JOURNAL OF CROPS IMPROVEMENT (JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE)
Year:2021 | Volume:23 | Issue:1|Papers Count:15

In this study, in order to investigate the response to salinity stress, seedlings of two rice kinds, Hashemi and its advanced mutant line, have exposed to 100 mM NaCl as a salinity stress in an experiment, conducted in 2017 at Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Iran. For the biochemical investigation, root sampling is performed during three and six days after the salinity stress treatment. The experiment is conducted as a split plot with randomized complete block design with three replications in hydroponic culture. Under salinity stress, the sodium ion content in both genotypes’ roots has increased significantly, while this trend is much lower in the root of mutant genotype than wild type. The induced oxidative stress of salinity stress is measured by the amount of hydrogen peroxide, indicating that the wild type is under higher oxidative stress which is confirmed by the higher amount of malondialdehyde. Evaluation of antioxidant enzymes’ activity include superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase. It reveals a significant rise in the root of the mutant genotype. Overall, this study shows that mutation in the rice genotype leads to salt tolerance, compared to the wild type, through promoting the activity of oxidative enzymes and the synthesis of some osmolytes in the root tissue.

In order to simulate transplantation, the parameters related to cotton seedling growth are firstly measured in a factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design at Gorgan University of agricultural sciences and natural resources within 2018. The parameters are then utilized in SSM-iCrop2 Model. In the simulation section, four seedling size based on the leaf area (namely 17, 22, 27, and 37 cm-2 per plant) are evaluated in 4 planting dates (15 June, 1 July, 15 July, and 30 July). Results show that in early planting date, seedling transplantation rushes the process of crop maturation for 43 to 49 days. However, this has had no significant effect on yield values (from 453 to 461 g/m2) and net water requirement (312 to 316 mm). The usual sowing date causes the crop to mature between 27 and 38 days (earlier vacant land), whereas seed sowing at this planting date impairs the subsequent crop cultivation. At this planting date, as in early planting, transplanting has no strong effect on the yield (from 444 to 452 g/m2) and water requirement (299 to 308 mm). In a late planting date, seedling transplanting with four seedling sizes between 1 and 5 days results in premature seed germination, even though seed cultivation impairs subsequent planting. At this planting date, transplanting has a noticeable effect on the yield (361 to 441 g/m2), but the amount of pure irrigation (271 to 300 mm) remains unaffected by transplanting.

Excessive use of chemical fertilizers has caused contamination of soil as well as surface and groundwater resources. For this purpose, an experiment has been conducted to investigate the possibility of reducing surface water pollution with nitrate and also the effect of nitrogen on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of beans as a factorial based on completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications in Hamadan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center between 2013 and 2014. The first factor includes four types of nitrogen fertilizers, X1 (zeolite-EN), X2 (zeolite-AcAcEN), X3 (zeolite-HED), X4 (urea fertilizer), and X0 (control sample-no fertilizer use) and the second one involves two bean species, namely red beans (Phaseolus vulgarize L. ) of Derakhshan cultivar and genotype 29005 of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. ). Applying functionalized zeolite nanofertilizers reduces nitrate leaching from the experimental units (pots). Meanwhile, zeolite X3 fertilizer is capable of reducing nitrate leaching by 48% in comparison with urea fertilizer. The amount of soil nitrogen in pots, containing X3 fertilizer, is 0. 115 ppm and, compared to the urea fertilizer treatment, it improves this element’ s maintenance in the soil by 30%. Accordingly, X3 fertilizer increases chlorophyll, protein, and grain yield by 44%, 64%, and 56%, respectively, in comparison with the control. In general, the application of functionalized nano zeolites has a beneficial role in reducing nitrate leaching and improving the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of bean plants.

The present research has been conducted to parameterize and evaluate the APSIM-Wheat model for winter wheat and to use the model for evaluation of climate change effects on grain yield. The model is used to simulate leaf area index, dry matter, and grain yield of Roshan cultivar winter wheat in Karaj and Khomein regions between 2014 and 2015, under four irrigation regimes and three levels of nitrogen fertilizers. The experiments have been conducted in both regions as split-plot in a randomized complete block design. Irrigation is considered as main plot and nitrogen as a sub-plot. Model parameterization is based on observational data from full irrigation and 200 kg/ha nitrogen treatment in both regions. Results from the model evaluation show that the simulated values closely predict the observed values so that the RMSE in both regions is less than 670 and 450 kg/ha for biomass and yield, respectively, being below 0. 56 for leaf area index as well. Normalized RMSE in all treatments has been below 17. 8%, with Wilmot's index being above 0. 82. The evaluation of model shows high performance and its possible use in other studies. Results from climate change analysis show that increasing the temperature from 0 to 5 ° C leads to a maximum reduction of 75% in grain yield and an increase in carbon dioxide concentration, resulting in a maximum increase of 24% and, if the temperature increase exceeds three degrees Celsius, the grain yield will decrease in all possible concentrations of carbon dioxide.

In order to investigate the effect of different nutrition systems (chemical, organic, chemical+organic, and control) on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of sugar beet in various planting methods (direct planting, potting, and transplanting), an experiment has been conducted as split plot in randomized complete block design with three replicates between 2016 and 2018 in a field, 75 km northwest of Sabzevar. The results show that in the first year, the highest root yield (84. 34tha-1) has been obtained from the potting method and chemical along with organic fertilizer application. In the second year, the highest yield (82. 96tha-1) belongs to the chemical and organic fertilizer treatment in transplanting method. In both years, the highest sugar content has been obtained from control treatment and direct planting, with transplanting method having the highest sugar yield in both years (13. 29 and 14. 44 tha-1, respectively). Transplanting and potting method have had more root impurities than direct cultivation. Among nutrition systems, the highest root impurities is obtained in the combination of chemical and organic treatment. Direct culture and control produce the highest alkalinity index. Overall, despite the increase in root impurities in transplanting or potting along with chemical with organic treatment, these treatments produce the highest sugar yield. Accordingly, chemical and organic fertilization along with transplanting could be recommended to produce the highest root and sugar yield.

To identify the limiting factors in grain maize production in Iran, a study has been carried out to particulate effective and influential management factors of this crop’ s production in the country. The data come from 95 final reports or extracted articles in Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization (AREEO), undergoing meta-analysis. Based on this study, of all grain maize variation, 2. 93% is justified by plant density, 6. 81% by planting structure, 11. 12% by planting rotation, 2. 28% by conservation agriculture, 25. 28% by drought stress, 4. 99% by cultivar, 4. 46% by planting date, and 25. 84% by nitrogen fertilizer. Accordingly, 100 thousand plants per hectare, zigzag double rows planting structure, maizeleguminous crops planting pattern, cultivating in residue, optimum irrigation without drought stress (in case of water availability), 700 maturity group cultivar (in case of adequate growing season), planting in May and early August in temperate and tropical climate, and using maximum 100-300 kg urea fertilizer per hectare are recommended to decrease yield gap in grain maize production.

In order to evaluate the effect of soluble time and molybdenum nanoparticles by chemical and green chemistry on morph-physiological indices of mung bean, the present research has been conducted in a factorial experiment, in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications at Agricultural Research Institute University of Zabol in 2017. The experiment includes 4 levels of treatments: (Molybdenum nanoparticles of plant origin, chemical origin, plant and chemical composition, and control), as the primary factor and spraying time in 2 levels (Step 4 leaf and Step 6 leaf) as the secondary one. The plant density of mung bean has been 33 plants/m2 with the irrigation being performed twice a week. The maximum plant height (47. 5 cm), biological yield (5287 kg ha-1), economic yield (634kg ha-1), number of seeds in pod (8), carotenoid, and chlorophyll a and b occur from Step 4-6 and the application of mixed molybdenum nanoparticles. Results from the experiment show that the highest seed protein (40%) has been obtained from plant nanoparticles as well as the 4-leaf stage. Micronutrient can be an effective management solution for production of agricultural products. The results also show that the application of chemical and vegetable molybdenum nanoparticles at 6-leaf stage increase mung bean traits.

In a field experiment, the effects from application of nitrogen and boron on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Varamin cotton variety have been studied at Tehran Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center in 2016. The experiment has been carried out, using a randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement with three replications, with the main factor being nitrogen at four levels (0, 100, 200, and 300 kg ha-1) and the sub-factor, involving boron at three levels (no leaf spray, one leaf spray, and two leaf spray). The effects of nitrogen and boron and the interaction of nitrogen and boron on the quantitative traits of cotton, namely the mean number of bolls per plant, average boll weight, fiber yield, and fiber gin out, with the qualitative traits including fiber length and strength. Highest seedcotton yield (5233 kg ha-1), fiber yield (2080 kg ha-1), fiber percentage (40%), fiber length (31. 3 mm), and fiber strength (29. 7 g/textile) belong to 200 kg N per hectare and twice spraying of boron. There is a correlation between the qualitative properties of the fibers and nitrogen, whose regression relation follows the quadratic equation. Results show that in soils with less than 0. 5 mg/kg boron and less than 0. 81% organic carbon storage, nitrogen and boron application significantly increases seedcotton and fiber yield and the fiber quality is also improved. Therefore, in such soils, it is recommended to utilize 200 kg N with two times of foliar boron application from boric acid source with a concentration of five per thousand at flowering stage for two weeks thereafter.

The present research is carried out to study the effects of foliar application of Nano material and Salicylic acid (SA) on some agronomy, yield, and yield components of spring rapeseed under different water limitation treatments. For this subject an experiment has been conducted as split plot based on a randomized complete block design with four replications at the research fields of Faculty of Agriculture and natural resource of Mohaghegh Ardabili University, during 2017 and 2018 growing years. Water limitation treatments include full irrigation (control), irrigation termination at stem elongation, flowering and seed formation stages, and foliar spray of Nano-Material in form of Nano-silicon dioxide (nSiO2) at three levels of zero (control), 60, and 300 mg. L-1 as well as salicylic acid (SA) at three levels of zero (control), 0. 5, and 2. 5 mM. The results of combined analysis show that the effect of year has been significant on main branch and sub branches number per plant, number of pod per plant, number of seed per pod, and seed yield traits. Water limitation has decreased all studied treats, so the foliar application improves growth traits, yield, and yield components of rapeseed plants. The highest seed yields have been 2705 and 3271 kg. h-2, in first and second experiment years, respectively, which are from applying 300 mg. L-1 with 0. 5 nSiO2 and/or 2. 5 mM of SA at normal irrigation (control treatment). The lowest rate belongs to non-foliar application especially at irrigation termination at stem elongation, flowering stages.

In order to investigate the effect of irrigation water salinity on some characteristics of Ajowan (Carum copticum L. C. B. Clarke), a field experiment has been conducted in a completely randomized design with 3 replications in Isfahan, Iran during 2013. The treatments involve different levels of saline water, namely 2. 5 (control), 6, 9, and 18 dS. m-1. The determined traits include the yield, biochemical parameters, mineral contents, and seed essential oil content and quality. Results show that increasing salinity decreases biological yield and seed yield. Changes in essential oil components, caused by salinity, have been low, showing no specific trend. The major compound in the seed essential oil of C. capticum is thymol (56. 1% to 61. 2% of the essential oil). The highest concentration of total protein (root: 3. 6 and shoot: 8. 2 mg g-1 DW) is assigned to the control treatment, dropping significantly as salinity levels rise. Increasing salinity enhances the amount of proline and reducing sugars so that the highest amount of root proline, equal to 12 mg g-1 FW, and reducing sugars (root: 30. 5 and shoot: 62 mg g-1 DW) comes from salinity of 18 dS. m-1. Increasing salinity levels raises the amount of phenolic compounds in the shoot, though this increase has not been considerable. The treatment of 18 dS. m-1 has had the lowest concentration of K+ (root: 5 and shoot: 22 mg g-1 DW) and the highest concentration of Na+ (root: 54 and shoot: 64 mg g-1 DW). It can be concluded that by increasing salinity levels, the amount of resistant osmolytes rises.

The present experiment has been conducted as a factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications in the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research farm of Urmia for two years (2017-2018) to investigate the effect of green manure residues and fertilizer sources on physiological traits, biological yield, and seed oil content of linseed. Experimental factors include green manure in two levels: no green manure and red clover (Trifolium pratense), different sources of fertilizer in four levels: no fertilizer, mycorrhiza, vermicompost and mycorrhiza + vermicompost, both in full irrigation condition and irrigation termination at the flowering stage. Results of the combined analysis show that the year has a significant effect on chlorophyll a, colonization percentage, grain nitrogen and phosphorus, biological yield, and seed oil. Irrigation termination treatment decreases all traits except proline and soluble carbohydrate contents. Green manure, mycorrhizae, and vermicompost significantly increase the studied traits at both irrigation levels, except for grain nitrogen, not affected by green manure. The application of mycorrhiza+ vermicompost, with or without green manure, is more effective than their individual applications. The dual application results in an increase of 68. 98% and 61. 34% for biological yield and 11. 8% and 4. 5% for seed oil, compared to the control in complete irrigation treatment, respectively. In general, green manure, mycorrhiza, and vermicompost can improve the quantitative and qualitative performance of flaxseed in irrigation termination at the flowering stage.

In order to study the effects of foliar application of nitrogen with nano-and urea chemical fertilizers on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of bitter apple, an experiment has been conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Agricultural Institute, University of Zabol during 2019. The experimental treatment includes foliar application of nano-N (1000 and 2000 mg/l), urea (1% and 2%), and control. Results show that foliar application of N has had a significant effect on yield and number of fruit per bush, and shoot length, whereas it has had no effect on fruit average weight, fruit length and diameter. The highest yield per bush belongs to nano-N at 2000 mg/l concentration (961. 08g) and urea at 2% concentration (864. 66g) and, the highest amount of fruit number per bush (12) is found in nano-N at 2000 mg/l concentration. The highest weight of 100 seeds and seed protein are obtained from the foliar application of nano-N at concentration of 2000 mg/l and urea at 2% concentration. Seed phenol content, seed soluble carbohydrates, and oil percentage have been reduced by applying nitrogen treatments to the control. Foliar application of N has increased leaf N concentration, while having no effect on the leaf concentrations of P, K, and Zn. Given that in most measured quantitative and qualitative traits, the application of nano-N fertilizer at 2000 mg/l concentration shows better results than other treatments, this treatment can be recommended to reduce economic and environmental costs.

Bean root rot disease caused by Fusarium solani f. sp. phaseoli is one of the major diseases associated with beans. In order to evaluate effective agronomic strategies to control this disease, an experiment has been carried out as a factorial split plot arrangement in randomized complete block design with three replications over two years. The experiment takes place in a farm with a history of infection with the causal agent of root rot disease at the Bean Research and Education Campus of Khomein City. Type of cultivation includes flat-striped method, furrowing method without hilling up, furrowing method with one time hilling up, and furrowing method with two times of hilling up in main plot. Also, the two red bean cultivars involve Ofogh and Yaghout and the three plant density include 20, 30, and 40 plant/m2 in a sub-plot with factorial arrangement. Results show that among the studied cultivars, the highest grainyield and minimum bean root rot severity belong to Yaghout cultivar. Additionally, , increasing the plant density adds to the severity of Fusarium root rot disease. Among the different methods of planting, the least root rot severity occurs in the furrowing method with one time of hilling up, while the highest grain yield is obtained from cultivation of Yaghout at a density of 30 plant/m2 in furrowing planting method with one time hilling up. Therefore, in those areas where the occurrence of this disease is very potential, it is necessary to change the method of bean planting from flat to furrowing method and hilling up the plants.

In order to evaluate the effects of gibberellic acid and vermicompost on growth and flowering of daffodil flower, a factorial experiment has been conducted under greenhouse conditions, based on completely randomized design with 12 treatments and three replications and four samples in each replication. The first factor involves vermicompost in four levels, namely 0 (control), 10%, 15%, and 20% of potted soil (V/V) and the second factor, three levels of gibberellic acid, 0 (control), 150, and 300 mg/L, all applied by dipping the bulbs for 48 hours. Results of analysis variance of the data show that the impacts of gibberellic acid and vermicompost on most traits such as leaf area, vase life, number of leaves, chlorophyll index, TSS, leaf phosphorus, and leaf potassium have displayed significant effects (P<0. 01), compared to the control. Also gibberellic acid and vermicompost have had significant impacts (P<0. 01) on carotenoid (0. 28 mg. g-1Fw), leaf nitrogen (2. 07%), root fresh weight (11 g), root dry weight (1. 1 g), and stem diameter (8. 11 mm). Also, the duration of flowering stem appearance has had significant effects (P<0. 05). This study’ s results show that the application of vermicompost at 20% level and gibberellic acid with a concentration of 300 mg/L have improved the growth and accelerated flowering with an average of 10 days, increasing the vase life of flowers with an average of four days with a noticeable difference, compared to the control.

This study has been performed to compare DAT1, a new mid-season apple genotype, with summer apple cultivars including ‘ Gala’ , ‘ Golabe-Kohanz’ , ‘ Shafi Abadi’ , and ‘ Golab-e-Isfahan’ grafted on M9, MM106, and MM111 during two consecutive years in Kamalshahr Research Station. The experiments use a factorial design, arranged in a Random Complete Block Design with 3 replicates. Results show that the impacts of cultivars, rootstocks, and their interactions has been significant (P≤ 0. 01) on growth characteristics, having the highest values in ‘ Golab-e-Kohanz’ and ‘ Golab-e-Isfahan’ grafted on MM111, with 92 and 91. 7 cm respectively, while the lowest value occurs in DAT1, grafted on M9 with 53. 7 cm. the highest yield is found in ‘ Golab-e-Isfahan’ , ‘ Golab-e-Kohanz’ , and DAT1 grafted on MM106 and MM111 with 22. 50, 20. 05, and 18. 4 kg, respectively. The largest fruits belong to DAT1, being 211. 80 gr, and the smallest ones are grown on ‘ Golabe-Isfahan’ and ‘ Golab-e-Kohanz’ with 75. 50 and 69. 55 gr, respectively. Regarding flesh firmness, the hardest and softest fruits turn out to be ‘ Gala’ grafted on M9 and DAT1 on MM106, being 5. 8 Kg/cm2 and 3. 7 Kg/cm2, respectively. The maximum soluble solids (18. 5%) has been ‘ Gala’ grafted on all three rootstocks and the lowest one (11. 5%), ‘ Golab-e-Isfahan’ grafted on MM111. The maximum acidity of fruit juice has been found in DAT1 grafted on MM106 with 0. 68% and the lowest one in ‘ Golab-e-Isfahan’ grafted on MM106 with 022%.