Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
Volume:24 Issue: 3, May 2022

Agriculture is one of the responsible sectors for adequate food production and contribution to food security. However, due to the rapid population growth and increasing demand for food, this responsibility is becoming more and more challenging. The consequence of this challenge is the excessive exploitation of natural resources and destruction of the environment. This study aimed to investigate the cost structure, economies of scale, and inputs elasticities for the major farm crops of the Qorveh-Dehgolan Plain, in Kurdistan Province, through a translog cost function. The needed data were collected through a multi-stage cluster sampling survey in the 2017-2018 cropping year. The results showed that the average share of water input in the total production cost of the studied products was 12%. Results also showed that all ordinary own-price elasticities of demand for inputs were negative and smaller than one. However, the results of Allen-Uzawa's own price elasticities showed that demands for inputs could be elastic. Ordinary and Allen-Uzawa own price elasticity of water input were -0.76 and -6.7, respectively. The results also showed that wheat, tomato, barley, and alfalfa farms in the area under study were facing economies of scale, on average, while potato, cucumbers, and sugar-beet farms were facing diseconomies of scale.

Thailand has aimed at becoming a “Seed Hub” in the region given that it is the second largest exporter of seed of field crops in Asia. Maize contributes the largest share of seed exports and is the prototype crop for seed industry promotion. One of the goals of the Seed Hub policy is to develop and export high quality Thai brand-name seeds. The structure of the maize seed industry, however, is such that it is concentrated in a few Multinational Companies (MNCs), and the question remains as to whether national and local companies could give farmers the same benefits as the multinational companies. This study aimed at comparing costs and returns across groups of maize seed companies and determining factors associated with farmers’ participation in contracts. The results show that despite a higher cost of production, overall, MNCs give farmers the highest net income because of a higher productivity and higher price they give to the farmers from complying with the strict requirements of the contract specifications, followed by national companies, while local companies give the least. Requirements in household labor, investment in irrigation, size of farm, land rent, and age are important factors in farmers’ participation in different groups of seed companies.

Among the key strategies in higher education is to prioritize the development of the entrepreneurial university. In this regard, the University of Applied Sciences and Technology (UAST) is one of the main institutions involved in vocational higher education, especially in the agricultural sector, which aims to help graduates acquire the knowledge and skills they will require. To this end, the university needs to plan for and develop entrepreneurial educations in its training system. Accordingly, the present study aimed to strategically analyze entrepreneur UAST in the agricultural sector. The statistical sample included 19 individuals, who were presidents, deputies, and managers of a university or managers of agricultural applied science and technology centers. After interviews and reaching theoretical saturation, the strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities of the agricultural applied sciences and technology centers were specified. The results of the SWOT matrix show that the aggressive strategy (SO) is the most appropriate strategy for the agricultural centers of UAST. The most important strategies within this approach included ‘organizing and developing agricultural applied sciences and technology programs in a balanced manner’; ‘designing and implementing a province-wide educational need assessment model for the agricultural sector’; ‘developing agricultural modular curricula and getting involved in new labor market potentials with the aid of the executive agencies’; ‘enhancing the quality of agricultural training components’; ‘developing financial resources and the use of the existing potentials of the agricultural sector with no financial burden on the government’; ‘basing decisions on research’; and ‘setting policies based on the modern agricultural and natural resources’ technology’.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused anxiety and fear in humans, has negatively affected the mental health of millions of people. This study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 disease on mental health of Iranian rural households. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 375 rural households from October 2nd to 29th, 2020. Data was gathered using the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) questionnaire. Descriptive analysis and multivariable logistic regression were performed to evaluate the factors associated with mental health. High rates of paranoid ideation disorder (64.6%), interpersonal sensitivity (59.5%), and hostility (48.1%) were recorded among the Iranian rural population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Females tended to show more symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, and paranoid ideation. Additionally, gender, the number of children, amount of loans, loss of a family member or friend due to COVID-19, worry about food insecurity, exposure to news about COVID-19, and access to medical centers were significant predictors of mental health. These findings indicate the need for public policies centered on mental disorders in rural areas during the COVID19 pandemic and the need for measures to protect vulnerable groups in the rural population.

The increasing need for energy resources and the threat of shortage of available fossil fuels in the future along with the adverse environmental issues arising from consumption of these fuels, especially climate change, have led countries to pursue sustainable and eco-friendly modes of producing energy. Meanwhile, in recent years, many researchers have considered renewable energies and their related technologies. However, the evidence indicates that social or public acceptance of Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs) is low and people, especially in rural areas of developing countries, are less likely to adopt and use such technologies. Accordingly, the current study was undertaken to investigate the factors influencing Iranian villagers’ intention to use RETs through two socio-psychological models with pro-self and pro-social motivations and to integrate them into one comprehensive theoretical framework. A questionnaire survey was conducted for 393 villagers in Zanjan County in northwestern Iran. The study results disclosed that personal norm, attitude, social norm, and perceived behavioral control had significant positive impacts on the intention to use RETs. Most importantly, the findings confirmed the effectiveness of the original models of Norm Activation Model (NAM) and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) in explaining the villagers' intention. However, the utility and applicability of an integrative model of TPB-NAM were superior to the original models. Additionally, the original NAM contributed considerably more to the integrative model than the original TPB. Collectively, the pro-social orientations outweighed the pro-self motives in the case of explaining the behavioral intention regarding the use of RETs among Iranian villagers. Overall, this study's findings contribute to the theory and practice around sustainable energy development in Iran and other developing countries.

The present research attempts to prioritise the agripreneurial skills essential for farm youth to successfully run agripreneurship. The various agripreneurial skill dimensions and specific agripreneurial skills of farm youth were identified and compared through paired comparison method by the key experts. The weights for agripreneurial skills were then estimated and analysed by using a multi-criteria decision-making technique called fuzzy analytic hierarchy process. The agriprenurial skill dimensions and individual skills were also prioritised based on estimated weights. The research sample in the survey location consisted of rural youth of the state of Odisha, India. The sample size was estimated to be 250 individuals based on the selection criteria by purposive sampling technique from the five different agro-climatic zones. Strategic thinking skill dimensions were ascertained as the most important in priority order while opportunity recognition skills, resilience, agripreneurial motivation, agribusiness planning, and strong decision-making skills were prioritised as the top five essential skillsets crucial for the success of agri-enterprise. Perseverance, agri-logistic management, and effective communication were found to be more deficient among youth. These required prioritised agripreneurial skills can act as an instrument to screen the farm youth for agripreneurship orientation programs.

The alcoholic extract of Iranian oak (Quercus persica) fruit at a final concentration of 0.25% (w/v) was added to cheese-making milk, and some physicochemical, sensory, and microbial properties of Jug cheese were evaluated during 60 days of storage at 4°C. The results showed significantly higher Total Polyphenol Content (TPC), antioxidant activity, and lower acidity for the samples containing the oak extract (T1) compared to the control (T0). At the beginning of the storage time, T1 showed the highest values of TPC (128.83±0.467 mg GAE g-1) and antioxidant activity (97.12±0.095) for DPPH (2,2-DiPhenyl-1-PicrylHydrazyl) radical scavenging activity. The antioxidant activity decreased significantly during the storage period. The flavor, aroma, and overall acceptability scores were higher for T1 than for T0. Short-chain fatty acids content of the cheese varied during the storage period, but no significant change was observed in the content of long chain fatty acids. The amount of butyric, caproic, caprylic, capric, lauric, myristic, palmitic, oleic (trans) and linoleic (cis) fatty acids in T1 were significantly higher than in T0. No significant changes in these fatty acids concentrations were observed during storage period. Total microbial count, Coliforms, mold and yeast were significantly lower in the T1 than in T0. Therefore, the Iranian oak extract as a source of antioxidant and antimicrobial polyphenolic compounds could potentially improve the quality and shelf life of Jug cheese without adversely affecting its sensory and physicochemical properties.

Pomegranate is a popular fruit, rich in antioxidants and minerals but sensitive to postharvest storage. The efficiency of 5 and 10 mM γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) combined with 0.5% carnauba wax as edible coating was investigated on extending the cold storage life of pomegranate fruit (Cv. Malas Saveh) after 45 and 90 days. Coatings maintained fruit freshness, inhibited the chilling injury symptoms, reduced peel malondialdehyde formation (minimum of 0.74 nM g-1), reduced loss of aroma/taste, and increased aril antioxidant activity (maximum of 94.9%). Aril anthocyanin content was more stable in 5 mM GABA coated than uncoated fruits. However, the coatings caused more weight loss on 45th day (11.0% in 10 mM GABA and 8.3% in the control). This parameter was similar in coated and uncoated fruits after 90 days. Aril phenolic content in coated fruits was higher on 90th day but not on 45th day (maximum of 0.08 mg.100g-1 in the control on day 45). Aril lightness increased in the control sample on 45th day while coated fruits were more similar to harvest time. After 90 days, the control and treated samples were similar. The color scales (a*, b*, and Chroma) values of peels and arils declined by storage without any significant effects of coatings. Peel and aril Hue did not change by storage time or coatings. Results suggested some benefits of coatings for retaining the postharvest quality of pomegranate fruits.

In order to improve the quality and efficiency of a ridger and explore the effect of working condition on its performance, a coupling model of the key components of a single-side paddy ridger and soil was proposed based on discrete element method. Then, with the working parameters of the ridger as experimental factors and its soil firmness and torque as the evaluation indicators, an orthogonal test was designed, and a parameter optimization was conducted through response surface analysis method. The optimal working conditions were set as follows: forward speed of the machine at 0.3 m s-1, rotational speed of rotary tillage at 500 rpm, and the working depth of the rotary tillage at 200 mm. The corresponding soil firmness was 2,592.58 kPa, and the working torque of the rotary cutting soil and compacting ridger device was 255.1 and 360.1 N m, respectively. Finally, a torque calibration test on the compacting ridger device was conducted and a mathematical model of the torque measurement was established. By comparing the simulation optimization and experimental results, the relative error of the output torque of the compacting ridger device was 4.77%, and that of the ridge soil firmness was 6.77%.

The aim of this study was to design an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference Mechanism (ANFIS) and a Polynomial Neural-Network (PNN) to improve modeling and identification of some climate variables within a greenhouse. Furthermore, a Stable Deviation Quantum-Behaved Particle Swarm Optimization (SD-QPSO) algorithm was employed as a learning algorithm to train the constant parameters of ANFIS and PNN structures. To denoise measured data, a wavelet transform method was applied to ensure that no measured data exceeds a predefined interval. Moreover, to show the modeling performance, a set of differential equations were derived as a dynamical model based on the computation of energy and mass balance in a specified greenhouse. The results of modeling and simulation were evaluated with the experimental results of an experimental arch greenhouse. The results showed that the proposed models were more accurate in predicting greenhouse climate and could be used more easily. Moreover, this study showed that the PNN model with less pop-size and evaluation function was more effective than the ANFIS structure to predict the temperatures of inside air and inside roof cover. In this study, an on-line identification system is also proposed for real time identification of experimental data. The obtained simulation results show that performance of the proposed modeling structures and identification system are effective to predict and identify the soil surface, internal air, and roof cover temperatures of the greenhouse. This study shows that the identification algorithm can be used to predict and confirm the results of the model.

Stethorus gilvifrons (Mulstant) is an important voracious predator of the spider mites, which consumes all the life stages of spider mites. In this study, the effects of prey species and host plants on development and life table parameters of S. gilvifrons were studied. To this end, preimaginal development, survival, adult longevity and fecundity of S. gilvifrons fed on Tetranychus urticae Koch (on maize and cowpea) and Eutetranychus orientalis Klein (on castor bean plants) were studied. Experiments were conducted based on two-sex life table procedure under laboratory conditions at 27±1°C, 60–70% RH and 16:8 hours L:D. The shortest developmental time and female longevity were recorded on maize and cowpea, respectively, and the longest was on castor bean. While the lowest values of fecundity, net Reproductive rate (R0) and intrinsic rate of increase (r) were estimated at 107.65±11.49 offspring, 20.63±4.41 offspring and 0.1001±0.0072 d-1 on castor bean, respectively, the highest values of the mentioned parameters were 158.67±20.18 offspring, 43.63±8.47 offspring, and 0.1448 ± 0.0069 d-1 on maize, respectively. The results proved the significant effects of the host plants and prey species on developmental time and demographic parameters of S. gilvifrons. The obtained results could be useful for mass rearing of S. gilvifrons and for better understanding of its population dynamics in relation to the prey species and host plants.

The nut scale, Eulecanium tiliae (L.) is a potential pest, infesting deciduous trees in Iran, where it is common in urban horticultural areas and usually present in high population on some stone fruit trees, such as Prunus spp., including Prunus cerasus. It has higher occurrence and population in sustainable orchards. This pest has one generation per year and second nymphs overwinter on one or two-years old branches. High populations of this pest can cause death of branches, twigs and degeneration of leaves chloroplasts. In this research, the spatial distribution pattern and population fluctuation for all stages of E. tiliae were investigated in a cherry orchard of Kermanshah region during two studied seasons from 2016 to 2018. Four different methods were used to calculate distribution pattern including index of dispersion, Morisita’s index and regression methods (Taylor’s and Iwao’s). Sample size was determined for the first time, according to a primary sampling date and corrected for other sampling dates according to the data of the previous sampling date. Data analysis was performed using Minitab16 and Office Excel 2016 statistical softwares. Most used methods revealed aggregated distribution pattern of the pest in both years. The results obtained from the Morisita’s index during activity showed the random distribution of the second nymphs (in 16 April 2016, Z= -1.218, Iб= 0.440) (in 16 April 2017, Z= -0.179, Iб= 0.942) (-1.96< Z< 1.96). These changes showed that the spatial distribution could change during the season. Knowledge of the pest spatial distribution pattern can be used to arrange sampling program in pest management.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an oil grain crop of subtropical and tropical areas with arid to semi-arid climate and its production is affected by drought at the grain filling and flowering stages. Given the key role of Magnesium (Mg) in many key metabolic processes, it seems that Mg Nanoparticles (NPs) can improve the sunflower performance in drought stress. This study was carried out as a split-split plot in a randomized complete block design with three factors, including irrigation regimes (drought and normal), cultivars (Barzagar, Farokh, Ghasem, and Shams), and Mg NPs application (0.25 g L-1), and time (flowering and grain filling stages), in three replications in the field during 2017-19 seasons. Several physio-biochemical traits along with grain yield and oil percentage were measured. Based on the results, Mg NPs spraying increased the relative water content, chlorophyll and carotenoid, soluble carbohydrates, and antioxidant enzymes activity under drought. Moreover, Mg NPs spraying decreased electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content in the stressed plants and slightly increased grain yield and oil percentage. Overall, our findings suggest that Mg NPs can improve sunflower performance under drought by several mechanisms including improved antioxidant system, enhanced photosynthetic pigments, and increased primary metabolites.

Improper storage conditions of minimally processed spinach decrease its acceptability and dietary selection in terms of nutritive value to human health. In the present study, effects of temperatures (4 and 10°C) and packaging materials [Polypropylene (PP), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)] were investigated for determining the successful storage conditions of minimally processed spinach. Based on the results, chlorophyll a (0.550 mg g-1), chlorophyll b (0.500 mg g-1), total chlorophyll (1.050 mg g-1), and total carotenoids (0.310 mg g-1) were maintained by PP at 4 °C. The highest antioxidant capacity (74.14%I), and total phenolic content (183.75 mg 100 g-1 gallic acid equivalent) were also determined in PP packages. Visual quality showed the same behavior in all packages except for the control, and storage at 4°C was greatly beneficial in improving visual quality of minimally processed spinach. In addition, LDPE delayed the increase in weight loss (0.41%) and respiration rate (27.32 mL CO2 kg-1 h-1). PVC preserved vivid green color of spinach at 4 °C. Some undesirable results were obtained at 10 °C storage because of rapid quality losses. As a result, storage at 4 °C in PP packages is an effective method to improve postharvest life of minimally processed spinach.

Nigella damascena and Nigella sativa are two important species of the genus Nigella that have many medicinal and industrial applications. Both species are widely cultivated in arid and semi-arid areas, and are affected by abiotic stresses, especially drought stress. In the present study, the effect of water deficit stress on seed yield, oil percentage and yield, total phenolics and flavonoids content, and antioxidant activity of both species were investigated during two growing seasons (2018 and 2019). In this experiment, different levels of irrigation (severe stress, mild stress, and control) and two species (N. sativa and N. damescena) were studied as the main plots and subplots, respectively. Seed and oil yields decreased sharply due to drought stress in both species. Means of the seed and oil yields in N. sativa were 540.65 and 206.92 kg ha-1, respectively, and seed and oil yields in N. damascena were 286.37 and 100.29 kg ha-1, respectively. Mild stress increased the oil content in both species, but severe stress significantly decreased the oil content in N. sativa. Linoleic acid had the highest percentage in both species, followed by oleic and palmitic acids, in the order of their appearance. Drought stress decreased polyunsaturated fatty acids (linolenic acid and linoleic acid), but saturated ones (stearic and palmitic acids) increased under drought stress with increasing drought stress, and the amount of phenolics and flavonoids in both species increased (P< 0.05). Furthermore, the IC50 level decreased with increasing phenolics and flavonoids contents. In general, drought stress negatively affected seed and oil yields and edible oil quality in these species. Considering the acceptable seed and oil yields of N. damascena and its beneficial fatty acid compositions, it can be used in plant breeding programs and edible oil production.

Dashte Abbas is one of the fertile plains of the Ilam Province situated in the southwest of Iran, where water resources are scarce, and often the quality of water is not suitable for agricultural uses. To solve the problem of water scarcity, the Karkheh-Dashte Abbas inter-basin water transfer project started operation in 2008. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different agricultural water management scenarios on the environmental and economic conditions in the Dashte Abbas using the System Dynamics (SD) approach. The conceptual model was considered based on five sub-models, including water demand, water supply, environmental stresses, environment, and water economics. The evaluated water transfer scenarios were allocation of 160, 170, 180, 200 Million Cubic Meters (MCM) water transferred from the Karkheh Dam and 90, 80, 70, and 60 MCM annual groundwater withdrawal from the aquifer, respectively. The results showed that in all scenarios, water transfer increased groundwater level, decreased groundwater quality, reduced soil aeration and drainage, increased salinity of root zone and, consequently, reduced agricultural production in the plain. The results of the SD model demonstrate that the need for drainage is reduced with increasing groundwater consumption. The alternative cropping systems with higher water requirements, including forage crops and sugar beet, may be helpful to reduce drainage problems and to prevent construction of an underground drainage system. The results also confirmed that with the implementation of the first water allocation scenario (allocation of annual 160 MCM surface water transfer and annual 90 MCM of groundwater withdrawal) and cultivation of higher water requirement crops can reduce the rise in groundwater level and drainage problems. In these conditions, the water table remains almost constant at a depth of 10 meters.

This study aimed to assess the effect of incubation time and sewage sludge on peppermint biomass, essential oil yield, and Zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), and Cadmium (Cd) concentrations in the plant tissues as well as assessing phytoremediation potential of peppermint grown in contaminated calcareous soils. A greenhouse experiment was conducted by growing peppermint (Mentha pipertia L.) in two contaminated soils treated with three levels of sewage sludge (0, 10, and 30 g kg-1) over two incubation times (30 and 120 days). Results revealed an increase in plant biomass and essential oil yield with an increase in incubation time and the sewage sludge amount. The concentrations of Zn, Pb, and Cd in plant tissues increased significantly in all treatments, except Cd concentration in plants growing on 10 g kg-1 of sewage sludge and incubated for 120 days. No traces of Zn, Pb, and Cd were found in essential oil of plants treated with 10 g kg-1 of sewage sludge. In other treatments, the concentrations of these metals in the essential oil were found within the limits recommended for medicinal plants. Unlike the bioaccumulation factor, the translocation factor of the studied metals decreased with an increase in the sewage sludge amount and incubation time. Although peppermint was not a sustainable plant to lower the pollution load, as the biomass production increased significantly and metals concentrations in essential oil remained within the recommended limits in all treatments, it can be concluded that peppermint can be used for cultivation in contaminated soils treated with sewage sludge.

Eustoma grandiflorum is considered as the ‘next rose’ in floriculture, ranking top-ten in cut flowers. In this study, we investigated the ploidy level and genome size of 28 commercial cultivars of E. grandiflorum through flow cytometry. The analysis of each cultivar showed that only one cultivar was tetraploid, whereas the rest were diploids. By comparing with a standard reference genome of Solanum lycopersicum, the genome size (1C) of E. grandiflorum cultivars ranged from 1.26 to 2.64 Gb, which was in line with their ploidy levels and previous data. Although a large number of plant phenotypic diversities were observed in the experimental cultivars, the genome size displayed little difference in diploids, indicating that the monoploid DNA amount of E. grandiflorum is relatively conserved during artificial selection. It is possible to sequence the genome of E. grandiflorum using the latest sequencing techniques, which could provide a solid foundation for molecular biology research and molecular breeding for E. grandiflorum.