Seasonal Production Research Articles

FORMATION OF DEMAND AND SUPPLY IN AGRICULTURAL MARKETS OF UKRAINE IN CONDITIONS OF EXTRAORDINARY CHALLENGES

Modern global instability caused by economic, social and natural factors, which requires a deep understanding and analysis of the impact of such conditions on the formation of demand and supply in the agricultural sector. The relevance of the study is determined by the acute nature of the extraordinary challenges faced by the agricultural sector of Ukraine. In connection with the instability of the economic and political situation, agricultural markets become the object of increased influence of external factors, such as military conflicts, economic sanctions and changes in climatic conditions. Taking into account the dynamism of the market and the search for optimal answers to challenges makes this topic important for the scientific community and practical participants of the agricultural sector. The purpose of the research is to conduct a detailed scientific and practical substantiation of the peculiarities of the formation of demand and supply in the agricultural markets of Ukraine in conditions of extraordinary challenges. The research used general scientific (generalization, comparison, induction and deduction) and empirical-theoretical methods (analysis, synthesis). The use of system- structural and statistical analysis made it possible to analyze the Ukrainian agricultural market and allowed to determine changes in consumer demand for the main groups of products, taking into account economic, social and geopolitical factors. It was found out that the subject of purchase and sale on the agrarian market is agricultural products, the characteristics and peculiarities of production of which determine the uniqueness of the agrarian market in comparison with other types of markets. It has been established that the population's food needs are fully met, and as a result, the country has the opportunity to export products. On the basis of the obtained results, it was established that as a result of a significant increase in food prices, a possible reduction in the assortment of these products and a loss of stable income among the population, it was found that they will lead to a shift in the balance of consumption in favor of bakery products and semi-finished products, which is caused by a decrease in the consumption of livestock products, fish and seasonal products. The results of the study can be used to develop an effective policy of state regulation aimed at increasing the competitiveness of agricultural markets, and can also be used for the further development of risk management programs and strategies in the agricultural sector.

Trends in the elements of the carbonate system of Lake Ladoga

During the observation period in 2003 – 2021, it was shown that the total concentration of dissolved inorganic carbon, represented in the water of Lake Ladoga mainly HCO3ˉ and CO2 has been increasing in recent years. The concentration of CO2 has a sufficiently large spatial and temporal variability and, in terms of carbon at the stations under consideration, can range from 0.6 to 47 % of the total concentration of dissolved inorganic carbon, depending on the change in the ratio of production and destruction processes in different seasons at different horizons. At the same time, a significant interannual trend of an increase in the total concentration of dissolved carbon dioxide and, accordingly, a decrease in the hydrogen index was revealed. Calculation of the balance of dissolved in water and atmospheric CO2 showed that, in general, CO2 concentrations in water exceed equilibrium, however, at the peak of the growing season, the surface layer of the lake in some cases, on the contrary, can absorb carbon dioxide from the air. This effect of the «biological pump» is most clearly manifested in the nutrient-rich and heated shallow part of the lake. However, in the main body of water, there is an interannual trend of increasing the calculated concentrations of dissolved carbon dioxide relative to its equilibrium concentrations with the atmosphere. Due to the shortage of nutrients, primarily phosphorus, an increase in temperature does not lead to an increase in productivity and CO2 consumption. Stoichiometric ratios of apparent oxygen and carbon deficiency, in turn, demonstrate that the quantitative change in the content of dissolved carbon in water can be fully explained by oxidation or synthesis of organic matter in only a third of the cases considered. In the remaining 2/3 of cases, the increase in the concentration of dissolved inorganic carbon may be associated with an increase in carbon runoff from the catchment area into Lake Ladoga, or with intra-reservoir processes associated with the peculiarities of accumulation and redistribution of CO2 in the water column.

Impact of meteorological variability on diurnal and seasonal net ecosystem productivity in a desert riparian forest ecosystem.

The desert riparian forests are susceptible to meteorological changes and contribute significantly to the net ecosystem productivity (NEP) variations of arid ecosystems. However, the responsive patterns of their NEP variations to the meteorological variabilities remain inadequately comprehended. To address this gap, we utilized seven years of eddy covariance flux measurements in a representative desert riparian forest to investigate the NEP variations and its response to changing meteorological factors across diverse temporal scales. The results revealed significant periodic variations in half-hourly NEP, with dominant cycles spanning from five hours to one year, with a principal oscillation period of one day. Key meteorological factors including global solar radiation (Rg), relative humidity (RH), air temperature (Ta), soil temperature (Ts), and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) exhibited synchronization with NEP on daily scales. This synchronization, coupled with the observed one-day periodic NEP variations, provides robust evidence supporting the existence of a circadian rhythm in the ecosystem carbon exchange of desert riparian forest regulated by meteorological conditions. Seasonal patterns were significant in the impact of Rg phase, Ta diurnal amplitude, and VPD diurnal amplitude on NEP diurnal amplitude and phase. The NEP diurnal amplitude significantly, directly, and positively affected daily NEP in both the dormant and growing seasons, whereas its phase yielded significant negative effects (P< 0.05). The averages, amplitudes, and phases of diurnal meteorological conditions controlled the daily NEP by regulating NEP diurnal amplitude and phase. These findings provide evidence that the variability in circadian rhythms, caused by the increase in diurnal Ta and VPD, significantly impact the daily NEP at an ecosystem scale. This study enriches our comprehension of the meteorological mechanisms governing diurnal and seasonal carbon uptake dynamics within desert riparian forests, providing fresh insights into the direct and indirect roles of climate change in shaping patterns of ecosystem carbon exchange.

Coccolithophore seasonal export production and fluxes in the Ionian Sea, eastern Mediterranean (June 2004–September 2005).

Coccolithophore seasonal export production and fluxes in the Ionian Sea, eastern Mediterranean (June 2004–September 2005).

Increasing the prospective capacity of global crop and rangeland monitoring with phenology tailored seasonal precipitation forecasts

Droughts are more and more often a limiting factor to agricultural production and can have severe negative effects on food security in vulnerable countries. Global agriculture early warning systems monitor agriculture in near real-time by analyzing meteorological data (e.g. precipitation and temperature) and optical remote sensing data as proxy vegetation health to detect possible negative anomalies and trigger warnings. Seasonal climate forecast can add a predictive component and inform about upcoming precipitation deficits, thus allowing anticipation and improved planning of response actions. Here, we propose a scheme to adapt the standard precipitation forecast from the seasonal Copernicus Climate Change Service multi-system to crop and rangeland phenology, making them suitable for agricultural early warning. Precipitation forecasts are first elaborated into tercile maps showing the probability of the most likely tercile (i.e. drier than normal, normal, wetter than normal) and associated skills of all possible monthly periods combinations included in the six months forecasting horizon. Afterwards, agronomically relevant tercile maps are produced for the closest season in time at any location. These maps are obtained by mosaicking the forecasts for the appropriate growing season period at each grid cell. The resulting map shows the tercile probability for the remaining part of the ongoing growing season (if any at time of analysis) or the probability of the next upcoming season (if in between growing season at time of analysis). The proposed methodology offers a precipitation seasonal forecast product ready to use by agricultural analysts and directly ingestible by automatic warning systems.

Lake-wide measurements of primary productivity in Lake Erie

Abstract Few lake-wide, seasonal primary production measurements have been made in Lake Erie. None more recent than 1997 have been reported in the literature. In 2019 we used 13C uptake to measure production at 11 stations across the lake during three surveys in May, July, and September and at four of these stations during two additional surveys in April and August. Samples were collected at two depths (2 m and 6 m) and incubated on deck using eight levels of irradiance. We fit the resultant photosynthesis-irradiance curves with models that included the initial slope at low light levels, the maximum photosynthesis rate at light saturation, and when warranted, the negative slope at high irradiance. During May, there was little variation in chlorophyll-normalized volumetric productivity with sample depth, and productivity generally was higher nearshore and in the western basin than it was offshore. The distinction between nearshore and offshore stations was less pronounced in July, but nearshore productivity was higher than offshore in September. Using the photosynthesis data from all five surveys, chlorophyll concentration profiles, and estimated clear-sky solar insolation, we calculated time series of vertically integrated daily production at a western basin station, two central basin stations, and an eastern basin station. Central basin production was highest during August, estimated to be 748 mg C m-2 d-1 and 779 mg C m-2 d-1 at our two stations. Production peaked in July in the western basin (510 mg C m-2 d-1) and September in the eastern basin (421 mg C m-2 d-1). Whole-lake seasonal areal phytoplankton photosynthesis was estimated as 1.661E6 tonnes, about half of estimates made in the 1990s using 14C methods. These results inform our understanding of spatial-temporal trends in Lake Erie productivity and highlight the need for continued measurements of Lake Erie primary production.

From California’s Extreme Drought to Major Flooding: Evaluating and Synthesizing Experimental Seasonal and Subseasonal Forecasts of Landfalling Atmospheric Rivers and Extreme Precipitation during Winter 2022/23

Abstract California experienced a historic run of nine consecutive landfalling atmospheric rivers (ARs) in three weeks’ time during winter 2022/23. Following three years of drought from 2020 to 2022, intense landfalling ARs across California in December 2022–January 2023 were responsible for bringing reservoirs back to historical averages and producing damaging floods and debris flows. In recent years, the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes and collaborating institutions have developed and routinely provided to end users peer-reviewed experimental seasonal (1–6 month lead time) and subseasonal (2–6 week lead time) prediction tools for western U.S. ARs, circulation regimes, and precipitation. Here, we evaluate the performance of experimental seasonal precipitation forecasts for winter 2022/23, along with experimental subseasonal AR activity and circulation forecasts during the December 2022 regime shift from dry conditions to persistent troughing and record AR-driven wetness over the western United States. Experimental seasonal precipitation forecasts were too dry across Southern California (likely due to their overreliance on La Niña), and the observed above-normal precipitation across Northern and Central California was underpredicted. However, experimental subseasonal forecasts skillfully captured the regime shift from dry to wet conditions in late December 2022 at 2–3 week lead time. During this time, an active MJO shift from phases 4 and 5 to 6 and 7 occurred, which historically tilts the odds toward increased AR activity over California. New experimental seasonal and subseasonal synthesis forecast products, designed to aggregate information across institutions and methods, are introduced in the context of this historic winter to provide situational awareness guidance to western U.S. water managers.

STUDIES ON THE SEASONAL VARIATION OF MAJOR ELEMENTS DURING FRUIT DEVELOPMENT STAGES AND EVALUATION OF POST-HARVEST CHANGES IN MANGO GERMPLASM

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) belongs to the family Anacardiaceae and is one of the important fruits grown and consumed all over the world. Presently it is grown on an area of 173.8 thousand ha with 1.85 million tones production in the country. The production area and the fruit production season influence the composition of nutrients, especially carotenoids, ascorbic acid, flavonoid, and thiamine. Seasonal variations, also known as seasonality, refer to alterations in behavior, biological rhythms, physiology, and more, prompted by cyclic shifts in the environment caused by the changing seasons. The fruit quality, vegetative growth, reproductive growth, and yield depend on the proper nutrition of trees. Analyzing leaves plays a pivotal role in determining the nutrient requirements of mango trees, as the roots may face challenges in absorbing adequate nutrients from the soil. The research was planned to study the seasonal variation of major elements during fruit development stages and then evaluate the post-harvest changes in mango. Sixteen mango varieties were selected for the evaluation, and the collection of leaves was done every month from the marble stage to the harvesting for one year. Fruits were harvested at four distinct developmental stages, and an examination of biochemical properties such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), Catalase (CAT), and others was conducted. Leaf essential macro elements (N, P, and K) were also assessed. Data were analyzed by Statistics 8.1 statistical software and means were compared by Tukey’s significant test. The texture of all varieties was found to be smooth at first morphological stage. Malda, Keittn (SSI), Collector, Temora, and Zaafran exhibited a rough texture during observation. Among the varieties studied, Chaunsa SB, Tommy Atkin, and Rohi Raat displayed a more pronounced fruit aroma compared to others. Swarnerka, Keitt, and Pohi Raat exhibited notable color characteristics at the time of harvesting. Catalase in selected mango varieties showed the highest value in Malda. Hydrogen peroxide was highest in Zaafran. Malondialdehyde showed maximum value in Chaunsa SB. Peroxidase dismutase showed the maximum value in Chaunsa Lahori (8.50mg/g protein). Superoxide dismutase showed maximum value in Swarnerka. Titratable acidity was notably higher in Pop (13.53%) and Langra (11.25%) but lower in Chaunsa Lahori and Tommy Atkin (3.83%). In summary, the findings underscore the significant influence of each morphological stage on the various parameters studied.

Influence of Blanching Time on the Phytochemical and Nutritive Value of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) Leafy Vegetable.

Seasonal production limits the effective utilization of cowpea, which is regarded as food and a cash income crop in most African rural communities. To reduce the bacterial content and inactivate the naturally occurring enzymes that could induce undesirable changes during storage of the vegetable, blanching is applied. However, loss in flavor and nutritional value is experienced. Therefore, a study was conducted to investigate the effects of different blanching times on cowpea at a constant temperature, on its nutritive value. A 2 kg sample of fresh leaves was divided into four portions and blanched at 95°C for 0 (control), 2.5, 5, and 10 min. The study was arranged in a completely randomized design in triplicate. Collected data included moisture, total phenolic, antioxidant activity, and minerals [calcium (Ca), potassium (K), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), and silicon (Si)]. Compared to the control, total phenolic increased at 2.5 min to 9.83 mg GAE/g but then decreased by 4.99 and 4.60 mg GAE/g at 5 and 10 min of blanching time, respectively. Similarly, antioxidant activity increased at 2.5 min to 1025 μg AAE/g of WM, but reduced by 751.71 and 641.80 μg AAE/g of WM at 5 and 10 min, respectively. Ca increased at 2.5, 5, and 10 min by 69.10, 62.47, and 74.53 mg/L, respectively. Similarly, K increased at 2.5, 5, and 10 min by 31.57, 49.13, and 46.03 mg/L, respectively. Contrarily, Co decreased by 7.65, 7.37, and 9.29 mg/L at 2.5, 5, and 10 min of blanching, respectively. Similarly, Cr also decreased at 2.5, 5, and 10 min, by 0.23, 0.35, and 0.56 mg/L, respectively. Si increased at 2.5 and 10 min by 4.15 and 3.31 mg/L and reduced at 5 min by 1.61 mg/L. Therefore, blanching time of 2.5 min at a constant temperature of 95°C increased the tested nutritive elements, except for moisture, Co, and Cr.

Improving forecast accuracy for seasonal products in FMCG industry: integration of SARIMA and regression model

Improving forecast accuracy for seasonal products in FMCG industry: integration of SARIMA and regression model

The Level of Fat- and Water-Soluble Antioxidants in Eggs of Free-Range Geese during a Production Season

In this investigation, egg yolk and egg white water and fat-soluble antioxidant concentrations of geese eggs were determined during a production season according to months and weeks. Breeders consumed 100 g commercial layer feed per day during a production season. The farm was located at a semi-open prison of the Ministry of Justice in Van city. Fat-soluble (vitamin A, E, total and individual carotene) of egg yolk and water-soluble (ascorbic acid and GSH) antioxidants of egg white of geese were measured in February, March, April and May per week gazed in pasture conditions. Roche Yolk Color Fun (RYCF) values and Minolta (L* brightness, a* redness, and b* yellowness) values varied according to months and statistically significant differences were observed (p &amp;lt;0.05). RYCF, a * redness, and b *yellowness values were the lowest in February and L* brightness values were the highest in February (p &amp;lt;0.001). According to months (February-May), the egg yolk concentration of vitamin A (retinol) were 3.05±0.11, 1.84±0.10, 1.93±0.09, 2.84±0.19 µg g-1, total vitamin E were 26.87±1.80, 25.07±1.64, 38.16±1.71, 34.30±1.89 µg g-1, and total carotene were 15.49±1.44, 19.50±1.79, 42.39±1.99, 44.30±2.03 µg g-1 (p &amp;lt;0.05), respectively. In this study, lutein, cis-lutein, zeaxanthin, apoester, canthaxanthin, and beta-carotene were identified as individual carotene in goose egg yolks. Glutathione (GSH) and Vitamin C or ascorbic acid (AA) were detected in geese eggs white in the last two weeks of February and four weeks of March, April, and May. The results were recorded as: 0.91±0.14, 1.83±0.19, 2.69±0.15, 1.97±0.09 µg g-1 for AA and 7.71±1.86, 33.22±2.14, 45.37±2.41, 38.75±1.50 µg g-1 for GSH respectively. Both water-soluble GSH and AA data were significantly lower in February and were significantly higher in April (p &amp;lt;0.05) compared to other months.

시장성과 배태성을 통해 본 원주 농민시장의 현실과 특성

This paper aims to understand the reality and characteristics of Wonju farmers’ market at an empirical and theoretical level based on the analytical framework of marketing and embeddedness. According to the research, Wonju farmers’ market, like the general farmers’ markets in the US and the UK, has been working together with markedness and embeddedness. Marketness was a strong motivation for consumers to visit Wonju farmers’ market. At the same time, unlike other outlets, the consumers’ complete trust in the farmer-vendors and their agricultural products was embedded in the trading relationship between consumers and farmers. Consumers highly appreciated the produce at Wonju farmers’ market as fresh, cheap, and seasonal products, grown by local farmers. These empirical findings show that Wonju farmers’ market is characterized as a space with a distinct social and spatial embeddedness, and a weak natural embeddedness, alongside strong marketness.

Determining the optimal size of production and measuring the specialized efficiency in grape production farms in Diyala Governorate - Iraq for the season 2021

Abstract:In this research, an economic analysis it conducted for a sample of orchards producing grapes in Diyala Governorate - Iraq for the production season 2020-2021. Through a questionnaire conducted with (141) producers, the multivariate production function was estimated. Including quantities of chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers, the amount of control pesticide, the number of labor hours per dunum, the number of irrigation hours per dunum, as well as the number of regenerated trees during the productive season are independent factors. While productivity is a dependent factor. The optimal quantities of the productive factors included in the estimated model it reached. Including the optimal size of the productivity of a dunum, which amounted to (4734.5) K. g. Which it achieved by approving the budget constraint of (553) thousand dinars / dunum, the specialized efficiency of the productive factors it also measured, and the amount of surplus and the amount of deficit it measured for each productive factor included in the estimated model. It recommended applying the optimal combination of the productive factors to achieve the optimal size of dunum productivity, as well as to educate the producers in order to achieve the specialized efficiency of the productive factors.

Formation of quality indicators of products based on fruits and berries

Fruits and berries are an integral part of a healthy diet. The seasonality of production, short-term preservation in fresh form predetermines the need for their processing in order to provide the population with the necessary nutrients year-round. Common sauces are tomato and mayonnaise sauces. The assortment of fruit sauces is limited, and the traditional technologies of their production do not make it possible to preserve the biologically active substances of vegetable raw materials in them as much as possible and do not always differ in high organoleptic indicators. The established relationship between the quality of the fruit product, its color, nutritional value, and digestibility is directly dependent on polyphenols, which are chemically active and extremely unstable. One of the adopted technological solutions aimed at preserving the polyphenols of cherries and black currants during the development of sauce technology is the use of aromatic plant raw materials widely distributed in Ukraine. Previous studies have suggested that the leaves of black currant, walnut, oregano, elderflower, and chamomile flowers are able to preserve polyphenols from oxidation. Studies have confirmed the assumptions. It was established that the adopted concentrations of additives are optimal and make it possible to preserve cherry and blackcurrant bioflavonoids by 34...82 % more compared to traditional products. According to the organoleptic parameters, the products are advantageously distinguished by their intense color and pleasant aroma, characteristic of the raw materials. The radioprotective properties of cherry and blackcurrant sauces were investigated. Their positive influence on the removal of radionuclides from the body has been proven. Sauces reliably have radioprotective, immunomodulating properties and can be used in therapeutic and preventive and baby nutrition

MARKETING TOOLS OF ENTERPRISES OF THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR OF UKRAINE

The article is devoted to the justification and rationalization of the instrumental content of the marketing activity of domestic enterprises in the agrarian sector. Provisions characterizing the role and importance of agricultural marketing are defined, among which are highlighted: optimization of resource use and management of results; increase in farm income; expansion of markets; growth of the agricultural industry; introduction and distribution of new technologies; job creation; allowance to national income; value creation. It was determined that many factors should be considered in agribusiness when determining the marketing strategy, and the marketing complex as a strategy will positively affect the work of the enterprise. Twelve controllable marketing elements are outlined, which include the following components: product planning, pricing, branding, distribution channels, personal selling, advertising, promotions and promotions, packaging, display, service, delivery, research, and analysis. The difference between consumer and agricultural goods is substantiated, and the specifics of agricultural goods are determined, including the dependence of production on natural and biological factors, seasonality of production, predominance of wholesale sales; the need for processing, short consumption period, lack of ideal substitutes; lack of effective quality control mechanisms; the limited influence of the brand, advertising, after-sales service, fashion and style, emotional factors; low elasticity of demand. Certain aspects of state policy are revealed as an addition to the traditional Ps of the marketing mix for the sale of agricultural products; in particular, it is stated that the agricultural policy should be structured in such a way as to provide support to small farmers through projects of improvement, diversification, and sale of agricultural products.

Large-Scale Cotton Classification under Insufficient Sample Conditions Using an Adaptive Feature Network and Sentinel-2 Imagery in Uzbekistan

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is one of the main crops in Uzbekistan, which makes a major contribution to the country’s economy. The cotton industry has played a pivotal role in the economic landscape of Uzbekistan for decades, generating employment opportunities and supporting the livelihoods of countless individuals across the country. Therefore, having precise and up-to-date data on cotton cultivation areas is crucial for overseeing and effectively managing cotton fields. Nonetheless, there is currently no extensive, high-resolution approach that is appropriate for mapping cotton fields on a large scale, and it is necessary to address the issues related to the absence of ground-truth data, inadequate resolution, and timeliness. In this study, we introduced an effective approach for automatically mapping cotton fields on a large scale. A crop-type mapping method based on phenology was conducted to map cotton fields across the country. This research affirms the significance of phenological metrics in enhancing the mapping of cotton fields during the growing season in Uzbekistan. We used an adaptive feature-fusion network for crop classification using single-temporal Sentinel-2 images and automatically generated samples. The map achieved an overall accuracy (OA) of 0.947 and a kappa coefficient (KC) of 0.795. This model can be integrated with additional datasets to predict yield based on the identified crop type, thereby enhancing decision-making processes related to supply chain logistics and seasonal production forecasts. The early boll opening stage, occurring approximately a little more than a month before harvest, yielded the most precise identification of cotton fields.

Organisation of accounting of financial results of agricultural enterprises of Ukraine and its improvement.

The relevance of organising the accounting of financial results of agricultural enterprises in Ukraine lies in the need to provide a high-quality information base for management and strategic decision-making in the context of constant changes in agriculture and international standards. Improvement of this system contributes to increasing the competitiveness of agricultural enterprises, their efficiency and transparency in assessing performance. The purpose of the article is to substantiate promising directions for improving the organisation of accounting for financial results of agricultural enterprises on the basis of identifying its peculiarities in agricultural production and using modern technologies of programming and automation of accounting processes and workplaces of accounting staff. The research methodology used was a systematic approach, hermeneutical, historical and logical analyses, the method of expert assessments and functional and logical analysis. It is established that accounting of financial results and its organisation have significant features at the level of agricultural enterprises. They relate to seasonality and unevenness of production during the calendar year; use of elements of living nature – land, agricultural plants and the main herd of animals – as the main means of production. There is also a certain inconsistency between accounting standards and international financial reporting standards. There is also a lack of a unified methodology for determining and evaluating financial results for small and large enterprises. Identification of shortcomings allowed to develop priority areas for its improvement: harmonisation of national provisions on financial results accounting as the basis for its systematic organisation; harmonisation of national and international standards; unification of quantitative indicators and their list for assessing and diagnosing financial results; improvement of analytical accounting by cost centres and responsibility centres; software and automation. The tasks for accounting for financial results and methods of analysing accounting data for the future were clarified. The obtained results can be used in the work of agricultural enterprises, educational and scientific process of higher education institutions

Insights into proteolysis, textural evolution, microstructural changes and sensory attributes of white brined cheese from frozen‐stored caprine milk

Long‐term frozen storage of caprine milk is an important way of overcoming seasonal production. White brined cheese, matured for 56 days, was made from frozen‐stored caprine milk. Several properties of experimental and control cheese variants were investigated throughout the maturation period: physico‐chemical, sensory, proteolytic (by urea‐PAGE electrophoresis), texture attributes, microstructure (by scanning electron microscopy). Most of investigated properties were influenced by frozen storage and maturation period, but differences were less pronounced on the 56th day of maturation. Moreover, sensory analysis showed that both cheese variants were well accepted by consumers.

Spring to summer transition timing influences zooplankton phenology and temporal niche partitioning in the coastal zone of the White Sea

Climatic changes are manifested through temporal shifts of seasonal events in environment, which may be critical for planktonic organisms. Temporal shift of seasonal warming curve in high latitudes affects phenology of aquatic organisms. Significant correlation between timing of phenological events in the life cycles of planktonic copepods and spring-summer temperature transition dates was revealed by canonical correlation analysis. We analyzed the long-term zooplankton and temperature time series (1961–2018) from the White Sea (66°19'50"N; 33°40'06"E, near the White Sea Biological Station of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences). Two types of seasonal abundance dynamics of copepod juveniles and four types of the spring to summer transition were revealed. Each species demonstrated specific dynamics in response to each type of spring to summer transition. Species with similar ecological traits differed in their phenological response to the changes in the temperature dynamics. This phenomenon was explained, at least partly, by niche partitioning, when temporal niches of ecologically similar species were separated as a result of shifting the phenological events in time. The latter, in turn, was the result of organisms’ response to changes of spring to summer transition dynamics from year to year. We hypothesize that such separation may be one of the solutions of the “Paradox of the plankton”, favouring success of species-rich planktonic communities in high-latitude ecosystems, characterized by relative paucity of food resources and short productive season.

THE IMPACT OF SOWING DIRECTIONS ON WHEAT AND COTTON YIELDS IN RELAY STRIP INTERCROPPING

The increase in human population, urbanization, and climate change are causing a decrease in agricultural land in our country. The relay strip intercropping method has the potential to reduce competition for cultivation areas between wheat, which is a staple crop, and cotton, which is a cash crop. Therefore, it has a great importance to use this system in the most efficient way in terms of resource utilization, especially sunlight. The research was conducted at the trial fields of the Menemen Research, Application, and Production Farm belonging to the Faculty of Agriculture at Ege University, during the 2017/18 and 2019/20 production seasons. In the study, the effects of different sowing directions (N-S: north-south and E-W: east-west) on wheat and cotton yields in the IWC (relay strip intercropping of wheat and cotton) system were evaluated.&#x0D; According to the results obtained from the trials, although different planting directions had a slight effect on wheat yield parameters, there was no significant impact on plant yield and grain yield. However, rainfall and increasing temperatures during the grain filling period of wheat in the second year led to a significant increase in plant (36%) and grain (39%) yields. Cotton plants were more affected by the difference in planting direction than wheat. The average fiber yield was determined as 658 kg/ha in the E-W direction, while it was about 18% less in the N-S direction (560 kg/ha). Unlike wheat, temperature rises in the second year caused significant losses in cotton yield. The average fiber yield recorded in the first year at 679 kg/ha dropped to about 21% less in the second year (539 kg/ha).&#x0D; Our results indicate that cotton seedlings grown for a certain period under the shade of wheat have exhibited faster development in the E-W compare to N-S direction, where they receive more sunlight, and was able to optimize yield.