JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE
Year:2009 | Volume:5 | Issue:1|Papers Count:15

Design and analysis of land-use management scenarios requires detail of a soil data bank including CEC data. Although CEC can be measured directly, its measurement is especially difficult and expensive in the Aridisols of Iran because of the large amounts of calcium carbonate. Pedotransfer functions (PTFs) provide alternative methods by estimating CEC from more readily available soil data.Soil samples were taken from 12 pedons in Khesrabad, Yazd Province.Measured soil variables includ texture (determined by Bouyoucos hydrometer method), organic carbon (determined with using Walkely and Black rapid titration) and CEC (determined with or by using Bower method). Then, the artificial neural network (ANN), multivariate regression (MR) and several published PTFs were applied to predict CEC, using measurable characteristics of clay, sand, silt and organic carbon. The results showed that ANN method gave the best result followed by MR method and finally the PTFs. Regarding the inputs and coefficients of PTFs, other regression based models had different performance. Among these models, none of them had absolute performance. In conclusion, the result of this study showed that training has a massive effect to increase accuracy of model in one region.

This research has been conducted to determine the main and residual effects of simultaneous application of triple super phosphate and powder of phosphate rock on yield indices and nutrient elements (P, Fe, Zn) concentration in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.cv Hamedani). The experiment has performed in randomized complete block design by six treatments and three replications on research station of Agricultural and nutural resources research center of Shahrekord. The treatments of current study were consist of: T1=TSP, T2=0.8 TSP+0.2 PR, T3=0.5 TSP+0.5 PR, T4=0.2 TSP+0.8 PR, T5=PR, T6=control. The following results has been obtained: main effects of treatment on dry yield. P, Zn were shgnification at 5% level but main effects of treatment on Fe were not statistically significant.

In a greenhouse experiment the effects of salinity stress on fifteen bread wheat genotypes were evaluated. Experimental factorial design was in a randomized completely block design (RCBD) with four replications. Seed of the bread wheat genotypes sown in thoroughly washed sand in plastic containers. The sand was irrigated on alternative days with full strength Hoagland’s nutrient solution prepared in distilled water. Control and salinity treatments contain full strength Hoagland’s with 0 and 150 mM NaCl, respectively.Kharchia-66 and Chinese spring were tow of selected bread wheat genotypes as tolerant and susceptible control respectively.Other genotypes include double haploid lines that obtain from maize and wheat crosses as follow: DH-1557-1, DH-1557-3, DH-1557-7, DH-1557-15, DH-1557-33, DH-1102-12 and three Onfarm genotypes consist of Onfarm-4, Onfarm-6 and Onfarm9. The result showed that tolerant and susceptible bread wheat genotypes as regards to absorbance of sodium and potassium have genetic variability. The positive and significant correlation were observed between K+/Na+ ratio and grain filling duration and seed dry weight. Salinity stress had no effects on flowering time but it causes reduction of grain filling period and this reduction were greater in susceptible genotypes. Cluster analysis divided genotypes in four groups. SSI was considered to separate relative tolerance from absolute tolerance. Mahooti cultivar and DH-1557-3 double haploid line superior from other genotypes in view of stress susceptibility index of grain and shoot dry weight that indicate accumulation tolerant genes in two genotypes and also Ghods cultivar and DH-1102-12 double haploid line inferior from other genotypes in view of stress susceptibility index. The result also indicated that the relative tolerance to salinity stress was highest in Roshan cultivar and among Onfarm lines the highest relative tolerance observed in Onfarm-6 line.

Most of the soils of Kohgiluyeh va Boyerahmad Province are calcareous and hence micronutrient deficiency, especially zinc, was most frequently reported. In order to study the effect of source, amount and method of zinc application on rice (Choram 1 cultivar), a field experiment was carried out in Choram region, during two years. The experiment included eight different fertilizer treatments, consists of soil application (20 and 40 kg.ha-1), foliar spray (0.3 percent of ZnSO4) and root exposure to two percent of ZnO suspension.The experiment was designed in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The results showed that in the first year, zinc application significantly increased yield (P<0.05).The maximum yield of 7508 kg/ha was obtained with combined application of 40 kg/ha of ZnSO4 with foliar spray of 0.3 percent ZnSO4. In the second year, fertilizer application significantly increased yield (P<0.01). Compared to control treatment, combined application of 40 kg/ha of ZnSO4 and foliar spray of 0.3 percent ZnSO4 increased grain yield by 6366 kg/ha. The results showed that soil application of 40 kg. ha-1 of ZnSO4 with foliar spray of 0.3 percent ZnSO4 increases the rice yield positively.

With regard to the importance of potato production and effective parameters on qualitative properties, series of experiments were conducted in the research fields of Islamic Azad University, Khorasgan branch. A Randomized Complete Block Design with four treatments (Moldboard Plow, chisel Plow, Disk Plow and Improved Disk Plow) in three replications was used and treatments were compared. Results of analysis of variance showed that the effect of tillage machine on moisture content, dry matter, density, different sugars, pH and organic acids were not significant at 5% level. All of the measured parameters were in the acceptable range. According to the results of Duncan’s multiple range tests, improved disk plow was better than mold board plow in some variables. Thus, it can be concluded that improved disk plow would be a good alternative tool for moldboard plow especially in potato production.

No doubt that in modern cities the greenery and city environment are the major rules for sustainable natural and human life. The increase air pollution and city’s developments necessitates the increase of city’s greenery. During the recent years due to shortage of water the Isfahan city’s greenery faced a lot of problems which make the city’s officials to worry about them. The shortage of water especially for greenbelts located in city’s boundaries is more obvious. The present study designed, to select the new and drought resistant species according to their leaf water potential. Five places of Zagrosian and Albours forests selected in order to select the drought resistant species according to their leaf water potential (LWP). The result showed that there are significant differences between the plant species.According to our studies the Quercus brantii, Quercus infectoria, Lonicera nummularifolia and Fraxinus rotundifolia species were recognized as the most drought resistant species and Cornus mass, Cornus australis, Sorbus torminalis, Sorbus umbellate and Celtis caucasica are the middle sensitive to drought Platanus orientalis Salix alba, Populus nigra and Populus alba species are the most sensitive to drought.

Polymyxa betae, the vector of the BNYVV causal agent of Rhizomania disease, is a soil-borne fungus that survives as an obligate parasite on roots of sugarbeet and other chenopodiaceae plants. It produces resistant spores (cystosori) which are able to live in soil as dormant stage and easily transmitted by soil, plant debries, and agricultural machinary.Because of the importance of the disease in sugarbeet cultivation, a survey was conducted during the years of 2001-2002 to investigate distribution of the fungal vector in soils of areas under sugarbeet growing of Esfahan, west Azarbayejan and Khorasan Provinces. The soil samples were mixed with an equal volume of sterile sand separetely and dispensed into pots. Seeds of a susceptible sugarbeet cultivar CV. P22 were sown in pots and watered weekly. To determine the infection of plants to P.betae, the roots were washed in running water and plunged in boiling lactophenol containing acid fuchsin and examined by light microscope. Results indicated that in 289 soil samples from Esfahan province, the most infection belong to, Qale-eslam area with, 45.7 percent. In 352 soil sampls of West Azarbayejan, 79 sampls were infected to P. betae. Qarah-ziaedin area, was observed the most infected area to the fungus with 31.8 Percent infection. Soil Samples from 23 regions of Khorasan province, indicated that infected to P. betae in north regions are more severe than the other regions. Infection in Chenaran, Torbatjam, Shirvan, Quchan, Fariman and Sabzevar were stimated more than 50 percent.Microscopic examination showed the high potential of root infection with the fungus in the greenhouse. This attributed to the number of resting spores per 1 gram of root which were more than 480. Widespread distribution of P. betae in sugarbeet growing areas of Esfahan, West Azarbayjan and North of Khorasan provinces, Indicated that the occurrence of the Rhizomania disease in these areas is inevitable.

Effects of four NaCl levels on root concentration of micro nutrients, in seedlings of five citrus species namely: Bakraei (Citrus reteculata × C. limetta ), Volkamer lemon (C. volkameriana), Sour orange (C. aurantium), Sweet lime (C. limetta) and Mexican lime (C. aurantifolia), were studied in greenhouse, using a factorial experiment compeletly randomized design (CRD) with four replications. One-year old seedlings of each species were grown in pots, containing native soil (pH=8.2) and irrigated with water supplemented with 0 (control), 20, 40 and 60 mM NaCl.At the end of experiment, concentration of Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Cl and B in roots were determined. The concentration of micro nutrient varied among species even in control plants (no salt). Salinity had different effects on root concentration of micro nutrient. Under salinity stress, Fe concentration was reduced in all species roots except in Mexican lime and sour orange and increased the concentration of Zn in species roots except in Bakraei. Salinity increased the concentration of Mn in all species roots and reduced the concentration of Cu and B except in Bakraei. The concentration of Cl increased in all species roots with increased salinity level.

Development in crop production and improvement of its related efficiency in terms of resultant yield can facilitate achieving of self sufficiency as a major goal. In this study, three indices of efficiency, scale and integrated advantages (together as a comprehensive index of comparative advantage) were computed for rain-fed crops of Mazandaran province in order to determine the crop cultivation priorities based on the availabilities of its related limited sources in this province. According to the results, production of rain-fed crops in different regions showed the scale, efficiency and integrated advantages as 57.28, 64.08 and 64.08 percent, respectively, which means higher comparative advantage compared to its average value in the province. In contrast to the efficiency advantage, scale advantage for several crops such as beans, cotton, tobacco, sugar cane, potato, onion, tomato, cucumber, maize, clover, soybean and canola in Mazandaran, showed higher value in comparison with the average of the country. Thus, in can be concluded that by keeping the same farm land area, increasing of productivity by improvement of yield production techniques would be the most proper way to pace. Furthermore, calculated value of integrated advantage index suggests that this province benefiting from comparative advantage for tobacco, sugar cane, potato, onion, cucumber, maize, clover, soybean and canola production.

In this experiment, effect of Canola meal utilization on milk production performance and some blood metabolites of lactating Holstein cows were studied. Twelve lactating cows in third-parous with average weight of 585±55 kg, milk yield 36±6 kg and days in milk 109±22 were used. A latin square (cross over time) design was conducted in which 4 treatments were tested in 4 period of time and 3 squares. Each period included of 14 days adaptation and 10 days for blood and milk sampling. Milk fat, protein, lactose, total solids, solids non fat and urea and blood 3-Iodothyronine, thyroxin and albumin levels were determined. Results showed by increasing the level of Canola meal in the diets, milk composition such as fat, protein, lactose, total solids and solids non fat were significantly increased but no significantly variation was found for raw milk yield, 4% fat corrected milk and milk urea concentration. In addition, inclusion of Canola meal did not affected the blood 3-Iodothyronine, thyroxin and albumin.It seems that Canola meal can be used as a substitute of diet protein meals up to 75%.

To investigate progeny’s production performance of Iranian and foreign Holstein bulls in different Iranian climatic conditions, 9673 first lactation records of milk and fat yield in 13 Herds from 1985 to 2005 were used. Based on Extended Demarton Method herds were grouped into 4 climates including of Dry cold, Ultra-Dry cold, Humid Temperate, and Sub-Dry cold. Cow's performances in different climates were considered as separate traits. Using a multivariate animal model, (co) variance components and genetic parameters were estimated. Heritability of milk and fat yield ranged from 17 to 33 percent and from 9 to 14 percent, respectively.Genetic correlations for milk and fat yield in different mentioned climates varied from 0.55 to 0.98 and from 0.22 to 0.94, respectively. Genetic correlations for both traits between Humid Temperate and other climates were lower than 0.80, indicating the presence of genotype and environment interaction between them. Genetic correlations between Dry-Cold and Ultra-Dry cold for both traits were more than 0.90, indicating that we could consider performances of dairy cows in these two climates as one trait. Comparison of daughter's estimated breeding values (EBVs) of sires from different sources showed that the lowest (except in Sub-Dry cold) and the highest daughters EBVs for both traits were belonged to Iranian and New Zealand bulls, respectively.