Journal of Crop Production and Processing

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Growth and grain yield of irrigated barley cultivars (Valfajr, Binam and Raihaneh) was investigated at 4 sowing dates (6, 22 Oct. and 14, 20 Nov.) in Karaj region. The effect of sowing date, genotype and their interaction on grain yield were statistically significant. Early and late sowing enhanced cold damage. However, the damage was more in late sowings. It was estimated that the optimum sowing date would be about 50 days (600 GDD) prior to freeze-up and maximum cold damage would occur when sowing was delayed until some 22 days (230 GDD) before freeze-up but any more delay in sowing would cause less damage. Highest grain yield was obtained from Raihaneh at 22 Oct. sowing. Binam showed good yield stability and relatively high yield, especially in unfavorable sowing dates. In the relatively favorable sowing dates (6 and 22 Oct.), grain weight showed positive correlation with linear grain filling rate, storage and translocation of reserves. LAI, LAR, RGR, CGR and LAD of each cultivar were higher in the second sowing date compared to the first one. The “ratio of post anthesis growth to maximum TDM” showed a high correlation with the harvest index. Raihaneh was the highest cultivar in resistance to lodging, harvest index, storage and retranslocation of assimilates, and linear grain filling rate. It is suggested that at favorable sowing dates, Valfajr and Binam had source limitation or disturbed translocation and Raihaneh had sink limitation.

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In order to study the effects of simultaneous application of nitrogen (N) and ZnSO4 fertilizers and biofertilizer (Azotobacter and Azospirillum) on grain yield and growth traits of rapeseed, Hyola308 cultivar, a field experiment, with split plot factorial layout based on randomized complete blocks design with three replications, was conducted at Research Field of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran, during 2007-2008 growing season. Nitrogen fertilizer at four levels (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg/ha) were the main plot and ZnSO4 fertilizer at two levels (0 and 50 kg/ha) and biofertilizer at two levels (with and without biofertilizer) were arranged in sub-plots. Results showed that maximum and minimum leaf area indices at flowering stage (average of 1.29 and 0.95, respectively) were obtained in 150 kg/ha N+ZnSO4+ biofertilizer and in 50 kg/ha N+ no ZnSO4+ no biofertilizer treatments. Maximum and minimum crop growth rates at flowering stage (average of 5.89 and 3.19 g/m2.GDD, respectively) were obtained in 150 kg/ha N+ZnSO4+ biofertilizer and control treatments. Maximum and minimum grain yields (2568, 2468 and 543 kg/ha, respectively) were obtained in 150 kg/ha N+ with/without ZnSO4+ biofertilizer and control (no fertilizer) treatments. Maximum and minimum oil yields (42.8 and 37.3%, respectively) were measured in 0 kg/ha N+ZnSO4+ biofertilizer and 150 kg/ha N+ no ZnSO4+ no biofertilizer treatments. Since there was no significant difference between 150 and 100 kg/ha N+ZnSO4+ biofertilizer treatments in terms of impact on canola grain yield and growth traits, it seems that application of biofertilizer (Azotobacter and Azospirillum), without any reduction in yield, increased grain production and oil content and saved 50 kg/ha of N fertilizer. Biofertilizer (Azotobacter and Azospirillum), along with zinc and sulfur, produced phytohormones, and N fertilizer increased dry matter accumulation and leaf area index (by increasing carbohydrate conversion to protein), made fertilizer sources available to plants for longer periods of time.

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To evaluate the effect of on-farm seed priming and methods of zinc sulfate application on some growth indices of two corn cultivars, an experiment was conducted as factorial in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Research Farm of Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran. First factor was method of zinc sulfate application containing four levels of no-application, broadcasting in soil, banding and foliar application. Second factor included on farm primed and non primed seeds and third factor consisted of two corn cultivars (Es-sensor and Biaris). Results showed that seed priming with zinc sulfate foliar application increased maximum of leaf area index up to 4.5 that was 48% higher than non primed and no zinc sulfate treatment. In cultivar Biaris bandig application of zinc sulfate and in Es-sensor both of seed priming and zinc sulfate foliar application led to the highest maximum dry matter production. In general for cultivar Biaris banding or foliar application of zinc sulfate especially after seed priming was necessary to maximize the dry matter production by increasing crop growth, net assimilation and relative growth rates. Crop growth rate in cultivar Biaris and relative growth rate in both cultivars were more affected by zinc sulfate application methods. Net assimilation rate in non primed condition was greater in both corn cultivars when subjected to banding application of zinc sulfate but in on farm primed treatment the net assimilation rate was greater when zinc sulfate was sprayed in foliar feeding treatment. Seed priming and foliar application of zinc sulfate increased the SPAD values by 6.2 and 30.5% respectively.

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To evaluate the effects of biofertilizers on some physiological growth indices of a soybean cultivar (M9) under water stress condition, a study was carried out in a split plot randomized complete block design in three replications at research station of Bu Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran in 2012. The main plots consisted of three levels of irrigation after 50, 100 and 150 mm evaporation from a Class-A evaporation pan and subplots consisted of four biological fertilizer treatments (seed inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum, application of arbuscular mycorrhizae, both biofertilizers and no biofertilizer). The results showed that with increase in the water stress level all measured growth indices including maximum crop growth rate, maximum total dry matter and total dry matter duration were decreased. The three latter growth indices were decreased by 63, 50.8 and 47.6 percent, respectively, in severe water stress compared to the non stress condition. Application of biofertilizers in general and mycorrhizae in particular led to decreases in the measured growth indices in the absence of water stress. But at the presence of severe water stress (i. e. irrigation after 150 mm evaporation) simultaneous application of both biofertilizers led to significant increases in a majority of the growth indices including maximum crop growth rate, maximum leaf area index and total dry matter duration (by 50, 28.6 and 45.8 percent, respectively) compared to no-biofertilizers application.

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To investigate the effect of on-farm seed priming and bio-fertilizers at different phosphorus levels on some physiological indices of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) a factorial experiment was conducted in spring 2013 in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications at the Agricultural Research Station of Bu Ali Sina University in Hamedan, Iran. The factors consisted of phosphorus fertilizer (0, 50 and 100 percent of recommended phosphorus fertilizer) bio-fertilizer (mycorrhizae, Barvar2, both of them and no-application) and on-farm seed priming (priming with conventional water and no-priming). The results showed that priming increased all growth parameters especially maximum leaf area index, colonization percent and seed yield, by 44, 7 and 27%, respectively. Priming increased the mycorrhizal symbiosis percent by 6.8%. Application of bio-fertilizers, especially the simultaneous application of mycorrhiza and Barvar2 at 50 percent phosphorus, compared with the control treatment resulted in 27.4, 13.8, 8.2 and 29.5% increases in maximums of leaf area index, crop growth rate, total dry matter and seed yield, respectively. Mycorrhizal symbiosis with chickpea roots could reduce phosphate fertilizer application without reducing the physiological indices of chickpea.