Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the composting performance of anaerobically treated palm oil mill effluent (AnPOME) mixed with paper and grass clippings.Methods Composting was conducted using a laboratory scale system for 40 days. Several parameters were determined: temperature, mass reduction, pH, electrical conductivity, colour, zeta potential, phytotoxicity and final compost nutrients.Results The moisture content and compost mass were reduced by 24 and 18 %, respectively. Both final compost pH value and electrical conductivity were found to increase in value. Colour (measured as PtCo) was not suitable as a maturity indicator. The negative zeta potential values decreased from -12.25 to -21.80 mV. The phytotoxicity of the compost mixture was found to decrease in value during the process and the final nutrient value of the compost indicates its suitability as a soil conditioner.Conclusions From this study, we conclude that the addition of paper and grass clippings can be a potential substrate to be composted with anaerobically treated palm oil mill effluent (AnPOME). The final compost produced is suitable for soil conditioner.

Purpose The present research was conducted with the objective of exploring the vermicomposting process, which involves different stages such as building of a vermicompost station; import of a compost earthworm (Eisenia foetida); and production of vermicompost using dry grass clippings, rice straw and cow manure. The vermicompost produced can be of significant value to the end users like farmers for replacement of chemical fertilizers and procuring better prices for the organic produce using such composting material locally available at much lower cost. Methods Vermicomposting was done using Eisenia foetida with three treatments [T1 (Rice straw), T2 (Rice straw + grass) and T3 (Grass)]. Temperature, humidity and pH were measured during the process. The population of earthworms, the production of vermicompost, and the chemical and microbial characteristics of the vermicompost were recorded after sixty (60) days and hundred twenty (120) days. The data were analyzed statistically using Sigma Plot 12. 0. Results Results indicated that for all the three treatments the temperature was in the range of 0– 35 ° C, the humidity was between 80 and 100% and the pH fluctuated in the range of 5. 5– 7. 0 and stabilized to near neutral on the 60th day. The combination of rice straw and grass had the highest rate of vermicompost production of 105 kg/m2 followed by grass and rice straw with 102. 5 kg/m2 and 87 kg/m2, respectively, at the end of 120 days. Conclusion The harvested vermicompost had an excellent nutrient status, confirmed by the chemical analyses, and contained all the essential macro-and micronutrients.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to to produce vermiwash and vermicompost using organic waste material and study its effect on the growth, development and yield of tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. ) in field condition. Method The experiment was carried out in two phases: the production of vermicompost followed by vermiwash using Eisenia foetida earthworms and the cultivation of tomato plants using the same. In the first phase of production of vermicompost, three types of organic waste (dry grass clippings, dry neem leaves and a combination of dry grass clippings and dry neem leaves) were utilized with three replications. The second phase consisted of a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with four treatments and three replications in the field condition. The treatments were control (C), vermicompost (V), vermiwash (W) and a combination of vermicompost and vermiwash (VW). Results The results revealed that the vermicompost produced had a dark color, finely divided peat-like material, with desirable soil odor and a fine smooth texture and an adequate nutritional value, which was confirmed to have good quality. The vermiwash produced from the different vermicomposting bins was brownish colour liquid and had all the essential macro and micro-nutrients. The combination of vermicompost and vermiwash (0. 05 kg + 0. 05 l) significantly (p < 0. 05) resulted in the highest yield followed by vermiwash (0. 1 l) and vermicompost (0. 1 kg). Conclusion The combination of vermicompost and vermiwash as a bio-fertilizer had a positive effect on the plant growth parameters and production of the tomato plants.

Salinity of soil and irrigation water creates major problems for forage production. This study was aimed to evaluate the quality and quantity of forage production in intercropping of kochia (Kochia scoparia L.) with blue panic grass (Panicum antidotale Retz.) under irrigation with saline water (4.9 dS.m-1). The study was performed based on randomized complete block design with three replications during growing season 2010-2011 at Salinity Research Field, of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Treatments were five different levels including 100, 75, 50, 25 and 0 percentage of relative composition of the two species. Treatment of 50% blue panic grass and 50% kochia with an average of 1408 g.m-2 produced the highest dry matter yield followed by 25% blue panic grass + 75% kochia and 75% blue panic grass + 25% kochia produced 1317 and 993 g.m-2, respectively. Due to lower growth rate of blue panic grass in the first year, a large proportion of dry matter in the mixture was associated with kochia and land equivalent ratio was less than one in all intercropping treatments. In the first and the second clippings, there was no significant difference between intercropping treatments in terms of crude protein, ash, NDF and ADF.

In order to evaluate some physiological traits such as activity of antioxidant enzymes (Superoxid-Dismutase, Catalase, Glutathione peroxidase) and production of biomarkers (Malon De Aldeide, Dityrozin, Dihydroxy guanozin), an experiment was carried out in two dry land and irrigated conditions at Zanjan Agricultural Research Center during 2007-2008. The experiment using two plants grass pea and barely in pure and mixed cropping was designed as randomized complete blocks with five treatments and four replications.Treatments were as fallows: 1. pure stand of barely 2. pure stand of grass pea 3. ratio of 75% grass pea+25% barely, 50% grass pea +50% barely, 25% grass pea+75% barely. Results showed that production levels of biomarkers (MDA, DI-TY, DG) and enzymes activity (SOD, CAT, GPX) and electrical conductivity (EC) were higher in dry land compared to irrigated condition. The measurement of anti-oxydant enxymes as anti-stress enzymes showed that enzymes activity increased with increasing biomarkers production rate in dry condition. In addition, % nitrogen, relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll contenta, b in dry condition were lower than irrigated condition. Higher ratio of grass pea and lower ratio of barley in mixed croppings, there were greater enzymes activity (SOD, CAT, GPX), % nitrogen, RWC, chlorophylla, b, and lower amount of biomarkers (MDA, DI-TY, DG) and EC. With increasing of ratio legume in mixtures, activity of antioxidant enzymes increased and biomarkers production decreased. One reason for increasing activity of antioxidant enzymes in mixcropping with high ratios of legume was due to rhizobium bacteria and effects of these bacteria in increasing free radical oxygens. Therefore, for nitrogen fixation during nodule formation and elimination oxygen free radicals, activity of antioxidant enzymes increased and, thus biomarkers production decreased.

Introduction: Severe water shortage is one of the major challenges of agricultural sector in arid and semi-arid region. Optimal use of water resources, along with improving the efficiency of nutrient elements under drought conditions, will increase or stabilize crop yield. Forage production using plant species with low water requirement and adapted to low quality waters is a sustainable strategy for fodder production in dry areas. Blue panic grass (Panicum antidotale Retz. ) is a halophytic crop plant, which is water productive and adapted to tropical conditions. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of drought stress, nitrogen and potassium on some physiological characteristics and dry matter yield of blue panic grass in Birjand, South-Khorasan province of Iran. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted as a split-factorial experiment with three replications using a randomized complete block design at the Research Field of Islamic Azad University of Birjand. Irrigation was considered as the main factor at three levels based on cumulative evaporation from evaporation pan class A (70, 140 and 210 mm), nitrogen fertilizer was applied in three levels based on soil test including zero, 50% (100 kg ha-1) and 100% (200 kg ha-1) of recommended N. Potassium was applied in two levels (zero and 100 kg ha-1). Blue panic grass is perennial and in the first year, most of the photosynthetic assimilate are being used for the establishment of the plant; Hence, treatments were imposed in the second year of the experiment. During the growing season, radiation use efficiency and water use efficiency calculated three times during the growing season. Dry matter accumulation was measured at the final harvest. In addition, nitrogen use efficiency and agronomic nitrogen efficiency were calculated based on the consumed nitrogen fertilizer during the growing season and total dry matter harvested during the growing season. Results and Discussion: Results showed that under water stress conditions the radiation use efficiency decreased, while, water use efficiency increased. We concluded that providing enough water and nutrients can increase dry matter production and radiation use efficiency. Application of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers under severe water stress conditions led to an increasing water use efficiency. Application of higher levels of nitrogen reduced nitrogen use efficiency. Conclusions: Blue panic grass showed good performance under water stress conditions. Results indicated that application of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers under water stress conditions could mitigate the adverse effects of drought stress and increase nitrogen and water use efficiency.