JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of dietary energy levels on the performance of Arian broiler chicks. Trial 1 was performed in summer and trial 2 in fall. Both experiments were accomplished in 5×2 factorial designs, involving 5 levels of dietary metabolizable energy and two sexes. Each of the 10 resulting treatments was replicated 4 and 3 times in trials 1 and 2, respectively. The metabolizable energy contents in diets number 1 to 5 were 2800, 2900, 3000, 3100 and 3200 Kcal/kg for starter (0-4 weeks) period and 2900, 3000, 3100, 3200 and 3300 Kcal/kg for grower (4-7 weeks) period, respectively. The ratios of energy to each nutrient were the same for all diets in each stage of the experiments.

In both experiments, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio improved significantly (P<0.01) when diets with higher levels of energy were consumed. Feed intake was affected (P<0.01) by the dietary energy content only in summer (trial 1) resulting from the reduced intake of chicks fed with the lowest energy level. Abdominal fat percentage was decreased (P<0.01) in chicks fed with the lowest energy diet in summer. In both experiments, the cost of the feed per unit of live body weight was reduced (P<0.01) in accordance with the reduction in diet density. As expected, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, abdominal fat and cost of the feed per unit of live body weight for male chicks were significantly better than the same values for females (P<0.01).

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This study utilized a descriptive-correlational surveying approach to examine some economic factors involved in the adoption of an integrated campaign to control rice stem borer (Chilo suppressalis) in Isfahan Province. The population consisted of farmers living in the vilages where Biological Control Plan was conducted (N=6000). The population frame was obtained from Isfahan Agricultural Organization. The sample was obtained using the cluster random sampling method (n=361). Questionnaire and interview were used for data collection in this study. Face and content validity of the instrument was established using a panel of experts consisting of senior faculty members in agricultural extension and education at Tarbiat Modaress University. Further, the agricultural officer of Isfahan Province validated the questionnaire. A reliability analysis was conducted and Cronbach alpha value was reported to be 83 percent. The results showed that the rate of adoption of Integrated Campaign to Control Rice Stem Borer among the farmers was moderate. Among the economic characteristics, there was a significant relationship between adoption of integrated campaign and area of land, amount of area under cultivation, degree of family cooperation in the agricultural activities, access to agricultural inputs, access to financial resources, and yield of rice per hectare.

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In this study, the effect of deficit irrigation with every–other furrow irrigation method, which is an innovated method in farm irrigation management, was examined on sorghum (Sorghum durra L.) in Bajgah and Kooshkak areas of Fars Province. The experimental design was split plot with three main plots of irrigation interval (10, 15 and 20 days), three subplots of irrigation methods (ordinary furrow, fixed and variable every–other furrow), and 4 replications. Considering the crop production cost with real and subsidized prices of water in both areas, the net benefit per unit volume of irrigation water and benefit–cost ratio were calculated. The results showed that these economic parameters for the fixed and alternative furrow irrigation methods of 10-day intervals in both areas did not differ much with those of the ordinary furrow irrigation with 10-day intervals and were even higher in Bajgah area. Furthermore, the relationship between the amount of irrigation water, water application efficiency (Ea), water price per unit volume (Cw) and the net benefit per unit volume of irrigation water (B) with different conveyance efficiencies (Ec) were determined by multiple linear regression procedure. The regression coefficients of linear fit equation between the costs and irrigation water were determined. The results indicated that with higher price of water, the farmer should increase the farm irrigation application efficiency to avoid the economic losses.

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In irrigation scheduling, one question is “how much is the optimal depth?”. In this study the optimal irrigation depth (by assuming the power distribution function and by taking into consideration the distribution function, which governs the data (normal distribution)) by considering the environmental effects was determined for three water management strategies (i. e. unlimited, limited nitrogen leaching and environmental protection) for wheat under center pivot irrigation system. The System layout in 32 hectare field was installed according to the ASAE standard. Four radial lines of catch cans were used at intervals of 6m (two radial lines of catch cans A and B, were installed on the maximum slope with 3˚ between every two rows and two radial lines of catch cans C and D, were installed on the minimum slope with 3˚ between every two rows). The field data were collected by the five different speeds of the center pivot system. The economical ratio (C) for three water management strategies were 31.19, 4.58 and 1.45, respectively. The optimum irrigation water was calculated for the three different management strategies. The results indicated that the lowest value of optimal irrigation depth was observed under the unlimited strategy, and the highest value of optimal irrigation depth was found for the environmental protection strategies (both with assuming power distribution and normal distiribution function).

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Using a deterministic model for dairy herd according to milk pricing system in Iran, the economic weights of milk production, fat percentage, protein percentage and herd life with minimized cost were identified, while restricted total input and total costs were variable in animal unit. By data simulation and the data obtained from 3 different dairy herds in Iran, the sensitivity of economic values with the assumption of 20% change in forage and concentrate price, forage to concentrate ratio, feed-cost, non-feed cost, base price of milk, free-market price of milk, average milk production, fat percentage, protein percentage and herd life were estimated. In the base condition, the economic weights of milk production, fat and protein percentage and herd life in three herds were -0.55, -0.24, -0.54 -34, -20, -11 -34, -37, -33 -0.37, 0.67, -0.39, respectively. The effect of change in different factors of production system on economic weights of three farms was variable. The economic weights of milk production, fat percentage, protein percentage and herd life had the most sensitivity to change in the average milk productoin, base price of milk and herd life, respectively.

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The first Iranian hybrid monogerm cultivar of sugarbeet was developed in 2000 after an 8-year period of R&D activity. The cultivar is not only a high yielding variety but enjoys a good resistance to bolting and Sercospora. The study sought to estimate the rate of return to the public investment made to develop this variety, using the economic surplus approach. The results revealed that the investment has got an internal rate of return of 117 percent and that it has produced an exchange saving of $28.7 million. This finding indicates that the investment has been highly productive and that the field suffers underinvestment.

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In Iran, the development of cultivated areas becomes gradually impossible due to ever-increasing population growth and urban area development. Therefore, it is very important to use the existing cultivated lands more efficiently. Land suitability evaluation makes the sustainable use of the lands feasible. The objective of this study was qualitative, quantitative and economic assessment of land suitability in Talandahst area for rainfed wheat, barley and chickpea. Talandasht plain with a surface area of 4500 ha is located southwest of Kermanshah city. The climate is semi-arid with cold winter and moderate summer. The successive stages of this research included soil survey in the field, soil analysis, qualitative and quantitative and economic evaluations of land suitability. In qualitative evaluation of land, climatic, topographic and soil suitability classes were determined according to the degree of the matching. Limitation and parametric methods were used in qualitative evaluation. Quantitative and economic evaluations made based on the observed yield and gross benefit, respectively. Based on qualitative evaluation, the studied area is marginally suitable for rainfed farming of wheat, barley and chickpea. This is due to water deficiency occurring during some stages of the growing cycle. The solution for this problem is supplementary irrigation. In addition to climate limitation, there are also topographic and soil restriction for the growth of the studied crops. On the basis of observed yield, the land units are moderately to highly suitable for rainfed wheat and barley production. Among the three named crops, the most and least profitable ones are chickpea and barley, respectively, and wheat ranks between them.

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Northern watershed of Kouhrang River with the area of 68437 hectares is located in northwestern Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiary province within 49ْ 54ً to 50ْ 9ً E longitude and 32ْ 83ً to 32ْ 36ً N latitude.Making a balance and equilibrium between the number of ranchers, the rangeland production potential and appropriate flock size in each utilization unit is a necessary task. It is a matter of importance to determine suitable ranch size based on pastoral household but suitable household livelihood as well. The main goal of this study is to determine utilization unit size based on ecologic and socioeconomic factors for each household. Along with detecting the ranch allotments, the range capacity and its productivity potential were studied. Then, based on expenses and the revenues resulting from herdship,(on ranges), the suitable flock size for fulfillment of the household expenses regarding the range utilization periods, the suitable range size per household was determined. 10 vegetation types with 0.91 AUM per hectares grazing capacity were detected in studied area. There are 46 range allotments and some parts of other 6 range allotments in studied area with average area at 1510 hectares. Average pastoral household is 36.8 per unit range allotments. Pastoral households share at rangelands is 41 hectares now. The minimum and suitable ranch area for each pastoral household which can provide annual needs and costs is 520 hectares and 142 animal unit at a mix flock at 3 to 2 ratio of sheep to goat for a 100 – dayes grazing season. The result of this study showed that production potential at each range unit is influenced by flock size, household share on farming lands, and the household numbers on each ranch unit. Ranch unit and the livelihood level, have significant influence at 5% level on suitable ranch size per household.

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  Extension of cultivation areas becomes gradually impossible due to ever-increasing population growth and urban area development in Iran. Therefore, it is very important to use the existing cultivated lands more efficiently. Land suitability evaluation makes the sustainable use of the lands feasible. The objective of this study was qualitative, quantitative and economic suitability evaluation of irrigated croplands for wheat, maize and sesame in Mehran plain, Ilam Province. Soil survey in the field, laboratory analysis of the soil samples, qualitative, quantitative and economic evaluation were different successive stages of this research. In qualitative evaluation, climatic, topographic and soil suitability classes were determined according to the degree of the matching with plant requirements, by parametric (square root) method. Quantitative and economic evaluations were done based on observed, potential and marginal yield analysis. Results of the qualitative land evaluation showed that most of the land units were classified moderately suitable for given crops because of soil limitations. Qualitatively, most of the land units were classified in the same classes as, or in lower classes than quantitative suitability classes for wheat and maize production, due to high management level at the farms. Whereas quantitative classes of sesame were determined lower than qualitative classes induced by low management level for this crop. Economic land suitability classification showed that the wheat production was the most economic land utilization type. Results of the economic assessment suggested that the cultivation of wheat in rotation with sesame would produce the most income for different units and could be increased in future using improvement in management level in the study area for sesame cultivation.

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Kerman province is the largest producer of greenhouse cucumber and tomato in Iran. This paper calculates the interest rate of return (IRR) and return period of investment (RPI) in vegetable, cut flowers and strawberry in greenhouse and compares them with vegetable grown outdoors. To do the study, a random sample of 309 farmers was selected in the province of Kerman in 2005. Results showed that IRR for vegetable, cut flowers and strawberry in greenhouse was about 20, 14 and 23 respectively, and it was 45/8 percentage per year for vegetable outdoors. RPI for vegetable, cut flowers and strawberry in greenhouse was about 8, 29, and 7 years, respectively. Vegetables Production under greenhouse produces more employment opportunities, has better yields, higher price and efficient use of factors, but it has lower IRR, higher production cost, higher pesticide residue and is more capital intensive in comparison with outdoor production. Improvement of greenhouse credits, enlargement of metal greenhouses, research on yield and development of greenhouses at region 5 are the important policy-making implications of this paper.

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Eight multiparous Holstein dairy cows with 634±44 BW, 57±6 DIM, and 46.7±3.1 kg daily milk yield were assigned to a duplicated 4×4 Latin square design for 21-day periods (adaptation, 14d sample collection, 7d). The treatment diets were: 1) no pistachio by-product (control), 2) 5% of pistachio by-product, 3) 10% pistachio by-product and 4) 15% pistachio by-product. Corn silage in control diet was replaced with pistachio by-product. The blood metabolites (2h after feeding), DMI, daily milk yield and milk compositions were not affected by the treatment diets. The economically corrected milk (ECM) and fat corrected milk (FCM) were decreased linearly by increasing pistachio by-product in the diet (P<0.1). By increasing the by-product level in the diet, digestibility of DM, OM, NDF and ADF were decreased linearly (P<0.05). Daily rumination and chewing activity alone or per DMI, NDFI or ADFI were linearly decreased when the by-product level increased in the diet (P<0.1). The results showed that the pistachio by-product does not seem to be suitable for complete replacing of the roughages in the diet and it can be used as a part of forage in the diet up to 10% of DMI.

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The effect of mulberry leaves enrichment with riboflavin in 7, 37, 77 and 127ppm concentrations on larval growth and cocoon characteristics of Bombyx mori L., hybrid 103×104 was studied. Silkworm larvae were fed on fresh mulberry leaves of shin inche nevise enriched with riboflavin once a day. All biological and economical parameters were determined by using standard techniques in sericulture. The results showed that larval weight was greater in 77ppm among treatments on the 7th day of the fifth instar which had 47% increase compared to control. Maximum amount of female cocoon weight and female pupal weight were recorded 1.622g and 1.169g, respectively, in 127ppm while male cocoon weight and pupal weight were greater in 37ppm and recorded to be 1.169g and 0.895g, respectively. Maximum amount of cocoon shell weight and cocoon shell ratio were recorded in 77ppm for male (0.311g and 26.06%) and female (0.318g and 21.46%). Maximum weight of 50 eggs (0.027g) was recorded in 127ppm while high fertility and hatchability was recorded in 77ppm concentration. Effective rate of rearing was maximum in control treatment (72%) with no significant difference compared with other treatments. The overall results showed that riboflavin can be used at 77ppm concentration for the significant increase of cocoon weight, cocoon shell ratio and egg production of silkworm, Bombyx mori L.

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Floods are considered as most destructive among all natural hazards which impose lots of damages on human societies. Hence, it is important to estimate such damages and losses and to determine flood impact areas for management plans. HEC-FIA software as a new model (Sep. 2012) was used in Ghohrood and Ghamsar watershed basins to estimate flood-driven losses and impacts. In this model, HEC-RAS and HEC-Geo RAS are used to produce inundation map in different return periods of flood as HEC-DSS file and by using the data collected in relation to regional agricultural land, building and human, human and financial losses are directly estimated. According to the results of this model, agriculture, building and human losses respectively in Ghohrood watershed are about 354 million rials with 24 buildings affected, and in Ghamsar watershed this is about 12879 million rials with 36 buildings damaged. The advantages of this model over the previous models are estimating the direct economic and human losses for what has occurred and for possible floods in the future. The results can help with watershed management, flood insurance and risk management.

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