Showing 50 results for Gri
Ezatollah Karami, Daryoosh Hayati,
Volume 2, Issue 1 (4-1998)
Abstract
Sustainability has become a part of the language of almost all development projects. Although, in many instances it has been overused and misused, attaining sustainability in agricultural development is always one of our concerns. This paper aims (1) to clarify and describe the core beliefs and values underlying the two opposing world views of agriculture, i.e., “conventional agricultural paradigm” and “sustainable agricultural paradigm” (2) to describe an instrument developed to measure the basic beliefs and values assumed to constitute the two competing paradigms (3) to measure the adherence of extensionists and researchers of the Ministry of Agriculture towards sustainable agriculture and (4) to compare the adherence to alternative paradigms against conventional agricultural paradigms of Iranian groups with permaculture groups and agricultural chemical dealers of USA. The instrument was used in a nation wide survey. A two-stage random sample was used. In the first stage, 11 provinces were randomly selected and then in each of the selected provinces a simple random sample of extension agents, extension experts and agricultural researchers were selected for the study. The findings indicated that there is no significant difference among agricultural researchers, extension agents and extension experts in their mean endorsement score of sustainable agriculture. Data from a similar study in the USA were used to provide a means of comparison. Two extreme groups were selected, permaculture group with strong sustainable agricultural score and agricultural chemical dealers with lowest mean scores of sustainable agriculture. The mean scores of sustainable agriculture adherence of three Iranian groups were considerably lower than that of the USA permaculture group. However, there was no significant difference between three Iranian groups and USA agricultural chemical dealers which indicates low adherence of Iranian sample to sustainable agriculture. Considering the challenges Iranian farmers face for food production in the next decade and the role of the Ministry of Agriculture personnel, recommendations are put forth for changing knowledge, attitudes and skills of agricultural researchers and extensionists.
Daryoosh Hayati, Ezzatollah Karami,
Volume 3, Issue 2 (7-1999)
Abstract
Studies on sustainable agricultural have not paid adequate attention to farmers' behaviour regarding sustainability. The objectives of this research were: 1) to determine the relationship between socio-economic and farming factors with “sustainable agricultural knowledge”, 2) to predict “sustainable agricultural knowledge” based on socio-economic and farming factors, and 3) to determine the relationship between sustainable agricultural knowledge and sustainability of farming systems. A survey research was used with a multi-stage cluster sampling technique to collect data for the study. In the first stage, 39 villages were selected in Fars Province. Then 200 wheat producers were randomly selected in these villages for interview. The findings indicated that there was a significant and positive correlation between “sustainable agricultural knowledge” with level of literacy, achievement motivation, amount of total wheat production, technical knowledge about wheat production, economic condition, wheat farming model, amount of supervision by Agricultural Service Centers, and educational services provided by extension agents. Stepwise multiple regression indicated that technical knowledge about wheat production, achievement motivation, type of land revenue system, level of literacy and wheat farming model (independent variables) explained more than 50 percent of variability in “sustainable agricultural knowledge”. There was no significant correlation between “sustainable agricultural knowledge” and “sustainability of farming systems”. Possible reasons for this lack of relationship have been discussed. Based on the findings of this study, recommendations are provided towards achieving a more sustainable agricultural system.
G.h. Zamani,
Volume 4, Issue 1 (4-2000)
Abstract
Agricultural colleges have three main objectives: training, research, and offering public services. Transfer and dissemination of agricultural knowledge and technology is the best example of universities’ services. In this regard, agricultural extension has the important role of linking agricultural colleges with agricultural industry. The linkage between extension and agricultural colleges is effective in promoting the two organizations and ultimately enhancing the development of agriculture. Therefore, the significance of this linkage has been emphasized by many program planners as well as researchers.
This descriptive research was conducted to analyze the perception of the faculty members at Agricultural College of Shiraz University and the extension agents and specialists of Fars Province. A theoretical framework was developed based on a “communication model”, and forty-seven factors effective in establishing and promoting the linkage between research and extension were recognized. The results revealed that the most important factor in research-extension linkage is “the degree of contact and knowledge of local agricultural affairs by researchers”. The paper concludes by providing recommendations that could be used to strengthen the interaction between research and extension institutions.
R. Ebadi, A. Jozeyan,
Volume 5, Issue 1 (4-2001)
Abstract
In order to study the parasitoid flies of Sunn pest in Isfahan, this research was conducted during the years 1997-1998. The results indicated that the dominant species of parasitoid fly is Phasia subcoleoptrata L. This species has two generations per year and over winters as pupae in soil under the shrubs of aestivation and hibernation places of Sunn pest and remains there until the following spring. The adults of the first generation of this parasitoid emerge from the pupae before the Sunn pest migrate to the grain fields and parasitize on the Sunn pest at the time of migration. About 6-8 days after the flies lay eggs in the body of Sunn pests, parasitoid larvae hatch from the eggs and grow in the body of their host. Larval period of parasitoid lasts about 15-20 days and then they fall on to the soil and pupate. In the laboratory, the length of pupal period for males and females is 17 and 18.5 days, respectively, for the first generation. Flies of the second generation of the parasitoid parasitize the fifth nymphal instar and the new adults of the Sunn pest.
J. Torkamani,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (7-2001)
Abstract
The main objective of the present study is to analyze the effects of agricultural crop insurance on farmers’ technical efficiency and risk attitude. Required data came from questionnaires that were completed by the Institute for Planning and Agricultural Economics of the Ministry of Agriculture. Farmers’ technical efficiency and attitude toward risk were estimated using stochastic frontier production function and equally likely certainty equivalent method for both insured and non-insured groups. Results revealed that effects of agricultural insurance on farmers’ technical efficiency were significantly positive in the three study regions.
Results of estimating risk aversion coefficients of study farmers showed a positive effect of insurance on risk aversion coefficients. However, this effect was significant only in two of the climatic regions under study.
A. A. Safari Sinejani, G. Emtiazi, H. Shariatmadari,
Volume 6, Issue 3 (10-2002)
Abstract
Soil organic matter and clay minerals adsorb and immobilize extracellular enzymes of microorganisms and increase soil enzymes stability. This study aims to clarify the relative importance of soil organic matter and clay minerals on the cellulolytic activities of soils. Fluca prepared cellulase was immobilized on some agricultural residues and clay minerals, avicel and a sample of soil. Immobilized exoglucanase and endoglucanase were assayed at different times. Activities of the immobilized enzymes were strikingly dependent on the kind of sorbent. After 20 days of storing in refrigerator at 4oC, the deactivation of immobilized enzymes on the organic substances (as avicel) was very low but deactivation of immobilized enzymes on the soil and clay minerals was relatively high. On the other hand, the activities of immobilized enzymes on the agricultural residues and avicel were significantly higher than the soil and clay minerals. So it may be concluded that a large part of cellulolytic activity of soil is related to immobilized enzymes on agricultural residues. Coating of the clay minerals, soil and avicel with 4 mmol of Al (OH) x per mg of them significantly increased their immobilization capacity and activities of immobilized enzymes. Activities of immobilized exoglucanase and endoglucanase on the Ca- homoionized soil and clay minerals were significantly higher than the K- homoionized soil and clay minerals. However, these effects may be related to the specific effects of cations on the method of enzyme assay or enzymes activities. These homoionizing-cations effects on the activity of immobilized enzymes on avicel were not significant.
G.pezeshki-Raad, M. Masaeli,
Volume 6, Issue 4 (1-2003)
Abstract
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.
A. Ghazanfari-Moghaddam,
Volume 7, Issue 3 (10-2003)
Abstract
In order to increase the role of machine vision in agricultural research in Iran, especially for measuring physical attributes of seeds, a machine vision system was developed using a computer, a capture card, a video camera and a light box. All equipment was purchased from domestic markets. Computer programs were developed for hardware setup and for image processing applications. The programs perfomed tasks such as image acquisition and display, color conversion, image segmentation, object counting, and measurement of some physical attributes of the objects by analysing their images. The system was used to measure some physical attributes of pistachio nuts. The machine vision measurements were statistically compared with the measurements obtained by the conventional manual methods.
The results indicated that there was generally no significant difference between the two methods. However, the time consumed by the machine vision method was far less than the time taken by manual methods. The experimental results also showed that there were many sources of error and limiting factors in using machine vision for measuring physical attributes of seeds.
I. Zarrinabadi, P. Ehsanzadeh,
Volume 7, Issue 4 (1-2004)
Abstract
Despite its economic importance, not much information exists on growth and productivity of durum wheat in Iran and Isfahan. In order to evaluate growth, grain yield, and attributes in three durum wheat genotypes, Osta/Gata, Dipper-6, and PI40100, with five planting densities of 200, 275, 350, 425 and 500 seeds/m2, a four-replicate RCBD field study with a spilt-plot layout was carried out in winter 2000 to spring 2001 at Lavark Research Farm, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology. Genotypes were the main-plots and planting densities, the sub-plots. Each plot contained six rows, spaced 25cm apart, each 6m in length. While Osta/Gata produced a greater spikes/m2, 1000-grain weight and grain yield, PI40100 indicated a greater height, leaf area index (LAI) and biological yield, and Dipper-6 produced a larger number of grains per spike and harvest index, compared to the other two genotypes. Increasing plant density led to an increase in LAI, spikes/m2, grain yield, biological yield and harvest index but a decrease in grains/spike and 1000-grain weight. Grain yield was positively correlated with spikes/m2, grains/spike and 1000-grain weight, despite negative correlations with LAI and plant height. It may be concluded that with environmental conditions such as those encountered in Isfahan in 2000-2001, Osta/Gata can be planted at approximately 425 seeds/m2, if an acceptable grain yield is to be achieved.
H. Sedighi, M. Beglarian,
Volume 8, Issue 4 (1-2005)
Abstract
Today, privatization of agricultural extension services is recognized as an appropriate approach to compensate for any weakness that the traditional extension system might have. The primary objective of this research was to study the attitude of the national top managers (including general managers, their deputies, and extension managers) of Jihad-e Keshavarzi Organizations (JKO), toward privatization of agricultural extension. Twenty JKOs from 20 provinces were randomly selected for study. A questionnaire was developed to the gather information needed and 107 general managers, deputies, and extension managers were randomly selected for this purpose. A pilot test was conducted on a similar population and reliability coefficients of (A Cronbach Alpha) 81%, and 89% were obtained for the attitude and managerial characteristics of the questionnaire respectively. The results showed that 93.83% of the subjects had either “positive” or “relatively positive” attitude toward privatization of agricultural extension. The majority of the subjects indicated that privatization of extension could provide a “supplementary means to complement the existing public extension services”. A hierarchical regression analysis indicated that the independent variables collectively are responsible for 17.4% (R2 =0.174) of the variation in dependent variables. This indicates that a considerable amount of variances in dependent variables are yet unaccounted for that could be explained by variables that were not investigated in this study (requiring further study).
A. Sheikhi Garjan, K. Talebi, A. A. Pourmirza,
Volume 8, Issue 4 (1-2005)
Abstract
The egg parasitoids are the major natural enemies of sunn pest and application of selective insecticides is one of the strategies for conservation of natural enemies. The toxicity of five different insecticides used in cereal fields to the parasitized eggs was investigated under laboratory conditions. The insecticide solutions were made based on the recommended field rates. 3-, 5- and 8- day -old parasitized eggs were dipped into insecticide solutions.
Among the treated developmental stages (except for the fenirothion), 3- and 8- day- old parasitized eggs showed the highest and the lowest emergence percentages, respectively. Deltamethrin had maximum effect on emergence percentage whereas phosalone had the least hazardous effects. There was a significant difference in parasitism percentage between 3- and 8- day- old parasitized eggs in each of the 4 treatments, viz trichlorphon, fenitrothion, deltamethrin and esfenvalerate. Adults emerging from 3- day- old eggs parasitised less eggs than those emerged from 8- day- old eggs in fenitrothion, and trichlorphon treatments. All tested insecticides were highly toxic to the adult parasitoid, causing 100% mortality when the adults were exposed to sprayed areas at recommended rates.
M. Shahvali, J. Moshfegh,
Volume 9, Issue 1 (4-2005)
Abstract
Changing agricultural experts' attitude toward sustainability principles and perceptions is essential to create sustainable agriculture. Various studies had shown that permanent changes are not easily accessible to maintain ecological values. Therefore preparing effective information channels and precautions leading to communication system firmness are important challenges ahead. The purpose of the present research was the evaluation of caricature effects on attitude change of Jihad Agriculture Organization experts concerning sustainable agriculture in Shiraz. A Quasi-experimental research method was devised for three groups consisting of two experimental and one control group. A Pre- and a Post-test were also administered. Eighty experts from Jihad Agriculture Organization were selected in a simple randomized sampling manner. Based on research theories, questions were devised and data were collected through a questionnaire. Its validity and reliability were determined by specialists and Cronbach's Alpha, respectively.
The results indicated that workshops had changed experts' attitude toward sustainability principles and perceptions and workshops with caricature had the most influences on the change of attitudes. Thus the use of caricature is significant to establish sustainable agricultural principles and perceptions in experts at local level conditions.
A. Khatoonabadi,
Volume 9, Issue 1 (4-2005)
Abstract
Public (or governmental) extension services suffer from its limitations and inadequacies to fulfill the requirements for sustainable farming practices. This study examines the aspects of practicing agricultural extension Privatization in Isfahan. The statistical sample society of the survey was the extension practitioners and technicians. Data were gathered through field questioning techniques and interpreted by the analytical methods of statistics in Isfahan province.
The result of the survey method on 105 agricultural extension agents and practitioners revealed that: 1) big farmers have more interest for private extension services than small farmers, 2) the more knowledgeable the farmers, the more demand for private advices 3) pest management, greenhouse production, mechanization and market information are given priority for private advisory services. Finally, "cooperative advisory service" was found to be the most relevant structure to motivate farmers' learning and consultancy activities.
A. R. Ommani, M. Chizari,
Volume 10, Issue 1 (4-2006)
Abstract
The main objective of this article is to present the results of a study done about the social, economical, and farming characteristics of wheat farmers in Khuzestan province of Iran regarding adoption of low input sustainable agriculture (LISA). LISA practices have tended to reduce the use of fertilizer pesticides, and maximal tillage, but, rely more on crop rotation, crop residues, animal manure, green manure, leguminous, appropriate mechanical cultivation or minimal tillage to optimize soil and natural pest control activity. The research design was a descriptive and correlation surveying method. Wheat farmers in Ahvaz, Behbahan, and Dezful township of Iran who cultivated wheat by the use of irrigation in the year of 1379-80 were the target population for this study. A random sample of wheat farmers selected from three randomly selected township of Ahvaz, Behbahan, and Dezful township (N = 5529 , n = 359 ). The main results of the study indicated that correlation of level of education, wheat land, ownership land , income, social participation, social status, social norm, technical knowledge, LISA knowledge, with adoption LISA practices were significantly positive and the correlation of age, experience in agriculture, distance between farm and service centers with adoption LISA practices were significantly negative.
A. M. Amini, M. Ramezani,
Volume 10, Issue 1 (4-2006)
Abstract
The general goal of this research was to study the effective factors on the success of the poultry-farm cooperatives in Isfahan province. Based on multi-stage cluster sampling and Chocran formulas, nine cooperatives and 173 members were selected from 15 cooperatives with 1768 members. After completion of questionnaires, the AHP method was employed for scaling. Statistical tests (factor analysis and alpha coefficient) indicated that this research has a high construction validity and reliability. The research results indicated that cooperative functions toward fulfillment of members' demands were weak. The results of the path model indicated that effective factors on the success of cooperatives (from highest to the lowest) are: knowledge of cooperative principles by the members, extra-organizational factors, education quality, managers' skills, participation in cooperative affairs, and members' education level. Also, the success of cooperatives much relies on inter-organizational factors. The amount of members' share from education, participation in cooperative's affairs, the managers' specialty and skills, and knowledge of cooperatives' principles are very weak. Research results indicated that there is a direct and statistically significant correlation between these independent variables and the success of cooperatives in Isfahan province.
R. Arefi, H. Nahvi, A. Hemat,
Volume 10, Issue 3 (10-2006)
Abstract
The objective of this research was to design and develope a Pick and Position system to displace spherical-shaped fruits, with minimum damage to flesh, from one specific place to another. A mechanical gripper (end-effector) suitable for grasping spherical-shaped fruits with 5-9 cm in diameter was designed and developed. The primary goal of the gripper design was to take and release the fruit without bruising it in a specified time sequence. A slider-crank mechanism was used to drive the gripper. To achieve suitable timing in gripping and releasing of the fruit, the slider was driven by a cam. The kinematic and dynamic analysis of the gripping unit was done and its motion was simulated using Working Modwl software. In the next step, a four-bar mechanism (arm) was designed and developed to displace gripper between two specified locations. After kinematic analysis, equation of motion of the arm mechanism was derived and its dynamic analysis was performed. The gripper was assembled on the arm mechanism and the performance of the gripper and arm mechanism was investigated. It was observed that the system had the ability to pick and release the oblong fruits, such as apple, between two specified locations. The performance of the system for larger size fruits could be improved by some modifications on the gripper fingers.
S. S. Hosseini, E. Hassanpour, S. Y. Sadeghian,
Volume 10, Issue 3 (10-2006)
Abstract
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.
S. Mohammad Zamani, Sh. Ayoubi, F. Khormali,
Volume 11, Issue 40 (7-2007)
Abstract
Evaluating agricultural land management practices requires a thorough knowledge of soil spatial variability and understanding their relationships. This study was conducted at a traditionally operated wheat field in Sorkhankalateh district, located about 25 km northeast of Gorgan, in Golestan province, Iran. Soil samples of the 0-30 cm depth were collected right after planting at the end of autumn 2004 , 100 × 180m plot in a nested grid pattern (n=101). A 1 m2 plot of wheat was harvested at each of 101 sites previously sampled at the end of spring. Statistical results showed that frequency distribution of all data was normal. The highest and lowest CV was related to grain yield (20.40%) and pH (0.59%) respectively. Variogram analysis showed that all parameters had spatial structure and the range values showed considerable variability among the measured parameters. The ranges of spatial dependence showed a variation from 23.99m for total N up to 93.92m for K. Among the parameters, total N and ESP had stronger spatial dependence while P had the lower spatial dependence. Interpolated maps of Kriging demonstrated that crop and soil properties did not have a random pattern but had a spatial distribution. The spatial distribution of total N was similar to organic matter and also there was similarity between spatial distribution of harvest index and available P. The results demonstrated that, the spatial distribution and spatial dependence level of soil properties can be different even within similarly managed farms. Variography and Kriging can be useful tools for designing soil sampling strategies, characterizing management zones and variable application rates of inputs in the precision agriculture.
A. M. Amini, A. Ahmadi, A. Papzan,
Volume 11, Issue 41 (10-2007)
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess characteristics of and reasons for farmers’ disagreement on implementation of land consolidation projects. Part of needed information was collected through questionnaire and interviewing 75 farmers in 6 unsuccessful villages in Kermanshah and Lenjanat region and also visiting some performed and ongoing projects. Other part of information was obtained by questionnaire and interviewing 44 experts involved with performing the project in Jahad Agricultural offices. Fragmentation of properties were measured by Januszewski fragmentation coefficient. Correlation coefficient and comparison of mean were used to analyzed the information. The results showed that disagreement of farmers is the most important obstacle for progress on land consolidatin projects, which accounted for farmers. In Lanjanat, these farmers have a better land structures in respect to size and fragmentation of parcels. In both rejoin reasons for farmer’s disagreement are divided in three groups: logical-justified reasons, logical-unjustified and illogical. Mediation, preference and legislative force are the three interactive methods to satisfy these farmers. To decrease disagreements and promote land consolidation in the two regions, following suggestions are offered: education and extension, correcting the technical and adminestrative methods of land consolidation and legal and judicial supports to implement the projects.
M. Amanzadeh, A. Moumeni, M. Okhovat, M.j. Javan. Nikkhah, V. Khosravi,
Volume 11, Issue 42 (1-2008)
Abstract
Blast, caused by Magnaprthe grisea, is often an important fungal disease in the production of rice in temperate and tropical areas including Iran. To determine reaction of rice cultivars against blast disease, 40 rice genotypes from Iran and other sources from Asia were selected. Four blast isolates from different races were used to test all rice genotypes in different greenhouse tests. In blast nursery, experiments were conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. In different experiments inoculated plant materials were evaluated for Infected Neck Number(INN), Neck Lesion Size(NLS), Infection Type(IT), Diseased Leaf Area(DLA), Area Under the Disease Progress Curve(AUDPC), Lesion Number(LN), and Sporulating Region Diameter(SRD). Most of the Iranian traditional cultivars together with CO-39 and C104-PKT showed susceptible reaction for AUDPC, IT, INN and NLS. Performance of improved cultivars from Iran, IRRI and NILs (except C104-PKT) was resistant. Some cultivars including Fujiminori, Onda , Hassan saraii were moderatly susceptible to leaf blast in blast nursery. All components of resistance in both growing stages in greenhouse and nursery tests were significantly correlated. In some cases such as cultivar Haraz different reaction was observed in seedling and flowering stages, indicating that genetics of resistance in two stages could be different.
