JOURNAL OF CROPS IMPROVEMENT (JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE)
Year:2020 | Volume:22 | Issue:2 |Papers Count:13

Elements such as nitrogen (N), molybdenum (Mo), and cobalt (Co) are needed to improve the quantity and quality of beans. In order to study the effects of these substances on pod yield as well as nutrient concentration of this plant, a factorial pot experiment was conducted in 2016 under greenhouse conditions at University of Zanjan, using a CRD with three replications. The experimental factors included four levels of N (50, 100, 150, and 200 mg/l), three levels of Mo (0. 067, 0. 2, and 0. 6 mg/l), and Co (0. 006, 0. 06, and 0. 3 mg/l). Results have shown that the highest dry weight of pods belongs to treatment of N100Mo0. 2Co0. 06, equal to 34. 05 g/pot, without any significant difference from N150Mo0. 6Co0. 06 treatment. The application of different levels of factors raises the concentrations of N, P, and Mg in bean leaves in N200Mo0. 6Co0. 3, N200Mo0. 6Co0. 006, and N150Mo0. 6Co0. 3 treatments. The highest concentration increase in the mentioned elements have been 6. 94%, 0. 91%, and 0. 41%, respectively. However, the concentrations of K and Ca decrease as a result of the application of the factors. The highest concentrations of Fe, Mn, Cu, Mo, and Co bean have been in treatments of N200Mo0. 6Co0. 006, N150Mo0. 2Co0. 006, N200Mo0. 6Co0. 3, N150Mo0. 6Co0. 3, and N150Mo0. 067Co0. 006, being 490, 185. 4, 8. 26, 284. 5, and 54. 9 mg/kg, respectively. Overall, according to the results, N100Mo0. 2Co0. 06 is the recommended treatment for bean.

In order to determine the critical nitrogen concentration of canola leaf and study the correlation of yield and yield components of this plant with leaf nitrogen concentration, thirty five farms, managed in the same way as Varamin plain and located in the dominant soil of the region (i. e., Varamin Type), have been selected during 2017-2018. Leaf samples are picked up from these farms at flowering stage, then to be prepared for the analysis. In the harvest season, all 35 fields are harvested and the mean grain yield is determined. Kate and Nelson's graphical method has determined the critical nitrogen concentration in dry leaves as 3% for 90% relative yield. There has been a significant correlation between the content of canola leaf nitrogen as independent variable (X) with other traits, including grain yield and yield components as dependent ones (Y) at the 35 studied farms. Results of the studies show that canola seed yield has been affected by leaf nitrogen content, which in canola leaves are significantly correlated with grain yield. This correlation is followed by a quadratic function with a coefficient of explanation of 0. 97. Also according to the results, the concentration of leaf nitrogen, causing the maximum grain yield, have been 4. 36%. Accordingly, nitrogen fertilizer application could increase grain yield in the fields with an amount less than this.

In order to investigate the effect of irrigation regime and biofertilizers on yield and yield components of irrigated wheat, an experiment has been conducted in a split-plot layout, based on randomized complete block design with three replications at Sarab Changai research station, Khoramabad, during 2014-2015 crop year. Irrigation intervals have been in two levels, including 75 and 150 mm evaporation from A-class evaporation pan, which were allocated to main plots. Moreover, biological fertilizers have been in four levels, namely Azotobacter, Micorhiza, Azotobacter + Micorhiza, and control (No fertilizer use), all allocated to the sub plots. Results show that the effect of irrigation intervals, biological fertilizer, and their interaction effects on determined characteristics have been significant. The 75 mm evaporation treatment from A-class evaporation pan has been superior over the 150 mm evaporation in all traits. In 75 mm evaporation spike length (7%), spike weight (7. 7%), grain number in spike (6. 7%), weight of one thousand grains (7. 3%), grain yield (7. 1%), and biological yield (7. 4%) have surpassed the 150 mm evaporation. Azotobacter + Micorhiza fertilizer treatment has proven better than other fertilizer treatments. This treatment display an increase of 28. 6% in the spike length, 48. 3% in the spike weight, 56. 9% in the number of seeds per spike, 39. 8% in the 1000-grain weight, 54. 4% in grain yield, 51. 3% in biological yield, and 55. 7% in water use efficiency, compared to the control. It is recommended that other fertilizer resources has to be evaluated in the region and their effectiveness on water use efficiency and yield increase, measured.

In order to study the effect of nitrogen and irrigation interval on quantity traits and protein of mung bean (Vigna radiata L. ), a factorial experiment has been conducted, based on randomized complete block design with three replications at research farm of Gonbad Kavous University during 2016. Interval irrigation factor include three levels, namely irrigation every 10-, 20-, and 30-day along with nitrogen fertilizer in three levels of non-application and application of 50 and 100 kg per hectare and mung bean genotypes in two levels of VC-1973A and Partov. Results show that the highest grain yield belongs to the 30-day irrigation interval with 100 and 50 kg per hectare nitrogen, and the lowest one to 10– day irrigation interval, 100 kg nitrogen/ha, the non-application treatment, 20– day irrigation interval, and nonapplication of nitrogen/ha. Grain yield in VC-1973A is 72. 52% higher than partov gernotype, with the highest protein percentage, obtained from irrigation interval of 30-day and the lowest one from 10-day irrigation interval. By increasing nitrogen consumption, protein percentage has increased, while proline has decreased. Increasing irrigation intervals from 10 to 30-day has raised the amount of proline in mung bean genotypes. Protein percentage and amount of proline in Partov are 9. 49% and 29. 66% more than VC-1973A, respectively. In addition, though in some traits Partov has been superior, in more traits, especially grain yield, VC-1973A has proven better than Partov. Increasing the interval irrigation and nitrogen consumption leads to better conditions for mung bean production.

The effect of drought stress and foliar nutrition of iron nano-chelate and fulvic acid on grain yield and fatty acids composition in seed oil of two sesame cultivars was evaluated during a factorial split-plot experiment, based on randomized complete block design with three replicates in 2017 in the Research Farm Shahed University of Tehran. The experimental factors included drought stress in three levels: full irrigation as control, irrigation up to 50% seed ripping, and flowering, as well as four treatments of foliar nutrition by iron nano-chelate and fulvic acid in Dashtestan and Halil cultivars. Results show that the drought stress has reduced grain yield as well as seed oil content. The highest grain yield has been observed in full irrigation (2303. 3 kg/ha) and the co-application of iron nano-chelate and fulvic acid (2246. 4 kg/ha), with Halil cultivar having the highest mean of the total number of capsules (81. 19), number of seeds per plant (4786. 1), 1000-grain weight (3. 21 g), grain yield (2172. 7 kg/ha), and biological yield (13534. 6 kg/ha), compared to Dashtestan. The highest oil and protein yield have been observed in full irrigation and irrigation up to 50% seed ripping. Irrigation cut off at 50% flowering and seed ripping have had the highest oleic and linoleic fatty acids, compared to the control. Nevertheless, the highest palmitic and stearic fatty acids belong to full irrigation treatment (10. 86% and 10. 73%, respectively). Both Halil and Dashtestan cultivars have had the highest unsaturated and saturated fatty acids, respectively. Finally, it has been shown that severe drought stress reduces the grain yield, seed oil content, and unsaturated fatty acids that the co-application of iron nano-chelate and fulvic acid compensate for the negative effects of stress.

A field experiment has been conducted between 2014 and 2015 to evaluate and compare the effects of N and P chemical fertilizers with biological N and P fertilizers on competition between cotton and weeds. The experiment has been with split plot arrangement in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The main plots include two levels of weed management practices, including weed free and weedy check. Sub plots have had five integrated applications of biological and chemical fertilizers: 1-Control (Without fertilizer), 2-Urea + Triplesuperphosphate (TSP), 3-Nitroxin + 50% urea + 100% TSP, 4-100% urea + Barvar2 + 50% TSP, and 5-Nitroxin + Barvar2 + 50% urea + 50% TSP. In the first year, weed control has increased LAI and number of boll per plant to 34% and 22%, respectively, and cotton yield has risen by 67% in the first year and 50% in the second. Fertilizer treatments have had a significant effect on stem length, LAI, number of sympodial branches and boll per plant, and yield of cotton. Under weed interference condition, the use of chemical fertilizers alone reduces cotton growth and yield as it increases competitive ability of weeds. However, reducing the urea consumption by half and replacing it with nitroxin, increases cotton yield by 61%, compared to the chemical fertilizer treatment, due to increasing number of boll per plant. This indicates that the use of biological fertilizers lessen the negative effects of chemical fertilizers and boosts crop competitiveness against weeds.

In order to investigate the effect of different levels of nitrogen fertilizer on some fatty acids composition and quantitative and qualitative yield of three sunflower cultivars, an experiment has been carried out as split plots based on randomized complete block design with four replications in Dezful region during 2017-2018. It considers four levels of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 60, 120, and 180 kg ha-1 N) as the main factor and three sunflower cultivars (Ghasem, Record, and Progress) as the sub factor. Results show that increasing nitrogen consumption reduces the percentage of oil, stearic acid, and linoleic acid percentage, whereas protein percentage, oleic acid, and palmitic acid percentage have increased significantly. There are significant differences between different cultivars in grain yield and oil content, where Ghasem cultivar has the highest grain yield (3920 kg ha-1) and oil (1860 kg ha-1) with the consumption of 180 kg ha-1 N. Also, the results indicate that the highest correlation of grain yield with the studied traits belong to oil yield (r=0. 97**), followed by protein content (r=0. 85**), with the lowest one, belonging to linoleic acid (r=-0. 58*). In general, it can be stated that higher nitrogen consumption has been effective in increasing the quality and quantity of sunflower and Ghasem cultivar has a higher ability to absorb nitrogen in order to increase yield per unit area.

In order to study the effect of 0. 05 g. L-1 Uniconazole and biofertilizers application on yield, chlorophyll content and grain filling components of wheat via segmented model under soil salinity conditions, an experiment has been carried out as factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications. The factors include soil salinity in four levels (non-application of salinity as control along with 40, 80, and 120 mM salinity in soil), by NaCl and single and combined application of Uniconazole and bio fertilizers: (1) control or no application of bio fertilizers and Uniconazole, (2) mycorrhiza fungi, (3) Uniconazole, (4) Pseudomonas putida, (5) mycorrhiza with Pseudomonas putida, (6) mycorrhiza with Uniconazole, and (7) both application of mycorrhiza with Uniconazole and Pseudomonas). A segmented model has been used to quantify the grain filling parameters. Results show that both application of mycorrhiza with Uniconazole and Pseudomonas under no salinity condition increase the content of chlorophyll a, total chlorophyll, carotenoid, root weight, and volume (39. 8%, 51. 6%, 47. 2%, 97. 9%, and 54. 7%, respectively) and also maximum of grain weight, grain filling period, effective grain filling period, and grain weight (78. 4%, 21. 8%, 32. 2%, and 108. 8%, respectively) in comparison with no application of bio fertilizers and Uniconazole under the highest soil salinity level (120 mM). Based on the results, bio fertilizers and Uniconazole application could be suggested as a proper approach to increase yield and grain filling period of wheat under soil salinity condition.

Biological fertilizers are natural inputs that can be used as complementary or alternative fertilizers in sustainable agriculture. A split plot experiment has been conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications in Khuzestan Province during 2018-19. It compares three different planting methods (spraying), linear and atmospheric, and stack plots in main plots and three levels of application of 100% urea, 70% urea plus 100 g Azotobacter, and 50% urea plus 100 g Azotobacter in plots. The results of analysis of variance show that the main effects application of urea fertilizer plus azotobacter and planting pattern have a significant effect on number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, grain yield, protein percentage, and parietin yield. The use of 70% urea plus Azotobacter significantly increases the yield of rapeseed oil, but is in the same class as 100% urea treatment. The use of 70% urea plus Azotobacter significantly increase the yield of rapeseed oil but is in the same class as 100% urea treatment. Interaction between sowing pattern and the combination of urea and aztobacter have a significant effect on grain yield and biological yield. The most appropriate yield could be seen in the method of planting furrow and 70% of urea with azotobacter application. In this study, this has saved nitrogen fertilizer consumption by 25% and has increased canola quality by 33% increase, reducing the costs by 30%, which is economically viable and recommended.

Evaluation of different forage crops (clover, barley, chickpea, vetch, and fenugreek) and the planting method's impact on quality and quantity of forage yield is this study’ s main goal. The study has been conducted as a split-plot based on a randomized complete blocks design with three replications on the experimental research field of agriculture faculty, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz during 2017-2018. The main plot includes three planting methods (row intercropping with 10 cm and 20 cm interval and mixed intercropping) with the sub-plot being seven forage crops with dominance of barley (50% barley+50% clover as control, 50% barley+25% clover+25% chickpea, 50% barley+25% clover+25% vetch, 50% barley+25% clover+25% fenugreek, and 50% barley+25% vetch+25% fenugreek). Total forage yield and yield components as well as some quality parameters of forage (ADF, NDF, WSC, DMD, raw fiber and ash have been measured, with the results showing that the highest total forage yield (1268. 9 g. m-2) belongs to crop diversity of 50% barley + 25% chickpea + 25% fenugreek with 10 cm-row intercropping. This can be due to the highest of all forage yield components, including stem, leaves, and reproductive dry weight. On the contrary, mixed intercropping with the diversity of 50% barley + 50% clover (common method) has had the lowest total dry weight (607. 2 g. m-2), 47% less than row intercropping. For both quality and quantity parameters, 10 cm-row intercropping have higher forage yield and protein percentage than mixed intercropping, mainly because of higher leave weight produced. The 10-cm-row intercropping has lower CF, ADF, and NDF, but higher WSC and DMD than row intercropping. This variety explains higher raw fiber in mixed intercropping. Yet, it seems that crop diversity has no significant effect on forage yield as well as increased quality parameters, which improve the forage quality and digestibility statistically. Therefore, crop verity could be an effective factor to improve forage yield quantity and quality in crop management.

In order to study the effect of pendimethalin (Prowl) on weed control of onion (Allium cepa L. ) fields, an experiment has been carried out in randomized complete block design with four replications, during 2017 in Agricultural Research Center of South Kerman. The treatments include application of pendimethalin (Prowl) at 3. 5, 3, 2. 5, 2 L ha-1 (pre-emergence), oxyfluorfen (Goal) at 750 ml ha-1, and its repetition 18 days later (postemergence), oxadiazon (Ronestar) at 3 L ha-1 (per-emergence), oxadiazon at 2 L ha-1 (post-emergence), ioxynil (Totril) at 3 L ha-1 (post-emergence) plus removing narrow leaves weeds by hand, and weed free as control. The highest relative abundance of weed species has been Bromus tectorum L., Malva parviflor L., Chenopodium murale L., Anagallis arvensis L, and Rumex crispus L. at 39%, 17%. 12%, 9%, and 8%, respectively. Results show that herbicide treatments have had a significant effect on weed density and biomass. Applications of pendimethalin at 3. 5 L ha-1 reduces biomass of A. arvensis, R. crispus, M. parviflor, B. tectorum, C. murale, and total weed by 100%, 92%, 91%, 82%, 77%, and 79%, respectively. Onion yield has been 59. 95 ton ha-1, increased by 138% when pendimethalin is applied at 3. 5 L ha-1. Therefore, Applications of pendimethalin at 3. 5 L ha-1 is recommended in onion fields because of optimum weed control efficiency and increasing yield.

In order to study the effects of organic amendment application on growth and biochemical characteristics of French marigold (Tagetes patula) in a soil contaminated with different levels of gas condensate, a factorial experiment has been conducted based on a completely randomized design with three replications. The experimental factors are gas condensate at five levels of 0, 7500, 15000, 30000, and 60000 μ L per kg of soil, and soil amendment includes vermicompost (5%), biochar (2%), Activated carbon (1%), vermicompost + activated carbon + biochar, and non-amendment (control) treatments. Results from the analysis of variance show that the main and interactive effects of gas condensate and soil amendments are significant on fresh and dry weight of root and shoot, chlorophyll a and b, and proline content (P<0. 01). At the highest contaminant level, application of activated carbon and vermicompost plus activated carbon plus biochar causes an increase of 3. 82 and 4. 45-fold in shoot fresh weight, 3. 76 and 4. 4-fold in root fresh weight, and 2. 52 and 2. 56-fold in chlorophyll a, respectively. It also decreases 30. 66% and 39. 5% of proline content, compared to the control at this level of the contaminant. Results of this research indicate the effective and useful role of organic soil amendment, especially activated carbon and vermicompost + activated carbon + biochar in reducing the toxicity of gas condensate on French marigold.