Crops under rainfed cultivation
Soheila Porheidar Ghafarbi; Ali Rasaei
Volume 14, Issue 1 , September 2025, Pages 1-20
Abstract
Introduction: The Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) rotation with wheat is very important because of the ability of chickpea to fix nitrogen and improve soil fertility. Chickpea has a limited ability to compete with weeds due to its relatively slow early growth season. Among the methods of weed control, ...
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Introduction: The Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) rotation with wheat is very important because of the ability of chickpea to fix nitrogen and improve soil fertility. Chickpea has a limited ability to compete with weeds due to its relatively slow early growth season. Among the methods of weed control, herbicides have an important role in weed management because of their efficiency and cost-effectiveness, and they are widely used today.Methodology: In order to survey the efficacy of several pre-and post-emergence herbicides on weed control in the autumn cultivation of chickpeas, a split-plot experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with four replications in the Sararoud region during 2021–2022 and 2022-2023. The experiment was carried out in a field that was under wheat cultivation the previous year. The main plots contained two tillage systems (conventional tillage and no-tillage). The sub plots included 12 herbicide treatments (Trifluralin, Trifluralin + Bethanal progress, Isoxaflutole, Isoxaflutole + Bethanal progress, Oxyfluorfen, Oxyfluorfen + Bethanal progress, Imazethapyr, Imazethapyr + Bethanal progress, Fluorochloridone, Fluorochloridone + Bethanal progress, Metribuzin, Metribuzin + Bethanal progress, and two controls (weed-free and weed-infested).Research findings: In the first year, conventional tillage reduced the density and dry weight of weeds, but this reduction was statistically significant for the dry weight of weeds. In this year the lowest weeds dry weight was related to the conventional tillage and in the herbicide treatments of fluorochloridone, isoxaflotel and oxyfluorfen, it was 75, 80 and 81 gr/m2 respectively. In the second year, the lowest density with 6.3 plants/m2 and biomass with 81 gr/m2 of weeds for fluorochloridone were recorded. The highest yield of chickpea grain yield was observed for the control treatment (weed free) and trifloralin + bethanal progress, 846 and 664 kg/ha for the first year and 627 and 496 kg/ha for the second year. The application of Betanal herbicide at the 5 to 10 centimeter stage of chickpea growth, aimed at controlling broad leaf weeds, was not effective, and there was no statistically significant difference between its application and non-application. Herbicides isoxaflotel and trifloralin and conventional tillage system had better efficiency according to the highest percentage of weed control and the maximum yield of chickpea grain yield.
Crops under rainfed cultivation
ebrahim zarei cheghalahi; Seyed Ali Mohammad Modarres-Sanavy; narges dolatmand shahri
Volume 14, Issue 1 , September 2025, Pages 21-41
Abstract
Introduction: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the oldest cultivated legumes in the world. It plays an important role in agriculture in semi-arid regions due to its high adaptability to drought and rainfed conditions. However, drought stress can severely reduce the yield of this plant. Using methods ...
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Introduction: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the oldest cultivated legumes in the world. It plays an important role in agriculture in semi-arid regions due to its high adaptability to drought and rainfed conditions. However, drought stress can severely reduce the yield of this plant. Using methods such as seed priming and foliar application of amino acids can reduce the negative effects of drought stress and improve the yield and photosynthetic characteristics of the plant. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of priming and foliar application of commercial amino acids, proline, valine, and alanine, on phenological traits and yield of the chickpea cultivar Adel under different irrigation regimes.Research methodology: In 2017, an experiment was conducted at the research farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, to investigate the effect of seed priming and foliar spraying of some amino acids on the phenological characteristics and yield of chickpea cultivar Adel under different irrigation regimes. The experiment was conducted in split plots based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. The factors studied included irrigation regimes at three levels (optimal irrigation, moderate irrigation deficit, and severe irrigation deficit) as the main factor and priming and foliar application of amino acids at six levels (commercial amino acid, proline, valine, alanine, distilled water, and control) as sub-factors.Research findings: By changing irrigation from optimal irrigation to severe irrigation deficit, the number of days to flowering, pod formation and maturity, plant height, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, and grain yield decreased significantly by 4.42, 6.92, 8.70, 24.95, 28, 17.81, and 52.18%, respectively, and flavonoids and anthocyanins increased significantly by 19 and 42.86%, respectively. The use of priming and foliar spraying of amino acids had a significantly increasing effect on all these traits (except flavonoid and anthocyanin). Proline and commercial amino acids had more impact on the traits, increasing grain yield by 26.55 and 26.52%, respectively, compared to the control. The interaction effects of different irrigation levels and amino acids on the mentioned traits were not significant. However, the application of amino acids, independent of the irrigation level, had an effective role in increasing yield by increasing the growth and maturity period. In other words, amino acids application as an agricultural technique can improve plant growth and yield and, when combined with optimum irrigation management, can yield more favorable results.
plant breeding
Hossein Rostami-Ahmadvandi; Reza Amiri; Sadegh Shahbazi Dorbash; Mehdi Jamshidmoghaddam; Khoshnood Alizadeh Dizaj; Ali Eftekhariinia
Volume 14, Issue 1 , September 2025, Pages 43-58
Abstract
Introduction: Introduction: Safflower is currently recognized as a climate-resilient crop due to its ability to perform relatively well across a wide range of regions and diverse climatic conditions. The production and introduction of new safflower varieties suitable for Iran's climatic conditions and ...
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Introduction: Introduction: Safflower is currently recognized as a climate-resilient crop due to its ability to perform relatively well across a wide range of regions and diverse climatic conditions. The production and introduction of new safflower varieties suitable for Iran's climatic conditions and the changing climate in recent years is essential, with a prerequisite being a thorough examination of the genetic diversity of native and imported ecotypes. This study was conducted to evaluate safflower lines for various important agronomic traits and oil content, aiming to select desirable genotypes for use in breeding programs during the adaptation phase. Methodology: In this experiment, 18 safflower lines (selected in a preliminary trial) along with the introduced cultivars Sina, Omid, and Faraman by Dryland Agricultural Research Institute (DARI) were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replications during the 2021-2022 growing season at three locations: the Dryland Agricultural Research Institute (Sararood Station, Kermanshah, Iran), the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Lorestan, Iran, and the research farm of the Dryland Agricultural Research Institute (Maragheh, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran). Research findings: The results of the combined analysis of variance showed that the effect of location was significant for all measured traits except seed oil content. The genotype-by-location interaction was not significant for phenological traits (days to flowering and days to physiological maturity) and thousand-seed weight, indicating relatively similar behavior of the genotypes for these traits across the experimental locations. The genotypic variation range was high for seed oil content (75.65%) and thousand-seed weight (68.25%), while it was low (less than 10%) for other traits. Based on the results biplot of genotype × trait performance, Line 1 showed high specific adaptability to Kermanshah. The Sina cultivar and Line 7 performed superiorly in Lorestan, while Line 6 was distinguished in Maragheh. Correlation analysis of agronomic traits also revealed a significant positive correlation between plant height and yield, as well as between plant height and the number of sub-branches. Based on the preliminary adaptation results of safflower lines under rainfed conditions in the three regions and their mean rankings, some lines were selected for further breeding programs at the Dryland Agricultural Research Institute of Iran.
Crops under rainfed cultivation
ramin sadegh ghol moghadam; jalal saba; farid shekari; Mozafar Roustaei
Volume 14, Issue 1 , September 2025, Pages 59-78
Abstract
Introduction: Wheat is one of the most strategic staple crops globally, including Iran. Enhancing the production of this crop, considering its genetic potential and environment responses, plays a vital role in ensuring global food security. Understanding genetic diversity and population structure is ...
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Introduction: Wheat is one of the most strategic staple crops globally, including Iran. Enhancing the production of this crop, considering its genetic potential and environment responses, plays a vital role in ensuring global food security. Understanding genetic diversity and population structure is essential for crop improvement, enabling the effective utilization of genetic resources to develop cultivars with high and stable yields and resistance to environmental stresses. Multivariate statistical methods are widely employed by plant breeders to estimate genetic diversity, as they allow for the simultaneous evaluation of multiple traits. The present study aimed to assess the the genetic diversity of advanced wheat lines and cultivars introduced for cold climates in Iran. Specifically, it focused on evaluating traits related to the performance of bread wheat cultivars and lines under rainfed conditions, grouping the genotypes based on these traits, and comparing the resulting clusters.Research methodology: The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications under full rainfed conditions. The plant materials included 12 advanced lines, the WAZ line, and 11 autumn rainfed wheat cultivars recommended for the cold rainfed regions of Iran, namely Sardari, Homa, Azar2, Takab, Ohadi, Rasd, Hashtroud, Baran, Sain, Sadra and Praw. The trial was carried out at the research farm of the Faculty Agriculture of Zanjan University during the 2016-2017 cropping season. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to explore the genetic diversity among the genotypes and classify them accordingly. Research findings: The analysis of variance revealed significant genetic diversity among the genotypes for most of the eavaluated traits. The number of days to physiological maturity exhibited the lowest phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation, whereas the highest values were recorded for peduncle extrusion and the number of seeds per spike, respectively. Cluster analysis grouped the genotypes into three clusters. Genotypes in the third group were characterized by a higher number of seeds per spike, seed yield and a higher harvest index. PCA identified five principal components explaining 80% of the total phenotypic variation. Based on the multivariate analysis, lines 9, 3, 11, 2, and 7, along with the cultivars Azar 2 and Hashtroud, were identified as promising genotypes with greater adaptability to rainfed conditions and desirable performance traits.
plant breeding
Farshid Mahmodi; Masumeh Kheirgoo; Javad Ashrafi
Volume 14, Issue 1 , September 2025, Pages 79-94
Abstract
Introduction: The chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is grown in more than 50 countries and the crop is the third most important food legume in the world after beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and peas (Pisum sativum L.) in terms of both cultivated area and total production. Ascochyta blight caused by ...
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Introduction: The chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is grown in more than 50 countries and the crop is the third most important food legume in the world after beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and peas (Pisum sativum L.) in terms of both cultivated area and total production. Ascochyta blight caused by Ascochyta rabiei is one of the major disease of chickpea worldwide. This study was conducted to investigate the genetic variability and identify the existing pathotype(s)/race(s) of A. rabiei, which will be helpful in improving and breeding resistant varieties of chickpea.
Methodology: Three set of standard differential chickpea genotypes from ICARDA and ICRISAT were used to identify the pathotypes and physiological races of A. rabiei. Three chickpea genotypes were used to determine the pathotypes of A. rabiei and the rest to identify the physiological races according to their aggressiveness and virulence, respectively. Plant samples were cut into small pieces and sterilized with 5% sodium hypochlorite for 3 minutes, rinsed in sterile distilled water, and then placed on filter papers. After that, pieces were placed on each petri dish containing potato dextrose agar media (PDA). All the plates were incubated at 25° C for 5-10 days.The field results were confirmed by growth chamber trial. The mini-dome virulence assay was used to determine pathotypes in the growth chamber under optimum condition.
Research findings: All isolates were classified into three pathotypes based on pathogenicity studies on the differentia varieties. All three pathotypes were found in Kermanshah, pathotypes I and II in Ilam, and pathotype III in Golestan and Kermanshah. Five races of A. rabiei were determined in different parts (races 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6). Races 1, 2 and 3 were established in pathotype I, races 4 and 5 was represented by the pathotype II, and pathotype III included the race 6, which were highly virulent isolates. The genotype ILC 1929 showed susceptible reaction against all the isolates of the pathogen. Race 1 widely prevalent in Ilam and Kermanshah, races 3 and 4 in Ilam, race 4 and 5 in Kermanshah, and the most virulent is race 6 found in Kermanshah and Golestan. The information is entirely new in respect of differential genotypes and distribution pattern of pathotypes and races of A. rabiei in Iran.
Crops under rainfed cultivation
Zahra Taghizadeh Tabari; Mozaffar Rostaee
Volume 14, Issue 1 , September 2025, Pages 95-112
Abstract
Introduction: Wheat, as one of the strategic agricultural products, plays a significant role in ensuring global food security. The proper selection of tillage systems and wheat varieties is a key factors in optimizing performance and ensuring sustainable production under rainfed (dryland) conditions. ...
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Introduction: Wheat, as one of the strategic agricultural products, plays a significant role in ensuring global food security. The proper selection of tillage systems and wheat varieties is a key factors in optimizing performance and ensuring sustainable production under rainfed (dryland) conditions. While conventional tillage faces challenges such as soil moisture depletion and structural degradation, conservation tillage, through residue retention and improvements in soil physical and biological conditions, provides better yields, particularly under water stress. On the other hand, the response of different wheat genotypes to varying tillage conditions varies, and identifying varieties that are compatible with conservation tillage systems plays a crucial role in increasing productivity and production sustainability. This study aims to select suitable rainfed wheat lines under tillage methods conditions in the North Khorasan region.
Methodology: This experiment was conducted in a strip plot design based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications during the 2023-24 cropping season at the Dryland Agricultural Research Station in Shirvan. The study included four main plots including tillage treatments: 1) Conventional tillage (involving plowing with a moldboard plow to a depth of 30 cm, followed by disking, leveling with a roller, and sowing with a row planter), 2) Minimum tillage without residue retention (using a chisel plow to a depth of 15 cm, leveling with a roller, and sowing with a row planter), 3) Minimum tillage with 30% residue cover (plowing with a chisel plow to a depth of 15 cm and sowing with a row planter), and 4) Direct seeding (direct sowing of seeds), which were applied as vertical plots. In addition, seven wheat varieties representing common rainfed wheat varieties in North Khorasan Province as subplots (Nafis, Dehghan, Sadra, Kamal, Hashtrood, Baran, and Varan) were evaluated as horizontal plots. In this study, the traits examined included physiological characteristics such as leaf area, SPAD index, as well as yield-related traits and components like plant height, number of seeds per spike, thousand-grain weight, number of spikes per unit area, biological yield, harvest index, and grain yield.
Research findings: Analysis of variance showed that the effect of genotype was significant for most traits, except the number of grains per spike, while the effect of tillage was significant for all traits except thousand kernel weight. Although direct seeding increased biological yield and leaf area, it led to a decrease in harvest index and grain yield. The cultivar ‘Baran’ under conventional tillage achieved the highest grain yield (2032 kg/ha), while ‘Dehghan’ and ‘Nafis’ showed the best performance under minimum tillage and direct seeding systems with 1797 and 1694 kg/ha, respectively. Moreover, minimum tillage with residue retention outperformed residue-free treatments across most traits. Overall, under the conditions of this study, selecting cultivars with high genetic potential played a more decisive role in optimizing rainfed wheat yield than tillage management.
Soil science
Yaser Azimzadeh; Arash Mohammadzadeh; Mehdi Kooselou; Alireza Javidan
Volume 14, Issue 1 , September 2025, Pages 113-130
Abstract
EXTENDED ABSTRACT
Introduction: Plant growth and development in calcareous soils and within calcareous soil patches face numerous constraints. Sulfur, as an essential nutrient element, in addition to its nutritional role, exerts positive effects on the properties of calcareous soils through pH reduction. ...
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EXTENDED ABSTRACT
Introduction: Plant growth and development in calcareous soils and within calcareous soil patches face numerous constraints. Sulfur, as an essential nutrient element, in addition to its nutritional role, exerts positive effects on the properties of calcareous soils through pH reduction. Consequently, it is utilized as one of the most important acidifying agents for ameliorating calcareous soils and improving plant nutrition. This research was conducted to investigate the effects of mineral sulfur and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (Thiobacillus with a population of more than 107 cells per gram) in combination with rotten farmyard manure on the properties of two types of calcareous soils and the performance of rainfed wheat.
Methodology: The experiment was conducted as a split-plot arrangement within a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a dryland field in Hashtroud County during the 2023–2024 growing season. The treatments consisted of two soil types (low-lime soil (22%) and high-lime soil (39%)) as the main factor, and five soil amendments as the sub-factor: sulfur + Thiobacillus (S+TB), sulfur + Thiobacillus + farmyard manure (S+TB+FM), sulfur + farmyard manure (S+FM), farmyard manure alone (FM), and a control (C). Farmyard manure was applied at 4 t ha⁻¹, sulfur at 1 t·ha⁻¹, and Thiobacillus bacteria at 2% of the sulfur weight. Growth parameters, including plant height, 1000-grain weight, biological yield, and grain yield were measured. Additionally, soil chemical properties (pH, electrical conductivity (EC), calcium carbonate content, organic carbon, and available phosphorus and potassium) were analyzed at a depth of 0–25 cm.
Research findings: All soil amendment treatments significantly enhanced both grain and biological yields of wheat in both soil types. In the low-lime soil, the combined S+TB+FM treatment (sulfur + Thiobacillus + farmyard manure) proved to be the most effective, demonstrating significant reductions in lime content (from 21% to 17%) and soil pH (from 7.6 to 7.2), along with significant increases in organic carbon (from 0.27% to 0.40%) and available phosphorus (from 3.5 to 4.8 mg kg-1). These modifications resulted in significant improvements in wheat growth parameters, including increased plant height (from 76 to 100 cm), grain yield (from 1854 to 4355 kg ha-1, representing a 135% increase), biological yield (from 5984 to 10393 kg ha-1), and harvest index (from 31% to 42%). While sulfur-containing treatments were effective in both soil types, the effect of farmyard manure was more pronounced in low-lime soil compared to high-lime soil. Based on these findings, the combined S+TB+FM treatment (comprising 1 ton sulfur, 4 tons farmyard manure, and 2% Thiobacillus bacteria) is recommended as the optimal soil amendment strategy for improving wheat yield in low-lime soils.
plant breeding
Hossein Ahmadi-Ochtapeh; Hassan Amiri Oghan; Amir Gholizadeh
Volume 14, Issue 1 , September 2025, Pages 131-148
Abstract
Introduction: Oilseed rape, as one of the most important oilseed crops however, drought stress and water scarcity remain major challenges, posing significant risks to the expansion of oilseed rape cultivation and its successful production in the country. Drought-tolerant and high-yielding oilseed rape ...
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Introduction: Oilseed rape, as one of the most important oilseed crops however, drought stress and water scarcity remain major challenges, posing significant risks to the expansion of oilseed rape cultivation and its successful production in the country. Drought-tolerant and high-yielding oilseed rape varieties are well-suited for water-limited enviroments. Given the limited availability of domestic rapeseed cultivars suitable for dryland conditions, identifying and selecting superior genotypes with tolerance to environmental stresses is essential for cultivation in the warm and temperate dryland regions of the country. Accordingly, this study aimed to identify the most promising spring rapeseed genotypes under dryland conditions using the Selection Index for Ideal Genotype (SIIG).
Methodology: In this study, 12 advanced spring oilseed rape lines, along with four cultivars—Dalgan, RGS003, Baharan, and Pishro—were evaluated under dryland conditions over two growing seasons (2023–2025). The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications at the National Agricultural Research Station and Dryland Seed Production of Gonbad-e Kavous. Seeds of each genotype were sown in an experimental plot of 4.8 square meters, each consisting of four 4-meter-long rows with a row spacing of 30 cm. Agronomic traits assessed included the days to flowering (DF), days to flowering ending (DFE), flowering period duration (FPD), days to physiological maturity (DPM), number of sub-branches (NSB), number of pods per plant (NPP), number of seeds per pod (NSPP), plant height (PH), branching height (BH), thousand-kernel weight (TKW), and seed yield (SY). Statistical analyses, included combined analysis of variance for traits, selection of the best genotypes using the SIIG method, and factor analysis of traits.
Research findings: Based on SIIG index values, genotypes G6, G3, G2, G11, G10, G13, G1, and G9, showing high SIIG values (0.752, 0.727, 0.721, 0.581, 0.576, 0.518, 0.508, and 0.508, respectively), were classified as superior genotypes. Conversely, genotypes G5, G4, G7, G15, G8, G12, G16, and G14, with lower SIIG values (0.319, 0.326, 0.334, 0.341, 0.358, 0.444, 0.489, and 0.492, respectively), were categorized as weaker genotypes based on the majority of evaluated traits. According to the two-dimensional scatter plot of genotypes based on SIIG index and grain yield, genotypes G2, G6, and G3—having grain yields above the overall mean and high SIIG values—were selected as ideal genotypes in terms of grain yield and other measured agronomic traits. In contrast, genotypes G15, G4, G5, and G7, with very low SIIG values and poor seed yields, were categorized among the weakest genotypes. Factor analysis extracted three factors that collectively accounted for 72% of the total variance in the dataset, with the first, second, and third factors explaining 38.98%, 20.94%, and 12.15% of the variance, respectively. The results indicated a positive correlation between plant height and the number of pods per plant with seed yield. These traits can serve as reliable selection criteria in breeding programs aimed at identifying rapeseed genotypes with economically viable yields under dryland conditions.
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