Soil science
O. Toorajzadeh; H. Piri; A. Naserin; M.M. Chari
Abstract
IntroductionAppropriate and practical use of agricultural waste reduce the pressure on the environment. Recently, there has been significant promotion of biochar utilization in agricultural lands. It serves as a valuable source of organic material for enhancing plant growth and as an effective soil amendment ...
Read More
IntroductionAppropriate and practical use of agricultural waste reduce the pressure on the environment. Recently, there has been significant promotion of biochar utilization in agricultural lands. It serves as a valuable source of organic material for enhancing plant growth and as an effective soil amendment to improve soil properties. Due to its unique chemical and physical properties, biochar can be used as a soil conditioner and has many benefits for optimal agricultural and environmental management. Studies have shown that biochar is a useful amendment for improving the physical and chemical properties of soil and effective in maintaining organic matter and soil moisture. Materials and Methods This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the effects of biochar on the physical and chemical properties of soil under conditions of water stress and irrigation using saline water. The experiment was carried out in a factorial based on a completely randomized design with three replications in greenhouse conditions. The treatments include three irrigation water treatments (60, 80, and 100 percent water requirement of the plant, respectively, I1, I2, and I3), three treatments of biochar prepared from northern forest trees at a temperature of 300 degrees Celsius (0, 2, and 4 percent by weight of potting soil, respectively, B1, B2, and B3) and three water quality treatments (with electrical conductivity 1, 4 and 7 dS/m, respectively, S1, S2 and S3). The pots were weighed every other day and at each level of biochar and salinity, the water deficit up to the agricultural moisture level was calculated based on the changes in the pot's weight. After harvesting (in the first half of April 2022), in order to investigate the effect of biochar on the amount of soil nutrients and some physical and chemical parameters of the soil under the conditions of water stress and irrigation water salinity, sampling was done from the soil of each pot. The samples were taken to the laboratory and parameters of apparent and actual specific gravity, acidity and salinity of the soil, percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium absorbable of the soil were measured in the laboratory. Referring to the yield to irrigation water ratio, water productivity is obtained by the following relation (Payero et al., 2009): WP=Y/IR, where, WP represents water productivity (kg/m3), Y denotes the yield (kg/ha), and IR shows the amount of irrigation water (m3/ha). Analysis of variance for the results obtained from different treatments was conducted using SAS software (SAS 9.1, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). The mean values of the main factors and interactive effects were compared using the Duncan method at the 1% and 5% levels of significance. Results and DiscussionThe results showed that the amount of biochar, irrigation water and water salinity and their mutual effects had a significant effect on the measured parameters at the probability level of one and five percent. Adding 2 and 4 mass percent biochar to the soil increased the amount of phosphorus (35 and 60%, respectively), potassium (57% and 61%), nitrogen (83% and 91%), pH (13% and 13%) and electrical conductivity (EC) (13% and 57%) of the soil. By adding 2% and 4% of biochar to the soil, the actual specific gravity of the soil decreased by 13% and 21%, respectively, and the apparent specific gravity decreased by 11% and 22%, respectively. The actual and apparent specific gravity of the soil decreased by adding biochar to the soil. Decreasing the depth of irrigation water and increasing water salinity increased the amount of phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen, pH and EC of the soil. The amount of irrigation water had no significant effect on the apparent and actual specific gravity, however, the salinity of the irrigation water caused a significant increase in the apparent and actual specific gravity of the soil. Although the addition of biochar to the soil increased the nutrients required by plants in the soil, high amounts of biochar in the soil should be used careful, because the addition of this organic matter to the soil at high levels increased soil EC significantly. Based on the findings derived from the research, the utilization of biochar is recommended as a viable approach for enhancing both the chemical quality and productivity of nutrient-poor and sandy soils.
Soil science
M. Mohammadi
Abstract
Introduction Almond (Prunusdulcis Mill.), native to West Asia to the Mediterranean, and Iran after the United States and Spain has a third rank in production of this product in the world. Drought stress is one of the most important factors limiting the yield and production of agricultural products. ...
Read More
Introduction Almond (Prunusdulcis Mill.), native to West Asia to the Mediterranean, and Iran after the United States and Spain has a third rank in production of this product in the world. Drought stress is one of the most important factors limiting the yield and production of agricultural products. Many anatomical, physiological, enzymatic, nutritional, quantitative and qualitative characteristics of almonds are affected by drought stress. There are a lot of micro-organisms in soil can help plant nutrition and uptake of nutrient elements in different ways that can be mentioned by the dual symbiotic relation between micro-organism and plant. Mycorrhizae fungi are one of these microorganisms. The most important beneficial effects of mycorrhizal symbiosis is increasing the nutrient uptake, leaf gas exchange, photosynthesis, water use efficiency, productivity, improve plant nutrition and resistance to environmental stresses. Also, it helps the plant to absorb more water and nutrients by modification of rhizosphere environment, improvement of soil structure through formation of stable aggregates, expansion of external filaments and change of root morphology. The results of mycorrhizae symbiosis research in different plants show that the higher uptake of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn). The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of mycorrhizal fungi, a symbiotic and environmentally friendly agent, in drought stress condition on increasing growth and absorption of water and nutrient elements on almond rootstocks commonly consumed in Chaharmahal-va- Bakhtiari province.Material and Methods This field experiment was carried out as a factorial based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments consist of two level of mycorrhizal fungus (M0: without and M1 with using of mycorrhizal fungus), four kinds of rootstock (bitter, local Shorab 2, GF and GN) and four levels of drought stress (without stress as a control, slight, moderate and severe water stress which based on ratio of depletion of plant available water). Inoculation of mycorrhizal fungi at the rate of 100 g of a mixture of three species of mycorrhizal fungi (Clariodeoglumus etunicatum, Rhizophagus intraradices and Funneliformiss mosseae) was placed under the roots for each rootstock with a population of at least 100 active fungal organs including spores, vesicles, and hyphae per gram. The plants were exposed to drought stress for six weeks. Leaf samples were taken to measure the amount of nutrient elements. Nitrogen by Kjeldahl method, P by spectrophotometer, K by flame method with flame photometer and nutrients of iron, zinc, manganese, boron and copper were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry with an atomic absorption spectrometer (PerkinElmer Analyst 400, Waltham, United States of America). Statistical analysis was done with SAS 9.3 statistical software. Duncan’s multiple range test was used to separate means.Results and Discussion The results revealed that there were significant differences between four cultivars in terms of nutrient concentrations except B. The maximum amounts of the studied characteristics were obtained from GF rootstock. The GN rootstock was in the second ranking. Water deficient treatment showed a significant effect on the examined nutrient elements except Mn and Cu concentrations. The maximum amounts of measured nutrient elements, except K, were obtained from I1 treatment. The highest rate of K was obtained from I3 and I4 treatments. With increasing drought stress the decreasing trend of nutrient elements, except K was observed. Mycorrhizae fungi treatment caused increase of nutrient elements except B. The maximum amounts of N, P, Fe and Zn were obtained from GF +I1. Using of mycorrhizae fungi in drought treatments caused significant increase in N, K, Fe, Mn and B. The maximum amount of nutrients was obtained from GF + M1 treatment. The maximum amounts of N, Fe and B were obtained from I1 + M1 + GN. Inoculation of mycorrhizae fungi caused increase of rootstock growth under drought stress. The change in the shape, volume and number of root branches of the root caused by the consumption of mycorrhizae fungi was due to increased nutrient uptake and changes in the amount of plant hormones such as auxin. Growth and absorption of water and nutrients decreased under water deficient stress. Therefore, the effect of symbiosis with mycorrhizae fungi under water deficient stress conditions was more important than non-stress conditions. This has been reported in the research of various researchers.Conclusion The results of this study showed that with increasing water deficient stress, the amount of nutrient elements decreased except for K. The effectively of GF rootstock to mycorrhizae fungi inoculation was higher due to higher growth potential and root velocity. Nutrients that were measured in inoculated rootstocks were higher than those without inoculation. Under drought stress conditions, the amount of nutrients measured was higher in inoculated rootstocks. Inoculation of mycorrhizal fungi can lead to increase nutrients absorption with some mechanisms such as effective increase in root uptake, root length, number of lateral roots, proton production, and secretion of organic acids, siderophores, chelating compounds, and acid phosphates. Consumption of mycorrhizae fungi increased nutrient uptake and improved almond rootstock resistance to drought stress.
Mirhassan Rasoulsiadaghiani; Vali Feiziasl; Ebrahim Sepehr; Mehdi Rahmati; Salman Mirzaee
Abstract
Introduction: In cereal crops, nitrogen is the most important element for maintaining growth status and enhancing grain yield. Nitrogen is an important constituent of the chlorophyll molecule and the carbon-fixing enzyme ribulose-1, 5-bis-phosphate carboxylase/oxygenase. Therefore, providing enough nitrogen ...
Read More
Introduction: In cereal crops, nitrogen is the most important element for maintaining growth status and enhancing grain yield. Nitrogen is an important constituent of the chlorophyll molecule and the carbon-fixing enzyme ribulose-1, 5-bis-phosphate carboxylase/oxygenase. Therefore, providing enough nitrogen to achieve optimal yield is essential. Common chemical analyzes are used to determine the nutrient elements of plants using laboratory methods. Conventional laboratory techniques are expensive, laborious, and time-consuming. Determination of plant biochemical content by remote sensing could be used as an alternative method which reduce the problems of laboratory analyses. Expensive and time-consuming direct determination of the nutritional status of the plant play an important role in the quantitative and qualitative yield of the product. However, exposure to rainfed wheat nutrient stresses (in particular, nitrogen) compared to irrigated wheat resulting in attempts to evaluate these features with acceptable accuracy without the direct measurement. In this regard, remote sensing data and satellite images are of the basic dryland management and optimal wheat production methods. As such, it collects massive information periodically from the surface of the planet, and it is easy to use this timely information to identify the stresses and apply appropriate agronomic methods in order to counteract them or reduce their negative impact on the production of this strategic product. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine the nitrogen concentration of dryland wheat in the laboratory and its fitting with ETM+ images, evaluate the accuracy of remote sensing in determining the total nitrogen content of the plant and establish a regression relationship to estimate the amount of canopy nitrogen in the plant.
Material and Methods: This research was undertaken in parts of the south of the West Azerbaijan Province in Iran. The sampling was done from 45 dryland wheat fields using a stratified random method in May 2016. The wheat canopy nitrogen was determined using the Kjeldahl method. Satellite images of the ETM+ were downloaded on the USGS website. Then the required pre-processing was performed on images to reduce systematic and non-systematic errors. Statistical analyses were performed by excel and SPSS. Descriptive statistics and correlations were obtained between reflectance data obtained from various satellite bands and nitrogen measured in the laboratory. Correlated variables among the reflectance data of different bands were analyzed by principal component to reduce repeat calculations. The regression relationship between the plant canopy nitrogen and the first principal component has been evaluated using the stepwise regression method. To draw the plant canopy nitrogen, map, the equation was obtained and the ETM+ image has been used for land uses. Finally, the map of canopy N distribution at the studied area was drawn.
Results and Discussion: The results showed that nitrogen content varied from 1.6% to 0.79%, with an average of 1.11%. The normality data was verified by the Shapiro Wilk test. The results of the Pearson correlation showed that the wheat canopy nitrogen has a high correlation with digital number values of all bands of satellite images except band 4, so that it has the highest and the least correlation with band 2 and band 4, respectively. The correlation between remote sensing data in different bands was also evaluated using bi-plot statistics, which results showed a high correlation between all bands except band 4 with the first one of the principal component (PC1). Therefore, only PC1 data has been used to study the regression relationships between wheat canopy nitrogen and remote sensing data. A regression equation between wheat canopy nitrogen and ZPC1 (R2= 0.71) was developed. ZPC1 is obtained according to the following formula: where ZPC1 is the standardized Z parameter, is the average of PC1 and the ????pc1 is the standard deviation of PC1. Finally, the map of canopy N distribution was drawn to the studied area. According to the results of this study, the application of remote sensing data such as Landsat ETM+ data is a very important variable for improving and managing the prediction of wheat canopy nitrogen.
Conclusion: Overall, the results indicated that the remote sensing data provide more accurate and timely information from the drylands of Iran to manage farm fertilization and prevent the decline in yields at critical points. However, proper management to avoid the fertilizer loss by precise and timely application of N-fertilizer is needed.
Nosratollah Najafi; Rashed Ahmadinezhad; Naser Aliasgharzad; Shahin Oustan
Abstract
Introduction: Chemical fertilizers can supply all the nutrients required by plants, but their high consumptions cause environmental pollution and increased agricultural production costs. Organic fertilizers can improve the biological, physical, and chemical properties of soil and improve soil fertility ...
Read More
Introduction: Chemical fertilizers can supply all the nutrients required by plants, but their high consumptions cause environmental pollution and increased agricultural production costs. Organic fertilizers can improve the biological, physical, and chemical properties of soil and improve soil fertility and productivity. However, these fertilizers alone cannot provide all the requirements of plants for different nutrients. In addition, these fertilizers are not sufficiently available to farmers everywhere. So, in order to increase effectiveness of organic and chemical fertilizers, to decrease environmental pollutions and to achieve sustainable agriculture, integrated application of organic and chemical fertilizers is recommended. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are essential elements for plant nutrition and growth. Wheat as a strategic crop is the most important cereal and plays a very important role in human and animal nutrition and health. The deficiencies of N, P and K in the most agricultural soils often reduce the growth and yield of wheat. Therefore, the appropriate concentrations of these nutrients in wheat seed, leaf and stem are important not only for the optimum growth of the wheat plant and its quality improvement but also for the health of humans and animals.
Materials and Methods: This research work was carried out to study the effects of combining farmyard manure (FYM), municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) and municipal sewage sludge compost (MSSC) with different levels of urea on seed, leaf and stem yields of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar Alvand and concentrations of N, P and K in seed, leaf and stem in a randomized complete blocks design with 15 treatments and three replications under field conditions at Khalatposhan Agricultural Research Station, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran. The treatments included were: 1) control (without fertilizers), 2) 150 kg urea/ha, 3) 300 kg urea/ha, 4) 30 ton MSWC/ha, 5) 30 ton MSWC/ha + 150 kg urea/ha, 6) 60 ton MSWC/ha, 7) 60 ton MSWC/ha + 150 kg urea/ha, 8) 30 ton MSSC/ha, 9) 30 ton MSSC/ha + 150 kg urea/ha, 10) 60 ton MSSC/ha, 11) 60 ton MSSC/ha + 150 kg urea/ha, 12) 30 ton FYM/ha, 13) 30 ton FYM/ha + 150 kg urea/ha, 14) 60 ton FYM/ha, 15) 60 ton FYM/ha + 150 kg urea/ha. The size of each plot was 2.0m × 1.9m. At the end of growth period, the plants were harvested and different sections of wheat plant (seed, leaf and stem) were separated and the yield of each section was determined. The concentration of N in seed, leaf and stem were then measured by Kjeldahl method. After dry ashing of the seed, leaf and stem samples, the concentrations of P and K in their extracts were measured by spectrophotometer and flame photometer instruments, respectively.
Results and Discussion: The results showed that application of 300 kg urea/ha increased the wheat grain yield and concentrations of N, P and K in seed, leaf and stem but it decreased the stem yield. Application of 150 kg urea/ha had no significant effect on the leaf yield but its integration with 60 ton MSWC/ha significantly increased the leaf yield of wheat. The combining of 150 kg urea with 30 and 60 ton FYM, MSWC and MSSC per hectare increased yields of wheat stem and seed and their N and P concentrations as compared with the control and application of solely organic fertilizers. The use of FYM, MSWC and MSSC significantly increased the wheat grain yield and concentrations of N, P and K in seed, leaf and stem relative to the control but their effects on yields of leaf and stem depended on the type and rate of organic fertilizer. The highest yields of grain, stem and leaf and the highest concentrations of N, P and K in wheat grain, stem and leaf were observed under combined application of 150 kg urea and 60 ton FYM, MSWC and MSSC per hectare. The minimum yields of seed, leaf and stem and the minimum concentrations of N, P and K in different organs of wheat plant were observed in the control treatment. The average wheat yield component was in the order of seed > stem > leaf. The mean concentrations of N, P and K in different sections of wheat were in the order of seed > leaf > stem, seed > leaf > stem and stem > leaf > seed, respectively. The grain yield of wheat had positive and significant correlations (p<0.01) with concentrations of N, P and K in different organs of wheat, which indicates the role of N, P and K nutrition of wheat plant in increasing its seed yield.
Conclusions: The wheat seed had higher concentrations of N and P and lower concentration of K compared to leaf and stem. In general, in order to decrease nitrogen fertilizers use, enhance N, P and K nutrition of wheat plant, improve wheat seed quality, decline environmental pollution and increase wheat yield, application of 150 kg urea and 60 ton manure per hectare is recommended. However, if there is not enough manure, 150 kg urea and 60 ton municipal solid waste compost or municipal sewage sludge compost per hectare can be applied at similar conditions.
reza saeidi; abbas Sotoodehnia; Hadi Ramezani Etedali; Bizhan Nazari; Abbas Kaviani
Abstract
Introduction: Estimating the actual evapotranspiration of the crops, is so important for determining the irrigation needs. Typically, the climatic, vegetative and management parameters are effective on actual evapotranspiration. If the crops are exposed to salinity, fertility and other stresses, reduce ...
Read More
Introduction: Estimating the actual evapotranspiration of the crops, is so important for determining the irrigation needs. Typically, the climatic, vegetative and management parameters are effective on actual evapotranspiration. If the crops are exposed to salinity, fertility and other stresses, reduce actual evapotranspiration and yield. The correct estimation of the actual evapotranspiration of crop will allow agricultural planners to the better agricultural water management. Previous researches show water stress and soil nitrogen deficiency (as management stresses), effect on increasing of stomatal resistance and reducing of crops evapotranspiration. Thus, goal of this study was to investigate the effect of salinity and soil nitrogen deficiency on the amount of Ks coefficient and readily available water of maize.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in research farm at University of Imam Khomeini International, Qazvin, Iran during June to November 2017. In this research, the effects of saline water and soil nitrogen deficiency on Maize (SC 704) evapotranspiration, were investigated. The applied treatments included irrigation with saline water (in four levels: 0.5 (S_0), 1.2 (S_1), 3.5 (S_2) and 5.7 (S_3) dS/m) and soil fertility (in four levels: nitrogen fertilizer consumption at 100 (N_0), 75 (N_1), 50 (N_2) and 25% (N_3)). The experimental design used in this research was a completely randomized block design with three replications. In this experiment, maize seeds were cultivated in the plots with Length and width of 3×3 meters. The prometer device (Model: AP4) was also used to measure stomatal resistance of maize leaf. Determining the irrigation schedule, was based on the soil moisture reached to the limit of RAW (Readily Available Water). At the same time, with increasing stomatal resistance, RAW was calculated and irrigation was done. Evapotranspiration of the under stress plants were ET_(c-adj) and evapotranspiration of S_0 N_0 treatment was ET_c. The stress factor (K_s ) is calculated by ET_(c-adj)/ET_c. The values of RAW and K_s were analyzed by SPSS software. K_s coefficient was modeled with amounts of salinity stresses and soil nitrogen deficiency.
Results and Discussion: The results of this study showed that the interaction between two factors of salinity stress and nitrogen deficiency on the K_s and RAW parameters (in level: 1%) are significant. K_s coefficient at the levels of S_1, S_2 and S_3, were 0.95, 088 and 0.77, respectively. In saline water of 0.5 (dS/m), the K_s coefficient of N_1, N_2 and N_3 were 0.98, 0.96 and 0.95, respectively. With increasing the 1(dS/m) salinity of water and 25% reduction in nitrogen consumption, decreased the K_s amount about 4.5% and 1.7%, respectively. The reason of results is that with increasing of water salinity, decreases the osmotic potential of water in the soil and the crop needs to consume more energy to obtain water. Thus, amount of crop transpiration is reduced and soil water content is remained. The linear, exponential, logarithmic, polynomial and power functions were fitted between N_i/N_0 and S_i/S_0 data. The ability of the above functions to estimate the K_s coefficient value was evaluated. The polynomial function has a good function for estimating the K_s coefficient. In the S_0، S_1، S_2 and S_3 treatments, by changing the fertility value from N_0 to N_3, amounts of RAW were 63.7, 58.7, 55.4 and 42% , respectively. Also in N_0، N_1، N_2 and N_3 treatments, with changing the salinity of water from S_0 to S_3, RAW values were 51.7, 46.3, 42.7 and 42%, respectively. Therefore, stresses that reduce crop evapotranspiration are effective on reducing the amount of RAW. In this situation, the actual water requirement of the crop is less than the potential evapotranspiration of the area.
Conclusions: Increasing water salinity and nitrogen deficiency decrease evapotranspiration of maize and increase soil water content. By calculating the stress coefficient (K_s ), it is possible to estimate the actual evapotranspiration of maize, in Qazvin. Thus, the amount of irrigation water is adjusted according to the actual water requirement of maize. Under salt stress conditions with increasing the soil nitrogen, Can be increased the K_s coefficient and evapotranspiration of maize. Therefore, calculating the crop's water requirement based on the existence of strtesse, it will help to saving water.
A. Baghdadi; M. Balazadeh; A. Kashani; F. Golzardi
Abstract
Introduction In recent years, continuous operation and disrespect to crop rotation has caused the destruction of soil organic matter so that organic matter in arid and semiarid areas of the country is at least possible and According to the hazards and contamination of chemical fertilizers usage, need ...
Read More
Introduction In recent years, continuous operation and disrespect to crop rotation has caused the destruction of soil organic matter so that organic matter in arid and semiarid areas of the country is at least possible and According to the hazards and contamination of chemical fertilizers usage, need to reduce consumption of these inputs and find ecological methods to provide Nutritive requirements for crops, to maintain and increase soil fertility has felt. One of the these ways is using of the appropriate pre-sowing plants, by backing pre-sowing plants (green manure) in soil causes to increase the carbon and organic matter, total nitrogen and soil fertility that this phenomenon occurred as a result of microbiological processes and it causes to releasing the nutrients for the plants. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate of integrated crop management on characteristics of soil nutrients and nitrogen mineralization during the period after adding the green plants remains was conducted in Karaj.
Materials and Methods This research is performed during growing season 2013-14 at the Agricultural Research Station of Islamic Azad University of Karaj, Iran. The experiment was conducted as a split plot based on a randomized complete block design with four replications. Main factors include pre-sowing treatments in 4 levels (Perko PVH, Buko, Cattle manure and Fallow) and sub factors also included nitrogen levels (120 and 240 and 360 kg ha-1, utilized urea source). Perko PVH and Buko belong to Brassicaceae family that if they back to the soil they can increase the oraganic matter. Pre-sowing of Perko PVH and Buko were planted in middle of March. Pre-sowing plants before that they going to flowerer stem coincide with the end of the vegetative stage, two weeks before the corn planting they was picked from the soil surface and the remains mixed with soil by rotavator machine. In order to apply cattle manure application in intended plots the amount of 7 ton ha-1 was given to the soil before the corn planting. On 6 July 2014 corn planting was done by pneumatic machine. Nitrogen fertilizer in 3 times was separated and as a topdressing form in the amount of 10, 70 and 20 percentage in the five-leaf stage, Stem elongation and tasselling emergence stage Were applied. After harvesting corn silage, Samples randomly from zero to 30 and 30 to 60 cm depths in each plot were taken and mixed together. Soil samples separately were dehumidified by air and were passed from 2 mm sieve. Organic carbon of soil samples by oxidation in the presence of potassium dichromate and concentrated sulfuric acid (Hesse, 1971) and total nitrogen were determined by Kjel (Hesse, 1971 ) and for measuring of soil mineral nitrogen, of samples tested by the 2 mol KCl solution the extraction and ammonium nitrate samples were measured by means of distillation and titration with HCl .Data analyses are done by using SAS (Version 9.1.3) statistic software mean comparison was done using the LSD test at probability level of 5%.
Results and Discussion Analysis of variance illustrated that the effect of pre-sowing on organic carbon, total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen and soil ammonium nitrogen in 5% probability level was significant, so that in all traits, Perko PVH and Buko were the best treatments than the fallow and animal manure treatments. The effect of nitrogen levels on all traits were significant in 1% probability level, so that by increasing the nitrogen usage, the rate of these traits increased. Interaction between pre-sowing treatments and nitrogen levels on soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen in the soil were highly significant in 1% probability level; so that Perko PVH pre-sowing treatment and consumption of 360 kg ha-1 nitrogen of urea source, the highest values of these traits created. The highest percentage of soil organic carbon affected by Perko PVH pre-sowing treatment and rate of 360 kg ha-1 nitrogen in a rate of 1.08% and the lowest percentage of soil organic carbon was related to cattle manure treatment and rate of 120 kg ha-1 nitrogen in a rate of 0.58. The highest percentage of total soil nitrogen affected by Perko PVH pre-sowing treatment and rate of 360 kg ha-1 nitrogen in a rate of 0.102% and the lowest percentage of total soil nitrogen was related to cattle manure treatment and rate of 120 and 240 kg ha-1 nitrogen in rates of 0.052 and 0.047.
Conclusions By the results of this study, the effect of integrated crop management with integrated application of organic fertilizers with nitrogen fertilizer, the cause of the soil Chemical properties and soil fertility is increased. Hence the use of organic fertilizers, meanwhile the significant reduction in the use of nitrogen fertilizer can reduce their environmental impacts. The result of study indicated that pre-sowings of Perko PVH and Buko had a positive and significant effect on soil chemical parameters and soil chemical characteristics reaction on pre-sowing yield is different. In general can say that planting the pre-sowing plants and return the remains to soil causing the protection and increasing soil fertility and consequently causing the Increase the quantity and quality of the crop and can be considered as a one way to achieve sustainable agriculture.
vahideh Shaabani Zenoozagh; Nasser Aliasgharzad; Jaffar Majidi; Roghaieh Hajiboland; Behzad Baradaran; Leili Aghebati-Maleki
Abstract
Introduction: Glomalin is a specific glycoprotein produced by the fungi belonging to phylum Glomeromycota and plays a key role in soil carbon and nitrogen storage. This also has a significant role in the stable aggregates formation and establishment of microbial communities in soil. Assimilated plant ...
Read More
Introduction: Glomalin is a specific glycoprotein produced by the fungi belonging to phylum Glomeromycota and plays a key role in soil carbon and nitrogen storage. This also has a significant role in the stable aggregates formation and establishment of microbial communities in soil. Assimilated plant C which is allocated to the mycorrhizal fungus, appears as a recalcitrant glycoprotein (glomalin) in cell walls of hyphae and spores. Considering global warming due to increasing greenhouse gases, this phenomenon cab be important in carbon sequestration and reducing CO2 in atmosphere. Chemical fertilizers can affect symbiotic relations of these fungi, which in turn affect glomalin production.
Materials and Methods: In a factorial completely randomized design with three replication, clover plants (Trifolium repense L.) were included with Rhizophagus irregularis and/or Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. Trifolii. Four levels of nitrogen (0, 2, 6 and 10 mM as nitrate) in Newman & Romheld nutrient solution were applied to the pots containing 1.5 kg sterile sand. The pots were daily irrigated with nutrient solution containing the above-mentioned levels of nitrogen. Clover plants were excised after 12 weeks of growth. Fine roots were cleaned with %10 KOH and then stained using lactoglycerol trypan blue. Root colonization percentage was determined by grid line intersections method (GLM) described by Norrif et al (1992). For glomalin extraction, hyphal or root samples were autoclaved at 121 ⁰C with 50 mM sodium citrate buffer for 60 min in three cycles. Sand glomalin (SG) and root glomalin (RG) were measured by Bradford method after extraction. Nitrogen concentration in shoot and root was measured according to the standard method.
Results and Discussion: By increasing nitrogen level, the SG significantly decreased (p < 0.01), and at 2 mM, a 63.5 % decrease in SG was observed with relative to the nitrogen-free control. In the rhizobial treated pots, SG production increased by fungal inoculation (p < 0.01). The interaction between bacteria and AM was also significant in production of SG. At the presence of rhizobium bacteria, glomalin production by AM fungi increased significantly. The changes of glomalin content were not impacted by the presence of bacteria in the uninoculated pots with fungi. The highest amount of SG was recorded in the co-inoculated plants with nitrogen-free level. The amount of RG enhanced by increasing nitrogen concentration in nutrient solution. At 10 mM, RG increased by 12.90 %, 11.91 % and 1.44 % compared to the levels of 0, 2 and 6 mM, respectively. As the nitrogen level increased, the percentage of root colonization increased with respect to the control. Nitrogen concentration in shoot and root was enhanced by N increment to 10mM.
Conclusion: Carbon sequestration via glomali synthase by AM fungi is an important pathway for capturing CO2 from atmosphere. Field management measures help AM development of glomalin production. Based on our results, co-inoculated plants with AM and rhizobuim seem to positively affect the production of this glycoprotein. On the other hand, SG decreased significantly by increasing nitrogen concentrations in the nutrient solution. RG, however, increased significantly as a result of increased nitrogen in both fungal inoculations. The highest amount of RG was recorded in the co-inoculated plants with 10mM level. Glomalin synthesis by the fungi is positively affected by the soil nitrogen availability. Nitrogen is the main constituent of this glycoprotein. Plant photosynthates are translocated to the fungal organs via roots and mainly utilized for glomalin synthesis in hyphal and spore cell walls. During this process, nitrogen plays an important role as a constituent of the glycoprotein. The Bradford method was used for glomalin determination in this study. The method is not specific for glomalin and can also measure other glomalin related proteins and glycoproteins. Other proteins increased by N fertilization can hence be measured based on Bradford method. Once plant assimilates are translocated to the fungi, they may be transformed to the nitrogenous compounds if sufficient nitrogen sources are available. Accordingly, a considerable amount of fixed carbon is assimilated in fungal organs and soil particles. It can be concluded that carbon sequestration by arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in terrestrial ecosystems can be improved by N fertilization at optimum level. In addition, the presence of rhizobium bacteria can meet the nitrogen requirement of plants through biological stabilization of nitrogen.
majid janfada; D. Shahsavani
Abstract
Introduction: The nitrogen cycle may be affected by chemical fertilization and industrial waste water. Nitrate can affect the human body through water and food, which can be transformed into nitrate and nitrosamine as a threat for humans and aquatic life. Therefore, detecting the influential elements ...
Read More
Introduction: The nitrogen cycle may be affected by chemical fertilization and industrial waste water. Nitrate can affect the human body through water and food, which can be transformed into nitrate and nitrosamine as a threat for humans and aquatic life. Therefore, detecting the influential elements and factors on this cycle, are essential from the environmental protection point of view. Many of scientists utilize mathematical models for these kind of problems. These models encompass linear and nonlinear differential equations that aresolved by numerical computer cods. The numerical codes are called “Deteministic computer models”, and running the model with different input values is called a computer experiment. One of the most famous models for the estimation of nitrogen river load is INCA-N (Integrated Nitrogen in Catchments).
Materials and Methods: INCA-N is a semi-distributed, process-based deterministic model of the flow of water and nitrogen through catchments. It simulates the key factors and processes that affect the amount of NO3 and NH4 stored in the soil and groundwater systems, and it feeds the outputs from these systems into a multi-reach river model. INCA-N has different input variables, thus detection of inactive variables of INCA-N is important. Because of reducing the input variables and simplifying of model, sensitivity analysis methods are used.
Sensitivity analysis involves sampling based, screening based and monte-carlo based and variance based method. Variance based method, which us used in this paper, detectsthe important variable and interaction effects. The main effect (first-order index) and total effect are most popular and important indices in variance based sensitivity analysis. These indices are multiple integrals based on the concepts of conditional mathematical expectation and conditional variance.The first-order index represents the main effect contribution of each input factor to the variance of the output. The total effect index accounts for the total contribution to the output variation due to factor Xi, i.e. its first-order effect plus all higher-order interaction effects. These indices are defined based on multidimensional integral which is estimated by simulation techniques.
In this paper, after introducing variance based approach and estimation of sensitivity indices with Monte Carlo and quasi random number, our attention is focused onsensitivity analysis of ofINCA-N model in the Tweed river. In this study the derived output is the average annual riverine load of inorganic nitrogen over a period of seven years.
Results and Discussion: The results of sensitivity analysis in optimized sample size showed that four variables, out of seven, of INCA-N are important:
1." Plant nitrate uptake." The average main effect and total effect of this variable are 0.44 and 0.49, respectively. The difference between the total effect and main effect, which is 0.051, indicates that this factor does not have any significant interaction with other input variables in the model.
2. "Denitrification rate". The mean and standard deviation for the main effect were 0.247 and 0.189, whereasthese two measures for the total effect are 0.248 and 0.366, respectively.
3. " Immobilization ". The mean and standard deviation of immobilization were 0.182 and 0.787 for the main effect, and they are 0.227 and 0.3736 for the total effect respectively.
4. "Mineralization rate". The mean and standard deviation of this variable were 0.072 and 0.268 for the main effect, and 0.106 and 0.391 for the total effect,respectively .
The main and total effect of thesefour variables are (0.44,0.49), (0.247,0.248), (0.182,0.227), (0.072,0.106). It can be mentioned that, the interaction between these variable are so weak (maximum= 0.059). Three other variables nitrogen fixation, ammonium planet uptake and maximum nitrogen uptake is not important. Thus the sensitivity analysis method has good efficiency in the reduction of variation.
Conclusions: To manage the riverine load of inorganic nitrogen in the Tweed River at least fourfactors, including nitrate uptake rate by plants, denitrification rates, immobilization and mineralization, should be controlled. The variance based method makes it possible to detect the important variables. In the other words, the sensitivity analysis lts of INCA-N model showed that for controlling the nitrogen entering the Tweed River, at least three factors of "plants nitrate uptake," "denitrification rate" and "immobilization" should be taken into consideration. In addition to these three factors, mineralization can be considered as the fourth factor affecting the nitrogen load.
Mohammad Jolaini; mohammad karimi
Abstract
Introduction: After wheat, rice and corn, potato is the fourth most important food plant in the world. In comparison with other species, potato is very sensitive to water stress because of its shallow root system: approximately 85% of the root length is concentrated in the upper 0.3-0.4 m of the soil. ...
Read More
Introduction: After wheat, rice and corn, potato is the fourth most important food plant in the world. In comparison with other species, potato is very sensitive to water stress because of its shallow root system: approximately 85% of the root length is concentrated in the upper 0.3-0.4 m of the soil. Several studies showed that drip irrigation is an effective method for enhancing potato yield. Fabeiro et al. (2001) concluded that tuber bulking and ripening stages were found to be the most sensitive stages of water stress with drip irrigation. Water deficit occurring in these two growth stages could result in yield reductions. Wang et al. (2006) investigated the effects of drip irrigation frequency on soil wetting pattern and potato yield. The results indicated that potato roots were not limited in wetted soil volume even when the crop was irrigated at the highest frequency while high frequency irrigation enhanced potato tuber growth and water use efficiency (WUE). Though information about irrigation and N management of this crop is often conflicting in the literature, it is accepted generally that production and quality are highly influenced by both N and irrigation amounts and these requirements are related to the cropping technique. Researches revealed that nitrogen fertilizers play a special role in the growth, production and quality of potatoes.
Materials and Methods: A factorial experiment in randomized complete block design with three replications was carried out during two growing seasons. Studied factors were irrigation frequency (I1:2 and I2:4 days interval) and nitrogen fertilizer levels (applying 100 (N1), 75 (N2) and 50 (N3) % of the recommended amount). Nitrogen fertilizer was applied through irrigation water. In each plot two rows with within-and between-row spacing of 45 and 105 cm and 20 m length. The amount of nitrogen fertilizer for the control treatment was determined by soil analysis (N1). In all treatments, nitrogen fertilizer applied in 5 times until flowering stage. Potassium, phosphorus and microelements applied according to the soil analysis results. The subsurface drip tape was used for irrigation. Tapes with 300 µm thickness, 30 cm dripper spacing and 4 lit/hour discharge were applied. Tapes buried at 20 cm soil depth before planting. Water amount was measured by the volume meter at each irrigation treatment. Water amount calculated based on crop water requirement and plot area and irrigation frequency. On maturity stage, 8 m of two central rows of each plot harvested for determining tuber yields. Water use efficiency was calculated as the ratio of the tuber yield to the total consumed water volume. Statistical analysis was performed using MSTAT-C software. Means were compared by Duncan's multiple range tests at 0.05 and 0.01 significant levels.
Results Discussion: Results of combined analysis showed that yield and water use efficiency (WUE) did not affected by irrigation frequency. Yield and water use efficiency affected by nitrogen level (p
babak motesharezadeh; somayeh rezaezadeh; majid fekri
Abstract
Introduction: Boron is one of the seven essential microelements for the natural growth of plants. The toxicity of this element occurs in arid and semi-arid regions, which is because of its high level in soils and the irrigation water of mentioned regions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect ...
Read More
Introduction: Boron is one of the seven essential microelements for the natural growth of plants. The toxicity of this element occurs in arid and semi-arid regions, which is because of its high level in soils and the irrigation water of mentioned regions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen application on boron toxicity tolerance in pistachio, Badami-Zarand variety. The effects of three nitrogen levels (0, 250, and 350 mg/kg of soil) on the reduction of toxicity due to the three levels of boron (0, 15, and 30 mg/kg of soil) were examined in Badami-Zarandi variety of pistachio under greenhouse conditions. After 7 months from sowing the seeds, pistachio seedlings were harvested and desired traits were measured. The results showed that by increasing boron application level, boron concentration in the shoot and root of seedlings increased whereas their dry weight decreased. Using of nitrogen reduced the negative effects of boron on the dry weight and led to increase dry weight and decrease boron concentration in the shoot and root of pistachio, Badami variety. Nitrogen application at the levels of 250 and 350 mg N per kg of soil reduced boron uptake in shoots by reinforcing plant vegetative system and increasing chlorophyll content by 13.5% and 30.2%, respectively and finally led to diluted boron concentration in the plant (dilution effect) and reduced the effects of boron toxicity. Hence, optimized nitrogen application is suggested as one of the management methods in controlling Boron toxicity under these conditions.
Materials and Methods: A factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with four replications was carried out. Soil sampling was done in 0-30 cm depth in a zeekzack way from a pistachio garden that located in mahmoodiye area in Rafsanjan. The soil sample was air-dried and passed through a 2mm sieve. The soil chemical and physical properties were measured. In this study, badami-zarand cultivar seed was used because it is one of the most important pistachio cultivars. The seeds were soaked in water for 24 hours and disinfected by benomyl fungicide. When the seeds germinated, they were planted in the pots containing 4.5 kg soil and without drainage, so nutrients balance was kept during growing period. After 7 months, the seedlings were harvested and B was measured.
Results and Discussion: The results showed that increasing the boron levels from 0 to 30 mg kg-1 led to decrease shoot dry weight from 3.72 to 2.45 gram and root DM from 2.28 to 1.50 gram. Increasing 30 mg kg-1 boron led to 2.8 times increase of shoot boron concentration. The averages of shoot boron concentration in the levels of 15 and 30 mg kg-1 boron were 87.6 and 122 mg kg-1DM, respectively. The boron toxicity level in Badami-Zarand cultivar is 8.9 mg kg-1 DM (Sepaskhahet al, 1994), so these levels were the cause of boron toxicity and boron toxicity symptoms were seen as leaf burn, often at the margins and the tips of older leaves.
The results showed that increasing nitrogen levels led to decrease shoot boron concentration and increase their weight. The results also showed a significant negative correlation between the nitrogen levels and boron uptake. Boron uptake in the shoots of seedlings about 13.5 and 30.2 percent decreased when nitrogen levels increased. Shoot dry weight decreased when boron application increased, but it increased when nitrogen was used (Koohkan and Maftoun, 2009).
Conclusion: The reduction of dry weight and increasing boron concentration occurred when increased boron application. The Maximum of boron uptake was seen by leaves, and boron toxicity symptoms were appeared as leaf burn especially at the tips and margins of older leaves. Since, boron is immobile in pistachio; it is absorbed by mass flow, so the accumulation of boron at older leaves is persuaded. Nitrogen reduced the bad effects of boron on dry weight and the bad effects of increasing boron concentration by the synthesis of chlorophyll, so it was more useful in shoot than root. Boron uptake was also reduced by nitrogen application. This effect of nitrogen is probably concerned to the increase of dry weight more than boron concentration (Dilution effect). On the other hand, nitrogen caused to increase leaf index and increase the number of seedling leaves. The injured leaves due to boron toxicity were restored, because of high leaf chlorophyll. It is suggested that this study will be done under field conditions for fertilizer application recommendations and to be used for creation of tolerant cultivars of pistachio.
ali asghar ghaemi; B. Zamani
Abstract
Introduction: Barley is very important to feed humans, livestock, medical, industrial uses, especially in fermentation industries. In Iran, barley crop cultivation was nearly 1.4 million hectares withits production of 1.3 million tons in 2003 (2). Barelyis the oldest crops to environmental stresses such ...
Read More
Introduction: Barley is very important to feed humans, livestock, medical, industrial uses, especially in fermentation industries. In Iran, barley crop cultivation was nearly 1.4 million hectares withits production of 1.3 million tons in 2003 (2). Barelyis the oldest crops to environmental stresses such as drought and salinity resistance (3).The different barely growth stages with extreme water requirement can benoted in germination stage, stem elongation, heading the production stage, the stage of flowering and seed production. Typically, for spring and autumn barely respectively 3 and 4 to 5 times irrigation is done during the growing season. The barley water requirement over its life is between 4 and 7 thousand cubic meters and 518 liters of water is needed to produce one kilogram of dry matter. Due to limited water resources and low rainfall in Iran, efficient use of water is absolutely essential and the maximum water utilization must be achieved by applying a minimum amount of water in agriculture. One of the ways to increase productivity in agricultural water is deficit irrigation.Deficit irrigation is an optimization strategy for water use efficiency in irrigation.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the simultaneous effect of fertilizer treatments (150, 225 and 75 kg/ ha) and water at three different levels (100%, 75% and 50% of crop water requirement) at different growth stages on leaf area index, weight fresh and dried herb and plant nitrogen concentration and the effect of irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer on yield, yield components and productivity of water use.
Materials and Method: This research was conducted in Shiraz University in fall 2012 to study the effect of interaction of deficit irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer on yield, yield component and water use efficiency and nitrogen concentration in different stages of barley (Bahman species) growth. This experiment were evaluated using a randomized complete block design with s plit-plot layout with three deficit irrigation treatments ( consisted of irrigation with 100% ,75% and 50% of crop water consumption use) and three nitrogen fertilizer treatments (included 75 kg/ha, 150 kg/ha and 225 kg/ha) with three replication. A total of 27 experimental plots were carried out. In each plot, 11-row barley with 30 cm spacing apart and 5 cm depth were planted by hand. Barley seeding rates on the basis of 200 kg per hectare were planted in each experimental plots in the first half of November.Nitrogen requirement was applied in three stages of the growth: 30% before cultivation, 40% in shooting stage and 30% in barleyclusterstage.Irrigation treatments included 100% = W1, in this treatment 100% treatment crop water requirement was estimated by neutron meter (this was the control treatment which received muchwater as neededand no water stress in all growth stages),75% = W2: in this treatment 75% of the crop water requirement was applied, and 50% = W3: the 50% of the crop water requirement plant was applied. During differentgrowth stages plant required data were collected and the parametersinclude: grain yield, biological yield, straw yield, number of grains per spike, spike per unit area, grain protein, harvest index, 1000 grain weight, number of unfilled and filled grain per spike and efficiency of water use were determined . Tests to determine the percentage of leaf nitrogen and protein was measured by kjeldahldevice(6405UV / VIS). The software SAS (version.9.1) was used to analyze data and graphs were drawn in Excel.
Results and Discussion: results showed that the highest yield,yield component was obtained on 100% irrigation and 225 kg/ha fertilizer treatments. Also it was observed that at the certain level of irrigation treatment by increasing the amount of nitrogen fertilizer the amount of this parameters will be increased.Result also showed that at the certain level of nitrogen fertilizer by decreasing water, the maximum plant response to the nitrogen fertilizer consumption will be decreased gradually in most cases, 225 kg/ha nitrogen fertilizer treatment caused most of crop yield parametersbut the differences of crop yield at this treatment with 150kg/ha nitrogen fertilizer treatment wasnot significant. Water use efficiency for 50% deficit irrigation treatment was 0.77 and for 100% irrigation treatment was 0.55. Regarding the results obtained from this study andexisting water crisis problem in Iran, it can be noted that the irrigation ofbarley should not be exceeded more than the 100% of crop water consumption use but using 75% of water requirement is suggestive. Also using 150kg/ha nitrogen fertilizer treatment is more suitable for the area.
Conclusion: This study was conducted in order to determinethe yield performance of barley (Bahmanspecies)inBadjgah (Fars Provience)using three different irrigation treatments of 100, 75 and 50 percent of crop water requirement (based on the total available water plant) and three nitrogen treatments include 225, 150 and 75 kg/ ha in the spring and autumn cultivation. In terms of deficit irrigation, during the growing season crop will interface with different intensities and durations of water stress. This tension changes in response to nitrogen fertilizer by plant that creates unpredictable and in some cases is not always the same.Statistical analysis showed that there are significant differencesbetweenthe different treatments of irrigation, nitrogen fertilizer and their interaction.Applying 75% of barley water requirement is suggestive. Also using 150kg/ha nitrogen fertilizer treatment is more suitable for the study area.
V. Feiziasl; A. Fotovat; A. Astaraei; A. Lakzian; M.A. Mousavi Shalmani
Abstract
In order to determination of water stress threshold and dryland wheat genotypes water status in different nitrogen managements, this experiment was carried out in split split plot RCBD design in three replications in 2010-2011 cropping year. Treatments included: N application time (whole fertilization ...
Read More
In order to determination of water stress threshold and dryland wheat genotypes water status in different nitrogen managements, this experiment was carried out in split split plot RCBD design in three replications in 2010-2011 cropping year. Treatments included: N application time (whole fertilization of N at planting time , and its split fertilization as 2/3 at planting time and 1/3 in early spring), N rates (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg ha-1) and 7 wheat genotypes. Also these genotypes were grown in supplemental irrigation condition for calculation of crop water stress index (CWSI) parameters. Canopy temperature (Tc) was measured in flowering and early milking stages. Crop water stress index (CWSI) was calculated. A non-water stressed baseline (lower baseline) were fitted as Tc-Ta=4.523-3.761×VPD; R2=0.92 and non-transpiring baseline (upper baseline) determined 6 ºC for rainfed wheat genotypes. Water stress threshold was 0.4 and crossing of that occurred 8 days before heading stage. In water stress threshold boundary, was depleted 60 mm available water from 0 to 50 cm soil depth. There was negative significant relationship (p >0.01) between CWSI and grain yield in all treatments and different nitrogen rates. Nitrogen application reduced water stress and increased grain yield of rainfed wheat genotypes. Ohadi and Rasad genotypes showed highest resistance to water stress and high grain yield production for N30 in split and planting time application, respectively. Cereal4 and Rasad genotypes were suitable for N60 application in split and planting time application, respectively.
