Growing vegetables
Javad َAhooei; Ali Reza Astaraei; Reza Khorassani; Amir Lakzian
Abstract
Introduction
Management of municipal wastes as well as their reuse is one of major concerns of researchers in recent decades due to the expansion of urbanization and increase in production of municipal waste. Composting and use of municipal waste is one of the solutions used in the management ...
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Introduction
Management of municipal wastes as well as their reuse is one of major concerns of researchers in recent decades due to the expansion of urbanization and increase in production of municipal waste. Composting and use of municipal waste is one of the solutions used in the management of these materials. Implementation of various additives to enrich and improve the properties of the produced compost is one of the common methods to increase the efficiency of produced compost. Different organic and inorganic compounds are used to enrich the produced compost. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two organic compounds (blood powder and bone powder) and a mineral compound (phosphate soil) on the composting properties of municipal waste. It was also our goal to find the effect of these treatments on growth characteristics and concentration of nutrients in shoot of spinach was evaluated.
Materials and Methods
This research was conducted in two stages. The purpose of the first part was to investigate the effect of organic and inorganic additives on the properties of municipal waste compost. Experimental factors included four types of composts including control compost (without additives); compost plus 1% blood powder; compost plus 1% bone powder and compost plus 5% phosphate soil. After sieving the waste and removing the waste leachate, about 60 kg of waste was weighed for each treatment and placed in plastic barrels with a volume of 100 liters for better control of aeration conditions. The compost ripening factors were stable after 90 days, when it was screened and materials were separated, then some of its properties include acidity, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, total nitrogen, C/N ratio, iron, humic acid, fulvic acid, and other parameters including humification ratio, humification index and degree of polymerisation were measured. In the second phase, the effect of compost enriched with blood powder, bone powder and phosphate soil treatments was compared with control treatment (without compost) on growth characteristics and nutrient concentrations in spinach shoots in a greenhouse experiment. For this purpose, pots (with a diameter of 25 cm and a height of 30 cm) were packed with 8 kg of soil in which enriched composts was mixed in 5 g compost/kg of soil ratio. After preparing the pot, the humidity reached 65% of the field capacity and after 25 days, 6 spinach seeds (Spinacia oleracea L.) were planted. After 50 days of planting, the plants were harvested and parameters such as shoot dry weight, leaf area, nitrogen, iron and phosphorus were measured.
Results and Discussion
Results of enriched compost showed that the highest amount of reduction in EC (with 14.5%) and OC (with 8.9%) was resulted in phosphate soil treatment and the highest reduction in C/N ratio (with 46.8%) was related to blood powder treatment. Regarding to the other variables, the highest N and Fe concentrations was related to the blood powder treatment with 2.5% and 706.6 mg/Kg and the highest P content with 1.66% was observed in phosphate soil treatment which had a significant difference with control. Regarding to the Humification indices the highest difference with the control treatment in Fulvic acid content with 24.5% was related to bone powder treatment, that of Humic acid content with 32.4% and Polymerization rate with 43% was related to phosphate soil. In this experiment, the amount of organic carbon was expected to increase in blood powder and bone powder treatments, which was not the case. This may be due to the effect of these treatments on increasing microbial activity such as microbial respiration and increasing the decomposition of organic carbon which ultimately leads to a decrease in the amount of organic carbon. The increase in EC in organic treatments compared to inorganic treatments may be due to weight loss of organic matter and release of various mineral salts. The effect of experimental treatments in the greenhouse section also showed that highest difference in plant dry weight compared to the control was related to the blood powder treatment with 59% increase and regarding to the leaf area with 31.9% increase through application of the blood powder and phosphate treatments. The highest amount of Fe and N absorption in spinach shoots was also observed in blood powder treatment with 1177 mg/Kg and 3.13% respectively. Phosphate soil with high amounts of phosphorus increased the amount of this element in the shoots of spinach. The two combinations of blood powder and bone powder caused a significant increase in these elements in the compost and in most of the measured parameters, due to their high amounts of nitrogen and iron. These two organic substances were significantly different from the control.
Conclusion
The results of this study showed that the enrichment of municipal waste compost using organic and inorganic additives can compensate for the lack of some elements in the compost and further increase the growth of spinach. Adding blood powder increased the concentration of iron and nitrogen in the shoot and decreased the C/N ratio compared to the control treatment. Also, the positive effect of phosphate soil and bone powder are effective in increasing the phosphorus content of compost. In addition, the combination of phosphate soil with municipal waste compost due to the formation of more stable materials such as humic acid and folic acid prevents their subsequent wastage. Finally, it can be concluded that in this experiment, two treatments of blood powder and phosphate soil have the best effect on enrichment and they had increased growth characteristics of spinach and in general, and blood powder was selected as the best treatment.
Maryam Kamali; Mahmood Shoor; Seyyed Hossein Nemati; Amir Lakzian; Hamidreza Khazaie
Abstract
Introduction: Water deficiency is one of important abiotic stresses that severely effects on plant growth. The effects of drought range from morphological to molecular levels and are evident at all phenological stages of plant growth at whatever stage the water deficit takes place. Growth is accomplished ...
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Introduction: Water deficiency is one of important abiotic stresses that severely effects on plant growth. The effects of drought range from morphological to molecular levels and are evident at all phenological stages of plant growth at whatever stage the water deficit takes place. Growth is accomplished through cell division, cell enlargement and differentiation, and involves genetic, physiological, ecological and morphological events and their complex interactions. The quality and quantity of plant growth depend on these events, which are affected by water deficit. Cell growth is one of the most drought-sensitive physiological processes due to the reduction in turgor pressure. Under severe water deficiency, cell elongation of higher plants can be inhibited by interruption of water flow from the xylem to the surrounding elongating cells. Impaired mitosis, cell elongation and expansion result in reduced plant height, leaf area and crop growth under drought. Chlorophyll content is one of the major factors affecting photosynthetic capacity changing in chlorophyll content of plant under drought stress has been observed in different plant species and its intensity depends on stress rate and duration. Chlorophyll content of leaf is indicator of photosynthetic capability of plant tissues. In the mid-80s, RWC was introduced as a best criterion for plant water status which, afterwards was used instead of plant water potential as RWC referring to its relation with cell volume, accurately can indicate the balance between absorbed water by plant and consumed through transpiration.
Materials and Methods: To study the effects of drought stress on three varieties of petunia, a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with four replications was conducted. The treatments consisted of four irrigation levels ((100% control), 80%, 60% and 40% of field capacity) and three varieties of petunia (Supercascade, Tango blue and Tango white). After planting and transplanting and after full deployment in the pot, water stress treatments were applied on three varieties of petunias. At the end of each week fully blossomed flowers were counted, flower diameter, peduncle length and corolla length were measured. In order to determine the stability of the cell membrane electrolyte leakage index was measured. Specific leaf area (SLA) was determined. The amount of chlorophyll a, b, total and carotenoid and relative water content in the leaves were measured. Statistical analysis was performed using the software MSTAT-C. EXCEL was used for diagramming software. Means were compared using LSD test with a 0.05 significance level.
Results and Discussion: Results indicated that interaction impacts of variety and irrigation on dry weight, leaf area, flower number, flower diameter, length Corolla, chlorophyll content, electrolyte leakage, relative water content and proline content was significant. The most shoot dry weight (76/1 g) was in control stress (100% FC) and Tango White variety. Also the most leaf dry weight (07/2 g) and root dry weight (g 43/0) were in Tango Blue variety. With increasing drought stress from 100% FC to 40% FC, leaf area decreased in Supercascade from 314 to 49, in Tango Blue from 405 to 44 and in Tango White from 459 to 69 cm2. In 80% FC, electrolyte leakage increased in all varieties (Supercascade variety 2%, Tango Blue 10% and in Tango White 3%) compared to control. Also electrolyte leakage increased in Supercascade 17%, in Tango Blue 9% and in Tango White10% in 40% FC compared to control. Comparison of interaction effects of drought stress and variety also showed the most proline had accumulated in Tango White and drought 40% of field capacity and then in Tango Blue and stress 40% of field capacity. Generally two varieties of Tango Blue and Tango White in control irrigation had better growth and also in low irrigation were more resistant.
Amir Lakzian; Vali Feiziasl; Ali Tehranifar; Akram Halajnia; Hadise Rahmani; Payam Pakdel; Seyyed Hedayat Mohseni; Arezo Talebi
Abstract
Dieback of trees is a serious problem in many different regions of the world and city authorities are concern about conserving and maintaining the green spaces in the big cites. This study was conducted to evaluate the early dieback and yellowing of sycamore trees (platanus sp.) by using a completely ...
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Dieback of trees is a serious problem in many different regions of the world and city authorities are concern about conserving and maintaining the green spaces in the big cites. This study was conducted to evaluate the early dieback and yellowing of sycamore trees (platanus sp.) by using a completely randomized block design (Split Split plot) in 15 replications (sites) in 2009. The main plot was plant sampling times (spring, summer and autumn), sub plot was the plant condition (green and yellow) and sub-sub plot was the place of sampling on the tree (down, middle and upper). After sampling, preparation and chemical analysis, total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, manganese, zinc and sodium were measured by standard methods and the data was interpreted by using site regression model (GGE biplot analysis). The results showed that nitrogen deficiency was occurred with more intensity in the down layer in summer time compare to the spring time. The results also showed that iron deficiency occurred in the yellow tree groups and zinc deficiency also occurred simultaneously. However zinc deficiency was not proven in the spring time but it occurred in summer time. Iron deficiency was started in the spring time and then more deficiency observed in summer time. With regarding to the obtained results it dose not seem that nutritional deficiency is the main reason of dieback of sycamore trees in Mashhad. These symptoms also might be caused by drought stress and water deficiency, low temperature in winter or early spring. Fungi attack and other diseases can cause similar symptoms.
Shirin Rezaei; Amir Lakzian; Mohammad Farsi; Mahboobeh Abolhassani-Zeraatkar; Gholamhossein Haghjnia
Abstract
One of the most important steps of Agaricus bisporus production is casing. In this step a layer of soil is added on top of compost. Peat is the most suitable casing soil for A. bisporus production. The lack of peat in Iran is one of the major problems in A. bisporus production for mushroom producers. ...
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One of the most important steps of Agaricus bisporus production is casing. In this step a layer of soil is added on top of compost. Peat is the most suitable casing soil for A. bisporus production. The lack of peat in Iran is one of the major problems in A. bisporus production for mushroom producers. It seems that peat can be replaced by Spent Mushroom Compost (SMC). In order to study the possibility of peat replacement, a factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design layout with two replications. The experimental factors consisted of Spent Mushroom Compost with two levels (one and two years old), leaching with three levels (one (L1), two (L2) and three (L3) times) and EDTA with two levels (without EDTA (E1) and with EDTA, 0.3 M (E2)) and different casing soil with four levels (SMC+loam, SMC+Azolla, SMC+Peat (1:1) and Peat). The experiment was carried out in the Mushroom Production Center of Agricultural College, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. The results showed that the highest mushroom yield was obtained in peat treatment (24%). The average of yield in SMC+Peat treatment was 11.78%. The Diameter of mushroom cap in SMC+Peat treatment was 44.1 mm. The lowest yield (8.1%) and diameter of A. bisporus cap (37 mm) was observed in SMC+Azolla treatment. The results also showed that the EDTA had a negative effect on yield (44.3 %) and diameter of the mushroom cap.
Payam Pakdel; Ali Tehranifar; Seyyed Hossein Nemati; Amir Lakzian; Seyyedeh Mahdiyeh Kharrazi
Abstract
Abstract
To study the effects of four types of mulches including wood chips, municipal compost, sawdust and gravel in three different thicknesses on growth of Platanus orientalis during two years, an experiment was conducted in Mashhad area with semi-arid climate. The research was conducted as split ...
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Abstract
To study the effects of four types of mulches including wood chips, municipal compost, sawdust and gravel in three different thicknesses on growth of Platanus orientalis during two years, an experiment was conducted in Mashhad area with semi-arid climate. The research was conducted as split plot based on a completely randomized block design with four replications. Treatments included control (no mulching) and four types of mulch including wood chips, municipal compost, sawdust and gravel in three thickness (5, 10 and 15 cm). During the study, soil moisture and temperature, total leaf number, fresh and dry weight of leaves, tree height, fresh weight of tree, trunk circumference at height of 20 cm from soil surface was measured. Sawdust mulch with 15cm thickness had highest soil moisture and lowest soil temperature. All factors in sawdust mulch with 15cm thickness showed the highest growth characteristics. In all factors (tree fresh weight, leave fresh and dry weight, tree height, total number of leaves and trunk circle at 20 cm height) increasing of mulch thickness led to increased rate of growth and the best results was observed at 15cm thickness of all kinds of mulches. There were no significant difference among mulch types on height of the tree but all mulch types had significant difference with control. In the other measured factors including total leaf number, fresh and dry weight of leaves, fresh weight of tree, trunk circumference at height of 20 cm from soil surface, the highest growth was related to sawdust, wood chips, compost, gravel and control, respectively. It seems that sawdust with keeping soil moisture and reducing drought stress could help better growth of the plants compare to other mulches in dry and semi-arid areas.
Keywords: Mulch, Plane, Soil moisture, Soil temperature, Growth factors
Rooholla Moradi; Mahdi Nasiri Mahalati; Parviz Rezvani Moghaddam; Amir Lakzian; Azizollah Nezhadali
Abstract
Abstract
In order to evaluate the effects of different organic and biological fertilizers on quantity and quality of essential oil of Fennel an experiment was conducted in a completely randomized block design with three replications. The experimental treatments were two organic (compost and vermicompost) ...
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Abstract
In order to evaluate the effects of different organic and biological fertilizers on quantity and quality of essential oil of Fennel an experiment was conducted in a completely randomized block design with three replications. The experimental treatments were two organic (compost and vermicompost) and two biological (Pseudomonas putida and Azotobacter chroococcum ) fertilizers, their all twin combinations (Ps. putida + A. chroococcum, Ps. putida + compost, Ps. putida + vermicompost, A. chroococcum + compost, A. chroococcum + vermicompost and compost + vermicompost) and control (without any fertilizer). There were significant differences between different treatments in terms of seed essential oil percentage, essential oil yield; anethole, fenchone, limonene and estragole content in seed essential oil. Results showed that the highest and lowest percentage of essential oil contents were obtained in control (% 2.9) and A. chroococcum + vermicompost (% 2.2) treatments, receptivity. The highest essential oil yield (29.9 l/ha) and anethole content of essential oil (69.7%) and the lowest fenchone (6.14%), limonene (4.84%) and estragole (2.78%) contents of essential oil were obtained in compost + vermicompost treatment. Essential oil yield and percentage of anethole content in essential oil were significantly higher in all organic and biological treatments compare with control. The highest of fenchone, limonene and estragole essential oil content were obtained in control treatment.
Keywords: Foeniculum vulgare, Pseudomonas putida, Azotobacter chroococcum, Compost, Vermicompost, Anethole, Fenchone, Limonene estragole
