bersim clover

This study was performed to investigate the effect of nitrogen fertilizer levels and pre-planting of cover crops on some vegetative traits and yield of rice plants.

This was conducted over 2017-2018 and 2018-2019, at the research farm of Sari University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. The experimental design employed a three-replicated split-plot arrangement within a randomized complete block design. The main plots involved five nitrogen consumption levels (0, 120, 240, 320, and 400 kg ha-1). The sub-plots included four types of pre-planted cover crops (no cover crop, canola, bersim clover, and rye).

Based on the findings, employing berseem clover as a cover crop in pre-sowing resulted in a significantly more favorable rice yield than others. Nitrogen fertilizer at rates of 320- 400 kg ha-1 led to enhanced vegetative traits, yield, and various yield components, including leaf area index and tiller number, ultimately resulting in increased overall yield. Results revealed that planting bersim clover cover crop before planting rice, along with 320 kg ha-1 of urea fertilizer, leads to 41.5% higher yield compared to no fertilizer).).

Bersim clover stood out among the pre-planting cover crops, significantly enhancing many rice traits. Additionally, no significant difference was observed between urea fertilizer levels of 320 and 400 kg ha-1 in several measured traits. Thus, the integrated treatment of bersim clover cover crop and 320 kg ha-1 of urea fertilizer is recommended before planting rice.

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.