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The runoff generation and soil erosion in the Kechik Watershed, Golestan Province, was assessed, using a designed and constructed portable rainfall simulator. Treatments were applied on different land-uses, slopes and aspects as the most influential factors. Results showed that land-use significantly affected runoff generation (13.35 l, 6.9 l, and 4.12 l, respectively for agriculture, forest and rangeland uses), however slope (7.7 l for Class I; 9.23 l for Class II) and aspect (8.52 l for the northern aspects; 8.32 l for the southern aspects) did not have significant influence. All factors, significantly altered sediment concentration (Agriculture 9.6 g l^-1, forest 8.24 g l^-1, and rangeland 5.26 g l^-1; slope class I 6.6 g l^-1 and slope class II 8.7 g l^-1; northern aspect 8.7 g l^-1, and southern aspect 6.9 g l^-1). Agricultural fields generated the highest runoff and sediment under simulated rainfalls. Rangeland and forest did not have significant runoff generation and sediment concentration. Results showed that land-use management, especially in terms of agriculture, could not only hamper current erosion, but reduced further advancement of this encroaching phenomenon.

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This study tries to make a distinction between factors affecting adopters and non-adopters of domestic rainwater harvesting (DRWH) in Golestan Province, Iran. In order to better comprehend the differences, nine dimensions were considered in this study, including (1) social background (including respondents’ demographics, water sources, issues in accessing water sources, primary awareness of the DRWH systems, information communication channels, and their dwellings characteristics), (2) economic and financial scale (including construction, maintenance, investment rate of return), (3) scale (including law and regulation) (4) social scale (effect of social determiners on person’s decision making), (5) compliance with every day’s needs,(6) past experience, (7) image (importance of adopting DRWH systems on person’s social image and position), (8) providence (person’s outlook of the future), and (9) risk adoption. Results show that the surveyed groups vary remarkably in terms of considered dimensions. It seems that lack of experience and observation are the underlying reason of low adoption rate in this area.

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Adult caddisflies were collected from the spring area located in the Blinajë Hunting Reserve in Kosovo between May and September 2022. In this study, we identified 21 species belonging to 9 families of caddisflies (Goeridae, Hydropsychidae, Hydroptilidae, Limnephilidae, Philopotamidae, Polycentropodidae, Psychomyiidae, Rhyacophilidae, and Sericostomatidae). The genus Orthotrichia Eaton, 1873 and species Orthotrichia tragetti Mosely, 1930 are reported for the first time from Kosovo. Agraylea sexmaculata Curtis, 1834 is reported from Kosovo again after more than one century. Several other narrowly distributed endemic species were also identified, including Rhyacophila macedonica Karaouzas, Valladolid & Ibrahimi, 2022 and Tinodes janssensi Jacquemart, 1957. This study contributes to the knowledge of the caddisfly fauna of the Blinajë Hunting Reserve in Kosovo and highlights this area for its interesting composition of caddisfly species.

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Agriculture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has witnessed many phases, from ancient small-scale Bedouin nomadic subsistence agriculture to mass-scale farming to ensure food security and self-sufficiency, to the present-day desire for sustainability. These transitions have made the work of extension staff very challenging. Effective extension work depends upon competent and well-trained agricultural extension staff. This study assessed the competencies of extension workers and identified the training needed to improve their work in the Saudi Agricultural Extension Service (SAES). Demographic information (age, length of service, and education level) was also collected. The study mailed a pre-tested questionnaire to all 250 extension professionals actively involved in extension work, and 181 responses were received. Most agricultural extension workers had qualifications in plant protection, plant production, and general agriculture before entering the Extension Service (19.3, 17.6, and 16.8%, respectively). Only 7.7% had specialized in agricultural extension and agricultural engineering. The study established the need for extensive training programs to enable extension workers to work efficiently and effectively in the changing farming scenario in the Kingdom. Results showed that training needs are correlated with the length of service and educational qualifications. Respondents wanted to have sufficient competency and skill to understand the relationships between the Extension Service and other agriculture related organizations; to understand how mass communication has influenced society; and to enhance their competencies in the area of the teaching-learning process. The primary areas of training needs identified in the survey are in the techniques of research and evaluation, and the teaching-learning process.

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Quinoa is pseudo-cereal which origins from South America. It is rich in lysine and has a high protein content. Quinoa flour has no gluten and is suitable for people with celiac disease. The purpose of this study was to use quinoa flour to prepare gluten free cracker biscuits. Quinoa flour and corn flour mixtures of 100 to 0, 80 to 20, 60 to 40, 40 to 60, 20 to 80 were used for crackers preparations. Tests for pH, moisture content, texture firmness analysis and sensory tests (taste, color and texture) were performed on the first, third and seventh day after production. Porosity and color analysis (L*a*b*) were examined on the same day of production.  The results showed that the type of flour can affect the pH and crackers with a higher percentage of corn flour had a higher pH.. Combining corn flour with quinoa flour (60% quinoa flour - 40% corn flour) maintained more moisture and created softer texture with more porosity. Over time moisturecontent, decreased and firmness increased in all samples. Hardness and brittleness were more evident in crackers containing a higher percentage of quinoa flour. Increasing the percent of quinoa in crackers caused a decrease in L^* and b^* factors and an increase in a^* factor. Crackers with a higher percentage of quinoa flour were darker in color. In terms of sensory evaluation, the highest score in taste was given to the sample of 60% quinoa flour -40% corn flour.