Journal of Agricultural Science and Sustainable Production
Year:2020 | Volume:30 | Issue:1|Papers Count:20

For increasing sunflower competitiveness to weeds, potential of production and water-nitrogen use efficiency through intercropping of bean and soybean under conservation tillage system, an experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, during 2013 and 2014 growing seasons. Experiments were conducted as split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Tillage as conventional tillage, reduced tillage by chisel and reduced tillage by disc) and different planting patterns: sunflower sole cropping with weeding, sunflower sole cropping without weeding, additive intercroppings of 30, 60 and 90%bean, as well as 30, 60 and 90%soybean with sunflower were considered as main plots and sub-plots, respectively. Results showed that the highest total weed density and biomass values were observed at reduced tillage and sole cropping treatments. However, conventional tillage and intercropping system were able to decrease density and biomass of dominant weeds, such as pigweed, foxtail and bindweed. Considering to the increasing total yield of intercropping (the sum of the yield of main and associated plants), these systems increased water and nitrogen use efficiency in comparison with sunflower sole cropping without weeding. The land equivalent ratio (LER) was calculated to measure efficiency of intercropping compared to sole cropping. Based on our findings, >30%bean: sunflower or >30%soybean: sunflower combination showed grain yield advantage (LER>1). In conclusion, our results suggest that under similar and favorable conditions, applying a combination of conservation tillage and intercropping to sunflower cultivation can improve weed management and increase the economical yield and land use efficiency when compared to sunflower sole crop under conventional tillage.

In order to investigate the seed yield, uptake of macronutrients and some properties of the biological soil indices in intercropping of linseed and faba bean under biofertilizers application, a field experiment was conducted as factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications at the Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Iran, during growing season of 2017. The first factor included five intercropping patterns consist of 1 row linseed + 1 row faba bean, 2 rows linseed + 2 rows faba bean, 3 rows linseed + 3 rows faba bean, and solecropping of each crop and the second factor was included control (no fertilizer), and biofertilizers application of mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus mossea+ Glomus intraradices+ Glomus etunicatum) plus nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria (Azotobacter vinelandii), P-solubilizing bacteria (the combination of Pseudomonas putida and Pantoea agglomerans, respectively), K-solubilizing bacteria (the combination of Pseudomonas koreensis and Pseudomonas vancouverensis, and sulfur supplier bacteria (containing Thiobacillus, respectively)]. The results showed that the effect of cropping pattern had a significant effect on the seed yield, absorption of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium nutrients. The highest seed yield of faba bean (4280 kg. ha-1 ) and linseed (2230 kg. ha-1 ) were obtained from solecropping but nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium absorption in intercropping were higher than solecropping of both species. Also, the amount of absorption of these elements in the inoculation with biofertilizer showed a significant increase compared to control (no use of fertilizer). The highest soil microbial respiration, soil microbial biomass and nutrient LER were related to the two rows linseed + two rows of fababean with biofertilizer application. This cropping pattern (2: 2) because of the high proportion of equality in the absorption of nutrients and improve the biological soil is recommended.

In order to evaluate the forage yield, crude protein and advantage indices of grass pea-cereal intercropping systems, a field study (2015-2016 and 2016-2017) was conducted as randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 13treatments and three replications at the research station of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Iran. The treatments were sole planting of grass pea, barley, oat and triticale and intercropping grass pea with each of the above cereals (in the flag leaf appearance stage), in three seeding ratios (grass pea: cereal; 25: 100, 50: 100 and 50: 80). The results showed that the highest and lowest forage yield were obtained in 80% grass pea-100% oat (8410 kg. ha-1 ), 80% grass pea-100% barley (8094 kg. ha-1 and grass pea sole crop (4758 kg. ha-1 ), respectively. Also, the highest and lowest crude protein was recorded in grass pea (152 g. kg. DM-1 ) and triticale (77 g. kg. DM-1 ) monocrops, respectively. The land equivalent ratio (LER) value was greater than one in most of intercropped treatments with the exception of grass pea-triticale (50: 100), which indicates advantage of mixtures compared with monocrops. Economic advantage in terms of relative value total (RVT) was greatest in the cases of grass pea mixtures with oat and barley (1. 34 and 1. 24, respectively) at the 50: 80 seeding ratio. Generally, the results of this research showed that the grass pea intercropped with oat and barley at the 50: 80 seeding ratio can be selected as the best legume-cereal intercropping systems due to higher forage yield, crude protein and economic benefit.

In order to investigate some characteristics of three sweet maize varieties under application of various fertilizers and water deficit stress at the reproductive stage, a field experiment was conducted in Tarbiat Modares University during the 2016 growing season. The experiment was performed at three replications with the Factorial Split Plate arrangement in a completely randomized block design. Factors of irrigation regimes as irrigation after discharging 25, 40 and 55% of water used and cultivars (Basin, Passion and KSC403) in the main plot and fertilization included urea (116 kg. ha-1 ), azocompost (15497 kg. ha-1 ) and vermicompost (24223 kg. ha-1 ) in the subplot were studied. The results showed that the highest ear fresh weight (236. 77 g. m-2 ) was observed in optimum irrigation conditions. Grain yield was significantly affected only by fertilization (p≤ 0. 05). The application of urea fertilizer increased grain yield, while the use of azocompost decreased it. The highest and lowest ear fresh weight were obtained in Passion and KSC403 cultivars, respectively. Passion cultivar in severe water stress and Basin cultivar in moderate water stress and optimum irrigation was produced the highest ear fresh weight and KSCO403 cultivar showed the lowest amount in all irrigation regimes. The highest amounts of chlorophyll a and b were obtained with 1. 74 and 0. 47 mg. g-1 fresh weight, respectively, from optimal irrigation. Vermicompost (only 4% decrease compared to control) and urea, (about 13% more than control) respectively, under sever water stress and moderate water stress conditions, somewhat controlled the effect of water shortage in Passion cultivar and increased the ear fresh weight.

In order to evaluate the effects of nano Zn oxide, nano Fe oxide and bio fertilizer on variation of some physiological traits and grain filling parameters of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. ) under soil salinity, a factorial experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications in research greenhouse of faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili in 2015. Treatments were included soil salinity in three levels, no-salt or control, salinity 25 and 50 mM respectively, by NaCl, seed inoculation by plant growth promoting rhizobacteria at four levels, no bio fertilizer (F1), seed inoculation by Azotobacter chroococcum strain 5 (F2), Azospirillum lipoferum strain OF (F3), Pseudomonas putida strain 186 (F4) and foliar application at four levels, without nano or foliar application by water as control, application of nano Zn oxide, nano Fe oxide and nano Fe-Zn oxide 1. 5 g. lit-1 ). The results showed that the maximum grain filling components such as maximum of grain weight (0. 049 g), grain filling rate (0. 00172 g. day-1 ), grain filling period (52. 85 days) and effective grain filling period (39. 18 days) were obtained in no salinity, application of nano Zn-Fe oxide and seed inoculation by Pseudomonas. Similar results were obtained for chlorophyll index and quantum yield. Application of nano Zn-Fe oxide increased about 17. 40% from grain yield in comparison with no application of nano oxide in the highest salinity level. Generally, it seems that bio fertilizer and nano Zn-Fe oxide can be used as a proper tool for increasing wheat yield under salinity condition.

Conventional tillage increases soil compaction and 25% water and wind erosion. It also causes decrease soil porosity and water capacity. In order to prevent this situation; conservational tillage is considered as an effective strategy. Conservational tillage have important role in soil erosion and improve its quality. Every year Moghan Agro-Industrial & Livestock (MAIL) Company costs a lot to do conventional tillage. In order to achieve the objectives of this study, an experiment was conducted in factorial pattern with completely randomized design with two factors, tillage method (Conventional tillage & No-tillage) and irrigation method (traditional irrigation & Sprinkler irrigation). Results showed that yield, average fuel consumption, traffic, water consumption and fuel consumption productivity index in No-tillage method is better than conventional tillage. Also, the results of the MCDM Engine software showed the Combination of No-tillage system with Sprinkler irrigation with CL*=0. 98 (The relative proximity of the option to the ideal solution) is best method for minimum cost of production and maximum yield in silage corn. Therefore, No-tillage system with Sprinkler irrigation can be suitable method for sustainable production of Silage Corn in Moghan region.

In order to evaluate salinity tolerance in some sorghum genotypes, a split-plot experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted at the Research Farm of East-Azarbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Tabriz, Iran. The results showed significant difference among genotypes in all studied traits, except for leaf length, leaf to stem dry weight ratio, and fresh weight of the stem to the total fresh weight ratio. Also, salinity treatment had significant effect on leaf length, leaf fresh and dry weight, stem fresh and dry weight, fresh weight of the leaf to the total fresh weight and fresh weight of the stem to the total fresh weight ratios. The mean comparison showed that these traits decreased by salinity stress. In this research, Pegah and KFS2 verities have more plant fresh weight, leaf number, stem diameter, leaf fresh weight, stem fresh weight, leaf dry weight, shoot dry weight and fresh weight of the leaf to the total fresh weight ratio in compared with common genotypes. But, Pegah and native Jolfa genotypes had the highest plant height. Differences between genotypes in different traits indicate the desirable genetic variation among the studied genotypes.

In order to evaluate the effect of irrigation, humic acid and mycorrhiza application on morphological traits, yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of cotton, an experiment was carried out as a factorial split-plot based on a randomized complete block design with three replications in the research farm of Islamic Azad University of Birjand, Iran in 2016. Three irrigation levels (40, 70 and 100 percent of plant water requirement) were as the main plot and the combination of two mycorrhiza levels (non-application and application) and two humic acid levels (0 and 10 L. ha-1 ) were considered as sub-plot. The results showed that with reducing the supply of cotton water requirement from 100 to 40 percent significantly reduced plant height, stem diameter, branch number of main stem, seedcotton yield and biological yield by 29. 6, 31. 8, 48. 3, 68. 7 and 60. 5, respectively. However, the water use efficiency for seedcotton production in the treatment of 70 percent water requirement supply was significantly higher (19. 2 and 44. 5%, respectively) than treatments of 100 and 40 percent water requirement supply. Also, application of mychorhiza significantly increased the plant height, stem diameter, branch number of main stem, seedcotton yield and biological yield, water use efficiency for seedcotton and biomass production by 10. 9, 12. 5, 30, 48, 26. 8, 48. 8 and 24. 8%, respectively. In addition, application of 10 L. ha-1 humic acid significantly increased the plant height, stem diameter, branch number of main stem, seedcotton yield and water use efficiency for seedcotton production by 9. 9, 9. 4, 14. 2, 23. 5 and 20. 7%, respectively. In general, the results showed that the use of mycorrhiza and humic acid decreases the negative effects of water deficit stress, especially in moderate stress conditions. Considering the water use efficiency and cotton yield, it is possible to consider the treatment of moderate water stress and mycorrhiza application for the cultivation of this plant in Birjand.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of water (irrigation with ordinary water and magnetic water) and fertilizer treatments on cumin growth and yield by split plot experiment based on randomized complete block design in three replications at the Research Farm of Tabriz Branch Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran, in 2018. Treatments included control without fertilizer, application of nitrogen fertilizer, application of Penergetic fertilizer P, K and application of nitrogen fertilizer with 50% dose with use of Penergetic P, K. Results showed that, the highest grain yield (164 g. m-2 ) was obtained in nitrogen fertilizer application and application of chemical fertilizer and Penergetic P, K under magnetic irrigation conditions. This treatments increased grain yield in comparison with control (42. 6%). Biological yield also showed a similar response to the application of magnetic irrigation and fertilizer treatments. Based on the results of two treatments, application of nitrogen fertilizer alone and nitrogen fertilizer with Penergetic P, K produced a significant increase in essential oil percentage, but the highest essential oil yield was obtained from application of chemical fertilizer (3. 13 g. m-2 ) however, application of Penergetic fertilizer caused a significant increase in the percentage and essential oil yield, although less than the increase caused by nitrogen fertilizer. In general, with respect to economic performance, using Penergetic, the level of nitrogen fertilizer can be reduced without any significant reduction in grain yield. On the other hand, magnetic irrigation has an important role in increasing the effect of application of fertilizers on grain yield.

Plant growth and development are adversely affected by salinity. In order to evaluate the effects of different salinity levels and application of chitosan on some growth parameters, photosynthesis pigments and essential oils content and yield of moldavian balm (Dracocephalium moldavica L. ), a greenhouse experiment was carried out as a factorial based on the completely randomized design (CRD) and three replications. The first factor was three levels of salinity stress included 0, 25 and 50 Mm NaCl and the second factor was application of chitosan (0, 0. 25, 0. 5 and 1 % w/v). The studied traits include the morphological (plant height, shoot fresh and dry weight, leaf fresh and dry weight and inflorescence length), chlorophyll fluorescence (Variable fluorescence, maximum chlorophyll fluorescence yield, Water degradation complex), photosynthesis pigments (chlorophyll a and b, carotenoid) and also essential oil content and yield. The results demonstrated that all morphological traits and some of physiological characteristics including chlorophyll fluorescence indices, chlorophyll a, and chlorophyll b and carotenoid contents significantly decreased with increasing the salinity level. In addition, the results showed that with application of chitosan in the salinity conditions, all morphological traits, antioxidant enzymes activity, and chlorophyll fluorescence (Variable fluorescence, maximum chlorophyll fluorescence yield, Water degradation complex, Y (II)) parameters improved compared with control. Furthermore, foliar application of chitosan increased the essential oil and yield under salinity stress condition. It seems that chitosan has a positive effect to overcome effects of salinity stress and might be help to increasers essential oil yield on medicinal plants.

Application the living mulch as a non-chemical method to weeds control helps to improve sustainable agricultural systems management. Thus, the effect of sowing fenugreek as living mulch on different dates in weed control and sunflower yield was investigated at Razi University during the 2016-2017 growing season. Experiment was performed as factorial on randomized complete block design with three replications. First factor was the sowing fenugreek at four levels as control (without living mulch), 15 days before sowing of sunflower, simultaneous sowing with sunflower, 15 days after sowing of sunflower and the second factor was three sunflower cultivars (Progress, Farrokh, Lakomka). The results showed that mulch sowing reduced biomass and density of weeds at the beginning and end of the growing season. The Progress cultivar in weed control was superior to other cultivars. Competitive index for Progress, Farrokh and Lakomka cultivars was 1. 67, 0. 5 and 0. 89, respectively. The weeds in non-control treatment (without weeding) reduced grain yield by 75. 8%. In non-control condition, the presence of mulch could not improve yield. But in control condition, sowing of fenugreek simultaneous and after sunflower improved yields by 1083 and 703 kg. ha-1, respectively. In control and non-control conditions sowing of fenugreek before sunflower led to significant decrease of yield. In control condition, the Lakomka yield (3426 kg. ha-1 ) was higher than Progress and Farrokh yields. However, in non-control condition the difference of cultivars was not significant. It seems that in non-control condition, weeds competition with sunflower prevents from the positive effect of mulch and cultivars superiority in yield production.

Since many times the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic herbs has been a special place in Iran's agricultural systems. On the other hand, ecological farming and low input systems can promote sustainable agriculture and environmental health. The aim of this study was to evaluate performance of several species mycorrhizal fungi and Trichoderma in the rhizosphere on some of the crop characteristics of dill plant, in greenhouse conditions using. For this purpose, a factorial experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the greenhouse of Horticulture Department, faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz. For instance the roots of two Anethum graveolens (Dill) species i. e. Tabriz local A. graveolens and Long Island of Mammoth, were treated with the inoculums provided of Trichoderma isolates (Trichoderma harzianum Na-1ac and T. longibrachiatum BZ4-4) and two species of Mycorrhiza fungus (Glomus intraradices and G. versiforme). The results of this study showed that the significant incrementing effect of fungi on shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root fresh weight, root dry weight, chlorophyll index and colonization. Also, the effects of cultivars and fungi on traits such as plant height, number of umbelle in umbelete, grain yield in each plant and number of branches in each plant were significant. Interaction of cultivar and fungus were also significant on the number of branches in each plant and grain yield in each plant and increased them. Also, the results results indicated that the percentage of colonization in G. intraradices was significantly higher than in G. versiforme. The investigation of the endophytic state of Trichoderma and the progress of the fungus in various tissues of the plant were detected only in the plant root portion of the. Also the comparing result between two genera showed significant difference in most traits and Trichoderma was better than Glomus in most of the measured traits. Finally, our results indicated that the use of Trichoderma and mycorrhizal fungus in comparison with the control can be an effective tool for increasing of the growth characters and the use of Trichoderma more effectively presence a natural method to improve the growth of the plant.

In the current century, important issues such as increasing human health and environmental pollution and need to reduce inputs and sustainable agriculture, have made it more urgent to use modern technologies, including precision agricultural, in the field of agricultural input management. Equal application of agricultural inputs on farms, regardless of variables within the farm and existing conditions, has not shown good results in product performance. However, precision farming by managing production inputs reduces production costs and environmental pollution, increase yields and productivity, better management and decision-making based on information and sustainable agriculture development. Considering the importance of the topic and the enormous potential that precision agriculture has in developing countries, including Iran, to improve the agricultural sector, the objective of this study is to analyze the problems of the development of precision agriculture from the viewpoint of experts in the Agricultural Jihad Organization of Urmia. This research was applied and descriptive-survey. The statistical population of this research was 101 experts of Urmia Agricultural Jihad Organization. The census method was used to collect data. An exploratory analysis was used to identify the challenges and precision agriculture. According to the results of the research, the most important problems of precision agricultural from the viewpoint of the experts were: information and educational problems (knowledge weakness in the field of precision farming technologies), economic problems (lack of economic justification and precision farming profitability and financial weakness Farmers), management problems (adherence of managers to traditional management practices), technical and organizational problems (poor access to software and hardware needed inside the country), motivational problems (low motivation for graduates to enter agricultural production), technological problems (lack of development of agricultural mechanization). Based on the results, all the problems that are summarized in the six factors have a negative effect on the implementation of the precision agricultural process and slow down or stop the process. The problems encountered in the six factors explained about 70. 46% of the total variance.

Continuous exploitation of renewable natural resources needs to identify the land ecological capability and this identification permit to exploit of the natural resources correctly by programed and optimum management. The purpose of this research is to land suitability assessment for agriculture activity using FUZZY-AHP method in Mikaeel abad catchment located in northern part of Khalkhal county, Ardabil. 13 factors including precipitation, Vegetation density, Vegetation production, slope, soil erosion, distance from water, vegetation type, soil hydrologic group, Geology, Soil depth, soil texture, soil penetrating and current land use utilized to land capability assessment in ArcGIS10 surrounding. To weigh the criteria AHP and to apply same scale to criteria Fuzzy method was used and using Weighted Linear Combination method all criteria were overlaid and potential map was prepared. Final potential map classified in 4 potential classes using natural break classification method. Classes with potential category from 1 to 2 (65% of area) were allocated to agriculture class and category from 3 to 4(35% of area) were allocated to non-agricultural activities. Also conformity map between current land use map and potential map showed that in 61. 8% of area there is conformity between current land use map and potential categories map for agriculture activity. It is suggested that consideration be given to mapping of potential classes based on the ecological capability of the study area in assigning agricultural uses and activities. In this regard, it is advisable to carry out agricultural activities in areas with class I capacity in the form of irrigated farming or Gardening, And in areas with the capacity of the second potential class dry farming, and in the third and fourth potential class no agricultural activity will be carried out.

One of the challenges in developing of sustainable agriculture is the non-optimal and excessive use of disruptive inputs of sustainable agriculture. The purpose of this study was to optimize the cropping pattern in the lands of drainage and Irrigation network of Mianab-e-Shooshtar with an emphasis on reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. For this purpose, the multiobjective fractional linear programming method was used without and with considering uncertainty (scenarios 1 and 2, respectively) via robust optimization. Data were collected from Agricultural Jihad Organization, Water and Power Organization of Khuzestan and the Utilization Company of Karun Irrigation Networks in 2017-2018 cropping year. The results showed that in the second scenario, the amount of fertilizer, pesticides, crop area and irrigation water consumption decreased by 17, 15, 8 and 1. 1 percent, respectively. It was also found that increasing the system's protection against uncertainty, decreases the use of fertilizers and chemical pesticides. Therefore, the optimal cultivation pattern of robust multi-objective linear fractional programming method should be recommended to farmers.

In order to study the effect of bio, Integrated and chemical fertilizers and inter cropping patterns on some qualitative and quantitative forage traits, a split plot based on randomized complete block design with four replications was carried out in South Khorasan in 2016. The main factor in five fertilizer levels including no fertilizer, 50% nitrogen chemical fertilizer, 100% nitrogen chemical fertilizer, nitroxin fertilizer, combined nitroxin fertilizer + 50% chemical fertilizer and sub factor in six levels including pure fenugreek, pure maize, additive mixture of 100% maize + 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of fenugreek were considered. According to the results, fresh and dry weight of maize were significantly affected by fertilizer treatment, cropping pattern and treatment composition of fertilizers and cropping pattern at 1% level. Dry weight of fenugreek was significantly affected by pattern, cultivation and treatment composition of different types of fertilizer and culture pattern at 1% level. The effect of culture pattern and treatment composition of fertilizers and planting pattern on forage quality traits were significant at 1% level. The effect of different types of fertilizers was significant at 1% level on forage fiber and that was significant at 5% level on specific net energy of lactation. The highest percentage of ash (7. 15%) was observed in pure fenugreek culture with 50% nitrogen chemical fertilizer. The highest specific net energy lactation (1. 92 Mcal. kg-1 ) was observed in pure fenugreek culture with biofertilizer application and the highest water soluble carbohydrate (30. 95%) was observed in pure maize without fertilization. The results of qualitative forage traits analysis showed that the presence of fenugreek in forage composition improves the quality of forage. Based on the study, maize + 75% fenugreek and maize + 100% fenugreek cultivation patterns applied by combined fertilization method, can be a good alternative to corn cultivation in the region.

Rapeseed is one of the most important oilseeds In the world and Iran. Considering the strategic importance of rapeseed, especially in Sistan and Baluchestan province, determining the appropriate areas according to the environmental needs, optimal production and reducing the negative effects of water resources management and conservation of natural resources is needed. Also, due to different fluctuations in production of canola in different years, identification of susceptible and non-susceptible areas based on the recognition of their environmental advantages and restrictions can greatly help the stability of the production in the province. In this research, using the GIS, the required information layers including optimal temperature, minimum temperature, maximum temperature, precipitation, slope, altitude, organic matter, soil salinity, soil texture, pH and nutrient content as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, and zinc in an ArcMap environment were produced. After preparing these layers, the classifying and ranking each layer was carried out based on a simple constraint and the environmental requirements table of rapeseed in four reasonable (very prestigious) moderate, inappropriate (non-susceptible) categories. In this study, the aim of using the spatial analysis functions along with the hierarchical process (AHP) was to identify suitable areas for rapeseed cultivation in the north and center of the province. The results of this study showed that the suitable zone is located more in mountainous and Overlooking the plains of Nimroz and Zahedan.

In order to evaluate the dodder (Cuscuta campestris) control methods in tomato an experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with 11 treatments and four replications (in box) at the Research Farm of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz in 2016. The dodder control treatments were including application of glyphosate with 100 g ai. ha-1 (infestation at 3-4-and 5-6-leaf stage of tomato), application of glyphosate with 150 g ai. ha-1 (infestation at 3-4-and 5-6-leaf stage), application of Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) water extract at ratio of 1: 10 (m/v) (infestation at 3-4-and 5-6-leaf stage), application of vinegar at ratio of 1: 10 (m/v) (infestation at 34-and 5-6-leaf stage application of auxin at concentration of 0. 1% (infestation at 3-4-and 5-6-leaf stage) and dodder-free treatment. Results indicated that dodder biomass, seed number and seed weight per box and tomato fruit yield were affected by dodder management treatments. Application of Bermuda grass water extract at 3-4-leaf stage had the highest dodder biomass (29. 3 g per box) and application of glyphosate at 100 and 150 g ai. ha-1 had the lowest dodder biomass (7. 9 and 10. 1 g per box, respectively). The greatest dodder seed number per plant were observed in vinegar, Bermuda grass water extract and auxin application treatments and the glyphosate application treatments had the lower dodder seed number per box. The highest tomato fruit yield (110. 8 g. plant-1 ) was obtained in auxin application at 5-6-leaf stage that was not significantly different with vinegar and glyphosate at 100 g ai. ha-1 applications in this stage. Generally application of auxin and vinegar could be recommended to the growers as alternative of glyphosate for dodder management in organic production of tomato.

In order to investigate the effect of farmyard, biological and chemical fertilizers on yield and yield components of wheat, an experiment was carried out as a factorial based on randomized complete blocks design with three replications at the Research Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources in 2013-2014. The first factor was levels of fertilizers: control, chemical fertilizer, Nitroxin + Phosphate Barvar2, FYM + Phosphate Barvar 2, Supernitroplus + Phosphate Barvar2 and integrated treatment (Nitroxin+ Supernitroplus + FYM+ Phosphate Barvar 2) and second factor was Urom and Sovason as wheat varieties. Results showed that for number of spikelets per spike, Urom variety and for 1000 kernel weight, Sovason variety were superior. The highest number of grains per spike was obtained by chemical fertilizer application without significant differences with other fertilizer treatments and the highest biological yield was obtained in chemical fertilizer (12530 kg. ha-1 ) and integrated treatment (12490 kg. ha-1 ) without significant differences, which showed an increase of 11. 75% on the average compared to the control. The highest grain yield was obtained in integrated treatment in Sovason variety (5335 kg. ha-1 ), chemical fertilizer (5228 kg. ha-1 ) and integrated treatment (4782 kg. ha-1 ) in Orum variety without significant difference, which showed an increase of 72. 2% on the average compared to the control. The highest protein percentage was recorded for integrated treatment (16. 4%), Nitroxin + Phosphate Barvar (16. 2%) and Fertilizer (16%) for Orum variety, respectively. In general, there was no significant difference between the application of chemical fertilizer and the integrated application of organic and biological fertilizers in many traits, including grain yield, yield components and protein percentage. Therefore, there is the possibility of replacing chemical fertilizers with organic and biological fertilizers for producing of wheat in a sustainable organic farming system.

More than one century ago, the first commercial product of biofertilizer was produced in the world and its production in Iran was initiated around 15 years ago. According to the importance of biofertilizers in the sustainable and organic agriculture, in this paper we try to review on the biofertilizer researches in Iran, especially to the mechanism of biofertilizers actions. This paper will focus on nitrogen biofertilizers mainly to the Rhizobia, Azotobacteria, Azospirilla as well as the phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and potassium releasing bacteria (KRB). Attention to the Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (AM) is the other aspect of this study. The isolation methods of most important microorganisms with potential to being used as a biofertilizer are taken into consideration at the end of each section of this article. At the end, we considered results of some researches on application and effects of biofertilizers on growth, yield and quality properties of plants in Iran.