جواد حمزه یی

Intercropping is an ecological way of sustainable agriculture used to increase land productivity and crops. Therefore, while considering the necessity of using sustainable agriculture systems and creating diversity in agriculture, this experiment was done with the aims of investigating of growth, yield performance in terms of quantity, and quality and resource utilization efficiency in wheat, soybean and corn intercropping system. The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete blocks design with three replications at the Research Farm of Bu–Ali Sina University in the 2019–2020 growing season. Intercropping treatments included 4w:2s (4 rows wheat: 2 rows soybean), 4w:2s:1c (4 rows wheat: 2 rows soybean: 1 row corn), 4w:2s:2c, 6w:3s, 6w:3s:1c, 6w:3s:2c, along with sole plot of wheat, soybean and corn. Leaf area index, crop growth rate, grain yield, biological yield, grain quality, and nitrogen, water and land use efficiency, were evaluated. The effect of different planting patterns on leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), biological yield and grain yield of wheat, soybean and corn were significant. The highest amount for these properties was achieved from sole cropping of these crops. Nevertheless, the evaluation of intercropping indices showed that all the intercropping patterns had an advantage compared to sole cropping system. So that the highest LER (2.23) and the highest water use efficiency were achieved from 6w:3s:2c treatment. In general, 6w:3s:2c treatment can lead to the improvement of total grain yield and WUE as well as ecosystem sustainability and maximum land productivity.

In order to investigate the effect of mycorrhiza inoculation and application method of zinc sulfate fertilizer on yield and some agronomic characteristics of soybean, an experiment was conducted under water stress conditions. This factorial experiment was performed based on a randomized complete block design with three replications in the research farm of Bu-Ali Sina University. Experimental factors were water stress at three irrigation levels after 60, 90 and 120 mm evaporation from the class A evaporation pan; application method of zinc sulfate fertilizer with three levels of foliar feeding, soil application and no-fertilizer and mycorrhiza (Glomus mosseae) in two levels of application and non-application. The results showed that foliar feeding of zinc sulfate in all treatments except severe moisture stress and no-mycorrhiza conditions better than soil application of zinc sulfate led to a significant increase in the number of pods per plant, 100-seed weight, grain yield and zinc concentration. Mycorrhiza increased the number of seeds per pod by 19.5%, harvest index by 17% and seed oil by 5.1%. In the absence of mycorrhiza, there was no difference in grain yield between soil application and non-consumption of zinc sulfate. Moderate moisture stress compared to non-stress conditions increased the grain protein percentage and the highest value (41%) was obtained under moderate moisture stress conditions and mycorrhiza and zinc sulfate foliar feeding. The highest concentration of grain zinc (33.8 mg.kg-1) was obtained from non-stress moisture treatment under the conditions of mycorrhiza and foliar feeding of zinc sulfate In general, yield, oil and protein percentages and zinc content of soybean can be improved by the simultaneous application of mycorrhiza and zinc sulfate foliar application, especially under conditions of moisture stress.

The intercropping of corn and fenugreek is an important summer crop due to increase in the efficiency of using resources. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of combined application of animal, biochar and chemical fertilizers on the growth, photosynthesis and performance of intercropping of corn and fenugreek. The experiment was conducted during the agricultural years of 2019 and 2020 at the Agricultural Research Center in Mehran city, located in Ilam province. It followed a factorial experiment and employed a randomized complete block design. The experiment consisted of different cultivation patterns at four levels: pure corn cultivation, pure fenugreek cultivation, and mixed crops with ratios of 2:1 and 6:3 (corn row: fenugreek row). Fertilizer application was also considered with six levels: no fertilizer used (control), animal manure, biochar, recommended NPK, 50% NPK + 50% animal manure, and 50% NPK + 50% biochar. These factors were studied in combination to evaluate their effects on the outcomes of the experiment. In this experiment, traits such as the number of rows per ear, number of grains per row, thousand grain weight, grain yield, and biological yield of corn, as well as the number of pods per plant, thousand grain weight, grain yield, and biological yield of fenugreek, were calculated. To evaluate the profitability of intercropping compared to pure cultivation, indicators such as land equality ratio, area time equation ratio, and land use efficiency were used. Variance analysis of data and mean comparison was conducted using SAS 9.4 statistical software. Graphs were generated using Excel 2013 software. The main and interaction effects of fertilizer application and intercropping on grain and biological yield, transpiration rate, carbon dioxide concentration under the stomata, and net photosynthesis rate of corn and fenugreek were significant at the 1% probability level. Although intercropping led to a reduction in crop yield and physiological characteristics, the application of biochar fertilizers and cattle manure had a positive impact on these traits, except for the carbon dioxide concentration under stomata, which remained unchanged. The highest grain yields of corn and fenugreek were achieved through sole cropping and with the use of chemical fertilizer and biochar, respectively (914 and 81.7 grams per square meter, respectively). Among the intercropping treatments, the highest grain yields of corn and fenugreek (506 and 58.1 grams per square meter, respectively) were observed in the intercropping of one row of corn to two rows of fenugreek with the use of chemical fertilizers, and in the intercropping of three rows of corn to six rows of fenugreek with the use of biochar, respectively. The indices of land equality ratio, and the efficiency of land use confirmed the benefits of corn and fenugreek intercropping. The results of the experiment showed that the intercropping of one row of corn: two rows of fenugreek and the use of 50% of chemical fertilizers along with 50% of cattle manure led to the improvement of the yield, and it had the highest indicses of the land equivalent ratio, and land use efficiency. Therefore, this cultivation pattern is recommended to farmers while improving the efficiency of resources and reducing the consumption of chemical fertilizers.

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is considered the queen of oil plants and is a crucial food source in traditional agriculture in hot regions. Legumes play a role in stabilizing molecular nitrogen in the air and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers in intercropping. Utilizing a intercropping of plants from different species in agriculture is an effective way to increase diversity. In order to promote sustainable agriculture, it is essential to implement agricultural systems that combine sufficient input with the use of chemical, biological, and organic fertilizers to produce crops and maintain yield at an acceptable level. Therefore, this research was conducted to address the necessity of using organic and biological fertilizers alongside chemical fertilizers in agricultural ecosystems to produce healthy, high-quality products, and to emphasize the importance of increasing production efficiency in intercropping.

The factorial experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications on a farm affiliated with the Organization of Agricultural Jihad, Khondab, in the Central Province, during the 2018 and 2019 crop years. the first factor is different sources of fertilizer in six levels (control, poultry manure, chemical fertilizer, mycorrhiza, combination of poultry manure and mycorrhiza, combination of chemical and mycorrhiza) and the second factor is the cultivation pattern in six levels (sole sesame (S), sole green bean (GB), two rows of sesame and two rows of green beans (2S:2GB), 2S:3GB, 3S:2GB, 3S:3GB). sesame seed yield and yield components, green bean pod yield, sesame and green bean biological yield, growth indices and percentage and yield of sesame oil were evaluated.

The results of variance analysis of the data confirmed the significant effect of the main effects of intercropping and fertilizer treatments on all the measured traits at the probability level of 1%. The interaction between them (except root colonization percentage) also showed a statistically significant difference at the probability level of 1%. Compared to pure sesame cultivation, intercropping obtained the highest amount in all the measured traits. In such a way that the highest percentage of symbiosis of mycorrhiza with sesame roots and green beans, 43.12 and 44.06%, respectively, was observed in the intercropping of 2S:3GB. Among the fertilizer treatments, the highest rate of mycorrhiza coexistence with sesame and green beans was obtained from the chicken manure + mycorrhiza treatment, 78.57% and 79.22%, respectively. The highest seed yield and biological yield of sesame (257 and 928 g m-2, respectively) were obtained from intercropping of 3S:2GB using chicken manure + mycorrhiza. The highest yield of green pods (1204 g m-2) was awarded to the pure cultivation of green beans with the application of chicken manure + mycorrhiza. According to the means comparison, intercropping of 2S:2GB using chicken manure + mycorrhiza produced the highest percentage of sesame seed oil (49.94% and 52.54%, respectively). The highest yield of sesame seed oil (1350 kg ha-1) was also observed in intercropping of three 2S:2GB using chicken manure + mycorrhiza. According to the results, the highest amount of land equality ratio (1.62) was awarded to intercropping of 3S:3GB along with the application of chemical fertilizers.

Considering the superiority of poultry manure + mycorrhiza along with various types of intercropping for sesame plant, it seems that the application of this treatment in the bed of intercropping of plants is suggested to achieve proper performance in the tested area. also, the combined use of organic, biological and chemical fertilizers in the intercropping bed can be a suitable alternative to reduce the consumption of chemical inputs.

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is one of the most important oilseeds in the world due to its 18 to 22% seed oil and high protein content (36-38%). Meanwhile drought stress is one of the important factor limiting its growth and yield. Drought stress limits root growth and reduces the mobility of important micro-nutrients especially zinc in the soil. Application of zinc sulfate fertilizer increases physiological growth parameters, grain yield and water use efficiency in soybeans. Also mycorrhizal colonization in plants increases growth, improves yield, and increases the plants resistance to drought stress. This study aims to evaluate the effect of mycorrhiza and zinc sulfate fertilizer application method on some soybean growth physiological indices and its water use efficiency under soil moisture deficit stress.

The experiment was performed as a factorial experiment in the form of randomized complete blocks with three replications. First factor was moisture stress at three levels of no-stress, mild stress and severe stress (irrigation after 60, 90 and 120 mm evaporation from Class A pan, respectively). Second factor was arbuscular mycorrhiza (Funneliformis mosseae) in two levels of application and no-application and third factor was the application method of zinc sulfate fertilizer in three levels of no-application, soil application and foliar feeding. To evaluate the response of growth indices of soybean, plant samples were prepared during the growing season and their leaf area and dry matter were measured. Water use efficiency was also obtained from the ratio of grain yield to the volume of water consumed. During flowering stage, the percentage of mycorrhiza colonization was measured and grain yield was obtained by harvesting two square meters from each plot.

In this experiment, severe moisture stress shortened the growth period of soybeans. The results showed that at all levels of moisture stress, inoculation with mycorrhiza increased leaf area index, crop growth rate, water use efficiency and grain yield. Application of mycorrhiza and foliar feeding of zinc sulfate increased maximum leaf area index, maximum crop growth rate and water use efficiency by 69, 98 and 112%, respectively. In the absence of mycorrhiza, soil application of zinc sulfate had no effect on maximum leaf area index and maximum crop growth rate, but the use of mycorrhiza led to a 15 and 20% increase in these indices by soil application of zinc sulfate compared to no zinc sulfate use. Severe and moderate moisture stresses in no-application of mycorrhiza and no zinc sulfate reduced the total dry matter by 47.22 and 63.04%, respectively, but the application of mycorrhiza in these treatments has reduced the severity of these effects and led to increase of 111.20% in total dry matter. The highest colonization of mycorrhiza occured in moderate moisture stress (65.33%). Soil application of zinc sulfate reduced the colonization of mycorrhiza even compared to the no-application of zinc sulfate fertilizer. In this study, the highest percentages of mycorrhizal colonization occured in moderate moisture stress and foliar application of zinc sulfate by 64 and 59%, respectively. Foliar feeding of zinc sulfate compared to no-zinc sulfate, under severe moisture stress increased grain yield by 68% (1100 kg ha-1). No-application of mycorrhiza led to no difference between soil use and no-application of zinc sulfate in soybean yield. Mycorrhiza in no-moisture stress, moderate stress and severe stress increased water use efficiency by 80.49, 183.33, 275% respectively, compared to no-application of mycorrhiza.

According to the results, foliar feeding of zinc sulfate is more efficient than soil application of zinc sulfate, but this efficiency decreases during moisture stress. Application of mycorrhiza in addition to reducing the effects of moisture stress can increase the efficiency of zinc sulfate fertilizer especially under foliar feeding conditions.

 Due to the limits of the conventional agricultural system, intercropping is important in terms of production sustainability. Intercropping plays an important role in increasing production and performance stability to improve the use of resources and environmental factors. Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) is an important leafy vegetable, of which the leaves and tender shoots are consumed fresh or processed. Spinach is native to Iran. Spinach contains different flavonoids that function as antioxidants and anticancer agents. Also, spinach may be used in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease. It is an annual plant and as well as chickpea, spinach is grown as both an early spring and late fall crop in order to have growth at the coolest parts of the season. Spinach seed yield varies based on the climatic conditions, optimum sowing date and chose of the best planting pattern. Considering that the intercropping of this plant has not been studied with legumes such as chickpe, this experiment was designed to determine the possibility of intercropping spinach with chickpea using agronomical and economical indices, as well as determining the best planting pattern.

 In order to investigate agronomic traits, yield and economical indices in spinach intercropping with chickpea, an experiment was carried out as a randomized complete block design with four treatments and three replications in 2017-18 growing season in Tuyserkan city, Hamedan province. In this city, spinach is mainly cultivated for seed production. Experimental treatments included additive intercropping of 20% chickpea with spinach, replacement intercropping of 60% spinach + 40% chickpea and pure stand of spinach and chickpea. Plant height, number of branches per plant, number of seeds per plant, 1000 seed weight, grain yield and biological yield in spinach, as well as plant height, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, 1000 seed weight, grain yield and biological yield in chickpea were measured. To compare the advantages of intercropping of spinach with chickpea, the land equivalent ratio (LER), dry matter equivalent ratio (DMER), system productivity index (SPI), competitive ratio (CR), aggressivity (AG), actual yield loss (AYL ), relative value total (RVT), monetary advantage index (MAI) and intercropping advantage (IA) were calculated and evaluated. SAS 9.1 software were used for analysis of variance (ANOVA) calculations. The difference between the means was evaluated by the least significant difference (LSD) method at the level of 5% probability.

Plant height, number of branches per plant, 1000 grain weight and grain and biological yields of spinach were significantly affected by intercropping. The highest plant height and the lowest number of branches per spinach plant were obtained from the replacement intercropping. Additive intercropping and pure stand of spinach without significant difference had the lowest plant height and the highest number of branches per plant. The highest 1000 grain weight and grain yield of spinach were associated with the additive intercropping method. However, in terms of biological yield, the pure stand of spinach showed the highest results. Notably, there were no significant differences between the treatments of additive intercropping and pure stand of spinach concerning grain and biological yield of spinach. On the other hand, in chickpeas plants, intercropping had a notable impact on various parameters. Specifically, plant height, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, 1000 grain weight, and both grain and biological yields were affected by the intercropping method. Among these, the additive intercropping treatment resulted in the highest plant height, while it had the lowest number of branches and number of pods per chickpeas plant.The highest 1000 grain weight and grain yield of spinach were related to the additive intercropping. Pure stand of spinach had the maximum biological yield. Treatments of additive intercropping and pure stand of spinach were not significantly different in terms of grain and biological yield of spinach. In chickpeas plant, plant height, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, 1000 grain weight, grain and biological yields were affected by intercropping. The highest plant height and the lowest number of branches and number of pods per chickpeas plant were obtained at the treatment of additive intercropping. Maximum grain and biological yields of chickpea were belonged to the pure stand of chickpea. Spinach and chickpea were dominant and recessive plants, respectively. Evaluation of the economical indices also showed the advantages of spinach intercropping with chickpea at both intercropping design (replacemet and additive intercropping). So that the highest values for land equivalent ratio, dry matter equivalent ratio, system productivity index, actual yield loss, relative value total and monetary advantage index were achieved at additive intercropping system. But, the lowest values for these indices (1.13, 1.06, 1.20 and 1321 for LER, DMER, RVT and MAI, respectively) were revealed at replacement intercropping.

 Overall, the results indicate that chickpea is a suitable plant for intercropping with spinach. So that the intercropping of 20% chickpea with spinach improved the yield performance of spinach and land-use efficiency and can lead to the greatest economical profit.

Conservation agriculture (CA), as a sustainable cultivation system, aims at efficient use of natural resources with least environmental impacts, while achieving food security through increasing yield and crop diversification. CA consists of three main principles: 1- reduction or elimination of mechanical soil disturbance; 2- maintaining a permanent cover of crop residues on soil; and 3- diversification of crops. However, the total area under CA in Iran is less than 5% of arable lands. In Hamedan province, CA is mostly implemented in rainfed farming. Therefore, there is a necessity to expand CA in irrigated areas. Nonetheless, a lack of sufficient technical and local knowledge about CA acts as a barrier for its expansion in irrigated lands. Despite the large body of research conducted on CA, there is no detailed information about the combined effects of cover crops and conservation tillage systems on soil functioning and corn productivity in semi-arid regions of Hamedan province. Therefore, our aim was to study three-year effects of conservation tillage practices (no tillage and minimum tillage) and cover crops (hairy vetch and grass pea) on ​​selected soil quality indicators and yield components of corn in a clay loam soil of a semi-arid region in Hamedan. 

Combined effects of various tillage practices and cover crops on selected soil quality indicators and corn productivity were examined in a three-year experiment conducted in the research field of Bu-Ali Sina University. A factorial experiment in the basis of randomized complete block design with 3 replications and 2 factors were carried out, in which three levels of tillage practices (no tillage (NT), minimum tillage (MT), and conventional tillage (CT)), and three levels of cover crops (hairy vetch (V), grass pea (L), and no cover crop) were the treatments. Surface soil samples (0-15 cm) were collected two weeks after corn harvesting in the third year of experiment. Total organic carbon (TOC), organic carbon stock (CS), active carbon (AC), carbon management index (CMI), basal respiration (BR), alkaline phosphatase activity (APA), bulk density (BD), mean weight diameter of water-stable aggregates (MWD), and available phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) were determined. Corn yield components (including number of kernel rows per corn, number of grains per corn row, ear cob weight, hundred weight of grains, ear weight, grain weights per ear, biological yield and grain yield) were measured.

The highest TOC (0.96%), CS (18.7 ton/ha), AC (398 mg/kg), CMI (74.8), BR (0.118 mgCO2/g.d) and MWD (1.82 mm) were observed in MT treatment. However, no significant difference was detected between MT and CT in terms of AC, CS and CMI. Moreover, the lowest TOC (0.74%) was measured in NT, which showed no significant difference with CT treatment (0.83%). Reduced destruction of soil structure coupled with the increased MWD, and increased inputs of crop residues through MT, resulted to the protection of organic matter against microbial decomposition. Soil structuring, represented by BD, was improved under conservation tillage treatments (NT and MT).Among cover crops, hairy vetch treatment demonstrated the highest TOC (1.0%), CS (19.5 ton/ha), AC (427 mg/kg), CMI (80.3) and MWD (1.73 mm). However, these indicators, except CMI, were not significantly different between the two cover crops. On the contrary, these indicators were lowest in the control (no cover crop). Moreover, AC and CMI were not significantly different between grass pea and the control. Carbon stock was increased by 54 and 40% in hairy vetch and grass pea treatments, respectively, relative to the control. In general, cover crop cultivation combined with conservation tillage practices introduced additional biomass to the soil which in turn improved soil organic matter over time and enhanced soil quality.The lowest amounts of biological yield (1663 g/m2), grain yield (507 g/m2), hundred weight of grains 11.0 g), ear weight (91.4 g), grain weights per ear (62.9 g), and number of kernel rows per corn (13) were measured in CT system. In contrast, the highest grain yield (637 g/m2), hundred grain weight (13.6 g), ear weight (108.4 g), and grain weights per ear (81.9 g) were measured in NT treatment. However, the biological yield showed no significant difference between NT and CT. Soil quality improvement in conservation tillage treatments explains the enhancement of certain yield components. Biological yield and number of grains per row demonstrated significant difference between cover crop treatments; the maximum of biological yield (2103 g/m2) and of number of grains per row (44) was measured in hairy vetch treatment. Moreover, the lowest of biologigal yield (1589 g/m2) was observed in the control (no cover crop) treatment.

All soil quality indicators, except available P, were improved under MT as compared with CT. Our three-year study revealed that among conservation tillage treatments, MT improved majority of soil quality indicators compared to NT. Therefore, minimum tillage practice seems to be more sustainable in this study area. Conservation tillage treatments (MT and NT) also enhanced corn grain yield, grain weights per ear and number of grain rows per ear compared to to the CT. Both cover crops improved most soil quality indicators. Moreover, both cover crops induced significant effect on biological yield, although hairy vetch was more effective than grass pea. As a whole, the integration of minimum tillage with hairy vetch cover crop is considered as a sustainable cropping system for the improvement of soil quality and corn yield in this area.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a global food crop, and Iran with more than 5 million tons of production, ranks 13th among the world’s biggest producers of potatoes. Hamedan province is also one of the main potato producers in Iran. In this crop, the yields of quantity and quality are very dependent on an adequate application of nitrogen. However, the relatively shallow root system of the potato crop, coupled with its large nitrogen and water requirement increases the risk of nitrogen leaching. Therefore, optimizing N consumption for potato is important, both for maximizing production and for minimizing N loss to groundwater. Sustainable agriculture can play a significant role in achieving this goal. One of the methods for achieving sustainable agriculture is to create diversity by using intercropping of different plants in agriculture. Hence, the purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the response of potato as well as the resources use efficiency to intercropping with green bean.

The experiment was conducted as a factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications in 2016 growing season at the Research Farm of the Bu-Ali Sina University. Planting patterns in four levels (potato sole cropping, planting green bean between potato rows, planting green bean within potato rows, and planting green bean between and within potato rows), and three levels of urea fertilizer (0, 174 and 348 kg urea/ha) were the experimental factors. To calculate the advantages of intercropping, the pure stand of green bean was also cultivated in three replications. In intercropping, 50% of the density of green bean was added to pure stand of potato. Tuber yield, percentage and yield of tubers in different size, leaf chlorophyll content of potato, nitrogen and water use efficiency, as well as total relative yield (RYT) and land equivalent coefficient (LEC) indices were calculated and evaluated. SAS 9.1 software were used for analysis of variance (ANOVA) calculations. The difference between the means was evaluated by the least significant difference (LSD) method at the level of 5% probability.

The interaction of treatments on traits was significant except for the number of main stems and tubers per plant. The highest number and weight of root nodules were obtained from the green bean planting between potato rows with consumption of 174 kg urea/ha, and the lowest values of these were belonged to the green bean planting within potato rows with consumption of 348 kg urea/ha. Also the highest potato leaf chlorophyll was revealed at the green bean planting between potato rows with consumption of 174 kg urea/ha. Maximum total tuber yield and yield of commercial tubers were revealed at the green bean planting between potato rows with consumption of 348 kg urea/ha. However, this treatment did not show a significant difference with the treatment of green bean planting between potato rows at the fertilizer level of 174 kg urea/ha for the traits of total tuber yield and yield of commercial tubers. The highest water and urea fertilizer use efficiency were obtained from the treatment of green bean planting between potato rows at the fertilizer level of 174 kg urea/ha. Maximum RVT and LEC were achieved at green bean planting between potato rows with consumption of 174 kg urea/ha.

Generally, green bean planting between potato rows with consumption of 174 kg urea/ha compare to potato sole cropping with application of 348 kg urea/ha, improved the yield of potato and the efficiency of resources use. Therefore, it seems that this planting pattern is low input agricultural techniques and in addition to the satisfactory production can also reduce nitrogen chemical fertilizer consumption.

Crop rotation is an annual succession of crops grown on the same land. Good crop rotation is a systematic succession of the different classes of farm crops. Crop rotation should be done in such a way to give large yields and provide the farm at the least expense of labor and fertilizes the soil. Pulses in crop rotations can improve the productivity of subsequent crops due to increased soil available N and other agronomic benefits. However, the magnitude of this effect can vary with environmental conditions, agricultural management practices and legume genotypes. Also, Legume plants can promote C storage by enhancing the formation and stabilization of soil aggregates that protect soil organic C from mineralization. In order to Evaluation of Nitrogen Use efficiency and Wheat Growth and Yield under Fertilizer Management and Pre-Cropping with crops an experiment was conducted.

A factorial experiment was designed based on randomized complete blocks with three replications and implemented on a sandy clay soil during 2012-13 and 2013-14 growing seasons, at the Agricultural Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bu-Ali Sina, Hamedan, Iran. The first factor consisted of chickpea and corn (forage) and the second factor was urea fertilizer levels of 0, 40, 80, 120, 160 and 200 kg/ha. Harvest operation was done on July, 2013 and 2014. SAS procedures and programs were used for analysis of variance (ANOVA) calculations.

The results showed that about all of the evaluated properties of wheat affected by pre-cropping and nitrogen fertilizer treatments. But, none of the wheat traits do not affect by pre-cropping × nitrogen fertilizer. The highest biological yield (1486 g m-2), grain yield (675 g m-2) and protein percentage (13.70%) were observed in chickpea pre-cropping treatment. Chickpea pre-cropping treatment increased wheat biological yield and grain yield and protein percentage about 17, 21 and 18 percent in comparison to corn pre-cropping treatment. Pay attention to the improved physicochemical conditions of the soil after cropping legumes such as chickpea, it is normal to improve the growth and yield characteristics of the next crop (in this study, wheat). Among the nitrogen fertilizer levels the lowest wheat biological yield and grain yield and protein percentage (about 1102 and 417 g m-2 and 11.06%, respectively) was achieved at 0 kg ha-1 N fertilizer consumption. Also, the highest wheat biological yield and grain yield and protein percentage (about 1544 and 775 g m-2 and 13.24%, respectively) was observed at 200 kg ha-1 N fertilizer consumption, but it had not significant difference with 160 kg/ha treatment. One of the most well-known effects of nitrogen fertilizers is to increase the crops properties of growth and yield. The highest nitrogen use efficiency was observed at chickpea pre-cropping and lowest level of fertilizer application. In this study, wheat growth and yield characteristics such as plant height, chlorophyll index, grain yield components, biological and grain yield, harvest index, and percentage of grain protein increased due to urea application.

It seems that in the wheat farming, legumes pre-cropping such as chickpea pre-cropping is a good solution to reduce the use of nitrogen fertilizers and to contribute to environmental health. Also, attention to optimum fertilizer levels and non-overuse of fertilizers will contribute to agricultural sustainability.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the oldest of legume species that was identified in the Middle East about 7,500 years ago. This crop had an important role for human nutrition as source of protein, energy, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Among the different agronomic practices, sowing time is the most important factor to achieving chickpea optimum yield. Chickpea Optimum sowing date is different from a cultivar to another and also from a region to another, due to agro-ecological conditions. Winter sowing is a kind of sowing date that is successful in terms of agronomic condition. In order to study of effect of different sowing dates on quantitative and qualitative yield of chickpea under dryland condition, an experiment was conducted.

This experiment was done at the Agricultural Research Station Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bu-Ali Sina, Hamedan, Iran (latitude 35◦1' N, longitude 48◦31' E and 1690 m altitude). The long-term average (30 years) of region air temperature is 12.5 ° C. The long-term average of air temperature during region growing season is 22˚C. The experiment was done during 2012 and 2013 growing seasons. Sowing dates in four level, including 10 January, 10 February, 10 March and 9 April of both years were as main plot, and three chickpea cultivar, including Hashem, Arman and Azad were as subplot. In this study was evaluated yield component, biological and grain yield, protein percent and protein yield and root nud number.

Results showed that the effect of year on chickpea experimental properties was not significant, but the all of the evaluated traits were affected by sowing dates significantly. The highest rates of total dry matter, grain protein percent, grain yield and protein yield (772.33 g m-2 and %25.85, 236.16 and 61.05 g m-2, respectively) was belonged to first sowing date (10 January) and Hashem cultivar. Also, the lowest total dry matter, grain protein percent, grain yield and protein yield (444.90 g m-2 and %22.17, 75.91 and 16.83 g m-2, respectively) was achieved at last sowing date (9 April) and Azad cultivar. The highest and lowest plant height, first sheath height, leaf area index and root nud number was achieved at the first sowing date (10 January) and final sowing date (9 April), respectively, that traits values at 10 January sowing date were significantly more than other sowing dates.

According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that the winter cropping of chickpea leads to improvement of growth properties and quantitative and qualitative yield of this crop, as by increasing of growth period leads to increasing of grain yield and total dry matter. According to the environmental conditions of the experiment site, the sowing date of 10 January, can be considered as the best sowing date.

Weeds are among the main limiting factors in agriculture. In fact, the problem of weeds is a basic problem in farms, which can lead to major yield loss. Weeds can decrease soil nutrients and threaten crops by competing for water and light or by their allelopathic effects. Crop yield losses due to weeds depend on a number of factors such as grown species, weed number per area, weed competitive value, and crop developmental stage. Weeds can decrease grain quality, cause unequal maturation and harvesting difficulties, and act as the hosts for pathogens and pests. In addition, environmental and human health impact of herbicides, increasing resistance to herbicides, scarce by herbicides and increased conservation agriculture were the main factors stimulating the interest in developing new weed control methods. Chickpea is a weak crop against weed. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the earliest cultivated legumes and has been found in the Middle East 7500-years ago. It plays an important role in human nutrition as a source of protein, energy, fiber, vitamins, and minerals for large population sectors in the developing world and is considered a healthy food in many developed countries. 

In order to evaluate yield components, yield and competitive power of chickpea cultivars, an experiment was conducted on a sand claysoil at the Agricultural Research Station (latitude 35˚1' N, longitude 48˚31' E and 1690 m altitude), Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bu-Ali Sina, Hamedan, Iran. The long-term average air temperature and average air temperature during the growing season was 12.5˚C and 22˚C, respectively. The experiment was done within two seasons, 2013 and 2014. The same field was used in both years and the same treatments were applied to the same plots. Experiment was conducted as the factorial based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Experimental treatments included weeding, no weeding of weeds, and five cultivars of chickpea (Tork, Hashem, Arman, Azad and Mahali). Analysis of variance was used for statistical analyses (Version 9.2, SAS). Differences between treatments were compared by least significant difference (LSD) test at the 5% probability. 

Analysis of variance showed that the effect of weed control on all traits except harvest index was significant. The effect of cultivar on all traits except harvest index was significant. The effect of weed control × cultivar interaction was statistically significant only on grain and biological yield. The highest grain yield (136.00 g m-2) was obtained for Hashem cultivar in weeding condition. The lowest value of this trait with about 75% reduction was obseverd for Mahali cultivar under no weeding condition. Maximum biological yield (394.75 g m-2) was observed for Hashem cultivar under weeding condition and the lowest value, with about 70% reduction, was found for Mahali cultivar under no weeding condition. Maximum and minimum weed biomass (104.99 and 52.50 g m-2, respectively) and weed density (20.50 and 10.67 per m2) was found for Hashem and Mahali cultivar, respectively. Therefore, results showed that the highest ability withstand competition (52.30) was observed for Hashem cultivar, and the lowest value of this index (39.12) was for the Mahali cultivar. The results showed that increasing the biomass of chickpea plants increased the ability withstand competition index, and decreased weed density and weed biomass. Therefore, Hashem cultivar can be known as a resistant cultivar against weeds, but Mahali cultivar has the lowest ability against weed invasion. In general, the use of resistant varieties is a good solution to reduce weed damages.

The results of this experiment showed that the yield of different chickpea cultivars decreased in the presence of weeds. However, yield reduction in different cultivars was not the same. As a result, Hashem and local cultivars were identified as the strongest and weakest cultivars against weeds, respectively. By evaluating the yield of different chickpea varieties and competitiveness index, the varieties with good competitive ability in the presence of weeds can be identified. Additionally, this has the potential for weed control management without chemical herbicides.

Iintercropping can be considered as one of the ways to increasing the yield and production stability per unit area. So, this experiment in order to investigate yield components and yield as well as competition indices in triticale and winter vetch intercropping under different tillage systems done.

The experiment was conducted as a split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications at the Bu-Ali Sina University. Three tillage levels (conventional, reduced and no tillage) were set as main plot and five planting patterns) sole cropping of winter wetch (M) and triticale (T) and intercropping of 50T+50M, 67T+33M and 33T+67M) were considered as sub plot.

Results showed that tillage and planting pattern had a significant effect on number of spikes per m-2, number of seeds per spike, 1000-seed weight and biological and grain yield in triticale. Also, such significant impact was recorded for the number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, 100-seed weight and biological and grain yield in winter vetch. The highest grain yield for triticale and winter vetch was relvealed at sole cropping under conventional tillage. Highest LER (1.30) and RCC (4.60) were obtained from 50T+50M treatment. The positive values of the aggressivity and the higher values of the competition ratios in 50T+50M treatment for triticale indicates the competitive superiority of triticale over winter vetch or better using of inputs in intercropping. Actual yield loss and intercropping advantage were positive in triticale and winter vetch.

Therefore, by estimating the competitive indices in order to evaluate the ststuse of the two species in the intercropping, it was determined that in the different intercropping treatments, therewas no actual yeild loss which shows the superiority of intercropping over the sole cultivation of the two species. So, planting patterns of 50T+50M in addition to creating biodiversity and ecosystem sustainability, causes maximum productivity of the land.

Introduction

Demand for food in the world is likely to be nearly two times the current level by 2030, while the amount of new land for cultivating area is very limited (Marzban et al., 2014). Therefore, the design and implementation of systems with stability and performance are highly felt (Hosseini et al., 2016). In agriculture, there are different perspectives for imitation of nature, one example of which is sustainable agriculture. Intercropping is defined as a sustainable agricultural operation in which two or more species grow simultaneously during a season on a piece of land (Amani Machiani et al., 2018). By the way, the use of bio-fertilizers is a method to revive the natural flora of the soil and it is considered as a path to sustainable agriculture (Baqual & Das, 2006). Unfortunately, most conventional agricultural systems based on the high consumption of chemical fertilizers, are deprived of the benefits of coexistence of useful microorganisms with the plant, such as mycorrhiza coexistence. Therefore, it seems that using the intercropping and bio-fertilizer inoculation can be an effective step towards sustainable production in the agricultural lands.

The experiment was conducted as factorial mode based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at the research farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University. Using and non-using of mycorrhiza and 5 cultivation patterns including the pure crop of pumpkin, pure bean cultivation and additive intercropping of 20, 40 and 60% beans with pumpkin were the experimental treatments. The cultivation of both species was carried out on 9.3.2017. At the end of the growth period, harvest was done from each plot after removing the marginal effect, and oil percentage, oil yield, Pepo equivalent yield )PEY(, water use efficiency (WUE) and nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE), the percentage of root clonization, as well as the usefulness indices of the intercropping were measured. The data were analyzed by SAS9.1 and the means were compared using LSD test at a probability level of 5%.

The results indicated that the effect of crop pattern in both application and non-application of mycorrhiza were significant on the number of fruits per plant, seed weight, seed yield, oil yield, equivalent yield, water use efficiency and nitrogen use efficiency in pumpkin, as well as number of pods per plant, the weight of 100 seeds and grain yield of the bean. The percentage of oil in pumpkin and the percentage of root clonization in both plants were also significant in the case of mycorrhiza application. The highest amount of pumpkin equivalent yield, water use efficiency, and nitrogen use efficiency were obtained from additive intercropping of 40% bean with pumpkin under mycorrhiza application. The partial land equivalent ratio in the pumpkin was higher than that of bean, which can be concluded that the pumpkin cropping is influenced positively by the intercropping with the bean. The highest values of land equivalent ratio (LER(, relative value total )RVT( and Cumulativerelative efficiency index )REIc( were obtained from 40% bean incropped with pumpkin treatment. According to the results of CC, CR, and AG, it can be concluded that the bean is suitable for intercropping with pumpkin. ATER values of more than 1 were obtained in all treatments, except for the additive intercropping of 60% bean with pumpkin in both application and non-application of mycorrhiza. The highest amount of LUE and SPI in the case of application and non-application of mycorrhiza were obtained from additive intercropping of 40 and 20% bean with pumpkin, respectively, indicating the ability of the mycorrhiza to modify the competition of pumpkin with beans.

According to the results of this study it was indicated that in the case of mycorrhiza application, the amount of all traits in the same treatments increased, and the 40% bean intercropped with pumpkin together with the application of mycorrhiza was determined as the superior treatment, which could be considered for the sustainable agriculture development and maintaining the ecosystem health.

Over the past decades, the economic benefit has prompted farmers to grow rapeseed. Consequently, the global rapeseed production increased considerably, and today the crop is grown in shorter rotations than ever before. Rapeseed crops usually yield more if grown after other species than when grown after rapeseed. Crop rotation is a succession of crops grown on the same land. Pulses in crop rotations can improve the productivity of subsequent crops due to increased soil available N and other agronomic benefits. Also, Legume plants can promote C storage by enhancing the formation and stabilization of soil aggregates that protect soil organic C from mineralization. In order to evaluation of rapeseed growth and yield under nitrogen fertilizer and pre-cropping with corn and chickpea crops, an experiment was conducted.

A factorial experiment was designed based on randomized complete blocks with three replications and implemented on a sandy clay soil during 2012-13 and 2013-14 growing seasons, at the Agricultural Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bu-Ali Sina, Hamedan, Iran. The first factor consisted of chickpea and corn (forage) and the second factor was urea fertilizer levels of 0, 40, 80, 120, 160 and 200 kg/ha. Harvest operation was done in July 2013 and 2014. Random samples 2 m2 areas were harvested by cutting the stems near ground level to determine the crop grain and straw yield. Evaluated traits include plant height, grain yield components, biological and grain yield, harvest index, chlorophyll index and percentage of grain protein and oil. SAS procedures and programs were used for the analysis of variance (ANOVA) calculations.

The results showed that all of the evaluated properties of rapeseed affected by pre-cropping and nitrogen fertilizer treatments. But, none of the rapeseed traits do not affect by pre-cropping × nitrogen fertilizer. The highest biological yield and grain yield and protein percentage were observed in chickpea pre-cropping treatment (about 924 and 263 g m-2 and 22.29%, respectively). Chickpea pre-cropping treatment increased rapeseed biological yield and grain yield and protein percentage about 14, 13 and 15 percent in comparison to corn pre-cropping treatment. Pay attention to the improved physicochemical conditions of the soil after cropping legumes such as chickpea, it is normal to improve the growth and yield characteristics of the next crop (in this study, rapeseed). Among the nitrogen fertilizer levels, the lowest rapeseed biological yield and grain yield and protein percentage (about 567 and 125 g m-2 and 19.05%, respectively) were achieved at 0 kg ha-1 N fertilizer consumption. Also, the highest rapeseed biological yield and grain yield and protein percentage (about 1311 and 342 g m-2 and 21.06%, respectively) were observed at 200 kg ha-1 N fertilizer consumption, but it had no significant difference with 160 kg/ha treatment. One of the most well-known effects of nitrogen fertilizers increased the properties of crop growth. In this study, rapeseed growth and yield characteristics such as plant height, chlorophyll index, grain yield components, biological and grain yield, harvest index, and percentage of grain protein and oil increased due to urea application.

It seems that in rapeseed farming, legumes pre-cropping such as chickpea pre-cropping is a good solution to reduce the use of nitrogen fertilizers and to contribute to environmental health. Also, attention to optimum fertilizer levels and non-overuse of fertilizers will contribute to agricultural sustainability.

Low yield and total land productivity are the main challenges related to agriculture in developing countries. Crop diversification can help reduce these challenges by introducing legumes in intercropping. Therefore, evaluation of the effects of green bean intercropping with potato (Agria cultivar) on physiological indices, yield and total land output (TLO), were important objectives of this study.

Experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University in 2016 growing season. Experiment was laid out as a factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Four planting patterns including sole cropping of potato (M1), cropping green bean between rows of potato (M2), cropping green bean on rows of potato (M3) and cropping  green bean between and on rows of potato (M4) were applied in combination with three levels of nitrogen fertilizer (N0, N80 and N160: 0, 80 and 160 kg N.ha-1, respectively).

The results showed that the highest above ground dry matter accumulation (529 g.m-2) and leaf area index (4.86) were obtained at M1×N160 tretment. The highest crop growth rate (21.72 g.m-2.day-1) was achieved at M2 treatment. Maximum tuber dry matter accumulation (877 g.m-2), tuber growth rate (24.50 g.m-2.day-1), and tuber yield (42.48 t.ha-1) were obtained at M2×N160 treatment. In green bean, the highest dry matter accumulation, LAI, CGR and number of green pods per plant were obtained from M2×N80 treatment. At the canopy level, the highest accumulation of dry matter, LAI, LER and TLO were observed at M2×N80 treatment. Treatment of M2×N80 in comparison with M1×N0 treatment (sole cropping of potato without nitrogen consumption), increased TLO up to 43 percentage.

The cultivation of green beans between rows of potato and the application of 80 kg of nitrogen per hectare, in addition to creating biodiversity and ecosystem stability, causes maximum land productivity.

Sustainable agriculture is the act of farming based on an understanding of ecosystem services, the study of relationships between organisms and their environment. One of the key strategies in sustainable agriculture is diversity restoration to agricultural environments and its effective management. Intercropping is an effective way of sustainable agriculture. Intercropping, which is defined as growing two or more species simultaneously in the same field during a growing season, is considered as one important strategy in developing sustainable production systems, particularly systems that aim to limit external inputs such as chemical fertilizer and herbicide. Compared to sole crops, intercropping system have higher utilization of resource i.e., nutrient use efficiency, water use efficiency, and land use efficiency.

In order to comparison of quantity and quality of sunflower yield in sole cropping and intercropping with bean / soybean, an experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bu-Ali Sina, during 2013 and 2014 growing seasons. Experiment was conducted as randomized complete block design with three replications. Experimental treatment were different planting patterns including sunflower, bean and soybean sole cropping with and without weeding, additive intercropping of 30, 60 and 90% bean, as well as 30, 60 and 90% soybean with sunflower. Evaluated traits of crops including grain yield, protein and oil percent and yield and grain phosphor and potassium. Intercropping systems was evaluated by using land equivalent ratio (LER) index.

Experimental results showed that all three crops' grain yield has were affected by planting patterns. The highest sunflower, bean and soybean grain yield (3480, 3025 and 3158 Kg Ha-1, respectively) was achieved at sole cropping with weeding. Results also indicated that intercropping decreased grain yield. Moreover, the highest sunflower, bean and soybean protein and oil yield and grain phosphor and potassium were belonged to sole cropping with weeding of this crops. However, land equivalent ratio at intercropping patterns with 60 and 90% bean and soybean were more than 1 that showed advantage of intercropping. Totally, the findings of this study demonstrated that according to land equivalent ratio index, intercropping of sunflower and legumes (bean and soybean) in most treatments were more beneficial than sole cropping.

The results of this study showed that, intercropping systems decreased sunflower, bean and soybean grain yield in comparison with sole cropping with weeding treatment but, in general, in the most of the treatments, sunflower-legume (bean and soybean) intercropping was better than their sole cropping and associated with improving economic yield and land use efficiency.

Weeds are the most important limiting factor in agricultural systems and if they are not controlled, crop yields can be reduced up to 90% depending on the competitiveness of weeds and between 10 and 100% according to some literatures. One of the benefits of green manures is their ability to suppress weeds. Also, a higher crop density can reduce the biomass of weeds by reducing the amount of available light. Green fertilizers are plants cultivated in order to improve physical, chemical and biological soil properties and provide the necessary nutrients for the optimal crop growth. The use of different types of green manure is a suitable management for sustainable production in all agricultural ecosystems. In this way, the highest amount of light reaches to the crop and the least amount reaches to the competing weed. Increasing crop density can be an effective way to increase crop share of total source inventory and reduce weed dry weight. Rapeseed plant with allopathic substances in addition to food and medicinal uses, is also known as a weed controller providing a suitable environment for growing other plants by controlling weeds. This experiment was, therefore, performed to investigate the effect of canola green manure and planting density on weed control and sunflower yield.

the present study was conducted as split-plot design based on randomized complete block with three replications at the Research Farm of the Bu-Ali Sina University in 2015-2016 growing season, to evaluate the effect of canola green manure and crop density on weeds dynamic and sunflower yield. Weed free, using and non-using canola green manure were set as main-plots and sunflower densities (6, 8 and 10 plants.m-2) were considered as sub-plots. Rapeseed was mixed with soil at the beginning of flowering stage and after two weeks, sunflower was planted in the main plots with the desired planting densities. The amount of rapeseed biomass at the time of return to the soil was about 6250 kg of shoot dry matter per hectare. In each sub-plot, six rows with five meters long were planted. Weeds were sampled to determine their density and dry weight in three stages (three weeks after emergence, flowering and physiological maturation of sunflower) with three replications by 1 × 1 m2 quadrat. Weeds were counted by species and their biomass was measured after drying for 72 hours in an oven at 80 °C. Also, two square meters were taken from each experimental plot after applying the margin effect (one row on both sides and half a meter from the top and bottom of the planting row) so as to measure the yield of sunflower seeds. Weed control efficiency index was used to evaluate the ability of green manure and plant density in controlling weed of sunflower field. Data analysis was done by SAS ver. 9.1 and comparison of means was performed using LSD test at the significance level of 95%.

Maximum weeds density and biomass were found at the treatment of 6 plants.m-2 under non-using green manure. In comparison with this treatment, cultivation of sunflower with 10 plants.m-2 under using green manure increased weed control efficiency (WCE) up to 79% and decreased biomass of Amaranthus retroflexus, Chenopodium album, Setaria viridis, Convolvulus arvensis and total weeds up to 70, 76, 99, 92 and 72 %, respectively. Sunflower yield at the 10 plants.m-2 density was the highest and the same under weed free and weed infested by using green manure. The interaction effect of treatments on density and biomass of sunflower field weeds was significant. The highest and lowest density and biomass of weeds were obtained from uncontrolled at a density of six plants and green manure at a density of 10 plants, respectively. Also, the highest yield of sunflower seeds (411 g.m-2) was attributed to the density of 10 plants in weed control treatment, which was insignificantly different with the density of 10 sunflower plants in the application of green manure, which had a yield of 379 g.m-2. This can be attributed to the role of green manure in controlling weeds, increasing microbial activity, increasing food mobility and better use of water and nutrients. It seems that at low densities, the absorption of solar radiation and dry matter production are lower due to the low leaf area. Other researchers have attributed increased corn yield at high densities to greater uptake of solar radiation by the canopy.

Since the goal of sustainable agriculture is applying minimum herbicides and alternative management methods to control weeds, application of green manure and normal crop density can be a good strategy in this regard. Therefore, sunflower cultivation with density of 10 plant.m-2 and using green manure suppressed weeds and produced the highest yield. Therefore, this treatment can help to reduce herbicide application, and it will be an effective step for promotion of sustainable agriculture.

To investigate the effects of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and its residuals on agromorphological traits, yield, and qualitative characteristics of dragonhead (Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss.) under intercropping conditions, and finally to evaluate the usefulness of intercropping compared to the monoculture of dragonhead, an experiment was conducted in a randomized complete blocks design with three replications at the research farm of Bu-Ali Sina University in Hamedan during growing seasons of 2018 and 2019. Experimental treatments included the additive intercropping of 0, 20 and 40% bean with dragonhead. The bean residuals were remained at the farm in the first year to determine its effects on quantitative and qualitative yield of dragonhead in the second year. Based on the results, the intercropping improved the agromorphological traits and yield of dragonhead compared to the control (dragonhead monoculture). The results showed that in the intercropping of 20% bean, the percentage and yield of essential oil, the phenol content, and the antioxidant percentage of dragonhead were higher than the control treatment, but flavonoids content was higher in the control. The results in the study of effects of bean residuals on the quantitative and qualitative traits of dragonhead in the second year showed that the meet of dragonhead needs in terms of nutrients like nitrogen increased its quantitative and qualitative yield compared to the control treatment. The relative yield of dragonhead was higher than bean, which indicated the profitability of dragonhead from intercropping with bean. In fact, the indices of land equivalent ratio (LER), competitive ratio (CR), and aggressivity (AG) showed the usefulness of dragonhead intercropping. Overall, the additive intercropping of 20% bean with dragonhead was identified as the superior treatment and can be used by farmers for organic production of dragonhead.

In agriculture, weeds are one of the main limiting factors. In fact, the problem of weeds is a basic problem in farms, which can lead to major economical yield losses in agriculture. Weeds can decrease soil nutrients and can threaten crops by competition for water, nutritions and light. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the earliest cultivated legumes and 7500-years old remains have been found in the Middle East. It plays an important role in human nutrition as a source of protein, energy, fiber, vitamins, and minerals for large population sectors in the developing world. The weeds in chickpea fields in some cases has caused a 90% decrease in yield. This research was conducted to evaluation of some biological properties and grain yield of five chickpea cultivars in weed appearance in natural conditions.

The experiment was conducted at the Research Farm Bu-Ali Sina University (latitude 35◦1' N, longitude 48◦31' E and 1690 m altitude) during 2013 and 2014 growing seasons. Experiment was conducted as factorial based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Experimental treatments included weed control (weeding and non-weeding) and chickpea cultivars (Tork, Hashem, Arman, Azad and Mahali). The total amount of rainfall during the experiment in the first and second years was about 76 and 80 mm, respectively. The evaluated chickpea traits were plant height, leaf area, branches number per plant, biological and grain yield, chlorophyll index and nodule number and weight. Analysis of variance was used for statistical analyses (Version 9.2, SAS). Differences between treatments were compared by least significant difference (LSD) test at 5% probability.

Analysis of variance showed that the effect of weed control on all traits. Also, the effect of cultivar was significant for all traits except chlorophyll index. The effect of weed control × Cultivar interaction was significant only for on biological and grain yield. The highest plant height, branches per plant, chlorophyll index and nodule number and weight were obtained at weeding treatment and these traits decreased significantly in weedy conditions. The highest grain yield (136.00 g m-2) was obtained at Hashem cultivar in weeding conditions. The lowest value of this trait (33.00 g m-2) with about 75% reduction, was achieved to Mahali cultivar in no weeding condition. Maximum and minimum weed biomass and density was belonged Hashem and Mahali cultivars, respectively. Therefore, results showed that the highest competition index (2.16) belonged to Hashem cultivar, and the lowest value of this index (0.41) belonged to the Mahali cultivar. According to the results of this research, Hashem cultivar can be known as a resistant cultivar against weeds, but against the Mahali cultivar it has the lowest ability against weed invasion.

The results of this experiment showed that the yield of different cultivars of chickpea were decreased in the presence of weeds. However, yield reduction were not same in different cultivars. As a result, Hashem and local cultivars were identified as a strong and weak cultivar, respectively, in competition with weeds. By evaluating the different varieties of chickpea yield and competitiveness index, can be known which the varieties have good competitive ability in a condition of weed presence, and have the potential in combination with other weed control methods, produce more acceptable yields by lesser need for herbicides.

One of the key strategies in sustainable agriculture is diversity restoration to agricultural environments and effective management it. Intercropping, which is defined as growing two or more species simultaneously in the same field during a growing season, is considered one important strategy in developing sustainable production systems, particularly systems that aim to limit external inputs such as chemical fertilizer and herbicide etc. Compared to sole crops, intercropping system have higher utilization of resource i.e., nutrient use efficiency, water use efficiency, and land use efficiency. This research was done to evaluation advantageous of sunflower-legume intercropping systems,

The experiment was conducted as randomized complete block design with three replications at the Agricultural Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, during 2013 and 2014 growing seasons. Experimental treatments were different planting patterns including sunflower, bean and soybean sole cropping, and additive intercropping of 30, 60 and 90% bean, as well as 30, 60 and 90% soybean with sunflower. Intercropping systems were evaluated by using indices of land equivalent ratio (LER), system productivity index (SPI), total relative value (RTV), area-time equivalent ratio (ATER), aggressivity index (AI), competition index (CI) and relative crowding coefficient (RCC).

Results showed that crops grain yield and sunflower equivalent yield affected by planting patterns. The highest sunflower, bean and soybean grain yields were achieved at sole cropping and intercropping decreased grain yield of these crops. However, sunflower equivalent yield at intercropping patterns of 60 and 90% bean and soybean were more than sole cropping. At this treatments, indices of land equivalent ratio, total relative value, area-time equivalent ratio and relative crowding coefficient were more than 1 and competition index was less than 1 that showed intercropping is advantageous. In this study pay attention to aggressivity index, sunflower was aggressive in comparison to bean and soybean.

The results of this present showed that, intercropping systems increased sunflower equal grain yield in comparison with sunflower sole cropping. In general, in the most of the treatments, sunflower-legume (bean and soybean) intercropping was better than their sole cropping and associated with improving economic yield and land use efficiency. The results of this present showed that, intercropping systems increased sunflower equal grain yield in comparison with sunflower sole cropping. In general, in the most of the treatments, sunflower-legume (bean and soybean) intercropping was better than their sole cropping and associated with improving economic yield and land use efficiency.

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

Bio-fertilizers can affect soil structure by affecting soil porosity and aggregate stability. In fact, the activity of soil microorganisms, in addition to their effects on plant roots, has significant effects on organic compounds and, in most cases, soil structure. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of bio-fertilizers namely mycorrhiza fungi (Glomus mosseae) and rhizobium (Mesorhizobium caesar) separately and together on some physical (bulk density and soil porosity) and chemical (Soil reaction, electrical conductivity and cation exchange capacity) properties of soil under greenhouse and field conditions, which has been less studied, so far. Because the application of bio-fertilizers in the soil can be one of the best ways to maintain and improve the physical and chemical quality of the soil.

In order to investigate the effect of Mycorrhiza fungi and Rhizobium on some chemical and physical properties of soil, an experiment was conducted in both field and greenhouse conditions in a completely randomized-block design with three replications. Mycorrhizal fungi specie Glomus mosseae, rhizobium (Mesorhizobium), mycorrhiza - rhizobium and control (no bio-fertilizer) were the treatments at the field condition. Sterilized mycorrhiza background material and non-plant (non-bio-fertilizer) were the two additional treatments in the greenhouse condition. The plant cultivated in this experiment was chickpea. At the end of the growing season, disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were taken from different depths and physical and chemical soil properties, mentioned above, were measured.

In the field and greenhouse conditions, mycorrhiza treatment reduced soil pH. Different treatments had no significant effect on cation exchange capacity under greenhouse and field conditions. Probably because, the cation exchange capacity associated with the soil specific surface area. In the greenhouse condition, the lowest bulk density at the first depth 0-5 cm (p < 0.05) was observed in pots containing mycorrhiza-rhizobium treatments (1.30 g cm-3) and mycorrhiza (1.36 g cm-3) and the highest bulk density was observed in the control treatment without plant and without inoculation (1.49 g cm-3). Also, treatments containing bio-fertilizer significantly increased soil porosity compared to the control without plant. So that, in the first depth 0-5 cm, the mycorrhiza × rhizobium bacteria treatment (0.50 cm3cm-3), in the depth 5-10 cm, the mycorrhiza treatment (0.49 cm3cm-3) and in the third depth (10-15 cm), all three bio-fertilizer treatments, had the highest porosity. The field conditions reduced the effects of the treatments on the soil physical properties, which may be due to the less impact of the treatments applied due to the large extent of the area and the uncontrolled environmental conditions.

Since different bio-fertilizer treatments had different effects on rooting depth and plant yield, the effect of the different treatments on soil structure improvement was different in different depths. In general, treatments containing bio-fertilizers improved the soil physical parameters and structure by affecting plant and root yield.

Stability of soil aggregates is a result of complex physical, chemical and biological processes in the soil. In many studies, organic matter has been studied as a major factor in formation of aggregates and the effects of symbiosis between mycorrhizal fungi and bacteria largely ignored, however these microorganisms have a great effect in the formation of the aggregates. Plant roots provide a suitable habitat for the activity of many soil microorganisms. In this regard, the symbiosis of plant roots with fungi is one of the most common and long-lived symbiotic relationships that are found in most ecosystems. On the other hand, biological fertilizers can improve soil aggregation through influence the growth of root and plant. Despite the significant effect of fungi and bacteria on the stability of the soil structure, the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi species Glomus mosseae and Rhizobium species Mesorhizobiumon caesar on the soil structure has been rarely investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of chickpea inoculation with Rhizobium (Mesorhizobium caesar) and mycorrhizae (Glomus mosseae) on soil structural stability and aggregates size distribution under both greenhouse and field conditions.

The present study was conducted as a randomized complete-block design with three replications in both greenhouse and field conditions. The treatments under field condition were mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus mosseae), Rhizobium (Mesorhizobium caesar), mycorrhizae – rhizobium combined treatment and a control (no inoculation). In the greenhouse condition, sterilized mycorrhiza background material and without plant (without inoculation) treatments were also added. Chickpea was planted at both conditions. Soil sampling was carried out after harvesting. The stability of aggregates using wet sieving method and soil organic carbon content were investigated.

Greenhouse study results showed that mycorrhizae treatment significantly increased the mean weight diameter of the aggregates by 51.6% and 189.1%, in comparison with the control (without inoculation) and control- without plant (without inoculation), respectively. This treatment increased macro aggregates and decreased the fine aggregates. In the greenhouse condition, soil organic carbon content had a high correlation with the mean weight diameter of the aggregates (R2 = 0.53) and mycorrhizal treatment increased organic carbon content from 0.73% in the control (without plant) to 1.02%. However, the mycorrhizae – rhizobium combined treatment had less effect on the stability of the aggregates than their single effects. The mass of aggregates of 1–2 mm are more sensitive to short-term management. In the greenhouse condition all the three biofertilizer treatments significantly increased the mass of the aggregates of 1-2 mm in comparison with the control treatment without plant (without inoculation). On the other hand, the mean comparison results showed that there was no significant difference between the sterilized mycorrhizal background and the control without plant (without inoculation). This may be due to the lower organic matter content in these two treatments compared to others. In the greenhouse condition, increasing the mass of coarse aggregates of 4-8 mm in diameter indicates the suitability of soil structure. On the other hand, aggregates coarser than 0.25 mm are considered as coarse and stable aggregates. It can be concluded that the application of mycorrhiza and rhizobium increased soil structural stability through the increase of the mass of these classes of the aggregates (2-4 and 4-8 mm), probably by affecting the length and volume of the root and plant yield. Under the field condition, the treatments had no impact on the mass of the aggregates in different size classes.

Bacteria and fungi can be effective factors in improving soil structure through increasing organic carbon in soil. The results of the present study indicated that aggregate stability was affected by biological fertilizer treatments under greenhouse condition so that the treatments containing biofertilizers increased soil aggregate stability and improved the soil structure that was probably due to increasing plant yield and root. Also, the less effect of biofertilizers on the stability of the aggregates and the increase of coarse aggregates under the field condition can be due to the uncontrolled climatic conditions compared to the greenhouse and the short duration of the study. In recent decades, the physical and chemical properties of soils have changed due to the use of chemical inputs in agricultural lands.The use of biological and organic fertilizers is an appropriate solution to these problems. It is recommended further study on the efficacy of other species of mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobium bacteria in improving soil physical and chemical quality, especially at the field scale. Also, considering the implementation of this project in the field condition, it is suggested to study the physical, mechanical and chemical properties of soil in the long term.

One of the ways to move towards sustainable agriculture is to create diversity and using intercropping of crops, cultivars and / or different isolines in agriculture. In order to increase productivity in the agricultural system, resource management and inputs also play a key role. In addition, to preserve ecological balance and stability of the system, the main goals in the intercropping systems are maximum exploitation of environmental resources such as water, soil, food, the quantitative as well as qualitative increase of yield, and reduction of damage from pests, diseases, and weeds. In addition, improvement social conditions, such as greater economic stability and adequate nutrition for humans are pursued. Therefore, the present study aimed to exploit the agro-ecological benefits of additive intercropping of green bean in reduction of nitrogen consumption in potato cultivation and improving the land use efficiency and potato equivalent yield.

In order to evaluate the effects of additive intercropping of green bean on potato growth, tuber yield, nitrogen use efficiency, land use efficiency, and potato equivalent yield as well as green bean yield, an experiment was conducted at the Farm Research of Faculty Agriculture (latitude 35◦1'N, longitude 48◦31'E and 1690 m altitude), Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran, in the growing season of 2016. Experiment was laid out as a factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Four planting patterns including sole cropping of potato (M1), green bean intercrops between potato rows (M2), green bean intercrops within potato rows (M3) and green bean intercrops between and within potato rows (M4) were applied in combination with three levels of nitrogen fertilizer (N0, N80 and N160: 0, 80 and 160 kg N ha-1, respectively). Intercropping system was done using additive design. So that, the potato density was kept constant and in all cropping patterns, 50% sole green bean planting density was added to potato plots. Traits of plant height (PH), tuber yield (TY), number of tuber per plant (NTP), tuber dry matter (TDW), harvest index (HI), and potato equivalent yield (PEY) for potato, and green bean pod yield (GPY), number of pods per plant (NPP), and biological yield (BY) for  green bean were evaluated. Land equivalent ratio (LER), relative value total (RVT) indices were also studied.

Results demonstrate that planting pattern and N had the strongest influence on tuber equivalent yield as well as tuber yield of winter wheat followed by interactions between these treatment factors. Accordingly, when normal and high N levels were applied, potato equivalent yield values were comparable to, or higher than, those obtained without consumption of N. The highest potato tuber yield (42.50 t.ha-1) was revealed at the treatment of green bean intercrops between potato rows with consumption of 160 kg N ha-1. This treatment did not show significant difference with the treatment of green bean intercrops between potato rows with consumption of 80 kg N ha-1, which had a yield of 41.51 t.ha-1. Also, the highest values for yield of green beans (515 g.m-2), the land equivalent ratio (1.50), total relative value (1.45) and the highest potato equivalent yield (54.38 t.ha-1) were obtained at M2 × N80 (green bean cultivation between potato rows with consumption of 80 kg N ha-1) treatment. Legumes have the ability to nitrogen fixation and using of them in intercropped systems can be suitable for reduce nitrogen use as well as environmental problems. Therefore, in terms of growth, tuber yield, land use efficiency and nitrogen utilization efficiency, treatment of green bean intercrops between potato rows with consumption of 80 kg N ha-1 was the best treatment for potato production.

In general, the cultivation of green beans between potato rows due to ecological, morphological and nutritional differences has cooperation aspects in intercropping. This will increase the productivity of the land, the light and food in the unit area and the diversity in agricultural ecosystems.