The agriculture sector is actively looking for the most effective ways to manage water resources. Proper water management is crucial for increasing agricultural productivity and optimizing the region’s water usage efficiency. The purpose of this study was for estimating the irrigation water requirement, reference and crop evapotranspiration and irrigation schedule for cotton in Çukurova region over a 31-year period (1990-2020) using the CROPWAT model. To ensure appropriate water utilization and planning, information regarding the climate data was obtained from the Adana station of Turkish State Meteorology Service. The soil and crop data were sourced from Turkey’s directorate of agricultural research and policies. The dates, amounts, effective rainfall, net irrigation requirement (NIR), and yield decrease for rainfed and different irrigated conditions were all calculated using the CROPWAT 8.0 model. The findings indicated that the average reference evapotranspiration (ETo), crop evapotranspiration (ETc) for cotton and effective rainfall were 918.9 mm, 809.5 mm, and 149.4 mm respectively. It was also estimated that the dates of irrigation after planting (DAP) were 72 days, 101 days, 131 days and 170 days. The total quantity of water utilized for irrigation throughout the growing season at critical depletion and user defined were 700 mm and 545 mm respectively, thus 155 mm of water was saved (22%). Data of maximum crop yield obtained at critical depletion by CROPWAT was associated with data from Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) (2014-2020) and TUIK data is compared with CROPWAT data which was estimated under rainfed condition. According to the result 51% of yield reduction was simulated when irrigation was not applied.

The most complex microhabitat is the rhizosphere, which is composed of a varied alliance of archaea, fungi, bacteria, and eukaryotes as well as an interconnected network of plant roots and soil. Crop yield and growth are directly affected by rhizosphere conditions. Plant development and yield were enhanced under nutrient-rich rhizosphere conditions. Most soils that require nurturing before or at the time of next harvest are drained by extensive agriculture. Fertilizers are the primary source of nutrients for crop. However, their extensive and unchecked use seriously threatens ecosystem stability and agricultural sustainability. These toxic substances accumulate in the soil, leak into water, and are discharged into the atmosphere, where they stay for decades and impart a vital risk to the ecosystem as a whole. The rhizosphere of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) transforms a variety of vital nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, zinc, and others that are unavailable to plants into forms that they can use. In order to interact with the valuable or pathogenic counterparts in the rhizosphere, PGPR produces a variety of hormones such as auxin, cytokinin, gibberellin, antimicrobial agents, secondary compounds, cell lytic enzymes, chitinases, proteases, hydrolases, stress- releasing materials 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase, chelating siderophores, and certain signaling substances such as N-acyl homoserine lactone. PGPR can be used for rhizosphere engineering, which has several uses beyond crop fertilization, development of plant growth, sustainability, and environment friendly agriculture. There is an increasing concern regarding stress-resilient plant growth promoting. microorganisms (PGPM). This review paper covers the three elements of rhizosphere engineering with a particular emphasis on PGPM and how it might promote the appropriate use of rhizosphere engineering particularly in hosts, as an important aspect of environmentally conscious farming.

The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of extraction solvents on the anti-bacterial and anti-fungal efficacy of the stem and roots of Ajuga integrifolia Buch. Ham. ex D. Extracts were prepared in different solvents and tested against fungi and bacteria species including, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Xanthomonos oryzae, Citrobacter freundi, Alternaria alternata, A. solani and Aspergillus niger. Antibacterial efficacy of the Ajuga integrifolia was carried out by disc diffusion susceptibility method and antifungal efficacy by well diffusion susceptibility method. Methanol stem extract revealed efficacy against C. freundi by producing a 63% zone of inhibition at 3000µg/disc while methanol roots extract produced 77% ZI against A. tumifaciens. Methanol root and stem extracts produced an equal zone of inhibition (97%) at 1000 µg/ml concentration against A. alternata and A. solani. The results of the study clearly stated that the polarity of the solvents used in the extraction procedure affects the bioactivities of the extracts.

Plants are used by humans not only as food, but also for therapeutic purposes in medicine, as fuel and coloring matter. Plants, which are among the natural products consumed as traditional medicines, are used in the treatment of many diseases. Nowadays, many plants are widely used as nutritional supplements to strengthen the immune system or as an auxiliary nutritional supplement with other drugs in the treatment of chronic diseases. The plant Arum maculatum L. examined in this study is an angiosperm and monocotyledonous plant belonging to the family Araceae and a species in the order Arales. In this study it is aimed to study the bioavailability of Arum plant by using C. elegans nematode as a model organism. This study, the effects of the extract obtained by ethyl alcohol and water phase extraction of A. maculatum L., which is collected in spring and summer months and consumed by cooking fresh leaves and believed to be a source of healing, on the life span, egg production and growth-development parameters of Caenorhabditis elegans nematode were investigated. The data obtained were evaluated by SPSS program. Significant differences were found in C. elegans cultures of the extracts obtained from the leaves and flower parts of the plant in ethyl alcohol and water solvents compared to the control group. It was observed that the survival rates of C. elegans nematodes generally increased with the application of different doses of plant water extracts. This research will provide a reference for further research on the mechanism of Arum plants in the treatment of some diseases. Our research shows that this plant may have the potential therapeutic target about fertilization and growth and development process.

The quality of black seed oil depends greatly on the extraction method used. Traditional methods like cold pressing are valued for producing high-quality oil that retains its natural nutrients and flavor. However, these methods often come with a trade-off, as they tend to yield less oil and lower levels of bioactive compounds, making them less efficient for large-scale production. To overcome these limitations, seed pretreatment techniques were investigated. In this study, black seeds were subjected to freeze-thaw and microwave pre-treatment before cold pressing to increase the content of thymoquinone, which is a key bioactive compound in black seeds. For the freeze-thaw treatment, black seeds were frozen at -17 °C for 24 and 48 h, followed by thawing at 50 °C for 1 h. This process was repeated for 1, 2, and 3 cycles. Microwave treatment involved subjecting seed samples to microwave at a frequency of 2450 MHz and power levels of 400 W and 640 W for durations of 1, 2, and 3 min. Subsequent oil extraction was performed by using cold pressing. HPLC analysis showed a significant increase in thymoquinone content with freeze-thawed seeds (for 48 h and 3 cycles) showing a remarkable increase like 79.93% according to untreated black seeds. Microwave-pretreated seeds at 640 W for 3 min exhibited more than double thymoquinone content compared to untreated seeds. Other quality parameters, including moisture, specific gravity, acidity, peroxide value, and iodine value, shows comparable characteristics, while significant enhancing the sensory analysis of the pretreated oil (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that freeze-thaw and microwave pretreatments can serve as innovative methods for enhancing thymoquinone levels in Indian black seed oil, providing a promising avenue for improving the overall quality of this valuable natural product.

The study aimed to determine the effects of biochar obtained from rice husk and corn harvest residues on the growth, nutritional content and some biochemical properties of basil plants. Both biochars were applied by mixing them into potting soil at 2% and 5% rates. To determine the effect of applications on plant development, the height and weight of plants and leaf weights, and number of side branches were recorded. Additionally, chlorophyll content (SPAD), phenol content, antioxidant content and P, Mg, Ca, K, S, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu and B concentrations in the leaves were determined. Compared to the control, significant increases were detected in the leaf weights, height and weights of the plants grown in all pots containing biochar. The highest plants were obtained from 5% rice biochar (RB5) treatment. The highest leaf weight and the highest number of side branches were also observed. in the RB5 treatment. Leaf K contents in RB5 and maize harvest residue biochar (CB) treatments were higher compared to the control. Leaf B, Fe and Mn contents were lower in certain biochar treatments than the control. Biochar applications did not cause a significant change in the antioxidant and chlorophyll content of basil plants. The total phenolic content significantly increased only in RB5 treatment. The effect of biochar application varied depending on the application rate and the properties of the biomass from which the biochar was obtained. Therefore, it is not possible to draw a general conclusion about the effects of biochar applications on plant growth. Contradictory results can be obtained depending on the type of plants and biochars and the characteristics of the growth medium.

The aim of this study was to investigate the growth of C. sporogenes in model white cheese stored under cold conditions (4°C) and in vacuum packaging and its effect on quality parameters. For this purpose, two different cheeses were produced, contaminated (CMBP) and not (MBP) with C. sporogenes 73 and C. sporogenes 97 strains, and physicochemical, microbiological and volatile component analyses were performed every 15 days during the 60-day storage period of the cheeses. No significant difference was detected in dry matter (%), fat in dry matter (%), and protein (%) contents of cheeses during storage. As an important finding, C. sporogenes did not affect the acidity values (pH and % acidity). The pH and % acidity values of the cheeses were found to be 4.79±0.03 – 4.98±0.05 and 2.04±0.06 – 2.16±0.06, respectively. When the microbiological results were examined, the total mesophilic aerobic bacteria (TMAB), lactococci and lactobacilli counts of the cheeses decreased during storage, while the yeast-mold counts did not change. There was no change in CMBP cheese with an initial C. sporogenes spore count of 4.62±0.11 during storage. When the color parameters of the cheeses were examined, a difference was detected in the L* value and was lower in CMBP. At the end of storage, there was no change in the a* values of the cheeses, while the b* values decreased. It was determined that there were differences in the aromatic compounds of the cheeses and while the contents of acetic acid, butyric acid and acetoin, which are LBD indicators, were found to be 32.34%, 17.17% and 17.82% in CMBP cheese, butyric acid was not detected in MBP cheese. The results showed that C. sporogenes survived for a long time in white cheeses stored at pH values below 5 and at low temperatures and could cause the LBD on its own.

Marketing information enhances farmer’s decision to increase production and productivity of agricultural commodities. This paper examines farmers’ perspectives on agricultural marketing information in developing countries, with a case study focusing on three districts in Tanzania. Data were obtained from a survey conducted on 291 maize farmers in the three districts namely Arusha (103 farmers), Njombe (100 farmers) and Kongwa (88 farmers), selected from three regions in Tanzania Mainland. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the percentage distributions of the farmers based on socio-economic characteristics and Likert scale ratings of the farmers’ levels of agreement with the debriefing questions constructed to evaluate their perceptions. The analysis of the socio-economic variables of the farmers suggests male dominance in maize farming, predominant youthful farming demographics, predominantly large household Size, and predominance of low-level educational backgrounds among maize farmers in the study areas. The results of the socio-economic characteristics underscore the importance of targeted policies to support maize farmers, focusing on education, youth engagement, and household resource management. The overall result of farmers’ perceptions of agricultural marketing information indicates a widespread agreement across districts highlighting the shared challenges and priorities among maize farmers in Tanzania, particularly indicating that farmers recognize the benefits of agricultural services and understand the importance of communication infrastructure for economic development. The study thus, recommends establishment of local marketing information centers to reduce costs and time associated with gathering market information, enhancement of digital literacy to train farmers, and collaboration with critical stakeholders; such as government, private sector, and non-profits organizations to fund and sustain marketing information infrastructure for farmers. Investments in communication and marketing infrastructure will bridge information gaps, enhance market access, and ultimately drive economic development among maize farmers. This structured approach will not only improve maize farmers’ productivity but also contribute to broader rural development goals.

Bu çalışmada ülkemiz ve dünya genelinde uzun yıllardır yaygın bir şekilde tüketilen erişteye belirli oranlarda ve farklı formlarda ilave edilen çörek otu, kekik ve zerdeçalın, eriştenin bazı kalite özelliklerine etkileri araştırılmıştır. Üretimde kullanılan tane çörek otu, toz çörek otu, yaprak kekik ve toz kekik formülasyona %1, %2, %3 ve %4 (ağırlıkça); zerdeçal ise %0,5, %1, %1,5 ve %2 (ağırlıkça) oranında ilave edilmiştir. Baharatların ilavesi ile üretilen eriştelerin nem içeriklerinin genel olarak azaldığı, % kül içeriklerinin tane ve toz kekik içeren eriştelerde, % protein içeriklerinin ise tane ve toz çörek otu içeren eriştelerde artış gösterdiği tespit edilmiştir. Eriştelerin renk değerleri (L*, a*, b*) baharat ilavesine bağlı olarak değişiklik göstermiştir. Erişte formülasyonuna ilave edilen baharatlar L* değerlerini düşürerek eriştelerin parlaklığını azaltmış ve özellikle zerdeçalın yüksek a* ve b* değerinden dolayı daha sarı renkli erişteler elde edilmiştir. Erişteye artan oranlarda baharat ilave edilmesi ile optimum pişme süresi (dk), su absorpsiyonu (%) ve hacim artışının (%) kontrol eriştesine göre azaldığı, pişme kaybının (%) ise arttığı belirlenmiştir. Genel kabul edilebilirlik açısından kontrol eriştesi duyusal analizlerde en yüksek puanı almıştır. Erişteye katılan baharatların ilave oranı arttıkça, duyusal ve pişme özellikleri olumsuz yönde etkilenmiştir. Bu sebeple eriştenin çalışmada değerlendirilen özellikleri bozulmadan, kabul edilebilir bir şekilde bu baharatlarla zenginleştirilebilmesi için en fazla %2 oranında çörek otu ve kekik; %0,5 oranına kadar zerdeçalın başarı ile kullanılabileceği sonucuna varılmıştır.

This study analysed fisherfolk’s poverty and food insecurity status in the coastal region of Nigeria. Data from 420 artisanal fisherfolk, selected through a multistage sampling procedure, were analysed using descriptive statistics, a multidimensional poverty index approach, a household food insecurity access scale, and Seemingly unrelated regression equation (SURE). Findings from the study showed that about 62% of the respondents lived in households with malnourished individuals, no clean water, no electricity, no education, a dirty floor, inadequate infrastructure, and poor healthcare services. Infrastructure such as markets and road networks had the highest contribution to the poverty intensity with education having the least contribution in the study area. The results revealed that artisanal fisherfolk who are non-poor are more food secure than those who are poor. Also, estimates from SURE show that household size, daily income, and owning a house significantly influenced household food insecurity level, while multidimensional poverty level was significantly influenced by age, education experience, daily income, owning a house, and credit constraint. It is, therefore, recommended that initiatives that address poverty and food insecurity issue among the artisanal fisherfolk in the coastal region of Nigeria should be given utmost priority because of the contribution of the sub-sector to the economy. Also, artisanal fisherfolk are encouraged to diversify their means of livelihood in order to reduce their level of poverty.