This study was conducted to evaluate university students’ chicken meat consumption preferences and their level of knowledge about chicken production. The survey was conducted with 61 structured online questionnaires using the Kobo-collect Tool Box. The questionnaires were administered online via student WhatsApp groups. Chicken breast meat was the most consumed with cubed meat being the most preferred. The expiration date was the main factor affecting chicken meat purchasing decisions, and the majority of the respondents did not have any preferred cooking method. Heavier meat (>1 kg) and fresh chicken meat were the most preferred with the highest chicken meat consumption of 1-3 times per week. Chicken meat consumption was highest at dinner and in the winter season with viral diseases being perceived as the most dangerous chicken diseases. The Coronavirus outbreak affected the chicken meat consumption of the majority of the respondents and most of them bought meat from reliable sale points. Most of the respondents could differentiate between slow and fast-growing broiler hybrids with Ross 308 being the most recognized commercial broiler hybrid by the respondents. It was concluded that chicken meat consumption was higher among the respondents however, agriculture students should be motivated to improve their knowledge about chicken production.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are synthesized via a multitude of techniques, resulting in nanoparticles of varying sizes and morphologies that directly influence their antimicrobial efficacy. The objective of this study is to ascertain the particle size and morphology of ZnO-NPs synthesised via the hydrothermal method and to evaluate their in vitro antibacterial effects against Escherichia coli O157, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes, which are important foodborne pathogens. The ZnO-NPs were examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Furthermore, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and the diameter of inhibition zones were measured against these pathogenic bacteria. The SEM images revealed that the ZnO-NPs exhibited a uniform distribution, with particle sizes ranging between 23 and 25 nm. The MIC and MBC values against the tested strains were found to range from 20.83 to 41.67 µg/mL and between 66.67- 83.33 µg/mL, respectively. In addition, the diameter of inhibition zones were ranged from 15.16 to 16.96 mm. The findings of the study demonstrated that ZnO-NPs s synthesized via the hydrothermal method exhibited antibacterial effects against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In conclusion, the use of ZnO-NPs can facilitate the improvement of the microbiological quality of foods by the inhibition of foodborne patogens.

Today, the rapid increase in urbanization and the concentration of population density in urban centers have increased the need for individuals to be in touch with nature. In this context, urban use areas such as urban parks play an important role in meeting the physical and social needs of teenagers. Parks are not only spaces that encourage physical activity, but also spaces that increase social interaction, strengthen community ties and support physical activities. Ihlamur Park in Konya is an important living space where teenagers show great interest, offering various activities and social opportunities. However, detailed information on the purposes for which teenagers use the park and which features of the park encourage this use has not been fully identified. The aim of this study is to examine the purposes of the use of Ihlamur Park by teenagers and to identify the features of the park that encourage physical activity and social interaction. For the research, 116 teenagers were surveyed face-to-face on the basis of the law on the protection of personal data and voluntary participation of park users by visiting the area on random days on weekdays and weekends. The survey was carried out with the approval of the Ethics Committee of Selçuk University, Faculty of Architecture and Design. By determining the level of use of teenagers, it is the preparation of a resource that park users can reach. The research also provides a comprehensive evaluation to understand the park usage habits and motivations of teenagers, and in this context, it has contributed to the development of recommendations for the design and management of parks. Thus, the importance of park features that allow teenagers to lead a more active life and increase their social interactions is emphasized.

This research was conducted in 2020 to determine the effects of leonardite-derived humic acids (Humas-15, Liquid Humus and Humico Maximix-K) with different properties, along with reduced nitrogen fertilization, on tuber yield and quality in potatoes (cv. Van Gogh). In the study, chemical fertilizer applications were made as basic fertilization (20 N 10 P 10 K), reduced fertilization I (15 N 10 P 10 K) and reduced fertilization II (10 N 10 P 10 K). Humic acids were applied twice with irrigation water, at the beginning of the flowering period and 15 days later. Humas-15 and Liquid Humus were applied at 1.0 and 2.0 lt/da doses, and Humico Maximix-K was applied at 400 and 800 g/da doses. A total of seven traits (tuber number per plant, tuber yield per plant, marketable tuber yield, total tuber yield, dry matter content, reducing sugar content and total sugar content) were measured. Reducing nitrogen applications with humic acid applications significantly affected all the traits studied. Humic acid applications combined with reduced nitrogen fertilization increased the number of tubers per plant by up to 13%, marketable tuber yield by up to 18% and total tuber yield by up to 16% compared with the control. Total and reducing sugar contents varied between 1.27-1.58% and 159-389 mg/100g fw, respectively depending on the applications. In the study, the highest tuber yield was obtained from 1.0 and 2.0 L/da Humas-15 and 2.0 L/da Liquid Humus applications applied together with reducing nitrogen applications which have close values to the recommended fertilization applications.

Mulching, a widely employed agricultural practice, has been recognized for its influence on soil moisture retention, temperature regulation, and weed suppression, thereby improving growth and yield of crops. An experiment was conducted to study the effect of mulching materials on growth and yield attributes of summer squash under water constraint condition during March to May 2023 in Chitwan, Nepal. The experiment was laid in single factor Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four different mulches (rice straw, wheat straw, rice husk and silver on black plastic mulch 30 microns) and control replicated 4 times. All the Plant growth parameters, including plant height, number of leaves per plant and plant spread, were highest in silver plastic mulch and the poorest in the un-mulched plots. Mulching also significantly influenced floral characters, with plastic mulch demonstrating superiority in traits such as days to flowering, number of flowers per plant, and sex ratio compared to organic mulches and the control. Fruit length, diameter, and weight exhibited the highest values under plastic mulch and the lowest values under the control, while all organic mulches showed similar results. The highest yield of 41.44 Mt ha-1 was achieved with silver plastic mulch, highlighting its effectiveness in enhancing crop productivity, while the lowest yield of 11.77 Mt ha-1 was recorded in the control plots. Despite its higher cost, silver pastic mulch exhibited highest net return and benefit-cost ratio. Rice husk mulch, with the second highest benefit-cost ratio and relatively low cost of production, emerged as promising alternative. Although mulching did not notably affect the soil pH, the varying soil organic matter percentages were observed, with the highest on rice straw mulch and the lowest on silver plastic mulch. The study suggests that while plastic mulch can significantly boost productivity during water scarcity, rice husk mulch offers a cost-effective alternative with substantial economic benefit.

Viral diseases are among the most significant challenges in protecting plants of the Cucurbitaceae family, with viruses from the Potyvirus genus, such as zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) and watermelon mosaic virus (WMV), causing up to 100% yield losses under favorable conditions.  Despite the importance of these viruses, there have been no previous studies investigating potyvirus diseases in Cucurbitaceae production areas in Çanakkale province. Consequently, the status of these diseases in the region remains unknown. This study aims to address this gap by analyzing the presence of potyviruses in Cucurbitaceae production areas in Çanakkale. In the 2021 production year, a total of 137 samples exhibiting virus and virus-like symptoms were collected from various Cucurbitaceae production sites in Çanakkale province and its districts. The samples were tested using RT-PCR with primer pairs specific to WMV and ZYMV. From the infected samples, seven isolates were selected for further analysis, and the coat protein (CP) genes were amplified and sequenced. The results revealed that WMV was detected as a single infection in 78 samples, ZYMV in one sample, and mixed infections of ZYMV+WMV were found in 39 samples, indicating that WMV is notably prevalent in Çanakkale. Bioinformatics analyses demonstrated that the Turkish WMV and ZYMV isolates share more than 90% similarity with other isolates in both the local samples and the GenBank database. Phylogenetic analysis further revealed that Turkish WMV and ZYMV isolates are closely related to each other. This is the first study to reveal the presence and phylogenetic relationships of ZYMV and WMV in cucurbitaceous plants in Çanakkale province of Türkiye.

The faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is a winter crop that can be cultivated as a versatile crop. It’s yield and quality being strongly influenced by environmental and agronomic factors, nutritional content, medicinal properties, and ability to fix nitrogen biologically. Therefore, to maximize advantages of faba bean cultivation, choosing the appropriate varieties, planting times, techniques, plant density, depth of sowing, and ensuring proper crop nutrients and irrigation is essential. For successful faba bean production in subtropical climates, it's important to assess the performance of different varieties under these specific conditions. Planting dates and soil temperature are crucial for germination, growth, and yield. At the same time, the crop's performance is also influenced by sowing methods, plant density, sowing depth, and water and fertilizer management. Integrating faba beans into cropping systems is expected to offer various ecological benefits. This paper reviews the existing literature on the agronomic practices of faba beans.

Weeds pose a significant challenge in maize fields in the Dang district, leading to a substantial 52% reduction in yield. Hence, this study was conducted in Satbariya village of Dang, Nepal, in 2023 to evaluate the impact of various weed management practices on weed dynamics, growth, and yield of spring maize. The experiment included seven treatments: a weedy check, weed-free plot, pre-emergence application of atrazine at 1.25 a.i. kg/ha (AtPrE), post-emergence application of atrazine at 1.25 a.i. kg/ha (AtPoE), manual weeding at 30 DAS, mini-tiller at 30 DAS, and LaPoE (tembotrione 42% SC + atrazine 50% WP) applied as post-emergence. The Subarna variety of maize was chosen for the study. Fifteen weed species from seven different families were identified in the experimental area. Specific morphological and phenological parameters, such as plant height and days to tasseling and silking, were not significantly influenced by the weed control methods. However, significantly lower weed density and biomass were observed in the weed-free plot and LaPoE. Similarly, weed-free plots and LaPoE exhibited significantly higher weed control efficiency (WCE) and weed control index at both 45 and 60 DAS, leading to a lower weed index (0.00–16.71%) and more effective weed control. Concerning the yield parameters, cob length, number of kernels per row, and 1000-grain weight were significantly higher in weed-free plots, followed by LaPOE, and the highest grain and biological yield were observed in weed-free plot (6.14–15.18 tons/ha) and LaPoE (5.12–13.32 tons/ha). Moreover, the benefit-cost ratio and net return were observed to be highest with LaPoE. This study suggests that LaPoE can be an effective and economical weed management strategy for increasing maize yield and profitability. Further research could explore the long-term effects of using LaPoE on weed control and crop productivity.

Bu çalışma, BAP, IBA ve IAA hormonlarının 50 ve 100 ppm dozlarının Melissa officinalis L. (Oğulotu) bitkisinin büyüme ve biyokimyasal parametreleri üzerindeki etkilerini araştırmak amacıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Deneme, sera koşullarında “Tam Şansa Bağlı Tesadüf Parselleri” deneme desenine göre üç tekrar ile yapılmıştır. Çalışmada; fide boyu, kök uzunluğu, fide yaş ve kuru ağırlıkları, kök yaş ve kuru ağırlıkları, klorofil a ve b, toplam karotenoidler, toplam fenolik maddeler ve antioksidan aktiviteler (CUPRAC ve FRAP) değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışma sonucunda; kök yaş ağırlığı dışındaki büyüme parametrelerinde hormon uygulamalarının kontrole göre önemli etkisinin olduğu, fide boyu, yaş, kuru ağırlıkları ile kök kuru ağırlıklarında en yüksek sonuçlara IBA50 dozunda ulaşıldığı, kök uzunluğunda ise en yüksek değere BAP100 uygulamasında ulaşıldığı görülmüştür. Klorofil a, b ve total karotenoid parametrelerinde en yüksek değerler kontrol uygulamalarından, en yüksek antioksidan aktivite (FRAP) BAP100, en yüksek toplam fenolik madde miktarı ise IBA100 uygulamalarında ölçülmüştür.

Nearly all of the apricot varieties grown in Malatya are dried apricots and the plantation areas in this region are expanding daily. Due to the impact of climate change, producers are growing apricots mostly under limited irrigation or even dry conditions. Therefore, it is essential to determine the drought resistance characteristics of the varieties commonly cultivated in this region. In this study, different irrigation levels of 100%, 75%, 50% and 25% of available water were applied to Hacıhalioğlu, Kabaaşı, Çataloğlu, Hasanbey and Soğancı apricot varieties. To evaluate the resistance of the varieties to drought stress and its relationship with physiological changes, chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids, total sugar, total starch and abscisic acid contents in the leaves were analyzed. A decrease in chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids, total starch values and an increase in total sugar and ABA values were determined due to the decrease in irrigation rates. In Kabaasi and Hasanbey varieties, which were observed as the most resistant to water shortage, chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids, total starch values were higher and total sugar content was lower at decreased irrigation levels. No difference was detected between varieties in ABA values. As a result of the observations in the drought resistance tests and physiological analyses, it was concluded that the most resistant varieties were Kabaasi and Hasanbey. Unfortunately, the most sensitive variety was the most widespread Hacihaliloglu. In addition, analyzing and evaluating the physiological changes occurring in apricot under drought stress will be useful in developing the most appropriate irrigation strategies for each variety and increasing water use efficiency. It may also be useful in cross-breeding studies to develop new drought-resistant varieties.