The salt–affected lands in arid regions of central Iran are characterized by low rainfall, low fertility, high evaporation and salinity. The cultivation of salt–affected lands may have a major influence on soil quality. The aim of this study was to determine the response of soil quality indicators to reclamation and cultivation of salt–affected lands occurring in ABARKOOH PLAIN, central Iran. Soil quality indicators were evaluated in three land use systems including salt-affected land, wheat, and alfalfa fields. Composite soil samples were collected at 0-10, 10-20, 20-30, and 30-40 cm layers and analyzed for soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, carbohydrate, particulate organic carbon in macro-aggregates (POCmac) and micro-aggregates (POCmic), organic carbon mineralization and wet aggregate stability. The cultivation of salt–affected land caused a significant decrease in electrical conductivity at all layers and increased the amount of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, carbohydrate, POCmac, POCmic, and organic carbon mineralization. At all layers, the POCmac/POCmic ratio in the alfalfa fields was higher than that in the wheat fields. The cultivation of salt-affected land caused a significant increase in soil aggregate stability (MWD) at all layers. In most cases, the amounts of soil organic matter and MWD were greater in alfalfa than in the wheat fields, reflecting a better soil quality and thus higher potential for increasing soil organic carbon sequestration in the alfalfa fields.

The issue of protection of groundwater against pollution is of crucial significance. Groundwater vulnerability maps provide useful information to protect groundwater resources and evaluate the potential for water quality improvement with changes in agricultural practices and land use applications. In Yazd province, especially in ABARKOOH, the majority of agricultural and drinking water is provided by groundwater; thus, the prevention of pollution and quality consistency is very important. The intrinsic vulnerability of the ABARKOOH aquifer to contamination was assessed using the well-known SI, SINTACS, GODS, AVI and DRASTIC methods. The data from these models was first collected and entered into the software of a geographic information system (GIS) to provide the required layers. The use of overlapping techniques and weight coefficients for each layer provided the final PLAIN of vulnerability. In the next step, the accuracy of the models was evaluated by fitting a regression line between the observations and estimated values in the sampling wells. The results showed that there was no significant relation between the NO3 values and pollution potential as shown by GODS, but there was a significant relation at the 1% level (R=0.81) between these values in DRASTIC. This model is introduced as suitable for classifying of the pollution potential in the study area. The aquifer of Barkooh PLAIN was divided to three vulnerability classes based on the DRASTIC model. The vulnerability classes from this model showed that most of the PLAIN is without risk and has very low vulnerability.

More than one-third of the earth is characterized by arid and semi-arid climate and desertification phenomenon in these areas has been intensified in recent decades. This study aims to investigate the trend of desertification using vegetation indices and Iranian Model of Desertification Potential Assessment (IMDPA) in ABARKOOHPLAIN, Yazd province, Iran. The satellite images (Landsat images inMay 1987, 2000 and 2013) were used to map the land uses in the region. After the image preprocessing with a supervised classification method (support vector machine) that had the highest accuracy in all years, the map of land use changes was prepared in five kinds of land uses such as residential and industrial lands, agriculture and horticulture lands, arid and desert lands, playa and saline soils, and mountains. Then, the desertification map of ABARKOOH PLAIN was prepared by calculating the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI(and Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index) MSAVI (according to IMDPA model. Three criteria, urban and residual lands to agricultural land ratio (Ur/Ag), plant canopy density and vegetation renewal indicators were used in IMDPA model. On the basis of the Ur/Ag ratio, 5.74%, 6.74% and 87.52% of the region were characterized by severe, moderate and low desertification, respectively due to land-use change factors. In the viewpoint of aboveground canopy density indicator, desertification in the area was classified into four classes including very severe, severe, moderate, and low desertification. In this regard, 99.06%, 0.76%, 0.13% and 0.05% of the areas are put in very severe, severe, moderate and low desertification classes, respectively. According to vegetation renewal indicator, 92.51%, 3.21% and 4.28% of the area were characterized as unchanged, low and very severe desertification, respectively.

Groundwater is vulnerable to contamination by anthropological activities. Vulnerability mapping is considered as a fundamental aspect of groundwater management. The aim of this study was to estimate aquifer vulnerability by applying the DRASTIC and GOD models in ABARKOOH PLAIN, Yazd province, center of Iran. The DRASTIC model uses seven environmental parameters (depth to water, net recharge, aquifer media, soil media, topography, impact of vadose zone, and hydraulic conductivity) to characterize the hydrogeological setting and evaluate aquifer vulnerability. GOD is an overlay and index method designed to map groundwater vulnerability over large regions based on three parameters (groundwater confinement, overlying strata, and depth to groundwater). The information layers for models were provided via geographic information system. The overlap techniques were used to provide and produce the vulnerability map of the study areas considering weight coefficients of each layer. Accuracy of the models was evaluated using linear regression between observations values of nitrate and estimated vulnerability to pollution in the measured wells. A significant correlation was observed between measured nitrate and pollution potential evaluated by DRASTIC model (P<0.01), but no significant correlation was observed for GOD model (P<0.05). The results showed that the DRASTIC model is better than GOD model to estimate groundwater vulnerability to pollution in the measured wells. For DRASTIC model, the correlation coefficient between vulnerability index and nitrate concentration was 68% that was substantially higher than 28% obtained for the GOD model. We can conclude that nitrate concentration should be a suitable parameter to investigate the accuracy of the DRASTIC and GOD models.

Agriculture sector, as one of the bases for regional development, can be effective in reducing regional threat and in balance and improvement of development indicators in the areas. Main question of this research is Identification of capabilities in agriculture sector in Abarkouh city and providing guidelines for the improvement of this industry. Type of research is applied-developmental and its method is librarian and survey. With using SWOT model which is an important strategic planning model, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of agriculture livestock in this area were determined and then we used QSPM technique for prioritization and classification of strategies. Based on results, organization of product centers and rural regions, use of young man powers in the sector, giving the research affairs to private sector and improvement in participation is most important ways for development of agriculture and animal husbandry in the region.

A B S T R A C TThe morphology of each region is related to its landforms, the morphology of flat areas is related to inselbergs. The presence of inselbergs in desert and dry areas gives a special appearance to the morphology of these areas. The study of these landforms and the effective factors in their formation is considered a necessity in terms of regional development. According to the studies, various factors play a role in the formation of inselbergs, and the role of lithology seems to be more prominent. In this research, which was conducted with the method of field and library studies, we identified 18 inselbergs in Safi Abad PLAIN and by studying them, we came to the conclusion that the inselbergs of this PLAIN are mainly formed in sedimentary rocks such as limestone, conglomerate and sandstone. Among the geological formations, the largest and most diverse inselbergs in the Safiabad PLAIN are formed in the mass conglomerate formation with good hardening because this formation is the most widespread in this PLAIN. But the most typical inselbergs of this PLAIN are formed in thick layered limestone. Because this formation is more resistant to erosion. Lar Formations including Limestone and Thick Limestone’s to Mass Dolomite and Delichai Formations have also played an important role in the formation of inselbergs in this PLAIN. Although the extent of these formations is not significant, but due to their significant resistance to erosion and being far from these processes, they have caused the formation of evolved inselbergs in this PLAINExtended AbstractIntroductionInselbergs are ridges with a height of less than 500 meters formed with a steep slope in the PLAINs. Their resistance to erosion has caused them to be considered capable players in the morphology of arid and semi-arid regions. Due to their uniqueness in desert areas, these areas are of interest to tourists, and the economic situation of these areas can be improved by attracting tourists. The prominence of inselbergs in desert areas has caused researchers to pay attention to their studies, the most important of which are the studies of Pye in Kenya (1984), Nenonen in Finland (2018), Luiza in Brazil (2021), Laetitia in Africa (2019), and Mashaal in Egypt (2020). Although the conditions for inselberg formation are available in some areas of Iran, and these landforms have given a particular face to the morphology of this country, no significant study has been done on them so far. This research attempts to investigate the role of lithology in inselberg formation in Safi Abad PLAIN by using library and field studies. MethodologySafi Abad PLAIN in the northeast of Iran and North Khorasan province and in terms of geographical coordinates between 36-˚ 48-05 to 36-22-55˚ North and 37-57˚ East to 36-˚ 37-08 It is located at 57-58-11 east. Field and library studies were used to study the inselbergs of this PLAIN. The entire region was surveyed in 2 years in the field studies, and 18 inselbergs were identified. Then, the location and extent of their expansion were determined. In the morphometry that was done as a survey, the minimum height, length-to-width ratio of inselbergs, and their distance from each other were measured with GPS. The study of the concepts, definitions, and effective processes in inselberg formation was done with the library method. The maps of this research were drawn with Adobe Illustrator software. Results and discussionInselbergs are diverse in terms of morphology; in the studied area, 18 inselbergs were identified, most of which are mixed. Most of them are rocky and have less vegetation. Regarding lithology, inselbergs are particular forms of igneous and metamorphic rocks, but some are also formed in other rocks. Although lithology plays an essential role in inselberg morphology, it cannot be claimed that inselbergs formed in the same formation have the same shape. Although the dominant lithology of the Safi Abad PLAIN is formed from sedimentary rocks, due to the different resistance of its formations, the height, shape, and slope of the inselbergs of this PLAIN are different in different parts of the region. The difference in these characteristics has caused the different shapes of the land in this PLAIN. According to the studies of the most resistant formations of Safi Abad PLAIN against erosion, limestone is a thick layer of chert mass formed due to the resistance against the erosion of the complete inselbergs.After this formation, the Lar formation consists of fine-grained uniform dolomitic limestone with thick to massive layering, which is more resistant; that is why many inselbergs in the region have formed in it. The third formation in terms of resistance is the Apsin-Albin unit, which includes orbitolinate limestone and thick limes to a mass of dolomite. Although this unit has a small area, its inselbergs are closer to typical inselbergs. In terms of area, most of the area is composed of mass conglomerates with good hardening. Due to the different effects of this formation from different processes, its inselbergs do not have the same morphology. The inselbergs formed in this formation are in the middle part of the high area, low in the southern part, incomplete in the western part, and incomplete mushrooms in the path of the Gerati River. After this formation, gray shales are the most resistant to erosion. This formation, which belongs to the Jurassic period, has formed a large part of the northeastern inselbergs. The alternation of limestone and marl in the Delichai formations in the middle part of the region provides the basis for the formation of mushroom-shaped inselbergs in the future. ConclusionSafiabad PLAIN is in the northeast of Iran, and in terms of geomorphological units, it is part of central Iran. Inselbergs form part of the morphology of this PLAIN. In this study, 18 inselbergs were identified in this PLAIN, and their detailed study showed that their primary skeleton was established by tectonic activities in the Devonian to Miocene period with the formation of Posht Bahram mountains. It was formed when the tectonic activities calmed down and in opposition to the lithology and erosion of the inselbergs of this PLAIN. In terms of lithology, the well-hardened conglomerate formation covers nearly 47% of this PLAIN, and due to its large size and different distances from erosion processes, various inselbergs have been formed in it. The southern inselbergs formed in this formation have a regular shape due to wind and blue erosion. In contrast, the middle inselbergs have an incomplete shape due to the distance from higher erosion, and the western inselbergs have an incomplete shape due to the superiority of blue erosion. Another formation that plays a vital role in this field is Lar Mei Formation. Although this is the second formation in terms of size and strength, many inselbergs have formed in it. The Shemshak formation is placed after the Lar formation in terms of resistance. This formation has caused the formation of chain inselbergs in the northeast of the region. The most typical inselbergs of the region are observed in the thick layered limestones of the formation (Maastrichtian). Also, this research found that inselbergs may be formed in all flat areas of the world and even in sedimentary formations. However, the inselbergs formed are far from those formed in tropical regions' igneous and metamorphic formations. FundingThere is no funding support. Authors’ ContributionThe authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approthe contenttent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none. Conflict of InterestThe authors declared no conflict of interest. Acknowledgments We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.

Natural hazards are one of the factors that cause financial loss every year, and they occur in most regions of the world, including Iran. One of the hazards that mankind has been dealing with in recent decades, especially in alluvial PLAINs is the phenomenon of land subsidence and sinkhole. Land subsidence and sinkhole due to natural and human causes have been reported in many places. Subsidence or sinkhole will damage human structures that are supported by the earth. Land subsidence is the most important environmental problem in Iran. A major cause of this phenomenon is overexploitation of underground water resources has led to land subsidence, and underground water extraction plays an important role in causing land subsidence. The study area is ABARKOOH PLAIN with an area of about 250 square kilometers is a part of the Eqlid-ABARKOOH watershed. The lowlands are covered by Quaternary alluvial and some older sediments such as unconsolidated conglomerate, clayey, sandy, and saline areas. Based on geographical location, the study area is located in the geographical range of 53 degrees to 53 degrees and 32 minutes east longitude and 30 degrees and 50 minutes to 31 degrees and 12 minutes north latitude. This area contains medium to fine alluvial fan sediments that end in the salt playa or ABARKOOH desert. To determine the high-risk and low-risk areas and routes in the study area, to discover subsurface holes and stratigraphic fractures underground up to a depth of 5 meters and the safe route for contracting works, etc., was used the ground penetrating radar (GPR) method. The results showed that in the areas where there are sinkhole traces in the determined distances around in current research, the attenuation signal of the ground penetrating radar, including the effects of subsurface cavities and stratigraphic fractures was discovered and revealed by GPR. On the side of the mountain slopes and high altitudes in the upstream region, no signal attenuation was observed, and sediments and soil were observed uniformly underground. The ultimate goal of the GPR section is to obtain a cross-section that is most consistent with the geological realities of the region and finally, at the final stage, we can talk about the characteristics, effects, and objectives of the research. The GPR method is an easy and low-cost method that is widely used in the field of natural resources and it is also used in other scientific fields. Regarding the common phenomenon of subsidence and sinkhole, these effects can be found underground, so that humans can prevent the development and expansion of this phenomenon. Also, this method can determine the route and safe area for contracting works, urban development, etc.

The Cypress of Abarkouh (Persian: Sarv-e Abarkouh), is a Cypresses sempervirens tree in Abarkouh in Yazd Province of Iran. This ancient tree with a height of 25 meters which is estimated to be over four thousand years, considered as one of the tree in Iran, was recognized as a national natural monument in 2003 and has been a major tourist attraction. Currently this tree protected by the Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran. This individual tree is located in central parts of Iran next to an old Qanat in the city of Abarkouh. This genetic reserve is unique not only from the aspect of age, botanical forms and beauty, but also from historical and ancient point of view. It has witnessed many events over the history both environmental and social, such as wars, global warming, and climate change. As a matter of fact, there are many more aspects to the study of this tree that reveal its value,namely ecological memory which provides us with valuable information on environmental factors of the past, and geological and evolutionary information. Anthecologists are investigating the hypothesis of having many Mediterranean cypress trees planted by Elamites around 5000 years ago which strongly admits the value of this tree in revealing historical information from the past.

In this study proliferation potential of four thousand year old cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L. var. horizontalis (Mill) Gord) using auxins and cytokinins plant growth regulators in in vitro condition was investigated. This study was performed as a factorial experiment and completely randomized design with six replications and each replication were contained three explants. Auxiliary bud explants in two different experiments were cultured in WPM culture medium consisted of cytokinins plant growth regulators (kin, BA, TDZ and 2ip) in five levels (0, 0. 1, 0. 5, 1 and 2 mg/l) and combination of 0. 1 mg/l kin, BA, TDZ and 2ip with 0. 01 mg/l IBA. Results showed that the maximum shoot numbers per treatment (2. 66) was obtained in WPM culture medium contained 0. 01 mg/l IBA + 0. 1 mg/l BA and the highest length of shoots (1. 85 cm) was obtained in media contained 0. 1 mg/l cytokinins and without IBA. For root induction different culture media consisted of WPM, SH and LS contained four concentrations of IBA and NAA (0, 2, 2. 5 and 3 mg/l) and also four concentrations (0, 0. 5, 1 and 2 mg/l) of Kin was used and only in WPM culture medium contained 2 mg/l kin root was obtained.

Background & Objectives: Dairy workers have exposure to wide range of musculoskeletal disorders in different organs. A little research has been done on dairy worker and their training on safe working in our country. On the other hand in the industries with more workers it is often easier to implement safety programs.Methods: This interventional study was conducted on 50 cattlemen in ABARKOOH city.Working posture was assessed by WISHA and Man-TRA methods and face to face training was then given on carrying and lifting. Finally the posture was investigated two months after intervention by Man-TRA and WISHA methods.Results: The results of the evaluation by WISHA before the intervention show that 84.3% of dairy workers have desired status. After the intervention, despite the improvements in some items such as hands and upright back position at work and repeating the task; 83/6% had the desired status because of non-compliance with the load weight. Statistical analysis of the data also gave same results. The results of Man-TRA showed, training doesn' t affect work period of time, but increase and decrease in stress score after the intervention on leg, neck, and shoulder is considerable. Overall, despite the desirable final scores, increase in scores of the lower limbs and decrease in neck/shoulder scores are important.Conclusion: Despite the optimum and favorable conditions in ABARKOOH dairies, the training programs to improve physical conditions of the back and neck as the most troubled part of the study, was reported to be effective.