JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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Short-term changes (5 years) in canopy cover, species composition and forage production were studied under protection from grazing and grazed condition in 19 range sites in Fereydan region, Isfahan province. In this study, density, canopy cover and forage production data were obtained from quadrates inside and outside exclosures in the spring of 1983. These parameters were studied again in 1988 and compared with the previous data. Results indicated that species diversity in these range sites was relatively high up to 212 plant species were identified. Sixteen, 8.5 and 75.5 percent of these species were classified into I, II and III palatability classes respectively. After five years, comparison of inside and outside exclosures indicated an increase in the density of species of I, II and III palatability classes by 138.8, 120.8 and 51.5 percent inside exclosures, respectively. Density of all species had increased by 62 percent as a result of 5-year protection from grazing. Species composition data as canopy cover were used to construct 3 dendrograms to investigate the similarity among range Sites. Assuming 32% similarity as the threshold level, 19 range sites were classified into 10 vegetation types in 1983. After 5 years, these vegetation types decreased to 8 and increased to 11 under protection from grazing and grazed conditions, respectively. The average forage production inside exclosures was almost twice as much as in grazed sites (600 Vs. 315 kg/h). Three groups of range sites were recognized according to the time requirement for rehabilitation by grazing protection. The first group was improved considerably by the end of the 5-year protection Period. The second group improved relatively within five years of grazing exclusion. The third group did not improve by 5-year grazing protection and needed much longer protection period or some other range rehabilitation practices.

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In order to study the effects of rate and time of nitrogen application on vegetative characters, i.e., yield and yield components of rice (Zayandeh-rood variety), an experiment was conducted at Isfahan University of Technology research farm during summer 1996. Four N rates including (60, 90, 120 and 150 KgN/ha) and four splitting form (1- all N applied before transplanting 2- 1/3 N applied before transplanting, 1/3 at the beginning of tillering and 1/3 at the emergence of first panicle in 50% hills 3- 1/2 at the beginning of tillering and 1/2 at the emergence of first panicle in 50% hills 4- 1/3 at the beginning of tillering and 2/3 at the emergence of first panicle in 50% hills) were evaluated in a factorial experiment which was arranged in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Plant height, number of tillers per unit area and days to heading and maturity increased with an increase in the rate of fertilizer application. Grain yield and number of panicles per square meter increased when the N rate was raised to 120 Kg N/ha, while application of 150 Kg N/ha resulted in the reduction of grain yield and number of panicles. Nitrogen rate increases did not have any significant effect on number of grains per panicle. The grain weight did not follow any particular trend at different application rates, but harvest index and percentage of filled grains were decreased as the N rate increased. The percentage of nitrogen content of plant was increased as a result of higher N - rate at heading and harvest times. Treatments containing base application of nitrogen resulted in an increase in plant height, number of tillers, plant dry matter, grain yield and number of panicles per square meter, although it caused a reduction in harvest index. The number of grains per panicle and grain weight did not follow any particular trend under the influence of time of application, although plant nitrogen content increased with a delay in time of fertilizer application.

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Plant communities of the Kolah-Ghazi National Park have been studied. The park with a wide diversity of fauna and flora species is located 36 Km south of Isfahan. 214 plant species were collected for the purposes of this study. Plant communities of the park are of an aridland vegetation type. Minimal areas of the plant communities were determined using nested plots technique. After studying the Species/Area curves, a l00-square-meter quadrat was employed to collect the cover and density data for each species. The cover data were analysed to determine plant communities using the ordination method.

Crown cover of the vegetation was found to be poor and varied from zero to a maximum of five percent in the park. The following species form the major plant communities in the park: Artemisia sieberi, Anabasis aphylla, Acantholimon spp., Cousinia piptocephala, Ebenus stellata, Pteropyrum aucheri & Scariola orientalis. The combination of these species with others forms plant communities and subcommunities. The overlapping of habitats makes mosaics which cause the formation of ecotones, thus increasing the diversity of the subcommunities in the park. Mesophytic plant communities are narrowly scattered along streams. Most of the plant communities are controlled by the adaphic factor while the biological factor has only a limited control. A Ficus spp. specimen was also collected from the mountainous region in the park which could be a new species or variety and requires further study.

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Muteh wildlife refuge, with an area of about 220,000 ha, is situated at 95 km north of Isfahan. In this refuge, 511 species of vascular plants belonging to 284 genera and 59 families live along with 117 species of vertebrate animals belonging to 84 genera and 37 families.

 Rare plants of the area were classified into two categories of “endangered” and “vulnerable” according to IUCN, 1996 categories. The endangered species include Astragalus chaetopodus Bunge. Astragalus eriostomus Bornm. Astragalus indistinctus Podl. and Maassoumi Cousinia phyllocephala Bornm. and Gauba Cousinia rhaphiocephala Rech. f. Cousinia straussii Hausskn. and C. Winkl. Ferula kashanica Rech. f. Onobrychis psoraleifolia Boiss. var. Psoraleifolia and var. pleiophylla Bornm. The vulnerable species include Bunium caroides (Boiss.) Hausskn. ex Bornm. Dielsiocharis kotschyi (Boiss.) O. E. Schultz Dionysia caespitosa (Duby) Boiss. Dorema ammoniacum D. Don. Dorema aucheri Boiss. Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss. Echinophora platyloba DC. Hymenocrater bituminosus Fisch. and C. A. Mey. Pimpinella deverroides (Boiss.) Boiss. Prangos cheilanthifolia Boiss. and Thymus daenensis Celak subsp. daenensis.

 The rare animal species of the region were classified into four categories: “critically endangered”, “endangered”, “vulnerable”, and “conservation-dependent species”. The critically endangered species are Felis silvestris Schreber F. caracal Schreber Jaculus blanfordi Murray (mammals) Gypaetus barbatus Falco pelegrinoides F. cherrug and F. peregrinus (birds). The endangered species include Vulpes cana Blanford Ochotona rufescens Gray (mammals) Falco naumanni F. columbarius Chlamydotis undulata (birds) and Varanus griseus (reptilian). The vulnerable species are Gazella subgutturosa Guldensteadt Canis lupus Linnaeus Meles meles Linnaeus Hyaena hyaena Linnaeus (mammals) and Aquila chrysaetos (bird). And, finally, the conservation-dependent species include Ovis orientalis Linnaeus Capra aegagrus Elxleben Panthera pardus Linnaeus (mammals) and Ammoperdix griseogularis (bird). The results from this survey were compared with the findings from the survey of some other protected areas in Iran.

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The present study evaluates the influence of the El Ninio Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon on the cold season precipitation over Isfahan, Fars, Khuzestan, Chaharmahal-Bakhtyari, Bushehr and Kohgiluyeh-Boyerahmad provinces. The results indicate that the occurrence of La Nina events caused a 20% to 50% reduction in precipitation over Bushehr, Chaharmahal-Bakhtyari and southern Fars. The cold event did not change the total precipitation over the other parts of the region. In contrast to La Nina episodes, the occurrence of El Ninio events caused a 20% to 70% increase in rainfall in most of the study area. While the most highly wet conditions are related to the El Ninio events, the occurrence probability of the severe droughts has found to be low during such events. In association with La Nina events, the occurrence probability of severe drought was found to be low. Only in Khuzestan and southern parts of the Fars Provinces, this probability has increased to about 0.5.

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In order to identify the plant-parasitic nematodes of important cereals (wheat, barley, and corn) in Isfahan Province, 120 soil and root samples were collected from the rhizosphere of these crops in various locations in the region during 1999 and 2000. Nematodes were extracted from soil by sieving and centrifugal sugar-flotation method. The specimens were killed and fixed in FGA (formaldehyde, glycerin and acetic acid 4:1:1) hot solution. The extracted nematodes were mounted in glycerin, permanent slides prepared, and studied by light microscope. The results revealed the presence of three species belonging to two genera of family criconematidae as follows: Criconemella antipolitana , C. xenoplax, Hemicycliophora poranga. H. poranga was extracted from rhizosphere of corn and reported for the first time from Iran. The most frequently occurring and dominant species was C. antipolitana that was isolated from soil around the roots of wheat and barley in several areas. C. xenoplax was extracted from a wheat field with the history of peach cultivation. These species are new records for Isfahan Province.

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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.

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This research was conducted to measure the total factor productivity (TFP) of the rural small industries in Isfahan province comprising six types of industries: food, textile, metal, non-metal mineral, chemical, and cellulose. Among the 166 rural small industries sponsored by Jihad-Agriculture Organization of Isfahan in 2001(1380), 60 plants were selected. Cross-section information collected from the 60 plants by a questionnaire in that year confirmed the body of data for this study. The distribution of the types of the 60 selected plants followed the distribution of the types in the plant population. The analytical part of this research consisted of two sections. In the first section, the TFP of the rural small industries was established by applying Cobb-Douglas production function in which the value of the plant production was the dependent variable and the investment costs, total hours of labor, costs of raw materials, and the costs of energy and water were the independent variables. Factors affecting TFP were analyzed in the second section. The estimated coefficients of the first section and the actual data of the variables, were used to calculate the TFP for each plant. Then, another regression model was worked out in which the calculated TFPs were the dependent variable. The independent variables included the mean of the number of the employees' children, the percentage of the production employees with at least primary school level of education, annual number of the off days, dummy variable for the members of the cooperative association, and a few other variables. The results of the first section showed that the TFP of food industries was higher than that of other types of industries and there was no significant difference between the TFP of textile, metal, non metal mineral, chemical and cellulose industries. The results of the analysis for determining the factors affecting the TFP, showed that the existence of a research section in the plant, the insurance of the employees and the mean of the number of employees' children had a positive effect on the TFP. But, the level of the education of the production workers, the area of the plant buildings, and the number of the days off in plant had negative effects.

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Estimation of seepage is essential prior to lining of earth canals. In Iran such investigation has been achieved in some irrigation networks using empirical relationships derived in other countries. Estimation of water loss in canal is required in design, operation and management of water distribution systems. Water seepage may be determind by using empirical equations proposed by F.A.O. These equations are applicable for different soils and hydraulic parameters. However, the appropriate estimating equation should be determined for each region. Therefore, these equations should be calibrated for local usage and different canal vegetation conditions. In this investigation water losses in canals at the Rudast region of Isfahan were measured by inflow and outflow procedure. Different canals reaches were selected in soils of relatively heavy, medium and light textures. The density of vegetation population in canals were low, medium and high. The estimated seepage losses by different empirical equations were not corresponded to those of measured values. Therefore, by using the measured seepage at different soil textures and vegetation densities the empirical coefficients of six empirical equations of F.A.O. (Ingham, Davis and Wilson, Affengendon, Moritz, Molesworth and Yennidumia, Misra) were modified for the study region. The relationships between measured seepage and estimated seepage before and after modification of the empirical equations were determined by regression analysis. These equations estimated the seepage loss much smaller than the measured values. The regression parameters (selope, intercept, and coefficient of determination of regression equation) indicated that after modification, the Ingham and moritz equation with higher slopes (0.91, 1.01), lower intercepts (-0.096, -0.039) and higher coefficient of determination (0.96) estimated the closest seepage values to the measured values respectively. The misra equation was the next best equation for seepage estimation. The results of present investigation indicated that the modified Ingham and Moritz equations were the most appropriate ones for estimation of seepage losses at different soil textures and vegetation densities in the study region.

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To detect the rice paddis areas in Isfahan region, the IRS-1D data from PAN, LISS III and WiFS time series were used. Geometric, atmospheric, radiometric and topographic corrections were applied to various images from 2003 to 2004. Necessary preprocessing and various analyses as well as time series composite image analyses were applied and field sampling was done for appropriate times in 2003 and 2004. Image classification was applied using suitable training sites in various images. The SWIR band capabilities were useful for NDWI (Normalized Difference Water Index) to detect the rice paddies. On PAN and LISS III images, urban areas, roads, agricultural lands, non cultivated farms, rocks and brackish soils are detectable. The error matrix was calculated to assess the produced map accuracy using the ground truth data. The total classification accuracy was %91 and the Kappa index value was %89. The rice paddy areas was about 19500 ha in 2003, detected through LISS III data, and 20450 ha through WiFS data. The paddies were 21670 in 2004 through WiFS data. The results of this study confirmed that one can use the LISS III data to detect and determine the rice paddys areas with high accuracy, and WiFS data to estimate the paddies areas with acceptable accuracy.

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The main objective of this study was determining the best sprinkler system and ranking total operational sprinkler systems in Isfahan province. The data was collected through 262 questionnaires completed by farmers in Feridan and Semirom cities in Isfahan province. Ranking and comparing the systems were done via criteria matrix and qualitative efficiency of objects and compromise programming. Based on the results of this study, hand-move sprinkler irrigation and then solid-set sprinkler irrigation were found to be the best systems in most of the regions. However, solid-set sprinkler irrigation was the best in some other areas. Results also showed that there were trivial differences between farmer selection in sprinkler irrigation and suitable system in the region. Also, comparison of suitable system and conventional irrigations used by farmers showed that the current systems of farmers are not usually an optimal system.

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In order to determine the reciprocal relationship between the important characteristics of soil and the growth of Haloxylon ammodendron (C.A. Mey) plant in segsi plain of Isfahan., ordination method was used. The study was performed through the stratified random sampling and the regions were separated according to the plant age and physical physiognomy, then 10 samples of Haloxylon ammodendron (C.A. Mey) of the same age were selected in each region. Meanwhile, factors such as height, canopy cover area, canopy cover perimeter, canopy cover diameter, and basal area were considered. Also, 30 profiles from viewpoint of growth situations in 10 different regions were dug. Soil characteristics such as : pH, Ec, total soluble Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, Cl^-, CO3^--, HCO3^-, SP%, CaCO3%, CaSO4%, organic matter%, total nitrogen percentage, phosphorous, Na⁺, K⁺, SAR, and hardpan depth were measured. Data was analyzed using ordination method. According to the results, samples of the same age showed significant differences in plant features. Other results showed that physical characteristics such as depth of hardpan from soil surface, SP%, and chemical characteristics such as salinity, alkalinity and total nitrogen had the highest effect on qualities of this kind of plant. In other words, the results mentioned above showed the important role of Haloxylon ammodendron (C.A. Mey) in sharp increase of salinity and alkanity in it's stratum.

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Concentration of soluble fluoride in groundwater, soil, and some crops in Isfahan region was determined by Ion Selective Electrode (ISE) method. The mean fluoride concentration of water samples in the study area was 0.3 and 0.05 mg L^-1 in the spring and summer, respectively. These values are in an acceptable limit for irrigation, whereas for drinking water, they are in deficiency range. The average and maximum concentrations of soluble fluoride in soil samples were 1.0 and 3.2 mg kg^-1, respectively. In general, the spatial distribution of fluoride in soils showed that fluoride content around major industrial centers such as Isfahan Steel Factory, Mobarakeh Steel Co., and Isfahan oil refinery was higher than other sites. The minimum and maximum fluoride contents of crops were observed in alfalfa as 0.2 and in corn as 4.2 mg kg^-1, respectively. Tomato had the highest mean concentration of fluoride as 3.6 mg kg^-1. The fluoride concentration in plants positively correlated with the fluoride concentration in irrigation water and soil (P < 0.01) and negatively correlated with cation exchange capacity of soil (P < 0.05).

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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.

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  The purpose of this research was to study factors on farmer’s request to land consolidation projects and also consolidation’ adventages in utilization units. The data of this study was collected through completing questionnaires and interviewing 34 experts connected with administrating of land consolidation projects in agricultural offices and service centers in Kermanshah township and Lenjanat region in Isfahan. Data was also collected through visiting some performed and performing projects. The results showed that in Kermanshah land consolidation improves the technology, farm management and land more than other production factors. In Lenjanat it improves technology and farm management in comparison with other factors. In both regions the aplicant villages of the projects have a larger ownership and more fragmentaed parcels than other villages. Moreover they have younger exploiters, more educated and less in number. It is also notworthy that these regions obtain more extention education, are nearer to agricultural offices, and have closer relation with extention agents.

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  Studying soil phosphorus fractions is useful in understanding soil pedogenesis as well as soil fertility. In this reseach, 20 soil samples were taken from different depths of 0-30 and 30-60 cm of upper-slope, mid-slope and lower-slope positions of four toposequences in arid (Jei and Ziar in Isfahan) and semiarid (Farokhshahr and Shahrekord) regions. In each toposequence, the soil depth was relatively low at the upper-slope position and increased toward the lower-slope. The soils in upper-slope and mid-slope were under scarce native vegetation where the soil in lower-slope was under farming activities. Soil phosphorus (P) fractionation was carried out using sequential extraction. The total soil phosphorus was in the range of 302-1135 with an average of 715 mg/kg. About 65-89% of total phosphorus were inorganic, and 11-35% organic. The amount of inorganic and organic P in the soil samples was in the range of 204-897 with an average of 571, and 70-238 with an average of 114 mg/kg, respectively. The amount of total, inorganic and organic P increased from upper-slope toward the arable lands and decreased from topsoil to subsoil in all toposequences. In the studied soils, apatite ( Ca₁₀-P ), aluminum phosphates(Al-P), octacalcium phosphates( Ca₈-P ), iron phosphates (Fe-P), iron oxides occluded phosphates( OC-P ) and dicalcium phosphates( Ca₂-P ) were the major constituents of the soil inorganic phosphates, respectively.

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In order to determine the effect of climatic factors on distribution of Artemisia aucheri and Artemisia sieberi in Isfahan province, thirty nine most important climatic elements in ecological condition of these species were selected. Using a factor analysis method, the most important factors in distribution of these species were determined. These factors which cover 92.3% of the total variance of spatial variation of the species include rainfall, temperature and shining with 41.91, 40.18 and 10.23 percent, respectively. Four most important vegetative types of Artemisia aucheri and Artemisia sieberi in Isfahan province are as follows: 1-Artemisia aucheri and Astragalus,2- Artemisia sieberi,3-Artemisia sieberi as a dominant species, and 4-Artemisia sieberi as a subdominant species. Then the effects of climatic factors on distribution of these species and the average elevation of distribution of these species were determined. The effect of factor analysis on these types shows that rainfall and temperature are the most influential factors in spatial distribution of Artemisia aucheri and Artemisia sieberi in Isfahan province, respectively. In general, Artemisia sieberi has a higher extended tolerance range than Artemisia aucheri, and could be mentioned as a nearly universal species.

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Freezing is one of the most important climatic factors affecting almond products in Isfahan province. Therefore, it is important to use a rapid method for assessing the resistant cultivars and wild species of these plants. Evaluation of electrolyte leakage (EL) from freezing damaged tissues of almond is an appropriate method for this purpose. In the present work, the effect of freezing on the rate of electrolyte leakage of 10 cultivated almonds (Amygdalus communis cultivars) and one wild species (A. scoparia) was evaluated in Isfahan province. The perfect and mature flowers of all samples were selected at random, and examined under natural (in nature) and artificial (in laboratory) freezing treatments in 3 replicates. All measurements were done using an Ec meter instrument and the mean of obtained data was analyzed statistically via ANOVA and Tukey's tests. In each treatment, increase in the rate of electrolyte leakage of treated samples in relation to the controls was taken as a criterion for comparison. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) of the flowers of all samples were also measured, with an accuracy of 0.001, under natural freezing conditions. The mean of TDS was 390.8±33.5 mg/L among cultivated almonds (maximum in Safari cultivar with 439±29.3 mg/L and minimum in Kababi cultivar with 355±35.3 mg/L) and 362±55.8 mg/L in the wild almond (a little less than that of the cultivated ones). Linear regression test showed that there was no correlation between TDS and the rate of electrolyte leakage from freezing damaged tissues of the studied samples. Furthermore, the results showed that the cultivars of Tageri (with 7.47% increasing), Azar (with 19.2% increasing) and Rabie (with 22% increasing) are respectively more resistant than other cultivars under natural freezing, and the cultivars of Rabie (with 60.7% increasing), Tageri (with 67.6% increasing) and Hag Mirzaie (with 71% increasing) are more resistant than other cultivars under artificial treatment. These results are in agreement with the experimental observations in the studied area. The freezing tolerance of wild species (with 48.7% and 73% increasing, respectively) was moderate in both natural and artificial freezing treatments.

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Women as extension help-agents could play an important role in rural extension programs. This study was aimed at evaluating the success of women as extension help-agents, and factors affecting their success in Isfahan province, Iran. The data was randomly collected from 156 extension help-agents, using Cochran formula. The validity and reliability of constructed questioners were checked, using Cronbach Alfa and K.M.O. criteria. The results showed that 6.5 percent of the agents gained a success score of more than or equal to the average score, 50.3 percent equal to the average score, and 43.2 percent gained less than the average success score. The Effective factors are categorized as the degree of their familiarity with the problems of the population, the degree of their involvement in extension-educational programs, and factors such as their access to rural libraries, financial and occupational background and contribution to community and team work. According to the regression analysis results, participation activities of the villagers, financial status of the help-agents and educational programs provide most influential factors for successful extension programs.

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The main purpose of this research is to study the success of rural cooperative companies and evaluate different factors which may influence such a success. For this purpose, sample companies were randomly selected based on multistage and stratification sampling with proportional allocation method,. Finally, 18 rural co-operative companies were studied using questionnaires filled out by 328 ordinary members and 93 members of board of directors and managers of these rural co-operative companies. Inter-organization and intra-organization and structure variables which affected the companies performance and achievement were studied. The findings showed poor performance of these companies. According to the current research, some variables such as membership experience, co-operative structure, co-operative investment, enhancement of member share, education, participation and level of training, awareness (ability) of members have a direct influence on companies' success. The other factors involving function of rural co-operative organization, use of managers’ misuses and abuses in co-operatives have a direct, but negative influence. Share mean value of each member, management experience knowledge and age of people have also indirect positive effect on success and the size has indirect negative influence on co-operative companies .