Yield, quality and physiological variation of strawberry in response to irrigation regimes and exogenous proline with a cost benefit analysis.

Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) production is a major aspect of the agricultural economy in Turkey's Mediterranean region, offering high rates of employment and farm revenue. The effects of treatment of the exogenous amino acid on yield, quality, and physiological diversity for strawberry production was analyzed considering the economic aspects. To achieve this, 4 different irrigation regimes (IR (irrigation) 125, IR100, IR75, IR50) with proline treatment was tested. The total berry yield, photosynthesis and leaf water potential (LWP) significantly decreased as irrigation application rates declined. The IR125 treatment with proline (PIR125) produced the highest overall berry production. The use of proline significantly increased berry production by 23%. Exogenous proline generated 3.5 kg/1 m3 greater yields than control in terms of irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE). Under the IR50 conditions, the treatment of proline yielded a 32% higher than the control. Moreover, proline significantly increased fruit soluble solids content (SSC) by 6.4%. The production system achieves the highest cost-benefit ratio (CBR) under PIR125 whereas the lowest cost-benefit ratio under IR50. When each scenario was considered at individually, it was evident that the more water used the more efficient high tunnel strawberry production. The fact that proline generated an increase in CBR in all four irrigation regimes proves this amino acid's economic effectiveness. As a result, PIR125 is recommended for the highest efficiency and CBR in Mediterranean environment. However, it has been discovered that using proline to alleviate this problem in areas where water is limited could be quite helpful.

The Mediator Role of Attitudes in Fish Choice Behavior: A Turkish Market Survey.

Due to the dynamic nature of demand, it is becoming increasingly important for the fish industry to investigate the changing choice behaviors of consumers in the face of increasing demand. This research investigated the role of attitudes and socio-demographic characteristics, which are the main factors in the fish choice behavior of consumers and in fish consumption behavior. In this context, an ordered probit model was constructed to analyze the effect of attitudes and socio-demographic characteristics as independent variables on fish consumption and purchase intention as the dependent variables. In addition, descriptive statistics were also used to reveal the current preferences related to fish. The data required for the model and descriptive statistics were obtained from 421 participants using a cross-sectional consumer survey covering the main cities of the seven regions of Turkey. The results show that while consumers prefer fish more than red meat and less than poultry, they mostly buy fresh fish from fish markets. Moreover, taste, physical appearance, convenience, wild fish, and seller trust attitudes have a significant and positive relationship with the dependent variable (the frequency of fish purchase and consumption) and price has a negative and significant relationship. Moreover, an increase in education level has a positive and significant relationship with the frequency of fish consumption. The research results provide important suggestions and information for decision-makers in the fish industry to implement effective policies and meet the consumer expectations of producers and distributors in the fish industry. In addition, the current study provides guidance for future research.

Measurement of resource use efficiency in corn production: a two-stage data envelopment analysis approach in Turkey / Medição da eficiência do uso de recursos na produção de milho: uma abordagem de análise de dados em duas fases na Turquia

This research analyzed the efficiency situation of corn farms operating in the Adana province of Turkey. In this context, required farm management data were collected from 111 corn farmers by using face to face survey method during the 2019-2020 cultivation season. To determine the technical efficiency (TE) levels of corn farms, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was applied. Furthermore, factors that cause the inefficiency in corn farms were detected by using the Tobit regression model. According to research results, the average TE levels of corn farms in the research area under the variable return to scale conditions are reported as 0.887 (111 farms). These results suggested that if farms reduced their input use by 11.3% on average, they can achieve the same output level and be able to reach full technical efficiency. The most ineffective source in terms of farms performance is machine expenditures with 68.2% of excessive use followed by labor use. In this regard, mechanization modernization, education and training of the labor force and more sensitive fertilizers and pesticide use can increase the efficiency of corn farms. Results of the Tobit regression model indicated that factors such as experience, education, number of tractors and size of the irrigated area positively influenced the TE, whereas family size in corn farming has a negative effect.

Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar a situação de eficiência das fazendas de milho operando na província de Adana, na Turquia. Neste contexto, os dados necessários de gestão da fazenda foram coletados de 111 produtores de milho usando o método de pesquisa frente a frente durante a temporada de cultivo de 2019-2020. Para determinar os níveis de eficiência técnica (TE) das fazendas de milho, foi aplicada a Análise Envoltória de Dados (DEA). Além disso, os fatores que causam a ineficiência nas fazendas de milho foram detectados por meio do modelo de regressão Tobit. De acordo com os resultados da pesquisa, os níveis médios de TE das fazendas de milho na área de pesquisa sob as condições de retorno variável à escala são encontrados em 0,887 (111 fazendas). Esses resultados sugerem que, se as fazendas reduzirem o uso de insumos em 11,3% em média, podem atingir o mesmo nível de produção e alcançar eficiência técnica plena. A fonte mais ineficaz em termos de desempenho das fazendas são os gastos com máquinas, com 68,2% do uso excedente continuado com o uso de mão de obra. Nesse sentido, a mecanização, a modernização, a educação e o treinamento da força de trabalho e o uso de fertilizantes e pesticidas mais sensíveis podem ser sugeridos para aumentar a eficiência das fazendas de milho. Os resultados do modelo de regressão Tobit indicam que fatores como experiência, escolaridade, número de tratores e tamanho da área irrigada influenciaram positivamente no TE, enquanto o tamanho da família na cultura do milho tem efeito negativo.

Consumption attributes and preferences on medicinal and aromatic plants: a consumer segmentation analysis / Atributos do consumo e percepções sobre plantas medicianis e aromáticas: uma análise da segmentação do consumidor

ABSTRACT: In recent years, increasing interest in natural and traditional plants, which are an integral part of rural life, has been observed because of health concerns and new social trends. In this regard, medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are becoming more popular among consumers. The purpose of this research is to investigate consumers' attitudes and behaviors toward MAPs in order to identify possible distinct consumer group and examine its potential linkage to the characteristics of the consumers' demographic and socio-economic status. To detect the perceived differences among consumers, the principal component and k-means cluster analysis were performed using the data from a face-to-face survey (n=420) conducted in five major cities in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. The analysis allows segmenting the market into three homogenous clusters that have distinctive behavioral, attitudinal, and socio-demographic profiles. This segmentation is particularly effective for the dynamics and further expansion of the MAP sector as an important source for rural life.

RESUMO: Nos últimos anos, o interesse crescente em plantas naturais e tradicionais, que são parte integrante da vida rural, tem sido observado devido a preocupações com a saúde e novas tendências sociais. A este respeito, plantas medicinais e aromáticas (PMA) estão se tornando mais populares entre os consumidores. O objetivo desta pesquisa é investigar as atitudes e comportamentos dos consumidores em relação às PMA, a fim de identificar possíveis grupos de consumidores distintos e examinar sua potencial ligação com as características do status demográfico e socioeconômico dos consumidores. Para detectar as diferenças percebidas entre os consumidores, a análise de componentes principais e a análise de cluster k-means foram realizadas usando os dados de uma pesquisa face a face (n=420) realizada em cinco grandes cidades da região mediterrânea da Turquia. A análise permite segmentar o mercado em três clusters homogêneos que possuem perfis comportamentais, atitudinais e sociodemográficos distintos. Esta segmentação é particularmente eficaz para a dinâmica e expansão do setor PMA como uma fonte importante para a vida rural.