JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN CROP SCIENCES
Year:2011 | Volume:2 | Issue:7|Papers Count:9

To investigate the effect of drought stress on different growth stages of chickpea genotypes and determine the best drought stress index and tolerant genotypes against drought stress, an experiment was carried out in the Saatlu station in 2008, by split plot based on the randomized complete block design with four replications. Treatment included four levels of irrigation based on water with-holding in stage of appearance branches, water with-holding in flowering stage, water with-holding in appearance pods forming and control (without stress) assigned to main plot, and seven genotypes Ghazvin, Bivanich, Flip97-111c, Flip99-1c, Flip 98-134c, ILC3279 and Flip98-143c as sub plot. The result showed that drought stress significantly decreased per plant dry weight, number of empty pods, number of seeded pods, grain number per pod, weight of grain per plant, plant height, number of secondary branches, height of first pod from surface of ground, days to maturity, grain yield per plot and total dry weight of plants per plot but didn't have significant effect on weight of 100 grain, protein percentage and harvest index. Also, there were significant differences between varieties in all traits, except for number of empty pods. The highest grain yield was obtained from control treatment in Flip99-1c (171 gr/m2) and lower by imposing stress on pod forming stage in ILC3279 (51.2 gr/m2), which is the most sensitive stage of growth in chickpea. Flip99-1c among varieties produced highest grain yield both under normal irrigation and drought stress. It seems that it is the most tolerant variety. In this experiment, stress tolerance index (STI), mean productivity (MP), geometric mean productivity (GMP), tolerance index (TOL), harmonic mean (HAR) had significant difference for drought stress in all growth stages and in chickpea genotypes, but  stress susceptibility index (SSI) didn't have significant difference. These indices, indicate that Flip 99-1c at appearance branch stage, were most resistant against drought stress.

To assess the efficiency of utility methods of iron and zinc micronutrient elements present in sunflower, an experiment was done in the Agricultural Research Station of Eastern Azerbaijan in 2008 with four replications and eight treatments (F1: control, F2: iron, F3: zinc, F4: iron + zinc in the from of soil utility , F5: iron , F6: zinc, F7: iron+ zinc in the form of solution foliar application, and F8: iron + zinc in the from of soil utility and foliar application) in the RCBD design. Having analyzed the variance of the given traits, it was realized that among the different treatments, regarding the traits like the length of bush, the proportion of seed weight to the cultivar, the protein and oil percentage, the yield of oil, the weight of 1000 seeds, the yield of seed, leaf nitrogen, phosphor, potassium percentage, the amount of leaf zinc, the plate diameters, there was a meaningful difference at the probability level. The highest amount of seed yield, oil yield, oil percentage, the weight of 1000 seeds, the proportion of seed weight to the cultivar and protein percent were obtained from the treatments of soil utility and the solution foliar application utility of iron + zinc. Also, the highest amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium concentration in leaf was seen in control group which was an indication of non-efficiency of iron and zinc on the absorption rate of these substances in the leaf of the given plant. The correlation among most of the effective traits on the seed yield like, plate diameter, seed rows in capitallum the proportion of seed weight to the capitalism and the weight of 1000 seeds were positive and meaningful. All in all, the utility of foliar application method. Soil utility method had the highest output for use of iron and zinc which increased its yield and components in the given study. The comparison of the methods of solution utility and soil utility showed that solution utility treatment had more impact than the soil utility treatment. Generally, using fertilization treatments with the lower utility of the substances, the concentration of these substances, especially iron and zinc increased in the given leaf. The results of leaf analysis show that the use of solution foliar application in proportion to soil utility has increased the concentration of low–utility substance meaningfully.

To determine the best row distance and plant density of sunflower in Mazandaran province, a field experiment was conducted in split plot in the basis of randomized complete block design with four replications at Dasht-Naz Institute of Sari on 15 April of 2008. Main factor was distance between rows in 3 levels (50, 60 and 70 cm) and Sub factor was plant density in four levels (60, 70, 80 and 90 thousand plant per ha-1). Results showed traits of total seed to kernel percentage and harvest index significant to between row distance and traits of stem dry matter per ha-1, total seed to kernel percentage, oil yield, biological yield and grain yield significant to plant density factor. The highest total seed to kernel percentage (7.73 %) and harvest index (41.82 %) obtained in 70 cm of the distance between row and highest stem dry matter per ha-1 (3862.57 kg.ha-1), total seed to kernel percentage (73.14 gr), oil yield (2134.44 kg.ha-1), biological yield (14315.23 kg.ha-1) and grain yield (5688.34 kg.ha-1) obtained in 90000 plants per ha-1. Therefore, 70 cm of the distance between row and 90000 plants per ha-1 are introduced as the best factors.

To study the effects of plant density on morphological, physiological traits and yield of three sunflower hybrids (Azargol, Alistar and Eroflor) an experiment was conducted at Agriculture Research Station of Miandoab, in 2004. These hybrids were sown at four densities of 6, 8, 10 and 12 seeds m-2. Experimental design was factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed that all traits were significantly affected by plant density. Density and hybrid interaction was significant for days to maturity, head diameter, number of total seeds per head, number of filled seeds per head, percentage of hollowness, 1000 seeds weight and oil percentage. Stem length, percentage of hollowness, dry matter and yield per unit area, oil percentage and oil yield per unit area were increased with increasing plant density. However, by increased plant density, days to flowering and maturity, head diameter, number of filled seeds per head, 1000 seed weight and percentage of crust were decreased. Although seed yield per plant at low densities was greater than high densities, this increase was not much enough for competing the reduction of yield due to low density. The relationship between plant density by equation 1/w=a+bp and y=p/a+bp. Application of these equation showed that by increasing plant density, seed yield per unit area in all three cultivars was increased. Therefore, we can conclude that the economic optimum density for these cultivars could be higher than the maximum density tested in this experiment (12 plants per m2).

To evaluate the effects of different plant population on some agronomical traits of sunflower (Alestar hybrid) under reduced irrigation condition, an experiment was carried out as split plot factorial based on Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications in Agricultural Research Field of Islamic Azad University Takestan Branch in 2009 and Treatments were irrigation (normal irrigation, irrigation disruption while bearing 6-8 leaves, irrigation disruption while initial flowering, irrigation disruption while budding stage) as main plot and plant population (6.66, 8.33, 11.11 plant per square meter) as sub plots. In this experiment plant height, stem diameter, the head diameter, percentage of hollowness of seeds, biological yield, the number of seeds in the head, the 1000 seed weight, oil percentage, seed and oil yield were measured. The results showed that different levels of irrigation had significant effect on plant height, stem diameter, the head diameter, the number of seeds in the head, the 1000 seed weight and oil percentage. The control irrigation level had the maximum amount in the overall measured qualities and the minimum amounts of the measured qualities were obtained from irrigation disruption at bearing 6-8 leaves. Different plant population significantly affected plant height, head diameter, the head diameter, the 1000 seed weight and oil percentage. The plant height in maximum population (11.11 plants per square meter) and other measured characters in minimum population (6.66 plants per square meter) were in highest amount. Interactions between irrigation and plant population for huld seeds’ percentage, biological yield, seed and oil yield were significant. The highest yield (5033.7 kilogram in hectare) was obtained from control irrigation and 11.11 plants in square meter and the lowest yield (528.2 Kg/he) belonged to irrigation disruption at 6- 8 leaves initial and 6.6 plants in square meter. The maximum amount of oil yield (2331.9 Kg/he) was acquired by control irrigation treatment and 11.11 plants in square meter. But the lowest oil yield (133.4 Kg/he) was obtained from the irrigation disruption at 6-8 leaves.

Estimation of reference crop evapo-transpiration (ETo) is one of the important elements in irrigation system design and management of water for crop irrigation. This parameter can be estimated by direct (Lysimiter) or indirect (Experimental equation) method. In the case of unavailable precise data, FAO Penman – Montith method can be used as a standard for evaluation of other experimental method results. In this study, by the use of synoptic meteorological station’s daily data of Sari, ETo values were calculated and compared with standard method. For estimating of ETo by the use of evaporation Pan’s data, evaporation rate of pan should be multiplied by pan coefficiency. In this research, by the use of 5 methods; Allen and Pruth, Snyder, modified Snyder, Conica and Oreng, pan evaporation values which depend on wind speed, relative humidity and distance from pan to vegetation was calculated in daily time step, and multiplied by pan evaporation for ETo values calculation. Regression and statistical investigations shows that, for calculating of daily and monthly ETo values, Oreng methods is suitable for Sari station.

Agriculture is one of the most important activities of natural system application where must be done only in suitable areas for the economic purposes, and it will be achieved by using land suitability evaluations. The objective of this study was qualitative and quantitative land suitability evaluation of irrigated croplands for rice, wheat and potato in Shirvan plain, Ilam province. Soil survey of the field, laboratory analysis of the soil maps, qualitative and quantitative evaluation were different successive stages of research. In qualitative evaluation, climatic, topographic and soil suitability classes were determined according to the degree of the matching with plant requirements, by parametric (square root) method. Quantitative suitability was done based on observed and potential yield analysis. Results of the qualitative land evaluation showed that most of the land units were classified as unsuitable (N) for rice and potato and as moderately suitable (S2) for wheat, because of topographic and soil limitation. Qualitatively, most of the land units were classified in the same classes as, or in lower classes than Quantitative suitability classes for given crops, due to high management level at the farms and suitable climatic and soil properties. Quantitatively, most of the evaluable land units were classified as moderately suitable (S2) class for rice and wheat crops and as suitable (S1) class for potato. Results of the economic assessment showed that the rice production was the most economic land utilization type.

To evaluate the physiological saline tension effects of NaCl on selected genotypes of Azerbaijan almond population and also determination of assessed characteristics efficiency for accessibility to promising tolerant genotypes among them, a statistical experiment was carried out based on completely randomized design with 3 replicates at Sahand Horticulture Research Station. In this research, 15 two-year-old almond seedlings were planted in each plot and also considered 4 salinity levels including; 0 (as control), 25, 50 and 75 mmol.l-1 pure NaCl as treatments for them. Also, dry weight, temperature, scorch symptoms appearance, content of Na+ and Cl-  and also biosynthesis of free proline (all in leaf) as the traits that were used for evaluation. Results showed the increase of salt concentration significantly caused the significantly increase of Na+ and Cl- content and biosynthesis of proline (p£0.01). So as the temperature of seedlings leaves was not influenced by different salinity levels, it was considered as the inefficient trait for the screen of salt tolerant genotypes. This research also determined that leaf scorch threshold in experimented genotypes was in relation with an accumulation of Na+ between 9 to 11 mg.g-1 dry weights; therefore it can be used as a morphological indicator for primary detection of salt sensitive genotypes.