Land use could impact soil properties and processes in varying degrees. Therefore, the impact of different land use systems on soil water status and its relationship with some physiochemical properties was studied at the Teaching and Research Farm, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria. The land use types included native forest (NF); Paddock (P); Oil palm plantation (OP); Teak (TK); new yam plot (NY) and yam plot under fallow (YF). Structure and disturbed surface soils (0 - 15 cm) samples were taken at three (3) locations in each land use type. Soil water content (SWC) significantly varied among the different land use types, with oil palm plantation storing the highest amount of water. The results also showed significant differences in soil bulk density, organic carbon, porosity, texture and hydraulic conductivity among the land use types. SWC associated positively and significantly with organic matter, silt content and silt + clay. The association between SWC and pH and silt/clay were positive but weak while particle density, bulk density and sand content showed negative and significant association. The principal component regression (PCR) showed a highly significant, positive relationship between SWC and the principal components of other physicochemical properties. Cluster analysis showed that SWC is highly related and linked to OM, Bd, Pd, Pt and silt/clay. The results implied that conversion to paddock and continuous cultivation led to depletion in soil water, physical and chemical properties, whereas cultivation of tree crops conserved these soil properties better. Therefore, establishment of tree crop and conservative soil management practices are suggested to prevent agricultural lands from degradation in areas with soils under similar conditions.

In this study, powder was obtained from yellow and purple-fleshed potatoes by microwave and hot air drying and the effects of drying methods on the total phenolic compounds, total monomeric anthocyanin, color, antioxidant activity, starch ratio and vitamin C on were determined. It was observed that the microwave drying process caused an increase in bioactive components in purple-colored powder samples, and no significant differences were determined in terms of drying methods in bioactive components in yellow-colored powder samples. When the starch ratio of the samples was examined, it was determined that hot air drying caused a significant increase. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were used as multivariate analysis to reveal the effects of different drying techniques and potato varieties on the physicochemical properties of potato powders. As a result, it was found that the physicochemical properties of potato powders differentiated depending on the methods and varieties.

Drying characteristics of Lemon grass leaves using an oven dryer was studied at four different temperatures (40, 50, 60 and 70°C). The effect of the drying temperatures on moisture content of the leaves was investigated. Thirteen drying models were fitted to the drying data to establish the model that best describes the drying characteristics of Lemon grass leaves. The best model was determined by the model with the lowest value of SSE and root mean square error (RMSE), and the highest value of coefficient of determination (R2). Hii et al. model satisfied the conditions for selecting the most suitable and reliable model with R2, SSE and RMSE values of the model was 0.9964, 0.0250 and 0.0214 respectively. This model is most suitable at 40°C. The effective diffusivity (Deff) values ranged from 8.92452 × 10-12 m2/s to 16.00657 × 10-12 m2/s and increases as temperature increases. It was further observed that the amount of energy required to eliminate moisture within the leaves was in the range of 19.85 kJ/mol - 19.86949 kJ/mol. Dried lemongrass leaves can be used in food preservation as an alternative to synthetic substances that have recently become less acceptable to consumers. Consumers accept natural food products that are universally acknowledged as safe, such as lemon grass with essential oils, and they also fit the standards for green processing.

The increase in salinization in agricultural lands adversely affects crop production. In particular, yield and quality losses occur in many vegetables such as lettuce, which are grown and consumed in every season. Realizing these losses in crop production, more careful fertilization and agricultural practices should be done. Yedikule lettuce seeds were used in the study to draw attention to these negative aspects. The study, which was carried out for two years, was designed with 0, 50, 100 and 150 mmol doses of salt according to a randomized parcel design with three replications and four pots in each replicate. Each 2-liter pot was filled with a 2:1 ratio of peat: perlite mixture and the study was carried out with 2 lettuces in each pot. As a result of the study, when the plant weight data of the first year and the second year are examined, it is seen that the weight loss of lettuce plants and damage to the plants increase when the salt doses increase. It was observed that the highest plant weight loss occurred at 150 mmol salt dose. Membrane damage index in lettuce leaves was observed to increase as the salt dose increased. It was observed that the leaf water rate decreased with increasing salt doses. Membrane damage index and leaf water content of lettuce plants were more negatively affected at 150 mmol of salt in both years. Potassium, calcium and magnesium contents in lettuce leaves were statistically decreased due to increasing salt doses in both years, while sodium content increased with increasing salt doses and the highest sodium content was observed at 150 mmol dose in both years. As seen in these results, increasing salt doses reduce the nutrient content and plant weight in lettuce plants and cause physiological damage to the plant, resulting in yield and quality loss.

Sheep farming is an important segment of the livestock sector in Turkey. However, low meat, milk, leather and wool production due to various parasitic diseases has adversely affected this sector. This study was carried out by using stool and tissue samples collected from 300 sheep registered with the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry in Iğdır, Turkey. Stool samples were collected using native, flotation and sedimentation methods to diagnose common parasites. In addition, parasitic diagnoses were strengthened with the migration paths of parasites and the presence of cysts as a result of macroscopic examination of the liver and lungs of sheep slaughtered in the slaughterhouse. From the data obtained, the prevalence and material damage and loss of workforce of parasites were determined using appropriate statistical programs. Fascioliasis 16.7%, Nematodirosis 20% Echinococcosis 29% Dicrocoeliasis 32% varied. It was concluded that the parasite population is high in sheep in Iğdır province, Turkey. Accordingly, attention was drawn to the issue of necessary protection and controls.

This study aims to determine the characteristics of young farmers and their businesses that benefit from and cannot benefit from young farmer support in the Mediterranean Region and determine the factors that affect the benefit of young farmer project support. In 2016, a survey was conducted with all 160 producers who benefited from young farmer support, and a survey was conducted with 56 producers who applied for young farmer project support but could not benefit from it to make comparisons between groups. The tendency of farmers to benefit from the young farmer support project was determined using artificial neural networks and logistic regression analysis. It was determined that the majority of the producers who received support only made animal production and mixed production (livetock production and vegetable production), while the majority of the producers who did not receive support made only plant production. With both analysis methods, it was determined that the most critical variables that affect the benefit of young farmer project support are the type of activity, the share of non-agricultural income in total income, the number of farmers in the family, the education period, the status of having non-agricultural income and family size. The total correct classification rate was found to be 87.04% in the logistic regression analysis and 91.20% in the artificial neural network analysis, and it was seen that the classification percentages obtained by both methods were quite close to each other.

Thyme is one of the spices that is widely consumed in the regions where it grows and is used in many dishes, especially soups, and gives a regional identity to the dish where it is used. In this study, the amount of phytochemicals and antioxidant capacity of the plant Satureja hortensis L. (süpürge kekiği, çibriska) which grows spontaneously and is used as a spice in meals in the Karakoçlar settlement area of Olur district of Erzurum province was investigated. The total amounts of phenolic and flavonoid substances were determined to be 40.85±0.85 mg GAE/g and 26.52±0.46 mg QE/g, respectively. In addition, the DPPH radical scavenging activity of the plant extract was calculated as 45.24 ±3.47 μg TE/mL and the IC50 value was calculated as 177.11±0.99 μg/mL. It was determined that the Cu2+ reducing antioxidant capacity of the S. hortensis plant extract was 2162.09±113.61 μg TE/mL and the Fe3+ reducing antioxidant capacity was 24.36±4.59 μg TE/mL. As a result, it was concluded that the S. hortensis plant, which is known with different names in different regions, has antioxidant potential and can be used as a natural antioxidant source in addition to its common use.

Propionic acid bacteria (PAB) are extremely important because of the metabolites they produce (vitamins, propionic acid, conjugated linoleic acid, and bioactive peptides). Nowadays, the increasing interest in healthy nutrition has led to the formation of the concepts of probiotics, postbiotics and functionality with studies. Vitamin B12 is one of the postbiotics produced by PAB and is known to be beneficial for human health. Due to its coenzyme feature, it plays a key role in the body process, as well as shows anti-inflammatory properties. The recommended dietary intake of vitamin B12 for adults is 4 μg/day. Although it is highly found in meat products, it is known that the bioavailability of B12 in dairy products is higher. Fermented dairy products, especially products that contain PAB in their natural microflora, are good tools for the production and intake of vitamin B12. In this study, the factors affecting the microbial production of vitamin B12 were examined.

In this study, it was aimed to determine the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizer applications at different rates on the yield and development of maize plant. The research was carried out in three replications in greenhouse conditions, according to the randomized plot design, in plastic pots with a capacity of three kg. Applications in research; control, conventional fertilization, gypsum (1% and 2% w/w), anhydrite (1% and 2% w/w), calcite (1% and 2% w/w), perlite (1% and 2% w/w), vermicompost (5% and 10% w/w) and animal manure (5% and 10% w/w). Maize was used as the test plant. Maize plant was harvested approximately 60 days after planting and analysis of dry matter production and nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese and copper were made. According to the results of the research, the highest dry matter production was determined at 15.4 g pot-1 and 10% of the vermicompost application. This application was followed by conventional fertilizer application (13.64 g pot-1). In addition, vermicompost application in general had higher values in macro and micro element concentrations of maize plant.

In this research, fresh green peppers were dried in a kitchen microwave oven at 600W, 700W and 800W. The drying curves of the study were compared with 5 different thin layer drying models in the literature. The changes in the moisture values of the samples against time were expressed graphically. R2, χ2 and RMSE values were used to determine the most suitable model for dried green peppers. Color values of fresh and dried peppers were determined. It was found that the L* and b* values of the dried peppers were lower, and the a* value was higher than the fresh green peppers. In addition, the rehydration rate of dried peppers was calculated. It was determined that the rehydration ability of the peppers decreased as the applied microwave power increased. For this reason, it was found that the peppers with the highest rehydration rate were those dried with 600W. Also, it was found that the most suitable model for all microwave powers among the five drying models was the Logarithmic drying model. It was calculated that the R2 values of the drying models ranged between 0.830-0.999, χ2 values between 0.0001- 0.4684 and RMSE values between 0.0014-0.6121. It was determined that the highest R2 (0.997-0.999), the lowest χ2 (0.0001-0.0002) values, and the lowest RMSE (0.0014-0.0035) values for all microwave powers belong to the Logarithmic drying model.