Hamidreza Naseri - International Desert Research Center, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
Hesam Ahmady-Birgani - Faculty of Natural Resources, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

Dust phenomenon is one of the most important atmospheric phenomena and dust storms can be damaging. Agricultural lands are directly exposed to dust and consequently, agricultural crops are damaged by dust. One of the most important forage products in Iran is alfalfa. Alfalfa is planted in many lands and has a high economic significance. In this study, the effects of dust on some characteristics of alfalfa were investigated in the greenhouse. Dust in the amount of 0, 5, 20 and 50 g/m2 was poured on pots containing alfalfa daily. After 60 days, plant height, green weight, and root volume were calculated with soil salinity. The results showed that although root volume is not affected by dust treatments, areal parts height decreases by increasing of dust content between treatments. The means of biomass between treatments have difference statistically (p-value< 0.05) and is reduced by increasing the amount of dust, the lowest weight can be seen in the treatment of 50 g/m2. In addition to these results, the dust has increased the soil salinity of the treated pots of 50 g/m2, which is a reduction of about 30% of the plant production.

Medicago sativa, Biomass, growth, Dust, Crop