Farkhondeh Rafiei; Esfandiar Fateh; Ali Monsefi; Amir Aynehband
Abstract
Objective: This study evaluated the effects of integrated fertilizer systems on growth and yield characteristics of wheat under the climatic conditions of Ahvaz.
Materials and Methods: The experiment was conducted in the Shahid Chamran University Faculty of Agriculture research farm during the 2022–23 ...
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Objective: This study evaluated the effects of integrated fertilizer systems on growth and yield characteristics of wheat under the climatic conditions of Ahvaz.
Materials and Methods: The experiment was conducted in the Shahid Chamran University Faculty of Agriculture research farm during the 2022–23 cropping year. A split-plot randomized complete block design with three replications was used. The main plots consisted of five organic matter levels: (1) no residues, (2) wheat residues, (3) a mixture of sesame and mung bean residues, (4) barley and clover green manure, and (5) Sesbania green manure. The subplots represented four fertilizer management strategies: (1) entirely chemical fertilizer based on the recommended N–P–K rates (50–75–90), (2) integrated chemical and biological fertilizers (75% chemical fertilizer + Supernitroplus biological fertilizer (3 mL) + Barvar-2 (100 g ha⁻¹) + mixed micronutrient fertilizer spray), (3) Organic 1: compost (20 t ha⁻¹) + Supernitroplus (3 mL) + biosulfur (5 kg ha⁻¹) + Barvar-2 (100 g ha⁻¹) + humic acid (300 mg L⁻¹) + jasmonic acid (0.1 mM) via spray, and (4) Organic 2: vermicompost (10 t ha⁻¹) + mycorrhizal fungi (100 g m⁻²) + Supernitroplus (3 mL) + salicylic acid (1 mM). Growth and yield-related traits measured included peduncle length, peduncle internode weight, spike length, thousand-grain weight, grain number per spike, biomass yield, and grain yield.
Results: Among organic matter levels, barley+clover green manure produced the highest values for peduncle length (34.3 cm), peduncle internode weight (357.2 mg), spike length (7.9 cm), 1000-grain weight (48.3 g), grains per spike (49.5), biomass yield (11,299 kg ha⁻¹), and grain yield (4,108.8 kg ha⁻¹). Among fertilizer management levels, the combined fertilizer treatment yielded the highest peduncle internode weight (357.2 mg), while internode length was lowest (28.3 cm); spike length was greatest (9.1 cm); biomass yield reached 10,646 kg ha⁻¹ and grain yield 3,864 kg ha⁻¹. The interaction between organic matter and fertilizer level indicated that the greatest penultimate internode length (21.3 cm) occurred under barley+clover green manure with combined fertilizer; penultimate internode weight (344 and 328 mg) occurred under barley+clover green manure with combined fertilizer and Organic 1, respectively; and lower internode weight (472 mg) was observed with barley+clover green manure under combined fertilizer.
Conclusion: Overall, plant residues, particularly barley+clover and Sesbania green manures, improved the tested growth and yield traits compared with no-residue controls. Among fertilizer strategies, integrated and Organic 1 fertilizer regimes significantly outperformed chemical-only and Organic 2 treatments. These findings suggest that integrating organic residues with mineral and biological inputs can enhance wheat performance under Ahvazian conditions.
Mohammad Reza Khaleghizadeh Dehkordi; Amir Aynehband; Esfandiar Fateh
Abstract
Objective: Intercropping is a globally recognized strategy to improve resource-use efficiency and support food security, diversification of cropping systems, sustainable agricultural development, and labor efficiency on smallholder farms. A key aspect of intercropping is providing adequate nitrogen, ...
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Objective: Intercropping is a globally recognized strategy to improve resource-use efficiency and support food security, diversification of cropping systems, sustainable agricultural development, and labor efficiency on smallholder farms. A key aspect of intercropping is providing adequate nitrogen, which is essential for optimal plant growth. This study investigates the yield, yield components, and useful indicators of Dragon’s head when intercropped with castor at varying nitrogen levels.
Materials and Methods: Experimental design was split-plot randomized complete block design with three replications, conducted at the Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University, during the 2022–2023 growing year. The main plots were Nitrogen fertilizer amounts at three levels (0, 50, and 100 kg N ha⁻¹). The sub-plots were plant-density treatments with five levels (pure castor; castor + Dragon’s head at 20, 40, and 60 plants m⁻²; and pure Dragon’s head). The experiment used additive intercropping, with castor as the main crop at a constant density of 8 plants m⁻². The response variables were seed yield, biomass yield, yield components, land equivalent ratio (LER), and management indices such as MAI.
Results: Seed yield and biomass yield of Dragon’s head increased by 89.3% and 86.4%, respectively, under 100 kg N ha⁻¹ compared with the control; the highest seed yield and biomass yield were 892 kg ha⁻¹ and 2,128 kg ha⁻¹, respectively, in the 100 kg N ha⁻¹ treatment. Plant density effect: Among densities, the highest average seed yield and biomass yield of Dragon’s head occurred in pure cultivation, at 1,000 kg ha⁻¹ and 2,224 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. Relative to densities of 20, 40, and 60 plants m⁻², this represented increases of 121.8%, 71.1%, and 36.2% in seed yield and 113.7%, 70.2%, and 21.4% in biomass yield, respectively. Under 50 and 100 kg N ha⁻¹, intercropping yielded 2,316 and 3,026 kg ha⁻¹, respectively, representing increases of 57% and 105% over the zero-N control. LER increased with higher Dragon’s head density; the 40 and 60 plants m⁻² intercropping with castor showed 14% and 26% higher LER than the 20 plants m⁻² treatment (LER= 1.34 and 1.47, respectively). The highest LER (1.47) occurred in the 60 plants m⁻²+ castor treatment with 100 kg N ha⁻¹, indicating a 47% gain over pure cultivation. The maximum MAI observed was 942 in the 60 plants m⁻² density with 100 kg N ha⁻¹.
Conclusion: Intercropping Dragon’s head with castor, particularly at higher nitrogen levels and intermediate densities, significantly enhances total yield and land-use efficiency (LER). These results suggest that intercropping two relatively low-competition species can improve resource utilization and input efficiency in tropical and subtropical regions. Further studies are recommended to optimize density combinations, nitrogen management, and economic analyses for broader adoption.
Mohammad Hasaninasab; Esfandiar Fateh; Amir Aynehband; Ali Monsefi; Korosh Behnamfar
Abstract
OObjective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of combined application of NPK chemical fertilizers and organic fertilizers on the yield traits and quantitative characteristics of the hibiscus plant during the 2022-2023 agricultural year at the research farm of the Agricultural and Natural Resources ...
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OObjective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of combined application of NPK chemical fertilizers and organic fertilizers on the yield traits and quantitative characteristics of the hibiscus plant during the 2022-2023 agricultural year at the research farm of the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center in Khuzestan Province, Ahvaz.Method: The experiment was conducted using a split-split plot design within a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments included four levels of chemical fertilizers (N0–P0–K0, N75–P50–K50, N150–P75–K75, and N225–P100–K100) and four levels of organic fertilizers (no organic fertilizer, humic acid, vermicompost, and a combination of humic acid + vermicompost).Results: Analysis of variance indicated significant main effects of chemical fertilizer, organic fertilizer, and their interaction on all measured traits in roselle. Post hoc comparisons using LSD test (α=0.05) revealed that the combination of N100–P100–K225 with humic acid + vermicompost produced the highest values for most traits, except for seed oil percentage, which was comparable to the N150–P75–K75+ humic acid+ vermicompost treatment for seed dry weight. No significant differences were observed among treatment combinations for aerial parts, number of seeds per boll, 1000-seed weight, sepals per boll, antioxidant capacity of sepals, and biological yield. The lowest trait values were associated with the control treatment (N0–P0–K0) without organic fertilizer. The combined use of organic and chemical fertilizers was found to be compatible and synergistic, providing optimal conditions for plant growth.Conclusions: The findings underscore the significant influence of NPK fertilizer levels on measured traits, with organic fertilizer effects being comparatively less pronounced. Both chemical and organic fertilizers—individually and in combination—improved the growth, yield, and quality of roselle. The integrated use of chemical and organic fertilizers not only reduces production costs but also enhances crop quality while promoting soil health, biodiversity, and sustainability. Organic fertilizers improve soil physical and chemical properties, stimulate root development, and promote the activity of growth-promoting bacteria, thereby increasing nutrient availability. Continuous mineral supply further supports plant development, fruiting, and product quality.ed.
Amir Aynehband; saber hosaini; masomeh farzaneh
Abstract
The evaluation of different forage crops (clover, barley, chickpea, vetch, and fenugreek) and planting method's effect on the quality and quantity of forage yield was the main goal of this study. This study was conducted as a split-plot based on a randomized complete blocks design with three replications ...
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The evaluation of different forage crops (clover, barley, chickpea, vetch, and fenugreek) and planting method's effect on the quality and quantity of forage yield was the main goal of this study. This study was conducted as a split-plot based on a randomized complete blocks design with three replications on the experimental research field of agriculture faculty, the Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz during 2017-2018. Main plot included three planting methods (row intercropping with 10 cm and 20 cm interval and mixed intercropping) and sub-plot was seven forage crops with dominance of barley (50% barley+50% clover as control, 50% barley+25% clover+25% chickpea, 50% barley+25% clover+25% vetch, 50% barley+25% clover+25% fenugreek and 50% barley+25% vetch+25% fenugreek). Total forage yield and yield components and also, some quality parameters of forage (ADF, NDF, WSC, DMD, raw fiber and ash were measured. The results showed that the highest total forage yield (1268.9 g.m-2) was belonged to crop diversity of 50% barley + 25% chickpea + 25% fenugreek with 10 cm - row intercropping. It can be due to the highest of all forage yield components including stem, leaves and reproductive dry weight.