This study was conducted in Hatay and Mardin provinces to investigate the tendency of farmers to use social media, the difficulties they face during the use of social media and the variables affecting the use of social media by farmers. The research consisted of data obtained from a face-to-face survey of 221 producers using proportional sampling method. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis, and chi-square analysis was used to examine the relationships between variables. The results showed that the rate of producers using social media was 77.8% in Mardin province and 73.8% in Hatay province. Additionally, farmers mostly use social media for communication with families and access to new news.  Also, the most commonly used social media applications in both provinces were WhatsApp and Facebook. As a result of this research, it was determined that farmers don’t use social media sufficiently for agricultural activities, and it was suggested that farmers’ organizations and related institutions should carry out information activities for farmers to encourage farmers to use social media efficiently.

Bu çalışmada; Türkiye'de kırsal alanlarda ısınma amaçlı olarak kullanılan yenilenebilir enerji kaynaklarından güneşte kurutulmuş sığır gübresi külünün (SGK) farklı oranlarda çimento yerine kullanılmasının, hafif betonun basınç dayanımı üzerine etkisinin araştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Araştırmada, hafif agrega olarak pomza bağlayıcı olarak da CEM I 42,5 R tipi çimento ve SGK ikamesi kullanılmıştır. Karışımlara çimento yerine ağırlıkça belirli oranlarda (%0, %5, %10, %15 ve %20) SGK ikame edilerek 5 grup halinde toplam 45 adet 150×150×150 mm’lik küp numune üretilmiştir. Taze beton deneyleri olarak-birim ağırlık deneyleri; serleşmiş beton deneyleri olarak da kuru birim ağırlık, su emme ve basınç dayanımı deneyleri yapılmıştır. SGK kullanılan numunelerde, SGK ikamesinin artması ile kontrol örneklerine göre su emme miktarında bir miktar artış, basınç dayanımlarında ise bir miktar düşüş görülmüştür. %5, %10, %15 ve %20 oranlarında SGK ikamesi ile üretilen numunelerin 28 günlük basınç dayanımı düşüş değerleri kontrol örnekleri ile karşılaştırıldığında sırasıyla %4, %4,6, %5,5 ve %6 olarak belirlenmiştir. Çimento yerine %20 SGK ikamesinin uygulanması, numunelerin 28 günlük basınç dayanımlarında %6’lık bir azalma gözlemlenmiştir.

Bu çalışmada, tahıl depolaması amacıyla farklı sac kalınlıkları ve destek elemanlarına sahip 85 adet silo modeli oluşturulmuştur. Silo boyutları,1500×3000 mm sac tabakalar kesilmeksizin kullanılarak çapı 4,77 metre ve yüksekliği (çatı hariç) 10,5 olarak belirlenmiş ve araştırma süresince sabit tutulmuştur. Çalışmanın temel amacı, çelik siloların maliyetinin büyük kısmını oluşturan yapı malzemesini azaltarak maliyeti düşürmek için optimizasyon yapmaktır. Oluşturulan modeller için kaynaklanabilirlik, işlenebilirlik ve maliyet yönünden uygun malzeme olarak St44 yapı çeliği seçilmiştir. Silonun stabilitesini artırmak ve olası yapısal sorunları minimize etmek amacıyla, NPU ve lama destek elemanları tasarıma dahil edilmiştir. Oluşturulan silo modellerinin yapısal analizleri ANSYS sonlu elemanlar yazılımı ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. ANSYS yazılımı kullanılarak yapılan analizlerde, her bir silo modeli için statik yükleme koşulları altında oluşan toplam deformasyon, gerinim ve gerilme değerleri hesaplanmıştır. Ayrıca, her bir tasarımın toplam ağırlığı da değerlendirilmiştir. Bu analizler sonucunda elde edilen veriler karşılaştırılarak, en uygun performans ve maliyet dengesini sağlayan optimum silo tasarımı belirlenmiştir. İmalat sırasında sac kalınlığını artırmadan, yeterli destek elemanlarının kullanılması ile genel ağırlığın %58 oranında azaltılabileceği tespit edilmiştir. Bu bulgu, imalat sırasında malzeme maliyetlerini önemli ölçüde düşürmekte ve yapısal performansı koruyarak ekonomik bir çözüm sunmaktadır.

Bu çalışmada zencefil (Zingiber officinale), sarımsak (Allium sativum L.) ve nane (Mentha piperita L.) tıbbi ve aromatik bitkilerinden farklı çözücüler kullanılarak hazırlanan ekstraktların çoklu antibiyotik dirençli Escherichia coli suşları üzerine in vitro antimikrobiyal aktivitesi belirlenmiştir. Zencefil, sarımsak ve nane ekstraktlarının hazırlanmasında çözücü olarak etanol, metanol, aseton ve saf su kullanılmıştır. Çözücülerin ekstraksiyon verimi belirlendikten sonra hazırlanan ekstraktların in vitro antimikrobiyal aktivitesi altı farklı çoklu antibiyotik dirençli E. coli suşu (EC1-6) kullanılarak disk difüzyon yöntemiyle belirlenmiştir. Çözücü olarak su veya metanol kullanılan nane ekstraksiyonundan elde edilen ekstraksiyon verimi, aseton ve etanolden daha yüksek bulunmuştur (P<0,001). Benzer şekilde, zencefil ve sarımsak örneklerinden su kullanılarak alınan ekstraksiyon verimi diğer çözücülerden daha yüksek olmuştur (sırasıyla P=0,013 ve P<0,001). Zencefil etanol ve metanol ekstraktlarının E. coli EC2 ve EC4 suşlarına karşı antimikrobiyal aktivite gösterdiği (sırasıyla P=0,020 ve P=0,026), buna karşın diğer E. coli suşları üzerine zencefil ekstraktlarının herhangi bir etkisi olmadığı (P>0,05) belirlenmiştir. Benzer şekilde, sarımsak etanol ve metanol ekstraktlarının E. coli EC2 suşu dışındaki tüm E. coli suşlarına antibakteriyel etki gösterdiği belirlenmiştir (P<0,05). Bununla birlikte, farklı çözücüler kullanılarak hazırlanan nane ekstraktlarının hiçbir E. coli suşuna karşı antimikrobiyal aktivitesi tespit edilmemiştir. Çalışmanın sonuçları, zencefil etanol veya metanol ekstraktlarının, sarımsak etanol ekstraktlarının çalışılan E. coli suşlarına karşı antimikrobiyal ajan olarak kullanılabileceğini göstermiştir.

The study aimed to evaluate the economic viability and profitability of cultivating improved tomato varieties in Akure North and Ifedore Local Government Areas of Ondo State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected through a well-structured questionnaire, with a sample size of 150 farmers selected using snowball sampling through a multi-stage procedure. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, farm budgeting techniques, and multiple regression. Findings revealed that 36.7% of farmers were within their active working age. Most farmers (71.3%) were female, and 73.3% were married, with an average household size of seven. Around 40.7% of the farmers had higher education (HND/B.Sc.), and 68.7% were members of farming associations. Economic analysis indicated a total cost of N208,374.04 and a net income of N601,625.96, yielding a return on investment (ROI) of 3.89, meaning N2.89 profit for every N1 invested. The study also highlighted that farm size, farming experience, educational level, and agrochemical applications significantly influenced tomato production. Challenges identified included unfavorable climate, theft, price instability, poor seed supply, and inadequate capital. The study recommended government support in providing subsidies and resources for farm expansion and better extension services to ensure a steady supply of improved tomato varieties.

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is a significant member of the Fabaceae family, known for its high protein content and rich phenolic compounds essential for human nutrition. These phenolic compounds, which belong to the group of secondary metabolites, serve as important dietary components. Secondary metabolites, act as plant defence mechanisms and can fluctuate under stress conditions. Weeds negatively impact the growth of cultivated plants by competing for nutrients and creating a stressful environment. This study evaluated the effects of weeds on the yield and quality parameters of faba bean. Conducted in Sakarya, the research aimed to determine how weed control frequency affects the yield and some secondary metabolites of faba bean. The experiment used a randomized block design with four replications and included four faba bean genotypes: two registered varieties (Eresen-87 and Salkım) and two local populations (Bilecik and Sakarya). Weed control treatments; comprised weedy control, hoeing every 15 days, and hoeing every 30 days. Measured parameters included plant height (cm), number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, 1000 seed weight (g), dry seed yield (g), and DPPH radical scavenging activity (%). Data were analyzed using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test with SPSS, revealing statistically significant differences (p<0.05) in all measured parameters. The tallest plants were found in the Salkım×Control plot, while the shortest were in Sakarya×15. The highest number of pods occurred in Sakarya×30, and the lowest in Eresen-87×15. The highest number of seeds per pod was recorded in Bilecik×15, while the lowest was in all treatments of the Salkım variety and the Eresen-87×15 plot. The highest dry seed yield came from Bilecik×15, with the lowest from Eresen-87×30. DPPH activity peaked in Bilecik×Control, indicating significant differences in yield and nutritional content among faba bean genotypes. These findings indicate that different genotypes excel in various agricultural and nutritional characteristics, demonstrating that these differences can play an important role in shaping future production strategies.

The current study aimed to evaluate Piliostigma thonningii seeds-derived essential oil (PTO) effect on hematological and reproductive parameters in rabbits. Three groups consisting of 15 animals each were randomly assigned and with an average initial body weight (BW) of 262.89 ± 22.36 g in a fully randomised experimental design. Group 1 received the control diet, while for groups 2 and 3 the basal control diet was supplemented with 2 mL PTO/kg diet and 4 mL PTO/kg diet, respectively. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected and the blood was analysed using the ABACUS ROSS haematology analyser. The results indicated significant differences in rabbits receiving PTO supplemented feed, namely; Packed cell volume, red blood cells, white blood cells, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, neutrophil increased (P<0.05) with increasing level of PEO supplementation. Mean corpuscular volume and haemoglobin, lymphocyte, monocyte and platelet were higher (P<0.05) in T2 and T3 than in T1. Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio was higher (P<0.05) in T3 than T1 with T2 being intermediate (P>0.05) between T1 and T3. Semen volume, concentration and motility were higher (P<0.05) in T2 and T3 than in T1. While semen abnormalities and bucks’ reaction time to does (libido) were greater (P<0.05) in T1 than in T2 and T3, Live dead ratio was higher (P<0.05) in T3 relative to T1 while T2 was intermediate between T1 and T3 (P>0.05). semen color and pH were not affected (P>0.05) by treatments. It was therefore concluded that P. thonningii essential oil supplementation enhanced both haematological and fertility potential of the experimental rabbits.

Growing world population, scientists aim to achieve high-yielding products by using new techniques and methods in the fields of food, agriculture, and livestock. The aim of this study is to identify the DGAT/K232A gene polymorphism for Enhancing Performance Characteristics in Simmental cattle and to use it in breeding programs. DGAT/K232A gene polymorphism was analyzed by RFLP method in 70 Simmental cattle using CfrI restriction enzyme. The frequency of the K allele was found 0.77, while A allele was 0.23. The distribution of DGAT1-K232A genotype frequencies in the breed was not balanced (p<0.05). No significant relationship was found between DGAT1/K232Agene polymorphisms and milk yield due to the small number of samples.

Spoilage of pasteurized milk is mainly caused by the presence of organisms that either survive pasteurization (psychrotolerant spore-formers) or re-contaminate milk in the processing environment (post-pasteurisation contaminants).  Pasteurization of bovine milk by heat treating at 72°C for 15-30 seconds ensures milk quality without impairing its organoleptic and nutritional status and extends shelf life to 12-14 days at refrigeration temperatures. Nisin A is a class I bacteriocin known to inhibit gram positive bacteria and approved by the European Food and Safety Authority as a food preservative. It is commercially available as Nisaplin®, which contains a concentration of 2.5% w/w of nisin. This study examined the effect of Nisaplin® at different concentrations on spoilage of refrigerated commercial whole pasteurized milk over a period of 59 days. At a high concentration of 4 mgml-1, Nisaplin® reduced the total bacterial count below the limit of detection in the milk, and inhibition was visible for at least 14 days at 4°C. Previously isolated milk spoilage bacteria were identified using 16s rRNA gene sequencing and utilised as target indicators for bacteriocin production. Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus LMG6901, Microbacterium lacticum, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were utilised as indicator strains in a screen of milk spoilage organisms for bacteriocin production. This resulted in identifying the putative bacteriocin producer Carnobacterium divergens, a lactic acid bacterium active against L. bulgaricus. The study concludes that Nisaplin® is effective in the reduction of microbial load and its effectiveness could be increased when combined with other preservative methods thus forming an extra hurdle in the milk.

With its high protein, vitamin and mineral content, Spirulina platensis (SP) is the most widely used microalgae as a food supplement and the most cultivated microalgae for this purpose. Zinc is a regulatory microelement that is incorporated into the structure of many proteins in the cell and is particularly deficient in cereal-based societies. Due to the high adaptability of SP to environments with high metal concentrations and its high capacity to secrete substances called phytochelatin and metal-binding capacity, in this study zinc-enriched SP (ZnSP) was produced by binding metals to SP by organic means. For this purpose, modified media with 4 different Zn concentrations were prepared and SP was cultured in these media. Optical density, chlorophyll-a, phycobiliprotein and dry cell weight analyses were performed to monitor the culture. During the culture period, biomass and filtered culture medium were collected from logarithmic and stationary stages and Zn analyses were performed. The most suitable culture medium and growth conditions were determined to obtain Zn-enriched SP. 338.4 mg kg-1 Zn was measured in SP biomass grown in Zn-3 medium containing 8 mg L-1 Zn. It may be possible to obtain Zn-enriched SP in this medium and under the specified culture conditions, and even this ratio can be increased by adding Zn to the culture medium after the logarithmic stage.