Agricultural land use change Research Papers (original) (raw)
2025, Apidologie
— We compared the pollinator effectiveness of native and exotic bees on Kallstroemia gran- diflora in a tropical dry forest in Mexico. Although exotic Apis mellifera transfer 2.5 times less pollen grains on a per visit basis, they... more
— We compared the pollinator effectiveness of native and exotic bees on Kallstroemia gran- diflora in a tropical dry forest in Mexico. Although exotic Apis mellifera transfer 2.5 times less pollen grains on a per visit basis, they visited the flowers 2.65 times more frequently than the native bee Trigona nigra. Thus, when all measures of pollinator effectiveness are combined, exotic bees appear to be as efficient pollinators as native bees. Africanized bee / Apis mellifera / Kallstroemia / pollination efficiency / Trigona / tropical dry forest the introduction of African bees to the Americas is a large-scale experiment that permits the testing of these ideas. Roubik
2025, Anthropological Researches and Studies
Objectives. In this article, Michel Foucault's (1967) theoretical insights regarding heterotopias are reconsidered, in order to determine whether his 'heterotopology' can be mirrored in several virtual worlds that are constantly redefined... more
Objectives. In this article, Michel Foucault's (1967) theoretical insights regarding heterotopias are reconsidered, in order to determine whether his 'heterotopology' can be mirrored in several virtual worlds that are constantly redefined and reimagined by game producers and gamers alike. The places represented and juxtaposed in MMORPG's like World of Warcraft epitomize countless virtual worlds full of contradictions, paradoxes and representations of the 'Other'. Material and methods: Towards a 'heterotopology' of virtual worlds. Drawing upon ingame participant observation, the main argument is that the plethora of emplacements and cultural references from virtual worlds like Azeroth and Sanctuary underline their paradoxical character. These worlds appear to simultaneously connect and differentiate between various spaces and times. Furthermore, they connect and contextualize multiple meanings, which can be interpreted from an anthropological standpoint. Results. The juxtapositions between the various meanings entailed by these worlds are relevant only through the ways in which they encompass and exemplify the contradictions that exist in reality, without including solutions for them. Conclusions. Accordingly, the ways in which virtual worlds such as Azeroth are reimagined highlight the need of redefining the conceptual relevance of heterotopia.
2025, Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) caused by H5N1 viruses has become a global scale problem which first emerged in southern China and from there spread to other countries in Southeast and East Asia, where it was first confirmed in... more
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) caused by H5N1 viruses has become a global scale problem which first emerged in southern China and from there spread to other countries in Southeast and East Asia, where it was first confirmed in end 2003. In previous work, geospatial analyses demonstrated that free grazing ducks played critical role in the epidemiology of the disease in Thailand in the winter 2004/ 2005, both in terms of HPAI emergence and spread. This study explored the geographic association between free grazing duck census counts and current statistics on the spatial distribution of rice crops in Thailand, in particular the crop calendar of rice production. The analysis was carried out using both district level rice statistics and rice distribution data predicted with the aid of remote sensing, using a rice-detection algorithm. The results indicated a strong association between the number of free grazing ducks and the number of months during which second-crop rice harvest takes place, as well as with the rice crop intensity as predicted by remote sensing. These results confirmed that free grazing duck husbandry was strongly driven by agricultural land use and rice crop intensity, and that this later variable can be readily predicted using remote sensing. Analysis of rice cropping patterns may provide an indication of the location of populations of free grazing ducks in other countries with similar mixed duck and rice production systems and less detailed duck census data. Apart from free ranging ducks and rice cropping, the role of hydrology and seasonality of wetlands and water bodies in the HPAI risk analysis is also discussed in relation to the presumed dry season aggregation of wild waterfowl and aquatic poultry offering much scope for virus transmission.
2025, Forest Ecology and Management
The crop intensification program (CIP) was introduced in Rwanda in 2007 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), Rwanda, as a solution to the land fragmentation, low use of agricultural inputs and low access to... more
The crop intensification program (CIP) was introduced in Rwanda in 2007 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), Rwanda, as a solution to the land fragmentation, low use of agricultural inputs and low access to extension services. However, due to the voluntary nature of farmers' participation and their reluctance to participate, this study aimed at assessing the factors that influence their participation. Data were collected from 340 respondents through a household survey in Mayange and Rusarabuye sectors. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression model were used to analyze the data. Results show that the factors that significantly influenced the farmers' participation in the CIP include gender, non-farm income, farmland size, farming experience, land acquisition means, market access, trust and agro-ecological conditions. In fact, the non-farm income significantly increased the farmers' decisions to participate in the CIP (P<0.001) as it eases the financial capital needed to invest in the CIP activities. On the land acquisition means, the farmers who inherited or bought the land positively and significantly participated in the CIP (P<0.05) because they had the land tenure security. However, the participation in the CIP was hindered by inadequate irrigation and mechanization facilities, lack of farmers' participation in the CIP planning process, inadequate extension services, inadequate agricultural inputs and inadequate post-harvest technologies. Closer collaboration between farmers, local leaders, extension agents and agricultural service providers as well as the farmers' practical skills in irrigation and mechanization could enhance the participation to the program. Therefore, there is a need on the part of policymakers to empower farmers with adequate knowledge on better cropping practices and agricultural technologies through appropriate extension services and bottom-up based program.
2025, Applied and Environmental Microbiology
Three different types of compost, PM-5 (poultry manure compost), 338 (dairy cattle manure compost), and NVIRO-4 (alkaline-pH-stabilized dairy cattle manure compost), and irrigation water were inoculated with an avirulent strain of... more
Three different types of compost, PM-5 (poultry manure compost), 338 (dairy cattle manure compost), and NVIRO-4 (alkaline-pH-stabilized dairy cattle manure compost), and irrigation water were inoculated with an avirulent strain of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium at 10 7 CFU g −1 and 10 5 CFU ml −1 , respectively, to determine the persistence of salmonellae in soils containing these composts, in irrigation water, and also on carrots and radishes grown in these contaminated soils. A split-plot block design plan was used for each crop, with five treatments (one without compost, three with each of the three composts, and one without compost but with contaminated water applied) and five replicates for a total of 25 plots for each crop, with each plot measuring 1.8 × 4.6 m. Salmonellae persisted for an extended period of time, with the bacteria surviving in soil samples for 203 to 231 days, and were detected after seeds were sown for 84 and 203 days on radishes and carrots, respec...
2025, BioScience
A lthough the primary role of agriculture is to produce food and fiber, many other functions are important, such as land conservation, maintenance of landscape structure, sustainable management of natural resources, biodiversity... more
A lthough the primary role of agriculture is to produce food and fiber, many other functions are important, such as land conservation, maintenance of landscape structure, sustainable management of natural resources, biodiversity preservation, and contribution to the socioeconomic viability of rural areas (OECD 2001). The multiple functions of agriculture have risen to prominence in global trade negotiations . Japan, South Korea, and several European countries (including Norway and Switzerland) have argued that small to moderatesized, independent farms can affect the economic, environmental, and social health of rural areas and preserve cultural heritage . In these countries that value the nonmarket benefits of agriculture, government is encouraged to promote multiple functions of agriculture through "green box payments," so called because they do not distort trade and are not price supports . Farmers, policymakers, environmentalists, and the public increasingly recognize that US farm policies, despite the inclusion of conservation programs, can have harmful effects on both farmers and the environment. It is also increasingly clear that farmers can produce nonmarket "goods," such as environmental and social benefits, as well as food and fiber (Cochrane 2003). How can US farmers be encouraged to produce more of these multiple goods? US agricultural policies subsidize a selected set of commodities. Agricultural commodities-corn, wheat, soybeans, cotton, and rice-received 89% of the $91.2 billion in com-modity payments from 1995 through 2002 to boost the incomes of crop and livestock farmers. Soybeans and corn received 56% of those dollars (EWG 2003). As a result of agricultural policies, technological choices, and market infrastructure, US agriculture perennially produces surpluses . The consequences of this policy include environmental concerns, fewer agricultural producers, and depressed rural economies . Conservation policies have attempted to mitigate environmental problems through land retirement programs, technical assistance, and cost-share programs to influence farming practices. Between 1985 and 2002, approximately 70% of agricultural conser-
2025, Sarhad Journal of Agriculture
Phuleli Canal (Sindh), Pakistan is one of the irrigation canals of the Kotri Barrage which provides water for irrigation as well as for drinkingpurpose. Quality of the canal deteriorates while passing through Hyderabad city, 2 nd largest... more
Phuleli Canal (Sindh), Pakistan is one of the irrigation canals of the Kotri Barrage which provides water for irrigation as well as for drinkingpurpose. Quality of the canal deteriorates while passing through Hyderabad city, 2 nd largest city of Sindh, Pakistan because highly toxic effluent from plastic factories, illegal cattle pens, slaughterhouses and municipal sewage water are directly discharged into the Phuleli Canal without any treatment. That polluted water has put lives of millions of people at risk living at downstream in district Tando Muhammad Khan. Human health problems due to waterborne diseases are commonly reported in newspapers in Phuleli Canal Command area. Present study was thus conducted to invest igate the effect of disposal of untreated domestic and industrial sewage water and waste into Phuleli canal on the quality of canal water. The study was conducted during the year 2008-2009 to observe seasonal variation of trace and heavy metals at different location (re...
2025, Soil Use and Management
The soil sequestration components of recent estimates of the carbon mitigation potential of UK agricultural land were calculated on the basis of a percentage change to the soil carbon stock present in the soil. Recent data suggest that... more
The soil sequestration components of recent estimates of the carbon mitigation potential of UK agricultural land were calculated on the basis of a percentage change to the soil carbon stock present in the soil. Recent data suggest that the carbon stock of soil in UK arable land has been overestimated, meaning that potential soil carbon sequestration rates were also overestimated. Here, we present a new estimate of the carbon stock in UK arable land, and present revised estimates for the carbon mitigation potential of UK agricultural land. The stock of soil organic carbon in UK arable land (0^30 cm) is estimated to be 562 Tg, about half of the previous estimate. Consequently, the soil carbon sequestration component of each mitigation option is reduced by about half of previously published values. Since above-ground carbon accumulation and fossil fuel carbon savings remain unchanged by these new soil carbon data, options with a significant non-soil carbon mitigation component are reduced by less than those resulting from soil carbon sequestration alone. The best single mitigation option (bioenergy crop production on surplus arable land) accounts for 3.5 Tg C yr 71 , (2.2% of the UK's 1990 CO 2 -carbon emissions), whilst an optimal combined land-use mitigation option accounts for 6.1Tg C yr 71 (3.9% of the UK's 1990 CO 2 -carbon emissions). These revised figures suggest that through manipulation of arable land, the UK could, at best, meet 49% of its contribution to the EU's overall Kyoto CO 2 -carbon emission reduction target (8% of 1990 emissions), and 31% of the greater target accepted by the UK (12.5%). Even these reduced estimates show a significant carbon mitigation potential for UK arable land.
2025, CATENA
The (effect of land use and precipitation on annual runoff and sediment loss was investigated in eight different sites along the northern Mediterranean region and the Atlantic coastline located in Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and... more
The (effect of land use and precipitation on annual runoff and sediment loss was investigated in eight different sites along the northern Mediterranean region and the Atlantic coastline located in Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Greece. These sites represent a variety of landscapes and are under a number of land-uses representative of the Mediterranean region, such as agricultural land with rainfed cereals, vines, olives, eucalyptus plantation or natural vegetation (shrubland). It was found that land use can greatly affect runoff and soil erosion. The greatest rates of runoff and sediment loss were measured in hilly areas under vines (average sediment loss 142.8 t km-* yr-'). Areas cultivated with wheat are sensitive to erosion, especially during winter, generating
2025
This book, based on the 1995 International Conference on Climate Change Adaptation, held on 22-25 May in St. Petersburg, Russia, addresses measures which can be taken to anticipate the potential impact of climatic change in order to... more
This book, based on the 1995 International Conference on Climate Change Adaptation, held on 22-25 May in St. Petersburg, Russia, addresses measures which can be taken to anticipate the potential impact of climatic change in order to minimize negative effects and take advantage ...
2025, Journal of Hydrology
The generation of runoff and the associated processes are important for the understanding of flood generation and sediment mobilisation. However, only few studies of this kind were conducted in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region. This paper... more
The generation of runoff and the associated processes are important for the understanding of flood generation and sediment mobilisation. However, only few studies of this kind were conducted in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region. This paper presents detailed rainfall event analyses in the Jhikhu Khola catchment in the middle mountains of Nepal's Himalayas followed by analysis of runoff events in erosion plots on different land use. It shows that rainfall events in the catchment can be divided into four clusters: minor events, medium events, high intensity events and large events with each cluster having particular characteristics. Annually about nine high intensity events occur, most of them during the monsoon season. Large events, about one event per year, generally occur during the monsoon and the post-monsoon season. Both the high intensity and the large events are potentially important for the generation of floods in the catchment and beyond. Runoff events in the catchment are closely correlated to the event rainfall intensity parameters and the proposed clusters. Depending on land use another surface flow process is expected. While on degraded land infiltration excess flow is the key process in terms of runoff generation, on agricultural land saturation excess overland flow is more relevant. The bulk of the runoff is generated in a few major rainfall events. Particularly on agricultural land only few events cause the total annual runoff.
2025
Water erosion is a natural process of soil surface disturbance by rainfall and surface runoff. Phosphorus transported by surface runoff is followed by eutrophication of water bodies and water quality issues. The problem rises with climate... more
Water erosion is a natural process of soil surface disturbance by rainfall and surface runoff. Phosphorus transported by surface runoff is followed by eutrophication of water bodies and water quality issues. The problem rises with climate change and increasing climate extremity. Agriculture soil, infrastructure and water quality protection have to be ensured by suitable legislative measures. The efficiency of these measures can be proved by suitable mathematical modeling of the soil erosion and nutrient transport to watercourses and water bodies. Research provided by the Department of Irrigation Drainage and Landscape Engineering FCE CTU is focused on the water erosion modeling, including nutrients transport. This research comprises either experimental rainfall-runoff and erosion events measuring or using mathematical models for calculation of runoff and erosion intensity in small and larger basins. The long-term erosion intensity on the area of 32 thousand square kilometers has bee...
2025, Society & Natural Resources
The population of Santa Cruz del Quiche ´, Guatemala, has been growing rapidly in recent decades, thereby increasing the demand for agricultural land. Interviews and census data indicate that farmers have responded by reducing the use of... more
The population of Santa Cruz del Quiche ´, Guatemala, has been growing rapidly in recent decades, thereby increasing the demand for agricultural land. Interviews and census data indicate that farmers have responded by reducing the use of fallow periods, reducing the amount of land dedicated to forest and pasture, and increasing the quantity of synthetic fertilizer applied. In particular, farmers with less land are less likely to apply organic fertilizer. Ecological consequences of these agricultural changes include loss of soil organic matter, reduced water infiltration, and concomitant increased runoff and soil erosion. An economic consequence is that farmers are more vulnerable to global price increases of synthetic fertilizer. A solution to these problems may include economic development, land redistribution, use of improved seeds, and alternative sources of fertilizer, but implementing a conservation easement program provides the most promise for achieving effective and long lasting results.
2025, Land Use Policy
To reverse the negative environmental impacts of agriculture, a land evaluation decision support system (DSS) known as MicroLEIS-DSS was used to design the most sustainable land use and management practices for selected Mediterranean... more
To reverse the negative environmental impacts of agriculture, a land evaluation decision support system (DSS) known as MicroLEIS-DSS was used to design the most sustainable land use and management practices for selected Mediterranean benchmark sites in Sevilla Province, Southern Spain. This DSS is based on the multifunctional evaluation of soil quality, using input data collected in standard soil surveys, and with particular reference to the peculiarities of the Mediterranean region. Specific agro-ecological strategies to prevent soil degradation in the benchmark sites were designed within two major topics: (i) strategies related to land use planning at a regional level: segregation of agricultural lands, restoration of marginal areas, diversification of crop rotation, and identification of vulnerability areas; and (ii) those related to land management planning at a farm level: organic matter restoration, formulation of tillage practices and workability timing, optimum machinery use, and input rationalization. The predicted results of applying the 12 agro-ecological land evaluation model constituents of MicroLEIS DSS are presented and discussed for each application site. The main conclusion of this paper is that using soil type information in decision-making is at the heart for sustainable use and management of agricultural land. This agro-ecological approach can be especially useful when formulating soil-specific agricultural practices to reverse environmental degradation, based on the spatial variability of soils and related resources.
2025
Asplenium trichomanes, last recorded during the first 2 decades of the twentieth century and thereafter thought to be extinct, was rediscovered at Fuq tal-Gruwa, Ta' Cenc area, Gozo; 15 individuals were found. The accompanying garigue... more
Asplenium trichomanes, last recorded during the first 2 decades of the twentieth century and thereafter thought to be extinct, was rediscovered at Fuq tal-Gruwa, Ta' Cenc area, Gozo; 15 individuals were found. The accompanying garigue vegetation occuring at the site is described. The plants found belong to the subspecies quadrivalens. Asplenium trichomanes L. was recorded in the past from: Mgarr ix-Xini, Gozo (Duthie 1875, later cited by Gu1ia 1909, Sommier & Caruana Gatto 1915, Borg 1927, Haslam et al. 1977); Wied Babu (Gulia 1872b, later cited by Gulia 1909, Sommier & Caruana Gatto 1915, Haslam et al. 1977); Ghajn Rihana ( Borg in Sommier & Caruana Gatto 1915, later cited by Haslam et al. 1977); "Gebel Sornu near Ghajn Rihana" (Borg 1927). Thereafter the species was presumed extinct (Lanfranco 1989), as it was "not seen for at least 70 years". On the 18th October 2005 the author discovered 10 individuals of Asplenium trichomanes at Fuq ta1Gruwa, Ta' Cen...
2025, Atmospheric Environment
AlJstract-The spatial variability of NzO emission from soil makes extrapolation to the field scale very difficult usin~; conventional chamber techniques ( < 1 m Z ). Micrometeorological techniques, which integrate N zO fluxes over areas... more
AlJstract-The spatial variability of NzO emission from soil makes extrapolation to the field scale very difficult usin~; conventional chamber techniques ( < 1 m Z ). Micrometeorological techniques, which integrate N zO fluxes over areas of0.1 to 1 kmz were therefore developed and compared with chamber methods over arable cropland. Measurements of N zO emission from an unfertilised organic soil (reclaimed from the sea in 1879) were made over a 10 d period at Lammefjord, Denmark. Flux-gradient and conditional sampling techniques were applied using two tunable diode laser spectrometers (TDLs), a Fourier transform infra-red spectrometer (FrIR) and a gas chromatograph (GC). Eddy covariance measurements were also made by the TDLs. Over the 10 d campaign approximately 5 d of continuous fluxes by the different methods were obtained. Fluxes determined by eddy covariance were in reasonable agreement, showing a mean flux of 269 jtgNmZh-l . Flux-gradient techniques measured a mean flux of 226 jtgNm-zh-l • The mean flux measured by conditional sampling was 379 Jlg N m -Z h -1. The maximum annual emission of NzO from this soil system was estimated to be 23.5 kgNha -I,
2025, Comptes rendus de l'Académie bulgare des Sciences
This study investigates land use dynamics in the South-Central Planning Region (SCPR) of Bulgaria between 2000 and 2018, a period marked by economic transition and land restitution following the shift from a centrally planned economy.... more
This study investigates land use dynamics in the South-Central Planning Region (SCPR) of Bulgaria between 2000 and 2018, a period marked by economic transition and land restitution following the shift from a centrally planned economy. Utilizing CORINE Land Cover data from the European Environment Agency, the research quantifies land use changes across various categories at six-year intervals. The analysis reveals significant transformations, particularly within forest ecosystems where declining mature forests (broadleaved and coniferous) coincide with increasing transitional woodland-shrub areas, suggesting deforestation and subsequent regeneration. Agricultural systems exhibit complex dynamics, with pasture decline contrasted by vineyard expansion and fluctuating arable land. Urban and infrastructure development shows steady expansion of industrial/commercial units and mineral extraction sites. These findings highlight the complex interplay of human activities and natural processes reshaping the SCPR landscape, providing valuable insights for sustainable landscape planning and management in the region, addressing a critical knowledge gap in understanding post-1989 land use transformation in Bulgaria.
2025, L’exploitation agricole au XVIIIe : la ferme de Mohimont
La gestion agricole à Mohimont en 1713 : quelles sont les contraintes des censiers locataires face aux exigences des propriétaires seigneuriaux ? L’étude analyse la ferme de Mohimont en 1713 à travers un bail de ferme, révélant les... more
2025
The carbon cycle is the chemical engine that provides power and weight to most living things, besides being closely related to the regulation of the global atmosphere and, consequently, climate. Growing forests absorb and fix large... more
The carbon cycle is the chemical engine that provides power and weight to most living things, besides being closely related to the regulation of the global atmosphere and, consequently, climate. Growing forests absorb and fix large amounts of carbon and can still contribute significantly to the recovery of important ecosystem services. In this regard, this study focuses on simulating the dynamics of carbon sequestration in a mosaic of different vegetation area by the use of two images from Landsat TM, for the years 1993 and 2009. Through these images, we could analyze the changes occurred in the use and land cover, especially in areas of forests, grassland and bare soil, elements that absorb more carbon from among the ranks and in a backdrop of vegetation succession. Field validations were made in the cities of Niterói and Marica, regions with large degraded areas and remaining forest lands. From these first results it was possible to simulate the dynamics of vegetation cover by the...
2025
Mountains are amongst the most fragile environments in the world and are a repository of biodiversity, water and other ecosystem services. Mountains influence far more than their geographical limits and extend to the surrounding lowlands... more
Mountains are amongst the most fragile environments in the world and are a repository of biodiversity, water and other ecosystem services. Mountains influence far more than their geographical limits and extend to the surrounding lowlands with the goods and services. The mountains are facing enormous pressures from various global change related driving forces including land use change. The land use change is happening in an unprecedented manner in the Himalaya. Five watersheds representing the middle mountains of the Himalaya were selected in China and India for understanding the hydro-ecological linkages of land use change. The natural forest decreased in both the countries with the highest change of 20% in Mamlay Watershed of India during 1988 to 1997 and simultaneously the area under open forests increased in most cases. In the Indian watersheds the agricultural land increased with the highest value of 16% recorded in the Mamlay watershed over a decade. The reverse trend was recorded in the Chinese watershed where the cropland and tea garden areas substantially reduced, however showing the increased plantation forest area by 38% during 1982-1998. Soil loss recorded in some of these watersheds ranged from 250-616 t km -2 yr -1 . The land use change transformed ecosystems, their functions especially the hydrological performances and impacts on ecosystem services were visible. Promotion of forests and agroforestry in combination of rehabilitation of degraded land in the mountain watersheds could improve land husbandry for providing hydrological benefits to both upstream and downstream users.
2025, Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management
Our overall goal was to develop indicators that both estimate ecological condition and suggest plausible causes of ecosystem degradation across the U.S. Great Lakes coastal region. Here we summarize data gathered along the U.S. Lake Huron... more
Our overall goal was to develop indicators that both estimate ecological condition and suggest plausible causes of ecosystem degradation across the U.S. Great Lakes coastal region. Here we summarize data gathered along the U.S. Lake Huron coastline for breeding bird, diatom, fish, invertebrate, and wetland plant communities. We sampled these biotic communities on 88 sites in Lake Huron coastal wetlands, uplands, estuaries/bays, and high-energy shorelines. The sites were selected as part of a larger, stratified random design for the entire U.S. Great Lakes coastal region using gradients of anthropogenic stress that incorporated over 200 stressor variables (e.g. agriculture, land cover, human populations, and point source pollution). The U.S. Lake Huron coastal region exemplified wide variation in human-related stress relative to the entire U.S. Great Lakes coast. In general, levels of stress decreased from south to north partly reflecting the change in climate and physiography, but a...
2025, Ceylon Journal of Science
• The study examined the relationship between water quality and groundwater sources in the coastal area of Sri Lanka • Descriptive, comparative, correlation, factor analysis, and discriminant analysis were used to analyze groundwater... more
• The study examined the relationship between water quality and groundwater sources in the coastal area of Sri Lanka • Descriptive, comparative, correlation, factor analysis, and discriminant analysis were used to analyze groundwater quality • Factor analysis identified pollution contributors, and the discriminant model achieved 99.9% accuracy • Despite being used as the primary drinking source, the study uncovered the presence of polluted groundwater • This study highlights the importance of statistical analyses in managing groundwater resources
2025
As a case study of an approach, this paper describes more than a decade of work on the farmscape ecology of Columbia County NY. For us, “farmscape ecology” signifies a place-based cultural and ecological exploration of how farming... more
As a case study of an approach, this paper describes more than a decade of work on the farmscape ecology of Columbia County NY. For us, “farmscape ecology” signifies a place-based cultural and ecological exploration of how farming influences nature conservation and how wild nature, in turn, influences agricultural production. We describe the recent cultural context of local interest in nature and local agriculture, the results of our studies of the conservation value of regional on-farm habitats, preliminary work documenting the wild organisms of potential agricultural benefit, and the ecological context of farms in the larger landscape. We close be reviewing our experiences in using this format to share perspectives on the land with both farmers and the general public.
2025, Fundamental and applied nematology
Résumé/Abstract Chronogaster troglodytes sp. n.(Nemata: Chronogasteridae) est décrit comme le premier véritable nématode carvernicole, récolté dans la caverne de Movile, en Roumanie. Cette espèce est adaptée à la survie dans le feutrage... more
Résumé/Abstract Chronogaster troglodytes sp. n.(Nemata: Chronogasteridae) est décrit comme le premier véritable nématode carvernicole, récolté dans la caverne de Movile, en Roumanie. Cette espèce est adaptée à la survie dans le feutrage d'hyphes fongiques ...
2025, HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe)
HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or... more
HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés.
2025, JMA
HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or... more
HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés.
2025
At the moment, the area of permanent pastures in Romania is about 4.9 million hectares, representing 21% of the total country area and 33% of the agricultural land. Compared to the year 1988, the permanent pasture area increased in 2006... more
At the moment, the area of permanent pastures in Romania is about 4.9 million hectares, representing 21% of the total country area and 33% of the agricultural land. Compared to the year 1988, the permanent pasture area increased in 2006 with 12%, and in 2013 it will be 7 million hectares. The pasture area per capita is 0.57ha, at world level, compared to only 0.22 ha in our country. The functional pasture structure in Romania is deeply disordered by natural factors and especially by the lack of interest for its amelioration.
2025, Wetlands
Small wetlands in Kenya and Tanzania cover about 12 million ha and are increasingly converted for agricultural production. There is a need to provide guidelines for their future protection or use, requiring their systematic classification... more
Small wetlands in Kenya and Tanzania cover about 12 million ha and are increasingly converted for agricultural production. There is a need to provide guidelines for their future protection or use, requiring their systematic classification and characterisation. Fifty-one wetlands were inventoried in 2008 in four contrasting sites, covering a surveyed total area of 484 km 2 . Each wetland was subdivided into sub-units of 0.5-458 ha based on the predominant land use. The biophysical and socio-economic attributes of the resulting 157 wetland sub-units were determined. The wetland sub-units were categorized using multivariate analyses into five major cluster groups. The main wetland categories comprised: (1) narrow permanently flooded inland valleys that are largely unused; (2) wide permanently flooded inland valleys and highlands floodplains under extensive use; (3) large inland valleys and lowland floodplains with seasonal flooding under medium use intensity; (4) completely drained wide inland valleys and highlands floodplains under intensive food crop production; and (5) narrow drained inland valleys under permanent horticultural production. The wetland types were associated with specific vegetation forms and soil attributes.
2025, Mediterranean journal of social sciences
The purpose of this study was to understand how level of satisfaction with improved (IIS) and traditional irrigation systems (TIS) influences the level of participation in participatory irrigation management (PIM). Data was collected from... more
The purpose of this study was to understand how level of satisfaction with improved (IIS) and traditional irrigation systems (TIS) influences the level of participation in participatory irrigation management (PIM). Data was collected from 78 farmers selected by systematic random sampling technique from two villages (Sultanabad and Parri) belonging to the IIS and TIS from Gilgit district in Gilgit-Batistan northern region of Pakistan. The descriptive analysis shows that four important variables such as adequacy of irrigation water, water availability on fixed turns and condition of present irrigation systems are main factors influencing satisfaction in IIS. However, level of participation except at the main channel is not significantly different between the two systems. The indices of participation in the main and field channels in the IIS are positive, while in the TIS these indices are negative which implies that the level of participation by the TIS farmers is low. Finally, by using regression analysis it is statistically confirmed that farmers' satisfaction, family size, family labour, agricultural income and status of the irrigation system are significant factors influencing farmers` participation in PIM. Moreover, farmer training and guidance provided to the IIS farmers by the NPIW through the WUAs also contribute to enhance the IIS farmers` participation in PIM. Therefore, strengthening of the institutional arrangements in both systems can enhance farmers` participation in PIM in Northern Areas of Pakistan.
2025
Más aún, presentamos avances efectivos en reforestación usados para reducir el impacto de estos cambios, y enmarcamos estos avances en el contexto de la reforestación de bosques de roble que responde a múltiples objetivos de manejo y... more
Más aún, presentamos avances efectivos en reforestación usados para reducir el impacto de estos cambios, y enmarcamos estos avances en el contexto de la reforestación de bosques de roble que responde a múltiples objetivos de manejo y brinda valor y función sobre una base sostenible.
2025, Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
Agricultural land-use change is unavoidable with population growth and economic development. This study investigated the causes and the consequences of agricultural land-use change in Tulkarm city in the West Bank of Palestine after the... more
Agricultural land-use change is unavoidable with population growth and economic development. This study investigated the causes and the consequences of agricultural land-use change in Tulkarm city in the West Bank of Palestine after the construction of the Separation Wall. With the aid of GIS data, the study found that urban and builtup areas increased by 54% during the period 1999-2009. About 80% of the new urbanization occurred on agricultural land. Further, the study presented views of the urban planners, decision makers and farmers in Tulkarm regarding the main factors affecting agricultural land-use change in the city using qualitative interviews. The study found that the political factors, especially the existence of the Wall and the division of land into areas A, B and C, have had a major impact on the city's uncontrolled development and the diffusion of urban areas on the landscape around the city. At the same time, unprofessional planning, lack of experience, and lack of communication and coordination between different planning organizations are considered major factors leading to uncontrolled and unorganized expansion of the city. Other factors such as farmers' socio-economic status, land fragmentation, and population growth play essential roles in selling-off agricultural land for urban uses. Studying the dynamics of agricultural land-use change and the factors that led to this change in the West Bank in general, and in Tulkarm in particular, might help shape more robust theoretical understandings of how factors of land change interact under different circumstances, including protracted conflicts.
2025
The International Centre for the Uplands -Cumbria started work in April 2004. It comprises a unique and growing partnership of organisations, led by Lancaster University, which is responsible for assuring the excellence of the research... more
The International Centre for the Uplands -Cumbria started work in April 2004. It comprises a unique and growing partnership of organisations, led by Lancaster University, which is responsible for assuring the excellence of the research and for promoting the interaction with local communities. This article describes the genesis and development of the Centre, and its plans and aims for the future.
2025
A study of rainfall, temperature range, soil softness and grass height as factors affecting availability of mole-rats as prey for Augur Buzzards was made in three different land-use areas in southern Lake Naivasha, Kenya. Mole-rat indices... more
A study of rainfall, temperature range, soil softness and grass height as factors affecting availability of mole-rats as prey for Augur Buzzards was made in three different land-use areas in southern Lake Naivasha, Kenya. Mole-rat indices were highest in Mundui and lowest in Hell's Gate where they only appeared to peak during cooler months. Grass height was the most important predictor of mole-rat availability in all three sites, although the other variables rainfall, temperature range and soil conditions maybe proximate in nature and their effects on mole-rats difficult to detect.
2025, Signaling and communication in plants
Salinisation of agricultural land threatens world food production because it exposes crops to low water potential and high concentration of toxic ions in the soil. In particular, all major crops are sensitive to high concentrations of... more
Salinisation of agricultural land threatens world food production because it exposes crops to low water potential and high concentration of toxic ions in the soil. In particular, all major crops are sensitive to high concentrations of sodium (Na + ). Due to the negative electrical potential inside cells Na + influx into plant roots can occur through ion channels or other membrane transport proteins that facilitate passive diffusion of Na + across the plasma membrane. In this chapter, we discuss the contribution of different types of ion channels to Na + influx. In the first part of the chapter, we recapitulate the basic properties of different types of plant ion channels such as voltage-dependence of gating and relative selectivity for Na + and potassium and build a simple model to assess how these channels contribute to whole-cell ionic current and Na + uptake. In the second part of the chapter, we describe a number of experimental studies that have investigated Na + flux and ion channel currents in different plant species. The combined evidence suggests that salt tolerance in plants is based on the restriction of Na + influx through voltage-independent ion channels. Voltage-independent channel IRC Inward-rectifying channel ORC Outward-rectifying channel GHK
2025, ARPHA Proceedings 8: Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Areas in the Context of Climate Change
The last two decades have seen an increase in rent payments from tenant farms. High rent prices are affecting farm profits and net income. More resources are leaving the farm to compensate for rented farmland, which reduces profits and... more
The last two decades have seen an increase in rent payments from tenant farms. High rent prices are affecting farm profits and net income. More resources are leaving the farm to compensate for rented farmland, which reduces profits and slows down farm investment opportunities. The purpose of this study is to analyse and evaluate changes in the cost of rental payments on the formation of net farm income. The object of the study is farms specialised in the fieldcrops sector. On the basis of FADN data and using economic and statistical methods, it assesses how the increase in rent payments affects the profits and net income of farms. The results are derived based on the average farm and the median farm in terms of economic size. The net income of small farms is more dependent on rent payments. As the economic size of farms increases, this dependence decreases. There is a strong correlation between net farm income and rent payments. Increasing rent expenditure increases the dependence of net farm income on subsidies.
2025
An experiment was carried out in the greenhouse conditions with Brassica juncea L. grown on alluvial soils that had previously been contaminated at different concentrations of Cu. The main purposes of the research were to determine the... more
An experiment was carried out in the greenhouse conditions with Brassica juncea L. grown on alluvial soils that had previously been contaminated at different concentrations of Cu. The main purposes of the research were to determine the effects of Cu and phosphorus applications on plant growth and Cu uptake by Brassica juncea L. Mature plants were harvested for the Cu accumulation analysis. The soil samples from each growing pot were extracted by HNO3 0.43N in order to determine the content of Cu 2+ mobilization in soil, while the plant samples were acid digested for determining the total Cu concentration. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) was employed to determine Cu concentrations in soils and plant samples. The results showed that adding Cu to soils has strong effects on Brassica juncea L. growth and the uptake rate of Cu by the plants. The height and the biomass of plants were reduced dramatically by 36% and 53% respectively at the rate of 200 ppm Cu. In addition, phosphorous ...
2025
The goal of this research is to develop a progressive series of mathematical models for the CELSS hydroponic crops. These models will systematize the experimental findings from the crop researchers in the CELSS Program into a form useful... more
The goal of this research is to develop a progressive series of mathematical models for the CELSS hydroponic crops. These models will systematize the experimental findings from the crop researchers in the CELSS Program into a form useful to investigate system-level considerations, for example, dynamic studies of the CELSS Initial Reference Configurations. The crop models will organize data from different crops into a common modeling framework. This is the fifth semiannual report for this project. The following topics are discussed: (1) use of field crop models to explore phasic control of CELSS crops for optimizing yield; (2) seminar presented at Purdue CELSS NSCORT; and (3) paper submitted on analysis of bioprocessing of inedible plant materials.
2025, Electronic Journal of Biotechnology
Paper based on the keynote presented by the main author to the III Latin American Meeting on Plant Biotechnology (REDBIO'98),
2025, Forest Ecology and Management
In the Miombo Woodlands Region of south-central Africa, it is estimated 50-80% of the total system's carbon stock is found in the top 1.5 m belowground. Deforestation and rapid population growth rates have led to reduced fallow periods... more
In the Miombo Woodlands Region of south-central Africa, it is estimated 50-80% of the total system's carbon stock is found in the top 1.5 m belowground. Deforestation and rapid population growth rates have led to reduced fallow periods and widespread land degradation in the south-central Africa area of the Miombo Woodlands. The impact of this land use conversion on belowground carbon and nitrogen stocks within the Miombo Woodlands has not been examined extensively in the past. We addressed how the soil carbon profile reacts to conversion to agriculture, the continuation of agriculture, and the ability of the soil carbon budget to recover following abandonment within the Chimaliro Forest Reserve and surrounding villages in Kasungu, Malawi. Protected natural Miombo Woodlands sites, agricultural fields of increasing ages, and fallow fields of increasing ages were sampled. Surface carbon levels in Miombo soils varied from 1.2 to 3.7%. Agricultural soil carbon was significantly depressed with surface layers ranging from 0.35 to 1.2% carbon. Unexpectedly, fallow carbon and nitrogen levels continued to be significantly repressed (surface soils 0.65-2.3% C), pointing out the possible unsustainability of the current agricultural management cycle dominant in the area. On average, agricultural soils contain 40% less soil carbon than the natural Miombo Woodlands. Soil carbon declined logarithmically with depth within all land use types. Clay content was significantly positively correlated with soil carbon in the top 40 cm and therefore areas of higher clay content contained elevated carbon levels. Although a common attribute to many agricultural systems, bulk densities were not significantly altered by land use changes.
2025
I wish to congratulate the Coordinated Wheat Programme of PARC which has, with the help of CIMMYT, addressed issues related to wheat production in the barani areas of northern Punjab. The present report synthesises information from... more
I wish to congratulate the Coordinated Wheat Programme of PARC which has, with the help of CIMMYT, addressed issues related to wheat production in the barani areas of northern Punjab. The present report synthesises information from on-farm experimentation carried out over six years focusing on rainfed wheat. It is an important step towards the development of the proper focus and recommendations that can be quickly adopted by the farmers. . ' One-fifth of the wheat acreage of Pakistan is rainfed. The barani areas of northern Punjab constitute the major portion of this acreage, but have been relatively neglected by past research efforts. The barani areas contribute only ten percent of the national production of this staple food. Increasing population in the country and shrinking land and other resources indicate that wheat yields in barani areas will have to increase per unit area on a sustainable basis. Improvement in wheat productivity in rainfed areas would ease the burden on and allow more of the irrigated land to be used for production of other important commodities. Barani wheat production is relatively more risky due to climatic constraints and as such farmers are conservative in use of inputs on this crop. However, this report shows clearly that use of modern technology can increase and stabilise production in these areas at a cost profitable to farmers. The present study has concentrated on filling the gap that exists between research station activities and the situation in farmers fields. Through adoption of the package of technology generated, resource poor barani farmers can increase wheat production in a sustainable manner to meet the country's need.
2025
Thanks to favourable policies for agricultural in vestments, both small scale and large scale irrigated agriculture has expanded rapi dly in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. This closed river basin encompasses a chain of thre e lakes... more
Thanks to favourable policies for agricultural in vestments, both small scale and large scale irrigated agriculture has expanded rapi dly in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. This closed river basin encompasses a chain of thre e lakes with unique hydrological and ecological characteristics including a biodiversity rich national wetland park. The irrigation development has been associated with the over-explo itation of the limited water resources and the increased competition for land and water resour ces. Policy makers and other stakeholders seem to have a limited capacity to respond to the n egative impacts of the ongoing resource degradation on the local livelihoods and the ecosys tem. This paper describes the application of a framework to better understand the competing reso urce claims in the Central Rift Valley as a basis for identifying and implementing locally-owne d and action-oriented R&D options. The framework proved useful to disentangle myths from f acts and to highli...
2025, Environmental …
Because of their intense vegetation and the fact that they include areas of coastline, deltas situated in the vicinity of big cities are areas of greet attraction for people who wish to get away from in a crowded city. However, deltas,... more
Because of their intense vegetation and the fact that they include areas of coastline, deltas situated in the vicinity of big cities are areas of greet attraction for people who wish to get away from in a crowded city. However, deltas, with their fertile soil and unique flora and fauna, need to be protected. In order for the use of such areas to be planned in a sustainable way by local authorities, there is a need for detailed data about these regions. In this study, the changes in land use of the Balçova Delta, which is to the immediate west of Turkey's third largest city Izmir, from 1957 up to the present day, were investigated. In the study, using aerial photographs taken in 1957, 1976 and 1995 and an IKONOS satellite image from the year 2005, the natural and cultural characteristics of the region and changes in the coastline were determined spatially. Through this study, which aimed to reveal the characteristics of the areas of land already lost as well as the types of land use in the Balçova delta and to determine geographically the remaining areas in need of protection, local authorities were provided with the required data support. Balçova consists of flat and fertile wetland with mainly citrus-fruit orchards and flower-producing green houses. The marsh and lagoon system situated in the coastal areas of the delta provides a habitat for wild life, in particular birds. In the Balçova Delta, which provides feeding and resting for migratory birds, freshwater sources are of vital importance for fauna and flora. The settlement area, which in 1957 was 182 ha, increased 11-fold up to the year 2005 when it reached 2,141 ha. On the other hand, great losses were determined in farming land, olive groves, forest and in the marsh and lagoon system. This unsystematic and rapid urbanization occurring in the study region is not only causing the loss of important agricultural land and wetland, but also lasting water and soil pollution.
2025
A theocy-based participation rrodel is devel oped using the assmptions of perfect capital rmrkets and perfect inforrmtion. Given this spe cification it is sho.vn that participation in a PDR program is always equivalent in present value... more
A theocy-based participation rrodel is devel oped using the assmptions of perfect capital rmrkets and perfect inforrmtion. Given this spe cification it is sho.vn that participation in a PDR program is always equivalent in present value tenns to selling the land, and is always at least as good as not participating and rermining in farming. In order to investigate participation rates in the Macyland PDR program a less restrictive rcodel is developed which relaxes the perfect cap ital markets assmption. It is found that a PDR program is rrost likely to be successful in re gions characterized 'cy relatively lo.v levels of develcpnent pressure, and least likely to be suc cessful in areas experiencing high rates of gro.vth or areas that are not undergoing develop rrent pressure. IN'l'OOOOCTICN 'Ihe preservation of agricultural land is a topic of considerable interest to the public as well as policymakers. Numerous programs that at tenpt to encourage the retention of...
2025, Hydrological Processes