Showing 242 results for Cu
T. Mahmoodi-Ghehsareh, B. E. Sayed-Tabatabaei, C. Ghobadi, A. Mirlohi,
Volume 8, Issue 3 (10-2004)
Abstract
The significance of haploid plants as genetic and plant breeding tools has been recognized for a long time. Haploid production techniques including anther culture, isolated microspore culture and intergeneric hybridization between wheat × Hordeum bulbosum and wheat × maize have been used to produce homozygous lines which accelerate breeding programs. In this study, wheat × maize hybridization and anther culture techniques were used for haploid production in six wheat genotypes. The results showed that 70.7% of regenerated plants through anther culture were albino plants and only 29.2 % were green, while the plants produced through wheat × maize method were all green. Ploidy variation was not observed in plants regenerated through wheat × maize hybridization. It was concluded that wheat × maize crosses would be an appropriate and practical method for haploid production in different wheat genotypes, which in comparison with the anther culture method has a higher efficiency.
H. Sedighi, M. Beglarian,
Volume 8, Issue 4 (1-2005)
Abstract
Today, privatization of agricultural extension services is recognized as an appropriate approach to compensate for any weakness that the traditional extension system might have. The primary objective of this research was to study the attitude of the national top managers (including general managers, their deputies, and extension managers) of Jihad-e Keshavarzi Organizations (JKO), toward privatization of agricultural extension. Twenty JKOs from 20 provinces were randomly selected for study. A questionnaire was developed to the gather information needed and 107 general managers, deputies, and extension managers were randomly selected for this purpose. A pilot test was conducted on a similar population and reliability coefficients of (A Cronbach Alpha) 81%, and 89% were obtained for the attitude and managerial characteristics of the questionnaire respectively. The results showed that 93.83% of the subjects had either “positive” or “relatively positive” attitude toward privatization of agricultural extension. The majority of the subjects indicated that privatization of extension could provide a “supplementary means to complement the existing public extension services”. A hierarchical regression analysis indicated that the independent variables collectively are responsible for 17.4% (R2 =0.174) of the variation in dependent variables. This indicates that a considerable amount of variances in dependent variables are yet unaccounted for that could be explained by variables that were not investigated in this study (requiring further study).
S. Mashhadi Asghari, N. Aliasgharzadeh,
Volume 8, Issue 4 (1-2005)
Abstract
Peat is the best known and the most widely used rhizobial carrier, but unfortunately, it lacks of sufficient sources in Iran. This research aimed at using some inexpensive materials as carrier instead of peat for producing the rhizobial inoculant for alfalfa. For this purpose, the physical and chemical properties of some materials to be used as carriers were determined and the viability of Sinorhizobium meliloti on these carriers during 6 months at +4 ºC was evaluated. The selected carriers were 1) Peat (control) 2) Vermicompost 3) Bilogical Filter Waste (BFW) 4) Vermiculite+Vermicompost (1:1w/w), and 5) Vermiculite+BFW (1:1w/w). Also to determine the suitable moisture content of carriers on prolongation of bacterial survival, two matric potential levels including –10 and –30 kpa were applied on the carriers. The results showed that vermiculite+BFW (1:1w/w) not only maintained a standard number of bacteria compared to the other treatment, but also caused good nodulation on alfalf seedling at the end of the 6th month. Although BFW carrier maintained a high number of bacteria after six months storage, it can not be recommended as a suitable carrier because of its negative effect on nodulation. In this study, higher number of bacteria was maintained in the matric potential of –30 kpa than –10kpa.
M. Hajian Shahri, M. Abbasi,
Volume 8, Issue 4 (1-2005)
Abstract
In order to investigate variations of spore population, root colonization and also to determine mycorrhizal symbiosis in the root and rhizosphere of Pistachio trees (Pistacia vera) in natural forests, two study stations in Kalat (Chachaeh) and Sarakhs (Shorlogh) regions were selected. Sampling from soil and root of the trees were taken from under the canopy and from a depth of 30 cm. On a monthly basis. The roots were stained and the colonization rate and the variations of spore population were measured. Some soil characteristics including pH, moisture, organic material percentage and available phosphorus were determined, The correlation coefficients between the measured factors were calculated. The results indicated that vesicular – arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) was the only symbiotic mycorriza of pistachio trees. Average amounts of root colonization were 13% and 11% in Chahchaheh and Shorlogh stations, respectively. Also, average numbers of spores per 1 gram of dry soil in the above stations were 12 and 10, respectively. The correlation between the variation of spore population and colonization levels was positive but the correlation between spore population and soil moisture, organic material, available phosphorus and pH was negative.
A. Sheikhi Garjan, K. Talebi, A. A. Pourmirza,
Volume 8, Issue 4 (1-2005)
Abstract
The egg parasitoids are the major natural enemies of sunn pest and application of selective insecticides is one of the strategies for conservation of natural enemies. The toxicity of five different insecticides used in cereal fields to the parasitized eggs was investigated under laboratory conditions. The insecticide solutions were made based on the recommended field rates. 3-, 5- and 8- day -old parasitized eggs were dipped into insecticide solutions.
Among the treated developmental stages (except for the fenirothion), 3- and 8- day- old parasitized eggs showed the highest and the lowest emergence percentages, respectively. Deltamethrin had maximum effect on emergence percentage whereas phosalone had the least hazardous effects. There was a significant difference in parasitism percentage between 3- and 8- day- old parasitized eggs in each of the 4 treatments, viz trichlorphon, fenitrothion, deltamethrin and esfenvalerate. Adults emerging from 3- day- old eggs parasitised less eggs than those emerged from 8- day- old eggs in fenitrothion, and trichlorphon treatments. All tested insecticides were highly toxic to the adult parasitoid, causing 100% mortality when the adults were exposed to sprayed areas at recommended rates.
M. Shahvali, J. Moshfegh,
Volume 9, Issue 1 (4-2005)
Abstract
Changing agricultural experts' attitude toward sustainability principles and perceptions is essential to create sustainable agriculture. Various studies had shown that permanent changes are not easily accessible to maintain ecological values. Therefore preparing effective information channels and precautions leading to communication system firmness are important challenges ahead. The purpose of the present research was the evaluation of caricature effects on attitude change of Jihad Agriculture Organization experts concerning sustainable agriculture in Shiraz. A Quasi-experimental research method was devised for three groups consisting of two experimental and one control group. A Pre- and a Post-test were also administered. Eighty experts from Jihad Agriculture Organization were selected in a simple randomized sampling manner. Based on research theories, questions were devised and data were collected through a questionnaire. Its validity and reliability were determined by specialists and Cronbach's Alpha, respectively.
The results indicated that workshops had changed experts' attitude toward sustainability principles and perceptions and workshops with caricature had the most influences on the change of attitudes. Thus the use of caricature is significant to establish sustainable agricultural principles and perceptions in experts at local level conditions.
A. Khatoonabadi,
Volume 9, Issue 1 (4-2005)
Abstract
Public (or governmental) extension services suffer from its limitations and inadequacies to fulfill the requirements for sustainable farming practices. This study examines the aspects of practicing agricultural extension Privatization in Isfahan. The statistical sample society of the survey was the extension practitioners and technicians. Data were gathered through field questioning techniques and interpreted by the analytical methods of statistics in Isfahan province.
The result of the survey method on 105 agricultural extension agents and practitioners revealed that: 1) big farmers have more interest for private extension services than small farmers, 2) the more knowledgeable the farmers, the more demand for private advices 3) pest management, greenhouse production, mechanization and market information are given priority for private advisory services. Finally, "cooperative advisory service" was found to be the most relevant structure to motivate farmers' learning and consultancy activities.
J. Keramat, Kh. Talebi, L. Mosaffa,
Volume 9, Issue 1 (4-2005)
Abstract
Vegetable crops are exposed to repeated spraying against the pests and diseases during the growing sessions. Crops such as greenhouse cucumber are usually harvested a short time after spraying, bearing a high level of pesticides with them. This fact justifies a research on this problem. This research was carried out to determine the effects of metalaxyl (a fungicide commonly used in greenhouse) residue in cucumbers grown under traditional and modern greenhouse conditions. Cucumber plants were sprayed with two different doses: 1/1 000 and 2/1000 metalaxyl in modern and traditional greenhouses. Samples were collected 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21 and 28 days after spraying with metalaxyl. The fungicide residue was extracted, cleaned up by TLC and the final solution was analyzed by HPLC. Data were analyzed statistically by t-test (paired observations) and Duncans multiple range test.
The results revealed that the amount of metalaxyl residues increased in the first four days following spraying. This amount of the residue was 10 times higher than MRL (0.5 mg/kg), while a lower level of MRL (0.5 mg/kg) was detected 21 days after the application. Results also showed that a lower dose of application left a higher residual level than the higher one. On the other hand, no significant differences (p<0.05) were found between the amounts of residues in peeled and unpeeled cucumbers. Thus, fruit peeling does not reduce the fungicide residue in cucumber. Also, there were no significant differences (p<0.05) between the results obtained from modern and traditional greenhouses. Therefore, cucumber must either be harvested before or at least 14 days after spraying with metalaxyl.
M. R. Safari Motlagh, F. Padasht, Gh. Hedjaroude,
Volume 9, Issue 2 (7-2005)
Abstract
The brown spot disease is one of the seed-borne diseases of rice, found in the all stages of its growth from nursery to farm. It causes qualitative and quantitative damage on rice. Therefore, some studies carried out on the different aspects of this disease and the reaction of some cultivars of rice against the pathogenic fungous agent of the diseases. To do so, 120 isolates, isolated from plant samples were collected from the 91 paddy fields in Guilan. To isolate the pathogenic fungous agent of the disease, the collected samples were cultured on PDA and filter paper. According to the results, the present isolation related to Bipolaris with the 3 species : Bipolaris oryzae (Ito & Kurib.) Drechsler ex Dastur Bipolaris victoriae Nelson Bipolaris sp. The total isolataes were consisted of 15% Bipolaris oryzae, 75% Bipolaris -victoriae and 10% Bipolaris sp. The study of pathogenicity of isolation in these three species was applied to Khazar rice in desicator. The symptoms created by these three species were different from necrotic spots to leaf death. The results indicated that not only the symptoms but also the virulence in these three species were different. The virulence in B. oryzae was more than B. sp and this was more than B. victoriae. To study the reaction of some cultivars of rices to the pathogenic fungous agent, 8 cultivars of rice: “ Bejar, Khazar, Sepeedroud, Domsephid, Hassan saraee, Binam, Neda, Nemat” respectively were used in the two stages of the plant growth, to leaf in the seedling stage and heading. The results indicated that in seedling stage there was no significant difference between these cultivars with respect to the amount of infection. And in heading stage, according to “Dunken” test (5%) they divided into the 3 groups: “Neda, Sepeedrud, Khazar and Binam” with the lowest amount of infection were in the first group, “Bejar, Domsephid and Hassan saraee” classified in the second group and “Nemat” was in the third one. But there was no significant difference between them according to the variance analysis table.
F. Amiri, M. Bassiri, M. Iravani,
Volume 9, Issue 2 (7-2005)
Abstract
The vast and diverse rangelands of Iran require the selection of appropriate methods for grazing intensity measurement in the different vegetation types. Methods can be compared on the bases of time and budget as well as their accuracy. In this study nine methods of the utilization measurement were conducted on the E. ceratoides stands of Hanna exclosure Semirom, Isfahan province. The duncan multiple range test was used to compare mean utilization percentages obtained from the different methods, with paired cage method data was used as control group. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was also used to compare methods for accuracy, time and budget. The means from reference unite, twig length, production index, plant count and stem count methods had significant (p<0.05) differences compared with control group but were comparatively time consuming and more expensive than other methods. The height-weight method resulted in an estimate with no significant difference with the control group. This method was also fastest and least expensive among methods with the accurate results (p<0.05).
Z. Pakkish, M. Rahemi,
Volume 9, Issue 3 (10-2005)
Abstract
Green skin (hull) of pistachio fruits is a barrier against the penetration of fungi and insects into the kernel of pistachio. Splitting of husk facilitates the entry of fungi and infection of pistachio kernels during the harvest. So far no effective way has been reported for controlling this problem. To evaluate the effects of gibberellic acid on hull spliting the present research was conducted in a commercial orchard of pistachio during 2001-2002 in Rafsanjan, Iran. Gibberellic acid (GA3) at 0,25,50 and 100 mg –1 was applied on 25-year-old of “Owhadi” pistachio cultivar. Two branches of each tree was sprayed during two years of study. GA3 at 25,50 and 100 mg –1 significantly reduced hull splitting and penetration by Aspergillus spp. into pistachio fruits. There was a positive correlation between the hull splitting and fungi penetration (r=0.92*). The exocarp, mesocarp and endocarp of pistachio fruits cultured on selective medium of Aspergillus spp. showed no infection of pistachio kernel by Aspergillus spp. The highest concentration of aflatoxin was detected in the kernel of non-treated fruits (6.25 ppb) and the lowest (0.5 ppb) fruits treated by GA3 . GA3 reduced husk slippery of pistachio fruits at harvest. The rate of husk slippery was reduced by increasing the concentration of GA3. Gibberellic acid treatments had no significant effect on dehiscence, weight of 100 fruits, total soluble solids, but significantly increased fat and chlrophyll content of kernel of pistachio fruits. The results of the study is recommended for commerical pistachio production in Iran.
M. Alikhani, A. A. Alamooti, Gh. R. Ghorbani, N. Sadeghi,
Volume 9, Issue 3 (10-2005)
Abstract
Whole plant sunflower and sunflower without head were ensiled in plastic containers using additives in a 2×2×2×2 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design with three replicates. Additives were molasses, urea (at 4 and 0.5 percent wet basis respectively), and a bacterial inoculant (Agros 6gr/ton of forage as manufacture’s instruction). Compared with silages without head, ensiling sunflower as whole plant resulted in lower pH, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and ash versus higher concentrations of crude protein and ether extract (EE). No significant effect of seed was observed on lactic acid concentration and dry matter degradability (P<0.05). With the addition of molasses, the cell wall components and the EE concentrations reduced, but dry matter content increased. Highest degradability of dry matter was also observed in molasses-treated silages (average 58.04, P<0.007). With the addition of urea a significant increase was seen in CP content of either whole plant or headless silages (P<0.0001) with no effect on other fermentation characteristics. Bacterial inoculation of silages elevated the levels of lactic acid (2.81% DM) with more pronounced effect on headless than whole plant silages. Regardless of type of additives, butyric acid concentrations were ideally minimal (near to 2%) indicating least clostridial damage. The qualitative visual evaluation of the silage on the basis of scale of 1-20 for the smel, colour and structure of the silage and giving number to the mold damage on the basis of 1-10 placed all the treatment in an acceptable quality, although the mold damage was highest in silages without molasses. Results of this experiment indicated that better quality of silalges could be provided by adding molasses and ensiling whole plant sunflower. Improving quality of silages contained molasses might necesitate the additiion of a source of water-soluble carbohydrate at ensiling.
A. R. Massah Bavani, S. Morid,
Volume 9, Issue 4 (1-2006)
Abstract
In this study the impact of climate change on temperature, rainfall and river flows of the Zayandeh Rud basin under two climate change scenarios for two periods (2010-2039 and 2070-2099) are investigated. For the evaluation of future climate change impact on stream flow to Chadegan reservoir, the global circulation model (GCM) outputs of the HadCM3 model (monthly temperature and precipitation) with two scenarios, A2 and B2, are obtained and downscaled to the local level for the selected time periods. The results indicate that the annual average of precipitation decreases and temperature increases for both periods that are more pronounced for the period 2079-2099. Such that 10% to 16% decrease in precipitation and 3.2 to 4.6ºC increases in temperature can be anticipated for scenarios A2 and B2, respectively. To predict future stream flow changes due to climate change, artificial neural networks (ANNs) have been applied and trained by the several input models and architectures for rainfall-runoff simulation. The results indicate that the maximum of 5.8% decrease in the annual flows. Comparison of the two scenarios indicates the more critical situation in scenario A2 for the basin.
M. Aghaalikhani, A. Ghalavand, A. Ala,
Volume 9, Issue 4 (1-2006)
Abstract
In order to evaluate the effects of plant densities (10, 13, 20 and 40 plant/m2 ) on the yield and yield components of two cultivars (Partow, Gohar) and a line (VC-1973A) of mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] a field experiment was conducted at the Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII) of Karaj in Summer 1998. This research carried out in a factorial experiment based on Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 4 replications. The results indicated that VC-1973A line had the highest grain yield. This line has superiority to other cultivars, due to the early and uniformity of seed maturity and easy mechanized harvest. Plant density has a significant effect (p<0.01) on the grain yield, in such a way that the densities of 20 and 10 plant/m2 outyielded the highest (2221 kg/ha) and lowest (1650 kg/ha) grain yield respectively. Among the yield components, only the number of pods per plant indicated a significant difference due to the plant density. Correlation coefficient between attributes indicated that the plant height and height of first pod internode had a positive correlation with the plant density, while the correlation of the plant density with harvest index (HI), branch number and pod number per plant was negative. More over it seems that the pod number per plant is the most important components of mungbean’s yield, because it has a high (r = 0.88) and significant (p<0.01) correlation with the grain yield.
B. M. Ashour, A. Arzani, A. Rezaei, S. A. M. Mirmohammady Maibody,
Volume 9, Issue 4 (1-2006)
Abstract
The Genetic basis of grain yield and related characteristics were studied by a generation mean analysis in five crosses of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). “Roshan”, “Mahdavi”, “Inia”, “Atila” and “Goscoyin” cultivars along with their F1, F2, BC1 and BC2 populations were evaluated by a split-plot design with crosses as the whole plot in a randomized complete block design with two replications and generations were applied as the subplots. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among generations for studied characteristics including the grain yield per plant, the number of spikelet per plant, the number of spikelet per spike and grain weight per spike. For the majority of traits and crosses, F/DH1/2 was less than one, indicating that the sign and magnitude of gene actions were different. Estimates of broadsense and narrow sense heritabilities were low for the grain yield per plant compared with other traits, rating from 28.5% to 58.6% and 24% to 48,5% for the five crosses, respectively. Genetic components of generation means were calculated by fitting different models and choosing the best model indicated that the impact of additive, dominance and epistasis genetic components in controlling the traits depend on the cross and the trait under study.
Gh. Khajouei Nejad, H. Kazemi, H. Alyari, A. Javanshir, M. J. Arvin,
Volume 9, Issue 4 (1-2006)
Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of four levels of irrigation (irrigation of plants after I1 = 40, I2 =60, I3 = 80 , and I4 = 100mm of evaporation from class A pan) and four plant densities(D1 = 30, D2 = 40, D3 = 50 and D4 = 60 plants/m2) on the seed yield and seed quality in three soybean cultivars(V1=Hobit, V2=Williams and V3=Hill) in a split factorial design, based on the completely randomized blocks, with three replication for two years(2001 and 2002). The Irrigation treatments were assigned to the main plots, and the plant densities and cultivars to the sub plots. Results indicated that soybean seed yield was influenced by the different irrigation and plant density levels in the both years. Irrigation levels I2 produced the highest and I4 the lowest seed yield. It was also revealed that the plant density D3 produced the highest and D1 the lowest seed yields. Among the cultivars under investigation, V2 produced the highest and V3 the lowest seed yield . Seed oil and its protein contents both were affected significantly by the irrigation levels, plant densities and cultivars in both years. The plants receiving I1 treatment had the highest and those having I4, the lowest percentages of seed oil. Changes in the plant densities also affected seed oil and protein content. The plant density of D1 caused the seeds to have the highest oil and lowest protein percentages. However, D4 decreased oil and increased protein percentages. The highest water use efficiency was obtained from I3 and that of the lowest value from I1. The results also indicated that D4 had the highest and D1 the lowest water use efficiencies. Therefore, it could be concluded that the water use efficiency can be increased by increasing the plant density per unit area. The highest efficiency for biological and grain yield belonged to V2 and V1 respectively where as the lowest efficiency for those two mentioned characters belonged to V1 and V3, respectively. However, the treatment I2V2D2 is recommended for higer the seed yield production per unit area.
A. R. Ommani, M. Chizari,
Volume 10, Issue 1 (4-2006)
Abstract
The main objective of this article is to present the results of a study done about the social, economical, and farming characteristics of wheat farmers in Khuzestan province of Iran regarding adoption of low input sustainable agriculture (LISA). LISA practices have tended to reduce the use of fertilizer pesticides, and maximal tillage, but, rely more on crop rotation, crop residues, animal manure, green manure, leguminous, appropriate mechanical cultivation or minimal tillage to optimize soil and natural pest control activity. The research design was a descriptive and correlation surveying method. Wheat farmers in Ahvaz, Behbahan, and Dezful township of Iran who cultivated wheat by the use of irrigation in the year of 1379-80 were the target population for this study. A random sample of wheat farmers selected from three randomly selected township of Ahvaz, Behbahan, and Dezful township (N = 5529 , n = 359 ). The main results of the study indicated that correlation of level of education, wheat land, ownership land , income, social participation, social status, social norm, technical knowledge, LISA knowledge, with adoption LISA practices were significantly positive and the correlation of age, experience in agriculture, distance between farm and service centers with adoption LISA practices were significantly negative.
A. M. Amini, M. Ramezani,
Volume 10, Issue 1 (4-2006)
Abstract
The general goal of this research was to study the effective factors on the success of the poultry-farm cooperatives in Isfahan province. Based on multi-stage cluster sampling and Chocran formulas, nine cooperatives and 173 members were selected from 15 cooperatives with 1768 members. After completion of questionnaires, the AHP method was employed for scaling. Statistical tests (factor analysis and alpha coefficient) indicated that this research has a high construction validity and reliability. The research results indicated that cooperative functions toward fulfillment of members' demands were weak. The results of the path model indicated that effective factors on the success of cooperatives (from highest to the lowest) are: knowledge of cooperative principles by the members, extra-organizational factors, education quality, managers' skills, participation in cooperative affairs, and members' education level. Also, the success of cooperatives much relies on inter-organizational factors. The amount of members' share from education, participation in cooperative's affairs, the managers' specialty and skills, and knowledge of cooperatives' principles are very weak. Research results indicated that there is a direct and statistically significant correlation between these independent variables and the success of cooperatives in Isfahan province.
A. A. Vali,
Volume 10, Issue 1 (4-2006)
Abstract
Saline soils and halophytic vegetations are common features and part of the habitat pattern in deserts and steppes. The saline area is developing in arid lands. Investigation effects of halophytes on soil characteristics and adaptive mechanisms of the various halophyte types is essential for controlling saline environments. Juncus gerardi is a perennial grass-like halophyte and Halocnemum strobilaceum is a succulent halophyte shrub. The distribution of these species is mound like in the field. The soil samples of the mounds for investigating the effect of these species on plant root environment were compared with near regions in Korsiah saline area in Darab. Also the consentration some ions of live and dead organs and tissues of these species were studied for recognition of their adapive types. The results show that Juncus gerardi decrease salinity in 0-30 cm of topsoil, therefore the Ec decreased 37%. But salinity increased significantly in 30-60 cm depth. The identification of ions in plant tissues showed that the concentration of ions is low in dry matter. This is 0.33% of dry matter for Sodium. This is a way to rescue from dry conditions by selective absorption of ions. The comparison of root environment of Halocnemum strobilaceum with near regions showed a significant decrease in salinity in 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm depth decreased 27% and 40% respectively. The identification of ions concentrations in plant tissues reflect the high amounts of ions, therefore the plant tissues composed of 8.18% of Sodium. The comparision of ion concentrations in different live and dead tissues of plants a Significant increase of the amounts of ion in the dead tissues in comparison with the live tissues. Therefore this species excrete much quality of salts in their dead tissues and organs and so combat this problem.
A. A. Barati,
Volume 10, Issue 2 (7-2006)
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to survey income distribution among the agricultural and non-agricultural rural families in Ghoochan town, Khorasan province. Data was collected by filling out questionnaires, and having interviews with 265 rural families, selected by stratified random sampling. And the obtained data was analysed through Gini ratios, comparison of the quintiles, Lourenz curve and income ratios. The results showed that the income distribution among the non-agricultural families was higher than that among agricultural families. The Gini ratio for agricultural families was 0.57 and for non-agricultural families was 0.45. The lowest Gini ratio was among the families employed for both agricultural and non-agricultural activities (GR=0.38). Therefore, it seems that income inequalities can be improved by making rural families in Ghoochan work in both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors.
