A study using the assigned Complete Block Design with three replications was carried out at Hobigong, Bangladesh from January to August 2021 to investigate the impact of different combinations of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the growth and production of bitter gourd. The experiment employed five different combinations of organic and inorganic fertilizers, which are listed below: T1: 4 kg of organic fertilizer per plant, T2: 4 kg of organic fertilizer + 2 liters of cow urine + 2 liters of bc (biochar), T3: 2 liters of liquid bc (biochar)) + NPK (44 g urea + 43 g TSP (Triple Super Phosphate) + 77 g MoP (Muriate of Potash), T4: NPK (44 g urea + 43 g TSP + 77 g MoP), and T5: 4 kg of organic fertilizer + 2 liters of bc+ NPK (44 g urea + 43 g TSP + 77 g MoP) on three distinct soils in the villages of Kalonjhora, Madhabpur, and Jointure. The growth and yield of bitter gourd at different study locations were significantly affected by the application of both organic and inorganic fertilizers, according to the results. The results showed that the use of both organic and inorganic fertilizers had a significant effect on the development and yield of bitter gourd at the different study sites. Maximum germination rate (90%), at 45 DAS (days after sowing), longest plant (173.28 cm) at 100 DAS, maximum number, longest and heaviest fruit (6.30 number of fruits per plant, 15.51 cm and 82.50 g, respectively) were obtained from crops grown in Jointer village that were applied with 4 kg organic fertilizer + 2 liters bc + NPK (44 g urea + 43 g TSP + 77 g MOP). According to the previously described research, most development and yield characteristics of bitter gourd are improved when grown in a mixture treated with 4 kg organic fertilizer + 2 liters bc + NPK (44 g urea) + 43 g of TSP + 77 g of MoP.

Agricultural landscapes contribute positively to the visual texture of the city and change over time. In this context, this study aims to determine the visual landscape quality of agricultural landscapes based on parameters on expert approach the hypothesis; it is important and necessary to determine the visual landscape values based on the change in agricultural landscapes over time. Within the framework of the developed hypothesis, it aims to make an expert-based visual landscape assessment of the agricultural landscapes of Tekirdağ Province, located in the northwestern part of Türkiye, based on nine subclasses created according to the CORINE land cover (CLC) classes, on the basis of 4 main parameters. Using the AHP technique, the priorities of the parameters and agricultural landscape classes and the relationships between basic parameters and visual preferences were determined. In this direction, the questions; What are the priorities of parameters that are effective in determining the visual quality of agricultural landscapes on the basis of expert approach?; What kind of changes have occurred in agricultural landscapes during the years 1990-2000-2006-2012-2018 in 9 subclasses created according to the CLC classes? and; How should the visual landscape quality values of the agricultural landscape subclasses created according to the CLC classes be ranked? The results of the study can be used as a tool in landscape planning and management studies as a factor in strengthening landscape quality.

Wheat, one of the world's most important agricultural products, plays a vital role in meeting the nutritional needs of our growing global population. However, arid and semi-arid regions face a potential threat from boron (B) toxicity. While boron is an essential nutrient for plant growth and development, its excessive presence can be toxic. It disrupts physiological processes, causing chlorosis and necrosis, ultimately leading to yield loss or plant death. Although B deficiency is a problem in the soils of many countries, Türkiye is one of the few experiencing B toxicity problems in its agricultural areas. This study investigated the physiological and biochemical responses of durum wheat to various B concentrations (0-20 mg L-1) under controlled air-conditioned cabin conditions. Durum wheat exhibited a decrease in chlorophyll content, phenolic content, and antiradical capacity at B doses exceeding 10 mg L-1. However, carotene content increased steadily with increasing B concentrations. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione S-transferase (GST), increased up to a B dose of 15 mg L-1. Catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities increased up to 10 mg L-1 B dose but decreased at higher B levels. Proline content increased tenfold up to a B dose of 10 mg L-1, indicating an attempt to mitigate stress. Conversely, malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation increased continuously (approximately 150%) with increasing B doses, suggesting membrane damage. Despite being considered B-sensitive, this study demonstrated that durum wheat can effectively cope with B stress up to a B dose of 10 mg L-1 under controlled conditions. Beyond this threshold, physiological and biochemical changes indicate a decline in stress tolerance. Many osmoregulators, carotenes, alkaloids, flavonoids, tocopherols, phenolic compounds, non-protein amino acids, and several unidentified metabolites are activated to support antioxidant defense. The SOS pathway and the released ROS force gene regulatory systems come into play. Following these, the ROS released in the organism are neutralized, and ionic homeostasis and cellular stress resistance are achieved.

The global population is increasing at a rapid pace, posing significant challenges to sustainable development and food security. This review paper examines the advantages and challenges of organic farming as a potential solution to address the pressing issues in modern agriculture and food production. Organic farming offers a range of benefits, including improved soil fertility, higher profitability, reduced external input usage, land reclamation, improved market access, and enhanced farmer capacity and self-reliance. Organic farming practices prioritize environmental sustainability by reducing chemical usage and reliance on biological methods of pest control, as well as enhancing biodiversity, which strengthens ecological balance and resilience against pests and diseases. However, organic farming also faces challenges that need to be addressed for its widespread adoption. These challenges include uncertainty surrounding legislative environments, psychological and sociological costs of conversion, financial risks during the transition period, securing marketing channels for organic produce, and diminishing profit margins. Efforts should be made to provide farmers with the necessary support, including technical assistance, subsidies, and access to markets, to overcome these challenges. Despite the challenges, the potential of organic farming in promoting sustainable agriculture and ensuring a secure food system cannot be overlooked. It offers a natural and environmentally friendly approach to food production, prioritizing the health of both humans and the ecosystem.

This study aims to determine the functionality and benefits of blockchain technology in food procurement. Within the scope of the study, Migros Trade Inc., a retail food supply company implementing blockchain technology in Türkiye, was examined as a case study. The study employed a qualitative research case study design, asking expert participants from Istanbul and Izmir to give their opinions on pre-designed themes, and conducting descriptive analyses of the data collected. The themes of the research are food supply chain, good agricultural practices, sustainability in food, blockchain applications in food supply and food safety. At the end of the study, it was found that the transparency and traceability principles of blockchain have a positive impact on consumers and supply chain stakeholders. However, challenges such as technical infrastructure and performance, as well as the reasons for not starting the process directly from the field, were the problems experienced. The data shows that blockchain technology is an efficient system that should be expanded in the food supply chain.

This study examines the relationships between authentic leadership perceptions and organizational commitment levels of public personnel working in the agriculture and forestry sector. Within the scope of this research, surveys consisting of ready-made scales were used. The authentic leadership scale is a scale consisting of four dimensions and 16 items. The answers given to the surveys were interpreted using the SPSS package program. When the results of the research are evaluated in general; It appears that the perception of authentic leadership has a significant effect on organizational commitment. Looking at the demographic results; According to gender, it has been determined that men have more authentic leadership perceptions than women. According to education level; It appears that authentic leadership perception and organizational commitment do not differ. When examining whether employees’ authentic leadership perceptions and organizational commitments vary according to their age; It is seen that the perception of authentic leadership and organizational commitment differ according to age. While employees between the ages of 36 and 40 have higher perceptions of authentic leadership; Organizational commitment of those between the ages of 41 and 45 was higher.

Plant breeding, often known as the science of plant development, is the study and practice of modifying a plant’s genetic makeup through a variety of breeding techniques to produce higher-quality, more prolific, and more resistant to harsh environmental circumstances. Classical breeding programs are indispensable techniques for increasing yields and improving plant characteristics, but they are progressing too slowly to meet the increasing food demand of the rapidly growing world population alone. Considering that the development periods of plants are generally long in traditional plant breeding, the opportunity to develop higher quality and more productive species that are more resistant to abiotic and biotic stress factors is very limited. Because there are multiple steps required in producing new plant varieties, including hybridization, selection, and testing, the process of creating a new variation takes several years. However, it is important to rapidly develop plant varieties with desirable characteristics to meet the increasing food demand of the rapidly growing world population, so the application of biotechnological methods integrated into plant breeding and combined with traditional methods can help reduce food shortages. Today, with the quick acceleration of biotechnology, molecular DNA marker technology has been developed in plant breeding and very important developments have been experienced. Thanks to the development of molecular tools for genetic research aimed at improving agricultural traits in plants related to crop yield, crop quality, or tolerance to adverse environmental conditions, we now have a much better understanding of plant genetics and the architecture and function of plant genomes. Therefore, it is of critical importance to revise current breeding procedures by incorporating molecular markers into breeding programs in the future.

Bu çalışmada, Türkiye’nin Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi için alansal ve zamansal bazlı iklim sınıfı ve ETo haritalarının oluşturulması amaçlanmıştır. Öncelikle, bölgedeki 15 şehrin De Martonne kuraklık indeksi yöntemine göre ay bazında iklim sınıfları belirlenmiştir. Daha sonra bölgedeki mevcut meteoroloji istasyonları tarafından ölçülen iklim verilerinin uzun yıllar ortalama değerleri kullanılarak, FAO-56 Penman-Monteith yöntemi tabanlı CROPWAT yazılımı ile şehir bazında aylık ortalama ETo değerleri hesaplanmıştır. Elde edilen iklim sınıfı ve ETo değerlerinin alansal ve zamansal değişimini gösteren haritaların oluşturulmasında ise AutoCAD yazılımı kullanılmıştır. Bu haritalardan okunan ETo değerleri, T.C. Tarımsal Araştırmalar ve Politikalar Genel Müdürlüğü (TAGEM) tarafından hazırlanan “Türkiye’de Sulanan Bitkilerin Bitki Su Tüketimleri” isimli rehberde bölge şehirleri için verilen ETo değerleri ile karşılaştırılmıştır. Karşılaştırma kriteri olarak ortalama mutlak göreceli hata oranı (MAPE) dikkate alınmıştır. ETo haritaları kullanılarak doğruluk oranı %89,85 (MAPE= %10,15) düzeyine ulaşan günlük ortalama ETo değerleri tahmin edilmiştir. İklim sınıfı ve ETo değerlerinin konum ve zamana bağlı olarak kolaylıkla belirlenebildiği bu haritaların özellikle ETo hesaplamaları için gerekli olan güncel iklim verilerinin ölçülemediği veya temin edilemediği kırsal kesimlerdeki ETo’a dayalı bitki su tüketimi (ETc) ve sulama programı çalışmaları ile sulama sistemleri ve su iletim yapılarının tasarımı ve projelendirilmesinde kullanılabileceği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.

Biochar is now gaining awareness as a sustainable tool for soil health improvement, boosting carbon (C) storage and the enhancement of nutrient cycling in agricultural soils. This study assesses the effects of biochar on soil respiration, pH, and electrical conductivity (EC) in savanna soils over a 45-day incubation trail in the laboratory. Four different biochar treatments (0, 2, 4, and 6 t/ha) were used in the study. The treatments were established at 26°C, and after 2, 5, and 10 days, the CO2 levels were recorded. After incubation for 0, 5, 10, and 45 days, the EC and pH were assessed. As the rate of application of biochar increased, the rate of CO2 evolution increased as well. During the first two days of incubation, the CO2 evolution rate rose by a value of 129 at 2 t/ha biochar, 146 at 4 t/ha biochar, and 168 ug CO2/g soil/d at 6 t/ha biochar above the 0 t/ha biochar. Following five days of incubation, the amounts of CO2 evolution that were higher than the control were 99 with 2 t/ha, 116 with 4 t/ha, and 120 ug CO2/g soil/d with 6 t/ha of biochar. The increase in CO2 evolution above the control treatment at 10 days of incubation was 61 with 2 t/ha, 79 with 4 t/ha, and 87 ug CO2/g soil/d with 6 t/ha of biochar. Analogously, rising patterns in CO2 emissions were noted. Throughout the whole incubation period, the biochar treatments' soil EC and pH were greater than those of the control treatment. After applying biochar, there were increases in the evolution of CO2, however after 10 days of incubation, the percentage of C evolved from the addition of biochar decreased as the rates of biochar increased. At two t/ha, four t/ha, and six t/ha, the percentage C developed was 1.74 %, 1.66%, and 0.82% of the applied biochar C, respectively. Although the CO2 evolved ratio to the total amount of biochar C typically reduced with increasing biochar rates, this study shows that the addition of biochar increases soil respiration, EC, and pH.

The blanket prescription of nitrogen (N) fertilizer often results in irrational fertilization. To address this issue and align the application of nitrogen fertilizers with the crop-specific demand, it is imperative to save nitrogen resources, maximize the uptake and net income, and subside environmental pollution. In this context, a field experiment was carried out in Kumroj, Chitwan, Nepal during 2022 to assess the growth, yield, and profitability of rice production by comparing different precision nitrogen management practices. The study was carried out in a randomized complete block design with seven treatments and three replications. The treatments included decision support tools for nitrogen management such as the Green Seeker (GS), the Soil plant analysis development Development (SPAD) meter, and the Leaf Color Chart (LCC) combined with basal application of nitrogen at 30 kg ha–1 and the Urea briquette Deep Placement (UDP), the Polymer Coated Urea (PCU), and the Recommended Dose of Fertilizers (RDF, 120 kg N ha–1). The growth, yield, yield attributes, and financial data were taken. Precision nitrogen management techniques significantly enhanced rice growth and yield parameters. GS–guided application required the highest nitrogen demand (155 kg ha–1), while SPAD (80 kg ha–1) and UDP (78 kg ha–1) resulted in lower usage. PCU and UDP enhanced plant height, leaf area index, and above–ground dry matter. Higher grain yield (6.64 t ha–1) was attained with LCC, SPAD (6.44 t ha–1), and UDP (6.41 t ha–1) treatments. GS application exhibited the highest straw yield (11.17 t ha–1), while LCC demonstrated the highest benefit–cost ratio (1.96). This study concluded that SPAD and UDP demonstrated the potential to save nitrogen resources, while LCC and UDP were found profitable.