جستجوی مقالات مرتبط با کلیدواژه « k ratio » در نشریات گروه « زراعت »

The concept of resilience focuses on the ability to survive and grow in changing circumstances. Rice production in Guilan province faces many risks in the production system, product and input markets. During the recent years, the decrease of the runoff from the big Sefidroud basin and water deficit has threatened the sustainability of rice production in this province. In this situation, it is necessary to pay attention to the resilience of paddy farmers and to plan properly to identify and prioritize the drivers affecting it. Various dimensions of resilience, including economic, social, technical and physical, were considered in this study. The objective of this study was to identify different drivers separately for these four dimensions and prioritize them using the opinion of sample experts.

The research decision tree was designed with the aim of prioritizing the drivers affecting on the resilience of paddy farmers after summarizing the findings of previous researches and the opinion of sample experts in the form of four criteria and 19 sub-criteria. The research tool was a pairwise comparison questionnaire consisting five comparison groups and 46 pairwise comparisons, which was completed by 10 experts in the field of agricultural resilience in the University of Guilan, Guilan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, and Rice Research Institute of Iran. The grey analytic hierarchical process was used to analyze the data related to pairwise comparisons. The algorithm of this process was implemented in eight steps using MATLAB software. The findings of this process were validated based on the incompatibility index value less than 10%.

The results of this study showed that the economic criterion with a relative weight of 60.30% was the most important driver of paddy farmer’s resilience among the all criteria of the decision tree. Technical, social, and physical criteria with the relative weights of 20.71%, 12.44%, and 6.55%, respectively, were placed in the second to fourth ranks, respectively. The economic sub-criteria, including the assets of the paddy farmer family, income and assets of the paddy farm, were assigned the importance of the first to third priorities, respectively. The final weights related to the three mentioned sub-criteria were 19.43%, 17.19% and 12.15%, respectively, which indicates the high priority of economic drivers in the resilience of paddy farmers. The results of the distance of standard deviation from mean showed that the above mentioned three economic sub-criteria had a very high impact on resilience. Also, the economic sub-criteria of financial affairs and budget and subsidies along with the technical sub-criteria of access to inputs are introduced as drivers with high impact intensity on the resilience of paddy farmers.

The findings of the research indicated the high importance of economic criterion and sub-criteria on the resilience of paddy farmers in Guilan province. Therefore, attention to these drivers and proper planning to improve them should be on the agenda of provincial managers. Adopting the strategy of diversifying farmer’s income sources by using the development of tourism and rural handicrafts and focusing on the creation of workshop-service areas in rural regions will be a way forward in this regard. Also, planning to improve the financial capital and assets of paddy farmers as the most important driver of resilience should be considered. The technical criterion is also very important in the resilience of rice farmers. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the access of rice farmers to inputs and promote the use of modified and resistant seeds.

Increasing water and soil salinity and the damage caused by it on plant products make it necessary to investigate the effects of salinity on crop plants. Studying the physiological traits changes under stress conditions is a suitable method for identifying the factors that affect crop tolerance to salinity stress and selecting tolerant cultivars.

A factorial experiment was conducted based on a randomized complete block design with three replications in the research greenhouse of the faculty of Plant Production, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural. Experiment factors included the applying four salinity levels with Hoagland solution (no application of salinity as control, application of 30, 60, and 80 mM NaCl) and different soybean cultivars (Hill, LBK, BP, Hog, Deer, Gorgan 3, Sahr, Hobbit, Williams, JK, and LWK). In this experiment, soybean seeds were inoculated with Rhizobium japonicum bacteria and planted in pots containing sand. The irrigation was done by distilled water from the planting until the appearance of the main leaf, and after that, Hoagland's solution (without nitrogen) continued. Seedlings were harvested after 60 days and Na+ and K+ percentage, Na+/K+ ratio, proline, nitrogen percentage, nitrogen yield, and total dry weight were measured. Analysis of variance and comparison of the means (LSD test) was done by the SAS software (version 9).

The results show that with increasing the salinity, sodium percentage, Na+/K+ ratio, and proline amount increased and total dry weight, potassium percentage, and nitrogen yield decreased. Deer cultivar with the highest percentage of nitrogen at the levels of 0, 30, 60, and mM NaCl and the lowest percentage of nitrogen reduction (28%) have the lowest total dry weight reduction (54%) from the control treatment to the 80 mM treatment. Hag cultivar have the lowest increase in sodium percentage and the lowest percentage decrease in potassium absorption and the lowest Na+/K+ ratio compared to other varieties. LWK, LBK, and Sahar cultivars had the lowest tolerance to salinity with the highest amount of sodium accumulation, the highest Na+/K+ ratio, and low production of proline, and dry matter. The results of correlation coefficients showed that there was the most positive and significant correlation between total dry weight and potassium percentage (0.904**) and nitrogen percentage (0.902**).

According to the obtained results, it seems that the tolerant cultivars deal with salinity stress with mechanisms such as more potassium absorption and osmotic potential regulation. Among the investigated cultivars and according to the measured indicators, the Deer cultivar was recognized as a tolerant cultivar and can be used for cultivation in saline lands and the Hag cultivar can be used in breeding programs.

About 98% of chickpea cultivation is dry-land in Iran. This subject indicating the importance of producing this product according to water scarcity in this country. While in 2021, the production of chick peas were 172.8 thousand tons and, 107 thousand tons of chickpeas with value of 95.8 million dollars were imported. Compared to 2019, the import volume of chickpea has increased by 66.5% and the import value has increased by 88.5%. In other hands, the trade balance of chickpeas in 2021 was negative. In the conditions of exchange limitation, the volume and value of agricultural products imports becomes a challenge. Discovering major exporter countries can help both exporters and importers of chickpeas to planning for contribution in global markets. On the other hand, determining the global market structure helps to design and implement trade strategies with a lower cost.

This study is documentary method, and the data and information were derived from FAO statistical database, International Trade Center (ITC) database. Data analysis and trends during 2017-2021 was done. In order to identify the structure and determine the market power, concentration ratio and Herfindahl indices have been used. These indicators help to identify the market power. When a group of market firms have higher bargaining power compared to others, market power is appeared.

In 2021, more than 2.3 million tons chick peas with value of 1.45 billion dollars have been traded in the world. More than 15% of the world import was related to Bangladesh. After that, India, Turkey and Iran have the next ranks. The volume of chickpea imports by Iran has increased by 89% compared to 2020 with import of 107 thousand tons in 2021. Also, the share of Iran from global imports of chick peas reaches 6.6%. While in 2017, the structure of the global chickpea market was a monopoly with a dominant country (Australia), this structure has changed to a closed multilateral monopoly (Australia, Russia, Turkey and Canada) in 2021. Turkey and Russia being the major exporters of chickpeas, and this subject, brings an opportunity to joint trade agreements or importers of chickpeas at a cheaper price.

In crop breeding programs, comprehensive information is needed regarding the genetic structure of plant materials and their combinability. In this regard, the present study was carried out with the objectives of evaluating the general combining ability of parents and the specific combining ability of crosses, determining the nature and extent of gene action, and finally estimating the heritability of quantitative and qualitative traits of sugar beet hybrids by the analysis of line-tester crosses.

The study was conducted as a line-tester crossing using nine lines and two testers of sugar beet. For this purpose, maternal lines were planted in the middle lines and pollinator lines were cultivated in two lateral lines and all the crossings were done by observing the points related to isolation. A number of 18 hybrids obtained from the line-tester cross were cultivated and investigated in the agricultural research station of Shiraz in randomized complete block design with four replications during the crop season of 2019-2020.

The results of analysis of variance of root yield, sugar yield, white sugar yield, sugar content, white sugar content, sodium, potassium, harmful nitrogen, alkalinity coefficient, extraction coefficient of sugar and molasses sugar percentage showed that among studied hybrids, there is a significant difference at the 1% probability level in terms of all the traits except the two traits of sugar content and white sugar content. Line-tester analysis confirmed that the additive and non-additive effects of genes are involved in the expression and inheritance of root yield and sugar yield; However, in the genetic control of white sugar yield, sugar content, white sugar content, sodium, potassium, nitrogen, alkalinity coefficient, extraction coefficient of sugar and molasses sugar percentage, genes with non-additive effect have not played a role, and according to the significance of the general combining ability effect of the line or tester for the mentioned traits, only genes with additive effect are involved in the control. In total, from the used lines in the present study, 950123 and from the experimental testers, F-21121 had positive effects with regard to the improvement goals of sugar beet. S1-24 and F-21122 were associated with negative effects and caused a decrease in the breeding value of the traits.

Overall, obtained results showed the existence of diversity among hybrids derived from crossing between lines and testers. Based on the results, genes with both additive and non-additive effects are involved in the control of root yield and sugar yield, but in the inheritance of sugar yield, sodium, potassium, harmful nitrogen, alkalinity coefficient, extraction coefficient of sugar, and molasses sugar percentage, only genes with additive effect are involved. Considering that general combinability shows the additive effects of genes, so parents with high general combining ability also have a large additive effect that can be used in cultivar production.

In order to investigate the effects of different intercropping arrangements on quinoa and bean, a field experiment based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) was conducted with three replications during growing season of 2019-2020 in Ahar, northwest of Iran. The treatments included different intercropping patterns consisting of 1 row of quinoa + 1 row of bean (1:1), 1 row of quinoa + 2 row of bean of quinoa (1:2), 1 row of quinoa + 3 row of bean of quinoa (1:3), 2 row of quinoa + 1 row of bean of quinoa (2:1), 2 row of quinoa + 3 row of bean of quinoa (2:3), 3 row of quinoa + 1 row of bean of quinoa (3:1), 3 row of quinoa + 2 row of bean of quinoa (3:2) and sole cropping of quinoa and bean. Results showed that intercropping patterns had significant effect on all of the studied traits of quinoa and bean. The maximum grain yield (1123.4 kg/ha) and biological yield (2625.25 kg/ha) of quinoa were obtained at 2 row of quinoa + 3 row of bean in quinoa and sole cropping, respectively. The maximum grain yield and biological yield for bean were achieved at sole cropping. The average yield loss (AYL) index of quinoa in different arrangements of intercropping was higher than the AYL of bean, which indicates that quinoa in intercropping is more resistant to yield reduction compared to bean. The highest land equivalent ratio (LER) values (1.84) were obtained from 2 row of quinoa + 3 row of bean arrangement. This means that intercropping improved land use efficiency by 84%, compared with monocropping.

Vermicomposting fertilizer is an ecological approach that improves both yield quantity and environmental quality. This study was carried out in the field of agriculture faculty of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz in 2021 at two stages. In the first stage, the experimental design was a split plot with 4 crop residues (i.e. wheat, rice, sugarcane, and corn) in the main plot and 2 weight ratios (i.e. 30 & 40%) were supplot with 3 replications. In the second stage, the experimental design was a randomized complete block with 3 replications which included 8 different vermicomposting that were produced in the first stage. Results of the first stage showed that wheat 40% residue treatment produced the highest mature worm weight due to the highest mature worm population which resulted in the highest total worm weight. For all crop residue treatments, the total worm number was reduced by the increase in crop residue quantity from 30% to 40%. This reduction was affected by the reduction in the immature worm population. Despite the increase in mature worm numbers, it could not compensate for the effects of reducing the number of immature worms. Increasing the percentage of the residue of each crops from 30% to 40%, the amount of vermicompost fertilizer production was reduced, but on the other hand, the amount of non-fertilizer compounds was added. The highest sesame seed yield (1154/6 kg/h) belonged to a wheat residue with a 30% weight ratio. This superiority is influenced by the superiority of seed weight in capsule, seed number in capsule, and seed 1000 weight characters. In conclusion, the results of this research showed the importance of paying attention to the raw material in the production of vermicompost both in terms of impact on the biological and chemical properties and on the agronomic properties of the crop. A point that is perhaps less noticed now. So, it is recommended that in sustainable agriculture or organic farming it is better to produce vermicompost fertilizer suitable for each crop.

A field experiment was carried out as a randomized complete block design with four replications to investigate the agronomic traits and grain yields of sesame and soybean intercropping at Research Farm of Sari Agricultural Science and Natural Resources University for two years (2018-2019). The mixing ratios were 25:75, 50:50, 75:25 (soybean: sesame, respectively), and monoculture of two crops. Results showed sesame monoculture had the highest branches and capsules per plant. In the Soybean crop, the mixing ratio of 50:50 was more successful in producing the branches and pods per plant than other mixing ratios. Also, sesame and soybean monocultures had the highest grain yield with an average of 2077.43 and 4365.32 kg. ha-1, respectively,. The mixing ratio of 50:50 and 75:25 (1.17 and 1.01 in average, respectively) had higher LER than one. Finally, the more significant contribution of complementary effect (83.98 %) and selective effect (76.73 %) on grain yield at 50:50 and 75:25 mixing ratio increased the productivity of the intercropping system, respectively.  Meanwhile, the little increase in efficiency in the 75:25 mixing ratio was related to the 76.73% contribution of the selective effect and the competitive dominance of soybeans in the intercropping.

Intercropping is one of the ways to achieve sustainability in agriculture. However, studying its economic and competitive indicators is critical to optimizing production. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the status and amount of consumption inputs in monoculture and intercropping systems in Khuzestan province. The required information was collected through a questionnaire and a field survey of 111 farmers. The results showed that intercropping with a land equivalent ratio of 1.40, gross and net production value of 7269.23 and 4090.19 dollars per hectare, and superiority in benefit-cost ratio, system productivity, and economic efficiency has a higher yield than okra monoculture. Also, the total cost of intercropping with 3179.04 dollars per hectare and input energy with 81269.27 megajoule per hectare were 23.20 and 3.18 % higher than monoculture, respectively. According to the results of this study, intercropping of okra and cucumber with superiority in economic and competitive indicators can be the optimal cultivation pattern of okra in Khuzestan province. However, it is necessary to optimize the intercropping input to reduce the total cost and input energy.

To evaluate the competition of millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L) Merrill) in the intercropping system, a field experiment in two years (2018-19) was conducted in a randomized complete block design with four replications at the Sari Agricultural Science and Natural Resources university. The planting ratios were 0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0 (Soybean: Millet, respectively). The results showed that the radiation use efficiency (RUE) was higher in different intercropping ratios than the millet monoculture (0:100). In different intercropping ratios, the RUE of millet decreased significantly with increasing the share of soybean. So that in the 105 days after planting, the RUE of millet in 75:25 was 47.74 and 29.41 percent less than the expected values in studied years, respectively. Also, the planting ratio of 25:75 in the 90 days after planting had the highest chlorophyll a/b ratio in soybean and millet. The 25:75 had the most elevated land equivalent ratio index (1.23), and the millet actual yield loss (AYL) was only positive (2.01) in the 25:75. Therefore, increasing the RUE in intercropping culture and improving millet grain yield as the dominant species played an important role in increasing productivity in the planting ratio of 25:75.

In order to investigation the effect of the application of single and mixing of propyzamide and ethofumesate herbicides in the control of dodder, grass and broad leaves weeds of sugar beet, three experiment carried out at the greenhouse of sugar beet seed breeding research institute in 2017. The experiments were performed in a completely randomized design with 30, 10 and 9 treatments and four replications, respectively. Result showed that the effect of mixing different doses of Propyzamide and Ethofumesate herbicides and species of different area dodder on all studied traits in the present study was significant 1%. In general, the percentage of final germination (82.7%), daily germination rate (0.18 days) and the percentage of connection of Ardabil dodder to the host plan (82.7%) were higher than Alborz and Qom species. The highest percentage of weed conection of the dodder to the sugar beet was observed in the treat that cultivation distance of 5 cm. Application of Propisamide 2.5 L.ha-1 and Propisamide 1.5 L.ha-1 + Ethofumesate 1 L.ha-1 in connecting the dodder to the host, compared to Ethofumesate could control of dodder weeds (100%) and reduction of fresh and dry weights, density and chlorophyll of thin and broad leaveas weed and increased leaf chlorophyll and yield of sugar beet in green house condition. Therefore, the application of these treatments can be used in the control of parasitic, thin and broad leaves weed of sugar beet and application Propisamide 1.5 L.ha-1 + Ethofumesate 1 L.ha-1 in connecting the dodder to the host, can be considered in addition to the mentioned effects and in reducing the environmental effects of the use of chemical herbicides.

A field experiment has been carried out to study the competition between soybean and sesame in different planting ratios of intercropping based on replacement method. It is based on a randomized complete block design with four replications at Sari Agricultural Science and Natural Resources University during 2019. The planting ratios are 0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0 (Soybean: Sesame respectively), using replacement method. Results show that intercropping has had a significant effect on the percentage of N derived from the atmosphere and light use efficiency. Among the different planting ratios, the maximum amount of biological nitrogen fixation is related to the 90-days after planting, and the 75:25 and 25:75 planting ratios have had the highest (75.95%) and lowest activity rates (42.67%), respectively. In addition, the highest light use efficiency in intercropping is related to the 120-days after planting. At this stage, the light use efficiency in 75:25 and 50:50 ratios are 2.03 and 1.92 g.MJ.-1, respectively. The highest land equivalent ratio is 50:50, with an average of 1.12. Finally, increasing the light use efficiency in planting ratios of 75:25 and 50:50 prove to be essential in increasing soybean's biological nitrogen fixation and increasing the efficiency of intercropping cultivation.

One way to create sustainability and maintain the health of the agricultural ecosystems is to use intercropping. There are many reports on the effect of intercropping on population decline and increasing weeds diversity. In a study at all intercropping ratios, the dry weight of weeds was lower than the monoculture of two species of Sweet Corn and Mung Bean (Gholi Nejad et al., 2018). It was also reported that in intercropping, weed diversity increased compared to monoculture, but biomass decreased (Patience et al., 2013). Abadian et al, (2014) also showed that cowpea in additive intercropping with basil, reduced the population and biomass of weeds compared to monoculture of basil. This study was designed and conducted with the aim of studying the effect of relay triple intercropping of Sugar Beet with Chickpea and Mung Bean on density, dry weight and biodiversity of weeds in Mashhad weather conditions.
 
This experiment was conducted based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Research Farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad during the growing season of 2015-2016. Treatments were 25% Chickpea (Mung Bean)+75% Sugar Beet, 50% Chickpea (Mung Bean)+50% Sugar Beet, 75% Chickpea (Mung Bean)+25%, Sugar Beet and monoculture of Chickpea (Mung Bean) and Sugar Beet. Legumes varied depending on the growth season, at the end of winter, Chickpea was intercropped with Sugar Beet and after harvesting Chickpea, Mung Bean was replaced by chickpea as a thermophilic plant in the late spring in the same rows of chickpea planting. During the growing season, composition of weed species together with weed density and dry matter were measure at 2 time before and after closing the canopy in randomly sampled 1×1 m2 quadrates. Using the species frequency Margalef richness index and several diversity indices including Shannon-Weiner and Simpson’s index were calculated for each treatment.
 
The highest range of weeds relative density was obtained in the first stage of sampling for Lamb's Quarters (29.81-68.1%) and in the second stage of sampling for Prostrate Pigweed (22.45-43.96%). The highest weed density at first and second sampling was observed in monoculture of sugar beet with 178 plants per square meter and the ratios of 75% chickpeas (Mung Bean)+25% sugar beet with 84 plants per square meter. Also, the highest biomass of weeds in the first and second stages of sampling was observed in monoculture of chickpeas (Mung Bean) with 48.72 g/m2 and the monoculture ratios of sugar beet with 40.49 g/m2. The highest Margalef species richness index was observed in 75% Chickpea (Mung Bean)+25% Sugar Beet and 25% Chickpea (Mung Bean)+75% Sugar Beet with 2.83 and 4.29 in the first and the second stages of sampling, respectively. The highest Shannon-Wiener diversity index was observed in 75% Chickpea (Mung Bean)+25% Sugar Beet and 50% Chickpea (Mung Bean)+50 % Sugar Beet with 0.6 and 0.76 in the first and the second stages of sampling, respectively. Finally, the highest Simpson’s diversity index was observed in 75% Chickpea (Mung Bean)+25% Sugar Beet and 50% Chickpea (Mung Bean)+50% Sugar Beet with 0.68 and 0.796 in the first and the second stages of sampling, respectively.
 
In relay triple intercropping ratios through more shading and space, the conditions for weed growth became more difficult and intercropping ratios reduced their growth. So that in total in two sampling dates, the highest density and biomass of weeds were observed in the monoculture ratios of sugar beet and the monoculture ratios of chickpeas (Mung Bean). In general, with the increase of plant diversity in the agricultural ecosystems, fewer ecological niches have been provided to weeds, which reduces the number and density of weed species. The best cultivation ratios to increase the diversity and species richness of weeds in the first sampling date was 75% chickpeas (Mung Bean)+25% sugar beet and in the second sampling date was 50% chickpeas (Mung Bean)+50% sugar beet. Based on this conclusion, intercropping can be mentioned as an effective tool to increase biodiversity and reduce the density and biomass of weeds.

Forty-six suspected herbicide-resistant winter wild oat populations collected from wheat fields of Khuzestan province were screened in a whole plant bioassay using the recommended field dose of mesosulfuron methyl+idosulfuron methyl (Atlantis %1.2 OD) and mesosulfuron methyl+idosulfuron methyl+diflofenican (Othello %6 OD). The resistance index of two populations, with the highest percentage of herbicide resistance recorded at the screening tests, to the mentioned herbicides was tested in a dose-response experiment. Thirteen and six populations showed resistance to Atlantis based on Adkins and Moss methods, respectively. Also, 18 and three populations were classified as Othello resistant populations based on Adkins and Moss methods, respectively. This is the first report of resistance to Othello in winter wild oat populations collected from Khuzestan province. A distribution map of winter wild oat populations resistant and susceptible to herbicides was prepared based on the results of the screening test. Herbicide resistance index to Atlantis in two dose-response experiments for the studied populations was ranged between 8.9 and 15.1. Herbicide resistance index to Othello was ranged between 3.3 and 15.0. Due to an increase in herbicide-resistant populations to ALS inhibitors in Khuzestan province, herbicide-resistant winter wild oat management programs should be pursued more seriously.

Phytate, the highest inorganic phosphorus in cereal grains, is an anti-nutritional factor that reduces the bioavailability of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn). The whole grains of 109 hexaploid landraces and modern bread wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.) were used to determine Fe, Zn, and phytate concentrations and their bioavailability using phytate:mineral molar ratios. In addition, some morphological and physiological features were identified as contributory factors for the screening process. In the field experiment, the concentrations of Fe and Zn, ranged between 0.036-0.255 mg/g and 0.030-0.085 mg/g, respectively. There were no significant differences in Fe and Zn concentration between the bread wheat cultivars and landraces. Therefore, efforts made by breeders for developing high-yielding wheat didn’t have detrimental effects on Fe and Zn concentrations. The modern bread wheat cultivars showed a significantly higher phytate concentration than landraces. Grain phytate ranged from 15.07-28.77 mg/g resulting in a variation in phytate:Fe of 6.24-58.14 and phytate:Zn of 32.20-77.22, indicating poor bioavailability of these minerals. The identified drawbacks were due to relatively high phytate concentration which in turn could be due to a high level of soil phosphorus concentration, suggesting increasing mineral bioavailability by the breeding methods to reduce the phytate and phytate:mineral ratio. In the solution culture experiment, the role of root length, root dry weight, and root nutrient concentration in distinguishing cultivars’ Fe uptake was demonstrated. The study also revealed that lower values of root length, root dry weight, and leaf dry weight led to lesser leaf Fe which in turn caused reduced contents of photosynthetic pigments and chlorophyll fluorescence. Due to high Zn and Fe concentration, and low concentration of phytate and phytate:mineral molar ratio, some of the current landraces such as Khoram Abad (1), Sarouq (4), Eskan Arak (2), and Hoseinabad Arak could be exploited by breeding strategies in biofortification programs.

Undoubtedly, one of the biggest human challenges in the present age is food security, and salinity stress is one of the main obstacles to achieve this goal. In this regard, this experiment was conducted with the aim of selecting tolerance barley cultivar(s) to salinity stress and identifying tolerance mechanisms in new and old barley cultivars.

This experiment was carried out during the two years of 2016-17 in the Milshbar Ardakan region located in Yazd province. Experimental treatments included 9 six-rowed barley cultivars including Nik, Mehr, Khatam, Reyhan, Goharan, Nosrat, Morocco, Afzal and Fajr 30 cultivars in three levels of irrigation water salinity including 4, 10 and 14 dS/m were evaluated as a split plot experimental design so that water salinity as the main plots and cultivars as a sub-plots were randomly placed. The studied traits included yield and yield components. At the maturity stage, several plants were selected from each experimental plot and sodium and potassium were measured.

The results showed that salinity and cultivar treatment had a significant effect on the yield and yield components including number of seeds per spike, number of spikes per square meter and 1000-kernel weight. Salinity stress reduced grain yield components and among the studied cultivars, Nik, Mehr, Khatam and Reyhan cultivars had higher yield and yield components. Among the salinity treatments, the highest grain yield was obtained at 4 dS/m with 5770.64 kg/ha. With increasing salinity to 10 and 14 dS/m, grain yield decreased by 18.04 and 27.55%, respectively, and reached to 4729.29 and 41.8080 kg/ha. Among the studied cultivars, the highest grain yield was obtained in Nik with 5317.7 kg/ha and Mehr, Khatam and Reyhan were not significantly different with this cultivar. In salinity of 10 dS/m, the lowest grain yield variation were obtained in Goharan and Mehr cultivars and in salinity of 14 dS/m it was in Mehr and Afzal cultivars. The highest STI index in salinity of 10 compared to 4 dS/m was calculated in Nik and Mehr cultivars with 0.922 and 0.921, respectively. The highest value of this index in salinity 14 compared to 4 dS/m was also obtained in Nik and Khatam cultivars with 0.882 and 0.858, respectively.

Considering the amount of sodium and potassium absorbed by the plant and the K/Na ratio, it seems that tolerant cultivars cope with salinity stress by the mechanism of potassium uptake and excretion of sodium and regulation of cell osmotic potential. In general, among the studied cultivars, Nik, Mehr and Khatam cultivars had higher stress tolerance indices of STI, MP, Tol and these cultivars can be used for cultivation in saline lands of the region as well as for hybridization and breeding programs.

To study the management of different systems of maize (Zea mays) and cow pea (Vigna unguiculata) intercropping affected by biofertilizers in alley cropping, a split plot experiment based on a randomized complete blocks design was conducted in 2016 in Aleshtar city, Lorestan province. The main factor consisted of plant cropping ratios: single cropping of maize (M1), 75% maize + 25% vigna (M2), 50% maize + 50% vigna (M3), 25% maize + 75% vigna (M4), and single cropping of vigna (M5) and the second factor of different combination of biofertilizer consumptions: seed inoculation with 100 g.ha-1 azetobacteria and azospirilum (B1), seed inoculation with 200 g.ha-1 azetobacteria and azospirilum (B2) and without seed inoculation (B3). Results showed that the maize and cowpea yields and their components were influenced by crops and biofertilizer ratios significantly. Highest maize and vigna yields (11350 and 3250 kg.ha-1 respectively) were obtained by 75% maize + 25% vigna treatment. The highest yields of maize and vigna (11850 kg and 3450 kg.ha-1 respectively) were obtained by seed inoculation with 200 g.ha-1 bacteria. The highest land equivalent ratio (LER) with an average of 1.55 was observed with cropping ratio of 75% maize + 25% vigna. This indicates the usefulness of intercropping compared with single croppings of these two plants. It can be concluded that the best treatment in this study was 75% maize+ 25% vigna intercropping and seed inoculation with 200 g.ha-1 bacteria.