JOURNAL OF AGROECOLOGY (کشاورزی بوم شناختی)
Year:2014 | Volume:4 | Issue:2|Papers Count:8

In this study, the energy indices of conventional rice production systems in Babolsar and Lahijan were investigated during 2010. Data were collected from 140 rice paddy farms in two provinces by carrying out a face-to-face questionnaire. The farms were selected based on random sampling method. Results demonstrated that the total input and output energy in Lahijan rice production systems were 43254.3 and 122913.16 MJ, respectively and, for input and output energy in Babolsar, were 40342.22 and 127182.7 MJ, respectively.Additionally, 39% of energy consumption in Guilan Province was assigned to water, 24% to electricity and 19% was allocated to N fertilizer. The character of energy consumption in Mazandaran Province was slightly different, since 41% was allocated to water, and 19% and 14% to N fertilizer and electricity, respectively.Ultimately, the results showed that the energy efficiency of rice production systems in Guilan was 2.84, energy productivity was 0.1 and the proportion of water energy was 39%. Furthermore, the values for the aforementioned indices in Mazandaran Province were 1.15, 0.11, and 41%, respectively. It’s noticeable that the vast majority of input energy was due to using water logging irrigation systems, obtaining it from groundwater resources through use of electric power which, consequently, reduced energy efficiency and productivity in the rice production systems studied. Regarding this, the employment of new technologies for the proper management of water resources recommended.

Currently, agriculture is one of the most important economic sectors in Iran. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors affecting the cultivation of dryland almonds grown in the watershed of the Farub Roman Drainage Basin in Neyshabour in order to zone those areas appropriate for cultivation by the use of GIS in the form of a comprehensive spatial analysis. To satisfy the requirements of each dryland almond, two layers were prepared in Boolean and fuzzy form using GIS. These layers include economic factors (distance from the villages, roads and land use), topographic factors (elevation, slope and aspect), climatic factors (isothermal layer, and isorain, basin floodness layer), and soil resources (soil hydrological groups and infiltration of geological formations). These layers were combined with the use of Boolean and fuzzy overlay and the final results showed the high capacity of the area for cultivating dry almond. The greater flexibility and better functioning of Fuzzy method than the Boolean one for site selection of the area appropriate for the cultivation of dry almond is also shown.

In order to investigate the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizer rate on the concentration and uptake of some macronutrients, nitrogen use efficiency and economic efficiency of fertilizer applications in the production of isabgol (Plantago ovata Forssk) medicinal plant, an experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with seven treatments and four replications at the research farm of Shahrekord University in 2011.Fertilizer treatments consisted of control (no fertilizer), three levels of available nitrogen (30, 60 and 90 kg ha-1) of cow manure and three levels of available nitrogen (30, 60 and 90 kg ha-1) of urea fertilizer. Results showed that the application of fertilizer caused a significant increase in nitrogen and potassium concentration of seed and uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium of seed (P<0.05). Seed nitrogen concentration and uptake in urea fertilizer application were significantly higher than in cow manure (P<0.05). But, the uptake of phosphorus and potassium were significantly higher in the cow manure application than the urea fertilizer application, where the concentration of 90 kg ha-1 in the form of cow manure were 7.8 and 57.24 g kg-1, respectively. Generally, the highest of concentration and uptake of nutrients, nitrogen physiological and recovery efficiency were obtained in 90 kg ha-1 nitrogen as a urea and/or cow manure source. Although, the nitrogen agronomic efficiency of these two N sources have no significant difference, the nitrogen physiological efficiency, nitrogen recovery efficiency and fertilizer economic efficiency of both fertilizers have significant differences. Therefore, it is concluded that the better quality of phosphorus and potassium in seed in applications of cow manure, in addition to the equal nitrogen use efficiency of these two N sources indicate the superior ecological role of the application of manure in production of isabgol medicinal plant and the necessity of its quality validation in organic crops.

Low solubility of phosphorus in the soils of Iran due to their alkalinity, and the reaction of phosphorus with Ca compounds are the most complicated problems in soil fertility in our country. Phosphate solubilizing microorganisms are among the most important bio-fertilizers that can help plant uptake of phosphorus. Bacillus and pseudomonas are the most genus of Phosphate Solubilizing Bacterias (PSBs). In contrast to chemical fertilizers, application of bio-fertilizers is difficult because their vitality is very sensitive and soil drought and solar radiation can effectively reduce the quality and quantity of the bacteria. Available phosphorus sources in soil could also affect the efficiency of PSBs. This experiment was conducted in order to evaluate the effect of water deficiency on two bacteria on the planting period of wheat in 2007-2008 in a greenhouse at Tarbiat Modares University (Iran) in a completely randomized design with two factors: bacteria genus with two levels: Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas putida and drought stress on bacteria at 5 levels: application of bacteria one week before irrigation, application of bacteria two days before irrigation, application of bacteria one day before irrigation, application of bacteria just before irrigation, and application of bacteria in soil when the soil moisture content is at the field moisture capacity. Results of this experiment showed that plants with application of bacteria in the field moisture capacity produced the most grain yield, but there was no significant difference with the former treatment with application of bacteria one or two days before irrigation. Application of each of the bacteria one week before irrigation had no effect on plant grain yield. So it is recommended to farmers that they can use the pseudomonas and bacillus bacteria in soil at a maximum two days after irrigation. Total phosphorus uptake in wheat plants was high with application of bacteria at the field moisture capacity.

Efficient use of energy in agro-ecosystems is supposed to reduce environmental problems, conserve natural resources and enhance agricultural sustainability. The present study was conducted in order to evaluate the energy use efficiency and also economic indicators in conventional safflower production systems in Isfahan Province during 2011-2012. Information used in this study was obtained from face-to-face interviews with safflower growers and the complementary data provided by Ministry of Agriculture of Iran. Economic and energy indices were estimated by using their input and output equivalents. The total energy consumed in safflower farms was 39145 MJ ha-1, of which the contributions of direct, indirect, renewable and non-renewable energies were 66.3, 33.7, 19.1, and 80.9%, respectively. Total energy output and energy use efficiency were calculated to be 66950 MJ ha-1 and 1.71, respectively. The main contributors to the energy used in safflower production were diesel fuel (44.1%), nitrogen fertilizer (22.2%) and irrigation water (14.9%). Gross and net returns were 943.8 and 115.7  $ ha-1, respectively, the benefit-to-cost ratio was 1.09 and productivity was 1.76 kg $ -1. It seems that in terms of energy use efficiency and economic analysis safflower farms do not have a sufficiently positive condition.

In order to evaluate the growth characteristics, yield components, seed yield and essential oil yield of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare L.) as affected by different fertilizer treatments, a field experiment was conducted based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Agricultural Research Station of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad during the growing season of 2009-2010. Treatments were: F1: chemical fertilizer (N, P and K were used with 100, 60 and 100 kg ha-1, respectively.), F2: biofertilizer+1.2 F1, F3: biofertilizer, F4: cow manure (30 t ha-1) and F5: F4+1.2 F1. Plant height, yield components such as branch number, umbel, umbelet, seed and 1000-seed weight, fresh and dry biological yields, seed yield, essential oil content and essential oil yield of fennel were measured. The results indicated that the impact of the fertilizer treatments was significant (p£0.01) on plant height, yield components, seed yield, fresh and dry biological yields and essential oil yield of fennel. The highest yield components with 10 branches per plant, 241.1 umbels per branch, 15.1 umbelets per umbel, 14.8 seeds per umbelet and 2.9 g were observed in the chemical fertilizer+cow manure treatment. The maximum seed yield with 296.5 g m-1 was achieved with the chemical fertilizer+cow manure treatment.Increasing of seed yield in F5 treatment was 15, 52, 111 and 297% compared to chemical fertilizer, cow manure, chemical fertilizer+biofertilizer and biofertilizer, respectively. So, integrated management of organic inputs such as cow manure with other fertilizers could be considered as an ecological approach that can improve yield and bring sustainability for these valuable species.

Climate change, especially an increase in CO2 concentration and soil pollution due to heavy metals, has changed plant growth and metal uptake by them. This research was carried out in order to investigate the impacts of increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations on Fe, Cu and Zn uptake and the growth parameters of wheat and sorghum at two levels of CO2 (400 and 900 mL L-1) and four levels of cadmium (0.10, 20 and 40 mg kg-1). After 60 days, the plants were harvested, and the results showed that increasing CO2 concentration led to significantly increased plant height, leaf area, root and shoot dry weight (p<0.01). Increasing CO2 concentration caused increase concentration and uptake of Cd, Fe, Cu and Zn in sorghum shoot and root. In contrast, uptake of these elements in wheat decreased. Among nutrients, the greatest increase in concentration for shoots of sorghum was in Zn (14-25%) and in root was related to Fe (16-25%). For wheat, Cu showed the greatest decrease in concentration in shoot (19-25%) and root (10-15%). Decreasing the uptake of Cd in wheat can be a factor for higher stress tolerance but, on the other hand, a decrease in micronutrient concentrations, especially of Zn, in crops such as wheat that has been used widely, can create problems associated with plant growth conditions and food production. For sorghum, although an increase in the uptake of nutrients was seen, increased Cd uptake is a problem that must be noted within the context of human and food safety.

As a result of its climatic diversity and extensive agricultural and pasture lands, the Northeast of Iran (Khorasan Provinces) enjoys good conditions for the distribution of alien species as invasive plants. These species have created a variety of problems in the region over the last few years. The purpose of this study was to assess invasive plant species in the three Provinces of Khorasan in Iran. Data on species presence, abundance and status were derived from the local literature, expert knowledge and field investigations. For assessment of the region’s present flora, we used the information from the herbarium of Ferdowsi University in Mashhad and documents related to regional plant flora over the past thirty years. For each of the species, their life form, taxonomic family and geographic distribution were determined. In total, 114 species from 74 genera and 32 families were recorded as invasive plants. Considering the total pool of invaders, 82.43% were dicotyledons (with 61 genera) and the rest were monocotyledons. Among all the species, thirteen were selected as the most important invasive plants in the agricultural ecosystems and twenty-one as important in the natural ecosystems. The families with the most invasive species were Asteraceae with 12 species (10.61%), Poaceae with seven species (6.19%) and Lamiaceae with five species (4.42%). The highest number of species in different genera belonged to Tamarix with eight species and Bromus with four species.