JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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To determine the best ratios of alfalfa hay to corn silage with similar dietary NDF, cation-anion balance, energy and protein content in the lactating dairy cows, eight mid-lactating Holstein dairy cows with average body weight of 570 kg, and milk yield of 22 kg/d with 3.5% fat, were assigned to each of four experimental diets with alfalfa hay to corn silage ratios of 100:0, 67:33, 33:67 and 0:100., in a 4 × 4 Latin square design with two replicates. Dry matter intake, digestibility, rumen degradability of DM, fat percentage and total solids in milk for diets one to four were 19.09, 19.94, 20.94, 20.90 kg/d 69.07, 65.75, 71.78, 49.82% 52.8, 49.6, 50.4, 46.7% 3.47, 3.53, 3.79, 3.93% 12.17, 12.17, 12.48, 12.60%, respectively. Diets containing 67% silage showed the highest dry matter intake, 3.2% FCM and digestibility. Degradability in rumen were highest and lowest in diets containing 100% alfalfa hay or corn silage, respectively. Increased ratios of silage to alfalfa hay corresponded to increases in milk fat and protein yield, milk protein percentage and total solids in milk.

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The host-stage preferences of alfalfa black aphid, Aphis craccivora, by parasitoid wasp, Lysiphlebus fabarum, were studied under two trials under growth chamber conditions (55±5 %, R. H., L:D 14:10 H. and Tem. 20 ±2^° C ). In the first trial, all stages of aphid in equal ratios, and in the second trial, variable ratios of 5:15, 15:15 and 15:5 of 3rd and 4th instar nymphs were used for parasitisation. The objective was to identify the most preferred stage of aphid for parasitism by Lysiphlebus fabarum. The results showed that 3^rd instar nymphs of alfalfa black aphid were the most preferred stage with 38.75% of parasitism. Whereas 4^th instar nymphs and adults had 23.75% and 21.25% parasitism, respectively. The first instar nymphs were not parasitized at all. In the second trial with variable ratios of 3^rd and 4^th instars of alfalfa black aphid, parasitism of 3rd instar in ratios 25, 50 and 75 percent of total population were 35.9, 55.74 and 79.6%, respectively, while those for 4^th instar nymphs were 20.36, 44.26 and 64.09%, respectively. So there was a positive preference for 3^rd instar and a negative preference for 4th instar nymphs.

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In a completely randomized design with a factorial arrangement (3× 5× 3), three fistulated sheep with an average body weight of 47.5 ± 2.5 kg were used to determine the effect of cutting and growing stages (no bloom , early bloom and full bloom) on chemical composition and In situ degradability of alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Nylon bags (50 µm pore size) were filled with 3.5 g of each sample and suspended in the rumen before morning feeding and incubated for seven different times (0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24 and 48 h). The results showed that alfalfa at no bloom stage had the highest crude protein and the lowest crude fiber content. The third – cut alfalfa had the highest degradability of dry matter and organic matter. Extent of degradability depended on crude fiber and solubility. During growth stage, the protein, soluble material and degradability levels decreased while crude fiber, neutral detergent insoluble crude protein (NDICP), and acid detergent insoluble crude protein (ADICP) increased. The amount of ADICP was an estimate of unavailable crude protein in the rumen. Although the rate of organic matter degradation was maximum in full bloom, no significant difference was observed between the three stages of growth. Effective degradability (ED) of crude protein was significantly different among stages the growth (p<0.05). Effective dry matter degradability (EDDM) with a passage rate of 6%/h was significantly higher in the third cutting of alfalfa. The results of this study showed that first cutting and full bloom alfalfa had the lowest and fifth cutting and no bloom had the highest CP levels. The effect of cutting and growing stages on degradability parameters was variable and did not allow any firm conclusions to be made.

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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 6^th 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.

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In this research the effect of ethinyl estradiol on somatic embryogenesis of Medicago sativa was investigated. Seeds were grown in vitro on MS medium containing 2,4-D, Kin and NAA for callus induction. Plant regeneration media with 14 different combinations of auxin, cytokinin and ethinyl estradiol were provided. Three to four-week old celli and stem or hypocotyl segments of Medicago sativa were transferred to regeneration media. Results showed that ethinyl estradiol (l mg/L) induced shoot, root and somatic embryo on calli. When the stem and hypocotyl segments were cultured on medium M12, only shoots and roots were produced with no somatic embryo. Finally, it was observed that ethinyl stradiol and auxin together could induce somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration, while these hormones had no effect separately.

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The study of dispersion of alfalfa mosaic virus (ALMV) infection based on DAS-ELISA indicated that the fields of Alfalfa, potatoes and tomatoes from Chenaran, Ghochan, Shirvan, Mashhad, Neishaboor and Torbat Heydarieh were infected with the virus. The Statistical analysis indicated that the amount of infection did not differ in the surveyed regions and total mean of infection was 53 percent. The samples collected from the Alfalfa field of Mashhad was propagated in the Nicotiana tabacum L.cv Samsun and then virus was purified. The Mechanical inoculation of this isolate of the alfalfa mosaic virus (ALMV) induced the local lesion in Chenopodium quinoa,C. amaranticolor,Vigna unguiculata, Phaseolus vulgaris cv Redkidney and the systemic vein clearing and mosaic in Nicotiana glutinosa, N. tabacum cv. Samsun, Ocimum basilicum, Cicer arietinum and Lycopersicon esculentum. In the case of the infected Cucumis sativus, no symptoms was observed. ALMV was purified by the method of the kaiser and Robertson(1976). The virus yield was 11/05 mg per 100g of infected tissue on the basis of serological properties. This isolate of ALMV is similar to the American isolation in SDS-PAGE and Western Blot analysis,the molecular weight of the virus coat proteins were estimated at about 24000 daltons.in this regard,this isolation of ALMV is similar to the other isolates of ALMV reported elswhere.

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Drought stress is one of the most important environmental stresses in reduce of growth and plants production. Determination of resistance mechanisms to environmental stress in plant improvement is very important. In order to , experiment with osmotic potentials of PEG (zero (control), -4, -8 & -12 bar) and alfalfa genotypes was done. The selected alfalfa genotypes namely, Yazdi(tolerant), Nikshahri(moderate) and Ranger(sensitive) were grown in hydroponic culture. After 4 weeks, they were harvested in order to determination of proline accumulation and Ca⁺², K⁺ and Na⁺ concentration. The data showed with increasing of drought stress, proline accumulation were increased, but its rate was different among genotypes and organelles. Concentrations of K⁺, Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ increased with increasing of osmotic stress and there was significant different between genotypes. The K⁺/Na⁺ ratio in the shoots and roots of plant was decreased, when drought stress increased. Morphological and biochemical data showed Yazdi genotype was more tolerant to drought stress in compare with studied genotypes.

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To determine genetic diversity among some Iranian local varieties of alfalfa, six geographically diverse populations including: Bami, Rahnani, Nikshahri, Yazdi, Hamadani (from Isfahan), Hamadani (from Shiraz) along with Ranger, an American commercial variety, were evaluated using a set of 24 EST-SSR primers developed from cDNA library of Medicago truncatula and three microsatellite loci, identified from genomic library of M. sativa. Of the pairs of primers tested, four loci from EST-SSRs (AW9, BEE, TC6 and TC7) and genomic microsatellite (Afctt32), were found appropriate for assessing genetic diversity between these alfalfa genotypes. In total, 46 alleles were detected from the five loci in the samples of alfalfa examined. The number of alleles per locus in populations ranged from six to eleven and genetic diversity indices of loci were variable from 0.62 to 0.87 for the populations. Genetic relationship analysis of EST-SSR data revealed separation of Iranian populations from Ranger. It is likely that the parental origin of primary population from which Ranger has been derived is different from that of Iranian populations. Iranian local populations of alfalfa in this study were grouped in two main clusters. Alfalfa populations Hamadani and Rahnani, which are adapted to cold claimates, were grouped in one cluster and populations Bami, Yazdi and Nikshahri, belonging to the trpoical areas, were placed in the next cluster. The positioning of EST-SSR loci in coding regions of genome, possibly increases the usefulness of these markers to clarify inter specific genetic relationships among alfalfa populations.

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Hamadan province is one of the most important alfalfa (Medicago sativa) producing regions in Iran. However, little is known about P status in this region and no suitable extraction method has yet been introduced. This experiment was carried out to determine the available phosphorus by nine chemical extractants in some soils of the Hamadan region. The treatments consisted of 15 soils and 2 P levels (0 and 200 mg P kg^-1 as Ca(H₂PO₄)₂.H₂O ) in a factorial experiment in a randomized design with three replications. Alfalfa plant were harvested in three cutting. The results indicated that the amount of extractable phosphorus decreased in the following order: Collwell>Bray 2>0.1 N HCl>Bray 1>Olsen>AB-DTPA>Mehlich 1>Mehlich 2 > 0.01 M CaCl₂ The amounts of P extracted by all methods except that by 0.01 M CaCl₂ method, showed significant correlation. The results of correlation studies showed that in the first cutting, Collwel method, in the second cutting AB-DTPA, Olsen, Collwel, Bray 1, Bray 2 and Mehlich 2 and in the third cutting, AB-DTPA, Olsen, Collwel, Bray 1, and Mehlich 2 methods seems to be suitable extractants for assessing available P of soils in Hamadan province.

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This study was conducted to investigate the effect of formic and sulphuric acids on chemical composition, dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) degradability of alfalfa silage and its effect on early lactating Holstein cow as three trials. In the first trial, chopped alfalfa (22 and 33% DM) was ensiled with three levels of formic acid (0.0, 15 and 20 ml/kg DM) and two levels of sulphuric acid (0 and 4 ml/kg DM). In the second trial, DM and CP degradability coefficients of silages (Treatment 1: without acid Treatment 2: 15 ml formic acid + 4 ml sulphuric acid per kg DM) and alfalfa hay (Treatment 3) were determined using nylon bag technique in two cannulated steers. In the third trial, silages (treatments 1 and 2) were replaced with 50% of alfalfa hay in the early lactation Holstein cow diet (11 cows, 19 ± 8 days in milk). Diets were fed for 49 days. Dry matter intake, milk production and milk composition were evaluated. Blood metabolites were determined in weeks 4 and 6. Effect of wilting on pH was significant (p<0.05). Quickly degradable fraction (a) of DM was similar in both silages (0.35) but was higher (0.5) for hay rather than the silages. Slowly degradable fraction (b) of DM of the acid - treated silage was higher compared with the hay (0.39 and 0.32, respectively). Fraction (a) of CP in acid treated silage was less than the control silage and hay (0.46, 0.57 and 0.57, respectively). Fraction (b) of CP in acid - treated silage was less compared with the control silage and hay (0.41, 0.28 and 0.35, respectively). There were no significant differences between the treatments on the cow’s performance. However, time effect on milk fat and solid non-fat was significant (p<0.01). Blood glucose concentration before feeding with treatment 2 was significantly higher (p<0.01) than cows feeding with treatment 1.

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To reduce storage space and transportation cost for alfalfa and straw bales, recompressing of the bales is recommended. In order to design different units and elements of double compressing device, some physical and rheological properties of desired products were determined. A factorial experiment with a randomized complete block design with three replications was used during the tests. Confined compression tests for three levels of axial strain (25, 35 and 45% of initial length) on alfalfa and straw bales were performed. In this study, the influence of the materials and strain on pressure, modulus of elasticity and required energy were investigated. The results showed that the effect of materials type and strain levels on the determined parameters were highly significant (P<0.01). The highest value of the measured parameter was obtained for straw bales at 45% strain. The Fabroad’s model (expressing the relationship between pressure and density) and two other models, namely, Sitki and Osbof which were used to describe the relationship between modulus of elasticity and density were fitted to the measured values, and then constants were determined for each model individually. The coefficients of friction for alfalfa and straw bales on steel and galvanized surfaces at three levels of perpendicular loads were determined. Effect of bales and surface types on frictional coefficient were not significant (P< 0.05), however, the effect of perpendicular load was highly significant (P<0.01). Tensile strength of hemp and nylon ropes, which are usually used to knot compressed bales, was measured. The results indicated that hemp ropes had more strength than nylon.

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Many studies have been carried out on the effect of organic matter on soil physical, chemical, biological, and nutritional properties, including the effect of organic matter on the availability of such elements as P, N and heavy metals. There is, however, no information on the effect of organic matter on potassium uptake from micaceous minerals. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of organic matter on potassium uptake from micaceous minerals released by alfalfa. An experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with factorial combination and three replicates. Growth medium was a mixture of quartz sand, micaceous mineral (muscovite or phlogopite) and organic matter (0, 0.5 and 1 %). Rehnani cultivar of alfalfa was used in the experiment. During 120 days of cultivation, plants were irrigated with either complete or K-free nutrient solution and distilled water as needed. At the end of cultivation, plant shoots and roots were separately harvested and their K concentration was measured by flame photometer following dry ash extraction. Under the K-free nutrient solution, a significant increase in biomass occurred in pots containing phlogopite and organic matter as compared to those with no organic matter amendment. Also, under K-free condition, potassium concentration in shoot was above the threshold value only in phlogopite amended pots. There was no significant difference in K concentration among different levels of organic matter in control treatment as well as in muscovite added treatment. Under both nutrient solutions treatments, significant increase of K uptake occurred in pots containing phlogopite and organic matter, as compared to those without it. In contrast, under K free nutrient solution, organic matter amendment could not enhance the K uptake in pots containing dioctahedral mica (muscovite). Root activities and organic matter decomposition appear to have increased rhizosphere acidity which, in turn, facilitate the K release from trioctahedral mica (phlogopite) in K deficient medium. Thus, the effect of organic matter on K release greatly depends on the type of micaceous mineral.

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This study was conducted to assess the long-term effects of soil texture and crop management on transport of lithium (Li+) and bromide (Br-) under unsaturated flow conditions. Treatments were two different soil textures of clay loam and sandy loam to be cropped with either wheat or alfalfa for 4 years. Undisturbed soil columns were taken for the steady-state flow condition using tap water prior to applying a pulse of 0.005 M (C0) LiBr solution as the influent. Four pore volumes (4PV) leaching for each column was obtained. Bromide and lithium concentrations of the effluent (C) were measured in 0.2PV intervals using bromide selective electrode and flame photometer, respectively. Relative concentrations (C/C0) of Br- and Li+ in the effluent were drawn vs. pore volumes. The results showed that the effluent concentrations were significantly affected by crop type and soil texture (in combination by soil structure). The breakthrough curves illustrated the early appearance of Br- in the effluent due to anion repulsion and retarded movement of Li+ because of surface adsorption through the soil columns. Both Br- and Li+ concentrations decreased with time and converged at low levels justifying the minor effect of macropores on continuation of leaching and final transport via soil matrix. The Br- and Li+ concentrations were higher in the effluent of clay loam soil under alfalfa due to higher structural stability compared with sandy loam soil under the same crop. It was also shown that in both soil textures the concentrations of Br- and Li+ appeared to be higher under alfalfa than under wheat, indicating the importance of crop management in contaminant transport compared with soil texture. The trends of breakthrough curves of Li+ were similar to Br- with lower concentration in effluent as a result of its adsorbtion on active surfaces.

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It is necessary that ETr (Alfalfa-reference evapotranspiration) values be converted to ETo (Grass-reference evapotranspiration) or vice versa. The main objective of this study was to develop ETr to ETo ratios (Kr values) for a growing season in Shahrekord plain, Shahrekord, Iran. Mean monthly and total (growing season) values of Kr were calculated based on 185 daily ET data set in Chaharthakhteh Agricultural Resaerch Station of Shahrekord. The ETr and ETo values were calculated using six models for developing Kr values. The models included the Standardized American Society of civil Engineers Penman-Monteith (ASCE-stPM), American Society of Civil Engineers Penman-Monteith (ASCE-PM), 1982 Kimberly-Penman (KP), and modified Jensen-Haise (JH). Kr values as a function of some of the climatic variables in FAO56 Irrigation and Drainage Paper were compared with lysimeter ETr values. For the growing season, Kr values based on lysimeter study was 1.12, which was comparable to 1.12, and 1.16 for ASCE-PM, and JH, respectively, but was far from 1.27 for 1982 KP models. ETr values in each method compared to ASCE-stPM-ETo were not comparable to 1.40 derived from Kr value based on FAO56 method.

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Few investigations have been carried out on the ability of different plants to take up non-exchangeable potassium (K). The objective of this investigation was to examine the ability of different alfalfa cultivars to absorb K from phlogopite. An experiment was carried out with a completely randomized design with 3 alfalfa cultivars including Pickseed 2065 (MF), Rehnani (R) and Hamadani (H) grown in a quartz sand medium containing <53 micron sized phlogopite under complete and K-free nutrient solutions for a period of 6 months. During the growth period, the shoot was harvested 4 times. At the end of the experiment, the root was also separated from the growth medium and collected. Plant samples were extracted using the dry ash method and their K concentration was determined. Under the K-free nutrient solution, the highest shoot and root K concentration and uptake were found for the MF cultivar. The shoot and root K concentration in this cultivar were respectively 1.6 and 1.5 times higher than those in the R cultivar and 1.8 times greater than those in the H cultivar. The K uptake in the shoot and root of the MF cultivar was respectively 1.6 and 1.9 times higher than that of the H cultivar and 1.6 and 1.5 times higher than that of the R cultivar. Thus, in addition to other parameters, the type of plant variety should be taken into account when K requirement is evaluated.

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Fluoride (F) is an essential element for humans and animals. The continuous ingestion of fluoride by humans and animals in excessive amounts has damaging effects. The objective of this study was to investigate the uptake of fluoride in spinach and alfalfa in an alkaline soil of Isfahan, Iran. Two plants were planted in lysimeters at Isfahan University of Technology research station site. The treatments consisted of two plants and three concentrations of F. Each treatment was performed in triplicate. All the plants were harvested after 125 days and the total plants' F concentrations were determined. The F concentration in both plants' roots were higher significantly (p<0.05) than the plants' shoots at both treatments. The F concentration in spinach root was 2.5 to 3 times greater than those values in alfalfa root. Totally, the RCFs and SCFs values of F were very low. This showed that these plants did not uptake much fluoride from the soil.

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Conventional methods for estimating evapotranspiration are based on point measurement and suitable for local areas, therefore, cannot be generalized for larger areas or watershed basins. The remote sensing technology is capable of using satellite images and meteorological data to estimate evapotranspiration in a wider area. In this study, estimates of evapotranspiration (ET) by SEBAL and METRIC models based on Landsat 7 ETM+ sensor were compared against ET measured by lysimeter on seven satellites passing time over Shahrekord plain located in Karun basin. The results showed that the lowest indices of NRMSE, MAE and MBE (respectively, 0.317, 1.503 and -0.973 mm per day) and the maximum of d index (0.768) belonged to SEBAL. These indices were 0.420, 2.120, 2.023 and 0.646 for METRIC, respectively. The results showed that the SEBAL was more accurate than METRIC model for estimating ET under Shahrekord plain conditions. As long as the possibility of getting complete hourly meteorological data be provided, or some modifications on METRIC model were done, SEBAL show closer results to reality, and therefore is recommended.
 

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