f. sheikh

This study evaluated the quantitative and qualitative traits of 13 local summer squash populations. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design with 3 replications for two years (2019 to 2020). The following traits were considered in this study: number, weight, length, width, and length/width ratio of fruits, seed yield, seed yield/fruit yield ratio, 1000 seeds weight, percentage of empty seeds, seed length, seed width, seed kernel/whole seed ratio, and seed oil percent. Also, quality tests were conducted including ease of separation of skin from the kernel, taste quality, and desirability of seed shape and size from the consumer's point of view. The analysis of variance showed significant differences in most of the studied traits. Based on the results of the mean comparison of traits, the highest seed yield was observed in Ghalami-Kalaleh#1 and Mashhady-Azadshahr and then Mashhady-Khoy populations. The highest taste quality from the consumer point of view belonged to the Goushti-Kalaleh population. The results represent a positive and highly significant correlation between seed yield and fruit number. No significant correlation was observed between seed yield and other related traits. It is recommended that fruit number trait be considered in selecting programs and modifying high-yielding populations.

To investigate adoptability and pattern of G × E interaction, 15 faba bean lines as well as four check cultivars (including Barekat, Saraziri, Baloochi and Zereshki) were evaluated using a randomized complete block design with three replications in four agricultural research field stations of Gorgan, Dezful, Brojerd and , Iranshahr, Iran during two cropping seasons (2015-2016 and 2016-2017). Combined analysis of variance showed significant effects of location, year, year × location interaction, genotype × location interaction, genotype × year interaction and year × location × genotype interaction on grain yield. Stability in performance of the 19 genotypes was tested using GGE-Biplot approach across eight environments. GGE- Biplot analysis using a genotype × environment interaction (GEI) model explained 91.5% of total interaction effect variance. View of polygon graph revealed three superior mega-environments and the compatible genotypes were determined for each mega-environment; Gorgan (Line G15), Brojerd-Iranshahr (Line G3) and Iranshahr (Line G19). Lines G15, G7 and G13 with average seed yield of 3439, 3128 and 3094 kg ha-1, respectively, had higher seed yield and yield stability. Based on GEI and GGE- Biplot analysis, Gorgan and Brojerd experimental environments had good differentiation ability. Finally, genotypes G12, G14 and G15 were the most stable genotypes with wider adaptation to all the tested environments and can be recommended as the superior genotypes for being released as new commercial faba bean cultivars.

This study was carried to assess seed yield stability and genotype × environment interaction of 15 faba bean promising lines together with four control cultivars using randomized complete block design with three replications in four experimental field stations; Gorgan (rainfed), Dezful (irrigated), Borujerd (rainfed), Iranshahr (irrigated), in two cropping seasons (2015 -17). Combined analysis of variance showed that genotypes differed significantly for days to 50% flowering, plant height, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, 100-seed weight and seed yield. FLIP03-069FB, ILB1266 × ILB1814 and WRB2-7 × Giza Blanca promising lines had the highest seed yield, respectively. Environment main effect accounted for 76.43% of total observed variation in seed yield, whereas genotype and genotype × environment interaction effect accounted for 6.31% and 17%, respectively. The multivariate analysis using additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) showed that the six first principal components had significant effect in explaining genotype × environment interaction effect, and explained 99.69% of the total of observed variation. The AMMI stability value (ASV) discriminated WRB2-7 × Giza Blanca, ILB 3626, Barkat × BPL 465 promising lines and cv. Barkat with high seed yield stability, respectively. Barkat × New Mammoth promising line and cv. Zereshki had low seed yield stability, respectively. Also, Gorgan and Borujerd environments, due to their high interaction, were identified as the ideal environments for discriminating faba bean genotypes. In conclusion, WRB2-7 × Giza Blanca promising line with average seed yield of 3285 kg ha-1, high yield stability and wide adaptation was identified as the superior genotype for being released as new commercial faba bean cultivar for target regions.

In this study, different genotypes of faba bean were evaluated for Tolerance index and biochemical compounds under drought stress. 21 Genotypes of faba bean were studied based on RCBD design with three replications in two irrigation treatments (including normal irrigation and drought stress) during two cropping years (2018-2019) at Gorgan Agricultural Research Station. Based on the potential (Yp) and stress (Ys) yields, drought tolerance including Stress Tolerance Index (STI), Tolerance Index (TOL), Stress Susceptibility index (SSI), Mean Productivity (MP), Geometric Mean Productivity (GMP), Yield Index (YI) and Yield Stability Index (YSI), stress Susceptibility Percentage Index (SSPI) were calculated for each genotype. According to data combined analysis, drought stress has significant effect on all studied traits. In drought stress, seed hull tannin, Endosperm tannin, and starch were 31.5, 19.7 and 1.96% more than normal conditions, respectively. Genotype×drought interaction showed the G-faba-66, G-faba-65, G-faba-62, G-faba-294, G-faba-292, G-faba-523, G-faba-525, and G-faba-20 genotypes in normal irrigation and the G-faba-67, G-faba-66, G-faba-75, G-faba-72, G-faba-65, and G-faba-62 genotypes in drought stress had the highest seed yield. G-faba-65 genotype showed the highest resistance to drought stress based on Tolerance index and biochemical compounds content.

To investigate the effect of inoculation with Rhizobium legominosarum and Pseudomonas fluorescens on grain yield, leaf area index, and dry matter accumulation and allocation of Vicia faba L., an experiment was conducted as a split-plot in a randomized complete block design with four replications at Agricultural Research Station of Golestan Province, during the cropping seasons of 2015-2017. As the main-factor, Rhizobium was considered at two levels of with and without inoculation, while the sub-factor included Pseudomonas in density levels of 0, 9×103, 9×105, 9×107, and 9×109 cells or CFU mL-1 of inoculants. A logistic model by SAS, was used in order to estimate the changes in the leaf area index and the dry matter accumulation. Combined analysis of variance for the two years of study indicated that the climatic conditions influenced the bacteria effects. In the second year (less temperature and rainfall), the traits (maximum leaf area index, maximum dry weight and grain yield) indicated a significant reduction in comparison with the first year. P. fluorescens had a significant positive effect on grain yield in the two years. None of the bacteria had significant effect on maximum leaf area index. Results of the first year showed a positive effect of the inoculation of Rhizobium on maximum dry weight (8%) in comparison with the control. Co-inoculation of Rhizobium with Peseudomonas (9×105 CFU mL-1) led to the greatest dry matter distribution coefficient for stems in podding stage. In the second year, Peseudomonas (9×109 CFU mL-1) increased maximum dry weight (23%) in comparison with the control. Also, the density increase of Peseudomonas under co-inoculation with Rhizobium led to a significant reduction of the day to maximum LAI. In conclusion, co-inoculation Rhizobium with Pseudomonas can have a positive effect on the growth indices of faba bean.

To investigate the effect of sowing date on vegetative characteristics, yield and yield components of faba, 5 faba bean genotypes along with Barekat cultivar (control), a split plot experiment based on completely randomized design with 4 replications was conducted at Agricultural Research Station of Gorgan in 2014-2015. Three sowing dates of 6th of December, 21st of December and 5th of January and Barekat cultivar and 5 large seeded genotypes of G-faba-8, G-faba-10, G-faba-621, G-faba-9 and G-faba 620 were assigned to main-plots and sub-plots, respectively. The results of variance analysis showed that interaction of sowing date ×cultivar was significant for all studied traits except for plant height and tillers per plant. Due to significance of the interaction, it was sliced. The results of mean comparison showed that delay in sowing led to significant reduction in plant height, 100 grain weight, green pods and grain yield. Mean genotype yield for sowing dates of 6th of December, 21st of December and 5th of January was 403.17, 346.04 and 337.15 g.m-2, respectively. At 5th of January, G-faba-621 ،G-faba-620 and G-faba-10 genotype had a higher yield compared to other genotypes. According to the findings, higher yields may be obtained in delayed cropping using genotypes.

The response of seed yield and its components of 21 faba bean genotypes to drought stress was assessed using randomized complete block design with three replications, under two moisture environments; non stress (optimum irrigation) and drought stress (cut off of irrigation form commencement of flowering) and in two cropping seasons (2016-17 and 2018-19) at Gorgan agricultural research station, Gorgan, Iran. Combined analysis of variance showed that moisture environment had significant effect on all studied traits except 100-seed weight. Drought stress caused reduction in seed and biological yields as well as harvest index by 59.71%, 31.81% and 41.92%, respectively. Genotypes; G-Faba-66, G-Faba-65, G-Faba-62, G-Faba-294, G-Faba-292, G-Faba-523, G-Faba-525 and G-Faba-21, under non stress conditions (optimum irrigation), and G-Faba-67, G-Faba-66, G-Faba-75, G-Faba-72, G-Faba-65 and G-Faba-62, under drought stress conditions, had the highest seed yield, respectively. G-Faba-67 showed the highest level of tolerancee to drought stress considering seed yield, number of seed pod-1 and harvest index.

Intercropping, i.e. growing two or more crops together on the same land at the same time. The intercropped legumes/cereal systems reduce inter-specific competition by enhancing complementarity/facilitation processes thereby improving the exploitation of environmental resources; on the other hand, it has led to improved crop production, which is due to greater efficiency in the intercropping system. Salehi et al. (2018) in intercropping of triticale with annual legumes reported that the highest plant height, number of spike per m-2, spikelet number per spike, grain number per spike, grain and biological yield of triticale were obtained in the sole crops but the lowest economic yield of triticale was achieved from intercropping of triticale with vetch, respectively. The purpose of this study was to investigate the response of growth, yield and yield components for different fababean cultivars affected as in intercropping with triticale in order to achieve the most suitable combination in terms of maximum yield and land use efficiency in Urmia weather conditions.

In order to evaluate yield and yield components of different faba bean varieties in intercropping with triticale, a field experiment was conducted based on a randomized complete block design with thirteen treatments and three replications at the Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Iran, during the growing season of 2018. Treatments were included sole cropping of triticale, replacement intercropping of triticale with five-faba bean varieties (Mahta, Histal, Feyz, Barkat, Luzde otono and Shadan) in ratios 1:1. Triticale was harvested when spike turned brown and different faba bean varieties were harvested when the first pod of the plants fully matured. Field data were collected by cutting 10 plants randomly from each plot and yield component of each plant was considered as the average for each plot. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed using SAS software; version 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA) and significant differences between treatments were compared with the Duncan test at P≤0.05.

The results showed that the highest plant height, spike length, number of spike per m-2, spikelet number per spike, grain number per spike, grain and biological yield, and chlorophyll a and b contents of triticale were obtained in the intercropping system. Also, the maximum nodule number, nodule dry weight, plant height, length pods, number of seeds per pod, 100- seed weight, seed and biological yield, and chlorophyll a and b contents of different faba bean varieties were achieved from intercropping and the lowest amounts of mentioned were recorded in the sole cropping of both plants, respectively. The higher seed yields of the intercropping systems compared to the sole cropping were probably due to the better use of environmental resources by balancing inter-specific and intra-specific interactions. The average chlorophyll content of both plants in the intercropping system was higher than the sole cropping. Increasing the chlorophyll content in the intercropping system was attributed to the better availability of nutrients, light, and water.  However, the partial LER of faba bean was higher than triticale, indicating that the former was the dominant plant in intercropping patterns. In addition, the highest LER total was calculated for intercropping triticale with Feyz faba bean (2.2 units) and the lowest total LER (1.9) was computed to the triticale with Barkat faba bean hat represents an increased advantage in intercropping than sole cropping.

Our study showed that the productivity of different faba bean varieties in intercropping with triticale could be increased by environmental conditions. The maximum seed and biological yield of both plants were obtained at intercropping. The LER was higher than one in all intercropping treatments compared to sole cropping systems. According to the results, it seems that the use of the intercropping system is remarkably effective to increase the economic income and land-use efficiency.

Agricultural intensification has had negative effects on the environment. The sustainability in the agricultural systems that provides sufficient food on the one hand and maintains the quality of the environment on the other hand, is very important. In assessing the sustainability of agricultural systems, the contribution of both environmental and economic resources must be taken into account. Emergy analysis has many indices in which the efficiency, renewability, environmental burden, and sustainability of a system can be assessed in terms of environmental and economic. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the resource use efficiency and sustainability indices for two autumn and spring potato systems and provide suggestions for optimum and sustainable management of the crop.

In this study, two production systems of potato were evaluated using emergy sustainability indices in Gorgan County, Iran during the period of 2017-2018. To this end, 100 and 60 farms were selected for autumn and spring potato, respectively. To analyze the production systems, the spatial and temporal boundaries of the system were defined and resources were divided into four categories: renewable environmental sources (R), nonrenewable environmental resources (N0), purchased renewable resources (FR), purchased nonrenewable resources (FN). Emergy flow for each item was multiplied by their transformities in joules and grams. In this study, emergy indices were calculated and compared by t-test between warm and cool production systems.

Total emergy inputs for the autumn and spring potato production were estimated as 1.71E+16 and 1.76E+16 sej ha-1 year-1, respectively. In autumn potato production, dependence on purchased inputs was higher than environmental inputs, while in spring potato production, the dependence of environmental inputs was higher than purchased inputs. Groundwater emergy was the largest emergy inputs of the total in both autumn and spring potato production systems with a share of 23.92% and 45.28%, respectively. In autumn and spring potato production system, transformities were 1.50E+05 and 2.54E+05 sej j-1; emergy renewabilities were 22.85% and 12.78%; emergy yield ratios were 1.44 and 2.06; emergy investment ratios were 2.29 and 0.94; environmental loading ratios were 29.10 and 30.02; and emergy sustainability indices were 0.05 and 0.07, respectively. There is a significant difference between the emergy indices of the autumn and spring potato production systems. Despite the higher contribution of environmental resources in the spring potato production system, the high consumption of groundwater as a non-renewable input led to an increase in environmental burden. The use of new irrigation methods will improve water consumption and, as a result, reduce environmental pressure on ecosystems. The autumn production system was more favorable in terms of yield and resources use efficiency, renewability and environmental sustainability than the spring production system. The economic sustainability of the autumn potato production system was slightly lower than that of the spring potato production system, largely due to the unreasonable use of purchased inputs such as seed and fossil fuels. Optimum management of inputs such as seed and fossil fuels will increase economic sustainability in the autumn potato production system. The optimization of economic inputs will increase economic sustainability in production systems (Kohkan et al., 2017).
 

Two autumn and spring potato production systems in Gorgan had significant differences in terms of resources use efficiency, input renewability, environmental burden and ecological sustainability. The autumn potato production system was more favorable in terms of resources use efficiency and environmental sustainability. The economic sustainability of the autumn potato production system was slightly lower than that of the spring potato production system. Optimizing inputs through the use of appropriate seeds (size and recommended amount), the use of soil tillage and modernization of machinery and diesel engines of the well will increase the economic sustainability of the autumn ecosystem.