This study was conducted to determine the fertility potential of the agricultural soils of Ağrı/Eleşkirt region and the levels of basic plant nutrients. Texture classes of soil samples of the research area was; loam, clay loam and sandy clay timbre, 55% loam, 40% clay timbre and 5% sandy clay. The pH of the soils varies between 6.50-7.57, with an average of 7.14 neutral and CEC values between 17.3-29.5 cmol/kg. Lime content is 3.95-12.10%, mean of 7.11%; 30% are limy and 70% are medium limy, organic matter contents are 1.20-2.59%, average of 2%, 45% organic matter is considered low and 55% is medium. Their EC was between 0.14 and 0.43 dS/m, with an average of 0.21 dS/m; there is no salinity problem in the soils. Total N contents were 0.03-0.10%; 15% is very little, 65% is insufficient and 20% is sufficient, plant-friendly P, between 5.67-11.7 mg/kg; 20% is insufficient and 80% is sufficient; K content was 1.09-1.77 cmol/kg, an average of 1.45 cmol/kg is sufficient and excessive. The interchangeable Ca 7.90-9.90 cmol/kg is sufficient, with an average of 8.82 cmol/kg. Changeable Na, 0.87-1.56 cmol/kg, average 1.20 cmol/kg, normal level; plant Fe is sufficient in 12 of the 2.78 mg/kg to 6.90 mg/kg, 60% of the soils are sufficient and 40% are insufficient; Cu, available zinc (Zn) contents 0.29 to 0.78 mg/kg; 10% are sufficient and 90% have insufficient available Zn content; the available Mn level was insufficient in all soil samples. As a result, it was determined that at least half of the research area soils are in dire need of increasing the organic matter content, nitrogen fertilizer, partially phosphorus fertilizer and especially microelement fertilizers such as Zn and Mn. Therefore, it is recommended to eliminate the deficiencies with macro and micro elements in leaf or organo-mineral (micro-element-containing) fertilizers in light of economic and ecological planning by conducting correlation and calibration studies with plant response.

This study compared the forage quality of Cajanus cajan, Stylosanthes mucronata, Tephrosia purpurea, and Securinega virosa in the savanna ecological zone of Ghana. The shrubs were cultivated using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and their growth were monitored. Leaf samples were hand-harvested at 7, 10, and 13 weeks after establishment, air-dried, pulverised, and used for laboratory analysis. Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), and Magnesium (Mg) were determined. N, P, K, Ca and Mg contents among the shrubs ranged from 0.74 - 0.79%, 1.32 - 1.99%, 7.63 - 10.09%, 2.22 - 3.06 and 1.08 - 1.38%, respectively. Stylosanthes mucronata was significantly lowest in both P (1.318%) and K (7.63%), whilst Securinega virosa was significantly highest in K (10.09%). Among the three maturity levels, N, P, K, Ca and Mg contents ranged from 0.31 – 1.05%, 1.51 - 1.93%, 7.46 - 10.43%, 2.63 - 2.67% and 1.28 - 1.30%, respectively. Except for P, which was significantly lowest at 10 weeks after establishment (WAE), N and K were significantly highest at 7 WAE and lowest at 10 and 13 WAE, respectively. It was observed that the shrub species and maturity levels influence the nutrient content of forage shrubs.

Soil and water are the two most important basic factors for ensuring sustainable agricultural production. On the other hand, supplying quality and sufficient irrigation water from the nature for agricultural production is getting harder day by day. The decrease or pollution of natural resources for irrigated agriculture, especially in arid and semi-arid climatic regions, necessitates making agriculture with the use of low-quality irrigation water. Low-quality irrigation water causes salinization of the soils in the production areas. If the salinized lands are not washed or rehabilitated, it is inevitable that they will be out of production soon. In the agricultural area, salinity can occur naturally as well as irrigation practice. Salinity, which is an important problem for agriculture in the world, causes increasing soil losses every year. Efforts should be made to eliminate the problem of salinity in sustainable agriculture. In addition, salinity-resistant plants can be preferred to be grown as well as encouraging conscious irrigation in the salinized areas.

With the increasing world population, the food need of humanity is increasing proportionally. Agricultural wastes constitute an important potential for the global economy as they contain components that are less preferred to be consumed as food due to their low bioavailability due to their indigestion in the human body or due to their sensory properties, but that may be beneficial to human health such as antioxidant substances and antimicrobial agents. The benefits of using these wastes in terms of economy and reducing environmental pollution are obvious. Tomato, which is one of the most used agricultural products in our country and the world, is processed by removing its skins in the processing of many products. Tomato skins cause serious environmental problems and economic losses unless they are valorized. In this regard, this study aims to optimize the extraction efficiency, the antioxidant capacity, and total phenolic content of the tomato peel extract according to the independent variables of temperature and time, while the alkaline extraction process applied to tomato skins is cheap and industrially applicable. Using response surface methodology, the highest extraction yield (28.77 g/100 g dry extract), total phenolic content (3819.32 mg GAE/100 g dry extract), and total antioxidant capacity (2737.82 µmoL Trolox/100 g dry extract) were obtained under extraction conditions at 100°C for 5.26 h. According to LC-MS/MS results, tomato skins treated with alkali contain various phenolic acids and some flavonoids. The phenolic component found in the highest amount in the tomato peel extract was determined as p-coumaric acid (429.99 ± 38.53 mg/100 g dry extract). Other important phenolic components are ferulic acid (12.44 ± 2.06); 4-hydroxy benzoic acid (7.13 ± 1.01) and vanillin (2.47 ± 0.22) mg/100 g dry extract.

Agriculture is one of the sectors most affected by climate change, especially through the reduction in the number of rainy days in semi-arid areas, which require deficit supplementary irrigation (DSI) to minimise crop failures. Few studies have utilised soil quality indices (SQIs) to evaluate the quality changes of soils under DSI practices in semi-arid agricultural ecosystems. This paper examines the effects of DSI activities on soil quality in the Ingawa area of Nigeria’s semi-arid region. Plots subjected to different years of DSI (3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 14 and 15 years) practices were chosen to serve as the controls. Soil samples were collected from each of the nine sites at depths ranging from 0 cm to 20 cm and 25 cm to 40 cm. The collected samples were analysed for physico-chemical properties. Soil quality change was estimated by computing percentage equivalence values that define the extent to which mean values of soils under DSI vary from those of the control. The results obtained show that the practices have caused significant negative changes in the levels of most of the properties considered, with significant deleterious effects on the selected physical and chemical indicators of soil quality to extents that might preclude sustainable agriculture on the soils. Potassium, organic carbon, organic matter, and some other essential nutrients needed for plant growth and soil stability have dropped a lot in irrigated farms compared to control farms, but salinization hasn't happened much. It was suggested that the right steps be taken to prevent the loss of important nutrients that crops need to grow well.

A myriad of health claims are being made in favor of the consumption of green tea due to its easy availability and greater popularity. On the contrary, certain health risks of excessive green tea consumption have begun to emerge. The aim of the present research was to observe the baleful effects of excessive green tea intake on hematological parameter and histoarchitecture of liver. A total of thirty (n=30) Swiss albino mice were taken and randomly divided into Control C, Treated T1, and Treated T2 groups. Each group consisted of ten (5 male+5 female) mice. The Control C group was fed with normal mice pellet and water (3ml/mice) orally but the treated T1 group was supplied mice pellet with 2ml/mice of green tea+1ml/mice of water orally as well as treated T2 group was given mice pellet and 3ml/mice of green tea orally two times in a day for 60 days. After the experimental tenure, mice of each group were sacrificed ethically and samples (Blood, liver and lungs) were collected for further hematological and histomorphological studies. Treated T2 group of mice were motionless (inactive and stagnant). Anatomopathologically, the liver surface became dark red in color with considerable hepatomegaly and mild hemorrhage also found on lung surface. Histologically, mild central vein congestion and severe venous congestion with dilation were found in the portal vein of the liver of the treated T2 group of mice. Hematologically, hemoglobin level significantly reduced in the treated T2 group of mice than the others. Within this experimental period, female mice of each group gave birth (15-18 pups) that were devoid of any abnormality. Therefore, it can be concluded that excessive green tea intake in a day might have baleful effects on hematological parameter (Hb concentration) and histoarchitechture of liver in Swiss albino mice.

Agricultural production have remained rudimentary despite many years’ of technology development and transfer; to reverse this declining trend, several agricultural policies and programmes aimed at ensuring sustainable production, improved income and farm expansion with added value output have become very germane. This study therefore analyzed tomato farmers’ participation in ASTC activities in Jos-south local Government Area of Plateau state, Nigeria. This study adopted multi stage sampling techniques. Primary was data collected from 80 respondents, during the 2017/2018 farming season and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, participation index, weighted average index analysis and Binary Logit regression. The result of the study revealed that 73.8% were male; 88.75% had access to extension contact. The estimated mean for educational training, household size, farm income and farming experience were 6 years; 8 people; ₦108,500/ha and 12 years respectively. Also, most (68.7%) of the farmers have low participation index of ≤0.45; this trend is responsible for the existing low farm productivity of this crop in the area. Furthermore, the benefits derived from participating in ASTC activities among the respondents were significant as indicated by their weighted average index. In addition, the estimated coefficient of multiple determination (R2) was 0.7602. Also, the coefficients of household size (0.421), education (0.559), experience (0.808), income (0.485) and extension contact (0.376) were statistically significant; implying that these factors in the regression model affected the likelihood of farmer’s decision to participate in ASTC activities. Adequate labour supply; establishment of pilot farms; capacity training; access to agricultural credit, extension services, agro service centres, agricultural information, input supply and cooperative formation are strongly recommended.

Rosemary is an aromatic shrub native to the coasts of the Mediterranean region. Understanding the changes of chemical composition of essential oil is critical for more targeted rosemary harvesting, which can lead to higher-quality essential oils for agro-food, medicinal, and cosmetics uses. Therefore, rosemary plants were harvested at pre-flowering, full-flowering, and post-flowering stage grown in the experimental area of the Department of Field Crops at Çukurova University in order to determine the most suitable harvest time for the highest amount of essential oils and their important compounds. Essential oil content decreased slightly from the pre-flowering to post-flowering. The highest essential oil content (1.68%) was determined at the pre-flowering stage. Twenty-eight compounds were found representing 95.74%-96.74% of the total essential oil. The major compounds for rosemary were camphor (28.43%-32.74%), 1,8-cineol (20.80%-22.61%), isoborneol (6.05%-7.28%), verbenol (5.17%-6.98%), and limonene (5.71%-6.23%), respectively. Consequently, the optimal harvest time in terms of essential oil content, as well as camphor, 1,8-cineole and limonene content, may be considered as pre-flowering stage.

The study aimed was to determine the best nonlinear function describing the growth stages of the Japanese quail breed. To this aim, growth functions such as exponential, logistic, von Bertalanffy, Brody, and Gompertz were used as nonlinear functions is used in the description of the body weight-age relationship of male and female Japanese quails. The Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS) data mining algorithm was applied to the individual growth parameters obtained from the determined as the best fit model, and the relationship between sex and growth parameters with it has been revealed. The study dataset was 1267 body weight-age records collected from the hatching to the 6th week of age of 181 Japanese quails consisting of 90 females and 91 males. Each model was applied separately for both males and females. Model fit criteria such as coefficient of determination (R2), adjusted coefficient of determination (R2adj), Akaike's information criterion (AIC), and Bayes information criterion (BIC) were used to evaluate the performances of the growth functions used individually. All the statistical analyses were made by the R package program. The growth curve models were ranked in the form of Logistic > Gompertz > von Bertalanffy > Brody > Exponential according to the goodness of fit criteria. The most suitable model among the non-linear models in terms of performance was logistic. When the relationship between the growth curve parameters and body weight of the logistic model was explained with the MARS algorithm, the goodness of fit criteria showed that the obtained MARS model showed reliable performance. In addition, Pearson’s correlation coefficient between real and estimated body weight was found quite strong for the MARS algorithm (r=0.935). The results showed that the MARS algorithm can be presented as a good reference for breeders to establish breed standards and selection strategies for Japanese quails in growth parameters for breeding purposes.

The increase in salinization in agricultural lands adversely affects crop production. In particular, yield and quality losses occur in many vegetables such as lettuce, which are grown and consumed in every season. Realizing these losses in crop production, more careful fertilization and agricultural practices should be done. Yedikule lettuce seeds were used in the study to draw attention to these negative aspects. The study, which was carried out for two years, was designed with 0, 50, 100 and 150 mmol doses of salt according to a randomized parcel design with three replications and four pots in each replicate. Each 2-liter pot was filled with a 2:1 ratio of peat: perlite mixture and the study was carried out with 2 lettuces in each pot. As a result of the study, when the plant weight data of the first year and the second year are examined, it is seen that the weight loss of lettuce plants and damage to the plants increase when the salt doses increase. It was observed that the highest plant weight loss occurred at 150 mmol salt dose. Membrane damage index in lettuce leaves was observed to increase as the salt dose increased. It was observed that the leaf water rate decreased with increasing salt doses. Membrane damage index and leaf water content of lettuce plants were more negatively affected at 150 mmol of salt in both years. Potassium, calcium and magnesium contents in lettuce leaves were statistically decreased due to increasing salt doses in both years, while sodium content increased with increasing salt doses and the highest sodium content was observed at 150 mmol dose in both years. As seen in these results, increasing salt doses reduce the nutrient content and plant weight in lettuce plants and cause physiological damage to the plant, resulting in yield and quality loss.