Optimal Use of Natural Resources in Al-Muthanna Desert (Soil as A model)

Soil is one of the important natural resources in Al-Muthanna desert, and the climate has played an important role in its formation. The soil in the study area is classified into several types that vary in their quality for agriculture. I concluded that the soil of the depressions and the plains alluvial soils are among the best types of those soils, followed by the sandy desert soil, which is characterized by its large area and can be exploited when providing water for it. As for the gypsum desert soils, they are of medium quality for cultivation, due to the presence of gypsum in them in high quantities and the lack of water retention. While the sandy and rocky dune soils are unsuitable for agriculture due to their high permeability. Wind and water erosion works to expose rocky soil rocks and transfer sand dune soil particles, but they constitute an important resource in the manufacture of building materials and glass if they are used properly.

The Effect of Natural Factors on the Cultivation and Production of Sesame Crop in Al-Qadisiyah Governorate

Sesame crop, one of the very important oily, industrial, and summer crops that is economically important, has been investigated. The plantation and production of this crop has been studied in Al-Qadisiyah governorate during 2003-218. This is because this governorate is well-known by sesame plantation. Such a study helps to know the geographical distribution of sesame agricultural season in 2017-2018, and explore the most important natural factors that affect its plantation. Different research approaches have been adopted based on that facts that need to be met. A field study approach has been used in studying sesame crop descriptively and conceptually, shedding light on its nutritional and economic importance. Moreover, a descriptive comparative approach has been adopted when studying the geographical factors to know about the factors that affect its plantation and production in the area in question. Results have shown that climatic conditions of the area is suitable for its plantation and production. However, the soils of Al-Qadisiyah are of various categories. The best category is the riverbank soil, then comes river basin soil, and the depression soil of poor drainage. The latter has been invested after reclaiming it through planting the rice crop. Another type of soil is the sand dune soil which is unsuitable for agricultural production. Another type is the gypsum desert soil, which is agriculturally poor. Results have further revealed that rivers are considered the main surface water resource in the irrigation process as represented by the Euphrates Riverand its branches within the governorate. This is due to the lack of rain and its fluctuation.

Streptomyces harenosi sp. nov., a home for a gifted strain isolated from Indonesian sand dune soil

A polyphasic study was undertaken to establish the position of a Streptomyces strain, isolate PRKS01-65T, recovered from sand dune soil collected at Parangkusumo, Yogyakarta Province, Java, Indonesia. A combination of chemotaxonomic, cultural and morphological properties confirmed its position in the genus of Streptomyces . Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses showed that the isolate was most closely related to Streptomyces leeuwenhoekii C34T (99.9 % similarity) and loosely associated with the type strains of Streptomyces chiangmaiensis (98.7 % similarity) and Streptomyces glomeratus (98.9 % similarity). Multilocus sequence analyses based on five conserved housekeeping gene alleles confirmed the close relationship between the isolate and S. leeuwenhoekii C34T, although both strains belonged to a well-supported clade that encompassed the type strains of S. glomeratus , Streptomyces griseomycini , Streptomyces griseostramineus , Streptomyces labedae , Streptomyces lomondensis and Streptomyces spinoverrucosus . A comparison of the draft genome sequence generated for the isolate with corresponding whole genome sequences of its closest phylogenomic neighbours showed that it formed a well-separated lineage with S. leeuwenhoekii C34T. These strains can also be distinguished using a combination of phenotypic properties and by average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization similarities of 94.3 and 56 %, values consistent with their classification in different species. Based on this wealth of data it is proposed that isolate PRKS01-65T (=NCIMB 15211T=CCMM B1302T=ICEBB-03T) be classified as Streptomyces harenosi sp. nov. The genome of the isolate contains several biosynthetic gene clusters with the potential to produce new natural products.

EVALUATION OF BIOMASS AND VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION OF SPILANTHES OLERACEA JACQ. (Asteraceae)

Spilanthes oleracea Jacq. is an herbaceous plant whose scientific literature attributes among others, anti-malarial and anti-bilharzia properties. These virtues justify the placing on the market of drugs based on the plant.Our study consisted on the one hand to evaluate the biomass of the plant on a soil of dune amended and on soil of unamended dune and to test its vegetative multiplication by transplanting, cuttings and layering.The results show that the growth of the species is greater on dune soil amended with an average biomass of 106.06 g compared to 71.06 g for un-amended soil plants. The transplanting of the plants and the layering were techniques that made it possible to multiply the plants.Spilanthes oleracea Jacq. can be produced using this agronomic data.

INVESTIGATION OF GEOTECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF SAND DUNE SOIL: A CASE STUDY AROUND BAIJI IN IRAQ

ABSTRACT: While more than half the land surface of Iraq consists of deserts covered mainly with sand dunes, little research has taken place to study the characteristics and the behavior of dune soils. This paper directed toward studying the geotechnical properties of dune sands taken from Baiji city (northwest of Iraq). A vast laboratory testing program was carried out to achieve the purpose of this paper. The physical tests, chemical tests, X-ray diffraction analysis, permeability test, compaction characteristics, compressibility and collapsibility tests; and shear strength tests were included in this program. The results indicate that soil of Baiji sand dune exhibits prefer engineering properties according to their state. As such, this soil is considered suitable for use in geotechnical constructions. ABSTRAK: Walaupun lebih separuh daripada bumi Iraq terdiri daripada gurun yang dipenuhi dengan bukit-bukit pasir, tidak banyak penyelidikan dijalankan untuk mengkaji sifat-sifat dan ciri-ciri tanah pasir tersebut. Kertas kerja ini menyelidik sifat geoteknikal bukit pasir yang diambil dari pekan Baiji (di bahagian barat utara Iraq). Program penyelidikan makmal yang menyeluruh telah dijalankan bagi mencapai objektif kajian ini. Ujian fizikal, ujian kimia, analisis belauan sinar-x, ujian kebolehtelapan, ciri pemadatan, faktor ketermampatan, ujian keruntuhan dan ujian kekuatan ricih diambilkira dalam program ini. Keputusan menunjukkan bahawa tanih bukit pasir Baiji mengutamakan ciri kejuruteraan berdasarkan keadaannya. Oleh itu, tanah ini dianggap sesuai untuk kegunaan pembinaan geoteknikal.