JOURNAL OF CROPS IMPROVEMENT (JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE)
Year:2021 | Volume:22 | Issue:4|Papers Count:12

In order to evaluate the effects of intercropping on some morphological, yield, and yield components traits of different Triticale cultivars, an experiment has been conducted, based on a randomized complete block design in three replication during the 2018-2019 growing season in the research farms of Faculty of Agriculture of Sarayan. The experimental treatments are consisted of 12 patterns of monocrop and intercropping of Pajh, Sanabad, and Jualinoo cultivars (100% Pajh, 100% Jualinoo, 100% Sanabad, 50% Pajh + 50% Sanabad, 50% Jualinoo+50% Jualinoo, 33% Pajh+ 33% Jualinoo+33% sanabad, 70% Pajh + 30% Sanabad, 30% Pajh + 70% Sanabad, 70% Jualinoo+30% Sanabad, 30% Jualinoo+70% Sanabad, 70% Pajh + 30% Jualinoo, and 30% Pajh + 70% Jualinoo). Results show that the highest plant height and straw yield have been obtained under the monocropping of Sanabad cultivar with the highest values of spike length, number of grain per spike, number of spike per square meter, number of grain per plant, 1000 grains weight, grain yield, and harvest index belonging to the monocrop pattern of Pajh cultivar and intercropping of 70% Pajh+ 30% Jualinoo treatments. Furthermore, the highest biological yield and content of leaf chlorophyll have been achieved under 30% Pajh + Sanabad 70% and Pajh 70% + Jualinoo 30% treatments, respectively. Results also show that the highest LER has been calculated under the application of intercropping of 70% Pajh + 30% Sanabad, Pajh 30% + 70% Sanabad, and Pajh 70% + Jualinoo 30%, compared with other treatments. In general, concerning the obtained results of the present study and the highest LER in Pajh 70% + Jualinoo 30%, it is concluded that the aforementioned intercropping can be used instead of monocrop of different triticale cultivars.

In order to study the effect of bio-fertilizers and putrescine on biomass, nodulation, and some morphological and biochemical traits of vetch (vicia villosa) under rainfed conditions, a factorial experiment has been conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications in research farm of University of Mohaghegh Ardabili within 2018-2019. The studied factors include bio-fertilizers (without bio-fertilizers as control, application of Rhizobium (Rhizobium legominuzarum), Mycorrhiza (Glomus mosseae), both application of Mycorrhiza and Rhizobium, Rhizobium and Azotobacter (Azotobacter chrocoocom strain 5), Mycorrhiza and Azotobacter, Rhizobium with Mycorrhiza, and Azotobacter) as well as foliar application of putrescine in three levels (foliar application with water as the control, application of 0. 5 and 1 mM putrescine). Results show that both application of Azotobacter with Mycorrhiza and Rhizobium and foliar application of 1 mM putrescine increase root weight, leaf share from total biomass, soluble sugars of leaf and stem, and total biomass by 133. 33%, 4. 5%, 31. 94%, 41. 82%, and 56. 94%, respectively, in comparison with no application of bio-fertilizers and putrescine. Also, application of Azotobacter with Mycorrhiza and Rhizobium and foliar application of 1 mM putrescine decrease electrical conductivity and malondialdehyde by 99% and 125. 39%, respectively, in comparison with no application of biofertilizers and putrescine. It seems that application of bio-fertilizers and foliar application of putrescine can boost total biomass of vica villosa under rainfed condition as it improves both biochemical and morphological traits.

The present study has been conducted to parameterize the SSM_iCrop model and evaluate the prediction of growth and development of faba bean in Gorgan climate condition. It has been carried out on faba bean cv. "Barkat" as split-plot in randomized complete block design with four replications at Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources during 2015-2016. The experimental factors are the planting date (27 November, 25 December, and 31 January) and plant density (5, 15, 25, and 35 plants/m2). The parameters of phonological stages, leaf expansion and senescence, production and distribution of dry matter, and water balance have been estimated, using the present data experiment along with other data. Results from model evaluation show that it can well predict days to flowering (RMSE=3. 8 and CV=4. 1), days to maturity (RMSE=11. 9 and CV= 8. 1), node number on main stem (RMSE=1. 7 and CV=10. 0), leaf area index (RMSE =0. 8 CV=28. 8), biological yield (RMSE=158. 5 and CV=21. 6), and grain yield (RMSE=118. 6 and CV=24. 7). Therefore, the SSM_iCrop model is a great option to evaluate the agronomic management and analyze the growth and yield of faba bean in Gorgan conditions.

Due to the low competitive ability of sesame against weeds, the presence of weeds greatly reduces sesame yield, therefore, weed control is very important in this crop. An experiment was carried out as split plots based on randomized complete block design with three replications in July 2017 in Ramhormoz, Khuzestan, Iran. In this experiment, treatments including sowing method as the main plot at three levels (flat, sowing on ridge and in farrow) and herbicide application as the sub plot including oxyfluorfen (360 ml ai ha-1), diuron (540 g ai ha-1), trifluralin (1200 ml ai ha-1), and linuron (562. 5 ml ai ha-1). Hand weeding and weed infested treatments, also, were considered for comparison. Results indicated that the highest dry weight reduction percentage of nulta jute (Corchorus olitorius L. ) was observed in trifluralin application in farrow (83. 09%) at 75 days after herbicide application and field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L. ) in oxyflurfen application (83. 30%) at 30 days after treatment. The highest of biological and seed yield was observed in hand weeding in farrow (10142. 7 and 1930. 37 Kg ha-1, respectively). Application of trifluralin in farrow, also, was effective treatment according seed yield (1878. 2 Kg ha-1). The highest oil percentage (52. 36%) was obtained in hand weeding in farrow. The highest harvest index (18. 23%) was observed in farrow. Totally, the best integrated method to control weeds and improve sesame yield, was sowing in farrow along with hand weeding, or the application of trifluralin.

The present study investigates the potential of rhizosphere and endophytic bacterial isolates isolated from the roots of wheat plant in terms of plant growth promoting (PGP) traits and their effect on the wheat yield and decreased phosphorus (P) fertilizer use. To this end, the isolated bacteria have been first screened for the production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in the presence of tryptophan in the culture medium, and then the bacteria have been tested for their ability to dissolve inorganic and organic phosphates. In further laboratory studies, a factorial experiment has been conducted as a randomized complete block design with three replications over two-year field study (2017 and 2018). Experimental treatments include biological and chemical phosphorus fertilizer, the former with two levels (with and without bacterial inoculation) and latter (as the second factor) from triple super phosphate source with five (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of the full recommended fertilizer rate). Results from this experiment prove that supplementing 75% of the recommended P-fertilizer rate with bacterial isolates (co-inoculation with rhizospheric and endophytic bacteria) increases wheat growth indices and yield (747. 40 g m-2), which are statistically equivalent to the full fertilizer rate without them. Based on these results, it is suggested that biofertilizer can be used as a fertilizer supplement to reduce the level of fertilizer use but cannot be a substitute for phosphorus fertilizer.

In order to investigate the effect under late season cutting off irrigation on biochemical properties and yield of safflower cultivars a split factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design was conducted in three replicates at College of Agriculture and Natural resources of Darab, Shiraz University during 2017-2018 growing season. The main factor was irrigation regime in three levels included of normal irrigation, cutting off irrigation in the middle of the flowering, and in the early seed filling stages and sub factor was safflower cultivars including Padideh, Goldasht, Faraman and Isfahan local. Cutting off irrigation in flowering stage decreased 30. 37% of chlorophyll a and 25. 8% of chlorophyll b, and increased 15. 38% carotenoid, 23. 38% of catalase activity and 34. 94 % of peroxidase activity, which in Goldasht cultivar was more than the other cultivars. Under cutting off irrigation at flowering and seed filling, the highest seed yield was obtained in Goldasht cultivar as 132 and 150. 5 g/m2, respectively. Overall, cutting of irrigation at flowering and seed filling stages reduced grain yield by 32. 3 and 19. 93%, respectively. Under cutting off irrigating, seed yield with chlorophyll a content (r=0. 77**), chlorophyll b (r=0. 86**), carotenoid (r=0. 74**), catalase (r=0. 71**), peroxidase (r=0. 72**), and harvest index (r=0. 83**) had positive and significant correlation. In addition, Goldasht cultivar of safflower could by increasing photosynthetic pigments and enzyme activity under water deficit in late season obtained the more seed yield compared to other cultivars.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of foliar application different nano-fertilizers on modulating negative effects of salt stress on quinoa, in factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with three replications in the research farm of Urmia University in the pot during 2018. The first factor was salinity of irrigation water using (Lake Urmia water at three levels: 0, 16 and 32 dS/m and the second factor was nano-fertilizers at five levels: calcium, silicon, zinc, potassium and control (no foliar application). The results showed that salinity stress caused negative effects on all traits affecting quinoa growth. The highest decrease in traits was observed in salinity stress of 32 dS/m. Salinity stress of 32 and 16 dS/m compared to control decreased plant height (20 and 17%), inflorescence number (48 and 36%), root volume (44 and 40%), main root length (41 and 23%), root dry weight (68 and 30%), relative leaf water content (26 and 13%), chlorophyll index (15 and 7%) and 1000-seed weight (31 and 23%), respectively; but increased ionic leakage by 14 and 6%, respectively. Foliar application with nano-fertilizer compared to control increased the yield, yield components and morphological traits. The highest seed yield was obtained under optimum conditions and severe salinity stress (32 dS/m) by foliar application with nano-fertilizer of zinc and silicon, respectively. Under severe salinity stress, foliar application with nano-fertilizer of silicon compared to non-foliar application increased the dry weight of inflorescences, total dry weight and seed yield by 35%, 16% and 43%, respectively, and moderated the effects of salinity stress. Foliar application with nano-fertilizer via enhancing chlorophyll index, relative leaf water content and improving root characteristics, led to increase yield and seed yield components of quinoa. Therefore, it seems that foliar application of nano-fertilizers is suitable to improve the yield of quinoa especially in salinity stress conditions.

For evaluation and zoning of sugar beet susceptible areas based on cultivation systems and irrigation regimes, a research has been conducted as a nested design in West Azarbaijan Province in 2017-2018. For this purpose, 11 counties have been used. In each county, based on the climate three villages have been visited, wherein three famers have been selected in random to complete the prepared questionnaires and take the samples. The measured traits from each field includes root yield, percent and yield of sugar, used water, water conservation, and water use efficiency in different cropping and irrigation systems. Geographic Information System (GIS) has been used for zoning and determining their susceptible areas. Results show that among the counties of the province, Piranshahr and Naghadeh have had the highest sugar content and yield with Piranshahr being introduced as the most susceptible counties, due to its lowest used water in modern irrigation and cultivation systems (60×40 and autumn) and highest water use efficiency in modern irrigation system and and 60 × 40 autumn cultivation systems. Based on the zoning, Piranshahr, Naghadeh, Khoy, Oshnaviyeh, Mahabad, Miandoab, and Bukan have had the most susceptible areas and Showt, Salmas, Urmia, and Shahindej have been unsuitable areas in this province for cultivation of this plant. Given the importance of water in sugar beet production, these counties, especially Showt, are not recommended for producing this plant.

The remobilization of carbohydrates in shoots is one of the effective factors to grain filling in rice. To determine the contribution of dry matter remobilization of shoots in different rice genotypes, a research has been carried out with seven rice genotypes and two controls in RCBD design with three replications during 2017-2018 at rice research station of Shahid Shiroodi in Tonekabon county. Results show that among all genotypes, rate of dry matter remobilization via the flag leaf, stem, and total shoot has differed significantly at (p<0. 01) percent and from other leaves at (p<0. 05) percent level. Mean comparison among the genotypes indicates that the highest dry matter remobilization from flag leaf belongs to Genotype 952 with 56 g. m-2. The maximum carbohydrates remobilization in other leaves, stem and total shoots are assigned to Genotype 953 at 123, 230, and 398 g. m-2, respectively. Highest grain yield belongs to Genotype 952 with 7206 kg. ha-1. Correlation analysis results show that grain yield is positively and significantly correlated with dry matter remobilization from flag leaf, stem, and total shoots, as well as 1000-grain weight, having coefficients of 0. 37, 0. 55, 0. 51, and 0. 44, respectively. As a result of yield and dry matter remobilization rate, and the positive and significant correlation between them, both Genotypes 952 and 953 are suitable for continuing research activity and introduce a new rice cultivar especially in drought and hot stress conditions at the grain filling stage.

The present experiment has been conducted as a split plot factorial based on completely randomized block design with three replications in 2018-2019 crop season on a saline farm (with an electrical conductivity of 5. 2 dS/m) in Dastgerd area, Isfahan Province. Four levels of irrigation (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of FC) compose the main factors and biofertilizer (the control, Nitroxin, Biophosphorus, and their combination) as well as chemical fertilizer in two level of no application and integrated application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers are the sub-factor. Severe drought stress (25% FC irrigation treatment) increase the measured traits (antioxidant enzyme activity including catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase along with Proline and Malondialdehyde content) in quinoa by about 46%, 52%, 142%, 42%, and 39%, compared to non-stress conditions (100% FC irrigation treatment), respectively. Also, they significantly reduce grain and biological yield in this plant (by about 76% and 49%, respectively). However, at all drought stress levels, the combination of nitroxin and biophosphorus under conditions of simultaneous use of chemical fertilizers of nitrogen and phosphorus shows the maximum effect on moderation of drought stress effects, significantly reducing the activity of antioxidant enzymes and, consequently, increasing yield, compared to other treatments at the same drought level. Overall, the results demonstrate that despite the salinity of the tested soil, quinoa has been able to complete its growth and seed production even under severe drought stress conditions.

In order to achieve optimum quantitative and qualitative yield of potato in each region, new cultivars need to be compared. As such, this study has been carried out to compare 13 new potato cultivars along with two cultivars of Agria and Banba with each other to identify suitable cultivars for leaf area index, agronomic, and qualitative traits under climatic conditions of Razan. The statistical design, used in the present study, has been complete randomized block with three replications. Results show that Manito cultivar has reached the maximum leaf area index later than other cultivars, having 12 tubers per plant, which is 112% and 83% superior to Banba and Agria, respectively. Also, Natascha cultivar with a leaf area index of 3. 65 has been 57% and 19% leafier than Agria and Banba, respectively. Tuber weight in Ottawa (157. 8 g per tuber) has been 70. 5% and 20. 4% greater than Agria and Banba, respectively. Manito cultivar yields 71399 kg/ha, which is 123% more than Agria and 70% than Banba. Protein percentage of tubers in this study do not differ among the potato cultivars, while the difference is significant among the potato cultivars in tuber starch percentage and the highest values belong to Manito (18. 09%) and Ottawa and Concordia cultivars, in the second and place. Generally, Manitou, Caruso, and Faluca cultivars are recommended for planting in the Razan on the basis of traits of maximum leaf area index, number of tubers per plant, and tuber yield.

In order to study the competitiveness of potato cultivars with weeds, an experiment was conducted in 2016 at field research of Ardabil Agriculture and Natural Resources Research Station. For this purpose a randomized complete block has been used with three replications. The treatments include ten potato cultivars, grown with and without natural weed competition, with yield loss ranging from 3% in Satina to 84% in Agria in weedy condition. Also, the Competitive Ability (CA) of the cultivars differs. It is observed that satina cultivar has had the highest competitive index (CI) and could reduce the weed dry mass by two folds in comparison to Spirit as a poor cultivar. Also, stem diameter is seen to be negatively correlated with weed dry mass and positively correlated with tolerance and competition indices. Stem diameter in Satina has significantly stodd higher than Spirit cultivar. In general, the results of this study declare that Satina cultivar is considered as a tolerant and recommendable option for cultivation in Ardebil region than other cultivars, less susceptibility index (SSI) and more stable than weed, and can be introduced as a competitive cultivar in non-chemical weed management programs.