This research was performed to determine the effects of different sowing times (ST1, ST2, and ST3) and biostimulant (Pi-NFS) doses (0, 100, 250, 500 ml da-1) on seed yield components of Italian ryegrass ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) in the continental condition of Eskişehir, Turkey. The results indicated that the main factors significantly affected the seed yield components except for the effect of sowing time on plant height, however, the interaction effect of these factors was significant only on the number of the reproductive tillers and seed yield. There was no significant difference between the ST1 and ST2 in terms of the number of the reproductive tillers, thousand seed weight, and seed yield. Likewise, the values of these components did not differ significantly in the doses of 250 and 500 ml da-1. The highest seed yield was derived from the dose of 500 ml da-1 at ST2 and the values obtained from the doses of 250 and 500 ml da-1 at the ST1 were in the high seed yield group. It was concluded that early sowing time and the doses of 250 to 500 ml da-1 biostimulant application resulted in high seed yield in Italian grass. On the other hand, the dose of 500 ml was more effective in case of delayed sowing time like ST2.

One of the most important impacts of the Covid 19 pandemic that broke out in China in the last months of 2019 was on the agricultural sector and, consequently, on the food supply. This situation manifested itself in an increase in food insecurity and food prices in countries around the world, and rising food prices highlighted the risk of undernourishment. The study attempted to statistically represent the impact of the pandemic on food security and food price increases in countries around the world. The study first compared the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods in terms of three basic indicators, such as food security, food prices, and undernourishment rates, and examined whether there was a significant difference between the two periods. Within the context of these three indicators, an attempt was then made to determine whether the negative impact of the pandemic was more severe in low-income countries. The results of the analysis showed that food prices, food insecurity, and undernourishment increased during the pandemic and that these impacts were relatively greater in developing countries. Therefore, the financial burden of these negative impacts associated with food supply was greater in developing countries.

In search for an efficient means of building up the carbon stock, improving the fertility levels and aggregate stability of tropical soils for optimum crop yield, a field study was carried using different biochars and comparing the effects with inorganic fertilizer. The biochars were palm bunch biochar (PBB), saw dust biochar (SDM) and rice mill husk biochar (RMHB). Treatments consisted of 10 t/ha palm bunch biochar + 0.25t/ha poultry manure (T1), 10 t/ha rice mill husk biochar + 0.25t/ha poultry manure (T2), 10 t/ha saw dust biochar + 0.25t/ha poultry manure (T3), 500kg/ha N.P.K 15:15:15 fertilizer + 0.25t/ha poultry manure (T4) and plot without biochar + 0.25t/ha poultry manure (T5) (control plot). These were replicated five times on experimental plots of 4m2 in a randomized complete block design. Maize (Zea mays) was used as a test crop and data obtained were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance and correlation. Soils amended with biochars significantly improved soil pH, organic carbon, exchangeable bases and base saturation than non biochar fertilized soils. Saw dust biochar increased soil carbon stock by 95.1% against NPK fertilizer plots and control. There was 19% decrease in soil bulk density and 17% increase in soil pH with application of palm bunch biochar. Amending soils with palm bunch biochar increased soil organic carbon by 51.5%. The biochars increased the values of critical level of soil organic matter, modifies clay ratio and reduced the value of clay flocculation index more than NPK fertilized soils or control. Among the treatments, rice mill husk biochar recorded the highest maize cob weight though not significant with palm bunch biochar. Therefore, applying biochars on eroded soil is an effective measure of improving the stability, soil carbon stock as well as enhancing higher maize yield than inorganic fertilizer.

Vegetables grown in mining areas can accumulate significant amounts of heavy metals (HMs), which can cause serious developmental disorders and have long-term negative effects on public health. In the present study, the HMs contamination level in vegetables grown around the Riruwai mining area in Kano State, Nigeria, was investigated. Fifteen (15) vegetable samples were collected, including lettuce (Lacuta sativa L.), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), as well as their corresponding soils. The levels of As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in all the samples were determined using Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry, and the measured concentrations were used to calculate the bioaccumulation factor (BAF). The results of the study revealed that HMs concentrations in the investigated vegetables were found to be significantly high, with the majority of levels exceeding the WHO/FAO (2007) recommended limit, and the concentration of HMs in the soil decreased in the order of Zn > Mn > Cr > Pb > As > Ni > Cd > Hg, with As, Pb, and Zn exceeding the WHO/FAO (2001) recommended limit. Pollution levels were found to significantly differ between HMs and vegetable types. BAF results revealed that cadmium is an accumulator of all the studied vegetables (BAFs > 1), while mercury was found to be an accumulator of L. sativa. Higher concentrations of these metals in vegetables and soil, particularly arsenic, cadmium, lead, and zinc, necessitate immediate scientific attention and further research to determine the optimum concentration required for human health. Planting of vegetables for human and animal consumption should be stopped until this is accomplished.

To increase meat production at a level parallel to meet the demand of the increasing world population in recent years, reproductive management in farm animals must be successful. In order to reach the desired level of fertility in sheep, particularly starting with the non-prolific breeds, anoestrus period applications should be carried out effectively. In this study, different doses of equine chorionic gonadotropin were applied to determine the effective eCG dose for underwent estrus synchronization with progesterone in anoestrus Kangal ewes whose milk and wool yield has been completely abandoned by the breeder for various reasons and whose only economic benefit is lamb production. A total of 225 Kangal Akkaraman Sheep breeds, 2 years old, with a body condition score of 2.5-3.5 and an average weight of 40-50 kg, were included in the study. In line with this purpose, ewes were divided into 3 groups, containing 75 primiparous sheep. A vaginal sponge containing progesterone was inserted into the animals in all groups on day 0. Seven days after this application (on the 7th day), vaginal sponges were removed and Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) was applied. When the vaginal sponge was removed and the PGF2α was administered, 400 IU of eCG was given to animals in Group 1 (n:75), 500 IU of eCG was administrated to animals in Group 2 (n:75), and 600 IU of eCG was injected to the ewes in Group 3. The effectiveness of different doses of eCG application on reproductive parameters such as estrous rate, pregnancy rate, multiple pregnancy rate, and the number of offspring was evaluated. While no statistical difference could be determined between the groups in terms of the stated reproductive parameters, numerically more offspring were obtained in the group in which eCG was applied at a low rate (Group 1). In the light of this information, it is concluded that 400 IU eCG can be as effective as 600 IU eCG in sexual stimulation of Kangal ewes in anestrus.

Bu çalışmanın amacı, Trakya Bölgesi’nde iklim değişikliğinin buğday bitkisinin verimine etkisini modellemektir. Bu amaçla, çiftçi tarlasından alınan 2020-2021 dönemi buğday verim değeri, aynı yıla ait iklim verileri kullanılarak LINTUL model ile hesaplanan verim değeri ile karşılaştırılarak kalibre edilmiş ve daha sonra HadGEM2-ES ve MPI-ESM-MR küresel iklim modellerinin RCP4.5 ve RCP8.5 senaryolarından elde edilen iklim verileri ile 2031-2040, 2041-2050, 2051-2060, 2061-2070 ve 2071-2080 dönemleri için verim değerleri tahmin edilmiştir. Ekim ve hasat tarihleri değiştirilmeden iki şekilde verim tahmini yapılmıştır: Birincisinde, ortalama en düşük ve en yüksek sıcaklık, solar radyasyon ve yağış değişimi dikkate alınarak verim hesaplaması yapılmıştır. İkincisinde ise solar radyasyon değerleri 2004-2021 dönemi için sabit tutulurken, ortalama en düşük ve en yüksek sıcaklık ve yağış değişimleri hesaba katılmıştır. Birinci yaklaşımda, HadGEM2-ES modelinin RCP4.5 ve RCP8.5 senaryoları için tahmin edilen verim değişimleri sırasıyla %1,5-%7,5 ve -%7,5-%7,5 arasında hesaplanırken, MPI-ESM-MR modeli için yine aynı sırayla %9,0-%13,4 ve %3,0-%16,4 arasında simüle edilmiştir. İkinci yaklaşımda, HadGEM2-ES modelinin RCP4.5 ve RCP8.5 senaryoları için tahmin edilen verim değişimleri sırasıyla %4,5-%9,0 ve -%7,5-%7,5 arasında hesaplanırken, MPI-ESM-MR modeli için yine aynı sırayla %10,4-%13,4 ve %4,5-%19,5 arasında tahmin edilmiştir. Verim tahminlerinde sıcaklık ve yağışla birlikte solar radyasyonun etkisinin de mutlaka göz önünde bulundurulması gerektiği; Türkiye’nin diğer bölgelerinin aksine iklim değişimi ile verimin genelde artış yönünde olacağı tahmin edildiğinden gıda güvencesi için Trakya Bölgesi tarım arazilerinin değişimine izin verilmemesi gerektiği sonucuna varılmıştır.

Manda yetiştiriciliğinin avantajları ve mandadan elde edilen ürünlerin insan sağlığındaki üstünlüklerine rağmen, dünyada manda popülasyonunun azalan bir trendle düşük olduğu ve nesli tehlikede olan türler arasında olduğu belirtilmektedir. Dünyada manda yetiştiriciliği yapılan ülkeler arasında manda sayısında en hızlı azalışın gerçekleştiği ülke konumunda olan Türkiye’de, Samsun ili manda popülasyonunda geçmişten günümüze birinci sırada yer almaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı Türkiye ve Samsun ilinde 2023-2030 yılları arasında manda popülasyonunun Çift Üstel Düzleştirme ve Holt-Winters yöntemleri ile geleceğe yönelik tahminlerini gerçekleştirmektir. Çalışmada Türkiye manda popülasyon serisi için 1929-2022 yılları arası, Samsun ili manda popülasyon serisi için ise 1991-2022 yılları arası verileri kullanılmıştır. Araştırmada serilerin durağan olmadığı belirlenmiş olup, birinci farkı alındıktan sonra seriler durağanlaştırılmıştır. Manda popülasyon tahmini için Holt-Winters modelinin veri setine en uygun model olduğuna karar verilmiştir. Bu modele göre 2030 yılında 2022 yılına göre Türkiye manda popülasyonunun %7,29 oranında artış yaşanacağı, Samsun ili manda popülasyonunun ise gelecek sekiz yıl içinde stabil kalacağı belirlenmiştir. Çalışmada, yakın gelecekte Türkiye'de manda popülasyonunun yok olma tehlikesi ile karşı karşıya kalacağı belirlenmiştir. Türkiye’de manda varlığının sürdürülebilirliği için hükümet tarafından uzun vadeli ve etkili politika araçları uygulamaya konularak verilen desteklemeler artırılmalı ve tüketicilerin de manda sütü ve etinin faydaları hakkında bilinçlendirilmesi sağlanarak talep artışı sağlanmalıdır.

The aim of the experiment is to study in vitro regeneration efficiency of international potato center (CIP)-bred salt tolerant potato genotypes under salt stress condition and to identify effective potato genotype(s) for saline belt areas of Bangladesh. An in vitro shoot bioassay of eight CIP-bred potato genotypes viz. CIP 102, CIP 106, CIP 111, CIP 117, CIP 124, BARI Alu 72 (CIP 139), and BARI Alu 73 (CIP 127) and CIP 136 were used. In this study, single node of these genotypes was cultured in MS media supplemented with 0, 80, 100, 120, 140 and 160 mM NaCl. Among the eight genotypes, BARI Alu 72 (CIP 139) showed the highest tolerance against salinity up to 160 mM NaCl (14.61 dS/m) for all studied parameters (except shoot and root initiation) with the highest plant height (9.67 cm), leaves number (13.60), nodes number (9.50), root length (6.50 cm), roots number (7.80), fresh weight of shoot (536.1 mg) and root (205.60 mg). On the other hand, CIP 106 was found the most susceptible genotype against salinity showing its highest salinity tolerance up to 120 mM NaCl (10.96 dS/m) with maximum plant height (7.17 cm), leaves number (12.50), nodes number (6.50), root length (7.50 cm), roots number (9.7), fresh weight of shoot (572.3 mg) and root (250 mg). The experiment's findings corroborated CIP's findings that they were salt tolerant, as well as recommended for their cultivation suitability in saline-affected area in Bangladesh.

The depletion of minerals in agricultural soils through subsistence farming has been a major food security challenge in many parts of the world. To curtail this problem, farmers use inorganic fertilizer to boost soil fertility even though it poses a lot of environmental challenges. In this research, an alternative route to soil nutrient amendment was explored via the use of compost and nano-gel water accumulator for blending different soil samples derived from rock side soil and spent farm soils blended in different ratios of 1:0, 1:1, 1:2, and 2:1using a suitable potting media for the greenhouse production of A. spinosus L. Physicochemical values, mineral, and heavy metals concentration were evaluated on the soil and compost samples while mineral, proximate, anti-nutrients and vitamins compositions were analyzed on A. spinosus L. grown on the soils. Data obtained were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) at a 95% confidence limit using SPSS 20.0 software. The properties of the prepared compost (PC) and commercial compost (CC) varied significantly (P