The study focused on how farming communities cope with the COVID-19 pandemic in Akwa Ibom State. Specifically, how farmers are affected by the pandemic, their coping strategies, contributions of extension service towards their adaptation, and the support they need to better adapt to the pandemic were examined. A multistage sampling procedure was used in selecting 300 respondents across the agricultural zones in the study area. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data obtained from the respondents through a well-designed questionnaire. The majority of the respondents have experienced limited access to agricultural inputs (87.9%), limited access to the market (79.6%), unavailability of the labour force at critical times of agricultural production and harvesting (68.7%), health risk and fear (72.6%), increased transportation cost (87.4%), unavailability of facemasks and hand sanitizers (89.1%), dwindling and uncertain finances (92.4%). Majority of the farmers asserted that they had to rely more on the radio (87.6%), religious leaders (67.2%), community leaders (65.4%), and extension agents (45.3%) for COVID-19-related information. They depended more on herbs and traditional medications (72.4%) and had to trek long distances to market farm produce and get inputs (69.7%) to cope with the impact of the pandemic. Contributions from extension services reported by the respondents were majorly from text messages and phone calls. The majority of the respondents solicited regular assessment of COVID-19 impacts in their communities to identify other specific challenges and needs of farmers for a better and timely response.

The effect of different organic and inorganic fertilizers had a significant effect on the yield of spring rice. A field experiment was carried out to determine the effects of different organic and inorganic fertilizers on the yield of spring rice var Hardinath-1 at Siranchowk rural municipality-4, Gorkha during the spring season of 2021 with four replications and five treatments: T1[Recommended inorganic fertilizer Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium (@100:30:30 kg/ha)], T2[75% recommended inorganic fertilizer + 25% recommended organic fertilizer: i.e. (Farm Yard Manure (6 ton /ha)], T3(50% recommended inorganic fertilizer + 50% recommended organic fertilizer), T4(25% recommended inorganic fertilizer + 75% recommended organic fertilizer ), and T5 (Recommended organic fertilizer) using simple Randomized Complete Block Design with 3*3 m of individual plot size. A biometrical observation like plant height (95.33 cm), and the number of tillers (340.75/ m2) were found significantly highest on T2. Similarly, yield attributing characteristics like the number of effective tillers (315.75/m2), several filled grains per panicle (150.25), and highest panicle length (25.06 cm) were also significantly highest on T2. The highest grain yield (8.27 ton/ha), straw yield (12.14 ton/ha), and harvest index (0.40) were also observed on T2. Total net return was found highest on T2: 287330 Nepalese Rupees(NPR) incurring the cost of fertilizer Rs NPR 18940 per hectare returning the gross return of NPR 268390 per hectare. In conclusion, T2 was the best combination of other biofertilizer combinations. So, the spring rice productivity can be enhanced via the adoption of 75% recommended inorganic fertilizer + 25% recommended organic fertilizer in fertilizer management practice at Chorkate, Gorkha.

This research was carried out to determine the pollination abilities of Domat, Gemlik and Sarı Ulak olive cultivars. Pollen viability rate, germination rate and amount of pollen production were examined during the periods when 25%, 50% and 75% of the flowers were opened.  According to the results obtained from three years’ experimental study, the highest percentages of pollen viability were found in Gemlik (81.51%) and Domat (81.50%), whereas Sarı Ulak cultivar (77.41%) showed the lowest viability. In pollen germination percentages, the highest values on the basis of cultivars were determined 59.85% (Domat), 59.74% (Gemlik) and 52.12% (Sarı Ulak). The highest amount of pollen production in a flower was found in the Sarı Ulak cultivar (329,046) while it was followed by Domat (319,693) and Gemlik (306,385). Despite the high pollen production in Sarı Ulak cultivar, the pollen viability and germination rates were found to be low. In Gemlik and Domat cultivars, all values were obtained relatively near. In addition, it had been noted that the values related to pollen viability, germination and production amount were higher during 50% and 75% flowering periods than 25%.

To increase meat production at a level parallel to meet the demand of the increasing world population in recent years, reproductive management in farm animals must be successful. In order to reach the desired level of fertility in sheep, particularly starting with the non-prolific breeds, anoestrus period applications should be carried out effectively. In this study, different doses of equine chorionic gonadotropin were applied to determine the effective eCG dose for underwent estrus synchronization with progesterone in anoestrus Kangal ewes whose milk and wool yield has been completely abandoned by the breeder for various reasons and whose only economic benefit is lamb production. A total of 225 Kangal Akkaraman Sheep breeds, 2 years old, with a body condition score of 2.5-3.5 and an average weight of 40-50 kg, were included in the study. In line with this purpose, ewes were divided into 3 groups, containing 75 primiparous sheep. A vaginal sponge containing progesterone was inserted into the animals in all groups on day 0. Seven days after this application (on the 7th day), vaginal sponges were removed and Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) was applied. When the vaginal sponge was removed and the PGF2α was administered, 400 IU of eCG was given to animals in Group 1 (n:75), 500 IU of eCG was administrated to animals in Group 2 (n:75), and 600 IU of eCG was injected to the ewes in Group 3. The effectiveness of different doses of eCG application on reproductive parameters such as estrous rate, pregnancy rate, multiple pregnancy rate, and the number of offspring was evaluated. While no statistical difference could be determined between the groups in terms of the stated reproductive parameters, numerically more offspring were obtained in the group in which eCG was applied at a low rate (Group 1). In the light of this information, it is concluded that 400 IU eCG can be as effective as 600 IU eCG in sexual stimulation of Kangal ewes in anestrus.

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of sweet blue Lupin intercropped with maize at different planting time under irrigation in Ethiopia. For the experiment, sweet lupin (cultivar Sanabor) and Maize (cultivar PBH 3253) were used. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The treatments were sweet lupin intercropped with maize simultaneously, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 weeks after maize planting. Sole maize was planted as control. Maize was planted in rows with spacing of 75 cm and 30 cm between rows and between plants, respectively. Lupin was planted between two maize rows (one maize row: two lupin row) 22.5 cm apart from maize row. The distance between lupin plants is 7 cm. In addition, maize rows were top-dressed N-fertilizer at the rate of 100 Kg ha-1 by dividing in to two at planting and at vegetative stage. Intercropping time had a significant effect on yield and yield components of sweet lupin, but not on maize. Lupin intercropped simultaneous with maize gave significantly higher dry matter and seed yield 1.05 and 1.71t/ha, respectively as compared to the four intercropping dates. Maize grain yield and maize stover yield were not affected by sweet lupin intercropping dates. This study showed that sweet lupin intercropped simultaneously with maize could be optimum sowing date for better grain and dry matter yield of sweet lupin without affecting maize grain and stover yield under irrigation condition.

This study investigated how profitable and technically effective rice farming was in Quan’ Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. Using a multistage sample method, 120 respondents were drawn. The study’s findings proved that the farmers were 40 years old on average. The men were higher in numbers constituting 81.0% of the study population. 83% of the people were married and a greater number (81%) of them had at least some form of formal education with a typical household size of 9 persons. Findings from the study also showed that the farmers owned an average of 2.0 hectares of farmland and had acquired an average farming experience of 12 years. For the most of them (78.0%), farming was their primary occupation. The result also demonstrated that 78.0% never accessed credit or bank loans for farming as majority (63%) of the respondents acquired their farmlands through inheritance. The entire cost (total cost) of farming operation/ha incurred by the farmers was 139733 while the average output obtained per hectare was 699kg at a prevailing market/selling price of 285/kg. The total revenue (TR) measured in naira value of 199, 215 was realized. Gross margin (GM) and net farm income (NFI) stood at 70932 and 59482 respectively. The return on investment (ROI) was 0.42 meaning that for every naira spent on rice production, a profit of 0.42 is made. Age, educational level, farm size, farming experience and extension contact all had positive direct relationship with net income from rice production at 1%. The rice growers’ mean technical efficiency score was 0.659. Major constraints to rice production were high fertilizer prices (72%), inadequate capital (53%), lack of improved seeds (47%). The research suggests that government should subsidize farming inputs like recommended fertilizer and herbicides so as to reduce the over bearing cost burden of these inputs on farmers. Financial institutions should make credit facilities available and affordable to the farmers.

This study evaluated the possibility to use pomegranate peel: an agro-industrial bay product as a conservative agent for fruit juice. Extraction of active compounds of. Punica granatum L. peels was made by maceration with ethanol and the evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial activity were conducted using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and disk diffusion method in agar medium, while self-life tests of orange juice monitoring the pH, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, cloud value, browning index and total mesophilic germs were conducted during 18 days. The results highlighted that pomegranate peel extract (PPE) showed a higher phenol and flavonoid content and strong antioxidant activity with an inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 6.22 μg / mL, as well as the antimicrobial activity indicated a higher inhibitory effect. Furthermore, shelf life tests showed a significant effect on browning index, titratable acidity, and lowering of microbial growth during storage compared to the controls, while pH, total soluble solids, and cloud value are not affected. These results allow us to consider pomegranate peel extract as a potential conservator for healthy and sustainable food.

The study was conducted in the trial area of the Department of Horticulture at Atatürk University during the 2022 cropping season to evaluate some agro-morphological characteristics of the dwarf-type snap bean genotypes collected from Erzurum along with the commercial cultivars SARIKIZ and GINA have been widely cultivated there. The genotypes tested in the study showed statistically significant variations in terms of all parameters examined. Genotypes ERZ PA 28 and ERZ UZ 36 reached the earliest fresh maturity time by 58 days.  The genotype with the longest pod was ERZ NR 104 (17.35 cm); the genotypes with the widest pod were ERZ UZ 36 (15.29 mm) and ERZ TO 49 (15.43 mm); and the genotype with the thickest pod was ERZ İS13 (8.75 mm). The ERZ TO 49 genotype had the most pods per plant (32.41), the highest yield per plant (217.73 g), and the highest yield per square meter (1360.79 g/m2), while the ERZ UZ 35 genotype produced the heaviest average pod weight (8.63 g). Additionally, in terms of the number of pods per plant, yield per plant, and yield per square meter, ERZ PA 28 has been determined to produce the results that are closest to ERZ TO 49. According to the study’s findings, ERZ IS 13, ERZ PA 28, ERZ UZ 32, ERZ UZ 35, ERZ UZ 36, ERZ TO 48, ERZ TO 49, ERZ NR 104, ERZ PS 111, ERZ PS 115, and ERZ PS 116 genotypes yields per square meter was founded that higher than commercial cultivars and other genotypes, can offer the producer a sufficient level of yield.

Thymelaea hirsuta (L.) Endl. , known as ‘Methnane’ in Algeria, is a widely medicinal plant used in folk medicine. In the present study, In vitro antioxidant activity of T. hirsta extracts and the impact of extraction solvent polarity on the antioxidant potential were investigated. Three types of polar solvents with decreasing polarity were chosen; water for decocted extract, methanol-water at 50% and absolute methanol for macerated extracts. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were evaluated and showed a high amount wihch decreases with increasing polarity. Antioxydant activity was assessed with different methods: ABTS assay for evaluation of scavenge activity, CUPRAC and reducing power for assessement of the reduction potential of T. hirsuta areal parts. The results showed that T. hirsuta areal parts exhibited a strong scavenging activity with significant difference between extracts in terms of their polarity. In the same line, the most polar aqueous decocted extract exhibited a considerable reducing activity followed by hydromethanolic and methanolic extract with increasing potential. These findings suggest the suitability of polar solvents for the extraction of phytochemical compounds from T. hirsuta areal parts and so, their antioxidant activity against several radicals and ions.

Medicinal plants are quite popular in the medicine development process because they contain bioactive chemicals. Traditional medicine has made extensive use of Crataegus orientalis L., which also has significant biological effects. In this study, essential oils (EOs) of C. orientalis var. orientalis collected from Tokat-Türkiye were isolated by hydrodistillation. Chemical constituents were detected by GC-MS and benzaldehyde (%52.75), α-terpineol (%16.86), germacrene D (%7.03) and caryophyllene (%6.77) were determined as major components. Moreover, antioxidant analyses including DPPH•, ABTS+• and FRAP tests were carried out. EOs displayed good the DPPH activity (IC50, 12.21, µg/mL) in comparison to the standard BHT (IC50, 10.23 µg/mL). The same trend was observed for ABTS and FRAP assays.