IraqRepublic University of Duhok

College of Agriculture IraqKurdistan Region

Ministry of Higher Education& Dept. of Field Crops

Scientific Research

PRINCIPLES OF

FIELD CROPS

Professor. Dr. Ahmed SalihShengali

B.Sc. Field Crops, 1975-University of Mosul, Iraq

M.Sc. Field Crops, 1978-University of Mosul, Iraq

Ph.D. Seed Technology, 1989-University College

Dublin, Ireland

Present address, Director of Scientific Research Centre College of Agriculture

University of Duhok

Copyright © 2010 - University of Duhok Press;all rightsare reserved for University of Duhok, as subsidizedthe publication of this book for the benefit of students

Reprinted - 2015

Central Library – Duhok - card Number : 2040-2/2010

Published by University of Duhok Press

IraqKurdistan Region

Reprinted by UoD Printing Press - 2015

To Kurdistan Students

ACKNOWLEGEMENTS

I wish to express mysincere appreciation to the Dean of the College of Agriculture, University of Duhok , for his support and encouragement tofinish this work and bring it to light.

My thanks are also due to the presidency of the University ofDuhok for their assistance in publishing this book.

Special thanks are also due to my son Emad for hishelp in computer facilities.

The efforts of the reviewers have to be greatly appreciated, so a word of thanks is also forwarded to them.

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH

THE MOST GRACIOUS

THE MOST MERCIFUL

PREFACE

Iraq is the synonymous term for Mesopotamia valley, the Fertile Crescent and the Black Land'', all of which refer to an agricultural country that has been known for this property from ancient history up to the present time. The agricultural status of this country has been subject to dramatic changes, due to Governmental policies, laws and legislations. Like all other oily rich countries, Iraq pays little attention to agriculture, so its progress and development is below estimated levels.

Iraq for example, displays a huge gap between the production and consumption of most crops: cereals (wheat, barley, and rice in particular) and industrials crops (oil, fiber, and sugars) despite the availability of all production requirements. As a result Iraq imports most of these crops by hard currency at very high costs.

The agriculture sector plays the leading role in the socio-economic development in Iraqi Kurdistan Region.

The availability of vast areas of arable lands in the

region and the suitable climate for agricultural, asufficient waterresources for agriculture in addition to the adequate number of technical staff towork in this sector for the current phase.

We have to build up a culture for how to point out these problems andto understand the essential requirements for crops depending on our domestic human resources and facilities.

Accordingly we have prepared this text to be available for our students to help them become familiar with local agricultural situation, through the principles and cultural practices of field crops production in the country. We hope that the work will serve and satisfy the reader.

The author

CONTENTS

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Chapter 1

Brief history in crops cultivation 1-3

Origin and Classification 4-12

Chapter 2

Iraq topography, environment and crops

distribution 13-33

Chapter 3

Factors limiting crops production

and distribution 34

34- 42 Environmental factors

Biotic interrelations 43

Economical and social factors 44

Psychological factors 45

Chapter 4 Essentials for growing field crops

(Field management) 46-88

Chapter 5

Crop rotations 89-98

Chapter 6

Crops breeding and improvement 99-106

Chapter 7

Harvesting and seeds storing 107-112

Chapter 8

Certificationof crop seeds 113-116

Chapter 9

Seed cleaning, grading and testing 117-121

Chapter 10

Laboratory manual and field practices 122-153

GLOSSARY 154-175

REFERENCES 176-180

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