Crops under rainfed cultivation
Mozhgan veisi; mehdi minbashi moeini; abdolvahab abdulahi; mahmoud moradi; soheila porheidar ghafarbi
Volume 14, Issue 2 , December 2025, Pages 149-168
Abstract
EXTENDED ABSTRACTIntroduction: One of the major problems in autumn-sown chickpea cultivation is the presence of high weed density, which leads to a severe reduction in the yield of rainfed chickpea. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate new pre-emergence and post-emergence herbicides for controlling ...
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EXTENDED ABSTRACTIntroduction: One of the major problems in autumn-sown chickpea cultivation is the presence of high weed density, which leads to a severe reduction in the yield of rainfed chickpea. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate new pre-emergence and post-emergence herbicides for controlling broadleaf weeds in rainfed chickpea cultivation. In this study, the efficacy of several herbicides applied as pre-emergence (aclonifen, flumioxazin, oxyfluorfen), post-emergence (aclonifen), early post-emergence (flumioxazin), and in combination (pre- and post-emergence) was investigated.Methodology: This experiment was conducted during the 2022-2023 growing season in the provinces of Kermanshah, Kurdistan, and East Azerbaijan, using a randomized complete block design. The treatments included: pre-emergence application of the herbicides flumioxazin (Clean-sheet, WP 50%) at a rate of 50 g active ingredient (a.i.) per hectare, oxyfluorfen (Goal, 24% EC) at 420 g a.i. ha-1, sulfentrazone (Spartan, WP 50%) at 100 g a.i. ha-1, aclonifen (Noagap, SC 600) at 1200 and 1800 g a.i. ha-1; post-emergence application of aclonifen at 300, 420, and 600 g a.i./ha; a combined treatment of pre-emergence flumioxazin (50 g a.i. ha-1) followed by post-emergence aclonifen (300 g a.i. ha-1); another combined treatment of pre-emergence flumioxazin (50 g a.i. ha-1) followed by post-emergence aclonifen (420 g a.i. ha-1); early post-emergence application of flumioxazin at 50 g a.i.ha-1; and a control treatment (manual weeding). Weed density and dry weight were determined per plot, and the grain yield and biomass of chickpea were measured per unit area.Research findings: The highest percentage of weed control in Kermanshah (93 to 96%), Kurdistan (70 to 85%), and East Azerbaijan (71 to 79%) was achieved by the treatments combining pre-emergence flumioxazin with post-emergence aclonifen. Furthermore, following the manually weeded control, the highest grain yield in Kermanshah, Kurdistan, and East Azerbaijan was recorded for the combined treatment of pre-emergence flumioxazin (50 g a.i. ha-1) followed by post-emergence aclonifen (300 g a.i. ha-1), with yields of 1409, 1293, and 982 kg ha-1, respectively. In general, the combined treatments of pre-emergence flumioxazin and post-emergence aclonifen, due to their broader spectrum of control against broadleaf weeds, provided more effective weed management and higher yields compared to the sole herbicide applications. This combination can be recommended for use in fields experiencing high weed density during the spring season.
Agronomy
Ramin Lotfi; Jafar Jafarzadeh; Mohammad Esmaeil Asadi; iraj eskandari
Volume 14, Issue 2 , December 2025, Pages 169-192
Abstract
Dryland farming face severe threats from climate change, including recurrent droughts and intense soil erosion, jeopardizing production sustainability. The future of Iran's dryland farming depends on adopting a wise management approach in which soil health, as the foundation of sustainable production, ...
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Dryland farming face severe threats from climate change, including recurrent droughts and intense soil erosion, jeopardizing production sustainability. The future of Iran's dryland farming depends on adopting a wise management approach in which soil health, as the foundation of sustainable production, must be placed at the core of all decision-making processes. Conservation agriculture (CA) is recognized as an effective sustainable management system to address these challenges, built on three core pillars: minimum soil mechanical disturbance, permanent soil cover, and crop rotation. This article reviews findings from four decades of field research by scientific centers, analyzing the environmental impacts and productivity outcomes of conservation agriculture systems across different Iranian climates. The evidence clearly demonstrates that conservation systems enhance soil organic matter and microbial activity, improve moisture retention and nutrient availability, and reduce soil erosion. Integrating leguminous crops (pulses and forages) into cereal-based rotations in drylands reduces the nutritional demand of cereal crops and contributes to production stability. No-till systems enhance sustainability by lowering direct energy input, improving water use efficiency, and managing crop residues. Although the primary goal of conservation agriculture is not yield maximization but rather yield stability and resource conservation, research confirms a significant climatic effect on the stability of rainfed crop production under such systems. Yield stabilization occurs more rapidly in temperate and semi-warm climates compared to cold regions under conservation practices. While initial yield reduction may occur during early years of no-till adoption particularly in cold climates appropriate crop rotation (e.g., chickpea–wheat) and effective management of residue cover and weeds can compensate for these losses in the medium term. Consequently, adopting climate-adapted conservation agriculture systems (tailored tillage and rotation practices) represents an effective strategy for achieving climate-resilient sustainable agriculture. However, scaling up these systems faces multiple barriers, including cereal-dominated cropping systems, shortage of specialized planting equipment, weed management challenges in rotational crops, livelihood dependence on crop residues, and lack of effective supportive policies. This paper emphasizes the need for an integrated national strategy encompassing development of local mechanization, strengthening extension–education systems, designing economic incentives, and reforming cropping patterns to facilitate the transition toward conservation-based sustainable agriculture on Iran’s drylands.
Crops under rainfed cultivation
Yaser Azimzadeh; Mokhtar Dashadi; Amin Namdari; Arash Mohammadzadeh; Mozhgan Tabrizivand Taheri; Halimeh Razmi
Volume 14, Issue 2 , December 2025, Pages 193-212
Abstract
IntroductionNitrogen, as an essential nutrient, plays a pivotal role in plant vegetative and reproductive processes, directly influencing the synthesis of proteins, chlorophyll, amino acids, and nucleic acids. However, plant response to nitrogen fertilizer is influenced by variables such as environmental ...
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IntroductionNitrogen, as an essential nutrient, plays a pivotal role in plant vegetative and reproductive processes, directly influencing the synthesis of proteins, chlorophyll, amino acids, and nucleic acids. However, plant response to nitrogen fertilizer is influenced by variables such as environmental conditions, soil physicochemical properties, and the genetic potential of different cultivars. Insufficient or excessive nitrogen application can lead to reduced crop yield. Therefore, evaluating the response of lentil cultivars to different urea fertilizer levels across various regions of Iran and determining their economic optimal rate can pave the way for optimizing fertilizer use and achieving sustainable yields.Materials and MethodsTo investigate the response of lentil cultivars to different urea fertilizer levels in rotation with wheat under rain-fed conditions, a split-plot experiment arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted in three regions (Maragheh, Sararood, and Gachsaran) during the 2023-2024 growing season. Treatments included lentil cultivars (Sana and Bilesavar in Maragheh; Bilesavar and Line 09S8322-04 in Sararood; Sepehr and Gachsaran in Gachsaran) assigned to the main plots and nitrogen levels (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 kg urea ha-1) assigned to the sub-plots. Spring sowing was performed using a three-row ASKE seeder. To complement the analysis of variance, regression relationships were evaluated by analyzing the associations between different levels of urea fertilizer (independent variable) and agronomic traits (dependent variable) using quadratic nonlinear regression models.Results and DiscussionIn all three regions, the response pattern of most traits to different urea levels was parabolic, indicating the existence of an optimal point for fertilizer application. In Maragheh, the maximum grain yield for cultivar Sana (766 kg ha-1) was achieved with 52 kg urea ha-1, and for Bilesavar (603 kg ha-1) with 49 kg urea ha-1. In Sararood, Line S83 reached a yield of 2456 kg ha-1 with 62 kg urea ha-1, and Bilesavar yielded 2288 kg ha⁻¹ with 53 kg urea ha-1. In Gachsaran, cultivars Gachsaran and Sepehr yielded 862 and 788 kg ha-1 with 57 and 68 kg urea ha-1, respectively. The economic optimal dose in Maragheh for Sana and Bilesavar was 50 and 47 kg urea ha-1, respectively; in Sararood for S83 and Bilesavar, it was 60 and 49 kg urea ha-1, respectively; and in Gachsaran for Gachsaran and Sepehr, it was 45 and 43 kg urea ha-1, respectively.
plant breeding
abdollah hasanzadeh; Khoshnod Alizadeh; Hamid Fanaei
Volume 14, Issue 2 , December 2025, Pages 213-230
Abstract
Introduction: Medicinal plants play a crucial role in disease prevention and therapeutic applications, and the growing global demand for herbal products has resulted in excessive harvesting from natural habitats, thereby threatening genetic resources. Lallemantia iberica (balangu), a valuable medicinal ...
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Introduction: Medicinal plants play a crucial role in disease prevention and therapeutic applications, and the growing global demand for herbal products has resulted in excessive harvesting from natural habitats, thereby threatening genetic resources. Lallemantia iberica (balangu), a valuable medicinal species of the Lamiaceae family, possesses notable characteristics such as drought tolerance, high economic potential, pharmaceutical value, and the capacity to be cultivated under rain-fed conditions. Given the escalating impacts of climate change and water scarcity in Iran, the identification of high-yielding and stress-tolerant genotypes has become increasingly essential. Accordingly, the present study was conducted with the objective of evaluating different balangu genotypes preserved in the National Plant Gene Bank of Iran and identifying superior genotypes suitable for rain-fed cultivation as well as potential breeding programsMethodology: This research was conducted on 117 balangu genetic accessions collected in 2016, evaluated over three cropping seasons from 2019 to 2022. In the first year, accessions were cultivated in an observational design, and based on performance-related, oil-related and uniformity traits, 49 superior samples were selected. During the second and third years, these genotypes were cultivated in three locations (Urmia, Maragheh and Karaj), under rain-fed conditions, using a randomized complete block design with two replications. Phenological, morphological, seed yield and oil-related traits were recorded, and statistical analysis included ANOVA, and LSD mean comparisons.Research findings: The results revealed that the effects of genotype, year, location and their interactions were significant for most evaluated traits, including seed yield, thousand-seed weight and plant height. Seed yield varied considerably among genotypes; genotypes 1, 14, 22, 23, 24, 36, 39, 40, 43, 44 and 48 produced the highest yields (963.5–999.7 kg ha⁻¹), while genotypes 9, 20 and 29 recorded the lowest yields. The highest thousand-seed weights belonged to genotypes 3, 10, 26, 27, 28, 29, 34 and 42. A positive association was observed between seed yield and biological yield, harvest index and oil yield. Additionally, autumn sowing proved more effective than spring sowing in enhancing seed yield across the studied regions. The study demonstrated substantial genetic diversity among balangu genotypes and confirmed that selection based on traits associated with yield—particularly number of capsules, harvest index and oil yield—can be effective. Genotypes 12 and 33 under irrigated conditions and a group of 25 superior lines under rain-fed conditions were recommended for further evaluation and breeding programs. Promoting the autumn cultivation of this species in cold and semi-cold regions could significantly enhance production stability.
plant breeding
Hossein Ahmadi-Ochtapeh; Mehdi Ghaffari
Volume 14, Issue 2 , December 2025, Pages 231-245
Abstract
Introduction: Sunflower is one of the most important oilseed crops worldwide, and its yield is highly affected by drought stress. Therefore, identifying superior genotypes with enhanced tolerance to environmental stresses is essential for cultivation under dryland conditions. Relying on a single trait ...
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Introduction: Sunflower is one of the most important oilseed crops worldwide, and its yield is highly affected by drought stress. Therefore, identifying superior genotypes with enhanced tolerance to environmental stresses is essential for cultivation under dryland conditions. Relying on a single trait in the selection process is unlikely to yield satisfactory results; hence, the use of multiple traits and multi-trait indices can improve the accuracy of identifying superior genotypes. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to select the best-performing sunflower hybrids under dryland conditions using the Selection index of ideal genotype (SIIG) and the Factor analysis ideotype-design-best linear unbiased prediction (FAI-BLUP).Methodology: This experiment was conducted using 12 newly developed sunflower hybrids along with three check cultivars (Zarrin, Shams, and Azar) at the National Agricultural Research Station and Dryland Seed Production of Gonbad-e Kavus over two cropping seasons (2023–2025). The trial was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. Seeds of each hybrid were sown in a 2.7 m² experimental plot consisting of four rows, each 3 m in length, with a row spacing of 60 cm. The experimental field had been cultivated with wheat in the previous season. Planting was performed manually on flat soil, and weed control was carried out by hand. Traits including days to flowering, days to ripening, plant height, distance between ground and head, head diameter, stem diameter were recorded. After harvest, yield‑related characteristics such as thousand‑kernel weight, seed yield, oil content, and oil yield were measured. Statistical analyses, including analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the selection of the superior genotypes using the SIIG method, were performed with SAS ver. 9.4 and Microsoft Excel. In addition, the FAI-BLUP method was analyzed using R software and the multi-environment trials package (metan).Research findings: The results of the combined analysis of variance revealed that both the effect of year and the genotype × year interaction were significant at the 1% probability level for all studied traits, indicating the strong influence of environmental conditions and the differential responses of genotypes across years. Moreover, the main effect of genotype was significant for all traits. The comparison of means indicated significant differences among hybrids for the evaluated traits, particularly grain yield. Hybrids H1, H10, H11, and H9 produced the highest seed yields, while H6 and H7 recorded the lowest seed yields. The multi-trait SIIG index identified hybrids H1, H9, H11, H10, H13, and H2 as superior genotypes. The two-dimensional graph further confirmed that hybrids H1, H10, H11, and H9 clustered in the first group with both high yield and SIIG values. In addition, the FAI-BLUP index selected hybrids H1 and H9 as superior. Overall, hybrids H1, H9, H10, H11, and H13 consistently ranked among the best across most indices and agronomic traits, suggesting their suitability for cultivation under dryland conditions.
plant breeding
Leyla Naeemzadeh; Hamid Hatami Maleki; Behrouz Vaezi; Naser Sabaghnia
Volume 14, Issue 2 , December 2025, Pages 246-258
Abstract
Introduction: Barley is one of the most important cereals worldwide and in Iran, and is cultivated in all temperate regions as well as many cold regions. With an annual production of 157 million tons (3 million tons in Iran) and a cultivated area of 56 million hectares (1.7 million hectares in Iran), ...
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Introduction: Barley is one of the most important cereals worldwide and in Iran, and is cultivated in all temperate regions as well as many cold regions. With an annual production of 157 million tons (3 million tons in Iran) and a cultivated area of 56 million hectares (1.7 million hectares in Iran), it holds a key position among cereal crops. The GGE biplot method is a novel approach for evaluating genotype-environment interaction effects, in which the genotype effect and the genotype-environment interaction effect are not separated, and the selection of stable genotypes is based on both effects.Methodology: In this project, 16 advanced common barley lines, along with two barley cultivars Khoram and Mahur were grown in five regions: Gachsaran, Moghan, Gonbad, Lorestan and Ilam. The experiment was conducted over three years using a randomized complete block design with four replications. Each year, an analysis of variance was first conducted for the yield of the varieties separately for each year and location. Subsequently, a combined analysis of variance (considering all locations and years of the trial) was performed.Research findings: The results of analysis of variance showed that the effects of genotype, environment, and genotype × environment interaction were significant in 2013-2014-2015. Polygonal biplot analysis led to the identification of five superior genotypes (17, 3, 6, 8, 7) and three main environments. Simultaneous assessment of genotype stability and performance indicated that genotypes 1, 3 and 15 not only exhibited high performance but also higher performance stability. Based on the diagram of hypothetical ideal environments, the environment in Ilam came closer to this ideal. In the biplot analysis, the correlations between environments showed that the correlations between Moghan and Gachsaran, Moghan and Ilam, and Gonbad and Lorestan were high due to small angles, indicating similar responses of genotypes in these locations. In contrast, the correlation between Lorestan and Ilam was close to zero, suggesting independent performance of the genotypes in these environments. This approach identified genotypes 3, 1, and 15 as the superior genotypes.
plant breeding
payam pezeshkpour; Behrouz Vaezi; sabzi sabzi; Moslem Mahinkhah; Rogaye Sedagat Dail
Volume 14, Issue 2 , December 2025
Abstract
Introduction: Common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), as one of the important legumes of Mediterranean regions, is of particular significance due to its high adaptability to low-input and organic farming systems as well as its diverse uses. Since rainfed lands are exposed to fluctuations in rainfall across different ...
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Introduction: Common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), as one of the important legumes of Mediterranean regions, is of particular significance due to its high adaptability to low-input and organic farming systems as well as its diverse uses. Since rainfed lands are exposed to fluctuations in rainfall across different locations and time periods, and there is a high likelihood of moisture stress during critical growth stages, conducting multi-environment trials is essential for identifying stable and high-yielding genotypes. Multi-trait stability selection contributes to a more accurate evaluation of plant genotypes and facilitates more reliable results. Therefore, the objective of this study was to select superior common vetch genotypes based on a number of morphological traits using different indices derived from the REML/BLUP model, as well as the SIIG index, and to compare the efficiency of these indices.
Methodology: In this study, eight advanced common vetch genotypes, along with the check cultivars Maragheh and Tolou, were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replications at four Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Stations located in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad (Gachsaran), Lorestan (Khorramabad), and Ilam (Mehran and Chardavol) over five cropping seasons (2019–2024). Sowing was carried out using a Wintersteiger experimental seed drill in four 7-m rows, with 30 cm spacing between rows. Genetic parameters were estimated using the restricted maximum likelihood (REML) method. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS and R software.
Research findings: According to the results of the combined analysis of variance, significant differences were observed among environments and genotypes for most agronomic traits of common vetch. The genotype × environment interaction effects were also significant for the majority of traits. REML-based estimates showed that genotypic variance, residual variance, and G×EG×E variance explained 8.91%, 55.65%, and 35.45% of the total phenotypic variance for seed yield, respectively. The REML results further indicated that the highest and lowest heritability estimates were related to fresh forage yield and number of pods per plant, respectively. Overall, by comparing the results obtained from different indices, the genotypes selected by the SIIG index (G2, G4, G1, and G3) were identified as promising candidates for more advanced trials due to their superior seed yield, biomass yield, number of pods per plant, hundred-seed weight, and straw yield. In addition, the genotypes G1, G2, and G4 selected using the FAI-BLUP and MGIDI indices exhibited higher seed yield compared with the check cultivars. These findings highlight the importance of integrating multi-trait selection and stability analyses in common vetch breeding programs to enhance drought tolerance and ensure sustainable yield improvement in rainfed agricultural systems, while also providing valuable insights for breeding programs aimed at drought adaptation and yield enhancement.
