Carbon footprint of sheep production systems in semi-arid zone of Chile: A simulation-based approach of productive scenarios and precipitation patterns

Grassland production systems contribute 40% to Australia’s gross agricultural production value and utilise >50% of its land area. Across this area, diverse systems exist, but these can be broadly classified into four main production systems: (i) pastoral grazing, mainly of cattle at low intensity (i.e. <0.4 dry sheep equivalents/ha) on relatively unimproved native rangelands in the arid and semi-arid regions of northern and central Australia; (ii) crop–livestock systems in the semi-arid zone where livestock graze a mixture of pastures and crops that are often integrated; (iii) high-rainfall, permanent pasture zone in the coastal hinterland and highlands; and (iv) dairy systems covering a broad range of environments and production intensities. A notable trend across these systems has been the decline in sheep numbers and the proportion of income from wool, with beef cattle or sheep meat increasingly important. Although there is evidence that most of these systems have lifted production efficiencies over the past 30 years, total factor productivity growth (i.e. change in output relative to inputs) has failed to match the decline in terms of trade. This has renewed attention on how research and development can help to increase productivity. These industries also face increasing scrutiny to improve their environmental performance and develop sustainable production practices. In order to improve the efficiency and productivity of grassland production systems, we propose and explore in detail a range of practices and innovations that will move systems to new or improved states of productivity or alter efficiency frontiers. These include: filling gaps in the array of pastures available, either through exploring new species or improving the adaptation and agronomic characteristics of species currently sown; overcoming existing and emerging constraints to pasture productivity; improving livestock forage-feed systems; and more precise and lower cost management of grasslands. There is significant scope to capture value from the ecological services that grasslands provide and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from livestock production. However, large reductions in pasture research scientist numbers (75–95%) over the past 30 years, along with funding limitations, will challenge our ability to realise these potential opportunities.

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Breeding site selection according to suitability for amphibian larval growth under various ecological conditions in the semi-arid zone of northern Israel

Ecologia mediterranea ◽

10.3406/ecmed.2009.1389 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 65-74 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Tali Goldber ◽

Eviatar Nevo ◽

Gad Degani

Keyword(s):

Site Selection ◽

Arid Zone ◽

Larval Growth ◽

Breeding Site ◽

Ecological Conditions ◽

Semi Arid

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Growth and Economic Profitability of Castor Cultivation in the Semi-arid Zone of Haryana

Indian Journal of Economics and Development ◽

10.35716/ijed/ns20-011 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 300-305

Keyword(s):

Arid Zone ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Market Price ◽

Transportation Cost ◽

Castor Seed ◽

Production Constraints ◽

Net Profit ◽

Semi Arid ◽

Extract Information

The present study was carried out in three districts viz; Rewari, Sirsa and Hisar of Haryana state. A survey of 60 sampled farms was conducted to extract information pertaining to various expenses incurred in cultivation of castor and output attained as well as to ascertain the perception of farmers for various problems encountered in production and marketing of castor seed. The descriptive analysis was employed to draw valid inferences from the study. The results revealed that net profit accrued from cultivation of castor seed was ₹ 46331 ha -1 in the study area. The value of B: C ratio of castor cultivation was more than one and also higher as compared to prevalent cropping systems indicated that cultivation of castor seed is economical viable entity. However, production constraints like retention of F2 seed in the field over year, grain scattering, shortage of irrigation water, frost effect on crop yield and marketing constraints like absence of MSP, higher transportation cost sale of castor seed in distant markets, frequent fluctuation in market price, non-availability of processing units were observed.

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Cultivation of New Emerging Agro-Nutritional Crop of Quinoa at Madinat al-Hikmah Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan

The Open Plant Science Journal ◽

10.2174/1874294701710010070 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 70-81 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Muhammad Afzal Rizvi ◽

Syed Abid Ali ◽

Iqra Munir ◽

Kousar Yasmeen ◽

Rubina Abid ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Arid Zone ◽

Good Health ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Low Concentrations ◽

Sindh Province ◽

High Concentrations ◽

Elemental Accumulation ◽

Semi Arid ◽

Good Agreement

Aim: Quinoa is a popular source of protein, minerals and alternative to traditional grains. The objective of this study is to introduce the Quinoa in the semi-arid zone of Sindh province of Pakistan. Method: A variety of NARC-9 from the agricultural Punjab province was cultivated and subjected to analyze the growth, morphological characters of the varieties obtained, saponin, protein and the elemental composition viz. Cd, Cu, Fe, K, Na, Pb, and Zn. Result: The result demonstrated the optimum growth and no disease were found in the experimental area. At least three major varieties of quinoa were obtained. Seed morphological data of these three quinoa cultivars were collected. The average saponin levels were quite reasonable. Overall proteins band pattern revealed very high polymorphism in quinoa cultivars and the results were also in good agreement with earlier studies. Conclusion: All quinoa cultivars of Madinat al-Hikmah showed high concentrations of albumin than globulin concentrations (i.e. 48-52% and 24-27%, respectively) as compared to control seeds from market that had similar concentrations of the two fractions i.e. 35.58% and 37.68%, respectively. Likewise, low concentrations of prolamin 14-16% and glutelin 11-12% compared to control seeds 13% rank our crop much better quality than the imported one in the market. The trend of elemental accumulation was followed as K >Na >Fe >Zn >Cu >Pb >Cd, while for comparison it was Na >K >Zn >Fe >Cu >Pb >Cd >Pb for wheat grown under similar conditions. Traditional grains together make a major contribution to the total nutritional element intake of the average Pakistani citizen through diet, not only because of large amounts consumed, but also in part by suitable levels of their proteins and elemental up take for good health. Thus the successful cultivation of quinoa in the semi-arid zone of Sindh will certainly prove beneficial.

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Understanding the dairy production systems in rural settlements in the Brazilian semi-arid region: characterization, typology, and holistic perception

Tropical Animal Health and Production ◽

10.1007/s11250-021-02840-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 53 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Maria Samires Martins Castro ◽

Delano de Sousa Oliveira ◽

Raquel Oliveira dos Santos Fontenelle ◽

Ana Paula Araújo do Nascimento ◽

Robson Mateus Freitas Silveira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Arid Region ◽

Production Systems ◽

Dairy Production ◽

Rural Settlements ◽

Holistic Perception ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Semi Arid

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Forecasting the impacts of climate variability: lessons from the rainfed corn market in Ceará, Brazil

Environment and Development Economics ◽

10.1017/s1355770x07004172 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 201-227 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

ARIASTER B. CHIMELI ◽

FRANCISCO DE ASSIS DE SOUZA FILHO ◽

MARCOS COSTA HOLANDA ◽

FRANCIS CARLO PETTERINI

Keyword(s):

Climate Variability ◽

Developing Economies ◽

Arid Zone ◽

Well Being ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Local Climate ◽

The World ◽

Forecast Models ◽

Climatic Impacts ◽

Semi Arid

ABSTRACTA number of studies show that climatic shocks have significant economic impacts in several regions of the world, especially in, but not limited to, developing economies. In this paper we focus on a drought-related indicator of well-being and emergency spending in the Brazilian semi-arid zone – rainfed corn market – and estimate aggregate behavioral and forecast models for this market conditional on local climate determinants. We find encouraging evidence that our approach can help policy makers buy time to help them prepare for drought mitigating actions. The analysis is applicable to economies elsewhere in the world and climatic impacts other than those caused by droughts.

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