JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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Diallel crosses among 6 Avena sativa L. and A. sterilis L. lines and introductions were used to evaluate the validity of the assumptions for the genetic model. Number of days to pollination, plant height at pollination and at maturity, as well as grain and stem protein percentages were evaluated. According to Griffing's method 1 the reciprocal mean squares for all the traits under study were significant. But based on Hayman's analysis, the maternal effects for all the traits studied were not significant. Therefore, reciprocal means were used to evaluate the validity of the absence of multiple alleles, linkage and epistasis effects using regression of W_r on V_r and analysis of variance for W_r + V_r and W_r - V_r. Based on the results of the 3 methods, the genetic models for plant height at maturity and days to pollination were unbiased. Therefore, Hayman's analysis was used to estimate the genetic parameters for these traits. For plant height at pollination and stem protein percentage, significant and nonsignificant differences of regression slope from one and zero (Ho: β = 1 and Ho: β = 0) were detected, respectively. For these traits the biasedness of the model was removed after elimination of one parent from the diallel table. Grain protein percentage was not analyzed as it necessitated the elimination of 2 parents from the diallel table. In general, regression of W_r on V_r compare to W_r + V_r and W_r - V_r analysis of variances showed to be a more valid inductive method for testing the accuracy of the genetic model assumptions. Also, results of the Hayman and Jinks analysis, both when the assumptions are valid and when not, showed that genetic parameters are affected by the biasedness of the model, and that different estimates will be obtained. The Griffing's method was less affected by the unbiasedness of the model than Hayman and Jinks method. Therefore, it seems that preliminary testing for validity of the assumptions is necessary in Hayman and Jinks genetic model.

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The interference of biological agents may cause behaviors such as interspecific predation, reducing their efficiencies. The interspecific predation of lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Steph.) and ladybeetle, Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) was investigated in the presence and absence of prey, Aphis gossypii Glover under laboratory conditions.

In the presence and absence of prey, the larvae of lacewing fed on eggs, larvae, pupae and adults of ladybeetle and the larvae and adults of ladybeetle fed on eggs and larvae of lacewing. Presence of prey reduced the rate of feeding significantly. Feeding of lacewing larvae on ladybeetle eggs was higher than the feeding of ladybeetle larvae and adults on lacewing eggs. This is probably due to the stalk of lacewing eggs. The 1st larval instar of lacewing was dominant to that of ladybeetle, so were 2nd larval instar of lacewing to the 1st and 2nd larval instars of ladybeetle and 3rd larval instar of lacewing to all larval instars and adults of ladybeetle. Third larval instar of ladybeetle was dominant to the 1st larval instar of lacewing, and 4th larval instar and adult of ladybeetle to the 1st and 2nd larval instars of lacewing. The 2nd and 3rd larval instars of lacewing fed on pupa of ladybeetle but larval feeding of ladybeetle was not observed on lacewing pupa. This was probably related to lacewing pupa covered by a cocoon.

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Artemisia is the major component of the vegetation of a large portion of arid lands in Iran. Determining the utilization rate is an essential element in the management of these rangelands. Methods of determining the utilization regime for woody plants and shrubs include clipping and weighing, reference unit, ocular estimate, twig length, branch diameter and production index. These methods were used in Chahlor winter range in Jarghoyeh, 250 Km southeast of Isfahan. Clipping and weighing is the most accurate although the most time-consuming method. In this research, means of utilization percentages obtained from the above methods were compared with the mean obtained from the clipping and weighing method using T-test.

Data obtained from reference unit, twig length, and branch diameter methods were not significantly different from those of clipping and weighing method (P>0.0l). Since reference unit was the least time-consuming among these methods, it was selected as a proper method of utilization measurement of Artemisia stands.

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Recent restrictions on the use of artificial food colours have prompted extensive research on natural pigments as suitable substitutes. The red beet Beta vulgaris L. has been found as a suitable source of natural red pigment since beet powder and concentrates can conveniently be used in food products. In this research, hot and cold extractions of randomly selected red beets were used after preparation and blanching. The extracts were filtered and passed through a column of Amberlite XAD-7 resins after adjusting the pH to 2.5. The adsorbed colour compounds were extracted from the resins by eluting the column with acidified alcohol. The solvent was removed by vacuum rotary evaporator and solid colour was obtained, using a freeze dryer.

Physicochemical properties of the solid colour were determined by measuring ash and sugar contents of the solid colour. Also, its purity and stability were investigated under different conditions.

The amount of ash and sugar were negligible. The highest stability was observed at a pH value of 5 under cold and dark storage conditions. The purity of the solid colour was determined by scanning in the range of visible wavelengths and preparative TLC. The result showed that purity of the colour as a hundred percent betacyanins. The yield of production was calculated as 2.7 g powder per kilogram of beet. The colour was used in producing ice cream and frozen sherbets, which showed to be a suitable replacement for artificial colour carmoisine. Also the production cost of the colour was as low as less than 0.1 percent of that of ice cream or frozen sherbets.

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In the Islamic Republic of Iran, the occurrence of chilling and freezing stresses have frequently caused great damages to crops and horticultural products. In southern Fars Province (south Iran) the cultivation of citrus orchards is popular and the economic losses due to injury from chilling and freezing stresses may exceed billions of Rials annually. The drop of ambient air temperature (above zero) reduces the ordinary metabolism activity of plants and causes chilling stress. If the temperature drops below zero and remains there for a considerable time, intercellular freezing may occur. This process always kills the cells and provokes tissue injury. In the present study, the possibility of predicting daily minimum temperature using the dew point of a previous day measured at 18:30 was examined.

 It was found that the prediction of minimum temperature is possible if the dew points are modified on the basis of the air relative humidity. For the episodes that relative humidity varies from 45% to 55%, minimum temperature at day i+1 was found to be almost equal to the dew point on the previous day (day i). For the periods that relative humidity is above (below) this range, the minimum temperature on day i+1 was observed to be greater (lower) than the estimated dew point on day i.

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In order to investigate the genetic diversity of morphological traits in 121 genotypes of lima, red and pinto beans, and to study the relation between characters, and to get better understanding of factors affecting the interaction between characters by multivariate analysis, an experiment was conducted in 1997 as a simple lattice design at the Research Station of Agricultural College, Isfahan University of Technology.

High variability was observed among genotypes for all characters studied. The phenotypic coefficients of variability were greater than the genotypic ones for all the traits. Among the characters studied seed yield, number of pods per lateral branches and main stem, length of lateral branches and main stem, number of nodes per lateral branches and main stem, 100-seed weight and number of lateral branches had the highest genotypic and phenotypic variability, while days to maturity had the lowest variability. Traits relative to lateral branches were more variable than the same traits in the main stem. Factor analysis for all the genotypes and, separately, for lima, red, pinto, determinate and indeterminate genotypes revealed 4 factors which justified more than 78.4 percent of the total variation. The results of the analysis based on all the genotypes showed that the first factor was mostly correlated to days to maturity, length of main stem and lateral branches, number of nodes per main stem and lateral branches, which was named “vegetative factor”. The second and third factors had the highest correlations with number of pods per main stem and lateral branches, number of seeds per pod in the main stem and branches and 100-seed weight, which were named “yield component factors”. The fourth factor showed the highest correlation with number of lateral branches and was named for this trait. The first and fourth factors were related to vegetative growth characteristics and physiological source. The second and third factors were related to physiological sink. On the basis of stepwise regression analysis, number of pods per lateral branches was the most important component of yield, and number of pods per lateral branches and main stem had the next following ranks. Number of pods per lateral branches and main stem had the highest relationships with yield.

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This study was carried out on the biochemical aspects of chickpea cultivars and the genomic behavior of A. rabiei pathotypes 4 and 6 in four parts: 1) Determining the number of resistant genes in chickpea native cultivars, 2) Comparing the variation of sodium and potassium electrolytes concentrations in noninfected and infected seedling stems of resistant and susceptible cultivars, 3) Studying the effect of potassium deficiency on five differential cultivars by Hoagland nutrient culture, and 4) Using RAPD-PCR method to detect any genomic differences between the two pathotypes used in this study.

Eighteen native chickpea cultivars were chosen for this study. The result of the experiments showed that cultivar 1-60-144 possesses the highest number of resistant genes, while the others were either relatively tolerant or susceptible. The reduction of electrolytes concentration in infected cultivar ILC-1929 in comparison to resistant cultivar ILC-5928 is an indication of compatibility between the host plant and the pathogen. Increasing the level of resistance in differential cultivars and appearance of induced resistance as the result of potassium deficiency is due to the production of putrecine diamine. Eighty percent similarity of pathotypes genomic bands by using CG marker and primer 171 showed insufficient primer numbers and the necessity for using complementary methods.

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Due to the need for new fumigants to control insects that attack food commodities, the toxicity of acetone was determined on some species of stored pest insects in Urmia University in the year 2000. In empty space tests, the LC₅₀ values of acetone for Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.), Callosobruchus maculatus (F.), Tribolium confusum (Duv.) and Sitophilus granarius (L.) were 15.40, 15.51, 17.55 and 18.26 μl/liter, respectively. The experiments of acetone penetration to wheat mass revealed that the application of acetone in headspace led to the penetration of acetone vapours into the wheat mass and killing the S. granarius and T. confusum had been concealed in interkernel space. The comparison of LC₅₀ values of empty space tests with LC₅₀ values of penetration experiments revealed that the increase in penetration toxicity was 8.63 fold for S. granarius. A similar trend was observed for T. confusum adults. In hidden infestation tests, the application of acetone to the headspace resulted in destroying the developmental stages of S. granarius concealed in wheat and achieved 75% mortality at a dose of 160 μl/liter during seven weeks. Acetone showed no deleterious effects on the germination and vigor of wheat seeds.

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The biology of predatory fly, Leucopis glyphinivora Tanas. was studied under greenhouse conditions. Adult longevity was 8 days and the average fecundity was 35.7 eggs. Incubation period, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd larval instars and puparium duration averaged 2.7, 2.16, 3.48, 5.7 and 8.45 days, respectively. Each generation lasted about one month. The predator efficiency was studied by applying the egg together with the adults of A. fabae at ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 1:8 and 1:16 on broad bean. First larval instar was exclusively feeding on small nymphs (1st and 2nd nymphal instars) of aphid. Predator:prey ratios of 1:4, 1:8 and 1:16 decreased the number of prey to 97.9%, 98.8% and 61%, respectively, but ratios of 1:1 and 1:2 were unsuccessful in decreasing the number of preys due to predatory larvae leaving the host plant for searching small nymphs of aphid. As a result, the predatory larvae were efficient merely in a particular range of aphid density and age structure.

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Clay minerals have considerable effects on physico-chemical properties of soils. Using different techniques, mineralogy of silicate clays and their formation were investigated in selected soils from Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province. The study area is about 1300 ha and its soil moisture and temperature regimes are xeric and mesic, respectively. Geomorphologically, the area consists of different landforms including pediments, outwash, hills and piedmont plain. After field and laboratory studies, five representative pedons were selected in previously determined mapping units and samples were taken for the analyses required. Clay particles from two surrounding rock formations and selected soil samples were separated and examined by electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), X-ray diffraction and infrared techniques. Illite, smectite, chlorite, palygorskite and kaolinite were present in all the soils. Considering the fact that palygorskite was not observed in nearby rock formations, this mineral is probably formed by pedogenic processes. Smectite, on the other hand, has been inherited from parent materials and also transformed from palygorskite. Other minerals had been probably inherited from parent materials. Infrared spectra confirm the X-ray diffraction and submicroscopic results.

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The changes of main sugars and organic acids of Red delicious and Golden delicious apples from Semirom region in Isfahan Province were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The apples were harvested, graded and packed in three kinds of wood, car-board and perforated polyethylene film packages and stored for eight months at 0±0.5^oC and 90 to 95% relative humidity for further analysis. Sucarose, glucose and fructose, as well as citric and L-malic acids were detected and quantified in all packed samples. The obtained data were analyzed with factorial experiment in completely randomized design and mean were compared by Duncan^,s muliple range test. The results showed that fructose was dominant in both cultivars in all packages compared to other sugars. Golden delicious apples contained more sucrose and less glucose than Red delicious. All sugars decreased in packed apple samples during the storage period. The dominant organic acid of both cultivars was L-malic. Citric acid increased to its maximum level in Red or Golden delicious after one or two months of storage, respectively, and then decreased gradually by the end of storage period. In general, apples kept in perforated polyethylene films exhibited the best physiochemical properties during eight months of cold storage.

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The vast pastures and agricultural development plans for dry farming and irrigated farming in Khuzestan Province depend on rain. This requires availability of annual precipitation prediction models to be used in the management decision-making process. In this research, the long-term daily precipitation data from 15 rain gauge stations in the study area were collected for study and a relationship between the early fall season precipitations of 42.5 mm (t_42.5) and the annual precipitation was obtained. The results showed that the relationship was an inverse one such that the later the fall precipitation occurred, the greater the annual precipitation would be. To increase the coefficient of determination in the models, climatic variables such as Persian Gulf sea surface temperature and geographical characteristics (longitude, latitude, altitude, and long term mean annual precipitation) were used. Except for the long term mean annual precipitation and altitude, other variables did not increase the coefficient of determination. The final simple model found is as follows: P_a=184.787-1.891t_42.5+0.855P_m , R²=0.704 where, P_a is the annual precipitation, t_42.5 is the time from beginning of fall season for 42.5 mm of precipitation, and P_m is the long term mean annual precipitation.

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In Iran, about 75% of national rice production is supplied in Gilan and Mazandaran proviences which have the highest amount of precipitation. Seasonal prediction of rainfall induces significant improvement on yield production and on preventing climate hazardz over these feritle areas. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) model was carried out evaluates the possibility of the prediction of winter rainfall according to the states of ENSO events. The time series of (southern oscilation index (SOI) and SST (sea surface temperature) over Nino's area (Nino's SST) are used as the predictors, and precipitation in Bandar Anzali and Noushahr are used as the predictands. Emperical orthogonal functions (EOF) were applied for reducing the number of original predictors variables to fewer presumably essential orthogonal variables. Four modes of variations (EOF1, EOF2, EOF3, EOF4) which account for about 92% of total variance in predictors field were retained and the others were considered as noise. Based on the retained EOFs and precipitation time series, the canonical correlation analysis (CCA) was carried out to predict winter precipitation in Noushahr and Bandar Anzali. The results indicated that the predictors considered account for about 45% of total variance in the rainfall time series. The correlation coefficents between the simulated and observed time series were significant at 5% significant level. For 70% of events the anomalies of observed and simulated values have the same sign indicating the ability of the model for reasonable prediction of above or below normal values of precipitation. For rainfall prediction, the role of Nino's SST (Nino4 in particular) was found to be around 10% more influential than SOI. .

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In addition to farm operations, power tillers in Iran are also engaged in load and passenger transportation. Inspite of their noise and adverse effects on power tiller drivers and bystanders, they have not been adequatly investigated. The initial survey in the present investigation on a 13-hp power tiller at 2200 rpm engine speed revealed that its noise was 92 dB(A), compared to the standard limit of 85 dB(A) which is disappointing. The test site was prepared according to international standards and the noise signals emitted from the system were measured and analyzed in time and frequency domains for audio frequency range (20 – 20000 Hz). The results showed that the noise intensity was higher by 7.74 to 10.75 dB(A) for the microphone position at driver’s ear compared to the bystanders position and that the engine speed played a great role in noise generation for power tiller. This is because the noise increases up to 8.5 dB(A) with engine speed variations. Finally, the power tiller prediction models of sound pressure levels at driver’s ear and bystanders were determined using the experimental data.

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In this paper, the effect of irrigation water salinity levels on seed germination, dry matter weight of seedlings at eight-leave stage, and the salt tolerance of 8 rapeseed cultivars was investigated. Relative yield reduction in saline and non saline conditions, salt sensitivity index and Van Genuchten-Hoffman methods were used to determine the salt tolerance of the cultivars. Results showed that the effect of different salt levels, cultivars and their interactions on germination and dry matter weight of seedlings was significant at 0.01(the higher the salt level, the lower the germination and dry matter). Also, using the Van Genuchten-Hoffman method, the irrigation water salinity corresponding to 10%, 25%, 50% and 90% reducts in germination and dry matter of seedlings were determined. Statistical analysis showed that a single cultivar gives different responses to salinity during growth stages and it may be tolerant in one stage, but sensitive to salinity in another growth stage. In this research, ACSN1, Falcon, and Shirali in germination stage and ACSN1, Falcon, and Cobra in seedling growth stage were salt tolerant. The three cultivars Oyerka, Global, and Ceres and the next three Shirali, Global, and Oyerka were sensitive to salinity in germination and seedling growth stages, respectively. Finally, the ACSN1 and Falcon cultivars were introduced as salt tolerant, and Oyerka and Global were considered as salt sensitive.

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The potential of artificial neural network models for simulating the hydrologic behaviour of catchments is presented in this paper. The main purpose is the modeling of river flow in a multi-gauging station catchment and real time prediction of peak flow downstream. The study area covers the Upper Derwent River catchment located in River Trent basin. The river flow has been predicted (at Whatstandwell gauging station) using upstream measured data. Three types of ANN were used for this application: Multi-layer perceptron, Recurrent and Time lag recurrent neural networks. Data with different lengths (1 month, 6 months and 3 years) have been used, and flow with 3, 6, 9 and 12 hours lead-time has been predicted. In general, although ANN shows a good capability to model river flow and predict downstream discharge by using only upstream flow data, however, the type of ANN as well as the characteristics of the training data was found as very important factors affecting the efficiency of the results.

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During the honeybee breeding project in central Iran, sex alleles homozygoty and sex alleles number in the third generation of 364 colonies were studied in 2003. Sex alleles homozygoty was measured based on Ruttner (1988) and Tarpy and Page (2002) methods. The total area of worker brood area, stored pollen, and drone brood area were measured on the combs. The whole extracted honey weight and remaining honey in the combs were evaluated as honey production of colonies. Adult population was evaluated based on the number of full combs of adult honeybees. The results showed that sex alleles, average homozygoty and number in the colonies were 18.83% and 5.32 respectively. The results showed no significant correlation between homozygoty of sex alleles or sex alleles number and stored pollen ( P > 0.05 ) , but significant negative correlation between sex alleles homozygoty and colony population, total brood area and honey yield ( P < 0.01 ) was observed. So introduction of new sire colonies in the mating Isolated area is essential to prevent sex alleles homozygoty and also performance of honeybee colonies from decreasing.

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In order to determine the response of yield and seed yield components of red bean )Phaseolus vulgaris L. ( genotypes to delay in planting, this study was conducted in Factorial  experiment based on a RCB design with 3 replications in the Jahad-Keshavarzi Research farm of Miyaneh in 2006. Factors included cultivars in three levels(Naz, Gole and Sayad) and planting date in three levels (5 and 20 April, and 5 May). Results of variance analysis showed that the cultivars and planting dates had significant effects on all the characteristics. The interaction between cultivars and planting dates had significant effect on stem height, number of pod per plant, 100 seed weight, biological yield, grain yield and number of seed in pod. The Results of mean comparison indicated that SAYAD cultivar in the first planting date with 4033.3 kgha^-1 and Gole cultivar in the third planting date with 1500.2 kgha^-1 had the highest and lowest grain Yield, respectively. Total yield with all traits, except for the stem height, 100 seed weight and cultivar protein percentage showed a  positive and significant correlation.

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Ordination is the part of statistical ecology which has developed and integrated in recent years. Finding environmental factors which important in ecological structure determination of plant species is the final purpose of ordination. Ordination method was used for finding the effect of important variables on Bromus tomentellus species quantitative and qualitative changes in Esfahan's Fereidan region. For this purpose, fifteen sites were studied. Density, Cover percentage and Soil factors containing EC, pH, % caco₃ , % gravel and stone, % clay, % silt, % sand, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl^-, SAR, C/N and % OC. In A (0-30 cm) and B (30-60 cm) horizons over a line transaction in each site, were measured. The matrix of environmental and species characteristics were prepared. The relationship between environmental and species characteristics were determined using of PC-ORD and CANOCO software's and Redundancy Detrended Analysis (RDA) method. The results show that there are meaningful correlation between Density and Cover percentage with soil factors. The results implicate that C/N factor in A horizon and SAR in B horizon have the most effect on Bromus tomentellus density and cover percentage. EC, pH and …. Factors don't have much effect on Bromus tomentellus species characteristics.

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Remote sensing science and satellite data are widely used by researchers for agricultural studies. Vegetation spectral reflections recorded by satellite sensors have been used extensively for identifying plant types, plant cover, health community of plants and predicting yield. The TERRA satellite, with 5 sensors, provides an opportunity to observe land, atmosphere and ocean characteristics. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) is on–board TERRA satellite. This sensor with 36 bands by 250m, 500m, and 1000m spatial resolution help us to study our environment. The MODIS vegetation indices are used to monitor photosynthetic activity radiation, change detection in plant communities, planted area estimation and plant health. A statistical analysis was done to analyze Near Infra Red (NIR) (841-876 nm) and Red (R) (620-670 nm) bands of MODIS images for a 16 day period. The images have been used for winter wheat in Mashhad (North East of IRAN) during agricultural season of 2004-05.Some image processing techniques were used to extract the related digital numbers (DN), showing the electromagnetic spectrum reflection for all of the pixels. The analysis shows a positive correlation between R and NIR spectrum (0.70 and 0.69) and decrease in NDVI (0.18 and 0.24) in the first and late wheat growth season. However, there is not such a good correlation in the middle of the season and NDVI increased very much. In spite of having wheat cover in the field, NIR reflection decreased very much in the late wheat growth season (0.5). Therefore the correlation relation between R and NIR band along with NDVI could be used effectively in precision agriculture management such as predicting of phonological stage, wheat yield estimation and wheat health condition.