Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University is a public university in Iran. It was established in 1974 as a non-profit educational unit for the purpose of creating agricultural education courses. The university was originally called the Higher Agricultural Engineering School and offered general agricultural, forestry, rangeland and animal husbandry courses. In 1979, the Higher Agricultural Engineering School, along with several other centers, provided the foundation for the establishment of the University of Mazandaran in the city center of Babolsar. In 1997, after upgrading the facilities and capabilities, two colleges of agricultural sciences and natural resources were granted a single license, and they officially began their training activities in the academic year of 1997-1998.According to the ranking of Iranian Universities, this public university is among the top three of agricultural and natural resources universities in the country..
Global climate change and subsequent increase in temperature and dry periods are expected to affect agricultural productivity and food security. Here, we modeled the impact of future climate on water yield and rice productivity across a range of elevations in two watersheds in Northern Iran using the AquaCrop model. After evaluating 19 Atmosphere-ocean general circulation models (AOGCMs) from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) using statistical metrics, the models with better performance at six stations were selected in predicting historical air temperature (T) and precipitation (P). Our results showed that, despite a general increase in minimum and max air temperature during near future period (2020–2040), spring months had the highest increase in Tmax, while the lowest increase occurred during the winter months for all the stations. The greatest change in precipitation was observed in summer months. Increases in the future T and P were predicted to be larger at higher altitudes. The annual trend of rice yield was increasing based on RCP4.5 scenario and a gradually increasing pattern in rice yield was revealed from the lowlands to uplands. Under the RCP8.5 scenario, the annual rice yield in most areas was predicted to decline in the future, except for the upland area. In the lowland areas, most of the AOGCMs predicted a decrease in the water productivity, but an increase in water productivity was observed in the upland areas. The information on water productivity would help devise strategic water management plans during periods of both water shortage and excess under a changing climate.
This study investigated the application of VIS-NIR spectroscopy coupled with unsupervised machine learning algorithms for determining salt levels in toast bread slices. Samples were prepared at three salt levels: low (7–13 g), normal (16–25 g), and high (28–34 g), and stored at room temperature and in the refrigerator (4 °C) to evaluate the effect of storage conditions during 7 days. Spectral data were captured from the crust and crumb of each slice directly and through the plastic package. The data were preprocessed using MSC, SNV, and SG filters and then analyzed using unsupervised clustering algorithms. Results indicated that salt level significantly influenced spectral differences in both crumb and crust samples. Among the preprocessing methods, MSC yielded the best performance, with PC1 explaining 88–93
Briquettes, as a class of compacted solid biofuels, can be manufactured from several sources to serve as sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. This research studied the effect of various types of binders -organic (walnut shell [WS] and calcium lignosulphonate [CL]), and inorganic (magnesium oxide [MgO])- on the properties of carbonized briquettes derived from biomass wastes. Cylindrical briquettes of mixing industrial/garden sawdust (50/50) and 10 wt
Forest fires pose a significant threat to rural areas, affecting ecosystems, property, infrastructure, and human lives. Effective post-fire management strategies are crucial for short-term ecosystem and community recovery. This study evaluated the effectiveness of three post-fire interventions in reducing soil erosion and runoff within a temperate Atlantic–transition climate, focusing on a shrubland hillslope near organic vineyards in Corullón, NW Spain, after a moderate-severity fire. The research aimed to (i) compare the effects of plowing, straw mulching, and no intervention (control) on post-fire soil recovery, and (ii) assess the cost-effectiveness and environmental impacts of these treatments. Ten experimental plots were randomly assigned to plowing (n = 4), straw mulching (n = 4), or control (n = 2). Seventeen rainfall events were monitored between 15 days and six months post-fire. Results showed no significant differences in erosion or runoff reduction among treatments. Natural vegetation recovery, assessed visually, was rapid across all plots, with erosion and runoff stabilizing within two months. These findings suggest that, under the specific conditions of this temperate climate and moderate fire severity, early intervention techniques may not be necessary. The study concludes that natural regeneration can be a viable and cost-effective post-fire management strategy in regions with favorable environmental conditions for soil recovery, potentially reducing the need for intensive interventions.
