Fatemeh Ranjbar; Alireza Koocheki; Mahdi Nasiri Mahalati
Abstract
Introduction: Ecological agriculture is an integrated system that gives credit to higher quality of products. Using of ecological agriculture and low input systems or other similar systems as a replacement for conventional systems turn out to progress in sustainable agriculture and protecting environment ...
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Introduction: Ecological agriculture is an integrated system that gives credit to higher quality of products. Using of ecological agriculture and low input systems or other similar systems as a replacement for conventional systems turn out to progress in sustainable agriculture and protecting environment health. One of the best approaches to achieve these goals is to use mixed farming. Many experiments have shown that mixed farming has higher yield than sole cropping. The other benefits of mixed farming are: management of insects, weeds and diseases, promotion of diversity, improvement of products quality and also increase in stability and sustainability. These goals also achieved by decreasing in use of non-renewable resources and also reducing environment risks. Hence, assessment of intercropping patterns of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgar), Sesame (Sesamum indicum) and Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) on qualitative and quantitative characters and yield components were the purposes of this experiment.
Materials and methods: In order to study yield and yield components in different intercrops of fennel, sesame and bean, an experiment was conducted in Agricultural Research Station, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad during 2010-2011growing season. The experimental design was a Randomized Complete Block with three replications. The treatments were consisted of: pure stand of fennel, sesame and bean, row intercropping of sesame-bean with recommended density (1:1), fennel-bean (1:1), fennel-sesame (1:1) and intercrops of fennel- sesame - bean (1:1:1). The field of experiment was prepared at the end of March, a month before sowing; 30 ton/ hectare manure fertilizer was used. Because of sowing these 3 crops in a low input system, non-chemical approaches to control weeds and diseases during the growth season were employed. In order to determine crops seed yield and their biological yield in this experiment, sampling was done after omitting of margin effects (0.5 m first and end of each row) and 8 m2 area was harvested. All harvested crops were dried under free condition and shadow, then was weighted and after that seeds were separated from crops. To measure yield components five samples were selected. For fennel: umbel number per plant, umbellate number per plant, seed number per umbellate, 1000 seed weight, for sesame: capsule number per plant, seed number per capsule and 1000 seed weight and for bean: pod number per plant, seed number per pod and 1000 seed weight were measured.
Results and discussion: Results indicated that the yield and yield components of intercropped and pure fennel treatments significantly affect grain and biological yield, harvest index, the number of umbels per plant, the number of fertile umbellates per plant, and vegetative essential oil. In addition, these treatments in sesame showed significant effect on biological yield, grain yield, harvest index, plant height and seed weight per capsule. The results for bean revealed significant effects on biological yield, grain yield and the number of seeds per pod. Moreover, the highest percentage of essential oil in fennel was obtained in fennel-sesame treatment. The highest percentage of oil in sesame was obtained in sole crop of fennel. Furthermore, the results showed that the highest LER (1.22) was observed in sesame-fennel treatment. Considering this ratio, this treatment was selected as a superior treatment among the other treatments.
An experiment on mixed cultivation of Zea maize and bean showed higher amount of biological yield, in intercropping treatments (RezvanBeydokhti et al., 2005). Another experiment on mixed cropping of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) and lentil (Lens culinaris M.)showed higher amount of seed yield in intercropping treatments and biological yield in sole cropping .
Mohammad Behzad Amiri; Alireza Koocheki; Mahdi Nasiri Mahalati; Mohsen Jahan
Abstract
Introduction: Increasing usage of chemical fertilizers imposes irreparable damages to the environment. Disadvantages of chemical fertilizers has led to more attention to the application of organic fertilizers and manures. The use of organic fertilizers and livestock, especially in nutrient poor soils, ...
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Introduction: Increasing usage of chemical fertilizers imposes irreparable damages to the environment. Disadvantages of chemical fertilizers has led to more attention to the application of organic fertilizers and manures. The use of organic fertilizers and livestock, especially in nutrient poor soils, it is necessary to maintain soil quality. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) occupy the rhizosphere of many plant species and have beneficial effects on the host plant. They may influence the plant in a direct or indirect manner. A direct mechanism would be to increase plant growth by supplying the plant with nutrients and hormones. Indirect mechanisms on the otherhand, include, reduced susceptibility to diseases, and activing a form of defese referred to as induces systematic resistance. Examples of bacteria which have been found to enhance plant growth, include Pseudomonas, Enterobacter and Arthrobacter. Biofertilizers contain organic compounds that increase soil fertility either directly or as a result of their decay (9, 10). Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) belongs to the nightshade family, Solanaceae. The plant typically grow 1-3 meters in height and a weak stem. It is a perennial in its native habitat, although often grown outdoors in temperate climates as an annual. An average common tomato weighs approximately 100 grams. Tomatoes contain the carotene lycopene, one of the most powerful natural antioxidants. In some studies, lycopene, especially in cooked tomatoes, has been found to help prevent prostate cancer. Lycopene has also been shown to improve the skin’s ability to protect against harmful UV rays. Tomatoes might help in managing human neurodegenerative diseases. The lycopene has no effect on the risk of developing diabetes, but may help relieve the oxidative stress of people who already have diabetes. The purpose of this study was the possibility of replacing chemical fertilizers with biofertilizers, reducing production costs and increasing product quality.
Materials and Methods: In order to study the effects of different fertilizers on the quantity and quality characteristics of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), a split plot experiment based on RCBD design with three replications was conducted in 2009-10 growing season in research farm of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. Two levels of poultry manure (zero and 20 ton ha-1) and five different fertilizers (nitroxin (A), phosphate solubizing bacteria (B), A+B, nitrogen and phosphorous chemical fertilizers and control) were considered as the main and sub factors, respectively. Studied traits were fruit number and weight per plant, total yield, marketable yield, spad number, brix index, c vitamin and lycopene content.
Results and Discussion: The results showed that poultry manure increased total yield of tomato compared with control. Chemical fertilizers led to the production of highest total yield. Biophosphorous+nitroxin and biophosphorous increased marketable yield by 17 and 11 percent compared to control, respectively. The highest and the lowest contents of vitamin C were observed in nitroxin and chemical fertilizer, respectively. Biofertilizers and chemical fertilizers increased lycopene content compared with control, so that the maximum content of lycopene was obtained in the biophosphorous with 2.38 mg per 100 g sample, Also, the fruit yield of tomato was more in the first stage of harvesting rather than the second stage. It seems organic fertilizers and biofertilizers increased morphological characteristics and yield of tomato due to provide better conditions to absorption and transportation of nutrient to the plant. It has been reported that this ecological inputs provide favorable conditions for plant growth and development through improvement of physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil, therefore, it can be concluded that improvement of most of studied traits in the present study were due to use of organic fertilizers and biofertilizers.
Conclusions: The cost of this study has been funded by Research and Technology Deputy of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Faculty of agriculture, the financial supports is appreciated.
Alireza Koocheki; Mahdi Nasiri Mahalati; Golsoomeh Azizi; Asiyeh Siahmarguee
Abstract
Abstract
In order to investigate the effects of nutrient resources and weed management on qualitative and quantitative criteria of cat tyme (Teucrium polium), an experiment was conducted as split plot based on a complete randomized block design with 3 replications at the agricultural research station, ...
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Abstract
In order to investigate the effects of nutrient resources and weed management on qualitative and quantitative criteria of cat tyme (Teucrium polium), an experiment was conducted as split plot based on a complete randomized block design with 3 replications at the agricultural research station, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, during the years 2008 and 2009. Treatments included different nutrient resources: manure fertilizer (10 ton/ha), chemical fertilizer (based on the amount of macro elements existing in manure fertilizer), Nitroxin biological fertilizer (4 l/ha), Manure fertilizer (10 ton/ha) plus chemical fertilizer (based on the amount of macro elements existing in manure fertilizer), Nitroxin biological fertilizer (4 l/ha) plus manure fertilizer (10 ton/ha) and control (no fertilizer) under weed infested and weed free conditions. Weed management was located in main plots and nutrient resource in sub plots. In the first year, the highest height of plant was observed in manure + chemical fertilizer treatment (26.3 cm) and the lowest in manure + Nitroxin fertilizer treatment (14.8 cm). The results indicated that there was not significant different between treatments for shoot and crown diameter of cat tyme, in the first year. But in the second year, type of nutrient resource and weed management affected shoot and diameter significantly. The highest and the lowest shoot number was observed in manure+chemical fertilizer under weed free condition (88.5) and control under weed infested condition (38.2), respectively. The highest and the lowest diameter of Teucrium polium were obtained in manure fertilizer (48.4cm) and control (28.6 cm) under weed free condition treatments, respectively. In the first year, the highest of leaf and flower dry matter was observed in manure+chemical fertilizer treatment under weed free condition with 2889 kg/ha. In second year, maximum yield was obtained in Nitroxin biological fertilizer under weed free condition (3261 kg/ha). In the first year, the maximum percentage and yield of essential oil was obtained in chemical fertilizer and manure+Nitroxin treatments under weed free condition. In the second year, the highest essential oil percentage was observed in plants treated with Nitroxin and manure+chemical fertilizer under weed infested condition.
Keywords: Nutrient resource, Weed, Teucrium polium, Quantitative criteria, Essential oil
