Response of Pickling Cucumber Hybrids to Bio Fertilization With Mycorrhizal Fungi and Trichoderma

The field experiment was conducted during the season 2021-2022 in Baquba nursery affiliated to Diyala Agriculture Directorate. In order to study the effect of organic fertilizer and agricultural sulfur on the growth and yield of garlic, the study included two factors; The first is sulfur: without addition (control), agricultural sulfur, ground addition 75 kg ha-1, and spraying with liquid sulfur 2 ml L-1. The second factor was spraying with five types of organic fertilizers, namely: spraying with aqueous extract of sheep manure at a concentration of 100%, spraying with polyamine at a concentration of 2 g L-1, spraying with humic acid 1 ml L-1, and spraying with compost tea at a concentration of 100% in addition to a treatment without spraying (control treatment). The experiment included fifteen treatments and three replications, so the total of the experimental units became forty-five experimental units. A factorial experiment was applied in the split-cut system within the Randomized Complete Block Design (R.C.B.D). Results showed that spraying with liquid sulfur 2ml-1 (exceeds in all characteristics of vegetative growth and the yield The number of leaves (9.06 leaf.plant-1), the leaf area (7.56 dm2 plant-1) and the relative content of total chlorophyll (1.58 mg 100 g-1 fresh weight) and the number of lobes per head (39.63 clove. head-1) Head weight (75.27 gm head-1) and total yield (22.58 tons h-1) Measured by the low comparison treatment and gave the lowest values at 8.08 leaf plant-1 and 6.30 dcm2 plant-1, 1.32 mg 100 g-1 fresh weight and 35.86 clove head-1 and 59.25 g head-1 and 17.77 tons h-1 respectively. As regards spraying with organic fertilizer, the results show that the humic acid treatment (1 ml-1) was significantly higher than the control treatment in terms of the number of leaves (9.55 leaf plant-1) and leaf area (8.27 dcm2 plant-1) and relative content Number of cloves per head (42.05, head-weight (81.33gm) and total yield (24.39 ton.h-1). The results of control treatment were 7.42 leaf plant-1 and 4.72 dcm2 plant-1 and 1.00 mg 100 g-1 tender weight 31.85 clove head-1, 50.03 grams head-1 and 15.01 tons h-1, in order. The interaction between sul[hur liqid 2 ml L-1 and humic acid 1 ml L-1 had a significant effect on the leaf number per plant (10.33) leaf area (9.14 dcm2 plant-1) and relative content of total chlorophyll in leaves (1.95mg 100gm-1 fresh weight), cloves (45.66 clove head-1) and head weight (92.55gm head-1) and the total output of the heads (27.76 tons h1) compared to the comparative treatment of 7.20 leaf head-1, 4.39 dcm2 plant-1, 0.97 mg 100g-1 fresh weight, 31.58 clove head-1, 48.33 gm head-1 and 14.50 tons h.1 respectively.

A study was conducted in a field belonging to the Najaf Agriculture Directorate/Najaf/Iraq during the spring growing season of 2021. The study aimed to analyze the response of okra variety Hussainiya for two factors. The first studied factor was three levels of DPW (decomposed palm waste), including 0, 16, and 32 tonha-1, while the second factor was three levels of a foliar application of Jasmonic acid, including 0, 15, and 30 mgL-1. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used to model the factorial experiment with three replications, and the Least Significant Differences (LSD) were selected to compare the means at the probability level of 0.05. The results showed the significant superiority of organic fertilization treatment of DPW at the level of 32-ton ha-1 compared with control treatments in the studied parameters, recording the highest value of the plant height, total number of leaves, total leaf area, dry weight of the vegetative system, number of fruits per plant, the yield of one plant, total yield, the percentage of nitrogen in leaves, the total chlorophyll percentage, and the total soluble carbohydrates in fruits. The foliar application of 30 mg. L-1 Jasmonic acid gave significantly higher values for the above indicators than control treatments. The interaction between the application of 32 tons. ha-1 DPW and 30 mg L-1 Jasmonic acids showed significant superiority over other treatments in all studied indicators. These indicators were plant height 131.66 cm, total number of leaves 42.55 leaves plant-1, total leaf area 1.66 m2plant-1, dry weight of the vegetative system 95.48 g plant-1, fruits number 77.15 fruit plant-1, yield of one plant 884.75 g plant-1, total yield 56.17 tons. ha-1, nitrogen in leaves 2.262%, total chlorophyll in leaves 80.91 mg.100 g-1FW, and carbohydrates in fruits 20.33%. While the interaction between non-fertilized plants sprayed with water only recorded significantly the lowest value of these indicators, which scored 77.10 cm, 20.36 leaf plant-1, 0.59 m2plant-1, 54.11 g plant-1, 47.23 fruit plant-1, 237.42 g plant-1, 15.07-ton ha-1, 1.351%, 47.45 mg.100 g-1 fresh weight, and 6.77% respectively. Keywords: Abelmoschus plant; decomposed palm waste; Jasmonic acid; okra, Organic fertilizer; yield indicators.

This experiment was carried out at the Agriculture Experimental Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza in two successive seasons of 2005-2007and 2006-2008. The aim of this research was to study the effect of foliar spray with BA and B-9 on the growth and yield of marjoram plant. The plants were sprayed with BA at the rates of 50, 100 and 150 ppm, and B-9 at the rates of 500, 1000 and 2000 ppm in addition to control treatment which sprayed with distilled water. The obtained results can be summarized as follows: All concentrations of BA or B-9 increased all recorded parameters as compared with the control treatment with significant differences in most cases during the two seasons. In the first season, the highest values of plant height, fresh weight of herb, dry weight of herb, dry weight of leaves and flowering tops, total seasonal yield of dry weight of herb and total seasonal yield of dry weight of leaves and flowering tops were produced from using BA at 150 ppm, while the highest dry weight of stems was obtained from B-9 at 2000 ppm. The lowest values of all recorded characters were resulted in control treatment. In the second season, the highest values of plant height, dry weight of herb and total seasonal yield of dry weight of herb were produced from BA at 100 ppm, whereas the highest values of fresh weight of herb and dry weight of stems were obtained from BA at 150 ppm. Also the highest values of dry weight of leaves and flowering tops and total seasonal yield of dry weight of leaves and flowering tops were resulted in B-9 at 500 ppm. Generally, in combined analysis BA at 150 ppm was the most effective treatment in increasing total seasonal yield of dry weight of herb and total seasonal yield of dry weight leaves and flowering tops. Different cuts as a general mean had a significant effect on all recorded parameters in the two seasons. In the first season, the highest values of plant height and fresh weight of herb were produced from the second cut. Also, the highest values of dry weight of herb, dry weight of leaves and flowering tops and dry weight of stems were produced from the third cut. In the second season, the highest values of fresh weight of herb, dry weight of herb, dry weight of leaves and flowering tops and dry weight of stems were obtained from fourth cut, whereas the highest value of plant height was produced from the first cut. The interaction between the growth regulators (BA or B-9) and the different cuts increased all recorded parameters as compared with the control in any cut during the two seasons with significant differences in most cases.

A field experiment was carried out in two plastic greenhouses to study the performance of two types of subsurface drip irrigation pipes by adding two types of soil conditioners and their effect on some physical properties of soil and the growth and yield of eggplants in greenhouses during the autumn season 2023 at the research station of the College of Agriculture, University of Kirkuk. The experiment included three main factors; the type of irrigation pipes of two kinds, the first pipes (T-Tape) and the second filtering pipes (RDI), the second factor involved the conditioner type (perlite and zeolite); and the third factor included addition levels (no addition, adding 0.5% of the weight of the experimental unit); and the design of split-split plots was used in the order of randomized completely block design (RCBD). An evaluation of the drip irrigation system was carried out before the start of cultivation. The type (RDI) irrigation pipe was given when evaluating the pre-cultivation irrigation system the highest value for each of design emission uniformity (EU%), field emission uniformity (FEU), absolute field emission uniformity (FEUa), the lowest values of coefficient of manufacture variation (C.V%), the difference in discharge (qvar%), and the discharge rate (qm litre hour−1) as the values reached (97.96%, 97.93%, 99.36%, 0.0646%, 0.013%, 0.765 litres hour−1), respectively compared to the T-Tape type drip irrigation pipe. Increased volumetric moisture content and lower salt concentration of RDI type irrigation pipe compared to T-tape drip irrigation pipe, the addition of perlite at the level of 0.05% also led to an increase in volumetric moisture content and a decrease in salt concentration compared to non-addition and zeolite addition treatments. The RDI-type drip irrigation pipe gave the highest values of plant height, dry weight of vegetation, leaf area and total yield, reaching 89.566 cm plant−1, 144.435 gm plant−1, 13.148 cm2 leaf−1 and 78.213 Mg ha−1, respectively, compared to the treatment of the drip irrigation pipe type (T-Tape). The perlite addition treatment recorded the highest values for plant height, dry weight of total vegetation, leaf area and total yield, reaching 92.725 cm plant−1, 151.402 gm plant−1, 14.150 cm2 leaf−1 and 93.346 Mg ha−1 respectively, compared to zeolite addition treatments.

سلنیوم عنصری سودمند با خواص آنتی اکسیدانی و آنتی ویروسی است که باعث افزایش رشد گیاهان می شود. به منظور بررسی اثر سلنیوم بر رشد رویشی گیاه فلفل تند (Capsicum anuum L.) رقم kenya آزمایشی گلخانه ای در قالب طرح کاملا تصادفی شامل پنج سطح سلنیوم (صفر، 3، 5، 7 و 10 میکرو مولار) با سه تکرار انجام پذیرفت. نتایج نشان داد که افزودن سلنیوم به میزان 5 میکرومولار باعث افزایش معنی دار محتوای نسبی آب بافت برگ گیاه به ترتیب به میزان 8/12 و 8/61 درصد نسبت به تیمار شاهد گردید. همچنین این عنصر در سطوح تیمار 7 و 10 میکرومولار به ترتیب باعث افزایش 61/33 و 06/8 درصدی شاخص پایداری غشاء سلولی نسبت به تیمار شاهد شد. اعمال سلنیوم در سطوح 3 و 5 میکرومولار به ترتیب باعث افزایش 6/24 و 1/25 درصدی شاخص سطح برگ نسبت به تیمار شاهد شد. تحت تاثیر این عنصر تعداد برگ و همچنین محتوای رنگیزه های کلروفیلی افزایش یافت به نحوی که در سطح تیمار 5 میکرومولار میانگین تعداد برگ گیاه 14/15 درصد و اجزای کلروفیل (کلروفیل a،b وکلروفیل کل) نیز به ترتیب به میزان 67/64،5/38 و 8/55 در صد نسبت به تیمار شاهد افزایش نشان داد. به طور کلی نتایج حاصل از این پژوهش نشان داد که عنصر سلنیوم در سطوح پایین (5 میکرومولار) اثرات بهبود دهنده ای بر شاخص های رشدی و فیزیولوژیکی گیاه فلفل دارد. بررسی اثر تیمار سلنیوم بر ظرفیت آنتی اکسیدانی و محتوای این عنصر در بافت میوه فلفل تند درمطالعات آینده پیشنهاد می گردد.

Okra is widely cultivated vegetable crop which has been reducing its quality due to inappropriate utilization of micro-nutrients as well. This research was carried out to investigate the impact of foliar spray of boron and zinc on the growth and yield of the okra ‘Arka Anamika’ variety. The experiment followed a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with seven treatments, including control, 0.2%Zn, 0.2%B, 0.3%Zn, 0.3% B, 0.2%Zn+0.2%B, and 0.3%Zn+0.3%B, replicated three times. Data on various parameters such as plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, number of branches, number of buds, number of fruits, length of fruits, girth of fruits, and yield were collected from sampled plants in each plot. Results indicated significant effects of different fertilizer treatments on these parameters. The highest values for plant height, stem diameter, number of branches, number of buds, fruit length, number of fruits, and yield were observed in T7, which was statistically at par with T6. Conversely, T1 (control) exhibited significantly lower values. The girth of fruits showed no any significant differences even due to various levels of foliar application of boron and zinc, either separately or in combination. Overall, the study suggests that the application of 0.3%Zn+0.3%B may be the most effective for improving the yield and yield parameters of okra.

Two experiments were conducted in a plastic house at AL-Latifia Research Station, Agricultural Research Directorate, Plant Breeding and Improvement Center during the spring season of 2018 to study the response of growth and productivity of tomatoes for spraying with botanical extracts (Roselle and Fenugreek) with concentrations (0,2,4g.L-1 and fertilization experience included (chemical fertilizer recommendation, poultry residues, humic acid liquid, and powder). Two Experiments' within Randomized Complete Block Design (R.C.B.D) were adopted. The first experiment results showed the superiority of the treatment of spraying with Roselle extract (4 g.L-1) significantly of increasing the leaf area, the content of chlorophyll, and the number of fruit 327.10 dcm2 47.88 SPAD and51.89 respectively, while were 221.40 dcm2,39.90 SPAD and 40.57 respectively in the control treatment. And there is a non-significant influence of the source of botanical extracts on the weight and size of fruits, Moreover, the treatment of spraying with Roselle extract (2 g.L-1) showed a significant increase in the plant yield and total yield of 6.02, 3765.00 kg respectively compared with control treatment 3.90, 2465.00 kg respectively. While the second experiment results showed, that the treatment of chemical fertilizer showed significant increase in the plant yield and total yield which were 8.63 and 5392.00 kg respectively, and non-difference significantly with the treatment of manure of poultry, which was 8.61 and 5383.00 kg respectively compared with the treatment of control that was 4.69 and 2929.00 kg respectively


 
 
 
 This study has been conducted at the city of Diwaniah located 180 km south of Baghdad to examine the effect of potassium and copper floral application on the growth and yield of potato plants (var.Burren) during the 2015 spring season. Factorial experiment has been carried out in Random Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications and Nine treatments have been used which have three potassium concentrations at 0, 3000, and 6000 mg KL-1 designated respectively and three copper concentrations at 0, 2.5, and 5 mg CuL-1 designated respectively in addition to their interactions. The treatments are applied at three different timeframes which are 45 days after sowing, 15 days after the first spraying, and 15 days after the second spraying. Vegetative growth have been collected at the maturation stage then dried to obtain dry weight and N, P, K, and Cu have been estimated in plant leaves. Tubers are harvested to measure number and yield/plant, tubers average weight, total marketing yield and yield. The obtained data are statistically analyzed and averages are compared according to the least significant differences (LSD) at 5% level of significance and the results were as follows:
 The yield components which include tubers number as compared with the control treatment.
 Copper foliar application significantly increase vegetative traits of the yield. The K2 treatment has given the highest significant increase of main stem vegetative growthof the components which include tubers number as compared with the control treatment.
 The interaction treatments have given a significant result in terms of the both the vegetative and yield traits where K2* Cu2 give the most significant increase in term of vegetative growth while K2* Cu1 significantly increase the plant height and K1* Cu2 significantly affect the number of leaves. As for the yield component, K2*Cu2 show to have the most significant result in all traits under investigation.
 
 
 
 
 Finally.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of inoculation with the bacteria Azotobacter chrococcum and the fungus Glomus mosseae on the growth and yield of Zea mays L. variety (Baghdad 3) under different levels of water stress. The field trial was conducted in the fall season of 2020 in Diwaniyah Governorate-Afak county fields. The experiment was designed according to the Randomized Complete Block Design (R.C.B.D) design with three replications. The treatments were distributed randomly. Three levels of irrigation were used in the experiment, namely (I4) irrigation every four days, (I7) irrigation every seven days, (I10) irrigation every ten days, and inoculation levels. Biological inoculation with the bacteria at two different levels (B1) inoculation with bacteria A-chrococcum, (B0) without inoculation. Fungal inoculation with G-mosseae at two inoculation levels (F1) and without inoculation with (F0). In addition to the overlapping treatment between fungus and (B1F1) bacteria. The treatments’ means were compared using the least significant difference (L.S.D) test at a probability level of 5%. The results present that the treatments inoculated with fungi or bacteria, or both, and for a seven-day irrigation period, significantly increased the values of the traits of (dry weight of the root mass, leaf area, chlorophyll concentration, and total yield). The highest means values were (5739) g.Plant−1, (18.04) cm2.plant−1, (58.93) SPAD, and (9.104) tons.ha−1, respectively, compared to the treatments (no application + irrigation every ten days) that gave (13.75) g.Plant−1, (2539) cm2.plant−1, (3.921) SPAD, and (29.07) tons.ha−1.

The latest study aimed to assess the response of the broad bean to the magnetically-treated irrigation water and foliar application of nano-seaweed extract for growth and productivity traits. This experiment took place during the growing season of 2020–2021 under field conditions at Al-Najaf Governorate, Iraq. Turkish broad bean cultivar ‘Luz-de-otono’ was grown in a split-plot design by two factors with three replicates. The main plots received magnetized irrigation water with three diverse intensities (zero, 1000, and 2000 Gauss), while the nano-seaweed extract with three concentrations (0, 1, and 2 ml.L-1) in the subplots. On average, the magnetization treatment at 2000 Gauss attained significant improvement in the growth and morphological traits (plant height, branch number per plant, leaf number, leaf area, and total leaf chlorophyll content) and yield traits (pod number, pod weight, plant yield, and total yield), compared with the control that gave the lowest values. Nanoseaweed foliar application at 2 ml.L-1 also revealed a significant increase and improvement in the same growth, morphological, and yield-related traits aforementioned, compared with the control treatment that gave the minimum values. Correspondingly, the interaction between both factors (magnetization intensity 2000 Gauss + Seaweed at 2 ml.L-1) also showed significant effects and provided the highest averages of plant height (36.05 cm), branch number per plant (7.04 branch.plant-1), leaf number (72.19 leaves.plant-1), leaf area (3775.88 cm2.plant-1), and total leaf chlorophyll content (45.47 mg.100 g-1 FW) and yield traits: pod number (19.11 pods.plant-1), pod weight (26.87 g), plant yield (513.49 g), and total yield (11.61 t.ha-1), compared with the control treatment.

Heterosis and combining ability for earliness, plant growth, yield and fruit attributes in hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) involving genetic and cytoplasmic-genetic male sterile lines

This current research proceeded during the growing season of 2021 at the Al-Nakhil Station, Al-Najaf Governorate, Iraq, to evaluate the response of hybrid tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) ‘OULA F1’ to foliar application of organic fertilizers NP and calcium. The first factor included spraying phosphorous and nitrogen with three concentrations (0, 1, and 2 ml.L-1), while the second consisted of calcium spray with three different concentrations (0, 1.25, and 2.5 ml.L-1). The experiment was setup according to the randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications in a factorial arrangement. The results showed that the organic fertilizer rich in phosphorus at a concentration of 2 ml.L-1 significantly improved the traits, i.e., plant height (49.98 cm), leaf number (34.80 leaves.plant1), leaf area (3775.90 cm2.plant-1), shoot dry weight (156.70 g.plant-1), and leaf content of total chlorophyll (183.19 mg.l00g-1 FW) in comparison with the control treatment. Also, the same concentration of phosphorus revealed superiority in the percentage of N, P, K, and Ca in tomato leaves and fruit yield per plant (1.79%, 0.71%, 2.23%, 1.69%, and 2.89% kg.plant-1, respectively), compared with the control treatment. Moreover, the results further revealed that the organic calcium fertilizer at a concentration of 2.5 ml L-1 realized the highest averages for plant height, leaf number, leaf area, shoot dry weight, leaf N percent, leaf P percent, leaf K percent, and fruit yield per plant by 52.39 cm, 35.27 leaves.plant-1, 3850.20 cm2.plant-1, 175.73 g.plant-1, 1.74%, 0.70%, 2.17%, and 3.12 kg.plant-1, respectively. The foliar application of calcium at a concentration of 1.25 ml.L-1 provided the maximum total chlorophyll (175.03 mg.l00g-1 FW) and Ca (1.74%) in the leaves.

Combine use of dry cocoa bean testa ash (DCBTA) and wood ash (WA) for the improvement of soil fertility and yield of maize (Zea mays, L.) was studied on an Alfisol South Western Nigeria, located at Joseph Ayo Babalola University Ikeji-Arakeji, Ilesa Osun State, Nigeria Teaching and Research Farm from April to July 2017 and from August to November 2017. Four treatments of dry cocoa bean testa ash (DCBTA) at 5 tons/ha, wood ash (WA) at 5 tones/ hectare, dry cocoa bean testa ash (DCBTA) at 2.5 tons/ha, mixed with wood ash (WA) at 2.5 tons/ha and control (C) were used in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the means were compared by the use of Duncan multiple range test (DMRT) at 5% significance level. The study showed that dry cocoa bean testa ash (DCBTA) either used alone or in combination with wood ash (WA) is a valuable fertilizer and can serve as a suitable alternative to inorganic fertilizer in the south western Nigeria especially, DCBTA has higher concentration of potassium (K) and organic carbon than wood ash. Wood ash (WA) 2.5 tones/ha) treatment plus dry cocoa bean testa ash (DCBTA 2.5 tones/ha) produced higher values for plant height, leaf area, chlorophyll, plant diameter, cob length, cob diameter and grain yield against the control that recorded the lowest value. Also, DCBTA improves soil pH as well as increases minerals such as Ca, Mg, Na and in particular, made available phosphorous due to its increment on soil pH. pH increased from 5.4 to 7.4 (DCBTA), 6.9 (WA) and 7.42 (DCBTA + WA). N levels in the soil increased from 0.05% to 2.61% (DCBTA) and 1.95% (DCBTA + WA). Organic carbon (OC) increased from 0.08% to 2.31% (DCBTA) and 3.11% (DCBTA + WA). P level decreased from 3.5 mg/kg to 2.49 mg/kg (DCBTA) and 2.50 mg/kg (DCBTA + WA) which was an indication of P availability to crop during growing season. Maize grain yield increased from 0.74 ton/ha in the control plot to 1.82 tons/ha in DCBTA and 1.89tons/ha in (DCBTA + WA). The study recommends an application rate of 5 tons/ha of dry cocoa testa ash (DCBTA) alone or 2.5 tons/ha combination each of (DCBTA) and WA for maize yield and soil fertility improvement on this type of soil in this agro-ecology.

The application of dry cocoa bean shell ash (DCBSA) and NPK 15:15:15 for the improvement of soil fertility and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) was studied on an Alfisol South Western Nigeria, located at Joseph Ayo Babalola University Ikeji-Arakeji, Ilesa Osun State, Nigeria Teaching and Research Farm from April to July 2017 and from August to November 2016. Four treatments of dry cocoa bean shell ash (DCBSA) at 5 tonsha-1, NPK 15:15:15 at 300 kgha-1, dry cocoa bean shell ash (DCBSA) at 2.5 tonsha-1, mixed NPK 15:15:15 at 150 kgha-1 and control (C) were used in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the means were compared by the use of Duncan multiple range test (DMRT) at 5% significance level. The study showed that dry cocoa bean shell ash (DCBSA) used alone can serve as a suitable alternative to inorganic fertilizer in the south western Nigeria, Especially, DCBSA has higher organic carbon than NPK dry cocoa bean shell ash (DCBSA) at 5 t ha-1, NPK 15:15:15 at 300 kg ha-1, dry cocoa bean shell ash (DCBSA) at 2.5 t ha-1, mixed NPK 15:15:15 at 150 kg ha-1 produced higher values for plant height, leaf area, chlorophyll, plant diameter, cob length, cob diameter and grain yield against the control that recorded the lowest value. Also. DCBSA improves soil pH as well as increases minerals such as Ca, Mg, Na and in particular, made available phosphorous due to its increment on soil pH. pH increased fro 5.3 to 7.8 DCBSA, N levels in the soil increased from 0.06g kg-1 to 2.61g kg-1 (DCBSA) and 2.10 g kg-1 (DCBTA + NPK). Organic carbon (OC) increased from 0.07 g kg-1 to 2.87g kg-1 DCBSA plot. P level decreased from 3.7 mg dm-3 to 1.09 mg dm-3 (DCBSA) and 1.81 mg dm-3 (NPK) and 1.42 mg dm-3 (DCBSA + NPK) which was an indication of P availability to crop during growing season. Maize grain yield increased from 0.77 tonsha-1 in the control plot to 1.25 t ha-1 in DCBSA plot, 1.22 t ha-1 a in NPK plot and 1.26 t ha-1. in DCBSA + NPK plot. The study recommends an application rate of 5 t ha-1 of dry cocoa shell ash (DCBSA) alone or 2.5 t ha-1 combination each of (DCBSA + NPK) for maize yield and fertility improvement on this type of soil in this agro - ecology.

The variation of leaf number and area on fruit weight, fruit number and plant yield in relation with environment temperature in three cucumber cultivars (Green Gold and Dharwad native of India and a new cultivars namely Super Dominus) in experimental field of Gorgan university were studied in 2007. In this study, the first flowers after formation of 4.99, 17.74 and 28.5 leaves in Green Gold, Dharwad and Super Dominus appeared, respectively. This obtained results showed that after planting with increase of daily time, leaf number, leaf area and dry weight (g) increased as well. Then with progress of plant growth the amount of heat unit which is required for completing of a leaf, one cm2 leaf area and one gram dry weight decreased. This trend continued till the end of harvesting that was lowest. The results showed that essential heat for fruit set in Super Dominus, Dharwad and Green Gold were 470.5, 485 and 593.25 degree days, respectively. A negative correlation (-0.86) were observed between the number of fruits per plant and their weight. In this research between time of first harvest and fruit number negative correlation (-0.93) observed but the correlation (p<0.01) between time of first harvest and fruit weight was positive (0.91). Despite of difference between leaf area, dry weight and morphological character of this three cucumber cultivars, their total yield were equal, while trend of leaf production (for example leaf number) in different stage of growth and development were similar. The obtained data showed that, leaf number can use as a marker for predicting of occurrence of different stage during cucumber plants development. Key words: Cucumber, Temperature, Leaf number, Leaf area, Dry weight, Yield