Assessment The Agricultural Student's Attitudes Towards Organic Farming (Case of Iran)

A surveying research was conducted to study and recognize the knowledge and attitude of students toward organic farming at three universities of Iran in 2010. Our consumption patterns and environmental behaviors are rooted in long lived practices and habits. Social norms and values are among the factors that determine what we buy or what we think about organic products. As they are largely unconscious it is difficult to change them. Students are the agriculturist of tomorrow; therefore policies aimed at developing organic farming should address the needs of this group. To discover agriculturist's knowledge organic farming, a survey among 100 agricultural students was conducted. Questionnaire was used to examine students’ knowledge regarding organic farming. Finding is shown that agriculturist's awareness towards organic farming are low, especially in Pests management and Organic product standards aspect. The result of factor analysis showed that nine factors named as concepts, Nutrient safety and security, Organic farming economic, Organic farming extension, Social issue, fertility, Pests management, Environment safety, Organic product standard explained 73.71% of total variance that the first factor accounts for 11.98% of the variance, the second 10.954%, the third 9.191%, the fourth 8.505%, the fifth 8.426%, the sixth 7.536%, the seventh 7.015%, the eighth 5.746% and the ninth 4.364%. In conclusion, to enhance student knowledge about organic farming, it is important that curriculum develops for familiar student with organic farming practices and concepts such as: ecological equilibrium, agro ecosystem sustainability, new technology and indigenous knowledge, nutrition value, human safety, favorite yield production, soil structure improvement, erosion reduces and etc

Biomass production, water use efficiency and nutritional value parameters of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) genotypes as affected by seed hydro-priming and transplanting

To investigate hydropriming and transplanting effect on biomass and nutritional content of forage sorghum, a two-year field experiment was conducted in the semiarid condition of Iran. Experimental factor consisted of planting dates (July-1st, July-11th, July-23rd, August-1st) in the main plot and the factorial combination of planting methods (direct planting, hydropriming, transplanting) with cultivars (Speedfeed and Pegah) in the subplot. Planting date postponement from 1st of July to 10th of July, 23rd of July, and 1st of August, respectively, caused 16.1, 32.5 and 47.2% reduction in dry matter yield (DMY) and 7.4, 20.2, and 35.1% reduction in water use efficiency of DMY production (WUEDMY). Hydropriming and transplanting produced 23.6 and 22.4% more DMY, 24.5 and 21.8% more WUEDMY, 24 and 16.3% more crude protein yield, 22.7 and 20.9% more digestible dry matter (DDM) yield, and 22.2 and 20.1% more metabolic energy (ME) yield, compared to the direct planting. Hydropriming compared to direct planting caused 29% increase in plant growth rate and utilized growing season more productively than transplanting for DMY production. Conclusively, hydropriming and transplanting compensated for delay in planting through enhancing and accelerating germination and plant development but, applying hydropriming on Speedfeed and planting in July-1st caused the highest DMY, WUEDMY and the yield of nutritive parameters

Residents Attitudes towards Tourism Development: A Case Study of Niasar, Iran

Abstract: Tourism is one of the largest and fasted growing industries in the world. It is an increasingly important source of income, employment and wealth in many countries. Its rapid expansion has, however, had detrimental environmental (and socio-cultural) impacts in many regions. The current study investigates the perceptions of residents in a Niasar, where tourism is not well developed although the area has great potential for further development. Using stratified proportionate random sampeling technique and based on cocran sampeling methodology. The study was carried out with field research approach and the validity of research tool was obtained by idea of experts and for reliability of questionnaires a pilot test was conducted. Cronbach Alpha coefficient of higher than 0.7 showed that research tool is reliable. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequency, percentage, factor analysis and regresion were used to data analysis. The result of factor analysis showed that four factors named as Economic impacts, Social and cultural impacts, Environmental impacts, Developmental and other issues explained 76.21% of variance of perceptions of residents. Results showed that Responder have positive perception to tourism. Liner regression analysis indicated that 76% of variation in perceptions of residents was determined by the four variables

Effects of salt and drought stresses on germination and seedling growth of Swallow Wort (Cynanchum acutum L.).

Abstract: In order to study the effects of drought and salinity stresses on germination indices in swallow wort (Cynanchum acutum L.), an experiment was conducted as factorial form, using a completely randomized design arrangement, with four replications. In this study, 6 levels of PEG 6000 including 0 (distilled water), -0.2, -0.4, -0.6, -0.8 and -1 MPa and 6 levels of NaCl consisting 0, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mM were applied in 2011. Results indicated significant differences among the treatments (p<0.01) in all the traits. Control treatment was better for radicle and hypocotyle length as well as seedling fresh weight and seed germination than the other treatments considerably. Results showed that the drought and salinity stresses effect essence on germination and early seedling growth was different. Osmotic potential up to -0.6 Mpa and salinity stress up to 300 mM had little effect on seed germination. Seed germination was less than 13% at -1 Mpa osmotic potential and less than 9% at 500 mM salinity

Critical Period of Weed Control of Corn (Zea mays L.) Second Cropping at Moghan Region

Moghan region, North West of Iran, is one of the important producers of the corn in the country. To determine the critical period of weed control in corn as second crop in this region, an experiment was carried out in a randomized complete blocks design with four replications during 2010 in the Parsabad Moghan climatic conditions. Two methods of weed control treatments were used. In the first method, weeds controlled at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 days after corn emergence. (DAE), and then weeds were allowed to grow until harvest and in the second method of weed control, weeds were allowed to grow during 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 DAE, and then the plots were kept free of weeds until harvest. The regression was used to determine the relationship between yield and different control periods and weed interference. The results showed that periods of weed- free and weed- infested plot affected differently the dry weight and number of weeds in all treatments. Generally the results showed that critical period of weeds control in corn (AYL) based on growing degree days (GDD) after sowing considering 5% acceptable yield loss, it is necessary to control weeds in a period between 1-67 days after planting or 90-1051 growing degree days and period of weeds control in corn (AYL) based on growing degree days (GDD) after sowing by considering 10% acceptable yield loss, weed control is necessary between 3-52 days after planting or 132- 844 growing degree day

Investigation of Hydropriming and Osmopriming With ZnSo4 Effects on Characteristics Germination of Three Winter Rapeseed Cultivars

Seed priming is a method which is a quite effective method for improving germination and seedling establishment. Two separate experiments were performed to determine the best hydro and osmopriming treatments effects on canola‘s seed germination. The experiments were performed in seed technology laboratory of Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran, 2014. The first experiment contained three canola varieties seeds hydropriming (Okapi, Zarfam and Talayeh) using tap water over time interval 0. 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 20 and 24 hours. The second experiment included, tree canola cultivars in accompany with six concentrations of ZnS04 (0, 0.035, 0.1, 0.4, 1 and 4 gr.Lit-1) over priming time interval of 0, 6, 10 14 and 18 hours. Both experiments were conducted as a factorial experiment in the context of completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications. The results revealed that the maximum germination percentage across all cultivars e.g. Okapi (99%), Zarfam (95%) and Talayeh (80%) is achieved at 10 hours hydropriming interval. Also concerning to germination rate, the best performance was observed for Talayeh cultivar at 10 hydropriming hour’s interval. The most vigor longitudinal and vigor weighted indices (1050.55 and 4.56) were observed in the Okapi cultivar in the fourth hydropriming level. The interaction between the cultivars, the concentration of ZnS04 and osmopriming time was significant for all characters except for shoot dry weight and vigor weighted Index. The three-way interaction showed that the highest shoots dry weight (0.11, 0.057 and 0.055) and also vigor weighted index observed in Okapi, Zarfam and Talayeh cultivar in 0.035 concentration of ZnS04 (gr.lit-1) at the time was 10 hours, respectively. The results of this study showed that hydropriming and ZnS04 might improve the performance of rapeseed Cultivars seed

Interaction Effect of CO2 Enrichment and Nutritional Conditions on Physiological Characteristics, Essential Oil and Yield of Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L.)

Carbon dioxide enrichment and nutritional improvement can increase photosynthesis and growth of different crops. The aim of the present study was to assess interaction effects of CO2 enrichment and fertilizer on physiological characteristics and lemon balm essential oil. Experimental units were composed of CO2 at 380, 700, and 1050 ppm with and without manure and N fertilizer application. A continuous increasing trend of individual plant leaf area, total dry weight accumulation and relative growth ratio were recorded with CO2 enrichment. When CO2 was elevated from 380 to 1050 ppm, the values of height (24.3%), SPAD reading (2.7%), essential oil yield (26.3%) and final yield (65.3%) were increased, unlike, stomatal conductance (35.2%) and essential oil percentage (53%) were decreased. The highest and the lowest values (except for oil percentage) were obtained under N and no fertilizer application, respectively. Except for SPAD, interaction between CO2 enrichment and each fertilizer on all measured characteristics had a significant effect, so that CO2 effect was intensified by applying each fertilizer. Therefore, it can be concluded that when temperature increase caused by rising CO2 is not considered or there is not a limitation for resources, CO2 enrichment will improve lemon balm biomass and essential oil yield

Influence of Weed Competition on Potato Growth, Production and Radiation Use Efficiency

Weed management in potato production is one of the main cost and time consuming practices. Understanding the most effective time of weed control could reduce the costs and increase potato yield. Field study was conducted in the west region of Iran during 2006 to evaluate the effect of weeds damage in potato fields. Twelve treatments used consisted of six initial weed-free periods in which plots were kept free of weeds for 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 days after crop emergence (DAE), and then weeds were allowed to grow until harvest, and six initial weed-infested periods in which, weeds were allowed to grow for 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 DAE, then the plots were kept free of weeds until harvest. Experiment was arranged as a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed effect of weed competition on crop dry matter started about 40 DAE and about 90 DAE reached its maximum. The weeds competition decreased dry matter accumulation, leaf area index, crop growth rate, leaf area index duration, light absorption, light extinction coefficient and radiation use efficiency (RUE) of potato. Weeds reduced the potato yield 54.8 percent. The beginning and the end of the critical period of weed control in potato (CPWC) was based on 5% and 10% tuber yield loss. The onset of the CPWC ranged from 486 to 572 GDD, at 5% and 10% yield loss level corresponding to 11 and 19 days after crop emergence, respectively. The end of the CPWC varied from 1372 to 1164 GDD, at 5% and 10% yield loss level corresponding to 65 and 51 days after crop emergence, respectively. RUE in the weed infestation treatment in comparison to the weed free treatment, reduced 11.8 percent

Critical Interference Period of Weeds with Rice ‎ ‎(Oryza sativa L.) in Mazandaran ‎

To investigate the effect of weed interference on the yield and yield components of rice an experiment was conducted in 2014 at Amol and Mahmoudabad cities in Mazandaran. The experiment was performed in a randomized complete block design with 12 treatments and three replications. Treatments to control weeds were of two types. The first treatment consistsed of controling weeds 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 days after rice transplanting and then weeds interfered with plant during rest of growing season. A whole season weed control was used as check. The second type treatment at weed interference until 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 days after rice transplanting and then weeds were controlled during rest of growing season. A whole season interference treatment was used as a weed infested check. The results of variance analysis showed a significant difference for grain yield in either weed free or weed infested treatments between two places. Weed control and interference (except panicle number and biological yield) significantly affected grain yield, grain numbers per panicle and 1000 grain weight. The highest grain yield (3010.83 kg.ha-1) belonged to weed control during whole growing season and lowest grain yield (2075 kg.ha-1) was obtained from weed infested check. Weed infested check resulted in lower grain yield (by 8.31%), panicle number (by 8.33%) and grains number per panicle (by 10.26%) as compared to the control. The critical period of weed control, based on the amount of 5 and 10 percent of yield losses, were fitted by Gompertz and Logestic regression to weed infested weed free treatments, respectively. The results showed that the critical period of weed control in Mahmoudabad region occurred during the days of 22 to 59 and 27 to 36 (from early to end of tillering) based on 10 and 5 percent of yield loss, respectively. The critical point was calculated to be 32 days after transplanting.Thecritical period for Amol region occurred during days of 15 to 54 and 20 to 37 (from early to end of tillering) based on 10 and 5 percent of yield loss, respectively. The critical point was calculated for day 25 after transplanting. In conclusion, the critical period of weed control seems to begin earlier in Amol than in Mahmoudabad and it also had a longer range

Effect of Flooding, Acidity and High Temperatures on Seed Germination and Durability of Common Purslane

Three separate experiments conducted to survey the response of two populations of common purslane weed collected from Karaj and Ahvaz on germination and early growth. The first experiment was based on 4 levels of flooding, including 1, 2, 4, 8 days plus non-flooding treatment as a control. Second experiment addressed the impact of various acidity levels, such as 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and finally third experiment considered the influence of high temperatures of 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200, 220 centigrade on germination rate, germination percentage, radicle length and plumule length as well as fresh weight of the aforementioned population of common purslane (Karaj and Ahvaz). Analysis of variance revealed that in both weed populations, all germination indices were impressed by flooding periods, acidity levels and high temperatures. Extending the flooding periods resulted in reducing all measured parameters in both weed populations, so the growth of common people was completely inhibited less than 8 consecutive days of flooding. Germination rate and percentage improved gradually by increasing the acidity value from 4 up to 7. An adverse relation was observed between the measured parameters and temperature variations in both Karaj and Ahvaz weed population. Germination rate and percentage, radicle and plumule length, as well as the fresh weight of seedling, decreased significantly in response to increasing the oven temperature. Overall, it can be concluded that boosting our knowledge about both ecology and biology aspects of the common person can pave the way for introducing new ways in line with expanding long-term strategies, improving management systems and predicting the mode of germination and growth of this important weed