Agricultural Sciences and Technology
Year:2004 | Volume:18 | Issue:2|Papers Count:24

The objectives of this study were: 1- to screen out the suitable fruit juice. 2- to evaluate the optimum conditions for storage and quality, of a whey-based fruit beverage. This investigation was carried out in 2 phases, in the first phase 27different formulations of whey- based beverage were prepared using 3 types of concentrated fruit juice (orange, grape and sour cherry) at 3 levels (3,4 and %5) and different amounts of sugar (5,10 and %15). Taste, aroma, appearance and total acceptance of all prepared samples were evaluated by trained panelists using a 7 point hedonic scale. The amount of concentrated fruit juice, sugar amount and interaction of them (p<0.01) as well as interaction of fruit juice concentration and sugar amount (p<0.05) on total acceptability of samples were significant. Based on obtained results of the first phase, it was found that a whey-based orange beverage was the most suitable and acceptable one. In the second phase a whey-based orange drink was produced by heating under 2 conditions: 80°C for 5 minutes and 90°C for 10 minutes. Samples were packed in flexible packaging and were stored at refrigerator as well as ambient temperature. Beverages were taken in 2weeks intervals and were evaluated chemically and organoleptically. Data obtained from both phases were analyzed using a complete randomized block design. The effect of storage time and temperature and also the interaction of them (p<0.01) on taste, appearance and total acceptance of beverages was significant on while only the effect of storage time (p<0.01) was significant on the aroma of samples. The influence of storage time on the pH of experimental samples was also evaluated statistically using Hest. The result showed that there was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the pH of samples stored at refrigerator and ambient temperature.

To study the effect of amount and timing of nitrogen application on economic threshold of wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis) in winter wheat, an experiment was conducted in 2001 at Farm Research of Mashhad College of Agriculture. Split plot design with three replications was used with factorial of weed density (0, 8, 16, and 32 plant.m-2) and nitrogen (low=100, optimum= 150, and high= 225 Kg.ha-1) as main plot. The sub plot included nitrogen split pattern (P1=1/3 at planting time+2/3 at tillering, P2= 1/3 at planting time + 1/3 at tillering + 1/3 at Shooting). Three-parameter rectangular hyperbolic model (Cousens, 1985) was fitted to yield loss data, and then economic threshold densities estimated from another model (O’Donovan, 1991). Our results showed that nitrogen split pattern had no significant effect on wild mustard economic threshold in wheat. Economic thresholds of wild mustard in wheat were 0.94, 0.79, and 0.14 plant .m-2 at low, optimum, and high nitrogen rates, respectively. Results showed that economic threshold of wild mustard in winter wheat at high nitrogen rate was the lowest; consequently high nitrogen rate application increased the competitive ability of wild mustard.

An experiment was performed to study the comparison of two procedures on the metabolizable energy values of poultry fat and fish oil. Thirty-two adult cockerels (Rhode Island Red) were used in bioassay under standard condition. In the first procedure (precision feeding) the birds not fed for 24 h and then basal diet included fish oil and poultry fat at 5 and 10 percent were fed. In second procedure each birds was given a 3-d adaptation period fasted for 24 h and then given feed "(conventional addition method: CAM) to the same rations as those used in the first experiment. During the 3 d of the experimental period, dropping vyere collected and frozen for gross energy. The results of experiment showed that mean ME values of basal diet included 5 and 1 0 percent fish oil by the precision - feeding procedure were significantly increasing. It was concluded that methods of feeding were influence ME of fish oil and poultry fat at 5 and 10 percents except AMEn value obtained of both procedures. The result of this experiment proved mean AMEn value of poultry fat and fish oil were 5.37±0.08 and 8.85±0.07 kcal/g respectively.

In a field experiment, effects of source strength reduction including removal of flag leaf, removal of leaves below flag leaf and removal of awns at anthesis in three six-rowed barley cultivars (Hordeum vulgare L.) named Star, Reihan and Walfajr were studied using a randomized complete block design as split split plot with three replications. Results showed that flag leaf removal did not affect dry weight and water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) content of stem top or low part; however, removal of leaves below flag leaf both in stem maximum weight and at maturity significantly reduced WSC content of stem parts. On the other hand, while awns removal was a kind of source strength reduction, WSC content of stem parts. significantly increased at maturity. Probably reduction of cytokinins transport from roots to ears and decreased number of endospermic cells in grains results in reduction of sink demand for assimilates. Based on differences of WSC content between stem maximum weight and maturity, in each cultivar top part of stem contributed WSC to grain filling more than low part. Generally, retranslocation of stem WSC to grains of main ear in Star, Reihan and Walfajr were 1.83, 6.39 and 0 percent of final grain weight of barley main ear, respectively.

This study tries to investigate Iranian urban consumers behavior in addition to determine the role of habit effect in forming the consumption pattern over the period of 1980-2000.Studying consumers" behavior and allocation analysis of the limited budget among unlimited needs has been an important issue in microeconomics theory. Under utility theory, consumers tend to allocate their budget between goods and services optimally, obtaining the highest utility. In dynamic microeconomic analysis, it is believed that consumer behavior is affected by not only substitution and income effects caused by price changes as is emphasized in static analysis, but also by habit effect. The survey items included households consumption quantity and total expenditure data on foods including bread, flour and its products, dairy products and eggs, fats, fruits and vegetables, groceries, sugar and tea, etc. The results obtained from decomposing the total effect of price changes indicated that habit effect has a significant role in food consumption changes. That is, despite of prices increases of most food items, consumers tend to keep their consumption pattern almost unchanged. The importance of component of total effect, revealed that income and substitution effects are weaker than the habit effect.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) is second important crop in rain fed areas of Iran. The areas under cultivation of this crop is about 700000 ha annually. Present investigation carried out to determine high seed yield chickpea varieties with high adaptation for different rain fed areas of Iran. In this study 14 chickpea lines and varieties along with a check variety (Jam) were cultivated in randomized complete block design with 4 replications in 5 areas viz., Kermanshah, llam, Uromieye, Gachsaran and Gorgan during 19982002. There was not information for all 5 areas in 4 years so the combination of locations and years was called as environment and totally 15 environments were studied. Bartllet test showed heterogeneity of error variances among environments so, 15 environments were divided to 3 groups so that in each group there was homogenity in error variances. Combined analysis for yield showed that in group 1, 2 and 3 the genotype environment interaction was significant. Stability analysis by Ebrthart and Russel method showed that ILC482, Flip 84-42 and Flip 84-80 had high seed yield more than check and regression coefficient in these genotypes were near to 1. Among these 3 genotypes ILC482 showed the highest stability with high seed yield. This line was recommended for Gorgan and Gachsaran. In group 3 Flip 86-50, Flip 84-42 and Flip 90-96 had high seed yield with regression coefficient near to 1. Among these 3 lines Flip 84-42 showed the highest stability with high seed yield. This line recommended for Kermanshah, llam and Uromieye. In group 1 this line showed also high seed yield in this group.

The effect of feeding protein and energy according to the AFRC (1993) and NRC (2001) recommendations on dry matter intake, digestibility, milk yield and milk composition was studied in Holstein dairy cows. The study included a feeding and digestion trial. The feeding trial was conducted using 10 multifarious cows in mid lactation in a completely randomized design. The cows were divided into two groups of five cows. Group (I) received an AFRC diet and Group (11) a NRC diet. The duration of the trial was eight weeks. The diet consisted of wheat straw, alfalfa hay, corn silage, barley grain, wheat bran, cottonseeds meal and sugar beet pulp with molasses. The digestion trail with indirect method for estimating digestibility of diets consumed by dairy cattle with chromic oxide as an indicator. The dry matter intake for Gp I and Gp (11) was 20.3 and 21.12 kgd-1, respectively. The milk and 4% FCM yield (kgd-1) for the corresponding two groups were 24.5, 23.9 and 23.11, 22.25. The protein, fat, dry matter contents (%) for Gp I and Gp 11 were 3.52, 3.69, 12.74 and 3.59, 3.68, 12.73 respectively. The difference between the two groups in OMI, body weight gain, milk yield and milk composition was not significant (p>0.05). The digestibilities of dry matter and crud protein of two diets were similar. The results indicated that CP% level according to NRC (896gr) higher than AFRC; it had no beneficial effect on OMI, milk yield, milk composition and body weight gain. Therefore, it is concluded that in Holstein dairy cows, with medium levels of production, feeding protein and energy according to AFRC recommendations is adequate.

The effects of 2 levels of crude protein (CP) on ideal protein basis (19.00, 23.00%) in starter, and (17.65, 20.65%) in grower period and 3 levels of dietary electrolyte balance (DES) (210, 255, 300 meq/kg diet) on performance, body composition, and blood serum electrolyte (Na, K, Cl) were investigated on 1800 male and female broiler chicks. Diets were fed to chicks in 2 phases (0-21 and 21-35 days). The effects of diets on weight gain, feed consumption, gain to feed ratio, mortality percentage, breast meat yield and percentage, body composition (dry matter, carcass protein, fat, and ash), tibia ash, blood serum electrolyte and serum PH were measured. The results indicated that with increasing CP level, body weight gain, feed consumption, gain to feed ratio in starter, grower ,.and total period of experiment significantly improved (P<0.05). It also increased breast meat yield and percentage (P<0.05). With increasing CP level carcass fat percentage decreased and carcass protein increased (P<0.05). Male broiler had better performance and breast meat yield and percentage than female (P<0.05). Increasing DES increased weight gain in starter and feed consumption in grower period (P<0.05), but hadn’t any effect on performance and litter quality in total period. It also decreased serum potassium significantly (P<0.05). There weren’t significant difference among treatments for tibia ash percentage.

Weed population dynamics in corn, sugar beet and wheat plots in rotation with wheat were studied under conventional and ecological management systems during 2 years. The experiment was carried out as a split- plot design based on complete randomized block. Where 3 crop rotations were assigned to main plots and 5 cropping systems including high-input, medium-input, low-input, integrated and organic systems were allocated to subplots. The results showed that crop species and weed management practices in different cropping systems influenced weed population dynamics. However, weed population dynamics was indirectly affected by crop rotation. Weed density was significantly higher in organic and medium-input compared to other systems. The lowest weed population density and diversity was observed in high-input system. In the second year of experiment, while crops were changed in rotation, difference in weed density was the same as the first year in different cropping systems but species composition varied depending on crop species.

Eighteen female Holstein neonatal calves with an average 41.9±4.9 Kg body weight were randomly placed on treatments in individual boxes and two levels of yeast 0.5 and 1 % (Calf starter OM-base) were compared with control (without yeast) in a completely randomized design in order to study effects of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on rumen bacterial population and performance of Holstein female calves. Calves were fed colostrum and milk at 10% of birth weight in the first two days and until 52 days old. All calves were fed calf starter containing high quality alfalfa (13%) and concentrate (87%) from seven days of age. Calf starter was offered until 90 days old and the yeast was added daily at 0, 0.5 and 1 percent to the calf starter. Addition of yeast to the ration reduced daily calf starter dry matter intake and total daily dry matter intake (P<0.01), but had no effect on average daily gain or feed to gain ratio and rumen fermentation characteristics at different sampling days. Yeast had no effect on CP, NOF and AOF digestibility, but significantly increased OM and OM digestibility (P<0.05). Yeast had no effect on Glucose and BUN concentrations except at 90 day of age that a significant reduction took place at BUN (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between rectal temperature of calves in different treatments and antibiotics and electrolytes treatment days. Addition of yeast had no effect on body length, pin width, hip width, pin to hook length, metacarpus size, hip height and hearth girth but had a significant effect on wither height, stomach size and metatarsus size (p<0.05). Population of yeasts in digestive tract of calves was significantly different among treatments (P<0.05). Data showed that some of the yeasts remained alive during their transition through the digestive tract. Generally, it seems that using yeast at female Holstein calves up to 90 days old didn’t have any considerable effect on performance of calves.

The effect of inclusion different levels of nonfiber carbohydrates (NFC) with and without supplemental fat on performance of Holstein dairy cows was investigated using a change over design with four treatments and four periods. Eight multiparous Holstein dairy cows were used with mean milk production and days in milking of 36±5 kg and 46:t8 days. The experimental diets were 1) high nonfiber carbohydrates, no added fat; 2) high nonfibe carbohydrates, 2.5% fat; 3) low nonfiber carbohydrates, no added fat and 4) low nonfiber carbohydrates, 2.5% added fat. The DMI, milk production and composition were not affected by supplemental fat or nonfiber carbohydrates. The digestibility of fiber components were higher (P<0.05) for diets with low nonfiber carbohydrates. Ruminal pH values were not affected by the experimental diets, but ruminal ammonia-N, BUN and MUN was significantly increased (P<0.05) by decreasing the level of nonfiber carbohydrates. Glucose and cholesterol of plasma were significantly increased (P<0.05) by increasing nonfiber carbohydrates and adding fat respectively. Chewing activity were not affected by nonfibe carbohydrates or fat. It appeared that response of dairy cows to adding fat was better in low fermentable carbohydrate diets.

In order to select the best explant and suitable medium for organogenesis in soybean, two separate experiments were performed 1) effect of explant (epicotyl, hypocotyl, cotyledonary node, first leaf including cotyledonary node, leaflet, leaf, immature embryogenic axis, immature embryo and mature embryognic axis) and regeneration medium (MS medium with 1.5 mg/l BA and 0.5 mg/l IAA or 1.5 mg/l BA and 0.5 mg/l NAA, 3% sucrose and 0.8% agar) and 2) effect of different rates of BA (0.5, 1 and 2 mg/l) and IAA ( 0.5 and 1 mg/l) on organogenesis and mass callus production. Results of first experiment indicated that the response of explants to regeneration medium was very different and two regeneration media had significant differences in regeneration. However, cotyledonary node and the first leaf including cotyledonary node on medium with BA and IAA had the highest shoot formation rate (77 and 70%) and shoot number (2.8 and 2.4), respectively. There were no significant differences between these two media in mass callus production, whereas there were significant differences among explants and cotyledonary node with leaflet had the highest mass callus production. On the basis of the second experiment, the best amount of BA and IAA were 1-2 mg/I and 0.5-1 mg/I respectively.

Using economic value estimates of milk yield, milk fat percentage and herd life, as traits of breeding goal and their genetic and phenotype parameters, for Iranian Holstein cows, seven selection indices were studied. First index included the information of breeding goal traits, second to fourth index included milk yield, milk fat percentage and one of the type characters (Rear Udder Height, Front Teats Placement and Front Udder Attachment, respectively) as correlated traits with herd life, fifth index included production traits, and all of three type characters, sixth and seventh which were reduced indices, included milk yield and fat percentage and just milk yield, respectively. Economic values estimated under maximum profit and minimum cost interests, and input limitation for situations of years 1975 and 2000. Genetic gain in breeding goal and selection accuracy were estimated for different indices and two kind of interests and economic situations in two different years. The fifth index that have the highest number of traits and the seventh index that had the fewest number of characters, resulted in the highest and the least gain, respectively. The ranking of selection accuracy of these indices showed the same pattern, too. Those indices in which type characters were used instead of herd life (indices 2, 3, 4 and 5), resulted in higher genetic gain. Effect of change in breeding policy for herd life, in productive - management parameters and in prices on selection indices coefficients and their genetic gain, were investigated. Results showed that change in breeding direction in one character, had no effect on the ranking of indices. The index number 5, as having the most amount of information, made highest genetic gain. Change in production - management parameters and prices, didn’t change the ranking of indices (except for one index). Despite of great changes in economic values in all cases, the index that had the highest number of traits, led to the highest genetic gain, and optimum selection index was stable at change of environmental situations of production system.

To investigate the effect of water stress on ET and yield criteria of winter wheat, an experiment was conducted in Mashhad region. A complete randomized block design with 9 treatments and 3 replications were used. The first treatment (control treatment) was irrigated in all growth stages of the plant, six treatment were irrigated on the basis of no watering in a specific growth stage (germination, tillering, jointing, flowering, seeding and ripening) and the two remaining treatments were irrigated on the basis of 20 and 60 percentages of their potential water needs. The amounts of actual evapotranspirations were determined in different experimental treatments by using the water balance equation. The results showed that water stress caused plant could not reach their potential evapotranspirations after the end of stress period. In addition to that, water stress caused the reduction in the amount of plant coefficient and leaf area index. the results show that there is significant difference in the amount of seed yield, harvest index, water use efficiency and the component of yield between control treatment and other treatments (p<0.05). As well water stress affected yield mainly via reduction in the weight of 1000 seeds and the number of seed in spike more than the number of spike per area unit.

Three hundred male Ross chicks were randomly distributed among three groups of 100 chicks with four replicates per group. First group (control) received a diet without any antibiotic and coccidiostate. Two other groups received, 0.05% and 0.1 % probiotic Bioplus 2B in diets. The results indicated that various levels of probiotic Bioplus 2B had no significant effect on body weight and feed intake in comparison to the control. However, body weight increased insignificantly during 4-6 weeks of age. Diet supplemented with probiotic significantly improved feed conversion ratio of chicks during 4-6 weeks of age (P<0.05). The diet supplemented with 0.1 % probiotic significantly increased WBC count and resulted in decreased H/L when compared to the control (P<0.05). Addition of various levels of probiotic to the diet had insignificant effect on antibody titer against SRBC and Newcastle disease antigen in relation to the control. The serum cholesterol level of chicks fed 0.1 % probiotic supplemented diet was significantly lower than the control group(P<0.05). The inclusion of 0.1% probiotic significantly improved carcass yield (P<0.05). Percentage of abdominal fat was not significantly different between pro biotic supplemented group and control group.

Excessive phosphorus excretion by intensive livestock operations is a growing concern worldwide. Identification of non-lethal, low phytic acid mutations in corn, and more recently barley, result in a substantial reduction in phytic acid, with a corresponding increase in inorganic phosphorus. In the present study, four varieties of the low phytic acid (LP) barley including LP 422, LP 635, LP 955 and LP 1070 and a conventional barley (CDC DOLLY) were examined with broiler chickens from 2 to 17 days of age. LP barley lines exhibiting a range of various phytic acid reduction indicated increasing phosphorus retention (P<0.01), which was reflected by increasing tibia ash in phosphorus deficient diets. Phosphorus excretion was reduced accordingly (P<0.01). Body weight gain (P<0.05) and feed conversion (P<0.01) also improved with phytic acid reduction; feed conversion in particular was significantly better for chicks given the lowest phytic acid barley line (LP 955) than a commercial variety. Retention of major nutrient fractions (phosphorus excepted; dry matter, fat, protein, amino acids) indicated no significant effect with phytic acid reduction.

Investigation of mutagen damages, control of treatment conditions, selection of desirable dosages and estimation of mutation frequency are the main requirements in a mutation breeding program. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of various ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) dosages including 0.0, 0.2, 04, 0.6, 0.8, 1 and 1.2 percents for 12 hrs on germination response and seedling vigor under laboratory, greenhouse and field conditions. One, two and four open-pollinated populations of sainfoin were used in the laboratory, greenhouse and field, respectively. The increase of EMS dosages decreased germination, rootlet and shootlet lengths and emergence. Unpeeled seed .compared with peeled seed decreased damages, but pretreatment did not significantly affect seedling characters. EMS dosage x seed coat was highly significant. The results showed that LD50 was 0.8 in peeled seed and 0.6 in unpeeled seed treated with EMS for 12 hrs. The results also revealed that percentage of plant survival and pollen fertility decreased significantly with increasing dosage in all populations. "Khansar" and "Shahrekord" populations were sensitive to the EMS as compared with "Orumieh" and "Karaj2" populations. EMS treatment caused considerable variation in plant height, number of stems in plant and number of inflorescence, but crude protein, crude fiber and single plant yield were not affected. Morphological variation and deviations from the control population were observed in plants of M1 and M2 generation.

Eight multiparious lactating Holstein cows were used in a 4×4 Latin square design to determine the effect of moisture heat treatment and grinding of cotton seed in the diets of dairy cow. Cows were allocated into four diets with 1) whole cotton seed (WCS), 2)ground cotton seed (GCS) 3)GCS heated in 140°C and steeped for 2.5 minute and 4)GCS heated in 140°C and steeped for 20 minute (GHCS2). Diets had similar in crude protein (CP), net energy for lactation and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents. The percentage of whole or processed cottonseed was fixed at 14%. Ruminal degradability of CP was decreased % 11.09 in GHCS2. Dry matter intake was significantly (P<0.01) affected by treatment diets. The mean dry matter intake in treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 25.97, 27.24,27.63 and 27.63 Kg/d, respectively. The inclusion of GHCS1 and GHCS2 in the rations significantly (P<0.01) decreased ruminal NH3-N compared WCS and GCS. There were significant differences (P<0.01) in blood and milk urea concentrations between treatment diets. Physical processing of WCS did not affect ruminal pH, averaging 6.6 .Actual milk (P<0.05) and 4% fat corrected milk yield (P<0.01) were significantly increased when GHCS1 and GHCS2 were included in the diets. Milk fat and protein percentage and yield as well as yield of milk lactose were significantly (P<0.05) affected by the diets. The mean rumination times between treatment diets (min/kg NDF Intake) were significantly different (P<0.05). However, chewing activity was similar in all treatment diets, averaging 279.13 min/24h. Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in plasma glucose and cholesterol concentrations in the experimental cows. It can be concluded that grinding and heat treatment of whole cottonseed can be practical in term of dairy cow’s performance moisture.

In the present investigation, saffron (Crocus sativus L.) was dried using three methods namely: traditional (25°C), modified Spanish (55°C) and microwave oven (300 watt). Chemical changes of saffron were investigated by completely randomized design with factorial arrangement during 6 months storage and the means were compared by LSD test. The results were analyzed in level of 5%. "The results indicated that the time of storage and drying method have significant effects (P<5%) on chemical properties such as coloring strength, aroma and bitterness value. Samples dried in microwave oven showed to have the highest coloring strength, aroma and bitterness value. Samples dried by modified Spanish method had higher coloring strength than traditional method, but in the view of aroma, traditional samples had significantly higher values. Regarding bitterness, both microwave oven and modified Spanish samples were in the same level but traditional sample was significantly lower than the two other methods. The coloring strength of saffron decreased but aroma increased during storage and the bitterness did not follow fixed pattern. It was noticed that in samples exposed to artificial light (20 watt) the coloring strength was decreased while, bitterness values were the same as the blank and aroma values increased at first but remained almost intact after 6 months.

In this paper the socio - economic factors influencing sugar beet contract between farmers and processors has surveyed with cross sectional data from 100 farmers in 1382 and use of to bit model. The results showed that age, last year production of sugar beet, tenure of land and machine and quality of land are factors influencing the contract. Also, age has higher elasticity related to contract index and expected contract index.