The study was conducted in Mahanawiyah district in AL-Qadisiya Province, Iraq to identify the training needs of rice farmers. 125 farmers were selected as a random sample. A list of 8 major areas of training needs in relation to rice cultivation practices was prepared whiten 50 sub-area. Scores were measured on four-point scale. The primary data were collected using a pre-tested structured interview schedule by conducting personal interview. Findings revealed that majority of the farmers had medium level of training needs. Weed management, disease and pests control, seed and seedling were the top most training needs of the farmers and the least training need was Land preparation. The variables educational attainment, area cultivated with rice, and annual revenue from rice cultivation had positive and significant association with the training needs.

In this study, genetic parameters, macro environmental factors and genetic, phenotypic and environmental trends for actual and 305 day milk yield of Brown Swiss cattle reared in Research Farm of Agricultural College at Atatürk University were estimated. Estimated breeding values that were used for calculation of the genetic trend and genetic parameters were estimated by using MTDFREML computer package program. Environmental factors affecting on actual and 305day milk yields were analysed by using Harvey statistic package program. While effects of the years and parities on the actual and 305-day milk yields were highly significant, the influence of the calving season was found to be insignificant. Environmental and phenotypic trends for actual and 305-day milk yields were determined as -33.2 kg and -29.0 kg; and -27.8±19.1 kg/year and -25.9±8.7 kg/year respectively. Genetic trends for actual and 305-day milk yields were calculated as 5.4±3.8 kg and 3.1±3.4 kg. Heritability’s for actual and 305-day milk yields were 0.21±0.12 and 0.16±0.14 respectively. Repeatability values for actual and 305-day milk yield were found as 0.29 and 0.33 respectively.

In this study, five different set type yogurt with vegetable purees, namely as control (K), yogurt with pumpkin (YBK), yogurt with carrot (YHA), yogurt with green peas (YBE) and yogurt with zucchini (YYK) were produced. The viable cell counts of S. thermophilus and L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus were increased as a result of the ability of dietary fiber to stimulate their growth which is present in yogurt as puree. Vegetable puree addition had a noticeable effect on pH, titratable acidity, whey separation, sensory properties as well as textural attributes such as firmness, cohesiveness, consistency and viscosity index in yogurt. The highest viscosity index, consistency and firmness were observed in yogurt with the carrot puree, while the samples with zucchini presented the less compact structure and textural properties. As a result the present work showed that all the vegetable puree used had a beneficial role to improve textural properties of set type non-fat yogurt and could be used for the development of dairy products with functional ingredients.

The purpose of this study was to determine the antibacterial activity of plant derived compounds and essential oils of Corymbia citriodora against selected Gram negative and Gram positive foodborne pathogens in broth dilution assay. The combination of compounds (cineole, terpinen-4-ol and α-terpineol; CTαT) were further tested at three different concentrations (0.2, 0.4 and 0.8%) for the killing effect against E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes in milk including whole fat and skim fat. CTαT showed antimicrobial activity against all bacteria tested at minimum inhibition concentrations (MICs) from 0.125% to 1% in broth dilution assay. Linalool was also found to be antimicrobial at MICs between 0.25% and 2%, but not for Enterococcus casseliflavus. Further study carried out in milk showed that CTαT at concentrations of 0.4% and 0.8% significantly reduced the population of E. coli O157:H7 under detection limit in skim milk, whereas it was only effective at 0.8% in whole fat milk. CTαT, on the other hand, shown to be less active towards L. monocytogenes as only significant effect was observed at 0.8% in skim milk. Taken together results of the present study indicate that plant derived compounds could be valuable alternatives to inactivate foodborne pathogens in milk.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of use organo-mineral fertilizers and poultry manure on yield and quality of seed tubers different potatoes varieties (Solanum tuberosum L.). The study was designed in three replicated completely randomized block factorial design with eight potato cultivars (Madaline, Provento, Marfona, Agata, Arizona, Mustang, Rumba and Saviola) and including three different fertilizer as Hexaferm organo-mineral (%20 organics, 8-21-0+Zn), compost (1 t da-1) and fermented poultry manure (1 t da-1). In order to determine the effect of fertilizer forms on the yield and quality characteristics of different varieties of potatoes were examined features like output time of the tuber, output rates, plant height, stem number per hill, tuber yield per hill, total tuber yield, cracks tuber yield, dry matter content, starch content and specific gravity. Used fertilizers have no significant effect on output time of the tuber, output rates, plant height, stem number per hill, total tuber yield, dry matter content, starch content and specific gravity of varieties. The difference observed in terms of output time of the tuber, output rates, plant height, stem number per hill between the varieties was insignificant. The difference between the average tuber yield per hill, total tuber yield, cracks tuber yield, dry matter content, starch content and specific gravity of varieties were significant. Similarly, the fertilizers had a significant effect on the average tuber yield per hill of varieties . The significant interactions were found on traits average tuber yield per hill and average specific gravity between Fertilizer x Varieties. As a result, considered economically the fermented and compost poultry manure can be used instead of organo-mineral fertilizers in the production of seed potatoes.

It is necessary for developing strategies of integrated fertilization for crops to maximize production of crops and reducing the risk of pollution from chemical fertilizers. Therefore, the objectives of this study to evaluate the impact of bio-organic, chemical nitrogen on seed quality of canola. A study was conducted for two consecutive years (2005 to 2006) at the Farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Kafr El-Sheikh University, Egypt. Bio fertilizer (control and bio-fertilizer), compost (control, 6, 12 and 18 ton ha-1) and chemical nitrogen (control, 36, 72 and 108 kg N ha-1). The result indicated that, bio-fertilizer was significantly effects on protein % and iodine value except oil percent was decreased. On the other hand, the Maximum values oil and protein were recorded by using compost fertilizer at (18 ton ha-1). In respect to chemical fertilizer, adding nitrogen affected significantly on protein % and the maximum value was obtained at (108 N ha-1) while, oil percent and iodine value were decreased. Interestingly, it is clear that from results that cultivar belongs to canola (LEAR that contains < 2% erucic acid) and a nitrogen source has almost slight effect on oil physical properties. Totally, the interaction among treatments application compost (6ton ha-1) and (72 N kg ha-1) with combined bio- fertilizer was achieved suitable oil percent and could be improve canola seed yield and quality and environment would have a better condition.

This study investigates the antioxidant components (total carotenoids, lycopene, β-carotene, total phenols, flavonoids, ascorbic acid and total vitamin C) as well as the hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidant activities (HAA and LAA) of tomato genotypes consisting of one ordinary cultivar Rio Grande and the two high-lycopene breeding lines HLT-F71 and HLT-F72. The correlation of nutritional value to L∗, a∗, b∗ colour indexes and a∗/b∗ ratio was also investigated in whole and fresh cut tomato fruits. Except for β-carotene content, significant differences were found among cultivars for antioxidants. The berries of both HLT-lines recorded higher antioxidant contents, HAA and LAA (TEAC and FRAP assays) than Rio Grande. Under controlled conditions, HLT-F72 reached the highest levels of total carotenoids (165.5 mg β-ca Eq per kg fw), lycopene (150.1 mg per kg fw) and total phenolics (549.7 mg GAE per kg fw). However, HLT-F72 exhibited the highest levels of ascorbic acid (193.3 mg per kg fw), total vitamin C (271.6 mg per kg fw) and flavonoids (450.5 mg RE per kg fw). Line HLT-F71 showed the highest HAA (148.0 µM Trolox per 100 g fw and 4.2 mM FRAP per g fw) and LAA values (258.5 µM Trolox per 100 g fw and 3.2 mM FRAP per g fw respectively). Colour readings in red ripe fresh cut tomato berries particularly a∗, b∗ and the ratio a∗/b∗ could represent an indicator not only for lycopene but also for other phytochemicals and resulting antioxidant activities. HLT-Lines may serve as a starting point for the development of semi-determinate growth habit tomato cultivars with higher functional quality.

Historically relegated to the status of “poor man’s bread” barley is one of widely cultivated crops in arid regions of south Tunisia for its grain and biomass used as an animal feed and other various purposes. Barley is incorporated into many types of home recipes. Harsh climate and frequent droughts are the great challenge for cereals production so farmers must supply irrigation in order to improve yields. Traditional irrigation techniques are widely used despite their low efficiency. Conversion to drip is encouraged by public services as a measure to save water resources, boost yields and as an adaptation measure to climate change that will cause more pressure on available water resources .The present paper presents results for drip irrigated barley in arid climate of South Tunisia. The study was undertaken at research farm of Institute of Arid Regions in Medenine and tried to replicate current farmer’s practices with the aim to facilitate their conversion to drip irrigation. For full drip irrigated barley (100% irrigation water requirements), following crop variables were recorded according to standard agronomic procedures as described in Daur et al. (2011): Plant height (m); Ears number by square meter at harvest; Number of grains per ear; 1000 grain weight (g); Biological yield (kg.m-2); Grain yield at harvest (g.m-2). Grain yield was 360.75g m-2 which corresponds to 3.61 ton ha-1and Biological yield was 1.014 kg m-2 for a total water amount of 225 mm. These values far exceed those obtained in rainfed agriculture.

This study was aimed to examine the cotton production techniques and determined of input use in the cotton production. The primary data used in research was obtained from 94 cotton-growing farms by surveying method in the Antalya province. The data belonged to 2011 production period. In the research area 95.74% of agricultural farms made conventional farming. It was determined that cotton seed was used 2.43 kg per decares and 27.7% of farmers had soil analysis and 24.5% of them applied fertilizer according to the analyses. It was determined that the average fertilizer applications per decares were 24.9 kg nitrogen, 17.2 kg phosphorus, 8.2 kg potassium and 0.5 kg sulfur fertilizer. It was calculated that the average number of plant spraying 5.4, the number of irrigation 4.53 in the cotton cultivation. The application level of water-saving irrigation techniques of farmers was low(2.12% of farmers used drip and sprinkler irrigation system). Labor force was used as 53.95 hours and machine was calculated as 3.06 hours per decares. Mechanization of the cotton harvest increased. It was determined that 47.87% of farmers did not receive consultancy services; 22.34% of farmers were knowledgeable about the concept of integrated pest management and 41.5% of farmers were knowledgeable about good agricultural practices in the region. In order to increase the production of cotton in the region; new varieties which will be compatible to the region, higher levels of yield, resistant to disease and pests should be developed and farmers should be informed about technical applications by extension personnel.

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is a widespread macronutrient deficiency and is one of the major constraints limiting canola production. Efficient P fertilizer method’s is important for economic production of canola and sustaining of environmental quality. The aim of this research is to investigate P use efficiency (PUE) of canola genotypes at an early growth stage. The experiment was set up as a completely randomized design in a factorial scheme. The factors were ten canola genotypes (Excalibur, Nelson, Vectra, Orkan, Triangel, TKK08-5, Oase, Elvis, Es Hydromel and Licord) and three P rates (0, 50 and 100 mg kg-1). The plant parameters, dry weight of shoot and root varies significantly with P levels in all applications. In general, P concentrations and dry weight of the genotypes are linearly raised by P treatments. The genotype Elvis produced significantly higher shoot dry matter 9.24 g pot-1 at 100 mg kg-1 P rate compared to the other applications. However, without P, dry matter (DM) of genotypes varied between 1.67 to 6.96 g pot-1. Cultivars classified as efficient responsive are: Elvis, inefficient responsive: Nelson, Orkan, Oase, Licord, and efficient nonresponsive: Excalibur, Vectra, Triangel, TKK08-5, Es Hydromel. Plant dry matter can be used for identification of the genotypes which could be adapted to low or high soil P availability conditions at an early growth stage. Nutrient use efficiency and genotypic differences in plants should be considered in order to create an accurate and a balanced fertilizer program as well as improving crop yield in agricultural production system.