Agriculture Commons^™

The Development Of Tin Bronze In The Southern Levant During The Bronze Age, Ilana Peters, Yotam Asscher, Naama Yahalom-Mack

'Atiqot

The paper surveys the development of the use of tin bronze in the Southern Levant, outlining its emergence in the late Early Bronze Age until its eventual predominance in the Late Bronze Age. As there are no tin or arsenical copper sources in the region, the paper discusses the potential sources based on archaeological and textual evidence, including recent analytical data, reflecting a possible correlation between the changes in metal sources and the shift from arsenical copper to tin bronze.

Researching Chalcolithic Ivories From The Southern Levant: Craft Items For Ritual, Prestige And Exchange, Harel Shochat, Liora Kolska Horwitz, Avishay Levi-Hevroni, Martin D. Pasternak, Pablo Betzer, Daniel Varga, Yael Abadi-Reiss, Olga Negnevitsky, Ilan Naor, Ianir Milevski

'Atiqot

The Late Chalcolithic period in the Southern Levant, mainly the Ghassulian culture (mid-fifth–mid-fourth millennia BCE), heralded a new and unique trajectory in craft specialization, with ivory objects, including figurines, tools and vessels, among the outstanding ones. Hippopotamus and elephant ivory, probably of varied geographic provenience, were the raw materials employed. This paper presents two recently excavated ivory caches from the Late Chalcolithic sites of Ḥorbat Raqiq and Yavne (East), and reviews Chalcolithic ivories from this region. Additionally, a systematic microscopic analysis to determine the taxonomic identification of raw material and typological classification of each artifact is presented, offering novel perspectives …

Exploring The Genetic Diversity And Population Structure Of Serbian And Selected European Bread Wheat Cultivars Through Ipbs-Retrotransposon Markers, Rada Šućur, Amjad Ali, Parnaz Mortazavi, Muhammad Tanveer Altaf, Muhammed Tatar, Muhammad Azhar Nadeem, Bojan Jocković, Velimir Mladenov, Sotirios Fragkostefanakis, Yong Suk Chung, Faheem Shehzad Baloch

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Bread wheat is a globally vital crop, sustaining millions and contributing to food security. The present study investigated the molecular characterization of 60 bread wheat accessions, using 12 interprimer binding site (iPBS) retrotransposon markers, which yielded a total of 260 distinct bands. Out of the 260 bands, 42 were monomorphic while the remaining 218 (83.84%) were polymorphic, with polymorphism information content values ranging from 0.38 to 0.45. Genetic diversity indices, including Shannon’s information index (I = 0.01–0.53), effective number of alleles (Ne = 1.00–1.63), gene diversity (He = 0.0037–0.36), and marker index (MI = 0.31– 0.51), revealed moderate variability across …

Effects Of Storage Temperatures On Quality And Phytochemical Properties Of The Hawthorn (Crataegus Azarolus L.) During Storage And Shelf Life, Ahmet Erhan Özdemi̇r, Oğuzhan Çalişkan, Safder Bayazit, Kazi̇m Gündüz, Nurdan Tuna Güneş, Zafer Karaşahi̇n, Derya Kiliç, Ramazan Bestami̇ Karahan

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study aimed to investigate the effects of storage temperature on the quality and phytochemical characteristics in Sultan hawthorn cultivar during cold storage and shelf life. Fruits were stored at 0 ± 0.5 °C and 4 ± 0.5 °C and 90 ± 5% relative humidity (RH) for 6 months in cold storage and were analyzed every month. In addition, hawthorn fruits were kept at 20 ± 0.5 °C and 75 ± 5% RH for 7 days, and their shelf life was investigated at monthly intervals. Weight loss, appearance, the incidence of physiological disorders and fungal decay, fruit skin color, firmness, …

Monitoring The Developmental Stages Of Calendula Officinalis L. Nutrients Efficacy Under Hot Weather Mitigation Through Nutrients In Haripur, Pakistan, Waseem Ahmed, Rafia Azmat, Shah Masaud Khan, Abdul Qayyum, Waseem Hassan, Adnan Noor Shah, Muhammad Hadi Abbas, Fatima M. Abbas, Tahani A.Y. Asseri, Ahmet Hakan Ürüşan

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study examines the effect of different doses of N and P fertilizer on Calendula officinalis L. (marigold) during the hot weather in summer (May–July) in Pakistan. The aim was to determine whether fertilization can help minimize the impacts of climate change. During the summer peak seasons (May, June, and July), the trial was conducted in potted plants with different N and P application levels to monitor the quality and quantity of C. officinalis. The results showed that the interactive effects (N × P) gave higher values for plant height, number of leaves, fresh weight, leaf length, and number of …

Chemical Weed Control Strategies For Sweet Corn In Türkiye’S Diverse Production Areas, Zübeyde Fi̇li̇z Arslan, Ahmet Uludağ, Hüseyi̇n Güngör, Ti̇muçi̇n Taş, Emi̇ne Aydin, Martin M. Williams Ii

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Sweet corn production in Türkiye is failing to match growing demand from consumers and the food industry. Weeds severely limit sweet corn production, yet only a single herbicide is registered in Türkiye. Due to labor costs, hand weeding is no longer affordable and growers are demanding cost-effective weed control strategies for sweet corn production. Nine treatments including preemergence (PRE) and/or postemergence (POST) herbicides were tested across the country’s diverse growing environments. Compared to the weedy control, all treatments increased the number of marketable ears. Only two treatments—s-metolachlor plus terbuthylazine followed by isoxaflutole plus cyprosulfamide plus theincarbazone-methyl and dimethenamid followed by …

Green Synthesis Of Silver Nanoparticles From Melanoleuca Grammopodia: Changes In Bioactive Components, Antidiabetic Properties And Bioaccessibility, İsmai̇l Acar, Emi̇ne Okumuş, Arzu Karataş

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using plant materials allows the production of low-cost and biocompatible nanoparticles without the use of toxic compounds or solvents. In this study, biogenic AgNP/Mg nanoparticles were synthesized using the Melanoleuca grammopodia mushroom. Vitamin C and E contents of the mushroom were 42.6 mg/g and 26.82 mg/g, respectively. FTIR analysis revealed the reducing and stabilizing effects of bioactive components present in M. grammopodia mushroom extract. SEM micrographs showed that the nanoparticles were spherical in form and the EDX spectrum confirmed the presence of the characteristic metallic silver peak at 3.0 keV. A significant reduction in …

Design And Structural Optimization Of Acceleration Pipe For Mhd Accelerated Jujube Air-Suction Harvester, Yi Wang, Jing Nie, Jingbin Li, Longpeng Ding, Xuewei Chao, Xianfei Wang

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The combination of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) acceleration technology and the negative pressure suction principle ensures the effective lifting and transport of jujube fruits, addressing the challenges of traditional harvesting methods and providing a new solution for improving jujube harvesting efficiency. This study focuses on the impact of key parameters, including pipe diameter, electrode plate length, and electrode positioning, on the performance of the MHD acceleration pipe through numerical simulations. The structural optimization of the MHD acceleration pipe in the air-suction jujube harvester aims to enhance airflow acceleration efficiency. The results from both numerical simulations and experimental studies indicate that: 1) a …

Insights From Multivariate Analysis Of Seed Vigor Traits In Rapeseed And Mustard (Brassica Spp.) Genotypes, Ayushi Yadav, Shiv Kumar Yadav, Ravish Choudhary, Sushma Mudlupura Kumar, Anbalagan Anumantharaj, Rakesh Bharadwaj, Rashmi Yadav, Yashpal Taak, Navinder Saini, Sneha Adhikari, Sangita Yadav

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Rapeseed and mustard (Brassica spp.) are critical oilseed crops contributing significantly to global edible oil production. In India, Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) dominates Brassica cultivation, yet the country remains heavily dependent on edible oil imports due to insufficient domestic production. Enhancing seed vigor, a key determinant of crop establishment and yield, offers a promising avenue for improving productivity. This study assessed the genetic diversity of 300 rapeseed and mustard genotypes for seed vigor traits using multivariate analysis, including principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis. Eleven seed vigor-related traits were evaluated, and PCA revealed four principal components with eigenvalues greater …

Effects Of Polyethylene Films With Different Uv-A Transmittance On Quality Parameters And Physiology Of Greenhouse-Grown Tomato, Nefi̇se Yasemi̇n Tezcan, Mustafa Erkan, Ahmet Kurunç

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

In this study, the effects of three different polyethylene (PE) greenhouse covering materials (CMs) with varying thicknesses and ultraviolet-A (UV-A) transmittance on greenhouse microclimate, plant growth, yield, fruit quality, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (Chl FPs) in tomatoes were investigated. The CMs used in the study were 180 μm thick ultraviolet (UV) + ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) + long-wave infrared (IR) + light diffuser (LD) + antifog (AF) added PE (CM1), 160 μm thick PLUS UV + EVA + IR + LD + AF added PE (CM2), and 200 μm thick UV + EVA + IR + LD added PE (CM3). …

Wbd-Yolo-Am: Yolov8 With Attention Module And Iot-Based Wild Boar Detection And Deterrence System For Safeguarding Small Millets, Aditya Joshi, Neha Pandey, Manoj Diwakar, Prabhishek Singh, Achyut Shankar, Fayez Alqahtani

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Small millets are traditional and climate-resilient food crops that can grow in adverse weather conditions. Animal intrusion, specifically from wild boars, is a main threat to the production of small millets, which reduces interest in the cultivation of small millets and affects farmers’ incomes. To address the problem of wild boar attack on agriculture land, an improved YOLOv8 is proposed, with an attention module based on WBD-YOLO-AM and that works from the collection of data, its preprocessing, attention mechanism to improve the feature maps, training then building the model, after that the models hyperparameter are tuned to boost the performance …

The Status Of Agritourism In Bosnia And Herzegovina, Nerma Čolaković-Prguda, Jasna Hasanbegović, Irma Đidelija Čolaković, Lejla Škaljić, Nuray Demi̇r

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Agritourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina has a lot of potential benefit for economic growth and sustainable development in rural regions, as it incorporates local culture and natural beauty into the tourism offerings of the region. Tourism creates opportunities to diversify the economy, retain traditions, improve local income, and protect natural resources. This study covered Međugorje, Ilijaš, Rostovo, Vlašić, Bosanska Krupa, Neum, Olovo, Gornji Vakuf, Sarajevo, and Donji Vakuf. Agritourism can provide authentic experiences like learning about traditional agriculture, fruit harvesting, tasting local products, and environmental preservation in destinations like Međugorje and Neum. Ilijaš and Gornji Vakuf have potential in organic …

Innovative Approaches To Estimating Sessile Oak Stem Volume: Comparing Additive Models And Ensemble Machine Learning, Maria J. Diamantopoulou, Abbas Şahi̇n, Ramazan Özçeli̇k

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Sessile oak is an important deciduous forest tree species across Türkiye and Europe. Estimating individual tree and stand volumes is essential for growth and yield models, as these predictions play a critical role in assessing forest management, economics, and fire risk. In pursuit of this goal, nonlinear seemingly unrelated regression (NSUR) was used for the simultaneous fitting of stem volume components, and compared to three ensemble machine learning techniques: gradient boosting regression (GBr), XGBoost regression (XGBr), and random forest regression (RFr). NSUR accounts for correlations between error terms across different equations, leading to more efficient parameter estimates than if each …

Hunting Lease Comparisons For Wild Game Across Nebraska In 2025, Jim Jansen

Cornhusker Economics

The Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Survey and Report 2024-2025 provides insight into recent trends in the market value of land and cash rental across the state. Each year, the special feature section covers topics on new or emerging issues related to the agricultural land industry in Nebraska. These topics reflect the interest expressed by panel members and readership of the Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Highlights Reports. The special feature section in 2025 focuses on hunting rental arrangements in Nebraska, including the types of wild game commonly hunted and the value associated with leasing these rights.

Landowners seeking to …

Partial Budgets Quantify Economic Outcomes Of Soil Health Management For Farmers, Jessica A. Kelton, W. Archie Flanders, Emily P. Ball, Dianna K. Bagnall, C. Wayne Honeycutt

Journal of Extension

Implementation of soil health management systems, such as reduced tillage and cover cropping, can reduce soil erosion, increase water infiltration, and improve soil productivity. Adoption of these practices can also improve net farm income, but effects vary based on region, commodity, and production methods. A partial budget analysis approach was used to evaluate impacts of adoption of soil health management systems on profitability from a regional, on-farm, perspective. The approach provides farmers with a resource to support decisions when considering the adoption of soil health management systems.

Economic Analysis Of Stockers Grazing Botanically Diverse Summer Annual Pasture, Kelly M. Mercier, Christopher D. Teutsch, S. Ray Smith, Kenneth H. Burdine, Eric S. Vanzant, Edwin L. Ritchey

Journal of Extension

Economic analyses were performed to determine the feasibility of retaining weaned fall-born calves on summer annual pastures (a monoculture, a 3-species mixture, or a 12-species mixture). Average daily gain was reduced by 0.3 lbs/day in calves grazing the complex mixture in two out of three years. Enterprise budgeting illustrated that retaining calves on summer annual forages was not economical. Two-way net return tables indicated that this scenario would only be profitable when cattle prices are high and pasture establishment costs are low. Extension educators should be sure to emphasize the economic risks when discussing these systems.

Facilitating Farmer-To-Farmer Elearning: An Evaluation Of Climate And Wildfires Online Courses In California, Natalia Pinzon, Caitlin Brimm

Journal of Extension

This study assesses the effectiveness of two online courses tailored for farmers and ranchers in California, with a particular focus on the role of farmer-to-farmer pedagogies. Utilizing live sessions, a social-learning platform, and multimedia content, we draw insights from engagement metrics, lesson and end-of-course survey evaluations, and course outcomes. Key findings highlight the pivotal role of peer interactions, featuring farmers and completion incentives. Based on the findings, we advocate for the integration of farmer-to-farmer education methods within online learning environments to cultivate regional learning networks, and promote the timely exchange and co-creation of agricultural knowledge amid environmental change.

Evaluation Of South Carolina’S Extension And Outreach Agents’ Knowledge Of Harmful Algal Bloom Management And The Impacts Of One-Day Training, George Strickland, Debabrata Sahoo, Michael Vassalos, Heather Nix, Sarah White

Journal of Extension

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) impact livestock producers. Most Extension agents have limited knowledge about HAB management. Our study goal was to assess agent readiness and training on HABs. We used data from in-person surveys of South Carolina (SC) Extension personnel. We examined how training influenced HAB knowledge using pre/post-tests. Training improved agent knowledge of HAB management, but water resource agents learned more. The results of this study can be used to identify Extension training shortfalls and drive policy to better prepare agents throughout the state. Further research should involve prioritizing additional extension topics and assessing knowledge in a similar manner.

Tractors On The Mall: Unraveling The New Deal, Political Shifts, And The 1980s Farm Crisis, Tracy M. Neblina

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In the 1980s, Midwestern farmers faced an economic crisis that rivaled the Great Depression. Agricultural policy in the 1970s and 1980s led to a boom and bust for many of the nation’s farmers, causing the decline in rural communities in the middle of the country. During this period, more efficient agricultural production, shifting federal policy, high inflation, and devalued farmland led farmers in the Midwest to face incredible economic hardships, loss of land, changes in their communities, and challenges to their sense of purpose and identity. The Farm Crisis of the 1980s furnishes an extraordinary opportunity to investigate a confluence …

Four Nebraska Public Power District (Nppd) Irrigation Electricity Purchase Options, Matt Stockton

Cornhusker Economics

Farm managers are destined to face a myriad of choices while looking for and seeking the right balance between methods and outcomes that satisfy their individual farm’s needs. Successful farms require productivity, profitability, and continuity. This holds true for the many production choices made throughout the year. One of these opportunities is the purchase of electricity for irrigation. Nebraska is a unique state in that its electric power is generated and delivered by public power companies. The largest single entity in that system is NPPD, which serves all or part of 84 of the 93 counties within the state. NPPD …

Larkspur Cut Flower Production In Utah, Nick Volesky, Melanie Stock

All Current Publications

Larkspur is an annual crop that provides vertical structure, height, and balance to floral arrangements. Stems also dry well, making them ideal for dried floral designs and other products. Paired with low input costs compared to many other flowers, larkspur is a competitive local crop for small farms. Utah State University (USU) trialed three colors for each Cannes, Fancy, and QIS^TM series (C. ajacis) in 2023 and 2024. This fact sheet covers site preparation, direct sowing and plant density, nutrient management, irrigation, pests and disease, harvest and storage, and economics.

Agricultural Biotechnology In The Courts: Judicial Opinions And Commentary, Drew L. Kershen

Faculty Articles

Seven jurisdictions from around the world have issued judicial opinions that address fundamental issues about the governance and regulatory systems of agricultural biotechnology. This article summarizes these legal proceedings and describes their impact upon agricultural biotechnology. The article then provides a commentary and critique of the legal proceedings and resulting judicial opinions.

Shimmering Mirage Or A Promised Land? Climate Change, Agriculture, And Internal Migration In Sabha, Jordan, Tyler J. Rak

Capstone Collection

Given the rapidly shifting climate, high vulnerability, and low adaptability to climate related changes that rural areas face, this study highlights the complex relationship between climate change -- especially water scarcity -- agriculture, and internal migration in rural Jordan. I predict that if water scarcity is present and climate changes are occurring, they will undercut the rural agriculture sector which could contribute to rural out-migration. To study this relationship, I conducted a case study in Sabha, a small rural community in the Northern Badia of Jordan. Data was gathered by engaging in semi-structured interviews with current community members in Sabha …

From Larvae To Livelihoods: Examining The Realities Of Black Soldier Fly Farming In Malawi, Emily Herriott

Capstone Collection

Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae offer a cost-effective, nutrient-rich alternative to synthetic fertilizers and conventional feed inputs such as soy, fishmeal, and maize bran in sub-Saharan Africa. In Malawi, where smallholder farmers grapple with declining soil fertility, high input prices, chronic food insecurity, and livestock nutritional challenges, BSF farming is emerging as a promising circular agricultural innovation. Despite its technical promise, the social, economic, and ecological realities of BSF adoption remain underexplored.This study investigates the early implementation of BSF farming in Malawi through the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, focusing on farmer experiences, challenges, and the social and structural processes shaping uptake …

Northern Arizona Ecological Conservation: Assessing Quaking Aspen Health In Northern Arizona Using Earth Observations, Ikram Morso, Luke Collins, Margaret Cox, Melissa Schwan

Aspen Bibliography

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) forests in Northern Arizona provide critical habitat for endangered bird species and support regional tourism and recreation. However, aspen populations are declining due to a combination of abiotic and biotic stressors. In response, land managers implemented strategies, such as ungulate exclusion fencing, prescribed burns, and stand thinning, but efforts are constrained by limited data on where and when to intervene. This project worked in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, and Northern Arizona University School of Forestry. The team utilized Earth observations …

Efficacy Of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus And Its Metabolites To Mitigate The Risk Of Foodborne Pathogens In Hydroponic Nutrient Solution, Esther Oginni, Robin A. Choudhury, Veerachandra Yemmireddy

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Hydroponic nutrient solution (HNS) has been established as an ideal conduit for pathogen contamination and proliferation. This study evaluated the efficacy of lactic acid bacteria and their metabolites in mitigating the risk of foodborne pathogens in HNS when compared to conventional chemical treatments. Hoagland’s HNS were prepared according to the manufacturer’s instructions and inoculated with Salmonella Typhimurium, Escherichia coli 0157:H7, and Listeria innocua at 105 CFU/mL cell concentration. These nutrient solutions were subjected to treatment with various concentrations of Lactobacillus rhamnosus live cells, a cell-free extract (CFE) of L. rhamnosus metabolites, sodium hypochlorite and peroxyacetic acid at 22 ± 1 …

Developing Site-Specific Water Response Functions Using Historical Soil Moisture Data, Gifty Lad Ayela

Theses and Dissertations

Variable rate irrigation (VRI) systems offer a promising solution by optimizing water application based on site-specific needs in different areas within a crop field. While accurate crop water production functions (CWPFs) are essential for VRI systems, developing CWPFs has been hindered by challenges in data collection and the complexities of modeling water’s impact on yields. This study attempts to develop site-specific CWPFs using farmers’ historical soil moisture data, collected using soil water tension (SWT) as a proxy, and yield maps. The spatial variability of the crop-water response functions was modeled using Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) and the results from this …

Managing Undesirable Vegetation Transitions On The Landscape: A Study Of Perceptions Of Conservation Professionals In Nebraska And Montana, Anubrata Deka, Simanti Banerjee, Theresa Floyd

Cornhusker Economics

In this bulletin, we have provided a descriptive analysis of the perceptions of conservation professionals in Nebraska and Montana, two states where the rangeland ecosystem is facing a large-scale transition from native grasses to invasive trees and grasses. This analysis provides an initial understanding of the different factors that can influence adoption of policy initiatives by conservation professionals. When considered alongside insights into the management behaviors of ranchers—whose productivity and profitability are adversely affected by these transitions—this information helps form a more comprehensive picture of the ecological and economic impacts of UVTs, as well as strategies for their mitigation. In …

Crop Yield Prediction At Multiple Spatial Scales With Statistical Machine Learning, Vaibhav Charan, Pratishtha Poudel

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Understanding and accurately predicting crop yield is becoming increasingly important today in the face of global food security challenges, and thus, the availability of standardized data and scalable models is the need of the hour. To support this, researchers have developed CY-Bench (Crop Yield Benchmark), a comprehensive dataset that helps forecast maize and wheat yields on a global scale. This research project primarily involved working with the CY-Bench dataset aiming to improve crop yield prediction through machine learning. Initially, papers explaining the CY-Bench dataset and other papers for agriculture modeling were studied and analyzed in detail. The research then progressed …

Silicon Is The Next Frontier In Plant Synthetic Biology, Aniruddha Acharya, Kaitlin Hopkins, Tatum Simms

Faculty Publications - Biological Sciences

Silicon has a striking similarity to carbon and is found in plant cells. However, there is no specific role that has been assigned to silicon in the life cycle of plants. The amount of silicon in plant cells is species specific and can reach levels comparable to macronutrients. Silicon is used extensively in artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and the digital revolution, and thus can serve as an informational molecule such as nucleic acids. The diverse potential of silicon to bond with different chemical species is analogous to carbon; thus, it can serve as a structural candidate similar to proteins. The discovery …