This study was conducted to assess the effect of drying methods and pre-treatments on nutritional content and sensory quality of dried fish. The experiment was conducted in factorial arrangement of 2×3×2 with two drying methods (sun and oven drying), three fish species (tilapia, cat fish and carp) and two preservatives treatment (garlic and ginger juice) laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Fresh fillets were analysed for their nutritional value and sensory quality. The compositions of the fresh fillets were 6.50-7.59% for ash, 74.20-76.67% for protein, 8.06-9.09% for fat and 8.47-9.12% for total carbohydrates. Drying reduced the moisture contents from 74.74-75.81% to between 7.76-8.25%, making it safe for storage. The ash content changed from 7.11 to 7.34 and from 6.50% to 6.34% for cat fish and tilapia, respectively, with statistical significance whereas no change was observed in carp with 7.60% because of drying. Drying method had no difference in ash and protein contents while increase in fat from 7.75 to 9.44% and a decrease in carbohydrate from 9.37 to 8.13% were observed in sun dried samples than that of oven dried fillets. This study showed that nutritional values of dry fish did not statistically changed during storage period of 3 months.

Non-dairy probiotic functional foods are receiving considerable interest recently owing to the inability to cause allergy in certain segments of the population. Studies on probiotication were carried out to determine the suitability of kunun-zaki as food matrix for production of probiotic beverage using single and mixed culture of Pediococcus acidilactici KU7, Pediococcus pentosaceus CREC5 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. Probioticated and un-probioticated kunun-zaki samples were designated PKZ and UPKZ, respectively. There was a significant difference in the viable count during storage. Viable counts of the LAB strains decreased with increasing storage time with P. acidilactici KU7 having the highest viability at the beginning and end of storage (3.43 ± 0.06 and 0.93± 0.12 x108 cfu/ml). There was a decrease in pH of the PKZ samples within the 1st and 3rd week with corresponding increase in lactic acid production (71.16 ± 0.01 – 441.39 ± 0.01). Marked increase in pH and a decline in lactic acid were observed at the 4th week of storage in all samples. Total soluble solids content of the beverage was observed to decrease with increasing storage time ranging from 8.25 ± 0.01-4.97± 0.01. There was no significant difference in pH and total soluble solids of UPKZ and colour of the PKZ and UPKZ samples during storage. All the PKZ samples were able to inhibit the growth of selected pathogens with marked variability amongst the samples. The UPKZ sample also showed slight inhibitory activity. The samples showed a decline in proximate and mineral composition at the end of storage. Sensory evaluation showed the PKZ samples were preferred over the UPKZ samples. This study shows that probioticated kunun-zaki can serve as a suitable non-dairy alternative to dairy probiotic formulations and would be of health benefits to potential consumers.

The impacts of extension contact on income of farmers have been examined with a view to evaluate the agricultural extension services in Bangladesh. The scope of the study was ten villages of Gazipur of Bangladesh. The objective of the study is to identify the effect of extension contact on crop income, livestock income, fisheries income, miscellaneous income, total agricultural income, nonagricultural income and total income of farmers. The sample of the study consists of 1000 farmers. Data came from field survey and multistage random sampling technique was used for the collection of data. The results indicated that the impacts of extension contact coefficients on crop income, nonagricultural income are positive and significant. However, the impacts of extension contact coefficients are not significant in the cases of livestock, fisheries, miscellaneous and agricultural incomes. But it does not mean that agricultural extension has no reward in Bangladesh. The sample data indicates that the impact of extension contact on total income of farmers is positive and significant. The study concludes that agricultural extension is necessary to raise the income of farmers.

Two plant growth regulators: β-NOA (50 and 80 ppm) and GA (200 and 250 ppm) were applied to emasculated flowers at anthesis to set parthenocarpic fruit, while in the control treatment fruit set was achieved by natural pollination. The application of β-NOA found ineffective in setting parthenocarpic guava. No significant differences were observed in the length and diameter of fruit between parthenocarpic and naturally pollinated seeded fruit at different days after anthesis. The mean fruit weight, TSS and ascorbic acid content of parthenocarpic fruit were similar to that of seeded fruit. Significant higher amount of total polyphenol was detected in the seeded fruit than the parthenocarpic fruit. Although 200 ppm GA showed comparatively better response to fruit growth, TSS and ascorbic acid content than 250 ppm GA but not in a statistical level.

This experiment was designed to investigate the effects of antibiotic, vitamin E and rosemary essential oils in various doses on some blood parameters, beneficial and harmful microorganisms in instentine jejunum microflora of lying hens. The experiment was conducted according to random parcel experiment design. A total of 240 Bovans genotype and 32 weeks aged were equally divided into 6 groups (8 hens in each group with 5 replicates). While the control group was fed with basal diet the treatment groups were supplemented with 500 mg/kg antibiotics; 200 mg/kg vitamin E; 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg REO to basal diet for 90 consecutive days. The result showed that there were no effects of all additions to basal diets on examined blood parameters. Antibiotic and all rosemary essential oils doses to basal diet affected the instentine jejunum bacteria content by decreasing probable coliforms, faecal coliforms, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Clostridium perfringens (Cl. perfringens) bacteria level significantly. While a 100 mg/kg rosemary essential oils dose was of the same influence with antibiotic (500 mg/kg) on all bacteria species, 200 and 300 mg/kg doses applications were more effective on E. coli compare to antibiotics. 300 mg/kg doses applications dose was more effective on probable faecal coliforms than antibiotics. As conclusion, the results shows the rosemary essential oils has the high antimicrobial effect on some pathogenic bacterias and could be used in laying hen for feed addition.

Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is one of the oldest trees in the world and has been cultivated from civilization of Ancient Persia, especially on the Mediterranean coasts, till nowadays. The fruit of the carob tree (carob bean) are attracting attention in recent years due among others to tits rich nutritional value and use as a substitute and/or alternative for cocoa. Although it has higher sugar content than sugar beet and sugar cane, it is a food that also lowers cholesterol. In addition to its fruit, the plant has interesting morphological qualities. Deep root system of carob tree allows high productivity even in draught conditions; it is an ideal plant in the fight against erosion and one of the most preferred plants while establishing fire-resistant forests. Additionally, because 2016 was declared the International Year of Pulses, it is necessary to draw attention to the carob tree since it is a typical pulse plant. The status of Turkey, as the 5th carob producer in the world, was analysed in this context, in terms of Agricultural Geography. The existing and necessary practices in carob production are discussed based on the data from the studies conducted in Antalya and Mersin in 2015 and previous ones.

Thirty five genotypes of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) were tested in four artificially created environments to judge their stability in performance of seed yield. The differences among genotypes and environments were significant for seed yield. Stability parameters varied considerably among the tested genotypes in all the methods used. The variation in result in different methods was due to non-fulfillment of assumption of different models. However, AMMI analysis provides the information on main effects as well as interaction effects and depiction of PCA score gives better understanding of the pattern of genotype – environment interaction. The sum of squares due to PCAs was also used for the computation of AMMI stability values for better understanding of the adaptability behavior of genotypes hence, additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model was most appropriate for the analysis of G x E interactions for seed yield in coriander. Genotypes RVC 15, RVC 19, RVC 22, RVC 25 and Panipat local showed wider adaptability while, Simpo S 33 exhibited specific adaptability to favourable conditions of high fertility. These genotypes could be utilized in breeding programmers to transfer the adaptability genes into high yielding genetic back ground of coriander.

Because of using sulphur free fertilizer, rice crop facing tremendous sulphur (S) deficiency throughout the world as well as in Bangladesh. However, farmers of Bangladesh often overlook the importance of sulphur fertilization on rice yield. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the influence of different levels of sulphur on growth, yield attributes and uptake of N, P, K and S by grain and straw of BRRI dhan41 rice variety. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replication and eight treatments including control. The result of the study revealed that the highest plant height, panicle length, filled grain was found in T1 (50% RFD of S) treatment, while the utmost number of effective tiller and straw yield was recorded in T5 (150% RFD of S) treatment. Interestingly, maximum grain yield as well as uptake of N, P, K and S by grain and straw was significantly higher in T6 (175% RFD of S) treatment. The highest grain yield of T6 treatment might be due to maximum nutrient use efficiency. However, in all cases control treatment (T0) gave the worst result. The present study clearly indicates that higher rates (175% of the recommended dose) of S along with other fertilizers may be recommended for better growth and yield of BRRI dhan41 in Bangladesh soil.

Quality of plain set yoghurt was investigated by varying levels of ultrafiltration concentration of cow skim milk (1-without ultrafiltration, 1.5 and 2 folds) and inoculum (2, 2.5 and 3%) of yoghurt culture (Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus 1:1). Titratable acidity development and pH reduction were significantly faster during incubation of yoghurt with increasing ultrafiltration concentration level and inoculum level. Increased ultrafiltration concentration level decreased spontaneous whey syneresis, but increased water holding capacity and firmness of the product significantly. Body & texture and overall acceptability scores were significantly better in yoghurts prepared from 1.5 fold concentrated milk irrespective of the inoculum level studied. Inoculum level did not show any significant effect on the quality of yoghurt, but higher inoculum level decreased the incubation period significantly. Optimized product was obtained with 1.5 fold concentrated skim milk standardized to 3.3% fat and incubated with 2% inoculum level in about five and a half hour of incubation. Optimized product had 13.60±0.02% total solids, 3.31±0.01% fat, 5.27±0.04% protein, 4.20±0.03% lactose and 0.82±0.02% ash. Whey syneresis, water holding capacity and firmness in optimized product were nil, 63.49% and 1.89 N, respectively. Thus, high quality plain yoghurt could be prepared by employing ultrafiltration, without addition of stabilizers, which is otherwise widely used commercially for the manufacture of yoghurt to control its wheying off and body.

The effect of temperature and pH on adsorption-desorption of fungicide hexaconazole was studied in two Malaysian soil types; namely clay loam and sandy loam. The adsorption-desorption experiment was conducted using the batch equilibration technique and the residues of hexaconazole were analysed using the GC-ECD. The results showed that the adsorption-desorption isotherms of hexaconazole can be described with Freundlich equation. The Freundlich sorption coefficient (Kd) values were positively correlated to the clay and organic matter content in the soils. Hexaconazole attained the equilibrium phase within 24 h in both soil types studied. The adsorption coefficient (Kd) values obtained for clay loam soil and sandy loam soil were 2.54 mL/g and 2.27 mL/g, respectively, indicating that hexaconazole was weakly sorbed onto the soils due to the low organic content of the soils. Regarding thermodynamic parameters, the Gibb’s free energy change (ΔG) analysis showed that hexaconazole adsorption onto soil was spontaneous and exothermic, plus it exhibited positive hysteresis. A strong correlation was observed between the adsorption of hexaconazole and pH of the soil solution. However, temperature was found to have no effect on the adsorption of hexaconazole onto the soils; for the range tested.