Authors:Yunus Emre Gür Abstract: This study focuses on the use of deep learning and machine learning models to forecast cow cheese production in Turkey. In particular, our research utilizes the LSTM (long short-term memory) model to forecast cow cheese production for the next 12 months by extensively utilizing deep learning and machine learning techniques that have not been applied in this field before. In addition to LSTM, models such as GRU (Gated Recurrent Unit), MLP (Multi-Layer Perceptron), SVR (Support Vector Regression), and KNN (K-Nearest Neighbors) were also tested, and their performances were compared using RMSE (Root Mean Square Error), MSE (Mean Squared Error), MAE (Mean Absolute Error), MAPE (Mean Absolute Percentage Error), and (Coefficient of Determination) metrics. The findings revealed that the LSTM model performed significantly better than the other models in terms of RMSE, MSE, MAE, and MAPE values. This result indicates that the LSTM model provides high accuracy and reliability in forecasting cow cheese production. This achievement of the model offers important applications in areas such as supply chain management, inventory optimization, and demand forecasting in the dairy industry. PubDate: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +030
Authors:Krishna Raj Pandey; Awis Pant, Niraj Gajurel Abstract: This experimental study evaluated the effectiveness of different essential oils against the in vitro growth of Sclerotium rolfsii. The experiment employed a completely randomized design (CRD) with three concentrations (500, 1000, and 1500 ppm) of each essential oil, including thyme oil (Thymus vulgaris L.), cinnamon oil (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume), juniper oil (Juniperus horizontalis L.), neem oil (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.), lemon grass oil (Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf), peppermint oil (Mentha piperita L.), and an unamended control medium. This setup aimed to evaluate their efficacy against the mycelial growth of S. rolfsii. The data were analyzed using R software in R-Studio, and means were compared using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at a 5% level of significance. Mycelium growth data were recorded at 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours of incubation. All tested essential oils significantly inhibited the mycelial growth of the pathogen compared to the control (p<0.05). After 72 hours, thyme oil at all concentrations and lemongrass oil at 1500 ppm both achieved 100% growth inhibition. In contrast, neem oil at 500 and 1000 ppm showed the lowest inhibitory effects, with rates of 27.56% and 34.62%, respectively. Lemongrass oil at 500 ppm (75.39%) showed statistical similarity to cinnamon oil at 1000 ppm (79.12%). Peppermint oil at 1500 ppm resulted in 82.73% inhibition, and cinnamon oil at 1000 ppm (75.73%) showed comparable results to peppermint oil at 1000 ppm. Thus, the study highlights the superior performance of thyme oil among the tested essential oils. These effective essential oils can potentially be used at lower concentrations to minimize potential hazards. However, further research and field trials are essential to validate these findings for practical applications. PubDate: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +030
Authors:Oktay Erdoğan Abstract: The use of natural products in the control of fungal diseases in plants is considered an alternative to synthetic fungicides due to their less negative effects on the environment. In this study, in vitro inhibitory effect of plant essential oils (PEOs) of black cumin, cumin, chamomile, cedarwood, and ginger were investigated for controlling two species of Alternaria, including Alternari solani and Alternaria alternata on tomato and cabbage under in vitro conditions, respectively. Aiming to evaluate the mycelial growth of the pathogen, mycelial discs were placed in Petri plates with 0, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, and 2500 μL/L of PEOs. The experiment was carried out in a randomized plot design with three replications. Chemical analysis of PEO components were determined by Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry methods. A total of 69 chemical compounds were determined in five different PEOs. As the main chemical compounds, Cuminaldehyde was detected in cumin PEO, Sesquithujene was found in ginger PEO, and Eucalyptol (1,8-cineole) was determined in black cumin, chamomile, and cedarwood PEOs. All five PEOs were found to inhibit the growth of Alternaria species in a dose-dependent manner, whereas cumin EO was determined more inhibitory effect against A. solani and A. alternata. Cumin PEO showed the highest effect against Alternaria species because it contains a Cuminaldehyde chemical compound. The lowest inhibition percentage was found in chamomile PEO compared to other PEOs. This study suggested that cumin PEO has the potential as an antifungal agent for controlling of Alternaria diseases. PubDate: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +030
Authors:Pınar Harmancı; Elif Yaman, Mehmet Demir Kaya Abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the potential of using the germination test as a model for screening imazamox resistance in sunflower plants . A standard germination test was performed by applying different doses of imazamox (control, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 mM) to imidazoline-resistant (IMI-R) and susceptible (IMI-S) sunflower hybrids. Germination percentage, mean germination time, germination index, shoot length, root length, seedling fresh and dry weight, and phytotoxicity percentage for seedling growth parameters were investigated. The results showed that imazamox concentrations slightly affected the germination percentage of two sunflower hybrids at only 1.6 mM. Increasing doses of imazamox led to an increase in the mean germination time and a decrease in the germination index for both sunflower hybrids, following a similar trend. Seedling growth parameters such as shoot length, root length, and seedling fresh weight were significantly decreased by increasing imazamox doses. In addition, the differences between IMI-R and IMI-S sunflower hybrids were very evident for these parameters. The IMI-S sunflower hybrid showed sensitivity in the presence of imazamox, while no changes in the IMI-R hybrid were determined up to 0.4 mM. The inhibition percentage was higher in the IMI-S hybrid than in the IMI-R. It was concluded that the optimal dose of imazamox for the selection of resistant plants during the early growth stage was found to be 0.2 mM. The germination parameters were not good criteria for imazamox resistance, while root length, shoot length, and seedling fresh weight should be considered as selection criteria for resistance to imazamox in sunflower. PubDate: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +030
Authors:Barış Kurt Abstract: Feline Infectious Peritonitis Virus (FIPV) is a highly lethal pathogen affecting cats worldwide. Developing effective antiviral treatments is crucial for managing this disease. This study investigates the potential of flavonoids to act as antiviral agents and allosteric modulators against the FIPV spike protein using molecular docking simulations. Thirteen flavonoids were docked against the FIPV spike protein (PDB ID: 6JX7) in both ligand-free (cleaned) and ligand-bound (uncleaned) states to assess their binding affinities and potential allosteric effects. The docking results revealed that all tested flavonoids exhibited strong binding affinities, with docking scores ranging from -7.9 to -9.6 kcal/mol in the cleaned receptor state. Notably, Hesperidin, Morin, Hesperetin, and Quercetin maintained or even improved their binding affinities in the presence of native ligands, suggesting their potential as allosteric modulators. Comparative analysis of the binding modes in the cleaned and uncleaned receptor states further supports the allosteric modulator potential of Morin, Hesperetin, and Hesperidin. These findings highlight the promising role of flavonoids as antiviral agents and allosteric modulators targeting the FIPV spike protein. Further experimental validation and optimization of these compounds could lead to the development of effective treatments for feline infectious peritonitis. This study provides valuable insights into the application of flavonoids in the management of viral diseases and contributes to the ongoing efforts in antiviral drug discovery. PubDate: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +030
Authors:Ali Ünal; M. Onur Özbaş, Duygu Arslan, Hülya İlbi Abstract: Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most important vegetable crops and agro-morphological characterization has a key role in the development of new varieties. In this study, 228 samples of the tomato hybrid type “Beef” (Solanum lycopersicum L.) were characterized by comparing with 11 standard varieties based on 24 quantitative traits and 2 qualitative traits to reveal the phenotypic diversity by using conventional descriptors proposed by IPGRI (1996) and UPOV (2011). A significant level of variability was found in most of the traits studied among the genotypes in two locations. A high level of broad-sense heritability (H2) was detected for many traits such as the number of fruits, firmness, immature fruit color, stem length up to the first inflorescence, total height, and number of days to the first flowering in both locations. There was a highly significant positive correlation among the color values (L*, a*, b*, c*, h*) but no positive correlation between a* and h*. Number of locule had a positive correlation with fruit width and fruit weight, and a positive correlation was determined between fruit length and pericarp thickness in both locations. While fruit weight had a highly significant negative correlation with the number of fruits and number of flowers, there was a highly significant negative correlation between the number of locules and the fruit length-to-width ratio in both locations. Results of PCA showed that PC1 and PC2 accounted for around 15.6% and 13.7% of total variation and 13.8% and 11.8% of total variation for Location 1 and Location 2, respectively. The first five principal components accounted for around 54.2% of the total variation for Location 1 and 48.2% of the total variation for Location 2. Cluster analysis grouped the 239 genotypes under six cluster groups for Location 1 and seven cluster groups for Location 2. Results of the cluster analysis revealed that Cluster 3 for Location 1 and Cluster 2 for Location 2 had prominent genotypes for some of the agronomically important traits like yield. The results showed that present phenotypic diversity could be useful in the selection of best-performing genotypes, which would be important candidates for the beef red tomato market in the spring season. PubDate: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +030
Authors:Okan Özbakır Abstract: Flour mills are one of the workplaces with occupational health hazards due to irregular workplaces and environments where insufficient attention is paid to workers’ safety. In this context, considering the extent of difficulties faced by workers in flour mills, hazards and risks that could affect the health and occupational safety of workers were investigated in a sample of flour mills in Iğdır province. The data obtained as a result of the research was ranked using the matrix method. The study identified 68 specific risks, of which 38% were identified as unacceptable risks requiring immediate action and 33% as risks requiring medium-term action. The results show that among the factors negatively affecting the health of workers, the respiratory hazard level of wheat dust with RS:15 (l:3, s:5) and the explosion hazard with RS:20 (l:4, s:5) occupy significant positions. Despite the emphasis on the importance of hygiene standards, serious deficiencies were identified, such as RS:20, which is considered high risk. In addition, the presence of many machines, such as conveyors, silos, compressors and rollers, was found to increase the risks on the system in the range of RS:20-25, which could lead to serious injury or death. Bacteria and microorganisms, such as RS:16-18, proliferate due to the low availability of personal hygiene facilities in the factory. For each identified risk, the necessary control measures are proposed and it is emphasized that protective measures should also be taken even after the implementation of these measures. Among the factors that negatively affect the health of workers in flour mills are the lack of use of personal protective equipment, working in dirty conditions, the presence of elements that can cause respiratory problems, as well as injuries related to carrying heavy loads on slippery floors and using unprotected machinery. PubDate: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +030
Authors:Dahiru Habib; Muhammad Bello Bashir, Mansur Usman Dawaki, Victor Onokebhagbe, Abbati Muhammad Umar, Usman Sharif, Aminu Umar Abubakar Abstract: This research sought to investigate how using organic amendments derived from readily accessible materials affects both tomato production and the electrochemical characteristics of soilless growing media. A greenhouse experiment using six (6) different locally accessible and underutilized composted organic materials [cocoa peat, rice husk, ground Doum palm (Hyphaene thebaica) fruit, Iroko (Milicia excelsa) saw dust, mahogany (Khaya senegelensis) saw dust, and Sapele saw dust (Entandophragma cylindricum)] was carried out. Standard procedures were used to determine the physical, chemical, and electrochemical characteristics of the modified materials.The results revealed that the highest water retaining capacity of the mediavaried from 51.11% to 85.56%. Iroko palm has the highestbulk density (0.94 g cm-3) while Doum palm has the highest particle density (0.81 g cm-3). The results of the study showed that the pH of the medium in KCl ranged from 6.32 to 7.81 and 7.36 to 8.37 for pH in water. The electrical potentials for the different mediaranged from -52.01 to -93.38. The point zero charge of soils was shown to be positively correlatedto the propertiesof the medium. The pH, electrical conductivity (ECe), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the media all increasedwhen the media was modified. It is recommended that rice husks and cocopeat be used as growing given their superior performance compared to the other tested media in tomato production. However, because of the cost of producing cocopeat media, rice husk can serve as an alternative to cocopeat as a growing medium. Despite a slight delay in germination in the rice husk media, a high yield was attained at the end of production. PubDate: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +030
Authors:Gül Senir Abstract: Especially in recent years, the environmental problems of countries have been increasing due to the acceleration of industrialization, increasing population, continuous increase in the consumption and energy requirements of the society and the development of technology. In order to eliminate these problems, countries take many measures and precautions. This study aims to compare Eastern European countries by evaluating their positions in the environmental sustainability performance index (EPI). For this purpose, the importance levels of the criteria were found with ENTROPY, which is in the objective category of multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methods, and then the ranking of the countries in the environmental sustainability performance index was determined with Complex Proportional Assessmnet (COPRAS) and Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS) methods. The data used in the evaluation of the environmental sustainability performance index “The 2022 Environmental Performance Index (EPI)” ranking of Eastern European countries is the data prepared by Yale University and obtained from the relevant web address. According to the results obtained, the ranking of the criteria in terms of their importance levels were ranked as water resources, waste management and agriculture, and the rankings obtained according to COPRAS and WASPAS methods differed in the environmental sustainability performance ranking of the countries, and it was determined that the WASPAS method gave more consistent results. PubDate: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +030
Authors:Emre Demirer Durak; Çeknas Erdinç, Aytekin Ekincialp Abstract: Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important vegetable crop grown in Lake Van Basin. Local genotypes are widely grown in the region. Rhizoctonia root rot induced by Rhizoctonia solani Kühn is an important soilborne plant disease that leads to global economic losses as well as in Turkey. The present study was conducted to determine anastomosis groups and pathogenicity of Rhizoctonia spp. obtained from bean plants in Lake Van Basin in 2013 and 2014. A total of 236 Rhizoctonia isolates in 5 anastomosis groups were obtained from bean plant roots. It was observed that AG- 4 (112) was the most isolated group in beans, followed by AG- 2 (41), AG- 3 (28), AG- 5 (33), and binucleate AG- K (22) isolates. Pathogenicity test conducted in thirty isolates in 5 anastomosis groups was analyzed for A64 (Bitlis/ Adilcevaz), TR68557 genotypes, and Gina (cv.) under growth chamber conditions. The study findings demonstrated that all tested isolates could infect the bean plant with different degrees of severity; however, the most virulent group was AG- 4. It was determined that the most virulent isolate was Isolate No. 19 in the A64 genotype, Isolate No. 2 in TR68557, and Isolate No. 18 in Gina cv. in in vivo tests. The identification and pathogenicity determination of Rhizoctonia isolates are the first steps towards an efficient control strategy for bean diseases caused by Rhizoctonia species. In order to obtain quality and productive products in the Van Lake Basin, where intensive bean production is carried out, precautions should be taken by considering the damage caused by Rhizoctonia spp. on plants. PubDate: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +030
Authors:Murat Güler; Hatice Öğütcü Abstract: Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) support plant growth through direct and indirect mechanisms. To investigate PGPR strains that support plant growth, 21 bacterial isolates, mostly Bacillus ssp. and Pseudomonas ssp., were isolated from different rhizospheric soils of sunflowers in Kırşehir districts in 2020. All isolates were characterized morphologically, biochemically by screening under in vitro conditions for plant growth-promoting properties such as nitrogen fixation, IAA (indoleacetic acid) production, siderophore production, HCN (hydrogen cyanide) production, inorganic phosphate solubility. It was also screened for extracellular enzyme production and antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum. Among the 21 isolates, 3 isolates (MH-35-4, MH-49-4, MH-64-3) fixed nitrogen, 2 isolates (MH-59-6, MH-64-3), produced siderophores, 8 isolates (MH-35-4, MH-35-6, MH-54-3, MH-54-4, MH-59-1, MH-59-2, MH-59-4, MH-59-8) produced HCN, 6 isolates (MH-35-6, MH-54-4, MH-59-1, MH-59-2, MH-59-4, MH-59-8) produced IAA, and 7 isolates (MH-35-4, MH-35-6, MH-59-1, MH-59-2, MH-59-4, MH-59-8, MH-64-3) solubilized inorganic phosphate. Additionally, only 2 isolates (MH-54-3, MH-54-4) were positive amylase tests, 8 isolates (MH-35-6, MH-54-4, MH-59-1, MH-59-2, MH-59-4, MH-59-6, MH-59-7, MH-59-8) were positive citrate tests, 8 isolates (MH-35-1, MH-35-4, MH-35-7, MH-49-4, MH-54-4, MH-59-6, MH-59-7, MH-64-3) were positive protease tests, and 6 isolates (MH-35-1, MH-35-3, MH-35-7, MH-54-3, MH-54-4, MH-59-7) were positive gelatin hydrolysis tests. Among 21 isolates, 38% were determined as hydrogen cyanide producers, 10% as siderophore producers, 29% IAA producers, 33% as phosphate solubilizers and 14% as nitrogen fixers. Isolate MH-35-6 showed the highest antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum with an inhibition rate of 53.57%. This was followed by isolates MH-54-1 (51.19%), MH-54-3 (47.61%) and MH-59-2 (38.09%), respectively. Therefore, our study reveals that bacteria that promote plant growth in sunflowers can be used to increase crop yield and as a biocontrol agent. PubDate: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +030
Authors:Ebenezer Ngissah Abstract: The impact of Fall Army Worm (FAW) infestation on the livelihood outcomes of farmers in Africa is an issue of critical concern. Specificities of information sources and their efficacy in the management of Fall Armyworm remain crucial. Yet still, the nexus between farmers’ information sources and the management of Fall Armyworm appears scarce in the related literature pertaining to the global south. This article answers the research question: What is the relationship between specific information sources and the management practices of Fall Army Worm in Ghana' Using cross-sectional data on 340 smallholder farmers, the findings showed that information derived from peer farmers, Agricultural extension officers, and the media related to the adoption of fall armyworm management practices. Additionally, information from agricultural extension agents has a significant relationship with the use of pesticides, handpicking, and frequent weeding. Generally, the majority (97%) of smallholder farmers remained aware of the presence of FAW and had been negatively affected. We recommend that peer-to-peer extension be harnessed and scaled up in the dissemination of useful agricultural information given the shortfall in adequate agricultural extension officers in Ghana and most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. PubDate: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +030
Authors:Murat Karavin Abstract: Traffic is an important pollution factor causing environmental damages such as soil, water and atmospheric pollution, greenhouse effect, and climate change. Effects of traffic pollution on various organisms enlightened with various studies. In this study, it was aimed to examine the effects of traffic-based pollution on Auchenorrhyncha (Insecta: Hemiptera) species in apple orchards and their potential as biomonitor for heavy metal pollution. The Auchenorrhyncha specimens were collected from the apple orchards near the Amasya-Samsun motorway in Türkiye. The heavy metal concentrations were determined by ICP-OES. Five Auchenorrhyncha species were determined from three sites from each of three different distance. Empoasca decipiens specimens were collected only from 0 m while others found in all localities. Heavy metal concentrations in insect specimens tended to decrease with the increasing distance from the motorway. These differences were clearly indicated in Psammotettix provincialis and Phlepsius intricatus, which were found in all localities. Except for Ni, Fe and Mn for Phlepsius intricatus, all examined heavy metals significantly varied in both species. Results showed that heavy metals tended to accumulate in the body of Auchenorrhyncha specimens and because of this they may be evaluated as a biomonitor for heavy metal pollution. PubDate: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +030
Authors:Ferhat Kızılgeçi; Zülküf Cebeli Abstract: To ensure nutritional security of rapidly increasing population, research interest has revitalized in determining the nutritional quality traits of staple food crops, especially wheat. Besides higher yield potential, research gaps exist regarding nutritional quality assessment of promising wheat genotypes grown under the Mediterranean climate. A field study was conducted to determine the relationship between yield components and quality characteristics of 22 bread wheat genotypes using the SPAD meter, GreenSeeker (NDVI), and CM-1000 chlorophyll meter at different growing stages (Stem elongation, Heading, Anthesis and Milk stage). The recorded findings revealed that G-41 genotype surpassed the rest of bread wheat genotypes by recording the maximum grain yield, whereas G-60 genotype exhibited the highest protein and wet gluten content. Among response variables, SPAD and NDVI values at the heading stage and CM-1000 values at the milk stage were found to be statistically insignificant. According to the correlation and biplot analysis, a significant positive correlation was found between the SPAD values measured for the stem elongation, anthesis and milk stage and yield and quality characteristics. Significant positive correlations were found between the NDVI values at the stem elongation, anthesis, and milk stages and the yield components, and between the CM-1000 value at the heading stage and the grain yield. PubDate: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +030
Authors:Ayşe Baran Abstract: The utilisation of plant biomass in the production of nanoparticles is gaining popularity because of its associated benefits. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are highly valuable due to their involvement in numerous biological functions. In this study, SeNPs were rapidly synthesized using the environmentally friendly and low-cost green synthesis approach using Citrus paradisi (Grapefruit) leaves extract. The synthesized SeNPs were characterized using TEM, AFM, DLS, UV-vis, XRD, and EDX data. The data revealed that SeNPs had a spherical and uniform shape, with an average size of 45 nm, a surface charge of -20.54 mV, and a peak absorbance wavelength of 326 nm. The inhibitory impact of SeNPs on harmful strains and cancer cells was investigated using the microdilution method. The development of bacteria was effectively inhibited at concentrations ranging from 4 to 16 μg /ml. PubDate: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +030
Authors:Fatma Mert Biberoğlu; Sanem Güven, Zeynep Güler Yenipınar Abstract: In this study, it was aimed to determine the relationship between physical activity and intuitive eating (IE) and mindful eating (ME) in university students. The “International Physical Activity Short Form”, “Mindful Eating Test (MET)” and “Intuitive Eating Scale (IES)” were applied by questioning the demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, health information and nutritional habits of 255 university students studying in Health and Sports sciences. Among the students whose mean age is 20.34±2.06, 86.7% of the students who are in health science are female, and 67.7% of them, who are in sports sciences are male (p<0.05). Students (51.4%) with normal Body Mass Index (BMI) consume three main meals and go on a diet for aesthetic reasons. Eating discipline (ED), emotional eating (EE), and intuitive eating total (IET) scores are higher in females, while control of eating (EC) scores are higher in males (p<0.05). Intuitive eating total score, reliance on hunger and satiety cues (RHSC), unconditional permission to eat (UPE) and EC cores are positively related to BMI. Students who are physically inactive have higher IET score, RHSC, body-food choice congruence, focusing and ED, and those who do adequate physical activity have higher eating control scores (p<0.05). Mindful eating total score and sub-dimensions are positively correlated with the score of all sub-dimensions except UPE, which is one of the sub-dimensions of IE (p<0.05). In addition, as the UPE score increases, the total scores of disinhibitions, ED, focusing, interference, EE, and ME decrease (p<0.05). In conclusion, ME and IE are positively related to each other. It is understood that adequate and balanced nutrition along with being physically active at the same time is quite important for younger individuals to be healthier. PubDate: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +030
Authors:Adnan Aydın Abstract: Black cumin is one of the important medicinal aromatic plants belonging to the Ranunculaceae family. It is mostly used in the Middle East and for some diseases, especially in the Iranian region. It is important to know the genetic resources of such important medicinal and aromatic plants. Characterization of genetic resources sheds light on both the conservation of genetic resources and the future breeding studies. In this study, a total of 8 black cumin plants were characterized with 17 RAPD primers. Presence (1) and absence (0) scoring of gel images was performed using the Agarose Gel Electrophoresis (AGE) method. In genetic characterization, phylogenetic dendrogram with Bayesian statistics and Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) with Jaccard similarity index were performed. As a result of the findings, the Nigella damascena, one of the black cumin plant species, was 100% separated from the Nigella sativa species. Additionally, Nigella sativa species differed among Konya, Eskişehir and Çameli genotypes. It gave similar results to Bayesian statistics in PCoA. The analysis indicated that Konya, Eskişehir and Çameli genotypes of Nigella sativa species have a higher potential to be used in breeding studies compared to other genotypes. PubDate: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +030
Authors:Önder Uysal; Osman Gökdoğan Abstract: This study was performed with the purpose of shedding light on the energy balance (EB) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of cherry cultivation. It was performed in Gönen district of Isparta province of Türkiye during the 2021 production period. Data related to energy inputs (EI) and outputs (EO) were gathered in cherry cultivation. They were then usaged to reveal the EB and GHG in the process. According to the results of the study, EI in cherry cultivation were 8 141.40 MJ/ha (57.04%) chemical fertilizers energy, 3 575.69 (25.05%) diesel fuel energy, 1 186.02 (8.31%) machinery energy, 469.80 (3.29%) electricity energy, 366.25 (2.57%) human labour energy, 290.30 (2.03%) irrigation water energy, 231.30 (1.62%) chemicals energy and 13.20 MJ/ha (0.09%) lime energy, respectively. Total input energy was computed to be 14 273.96 MJ/ha while output energy was found to be 29 593 MJ/ha. Energy utilization efficiency (EUE), specific energy (SE), energy productivity (EP) and net energy (NE) values were found as 2.07, 1.41 MJ/kg, 0.71 kg/MJ and 15 319.04 MJ/ha, respectively. The total energy inputs that were involved in cherry cultivation were categorized as: 32.94% (4 702.04 MJ/ha) direct (IE), 67.06% (9 571.92 MJ/ha) indirect (IDE), 4.60% (656.55 MJ/ha) renewable (RE) and 95.40% (13 617.41 MJ/ha) non-renewable (NRE). Total GHG emission was computed as 550.71 kgCO2eq/ha for cherry cultivation with the greatest share for diesel fuel (31.82%). GHG ratio value was computed as 0.05 kgCO2eq/kg in cherry cultivation. PubDate: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +030
Authors:Murat Evcil Abstract: This study evaluated the effects of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) seed essential oil (PSO) on chitosan-based films. The results showed that the addition of PSO slightly increased thickness, while significantly decreasing the moisture content, and solubility properties. The color values of the composite films containing PSO changed noticeably, with a tendency toward light brown, which was beneficial in resisting food decomposition caused by ultraviolet light. X-Ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and Fourier-transform Infrared (FT-IR) results indicated that the addition of PSO affected the structure of the chitosan films, while the interaction between chitosan and polyphenols in PSO established new hydrogen bonds. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the surface of the PSO-containing blend films was rougher compared to the chitosan control film, and the roughness increased as the PSO content in the blend films increased. Additionally, composite films that contained PSO had substantial antibacterial action, particularly against pathogenic E. coli. In short, the novel active chitosan-based films with incorporated PSO present broad application prospects in the packaging of fresh-cut meat or vegetables. Therefore, this study will also be beneficial in these areas. PubDate: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +030
Authors:Netra Ghimire; Dipesh Mehata, Ravi Acharya, Bishnu Yadav Abstract: Rice, a staple food for over half the global population, is crucial for food security, economic stability, and cultural significance. Its production, however, is threatened by pests like the Yellow Stem Borer (YSB), which causes substantial yield losses, especially in rice-dominant regions like Nepal. This study focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of biological, botanical, and chemical pesticides against YSB in spring rice crops of Ratuwamai, Morang, Nepal. For this, we apply biological methods/pathogens like Bacillus thuringiensis, to target YSB; botanical pesticides, derived from plants like Azadirachtin and Mugworth, act as repellents; while chemical pesticides such as Cypermethrin, Chlorpyriphos and Cartap Hydrochloride offer rapid control but come with environmental risks. Among those six pesticides used, the present findings revealed that chlorpyriphos 20% EC have minimum mean dead heart with 4.92% and cypermethrin 10% EC have minimum mean white ear head with 2.44% respectively after application of first and second dose of treatments respectively. Likewise, most plant yield attributes were superior where chlorpyriphos was used. Though bacillus and azadirachtin reduced the dead heart and white ear head symptoms, they couldn’t give good yield than that of chemical pesticides. Thence, through our research we investigated the impacts of different biological, botanical and chemical pesticides in controlling YSB population densities, and influencing yield and yield attributing characters from the field experiment. PubDate: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +030
Authors:Soni Majhi; Dipesh Mehata, Dipika Shah, Nand Yadav, Pratima Chaudhary, Sunny Shah, Umesh Timilsina, Prakash Rijal Abstract: The use of both organic and inorganic fertilizers plays a crucial role in farming practices in Nepal, depending on their availability. Applying fertilizers like compost, vermicompost, goat manure, and NPK has shown significant effects on various aspects of plant growth and yield. This study was conducted in Diktel, Khotang district of Nepal, from March 14th to June 7th, 2023, aiming to evaluate how different organic and inorganic sources affect the growth and yield of beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.). The experiment followed a one-factor randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications, involving five treatments: T1: 100% Compost manure, T2: 100% Vermicompost, T3: 100% Goat manure, T4: 100% NPK, and T5: Control. The results clearly showed that both vegetative and reproductive traits were significantly varies among several treatments utilized in the experiments at 0.1% level of significance. Compost application consistently showed better results across most growth and yield parameters assessed. Growth parameters included plant height, leaf count per plant, leaf length, and leaf width, while yield parameters included beetroot diameter, beetroot length, root yield, and leaf yield. Organic compost manure particularly stood out, displaying significantly larger beetroot diameter (4.85 cm) and greater beetroot length (9.3 cm). Additionally, compost manure led to notably increased root yield (13.95 t/ha) compared to the control treatment, which recorded a lower root yield (6.28 t/ha). Overall, all treatments outperformed the control in terms of growth and yield parameters. These findings suggest that organic compost manure is the most favorable choice for achieving high-quality beetroot production in the hilly regions of Nepal. PubDate: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +030
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