rohollah moradi

Ticks are forced vertebrate ectoparasites, including humans, and are vectors of serious diseases such as Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, Relapsing Fever, and various forms of encephalitis. Spatial assessment of the prevalence of ticks and detection of high risk areas for tick-borne disease transmission and evaluation of ecological measures are key aims of this research.

Ticks were collected using standard methods from 27 villages in the region of Sarab County in north-eastern Iran during the four seasons of 2018–2019 and identified using valid keys. The calculations of indices for biodiversity were based on the Margalef index, Shannon-Weiner index and Simpson index. R2.15 Statistical software was used for statistical analysis of indices of biodiversity, and ArcMap10.4.1 software, IDW and GeneralG methods were used. Analysis were used to investigate spatial distribution and to determine important tick hotspots.

 A total of 2500 animals surveyed, 35% of them were infected. In total, 1416 ticks were caught, 74.6 %, 23.9% and 1.4 % were adult, nymph and larvae respectively. 94% of the ticks were hard ticks including 6 genera. According to the Margalef diversity index, the highest species biodiversity was related to summer (1.4234), and the lowest was relat ed to winter (0.7379),

Large hotspot area was found in the central part of the study area. The area of study was very prone to tick-borne disease transmission in terms of tick diversity and tick species richness. Tick-borne disease control is an im portant measure.

This study was conducted as split-split-plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications at experiment station of the Agricultural Faculty of Bardsir, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman at 2018. The experimental treatments were planting date (5 April, 5 May and 5 June) assigned to main plot, irrigation levels (90, 60 and 30% of filed capacity) as subplot and foliar application (salicylic acid 1 mM and water) as sub-subplot. The results showed that the delay in planting date shortened the Quinoa growth period. GDD and growth period were decreased by drought stress. May planting date has significantly higher root length (31.81 cm) and dry weight (9.09 g plant-1) than two other planting dates. The highest root length for April (28.27 cm) and May (35.92) planting dates was assigned at 60% of FC, while for June (21.27 cm) was related to no-stress condition. Averagely, grain yield for May (653.91 kg ha-1) planting date was significantly higher than April (578.7 kg ha-1) and June (460.8 kg ha-1). Decrease in consumed water to 60% of FC had no significant effect on grain yield, but the trait value in 30% of FC was significantly lower than other irrigation levels. Justly at severe drought level, grain yield was significantly increased by foliar application of salicylic acid than water application. Relationship of grain yield was positive with grain oil percentage (r = 0.82) and was negative with protein percentage (r = -0.78). Water use efficiency (WUE) was significantly higher in May planting date than in April and June planting date. WUE increased significantly with water consumption decreasing. Generally, the results illustrated that May planting date is the most suitable planting date for Quinoa in Bardsir regions and same climates. Results showed that the plant has a considerable tolerate in water stress condition.

In order to evaluate the effect of last irrigation cut-off time and various fertilizer resources on corm of saffron (Crocus sativus L.), an experiment was conducted in a split-plot arranged as a randomized complete block design with three replications and 18 treatments in a four year research farm of Jihad ministry located in Lalezar village, Bardsir region, Kerman province, in 2015-2016. The experimental treatments were irrigation cut-off time  (conventional time  (5 May), 15 days before the conventional time (20 April) and 15 days after conventional time (20 May)) assigned to main plot, and nutritional resources (cow manure 40 t ha-1, hen manure15 t.ha-1, vermicompost 10 t.ha-1, humic acid 2 kg.ha-1, and chemical fertilizer containing 200 kg.ha-1 urea and 140 kg.ha-1 P and K) as subplot. The analysis of variance results showed that the effect of irrigation cut-off treatment was significant on corm fresh, dry weight and average weight (P≤0.05), but had no significant effect on the number of corm per area and number of buds per corm. The results showed that the delay in irrigation cut-off led to a significant decrease in traits. As such, the highest corm fresh (561.5 g.m-2) and dry (294.8 g.m-2) weight and average weight of the corm (4.9 gr) were found in earlier irrigation cut-off treatment (before the conventional time). The effect of fertilizer resources on all the studied traits was significant. All the fertilizer treatments with the exception of humic acid, resulted in a significant increase in corm weight compared to control treatment. Application of vermicompost led to the production of the highest number of corm in m-2 (137.1), the corm fresh weight (595.6 g.m-2), dry weight (341 g.m-2) and average weight (4.30 g). The highest number of buds in corm (3.83) was found in chemical fertilizer treatment. In general, the results showed that irrigation cut-off in April with the using vermicompost had the best conditions for producing saffron corm in the Bardsir region of Kerman.

In order to evaluate the effect of last irrigation cut-off time and various fertilizer resources on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) flower, an experiment was conducted in a split-plot arranged as a randomized complete block design with three replications and 18 treatments in a four year research farm of Jihad ministry located in Lalezar village, Bardsir region, Kerman province, in 2015-2016. The experimental treatments were irrigation cut-off time (conventional time (5 May), 15 days before the conventional time (20 April) and 15 days after conventional time (20 May)) assigned to the main plot, and nutritional resources (cow manure 40 t ha-1, hen manure15 t.ha-1, vermicompost 10 t ha-1, humic acid 2 kg ha-1, and chemical fertilizer containing 200 kg ha-1 urea and 140 kg.ha-1 P and K) as subplot. The analysis of variance results showed that the effect of irrigation cut-off treatment was significant on all the quantitative traits, but the treatment had no significant effect on qualitative traits of flower. The results showed that the delay in irrigation cut-off led to a significant decrease in other traits. As, the highest number of flowers (41.10 in m-2), fresh (145.16 kg.ha-1) and dry (19.41 kg.ha-1) weight of flower, fresh (11.12 kg.ha-1) and dry (2.02 kg.ha-1) weight of stigma were found in the earlier irrigation cut-off treatment (before the conventional time). The effect of fertilizer resources on all the studied traits was significant except for the values of picrocrocin and safranal. In all the irrigation treatments, vermicompost and cow manure significantly produced higher flower number and stigma yield than other fertilizer treatments. Dry stigma yield in chemical fertilizer (1.91 kg.ha-1), hen manure (1. 57 kg.ha-1) and humic acid (1.42 kg.ha-1) was significantly higher than control (1.26 kg.ha-1). The highest (169.7 nm) and lowest (163.1 nm) amount of crocin were obtained in control and vermicompost treatments, respectively. In general, the results showed that irrigation cut-off in April with using vermicompost fertilizer had the best conditions for saffron cultivation in the Bardsir region of Kerman.

In order to study the most suitable planting date, planting site and variety of hoary stock for the supplying at spring season, an experiment was conducted as split-split-plot arranged based on randomized complete block design with three replications at experiment station of Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman in 2016-2017. Treatments were planting dates (5 September, 5 October, 5 November, 5 December, 5 January) assigned to main plot, planting sites (inside and outside of greenhouse) as subplot and variety (two red and white ecotypes and two violet and pink breeding varieties) as sub-subplot. The significant difference of planting date was detected in plant height, number of days to budding and flowering, floret and inflorescence diameter, number of florets per plant, fresh weight of floret and plant, and vase life of flowers but did not detect in inflorescence height. The planting site had significant effect on all the traits except plant height, inflorescence height, and leaf number per plant. The results showed that the delay in planting decreased number of days to budding and flowering in all the varieties and both planting sites. The growth period of local varieties was longer than the breeding varieties, significantly. Planting outside the greenhouse had more appropriate conditions than inside. In general, planting the local red variety at 5 October and out of greenhouse conditions was the most suitable treatment for supplying the hoary stock to the market on the first of spring.

IntroductionSustainable agricultural development is an important goal in economic planning and human development worldwide. A range of processes and relationships are transformed, beginning with aspects of basic soil structure, organic matter content, and diversity and activity of soil biota. Eventually, major changes also occur in the relationships among weed, insect, and disease populations, and in the balance between beneficial and pest organisms. Ultimately, nutrient dynamics and cycling, energy use efficiency, and overall system productivity are impacted. Measuring and monitoring these changes during the conversion period helps the farmer evaluate the success of the conversion process, and provides a framework to determine the requirements for sustainability. After improving resource use efficiency, replacement of ecological inputs with chemical inputs as second step and redesign of agro-ecosystems is as final step in transition of common to sustainable agriculture. The study was investigated to evaluation of Iran’s agricultural systems status.
Materials and MethodsUsing organic and ecological inputs than chemicals is the second step for transition to sustainable agriculture. This study was performed to assess and measure the status of inputs replacement and agro-ecosystem designing based on ecological principle in Iran. For this purpose, we used 223 studied researches on agronomical and medicinal plants. After, they analyzed based on functional and structural characteristics and then used. Considering to the importance of multi-functionality in sustainable agriculture, in this study we considered the multiple managements for inputs replacement. The using functions in the study were: improving fertility and bio-chemical characteristics of soil, ecological managements of pest and diseases, reducing the energy usage, and increasing biodiversity. Using the organic and biological inputs, remaining the plant residual on soil, using the allelopathy, reduced and conservation tillage, crop rotation and intercropping were the main approaches for inputs replacement. In section of agro-ecosystem designing, we designed the replaced systems based on increasing inputs efficiency approach (first step) and also replacement of conventional inputs with ecological inputs (second step). We considered the parameters about water, soil, pest management, biodiversity, climate change, low inputs systems, margin regions and environmental hazards in designing section. In designing sustainable agroecosystems, the designing of each component was considered in relation to others components and finally designed the total of agroecosystem as on society.
Results and DiscussionThe results of studies showed that in most cases, mechanical control of weed in addition to environmental benefits can be most effective than chemical control. Crop rotation can be considered as a suitable replacement method than chemical herbicides. Intercropping was found as an appropriate approach for pest control. Using the allelophatic properties of plants had a positive role for pest and weed control in Iran.
Increasing the biodiversity must be considered in transition to sustainable agriculture. Crop rotation, organic fertilizers and intercropping were found the effective approaches for improving biodiversity in agro-ecosystems. Sustainability of agro-ecosystem is closed with soil sustainability. The studies showed that using organic chemical, remaining residual on soil, conservation tillage, crop rotation and intercropping spatially with legumes are the improving approaches for physical-chemical characteristics of soil and replacement for chemical fertilizers. Based on the researches, one main goal for achieving to sustainable agriculture was found minimizing energy consumption. Efficient use of energy in agriculture will prevent destruction of natural resources, and promote sustainable agriculture as an economical production system. Thus, natural resources could be used more efficiently. Eliminate the use of nonrenewable off farm human inputs that have the potential to harm the environment or the health of farmers, farm workers, or consumers. Mitigation and adaptation strategies in relation to climate change and quantization of transition period from common to sustainable agriculture to reduce economic risks for farmers were regarded in the agro-ecosystem design.
ConclusionIn general, although different studies were performed in the replacement of ecological inputs instead of common inputs in Iran, needed policy is necessary to transfer findings of these researches to fields. Although the complete studies were not carried out about designing agro-ecosystem, the existence of enough results for two previous steps (increasing inputs efficiency and its replacement) could be basic for this step. Therefore, deep researches and studies based on site potential in the ecosystem level should be done in the final step of transition to sustainable agriculture.

In order to evaluate the effects of different planting dates and biological fertilizers on yield, yield components and essential oil content in Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) and Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) intercropping, an experiment was conducted in a split-plot factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design with three replications in research farm of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in 2009-2010. The experimental treatments were planting date in three levels (5 November, 5 December and 5 March) assigned to main plots, planting pattern in three levels (sole crop of Cumin, sole crop of Fenugreek and intercropping) and fertilizer in three levels (control, Pseudomonas putida and nitroxin fertilizer including: Azotobacter chroococcum + Azospirillum lipoferum) were arranged as factorial layout in subplots. Result showed that there were significant differences between planting dates of cumin and fenugreek in terms of all studied criteria except in harvest index and 1000-seed weight. Seed, biological and essential oil yields of cumin and fenugreek were higher in fall planting dates compared to 5 March planting date. Percentage of infected cumin plants by diseases was decreased in November and December planting dates (7.72 and 7.67%, respectively) compared to March planting date (36.16%). Effects of planting patterns was significant in terms of seed and essential oil yield of cumin and fenugreek. Biological fertilizers had no significant effect on cumin oil yield and had significant effect on fenugreek essential oil yield compared to control treatment. Result showed that the LER for 5 March planting date was rather higher than fall planting dates which indicated the positive effects of cropping system in this planting date. Also, pseudomonas treatment had higher LER compared with nitroxin and control treatments. Generally, the higher seed and essential oil content of cumin and fenugreek were obtained in nitroxin and pseudomonas treatments, respectively, at November planting date.