Medicinal Plants
S. Yonesi; Kh. Hemmati; P. Moradi; S. Khorasaninejad
Abstract
Introduction
The aquaponic cultivation system, which is a combination of aquaculture and hydroponic systems, is among the novel cultivation systems. In an aquaponics system, it is possible to simultaneously produce aquatic animals and vegetables. One of the most important components of each soil-free ...
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Introduction
The aquaponic cultivation system, which is a combination of aquaculture and hydroponic systems, is among the novel cultivation systems. In an aquaponics system, it is possible to simultaneously produce aquatic animals and vegetables. One of the most important components of each soil-free system is the selection of a suitable substrate. This substrate makes water and nutrients available for the root system and also contributes to the proper establishment of the plant. It must also be non-toxic and should not impair plant growth. Another point to consider in the selection of the substrate is its cost and availability, as the transport process will increase the costs of initial establishments in such systems. Amon vegetables, basil is a special crop with a short growing season and high economic value, which is also highly suitable for an aquaponic system. The present study was carried out with the aim of comparing some morphological and physiological traits of 'purple' and 'green' basil cultivars in different substrates in the aquaponics system.
Materials and Methods
The present study was conducted as a factorial based on a completely randomized design with three replicates in a research greenhouse located in Zanjan city. The experimental treatments included 10 substrates (cocopeat, perlite, sand, pumice, cocopeat + perlite (50:50), cocopeat + pumice (50:50), cocopeat + sand (50:50), pumice + sand (50:50), pumice + perlite (50:50) and sand + perlite (50:50)) and two basil cultivars ('green' and pueple). The aquaponic system in this study comprised of a 300 L fish tank containing 100 common carps. The fish were nurtured twice a day with powdered fish feed containing protein, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, etc. The water in the fish tank was filtered and fish wastes were removed in a filtration tank before entering the aquaponics medium to be used by the plant root system. Chemical properties of the fish water including pH, and nitrite (NO2), nitrate (NO3), and ammonium (NH4) concentrations were controlled using diagnostic kits on a weekly basis. At the flowering stage, various traits including plant height, dry and fresh weights of roots and shoots, number of nods, number of leaves, and leaf area were measured to investigate the growth of basil plants. Also, physio-phytochemical traits including the contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoid and anthocyanin were measured. Analysis of variance of the data was carried out using the SAS software. Also, the least significant difference method (LSD) was used for the comparison of means.
Results and Discussion
According to the results, the greatest plant height (60.57 cm), shoot fresh weight (90.57 g), root fresh weight (22.33 g), and leaf number (133.99) belonged to purple basil and the lowest value for these traits were observed in green basil cultivar. The results of the mean comparison for the morphological traits indicate the superiority of perlite + cocopeat compared with the other substrates. Basil plants cultivated in sand substrate exhibited the lowest values for growth traits compared to other treatments. Analysis of the interaction effect between substrate and cultivar revealed that the highest number of nodes (10.5), dry weight of shoots (25.17 g), dry weight of roots (4.67 g), and leaf area (17.13 cm2) were observed in the perlite + cocopeat substrate with purple basil. Conversely, the lowest values for these traits (5.23, 12.93 g, 1.46 g, and 11.03 cm2, respectively) were recorded in the silt substrate with the green basil cultivar. The results related to physio-phytochemical traits showed that the highest content of chlorophyll a (1.57 mg g -1 FW) and total chlorophyll (2.1 mg g -1 FW) were observed in the perlite + cocopeat substrate and green basil. Also, anthocyanin content was the highest (0.17 mg g -1 FW) when the purple cultivar was grown in the perlite + c cocopeat substrate. The lowest content of chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll were recorded in the sand substrate and purple cultivar with 0.96 and 1.17 mg g -1 FW, respectively. Also, the lowest content of anthocyanin was related to the green basil cultivar with 0.058 mg g -1 FW.
Conclusion
Overall, the 'purple' cultivar of basil was superior to the 'green' cultivar regarding most traits in the aquaponic system. Also, substrates containing perlite and cocopeat led to better results compared with the other substrates, whereas the basil plants grown in sand and pumice had lower growth, relatively.
Kamran Ghasemi; Seied Mostafa Emadi; Yousef Ghasemi
Abstract
Introduction: Broccoli is one of the valuable vegetables among brassicas which has received great attention throughout the world and is cultivated both in soil and soilless culture. Currently, we face restriction in high quality of the soils and water resources as two essential inputs in agriculture. ...
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Introduction: Broccoli is one of the valuable vegetables among brassicas which has received great attention throughout the world and is cultivated both in soil and soilless culture. Currently, we face restriction in high quality of the soils and water resources as two essential inputs in agriculture. Like other parts of the world, Iran is losing hundred hectares of its arable and fertile land annually due to salinity, alkalinity and waterlogging. One of the important strategies to overcome these adverse conditions is soilless culture systems. Among the different methods of soilless culture, substrate culture is more common and cheaper than others. Different kinds of organic and inorganic substances are used in soilless culture system, but the optimum mixture of growing medium is still a challenging issue. Physical and chemical characteristics of growing media can potentially affect the yield and product quality in direct and indirect ways. A good medium for soilless culture should have easy drainage, appropriate aeration, high water holding capacity and low price, as well as no weed seeds and pathogens. Therefore, this research was aimed to evaluate different prevalent growing media in broccoli soilless culture system.
Materials and Methods: This experiment was conducted as an outdoor soilless culture system in outdoor hydroponic site in Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Recourses University (SANRU). To begin with, broccoli seeds were sown in transplanting tray, and after five weeks, the developed transplants were cultivated in growing bags in a soilless system. In this work, different mixtures of culture media were evaluated for yield component and mineral elements of broccoli. Ten kinds of different media comprising of cocopeat, perlite, sand, sawdust, sand+sawdust, sand+vermicompost, cocopeat+perlite, cocopeat+LECA, cocopeat+ pumice, and cocopeat+perlite+ vermicompost were compared in completely randomized design with tree replications. At the end of the growing season, vegetative growth and yield components of broccoli were measured. The macro nutrients including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (k), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca) and sulfur (S) were then analyzed in the harvested broccoli. Four important micro elements such as Iron (Fe), cooper (Cu), boron (B) and zinc (Zn) were measured as well. A statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance in Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software (version 9.1) and means were compared using Duncan’s multiple range test at 0.05 and 0.01 probability levels.
Results and Discussion: According to the results, culture medium showed no significant effect on plant height, dry matter and the number of auxiliary heads, while it significantly affected diameter and weight of main head (p≤0.01). The highest head diameter was seen in sand+vermicompost mixture which had no significant difference from cocopeat, cocopeat+LECA, and prlite+cocopeat+vemicompost. The mixture of sand+vermicompost resulted in the heaviest broccoli heads that were significantly greater than all other growing media used in the experiment. Since vermicompost contains some mineral elements like calcium, magnesium and phosphorus and some growth stimulators as well, mixing this substrate with sand can create an appropriate and ideal culture for root growth and development. Pure perlite and sawdust media contributed to the lowest yield with no significant differences from each other. The macro and micro nutrients of broccoli head were not significantly affected by growing medium, except for nitrogen and zinc. The highest concentration of nitrogen in broccoli head was recorded for pure perlite and sawdust which was significantly more than other media. The highest zinc concentration in broccoli head was observed in Sawdust medium (p≤0.05). A significant negative correlation was observed between plant height and three main macro nutrients (N, P and K). The negative correlation between some macro nutrients and plant growth can be related to the excessive amount of these elements in nutrient solution. Positive and significant correlation was also seen among plant height, head diameter and head weight. In other word, the tallest plants could produce bigger and heavier head.
Conclusion: Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that a mixture of organic and inorganic substances can be better than a single substance medium. On the other hand, our results showed that role of medium substances and composition is not as important as nutrient solution, so an appropriate nutrient solution with a proper rate can potentially provide all plant's needs regardless of media composition.
Fatemeh Bidarnamani; Hossein Zarei; Kambiz Mashayekhi; Mehdi Shabanipoor
Abstract
To compare the effect of the substrate on the cultivation of ornamental plants, Ficus benjamina cv. star light was chosen as a model plant. Nine treatments from 8 types of substrates with 6 replications were investigated in this study. Data analysis with SPSS software in (P≤0.05) showed the effect ...
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To compare the effect of the substrate on the cultivation of ornamental plants, Ficus benjamina cv. star light was chosen as a model plant. Nine treatments from 8 types of substrates with 6 replications were investigated in this study. Data analysis with SPSS software in (P≤0.05) showed the effect of different month were significant on stem diameter, height, leaf number and total length of new leaves. Also application of different substrates showed the effect of substrate wasn’t significant on stem diameter and plant height, while it was significant on number of new leaf, number of new lateral shoot and total length of new leaf. The interaction between the substrates and measuring time was significant on plant height, number of new leaf and total length of new leaf, but it wasn’t significant on increasing rate of stem diameter. According to the result of this study, substrate n containing [1/3 (3 perlite+1 sand) + 1/3 (1 leaf-mold+ 1 rice hull+ 1 cocopeat) + 1/3 (2 mushroom compost+ 1 forest trees compost+ 1 rotted manure)] was the best substrate as for the most number of new leaf, number of new lateral shoots and total length of new leaf, also it was in suitable situation in height characteristic. Also in different measured month, the value of plant growth was increased with enhancement in air temperature in spring and summer seasons; insofar as the most increasing in plant height and number of new leaf were observed on July. So it is better that the plants growing should be delayed to warm seasons.
Gholamhossein Davarynejad; Ali Akbar Shokouhian; Ali Tehranifar
Abstract
Introduction: Potential almond rootstock and thus main genetic sources for the breeding of its new rootstocks are almond itself, peach and plum, and these species cross-breeds Almond is a source of resistance to limestone and to drought because of its roots, which reach deep layers of soil; it is also ...
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Introduction: Potential almond rootstock and thus main genetic sources for the breeding of its new rootstocks are almond itself, peach and plum, and these species cross-breeds Almond is a source of resistance to limestone and to drought because of its roots, which reach deep layers of soil; it is also more resistant than peach to Na and Bo. Asexual or vegetative propagation is a hereditable characteristic and this paper is a review of sources available on this character for almond rootstock breeding. The bibliographic reference regarding this species, vegetative propagation is very poor. Stem cutting is considered the most simple and economical method of propagation. It is important, particularly in horticulture for mass production of improved material within a short time and to perpetuate the characteristics of the parent plant.
Materials and Methods: In this study the effects of different concentrations of indole-3- butyric acid (IBA) and medium type on rooting of hardwood stem cuttings of two rootstocks natural hybrids of almond × peach and the clone of G.F.677(as control) was investigated in plastic greenhouse with bottom heat, In this research 4 levels of IBA (0.3000,6000 and 9000 mg/l) and three levels of bed (perlait, cocopeat and, mixtures of 2 perlite + 1cocopeat) on rooting of hardwood cuttings of two almond × peach natural hybrids and control was used in a split plot based on a randomized complete blocks design with three replications. Hardwood cuttings were prepared in Department of Horticultural Sciences of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad at January 2011. The basal one inch of cuttings was treated with IBA solution for five seconds at 3000, 6000 and 9000 ppm. the following components were determined, the rooting percentage of cuttings, number of root, length of roots, roots fresh and dry weight and volume of roots
Results and Discussion: Results showed that effects of different concentrations of IBA, on the rooting percentage of cuttings were significantly different at the %1 level compare with control. In this case were observed the highest of rooting percentage (40.9) at concentration of 3000(mg/l) and the lowest percentage (12.7) in control. The observations showed that treating almond hardwood cuttings with 3000 ppm IBA gave the highest significant rooting percentage compared with other treatments. Furthermore, results of many investigations indicated that, IBA increased rooting percentage, number of roots/cutting, length and fresh weight of roots. Also on the trait there were significantly differences in the %1 level between the growing Medias. Rooting percentage of cuttings expanded by bed of perlait. Results showed that effects of different rootstocks on the rooting percentage of cuttings were significantly different at the %1 level. In this trait observed the highest of rooting percentage at G.F.677 and there was no significant difference between the two other rootstocks.Treated with control rootstock with IBA at 3000 mg/l and Perlait resulted in the highest rooting percentage ،the maximum number of roots and root length. In the traits rooting percentage, number of roots and root length was interactions between, concentrations × bed × rootstocks significantly different at the %1 level. The result was better than Gf677× 3000 ppm of IBA × perlite bed. Also effect of treatments concentrations on root volume was significant at the %5 level. Highest root volume obtained in a concentration of 3000 mg/l of IBA.
Conclusion: From our preliminary results, it could be inferred that there is a correlation between types of rootstock, concentrations of IBA and media in rooting ability of hardwood cuttings rootstocks of almond × peach. In this study, the desired result was obtained from the interaction between treatments concentration of 3000 mg per liter of IBA in perlite media and GF677 rootstock.
