Koruyucu tarım, girdileri koruyarak doğal kaynaklar üzerindeki etkiyi en aza indirip, tarımsalişlemleri kolaylaştırdığından dolayı faydalı ve sürdürülebilir bir üretim tekniğidir. Koruyucu tarım tekniği; verimi,ekonomik geri dönüşleri ve gıda güvenliğini artırabilmek için günümüzde kullanılan uygulamalardan biridir.Koruyucu tarımın ilkeleri; sıfır toprak işleme, kalıcı toprak örtüsü ve bitki münavebesidir. Bunlara ilaveten, koruyucutarım uygulamaları, toprakta karbon birikimi ve daha az gaz yayılımı aracılığıyla iklim düzenlemesi üzerinde etkiliolmaktadır. Ayrıca; suyun etkili bir şekilde kullanımını sağladığından dolayı bu yöntem; toprağın fiziksel, kimyasalve biyolojik kalite kriterlerinin de gelişmesine yardımcı olur. Son yıllarda Türkiye’de yoğun tarımsal üretimsonucu ülke topraklarının yapısında ciddi derecede bozulmalar başlamıştır. Bu nedenle ülke genelinde hem toprağıkoruyacak hem de optimum üretim yapılabilecek üretim tekniklerinin uygulamaya konulması gerekmektedir. Buaraştırmanın amacı; Türkiye’deki koruyucu tarımın önemini vurgulamaktadır. Buna ilaveten koruyucu tarımın ülkeçapında yaygınlaşması için gerekli olan önlemler ve ülke stratejileri de detaylı bir şekilde tartışılmıştır.

Shalakh (Aprikoz), the most common table apricot cultivar grown in Iğdır province of Turkey, is known for its delicious taste, large volume, high water content, and short shelf life. This study aimed to determine optimal harvest time of cv. Shalakh apricot by measuring some significant physical and chemical parameters. Fruits were collected periodically at interval of 7 day during the study period. Weight, length, width, thickness, sphericity, color, color indices, soluble solids content, pH, firmness, elasticity, phenolic content (gallic acid and catechin) and organic acids (citric acid and ascorbic acid) were evaluated. Weight, length, width, thickness and sphericity traits increased gradually and reached the highest levels at 10th week after the full bloom. Color parameters (L*, a*, b*, C*, h° and ΔE), hardness, elasticity and organic acids indicated the optimal harvest time of cv. Shalakh of 10th week after the full bloom. Unlike previous studies, SSC and pH didn’t show clear information for harvest time.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of a vacuum single-seed planter in field conditions to optimize some operating parameters in maize production. Three forward speed of the tractor (4.0, 5.4 and 7.9 km h-1) and five target seed spacing (102, 147, 195, 247 and 309 mm) were evaluated by examining the mean seed spacing, coefficient of precision in spacing, miss index, multiple index, quality of feed index, sowing depth, deviation from the row (inter-row spacing), mean emergence time, emergence rate index and percentage emergence. The point dropped in a furrow of seed, depth of seed placement, emergence rate and three indices of uniformity in seed spacing and precision coefficients of sowing quality were determined. The planter performed the best performance at the lowest forward speed and the highest target seed spacing. However, the deviation of seeds from the intended point in intra-row spacing was significantly affected only by the forward speed (P<0.001). Improvement in the larger seed spacing was due to the lower variation. Increasing the forward speed resulted in a shallower sowing depth. The desired planting depth was also obtained at 4.0 km h-1 in all plots. Increasing target seed spacing increased the emergence percent by about 35% while increasing forward speed decreased the emergence percent by 10%. Sowing at 4.0 km h-1 resulted in the lowest miss, multiple and precision indices (5.1% 2.9%, and 15.3%, respectively), and a quality of feed index as high as 92% was obtained in similar conditions. The results indicated that, with single-seed planters, success may be achieved in a conventional tillage maize production system at a target seed spacing of more than 102 mm and tractor forward speeds of less than 7.9 km h-1, and thus satisfying farmers who carry out maize sowing by conventional tillage.

This study examined the effects of seed drop height changing depending on furrow openers of precision seeders, and the forward speed of tractors which is constantly aimed to be increased by producers on the uniformity of seed distribution. The experiments were made with a precision seeder unit positioned on a sticky belt trial setup at seed drop heights of 100, 200 and 300 mm, the forward speeds of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 m s-1, and the vacuum pressures of 6.0, 7.5, and 9.0 kPa. Maize and sunflower seeds were used in experiments. According to the results, the effects of seed drop height and forward speed on seed spacing and deviation from row were significant for both seed types (P<0.01). The increase in the forward speed led to a deviation of approximately 15 mm in maize and 17 mm in sunflower between the mean seed spacing and the target seed spacing. In general, miss and multiple indices were found to be fewer than 9%. The optimum performance of the seeder unit in sowing sunflower and maize was obtained at the seed drop height of 100 mm, the forward speed of 0.5 m s-1, and the vacuum pressure of 9.0 kPa. Consequently, it is suggested that, in contrast to what is demanded, the forward speed cannot be increased as much as one desires, and the dimensions of furrow openers that changed depending on the seed drop height should be designed under certain standards.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of seed drop height and tractor forward speed in different tillage systems on the mean emergence time, emergence rate index, and percentage emergence in single seed planters. The experiments were carried out in the conventional and reduced tillage systems, at seed drop heights of 120, 180, and 240 mm and tractor forward speeds of 1.1, 1.5, and 2.2 m s-1. Sunflower and maize seeds were used in the study. The results of the study showed that seed drop height significantly affected the mean emergence time, emergence rate index, and percent emergence in both experiments (P<0.05). Also, the tillage system significantly affected the mean emergence time and emergence rate index. The lowest mean emergence time and the highest emergence rate index were 10 d and 0.19 seedlings d-1 m-1 in the reduced tillage system for sunflower, respectively. The same parameters were 12 d and 0.37 seedlings d-1 m-1 in the reduced tillage system for maize, respectively. As a result, the seeds of sunflower and maize should be sowed in reduced tillage system, 180 mm seed drop height, and 1.1 - 1.5 m s-1 tractor forward speeds for rapid germination and high percentage emergence.

The crop producers who cannot buy a second planter due to its cost, have been seeking to take advantage of the planter with the roller-type metering device in dry bean sowing. While seemingly adequate for dry bean sowing, if the roller structural properties and operating parameters suitable for the seed dimensions are not used, it can cause an increase in the seed damage ratio. In this text, a mission was undertaken to determine the damaged seed ratio caused by the roller-type metering device under the influence of the flute diameter and helical angle, ground speed, and seeding rate. Seed damage was measured by collecting and weighing seed from each replication during seed flow. Flute diameter (18, 20, and 22 mm), helical angle (0, 10, and 20o), ground speed (1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 m s-1), and seeding rate (100, 150, and 200 kg ha-1) independent variables and seed damage rate were selected as the dependent variable, to measure seed damage level. According to the results, the ground speed definitely affects the seed damage rate, while the helical angle and flute diameter quite affected. The increase in the seeding rate, ground speed, helical angle, and flute diameter reduced the seed damage rate. The lowest seed damage rate values were obtained at 200 kg ha-1 seed rate, 2 m s-1 forward speed, 22 mm groove diameter, and 20o helical angle.