This research was conducted in 2020 to determine the effects of leonardite-derived humic acids (Humas-15, Liquid Humus and Humico Maximix-K) with different properties, along with reduced nitrogen fertilization, on tuber yield and quality in potatoes (cv. Van Gogh). In the study, chemical fertilizer applications were made as basic fertilization (20 N 10 P 10 K), reduced fertilization I (15 N 10 P 10 K) and reduced fertilization II (10 N 10 P 10 K). Humic acids were applied twice with irrigation water, at the beginning of the flowering period and 15 days later. Humas-15 and Liquid Humus were applied at 1.0 and 2.0 lt/da doses, and Humico Maximix-K was applied at 400 and 800 g/da doses. A total of seven traits (tuber number per plant, tuber yield per plant, marketable tuber yield, total tuber yield, dry matter content, reducing sugar content and total sugar content) were measured. Reducing nitrogen applications with humic acid applications significantly affected all the traits studied. Humic acid applications combined with reduced nitrogen fertilization increased the number of tubers per plant by up to 13%, marketable tuber yield by up to 18% and total tuber yield by up to 16% compared with the control. Total and reducing sugar contents varied between 1.27-1.58% and 159-389 mg/100g fw, respectively depending on the applications. In the study, the highest tuber yield was obtained from 1.0 and 2.0 L/da Humas-15 and 2.0 L/da Liquid Humus applications applied together with reducing nitrogen applications which have close values to the recommended fertilization applications.

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.

Fish industry has significant importance all over the world because red meat is not enough to complete the protein requirements of growing population. Therefore, focus is now on those fish species production rate which are more suitable. In this study we focused on common carp which has important commercial value due to its size and tasty meat. Common carp is a fresh water fish and mostly found in rivers, ponds, dams and lakes. It is special due to its ability of adjustment in any aquatic habitat and sometimes beneficial also for other aquatic animals by releasing nutrients in habitat. Türkiye is a rich country in terms of rivers, dams and lakes. In this research, we described famous water reservoirs in Türkiye and in which regions higher amount of carp fish produced. It was focused on Central Anatolian Region of Türkiye which has large amount of water reservoirs. Geography Information System (GIS) based mapping and spatial analysis was used in this study to check the production rate of carp in Central Anatolian Region of Türkiye for long period from year 2000 to 2019. It was concluded from this study that highest average production rate of carp is obtained in Konya province (total: 11919,2 tons/2000-2019; average: 596 tons/20 year) which is west part of Anatolian region and lowest average production rate is found in the Niğde province (total: 163,5 tons/2000-2019; average: 8,2 tons/20 year) which is south part of the Central Anatolian Region.

This study investigated the effects of different processing techniques and sol-gel coating on the physical properties of biocomposite material. Two dispersion series from corn starch, clay, and sorbitol were prepared by conventional and microwave-assisted processing, and casting technique. One film from each series was sol-gel coated by immersion. All the samples were subjected to moisture content (MC), water solubility (WS), water absorption (WA), FT-IR, DSC, and SEM/digital microscopy tests. The results showed that the coated films contained higher MC (11.5±0.5%) than the non-coated films (5.3±0.6%) and absorbed less water (44.7±12.4%), compared to the non-coated ones (166.3±2.5%). Non-coated films exhibited less solubility in water (26.1±0.2%) than the coated ones (51.0±0.7%). FT-IR test detected cross-linking (1723 cm-1 ester) in the microwave-assisted coated film. The sol-gel coating increased the latent heat of melting and specific heat values by 14.9% and 19.4% for conventionally fabricated samples, and 22.3% and 25.3% for microwaved films, respectively, whereas it reduced the temperature of melting by 23.1% for conventionally fabricated ones, and 6.6% for microwaved ones. Microscopic tests revealed that microwaved compact morphology indicated better gelatinization of starch. Overall, microwaving and sol-gel coating need further investigation to improve the physical properties of biocomposite materials for food packaging.

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.

Katkı maddeleri, gıdaya güvenliği, tazeliği, tadı, dokuyu veya görünümü korumak ve geliştirmek amacıyla eklenen maddeler olarak tanımlanmaktadır. Katkı maddelerinin kullanımı, yasal düzenlemelere uygun olması halinde ve belirlenen konsantrasyonda kullanılması durumunda tüketiciler için tehlike oluşturmamaktadır.  Fakat gıda katkı maddelerine ilişkin endişeler, son 20 yılda artış göstermiştir. Son yıllarda gıda katkı maddesi olarak kullanılan kimyasallarla ilgili olarak giderek daha fazla çalışma sağlığa olumsuz etkilerini göstermektedir. Aslında sağlık sorunlarını daha iyi tanımlayabilmek için toksisite testleri geliştirilmelidir ve yaşam boyunca maruziyeti incelemek için geniş çaplı ve uzun araştırmalara ihtiyaç vardır. Bu çalışmada son gelişmeler ışığında gıda katkı maddelerinin insan sağlığına etkileri irdelenmektedir.

Bağların kontrolünün, takibinin ve bakımının zamanında doğru bir şekilde yapılması çok önemlidir. Bağ zararlılarıyla mücadelede aşırı pestisit kullanımı, insan sağlığını tehlikeye atmakta ve çevre kirliliğine yol açmaktadır. Ayrıca aşırı pestisit kullanımı ekonomik açıdan düşünüldüğünde işletme giderlerinin artmasına sebep olmaktadır. Bu nedenle bağdaki zararlıların ve hasarlarının zamanında teşhisi çok önemlidir. Zamanında tespiti sağlamaya yardımcı olan yöntemlerden biri derin öğrenmedir. Bu çalışmada, bir derin öğrenme nesne algılama algoritması olan YOLOv8x modeli ile bazı bağ zararlılarının (Salkım güvesi, Trips, Bağ yaprak uyuzu ve İki noktalı kırmızı örümcek) yaprak ve meyve kısmında oluşturduğu hasarın tespitine yönelik çalışma gerçekleştirilmiştir. 7 farklı sınıftan ve 3500 görüntüden meydana gelen veri seti oluşturulmuştur. Oluşturulan veri seti; YOLOv8(n/s/m/l/x) modelleri ile eğitilmiştir. Eğitim sonucunda, YOLOv8x modeli performans değerleri sırayla; mAP0,5, mAP0,5-0,95, Kesinlik (Precision), Duyarlılık (Recall), 0,926, 0,648, 0,892 ve 0,903 şeklinde sonuçlar vermiştir. Aynı veri seti, YOLOv7, DETR ve RTMDet modelleriyle de eğitilerek YOLOv8x modeliyle performans karşılaştırmaları yapılmıştır. Karşılaştırma sonucunda bağlarda belirtilen zararlıların oluşturduğu hasarı en iyi tespit eden YOLOv8x modeli olmuştur.

The aim of this study was to investigate food safety knowledge levels according to the socio-demographic profiles of young food handlers and to find out the determinants of the knowledge level. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Türkiye; it consisted of sections including hygienic design, freezing and thawing, preparation, cooking and reheating, service, storage, and foodborne diseases sections. The food safety knowledge level differed according to gender, age, income, grade level, and intership status. Participants who coded 60% of the survey statements correctly were considered to have “good” food safety knowledge. Knowledge about cooking and reheating, foodborne diseases, and service was found to be at a poor level, but food safety knowledge (overall) was good (68%). The correct score ratio was found to be the highest for hygienic design. Binary logistic regression presented that gender, income, grade level, and internship status significantly affected knowledge level. The strongest predictors were found to be income of $638-$850 (exp (β)=12.9) and more than $850 (exp (β)=4.6), respectively. This study highlights that female students under the age of 25 with an income of more than $638, who have not yet completed an internship, have the highest level of food safety knowledge. This study presented a holistic approach to the food safety knowledge of young food handlers. These insights can contribute to the development of hygiene/sanitation and food safety course content for culinary and gastronomy students.

This study focused on evaluating the nutritional characteristics and in vitro true digestibility of apple pomace derived from three apple cultivars: Golden Delicious, Starking, and Granny Smith (Malus domestica Borkh). These apple cultivars were sourced from the local market in Nigde, Turkiye. Statistical analyses, including one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan's test, were employed to assess variations among the apple pomace samples. Results indicated that, except for in vitro true digestibility, there were no significant variations in the chemical composition and total phenolic matter contents among the apple pomaces (P>0.05). However, Granny Smith apple pomace exhibited distinct features, such as higher neutral detergent fiber content (29.80%), elevated crude protein levels (5.09%) and substantial acid detergent fiber (25.30%) values. In contrast, Starking apple pomace displayed superior air-dry matter (27.24%), while Golden Delicious showcased enhanced dry matter (95.3%) and ash content (2.00%). Regarding total phenolic matter contents, Granny Smith excelled with 112.4 mg GAE/100g, outperforming Starking (103 mg GAE/100g) and Golden Delicious (75.8 mg GAE/100g). Crucially, Starking demonstrated superior in vitro true digestibility, with values reaching 92.36% (as received) and 92.23% (dry matter). Granny Smith, in comparison to Golden Delicious and Starking, displayed significantly different neutral detergent fiber digestibility (P<0.05). Starking apple pomace exhibit the highest overall digestibility among the apple pomaces analysed in this study, hence recommended for use in ruminant nutrition. These findings have implications for the potential utilization of apple pomace in diverse applications, given the diverse nutritional profiles of these cultivars.

This study presents research on modelling the efficiency and flow rate of deep well pumping facilities using the response surface method, evaluating the models, and assessing optimization based on target flow rate. Regression and variance analysis techniques have been successfully employed to evaluate the relationship between input factors (input pressure and power drawn from the grid) and responses (system efficiency and flow rate). ANOVA analysis has been used to examine the effects of linear and quadratic terms, and the results have shown that pressure and power drawn from the grid have a significant effect on pump system efficiency. Additionally, the performance of the regression models has been evaluated using error metrics such as R2 value, RMSE, and MAPE. These values for the pumping facility system efficiency model were found to be 0.9993, 0.292%, and 0.71%, respectively, and for the flow rate model, they were 0.9997, 0.69 m3h-1, and 1.07%. The results obtained demonstrate that the model operates with high accuracy and explains a large part of the variance in the response variables. An optimization study was conducted to maximize pump system efficiency by maintaining the flow rate at a certain target value. According to the experimental results obtained, the target flow rate was predicted with an error rate of 1.49%, and the pump system efficiency was predicted with an error rate of 2.14%. This study highlights the effective use of various analytical and experimental methods to improve the efficiency of pump systems. Future researchers are encouraged to conduct similar analyses on a larger scale and under different operating conditions. Furthermore, evaluating different optimization strategies to improve the energy efficiency of pump systems, which can lead to significant energy savings in industrial applications, is recommended.