Karam Farrag

National Water Research center, Central Laboratory for Environmental Quality Monotoring, Associate Professor

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Karam Farrag was born on June 25, 1971 in Cairo and graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Egypt in 1993. He started his career after graduation as an Independent Professional Agronomist for the newly reclaimed lands. In 1998 he joined the Central Laboratory for Environmental Quality Monitoring (CLEQM), National Water Research Centre of Egypt as a Senior Analyst at the Soil Department. In 2003 he received his MSc degree in Land and Water Resource Management-Irrigated Agriculture from the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (CIHEAM-MAIB), Italy. In 2005 he received an Advanced Diploma in Operators for Sustainable Agriculture from the same institute. In 2006 he gained PhD research fellowship from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affair in the framework of regional project for monitoring of contaminated sites. In 2009 he obtained his Ph.D. degree from University of Bari, Italy, in the area of bioremediation of contaminated soil. In 2010 he signed a two-year contract with the Research Centre on Environmental Methodologies and Technologies (METEA), Italy, funded by the European Social Fund, in the framework of regional programme for addressing the bio-stabilization and maturation of biomass residues. At the end of 2012 he moved back to CLEQM and joined the Biology and Environmental Indicators Department. In June 2013, he has been selected as an Assistant Researcher and promoted to Researcher in Nov 2013. In June 2014 he has been appointed as Head of Soil Department. In December 2022, he has been promoted to Associate Professor. Karam Farrag is involved in various collaborative regional and international research activities and research projects. He has published numerous papers in many scientific journals, proceedings and chapters in books of international standing. His main research interest is in the field of water quality management and contamination, soil fertility, fertilizers and fertilization, plant nutrition, soil salinity, soil water relations, soil and water conservation, removal and stabilization of metals from contaminated land and sediments using biological approaches (bio- and phytoremediation), bio-stabilization and maturation of biomass residues, composting process of biomass. He is member of editorial board and referee of several international peer-reviewed journals.

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Papers by Karam Farrag

Organic amendment and minimum tillage in winter wheat grown in Mediterranean conditions: Effects on yield performance, soil fertility and environmental impact

European Journal of Agronomy, Apr 1, 2016

Abstract The experiment was conducted to evaluate the agronomic benefit of the application of org... more Abstract The experiment was conducted to evaluate the agronomic benefit of the application of organic fertilizers combined with different soil tillage on quantitative and qualitative components of winter wheat ( Triticum durum Desf., cv. ‘Simeto’) and on chemical soil fertility parameters. The environmental impact, due to heavy metals introduced in soil-plant system, was further investigated. Soil tillage treatments consisted of conventional (CT) and minimum tillage (MT). Fertilization treatments were: mineral at 100 kg N ha −1 (N min ); municipal solid waste compost at 100 kg N ha −1 (N comp ); 50 kg N ha −1 of both compost and mineral fertilizers (N mix ); sewage sludge at 100 kg N ha −1 (N ss ). These treatments were compared with an unfertilized control (N 0 ). No significant difference was observed between the two soil tillage treatments for quantitative yield production, while among the fertilization treatments N ss did not show any significant difference compared to N min . At the end of the research, the fertility of the soil (oxidable carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus) was on average higher in N comp and N ss treatments compared to the N 0 and N min ones. The overall distribution of heavy metals in soil-plant system respect to the different fertilizer treatments has not allowed to grouped their effects with Principal Components Analysis. This result showed that the amount of potential pollutants applied by organic amendments did not modified the dynamic equilibrium of the soil–plant system. The MT, as well as the fertilization with the application of sewage sludge (N ss ), allowed to reach productive performance similar to conventional management (CT with N min ). Here we demonstrate that, in the short term period, sustainable agronomical techniques can replace the conventional one with environmental benefit.

Effects of Water Salinity and Egyptian Clover Amended Substrates on Tomato Transplant Production

Arab Universities Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2018

This study was conducted to evaluate the growth of tomato transplants irrigated with saline water... more This study was conducted to evaluate the growth of tomato transplants irrigated with saline water in a commercial soilless potting media amended with fermented clover produced by anaerobic fermentation of a mixture of clover and water for different periods (1, 2 and 3 weeks). Treatments were distributed in completely randomized factorial design included three salinity levels in irrigation water (260, 1000 and 2000 mg l-1) without and with fermented clover corresponding to 0, 10, 20 and 30% of the substrate (1peat: 1perlite: 1vermiculite) by volume. Plant height (cm), number of leaves, vegetative fresh and dry weights (g) per plant were recorded 35 days after sowing. The obtained results showed that the mean values of the aforementioned parameters were increased due to the incorporation of clover-based amendment with higher pronounced effect recorded for fermented clover as compared to non-fermented clover. The highest values were obtained due to the incorporation of three weeks fermented clover at 20% mixing percentage followed by 30%. There were significant differences among water salinity treatments; fresh water (260 mg l-1) recorded the highest vegetative growth of tomato transplants. Furthermore, fermented clover alleviated the salt stress on transplants and increased the growth parameters under saline water irrigation. These results suggested that clover can be used for producing organic tomato transplants, instead of imported media, supporting by fermentation to enhance the ability of clover to supplement the transplants with the nutrient needs and cope the salinity condition.

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Chemical anlysis of plant communities from Southern Italy, supplement to: Perrino, Enrico Vito; Brunetti, Gennaro; Rovira, Soler Pedro; Senesi, Nicola; Farrag, Karam (2012): Plant communities in multi-metal contaminated soils: a case study in the National Park of Alta Murgia (Apulia Region - Sout...

A phytosociological study was conducted in the National Park of Alta Murgia in the Apulia region ... more A phytosociological study was conducted in the National Park of Alta Murgia in the Apulia region (Southern Italy) to determine the adverse effects of metal contamination of soils on the distribution of plant communities. The phytosociological analyses have shown a remarkable biodiversity of vegetation on non-contaminated soils, while biodiversity appeared strongly reduced on metal-contaminated soils. The area is naturally covered by a wide steppic grassland dominated by Stipa austroitalica Martinovsky subsp. austroitalica. Brassicaceae such as Sinapis arvensis L. are the dominating species on moderated contaminated soils, whereas spiny species of Asteraceae such as Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. and Carduus pycnocephalus L. subsp. pycnocephalus are the dominating vegetation on heavily metal-contaminated soils. The presence of these spontaneous species on contaminated soils suggest their potential for restoration of degraded lands by phytostabilization strategy.

Chemical and spectroscopic characteristics of humic acids and dissolved organic matter along two Alfisol profiles

Chemosphere, 2014

Effetti della frammentazione rocciosa e dell’aratura profonda sulle proprietà chimico-fisiche del suolo in Puglia

Acknowledgment for Reviewers

Water Science

It is with great appreciation that we acknowledge the following reviewers who have served our res... more

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Growth and Productivity of Potato under Different Irrigation Levels and Mulch Types in the North West of the Nile Delta , Egypt

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Accumulation and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Vegetables Irrigated with Wastewater in Giza Governorate, Egypt

Arab Universities Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2021

The present study measured the concentrations of heavy metals (Zn, Ni, Pb, Cu, Cr, and Cd) in soi... more The present study measured the concentrations of heavy metals (Zn, Ni, Pb, Cu, Cr, and Cd) in soils as well as vegetables (faba bean, cabbage, onion, garlic, zucchini, capsicum, eggplant, potato, okra and green bean) irrigated with wastewater in the western part of Giza governorate, Egypt. Human health risks to consumers of these vegetables were performed. The study revealed the considerable variations in metal contents of water, soil and vegetables samples. Generally, wastewater of the study drains was not suitable for irrigation purpose according to the bacteriological guidelines. Almost all the physicochemical parameters and heavy metals concentrations of water and soil samples were compatible with the recommended permissible limits of irrigation and agricultural use, respectively. Vegetable species showed remarkable difference in metals concentrations of various plant portion, Zn showed highest tissue concentrations followed by Cu. Heavy metals concentrations in different edible...

Activity of Bacillus licheniformis, strain MBBL1, and Brassica spp. in the bioremediation of Chromium polluted soil

$Research paper thumbnail of Characterization of clay- and silt-sized fractions and corresponding humic acids along a Terra Rossa soil profile$

Characterization of clay- and silt-sized fractions and corresponding humic acids along a Terra Rossa soil profile

CLEAN - Soil, Air, Water, 2016

Growth response of blue panic grass (Panicum antidotale) to saline water irrigation and compost applications

Water Science

A pot experiment was conducted to examine the ability of Blue Panic grass (Panicum antidotale) to... more A pot experiment was conducted to examine the ability of Blue Panic grass (Panicum antidotale) to grow in slightly saline soils (2.40 dS m-1) under different levels of saline irrigation water in the presence or absence of compost. Eight treatments were set up in a randomized block design with five replicates as follows: T1 (Freshwater), T2 (Freshwater + compost at 20%), T3 (Saline water 5000 mg L-1), T4 (T3 + compost at 20%), T5 (Saline water 10000 mg L-1), T6 (T5 + compost at 20%), T7 (Saline water 15000 mg L-1) and T8 (T7 + compost at 20%). Growth parameters of Blue Panic Grass were evaluated at the end of the experimental period as plant and root length, shoot, and root fresh and dry weights, total chlorophyll, and total carbohydrates. In general, tested Blue Panic Grass appeared to be tolerant to high salt concentrations in irrigation water, and slightly significant differences were found for all the measured parameters. A remarkable growth increase occurred in plants grown in compost-amended soils, with respect to the unamended soils. The results demonstrate the possibility to stabilize the yield of blue panic grass, an important feed crop in Egypt, irrigated with saline water, which can secure animal feed resources without reducing the already limited freshwater availability.

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Health risk assessment of heavy metals in irrigated agricultural crops, El-Saff wastewater canal, Egypt

CLEAN - Soil, Air, Water, 2016

Growth and Productivity of Potato under Different Irrigation Levels and Mulch Types in the North West of the Nile Delta, Egypt

by Mohamed Abdrabbo and Karam Farrag

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of applying different irrigation levels and soil m... more The aim of this study was to assess the effect of applying different irrigation levels and soil mulches on vegetative growth, yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) valor cultivar. The experiment was carried out during two successive seasons of 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 under open field conditions in El-Bossily farm, Agricultural Research Center, El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt. The experimental design was split plot and consisted of three irrigation levels as main plots and three soil mulches as sub-plots with three replicates. Drip irrigation was practiced at 50, 75 and 100% of irrigation requirements (IR). The soil mulches consisted of black (PE-B) and transparent (PET) polyethylene as well as rice straw (RS). In both seasons, the application of different irrigation levels and mulch treatments affected significantly potato vegetative growth, tuber yield and nutrients content (N, P and K). The use of PE-B mulch resulted in significantly higher values of plant height, number of leaves, canopy fresh and dry weight per potato plant. Increasing IR of potato from 50% to 100% enhanced total and marketable yield. The highest WUE was obtained under PE-B mulch followed by RS and both of them were superior compared to the PET and bare soil. Regarding the interaction between irrigation and mulching treatments, the highest vegetative and tuber yield were obtained by PE-B treatment combined with 100% IR. However, the highest WUE was obtained by 75% IR combined with PE-B mulch.

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Applicazione della Phytoremediation per il recupero di suoli in aree sottoposte a vincolo paesaggistico contaminate da metalli pesanti

by Karam Farrag and Franco Nigro

Proprietà spettroscopiche della sostanza organica isolata da substrati di crescita del Pleurotus ostreatus

Confronto di indici di umificazione di suoli di differenti profili con tecniche spettroscopiche

Efficienza del grano duro e piante autoctone nella rimozione di metalli pesanti da suoli contaminati

Role of organic matter in soil resistance to drought

Potential of Brassica napus for the phytoremediation of heavy metals contaminated soils in Apulia region, southern Italy

Influence of MSW compost on the phytoremediation of chromium in soil polluted with multiple heavy metals

A greenhouse experiment was performed using Brassica napus as accumulator plant and testing the a... more A greenhouse experiment was performed using Brassica napus as accumulator plant and testing the addition to the soil of organic amendment (MSW compost) and a bacterial strain (Bacillus licheniformis BLMB1). Treatments were as follows: T1 (soil), T2 (soil + compost 10%), T3 (soil + B. licheniformis BLMB1 10%), T4 (soil + Compost 10% + B. licheniformis BLMB1 10%). The values of Cr3+ oxidation test resulted lower in the treatments with highest amounts of OC, and a significant (P<0.001) negative correlation (-0.806***) between the variables was found. Linear regression analysis also evidenced a significantly high relationship between the two parameters. These results indicate that higher OC soil contents prevent Cr3+ oxidation to Cr6+, which is environmentally more dangerous than the former. Statistical analysis of B. napus vegetative parameters showed a significantly high correlation between soil OC content and plant height (0.904***), foliar area (0.902***), and dry weight (0.955**...