This study was conducted to determine the effects of row spacing (RS) and irrigation (IR) on protein content, oil content, and fatty acid composition of soybeans grown in the Harran region of Turkey. Oil content of the seed varied from 20.9 to 22.3%. Oil and protein contents were both affected by year. RS and IR affected protein and oil contents significantly (P < 0.01) in both years. RS of 70 cm had the highest protein content, followed by RS of 60, 40, and 50 cm, respectively. IR every 3rd day resulted in the highest level of protein, followed by 6th, 9th, and 12th day irrigation, respectively. The correlation coefficient (r) between protein and oil content was -0.791 in 1998 and -0.721 in 1999. RS (P < 0.01) and IR (P < 0.01) influenced oleic and linoleic acid contents significantly. Interactions of RS and IR were also found to be significant (P < 0.05) for the oleic and linoleic acid contents of soybeans.

Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch) cv. ‘Oso Grande’ was grown in the field from July 1999 to May 2000 in order to investigate the effectiveness of different mulch types on fruit yield, quality (i.e. soluble dry matter, fruit size), leaf nutrient compositions, and normal plant growth parameters in strawberry grown under water stress. Treatments were: (1) bare soil + water stressed (WS), (2) bare soil + unstressed (control), (3) black polyethylene mulch + water stressed (BPM + WS), (4) wheat straw mulch + water stressed (WSM + WS), (5) wheat straw mulch plus black polyethylene mulch + water stressed (WSM + BPM + WS). Water stress was created by irrigating plants once every 3 days at 50% A pan (Epan) evaporation, compared with the control, which received 75% daily. WS caused reductions in all parameters, except water-soluble dry matter concentrations in fruits, compared with the control treatment. Both BPM and WSM improved the fruit yield, fruit size, plant dry matter, leaf area index, and chlorophyll concentrations in leaves in the stressed treatments, while these 2 mulches in combination (BPM + WSM) caused further increases in these parameters. WS enhanced electrolyte leakage by impairing membrane permeability compared with control treatment. Mulching, especially BPM and WSM together, substantially decreased electrolyte leakage. WS reduced leaf concentrations of all nutrients tested (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg). However, mulching, especially BPM and WSM together, enhanced the concentrations of these nutrients, but their concentrations were still lower than those in the control treatment. These results clearly indicate that mulching mitigates negative effects of water stress on plant growth and fruit yield in field-grown strawberry, particularly in semi-arid situations.

The effect of row space (RS) and irrigation (IR) on total protein, total oil, and fatty acid composition of Harran-grown sesame seed was studied. Total oil content of sesame varied from 46.4 to 51.5%. The oil and protein contents were significantly different among treatments (P < 0.01) in 1998 and 1999. IR affected oil content significantly (P < 0.01) in both years, and RS had no significant effect. The protein content was significantly influenced by RS and IR at P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively. RS 70 cm had the highest protein content followed by RS 60, 50, and 40 cm, respectively. IR every 24th day resulted in the highest level of protein, followed by 18th-, 12th-, and 6th-day irrigation, respectively. Correlation coefficients between protein and oil content were -0.34 in 1998 and -0.59 in 1999. RS (P < 0.05) and IR (P < 0.01) influenced oleic and linoleic acid contents significantly. Interactions of RS and IR were also found to be significant (P < 0.05) over the oleic and linoleic acid levels.Paper no. J9884 in JAOCS 78, 933-935 (September 2001).

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