of N fertilization (N120 = 120, N180 = 180, and N240 = 240 kg ha-1). N240 increased the uptake of N, P, and K by 66.3, 48.6, and 43.5%, respectively, as compared to N120. The application of N240 increased the grain yield by 28.4 and 40.4% and water use efficiency by 27.6 and 41.8% the first and second season, respectively, as compared to N120. Based on the obtained results, it is recommended to fertilize drip-irrigated wheat by 240 kg ha-1.
Shortage of water in arid and semi-arid maize production systems increases the need of applying deficit irrigation. A two-year field study in the semi-arid region of Upper Egypt was carried out in a ...randomized complete block design (RCBD) during the summer seasons of 2014 and 2015. Maize plants were irrigated by 8276 or 6207 m3 ha-1 (100 or 75% of water requirements, I100 and I75). Uptake of N and K by maize irrigated by I100 increased by 11 and 7% in the first season and by 13 and 15% in the second season compared to I75 . Increasing the irrigation level to 100% caused a 20 and 6% increase in the straw yield in the first and second season, respectively, also it caused a 20% increase in the biological yield in the first season. The grain yield of maize irrigated by I was higher by 5 and 10% in the first and second season, respectively, as compared to I100. Water 75 100 use efficiency (WUE) was higher by 41 and 56% in the first and second season, respectively, in the case of I75 as compared to I100. The data of the current study indicated that slightly water stress caused a slightly 100 significant reduction in the straw and biological yield of maize and saved 2000 m3 of water, moreover, it caused a slightly significant increase in the grain yield.
Water scarcity poses a significant challenge in arid and semi-arid regions, necessitating a focused exploration of groundwater resources. Egypt, confronted with various water challenges, particularly ...in its Western Desert, relies heavily on groundwater as the exclusive water source due to the presence of the Nubian Sandstone aquifer. Effective groundwater management in this region is imperative. This study delves into the hydrogeological characteristics of the Nubian Sandstone aquifer system (NSAS) in the prominent New Valley Oases—Kharga, Dakhla, and Farafra—where agricultural activities heavily depend on groundwater. The primary objective entails a meticulous temporal assessment of the impact of groundwater development on aquifer behavior, groundwater levels, and drawdown. Employing a remote sensing approach, agricultural expansion from 1995 to 2020 was scrutinized. The Visual MODFLOW package served as a robust tool for simulating groundwater flow in the study areas. Noteworthy findings reveal an upward trajectory in agricultural crop areas, escalating by approximately 6% from 1740 km² in 1995 to 1850 km² in 2020. Concurrently, drawdown, influenced by current groundwater extraction, is anticipated to range from 0.5 to 5 meters per year. To ensure the sustainable development of these areas, stringent regulations must be implemented, underscoring the imperative for judicious groundwater management practices. This research underscores the critical need for informed decision-making and proactive measures to address the evolving dynamics of groundwater resources in the New Valley Oases.
•Conventional well control procedure failed to detect kick early in low permeable formation.•Mud logging warning signs have a great advantage in early kick detection.•The advanced early kick ...detection method uses additional accurate flow check utilizing trip tank and high accuracy pressure sensors.•The proposed method can detect small kick early and near-balance drilling before kick occurs.
Early kick detection is of great concern while drilling wells. The late kick detection can lead to uncontrolled blowout which increases the possibility of injury and potential lose of life and equipment. Causes of kick and the importance of early kick detection are introduced. Kick detection from mud logging real time data and kick detection in the offshore Nile Delta are discussed. Limitation of the conventional well control procedure in low permeable formation is introduced. A comparison between gas parameters warning sign and drilling parameters warning sign was carried out. A new advanced early kick detection method is proposed based on more than 10 years of experience in monitoring real time mud logging data while drilling and analyzing flow and kick reports. The proposed advanced early kick detection method uses additional accurate flow check using trip tank and recommends adding two additional accurate pressure sensors while shut-in well. The proposed method has a great advantage using gas parameters which can detect near-balance state before kick occur. The advanced kick detection method does not require any rig equipment modification nor interfere with any drilling operation. Case studies in the offshore Nile Delta wells illustrate the limitation of the conventional well control procedure and the advantage of the proposed method.
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