مجله به زراعی کشاورزی
سال بیست و سوم شماره 3 (پاییز 1400)

This study has been performed at the experimental farm of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Darab, Shiraz University during 2017-2018 growing season. A split factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replicates is carried out. The treatments include two levels of irrigation as the main plots [normal irrigation (IRN): irrigation based on the plant's water requirement up to the physiological maturity and water stress (IRDI): irrigation based on the plant's water requirement up to the anthesis stage]. Also, the first sub plot has been two levels of wheat residues [1. no residue (NR), 2. returning 30% of wheat residue to soil (RR)] and the second sub plot four fertilizer sources [N0, without fertilizer (control); N100, 100 kg N ha-1; Bio + N50, Biofertilizer (Azospirillum brasilense) + 50 kg N ha-1 and Bio, Biofertilizer (Azospirillum brasilense)]. The results show that copper, zinc, and iron contents are affected by N source × crop residue × IR regime interaction. The interaction show that the barley grain micronutrient contents have had a decreasing trend from IRN to IRDI treatment. Also, N fertilizer sources increase the micronutrient contents in both irrigation regimes, especially, in IRN conditions. The Bio + N50 treatment has increased the copper grain content by 74% and 72% as compared to N0 in NR and RR treatments, respectively, under IRN conditions. Also, there is a similar trend under IRDI conditions. Furthermore, the other grain micronutrient contents show a similar trend with barley grain copper content when affected by N source × crop residue × IR regime interaction. The highest grain yield belongs to Bio + N50 treatment under IRN (4049 kg ha-1) and IRDI (2256 kg ha-1) conditions. Therefore, due to the superiority of Bio + N50 in micronutrient contents, grain yield under different irrigation regimes and residues treatments, the principles of sustainable agriculture and environmental considerations, application of Bio + N50 treatment is recommended in southern regions of Iran.

In order to investigate the effects of compost and nitrogen on quantitative and protein content of forage corn and some physical and chemical properties of soil, a factorial experiment with 9 treatments in a factorial randomized complete block design has been conducted in the farm of Tehran Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center during 2014. The treatments include three levels of residual compost (0, 10, and 20 Ton.ha-1) and three levels of nitrogen (0, 100, and 200 kg.ha-1) as urea. The effect of municipal waste and nitrogen compost on yield and yield components has been significant. The use of municipal solid waste compost has significantly increased the electrical conductivity of soil, nitrate, iron, and zinc uptake, while significantly decreasing soil reaction. Waste compost application has also improved some soil physical properties. Bulk density is significantly reduced and field capacity and soil available water are increased. Therefore, in the similar soil conditions of this ersearch, the use of 200 kg.ha-1 of pure nitrogen from the urea source with 20 Ton.ha-1 of municipal solid waste compost is recommended to achieve the maximum dry forage yield of 21.44 tons per hectare.

In order to investigate the effect of municipal sewage sludge, Azotobacter, and Azospirillum on some nitrogen indices and fatty acid composition of Canola, a factorial experiment has been conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications in the field of South Tehran Water and Wastewater Company during 2016-2017 and 2017-2018. The experiment is a factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The experimental factors include canola seed inoculation in three levels (without inoculation, inoculation with azotobacter, and inoculation with azospirillum) and the use of municipal sewage sludge in five levels (control, recommended fertilizer, 10, 20, and 30 tons of sewage sludge). Results show that the interaction between seed inoculation and sewage sludge treatments on eicosanoic, palmitic, and arachidonic fatty acids has been significant at 1% and on stearic acid at 5%. Aztobacter and 30 tons of sewage sludge treatment (2680 kg/ha) has had the highest grain yield, 23.5% higher than the control treatment (2170 kg/ha). The highest amount of oleic and linoleic acid is obtained from 30 tons of sewage sludge treatment with 61.23% and 18.41%, respectively. Nitrogen uptake efficiency is the highest in fertilizer recommendation treatment with Azotobacter (16.79%). Interaction effects of inoculation and sewage sludge treatments on both trait consumption efficiency and productivity efficiency (agricultural) have been significant in terms of biomass and grain yield. Results indicate that the use of nitrogen fertilizer in proper amount, provided that it is in a timely manner, combined with inoculation could have a greater effect on productivity efficiency (agricultural) index. It can be stated that with appropriate use of sewage sludge, and necessary precautions, it can be a good substitute for nitrogen fertilizers.

The present study evaluates the effect of various application methods of mostly applied antibiotics in agriculture (gentamicin, oxytetracycline, penicillin) at different concentrations on root and shoot growth indices and number of rhizobial nodules of chickpea plant and the count of total bacteria, fungi, and coliforms in the soil around the plant root after a growth period of 60 days in greenhouse as a split-plot design. Application of antibiotics, even gentamicin, raises plant shoot dry weight, compared to the control, with the lowest weight of 0.98 g/pot observed in the control (without antibiotic). Root dry weight in penicillin-applied treatments, especially at higher concentrations has been the highest (1.1 g/pot), and the lowest in gentamicin-applied treatments, especially when applied as seed coating (0.48 g/pot). In total, antibiotic application decreases the root to shoot ratio compared to the control. Application of all antibiotics increase soil bacterial count in the pots after 60 days in comparison with the control. Also, increasing the concentration of gentamicin and penicillin, decreases plant root nodule number by 78.8% and 59.7%, respectively. Overall, the effect of antibiotics on soil microbial count and plant growth depends on antibiotic type and application method.

The present study attempts to investigate the effect of Magnesium nanoparticle spraying solution on some morphophysiological traits of sunflower under experimental drought conditions. Hence, it conducts an experiment as split split plot in a randomized, completely block design, with three replicates at the field of oilseed section of seed and plant Improvement during 2017-2019 growing season. The treatments include drought stress at two levels: normal irrigation and drought stress. The studied sunflower cultivars include Farrokh, Shams, Qasem & Barzegar, and Magnesium nanoparticles application time at Three Levels: no spraying solution, spraying at flowering stage, and grain filling stage. Results show that drought stress reduces the amount of traits such as height, shoot dry weight, number of grains per head, 1000 grain weight, head diameter, grain yield, oil percentage, and oil yield; however, magnesium nanoparticle spraying solution improves the drought stress effect and increases morphological traits. Drought stress increases electrolyte leakage index and decreases relative water content of leaves by 13% and 9%, respectively. However, magnesium nanoparticles decrease the content of electrolyte leakage index by 9% and increase relative leaf water content by 10%. The cultivars’ response to stress levels has not been the same. In general, Barzegar, Shams, Qasem, and Farrokh cultivars show the highest tolerance to drought stress. Also the highest grain yield and oil percentage are related to Barzegar cultivar by 3427.53 kg/h and 43.96%, respectively.

Drought stress is the most important factor in crop yield reduction. It is important to know how to cope with drought. This experiment is carried out to investigate the effect of organic growth stimulator (Hamoon green) on yield and some physiological indices of safflower under drought stress, during 2017-2018 in university of Zabol (Chahnime) as a split plot, based on RCBD with three replications. Experimental treatments include drought factor based on plant growth stages at three levels (complete irrigation throughout the growing season, irrigation up to terminal bud forms, and irrigation up to completed flowering) and spraying factor of organic growth stimulator at 4 levels (pure water), the foliar application has been Hamoon green 1 liter in 10 liters + calcium, Hamoon green 1 liter in 20 liters + calcium and Hamoon green 1 liter in 30 liters+ calcium. Results show that drought has reduced the height, 1000-seed weight, and oil percentage, by 44.41%, 31.24%, and 17.10%, respectively. Spraying hamoon green 1 liter in 10 liters+ calcium leads to an increase of 18.03%, 13.90%, and 13.74% for the above traits, compared to the control. The highest grain yield (1882.55 kg.ha-1), chlorophyll a, b, total and carotenoids (3.49, 0.94, 4.44, and 7.37 mg.gr-1 fw, respectively), selenium content (5.18 mg.kg-1 fw) and seed calcium content (2.91%) are obtained from hamoon green 1 liter in 10 liter + calcium and complete irrigation treatment. In general, it seems that by spraying 1 liter per 10 liters+ calcium, a good performance can be achieved.

In order to investigate the effect of water deficit stress and stress modifiers on some morphological and physiological characteristics and yield of Quinoa, a pots factorial experiment, based on a completely randomized design, with 16 treatments and 6 iterations has been done during 2019 at Urmia University. The first factor includes water deficit stress at four levels, stress at the vegetative growth stage, stress at the reproductive growth stage, stress at seed filling stage, and no stress (control). The second factor is foliar spraying of ascorbic acid, salicylic acid, nano-micronutrient chelate fertilizer, and control (water spray). Water deficit stress at different growth stages decreases plant height, a number of laterals, dry weight, fresh weight of vegetative organs, root volume, fresh, and dry weight of root and root length, compared to the control. However, electrolyte leakage and leaf temperature are increased. Results show that water deficit stress at post-anthesis stage decrease grain yield via decreasing 1000-grain weight. Foliar application of growth regulators by improving yield components, increase the yield of quinoa under water deficit stress condition. Therefore, according to the results, it seems that the use of stress modulators in quinoa under water deficit stress with stimulating growth and metabolism, lead to water deficit stress tolerance.

The present study has been conducted to investigate the duration of growth period of different cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) ecotypes and their responses to water stress based on a factorial completely randomized experiment design in the greenhouse condition at the University of Tehran in 2017. Irrigation levels include 50%, 75%, and 100% of field capacity, with the ecotypes being Urmia, Sanandaj, Tabriz, Dasht-e-Moghan, Rasht, Khomein, Daran, Qom, Shahroud, Kerman, Tabas, and Saravan. Results show that Rasht and Khomein ecotypes have had the highest and lowest duration of germination phase and growth degree-days (GDD1), respectively. The highest duration of vegetative, flowering and maturation phases belong to Dasht-e-Moghan, Rasht, and Dasht-e-Moghan ecotypes with 71.33, 30, and 46.66 (days), respectively, at 100% field capacity. The lowest durations of these phases could be seen in Tabas, Tabriz, and Saravan ecotypes with 42, 16, and 17 (days), respectively, at 50% field capacity. Also, the highest values of growth degree-days for vegetative (GDD2), flowering (GDD3), and maturation (GDD4) phases  for Dasht-e-Moghan, Kerman, and Dasht-e-Moghan ecotypes with 1788, 836, and 1169 (0C.d), respectively, at 100% field capacity, with their lowest values belonging to Tabas, Tabri,z and Saravan with 1039, 413, and 448 (0C.d), respectively, at 50% field capacity. Based on growth period duration and cumulative growth degree-days (total GDD), Tabas and Dasht-e-Moghan ecotypes are found as earliest and latest ecotypes, respectively.

In order to investigate the effect of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Saffron rhizosphere on yield and nutrient uptake, a study has been conducted as split plot factorial based on a completely randomized design with three replications in the institute of Soil and Water research in Karaj, during 2017-2020. The treatment is consisted of irrigation regime as the main factor in three levels (complete irrigation as control, water interruption at the beginning of the growing season (mild restriction water), and water interruption at the beginning and in the middle of the growing season (severe restriction water)), sowing media in three levels (no organic fertilizer, vermicompost (20 ton ha-1), and biochar (10 ton ha-1) and Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal in three levels (no application, isolate a, and isolate b) as the subfactor. Based on the molecular findings, both isolates, isolated from saffron rhizosphere, belong to Rhizophagus irregularis. Results from this study show that the highest fresh yield of flowers, i.e. phosphorus and potassium in the leaves  of 7.76 g per pot, 1032.4.4 and 24876.8 mg kg-1, respectively, belongs to the complete irrigation× biochar× strain b treatment. Complete irrigation× vermicompost× strain b treatment has had the highest percentage of nitrogen (1.757) in the leaves. The highest fresh and dried yield of stigma (0.358 and 0.062 gr per pot, respectively) has been observed in complete irrigation × biochar treatment. Identification of native mycorrhizal fungi and its production as well as the use of organic fertilizers can play an important role in sustainable production of this plant.

The present study has been conducted to investigate the effect of Brassinosteroid on some physiological traits, yield components, seed yield, and oil of Dragon’s head under deficit irrigation conditions. The experiment has been conducted as split-plot based on a randomized complete block design with three replications during 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 in the research farm of Agricultural Research and Training Center and Natural Resources of Zanjan Province. Experimental treatments include deficit irrigation (normal or control irrigation, irrigation cut-off from the beginning of flowering to the end of maturity, irrigation cut-off from the beginning of branching (emergence of the sixth pair of main stem leaves to physiological maturity) in main and foliar spraying with Brassinosteroid with concentrations of 0.5, 1.5, 1.5 μM, and control, all applied in the sub plots. Results show that irrigation cut-off from the beginning of branching has decreased in total the chlorophyll content (42.8%), number of capsules per plant (62.7%), number of seed per plant (66.1%), 1000-seed weight (22.3%), biological and seed yield (62.1%), harvest index (30.8%), and oil yield (75.1%). Foliar application with Brassinosteroids has only significantly increased the leaf total chlorophyll concentration and seed oil percentage under different levels of irrigation cut-off stress. There is a statistically significant difference between foliar application levels with Brassinosteroids for leaf total chlorophyll concentration and seed oil percentage traits. There is a need for complementary researches to prove the effectiveness of foliar application with this growth regulator to improve growth and yield of Dragon’s head under deficit irrigation conditions.

In order to study the effect of nitrogen fertilizer treatments on yield traits, essence percentage, and the amount of nitrogen in cumin stem and leaves under different irrigation regimens, an experiment has been conducted as split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications in the 2016-2017 crop season at the Research Field of Agriculture Faculty, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran. In this experiment, the main plot is consisted of different irrigation regimes at three levels (no stress, mild stress or irrigation based on draining 40% of available water, and severe stress or irrigation based on draining 80% of available water) and the subplot includes four levels of nitrogen fertilizer treatments (100% and 50% fertilizer recommendation of nitrogen (urea), seed stained biofertilizer application (Nitroxin), and combination treatment of biofertilizer and 50% fertilizer recommendation nitrogen). The results show that increasing deficit irrigation at a mild level and, above that, at a severe level, while increasing the percentage of essence, has had a significant negative effect on yield and yield components, total chlorophyll, shoot nitrogen concentration, and essence yield. Application of combination nitrogen fertilizer (urea + Nitroxin) while increasing the yield and yield components of Cumin, increase the percentage and yield of essence, and shoot nitrogen concentration, generally causing the most desirable quantitative and qualitative yield of Cumin.

In order to investigate the effect of chitosan and salicylic acid elicitors on osmotic adjustment and some physiological traits of Hyssop under experimental drought conditions, an experiment has been carried out as a split plot design with randomized complete block design with three replications at research farm of Gonbad Kavous University during 2018-2019. Irrigation factor at three levels include 7, 14, and 21 days irrigation interval as main factor and four levels of spraying including no elicitor (control treatment, spraying), salicylic acid (300 mg. l-1), Chitosan spraying (5 g. l-1), and combination of salicylic acid and chitosan, considered as auxiliary agents. Results of analysis of variance show that the interaction between spraying and irrigation has had significant effects on ion leakage, chlorophyll a content, soluble sugar, and malondialdehyde content but insignificant impacts on carotenoid and essential oil yield. Spraying of salicylic acid, with 17% reduction in ion leakage and 40% reduction in plant malondialdehyde, compared to the control, increase the stability of cell membranes under 21-day irrigation stress. In the same treatment, chitosan has increased the amount of photosynthetic pigments and total chlorophyll by 51%, compared to the control. According to the results, salicylic acid and Chitosan have been able to increase the ability of hyssop in response to water deficit stress by activating different tolerance mechanisms.

Amaranth forage plants, due to their nutritional properties and ability to adapt to drought conditions, can be a good option to deal with water deficiency and increased productivity under different fertilizer systems. This experiment spans for 2 years in form of a complete random block design based on a factorial with three replications, three levels of irrigation (irrigation after depleting 40%, 60%, and 75% of available water) as the first factor and organic (cow manure and phosphate-2), chemical (phosphorus and nitrogen), integrated, and control (no fertilizer) fertilizer systems as the second one. Results of this study show that crude protein, digestibility of dry matter, water-soluble carbohydrates, digestible nutrients, relative nutritional value, and specific energy of lactation, due to the application of different fertilizer systems in each irrigation level have been improved, compared to non-consumption of the fertilizer. The performance of biomass and forage protein are increased by 38.89% and 54.37%, 30.60% and 41.23%, and 22.20% and 34.92% in optimal, moderate, and severe stress conditions, respectively in integrated fertilizer system than the control. Also, this study shows that the use of organic fertilizers alone or combined with chemical fertilizers improve quantitative and qualitative traits of amaranthus forage irrigation after depleting 40% and 60% of available water. So, optimal use of biological inputs for sustainable agriculture and reduction of pollution, caused by the use of chemical fertilizers, is recommended.

To evaluate the production of mashhadi melon (Khatouni cultivar) under different management of fertilizer levels and vermicompost bed, this study has been conducted as a factorial experiment in the form of a randomized complete block design with three replications during the spring of 2020 crop year as two separate designs in Fariman and Zahak counties. Application of fertilizers in six levels include non-use of fertilizer (control), cow manure, sheep manure, nanobiomic foliar application, silicone foliar application, and complete application of chemical fertilizer as the first factor and four different levels of vermicompost include non-use of vermicompost (control), 5, 10, and 15 tons per hectare as the second factor. Results show that the highest fruit yield, total titration, percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus, fruit potassium, and fruit flesh thickness in both Fariman and Zahak counties are obtained from nanobiomic foliar application under 15 tons per hectare of vermicompost. Also, the highest percentage of total soluble solids in Fariman county is observed jointly in the treatment of sheep manure and the treatment of chemical fertilizers and Zahak county in the treatment of non-use of fertilizer (control) under 10 tons per hectare of vermicompost. In Fariman County, results of cow manure, sheep manure, nanobiomic, silicon, and chemical fertilizers at the levels of 10 tons and 15 tons per hectare of vermicompost has not shown any significant difference. Therefore, with less consumption of vermicompost, to achieve the desired amount of yield, fruit texture characteristics, and nutrient uptake, nanobiomic foliar application under 10 tons per hectare of vermicompost is recommended for melon cultivation in Fariman County.

The present experiment has compared the resistance of different mycorrhizal pistachio rootstocks to salinity and drought stress in a completely randomized design with three replications. It has used Funneliformis mosseae and four pistachio species, Badami-e Riz Zarand, Qazvini, Sarakhs, and UCB1. In addition, the experiment of water stress in 4 levels (100%, 80%, 60%, and 40% FC), and experiment of salinity stress in 4 levels (0.91, 7.57, 16.12, and 24.63 dSm-1), have been applied for 60 days. At the end of the experiment, different characteristics such as total biomass, leaf area, tissue moisture percentage, and electrolyte leakage have been measured. Also, during the experiment, total chlorophyll, carotenoids and anthocyanin pigments have been surveyed and analyzed. The results indicate that mycorrhizal symbiosis has improved total biomass and leaf moisture content under both drought and salinity stress conditions, wherein tissue moisture content and total leaf chlorophyll content have decreased and anthocyanin content and electrolyte leakage increased. As for the lowest leaf, stem and root moisture content have been observed at the highest drought and salinity levels with UCB1 having the highest biomass and moisture under salinity stress and the highest leaf and stem moisture content and lowest electrolyte leakage are observed in Sarakhs rootstock under drought stress. It seems UCB1 and Sarakhs symbiotic with mycorrhiza can be useful for salinity and drought stress, respectively.