Cattle manure (CM) is mostly used as an inoculum in order to start-up of agricultural biogas plants or as a co-substrate in the anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic content. Rumen fluid microbiota is also considered to be effective in lignocellulose digestion. It is known that microorganisms in the ruminal waste facilitate the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic structures. However, there are few studies on the inoculum effect of rumen microorganisms on bioreactor performances when rumen content is used as co-substrate and inoculum together with cattle manure, and it is not clear how rumen waste can be used in various anaerobic digestion systems. In this study, biogas production efficiencies obtained from lignocellulosic content in mono and cosubstrate (1:1 and 1:2 Volatile Solids) bioreactors formed by using ruminal waste (RW) and CM microbial communities were investigated. In order to determine the biogas production efficiencies, biomethane potential (BMP) experiments that simulate anaerobic digestion process conditions in a laboratory environment were applied. Treatment with 50% application of RW cosubstrate, 65.51% biogas and 70.64% methane production efficiency increases were achieved compared to monosubstrate CM bioreactor.

Recently the demand for functional food components such as prebiotics, probiotics, and phenolic compounds are increased. Nowadays, β-glucan, dietary fiber, and biologically active natural polysaccharide, exhibit properties like a prebiotic effect and immune system support. Furthermore, clinical studies have shown that daily intake of 250-500 mg β-glucan has several benefits on the immune system, showing low glycemic index, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It is a polysaccharide composed of D-glucose monomers connected with β-glycoside bonds, found in natural sources like yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), some edible mushrooms, algae, and cereal grains. β-Glucan is more resistant and preserves its stability during food processing technologies (drying, freezing, etc.). Especially, β-glucan originated from baker's yeast (S. cerevisiae) has many immunostimulatory properties, such as hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, immune-modulatory, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. Also, the utilization of β-glucan in the food industry has increased regarding to their techno-functional properties like gelation, viscosity, solubility, and encapsulating agent. Therefore, this review highlights recently published research results on the functional properties, health benefits and clinical studies, the effects on the interaction with the other food compounds, and the potential food applications of β-glucans.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the antioxidant, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of the aqueous extract of Angelica archangelica L., a medicinal plant of the traditional pharmacopoeia of Algeria. The aqueous extract showed a large amount of total polyphenols, tannins, chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids and a small amount of flavonoids with values of 80.16±14.3 mg EAG/g of extract, 3.12±2.01 mg EQ/g of extract, 226.10±4.50 mg EAT/g of extract, 6.10±50.62, 12.00±31.53 and 1.78±0.40 μg/mL respectively. In addition, the aqueous extract of A. archangelica showed a high ability to trap DPPH radical in with IC50 at 16.9±2.03μg/mL. However, the aqueous extract has a great protective effect against β-carotene degradation at 91.98±0.64% after 24 hours and significant ferrous ion chelation activity at46.2 ±1.53µg/mL. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory activity was studied according to the protein denaturation inhibition method and, according to the results obtained, the extract of A. archangelica at concentrations of 250, 500 μg/mL and 1 mg/mL have ahigh antiinflammatory activity whose inhibition percentages are 78.85±5.31%, 86.65±2.70% and 89.89±0.58% respectively. The analgesic effect of the aqueous extract of A. archangelica, showed that the concentration 400 mg/mL has a greet abdominal cramps inhibitory effect in comparison with the concentration 200 mg/mL with a percentage of 98.28%. The antiulcer effect of the aqueous extract of A. archangelica was evaluated by the 70% ethanol-induced ulcer test. The results obtained reveal that the aqueous extract 200 and 400 mg/mL exerted a considerable effect of protecting the stomach at 86.55±3.51% and 82.82±2.18% respectively.

Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) fruit is a member of the cranberry family, which contains many bioactive components. However, because of its bitter taste, the number of products it can be processed is limited. In this study, beverages were prepared by adding five different herbal teas (linden, sage, chamomile, green tea, artichoke peel) to cranberry nectar sweetened with apple juice concentrate. Brix, pH, antioxidant capacity, (DPPH, FRAP, CUPRAC), total phenolic content, total monomeric anthocyanin, color (L*, a*, b*, C*, h°) and in vitro bioaccessibility analyzes were performed in the beverages. Results of antioxidant capacity analysis were determined between 129.00±11.85 µmol TE/g DM- 365.42±2.62 µmol TE/g DM; 56.61±16.42 µmol TE/g DM – 103.39±2.36 µmol TE/g DM; 157.97±25.35 µmol TE/g DM – 276.82±22.81 µmol TE/g DM with DPPH, CUPRAC and FRAP methods, respectively. The total phenolic content was found between 655.35±24.17 mg GAE/100 g DM and 1165.09±30.69 mg GAE/100 g DM. The beverages containing green tea infusion (4.13±1.69 mg/kg) had the lowest total monomeric anthocyanin content, while beverages containing artichoke peel infusion (6.33±0.67 mg/kg) had the highest. In the samples analyzed after in vitro gastric digestion, an increase was observed in the total monomeric anthocyanin amount compared to the pre-digested samples, while a decrease was found in the antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content, in general. By adding herbal teas to cornelian cherry nectar, not only improved sensorial and nutritional properties of the fruit nectar, but also a new functional beverage was developed.

This study was carried out as a pot experiment in controlled greenhouse conditions in order to reveal the effect of microalgae [Chlorella vulgaris Beyerinck (Beijerinck)] application on plant growth of rocket salad (Eruca vesicaria ssp. sativa Mill.) in different doses of fertilizer applications. Sieved soil in 3-liter pots was used as the growing medium. Equal amount of irrigation was applied to all pots during the period from seed sowing to the end of the experiment. Microalgae application was applied twice (100 ml and 150 per pot) to the seedling growing medium. As chemical fertilizer, 0%, 50% and 100% of NPK (160 mg N kg-1, 80 mg P2O5 kg-1, and 100 mg K2O kg-1) were applied. As parameters in rocket plants, shoot length, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, stem diameter, leaf area, leaf relative water content, membrane damage index, total soluble content, and some nutrients (K, Ca, Na, Zn, Cu, and Mn) contents were examined. According to the data obtained, microalgae applications were found to have a positive effect on plant growth in general. It was observed that the values increased in most parameters examined in algae-applied applications compared to the control group. Among the applications, the best values were found in 50% fertilizer + microalgae and 100% fertilizer + microalgae applications.

This study was carried out with the aim of assessing the effectiveness of four biochar materials; in reducing nitrate leaching from soils of three different textural classes in the Nigerian Savanna region. Soil samples (0-20 cm depth) were collected from three different soil types and three different locations each in the Nigerian Savanna using stratified random sampling. Two hundred and fifty (250) g of soil samples were amended with 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 tonha-1 of Maize cob biochar (MCB), rice husk biochar (RHB), cow dung biochar (CDB) and poultry litter biochar (PLB) and were subjected to laboratory leaching experiment. Sixty (60) ml of nutrient solutions containing 300 mgl-1 nitrate using ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) was applied to each of the laboratory biochar-incubated soil columns to study biochar effect on nutrients retention and transport. The experiment was laid in a Randomize Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated three times. Leachates were collected and nitrate concentration was determined using a dual beam UV/VIS spectrophotometer. The data collected were analysed using the Generalized Linear Model (GLM) procedure and the means were separated using Tukey’s honest significant difference (SAS version 9.4). Results obtained revealed that there were no significant differences among the biochar treatments on nitrate leaching from Clay loam. However, highest nitrate leaching from Loamy soil of 30.53% was recorded by the application of 2.5 tonha-1 PLB and was significantly different from the application of 2.5 and 5-ton ha-1 RHB and 5-ton ha-1 MCB. Similarly, highest nitrate leaching from Sandy loam of 32.18 % was recorded by the application of 5-ton ha-1 MCB and was significantly higher than 5.94, 2.40 and 7.12 % recorded by the application of 2.5 and 5-ton ha-1 RHB and 7.5 tonha-1 CDB respectively. Therefore, application of 2.5, 5-ton ha-1 RHB and 7.5 tonha-1 CDB can effectively reduce nitrate leaching from Sandy loam. While 2.5, 5, 7.5 tonha-1 CDB and 2. 5 and 5 tonha-1 RHB reduced nitrate leaching from Loamy soils.

This proposal was initiated to assess the response of potato varieties (Dagim, Belete, Gudenie, Jalenie, Zengena, and Ater Ababa) to phosphorus application and use efficiency under screen house with plastic pots. There were seven phosphorous levels (150% recommended (3.9 g P pot-), 125% recommended (3.3 g P pot-), recommended (2.6 g P pot-), 75% of the recommended (2.0 g P pot-), 50% of the recommended (1.3 g P pot-), 25% of the recommended (0.7 g P pot-) and the control) per variety. The experiment was conducted in completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications with a total of 42 treatments at Adet Agricultural research center, Ethiopia. Most parameters studied significantly changed with varieties and P-rates. Belete variety and 2 g P pot-1 showed the highest values in soil available phosphorous (52.6 mg P kg-1 and 49.53 mg P kg-1, respectively,) and Belete variety and 3.9 g P pot1showed highest values in plant phosphorous concentration (3.48 mg g-1 and 3.98 mg g-1, respectively). The highest phosphorous uptake (PAE) (14.81 mg plant-1) was recorded in Belete variety. This variety could be considered as responsive cultivar. The highest phosphorous acquisition efficiency (PAE) (92.35 kg kg-1) was recorded in Belete variety, and phosphorous use efficiency (33.63 and 37.58 mg g-1) was recorded in Dagim and Ater Ababa varieties, respectively. Dagim variety can be used when external phosphorous applications become limited. Evaluation of the existing varieties of potato for their phosphorous use and uptake efficiency could potentially increase the future potato yield without excess P application

This study was conducted to determine the annual energy use and related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of individual deep well irrigation enterprise. That study was conducted at deep well farm belonging to one farmer with volunteer preforming farming activities in Konya-Meram-Çarıklar location for the growing season of 2021. In that regard, the activities using alfalfa and dry bean production, and total production inputs with their amounts as well as crop yields were determined separately. By considering unit energy equivalent values and GHG emission factors of each input, annual energy consumption and GHG emission values were calculated. Similarly, by examining energy content and crop yield in accordance of crop production unit (kg), annual produced energy amount was calculated. The evaluation was made using energy used and energy produced as well as GHG emission values indicators at individual deep well irrigation farm. According to the results obtained, annual energy use and energy production were calculated 253035 mega-joule (MJ), and 487960 MJ, respectively for individual well irrigation farm. The electricity used during the irrigation processes resulted around 71% of annual energy consumption. The annual GHG emission amount as an equivalent to the carbon dioxide (CO2eqv) for research farm with GWI was determined as 18575 kg (18575 kgCO2eqv year-1). Almost 52% of annual GHG emission was resulted from electricity used in irrigation.

Field experiments were conducted in 2018 and 2019 at the National Potato Research Programme (NPRP), Lalitpur (1360 masl), Nepal, to determine the effect of crop geometry on the growth, yield, and quality of sweet potato genotypes. The experiment was laid out on sandy loam soil in a factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and comprised of a total of twelve treatment combinations of four crop geometry (60cm×25 cm, 60cm×30 cm, 70cm×25 cm, and 70cm×30 cm) and three genotypes (CIP 440015, CIP 440267 and Local White). Among the different crop geometries and genotypes evaluated, 70cm×30 cm plant spacing and Local White genotype were found statistically superior to enhance marketable tuberous root weight per plant (0.572 and 0.541 kg), tuberous root diameter (62.59 and 61.0 mm), shoot fresh weight (509 and 524 g), and tuberous root yield per plant (616 and 620 g). The genotype, Local White yielded higher among the genotypes. The reducing sugar content was influenced significantly by crop geometry and genotypes. The pooled mean showed the highest (15.48 and 17.26 %) reducing sugar in closer geometry 60 cm × 25 cm and Local White genotype respectively and the lowest (11.54 %) in the genotype CIP 440015. CIP genotypes, on the other hand, were high in ß carotene content, whereas the Local genotype had a negligible amount (0.35 mg/100g). On hectare level, our result showed that highest plant density of 66,666 plants ha-1 (60 cm × 25 cm) could give the highest yield per unit area due to greater crop biomass. Our findings suggest that crop geometry can have a considerable impact on sweet potato production. As a result, the geometry of sweet potatoes can be wide or narrow depending on our needs and the area available in our study area or a similar situation.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the treatment of tap water (control), sodium hypochlorite (SH), electrolyzed oxidizing water (EOW), and hydrogen peroxide (HP) on the color, texture, and sensory properties of the Eruca vesicaria as a quality criterion. For this purpose, three different concentrations (25, 50, and 75 ppm) and three different times (1, 3, and 5 min) were applied in all three washing processes. There weren’t statistically significant differences in objective (color and texture) and subjective (sensory) results in all three washing processes in terms of both concentration and time. Thus, it was determined that these processes did not have a negative effect on the quality of green leafy vegetables.