سید رضا اشرفی زاده

North of Khuzestan province is one of the major areas for autumn sugar beet planting. Conventional tillage (CT) is widely practiced by sugar beet growers in this region. CT in sugar beet consists of burning wheat residue, using deep plowing with a moldboard plow or ripper plowing followed by several passes of disking, leveling, and furrowing. These aggressive tillage practices have many negative consequences for soils. Losses of soil organic carbon decreases soil permeability and consequently increases soil erosion and surface runoff. Therefore, applying conservation agriculture principles in sugar beet planting, conservation of residues and elimination or reduction of tillage, can help to optimize water use management and improve soil health on a farm scale. The objectives of this study were (i) to determine the possibility of direct planting of autumn sugar beet in wheat residues, (ii) to estimate sugar beet yield and crop water productivity (WP) under CT, chisel (CH), minimum tillage (MT) and no-tillage (NT) systems, (iii) to evaluate the response of sugar beet cultivars (Sharif and Palma) to different soil tillage systems, and (iv) to determine the effect of soil tillage systems on some soil physical properties.

A field experiment was conducted for two years (2016—2017) at the Safiabad Dezful Agricultural Research Center (32° 14.44´-32°15.93´ and 48° 25.41´-48°47). The soil of the study site was deep, well-drained with a silty clay loam texture. The mean annual precipitation and evaporation are 317 and 2400 mm, respectively, with an elevation of 108 m above mean sea level. Irrigation water was supplied from the Dez irrigation network without any salinity restrictions. The experimental was conducted in a split-plot arrangement based on a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The main-plot treatment was tillage method and the subplot treatment was two sugar beet cultivars (Palma and Sharif). Tillage treatments included conventional tillage (CT) (moldboard ploughing + MT steps), chisel (CH) (chisel ploughing + MT steps), minimum tillage (MT) (two perpendicular disks, fertilizing centrifugal machine, disking, furrowing, planting with pneumatic row planter), and no-tillage (NT) (spraying, planting with NT pneumatic row planter). The length and width of each plot were 100 and 6 m, respectively, and row spacing was 75 cm.Soil penetration resistance or cone index (CI) readings were recorded in 2 cm increments to a depth of 50 cm using SP1000 digital penetration tester to reflect the soil compaction. Soil bulk density was determined in 0-10 and 10-20 cm layers. In the first and second year, sugar beet samplings were done 216 and 220 days after planting, by harvesting a row of 75 cm with length of 10 m (7.5 m2). WP was calculated by dividing the root and sugar yield to irrigation water and effective rainfall (effective rainfall was calculated every year with SCS method). Composite data analysis and mean comparison were performed with MSTATC statistical software.

Results of CI showed no significant difference between four tillage methods at 0-10 cm depth. With increasing depth up to 30 cm, slight differences in soil compaction were observed for different tillage treatments, especially in the second year. Overall, compaction in the 0-50 cm profile in the CT and CH method were about 45% and 33%, respectively, lower than NT method, whereas in MT method it was about 37% higher than NT method. Results of root branch number analysis showed that the NT and CT treatments had the lowest branching (2.67 and 2.83, respectively) and the two CH and MT treatments had the highest branching (4.2 and 5.3, respectively). Therefore, NT had no negative effect on root growth of sugar beet. The results of bulk density measurements in the 0-10 cm layer were consistent with the results of the CI, but at depth of 10-20 cm, NT method with the highest bulk density (1.71 g cm-3) had significant difference with the other three tillage methods. Tillage method had no significant effect on root and sugar yield and root and sugar WP. However, in CT treatment, root yield increased by 6-8.5% and sugar yield by 6-12%, while root and sugar WP in NT treatment was about 8% higher than in the other three tillage treatments. On the other hand, changing climate conditions, especially rainfall during two years of the experiment, resulted in significant interaction between year and cultivar for yield and WP at 1% probability level. In the first year, the yield of Sharif cultivar (86.7 t ha-1) was higher than Palma (80.2 t ha-1), but in the second year, despite the decreasing yield of both cultivars, higher resistance of Palma cultivar to Cercospora disease resulted in a significant increase in sugar yield and WP over last year.

The two-year results of this study showed that the direct planting of autumn sugar beet in wheat residues (NT) is possible. Sugar beet yield and WP were not significantly different in tillage methods, but NT reduced tillage traffic from 7 times to 2 times and reduced energy consumption. The response of the two sugar beet cultivars to different tillage methods was the same and among them the Palma cultivar had the highest yield because of its higher resistance to Cercospora disease.

This research is based on the results of a study that was carried out to evaluate the effect of direct drilling of wheat in maize residues on yield and water productivity (WP) for two years of 2016 and 2017. For this purpose, a field experiment was conducted as split plots with a randomized complete block design with three replications in Safiabad Agricultural Research Center located in Dezful, north of Khuzestan province. The main plot treatments were including: No-Tillage (NT), Minimum Tillage (MT), and Conventional Tillage (CT) and sub plots treatments were Chamran 2, Mehregan, Shoosh, Falat, and Darab 2 cultivars. The results showed although there was no significant difference between tillage methods, but the average yield of cultivars in the NT (4830 kg ha-1) was more than the MT (4610 kg ha-1) and CT (4680 kg ha-1). On the other hand, the average yield and WP of both Mehregan and Chamran2 cultivars (5000 kg ha-1 and 1.25 kg m-3,respectively) were more than the other cultivars. Although in this research, reducing passes of tillage and planting machinery from 6 to 7 times in MT and CT to only 2 times in NT method (chemigation and planting in maize residues) did not have a significant effect on the soil cone index and soil bulk density, the soil organic carbon increased 16 to 32 percent in NT method in comparison to other tillage methods. Therefore, the use of new wheat cultivars under direct drill planting conditions in maize residues without yield reduction and 3-4 percent WP improvement is recommended in similar areas.

In order to study the effect of drought stress on growth of new hybrids of maize an experiment was carried out at Safi Abad Agricultural Research Center, Dezful, Iran. The experiment was arranged as a split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments consisted of four levels of drought stress (irrigation after 75(±5) (Control), 95(±5) (mild stress), 115(±5) (moderate stress) and 135(±5) mm (severe stress) evaporation from a Class-A pan as main plots and three hybrids of corn (SC704 late-maturing hybrid as local check, Karoon late-maturing hybrid and Mobin medium-maturing hybrid) as subplots. Based on the results, the highest grain yields of 6570 and 6590 kg/ha were obtained under control and mild drought stress conditions, respectively, while the lowest grain yields of 5660 and 4280 kg/ha were obtained under moderate and severe drought stress conditions, respectively. Karoon and SC704 had the highest and the lowest grain yield of 6370 kg/ha and 5160 kg/ha, respectively. Karoon and Mobin hybrids had a greater ability to maintain their yield under drought stress conditions, compared to SC704. Drought led to increase in root depth and Mobin hybrid had the maximum root penetration of 26.6 cm. Drought stress also led to early maturity in the maize hybrids and plants of Karoon hybrid grown under drought were matured 5 days earlier than the non-stressed plants. Increasing the severity of drought led to decrease in dry matter yield by about 56.2 percent compared to control, indicating the key role of water availability in dry matter production. Moderate and severe drought stresses decreased the root dry weight by 4.8 and 9.7 percent, respectively, compared to control. Karoon hybrid had the highest harvest index of nearly 48 percent. Severe drought stress increased the protein content and Mobin hybrid had the highest protein content of 9.34 percent. According to the results, Karoon hybrid was matured 5 days earlier and had greater harvest index and grain yield compared to the control.

In order to study the effect of drought stress and soil compaction on corn growth an experiment was carried out in 2012 at Safi Abad Agricultural Research Center. The treatments were arranged in split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications on 704 single cross hybrid corn. Drought stress was considered as the main plot at 4 levels (irrigation after 75, 95, 115 and 135 mm evaporation from A pan), and soil compaction was as the subplot at 4 levels (no traffic congestion, mild with four times, the average density with 8 times and the intensity density with 12 times of tractor traffic). Based on the results, the drought and soil compaction stresses affected many of the traits. The effects of drought and soil compaction were statistically significant on stem diameter, root deep, number of brace roots per plant, root and shoot dry weight, harvest index, number of ear bearing plants at harvest and grain yield characteristics. The effect of soil compaction stress was significant on root dry weight and reduced it. Only the effect of drought stress was significant on chlorophyll and protein characteristics. Brace roots growth in soil compaction stress conditions was stimulated and was higher than drought conditions. But grain yield was not affected by increasing the number of brace roots. Increase in soil compaction prevented root growth to depth. Conversely, the drought stress cause increased root growth to depth. Stresses weakened maize stem diameter with constant process. The constant processes were observed in reduction of shoot and grain yield dry weight by application of stresses. The drought stress more than soil compaction can affect chlorophyll and protein content of grain. This indicates the important role of water in the field. Drought stress was able to reduce the harvest index, but soil compaction in the most severe condition can reduce it. Both stresses reduced the number of ear bearing plants.

This study was conducted to assess the ability of LEACHN model for predicting nitrate and ammonium in the soil profile under corn at the Safiabad Agricultural Research Center, over two growing years. Three irrigation levels (50, 75, and 100% water requirement) and three nitrogen fertilizer levels (150, 225, and 300 kg N ha-1) were applied through fertigation in three equal splits during the first irrigation, 6 to 8 leaves, and before flowering stages. The results of model calibration showed that nitrification and denitrification rates with 0.17, 0.004 per day and a dispersion coefficient equal to 200 mm provided the minimum mean bias error (MBE) and the maximum modeling efficiency (EF). Therefore, the MBE and EF values for nitrate varied from -2.09 to 3.89 and -0.1 to 0.88 respectively. However, model predictions for NH4 mobility through the soil profile were lower than that of nitrate mobility. Comparison between predicted and measured values did not show nitrate leaching below 60 cm in the soil profile in any treatments. Statistical indexes of MBE, EF, and coefficient of variation (CV) for soil moisture content predictions in different depths varied between 0.003 and 0.019, 0.24 and 0.73, and 5.8 and 17.9% respectively showing the high accuracy of model in prediction of soil moisture content.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different levels of irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer on nitrate movement, yield, and water use efficiency (WP) of corn in no-till planting method. The research was conducted in two years as a randomized complete block design arranged in a split block treatment design with three replicates in the Safiabad Agricultural Research Center. Irrigation treatments amounts of 50%, 75%, and 100 % of crop water requirement (I1, I2, and I3) were allocated to the main plots, and three levels of nitrogen i.e. 150, 225, and 300 kg ha-1 (N150, N225, and N300) were in the sub plots. The average corn yield of 5 t ha-1 showed that summer corn no-till planting in wheat residue without any tillage practice was applicable in Khuzestan climate conditions. Irrigation treatments had a significant effect on corn yield (p<0.01), such that the maximum yield (5.5 t/ha) was obtained from I3 with 1037 mm applied water, and minimum yield (4.2 t/ha) was from I1 with 786 mm of water. Nitrogen had significant effect on yield (p<0.05) and protein percent (p<0.01), such that the N300 treatment had the maximum yield of 5.4 t/ha with a protein percent of 10.1%. In all treatments, fertilizer was leached within 0-30 cm soil layer, while nitrate concentration in deeper layers was 30-50% of the surface layer. However, in deeper layers, nitrate concentration variation in the same fertilizer treatment was not much.

For a determination of optimum levels of water and Nitrogen fertilizer, as regards corn yield and nitrate movement in soil, a split-plot experiment, using a randomized complete block design of three replications was conducted in Safiabad Agricultural Research Center, on a silty clay loam soil. Three irrigation levels (50, 75, and 100% of water requirement) and three Nitrogen fertilizer levels (150, 225, and 300 kg N ha-1) were applied through fertigation in three equal splits of first irrigation, 6 to 8 leaf and flowering stages. The results revealed that the treatment of 100% water requirement with 932 mm of water consumption and 0.75 kg m-3 of water productivity displays a significant difference as compared to the other treatments. In addition, nitrate concentration in the 0-30 cm of soil layers was significantly higher than those in the other layers. The NO3-N leaching in soil layer deeper than 60 cm was not observed in any of the fertilizer level and fertigated stages for the schedueled irrigation in heavy textured soil, and in the climatic conditions of the North of Khouzestan Province.

Irrigation management, soil tillage method and fertilizer management play important roles in increasing crop yield and water and solute movement in the soil profile. The present research was conducted to study the effects of a no-tillage system and nitrogen fertilizer on the mineral nitrogen movement and soil moisture under optimum irrigation conditions. The study was conducted at Safiabad Agricultural Research Center in silty clay loam soil and a warm, semi-arid climate. Two methods of corn seedbed preparation, including conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT) at three nitrogen levels (150, 225, 300 kg per hectare) were implemented. The nitrogen source was urea and was applied through fertigation in three equal splits at first irrigation, four-leaf and flowering stages. Nitrate and ammonium were measured before and 10 days after fertigation and after harvesting at 30 cm depth increments down to 120 cm. Inflow and outflow rates, soil moisture before and after irrigation, and bulk density were measured. The results indicated that no significant difference was observed between soil bulk density at the initial, middle and end of the cropping period for both tillage systems. The greatest moisture level was observed in the upper soil layer (0-20 cm) under NT (about 3%) for all pre-irrigation measurements. Inflow and outflow rates indicated that NT increased applied water and decreased runoff for every irrigation as a result of residues accumulated in the furrows. Nitrate concentration in the 0-30 cm soil layer for the two tillage methods was significantly higher than for the other layers (P<0.01). No significant differences were found between soil nitrate concentration and nitrate movement in soil layer for both tillage systems. Thus, nitrogen fertilizer application in the NT system with direct drilling on wheat residue is recommended at the same level recommended for CT. The levels of NH4-N in pre- and post-fertigation applications were generally low than the NO3-N level and no significantdifferences were found in the soil layers for both tillage systems.

The effects of three levels of soil moisture content (8-10, 10-12 and 12-14% d.b.) and three levels of plowing depth (15, 20 and 25 cm) on draft, specific draft and drawbar power requirement of a 7-shank chisel plow in a clay loam soil were investigated. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with a 3×4 factorial. The effect of plowing depth on all of the parameters mentioned was highly significant. Implement draft and drawbar power requirement both increased with plowing depth, whereas a decreasing trend of specific draft with depth was observed. Soil moisture content had no significant effect on draft and specific draft of chisel plow in the range of moisture contents studied, though both parameters were minimized at 10-12% m.c. At this moisture level, the drawbar power requirement showed a significant reduction comparing with the other two moisture levels. This indicated that the soil was close to its optimum friability at this moisture content. Soil penetrometer readings, taken before and after plowing, indicated the existence of a hardpan from about 8 to 20 cm below the surface which was broken by chisel tines, but another hard layer formed under the plowing depth by the chisel points. Comparison of the results from the present study with those from the previously published works on chisel plow draft at similar plowing depths showed that the values obtained for draft and specific draft were acceptably close to those previous investigators. Also, a comparison with the findings of Loghavi and Moradi on moldboard plow draft under similar conditions confirmed the reports of previous investigators to the effect that a chisel plow requires approximately one-half of the draft of a moldboard plow with the same working width and depth.