JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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Whole corn plant was ensiled in 70 gr minisilos for 60 days to evaluate the effects of addition of two levels of Cellulomonas uda bacteria (0, 1.2×10⁵ and 2.4×10⁵ cfu per gr of fresh forage) on fermentation and chemical composition of silage. The experiment was arranged as a completely randomized design. The silos were opened after 3 and 6 days of fermentation. The criteria measured included dry matter (DM), pH, organic matter, water soluble carbohydrates, crude protein, cell wall (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemicellulose, cellulose, and ammonia-N contents.

Both levels of bacteria significantly decreased the pH of silages after 3 days (P<0.05). The final pH of silage with the higher level of bacteria was significantly lower, indicative of a greater fermentation of cellulose in this silage. Addition of bacteria resulted in a non-significant increase in the level of final residual water soluble carbohydrates. Final silage ammonia-N concentration was less than 0.8% of dry matter in all silages and was not affected by bacterial treatment. The ADF content was decreased by 11.9% in the silage containing the lower level of bacteria and by 1.8% in the silage which contained the higher level of bacteria. The NDF content increased in the control silage and that with the lower level of bacteria but decreased by 3.6 gr Kg DM^-1 in the silage with the higher bacterial level. Hemicellulose contents increased in all silages but cellulose contents decreased by 9.38% (control), 17.37% (low bacteria) and 12.49% (high bacteria) in the control and bacteria-treated silages, respectively. The results indicated that the addition of 12×10⁵ cfu Cellulomonas uda per gr of whole fresh corn plant was effective in increasing residual water soluble carbohydrates, reducing NDF and hydrolyzing cellulose of whole corn plant.

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Three levels of urea (0, 0.5 and 0.75% on fresh weight basis) were added to whole corn plants to investigate their effects on the chemical composition, and digestibility in 16 Ghezel male lambs using a completely randomized design. Rumen degradability and nutritive values were also evaluated.

 pH, total nitrogen and ammonia-N concentration of silages increased (P<0.05) with the addition of urea. Total nitrogen apparent digestibility was higher (P<0.05) with the urea addition. Nitrogen balance in ruminal fluid increased (P<0.05) with the addition of 0.5% urea. pH and ammonia-N concentration increased (P<0.05) with the addition of urea until 1.5 hr post feeding. Blood serum urea nitrogen concentration was higher (P<0.05) with the addition of urea until 6 hr post feeding. Potential degradability of dry matter and organic matter was higher at 0.5% urea level. Average daily gain increased with the urea addition and was highest (212.88 gr) at 0.75% urea. Subcutaneous fat depth was significantly (P<0.0l) lower for the sheep fed with 0.5% urea-treated silage as compared to other treatments. The results indicated that feed efficiency may be improved by urea addition and that the addition of urea (0.5% on fresh weight basis) may be recommended in order to increase the feeding value of whole corn plants.

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A field survey was carried out in Firoozabad Beneh (Pistacia mutica) Forest Station covering about 12000 hectares. Data were collected using combined random and systematic sampling methods to study the effect of altitude, dominant slope direction, sex and age of the host and plant canopy on rust severity caused by Pileolaria terebinthi.

The rust severity decreased with plant age and elevations above 2000 meters. Female trees were more susceptible to the pathogen than males. The slope direction and plant canopy had no effect on disease severity. There was a significant correlation between plant age and elevation with disease severity but not with plant canopy. Regression analyses indicated a linear regression between disease severity variables and dependent variables of age, sex, and elevation.

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This experiment was carried out to study the effects of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) and urea on chemical composition, nutritive value and rumen fermentation characteristics of whole-crop barley. In a completely randomized design with cross over arrangement, 4 Suffolk male lambs were used. Whole-crop barley was either treated with LAB solution (35% dry matter) at the rate of 2 L/ton herbage fresh weight or urea (55% dry matter) at the rate of 40 Kg/ton dry matter herbage and ensiled for 60 days. Low dry matter silages had lower pH and higher residual water soluble carbohydrates, ammonia-N, lactic acid and ethanol and higher lactate:acetate ratios. LAB resulted in higher lactic acid content and lactate:acetate ratios. DM (P<0.001), OM (P<0.01), NDF (P<0.05), ADF (P<0.01) and total nitrogen (TN) digestibility increased with additives. Mean rumen ammonia-N concentration and pH significantly (P<0.05) increased with urea-treated silages. Rumen propionate concentration was significantly (P<0.01) higher with LAB-treated silages than with urea-treated ones. The results indicated that the addition of LAB at the rate of 2 L/ton fresh weight to whole-crop barley at 35% dry matter enhanced fermentation and nutritive value.

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The effect of adding two urea levels (0.5 and 0.75% on fresh basis) to whole-crop barley (WCB) on chemical compositon and digestibility in Ghezel rams was studied. The effect of including these silages in the ration of fattening Ghezel and Mehraban rams was also investigated. Urea supplementation of WCB silage resulted in an increase in pH, total nitrogen level, and ammonia-nitrogen concentrations (P<0.05). Apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter, organic matter, acid detergent fiber, and neutral detergent fiber of WCB silage were not affected by urea treatment (P>0.05), but apparent digestibility coefficient of total nitrogen was higher for 0.5% urea-WCB silage. Apparent digestibility coefficients of total nitrogen and nitrogen balance were higher for 0.5% urea-WCB silage than for 0.75% urea-WCB silage, but the differences were not significant. Ruminal fluid pH at 2.5 h, and ammonia-nitrogen concentration at 4 h post-feeding were higher for 0.75% urea-WCB silage than for 0.5% urea-WCB silage (P<0.05). BUN levels (<20 mg per dl) in sheep fed with a mixture of alfalfa hay and silages were not affected by the treatment. The potential and effective degradabilities of dry matter and crude protein were higher for 0.75% urea-WCB silage. Feed performance and carcass characteristics were not significantly different amongst diets. The results showed that urea supplementation at 0.75% fresh basis, at the time of ensiling, may have a beneficial effect on feeding value of WCB silage.

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In this study, efficiency of apple producers in Khorasan Province was determined by a cross sectional data of 212 apple producers. Mean technical, allocative, and economic efficiencies were estimated to be around 31, 28, and 9 percent, respectively. A high potential was also detected for increasing these efficiencies. Apple producers’ age and education had positive effects and risk aversion had a negative effect on technical efficiency. Waste reduction, optimal use of inputs, introduction of technical-extension services, and apple insurance are suggested to increase efficiencies.

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To determine the effects of salinity and boron excess in irrigation water on relative growth rate (RGR), net assimilation rate on a leaf weight basis (NAR), and leaf weight ratio (LWR) of pistachio, three pistachio rootstocks (Badami -Zarand, Sarakhs and Ghazvini) were used. Rootstocks were grown in soil in eight-liter polyethylene pots. Sodium chloride treatments were 0, 75,150 and 225 mM NaCl and boron treatments were 0, 20 and 40mg liter^-1. Treatments were applied to the one-year old pistachio rootstock seedlings in three-day intervals with irrigation water. Some plants were randomly selected and destructively harvested before (day 0) and after applying treatments (30 and 60 days after treatments started). Growth and physiological characters were then measured as follows: number of leaves, leaf area, plant height and root length, fresh and dry weights of stem, root and leaf, proline accumulation in the leaf, total chlorophyll, and leaf relative water content (RWC). Results indicated that relative growth rate decreased with time for all treatments and in all rootstocks. Salt treatment significantly reduced both RGR and NAR, whereas LWR showed no significant differences. In all rootstocks, NAR, but not LWR, was significantly correlated with RGR, indicating that NAR was an important factor underlying the salinity-induced differences in RGR among the pistachio rootstocks. Salinity did not affect leaf water potential (ψ), chlorophyll content, and Fv:Fm ratio but increased NaCl concentration and time correspondingly increased proline accumulation in leaves. In addition, Ghazvini rootstock accumulated more proline compared to other rootstocks and was more resistant to salinity treatments. Different boron treatments did not show any significant effect on growth rate nor on measured parameters after two months of exposure to treatments.

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An experiment was carried out to determine the effect of substituting alfalfa hay (Medicago sativa) with Gundelia tournefortii hay (a range forage in Fars Province) in the ration of fattening lambs. Alfalfa hay was substituted with Gundelia tournefortii harvested at the final stages of flowering at various ratios (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% dry matter basis) in the ration of fattening lambs. The rations (iso-nitrogenous and iso-energetic) were pelleted and each ration was fed for 75 days to 12 Shirazi Grey ram lambs with an average age of 136 days. The lambs were slaughtered and their feedlot performance and carcass characteristics were measured. Substituting alfalfa hay with Gundelia tournefortii hay did not significantly affect the mean daily weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, dressing percentage, internal fat weight, carcass meat content, or meat DM and CP contents (p>0.05). However, backfat depth was significantly different among various rations (p<0.01). At present costs, the inclusion of Gundelia tournefortii in the ration of fattening lambs seemed to be cost-effective the cost of one kg DM of ration was 1266, 1155, 1050, 924, and 787 Rials for rations 1 to 5, respectively.

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The aim of this research was to study the effect of treatment with oyster mushroom (Pleurotus sajor-caju) on digestibility of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. pulp. Pleurotus sajor-caju was inoculated on sterilized wheat grains. Two weeks after growth at 25 °C it was added to the sterilized Glycyrrhiza glabra L. pulp in nylon bags. After two weeks (at 25 °C), mycelia grew on the pulp and were used for treatment. Digestibility coefficients were measured in 12 Ghezel rams. Dry matter, crude protein (CP) and nitrogen free extract (NFE) increased, but ash content, cell wall (NDF) and lignin (ADL) decreased significantly in fungal-treated as compared with non-treated pulps. Crude fiber (CF) and ADF contents were not significantly affected by the treatment. There was a tendency for crude fat (EE ether extract) to decrease by fungal treatment (p=0.08). Mean dry matter intake and digestibility coefficient of dry matter were higher in sheep which were fed the fungal-treated pulp compared with the control group. Digestibility coefficients of CP, CF, organic matter (OM), EE, NFE, NDF, ADF and ADL were significantly greater in fungal-treated pulp than in control group. Treatment with P. sajor-caju increased the nutritive value and digestibility of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. pulp (P<0.05), but culture of this fungus was not possible on non-sterilized pulp, which hinders its field application.

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This research was conducted to measure the total factor productivity (TFP) of the rural small industries in Isfahan province comprising six types of industries: food, textile, metal, non-metal mineral, chemical, and cellulose. Among the 166 rural small industries sponsored by Jihad-Agriculture Organization of Isfahan in 2001(1380), 60 plants were selected. Cross-section information collected from the 60 plants by a questionnaire in that year confirmed the body of data for this study. The distribution of the types of the 60 selected plants followed the distribution of the types in the plant population. The analytical part of this research consisted of two sections. In the first section, the TFP of the rural small industries was established by applying Cobb-Douglas production function in which the value of the plant production was the dependent variable and the investment costs, total hours of labor, costs of raw materials, and the costs of energy and water were the independent variables. Factors affecting TFP were analyzed in the second section. The estimated coefficients of the first section and the actual data of the variables, were used to calculate the TFP for each plant. Then, another regression model was worked out in which the calculated TFPs were the dependent variable. The independent variables included the mean of the number of the employees' children, the percentage of the production employees with at least primary school level of education, annual number of the off days, dummy variable for the members of the cooperative association, and a few other variables. The results of the first section showed that the TFP of food industries was higher than that of other types of industries and there was no significant difference between the TFP of textile, metal, non metal mineral, chemical and cellulose industries. The results of the analysis for determining the factors affecting the TFP, showed that the existence of a research section in the plant, the insurance of the employees and the mean of the number of employees' children had a positive effect on the TFP. But, the level of the education of the production workers, the area of the plant buildings, and the number of the days off in plant had negative effects.

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To determine yield stability and to evaluate genotype interaction with environment interaction, 18 genotype of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and a control group were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications in 3 successive years (1997-2000) at 10 research stations. Simple and combined analysis of variance revealed significant genetic differences between yield genotypes for grain yield. The results of combined analysis of variance indicated that genotypic and genotype were significant through interaction with environment. Therefore, different stability parameters including, environmental variance (S²_i), environmental coefficient of variation (C.V_i), mean of variance of interaction (θ_i), interaction variance (θ_i), equivalence ( W²_i), stability variance (σ²_i), linear regression coefficient (b_i, β_i), mean of squares of deviation from regression (S² _di) and years within location MS for a genotype, averaging over all locations (MS_y/l) were determined. Based on all the stability parameters, genotype 18 was known as the most stable one and genotypes 17 and 11 ranked lower. Genotype 5 with the highest yield was known to be the most adaptable one at fertile environments and is recommended for these locations. In addition, genotype 9 with good yield and low yield variance (1.58) and regression coefficient of less than 1 is suggested for unfertile locations.

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To facilitate the interpretation of data from a genotype by environment experiment (GE), a cluster method is proposed to group genotypics according to their response to the environments especially when the GE interaction is large. The interaction structure of two-way classification data often can be identified if the data stratified into homogeneous subsets. In this paper four GE interaction cluster methods are proposed for this purpose. The stability of the 10 maize hybrids including 9 hybrids that were the best hybrids in yield trials and KSC 301 (check hybrid) were evaluated for 2 years in 4 locations of Iran. The randomized complete block design with 4 replications was conducted for each environment with different layouts. Simple analysis of variance revealed significant genetic differences between hybrids for grain yield. The results of combined analysis of variance indicated that genotype × year, genotype × location, and genotype × year × location interaction effects were significant (P < 0.01). Results also showed that models 1 and 3 and models 2 and 4 had the same responses. Hybrids 8 (K1263/1 × KE8212/12) with high yield stability in both models 1 and 3 were in one group and other hybrids were in another group. In models 2 and 4 results led to 3 groups: Group1 included hybrids 3, 7 and 9 that were very stable and had high yield group 2 included hybrid 1 alone that had medium stability and yield and group 3 included other hybrids that had low stability and yield.

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The effects of different levels of metabolizable energy and energy to protein ratios on the performance of Fars native laying hens were examined during the second laying phase. In a feeding trial, 216 Fars native hens 42 weeks old were randomly allotted to 9 experimental diets using 6 replicated groups of 4 birds per cage. The diets were formulated with 3 levels of ME (2700, 2900 and 3100 kcal/kg diet). At each level of energy, 3 energy to protein ratios (195, 215 and 239) were considered. The diets were fed ad libitum for a period of 20 weeks (42-62 weeks). The results indicated that there were no significant differences in egg production, egg weight, body weight gain and livability at the end of the experiment (65 week of age) (P>0.05). Daily feed intake was significantly lowered in hens fed the first (ME=3100 Kcal/kg, CP=15.87), second (ME=3100 Kcal/kg, CP=14.43), third ration (ME=3100 Kcal/kg, CP=12.99) and fifth (ME=2900k Kcal/kg, CP=13.5%) as compared with the seventh ration (ME=2700 Kcal/kg, CP=13.82). Feed intake and feed conversion ratios (FCR) significantly decreased as the dietary energy level increased (P<0.05). Feed consumption at the highest energy level was significantly lower than that at the lowest energy concentration. FCR was influenced by dietary energy level. Hens on the diet with 3100 Kcal ME /kg had lower FCR compared to 2700 Kcal ME/kg. The feed cost per 1 Kg egg production increased significantly with the elevation of dietary energy and protein levels (P<0.05).The results showed that a diet containing 11.31% CP and 2700 Kcal ME/kg adequately satisfied the maintenance and production requirements of Fars native hens during the second phase of production. Also, this ration was more economical.

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An experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of different levels of energy (2700, 2900 and 3100 kcal/kg) and protein (13, 14.5 and 16 %) on laying performance of Fars native hens during the first phase of production. Two hundred and sixteen 25-week-old native pullets were put into fifty four groups of similar live weight (994 ± 169 gr) of four chickens, which were randomly allocated to nine experimental diets. Each treatment was replicated six times in factorial CRD design (3×3). At each level of energy, three diets were formulated to contain three levels of protein (16, 14.5 and 13%). The diets were fed ad libitum for a period of 20 weeks (week 25-45). The treatments 1 with 3100 kcal/kg ME and 16% protein and 3 with3100 kcal/kg ME and 13% protein had less daily feed consumption than treatment 7 with 2700 kcal/kg ME and 16% protein (90.50 and 87.30 vs 101.20 gr respectively, P<0.05). The effect of energy levels on daily feed and energy consumption and feed conversion ratio was significant (P< 0.05). Feed conversion ratio for energy level of 3100 kcal/kg was significantly different from 2700 kcal/kg (2.85 vs 3.08 respectively). The effect of protein levels on uric acid content of excreta and daily protein consumption was significant (P< 0.05) and protein level of 16% was significantly differed from protein level of 13% (11.40 vs 10.50 gr respectively). The results of this experiment showed that it is preferable to use the energy level of 2700 kcal/kg and protein level of 13% during the first phase of production of Fars native hens.

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Germplasm collection is the base of plant breeding. Iran is one of the most important centers of genetic diversity due to different climates and the old civilization.In this study we decided to collect melon accessions. The north and center of Iran were selected for this purpose. Fifteen qualitative and six quantitative traits were measured on thirty eight accessions. The cluster analysis by the use of UPGMA method and Jaccard coefficient helped separate the horticultural groups of Cucumis melo L. (Cantaloupensis, Inodorus, Flexousous, Reticulatus). The relationship between 30 of these accessions was assessed using 10 RAPD primers. The polymorphism was determined to be19%. The cluster analysis could not separate the horticultural groups of Cucumis melo L., showing that these groups are closely related. However, VB84 primer separated the tow Snakemelon.

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This experiment was conducted to determinate the effects of different levels of Amet protein binder (0, 1.5, 3, 4.5 and 6) in substitution for fish meal on performance and digestibility of nutrients. This study used 400 broiler chickens (Ross strain) with 5 treatments of 4 replications in a completely randomized design. Weight gain, feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio were determined at the end of each phase of the experiment. In addition, the digestibility of nutrients and apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) of the whole diets were measured by sampling excreta. The results showed that levels of 4.5 and 6% of Amet significantly decreased feed consumption (P< 0.01). Feed consumption was higher for 1.5, 0(control), and 3% Amet in diets, respectively. At the starting phase, 1.5% Amet treatment improved feed conversion ratio (P<0.01). The treatments 6% and 4.5% Amet increased feed conversion ratio in all phases of experiment and the final phase. Percentages of abdominal fat were not significantly affected by treatments. Replacement of different levels of Amet except the treatment 6% had no significant effect on percentage of carcass. The level of 1.5% Amet versus control significantly increased AMEn (P<0.01). It seems that the inclusion of 1.5% Amet binder in the diet can positively affect performance and AMEn of diet in broiler chickens.

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In order to investigate the effect of zinc - chelate on drought tolerance of Azadi cross wheat, a randomized complete block design was conducted as split plot with three replicates in the Kherameh during 1383 - 1384. The main plot was four drought levels (control and drought stress in the stages of flowering, seed milk stage and two phases, together), and sub plot was zinc - chelate rates 0, 5, 10 & 15 kg per hectare. The results showed that zinc application under drought conditions increased spike per square meter significantly at the 5% level. Drought stress decreased 1000 - seed weight. Least of 1000 - grain weight was in two phases of flowering and seed milk stage together (29.78 g). The application of 15kg zinc -chelate fixed 1000 - seed weight. Treatments of drought stress decreased seed yield significantly (14.17% in the proportion of control), but zinc - chelate application increased wheat tolerance to seed yield decrease. Zinc - chelate application prevented from seed number decrease per wheat spike under drought conditions that was caused to tolerance of seed yield and harvest index decrease. The application of 15 kg zinc - chelate increased harvest index in comparison of control amount of 22%.

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Soil salinity is an increasing environmental stress on crops in most areas of Iran since farmers use underground saline water for irrigation. In order to investigate the effects of salt stress on germination and seedling growth of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), an experiment was conducted at two stages (germination seedling growth), using four levels of NaCl salinity (0, 5, 10, 15 ds/m), and four cultivars of spiny and non-spiny safflower ( a landrace from Isfahan bred cultivars of IL, LRV and PI). The design was factorial and completely randomized based on 3- replicates (CRD). Germination percentage, germination velocity index, root and shoot length, root and shoot dry weight, root to shoot dry weight ratio and salt tolerance index were measured at germination stage. In seedling growth stage, traits such as, stem length, number of leaves, chlorophyll index, root and shoot dry weight, root to shoot dry weight ratio and salt tolerance index were also measured. Results for both growth stages showed that salt stress decreased all the above mentioned traits, significantly, in all cultivars. Salinity × variety interaction at germination stage was also significant, compared to seedling growth stage. Salt tolerance index decreased significantly with increasing salinity at both stages, but differences between cultivars were not significant. Cultivars PI and IL were characterized as the tolerant ones at germination and seedling growth stages, respectively. It could be concluded that safflower cultivars responded differently to salinity in germination phase compared to seedling growth phase, and that safflower suffers more from salinity during germination stage.

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Achillea wilhelmsii Koch. is an aromatic plants belonging to Asteraceae family that has relatively wide distribution in different parts of Iran. In this study, we compared essential oil contents and constituents in two wild populations under two different ecological conditions (Fars and Khorasan Provinces, South West and North East of Iran respectively). The blooming herbs were collected and the essential oils of the samples were extracted after drying by “Clevenger apparatus”. Essential oil constituents were determined by GC and GC-MS. Our results showed that “Khorasan” population of Achillea wilhelmsii contains more essential oils than “Fars” population (0.65 and 0.2 % v/w respectively). Thirty components of “Khorasan” population that were 96.94% of total components were determined successfully and the main components were camphore(19.06%), cembrene(10%), 1,8-cieole(8.78%), alpha pinene(8.06%) and linalool (7.47%). Thirty-two components (91.98%) of “Fars” wild population were determined and the main components were isopentyl-isovalerate(9.46%), alpha pinene(8.75%), 1,8-cineole(8.70%), eudesmol(10-epi-gama)(5.56%), spathulenol(4.94%). Cembrene(10%), Germacrene B( 5.68 %) and Sabinene(4.34%) were detected in Mashhad population but not in Shiraz population. 10-epi Gamma Eudesmole(5.65%), Benzaldehyde dimethyl acetal(4.47%) and Ionone (4.29%) were detected in Shiraz population but not in Mashhad population. In conclusion, there are differences between these two populations as far as essential oils content and constituents are concerned.