Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Agriculture - Department of Agronomy

Two trials were carried out at Agricultural Research and Experminets Station, Cairo Univ., of Wadi El-Natroon farm (NF) from 2016 to 2018 season. The objective of this study was to determine the suitable sowing date and rate for local and introduced alfalfa genotypes besides one trial conducted in Eastern farm (EF) in 2018 to test two growth regulators to improve soil and water salinity of NF. The first one included five sowing dates and five genotypes.The results showed that sowing alfalfa genotypes in October 15 gave the highest total dry forage and protein yields of both years. All alfalfa genotypes had insignificant differences for total dry forage and protein yields of both years. Also, Sowing Ismailia 1 genotype in October 15 gave the highest total dry forage and protein yields of both years. The second trial included three seeding rates and five genotypes. Under sprinkler irrigation system, the highest total dry forage, and protein yields were obtained by seeding rate 20 kg fed-1 in both years. Rammah 1 genotype gave the highest total dry forage and protein yields in both years. Seeding SW 9601 with rate of 20 kg fed-1 gave the highest total dry forage and protein yields of both years. Whereas under drip irrigation system, Laboon gave the highest total dry forage yield of both years. Seeding rate of 30 kg fed-1 gave the highest total dry forage and protein yields of both years. Sowing Rammah 1 genotype by 30 kg fed- 1 gave the highest total dry forage and protein of both years. The third one contained four rates of two growth regulators. It conducted on pots at (EF) in 2018. Two rates of salicylic acid (SA), 5 and 10 mM, and two rates of gibberellic acid (GA3), 3 and 5 mM, plus zero treatment were used under the combination of two different soil types, sandy soil and Wadi El-Natroon Farm (NF) with two different irrigation water resources EF and NF. The results revealed that Laboon surpassed Rammah 1, Ismailia 1 and SW 9628 genotypes in total dry forage and protein yields of both cuts under soil and irrigation water of NF. Soaking Rammah 1 seeds in GA3 5 mM gave the highest total dry forage and protein yields of both cuts under sandy soil and irrigation water of EF. Soaking Ismailia 1 seeds in 5 mM of SA gave the highest total dry yield of both cuts under NF soil and irrigation water of EF.Soaking Laboon seeds in GA3 5 mM gave the highest dry forage and protein yields of both cuts under soil and irrigation water ofNF

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