In dairy cattle, the dry period cation-anion balance is a critical factor influencing the animal's health and productivity. The cation-anion balance of a ration is contingent upon the anionic and cationic ions present and may assume either a negative or positive value. During the dry period, the optimal cation-anion balance is negative. The administration of anionic salts or anionic ration during this period has been demonstrated to mitigate the risk of milk fever and prevent the development of numerous metabolic disorders. Furthermore, the administration of anionic substances during this period has been demonstrated to influence milk yield, fertility and milk fat. An excessive cation ratio in the ration can cause metabolic problems, including metabolic acidosis, milk fever, and metabolic alkalosis, which is characterised by a decrease in pH and the presence of urine. Therefore, according to the studies, it is recommended that the diet be prepared in a way that the cation-anion balance is negative in the dry period (between -100 to -200 mEq/kg DM).

Önemli bir kültür bitkisi olan mercimek, iklim değişikliği kaynaklı abiyotik ve biyotik streslere karşı dayanıklı, verimli ve sürdürülebilir çeşitlere ihtiyaç duymaktadır. Bu bağlamda, yabani mercimek gen kaynaklarından elde edilen genetik materyaller, genetik iyileştirme ve stres toleransı kazandırma çalışmalarında önemli bir rol oynamaktadır. Genetik çeşitlilik çalışmaları, genetik haritalama ve ileri düzey yüksek verimli dizileme teknolojileri sayesinde, streslere uyum sağlayan adaptif genler, QTL'ler ve diğer faydalı bitki özellikleri tanımlanmaktadır. Genomik teknolojilerin bitki ıslahıyla entegrasyonu, yoğun genetik bağlantı haritaları, genotipleme çalışmaları ve QTL analizleri sayesinde mercimek genomik araştırmaları büyük ilerleme kaydetmektedir. Bu derlemede, mercimekte genetik çeşitlilik, genetik haritaların oluşturulması, QTL analizleri ve genomik çalışmalar konusundaki son gelişmeler literatüre dayalı olarak tartışılmıştır.

The modern intensive agriculture system relies on the heavy use of chemical fertilizers for food production, neglecting the health of the soil. To explore the alternative nutrient source provided by Azotobacter, a free-living nitrogen-fixing bio-fertilizer, a field experiment was conducted at the Gaindakot – 8, Nawalpur in the inner Terai of Nepal during March-June 2023 to study the effect of Azotobacter inoculation on three different maize varieties. The effect was examined on the soil fertility parameters such as Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus(P), Potassium(K), pH, and organic matter (O.M). Five levels of nutrient sources; Control, Farmyard Manure/FYM (10-ton ha-1), Azotobacter only, Azotobacter + FYM and Azotobacter + NPK (120:60:40 kg ha-1 RDF) varieties; Local Pahelo, Rampur Composite and Rampur Hybrid-14 were tested in Two Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Results showed a non-significant difference in the mean values of N, P, O.M., and pH whereas K content was significantly influenced under the different varieties. Rampur Hybrid-14 (256.64 kg/ha) showed the highest soil K level whereas Rampur Composite (173.12 kg/ha) showed the lowest. The highest N content was recorded in Azotobacter only (0.140%) followed by Azotobacter + FYM (0.137%) and lowest in control (0.132%). Similarly, the maximum percent of organic carbon was recorded in the nutrient source Azotobacter only (2.80) which is on par with the nutrient source Azotobacter + FYM (2.75). There was a significant influence of the FYM on the maximum residue of the Azotobacter population (180.2×10-3 cfu/gm). The status of O.M., N, P, K, and pH improved positively with the Azotobacter application.

Processed chicken meat products are more susceptible to oxidative deterioration which reduces the quality and safety of the product, therefore, the need to include antioxidants during processing order delay its processes. Chicken meat (from live broiler birds procured from the Teaching and Research Farm, University of Ibadan) was ground through a 5 mm plate of a meat mincer. Ingredients such as red pepper, black pepper, garlic, onions, salt, refined vegetable oil (Grand soya oil®) ice flakes and Lemon Grass Leaf Powder (LGLP) were added and mixed thoroughly with chicken meat for homogeneity. There were four treatment groups: T1 = (0g LGLP), T2 = (2g LGLP), T3 = (4g LGLP), T4 = (6g LGLP). Each batch was oven cooked separately and replicated three times. Proximate composition (%), sensory characteristics (9-point hedonic scale), Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS MDAµg/g) were assessed and data generated were analysed using ANOVA @ P<0.05). Moisture 51.24 (6gLGLP) was significantly higher than 52.69 (4gLGLP), 53.04(2gLGLP) and 54.69 (0gLGLP); fat 16.09 (2gLGLP) is similar with 17.19 (4g LGLP) and lower than 15.89 (0gLGLP) but lower than 17.48 (6gLGLP) (P<0.05). Crude protein 19.52 (4gLGLP) is similar to 18.10 (2gLGLP) and 19.18 (6gLGLP) but significantly higher than 17.85 (0gLGLP). The hardness 2983.81kg (0gLGLP) and 3442.86kg (2gLGLP) were similar but lower than 5395.55kg (4gLGLP) and 5523.17kg (6gLGLP) (P>0.05). Chewiness 2790.83kg (0gLGLP) is not different from 3413.43kg (2gLGLP) and 5315.52 (4gLGLP) but higher (P<0.05) than 5523.10kg (6gLGLP) (P>0.05). No significant variation exists in the sensory characteristics among chicken meatballs. The TBARS 1.74 (6gLGLP) is lower than 1.80 (4gLGLP), 1.86 (2gLGLP) and 1.84 (0gLGLP). Utilisation of different levels of lemongrass leaf powder in chicken meat balls production increased the nutrition and improved the lipid oxidation stability of the product during refrigerated storage.

Agroforestry is a system that combines household and community level food production ecosystem services along with income security. It has potential of carbon sequestration and puts a positive impact on balancing greenhouse gases. The research was carried out to assess the variability of carbon stock under the agro-forestry systems in Churiya range at Rakshirang Rural Municipality of Makwanpur district of Nepal. Thirty households were sampled for this study; ten households from each of three different systems namely, Agrisilviculture, Silvopasture and Homegarden for data collection. Simple random sampling was used for the sample plot selection from the selected agroforestry systems for biomass and soil carbon estimation. Each system consisted of ten sample plots. Diameter and height of all trees with diameter at breast height greater than 10 cm were measured. The diameters of the trees were measured at standard height, i.e., diameter at breast height. Above ground biomass, below ground biomass and soil organic carbon were summed to determine the total carbon stock in the agroforestry systems. Collected data were analyzed through tabular analysis, and volume and biomass estimation of the trees. Total carbon stock was found higher in Silvopasture system (32.41t/ha), 28.58 t/ha in Agrisilviculture system and 30.71 t/ha in Homegarden system. Results have shown the potentiality of agroforestry systems for carbon sequestration. Such systems need to be promoted for their efforts by encouraging them with some subsidized input support, financial support or some capacity building trainings by the government.

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 investigates the adsorption and desorption capacities of corn cob biochars produced at three different pyrolysis temperatures. Adsorption experiments were conducted using ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3-) solutions at concentrations 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 mg L-1. Results indicated that CC300 biochar exhibited the highest NH4+ adsorption efficiency at lower concentrations, adsorbing 88.67% of NH4+ at 5 mg L-1. However, its adsorption capacity decreased with increasing NH4+ concentration. CC400 biochar demonstrated a balanced adsorption capacity for both NH4+ and NO3-, with 83.71% NH4+ adsorption and 87.17% NO3- adsorption at 5 mg L-1. CC500 biochar showed the highest NO3- adsorption capacity, reaching 90.05% at 5 mg L-1, but was less effective in NH4+ adsorption, particularly at lower concentrations. Desorption analysis revealed that CC300 and CC500 biochars retained NH4+ and NO3- effectively, with relatively low desorption rates. In contrast, CC400 biochar exhibited higher desorption rates, indicating a controlled nutrient release potential. The study highlights the significant influence of pyrolysis temperature on the adsorption and desorption characteristics of biochar and its suitability for specific nutrient management applications. These findings contribute to the optimization of biochar production and its effective utilization in sustainable agriculture and environmental protection.

Providing competitive advantage in international markets, encouraging innovation, increasing productivity and supporting sustainable growth constitute the long-term goals of countries. In order to gain competitive advantage in changing market conditions, it is not enough to limit natural resources, capital, labor and production factors; the existence of social networks and information is also needed. To increase competitiveness in agriculture, which stands out as the primary sector for rural areas in country economies; there is a necessity to use technology, value-added production, effective use of resources, provide employment opportunities, employ qualified human resources and develop strong collaborations. In accordance with these needs, it is necessary to adapt the concepts of social and human capital to the agricultural sector and develop strategies for the current situation that are concretized with data. Within the scope of this study, a micro-scale study was carried out to analyze the social and human capital structure of the agricultural employment market in Konya. Face-to-face interviews were conducted via a survey with a total of 268 agricultural operators, 96 unpaid family laborers, 294 agricultural workers and 30 agricultural intermediaries. In employment areas where data were collected using social and human capital scales, problems such as social exclusion, feeling insecure due to working conditions, polarization between local and foreign labor, and low levels of bridging social capital were encountered. Policy recommendations have been developed to solve these problems and also policy recommendations have been made for community building and successful employment management in agriculture.

This study aimed to determine the effects of the addition of different doses of Lactobacillus brevis to oat silage on the physical and chemical properties, aerobic stability, in vitro organic matter digestibility, and energy value of the silage.  In the study, the treatment groups were oat control (OC), 1x106 (Lb6), 1x108 (Lb8) and 1x109 cfu/kg dry matter (Lb9) L. brevis inoculated oats. Inoculation of L. brevis into oat silage increased the number of lactic acid bacteria and decreased the pH of the silage at the time of opening. This inoculation decreased the organic matter, acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber contents of the silages at opening compared to those of OC, while increasing the dry matter and crude protein contents. The L. brevis inoculation into oat silage decreased the pH values and yeast counts on the fifth day after opening the silages compared to OC, without affecting the amount of CO2 production and mold count. The inoculation did not affect the in vitro organic matter digestibility and metabolizable energy value of silage; but increased the net energy lactation value compared to OC. When the L. brevis doses are evaluated independently, it can be said that 1*108 and 1*109 cfu/kg DM doses contributed more effectively to oat silage, so any of these doses can be preferred.

The study explored the potential of local Oasian sorghums from the Algerian Sahara, alongside the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD) varieties, focusing on their sap and sugar yield capabilities, for selecting the most appropriate ones as good sources for bioethanol production. The method used in this study consisted of a complete randomized block design with three repetitions in open field. Harvesting was carried out at two vegetative stages: milky-pasty and hard-grain. Morphometric measurements and estimation of the produced biomass yields followed. The second step of the study concerned the extraction of the sap from the stems and the determination of its volume and sugar content. Depending on the physiological stage, the volume of produced sap fluctuated as much as the sugar rate. The diameter of the stems varied the bark-to-pith ratio of populations. According to this ratio, the largest fraction of pith, which contains sap, was found in the populations: Hamra, Kharssi, Beïda-Adrar, respectively, 0.65, 0.83, and 0.91. The stems yield of Biofuel and Beïda-Adrar were notably high at milky-pasty stage, approximately 1.87 and 1.51 kg m-², respectively; indicating their suitability for bioethanol production. The research highlighted the variation in sap volume across different growth stages and populations, with a proportional relationship observed between sap volume and sugar concentration. The analysis demonstrated significant differences across all the studied parameters. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) further categorized the parameters into two distinct groups based on growth phases, facilitating a deeper understanding of the determinants of sorghum’s bioethanol potential. The findings emphasize the need for a balanced selection of sorghum populations for bioethanol production, considering sap volume, sugar yield, and biometric parameters. This study not only underscores the viability of sorghum as a bioethanol source but also aligns with sustainable agriculture and renewable energy goals, especially in arid regions like the Algerian Sahara.