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Experiments were carried out through summer season 2019 in the Rice Mechanization centre at Meet El-Deeba, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate to study the effect of infra-red radiation and ultraviolet radiation on protein, trypsin inhibitor and total microbial count of cowpea seeds as pre- conditioning methods prior to storage process. Five exposure times of (3-6-9-12-15 min) and five irradiation intensity (804.255, 882.67, 964.74, 1,050.45, 1,139.8 W/m2) were used for infra-red treatments. For ultraviolet treatment four exposure times (10-20-30-40min) and three irradiation intensity (7.077 – 3.538 – 2.359 mW/cm2) were used. For the IR conditioning method, irradiation intensity of 882.67 W/m2 at exposure time of 15 min is recommended. This level of radiation intensity and exposure time, showed total microbial count of 2.3 Log CFU/g., protein content 28.88 %, trypsin inhibitor 1.148 TIU/mg and moisture content 8.13 % of cowpea seeds. Meanwhile the irradiation intensity of 3.538 mW/cm2 at exposure time of 40 mins is recommended for UVC irradiation pre-treatment to get total microbial [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most important feature of the storage systems is to preserve the integrity of the grain for a given period with minimal loss in quality and quantity. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of seed conditioning prior to storage process using infrared heating at the optimum radiation intensity of 882.67W/m2 and exposure time of 15 min and the ultraviolet radiation at radiation intensity of 3.538mW/cm2 and exposure time of 40 min on storability of cowpea seeds using different types of plastic hermetic bags in comparison with pp woven bags. The changes in cowpea seeds quality during storage of pre-treated cowpea seeds in terms of moisture content, protein content, total microbial count and insect detection were also determined. The results show that, the moisture content of seeds stored in pp woven bags increased in contrast with both types of studied hermetic bags, oxygen concentration for hermetic bags decreased during storage period and carbon dioxide increased unlike pp woven bag, The rate of seeds infection with microorganisms and weevils was lower for the samples stored in both types of hermetic bags and crude protein content of seeds stored in hermetic bags reduced at a very slight rate in comparison with that stored in woven bag. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to get the most possible benefit of using deficit irrigation to maximize water productivity of squash, besides investigating the ability of drip irrigation uniformity to reduce the expected negative effect of deficit irrigation on squash crop yield production (Cucurbita pepo - Hybrid Revera). Three levels of irrigation uniformity (UL) based on the value of uniformity coefficient (UC) namely excellent (E), very good (VG), and unacceptable (UA) were examined with three irrigation levels (IL) based on crop evapotranspiration (ETc) which were full irrigation (FI) or 100% ETc; in addition to two deficit irrigation levels 90% ETc (DI90), and 80% ETc (DI80). Results showed that both ULs and ILs had significant effect on squash production. There was significant reduction in crop yield values due to the decrease in irrigation water at all uniformity levels. The greatest values of water productivity (WP) for all ULs were obtained at FI followed by DI80 and the least was DI90. The profits of water volume unit showed that the greatest values were for E level. FI recorded the greatest profits under all ULs. Increasing uniformity level led to increase crop production but it could not prevent the significant reduction in squash crop related to deficit irrigation. The study recommended to manage drip irrigation uniformity and irrigation water separately as the high levels of uniformity could not prevent the effect of water shortage regarding the decrease of crop yield, WP, and water unit profits. Keywords: Deficit irrigation, Drip irrigation, Production, Squash, Uniformity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]