University of Guilan Cereal Research 2252-0163 5 3 2015 12 21 Effect of indol acetic acid and kinetin on morphological traits, yield and yield components of rice varieties under drought stress conditions Effect of indol acetic acid and kinetin on morphological traits, yield and yield components of rice varieties under drought stress conditions 203 218 1451 FA Mostafa Salehifar Ph. D. Student, Dept. of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Iran (current address: University of Applied Science and Technology, Astara, Iran) Babak Rabiei Prof., Dept. of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Iran Mansour Afshar Mohammadian Assoc. Prof., Dept. of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Guilan, Iran Jafar Asghari Prof., Dept. of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Iran Journal Article 2014 05 17 To assess the effects of indol acetic acid (IAA) and kinetin regulators on morphological, yield and yield components of rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties under early and terminal drought stress conditions a pot experiment under farm condition was carried out as factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with three replications in Faculty of Agricultural Science, University of Guilan in 2013. The experimental factors were four rice varieties (Gharib, Khazar, Sepidrood and Upland rice, IR 83750-131-1), drought stress in three levels (non-stress, early season stress from stage 1 to stage 4 of Vergara coding system and terminal season stress from stage 4 to end of the stage 9) and growth regulators in three levels (non-regulator and 5×10-5 M of IAA and kinetin as spraying on whole plant). Results indicated that main effects of the all factors on all measured traits were significant, but the interaction effect of variety×stress×growth regulator was significant only on total grain number, grain number per panicle, panicle length and 1000-grain weight. Under early season stress, reduction of tiller number leads to a reduction in grain yield in all studied varieties. Generally, application of both growth regulators, IAA and kinetin, increased grain yield more than 50 percent under both early and terminal season drought stress, but under terminal drought stress, the role of kinetin was more than IAA. The highest value of stress tolerance index (STI) with average of 1.01 was observed in Sepidrood. Drought stress index (DSI) also indicated that all measured traits decreased under terminal season stress compared to non-stress condition and the highest decrease with average of 71.45 percent was observed in grain yield. In total, results of this research indicated that exogenous application of these two regulators had the effective role in the improvement of morphological traits, grain yield and yield component in both early and terminal season drought stress. To assess the effects of indol acetic acid (IAA) and kinetin regulators on morphological, yield and yield components of rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties under early and terminal drought stress conditions a pot experiment under farm condition was carried out as factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with three replications in Faculty of Agricultural Science, University of Guilan in 2013. The experimental factors were four rice varieties (Gharib, Khazar, Sepidrood and Upland rice, IR 83750-131-1), drought stress in three levels (non-stress, early season stress from stage 1 to stage 4 of Vergara coding system and terminal season stress from stage 4 to end of the stage 9) and growth regulators in three levels (non-regulator and 5×10-5 M of IAA and kinetin as spraying on whole plant). Results indicated that main effects of the all factors on all measured traits were significant, but the interaction effect of variety×stress×growth regulator was significant only on total grain number, grain number per panicle, panicle length and 1000-grain weight. Under early season stress, reduction of tiller number leads to a reduction in grain yield in all studied varieties. Generally, application of both growth regulators, IAA and kinetin, increased grain yield more than 50 percent under both early and terminal season drought stress, but under terminal drought stress, the role of kinetin was more than IAA. The highest value of stress tolerance index (STI) with average of 1.01 was observed in Sepidrood. Drought stress index (DSI) also indicated that all measured traits decreased under terminal season stress compared to non-stress condition and the highest decrease with average of 71.45 percent was observed in grain yield. In total, results of this research indicated that exogenous application of these two regulators had the effective role in the improvement of morphological traits, grain yield and yield component in both early and terminal season drought stress.

https://cr.guilan.ac.ir/article_1451_c78905dd667fc9b7e3e2ebb6eab3bd28.pdf

University of Guilan Cereal Research 2252-0163 5 3 2015 12 21 Symbiotic effect of endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica with rice (Oryza sativa) on resistance against Bakanae disease Symbiotic effect of endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica with rice (Oryza sativa) on resistance against Bakanae disease 219 230 1452 FA Abbas Hajipoor Bagheri Ph. D. Student, Dept. of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Iran Mohammad Mahdi Sohani Assist. Prof., Dept. of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Iran Seyed Hassan Hassani Assist. Prof., Dept. of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Iran Valiollah Babaiezad M. Sc., Agricultural Genetics and Biotechnology Institute of Tabarestan, Iran Seyed Mohammad Alavi Assist. Prof., Dept. of Plant Protection, Sari University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Iran Journal Article 2015 05 24 Fusarium prolifratum is a causal agent of Bakanae disease (root rot and crown rot) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) which result in sever reduction of plant growth and yield. Morever, it produces mychotoxin that cause toxication in human and animals.Piriformospora indica is a endophytic fungus that can induced systemic resistance against different plant pathogens. In the current study, rice plants were pre-inoculated with P. indica followed by infected with Fusarium prolifratum in order to study the endophytic effects on plant resistance against Bakane disease as well as possibility of non-chemical control of the disease. A mild typical symptoms of the Bakane disease were developed in rice plants pre-inoculated with P. indica and chalenged with the Fusarum. Activity of some antioxidant enzymes such as Proxidase (POD), Ascorbat proxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) were measured 4 days after inoculation with F. prolifratum in root and leaves. The concentration of the three enzymes were significantly higher in colonized plants with P. indica and challenged with F. prolifratum compare to non-colonized and control plants in root and leaves. These results suggest that P. indica might protect rice from necrotrophic pathogens through activating the plant antioxidant enzyme. Therefore, results of this research showed that the endophytic fungus P. indica can be used as one of the non-chemical methods for controlling Bakanae disease in rice. Fusarium prolifratum is a causal agent of Bakanae disease (root rot and crown rot) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) which result in sever reduction of plant growth and yield. Morever, it produces mychotoxin that cause toxication in human and animals.Piriformospora indica is a endophytic fungus that can induced systemic resistance against different plant pathogens. In the current study, rice plants were pre-inoculated with P. indica followed by infected with Fusarium prolifratum in order to study the endophytic effects on plant resistance against Bakane disease as well as possibility of non-chemical control of the disease. A mild typical symptoms of the Bakane disease were developed in rice plants pre-inoculated with P. indica and chalenged with the Fusarum. Activity of some antioxidant enzymes such as Proxidase (POD), Ascorbat proxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) were measured 4 days after inoculation with F. prolifratum in root and leaves. The concentration of the three enzymes were significantly higher in colonized plants with P. indica and challenged with F. prolifratum compare to non-colonized and control plants in root and leaves. These results suggest that P. indica might protect rice from necrotrophic pathogens through activating the plant antioxidant enzyme. Therefore, results of this research showed that the endophytic fungus P. indica can be used as one of the non-chemical methods for controlling Bakanae disease in rice.

https://cr.guilan.ac.ir/article_1452_511439bb5e9982271ceed3f94b9e079e.pdf

University of Guilan Cereal Research 2252-0163 5 3 2015 12 21 Evaluation of grain yield performance and tolerance to drought stress in wheat genotypes using drought tolerance indices Evaluation of grain yield performance and tolerance to drought stress in wheat genotypes using drought tolerance indices 231 246 1453 FA Morteza Kamrani Assist. Prof., Dept. of Plant Production, Moghan Faculty of Agricultural and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran Abbas Farzi M. Sc. Graduate, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil branch, Ardabil, Iran Asghar Ebadi Assist. Prof., Dept. of Plant Production, Moghan Faculty of Agricultural and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran Journal Article 2014 10 11 To evaluate drought tolerance in rainfed wheat genotypes, an experiment was conducted with 34 genotypes of bread wheat in two conditions (drought stress and non-stress) using randomized complete block design with three replications, in 2012-2013 growing season. Combined analysis of variance over two experiment showed that drought stress significantly decreased plant height, plant weight, peduncle weight and length, grain weight per spike, grain number per spike, 1000 grain weight, grain yield, chlorophyll content and day to ripening, but there was no significant effect on the harvest index and days to heading. Under the drought condition, the genotypes 7, 11 and 13 had the highest grain yield with an average of 4.290, 4.290 and 4.260 ton.ha-1, respectively, while under the irrigated condition, the genotypes 13, 22 and 7 produced the highest grain yield with an average of 7.44, 5.96 and 5.78 ton.ha-1, respectively. To identify drought tolerance genotypes, drought tolerance indices such as tolerance index (TOL), stress susceptibility index (SSI), mean productivity (MP), geometric mean productivity (GMP), harmonic mean (HMP), stress tolerance index (STI) and yield stability index (YSI) were used. Results showed that GMP, MP, HMP and STI indices were positively correlated with grain yield under both stress and non-stress conditions. Therefore, they can be exploited not only to screen drought tolerance but also to identify superior genotypes for both stress and non-stress field conditions. Principal component analysis using grain yield under both conditions and drought tolerance indices showed that the genotypes 3, 7, 11 and 14 were the most tolerant genotypes to drought conditions, while the genotypes 4, 8, 30 and 32 were the most sensitive genotypes. To evaluate drought tolerance in rainfed wheat genotypes, an experiment was conducted with 34 genotypes of bread wheat in two conditions (drought stress and non-stress) using randomized complete block design with three replications, in 2012-2013 growing season. Combined analysis of variance over two experiment showed that drought stress significantly decreased plant height, plant weight, peduncle weight and length, grain weight per spike, grain number per spike, 1000 grain weight, grain yield, chlorophyll content and day to ripening, but there was no significant effect on the harvest index and days to heading. Under the drought condition, the genotypes 7, 11 and 13 had the highest grain yield with an average of 4.290, 4.290 and 4.260 ton.ha-1, respectively, while under the irrigated condition, the genotypes 13, 22 and 7 produced the highest grain yield with an average of 7.44, 5.96 and 5.78 ton.ha-1, respectively. To identify drought tolerance genotypes, drought tolerance indices such as tolerance index (TOL), stress susceptibility index (SSI), mean productivity (MP), geometric mean productivity (GMP), harmonic mean (HMP), stress tolerance index (STI) and yield stability index (YSI) were used. Results showed that GMP, MP, HMP and STI indices were positively correlated with grain yield under both stress and non-stress conditions. Therefore, they can be exploited not only to screen drought tolerance but also to identify superior genotypes for both stress and non-stress field conditions. Principal component analysis using grain yield under both conditions and drought tolerance indices showed that the genotypes 3, 7, 11 and 14 were the most tolerant genotypes to drought conditions, while the genotypes 4, 8, 30 and 32 were the most sensitive genotypes.

https://cr.guilan.ac.ir/article_1453_71ea4cd590f7c627c5f0cb29bd54d1de.pdf

University of Guilan Cereal Research 2252-0163 5 3 2015 12 21 Investigation of yield and some traits of wheat and weeds in intercropping with chickpea under nitrogen management in rainfed condition Investigation of yield and some traits of wheat and weeds in intercropping with chickpea under nitrogen management in rainfed condition 247 259 1454 FA Abdolvahab Abdulahi Assist. Prof., Dryland Agricultural Research Institute, Kermanshah, Iran Adel Dabbagh Mohammadinasab Assoc. Prof., Dept. of Plant Ecophysiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Tabriz University, Iran Safar Nasrolahzadeh Assoc. Prof., Dept. of Plant Ecophysiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Tabriz University, Iran Journal Article 2014 11 19 Intercropping is known to improve the utilizing resources and increasing yield and yield stability as compare with monoculture. To evaluate wheat-chickpea intercropping, an experiment in factorial split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications was carried out in Dryland Agricultural Research Institute, Sararoud, Kermanshah, Iran, during two years (2008-10). Two factors, N fertilizer in three levels (1. No fertilizer; 2. 60 kg.ha-1 urea for wheat and 20 kg.ha-1 for chickpea and 3. Nitragin as a biofertilizer + 30 kg.ha-1 urea for wheat and no urea for chickpea) and weed control in two levels (no weeding and weeding) were placed as factorial in main plots. In the sub-plots were also placed ten intercropping patterns including: 1. Wheat monoculture, 2. Chickpea monoculture, 3. Mixed-row intercropping with 1:1 ratio of wheat:chickpea, 4. Mixed-row intercropping with 2:1 ratio of wheat:chickpea, 5. Row intercropping with 1:1 ratio of wheat:chickpea, 6. Strip intercropping with 2:5:1:5 ratio of chickpea:wheat:chickpea:wheat, 7. Strip intercropping with 2:7 ratio of chickpea:wheat, 8. Strip intercropping with 7:2 ratio of chickpea:wheat, 9. Strip intercropping with 4:9 ratio of chickpea:wheat and 10. Strip intercropping with 9:4 ratio of chickpea:wheat. Results showed that number of grain per spike, number of spike per m2, grain yield, plant height, biological yield and harvest index of wheat were affected by inter-specific competition (cropping pattern), year and their interaction effect. Wheat had higher competition ability to uptake and use the resource than chickpea. Strip intercropping patterns with lower width of the wheat strip and more width of chickpea strip (patterns 8 and 10) and row intercropping (pattern 5) were better than the wheat monoculture in most studied traits like plant height in first year, biological and grain yield, harvest index and light absorption. The row intercropping in second year reduced weed biomass in chickpea which not only was superior to monoculture, but it can be used as an approach to weed control in chickpea. Intercropping is known to improve the utilizing resources and increasing yield and yield stability as compare with monoculture. To evaluate wheat-chickpea intercropping, an experiment in factorial split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications was carried out in Dryland Agricultural Research Institute, Sararoud, Kermanshah, Iran, during two years (2008-10). Two factors, N fertilizer in three levels (1. No fertilizer; 2. 60 kg.ha-1 urea for wheat and 20 kg.ha-1 for chickpea and 3. Nitragin as a biofertilizer + 30 kg.ha-1 urea for wheat and no urea for chickpea) and weed control in two levels (no weeding and weeding) were placed as factorial in main plots. In the sub-plots were also placed ten intercropping patterns including: 1. Wheat monoculture, 2. Chickpea monoculture, 3. Mixed-row intercropping with 1:1 ratio of wheat:chickpea, 4. Mixed-row intercropping with 2:1 ratio of wheat:chickpea, 5. Row intercropping with 1:1 ratio of wheat:chickpea, 6. Strip intercropping with 2:5:1:5 ratio of chickpea:wheat:chickpea:wheat, 7. Strip intercropping with 2:7 ratio of chickpea:wheat, 8. Strip intercropping with 7:2 ratio of chickpea:wheat, 9. Strip intercropping with 4:9 ratio of chickpea:wheat and 10. Strip intercropping with 9:4 ratio of chickpea:wheat. Results showed that number of grain per spike, number of spike per m2, grain yield, plant height, biological yield and harvest index of wheat were affected by inter-specific competition (cropping pattern), year and their interaction effect. Wheat had higher competition ability to uptake and use the resource than chickpea. Strip intercropping patterns with lower width of the wheat strip and more width of chickpea strip (patterns 8 and 10) and row intercropping (pattern 5) were better than the wheat monoculture in most studied traits like plant height in first year, biological and grain yield, harvest index and light absorption. The row intercropping in second year reduced weed biomass in chickpea which not only was superior to monoculture, but it can be used as an approach to weed control in chickpea.

https://cr.guilan.ac.ir/article_1454_566f98a42fa829dcfeb54f5e9a6c818d.pdf

University of Guilan Cereal Research 2252-0163 5 3 2015 12 21 Stability analysis of barley advanced lines under Gachsaran tropical environment Stability analysis of barley advanced lines under Gachsaran tropical environment 261 272 1455 FA Behroz Vaezi Scientific Staff Member, Gachsaran Agricultural Research Station, Gachsaran, Iran Jafar Ahmadi Assoc. Prof. Dept. of Production and Plant Breeding, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran Alireza Pour-Aboughadareh Ph. D. Student, Dept. of Production and Plant Breeding, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran Journal Article 2014 05 06 Evaluating genotype × environment interaction effects and identifying stable and high performance varieties under different environmental conditions is very important in plant breeding. In this research, the stability of grain yield of 22 barley advanced lines and two check varieties were evaluated using randomized complete block design with four replications at Gachsaran Rainfed Agricultural Research Station, Gachsaran, Iran, from 2010 to 2013 cropping seasons. Results of combined analysis of variance showed that year × line interaction effect were significant, indicating the studied lines showed different responses to different years and therefore the stable and compatible lines can be recognized. To determine stability of the studied lines, the methods of Romer’s environmental variance, Wrick’s equivalence, Finlay and Wilkinson’s coefficient of regression, Eberhart and Russell’s deviation variance of regression, Shukla’s stability variance, Francis and Kannenberg’s environmental coefficient of variation, Kang’s sum-rank and Kang’s simultaneous yield-stability statistic were used. Results of various parameters were different and different stable lines were identified. However, according to all stability parameters and grain yield of the studied lines in different years, lines 9, 3 and 10 with average grain yield of 4119.84, 3659.50 and 3578.80 kg.ha-1 respectively, were identified as stable and high yielding lines. These lines are recommended to Gachsaran rainfed conditions and similar regions. Evaluating genotype × environment interaction effects and identifying stable and high performance varieties under different environmental conditions is very important in plant breeding. In this research, the stability of grain yield of 22 barley advanced lines and two check varieties were evaluated using randomized complete block design with four replications at Gachsaran Rainfed Agricultural Research Station, Gachsaran, Iran, from 2010 to 2013 cropping seasons. Results of combined analysis of variance showed that year × line interaction effect were significant, indicating the studied lines showed different responses to different years and therefore the stable and compatible lines can be recognized. To determine stability of the studied lines, the methods of Romer’s environmental variance, Wrick’s equivalence, Finlay and Wilkinson’s coefficient of regression, Eberhart and Russell’s deviation variance of regression, Shukla’s stability variance, Francis and Kannenberg’s environmental coefficient of variation, Kang’s sum-rank and Kang’s simultaneous yield-stability statistic were used. Results of various parameters were different and different stable lines were identified. However, according to all stability parameters and grain yield of the studied lines in different years, lines 9, 3 and 10 with average grain yield of 4119.84, 3659.50 and 3578.80 kg.ha-1 respectively, were identified as stable and high yielding lines. These lines are recommended to Gachsaran rainfed conditions and similar regions.

https://cr.guilan.ac.ir/article_1455_5056625bff344c13c8c6fccbcd1b66f6.pdf

University of Guilan Cereal Research 2252-0163 5 3 2015 12 21 Interaction effect of nitroxin biologic fertilizer, mineral nitrogen fertilizer and hydropriming on grain yield and yield components of maize, SC704 Interaction effect of nitroxin biologic fertilizer, mineral nitrogen fertilizer and hydropriming on grain yield and yield components of maize, SC704 273 287 1456 FA Elham Mashhadi M. Sc. Student, Dept. of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Shahrood Industrial University, Iran Hamid Abbasdokht Assoc. Prof., Dept. of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Shahrood Industrial University, Iran Journal Article 2014 09 24 To study the seed inoculation, hydropriming and different levels of nitrogen on yield and yield components of corn, an experiment was carried out as split plot factorial based on randomized complete block design with four replications in Agricultural Research Station of Shahrood Industrial University, during 2007-2008. The treatments were seed priming at two levels (priming and non-priming) in main plots and seed inoculation at two levels (inoculated and non-inoculated) and nitrogen levels (150, 250, 350 kg/ha) as factorial in sub plot. Results showed that seed inoculation and seed priming significantly increased seed yield, biological yield, harvest index, number of row per ear, number of seed per row, 1000-grain weight, ear length, ear diameter, number of leaf per plant and plant height in maize, SC704. Nitrogen levels significantly affected yield and yield components, so that 350 Kg.ha-1 nitrogen produced the highest grain yield. The priming × inoculation interaction effect was significant on the all studied traits except plant height, number of row per ear, number of grain per row, 1000-grain weight and harvest index. The priming × nitrogen interaction effect was also significant on ear weight and grain yield and the inoculation × nitrogen interaction effect was significant on plant height, ear length, 1000-grain weight and grain yield. Results of this research indicated that the hydropriming together with seed inoculation and growth stimulator bacteria including nitroxin significantly increased maize grain yield. Also, seed inoculation together with higher levels of nitrogen fertilizer significantly resulted higher grain yield than the seed inoculation with lower levels of nitrogen. To study the seed inoculation, hydropriming and different levels of nitrogen on yield and yield components of corn, an experiment was carried out as split plot factorial based on randomized complete block design with four replications in Agricultural Research Station of Shahrood Industrial University, during 2007-2008. The treatments were seed priming at two levels (priming and non-priming) in main plots and seed inoculation at two levels (inoculated and non-inoculated) and nitrogen levels (150, 250, 350 kg/ha) as factorial in sub plot. Results showed that seed inoculation and seed priming significantly increased seed yield, biological yield, harvest index, number of row per ear, number of seed per row, 1000-grain weight, ear length, ear diameter, number of leaf per plant and plant height in maize, SC704. Nitrogen levels significantly affected yield and yield components, so that 350 Kg.ha-1 nitrogen produced the highest grain yield. The priming × inoculation interaction effect was significant on the all studied traits except plant height, number of row per ear, number of grain per row, 1000-grain weight and harvest index. The priming × nitrogen interaction effect was also significant on ear weight and grain yield and the inoculation × nitrogen interaction effect was significant on plant height, ear length, 1000-grain weight and grain yield. Results of this research indicated that the hydropriming together with seed inoculation and growth stimulator bacteria including nitroxin significantly increased maize grain yield. Also, seed inoculation together with higher levels of nitrogen fertilizer significantly resulted higher grain yield than the seed inoculation with lower levels of nitrogen.

https://cr.guilan.ac.ir/article_1456_3837e6945ed690412317d18952293692.pdf

University of Guilan Cereal Research 2252-0163 5 3 2015 12 21 The effect of different sizes and amounts of vermicompost on seedlings characteristics of grain maize (SC704) The effect of different sizes and amounts of vermicompost on seedlings characteristics of grain maize (SC704) 289 300 1457 FA Maryam Tajodini M. Sc. Student, Dept. of Soil Science Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran Vahid Reza Jalali Assist. Prof., Dept. of Soil Science Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran Mehdi Sarcheshmehpoor Assist. Prof., Dept. of Soil Science Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran Journal Article 2015 01 24 In recent years, the use of organic fertilizers like vermicompost has extensively been considered in agriculture. To evaluate the effect of different sizes and amounts of vermicompost on seedlings characteristics of grain maize, a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with four replications was conducted, in a controlled conditions greenhouse for 90 days at Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran, in 2014. In this study, vermicompost at four amounts, 0, 1, 2 and 4 percent and three sizes, 0.5, 1 and 2 mm were used and root and shoot fresh weight, root and shoot dry weight, stem height, leaf number, root volume, percentage of colonization and microbial respiration were measured. Results showed that different vermicompost amounts had significant effect than the control treatment on shoot fresh and dry weight, stem height, root volume, leaf number and root fresh and dry weight of maize plant at 1% of probability. Also, results showed significant differences between vermicompost sizes of 0.5 and 2 mm at 1% probability level on the stem height, leaf number and root colonization. Based on the results, it can be concluded that not only incorporating soil with different vermicompost amounts can improve maize morphologic and biologic characteristics, but also the sizes of vermicompost via improving the soil qualitative characteristics could affects the maize morphologic and yield characteristics. In recent years, the use of organic fertilizers like vermicompost has extensively been considered in agriculture. To evaluate the effect of different sizes and amounts of vermicompost on seedlings characteristics of grain maize, a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with four replications was conducted, in a controlled conditions greenhouse for 90 days at Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran, in 2014. In this study, vermicompost at four amounts, 0, 1, 2 and 4 percent and three sizes, 0.5, 1 and 2 mm were used and root and shoot fresh weight, root and shoot dry weight, stem height, leaf number, root volume, percentage of colonization and microbial respiration were measured. Results showed that different vermicompost amounts had significant effect than the control treatment on shoot fresh and dry weight, stem height, root volume, leaf number and root fresh and dry weight of maize plant at 1% of probability. Also, results showed significant differences between vermicompost sizes of 0.5 and 2 mm at 1% probability level on the stem height, leaf number and root colonization. Based on the results, it can be concluded that not only incorporating soil with different vermicompost amounts can improve maize morphologic and biologic characteristics, but also the sizes of vermicompost via improving the soil qualitative characteristics could affects the maize morphologic and yield characteristics.

https://cr.guilan.ac.ir/article_1457_87ddba6602149ba9dd5461a59fdab474.pdf