In this study, ecological risks arising from the accumulation of some heavy metals in surface sediments of Lake Tortum are discussed based on the use of ecological indices, such as enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), potential ecological risk index (PER) and the mean probable effect concentration quotient (mPEC-Q). Sediment samples were collected from six different sites using Van Veen grab and heavy metal and organic carbon content of sediments were determined. Results testify to the existence of minimal to moderate contamination in lake sediment. The highest value for the enrichment factor pertains to Cd caused by the use of fossil fuels in settlement areas in the lake catchment. PLI and PER estimations, on the other hand, reveals the presence of low heavy metals-induced ecological risk in lake sediments. Ranging between 15% and 29%, mPEC-Q values are indicative of the fact that Lake Tortum is a low-moderate priority site in terms of toxicity level caused by heavy metals.

Hydroponic farming system (HFS) is used to meet the roughage requirements of ruminants as an alternative method. In the system, forage production is achieved all over the year and germinated grains such as barley, wheat and oat, are used as fresh forage sources. In the present study, HFS, about which there are limited information, was discussed with its advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, the nutritive values of fresh forages produced in HFS system and also their using possibilities in animal nutrition were discussed. It was understood that HFS can be used for meeting forage requirements of ruminants if it runs effectively.

New Ecological Paradigm Scale (NEP) is commonly used to determine people’s environmental opinion and their behaviors about it. Environment-friendly and sustainable agricultural production techniques are one of the most important issue in agricultural engineering. In this study, agricultural engineer candidates’ environmental behaviors were determined by using of NEP scale. Data was collected from 350 undergraduate students in 2015-2016 school year. Environmental behavior mean was found as 3,38 that indicates slightly better than average environmental behavior. Four sub dimensions were determined with Explanatory Factor Analysis and variance was found 68%. According to First and Second-Order Confirmatory Factor Analysis, data showed results that confirm models. Second-Order Confirmatory Factor Analysis explanatory rate was found 78%. Despite all technological development, mankind still under the influence of natural laws and there is a serious environmental degradation by human activities. Agricultural engineer candidates showed a behavior that is balanced between environmental awareness and meeting humans’ nutrition needs.

In this study, in order to help the mass production of seedlings, the effect of fertilization on the morphological development of hornbeam leafy European hophornbeam (Ostry carpinifolia Scop) seedlings were investigated. For this, seedlings, which were obtained from the seeds coming from different European hophornbeam populations (Düzce-Yığılca, Antalya-Finike, Antalya-Akseki, Kastamonu-Şehdağ ve Adana-Saimbeyli) from various parts of Turkey, were used. European hophornbeam seedlings were treated with different fertilizers, including urea, ammonium sulphate, compound fertilizer 15-15-15 and 20-20-0, and 6-9 months Osmocote release fertilizer, and effects of these fertilizers on the morphological characters were investigated. Fertilization contained the same amount of nitrogen, and was made in three different ways; (1) mixing with habitat, (2) topical application and (3) liquid application. The development of germinated European hophornbeam seeds, which were spring-sowed in the same medium were monitored during the vegetation period. At the end of vegetation period, seedlings were removed from the soil and morphological characteristics of root (seedling length, root collar diameter, root length, fresh root and stem weight of the seedlings, dried root and stem weight of the seedlings and bud number) were measured. As a result, it was observed that fertilization positively affects the development of seedlings and depending on the fertilization type the seedlings of European hophornbeam populations were found to exhibit different improvements/growing. In addition, 6-9 months Osmocote release fertilizers were determined to be the best fertilizers affecting the morphological (diameter and height) development of European hophornbeam populations effectively, and among the populations, Düzce and Kastamonu populations showed the best improvement/growing.

The testis and epididymis of twenty five adult Large White boars were used to investigate the biometric and histomorphometric parameters of the testis and epididymis of the boars. The aim of the study was to provide information which could be useful in the comparative regional anatomy of the male reproductive organs of domestic animals and thus an improved assessment of breeding soundness and fertility potential in boars. The average weight of the animals was 71.3 ± 10.7 kg. The average weights of the right and left testes were 170 ± 0.7.60 g and 179±6.48g, respectively with no significant dif¬ference. The average weights of the right and left epididymis were 40.9 ± 6.81 g and 43.7 ± 8.55 g, respectively, with no significant difference. The relative testicular and epididymal weights were 0.49% and 0.12%, respectively. This study shows that the testis is about four times the size of the epididymis. The ductal diameter of the head, body and tail of the epididymis were 418 ± 22.6 µm, 432 ± 20.3 µm and 939 ± 50.6 µm, respectively. The mean relative volume of the germinal epithelium, interstitium and lumen of the seminiferous tubules of the boars rats were 68.4 ± 3.46%, 5.5 ± 0.66% and 78.0 ± 4.81%, respectively. It can be concluded that the morphology of the testis and epididymis of the Large White boar are similar to those of most mammals. This work provides information the testis and epididymis of the Large White boar which could be useful in the comparative regional anatomy of the male reproductive organs of domestic animals and thus an improved assessment of breeding soundness and fertility potential in boars.

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.

In this study, the objective was to determine the factors affecting farmers’ decisions on organic livestock. Within this scope, the Gümüşhane province, in which one of the major organic livestock projects has been carried out, was taken into the focus of attention for this study. The data of the study was obtained from 134 surveys based on census and focusing on farmers doing conventional animal breeding and possessing 25 or more cattle. The data obtained were used in predicting the Logit Model. In the model, it was determined that the inclination to transition to organic animal breeding in institutions where the rate of benefiting from animal breeding supports and the rate of meeting forage requirements from their own are high and besides where the rate of using industrial feed is low. As a result, it was recommended that the government support for forage crops, which are already within the current support policies, should be increased on yearly basis. This will have a positive effect on the decision of the farmers to choose organic livestock. This support is also important in terms of carrying out livestock activities in more profitable and technical way.

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.

The commercial production of cultivated-mushroom, which has a forty years of past in Turkey, was started after 1980s. Until the recent decade, most of the total amount of production in Turkey was performed by family members while the cultivation of the product has gained an upward trend since the beginning of 2000s, though the amount and development rate were not enough. During that time, a number of large (>2000 m2) and medium (500-2000 m2) scale mushroom production facilities were established and Turkey has gained an important place in mushroom production in the world. In this study, we aimed to reveal the common production methods of ten medium and large scale mushroom companies whose daily production capacities are above 1 ton in six regions. In this respect, all companies have been visited and communicated directly with company representatives and a survey comprising 65 questions about company, production facility, compost and casing soil, production systems, diseases and pests and packaging was made. The findings have suggested us that such companies have mostly a history of 15 years of time and have a land size of 10-50 thousand m2, while their mushroom production areas vary between in size and that they make use of technology in production and automation in their plants and they have quality management systems (ITU, ISO 9001, ISO 22000 and Global Gap ) and they employ generally qualified and experienced technicians or agriculture engineers and also that 40% of them receive consultancy and also that they use their own productions or standard ready mycelium planted compost and that they use domestic peat as casing material and that they package the mushrooms with their brands and sell to markets mostly and lastly that they conduct pre-sale quality sorting and grading. It was also seen that there is lack of food engineers employed and most of the companies do not receive consultancy, and that the waste compost is not evaluated correctly and that the covering material is not in the required standards and that there are even companies not doing any water analysis and that coal for heating and chemicals for disinfection are used and that diseases and pests are inevitable and last that they lack in processing different products.

The main aims of this study were to observe the seasonal variations of physicochemical parameters and heavy metal content, to determine the water quality properties and the suitability level in terms of aquatic life, and also to classify the quality of water in accordance with the Surface Water Quality Management Regulation (SWQMR) criteria at Çiğdem Pond (Kastamonu/Turkey). In total, 21 physicochemical parameters and 7 heavy metals were investigated for water quality assessment of the studied pond between July 2015 and June 2016 in 3 stations. The water quality in Çiğdem Pond was found to be Class I according to SWQMR. The results of this study provide a data baseline for future studies on subsequent evaluations of possible future environmental contamination. Also, to protect the water quality and to ensure the health of aquatic life in this area, it is required to make regular observations.