sh.mahmoudi

In this study, meteorite pieces, with total weight of 259 grams, have been studied which is not listed in the world bulletin of meteorites. In order to classify these samples, after preparing microscopic thin sections and performing accurate petrography, using geochemical data of the major elements and trace elements of whole rock, obtained from XRF and ICPMS methods in Zarazma company’s laboratory, have been studiied. At first, the samples which have properties of meteorites are completely separated and other samples and classified according to common petrographic and geochemical methods. As a result, all of the nine of selected meteorite samples belong to the category of chondrite meteorites with petrological type H4. Also, in terms of secondary characteristics, such as special metamorphism and space weathering, the samples have been studied, in addition they are in the group of meteorites with S2 and W2 level of weathering and metamorphism.

In this study, the interactive effects of soil moisture and SS levels were investigated on alfalfa (Medicago sativa c.v Garehyounjeh) shoot and root fresh weights, water use efficiency (WUE), and concentrations of some elements in a loam soil under greenhouse conditions. A factorial experiment based on a randomized complete blocks design with three replications was conducted with two factors: soil moisture at three levels (0.81 FC–FC, 0.56–0.75 FC, and 0.35–0.50FC) and SS at four levels (0, 15, 30, and 60 g/kg soil). When 10% of the alfalfa plants flowered, the shoot and root fresh weights, concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) and WUE of alfalfa plant were measured. The results showed that the main and interactive effects of SS and soil moisture on alfalfa shoot and root fresh weights, WUE, and concentrations of elements were significant (p≤0.01). The decrease in soil moisture content, decreased alfalfa shoot and root fresh weights, WUE, concentrations of Fe in the shoot and concentrations of P, Fe, and Na in the root (p≤0.05); while it increased concentrations of Cu in the root, and Cu and Zn in the shoot (p≤0.05). Effect of soil water content on concentrations of N, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, and Mn of the root depended on the level of SS. Concentrations of Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn in the root and shoot and concentrations of P, K, and Ca in the root were increased (p≤0.05) with the use of SS and increase in its level. By increasing the SS level, shoot and root fresh weights were initially increased and then decreased (p≤0.05). Effect of SS on WUE depended on soil water content. With sufficient water supply (0.81FC–FC), WUE was increased with increment of SS level, while under water-deficit stress (0.35FC–0.50FC), application of SS up to 30 g/kg increased WUE but at the level of 60 g/kg, increase in the soil salinity reduced WUE (p≤0.05). To increase WUE and improve the nutrition and growth of alfalfa at similar conditions, 30 grams of SS per kilogram of soil may be recommended under both well-watered and water-deficit conditions. Although the use of sewage sludge had some beneficial effects in this experiment, the potential risks of heavy metals in long-term application of this organic waste should be considered and avoided.

Due to low organic matter content in most of the cultivated soils of Iran and occurrence of drought stress in plants because of low precipitation, application of sewage sludge compost has been recommended for increasing soil organic matter content and improving soil fertility, increasing crop tolerance to water deficit and improving crop yield. So, in this study, the effects of soil moisture and sewage sludge compost levels were investigated on leaf chlorophyll index and some growth traits of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in greenhouse conditions. A factorial experiment, based on randomized complete blocks design with three replications, was conducted with two factors of soil moisture conditions at three levels (0.81FC-FC, 0.56FC-0.75FC and 0.35FC-0.50FC) and sewage sludge compost at four levels (0, 15, 30 and 60 g/kg of soil). Results showed that the effect of soil moisture levels on leaf chlorophyll index was dependent on the level of sewage sludge compost. Soil water deficit significantly decreased shoot and root dry weights and plant height (P<0.01). The sensitivity of alfalfa shoot to soil water deficit stress was greater than its root. Application of 15 and 30 g sewage sludge compost per kg of soil significantly increased leaf chlorophyll index, shoot and root dry weights, plant height and shoot to root dry weight ratio (P<0.01). The interaction effects of soil moisture and sewage sludge compost on leaf chlorophyll index, shoot and root dry weights, plant height and shoot to root dry weight ratio were significant (P<0.01). The highest shoot and root dry weights, plant height and shoot to root dry weight ratio were observed at 30 g sewage sludge compost per kg of soil and 0.81FC-FC soil moisture level. Also, the results showed that application of 30 g sewage sludge compost per kg of soil alleviated water deficit-induced adverse effects on alfalfa plant.

Performance evaluation models are essential for assessment and improvement of management systems. However, they should be customized for specific requirements of their users, usually corporations. The purpose of this article is to develop a model to evaluate the performance of HSE management systems according to the corporations’ strategies. This article is a qualitative research based on the case study method which reports the strategic performance evaluation of the HSE management system in a large corporation. Studying many existing models and standards in the field of HSE management systems, we customized a model based on the BSC framework. The model, then, has been peer-reviewed and refined through Individual Depth Interviews (IDIs) with three HSE experts and consultants of the corporation in terms of validity and applicability. According to the model and its scoring guide, the strategic performance of the corporation’s HSE management system has been evaluated by external impartial HSE auditors. The HSE management system of the organization in this case study scored 63.9 of 100 as the HSE strategic performance indicator. Based on the detailed scorecards of each indicator, the study revealed that the company had a great performance in ‘HSE processes’ layer whereas there had been some weaknesses in ‘Learning and Growth’ layer especially in “human and information capital” indicators of strategic performance. The case study results show that the customized Balanced Scorecard (BSC) model developed in this research could evaluate and measure the strategic performance of HSE management systems of the case. Moreover, the model is a starting point to measure strategic effects of HSE management systems in organizations.