JOURNAL OF CROPS IMPROVEMENT (JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE)
Year:2019 | Volume:21 | Issue:2 |Papers Count:8

In order to evaluate the effects of irrigation intervals, mycorrhizal fungi, and zeolite fertilizer on some Mung bean traits, a factorial splitting experiment has been conducted in a randomized complete block design with four replications in Izeh region from July 2015 to July 1016. The main factor is irrigation interval at three levels (7, 10, and 13 days) along with the sub-factors involving Mycorrhiza inoculation (inoculated and non-inoculated) and zeolite (without consumption and 2 tons per hectare) as a factorial. Results from analysis of variance show that only interaction effect of irrigation, mycorrhiza and zeolite on stem weight, number of seeds per pod, and water use efficiency have been significant. The highest grain yield has been observed in irrigation intervals of seven days under inoculation and non-inoculation with fungus, as well as irrigation intervals of 10 days in inoculated mycorrhizal fungus. Also, it has been revealed that the use of zeolite in irrigation intervals of 10 and 13 days increases most traits. Similarly, results of water use efficiency show that use of Mycorrhiza fungus and zeolite fertilizer increases water use efficiency. Thus, by increasing the irrigation interval from 7 days to 10 days, the use of mycorrhiza and zeolite can prevent the decrease of water use efficiency. Finally, according to the results from this study, the use of mycorrhiza fungi and zeolite fertilizer can increase irrigation interval of mung bean from 7 to 10 days in the studied area.

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) enjoys the second largest cultivation area among all planted pulses in Khorasan Razavi Province. In order to investigate the effect of drought stress on yield and yield components of selected lentil droughttolerant genotypes, a split-plots experiment has been carried out with three replications at research field of Ferdowsi University, Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi Province, during 2012-13. The main factor is the two irrigation levels: Nondrought stress and drought stress (providing 100% and 40% of water requirement), while the sub-factor includes nine genotypes. Results show that under non-stress conditions, the number of seed per pod, number of pods per square meter, harvest index, seed yield, and biological yield in MLC356 genotype have been significantly higher than other genotypes. However, under drought stress, the last two traits show a severe reduction. Under stress conditions, the highest and lowest levels of both maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II and economic water use efficiency belong to Cabralinta and MLC121 genotypes, respectively. Also, it is determined that the number of fertilized pods per plant and 1000 seed weight have been the most important traits to affect lentil yield.

The present research has been carried out to investigate the effect of spraying of Origanum vulgare and Thymus vulgaris L. extract on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of sesame (Naz cultivar) under drought stress conditions. Performed as a split-plot factorial in two cultivation seasons of 2016-2017 and 2017-2018, it is as a randomized complete block design with three replications. Its treatments include two different irrigation regimes (every 15 and 25 days), three levels of Origanum vulgare (0, 40%, and 60%), and 3 levels of Thymus vulgaris L. (0, 10%, and 20%). Results indicate that the maximum leaf area index (3. 76 and 2. 93), number of capsules per plant (38 and 22), number of seeds per capsule (54 and 47. 75), and grain yield (197. 92 and 141. 28 gr m2) in both control and stress conditions have been associated with 60% Origanum vulgare and 20% Thymus vulgaris L. extract. Moreover, it has been revealed that water deficit reduces oil content, increasing protein content and activity of catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase enzymes. The use of 60% Origanum vulgare and 20% Thymus vulgaris L. extract, under suitable irrigation conditions increase the activity of catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase enzymes by 11. 24%, 12. 65%, and 11. 24%, respectively, compared to the control. In contrast, these indices are increased by 36. 36%, 36. 35%, and 32% under stress conditions. Therefore, it could be stated that under dry conditions, the use of Origanum vulgare and Thymus vulgaris L. extract can induce tolerance in the plant in response to drought conditions.

In order to investigate the impacts of different fungicide spraying treatments on soybean seed quality (cv. Katoul), the present article carries out a split plot experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications in research field of Gorgan University of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources during 2016. The main plots entail both spring-time (May 28) and summer-time (July 10) planting dates, while the sub ones include spraying with various fungicides such as benomyl, mancozeb, propiconazole, methyl thiophanate, and carbendazim, along with the control in two stages R3 and R6. Germination, accelerated aging, electrical conductivity, and seed health tests have been used to evaluate the quality of seeds. Two fungi Alternaria sp. and Fusarium sp. spread have been observed in seed lots, though with lower prevalence for Fusarium sp. (below 7%). Therefore, seed health is most affected by Alternaria sp. . The percentage of healthy seeds in spring sowing date has been 21. 48% higher than summer sowing date, with all used fungicides (especially propiconazole and methyl thiophanate) significantly increasing the health, germination, and vigor of the seeds, compared to the control. The produced seeds in summer planting, while having more fungal infection, display higher seed germination and vigor than seeds of spring crops, due to the exposure of seed development stages (R5-R8) to low temperatures. As a matter of fact, air temperature during seed development stages has been more important when determining seed germination and vigor, in comparison to pathogens. Therefore, in order to achieve high seed quality, it is appropriate to have summer planting accompanied by suitable fungicides such as propiconazole and methyl thiophanate at R3 and R6 growth stages.

In order to study the effect of slow release hydrogel-urea complex (SRHUC) on yield, yield components, and physiological traits of barley under water deficit, the present study conducts an experiment between 2017 and 2018. Carried out as factorial in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), the experiment contains three replications and takes place in the greenhouse at Aburaihan Campus, University of Tehran. The combination of factorial levels are as fertilization factor with nitrogen (N) from urea source in five levels of no nitrogen utilization, use of 125 and 65 kg. ha-1 N without SRHUC (as CU-N125 and CU-N65), and use of 125 and 65 kg. ha-1 N with SRHUC (as SRHUCN125 and SRHUC-N65) along with water deficit factor, represented by three levels of 70%, 50%, and 30% of FC. Results show that water deficit has decreased yield and yield components of RWC and SPAD and that the highest grain yield in a pot belongs to SRHUC-N125 (41. 9 g) without any significant difference between CU-N125 (41. 5 g) and SRHUC-N65 (39. 1 g). In case of the majority of traits, there has been no significant difference among SRHUC-N125, SRHUC-N65, and CU-N125. Finally, under the stress, utilization of SRHUC for both N amount could generate better biological yield and SPAD index, making the use of N in form of SRHUC preferable to its use without SRHUC, especially under stressed conditions.

In order to investigate the effect of biological and organic fertilizers on the yield (quality and quantity) of chicory forage under rainfed condition, a factorial experiment has been conducted in Urmia University based on randomized complete block design with three replications during 2016. Treatments include control, Mycorrhiza (AMF), Thiobacillus bacteria (Thio), AMF+Thio, Vermicompost (V), AMF+V, Thio+V, and AMF+Thio+V, whose effects have been evaluated in two growth stages (before stem elongation and full flowering). In comparison with control, the AMF+Thio+V has increased dry forage yield, dry matter digestibility, crude protein yield and water soluble carbohydrates yield by 99. 72%, 143. 21%, 68. 54%, and 76% in full flowering stage, respectively. What is more, this treatment has had the lowest acid detergent fiber content at both growth stages among all treatments. Also, Mycorrhiza + Thiobacillus had the highest percentage of crude protein (19. 71%) at full flowering stage. In general, the use of Mycorrhiza and Thiobacillus together with vermicompost helps improving the quantitative and qualitative performance of chicory forage in rainfed condition.

The present study tries to determine the effect of harvest interval (re-growth) on quantitative and qualitative traits of Jerusalem artichoke as a promising forage plant. For this purpose, it has conducted an experiment at the research farm of Animal Science Research Institute, Karaj, Iran between 2015 and 2016. The experiment is based on randomized complete block design with three replications and two observations, with its treatments being consisted of different times of harvesting forage intervals every two, three, and four months following emergence or regrowth in the first year and every one, two, three, and four months in the second one, in which there has been no replanting. The highest dry weight of leaf, stem, and total forage belongs to harvest intervals every two months. The highest crop growth rate, relative growth rate, and biomass duration have been observed in cutting intervals of three, four, and two months, respectively. In the second year, the highest amount of crude protein of total forage is obtained in the cutting interval of one month, with the maximum amount of total forage ADF belonging to cutting interval of four months. Generally, the best time for forage harvest occurs every two months due to high yield forage (2056 g/m2), leaf to stem ratio of 0. 53, crude protein of 12. 50%, water-soluble carbohydrates of 3. 89%, ADF of 32. 98%, and NDF of 46. 05% of the Jerusalem artichoke.

In order to study the effect of water deficit stress and foliar spray of humic acid (HA) on physiological and yield traits of tomato, the current paper conducts an experiment in a split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications at the research filed of University of Zanjan, during 2016. The treatments in this experiment include arrangement of three irrigation levels (at 100%, 80%, and 60% ETc) and 4 levels of HA (0, 100, 200, and 300 mg. l-1). Results show that deficit irrigation has significantly decreased stomatal conductance, membrane stability index, leaf relative water and chlorophyll a and b content, and plant yield, increasing the proline content and proxidase activity. HA treatment enhances proxidase activity, leaf relative water content, proline, chlorophyll, membrane stability index, and plant yield under normal and deficit irrigation, decreasing stomatal conductance. The maximum peroxidase activity (1. 207 uints. g-1FW. Min-1) and proline content (11. 5 mg. gFW-1) belongs to the treatment with 200 mg L-1 HA and 60% of ETc irrigation. Also, the maximum leaf relative water content (78. 6%) and membrane stability index (70. 01%) has been observed in HA 300 and 200 mg L-1, respectively under 100% ETc irrigation. The maximum plant yield has been obtained with application of HA 200 mg L-1 under 100% ETc irrigation. According to the results, application of HA 200 mg L-1 could help improving the plant's physiological traits, simultaneously increasing its fruit yield.