Determination of Soil Erosion and Sediment Estimation of Khorkhoreh Basin using Sediment Rating Curve

In order to plan and recognize the destructive condition of the watershed, it is indispensable to know the extent of erosion and sedimentation produced from each basin. In this study, the soil erosion and sediment estimation of the Khorkhoreh basin using Sediment Rating Curves were investigated. By integrating geological and geomorphological layers in GIS and removing polygons under 6 ha, 24 working units and 68 sub-basins were attained. To identify the erosion type through field visits, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) scoring was carried out in each work unit. Using the sediment curve, the amount of total suspended load in the basin was obtained as 2990 ton/yr. With the calculations performed, the amount of specific sediment yield in the Khorkhoreh basin was found to be 25.3 ton/km2. All types of erosion were seen in the portions of the basin, while most of the basin area belongs to the “sensitive” and “very sensitive” to erosion classes. Examination of erosion types showed that in most of the basin’s working units, all types of erosion such as Sheet erosion, Rill erosion, Gully erosion, Channel erosion, and Stream Bank erosion can be observed

Comparative Analysis of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) and Chemical Fertilizers on Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics of Rainfed Wheat

The indiscriminate use of hazardous chemical fertilizers can be reduced by applying eco-friendly smart farming technologies, such as biofertilizers. The effects of five different types of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), including Fla-wheat (F), Barvar-2 (B), Nitroxin (N1), Nitrokara (N2), and SWRI, and their integration with chemical fertilizers (50% and/or 100% need-based N, P, and Zn) on the quantitative and qualitative traits of a rainfed wheat cultivar were investigated. Field experiments, in the form of randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications, were conducted at the Qamloo Dryland Agricultural Research Station in Kurdistan Province, Iran, in three cropping seasons (2016–2017, 2017–2018, and 2018–2019). All the investigated characteristics of rainfed wheat were significantly affected by the integrated application of PGPR chemical fertilizers. The grain yield of treated plants with F, B, N1, and N2 PGPR plus 50% of need-based chemical fertilizers was increased by 28%, 28%, 37%, and 33%, respectively, compared with the noninoculated control. Compared with the noninoculated control, the grain protein content was increased by 0.54%, 0.88%, and 0.34% through the integrated application of F, N1, and N2 PGPR plus 50% of need-based chemical fertilizers, respectively. A combination of Nitroxin PGPR and 100% of need-based chemical fertilizers was the best treatment to increase the grain yield (56%) and grain protein content (1%) of the Azar-2 rainfed wheat cultivar. The results of this 3-year field study showed that the integrated nutrient management of PGPR-need-based N, P, and Zn chemical fertilizers can be considered a crop management tactic to increase the yield and quality of rainfed wheat and reduce chemical fertilization and subsequent environmental pollution and could be useful in terms of sustainable rainfed crop production

Interactive Effects of Nitrogen and Potassium Fertilizers on Quantitative-Qualitative Traits and Drought Tolerance Indices of Rainfed Wheat Cultivar

Increasing global food requirements and global warming are two challenges of future food security. Water availability and nutrient management are two important factors that affect high-yield and high-quality wheat production. The main and interactive effects of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers on quantitative-qualitative properties and drought tolerance of an Iranian rainfed cultivar of wheat, Azar-2, were evaluated. Four rates of nitrogen (N0, N30, N60, and N90 kg/ha), along with four concentrations of potassium (K0, K30, K60, and K90 kg/ha), were applied in rainfed (drought stress) and non-stress conditions. The interactive effect of N × K was significant on nitrogen and protein contents of grains at 5% and 1% probability levels, respectively. Different trends of SSI, STI, K1STI, and K2STI indexes were observed with the interactive levels of nitrogen and potassium. The lowest SSI index (0.67) was observed in N30K30, whereas the highest STI (1.07), K1STI (1.46), and K2STI (1.51) indexes were obtained by N90K60 and N90K90. The obtained results could be useful to increase yield and quality of winter rainfed wheat cultivars under drought stress with cool-rainfed areas. N60K30 and N90K60 can be recommended to increase the grain yield and protein content of rainfed wheat under drought stress and non-stress conditions, respectively

Interactive Effects of Nitrogen and Potassium Fertilizers on Quantitative-Qualitative Traits and Drought Tolerance Indices of Rainfed Wheat Cultivar

Increasing global food requirements and global warming are two challenges of future food security. Water availability and nutrient management are two important factors that affect high-yield and high-quality wheat production. The main and interactive effects of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers on quantitative-qualitative properties and drought tolerance of an Iranian rainfed cultivar of wheat, Azar-2, were evaluated. Four rates of nitrogen (N0, N30, N60, and N90 kg/ha), along with four concentrations of potassium (K0, K30, K60, and K90 kg/ha), were applied in rainfed (drought stress) and non-stress conditions. The interactive effect of N × K was significant on nitrogen and protein contents of grains at 5% and 1% probability levels, respectively. Different trends of SSI, STI, K1STI, and K2STI indexes were observed with the interactive levels of nitrogen and potassium. The lowest SSI index (0.67) was observed in N30K30, whereas the highest STI (1.07), K1STI (1.46), and K2STI (1.51) indexes were obtained by N90K60 and N90K90. The obtained results could be useful to increase yield and quality of winter rainfed wheat cultivars under drought stress with cool-rainfed areas. N60K30 and N90K60 can be recommended to increase the grain yield and protein content of rainfed wheat under drought stress and non-stress conditions, respectively

Determination of water requirement and crop coefficient for strawberry using lysimeter experiment in a semi-arid climate

This research is aimed at measuring the water requirement, crop coefficient, and strawberry canopy coverage for efficient water consumption management. Two volumetric lysimeters were installed during the growing season of 2018 and 2019 at an agricultural research station in Kurdistan provinces, Iran. In one of the lysimeters, the grass crop was cultivated as the reference crop. Queen Elisa, the dominant strawberry cultivar of the study area, was planted in the other lysimeter. To determine the crop coefficient, strawberry and grass evapotranspiration at different stages of plant growth was measured and evaluated. The results showed that the average evapotranspiration of strawberries was 3.8 mm/day and the amount of water consumed during the whole growing season was 873.4 mm. The evapotranspiration of grass was calculated as 1143.5 mm with an average of 4.7 mm/day. Initial, middle, and ultimate crop coefficients were measured as 0.45, 0.86, and 0.8, respectively. During the growing season, the strawberry canopy cover increased by 73% and then decreased by 65%. There was a linear relationship (R2 = 0.94) between crop coefficient and strawberry canopy coverage. HIGHLIGHTS Crop coefficient (Kc) and evapotranspiration (ETc) are vital for water management.; Two volumetric lysimeters were used for Kc and ETc measurements.; The evapotranspiration of the strawberry and grass were 905.4 and 1137.8 mm.; The initial, maximum, and final values of Kc of the strawberry were 0.45, 0.86, and 0.8.; The canopy coverage extended up to 73% of the total area and then dropped to 65%.

Comparative Analysis of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) and Chemical Fertilizers on Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics of Rainfed Wheat

The indiscriminate use of hazardous chemical fertilizers can be reduced by applying eco-friendly smart farming technologies, such as biofertilizers. The effects of five different types of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), including Fla-wheat (F), Barvar-2 (B), Nitroxin (N1), Nitrokara (N2), and SWRI, and their integration with chemical fertilizers (50% and/or 100% need-based N, P, and Zn) on the quantitative and qualitative traits of a rainfed wheat cultivar were investigated. Field experiments, in the form of randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications, were conducted at the Qamloo Dryland Agricultural Research Station in Kurdistan Province, Iran, in three cropping seasons (2016–2017, 2017–2018, and 2018–2019). All the investigated characteristics of rainfed wheat were significantly affected by the integrated application of PGPR chemical fertilizers. The grain yield of treated plants with F, B, N1, and N2 PGPR plus 50% of need-based chemical fertilizers was increased by 28%, 28%, 37%, and 33%, respectively, compared with the noninoculated control. Compared with the noninoculated control, the grain protein content was increased by 0.54%, 0.88%, and 0.34% through the integrated application of F, N1, and N2 PGPR plus 50% of need-based chemical fertilizers, respectively. A combination of Nitroxin PGPR and 100% of need-based chemical fertilizers was the best treatment to increase the grain yield (56%) and grain protein content (1%) of the Azar-2 rainfed wheat cultivar. The results of this 3-year field study showed that the integrated nutrient management of PGPR-need-based N, P, and Zn chemical fertilizers can be considered a crop management tactic to increase the yield and quality of rainfed wheat and reduce chemical fertilization and subsequent environmental pollution and could be useful in terms of sustainable rainfed crop production