Journal of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
Year:2008 | Volume:15 | Issue:4|Papers Count:34

The existence of various objectives in agricultural activities makes optimal inputs allocation more difficult. Therefore, it is necessary to apply approaches to approximate the objectives to desirable points, simultaneously. In this paper, it was explicated the way of applying multi objective programming (MOP) and compromise programming (CP) in order to make a farm planning in Mashhad plain. It was considered two objectives: maximizing gross margin (GM) and minimizing irrigation water. Efficient sets and the best compromise solutions were obtained by MOP and CP respectively. Results showed that, in compromise solutions GM of small (less than 3 hectare) and medium (between 3 and 8 hectare) farms are increased and irrigation water decreased. Cropping pattern was the same in the model and representative of large farms (more than 8 hectare). According to finds, there is a scope for more efficient use of inputs by increasing size of farms through decreasing the number of farm lands.

Elm (Ulmus glabra Hudson) species have been severely damaged by Dutch elm disease in recent decades. In this research node, leaf, and buds of U. glabra were sampled as explants for tissue culture. Percentage of explant survival was recorded following sterilization with sodium hypochlorite and mercuric chloride. The results showed that the best organs for tissue culture were buds. Survival percentage of the later fall bud explants treated with 2% sodium hypochlorite and 0.1% mercuric chloride was significantly different at 1% level when compared with the end winter buds. Shooting of buds performed in DKW basal medium with TDZ including IBA and DKW medium with BAP including IBA. We tested callus regeneration from shoot nodes in both MS and DKW media containing TDZ and BAP including NAA. Concentration of 0.44 mg l-1 TDZ and 3 mg l-1 BAP were affective in callus production. For increasing probability of callus regeneration, thay were subcultureed for 5 times during 5 mounths. The results showed that the best medium for regenerating plants from callus was DKW containing 0.022 mg l-1 TDZ plus 0.05 mg l-1 NAA.

Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) are important sources of soil and environmental pollution in our country especially around oil refineries. In this study, the capability of phytostimulation technique as a cost-effective method for remediation of these contaminants from soil was evaluated. Therefore, first the germination and subsequent growth of seven plants were tested in a soil with different petroleum contamination levels (C1 and C2) compared to uncontaminated soil (soil C0). Thereafter, the best plant genotypes were selected for phytoremediation trials. Results showed that the presence of TPHs in the soil had no effect on germination of agropyron, white clover, sunflower and safflower seeds. Canola and white clover seedlings were sensitive to these compounds and failed to produce dry matter yield (DMY) at the end of experimental period. But, the presence of petroleum contaminants in soil had a negligible effect on agropyron and tall fescue growth. Therefore, only four plant genotypes including agropyron, tall fescue, safflower and sunflower were selected for later phytoremediation trials. DMY was significantly reduced by the presence of TPHs in all contamination treatments compared to control. The higher TPH-reduction was found in the rhizosphere of agropyron and tall fescue. There were 71 and 69% decreases in TPH-concentration in C1 treatment, 45 and 42% decreases in C2 treatment with the presence of agropyron and tall fescue, respectively. Furthermore, the sunflower had no significant effect on contaminant removal at the end of the experiment. Microbial activity in the rhizosphere of agropyron was more than tall fescue in C2 treatment but no significant differences were observed in the rhizosphere of sunflower and safflower compared to control (unplanted). According to this study, although advanced studies for assessing the suitability of plant species and improving phytoremediation efficiency are necessary, some genotype like agropyron showed to be suitable choices for phytoremediation of the investigated petroleum contaminated soil.

In order to physiological comparison of leaf production and senescence between wheat and chickpea, a randomized complete block design with four replications was conducted. The treatments were two chickpea cultivars (Hashem and 9096c) and two wheat cultivars (Zagros and Tajan). The value of Phyllochron for Zagros, Tajan, Hashem and 9096c were 112, 124, 44 and 42oCd, respectively. The period of effective leaf production was 1119 GDD for Zagros and Tajan and so was 1313 GDD for Hashem and 9096c cultivars. The time of  leaf senescencing initiation were 675, 700, 923 and 1002 GDD for Zagros, Tajan, Hashem and 9096c, respectively.The estimated parameters and obtained function in this study can be used in chickpea and wheat simulation models to simulate growth, development and yield.

In order to physiological comparison between wheat and chickpea, a randomized complete block design with four replications was conducted. The treatments were two chickpea cultivars (Hashem and 9096c) and two wheat cultivars (Zagros and Tajan). Wheat obtained maximum LAI and so the needed LAI to intercept 90% of radiation, earlier than chickpea. The value of KPAR was estimated as 0.68, 0.62, o.65 and 0.66 for Zagros, Tajan, Hashem and 9096c, respectively. The value of RUEPAR was estimated as 3.09, 3.07, 2.85 and 2.5 gMJ-1 for for Zagros, Tajan, Hashem and 9096c, respectively. The value of partitioned dry matter to leaves befor heading (podding) in wheat was more than chickpea. The value of partitioned dry matter to leaves befor heading (podding) in wheat was more than chickpea, but this value was lesser for stem. A triphasic segmented regression model used to explanation of the biomass partitioning based on harvest index concept. The harvest index linearity increased after grain filling in wheat and chickpea and the slop of this linearity increasing between harvest indices versus time was significant between wheat and chickpea. The estimated parameters and obtained function in this study can be used in chickpea and wheat simulation models to simulate growth, development and yield.

In order to investigate the effect of irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer on agronomical and physiological traits of two canola cultivars, an experiment was established in randomized complete block design as split-plot factorial arrangement with four replications in 2005-2006 at Agricultural Research Station of Khorramabad Iran. Irrigation was as main-plot factor consisted of four levels 60, 90, 120 and 150 based on accumulative evaporation from class A evaporation pan (abbreviated as I60, I90, I120 and I150). Sub-plot factors were included nitrogen fertilizer in four levels 0, 70, 140 and 210 kg ha-1 (abbreviated as N0, N70, N140 and N210) and two cultivars, Zarfam (V1) and SLM 046 (V2). According to simple analysis results, irrigation and irrigation x cultivar interaction had significant (P<0.05) effects on Thousand Seed Weight (TSW) in the 2006. At both I60 and I120 treatments, Zarfam showed higher TSW compared with SLM046.As nitrogen rate increased, and Oil Yield (OY) increased in the 2006 significantly (P<0.05).The irrigation x nitrogen and irrigation x cultivar interactions were significant on OY in the 2006 at P<0.05 and P<0.01 Level, respectively. Zarfam had a higher TSW and Oil Percentage (OP) in both years, but on basis OY was superior Zarfam in the 2005 and SLM046 in the 2006. The irrigation x nitrogen cultivar interaction had a significant effect on OP in both 2005 (P<0.05) and the 2006 (P<0.01) years. This interaction showed that in both cultivars in every irrigation level, the highest OP was obtained from no nitrogen application and OP decreased with nitrogen application. According to the results of combined analysis, both Water Use Efficiency (WUE) and Dry Matter Remobilization Efficiency (DMRE) were increased by decreasing water supply in I90 to I150 treatments. N0 and N210 treatments resulted in the lowest WUE and DMRE, respectively. Considering all traits, the first year of experiment was better than second year. The irrigation x cultivar interaction had a significant (P<0.01) effect on Seed Yield and WUE. Zarfam had more adaptation to water-limited conditions. Generally, I150 N70 V1 combination is recommended in the study region due to appropriate performance in oil production.

Four plasmid vectors that are suitable for plant transformation were constructed by preparation of gene cassettes for b-1, 3-glucanase from barley, chitinase from bean and cryIA (b) from Bacillus thuringiensis (BT). Each of these genes was cloned under the control of the CaMV35S promoter and the Nos terminator in pBI121 binary vector. Chitinase and b-1,3- glucanase genes that encode antifungal proteins, can hydrolyzes b-1,3- glucans and chitin, respectively, which are major components of the cell walls of many pathogenic fungi and increase plants resistance against fungal infection. CryIA (b) gene also encodes an insecticide protein that is generally active against lepidopteran insects. pBI-Glu and pBI-Chi recombinant plasmid vectors were constructed via cloning of b-1,3- glucanase and chitinase genes, respectively, instead of the gus gene in T-DNA region of pBI121 vector. Construction of pBI-ChiGlu recombinant plasmid vector was performed by means of cloning both of the complete chitinase and glucanase gene cassettes in pBI121 vector, with the intention of production synergistic effects against fungal infection. pBI-ChiBt recombinant plasmid vector containing both of the complete chitinase and Bt gene cassettes was also constructed in order to simultaneous plants resistance to fungal and pest pathogens in a single transformation event. These four recombinant plasmid vectors can be useful for plant transformation via Agrobacterium and other transformation approaches such as biolistic.

In order to determine combining ability, heritability and gene effects controlling quantitative traits of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), 6 varieties (Foseto, Option 500, Gholiath, Kristina, Shiralee and P. F-4570/91) were used in a compelet diallel crosses system. The experiment was carried out a simple lattice with a three replications at Agricultural Research Station Gharakhil (Mazandran) during 2003-2004. Analysis of variance showed that there were significant general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining ability for the investigated characters except for grain yield and number of pod per plant. Also mean squares reciprocal crosses for all traits except number of seed per pod and number of secondary branches were significant. The additive and nonadditive effects for all of traits except for grain yield and number of pod per plant were significant. In this study degree of dominance for most traits was more than 1 and the narrow sense heritability of the most traits was low. This indicates the importance of non-additive effects controlling the evaluated traits. In general, Option 500 and Kristina varieties were the best parents and Goliath×P.F-4570/91 is the best cross for yield performance.

Irrespectlive of technological advances in agriculture, still climate climat is the most important yield determinant factor. The objective of tjis study was to quantify to probability of occurrence of Thermal stresses at different growth stages of wheat at gorgan (the North of Iran) environmental conditions. To do this, first growth degree day’s requirment for different developmental stages were computed. Then, using 40 years daily weather data of Gorgan and a computer program, prepared for this study, the probability of occurrence of different stressfull temperatures for different processes (like emergence and Photosynthesis) were calculated. The results showed that wheat encounters low stressfull temperatures during emergence, photosynthesis during vegetative stage, stem elongation, flowering and pollination. However, high temperature occure during grain filling period that limit photosynthesis process. Results of this study can be used in cultural management and breeding of wheat and designing stress physiology researches.

During storage and processing, result of some factors, fish quality will decrease .To determine of oxidative and hydrolytic rancidity of lipid in catfish (Silurus glanis) during frozen storage, catfish were caught in Anzali lagoon in January of 2006. The prepared fillets, were freezed at freezing tunnel -40oc for 12 hours, and then were stored at -18oc for 6 months. Process of lipid quality changes of these fillets were measured by some factors related to lipid rancidity, included, Peroxide value (PV), Free Fatty Acid (FFA), Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) and value of Heme iron, lipid, moisture, ash were measured, too.  The experiments were performed at 0, 1, 3 and 6 months. The Peroxide value were increased and showed significant changes during different months (P<0.05). Peroxide value at the end of experiments was 8.22 times more than initial value. During the storage period, increasing of TBA was perceived that at last month’s was significant (P<0.05) and reached to 3.32 mg of malonaldehyde at kg of fish flesh. Amount of FFA increased due hydrolytic rancidity and at the last 2 months of measuring was significant. Heme iron decreased at 6 months and changed between 8.92 and 6.77 ppm (p<0.05). Correlation relations at most of indicators showed significant relations between them.  Oxidative and hydrolysis lipid indicators had positive and significant relation, together.

Azolla was ensiled with sugar beet pulp (SBP) in a ratio of 75:25 Azolla: SBP (DM basis). In a completely randomized design, with 4 dietary treatments and 6 replicate, 24 native male calves with average age of about 10 months and initial live weight of 113.6±3.2 kg, were fed with the experimental diets containing 0, 15, 30 and 45 percent silage respectively. At the end of the experiment all calves were slaughtered for carcass measurements. The average dry mater intakes were 5.42, 5.32, 5.28 and 4.81 kg/day and feed conversion ratio 7.55, 7.33, 7.27 and 6.81 (kg feed/kg live weight) for diets 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The difference between these figures was significant (P<0.05). The average daily gains were 717, 725, 727 and 760 g for the animals received diets 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. There was no significant difference between these gains. No significant difference was detected between the carcass characteristic measurements, exept abdominal fat. It was concluded that Azolla-beet pulp silage may be used in calves finishing diets up to 45%.

Calpastatin (CAST) is a specific inhibitor of the ubiquitous calcium-dependent proteases-m-calpain and m-calpain, found in mammalian tissues. The level of components included into the calpain-calpastatin system determines the rate of postmortem tenderization of meat. Calpastatin inhibits both the rate and extent of postmortem proteolysis and plays a role in muscle growth and meat quality. Kermani sheep is gene pool reservation in Kerman province and suitable for meat and wool production that until now has not been studied using molecular markers, especially with the view of calpastatin gene. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the genetic diversity of calpastatin gene in Kermani sheep herds and to compare this breed with other sheep breeds that were determined for this trait. The 622 bp fragment of this gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from DNA samples of 100 Kermani sheep. Polymerase chain reaction products were characterized by the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) technique using two restriction enzymes, MspI, and NcoI, yielding all 3 genotypes, MM, MN and NN. The results of this experiment indicated that this population is highly polymorphic, furthermore in the most studied Iranian sheep breeds, all 3 genotypes of this gene have not been detected whereas we detected all 3 genotypes, and hence researchers must increase attention to meat quality and quantity in breeding programs of this breed. Because, polymorphism in this breed is high and there are all three genotypes in their population, we can simply achieve effect of any genotype in increasing of meat quantity and quality with information recording and genotyping in next studies and select the best genotypes in breeding programs.

In order to study the effects of different protein and probiotic levels on production and some blood parameters of broiler chickens, a 2x3 factorial experiments in a completely randomized design with 360 male chicks for 42 days was used. Factors were two protein levels (NRC, 1994, recommended level and 90 percent of recommended levels) and three probiotic levels (without probiotic, recommended level and 120 percent of recommended level). All diets were isocalloric and had the minimum nutrient requirements recommended by NRC (1994) except for protein. The results showed that, supplementing of probiotic to the diets had sufficient quantity of protein significantly improved chicks daily gain. Also, chicks fed with 120 percent of recommended probiotic level had more daily gains compared to other groups (P<0.05). Feed conversions of the chicks fed with 120 percent probiotic were significantly better than control group (P<0.05). The lowest and the highest feed conversion ratio were for the balanced protein with 120 percent recommended probiotic level and control groups, respectively (1.851 vs 2.038). Decrease of dietary protein level resulted in lower protein consumption and higher protein efficiency ratio (P<0.05). Supplementing of probiotic to the basal diet did not affect protein consumption but significantly increased protein efficiency ratio (P<0.05). Generally, this experiment indicated that supplementing of probiotic to basal diets resulted in better production performance, decrease nitrogen excretion, litter pH and decline in uric acid, cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

In order to investigate the effect of physical form of diet on performance and some blood metabolites, eighteen female, Brown Swiss calves weighing 39.5±1.2 kg after birth were randomly assigned to three treatments including: mash starter (M.S), pelleted starter (P.S), and pelleted and rolled starter (PRS). Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous. Weight gain of calves has significant difference in treatments (P<0.05).Weight gain in MS was lower (45.16 kg) than PS (53.25 kg) and PMS (54.08 kg). Total intake of starter without time spot in MS (68.14 kg) was lower than PS (80.03 kg) and PMS (85.69 kg). Feed efficiency had no significant difference in treatments. Crude protein and organic matter digestibility in MS were lower than other treatments (P<0.05). Treatments had no significant effects on blood glucose content, but concentration of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in MS was higher than other treatments (P<0.05). In conclusion, starter in form of pellet and mixture of pellet and rolled can improve weight gain in dairy calves.

In order to investigate reasons of culling cows in the commercial dairy herds of Zanjan province in Iran, nine groups of causes have been investigated in this study. These reasons were; dairy purposes selling, fertility and problems in reproductive organs, low milk production, mastitis and udder conformation, leg and feet problems, diseases, displaced abomasum and nutritional problems, death, and other. Culling reasons of 2796 Holstein dairy cows in eight herds have been studied. Data were analyzed by least square means, GLM proc of SAS software considering herd size with two levels (fewer than 100 & more than 100), season with four levels and their interaction all as fixed effects. The most important reasons for culling were selling for dairy purposes, reproduction and low milk production with 228, 120, 66 cows from 587 heads culled, respectively. The next reason was other cases with frequency of 51 cows which 11 of them were resulted of foreign bodies in the stomach, 12 by dislocation of feet and legs, and the rest were due to age, Freemartin, and organs inflation. Forty five cases of culling were caused by displaced abomasums and gastrointestinal disorders. Total number of sold cows due to dairy purposes and low milk production is called voluntary culling which the rate was 50% in average. The most involuntary culling were due to infertility and reproduction problems which allocated 20.44% of total culling rate and 40.96% of involuntary culling. Small herds had higher percentage of leaving for reproduction and cow left herds for the reasons increased in the autumn (P<0.05).

In this research interaction between Root-Knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita (Race 2) and wilt fungi Verticillium dahliae was studied in a Completely Randomize Design with four replications and eight treatments in greenhouse experiment. For each fungi treatment 40 microsclerote per gram soil pot and each nematode treatment 10000 eggs and J2 in each pot were assigned. Results showed that Root-Knot nematode increase severity and rate wilting caused by V. dahliae. But treatments without fungi showed no symptoms of wilting. The growth factors rate of treatments which have received both fungi and nematodes, in comparison to control and treatments which one of these treatments (fungi or nematode) received lonely decreased. Measures analysis of variance indicated that simultaneously and alternatively inoculations effects of both organisms were significant (P£0.01) for severity of verticillium wilt. Inoculation of the V. dahliae two weeks after the M. incognita resulted in a 61/45% wet weigh root loss, which was greater than the additive losses from treatments of the M. incognita and V. dahliae alone. Separate inoculations of the V dahliae and M. incognita reduced dry weight shoot by 13/91% and 22/5% respectively in compared with the control. When the V. dahliae was inoculated two week after M. incognita dry weigh root (64/40%) was significantly lesser than in any of the other treatments. The percentage of Verticillium wilt increased further to 83/4% when the V. dahliae was inoculated two week after M. incognita.

Common bunt, caused by Tilletia laevis Kühn, is an important wheat disease in Iran. As epidemic distribution of pathotype L1 this fungus determined in Khorasan provinces, reaction of 7 Iranian cultivars: Pishtaz, Alvand, Azar2, Zagros, Tajan, Rushan's  back-cross and Gaskojen, under cultivation in Khorasan and Golestan, provinces evaluated in greenhouse, after inoculation their seeds with telliospores of this fungus pathotype in 8 replications for each treatment  in complete randomized design estimated under greenhouse condition. After ripening reaction estimate base on percentage of contaminated kernels of each cultivars determines, and means compared with Duncan's test. Results showed that Pishtaz, without contamination is resistant, and the others are sensitive to this pathotype. Progress of infection during stages 1,2 and 3 of seedling also studied with staining of their tissues, and fungal hyphen observed in Pishtaz tissues in first growth stages, but in the others was obvious after that, therefore with this method reaction of cultivars can identified quicker. These results report for the first time. Agronomical characters of these cultivars and effective resistant genes for their breeding program illustrated and discussed.

Dutch elm disease is one of the most important vascular diseases of elm. However, it has always being considered to survey its different perspectives such as; distribution, biology, pathogencity, histopathology, disease management and etc. In order to investigate host-pathogen interaction, this research was carried out with title survey on histopathology of two elm species, Ulmus glabra and U. carpinifolia inoculated by Ophiostoma novo-ulmi the causal agent of Dutch elm disease. When withered and dieback symptoms were occurred 4-8 weeks after inoculation by Ophiostoman novo-ulmi against seedlings, transversal sections were prepared from lower parts of withered and dried  foliage. Then, very thin transversal sections were prepared and after different stages of staining, microscopic slides were prepared. The results of microscopic investigations showed that the causal agent of Dutch elm disease has caused disordered in physiology and flowing of vascular sap through spreading into vessels, obstruction of xylem vessels and their destruction. The results also showed that seedlings with tylose production caused obstruction of vessels and prevented spreading of pathogen. Pathogencity and defensive mechanisms associated with host-pathogen interaction and their roles at susceptibility rate of Ulmus carpinifolia and U. glabra to Dutch elm disease was discussed in this paper.

Sound and efficient management of natural resources are based on specific quantitative and qualitative relation of vegetation parameters and environmental factors. Understanding the effects of environmental factors on establishment and distribution of plants could help us to recognize the adaptation of native species in each region and to manage natural resources based on the nature of these species. To study these relationship, summer ranges of Hazar Jarib were selected which are located at south eastern of Mazandaran province. The objectives of this research were to find the effects of environmental factors on vegetation parameters and to recognize the most important environmental characteristics of establishment and distribution of these range species. The map of plant communities was provided and after overlapping with maps of slope, aspect, and elevation, the study area girded with 1x1 polygons and for sampling, based on area of plant communities, 60 random points were selected. In each of sampling point, the vegetation parameters such as canopy cover, density, and frequency were measured on the minimal area plots of 1 and 4 m2 and the importance values of dominant species were calculated. Soil samples were collected at 30 cm and the soil parameters of texture, moisture, pH, EC, and organic matter were determined. The data were analyzed by using CCA and multiple regressions. The results indicate that the most soil characteristics in establishment and distribution of species are moisture pH and topographic factor of elevation has dominant effects on cushion plants.

Climate condition is one of the most important factors which affect agricultural productions. Amongst climatic parameter, precipitation variability is one of the most crucial factors which has important role on agricultural productions because of its effect on available water for plants. Therefore, agriculture is sensitive and vulnerable to precipitation. This study investigates the effects of precipitation and its variability on yield productions of two important crops includes wheat and barley in Golestan province. In this order, the production yield of wheat and barley in 33 rural service centers during 20 years was inspected. After getting requested data (such as, monthly precipitation and crops yield in two conditions of irrigated and dry-land farming for a period of 20 years), some statistical tests (e.g., outlier data test) was applied, then the trends of yield production through the time for each corps was determined. For determining of the effects of precipitation time with respect to crops yield, linear regression analysis via two methods (e.g. Enter and Stepwise methods), was implemented. Finally, the effect of yearly precipitation changes on crops yield was specified. The results shown that the production yield of wheat during the study period has more correlation with time, in comparison with barley. In addition, fluctuations of monthly and yearly precipitation can influence on barley production (esp., dry-land farming). Influence of wheat production yield in term of precipitation fluctuation is very low. It revealed that June, November and December rainfall have more effect on wheat yield. On the other hand primal and last months of planting duration have more effect on barely yield production.

In the pressure flushing the amount of the flushed sediments depend on many parameters such as water depth in the reservoir, outflow discharge through bottom outlets, kind and particle size of the deposited sediments. In this study the effects of these parameters was investigated. In this research, laboratory experiments were performed to investigate the flushing process during pressure flushing. Therefore a physical model was constructed at Shahid Chamran university, Ahvaz. The overall dimensions of the flume were, 7m long, 1.5m wide and height. The experiments were carried out with 5 outflow discharge, 3 water depths, and 3 size of sediment. In general 45 experiments were carried out. The results of these experiments show that when outlet was opened, sediments near outlet released under the water pressure and a after some minutes a scour cone was developed around the outlet. The results of this study show that for a constant water depth, the increasing of the outflow discharge would cause the scour cone volume and its length was increased. Also the decreasing of the particle sediments has positive effect on the increasing of the scour cone volume and its length. Based on the non-dimensional analysis and statistical analysis with SPSS software, relations as linear multiple regression are offered for determining of the scour cone volume and its length with R2=0.87 and R2=0.90, respectively. According to the coefficients of correlation indices, multiple regression models have a high prediction performance.

In this paper the two dimensional laterally averaged numerical model for unsteady and non-hydrostatic pressure distribution is presented. In this model, not only free-surface with flow pattern and pressure are solved simultaneously at each time step, but also the effect of width variation on water surface elevation can be considered. The model has been applied to simulate many unsteady flow problems involving propagation stokes waves and solitary wave and especially for flow through a venturi flume. The results are in good agreement with both experimental observations and theoretical analysis.

Due to limitation of water resources, the use of wastewater for agriculture and landscape is unavoidable. The wastewater is a new water source and its application requires special management. If wastewater is applied with suitable irrigation methods, it helps to solve the environmental contaminations, sanitary and water scarcity problems. The effects of wastewater on some visual and chemical properties of bermudagrass were investigated in 2005 at Mahmoudabad Research Centre located at Isfahan. The experiment was a factorial completely randomized design with two main treatments (surface and subsurface irrigation methods) and two sub-treatments (groundwater and wastewater) using three replications for each treatment. The results showed that wastewater application had no significant effect on the colour, density and nitrogen uptake of bermudagrass. The height and dry matter yield of bermudagrass irrigated with wastewater were significantly greater than those irrigated with groundwater. Phosphorous uptake of bermudagrass irrigated with wastewater (1268.85 mg/kg) was greater than that of groundwater (809.97 mg/kg). Phosphorous uptake of bermudagrass irrigated with wastewater (12448 mg/kg) was also greater than that of groundwater (11820 mg/kg). The irrigation method had no significant effect on colour, density, height and dry matter yield of bermudagrass and nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium uptake of bermudagrass.

Precise prediction of monthly average discharge values input to water resources such as dams has a basic role in their planning, management, sustainable and optimal operation. Given the input discharge value to dam, the annual input water volume can be calculated, and well-management for water optimum allocating to various consumption sectors, including edible, agricultural, hydro-electrical production can be scheduled. There are various parameters affecting the input discharge value. They are not fully known, and their relationship with input discharge is non-linear and complex. Thus, giving analytical and mathematical relationship of this concern is difficult and impossible. Artificial Neural Networks, due to their unique properties, have high abilities in non-linear and complex relation simulation. In this study it is attempted to design multi-layer Perceptron with Back Propagation learning rule for recovering the non-linear relationship between dependant and independent variables, so that, using it, prediction of monthly average input discharge to Queshlaq dam could be done. For further validation of the proposed model, obtained results from neural network model were compared with the ones obtaining from Khosla's empirical method. The results from the study showed that there is an acceptable overlapping between predicted values from Artificial Neural Networks and observed data, as well as the proposed neural network model and Khosla's empirical method predicts the monthly average discharge with root mean square error as 1.49 and 11.88 respectively.

Spur dike is a structure generally used for bank protection. The flow analysis around the spur dikes used in the outer bank is more complicated. This is mainly due to the interaction between the flow pattern in the bend and the spur dike as well as the effects of the helical currents in the bends. This paper deals with the analysis of this type of flow. Experiments were carried out in a re-circulating rectangular flume having 0.6 m width, 0.7 m height with 1.8 m centeral radius of bend. The bends and sides of flume were made of glass supported by metal frame. Experiments were conducted for various discharges (25, 35, 45 l/s), length of spur dikes (5, 10, 15 cm) and the locations of spur dikes in bend (15, 30, 45, 60, 75 degree). Flow pattern were recorded using 2D P-EMS velocimeter. The measurements for each section were done at 65 points and number of section was from 15 to 18. Results show that the distance of location of maximum velocity from channel wall increases from lower layers to upper layers. For third and fourth layers (10 and 11 cm from bed) the zone of maximum velocity is more than other layers. The location of relative maximum shear stress at sections 40o to 50o is close to the inner wall. The ratio of width of separation zone to length of spur dike is from 1.55 to 1.9 and the ratio of length of separation zone to length of spur dike is from 6 to 8.

This study is carried out in Sari. According to geophysical studies; aquifer of Sari City is like a bowl, which its most thickness is at north eastern part of Sari. The low quantities of electrical resistance under the considered aquifer and in distinguished bed rock are increasing the existence of salt water layer probability. The data sampled in two periods in autumn 2004 (1383) and spring 2005(1384) is used to analyze the Hydro geochemistry of aquifer. By Piper diagram it is proved that there are hydro geochemistry facies, fresh, blended and salt water. The existence of salt water facies with composition near to sea water, likewise the fast increase of total dissolve solids in the well number 6 and 7 and closing to end of hydro geochemical cycle in Durov diagram probability groundwater mixing with salt water is increasing. It is based on Series plot; there were increase in the Na and Cl concentrations well number 6 and 7 significantly. We used two methods, Composite plots and Revelle for proving saltwater intrusion in studied aquifer. The drawn composite plots of major ions were shown the linear procedure between Na and Cl, this mater shows that mixture of saltwater and soft water happens. The most proportion of Cl ions basis of Revelle method on the sum of bicarbonate to carbonate refers to the well number 6 and 7 and the lowest quantity in both cases refers to the Tange Lather (in South of Sari) well number 3 and 4 .This method shows that the mixture of saltwater and soft water happens in the well number 6 and 7.

Attention to ancient written of Muslims scientist has shown the importance of agriculture and natural resources science. The Muslims have gotten success in access to different aspects of these sciences and this Attention has two sources, one is Religion training and two is effect of these sciences in economics of people. So Muslims has done very public services in this part. These serves led to many books and literatures and discover of thousand medicine plants that effect on human health and social development. The subjects of this paper are to find and clear a few aspects of Muslims scientist searches and religion resources that related to agriculture and Natural resources.

This research was aimed to evaluate effect of beating value on kraft pulp fiber characteristics and pulp freeness, made from 12 year Brutian Pine. Cooking factors in pulping stage were as: sulfidity 25%, cooking temperature 165oc, active alkality 20% and cooking time 90 min. PFI mill with different revolution as 6000, 8000, 10000, 12000 and 14000 was used for pulp refining. Analysis of variance of fibers and pulp freeness was conducted using completely randomized design, then mean values were compared, using Duncan,s test. Results showed that between Fiber length and diameter, lumen diameter, fiber wall thickness and pulp freeness, before and after refining, were significantly different at the level of 1%. Increasing refiner revolution to 12000 caused significantly lower value for fiber characteristics and pulp freeness; but by increasing refiner revolution to 14000, was found no significantly different at the level of 1%. Optimizing refiner revolution was suggested 12000, with fiber characteristics and pulp freeness 488 CSF.