JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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To investigate yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of potato with tape and furrow irrigations, an experiment was performed at Hamadan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center (Ekbatan station) in 2004. The experiment was arranged in a split-plot experimental design based on completely randomized block with 3 replications of irrigation water amount as the main factor (75%, 100%, 125% of cumulative evaporation from class A pan) and sub-factor of irrigation method [including tapes in the middle of furrow ridge on soil surface (T_D0), tapes in the middle of furrow ridge at the depth of 5 cm (T_D5), tapes on the sides of furrow ridge on soil surface (T_S0), and furrow irrigation (F)]. The results indicated that yield of potato increased with increasing water use. Regardless of irrigation method, maximum (32.51 ton/ha) and minimum (19.33 ton/ha) yield of potatoes was achieved with 125% and 75% irrigation water treatments, respectively. The lowest yield (21.35 ton/ha) was obtained in furrow irrigation and the highest yield (28.91 ton/ha) belonged to tape irrigation (T_D5 treatment). The highest WUE (4.68 kg/m³) belonged to tape irrigation (T_D5 treatment) and the lowest WUE (3.32 kg/m³) belonged to furrow irrigation (F). The difference in WUE between 75% and 100% irrigation water treatments was not significant. The highest WUE (4.49 kg/m³) was achieved in treatment 125%. Also, it is more economical to use irrigation water treatment of 125%, as compared with other irrigation water treatments.

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  Effect of change from the conventional (flooding) to subsurface irrigation system was studied on mature pistachio trees (Cultivar Ohadi) in Kerman pistachio research station for four years. This experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design including 7 treatments and 3 replications. The experiment also used two irrigation intervals (7&14 days) and three water rates according to pan coefficient (20%, 40%& 60% evaporation from surface of class A pan) for subsurface irrigation system with 6 treatments the conventional (flooding) irrigation system was tested as control. The pipes of subsurface irrigation system were installed at 90cm distance from trees trunk at each side of trees, and 50cm from soil surface. Mean of pressure and discharge in the pipes was 0.8 to 1 atmosphere and 5.4 Lh^-1m^-1, respectively. Different factors of quantity and quality pistachio yield, current vegetative growth, water use efficiency and soil electrical conductivity were measured. The results showed that change of conventional (flooding) to subsurface irrigation system is possible and the best treatment can have water rate of 7174 m³ha^-1y^-1 with 14 days irrigation interval. In comparison with other treatments, this treatment has better quantity and quality pistachio yield. Water use efficiency (WUE) of this treatment was 164g dry yield per cubic meter. Nevertheless, application of water rate of 4783 m³ha^-1y^-1 can result in the deficiency of irrigation water. At this water rate, WUE was 177g dry yield per cubic meter. However, it was found that the application of lower water rate (<4783 m³ha^-1y^-1) produced severe effects on the treated pistachio trees, e.g. decreasing the growth rate, yield and increasing the early splitting in pistachio fruits. Finally, it is concluded that 14-day interval irrigation is the preferred treatment for pistachio trees. Also, soil salinity showed considerable change in subsurface irrigation treatments after irrigation system was changed, especially in the first year.

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In tea plantation regions of northern part of the country, application of supplemental irrigation during dry periods (lacking rainfalls) in conjuction with proper nitrogen fertilizer application can significantly improve tea yield per unit of plantation area. In order to quantify the effectiveness of proper irrigation and nitrogen management on tea, the response of tea to various levels of irrigation and nitrogen applications was studied in Fouman suburb of Guilan province. Tea crop production function and its crop coefficient (K_C) were determined. A line source sprinkler irrigation was used for creatiating a variable irrigation application and a split-split-plot statistical design was used. Irrigation treatments consisted of full irrigation (I₄), deficit irrigation (I₃, I₂ and I₁) and no irrigation(I₀). Nitrogen application treatments were N₁, N₂ and N₃ (100, 180 and 360 kg/ha) in three replications randomly arranged as main plots, while irrigation treatments as sub plots were not randomized. During the growing period, soil moisture up to the depth of 90 cm was determined gravimetrically and actual crop water use was calculated from mass balance equation weekly. Reference evapotranspiration (ETo) was estimated by Penman-Montieth equation and was used to estimate tea crop coefficient. During growing period, the actual tea water use of I₄ and I₀ were computed to be 457 and 256 mm. Tea crop coefficient during dry period (June, July and Augest) ranged from 0.8 to 0.9. Crop resistance factor (K_y) for tea was found to be 1.37. Results indicated that optimum rate of nitrogen (180 kg/ha) along with supplemental irrigation, increased yield and water use efficiency (WUE). Futhermore, supplemental irrigation increased yield and WUE more than nitrogen application. In I₀ and I₁ treatments, application of 100 kg/ha nitrogen resulted the highest yield and WUE.

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Iron deficiency is a worldwide nutritional constraint in agricultural lands especially in calcareous soils. Cultivation of crops tolerant to Fe-deficiency is an approach to combat Fe deficiency. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate Fe-efficiency of selected important crops in Iran. A completely randomized block design in triplicates was conducted at IUT research greenhouse in fall 2006. Sweet corn (Hybrid K.S.C. 404), grain corn (Hybrid S.C. 500), safflower (cvs. S3110, S-411), sunflower (Hybrid Hyson) and durum wheat (cv. Shuga) were grown in a nutrient solution at two Fe levels (1 and 10 µM Fe-EDTA). The results showed significant (P < 0.01) variation among the studied crops in Fe-efficiency. Corn hybrids were more sensitive to Fe deficiency (FeE = 26%) as compared to other studied crops, and the greatest reduction was observed in their shoot dry matter at 0.1 mM Fe- EDTA treatment. In contrast, the lowest decrease in root and shoot dry matter weight under Fe-deficient condition was found for durum wheat (FeE=94%). Comparing the calculated Fe-efficiency using different indices showed that Fe concentration and content in the whole plant, shoot and root had no relationship with crop tolerance to Fe deficiency.

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In this study, marketing situation, problems and services of Dutch Roses was investigated in Isfahan province as a main rose producing region in Iran. In this context, marketing margin, share of marketing agents in marketing margin, marketing cost coefficients and marketing efficiency were calculated and marketing path and marketing services of roses flower including harvesting, transportation, packing, sorting and standardization in major path were investigated. The data used in this study were gathered through completing questionnaires from 38 producers, wholesalers (cut flowers distributors) and retailers (flower sellers) and by interviewing four consulting companies in Dutch Roses production and marketing. The results indicated that 56.5 percent of producers are only engaged with production activities and not exporting flowers to either foreign countries or the other provinces in the country. In the main path, average coefficient of technical efficiency (78.17%) was found to be higher than that of price efficiency (34.67%) and based on the marketing efficiency, 108 Rial value added can be achieved from each 100 Rial marketing services cost..

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To increase grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and nitrogen apparent recovery fraction (NARF) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), an experiment was carried out in Karaj Soil and Water Research Station farm for two consecutive growing seasons in 2004-05 and 2005-06. The experimental design was RCBD with 6 treatments (T1= Control T2= 150 kg ha-1 of N as urea in 3-split applications T3= 1/3 N as SCU as the base fertilizer + 2-split urea applications T4= 150 kg ha-1 N as SCU as the base fertilizer T5=150 kg ha-1 of N as urea in 2-split applications and T6=1/3 N as complete fertilizer as the base fertilizer +2-split urea applications) in the first year and 7 treatments (T1= Control T2= 180 kg ha-1 of N as urea in 2-split applications T3= 180 kg ha-1 of N as urea in 3-split applications T4= 180 kg ha-1 N in 5-split urea applications T5 = pre-plant urea + 4-split urea applications T6= 1/3 N as SCU as the base fertilizer +4-split urea applications and T6=1/3 N as complete fertilizer as the base fertilizer +4-split urea applications) in the second year with 3 replications. In the second year, N rate was increased from 150 to 180 kg ha-1, adding the existing extra nutrients in complete macro and fertilizers to other treatments and N split-application was increased up to four times. After harvesting, grain yield, NUE and NARF were measured. The results of first year revealed that the yield, NUE and NARF for T2 (5145 kg ha-1, 13.8 kg kg-1, 41.2%, respectively) and T6 (5067 kg ha-1, 13.2 kg kg-1, 38.2.2%, respectively) were increased significantly at 1% level. In the second year, the maximum grain yield (6335 kg ha-1), NUE (16.2 kg kg-1) and NARF (50%) were obtained again from T6 treatment. Higher yield, NUE and NARF in the second year were mainly due to higher N rates and more N split applications. The economic returns for these substitutions, even without considering any fertilizer subsidies, the averages turned out to be 14, 8 and 4 in these treatments, respectively. Overall results revealed that the substitution of complete macro and SCU fertilizers with pre-plant urea is advisable in wheat production areas. Therefore, it is recommended that the experiment be further tested and evaluated in some wheat growing provinces.l results.

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Deficit irrigation is one of the irrigation management methods that is used to increase Water Use Efficiency. Considering the internal plant adaptability characteristic to water shortage, Partial Root Drying method has been introduced in recent years. In this field research improvement of Water Use Efficiency for Soybean was determined. This experiment which was conducted at four furrow irrigation treatments at the Research Field of Tehran University in Karaj in 2008, consists of full irrigation (100% soil moisture deficit compensation), conventional deficit irrigation at 50 and 75 percent soil moisture deficit compensation and Partial Root Drying at 50 percent soil moisture deficit compensation with three replications. The amounts of irrigation used were exactly compensation level (negligible loss). Results indicated that Water Use Efficiency according to Duncan's Multiple Range Test at the five percent level of probability there was a significant difference between partial root drying treatment (PRD50%) and conventional deficit irrigation treatment at fifty percent soil moisture deficit compensation (DI50%),. Water Use Efficiency in PRD50% compared with DI50%, DI75% and full irrigation increased by 48.3%, 61.9% and 70.1% respectively.

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To evaluate the effect of nitrogen slowly released from pellet, composed of manure and urea fertilizer on the Nitrogen efficiency and morphological Characteristics and grain yield of corn hybrid (S.C704), a field experiment was carried out in Aboureihan research farm of Tehran University in 2009. The factorial design of the study comprised a randomized complete block with three replications. The application rates of N at four levels (46, 92, 138 and 184 kg N. ha-1) and two levels by methods of N distribution (pellet and mixed with soil) were applied. In this research, a Screw Extruder setup was designed and manufactured. Statistical analysis indicated that NUE, as well as agronomic efficiency (AE) was reduced while physiological efficiency (PE) increased with increasing N rates. Also, most plant length and stem diagonal and cob diagonal pellet belonged to the treatment. But, the number of leaves per plant did not affect the distribution method of fertilizer.The results showed significant differences among various rates of nitrogen and methods of N distribution considering grain yield and grain protein. The higher rates of N increased grain protein, grain yield and yield components (except for number of rows per ear). Maximum grain yield (11.1 t. ha-1) was obtained with 184 kg N. Ha-1 treatment.

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The Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS-CN) method is widely used for predicting direct runoff from rainfall events. The ratio of initial abstraction (λ=Ia/S) to maximum potential retention (S) was assumed in its original development to be equal to 0.2 (λ=Ia/S=0.2) in SCS-CN method. Application of the initial abstraction ratio equal to 0.2 out of the area where it has been developed may lead to a non logical estimation of runoff. Thus, the study was conducted to determine the initial abstraction ratio (λ=Ia/S) by analyzing measured rainfall-runoff events. The dataset consisted of 58 rainfall-runoff events during 15 years (1987-2001) of rainfall and runoff measurements from Taham-Chay watershed, northwest of Zanjan, Iran. Based on the results, the estimated runoff value on the basis of Ia= 0.2S was 26.7 times higher than the measured value, on average. There was a very low relationship between the measured and estimated runoff values (R2=0.09) and mean model error was 0.13. The Ia/S values varied from 0.004 to 0.008 with an average of 0.006. When Ia/S value was modified to 0.08, ratio of the measured to estimate runoff value was 1.4 and the determination coefficient (R2) of the relationship between the two was 0.41. When seven rainfall events that had the low rainfall intensity values (lower than 0.14 mm/h) and two events that had the high rainfall depth (bigger than 10.47 mm) during the past five days were removed from the data analysis process, ratio of the measured to estimated runoff value decreased to 1.3 and the determination coefficient (R2) of the relationship between the two enhanced to 0.90. The mean model error for the modified Ia/S value also decreased to 0.007. It also improved model efficiency coefficient (EF) to -0.089 compared with 0.91 for traditional Ia/S value (0.2).

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Application of the modern irrigation systems such as T-Tape irrigation system is one of the ways to achieve aptimal irrigation The present study deals with the effect of surface and subsurface drip irrigation systems on the cotton yield For this purpose, a field experiment was conducted in the Agricultural and Natural Resource Research Institute of Orzoueyeh, located in the Kerman province. The experiments were conducted in a split plot design based on the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments were comprised of three levels of the crop water requirements (i.e. irrigation based on 100, 80 and 60 percent of crop water requirement) in main plot and with the two irrigation systems, surface one and subsurface one. The results showed that the yield resulting from treatments with 60 and 80 percent crop water requirement was respectively 981 and 413 kg/ha lower than that of treatment with 100 percent crop water requirement. In addition, the obtained yield due to subsurface system was 248 kg/ha greater than that of the surface pattern. The interaction of treatments on the yield of the crop also indicates that the treatment with subsurface system and 100 percent crop water requirement produces the maximum yield. Despite equal water consumption in each sub plots, the WUE in subsurface system was 14 percent higher than that of surface system. From the economical point of view, benefit to cost ratio in the subsurface system is 8 percent less than surface system. Considering the results obtained in this study in the light of water saving as the main objective in deficit irrigation and water use efficiency (WUE) for cotton cultivation in Orzoueyeh, the 80% of crop water requirement is preferred

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Limited information is available about the effect of preceding crop residues on bioavailability of zinc (Zn) in calcareous soil and its accumulation in wheat grain. In this experiment, residues of five crops including safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), clover (Trifolium pretense L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) were incorporated into a calcareous Zn-deficient (0.5 mg kg-1) soil. A treatment without crop residue was also used in the experiment. This experiment was conducted in research greenhouse of Isfahan university of technology in 2010. Two wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum cvs. Backcross and Kavir) differing in Zn-efficiency were studied in the experiment. Incorporating crop residues into the soil resulted in an increase of grain Zn concentration in both wheat cultivars although this increase was dependent on the preceding crop type. The greatest increase of grain Zn concentration occurred in the sorghum residues treatments. Although application of crop residues significantly decreased grain phytic acid to Zn molar ratio (as Zn bioavailability criteria for consumers), this ratio was still higher than 15, the critical Zn bioavailability level for consumers in foods. According to the results, despite the increase in the total Zn content, the bioavailability of Zn in wheat grain was not affected by crop residue treatments.

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Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is one of the most important oilseed crops in the world. Drought stress is one of the environmental factors limiting sesame production. The effects of water deficiency can be reduced by inoculation of plant roots with mycorrhiza fungi. In this experiment, the objective was to determine the effects of different levels of water application (60, 80 and 100% of soil moisture depletion) using surface drip irrigation method and inoculation of plants with mycorrhiza on WUEag of sesame. The experiment was arranged using a factorial design based on randomized complete block design with three replications. The field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Farm of Isfahan University of Technology in 2011. Results showed that the effect of irrigation regime on WUEag of seed yield was not significant. However, the effect of mycorrhiza on WUEag of seed yield was significant. The highest WUEag (0.74 kg/m3) was related to irrigation regime of 80% and mycorrhiza. The effect of irrigation regime and mycorrhiza on WUEag of oil yield were significant. The highest WUEag (0.43 kg/m3) was related to irrigation regime of 100% and mycorrhiza inoculation.

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This study aimed to investigate the dynamic changes of rill erosion and evaluate the ability of Hairsine-Rose model in estimation of sediment concentration. The experiments were carried out at the Soil and Water Conservation Research Station of Tehran University in Kuhin, Qazvin. Four flow rates were tested at three slopes in trapezoidal hand-made rills of 3 m long and 5 cm base width. Outflows were sampled periodically to determine changes in sediment concentration. The experiments were repeated in early autumn and mid spring. Sediment concentration showed a dynamic change with time which was affected by flow rate, slope and season. The sediment concentration was high in the first few minutes of the experiment but over time, dropped and finally reached a more or less stable state. The effects of flow rate and slope were more detectable on sediment concentration at the early unsteady conditions than at the final steady conditions. Though the temporal trends were similar, the sediment concentration was generally higher in autumn than in spring. Hairsine-rose model showed a better performance at lower flow stream powers but generally over predicted sediment concentration showing a systematic error probably due to model formulation.

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Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation (MUSLE) is one of soil loss estimation models which has been developed based on the runoff characteristics in the event scale. However, it needs to be evaluated in the plot scale for the semi-arid rainfall events. With this aim, a field study was designed using twenty one plots. Runoff and soil loss were measured using 5-min samples under seven rainfall intensities consisted of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 60, and 70 mm h^-1 for 60 min. Soil loss was estimated using the MUSLE based on the runoff volume (Q) and runoff peak discharge (q_p) and the values were compared with the observed values. The estimated soil loss was about 3.89 times bigger than the observed value on average. In order to improve model estimations, the power of rainfall erosivity index was modified from 0.56 to 0.62, (Q q_p)^0.62. The modification of the MUSLE model improved model efficiency (ME) from -5.5 to 0.47 and decreased the root mean square error from 0.000137 to 0.000031. This study revealed that the MUSLE overestimates soil loss from the small plots in the semi -arid regions. Therefore it is essential to calibrate runoff erosivity index using the data observed in the area. The modified MUSLE can be reliably used to predict soil loss in the small plot scale in semi-arid regions.
 

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