JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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One of the most important pest in the Oak forest of Kurdistan province is Oak leaf roller moth, Tortrix viridana L. (Lep.: Tortricidae). Use of pheromone trap is one of the suitable methods for monitoring and controlling of the pest. In this work, three main factors which affect the efficiency of traps including trap type, pheromone dose and installation height trap were studied. Four types of trap including cylindrical, rectangular, delta and wing trap were tested. Capture efficiency of the traps, were installed in the middle, and top heights of the trees were compared. Three doses of pheromone 0.5, 1, and 1.5 mgr per trap were also compared. Results showed that there were significant differences among four types of traps. Cylindrical, rectangular and delta traps caught more number of moths than wing trap (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between two installation heights (P>0.05). However, a significant differences was observed among three doses (P<0.05), and the dose of 0.5 mg caught more moths than the other three doses. Therefore cylindrical traps containing 0.5mg of synthetic sex pheromone installed in the middle of the trees canopy may be recommended in the management program of the pest.

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To understand the role of relative humidity rate, host genotype, inoculation method and growth stage in epidemiology of bean common blight, two greenhouse experiments were carried out monitoring epiphytic population size of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli (Xap) and disease severity. The result showed significant differences among genotypes, inoculation methods and growth stages for epiphytic population size and sam effects except genotypes for disease severity. The epiphytic population size was significantly higher on spray inoculated Khomein cultivar of bean during flowering (R6). However, the relative humidity rates did not significantly affect population dynamics of epiphytic Xap and the disease severity. Two field experiments were also carried out to determine the effects of irrigation systems (furrow irrigation and overhead sprinkler irrigation), inoculation method, growth stage and their interactions on epiphytic population size of Xap and disease severity. The result showed that the epiphytic population size and disease severity were higher on spray inoculated plants irrigated with overhead sprinkler system during pods filling (R8). In this study, a significant positive correlation was found between epiphytic population size of Xap and bean common bacterial blight severity.

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Root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) cause yield loss in all countries, of which, M. javanica, is the most widespread species in Iran. In order to identify M. javanica, 100 infected root and soil samples of root knot nematode were collected from different regions of Kerman province. After purification of populations and identification of M. javanica based on morphological and morphometerical characters of females and second stage juveniles (J2), total DNA was extracted from eggs, J2 and female adults. Specific 670 and 1600 bp bands were amplified in all M. javanica populations using species-specific primer pairs including OPARjav / OPAFjav and Mjavf / Mjavr These specific bands could not be amplified in other species such as M. incognita and M. arenaria. It seems that, application of these species specific primers in comparison with morphological characters would be more applicable, leading to easier identification of M. javanica.

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In order to estimate the loss of rice caused by white tip nematode, (Aphelenchoides besseyi), to Alikazemi cv., two series of experiments were conducted in greenhouse and microplot conditions at Rice Research Institute, Rasht (Guilan province) during 2005-2006. The microplots sizes were 0.5×2 meter. Rice seedlings were inoculated by plastic tube method with 0, 100, 300, 500, 700 and 900 nematodes per plant. The experiments were arranged in greenhouse and microplot conditions as a completely randomized design and completely randomized block design with four replications, respectively. The factors under investigation consisted of symptoms (number of plants and Leaves infected), yield and population density of nematodes. The variance analysis of data showed significant differences among treatments in all parameters. The minimum infestation level leading to symptoms and yield loss in microplot condition (500 nematodes) was greater than greenhouse (300 nematodes). Regression analysis of data revealed that the yield reduction was mainly explained by population of nematodes in greenhouse and microplot (R2= 92.56, R2 = 91.55). Also, there was a positive correlation at 5% level of probability between disease incidence and nematode population (R2= 84.42, R2 = 75.27). The resulting equations from regression can be used to estimate crop loss from population of nematodes.

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To study the effect of nitrogen, salinity and organic matter on growth and root morphology of pistachio (Cv. Badami), a greenhouse experiment was conducted. Treatments consisted of four nitrogen (N) levels (0, 60, 120 and 180 mg kg-1 soil as urea), four salinity levels (0, 800, 1600 and 2400 mg NaCl kg-1 soil) and three organic matter (OM) levels (0, 2 and 4% soil as farmyard manure). Treatments were arranged in a factorial manner in a completely randomized design with three replications. As the salinity levels increased, leaf, stem and root dry weights and root density, were significantly reduced. Addition of N up to 120 mg kg-1 soil, had no significant effect on growth, but the highest N level (180 mg kg-1), due to nutrient imbalance, reduced abovementioned plant parameters. In low salinity levels, N application improved the growth of pistachio seedlings, but at the highest salinity level, N addition didn’t suppress the adverse effects of soil salinity. Due to useful physical and nutritional properties of soil organic matter, addition of OM significantly increased leaf, stem and root dry weights, stem height, shoot/root ratio and root density.

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In order to evaluate the effects of sulphur fertilizer sources and amounts on growth indices and yield of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. CV. NC2), a field experiment was conducted in Bandar Kiaashahr, Guilan province, Iran in 2004. The experiment was laid out in a factorial arrangement with two factors including sulphur sources (gypsum and single super phosphate) and sulphur rates (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg.h-1) in a completely randomized block design with three replications. Results showed that sulphur application greatly enhanced peanut growth and yield. The application of 90 kg.h-1 sulphur (in both forms) performed significantly better than the rest. The highest pod yield and grain yield were obtained in 90 kg.h-1 sulphur in gypsum form (6400 and 5200 kg.h-1, respectively). The highest LAI (6.6), CGR (20.2 g.m-2.12GDD-1) and PGR (16 g.m-2.12GDD-1) were obtained in 90 kg sulphur in the form of gypsum after 1142, 1142 and 1289 of accumulation, respectively. According to the results of the present experiment, it could be concluded that sulphur may considerably increase peanut grain yield and yield components. Thus, it could be expected that the application of 90 kg sulphur per hectare in the form of gypsum may result in better growth indices and higher grain yield of peanut.

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Exo-polysaccharide (EPS) production by some lactic acid bacteria (starter) during fermentation could affect the physical properties of yoghurt. In this study, at first EPS content and its effects on physical properties of three traditional (S1, S2 and G) and one industrial (I) yoghurt samples were studied. The results showed that there was significant differences in fat content, solid non-fat content, pH, EPS content, viscosity, elasticity and sensitivity to syneresis among samples. Statistical analysis based on a completely randomized design revealed that a significant correlation exists between EPS content and viscosity as well as resistance to syneresis of the samples. Fat content and solid non-fat content of the samples showed no correlation with physical properties of the samples. In the second phase of the study, to remove effects of raw milk composition and to be able to attribute the results to the EPS producing activity of the starter, skim milk was used to produce yoghurt samples using yoghurt samples tested in the first stage only as sources of starter. In these yoghurt samples, there were significant differences between amount of EPS and physical properties of yoghurts. There was also a significant correlation between EPS content and physical properties of each sample.

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Since malting process of barley is greatly affected by the seed endosperm structure, getting information about its anatomical characteristics along with physico-chemical properties would be very important. The aim of this study was to measure length, width, thickness, kernel density, bulk density, porosity, total nitrogen, reducing sugar, diastatic activity, pH and color changes during malting process. Results showed that width, thickness, reducing sugar and diastatic activity of the samples increased over the malting time, whereas kernel density, bulk density and total nitrogen decreased (P<0/05). Scanning electron microscopic examination of barley endosperm revealed a significant relationship between grain total nitrogen and degree of endosperm modification. Because of lower nitrogen content in Sahra malt, more digestion of cell walls and protein matrix of endosperm walls were observed.

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In this study, two kinds of packages namely tinplate (TP) can and flexible pouch were used for black cherry in syrup. Samples were taken in the same condition in these two packages. Other variables were temperature (4 levels) 4, 23, 35 and 40°C and time (4 levels) 0, 30, 60 and 90 days after preparation of the samples. Samples were digested according to the approved method of AOAC (AOAC, 1990). The total concentrations of Iron, Tin and lead, were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The mean concentration of Iron, Tin and Lead was 4/858 ppm, 38/459 ppb, 38/459ppb in TP cans and 3/161 ppm, 387/978ppb, 33/993 ppb in flexible pouches. Statistical analysis showed that at %5 probability level, the mean value of Iron content of the product packed in TP cans were significantly higher than the control the same was true about both lead and Tin content. However, this trend was not proved in flexible pouches. Furthermore, temperature had a significant effect on the metal content of the samples.

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In this study, the effect of “Osmodehydrofrozen” fruit addition on sensory, physical, chemical and microbiological properties of concentrated yoghurt and its quality during storage was evaluated. This research was done in two stages. At the first stage, fruit percentage, type and addition time (before and after fermentation) was determined. The results indicated yoghurts containing 10% apple or 13% strawberry, which was added before fermentation had a better quality. Because of high osmotic activity of apple, the synersis was lower in apple yoghurt in comparison with strawberry yoghurt. According to osmotic activity of both fruits, the synersis value was much lower than that of fruit yoghurts, which contained untreated fruits. Taste value was higher in strawberry yoghurt and texture and mouth feel values were higher at low percentages of fruit. The results of the second stage (quality evaluation during storage) indicated that storage had a significant effect on pH, acidity, synersis, taste and texture (P<0.05). In samples which contained apple, coli forms disappeared after 7 days of storage. In samples that contained strawberry, coli forms disappeared after 7 days of storage.

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In this study the causality relationship among variables in chicken and beef markets were investigated based on annual data from 1974 to 2004 in the I.S. of Iran. For this purpose, causality algorithms emerging from directed acyclic graphs were used in two cases, one based on co- integration analysis and innovation correlation matrix of Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) and the other using data directly. In the investigation of causality process, PC algorithm based on partial correlations and GES (Greedy Equivalent Search) based on Bayesian network model were used. The results revealed that there is no specific causality relation between chicken and beef consumption and their price indices. Thus it seems other variables and government interventions are effective factors in these markets. Therefore, this model is an instrument for forecasting changes of these variables. In these markets there are causality relations among price indices, quantities of consumption and other variables. Beef price index as endogenous variable, is under the effect of chicken price index, non meat food price index, non food price index, per capita expenditure and quantity of chicken consumption. The quantity of beef consumption is predetermined and isn’t under the effect of other variables. Chicken price index is endogenous and under the effect of beef price index, per capita expenditure and non food price index. Also chicken quantity consumption is endogenous and under the effect of beef quantity consumption and non meat food price index. With respect to the findings, for effectiveness, policy initiatives aimed at improving in meat industry should be different for different meat markets and the method of directed graphs can be used a s a guideline.

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This study was conducted in Research Farm of Isfahan University of Technology to evaluate some of the agronomic and physiological traits and grain yield potentials of ten bread wheat cultivars using a split plot design with three replications. Main and sub plot consisted of optimum and stress moisture treatments (irrigation after 70±3 and 130±3 mm evaporation from class A pan) and wheat cultivars, respectively. The results of analysis of variance revealed significant effect of moisture treatments on all traits except 1000-grain weight, harvest index, specific leaf weight, assimilate redistribution and difference of peduncle weights at heading. Significant differences were found among genotypes in the stress condition except for chlorophyll b and chlorophyll a to b ratio. Significant differences were detected among genotypes in optimum moisture condition for all characters, except for chlorophyll b, chlorophyll a to b ratio, harvest index and assimilate redistribution. Grain yields in two moisture conditions had significant positive phenotypic and genetic correlations with harvest index, number of grain/spike, RWC, chlorophyll a and sum of chlorophylls a and b and had significant negative correlation with RWL. Significant positive correlation was observed between peduncle weight at heading stage and difference of peduncle weights at stages heading and maturity with grain yield and RWC in moisture stress condition. The results of path analysis for phenotypic correlation coefficients between grain yield and their corresponding traits in the regression model showed that in stress condition harvest index had the highest direct and positive effect on grain yield and in non stress condition chlorophyll a had the highest direct and positive effect on grain yield. Results of stepwise regression analysis in non stress condition revealed that chlorophyll a, plant height and harvest index explained more than 90% of grain yield variability. Based on stepwise regression analysis in non stress condition, RWL, harvest index and RWC explained 95% of grain yield variability.

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Proper evaluation of soil erodibility factor is very important in assessment of soil erosion. In this study, soil erodibility factor (K) was assessed in a zone, 900 km2 in area in Hashtrood, located in a semi-arid region in north west of Iran. Soil erodibility factor was measured at the unit plots under natural rainfall events in 36 different lands in the study area from March 2005 to March 2007. Results indicated that the measured soil erodibility factor K is on average 8.77 times lower than the nomograph-based values in the study area. To achieve a new nomograph, correlation between measured soil erodibility and soil physicochemical properties was studied. Based on the results, soil erodibility factor negatively correlated with coarse sand, clay, organic matter, lime, aggregate stability and permeability, while its correlation with very fine sand and silt was positive. Results of principal component analysis of soil properties and multi-regression analysis showed that the soil erodibility factor is significantly (R2 = 0.92, P < 0.001) related to soil permeability, aggregate stability, lime and coarse sand. A new nomograph with a R2 of 92% was developed based on these properties to easily estimate soil erodibility factor in the study area. The soil erodibility factor can be reliably estimated using the nomograph in all regions with the soil and rain properties similar to those in the study area.

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The objective of this study was to evaluate the possibility of using treated industrial by-products as a zinc (Zn) source and compare their Zn availability and efficiency to ZnSO4. A greenhouse factorial experiment in a completely randomized block design was conducted with corn (Zea mays L.) in triplicates. Treatments included three Zn sources (ZnSO4, IUT-UT in size of < 1 mm and IUT-UT in size of 2-3 mm) at three rates (0, 20 and 40 kg ha-1). The results showed that Zn application both in the form of ZnSO4 and treated industrial by-products significantly (P < 0.05) increased the growth and shoot dry matter yield of corn. Shoot dry matter weight of corn in pots that had received IUTUT was higher compared to those that had received ZnSO4. The highest shoot dry matter weight was produced at the IUT-UT treatment in size of < 1 mm. Increased fertilizer rate significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced shoot and root Zn concentration. However, this increase was higher in ZnSO4 treatment as compared to the IUT-UT treatments. Application of the IUT-UT caused a significant increase in shoot Fe concentration of corn. Shoot and root Cd concentration in all experimental treatments was less than 0.02 mg kg-1. The results showed that IUT-UT can be used as a slow-release Zn fertilizer with low impurity.

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This study was conducted to determine the effect of 3 extractants on K release from biotite, phlogopite and muscovite. The minerals were grouped to <60 and 60-100 µm size classes. Particles CEC were saturated with calcium. Sequential extraction up to 30 times was carried out using 0.01M HCl, 1M NH4OAc and 0.05M BaCl2 solutions and cumulative concentration of K was calculated for each extractant. There was a difference among the 3 extractants in cumulative K release values from the three minerals. The highest values of cumulative K release were obtained by 0.01M HCl and 1M NH4OAc for less than 60 and 60-100 µm particle sizes, respectively. The amount of K release from muscovite was even higher when 1M NH4OAc and 0.05M BaCl2 solutions were used as extractants. This might indicate that muscovite cannot be considered as an ineffective source of available K in soils. Furthermore, particle size had a great impact on nonexchangeable K release from micaceous minerals. Coarser particles released higher quantity of K as compared to that of finer particles. Therefore, particle size distribution of different micaceous minerals in soils may be a factor that causes a difference in the amount of K release from soils.

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Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Var. Speedfeed) is a major forage crop in Birjand Region, and phosphorus (P) plays an important role in its nutritional value. During a field campaign, eighty soil samples from the region were collected and analyzed. Among them, 24 samples varying in physico-chemical properties and available P were selected. Five extractants were used for measuring sorghum available P as follows: 1) 0.5 M NaHCO3, pH=8.5, shaken for 30 minutes (Olsen's method), 2) 0.5 M NaHCO3, pH=8.5, shaken for 16 hours (Colwel's method), 3) 0.0025 M Na2-EDTA, pH=7 (EDTA method), 4) 1 M NH4HCO3, 0.005 N DTPA (Soltanpour and Schwab's method), and 5) Water (Paauw's method). A greenhouse experiment using a completely randomized design was carried out with 24 soil samples, two treatments of 0 and 90 mg P/kg soil and three replicates. Results indicated that all five extractants are suitable for prediction of sorghum available phosphorus, but Olson and Paauw's methods are preferable. The results also show ed that the critical levels of soil phosphorus for sorghum by Olsen, Colwel, EDTA, Soltanpour and Schwab and Paauw methods are 17, 24, 14, 7 and 2.5 mg P/kg soil, respectively. Statistical analysis indicated that soil pH, clay percentage and organic carbon significantly affected sorghum available phosphorus.

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The contamination of soils with lead is a major environmental problem throughout the world. Phytoextraction of heavy metals from contaminated soils has the prospect of being a more economic in situ alternative. Chemically enhanced phytoextraction has been proposed as an effective approach to remove heavy metals from contaminated soil through the use of high biomass plants. Using a pot experiment, the effects of the application of three rates of EDTA at 0, 1.5 and 3 mmol/kg soil and sulfuric acid at 0, 0.5 and 1 mmol/kg soil with two rates of Pb at 0 and 200 mmol.kg-1 on the uptake of Pb by corn (Zea mays L. single cross 704 var.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. ajili var.), and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. varamin var.) plants were studied. The results showed that EDTA was more effective than sulfuric acid in increasing the concentration of Pb in shoots and roots for all plants studied. The maximum amount with application of EDTA to soil for shoots of corn, sunflower, and cotton were 4.07, 6.49 and 31.33 times higher than the control, respectively. EDTA also enhanced Pb content of roots of corn, sunflower, and cotton 3.38, 1.63 and 1.09 times higher than the control, respectively. DTPA-Pb was higher in soil treated with EDTA than sulfuric acid. The application of EDTA also significantly increased shoot-to-root ratio of Pb in plants examined. The results of this study showed that corn was able to phytoextract more Pb than sunflower and cotton.

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Gray mold, caused by Botrytis cinerea, is a serious disease of cut rose flowers (Rosa hybrida L.) in Iran. In order to elucidate the effects of different potassium and calcium levels in nutrient solution on susceptibility of cut rose flowers to gray mold, this experiment was carried out as factorial design in a randomized complete block with four replications at Safi Abad Agricultural Research center in 2008 for one year. In this experiment, rose plants were grown and subjected to three levels of potassium (1.0, 5.0 and 10.0 mM) in combination with two levels of calcium (1.6 and 4.8 mM) under hydroponic condition. Rose flowers from two consecutive harvesting periods were sprayed with the conidial suspension (104 spore/ml) of B. cinerea isolate. At the end of experiment the disease severity was recorded and analyzed. The results indicated that application of 10.0 mM K in the nutrient solution led to increasing rose disease severity to gray mold (30.4 % day-1) compared to 1.0 mM (24.8 % day-1) and 5.0 mM (26.2 % day-1) of K levels (P< 0.01). The increased susceptibility was associated with a decreased concentration of Ca in the rose petals. Correlation analysis revealed that susceptibility of rose flowers to gray mold significantly increased with K to sum cations ratio in the nutrient solution (r = 0.94*). The increase of Ca supply from 1.6 to 4.8 mM resulted in decline of disease severity from 29.6 to 24.6 % day-1 (P< 0.01). Therefore, balanced application of potassium and calcium (5.0 and 4.8 mM, respectively) is recommendable for preventing antagonistic effects between them and reducing of rose gray mold intensity under hydroponic conditions.

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Gypsum is the most common sulfate mineral in soils of arid and semi-arid regions. Two hundred million hectares of the earth’s surface and about 28 million hectares of Iranian arid soils are covered by gypsiferous soils. The studied soils consist of alluvial plane and eolian plains in northern Iran. Soils were classified as Haplocambids, Aquisalids and Endoaquepts. In this study, genesis, formation and development of gypsum in soils were investigated. Study area includes different geomorphic surfaces from the upper watershed to alluvial plains. Gypsum crystals without considering their size, shape, arrangement are determined as pedogenic. In the weakly-developed horizons, in aridic moisture regimes, formation of euhedral pedogenic gypsum crystals and incomplete infilling of voids was dominant. In the well-developed soils, in xeric moisture regime, gypsum crystals are oriented and the perpendicular in arrangement of crystals along pores is dominants. Gypsum crystals occur in different shapes such as lenticular, tabular, and rosette-like and fan arrangement. Origin of gypsum in weakly-developed soils was weathered gypsiferous marls in upper Atrak basin. The source of gypsum in the soils with shallow ground water is high content of sulfate dissolved in soil solutions. In horizons affected by fluctuation of ground water contaning sulphur, euhedral tabular shape is dominant. In well-developed soils, based on Snowball morphology, gypsum is classified as stage II nodule. Results showed that there is no relationship between formation of the snowball morphology, b-fabric and kind of diagnostic horizons (A, B and C).

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An extensive data collection on precipitation and runoff is required for development and implementation of soil and water projects. The unit hydrograph (UH) is an appropriate base for deriving flood hydrographs and therefore provides comprehensive information for planners and managers. However, UH derivation is not easy job for whole watersheds. The development of UH by using easily accessible rainfall data is then necessary. Besides that, the validity evaluation of different statistical modeling methods in hydrology and UH development has been rarely taken into account. Towards the attempt, the present study was planned to compare the efficiency of different modeling procedures in hydrograph and 2-h representative UH relationship in Kasilian watershed with concentration time of some 10h. The study took place by using 23 storm events occurred during four seasons within 33 years and applying two and multivariable regression models and 36 variables. According to the results, the median of estimated errors in estimation of 2-h UH dependent variables for verification stage varied from 37 to 88%. The results verified the better performance of cubic and linear bivariate models and logarithm-transformed data in multivariable model as well. The efficiency of multivariable models decreased when they were subjected to principle component analysis. The performance of backward method was frequently proved for estimation of dependent variables based on evaluation criteria, whereas the forward was found to be more efficient for time-dependent factors estimation.