Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) contains essential oil, and various extracts from the seeds possess anti-bacterial, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-cancerous and anti-mutagenic activities. Field experiments were carried out to study the effect of phosphorus (P) fertilization (0, 12 and 24 kg-ha⁻¹ P) on the seed yield, and volatile oil of Egyptian cultivar of coriander under water stress conditions. The oil was obtained by hydrodistillation extraction method using Clevenger apparatus. Chemical analysis of the oil was done by using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Increasing water amounts and P fertilization rates increased plant height, number of branches, number of umbels and seed yield. Essential oil yields increased significantly with increasing water regimes from 50 % to 100 % of ET crop. Irrigation applied at 100 % of crop water need, combined with 24 kg-ha⁻¹ P, gave the best seed and oil yields results. Coriander plants have high water use efficiency (WUE) at 50 % ET crop, and 24 kg-ha⁻¹ P whilst irrigation at 100 % ET crop without any phosphorus application gave the lowest WUE. Concerning essential oil constituents, linalool was the major compound in coriander fruits.

Background: The global freshwater shortage is an important issue threatening the sustainable development of agriculture and food security. A field study was conducted in two seasons, i.e., 2019 and 2020, in the newly reclaimed land at Village 8, El-Minia Governorate, Egypt, to evaluate maize crop response to three irrigation levels (IL₁ = 80, IL₂ = 70, and IL₃ = 60% of the crop evapotranspiration “ETc”), three plant densities (PD₁ = 17.500, PD₂ = 23.333, and PD₃ = 35.000 plants fed⁻¹), and three antitranspirants treatments (An₁ = control, An₂ = kaolin at 6%, and An₃ = chitosan at 150 L fed⁻¹). The experiment was designed as a randomized complete block design (RCBD) using a split plot in strips. Results: Results revealed that the irrigated maize plants with IL₁ (80% of ETc) recorded the maximum values for all traits such as vegetative growth, phenology, and yield and its attributes in both seasons. The heaviest value of grain yield (3.15 and 3.10 tonnes fed⁻¹, where 1 feddan = 0.42 hectare) was realized from IL₁ treatment in the 1st and 2nd seasons, respectively. Plant density of 35.000 plants fed⁻¹ (PD₃) produced the greatest values of leaf area index (6.70 and 6.85), more days to 50% for each of tasseling (62.16 and 61.99 days), and silking (63.63 and 63.73 days), heaviest grain yield (3.11 and 3.16 ton fed⁻¹) and greater water use efficiency WUE (1.46 and 1.48 kg m⁻³) in both seasons, respectively. Conclusions: Foliar spraying with antitranspirants, i.e., kaolin at 6%, led to a tremendous impact on all studied traits by alleviating the water stress and reducing the rate of transpiration. The effect of second-order interaction among IL₁ × PD₃ × An₃ indicated a significant increase in grain yield by 69.91% as compared with the interaction of IL₃ × PD₁ × An₁ in the 2020 season only. CS 10 single-cross maize realized the highest productivity and most efficient use of available resources via using a sowing density of 35.000 plant fed⁻¹, foliar spraying with kaolin at 6%, and irrigation level (80% of ETc) under El-Minia conditions.

Castor bean (Ricinus communis) has emerged as a biofuel crop with potential for its production in marginal land with application of treated sewage water. Some projects in different scales are established to produce castor bean seeds, but additional research is needed to develop the optimal management programs, including the nutrients which help plants to resist the severe conditions such as marginal (bad) soil and the irrigation by treated waste water, reaching to the effect on the produced oil. A field experiment was conducted in El-Gabal El-Asfer Farm, Cairo, Egypt, during 2012 and 2013 growing seasons to evaluate the effect of two rates of foliar K-Amino fertilizer on the productivity as well as the quality characteristics of castor bean oil irrigated by three water regimes of secondary treated sewage water. Results indicated that the maximum seed yield (1026.68kg fed.− 1, one feddan equals 4200 m2) was obtained from spraying plants by 100% of K-amino rate under the irrigation with 75% of the calculated Etc. Castor oil properties indicate low pour points which make this biofuel a good alternative in winter conditions or in the low temperature. The produced oil under 75% of Etc (recommended evapotranspiration) water regime showed good flow properties. It indicates that castor oil biofuel also could be used as petroleum diesel additive improving both environmental and flow behaviour of the mineral fuel. Generally, producing castor bean oil by spraying of K-amino fertilizer under the irrigation of 75% and/or 100% of Etc water regime is more appropriate to produce biofuel

Two field experiments were carried out during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons on a private farm in the west, El-Minia Governorate, Egypt, to evaluate the effect of using arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on promoting the efficiency faba bean cultivars cultivated in sandy soil to resist drought stress under drip irrigation system. The treatments of the experiment were composed of three irrigation treatments (I100: full-irrigation, I75: moderate drought, and I50: severe drought), two inoculations [+] with AMF and [-] without AMF, and three faba bean cultivars (Giza-843, Nubaria-1, and Misr-1). Strip-split plot design in RCBD with three replications was used. The results indicate that (I50) treatment significantly decreased leaf area index, No. of branches plant-1, No. of leaves plant-1, plant height, No. of pods plant-1, 100-seed weight, No. of days from sowing to maturity, seed yield, and land use efficiency (LUE); increased water productivity (WP), economical water productivity (EWP), NPK%, and seeds crude protein SCP%, relative to (I100) treatment, in both seasons. Inoculation with AMF significantly increased all studied traits of faba bean plants and improved nutrient and water uptake under drought-stress conditions. AMF increased seed yield by 19.34 and 24.19% compared to un-inoculation in the 1st and 2nd seasons. Giza-843 cv. gave the highest values of plant height, No. of pods plant-1, No. of days to maturity, seed yield, land use efficiency, WP, EWP, and tolerance to drought stress. The 1st and 2nd order interactions were significant in most traits.

Background: Anethum graveolens L. (dill) is an economically important aromatic plant cultivated for its seeds and essential oil. Dill straw is commonly treated as an agricultural by-product, despite its potential as an alternative source of essential oil. Water deficit stress and the boron (B) foliar application, represent key factors influencing the plant growth, yield, and essential oil composition. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the boron application at different rates on the growth, seed yield, straw yield, and the essential oil content and composition of dill under varying irrigation regimes, and to assess the biological activities of the obtained essential oils. Materials and methods: Field experiments were carried out to study the effect of boron (B) fertilization (0, 150 and 300 ppm) on the seed yield, and volatile oil of dill under water deficit stress conditions. The oil was obtained by hydro-distillation extraction method using Clevenger apparatus. Chemical analysis of the oil was done by using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The biological activities of the seed essential oil were evaluated. Results: Irrigation at 100% of crop evapotranspiration (ET) combined with 300 ppm B produced the highest seed yield, straw yield, and straw oil yield, while 100- % ET combined with 150 ppm B resulted in the highest seed oil yield. High water use efficiency (WUE) for seed yield and seed oil yield was achieved at 50% ET with 150 ppm B, whereas, the maximum WUE for straw yield and straw oil yield was recorded at 50- % ET with 300 ppm B. GC-MS analysis identified carvone and limonene as the major compounds in dill seed oil, while α-phellandrene and limonene predominated in straw oil. The maximum carvone content in seed oil and α-phellandrene content in straw oil were obtained at 100% ET with 150 ppm B. The Maximum limonene content in both seed and straw oils was recorded under 75- % ET combined with 150 ppm B. The essential oil demonstrated significant antimicrobial, antibiofilm, antioxidant, and insecticidal activities. Conclusions: The Boron foliar application combined with optimized irrigation regimes significantly influenced the yield, water use efficiency, and essential oil composition of A. graveolens . Dill straw represents a valuable and hitherto underutilized source of essential oil with a distinct chemical profile compared to seed oil. The biological activities of both oils support their potential application in food preservation and plant protection. These findings provide a basis for sustainable utilization of dill crop residues and optimization of cultivation practices under water-limited conditions.