Two field trails were carried out at El-Mattana Agricultural Research Station (latitude of 25.17 o N and longitude of 32.33 o E), Luxor Governorate, Upper Egypt during 2013/2014 (virgin cane) and 2014/2015 (first ratoon crop,) to find out the optimum harvesting age for some sugarcane varieties. Treatments consisted of a factorial combination of three promising sugarcane varieties (G.98-28, G. 99-160 and G.2003-49) and five harvesting age (10, 11, 12, 13 and 14-months) were arranged in factorial experiment conducted in randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The results showed that all of the studied traits were significantly influenced by delaying the harvest age from 10 to 14-month age. Also, the results showed that the three promising sugarcane varieties significantly differed in stalk cane length, diameter, as well as Brix, sucrose purity, sugar recovery percentages, cane and sugar yields (Ton/fed.). Generally, promising sugarcane variety G.2003-49 was superior over the other two varieties i.e. G.98-28 and G. 99-160 in cane and sugar yields (Ton/fed.).

Osmotic stress is a major physiologic dysfunction that alters the water movement across the cell membrane. Soil salinity and water stress are major causal factors of osmotic stress that severely affect agricultural productivity and sustainability. Herein, we suggested and evaluated the impact of integrated biochar-based soil amendment and exogenous glycine betaine application on the growth, physiology, productivity, grain quality, and osmotic stress tolerance of rice (Oryza sativa L., cv. Sakha 105) grown in salt-affected soil under three irrigation intervals (6, 9, or 12 days), as well as soil properties and nutrient uptake under field conditions during the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Our findings showed that dual application of biochar and glycine betaine (biochar + glycine betaine) reduced the soil pH, electrical conductivity, and exchangeable sodium percentage. However, it enhanced the K+ uptake which increased in the leaves of treated-rice plants. Additionally, biochar and glycine betaine supplementation enhanced the photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids) and physiological attributes (net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, relative water content, and electrolyte leakage) of osmotic-stressed rice plants. Biochar + glycine betaine altered the activity of antioxidant-related enzymes (catalase, ascorbate peroxide, and peroxidase). Moreover, it improved the yield components, biological yield, and harvest index, as well as the nutrient value of rice grains of osmotic-stressed rice plants. Collectively, these findings underline the potential application of biochar and glycine betaine as a sustainable eco-friendly strategy to improve plant resilience, not only rice, but other plant species in general and other cereal crops in particular, to abiotic stress, particularly those growing in salt-affected soil.

Tow field experiments were carried out at the Experimental Farm of the Water Studies and Research Complex (WSRC) Station, National Water Research Center, in Abu Simbel, Toshka Region, Egypt during two winter seasons 2015-16 and 2016-17. The main objectives were to study the effect of different irrigation levels [A 1 =100% of crop water requirements (ET crop), A 2 =80% ET C and A 3 =60% ET C ], three rates of nano-fertilizer (lithovit) (B 1 =0, B 2 = 200 and B 3 =400ppm), three levels of nitrogen fertilizer (C 1 =60, C 2 =80 and C 3 =100 kg N fed-1) and their interactions on yield and its component, water use efficiency (WUE), fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) and quality of durum wheat plants. The experimental design was a strip-split plot with three replications. The tested agronomic traits were: plant height, No. of tillers m-2 , spike length, No. of grains spike-1 , 1000-grain weight, grain yield, water use efficiency (WUE), irrigation use efficiency (IWUE), fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) as well as protein and ash content, hectoliter weight and Hegberg falling number. The results indicated that the irrigation levels, nano-fertilizer concentrations and N-levels had significant effects on most yield component, water parameters, fertilizer use efficiency and quality of wheat plants in both seasons. Increasing irrigation levels from 60% to 100% increased all agronomic traits and FUE, but WUE, IWUE and falling number were decreased. The treatment of 400 ppm nano-fertilizer produced high values of all yield parameters, water relation, FUE except falling number. Increasing N-levels from 60 to 100 kg N fed-1 increased all studied traits, but FUE and falling number were deceased. The maximum grain yield (2192.4 and 2251.6), (2026.8 and 2075.7) and (1904.3 and 1964.3 kg fed-1) were produced when 100% of irrigation water, 400ppm of lithovit and 100 kg N fed-1 were applied in the two seasons, respectively. Based on the obtained results, it could be concluded that highest irrigation level of 100%, nano-fertilizer concentration of 400 ppm in combination with Nlevel of 100 kg fed-1 is suitable for Toshka climatic conditions to increase the grain yield and quality of wheat (Triticum durum L.).

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Two field trails were carried out at the Farm of South Valley Development Company, Toshka, (latitude of 22 o .49-N, longitude of 28 o .58-E and an elevation of 188 m above sea level) Aswan Governorate, Upper Egypt in 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 seasons. These trials aimed to find out the optimum harvesting age (180, 195, 210 and 225 days) for five sugar beet varieties four of them are multi-germ varieties namely Misribel, Halawa, Husam, and Habiba and one is mono variety namely Natora. The experimental design was a factorial experiment conducted in a complete randomized block design with three replications. Results indicated that delaying harvesting date up to age 225 days significantly increased root length, root diameter, sucrose, purity, extractable sugar and extractability percentages as well as root and sugar yields/fad. Root contents of impurities (α-amino N, Na and K) were significantly influenced by delaying the harvest age. Results showed that sugar beet varieties differed significantly in root length, root and sugar yields/fad. as well as sucrose, purity, impurities percentages. Under the conditions of Toshka region, the results suggested that harvesting Misribel variety at age of 210 days can be recommended to produce the best quality as well as the highest root and sugar yields/fad.