مجله تولید گیاهان زراعی
سال هشتم شماره 3 (پاییز 1394)

To investigate the effects of intercropping of basil (Ocimum basiilicum L.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.), different levels of nitrogen fertilizers on basil and cowpea yield, an experiment was carried out during 2010 and 2011. Experimental factor were included weed treatment (weeding and unweeding), three levels of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 50 and 100 kg ha-1), different planting ratio, (P1: sole cropping of cowpea, P2: 100% cowpea+ 25% basil, P3: 100% cowpea+ 50 % basil, P4: 100% cowpea+ 25% basil, P5: sole cropping of basil). Results showed that the maximum yield of basil (430.37 kg ha-1) and cowpea (685.16 kg ha-1) recorded in 100 and 50 mixture with using of 100 and 50 kg ha-1 nitrogen fertilizer in weed control condition, respectively. In unweeding conditions, however, the maximum yield of basil (138.95 kg ha-1) was obtained in both 100 and 25 planting ratio plus 100 kg ha-1 nitrogen fertilizer. Also the highest intercropping advantage (LA= 1.74) belonged to 100 and 25 planting ratio along with 100 kg ha-1 nitrogen fertilizer and weeding. Land equivalent ratio (LER=1.43) in 100 and 50 mixture with 50 kg ha-1 nitrogen fertilizer and weeding was more than sole cropping. Also the highest relative value total (RVT= 1.88) was observed in 100 and 50 planting ratio plus 100 kg ha-1 nitrogen with weeding condition. In conclusion, cultivation of cowpea as a cover crop in basil/cowpea intercropping system could and improve nitrogen status and suppressed weed population and biomass as compared to basil sole cropping.

In order to investigate the effect of crop row spacing and cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium) densities on height, leaf area index and total dry matter of two sesame cultivars, a Field experiment was conducted in 2009-2010 growing season at Research Farm of University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources of Gorgan, Iran. The experiment was established as factorial arrangement using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The factors included different densities of cocklebur (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 plant m-2) and two cultivars of sesame (Oltan, Yekta) and three sesame row spacings (35, 45 and 55 cm). The results showed significant effect of cocklebur density and sesame cultivar on height of crop but the effect of row spacing was not significant. Under competition Oltan had more LAI and biomass in comparison with Yekta cultivar. Based on the results leaf area distribution in the canopy, leaf area of sesame in each layer redused with increasing the cocklebur density in all sesame row spacings. Distribution of leaf in sesame is symmetrical parabolic shape and the maximum leaf area was located in the middle layer, but leaf area distribution in the canopy of cocklebur was asymmetric and the most LAI was distributed in the upper layers of canopy resulting in advantage of the weed in competition with sesame.

The QUEFTS model is using for optimizing fertilizer managements in crops, but it has not been used in Iran yet. QUEFTS accounts for interactions among NPK affecting the IE of N, P and K and allows differentiation according to different yield levels targeted. It is necessary to determine crops parameters before application the model in the studying area. The first step of the QUEFTS model requires the estimation of the soil-supplying capacity or potential indigenous supplies of N, P and K for a given site or field. In step 2, the actual uptake of a nutrient (UN, UP, UK) is calculated as a function of the potential supply of that nutrient (SN, SP, SK). In step 3, two yield estimates are obtained for each nutrient (YND, YNA, YPD, YPA, YKD, YKA) from the UN, UP and UK estimated in step 2. In order to, two experiments were conducted. The first one was a survey experiment in the 45 wheat production fields. The latter was an experiment based on completely randomized design with 36 fertilizer treatments. Before the experiments, soil samples were obtained from the farms and analysis were conducted to determine the nutrients. Grain and biological yields, NPK uptake, internal use efficiency and maximum nutrient accumulation and dilution were obtained from these two experiments. Results indicated that maximum and minimum internal use efficiency of N were 48 and 25 Kg/Kg in the first Experiment and 46 and 17 Kg/Kg in the second experiment. Maximum and minimum internal use efficiency of P changed from 194 to 442 Kg/Kg in the studying fields in the first experiment. The same results were 97 to 264 Kg/Kg in the second experiment. Results showed that maximum and minimum internal use efficiency of K ranged from 32 to 68 Kg/Kg in the first experiment. The same results for the second experiment were from 9 to 25 Kg/Kg. Maximum nutrient dilution for NPK were obtained 46, 415, and 56 (Kg grain/Kg nutrient uptake). Maximum nutrient accumulation for NPK were 14, 120, and 14 (Kg grain/Kg nutrient uptake). There was no report on maximum nutrient dilution and accumulation of NPK for a crop in Gorgan or Iran. The presented approach using QUEFTS allows not only the estimation of nutrient requirements to achieve a certain yield target, it also provides a useful tool for identifying nutritionally optimal yield targets. The calibration of the QUEFTS model for wheat required the estimation of the slopes of two borderlines describing the maximum accumulation (a) and dilution (d) of N, P and K in the plant in relation to grain yield.

In general, spring cultivation of sugar beet is Prevalent, but nowadays because of water sources limitation and also plants low water use efficiency in this time of cultivation, autumn cultivation is growing up. Several assessments also have showed that in compare with spring cultivation, autumn cultivation of sugar beet has other benefits including reducing the likelihood of plant disease and pests outbreaks as well as high radiation use efficiency and also other resources use efficiency. In contrast,in autumn cultivation several vital processes will be disturbed when sugar beet plantsare exposed to chilling stress condition. Thus, it’s necessary to identify chilling tolerance of sugar beet genotypes for this purpose, but because of temporal and spatial variation in chilling stress occurrences in natural environmental condition, it might be lead to uncertain results. As well as, selection processes of sugar beet chilling tolerance genotypes in the natural conditions will take long time and more cost than controlled conditions. In order to evaluation ofchilling tolerance in number of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) genotypes (Jolge,Palma,Giada, Monatunno, SBSI1, Super Ma and PP8) that were candidate for autumn cultivation, an experiment was performed in 2009 in the Faculty of Agriculture Ferdowsi University of Mashhad as a factorial experiment in completely randomized design with three replications. In this study, sugar beet genotypes were exposed to 10 freezing temperatures (including 0, -2, -4, -6, -8, -10, -12, -14, -16 and -18 °C) at controlled conditions and then amount of electrolyte leakage was measured. Results showed that the effects of freezing temperature and genotype on electrolyte leakage were significant. Jolge, PP8 and Super Ma genotypes with 38.7 %, 38.5 % and 37.7 % had the highest amount of electrolyte leakage, respectively and the Monatunno genotype with 26 % had the lowest amount.Interaction effect of genotype and temperature on LT50el was significant, statistically.Monatunnogenotype with -11.1 and Palma genotype with -9.6 degree centigrade had the highest and the lowest freezing tolerance, respectively. Based on correlation between electrolyte leakage and LT50el, sugar beet genotypes separated in to two groups. Sensitive group including Jolge, PP8, Sbsi1 and Superma genotypes and resistant group including Monatunna, Giada and Palma genotypes. There was high significant correlation (r=0.98***) between electrolyte leakage and LT50el into resistant group while it was low (r=0.64) into the sensitive group.Chilling stress is one of the major limiting factors for sugar beet cultivation in regions that have moderate weather. Therefore, identify and select the genotypes that are able to resist under this conditions is the first preference. As well as, based on exist of high correlation between electrolyte leakage, LT50el and plants resistance to chilling stress in several experiments it seems that we are able to use this trait to assessment of high tolerant genotypes candidate for autumn cultivation in the Iran.

The new cereal, primary tritipyrum is a synthetic amphiploid derived from crossing between durum wheat varieties (Triticum durum, 2n=4x=28, AABB) and wild coach grass species (Thinopyrum bessarabicum, 2n=2x=14, EbEb). In this study the genotype × environment interaction effect containing change in rank and value for grain yield of seventeen genotypes including eight primary and combined primary of new wheat, tritipyrum lines, five triticale lines and four Iranian wheat varieties was evaluated in a randomized completely block design with three replication in seven environment during growing seasons of 2002, 2006 and 2011 in three locations of Iran (Kerman, Sirjan, Neyriz) based on Muir method. Combined analysis of variance for grain yield showed significant differences between environments and genotype × environment interactions. Based on Muir criterion the highest and lowest percentage of changes in rank, were belonged to two wheat cultivars (Omid and Alvand) and two primary combined tritipyrum lines}(St/b)(Cr/b)-4 and (Ka/b)(Cr/b)-6{, respectively, therefore (St/b)(Cr/b)-4 tritipyrum line was indicated as the most stable and Omid wheat cultivar were known as the most unstable genotype. On the base of change portion in rank of sum of square for interactions (86.67%), the M45 triticale line and (Ka/b)(Cr/b)-5 combined primary tritipyrum line were most stable genotypes with high yield, therefore, first, with complementary agronomical experiments may release a new grain crop of triticale and new pasture line of combined primary tritipyrum for forage., second, the combined tritipyrum line can be used in bread wheat improveing program for producing salt tolerant wheat cultivar/s in Iran.

According to the drought as the most important environmental factor that limiting agricultural products and using nitrogen as the most consumed nutrition element in farming system, In this study investigates examined the effect of nitrogen on drought tolerance characteristics, including changes in total chlorophyll content, total protein content, leaf area, phosphorus and peroxidase enzyme activity under water stress on spring barley. experiment as factorial was conducted with three replications based on completely randomized design in greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mohaghegh Ardabil in 2012. Water deficit imposed at three levels: 35% (Severe stress), 60% (mild stress) and 85% (control) field capacity by gravimetric method (Treatment of water deficit was applied, a week after taking the first dose of fertilizer) and three levels of nitrogen 40, 80 and 120 kg per hectare)including two million kilograms per hectare in the soil(was applied in the form of urea on EBYTW-11 spring barley genotypes. The results showed that the water stress accelerated aging of leaves and decreased the total chlorophyll content, total protein, phosphorus, leaf area and grain yield, whereas the peroxidase enzyme activity increased. Severe stress (35% of field capacity) than mild stress (60% of field capacity) and control (85% of field capacity) showed the greatest impact on these parameters, So that the lowest traits (Except for peroxidase enzyme) was observed in severe stress. Nitrogen application significantly improved plant tolerance at all levels of water stress. Grain yield was 66% decreased in severe stress and consumption of 40 kg nitrogen per hectare than control. Nitrogen application showed severe reduction during stress than the control condition, So that in the severe stress decreased 69% yield with consumption of 120 kg nitrogen per hectare. Correlation between the studied parameters showed that there was a significantly positive correlation between the grain yield and leaf area, protein, chlorophyll and phosphorus, and the highest correlation was belonged to crop yield and leaf phosphorus content (r=0.994*). Correlation was a significantly negative between the peroxidase enzyme activity and other traits include protein content, phosphorus, leaf area and total chlorophyll, In other words with reduce the amount of these traits. peroxidase enzyme activity was increased during drought stress. With increasing water stress, chlorophyll concentration and leaf area were reduced which leads to decrease the yield in plant. One of the visible effects of decline in yield is reduced of leaves area. A physical and molecular implication occurs such as analysis chloroplasts, reduction in photosynthesis and protein breakdown.

Sugar beet seed plants about five to six weeks after the formation of a seed stem, flowering started and within two weeks, this stage of plant growth will be completed. A significant negative correlation between the temperature received from flowering to seed maturity and the plant reproductive growth period with grain yield shows that the long plant reproductive growth period, will lead to a decrease in seed yield. With the postponement of phonological stages of sugar beet seed plants the possibility of synchronization of plant reproductive stage, with unfavorable conditions increases which leads to loss of yield. To increase the yield, it is necessary to do research on issues such as seed breeding and farm management reform in the production of sugar beet seed according to variety to be done. In this regard, little research has been done in Iran. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the occurrence of phonological stages and morphological characteristics and its impact on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of hybrids monogerm sugar beet seeds were. This study was conducted in Ardabil Agricultural Research Station (Alarough) in two years (2011-2012 and based on a Completely Randomized Block Design. The experimental treatments were five promising diploid cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines (7112×SB36, SB37×28874, 7112×436, 419×SB36 and 261×231) of sugar beet. Each plot consists of eight lines planting and hybrid varieties were sown in strips in female: male ratio was 6: 2. Phonological characteristics, including the emergence, bolting and flowering components, during daily visit were recorded at the time specified. For the evaluation of plant morphological characteristics, before harvest, five plants of each plot were randomly selected and evaluated in the laboratory. The results indicated that there were significantly differences among CMS lines in respect to phonological and morphological characteristics and quantity and quality of seed. The maximum number of main branch and auxiliary branch, and plant dry weight was obtained in 7112×SB36 and SB37×28874. But, for line of 261×231, number of main branch and auxiliary branch and plant dry weight was lower than other lines, and the highest crude seed yield was observed in the 7112×SB36 and SB37×28874 and the lowest of crude seed yield was observed in 261×231. These data indicate that there is a positive correlation between phonological and morphological characteristics with the quantity and quality and negative correlation between plant heights with seed yield Considering that there is a positive correlation between phonological and morphological characteristics with the quantity and quality and negative correlation between plant heights with seed yield. Therefore, the sugar beet institutions must, prior to the introduction of CMS lines, assess the CMS lines on the morphological characteristics and do advise in the fields planting density and pruning plant announced. While in Iran (Ardabil), for the production of sugar beet seed, planting operations often regardless of the morphological characteristics of crop varieties, with a density of 50 × 70 doing and plant density and topping of seed plants on seed production in Iran has never been considered.

In order to comparison the foliar application of biological, biostimulator and chemical fertilizers on growth characteristics and yield of saffron, a factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized block design with four replication in 3- year field of saffron in Dargaz, Khorasan Razavi province from 2010 to 2011. The first factor had 5 levels included biostimulator fertilizer Bio-Amino-Palis, biostimulator fertilizer Aminol-Forte, biological fertilizer Nitroauxin, chemical fertilizer Dalfard-15, and control (without fertilizer treatment). The second factor had two levels included 1 and 2 times spraying with seven per thousands concentration of each fertilizers treatments. The results showed Aminol-Forte have better effect than other fertilizers on dry weight of corm, number of corm, number of corm equal/ higher or under 8 grams, fresh weight of flower, number of flowers, fresh and dry weight of stigma and style per square meter, leaf length as well as fresh and dry fresh weight of leaf. Bio-Amino-Palis and Aminol-Forte fertilizer treatments for number of flowers, fresh weight of stigma and style and dry weight of stigma, did not have significant difference. Two times foliar applications only reduced the number of corms weighing less than 8 g per unit area. Interaction of foliar applications levels and fertilizer types did not have significant effect on measured traits. On the basis of the results of this experiment, spraying of Aminol-Forte recommended in saffron fields once.

In this research, geographical information system (GIS) and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) were applied to agricultural land use suitability of Aq-Qala township for barley cropping in rainfed condition. For this purpose, 17 environmental layers of the study area collected, and thematic maps such as slope, elevation, precipitation, average, minimum and maximum temperatures and some of micro and macro elements were provided. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was applied to determine the weight of environmental variables. The digital environmental layers overlaid and integrated in GIS media in respect to AHP weights. Then zoning of lands carried out in 4 classes (high suitable, suitable, semi-suitable and non-suitable) for dryland barley cultivation. The results showed that 27.5% and 32/1% of this area were high suitable and suitable for wheat cropping, respectively. These zones had enough rainfall (>400 mm), and high fertility. The semi-suitable and non-suitable regions were located in the central to north of Aq-Qala township. In this areas, the limitation factors were include: low precipitation, some soil variables such as: high pH and salinity, non-suitable texture classes, high potassium and calcium contents, low phosphate, iron, and organic matter) and non-suitable and slope aspects.

Black mustard (Brassica nigra (L.) Koch) is an annual plant belongs Brassicaceae. It has a variety of uses in traditional medicine for rheumatic and neurological pain. Growth and development and production of medicinal plants, like other plants is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Select the most appropriate planting date and the most favorable plant density is an important factor in the success of any plant is cultivated. There is optimal planting date for each plant that the delay is usually reduced its yield. Agronomists believe that the appropriate plant density at the farm is the foundation of a farming system. In appropriate density the plant can use all environmental factors and decreased competition between plants. In order to evaluate the effects of sowing date and plant density on yield and yield components of black mustard, an experiment was conducted based on RCBD with three replications at Abarkooh (Yazd Province) during growing season (January-June) at 2012 and the height is 1700 meters above sea level in the region. Treatments were three planting dates (30/Jan, 19/Feb and 11/March/2012) and three plant densities (33, 50 and 100 plant/m2). Following traits were measured: LWP, RWC, plant height, branch/plant, fruit/plant, seed/fruit, 1000-seed weight, seed yield, biological yield, oil percent and oil yield of black mustard. For measuring LWP, had used solutions from sucrose (-5, -10 and -15 bar). Data analyzed by MSTATC and SAS 9.2 and then means compared with LSD. Results showed there is significant difference between planting dates on RWC, plant height, branch/plant, fruit/plant, seed/fruit, 1000-seed weight, seed yield and biological yield. 30/Jan is the best date with 1474.2 kg/ha (seed yield), 359.34 kg/ha (oil yield) and 8190 kg/ha (biological yield). There is no significant difference among plant densities on biological yield, seed yield and oil yield traits. The interaction effect of planting date and density on the number of silique/plant and the number of seed/silique were significantly different. The effect of plant density on seed yield did not have significant difference. In high density seed yield decreased because of decreasing of branch and silique/plant. There’s no significant difference between plant densities and sowing dates on oil percent. Results showed that planting dates have strong effect and selected densities have poor effect on yield, in appropriate planting date arise plants with good vegetative growth and ultimately yield well. In general, according to the results of mean comparison of interaction effects of density and planting date on seed yield and oil yield, 30/Jan and 100 plant/m2 in the Abarkooh and similar areas is recommended.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) had proven to be an appropriate assessment tool for analysis of agri-food products by identifying, quantifying and evaluating the resources consumed and emissions released into the environment. This study was performed for evaluation the environmental impacts of potato agroecosystems based on nitrogen levels by using LCA methodology. Tuber yield mean during 1999-2013 and consumed inputs as one hectare were determined and LCA at four steps including goal definition and scoping, inventory analysis, life cycle impact assessment and integration & interpretation were calculated. Impact categories were acidification, eutrophication and global warming. Functional unit was considered as one tonne tuber. The results revealed that the maximum aquatic and terrestrial eutrophication potentials were computed for >400 kg N ha-1 with 0.72 PO4 equiv./t tuber and 1.80 NOx equiv./t tuber, respectively. The highest global warming potential was calculated 948.87 CO2 equiv./t tuber for 350-400 kg N ha-1. The maximum Eco-Index were computed for >400 kg N ha-1 with 0.37 Eco-x per one tonne tuber. The highest values for impact categories such as aquatic eutrophication, terrestrial eutrophication and acidification were calculated for >400 kg N ha-1 with 0.29, 0.015 and 0.012 Eco-x per one tonne tuber, respectively.