Iranian Journal of Soil Research
Year:2020 | Volume:34 | Issue:2|Papers Count:10

Animal manures are valuable organic sources for soil organic matter and crop nutrition. To evaluate the residual effects of two sources of animal manure on growth and yield of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L) Zarin variety, a field experiment was conducted at Miandoab Research Station, Agricultural and Natural Resource Research and Educational Center of West Azerbaijan, Iran. Manures were used in 2014. In the next three years, no animal manure was applied. Residual effects of manures were determined during winter growing season of 2017-19. The treatments included T1= control, T2= 50 t ha-1 cow manure, T3= 100 t ha-1 cow manure, T4= 50 t ha-1 sheep manure, and T5= 100 t ha-1 sheep manure and were used in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. None of the plots received mineral fertilizers. The results showed that the sheep manure was more efficient than the cow manure. Plots receiving 50 t ha-1 sheep manure showed higher grain yield and harvesting index of 36% and 17%, respectively, compared to control plots, whereas, 100 t ha-1 sheep manure did not show significant yield increase compared to the T4. Significantly higher nitrogen (1. 84%), potassium (0. 41%), magnesium (0. 12%), iron (126. 40 mg. kg-1), copper (16. 4 mg. kg-1), zinc (45. 7 mg. kg-1) and manganese (33. 35 mg. kg-1) content in grain and highest potassium (1. 76%), iron (269. 3 mg. kg-1), zinc (9. 16 mg. kg-1) and manganese (24. 08 mg. kg-1) content in wheat straw were recorded under treatment T4. The overall results indicate that organic carbon and availability of nutrients, particularly P, Zn, and Fe in the soil surface layer were significantly higher in plots receiving manures compared to the control. Before the experiment, soil organic carbon (SOC) was 0. 88%. After harvest, SOC in treatments of 50 and 100 t ha-1 of cow manure increased to 0. 99% and 1. 36%, and in treatments of 50 and 100 t ha-1 of sheep manure, it increased to 0. 94% and 1. 26%, respectively. The Results demonstrated that manure application, due to its role in soil fertility improvement, is an effective strategy for efficient production of wheat and enrichment of its grain.

Heavy soil compaction and crusting has adverse effects on the rate and speed of seedling emergence, as well as percent of established seedling, particularly in dicotyledonous epigeal plants. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the ways of coping with this phenomenon in kidney bean. The experiment was carried out during the years 2017 and 2018 in the Seed Laboratory and Greenhouse of Lorestan University, Iran. Factors studied were seed priming (control, hydroprming, GA50 ppm, GA100 ppm, SA50 ppm, SA100 ppm, and GA50 ppm+SA50 ppm) and soil compaction (intact, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% more compaction in relation to intact). The results showed that low soil compaction (5-10%) had positive effect on seedling growth, while, more compaction had adverse effect. Seed priming had a significant effect on seedling growth indices. Priming improved root length and number of root branches. Sever soil compaction decreased root length. The maximum root length (40. 58 cm) was observed in priming with GA50 ppm+SA50 ppm and no soil compaction (intact soil). The greatest number of root branches was observed in GA50 ppm+SA50 ppm and 20% soil compaction. Seed priming had significant effects on proline. Minimum proline content (85. 1 μ g. g-1 FW) was observed in not-primed and 10% soil compaction, however, its maximum (199. 6 μ g. g-1 FW) was recorded in GA50 ppm+SA50 ppm priming and no soil compaction (intact soil). In general, weak soil compaction (5%) improved seedling growth, but increasing soil compaction by 15% or more decreased root (9. 13 cm) and shoot growth. It seems that soil compaction reduces water and mineral uptake, hence reducing seedling performance.

Potassium (K) fertilizer requirement is affected by crop type, land cultivation history, and properties of the soil resources. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of long term grape cultivation on soil fractions mineralogy and different potassium forms in Malayer region, Iran. Soil profiles in two areas with fine and coarse texture were dug and soil physicochemical characteristics and different potassium forms were determined. All soil fractions were separated and the content of minerals in the sand, silt and clay fractions was determined in some horizons. Soil soluble, exchangeable, non-exchangeable, and total K concentrations ranged from 15. 8 to 62. 1, 216. 8 to 540. 8, 395 to 1897, and 8322 to 13416 mgkg-1, respectively. Soluble and exchangeable potassium significantly correlated with soil clay content (r2= 0. 42, p<0. 05) and organic carbon (r2= 0. 67, p<0. 01). Calcium carbonate equivalent and silt negatively correlated with different potassium forms (r2=0. 62, p<0. 05). The mineralogical studies of clay fraction showed that coarse-textured soils had higher illite content and fine-textured soils had higher vermiculite and to some extent smectite. Mixed minerals as illite-smectite, illite-vermiculite, and chlorite-smectite were observed in the silt fraction, and had the main control on the different potassium forms in this fraction. Long term cultivation of grape in the two areas had caused reduction of total potassium content compared to uncultivated neighboring lands. It is recommended that for non-exchangeable K release, K fertilizer application should be based on the soil analysis.

Biochar in soil is an alternative way to increase soil carbon in the long term and improves soil physical properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term effect of palm leaf biochar on different types of soil porosity (air filled, capillary, and total) and structure stability of a sandy clay loam soil. A factorial experiment was performed in pots using a completely randomized design with two factors including the amount of biochar of date leaves at four levels (control=B0, B0. 5=0. 5%, B1=1%, and B2=2% by weight) and the time after application of biochar at four levels (T1 =one, T3 =3, T6 =6, and T9 =9 months ), with three replications. The results showed that the effect of palm leaf biochar on air-filled and capillary porosity was significant. Also, the effect of time after biochar application on bulk density and porosity was significant. The effect of biochar amount, time after biochar application, and their interaction effects on mean weight diameter (MWD) of aggregates were significant. The highest percentage of increases in treatments compared to the control (B0T1) belonged to B2T6 in bulk density (14. 7%), total porosity in B2T1 (5. 4%), capillary porosity in B2 (64. 3%), MWD of aggregates by dry sieve method in B1T9 (28%), and MWD of aggregates by wet sieve method in B2T1 (63. 2%). The results showed that the highest effect of biochar on bulk density, total porosity, capillary porosity, and MWD of aggregates by wet sieve method was in the first month, and on MWD of aggregates by dry sieve method was in the ninth month, while the effect of time on changes in air filled porosity was not significant. Overall, biochar with significant porosity and carbon content improved the porosity and soil structure stability in this study. Therefore, biochar can be used to improve structure of degraded and weak soils.

Due to the spread of Tristiza disease in east of Mazandaran province and the sensitivity of the region's common rootstock, C-35 rootstock is being promoted as an alternative rootstock tolerant to this disease. Considering the changes in the lime content of the soils in the region, in this study, the response of Satsuma mandarin on C-35 rootstock to calcareous soils east of Mazandaran province was investigated in a randomized complete block design. The results showed that the highest mean dry weight of aerial parts was obtained from south Babol soils with total lime content of 2%. The highest leaf chlorosis was obtained from West Sari soil with 10% active lime and 25% total lime, and the lowest chlorosis was obtained in the soil without active lime and 2% total lime. In southern Sari soil with 14% lime, the highest concentration of total iron and the lowest concentration of active iron were in the roots. The average concentration of total iron in the roots was about 11 times the average concentration in the leaves, indicating accumulation and deposition of iron in the roots. The amount of available manganese for citrus trees was excessive in most soils, but the mean concentration of leaf manganese in most cases was less than adequate. The overall mean manganese concentration in the root was about 4. 7 times more than its mean concentration in leaf. For C-35 rootstock and scion, the most restrictive element was Mn deficiency and its low transfer efficiency from root to leaf. The results of mean chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence index (Fv/Fm) of leaves showed that the soils with low total lime (south of Babol and west of Ghaemshahr) had the highest amount of chlorophyll and fluorescence index. In general, according to the results of this study, soil texture has influence on tolerance of C-35 rootstock in calcareous soils, and in relatively heavy and heavy textured soils with a total lime less than 9-14%, use of this rootstock is recommended

Investigation of water infiltration process in soil is an important step in soil water movement and, therefore, of interest to different researchers. Fuzzy set theory can be used to simulate soil water infiltration by considering variability and uncertainty in the effective parameters. In this research, a scaled fuzzy model for simulating water infiltration in unsaturated soil is presented. For this purpose, the Richard’ s equation was scaled to obtain the fuzzy training network and subsequent fuzzy rules for a wider range of soils. The fuzzy rules were extracted using large training networks made from numerical solution of scaled Richard’ s equation. The scaled fuzzy model for the specified boundary conditions is able to simulate the flow for all soils with the specified shape parameter (n) value. Comparison of the results of the fuzzy model and the numerical solution of the Richard’ s equation showed that the fuzzy model can well simulate water infiltration in unsaturated soils (NRMSE value between 3% and 4. 5%) and the scaled fuzzy model is capable of simulating a wide range of different soils with the same shape parameter (n) (NRMSE value between 1. 2% and 1. 5%). The scaled fuzzy model was modified to fit a series of fuzzy rules for a range of shape parameter (n) variable.

the quantity and quality of crops yields, and to protect the environment from the negative effects of excess fertilizers. To achieve these goals, the analysis of these data should be based on a systematic and comprehensive approach, especially in terms of nutrients’ interactions and separation of nutrients synergistic and antagonistic effects. DRIS and CNDclr can diagnose D number of components, while D-1 could be diagnosed in the D-compositional “ Hilbert space” across CNDilr. The objective of this paper was to compare “ Aitchison” and “ Mahalanobis” distances (as a predictor) across ilr coordinates as measures of nutrient imbalance, as well as determination of macro and micro reference norms for sugar beet using CND-ilr and “ Pan Balance ” technique for diagnosing nutrients status. We collected 170 root yield and foliar samples in fall sugar beet fields of Khuzestan province in Iran and analyzed seven nutrients in leaf (N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu). Then, nutrients were arranged into ten balances: ilr1: [Fe|Cu, Zn, Mn], ilr2: [Mn|Zn, Mn], ilr3: [Zn|Cu], ilr4: [P | N], ilr5: [NP | K], ilr6: [Fe | Mn], ilr7: [Zn | CU], ilr8: [Fe, Mn| Zn, Cu], ilr9: [N, P, K|Mn, Zn, Fe, Cu], and ilr10: [FV|N, P, K, Mn, Zn, Fe, Cu], which were computed as isometric log ratios (ilr). Total population of observations’ classification performed by a customized <> procedure (ROC technique) showed that a critical “ Mahalanobis” distance of 4. 2 separated balanced (low yield) from imbalanced (high yield) specimens about yield cut-off of 60. 32 t/ha with test performance of 85%, as measured by the area under the ROC curve for ilr4 to ilr10. Comparing the “ Mahalanobis” distance with the “ Aitchison” distance showed that they were similar. By using Pan balance technique, comparing total nutrient balance between reference (TN) and none reference (TP) group of total fields by Tukey’ s test showed seven significant differences (P ≤ 0. 05), except ilr7. Results showed that in order to increase sugar beet root yield in the study area, it was not necessary to use iron fertilizers and N-fertilization should be reduced, while potassium fertilizer should be increased.

The current study was conducted to investigate the effect of different levels and sources of potassium (K) on seed and oil yields and K uptake of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. ) var. Azargol. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design under split plot arrangement with three replications at two locations in West Azerbaijan province during two consecutive years (2017-18). Sunflower sources (K2SO4 and KCl) were arranged in the main plots, accommodating five K doses 0 (control), 100, 200, 300 and 400 kg ha-1 in sub-plots. The results indicated that treatment of 100 kg ha-1 K from K2SO4 source increased the seed and oil yields by, respectively, 44. 8% and 38. 6%, which did not differ from the same treatment using KCl. The highest straw weight and biomass were obtained by 300 kg. ha-1 K from K2SO4 source, which increased by 58. 9% and 51. 8%, respectively, compared to the control. K uptake by straw was 2. 93 times more than the grain. Sunflower reduced native available potassium (Kava) by 32 mg. kg-1. K uptake in grain was 141. 2 kg. ha-1, which enhanced with increasing potassium level treatments. The soil Kava was proportional to potassium level treatments. The maximum soil Kava was 410 mg. kg-1, with application of 400 kg. ha-1 of K. In this connection, K sourcaes had the same effect. The results suggested that by application of 100 kg K. ha-1 from K2SO4 or KCl in oil-seed sunflower cultivation, in addition to producing a suitable product, Kava of the soil is maintained in optimum range.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate P acquisition efficiency (PAE) and internal phosphorus (P) utilization efficiency (PUE) in Thomson Navel Orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck. ) grafted on three rootstocks in two soils. For this purpose, a pot experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design using factorial arrangement in three replications. Treatments consisted of two levels of P (0, 100 mg/kg) and three rootstocks of citrus (sour orange, Swingle citrumelo, and Troyer citrange) and two soil types with different percentage of CaCO3. (CaCO3% in soil “ 1” and “ 2” were 16% and 2. 3 %, respectively). Eighteen months after planting seedlings in pots, plants were harvested and plant indices including dry weight and P uptake were measured. In addition, PAE and PUE were determined. The results of this study showed that shoot dry weight of Thomson Navel Orange on sour orange, citrumelo and citrange was significantly increased in the two studied soils following P application (p<0. 05). After application of P fertilizer, the highest dry weight of shoots was found for Thomson Navel Orange on sour orange (74%) in soil “ 1” ; and on citrumelo rootstock (49%) in soil “ 2” . When P supply was deficient, Thomson Navel Orange on sour orange rootstock in the soil “ 1” , and on citrange and sour orange rootstocks in the soil “ 2” were more efficient in P acquisition than other rootstocks. With an adequate P supply and based on PUE, Thomson Navel Orange on sour orange rootstock in the soil “ 1” , and Thomson Navel Orange on citrange and on sour orange rootstocks in the soil “ 2” were more efficient in internal P utilization than other rootstocks. The results showed that the choice of an efficient rootstock in P uptake depends on the soil condition and is sitespecific. In order to improve the performance of citrus seedlings in the studied areas, it is recommended either to use a P-efficient rootstock in these areas or, if it is not possible to use an efficient rootstock due to soil and climatic constraints, use P fertilizer based on the soil available phosphorus.

Peanut shell as a residual waste from peanut cultivation has a considerable volume and its compost can be used as an available source of nutrient elements for different plants. This study was carried out to investigate the use of peanut shell compost in field soil and soilless (peat-perlite ratio 2: 1) media and its effect on soil physical and chemical properties in Lahijan Ornamental Flower and Plant Research Station, in 2017. Control treatments consisted of field soil and peat-perlite (2: 1) bedding, while peanut shell compost was used in values of 0, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% (by volume) to replace field soil and peat (2: 1) in peat-perlite bedding. This study was conducted as a factorial experiment with two variables (type of media and compost levels) based on randomized complete block design with three replications using violet research model plant (Viola spp. ). At the end of the experiment, physical properties of the substrates including total porosity, air fill porosity, water capacity, bulk density, and nuterients content of the substrates including Ca, N, OC, P, K, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, and also pH and EC were measured. In soilless culture, application of 50% peanut compost (1 peat+1 perlite+1 compost), and in soil media, application of 75% peanut compost showed the best results for the research model plant. Peanut shell compost appears to have better results by reducing C/N ratios and increasing porosity and nutrient supply in these two substrates. Thus, peanut shell compost can be used to replace the expensive peats as well as improving soil properties for cultivation of this ornamental plant.