JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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To evaluate the effect of plant density and detopping on grain yield, protein content biological yield harvest index, growth indices, number of cob in each plant, No. of row per ear, No. of grain in each row, thousand seed weight of corn (Zea mays L. ar. SC 704), an experiment was conducted at the experimental statues of Research Center of Uremia Agricultural College in 2004. The Treatment design was split plot in randomized complete block design with four replications. The main plots included plant density at three levels (53000, 66000, and 88000 Plants/ha) and the subplets comprised three levels: (1) no detopping (control) (2) removing canopy only and (3) removing canopy and three leaves above the node. Analysis of Variance of data showed that both detopping treatment and plant density influenced the number of kernel per ear ,1000 grain weight, ear weight, total dry weight of biomass, seed yield and harvest index. Canopy detopping led to a marked increase in photo assimilateion import grains. The highest plant density evaluated, 88000 plants per hectare with detopping of three above leaves had the highest number of cobs per square meter. In plant density of 53000 plants per hectare and canopy detopping treatment, the number of grain per ear was greater than other densities. The efficiency of harvest index increased under corn detopping compared with control, and this increase with an increase in photosynthesis contributed to grain yield. It was concluded that major increase in grain yield under high plants density and tassel detopping was due to improvement of physiological indices.

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One of the properties of systemically acquired resistance in plants is their concomitance with the biochemical changes including enhancement of activities of defense-related enzymes. The leaf extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis (F. Schmidt) Nakai is known to be an effective compound for the control of a few plant diseases particularly powdery mildew of cucurbits (caused by fungal pathogen Podosphaera fusca), by inducing host defense responses. In the present investigation, the effects of this extract on some defense responses of cucumber plants were studied via in vivo tests. Changes of defense responses in the extract treated-cucumber plants, with or without pathogen inoculation, were studied and compared with those of non-treated control plants. Results indicated that specific activity of peroxidase increased significantly in treated tissues. Enhancement of enzyme activity showed the same patterns in both the pathogen inoculated- and non-inoculated-plants thus the pathogen attack did not affect the enzyme activity. Specific activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase in the non-inoculated extract treated-plants showed a transient fast increase during 24 hours after the treatment, whereas in the inoculated ones, it showed a permanent slow increase probably due to the interaction between extract treatment and pathogen attack. Phenolic content of extract treated-plant tissues, despite small fluctuations, did not show any definite pattern of changes.

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Homogenized milks at 0.5 and 2.5% fat content were each fortified with three levels of Vitamin A palmitate at 3000, 4000 and 5000 IU/L. Vitamin was added just before homogenization and then pasteurized milks were packed in polymeric pouches and glass bottles. All samples were refrigerated at 4-5 °C for 48 hours. Any reduction in vitamin A level was monitored using HPLC, while sensory evaluation was conducted in order to rank the samples. ANOVA and Friedman analyses indicated that fat content along with package type had a significant effect on the residue of vitamin A. The loss of vitamin A was significantly higher in 0.5% milk either packed in polymeric pouch or glass bottle. However, besides fat concentration, more vitamin A was lost in glass bottles rather than polymeric pouches. Sensory evaluation showed that milk fortification had no adverse effects on color and flavor of the product.

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In order to identify polymorphic microsatellite markers and evaluae genetic variation within Baluchi sheep population, nineteen microsatellite loci were studied. Whole Blood samples were collected from 156 sheep at north eastern animal breeding station of Iran (Abbasabad-Mashhad). DNA was extracted by salting-out procedure with some modifications. Polymerase chain reactions were successfully done except for UNC5C locus. PCR products were electrophoresed on 8% denaturing polyacrylamide gels stained according to rapid silver staining procedure. The genotype and allelic frequencies were calculated by direct counting and used for estimating of different polymorphism and genetic variation criteria. This population wasn't at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium except for OarAE101 locus (P<0.005). Heterozygosity (gene variation) ranged from 0.1 to 0.93. BULGE5E and BM1329 loci were monomorphic. In conclusion, this investigation showed high polymorphism at the studied loci, so they could be used in future studies.

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To investigate the degree of forest degradation and the effect of land use change on selected soil quality attributes in loess-derived landforms, samples were taken from different land uses including forest, rangeland, degradated rangeland and farmland in Pasang watershed located in the Galikesh area of Golestan province (37°16'N, 55°30'E). The annual average temperature and mean precipitation of study area were 15°C and 730 mm respectively. Organic matter, pH, EC, CaCO₃ and nutrients (N, P, K) as chemical indicators, hydraulic conductivity, bulk density and porosity as physical indicators and soil respiration as biological indicator were measured. The results showed that the amount of organic matter decreased three percent when it was turned from forest to farmland, and increased two percent from farmland to rangeland. The amount of CaCO₃ in surface layer of deforested area was more than in the forest soils. The amount of soil N in forest and soil P and K in rangeland were higher than in other land uses. Bulk density and porosity in forest and MWD in rangeland were higher than in other land uses because of the decrease in organic matter due to farming activities. Soil respiration in forest was highest as compared to in other land uses. Difference of enzymes activities (L-asparaginase and Dehydrogenase) compared to microbial respiration indicates that enzymes activity is related to specific biological processes while soil microbial respiration basically depends on the general activity of soil microbial population. It could be concluded that amount of organic matter, soil N, bulk density, porosity, MWD, soil respiration and enzymes activities are suitable indicators for soil quality evaluation in this area.

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  Application of selection index for screening desired plants based on complex quantitative traits can be more effective than direct selection. This study was conducted using an F₂ rice population consisting of 87 plants derived from a cross between two cultivars Gharib and IR28. The purpose was to establish suitable selection indices for increasing yield and its related traits in research farm of Rice Research Institute of Iran (RRII), Rasht, in 2005. Studied traits included the days from sowing, germinated grain to maturity (MD), plant height (PH), panicle length (PL), flag leaf length (FL), flag leaf width (FW), number of panicles per plant (PP), number of grains per panicle (GP), number of spikelets per panicle (SP), 100-grain weight (GW), grain yield per plant (GY), biomass (BM), harvest index (HI), grain length (GL) and grain breadth (GB). Among the studied traits, 100-grain weight (GW), biomass (BM) and harvest index (HI) (0.99) and flag leaf width (FW) (0.35) showed the highest and lowest broad-sense heritability, respectively. Path coefficient analysis revealed that BM, HI, GP had positive direct effects on GY. Calculation of five different selection indices based on optimum and base indices indicated that selection for BM, HI and GP using genotypic path coefficients and their heritability as economic values would be a suitable selection criterion for improving population. Moreover, this study showed that both optimum and base indices show the same genetic progress for the studied traits. Since evaluation of base index, is much easier than the optimum index, it is highly recommended.

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  In order to reduce the rainfall damages on rice yield at harvest stage, a field experiment was conducted at Rice Research Institute of Iran, Rasht, in 2004 by using Sodium Chlorate as a chemical desiccant. Five seed moisture contents of Dorfak rice cultivar were considered as experimantal treatments [24 - 28% (M1), 22 - 24% (M2), 20 -22% (M3). 18 - 20% (M4) and control (M5= conventional harvesting)]. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with three replications and the effects of treatments on grain yield, head rice yield,seed germination rate and percentage, kernel breakage, kernel cracking, amylose content, gelatinization temperature and gel consistency were evaluated. Results showed that the whole plant and grain moisture contents were significantly reduced in all experimental treatments compared with control. M2 and M₃ both cosiderably reduced the plant moisture content in which harvesting occurred 12 and 8 days respectively sooner than the control. In M1, due to high grain moisture and non - simultaneous grain filling in different tillers, many of panicles desiccated prior to maturity lost their quality. In M4, the crop harvested was only 2 days earlier than the control. Analysis of variance showed that there were no significant effects of treatments on evaluated traits. It seems that rice plant could be reliably desiccated by Sodium Chlorat and harvested earlier without any adverse effects on its quality and quantity.

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  Presence of genotype × environment interaction necessitates evaluation of genotypes in a wide range of environments to find desirable genotypes. This study was carried out to determine the stability and adaptability of grain yield of 17 chickpea genotypes, in RCBD with four replications at Kermanshah, Lorestan, Ilam, Gachsaran and Gorgan Research Stations during two seasons (2003-2004). The genotype × environment interaction effect analyzed using the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) statistical model was significant at 1% level of probability. The sum of squares of G × E interaction was partitioned by AMMI model into four significant interaction principal component axes (IPCA). The first four principal component axes (IPCA 1, 2, 3 and 4) cumulatively contributed to 94% of total genotype by environment interaction. A biplot generated using genotypic and environmental scores of the first two AMMI components also showed that genotypes FLIP 97- 79, X95TH1 and FLIP 97- 114 were selected as stable genotypes, among which the genotype FLIP 97- 114 was outstanding for high yield stability.

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  In this research, after optimization of sterilizing cyst and larvae of second stage of Heterodera schachtii, the possibility of using nematode on seedlings of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) in in vitro condition was studied for developing larvae to cyst. For this purpose, non sterile cysts were extracted from infected soil and hatched into zinc chloride solution with concentration of 0.5gl^-1. Then, for preparation of sterile second stage larvae, several sterilizing treatments were used . Mean comparisons were performed between sterilized live larvae number by Duncan's method. Results showed that 70% ethanol for 1 minute followed by 5% sodium hypochlorite for 5 minutes and 0.1% sodium hypochlorite for 20 minutes were the best treatments for disinfecting cysts and larvae, respectively. In the next step, two nematode susceptible sugar beet varieties were applied to produce cyst from the larvae in in vitro culture. PG_oB medium containing different hormonal compositions was used to produce hairy roots and inoculation of seedling with sterilized larvae. After nematode inoculation tests, were the stained cysts were observed under stereomicroscope and counted 40 days later. Five to twelve cysts were formed on the roots of each seedling from two varieties. As a result, it seems that this technique can be used for sugar beet germplasm evaluation to screen nematode resistant genotypes in in vitro controlled condition.

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  Two hundred fifty seven bacterial isolates were collected from colza root and rhizosphere in Golestan, Mazandaran, Guilan and Tehran provinces. Antagonistic effect of bacterial isolates on Rhizoctonia solani, the causal agent of colza damping off, was studied using dual culture method. The results showed that, 60 isolates had the ability to inhibit the growth of R. solani on PDA medium. On the basis of the biochemical, physiological and morphological tests, isolates P1, P2 and P3 were identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens. Biocontrol mechanism studies showed that isolates produced antibiotics and volatile metabolites prevented the mycelial growth of the fungus. The isolates produced some of antimicrobial metabolites including hydrogen cyanide, protease and siderophore. Isolate P3 was more effective to inhibit the growth of the fungus in-vitro. The effect of isolates on disease reduction in comparison with control was significantly different. None of the isolates were able to prevent disease occurrence completely. Isolates applied as soil treatment had a significantly higher disease control as compared to seed treatment method. Isolate P3 had considerable effect on reduction disease in the greenhouse conditions. All isolates were capable of colonizing canola roots and so increased canola growth in free-causal agent conditions.

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  The purpose of this study was to investigate and analyze the factors affecting farmers’ attitudinal dimensions toward participation in Water Users’ Association (WUA) by comparing two groups of farmers in irrigation networks with WUA and without it. The methodological approach was a descriptive-correlational and causal-comparative study of the survey type. The target population in the study consisted of 2551 farmers of irrigation networks in Khorasan-e-Razavi Province, Iran. Using stratified random sampling technique, 335 participants were chosen. Data were collected through a questionnaire, and analyzed using SPSS, V.13. Content and face validity of the instrument were obtained by the faculty members of Agricultural Extension and Education, Agronomy and Irrigation Departments at Tarbiat Modarres University and also specialists board of Agricultural Jihad Organization and Regional Water Joint-stock Company in Khorasan-e-Razavi Province. The reliability analysis was conducted and cronbach’s alpha values for the various sections of instrument were estimated between 0.73 and 0.86. The descriptive findings of the study showed that the majority of farmers’ overall attitude with respect to participation in WUA was at a good level. The results obtained from Pearson correlation analysis indicated that there are significant and positive relationships between such variables as education level, size of irrigated cultivated landholding, annual income, extension contacts, social capital components, water users’ perceptions regarding irrigation networks status and farmers’ participation status concerning irrigation networks management with the farmers’ overall attitude toward participation in WUA. The result of stepwise multivariate regression analysis indicated that 61.1% (R² = 0.611) of the variance in farmers’ attitudes with respect to participation in WUA could be explained by farmers’ behaviour regarding optimum farm water management, social participation, social confidence, water users’ perceptions regarding irrigation networks status, farmers’ participation status concerning irrigation networks management. Also, significant differences were found between the two respondent groups in irrigation networks with WUA and without it in relation to farmers’ attitudinal dimensions.

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  Continuous measurement of river discharge is a hard and expensive task in hydrology. To overcome this problem, the stage readings at hydrometric gauges are permanently taken and the discharge of any time at which the actual discharge is unavailable will be estimated through a relationship between discharge and stage. To study the stage-discharge relations and the capability of long-term data in establishing a permanent stage-discharge relationship, and also to determine the best time to measure the discharge of rivers, a study was conducted at the hydrometric station of the Zayandehrud regulatory dam using data from 1990 to 2003. The data were analyzed using simple regression analysis, the percentage of relative error and factor analysis. The results indicated that the best model to show the stage-discharge relation at the studied station is a power function model. Moreover, the model used for every year can only be used for that year. The results also showed that the most suitable times for the measurement of discharge are July, December and March.

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  In order to quantitatively evaluate the sediment yield in ungauged basins, it is necessary to use empirical models. The EPM model, as a model which is using in Iran, has sometimes been evaluated. Most evaluations have often been conducted by using river's sediment information and direct measurements of dam reservoir sedimentation have been less used, while the sediment measurement method on reservoir is more carefully. 9 small watersheds from Semnan province (Iran) were selected in this research. There is a small earth dam which have been built on the outlet of each watershed in the past years that them age is 10 years. These dams have not been weirs since they have been building to now. Therefore total of sediment yield volumes of each watershed are entrapped in the dam reservoirs. The volume of sediments deposited in reservoir were calculated by surveying. Sediment's apparent specific weights were measured in each reservoir and the volume of sediments transformed into sediments weight. By EPM model the volume and weight of sediment yield were estimated. Values of sediment yield measured in reservoirs were compared with estimated values by t-test. The results showed that at level 5%, there was not any significant difference between sediment yield values estimated in reservoirs by EPM model in comparison with values of volume and weight which were measured. But determination of performance and relative root mean square error showed that EPM model has low efficiency for estimation of sediment yield in the case study of watersheds.

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  Organic fertilization has been practiced in Iran due to the shortage of soil organic matter. In recent years, attention has been payed to the organic fertilizers because their commercial production has recently started and demands for their application have increased. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of organic fertilizer type, rates and times of application on the N mineralization potential (NMP) in a calcareous soil (fine loamy, mixed, thermic, Typic Haplargid) in Isfahan region. The soil samples were collected from a previousely established field experiment. The experiment design was split plot with three replications. Each main plot was split into subplots receiving 1, 2 and 3 annual consecutive applications of cow manure and sewage sludge at the rates of 0, 25 and 100 Mg ha^-1. The soil samples were taken from 0-15 cm depth, 6 months after the third application of the organic fertilizers. Nitrogen mineralization potential was measured by a long-term leaching-incubation procedure. Results indicated that NMP was similarly affected by cow manure and sewage sludge. Nitrogen mineralization potential in the treatments which received 100 Mg ha^-1 organic fertilizers, was 4 and 1.7 times greater than that of control and 25 Mg ha^-1 treatments, respectively. A significant increase was also observed in NMP in the treatments which received different times of application. The NMP in the three-year applied treatments was 5, 2.5 and 2.1 times greater than that of control, two- and one-year applied soils. Significant correlations were observed between NMP and corn yield (r=0.531**) and corn N uptake (r=0.568***). The product of NMP and N mineralization rate constant was also significantly correlated with corn yield (r=0.710***) and corn N uptake (r=0.734***). Different patterns were observed between the responses of total N and NMP in the treated soils.

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  Understanding nitrogen mineralization from different organic sources should be a key factor in developing efficient prediction of the need for nitrogen fertilization with minimal negative environmental impact. In order to investigate nitrogen mineralization rate in soils amended with compost, vermicompost and cattle manure, an experiment was done as factorial in a randomized complete block design in three replications. Four treatments (compost, vermicompost, cattle manure and soil alone), two temperature levels (8 and 25 ⁰C) and two moisture levels (50% and 85% FC) were used for the 90 - day incubation study. Ammonium and nitrate were measured by spectrophotometer method. Results indicated that the mixed first-and zero-order kinetics model is the best model for our data. Cattle manure treatment had the highest N_min at 25 ⁰C (87.78 mgN/kg equal to 14.54% N_total) and the least value (23.62 mgN/kg equal to 4.62% N_total) was obtained for the compost treatment at 8 ⁰C. N₀k (nitrogen availability index) for treatments was in the following order: Cattle manure>Vermicompost >Compost. With increasing the temperature and moisture, N mineralization increased. Also N_min positively correlated with N₀ (r =0.583*), and N₀k (r =0.834**).

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  Adopting proper agricultural management and conserving soil organic matter are important components of sustainable agriculture. Soil organic matter content is a key attribute in soil quality. Labile organic matter pools can be considered as suitable indicators of soil quality that are very sensitive to changes in soil management practices. This research was carried out to investigate some organic carbon labile pools as an indicator evaluating the effects of different managements on some quality parameters of two calcareous soils. The study was conducted in 2 locations: 1- plots that receiving 0 (C1), 25 (C2), 50 (C3) and 100 (C4) Mg/ha of manure for five years successively with a cropping rotation of wheat –corn every year and plots under three cropping rotations (C5, C6 and C7) at Lavark experimental farm and 2- inquiry research station of Fozveh at different plots with three different cropping rotations (C8, C9 and C10) with a given cropping history recorded for the last 5 years. Soil samples were taken from the center of each plot and the depths of 0-5 cm and 5-15 cm. Their organic carbon, hot water soluble carbohydrate, particulate organic matter (POM), organic carbon and hot water soluble carbohydrate of POM, mean weight diameter of water stable aggregates were determined. Different managements consisting of different levels of manure and types of cropping rotation had significant effects on the soil characteristics measured. The greateast amount of carbohydrate and aggregate stability was obtained in the plots of 100 Mg/ha of manure in Lavak and in alfalfa plots in Fozveh station. Also, the results showed that aggregate stability has a better correlation with hot water soluble carbohydrate in comparison with other soil organic pools. Therefore, the carbohydrate extracted by hot water may be used as an index to assess the impacts of different agricultural management systems on soil quality.

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  Studying soil phosphorus fractions is useful in understanding soil pedogenesis as well as soil fertility. In this reseach, 20 soil samples were taken from different depths of 0-30 and 30-60 cm of upper-slope, mid-slope and lower-slope positions of four toposequences in arid (Jei and Ziar in Isfahan) and semiarid (Farokhshahr and Shahrekord) regions. In each toposequence, the soil depth was relatively low at the upper-slope position and increased toward the lower-slope. The soils in upper-slope and mid-slope were under scarce native vegetation where the soil in lower-slope was under farming activities. Soil phosphorus (P) fractionation was carried out using sequential extraction. The total soil phosphorus was in the range of 302-1135 with an average of 715 mg/kg. About 65-89% of total phosphorus were inorganic, and 11-35% organic. The amount of inorganic and organic P in the soil samples was in the range of 204-897 with an average of 571, and 70-238 with an average of 114 mg/kg, respectively. The amount of total, inorganic and organic P increased from upper-slope toward the arable lands and decreased from topsoil to subsoil in all toposequences. In the studied soils, apatite ( Ca₁₀-P ), aluminum phosphates(Al-P), octacalcium phosphates( Ca₈-P ), iron phosphates (Fe-P), iron oxides occluded phosphates( OC-P ) and dicalcium phosphates( Ca₂-P ) were the major constituents of the soil inorganic phosphates, respectively.

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  Application of slag and converter sludge, major by-products of Esfahan Zob Ahan factory, to enrich two organic amendments for corn nutrition, was investigated. Farm manure and its vermicompost mixed with different rates of slag and sludge were incubated in 3 Kg pots at field capacity moisture and home temperature for three months. The applied rates of slag and sludge were 0, 5 and 10 percent (w/w) of pure iron from these compounds to the organic amendments. Iron sulfate with the above ratios was also examined for comparison. Sub-samples of the incubated materials were taken after 0, 10, 25, 45, 65 and 90 days of incubation and examined for DTPA extractable Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu. After the incubation, the enriched amendments were applied to a soil sample to grow corn. Three Kg soil samples, taken from Chah Anari experimental farm, Esfahan University of Technology, were mixed with 17 gr of the amendments (50 ton/ha) placed in 3 Kg pots. In each pot two corn seeds (single cross 704) were planted and after 70 days crop yield and concentration of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu in the plant tissues were determined. Results showed that the use of iron sulfate strongly increased DTPA extractable Fe and Mn of the amendments. In enrichment by converter sludge, the best result was obtained in the mixture of 10 percent pure iron with the vermicompost on 60 days of incubation. Treatment of 5 percent pure iron from slag mixed with the manure increased DTPA extractable Fe and Mn with the time, but the 10 percent treatment was not much effective in this regard. The highest rates of iron uptake by the plants occurred in the iron sulfate and 10 percent converter sludge treatments, respectively however, the highest rate of the plant Mn uptake was observed in 5 percent iron from converter sludge mixed with vermicompost. In general, 10 percent pure iron from converter sludge was the most effective enrichment treatment, increasing the plant uptake of Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu micronutrients.

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  Erosion features map is one of the basic maps in erosion and sediment studies considered important in watershed management programs. For preparing soil erosion features map (1:250000 scale), a study was conducted in Jajroud sub-basin of Tehran, Iran. Working unit maps were prepared from integrating: A) plant cover, geology and slope B) land-use, geology and slope C) land-use, rocks sensitivity to erosion and slope and D) land-use, rocks sensitivity to erosion and land units. Working unit maps obtained from integrating layers were compared with three other maps consisting of working units maps according to E) land units F) rocks sensitivity to erosion units and G) image photomorphic units. Erosion features intensities in 314 control points were controlled and erosion features ground truth map was prepared by Thiessen method and using satellite imagery. Erosion features map was crossed with different working unit maps. Results showed that D map was better than A, B and C maps with regard to economic considerations. Accuracy was 53.0 and 42.9% for methods of land unit and rock sensitivity which resulted in the maps not suitable for differentiating soil erosion features. Root Mean Squared Error of working units showed that the error of land unit and rock sensitivity methods was more than image interpretation and integrated layers methods. The highest coefficient of variation was related to land unit and rock sensitivity to erosion methods and was the least for image interpretation and integrated layers methods. The greatest precision, therefore, was related to image interpretation and integrated layers methods. In general, working unit map of image interpretation was the best method for preparing soil erosion features map.

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  Experiments were conducted to study the effects of temperature and chemical treatments on the vase life of cut Asiatic hybrid lily cultivar Pisa, with sixteen chemical treatments using factorial design with 3 replication arrangements. Lilium cut flowers were harvested when the first flower colored fully. Following chemical treatments, they were grouped in different combinations before storage. The treatments included sucrose, 8- hydroxy quinoline sulfate (HQS), citric acid (CA), gibberellic acid (GA₃), kinetine (KI) and distilled water as control. Lilium cut flowers were pulsed for 24 hours in different solutions, then brought out and kept in the distilled water at temperatures of 4^°C and 22 ^° C .Effects of applied treatments were evaluated on different characteristics like vase life, the amount of water absorbed, flower diameter, total soluble solids and fresh weight. Results showed that the temperature of 4^°C had the most effect on vase life, keeping the quality of lilium cut flowers. The results also displayed that the chemical treatments kinetine + sucrose had the most effect on vase life and percentage of sucrose, gibberellic acid + kinetine delayed yellowing of the foliage, 8- hydroxy quinoline absorbed the most amount of water, and treatments sucrose + kinetine , gibberellic acid + 8- hydroxy quinoline sulfate and gibberellic acid + citric acid were most effective in increasing the flowers diameter.