Wood ash generated from wood industries have enormous potential which can be utilized due to its properties which influences soil chemistry and fertility status of tropical acidic soils. Field experiments were conducted on an acidic sandy loam alfisol to investigate the effects of wood ash on the growth indices and chlorophyll content of maize and lima beans intercrop during the late and early seasons of 2014 and 2015 at Akure in the rainforest zone of southwestern Nigeria. The treatments were 100% sole maize with ash, 100% sole maize without ash, 75% maize + 25% lima beans with ash, 75% + 25% lima beans without ash, 50% maize + 50% lima beans with ash, 50% maize + 50% lima beans without ash, 25% maize + 75% lima beans with ash and 25% maize + 75% lima beans without ash. Wood ash was applied at 2.4kg/plot. Wood ash increased chlorophyll content in all amended treatments except in amended 25:75% maize-lima beans intercrop and 25:75% maize –lima beans intercrop without ash, however 75:25% maize-lima beans amended with wood ash significantly (P≥0.05) recorded the highest chlorophyll content. Growth parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, leaf area index, leaf length, stem diameter, number of flowers, number of pods, weight of plant and total biomass of amended maize-lima beans intercrop were significantly (P≥0.05) increased by wood ash application. Based on experimental findings, 25:75% maize-lima beans intercrop and 75%:25% maize-lima beans intercrop amended with wood ash was concluded to be more recommendable in the study area.

The objective of this study was to investigate the drying characteristics and kinetics of red pepper and bitter leaf under the influence of different drying temperatures. The drying experiments were carried out at dry bulb temperature of 35, 45, 55 and 75oC, respectively in an oven dryer. The results showed that as drying temperature increased, drying rate also increased and the drying time decreased. It was observed that un-sliced red pepper and sliced bitter leaf would dry within 2.5-12 h and 1.67-7 h, respectively at temperature ranging from 75 to 35oC. The drying of red pepper and bitter leaf was both in the constant and falling rate period. Four semi-empirical mathematical drying models (Newton, Page, Henderson and Pabis, and Logarithmic models) were fitted to the experimental drying curves. The models were compared using the coefficient of determination (R^2) and the root mean square error (RMSE). The Page model has shown a better fit to the experimental drying data of red pepper and bitter leaf, respectively as relatively compared to other tested models. Moisture transport during drying was described by the application of Fick’s diffusion model and the effective moisture diffusivity was estimated. The value ranges from 15.69 to 84.79 × 10-9 m2/s and 0.294 to 1.263 × 10-9 m2/s for red pepper and bitter leaf, respectively. The Arrhenius-type relationship describes the temperature dependence of effective moisture diffusivity and was determined to be 37.11 kJ/mol and 32.86 kJ/mol for red pepper and bitter leaf, respectively. A correlation between the drying time and the heat transfer area was also developed.

This study aims to explore the relations between governance and agricultural performance of countries. Data Envelopment Analysis was used to find out agricultural performance of 81 countries at first stage. Panel data regression was employed in the second stage to assess the relations between performance levels of countries and their governance. Six governance indicators namely; voice and accountability, control of corruption, government effectiveness, regulatory quality, rule of law and political stability and violence were analyzed in this stage. Findings show that firstly, governance indicators are highly correlated with each other. Secondly, developed countries are more efficient and have better governance than developing and undeveloped countries. Finally, a quadratic form of regression was the fitting model that is the marginal effects of good governance on performance are increasing in high values of governance.

The aim of this study was to investigate some chemical characteristics and residual nitrite and nitrate levels of sucuk and salami samples collected from retail outlets of major supermarkets in Adana province. A total of 36 sucuk samples (12 brands; 7 national and 5 local producers) and 30 salami samples (10 brands; Macar salamis) were purchased from local markets. Sucuk and salami samples were analyzed for pH value, moisture content, water activity and nitrite and nitrate contents. The average pH values of sucuk samples ranged between 4.69 and 6.56 indicating a higher variation while the average pH values of salami samples ranged between 6.05 and 6.43. Likewise, the average moisture contents of sucuk samples were between 33.56% and 46.78% whereas the average moisture contents of salami samples ranged between 62.09% and 67.91% indicating a relatively lower variation. Water activity values of the sucuk samples were between 0.932 and 0.861 while the average aw values of the salami samples ranged between 0.916 and 0.940. Among the sucuk samples analyzed in the present study mean nitrite and nitrate contents ranged from 58.65 mg/kg to 216.63 mg/kg and 34.86 mg/kg to 161.08 mg/kg, respectively. While relatively lower nitrite (14.30 mg/kg - 35.96 mg/kg) and no nitrate contents were observed in salami samples, the data indicated that a higher variation of both nitrite and nitrate contents were still present in sucuk samples in the local markets requiring more studies and inspections to lower the variation related to dietary exposure to nitrite and nitrite from these types of products.

Thirty castrated rams of Sudanese Desert sheep breed, Hammari ecotype at 1.5-2 years were divided into five groups each with six animals. The animals were weighed prior commencement of the trial (30+ 0.500 kg) and once every week for ninety days. They were vaccinated against diseases endemic to the study area, drenched with a broad spectrum anthelementic and ear-tagged to facilitate identification during treatments. The rams were individually penned provided with drinking and feeding troughs. Rumen liquor was taken for in vitro dry matter and organic matter digestibility. During the trial period, animals were diagnosed by palpation for phytobezoars. At the end of the experiment rams were slaughtered, the site of formation of ball-shaped bodies determined, size and weight were also determined. Data was analyzed via analysis of variance. The results indicated increased feed intake for the group that was on a ration free of Merremia emarginata and those consumed rations with the plant biomass at vegetative growth and at flowering stages. At early and late maturity stages, feed intake decreased and phytobezoars were formed. The bezoars differed in weight and size, where larger and heavier ones were retained from the rumen, medium irregular ones from omasum and small bezoars from the reticulum. It was concluded that M emarginata biomass could initiate phytobezoars' formation at seed formation stage or when it reached late maturity stage. Palpation showed presence of bezoars after continuous ingestion of feed containing the plant biomass. It was recommended that more studies be conducted to determine the minimal amount of the biomass under study to initiate phytobezoars' formation.

Bu çalışma, etlik piliçlerde kekik (Thymus vulgaris L.), biberiye (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) ve karabaş otu (Lavandula stoechas L.) esansiyel yağları ve bunların karışımlarının canlı ağırlık, canlı ağırlık artışı, yem tüketimi, yemden yararlanma oranı ve karkas özellikleri üzerine etkisini tespit etmek için yapılmıştır. Çalışmada, günlük yaşta toplam 640 adet etlik civciv (Ross 308) kullanılmış ve 5 tekerrürlü olacak şekilde 8 muamele grubuna tesadüfü olarak yerleştirilmiştir. Her bir muamele grubunda 80 adet civciv bulunmaktadır. Deneme rasyonları sırasıyla kontrol (0 mg/kg), ilave kekik esansiyel yağı (50 mg/kg), biberiye esansiyel yağı (50 mg/kg), karabaş otu esansiyel yağı (50 mg/kg), kekik + biberiye (25+25 mg/kg), kekik + karabaş otu (25+25 mg/kg), biberiye + karabaş otu (25+25 mg/kg) ve kekik+biberiye+karabaş otu (16,7 + 16,7 + 16,7 mg/kg) oluşmaktadır. Yem ve su ad libitum olarak sağlanmıştır. Çalışma 6 hafta sürmüştür. Performans parametreleri haftalık olarak belirlenmiştir. Denemenin 42. gününde hayvanlar kesilerek karkas özellikleri tespit edilmiştir. Çalışma sonuçlarına göre, rasyon farklı esansiyel yağ ve bunların karışımlarının etlik piliçlerde canlı ağırlık, canlı ağırlık artışı, yem tüketimi, yem değerlendirme oranı ve karkas özellikleri üzerine etkisi önemli olmamıştır.

Bu çalışma, Hatay ili kırsalında halk elinde yetiştirilen pekin ördeklerine ait yumurtaların matematiksel formüller kullanılarak bazı iç ve dış kalite özelliklerinin belirlenmesi amacıyla yapılmıştır. Çalışmada 417 adet pekin ördeği yumurtası kullanılmış ve tartımla bireysel yumurta ağırlık değerleri baz alınarak matematiksel formüller yardımıyla yumurta boyu ve eni, yumurta yüzey alanı, yumurta kabuk ağırlığı ve kalınlığı, gözenek sayısı, yumurta sarı oranı değerleri hesaplanmıştır. Yumurta ağırlığına göre hesaplanan ortalama yumurta boyu 62,48 mm, yumurta eni 43,76 mm, kabuk kalınlığı 0,358 mm, kabuk ağırlığı 6,03 g, yumurta yüzey alanı 81,23 cm2, gözenek sayısı-1 8.915,29 adet, gözenek sayısı-2 7.993,13 adet, gözenek sayısı-3 8.934,70 adet ve sarı oranı %37,68 olarak belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca yumurta dış kalite özelliklerinden şekil indeksi %69,69, elongasyon 1,436, yumurta hacmi 66,38 cm3, gözenek yoğunluğu-1 109,89, gözenek yoğunluğu-2 98,34, gözenek yoğunluğu-3 109,74 gözenek sayısı/cm2 ve kabuk oranı değeri %8,48, yumurta iç kalite özelliklerinden sarı ağırlığı 26,78 g, ak ağırlığı 38,26 g ve ak oranı %53,85 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Sonuç olarak Hatay ilinde halk elinde yetişen pekin ördeklerine ait yumurtaların dış ve iç kalite özellikleri yumurta bütünlüğü bozulmadan ortaya konulmuştur.

In this study, the European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) were fed rich canola oil which is containing monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and rich cottonseed oil which is containing n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and the effects of these feeds on some hematological parameters were investigated. Experimental fish were fed two times daily with 100% fish oil (FO-control), 100% cottonseed oil (CSO), 100% canola oil (CO) and 50% CSO - 50% CO (CSO50-CO50) for 162 days. End of the experiment, total erythrocyte (RBC) amount was highest in the CSO group 269.0 x (104 mm3 -1) compared to all other groups. Leukocyte (WBC) 96.280 x (103 mm3 -1), monocyte, lymphocyte and neutrophil amounts showed significant increases in only CSO group. Therefore, in terms of fish health and welfare, the exclusive use of cottonseed oil without mixing with the other vegetable oils in sea bass diet formulation can be a viable alternative to fish oil since it has the most suitable fatty acids.

The study performed the metal bioaccumulations in seven plant species from Giresun city. A total 140 specimens were collected from two stations (Station A; 40° 48’ N, 38° 19’ E, Station B; 50° 54’ N, 38° 26’ E) from March 2012 to September 2012. Plant samples were dissected, homogenized and dried at 105°C for 24 hours. An approximately 0.25 g sample of each plant leaf was digested with Cem Mars 5 microwave oven. After cooling, the residue was transferred to 50 ml volumetric flasks and diluted to level with deionized water. Before analysis, the samples were filtered through a 0.45 µm filter. All samples were analyzed (as mg kg-1 dry weight) three times for cobalt chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, lead and zinc by ICP-MS. A logarithmic transformation was done on the data to improve normality. One way ANOVA and Duncan’s multiple range tests were performed to test the differences among metal levels of species. Concentrations of metals in the examined species ranged from 0.05 to 1.80 for cobalt, 0.14 to 3.24 for chromium, 2.33 to 28.1 for copper, 38.9 to 533 for iron, 1.81 to 64.6 for manganese, 0.81 to 18.9 for nickel, 0.32 to 6.22 for lead and 14.3 to 536 for zinc, in mg kg-1 respectively. Iron had the highest concentrations in all examined plant species in both stations except Zn for Sambucus ebulus in Station B. Second highest metal was zinc after iron. On the other hand, cobalt had lowest levels than other metals. The differences among metal levels in plant species were statistically significant. Maximum Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intakes (PTWI) in edible plant species were calculated.

In this study, physical, chemical and microbiological properties of 50 raw bulk milk samples obtained from 5 different dairy plants in the Sivas were investigated. The pH, acidity, fat, non-fat dry-matter, total dry matter contents and density of raw milk samples were 4.89-6.70, 0.135-0.495%, 1.7-7.6%, 7.33-9.80%, 10.00-16.90%, and 1.0230-1.0312 g/mL, respectively. Fat content of the 26%, specific gravity of 28%, total dry matter of 32%, solids-non-fat of 58%, pH value of 84% of the milk samples were found lower whereas titratable acidity of 60% of the samples were determined higher than the values stated in the Turkish Food Codex and in the Raw Milk Standard. Total coliform bacteria counts of 30%, total aerobic mesophilic bacteria counts of 88%, and somatic cell counts of 40% of the samples were higher than 1100 MPN/mL, 100000 cfu/mL and 500000 cell/mL, respectively. Yeast-mold counts of 72% of the milk samples were found between 104-106 cfu/mL.