محمدعلی خلج

To investigate the effect of different culture media on seed germination and the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Hippeastrum hybridum seedlings, 9 different culture media including: 1) 100% sand, 2) 100% fine perlite, 3) 50% sand + 50% fine perlite, 4) 50% sand + 50% cocopeat 5) 50% perlite + 50% cocopeat, 6) 33% sand + 33% cocopeat + 33% perlite, 7) 50% peat + 50% perlite, 8) 33% peat + 33% cocopeat + 33% perlite, 9) 50% peat + 50% sand. Then, 90 seeds of almost the same size were planted in three replicates and 30 seeds in each bed at the same time. The results showed that the highest germination rate from treatment 9 (50% peat moss + 50% sand) with 11.8 seeds per day, the best germination period related to treatment 8 (33% peat + 33% cocopit + 33% perlite) On 8.2 days, the maximum diameter and weight of bulb from treatment 2 (100% perlite) were obtained with an average of 0.62 cm and 0.27 gr, respectively. The maximum leaf width was obtained from treatments 2 (100% perlite) and 3 (50% sand + 50% perlite) with an average of 0.57 cm. The maximum root length was obtained from treatment 6 (33% sand + 33% cocopeat + 33% perlite) with an average of 4.66 cm.

Chrysanthemum is one of the five main cut flowers in Iran. Knowledge about the optimal range of macro-nutrientsespecially nitrogen (N), for the best quantitative and qualitative characteristics of chrysanthemum is of great importance. Randomized complete blocks design in three replications was implemented in this research. Five levels of N included 0, 75, 150, 225 and 300 kg/ha (ammonium nitrate) has been applied to chrysanthemum "Borna" cultivar in Mahalat city of Iran. These traits were measured: Score of life after harvest, branch number, flower numbers, flower longevity, days to flowering, chlorophyll, dry weight, shoot fresh weight, crown diameter, stem diameter and flower diameter. The results showed that maximum crown diameter, flower longevity, chlorophyll index, fresh and dry weight of the plant were obtained at the level of 150 kg/ha, compared to the control. Also, the highest total absorption of macro-nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK)), and micro-nutrients (iron, manganese, zinc and copper) was observed at the level of 150 kg/ha fertilization. According to the results, N application in the level 150 kg/ha can be recommended to have best growth condition for the "Borna" cultivar of chrysanthemum in Mahalat city.

Ideal plant cultivation substrates have become the first and most important prerequisite for the successful cultivation of any plant. One of the appropriate methods to achieve optimal performance and produce flowers with marketable quantity and quality is to use mineral and organic substrates as a substrate for growing ornamental plants. Today, in soilless cultivation systems, various inorganic and organic cultivation substrates are used worldwide. Not only good physical, chemical, and biological properties are important for a substrate, but a suitable culture medium must be available, relatively cheap, stable, and economically viable. Ornamental plant production worldwide has changed dramatically in the last 20 years. There are various reasons, including cheap labor and other initial costs, production has moved to new countries in Africa, Asia, and South America. Ornamental bulbous plants are herbaceous species that are morphologically characterized by regeneration structures located in underground storage organs, such as rhizomes, tubers, and bulbs. Amaryllis has a terminal inflorescence. The flowers are large and the colors vary with species, hybrids and varieties, but it varies from dark red to white, green and orange to mixtures. Amaryllis is produced commercially as cut flowers, pot plants, or propagation material (bulb), as well as gardening and landscaping. It produced as pot plant in Iran. Quality and quantity yield improvement of ornamental plants such as amaryllis is affected by genetic and environmental factors. Growing media is an agronomic factor. One of the important requirements in the production of horticultural products to achieve high yield and good quality, especially in the case of ornamental plants, is the plant cultivation media.

The growth of amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.) was evaluated using different pot mixtures (v: v). This study was conducted as a completely randomized design with three replications in the Ornamental Plants Research Center (OPRC) in 2019-2020 on amaryllis. In this experiment, the applied treatments were included the type of substrate at 13 different levels,1) 80% perlite + 20% coco-peat,2) 60% perlite + 40% coco peat,3) 40% perlite + 60% coco peat,4) 20% perlite + 80% coco peat,5) 80% perlite + 20% peat moss,6) 60% perlite + 40% peat moss,7) 40% perlite + 60% peat moss,8) 20% perlite + 80% peat moss,9) 25% fine-grained perlite + 75% mixed perlite,10) 50% fine-grained perlite + 50% mixed perlite,11) 75% fine-grained perlite + 25% mixed perlite,12) 100% fine-grained perlite and 13) 100% mixed perlite. At the end of the experiment, Plant growth was measured by different parameters such as fresh and dry weight of shoots and root, leaf length and width, number of leaves, bulbs diameter, number of bulbs as well as nutrients uptake in the plant shoot were measured.

The results of variance analysis showed that there is a significant difference among substrates. It seems that the medium of 80% perlite with 20% cocopeat or 20% peat improves plant growth by absorbing more nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium nutrients. Therefore, the morphological characteristics of Amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.) were also improved. 

Our findings indicate the relationship among media and improving the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.), which has been reported in other studies as well.

Gladiolus is one of the most important cut flowers in the world, especially in Iran. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of spraying different calcium doses and sources on quality and quantity of Gladiolus grandiflorus cv. Rose Supreme. The experiment was conducted in a factorial randomized complete block design with three replications. The calcium concentrations were 0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2 and 1.5 g L-1 and its sources were CaCl2 and CaNo3 with three replications, during two years in 2017-2019. The data revealed that foliar application of calcium doses had significant effects on most quality and quantity growth parameters. Increase calcium doses stimulated flower stalk height, flowering stem diameter, spike length, inflorescence fresh and dry weight, inflorescence bending, vase life, and leaf calcium concentration. Calcium at a dose of 1.2 g L-1 increased flower stem bending and diameter resulted in expanded vase life by 26.5 and 36.7 %, respectively compared to control. Therefore, pre-harvest foliar application of calcium nitrate at 1.2 g L-1 level increased leaf calcium concentration and stems bending that led to the delay of senescence and therefore increased flower longevity. In this experiment, we had not any limitations and everything was well done. Use of calcium fertilizers improved the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of gladiolus flowers.

Calla lily (Zantedeschia spp.) from the family of Araceae is an herbaceous perennial flowering plant commercially usedasa cut flower andfor green spaces. No research has studied the effects of different growth media on the calla lily. This study mainly aimed to investigate the effects of different growth media on growth parameters and nutritional status of the calla lily. The experimental design was laid as a randomized complete block design with three replications conducted in a semi-mechanized greenhouse (%RH= 70 ± 5, Temp= 24 ± 4 °C) during 2019-2020. The treatments included 13 growth media composed of perlite and cocopeat at ratios of 80:20, 60:60, 40:60, and 20:80, perlite and peat moss at ratios of 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, and 20:80, fine-grained perlite and perlite at ratios of 25:75, 50:50, and 75:25, fine-grained perlite alone, and perlite alone. The changes in the ratio of perlite to cocopeat from 80:20 to 20:80 increased shoot weight compared to perlite lonely. The changes from 80:20 to 40:60 of perlite to cocopeat raised leaf length, width, and number. Increasing cocopeat or peat moss to perlite led to an increase in rhizome diameter. However, this increase was lower in higher proportions of them. The ratios of 80:20, 60:40, and 40:60 of perlite to peat moss increased leaf nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium contents. The use of different growth media (perlite, cocopeat, and peat moss) were suitable for this plant due to the better supply of the essential elements.

This experiment was performed to evaluate the effect of different nitrogen forms (ammonium to nitrate ratio) on the growth and flowering characteristics of two gerbera cultivars (‘Stanza’ and ‘Double Dutch’). The aim was to recommend the appropriate amount of NH4+:NO3¯ ratio in the nutrient solution to optimize quantity and quality characteristics in gerbera. This experiment was conducted in a completely randomized factorial design with two factors including NH4+:NO3¯ ratios and cultivar type with three replications. The NH4+:NO3¯ ratios (0:100, 20:80, 40:60, and 60:40) were supplied as a first factor and second factor was gerbera cultivars (‘Stanza’ and ‘Double Dutch’). The results indicated that increasing ammonium concentration in the nutrient solution to more than 40% of total N, significantly reduced growth indices and gerbera flower numbers compared to NH4+:NO3¯ ratio of 20 to 80. Results showed that the highest flower number (314 flowers m-2 year-1), stalk dry weight (5.2 g), flower stalk diameter (0.92 cm), flower stalk weight (2.31 Kg) and vase life (14 days) were obtained in 80:20 of NH4+:NO3¯ ratio. Thereofre, nutrient solution with NH4+:NO3¯ ratio of 20:80 is an appropriate solution recommended for commercial production of gerbera cut flowers in order to achieve the optimum quantity and quality yield of Cut Gerbera.

This research was carried out to investigate the effects of different commercial nutrient solutions on growth and yield of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.) cut flowers in open soilless culture system. The experiment was set up in a completely randomized factorial design with three nutrient solutions (S1: Schreurs, S2: Florist and S3: Research Station for Floriculture and Greenhouse Vegetables, RSFGV) and two gerbera cultivars (Red “Stanza” and Yellow “Double Dutch”). Results showed that minimum days to the first flower bud appearance (38.2 days) and days to the first flower harvest (58.5 days) were obtained from Red cultivar supplied with the S3 nutrient solution. The highest number of leaves (12.3 leaves/plant), stalk length (52.2 cm), stalk fresh weight (38.4 g) and number of flowers (291 stalks/m2.yr) were obtained from Red cultivar supplied with the S3 solution, while maximum vase life (11.4 days) was obtained from Yellow cultivar supplied with the Schreurs nutrient solution. Based on the results, RSFGV nutrient solution (S3) can be recommended as a basic nutrient solution for commercial gerbera cut flower production in hydroponic.

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of different substrate on growth and yield of Gerbera flower. The experiment was performed using 10 treatments as fallow: fine sand، peat +fine sand (%25+%75)، peat + fine sand (%50 +%50)، perlite + peat (%75 + %25)، perlite + peat (%50 + %50)، perlite + peat (%25 + %75)، perlite + peat + expanded clay (%25 + %70 + %5)، perlite + peat + expanded clay (%50 + %25 + %25)، perlite + peat + expanded clay (25%+ %50 + %25)، peat + expanded clay (%50 + %50)، as a completely randomized design with 3 replications. All treatments irrigated with same nutrient solution. Results showed that planting beds statistically significant differences in morphological characteristics، macro and micro nutrients in plant. Results showed that the media containing perlite + peat + expanded clay (%25 + %70 + %5) is the best of all. In this treatment، flower number، flower disk diameter، shoot diameter، shoot neck diameter، flower height and vase life were 207 (m2/year)، 12. 4 cm، 0. 8 cm، 0. 58 cm، 54. 5 cm and 11. 6 days، respectively. In this treatment، concentration of Nitrogen، Phosphorus and Potassium were 4. 17، 0. 8 and 4. 34 percent، respectively and micronutrients concentration as Iron، Manganese، Zinc، Copper، and Boron on the plant leaves were 155. 73، 194. 83، 148. 56، 44. 92 and 51. 5 mg kg-1 dry weight، respectively.

This study was conducted to evaluate N2-fixing ability of rhizobia strains inoculated with common bean. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 13 treatments including 10 Rhizobium isolates، two nitrogen fertilizer levels (200 and 400 kg urea per ha) and one control (without Nitrogen and rhizobium) in four replications at Esmaeel Abad research station of Qazvin. Plant sampling was done in two growth stages and nodule number and dry weight، shoot dry weight and total N-uptake and seed yield were evaluated. Results of two years field experiment showed that isolate L-75 showed the superior N2-fixing performance and had the highest positive effect on growth factors and could be recommended to use as inoculants strain in Qazvin region. This isolate، produced highest nodule number and dry weight in both years of study. Seed yield production was promoted by 26 and 40% more than control by application of isolate L-75 in the first and second year، respectively. This study showed that inoculation of common bean with effective rhizobia strains resulted in promoting of plant growth and seed yield production and have the benefit to reduce nitrogen fertilizer application in bean cropping.

Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) is one of the most important cut flowers in tropical and subtropical areas. This flower has forth order in cut flower and second order in bulbous plants production in Iran. Plant spacing and nitrogen necessity are the most important factors for tuberose quality and quantity. In this study، field experiment carried out as factorial design in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) format whit 3 replications. Different level of nitrogen (0، 50، 100، 150، 200 and 250 kg/ha) in ammonium nitrate was the first factor. Second factor was different plant spacing (10x10، 15x15، 20x20 and 25x25 cm×cm). Plant space (25×25 cm) has significant effect on flower stalk height، stem diameter، spike length، floret diameter، vase life and also nitrogen، phosphorus and potassium uptake as well. Nitrogen usage as 200 kg/ha N could improved significantly growth indices and yield of tuberose as flower stalk height، stem diameter، spike length and nitrogen uptake.

This experiment was carried out at National Research Station of Ornamental Plants, Mahallat, Iran, to investigate the effect of different substrates on growth and yield of gerbera flower. The experimental design was randomized complete blocks, using 14 treatments with 3 replications as: fine sand, peat + fine sand (25% + 75%), peat + fine sand (50% + 50%), perlite + peat (75% + 25%), perlite + peat (50% + 50%), perlite + peat (25% + 75%), perlite + peat + expanded clay (25% + 70% + 5%), perlite + peat + expanded clay (50% + 25% + 25%), perlite + peat + expanded clay (25% + 50% + 25%), perlite + expanded clay (50% + 50%), coco peat, coco peat + perlite (75% + 25%), coco peat + perlite (50% + 50%) and coco peat + perlite + expanded clay (50% + 25% + 25%). Results indicated that the medium containing perlite + peat + expanded clay (25% + 70% + 5%) had significant difference with other media in number of flowers, flower disk diameter, shoot diameter, shoot neck diameter, flower height and vase life. In this media, number of flowers, flower disk diameter, shoot diameter, shoot neck diameter, flower height and vase life were 207 per m2/year, 12.4 cm, 0.8 cm, 0.58 cm, 54.5 cm and 11.6 days, respectively. With respect to the quantitative and qualitative traits of gerbera flower, among the studied substrates in this experiment, mixture of perlite + peat + expanded clay (25% + 70% + 5%) was the best medium and could be recommended to the gerbera growers.

The World Tourism Organization (WTO) estimates that international tourist arrivals are predicted to grow by an average 4. 1% a year over the next two decades, surpassing a total of one billion international travelers by the year 2010 and reaching 1. 6 billion by the year 2020. Tourism is the world’s largest employer, generating, directly and indirectly, nearly 200 million jobs or some 10% of the jobs globally. Ecotourism is a nature based form of specialty travel defined by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) as “responsible travel to natural areas which conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of local people. Recent information showed that most of this section is related to ecotourism travelers that will have grown 10-30 % in future. It is predicted that until next decade the number of ecotourism will have been over 20 % and even 50% of total tourist travels. The existence of individual natural resources, local and national parks, forests, green spaces and landscapes, different climate, temperature and rainfall …is the best situation for development of ecotourism industry in Iran. Important case that to reach it, on the basis of world standard and scientific ways, Not only can improve the natural resources quality and their ruin prevention, but also affect on local and national economical, cultural and social development that are inseparable in related to them.