Examining agricultural exports from the specific perspective of the Turkish economy is essential, as it facilitates the development of foreign trade policies, strengthens the agricultural sector, enhances global market competitiveness, and optimizes productivity. This study employs multiple regression analysis to assess the impact of exchange rate volatility and inflation on Türkiye's agricultural exports from 2016 to 2023. The results indicate that these two variables have a moderate effect on the value of Türkiye’s agricultural exports. Additionally, the analysis highlights that exchange rate volatility and inflation rates significantly affect these exports. Particularly, the positive impact of exchange rate volatility on exports suggests that firms may benefit from increasing their export share.

Alpinia officinarum, which attracts attention with its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, is used in traditional medicine, especially to relieve stomach and digestive system disorders. Although many studies have revealed the various pharmacological effects of Alpinia officinarum, the effect of different ionic solvents on its biological activities has yet to be investigated. In this study, the effects of homogenization of Alpinia officinarum roots with potassium chloride (KCl), sodium chloride (NaCl), and phosphate (PBS) buffer solutions on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the plant were investigated. Alpinia officinarum plant was collected from the Adana region during the season, and fresh root parts were separated and analyzed. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), myeloperoxidase (MPO) enzyme activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of plant homogenates prepared with KCl, NaCl, and PBS were determined by spectrophotometric analysis. The highest MPO and CAT enzyme activities were observed in the KCl solution, while lower levels were observed in NaCl and PBS solutions, respectively. The highest MDA level was observed in the PBS solution. Moreover, SOD enzyme activity showed a decreasing trend in NaCl, KCl, and PBS solutions, respectively. These findings suggest that the biological activity of plant extracts may vary depending on the solvent used. Determination of the conditions under which the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Alpinia officinarum in different ionic solvents are the highest supports increasing the bioavailability of the plant.

The basic need of humanity is food. The agricultural sector has had to use new technologies in food production in recent years. The increase in the world population has necessitated the agricultural sector to produce more. Therefore, in recent years, the use of technology in agriculture has increased and new developments have occurred. Especially Industry 4.0 technologies have become preferred by manufacturers with the convenience and added values they provide. In this research, participants’ views on their expectations from technology in agriculture, their views on the use of drones in agriculture, farmers’ views on technology use, and farmers’ views on the agricultural technology context were examined. In the research, information management systems in agriculture and a survey to determine students’ interest in agricultural projects were used as data collection tools. Rapidly developing technology in recent years makes the work of producers easier in the field of agriculture and offers researchers the opportunity to research new topics. Within the scope of this research, it is important to create this research in order to determine the needs and reveal the current situation. According to the research, the participants do not see themselves as having sufficient knowledge about technology in agriculture. The research results show that the participants do not follow the developments in agriculture in the digital environment. It is seen that the participants have partially sufficient knowledge about the use of drones in agriculture, that the use of drones will be beneficial and that the use of drones will replace the use of traditional agricultural tools.

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) cultivation in regions like Ramechhap, Bagmati Province, Nepal faces challenges in improving yield and economic returns due to suboptimal agronomic practices. To address this issue, a field experiment was conducted to assess the effects of pinching and micronutrient sprays (zinc and boron) on growth, yield, and economic returns of okra. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of pinching and zinc-boron foliar application on key growth parameters, including the number of leaves, fruit length, number of fruits per plant, and total yield. Pinching significantly increased the number of leaves and fruits per plant, as well as the total yield. The application of 0.25% Zn + 0.25% B resulted in the highest fruit length, fruit weight, and total yield. The combined treatment of pinching and Zn-B spray (P1M3) recorded the highest fruit length (11.13 cm), number of fruits per plant (21.91), and yield (17.68 t ha-1). Economic analysis revealed that this combination resulted in the highest net return (NRs. 774,869.35 ha-1) and the highest benefit-cost ratio (B:C = 1.95), indicating that it could significantly improve farm income for smallholder farmers in the region. These results demonstrate the potential of integrated agronomic practices, including pinching and micronutrient application, to enhance both productivity and profitability in okra cultivation.

While the size of the preovulatory follicle is a crucial marker of reproductive potential in mares, its connection to reproductive parameters, especially in Arabian mares, remains uncertain. This study examined the association between preovulatory follicle size and various reproductive parameters in 301 Arabian mares, monitored ultrasonographically over four years and 563 estrous cycles. The mares were categorized into four age groups: 3–8, 9–13, 14–17, and 18 years and older. The preovulatory follicle diameter across consecutive cycles and the size of follicles leading to pregnancy post-ovulation were analyzed in relation to the ovulation side, age, parity, ovulatory cycle, and parous state. The mean preovulatory follicle size was 46.3±4.34 mm (range: 39–60 mm), with no significant difference between the pregnancy and non-pregnancy cycles (p=0.490). Parity was not correlated with overall follicle size (r=-0.013, p=0.757) or follicle size during the pregnancy cycles (r=-0.060, p=0.303). However, preovulatory follicle diameter varied significantly across ovulatory cycles (p=0.040), with the second cycle having the smallest mean follicle size (45.45±0.35 mm) compared to the first (46.5±0.23 mm) and third (46.95±0.53 mm) cycles. Additionally, parous mares had significantly larger follicles (46.40±0.19 mm) than maiden mares (45.25±0.57 mm, p=0.050), while age group (p=0.796) and ovulation side (p=0.558) had no significant effect on follicle size. Follicle size remained consistent between pregnancy and non-pregnancy cycles across different age groups, consecutive cycles, parity states, and ovulation sides. These findings suggest that although follicle size varies across ovulatory cycles and parous states, it does not significantly affect pregnancy outcomes in Arabian mares. This insight could help refine breeding strategies by emphasizing the role of factors other than follicle size in optimizing reproductive success.

The effect of treatment of the Californian earthworm Eisenia fetida with preparations containing silver (Ag; in the form of either nanoparticles (AgNPs) or cations (AgNO3 solution)) and gold (Au; in the form of nanoparticles (AuNPs)) on its vitality was studied in a laboratory experiment for 12, 48, and 158 h. After the observations were completed, the total elemen content was analysed after exposure to individual preparations applied to the soil. Earthworms and the soil in which they were grown were analysed. Measurements were performed using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique, with prior mineralisation of earthworms and soil samples. The results of quantitative studies showed a several-fold increase in Ag content in earthworms exposed to preparations containing Ag compared to the control group. Significantly higher contents of K, Na, P, Mg, and Si were also found in earthworms exposed to Ag and Au compared to the control group. Despite exposure to AuNPs, no increase in the concentration of this element was observed in the earthworms. The analysis also included other elements: Li, Al, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Ag, Cd, Ba, Au, Hg, Tl, and Pb. The initial analysis did not show any significant differences in the concentrations of these elements in earthworms exposed to individual preparations compared to the control. The high level of elements classified as toxic to earthworms, including As, Cd, and Pb, is noteworthy, but the concentrations of these elements were not dependent on the use of any of the preparations. Based on a visual inspection of live individuals, we could not confirm the reduced vitality of earthworms exposed to individual preparations compared to the control. In contrast, individual populations retained full vitality after exposure and reproduced.

Plantation forestry primarily aims to enhance the production of high-quality timber. This research focuses on evaluating the effect of various climatic factors (such as relative humidity, annual precipitation, average, minimum and maximum temperatures) on the growth parameters (including tree height, breast height diameter and base diameter) of Taurus cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) and Anatolian black pine (Pinus nigra Arn. subsp. pallasiana (L.) Holmboe). This study was conducted in two adjacent plantations established in 1995, with data collected over a three-year period (2022-2024). To assess growth patterns, 30 trees from each plantation were randomly selected and monitored. Climatic data were sourced from Türkiye’s general directorate of meteorology and climatology. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that growth and climate parameters were statistically similar (p>0.05) for both species, except for tree height, which showed significant differences in Taurus cedar. The Spearman rank correlation analysis identified a strong and statistically significant relationship (p<0.05) between temperature variables (minimum, maximum, and average) and the growth traits of both tree species. On the other hand, relative humidity and annual precipitation showed no significant correlations (p>0.05). The findings underscore the critical role of temperature in influencing tree growth within plantation forestry, offering valuable insights for sustainable forest management practices.

While nanotechnology is widely applied in diverse fields like agriculture, biochemistry, and medicine, it remains a rapidly advancing discipline that introduces more complex applications in food systems compared to traditional technologies. The rapid advancement of nanotechnology has brought significant changes to multiple aspects of food science, including processing, packaging, storage, transportation, functionality, and safety. Various nanostructured materials, ranging from inorganic metals, metal oxides, and their composites to bioactive agents incorporated into organic nanoparticles, have been employed within the food industry. Regardless of the substantial advantages of nanotechnology, there are growing concerns about its use, mainly related to the potential accumulation of nanostructured materials in the human body and the environment, leading to various health and safety risks. Therefore, it is crucial to consider safety and health concerns and adhere to regulatory policies while manufacturing, processing, intelligent packaging, and consuming nano-enhanced food products. This review aims to provide a fundamental understanding of nanotechnology applications in food packaging and processing industries while identifying prospects and potential risks associated with nanostructured materials. Additionally, it delves into the health, risk, and hazard aspects of nanoparticles in food and their role in food safety assessments, highlighting specific areas of concern.

Seralar, üretim sezonunda birden fazla ürün elde edilmesi ve üretim sürecinin kontrol altında gerçekleştirilerek verim kayıplarının azaltılması açısından gıda arzına önemli katkı sağlayan tarım sistemleridir. Seralarda birim alandan daha yüksek verim almak için özellikleri ve yapıları itibariyle amaca uygun planlanmalıdır. Tarım işletmelerinde seraların planlanmasında en önemli ölçüt yatırım maliyetidir. Bu doğrultuda çalışma kapsamında tiplerine ve teknolojik özelliklerine göre seraların yatırım analizleri, üretilen ürünlerin verimlilikleri ve işletmelerin karlılıkları karşılaştırılmıştır. Çalışmada, Mersin ilinde sebze üretimi yapan 99 adet plastik, 86 adet cam ve 5 adet topraksız sera işletmelerinde anket yapılmıştır. Anket yoluyla elde edilen verilerde; net kar domates üretilen plastik sera işletmelerinde 9.814,15 TL/da, topraksız sera işletmelerinde 109.532,91 TL/da, biber üretilen plastik sera işletmelerinde 5.522,14 TL/da, hıyar üretilen cam sera işletmelerinde 10.460,53 TL/ da belirlenmiştir. Sera tiplerine göre 3,93 yıl ile topraksız sera işletmelerinde yatırımın geri ödeme süresinin daha kısa olduğu ve 6,68 yıl ile plastik serada domates yetiştiriciliğinin takip ettiği tespit edilmiştir. Dolayısıyla net bugünkü değer domates yetiştiriciliği yapılan plastik ve topraksız seralarda pozitif olup bu yatırımların kârlı olduğunu göstermektedir. Benzer şekilde fayda masraf oranı topraksız domates seralarında 2,05 ve plastik domates seralarında 1,13 hesaplanmıştır. Bu nedenle söz konusu iki sera tipinde ve ürünlerinde projenin geliri yatırımından daha fazla olduğu için karlılık yüksektir.

Population growth and the rise in the level of welfare across the world cause an increase in the demand for water, energy and food, while water supply in sufficient quantity and quality is gradually decreasing in parallel. In addition, events such as droughts and floods caused by climate change have negative impacts on ecosystems. In line with the increasing water demand, it is becoming increasingly important to develop sustainable development of water resources, to provide water in the required quantity and quality at the desired place and time, to develop solutions for the effective management of inter-sectoral allocation and to control losses and leakages. Worldwide, the distribution of groundwater and surface water resources by sectors varies between continents over the years and depending on the development of the sectors. When the water consumption rates of domestic (drinking and using), industrial and agricultural sectors, which are the largest users of water resources, are analysed, it is seen that agricultural use is 69%, industrial use is 19% and domestic use is 12% on a global scale. In Turkey, approximately 75% of total water resources are used for agricultural irrigation, while this rate is 33% in Europe. However, the rate of agricultural water use in Southern European countries can reach up to 75%. As is evident, the agricultural sector accounts for the most intensive use of water resources. Agriculture has the most important share in the sustainability of water resources due to its high utilization rate. For this reason, agricultural water use constitutes the main point of ensuring the sustainability of water resources and the most effective use of existing resources. In this study, the basic elements of sustainable urban water management are discussed and a framework for assessing the current water use of Izmir province with a water footprint approach is presented as an example. In addition, a flow chart has been prepared as a basis for the creation of a water footprint map. Such assessments will provide important contributions in terms of ensuring ecosystem sustainability, increasing water efficiency in cities and reducing risks associated with water resources, including food security, and supporting sustainable development.