Cengiz Acar

Feasibility of incorporating waste grass clippings (Lolium perenne L.) in particleboard composites

This study investigated some of the important physical (thickness swelling) and mechanical (modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity and internal bond) properties of single-layer particleboard panels made from eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn.), waste of grass clippings (Lolium perenne L.) and combinations of the two. The chemical properties (pH, holocelluse and alpha cellulose contents, and water, alcohol-benzene and 1% sodium hydroxide solubilities) of the raw materials were also determined. Panels with a 6:94 ratio of grass-to-eucalyptus particles had the required mechanical properties for interior fitments including furniture and general uses. Boards manufactured with 100% grass clippings exhibited the lowest quality. The overall panel properties improved with a lower percentage of grass clippings added. Based on initial results, it also appears that grass should compose no more than 13% to achieve acceptable panel properties for interior fitments and general uses.

Public preferences for visual quality and management in the Kackar Mountains National Park (Turkey)

There are 37 national parks in Turkey, encompassing the most important mountain ecosystems, with high biological, natural, cultural and historical diversity. These parks also have aesthetic and recreational potential, and are valuable components within the countrys nature protection programmes. Globally, a landscape can be regarded as the face of an ecosystem and constitutes a relationship between natural structure and visual features. There have been several studies on whether visual quality can provide indicators for landscape planning. Visual quality can also be assessed as a manifesto for community participation. This paper attempts to extend the understanding of visual quality assessment for national parks, using the Kackar Mountains National Park (KMNP) in north-eastern Turkey as an example. A detailed survey of visual quality preferences, landscape factors (10 main and 40 sub-factors) and semantic factors (naturalness, variety, fascination, vividness, unity, interesting and exciting) affecting these preferences was made using 30 represenative slides selected from the park. The highest preference was found to be 6.54, while the lowest was 2.30. Regression analysis enabled us to determine the relationship between visual quality and visual landscape attributes. The R2 value for naturalness was 0.482, while naturalness together with lake and fog percentage was 0.641. The assessment of preferences for the studied views in various landscape units can be evaluated and used for land-use decisions and future planning in KMNP.

VISUAL LANDSCAPE CHARACTER OF ORIENTAL SPRUCE (PICEA ORIENTALIS (L.) LINK.) MOUNTAIN FORESTS IN TURKEY

Abstract Oriental Spruce forests in Turkey have gained greater importance in forest management in recent years. Oriental Spruce is one of the most important species distributed in the north-eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey and Caucasia as a colchic element. It forms the main structure of the “forest landscape”, affecting the landscape character of the regions mountains regarding with its distributions and land use. In this proceeding, the visual landscape character of Oriental Spruce mountain forests was tried to be determined in selected areas of the north-eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey. In this study, in order to determine visual character of mountain forest and assess the process of forest functional planning or landscape planning, some landscape areas were categorized by some criteria such as plant species composition, variety, colour, mass-void, edge, geomorphologic units, rocky, roadside, etc. in forest panoramas of the region. Conducting a participated approach to determine landscape charact...

Effect of thermal pretreatment on germination of seeds from different provenances of subalpine oriental spruce (Picea orientalis (L.) Link.) forest in Turkey

ABSTRACT We examined the effect of thermal treatment at two temperatures (60 s of 90°C dry heat and 60 min in 40°C hot water) versus control conditions on the germination of oriental spruce (Picea orientalis (L.) Link.) seeds originating from different subalpine provenances. Cutting test results showed that there was wide variation (between 10% and 90%) in filled seed rates. The results revealed that highest germination yield was attained via the hot water treatment. The maximum germination percentages were observed in seeds from “tree 3” in the first tree collective of provenances 1 (85.33 ± 5.77 control; 88.67 ± 7.02 via the hot water treatment; 82.00 ± 10.58 via the dry heat treatment) and 3 (70.67 ± 17.24 control; 88.00 ± 4.00 via the hot water treatment; 86.67 ± 11.37 via the dry heat treatment). The mean germination percentages were significantly different (p-value < .05): percentage values were 32.57% in provenance 1, 23.22% in provenance 3, 12.25% in provenance 4, and 2.82% in provenance 2. Mean germination time of seeds from different provenances and experiencing various pretreatments showed significant variation. The best pretreatment increase in germination rates was achieved via the wet heat method (60 min in 40°C hot water).

Homegardens in Landscape Architecture – A Case Study of Hazelnut Plantations

Landscape can be defined as from one point of view enter into the framework of a view that they produce a combination of natural and cultural assets (Council of Europe, 2000). At the same time, objects or land covers around us and how we perceive and how the relationship between nature and culture has the meaning established. Landscapes are the most important elements in building spatial identities. Landscapes, sometimes with their natural and cultural features can provide information about the way of life of the people. They are used in a sustainable manner for future generations and makes sense economically. The decisions to get to taken whether rural or urban landscape in the continuity, management and use of the quality of life of people are very important.

EVALUATION OF SEMANTIC DIFFERANTIAL SCALE TECHNIQUE FOR PLANT COMPOSITION SAMPLES

In this study, to design plant compositions which are not subjective, some proposed alternatives were developed in a sample area characterized buildingplants by means of conducting survey based on visual context. Assessing these compositions, respondents preferences were determined by semantic differential scale technique. Consequently, the statistical analysis based on the answers of user showed that alternative planting models were formed regarding adjective pairs and had differences using factor analysis.