JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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Recent studies have shown poor performance of irrigation systems, which indicates the requirement for special attention to performance improvement. The first step for improving the performance of irrigation systems is evaluation of the present situation. Performance evaluation methodologies presented so far are either qualitative such as DA (Diagnostic Analysis), RA (Rapid Appraisal) and FA (Framework Appraisal), or they are similar to classical methods even if they produce quantitative indicators. They fail to introduce performance standards. In this study, using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), which is a quantitative method and produces realistic standards, 8 irrigation systems were evaluated and their performances were determined. With respect to the number of decision-making units, inputs, outputs, and corresponding returns to scale for irrigation systems, a suitable DEA model was selected. Capabilities of DEA allow for separate treatment of performance evaluation of overall irrigation network and its operating company. This feature is implemented using different technical and operational indicators. The results indicated that Zayandeh Rood irrigation system, among the 8 irrigation systems, has the highest technical efficiency. Minab and Varamin systems have the lowest technical efficiencies. Golestan and Behbahan Networks perform well, although their operating companies are inefficient. Garmsar, Ghazvin, and Moghan systems, although not inefficient, have some improvement potentials. In general, with respect to the capabilities of DEA in performance evaluation of irrigation systems and indicating appropriate standard, it can be concluded that this technique is quite efficient and successful for performance evaluation and improvement of irrigation systems.

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Clay minerals have considerable effects on physico-chemical properties of soils. Using different techniques, mineralogy of silicate clays and their formation were investigated in selected soils from Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province. The study area is about 1300 ha and its soil moisture and temperature regimes are xeric and mesic, respectively. Geomorphologically, the area consists of different landforms including pediments, outwash, hills and piedmont plain. After field and laboratory studies, five representative pedons were selected in previously determined mapping units and samples were taken for the analyses required. Clay particles from two surrounding rock formations and selected soil samples were separated and examined by electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), X-ray diffraction and infrared techniques. Illite, smectite, chlorite, palygorskite and kaolinite were present in all the soils. Considering the fact that palygorskite was not observed in nearby rock formations, this mineral is probably formed by pedogenic processes. Smectite, on the other hand, has been inherited from parent materials and also transformed from palygorskite. Other minerals had been probably inherited from parent materials. Infrared spectra confirm the X-ray diffraction and submicroscopic results.

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Fecundity and sex ratio are the important factors in the quality control of parasitoid, Trichogramma. In this research, the effect of the host egg deprivation on these factors in Trichogramma brassicae Bezdenko was evaluated. The experiment was conducted with four treatments, each in five replications in a completely randomized design. Twenty mated females (24 h old) were transferred into the glass tubes (1.5×10 cm) separately and were fed by honey 20% daily. In one treatment, parasitoids were provided with the 150 host eggs (Sitotroga cerealella) in first day, but in other treatments the 150 host eggs were offered after 2, 4 and 6 days. In order to obtain fecundity, black eggs were counted after 3 or 4 days. After emergence, adult parasitoids were recognized as male and female by their antennae and sex ratio was obtained. Results indicated that as parasitoids, Trichogramma sp., were deprived from the host eggs longer, more decrease was observed in fecundity and female ratio. Therefore, parasitoid quality was decreased by the host egg deprivation.

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Bread is widely consumed as a staple food all over the world. The major ingredient of bread is wheat flour which suffers of a couple of shortcomings, such as essential amino acids. To overcome of this problem, a great deal of attention has been made by fortification of bread with different cereal and legume flours. In this study, wheat flour was replaced with 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% of oat flour to investigate of its effects on dough texture and sensory attributes at room and lower temperatures for 0, 24, 48, 72 h in improved and unimproved breads. Improved formula containing levels of blanched oats, 1.5% fat and 60 ppm ascorbic acid. Addition of oat flour improved bread shelf life. Breads baked with up to 20% oat flour, were considered to be stable along over the time as indicated by sensory evaluation. Samples substituted with 30% and 40% oat flour had the high intensities of bitterness.

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Tuberose is one of the tropical and subtropical bulbous cut flowers cultivated extensively in most floricultural regions of Iran. Although it has a high potential for a long vase life after harvest, tuberose declines rapidly at home. In order to overcome this problem, two experiments were conducted on a local cultivar, “Goldorosht-e-Mahalat”, using a completely randomized design. To find a suitable preservative which provides the longest vase life for tuberose, the experiment was carried out by applying the carelessness of most consumers: not recutting stem ends nor changing the vase solutions. In the first experiment the preservative solutions were: sucrose (1, 2 and 3%), silver thiosulphate (0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 mM), silver nitrate (50, 100 and 150 mgl^-1), citric acid (150, 300 and 450 mgl^-1) and tap water as the control. In the early days of the experiment, silver thiosulphate caused severe burning of the florets, silver nitrate caused the wilting of the florets and bent the end of the flower spikes and sucrose didn’t have any positive effect, but decreased the vase life. The longest vase life belonged to citric acid, after which the control (tap water) was placed. The second experiment was conducted to determine the role of the water quality and citric acid. The treatments were: sterilized distilled water, citric acid made with sterilized distilled water (150, 300 and 450 mgl^-1) and tap water as the control. The longest and the shortest vase life belonged to sterilized distilled water and the control (tap water) respectively. The citric acid prepared with sterilized distilled water had a desirable effect on the vase life of cut tuberose flowers. This effect increased with the increment of the acid up to 450 mgl^-1.

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Zn deficiency is one of the most important nutritional disorders after macro-nutrients in rice. There are considerable genotypic differences among rice genotypes in response to Zn deficiency. Determination of such differences and introduction of efficient genotypes could lead to significant reduction of fertilizer use for rice production. In this research, some of the most frequently cultivated rice genotypes in Northern Iran, were compared for their tolerance to Zn deficiency in a field (11 cultivars) and hydroponic (16 cultivars) experiment. Four levels of Zn fertilizer were used in field experiment including 0 (control), 25, 50 and 100 kg ha^-1 and three different activity of Zn in chelator-buffer experiment including 130 (control), 23 and 5 pM. Experiments were conducted using complete randomized block design and data was analyzed using two factorial analysis of variance including Zn level and genotypes. In addition to yield components in the field study and dry matter production in the hydroponic culture medium, concentration of Zn was also determined in shoot, root and seed. The comparison of all yield components showed that the cultivar Onda was the most Zn-inefficient (susceptible to Zn deficiency) and Khazar was the most Zn-efficient (tolerant to Zn deficiency) genotypes under field conditions. In hydroponic experiment, cultivars Fajr, Tarom Hashemi and Onda were determined as the most Zn-inefficient and Shafagh, Amol and Mianeh were recognized as the most Zn-efficient genotypes. The most significant response to Zn fertilizer, in terms of Zn accumulation in seeds, was observed in Nemat and Tarom Deilamani. In contrast, Cadoos accumulated Zn mostly in straw. Results of our experiments introduced not only the genotypes with the highest yield on soils low in available Zn, but also genotypes with the highest Zn accumulation in seeds in response to Zn fertilizers which are important for human nutrition.

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In order to evaluate relationship between Different traits in lentils (lens culinaris Medik), a field study was conducted as an RCBD based design with 3 replications on Zanjan University Research Farm during spring of the year 2004. ANOVA analysis revealed significant differences for all characters except for the number of primery branches. Correlation analysis indicated positive and significant correlation between seed yield and harvest index, number of primery branches, pods/plant and biological yield, and grian yield. The result of the factor analysis also showed that the second factor including number of primery branches, pods/plant, grian yield, canopy width and seeds/plant was an important trait involved in the grian yield in lentil. In addition, cluster analysis helped divide the genotypes into four distance groups of large, medium, semi medium and low yields.

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In order to determine the response of yield and seed yield components of red bean )Phaseolus vulgaris L. ( genotypes to delay in planting, this study was conducted in Factorial  experiment based on a RCB design with 3 replications in the Jahad-Keshavarzi Research farm of Miyaneh in 2006. Factors included cultivars in three levels(Naz, Gole and Sayad) and planting date in three levels (5 and 20 April, and 5 May). Results of variance analysis showed that the cultivars and planting dates had significant effects on all the characteristics. The interaction between cultivars and planting dates had significant effect on stem height, number of pod per plant, 100 seed weight, biological yield, grain yield and number of seed in pod. The Results of mean comparison indicated that SAYAD cultivar in the first planting date with 4033.3 kgha^-1 and Gole cultivar in the third planting date with 1500.2 kgha^-1 had the highest and lowest grain Yield, respectively. Total yield with all traits, except for the stem height, 100 seed weight and cultivar protein percentage showed a  positive and significant correlation.

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To study the effect of age on camel hair characteristics and their phenotypic correlations in Semnan province, 95 dromedary female camels (aged 1-20) were selected. Hair samples were taken from right flank in mid spring. Least square means were analyzed at different ages, and also 4 age groups by one-way and general liner model (GLM) using SAS software package. Analysis of variance indicated a significant effect of age group on staple length, fiber diameter, coefficient of variability of fiber diameter, interrupted and continuous medulla and non-medullated fibers in inner coat and yield percentage (P ≤ 0/05). The young camels had more inner coat and non-medullated fibers than other ages. The diameter least square means of 1-2 age group ( 18.54±1.47 ) was significantly different (P<0.005) from 3-6, 7-10 and >11 age groups (22.59±0.67, 23.19±0.57 and 24.5±0.61 , respectively). There was a significant difference (P<0.05) in shoulder, flank and total staple lengths between 1-2 and other camel age groups (P<0.0001). The results indicated that fractionation of camel hair according to age grouping (young camel separated from adult) can improve supply to market and manufacture processing.

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Variable rate technology-spraying technologies are new aspect of sustainable agriculture. In these technologies, the chemical is applied in the needed level of farm where there is a high intensity of pests and weeds. The purpose of this paper was to study the agricultural specialists' attitude toward and intention to use variable rate technology-spraying technologies in Jihad-e-Keshavarzi organization of Fars and Khuzestan provinces. A survey was conducted using a stratified random sampling to collect data from 249 agricultural specialists. The results showed that the specialists of Fars and Khuzestan provinces have intentions to use the variable rate technology-spraying technologies. The variables including attitude toward application, trialing, perceived usefulness, compatibility, and attitude of confidence all influence the intentions to use the variable rate technology-spraying technologies. Based on high positive intention of agricultural specialists, we recommend the use of these technologies in agricultural practices of the two provinces.

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Soil fertility measures such as cation exchange capacity (CEC) may be used in upgrading soil maps and improving their quality. Direct measurement of CEC is costly and laborious. Indirect estimation of CEC via pedotransfer functions, therefore, may be appropriate and effective. Several delineations of two consociation map units consisting of two soil families, Shahrak series and Chaharmahal series, located in Shahrekord plain were identified. Soil samples were taken from two depths of 0-20 and 30-50 cm and were analyzed for several physico-chemical properties. Clay and organic matter percentages as well as moisture content at -1500 kPa correlated best with CEC. Pedotransfer functions were successfully developed using regression and artificial neural networks. In this research, it seemed that one hidden layer with one node was sufficient for all neural networks models. The best regression model consisting of organic matter and clay variables showed R2=0.81 and RMSE=7.2 while best corresponding neural network with a learning coefficient of 0.3 and an epoch of 40 had R2=0.88 and RMSE=0.34. Data partitioning according to soil series and soil depths increased the accuracy and precision of the functions. Compared to regression, artificial neural network technique gave pedotransfer functions with greater R2 and smaller RMSE.

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Geopedology is a systematic approach of geomorphic analysis for soil mapping that construct field operation mainly upon the work in sample area. The main goal of this research is to determine the effect of location of sample area and expert knowledge on credibility of generalization of the results obtained from geopedological approach for similar landforms in south-east of Borujen area. Upon preparation of primary interpretation map of the study area on air photos (1:20,000 scale), and considering different locations of Pi111 unit that encompasses the maximum surface of the study area, the sample area was planned in three different locations. Then, a second-order soil survey was conducted and final soil map was prepared. Also, two different experts were considered to determine the amount of credibility of generalization of the results obtained through geopedological approach for the mentioned unit. Results showed that changing the location of sample area has taxonomic levels (order, subgroup and/or family) and map unit type (complex and consociation) differences in Pi111 unit. In spite of similarity of the profiles selected by the two experts, soil taxonomies of these profiles were different in comparison with representative pedons (at family level). Therefore, the use of landform phases is recommended to increase the accuracy of geopedological results.

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Although soil organic matter (SOM) constitutes a small portion of soil bulk weight, it has a tremendous effect on physico-chemical and biological properties of soils. It is also one of the most important indicators of soil quality and its production. Soil organic matter determination is required for soil fertility management and soil pollution purposes. Wet oxidation procedure of Walkley-Black is a routine, relatively accurate and popular method for the determination of soil organic matter, but it involves the use of chromate and high cost of analysis. Therefore, loss-on-ignition (LOI) procedure as a simple and cheap method of SOM estimation which also avoids chromic acid waste has got more attention. The aims of this study were (i) to establish the relationships between LOI method and SOM as determined by Walkley-Black method for four major plains of Chaharmahal-va-Bakhtiari province and (ii) to determine the optimal temperature of the LOI. To do this, 205 soil surface samples were randomly collected from 0-25 cm depth of Shahrekord, Farsan, Kohrang and Lordegan plains to determine soil organic matter by Walkley-Black method and LOI procedure at 300, 360, 400, 500 and 550 oC for two hours. To determine the optimum temperature for ignition, 40 soil samples were selected to compare the SOM and CCE before and after ignition for each temperature. Results showed a positive, linear significant relationship existed between LOI and wet oxidation in each plain. Coefficient of determination (R2) of the equations was higher for individual plain than the overall equation. Coefficient of determination and line slope decreased and error (RMSE) increased with increasing ignition temperature. At higher contents of calcium carbonate, the rate of line slope decrease with increasing ignition temperature was more noticeable. This may be due to the destruction of carbonates at higher temperature. A temperature of around 360 oC was identified as optimum as it burned most organic carbon, destroyed less inorganic carbon, caused less clay structural water loss and used less electrical energy.

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Crop residues are beneficial substances that can bring about important changes in soil biological, chemical and physical properties and can also increase or stabilize crops yield. A field experiment was carried out at Research Station of College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran, to determine the effects of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) residue rates in combination with N levels on some soil properties in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivation for two years (2008-2009). The experiment was conducted as split split-plot arranged in a completely randomized blocks design with three replications. Treatments were two red bean cultivars as main plots, N levels (0, 34.5, 69, and 103.5 kg ha-1) as sub-plots and residue rates (0, 25, 50 and 75%) as sub sub-plots. The results showed that application of crop residues significantly increased soil organic carbon, N, K, and P contents. Heavy crop residue (75%) application had no effects on these soil properties. Thus, retaining 50% crop residue was optimum for proper soil quality. Increased N application increased soil N, decreased P and K contents, and had no effects on organic carbon.

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Soil characteristics are affected by climate. Available potassium is one of the most important soil fertility indices. This study was conducted to determine the availability of potassium using Quantity- Intensity (Q/I) relationships in Vertisols of Isfahan and Chaharmahal-Va-Bakhtiari provinces with aridic and xeric moisture regimes, respectively. Soil mineralogy showed that smectite was the dominant clay in Chaharmahal-Va-Bakhtiari soil. The results showed that the activity ratio of K (AReK) in the soil solution of the surface soil in Isfahan and Chaharmahal -Va -Bakhtiari soils, ranged from 0.019 to 0.11 and 0.0037 to 0.0078 mmol.L-1 respectively. The labile K (∆K0) in Isfahan and Chaharmahal Va Bakhtiari soils ranged from 0.23 to 3.8 and 0.72 to 1.6 mmolkg-1, respectively. Potassium on specific sites (KX) in Isfahan and Chaharmahal-Va-Bakhtiari soils ranged from 2.8 to 7.1 and 2.6 to 3.7 mmolkg-1 respectively. The potential buffering capacity (PBCK) in Isfahan and Chaharmahal-Va-Bakhtiari soils ranged from 12 to 36 and 191 to 201 mmolkg-1/(mmolL-1)0.5 respectively. The results suggested that the Q/I parameters were affected by soil depth. In all of the soils studied, PBCK increased with soil depth.

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Nowadays, due to drought and water shortage, use of unconventional waters, particularly sewage, has become usual in agriculture whereas they often contain heavy metals. The present study was employed to evaluate the effect of urban wastewater of Shahrekord on growth, yield and accumulation of heavy metals (lead and cadmium) in balm (Melissa officinalis) as a medicinal plant with five treatments (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 percent wastewater) and three replications in a completely randomized experimental design. The results showed that the highest shoot length, stem diameter and stem number, number of leaves and tillers are achieved in the treatment of 100 percent. The wet and dry weight of shoots and roots was highest in 100 % of wastewater. Oil percentage of the leaves was also the highest amount (1.23 %) in 100 % of wastewater. Accumulation of lead in roots and aerial parts and its transmission factor was not significant for the treatments. However, the highest concentration of lead in root (0.057 mg/kg) and shoots (0.013 mg/kg) was observed in 100 % of wastewater and the lowest one was related to zero percent of wastewater treatment. The lead concentration was less than the critical limit for all the treatments. The amount of cadmium was undetectable in all the plant samples. The results of this study demonstrated that urban wastewater of Shahrekord, in addition to providing water, increases plant growth and essential oil.

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As pressurized irrigation is not possible for all circumstances, the use of modern techniques in surface irrigation is essential. In this paper, BISEDOM, a new mathematical model for evaluation, design and optimization of border irrigation is introduced. The effects of weighting coefficients of indicators are investigated based on the potential to improve and the most appropriate weighting scheme in optimization process is presented. In this model, volume balance equations for hydrodynamic simulation and SA method for optimization steps are used. Due to the nature of the SA, its parameters are determined by the method of sensitivity analysis. In this model, evaluation of different combinations of decision variables (inlet flow, length, width and slope of the strip) and consequently the performance of irrigation efficiencies reagent strip in an objective function is possible. Finally, the results indicate that the proposed method for weighted indicators has significant effects on improving performance of border irrigation. Model validation results in three parts of design, evaluation and optimization in comparison with SIRMOD and asymptote method showed that the results are very close to each other. The results also indicate that the proposed model has a good efficiency in comparison with other existing models especially for optimization purposes.

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Regards to the importance of using safe vegetables, controlling the concentrations of heavy metals is necessary for consumer's health. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the potential risk of heavy metals on human health for non-cancerous and cancerous diseases through consumption of agricultural products in Isfahan province. The samples were included wheat, rice, carrots, onions, leafy vegetables and potatoes which were collected randomly from the studied area. In order to assess the risk of non-cancerous diseases, Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and Hazard Index (HI) were calculated for a specific element as well as combinations of different elements. The results showed that the THQ for arsenic was more than one in wheat and was less than one for other heavy metals if one product is consumed. This indicates that the likely effects of arsenic for noncancerous diseases of wheat are not alone, rather they are for other elements in various products. Risk indicators for men and women are 2.6 and 2.9 respectively, which indicates the effects of noncancerous diseases resulting from consumption of products. Cancer risk due to arsenic in samples of wheat consumption is higher than the Onion and potential cancer risk for this disease for this element is in the middle. The parameters for the lead element in both cases is low.

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One of the main objectives of soil classification systems is to identify the differences of soil properties for management purposes. In this study, the efficiency of American and WRB soil classification systems were compared in order to describe some of soil physical, chemical and mineralogical properties in arid and semiarid regions of central Iran. Khatoon-Abad and Mobarekeh plains as arid regions and Koohrang and Shahrekord plains as semiarid regions were selected. Then, representative pedons of each plain were chosen from 16 excavated pedons and soil samples were taken from the genetic horizons to determine soil classification. Results showed that soil orders of both Koohrang and Khatoon-Abad plains are vertisols according to American soil classification system whereas based on WRB system, these soils are classified as cambisols and calcisols, respectively. On the other hand, both Mobarekeh and Shahrekord soils are classified as calcisols in WRB system whereas these soils are classified as aridisols and inceptisols, respectively, according to American soil taxonomy. None of soil classification systems could show the existence of gypsum in horizons lower than 100 cm of the soil surface for Mobarekeh soil. Clay mineralogy indicates that smectite is the dominant clay mineral in Koohrang soil as explains well at the family level of American soil classification system. Results suggest that WRB has somewhat higher efficiency rather than American soil classification system for the studied soils.

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  Many studies have been carried out on pure minerals to study the effect of plant roots on minerals weathering, but information on mineral weathering that normally occurs in different soil fractions is limited. To investigate the effect of

German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) cultivation on mineral weathering of clay and silt fractions in five different soil series amended or not amended (control) with cattle manure, a factorial experiment was performed in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. At harvest time, rhizosphere soil was separated and mineralogical studies were performed through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and compared to before cultivation Results showed that in clay sized particles, trioctahedral chlorite transformed to di-octahedral chlorite while kaolinite disappeared. In silt sized particles, feldspar transformed to amphibole and vice versa The pots amended with manure showed the same changes for clay and silt sized particles as the pots without manure.