Increase In Cultivated Area Research Articles

THE EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL AND ORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON SAFFRON FLOWERING

The effects of chemical and organic fertilizers on saffron (Crocus sativus) were studied in a field experiment using a complete randomized block design with three replications at ferdowsi university of Mashhad. Fertilizers applied were N, P, K, NP, NK, PK, NPK, cow, sheep and chicken manure. The amount of chemical fertilizer applied were 50, 30, 30, 48, 48, 36, 66 kg/ha for N, P, K, NP, NK, PK, NPK and 12, 8, 4 t/ha for cow, sheep and chicken manures, respectively. The results indicated that number and weight of flower and stigma dry weight were affected by type of fertilizers (p<0.01). The highest flower number was obtained with cow manure and the lowest with N, NK and PK fertilizers. The highest stigma dry weight was obtained with cow manure (0.093 g/m) and lowest with PK treatments (0.035 g/m). The highest flower dry weight was obtained with NPK and the lowest with N and PK application (0.92 and 0.33 g/m), respectively. Stigma dry weight has a stronger correlation with flower number compared to flower dry weight. INTRODUCTION Saffron is a plant with unique characteristics. Total world production of this delicate spice has been estimated 220 tones, 90 percent of which this produced in Iran and 98 percent belongs to Khorasan province (Koocheki, 2003; Mollafilabi, 2003; Shahandeh, 1990). Total acreage of saffron in Iran has been estimated 50,000 hectare. An increasing trend in acreage from the year 1988-2001 has been observed with 3.9 percent increase in cultivated area with an average of 22.4 percent rate of increase (Kafi et al. 2001; Sadeghi et al. 1987). Average yield of saffron in Iran during a period of 25 years has been reported to be 4.7 kg/ha (Kafi et al., 2001; Sadeghi et al., 1987). Since saffron is a perennial crop, it has been adapted to organic fertilizers and hence animal manure plays an important role in this respect. Shahandeh, (1990) found that 16-80 percent of saffron yield is attributed to soil variables and 1-10 percent was related to water availability. He further pointed out that soil chemical criteria such as organic content, available phosphorus, mineral nitrogen, and exchangeable potassium and C/N ratio were the most important factors affecting yield of saffron. Koocheki, (2003) in a survey on 28 farms from 5 major saffron producing areas of Southern Khorasan found that coefficient in manure utilization was 19 percent. Saffron is a low nutrient demanding crop (Rahmati, 2004; Vatanpur-e-Azghadi and Mojtahedi, 2003), however, if above ground is harvested completely, for each kilogram dry biomass, 10.2 kg N, 3.2 kg P and 22.8 kg K is removed from the soil (Shahandeh, 1990). The amount of manure used for saffron in Iran varies from 20-80 tones/ha cow manure (Mollafilabi, 2002; Mollafilabi, 2003). It has been shown (Vatanpur-e-Azghadi and Mojtahedi, 2003) that application of small amount of N and P enhances yield of saffron. However, in some part of Khorasan up to 100 kg/ha ammonium phosphate prior to the first irrigation and 100 kg/ha urea at the time of first weeding is applied (Mollafilabi, 2003). MATERIALS AND METHODS In growing season of 2005-2006 an experiment with a Complete Randomized Proc. II IS on Saffron Bio. and Techno. Eds.: A. Koocheki et al. Acta Hort. 739, ISHS 2007

How does landscape use influence small mammal diversity, abundance and biomass in hedgerow networks of farming landscapes?

Over the last decades, profound changes in agricultural practices in the world have led to modifications of land-use as well as landscape structure and composition. Major changes resulted in enlargement of parcel size, increase of cultivated areas and drastic reduction of permanent elements such as woods, hedges or natural meadows. In this context we chose to investigate the composition and structure of small mammal communities in the hedgerow networks of three landscape units of Western France (Brittany) differing by their level of agricultural land-use intensity and hedgerow network density: a slightly intensified dense hedgerow network landscape unit (BOC1), a moderately intensified and fragmented hedgerow network landscape unit (BOC2) and a highly intensified landscape unit on an area reclaimed from the sea (POL). Characterization of small mammal communities was performed using live trapping on permanent habitats (eight hedges per landscape unit). In each of the 24 trapping units, a standardized method was used consisting of a baited 100-m trap-line. Diversity indices were used to compare the three communities. Species richness didn't vary across landscapes whereas Shannon's index of diversity underlined a clear difference between, on the one hand, the most intensified landscape unit (POL) which displayed the lowest diversity and, on the other hand, the two other less intensified units. The abundance of small mammals differed between the three sites: they were significantly more numerous in the hedges of the most intensified site than in hedges of the two other sites. Differences between species also appeared: for example, the Bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) was very characteristic of POL, whereas the Pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus) was much more associated with BOC sites. Within hedges, like for abundance, small mammal biomass was the highest in the most intensified site (POL > BOC2 = BOC1). On the contrary, at the landscape scale, biomass was the lowest in POL (BOC1 > BOC2 > POL) because of the fragmentation of the hedgerow network.

Le développement des utilisations non alimentaires de l’huile de colza dans l’UE : quels impacts sur les marchés et prix mondiaux ?

For some years, biodiesel production, based mainly on rapeseed oil, has registered a big progression, and important investments are on stream for the next years. The analysis of recent evolution of European and international rapeseed products suggests that this development has already significant effects in term of increase in cultivated area and crops, diminution of EU exportation positive balance for this seed and oil, and evolution of prices ratios for oils and meals. This hypothesis is confirmed by results obtained with OLEOSIM model simulating the effect of an exogenous shock of demand of this oil inside EU. Nevertheless the influence of other factors remains very strong, some of these factors are depending on the economic and climatic situation, some others are structural such as the withdrawal of EU from Canadian rapeseed export market. In a middle term situation, the prices spreads between rapeseed and other vegetable oils, due to the only biodiesel development should be weaker than during 2005 year.

Use of a water deficit sensitivity index for partial irrigation scheduling of wheat and barley

Shortage of water is the most important limiting factor for crop production in the arid and semi-arid regions in Iran. More land can become productive by using partial irrigation at strategic times during the growing season. This may be accomplished if a proper index of crop sensitivity to water deficit at various growth stages is used. A theoretical procedure was applied to determine the savings in water and the economic benefit derived from partial irrigation, using a water stress sensitivity index for winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in a dry region of Fars province in Iran. The results indicated that some water reduction is possible. In general, the suggested maximum allowable water reduction was unreasonably high for the sensitivity index (λ i ) proposed by Nairizi and Rydzewski. Their index is not applicable in arid and semi-arid areas. However, the field-derived λ i of Aryan resulted in a reasonable water reduction close to the field-applied water reduction to achieve a corresponding relative yield. Therefore, appropriate values of λ i for different climatic conditions should be used to calculate rational water reductions. The maximum allowable water reduction for spring barley was higher than that for winter wheat. The reduction increased as the benefit to cost ratio (B/C) was increased. Water reductions of 7 and 26% were allowed for winter wheat and spring barley, respectively, at a B/C ratio of 1.5. This corresponded to an 8 and 35% increase in cultivated area, respectively. These results need to be validated in more extensive field experimentation.

Nutrient loading and drainage channel response in a ricefield system

Nitrogen and phosphorus released into the water of a main drainage channel in the Ebro Delta was measured during a period of rice cultivation. An increase in total nitrogen and phosphorus in its different forms in accordance with the increase in cultivated area drained was observed. A significant correlation between the release of nutrients into the water and the nutrient load, for both nitrogen and phosphorus, if we consider the release of nutrients per unit of length of the channel and increased total phosphorus content of the water that flows through it during the period of rice cultivation. Physical and chemical changes in the water as a result of ricefield metabolism may explain the differences observed in nitrogen and phosphorus cycles between Ebro and Rhone Deltas, two mediterranean deltaic systems where a large area with similar drainage system is used for rice cultivation.

METHODS OF COMPILING CROP STATISTICS IN CHINA*

METHODS OF COMPILING CROP STATISTICS IN CHINA*