Egyptian Government focuses on development projects especially in new lands such as Sohag-Red Sea road to improve tourism and agricultural activities. This study aims to assess the actual and potential land productivity. Seventeen soil profiles were chosen depending on the six mapping units of the study area. Soil profiles were drilled and soil samples were collected from each horizon. Nine land characteristics were measured/estimated viz. soil moisture content (H), drainage (D), depth (P), texture (T), soluble salts content (S), average nutrient content (N), organic matter content (O), cationic exchange capacity (A) and reserves weatherable minerals (M). Soil samples were analyzed for their mentioned parameters using the standard methods of soil analysis. Accordingly, land productivity (PI) and potentiality (P⸌I) indices were calculated for all studied soil profiles. The results revealed that actual land productivity of the studied area is extremely poor and can be enhanced 17 times by improving soil moisture content, texture, and organic matter content as the most important controlling-factors. Actual and potential land productivity maps were generated using Arc GIS 10.1 software. These results may help decision-makers for new lands reclamation planning and better agricultural production.

Author AMAG designed the study, wrote the protocol, carried out the field experiments, fallow up the growth, development and harvest of all tested crops, recorded the data of all the tested crops, and reviewed the final manuscript for agronomy part. Author REAAG carried out the pathology part and reviewed the final manuscript for pathology part. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Field experiments were carried out for two consecutive seasons at the Experimental Shandaweel Agricultural Research Station, Sohag Governorate, Upper Egypt, during the growing seasons of 2013 and 2014, to study the effect of irrigation intervals and foliar spray of zinc and silicon treatments on chemical composition of maize. Results indicated that scheduling at every 10 days produced the N% , Crude protein%, Cu%, P%, K%, Zn%, Si%, Mn% and Fe% and foliar spray of zinc and silicon treatments produced the highest chemical composition of maize crop. The best N%, Crude protein%, Cu% and Mn were obtained from zinc + silicon treatments followed by zinc, silicon treatments. In contrast, untreated treatments produced the lowest values. It can be concluded that the scheduling at every 10 days and application of foliar spray of zinc + silicon treatments as the effective one could be recommended for scheduling irrigation at every 10 days with application of foliar spray of zinc, silicon or zinc +silicon treatments of maize crop at Shandaweel Agricultural Research Station, Sohag Governorate, Upper Egypt to obtain the best results from chemical composition of maize.

This study was conducted on 150 (one hundred and fifty) Clarias gariepinus to investigate the blood lipids (triglycerides and cholesterol), kidney functions (creatinine and urea), liver functions (ALT -AST -ALP -LDH), antioxidants (CAT -SOD -GPx) and growth performance (body weight and weight gain). The study was designed by dividing the fish into 3 groups: Group 1: (Control Group), Group 2: (2.4 mg manganese oxide nanoparticles/kg ration) and Group 3 (1.2 mg manganese oxide nanoparticles/kg ration). Samples were collected on day 15, 30, 45 and 60 of the experiment and blood samples were collected for serum separation. The results of this study indicated that the 2 nd group exhibited a significant and progressive decrease in triglycerides, cholesterol, ALT, AST, ALP, LDH, creatinine and urea at all experiment times compared to the control group. Shifting to the antioxidants, the 2 nd and 3 rd groups showed a significant increase in CAT, SOD and GPx levels in the serum compared with the control group at day 60 of the experiment. Concerning the results of growth performance, both groups reflected a significant improvement in body weight and weight gain compared with the control group.

A two-year study was carried out at Sids Agricultural Experiments and Research Station, A.R.C., Beni-Sweif Governorate, Egypt during 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 winter seasons to investigate the possibility of increasing fodder beet productivity and net return per unit area by intercropping fodder beet with some field crops for encouraging Egyptian farmers to grow fodder beet in their fields. Fodder beet plants were grown in one row on all ridges (60 cm width) with intercropping barley, wheat or faba bean plants on the other side of the first and third ridges. Also, fodder beet plants were grown in both side of beds (120 cm width) with intercropping barley, wheat or faba bean plants in the middle of second and forth beds in addition to sole plantings of all the tested field crops. A split plot design in randomized complete block design in four replications was used. The results can be summarized as follows: Intercropping barley, wheat and faba bean with fodder beet led to decrease in yields of all tested field crops in comparison with sole plantings of these crops. As a result of intercropping, root yield of fodder beet was decreased by 18.44, 17.10 and 17.78% in the 1 st and 2 nd seasons and the combined analysis, respectively, as compared with sole fodder beet. Growing fodder beet on ridges (60 cm width) under intercropping and sole cultures had higher values of all the studied traits of fodder beet than those gown on beds (120 cm width) , whereas, yields of barley, wheat and faba bean were not affected. The interaction between cropping systems and ridge width was not significantly affect all the studied traits of all the tested crops. For competitive relationships, intercropping fodder beet with barley, wheat and faba bean increased land equivalent ratio (LER) as compared to sole fodder beet. LER ranged from 1.05 to 1.22 with an average of 1.11. All values of relative crowding coefficient (K) exceeded 1.00. K of barley, wheat or faba bean was higher than those of fodder beet. With respect to dominance analysis, barley, wheat or faba bean plants are dominant components and fodder beet plants are dominated components. Intercropping fodder beet with barley, wheat and faba bean increased total and net returns by about 8.98 and 11.02 per cent, respectively, as compared with sole fodder beet. Net return of intercropping fodder beet with barley, wheat and faba bean was 8903, 9015 and 14075 L.E. per faddan as compared with sole fodder beet (9605 L.E.). Growing fodder beet with faba bean plants on ridges (60 cm width) gave the highest financial return as compared with sole fodder beet. This study concluded that growing fodder beet plants in one row on all ridges (60 cm width) with intercropping faba bean plants on the other side of the first and third ridges gave high yield of fodder beet.