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The aim of this study was to investigate qualitative and quantitative chemical compounds of plant water extract (PWE), and the reduction potential of Corum herbicide (bentazone and imazamox) doses using PWE for weed control in faba bean fields. Chemical analysis revealed the presence of diverse allelochemicals including polyphenols, flavonoids, and terpenoids. The field experiment results showed clear differences between the measured traits in response to the applied treatments. The application of Corum at 1.5 l · ha –1, at 0.75 l · ha –1, and at 0.75 l · ha –1 + PWE significantly reduced weed density and biomass, with a weed control efficiency of 75.5–78.4, 57.4–53.3 and 68.2–56.9 % during the first-second cropping seasons, respectively. Meanwhile, Corum at 1.5 l · ha –1 and at 0.75 l · ha –1 + PWE treatments guaranteed approximately the same yield components and improved the faba bean yield (Q · ha –1) by 65 and 40% in 2018–2019 and by 91 and 85% in 2019–2020, respectively. Therefore, the results suggest that PWE in combination with a lower herbicide dose (up to 50%) could be used as a potential weed management strategy in faba bean. Further research is required to understand the phytotoxic mechanisms of the studied extract-herbicide mixtures and their modes of action.

See the retraction notice E3S Web of Conferences 420, 00001 (2023), https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202342000001

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected various sectors, including agriculture. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of smallholder farmers in Morocco's Fez-Meknes and Marrakesh-Safi regions regarding the potential effects of the pandemic on agricultural systems and the adoption of agroecological practices during the lockdown. The findings showed that farmers implemented diverse agroecological practices such as intercropping, organic fertilization, and local seed usage. However, the pandemic negatively affected the regular course of ag-ricultural practices of 51.6% of the participants. The majority expressed concerns about market closures, labor availability, access to agricultural materials, and fertilizers. Farmers with more than two hectares of land were the most affected and less likely to embrace agroecological practices, whereas those with less than two hectares continuously adopted these practices and were less affected by COVID-19. Although 54.7% of the respondents reported no changes in their dependence on agroecological practices, 41.1% indicated that this dependency increased after the COVID-19 crisis. Understanding farmers' behavior during the pandemic can inform future agricultural policies that prioritize healthy and sustainable food production. This study underscores the importance of investing in agriculture and building resilience to ensure sustainable food systems in the face of future crises.

the present study was conducted in the Morrocan Oulmes Central Plateau to assess the organic carbon stock (OCS) in the soil and biomass of the green oak ecosystem. Soil samples taken from green oak plots at the upper organomineral layer (

In order to protect human health and the environment and to prevent the occurrence of weed ecotypes, global efforts are being made to reduce the world’s high dependency on synthetic herbicides for weed control. In this perspective, a field experiment was conducted during 2018/2019 season at the educational farm of the National School of Agriculture of Meknes (Morocco) to evaluate mulch effect of black plastic, oat straw and sycamore leaves on both faba bean and weed growth at flowering and harvest stage. The experiment was performed according to a randomized complete block design (RCBD) repeated four times. The results showed that the highest weeds infestation was recorded in weedy check (Control). Sycamore leaves, oat straw and black plastic mulches have significantly reduced weeds density and biomass, thus provided efficiency by 84.8, 80.6 and 86.8% respectively. In addition, the oat straw, black plastic, and sycamore leaves have improved faba bean yield by 42, 52.9, and 43% respectively. In conclusion, mulching practice can be a promising alternative of weed management for faba bean crop in Meknes region.

The application of synthetic pesticides is one of the fastest acting tools at farmers' disposal to prevent and mitigate the threats posed by plant pests in agriculture. However, the effects of these above-ground applications of pesticides are known to be detrimental to some belowground, non-target soil biota. At present, the effects many pesticides have on key functional microbial groups associated with phosphate (P) solubilization in the soil are still largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of two herbicides, glyphosate, and paraquat, on phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) with and without pH adjustment (after herbicide addition) since pH is a major indicator of P solubilization. In our assay, two PSB strains (Pantoea agglomerans and Serratia rubidaea) were chosen to assess their ability to solubilize tricalcium phosphate (TCP) by using the vanadate-molybdate method (to measure the amount of P solubilized) in the presence of glyphosate (5.4 g/L and 10.8 g/L) or paraquat (2 g/L and 4 g/L) separately. To assess the effect of PSB treated by the herbicides, a growth experiment using PSB inoculated wheat seedlings was performed under greenhouse conditions (25 °C, light 16 h/8 h dark). After four weeks, wheat above-ground growth parameters were measured. Our results showed that even under recommended doses of glyphosate (5.4 g/L) and paraquat (2 g/L), a decrease in P solubilization activity was observed in P. agglomerans and S. rubidaea. Whilst paraquat affected TCP solubilization more than glyphosate with and without pH adjustment, there was a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in TCP solubilization, up to 39% and 93% in the presence of glyphosate and paraquat, respectively, for S. rubidaea, and up to 45% and 95% in the presence of glyphosate and paraquat, respectively, for P. agglomerans. The effect of the herbicides on the PSB had the same results as in the greenhouse test on wheat seedling growth, confirming that these herbicides have both above and belowground negative effects, despite being used at recommended doses., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Biofertilizers are a key component of organic agriculture. Bacterial biofertilizers enhance plant growth through a variety of mechanisms, including soil compound mobilization and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB), which convert insoluble phosphorus to plant-available forms. This specificity of PSB allows them to be used as biofertilizers in order to increase P availability, which is an immobile element in the soil. The objective of our study is to assess the capacity of PSB strains isolated from phosphate solid sludge to solubilize three forms of inorganic phosphates: tricalcium phosphate (Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 ), aluminum phosphate (AlPO 4 ), and iron phosphate (FePO 4 ), in order to select efficient solubilization strains and use them as biofertilizers in any type of soil, either acidic or calcareous soil. Nine strains were selected and they were evaluated for their ability to dissolve phosphate in the National Botanical Research Institute's Phosphate (NBRIP) medium with each form of phosphate (Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 , AlPO 4 , and FePO 4 ) as the sole source of phosphorus. The phosphate solubilizing activity was assessed by the vanadate-molybdate method. All the strains tested showed significantly ( p ≤ 0.05) the ability to solubilize the three different forms of phosphates, with a variation between strains, and all strains solubilized Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 more than FePO 4 and AlPO 4 .

Lavender aqueous extracts are widely used in the Moroccan traditional medicine for their antibacterial properties. However, previous research have generally focused on investigating the antibacterial activity of lavender essential oils. The aim of this study is to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the Moroccan Lavandula pedunculata (Mill.) Cav. aqueous extract, alone, as well as in combination with extracts of other plant species known for their antibacterial activity: Salvia rosmarinus Spenn., Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl. and Origanum compactum Benth. We have tested the antibacterial activity of L. pedunculata , S. rosmarinus , S. lavandulifolia and O. compactum aqueous extracts individually and in combination against 34 strains using the agar dilution method. The combination effect was evaluated using the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC). Polyphenol and tannin contents were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, and then some phenolic compounds were identified using UHPLC-MS. All the extracts displayed a large spectrum of antibacterial activity, especially against staphylococci, streptococci, Mycobacterium smegmatis and Proteus mirabilis . The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values reached 0.15 ± 0.00 mg/mL for Staphylococcus warneri tested with S. lavandulifolia and 0.20 ± 0.07 mg/mL for Staphylococcus epidermidis tested with L. pedunculata or S. rosmarinus . Association of the L. pedunculata extract with S. rosmarinus , S. lavandulifolia and O. compactum showed synergistic effects (FIC ≤ 1). Moreover, the association of L. pedunculata with S. lavandulifolia was active against most of the Gram-negative strains resistant to the individual extracts. Determination of polyphenol and tannin contents showed the richness of the studied plants in these compounds. Additionally, chromatographic analysis demonstrated the high presence of rosmarinic acid in all the studied plant extracts. To our knowledge, this is the first study that shows the enhancing effect of the antibacterial activity of L. pedunculata aqueous extract combined with S. rosmarinus , S. lavandulifolia and O. compactum . These results confirm the effectiveness of the plant mixtures commonly used by traditional healers in Morocco and suggest that L. pedunculata might be used as an antibacterial agent either alone or, more efficiently, in combination with S. rosmarinus , S. lavandulifolia and O. compactum .

Objective: Optimization of aqueous extraction to extract the maximum amount of polyphenolic compounds that are used to treat oral disorders., Methods: Using revelation tests for phytochemical screening, Folin-Ciocalteu reagent for total phenols, catechin standard for total flavonoids, acidified vanillin for total condensed tannins, and PCA analysis to detect different correlations between plants and between employed extractions., Results: The highest (p < 0.0001); total flavonoides (195,80 ± 2,91 mg CE/g d.e) was obtained from decocted extract of Olea europaea L. subsp. europaea var. sylvestris , total phenolic (167,71 ± 12,52 mg GAE/g d.e) and total condensed tannins (250,44 ± 10,18 mg CE/g d.e) was obtained respectively from soxhlet extract and infused extract of Tetraclinis articulata L. whereas; The correlation analysis using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was positive between infusion and decoction, between total flavonoids and total phenols which is not correlated with total condensed tannins., Conclusion: Juglans regia L. bark contain a higher level of polyphenolic constituents than leaves, Decoction extraction of Olea europaea L. var. sylvestris leaf recommended to increase the yield of polychenolic extracts, condensed tannins of Tetraclinis articulata L. are degradable in high temperature., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Chemical pesticides used against insect pests of stored food have adverse effects on both health and the environment. So, the present study aims to evaluate the insect repulsive and insecticidal power of Ruta chalepensis L. essential oil (EO) from the region of Oulmes (Central plateau of Morocco); the ultimate objective is to develop a biological and ecological control strategy against pests. Thus, the EO obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Ruta chalepensis L. was identified by GC-MS; its repellent and fumigant toxicity effects on adults of Tribolium castaneum Herbst were, respectively, investigated by the preferential area method on a filter paper and the inhalation test. The insecticide power was estimated by determining the percentage of mortality as a function of the duration of exposure and concentration of the EO. The essential oil obtained is characterized by the dominance of 2-undecanone (64.35%), piperonyl piperazine (11.9%), 2-decanaone (5.12%), 2-dodecanone (4.52%), decipidone (3.9%,) and 2-tridecanone (2.36%). This EO is endowed with a very repulsive power belonging to class V, which is strongly due to its majority compound 2-undecanone. The dose 0.038  μ l/ml gave a repellent power of 100% after 15 min. The tests also revealed a considerable insecticidal effect, which reached 100% after 48 hours at a dose of 0.62  μ l/ml. The calculation of the lethal dose causing 50% mortality (LD50) and the lethal times after which there is 50% mortality (LT50) allowed deducing that the insecticidal effect of Ruta chalepensis L. is time- and dose-dependent. Hence, the effectiveness of Ruta chalepensis L. EO attests that it can constitute a healthy alternative to fight against Tribolium castaneum Herbst., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Mariame Najem et al.)

The present study was conducted in the Moroccan central Middle Atlas in order to inventory the plants used in the treatment of oral diseases, as well as to document possible risks of intoxication. Thus, 58 herbalists in the region were surveyed to gather ethnomedical information about the plants used in natural remedies preparation. The expression of the data obtained was achieved through the calculation of different quantitative indices, such as: use value (UV), family use value (FUV), relative frequency of citation (RFC), fidelity level (FL), informant consensus factor (ICF) and plant part value (PPV). 29 plants were inventoried, among which, Ruta montana L. has the highest use value (UV) and fidelity level (FL) for the treatment of gingivitis, respectively, 0.431 and 43.10. Marrubium vulgare L. has the highest citation frequency (RFC = 0.448). Whereas, Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam. had the highest value of the informant consensus factor (ICF = 0.846) as the most used species for the treatment of high number of oral pathologies and dental abscesses. Furthermore, the leaves generally prepared by decoction and administered by gargle constitute the most used part of the plant (PPV = 54.05). But, several plants recommended for the treatment of oral diseases are dangerous; in fact, Marrubium vulgare L., Atractylis gummifera L., Anacyclus pyrethrum L., Ruta montana L. and Peganum harmala L. were reported to be toxic by all the respondents. So, in spite of the virtues of medicinal plants, the toxic potential of some of them requires great vigilance in their therapeutic use., (© 2020 The Author(s).)

Oil mill wastewater (OMW) is the main liquid discharge from oil mills, it is considered as a dangerous pollutant due to its toxic chemical compounds which are unloaded directly in the environment without any treatment. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of OMW adsorption on clay as a good method for the elimination of toxic chemical compounds and to study the application of treated OMW as an irrigation source in agricultural field. For this, Clay was collected from the city of Agourai (Meknes region, Morocco) and characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, BET and FTIR analysis. Moreover, the treated OMW was analyzed using UHPLC-ESI-MS and the determination of total phenolic content (TPC) was also performed. However, the application of the treated OMW in agricultural field was performed by the determination of its effect on the germination of Lepidium sativum seeds (in vitro) and as a source of irrigation of Vicia faba plants (in situ). The results of this study showed that OMW had the following physicochemical characteristics: average pH of 4.88, TPC of 4.75 g/l, COD of 80 g/l, BOD5 of 18.72 g/l, conductivity of 16.05 cm-1, dry matter of 135.7 g/l and volatile matter of 58.7 g/l. The adsorption on clay had increased the pH from 4.88 to 6.14 and reduced significantly the organic matter (42% of COD and 57.4% of phenolic compounds). UHPLC-ESI-MS analysis showed the presence of a wide variety of organic compounds in OMW, with the appearance of new compounds after adsorption. Moreover, the use of treated OMW as a source of irrigation showed a significant effect on the germination of Lepidium sativum seeds and the growth of Vicia faba plants. From this study, we can conclude that the adsorption on clay is a good method for the treatment of OMW, which became non-toxic for environment and can be used as a source of irrigation in agricultural field., (© 2020 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)