Abbas Khanamani; Enayatollah Tohidi-Nejad; Gholamreza Khajoei-Nejad; Jalal Ghanbari
Abstract
This field experiment is arranged in a split-split plot based on a randomized complete block design replicated three times during the growing season of 2019 at Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran. Nitrogen fertilizer rates (no-application, 50%, and 100%; 0, 75, and 150 kg urea per hectare) serve ...
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This field experiment is arranged in a split-split plot based on a randomized complete block design replicated three times during the growing season of 2019 at Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran. Nitrogen fertilizer rates (no-application, 50%, and 100%; 0, 75, and 150 kg urea per hectare) serve as the main factor, inoculation with growth-promoting bacteria (non-inoculation and inoculation with Pantoea agglomerans) as sub factor, and different fenugreek and black cumin cropping systems (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100) as sub-sub factor. Biomass, yield, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), agronomy efficiency of fertilizer (AEF), and land equivalent ratio (LER) are determined. The results show that the highest biomass and NUE of studied plants are obtained from 100% fertilization and bacteria inoculation in monoculture. The total LER is also significantly improved by fertilization (between 28-51%) and bacteria inoculation (23%), showing a higher advantageous in 25:75 and 50:50 cropping patterns with LER values of 1.732 and 1.688, respectively. In contrast, reducing 50% of fertilization under bacterial inoculation increases the AEF, especially in fenugreek monoculture. Fertilization increasing the total NUE and bacteria inoculation results in the highest NUE, particularly at increased ratios of fenugreek. Fenugreek:black cumin cropping ratio of 25:75 under 100% N fertilization and bacteria inoculation with LER ≈ 2 has been the best treatment combination for gaining maximum overall productivity. Fertilization with 50% N inoculated with bacteria in the same cropping pattern can be recommended when fertilizer application is restricted. The present research suggests that the integrated application of bacteria and fertilization can enhance the overall efficiency of intercropping.
Jalal Ghanbari; Marzieh Besharati-Far; Gholamreza khajoei-Nejad
Abstract
Natural habitats of licorice have decreased dramatically while the demand for this plant rises. Licorice seeds exhibit a low germination rate due to secondary dormancy imposed by the hard seed coat. In this study, conducted in the spring of 2021 at Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran, the interaction ...
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Natural habitats of licorice have decreased dramatically while the demand for this plant rises. Licorice seeds exhibit a low germination rate due to secondary dormancy imposed by the hard seed coat. In this study, conducted in the spring of 2021 at Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran, the interaction effect of sulfuric acid (95-97%, 60 min) scarification with gibberellic acid (GA) concentrations (0, 100, 250, 500, and 1000 mgL-1) has been studied in a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with four replications. Results show that although there has been no difference in germination between GA levels for scarified seeds, GA at 250 mg L-1 improves germination by 36%, compared to the control in non-chemically scarified ones. In contrast, increasing in GA concentrations increased seedling length, plant height, number of leaves and compound leaves, leaf area, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root, while decreased chlorophyll index (SPAD). As a result, chemical scarification, application of GA at 1000 mg L-1, and germination at room temperature can effectively increase the germination rate and uniformity as well as early growth of licorice plant.