Avoiding soil degradation and improving crop productivity could be achieved by performing sustainable soil nutrient management with an appropriate understanding of soil properties’ spatial variability. The present fertilizer recommendations for the region where the study area is located are typically symmetric for large regions. This leads to the under-application of fertilizers in zones with low nutrient contents and over-application in zones with high nutrient contents. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess soil management zones (MZs) in the study area for effective soil nutrient management and to evaluate soil properties’ spatial variability. A total of 100 geo-referenced soil samples were collected at a depth of 0–20 cm, processed and analyzed for pH, available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK), soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorous (TP), while C:N, C:P and N:P ratios were calculated. Soil properties’ coefficients of variation (CVs) widely varied from low (1.132%) to moderate (45.748%). Ordinary kriging and semi-variogram analysis showed differed spatial variability patterns for the studied soil properties with spatial dependence ranged from weak to strong. MZs were delineated by performing principal component analysis (PCA) and fuzzy K-means clustering. Four PCs with eigen values more than 1 dominated 84.44% of the total variance, so they were retained for clustering analysis. Three MZs were delineated based on the two criteria modified partition entropy (MPE) and fuzzy performance index (FPI). The studied soil properties differed significantly among MZs. Thus, the methodology used for MZ delineation could be used effectively for soil site-specific nutrient management for avoiding soil degradation concurrently with maximizing crop production in the study area.

Forty-two New Zealand White male rabbits with average body weight 546.74g were randomly assigned to 7 groups (6 animals in each) in a completely randomized design to study the effect of dietary zinc supplementation through inorganic (ZnO) or organic (Zinc EDTA) sources in combinations with copper (CuSo4) on growth performance. Rabbits of the first group (T1) were given basal diet without any supplementations (control group), while the other 6 groups were given basal diet containing zinc and copper as follows: group 2 (T2) received basal diet + 250 mg Cu/kg diet from CuSo4, group 3 (T3) received basal diet + 500 mg Cu/kg diet, group 4 (T4) received basal diet +20 mg Zn from Zinc EDTA + 250 mg Cu/kg diet, group 5 (T5) received basal diet + 20 mg Zn from Zinc EDTA + 500 mg Cu/kg diet, group 6 (T6) received basal diet +20 mg Zn from ZnO + 250 mg Cu/kg diet and group 7 (T7) received basal diet + 20 mg Zn from ZnO + 500 mg Cu/kg diet, respectively. Live body weight, daily body gain, daily feed intake andfeed conversion ratio were significantly increased by feeding rabbits on diets supplemented with 250 or 500 mg Cu/ kg diet. More enhancements were recorded in rabbits fed with 20 mg zinc as ZnO and 250 mg copper (T6). Total protein concentration in blood serum was significantly increased in rabbits fed 20 mg Zn from Zn EDTA + 500 mg Cu/kg diet (T5). Also the same treatment increased ceriatenine (CREAT) concentration in blood serum. While, Cu supplementations at 250 (T2) or 500 (T3) mg/kg feed increased urea concentration. All supplementation treatments significantly increased pre-slaughter weight comparing to un-supplemented control rabbits. The highest pre-slaughter weight was found in rabbits fed with diet containing 250 mg Cu/kg diet (T2) or with 20 mg Zn from ZnO + 250 mg Cu/kg diet (T6). Weights of carcass, liver and kidney and dressing (%) as well as weights of head and hind part did not significantly affected with the tested supplementations.Economically final margin was increased in all rabbits fed supplemented feed. The highest income from gain and the highest final margin were recorded in rabbit groups fed diet supplemented with 250 mg Cu/kg diet (T2) or 20 mg Zn from ZnO + 250 mg Cu/kg diet (T6).

A feeding trial of 8 weeks was performed to evaluate effects of dietary onion peel extract (OPE) supplementation on the growth performance, carcass traits and blood biochemical indicators of male APRI grwoing rabbits during Egyptian summer environments. Thirty-six weaned male rabbits (646 ± 15.39 g) were randomly allocated to four trial groups (9 rabbits in each group) as a completely randomized design. The first group was fed a control diet without supplementation, while the other three diets supplemented groups with OPE at 200, 350, and 500 mg/kg diet. The findings indicated that dietary supplementation with OPE at levels of 200 or 350 mg/kg diet significantly (P<0.001) enhanced live body weight at 9 and 13 weeks of age compared to the control group. OPE supplementation led to improvements in growth performance indicators including body weight gain, relative growth rate, and feed conversion ratio, whereas feed intake and carcass traits showed no significant changes. The serum cholesterol profile showed favorable changes, with a reduction in total cholesterol, LDL-C, and VLDL-C levels (P≤0.01), and a slight increase in HDL-C (P=0.052), while triglyceride levels remained unchanged. OPE supplementation at levels of 200 or 350 mg/kg resulted in an increase in serum total protein, with the 200 mg/kg diet level significantly enhanced serum albumin (P<0.05) and serum globulin (P<0.01) levels. The antioxidant status was enhanced, evidenced by decreasing malondialdehyde levels (P<0.01) and elevating concentrations of catalase and glutathione, especially at levels of 200 and 500 mg/kg diet. Immunological responses indicated a significant increase in IgM (P<0.05) in the 200 mg/kg group, elevated IgG levels (P<0.05) at 350 mg/kg diet, and enhanced lysozyme activity (P<0.01) at both 200 and 350 mg/kg when compared to control group. Conclusively, from these results it could be concluded that dietary supplements with OPE at levels 200 and 350 mg/kg diet enhanced growth performance, blood cholesterol levels, immune response, and antioxidant activity in fattening ABRI rabbits subjected to heat stress in Egypt.

Such research was conducted aiming to evaluate soil fertility of 43 locations in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt through determination available and exchangeable K and their relationships with K potential. Main physical and chemical properties, as well aswater soluble K, available K, exchangeable K, potassium potential, the potential buffering capacity and the activity ratio of potassium were determined. Sand content ranged from 14.0 to 95.6%. Clay content ranged from 2.4 to 61.9%. Calcium carbonate ranged from 1.14 to 64.76 g kg-1 and organic matter ranged from 2.69 to 22.83 g kg-1. Soluble potassium ranged from 5.60 to 89.06 mg kg-1. The highest was in Ezbet Elgendy which is characterized with high salinity and the lowest was in Ezbet Abd-Elraaof soil. Exchangeable K ranged between 29.28 and 636.31 mg/ kg-1, the highest was in Elfaddadna soil and the lowest was in Abd-Elraaof soil. Available K ranged from 34.88 to 678.4 mg kg-1 soil. Potassium potential ranged between 2.10 to 2.63. High values were in soils characterized with light texture such those of Geta and Elmahawda. Low values were in soils of Ezbet Abd-Elraaof. Most of the soils have fairly adequate potassium content.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary organic Zinc Ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic acid (Zinc EDTA) and inorganic zinc oxide (ZnO) supplementation on the growth, feed efficiency, blood parameters, physiological indicators, and carcass traits of growing male New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits under Egyptian heat-stress conditions. A total of thirty weaned male NZW rabbits were randomly assigned (625 ± 5.39 g) to three experimental groups. The 1st group was fed basal diet without Zn supplementation as control group; while the 2nd group was fed with Zn-EDTA (50 mg/kg diet), and the 3rd group was fed with ZnO (50 mg/kg diet) for the duration of 5-13 weeks of age. The results indicated that zinc supplementation significantly (P< 0.01) increased body weight, daily weight gain, and relative growth rate in both Zinc EDTA and ZnO groups as compared to the control group. The Zinc EDTA group had the best feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio. Blood parameters were also, significantly (P<0.01) affected by zinc supplementation, which was: Zinc EDTA group had significant (P< 0.01) increases in serum total protein, whereas both Zinc EDTA and ZnO significantly reduced serum ALT, AST, and urea levels when compared to control group. In carcass traits, both Zinc EDTA and ZnO groups had significantly (P< 0.01) higher carcass weight and dressing percentage compared to the control group. Moreover, the economic efficiency was improved, both Zinc EDTA and ZnO groups showed higher return of gain and profit margin as compared to the control group, especially with Zinc EDTA group was yielding the highest profit margin. Conclusively,, from these results, it could be concluded that dietary zinc supplementation, particularly in the form of Zinc EDTA, provides significant benefits for improving growth performance, feed efficiency, health, and economic outcomes in male NZW rabbits exposed to heat stress, in Egypt.