Analysis of consumer preferences for cowpea varieties in Osun State was carried out with a view to identifying attributes that determine price variation among cowpea varieties and the effect on consumer’s willingness to pay for those varieties. A multistage sampling technique was used to randomly select 240 respondents for the study, comprising 180 cowpea consumers and 60 retailers. Primary data were collected on cowpea varieties, their attributes and the consumer’s willingness to pay for cowpea varieties using well structured questionnaire. Data collected were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that out of thirteen varieties found in the area, only nine varieties of cowpea were common in the market. The quality of each variety differs which explained variation in their price. In terms of preference the Oloyin variety is preferred most by 78% of consumers. Weevil resistance had the highest rank among the cowpea attributes. Oloyin had the highest WTP followed by Milk and Drum with ₦303, ₦237 and ₦213 per kg, respectively. Hedonic pricing methods provide a statistical estimate of premiums and discounts for cowpea attributes. Results indicated that weevil resistance was the most important attribute to consumer. Cowpeas with weevil damage tolerance, brown colour, large grain size and short cooking time commanded price premium for almost all the varieties. The consumer discounted prices for insect damage, small size, white colour, smooth skin and grain colour mixed together. The study concludes on the need for breeders and research institutes to incorporate these cowpea attributes that attracted price premium into their cowpea breeding programmes.

This study was carried out to determine the concentrations of some heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr and Fe) in Diopatra neapolitana (Delle Chiaje, 1841) and sediments in the middle region of İzmir Bay. In the two-year period between autumn 2002 and summer 2004, it has been determined that metal concentrations in D. neapolitana vary over time. The order of accumulation of metal concentrates in D. neapolitana was determined as Cd

The paper aims consists of modelling the cotton price index in China to determine the dependency of the previous increase in cotton prices on stocks and imports of cotton in the internal market during the sample period from 1991 to 2014. The paper opted for an empirical study using the time-series Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) framework. The paper provides empirical insights about the innovation of cotton price in domestic market of the China. It suggests that there are bidirectional relationships among the price and the stock in a system. It suggests also that cotton imports serve a significant role in the price index of current trends relative to future stocks. Thus, we concluded that the previous high cotton prices in China were attributed to the previous need to increase cotton stocks but not directly via the import of cotton; however, the latter may have a significant role in the future.

The effects of raw and leached cocoa bean hulls were investigated as a fat replacer in pound cakes. This substitution was applied for raw (RCBH) and leached (LCBH) grinded cacao bean hulls/oil in the ratios of 30/70 (30%), 40/60 (40%) and 50/50 (50%). Chemical, physical and sensorial properties of raw and leached cocoa bean hulls were studied as well as fat substituted cakes. Ash, protein, total phenolic compounds and total antioxidant activity decreased with leaching process. Crude fiber content increased in fat substituted cakes compared to control cake. RCBH cakes showed higher bioactive components than LCBH cakes because of raw cocoa bean hulls were higher phenolic compounds and total antioxidant activities than leached cocoa bean hulls. The results showed that 50% of vegetable oil replacement with raw cocoa bean hull in cake formulation significantly improved chemical, physical and sensory properties of fat substituted cakes.

Anatolia has a wide range of variety and species of grape due to its location is within the native lands of the grape. Turkey is one of the world’s major winegrowing centre because it has an important potential in terms of vineyards area and grape production. Today, people have turned to organic farming due to unbalanced population movements, depletion of natural resources, climate change, conscious consumption and food security. Organic agriculture is an agricultural system that aims to evaluate the future of human and ecosystem as an indivisible whole with healthy plant and animal production. Grape is in the first place in terms of trade among horticultural plants worldwide. In this context, grape is one of the most important of the 197 organic crops grown in our country. The large proportion of organic grapes produced in our country is dried and the organic dried grape is exported abroad. Therefore, the demands of the foreign market are great importance. With this research, the recent situation of organic viticulture in our country has been reviewed and suggestions have been made for improvements.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dam breed on lambs sired by Charollais rams and purebred Charollais lambs obtained via embryo transfer. Frozen Charollais semen and embryos, used to obtain crossbreed and purebred Charollais lambs, were imported from elite flock with pedigrees and progeny test in Canada.The study was conducted on the crossbred Charollais lambs born from Tushin, and Romanov F1 ewes (Romanov × Morkaraman), and Charollais lambs born from Awassi, Morkaraman and Tushin surrogate ewes. The data was collected on 61 lambs (23 Charollais: CH, 20 Tushin × Charollais: F1 CH and 18 Charollais × Romanov F1:COR) from birth to weaning. Average weights at birth for CH, F1 CH and COR lambs were 4.32 ± 0.18 kg, 4.17 ± 0.18 kg, 3.18 ± 0.19 kg and at the age of 60 days were 21.20 ± 1.07 kg, 20.94 ± 0.84 kg, 18.13 ± 0.91 kg, respectively. The genotype of dams significantly affected birth and weaning weights of crossbred lambs, but not average daily live weight gain (ADG). Litter size had constant significant effect on the traits evaluated. Survival rates of crossbred lambs from birth to weaning were affected by the dam genotype. Birth weights and survival rates of CH lambs born from embryo transfer were affected by recipient genotypes and Awassi ewes were found to be the best surrogate mothers.

Tarımsal destekleme politikaları ülkelerin tarım sektörünün sürdürülebilir olması açısından önemlidir. Politika araçları ülkeler ve dönemler bazında değişiklik gösterebilmektedir. Bu araştırmada, Türkiye’de arz açığı yaşanan ayçiçeği, soya, aspir ve kolza ekiliş alanlarına fark ödemesi desteklerinin etkileri araştırılmıştır. Araştırma, 1994-2016 yıllarını kapsamaktadır. Granger Nedensellik Testi ve Johansen Cointegration Testi’nden yararlanılmıştır. Elde edilen sonuçlara göre, fark ödeme desteklerinin ayçiçeği üretici kararları üzerinde etkisi istatistiksel olarak önemli bulunmuştur. Aspir, kolza ve soya ekiliş alanlarında ise etkisi önemli görülmemiştir. Ancak, incelemeye alınan ürünlerin cari fiyatları ile fark ödeme desteklerinin etkileşim içerisinde olduğu belirlenmiştir. Buna göre, geçmiş dönemlerde destekleme politikalarında yaşanan sorunlar da göz önünde bulundurularak fark ödemesi desteklerinin katılımcı bir yaklaşımla tekrar tartışılması önerilebilir. Söz konusu desteklerin sürdürülmesi piyasa fiyatları açısından koruyucu nitelikte olduğundan bir gereklilik olarak ifade edilebilir. Ancak, bir taraftan desteklerin bütçe içerisindeki yeri diğer taraftan üretici gelirlerine olan etkileri göz önünde bulundurularak dengeli bir politika yaklaşımından uzaklaşılmamalıdır.

Viticulture preserved its significance from the past to the present that have been ruled in all civilization the region of Van. The presence of carbonized grape seeds in the remains of the Early Iron Age tombs and cities gives information about the history of grape cultivation in Van and its vicinities. However, many of the local varieties described by the elderly are now unfortunately not seen in large areas. Some of the genotypes are no longer encountered, while many genotypes are observed in a few vineyards with a few vines. The grape genetic resources except Erciş variety in the region are threatened with extinction. In spite of many ecological factors that restrict crop production in the region, vineyard has existed for thousands of years and urgent precautions have to be taken to protect this genetic heritage bearing grape landraces close to standard genotypes. The region has been investigated by many researchers for many years and the determined local varieties have been investigated in detail in terms of morphological and pomological characteristics, chemical contents and nutrients and defined in terms of molecular or ampelographic aspects in different studies. With this review, it is aimed to recover the knowledge of these genotypes in a single study in using scientific studies made up to this day in the region. So that it is aimed to lead the steps to be taken in the establishment of a gene pool composed of these local varieties which are under the risk of extinction is increasing day by day. The study also includes information on local adaptations of some standard grape cultivars that have been planted in previous years.

In the drier farming regions of the world, where crop production is constrained by short growing period, unpredictable and short rainfall with sporadic run-off, in-situ rainwater harvesting is vital for successful crop production. In connection to this, a study was conducted in Fedis district of Oromia region during the main rainy seasons of 2015 and 2016 to evaluate the effects of in-situ rainwater harvesting techniques (Ridge Furrow (RF), Contour Ridge (CR), and Tied Ridge (TR)) on soil moisture conservation and grain yield of maize. A spilt-plot design was used and soil moisture content was measured at three growth stages of the crop to a depth of 60 cm with 20 cm interval. The results showed that water harvesting techniques significantly increased moisture conservation compared to the control, which was flat bed preparation. Averaged over the three stages, the TR, CR and RF treatments increased soil moisture storage by 134.59, 128.57, and 121.87%, respectively, compared to the control. The study also revealed that the in-situ rainwater harvesting techniques, due to the improved soil moisture storage, significantly affected grain yield of the maize. Averaged over the two years, the TR, CR, and FR increased the grain yield 143.14, 131.47 and 121.16%, respectively, over the control treatment. Therefore, in drier environments, such as Fedis, in-situ rainwater harvesting techniques can be recommended for better moisture conservation and subsequent improvement in crop production.

The study was achieved between May 2014 and April 2015 at the Karasu Creek located in the province of Sinop. It was conducted to determine anionic detergent pollution and some physicochemical properties (pH, temperature, conductivity, salinity, dissolved oxygen, total hardness, chemical oxygen demand, phosphate PO4-3, total nitrogen). The anionic detergent concentration of the stations was determined on a monthly basis. Seasonally averaged values of the anionic detergent was measured as the highest value in the autumn season. The lowest values of anionic detergent were found in stations in winter and spring. The increase in the concentration of anionic detergent is caused by population growth in residential areas, increased agricultural activities and rains, and that chemicals move to riverbed from terrestrial areas with rain water.