The study aimed to calculate the percent transfer of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) from milk into cream, skim milk, butter, buttermilk, soft cheese, and whey manufactured in the laboratory. The four heavy metals were determined using the ICP method. The results revealed that the percentage of these metals transferred to milk products varied from 9.48 to 72.63%, with skim milk exhibiting the highest transfer rate (67 to 72.63%) and butter displaying the lowest transfer rate (9.48 to 13.94%). These findings are expected to urge the artisanal dairy industry to decide on the best way to process milk that does not comply with the maximum permissible levels of Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn into a safe product for the consumer.

Ülkemizde geniş bir alanda yayılış gösteren Hypericum perforatum L. (sarı kantaron) bitkisi halk arasında soğuk algınlığı, depresyon, safra rahatsızlıkları, mesane irritasyonları, migren ağrıları ve yanık gibi pek çok hastalığın tedavisinde kullanılmaktadır. Bu çalışmada; eczane (numune 1) ve aktardan (numune 2) temin edilen iki ayrı sarı kantaron yağının, tirozinaz ve kollajenaz inhibitör potansiyellerini belirlemek amaçlanmıştır. Deneyler kolorimetrik ölçüme dayanan enzim reaksiyonları üzerinden gerçekleştirilmiştir. Her iki numune de tüm deneylerde 20 µg/mL konsantrasyonda çalışılmıştır. Numune 1’in (%18,3±0,15 inhibisyon), numune 2’ye (%4,1±0,28 inhibisyon) kıyasla daha yüksek kollajenaz enzim inhibisyonu sağladığı ve yine numune 1’in (%15,1±0,24 inhibisyon) numune 2’ye (%3,7±0,19 inhibisyon) kıyasla daha yüksek tirozinaz enzim inhibisyonu sağladığı belirlenmiştir. Bu sonuçlar doğrultusunda; sarı kantaron yağının kollajenaz ve tirozinaz enzimlerini inhibe ettiği, eczane kaynaklı sarı kantaron yağının aktar kaynaklı sarı kantaron yağına oranla daha yüksek inhibisyon gösterdiği tespit edilmiştir. Bu durumun, üreticinin bitkiyi doğru zamanda toplaması, uygun şekilde kurutması ve doğru maserasyon yöntemiyle yağ üretmesi sonucunda ortaya çıktığı; bu sayede içerisindeki biyoaktif bileşenlerin yoğunluğunun artarak aktivitenin yükselmesine katkıda bulunmuş olabileceği şeklinde yorumlanabilir.

One of the cornerstones of a developed economy is undoubtedly the agricultural sector. Agriculture is at the center of both human nutrition and economic activities. The use of drones, especially in the process of spraying fields, has the potential to increase the efficiency of agricultural production. Drones can be programmed to scan the field and spray pesticides on these areas. This allows farmers to manage the processes of protecting their crops and removing pests more effectively. Spraying with drones minimizes the negative effects encountered in spraying with tractor-drawn machines. Drones can easily reach places that tractor-drawn machine cannot reach and can spray more precisely. In addition, thanks to drones, the need for labor is also reduced, so that one person can spray a large area in a short time. In this study, the process of spraying with drones was observed in detail by a company with an unmanned aerial vehicle-2 (UAV) license for agricultural spraying. This modern spraying method using drones was meticulously evaluated step by step. In traditional methods, farmers or workers may be directly exposed to pesticides while spraying with tractor-drawn machines, but thanks to drones, this exposure is minimized, which provides a great advantage in terms of occupational health and safety (OHS). In addition, the speed of the work process, less use of water and pesticides, and the need for labor are among the advantages. However, the problem of not being able to connect to GPS, accidents that may occur under the command of the drone, and limitations such as adverse weather conditions can be considered disadvantages of drone spraying. The findings reveal how drone spraying has transformed agriculture.

Spartium junceum L. is a plant traditionally used for different medicinal purposes. While limited research data explicates its antioxidizing ability, interest in this plant is induced mainly due to its possible role, especially against stress-causing oxidative effects. The objectives of this study were to compare antioxidant activity in flowers and leaves of Spartium junceum L., as well as time under different storage conditions implemented for antioxidative mechanisms. Spartium junceum L. plants were obtained from the Kahramanmaras, Turkey region; subsequently, the flowering and leaf parts of the plant were separated and analyzed. Plant homogenates were prepared, and the activities of SOD and CAT enzymes, as well as MDA levels, were determined using spectrophotometric methods. Enzyme activity upon storage at +4°C, -20°C, and -70° temperature enzyme samples were carried out separately and operated for less than one month in our laboratory. Flowers exhibited higher SOD and CAT activities than leaves. Flowers also showed higher levels of MDA. It may be due to the structural and biochemical differences, where flowers experience extra oxidative stress. The optimal enzyme retention under storage conditions was at -70°C, and a decrease in temperature increased the stability of this biocatalyst. In contrast, MDA levels increased at low temperatures at total capacity. The antioxidant properties of the flower extract had stronger antioxidant potential than those of the leaf part, which also means that chemically active substances show much higher concentrations in this plant section. Storage temperature significantly affects the stability of enzymes, and it was stated that low temperatures mainly maintain antioxidant activity. The results obtained from this study recommend Spartium junceum L. as a valuable antioxidant food resource.

Sebzeler, meyveler ve otlar dengeli beslenmenin ana unsurlarıdır. Rambutan, Nephelium lappaceum tropical meyve türlerinden biridir. Dünyadaki bir çok değişik bölgelerde olduğu gibi Türkiye’de de Akdeniz bölgesinde özellikle de Antalya’da tropikal bir meyve olan Rambutan yetişmektedir. Tropik ve nemli coğrafyada yetiştirilip tüketilen Rambutanın 200’den fazla çeşiti vardır. Hem taze hem de kuru olarak tüketilmesi mümkün olan bu meyve, hafif ekşi ve ağırlıklı tatlı bir tada sahiptir. Bu ilk çalışma olup, taze Rambutan meyve ekstraktlarının farklı solventlerinde ve saklama koşullarında in vitro antioksidan kapasiteyi ve oksidatif stresi araştırmak amaçlandı. Antalya ilinden temin edilen taze Rambutan meyvesi kullanıldı. Taze Rambutan meyvesi %1,15 KCl (potasyum klorür), %0,9 NaCl (sodyum klorür) ve 0,1 M (Molar) fosfat tamponu ile ekstrakte edilip homojenleştirildi. Bu bitki homojenatlarında oksidatif stresin göstergesi olan antioksidan enzim aktivitesi MDA (malondialdehit), SOD (süperoksit dismutaz) ve CAT (katalaz) seviyeleri ölçüldü. Ayrıca rambutan meyve ekstraktlarının depolama koşulları 1., 3., 5., 7., 15. ve 30. günlerde +4℃,-20℃ ve -70℃'de incelendi. MDA, SOD ve CAT düzeyleri bu homojenatlarda spektrofotometrik olarak ölçüldü. En yüksek antioksidan kapasitenin ve en düşük MDA düzeyinin %1,15 KCI içeren meyve ekstraktında bulundu. Ancak en düşük antioksidan kapasite ve en yüksek MDA düzeyi, fosfat tamponlu meyve ekstraktında bulundu. Ayrıca Rambutan meyvesinin +4℃’de yaklaşık 1-2 gün, -20℃’de yaklaşık 10 gün ve -70℃’de yaklaşık 15 gün boyunca aktivitesini koruduğu gözlemlendi. Sonuçlar, Rambutan meyvesinin yüksek düzeyde antioksidan güçte olup geliştirilme potansiyelinde bir gıda olduğunu göstermiştir.

Studies on water occupancy rates have an important share in the sustainability of dam lakes, which are an important component of aquatic ecosystems. İmranlı Dam Lake was built between 1994-2002 for energy and agricultural irrigation purposes. This study is about the water occupancy rates of the İmranlı Dam Lake, located in Sivas province of Türkiye, between the years 2010-2021. The highest water occupancy rate of İmranlı Dam Lake was determined as 76.20 percent in 2018, while the lowest water occupancy rate was 27.70% in 2012. The average annual water occupancy rate of İmranlı Dam Lake between 2010-2021 was calculated as 56.86 percent. According to these values, it was determined that the water occupancy rates of the İmranlı Dam Lake did not face a significant decrease between the years 2010-2021. As a result, there is no short-term problem in terms of water occupancy rates in İmranlı Dam Lake. However, this does not mean that it will not be a problem in the long run. For this reason, taking into account the possible effects of climate change (CC), the water of İmranlı Dam Lake should be used sparingly and consciously. As a result of all these measures that can be taken, sustainability will be ensured in the İmranlı Dam Lake, and at the same time, water scarcity will be prevented, the continuity of aquatic vitality will be ensured and losses will be prevented.

Drought, a critical abiotic stress worsened by climate change, poses a substantial threat to crop production and global food security. White cabbage is classified as a moderately drought-sensitive crop. The function of folic acid, otherwise known as folate, in the plant's response to drought conditions is not yet fully understood. The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential of folic acid in enhancing certain growth parameters and physiological traits of cabbage seedlings under limited irrigation conditions. In this investigation, the effects of FA as a foliar application at 0, 100, and 200 µM (FA0, FA1, and FA2, respectively) were examined on white cabbage seedlings grown under full-irrigation (I0) and restricted irrigation (I1), set to 50% of full capacity irrigation scheme (I0). Drought stress adversely affected the plant growth properties of cabbage seedlings, whereas FA treatments mitigated the adverse effects of drought stress on the plant growth properties of cabbage seedlings. Under restricted irrigation, plants treated with 100 µM FA (FA1) had higher plant height, stem diameter and leaf area, while plants treated with 200 µM FA (FA2) had higher plant dry weight and plant dry matter content. Plant fresh weight increased with FA treatments under restricted irrigation, but no significant difference was observed between doses. On the other hand, leaf relative water content (LRWC), which decreased under restricted irrigation conditions, increased with FA applications regardless of the dose, while electrical conductivity (EC), which increased under the same conditions, decreased with 100 µM FA (FA1) application. Leaf number, root fresh weight, root fresh weight, root dry weight, root dry matter content and chlorophyll value (SPAD) were not affected by FA treatments under both restricted and full irrigation conditions. In conclusion, foliar spray of folic acid in cabbage can be recommended as a potential application to alleviate drought stress.

Biochar production has gained significant attention lately due to its potential to sequester carbon,                improve soil fertility and mitigate climate change. Various production technologies have been developed to convert biomass into biochar, each with its unique characteristics and advantages. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current biochar production technologies aiming to synthesize existing knowledge and identify research gaps with a focus on their potential to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2, 12, 13 and 15. The scope of this review encompasses various biochar production techniques including slow pyrolysis, fast pyrolysis, gasification and torrefaction. The effects of production conditions such as temperature, residence time, and feedstock types on biochar properties and yields are discussed. The prospects of using biochar in the agricultural system were discussed.  Additionally, challenges and opportunities associated to scaling up biochar production technologies are highlighted. The findings of this review have implications for the development of sustainable biochar production practices and environmental management strategies.

This study comprehensively examines the applicability of the 5S methodology as a tool for enhancing efficiency, occupational safety, and sustainability in the agricultural sector. The 5S methodology, predicated on the principles of sorting, organising, cleaning, standardising, and sustaining, aims to create safer and more productive workplaces. The research investigates its effects on both indoor agricultural machinery manufacturing processes and outdoor crop production practices. The analysis reveals notable advantages in manufacturing processes, including reduced waste, enhanced occupational safety, and improved product quality, particularly in production, assembly, and quality control processes. However, the methodology faces limitations in outdoor agricultural practices due to seasonal variations and open-field conditions, which challenge the cleaning, sorting, and organising stages. However, its application in maintenance, repair, and equipment storage processes has been shown to prolong the lifespan of machinery and ensure safer working conditions. The 5S methodology aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, serving as a practical approach to enhancing efficiency, workplace safety, and resource management in the agricultural sector. This study underscores the 5S methodology's promise as a sustainable solution for enhancing productivity and safety in agriculture.

Agricultural land cover has changed over time, and monitoring these changes has become an effective tool in development processes by linking them to ecological and socio-economic issues. In this context, the main hypothesis of the study is that “determining land use changes spatially and temporally using CORINE Land Cover data is crucial in development-oriented planning processes.” The study analyzes changes in agricultural land use based on CORINE land cover classes between 1990 and 2018 in the districts of Saray, Şarköy, and Hayrabolu in Tekirdağ Province, which have low levels of socio-economic development. The research aims to answer the following questions: during which periods did significant changes occur in agricultural areas in Saray, Şarköy, and Hayrabolu? What are the total rates of increase or decrease in these areas? Into what types of land have agricultural are+as significantly transformed? The methodology was developed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-based maps, graphs, and tables. The findings reveal the spatial and temporal dimensions of changes in agricultural land use and land cover between 1990 and 2018. The data obtained are anticipated to provide a concrete foundation for developing rural development policies and ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources.