Soil science
H. Auobi; J. Nabati; Ahmad Nezami; M. Kafi
Abstract
Introduction: The excessive use of chemical fertilizers devastates soil fertility and causes different types of environmental pollution. Therefore, using adequate eco-friendly fertilizers in agriculture enhances productivity but has no adverse effect on nature. Recently, there has been reported that ...
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Introduction: The excessive use of chemical fertilizers devastates soil fertility and causes different types of environmental pollution. Therefore, using adequate eco-friendly fertilizers in agriculture enhances productivity but has no adverse effect on nature. Recently, there has been reported that beneficial soil microbes produce some volatile organic compounds, which are beneficial to plants. The amendment of these microbes with locally available organic materials and nanoparticles is currently used to formulate biofertilizers for increasing plant productivity. These bacteria are naturally present in soils, but their population decreases for a long time because of long-term environmental stress, improper use of chemical agents, and the absence of a suitable host plant. Adding these bacteria to the soil, before or during the growing season, increases the growth and production of agricultural products. Since available water is the main growth limiting factor in chickpea cultivation, it is useful to improve nutrition, especially using plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, for accelerating the growth and development of plants at the end of the season.
Materials and Methods: In order to evaluate the effect of bio-nutrition and seed priming on growth and yield of chickpea genotypes (MCC463, MCC741, ILC8617, ILC72, FLIP02-51C) an experiment was carried in split plots based on Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications in 2019. Experimental factors included nutritional treatments as the main plots and chickpea genotypes as the subplots. Nutritional treatments were 1- seed priming with the use of free-living nitrogen fixing bacteria, phosphorus solubilizing bacteria and potassium solubilizing bacteria (P + BF), 2- free-living nitrogen fixing bacteria, phosphorus solubilizing bacteria and potassium solubilizing bacteria before sowing (BF), 3- seed priming with the application of free-living nitrogen fixing bacteria, phosphorus solubilizing bacteria and potassium solubilizing bacteria with foliar application of amino acid, potassium and silicon during growth stages (P + BF + F), 4- application of free-living nitrogen fixing bacteria, phosphorus solubilizing bacteria and potassium solubilizing bacteria before planting with foliar application of amino acid, potassium and silicon during growth stages (BF + F), and 5- control (without biological and chemical fertilizers). Free-living nitrogen fixing bacteria, phosphorus solubilizing bacteria and potassium solubilizing bacteria were sprayed five liters per hectare on the soil surface before planting with 107 CFU per ml and mixed with soil. Foliar application with amino acid (1:1000) was done in two stages (before flowering and 50% flowering stage), and foliar application with potassium (1:1000) and silicon (1.5:1000) was carried out in the 50% flowering stage.
Results and Discussion: Results showed that the highest concentration of chlorophyll a was obtained for BF and MCC463 with an increase of 3.1 times greater than control. The highest concentration of chlorophyll b was obtained for BF + F and FLIP02-51. The highest green area index was recorded for MCC741 in P + BF. The highest number of pods per plant in MCC463 and FLIP02-51 was observed in BF + F, with 88 and 30% more than the control, respectively. The highest biomass produced was obtained for ILC8617 and BF + F, by 24% higher than the control. ILC72 and MCC463 showed the highest grain yield in P + BF + F treatment, which increased grain yield by 35% and 4% (320 and 50 kg/ha), respectively, with respect to control. MCC741under BF treatment showed a doubled (810 kg/ha) grain yield relative to control. The highest grain yield for P + BF was found in ILC8617 and increased by 28% (340 kg/ha) as compared to control. In this genotype, grain yield in BF + F was also significantly greater than that in the control by 22%, (270 kg/ha). FLIP02-51 grain yield in BF increased by 12% (170 kg/ha) as compared with the control.
Conclusion: In terms of seed yield, ILC72 and MCC463 were more responsive to P + BF + F and ILC8617 and FLIP02-51 in the BF and ILC8617 in P + BF with respect to other treatments. It seems that despite the positive effect of biofertilizer, genetic characteristics of genotypes are influential in plant growth and yield; therefore, it is necessary to select the appropriate genotype for each region so as to make the most utilization of the nutrients and achieve high yield.
hamid reza mehrabadi; Ahmad Nezami; Mohammad Kafi; Malihe Ahmadifard
Abstract
Introduction: More plains of Iran are located in arid and semi-arid regions and so agricultural production systems depend heavily on water. Recently, the reduction of water resources has become a serious threat for crop production such as cotton planting. Therefore, application of low irrigation methods ...
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Introduction: More plains of Iran are located in arid and semi-arid regions and so agricultural production systems depend heavily on water. Recently, the reduction of water resources has become a serious threat for crop production such as cotton planting. Therefore, application of low irrigation methods can be an appropriate method to cope with mentioned condition. In addition, it is vital to identify the cotton cultivars reaction to water deficiency. Sensibility of some cotton cultivars is lower than others. Sensitive cultivars seed cotton yield decreases more than tolerant cotton cultivars. Moreover, some of growth stages in cotton plant are more sensitive to water deficiency stress. For example, flowering stage is more sensitive than vegetative growth stage, and boll number per plant is more effective parameter on yield than boll weight. Ulla and et al (2) showed that there are genetic variations for drought stress toleration in cotton plant. Afshar and Mehrabadi (3) indicated that low irrigation on the basis of 50% and 75% of cotton water requirement had no significant effect on vegetative growth of cotton plant. However, it caused the increase of flower and boll shedding per plant. Application of tolerant cultivars compared with sensitive cultivars can increase seed cotton yield under drought stress condition. Consequently, the aim of this study is to survey yield and related morphological traits reactions in sensitive and tolerant cotton cultivars to different water deficiency levels.
Materials and methods: Two tolerant cotton cultivars (Armagan and Varamin) and two sensitive cotton cultivars (Coker349 and Nazili84) as a subplot at three irrigation levels (as a main plot) using split plot design based on complete block design with three replications were carried out at Agricultural Research Station of Kashmar in 2011. Three levels of water consumption based on Penman-Montith method and using cotton KC coefficients were [33% (I33%), 66% (I66%) and 100% (I100% of water requirement)] that it were take placed using drip irrigation method. Yield and yield components traits such as height, the number of boll per plant, boll weight, flower and boll shedding percent, seed cotton yield, biological yield, earliness percent and harvest index were determined at the end of experiment. Data analysis was carried out using Excel and MSTAT-C software.
Results and Discussion: The results showed that although water deficiency stress decreased vegetative components, the amounts of decreasing were higher in tolerant cultivars than sensitive cultivars but, by contrast, the reproductive components of tolerant cultivars indicated lower decreasing than sensitive cultivars under water deficiency stress. For example, Varamin cotton cultivar had more number of bolls per plant than Coker349 as a sensitive cultivar. The results also showed that more retention of boll number per plant was the main factor of cultivars difference as for seed cotton yield. The highest number of boll and flower per plant retention belonged to sensitive cultivars such as Coker349 and Nazili (71.2 and 69 percent, respectively) at 66 percent of water consumption and the lowest number of boll and flower per plant retention were 92.3 percent belonging to Varamin as a tolerant cotton cultivar at full water irrigation treatment. The results indicated that all yield components except boll weight were significantly affected by low irrigation levels. In addition, the results revealed that low shedding of flower and boll and accordingly more retention of boll number per plant and also biomass preservation under drought stress were the main factor in yield of tolerant cultivars in comparison with sensitive cultivars. Biological yield reduction was higher than seed cotton yield under water stress condition. High and significant correlation was observed among yields with boll number per plant, biological yield and harvest index under drought stress. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between yield with plant height and biological yield only in full irrigated treatment. Furthermore, harvest index decreased significantly under drought stress. Harvest index value for Coker349 was significantly lower than other cultivars. Coefficient correlation between harvest index and yield and its components showed that harvest index was more dependent with seed cotton yield to biological yield. Therefore, tolerant cultivars had higher seed cotton yield and also biological yield in comparison with sensitive cultivars. While there was a significant correlation between yield with plant height and biological yield only in full irrigated treatment.
najmeh khalili; Kamran Davary; Amin Alizadeh; Hossein Ansari; Hojat Rezaee Pazhand; Mohammad Kafi; Bijan Ghahraman
Abstract
Introduction:Many existing results on water and agriculture researches require long-term statistical climate data, while practically; the available collected data in synoptic stations are quite short. Therefore, the required daily climate data should be generated based on the limited available data. ...
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Introduction:Many existing results on water and agriculture researches require long-term statistical climate data, while practically; the available collected data in synoptic stations are quite short. Therefore, the required daily climate data should be generated based on the limited available data. For this purpose, weather generators can be used to enlarge the data length. Among the common weather generators, two models are more common: LARS-WG and ClimGen. Different studies have shown that these two models have different results in different regions and climates. Therefore, the output results of these two methods should be validated based on the climate and weather conditions of the study region.
Materials and Methods:The Sisab station is 35 KM away from Bojnord city in Northern Khorasan. This station was established in 1366 and afterwards, the meteorological data including precipitation data are regularly collected. Geographical coordination of this station is 37º 25׳ N and 57º 38׳ E, and the elevation is 1359 meter. The climate in this region is dry and cold under Emberge and semi-dry under Demarton Methods. In this research, LARG-WG model, version 5.5, and ClimGen model, version 4.4, were used to generate 500 data sample for precipitation and temperature time series. The performance of these two models, were evaluated using RMSE, MAE, and CD over the 30 years collected data and their corresponding generated data. Also, to compare the statistical similarity of the generated data with the collected data, t-student, F, and X2 tests were used. With these tests, the similarity of 16 statistical characteristics of the generated data and the collected data has been investigated in the level of confidence 95%.
Results and Discussion:This study showed that LARS-WG model can better generate precipitation data in terms of statistical error criteria. RMSE and MAE for the generated data by LAR-WG were less than ClimGen model while the CD value of LARS-WG was close to one. For the minimum and maximum temperature data there was no significant difference between the RMSE and CD values for the generated and collected data by these two methods, but the ClimGen was slightly more successful in generating temperature data. The X2 test results over seasonal distributions for length of dry and wet series showed that LARS-WG was more accurate than ClimGen.The comparison of LARS-WG and ClimGen models showed that LARS-WG model has a better performance in generating daily rainfall data in terms of frequency distribution. For monthly precipitation, generated data with ClimGen model were acceptable in level of confidence 95%, but even for monthly precipitation data, the LARS-WG model was more accurate. In terms of variance of daily and monthly precipitation data, both models had a poor performance.In terms of generating minimum and maximum daily and monthly temperature data, ClimGen model showed a better performance compared to the LARS-WG model. Again, both models showed a poor performance in terms of variance of daily and monthly temperature data, though LAR-WG was slightly better than ClimGen. For lengths of hot and frost spells, ClimGen was a better choice compared to LARS-WG.
Conclusion:In this research, the performances of LARS-WG and ClimGen models were compared in terms of their capability of generating daily and monthly precipitation and temperature data for Sisab Station in Northern Khorasan. The results showed that for this station, LARS-WG model can better simulate precipitation data while ClimGen is a better choice for simulating temperature data. This research also showed that both models were not very successful in the sense of variances of the generated data compared to the other statistical characteristics such as the mean values, though the variance for monthly data was more acceptable than daily data.
N. Khalili; K. Davary; A. Alizadeh; M. Kafi; H. Ansari
Abstract
Modeling of crop growth plays an important role in evaluation of drought impacts on rainfed yield, choosing an optimum sowing date, and managerial decision-makings. Aquacrop model is a new crop model that developed by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), that is a model for simulation of crop yield ...
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Modeling of crop growth plays an important role in evaluation of drought impacts on rainfed yield, choosing an optimum sowing date, and managerial decision-makings. Aquacrop model is a new crop model that developed by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), that is a model for simulation of crop yield based on “yield response to water“ with meteorological, crop, soli and management practices data as inputs. This model has to be calibrated and validated for each crop species and each location. In this paper, the Aquacrop has been calibrated and evaluated for rainfed wheat in Sisab station (Northern Khorasan). For this purpose, daily meteorological data and historical yield data from two cropping season (2007-2008 and 2008-2009) in the Sisab station have been used to calibrate this model. Next, meteorological data and historical yield data of five cropping season (2002-2003 to 2006-2007) are used to validate the model. The result shows that the Aqucrop can accurately predict crop yield as R2, RMSE, NRMSE, ME, and D-Index are achieved 0.86, 0.062, 5.235, 0.917 and 0.877, respectively.
M.H. Najafi Mood; A. Alizadeh; K. Davari; M. Kafi; A. Shahidi
Abstract
This experiment was conducted based upon a factorial split plot design consisting of three factors: salinity with three levels (2.2, 5.5 and 8.3 dS/m), irrigation with four levels (50%, 75%, 100% and 125%), cultivars with two levels (Varamin and Khordad). There were three replicates for each treatment ...
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This experiment was conducted based upon a factorial split plot design consisting of three factors: salinity with three levels (2.2, 5.5 and 8.3 dS/m), irrigation with four levels (50%, 75%, 100% and 125%), cultivars with two levels (Varamin and Khordad). There were three replicates for each treatment combination. Salinity was considered as main plot while the other factors were arranged as sub plots in the experiment. Effects salinity and deficit irrigation on yield for cultivars of cotton studied with Marginal Production(MP), Marginal Rate of Technical Substitution(MRTS) and Value of Marginal Production(VMP) indexes. Also for economics analysis, optimum depth of irrigation for deficit irrigation and complete irrigation depth were determined for tow cultivar. MPI showed That in deficit irrigation condition, yield of Khordad less than Varamin, for 1 centimeter of irrigation depth. But in over irrigation level , decreasing yield of Khordad rather than Varamin. Also MPECw showed, That yield decreased 31.8 Kg/ha on Varamin and 76.5 Kg/ha on Khordad cultivars, by increasing 1 dS/m salinity of irrigation water. MRTS index showed for instant yield, when salinity of irrigation water decrease 1 dS/m, must be increase depth of irrigation, 1.68, 3.85 cm for Varamin and Khordad respectively. So that, in equal situation of irrigation water salinity, optimum irrigation depth for Khordad was rather than Varamin.Also in all of salinity levels, optimum irrigation depth, for Khordad was rather than Varamin.
A. Eskandari; H.R. Khazaie; A. Nezami; M. Kafi
Abstract
Abstract
In order to study the effects of irrigation regimes on yield and some qualitative characteristics of three cultivars of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), an experiment was conducted in 2009 in the research field of the College of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. A factorial experiment ...
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Abstract
In order to study the effects of irrigation regimes on yield and some qualitative characteristics of three cultivars of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), an experiment was conducted in 2009 in the research field of the College of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. A factorial experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Experimental factors were three irrigation regimes including: I1: 100% of water requirement of potato in Mashhad, I2: 70% of water requirement of potato in Mashhad applied before tuber initiation and I3: 70% of water requirement in Mashhad applied at all growth period of potato and the used cultivars were Agria, Almera and Sinora. The results indicated that in all irrigation regimes, Agria was better in tuber yield and number of marketable tuber compared to other cultivars and also had the highest amount of mean marketable weight tuber and starch percentage, whereas Almera had the highest significant dry matter compared to other cultivars. Also with increased in irrigation level, all quantitative and qualitative characteristics except tuber specific gravity weight improved. So concerning to the result of this experiment, with 30% decrease in volume of applied irrigation water before tuber initiation, a fairly significant yield can be expected for Agria compared to other cultivars.
Keywords: Potato, Irrigation regimes, Cultivar, Marketable tuber
M. Salehi; M. Kafi; A.R. Kiani
Abstract
Abstract
In order to optimize the water management in agriculture in semi arid and arid conditions water-salinity function should be evaluated. In order to evaluate salinity and deficit irrigation two experiments were conducted in 2008 and 2009. Kochia was grown with six levels of saline water (1.5, ...
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Abstract
In order to optimize the water management in agriculture in semi arid and arid conditions water-salinity function should be evaluated. In order to evaluate salinity and deficit irrigation two experiments were conducted in 2008 and 2009. Kochia was grown with six levels of saline water (1.5, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 dS/m) and three levels of applied water (25, 75, and 125 percent of the water requirement) in 2008 and four levels of applied water (50, 75, 100, and 125 percent) in 2009. Data were analyzed using linear, quadratic, Cobb-Douglas and transcendental functions. Results showed that quadratic function estimated yield better under salinity and water stress. Marginal rate of technical substitution showed that water salinity and water supply can be substituted with the other in a wide range in order to achieve equal amount of yield. Marginal production of water quantity and quality were 6.7 and 154 kg.ha-1 in 2008 and 4.8 and -511 kg.ha-1 in 2009, respectively.
Keywords: Production function, Halophyte, Water quality, Water quantity
Z. Rahimi; M. Kafi
Abstract
Abstract
In order to study the effects of salinity and silicon application on biomass of leaves and root of purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), a greenhouse experiment was conducted at Research Greenhouse of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad using completely randomized desgin with three replications. Employed ...
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Abstract
In order to study the effects of salinity and silicon application on biomass of leaves and root of purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), a greenhouse experiment was conducted at Research Greenhouse of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad using completely randomized desgin with three replications. Employed two factors consisted of three levels of salinity using NaCl (0.6, 11, 22 dS/m) and two levels of silicon (0.0 and 1.0 mM sodium silicate). Leaves and root biomass and percentage of organic matter, K content and K/Na content in leaves significantly decreased with increasing salinity, while percentage of ash matter, Na content significantly increased with increasing salinity. Application of silicon imposed a positive effect on preventig high accumulation of Na and increased K content in leaves. Based on these results, purslane can be considered as a relatively salt tolerant plant that can produce considerable biomass under salinity conditions.
Keywords: Leaf organic compounds, Silicon, Leaf Cation Content, Root Cation Content
S. Sadeghi Lotfabadi; M. Kafi; H.R. Khazaie
Abstract
Abstract
In order to study salt stress, calcium and potassium effects and type of application on sorghum plant, a field experiment was arranged in randomized complete block in split plot design at the Research Field of Center of Excellence for Special Crops, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad at 2008. Experimental ...
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Abstract
In order to study salt stress, calcium and potassium effects and type of application on sorghum plant, a field experiment was arranged in randomized complete block in split plot design at the Research Field of Center of Excellence for Special Crops, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad at 2008. Experimental treatments were included two levels of salinity (5 and 10 dS.m-1) as main plots and factorial of 2 types of application and four levels of Ca2+ and K+ as main plots in 3 replication. Growth parameters such as plant hight, leaf, stem and plant dry weight, stem diameter measured at 4 growth stages. Chlorophyll index, RWC and LAI measured in 3 stages of growth. Result of statistical analysis showed that salt stress leads to decrease the plant height, chlorophyll index and RWC, but did not affect biomass and LAI. Application of Ca and K only affected RWC, height and stem dry matter. Result showed that use of Ca and K lead to improved growth parameters of sorghum at salt stress conditions but no significant differences between application of sole K and K+Ca treatments were obsered. So, to reduce production expenses, application of only K fertilizer is proposed for soghum production under salt stress conditions.
Keywords: Salinity stress, Calcium, Potassium, Type of application, Sorghum
H.R. Khazaie; M. Kafi
Abstract
Abstract
Wheat is one of the important crops planted worldwide and development of its root is important at the first growing stages. In order to evaluate effects of different levels of humic acid on root and shoot development of Teriticum aestivum, an experiment was conducted in 2008 at Research Greenhouse ...
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Abstract
Wheat is one of the important crops planted worldwide and development of its root is important at the first growing stages. In order to evaluate effects of different levels of humic acid on root and shoot development of Teriticum aestivum, an experiment was conducted in 2008 at Research Greenhouse of Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. A randomized completely block design with three replications was used with factorial combination of humic acid concentration (0, 100, 200, and 300 mg/l) and wheat cultivar (Sayons and Sabalan) in sand culture. Results showed that humic acid significantly increased root area to leaf area ratio and chlorophyll content. Sabalan showed better performance in many traits compared to Sayonz in 300 mg/l humic acid. The maximum leaf area and weight was recorded in Sabalan cultivar at 300 mg/l humic acid concentration while in Sayonz 200 mg/l humic acid concentration was more effective. Therefore humic acid performed as a root system strengthening organic fertilizer. That is important particularly in dry farming that is needed root development at the first growing stages.
Key words: Humic acid, Cultivar, Sayonz, Sabalan, Concentration
M.R. Soleimani; M. Kafi; M. Ziaei; J. Shabahang
Abstract
Abstract
In order to evaluate the effects of limited irrigation on forage of two local populations of Kochia scoparia a field experiment was conducted in Research Field of Center of Excellence for Special Plants at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad during 2007 growing season. The experiment was performed ...
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Abstract
In order to evaluate the effects of limited irrigation on forage of two local populations of Kochia scoparia a field experiment was conducted in Research Field of Center of Excellence for Special Plants at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad during 2007 growing season. The experiment was performed as a split plot design based on complete randomized block arrangement. In the main plots four irrigation levels were applied including complete irrigation, 80%, 60% and 40% of water plant requirements. Two local populations of Kochia including Sabzevar and Borujerd were used in the subplots with 3 replications. The plant characteristics were studied in terms of plant height, branch number, fresh and dry matter weight, green area index (GAI), and leaf and stem dry weight. Results indicated that the different irrigation regimes had a significant effect on all plant characteristics. Maximum forage yield was obtained from complete irrigation with 13.22 t/ha dry matter and 31.81 t/ha fresh materials. Sabzevar's local population represented a better performance on all of the characteristics; however, there was no significant difference among the two populations on dry matter per plant. The interaction effects of limited irrigation and variety showed a significant difference on fresh matter weight, stem dry weight, leaf dry weight, and green area index. The stem dry weight and green area index showed the highest correlation with dry matter and fresh matter weight, respectively. It can be concluded that due to high Kochia’s resistance in the presence of drought, salinity and other desert stresses such as high temperatures this plant has the potential to be used as a forage crop in harsh environmental conditions.
Key words: Limited irrigation, Kochia scoparia, Forage yield, Saline water
