Journal of Crop Nutrition Science
Volume:1 Issue: 3, Summer-Autumn 2015

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of titanium dioxide and titanium oxide foliar application during two growing stage on growth and forage production of maize during 2012 growing season in the research farm of Islamic Azad University of Varamin-Pishva Branch. The experimental design was randomized complete blocks arranged in factorial with four replications. The factors were included two growing stages i.e. four leafy stage and stem elongation for titanium application and five titanium concentration and sources including control (water) titanium oxide (Bulk) and three concentrations of 0.01, 0.02 and 0.03% of titanium dioxide nanoparticles. The results showed that titanium dioxide nanoparticle especially at stem elongation stage increased plant growth and dry matter accumulation in maize plant. Although, titanium oxide (bulk) had positive effect on biological yield, titanium dioxide nanoparticle produced the highest forage yield. In addition, among different concentrations of titanium dioxide nanoparticle, application 0.02% significantly improved plant growth; dry matter and final forage yield so that it can be recommended to earning more forage.

In order to consider the effect of irrigation cut off and calcium silicate on seed yield and its components of rice (Local cultivar, Tarom Hashemi), a research was carried out as split plot experiment based on randomized complete block design in three replications in 2014 in Sari, Mazandaran, Iran. Irrigation cut off arranged 15 days in 4 growth stages (At beginning, middle and last of tillering stage and 50% of flowering stage) as main factor and calcium silicate in three amounts (0, 500 and 1000 kg.ha-1) as sub-factor applied 15 days before transplanting. Results of analysis of variance showed that effect of irrigation cutoff on all measured traits (except percentage of filled spikelet per panicle) was significant. Effect of calcium silicon and interaction effect of treatment on all measured traits were no significant. According to mean comparison cut off of irrigation at beginning of tillering stage showed significantly decrease in panicle length, number of panicle per m2, number of spikelet per panicle and drastically reduce in seed yield. Cut off of irrigation at middle of tillering stage caused to decrease in 1000-seed weight. Maximum number of panicle per m2 and grain yield (405.78 gr.m-2) was found in cut off of irrigation at 50% of flowering stage. Correlation between traits showed number of spikelet per panicle (0.58*), number of panicle per m2 (0.56*), 1000-seed weight (0.59*) and percentage of filled spikelet per panicle (0.51*) have a significant and positive correlation with seed yield at 5% probability level. In general, it can be concluded that beginning of tillering stage was too sensitive to cut off irrigation because it caused to reduce of yield and yield contributing.

Increasing the area of arable oilseed land, particularly rapeseed, and the important role of potassium in yield and oil content, especially in calcareous and high pH soils, need to more knowledge about plant nutrition requirement. In this study, the effect of sources and different levels of potassium fertilizers on some quality and quantity characteristics on canola yield were assessed by combined analysis factorial experiment based on randomized complete blocks design during 2011-2013. Two potassium fertilizer sources: potassium sulfate and potassium chloride with four levels of the potassium fertilizer control, 100, 150, 200 kg.ha-1 in main plot and sub plot, respectively. Results of combined analysis of variance showed effect of potassium sources on capsule in plant and oil yield was significant at 5% probability level. Also effect of potassium rate on capsule in plant, seed yield and oil content was significant at 5% and 1% probability level. Interaction effect of treatments on capsule in plant, seed yield, oil yield and oil content was significant. Potassium chloride fertilizer impact on yield and its components showed better results. Interaction effects of sources and rates of potassium showed the highest seed and oil yield (2128 and 878 kg.ha-1, respectively) from 100 kg.ha-1 potassium chloride treatment. Also the highest capsule in plant and seed in capsule obtained from 150 kg.ha-1 potassium chloride treatment. Finally, for increasing canola yield application of 100 kg.ha-1 potassium chloride recommended.

To assessment growth physiological charachteristics of two hybrids of sweet corn affected different irrigation pattern and zinc fertilization, a research was conducted as split plot factorial experiment based on randomized complete blocks design with three replications. Main factor included different levels of irrigation pattern included conventional furrow irrigation, fixed every other furrow irrigation and alternate every other furrow irrigation, also different levels of foliar application of zinc as lack of foliar application of zinc, use of Drop zinc sulfate (0.002 lit.ha-1), use of Fast zinc sulfate (0.002 lit.ha-1) and two hybrids of sweet and super sweet corn belonged to sub plots. The result of analysis of variance indicated the effect of irrigation pattern, foliar application of zinc, different genotypes and interaction effect of the treatments on all measured traits were significant at 1% probability level. Dual interaction effect showed maximum rate of all physiological indices belonged to I3Zn3 (Alternate every other furrow irrigation, fast zinc spray), I3V2 (Alternate every other furrow irrigation, Challenger genotype), Zn3V2 (Fast zinc spray, Challenger genotype). According result of triple interaction effect maximum rate of physiological indices such as leaf area index (4.227), crop growth rate (3.186 gr.m-2.GDD), relative growth rate (0.189 gr.gr-1.GDD), net assimilation rate (1.73 gr.m-2.GDD), harvest index (53.03), chlorophyll a (0.299 gr.gr-1 FW), chlorophyll b (0.491 gr.gr-1 FW) and carotenoid (0.997 gr.gr-1 FW) belonged to I3Zn3V2 (Alternate every other furrow irrigation, fast zinc spray, Challenger genotype). Finally use alternate every other furrow irrigation to conserve water along with foliar application of zinc (particularly zinc sulfate with fast zinc) led to stable physiological indices in stress conditions and it can be proposed to the farmers in markazi province at central of Iran.

Conducting research on monitoring contaminated fields by heavy metals is necessary in order to achieve sustainable agriculture, increase product quality and keep public health. This study was carried out using split plot experiment based on randomized complete blocks design with three replications during 2014-2015 in Shavor Agricultural Research Center in order to evaluate the effect of cropping systems and different growth stages on arsenic content and other chemical properties of conventional cultivation. The main factor consisted of planting pattern at two levels (rice-wheat and corn-wheat), and the sub-factor included different growth stages in three levels (Tillering, flowering, and maturity). The results of the analysis of variance showed that the effect of cultivation system on concentration of arsenic, cationic exchange capacity, electrical conductivity, soil organic matter, phosphorus concentrations, pH, and concentration of soil lime was significant at 1% level. The effect of different growth stages on all traits except of electrical conductivity (at 5% level) was non-significant. The interaction effects of the treatment on all traits were non significant. According mean comparison rice-wheat cropping system had more arsenic concentration (8.68 mg.kg-1) than corn-wheat cropping system (6.73 mg.kg-1). Comparison of different growth stages showed that soil electrical conductivity decreased over time; therefore, the lowest concentration was found in maturity stage (2.62 ds.m-1) that was affected by continuous irrigation. Arsenic and phosphorus are absorbed via similar system by plants because of they are analog; so low concentration of phosphorus and high concentration of arsenic lead to the activation of the absorption system which results in increased absorption of arsenic compared to phosphorus. Finally use of phosphorus fertilizers based soil test is recommended according standard of soil and water Institute.

Bio-fertilizers are naturally occurring soil bacteria that aggressively colonize plant roots and benefit plants by providing growth promotion. This investigation was aimed at determining the effect of Nitroxin bio-fertilizer application on growth, inoculation and yield production of corn hybrids. An experiment was conducted as split plot on the basis of randomized complete block design with four replications. Main plots were Included: use of the chemical and biological fertilizers in four levels (F1: 100% urea + 0% Nitroxin; F2:75% urea + 100% Nitroxin; F3: 50% urea + 100% Nitroxin; F4: 25% urea + 100% Nitroxin) and the sub plots included three maize hybrids (H1: Single Cross 704 hybrid, H2: Mobin hybrid, H3: Karoun hybrid). Chemical fertilizers used included urea, triple super phosphate and potassium sulphate and Nitroxin as biological fertilizer. The results showed that the highest seed yield and 1000 seed weight was allocated to 50% urea with 100% Nitroxin application. Single cross 704 at the level of 100% chemical fertilizer had the highest number of seeds per ear, number of seeds per row and inoculation percentage. Seed yield had positive and significant correlation with seed number per ear, number of seed per row, seed weight and ear length. Also length of ear without a seed trait had the significant negative correlation by number of seed per row and ear length at 5% probability level, which shows a decrease length of ear without a seed by increasing ear length and seed number per row. Finally application of N fertilizer level at 50% chemical fertilizer + 100% biological fertilizer and Karoun hybrid was recommended.

To assessment effect of concentration and times of disinfection wheat seeds, infected by Aspergillus fungus a research was conducted based on Factorial experiment according randomized complete block design with four replications. The factors included four levels of sodium hypochlorite (2, 4, 6, and 8%) and four times of seed disinfection (2, 5, 7, and 10 minutes). Result of analysis of variance indicated interaction effect of treatments on germination percentage (p≤0.05), Radicle length (p≤0.05), plumule lentgh (p≤0.05), germination rate (p≤0.05), seed dry matter (p≤0.01), speed of germination (p≤0.05) and seedling dry matter (p≤0.01) was significant, but on mean of germination time, radicle dry weight, plumule dry weight and abnormal bud was not significant. Germination rate as important trait had significant relation with seedling dry matter (0.992**), radicle length (0.990**), germination percentage (0.983**), plumule length (0.982**), speed of germination (0.981**), seed dry matter (0.924**) and abnormal bud (-0.767*). Treatment of 6% concentrations of sodium hypochlorite along 7 minute had highest amount of Seed dry matter (0.0899 gr), speed of germination (38.991 day), seedling dry matter (0.1899 gr), germination percentage (98.87 %), radicle length (11.40 cm), plumule length (10.91 cm), germination rate (39.98 day), so it possible to advised for improve wheat seed germination parameters.