To investigate the effect of WEED interference and WEED-free periods on Balangu (Lallemantia royleana Benth. in Wall) and to evaluate the critical period of WEED control (CPWC) in this oilseed crop, an experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with three replications in Naghadeh region in 2018. Experimental consisted of two groups of treatments; WEED INFESTATION treatments (INFESTATION for 144.2, 345.9, 574, 848.2, 1147.6 and 1451.3 growing degree day (GDD) after transplanting and then plots were remained WEED-free the rest of the growing season) and WEED-free treatments (WEEDing for 144.2, 345.9, 574, 848.2, 1147.6 and 1451.3 GDD after transplanting and then plots were remained infested until harvesting time). In each block, one WEED free and WEED infested control was for all the growing season. Results indicated that the density and dry biomass of WEEDs were increased as WEED removal was delayed. In contrast, density and dry biomass of WEEDs were decreased as WEEDs establishment was delayed. Height, tetrachenes fruits, ripened achenes, 1000-seed weight and biological, seed and relative yields of Balangu were decreased and increased as the duration of WEED-infested and WEED-free period increased, respectively. Also, logistic and Gompertz curves fitted to data showed that the beginning and end of the CPWC based on a 10% yield loss of relative yield, was estimated to be from 11 to 108 days after transplanting (97 days WEED-free period) in order to prevent a noticeable yield loss.

The paper presents results of research on WEED INFESTATION and health of spring wheat grown in the three-year monoculture. The field experiment was carried out on loess soil, classified as “good wheat complex” (soil class II). The first experimental factor was the type of Catch Crop (CC): (a) Object control, no catch crop, (b) White mustard, (c) Tansy phacelia, and (d) Mixture (bean+spring vetch+oat). The second factor was Tillage System (TS): (a) Plow Tillage (PT), and (b) Conservation Tillage (plowless tillage, CT). It was proved that catch crops (especially white mustard) could be an effective way to reduce the negative effects of growing spring wheat in monoculture. This causes both the reduction of the number and weight of WEEDs in the field, as well as reduction of the proportion of fungal pathogens infecting wheat plants. The regenerating effects of catch crops in the three-year wheat monoculture were more effective under conventional tillage conditions compared to conservation tillage. It also showed that the conservation tillage system had significant effect on increasing the quantitative indicators of WEED INFESTATION of wheat and increasing the number of WEED seeds in the soil. Conventional tillage with plowing resulted in smaller biodiversity of WEED species than conservation tillage system. Tillage method did not cause differentiation degree of infection of wheat stem base by a fungal disease complex. Catch crops, in particular white mustard, proved to be an effective method to reduce the degree of infection of spring wheat by fungal pathogens.

Understanding the relationship between WEEDs and lentils is essential for effective WEED management. an experiment was conducted in the growing season of 2017 in a field located in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Campus of Razi University, Kermanshah. At the early stages of crop growing, the field was monitored and different INFESTATION levels of WEEDs were determined and six classes were determined. Class, one exhibited the lowest level of WEED INFESTATION, whereas class six showed the highest. Each class was treated as a separate treatment, with five replications conducted for each one. The results of our survey showed that the lentils yield, biomass and harvest index were significantly affected by the WEED INFESTATION levels in which up to 81% yield loss was observed with increasing WEED INFESTATION intensity. The maximum leaf area index of lentil was achieved at 50 to 60 days after emergence. The maximum lentil leaf area index was observed in the first and second WEED INFESTATION classes, and with the increase in the INFESTATION intensity, the lowest amounts of lentil leaf area index was observed in the fifth and sixth classes. In addition, the accumulation of lentil dry matter in the first and second classes of WEED INFESTATION were more than the other classes. In general, due to the high vulnerability of lentil to competition with WEEDs, WEED management until the lentil reaching the maximum leaf area index (day 50 days after emergence) is crucial.

The critical period of WEED control (CPWC) is a period in the crop growth cycle during which WEEDs must be controlled to prevent yield losses. In order to determine the critical period of WEED control (CPWC) of corn in Hamedan, an experiment was conducted in 2007 at Agricultural Research Station of Bu-Ali Sina University of Hamedan. The experiment was carried out as a randomized complete block design with three replications. The trial included twelve treatments consisted of six initial WEED-free periods in which plots were kept free of WEEDs for 0, 15, 25, 35, 45 and 55 days after crop emergence (DAE), and then WEEDs were allowed to grow until harvest and six initial WEED-infested periods in which, WEEDs were allowed to grow for 0, 15, 25, 35, 45 and 55 DAE, after which the plots were kept free of WEEDs until harvest. Each plat consisted of four rows (six meter per row) with a row spacing of 75 cm. . WEED sampling carried out in first series of treatments at the end of growth season and in second series of treatments at the4 end of infested periods. The results showed that beginning of CPWC ranged from 124 to 204 GDD, at 5% and 10% AYL, which equates to 8 and 16 days after crop emergence (3 and 5 leaf), respectively. The end of the CPWC varied from 395 to 289 GDD, at 5% and 10% AYL, which equates to 31 and 24 days after crop emergence (10 and 7 leaf), respectively. Total dry weight of WEEDs increased as the duration of WEED infested period increased and it was decreased with increasing duration of the WEED-free period. Grain yield of corn increased with increasing duration of the WEED-free period and decreased as the duration of WEED infested period increased.

Ticks are important ectoparasites in equids which causes economic losses in animal husbandry of Iran and worldwide. This study was aimed to determine frequency and species diversity of hard ticks in equids in Turkman sahra, Iran. 240 equids were randomly selected and examined from 2018-2019. Ixodid ticks were collected from body surface of examined animals and identified. Of all examined equids, 37.91% horses, and 4.16% donkeys were infested with a total number of 357 ixodid ticks. Tick indices (tick number per animal) were 3.53.  The highest prevalence of hard ticks was found in ≥3 years-old equids in the region. There was significant difference between prevalence and different age groups of infested animals. Of all examined ticks (357), three genera including Hyalomma spp., Rhipicephalus spp. and Dermacentor spp. with four species. i.e. Hyalomma anatolicum (65.26%), H. marginatum (10.64%), Rhipicephalus bursa (22.12%) and Dermacentor marginatus (1.96%) were identified. Ixodid ticks’ INFESTATIONs occured throughout the year with the highest prevalence in spring. There was significant difference between prevalence of hard ticks and seasons in this study. The results revealed that species diversity and ixodid ticks’ INFESTATIONs were prevalent in the equids of Turkman sahra, Iran.

In order to study the response of potato growth indices in the seed production and commercial crop plant densities to WEED INFESTATION period an experiment was conducted in Agricultural faculty of Bu-Ali Sina University in 2006. This experiment was a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. Experimental treatments were potato plant density at two levels, 5.33 (optimum plant density of commercial fields) and 6.66 (optimum plant density of seed production fields) plant m-2 and WEED INFESTATION periods at seven levels, in which at the five levels, WEEDs were allowed to grow for 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 days after crop emergence and then WEEDs were removed manually until harvest, In addition two control treatments (full- season WEEDed and full season infested) were taken. Each plot consisted of four rows (eight meter per rows) with a row spacing of 75 cm. In order to calculate the growth indices of crop sampling started from 10 days after crop emergence, and repeated in 10 days interval, for 11 times. The results showed that until 40 days after crop emergence, total dry matter accumulation was not affected by WEED INFESTATION period and about 90 days after crop emergence WEED INFESTATION had maximum effect of total dry matter. In the low plant density, the effect of WEED INFESTATION period on leaf area index, crop growth rate and tuber growth rate was more than those of high plant density. So that full- season WEED competition led to a 44.4%, 36.5%, 42.3% and 40.0% reduction in above mentioned potato growth indices (at their maximum amount), respectively, in compared to WEED- free treatment, at the low plant density. However, the reduction in the high plant density was 40.0%, 34.8%, 39.7% and 35.1 %, respectively. The effect of WEED INFESTATION on tuber yield in commercial plant density was more than those of seed production plant density.

Aloe vera, Aloe barbadensis Mill is a highly important and extensively cultivated medicinal plant in the folk medicine and cosmetic industry. WEEDs have impact on medicinal plants yield. The effect of WEEDs on medicinal plants accounted for approximately 45% yield loss. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate WEEDing method for Aloe vera plant and to improve the yield of Aloe vera. Nine different WEEDing methods were arranged, including herbicide and WEEDy check. The experimental trial was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three repetitions at Hawassa location. Data were subjected to analysis of variance. The results recorded 30 WEED species belonging to 14 families associated with the A.vera plant in Hawassa. The highest WEED density was recorded in the WEED-Check plot (WD=5.00). The lowest number of monocot and dicot WEEDs was recorded in HWH4 (MW=1.33; (DW=0.33). Higher fresh and dry leaf weight were recorded for HWH3 (FLW=165.88g) and HWH4 (DLW=126.32g), respectively. Higher gel weight was recorded in HWH3 (GW=227.99g). A significantly lower WEED density was recorded when WEEDs were removed up to 60 DAP at 15 days interval. Therefore, hand WEEDing and hoeing four times after transplanting Aloe vera suckers was the most effective WEEDing method for Aloe vera.

In order to determine the response of yield and yield components of potato in seed production and commercial planting densities to WEED INFESTATION periods an experiment was conducted in Agricultural Research Farm of Bu-Ali Sina University in 2006. This experiment was conducted in a factorial arrangement based on a randomized complete block design with three replications.Experimental treatments were potato plant density at two levels, 5.33 (optimum plant density of commercial fields) and 6.66 (optimum plant density of seed production fields) plant per square meter and WEED INFESTATION period at seven levels, in which at the five levels, WEEDs were allowed to grow for 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 days after crop emergence and then WEEDs were removed manually until harvest. In addition two control treatments (WEED free and WEEDy check) were also considered.Each plot consisted of four rows (eight meter per row) with row spacing of 75 cm. In order to calculate the total dry mass accumulation, crop sampling was started 10 days after crop emergence and repeated for 11 times, at 10 days interval. Yield and yield components were determined at harvest. The results showed that the effect of WEED INFESTATION on total dry matter accumulation trend was started 40 days after emergence and about 90 days after reached to maximum. The effect of WEED INFESTATION on total dry matter, tuber yield, number of tuber per square meter and mean of tuber weight in commercial plant density was more than seed production plant density. The number of main stem was not affected by WEED INFESTATION in both plant densities.

A two-year experiment was performed to evaluate the efficacy of spermidine on the field performance of marigold under water deficit and WEED INFESTATION conditions in the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons. The experiment was arranged as the split split-plot design based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. Irrigation intervals (I1, I2, and I3: irrigation after 40, 80, and 120 mm evaporation from the class A pan, respectively) were assigned to main plots, WEED INFESTATION (WEED free and WEED INFESTATION) was assigned to the subplots, and foliar applications of spermidine (1 mM) (4-6th leaf stages and pre-blooming stage) were allocated to sub-subplots. The percentage of ground cover, leaf water content, leaf area index, and oil and essential oil yield decreased and leaf temperature increased in the I2 and I3 and also in WEED INFESTATION conditions. This reaction led to a decline in the grain yield of marigold plants. Foliar application of spermidine increased the percentage of ground cover, leaf water content, leaf area index, and oil and essential oil yield. It also decreased the leaf temperature. In conclusion, spermidine positively affected the grain and oil yield of marigold plants under water stress and WEED INFESTATION conditions.

This study was aimed at analyzing the yield, grain quality and WEED INFESTATION of spring triticale sown in 3 tillage systems: a) conventional tillage (CT)-shallow ploughing and harrowing after harvest of the previous crop, ploughing in the autumn; b) reduced tillage (RT)-only cultivator after harvest of the previous crop, and c) no-tillage (NT)-only glyphosate (360 g L-1) after harvest of the previous crop. Depth of tillage varied according to intended purpose with shallow ploughing at a depth of 10-12 cm, autumn ploughing at a depth of 25-30 cm and cultivator tillage at a depth of 10-15 cm. The yield of spring triticale of ‘Legalo’ cultivar sown in the CT was higher than grain yields from RT and NT systems. The lower productivity of triticale in the NT and RT systems, compared to the CT system, resulted from a reduced number of spikes as well as a lower weight and number of grains from spike. Grain of triticale harvested from CT plots was characterized by a higher content of starch and by lower contents of protein and crude fiber than the grain from the RT and NT systems. The RT and NT systems significantly increased the number and air-dry weight of WEEDs in triticale crop, compared to the CT system.