Journal of Agricultural Science and Sustainable Production
Year:2016 | Volume:26 | Issue:1|Papers Count:12

In order to evaluate the effect of plant density on some agronomical traits of corn with cowpea intercropping (substitution method), an experiment was conducted in 2010 in the Agricultural Research Station of Khoy as split plot on the basis of randomized complete block design with three replications. The main plots were planting density in levels of 55, 70, 85 thousand plants for corn and 150000, 200000, 250000 plants for cowpea per hectar and sub plots were included five planting ratio of corn – cowpea, as R1= pure corn planting, R2= 75% corn + 25% cowpea, R3= 50% corn + 50% cowpea, R4= 25% corn + 75% cowpea and R5= pure cowpea planting. Results showed that the effects of plant density were significant on 100- corn kernel weight, grain and biological yield of corn. The planting ratio of corn and cowpea significantly affected all measured traits of corn except the ear number, grain yield and harvest index. Also the harvest index of corn was significantly affected by interaction of plant density and planting ratio of corn- cowpea. The highest grain (1034 g/m2) and biological yield (2293 g/m2) of corn was observed at the highest densities (85000 plants/ha). Biological yield of corn in intercropping treatments was more than sole cropping, So that the highest amount of biological yield, Land Equivalent Ratio (2.17) and Relative Value Total (1.86) was obtained in density of 85000 plants/ha and 50% corn + 50% cowpea intercropping. Based on results combination of 85 thousand plants per ha in 50% corn + 50% cowpea intercropping was more suitable than those other treatment combinations.

In order to evaluate of wheat-chickpea intercropping under rainfed condition, a field experiment based on randomized complete blocks design (RCBD) with 6 treatment and 3 replications was carried out at the faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh during 2013 growing season. Treatments were included sole planting of wheat and chickpea, replacement intercropping of chickpea- wheat in 1:1 and 2:1 ratios and additive intercropping of chickpea with wheat in ratios 100:100 and 100:75. Evaluation of the planting patterns was performed on basis of several intercropping indices such as land equivalent ratio (LER), relative crowding coefficient (RCC or K), aggressivity (A), competitive ratio (CR), actual yield loss (AYL), monetary advantage index (MAI), intercropping advantage (IA) and system productivity index (SPI). Results showed that pods number per plant, seed number per plant, seed yield of chickpea and spikelet number per spike, grain number per spike, grain yield, protein content and protein yield of wheat were affected significantly by planting patterns. Highest grain yield were obtained in the sole crops. The greatest grain yield of wheat and chickpea in intercropping was observed in 1:1 and 2:1 ratios. The chickpea aggressivity was greater than wheat in 1:1, 2:1 and 100:75 ratios, indicating that chickpea was more competitive than wheat. The total AYL values were positive and negative in replacement and additive intercrops, respectivilly, showing that replacement intercropping was more resistant to yield loss than additive intercropping. The highest LER, MAI, IA and SPI values were recorded for 1:1 and 2:1 intercrops, indicating that the intercropping systems were the most profitable on basis of agronomical and economical. Considering the experimental findings, there was no advantage for chickpea-wheat as additive intercropping in rainfed condition of Maragheh if grain yield is the primary purpose.

In order to evaluate the intercropping advantage of flax seed (Linum usitatissimum L.) and pinto bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under foliar application of Nano chelated iron and zinc, a field experiment was conducted as factorial based on randomized complete blocks design with three replications on the filed located in Naghedeh, West Azerbaijan province, Iran during growing season of 2013-2014. The fertilizer treatments included control (no fertilizer), Nano chelated iron, Nano chelated zinc and Nano chelated iron+ Nano chelated zinc and intercropping patterns consist of one row of flax seed + one row of pinto bean, one row of flax seed + two rows of pinto bean, two rows of flax seed + one row of pinto bean, two rows of flax seed + two rows of pinto bean and sole cropping of each crop. Results showed that the intercropping patterns had significant effect on all of mentioned traits. The highest seed and biological yield of pinto bean were achieved in solecropping but the maximum protein content was observed in row intercropping. In flaxseed, the highest biological yield, seed yield and protein content were obtained in sole-cropping, however, the highest oil percentage of all treatments was higher than solecropping. Foliar spray with Nano chelated iron and zinc had significant effect on quantitative and qualitative yield of flax seed and pinto bean. Quantitative and qualitative yield of flax seed and pinto bean were enhanced by foliar spray of Nano chelated iron and zinc, compared with control. Among treatments, combined usage of Nano chelate showed the greater increasing in studied traits than individual consumption. The maximum LER values (1.89) were obtained for two rows of flax seed + two rows of bean with Nano chelated iron, respectively. This means that intercropping improved land use efficiency by 89%, compared with solecropping.

Cultivars within crop species differ in competitiveness against the weeds that it is due to morphological and physiological differences. This experiment was conducted in Agricultural Faculty of Moghan, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili at 2010-2011 in order to study of morpho-physiological characteristics of 18 wheat genotypes growing in weed free and weed infested conditions. Experiment was established as strip-split plot using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that weed interference decreased wheat height to 27% in many wheat genotypes. At stem elongation stage, Alvand and S-82-10 genotypes have most height, and Kaskozhen and C-85-8 genotypes have lower height under with and without weed interference condition. Results also showed that weed competition reduced leaf area 5 to 47% in wheat genotypes. Highest leaf area reduction was observed for Sardary genotype, whereas Gaspard and Tous genotypes were able remain more of 95% of the leaf area in weed competition condition. In weed competition condition LAR and SLA Indices were more than twice for Tous, N-80-19 and MV17. The results can be used in breeding new varieties of wheat for non-chemical weed control in sustainable agriculture.

In order to evaluate the effect of different amounts of nitrogen fertilizer on oil and porotein content and nitrogen use efficiency of five sesame varieties under weed competition condition, this study was carried out at Omidieh (Boshehr province) during summer of 2013. Treatments were arranged in split factorial based on RCBD with three replications. The main plot consist of nitrogen fertilizer application levels as control, non application and application of 50 and 100 kg.ha-1 nitrogen from urea form and subplots were in a factorial combination of sesame varieties (Behbahan landrace, Yellow-white, tn-238 and tn-240) and weed competition (weed free and weed infest). The results showed that the effect of nitrogen fertilizer on grain yield of different sesame varieties was significant. The highest grain yield (220 g.m-2) was obtained from Behbahan landrace with 100 kg.ha-1 nitrogen application under weed frees condition and the lowest was achieved from tn-238 and tn-240 lines without nitrogen application under weed infests condition. The highest oil percent (44%) was belonged to tn-238 line whitout nitrogen application and the lowest (35%) was achieved from Yellow-white variety with 100 kg.ha-1 nitrogen application. Also the highest oil yield (83 kg.ha-1) was belonged to Behbahan landrace with 100 kg.ha-1 nitrogen application under weed free condition. Increasing the nitrogen fertilizer application decreased nitrogen utility efficiency. The highest nitrogen utilisation efficiency achieved from Behbahan landrace in no nitrogen fertilizer application.

Application of living mulch and stale seedbed has been proposed for weed management in crop production. Field experiment was carried out at the Research Farm of university of Zanjan in 2013 as split block based on randomized complete block design to assess integration of living mulch and stale seedbed for weed management in maize. The main plot was stale seedbed preparation (6 April, 3 May, and 24 May), and sub plot three different living mulch included Vicia villosa, Trifolium alexandrinum, and Lathyrus sativus. Cover crops were planted in the space between two rows at the recommended densities. Weed free and weed infestation, were also included. The results showed that 100-seed weight, biomass and seed yield of maize significantly affected by the time of stale seedbed preparation. However, this treatment had no effect on traits such as plant height, ear diameter, seed row number per ear and weed biomass. The highest maize grain yield (8.7 t.ha-1) was obtained when seedbed prepared on 6 April. Living mulch had significant effects on maize and weed growth. The highest maize grain yield was obtained in weed free plots. The lower weed biomass was produced when T. alexandrinum was used as a cover crop. The interaction of the stale seed bed and living mulch was not significant. These results suggest that living mulch or stale seedbed alone or in combination could not provide reliable weed control in maize; therefore, these methods should be integrated with other efficient weed control measures.

Identifying of plant growth promoting bacteria and utilizing them is one of the basic stages in sustainable agriculture. In this experiment some newely isolated and identified strains of Pseudomonads, were used for the first time in inoculation of tomato in the field circumstances. Experiment was done based on randomized block design with 5 treatments and 3 replications. In this experiment tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill cv. Super Chief) seedlings were inoculated with integrated treatment of Pseudomonas ssp. strains including (S19-1+S10-3, S14-3+S19-1 and S19-1+S21-1), moreover, the control treatment without bacteria inoculation and fertilizer treatment (according to soil test) inorder to copmparison were considered. The result showed that the effects of bacteria on characters such as yeild, fruit size, vitamin C, lycopen, percentage of N, P, K in foliage of plant and leaf area index is meaningful and the best output is in S19-1+S14-3 (4830.9 g.m-2) and the highest amount of vitamin C, lycopene, N, P, K, LAI was in S191-1+S21-1 treatment respectively and amounts of 7.02 mg.100g-1 Fwt, 46.01mg.kg-1, 30.09 mg.g-1, 7.30 mg.g-1, 15.60 mg.g-1, 6.60 cm2. However the other measured traits in this experiment including number of fruits, acidity, TSS, pH, EC, firmness, diameter of stem, number of lateral shoot and chlorophyll index were not affectd by bacteria. According to this result we can mention the efficiency of used bacteria as a biofertilizer in improvement of yeild, nutrient uptake, LAI and fruit quality.

Iron (Fe) is the most important micronutrient for crops that has low availability in calcareous soils. Phytoavailability of Fe depends on the relative distribution of different chemical Fe forms in soil, which is function of soil properties. In this greenhouse research, total Fe fractionated into different forms by sequential extraction procedure was studied in 21 soil samples that varied in physical and chemical properties. According to the results, different Fe fractions concentration were as: Residual iron (Fe-Res)> iron associated with the crystalline iron oxides (Fe-CFeOX)> iron associated with the amorphous iron oxides (Fe-AFeOX)> manganese- oxide- associated Fe (Fe- MnOX)> organic matter-associated Fe (Fe-OM)> exchangeable iron (Fe-Ex) ≥ carbonates-bound iron (Fe-Car). Fe-Ex, Fe-OM, Fe-AFeOX, Fe-CFeOX, Fe- Res and available iron (Fe-DTPA) had a significant relationship with corn shoot and root dry matter, active iron content, chlorophyll index and shoot iron uptake. Correlation coefficient showed that the Fe-Ex, Fe-AFeOX and Fe-Res had a close and significant relationship with all measured agronomical traits of corn. It is concluded that, these forms of iron are probably the source of available iron for corn in studied soils.

In order to investigate the effect of nitrogen fertilizer, manure and integrate fertilizer on quantitative and qualitative yield of two forage sorghum cultivars (Pegha and Esphidfid) under Guilan climatological conditions a field study was conducted in 2010 cropping season at Rasht. Treatment consisted of four levels of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 46, 92 and 138 kg N.ha-1) and organic Farm Yard Manure (5, 10 and 15 ton.ha-1 FYM) and integrated N of chemical and biological (23 kg N.ha-1 + 2.5 ton.ha-1 farm yard manure (FYM), 46 kg N.ha-1 + 5 ton.ha-1 FYM and 69 kg N.ha-1 +7.5 ton.ha-1 FYM). A randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement in three replications was used. Traits included plant height, stem diameter, plant dry weight, forage yield, protein percent, dry matter digestibility and ash. Stem diameter, protein percent, dry matter digestibility, water soluble carbohydrates percentage, NDF, total ash effected by Nitrogen significanty, and maximum traits was obtained with 69 kg N.ha-1 + 7.5 ton.ha-1. Based on the results obtained from this study integrated treatment was best and Pagha cultivar with 69 kg N.ha-1 + 7.5 ton.ha-1 suggested in Rasht reign conditions.

In order to assess the effects of fertilizer management and return method of cover crops on quantity and quality of yield in forage sorghum (cv. Speed feed), an experiment was conducted as split plot in time based on randomized complete block design with three replications during 2012-2013 and 2013-2014, at Agriculture Research station University of Kerman. Method of return of cover crops including low tillage (disk) and no tillage (herbicides glyphosate + cut) were assigned to main plots and fertilizer management of cover crops including cover crops (wheat, canola and peas) without the use of urea, cover crops with 25 tons per hectare farmyard manure (alternative farmyard manure with urea) and 75 kg.ha-1 urea (fertilizer partitioning between cover crop and main crop) and fallow (without cover crops) treatments were as the subplot. Amount of urea fertilizer decreased to half recommended amount for sorghum. Results showed that total green and dry forage yields of sorghum affected by fertilizer management and method of return for cover crops. Exception of protein percent, all of qualitative traits affected by fertilizer management and interaction between fertilizer management and method of return. The lowest quantity and quality yield of forage sorghum was related to cover crops without the use of urea treatments, but using of cover crops combined with farmyard manure or urea fertilizer partitioning can retain quantity and quality of yield of forage sorghum in spite of decreased urea fertilizer to half recommended amount for sorghum.

Grape is one of the nutritious fruits that have commercial value as well, and most farmers try to raise it in their lands. Considering various factors affecting growth and yield of grape, the process of assessing the suitability of land for cultivation in order to spatial planning of this product needs the use of comprehensive and diverse geographic and descriptive information. GIS technology provides the possibility of using this type of data and facilitates spatial analysis of information based on the appropriate models. Therefore, in this study regarding the ecological needs of grape, multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) method based on analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was used for modeling and spatial analysis of information in ARC/GIS 9.3 software environment. Eventually, East Azarbaijan province suitable lands for grape cultivation and production with regard to climatic elements and land physical factors (temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, topography, etc.) were evaluated and zoned. Results of this research showed that, spatially, 10 percent of the province has conditions varying between suitable to very suitable for grape production compared to the rest of province which in terms of spatial zones included Mianeh, Malekan, Shabstar, Jolfa, Bonab and Ajabshir cities and the most suitable areas were presented concerning final layer.

In order to assess the effects of wastewater of Iran Mayeh company on some morphological characteristics and yield of wheat, a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) was conducted in three replications during 2012-13. The first factor comprised of irrigation times in 3 levels (I1= once irrigation with concentrations of wastewater, I2= twice irrigation with given concentrations of wastewater, I3= irrigation in whole of plant growth period with given concentrations of wastewater) and the second factor comprised of wastewater concentration in 6 levels included P0= irrigation with well water (control), P15=15% wastewaters +85% well water, P30=30% wastewaters +70% well water, P45=45% wastewaters +55% well water, P60=60% wastewaters +40% well water, P100=100% wastewater. The results showed that the irrigation in whole of plant growth period (three times) with given concentrations of wastewater compared to once and twice irrigation with wastewater increased biological yield by 28% and 14.6%, respectively. Therefore, based on the results of farm data, using wastewater of leaven plant (Iran Mayeh Co.) for once, twice and three times irrigation with given concentrations often had an additive effect on some morphological characters include plants height, peduncle length, ear length, and finally biological yield. However, it seems that further studies will be necessary for more than 3 times irrigation and its effects on soil properties.