S. Abdi Ardestani, B. Khalili, M. M. Majidi,
Volume 25, Issue 1 (Spring 2021)
Abstract
Long-term drought effect is one of the main factors of global climate change, with consequences for soil biogeochemical cycling of carbon and nitrogen and the function of soil ecosystem under drought conditions. We hypothesized that 1) the Bromus inermis, Dactylis glomerata and festuca arundinacea species would differ in their rhizosphere responses to drought and 2) combined plant species and drought would have offsetting effects on the soil biological traits. We tested these hypotheses at the long-term drought field expreiment at the Lavark Farm of Isfahan University of Technology by analyzing soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen and activity of β-glucosaminidase in the rhizosphere of Bromus inermis, Dactylis glomerata and festuca arundinacea species. Soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen responses to drought depended on plant species, such that the highest MBC was recorded in the Bromus inermis rhizosphere, while the lowest was in the Dactylis glomerata rhizosphere, thereby suggesting the greater microbial sensitivity to drought in the Dactylis glomerata rhizosphere. Genotype variations (drought tolerate and sensitive) mostly affected the change in the β-glucosaminidase activity, but they were not significantly affected by drought treatment and plant species. In general, the positive effects of the plant genotype could offset the negative consequences of drought for soil microbial biomass and traits.
N. A. Zakavi, H. A. Nadian, b. Khalilimoghadam, A. A. Moezzi,
Volume 28, Issue 2 (Summer 2024)
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are highly important in improving plant growth and decreasing the negative effects of contaminants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of inoculation of mycorrhizal fungus on the concentration of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) by parsley (Petroselinum sativum) in heavy metal-contaminated soil in the presence of kerosene. This study was carried out as a factorial experiment based on the randomized complete design with four replications under greenhouse conditions. Experimental factors were included: 1- microbial inoculation in two levels with mycorrhizal fungus (Rhizophagus irregularis) and control (without inoculation), and 2- kerosene in four levels of 0, 4, 8, and 12 mL kg-1 soil. The results showed that mycorrhizal inoculation led to a significant increase in root (61.1 to 150.1%) and shoot dry weight (9.1 to 51.5%), shoot P, Zn, and Cu concentration and root Pb (18.7 to 97.9%) and Cd (13.3 to 98.6%) concentration, while significantly decreased shoot Pb (10.0 to 29.2%) and Cd (19.6 to 72.1%) concentration. The root bio-concentration factor (BCF) (7.74%) was higher than compared to shoot BCF. The mycorrhizal inoculation decreased the translocation factor (TF) of Pb and Cd. The TF<1 shows that the mycorrhizal fungus immobilized Pb and Cd in the roots and prevented their translocation from the root to the shoot. Hence, mycorrhizal inoculation can be effective in contaminated soils through bioconcentration of Pb and Cd in the root and decrease their translocation to the parsley shoot.
Sh. Amiri, B. Khalili,
Volume 29, Issue 1 (Spring 2025)
Abstract
Soils are continuously exposed to large amounts of engineered nanoparticles, particularly silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which can affect soil microbial activities and nitrogen cycling. The hypotheses of the present study were: (i) vegetation types would differ in their responses to Ag types and concentrations, (ii) these responses would be linked to changes in soil protein and amino acid concentrations, and (iii) combined plant root systems alongside Ag types and concentrations would have offsetting effects on soil protein and amino acid concentrations. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to test these hypotheses using a factorial arrangement of treatments within a randomized block design. Two soil types with loamy sand and sandy loam textures were collected from agricultural fields in Isfahan, specifically from the Badroud (33◦ 44′ 50" N, 51◦ 57′ 55" E) and Femi (33◦ 42′ 17" N, 51◦ 59′58" E) regions. The treatments included: 1) soil types (loamy sand and sandy loam), 2) root systems (non-planted, wheat, and safflower), 3) Ag types (no Ag added, AgNPs, and AgNO3), and 4) Ag concentrations (50 and 100 ppm). The plants were harvested 110 days after sowing, with soil samples collected from both the root zone and non-planted soil, after which the concentrations of protein and amino acids were measured. In the Badroud soil, protein concentration significantly decreased (p < 0.05) with increasing depth. Although depth changes did not show a significant difference in protein concentration in the soil under wheat cultivation, increasing depth resulted in a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in protein concentration in the soil under safflower cultivation. In the Fami soil, the addition of silver nitrate led to a significant (p < 0.05) increase in protein concentration, despite the fact that the addition of silver nanoparticles had no significant (p < 0.05) effect on soil protein concentration. In the Badroud soil, the highest concentration of soil amino acids was observed in the silver nitrate treatment, while the silver nanoparticle treatment did not significantly affect soil amino acid concentrations (p < 0.05). However, applying silver treatments at both tested concentrations resulted in a significant increase (p < 0.05) in soil amino acid levels. Overall, the effects of nanoparticles varied depending on the measured parameters (protein or amino acid), soil texture, and type of cultivation. Further studies are needed to determine the mechanisms by which AgNPs and AgNO3 affect the soil nitrogen cycle in the presence of plants at different soil depths.
Ali Akbarian Khalilabad, Hojat Karami, Seyed Farhad Mousavi,
Volume 29, Issue 3 (Fall 2025)
Abstract
The reduction of soil permeability due to the sedimentation of suspended particles is a significant challenge to the efficient operation of artificial recharge systems. In this study, the effects of sediment concentration (0.5, 2, and 4 g/L), soil particle size, and vertical distribution on clogging processes were investigated using laboratory soil column experiments. The results showed a two-phase decrease in permeability: a rapid initial drop caused by the blockage of coarse pores during the first 10 minutes, followed by a second phase where the system reached a relative equilibrium. Higher sediment concentrations led to a faster decline and lower equilibrium values of permeability. Fine-grained soils, despite having lower initial permeability, demonstrated greater resistance to clogging, while coarse-grained soils experienced more severe reductions. Vertical analysis indicated that the most significant permeability loss occurred at a depth of 40-50 cm, while deeper layers showed increased permeability due to the limited penetration of suspended particles. These findings can inform the selection of appropriate materials, the design of subsurface layers in recharge basins, the prediction of system lifespan, and the regulation of sediment load in inflows to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of artificial recharge systems.
Homa Chegini, Chooghi Bairam Komaki, Majid Owneq, Hamidreza Asgari, Khalil Ghorbani,
Volume 30, Issue 1 (spring 2026)
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze the spatial–temporal correlation between the Vegetation Health Index (VHI) and climatic variables, including precipitation, potential evapotranspiration (PET), and mean temperature, in Golestan Province during the period 2000–2024. MODIS satellite products were used for vegetation and land surface temperature data, while the TerraClimate dataset provided precipitation and PET variables. After spatial–temporal alignment, the Cross-Correlation Function (CCF) was applied to identify optimal time lags, and the Random Forest model was employed to assess the relative importance of the climatic drivers. Turning to the results, increasing trends in mean temperature and PET were observed, alongside a significant decrease in precipitation, which led to intensified climatic stress and reduced VHI across the province, especially during summer in croplands and rangelands. The relationship between VHI and precipitation was positive (maximum correlation of 0.299 in croplands), negative with PET (−0.287), and non-linear with temperature (0.275). Notably, VHI responded to precipitation with short-term lags (0–1 month), whereas PET and temperature effects emerged with longer lags (2–4 months). The Random Forest analysis highlighted precipitation as the most influential factor on VHI, followed by PET and temperature, achieving strong predictive performance (R² = 0.78, RMSE = 0.09). Overall, these findings emphasize precipitation as the immediate driver of vegetation health, while PET and temperature act as secondary, cumulative stressors. The results provide valuable insights for developing climate adaptation and sustainable resource management strategies in agriculture and natural ecosystems of Golestan Province.
