A research team from the College of Agriculture has published two scientific papers in a global journal indexed within the Scopus database. The papers were presented at the Fifth International Scientific Conference on Modern Technologies in Agricultural Sciences and were published by IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science.

A research team from the College of Agriculture at the University of Diyala has published two scientific papers in a global journal indexed within the Scopus database. The team consists of master’s student Sa’doun Khalid Khalil and his supervisors, Professor Dr. Basim Rahim Badr and Assistant Professor Dr. Ahmad Bahjat Khalaf, from the Department of Soil and Water Resources.

The first paper is titled “Studying the Relationship Between Some Spectral Evidence and the Nutritional Elements of Citrus Orchards in Baqubah.” This study aimed to investigate the nature of the relationship between the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) with the nutritional elements of three citrus orchards in Baqubah, specifically in the regions of Bahraz, Khan al-Lulwa, and al-Hawidra. The primary elements (NPK) were measured, and the results indicated that the coefficient of determination (R²) was significant between both NDVI and SAVI and the concentrations of nutritional elements, utilizing graphical data points in Excel. It concluded that the coefficient of determination for the relationship between the spectral indices and the concentrations of nutritional elements was also high, suggesting a correlation between the indices and the nutrient levels in the leaves of citrus trees. Based on these results, it is possible to predict locations in the study areas where there is a deficiency of these nutritional elements.

The second paper is titled “The Fertility Assessment of Some Citrus Orchards in the District of Baqubah.” This study aims to evaluate the fertility of the orchards and assess the levels of essential nutrients, as well as some physical and chemical properties, to provide a clear understanding for orchard owners and decision-makers regarding the importance of these orchards as a national asset. The study recommends adding nitrogen to orchards experiencing nitrogen deficiency to achieve good productivity and quality. Additionally, incorporating phosphorus and potassium into orchards suffering from nitrogen deficiency aids in maintaining tree health and productivity. It is also crucial to add organic matter to the soil to improve its physical and chemical properties and enhance water and nutrient retention. Furthermore, maintaining low salinity levels is vital, as elevated salinity adversely affects citrus trees.