احمد کوچک زاده

During the past few decades, only a quarter of the increase in food production in the world was related to the expansion of the area under cultivation and the rest was achieved by improving the production per unit area. In today's era, due to the limited resources and the increasing population has resulted the increasing demand for food products. Thus, it is necessary to use the limited resources available in an optimal way. Agroecological zoning is considered as a necessary tool in agricultural planning. By combining the main and effective components of agriculture, it is possible to comprehensively examine the conditions of production and the environmental potentials and limitations are better investigated. Therefore, decision-makers in the agriculture sector have a comprehensive and complete road-map instead of single and scattered one, for making the right decisions (Ghaffari et al., 2012). Considering the special position of wheat in the production systems of the country, it is necessary to implement crop-specific research projects to enhance sustainable crop production and proper utilization of resources and to protect the environment.

This research is based on the application of geographic information system (GIS) to depict the suitable crops for wheat production in Khuzestan province, Iran. For this purpose, different layers of effective information on the growth and production of wheat including; topographical information (elevation above sea level, slope and slope direction), soil data (salinity, organic carbon, pH, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents) and climatic parameters (minimum temperature, mean temperature and maximum temperature and rainfall) were determined using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP), weighted and overlapped, and the cultivation areas were estimated. Temperature layers were prepared using regression equations and nearest neighbor interpolation methods, and rainfall layer after examining different interpolation methods and choosing the appropriate method. Then, the suitable areas for wheat production were determined by matching the needs of this plant with the characteristics of the studied area by using the principles of analyitical hierarchy process and the overlap of the studied layers.

In this research, different climatic, soil parameters and topography factors and the opinion of agriculture experts of Khuzestan province in the form of AHP questionnaires were used to determine suitable and unsuitable areas for wheat production and four categories were identified.

Aaccording to the results of this research, it can be concluded that in the relatively poor and poor lands in the south, southwest and west of the Khuzestan province, it is possible to improve the quality of the soil by carrying out a series of research and measures. Considering the restrictions in these areas, some measures such as increasing soil organic carbon and improving soil fertility, leaching and draining saline soils, setting appropriate crop rotations, using adapted cultivars tolerant to prevailed environmental stresses, increasing water productivity by modern irrigation methods can be recommended to improve the environmental conditions for production of wheat in these areas.

In order to evaluate the effect of salicylic acid and mycorrhizal in reducing salinity damage on the quantitative and qualitative yield of marigold a factorial pot experiment was conducted based on completely randomized design . This experiment was carried out with four replications in the Poldokhtar Payam Noor University in 2015. Experimental factors including salinity in 5 levels (Poldokhtar drinking water with electrical conductivity of 0.7 dS.m-1 is control), 2, 4, 6 and 8 dS.m-1, 4 levels of salicylic acid 0, 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 mM and mycorrhiza was inoculated and no inoculated. The results showed that salinity reduced all the measured traits but only increased the antioxidant property. Consumption of Salicylic acid and mycorrhiza improved all the traits in salinity . The highest amount of chlorophyll a and b were in 0.7 dS-1 salinity and application of 0.6 mM salicylic acid with 0.115 and 0.207 mg.kg-1 fw, respectively which was significant with other treatments in 5%. Petal carotenoid was in 0.7 dS-1 salinity and application of 0.9 mM salicylic acid with 7.71 mg.kg-1 fw which was 15% higher than the same salinity and without using salicylic acid. The maximum of fresh weight of inflorescence content as economical yield with 12.56 gr.pot-1 was observed at 0.7 dS-1 salinity, 0.9 mM salicylic acid and mycorrhizal inoculation. Mycorrhiza increased 28 percent antioxidant properties and 21 percent colonization compared to the control treatment. Mycorrhiza by absorbing more water and nutrients in salinity improve the growing conditions of the plant and increase the yield.

In order to determine the cardinal temperature of decayed sugarcane seeds, this study was carried out factorially in a completely randomized design with three replications in Khuzestan University of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The first factor was aging at 5 levels (0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours of decline) and germination temperatures at 7 levels (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 ° C). The results showed that the percentage and speed of germination were affected by the interaction of temperature in the decay so that their highest value was in the temperature range of 20 to 25 ° C and the decay in addition to reducing their amount increased the range of changes of this plant at different temperatures. The highest germination percentage was observed at 20 ° C in undeveloped seeds and 15 to 20 ° C at 24 and 48 h. Estimation of different non-linear models on germination rate also showed that among the evaluated models, the better toothed model was the model for germination of sugarcane seeds at different levels of decay. The germination basal temperature of sugarcane was estimated to be 1 ° C in non-degradable conditions, which increased to 1.8 ° C in 24 hours of decline and decreased again in higher degradations. The optimum germination temperature of this plant was between 20 to 32 at no aging conditions.

An experiment is conducted to evaluate effect of Bacillus and Pseudomonas on Quantitative and Qualitative Yield and malting efficiency of different Barley cultivars in rainfed conditions in a farm of Ilam Agriculture and Natural Resources Research Center in 2017 and 2018. The experiment is factorial according to randomized complete blocks design with four replications. Three cultivars (namely, Behrokh, Grace, and Sararoud1 as first and seed inoculated with growth-promoting bacteria) and Fertilizer at eight levels (including the control, complete fertilizer (Field recommendation), Pseudomonas bacteria, Bacillus bacteria, combination of Pseudomonas and Bacillus bacteria, Pseudomonas bacteria + half fertilizer, Bacillus bacteria + half fertilizer and combination of Pseudomonas and Bacillus bacteria + half fertilizer) are considered second factor. The results show that all the studied traits (with the exception of malting efficiency) addition main effect, are significantly affected by year interaction in cultivar in fertilizer treatment, but malting efficiency is influenced by interaction cultivar in fertilizer treatments. Heights number of seeds per spike, number of spikes per m-2, and grain yield are recorded by a combination of Pseudomonas and Bacillus bacteria + half fertilizer under garis cultivar with means 31, 390 and 5294 kg/h in 2018 and 35, 400 and 6222 kg/h respectively. Maximum malting efficiency (95.5 %) has also been observed in the combination of Pseudomonas and Bacillus bacteria + half fertilizer under Behrokh.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of growth-promoting rhizobacteria and chemichal fertilizer; on yield and malting efficiency of different barley cultivars in rainfed conditions in 2018 and 2019. A faceorial experiment was conducted on a randomized complete blocks desibn (RCBD) with four replications in Ilam province.  Three cultivars: Behrokh, Grace, and Sararoud as first and eight levels of seed insemination with growth-promoting bacteria and Fertilizer (including control, i.e., seed without bacterial insemination and without fertilizer, complete fertilizer Pseudomonas bacteria, Bacillus bacteria, combination of Pseudomonas and Bacillus bacteria, Pseudomonas bacteria + half fertilizer Urea, Bacillus bacteria + half fertilizer and combination of Pseudomonas and Bacillus bacteria + half fertilizer) were second factor. The results of the combined analysis of variance showed that all the studied traits (except malting efficiency) significantly affected by main effects and interaction of year×cultivar×fertilizer treatment. But malting efficiency influenced by interaction of cultivar×fertilizer treatments. Number of seeds per spike, number of spikes per area unit and grain yield in combination of Pseudomonas and Bacillus bacteria + half fertilizer, had the highest mean in garis cultivar in the two years. Additionally, maximum malting efficiency (95.5 %) was observed in the combination of Pseudomonas and Bacillus bacteria + half fertilizer in Behrokh. The highest amount of grain protein in the first year was observed in bacterial combination + half fertilizer in Saravard cultivar (14.6%) and in the second year was observed in the Pseudomonas + half fertilizer in Saravard cultivar (14.3%).

In order to effect of application time of polyphosphate slow release fertilizer (PSRF) and humic acid on some agronomic characteristics of corn (Hybrid AS 71), an experiment was carried out with factorial based on randomized complete block design (RCBD), with three replications in Gotvand, during 2017-2018. The first factor included polyphosphate slow release fertilizers application time in four levels (leafy 4, leafy8, before the emergence of tassels, milky grain) and the second factor was humic acid application time at four levels (leafy 4, leafy8, before the emergence of tassels, milky grain). The results of experiment showed significant differences in main effect and interaction of experimental factors on all the studied characteristics. The highest amount of characteristics were used PSRF + humic acid in stages leafy 4 and leafy 8, and the least amount in most characteristics was observed with the application of PSRF + humic acid in the milk grain stage. The results of experiment showed , simultaneous application of PSRF + humic acid, especially, in the early stages of growth, due to suitable providing of elemental nutrients at the beginning of plant growth can lead to increased yield and components yield of Corn.

In order to evaluate the energy consumption efficiency in the chickpea production system, a field study was conducted in Ayvangharb, Ilam province, Iran during the 2019-2020 growing season and the required agricultural information in all stages of planting, growing and harvesting was collected by filling out a questionnaire and face-to-face interviews with 240 farmers. The results showed that the highest amount of input energy were diesel fuel, chemical fertilizers, seed and cultivation, chemical fertilizers, fuel and seed in mechanized and traditional cultivation, respectively. Energy ratio, energy efficiency, energy intensity and net energy were determined 2.83, 0.27 Kg/ MJ, 3.6 MJ/ Kg and 12272.46 MJ/ ha in mechanized cultivation and 2.41, 0.23 Kg/ MJ, 4.2 MJ/ Kg and 9608.52 MJ/ ha in traditional cultivation ,respectively. The share of direct, indirect, renewable and non-renewable energy was 47, 53, 20, 80% in mechanized cultivation and 38, 62, 31, 69% of total energy consumption in traditional cultivation, respectively. Questionnaire statistics were analyzed by modeling with DEA solver and it was found that fungicides, phosphate fertilizer and pesticides inputs are the best inputs affecting grain yield and straw yield in mechanized and traditional crops. However, these inputs were less efficient in traditional cultivation than in mechanized cultivation. Also, the analysis of indicators showed that the efficiency of mechanized cultivation is higher than traditional cultivation.

Canola is one of the main oilseed crops. The effect of Azotobacter chroococcum as one of the biological fertilizer on the quantity and quality of rapeseed can be investigated. The presence of azotobacter in soils has positive effects on plants. Adequate moisture can promote vegetative growth, improve root growth, increase leaf area and durability, prolong flowering period, shoots, number of flowers and grain per pod, seed weight and yield. Moisture stress reduces the quantity and quality of these traits in rapeseed. The aim of this study was to find the right strain, suitable cultivar and appropriate irrigation regime for end of canola season water stress to save water in Lorestan province.

In order to evaluate the amount of protein, proline, soluble sugars and photosynthetic antioxidant enzymes, chlorophyll and carotenoids of rapeseed cultivars under the influence of inoculation of Azotobacter chrooccocum in cut off irrigation conditions, an experiment was conducted in the year 2016-2017 at Sarab Chengai Agricultural Research Station, Khorramabad as a factorial split plot with randomized complete block design with 4 replications. Experimental factors included discontinuation of irrigation at 30% flowering and 30% pod forming stages and optimum irrigation (control), Azotobacter chrooccocum included 63, 70 strains and non-inoculated (control) and three rapeseed genotypes including Neptune, Octane and Okapi (control).

Results showed that the effect of irrigation interruption on grain yield, proline content, soluble sugars, proteins, antioxidant enzymes and photosynthetic pigments of green tissue was significant. The effect of azotobacter chroococcum strains on all of these traits except grain yield and proline was significant. Rapeseed cultivars differed significantly in terms of seed yield, soluble sugars, enzyme catalase and chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll a + b. in terms of the accumulation of proline, protein, peroxidase enzyme, carotenoid, chlorophyll a And the chlorophyll a/b ratio was not significantly Different between cultivars. The highest levels of proline, soluble sugars, antioxidant enzymes were obtained in the irrigation cessation treatment from the 30% flowering stage and the highest amount of protein and photosynthetic pigments were obtained from the normal irrigation treatment. Inoculation of rapeseed with Azotobacter chrooccocum strains increased the protein, total chlorophyll and carotenoid of the compared to the non-inoculated treatment. Octane and Neptune hybrids outperformed the total chlorophyll a+b of aerial organisms in terms of the enzyme catalase. However, the Okapi (control) cultivar was superior to octane and Neptune hybrids in terms of soluble sugars. The highest grain yield (4559 kg / ha) was observed in the optimal irrigation (control). In the irrigation cut-off 30% of silique and 30% flowering stages, decreased grain yield (5.99% and 23.65%, respectively) compared to optimal irrigation. Seed yield of Octane and Neptune cultivars were 4584 and 4290 kg ha-1, respectively, which were 24.7% and 19.6% more than Okapi (control) cultivars, respectively.According to the results, Interaction Effects showed that rapeseed cultivars produced the highest protein content in the treatment of normal irrigation and inoculation with 63 and 70 Aztobacter chroococcum strains. The lowest green organ protein was obtained from treatments of noninoculated and irrigation discontinuation from 30% flowering and 30% pod forming stages. Irrigation interruptions led to a significant increase in proline concentration in canola. In irrigation cessation treatment, 30% flowering and normal irrigation were observed with the lowest and highest proline concentrations, respectively. Probably related to its role in regulating osmosis to stabilize cellular membranes and proteins, inhibiting free radicals under stress. Irrigation witholding at 30% flowering and 30% pod forming resulted in a significant increase in antioxidant peroxidase and catalase enzymes activities. Azotobacter chrooccocum strains significantly reduced the levels of peroxidase and catalase enzymes in the rapeseed aerial parts. It is possible that by inoculating the Azotobacter chrooccocum, the plant is less likely to show signs of stress. Irrigation discontinuation significantly reduced chlorophyll a, b, and total levels compared to normal irrigation, possibly due to increased chlorophylase enzyme activity. The interactions between irrigation interruptions, azotobacter inoculation and rapeseed cultivars on the amount of chlorophyll a showed that Neptune and Octane hybrids produced the highest amount of chlorophyll a in the treatment with 70 strain in normal irrigation treatment. The same effects on chlorophyll b levels showed that the highest chlorophyll b levels were observed in octane and Neptune hybrids at 63 and 70 strains in normal irrigation and the lowest chlorophyll b content was observed in octane-free treatment without inoculation with irrigation cessation treatment from 30% flowering stage. Octane hybrid produced the highest total chlorophyll a + b in normal irrigation and bacterial inoculation of the strain 70. The highest accumulation of carotenoids was 0.430 mg g-1 FW in octane hybrid in strain 63 and normal irrigation. The lowest accumulation of carotenoids in was obtained from the untreated bacterium. The concentration of soluble sugars in the cultivars varied. The highest soluble sugars in the Okapi cultivar weighed 56.341 mg g-1 FW and produced less sugar Neptune with 54.89 and octane with 51.960 mg g-1  FW. Therefore, it seems that the accumulation rate of these osmotic regulators is related to higher drought resistance of cultivars.

In order to evaluate the yield and nutrient accumulation in different cultivars of rapeseed under the effect of azotobacter in irrigation conditions, a factorial split experiment based on randomized complete blocks design with four replications was conducted in Khorramabad agricultural research station in 2016-2017. Experimental factors included the withholding irrigation from 30% flowering and 30% pod forming, and normal irrigation (control) as the main plot and inoculation of  Neptune, Oktane and Okapi rapeseed cultivar seeds with azotobacter strains (63, 70) and non inoculation (control)as subplots. The results showed that the irrigation regimes had a significant effect on grain yield and the accumulation of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and manganese in shoot and seeds. The effect of azotobacter was significant on all nutrients (except magnesium) uptake in green tissue and seeds. The interaction effects of irrigation regime, bacteria and cultivar were significant on phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, manganese, and zinc levels in shoot and grain. Maximum grain yield was obtained from optimal irrigation treatment with 4559 kg.ha-1. It was found that Oktane and Neptune cultivars with 4584 and 4290 kg grain.ha-1were superior compared to okapi cultivar. With regards to the positive effect of potassium concentration and inoculation of rapeseed seeds with azotobacter due to its solubilizing properties, increasing the application of potassium in soil and seed inoculation can moderate the negative effects of stress and improve grain yield in rapeseed.

The effects of accelerated aging treatment on seed germination of Echinops was quantified using nonlinear models using Sigmoid, Segmented, Gompertz and Richards models and hydrotime model in Weibull, Normal and Gombel distribution functions. Experimental factors were seed aging for (0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hour) at relative humidity (RH)=100%, temperature (T) =40 oC and seven osmotic potential (0, -0.2, -0.4, -0.6, -0.8, -1, -1.2 MPa). Results of experiment revealed that interaction effect of aging and osmotic stress on seed germination and germination rate of Echinopsis was significant. Seed germination parameters of Echinops were increase by aging treatment up to 72 h but it was declined at aging treatment of 96 h. Seed germination and germination rate were increased by aging treatment till 72 h but at 96 h, both were declined. Gompertz exhibited the best fit for no aged, 24 h and 48 h while sigmoid function was provided the best fit for aging at 72 and 96 h. Among all studied distribution function, it was revealed that normal distribution was the most effective one thus base potential (ψb) and hydrotime constant (θH) were -0.68 MPa and 6 MPa hour, respectively. However, after 96 h of aging treatment ψb and θH were estimated 0.731 MPa and 19.3 MPa hour, respectively. It can be concluded that freshly harvested Echinops exhibited some levels of seed dormancy which was alleviated at mild to moderate aging conditions, but after 72 h, deteriorative mechanism led to damaging effects and declined seed germination quality.

Thanks to its palatability and high digestibility, chicory plays an effective role in increasing domestic animals’ products. In order to study the effect of sowing data and nitrogen fertilizer levels on some characteristics of chichory (Cichorium intybus L.), an experiment has been conducted in a split plot design, using randomized complete blocks design with three replications at the Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan in 2016-2017. The factors include four sowing data (22 October, 5 November, 21 November, and 5 December) as the main plots and four levels of nitrogen (zero (non-application), 75, 150, and 225 kg / ha) as subplots. Results show that the sowing dates have only affected chlorophyll meter index, dry matter digestibility, and digestible energy, whereas nitrogen has had a significant effect on all studied traits. Increasing the application of nitrogen to 225 kg / ha increases plant height, chlorophyll meter index, leaf area, and branch number, not to mention both fresh and dry weights of the plant. The treatment of 225 kg / ha nitrogen raises the fresh weight of shoots and the percentage of forage protein by 66.35% and 6.44%, respectively, compared to non-application. But in these two traits, no significant difference has been observed among nitrogen application levels in different planting dates.  In this study, late planting date led to better conditions for most physiological, morphological yield, and quality characteristics. Accordingly, it is turned out that October 22 till November 5 sowing date with 150 kg ha-1 fertilizer has been the best treatment for chicory cultivation in Ahvaz.

In order to investigate the effects of priming methods on the improvement of seed germination indices and seedling growth of Lallemantia (Lallemantia Iberica) under different salinity levels, two factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design were carried out in the seed technology laboratory of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan in 2018-2019. In the first experiment, five levels of seed priming including: control, hydropriming (for 24 hours), gibberellic acid (100 mg.l-1 for eight hours), and solutes of potassium nitrate and sodium chloride (NaCl) (50 mg.l-1 for 6 hours) as the first factor and four levels of salinity stress, including 0 (control), 100, 200, and 300 mM of NaCl, as the second factor in four replications were examined. Also, a pot experiment was conducted to determine the effects of the studied treatments on some seedling growth indices in three replications. In general, indices of germination percentage, germination rate, radicle length, plumule length, emergence percentage, emergence rate, contents of chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids, and enzymatic activities of catalase and peroxidase were evaluated in this study. Results revealed that salinity stress, priming, and their interaction had significant effects on most of the studied traits. Also, increasing salinity concentrations led to decreases in all traits (except the activity of antioxidant enzymes). Generally, our findings showed that all seed priming treatments moderated the negative impacts of salinity stress and the application of NaCl could be a suitable treatment to increase the tolerance of Lallemantia seeds against high levels of salinity stress.

The marshmallow is used in Iranian traditional medicine and the pharmaceutical industry for various ailments, including digestive problems, skin irritation and coughs. Zinc plays an important role in the metabolic activities of plants and can affect the quantity and quality of medicinal plants. Osmopriming of seeds could be helping to increase germination, coming out of the soil, establishment, and growth of plants in the field conditions. The experiment was carried out as factorial based on a randomized complete blocks design. The first factor was  seed osmopriming with polyethylene glycol 6000 at four levels (control, -3, -6 and -9 bar) and the second factor was zinc foliar spraying from zinc sulfate source at four levels (0, 1, 2 and 3 g. l-1). Osmopriming on dry weight of the flowers and mucilage yield and zinc foliar spraying on dry weight of flower, number of seeds per fruit and mucilage yield had a significant effect. Treatments had no significant effect on 1000-seed weight. The interaction of osmopriming and zinc foliar spraying in the traits of the number of flowers and fruits per plant, dry weight of fruit, seed yield and mucilage percentage was significant. Foliar spraying 2 g.l-1 of zinc increased the mucilage yield and the flower dry weight, 46% and 57% compared to the control, respectively. The highest mucilage percentage was obtained from control treatments. Generally, the highest yield of flowers and mucilage was obtained from the middle levels of treatments (2 g. l-1 zinc sulfate and -6 bar osmopriming).

Terminal heat stress in Khuzestan province, decrease growth, yield and yield components of wheat. The vermicompost fertilizer improve water reserve and physical and chemical properties of soil. One of the important ways to reduce the negative effect of terminal heat stress on plant is using vermicompost fertilizer in the soil. Using vermicompost fertilizer in agricultural soils lead to increase nutrient elements and conserving the soil water and decrease the negative impacts of drought stress on plant. Generally, vermicompost fertilizer contribute to preserving the moisture storage of the soil and to supply the nutrients required by the plant. In this study, the most important aim is to study the effect of vermicompost fertilizer on bread wheat yield and yield components under terminal heat stress in Ahwaz climatic condition.

In order to evaluate the effect of vermicompost fertilizer on growth and yield of wheat in terminal heat stress of Ahwaz, a field experiment using split-plot design based on randomized complete block design with four replicates was conducted in research farm of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan during (in 31º N, 48º E, 35 Km north-east of Ahwaz, and 20 m above the sea level) 2017-2018 growing season. Experimental factors were three sowing dates (22 Nov., 11 Dec. and 31 Dec.) in main plots and five vermicompost rates (0 (control), 5, 10, 15 and 20 t.ha-1) in sub plots.

Analysis of variance showed that the effect of sowing date and vermicompost were significant on measured traits. Mean comparison revealed that the highest grain yield (2356 kg.h-1) was at the first sowing date and the lowest grain yield (1732 kg.h-1) was at the last sowing date. Also, in vermicompost levels, the maximum grain yield (2593 kg.ha-1) was in 20 t.ha-1 of vermicompost application and the minimum grain yield (1566 kg.ha-1) was in control of vermicompost.

Generally, the results showed that with delay in sowing date and occurrence of terminal heat stress, decreased growth and grain yield of wheat. But, using vermicompost fertilizer decreased the negative impact of drought stress. So that, with increase vermicompost application, increased measured traits. Also, in areas with terminal heat stress after flowering stage, using 20 tons per hectare of vermicompost fertilizer is recommended for maintaining grain yield.

Among soil and agronomic factors affecting growth, nutrition and plant density have a great effect on the growth and yield of crops such as Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.). In order to study the effect of different levels of nitrogen and plant density on yield and yield components, oil percentage and yield of Flax, a split plot experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with four replicates at the Research Farm of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Iran in 2016-2017. Experimental factors included different levels of nitrogen (0, 75, 150 and 225 kg/ha) in main plots and four plant densities (50, 100, 150 and 200 plants/m2) in sub plots. Analysis of variance showed that nitrogen, plant density and their interaction effect was significant on all measured traits. The highest grain and oil yields were obtained in 150 kg/ha nitrogen level and the density of 200 plants/m2. The mean comparison of interaction effect showed that the highest grain yield (1348 kg/ha) and oil yield (349 kg/ha) were achieved in 150 kg/ha nitrogen level and the density of 200 plants/m2. The lowest grain yield (570 kg/ha) and oil yields (188 kg/ha) were observed in 0 kg/ha nitrogen level and the density of 150 plants/m2.

In order to investigate the effects of sulfuric acid, humic acid and potassium nitrate foliar spraying on quantitative and qualitative of marigold a field trial was conducted in Ramin Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Iran in 2015-2016. This study was carried out using a split factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Treatments included potassium nitrate (N1=no application, N2=250 ppm and N3= 500 ppm) as the main factor, sulfuric acid (S1=no application and S2=5 L/ha) and humic acid (H1=no application and H2=16 kg/ha) as the second factor. Studied traits included capitol diameter, number of ray flowers in inflorescences, total number of inflorescences per m2, fresh and dry weight of inflorescences, harvest index, petal carotenoid concentrations, antioxidant activity and petal color quality (L*a*b parameters). The highest inflorescence dry weight (53 g m-2), fresh and dry weight of inflorescences (380 g m-2), total number of inflorescences per m2 (372), number of ray flowers in inflorescences (58) and harvest index (14%) were detected in N2S1, N2S2, N2S2, N2S1 and N1H2, respectively. The least antioxidant activity (0.048 mg ml-1) was obtained in S1H2. The highest a (5.23) and L (61.64) color parameters for yellow flowers and b (84.44) color parameter for orange flowers were found in N1S1H1, N3S2H2 and N2H2, respectively. In general, the best treatments for the two important traits of inflorescence dry matter yield and number of inflorescences per square meter were N2S1 and N2S2, respectively.

Peach, being one of the most important Iranian horticultural products, produce a considerable amount of post-harvest wastes. Product processing is one of the ways to reduce waste. For many years, the use of ultrasound has been considered as a novel pre-treatment in the drying of food. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of high-power ultrasound pre-treatment on the drying of peach and its quality. For this purpose, the ultrasound treatment (70 Watts and 28 kHz) was performed for 10, 20 and 60 minutes at two different temperatures of 65 and 105 C. The results showed that the application of ultrasound, as a pre-treatment before drying, decreases the drying time. In addition, it reduced the force required for shear and compression of the samples with no negative effect on the color of the samples. Furthermore, it was shown that the use of ultrasonic waves in drying of peach slices will reduce costs and energy consumption and increase the product quality.

In order to investigate the physiological responses of chickpea cultivars to supplemental irrigation and super-absorbent polymer use, an experiment was conducted in 2015 using a split factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design in the research farm of Khorramabad Agricultural Research Center. Factors were supplemental irrigation times (without supplemental irrigation, irrigation in 50 percent of flowering and irrigation in 50 percent of seed filling) as main factor and cultivars (Arman, Azad and Greet) and super absorbent polymer (zero, 100 and 200 kg/ha) in the sub plots. The result showed that the supplemental irrigation and super absorbent polymer reduced soluble carbohydrates and seed protein and increased insoluble carbohydrates, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll. Supplemental irrigation in 50 percent of flowering satge increased 74 percent of seed yield compared to dry land condition. The highest seed yield, biological yield and harvest index were obtained from Greet cultivar with supplemental irrigation at 50 percent of flowering stage and application of 200 kg/ha super absorbent polymer, with the averages 2179 kg/ha, 4012 kg/ha and 54.3 percent, respectively. The results showed that at all levels of supplemental irrigation, the use of superabsorbent polymer improves plant growth conditions and, consequently, significantly increased seed yield. This will increase further by increasing the consumption of super absorbent polymer within supplementary irrigation.

Application of nitrogen fertilizers is one the main practices to increase the yield of agricultural products. However, the addition of high and unbalance amount of fertilizers led to negative consequences on the environment, reduction of fertilizer use efficiency and increase cost of production. Crop rotation is one of the most effective methods to increase nitrogen efficiency at agricultural ecosystems, stated that type of planted crop in previous years can alter soil condition and hence enhance the yield of the next crop. Recent studies revealed that crop rotation alone is not capable of providing required nutrients for plant growth. Hence, if uptake nutrients by plants were not recycled, the crop rotation system would not fully beneficial. Therefore, incorporation of crop rotation and fertilization could be considered as a suitable solution to have stable and high-quality crop yield with environmental protection. Based on stated notes, this experiment was conducted to find the most effective nitrogen fertilizer level and reduction of fertilizer use in Purslane farms by crop rotation.

This experiment was conducted with factorial split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications at Ramin Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan during 2012-2013. Nitrogen fertilizer (Urea) was at five levels: (N1-Control, N2-75kg.ha-1, N3-100 kg.ha-1, N4-125kg.ha-1 andN5-150kg.ha-1. Two preceding plants P1- Wheat, P2-Bersim Clover and cutting (C) was placed at sub plot. Plant cutting of Purslane was done in two times. Anova performed by SAS 9.1 and means were compared by (LSD) at the error probability of 0.05%.

Results of the experiment showed that plant height was affected by the amount of applied fertilizer rate. The increase in fertilizer rate led to more plant height. The first cutting, stem diameter was increased by higher fertilizer rate and the highest stem diameter (5.41 cm) was achieved at 125 kg N.ha-1. At the second cutting, there was no significant difference among fertilizer treatments. First and second cutting the value of chlorophyll in bersim increased and the highest value was observed in 150 kg N. ha-1. At first cutting, little difference between 150 kg N × wheat and 150 kgN × clover on the fresh and dry weight leaves of purslane was observed. But in second cutting, the highest fresh and dry weight leaves was observed in the high level of nitrogen × clover.The increase in fertilizer rate was led to a higher dry weight of Purslane due to increase in stem length, a number of leaves and fresh and dry weight of leaf. The highest fresh weight (26.34 g.plant-1) belonged to 150 kg N and bersimpreceding at the second cutting. Plant dry weight showed that maximum plant dry weight was at the first cutting with 125 kg N and bersimpreceding which showed no significant difference of 150 kgN.ha-1. Results showed that the first and second cutting had the higher leaf protein with 12.61 and 14.43 % for bersimpreceding and 150 kg N.ha-1 treatments.

Based on results of this experiment, it is stated that response of Purslane to preceding is different and cutting legume plant as preceding could improve physio-chemical properties of soil and increase the crop yield. The response of Purslane to preceding and fertilizer treatment was different. Application of 125 kg N.ha-1 with berismpreceding could produce equal or higher yields compare to 150 kg N.ha-1. Application of higher nitrogen led to more watery stem plants and higher plant weight. Generally, due to the medicinal application of this plant, application of suitable crop rotation and optimization of nitrogen fertilizer in a rotational system with preservation of soil fertility, environmental protection, water quality and biodiversity could increase input efficiency and enhance crop quality.

Since 2001, water main drainage of sugarcane farms located in the east side of Karoon River has been deviated to Shadegan lagoon. The average discharge and salinity of the drain water in spring and summer were 20 and 20.5 m3 sec-1 and 17.1 and 13.3 dS m-1, respectively. Therefore, there have been considerable changes in the lagoon water quality when compared to the time before entering the drain water. Therefore, an experiment was performed to investigate the effects of sugarcane waste water on the quality of Lagoon’s water. The results showed that the average salinity was increased significantly before and after the entrance of the drainage into different points. The average salinity in the sample point No.2 (along the entrance of the drainage) in summer was changed from 17.7 to 51.5 dS m-1. The results, therefore, revealed that after the entrance of drainage water to Lagoon, during summer time, water salinity and mineral concentrations were increased for all locations except the points of 1 (on the northern margin of Lagoon) and 3 (influenced by Jarahi River). Phosphate ion concentration was increased at all investigated locations, but the highest phosphate concentrations were observed at the location points of 1 and 2 in summer. Given the important role of this lagoon in the protection of animal and plant spices, it is essentially important for sugarcane production companies to adopt a special measure for the protection of Lagoon from any source of pollution.

Iran has a large surface area of saline soil and in this condition of saline soil, crop production is involved with a lot of problems including deficiency of some nutritional elements and outcome of this problems is decreasing of quantitative and qualitative yield. For this purpose, in saline soil conditions, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of foliar spraying of selenium and boron elements, and mulches application of wheat straw and cow manure on some of sunflower properties. In order to evaluate the possibility of increasing the quantitative and qualitative yield of the product in saline soil conditions (At a depth of 0 to 60 cm, with an average electrical conductivity of 8.68 dS.m-1, pH of 7.85 and silty clay soil texture) a factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted on sunflower (Ghasem hybrid) in Khuzestan Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University in 2016. Treatments was included, three mulches (no application, wheat stubble 15 ton.ha-1 and cow manure 30 ton.ha-1), foliar spraying of selenium in the form of sodium selenite (no application, 17 and 34 mg.l-1) and boron foliar spraying in the form of boric acid (no application and 400 mg.l-1). Irrigation was done in a furrow. The traits that were studied included: seed yield, oil yield, seed protein percentage, selenium and boron content of seed, oil harvest index, seed harvest index, biological yield, number of seeds per capitulum and 1000-seed weight. The application of mulch, especially wheat mulch, in comparison with non-application of mulch, had a positive effect on most of the studied traits. The use of selenium significantly increased the content of selenium seed compared to its non-application so that the highest and lowest selenium seed content were observed in high (0.14 ppm) and low (0.12 ppm) levels of selenium foliar spraying treatments respectively. The main effect of boron foliar application were not significant on the studied traits, but its triple interaction with selenium foliar spraying and mulch on important traits such as seed yield, oil yield and harvest index were significant. Application of selenium significantly reduced the weight of 1000 seeds, so that the highest 1000-seed weight was obtained from the non-use of selenium (55.50 grams) and by increasing the concentration of selenium foliar spraying solution, 1000 seed weight (50.55 grams) decreased. The interaction effect of selenium and boron foliar spraying on seed number per capitulum was significant so that the lowest number of seeds per capitulum (1293) was obtained from non-use of selenium and boron which averaged more than 100 seeds less than other treatment compounds. The highest seed yield (6431 kg.ha-1) and oil yield (2529 kg.ha-1) showed in boron foliar spraying × wheat straw. Treatments had no significant effect on seed oil percentage (with mean of 35.78 %). The highest protein content (25/46 %) was obtained from treatment of wheat straw. Overall, in this experiment, non-selenium foliar spraying (17 mg.l-1) × boron foliar spraying (400 mg.l-1) × wheat straw mulch application had the best quantity and quality yield. According to the results obtained in saline soil conditions, the beneficial effects of wheat stubble mulch (significant increase in harvest index, number of seeds per head, grain yield and seed protein percentage compared to non- application) was more than expectation. However, suitable selenium concentration (17 mg.l-1) had beneficial effects but the higher level of selenium foliar application (34 mg.l-1) had a negative effect on quantitative and qualitative yield.

In order to study the yield of different cultivars of safflower in different plant densities, the present factorial experiment in randomized complete blocks design with three replications was carried out at research farm of Khuzestan Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University in 2016-17 cropping year. The experiment factors included four cultivars (Goldasht, Sofeh, Isfahan and Faraman) and four levels of plant densities (20, 30, 40 and 50 plant per square meter). The results of the experiment showed that plant increasing per unit area significantly decreased number of heads per plant, number of seeds per head, grain yield and oil yield per unit area in all cultivars. Density had not significant effect on one thousand seed weight. Goldasht and Faraman cultivars had the maximum one thousand seed weight than two other cultivars. The highest grain and oil yields were obtained at an average of 2253 and 680 kilogram per hectare, respectively, at a density of 30 plants per square meter and from Sofeh cultivar. However, in this density, grain yield with density of 40 plants did not show any significant difference. Increasing density, number of heads per plant and number of seeds per head, respectively 37 and 22 percent and grain and oil yields decreased by 14 and 30 percent, respectively. Generally, the results showed that the number of heads per plant and the number of seeds per head were the most important components of grain and oil yields. According to the obtained results, Sofa and Isfahan cultivars with a density of 30 plants per square meter can be recommended for safflower cultivation in Khuzestan.

In this study, the pattern and efficiency of energy consumption for wheat production was investigated through data envelopment analysis in Chardavol Township, Ilam Province. The results showed that among the energy inputs, fuel energy, seed and Ness fertilizer with respective percent of 48, 22 and 19 had the highest and work force energy, pesticide and oil with respective percent of 24, 45 and 64 had the lowest share was among inputs energy. The average oftotal Entranceenergy input and output for producingdry farming wheat in the region were 10532.90 MJ/ha-1 and 31568.98 MJ/ha-1 respectively. The meanof energy ratio, energy productivity, energy intensity and net surplus energy were 3.04, %13 kg/MJ-1, 8.21 MJ/kg-1 and 21036.07 MJ/ha-1 respectively. The share of direct and indirect, form the total consuming energy were %49/15 and %51/85 respectively. Farmers’ efficiency was calculated through data envelopment analysis (DEA) in CCR and BCC models using EMS software. Technical efficiency, pure technical efficiency and scale efficiency were %88, %97 and %91 respectively. The amount of input energy optimizedby the return model to the scale variablewas 8397.37 MJ/ha-1. The amount of total savable energy in the current condition of the studied region was %17.97 in the BCC model.

In recent decades, agricultural production has become increasingly dependent on the consumption of chemical inputs to obtain higher yields, which in turn has led to major problems such as environmental pollution and consequently, arresting sustainable production. In order to reduce these hazards, application of resources and inputs must lead to long term-sustainable agriculture system as well as supplying the current needs of plant. Proper plant nutrition and soil fertility management can enhance environment protection and moreover, improve input use efficiency and the quality of water, reduce erosion and maintain biodiversity. The valuable medicinal plant “purple coneflower”, is widely used in pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics and health industries. Although not native to Iran, the plant has been recently categorized as an indigenous plant. This plant has been used in the past for the treatment of snakebite, gums and mouth disorders, colds, cough, and sore throat. In the last 50 years, due to its anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, purple coneflower is globally well-known and its derivatives are categorized as immune system tonics. Nowadays, products of purple coneflower are presented as blood purifier, antiseptic and sedatives. Therefore, according to background of the use of medicinal plants and change in point of view regarding to this kind of crops as well as increasing global demand for the use of these plants in the treatment of diseases, and considering the harms caused by the consumption of chemical drugs, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive research on medicinal plants.
The experiment was carried out as split factorial based on randomized complete block design with four replications in experimental fields of Khuzestan Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University between 2013-2014. Foliar application of vermicompost tea was performed at two levels (with and without tea use) and was assigned to the first factor in main plot; the second factor was organic fertilizer which was applied at three levels (zero application, vermicompost and cow manure); and finally biofertilizer was the third factor and had two level (without biofertilizer application and azospirillum biofertilizer). The latter two factors were assigned to the subplots. In this experiment, some qualitative characteristics such as mineral elements, photosynthetic pigments and the amount of substance active ingredients were evaluated.
According to the results, the highest root and total fenol were obtained from vermicompost treatment, whereas the highest leaf nitrogen, stem nitrogen, leaf phosphorus, stem phosphorus, chlorophyll type a, chlorophyll type b, carotenoid, leaf fenol and stem fenol was observed for the combination of vermicompost and tea vermicompost treatments. The highest flower fenol and chicoric acid content was recorded in vermicompost treatment together with azospirillum biofertilizer. On the other hand, the lowest stem and leaf potassium belonged to the combined treatment of tea vermicompost foliar and azospirillum biofertilizer. Generally, organic and bio-fertilizers, directly and indirectly, increased nutrients absorption in coneflower via improving plant access to macro-micro nutrients as a result of altering physico-chemical circumstances, stimulating the activity of beneficial soil microbes, increasing water absorption, availability of macro and micro elements and presence of hormones such as auxin, humic acid and GA3. Foliar spraying of vermicompost as a complementary to soil fertilizers provides quick and direct absorption of nutrients through shoots. Consequently, the treatments applied in this study simultaneously improved the characteristics of purple coneflower and the amount of its active ingredient.
The research showed that the combined treatment of vermicompost and foliar application of vermicompost tea was more feasible in the cultivation of purple coneflower rather than other treatments applied, so it was identified as the ideal treatment.