a.h. khoshgoftarmanesh

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

Soilless culture in greenhouse is being developed in Iran، as in many countries of the world. This study was conducted to evaluate the possibility of applying sawdust as well as the effect of adding bentonite and pumice on vegetative growth of bell pepper cv. Inspratian. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized blocks design with 8 treatments and 4 replications، in greenhouse of College of Agriculture، Isfahan University of Technology. The planting media consisted of different v/v ratios [100% sawdust، sawdust+ pumice at the ratios of 5، 10 and 15%، sawdust+ bentonite at the ratios of 5، 10 and 15%، and a common planting medium (85% peat+ 15% perlite) as control]. Results showed that after peat، in most cases، plants grown in sawdust+ pumice showed better vegetative growth as compared to those of pure sawdust or sawdust+ bentonite. For example، the highest fresh and dry weight of shoots and dry weight of roots were in 85% sawdust+15% pumice treatment. The results also showed that after peat، the highest chlorophyll content was determined in 95% sawdust+ 5% pumice and 90% sawdust+ 10% bentonite media. The lowest chlorophyll content was related to 100% sawdust medium. After peat treatment، the earliest flowering، fruiting and color establishment was observed in 85% sawdust+ 15% pumice، which was not significantly different from 95% sawdust+ 5% and 90% sawdust+ 10% pumice.

In order to investigate the effect of some substrates on uptake and concentration of nutrients in cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Cerasiforne)، this non-recycling soilless culture experiment was carried out as a completely randomized blocks design with 9 treatments and four replicates، with two plants in each pot. Treatments included perlite-vermiculite 50:50 %v، perlit-zeolite 50:50 %، perlite 100%، rice husk 100%، rice husk-vermiculite 50:50 %، rice husk-zeolite 50:50 %، perlite-rice husk-vermiculite 37. 5:37. 5:25 %، perlite-rice husk-zeolite 37. 5:37. 5:25 %، and cocopeat 100%. Results of the analysis of nutrients in the substrates showed that cocopeat and zeolite had the greatest concentration of potassium (K). The highest concentration of calcium (Ca) was found in zeolite medium، magnesium (Mg) in cocopeat، manganese (Mn) in rice husk، copper (Cu) in vermiculite، zinc (Zn) in cocopeat and iron (Fe) in vermiculite. The highest concentration of K and Mg in shoots of tomato plants was found in cocopeat، while plants in the vermiculite medium had the highest Ca concentration in their shoots. No significant relationship was found between concentrations of measured nutrients، except for K، in the substrates and their uptake by plants. In general، the highest nutrients uptake by cherry tomato plants was found in the medium containing a mixture of perlite and vermiculite، which is probably due to optimum root growth conditions، particularly high porosity and high ability for retention of water and nutrients.

Nickel (Ni) is necessary for plants at low concentrations; but excess Ni has toxic effects on plant growth. In this research, the effects of different Ni levels (0, 50, 100 and 200 µM from NiCl2) on leaf antioxidative response of two cucumber cultivars (Cucumis sativus L. cvs. Super Dominus and Negin) supplied with NH4NO3 as nitrogen source in nutrient solution was investigated. The results showed that by increasing Ni concentration in the nutrient solution and growth period, Ni concentration in the leaves of both cucumber cultivars was increased. This increase was greater at the vegetative growth stage compared with the reproductive stage. Higher levels of malonedialhdeyde (MDA) were also produced at the vegetative stage with respect to the reproductive stage. Application of 50 µM Ni significantly reduced MDA concentration, produced from lipid peroxidation, in comparison with the Ni-free control treatment. The effect of Ni on catalase (CAT) activity was dependent on the cucumber cultivar and concentration of this element in the growth medium. At the vegetative stage, Ni addition had no significant effect on activity of CAT in Super Dominus cultivar, while significantly reduced leaf activity of CAT in Negin cultivar. At the reproductive stage, Ni addition reduced activity of CAT in comparison with Ni-free treatment, regardless of the cucumber cultivar. Results showed that at the vegetative stage, application of 50 µM Ni to the growth medium resulted in lower activity of guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) in the leaves of both cucumber cultivars. By increasing the Ni level to 100 and 200 µM, the activity of this enzyme was increased. At the reproductive stage, activity of the ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in the leaves was dependent on the cultivar and concentration of this element in the medium. According to the results obtained from the present study, in general, the effect of Ni on activity of antioxidant enzymes in cucumber leaves varies with plant cultivar, Ni level and enzyme type.

The management and application of organic wastes in agricultural lands decreases environmental risks and increases utilization of these matters. The objective of this research was to investigate and compare the effect of polyacryl factory sewage sludge (PSS), municipal compost (MC) and cow manure (CM) on soil properties and on yield and growth of maize (single cross 704, Zea mays L.). The treatments were control (without any organic waste) and application of PSS, MC, and CM at two rates (15 and 45 t ha-1). This research was done in the research farm of Isfahan University of Technology (Lavark-Najafabad). The experimental design was a randomized, complete block with three replications. Treatments were incorporated into the soil before the maize planting (on 23 June 2008) and soil sampling was performed after 132 days (Simultaneously with maize harvesting). Application of the organic wastes resulted in significant increase soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN) and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and significantly decreased bulk density. However, saturated hydraulic conductivity was decreased by application of PSS. Application of 15 and 45 t ha-1 of PSS reduced Ks more than 14% and 42%, respectively, compared with control; however, the reduction was significant only in the plots which received 45 t ha-1 of PSS compared with control. The results of plant yield and growth showed that leaf area index (LAI), plant length, biological yield, 1000 seed weight and seed yield increase due to the application of organic wastes.

Mineral weathering is a major source of most essential nutrients including potassium. It is well known that potassium plays an important role in improving the quality of agricultural products and micaceous minerals, as the major source of potassium, are abundant in Iranian soils. No information is available on the role of micaceous minerals in supplying K to barley as the second major crop in Iran. The objective of this research was to demonstrate the ability of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to take up structural potassium from muscovite and phlogopite. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design with factorial combinations and three replicates. Culture medium was a mixture of quartz sand (as filling material) and K-bearing minerals including muscovite or phlogopite. Pots were irrigated with different nutrient solutions (+K and -K) during a period of four months. Barley Govhar cultivar was used which is widely cultivated in the Isfahan province. At the end of experiment, shoots and roots were separated and plant samples were prepared with dry ashing method and their K content was determined with flame photometer. In K-free treatments, total plant K uptake was significantly higher in phlogopite treated medium as compared to muscovite. No significant difference was found between control and muscovite amended treatment under K-free solution. In pots amended with phlogopite, K concentration was in sufficient limit, even under K-free nutrient solution. This indicates the importance of the type of micaceous minerals in plant K availability, particularly in soils where minerals structural K is the only source of K supply.

Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) contaminations in soils may be toxic to human, plants and cause groundwater contamination. To achieve maximum TpH- reduction and to establish successfull stable vegetation cover in phytoremediation method, various criteria must be considered to choose the plants carefully. In this study, germination and subsequent growth of seven plants were tested in three soils with different petroleum contamination levels. Contamination treatments consisted of C0 (uncontaminated soil), C1 (1:1 w/w, uncontaminated: contaminated soil) and C2 (1:3 w/w, uncontaminated: contaminated soil). The experimental design was completely randomized split plots with three replications per treatment. The results showed that the presence of TPH in the soil had no effect on seed germination of agropyron, white clover, sunflower and safflower although canola seedlings were sensitive to these compounds and failed to produce dry matter yield (DMY) at the end of trial period. In contrast, seed germination of canola, puccenillia and tall fescue decreased in the petroleum contaminated soils. No reduction was found in DMY of puccenillia in contaminated soils (C1 and C2 treatments) compared to control however, the presence of TPH proportional to the contamination levels, decreased dry weight of sunflower and safflower. This reduction in growth and dry weight for tall fescue and agropyron was also observed in C2 compared to C1 treatment. Therefore, it seems that though agropyron, white clover, sunflower and safflower germinated well and the presence of TPHs in the soil treatments had no effect on their seed germination, they grew poorly. In contrast, grasses had poor seed germination but their subsequent growth and establishment in the contaminated soils was acceptable for subsequent phytoremediation trials.

A factorial experiment with two levels of Zn (0 and 1.5 mg Zn kg-1), five salinity levels of irrigation water (0, 60, 120 and 180 mM NaC1, and 120 mM NaNO3) in three replications was conducted. Wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Roshan) was seeded in pots. After plant harvesting, zinc and cadmium concentrations were determined in the shoot. Activities of metal species in the soil solution were predicted using the computer program MINTEQA2. Treating the soil with NaC1-salinized water increased total concentration of cadmium (CdT) as well as Cd2+, CdC102, and CdCl+ species whereas, NaNO3 treatment had no significant effect on CdT. Shoot Cd concentrations were positively related to CdT and soil solution Cl- but negatively related to ZnT. Application of Zn-fertilizer decreased Cd and increased Zn concentrations in shoot, significantly. The results of this experiment showed that Cl- has an effective role in increasing mobility of soil Cd and its uptake by plant.

During 1998-99, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of residual Processed Municipal Waste Leachate (PMWL) on growth and yield of wheat (variety Roshan). The treatments consisted of residual amounts of 0, 150, 300 and 600 t/ha of PMWL and a residual N, P, K, and Zn fertilizer treatment in a randomized block design with 3 replications. In 1998, rice seedlings were transferred to 34 m plots. After harvesting the rice, wheat was seeded in the same plots without any new treatment. Processed municipal waste leachate and fertilizers were applied during the rice growth. Residual effects of PMWL increased the amounts of available macro- (N, P and K) and micronutrients (Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn) in soil which, in turn, promoted the grain and straw yield of wheat compared to the control. Straw and grain yield increased from 1.67 and 3.50 t/ha in control to 3.93 and 12.80 t/ha in 600 t/ha of PMWL, respectively. The residual effects of PMWL had no significant effect on heavy metals concentrations in plant. The effects of residual PMWL in the soil were proportional to the amount of leachate applied. However, more investigations are recommended to fully understand heavy metals effects on soil, plant, and environment.