Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth is directly affected by sowing dates. However, the yield of wheat in Afghanistan is significantly lower than the global standard. Several factors including fertilizers, sowing dates, seeds and cultivation methods, contribute to this low yield. The objective of this research was to address this critical issue by comparison of the effects of different sowing dates on wheat yield and its components under Kabul climatic conditions. The same experiment was conducted at two sites in 2020 using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and twelve treatments. The varieties used were Darolaman-07 (V1), Mazar- 99 (V2), and Chunta-1 (V3) as factor one, and sowing dates of November 10th (S1), November 18th (S2), November 26th (S3), and December 4th (S4) as factor two. Growth and yield parameters measured and analyzed included plant height, number of leaves plant-1, total number of tillers plant-1, leaf area index (LAI), leaf nitrogen content (N), spike length, number of spikelets spike-1, number of grains spike-1, grain weight spike-1, thousand- grain-weight, days to maturity, number of spikes plant-1, biological yield, grain yield, straw yield, and harvest index. Sowing dates had significant effects on some wheat growth and yield parameters. Sowing on November 10th, 2020, resulted in the highest plant height and leaves number per plant compared to later sowing dates. There was a significant interaction between sowing date and variety at (P˂0.01) in both growth and yield parameters. ANOVA analysis highlighted significant differences among wheat varieties in spike length, grain weight spike-1, thousand grain-weight, and harvest index, with notable variations observed among different varieties. Based on the results, the longest duration to maturity and the highest grain yield were observed on sowing date of November 10, 2020.

The Zamboanga Peninsula region significantly contributes to the Philippine coconut production, wherein abaca is also cultivated as an additional crop within coconut plantations. Still, coconut farmers belong to the country’s poverty sector. Abaca plays a significant role in providing an alternative source of income as a perennial intercrop in agroforestry systems like coconut. However, the productivity and sustainability of this farming system are affected by practices such as nutrient management, which is not explicitly known. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study applies a combination of quantitative and qualitative data-gathering techniques to assess the nutrient management practices adopted by the 33 qualified respondents, including challenges encountered and perceptions to abaca under the coconut farming system and fertilizer use. Quantitative data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 29, and thematic analysis was utilized for qualitative data. Results indicate that most (88%) of the farmers in the area did not apply fertilizers for their abaca. Yet, they still consider abaca as one of the income-generating crops besides coconut. The lack of financial resources and irregular harvesting operations are significant challenges that hinder fertilizer application. Findings revealed the need to develop low-cost and practical nutrient management technology for abaca under coconut, which shall be complemented with an effective human resource management system of skilled harvesters for the continuous harvesting operation of abaca to translate good crop growth into good yield and income. This will serve as a basis for government institutions and other stakeholders in developing and implementing programs and policies to improve the abaca and coconut industries.

The research methodology was based on determining the soil moisture consumption per unit of photosynthesis productivity, establishing the influence of the moisture consumption coefficient on the productivity of photosynthesis on the yield of sunflower genotypes. The aim of the research was to determine the physiological characteristics of the formation of plant productivity of different sunflower samples and use them in assessing and creating genotypes for cultivation in arid conditions. The conducted investigations allowed to determine physiological factors and properties of plants that determine the level of formation of the weight of seeds of the head and the yield of sunflower. The weight of seeds of the head is determined by the amount of soil moisture consumption per unit of net productivity. Between the indicators of soil moisture consumption per unit of net productivity at the stage of formation of the head - the beginning of flowering, a direct negative correlation interdependence was established. Sunflower varieties with a minimum consumption of soil moisture per unit of net productivity of photosynthesis of 1.01-1.05 m-3 g m-2 per day form in arid conditions of the Steppe of Ukraine the maximum level of weight of seeds of the head of 58.7-78.7 g, which ensures obtaining a high yield within 2.68-3.49 t ha-1. The conducted assessment of genotypes by indicators of soil moisture consumption per unit of net productivity made it possible to create highly productive varieties of sunflower Emelard, Igolya, Orlik.

Bu çalışmada mısır bitkisi örneği üzerinden bitki koruma makinası seçimi sorununa çok kriterli karar verme yöntemleri ile çözüm aranmaktadır. Belirlenen yedi kriter, üç farklı bitki koruma makinası için Analitik Hiyerarşi Süreci (AHP) değerlendirme formu ile uzmanların görüşlerine sunulmuş ve elde edilen kriter ağırlıklar dikkate alınarak sonuçlar hesaplanmıştır. Literatürden yararlanılarak belirlenen kriterler arasından bitki koruma makinesi seçimi probleminde yöntemin etkililiği (%30) en önemli kriter olmuştur. Çalışmada yer alan diğer kriterlerin önem dereceleri sırasıyla uygulama maliyeti (%23), uygulamanın bitkiye verdiği zarar (%19), uygulama süresi (%11), hava koşulları (%7), arazinin durumu (%7), çevreye zarar (%4) olarak bulunmuştur. Çalışmaya en yaygın pülverizatör çeşitleri olan traktör tahrikli pülverizatörler, sırt pülverizatörleri ve zirai insansız hava araçları gibi bitki koruma makinaları dahil edilmiştir. Mısır üretiminde zararlılar ile mücadele etmek için Mayıs-Haziran aylarında iki defa uygulama yapıldığından ve her uygulamada bitkinin fenolojik evresi farklı olduğundan dolayı çalışmada bu iki uygulama dönemi erken ve geç dönem olarak ele alınmıştır. Erken dönemde bitki koruma makinaları tercih ağırlığı birbirine yakın olup zirai insansız hava aracı için 0,35, traktör tahrikli pülverizatör için 0,34, sırt pülverizatörü için 0,31 olduğu görülmüştür. Geç dönemde yedi kriterin dördünde zirai insansız hava aracı tercih edildiği görülmüştür. Bu kriterler hava koşulları (0,78), yöntemin etkililiği (0,77), uygulama süresi (0,71) ve uygulamanın bitkiye verdiği zarar (0,77) olmuştur. Tüm kriterler birlikte değerlendirildiğinde iki dönem uygulamada da en çok tercih edilen makine zirai insansız hava aracı olmuştur.

Toprak toplulaştırması, parçalanmış parsellerin bir araya getirilmesidir. Tarım topraklarının toplulaştırılması veya parçalanmanın korunması toprak yönetim araçlarındandır. Toprak toplulaştırmasının olumlu yönleri ile parçalanmanın sorun olmadığı, yararlı da olabildiğini kanıtlayan çalışmalar bulunmaktadır. Ancak mevcut çalışmalar, toplulaştırmada veya parçalılığın sürdürülmesinde yerele özgü koşulların önceden değerlendirilmesi gerektiğini tavsiye etmektedir. Ayrıca toprak yönetimi araçlarından herhangi birine karar verebilmek veya her ikisine de devam edebilmek için sosyal, ekonomik, kültürel, yasal ve çevresel koşullar arasındaki bağlantıların da değerlendirilmesi gerekmektedir. Bu nedenle bu çalışmada, tarım topraklarının parçalanma biçimleri, nedenleri ve parçalanmanın olumlu-olumsuz etkileri literatüre dayalı olarak eleştirel ve nesnel bir şekilde incelenmektedir. Amaç, belirli bir alanda herhangi bir toprak toplulaştırma yaklaşımının benimsenmesiyle ilgili koşulları ve bağlantıları belirlemektir.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of inclusion of an organic acid and surfactant (OS) combination on moisture optimization and energy sparing in the production of pelleted compound feeds for dairy and beef cattle. The trial was carried out in two independent private commercial feed factories (factories A and B) producing cattle feed in pellet form. Each factory produced 21 tons of commercial cattle feed (7 batches; 3 tons per batch); factory A, a dairy feed containing 2620 kcal/kg metabolizable energy (ME) with 18.90% crude protein (CP); and factory B, a fattening feed containing 2550 kcal/kg ME with 13.00% CP. Batches for the treatment groups were prepared by adding 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 kg/ton of OS (Fylax flow) respectively to these basal feeds in the mixer. The moisture retention capacity during pelleting process of all three OS supplemented feeds increased in comparison to the basal feed, whilst moisture content of the finished feeds and energy consumed for production decreased significantly. It was observed that increasing the OS supplementation to 1.5 kg could further increase the moisture retention capacity and moisture content in pellet production compared to the feeds supplemented with 0.5 and 1.0 kg OS, due to the lower power rating of the equipment. It has thus been concluded that adding 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 kg of OS to commercial compound feeds for dairy resulted in a profitable production with good moisture optimization and energy savings during pelleting.

Crop yield is largely influenced by the seedling quality and establishment. Seedling density is an important factor that plays a vital role in producing quality seedlings. Seedling growth characteristics of cabbage cv. kf-65 was evaluated at four inter row and intra row spacing: 0.5cm×1.0cm, 1.0cm×1.0cm, 1.5cm×1.5cm, and 2.0cm×2.0cm in the field of Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Lamjung Campus during September-October, 2018. Seed germination was 96% under a partially controlled germinator in the lab whereas mean germination in the field was found to be 62%. Treatments were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with five replications. Data was collected after 23 days using the destructive sampling method. Plant height, leaf number, leaf area, fresh shoot and root weight and % dry matter was recorded from five samples from each replication of every treatment. Plant population had a significant effect on plant leaf area, fresh shoot and root weight and % dry weight. The 2.0cm×2.0cm spacing had significantly higher leaf area (25.3cm2), fresh shoot (1.33g) and root weight (0.06g). Dry weight % (23%) was significantly higher for 1.5cm×1.5cm spacing. The result indicates that wider spacing (≥ 2cm) was found to be favourable to obtaining robust and quality seedlings.

This study conducted in Gasabo District, Nyacyonga marshland aimed to investigate the effect of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) organic fertilizer on the vegetative growth of the Royal Chantenay variety of carrot (Daucus carota). The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Four treatments were applied: T1 (control, no fertilizer), T2 (NPK 17-17-17), T3 (25% water hyacinth organic fertilizer + 75% NPK 17-17-17), and T4 (50% water hyacinth organic fertilizer + 50% NPK 17-17-17). The growth parameters assessed included plant height, leaf number, and root diameter. Results showed that the application of water hyacinth organic fertilizer significantly influenced the vegetative growth of Royal Chantenay carrot plants. T3 and T4 treatments enhanced plant height, leaf number, and root diameter compared to the control (T1) and NPK 17-17-17 (T2). The highest vegetative growth parameters were observed in T4, indicating that a higher concentration of water hyacinth organic fertilizer positively affected the growth of carrot plants. The findings suggest that water hyacinth organic fertilizer can be a viable alternative to chemical fertilizers in promoting the vegetative growth of Royal Chantenay carrot plants. The utilization of water hyacinth as an organic fertilizer can contribute to sustainable agricultural practices by reducing dependence on synthetic inputs.

The botanical heritage of a region is an important resource for local people, which allows them to treat themselves with plants that have already been experienced from generation to generation for their benefits and effectiveness. The aim of this study was to highlight the different uses of lentisk pistachio products in the region of Jijel (Algeria). Systematic surveys have been carried out among different categories of people, by age group; have shown a growing interest in the use of medicinal plants. Two approaches (observation, and interview) were used to support this study, with an ethnobotanical worksheet, to obtain other recipes and more information on lentisk benefits and uses. The survey data processing showed that the lentisk is used for therapeutic purposes, to treat diseases of the skin (29%) and respiratory system (28%). The main and most used part of the plant is its berries. The plant is harvested in a spontaneous state and the picking of berries is done from November (in winter). Oil extraction is the principal preparation (72%). The use of resinous gum was not mentioned. Ten percent of surveys gave culinary recipes for some traditional meals preferred by Jijelians. The current study highlighted the ancestral practices and uses of the lentisk by Jijelians. It is necessary to develop this niche and promote its value chain in order to consolidate the economy of the local population.