This study was conducted with the aim of determining the influence of tillage techniques on depth, furrow slice and water retention in Maugo Smallholder Rice Scheme in Kenya. Treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design with four replicates. Four tillage treatments were used. The first one was conventional ox plough practiced by farmers where they first flood the field with water before ploughing. The other three treatments were ox plough, hand hoe and tractor ploughing all with no flooding before ploughing. Data collected included depth of ploughing and harrowing during land preparation. Furrow slices during ploughing and harrowing as well as water retention were recorded. Tractor ploughing had the highest mean depth of ploughing of 42.00 ± 0.81 cm followed by conventional ox ploughing with 17.75 ± 0.75 cm, ox ploughing15.75 ± 0.62 cm and hand hoe ploughing had the lowest mean depth 15.50 ± 0.28 cm. Tractor ploughing had the largest mean furrow size of 62.00 ± 0.91cm followed by conventional ox ploughing 32.25 ± 0.85 cm, ox ploughing 30.25 ± 0.85 cm while hand hoe ploughing had the smallest mean furrow slice of 16.5 ± 0.50 cm. Highest mean of retained water was recorded in week 4 in paddy rice fields prepared using conventional ox ploughing (10.5 cm), ox ploughing (10 cm), hand hoe ploughing (11.5 cm) and tractor ploughing (11.5 cm) while the lowest was recorded in week 15 for conventional plots. There were significant differences in mean depths during both ploughing and harrowing. Tractor ploughing mean depths were significantly different from the other treatments. The weekly mean water depths retained in the plots were more than 6 cm for the entire growing period of rice.

In this study, it was aimed to report some traits of Gökçeada goats, which raised under the natural conditions of Gökçeada, with respect to their protection within the scope of genetic resources. In this respect the information obtained from the goats supplied from the Island and reared in a semi-intensive system at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University and also the information obtained from the literature were collected and the biological and zootechnical identifications of the Gökçeada goat were performed. Gökçeada goats, which are predominantly black, have yellow or red blazes on both sides of their heads including their eyes. It was seen that Gökçeada goats had similar body measurements and lower live weights as compared to those of the same species on the mainland. The birth weight and the mature live weight of Gökçeada goats were found as 2.55 kg and 38 kg, respectively, whereas their mean kid yield per goat at birth was determined as 1.6 to 1.8 kids. Individuals with a milk yield of 591 kg were striking in the Gökçeada genotype, in which the mean lactation length and the mean lactation milk yield were determined as 251 to 259 days and 227 to 245 kg, respectively. Its milk fat (4.92-5.75%) and milk protein (3.29%) resembled those of our other native breeds. It is necessary to reveal, with more elaborate studies, the potential for Gökçeada goat cheese that is greatly demanded on the Island. It was determined that the Gökçeada kids, which were considered as dairy kids, had some small but nonfat carcass and that their meat was soft and of a light color and had a slight smell. One should be careful about the adaptation of the Gökçeada genotype, which successfully maintains itself under the island conditions and which is the source of income for producers, to intensive and extensive goat production systems.

The objective of this study was to provide the basic data related to the tractor such as power ratios and annual use along with the production pattern, type of farms, farm size and their fragmentation, soil properties. In order to meet the above objective a survey study was conducted in 2013 in four provinces of the Aegean region namely Aydın, Denizli, İzmir and Manisa.Using a GPS device, the coordinates of the location of the agricultural lands were also found in order to analyze the data for further evaluation and GeoMedia Professional 6.0 CBS software. The results from the study indicated that the annual use of tractors is about 650 hours and the surveyed land is a typical example and resembles the whole country in terms of average land size and fragmented land structure. The total land owned by 305 farmers was calculated to be 4023.1 ha and each farmer has 7.47 ha land. On the other hand, the average parcel size was found to be 0.86 ha. The distance between the parcels ranged between 0.5-10 km mostly while %12 of the lands was out of this range.

In this study, the dynamism of forest areas was tried to be determined by determining the ecological differences between the areas where Fagus orientalis Lipsky. (Eastern beech, Fagaceae), a very important species for forestry in Turkey, and the soils of agricultural fields. lime %, total salt %, pH, texture, field capacity %, C%, N%, C/N ratios, 30-day carbon mineralization of the lands of Eastern beech forests and agricultural fields, which are naturally formed in Sivas province Koyulhisar district, under controlled conditions (28°C, 80 humidity %) was determined by the respiration method, and two areas in two different ecosystems were compared. When the carbon mineralizations of eastern beech soils were examined seasonally, it was determined as 19.54>18.23>17.87>17.18 mg C(CO2)/100g DS/30 day in spring>autumn>summer>winter seasons, while it was determined as 14.46>13.87>13.68>13.65 mg C(CO2)/100g DS/30 day in autumn>summer>spring>winter seasons in agricultural soils, respectively. Significant relationships were found between the C%, N%, 30-day carbon mineralization cumulative values and % carbon mineralization rates between both areas.

Türkiye’nin mevcut doğal çayır-mera alanları ile yem bitkileri ekim alanlarından üretilen toplam kaba yem 73,7 milyon büyük ve küçükbaş hayvan varlığının kaba yem gereksinimini karşılayamamaktadır. Türkiye’de 14,6 milyon hektar doğal çayır-mera alanı bulunmaktadır. Bu alanın büyük çoğunluğunun ot verimi ve kalitesinin artırılması ve sürdürülebilirliğinin sağlanması için ıslahı gereklidir. Bu alanların ıslahı için toplamda 45,6 milyar TL bütçeye ve yıllık bakım için ortalama 4 milyar TL’ye ihtiyaç olduğu hesaplanmıştır. 4342 sayılı Mera Kanunu ile birlikte başlatılan Mera Islah ve Amenajman Projeleri ile bugüne kadar ıslah edilen mera alanları oldukça yetersizdir. Ayrıca, ıslah edilen mera alanlarının otlatılmasında mera idaresinin teknik kurallarına uyulmamasından dolayı yapılan ıslah işlemi sürdürülebilir olmamaktadır. Mevcut bütçe kaynaklarının yeterli olmaması ve devlet imkânları ile mera ıslahının uzun yıllar sürecek olması nedeniyle sürdürülebilir mera ıslahında yeni bir bakış açısına, politika değişikliğine ihtiyaç vardır. Bu çalışmada Türkiye meralarının etkin ıslahı ve sürdürülebilir kullanımı için bazı ıslah ve kullanım modelleri tartışılmıştır. Yapılan öneri ile kıraç meralardan 1000 dekardan taban meralarda 500 dekardan daha büyük orta malı meraların özel sektöre kiralanarak “ıslah et-işlet” sistemiyle ıslah edilmesi ve özel sektör tarafından ıslah edilen alanın ¾’ünün ıslah eden özel sektör, ¼’ünün ise meranın tahsisli bulunduğu köydeki hayvan sahipleri tarafından kullanımın sağlanması önerilmiştir. Kıraçta 1000 dekar, tabanda 500 dekardan küçük alana sahip mera alanlarının ise tahsisli bulundukları yerleşim yerindeki Mera Yönetim Birliklerine kiralanarak ıslahı ve sürdürülebilir kullanımının sağlanması önerilmiştir. Mera Yönetim Birliklerinin ıslah amaçlı kiralamaya istekli olmadığı durumlarda mera alanının büyüklüğüne bakılmaksızın meranın özel sektöre kiralanması önerilmiştir.

Minerals have crucial roles in terms of vital function in the organism including hormones, enzymes, cell formation etc. Oxidative stress and related hormones, regarding infectious diseases, affect all functions of body including mineral taking, metabolism and excretion. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the pox disease on blood minerals composition of sheep and lambs. This study was conducted on 20 healthy sheep, 20 poxvirus infected sheep and their lambs (Totally 80 subjects). One-shot blood samples from sheep and lambs were collected and serums were separated immediately. Serum mineral levels were analysed in the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. In general, the level of Cu in infected animals was higher than in healthy ones. Zn, Fe, Mg and Na levels of healthy animals were found higher than infected subjects. The difference between healthy and infected animal groups for serum Ca and K levels was not significant. Positive correlations were found between serum Zn, Fe, Mg and Na levels. However, a negative correlation was found between Cu-Zn and Cu-Fe pairs. Consequently, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mg and Na levels in serum, which are vital for animal organisms, showed significant changes in sheep and their lambs during poxvirus infection. To rapid healing or prevention of the diseases, mineral disorders must be corrected urgently.

The interactions between plant, soil, and mycorrhizal fungi are ecologically and agriculturally beneficial systems. Mycorrhizal fungi are capable of forming a symbiosis with the roots of many plants in nature. In this symbiosis, the plant receives help from the mycorrhizal fungus in nutrient and water uptake. On the other hand, the mycorrhizal fungi supply the assimilant products they need from the plant. In addition to the many benefits of AMF, they have very important roles in carbon (C) storage in the soil. These roles of AMF are associated with the production of a substance named “Glomalin”. Glomalin, an N-linked glycoprotein that is considered to be AMF gene products, is defined as a protein secreted by AMF hyphae and spores. Glomalin significantly reduces the degradation of soil organic matter by preserving unstable compounds in soil aggregates. Glomalin, which helps soil aggregation, is also an excellent hyphae protector.

Uncertain heat shock by a rapid increase in temperature particularly at the critical growth stage affects plant productivity. The study aimed to assess qualitative changes in wheat grains when plant exposed to high temperature shock (HTS) at starting anthesis for limited durations (48, 72 and 96h). Selected wheat cultivars (Pirsabak-2005, Pakhtunkhwa-2015, Pakistan-2013, DN-84, P-2, P-12 and P-18) were exposed to extending HTS effective from anthesis in the field covering plants within plastic tents for a limited duration. The experiment was conducted in 2017-18 and 2018-19 at the Research Farm, the University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan in a randomized complete block design, in three replications. Temperatures inside and outside plastic tents were manually noted. Two years mean data showed significant effects of HTS on the wheat grain quality. Imposed HTS for 48, 72 and 96h resulted in a reduction on grain amylose by 23, 39 and 48% and wet gluten by 16, 25 and 36%, respectively when compared with the control (i.e. no HTS). Contrary to this, as compared to the control treatment an increase noted in the grain amylopectin by 7, 11 & 17% and in the grain N-content by 13, 28 & 41% with imposing HTS extending to a duration of 48, 72 and 96h, respectively. The study concluded adverse effects of HTS at the anthesis stage on wheat grain quality disturbing amylose and amylopectin ratios, which latter on brought changes in floor structure and gluten elasticity. However, cultivar did differ to respond to the changes but have the option to choose the best one.

Food additives are used to protect food, increase quality and extend shelf life in many stages, from production to consumption of food. Colorants added by food producers to color food or to adjust the color to desired level are among the commonly used food additives. Considering today's developing production technologies, foods fade or discolor at various stages of processing, storage, and sale due to physical and chemical conditions such as heat, light, pH and oxygen. Colorants are used to regain these color losses, to enhance weak colors, to give color to the food that is actually colorless, and to win back the favour of customers by hiding low quality. Therefore, the most used food colorants in Canada, China, European Union, Mexico and United States of America were presented. The chemical name, chemical structure, common uses, acceptable daily intake (ADI), and toxicity literature of six most used artificial food colors were reviewed.

Vermicompost fertilizers have started to attract attention in agriculture last years. Various liquid vermicompost fertilizers are produced and used in agriculture and some of them known as vermiliquer, vermi leachate, vermi tea or vermicast with little differences. This study is aimed to determine the effects of foliar application of liquid vermicompost fertilizer on yield and some yield components on some Turkey triticale varieties under Central Anatolian conditions in Kırıkkale province during the growing period 2014-15 and 2015-16. Six different (control, 75, 150, 250, 350 and 450 cc da-1) liquid vermicompost fertilizer doses were applied by the foliar spraying method at the beginning and end of March in both years to the five Turkey triticale varieties (Alperbey, Mikham 2002, Tatlıcak 97, Karma 2000 and Ümranhanım). According to the results, plant height, grain number and grain yield in spike, grain yield per decare, harvest index and protein content results were found to be significant in fertilizer × variety × year interaction. There is also a statistically significant difference between thousand-grain weight and the variety x fertilizer doses interaction, and between varieties and fertilizer doses in terms of spike length. The positive effects of liquid vermicompost fertilizer doses, except 450 cc da-1, were determined in varieties. It was observed that a satisfactory yield can be obtained from 250 cc da-1 in the absence of nitrogen fertilizers as the top fertilizer. It could be deduced that 250-350 cc da-1 doses of vermicompost fertilizer can be applied in triticale based on varying ecological conditions and varieties in Central Anatolian ecological conditions.