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Aerobic stability is one of the important factors affecting the nutritive value of silages for livestock and determined by various methods. The aim of the current experiment was to design a microcontroller based low cost device using CO2 sensor for determination of aerobic stability of silage and compare with the conventional temperature measurement system. It was hypothesised that the time taken to increase the silage temperature by 2oC above room temperature and produce 10 g CO2 kg-1 DM might be similar or comparable for the same silages when the silage is exposed to air simultaneously. The microcontroller based low cost device was designed and allowed discrimination between silages in terms of aerobic stability as in the temperature measurement system. The data obtained by microcontroller based low cost device is consistent with data obtained by the temperature measurement system. The time taken to increase silage temperature by 2°C above room temperature and produce 10 g CO2 kg-1 dry matter (DM) of silage were similar in both measurement systems. It was also found that the high correlation coefficients between CO2 production and temperature until reflection point of temperature obtained and ranged from 0.990 to 0.995 for sugar beet pulp silage (SNPS) and corn silage (CS). The CO2 sensor has provided the opportunity in designing a simple and handy device with an affordable cost to measure the aerobic stability of silage as accurately as temperature measurement system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical analysis of CaCO3 contents of soils provide information about not only efficiency of soil for supplying plant with nutrients but also identification of factors affecting this efficiency in the soil. The aim of the current experiment was to develop new methods based on sensors and compare with conventional Scheibler method. The CO2 liberated by the action of HCl on CaCO3 content of the soil in a reaction bottle and an accumulation chamber was determined by pressure sensor and CO2 sensor, respectively. The CaCO3 contents of soils were estimated using the regression equation of standard curves. The CaCO3 contents of soils obtained using Scheibler calcimetric, pressure and CO2 sensor methods ranged from 0.20 to 54.74%, 0.25 to 54.10% and 0.55 to 53.05%, respectively. On the basis of linearity of calibration curve and high correlation with Scheibler calcimetric method it can be said that developed pressure and CO2 sensor methods appears to be very useful for quantification of CaCO3 contents of soils. The pressure sensor has provided the opportunity in developing a simple and handy device with an affordable cost to measure CaCO3 contents of soils as accurately as Scheibler calcimeter when compared with CO2 sensor method. Even if there is a good relationship between Scheibler calcimetric method and CO2 sensor method the cost of CO2 sensor method may limit the use in determination of CaCO3 contents of soils. However, CO2 sensor method can be used to monitor CO2 evolved in biochemical process such as respiration and fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Aims: It is aimed to determine the level of mechanization in the Southeastern Anatolia Region in order to make better production planning, increase productivity and create projections for the future in agricultural enterprises. Methods and Results: In this study, mechanization level indicator values (kW ha-1, number of tractors 1000 ha-1, ha tractor-1, machine tractor-1) in the provinces of Southeastern Anatolia Region in Turkey were determined for the years 2010-2019 and the trends in the kW ha-1 value were predicted to using trend analysis for the years 2020-2030. The data were obtained from the Turkey Statistical Institute and the mechanization level indicators were calculated. Conclusions: Throughout the region by years, kW ha-1 and tractor 1000 ha-1 indicator values increased (0.70-0.99 kW ha-1; 17.45-24.63 tractor 1000 ha-1), but ha tractor-1 and machine tractor-1 values decreased (57.29-40.60 ha tractor-1; 5.17-5.04 machine tractor-1). The highest kW ha-1 value was in the province of Adıyaman (1.81-2.47 kW ha-1) and the lowest was in Diyarbakır province (0.60-0.74 kW ha-1). This indicator reached 0.70-0.99 kW ha-1 with an average increase of 3.70% in ten years throughout the region. An average increase of 2.47% was found in kW ha-1 value for the period 2020-2030 for the whole region. This indicator was 2.2% greater than the average of Turkey. kW ha-1 value for the whole region was estimated to be 1.02 in 2020, 1.16 in 2025 and 1.31 in 2030. The level of mechanization in the region has improved over the years, but this level of recovery rate was determined to be low. Significance and Impact of the Study: Comprehensive identification of the level of agricultural mechanization on a regional/provincial basis with current data will be able to contribute to agricultural development plans and ensure that the correct decisions are made for the future. In this way, agricultural enterprises will be able to make healthier production planning, select optimum tractor and machine sizes, increase productivity and create projections for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weed control is vital in agricultural production. Chemical control methods are generally preferred in weed control as they (1) affect quickly and (2) reduce the labour requirement. However, in conventional applications chemicals are generally applied to whole field surface. Therefore, non-targeted areas are also sprayed. This increases 1) amount of herbicide used and (2) risk of off-target chemical movement. In this study, a patch spraying system was developed to automatically detect and spray herbicides on weeds in the corn field based on weed density. In order to determine the weed regions, a digital camera was fitted in front of the tractor. The images taken using the camera were then simultaneously processed using an algorithm written in MatlabTM software. The results of the field study showed that at 4, 6 and 8 km h-1 forward speeds, application volumes decrease by 30.21%, 28.82% and 32.28%, respectively, when it is compared to the conventional application methods. It was also determined that the application accuracy rates were 80%, 81.66% and 75% respectively for 4, 6 and 8 km h-1 speeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]