A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of inoculation with Bacillus subtilis and/or Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus (AMF) or maintained as uninoculated controls on the growth, oil %, oil yield and nutrient uptake of three sweet basil cultivars (Local cultivar, Nano Compatt and Red Bordaux) under different salt stress levels (0, 1000, 2000 and 4000 ppm). Results indicated that the high salinity level (4000 ppm) caused significantly reduction in plant height, fresh and dry weights of the herb, number of branches/plant, oil % and oil yield as well as contents of N, P and K in leaves of all studied sweet basil cultivars. Meanwhile, sodium Na+ content in leaves were high, especially at high NaCl concentration. Red Bordaux cultivar was more sensitive to salinity stress than Local and Nano Compatt cultivars. Inoculation with Bacillus subtilis and/or mycorrhizal fungi showed positive effects on growth, oil %, oil yield and nutrient uptake either with or without the salinization treatment. Mycorrhizal colonization showed enerally more pronounced effects than B. subtilis. Dual inoculation with B. subtilis and mycorrhizae provided higher tolerance to salinity compared with the individual treatment. It could be concluded that inoculation of sweet basil cultivars with B. subtilis and mycorrhizal fungi may induce increases in tolerance to salinity of the three tested sweet basil cultivars.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of foliar application of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts (control, 2.5% and 5% aqueous MLE, 2.5% and 5% ethanolic MLE) and/or benzyladenine (control, 50, 100 and 200 ppm BA) on the growth, fruit and oil yield and its main components and chemical constituents of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare, Mill.) plants. The obtained results revealed that treated fennel plants with MLE and/or BA resulted in a significant increase in the vegetative growth, number of umbels/plant, fruit and oil yield per plant and feddan as well as total carbohydrates in fruits, chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents in leaves compared to untreated plants. Generally, the application of moringa leaf extracts was more effective than BA treatments. The individual treatment of aqueous MLE at 5% or BA at 100 ppm gave the best results of the previous mentioned characteristics followed by 5% ethanolic MLE or 50 ppm BA compared to the control and the rest of tested individual ones. The highest values of all studied parameters were obtained by using 5% aqueous or ethanolic MLE combined with 100 ppm BA. The increments were 91.1% and 85.3% in fruit yield/feddan, 52.5% and 46.3% in volatile oil percentage and 192.4% and 172.0% in oil yield/feddan, respectively over the control. The G.C. analysis of the volatile oil showed that the major component of volatile oil was methyl chavicol (estragole) with concentration range from 77.5% to 87.3%. The minor compounds were myrcene and limonene. The best treatment for decreasing the concentration of methyl chavicol (77.5%), which is undesirable component in fennel oil resulted from the combination of 5% aqueous MLE plus 100 ppm BA. Therefore, it could be recommended that spraying fennel plants with 5% aqueous MLE plus 100 ppm BA for obtaining higher vegetative growth, fruit and oil yield.

Objective of this work was carried to extend shelf life of sugar beet roots by applying different conditions of storage to increase juice purity, sugar recovery and decrease sugar loss in wastes. This investigation was carried out to study the effect of three different storage procedures of four different sugar beet roots varieties (cultivars: Pleno, Top, Kawemira and Ceres poly) harvested at different periods (180, 195 and 210 days) at 12- 33.60˚Con the white sugar production, the amount of sucrose loss in the final wastes and the purity of sugar beet juice. Ceres poly variety had the highest white sucrose recovery under the covering storage procedures ranged from 13.75 to 17.92%. However, Pleno variety was the highest sucrose loss at almost harvesting days, while, Ceres poly recorded the lowest percentages in wastes at almost harvesting days. Top variety was the highest juice purity during manufacture especially at 180 and 210 days under the covering (78.27 and 84.74%) and open-air storage (83.86 and 84.85%).All results obtained in this investigation are affected by certain factors such as sucrose, K and α-N content in sugar beet roots, and the purity of sugar beet juice stored in the storage room was relatively higher compared to other treatments

Objective of this work was carried to extend shelf life of sugar beet roots by applying different conditions of storage to increase juice purity, sugar recovery and decrease sugar loss in wastes. This investigation was carried out to study the effect of three different storage procedures of four different sugar beet roots varieties (cultivars: Pleno, Top, Kawemira and Ceres poly) harvested at different periods (180, 195 and 210 days) at 12- 33.60˚Con the white sugar production, the amount of sucrose loss in the final wastes and the purity of sugar beet juice. Ceres poly variety had the highest white sucrose recovery under the covering storage procedures ranged from 13.75 to 17.92%. However, Pleno variety was the highest sucrose loss at almost harvesting days, while, Ceres poly recorded the lowest percentages in wastes at almost harvesting days. Top variety was the highest juice purity during manufacture especially at 180 and 210 days under the covering (78.27 and 84.74%) and open-air storage (83.86 and 84.85%).All results obtained in this investigation are affected by certain factors such as sucrose, K and α-N content in sugar beet roots, and the purity of sugar beet juice stored in the storage room was relatively higher compared to other treatments

Objective of this work was carried to extend shelf life of sugar beet roots by applying different conditions of storage to increase juice purity, sugar recovery and decrease sugar loss in wastes. This investigation was carried out to study the effect of three different storage procedures of four different sugar beet roots varieties (cultivars: Pleno, Top, Kawemira and Ceres poly) harvested at different periods (180, 195 and 210 days) at 12- 33.60˚Con the white sugar production, the amount of sucrose loss in the final wastes and the purity of sugar beet juice. Ceres poly variety had the highest white sucrose recovery under the covering storage procedures ranged from 13.75 to 17.92%. However, Pleno variety was the highest sucrose loss at almost harvesting days, while, Ceres poly recorded the lowest percentages in wastes at almost harvesting days. Top variety was the highest juice purity during manufacture especially at 180 and 210 days under the covering (78.27 and 84.74%) and open-air storage (83.86 and 84.85%).All results obtained in this investigation are affected by certain factors such as sucrose, K and α-N content in sugar beet roots, and the purity of sugar beet juice stored in the storage room was relatively higher compared to other treatments

The environmental impact of crop wastes and the high cost of peat moss (PM) force scientists to find alternative growing media. In a pot experiment, peanut shell (PS) and corn wastes (CWs) were evaluated as growing media in comparison with PM in three different mixing ratios with washed sand. The mixing ratio were M1¼1:1 raw material to sand, M2¼1:2 raw material to sand, and M3¼1:3 raw material to sand. The tested plant was lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). The obtained results showed that PS medium contained available nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) higher by 121% and 38% above the PM medium. Availability of potassium (K) in CW medium was higher by 167% than PM. The EC, pH, OC, and C/N ratio of PM were higher by 227%, 4%, 128%, and 99% above the CW and by 1,473%, 9%, 74%, and193% above the PS, respectively. The highest significant values of growth parameters were recorded in PM medium. The highest total cost and lowest net profit were recorded with the use of PMM1, whereas the lowest cost and the highest net profit were obtained with PSM2. Physiochemical characteristics of peanut shell suggested that it can be economical alternative growing media for PM.

The environmental impact of crop wastes and the high cost of peat moss (PM) force scientists to find alternative growing media. In a pot experiment, peanut shell (PS) and corn wastes (CWs) were evaluated as growing media in comparison with PM in three different mixing ratios with washed sand. The mixing ratio were M1¼1:1 raw material to sand, M2¼1:2 raw material to sand, and M3¼1:3 raw material to sand. The tested plant was lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). The obtained results showed that PS medium contained available nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) higher by 121% and 38% above the PM medium. Availability of potassium (K) in CW medium was higher by 167% than PM. The EC, pH, OC, and C/N ratio of PM were higher by 227%, 4%, 128%, and 99% above the CW and by 1,473%, 9%, 74%, and193% above the PS, respectively. The highest significant values of growth parameters were recorded in PM medium. The highest total cost and lowest net profit were recorded with the use of PMM1, whereas the lowest cost and the highest net profit were obtained with PSM2. Physiochemical characteristics of peanut shell suggested that it can be economical alternative growing media for PM.

The environmental impact of crop wastes and the high cost of peat moss (PM) force scientists to find alternative growing media. In a pot experiment, peanut shell (PS) and corn wastes (CWs) were evaluated as growing media in comparison with PM in three different mixing ratios with washed sand. The mixing ratio were M1¼1:1 raw material to sand, M2¼1:2 raw material to sand, and M3¼1:3 raw material to sand. The tested plant was lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). The obtained results showed that PS medium contained available nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) higher by 121% and 38% above the PM medium. Availability of potassium (K) in CW medium was higher by 167% than PM. The EC, pH, OC, and C/N ratio of PM were higher by 227%, 4%, 128%, and 99% above the CW and by 1,473%, 9%, 74%, and193% above the PS, respectively. The highest significant values of growth parameters were recorded in PM medium. The highest total cost and lowest net profit were recorded with the use of PMM1, whereas the lowest cost and the highest net profit were obtained with PSM2. Physiochemical characteristics of peanut shell suggested that it can be economical alternative growing media for PM.

The environmental impact of crop wastes and the high cost of peat moss (PM) force scientists to find alternative growing media. In a pot experiment, peanut shell (PS) and corn wastes (CWs) were evaluated as growing media in comparison with PM in three different mixing ratios with washed sand. The mixing ratio were M1¼1:1 raw material to sand, M2¼1:2 raw material to sand, and M3¼1:3 raw material to sand. The tested plant was lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). The obtained results showed that PS medium contained available nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) higher by 121% and 38% above the PM medium. Availability of potassium (K) in CW medium was higher by 167% than PM. The EC, pH, OC, and C/N ratio of PM were higher by 227%, 4%, 128%, and 99% above the CW and by 1,473%, 9%, 74%, and193% above the PS, respectively. The highest significant values of growth parameters were recorded in PM medium. The highest total cost and lowest net profit were recorded with the use of PMM1, whereas the lowest cost and the highest net profit were obtained with PSM2. Physiochemical characteristics of peanut shell suggested that it can be economical alternative growing media for PM.

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