Chemical fertilizers are among the resources that can quickly supply nutrients to the plant, but their continued and high consumption poses environmental hazards such as contamination of surface and ground water and enrichment of water. Therefore, it is best to replace some of the fertilizers with organic fertilizers. Due to the lack of organic matter in most soils of Iran, it is necessary to consume a variety of organic materials such as municipal manure and sewage sludge. In order to understand the effect of using sludge on morphological and physiological characteristics of FORAGE maize CROP, an experiment was conducted during spring and winter in two seasons in 1976-96 at a farm east of Mashhad at Olang-Altimur refinery. Is. In this study two irrigation treatments with ordinary water (A) and effluent (B) were applied in three replications using chemical fertilizers (S), animal (D) and processed sludge (L). The results showed that the effect of fertilizers application on plant height, stem diameter, corn ear diameter, chlorophyll a, b, t, leaf area and percentage of maize moisture content in water use and wastewater treatments were significant in the first and second CROP season. There was a significant difference between treatments at 5% level and a significant difference between treatments at 1% level. There was no significant difference between AS and AD treatments on plant height, stem diameter, ear diameter and leaf chlorophyll, while no significant difference was observed between BL and BD treatments and the highest percentage of weeding.

In order to evaluate the weed diversity in FORAGE CROP fields such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), clover (Trifolium sp.) and sainfoin (Onobrychis spp.) in different provinces of Iran, a study was conducted by using data from reports of plant Protection Organization, Ministry of Agriculture during 2008. After evaluation of weed species and definition of weed family, these species classified based on functional diversity in four groups such as life cycle, growth type, photosynthetic pathway and persistence degree. The results indicated that the number of weed species and plant families were 37 and 18, respectively, in alfalfa fields. Most diverse families of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weeds were Poaceae and Asteraceae, respectively. Nine species of five different families were observed in sainfoin fields that among these weed families, the highest species diversity was in Poaceae family. In addition, in clover fields of different provinces, 20 species of 11 plant families were observed. The highest species diversity obtained in Poaceae family with six species and Brassicaceae family with four species. The highest similarity index for alfalfa fields (100%) was observed between West Azerbaijan-Ardabil, West Azerbaijan- Zanjan, West Azerbaijan- Kordestan, Ardabil- Kordestan, Zanjan- Kordestan, Zanjan-Gilan, Kordestan - Gilan, West Azerbaijan- Gilan and Ardabil- Gilan. The highest similarity for sainfoin fields (0.60) was between East Azerbaijan- West Azerbaijan and West Azerbaijan- Fars. Also, in clover fields, the highest similarity index was obtained between Fars and Isfahan provinces.

In order to determine the effect of deficit irrigation on yield and water use efficiency of FORAGE sorghum, this research was carried out in a randomized complete block design and a split plot arrangement with three replicates at Zahak Researh Station in Zabol, Iran, during 2004 and 2005 growing seasons. Basin and furrow methods were in the main plot and irrigation amounts consisting of T1=100%, T2=80%, and T3=60% of the CROP water requirement were in the subplots. The combined results of the two-year experiment showed that the effect of irrigation methods was not significant, while irrigation amounts showed a significant effect on dry matter, at %1 probability level. The maximum yield was 22.18 t/ha and was obtained in furrow irrigation with T2 treatment. The interaction effect of irrigation method and amount of water applied on dry yield was significant at %1 probability level. However, there was no significant difference between different treatments of irrigation methods and irrigation amounts regarding fresh FORAGE yield, at %5 probability level. But, the maximum fresh FORAGE obtained was 105.6 t/ha and belonged to furrow irrigation with T1. The maximum and minimum water use efficiencies were obtained in basin irrigation method with T3 and T1 and were, respectively, 1.78 kg/m3 and 1.21 kg/m3.

Irrigation scheduling is very important under water stress condition. To investigate the CROP water stress phenomena, several indices have been presented, of which one is CWSI. In order to investigate the ability of this index in irrigation scheduling of Maize (SC704), a research in a randomized blokes design with four experimental treatments was conducted in Khoram Abad region in 2011. Experimental treatments including IR1: 100% water requirement, IR2: 80% water requirement (by Regulated deficit irrigation), IR3: 60% water requirement (by Regulated deficit irrigation) and IR4: 50% water requirement (by Partial root zone drying management). The results showed that the amount of CWSI was significantly affected by water stress. The CWSI index for IR1, IR2, IR3, and IR4 treatments were 0. 17, 0. 21, 0. 39, 0. 29 and the amount of yield were 21560, 19500, 12560 and 14860 Kg/ha, respectively. In this study, the best treatment was IR1 (with the minimum CWSI and the maximum Yield) and the worst treatment was IR3 (with the maximum CWSI and the Minimum Yield). Based on CWSI index, the value of water stress in IR4 treatment was less than the water stress value of IR3 treatment (The CWSI index dropped by 11. 4 percent and the amount of yield increased by 18. 3 percent). In this research, the relationship between the corn FORAGE yield and CWSI index was obtained with high correlation. Regarding the variation of CWSI under different treatments, it can be stated that the CWSI index is able to evaluate the water stress and estimate the corn FORAGE yield.

Controling weeds at their critical periods of growth leads to low production costs and injurious effects of using chemical weed controling methods. In this experiment we studied the timinig effects of weed control (interference of weeds after 20, 40 and 60 days and complete control of weeds) and weed interference periods for 20, 40 and 60 days after planting and complete interference) on growth and yield of FORAGE maize CV. 454. The experiment was conducted incomplete randomized blocks design with three replications at the Research Farm of Islamic Azad University of Tabriz Branch in 2013. According to the results, maintenaning the farm for 40 and 60 days under weed interference after 20 days prevented reduction of maize biomass, while weeds interference after 20 days, weed interference and controling weeds after 40 and 60 days resulted in 41.2%, 35%, 25% and 32.5% reduction of FORAGE maize biomass, respectively. Reduction in fresh weight of corn and fresh weight of leaf and stem were also observed due to interference of weeds after 20 days. If weeds are controlled after 60 days, reduction of corn weight and fresh weight of stem will also results in reduction of biomass. Also, if weeds are controlled after 40 days, stem fresh weight of maize will result in biomass reduction. Corn traits were affected by weeds control treatments. Being affected by treatments of weeds interference after 20 days, weeds noninterference, controlling weeds after 40 and 60 days, the height of corn was reduced by 29.9%, 41.4%, 27.6% and 37.2%, respectively. The stem diameter demonstrated a significant reduction, although it was only affected by treatments of weeds interference and weeds control after 60 days. Based on the results of this study, it may be suggested that controlling weeds during initial 20-60 days of maize growth would prevent the undesirable effect of weeds on growth, production and biomass production of maize and also results in production costs.

Introduction: Conservative agriculture with minimal adverse effects on the environment has been the subject of great interest recently as a means of promoting sustainable CROP production and food security (Nkala et al., 2011). The approach is practiced in large-scale commercial agriculture. Conservative agriculture also encourages the optimal utilization of resources such as soil and water and helps the sustainability of products in the agroecosystem (Stavi et al., 2016). Nonetheless, due to the diversity of conservation farming operations around the world, it is critical to prioritize different tillage methods according to cultivation conditions and climatic conditions (Miller et al., 2012). The main objective of this study was i) to assess the efficacy of different conservative soil tillage (minimum and/or zero tillage) in combination with CROP residue and fertilizer management in achieving maximum CROP production; and ii) to assess the effects of management practices on agroecosystem performance using agronomic and environmental data and scoring function descriptions.Materials and methods: To achieve the goals, a field experiment was carried out involving 7 treatments with varying combinations of different tillage methods, CROP residues and fertilizer management on a field of maize which was planted after the cultivation of a wheat CROP. At the end of the growing season, the chemical and physical soil properties as well as the total yield of corn were measured. The physical and chemical parameters measured in the soil included electrical conductivity, field capacity, available water, porosity, pH, soil organic carbon, total CROP biomass and maize yield. Agroecosystem performance was assessed using a computer program entitled the AgroEcosystem Performance Assessment Tool (AEPAT). It utilizes performance-based index methodology to derive a relative ranking of agroecosystem performance among management practices for functions and indicators included in the procedure. Data measured by the software AEPAT are rated from 0-100 to calculate two agroecosystem functions including conservation agriculture and food production.Results and discussion: The results showed that “stalk chopper+disc+100 kg N-fertilizer+ditcher” treatment resulted in the maximum amounts for field capacity (25.63%), available water (15.63%), porosity (49.2%) and organic carbon (0.73%). The highest total biomass (87.3 th-1) and ear yield (23.8 tha-1) was also obtained using this treatment. In contrast, the lowest amounts for these parameters were obtained with the “stubble burning + disc + ditcher” treatment. This was due to the stubble burning which increased the soil electrical conductivity and reduced the physical and chemical soil quality. On the other hand, leaving the on-farm residue in place plays an important role in regulating electrical conductivity and soil salinity. It can be concluded that the type of agriculture practiced affects the soil physicochemical properties to a high extent. Leaving CROP residue in the field may increase the soil biological activity resulting in soil porosity and aggregation. The analysis on sustainability of agricultural practices showed that “stalk chopper+disc+100 kg N-fertilizer+ditcher” treatment had the highest score for agroecosystem performance (61.21) in terms of both optimum yield and sustainability. The lowest score of 7.63 was obtained with “stubble burning+disc+ditcher” treatment.Conclusion: In conclusion, it was demonstrated that conservative tillage in combination with CROP residue not only led to a higher maize yield but also improved the soil quality. Nonetheless, for conservative tillage to be effective adequate N-fertilizer, as a starter to provide needed CROP growth nutrients, must be applied. In addition, the efficiency of the indexing score is critical in discriminating between different agricultural practices within and across agroecosystem functions. The agricultural practices had a direct effect on agroecosystem performance and the soil physicochemical properties can be used as an index to assess agroecosystem function and performance.

Fodder amaranth CROP (as a new CROP) is recently expanding in many tropical agroecosystems. Also, it is a good alternative CROP in rotation with cereal CROPs in sustainable agriculture system. For the first time in Iran, in 2002, 5 cultivars of fodder amaranth were planted in Ramin (Molasani) Agricultural faculty, near Ahvaz. Statistical design was RCB with 3 replications. Results have shown that total FORAGE yield was between 15 to 32 ton/ha. Pooping CV had a highest FORAGE yield (32 ton/ha). Also, Trigin Cv. With 14/8% protein had a highest FORAGE quality. Therefore, it seems that amaranth CROP especially FORAGE cultivars will have a good potential yield for both quality and quantity parameters in Khozestan. So, more agronomic trials are required.    

Short-term effects of grazing systems and grazing intensities on standing CROP and FORAGE intake of Bromus tomentellus were studied in Homand Abesard rangelands research Station in 2001 . The rotation and continious grazing systems and heavy, medium and light grazing intensities were investigated by a split- split plot design. The results showed that the rotation grazing system had more effects on decreasion of standing CROP and increasing of FORAGE in taking of Bromus tomentellus in comparison of continious grazing system. There were no significant difference between light and moderate intensities of rotation system ,but they differed with heavy treatment significantly .In continious grazing system ,the difference of grazing intensities were significant

To evaluate the effect of pre-planting cover CROP and nitrogen application on some qualitative traits and yield of two FORAGE maize varieties, an experiment was conducted at Tehran University to form of split plot in a randomized complete block design in three replications. Assessed factors included pre-planting vetch as main plots in three levels (fallow (or not Planting), planting of vetch as fodder and planting of vetch as green manure), nitrogen fertilizers as sub plots at three levels (zero, 50 and 100 percent of the recommended amount) and maize varieties as sub-sub plots at two levels (Simon and ZP677 var. ), respectively. The studied traits consisted of percent of dry matter digestibility (DMD), water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), ash, NDF, ADF, protein yield (Kg/ha) and dry matter yield (Kg/ha) of FORAGE maize. The results showed that the fallow treatment had significant effect on WSC% in comparison with green manure and fodder maize. The highest and lowest percent of ADF were observed in green manure and fallow respectively. Green manure and fallow had the highest and the lowest impact on NDF percent, respectively. NDF percent in 50% of recommended urea was the highest and zero percent of urea was the lowest. The highest and lowest percentage of CF was obtained in interaction ZP677 cv × pre-plant vetch as fodder and fallow × Simon cv respectively. In relation to the protein yield, interaction green manure × %100 urea and fallow × %0 urea had the highest and lowest amount respectively. Pre-planting vetch can be affected some quality traits and yield of the next CROP. In general, application of cover CROP along with nitrogen fertilizer for FORAGE corn production can have favorite effects on qualitative traits.