This study proposes a reliable and easy understandable statistical solution for the selection of varieties in the balanced and partially balanced lattice experiments, which are widely used in plant breeding studies. For this purpose, the Analysis of Means (ANOM) was adapted to the balanced, simple and triple lattice designs and an R function is developed for it. The adapted ANOM approach was compared with the Tukey, Duncan and Fisher’s LSD tests with respect to the actual type I error rate in all of the balanced, simple and triple lattice designs. In addition to this, the ANOM approach and Tukey test were examined comparatively using a hypothetical example. According to the simulation results, LSD and Duncan could not maintain the actual type I error rate at 5.00% under any conditions. This situation became more dramatic with the increase in the number of groups. While the actual type I error rate for LSD and Duncan tests varied between 54.36%-100.00% and 37.49%-99.96%, respectively, for ANOM and Tukey tests it varied between 4.64%-6.08% and 4.62%-6.45%, respectively. ANOM and Tukey tests were quite successful in terms of maintaining the actual type I error rate. However, since the number of groups in lattice designs was quite high, the given hypothetical example showed that it would be more understandable to use the ANOM method.

The global dilemma of waste management and food scarcity require novel solutions that fulfill both environmental concerns and nutritional requirements. To address these significant problems in a sustainable manner, this research investigates the possibility of producing single cell protein (SCP) from sugarcane bagasse, an abundant industrial waste product in the presence of Aspergillus niger strain. The production of SCP was further optimized by inducing variations in Physico-chemical properties to increase the protein yield. These parameters include temperature, pH, fermentation time, inoculum size, carbon and nitrogen sources. The results of this study revealed that A. niger showed maximum production of biomass (24.0±0.02%) at the temperature of 25°C after 7 days of incubation time with the pH adjusted to 5. In conclusion, this multidisciplinary strategy emphasizes how essential biotechnology is to be advancing the idea of how sugarcane bagasse could potentially be used as a beneficial asset to help feed the world's expanding population.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of soybean hay supplementation on growth performance, feed intake, and nutrient utilization in local sheep fed grass hay as a basal diet. Twenty-five yearling intact male local sheep were assigned to five dietary treatments in a completely randomized block design: 100% concentrate (+ve control; T1), 75% concentrate + 25% soybean hay (T2), 50% concentrate + 50% soybean hay (T3), 25% concentrate + 75% soybean hay (T4), and 100% soybean hay (T5). The study lasted 90 days, followed by a 7 day digestibility trial. Dry matter intake did not differ significantly (P>0.05) among treatments, with values ranging from 939.06 to 1,049.19 g/day. Organic matter intake was significantly higher (P<0.05) in T1, T2, T3, and T4 compared to T5. Soybean hay inclusion exceeding 50% resulted in significantly greater ash intake (P<0.001). Crude protein (CP) intake was highest in T1 (84.82–109.56 g/day; P<0.01), while T1, T3, and T4 exhibited higher digestible CP and metabolic body weight (P<0.05) than T2 and T5. Apparent CP digestibility was significantly higher (P<0.01) in T1 and T3 compared to T2, T4, and T5. Final body weight and average daily gain were significantly higher (P<0.05) in T1, T3, and T4 compared to T2 and T5. T1, T2, T3, and T4 also showed significantly greater total body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency than T5 (P<0.05). Economic analysis revealed marginal rates of return of 1.21 for T3 and 1.51 for T4, both exceeding the minimum acceptable rate for farmers. Considering both growth performance and economic feasibility, T1 (100% concentrate) and T4 (25% concentrate + 75% soybean hay) are recommended as viable supplementation strategies to enhance sheep productivity.

This study investigates the adsorption and desorption capacities of corn cob biochars produced at three different pyrolysis temperatures. Adsorption experiments were conducted using ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3-) solutions at concentrations 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 mg L-1. Results indicated that CC300 biochar exhibited the highest NH4+ adsorption efficiency at lower concentrations, adsorbing 88.67% of NH4+ at 5 mg L-1. However, its adsorption capacity decreased with increasing NH4+ concentration. CC400 biochar demonstrated a balanced adsorption capacity for both NH4+ and NO3-, with 83.71% NH4+ adsorption and 87.17% NO3- adsorption at 5 mg L-1. CC500 biochar showed the highest NO3- adsorption capacity, reaching 90.05% at 5 mg L-1, but was less effective in NH4+ adsorption, particularly at lower concentrations. Desorption analysis revealed that CC300 and CC500 biochars retained NH4+ and NO3- effectively, with relatively low desorption rates. In contrast, CC400 biochar exhibited higher desorption rates, indicating a controlled nutrient release potential. The study highlights the significant influence of pyrolysis temperature on the adsorption and desorption characteristics of biochar and its suitability for specific nutrient management applications. These findings contribute to the optimization of biochar production and its effective utilization in sustainable agriculture and environmental protection.

Providing competitive advantage in international markets, encouraging innovation, increasing productivity and supporting sustainable growth constitute the long-term goals of countries. In order to gain competitive advantage in changing market conditions, it is not enough to limit natural resources, capital, labor and production factors; the existence of social networks and information is also needed. To increase competitiveness in agriculture, which stands out as the primary sector for rural areas in country economies; there is a necessity to use technology, value-added production, effective use of resources, provide employment opportunities, employ qualified human resources and develop strong collaborations. In accordance with these needs, it is necessary to adapt the concepts of social and human capital to the agricultural sector and develop strategies for the current situation that are concretized with data. Within the scope of this study, a micro-scale study was carried out to analyze the social and human capital structure of the agricultural employment market in Konya. Face-to-face interviews were conducted via a survey with a total of 268 agricultural operators, 96 unpaid family laborers, 294 agricultural workers and 30 agricultural intermediaries. In employment areas where data were collected using social and human capital scales, problems such as social exclusion, feeling insecure due to working conditions, polarization between local and foreign labor, and low levels of bridging social capital were encountered. Policy recommendations have been developed to solve these problems and also policy recommendations have been made for community building and successful employment management in agriculture.

The quality of black seed oil depends greatly on the extraction method used. Traditional methods like cold pressing are valued for producing high-quality oil that retains its natural nutrients and flavor. However, these methods often come with a trade-off, as they tend to yield less oil and lower levels of bioactive compounds, making them less efficient for large-scale production. To overcome these limitations, seed pretreatment techniques were investigated. In this study, black seeds were subjected to freeze-thaw and microwave pre-treatment before cold pressing to increase the content of thymoquinone, which is a key bioactive compound in black seeds. For the freeze-thaw treatment, black seeds were frozen at -17 °C for 24 and 48 h, followed by thawing at 50 °C for 1 h. This process was repeated for 1, 2, and 3 cycles. Microwave treatment involved subjecting seed samples to microwave at a frequency of 2450 MHz and power levels of 400 W and 640 W for durations of 1, 2, and 3 min. Subsequent oil extraction was performed by using cold pressing. HPLC analysis showed a significant increase in thymoquinone content with freeze-thawed seeds (for 48 h and 3 cycles) showing a remarkable increase like 79.93% according to untreated black seeds. Microwave-pretreated seeds at 640 W for 3 min exhibited more than double thymoquinone content compared to untreated seeds. Other quality parameters, including moisture, specific gravity, acidity, peroxide value, and iodine value, shows comparable characteristics, while significant enhancing the sensory analysis of the pretreated oil (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that freeze-thaw and microwave pretreatments can serve as innovative methods for enhancing thymoquinone levels in Indian black seed oil, providing a promising avenue for improving the overall quality of this valuable natural product.

The study explored the potential of local Oasian sorghums from the Algerian Sahara, alongside the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD) varieties, focusing on their sap and sugar yield capabilities, for selecting the most appropriate ones as good sources for bioethanol production. The method used in this study consisted of a complete randomized block design with three repetitions in open field. Harvesting was carried out at two vegetative stages: milky-pasty and hard-grain. Morphometric measurements and estimation of the produced biomass yields followed. The second step of the study concerned the extraction of the sap from the stems and the determination of its volume and sugar content. Depending on the physiological stage, the volume of produced sap fluctuated as much as the sugar rate. The diameter of the stems varied the bark-to-pith ratio of populations. According to this ratio, the largest fraction of pith, which contains sap, was found in the populations: Hamra, Kharssi, Beïda-Adrar, respectively, 0.65, 0.83, and 0.91. The stems yield of Biofuel and Beïda-Adrar were notably high at milky-pasty stage, approximately 1.87 and 1.51 kg m-², respectively; indicating their suitability for bioethanol production. The research highlighted the variation in sap volume across different growth stages and populations, with a proportional relationship observed between sap volume and sugar concentration. The analysis demonstrated significant differences across all the studied parameters. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) further categorized the parameters into two distinct groups based on growth phases, facilitating a deeper understanding of the determinants of sorghum’s bioethanol potential. The findings emphasize the need for a balanced selection of sorghum populations for bioethanol production, considering sap volume, sugar yield, and biometric parameters. This study not only underscores the viability of sorghum as a bioethanol source but also aligns with sustainable agriculture and renewable energy goals, especially in arid regions like the Algerian Sahara.

The COVID-19 pandemic has notably reshaped consumer perceptions of food safety, with lasting effects on food purchasing and consumption behaviors. This study examines Turkish consumers’ perceptions of food safety risks during and after the pandemic, aiming to contribute to both national and international literature on the topic. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between April and July 2023 in seven major Turkish cities (Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Trabzon, Adana, Van, and Gaziantep), with 1,016 respondents participating. The survey explored various socio-demographic factors influencing food safety risk perception using an ordered probit model. The results reveal that 86% of respondents consider food produced and sold in Türkiye risky, with 20.4% rating it as critically unsafe. Key factors influencing risk perception include concerns about open market sales, food additives, food labeling accuracy, and vendor hygiene practices. Additionally, socio-demographic characteristics such as marital status, age, education level, and household size significantly impact risk perception. Married individuals, older adults, and those with higher education levels tend to have heightened food safety concerns. These findings highlight the importance of targeted food safety education and policies that address diverse consumer profiles. The study provides insights for enhancing food safety strategies and fostering consumer confidence, especially during and after health crises.

Bu çalışmada, Denizli ili Tavas ilçesinde doğal olarak yetişen 38 badem genotipinin pomolojik ve kolorimetrik özellikleri incelenmiştir. İncelenen genotiplerde meyve ağırlığı 3,00-6,87 g, iç ağırlığı 0,26-1,98 g ve iç oranı %13,26-43,30 arasında değişim göstermiştir. Meyve boyutları açısından en yüksek varyasyon katsayısı uzunlukta (%18,70), en düşük ise kalınlıkta (%7,55) belirlenmiştir. Renk parametrelerinde L* değeri 36,51-55,90, a* değeri 10,11-15,23, b* değeri 26,16-39,93 arasında değişmiştir. Hiyerarşik kümeleme analizinde genotipler iki ana küme altında gruplandırılmış olup, genetik mesafe 1,21-10,05 arasında değişmiştir. Temel bileşenler analizinde (PCA) ilk beş bileşen toplam varyasyonun %68,84’ünü açıklamıştır. PC1 eksenine en yüksek katkıyı b* (0,433), meyve uzunluğu (0,389) ve iç uzunluğu (0,375) sağlarken, PC2 eksenine en yüksek katkıyı Chroma (0,429) ve iç genişliği (0,200) sağlamıştır. Çalışma sonucunda, incelenen popülasyonun önemli düzeyde genetik çeşitlilik gösterdiği ve özellikle 1, 5, 9 ve 17 numaralı genotiplerin ıslah çalışmaları için değerli genetik kaynaklar olabileceği belirlenmiştir.

Over the years, more than 3336 rice genotypes were introduced into Ethiopia from different countries and evaluated for diseases reaction and agronomic traits. However, morphological characteristics and relationships were not well investigated among genotypes. Hence, the objective of this study was to characterize 100 rice genotypes morphologically for better identification and to classify genotypes relationships. The experiment was done using triple lattice design with 10×10 in 2021/22 main cropping season. Twenty-five qualitative morphological traits were used to characterize and 13 quantitative traits were used to categorize relationships of the studied rice genotypes. The Shannon Weaver diversity index of qualitative traits were varied from 0 to 1. Moreover, based on quantitative traits the studied rain fed rice genotypes were grouped into four distinct clusters and four principal components with Eigen value >1 were contributed 78.99% of the total variation. We recommend crossing cluster I with IV genotypes to get early-maturing besides moderate grain yield variety for short rainfall season areas. And cross cluster III with IV genotypes to get medium matured, high filled spikelet per panicle, augmented harvest index, biomass and grain yield variety for long rainfall season areas.