The purpose of this study was to estimate and identify factors affecting the willingness of households to pay for conservation of Washera sheep in West Gojam, Ethiopia. This study used both primary and secondary data. A three-stage sampling method was used to collect data from 240 respondents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and econometric models. The two-dimensional test model used a method to determine the choice of the imputation method using double limited dichotomies. The study showed that education level, livestock size, extension contacts and credit source positively affected the maximum household’s willingness to pay for conservation of Washera sheep. On the other hand, age, sex, land size, and the distance of the home from the household’s market have negatively affected the maximum household’s willingness to pay for conservation of Washera sheep. Meanwhile, the total number of valid answers corresponds to 122,168 households. Therefore, the mean willingness to pay for Washera sheep conservation was US$ 3.75 per year and the total economic benefit gain from Washera sheep conservation were equivalent to US$1,069,647.23. The study recommends that households be willing to contribute to the conservation of Washera sheep breed by providing the cash. This ensures community participation in all decision making and formulation of plans and policies related to the conservation of Washera sheep breeds.

In the study; fruit skin color parameters, fruit flesh firmness and total soluable solid (TSS) ratios, as well as total acidity, total phenolic substance, total monomeric anth°Cyanin amounts and total antioxidant capacity were determined. After the fruits were harvested, they were immersed in three different doses (0-2-4%) of calcium chloride (CaCl2) solution for 5 minutes. The fruits removed from the solution were kept to dry. The fruits were stored for 14 days in a cold store with a temperature of 1-2°C and a relative humidity of 90±5%. Before the storage and on the 7th and 14th days of storage, the fruits samples were taken and kept on the shelves in the rooms with a temperature of 21±1°C and a relative humidity of 60±5%for 3 days. Measurements and analyses of fruit quality parameters were made in the samples taken from the fruits that were kept on the shelf for three days. As a result of the study, it was determined that 4%CaCl2 application was effective in maintaining fruit flesh firmness. In fruits kept on the shelf for 3 days after 14 days of storage, SSC of 4%CaCl2 treatment was found to be higher than the control treatment. Compared to the control, 4%CaCl2 caused a significant increase in the total phenol content. The highest total monomeric anth°Cyanin content and total antioxidant capacity was determined in the control treatment. While there were no significant changes in L* values between treatments, a* and b* values were found to be higher in 2%CaCl2 treatment. In the light of the data obtained, it was concluded that 4%CaCl2 application had a positive effect on the shelf life of strawberry fruits.

Verticillium wilt disease in cotton is a soil-borne disease that causes significant yield losses, and it is therefore important to identify disease-resistant genotypes. Current study was carried out in the experimental field of the Faculty of Agriculture, Dicle University (Diyarbakir) in the year 2020 to determine the tolerance levels of some cotton genotypes which contain different characteristics to wilt disease (Verticillium dahliae Kleb.). The experiment area has been naturally infected with Verticillium wilt pathogens. A total of 124 cotton genotypes, including four controls (DP-499, Edessa, ST-468, ES-1), were arranged in five blocks according to the Augmented Design. The indices of stem cross-section and the leaf-disease severity were found significant. The leaf-disease severity varied between 0.12-3.09 at 50-60 % at boll opening period, whilst stem cross-section values ranged between 0.36-2.30. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between the indices. In conclusion, G7, G12, G21, G22, G23, G41, G51, G55, and G101 were determined as tolerant genotypes to Verticillium wilt in terms of examining two parameters.

Trees in upland, semiarid agroecological zones typically require water efficiency due to low rainfall, cold and dry temperatures as in Niğde Province, Central Anatolia, Türkiye. This study quantitatively assessed farmer perception of ecosystem services and production advantage of trees in a semiarid zone. Forty-nine farmers in Niğde Province were surveyed. The survey evaluated two major factors: ecosystem services and production advantage using eleven indicators. The responses were grouped by age, gender, education, district class (rural and urban) and farm settlement (rural and urban) and were analysed by test of association (χ2) at P≤0.05. Most farmers had knowledge of trees in their environment and mainly supported the perspective that trees were important mainly for cultural and provisioning ecosystem services. However, they held the opinion that having trees on their farmer was a production disadvantage in a semiarid agroecological zone. Although there were no gender differences in their perspectives, there were significant difference by age, education, district class and farm settlement. Farmers in this semiarid agroecological zone seemed more interested in trees with evident ecosystem services and production advantage such as improved crop yield, water efficiency, weed and pest management, ease of harvesting as well as reduced overall production cost. By implication, trees with multiple benefits are required if further planting by farmers is to be encouraged for agroecosystem improvement. In addition, tree choice will be based on farmer perception of the benefits of trees for ecosystem services and production advantage and further research to identify and promote trees that benefits the widest range of agroecosystems.

Using functional foods which are recently a rising value in the food science arouses curiosity in terms of health among people. Honey, as a natural functional food, might play an important role in the increase of this value with a large but conscious use of it in kitchens. Having a prebiotic property with its oligosaccharide components, honey has a characteristic of supporting the increase of probiotic Bifidobacterium and lactobacilli bacteria. In the current study, the culinary status of honey was investigated depending on the views of professional chef trainers. For honey that shows different compositions, chefs point out that, because of the changes of nectars in the flora collected by bees, the qualitative honey bought from local producers could be a more functional food by using it with sauces, milk products like yoghurt and cheese, with such spices as ginger, turmeric, black pepper, and cinnamon at room temperature without an application of heat treatment.

The world population growth has increased demand for traditional protein sources but an alternative protein source was sought due to limited land. Edible insects containing all the essential amino acids in a healthy diet are sustainable and promising alternative protein source. The protein content of insects varies in a wide range depending on the type of insect and the stage of development (13%-77%). Some edible insects are currently consumed by two billion people worldwide. In the literature, more than 2100 insect species have been recorded as edible. The sensory attributes of edible insects are an important factor that can accelerate their acceptance by consumers. Generally, the taste of insects is described as nutty and largely depends on the cooking technique. Potential food safety risks of edible insects can be microbiological, parasitological and allergenic. This review has been shown to be a healthy food source with high protein content, lipids, vitamins, minerals and fiber, the nutritional composition and functionality are compared between different insect species, and information on the sensory quality and risks of insect eating is presented.

Mycotoxin is a worldwide problem threatening animal health and performance as well as public health. The objective of this experiment was to test the effect of ammonization on elimination of common mycotoxins in laying hen compound feed (CF) and dairy cattle total mixed ration (TMR). The CF for laying hens and TMR for dairy cows were contaminated with commonly occurring mycotoxins [aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), ochratoxin A (OTA), and zearalenone (ZEA)] at 25 times of their accepted legal limits (20 ppb, 200 ppb and 500 ppb, respectively). They were then subjected to ammonization with ammonium bicarbonate (NH4HCO3) at 50C for 24 hours under the atmospheric pressure. Mycotoxin levels were analyzed using the LC-MS/MS technique. The elimination levels in CF and TMR were 53% and 54% for AFB1; 31% and 31% for OTA and 22% and 22% for ZEA, respectively. In conclusion, ammonization was effective in destroying common mycotoxin, at an order of AFB1 > OTA > ZEA.

In this study, it was aimed to reveal some carcass quality characteristics of 60 head Anatolian water buffalo slaughtered in a private slaughterhouse in Samsun. Between February and May 202, information about the animals and their fattening status were obtained from the owners of the animals that came for slaughter on the days when the slaughter was intense. Hot carcass weight, marbling score, back fat thickness, Longissimus dorsi muscle depth and width, muscle pH, muscle and fat color were determined in slaughtered animals. Scales developed for this purpose were used for marbling score and color of muscle and fat, and pH was determined using a pH meter for meat. In the study, it was determined that the age of the slaughtered animals did not affect the carcass quality characteristics, while the fattening period was found to be effective on the carcass weight (P

This study was carried out over the experimental fields of Ankara University, Faculty of Agriculture Gümüşdere Campus. Experiments were conducted with 3 different irrigation water salinity levels (S1=0.25 dS/m – control/tap water, S2=1.5 dS/m, S3=3.0 dS/m) and 4 different leaching ratios (LF1=10%, LF2 =20%, LF3 = 35%, LF4=50%) in randomized plots factorial experimental design with 3 replications. Totally, 36 (3×4×3) lysimeters were used in present experiments. Plant height, fresh and dry herbage yield and total ash content of alfalfa plants were analyzed. With increasing salinity levels, plant height, fresh and dry herbage yields decreased and total ash contents increased. Positive effects of leaching applications were observed, but this effect was not found to be significant. The main reason for this situation may be the necessity of a good drainage system for a good leaching application.

In this study, dragon fruit was dried by a microwave-assisted foam drying method and the effect of different microwave powers (350, 460 and 700W) on the drying kinetics and powder product properties were investigated. The properties (foam stability, expansion and density) of the foams obtained by adding egg white to dragon fruit puree were examined. The highest R2 and lowest RMSE and χ2 values of foam dried samples obtained from the Silva models. The effective moisture diffusion coefficient values of the samples (5.93×10-8-1.16×10-7 m2/s) increased due to the increase of microwave power. Activation energy values were calculated as 74.77 W/g. The effects of different microwave powers on moisture, water activity, color and powder product properties of dragon fruit powders dried by foam drying method were determined. In addition, in all conditions where microwave foam drying is performed, dragon fruit powders showed very good flowability and low stickiness.