Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), a member of the Solanaceae family, is considered the world's leading non-cereal crop, providing daily nourishment to over a billion people. A common misconception among farmers is the belief that only synthetic fertilizers can enhance yields, while locally prepared biostimulants are ineffective. This misconception is one of the key factors contributing to the low productivity of potatoes in Nepal. A field experiment was carried out at Thulasen- 6, Achham, in 2024 to study the effect of bio-enhancers and farm yard manure on the growth and yield of potato. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with six treatments and four replications. The ‘Khumal Rato’ variety was used for planting. The six treatments used in the research field were T1 (control), T2 (application of Farm Yard Manure @30 t/ha), T3 (seed treatment with Azotobacter @10 ml/kg seed tuber), T4 (seed treatment with Bijamrit @200ml/kg seed tuber), T5 (seed treatment with PSB @10 ml/kg seed tuber) and T6 (seed treatment with Jibamrit @200 ml/kg seed tuber).  The results indicated that T5 and T3 performed best initially in plant height and number of leaves, respectively, followed by T4 and T6 at later stage of plant growth. There was no significant difference among treatments in the number of stems per hill throughout the entire growth period of the crop. The maximum number of branches per plant was recorded in T3, along with a maximum number of unmarketable tubers. T5 showed best result in weight and number of marketable tubers per plot along with the maximum yield of 25.39 t/ha among all treatments, whereas T1 had the highest weight of unmarketable tubers. In terms of growth and yield performance, biofertilizers i.e., Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB) and Azotobacter gave the best results, followed by bio-enhancers i.e., Bijamrit and Jibamrit on different parameters. Also, in terms of economic feasibility, soil health, and sustainable production, T3 and T5 can be recommended.

This study aimed to determine the resistance of different cotton genotypes and their F1 hybrids against Verticillium Wilt (Verticillium dahliae Kleb.) under natural field conditions and in controlled greenhouse environments. A total of 15 F1 hybrids and 8 parental lines, developed through the line x tester hybridization method, were used as experimental material. Field and greenhouse experiments allowed for the assessment of foliar disease severity values across the population, leading to the determination of resistance levels, as well as the general combining ability (GCA) values for the parents and special combining ability (SCA) values for the hybrid combinations. The results of both experiments indicated that the DPL 5690 and Acala Maxa varieties could serve as resistant parent lines in future breeding programs.  Among the F1 hybrids, the combinations of Sg 125 x Acala Maxa, Stn 8a x Acala Maxa, Nazilli 84 x Acala Maxa, and DPL 5690 x Acala Maxa were identified as suitable for transferring resistance to Verticillium dahliae Kleb. to subsequent generations. Additionally, the results indicated that resistance levels for the same cotton genotype may vary between greenhouse and field conditions.

Poultry feed constitutes a significant portion of production costs in the poultry industry. Exploring underutilized plant species as alternative feed ingredients could help mitigate these costs while enhancing feed quality. However, limited research exists on such alternatives in Nigeria. This study evaluates the nutrient composition of byproducts from Theobroma cacao (cocoa bean shell) and Spondias mombin (hog plum) and their potential as poultry feed supplements in comparison with FAO standards. Kernel and husk samples of S. mombin and T. cacao, respectively, were collected from various locations, air dried and sun-dried for 80 hours respectively, ground, sieved (0.5 mm), and analyzed for proximate composition, metabolizable energy, minerals, and amino acids using AOAC methods. Results revealed significant variations in nutrient composition, with T. cacao husk exhibiting higher crude protein, moisture content, and in vitro organic matter digestibility (p<0.001) compared to S. mombin kernel. Additionally, S. mombin provided essential minerals such as calcium and phosphorus, along with lysine, which aligns with FAO requirements for poultry diets. While neither ingredient meets FAO standards individually, their complementary nutrient profiles suggest that a strategic blend could enhance overall feed quality. These findings highlight the potential of T. cacao and S. mombin byproducts as sustainable alternatives to conventional poultry feed ingredients, particularly in reducing reliance on soybean-based protein sources.

Tomato farming in Kathmandu faces many pest problems, including leaf miners, fruit borers, and whiteflies. The most problematic is the tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta), which damage vegetative and reproductive stages, leading to up to 100% crop loss. The experiment was conducted on the tomato variety Kabita during March-June 2024 in a farmer's field in Chandragiri Municipality-1, Kathmandu, under open-field conditions. This research studied the effects of different chemical pesticides on infestation percentage in leaves and fruits, tunnels per infested leaf and fruit, and larvae per infested leaf. Seven treatments were evaluated: chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC @3 ml/l, azadirachtin 3000 ppm @4 ml/l, control, emamectin benzoate 1.5% + indoxacarb 7.5% SC @0.625 ml/l, chlorfenapyr 10.5% + spinosad 2.5% SC @0.1 ml/l, spinetoram 11.7% SC @0.8 ml/l, and chlorfenapyr 10% + tolfenpyrad 10% SC @1 ml/l, with three replications laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 4.32 m² per plot. The experiment showed significant pesticide effects on larval mortality and damage reduction. The lowest infestation in leaves (11.26%) and fruits (0.94%), with the fewest tunnels per infested leaf (0.41) and fruit (0.22), was in chlorfenapyr + tolfenpyrad, followed by spinetoram. The lowest larval population per infested leaf was in spinetoram (0.31), followed by chlorfenapyr + tolfenpyrad. The lowest yield loss (2.70%) was in chlorfenapyr + tolfenpyrad, followed by spinetoram. Thus, chlorfenapyr + tolfenpyrad, followed by spinetoram, were the most effective pesticides for managing Tuta absoluta under Chandragiri field conditions.

Bu çalışmada, organik gübre olarak kullanılan koyun gübresi (K1 ve K2 dozları) ve biyogübre (B1) uygulamalarının sater (Satureja hortensis L.) bitkisinin bitki boyu, dal sayısı, yaş ve kuru ağırlık değerleri ile ham protein ve antioksidan aktiviteleri üzerine etkileri belirlenmiştir. İklim odası koşullarında yürütülen bu çalışmada, sater bitkisine uygulanan 2 farklı koyun gübresi dozu (10 t ha-1 ve 20 t ha-1), biyogübre ve interaksiyonları verim ve bazı kalite özellikleri bakımından değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışma sonucunda bitki boyu değerlerinin 28.11-41,00 cm, dal sayısı değerlerinin 11.67-19.56 adet bitki-1 arasında değiştiği, K1B1 uygulamasının bitki boyu ve dal sayısı değerleri bakımından öne çıktığı görülmüştür. Yapılan çalışma sonucunda yaş ve kuru ağırlık değerlerinin sırasıyla 1.56-5.54 ve 0.12-0.28 g bitki-1 arasında değiştiği belirlenmiştir. Hem yaş hem de kuru ağırlık değerleri bakımından kimyasal gübre, K1 (10 t ha-1 koyun gübresi) ve K2 (20 t ha-1 koyun gübresi) uygulamaları ön plana çıkmıştır. Ham protein, DPPH, FRAP, toplam fenolik ve toplam flavonoid madde miktarları ise sırasıyla %4,60-16.96, %8.14-72.72, 69.40-94,53 mg QE g-1, 99.05-109,27 mg TE g-1 ve 5.11-43,33 mg GAE g-1 olarak belirlenmiştir. İncelenen özellikler arasındaki ilişkiyi belirlemek amacıyla yürütülen temel bileşen analizlerinde ise ilk iki bileşen yüksek varyasyon ortaya koymuştur. Elde edilen sonuçlar, koyun gübresi ile biyogübre uygulamalarının sater bitkisinin nitel ve nicel özelliklerinin artırılmasında olumlu etkilere sahip olduğunu, dolayısıyla sater bitkisinin sağlıklı bir şekilde üretimi için bu gübrelerin alternatif bir yöntem olarak değerlendirilebileceği düşünülmektedir.

Vegetable oils have a very important place in human nutrition as an energy source. Sesame seeds contain high amounts of oil and protein. The most important factor preventing the development of sesame agriculture on a global scale was low seed yield. In this research, three varieties (Kepsut-99, Orhangazi-99, and Tan-99) were included in the hybridization studies as the female parent (line), and the other three varieties (Arslanbey, Boydak, and Hatipoğlu) were studied as the male parent (tester) in 2019. The resulting 9 F1 experimental hybrids with their inbred parents were planted in a randomized block trial design with 3 replications in 2020. In the study, plant height, number of branches, number of capsules, thousand seed weights, and seed yield characteristics were evaluated, and heterosis and heterobeltiosis values for each evaluated feature were calculated. As a result of the study, it was determined that the Hatipoğlu variety was compatible with all lines, and P1 × P6 (Kepsut-99 × Hatipoğlu) and P2 × P6 (Orhangazi-99 × Hatipoğlu) hybrids were the most suitable hybrid combinations with positive significant heterosis values in terms of capsule number and seed yield.

Bu çalışmanın amacı, Frankenia salsuginea yapraklarının mısır silajına ilavesinin fermantasyon kalitesi, kimyasal ve mikrobiyolojik özellikler üzerindeki etkilerini değerlendirmektir. Frankenia salsuginea yaprakları mısır silajına %3 ve %5 oranlarında eklenerek ve 60 gün süreyle fermentasyona bırakılmıştır. Frankenia salsuginea yapraklarının mısır silajı besin içeriğinde önemli değişikliklere yol açtığı belirlenmiştir. Özellikle, %3 katkı seviyesinde kuru madde içeriğinde önemli ölçüde artış belirlenirken, (%28,39; P<0,05) nötral çözücülerde çözünmeyen lif (NDF) içeriğinde anlamlı bir azalma (%44,43; P = 0.002) tespit edilmiştir. Laktik asit üretimi tüm gruplarda artış göstermiş, en yüksek değer %5 katkı seviyesinde (2,45 g/kg; P=0,018) belirlenmiş fakat aynı grupta laktik asit bakteri popülasyonunun 6,09 log10 kob/g seviyesine düştüğü tespit edilmiştir. Bunun yanı sıra, asetik asit ile kuru madde içeriği arasında zayıf bir negatif korelasyon (r=-0,38, P>0,05) gözlenirken, propiyonik asit ile nişasta içeriği arasında anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmamıştır. Mikrobiyolojik analizlerde, kontrol grubundaki laktik asit bakterisi popülasyonu en yüksek seviyede bulunmasına rağmen (6,53 log10 kob/g), laktik asit üretimi düşük seviyede kalmıştır (0,45 g/kg). Frankenia salsuginea yaprağının, erken dönemde hasat edilen ve kuru madde oranı düşük mısır silajına %3 oranında ilavesi, fermantasyon kalitesini artırarak besin kayıplarını azaltma potansiyeline sahip olduğu belirlenmiştir. Bununla birlikte, bu yaprağın hayvan performansı ve yem tüketimi üzerindeki etkilerinin belirlenebilmesi için in vivo denemelerle test edilmesi gerekmektedir.

Seasonal monitoring of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was conducted in soybean fields in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of Türkiye during the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons to assess adult population dynamics, larval infestation patterns, and environmental influences. In 2021, pheromone traps deployed in Osmaniye Province captured 2,399 adult moths between July 5 and October 4, exhibiting a bimodal pattern with peaks on July 19 and August 23 (F = 10.69; P = 0.0001). Larval densities peaked on August 16 (0.50 larvae per sampling unit), closely aligning with adult emergence. In 2022, 1,321 adults were caught in Adana Province from July 14 to October 6, showing a single major peak on September 15 (F = 25.22; P = 0.0001). Larval infestations were sporadic and low, reaching a maximum density of 0.33 larvae per unit. Environmental conditions included weekly average temperatures ranging from 22.2°C to 30.2°C and relative humidity between 31.8% and 78%. A significant positive correlation was record synchronisation of adult flight peaks, larval populations, and favourable environmental factors indicates overlapping generations of H. armigera during the soybean growing period. These highlighting the importance of pheromone traps for early pest detection and informed management decisions, ultimately leading to reduced crop damage and improved soybean production in the region.

Shelled pea is an important product due to the nutritional values it contains, and it is not possible to consume for a long time due to its high moisture content. For this reason, it can be consumed out of season after drying. In this study, the effect of potassium carbonate and microwave pretreatment was investigated by drying in a cyclone type convective dryer at air flow rates of 287.50, 575.00 and 862.50 m3/h to produce dry peas. The moisture content, drying rate, effective moisture diffusion, specific moisture absorption rate (SMER), specific energy consumption (SEC) and color properties of the drying processes were investigated. Air flows and pretreatments affected the drying kinetics, color and energy analysis of the drying processes. Drying rate values for drying processes varied between 0.01190-0.0237 g moisture/g dry matter per minute. It was determined that the effective moisture diffusion values varied between 7.60×10-8-1.24×10-7 m2/s. Drying processes did not preserve the color values compared to fresh (p<0.05). It has been determined that the SMER values of the drying processes vary between 4.10-8.10×10-4 kg/kWh and the SEC values vary between 1230.59-2451.15 kWh/kg. According to the findings obtained within the scope of the study, it is recommended to dry the shelled peas at 862.50 m3/h air flow rate and after dipping into potassium carbonate solution.

Ülkemizde yeraltı suyu ile sulanan ve su kısıtı olan alanlarda etkin sulama programları büyük önem taşımaktadır. Afyon Sultandağı-Çamözü-Akbaba Sulama Kooperatifi’nin hizmet verdiği sulama sahasında, kiraz yetiştiriciliğinde suyun düzenli ve etkili kullanımı büyük önem taşımakta olup bu tez çalışmasının amacı, söz konusu alanda 2017 ve 2018 yıllarında uygulanan mevcut sulama uygulamalarını değerlendirerek, su ve enerji tasarrufu sağlayacak optimum sulama programını belirlemek ve kısıntılı sulama koşullarında oluşan verim kayıplarını ortaya koymaktır. Damla sulama sistemiyle sulanan bu alanda, 2017 ve 2018 yılları için hesaplama yapılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Bitki su tüketimi (evapotranspirasyon) değerleri, Penman–Monteith yöntemi ile belirlenmiş; sulama programı ise IRSIS yazılımı kullanılarak oluşturulmuştur. Çalışma alanı için yapılan referans evapotranspirasyon (ET₀) değerleri 2017 yılı için en düşük 0,8 mm (Nisan ve Ekim aylarında), en yüksek 6,2 mm (Mayıs ayında) olarak belirlenmiştir. 2018 yılı ise en düşük ET₀ değeri 0,6 mm (Ekim ayında), en yüksek ET₀ değeri 4,9 mm (Haziran ayında) olarak hesaplanmıştır. Yapılan hesaplamalara göre, optimum sulama programı çerçevesinde 2017 yılında 392,9 mm, 2018 yılında ise 303,3 mm su verilmesinin gerekli olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Her iki yılda da kısıntılı sulama yapılmış ve sırasıyla %16,5 ve %13,5 verim kaybı hesaplanmıştır. Buna karşın optimum sulama programı ile bitkinin su stresine girmeyeceği ve verim kaybı olmayacağı tespit edilmiştir.