Reducing the Effects of Water Stress using Vermicompost and Mineral Zeolite in Sunflower (Helianthus annus L.)

بوم شناسی کشاورزی

Article 1, Volume 10, Issue 1 - Serial Number 35, March 2018, Pages 81-93   

Document Type: Scientific - Research

DOI: 10.22067/jag.v10i1.50765

Authors

Hengameh Tahramooz; Amir ghalavand^*

Tarbiat Modares University

Abstract

Introduction
The population of developing countries is dramatically increasing, thus acute food supply challenges are threatening them in case of quality and quantity. One of the successful strategies for improving agricultural production and food supply is to preserve, maintain, and enrich the soil .Iran has an arid and semi-arid climate with an average rainfall of 240 mm per year, so improving water use efficiency and reducing the effects of water stress can help farmers increase their agricultural products. Another serious problem of Iranian agricultural system is the widespread application of chemical fertilizers in the recent decades, which has caused soil degradation and environmental pollution. Therefore, by addressing these two concerns, this research was to evaluate the possibility of reducing the unpleasant effects of water stress on sunflower using organic fertilizers of Vermicompost and Mineral Zeolite (Clinoptilolite).
Materials and methods
This study was conducted at the agricultural research farm of Tarbiat Modares University in Tehran, Iran (lattitude: 35° 44´N and longitude: 51° 10´E) during the growing season of 2010 to 2011. The factorial arrangement was done on Randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The main-plot factors were different nutritional systems, such as, F1(0% vermicompost + 100% chemical (urea)+ 175% zeolite), F2 (25% vermicompost + 75% chemical (urea) + 150% zeolite), F3(50% vermicompost + 50% chemical (urea) + 125% zeolite), F4(75% vermicompost + 25% chemical + 100% zeolite); and sub-plot factors were deficit irrigation at three levels including control treatment (S1): 50% moisture depletion/moisture content (or, 50% FC), (S2): 60% moisture content (or, 40% FC) and (S3): 70% moisture content (or, 30% FC).
All the experimental plots were irrigated equally until the R4 phase. Irrigation regimes was set after R4 based on soil moisture reduction measured with a TDR device models trime_FM, and for more accurate results, a gravimetric soil moisture was used too. Chlorophyll extraction was performed by Arnon's (1949) standard method and was read with a spectrophotometer model (GBC-Cintra 6- Australia), at wavelengths of 663 and 645 nm. The proline content was extracted with Bates' (1973) method and was read with a spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 520 nm. The protein content was measured using the standard Kjeldahl (1883) method. Also, seed oil content was measured using Soxhlet (Model No SCMS-F100-6H), and oil yield was calculated by multiplying the seed oil content in grain yield. Data were recorded in Microsoft Excel ver. 2010 and statistical analysis was done with SAS ver. 9.1 software. Means compared using LSD at the 1% probability level.
Results and Discussion
ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) results showed that the effect of stress/deficit irrigation, nutritional systems and their interactions were significant (P

Keywords

Chlorophyll; Oil percentage; Proline; Sunflower; yield

References

Abdoli, M.A., and Roshani, M.R. 2007. Vermicompost (Design, Build and Implementation). Tehran University Press. Tehran, Iran 252 pp. (In Persian)

Aghaalikhani, M., and Ghooshchi, F. 2005.Experimental Plant Ecology. Public by Islamic Azad University Varamin-Pishva Branch 217 pp. (In Persian)

Ahmadi, M., and Bahrani, M.J. 2009. Yield and yield components of rapeseed as influenced by water stress at different growth stages and nitrogen levels. American-Eurasian Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences 5(6): 755-761.

Akhondi, M., Safarnejad, M., and Lahouti, M. 2006. Effect of drough stress on proline accumulation and mineral nutrients changes in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Crop Production and Processing 10(1): 165-175. (In Persian with English Summary)

Alahdadi, I., Oraki, H., and Parhizkar Khajani, F. 2011. Effect of water stress on yield and yield components of sunflower hybrids. African Journal of Biotechnology 10(34): 6504-6509

Alizadeh, A. 2007. Principles Applied Hydrology. Thirteenth Edition. Publication Astan Quds Razavi, Mashhad, Iran 807 pp. (In Persian)

Aliyari, H, and Shekary, F. 2000. Oilseed Crops and Physiology. First Edition. Publications of Hamidi Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran 182 pp. (In Persian)

Erdem, T.Y., Erdem, A., Orta, H., and Okursoy, H. 2006. Use of a crop water stress index for scheduling the irrigation of sunflower (Helianthus annus L.). Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry 30: 11-20.

Fereres, W., Gimenez, C., and Femandez, J.M. 1986. Genetic variability in sunflower cultivrs under drought, yield relation ships. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 37: 573-582.

Flenet, F., Bouniols, A., and Saraiva, C. 1996. Sunflower response to a range of soil water contents. European Journal of Agronomy 5: 161-167.

Gholamhoseini, M., Ghalavand, S.A., Modarres Sanavy, M.A., and Jamshidi, E. 2007 Effect of zeolite compost application in loamy sand field on grain yield and other traits of sunflower. Environmental Sciences. 5(1): 23-36 (In Persian with English Summary)

Gholiezhad, A., Aeenehband, A., Hasanzade Ghorttappe, A., Barnoosi, A., and Rezaei, H. 2009. Effects of water stress on nitrogen levels and plant density on yield, harvest index and yield components of sunflower varieties air flowr address. Journal of Plant Production 16(3): 27-1

Haydari Sharif Abad, H. 2000. Plants, Dry and Droughts. Print Droughts. Publication Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran, Iran 171 pp. (In Persian)

Heyderianpour, M.B., Sameni, A.M., Sheikhi, J., Karimian, N., and Zarei, M. 2012. Effect of vermicompost and nitrogen on growth, concentration, and uptake of nutrients in sunflower. Environmental Engineering and Management Journal. 7(5): 547-558.

Jalilian, J. 2009. Effects of biofertilizer (Azotobacter & Azospirillum) and different levels of nitrogen on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of sunflower inwater deficit stress condition. PhD dissertation. Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. (In Persian with English Summary)

Kafi, M., and Mahdavi Damghani, A. 2000. Mechanisms of Resistance of Plants to Environmental Stresses. Compilation A.S. Bra, R.K, Bra. Mashhad University Press, Mashhad, Iran 467 pp. (In Persian)

Kazemian, H. 2005. Introduction to Zeolites, Magic Minerals. First Edition. Publication of Heaven, Tehran, Iran 100 pp. (In Persian)

Khaje poor, M.R. 2006. Industrial Plants. Second Edition. Isfahan University Jihad Publishing, Isfahan, Iran 564 pp (In Persian)

Khodaei Joghan, A. 2010. Influence of organic, chemical and integrative nutrition methods amended by zeolite on qualitative and quantitative yield of wheat. Master dissertation. Faculty of Agriculture. Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. (In Persian with English Summary)

Koocheki, A., Hosseini, M., and Hashemi Desfoli, A. 2000. Sustainable Agriculture, University Press of Mashhad. 164 pp. (In Persian)

Kramer, A.W., Timothy, A.D., Horwath, W.R., and Kessel, C.V. 2002. Combining fertilizer and organic input to synchronize N supply in alternative cropping systems of California. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 91: 233-243.

Mirakhori, M., Paknezhad, F., Ardakani, M., Pakzi, A.R., Nazeri, P. 2009. To evaluate the effect of methanol and water stress on yield, protein and oil, soybean grain filling rate and duration (L17). Journal of Agricultural Sciences Environmental Stress 2(2): 183-171. (In Persian with English Summary)

Mobasser, H.R., and Tavassoli, A. 2013. Effect of water stress on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of yield in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Journal of Novel Applied Sciences 2(9): 299-302. (In Persian)

Omidi Ardali, G, and Bahrani, M.J. 2011. Effects of water stress, nitrogen levels and application times on yield and yield components of sunflower at different growth stages. Journal of Science and Technology of Agriculture and Natural Resources 5: 207-199. (In Persian with English Summary)

Oraki, H., Khajani, F.P., and Aghaalikhana, M. 2012. Effect of water deficit stress on proline contents, soluble sugars, chlorophyll and grain yield of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hybrids. African Journal of Biotechnology 11(1): 164-168.

Schutz, M., and Fangmeir, E. 2001. Growth and yield responses of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Minaret) to elevated CO2 and water limitation. Environmental Pollution 114: 187-194.

Seyahjani, A.E., Farhvash, F., Khorshidi Benam, M.B., and Sadeghi, A. 2010. Studying the effect of drought stress on yield and yield components of three sunflower cultivars. Environmental Stresses in Crop Sciences 3(1): 59-68. (In Persian with English Summary)

Talebi Kasvaei, 2012. F.S. Effect of different nutrition systems using zeoponix and urea on yield and quality of Sunflower under redroot pigweed competition condition. Master dissertation. Faculty of Agriculture. Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. (In Persian with English Summary)

Yousefvand, P., Sajedi, N., and Mirzakhani, M. 2011. The effects of drought, taking zeolite and selenium on yield and yield components of sunflower. New Findings in Agriculture 3: 325-339. (In Persian with English Summary)