Due to its importance for organic agriculture, one of the most important agricultural production systems, various sources have been proposed to increase soil organic matter content. Vermicompost is one of those sources known as the resistant last form of farmyard manure which is degraded by earthworms. Soil organic matter or humus and their compounds are nutrient sources that increase physical, chemical and biological quality of soil. Humus and humus compounds improve soil physical, chemical and biological quality parameters increasing rhizosphere aeration and water holding capacity, rehabilitating soil structure, providing plant nutrients and constituting natural media for microorganisms with their regulative effects on soil reactions. In this study, the effects of vermicompost on yield and some growth parameters of lettuce were investigated. For this purpose, a random block designed experiment with 5 different applications was conducted in 3 replicates. The applications were control, vermicompost applications of 100 kg, 200 kg and 300 kg per decare and conventional fertilization. According to the results obtained, yield and growth parameters were improved by vermicompost application when compared to control and conventional fertilization. As a result of this study, it was concluded that 300 kg vermicompost/da is a promising application in lettuce production for optimal yield and soil improvement.

We evaluated the growth performance, ion regulation, osmotic potential, and chlorophyll content of two pepper (Capsicum annuum) genotypes with different salinity tolerance levels (Karaisali is tolerant and Demre is sensitive to salinity) under saline conditions with the application of silicon (Si). Plants were grown in pots filled with vermiculite in control or saline conditions [150 mM sodium chloride (NaCl)] with or without 2 mM Si from potassium silicate for 60 days after sowing. Better growth effects due to Si application were observed in the sensitive pepper Demre than in Karaisali, particularly, the root and fruit growth were remarkably enhanced in Demre. Furthermore, Si application reduced sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) concentrations and increased potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) concentrations in the leaves and roots. The reduction in Na concentration in the leaves due to Si application was 9% and 2% in Demre and Karaisali, respectively. Under saline conditions, the increase in K concentration due to Si application in the leaves was 11% and 14% in Demre and Karaisali, respectively. In addition, Si application resulted in an increase in K/Na ratios in the leaves by 22% and 17% in Demre and Karaisali, respectively, in the presence of 150 mM NaCl. The increase in Ca concentration in the roots due to Si application was 55% in Demre compared with only 9% in Karaisali. The addition of NaCl decreased the chlorophyll concentration in both the genotypes, but Si application increased it. This increase in chlorophyll concentration was higher in Demre than in Karaisali. Si application allowed both the genotypes to maintain higher osmotic potentials than those in untreated plants. As a result, it may be claimed that under salt stress, Si application has a more alleviative effect on the susceptible pepper genotypes (Demre) than on the tolerant one (Karaisali). This information could be useful for the practical application of Si under saline conditions.

This study was conducted between the years of 2017 and 2018 in Battalgazi county of Malatya Province, Turkey, in order to determine fruit quality properties of three walnut cultivars and three local walnut genotypes under plain conditions. For this aim; kernel color and shrinkage, nut height, width and thickness, nut and kernel weights, kernel/nut ratio, shell thickness were detected as physical parameters. Additionally, total oil, protein and ash contents of kernel samples were examined as chemical parameters. Results indicated significant differences in all evaluated parameters of genotypes included in the study. Nut height, width and thickness varied between 37.55 mm -52.30 mm, 32.61 mm -42.10 mm, and 30.09 mm -41.10 mm, respectively. Nut weight varied between 11.22 g and 17.84 g and kernel/nut ratio varied between 43.89 % and 58.13 %. Total oil and protein contents varied between 64.10 -73.75 %, and 13.50 -19.66 %, respectively. The study resulted with various values in all evaluated physical and chemical parameters of the cultivars and the genotypes observed. Leading cultivar or genotype depended on different parameters, but according to overall evaluations two of the cultivars and two of the local genotypes were distinguished in terms of their performances under plain conditions. In addition, significant correlations were found between most of the characters examined in the study. Öz: Bu çalışma üç ceviz çeşidi ve üç yerel ceviz genotipinin ova koşullarında meyve kalite özelliklerinin belirlenmesi için 2017 ve 2018 yıllarında Malatya'nın Battalgazi ilçesinde yürütülmüştür. Bu amaçla, fiziksel parametreler kapsamında iç rengi ve büzüşmesi, meyve uzunluğu, genişliği, kalınlığı, meyve ve iç ağırlıkları, iç/meyve oranı, kabuk kalınlığı ölçülmüştür. İlave olarak, iç ceviz örneklerinde toplam yağ, protein ve kül miktarları kimyasal parametreler kapsamında ölçülmüştür. Sonuçlar çalışma kapsamındaki genotipler arasında incelenen tüm parametreler açısından önemli farklılıklar ortaya koymuştur. Meyve yüksekliği, genişliği ve kalınlığı sırasıyla 37.55 mm -52.30 mm, 32.61 mm -42.10 mm ve 30.09 mm -41.10 mm arasında değişmiştir. Meyve ağırlığı 11.22 g ile 17.84 g arasında değişirken, iç/meyve oranı, % 43.89 ile % 58.13 arasında değişmiştir. Toplam yağ ve protein içerikleri ise sırasıyla % 64.10 -73.75 ve % 13.50 -19.66 arasında değişmiştir. Çalışma sonucunda incelenen çeşitlerin ve yerel genotiplerin değerlendirilen YYÜ TAR BİL DERG (YYU J AGR SCI) 29 (4): 731-737 Karlıdağ ve ark. / Physical and Chemical Fruit Quality Properties of Some Walnut Cultivars and Promising Local Selections Grown Under Plain Conditions in Malatya 732 tüm fiziksel ve kimyasal parametreler açısından önemli seviyede farklı sonuçlar elde edilmiştir. Parametrelere göre öne çıkan genotip farklılık göstermekle beraber, genel değerlendirmelere göre ova şartlarındaki performansları açısından iki çeşit ve iki yerel genotip öne çıkmıştır. Bunun yanında çalışma kapsamında incelenen çoğu karakter arasında önemli seviyede korelasyon bulunmuştur.

Industrialization and rapid population growth, especially after the second half of the twentieth century, have also revealed significant environmental problems in the world. The consistent and alarming increase in the human population has again threatened the world's food security. It is becoming increasingly clear that conventional agricultural practices cannot sustain the production base, a healthy plant-soil system, for too long. There is a growing worldwide demand for compatible environmentally friendly techniques in agriculture, capable of providing adequate nourishment for the increasing human population and of improving the quality and quantity of certain agricultural products. For these reasons, the application of beneficial microorganisms is an important alternative to some of the traditional agricultural techniques which very often severely alter the agroecosystem balance and cause serious damage to health. Beneficial microorganisms can play a key role in this major challenge, as they fulfill important ecosystem functions for plants and soil. Utilization of these microorganisms affects plant's growth and yield in a positive way. Besides, their favorable effects on root growth help plants to deal with both biotic and abiotic stress factors. PGPR and mycorrhizae can influence higher plants response to abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity through different mechanisms.

In order to determine nutrition status of the apple orchards in Doğanşehir region of Malatya Province, chemical and physical properties of soil samples, and macro and micro nutrient contents of soil and leaf samples taken from the selected orchards from different parts of the region were determined in 2017. Soil samples were collected from two depths of 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm, 1 kg from each depth, in September. Leaf samples, 100 leaves taken from head level of trees representing the related orchard, were collected 11 weeks after full blossom. Results indicated that soil texture, pH and salinity level was appropriate for apple growing, but loam content was generally high and organic matter was poor. Except Mn and Zn, macro and micro nutrients were found adequate in soil samples of most of the orchards. Sampling depth did not affected soil properties in most of the orchards. Almost all of the leaf samples were found adequate in N, P, Fe, and Cu contents, whereas they were found inadequate in terms of K, Ca, and Zn contents. N content varied between 0.068% and 0.106% in soil samples, and between 1.78% and 2.68% in leaf samples.