The present investigation was carried out at Sakha Agricultural Research Station to compare growth characteristics, yield and its components of four flax cultivars as well as to throw the light on the interrelationship between yield and its components during 2005/06 and 2006/07 seasons.
Results of the combined analysis of the two seasons showed that significant differences were observed among the three commercial varieties Sakha 1, Sakha 2 and Sakha 3 and strain 16 in dry weight/plant, leaves and stems percentage at 90 and 120 days after sowing. Significant differences among the four flax cultivars were observed for apical branches and capsules percentage at 120 and 150 days after sowing. Flax strain 16 gave the highest dry weight/plant at all growth stages (60, 90, 120 and 150 days after sowing), followed by the commercial variety, Sakha 2. Meanwhile, Sakha 3 variety gave the lowest dry weight/plant in most growth stages.
Comparative study on yield and its components showed that the commercial variety Sakha 1 gave the highest straw yield/feddan, followed by variety Sakha 3. However, Sakha 3 variety exhibited the highest total stem length, technical stem length, fiber yield/plant and feddan, fiber length and fiber fineness. Flax strain 16 had the highest seed yield/feddan, number of seeds/capsules and seed index, followed by the commercial variety Sakha 2.
Correlation coefficients calculated between straw yield/plant and total stem length, number of apical branches, number of capsules and fiber yield were positive and significant in all cultivars. Moreover, seed yield/plant exhibited significant positive associations with number of apical branches, straw and fiber yields, number of capsules and seeds in all studied cultivars.

The present study was carried out at research farm of Rice Mechanization Center, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate during the two successive growing seasons of 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 to study the effect of land preparation systems and sowing methods on seed and straw yield of two different genotypes flax varieties (Sakha 1 and .Sakha3). Land preparation systems were used, conventional system: Chisel plow (twice) + Mechanical scraper (twice), Moderate system: Chisel plow (twice) + Disk harrow (twice) + Mechanical scraper and Advanced system: Chisel plow (twice) + Rotary plow (once) + Laser scraper. The sowing methods were Manual broadcasting, Mechanical broadcaster and Developed mechanical broadcaster. The results can be summarized as follows:
1. The highest values of germination ratio (90.97 and 90.25 %) and the lowest values of coefficient of variance (12.3 and 13.6 %) were obtained at advanced land preparation system for Sakha 1 and .Sakha 3, respectively. While, the sowing methods have no significant effect on germination
2. The Maximum yield of straw (4.71 and 4.52 ton/fed) and seeds (575 and 421 kg/Fed) were obtained by using advanced system and modified broadcaster for Sakha 1 and .Sakha 3 respectively.
3. Using advanced land preparation system saving about 10.89 and 5.75% in energy requirement compared with conventional and moderate systems, respectively.
4. The net profit of flax seed and straw yields was increased by (61.31 and 77.49%) and by (22.82 and 35.68%) due to using advanced land preparation system instead of conventional system and moderate system with developed broadcaster for Sakha 1 and Sakha 3, respectively.

ABSTRACT: This investigation was carried out at two different locations (Gemmeiza and Mallawy).New seventeen yellow inbred lines of maize were top crossed to two line testers (Gm. 1021 and Gm. 1002) to produce thirty four top crosses in summer season of 2004 and evaluated in addition with two checks (S.C. 155 and S.C. 3084) in summer season of 2005 under the two locations. Highly significant differences were recorded between the two locations. Moreover, mean squares of crosses and their partitioning lines, testers and lines x testers interaction were significant and highly significant for most studied traits. Based on the combined analysis of the two locations, the non-additive genetic variance was more important than the additive genetic variance in the inheritance of all studied traits except, ear position and number of rows/ear. The inbred line Gm. 376 gave positive significant and desirable GCA effects for grain yield, number of kernels/row and ear length, while, four inbred lines gave significant and desirable GCA effects for grain yield only. The inbred lines Gm. 377, Gm. 379 and Gm.381 exhibited negative significant and desirable GCA effects towards earliness and dwarfness. The inbred lines Gm. 373, Gm. 381 and Gm. 383 showed significant and desirable GCA effects for resistance to late wilt disease. On the other hand, the line tester Gm 1002 showed negative significant and desirable GCA effects towards earliness, dwarfness, while, it showed positive significant for ear length and grain yield. On the other side, the line tester Gm. 1021 exhibited desirable GCA effects for resistance to late wilt disease, ear diameter and number of rows/ear. Five top crosses exhibited desirable SCA effects for grain yield, i.e., (Gm.371 x Gm. 1021) , (Gm.377 x Gm. 1021) , (Gm.378 x Gm. 1002), (Gm.381 x Gm. 1021) and (Gm.386 x Gm. 1002), while, the single cross Gm. 386 x Gm. 1002 gave highly significant and desirable of SCA effects for grain yield, ear length, number of rows/ear and number of kernels/row in addition to five top crosses i.e. Gm 382 x Gm 1021 (31.9 ard/fad.), Gm 385 x Gm 1021 (31.6 ard/fad), Gm 383 x Gm. 1021 (31.5 ard/fad.), Gm. 385 x Gm. 1002 (31.4 ard/fad) and Gm 387 x Gm 1002 (31.4 ard/fad) out yielded than the commercial crosses S.C. 155 (28.7 ard/fad.) and S.C. 3084 (31.2 ard/fad) for grain yield and most agronomic traits. The relative increasing percentage of grain yield (ard/fad) for the top crosses with inbred line Gm 1021 as tester, ranged from -35.9% to 2.2%and from -30.3% to 11.2% relative to S.C. 3084 and S.C. 155, respectively. The highest percentage values of the relative increasing for the top crosses with inbred line Gm 1021 as tester were obtained from the two crosses (Gm.385 x 1021) and (Gm382 x 1021). The relative increasing percentage of grain yield for the top crosses with inbred line Gm 1002 as tester, ranged from -57.4% to 0.3% and from -53.7% to 9.1% relative to SC 3084 and SC 155, respectively. The highest percentage values of the relative increasing for the top crosses with inbred line Gm 1002 as tester were obtained from two crosses (Gm387 x 1002) and (Gm385 x 1002). These results are of great utilization for maize breeder to be involved in breeding program to improve grain yield and its contributing characters.
Key words: Maize, Zea mays L, Line x tester, Combining ability ,Top crosses.

ABSTRACT
This experiment was conducted in 2004 and 2005 seasons to study response of two hybrid rice varieties H1 (SK 2034), H2 (SK 2046) and the pure line cultivars Sakha 101 to three levels of nitrogen fertilizer and three sowing dates. Three nitrogen levels used were (55, 110 and 165 kg N/ha). Three sowing dates were (15th April, 1st May and 15th May). Results showed that H2 surpassed other varieties under study in number of days from sowing to (maximum tillering and panicle initiation),leaf area index at complete heading, LAI and CGR at 74 days after sowing, amylose content, and grain yield (t/ha). In the other hand H1 gave the highest value of no of days from sowing up to heading date, LAI and CGR at period 60 and 67 days after sowing. While Sakha 101, outperform in protein content and light penetration. H2 with 165 KgN/ha, gave the highest value of LAI at 1st may date of sowing. However H1 with 165 KgN/ha) gave the highest value in chlorophyll content. All attributes studied were increased with 165 (kg N/ha. 1st May gave the highest value of number of days from sowing up to maximum tillering, panicle initiation, leaf area index at complete heading, LAI, C.G.R at three dates after sowing (60,67 and 74 ), Amylose content, and grain yield except light penetration were decreased.

Key words: Hybrid rice, Sowing date, N - level.

ABSTRACT
The present investigation was carried out at Qalapshoo Agriculture Research Station, Bilqas district, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt, during the two growing seasons of 2004 /2005 and 2005 /2006 in sandy soil. Two field experiments were conducted to study the effect of farmyard manure (FYM) at rates of (16.7, 33.3 and 50 t/ha.), and elemental sulphur levels of (Zero, 238, 476 and 714 Kg/ha.) and foliar application treatments (control, Nofatrin, Cetrin and EM) on yield and its components and quality of flax variety (Sakha 2). The results obtained could be summarized as follows :
Increasing farmyard manure (FYM) rates from 16.7 up to 50 t/ha. significantly increased technical stem length, seed yields per plant and per hectare in the first season, fruiting zone length, stem diameter and number of seeds / capsule in the second season. Straw yield/plant as well as per hectare and straw with capsules yield /ha., fiber yield /ha. fiber length, fiber percentage, fiber strength and fineness, number of capsules and seeds/plant, seed index and oil percentage in both seasons.
Increasing elemental sulphur level from Zero up to 714 Kg S/ha. significantly increased stem diameter in the second season only. Technical stem length, fruiting zone length, straw yield per plant and per hectare, straw with capsules yield/ha. fiber yield /ha., fiber length, fiber percentage, fiber strength and fineness, number of capsules and seeds/plant, number of seeds/capsule, seed index, seed yields per plant and per hectare and oil percentage in both seasons.
Nofatrin application significantly increased fiber yield /ha., fiber percentage and fiber strength and fineness. Cetrin application significantly increased stem diameter, straw yield per plant as well as per hectare, straw with capsules yield /ha., number of capsules and seeds/plant, number of seeds/capsule, seed index, seed yields per plant and per hectare and oil percentage. EM spray significantly increased technical stem length in the first season only, fruiting zone length and fiber length in both seasons.
The interaction among the experimental factors had a significant effect on most characteristics under study, it could be concluded that the highest straw and seed yields were obtained at 50 t FYM /ha. with 714 Kg S/ha. plus spray and with Cetrin, whereas the highest fiber yield was achieved at 50 t FYM /ha. and 714 Kg S/ha. and spray with Nofatrin.


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Keywords: Flax, Linseed, Linum usitatissimum L., fertilizer, farmyard manure, sulphur, foliar application, FYM, EM

ABSTRACT
The present investigation was carried out at Qalapshoo Agriculture Research Station, Bilqas district, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt, during the two growing seasons of 2004 /2005 and 2005 /2006 in sandy soil. Two field experiments were conducted to study the effect of farmyard manure (FYM) at rates of (16.7, 33.3 and 50 t/ha.), and elemental sulphur levels of (Zero, 238, 476 and 714 Kg/ha.) and foliar application treatments (control, Nofatrin, Cetrin and EM) on yield and its components and quality of flax variety (Sakha 2). The results obtained could be summarized as follows :
Increasing farmyard manure (FYM) rates from 16.7 up to 50 t/ha. significantly increased technical stem length, seed yields per plant and per hectare in the first season, fruiting zone length, stem diameter and number of seeds / capsule in the second season. Straw yield/plant as well as per hectare and straw with capsules yield /ha., fiber yield /ha. fiber length, fiber percentage, fiber strength and fineness, number of capsules and seeds/plant, seed index and oil percentage in both seasons.
Increasing elemental sulphur level from Zero up to 714 Kg S/ha. significantly increased stem diameter in the second season only. Technical stem length, fruiting zone length, straw yield per plant and per hectare, straw with capsules yield/ha. fiber yield /ha., fiber length, fiber percentage, fiber strength and fineness, number of capsules and seeds/plant, number of seeds/capsule, seed index, seed yields per plant and per hectare and oil percentage in both seasons.
Nofatrin application significantly increased fiber yield /ha., fiber percentage and fiber strength and fineness. Cetrin application significantly increased stem diameter, straw yield per plant as well as per hectare, straw with capsules yield /ha., number of capsules and seeds/plant, number of seeds/capsule, seed index, seed yields per plant and per hectare and oil percentage. EM spray significantly increased technical stem length in the first season only, fruiting zone length and fiber length in both seasons.
The interaction among the experimental factors had a significant effect on most characteristics under study, it could be concluded that the highest straw and seed yields were obtained at 50 t FYM /ha. with 714 Kg S/ha. plus spray and with Cetrin, whereas the highest fiber yield was achieved at 50 t FYM /ha. and 714 Kg S/ha. and spray with Nofatrin.


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Keywords: Flax, Linseed, Linum usitatissimum L., fertilizer, farmyard manure, sulphur, foliar application, FYM, EM

ABSTRACT

Two field experiments were conducted at Qalapshoo Agricultural Experimental Research Station, which belong to Bilqas District-Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt during the two growing seasons of 2004 /2005 and 2005 /2006 in sandy soil. The objectives of this study was conducted to study the effect of three organic matter ( farmyard manure, compost and town refuse) in addition to clay at three rates ( 7, 14 and 21 t/ha.).

The most important results revealed that addition of organic matter forms had a significant effect on most characteristics in both seasons. Addition the clay significantly increased fruiting zone length in the first season, technical stem length, fiber yields per plant and per hectare, fiber percentage, fiber length, number of seeds/plant and seed index in both seasons. Adding farmyard manure significantly increased fibers strength and fineness, number of capsules/plant, seed yields per plant as well as per hectare and percentage in both seasons. Town refuse application significantly increased straw yields per plant and per hectare, straw with capsules yield/ha. and number of seeds/capsule in both seasons. Increasing organic fertilizers rate from 7 up to 21 t/ha. significantly increased straw and straw with capsules yields/ha. in first season, technical stem length, straw yield/plant, fiber yields per plant and per hectare, fiber percentage, fiber length, fibers strength and fineness, number of seeds/plant and oil percentage in both seasons, number of capsules/plant and number of seeds/capsule in the second seasons, seed index , seed yields per plant as well as per hectare in the first season. The interactions between the two factors under study on yield and quality of flax variety Sakha 2 were significant in most characteristics in both seasons.

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Keywords: Flax, Linum usitatissimum L., Linseed, Clay, Farmyard manure, Compost, Town refuse, rates, yield and quality

A half dialed cross among five common wheat varieties and lines were evaluated in both F1 and F2 generation Were used to estimate general and specific combining abilities and correlation between grain yield / plant each of flag leaf area (FLA), leaf angle (LA), leaf area Index (LAI), specific leaf weight (SLW), relative growth rate(RGR), Chlorophyll ( A, B and carotenes), and some yield components in F1 and grain yield and yield components in F2 (LAI), (SLW) , and chlorophyll were measured at two periods ( 10 and 15 weeks after planting ). Significant mean squares for genotype of parents , crosses, and parents vs. crosses were detected in both generations except parents for (SLW) at the 1st period and parents for (SLW) at the 1st period and parents vs. crosses for *LA), (LAI) at the 1st period and (SLW) at the 2nd period in F1 generation . The parents P2 and P5 were the top of the tested parents in grain yield per plant. Correlation coefficient estimates between grain yield per plant and each of flag leaf area (FLA), leaf angle (LA) specific leaf weight (SLW) at the 1st and 2nd periods, (RGR), number of spikes / plant and 1000-kernelweight in F1, and number of spikes / plant, number of kernels / spike and 1000-kernel weight in F2 were positive and significant .
The mean squares associated with general specific combing ability were significant for all characters in both generations. High GCA/SCA ratio which exceeded than unity were detected for ( FLA), ( LA) and ( SLW) in F1 generation and most the studied characters in F2 generation. The parental line ( P1) had the best combiner for leaf angle ( LA) and low ( LAI), ( SLW) at the 2nd period, (RGR), chlorophyll at the 1st and 2nd periods and number of spikes per plant. Also, the variety ( P5) was the best combiner for ( FLA), ( LAI) at the 1st period, ( SLW) at the 1st period, chlorophylls at the 1st and 2nd periods, number of kernels per spik, 1000-kernel weight and grain yield per plant .
The five crosses (1×2), ( 1×5 ), ( 2×5), (3×4) and ( 4×5) gave significantly positive ( Sij) for grain yield / plant as well as most studied characters for F1 generation. The six crosses (1×2), ( 1×4 ), ( 1×4), ( 2×3), ( 2×5), and (3×4) gave significantly positive ( Sij) for grain yield / plant as well as most studied characters for F2 generation. Generally, the results obtained from F2 data were nearly similar to those obtained from F1 data .

With decreasing water availability for agriculture, and increasing demand for rice, water apply in rice production systems has to be well managed to increase its productivity. This investigation aimed to study the effect of scheduling irrigation based on Class A Pan Evaporation on grain yield and water use of two rice cultivars. Two field experiments were carried out at the Experimental Farm of Rice Research and Training Center, Sakha, Kafr El-Sheikh governorate, Egypt during 2003 and 2004 summer seasons. The two experiments were laid out in a split plot design, with four replications, where the main plots were occupied by irrigation every six days with applied water equal 1.0 , 1.5 and 2.0 times of accumulative pan evaporation (APE) as well as continuous flooding as a traditional irrigation (check treatment). However, the sub plots were assigned to rice cultivars i.e. Sakha 101 and Sakha 102.
The main results revealed no significant differences in grain yield among irrigation treatments having continuous flooding and irrigation every six days interval with applied water equal 1.5 and 2.0 times of APE . At the same time, they significantly produced higher grain yield and most of its components than irrigation every six days interval with applied water equal 1.0 of APE.
Rice cv. Sakha 101 produced higher dry matter, number of tillers/m2, number of panicls/m2, panicle length, total grains/panicle, sink capacity, panicle weight, and grain yield. However, cv. Sakha 102 surpassed Sakha 101 in plant height and 1000-grain weight. Over both seasons, irrigation water amounts applied were 10495, 13769, 17044, and 15878 m3/ha for irrigation every six days interval with applied water equal 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 times of APE as well as continuous flooding treatments, respectively. Water requirements for rice cvs. Sakha 101 and Sakha 102 were 14868 and 13725 m3/ha, respectively. Irrigation water applied equal 1.0 of APE had the highest value of water utilization efficiency (WUtE) compared to other irrigation schedules using Class A Pan and the continuous flooding as well. Mean WUtE ranged from 0.659 to 0.704 kg rice/m3 water for Sakha 101, while it was between 0.681 and 0.721 kg rice/m3 water for Sakha 102 in 2003 and 2004 seasons, respectively. The quantity of water used in producing one kg of rice was higher in irrigation every six days with water applied equal 2.0 times of APE, followed by contentious flooding, however, irrigation water every six days with applied equal 1.5 and 1.0 of APE came in between.
Therefore, watering every six days interval with applied water equal 1.5 times of APE using Sakha 101 and Sakha 102 could be applied under shortage of irrigation water.

Two field experiments were conducted at the Experimental Farm of Rice Research and Training Center (RRTC), Sakha, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt, during 2005 and 2006 summer seasons to study the effect of cut-off irrigation dates on grain yield and quality of some Egyptian rice cultivars for determine the optimum timing of last irrigation to rice field. Such experiments were laid out in a split-plot design, with four replications. The main plots consisted of three rice cultivars, viz. Sakha 101, Sakha 102 and Sakha 104, however, the sub-plots were occupied by four cut-off dates of irrigation, viz. termination of irrigation at complete heading, 7, 14 and 21 days after complete heading. The main results revealed that rice cultivars varied in panicle dry matter (g) and panicle growth rate (g/day/panicle) from heading to harvest time under different cut-off dates of irrigation. Panicle growth rate increased at a very fast rate and reached maximum in earlier stages for Sakha 102 and Sakha 104 than for Sakha 101, thereafter the rate of increase was slow, followed by a slight decrease. Sakha 101 recorded significantly the highest grain yield of 8.99 and 9.79 t/ha in 2005 and 2006 seasons, respectively, accompanied with maximum values of panicles number/m2, panicle length, number of spikelets per panicle, sink capacity, panicle density and panicle grain weight. However, Sakha 102 recorded the highest and significant values of unfilled grain percentage, one thousand grain weight, moisture content in grains, milling recovery (hulling, milling, head rice and broken rice %) and protein content. No significant difference was found between Sakha 102 and Sakha 104 in hulling, milling and head rice percentage. The results, also, showed that delay in withholding of irrigation significantly increased the grain yield and its components (panicle length, no. of grains/panicle, panicle density, panicle grain weight and 1000-grain weight) but, reduced the unfilled grains percentage compared with earlier cut-off dates of irrigation at complete heading. Higher moisture percentage in grains (17.64 and 15.99 %) was recorded when delay last irrigation up to 21 days of heading and resulted in higher head rice recovery (67.36 and 66.91 %) and lower broken rice (5.40 and 6.02 %) in both seasons, respectively, whereas withholding irrigation just after heading reduced moisture content, and increased broken rice recovery. Over both seasons, panicle length, number of spikelets/panicle, sink capacity, panicle grain weight, moisture content and milling recovery (hulling, milling and head rice percentage) showed positive and highly correlation coefficients with grain yield. Also, positive correlation coefficient was found between grain yield with panicle density and protein content. However, unfilled grains and broken rice percentage had negative and highly significant correlation coefficients with grain yield. Generally, withholding of irrigation 21 days after compete heading is considered as the optimum timing of last irrigation to rice field to get high grain yield and quality of rice cultivars under the same conditions of study.