https://aes.uoz.ac.ir/ Agriculture, Environment & Society en daily 1 Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0330 Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0330 https://aes.uoz.ac.ir/article_226977.html This study applied Material Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA) to assess the economic and environmental performance of four key crops—watermelon, onion, tomato, and wheat in the arid Sistan and Baluchestan Province of Iran. Using official 2022–2023 data aligned with ISO 14051, the research quantified input-output flows per hectare, including water, fertilizers, pesticides, energy, and labor, alongside outputs such as yield, emissions, and losses. Results revealed distinct trade-offs: onion achieved the highest economic returns (gross value: $7352.7 ha⁻¹; benefit-cost ratio: 12.6) but incurred significant environmental costs, including nitrate leaching (57.6 kg ha⁻¹) and ammonia emissions (51.7 kg ha⁻¹). Tomato showed moderate profitability ($5337.6 ha⁻¹) with poor energy efficiency (net energy: –30,622.44 MJ ha⁻¹), while watermelon offered balanced sustainability (economic productivity: 100.1 kg $⁻¹; energy ratio: 0.84). Wheat, though economically limited ($681.6 ha⁻¹), had the lowest environmental impact. The analysis highlighted that high-value crops (onion, tomato) generated substantial material losses and energy deficits, whereas low-input crops (watermelon, wheat) exhibited better resource efficiency. Key findings support optimized input management for high-value crops, promotion of watermelon in resource-limited systems, and integration of energy-environmental indicators in agricultural planning, establishing MFCA as an effective tool for sustainability assessment in dryland farming. https://aes.uoz.ac.ir/article_239086.html In order to investigate the nitrate status of cucumber produced in Ilam, 190 samples were collected from the areas where the majority of these crops are grown. All steps of preparation, extraction and nitrate concentration measurements were performed in accordance with the standard methods mentioned in ISO 6635. Using the Boolean model, it is possible to identify and analyze various factors affecting nitrate accumulation, such as farm management factors. According to this model, N-fertilizer application of more than 100 kg ha-1 in some eastern and northern regions had a weight value of zero. The use of growth stimulants in some central areas had a weight value of one. Phosphate fertilizer application more than 50 kg of pure phosphorus (P2O4) per hectare in some eastern and northern regions had a weight value of zero. Potassium fertilizer application less than 50 kg of pure potassium (K2O) per hectare has a weight value of one. According to the Boolean method, potassium fertilizer application more than 50 kg/ha in some eastern and northern areas had a weight value of zero. Good water quality has a weight value of one. In this area, water quality had a weight value of one. Limited areas in the southeast had a weight value of zero. Legume cultivation is not carried out in the southern and central regions and has a weight value of one. The northern regions and part of the eastern region had a weight value of zero. The results of measuring the nitrate concentration in cucumber products showed that, the residual nitrate concentration in cucumber was in a good condition compared to the standards. The average residual nitrate concentration in cucumber was measured at 83.2 mg/kg, all of which were lower than the maximum permissible standard limit. Based on the results, it was determined that nitrate accumulation in cucumber are related to soil limitations. https://aes.uoz.ac.ir/article_239166.html The unique climatic features of semi-arid regions, along with inadequate soil quality characterized by low organic matter and deficiencies of essential micronutrients, have led to a forage scarcity in this area. Adding organic soil amendments with organic fertilizers and zinc nanostructured fertilizers can be crucial for boosting fodder yield. A field trial was conducted to investigate the effects of fertilizers (F0: control, F1: 30 t ha-1 farmyard manure, FYM, F2: 8 t ha-1 compost, F3: 8 t ha-1 vermicompost, F4: recommended dose of chemical NPK, F5: 50% recommended dose of NPK + 15 t ha-1 FYM) and zinc fertilizers (Zn0: control, Zn1: 30 kg ha-1 zinc sulfate, Zn2: 10 kg ha-1 nanostructured zinc) on the growth quality performance of forage corn in the Moghan region, northwest Iran. The highest chlorophyll content and longest stems were obtained with the application of F4+Zn2. The greatest lateral canopy growth was observed in plants treated with F2+Zn2, F4+Zn2, and F5+Zn2. The highest dry matter and relative water content were achieved with the application of animal manure, conventional fertilizers, and zinc nanostructures. Applying nanostructured zinc fertilizers in addition to NPK, either alone, with FYM, or with compost, produced the maximum fresh forage yield. Analysis of forage quality components showed that the application of NPK with nanostructured zinc fertilizers significantly increased dry matter digestibility (5.67%) and crude protein (4.60%). Vermicompost use without zinc application resulted in the highest levels of water-soluble carbohydrates. The highest amounts of neutral detergent fiber were also obtained with F1+Zn0. The response of growth components and forage quality traits to organic fertilizer and zinc sources varied. The optimal quantitative and qualitative characteristics of forage were achieved by applying the recommended rate of NPK and 15 t ha-1 of FYM fertilizers together with zinc nanostructure fertilizers. The results showed that relying solely on chemical or organic fertilizers for forage corn production does not provide acceptable performance. The combined use of conventional chemical fertilizers and animal manure in forage production systems should be considered. https://aes.uoz.ac.ir/article_239048.html Energy flow and environmental impacts are two critical metrics for evaluating the sustainability of agricultural production systems. This study investigates the energy consumption of quinoa production in the Baluchestan region by analyzing various inputs and energy sources. Furthermore, it assesses the environmental impacts of quinoa cultivation using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. Data were collected from local farmers and agricultural professionals in the region, supplemented by information from the Ecoinvent® 3.0 databaseThe LCA was conducted using the cradle-to-farm-gate approach, as outlined in the ISO 14044 standard. This involved four main phases: goal and scope definition, life cycle inventory, life cycle impact assessment, and interpretation of results. Energy indices, including net energy gain, energy use efficiency, specific energy, and energy productivity, were calculated for both the main product and by-product (straw) of the quinoa production system. The environmental impact categories evaluated were global warming potential, Abiotic depletion, ozone layer depletion, acidification, and eutrophication. The energy analysis, which revealed a positive net energy and a high energy use efficiency, demonstrated that quinoa cultivation is an efficient process. The results indicate that a significant portion of the total energy input is expended on the production of the by-product (straw). Additionally, machinery, fuel, and chemical fertilizers were identified as the primary contributors to environmental degradation. Based on these findings, it is recommended to adopt modern machinery and implement conservation agriculture practices, such as residue management and reduced tillage, to minimize the use of chemical fertilizers and fossil fuels. https://aes.uoz.ac.ir/article_239176.html Vegetation plays a significant role in enhancing thermal comfort and regulating outdoor temperatures. This study aimed to find a suitable pattern of tree arrangement to improve the climatic conditions of the surrounding environment and comfort conditions. Assuming that changing the pattern of the tree arrangement is effective in microclimate conditions and thermal comfort. For this purpose, four different types of planting patterns, including tree arrangements in the four-row pattern (Quadruple pattern), six-row pattern (Sextuple pattern), row pattern, scattered pattern, and treeless conditions, have been studied. To achieve this purpose, ENVI-met (5.6.1) was used to simulate and measure Ta (Air temperature), and Tmrt (Mean Radiant Temperature), and also Rayman software (1.2) was used to measure PET (Physiological Equivalent Temperature). The data extracted from the software is validated by comparing it with local data. This research has been done in the open space around high-rise residential buildings in Tabriz, Iran. The results indicate that changing the planting pattern can have some effects on improving the surrounding environmental conditions. Both row and scattered patterns have a better impact on environmental comfort conditions, and the scattered pattern has a better result on the micro-climatic conditions of the region. As a result, considering both factors (Thermal comfort & Microclimate), the scattered pattern is the best scenario compared to other scenarios. https://aes.uoz.ac.ir/article_226978.html Effective water resource management, particularly groundwater management, is essential in arid and semi-arid regions like Kerman Province, where recent natural and human-induced factors have led to critical groundwater depletion. Over the years, excessive groundwater extraction through well pumping has caused significant declines in water tables across many areas, including the Bam Plain of Kerman Province. To investigate this alarming trend, a study analyzed data from 56 observation wells over 15 years, from 2002 to 2017. The hydrograph of the Bam Plain was utilized to assess changes in groundwater levels, revealing a gradual decline until 2012, followed by a steeper drop from 2012 to 2017. Ultimately, the groundwater level in the Bam Plain decreased by approximately 10 meters over the 15 years. ArcGIS software was employed for further analysis using the Kriging method and inverse distance weighting (IDW), leading to maps that depicted groundwater flow directions, iso-depth, and iso-level for specific five-year intervals. The results indicated a decrease in both iso-depth (68-110 meters) and iso-level (940-1100 meters) over three successive five-year periods from 2008 to 2013. By the end of the third period (2013-2014), only a small central area of the plain maintained these depths and groundwater levels, highlighting a significant decline overall. The findings underscored that recent drought conditions, coupled with the unsustainable extraction of groundwater, have critically impacted groundwater levels. This decline poses serious implications for the rural economy, which predominantly relies on agriculture and is directly tied to water availability. Consequently, the welfare of farmers has been adversely affected. The study aims to inform better regional water management strategies to mitigate the ongoing crisis and ensure sustainable groundwater use moving forward. https://aes.uoz.ac.ir/article_239870.html To access the influence of irrigation regimes during application of different levels of farmyards manure (0, 10 and 20 t ha-1), and foliar application of iron and zinc nano-nutrients on camelina, a field trial based on a split-split plot, was conducted in the Razan, Iran. This study utilized the treatment by trait biplot model, after significance of interactions, to assess the performance of camelina under varying micronutrient and water stress conditions, identifying the most effective treatments for improving seed yield and oil content including plant height, number of siliques per plant, seed number per silique, thousand seed weight, seed yield, harvest index, and oil percent. The biplot analysis explained 93% of the total variation, with the first two components describing for 75% and 18%. The results revealed that application of 20 t ha-1 farmyard manure with nano-zinc micronutrient under normal irrigation was the best-performing treatment for most yield-related traits. However, application of 10 t ha-1 farmyard manure with nano-zinc micronutrient under normal irrigation exhibited greater oil content from above mentioned outperformed treatment, indicating that nano-zinc applications with organic amendments enhance agronomic characteristics, oil content and yield performance. For oil content, application of 10 t ha-1 farmyard manure with nano-iron micronutrient under normal irrigation was the most effective treatment. The vector analysis further confirmed a positive correlation between seed yield and thousand seed weight, while height of plant indicated no relation with both seed yield and oil percentage. These findings underscore the agronomic benefits of nano-sized micronutrient fertilizers and their potential for sustainable and high-yield camelina production. Future research should explore long-term soil interactions and economic viability to further optimize nano-fertilizer applications in agriculture. https://aes.uoz.ac.ir/article_215695.html Environmental degradation stemming from excessive consumption of natural resources and chemical inputs threatens resource efficiency and the long-term sustainability of agricultural ecosystems. This study employed a comprehensive questionnaire survey combined with emergy evaluation to assess and compare the efficiency and sustainability of rice and cotton farming ecosystems in Golestan province, Iran, during the 2018–2019 growing season. Results indicated that the total emergy input for rice cultivation (1.01E+17 sej ha⁻¹) substantially exceeded that of cotton (5.14E+16 sej ha⁻¹), highlighting a greater concentration of embodied energy in rice production. In both systems, non-renewable environmental inputs dominated over renewable environmental, purchased renewable, and purchased non-renewable flows. Groundwater emerged as a critical input due to high crop water demand during summer cultivation and negligible seasonal rainfall in the region. The emergy analyses revealed that cotton was more productive per unit emergy invested. Both ecosystems exhibited low emergy renewability, reflecting heavy dependence on non-renewable resources. Cotton demonstrated superior resource efficiency, as evidenced by a higher emergy yield ratio. Economic indicators, including standard and modified emergy investment ratios, showed that rice production incurred significantly higher economic costs and lower efficiency. Environmental loading ratios further indicated that cotton imposed markedly lower environmental pressure, confirming its greater environmental sustainability. Overall, cotton outperformed rice across multiple metrics: production efficiency, resource consumption efficiency, economic efficiency, and environmental sustainability. To enhance the sustainability of such agroecosystems, we recommend reducing reliance on non-renewable purchased inputs and advancing farmer awareness, education, and engagement in sustainable practices. https://aes.uoz.ac.ir/article_239878.html Grain maize (Zea mays) is a strategic crop with a vital role in global food security. Due to a significant yield gap observed in maize farms of Khuzestan Province, this study aimed to assess the yield gap and identify the key agronomic factors contributing to it in Shush County. The research was conducted across 100 maize fields, and data were collected through structured questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. Yield performance was evaluated using Comparative Performance Analysis (CPA) and Boundary Line Analysis (BLA). The average predicted yield was estimated at 8,685 kg ha⁻¹, whereas the potential yield was estimated at 11,557 kg ha⁻¹, indicating a yield gap of 2,872 kg ha⁻¹. The main factors contributing to this gap included insufficient application of poultry manure (29%), inadequate use of insecticides (18%), sulfur fertilizer deficiency (17%), suboptimal disking frequency (22%), and insufficient irrigation frequency (14%). According to the BLA results, optimizing these management variables could substantially improve maize yields. Overall, enhancing farm management practices—particularly the efficient use of organic and chemical fertilizers, improved pest control, and proper scheduling of irrigation and tillage operations—can significantly reduce the maize yield gap and increase productivity in the region. https://aes.uoz.ac.ir/article_240719.html One of the most important ways to remove or reduce carbon dioxide is to store this gas in the form of plant biomass and add organic carbon to the soil. Faba bean is one of the oldest crops, used both for human nutrition and for carbon sequestration. In this study, our objectives were to evaluate carbon sequestration (CS) as a regulating service and to calculate its economic value. For these purposes, a field experiment was carried out as a randomized complete blocks design in the Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (Iran) farm. In this experiment, four cultivars of faba bean are considered as experimental treatments. These common cultivars in Golestan province included Shadan, Mahta, Feyz, and Barkat. This research showed the genetic diversity of faba bean cultivars to provide CS view under the climatic conditions of Gorgan County (Semi-Mediterranean climate). Results showed that the highest soil CS was obtained in plots under Barkat (9,083.2kg/ha) and Feyz (5,877.2 kg/ha) cultivars. Also, there is a significant difference between faba bean cultivars in terms of the total economic value of CS. The economic value of CS was estimated at 494.3 $/ha, which was higher in Barkat than in other cultivars. We observed that cultivated plots under Mahta and Shadan cultivars had the lowest soil CS potential, so that the amount of soil CS was negative in plots cultivated with these cultivars. It means that carbon was transferred to the atmosphere instead of being transferred to the soil. https://aes.uoz.ac.ir/article_219900.html Conservation management practices play a crucial role in enhancing soil microbial activity, which, in turn, drives improvements in net primary productivity (NPPc) and facilitates efficient carbon allocation. This study presents an innovative approach to examining the synergistic effects of tillage systems, varying wheat residue levels, and corn-bean intercropping patterns on soil biological activity and NPPc. The study was conducted as a carefully designed field experiment, utilizing a split-split plot arrangement within a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications, at the Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization in Shahrekord during 2017-2018 growing season. The experiment included three tillage systems (conventional, minimum, and no-tillage) as the main plots, four levels of crop residue (0%, 30%, 60%, and 90% of the straw yield of wheat) as the subplots, and five intercropping patterns (corn monoculture, bean monoculture, and corn-bean ratios of 2:2, 3:1, and 1:3) as the sub-subplots. The results indicated that the highest soil microbial respiration was observed in the no-tillage system combined with 60% wheat residues and a corn-bean intercropping ratio of 2:2. Soil microbial biomass carbon increased significantly under the no-tillage system with 90% wheat residues and the same intercropping ratio of 2:2. The carbon allocation coefficient in seeds, straw, roots, and extra-root structures increased under no-tillage compared to conventional tillage by 10.09%, 11.84%, 52.18%, and 62.67% for corn, and by 12.68%, 7.85%, 35.71%, and 34.92% for beans, respectively. Corn exhibited higher NPPc and allocated more carbon to its aerial organs than beans. This study demonstrates that the combination of no-tillage systems and wheat residue management in diverse intercropping patterns not only synergistically enhances soil microbial activity and NPPc but also promotes soil health and supports sustainable agricultural productivity. https://aes.uoz.ac.ir/article_242208.html Mulberry (Morus spp.) is an economically important plant in Iran. This research was conducted to identify and collect mulberry germplasm to preserve genetic resources over 3 years in South Khorasan province. Accordingly, during different growth stages, visits were made to mulberry cultivation areas to record important characteristics of the genotypes based on the provided descriptors.  In total, 31 different mulberry genotypes from 3 species (M. alba, M. nigra, M. macroura) from seven regions were identified, and morphological traits were recorded in accordance with the guidelines of UPOV. In quantitative traits, the strongest positive correlations were obtained in shoot number, shoot length, lateral shoot number, leaf blade width, leaf blade length, peduncle length, petiole length, mature fruit length, fruit weight, mature fruit length/width, and sweetness (Brix). In qualitative traits, the strongest positive correlations were obtained in leaf blade texture, leaf blade thickness, leaf blade glossiness of the upper side, and the shape of the apex leaf blade, and the strongest negative correlations were obtained in mature fruit color, shape of the apex leaf blade, and leaf blade shape. The lowest fruit sweetness (Brix) value (15.3) was recorded in genotype M22, whereas the highest value (36.5) was observed in genotype M5. The mean fruit sweetness(Brix) across all genotypes was 24.05. Furthermore, the highest fruit weight (4.26 g) was obtained from genotype M16, while the lowest (1.08 g) was recorded in genotype M2. The average fruit weight among the genotypes was 2.69 g. Cluster analysis using the "Ward" method for farm data classified the studied genotypes into five groups. Apparently, cluster analysis was unable to fully differentiate among the three species. Only the genotypes belonging to M. nigra were partially grouped into a single cluster, likely due to the overlap of some of their phenotypic traits. This study revealed high morphological diversity in the mulberry genotypes dispersed in South Khorasan province. 31 distinct selected genotypes were transferred to the collection for the preservation of genetic resources and their use in breeding programs. This study had certain limitations, including potential environmental interference and the lack of molecular validation. https://aes.uoz.ac.ir/article_241826.html Achieving sustainable development goals requires that individuals in the community possess a strong understanding of environmental issues. One of the most effective approaches to enhance this understanding is by incorporating environmental education at all levels of schooling. The purpose of this study was to assess the environmental awareness of high school students in Rudbaro County, as well as their environmental behaviors, since they represent the young generation and the future builders of our country. To accomplish this, a questionnaire was developed focused on three key components: ecosystem protection, waste management, and general environmental awareness. The students completed this after confirming its validity and reliability score of 0.870. The results indicated that the average environmental awareness of tenth-grade students in all three areas is significantly lower than that of eleventh and twelfth-grade students. This finding suggests a notable increase in environmental awareness as students progress from tenth grade to higher grades. Conversely, comparisons between eleventh and twelfth grades showed no statistically significant differences. This suggests that students' levels of environmental awareness remain relatively constant after reaching eleventh grade, with no significant increase by twelfth grade. According to the results, the trend of increasing environmental awareness mainly occurs from the tenth to the eleventh grade. Tenth-grade students were identified as having the lowest level of awareness, which suggests a need for environmental education programs to target this educational level. Conversely, the stability of awareness levels between eleventh and twelfth grades may indicate that students have reached a plateau in their knowledge within the current educational framework or that there is a lack of new and effective content in environmental education in the twelfth grade. Integrating a comprehensive curriculum that includes environmental studies into the formal education system can significantly enhance individuals' environmental awareness and performance. Developing practical activities, such as using images, simulation games, board and card games, and puzzle-solving tasks, is an effective way to engage adolescents and young people in understanding environmental issues like water scarcity and pollution. The findings of this study can assist policymakers and planners in creating educational initiatives and promotional programs aimed at increasing environmental awareness. https://aes.uoz.ac.ir/article_242626.html Cancer continues to represent a formidable global health challenge, underscoring the urgent need for the development of cost-effective therapeutic strategies. The design of nanomedicines with precise targeting capability and enhanced bioavailability opens new opportunities in cancer therapy. Among all the nanoplatforms, plant-derived nanoparticles have attracted more attention because of their excellent biodegradability, biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity. Bio-inspired nanocarriers use the abundance of phytochemical diversity present in medicinal plants to target multi-pathway signaling and counteract resistance mechanisms of cancer. The utilization of bioactive compounds from plants, including flavonoids, alkaloids, and polyphenols, leads to increased anti-cancer activity with fewer side effects. While these features are promising, there are several challenges to be overcome for successful clinical outcome (stability, large-scale production, controlled drug release, etc.). Herein, different innovations are discussed related to the plant-based nanomedicines, particularly in the context of sustainable and effective anti-cancer therapy. The ability of plant-based nanoparticles to modulate multiple cellular pathways represents a key advantage, as it can disrupt cancer progression and resistance mechanisms. What makes the Phytochemicals ideal candidate for targeted cancer therapies is that they naturally possess unique properties such as, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic. Furthermore, Inhibition of tumor growth, suppress metastasis, and enhance immune responses which will contribute to comprehensive cancer control are achievable by the use of these plant-based bioactive compounds. Furthermore, the inherent biodegradability of plant-derived nanoparticles minimizes long-term toxicity concerns, aligning with the principles of sustainable medicine. Integrating nanotechnology with nature-originated therapeutic agents for producing plant-derived nanomedicines, show huge prospects in reshaping cancer treatment paradigms. This review highlights the confluence of phytochemicals and nanotechnology, focused on novel formulations that target precision and patient care in cancer. https://aes.uoz.ac.ir/article_242627.html Faced with climate change and biodiversity crises, there is an urgent need for alternative landscape management that enhances ecosystem services. Both landscape components (patches and corridors) and their spatial arrangement are likely to affect biodiversity conservation and ecosystem functioning, and thus ESs. In this study, based upon a modified Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services framework, we evaluated ecosystem services in the Aramnaropaeen landscape of Minoudasht County (Golestan province, northeast of Iran), during 2023. This landscape had different patches, including crops (wheat, barley, canola, and rice), orchards, and natural habitats (forest and rangeland). All patches are separated by corridors and windbreaks. Two types of edges were observed, inherent edges and induced edges that were maintained by periodic disturbances, by land use changes such as forest to agriculture. Here, we investigated the effects of landscape components on ecosystem services and the dispersal status of species. We adapted the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services framework for use at the level of a landscape by changing the category of regulating-supporting services to three categories: regulating, habitat-shelter, and supporting services. We showed that a change in the structure of the landscape, accordingly, the amount of ecosystem services has decreased. Alternatively, the level of dis-services such as soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and greenhouse gas emissions has increased. The structural landscape change was estimated to be 38% in 2023 compared to its initial condition in 1990. Also, the main services provided by ecotone were regulating and habitat-shelter services, including biodiversity conservation, pest control, genetic resource storage, natural enemy shelter, and wildlife habitat-shelter. Most of the services provided in the landscape are classified in the non-market category. Also, landscape patches such as forests, rangelands, water bodies, orchards and canola fields provided cultural services such as ecotourism and agricultural tourism. Finally, it was observed that most of the patches were in the secondary succession. Altogether, these results suggest that it is necessary to take management measures to reduce the dis-services and provide more services in these patches. It is recommended to preserve the structure of the landscape and its components by local communities, stakeholders, and the government. https://aes.uoz.ac.ir/article_242838.html This study aimed to investigate the dynamics of flowering and evaluate the effect of open and self-pollination on the fertility of seedless barberry commercial clone shrubs in Iran. During the bud swelling stage, ten shrubs were selected, and on each shrub, one branch bearing at least 100 flower buds was chosen to monitor flowering dynamics through daily recordings of bud and open flower counts. To assess fertility, two branches bearing at least 100 flower buds were chosen on each shrub. One branch was isolated with cotton fabric bags for self-pollination treatment, while the other remained unisolated for open-pollination, with the initial and final fruit set (IFF, FFF) subsequently recorded for both. Concurrently, pollen viability was evaluated by measuring pollen germination. The flowering period ranged from 16-19 days. Under open-pollination conditions, the IFF was 70-80% and FFF was 50-60%. Under controlled self-pollination conditions in bagged shoots, IFF was 50-60% and FFF was 40-50%. The high fruit set in isolated branches suggests the capability for parthenocarpic fruit development stimulated by self-pollination. However, the significantly higher fruit set in open-pollination underscores the critical role of pollinator insects in enhancing pollination efficiency. Fruit drop was 20.11% and 13.37% for open- and self-pollinated treatments, respectively. This research had no specific limitations. This research provides practical and valuable information into pollination and fertility in this seedless barberry, supporting the adoption of optimal orchard management practices to enhance fertility outcomes for future applications. https://aes.uoz.ac.ir/article_242839.html Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is an important cereal crop cultivated in diverse agroecological regions, while yield stability under rainfed conditions remains a major challenge due to environmental variability and limited water availability. This research evaluated twenty barley genotypes to assess phenotypic diversity, trait correlations, and genotype classification based on agronomic and morphometric traits via Field trial under the Moghan (39°38′ N, 47°54′ E) conditions under rainfed conditions characterized by an average annual rainfall of 335 mm. Ten traits were recorded, including plant height (PH), spike height (SH), number of tillers per plant (NTP), number of fertile tillers (NFT), straw weight (SW), biomass weight (BW), number of grains per plant (NGP), grain yield per plant (GYP), grain yield (GY), and thousand-grain weight (TGW). Correlation analysis demonstrated that GY was positively associated with BW and TGW, indicating that both vegetative growth and grain size are key contributors to yield, while a significant negative correlation was observed between spike height (SH) and thousand-grain weight (TGW), indicating a trade-off between spike architectural traits and grain size development. Genotypic clustering divided the barley genotypes into three distinct groups. Cluster-I comprised genotypes with high grain yield and favorable per-plant productivity, Cluster-II included low-performing genotypes with limited biomass and yield potential, and Cluster-III consisted of tall, biomass-rich genotypes with competitive grain yield. Thus, Cluster-III genotypes offer potential for enhancing biomass production, plant vigor, and morphological traits associated with environmental adaptation such as plant height and spike architecture. Genotypes from Cluster-I may be prioritized for direct yield improvement, whereas Cluster-III genotypes offer potential for enhancing biomass production, plant vigor, and adaptive traits. This research provides a framework for genotype selection and supports breeding strategies aimed at improving yield in rainfed barley production systems. https://aes.uoz.ac.ir/article_244744.html Over the past few decades, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in Iran has significantly increased due to reliance on chemical inputs. However, the environmental consequences of these inputs on human health and natural resources remain poorly understood. To evaluate the environmental impacts of wheat production using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach, this study was conducted in two parts: experimental field research and a field survey. In the experimental field section, three agroecosystems—low-input, high-input, and medium-input—were established at the Shahid Chamran University research farm in Ahvaz, with three replications in a randomized complete block design. In the field survey, data were collected from Karun and Hamidieh counties through face-to-face interviews with 50 farmers, based on four scenarios: the average of 50 farms, high-input, medium-input, and low-input agroecosystems in 2018. Input and output data for wheat production were gathered using questionnaires and field cultivation information, with input data sourced from the Ecoinvent database in SimaPro 9.0 software. Environmental impact assessments, conducted using the CML 2 Baseline 2000 V2.05 method (Netherlands, 1997), revealed that field survey agroecosystems exhibited significantly higher environmental impacts than experimental field cultivation due to excessive use of agricultural inputs. Among the seven scenarios, the high-input agroecosystem in the field survey had the greatest environmental impacts across seven impact categories: depletion of abiotic resources (5.43 kg Sb eq.), acidification potential (15.62 kg SO₂ eq.), eutrophication potential (7.36 kg PO₄ eq.), global warming potential (1003 kg CO₂ eq.), photochemical oxidation potential (0.17 kg C₂H₄ eq.), ozone layer depletion potential (99 mg CFC-11 eq.), and marine aquatic ecotoxicity (97,272 kg 1,4-DB eq.). The low-input agroecosystem in the experimental field, due to the use of animal manure, showed the highest pollution in three impact categories: human toxicity (398 kg 1,4-DB eq.), freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity (346 kg 1,4-DB eq.), and terrestrial ecotoxicity (40 kg 1,4-DB eq.). Consequently, two approaches—precision agriculture for rational input use and ecological agriculture for input substitution—are recommended to mitigate environmental impacts.