The present study aims to evaluate the energy production potential from walnut (Juglans regia L.) residues, specifically pruning waste and shell biomass, in Kırşehir province, Türkiye. Data collected between 2019 and 2023 were analyzed to quantify the biomass availability and its corresponding energy potential across various districts in the region. The findings reveal that total biomass production from pruning residues increased from 1220.36 t in 2019 to 1322.69 t in 2023, resulting in an energy potential growth from 19,904.02 GJ to 21,573.11 GJ. A similar trend was observed in shell biomass, which rose from 483.11 t to 523.62 t, resulting in an energy potential increase from 9164.60 GJ to 9933.12 GJ. The Kaman district consistently dominated, accounting for over 55% of the total energy potential, while Boztepe and Çiçekdağı exhibited the lowest contributions. The total energy production potential from walnut residues in 2023 was estimated at 31,506.22 GJ (31.51 TJ), corresponding to an annual electricity generation capacity of approximately 8751.74 MWh. The study emphasizes the higher energy potential of pruning residues compared to shell biomass and highlights regional disparities in biomass availability, underscoring the need for targeted strategies to optimize resource utilization. The findings indicate that the utilization of walnut residues for bioenergy purposes has the potential to substantially mitigate fossil fuel dependency and to promote sustainable energy development in the region.

Nüfus artışı, hızlı ve plansız kentleşme ile birlikte kent içerisindeki yeşil alanlar başta olmak üzere diğer tüm doğal alanlar yapılaşma nedeniyle niteliğini kaybetmiş veya azalmıştır. Kentte yaşayan insanlar için bu alanların azalması ve niteliğinin ortadan kalkması rekreatif ihtiyaçların karşılanamamasına neden olmuştur. Bu durum kent içinde veya yakın alanlarındaki tabiat parklarının, mesire alanlarının ve ormanlık alanlarının daha kıymetli hale gelmesine imkan tanımıştır. Bu çalışmanın amacını, Adıyaman ili, Gölbaşı ilçesi sınırları içinde kalan Gölbaşı Gölleri Tabiat Parkı’nın Gülez yöntemine göre rekreasyonel potansiyelinin belirlenmesi oluşturmaktadır. Gülez yönteminde, rekreasyonel alanın peyzaj değeri, iklim değeri, ulaşılabilirlik durumu, rekreatif kolaylık ve olumsuz etkenlerin puanlandırılmasıyla rekreasyon potansiyeli hesaplanmaktadır. Bu hesaplamaya göre, Gölbaşı Gölleri Tabiat Parkı’nın rekreasyonel potansiyeli toplamda “67” puan alarak “yüksek” kategoride değerlendirilmiştir. Gölbaşı Gölleri Tabiat Parkı’nda gerçekleştirilen arazi çalışmaları sonucunda, yöntemde belirtilen bazı ögelerinin nitelik olarak eksik olduğu ve olumsuz etken ögelerinin oldukça fazla olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Gölbaşı Gölleri Tabiat Parkı’nın rekreasyonel faaliyet potansiyeli tespit edilenden daha fazladır. Sahadaki olumsuz etkenlerin azaltılmasıyla alanın rekreasyonel faaliyet potansiyelinin “19” puan daha artırılabileceği, bu sayede Gölbaşı Gölleri Tabiat Parkı’nın toplam puanın “86” olarak potansiyelinin “çok yüksek” sınıfına ulaşabileceği öngörülmektedir.

In this study, the effects of pre-slaughter fasting periods (8, 12, and 16 h) on stress levels, body weight loss, slaughter, carcass, and meat quality characteristics were investigated in broiler chickens with different growth rates (medium and fast-growing). In the experiment, 15 male and 15 female broilers each from the ANADOLU-T A1 (medium growing) dam line and ROSS-308 hybrid (fast growing) at 42 days of age were used. Body weight losses did not differ significantly among fasting periods, but medium-growing broilers exhibited higher body weight losses across all fasting groups (P<0.05). The carcass yield was higher in fast-growing broilers (P<0.05), while abdominal fat ratios were higher in medium-growing broilers (P<0.05). The amount of residual feed in the gizzard, digestive system, and gizzard ratios decreased with increasing fasting duration (P<0.05). Digestive system ratios also differed between genotypes (P<0.05). An increase in breast ratio was observed with longer fasting periods (P<0.05). On the other hand, the fast-growing genotype had higher breast ratios, lower wing ratios, lower back ratios, and lower neck ratios (P<0.05). Fasting periods did not significantly affect the L*, a*, and b* color values of breast and thigh meat, but differences between genotypes were significant, with higher values observed in the fast-growing genotype (P<0.05). Breast pH values did not differ among fasting periods but were higher in the fast-growing genotype (P<0.05). Thigh pH values, however, varied significantly between fasting periods and genotypes (P<0.05). The medium-growing genotype had higher thigh pH values, and thigh pH increased with longer fasting periods (P<0.05). White striping and woody breast scores in breast muscles were higher in the fast-growing genotype, with partial increases observed as fasting duration increased. In conclusion, the results indicate that a 12-h pre-slaughter fasting period is sufficient for digestive tract clearance and carcass quality. However, meat quality defects in fast-growing genotypes should be monitored.

Urban and peri-urban agriculture is vital for enhancing food security in rapidly growing cities by bridging the food production gap between urban and rural areas. This study employed a snowball sampling technique to gather data from urban farmers in Mogadishu to assess the constraints and opportunities for growing horticultural crops in the city. Utilizing this sampling method, the research identifies key challenges and motivating factors for urban horticulture. Findings indicate that temperature, wind, pest and disease outbreaks, and limited irrigation water significantly restrict production. Farmers using greenhouses experience fewer obstacles due to enhanced protection from environmental factors, improving crop quality. In contrast, those farming in open fields struggle with high irrigation demands, pest infestations, and low-quality yields unattractive to buyers. Leaf miner (Tuta absoluta) and whiteflies are the most prevalent insect populations, sometimes requiring the removal of infested plants to control their spread. The study also observed that urban farmers use two conventional protected farming types, plastic greenhouses and net houses with steel frames, in which plastic greenhouses face issues such as inadequate gutter height and poor ventilation. To combat extreme temperatures, farmers employ primitive methods such as fogging, applying lime solutions, and adjusting greenhouse openings. Additionally, factors like increased market availability, the rise of supermarkets and hotels, rural displacement, diaspora return, and drought-induced vegetable scarcity in rural areas have motivated urban residents in Mogadishu to pursue farming within and around the city.

Şekerpare, Türkiye ve Orta Doğu mutfağının önemli tatlılarından biri olup, genellikle irmik kullanılarak hazırlanmaktadır. Ancak irmiğin gluten içermesi, çölyak hastalarının bu tatlıyı tüketmesini engellemektedir. Bu çalışmada, gluten içermeyen mısır unu, pirinç unu, patates unu, mısır nişastası ve tapyoka nişastası kombinasyonları kullanılarak glutensiz şekerpare formülasyonları geliştirilmiştir. Ayrıca, bu formülasyonlara eklenen soya proteini, bezelye proteini ve transglutaminaz (TG) enziminin şekerpare hamuru ve son ürün özellikleri üzerindeki etkileri incelenmiştir. Çalışma kapsamında, hamurların pH, sertlik, yapışkanlık, adhezyon işi ve hamur kuvveti gibi özellikleri değerlendirilirken son ürünlerde ise renk, sertlik, kırılganlık ve duyusal analizler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Elde edilen sonuçlar, kullanılan protein ve TG enziminin hamur özellikleri üzerindeki etkisinin kullanılan un kombinasyonuna bağlı olarak değiştiğini göstermiştir. Mısır ve patates unu ile hazırlanan hamurlar en yüksek sertlik değerine sahipken, tüm örneklerde kontrol grubu hamurları en düşük sertlikte olmuştur. Soya ve bezelye proteini, hamurun yapışkanlığını azaltırken, TG enziminin bezelye proteiniyle birlikte kullanımı yapışkanlık düzeyini önemli ölçüde artırmıştır. Duyusal analizde panelistler, %62,5 mısır unu ve %37,5 pirinç unundan oluşan MuPr reçetesiyle hazırlanan şekerpare örneklerini, hem yapı hem de lezzet açısından en beğenilen ürün olarak değerlendirmiştir. Bununla birlikte, kullanılan protein türü ve TG enzimi duyusal özellikler üzerinde genel anlamda önemli bir fark yaratmamıştır.

A study conducted in Phalelung rural municipality, Panchthar, Nepal, in 2023 examined agricultural practices and the economic analysis of large cardamom. A total of 60 households were randomly selected, and data were collected through primary and secondary sources using surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and field observations to assess the large cardamom economy, package of practices and various challenges faced by farmers. The study revealed that 28% of farmers grew the Ramsai cultivar, with over 82% having access to irrigation. Most farmers (77%) managed shade well and maintained their orchards effectively. However, only 50% used specialized harvesting tools, and 63% employed improved kiln (bhatti), though more education is needed. 68% of farmers received subsidies for constructing improved kiln (bhatti). Notably, 70% of farmers lacked knowledge about cardamom grading, and 90% were unaware of value-added practices. Farmers predominantly used jute bags for packaging. Major issues identified included plant wilt, furkey, rhizome rot, and stem borer infestations. The total production cost was NPR. 114,460.5 per hectare, with a BC ratio of 1.54.  Having high market value, large cardamom provides promising opportunity to uplift the economic and social condition of farmers and stakeholders. This study provides an overview of the status of large cardamom production, processing practices, best cultivation practices to be adopted, disease pest incidence on large cardamom, storage, grading with various cultural practices to be adopted and feasibility of large cardamom cultivation area. This study would help both governmental and non- governmental agencies to make effective plans for large cardamom cultivation to meet Phyto-Sanitary status and minimum requirements to enter export and import system of cardamom in global market.

Geleneksel yöntemlere kıyasla, makine öğrenimi ile desteklenen sistemlerin, daha hassas sulama kararları verebildiği tespit edilmiştir. Bu çalışmada, veri bilimi alanında sıkça kullanılan veri paylaşım platformu olan Kaggle’dan faydalanılmıştır. Sulama durumu tahmini için “Weather Data” veri kümesi kullanılmıştır, Veri kümesinde eksik ve aykırı veriler düzeltilmiş, bağımlı (sulama durumu) ve bağımsız (hava sıcaklığı, nemi, toprak nem değeri, yağış durumu) parametreler elde edilmiştir. Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesi’ndeki illere (Adıyaman, Batman, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Kilis, Mardin, Siirt, Şanlıurfa ve Şırnak) odaklanılarak farklı koşullarda algoritmaların doğrulukları test edilmiştir. Her bir il için ayrı ayrı yapılan analizlerde, makine öğrenimi algoritmalarından Karar Ağaçları, Destek Vektör Makineleri, Rastgele Orman, Naive Bayes, Gradyan Artırma, Lojistik Regresyon, K-En Yakın Komşu ve Yapay Sinir Ağı modelleri kullanılarak sulama durumu tahmini gerçekleştirilmiştir. Veri kümesi üzerinde yapılan tahminler sonucunda algoritmalar, doğruluk (accuracy) metriği kullanılarak karşılaştırılmış ve en etkili algoritmaların Rastgele Orman (%95) ,Karar Ağacı (%97), Gradyan Artırma (%93) ve Yapay Sinir Ağı (%98) modeli ile tüm şehirlerde %90’ın üzerinde sulama durumu tahmini doğruluğu elde edilmiştir. Diğer algoritmalar da yüksek doğruluk oranları ile (%75 üzeri) dikkate değer performans sergilemişlerdir. Her bir il için yapılan analizlerde, algoritma performans sıralamasının benzer olduğu belirlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak, bu çalışma makine öğrenimi algoritmalarının tarımsal sulamada oldukça yüksek bir performansla kullanılabileceğini göstermektedir.

The global dilemma of waste management and food scarcity require novel solutions that fulfill both environmental concerns and nutritional requirements. To address these significant problems in a sustainable manner, this research investigates the possibility of producing single cell protein (SCP) from sugarcane bagasse, an abundant industrial waste product in the presence of Aspergillus niger strain. The production of SCP was further optimized by inducing variations in Physico-chemical properties to increase the protein yield. These parameters include temperature, pH, fermentation time, inoculum size, carbon and nitrogen sources. The results of this study revealed that A. niger showed maximum production of biomass (24.0±0.02%) at the temperature of 25°C after 7 days of incubation time with the pH adjusted to 5. In conclusion, this multidisciplinary strategy emphasizes how essential biotechnology is to be advancing the idea of how sugarcane bagasse could potentially be used as a beneficial asset to help feed the world's expanding population.

This study aimed to evaluate the biochemical and nutritional profiles of three cauliflower cultivars—Valentena, Carotena, and Snow White—focusing on chlorophyll, carotenoids, anthocyanins, vitamin C, flavonoids, phenolics, and antioxidant activity. Uniform curds were harvested at 60 days post-sowing from Baratia, Dumuria, Khulna, and analyzed at Khulna Agricultural University. Valentena exhibited the highest chlorophyll content (40.06±0.39 µg/100g FW chlorophyll a, 28.98±3.35 µg/100g FW chlorophyll b), superior lycopene (8.71±0.38 µg/100g FW) levels. Carotena showed the highest total carotenoid content (60.52±1.76 µg/100g FW) and β-carotene (26.99±0.44 µg/100g FW), while Snow White had the lowest values across most parameters. Valentena also led in anthocyanins (101.56±3.9 mg/L FW) and total flavonoids (79.56±10.36 mg/100g FW), with Carotena having the highest vitamin C content (60.05±2.93 µg/g FW). DPPH assays indicated that Valentena showed the most effective antioxidant (IC50 = 43.65±3.56 mg/mL FW), followed by Carotena and Snow White. Hierarchical clustering and pricipal component analysis (PCA) revealed distinct biochemical profiles: Valentena and Carotena shared similarities in carotenoids and antioxidant activity, whereas Snow White differed significantly. Linear discriminant analysis identified lycopene, chlorophyll b, and β-carotene as major differentiators, highlighting the diverse nutritional and antioxidant properties of these cauliflower varieties. The findings highlight the potential of Carotena and Valentena for health-conscious consumers seeking nutrient-rich, antioxidant benefits in functional meals.

This research was conducted to determine the presence of Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) and Apple mosaic virus (ApMV) that can cause infection in rose (Rosa spp.) plants grown in Konya province. For this purpose, field and laboratory studies were carried out in areas where roses are mostly grown for landscaping purposes, and infection rates were calculated with the data obtained. The hypothesis of the study is that roses in Konya province may be infected with PNRSV and ApMV and the presence of these viruses can be determined. In line with this hypothesis, various rose growing areas in Konya province were selected as the research area. During the field studies in 2023, guided sampling was carried out and 94 leaf, branch and flower samples were collected from different rose varieties. The collected samples were tested for determining of PNRSV and ApMV infections by Double Antibody Sandwich (DAS) ELISA method, which is one of the serological testing methods in the laboratory. As a result of the tests, it was revealed that the single infections of PNRSV and ApMV were present in 12 and 11 samples of rose plants in Konya province. The total infection rate of both viruses in the province was calculated as 24.47%. Also, PNRSV+ApMV mixed infections were detected in 2 samples. In this study, the infections of PNRSV and ApMV on roses in Konya province were determined for the first time by serological methods. These results will serve as an important source of information for rose producers and agricultural engineers in the region and will allow the development of strategies to control the spread of viruses and minimize infections.