Effect of Planting Date and Weed Control Methods on Yield and Agronomic Traits of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in Khoy Region

Effects of planting dates and weed control methods on yield and agronomic traits of sunflower was investigated. A factorial experiment based on a complete randomized blocks design with four replications was conducted in 2009. Treatments consisted of three planting date (April 4th, May5th and Juns5th) and five weed control methods, Trifluralin (2 Lit/ha) + Fokus (1.5 Lit/ha), Trifluralin+Nabu-s (3Lit/ha), Trifluralin, Hand weeding and without control. Results indicated that planting dates and weed control methods significantly affected head diameter, 100 grain weight, seed number per head and grain yield. Harvest index and oil percent was affected only by planting dates. The highest grain yield (630.1 g/m2), was produced in the second planting date (May 5) by using Trifluralin+Fokus. Delaying sowing date (after May 5) significantly decreased grain yield. The most important weeds in the experimental site were common lambsquarter (Chenopodium album), field bind weed (Convolvulus arvensis), bastard cabbage (Rapistrum rugosum), flower-of-an-hour (Hibiscus trionum), cockspur grass (Echinochloa colorum) and green bristle grass (Setaria verticillata). It was observed that the dry matter weight sharply varied in all weed species in different planting dates, that is, in the 4th April the dry matter production of common lambsquarter and bastard cabbage, in June 5th planting date were maximum. Dry matter of broad leaf and narrow leaf weeds in the date of May 5th was lower than the other two planting dates. The interaction of planting date ×control methods on head diameter, seed number per head, grain yield and weeds dry matter was significant

Effect of Micronutrients on Growth and Yield of Pinto Bean under Irrigation– cutback Treatments

To study the effect of micronutrients and irrigation cutback at different development stages on vegetative characteristics and yield of pinto bean (Talash cultivar), an experiment was carried out at Agricultural Research Station of Khoy in 2009. This experiment was performed as strip split plots based on randomized complete blocks design with 3 replications. Treatments included irrigation as the main factor at 3 levels (conventional irrigation (control), irrigation cutback at podding stage, irrigation cutback at seed-filling stage), and application of micronutrients (boron, zinc and manganese) as sub factor at 4 levels (soil treatment, one foliar application, two foliar applications, and control (no micronutrients application)). According to the results, irrigation levels had significant effects on height of the first branch above the ground, stem diameter, seed yield, biological yield and protein content of the seeds. By irrigation cutback at podding and seed-filling stages, the seed yield decreased from 2647 kg/ha to 1269 and 1920 kg/ha, respectively. Micronutrients treatments had also significant effects on number of branches per plant, height of the first branch above the ground, stem diameter, seed yield, biological yield and protein percent. The highest seed yield (2379 kg/ha) was in two foliar applications, which was 893 kg/ha more than control (no micronutrients application). The highest protien content (26.8%) belonged to irrigation at control level and two foliar applications of micronutrients. The general result of this research shows that due to high sensitivity of pinto bean to water deficiency, irrigation at conventional level with two foliar applications of micronutrients is recommendable to improve its growth

The Influence of Different Irrigation Levels and Growth Stimulants on Yield Components and Grain Protein in Red Kidney Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

The study aimed to investigate the response of bean yield and yield components to  the application of growth stimulants under different irrigation levels. A field experiment was conducted in the Khoy, Northwest of Iran. The experiment was conducted as a split-plot design using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replications. Irrigation was the main factor in three levels, including once every 8, 11, and 14 days and growth stimulating compounds as subfactors in 5 levels, including the use of humic acid with irrigation water, amino acid foliar spraying, rooting stimulant, potassium, and no growth stimulants (control). Drought stress (irrigating once every 14 days) led to the reduction of the absorption of essential plant elements such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, as well as decrease in the lateral branches/plant, grains/pod, hundred-seed weight (HSW), harvest index (HI), leaf area index (LAI), protein yield, and grain yield. Application of growth stimulants both under normal irrigation conditions and under drought stress increased the examined traits, compared to the control treatment. The results indicated that the impact of mild drought stress during the pod development and grain filling stages has a more pronounced effect on the yield and yield components of red kidney beans. Application of growth stimulants, particularly humic acid, during these stages mitigates the adverse effects of stress and leads to a notably higher grain yield compared to other growth stimulants. The highest grain yield (3076 kg/ha) and protein yield (746 kg/ha) were achieved at the presence of irrigating every 8 days and the application of humic acid. It appears that the use of humic acid can be highly effective in enhancing the agronomic, qualitative, and physiological attributes of red kidney beans, contributing up to 95% improvement under both normal irrigation and stress conditions

Urinary epidermal growth factor as a marker for lupus nephritis: clinical, laboratory, and histopathological study

Abstract Background Lupus nephritis can be seen in up to 60% of all SLE patients with 10–15% of nephritis patients progressing to end-stage renal disease; late diagnosis of lupus nephritis is correlated with a higher frequency of renal insufficiency. The study aim is determination of the value of urinary human epidermal growth factor (urinary EGF) as an early biomarker of lupus nephritis in SLE patients and its relevance to disease activity and renal histopathology. Results The study included 58 SLE patients and 30 healthy controls; a significant difference was noticed between SLE and controls in urinary protein, creatinine, protein/creatinine ratio, and urinary EGF. The mean level of urinary EGF was less in classes IV and V renal nephritis than in classes I, II, and III. There is a significant difference in urinary EGF (33±29, 27±16, P = 0.04) between class II and class III lupus nephritis, with no significant differences in urinary protein, creatinine, protein/creatinine ratio, and SLEDAI. On the other hand, the comparison between classes II and IV showed significant difference not only in urinary EGF (33±29, 11.7±4.9 m, P=0.003), but also in SLEDAI (37.4±8, 70.5±27, P= 0.007), and protein/creatinine ratio (0.98±0.62, 3±1.8, P=0.006). Conclusion This study raises the attention to test the sensitivity of urinary EGF in detecting the early and the subsequent changes in renal pathology of SLE patients as an easy, non-invasive, accurate, cheap marker that could help in following up the nephritis progression and adjusting the plan of treatment; also, it can be used to guide the time of biopsy or as an alternative in cases where renal biopsy is contraindicated