JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

---

In order to determine the effects of number of irrigations on stages of development, yield, and yield components of cumin, an experiment was conducted in 1993 - 94 growing season with a randomized complete block design and four replications. The location of the experiment was Isfahan University of Technology Research Station in Shervedan Field. The irrigation treatments were: I1- Irrigation after planting I2- Irrigation after planting and at the stage of full standing of plants I3- Irrigation after planting, full standing of plants, and anthesis and I4- Irrigation after planting, full standing of plants, anthesis, and beginning of grain filling stage. The stages of development (from emergence to anthesis) occurred simultaneously in all treatments. However, the water deficit in I1 and I2 caused the plants to reach their physiological maturity 5 days sooner than the other two treatments. The time intervals between anthesis and physiological maturity in I4 and I3 treatments were 12 days and 5 days longer than those in the other two treatments, respectively. The grain yield of I1 and I2 were approximately 60% of I3 and no significant difference was observed between the grain yields of I1 and I2 treatments, nor between I3 and I4 treatments. The grain yields in I3 and I4 treatments were about 1742 and 1800 Kg/ha, respectively. The number of umbels per plant, the most important grain yield component, was greater in I3 and I4 than the other two irrigation regimes, but the number of seeds per umbel and 1000-seed weight of I3 and I4 were lower than that in I1 and I2 treatments.

---

The reproductive development stage is a crucial stage in plant life to study the potential of plant yield. Salt tolerance in this stage is desirable to obtain a stable and high yield. A Cynodon dactylon population from America (Cyn3, London Univ. Collection), was suitable to study the detached immature inflorescence in booting stage on liquid medium. The detached inflorescenes were cultured on a liquid medium prepared with or without various supplements of NaCl (0 to 2%) and kinetin concentrations. The sequence of morphological events of spike development in vitro, and the effects of NaCl on spikelet opening, embryo sac growth, fertilization and caryopsis development were studied. The liquid medium supplemented with 10^-7 M kinetin resulted in natural caryopsis development. Supplementing NaCl to the liquid medium had deteriorating effects on the embryo sac development and resulted in the production of abnormal caryopses. The abnormal caryopses were smaller in diameter with a more fragile pericarp. However, a small number of spikelets grown in liquid medium, supplemented with low salt concentration up to 5%, produced normal caryopses and germinated well on soaked filter paper in petri dishes at appropriate conditions.

---

A study was conducted to determine irrigation scheduling of pinto bean and to evaluate the effect of its planting date. A split-plot with complete randomized block design with four replications was used at Isfahan University of Technology Research Station in Shervedan-Falavarjan, The main plots were three irrigation regimes of T1 to T3 (irrigation after 50±3, 70±3 and 90±3 mm evaporation from class A pan, respectively) and the sub-plots were two planting dates of May 28 and June 28.

The results showed that delayed planting from May to June caused earlier flowering, physiological maturity and reduction of 29.6% in grain yield. Grain yield in T1 to T3 treatments were 3585.1, 3510.5 and 1925.8 kg/ha, respectively. The difference between grain yields of T1 and T2 with T3 treatments were significant at 1% probability level. Biological yields at May 28 and June 28 planting dates were 8257.1 and 5535 kg/ha, respectively, which were significantly different. There was no significant difference between biological yields of T1 and T2 treatments. Number of pods per square meter was the most important component of grain yield and 85% of grain yield difference was due to this part. Harvest index was affected by irrigation treatment and planting date. Mean harvest indices for T1 to T3 treatments were 45.5, 46.1 and 37%, respectively, and 42.8% and 44.9% for the two planting dates. Water use efficiencies for grain yield in T1 to T3 treatments were 0.557, 0.556 and 0.329 kg/m3, respectively. Generally, treatment T2 was shown to be the best irrigation regime.

---

Experience has shown that all centralized planning, policy-making and decision-making which presuppose exclusion of public participation have never been successful in achieving their objectives. The goal of this research is to determine the driving and preventive factors of herders’ participation in rehabilitation designs of Aghghala ranges in Gorgan Province. The research method was direct observation in which measurement techniques were used. A questionnaire was used to divide the sample society into two categories: the experts who design the range management system, and the local herders.

 Results obtained from this investigation showed that according to the experts training, economic, planning and social parameters have the greatest effects on local herders’ participation while the herders maintained that planning, economic, training and social parameters have the greatest effect on decreasing their participation.

---

Sensitivity of developmental stages of three sunflower cultivars to day length and temperature changes under field conditions were evaluated, and their development rates during various growth stages were modeled in a field experiment conducted in 1996 at the Agricultural Research Station, Isfahan University of Technology. Five dates of planting (April 27, May 12 and 27, and June 12 and 29) and three open pollinated sunflower cultivars (Record, Vnimik 8931 and Armavirec) were evaluated using a randomized complete block design with split-plot layout in three replications. Date of planting was considered to be the main plot and cultivars were randomized in sub-plots.

Number of days from planting (P) to head visible (HV) and P to first anther (FA) were significantly reduced with delay in planting as the result of increase in temperature during these periods. Number of days from P to physiological maturity (PM) was also significantly reduced with delay in P. This response, however, could not be explained by changes in temperature variables or day length. Number of days from HV to FA, in harmony with the partial stability of maximum and minimum temperatures during this period, was not affected by date of planting. Duration from FA to PM of the last planting date was significantly shorter than the other planting dates. This response was related to the persistence of the effect of high and stable maximum temperatures prevailing during HV to FA period of the last planting date. Armavirec was significantly earlier than Record and Vnimic 8931 for number of days from P to HV and from P to FA Cultivars showed significantly large differences for the FA to PM and P to PM durations. Armavirec was the earliest and Record was the latest cultivar. Based on the results obtained, it may be concluded that the cultivars under study were non-sensitive to photoperiod. Development rate (DR) of Armavirec responded linearly and DR of Record and Vnimic 8931 responded non-linearly to increases in temperature variables during P to HV and P to FA Development of Vnimic 8931 was faster than Record at high temperatures. DR of the cultivars decreased linearly during P to PM as day length increased. The relationship between DR and photoperiod could be used as a practical model for estimating P to PM duration of these sunflower cultivars.

---

Cooperative have always been considered institutions capable of solving major problems in the process of development in different countries. These institutions has evolved along with theories of development from government dependent organization to independent, people centered with the objective of being equal-opportunity systems for all members in order to be responsive to current goals of development. The aim of the present research was to determine the level of success in mechanized companies in Fars Province (12 Mechanized Companies, 24 Rural Cooperatives and 8 Production Cooperatives) in achieving development goals through a survey research.

The findings indicated that production cooperatives were more successful in promoting farmers' income and participation of members in community activities, increasing equity and farmers' work related welfare while mechanized companies had more achievements in flexibility and participation of members in making decisions regarding farming activities and in terms of payment to farmers. In other words, production cooperatives have been more successful in achieving development goals (increasing income, participation, and work related welfare and decreasing inequity). Mechanized companies rank a position in the middle of the success scale, but rural cooperatives had the lowest success level in achieving development goals.

---

Planting pattern through changing vegetative growth and utilization of environmental resourses affects yield components and seed yield. These effects were studied in the spring of 2000 at the Agricultural Research Station, Isfahan University of Technology, using a randomized complete block design with a split plot layout and three replications. Main plots consisted of three row distances (30 cm flat, and 45 and 60 cm on bed), and sub-plots included three planting densities (30, 40, and 50 plants m^-2). The experiment was planted on March 13 using local safflower variety of Isfahan, named Koseh. Increase in row distance and plant density enhanced most developmental stages of safflower. Leaf area index was not significantly affected by row distance but increased as planting density increased. Up to the 50% flowering stage, 30 cm row distance produced highest plant dry weight, but had the least dry weight at the end of the growing season, probably due to the strong shedding of leaves. Up to the end of flowering stage, 50 plants m^-2 treatment produced the highest plant dry weight, but ranked lower as compared to 30 plants m^-2 treatment at the physiological maturity, probably due to the shedding of leaves. Row distance had no significant effect on number of branches per plant and per square meter, number of heads per branch, number of seeds per head, 1000-seed weight and harvest index. But number of heads per plant and per square meter as well as seed yield per plant and per square meter significantly decreased as planting distance increased. Plant density had no significant effect on number of branches per plant, number of heads per square meter, number of seeds per head, 1000-seed weight and seed yield. Increase in planting density increased number of branches per square meter, but reduced number of heads per branch and per plant, seed yield per plant and harvest index. The highest seed yield (4769 kg ha^-1) was obtained with 30 cm row distance and 40 plants m^-2 treatment. On average, 397 kg ha^-1 petal was harvested, which has a large economic value. However, petal clipping, over all treatments, reduced seed yield by about 7.4%. Considering the advantages of uniform distribution of plants and adaptation of safflower to flat planting, 30 cm row distance with 40 plants m^-2 might be appropriate for planting safflower under conditions similar to this experiment.

---

A field experiment was conducted in 2000 at the Agricultural Research Station, Isfahan University of Technology, to model the response of four safflower genotypes to day length and temperature changes under field conditions. Five planting dates (March 12, April 12, May 10, June 8, and July 12) and four safflower genotypes (Arak 2811, local variety Koseh, Nebraska 10 and Varamin 295) were evaluated using a randomized complete block design with split-plot layout in three replications. Date of planting was considered as the main plot and cultivars were randomized in the sub-plots. Number of days from planting (P) to emergence (E), stem elongation (SE) to head visible (HV), and HV to flowering initiation (FI) significantly reduced with delay in planting as the result of increase in temperature during these periods. Number of days from P to SE, duration of flowering (DF) and termination of flowering (TF) to physiological maturity (PM) were significantly affected by planting date and reduced as day length increased. The same was observed in the case of number of days from P to 50% flowering (MF) and to PM. Large co-variation of day length with temperature may explain a portion of day length contribution to the variation in the above periods. Varamin 295 was later than other genotypes with respect to the duration from P to HV, and specially, for rosette duration. In addition and for unknown reasons, the rate of development (RD) of Varamin 295 at all developmental periods could not be explained by day length and/or temperature variables. Among other genotypes, Koseh with 125 days, and Nebrska 10 with 118 days from P to PM were the latest and the earliest genotypes, respectively. The response of Koseh to planting dates, as measured by the duration of various developmental stages, differed from Arak 2811 and Nebraska 10. This was attributed to the probable response of Koseh to day length. RD of Koseh, Arak 2811, and Nebraska 10 during P to MF was explained by a linear regression and RD of Koseh during P to PM by a polynomial regression with day length by mean temperature as an independent variable. RD of Arak 2811 and Nebraska 10 during P to PM was explained by minimum temperature. It seems that partial sensitivity of Koseh to day length has a considerable significance in its adaptation to environmental conditions prevailing in the summer under Isfahan climatic conditions.

---

Sustainability of livestock production systems (LPSs) is of prime importance to the needs of human beings. From a sustainability point of view, an LPS is sustainable when it is environmentally nondestructive, economically viable and socially provides appropriate quality of life for producer and the whole community. Iran LPS is primarily based on traditional production systems. Therefore, an important issue for animal production in this country is the question of sustainability of traditional LPSs.The aim of this paper was to investigate and compare the sustainability of traditional LPSs in Firouzabad County. Three dimensions of sustainability were considered. Survey research was used to reach this purpose. Therefore, 300 livestock producers in “Nomadic”, “Semi-nomadic” and “Village- based” system were interviewed. Respondents were selected by a multi-stage cluster random sampling method. Face validity was confirmed by experts and the questionnaires were subjected to reliability testing using data collected in the pilot study. Findings showed that all three LPSs were unsustainable with regard to social, economical, and technico-environmental dimensions. Comparison of LPSs showed that Village-based LPS was from social dimension relatively sustainable and technically and environmentally unsustainable. While nomadic LPS was from social dimension relatively unsustainable and technically and environmentally sustainable.

---

  During the past years, safflower genotypes have been selected from local variety of Isfahan, named Kouseh. The response of these genotypes to planting date might be different. To determine this, performances of several genotypes selected from Kouseh plus Arak 2811 ) as check ( were studied at the Agricultural Research Station, Isfahan University of Technology in 2002-2004. The experiment was conducted using a split-plot arrangement within a randomized complete block design with three replications. Planting dates were considered as the main plots and subplots consisted of 22 genotypes of safflower. Number of days from planting to emergence was highest (18.0 days) in early spring planting and lowest (10.3 days) in late spring planting. Days from planting to head visible, flowering and physiological maturity were decreased with delay in planting from autumn to late spring. Days from planting to emergence, head visible and physiological maturity were not influenced by genotype. Genotypes C116 and DP29 had the highest (145.0) and genotype ISF28 the lowest (140.2) days from planting to flowering. Plant height, number of first and second degree branches, number of heads per first and second degree branches, number of seeds per head, 1000-seed weight and seed weight per plant reduced significantly with delay in planting from autumn to late spring. Genotypes C128 and DP7 had the highest (120.0 and 120.5 cm, respectively) and genotype DP9 the lowest (104.2 cm) plant height. Genotypes DP6 and DP9 had the highest (12.8) and the lowest (6.7) first degree branches per plant, respectively. Arak-2811 had the highest (16.9) and genotypes DP9 and DP5 the lowest (7.2 and 7.1, respectively) second degree branches per plant. Number of heads per first degree branches was not significantly affected by genotype. Arak-2811 and genotype C114 had the highest (12.8 and 12.2, respectively) and genotype DP9 the lowest (5.1) number of heads per second degree branches. Genotype DP7 had the highest (45.9) and genotype C111 had the lowest (28.0) number of seeds per head. Genotypes DP3 and C128 had the highest (34.2 g) and lowest (22.0 g) 1000-seed weight, respectively. Genotype DP25 had the highest (20.5 g) and genotypes DP29 and DP9 the lowest (9.9 and 10.0 g) seed weight per plant. Harvest index was not affected by planting date and genotype. The result of this study showed that safflower may yield more in fall planting under conditions similar to this experiment. Genotype DP25 might be recommended for this planting date, genotypes ISF66 and DP25 for early spring planting and genotypes DP7 and ISF14 for summer planting.

---

  Great sturgeon is one of the most economically important species. However, in recent years overfishing, illegal fishing, etc., have resulted in severe declines in the stocks of this species. For conservation, stock of this species, determination of gonadal situation and its gonadal growth exchanges is very important. This paper is a histological approach to gonadal staging in 74 Huso huso in the 4 – and - 5 - year old classes. The fishes were reared in brackish water concert tanks under controlled conditions. A small section of the gonads of each fish was removed by biopsy. The gonadal tissue was fixed in buoin solution. They were dehydrated in different diluted solutions of alcohol and chloroform until they were clear. Then they were embedded in paraffin and sectioned at 7 µm and stained by hematoxylin and eosin method. Of the four-year old fish, %56 and %44 were males and females, respectively. %6 of males were at stage I %11 stage I-II %61 stage II %13 stage II-III %11 stage III-IV and %8 were at stage IV-V. %3 of the females were at unknown stage %3 stage I %11 stage I-II %60 stage II %14 stage II-III and 9% stage III. Of the 5 year old fish, %12.5 of males were at stage II % 25 stages II-III %50 stages III and %12.5 were at stage IV. %62.5 of females were at stage II and %37.5 were at stage II-III. Results of this study Compared with those obtained from fishes of the same age class studied in natural habitats as well as the results obtained for the farmed sturgeons from freshwater medium indicate that there is no similarly in the stage of gonadal development in different conditions. Longest stage in tow sexes was stage II that is longer in females, and passing of stage II in males is faster. Males showed more sexual maturity than females. Gonadic growth in culture medium is faster than wild condition, and it is faster in brackish water than fresh water. So, we can state that brackish water is a suitable medium for gonadic growth of Great sturgeon.

---

Root depth is one of the main parameters affecting soil moisture availability held within the plant root zone. This study was conducted to evaluate the trend of corn root development during the growing season in different irrigation methods with two water qualities, and distribution of roots in soil profile. The experiment was a split plot design with three main treatments (subsurface drip(SSD), surface drip(SD) and furrow irrigation(FI)) and two sub main treatments (municipal effluent and fresh water) in two consecutive years conducted in Korbal plain, Fars province. Root monitoring was carried out with the observation of soil profile root depth measurement. Samples were taken during the growing season 16 times, each with a 7 day interval. Measurement of root weight in different soil layers was carried out using monoliths of soil washed with water pressure using 50 mesh sieves. Although the longest roots were observed in plots irrigated with SSD and the shortest in FI, the final root length was not significantly affected by irrigation methods and water qualities. In this research, a model showing the trend of root length average growth was developed and tested in the experiment conditions. The average final main root depth for all treatments was 77 cm. Irrigation volume using root depth monitoring could be reduced compared to linear model, Borg & Grimes and CROPWAT model for root depth estimation. Irrigation water on the base of soil moisture deficit within the root zone in each irrigation event could be reduced when the real root depth is considered compared with the conventional general models giving a final root depth. Results showed the total dry root weight in SSD was more than that in SD and FI methods. However, water quality did not show a significant effect on dry root weight. The most root concentration in SSD was measured in depth of 20-40 cm, while in SD and FI the most concentration was in surface layer (0-20 cm). In the SSD, the roots were distributed more evenly compared with SD and FI methods. The concentration of roots in all treatments below 65 cm was not significant.

---

During recent years, several genotypes have been selected from Isfahan land race Kouseh. The performance of safflower selected genotypes was studied in the field conditions, at Agriculture Research Station, Isfahan University of Technology during 2003. The experiment was carried out using a split plot arrangement according to a randomized complete block design with three replications. Planting dates (March 11, April 20, May 22 and June 23) were considered as the main plots and subplots consisted of 20 genotypes of safflower including 19 selections from Kouseh and Arak-2811 genotype. Days from planting to emergence and emergence to stem elongation were reduced as planting was delayed until the fourth planting date. Days from stem elongation to head visible was reduced with delay from the first to the third planting date, and then increased. Days from head visible to 50% flowering was reduced with delay from the first date to the third planting date, but increased in the fourth planting date. Days from 50 percent flowering to physiological maturity was increased with delay in planting. Days from planting to emergence, emergence to stem elongation, stem elongation to head visible and 50 percent flowering to physiological maturity were not influenced by genotypes. Genotype DP7 had the highest and genotype C111 and genotype DP25 had the lowest days from head visible to 50% flowering. The interaction between planting date and genotype in regard to days from stem elongation to head visible was also significant. Seed weight per plant was reduced with delay in planting date. Genotype ISF66 had the highest and genotype Arak-2811 had lowest seed weight per plant. The number of days from emergence to head visible in ISF66, DP5, C128 and Arak-2811 was affected by maximum temperature (Tmax), in genotype DP7 by Tmax², in genotypes DP17, DP1 and C41100 by Tmin² and in genotypes DP9, DP25, ISF28, ISF22, and C111 was affected by day length. It seems that development period from emergence to head visible was affected by temperature in the most genotypes. On March 11 planting date, genotypes had the maximum response to temperature and day length and the minimum response was observed in the fourth planting date. The genotype ISF66 had the highest seed yield on March 11 planting date. The result of this study showed that safflower should be planted in late March under condition similar to this experiment for maximum yield production.

---

Magnetic susceptibility (χ) measurements are widely used for the evaluation of soil profile development. Fourteen soil profiles were studied in a relatively wide range of climatic conditions in Fars Province. Citrate-bicarbonate-dithionite (CBD) extraction and micro CT-Scan images were used to evaluate the source of magnetic susceptibility. The results showed that soil samples lost 23 to 91 percent of their magnetic susceptibility after CBD extraction (χCBD), reflecting differences in the source (pedogenic or lithogenic) of magnetic susceptibility. Greater values of the decrease were noticed mostly in well developed soil profiles as well as in soil surface. 22 to 89% of the decrease was observed in frequency dependence of magnetic susceptibility (χfd) after CBD extraction. A significant positive correlation (P<0.01) was obtained between χCBD and χfd in the soil studied. Micro CT-Scan images with a spatial resolution of 33 µm showed lithogenic magnetic Fe oxide (magnetite) grains.

---

In order to study the effects of different land uses on soil development, a loess hillslope was selected in Agh-Su area, eastern Golestan Province. Six profiles in four land uses including pasture, Quercuse natural forest, Cupressus artificial forest and a cultivated land, were dug and studied. Samples from different horizons were collected for physico-chemical and microscopic analyses. Important physical and chemical attributes such as bulk density (Bd), mean weight diameter (MWD), Organic carbon (SOC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), soil calcium carbonate (CCE) and available P were compared in land uses. Organic matter, CEC and MWD were significantly lower in the cultivated land use. Organic matter content in the forest and pasture area was considerably higher than that of cultivated land use. Soil profile development studies revealed that forest soils were highly developed. Quercus natural forest soils were classified as Calcic Argixerolls. Unlike cultivated soils which showed the minimum development and were classified as Typic Calcixerepts, formation of argillic horizon with dominant speckled b-fabric in the natural forest indicated the high landscape stability. Crystallitic b-fabric of horizons showed the absence of enough leaching of carbonate and the subsequent migration of clay particles. Intense erosion of the surface horizons of cultivated land use resulted in the outcropping of the subsurface carbonate rich horizon preventing soil development. The soils of pasture and Cuprecuse soils had mollic epipedon and were classified as Typic Calcixerolls with moderate development. Micromorphological properties of soils can help consider changes in pedogenic processes occurring under different land covers.

---

Gully erosion and sedimentation have high priority in Fars Province due to the losses from destruction of lands, roads and civil structures. In the present study, in order to evaluate the threshold for the development and initiation of gully topography in Fars province, two regions were selected including Allamarvdasht, Lamerd and Fedagh, Larestan. 30 gullies were selected in each mentioned area. Morphometric parameters were measured and topography threshold was drawn. To evaluate the effect of measured parameters on topography threshold, each gully was clustered based on parameters and cluster analysis. To determine the effect of dominant hydrologycal processes on gully initiation and development, the multivariate analysis was employed using SPSS (version 14) software. Using the power relationship between watershed area and slope of each gully, the dominant hydrological processes in gully initiation and development were determined by means of Excel software and were compared with coefficients of foreign regional studies. The results showed that in the two studied regions, the most effective hydrologycal process was surface runoff. Results also demonstrated that in these regions changing the shape of upstream basin topography to circle and their expansion have increased the threshold of watershed topography of gully erosion. Increasing the sodium absorbtion ratio and removing the ground cover reduce the threshold of gully erosion topography. Increasing the depth of gullies and soil organic matters resulted in greater relative threshold of topography.

---

---

---

---