نشریه مدیریت خاک و تولید پایدار
سال پنجم شماره 3 (پیاپی 13، پاییز 1394)

Ornamental plants have a special position in beautify of the industrial and urban landscape and recognition of hyperaccumulator species for amendment of contaminated soils has a considerable value. The effect of different levels of copper in conditions of presence or absence of mycorrhiza fungi on growth characteristics Zinnia flowers were studied In this research. A factorial experiment with a completely randomized design with 5 replications was conducted in greenhouse conditions. The Plants were harvested after a period of 70 days and some parameters such as shoot and root length, leaf number, leaf area, root volume, shoot and root dry weight, root mycorrhizal colonization percentage and copper concentration in shoot and root were measured. The Results showed that the effect of mycorrhizal fungi on all parameters was significant at the 1% level and Mycorrhizae enhanced shoot dry weight, root fresh and dry weight, and root copper concentration Respectively by 91, 83 , 92 and 71 percent than non-mycorrhizal control. The effect of copper levels were significant on shoot length at 5 % and on the other parameters at 1% percent level. The level of 800 mg/kg of copper decreased the number of leaves, root length, mycorrhizal colonization percentage and leaf area by 39 , 31 , 25 and 97 percent in compare to control Respectively. The interaction between copper and fungi had no significant effect on shoot length and leaf area, but were significant on leaf number at 5 % and on the other parameters at 1 % level.

Several studies have shown that the use of phosphate fertilizers resulted in the transfer of heavy metals to agricultural crops. On the other hand, potential of carbonates soils in the stabilization of P have been caused of using natural modifier along with phosphate fertilizers for increasing their effectiveness. Hence, this study was carried out to investigate the effect of native phosphate rock and imported triple superphosphate treated with sulfur and Thiobacillus on the accumulation of lead and cadmium in pistachio seedling. The pot experiment was conducted as factorial based on completely randomized design with three replications including three levels of phosphate fertilizers (control (P0), 2000 mg phosphate rock per kg soil (PR) and 67 mg triple superphosphate per kg soil (TSP)), two levels of elemental sulfur (0 (S0) and 2000 mg sulfur per kg soil (S1)) and two levels inoculums (non-inoculation (T0) and Thiobacillus inoculation (T1)). Cadmium and lead concentrations in shoots and roots were measured and also cadmium and lead concentrations were analysed in both phosphate fertilizers. Results showed that cadmium contamination in the triple superphosphate was 5 times higher than phosphate rock while there are no significant differences in the concentration of lead in both of fertilizers. Application of triple superphosphate had the greatest effect on shoot cadmium concentration (10.5%) compared to the phosphate rock. Using Thiobacillus increased significantly shoot cadmium concentration (6%) and cadmium translocation factor. Application of phosphate fertilizers decreased lead concentration in shoot and the highest lead concentration was observed in the control treatment.

Soil pollution by heavy metals is a serious environmental problem all over the world that may damage to human and ecosystem health. An experiment was aimed to assess the effects of biological fertilizers on yield and yield components of tomato under cadmium stress. This experiment was factorial and had a completely randomized design and three replications. Three combinations of biological fertilizers include M1: Azotobacter bacteria㌧⢮롢충 fungi ̺ⲥ陘 bacteria, M2: Mycorrhizal fungi Bacillus bacteria Pseudomonas bacteria Azotobacter bacteria, M3: Pseudomonas bacteria Azotobacter bacteria Mycorrhizal fungi and M0: treatment without biological fertilizers (control).The levels of soil cadmium were 0, 5,10,20,40 and 80 mg Cd/kg soil. Results of this study showed that application of biological fertilizers increased yield and growth indices of tomato and caused the concentrations of micronutrients to increase in aerial part and root of this plant. The highest rate of yield was generated by combination of biological fertilizers M1, so that it was significantly different from other combination, and by contrast the result of the combination of biological fertilizers M3 was not significantly different from the control. But the yield and growth indices of tomato plant decreased as the levels of soil cadmium increased. The level of 80 mg Cd/kg soil decreased tomato yield compared with control by 67%.

Knowledge of soil erodibility and its evaluation is a useful indicators to assess soil erosion. Climate is one of the soil forming factors which has a major impact on this index. The present study has done in order to determination of different climates effect on quality physical indices of loess soils in Golestan province. In order to this study two transect of (North to South) and (East to West) in the loess hillslope of the Province with pasture but in different climate condition were chosen. Samples were taken from seven areas with six replicates and the depths of 0 to 30 and 30 to 60 cm along two transects. Amezketa, plasticity, soil specific surface, cation exchangeable capacity and soil texture indices were measured. Results showed that changes in these indexes in the first transect (north-south) and in the second transect (East to West) of the province follow the particular trend. Amezketa index of average Changes of during the first transect from 0/05 to 0/23 and in the second transect from 0/42 to 0/30 mm and soil specific surface in the first transect from 51.95 to 72.04 and in the second transect from 94.27 to 145.52 m2/gr was variable. Changes in plasticity, soil specific surface and cation exchangeable capacity during both transect increased and amezketa index during the first transect increased and during the second transect decreased. According to results aggregate making and aggregate stability with soil particle size ratio have a significant effects to reduce loess soils erodibility.

Soil saturated hydraulic conductivity is the most important physical parameter, but its measurement often is difficult because of practical and/or cost-related reasons. In this research, expert system approaches with one type of the nonparametric lazy learning algorithms, a k-nearest neighbor (k-NN) algorithm, was compared and tested to estimate saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) from other easily available soil properties. In this research 151 soil samples were collected from farms land around Bojnourd and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) was estimated from other soil properties including soil textural fractions, EC, pH, SP, OC, TNV, ρs and ρb. Results showed that the accuracy of the parameter estimation, using parametric method of artificial neural network to compare with k-nearest neighbors for terms of all the parameters (with r=0.97, EF=0.946, RMSE= 8.798, ME= 28.446 and CRM =-0.144) compared to other methods input models is acceptable and can used to estimate saturated hydraulic conductivity especially when for new data set available these functions is essential.

Nowadays soil contamination with heavy metals is considered as one of the most serious environmental concerns. Among the heavy metals, lead due to inverse impacts on human health and substantial environmental problems causes major concern.This study was carried out with the aim of assessing the ability of different corn cultivars in a greenhouse condition for the accumulation of lead metal. Treatments included four lead levels (0, 100, 200, and 400 mg Pb.kg-1) and eight varieties of maize (260, 301, 302, 370, 500, 604, 647, and 704), and were tested in a factorial experiment in completely randomized design with three replicates. According to the obtained results, dry weight of shoot and root decreased with increase of lead-chloride concentration in the soil. Moreover, it was observed that in most varieties (except for 260), the lead-chloride (especially for 400 mg/kg) caused in reducing the shoot height and root length compared to the control treatment.The results showed that the amount of lead accumulated in the roots was more than shoots, and with increase of lead levels in the soil, concentration of lead in the plant tissues (roots and shoots) were significantly increased (P

The presence of heavy metals in the environment is causing ever-growing concern due to their toxicity, carcinogenicity and non-biodegradability. Nickel may enter and accumulate in agricultural soils through various ways. One of the most important chemical processes which affects the behavior and bioavailability of heavy metals is sorption of metals from liquid phase on the solid phase. This process controls the concentration of metal ions and complexes in the soil solution and can influence their uptake by plant roots. Sorption isotherm is a useful method to study metals retention in soils as it gives much useful information about sorption capacity of soils. The aim of the present study was to investigate the sorption properties of Ni by calcareous soils of Iran and its relation with some soil properties to better understand the fate of this metal in calcareous soils. Nickel (Ni) sorption characteristics in 20 calcareous soils of Iran were investigated in a range from 5.87 to 751.23 mgL-1 Ni concentration in solution using sorption isotherms of Langmuir, Freundlich and Redlich–Peterson. The “Curve Expert” software was used to fit the models of sorption isotherms. The high coefficient of determination (r2) and low standard error of estimate (SEE) were used as a criterion for selecting the best model. The Ni sorption isotherms could be fitted by the Freundlich model (r2=0.92-1.00; mean 0.99). The dimensionless parameter n that may indicate the sorption site energy distribution for different soils was between 2.07 and 3.15 and average of 2.46. Also the coefficient of determination and standard error of estimate showed that adsorbed behavior of Ni by calcareous soils can be described by Langmuir adsorption equation (r2=0.94-0.99; mean 0.98). The maximum sorption of studied soils for Ni ranged from 1369 to 5378, with average of 360 mg/kg. The coefficient of bonding energy (KL) in different soils was between 0.008 and 0.029 with an average of 0.015 L/mg that indicate narrow range of this parameter among the studied soils. The distribution coefficient (Kd) ranged from 22.6 to 122.5 with average of 54.8 L/kg. According to the coefficient of determination (r2=0.94-1.00; mean 0.99) and standard error of estimate (SEE= 47.9-163.3; mean 96.9), the Redlich–Peterson equation achieved the best fit to the data of Ni sorption in studied soils. The maximum Ni sorption (qmax) correlated with organic matter (r2=0.50, P

Plants growth in agricultural soils are affected by several biological factors. Plant growth promoting bacteria can improve growth and yield of agronomic plants through direct and indirect mechanisms. Minimizing consequences of using high amount fertilizers and obtaining sustained level is the aims sustainable agriculture. Using of microorganisms due to improving soil fertility and nutrients uptake, lead to increasing growth and yield of plants and ameliorate soil health. The aim of this research was to isolation and purification of bacterial isolates from animal manures, evaluation of their plant growth promotion characteristics and identification of selected isolates.
Material and In order to characterization of growth promotion characteristics of bacteria in this study, 10 samples of animal manures from different regions were collected. 27 isolates based on halo production, growth rate and morphological characteristics in NBRIP medium were purified and then and their typical PGP including auxin, Siderophore, HCN production, insoluble phosphates solubilization and secretion of protease, Cellulase, α-amylase and phytase were evaluated and finally selected isolates based on 16SrRNA were identified.
Among all of the isolates, maximum phosphorous from tri-calcium phosphate (373 mg/l) and aluminum phosphate (13.3 mg/l) was released by isolates NO. 7. Significant negative correlation (r= -0.86, P≤ 0.01)between maximum solubilization of tri-calcium phosphate and pH was observed. Isolate NO.21 produced greatest amount of auxin (52.8 mg/l). Only isolates NO. 30 and 53 were positive in HCN production. Among 27 isolates only three of them had the ability to secret protease, cellulase and α-amylase. The utmost halo was measured by isolate NO.49 in production of these three enzymes. Evaluation of extracellular phytase production showed that only 6 isolates capable to produce the enzyme. The analysis of the 16S rRNA of the selected isolates showed highly similarity to bacteria belonging to the genera Enterobacter, Sphingobium, Serratia. Only one of the three selected isolates produced weak halo in CAS-agar medium and another two isolates didnt show the siderophore prodction capability.
Plant growth promotion characteristics of bacterial isolates, in this research, showed that some of the isolates had the potential to use as PGPB. Those isolates capable of producing protease, amylase and cellulase enzymes not only have usability in agriculture but also because of the importance of this group of enzymes, especially protease and amylase in industry, can also be considered.

In this study argillic horizons in calcareous soils of a semiarid region, with xeric and mesic soil moisture and temperature regimes, in the west of Urmia Lake were studied. Thus, a toposequence in different physiographic positions including piedmont plains, plateau, hills and mountains was investigated. In each land type, three soil profiles were dug and described and their morphological properties were determined. Disturbed samples for physical and chemical studies and undisturbed and oriented samples for micromorphological studies were obtained from characteristic horizons. Physical and chemical properties of soils were determined using standard methods. In order to micromorphic studies, thin sections with the thickness of 25 - 30 microns were prepared from undisturbed and oriented samples and were studied using polarizing microscope under cross polarized (XPL) and plain polarized (PPL) lights. Field observations revealed the presence of argillic horizons only in piedmont plains and plateau land types and the physico-chemical and micromorphological results confirmed their presence as well. According to the results, argillic horizons had redder Hue, more clay content and more ratio of fine clay to total clay than the overlying horizons. Thin section observations showed that clay skins are present as coatings with a thickness of 0.08 - 0.34 mm on the faces of voids and skeletal grains and comprise 2 – 7 % of thin sections of argillic horizons and in some cases, they have filled all of pore spaces. Regarding to semiarid climate of this region and presence of high quantities of calcium carbonate equivalent in these soils, the genesis of argillic horizons in this region was probably related to the wetter past climate and thus, argillic horizons in these soils are relict features from a wetter climate in lower Quaternary. In some of these studied soils clay coatings have been engulfed by calcium carbonate and in some cases, they have been disappeared completely. The engulfment of clay coatings by calcium carbonate shows that the climate of this region has been changed from wet to arid which caused to calcium carbonate accumulation in argillic horizons and changing them to the complex argillic- calcic horizons and thus, these soils are polygenetic. Moreover, the presence of argillic horizons in these soils shows that this region was geomorphologically stable and the stability of this area along with other suitable condition for translocation of clay particles in profile (such as wetter climate) have been lead to formation argillic horizons in this area.

Field saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) is one of the most important soil properties that considerably contribute to soil quality. However, specifically in the structured soils, the measurement of Kfs is difficult and time-consuming. Therefore, verifying the simple and fast methods for Kfs measurement is needed for effective soil monitoring. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of ring size (rings with diameters of 5.5, 10.88, 16, and 31.8 cm) on the Kfs measured with simplified falling head (SFH) single ring method in a structured clay loam soil. Furthermore, the effect of conventional tillage on Kfs was assessed and the Kfs measured with double ring (DR) method and SFH procedure was compared. Results showed that while the ring size affected the measured Kfs, the discrepancy between Kfs results of given ring size compared to the smallest ring size (d = 5.5 cm) was practically negligible (factor of discrepancy ≤ 0.27). The effect of tillage operations on the measured Kfs was substantial (discrepancy between Kfs results of 2.1 to 3.1). The SFH and DR techniques yielded statistically different means of Kfs. However, the discrepancy between the Kfs values obtained with the SFH method using the largest ring size and the Kfs values determined with DR method was practically negligible (factor of discrepancy

salinity is one of the most limitation factors for crop production in agricultural systems due to the toxic effects and preventing water and nutrients absorption, In this research the efficiency of four strains of Fluorescent pseudomonads on concentration of nutrient elements in rice was determined, under saline conditions. A pot experiment was carried out based on the factorial Completely Randomized Design experiment with four replications. Treatments included interaction between five levels of saline irrigation water (700, 1400, 2800, 4200 and 5600µs/cm from sea water source) and four inoculations (P. putida 11, P. putida 4, P.putida 108 and P.fluorescens 169) and control (non- inoculation). Rice was transplanted in pots after they were inoculated with desired strains. During growing period, the pots were irrigated with treatment of salinity in saturation point. In the flowering stage, flag leaf samples were collected to determine nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium concentration. The amounts of nutrients in seed samples were determined after rice harvesting. Results showed that increase in salinity level caused to decrease in nutrient levels in the leaf and seed significantly (p

Application of superabsorbent material is one of the new methods for moisture storage in the soil. This research was performed in the Khajeh research station on the basis of randomized complete block design with three replications in the plots with dimension of 4×5 meter for investigate the effect of different amounts of pumice on water retention capacity in the soil, growth and of spring safflower in rainfed condition. Experimental treatments were five levels of pumice (A: zero, B: 5, C: 10, D: 15 and E: 50 ton ha-1). Before cultivation, amounts of pumice calculated for each plot and then mixed with soil to depth of 20 cm. Then, cultivation was performed in the seeding and the number of germinated seeds at first ten days of cultivation was determined. Soil volumetric water content and plant height was measured at various times during growth season, 1000 grain weight and grain yield of safflower was measured in the end of growth season. The results showed that application of pumice in the soil led to significant increase in volumetric water content, germination, 1000 grain weight, grain yield (P

In this study the effects of some soil properties on uptake arsenic and cadmium by Silybum marianum was studied. To this end surrounding area asphalt plant of city Kalaleh, was divided to 6 pieces (A, B, C, D, E, F), with an area of approximately one hectare. Plots A and D on both sides of the river, are the nearest areas asphalt plant. Also a Non-polluting area as a control was considered. Arsenic accumulation in plants collected from plots A and D (6.83 and 6.18 mg arsenic per kg of plant dry weight) is greater than the plant permitted limit. The highest uptake of cadmium was observed in plot A (1.58 mg Cd per kg of plant dry weight) and then plot D (1.41 mg Cd per kg of plant dry weight) that in both plots were more than permitted standard limits. In the present study, between the CEC and soil organic carbon, with arsenic and cadmium uptake by the plant, a negative correlation was observed, so that areas with lower CEC and soil organic carbon, arsenic and cadmium levels were higher in plants. In the present study, the arsenic amount in plants in areas with high acidity and salinity was higher. Considering that bioaccumulation factor in the roots and shoots for both metal, in all plots was smaller than one, the plant can not be as a hyper accumulator for these metals.

Drought, High and low tempratures are the most important abiotic stresses in chickpea cultivation. Improving plant root characteristics (root length and root volume) is one of the ways to increase drought tolerance in chickpea. Mycorrhizal symbiosis increases drought resistance of host plants through different mechanisms. To study the effects of water stress and mycorrhizal fungi inoculation on chickpea, a greenhouse experiment as split plot was carried out in Maragheh Agricultural Research Station. Field capacity soil moisture, moderate drought and severe water stress were considered as main plots and inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus mosseae, G . intraradices both fungi and un-inoculated control) and also inoculation with mesorhizobium ciceri( with and without bacteria) were as sub-plots. Results indicated that the effect of moisture on number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, shoot and root dry weight, plant height and root volume was significant. Mesorhizobium inoculation significantly increased all of measured parameters (except flowering time) compared with the control, While mycorrhizal inoculation was significant on plant height. Chickpea shoot dry weight decreased by 47.3% and 78.5% with decreasing soil moisture from field capacity to -5 bar and -10bar respectively, while this decrease was by 40.5% and 71.2% in G. mosseae inoculation and by 37.7% and 72.5% in G. intraradices. In case of co-inoculation of two fungi, the decrease was by 78% at -10 bar, while at -5 bar tension, shoot dry weight not only did not decreased but also increased by 22%.

Irrigular land use, land degradation and increasing yield per surface area unit supplicate to be inevitable optimal land utilization.So land evaluation, planning and management to be necessary to achieve a sustainabledevelopment.Following this trend, MicroLEIS (Mediterranean Land Evaluation Information System)has evolved towards an agro-ecological decision support system.The goal of this study is land planning of some parts of Khajehregion. Soil morphological and analytical data were carried out for 26 land units.Then, bioclimatic deficiency, land capability and qualitative land suitability (For Sunflower, Maize and Melon) and forest or paeture were determinedusing MicroLESE models. Based on Terraza model, rainfed cultivation is possible with less than 20% yield reduction for all crops except maize.Based on Cervatana model 9 land units (27.8 of total area) of were categorizedas S3 and N and 17 land units (72.2 of total area) were classified as S1 and S2.Land suitability evaluation of susceptible lands using Almagra model revealed that 18.1, 39.9, and 13.2 can take place in moderately suitable (S3), suitable (S2) and excellent (S1)respectively.Results of applying Sierra model, were obtained any forest species communities suitable for the study area.Therefore, withinthe framework of the land evaluation decision supportsystem MicroLEIS, a data processing tool (Sierra2 model)was developed for evaluating the relative suitability speciesand 5 species is suitable for this land units. Finally, MicroLEIS DSS appears to be useful in semi-arid regions, for example Khajeh, to formulate sustainable agricultural systems.

Environmental is one of the most important components of global macro Policies, therefore, one of the main prerequisite of many activities in macro level is compatibility with environment. Environmental pollution is one of the most significant challenges that is faced by human society in 21st century. Agriculture sector compare to the other other sectors of economy is more closely related with environment. Environment from one hand provide main factors such as soil and water which are needed for production of agricultural crops and on the other hand its affected by pollution resulted from production activities of agricultural sector especially pollution due to over consumption of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In recent decades consumption of chemical fertilizers have had undesired effects and outcomes such as soil and water pollution which in turn resulted in health condition of human beings as well as rest of living creatures. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of reducing the consumption of fertilizer and water to cultivated area of crops in Behshahr County.
In this study with application of Positive mathematical programing (PMP) effects of policies reduction of water and fertilizers consumption on cropping pattern of agricultural products of agronomy sub sector of Behshahr County of Mazandaran Province. Required data are gathered through Jahad-e-Agriculture organization and regional water organization of study area and statistical center of Iran. Information regarding cost of production and farmers income were gathered through direct interviews with farmers of Behshahar County. In this research simple random sampling methods is used thus 133 farmers were interviewed.
The results show that implementing the policy of reduction the amount of fertilizer used by 49 percent, will reduce cultivated area of all crops and the most part of reduction will occurs in the area under rainfed rapeseed, if the policy of fertilizer reduction of 56 percent comparing to current level of consumption of fertilizer is implemented the area under cultivation of agricultural crops will reduce and most of this reduction will ensue in the area under the cultivation of rainfed wheat. Under the policy of reducing the amount of irrigation water by 13.93 percent, cultivated area of all irrigated crops decrease and rainfed crops (Rainfed wheat, Rainfed barley and Rainfed rapeseed) will increase.
As it is obvious from the results reduction in the consumption of chemical fertilizers has more effects on rainfed crops, it is suggested that reduction in level of fertilizer consumption in the areas which contain rainfed crops is performed cautiously. Thus, noting to the results of this research work it is suggested that in order to prevent the reduction in the area under the cultivation of irrigated crops it is required to improve irrigation efficiency by usage of under pressure irrigation so that production of irrigated agricultural crops do not get effect by reduction of consumption of irrigation water.

Maintaining soil productivity is one of the key factors in sustainable agriculture. Soil erosion reduces soil productivity over a long-term period of time. Therefore, determining soil erosion tolerance is necessary for sustainable agriculture production. In this study, the long-term effects of erosion on soil productivity in the typical Kohin watershed were evaluated. The soil productivity index (PI) was used to predict long-term changes in productivity caused by erosion. Both organic matter content and available water content significantly decreased due to increasing soil depth. Therefore, they had the highest impact on soil productivity index. Estimated average of annual erosion rate using cesium method was about 44 ton/hectare/ per year. The results showed that soil productivity index decreased about 2 percent annually by current erosion rate. Calculated tolerable erosion rate based on 5 percent reduction in soil productivity over 100 years as standard level varied from 3 to 6 ton/hectare/ per year.