Hamid Reza Zabihi; Saeid Rezaeian
Abstract
Introduction: Pomegranate is one of the most important horticultural products cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of Iran. It plays a major role in the economic situation of the peoples of these areas. In recent years, due to the good quality of Iranian pomegranate, this product is considered ...
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Introduction: Pomegranate is one of the most important horticultural products cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of Iran. It plays a major role in the economic situation of the peoples of these areas. In recent years, due to the good quality of Iranian pomegranate, this product is considered to be of great interest to many different countries of the world. There are about 2,100 hectares of pomegranate in the Ferdows region, which is the dominant and major part of Ferdows pomegranate, and is called Shish Kap variety. Zinc and iron are two of the essential elements for the growth of all plants and over a century, the necessity of iron and zinc for plant nutrition have been identified. White seed disorders were reported in Ferdows region in 2001 for the first time. The results of pomegranate juice analysis of ferdows pomegranate samples showed the iron and zinc deficiency, compared to the normal pomegranate in that year. Based on this, considering the general condition of soils in the proposed area, the effect of iron and zinc on the removal of seed whitening of pomegranate was investigated.
Materials and Methods: In order to investigate the effect of spraying different concentrations of iron and zinc sulfate on the reduction of seed whitening, a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted in the pomegranate field of Ferdows region. The first factor included: spraying three concentrations of iron sulfate (0, 0.3 and 0. 6 %) and the second factor included the concentration of zinc sulfate (0, 0.3 and 0. 6 %). The distance gap between the trees was (2.5 * 3) meters and the garden age was about 12 years old. The soil and water were sampled from the garden. Each experimental plot was consisted of three trees, in which leaves and fruits were sampled for analysis from the middle tree. Samples were taken from the leaves before spraying. Spraying with the desired concentrations was carried out twice. Leaf and fruit samples were sent to the soil and water Laboratory. Each of the samples due to the peculiar color of the pomegranate juice was also sent to the laboratory for analysis. Pomegranate juice samples were then assigned to the quality control system of the seed and seedlings research department. Finally the brix and pH of the samples were determined.
Results and Discussion: The amount of nutrients in soil, and the mount of zinc and iron in the leaves were below the critical value. The deficiency of other elements in the soil and leaves were quite evident. The results showed that the concentration of iron and zinc elements increased significantly in pomegranate leaves (α = 1% level). Qinglong and Brown (1995) showed the same results. Spraying of Fe and Zn increased the concentration of these elements in the leaves, without any negative effects on the tree yield. The mean concentration of zinc and iron were lower in control treatments, which was more common in white seeds. The interaction effect of iron and zinc treatments on iron concentration in pomegranate leaves was significant (α = 1% level), and the highest iron concentration in leaf was obtained from zinc and iron sulfate solutions at the concentration level of 6,000.Pomegranate samples were analyzed in soil and water laboratory, and nutrient concentrations of the pomegranate juice were determined. The results showed that the pure effect of iron sulfate spraying on the concentration of pomegranate juice was not significant, but the pure effect of zinc sulfate solution increased zinc concentration of the pomegranate juice. The pure effect of zinc sulfate treatment, and the interaction effect of iron and zinc sulfate spraying treatments on pH of pomegranate juice were significant (α = 5% level). The pomegranate juice quality was evaluated in terms of color in a panel method. The results showed that all treatments increased the redness of pomegranate juice color. The best treatment in this study, was spraying at 0.6% zinc sulfate alone.
Conclusion: By spraying 0.6% zinc and iron sulfates, spray treatments increased the concentrations of iron and zinc in the leaves. However, due to the specific behavior of iron in the plant, the high pH of irrigation water and soil and the presence of carbonate and bicarbonate in irrigation water, the effect of iron absorbed in the leaves were not evident in the fruit. Spraying with iron and zinc sulfate improved pomegranate seed color. According to the results of the project implementation, and due to the high soil pH and organic matter deficiency, spraying with 0.6% zinc and iron sulfates is recommended.
Mina Motamednezhad; Seyyed Vahid Eslami; Mohammad Hassan Sayyari Zahan; Sohrab Mahmoodi
Abstract
Introduction: Cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants has always had a special situation in the traditional system of agriculture and these systems have played a major role in the diversification and sustainability of agricultural ecosystems. Tend to produce medicinal and aromatic plants and demand ...
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Introduction: Cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants has always had a special situation in the traditional system of agriculture and these systems have played a major role in the diversification and sustainability of agricultural ecosystems. Tend to produce medicinal and aromatic plants and demand for natural products, especially in terms of ecological culture in the world is increasing. Ajowan is an annual herbaceous plant from the Apiaceae family. Biological fertilizers produced by the activity of microorganisms are associated with nitrogen fixation or availability of phosphorus and other nutrients in the soil. Enrichment means increasing the concentration of nutrients in plants especially micronutrients. Application of biological fertilizers instead of using chemicals is one of the most important nutritional strategies in sustainable management of agro ecosystems. In this regard, the effect of enrichment with bio-fertilizers and micronutrients on Ajowan (Carum copticum L.) germination characteristics was studied at Birjand Agricultural Research Laboratory.
Materials and Methods: A factorial experiment based on a CRD (completely randomized design) was conducted with three replications at Birjand Agricultural Research Laboratory during 2011. Experimental treatments consisted of bio-fertilizer application with three levels including without inoculation, and seed inoculation with Azospirillum and Azotobacter and seed enrichment with ten different treatment levels including without enrichment, and enrichment using 1, 2 and 3 mM of Fe, Zn and Mn elements. Bacteria were provided by Soil and Water Research Institute of Tehran. Initially, the seeds were disinfected through immersing them in 1% sodium hypochlorite for 3 minutes and then washing them with the tap water for 2-3 times. For the Enrichment of seeds, depending on the treatments, Petri dishes were treated with 10 ml of micronutrients solution for 24 hours. Then for bacterial inoculation depending on the type of treatments, seeds were soaked in 7 ml of inoculums containing 108 alive and active bacteria per ml for 5 hours. In each treatment, 15 seeds were placed in Petri dishes sealed with parafilm and placed in a germinator set at 70% RH and 25/15 °C. The traits studied were: germination percentage, germination rate, root and shoot length, as well as root and shoot fresh and dry weight. Before analyzing the data, normality test was performed and analysis of variance was performed using Genstat and graphs were drawn using Excel software.
Results and Discussion: The Analysis of variances results showed that seed inoculation with biological fertilizers and micronutrients significantly increased germination rate, root and shoot length, root fresh weight and dry weight of root and shoot of Ajowan compared with the control. Results showed that there were not significant differences between treatments in terms of germination percentage. Using micronutrients for seed enrichment caused increased germination rate. The maximum germination rate value was obtained from the Mn 1mM treatment (2.164 seeds per day), and. its minimum value was obtained from Zn1 (1.55 seeds per day). The maximum and minimum values of root length were obtained from the combined treatments of azotobacter + Fe2 and Azospirillum + Zn3, respectively. The maximum and minimum values of shoot length were obtained from the combined treatments of azotobacter + Mn2 and Azospirillum + Zn3, respectively. The highest and lowest values of shoot dry weight were obtained from azotobacter + Fe3 and azotobacter, respectively. The highest and lowest values of root dry weight were obtained from Zn1 (2.35 mg) and Mn2 (0.4 mg), respectively. The highest and lowest values of root fresh weight were obtained from Azospriliium+ Mn3 and Azospriliium+ Zn2, respectively. The highest and lowest values of shoot fresh weight were obtained from Azotobacter+Mn2 and Mn3, respectively.
Conclusion: During the evaluation of the measured traits regarding to bio fertilizers application on ajowan, it was observed that all biological treatments were superior to the control (non-biological fertilizer) and Azotobacter was the most effective amongst them. Bio fertilizers applications used in this study showed significant effects on root and shoot length, as well as fresh weight of root and shoot. The use of micro-nutrients on ajowan, showed that the application of 1 and 2 mM of Mn and all three concentrations enhanced the examined characteristics, while the application of 1 mM of Zn was just effective on root and shoot dry weight. Overall,application of these micronutrients had significant effects on germination rate and root length and fresh weight of root and shoot as well as dry weight of shoot and root.
Shirin Nateghi; Alireza Pirzad; Reza Darvishzadeh
Abstract
The higher levels of essential elements in soil may be caused in optimum yields and crop quality. So it seems to be necessary to examine different levels of nutrients like Fe and Zn on plants and their productivity. To evaluate effects of iron and zinc application on yield and yield components of Pimpinella ...
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The higher levels of essential elements in soil may be caused in optimum yields and crop quality. So it seems to be necessary to examine different levels of nutrients like Fe and Zn on plants and their productivity. To evaluate effects of iron and zinc application on yield and yield components of Pimpinella anisum an experiment was conducted at the research farm of Urmia University in 2009. Treatments, iron application (0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6%) and zinc (0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6%), were arranged as factorial based on randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Results showed the significant effect of interaction between iron and zinc on the number of seed in per plant,1000 seed weight, biomass yield, seed yield and harvest index (HI). The maximum value of the 1000 seed weight (2.22 g) was obtained from 0% of Fe and 0.2% of Zn, whereas the minimum value of the 1000 seed weight (1.92 g) belonged to 2% of iron and 0% of zinc. The highest number of seed per plant (762), maximum value of biomass yield (2652 kg/ha) and highest of seed yield (1372 kg/ha) were obtained from 0.6 and 0.4 percent of Fe and Zn and the lowest number of seed per plant (272), maximum value of biomass yield (716 kg/ha) and highest of seed yield (470 kg/ha) were obtained from 0 and 0.6 percent of Fe and Zn, respectively. The highest HI (66.18) was obtained at control treatment and the lowest one (46.67) at both 0.4 percent of Fe and Zn. The essential oil percent increase in average values of Fe and Zn spraying. But accumulation of Fe and Zn were the maximum in higher levels of spraying.
Samira Mataei; Mehdi Tajbakhsh; Reza Amirnia; Babak Abdollahi Mandoulakani
Abstract
In order to evaluate effects of iron, zinc and manganese, and the methods of applying them on yield and yield components of sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata), an experiment was performed as factorial based on randomized complete block design with four replications at the research farm of Urmia University. ...
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In order to evaluate effects of iron, zinc and manganese, and the methods of applying them on yield and yield components of sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata), an experiment was performed as factorial based on randomized complete block design with four replications at the research farm of Urmia University. Experimental factors were micronutrient fertilizers with four levels (control, iron, zinc and manganese) and micronutrient applying method with two levels (foliar and soil application). Soil application of micronutrients before sowing and foliar application of these elements in two stages (knee Stage and before tasseling stage) were applied. Results indicated that interaction between experimental factors on biological and protein yield and micronutrients use efficiency in grain yield was significant. Also, in micronutrients applying method, foliar application compared to soil application was caused increasing in grain yield, leaf chlorophyll, soluble sugars yield, sugar harvest index and micronutrients use efficiency in sugar yield. Applying three types of micronutrients were increased significantly leaf chlorophyll, grain soluble sugars yield and sugar harvest index compared to control .Grain harvest index was not affected by any of the experimental factors. Based on results, application of micronutrient elements enhance the quality and economic yield of sweet corn and foliar application of micronutrients was showed better results than soil application.
