Broiler production supplements income of smallholder farm households. Profitability and productivity and analysis are important considerations in measuring efficiency or performance of a farm business; hence, improved output and income are not only a function of increase in the scale of production, but also how efficiently the resources are being utilized. This study therefore estimates the profitability and level of productivity among broiler farmers in Jos North, Plateau State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was employed to select respondents for this study. Primary data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, farm budgeting model and Total Factor Productivity (TFP) analysis. The study revealed that the net farm income of broiler production was ₦96,900/flock size; suggesting a relatively profitable venture with prospects for improved economic potentials. The estimated percentage profit margin was 45.6%; indicative of the percentage net margin accruable to the farmer from the estimated gross margin and benefit-cost ratio was 0.84. Furthermore, most (54.3%) of broiler farmers were sub-optimally productive as their TFP indices were below the optimal scale; attributable to sub-efficient input mix and cost of production inputs. In addition, constraints of broiler production in the study area included the following; high cost of feeds (92.9); high cost of chicks (85.7%); financial constraints (80%); high cost of poultry equipment (55.7%); high cost of medication (35.7); disease outbreak (28.6%) and inefficient market system (21.4%). Improving access to and subsidy of poultry feeds, chicks, production inputs and credit, extension, medical services and cooperative formation for market linkages are strongly recommended.

This study evaluates the chemical properties of mistletoe leaves powder from moringa trees (MLPM) and mistletoe leaves powder from kola nut trees (MLPK). The MLPM and MLPK were subjected to phytochemical analysis, vitamin A determination, lipid peroxidation inhibition activity, 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) analysis, proximate and mineral composition analysis, alpha-amylase inhibitory activity and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Total phenol, steroids, and tannins concentrations were higher in MLPK than in MLPM; steroids was higher in MLPK than in MLPM; whereas total flavonoids and saponins concentrations, were equivalents. MLPK had greater vitamin A concentrations and DPPH than MLPM. The lipid peroxidation inhibition of MLPM and MLPK did not differ significantly. MLPM had higher moisture, crude fibre, and ash content than MLPK. Furthermore, MLPK had larger fat, crude protein, and nitrogen-free extract contents than MLPM. The MLPM and MLPK have similar Zn (0.9 vs. 1.3 mg/kg), Ca (20.1 vs. 13.1 mg/kg), Mg (66.1 vs. 70.2 mg/kg), and P (185.8 vs. 183.5 mg/kg) contents. The alpha-amylase inhibitory action of MLPM (40.40%) and MLPK (35.07%) were similar. MLPK (44.37%), on the other hand, has a stronger alpha-glucose inhibitory action than MLPM (32.47%). Finally, phenol, steroids, tannins, and steroids varied between MLPM and MLPK, with phenol, steroids, and tannins being greater in MLPK. The MLPM had higher vitamin A concentrations and antioxidant activity than MLPK. The MLPM and MLPK inhibited alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase activity.

In Turkey, three species of mulberries, white (M. Alba), black (M. Nigra), and red-purple (M. Rubra) are grown commonly. These widely can be consumed fresh as well as dry. However, its rapid post-harvest decay raises major concerns about the sustainability of the fruit for both food and economic purposes. In this regard, besides the fresh consumption of black mulberry fruit, it can consume as dried it also offers an alternative way. In this study, it was aimed to compare some quality parameters in fresh and dry samples of Morus rubra fruits grown in Tokat. It was applied different temperatures to Morus rubra fruits that at collected in two different maturity levels (semi-ripe and full-ripe). In the drying process, mulberry fruits were dried in a hot air dryer at 40, 50, 60, and 70°C. Total phenol, Total phenol, total monomeric anthocyanin, total antioxidant capacity, colour values (L, a, b) chroma, hue (ho), and browning indices values will be measured in fresh and dried products. In addition, different mathematical models will be tried by constantly noting the weight drops of the products at certain time intervals and determining which mathematical model will best predict the drying kinetics

In this study, genetic relationship of ISSR markers of seven endemic Inula species distributed in Turkey was carried out. Plant samples were collected from different regions of Turkey in 2013 and gDNA was obtained by DNA isolation from green leaves. Genetic relationship between species was determined using 12 ISSR primers. PCR products were run on agarose gel electrophoresis and visualized under UV light. All gel images were examined and the presence and absence of polymorphic bands were scored as 0 and 1. A total of 85 bands were obtained from the primers. Of these, 74 polymorphic and 11 monomorphic bands were obtained. The total polymorphism rate was found to be approximately 87.05%. The phylogenetic tree and genetic distances between species were calculated using the PAUP 0 4.0b10 analysis program. According to the distance matrix, the genetic distance was found between the closest Inula helenium subsp. orgyalis and Inula helenium subsp. vanensis (0.29851), while the farthest between Inula sarana and Inula macrocephala (0.56000) species. The phylogenetic tree was obtained using the UPGMA algorithm, and the tree consisted of two groups. The results were compared with the morphological, palynological nrDNA and cpDNA results of the past. Our findings supported previous studies.

The objective of this study was to find out the performance of a seeding unit metering coriander seeds (Coriandrum sativum L.) with a fluted roll. As a first step for the determination of the performance of the metering unit, flow rate measurements were achieved at a combination of five roll lengths and ten different rpm values with three replications. The coefficient of variation (CV, %) was calculated and each CV value was used to characterize the flow evenness. The seed distributions were obtained at three seeding rates (15, 20 and 25 kg ha-1) and three forward speeds (1.0, 1.5 and 2 ms-1). The data obtained from the sticky belt test stand experiments; the seed distribution uniformity was evaluated based on two performance criterion. One of them was the variation factor (Vƒ) and the other one was the goodness criterion (λ). The CV (%) values of flow evenness were found to vary between 0.28 and 1.05%. On the other hand, the variation factor (Vƒ) values were found to range from 0.65 to 0.83 and these values indicated that the seeding can be characterized as precision seeding at all combinations of three seeding rate and three forward speeds. The goodness criterion (λ) values varied between 69 % and 77.3%. Based on the evaluation range of the goodness criterion (λ), the seeding at a seeding rate of 15 kg ha-1 and forward speed of 1.0 ms-1 along with the seeding rate of 20 and 25 kg ha-1 at a forward speed of 1.0 and 1.5 ms-1 was classified as very good. The rest of the four seeding rates and forward speeds combinations, the goodness criterion (λ) was evaluated to be good quality.

This study was carried out in order to determine the effects of dill, clove and hyssop essential oils and fungicides applied on sugar beet roots on beet storage quality during the storage period. The roots of Esperanza (KWS) variety, which was produced in the experimental areas in 2019, were used in the study. Roots were treated with 100, 500 and 1000 ppm doses of dill (Anethum graveolens L.), clove (Szygium aromaticum) and hyssop (Echinophora tenuifolia) essential oils, synthetic fungicide (80% Thiram) and Tween-80 right after harvest and the roots were placed in the storage. Weight loss of roots determined at 15-day intervals from the beginning of the storage period, dry matter ratio, brix, polar sugar, reducing sugar and alpha amino nitrogen contents, phytotoxicity and fungal infection development at the end of the 3-month storage period. The applications made in the research significantly affected the post-harvest weight and quality losses in beet. Depending on the applications, the weight losses at the end of the 3-month storage period varied between 9.43-19.90%, and the weight losses in essential oil applications were lower than the control. The highest dry matter content and brix values were obtained from clove essential oil and fungicide and Tween-80 applications. While Tween-80 and fungicide applications increased the polar sugar content compared to the control, 1000 ppm clove essential oil caused a significant decrease in the polar sugar content. In the study, reducing sugar and alpha amino nitrogen contents of roots applied 1000 ppm essential oil E. tenuifolia essential oil were lower. E. tenuifolia essential oil showed the highest antifungal activity against white mold and green mold infections. It was concluded that with the application of essential oil to the roots after the harvest, both weight and quality losses and the development of fungal diseases can be reduced, however, some active substances may cause phytotoxicity in the roots.

Social development is possible with agriculture. With the impact of environmental pollution, natural disasters, climate change, food security, and population growth, interdisciplinary "new agriculture" is becoming an important trend of modern agriculture. Hydrogen (H2) is the most common element on earth, making up more than 75% of the mass of the universe. Hydrogen gas is colorless, odorless, and tasteless and is considered a physiologically inert molecule and a potential source for clean energy in the future. Hydrogenated agriculture including mainly hydrogen-rich water (HRW) focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying improved agricultural product quality. Studies have shown that H2 does not only affect plant growth and development but also affects the nutritional quality and shelf life of the fruit. Hydrogenated agriculture emerges as a promising technology for the sustainability of agricultural products in modern agricultural practices thanks to the different beneficial effects of H2 such as safety, nutritional and antioxidative properties, and high product productivity. In this review, the roles of H2 in plants, seed germination, seedling growth, root development, stomatal opening and closing, pre-harvest freshness, post-harvest freshness, and the changes caused by hydrogenated agriculture at various stages of the plant such as anthocyanin synthesis have been investigated.