during autumn of 2004 and 2005 seasons to study the effect of sowing date and plant spacing on dry seed yield (pulse) in three common bean cultivars (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) (Giza 6, Swiss Blanc and Nebraska). Plant spacings tested were 10, 20 and 30cm. Significant differences among cultivars were found in most studied traits. Nebraska cultivar was the earliest to produce mature dry seeds, gave the greatest records for pods/plant, dry seed yield/plant and the highest calculated seed yield/fed. Plants sown on Sept., 15, Sept., 18 gave the best potential for number of pods/plant, percentage of final plant stand, percentage of seed germination and seed yield /plant. Plants sown at 10 cm gave the highest values for dry seed yield (kg/fed.). Plants sown at 30 cm gave the highest values for percentage of final plant stand, pods/plant, and seed yield/plant.

The present work was carried out on the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Assiut during 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 seasons to study the effects of planting date and dry set size on emergence percentage, final stand and yield and its components of onion cv. Giza 6 grown by sets. Planting on September 15 th gave the highest emergence %, final plant stand and the highest of single center bulbs percentage while early planting at August 15 th exhibited the least % of the two parameters. Planting at Aug.30 th resulted in the highest single bulbs yield per feddan the lowest percentage of bolting and the highest weight of double bulbs per feddan. Planting on August 15 th gave the highest percentage of double and bolter bulbs and weight of bolters per feddan..Using of 3 cm dry sets resulted in the highest percentage of emergence and final stand, the highest bolting percentage, the highest bolters and single bulbs weight per feddan and the highest total yield per feddan. The interaction (set size x planting date) was significant in many of studied characters. Planting at Aug.30 th using of 3 cm diameter sets resulted the highest total yield per feddan.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of adding clay minerals such as bentonite and choline on the digestion of nutrients, blood parameters, and growth performance of buffalo calves. Twelve clinically healthy male buffalo calves aged approximately 11-12 months with average body weight (336.50 ± 20.55 kg) were randomly distributed into three different groups (four animals each). The 1 st group was a control or basal diet without supplements, while the 2 nd (T1) and 3 rd (T2) groups were fed the same basal diet with a supplement of 1% bentonite and choline, respectively. The results revealed that the average daily gain and total dry matter intake (DMI) did not affected by dietary supplementation. However, the feed conversion ratio was improved (P< 0.05) in the clay minerals groups in comparison to the control group. The treatment group s were higher (P<0.05) in serum glucose, and calcium and lower (P<0.05) in triglycerides, and urea-N concentrations than the control. Digestibility of crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), and either extract (EE) was increased (P<0.05) with the supplementation of clay minerals. Also, the supplement bentonite increased (P<0.05) dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and nitrogen-free extract (NFE) digestibility as compared with other groups. The feeding value in terms of starch value (SV) and digestible c rude protein (DCP) was improved (P<0.05) with clay minerals groups. It can be concluded that clay minerals such as bentonite and choline are considered one of the effective ways to improve the average daily gain, blood biochemical parameters, nutrient digestibility, and feed conversion ratio of buffalos calves while the carcass characteristics were not significantly affected.