El-Beheira Governorate Research Articles

Efficacy and Residual Analysis of Three Insecticides against Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) on Field-grown Tomatoes

Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) is among the most destructive insect pests in Egypt, the field study was conducted at El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt to evaluate the toxicity of three insecticides against 2nd and 4th larval instars of these insect and residual effect in tomato fruit into open field application. The outcomes demonstrated that spinosad, methoxyfenzide and diflubenzuron proved to be very toxic. Semi-field application showed that spinosad was the most effective with 91.38 % and 100% insect pest mortalities at initial and residual effects against second instar larvae, respectively. The initial effect manifested higher morality (90.25%) for fourth instar larvae when treated with diflubenzuron followed by spinosad (86.50%), then methoxyfenzide (84.25%), while the residual effects of all tested insecticides were 100% mortality. The findings additionally demonstrated that the pre-harvest intervals (PHI) for diflubenzuron, spinosad, and methoxyfenzide were 3,7 and 10 days, respectively, for tomato fruits. Following this PHI, the products are considered safe for export and local consumption, as the residue level satisfies the maximum residue limit, which is the level documented by the European Union.

The Status of Food and Nutrition Literacy and its determinants among Elementary School students in Egypt: community nursing-led design

AimTo assess food and nutrition literacy status and its determinants among elementary school students in El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt.BackgroundDeveloping strategies to enhance food and nutrition literacy necessitates a deeper understanding of the food and nutrition literacy situation among elementary school students and associated factors.DesignA cross-sectional descriptive research design was adopted.MethodsA final sample of 400 primary school students (aged 6–12 years) at Itay El Barud public elementary schools in El-Beheira Governorate were administered (1) a socio-demographic characteristics and anthropometric measurements questionnaire developed by the researchers, and (2) the Food and Nutrition Literacy Scale. The derived data were analyzed using descriptive and non-parametric tests.ResultsThe majority (61%) of students had low food and nutrition literacy scores. The results have shown that overall socio-demographic variables were significant in predicting understanding food and nutrition information, nutritional health knowledge, interactive functional and nutritional literacy, critical food and nutritional literacy, and food labeling.ConclusionThe study reveals that elementary school students in Egypt have poor knowledge and skills in food and nutrition literacy, largely due to a lack of nutrition education and family awareness. Factors like residential location, income, and education level also contribute to this disparity.Implications for the professionTo improve nutrition literacy among students, a nursing approach involving community stakeholders and school nurses is recommended. This includes integrating nutrition-related topics into the school curriculum, organizing workshops, and conducting age-appropriate health education sessions. Active engagement between community health and school nurses is crucial for raising awareness about healthy nutritional choices.ImpactThese findings hold an important impact on the education system and those designing curricula, emphasizing the need for significant incorporation of knowledge and skills related to food and nutrition within schools.Reporting methodCompliance with the STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies was maintained throughout the research.Patient or public contributionNo Patient or Public Contribution.

Factors affecting consumer preferences and purchasing behavior towards edible oil in El-Beheira Governorate

Factors affecting consumer preferences and purchasing behavior towards edible oil in El-Beheira Governorate

Evaluation of heavy metals risk in fast food eaten in EL-Beheira Governorate.

Evaluation of heavy metals risk in fast food eaten in EL-Beheira Governorate.

Clinico-Epidemiological Study of HIV Patients in El Beheira Governorate

Clinico-Epidemiological Study of HIV Patients in El Beheira Governorate

Prevalence and determinants of fear of childbirth among pregnant women in Egypt: A cross-sectional study

ProblemFear of childbirth (FOC) is a significant public health concern, and understanding its determinants is crucial for developing effective interventions to support women during pregnancy and childbirth. BackgroundFear of childbirth (FOC) is increasingly recognized as an essential psychological health concern among pregnant women globally. However, research elucidating the prevalence and multifaceted determinants of FOC in the Egyptian context remains scarce. This knowledge is pivotal to informing maternal health practices. AimThis study aimed to investigate FOC prevalence and its determinants among pregnant women in Egypt. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 460 low-risk pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt, from February 2023 to July 2023. Data were collected using structured questionnaires on sociodemographic and obstetric profiles, the Childbirth Attitude Questionnaire, the Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. ResultsThe prevalence of FOC ranged from mild to severe, with 70.4% of women displaying some degree of fear and 11.3% exhibiting severe FOC. Key determinants associated with greater FOC were younger age, nulliparity, unplanned pregnancy, negative previous birth experiences, and preference for cesarean delivery. An inverse relationship was found between FOC and childbirth self-efficacy. ConclusionsThis study reveals a high FOC prevalence among Egyptian pregnant women, necessitating the need for systematic screening and tailored interventions to mitigate this concern, especially among high-risk groups like young, nulliparous mothers. Fostering childbirth self-efficacy may aid in reducing FOC. These findings can inform the enhancement of holistic maternal health practices in Egypt.

Assessment of Healthcare Waste Management Process in Hemodialysis Units in El Beheira Governorate

Assessment of Healthcare Waste Management Process in Hemodialysis Units in El Beheira Governorate

Assessment of Nurses’ Stress and Coping Responses during Covid-19 Pandemic: Isolation and Quarantine Hospitals at El-Beheira Governorate

Assessment of Nurses’ Stress and Coping Responses during Covid-19 Pandemic: Isolation and Quarantine Hospitals at El-Beheira Governorate

Farmers’ Awareness of the Advantages of Using Smart Cards in the Agricultural Sector in Some Villages in El-Beheira Governorate

Farmers’ Awareness of the Advantages of Using Smart Cards in the Agricultural Sector in Some Villages in El-Beheira Governorate

Evaluating the Climate Change Trends and Spatiotemporal Variations of Evapotranspiration: A Case Study in El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt

Aims: Evapotranspiration (ET) is crucial for determining crop water requirements, while climate change and global warming are major concerns. Therefore, in this study, we aimed at evaluating the climate change trends and the spatiotemporal variations in ET in a selected area located in El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt, while accounting for potential land use/land cover (LULC) changes. Methodology: We analyzed three Landsat images acquired in 1984, 2001, and 2020 to assess LULC changes in the study area. Climate change was studied from 1984 to 2021 using data from NASA's Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resource (POWER) project. We also used the Terra MODIS MOD16A3GF Version 6.1 ET product from 2000 to 2021 to evaluate the spatiotemporal variations of ET. Results: LULC change detection showed that the unchanged agricultural area from 1984 to 2020 accounted for 29.3% of the study area and was used to evaluate the changes of ET. Evaluating climate change revealed that there was an increased trend in temperature, relative humidity (RH), and precipitation, while no change was observed in wind speed. Similarly, the anomalies changes of temperature, RH, and precipitation had an increasing trend while wind speed was constant. On the other hand, the yearly ET values calculated from 2000 to 2021 had an increasing trend. There was a moderate correlation between RH and precipitation, as well as between ET and precipitation. Conclusion: The increased trends in climatic parameters such as temperature will eventually require changes in crop patterns to adjust to these changes and maintain a profitable yield. Furthermore, the increase in ET will result in an increase in crop water requirements, which is problematic, especially considering the limited water resources in Egypt.

Development of a parametric-based Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for wheat land suitability evaluation

Wheat is considered one of the most essential crops for Egypt. Nevertheless, it is also one of its largest imports. Therefore, it is important to develop an accurate wheat suitability model to define the most suitable areas for its production. This study aimed to develop a parametric-based Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for land suitability evaluation of wheat in a selected area in El-Beheira governorate, Egypt. The climatic and land parameters influencing wheat production in the studied area were selected and rated according to the parametric method. These parameters included slope, texture, calcium carbonate, sum of basic cations, pH, organic matter, salinity, exchangeable sodium percentage and mean temp. of the growing cycle. The rated parameters were processed according to the AHP. The results were compared with Storie and the Square root methods and field observations. When validated using field observations, the developed method had a higher accuracy suitability evaluation for wheat cultivation in the studied area than the other two methods. According to the developed method, almost all of the studied areas could be classified as very suitable (S1) for wheat cultivation. On the other hand, the wheat suitability evaluation according to the other two methods indicated that most of the studied area could be classified as moderately suitable (S2) and marginally suitable (S3), which contradicted the field survey.

Determinants of women's Empowerment in El-Beheira Governorate

Determinants of women's Empowerment in El-Beheira Governorate

Categorization of Sugar Beet Varieties for Water Saving in Sandy Soils Using Factor Analysis Scores

AbstractWater shortage in dry and semi-arid regions is a major agricultural challenge. This study investigated the performance of ten imported monogerm sugar beet varieties under continuous deficiency irrigation using a drip system on a private farm in the Wadi El-Natrun region, El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt, during two growing seasons, 2021/2022 and 2022/2023. The study utilized a novel method, a crossbar graph, to effectively visualize statistical data. The results showed significant interaction effects between sugar beet varieties and water deficit levels for all traits, indicating varying responses of the varieties to different levels of drought stress (75% and 55%). Drought stress levels (75% and 55%) had an adverse effect on the root yield of the ten varieties of sugar beet that were investigated. The exploratory factor analysis was applied to investigate and describe the relationship between ten different varieties of sugar beet and water stress treatments. Varieties Symbol, Stikhiyn, Volua, and Klara were characterized as moderate and tolerant with high performance, and they received the highest score in factor analysis. These varieties are recommended for cultivation under moderate and severe stress conditions. Factor analysis scores can be used as selection criteria for sugar beet varieties.

Effect of Mulching Manures and Use of Heterorhabditis Bacteriophora on Strawberry Fruit Yield Temnorhynchus baal and Meloidogyne javanica Under Field Conditions

Abd-Elgawad, M.M.M., L.W. Duncan, M.M.A. Hammam, F. El-Borai and I.E. Shehata. 2024. Effect of Mulching Manures and Use of Heterorhabditis Bacteriophora on Strawberry Fruit Yield Temnorhynchus baal and Meloidogyne javanica Under Field Conditions. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 42(3): 306-317. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-001262 The importance of safe methods to manage strawberry pests has become more evident with increasing strawberry production and export in Egypt. Root damage by white grubs (Temnorhynchus baal larvae) and root-knot nematode (RKN), Meloidogyne javanica cause severe losses to strawberry fruit yield. Growers often rely on a few selective chemical pesticides to control these pests and to minimize pesticide residues in order to comply with maximum residue limits allowed for fruit export. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) that invade and kill grubs and reduce RKN population levels in the soil may be as effective as these insecticides in some cases. We evaluated the profitability of mulching strawberry with commonly used cow and/or chicken manure, with and without application of commercial Heterorhabditis bacteriophora in two farms for four consecutive years. All plots received chemical fertilizers. The designed drip irrigation system for EPN delivery in the farms insured efficient and even (P < 0.05) application of EPN in all treatments. Timing of EPN application varied due to import regulatory guidelines. All manure mulch treatments increased strawberry yield each year at a farm in Al-Qalyubia governorate, whereas yield remarkably increased in the fourth season at the farm in El-Beheira governorate. Compared to EPN-treated plots, 70% more (P = 0.06) insects were recovered in soil beneath dead plants in plots that did not receive EPNs. Heterorhabditis bacteriophora boosted fruit yield (P < 0.05) in the second and fourth years at El-Beheira and in all years at Al-Qalyubia. It reduced (P < 0.05) numbers of Meloidogyne javanica galls/egg masses on strawberry roots and juveniles in the soil in both farms. Mulches had no measurable effect on EPN performance, but suppressed pests and boosted plant productivity. The greatest yield enhancement by EPN occurred in the second year at El-Beheira farm when EPNs were applied shortly after planting (October), enabling early season control of the pests, but in the third year at Al-Qalyubia farm where the weather was generally warmer than that at El-Beheira, and therefore more suitable for EPN activity. Keywords: Strawberry yield, entomopathogenic nematodes, Meloidogyne, mulching, Egypt.

Investigation of aspergillosis outbreak in young ducklings: Unraveling the role of hatcheries in Aspergillus fumigatus transmission.

Aspergillosis is a disease that affects several species of birds and causes substantial losses in the poultry business. The purpose of the investigation was to identify the pathogen responsible for a respiratory outbreak among juvenile ducklings. An epidemic of Aspergillosis infected a total of 800 Muscovy ducks that were being reared in El-Beheira Governorate. Tissue samples were obtained to isolate suspected fungi from diseased birds and the hatchery environment. In addition, identification and molecular characterization were performed on the obtained fungal isolates. Affected birds displayed acute respiratory manifestations such as difficulty breathing, gasping for air, nasal discharge, and a mortality rate of up to 28.1%. Postmortem examination revealed bronchitis, tracheitis, congested lungs, air sacculitis, severe multifocal granulomatous pneumonia, a congested, enlarged liver, and a congested kidney with nephritis. Mycological examination revealed seven Aspergillus (A.) spp. isolates from ducklings and six from hatcheries. Isolate colonial morphology and microscopical examination were as follows: A. fumigatus, A. niger, Syncephalastrum racemosum, and four untypable isolates. These isolates were further identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the internal transcribed spacers (ITSs) gene was detected. Four representative isolates were submitted for sequencing and further phylogenetic analysis. The source of duckling infection might be linked to the hatchery environment due to the observed similarity of isolates from both affected birds and the hatchery, as evidenced by phylogenetic analysis. Our findings demonstrated the significance of appropriate hatchery control in preventing infection in young ducklings. Furthermore, the use of molecular identification techniques would be helpful for tracing the source of infection and rapid diagnosis of Aspergillus in the field.

Burden on Caregivers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in El-Beheira Governorate

Burden on Caregivers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in El-Beheira Governorate

Prevalence and Determinants of Occupational Health Hazards among Sewage Workers in EL-Beheira Governorate

Prevalence and Determinants of Occupational Health Hazards among Sewage Workers in EL-Beheira Governorate

Production and Export Economics of Chilled Strawberry in El-Beheira Governorate

Production and Export Economics of Chilled Strawberry in El-Beheira Governorate

Identifying SNP markers associated with distinctness, uniformity, and stability testing in Egyptian fenugreek genotypes.

Distinctness, uniformity, and stability (DUS) test is the legal requirement in crop breeding to grant the intellectual property right for new varieties by evaluating their morphological characteristics across environments. On the other hand, molecular markers accurately identify genetic variations and validate the purity of the cultivars. Therefore, genomic DUS can improve the efficiency of traditional DUS testing. In this study, 112 Egyptian fenugreek genotypes were grown in Egypt at two locations: Wadi El-Natrun (Wadi), El-Beheira Governorate, with salty and sandy soil, and Giza, Giza governorate, with loamy clay soil. Twelve traits were measured, of which four showed a high correlation above 0.94 over the two locations. We observed significant genotype-by-location interactions (GxL) for seed yield, as it was superior in Wadi, with few overlapping genotypes with Giza. We attribute this superiority in Wadi to the maternal habitat, as most genotypes grew in governorates with newly reclaimed salty and sandy soil. As a first step toward genomic DUS, we performed an association study, and out of 38,142 SNPs, we identified 39 SNPs demonstrating conditional neutrality and four showing pleiotropic effects. Forty additional SNPs overlapped between both locations, each showing a similar impact on the associated trait. Our findings highlight the importance of GxL in validating the effect of each SNP to make better decisions about its suitability in the marker-assisted breeding program and demonstrate its potential use in registering new plant varieties.

Mothers’ Knowledge and Caring Practices for Neonatal Physiological Jaundice: a multisite cross-sectional study in El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt.

Mothers’ Knowledge and Caring Practices for Neonatal Physiological Jaundice: a multisite cross-sectional study in El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt.