The increasing use of nanofertilizers in modern agriculture and their impact on crop yield and pest management require further research. In this study, the effects of nano-Fe, -Zn, and -Cu (which are synthesized based on nanochelating technology), and urea (N) fertilizers on the antioxidant activities of wheat plants (cv. Chamran), and the wheat green aphid Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) are investigated. The authors observed the highest levels of phenolics in non-infested nano-Zn-treated plants (26% higher compared with control). The highest H2O2 levels are in the infested and non-infested nano-Zn-treated and infested nano-Fe-treated plants (in infested nano-Zn and nano-Fe treated plants, 18% and non-infested nano-Zn-treated plants, 28% higher compared with control). The highest peroxidase (POX) activity is observed in the infested and non-infested N-treated and non-infested water-treated plants (almost 14%, 37%, and 46% higher than control, respectively). The lowest activity is in the infested plants’ nano-Zn and -Fe treatments (almost 7 and 5 folds lower compared to the control, respectively). The highest and lowest catalase (CAT) activity are in the infested N-treated plants (almost 42% higher than control) and water-treated plants, respectively. The infested nano-Zn, -Fe, -Cu and Hoagland-treated plants showed the highest superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Regarding the antioxidant enzyme activities of S. graminum, the highest POX activity is in the nano-Cu treatment (more than two folds higher compared with control); the highest CAT and SOD activities are in the nano-Cu and -Zn treatments. It can be concluded that the application of nanofertilizers caused increasing effects on the wheat plant’s antioxidant system and its resistance to S. graminum.

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The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effect of using different energy sources on performance and some carcass characteristics in Cobb 500 broiler chicks. A total of 600 one day-old Cobb 500 broiler chick with an average weight of 39 ± 0.50 g was randomly allocated into five treatments. Further each treatment was divided into four replicates. The chicks were fed a basal diet based on corn and energy level by Cobb 500 instruction manual as a control group, basal diet with 3% lesser energy than the control (E1), basal diet with 6% lesser energy than the control (E2), basal diet based on corn and fat level according to Cobb 500 instruction manual (E3), basal diet based on corn and fat with 3% upper energy (E4) for 42 days. The result of this study showed that there were significant differences between treatments compared to the control group. The feed conversion ratio of broiler chicks significantly increased (P≤0.01) by feeding E1, E2, E3 and E4. It was observed that the performance parameters showed little but significant differences (P≤0.01) throughout the experimental period. The result of this study showed that carcass, breast, liver, spleen and gizzard percentage increased by using treatments compared to the control. We concluded that the current nutritional recommendations in Cobb 500 broiler chicks' instruction manual are not sufficient to achieve the best growth performance of Cobb 500 broiler chicks.