Azarian Journal of Agriculture
Volume:1 Issue: 1, Dec 2014

A field experiment was conducted based on randomized complete blocks design (RCBD) in three replications during 2011 at the research farm of university of Tabriz, Iran. In this study two medicinal plants, dill (Anethum graveolens L.) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) intercropped at different additive (1:20, 1:40 and 1:60) and different replacement (1:1, 1:2 and 1:3) series. Results showed that dill plant at additive treatment especially in 1:20 and 1:60 series had maximum plant fresh and dry weights, umbels per plant, 1000 seed weight, seeds per plant, biological yield and harvest index. However, fenugreek plant at replacement treatment especially in 1:3 and 1:2 series had maximum biological yield, pod in main stem, pod in branches, seeds per pod, seed weights and grain yield. Fenugreek as a medicinal, forage and legume crop promote dill grows characters and could be an effective plant in intercropping systems.

A factorial experiment in completely randomized design was conducted with three replications in 2012 at the University of Maragheh, Iran, to evaluate the different pre-treatments effects on germination of Sophora seeds. To release the physical dormancy, seeds were exposed to: mechanical scarification; sulfuric acid (65%) for 15 min; sulfuric acid (65%) for 30 min. To examine the existence of physiological dormancy, Seeds were tested with following solutions in the seed bed; distilled water; saturated soil extract solution ; KNO3 (34 mg\L); Gibberllic acid (20 ppm) and KNO3 (34 mg\L)+ GA3 (20 ppm). The results showed that Germination percentage (GP), Seedling fresh weight (SFW), Seedling dry weight (SDW), Grain fresh weight (GFW), Grain dry weight (GDW) and Resource remobilization (PM) were significantly affected by scarification treatments whereas the influence of media solutions on mentioned traits were not statistically significant. Among the scarification treatments, sulfuric acid (65%) for 30 min improved seed germination percentage from 2.22% to 81.66%. However, the rest treatments had a negligible effect on the germination percentage in comparison with control. Sulfuric acid scarification enhanced seedling properties and the highest values were obtained from sulfuric acid (65%) for 30 min. In conclusion, it seems that the primary control of germination in sophora seeds is located in the seed coats and scarification with sulfuric acid (65%) for 30 min can easily eliminate these limitations and seed dormancy.

Zinc (Zn) is an essential mineral nutrient for plant and human growth, and dietary Zn deficiency is a worldwide nutritional problem. Two-year field experiments were conducted during the 2013 and 2014 to evaluate the effects of foliar application of zinc sulfate at the developmental stages on agronomy traits and grain Zn content. The following foliar applications of Zn (0.44 g Zn/lit) at the phenological stages were used: (1) no Zn fertilizer addition (control), (2) stem elongation stage and (3) stemming and grain filling stages. The results showed that foliar Zn application at the stemming and grain filling stages was much more effective than foliar Zn application at the stem elongation stage on grain yield and its components of wheat. Foliar application at stemming and grain filling stages had no significant effect on the harvest index whereas significantly increased plant height. Zn concentration was not changed when plants were sprayed at early stem elongation while significantly increased grain yield and its components. In general, the most effective treatments to ameliorate Zn deficiency were foliar application at stemming and grain filling stages.

Crop rotation and soil tillage are two practices which would result in better use of water resources. So in order to investigate the effects of different crop rotation and soil tillage practices on soil water storage, a multi-annual experiment employing two crop rotations and six tillage practices was carried out in dry-land condition of Maragheh, northwest of Iran during year 2007 till 2011. Results showed that autumn cultivation of the common vetch (CR1) compared to spring cultivation of the common vetch (CR2) left more water in the soil for the following wheat cropping in the next years and subsequently increased biological and grain yield of wheat. It was also notified that the increase of water storage in second sampling depth (15-30 cm) was significantly more than two other depths (0-15 and 30-45 cm). Results also depicted that the tillage practice applying “chisel plough + cyclo-tiller + seed drill (TP1)” compared to other practices and especially the routine tillage of the region (moldboard plow + disk harrow + manual seed broadcasting, TP5) significantly increased soil water storage. The mentioned tillage practice (TP1) markedly decreased the bulk density of soil and increased biological and grain yield of wheat, as well. Therefore, applying TP1 tillage practice beside autumn cultivation of common vetch in rotation with wheat would be a good strategy to increase soil water storage and crop yield in dry-land conditions.

The present study was conducted with the purpose of developing a communication-information model for the greenhouse farmers using schema theory in Yazd city. Performing Q methodology using factor analysis, the different loaded variables on five schematic factors such as the human philosophy nature, ideological, economic, social, and environmental-conservation beliefs were identified. Running AMOS, it was also unveiled that the philosophical, ideological, social, and economic schemas influence significantly and directly on the personal communication-information sources use. Furthermore, the environmental-conservation schemas affects directly, indirectly, and significantly the personal communication-information sources use. The findings of the present study provide a suitable base for policy-makers who seek to develop more effective and appropriate communication and information strategies to address specific target groups’ needs.

In a survey for rust diseases in Maragheh area rust symptoms were observed on poplars (Populus nigra) in Maragheh city parks and orchards near the city. Uredinia and urediniospores typical of Melampsora were present on the underside of leaves. Paraphyses were clavate with walls evenly thick and Telia, formed on the leaves early in the autumn, were epiphyllous and subepidermal. DNA was extracted from urediniospores and the primers ITS1 and ITS4 were used to amplify the internal transcribed spacer region of the ribosomal DNA. Based on the key provided by Bagyanarayana and the species description by Pei and Shang, and the result of sequencing, the causal agent was identified as Melampsora allii-populina Kelb. Melampsora species are mainly determined based on their morphology, alternate hosts and telial host range. However, in most cases, only one or two spore stages could be found at the time of observation and there is no information of the alternate hosts. This is the first study of poplar rust disease to the species level in the area. Rust disease is likely to be the most important disease on poplar in this area. As poplar rust can cause severe damages to nursery plants and young trees, there must be further research to understand the epidemiology of the rust disease. A key question to be answered is whether the rust goes through a full life-cycle, possible via known alternate host Allium spp. or only uredinial and telial stages are present in the studied area.

Water deficit stress is one of the important factors limiting crop production in Iran. This research was conducted in 2012 to investigate field performance of three maize cultivars (S704, BC678 and H500) under well watering (50 mm evaporation from class A) and water stress at grain filling phase (90 mm evaporation from class A). Results showed that grain weight was more than that of grain number per plant affected by water stress during grain filling stage. Grain depth in cob and cob diameter under well watering was higher than that of water stress condition, indicating that grain volume and especially grain yield were decreased by increasing waster stress. Maximum grain yield per ha was showed in S704 in comparison to other cultivars. Superiority of S704 was attributed to be more of 100 grain weight, row number per cob, grain number per cob, cob diameter and length, cob weight. This research suggests that there is considerable variation between maize genotypes in tolerance to water stress and number and weight of grains are important traits for maintaining stable and high grain yields under water deficit conditions.