Showing 2384 results for Type of Study: Research
V. Karimi, A.a. Kamkar-Haghighi, A.r. Sepaskhah, D. Khalili,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (1-2002)
Abstract
Drought can occur at such times when variables such as rainfall depth, run-off, soil moisture, etc. show a deficiency, or variables such as temperature show an increase, or when ground water level shows a decrease in comparison with the average level. Therefore, drought can be evaluated with respect to agricultural, meteorological, or hydrological variability. In this research, considering the meteorological aspects, the method by Herbst et al., later modified by Mohan and Rangacharia, was applied in drought evaluation in Fars Province, Iran. Monthly rainfall measurements over a period of 21 years for 51 stations obtained from Fars Regional Water Board, were used in the analysis. Maps showing lines of iso-duration and iso-intensity lines were developed for the province. Based on the results, northeast, southeast, south, and southwestern parts of the province have the highest potential for being affected by drought events.
M. Abdollahi Ezzatabadi, G.r. Soltani, A. Nejati,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (1-2002)
Abstract
In this paper, a simple farm management information system is introduced. This system was administered through cooperation between farmers and an information agency. The results showed that the farmers were willing enough to accept the system. Nevertheless, having an accounting system is the first step toward the establishment of an information system, which is used by only %42 of the sampled farmers. The main reason for this is the lack of knowledge about the benefits of such systems. In other words, if farmers were aware of the benefits of accounting systems, they would accept them easily. The results also showed that the farmers who use accounting systems are more successful in their production activities.
H. Salami, A. Kiani Rad,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (1-2002)
Abstract
This study uses the Generalized Composite Commodity Theorem (GCCT) to investigate the consistency of aggregating major crop products in studying producer’s behaviour in Iran. The results show that all crop products, except corn, soybean, and melon can consistently be grouped into cereals, oil seeds, pulses, and vegetable composite commodities. In addition, the results testing the hypothesis of the possibility of aggregating all crop products in a single group was positive when we excluded sesame, cotton, and water melon from the list. Accordingly, modeling and estimating an aggregate production or cost function for Iranian crop sector will not cause consistent biases. Additionally, one can estimate a separate or cost function for each of the above sub-sectors without causing aggregation biases in grouping the commodities.
M. J. Arvin, N. Kazemi-Pour,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (1-2002)
Abstract
A glasshouse study was conducted to measure the effects of salinity and drought stresses on growth and chemical and biochemical composition of 4 onion cultivars. The cultivars were Dessex, Texas Early Grano (Texas), Dehydrator, and PX492. Salinity treatments included control, 45mM NaCl, 45mM NaCl + 5mM CaCl2 and drought treatments were control (maintaining soil moisture at field capacity) and irrigation when 50% of available water was used. Four weeks after the treatments, the plants were harvested and root and shoot dry weights (RDW, SDW), Na+, K+, Ca2+, total protein, reduced sugars, as well as free proline contents were measured in both roots and shoots.
Results showed that NaCl and drought treatments significantly reduced SDW and RDW. The Texas cultivar and the Dessex cultivar produced the highest and the lowest amounts of SDW, respectively. NaCl significantly increased Na+ uptake but reduced K+ uptake in shoots and roots and also reduced Ca2+ uptake in roots. NaCl+CaCl2 significantly alleviated the deleterious effects of NaCl such that SDW significantly increased in two cultivars and increased RDW and the K+ contents while causing decreased Na+ and sugar contents in shoots and roots of all cultivars. All stresses increased total protein contents of shoots in Texas only but decreased or had no effect on others. Root total protein increased under salinity stress, while drought had no effect. Changes in proline and sugars in both shoots and roots did not follow any particular pattern. Out of the biochemical compositions measured, shoot total protein in plants under the stresses showed a positive significant correlation with SDW, which may be used to screen onion cultivars for drought and salinity stresses.
A. Dehdari, M. Mobli, A. Rezai,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (1-2002)
Abstract
In order to determine the relationships among the different traits of onion and to study the direct and indirect effects of these traits on bulb and seed yield, an experiment was conducted in 1998 at the research farm of Isfahan University of Technology. Results showed that phenotypic and genotypic correlations were similar and bulb weight showed the highest and lowest coefficients of correlation with bulb diameter and number of days to emergence, respectively. Results of stepwise regression analysis showed that leaf width at 25% of its length from the neck, leaf length, and leaf dry weight were the best estimators for leaf area bulb diameter, bulb length, plant height and number of days to maturity were the most important determining characters for bulb yield variation. Number of fertilized florets was the best determinator of seed yield and bulb weight, while diameter and volume were the best describing characters for the number of meristems on the basal plate. Path-coefficient analysis revealed that bulb diameter showed the highest direct positive effect on bulb yield and the indirect effect of plant height through bulb diameter on it was of prime importance. Number of fertilized florets per plant and number of inflorescence per plant through the number of fertilized florets showed the highest direct and indirect effects on seed weight, respectively.
A. Ronaghi, Y. Parvizi, N. Karimian,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (1-2002)
Abstract
Nitrogen is usually the most limiting nutrient for crop production. Manganese deficiency in some calcareous soils of Iran has been reported. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of N and Mn on the growth and chemical composition of spinach (
Spinacia oleracea L.) under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was conducted in a soil from Chitgar series (Fine-loamy, carbonatic, thermic, Calcixerollic Xerochrepts). Treatments consisted of factorial arrangement of five N rates (0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg kg
-1 as NH
4NO
3) and three Mn rates (0, 15 and 30 mg kg
-1 as MnSO
4) in a completely randomized design with four replications. Plants were allowed to grow for 60 days and a hand-held SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter was used to evaluate leaf chlorophyll status at harvest.
Results showed that N and Mn application increased shoot dry weight, N and Mn concentrations and total uptake, Mn:Fe ratios and chlorophyll readings, significantly. Nitrogen increased concentrations and total uptake of Zn, Cu and total uptake of Fe in plants, but decreased Fe concentration. Addition of Mn decreased Fe and Zn concentrations in spinach but increased total uptake of Fe and Cu. When maximum dry matter was obtained, the chlorophyll meter reading was about 40. A similar study should be carried out under field conditions before the N and Mn fertilizer recommendations for spinach can be made.
H. Alipour, A. Rezai, S. A. M. Meibodi, M. Taheri,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (1-2002)
Abstract
This experiment was conducted to study genetic variation for electrophoretic seed protein patterns and their relations with some seed characteristics such as protein and oil percentages, chemical compositions and 100-seed weight among 270 soybean (Glycine max L. Moench) genotypes.
Among different electrophoresis procedures examined, 10% and 4.5% concentrations of acrylamide for resolving and stacking gels, respectively, 13.5 mg/ml concentration of protein buffer extraction, injection of 10 microlitre sample injection into gel hollows, 2.5 miliamper and 2-hours staining period were determined as the best combination to achieve clear bands and good separation. Based on relative mobility on gel, 30 protein bands were observed, of which only 5 varied among genotypes. In general, 8 electrophoretic patterns were recognized. Cluster analysis based on qualitative evaluation of patterns grouped the genotypes in 8 clusters and classified different bands in three groups. Simple concordance (matching) coefficients between protein bands with relative mobilities of 2.5% and 49.5% were zero, which is an indication of their independent occurrence. Probably, these bands are coded with one gene that in dominant and recessive homozygous genotypes appear as a single band at different positions on the gel. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences (P<0.05) among protein patterns for protein and oil percentages. Correlation coefficients between variable protein bands and studied traits showed a positive and significant relation (P<0.05) of bands with relative mobility of 3.5 and 49.5 with protein and phosphorous contents of the seeds, respectively. Protein patterns having band with relative mobility of 49.5 had the highest phosphorous content. Black hilum color of seeds was related to protein band with relative mobility of 52.
G. Fathi, M. Mojedam, S. A. Siadat, G. Noor Mohammadi,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (1-2002)
Abstract
Effects of different levels of nitrogen fertilizer and cutting time of forage on grain and forage yield of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Karoon cultivar was studied during 1995-1996 at Ramin Agricultural Research and Educational Center, University of Shahid Chamran, Ahwas, by using a split plot design in randomized complete block with 4 replications. Main plots were assigned to five levels of N fertilizer (45, 90, 135, 180 and 225 kg N/ha) as urea fertilizer and subplots to three cutting times (no cutting, cutting forage at early stem elongation without removing reproductive meristem and cutting forage in the middle of stem elongation with cut reproductive meristem).
The effects of N rates and cutting time on grain yield were significant. Maximum yield was obtained with 281.6 g/m2 when crop plants received 90 kg N/ha and cutting time at early stem elongation and minimum yield was obtained (158.2 g/m2) with 45 kg N/ha and cutting forage in the middle of stem elongation. Interactive effect of levels of N and cutting time on spike number per m2, grain number in spike and grain weight were significant. Among yield components, spike number and grain weight showed the highest sensitivity to both. Different levels of N increased forage protein concentration and protein yield significantly, but delay in cutting time decreased protein concentration and increased protein yield. Results indicated that high levels of N could not compensate for the delay in cutting time of forage for grain yield. It was concluded that application of 90 kg N/ha and cutting time in early stem elongation was preferable for grain and forage production as compared to other treatments.
G. Saeidi,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (1-2002)
Abstract
Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is an oilseed and widely adapted crop. Oil of regular genotypes of flax is used in industry because of its unique fatty acid profile. New, mutant genotypes of flax have oils similar to sunflower oil which can be used as edible oil. This experiment was conducted to investigate the genetic variation of agronomic traits and productivity in different edible and industrial oil genotypes of flax in Isfahan. The genotypes were evaluated in augmented design.
Based on the results, the average numbers of seedling/m2 in edible and industrial oil genotypes were 178 and 367 with variation coefficients of 70 and 10%, respectively. Maturity also showed variation and varied between 89 to 116 days in edible oil genotypes and between 89 to 128 days in industrial oil genotypes. Plant height varied between 57 to 86 and 49 to 73 cm in edible and industrial oil genotypes, respectively. Seed yield also had considerable variations and varied between 429 to 2651 and 779 to 2389 kg/ha with variation coefficients of 35 and 25 in edible and industrial oil genotypes, respectively. Seed yield per plant showed a high and positive correlation with basal branches (r=0.77**) and bolls per plant (r=0.93**), but high and negative correlation with stand (r=-0.66**). Regression analysis revealed that approximately 96% of the variation in seed yield per plant was attributed to variation in bolls per plant, seeds per boll and seed weight and they were determined as the major yield components, respectively. Bolls per plant was the most important yield component and contributed to 87% of the variation for seed yield per plant.
M. R. Khajehpour, A. R. Bagherian Naeni,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (1-2002)
Abstract
It is believed that various types of field bean, including pinto, white and red, differ in adaptability to high temperatures and may, thus, differ in response to delay in planting. In order to evaluate this response, an experiment was conducted during 1996 at the Agricultural Research Station, Isfahan University of Technology, using a randomized complete block design with split-plot layout. Main plots consisted of four planting dates (April 28, May 13 and 28 and June 13) and sub-plots included four genotypes of common bean (red bean, c.v. Naz pinto beans, experimental lines 11816 and 16157 and a white bean, experimental line 11805).
Number of branches per plant, number of pods per branch and per unit area, number of seeds per pod of main stem and branch, number of seeds per main stem, per branch and per unit area, 100-seed weight and seed yield significantly reduced, while harvest index significantly increased by delay in planting and consequent increases in temperature and reduction in time for growth. The lower harvest index obtained with early planting was the result of the lower efficiency of the produced vegetative growth due to the coincidence of seed filling period with high temperatures. Pinto bean line 11816 ranked the highest for number of branches per plant and harvest index among the genotypes evaluated and produced the highest seed yield (3030 kg ha-1). Although red bean Naz ranked the highest for number of pods and seed per main stem and per unit area, it had the lowest harvest index and 100-seed weight and, consequently, produced the least seed yield (2254 kg ha-1). The results obtained indicate that delay in planting adversely affects bean seed yield. Pinto bean line 11816 may have higher yield potential among the genotypes studied at all planting dates under conditions similar to the present experiment. No specific relationship was observed between apparent seed characteristics and plant tolerance to heat.
S. M. B. Nabavi, A. Savari, Gh. H. Vosoughi, A. R. Nikouy,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (1-2002)
Abstract
To estimate the biomass and secondary production of macrobenthos in Khore-e-Mousa creeks, 216 sediment samples were taken. The sampling period started in 1996 and terminated in 1997. A bimonthly sampling strategy was adopted. The samples were taken by Van-Veen grab (0.1 m2) from the beginning, middle and end of each creek (Khor). To estimate the biomass of the macrobenthos, the Crisp method (1984) was employed. The standing crop was expressed as dry weight and ash free dry weight. For the measurement of secondary production, a dominant crustacean species Apseudes sp. was used.
The results indicated a low biomass per unit area in Khore-e-Mousa creeks. Maximum and minimum amounts of the standing crop were found to be in June (33.5 g DW/m2) and December (2.19 g DW/m2), respectively. Amongst all creeks, Douragh creek displayed the highest (24.93 g DW/m2) and Beehad the lowest (2.24 g DW/m2) standing crops. During the study period, 1483 individuals of Apseudes sp. were collected and grouped into 5 age classes according to Bhattacharya (Sparre, 1989) method. The secondary production was estimated to be 0.08 g/m2 ash free dry weight (AFDW). The production/biomass ratio (P/B), therefore, is calculated as 0.08÷0.18=0.44. Considering the ecological efficiency, (transfer efficiency) of different trophic levels which is about 10%, the fish production is estimated to be 2430 tons in Khore-e-Mousa area.
M. Bouyeh, J. Pourreza, A. H. Samie,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (1-2002)
Abstract
An experiment was carried out to determine the effects of different levels of lysine and protein on the performance of 240 Hy-Line W36 layers. Ten experimental diets were tested in a 2×5 factorial arrangement with a completely randomized design. Two basal diets (13 and 14% protein) were tested at different levels (10 and 20% lower than NRC, NRC and 10 and 20% above NRC recommendations). Dietary lysine levels were 0.56, 0.62, 0.69, 0.76 and 0.83%. During the three months of experimental period, egg production, egg weight, egg output, feed intake and conversion and lysine and protein intake were determined.
The results indicated that 0.76% lysine and more (10 and 20% above NRC recommendation) with 13% dietary protein led to significantly (P<0.05) higher egg production, egg output and better feed conversion, but there was no significant difference regarding egg weight. The difference in performance with different levels of lysine was lower in the 14% dietary protein than that in the 13% one. In the 14% dietary protein, the lowest level (0.56%) of lysine led to significantly (P<0.05) lower egg production and egg output and higher feed conversion. The best performance with the 14% dietary protein belonged to 0.62% dietary lysine (10% below NRC recommendation). The 14% dietary protein had significantly (P<0.05) higher egg production, egg output and feed intake than the 13% dietary protein, regardless of dietary lysine but there was no significant difference regarding egg weight and feed conversion. The best and most economical performance belonged to the 0.76% lysine and 13% protein diet. The results of this experiment indicated that reducing dietary protein and addition of lysine to the diets of post peak laying hens can obtain an equal performance to the higher dietary protein, thus reducing production costs.
Y. Ebrahim Nejad, J. Pourreza,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (1-2002)
Abstract
This experiment was carried out to study the effect of ionophore drugs (Salinomycin, Lasalocid and their combinations) on the performance of broiler chicks. Also their relationships with methionine (three levels) were evaluated. 1215 one-day-old commercial broiler chicks (Arian) were divided into 81 groups, 15 chicks per group, and tested in a completely randomized design with a 3×3×3 factorial experiment. Three drug types with three levels (0.0, the recommended level and 1.5 times the recommended level) of drugs and three levels (0.0, 0.1% and 0.2%) of supplemental methionine were used.
The results indicated that the effect of sex on plasma cholesterol and triglyceride, percentage of bone ash and percentage of abdominal fat was significant (P<0.0l). Drug type had no effect on the characteristics under study. Drug level influenced percentage of bone ash, percentage of eviscerated carcass, and percentage of abdominal fat significantly (P<0.0l), (P<0.01) and (P<0.00l), respectively. Also methionine level influenced cholesterol and triglyceride (P<0.0l) significantly. Interaction effect of drug type and drug level on plasma cholesterol and triglyceride was significant (P<0.05). Interaction effect of drug and methionine level on cholesterol and triglyceride was significant (P<0.0l). The results showed that levels of this drug influenced carcass composition and also supplemental methionine had no influence on the modulating effect of these drugs on carcass composition.
K. Tajadodi Talab, M. Shahedi, R. Shokrani, S. Dokhani,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (1-2002)
Abstract
Rice bran is the most important by-product of rice milling. It is a valuable source of edible oil in most rice producing countries. Rice bran oil is used in babyfood, biscuit, poultry, fish and farm animal feeds. The storage of rice bran without 'heat processing will result in hydrolysis and auto-oxidation of lipids, and to its decreased physicochemical, organoleptic and nutritional quality. Rice bran is rich in carbohydrates, free amino acids, lipids and different enzymes. The enzymes have destructive effects on the quality of rice bran components. Heat processing is an effective method to reduce the microbial and enzymatic activity of bran.
This study was carried out using a factorial experiment by completely randomized design with three replications to investigate the effect of heat treatment and storage time on rice bran crude oil properties. The parboiling treatment was effective on the rice kernel strength. The bran produced from parboiled rice milling had lower endosperm components. This type of bran had a lower starch but a higher oil percentage. The results of color of rice bran oil samples determined by Lovibond showed that the oil from parboiled rice bran before and during storage had better color than the other samples. Iodine value of bran oil from parboiled paddy decreased during the storage period. The results from studies on fatty acid composition of oil samples determined by gas chromatography (G.C.) showed that the quantitative trend of fatty acids of the control sample remained the same as that in the rice bran samples with the treatment process.
M. Javan Nikkhah, Gh. A. Hejaroud, A. Sharifi Tehrani, S. A. Elahi-Nia,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (1-2002)
Abstract
Rice bran is the most important by-product of rice milling. It is a valuable source of edible oil in most rice producing countries. Rice bran oil is used in babyfood, biscuit, poultry, fish and farm animal feeds. The storage of rice bran without 'heat processing will result in hydrolysis and auto-oxidation of lipids, and to its decreased physicochemical, organoleptic and nutritional quality. Rice bran is rich in carbohydrates, free amino acids, lipids and different enzymes. The enzymes have destructive effects on the quality of rice bran components. Heat processing is an effective method to reduce the microbial and enzymatic activity of bran. This study was carried out using a factorial experiment by completely randomized design with three replications to investigate the effect of heat treatment and storage time on rice bran crude oil properties.
The parboiling treatment was effective on the rice kernel strength. The bran produced from parboiled rice milling had lower endosperm components. This type of bran had a lower starch but a higher oil percentage. The results of color of rice bran oil samples determined by Lovibond showed that the oil from parboiled rice bran before and during storage had better color than the other samples. Iodine value of bran oil from parboiled paddy decreased during the storage period. The results from studies on fatty acid composition of oil samples determined by gas chromatography (G.C.) showed that the quantitative trend of fatty acids of the control sample remained the same as that in the rice bran samples with the treatment process.
Kh. Talebi,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (1-2002)
Abstract
In this research, the presence of metalaxyl residues was studied in field-grown cucumber. Two different formulations of metalaxyl were used in the experiments. In the first experiment, cucumber plants were sprayed once and repeatedly by Ridomil-MZ 72 WP at 2.5 g/litre. In the second experiment, single and double applications of metalaxyl granule 5G were carried out at 5 g/m2. Leaves and fruits were sampled at different times after each treatment and analyzed for metalaxyl residues by HPLC.
In leaf samples from single sprayed plots, metalaxyl residues declined rapidly following the treatment and more than 50% of the residues disappeared in the first two days, whereas in the leaf from single granule-applied plants, the residues increased during the first three weeks and then declined. Metalaxyl residues in cucumber sampled from single sprayed-plots were at a high level during the first three days after the spray and declined below the MRL (0.5 mg/kg) on the 7th day. In granule-applied plots, the residues increased during the first 7 days and the level below the limit was recorded 20 days after application. Residual values for plants sprayed with suspension showed a faster dissipation rate than granulated treatment. Metalaxyl recovered after three times of spraying and two times of granular application did not show any toxic accumulation of residues in fruit.
A. Dariaee, M. Falahati Rastegar, B. Jafarpour,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (1-2002)
Abstract
This study was carried out on the biochemical aspects of chickpea cultivars and the genomic behavior of A. rabiei pathotypes 4 and 6 in four parts: 1) Determining the number of resistant genes in chickpea native cultivars, 2) Comparing the variation of sodium and potassium electrolytes concentrations in noninfected and infected seedling stems of resistant and susceptible cultivars, 3) Studying the effect of potassium deficiency on five differential cultivars by Hoagland nutrient culture, and 4) Using RAPD-PCR method to detect any genomic differences between the two pathotypes used in this study.
Eighteen native chickpea cultivars were chosen for this study. The result of the experiments showed that cultivar 1-60-144 possesses the highest number of resistant genes, while the others were either relatively tolerant or susceptible. The reduction of electrolytes concentration in infected cultivar ILC-1929 in comparison to resistant cultivar ILC-5928 is an indication of compatibility between the host plant and the pathogen. Increasing the level of resistance in differential cultivars and appearance of induced resistance as the result of potassium deficiency is due to the production of putrecine diamine. Eighty percent similarity of pathotypes genomic bands by using CG marker and primer 171 showed insufficient primer numbers and the necessity for using complementary methods.
A. Jozyan, R. Ebadi,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (1-2002)
Abstract
In order to study the efficacy of Sunn pests' parasitoid flies, four overwintering sites of Sunn pest in Isfahan, including mountains of Kolahghazy, Panjeh, Jozdan and Sacepid were selected and from each site four different elevations were designated as sampling sites. During 1997, at least 6 and, in 1998, three samples were taken at each sampling site. In spring 1998, four wheat and barley fields were selected from Mahyar, Zeyar, Shahinshahr and Lavark regions and from each field eight samples were taken. In order to observe the larvae of parasitoids and to determine their efficiency, 100 Sunn pests were dissected from each sampling unit of aestivation, overwintering, wheat and barley fields.
The parasitism of prevalent species (Phasia subcoleoptrata L.) in spring 1998 was 15.39% for the 1st generation and 1.5% in 1997 and 3.5% in 1998 for the second generation of the pest. All other parasitoid species parasitized less than 1% of the pest population. In some regions, such as Lavark and Zeyar, chemical application against nymphs of Sunn pest were accomplished in spring 1998 at the peak of adult activity of parasitoids' 2nd generation. This application had negative effects on the population of parasitoids but in Shahinshahr where chemical application was accomplished at pupal stage of parasitoid, it did not have any direct adverse effects on the population of dominant parasitoid.
D. Qujaq, S.e. Mousavi,
Volume 6, Issue 1 (4-2002)
Abstract
The objective of this investigation is to measure pectinesterase activity by a simple method. The assay is done at 25°C. Oranges were obtained at a local supermarket in winter. They were peeled and 5 gr sections of the peeled tissue were homogenized in 10% NaCl and 0.5 M phosphate buffer in a homogenizer. The homogenates were centrifuged at 3500 rpm for 20 min. The supernatants were collected, their pH levels were raised to 7.25 using NaOH and the reaction was monitored at 485 nm in a spectrophotometer. The activity of pectinesterase was expressed as micromoles of methanol released per minute.
The results show that this method is reliable, sensitive, and capable of measuring pectinesterase activity of as low as 0.05 unit. The assay method proposed is a very useful analytical tool for the determination of the activities of pectinesterase.
A. Erfani, G.h. Haghnia, A. Alizadeh,
Volume 6, Issue 1 (4-2002)
Abstract
A field study was conducted at the College of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, to investigate the effect of irrigation with treated municipal wastewater on the yield and quality of lettuce and some soil characteristics. Five irrigation treatments were applied to a clay loam soil, classified as fine loamy mixed mesic Calcixerollic Xerochrepts, in a randomized block design with 5 replications. The treatments consisted of T1 (Irrigation with treated wastewater over all growing season), T2 (Alternate irrigation with treated wastewater and well water), T3 (Irrigation with well water and application of cattle manure), T4 (Irrigation with well water plus fertilizer N and P), and T5 (Irrigation with well water only as control). Chemical analysis of well water proved to be a suitable source for agriculture.
The results showed that the yield was higher in T1, T2, T3 and T4 as compared to the control treatment. Maximum fresh and dry yields were obtained from T3 & T1 and T1 & T3, respectively. Plant tissue analysis showed an increase in macronutrients (N, P, K) and heavy metal concentrations in shoots and roots of lettuce in the first four treatments as compared to the control. In T1, iron concentration was maximum while that of cadmium was minimum. Furthermore, microbial contamination was considerably higher in T1 and T2. Soil analysis indicated that in plots treated with wastewater, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, soluble boron and heavy metal concentration increased. However, their values were all below international standards. More experiments seem to be necessary in this regard.
