نشریه روابط خاک و گیاه
پیاپی 59 (پاییز 1403)

The objective of this study was to compare the effect of municipal sewage sludge (MSS) and triple superphosphate (TSP) application on some growth traits and P uptake of quinoa under saline and non-saline conditions. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted in a completely randomized factorial design with 3 TSP levels (0, 29 and 38 mg kg-1 soil, named as T0, T1 and T2, respectively), 3 MSS levels (0, 0.25 and 0.5 %w/w, named as M0, M1 and M2, respectively), 2 irrigation water salinity levels (2 and 12 dS m−1, named as non-saline and saline, respectively) and 3 replicates. The results showed that, although all the growth traits of quinoa significantly decreased by increasing of irrigation water salinity, application of MSS and TSP (especially combined treatments) was able to diminish the negative effect of salinity. In the non-saline condition, the highest amounts of shoot dry weight, seed yield and P uptake were observed for T2M2, which were 2.8, 3.1 and 13.7 times more than T0M0, respectively. In the saline condition, although T2M2 had the greatest enhancement in all the measured traits, there was no statistically difference between this treatment and T1M2. This result suggested that application of T1M2 in the saline condition was more convenient for improving the growth of quinoa as well as fertilizer management. The T2M2 and T1M2 were the best treatments in the non-saline and saline conditions, respectively, probably due to improvement of P uptake by quinoa as well as increase of soil organic matter content.

The gradual rise in temperature, reduced rainfall, and soil fertility decline in recent decades have significantly lowered saffron stigma yield. Given saffron's vital economic and social role in Iran, enhancing traditional cultivation methods and advancing industrial cultivation technology are crucial. This study assessed the impact of four non-soil cultivation substrates (three perlite variants - fine, medium, coarse, and a perlite-cocopeat-cocochips mixture) on saffron growth and development. Using a completely randomized design with five replications, the physiological and morphological characteristics of leaf (net photosynthesis rate, total photosynthesis rate, weight, number, and area), corm (weight, number, large-sized percentage), and root (contractile root formation) of saffron were evaluated. Measuring physical indices revealed that the mixed substrate had the most optimal water-to-air ratio. Plants grown in this substrate exhibited the highest leaf weight, net photosynthesis rate, and large-sized cormlet weight (and weight percent). Among the three pure perlite substrates, the medium-sized perlite showed superior physical properties and higher plant yield compared to the other two substrates. Corms grown in the pure perlite substrates produced contractile roots. Overall, the study indicated that despite saffron being a low-water geophyte, adequate water and nutrient supply significantly enhance its physiological and morphological parameters, including nutrient storage in corms, crucial for efficient reproduction in subsequent generations.

Many efforts have been made to find suitable ways to improve the quality of soil and agricultural products, among which are biofertilizers and organic fertilizers. This study was performed to investigate the effect of mycorrhiza fungus (M) (Funneliformis mosseae), different levels of humic acid (HA) (0, 200, and 400 mg pot-1) and salicylic acid (SA) (0, 100, and 200 mg L-1) on the growth indices, biochemical characteristics and nutrient levels of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L. cv Citronella) in a greenhouse in northern Iran. The experiment was performed in a completely randomized design with three replications. The results showed that all treatments had a significant effect on the measured variables. The highest fresh and dry weights of shoot, phenol and flavonoid, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium contents were observed in the M + HA 400 + SA 200 treatment and the highest fresh and dry weights of shoot and root volume were obtained in the M + HA 400 + SA 100 treatment. Also, the maximum total chlorophyll content and essential oil yield were obtained in the M + HA 200 + SA 200 treatment. In general, mycorrhizal fungus with humic acid 400 mg pot-1 and salicylic acid 200 mg L-1 treatment is effective to improve vegetative growth, essential oil and nutrient uptake in lemon balm.

In some saline areas, pollutants such as heavy metals have been spread due to industrial activities. Halophyte plants can be useful for phytoremediation of such areas. To investigate the effect of salinity and heavy metal copper and their interaction effect on the halophyte plant Bassia scoparia L., two factorial experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design in hydroponics laboratory of Birjand University. In the first experiment, interaction effects of five levels of salinity (0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mM) and five levels of copper (0, 50, 100, 200, and 300 mg/L) on the germination characteristics of B. scoparia seeds were measured. Results of this experiment showed that the increase in salinity and copper concentration had a significant negative effect on the germination and growth of seedlings. In the second experiment, the effects of three levels of salinity (0, 100, and 300 mM) and three levels of copper (0, 50, and 100 mg/L) on the traits related to growth and sodium and copper contents in root and shoot were investigated in pot culture. Salinity significantly increased the amount of sodium in root and shoot but did not affect the amount of copper in root and shoot. In the copper treated conditions, amount of this metal increased in root and shoot of B. scoparia. However, by having accumulation factors of less than one, B. scoparia does not seem suitable for plant extraction of copper, although it can be used to stabilize this metal by having a suitable biomass and considerable absorption of copper in root.

Myrtus communis is one the most important Mediterranean species in Zagros forest. Although, M. communis widely spreads in Zagros forest, little information is available about its distribution in south western parts of Iran. Due to the lack of information on its distribution in southern Zagros, in the present study soil physical and chemical properties of M. communis stands in Fars, Khuzestan, and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad provinces were determined to generate basic information about soil properties in its stands in south western provinces of Iran. In each site, five 25 × 25 meter plots were selected and soil samples were taken from the 0‒20 cm layer. Soil analysis included total nitrogen, available phosphorous, available potassium, organic carbon, pH, texture and bulk density. Our results indicated that the highest values for soil nitrogen and organic carbon contents belonged to the M. communis stand in Nourabad Mamasani and were significantly higher compared to the other sites. While the lowest values of soil nitrogen and organic carbon recorded for Andika, were significantly lower compared to the other sites. M. communis stands in Nourabad Mamasani had the highest soil fertility, compared to the other sites. Besides, M. communis spreads in neutral or slightly alkaline soils. Soil textures in the studied sites were loam, sandy loam and silt loam classes. Independent sample t-test showed that M. communis stands had higher soil nitrogen, organic carbon, phosphorus, and potassium compared to the vicinity stands. Overall, M. communis prefers coarse and loamy soils with neutral pH or slightly alkaline and high nutrients.

Calcium plays a crucial role in improving the growth and quality of cut flowers, and selecting the appropriate calcium source can significantly benefit rose producers. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of foliar application of calcium nitrate, calcium amino chelate, and control (distilled water) on the growth, morphological traits, nutrient concentrations, and vase life of the rose cultivar 'Jumilia.' The research was conducted in the ornamental research greenhouse at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in a completely randomized design with four replications, each containing six plants, over a period of six months from early August 2022 to early February 2023. The results showed that foliar application of calcium nitrate significantly improved the growth traits of roses, increasing stem length, stem diameter, fresh stem weight, flower diameter, and flower count by 38.26, 29.87, 37.47, 19.38, and 12.20%, respectively. Additionally, calcium nitrate application increased chlorophyll a, b, and total chlorophyll content by 20.96, 65.77, and 37.53%, respectively, resulting in a 23.32% increase in photosynthesis rate. The highest carotenoid content and root volume were obtained due to the application of amino calcium chelate. The findings also indicated that calcium nitrate was effective in supplying calcium to the petals, leading to a 13.62% increase in membrane stability index and a 4.1-day extension in vase life compared to the control treatment. Amino calcium chelate played a key role in delaying weight loss and providing calcium and nitrogen to the roots, as well as phosphorus and potassium to the leaves. Meanwhile, the highest nitrogen concentration in leaves, as well as phosphorus and potassium concentrations in roots, were achieved with calcium nitrate application. Based on the results, weekly foliar application of calcium at a concentration of 160 mg/L, especially from calcium nitrate, is recommended to supply the calcium requirements of roses and improve their growth traits and vase life.