A pot experiment was conducted outdoor at the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University during the summer seasons of 2015 and 2016.to evaluate the positive interaction effects among different types of organic fertilization forms and levels alongside with bio fertilizer applications on quantitative and qualitative yield characteristics of cucumber grown under an organic farming conditions.. Thirty treatments were arranged in a split-split plot design with three replicates, which were the simple combination of three types of organic amendments (compost, FYM, and biochar), two rates of soil application (5 and 10 ton fed -1 ) and five types of bio fertilizer application forms i.e. (1) microbien + phosphorien, (2) microbien + phosphorien+ effective microorganisms (EM), (3) EM, (4) poultry manure extract, and (5) control (without biofertilizetion). Compost proved its effectiveness in improving yield characteristics, nutrients content and quality indices as compared with other organic amendments. The application level of 10 ton fed -1 was the optimum rate for providing sufficient needs of plant during its whole growth stage. The combined biofertilization treatment (microbien + phosphosien+ EM) was the most effective treatment for improving quantitative and qualitative yield characteristics. The obtained results concluded that the integrated treatment of compost application at 10 ton fed -1 alongside with microbien + phosphosien+ EM biofertilization is recommended to produce the highest productivity and quality indices of cucumber yield grown on a sandy soil condition.

The rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), and the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), are key stored-product pests in Egypt and worldwide. The extensive use of synthetic insecticides has led to adverse effects on the environment, human health, and pest resistance. As a result, environmentally friendly pest management alternatives are desperately required. The botanical oils of jojoba, Simmondsia chinensis (L.), and rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis L. plants growing in Egypt were extracted, identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and evaluated for their insecticidal activity against S. oryzae and T. castaneum. The main constituents identified in BOs were carvyl acetate (20.73%) and retinol (16.75%) for S. chinensis and camphor (15.57%), coumarin (15.19%), verbenone (14.82%), and 1,8-cineole (6.76%) for R. officinalis. The S. chinensis and R. officinalis BOs caused significant contact toxicities against S. oryzae and T. castaneum adults, providing LC50 values of 24.37, 68.47, and 11.58, 141.8 ppm at 3 days after treatment (DAT), respectively. S. chinensis oil exhibited significant fumigation toxicity against both insects; however, it was more effective against S. oryzae (LC50 = 29.52 ppm/L air) than against T. castaneum (LC50 = 113.47 ppm/L air) at 3 DAT. Although the essential oil (EO) of R. officinalis significantly showed fumigation toxicity for S. oryzae (LC50 = 256.1 and 0.028 ppm/L air at 1 and 3 DAT, respectively), it was not effective against T. castaneum. These BOs could be beneficial for establishing IPM programs for suppressing S. oryzae and T. castaneum.

The present research was carried out during the season of 2014 for controlling the white garden snail, Theba pisana (Muller) under laboratory conditions by using some chemical fungicides (Copper sulfate 50%, Copper hydroxide 53.8% and Benalaxyl) with three concentrations (0.5, 0.25 and 0.125%) for each insecticides as spraying lettuce leaves and baits. The results showed that, in all concentrations, the mortality rates increased by the time and most mortality achieved over seven days post fungicides treatments, for the white garden snail, Theba pisana (Muller) by concentrations of 0.5%, 0.25% and 0.125%, in respectively for both treated spraying lettuce leaves and baits.Spraying lettuce leaves of copper sulfate 50 % were achieved mortality percentages 64, 57 and 38 for concentrations (0.5, 0.25 and 0.125%), respectively while baits were achieved mortality percentages 52, 48 and 24 for the same concentrations after 7 days, in this respect. The corresponding LT 50 (day) values were 5.21, 6.08 and 9.27 for spraying lettuce leaves and 7.03, 6.96 and 9.70 for baits at tested concentrations of 0.5%, 0.25% and 0.125%. Copper hydroxide 53.8% achieved mortality percentages 48. 32 and 17 for the same concentrations in spraying lettuce leaves but in baits achieved 28, 21 and 13 for the same concentrations after 7 days, respectively, corresponding to LT 50 (day) values were 8.46, 8.59 and 10.27 for spraying lettuce leaves and 10.27, 9.31 and 11.32 for baits at its tested concentrations of 0.5%, 0.25% and 0.125%, in respect. Also. benalaxyl achieved mortality percentages 62, 34 and 16 for the same concentrations in spraying lettuce leaves but in baits the mortalities achieved 54, 30 and 11 for the same concentrations after 7 days, in respect, corresponding to LT 50 (day) values of 6.24, 9.56 and 22.20 for spraying lettuce leaves while for baits the values were 7.04, 8.56 and 15.21 at its tested concentrations.

The extensive use of synthetic chemicals for pest control is recognized as a major threat to ecosystem integrity. There have been many studies of agrochemical reduction technologies, but little work to date has been done to achieve a combined reduction of chemical pesticides and chemical fertilizers (Wan et al., 2013). Contamination by nitrates and pesticides in rural regions as the main element of agricultural diffuse pollution has been gradually realized by agricultural and environmental scientists (Li and Zhang,1999). Atthough Heindel er al. (1994) mentioned that pesticides and fertilizers, as used in modern agriculture, contribute to the overall low-level contamination of groundwater sources, they found that one mixture containing aldicarb, atrazine, dibromochloropropane, 1,2dichloropropane, ethylene dibromide, and simazine plus the ferlilizer ammonium nitrate at levels up to 100-fold greater than the median concentrations in groundwater supplies in California or Iowa did not cause any detectable reproductive (mice), general, or developmental toxicitY (rats). Synergistic effect of fertilizers on pesticides was proved by Chahal et al. (2012) who found that sprays

Preliminary studies on the population density of Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) existing in a cotton field revealed that spraying Chlorpyrifos-methyl 48% E. C. and lambda-cyhalothrin 5% E. C. didn't affect the mite population density significantly. As regards the pesticide-untreated area, the maximum population density was recorded in September; meanwhile, the minimum one was recorded in June. The mites were at the highest population density on the leaves of the middle section of the plants; meanwhile, they were at the lowest population density on the leaves of the top section. The mite population found on the lower surfaces of the leaves was significantly more than the mite population found on the upper ones. The majority of the mite individuals existed at the pleats and the bases of the lower surfaces of the leaves. After spraying a defoliant by a week, the population density of the mites existing on the fresh leaves found beneath the defoliant-treated plants were 13.5 mites per leaf, which is considered to be comparatively high. Hence, large numbers of that mite could be obtained from that leaf category. By collecting 15 fresh leaves from the ground located under the plants treated with the pesticides and the defoliant, and stacking them in a jar, in certain conditions, for three days, most individuals congregated on the upper ones. The average population density of the mites found on the upper three leaves was 39.89 mites per leaf. Hence, large numbers of that mite could be accumulated on a few leaves.

Background The attractiveness, the stickiness and the edibility span of 29 nutrients were assessed to reveal the comparative suitability of each nutrient for feeding the predaceous mite Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Results Baker's yeast generally was the most attractive-food source. The mixture of skim milk, honey, yolk, baker's yeast and amino acid solution 10% at a volume ratio of 100:1:1:20:1, respectively, was the most attractive mixture. No mite individual fed on honey, the three nutrients containing amino acid solution at high concentrations, chicken blood, smashed cow liver, living drosophila stages, or cotton pollen. Over two minutes, no mite individual stuck to honey, baker's yeast, the three nutrients containing amino acid solution at high concentrations, chicken blood, smashed cow liver, or drosophila types. On the contrary, all the mite individuals exposed to cotton pollen stuck to it on touching. Grape juice was the most adhesive of the rest of the nutrients. The mixture of skim milk, honey, yolk, baker's yeast, and amino acid solution 10% at the volume ratio of 100: 20: 1: 1: 1, respectively, was the most adhesive mixture. The mixture containing the same components at a volume ratio of 100: 1: 20: 1: 1, respectively, was the least adhesive mixture. By examining each of the 19 edible nutrients individually, water was found to be edible until evaporation. Amongst the rest of the edible nutrients, maize pollen had the longest edibility span; it continued valid for feeding for about four days. On the contrary, the yolk continued to be edible for just seven minutes. As regards the edible mixtures, the mixture containing skim milk, honey, yolk, baker's yeast and amino acid solution 10% at a volume ratio of 100:20:1:1:1, respectively, had the longest edibility span. On the contrary, the mixture containing the same components at a volume ratio of 100:1:20:1:1, respectively, had the shortest edibility span. As regards the components of the edible mixtures, honey percentage showed a negative correlation with the number of the attracted mites, whereas it showed positive correlations with each of the number of the stuck mites and edibility span. Compared with honey, yolk and baker's yeast showed opposite trends. Conclusions Each of the examined edibles had its good points as a food for A. swirskii.

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Individuals of three manure-inhabiting predaceous mite species were chosen to evaluate their efficiency as biological control agents against the eggs of two stored-product insects. The mite species were Cheyletus malaccensis (Acari: Cheyletidae), Macrocheles robustulus (Acari: Macrochelidae) and Gamasholaspis variabilis (Acari: Parholaspididae). Meanwhile, the tested insects were Sitotroga cerealella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), and Callosbruchus chiensis (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). For each insect, twenty eggs were exposed to five individuals of the predaceous mite. The eggs and mites were kept in a dark room in the laboratory. After treatment, inspections were performed 24, 48 and 72 hrs later. In most inspection intervals, the average percentages of the consumed eggs by these predaceous mite species were significantly different from those of control. All three mite species consumed a lot of eggs, especially after 72-hour post treatment. The average percentages of consumed S. cerealella eggs by either mite species were always higher than the average percentages of C. chinensis eggs consumed by the same mite species. Macrocheles robustulus was found to be the most effective predator against both insects' eggs where the average percentages of S. cerealella and C. chinensis consumed eggs after 72 hrs were 91.67 and 53.33%, respectively. Gamasholaspis variabilis was found to be the least effective predator against the eggs of both insects where the average percentages of the consumed eggs of S. cerealella and C. chinensis after 72 hrs were 86.67% and 38.33%, respectively. The consumption of the eggs of each of the two targeted insects by the individuals of the three evaluated mite species increased as the exposure time increased. Cannibalism between the individuals of each of the three valuated mites wasn't observed while performing the experiment.