This study was carried out to determine the efficiency of nitrogen (N) doses (0, 30, 60, and 90 kg N ha −1 ) under supplemental potassium (K) application (50 kg K 2 O ha −1 ) on black cumin in 2011 and 2012. The results showed that increased N levels resulted in increasing seed yield and N and K contents in seed, while oil content decreased. The seed yield and oil yield were peaked at the doses of 60 kg N ha −1 and 50 kg K ha −1 . An increase in N doses caused a reduction in oil content regardless of K supply. Saturated fatty acids and oleic acid were slightly increased by K application, while minor changes in linoleic acid were detected. It was concluded that 60 kg N ha −1 with supplemental K application should be advised for enhancement in seed yield, oil yield, and N and K contents in seeds of black cumin without significant changes in fatty acid composition.

Abstract. The salt tolerance of crop species and cultivars may vary depending on the mineral content of the soil. Phosphorus (P) availability and uptake is limited in calcareous soil. The main problem of salinity and P deficiency is reduced yield in arid and semiarid regions. To examine the relations between NaClsalinity (0, 50 mM, 100 mM and 150 mm) and P (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg P 2 O 5 ha -1 stated P 0 , P 30 , P 60 and P 90 , respectively) on growth, water potential, chlorophyll and P concentration of green beans, a pot experiment was conducted for thirty days in a climate chamber. The experiment was designed as a complete randomized block with three replicates. Salinity decreased dry matter and P concentrations of root, stem and leaf as well as the chlorophyll content of old leaves, while P application increased dry weight and the P concentration of plants. Chlorophyll content of young leaves was increased by P application and P 60 with 50 mM application led to a reduction of water loss in turgor when compared to control. The results of this study suggested that dry weight and P concentration in green bean leaves were affected positively by P 60 together with 50 mM NaCl application. In addition, the same application decreased the loss of turgidity of younger leaves. The adequate P application may have contributed to the water potential of green beans under salinization.

The comparative effect of 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8% Zn levels of zinc chelate (Zn-EDTA; 8% Zn) and zinc sulfate (23% Zn) applied as foliar sprays for assuaging zinc deficiency of chickpea cv. Gökçe was evaluated under field condition. The sprays were applied on the plants before blooming stage during 2012 and 2013 growing seasons and seed yield, yield components like plant height, pod number per plant, seed number per plant, hundred seed weight, harvest index and mineral concentrations (nitrogen, phosphorus, zinc and iron) in seeds were investigated. Plant height, pod number per plant, seed number per plant, hundred seed weight, harvest index and seed yield were investigated. The results showed that increased zinc doses caused an increase in Zn content of seed, while seed yield was not affected similarly. In general, plant height, pod number and seed number per plant increased by the application of zinc. Lower dose of Zn-EDTA and higher dose of ZnSO 4 gave higher yield components. Seed weight, harvest index and seed yield were not significantly influenced by Zn sources and doses; however, mineral concentration of seeds enhanced when Zn doses were increased. It was concluded that foliar application of zinc resulted in an increase in seed mineral contents rather than seed yield of chickpea. The dose of 0.6% with Zn-EDTA was the optimum combination for Zn enrichment in seed of chickpea.

The effects of salinity and zinc (Zn) priming on the physical and mineral composition of green bean genotypes were investigated on two green bean genotypes ('Şeker Fasulye' and 'Local Genotype') by soaking seeds in 0.05% Zn (ZnSO 4 .7H 2 O) solution and by exposing to salt stress by applying 50, 100 and 150 mM NaCl after first true leaf emergence. Plants not exposed to salt stress were treated as control. The effects of Zn priming on the salt tolerance of genotypes, fresh and dry weight of plant leaf relative water content (RWC), loss of turgidity (LOT), Na, K, Ca and Zn concentrations in the leaves, stem and root portions of plants were evaluated. The NaCl concentrations led to significant variations in the examined parameters. The highest concentration of salt (150 mM) caused fading in leaves and led to inhibition of growth and development. Salt application generally reduced the fresh and dry weights of plants of both genotypes where Zn priming showed an amendatory effect. Leaf RWC decreased with salt applications while LOT increased but Zn priming had no amendatory effect on these parameters. 'Şeker Fasulye' genotype was found to be relatively more salt tolerant than 'Local Genotype' on the basis of the investigated parameters. Zinc priming decreased the Na and Ca concentrations in plant organs; however, a decrease in K concentration was observed due to increase in NaCl.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) among metallic NPs are one of the most produced and consumed NPs in the world. Thus, TiO2-NPs release into the environment is inevitable. Their impact on food source cereals is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess the phytotoxic impacts of TiO2-NPs on growth and some mineral nutrient (zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K)) uptake of the wheat (Triticum vulgare L.) plant. The TiO2-NP suspensions at increasing concentrations (0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg L -1 ) were applied to wheat plant Yunus cultivar grown in hydroponic culture under controlled conditions for 21 days. The results indicate that the TiO2-NPs have not statistically significant effects on plant growth. The chlorophyll content was decreased with increasing TiO2-NP treatment, except for 5 mg L -1 TiO2-NPs treatment. The higher N (4.58%), P (0.78%), Zn (87.50 mg kg -1 ), and Cu (12.90 mg kg -1 ) concentration were recorded at 40 mg L -1 TiO2-NPs treatment. On the other hand, K concentration was decreased at 20 and 40 mg L -1 TiO2-NPs treatments. This study has shown that exposure to TiO2-NPs causes no significant phytotoxic effect on wheat.