Broomrape parasitism on faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is the most destructive factor for this crop in Egypt. Pot experiments were conducted during the two successive seasons 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 to study the mitigation of broomrape stress on faba bean using a ten-fold dilution of 10% (w/v) spent mushroom substrate extract (SMSE) of Pleurotus ostreatus and the same dilution of culture filtrate of mushroom (MCF) grown in potato dextrose broth (PDB) at a rate of 48 l hectare−1 compared with the commercial herbicide Roundup (Glyphosate 48% emulsifiable concentrate) at a rate of 144 cm3 ha−1 on the two varieties (Misr3 and Sakha3) cultivated in broomrape-infested soil. The treatments include the use of mushroom products as foliar spray and/or soil amendment in addition to Roundup spraying as a recommended treatment. Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) spectroscopy, our results indicate that the major components of the two mushroom products were bioactive compounds such as polyphenol and high molecular weight aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons that may interfere with parasite and host metabolism. These results indicated that SMSE of P. ostreatus and MCF of the same mushroom grown in potato dextrose broth (PDB) gave the best control of broomrape, and increased plant height, root length, leaf area, chlorophyll concentration, relative water content and seed yield (g plant−1), as well as anatomical characters of leaves in the two faba bean varieties (Misr3 and Sakha3), such as upper and lower epidermis, palisade tissue, spongy tissue and vascular bundles. Additionally, electrolyte leakage was decreased in the treated plants compared to control plants and the plants treated with Roundup (glyphosate) because of the important role of SMSE and MCF in the improvement of faba bean water status.

Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is one of the most important vegetable crops but it is threatened by the holoparasitic plant broomrape (Orobanche crenata Forsk). Therefore, two field experiments were conducted in Sakha Agriculture Research Station, Egypt, during 2015–16 and 2016–17 to evaluate the effect of interaction between irrigation periods, and broomrape control treatments to control broomrape, yield and its components in pea and glyphosate residues in pea seeds. The results illustrated that irrigation period after 14 days followed by 21 days decreased broomrape growth and gave rise to the highest values for pea yield and its components. All broomrape control treatments significantly decreased broomrape growth and significantly increased yield and its components. No residues of herbicide (glyphosate at 6.35 g a.i./ha) were detected in pea seeds at harvest. These results indicated that in heavily infested soil with broomrape, irrigation should be done at 14 days interval and glyphosate should be sprayed twice. This gave best broomrape control and increased pea seed yield (t/ha), without any residues in pea seeds at harvest.

A field experiment was conducted on an Orobanche naturally infested soil at Sakha Agricultural Research Station -Kafr El Sheikh, in 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 seasons aiming at combating Orobanche crenata in faba bean through using water extracts of fenugreek, coriander and sorghum crops, each at a concentration of 10% weight/volume at a rate of 20 litres/fed mixed with glyphosate (48%) at a reduced rate (40 cm 3 /fed) compared to the recommended rate of the same herbicide (75 cm 3 /fed). Treatments were foliarly applied twice at 50 and 70 days after sowing. Two faba bean Orobanche tolerant cultivars (Misr 1 and Giza 843) and a susceptible one (Sakha 1) were used in this study. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications. The cultivars were randomly devoted to the main plots while broomrape control treatments were randomly arranged in the sub plots. The results showed significant reductions in Orobanche spikes number and weight at harvest on the three cultivars due to all treatments applied with no significant differences among them. Misr 1 and Giza 843 cultivars were inferior to Sakha1 cultivar in number and weight of broomrape spikes/m2, but they were superior in yield and its components. Therefore, foliar application of either fenugreek, coriander or sorghum plant extracts as donor allelopathy at a concentration of 10% w / v at a rate of 20 litres mixed with glyphosate herbicide (48%) at a rate of 40 cm 3 / fed applied twice 50 and 70 days after sowing can help in controlling Orobanche crenata and improve faba bean yield especially for susceptible genotypes.

To study the efficacy certain herbicides [Nicosulfuron (Shamshon 75%WG), Flumetsulam (Candy 80%WG), Bromoxynil+ Terbuthylazine (Monester 35%SE) and Nicosulfuron+ Bromoxynil (Scrop 75%WG)] at full rate (alone) (30g, 30g, 500cm 3 and 120g /fed.), respectively, and at used rate (75 or 50%) of full rate mixtures with mineral oil at 1 and 2%, beside, Maisterpower 4.53% OD (Foramsulfuron-sodium+ Iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium+ Thiencarbazone-methyl) at full rate (alone) 500cm 3 / fed., (fed= feddan=0.42 hectare), hand hoeing (twice) and weedy check on weed control, productivity and grain quality. Each experiment was laid out a Randomized Complete Blocks Design. Results revealed that both (Monester and Scrop) at used rate 75%+ min.oil 1% or Maister power at full rate gave more controlling effect on total weeds which was reflected to increase yield and its components, than other treatments in both seasons. Also, previous treatments gave increasing grain yield which was directly correlated with increasing vegetative growth traits, yield components and quality characters of grains compared to other treatments in both seasons. Results indicated that the herbicide and adjuvants selected and relative amount used both of them must be tailored to specific condition of each application, therefore, it could replace the two herbicides (Monester or Scrop) at used rate 75% with min.oil 1% by Maister power at the full rate (alone), to avoid the appearance development weeds-resistant to herbicide, beside, without loosing weed control efficiency and grain yield, its components and quality in maize.

A field experiment was conducted during two winter seasons 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 at Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt to study the effect of deficit irrigation and weed control treatments on grain yield and water productivity of three bread wheat genotypes. The experimental design was stripe split-plot, with three replicates. Irrigation treatments were in the vertical plots which include I1 irrigation at all stages (full irrigation), while I2, I3 and I4 were deficit irrigation through withholding one irrigation at elongation, booting, and anthesis stages, respectively. Four weed control treatments were allocated in horizontal plots that include, W1 (Gerostar + Action), W2 (Atlants), W3 (hand weeding twice), and W4 control (untreated), Sub-Subplots were three wheat genotypes G1 (Giza 171), G2 (Sakha 95) and G3 (promising Line). The results revealed that the highest values of plant height, number of spikes m -2 , number of kernels spikes -1 , 1000-kernel weight, biological yield, grain yield and straw yield were recorded under I1 compared to all the studied irrigation treatments, as well as under W1 compared to other weed control treatments and G2 compared to others genotypes in the two seasons. The highest values of water consumptive use (CU), and applied water (AW) were recorded under I1 to be 37.67, and 48.26 cm respectively, the values of AW under I2, I3 and I4 were reduced by 18.5%, 17.6%, and 22.3% respectively compared to I1 as mean of the two seasons. The values of productivity of irrigation water (PIW), and water productivity (WP) were taken the descending order W1> W2 > W3 > W4 and G2 > G1 > G3 for weed, and genotypes respectively. It could be recommended the I2 × W1 × G2 interaction which recorded the highest grain yield, PIW and WP, moreover saved a reasonable amount of irrigation water.