mohammad ali asgari sarcheshmeh

Apples are among the products facing the challenge of high wastage levels from production to preparation for market distribution. The present study aimed to identify solutions to improve waste management in the apple supply chain in Tehran province from the perspective of farmers. The study population consisted of apple producers in Tehran province (N=9310), and the sample size of 188 was determined using Cochran's formula. Cluster sampling was employed for sample selection. Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire, which was validated and confirmed for reliability using expert opinions and Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Data analysis was conducted using exploratory factor analysis. According to the results, annually, 22% of apple production is converted to waste in the production sector. According to farmers' perspectives, strengthening producers' marketing infrastructures and skills, enhancing production and maintenance infrastructures, improving access to suitable financial resources and credit, enhancing knowledge and awareness among stakeholders, and organizing the apple marketing system are among the most important strategies for apple waste management in the supply chain as perceived by farmers.

In this study, the effect of 5 nutrient solutions containing different ratios of ammonium nitrogen to total nitrogen on quantity and quality properties of two apple varieties (Golabe-Kohanz and Granny Smith), were studied. One of the nutrient solution (number 1) had no ammonium nitrogen but the ammonium to total nitrogen ratios of other nutrient solutions were, 0.04, 0.07, 0.10, 0.14 meq/liters, respectively. Fresh weight, length, diameter and length to diameter ratio of fruits (shape of fruits), fruit firmness, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), titrable acidity (TA) and TSS / TA ratios were evaluated. When ammonium nitrogen increased in nutrient solutions there was no significant difference in fruits fresh weight and shape of fruits. While firmness, pH, total soluble solids significantly decreased when the ammonium to total nitrogen ratios increased in nutrient solutions.

To investigate the effect of different fertilizers on yield and health related traits of pomegranate fruit, a field experiment was carried out during 2014 and 2015 seasons on six years old pomegranate trees cv. ‘Bajestani’ growing in sandy loam soil under drip irrigation system in Khalilabad city, Khorasan, Iran. Organic fertilizers including: cow manure (25 kg/tree), vermicompost (5 kg/tree), and granulate humic (2 kg/tree) were applied without or with biofertilizers (azetobarvar, phosphobarvar and potabarvar at 1 liter/tree) by placement method. Results showed that plants treated with combination of organic and biofertilizers had higher yield and lower fruit drop than plants treated with organic fertilizers individually. The lowest fruit cracking (7.5%, 2.25%) as well as fruit infestation with Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller) (27.5%, 25.34%) were observed in the plants treated with both biofertilizers and humic in 2014 and 2015, respectively. The most infestation to E. ceratoniae was observed in control treatment (38.07%, 31.44%) in both years, respectively. Fruit sunburn was not affected by nutrition of any type in both years. Results of leaf analysis revealed that plants treated by a combination of biofertilizer and humic had higher levels of macro and micronutrients compared with untreated plants. Altogether, our results suggest that biofertilizer in combination with organic fertilizers, especially granular humic, could be used in pomegranate orchards management to improve pomegranate yield, as well as to prevent crop losses resulting from cracking, nutrient deficiency and E. ceratoniae infestation.

Production of high quality with high shelf life of apple fruits, is of great importance. Present study investigates the effects of ammonium nitrate and iron on quality and antioxidant properties of apple fruit cultivar Gala in a randomized complete block design. Foliar application of iron chelate in three levels (0, 5 and 10 mg/l) and soil nutrition of ammonium nitrate in three levels as strip (0, 40 and 60 mg/kg per tree), were applied. Results showed that using iron and ammonium nitrate had a significant effect (P≤0.01) on fruit quality. According to these results, using ammonium nitrate increased total antioxidant activity and total phenolic compounds. With increasing iron concentrations, total antioxidant activity increased, but it reduced the amount of total phenolic compounds. Application of iron decreased total acidity and increased fruit flavor index. According to results, treatments had no significant effect on TSS and color indices. This study showed that balanced nitrogen and iron fertilization could increase the quality and antioxidant contents of apple cv. Gala.