Research Paper
N. Mehrab; M. Chorom; S. Hojati
Volume 37, Issue 1 , September 2014, Pages 1-11
Abstract
To evaluate the effect of two types of soil textures and zeolite enriched with ammonium on growth characteristics of wheat and water use efficiency, a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications in greenhouse condition was conducted at Shaid Chamran University ...
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To evaluate the effect of two types of soil textures and zeolite enriched with ammonium on growth characteristics of wheat and water use efficiency, a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications in greenhouse condition was conducted at Shaid Chamran University in the autumn of 2011. Treatments were 5% and 10% of the raw zeolite, 5% and 10% zeolite enriched with ammonium, fertilizer treatment (100 kg ha-1) and soil textures were clay loam and sandy loam. The results showed that the soil texture significantly affected the growth characteristics of wheat and water use efficiency (P<0.01). The plant nitrogen percentage, 1000-seed weight and seed yield were higher in sandy loam soil than in clay loam. Water use efficiency in sandy loam, was more than clay loam. None of the zeolite treatments had a significant effect on water use efficiency. The highest percentage of plant nitrogen fertilizer plants treated with ammonium-rich zeolite and 10%, respectively. The highest percentage of plant nitrogen was observed in chemical fertilizer treatment and 10% NH4+-zeolite and the highest seed yield was obtained in 10% NH4+-zeolite treatment. The highest C/N ratio was measured in treated with 10% raw zeolite in a sandy loam soil. Therefore, the application of ammonium zeolite enriched can be improved wheat growth characteristics and using less chemical fertilizer and thereby also saving on fertilizers helped to reduce environmental pollution.
Research Paper
Volume 37, Issue 1 , September 2014, Pages 13-22
Abstract
This study was conducted among dates’ packinghouse workers with the objectives of a) determining of MSDs prevalence and b) evaluating level of exposure to MSDs risk factors. The results of this study can be used to develop MSDs preventive strategies in the workplace and improve workers’ health. ...
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This study was conducted among dates’ packinghouse workers with the objectives of a) determining of MSDs prevalence and b) evaluating level of exposure to MSDs risk factors. The results of this study can be used to develop MSDs preventive strategies in the workplace and improve workers’ health. This study was a descriptive- analytic approach performed on 98 workers at 6 activities and 29 working postures by using REBA method. The prevalence of MSDs was obtained by using Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ). The data were analyzed by independent t-test, Chi-square and proportions test with P<0.05 as the limit of significance. The average of age and job tenure was 34.9±14.86 and 7.01±5.79 years, respectively. The 69.4% of the workers suffered from some kind of symptoms during the last 12 months. The highest prevalence was reported in lower back (30.6%), knees (25.5%) and ankles/feet (23.5%). The result of REBA evaluation method showed that 19 postures were at average risk and in need of necessary corrective action and 4 postures were at high risk and possible correction actions were necessary. This study demonstrated that WMSDs occurred at a high rate in the study population. Major ergonomic problems were found to be awkward postures, manual material handling, back rotation and bending. Furthermore, based on the REBA results, implementation of interventional corrective measures to reduce level of workers' exposure to WMSDs risk factors was essential.
Research Paper
Negin Hassanvandi; Ahmad Landi; Hamid Reza Matinfar; Mohammad Hassan Taherzadeh
Volume 37, Issue 1 , September 2014, Pages 23-34
Abstract
Soil salinity and salinization are destructive phenomena and limiting factors for agricultural development. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor and mange salinity. Identification of saline soils and production of saline soils maps are the first steps for their management. The objective of this study ...
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Soil salinity and salinization are destructive phenomena and limiting factors for agricultural development. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor and mange salinity. Identification of saline soils and production of saline soils maps are the first steps for their management. The objective of this study was to achieve a map of saline soils of the south of Ahvaz using ETM+ images. Soil sampling from 0-15 cm was accomplished using visual interpretations and differences in spectral reflection of various phenomena. Electrical conductivity (EC) was measured in soil paste. Spectral values of each sample were obtained in different bands and the relationship between spectral values and samples electrical conductivity was analyzed by determining correlated bands and selecting desirable bands for contributing to the model. The results showed that the correlation between electrical conductivity values with B4, B2 bands, brightness and SAVI was significant at 1% level. Using the correlation between satellite data (Landsat ETM+ 2010) and numerical value of soil salinity, salinity maps were produced in GIS. Finally, a salinity map was prepared using a multiple variable regression model. The accuracy of the produced map by electrical conductivity values showed that the correlation method in mapping soil salinity can be recommended.
Research Paper
R. Sedghi; Y. Abbaspour Gilandeh
Volume 37, Issue 1 , September 2014, Pages 35-47
Abstract
Good soil structure is important for crop growth. One of the main characteristics of the soil structure, which affects the plant growth and its yield, is soil aggregate size distribution. There are several ways to characterize the stability of soil aggregates such as the mean weight diameter (MWD). Researchers ...
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Good soil structure is important for crop growth. One of the main characteristics of the soil structure, which affects the plant growth and its yield, is soil aggregate size distribution. There are several ways to characterize the stability of soil aggregates such as the mean weight diameter (MWD). Researchers generally use MWD as the most important criterion to express the degree of soil fragmentation of a loamy sand soil. In this study, the effects of soil moisture content at two levels, tractor forward speed at five levels and working depth at five levels were investigated on soil fragmentation for seedbed preparation using a combination of primary and secondary tillage implements of subsoiler, moldboard plow and disk harrow as conventional tillage combination in the region. Field experiments were carried out in the research field of University of Mohaghegh Ardabili based on a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. In this paper, an intelligent model based on Mamdani fuzzy model was developed to predict soil fragmentation during tillage practice. The model included 50 laws. Analysis of variance showed that the main effects of travel speed and working depth were significant on the soil fragmentation (at probability level of 1%). By increasing the forward speed, working depth and soil moisture content, MWD of aggregates significantly increased. Moreover, the interactive effect of speed and working depth was significant (at probability level of 1%). Also, using the fuzzy model, the optimum range of the investigated parameters was achieved 12-16% for moisture content of a loamy sand soil, 5.92 km/h for travel speed and 15 cm for working depth.
Research Paper
Soil Chemistry and Pollution
Roya Zalaghi; Ali Akbar Safari Sinegani
Volume 37, Issue 1 , September 2014, Pages 49-65
Abstract
Phytoremediation, a relatively new and an environmentally friendly technology, is the use of plants for the removal of pollutants from contaminated soils. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the heavy metal (lead, zinc and copper) accumulation of Zea mays, Helianthus annuus, Cannabis ...
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Phytoremediation, a relatively new and an environmentally friendly technology, is the use of plants for the removal of pollutants from contaminated soils. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the heavy metal (lead, zinc and copper) accumulation of Zea mays, Helianthus annuus, Cannabis sativa and Brassica napus. Plants were grown in two soils; one from Ahangaran Lead-Zinc Mine, and the other from an agricultural soil. The shoot and root dry weight, heavy metal concentrations in shoot and root, translocation factor (TF), Enrichment factor (EF) and heavy metal fractions were measured. The distribution of different lead and zinc fractions were revealed the following order: residual > carbonate > organic > exchangeable. However, for copper the order was as residual > organic > carbonate > exchangeable. The minimum lead concentration (25.50 mg kg-1) was observed in Z. mays shoot tissue and the maximum (301.30 mg kg-1) in C. sativa shoot tissue. Lead TF ranged from 0.72 to 0.96 and decreased in the following order: H. annus > C. sativa > B. napus > Z. mays. Zinc TF changed from 0.70 to 0.99 and as H. annus > Z. mays> C. sativa > B. napus, and copper TF turned from 0.49 to 1.83 and as H. annus > C. sativa > B. napus > Z. mays. The EF value of lead varied from 0.24 for Z. mays to 0.48 for C. sativa, from 0.75 for Z. mays to 1.01 for H. annus regarding to zinc, and the copper EF value ranged from 0.39 for C. sativa to 1.42 in H. annus. Although H. annus and C. sativa accumulated lead more than Z. mays and B. napus, none of the plants was hyperaccumulator for lead, zinc or copper.
Research Paper
Precision Agriculture
K. Dalvand; A. Eftekhari
Volume 37, Issue 1 , September 2014, Pages 67-75
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that is uptaken by plants, accumulates in edible parts of plants and negatively impacts human health. This study was conducted to investigate the uptake and accumulation of Cd in different parts of reddish. The experimental design was a factorial with complete block design ...
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Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that is uptaken by plants, accumulates in edible parts of plants and negatively impacts human health. This study was conducted to investigate the uptake and accumulation of Cd in different parts of reddish. The experimental design was a factorial with complete block design using three levels of Cd (0, 30 and 60 mgkg-1) and two dates of harvesting (commercial maturity and one week after commercial maturity, called 1st and 2nd dates of harvesting) with three replications. The experiment was carried out using pots which were inserted at research farm of Shahid Chamran University of Ahwaz. Results indicated Cd accumulation in different parts of reddish as the Cd concentration rates increased. The highest Cd accumulation was in the roots (79.35 mg kg-1) at the 2nd date of harvesting. The maximum Cd accumulated in hypocotyls (36.0 mg kg-1) at the 1st date of harvesting, hypocotyls skin (45.0 mg kg-1) at the 1st date of harvesting, and leaves (95.4 mg kg-1) at the 2nd date of harvesting when 60 mg kg-1 of Cd was applied. The results also showed that Cd treatment maximizes Cd at the 1st date of harvesting and increases over the second time of harvesting in reddish organs. The order of Cd accumulation from the highest to the lowest concentration was leaves, roots, petioles, hypocotyls skin and hypocotyls.
Research Paper
Land Evaluation and Suitability
V. Shahrokh; S. Ayoubi
Volume 37, Issue 1 , September 2014, Pages 77-92
Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate land suitability in Zarinshahr and Mobarakeh areas located in Isfahan Province using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique. The hierarchy structure for evaluation was established to select the proper land use for 32 land units. Two alternative land utilization ...
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This study was conducted to evaluate land suitability in Zarinshahr and Mobarakeh areas located in Isfahan Province using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique. The hierarchy structure for evaluation was established to select the proper land use for 32 land units. Two alternative land utilization types (the cultivation of wheat and rice) were selected at the lowest level. The intermediate levels of the hierarchy were comprised of seven criteria for evaluating the alternative land uses including soil, climate, gross income, water resources, market, physical environmental impacts and chemical environmental impacts. The weight for each element was calculated using 30 questionnaires which were completed by experts and software EXPERT CHOICE 2000. Then the overall weight for each land use was obtained by multiplying standardized attributes and local weights. The results showed that maximum and minimum calculated land indices for wheat cultivation were 77.4 (unit 2-3) and 18.86 (unit 4-9) and for rice 26.85 (unit 4-10) and 7.43 (unit 4-11), respectively. The climate suitability was the most important factor for selecting the proper land use, followed by soil suitability. The least importance was contributed to market accessibility. The inconsistency ratio related for all the matrices was 9 percent. The results of this study showed that the cultivation of wheat has higher performance for production in all land units.
Research Paper
Soil Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology
S. Shariati; H. Alikhani; A. Pourbabaei; F. Shariati
Volume 37, Issue 1 , September 2014, Pages 93-107
Abstract
In order to determine the effect of plant growth promoting bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens on yield and nutrient availability in corn some special materials like mesoporous silica nanoparticles, vermicompost, bentonite and a mixture of all were inoculated by the bacteria and preserved for six months. ...
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In order to determine the effect of plant growth promoting bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens on yield and nutrient availability in corn some special materials like mesoporous silica nanoparticles, vermicompost, bentonite and a mixture of all were inoculated by the bacteria and preserved for six months. Soil and seeds were treated by the inoculants. The experiment was set up in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments comprised of three inoculants and two fertilizers including diammonium phosphate, single super phosphate and control (without any phosphorus fertilizer). After 60 days of corn emergence, some plant growth indices and the concentration of some elements in plant shoots were measured. The results demonstrated that Pseudomonas fluorescens inoculant significantly increased phosphorus shoot content, total yield and chlorophyll by 74, 46 and 22.1%, respectively compared to the control treatment (P<0.05), but it did not show any significant difference with phosphorus fertilizer treatments (P>0.05). The vermicompost inoculants could significantly (P<0.05) increase zinc and iron contents of shoots by 114 and 53.6%, respectively in comparison to the control treatment. Orthogonal comparisons of the two methods of seed and soil inoculation showed the efficiency of seed inoculation on shoot phosphorus at 5% level, but no significant difference was observed between these two methods for other measured characteristics (P>0.05).
