نشریه بوم شناسی کشاورزی
سال شانزدهم شماره 3 (پاییز 1403)

 Savory (Satureja hortensis L.) is an annual aromatic medicinal plantbelonging to the Lamiaceae family. Its essential oil is used widely in medicine, food, health industries, and therapeutic processes. Additionally, the essential oil is an important part of traditional medicine to treat muscle pains, indigestion and diarrhea and infection diseases. Also, the relatively high vitamin C and vitamin A content of savory may contribute to long-term health by boosting the natural state of the human immune system. Biochar is a solid material formed by high-temperature charring of biomass under anaerobic conditions. It has a large specific surface area, high porosity, and abundant nutrients, such as nitrogen, potassium, and calcium. As a result of these properties,  applying biochar as an organic soil amendment has been considered as an option to improve agricultural systems. The great potential of biochar application has also been directly reflected in plant growth and crop productivity. Biochar can potentially remediate salt-affected soils through salt sorption. Specifically, biochar sorption of Na+ in the soil solution can both reduce plant Na uptake and increase the relative uptake of Ca2+ and Mg2+. More broadly, biochar can generally enhance plant growth by improving soil properties, such as cation-exchange capacity (CEC), water retention capacity, and bulk density. Biochar can reduce fertilizer and water use by increasing the soil CEC and water-holding capacity (WHC).Using sulfur (especially in soil with low sulfur content) improves soil properties and increases plant growth and yield. The biochemical oxidation of elemental sulfur produces sulfuric acid (H2SO4), which decreases soil pH and solubilizes CaCO3 in alkaline soils to make soil conditions more favorable for plant growth. Sulfur is a part of an enzyme necessary for nitrogen absorption. Its deficiency can significantly hinder nitrogen metabolism, as sulfur and nitrogen are required to form amino acids essential for protein synthesis. Sulfur is also present in fatty acids and vitamins, playing a key role in crops' quality, taste, and aroma. Nano-fertilization is an agricultural technique that enhances crop growth, improves nutrient efficiency, and reduces fertilizer waste and costs. It promotes better crop development by providing more surface area for various metabolic reactions, thereby increasing the rate of photosynthesis and overall crop productivity while preventing biotic and abiotic stress.

 To evaluate the combined application of ecological inputs, specifically biochar and sulfur nutritional treatments, on the medicinal plant savory (Satureja hortensis L.), a split-plot experiment based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was conducted over the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 growing seasons at the Research Field of the University of Gonabad, Iran. The data were analyzed using composite analysis. Different biochar levels (5, 10, and 20 t.ha⁻¹, plus a control) and sulfur nutritional treatments (common sulfur, nano-sulfur, and control) were assigned to the main and subplots, respectively.

 The results of this study showed that the highest and lowest seed number per m2 and flowering shoot weight were obtained in treatments of 20 t.ha-1 biochar and spraying of nanosulfur (with 27777 seeds per m2 and 25.67 g flowering shoot, respectively) and non-application of biochar and control (with 8024 seeds per m2 and 6.24 g flowering shoot, respectively). The results of triple interaction effects of different amounts of biochar, nutritional treatments, and cropping year showed that the highest seed yield (10.74 g.m2) and biological yield (46.91 g.m2) were observed in the first cropping year and treatments of simultaneous application of 20 t.ha-1 biochar and spraying of nanosulfur. The interaction effects of biochar and nutritional treatments showed that the highest oil was obtained in the treatment of 10 t.ha-1 biochar and soil application of common sulfur. The total phenol, flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity decreased with the simultaneous application of biochar and sulfur nutritional treatments. The highest levels of these traits were observed when no biochar was applied in combination with the nutritional treatments.

 In general, according to the findings of this research, the simultaneous application of high amounts of biochar (levels of 10 and 20 t.ha-1) and sulfur nutritional treatments, especially spraying of nano-sulfur, led to improved yield and yield components, but the qualitative characteristics of savory were reduced due to the combined use of these ecological inputs.

Introduction: 

Pre-cultivated plants are types of plants that, after harvesting the economic part, the plant residuals are returned to the soil to increase the organic matter and to improve the next plant’s productivity. The use of plant residues can improve biological health by reducing the chemical inputs used in agriculture. Due to the fact that in dry areas such as North Khuzestan, the role of pre-cultivated plants and the effect of their residues on growth and performance have been studied less, this research can be done in different humidity conditions before planting the main plant, and the effects of plant residues and their role on the qualitative characteristics and organic matter of the soil and the performance of plants such as corn are promising and help farmers and researchers.

 This experiment was conducted in two neighboring farms. In each year, two experiments were conducted in a randomized complete block design with four replications in two years and two locations. Before planting corn in two fields, cultivation treatments and mixing residues of four plant species, including rice, cowpea, dill, eggplant, and fallow, were used as experimental treatments. After harvesting the pre-cultivation plant, investigate the effect of plant residues on some soil characteristics over time. In order to determine the amount of moisture stored in the soil, in two stages before planting and in the middle of the corn growing season, the percentage of soil moisture by weight was calculated. To determine the organic carbon content in the soil before planting and during the mid-growth stage of the corn plant, organic carbon was oxidized using potassium dichromate in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid, followed by titration with semi-normal ammonium ferrous sulfate in the presence of the ortho phenanthroline reagent (Walkley, 1934). Additionally, soil nitrogen was measured in the laboratory using the Kjeldahl method (Pag et al., 1982).

In both farms, the stability of the soil grains in the second year was higher than in the first year, which is due to the placement of organic materials of plant residues in the structure of the soil grains (Koocheki et al., 2020). Soil stability increased in both farms in the second year, with the difference that the soil stability increased by 64% in WET Planting and 50% in dry Planting. In the first and second years, respectively, there was a 35 and 29% increase in soil moisture compared to the control. The results of this research showed that the positive effect of plant residues in improving the organic matter of the soil after corn cultivation in wet Planting was much higher than that of dry Planting. The rice residues increased the soil organic matter by 51 and 47% in wet Planting and dry Planting. The results of the measurement data before corn cultivation showed a significant increase in the amount of nitrogen in the soil in the second year, and this increase was 55% higher in the field with the method of wet Planting cultivation. The results of the measured data after corn cultivation in the second year showed that the amount of nitrogen in the soil increased, and the intensity of the increase in the field using the wet Planting method was 44% more than the field using the dry method.

 The results of this experiment showed that the apparent specific weight of the soil in the second year, influenced by the use of plant residues, decreased over time. The preservation of plant residues has caused an increase in the amount of nitrogen in the soil, and in wet planting conditions, the intensity of its increase has been 44% more than in DRY Planting conditions. Also, by using plant residues of dill and beans, the amount of phosphorus in the soil increased.

Introduction:

Intercropping is an agroecological technique in which two or more species are grown in the same area for a certain period of time. These species should be complementary to each other regarding the use of productive resources. By selecting crop species with different growth habits and minimal competition, intercropping optimizes resource absorption, resulting in improved yields compared to monoculture. Many studies have shown that intercropping systems improve the resources used, stability of production, and increased profitability per area. The aim of this study was to evaluate the beneficial indicators of intercropping of safflower, an important oil plant, with three legume species, including chickpea, lentil, and bitter vetch, under Kermanshah climatic conditions.

 A split plots experiment was done based on a completely randomized block design in three replications in dryland conditions at the research farm of the Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University, during 2018-2019. In this study, chickpea, lentil, and bitter vetch were assigned to the main plots, and five intercropping arrangements included legume monoculture, 75:25 ratio of safflower and legume, 50:50 ratio of safflower and legume, 25:75 ratio of safflower and legume, and safflower monoculture were assigned to the subplots. In this research, safflower was the main crop, and chickpeas, lentils, and bitter vetch were considered as alternative crops. The beneficial indicators of intercropping, including Land Equivalent Ratio (LER), Relative Crowding Coefficient (RCC), System Productivity Index (SPI), and Actual Yield Loss (AYL) were calculated. The LER indicates the amount of land required for the crop in monoculture in order to achieve a similar yield as intercropping. The RCC indicates the competitive ability of crops grown in intercropping. In other words, it expresses the relative dominance of one species over others in intercropping. The SPI data are calculated by standardizing the alternative crop based on the main crop, whose higher values indicate the enhanced efficiency of the intercropping system. The AYL indicates the decrease or increase in the yield of intercropping compared to monoculture. The data were analyzed using ANOVA, and the means were compared with the LSD test.

 The results showed that the LER in intercropping with chickpeas and lentils was higher than that in other treatments. Regardless of legume species, among the cultivation patterns, the 50:50 ratio of safflower and legume was superior in terms of LER (1.26) and competition index (RCC=4.6) compared to other intercropping patterns. The amount of actual yield reduction was positive for all intercropping patterns, but in the conditions where the chickpeas were cultivated as a companion crop in the intercropping, it was significantly more than the condition where the bitter vetch was cultivated as a companion crop (AYL=0.62). The highest productivity index in intercropping patterns was obtained when lentils were cultivated together with safflower (6089). The advantage of intercropping has been reported in many studies, especially those in which one of the components of intercropping is legume species, and the results of the current research are consistent with them. Intercropping provided better growth conditions for safflower compared to its monoculture. The different morphology of safflower compared to chickpea, lentil, and bitter vetch allows for minimal competition for resource uptake. The nitrogen fixation ability and facilitative effects of these legume species improved the indicators of intercropping profitability and ultimately increased safflower yield compared to its monoculture.

 Regardless of the intercropping arrangements, the results of this study generally showed that the cultivation of chickpea together with safflower compared to lentil and bitter vetch resulted in more benefits in terms of the investigated intercropping indices. This was evident as the chickpea-safflower intercropping achieved the highest LERatio (1.14). This result was due to the presence of facilitative effects in chickpeas, especially their ability to biologically nitrogen fixation. With regard to the beneficial indicators of intercropping, the 50% safflower: 50% legumes pattern demonstrated superiority compared to other investigated patterns. Therefore, if the results of this study are confirmed in other years and regions under dryland conditions, the chickpea-safflower intercropping with a 50:50 pattern is recommended.

 The inadequacy of the results of a single study and the need to combine the findings by scientists has led to the development of methods that allow combining the results of many independent studies. (Anjomani, 2022). The genus Thymus from the mint family (Lamiaceae) has more than 215 species in the world, of which 18 species have been identified in Iran. The medicinal plant) Thymus vulgaris L. (is one of the most important medicinal plants in the world, which is used Abundant in the pharmaceutical and food industries, it has a special place among medicinal plants (Gigord et al., 1999). The results of the application of different amounts of N, P, and K fertilizers on the growth and yield of Thymus vulgaris L. (showed the highest stem height (37. 38 cm), the yield of fresher plants (42. 78 grams per plant) and the highest the percentage of essential oil was 0. 73% in combined NPK treatment (Sharaf Zadeh, 2011). Research has shown that the highest percentage and yield of essential oil (363. 0% and 277. 00 ml per plant) was obtained from the plants cultivated with Nitroxin biofertilizer, followed by Biophosphorus and mycorrhizal fertilizers, respectively. (Mohammad pour Vashvaee et al., 2014). Meta-analysis combines the information of studies, pays attention to the comparison between studies discovers new results from previous studies, and can introduce new fields of research or new research questions.

 To perform this meta-analysis, the method introduced by Cooper was used. This method has the following steps: searching and selecting studies (data collection), coding the characteristics of each study, extracting data suitable for meta-analysis, and analyzing the data. In this research, standardized mean difference and correlation coefficient were used. It has been used to determine the size of the Hedges effect (g) (Porasmeili, 2011). Since the intended benefit in this meta-analysis is the difference between the averages of the treatment group (experiment) and the control group (control), in the meta-analysis method for the effect sizes in this research, the standardized mean difference method and the correlation coefficient to determine the Hedges effect size value (g)) has been used (Pouresmaeily et al., 2011). The standard difference between the mean of the control treatment and the mean of the experimental treatment is called the effect size (g) Equation (3 (and (4(. It was used in performance between control and experimental treatments (Cohen, 1988).  (3)In this regard, M1and M2 is the average performance of experimental treatment and control treatment and , standard deviation, respectively (Cohen, 1988). ( In this regard, S1 and S2 are respectively the square root of the integrated variance of two treatment groups. If there is heterogeneity between studies, the random effect model is used. I2index is one of the important indices in determiningthe degree of heterogeneity between studies.In general, the degree of heterogeneity in the I2index is determined in the following three ways: I2≤25% indicates low heterogeneity. 50 ≤I2≤ 75% indicates moderate heterogeneity; that is, half of the total variability among effect sizes is not due to sampling error and is due to heterogeneity between studies.and I2≥ 75% indicates high heterogeneity (Higgins & green, 2011)Among more than 60 domestic studies and 28 foreign studies. The number of 15 studies that can be meta-analyzed in different subjects: "dry weight, percentage of essential oil and yield of thyme oil" were selected 102 effect sizes were ready for meta-analysis, and the rest of the studies were excluded. All the extracted data were transferred to comprehensive meta-analysis software for meta-analysis. The results reported about each of the variables were analyzed using comprehensive meta-analysis software (CMA.Version 2) developed in the United States.

 Among more than 60 domestic studies and 28 foreign studies, 15 meta-analysis studies with 53 effect sizes related to the effect of different amounts of cow manure (30, 60, and 90 tons per hectare) on dry weight, essential oil percentage, and thyme oil yield were selected and ready for meta-analysis, and the rest of the studies were excluded. The results obtained in individual studies mostly emphasize the significance and positive effect of animal manure (cow) on quantitative and qualitative yield, while meta-analysis results show that studies of the effect of 30 tons of cow manure per hectare with an effect size (0.502 g) for weight dry and (g=0.482) were positive and incremental for oil yield and were significant with 99% confidence (P≤0.01) for the mentioned traits. These studies were heterogeneous based on the I2 index for dry weight (I2= 79.48) and for oil yield (I2= 86.79), and after drawing a funnel plot and performing the Bag and Mazumdar test, it was observed that they were symmetrical and had no diffusion error. And the obtained results are recommendable. However, the characteristics of plant height and essential oil percentage are not significant, and more studies are needed. Studies on the effect of chemical fertilizers only on the increase in dry weight yield with the effect size (g = 0.614) have been positive and significant (p≤0.01). These studies were heterogeneous based on the I2index for dry weight (I2= 93.79) and after drawing a funnel plot and performing the Bag and Mazumdar test, their symmetry and lack of diffusion error were observed, and the obtained results are recommendable. However, the effect of nitrogen chemical fertilizer on the qualitative traits of essential oil percentage and oil yield is not significant. Contrary to the results of the research that declared the effect of chemical fertilizers and different levels of nitrogen to be significant on dry weight, percentage of essential oil, and oil yield, studies on the effect of biofertilizers respectively with the effect size (g = 0.789) on dry weight (g = 0.773) (g=0.593) had the most increasing and positive effect on oil yield and essential oil percentage, and it was significant (P≥0.01). These studies were heterogeneous and symmetrical based on the I2 index for oil yield (I2=83.34) and essential oil percentage (I2=77.71), and there was no diffusion error, and its results are recommendable. The results of other researchers have considered the use of organic and biological fertilizers to increase and improve the quantitative and qualitative traits of the thyme medicinal plant, and to recommend these types of fertilizers; they have preferred these types of fertilizers over chemical fertilizers, the traits that were not significant or their studies were not symmetrical in all treatments The subject needs to conduct studies with higher accuracy for recommendation

Drought stress poses a significant challenge to cumin production in Iran, particularly during the flowering and seed-setting stages. Cumin is a valuable crop with numerous medicinal properties and applications in various industries. Despite its short growing season, the economic importance of cumin makes it imperative to find ways to mitigate the effects of drought stress on seed yield. Addressing the negative effects of drought stress is crucial for improving cumin seed yield. One effective strategy is to identify drought-resistant cumin cultivars. By selecting cultivars that are more resilient to drought conditions, farmers can enhance their chances of achieving higher yields, even in challenging environments.

 This two-year study (2020-2021) aimed to assess the drought tolerance of 15 cumin ecotypes under field conditions in Karaj, Iran. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with three replications. The ecotypes evaluated were: Tabriz, Torbat Jam 8, Afghani, Khorasan-Birjand, Yazd 7, Yazd 8, Torbat Jam 9, Khorasan Razavi 8, Pakistan, Isfahan, Hindi, Khorasan Razavi 12, Isfahan 13, Sabzevar, Torbat Heydarieh. Two treatments were applied: full irrigation and drought stress. Irrigation under full irrigation was carried out every 10 days according to soil and weather conditions, while irrigation was withheld from 50% flowering to the end of the growth period under drought stress.

 The results of this study showed that drought stress reduced the yield and yield components of cumin ecotypes but increased the essential oil content. The highest seed yield of 102.78 g m-2 was achieved by the ecotype Turbat Jam 8 under full irrigation conditions, which was statistically similar to the ecotypes Afghani, Khorasan-Birjand, Yazd 7, Turbat Jam 9, and Sabzevar under normal irrigation conditions. The lowest seed yield of 65.8 g m-2 was recorded for the ecotype Khorasan Razavi 12. These results demonstrate the differential tolerance of cumin ecotypes to drought stress and highlight the potential of Turbat Jam 8 as a drought-tolerant ecotype. The Afghani ecotype proved to be drought-resistant, showing consistent grain yield under both normal irrigation and drought stress. Conversely, the Khorasan Razavi 12 ecotype was vulnerable to drought stress, exhibiting reduced biological and grain yields under these conditions. Notably, a strong positive correlation (0.973) was observed between essential oil content and seed yield, indicating that breeding for high essential oil content could also improve drought resistance and yield. In addition to the strong correlation between essential oil content and seed yield, other correlations were observed. The amount of essential oil was positively correlated with the harvest index (0.787) and the weight of one thousand seeds (0.721). Seed yield also showed positive and significant correlations with the number of umbrellas per plant (0.396), harvest index (0.287), and the number of seeds per umbrella (0.232). No other traits showed significant correlations. Biological performance had positive and significant correlations with plant height, number of branches per plant, number of umbels per plant, number of umbels per umbel, and number of seeds per umbel. According to the result of cluster analysis based on Ward's method, the ecotypes were divided into three groups. The highest number of ecotypes was in the third group (7 ecotypes) and the second group (6 ecotypes). The Afghani ecotype formed the first group alone. According to the type of ecotypes placed in a cluster, it can be said that the ecotypes in a cluster were very similar in terms of morphological and molecular characteristics, and the Afghani ecotype was different from other ecotypes.

     Drought stress and ecotype interactions had a significant impact on plant height, biological yield, and grain yield. The variation in ecotype responses to drought stress may be attributed to genetic differences. The Afghani ecotype demonstrated strong resistance to drought, showing no significant reduction in grain yield under both normal irrigation and drought stress conditions while also achieving the highest essential oil content. In contrast, the Khorasan Razavi 12 ecotype was highly sensitive to drought stress, exhibiting markedly lower biological and grain yields compared to other ecotypes.

 In recent years, with the growing significance of drought and climate change, there is an increasing need for a well-structured plan to implement effective management strategies and monitor drought conditions. Considering the importance of investigating agricultural drought in relation to the yield of agricultural products and the fact that agriculture in Iran has always been affected by the amount and distribution of inappropriate rainfall, and climate change has caused problems in the cultivation conditions in the country by causing anomalies in temperature and precipitation; in recent years, due to the lack of suitable moisture conditions in the soil and the decrease of rainfall in the spring season, the amount of production and the quality of products have suffered serious threats, among these threats is the threat to human food security and, by nature, social and economic problems. Effective monitoring at the right moment can greatly reduce damage to agricultural production. The use of remote sensing and satellite imagery as effective tools for monitoring agricultural drought has gained significant attention from researchers. Remote sensing allows for the study of drought's effects on plant growth, leading to more accurate and impactful results in drought modeling.

 Tuyserkan city covers an area of 1,556 square kilometers, 7.98% of the area of Hamedan province, in the west of Iran, and it is located along the Zagros mountain range. In this study, the goal is to evaluate the spatial and temporal patterns of agricultural drought in Tuyserkan County using vegetation coverage indicators derived from satellite data, including the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), the Vegetation Condition Index (VCI), the Plant Health Index (VHI), and the Thermal Condition Index (TCI), over a 20-year period and at seasonal and annual scales. The satellite data used in this study are from MODIS imagery. These images are a suitable tool for drought monitoring due to the power of proper spatial separation and providing bands with different wavelengths. After pre-processing these images using ENVI software, surface temperature, and rainfall data (used by interpolation method) are used as effective data in the drought process in the study area during this period.

 The Vegetation Condition Index (VCI) has a significant correlation with different seasons, as well as with the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). Therefore, it can be stated with confidence that this index can be used to monitor temporal and spatial changes in agricultural droughts in the study area with acceptable accuracy. In fact, the months from the fourth to the sixth are the best time for the growth and development of plants because whatever the effect of precipitation, it will show itself during this period, and the highest correlation between the SPI and VCI for the fourth to the sixth months. However, in the VHI for the seventh to ninth months, the meaningful correlation could be because of the fact that the vegetation of Tuyserkan is mostly farmland (ending in October) and orchard (with a high amount of walnuts and almonds, which continue until September). Rahimzadeh et al. (2008) found the best correlation between the VCI and SPI for one to three months in the monitoring of droughts in Northwest Iran, and in this study, the correlation between the VCI and SPI for one to nine months was obtained. Generally, the VCI index provides better results for measuring precipitation, especially in areas that are climatically heterogeneous. As a result, the VCI was selected as the best index for monitoring agricultural droughts in the region.

Based on the calculations performed, the climate of the region matches the seasonality of the Vegetation Coverage Index (VCI) better. Generally, the results of the VCI and SPI indices largely confirm the results of the NDVI index. As a result, the VCI index was chosen as the best index for monitoring agricultural droughts in Tuyserkan County. Additionally, the results derived from the use of the vegetation index VCI indicate the state of droughts in 2008 and 2014 and the state of precipitation in 2007 and 2018 compared to the study period in the region.

Introduction: 

Garlic (Allium sativum L.), a member of the Liliaceae family, is the second most important crop after onion (Allium cepa L.) among vegetables. It is widely used as a food spice and medicinal herb in many parts of the world, making it one of the key crops cultivated during the cool season. Garlic economic yield is affected by various agronomic factors such as optimum planting distance (plant density) and proper supply of the required nutrition (proper nutrition) of this plant. The selection of suitable planting density can increase the productivity of crops. On the other hand, meeting the nutritional needs of crops is also a great necessity in order to increase the production of crops. Humic acid, as a natural and environmentally friendly organic acid, has a positive effect on the absorption of nutrients by crops, and it is very important for the transfer and availability of micronutrient elements in the plant. The most important factor limiting crop yield in many parts of the world macro and micronutrient deficiency in soil is more. Suitable nutrition due to the balanced application of fertilizers, with regard to the physiological needs of crops, can reasonably provide access to the expected yield. Nutrition is another factor affecting the growth and performance of garlic plants. Research has shown that the growth and yield of this plant are largely influenced by the management of the supply of various nutrients.

 This experiment was conducted as a factorial layout based on a randomized complete block design with three replications during the growing season of 2016- 2017 at the experimental field of Beiranshahr city of Khorramabad in Lorestan Province, Iran. Before conducting the experiment to determine the physical and chemical properties of soil samples were collected from 0-30 cm depth of soil. The treatments were comprised of two factors were studied: Planting density at three levels: D1, D2, D3; 32, 42, and 52 Density (Plant. m-2), respectively, and Nutrition On four levels: N1, N2, N3, and N4 (control, Humic acid, totalize fertilizer 20-20-20, Humic acid+Totalize fertilizer 20-20-20), respectively. For treated with humic acid, Garlic cloves before planting in a proportion of 50 ml per kilogram, Clove was treated. Totalize fertilizer 20-20-20 was used at the rate of 80 kg/ha in the farm. Traits such as plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, Garlic diameter, cloves number in garlic, Garlic weight, and economic yield were measured. In this study, Hamedan White Garlic was used for cultivation.

 The results indicated that the main effects of nutrition, plant height, and the number of cloves in garlic were significant, as well as the interaction between planting density and nutrition (treatment 42: density in plants per square meter with Totalize fertilizer 20-20-20). Significant increases were observed in stem diameter, number of leaves, garlic diameter, garlic weight, and economic yield. The analysis of variance (Table 4) revealed that nutrition had a significant effect on plant height (p ≤ 0.01). The main effect of planting density was significant (p ≤ 0.05), while both nutrition (p ≤ 0.001) and the interaction of planting density and nutrition (p ≤ 0.01) significantly affected stem diameter and the number of leaves. Additionally, nutrition and the interaction of planting density and nutrition had significant effects on garlic diameter (p ≤ 0.001). According to the analysis of variance (Table 4), nutrition had a significant effect (p ≤ 0.01) on the number of cloves. The results also demonstrated that the main effects of density and nutrition, as well as their interaction, positively and statistically significantly influenced garlic weight and economic yield at the p ≤ 0.001 level.

 The results of this experiment showed that the garlic plant exhibited varying responses to different planting densities and levels of nutrition. Increasing planting density reduced plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, garlic diameter, Cloves number in garlic, and garlic weight. Increase the plant density of garlic from 32 to 42 to 52 plants. -2 significantly increased the economic yield, respectively. Because of the increase in garlic planted per hectare. The results showed that the effect of different levels of Planting Density and Nutrition was significant on garlic grain yield. The highest mean of garlic grain yield as a provisioning service was obtained from 42 Plants per m-2 in nutrition with totalize fertilizer 20-20-20 (25756 kg. ha-1), and the lowest garlic grain yield was obtained in control treatment with non-fertilizer application and 32 plants per m-2 (14314 kg.ha-1). Therefore, with the optimal use of this fertilizer (Humic acid and total fertilizer), the effects of growth and yield on plants are somewhat enhanced, and it is recommended for use in a similar climate.

 Agriculture is one of the most important economic sectors of the country, and it plays a vital role in achieving sustainable development, which requires the use of scientific principles and methods and the recognition of environmental capabilities. In this regard, there is a close relationship between agricultural development and environmental resources. In recent years, the level of agricultural land has decreased, and this decrease in land suitable for agricultural production can be attributed to the lack of optimal land use, which has directly affected the ability to produce food on a large scale and seriously affected food security. However, in many cases, agricultural systems have low production, which is related to management issues. Also, the climatic capabilities of the regions are sometimes effective as a limiting factor in crop production. Based on this, it is very important to identify the capabilities of the land before the performance of various activities such as agriculture. This study was carried out with the aim of agroecological evaluation of lands in Behshahr County (Yane-Sar region) for lentil cultivation using spatial analysis of geographical information system (GIS) and analysis hierarchy process (AHP) in 2021-2022.

 This research was carried out in the agricultural lands of the Yane-sar district of Behshahr county in Mazandaran province from 2021 to 2022. In order to prepare digital maps of soil characteristics of agricultural lands, agricultural soil samples were taken after the harvest in the summer of 2021. In this research, climatic variables (minimum, maximum, average temperatures and annual precipitation), topography (slope, aspect, and elevation above sea level), and soil characteristics (texture, K, P, Cu, Mn, N, Fe, TNV, organic matter, EC, pH) were used. Thematic maps for each variable were created using various models in ArcGIS 10.8 and then overlaid with AHP weights. The final map was classified into four categories: high suitability, suitability, semi-suitability, and non-suitability.

 The results showed that the range of electrical conductivity (EC) in the soil of agricultural lands of the study area was between 0.84-2.63 dS m-1. According to its distribution, most of it is located in the northwest and southeast of the region, and its lowest value is located in the central and northern regions. Also, the results showed that the distribution of soil organic matter (OM) is between 0.35-7.22 percent. The central and southern areas of this region had the minimum percentage of organic matter. The results showed that the most suitable areas for lentil cultivation are located in the northern, central, and southern parts of the region. In general, two classes of high suitability and suitability comprise about 56.97% of the area. One of the main reasons for this result was the suitable soil fertility, rainfall, and topographical conditions. Zones with semi-suitability and non-suitability cultivation potential were also included in 43.03% of the region's area. The results showed that the northwest, parts of the centre, and parts of the southwest were located in the semi-suitability class for lentil cultivation. 

Conclusion :

 Considering various factors to determine the suitable lands for lentil cultivation, it was found that most of the agricultural lands in the studied region were in zones of high suitability for lentil cultivation. Also, in the semi-suitability and non-suitability classes, low nitrogen amount in parts of the centre, high humidity and rainfall in the west of the region, high phosphorus amounts in parts of the central and northwest regions, the inappropriate texture in some fields and low rainfall were determined as limiting factors for the growth of lentil.

fertilizer management system in ten levels: no fertilization, 30% wheat residues, 60% wheat residues, 90% wheat residues, 30% vermicompost, 60% vermicompost, 100% vermicompost, 10% vermicompost+ 90% wheat residues, 40% vermicompost+ 60% wheat residues and 70% vermicompost+ 30% wheat residues. Acid detergent fiber (ADF) cell wall contribution includes cellulose and lignin, and dry matter digestibility (DMD) were measured in corn plants. Meanwhile, the amount of organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium and sulfur in the soil were measured, too.

According to the obtained results, the integrated organic fertilizer management system showed a significant effect on the organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, and Sulphate. Additionally, the integrated organic fertilizer management system showed no significant effect on the ADF and DMD of corn. The highest and lowest amount of DMD (56.35%) and ADF (16.40 g.kg-1 DM) in corn were observed due to the treatment of 60% of wheat residues and treatment of 70% vermicompost + 30% wheat residues, respectively. The highest amount of organic carbon (0.212 %) and phosphorus (5.07 mg.lit-1) were achieved in the integrated system of 10% vermicompost + 90% wheat. However, there were no significant differences statistically compared to the treatment of 70% vermicompost + 30% wheat residue. The highest and lowest percentage of soil nitrogen was observed in the integrated system of 70% vermicompost+ 30% of wheat residues (0.063%) and no fertilization (0.020%), respectively. In the present study, adding organic matter to the soil increased soil phosphorus. The mineralization and mobilization of phosphorus is due to the presence of microorganisms and enzymes that dissolve phosphorus in the intestines of earthworms. The highest amount of potassium (0.37 meq.lit-1), sulfate (11.29 meq.lit-1), and calcium (6.33 meq.lit-1) in corn were observed in the treatment of 10% vermicompost+ 90% wheat residues, 70% vermicompost + 30% wheat residues and the treatment of 30% wheat residues, respectively.

In general, the integrated system significantly increased the amount of organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, calcium, and magnesium in the soil. Organic materials increase the ability to absorb nutrients and increase the quality of corn forage by increasing DMD and reducing ADF. The results of this research demonstrated that the integrated system of 70% vermicompost and 30% wheat residue exhibited significant advantages in the characteristics under investigation, outperforming other treatments in the test area.