Iranian Journal of Field Crop Science
Year:2018 | Volume:49 | Issue:3 |Papers Count:18

Investigation of medicinal plants response to fertilizers is one of the main issues about their cultivation. In this regard in current experiments the response of isabgol (Plantago ovata) and black seed (Nigella sativa) to some fertilizer resources was evaluated in two separated experiments at research field of Sarayan faculty of agriculture, university of Birjand, Iran during 2015-16. In the first experiment the influence of vermicompost (2. 5 and 5 ton. ha-1), cow manure (10 and 20 ton. ha-1) and humic acid application (1 and 2 kg. ha-1) combined with control (no-fertilizer) was studied on some qualitative and quantitative indices of isabgol based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. In the second study the effects of Sulphur (0, 150 and 300 kg. ha-1), Thiobacillus bacteria (50: 1 weight ratio of sulfur and bacteria) and cow manure (0 and 30 ton. ha-1) was evaluated on yield and yield components of black seed. Cow manure, Thiobacillus and Sulphur were considered as main, sub and sub-sub factors, respectively. Results showed that the effect of fertilizer type was significant only on number of tiller, number of spike and SPAD reading in isabgol. The highest tiller and spike (5. 6 and 48. 5 number, respectively) was obtained by 2 kg. ha-1 humic acid application, while the lowest (3. 8 and 31. 6 number, respectively) was belonged to control treatment. Application of cow manure and humic acid were increased partially the swelling factor of seeds. In addition, the highest seed yield (3. 76 g per plant or 1038 kg. ha-1) was obtained at the rate of 2 kg. ha-1 humic acid usage. In the second experiment, the impact of soil fertilizer type was not significant on black seed medicinal plant growth indices. However, almost all of studied criteria were improved by cow manure consumption, so that finally the seed yield of the plant was 292 and 243 kg. ha-1 in application and no-application cow manure treatments, respectively. Thiobacillus had no significant effect on all of studied indices and only increased seed yield per hectare by 5 kg. Overall, our results revealed that isabgol and black seed are two low-input medicinal plants in terms of nutrients requirements.

The field experiment to study the effects of intercropping on weed control, in the Agricultural Research Station of Lorestan University of 2014-15 and 2015-16 with two plants (legume and cereal: broad leaf vetch and abider cultivar of barley) in 4×5 factorial randomized complete block design with three replications, in two consecutive years in one place was carried out on dry land. In this experiment, two plants (legume and cereal or broad leaf vetch and barley cultivar Abidar) in the form of additive series intercropping system with four levels of weed (weeding, once weeding, double weeding and non-weeding) and complementary components of intercropping in five levels, 40: 100 (vetch: barley), 70: 100, 100: 100, 0: 100 (sole cropping of barley) and 100: 0 (sole cropping of vetch), to determine the yield and the effect of intercropping on the population, dry weight of weeds (plants per square meter) test to determine dominance in the region's flora and species diversity and ecological index was investigated weed control efficiency of all interactions, yield was better in the second year than the first year and by increasing the number of time weeding (control weed) this have more yield. The lowest number of weeds (in square meters) of first and second year with a mixture of 100: 70 (barley: vetch) was equivalent to 21 and 21. 35, sole cropping of barley was the lowest greatest weight weed control (34. 54 g/m² ). The levels mix, combination of 100: 40 and 100: 70 most of the weeds dry weight, respectively (24. 56 and 23. 77 gr/m2). So, at the mentioned levels (intercropping balanced) efficiency of weed control in the second year was than the first year. Also, by reducing the share of vetch from 100 to 70 and 40 percent, the exploitation of the environment reduced and minimum LERt in the second year and different levels of weed was belonged to 40: 100 seed ratio.

To study the effect of deficit irrigation and zeolite application on water use efficiency, oil yield and phenology of hemp, a split plot experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications in Shahrekord University. Treatments included irrigation at four levels (supplying 40, 60, 80 and 100% water requirement of crop) as the main plot and application of zeolite at three levels (no application, application of 5 and 10 tons of zeolite per hectare) as sub plot. The results showed that the length of the reproductive period was affected by irrigation and zeolite treatments and their interactions. By decreasing irrigation water supply, the length of the growth period decreased, although the reproductive stages were more sensitive than the vegetative stages. With increasing defficit irrigation intensity, oil yield, as a function of grain yield and oil content, decreased significantly. But, zeolite application prevented the oil yields to be reduced to some extent. Zeolite improved the water consumption per unit of yield on low and medium levels of drought stress with 19. 9% and 17. 5% than control treatment. Application of 10 tons of zeolite per hectare, at 60 and 80 percent supplying of the crop water requirement, modified the adverse effects of drought stress to hemp.

Drought stress is one of the most important factors in arid and semiarid regions that lead to disorder in growth and development of plants especially at germination stage. Because of importance lentil, achieving genotype(s) that are capable of the drought stress at initiating growth stage is necessary. For this purpose, germination and plantlet growth of 49 genotypes were tested in drought stress conditions at four levels including 0 (control),-4,-8 and-12 bar using PEG6000 as a factorial design in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications in 2016. Studied traits including: germination percentage, germination rate, root length, shoot length, dry weight of roots and dry weight of shoots and allometry factor. Data were subjected to variance analysis and mean comparison. Results indicated that in most considered traits, effect of potential levels of genotypes and their interaction were significant. Result of simple correlation coefficient analysis indicated that germination percentage has the highest correlation with vigor germination (r=0. 855) and speed germination (r=0. 798). Factor analysis determined that two factors (germination and root traits) accounted 67% of the total variations among genotypes. In general, results represented that considerable genetic diversity was among genotypes. Regarding the studied traits, "6, 4 and 48" genotype had high tolerance to drought stress, "34, 28” and “ 45" had low tolerance at germination stage.

The main goal of seed storage is to maintain its quality from harvesting to sowing time. Among all factors, storage temperature and seed moisture content are the most important factors affecting seed longevity. This experiment was conducted at University of Tehran, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding during 1394 to determine the Ellis and Roberts deterioration model of Chenopodium quinoa seeds and introduce constants of viability equation. Seed viability and initial moisture content was measured and after that seeds were adjusted to 5, 9, 13 and 17% moisture content and sealed hermetically in Nano packets. Storage temperatures were 5, 15, 25 and 35˚ C. The interval of sampling depended on the storage conditions. Seed viability constants were estimated to predict seed longevity in this species and relationship between sigma and moisture content and temperatures was determined. After probit analysis, survival curves were depicted in each condition. Results showed that seeds with 5% moisture content stored at 5° C had the highest germination percentage, and after 8 months seed viability decreased from 98% to 94%. But, seeds which were stored at 17% moisture content and 25 and 35° C had the highest deterioration rate. Estimates of KE, CW, CH and CQ were 2. 93, 0. 51, 0. 019 and 0. 00031, respectively. Also, the results showed that seed longevity decrease with increased seed moisture and temperature.

To examine the effects of sowing date and water stress on yield and some agronomic traits of three sweet corn hybrids, an experiment was carried out as a strip split-plot design with three replications, at College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, during 2013 and 2014 growing seasons. The main plots composed of two sowing dates (4 and 25 June considered as the optimum and late planting date, respectively) and two levels of water stress (Normal irrigation and withholding irrigation at early silking). Three sweet corn hybrids including KSC403su, Passion, and Signet were considered as sub-plots. Delay in sowing date and water stress significantly reduced fresh ear yield and its components, plant height, ear length, and fresh forage yield in all three hybrids. The KSC403su hybrid showed superiority and the highest fresh ear, kernel, and forage yields when seeds were planted on time and irrigated normally. Under withholding irrigation at early silking and planting on time, yield reduced the most by 45% in KSC403su. Under late planting date and water stress condition, the highest yield reduction was observed in Signet by 44% whereas, the lowest yield reduction was observed in Passion. Therefore, it seems that under recent water shortage of Fars Province, planting of Passion can be recommended as a suitable hybrid in such a region to save water.

All phases of this research were conducted in Research Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University in 2017. Before starting the experiments, seeds of wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis) and white mustard (S. alba) were collected from East Azarbaijan and Khuzestan provinces at maturity (late spring and early summer) during the 2015-2016 growing season and were stored for seven months. This study included three experiments. Each experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with four replications, and the treatments were factorial. In all experiments, one of the factors was the mustard species. In the first experiment, the second factor consisted of eight temperatures ranging from 5 to 40 ° C. In the second experiment, the second factor was 13 sowing depths of 0. 5 to 6 cm. In the third experiment, the second factor included six flooding periods from 0 to 35 days. The results of the experiments showed that in most temperatures, the depths and flooding periods, germination of wild mustard were greater than white mustard, which is probably due to the larger size of the seed of this species. The onset of mustard germination was from 4 to 5 ° C (base temperature) and peaked at temperatures from 25 to 30 ° C (optimal temperature) and then germination stopped at 40 to 45 ° C (maximum or ceiling temperature). Considering that with increasing depth, the percentage and rate of emergence in both species decreased. With increasing flooding period, germination percentage, seedling length and seedling weight of both mustard species decreased.

The models based on thermal-time concept are useful tools for predicting germination in relation to time and temperature. In this study, conducted in 2016 at Ramin Agriculture and Natural Resources University, thermal-germination model was developed based on seven probability distribution function (Logistic, Weibull, Gumbel, Loglogistic, Inverse-Normal, Log-Normal and Gamma) and predicted germination time courses by these models for two spring oilseed rape cultivars (RGS003, Sarigol) were compared with the Normal thermal-germination outputs. Germination test were conducted at eleven constant temperature regimes of 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 º C. Results indicated that the Log-Normal thermal-germination model gave best fit to germination time courses of both cvs. RGS003 (AICc=-1173) and Sarigol (AICc=-1180). Based on the outputs of this model, base temperature for germination of cvs. RGS003 and Sarigol were estimated to be 5. 85 and 5. 60 º C, respectively. The suboptimal thermal-time to initiate germination were predicted as 118. 40 º C h in cv. RGS003 and 120. 00 º C h in cv. Sarigol, While thermal-time required to complete germination at supra-optimal temperatures were estimated to be 29. 07 º C h in cv. RGS003 and 31. 47 º C h in cv. Sarigol. Also, both oilseed rape cultivars showed thermoinhibition beyond averaged temperature of 33. 17 º C. Estimated parameters in this study can be used in crop simulation models.

To assess the effects of drought stress on yield and some traits related to growth in soybean, two experiments were conducted as normal and 50% decreas in soil water to FC as stress condition in a randomized compelet block design with three replications and 10 genoytpes in Karaj in 1394. Results showed, that drought stress had different effects on traits. So that, the greatest increase was in %empty pod and the most decrease was in yield per plant and seed number. Some of traits such as the first pod, seed number, nod number had sever damage from drought, too. Seed filling period and yield decreased in susceptible genotypes, significantly but in tolerant genotypes had no significant decrease. Whiles, %empty pod and RSD had significant increase in sensitive genotypes. Obtained results revealed that, genotypes had different reactions to drought in pigments of their leaves. Although, drought had increased pigments as average; leaf pigments in tolerant genotypes decreased whiles increased in susceptible genotypes.

To assess the effects of drought stress on yield and some traits related to growth in soybean, two experiments were conducted as normal and 50% decreas in soil water to FC as stress condition in a randomized compelet block design with three replications and 10 genoytpes in Karaj in 1394. Results showed, that drought stress had different effects on traits. So that, the greatest increase was in %empty pod and the most decrease was in yield per plant and seed number. Some of traits such as the first pod, seed number, nod number had sever damage from drought, too. Seed filling period and yield decreased in susceptible genotypes, significantly but in tolerant genotypes had no significant decrease. Whiles, %empty pod and RSD had significant increase in sensitive genotypes. Obtained results revealed that, genotypes had different reactions to drought in pigments of their leaves. Although, drought had increased pigments as average; leaf pigments in tolerant genotypes decreased whiles increased in susceptible genotypes.

Salinity stress is one of the major abiotic stresses in arid and semi-arid regions of the world, such as Iran. In this research to finding interrelationships between different traits and performance; some wheat genotypes were evaluated by using biplot method. In this study, 110 bread wheat genotypes were evaluated in two conditions (normal and saline stress) at the research field of the National Salinity Research Center (NSRC). The salinity of water used in irrigation in saline and normal conditions was 10 and 2 dS. m-1 respectively. Also the average of soil salinity rate in saline and normal condition was 9. 5 and 2. 7 dS. m-1 respectively. The results revealed that there was a strong positive association between biological yield and harvest index with seed yield in both normal and saline conditions. Therefore, it seems that biological yield and harvest index could be used as a suitable criterion in selecting for increased seed yield in wheat. In this research among 110 studied bread wheat genotypes, promising advanced lines Salt22, Salt29 and Salt30 were identified as the most salinity-tolerant genotypes that these lines can be utilized for salt-affected areas and as donor parents in wheat breeding programs for further improvement of germplasm for salinity tolerance.

In order to find an alternative to summer monoculture forage maize (Zea mays), intercropping systems of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum): soybean (Glycine max) (P: G) and maize: soybean (Z: G) and intercropping patterns, substitutive (XXG, XXGG and XGG) and additive (X%100G%25, X%100G%50 and X%83G%67) were evaluated as factorial in RCBD at research field of Agriculture and Natural Resources College of Tehran University in Karaj during 2013 and 2014 (G and X respectively: soybean and cereal including maize, Z, or pearl millet, P). Results showed that yields of cereal forage and mixed forage in Z: G were significantly higher than P: G. Cereals were dominant component in intercrop and the dominance of maize was higher than millet. Intercropping system or pattern did not affect total land equivalent ratio (LER). The highest LER was recorded 1. 15 by P%100G%25 in 2013 and 1. 07 by Z%83G%67 in 2014 without 2nd cut of pearl millet, and 1. 10 by PGG in 2014 with sum of 2 cuts of pearl millet. In X%83G%67 despite the 83% cereal density of monoculture, partial LER was 0. 95 for maize but 0. 70 for pearl millet. It is concluded that additive patterns with a small ratios of soybean or with some decrease in ratios of cereal component, tend to have potential to achieve higher LERs. Thus intercropping, specially additive pattern can provide suitable alternatives to monoculture in production of forage with customized quality and higher diversity in ecosystem, in consistent with sustainability.

Resistance to powdery mildew disease were evaluated using 17 wheat landraces in the field and greenhouse environments. The field experiment was performed at three disease hotspots in Sari, Gorgan and Moghan under natural disease incidence and the reaction of the genotypes was evaluated at adult plant stage. In order to evaluate the resistance of the genotypes at seedling stage, the isolates of the disease were collected from different regions and the pathotypes were identified by inoculation on the differential varieties. The results of field evaluation indicated that the average reaction level of genotypes to the disease in Sari and Gorgan was similar and lower than Moghan. 10 pathotypes were identified, all of which had virulence factors for Pm2, Pm3a, Pm3c, Pm3g, Pm4a, Pm5, Pm6 and Pm8. Shamrock (with unknown R gene), Normandie (Pm1+ Pm2+ Pm9), Axona (Pm2+Pm3d+Mld), Maris Dove (Mld+Pm2) and Wembley (Pm12) varieties were resistant to the all pathotypes. The presence of Pm7 was postulated in genotype 7, so that the resistance spectrum of this genotype was similar to Transfed. Genotypes 4 and 11 appeared resistant or moderately resistant at adult plant stage while they were susceptible to the all pathotypes at seedling stage and therefore, they were identified as genotypes with adult plant resistance. The total results of this research led to identification of seedling and adult plant resistance sources with different resistance gene combinations which could be exploited in breeding programs.

Resistance to powdery mildew disease were evaluated using 17 wheat landraces in the field and greenhouse environments. The field experiment was performed at three disease hotspots in Sari, Gorgan and Moghan under natural disease incidence and the reaction of the genotypes was evaluated at adult plant stage. In order to evaluate the resistance of the genotypes at seedling stage, the isolates of the disease were collected from different regions and the pathotypes were identified by inoculation on the differential varieties. The results of field evaluation indicated that the average reaction level of genotypes to the disease in Sari and Gorgan was similar and lower than Moghan. 10 pathotypes were identified, all of which had virulence factors for Pm2, Pm3a, Pm3c, Pm3g, Pm4a, Pm5, Pm6 and Pm8. Shamrock (with unknown R gene), Normandie (Pm1+ Pm2+ Pm9), Axona (Pm2+Pm3d+Mld), Maris Dove (Mld+Pm2) and Wembley (Pm12) varieties were resistant to the all pathotypes. The presence of Pm7 was postulated in genotype 7, so that the resistance spectrum of this genotype was similar to Transfed. Genotypes 4 and 11 appeared resistant or moderately resistant at adult plant stage while they were susceptible to the all pathotypes at seedling stage and therefore, they were identified as genotypes with adult plant resistance. The total results of this research led to identification of seedling and adult plant resistance sources with different resistance gene combinations which could be exploited in breeding programs.

In order to evaluate and identify the pre-harvest resistant rice cultivars (Oryza sativa L. ), an experiment was conducted using 20 cultivars included 16 local and 4 improved cultivars in a randomized complete block design with three replications in a personal farm located at the lalevajesar village, Bandar Kiashahr, Guilan, Iran in 2014. . Heading and flowering dates and seedling growth stage of BBCH 89 were recorded on the field. The spikes were harvested at Zadoks stage 92 and the seeds moisture contents were measured immediately after harvesting. Two methods were used to evaluate pre-harvest sprouting including sprouting score and sprouting index under laboratory condition. The studied traits were seed dormancy, after ripening period, α-amylase activity and embryo protein levels under laboratory conditions. In both methods, high resistance to sprouting on the spike was observed in local Hashemi and Anbarbou cultivars with high levels of seed dormancy. Significant differences among studied cultivars were observed for phenological and biochemical characteristics of rice grain. Mean while, there were significant positive correlations between sprouting score and sprouting index with α-amylase activity and there were significant negative correlation between these two traits with seed dormancy index (dormancy severity) and after-ripening regression coefficient (dormancy duration). Protein content of seed embryo was significantly different between dormant and non-dormant seeds in the earliest stages of water absorption under heat treatments. In this study, it was observed that seed dormancy severity, dormancy duration and measurement of α-amylase activity can be used as important traits for evaluation of resistant cultivars to pre-harvest sprouting. Cultivars classified into three groups based on cluster analysis. Overall, the results showed that Dorfak and Khazar improved cultivars and the Hashemi local cultivar were the most sensitive and resistant cultivars to pre-harvest sprouting. These findings provide further evidence of appropriate genetic diversity among cultivars in the case of studied traits that underscore the importance to use in breeding programs for resistance to pre-harvest sprouting. Keywords: α-Amylase, Protein, Seed dormancy, Sprouting Index, Sprouting Score.

To study the effect of nutrition and irrigation systems on growth properties and forage quality of sainfoin, this experiment was conducted as factorial split in time, based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at Research Field of Tarbiat Modares University during the 2015-2016 growing season. The combination factorial of fertilizer treatments (vermicompost, urea and non-fertilizer), irrigation methods (alternate and conventional) and irrigation interval (6, 12 and 18-days) were main factors and two cuts were sub factor. The highest dry weight of forage was obtained by six and twelve days conventional irrigation intervals. The highest dry weight of leaf and stem was observed in six days conventional irrigation intervals with vermicompost application. The first cut had the highest NDF by 34% and Potassium by 3. 8%. The highest crude protein of 21. 9% was observed in the second cut with application of vermicompost and conventional irrigation. The four-way interaction between cut, fertilizer, irrigation interval and method was significant for phosphorous concentration. According to the results, vermicompost can mitigate the effect of deficit irrigation on sainfoin and in the absence of any fertilizer, there was no significant difference between irrigation regimes in terms of yield. On the other hand, the use of alternate irrigation with longer intervals, especially in the first cut, can be investigated according to weather conditions, cost-effectiveness and low differences with other irrigation regimes.