Irrigation
M. Goodarzi; J. Ghadbeiklou; A. Ghadiry; M.A. Khodshenas
Abstract
Introduction
Water is one of the most important factors of development in human societies, water scarcity, specially fresh water which is one of the main limitation for agricultural, economic and social development in most developing countries. Providing and implementing an optimal cropping pattern, ...
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Introduction
Water is one of the most important factors of development in human societies, water scarcity, specially fresh water which is one of the main limitation for agricultural, economic and social development in most developing countries. Providing and implementing an optimal cropping pattern, in addition to better management of water and soil resources, can lead to reducing production risk, increasing the ability to deal with crises, improving employment, better management of providing services to farmers, and providing the possibility of expanding agro-based industries. In many regions of the world, including in Iran, many studies have been done to improve the cropping pattern in different regions. Despite the existing problems in designing and implementing the appropriate cropping pattern in the plains, modifying the cropping pattern based on scientific principles and emphasizing the reduction of water consumption while reducing water consumption provides the possibility of sustainable agriculture and in terms of economic and social aspects. Implementing an optimized cropping pattern in the Farahan Plain is an undeniable necessity to preserve national resources. This study was conducted with the objective of optimizing the cropping pattern in the area, taking into account multiple criteria.
Methodology
In this research, considering the importance of determining the cropping pattern based on the multiple objectives of the decision makers, it was tried to determine the optimal cropping pattern by using mathematical programming and fuzzy logic by establishing a compromise between the objectives of the cropping pattern. The model considered for this study was in the framework of the goal of the maximum ideal distance (Fuzzy Composite Distance). Also, in order to use water resources sustainably, scenarios of cropping patterns are presented based on different conditions of water resources uses. Based on the basin's water resource stability, an optimal cropping pattern was developed to address the conditions of normal water resource exploitation, as well as sustainable and unsustainable scenarios. Each scenario corresponds to a specific period. To achieve this, a multi-objective planning approach was utilized, integrating water, food, energy, and economic profit indicators. The resulting optimal cropping pattern considers stable water resource utilization during normal, drought, and wet periods, ensuring sustainable conditions.
Results and Discussion
The results showed that the amount of water consumed by the optimal cropping pattern compared to the existing cropping pattern under normal, drought and wet conditions is reduced by 23.2, 29.2 and 18.1%, respectively. On the other hand, compared to the existing cropping pattern, the amount of calories produced by the optimal cropping pattern under normal, drought and wet conditions increases by 51.7, 61.9 and 45.2%, the average energy efficiency increases by 40.9, 42.8 and 35.8% and the net profit productivity increases by 43.3, 30.9 and 44.2 %, respectively. Based on the obtained results, it can be seen that in the optimal cropping pattern in drought conditions, the cultivated area of crops such as potatoes, onions, tomatoes, grain corn, sugar beets, beans, alfalfa and watermelons should reach to the zero or be at the lowest possible level. In normal and drought conditions, the cultivated area of these crops should be minimal. On the other hand, the area under cultivation of crops such as fodder sorghum, fodder corn, saffron, cumin, camellia and medicinal plants should be increased and the cultivation of these crops should be promoted at the region. Also, regarding horticultural products, the cultivated area of walnut, apple, peach, apricot and almond orchards should be minimized and replaced with plants such as grapes, oleaster, jujube, barberry, rose, and figs.
Conclusion
Based on the obtained results, it was found that the use of the optimal cropping pattern derived from the indicators of water, food, energy and economic profit is completely superior and preferred over the existing cropping pattern and single purpose optimal cropping pattern. In order to achieve sustainable water resource management, it is recommended to modify the cropping pattern during drought, normal, and wet periods based on the suggested optimal cropping pattern. The existing cropping pattern currently falls short in terms of achieving the four objectives of water, food, energy, and economic profit. Therefore, it is crucial to develop main plans and strategies in the Farahan Plain that align with the implementation of the proposed optimal cropping pattern. By doing so, it will be possible to optimize the allocation of water resources and achieve improved outcomes in terms of water availability, food production, energy efficiency, and economic profitability.
M. A. Khodshenas; J. Ghadbeiklou; M. Dadivar
Abstract
Introduction: Soil test has an important role in plant nutrition management to obtain the economical agriculture system. The nutrient concentration in soils that indicates the division between responsive and non-responsive conditions is termed the critical level. Before any fertilizer recommendation, ...
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Introduction: Soil test has an important role in plant nutrition management to obtain the economical agriculture system. The nutrient concentration in soils that indicates the division between responsive and non-responsive conditions is termed the critical level. Before any fertilizer recommendation, we should be aware of the amount of nutrient critical levels in each region. Soil test results in an area, is not applicable for other agricultural areas. Therefore, these tests should be carried out in the soils of a desired area, so that the soil test could be the base for fertilizer recommendation. Iron is an essential micro element in the soil that mainly was found as insoluble (Ferric or Fe3+) form. Solubility of total inorganic iron decreases between pH 7.4 to 8.5. Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) crop is one of the most widely grown throughout the Markazi province in Iran and has high nutritional value for human. Knowing that bean is a sensitive plant to iron, and because of lack of any information about iron critical level and regional calibration, this study was conducted in Markazi province.
Materials and Methods: Eighteen soil surface samples (0-30 cm) selected with a wide range of soil properties and iron concentration (extracted with DTPA method) from different zone of province and prepared for greenhouse cultivation. Soil physical and chemical properties such as: (texture, pH, calcium carbonate, organic matter, cation exchange capacity, and electrical conductivity) of soil were determined by routine laboratory methods. In this study, bean plant responses were investigated by application of two levels of iron (0 and 10 mg kg-1) in soil as iron sulfate in the greenhouse experiment. All of soil samples received nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, copper and zinc as; (150, 100, 25, 5, 5, 5) mg kg-1 as solution in each pot respectively. The greenhouse study was conducted in a factorial experiment with three replications as complete randomized design. Six bean seeds were planted in pots. After the second week three plants of these six seeds were kept.
Soil moisture was maintained at field capacity. At the end of vegetative phase, the shoot bean and iron concentrations were determined in plant samples. At the end of the vegetation period, the shoot parts of plants cut, and plant responses including; (dry matter weight, Fe concentration, total Fe uptake and relative yield) (DMcontrol./DMFe fertilizer*100) were determined.
Results and Discussion: The results showed that available iron content in the soil varied from 1.5 to 20 mg kg-1 of soil with a mean value of 7.75 mg kg-1. The bean plant responded to Fe application and their relationships with physical and chemical properties of soils, which were investigated were effected too. Analysis of variance showed that the effects of soil and Fe fertilizer application were separately significant at 1% level for (weight dry matter, Fe concentration and Fe uptake). The effects of the (soil and fertilizer) interaction were significant at 1% level for the Fe concentration and Fe uptake. The mean comparison test of plant responses was significant as affected by Fe fertilizer consumption. By using Cate-Nelson graphic method, the critical level of iron in soils was five mg kg-1. Amounts of percent relative frequency indicated that eight percent of the soils were less than five mg kg-1 Fe, 63% of soils between 5 to 10 mg kg-1, 16% of soil between 10 to 15 mg kg-1 and 13% of soil above 15 mg kg-1 Fe. Plant Fe concentration in the control treatment (without Fe application) was 439.4 (mg kg-1), but at the Fe treatment (10mg kg-1) increased to (534.4mg kg-1).
The Fe uptake significantly increased from 1.54 to 2.16 mg Fe pot-1 with the application of 10 mg-Fe kg-1. The Fe uptake differences between treatments was due to increase of dry matter weight, and the plant Fe concentration, and this was due to the fertilizer application. Relative yield and dry matter weight showed positive and significant correlation with (clay, CEC and Fe available), but sand revealed negative correlation with the plant's response. The Fe uptake showed positive and significant correlation with Fe available but negative and significant correlation with the sand. The regression equation showed that Fe uptake to be related with CEC significantly.
Conclusion: By using Cate-Nelson graphic method, the critical level of iron in soils was five mg kg-1. The plant parameters were predictable significantly by soil properties such as (clay, sand, silt, soil organic carbon and Fe concentration).
M. A. Khodshenas; J. Ghadbeiklou; M. Dadivar
Abstract
Introduction: Growing irrigation demand for corn production, along side with draws of ground water from stressed water sources, should be limited due to scarce resources and environmental protection aspects. Nitrogen fertilizer applied at rates higher than the optimum requirement for crop production ...
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Introduction: Growing irrigation demand for corn production, along side with draws of ground water from stressed water sources, should be limited due to scarce resources and environmental protection aspects. Nitrogen fertilizer applied at rates higher than the optimum requirement for crop production may cause an increase in nitrate accumulation below the root zone and pose a risk of nitrate leaching. Improving nitrogen management for corn production has a close relation with soil water content. In this study, we investigated the effects of source and rate of nitrogen fertilizer and irrigation on silage corn production and nitrogen concentration, nitrogen uptake and residual soil nitrate in two depths.
Materials and Methods: This experiment carried out as split spli- plot in a Randomized Complete Block design (RCBD) with three replications, in Arak station (Agricultural research center of markazi province, 34.12 N, 49.7 E; 1715 m above mean sea level) during three years. The soil on the site was classified as a Calcaric Regosols (loamy skeletal over fragmental, carbonatic, thermic, calcixerollic xerochrepts). Main plots were irrigation treatments based on 70, 100 and 130 mm cumulative evaporation from A class Pan. Sub plots were two kinds of nitrogen fertilizers (Urea and Ammonium nitrate) and sub sub-plots were five levels of nitrogen rates (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 kgN.ha-1). Nitrogen fertilizer rates were split into three applications: 1/3 was applied at planting, 1/3 at 7-9 leaf stage and 1/3 remainder was applied before tasseling as a banding method. Phosphorus was applied at a rate of 150 kg.ha-1in each season and potassium at a rate of 30kg.ha-1 (only in first growth season) based on soil testing as triple super phosphate and potassium sulfate, respectively. The corn variety of single cross 704 was planted at 20 m2 plots. The plants were sampled at dough stage from the two rows and weighted in each plot. Plant samples were dried in a forced air oven at 70ºC for at least 3 days before weighting. Total N concentration in the plant samples were determined using kjeldahl method. Nitrogen uptake by plants was calculated based on the total N concentration in plants multiplied by dry matter. Residual nitrate concentrations were determined in soil samples (0-30 and 30-60 cm depths) by diazo method. Combined analysis of variance was accomplished using the MSTAT-C software. Mean comparisons were done using Duncan multiple rang test (DMRT).
Results: The results showed that the main effect of water stress on dry matter yield was negative and significant (P