Journal of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
Year:2009 | Volume:16 | Issue:1|Papers Count:34

During the 30 past years using from climate information has increased in agricultural section. Although meteorology information has an important effect on agricultural production and reducing risks but the efforts to communicate this information to farmers will need to address this information are effective in different stages of agricultural production.The purpose of this study was to appoint the effectiveness of meteorology information from farmer,s viewpoint in Golestan province. The methodological approach was a descriptive and survey type.The target population in the study consisted total farmers in Golestan province, Iran (N=130000). By using multistage cluster and simple random sampling techniques 322 farmers were chosen. Data were collected through a questionnaire and were analyzed using SPSS, V.11. Content and face validity of the instrument were obtained by the faculty members of agricultural extension and meteorology specialist. The reliability analysis was conducted with completing 30 questionnaires and Cronbach, s alpha value was 0/80. The results obtained from analytic statistics indicated that there are significant and positive relationships between independent variables named rate of wheat production(95%) and charachteristics of meteorology information named correctness, completeness, reliable, opportuneness, careful, easy to understand, answer to farmer needs, attractiveness, utilizable for all farmers, increasing of previous knowledge of farmer, applicable, usefulness, applicable by farm possibilities, observability of result utilization, creditable, farmer desire for reliance to information and farmer desire for decision making based on information(99%) and dependent variable namely viewpoint of farmers about effectiveness of meteorology information. Optimizing use of agrometeorology information, it is necessary for meteorologist and extension worker to pay attention to effectiveness of meteorology information in different stages of agricultural production.

In the developing countries, there are increasing demands for timely and effective agro meteorological information for on-farm applications and communicating agro meteorological resources can assist farmers in their decision-making processes by providing relevant information. To be effective in delivering information, this resources must be useful for decision-maker. The purpose of this study was to appoint the role of communication resources in effectiveness of agro meteorology information from viewpoint of farmers in Golestan province. The methodological approach was a descriptive and survey type. The target population in the study consisted total farmers in Golestan province, Iran (N=130000). By using multistage cluster and simple random sampling techniques 322 farmers were chosen. Data were collected through a questionnaire and were analyzed using SPSS, V.11. Content and face validity of the instrument were obtained by the faculty members of agricultural extension and meteorology specialist. The reliability analysis was conducted with completing 30 questionnaires and Cronbach's alpha value was 0/80. The results obtained from analytic statistics indicated that there are significant and positive relationships between independent variables namely time number that farmer contacted with local leader for get information (95%) and amount use of TV and his confidence to it, amount refer to other farmers, family and local leader and his confidence to them for get information (99%) and dependent variable namely viewpoint of farmers about effectiveness of meteorology information. The results obtained from regression analysis indicated that 87% changes of dependent variable is explainable by independent variables such as amount of confidence to other farmers, family and local leader.

Chemical compositins (lipid and protein) of Rutilus frisii kutum muscles were studied in different maturity stages from Jan to Aprill 2006 in 40 spaciements of Gorgan bay Rutilus frisii kutum. The average length and weight of males and females were 411.8±66 mm, 1014±33.88 gr and 425.5±86mm, 1042±41.7 gr respectively. Based on histological studies of captured fishes, 4 maturity stages were distinguished (males: II, II-III, III-IV and IV; Females: II-III, III, III-IV and IV). Result showed that both Lipid and protein contents of muscles in different maturity stages of both males and females were decreased from 12.3±0.2% dry weight of muscle and 88.4±0.7% dry weight of muscle to 87.9±1.7% dry weight of muscle during II-III to IV-V in females and from 13.1±0.8% dry weight of muscle to 11.9±0.9% dry weight of muscle and 89.5±1.45% dry weight of muscle to 87.3±1.15% dry weight of muscle during II to IV-V in males respectively. But no significant differences observed among different maturity stages (P³0.05).

Changing of chemical content (lipid and protein) of gonad and gonadal indices (oocyte size, fecundity, gonadosomatic index) of male and female of (Cyprinus carpio) from Gorganrud River shied during gonad maturation, was investigated. For this purpose, 5 sampling were done during spawning migration time. In each stage oocyte size, fecundity, gonadosomatic index, lipid and protein content of male's and female's gonad were measured. With nearing to spawning stage gonadosomatic index, oocyte size increased significantly (P£0.05). Significant difference wasn't seen in lipid and protein content of male's and protein composition of female's gonad (P>0.05) but difference in lipid content of female's gonad was significant. But increasing trend was seen in gonad chemical content (lipid and protein) in both male and female.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect feeding rainbow trout larvae with HUFA and vitamin C- enriched Artemia urmiana nauplii in an- one week period. For this purpose, 4 feeding treatments were applied to rainbow trout larva (with average weight of 120.43±13.5 mg) as follows.1) artificial food 2) newly hatched Artemia 3) enriched Artemia 4) 10% enriched Artemia and 90% artificial food .After one week experiment, all groups of fish were switched to the commercial diet for an additional 3 week period to determine if any early benefits in weight gain were sustained when fish were switched to pelleted. In the first week and end of experiment, results showed that growth of larva in various treatments were significantly different (P<0.05) After 4 weeks, the larva in treatment 3 with the average weight of 657.50±57.93 mg had the highest body weight (P<0.05). The highest percentage of survival (96%) was observed in treatment 3 (P<0.05). investigate of proximate compositions of trout larvae in the first week showed that the protein and total lipids in the body of larvae had significant differences between treatments (P<0.05). The highest crud lipid was observed in treatment 1 and the crud protein in the larvae of treatment 3 and 4 was significantly different compared to other treatment groups (P<0.05).

Some biological aspects of semen were investigated in goldfish (Carassius auratus), by determination of seminal plasma indices (ionic and organic composition) and their relationships with sperm motility. Seminal plasma contained 154.90±59.45 mmol/l Na+, 20.98±6.82 mmol/l K+, 0.69±0.42 mmol/l Ca+, 1.52±0.33 mmol/l Mg2+, 0.041±0.009 g/dl protein, 0.013±0.009 mg/dl cholesterol and 0.053±0.022 mg/dl glucose respectively. Semen spermatocriet was 52.83±11.44%, pH 8.81±0.35, motility duration 77.45±21.07s, percentage of motile spermatozoa 83.45±4.83%, sperm density 8.20´109 spermatozoa/ml and milt volume 082±0.43cc measured. There were positive significant correlation among spermatocriet, glucose and percentage of motile spermatozoa (r=0.765, r=0.832; P<0.01 respectively). But there was found significant negative correlation between spermatocrite and motility duration (r=-0.655; P<0.05). There were positive significant correlation among sperm density, pH and Mg2+ (r=0.648, r=0.660; P<0.05 respectively). Likewise there was found positive significant correlation between Ca+ and Mg2+ (r=0.807; P<0.01). The present study demonstrated that a significant correlation between seminal plasma ingredient and potential for motility in goldfish sperm.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of two herbs (garlic and thymus) on the performance, blood lipids and hematocrit value of broiler chickens. 800 1 day-old Cobb 500 broiler chicks were reared in floor pens until 42 d of age. A basal standard diet was formulated based on NRC (1994) recommendation for starter (0-21d) and finisher (22-42d) periods and also supplemented with 0.3 and 0.6 percent of thymus and garlic extracts. Each of 5 dietary treatments was fed to 4 replicate groups of 40 mixed sex chicks. Resultant data were analyzed in a completely randomized design. Results indicated that supplementing of herbs extracts (thymus and garlic) to starter and finisher diets had not any significant effect on body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Supplementing of thymus and garlic extracts and sex had no significant effect on blood lipids concentration and hematocrit value. However, the concentration of blood HDL was relatively lower in female rather than male birds. In the condition of this experiment, supplementing of mention alcoholic extracts had no significant effect on the performance and blood parameters of broiler chicks.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different levels of whole wheat feeding on the performance and blood parameters of Ross 308 strain broiler chickens. Birds were fed in the first week of age with a corn-soy diet and after 7 days unitl the end of the trial were fed with one of the 4 dietary treatments.The treatments were: treatment 1 (diet consist of 25 and 50% wheat flour at 7-21st and 21-42nd days of age, respectively), treatment 2 (diet consist of 5, 10 and 15% whole wheat at 21-28th, 28-35th and 35-42nd days of age, respectively), treatment 3 (diet consist of 5, 10, 15 and 20 and 25% whole wheat at 7-14th, 14-21st, 21-28th, 28-35th and 35-42nd days of age, respectively) and treatment 4 (diet consist of 10, 15, 20 and 25 and 30% whole wheat at 7-14th, 14-21st, 21-28th, 28-35th and 35-42nd days of age, respectively). Each of dietary treatments were fed to 5 replicate groups of 18 mixed sex chicks. Resultant data was analyzed in a completely randomized design. The results of this experiment indicated that whole wheat feeding had no significant effect on weight gains, feed intake, feed conversion and carcass characteristics (P>0.05). Birds were fed by control diet had significant difference with those were fed 30% whole feed for feed intake during 14-21 days of age and also birds were fed control diet had significant difference with those fed by 25% whole feed for weight gain during 7-14 days of age (P<0.05).Whole wheat inclusion had significant effect on cholesterol and glocuse concentration of blood plasma (P<0.05).

Tow experiments were conducted to study the effects of sugar beet molasses and wheat straw addition on silage characteristics and digestibility of broad bean residues in factorial arrangement. In the first experiment, different ratios of broad bean residues and chopped wheat straw with three levels of molassess (25, 30 and 35 percent) were mixed, so that dry matter of silage materials reached to three levels (25, 30 and 35 percent). Then the silage materials were stored into plastic buckets and compacted. Plastic buckets were exposured in the three times (40, 80 and 120 days) and the silage evaluated by visual and chemical methods. In the second experiments, apparent digestibility of silage was determined by in vivo method using four matured Dalagh breed sheep. The results showed that using of three and six percent of molasses significantly decreased Ammonia Nitrogen concentration, Total Nitrogen / Ammonia Nitrogen ratio and silage pH (P<0.05) but, nine percent molasses had no significant effect. The treatment contained six percent molasses and 30 Percent dry matter when stored 80 day had highest score of visual evalution. The correlation between pH and time of opening the silage was positive and difference between treatments were significant (P<0.05). Digestion coefficients of DM, OM, CP, EE, ADF, NFE and TDN in ensiled broad bean residuals were 42.34, 43.05, 47.00, 46.50, 35.19, 44.98 and 41.13 respectively. According to this study it can be suggested that ensiling broad bean residue with 6 percent molasses and 30 percent dry matter which opened after 80 days, would be better than other procedures.

The aim of this study was investigating the growth performance, carcass yield and litter quality of Ross 308 broiler chicks when feeding was based on common protein profiles in dietary formulation of broiler chicks. Four protein profiles consisted of NRC (1994) recommendation, 90% protein recommendation by NRC (1994) (low protein diet), Ross strain nutrition guide and phase feeding approach was fed to broiler chicks for 42 day. All dietary treatments had 3000Kcal/Kg ME and the feeding time for each protein profile was based on its recommendation. All diets had similar quantity of nutrients, except of protein and amino acid quantity. Five replicate groups of 40 birds were allocated to each treatment. Results of experiment showed that birds were fed by NRC (1994) recommendation and Ross nutrition guide had higher body weight gain than those were fed by low protein diet or phase feeding approach (1992 and 1915gr vs 1785 and 1764gr, respectively) (P<0.05). Low protein diet and phase feeding approach resulted to significant decreased of feed intake, protein intake and energy (P<0.05). Highest protein efficiency ratio and energy efficiency ratio was related to birds were fed by low protein diet (2.78) and NRC, 1994 recommendation, respectively. Birds were fed by NRC (1994) recommendation or Ross nutrition guide had better carcass yield, however reducing dietary protein level resulted to significant decrease of litter nitrogen percent (P<0.05).

A completely randomize design with 5 treatments and 6 replicates with 6 broiler chicks in each replicate was conducted to investigate the nutritive value of Dried Tomato Pomace (DTP) on broiler chickens performance and nutrient digestibility. DTP was included in a basal diet at 5, 10, 15 and 20 % and chromic oxide was added to the experimental diets at 0.3 % as an indigestible marker. Growth performance, AME, AMEn and nutrients digestibility coefficients of each diet were determined in 21 and 42 d of age. The linear regression equations of AME and AMEn values on rate of inclusion of DTP were calculated. Extrapolation values for the AME and AMEn of DTP at 100% inclusion were carried out. Apparent nutrients digestibility coefficients of DTP were determined by difference method. Birds were fed the diets containing 15 and 20% DTP had lower weight than those were fed 5, 10% DTP and basal diet (P<0.01). Feed intake (g/d) increased with increasing of DTP inclusion in the basal diet (P<0.01). Apparent digestibility of nutrients, and dietary AME and AMEn contents decreased with increasing of DTP to basal diet (P<0.01). The nutrient digestibility and ME values were higher in 42 than 21 d of age (P<0.01). A decrease in the digestibility of crude fat and apparent metabolizable energy (AME and AMEn) but, no crude protein and dry matter, with ileum sampling was observed. The means of AME and AMEn values of DTP were calculated by extrapolation were 1,757 and 1,741 kcal/kg, respectively. However, average apparent digestibility coefficients of crude protein, ether extract and dry matter in DTP were 58.10, 66.30 and 67.15%, respectively.

Nutritional effects of rumen-protected and unprotected choline on milk yield, milk composition and some blood metabolites of lactating Holstein dairy cow investigated in a balanced change over design with eight dairy cows, four treatments and four periods of 21 days. Experimental treatments include: 1-basal diet or control (without choline), 2-basal diet + 50 g/per day unprotected choline, 3- basal diet + 25 g/per day rumen-protected choline and 4-basal diet + 50 g/per day rumen-protected choline. The cows were fed individually ad lib. Twice daily. Milk and blood samples were taken at the two and last day of each period respectively. Rumen-protected choline (50 g/per day) increased dry matter intake and milk yield. Fat corrected milk and fat yield were significantly higher in rumenprotected choline (50 g/per day) than unprotected choline and control group. The concentration of protein, lactose and solid non fat in milk were not affected by the treatments. Rumen-protected choline significantly increased milk fat percentage compared to unprotected choline. There were no significant differences in blood glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride and blood urea nitrogen concentration between treatments. However some favorable effects of the choline are seen in this experiment, but more investigations are needed for practical advices.

Five herds of Holstein breed of cow were used to evaluate protein nutrition condition based upon measuring milk urea nitrogen (MUN) concentration. Five dairy cows were selected at early lactation, multiparous with days in milk 45±7 from each herd randomly. Feed and milk samples were taken over a period of 6 month between July and December 2006. Samples were collected monthly from individual cows as well as milk bulk. Diet alterations and management practices were recorded over the period of the study. The results of the present research indicated that applied diets in the herds provided the nutrients requirements of cows based on the National Research Council (NRC, 2001) recommendations. The results obtained from the analysis of variance of at milk bulk samples (with repeated measurements) showed that no any statistically significant differences were found among different herds for MUN. However, there was a significant difference of MUN among herds over the times (months) (P<0.05). Milk compositions (percentage of total solid, fat, total protein, NPN and lactose) were found to be not affected significantly by herds and month of recording. The results of analysis of variance of MUN at individual cows revealed that there were significant (P<0.05) differences among different herds and months of recording. There was a positive significant (P<0.05) correlation between MUN of milk bulk and MUN at individual cows. Month of recording had a significant influence on MUN at both levels of tank and individual cows (R2=0.75). According to the results of the present research, it can be concluded that measuring MUN at milk bulk samples could be used as an indicator of protein nutrition at herd level.

Potato is one of the most important agricultural crops and there is remarkable loss of this produce because of unfavorable storage conditions. Therefore, it is vital to convert raw potatoes into some processed products such as dried ones. Our aim was to evaluate three cultivated potatoes of Golestan province of Iran (so-called Agria, Satina and Kenebek) to find the best cultivar for dehydration. Also, we investigated the influence of drier type (Microwave oven and Hot air oven) and shelf life on the rehydration behavior of processed potatoes (powder and cubes). Total sugars, reducing sugars and ascorbic acid contents were analysed to evaluate the processing effect on product components. The factorial completely randomized design was selected as the statistical design and three replications were conducted for each treatment. In order to examine the quality and shelf life of products during storage, the analyses were continued until three months. Results revealed that there is significant difference (P<0.05) between microwave processed potatoes and hot air ones, due to different heat transfer mechanisms. For instance, ascorbic acid content in the former products was about 8.3 mg/100gr dry matter which was significantly (P<0.05) higher than hot air dried potatoes. Also water absorption of the cubes which were dried in microwave oven, was about 12% more than hot air ones. It was concluded that all the three cultivars were suitable for producing dehydrated products. Agria had the lowest amount of reducing sugars and the best color accepted by the panelists and Kenebek had the highest rehydration ratio but from from theoveral point of acceptability, Satina received the highest score amongst three cultivars.

Physiological study of wheat varieties under microclimate changes is very important to improve of their production in the future. The objective of this research was investigation of some quantitative traits in bread wheat under different levels of carbon dioxide (400 and 900 ppm), ultraviolet radiation (UV A, B, and C) and water deficit (up to 60% of field capacity). Experimental design was factorial arrangement in randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that grain yield, chlorophyll percent and maximum quantum efficiency in photosystem II decreased in bread wheat under water deficit when ultraviolet radiation intensity and concentration of carbon dioxide increased. CO2 enrichment improved chlorophyll percent at water deficit. Seed number per spike decreased with ultraviolet radiation intensity and water deficit increased. But CO2 enrichment increased seed number per spike in each level of ultraviolet radiation. However, Grain yield decreased when water deficit and ultraviolet radiation intensity increased. Grain yield variations were difference under carbon dioxide. At UVA and B radiations without water deficit, bread wheat grain yield decreased with CO2 enrichment. At water deficit with CO2 enrichment, grain yield increased. CO2 enrichment without water deficit decreased chlorophyll percent; while at stress conduction, grain yield increased due to improve chlorophyll percent.

Like other tree nuts, despite its high nutritional quality, pistachio carries specific proteins that elicit food-induced allergy symptoms in certain individuals. In contrast to other tree nuts, little is known about the way of detecting pistachio allergenic proteins in foods. New labelling regulations require precise detection techniques to trace a specified list of allergenic food residues to the ppm level. In the present study pistachios were extracted using three extraction media i.e., (i) saline 10%, (ii) phosphatebuffered saline, and (iii) Tris buffer at pH 7.5 to find the best solution in order to optimise the extraction condition for a particular protein. In the second part, 2S proteins were isolated and purified from pistachios. Protein purification was carried out through a multiple stage procedure starting with an ammonium sulfate precipitation in which the concentration of the salt was increased step-by-step from 20% to 90%. The semi-purified protein fraction obtained was further purified using gel filtration chromatography. In the third part, antigens in the form of the purified 2S proteins from pistachio nut were used to produce antibodies in rabbits. Sensitive, specific ELISAs were set up and applied to 12 selected food samples extracted by 4 different methods of extraction (PBS, urea, PBS followed by acetone and urea followed by acetone) and 3 levels of antibody dilutions. The results showed that the higher total protein yield was not always an indication of an efficient extraction method for a particular protein. The results of determination of pistachio protein residues also proved that immunochemical techniques can reliably detect traces amounts of pistachios in food samples.

In this work, production of a native Iranian dairy drink containing active probiotic bacteria, socalled (bio-) doogh, was studied. Two commercial strains of probiotic bacteria, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis, inoculated into three types of doohg, including plain doogh as control, and samples containing 1% or 2% mint extract. Survival of probiotic bacteria, pH, acidity and flavor of bio- doogh was examined weekly during nine-week storage in 4oC. The results obtained showed mint extract depending on its concentration can reduce or increase survival of the bacteria. After storing at 4oC, viable B. lactis reduced by 2 logCFU/ml, while L. acidophilus reduced to zero after eight weeks at 4oC. There was no significance difference (P<0.05) between pH and acidity of bio-doogh during storage period. Statistical result revealed that there were no significant difference betwee n flavors of various samples of bio-doogh. Bio-doogh with mint extract had a higher flavor score than bio-doogh without mint extract.

Prebiotics are defined as non-digestible food ingredients that benefit their hosts by selective stimulation of growth or activity of one or limited number of bacteria in gut. Probiotic products, when administered in adequate amounts, by improving internal microflora of body, confer an effective influence on the host from nutritional and health view. Consuming synbiotic products (simultaneous presence of probiotics and prebiotics) has more beneficial effects on consumer's health. In this project effects of replacing soymilk with milk (as a product containing prebiotics) in 3 levels, 0, 10 and 20% (v/v) and every 7 days (days: 1, 7, 14 and 21) on the survival of lactobacillus acidophilus, physiochemical and organoleptical properties of probiotic yoghurt were studied. Lactobacillus acidophilus LA5 was the probiotic starter culture used. Statistical analysis showed that replacing soy milk, resulted in significant decrease (P<0.05) in pH, synersis and hardness, increase in total count of live probiotic bacteria and acidity, in comparison to control samples .The best taste was obtained for samples without soymilk. Generally in all samples, during storage period, total count of live probiotic bacteria, pH and synersis decreased (expect for samples containing 20% soy milk), while acidity (expect for samples containing 20% soy milk) and hardness increased. Among all samples only yoghurt samples that contained 10% and 20% soy milk, obtained the least required number of live probiotics according to FIL/IDF standard (6 log CFU/g).

Bacteria play important role for biological control of plant disease. Bacillus spp. as; extensive existence in environment, tolerance of high temperature and formation of resistant spores, are important and safe for biological control. Recent findings about the existence of this bacterium as endophyte trough plant vessel such as maple have opened a new horizon in order using of this bacteria for biological control of vascular diseases. Antagonistic effect of three isolates of Bacillus subtilis on Ophiostoma novo-ulmi, the causal agent of Dutch elm disease, was studied in vitro. Antibiosis of antagonistic mechanism as: volatile metabolites and culture filtrate was evaluated. Microscopic studies indicated that all of Bacillus isolates by production of antifungal metabolites caused growth inhibition and deformation of mycelium of causal agent. All isolates could produce antifungal volatile metabolites and growth inhibitors in PDA which decreased mycelial growth and spores germination of the fungus significantly. In most experiments, isolate B7 was better than other isolates in antagonistic activity. Potential of using Bacillus subtilis isolates for biological control against causal agent of Dutch elm disease is discussed.

In this research, the energy ratio for potato production in different levels of cultivated areas (lower than 1 hectare, between 1-5 hectare, and higher than 5 hectare) in the western Isfahan province (Fereidan and Fereidunshahr townships) was assessed and determined. For this purpose, a number of questionnaires were prepared and distributed among the potato producers of the examined region. The results show that the highest share of energy consumed was for chemical energy especially N fertilizer with average of 51% and the lowest one was for biological energy (human labor) with average of 2%. Also the effect of different levels of potato cultivation on energy ratio was found to be significant at 1% probability levels so that with increasing cultivation level from lower than 1 hectare to higher than 5 hectares. As with increase in cultivated area from lower than 1 hectare to higher than 5 hectare, energy ratio increased from 1.3 to 2.08. It also observed that cropping systems had marked effect on energy ratio at 1% level of probability. Also it revealed that both tractor type and tractor ownership were significant in their effect on fuel consumption on a per hectare basis.

For cleaning farm, among several cleaning methods, based on factors including costs, level of available technology, ease of operation and required capacity, the best method can be selected and employed. In this paper after reviewing and evaluating existing barn cleaning systems, a new method that mounted on tractors was designed. Since physical and mechanical properties of manure affect the performance of the cleaning system, some more important properties (e.g. density, moisture content, friction coefficient of manure with different surfaces) were measured. The designed interchangeable system mounted on MF285 with cleaning capacity of 14.4 (m3/hr). A hydraulic power train was employed for the machine. The power requirement of the machine is 24.1 (kw) which is provided through tractor’s power take off (PTO) shaft. This system can be attached to many existing tractors. The design of machine parts was performed based on initial ground speed of one meter per second and gathering width of two meters. With such a machine, the cleaning operation of a 500 (m2) farm can be manipulated within 40 minutes.

The sunshine, temperature, and cost of five kind of shading structures including Date mat, Straw mat, Board, Tarpaulin, and Iranit; and the height, canopy cover, and vigor of 5 species of climbing plants including Rosa banksiae Ait, Lonicera caprifoliom L., Wistaria sinensis (sims.) DC., Forsythia suspense (Thumb.) vahl., and Vitis vinifera L. were compared by using a completely randomized design with 3 replications for three years in Yazd University Campus. The faculties, staff and students of university were interviewed for the necessity of planting bushes at alleys of campus for shading. The results of non-biotic structures showed that there are significant differences among treatments and control (p>0.05). However, there were not any significant differences among treatments. Furthermore, the costs of shading structures were compared. In biotic shading the height of Wistaria sinensis was significantly different from other species (P<0.05). But there were no significant differences in the canopy cover and vigor of Wistaria sinensis, Rosa banksiae, and Lonicera caprifoliom. Most of people who were interviewed highly emphasized the necessity of plantation as shaded bushes.

Diversity indices mainly composed of two components: Species Richness and Evenness. Critical to the analysis of diversity is a clear understanding of the relationships among S (species richness), H’ (information), and E (evenness) (i.e., SHE). Two historically intractable problems in biodiversity analysis have been: How to separate species richness and evenness into distinct components within the same system? and How to disassociate diversity with sample size? This is important because H’ may actually not vary at all, even in the face of increasing species richness. In other cases, H’ can increase while E remains constant. Due to the importance of these components, a simple solution has only recently been derived. In this study, SHE analysis was used to define the role of each diversity components in plant species and family levels, species biological and life forms as well as life period in mountain rangeland of Ziarat basin, Golestan province. 142 random quadrates (1 by 1 meter) were used to define plant species list and their canopy cover percentage. Shannon-Winner Index was used to define plant species diversity. SHE analysis was employed to separate species diversity into its richness and evenness components. Results show that the role of evenness is much more important than species richness in defining diversity index at species and family levels whereas they are playing the same role in defining diversity at the level of biological and life forms as well as life periods.

The appropriate and optimum operation of reservoir system of dams ranks among the most important issues considered by experts of water industry all over the word. In most reservoir system of the world, control curves are known as the main pattern of water operation. The curves indicate the optimum volumes of supplied water or yielding system versus various conditions of reservoirs during different month of the year. There are various methods of determining the operation pattern of water reservoirs which are classified into three methods: simulation, optimization and probability matrix. In traditional methods, reservoir systems are designed based merely on the historical data of river currents and not using of function indices of reservoir. These methods are based on the assumption that in future there will not happen draught more severe than the recoded critical periods, an assumption the truth of which is far from being definite. The purpose of this research is to demonstrate a method to determine the control curves of reservoir dams based on their functional indices (such as time reliability, vulnerability and resiliency). To achieve this goal, we provided at first, using methods of temporal series AR(1), Valencia Schaake one thousand series of data of currents of the rivers entering the reservoir dam of Mahabad and Shahar chai in west Azarbaijan. We continued with using the improved SPA methods and Gold probability matrix, conducting the necessary analysis and providing ultimately appropriate control curves to obtain various combinations of the quantity of demand and functional indices. The obtained results display a good accordance between the results obtained by SPA and probability matrix methods. There occurred the maximum difference between the methods in minimum sustainability and the minimum difference in maximum sustainability. In the site of Mahabad the maximum difference is 13.5 MCM and the minimum difference 0.37 MCM. In the site of Shahar chai the maximum difference is 9.88 MCM and the minimum difference 0.098 MCM.

Measurement of soil moisture characteristic (SMC) curve is costly and time consuming. Point pedotransfer functions is one of the simple methods for estimating SMC curve. In this study, 20 soils were gathered from Marvdasht and Fasa regions in Fars province. Then, the SMC curve at suctions of 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 30, 100, 500, 1000 and 1500 kPa, soil texture and soil specific surface area (SSA) of each soil were measured, and the mean geometric soil diameter (dg) of each soil was calculated. Then, regression equations were established for soil moisture content at mentioned suctions based on SSA and dg, separately. The results indicated that the point pedotransfer functions for suctions of 0-1500 kPa are appropriate.