It is foreseen that there may be a water crisis in the next years due to global climate change, the need for food with the increasing population and the need for fresh water. Due to the scarcity of freshwater resources and the difficulty in access to quality water, water resources should be used in the most efficient way. Water conservation is of great importance in regions where water is scarce. The water harvesting method, which allows rainwater to be collected, stored and reused could be applied in various ways. In this study, water harvesting methods and techniques aiming to develop a strategy that will provide maximum benefit from rainwater in arid and semi-arid areas are discussed.

The aim of this study was to reveal the effect of whey powder (WP) supplementation on chemical composition, silage fermentation, in vivo digestibility and net energy lactation (NEL) value of high dry matter (DM) alfalfa silage (Haylage). Alfalfa treated with different doses WP (0, 2, and 4%) were ensiled in plastic cans for 60 days. Nine Kıvırcık rams were used to estimated digestibilities of haylages in 3x3 Latin Square design with fifteen days experimental period. According to the results, the addition of WP significantly increased the DM of alfalfa haylage compared to the control whereas decreased ether extract, crude protein and crude ash. But, cell wall fraction rates of all groups were similar. Relative feed value and physical characteristics other than color improved in WP supplemented groups, and lactic acid rates increased in these groups. In terms of silo acids, the best values were found in the group with 4% WP. On the other hand, the addition of WP increased the organic matter digestibility of haylages, however the effect on other in vivo digestibility of crude protein, crude fiber, nitrogen free extract and neutral detergent fiber was insignificant. Moreover, total digestible nutrients (TDN) and NEL values of haylages were found to be improved with the addition of WP. As a result, it was concluded that in order to obtain quality haylage in the ensiling of high DM and long chopped alfalfa, WP generally can be used as an alternative source of carbohydrates and a 4% whey powder dose can be recommended in the production of haylage especially in the sense of improving silage fermentation.

In this study, beta-lactam group antibiotic residues were investigated in raw cow's milk. For this purpose, a total of 86 raw milk samples were used as material. Samples were collected periodically from farms in various outlets and surrounding villages in the province of Sivas. Beta-lactam group antibiotic levels in raw cow's milk were determined by ELISA method with commercial test kit. According to the analysis results, beta-lactam levels were between 0.35-0.70 ng/mL in 64 (74.4%) and between 0.71-3.7 ng/mL in 22 samples (25.6%) determined of 86 raw cow milk samples. The residue levels detected in the samples are in accordance with the legal limits declared by the European Union (EU) commission and Turkish Food Codex Communique.

Due to the emerging needs in parallel with the developing technology and industrialization, the importance of renewable energy sources is increasing with the decrease of usable fossil resources and the ever-increasing need for energy. For this reason, solutions are sought to provide the energy needed in a timely, sufficient, and reliable manner. Wind energy has the greatest potential and usage area among renewable energy sources. The wind, which has advantages such as clean, fast commissioning, reliability, and being independent of fuel, is considered a good example of a clean energy source with these features. In this study, the production potential of electrical energy from wind energy was investigated by using wind data for Sinop province. Wind energy potential on the availability of wind energy systems suitable for its natural structure for Sinop province; Visual Basic 6.0 was determined using the computer package program. In the study, hourly wind data were used and analyzes were made for suitable wind energy systems. In addition, for a possible WPPs, analysis has been made and evaluated considering the current data; The availability of wind energy in Sinop province has been tried to be revealed.

The farming technique of radical terracing is one of the new agricultural technologies introduced in Rwanda to enhance farming activities in the highland areas. The study was designed to analyze the applicability of the adoption and diffusion model of farm innovation on adopting radical terraces in Rwanda. It adopted a descriptive correlational research design to the farmers owned radical terraces in Nyamagabe District. The purposive sampling technique was applied to select 19 Key Informants and 192 farmers. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected through questionnaires, face-to-face interviews, direct observation and documentary sources. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for quantitative data analysis whereas thematic and narratives content analyses were used on qualitative. The research outcomes show that the level of farmers' adoption was medium. Besides, the farmers’ access to agricultural information; and farmers’ participation were found to have a positive influence on the applicability of the adoption-diffusion model on the adoption of radical terraces. The study showed that the adoption of radical terraces in Nyamagabe depended on the compatibility with the existing values and practices among farmers based on the information-contagion model and the social participation model that is widely used in the agricultural context. The study recommended the government continue sensitizing farmers on the importance of adopting radical terraces for better use and maintenance as a modern farming practice. Further research should focus on the applicability of technology characteristics user's context model on the adoption of radical terraces in Rwanda.

Port Harcourt cosmopolis grappled with a continual rise in municipal solid waste (MSW) generation. The increase is a consequence of an advance in population rise and consumption pattern. The paper reports an approximate valuation and depiction of municipal solid waste with emphasis from questionnaire survey on socio-economic status of the inhabitants in the zones that make up the cosmopolis. The methodology and procedure for this investigation obtained using vehicle selection approach centered on ASTM D5321 standard test method for ascertaining the constituents of municipal solid waste. Specimens were sorted into fourteen waste classifications of paper; 6.22%, pasteboard; 2%, plastic film; 9.05%, dense plastic; 2.73%, glass; 2.3%, iron-based metal; 3.03%, non-iron based metal; 1.13%, putrescibles; 56.3%, textiles; 1.85%, misc-ignitable; 2.83%, non-misc ignitable; 3.35%, E-waste; 2.33%, household waste; 4.88% and fine elements; 2.03%. The outcome shows an average 56.3% of municipal solid waste specimens discovered to be biodegradable. This is suitable for composting activities. Aside biodegradables, there exist, paper glass, dense plastics, and iron-based metals, which are recyclables. This is significant for providing gainful employments to the inhabitants of the cosmopolis. On the contrary, there were about 2.83% of misc-ignitable. This is suitable for energy recovery. There was a variation in specimens of MSW in all the zones that make up the cosmopolis, attributing it to changes in disparity in incomes. It is necessary for government to legalize, recycling and composting activities, which based on the waste management hierarchy process in a manner that ensures environmental sustainability, economic sustainability, and global acceptance.

Truffles are a highly valued fungi group because of their gastronomic and economic importance. Even though the demands for truffles, particularly Tuber melanosporum and T. aestivum, has been increased year by year, the natural production of these valued fungi has decreased. So, truffle cultivation is becoming an agricultural alternative in Europe, and the rural economy was supported by cultivating truffle. In Turkey, truffle cultivation was becoming popular in recent years. However, there is not enough literature for understanding the basics of truffle cultivation in Turkey. Hence, it is aimed to discuss the selection of suitable truffle land. Because land selection can be considered as the first step of truffle cultivation and unsuitable land can be limited truffle cultivation success. So, the ecological features of economically important truffles, T. aestivum, T. borchii, T. magnatum, and T. melanosporum, are given in this study based on current literature and field experience.

The current study presents a Turkish Truffle Checklist based on literature and a newly discovered species. Within the two divisions, the list includes 104 species belonging to 35 genera and 20 families, as well as their range and Turkish names. Tuber oligospermum was one of them, and it was recorded for the first time in Turkey. A brief description of newly reported species was provided, along with images of their macro and micro-morphology.

This study assessed the intensity of adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices (CSA), identified determinants of the adoption, and examined adoption synergies and trade-offs among the practices in Ethiopia. The study used cross-sectional data collected by the Ethiopian Central Statistical Agency with the support of the World Bank in 2018/2019. The analysis was done using descriptive statistics and multivariate probit model. Widely promoted CSA technologies i.e. conservation tillage, manure, crop residues, compost, and soil and water conservation practices were considered in the study. The study found soil and water conservation practices were the most widely adopted technologies (77% of farmers) followed by manure application (56% of farmers), and residue cover (54% of farmers). Among the adopters, 43% and 13% of them used conservation tillage and applied compost on their farms respectively. Area-based intensity of adoption of soil and water conservation practices, residue cover, conservation tillage, manure, and compost were 63%, 25%, 18%, 14% and 3%, respectively. The study indicated improvements in government services such as extension, credit, market and watershed programs enhance adoption of CSA practices. Adoption of manure and compost, residue cover and compost, and residue cover and conservation tillage had a positive and significant correlation, implying that adopting one practice increases the likelihood of adoption of the other practice for the same farmer. In conclusion, the government needs to use the opportunity of complementarity effect among adoption decision of the practices and work on driving factors identified to enhance the adoption and build resilient agriculture.

Phlomis crinita is a plant species of the family Lamiaceae including more than 100 perennial herbs, shrubs, and sub-shrubs species native to the Mediterranean, Central Asia, and India. This species is commonly a good natural source of various secondary metabolites. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine phenolic content and antioxidant activity of hydromethanolic (PC ME) and aqueous extracts (PC AQE) of aerial parts of P. crinita. Total polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins were quantified, respectively by the methods of Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, aluminum trichloride (AlCl3) and Bate-Smith method. The in vitro antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH and ABTS•+ radical scavenging, β-carotene-linoleic acid, reducing power and ferrous ion chelating activity assays. PC ME showed high level of tannins (132,13 ±0.68 µg TAE/mg extract) and total phenolic content (82.71±0.79 µg GAE/mg extract), in addition a marked inhibiting oxidation activity of β-carotene/ linoleic acid (74.10%) was observed. Results showed also a higher iron-chelating activity of PC ME (0.20 mg/mL) compared to PC AQE (0.046 mg/mL). The plant extracts revealed a significant antioxidant activity as evidenced by the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 0.103 mg/mL for PC ME and 0.144 mg/mL for PC AQE) for DPPH assay and (IC50 = 0.0130 mg/mL for PC ME and 0.0187 mg/mL for PC AQE) , as well as the PC ME exhibits higher reducing power (IC50 =0.288mg/mL) than PC AQE (0.296 mg/mL). As a result, P.crinita is suggested as a promising and effective therapeutic medicinal plant for the treatment of several diseases.