As a result of water resource crisis, water-saving agriculture is necessary for sustainable development. Natural polysaccharide polymer is gaining great acceptance over synthetic polymers as controlled-release systems due to it is safe for the environment, cost effectiveness, easy availability, and biodegradability. This study is designed to evaluate the potential of natural polymers (cellulose, starch and cellulose/starch composite) to overcome scarcity of water on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Two different agricultural solid residues (rice straw and potato peels) were used to prepare of natural polymers. Polymer efficiency to water-saving and controlled release sencor herbicide was studied. Greenhouse experiment was conducted during 2017/2018. Four treatments; without polymer as a control and with different polymers (cellulose, starch and cellulose/starch composite) under three different level of irrigation (100, 75, and 50% FC) were used. Data indicated that the maximum swelling ratio of different polymer were in the fowling order, cellulose/starch (6.21 g/g) > Cellulose (4.80 g/g) > Starch (3.01 g/g). The results from the pot experiment showed that the addition of natural polymers to the soil have a positive effect to conserve water and increase the proportion of soil moisture compared to control. The highest increase was recorded at cellulose/starch polymer, this increase reached to 2.7-, 2.2-and 2.1 fold for 100, 75 and 50% FC that control. Natural polymers application with different water stress condition have positively affected on yield and quality of tomatoes especially when polymers were use under full irrigation. The increase of yield was recorded when applied different polymers (cellulose, starch and cellulose/starch) under full irrigation (100% FC), this increase reached to 13.7, 14.7 and 20.5% compared to without polymers and 2.2, 3.8 and 5.4% under irrigation scarcity (75% FC) compared to control without polymers (100% FC). Irrigation scarcity increased proline and phenol content and decrease total chlorophyll. Vitamin C, total soluble solids, pH, lycopene and juice content improved significantly with applies of natural polymers. The use of natural polymers under water scarcity improved the water use efficiency (WUE) of tomatoes.
There is a great need for intensifying agricultural production in Egypt. In this respect, an attempt was done to determine the effects of plant extracts from some agricultural residues such as rice straw, Bagasse, and soybean meal when applied with or without nitrogen mineral fertilizers on growth parameters, chemical components and yield of wheat and barley plants. Two experiments (pot and field) were carried out at Giza, Agricultural Research Station, during winter season of 2010/2011. Results of pot experiment confirmed that the growth parameters of wheat plants affected by applied of aqueous agricultural residues extracts such as shoot length and dry weight compared to control treatment (treated with recommended dose of mineral fertilizer only). The field experiment demonstrated that among the extracts tested, 100% rice straw extract follows by 50% bagasse with 50% nitrogen mineral fertilizer were highly effective on yield relative to mineral fertilizer only as a control. Regarding to the chemical and biochemical parameters, the highest values of nitrogen and potassium% were recorded in treatment of 25% soyabean meal extract with 75% nitrogen compared to control. Phosphorus content showed increasing at 25% mixture of different extract with 75% nitrogen mineral fertilizer treatment. The highest value of crude protein was observed at treatment of 25% soyabean meal extract with 75% nitrogen mineral fertilizer followed by 25% rice straw extract with 75% nitrogen mineral fertilizer compared to control. The highest value of total carbohydrate was observed in treatment of 100% bagasse extract, followed by 100% mixture of different extract treatment then 50% rice straw extract with 50% nitrogen mineral fertilizer compared to control, respectively. The highest value of Indole acetic acid (IAA) was recorded in treatment of 100% rice straw extract. For gibberellic acid, the highest value was recorded in treatment of 100% soybean. From the results obtained, it could be concluded that, some extracts can be used for reducing the dose of nitrogen fertilizer, reduce the high cost of buying inorganic fertilizers, and thus reduce pollution resulting from the extra-use of these fertilizers and also reduce the cost of agricultural production. However, more studies are needed to determine the exact mechanism(s) that lead to realize improvements.
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