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Careful cultural management of field crops has become imperative in countries where chemical measures are not economically feasible. The occurrence of the endemic parasitic witchweed [Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth] in production fields of sorghum‐sundangrass hybrid [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench ✕ S. sudanense Stapf. cv. Piper], Pioneer brand hybrid 988 (coded P988), is one example that requires such procedures. Study objectives were to relate: (i) P988 seed size (large and small) to witchweed germination, P988 root and shoot length, and weight and (ii) P988 seed size and harvest growth stage to P988 greenchop yield and sucrose content at three initial and subsequent P988 harvests at boot stage, late bloom stage, and maturity in witchweed‐infested fields. Seedlings of P988 grown from small seed had significantly shorter shoots but longer roots compared to those from large seed. Witchweed germination was not signficiantly affected by seed size of P988 but was postively correlated to P988 root length and root dry weight. Seed size of P988 had no significant effect on forage greenchop yield and forage sucrose of P988 at all harvests. Delaying initial harvest of P988 increased witchweed shoot dry weight with time and equated total yields, but reduced the quality of greenchop at late bloom and maturity. Delaying second and third harvests of P988 to maturity significantly increased greenchop yield of P988. Forage sucrose at maturity stage of second and third harvests exceeded forage sucrose at maturity of first harvest by 106 and 60%, respectively. Witchweed shoot dry weight was positively correlated with forage sucrose of P988. Growing small seeded P988 reduced witchweed incidence and sustained P988 yields when combined with harvesting at the boot stage on first harvest and at maturity of later harvests on witchweed‐infested soils.

Delaying harvest of P988 from the boot stage to the maturity stage significantly reduced 1) forage greenchop yield of P988 grown on Striga-iniested soil at 1st and 3rd harvest of July sowing and at 3rd harvest of October sowing, 2) root dry weight of P988 grown on Sm'gd-infested soil at 3rd harvest of July and October sowing, and 3) forage sucrose of P988 grown on Striga-'miesied soil at 3rd harvest of July sowing and at 1st and 3rd harvest of October sowing. Reductions in forage greenchop yield of P988 with successive harvests were accelerated by Striga infestations. The root dry weight was significantly greater from P988 plants grown from small compared to large seed. Delaying harvest of P988 to the maturity stage was associated with significant increases in number of open Striga flowers at 1st and 2nd harvest from October planting and in Striga shoot dry weight at 1st harvest of July and 1st and 2nd harvest of October planting. These increases were positively correlated with forage sucrose of P988. Results suggest that optimal forage greenchop yield on 5trig(i-infested soil may be obtained from P988 plants grown from small seed and harvested at the boot stage.

A pot experiment was conducted at Faculty of Education, Alzaiem Alazhari University, Sudan, during 2019/2020 to evaluate the effect of Amaranthus viridis powder on the emergence and growth of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla). The experiment was set as a completely randomized design (CRD) with four replicates. In the treatments the powder of Amaranthus viridis was incorporated into the soil at rate of (0, 0.5, 1.0. 1.5 and 2.0% w/w) representing T1 (control), T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. Results indicated that Amaranthus viridis powder decrease germination, plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, shoot and root fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll content (a, b) and some chemical elements (P, Ca, Mg, Fe) of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla).

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Two pot experiments were carried out at Faculty of Education, Alzaiem Alazhari University, Khartoum, to study the effect of magnetized water on some growth characteristics of cowpea. The experiments were set as a completely randomized design with three replications and four treatments. The treatments were water passed through magnetic funnel either, once, two, four or six times, compared with control (tap water). The results indicated significant differences in germination, plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root. Results also showed significant difference in chlorophyll content (a and b) and phosphorus and potassium content. Results indicated that magnetized water is an effective method for high yield of cowpea.

The study was carried out on water samples collected from different sites in Swakin City and Arbat area in Sudan. Five samples were collected during two seasons (winter and summer) to determine the quality of the drinking water by looking into physicochemical and microbial aspect. Results showed that some samples exceeded the Sudanese and international standards in turbidity and some samples showed the presence of coliform, E. coli and faecal streptococcus bacteria. It is recommended to carry out microbial examination frequently for water in the distribution system.

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