JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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Due to high production of organic residues such as sewage sludge and compost, land application is probably the best way to prevent accumulated residues in the environment. However, the risk involved in the land application of organic residues should be evaluated prior to the assessment of their economic and fertilizer values. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of organic residues on soil chemical properties, yield and uptake of heavy metals and nutrients by corn (Zea mays L.). The study was a randomized complete block design with three replications with four treatments including cow manure, sewage sludge, municipal compost and inorganic fertilizer.

The organic amendments were applied to the plots at a rate of 50 t ha^-1 and inorganic fertilizer treatment consisted of 250 kg ha^-1 ammonium phosphate and 250 kg ha^-1 urea.

 Organic amendments significantly increased soil organic matter content, EDTA-extractable Fe, Zn, Cu and Pb and plant available P, K, and N. Uptake and concentration of nutrient in corn grain and shoots were significantly affected by treatments, whereas Cd and Pb concentrations were the same among the treatments. Cow manure and sewage sludge treatments had the highest and compost had the lowest corn silage and grain yields. Overall, the results indicated that cow manure and sewage sludge had a high fertilizer value and led to heavy metal concentrations in soil as well as corn tissues which were much lower than the reported standards.

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Micronutrients availability including that of Zn is critical for optimum growth of plants. Zinc availability in calcareous soils of Iran is relatively low due to the presence of a large amount of CaCO₃ and high pH levels. Overapplication of phosphorus to soils may also cause P-induced Zn deficiency. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of phosphorus and zinc application on the growth and chemical composition of corn (Zea mays L.) under greenhouse conditions. Treatments consisted of a factorial combination of 5 levels of P (0, 25, 50, 100 and 200 µg P/g soil as KH₂PO₄) and 3 levels of Zn (0, 5 and 10 µg Zn/g soil as ZnSO₄. 7H₂O) in a completely randomized design with 3 replications. Plants were allowed to grow for 60 days and then cut at the soil surface.

 Results showed that P and Zn applications increased top dry weight. Applied P increased P concentration and total uptake in plants, but decreased Zn concentration and had no effect on Zn uptake. Zinc application decreased P concentration of com but increased Zn uptake and concentration. The P: Zn ratio in plants increased with P application but decreased with Zn addition. Application of P and Zn increased Fe concentration in plant but decreased Mn concentration and had no effect on Cu concentration. Prior to making any fertilizer recommendations, more research is required to precisely evaluate the response of com to P and Zn applications under field conditions.

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Phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe) are essential nutrients for plants. Iron availability is low in calcareous soils of Iran due to the excessive amounts of CaCO₃ and high pH. Overfertilization of P fertilizers may also decrease Fe availability. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of P and Fe on the growth and chemical composition of corn (Zea mays L.) under greenhouse conditions. Treatments consisted of a factorial arrangement of P rates (0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 mg kg-1 as KH₂PO₄) and Fe rates (0, 2.5, 5 and 10 mg kg^-1 as Fe EDDHA) in a completely randomized design with four replications. Plants were grown for 8 weeks in a loamy soil, calssified as Chitgar series (fine-loamy, carbonatic, thermic, Typic Calcixerepts). Results showd that P application up to 80 mg kg^-1 increased corn top dry matter. Corn P concentration and total uptake increased by P application but decreased by Fe application. Application of Fe up to 5 mg kg^-1 increased dry matter but decreased it at higher rates. Concentration and total uptake of Fe increased by Fe application but decreased by P application. Zinc and copper concentrations decresed significantly when P was added. Manganese concentration increased at 40 mg P kg^-1 but decreased at higher rates. Iron application decreased zinc and manganese concentrations but had no effect on copper.

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In order to study the effects of different protein feeds on honey bees (Apis mellifera L), experiments were conducted in a completely randomized block design with 15 treatments and 4 replicates. The nutritional effects of different treatments on caged bees were studied through recording half-life time (50% mortality). Pollen substitutes were soybean flour, soybean meal, bread yeast, wheat gluten, soybean flour + soybean meal, soybean flour + bread yeast, soybean flour + wheat gluten, soybean meal + wheat gluten, and wheat gluten + bread yeast. Pollen supplements were wheat gluten + pollen , soybean flour + pollen, soybean meal + pollen, bread yeast + pollen and two controls as pollen and honey. The nutritional effects of different protein sources provided by pollen substitutes and supplements were recorded on the amount of carcass protein and fatbody of honey bee workers in experimental colonies. The wheat gluten supplement and the soybean substitute showed the longest (60.58 days) and the shortest (10.53 days) half-life time of worker bees, respectively. The amount of food consumption in different treatments was not significantly different (P>0.05). The greatest DM of worker bees (dry matter of carcass) was related to soybean (34%) and the least related to yeast supplement (31.54%), which were significantly different (P<0.05). The highest carcass protein belonged to wheat gluten supplement (22.57%) and the lowest was related to yeast supplement (20.01%). The greatest carcass fat was related to soybean supplement (4.75%) and the lowest to wheat gluten supplement (3.84%). Results of the present experiments showed that soybean flour, soybean meal, wheat gluten and bread yeast can be used in pollen supplement and substitute cakes.

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An experiment was carried out to determine the effect of substituting alfalfa hay (Medicago sativa) with Gundelia tournefortii hay (a range forage in Fars Province) in the ration of fattening lambs. Alfalfa hay was substituted with Gundelia tournefortii harvested at the final stages of flowering at various ratios (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% dry matter basis) in the ration of fattening lambs. The rations (iso-nitrogenous and iso-energetic) were pelleted and each ration was fed for 75 days to 12 Shirazi Grey ram lambs with an average age of 136 days. The lambs were slaughtered and their feedlot performance and carcass characteristics were measured. Substituting alfalfa hay with Gundelia tournefortii hay did not significantly affect the mean daily weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, dressing percentage, internal fat weight, carcass meat content, or meat DM and CP contents (p>0.05). However, backfat depth was significantly different among various rations (p<0.01). At present costs, the inclusion of Gundelia tournefortii in the ration of fattening lambs seemed to be cost-effective the cost of one kg DM of ration was 1266, 1155, 1050, 924, and 787 Rials for rations 1 to 5, respectively.

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The nutritive values of lemon and orange pulps treated with Neurospora sitophila fungus were assessed by chemical composition, in vitro digestibility, in situ (dry matter and nitrogen) degradation methods. The obtained data from the untreated and treated pulps with fungi were compared using t-test. Mean values of the chemical analysis for crude protein, ash, organic mater, NDF and ADF for untreated lemon pulp were 6.3, 6.2, 93.8, 21.3 and 17.9 for treated lemon pulp 25.1, 10.6, 89.4, 12.7 and 6.8 for untreated orange pulp 6.8, 6.5, 94.5, 26.1 and 20.3 and for treated orange pulp 23.2, 8.1, 91.9, 18.5 and 15, respectively. In all cases, a significant difference (P<0.01) between untreated pulp and treated pulp of lemon and orange was observed. Digestibility coefficient of DM, OM and DOMD of untreated lemon pulp were 79.3, 80.5 and 75.5 treated lemon pulp were 91.4, 93.5 and 83.5 untreated orange pulp were 81.5, 82.8 and 78.2% and treated orange pulp were 91.2, 94.5 and 86.9%, respectively. The digestibility coefficient for the treated pulps (lemon and orange) was significantly (P<0.01) higher than those untreated. The percentages of DM degradability of pulps in nylon bag after 48 hours of incubation with the out-flow rate of 0.05 were as follows: 66.3 for untreated lemon 75.2 for treated lemon 68.7 for untreated orange and 75.5 for treated orange. The DM degradability for the treated pulps (lemon and orange) was significantly (P<0.01) higher than those untreated. The effective degradability of protein after 48 hours of incubation in nylon bag with the out-flow rate of 0.05 was as follows: 12.1 for untreated lemon 73.7 for treated lemon 14.8 for untreated orange and 77.8 for treated orange. The effective degradability of protein for the treated pulps (lemon and orange) was significantly (P<0.01) higher than those untreated. In conclusion, treating citrus pulps with Neurospora sitophila increased the concentration of CP, digestibility coefficients and protein degradability.

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Six hundred young calves, one month to three months old, were used in a completely randomized and nested design with two treatments and three replications. Treatments were: 1) Isfahan and 2) Borkhar-Meymeh. Replications were: 1) class of one to five cows 2) class of six to ten cows and 3) class of eleven to twenty cows. Paired t-test was used for comparison of nutrient consumption and requirement. Results of one-year-old experiment indicated that township and different classes had no effect on consumption of dry matter intake (whole milk and starter), net energy growth (NEg), crude protein (CP), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), chlorine (Cl), sulphur (S), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iodine (I), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), Zinc (Zn), vitamin A, vitamin D and vitamin E. Treatments (township) had no significant effect on the nutrient requirements of young calves. The daily difference between consumption and requirement for DMI (whole milk Kg/d), DMI (starter Kg/d), NEg Mcal/Kg, CP g/d, percentage of dry matter Ca, P, Mg, Cl, K, Na, S, mg/kg Co, Cu, I, Fe, Mn, Se, IU/kg vitamins A, D and E were -0/15, -0/092, -0/165, -17/7, -0/09, 0/1, 0/08, 0/53, 0/64, 0, 0/01, -0/1, -7/2, -0/32, -36/9, -14/1, -0/12, 0/5, -4499, -515 and -40/8, respectively. The difference between consumption and requirement had no significant effect on P, Na, S and Zn. This difference had a significant effect on the rest of nutrients (p <0/05). The results of this study indicated that young calves had received low DMI (whole milk and starter), NEg, CP, Ca, Co, Cu, I, Fe, Mn, Se, vit A, vit D and vit E. This shortage can be compensated by increasing DMI (whole milk and starter) protein supplements, vitamin and mineral supplements .

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In this research, tomato peel and waste seed obtained from tomato paste processing were dried and milled. The obtained powder was added to tomato ketchup sauce in different proportions (1, 2, 5, 7 and 10%). To study the effect of tomato peel and seed powder on physicochemical and nutritional properties of the tomato ketchup samples, the parameters including lycopen, total solid, brix, total sugars, reducing sugars, protein, fat, ash, fiber, vitamin C, pH, color (L, a/b) were evaluated. Rheological properties of the ketchup samples (consistency and viscosity) were determined and compared with control samples. Sensory evaluation of the ketchup samples was carried out after 1, 2 and 5 months of storage by a group of panelists. Addition of tomato peel and seed powder resulted in an increase in total solid, brix, ash, fiber, protein, fat, consistency and viscosity of the ketchup samples. Sensory evaluation tests did not show any significant difference between the color, flavor, texture and overall acceptability of the control and samples containing 1 or 2 % of tomato peel and seed powder. In addition, sensory evaluation tests did not show any significant changes in the ketchup samples during storage. Thus, it can be concluded that nutritional and rheological properties of tomato ketchup can be improved by addition of tomato peel and seed powder.

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This study was conducted to investigate nutritional status and some quality aspects of greenhouse cucumber in Qom province. After selecting 20 greenhouses, concentrations of macro- and micronutrients as well as lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in soil and plant were measured. In addition, some fruit quality attributes were determined. Phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) concentrations in soils were much higher than their critical levels. The mean concentrations of soil DTPA-extractable iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) were 12.0, 1.98, and 14.5, respectively. The mean concentration of calcium (Ca) in cucumber leaf was high while in fruit was lower compared to its sufficiency level. Most fruit samples were deficient in K, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn. The mean nitrate (336 mg kg-1) and Pb (0.34 mg kg-1) concentrations in cucumber fruits were higher than their acceptable levels. Ascorbic acid concentration of fruits showed positive correlation with Fe concentration. Also, fruit Mg concentration had a positive correlation with the total dissolved solids and negative correlation with fruit moisture content. The results indicated that improper nutrition management in Qom cucumber greenhouses has caused micronutrients deficiencies and high nitrate and Pb concentration, which are important to consumers' health.

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The effect of phosphorus (P) (0, 25, and 50 mg kg-1 soil as Ca(H2PO4)2) and organic matter (OM) (0, and 2% w/w feedlot cattle manure) on P and zinc (Zn) distribution in different parts of wheat plant (Triticum aestivum L.) at various growth stages and its relationship with soil P and Zn were determined in greenhouse condition. In all pots, shoot P concentration decreased as plant growth proceeded. Phosphorus concentration of shoot and flag leaf decreased from 7th to 9th stage of growth, whereas that of spickle increased. Spickle P uptake and Zn uptake of stem, shoot, flag leaf, and spickle increased with proceeding of wheat growth. Phosphorus uptake of shoot increased from 3th to 9th growth stages, whereas P uptake of stem and flag leaf decreased from 7th to 9th growth stages. Soil P and Zn concentrations increased with application of P and OM and plant growth. The trend of P and Zn changes in shoot, stem and flag leaf was similar. It is, therefore, concluded that analyzing flag leaf for P and Zn concentrations be used for prediction of plant nutritional status of those nutrient elements in cases where such information is needed.