Weed shift and community diversity in conservation and conventional agriculture systems in pigeonpea- castor systems under rainfed semi-arid tropics

2021 ◽  
Vol 212 ◽  
pp. 105075
Author(s):  
Pratibha G. ◽  
V. Rao K. ◽  
Srinivas I. ◽  
M.K.Raju B. ◽  
Shanker Arun K. ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Diversity ◽  
Conventional Agriculture ◽  
Agriculture Systems ◽  
Semi Arid

scholarly journals Composition of the ichthyofauna in Brazilian semiarid reservoirs

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Yasmin Lustosa Costa ◽  
José Etham de Lucena Barbosa ◽  
Leandro Gomes Viana ◽  
Telton Pedro Anselmo Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Arid Region ◽  
Fish Community ◽  
Aquatic Invertebrates ◽  
Fish Fauna ◽  
Community Diversity ◽  
Drainage Basins ◽  
Brazilian Semiarid ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Semi Arid

Abstract The scale of impact that the São Francisco River transposition project will have on the drainage basins ichthyofauna is still unclear, however, changes in the fish community diversity and abundance is probable. Surveys and registries of the fish fauna within key systems of the catchment basins are priority actions for the conservation of the aquatic diversity. This study conducted a taxonomic survey of the Epitácio Pessoa (Boqueirão municipality) and Argemiro de Figueiredo (Itatuba municipality), reservoirs ichthyofauna, both belonging to the Paraíba do Norte River basin, important socioeconomic and environmental systems for the transposition project. Monthly sampling was carried out between October/2014 to September/2015 in the upstream and downstream zones of the reservoirs. The specimens were collected using dip nets, drag nets, and sieves, and placed on ice in the field. Later in the laboratory, they were transferred to 10% formaldehyde and then preserved in 70% alcohol. A total of 2,328 specimens were collected representing five orders, 14 families, and 31 species in both systems. At the upstream zones 2057 specimens were collected representing 17 species, and at the downstream zones 271 specimens were collected representing 24 species. Of the 31 species recorded, 13 species are endemic to watersheds that drain rivers from the Brazilian semi-arid region, and seven species (Apareiodon davisi, Characidium bimaculatum, Hypostomus pusarum, Parotocinclus jumbo, P. spilosoma, Pimelodella enochi, and Prochilodus brevis) are endemic to the Mid-Northeastern Caatinga Ecoregion (MNCE). Among the latter, Parotocinclus spilosoma and Pimelodella enochi are endemic to the Paraíba do Norte River. Apareiodon davisi is classified as Endangered according to the current published Brazil’s official list of endangered species of fish and aquatic invertebrates. This pre-transposition ichthyofaunistic survey will serve as a basis for future post-transposition analyzes, considering this action will change the scope of the ecosystems diversity.

Interactions between agricultural mulching plastic debris and pesticides

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Beriot ◽  
Paul Zomer ◽  
Raul Zornoza ◽  
Violette Geissen Geissen
Keyword(s):  
Arid Regions ◽  
Soil Organisms ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Conventional Agriculture ◽  
Sorption Behaviour ◽  
Plastic Debris ◽  
Plastic Mulching ◽  
Safe Approach ◽  
Active Substances ◽  
Semi Arid

<div> <p>In semi-arid regions, the use of plastic mulch and pesticides in conventional agriculture is nearly ubiquitous. The use of plastics and pesticides lead both to the release of residues in the soils. The degradation of plastic and pesticide residues in the soil have been previously studied, but not together despite the fact that pesticides may be sorbed to plastics and that the sorption may change the degradation rate. In fact, the sorption of pesticides on Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) has been previously  studied, but no data is available for other plastics such as Pro-oxidant Additive Containing (PAC) plastics or “biodegradable” (Bio) plastics. The aim of this research was to measure the sorption pattern of active substances from 38 pesticides on LDPE, PAC and Bio plastic mulches and to compare the decay of the active substances in the presence and absence of plastic debris. For this purpose, 38 active substances from 17 insecticides, 15 fungicides and 6 herbicides commonly applied with plastic mulching in South-east Spain were incubated at 35°C for 15 days with a 3×3 cm² square of plastic mulch (LDPE, PAC and Bio). The QuEChERS (Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged Safe) approach was adapted to extract the pesticides. The sorption behaviour depended on both, the pesticide and the plastic mulch type. On average, the sorption percentage was ~23% on LDPE and PAC, and ~50% on Bio. The decay of active substances in the presence of plastic was, on average, 30% lower than the decay of active substances in solution alone. Therefore, efficacy, transport, degradability and/or eco-toxicity of active substances from pesticides may be affected by sorption on plastics. Additionally the sorption of pesticides on plastic debris may affect the plastic degradability due to the toxicity of pesticides to some soil organisms.</p> </div><p> </p>

scholarly journals Investigating the factors that affect the adoption of organic agriculture in Asokwa, Kumasi Metropolis

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Y. Adusei
Keyword(s):  
Organic Agriculture ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Conventional Agriculture ◽  
Food And Agriculture ◽  
Organic Vegetable Production ◽  
Organic Produce ◽  
Agriculture Systems ◽  
Depth Interviews

Urban agriculture, particularly organic vegetable production is promoted because of its contribution to food security and enhanced income.  More so, organic agriculture considerably enhances the income of urban farmers who practice it. The objective was to investigate the factors that affect farmers' decision to adopt organic agriculture. Due to the contamination of vegetables with conventional agriculture systems, increasing concerns about the quality of food, the health of consumers and the environmental impacts of farming systems, organic agriculture is being promoted by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture as a means of addressing the problem. Since the introduction of organic agriculture, some farmers have adopted the technology while others have not. Sixteen farmers were selected, ten from those adopting and six from those not adopting. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were used to extract data from the participants. For those who adopted, the knowledge of their parents and forefathers on agriculture and their personal experiences by comparing their organic produce with conventional ones greatly inspired their decision on adoption. Factors leading to non-adoption are: inadequate awareness about organic farming, difficulty in controlling pests, diseases and improving soil fertility and perceived lack of market for the organic vegetables. As a result, effective extension monitoring and training are recommended to enhance the adoption and sustainability of organic agriculture. 

scholarly journals Tillage-induced wind erosion in semi-arid fallow lands of Central Anatolia, Turkey  

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 144-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Başaran ◽  
O. Uzun ◽  
S. Kaplan ◽  
F. Görmez ◽  
G. Erpul
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transport ◽  
Wind Erosion ◽  
Soil Characteristics ◽  
Sediment Flux ◽  
Agricultural Activity ◽  
Conventional Agriculture ◽  
Fallow Lands ◽  
Dry Seasons ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Wet And Dry Seasons

Wind erosion and resultant dust emissions create significant risks for land degradation and ecosystem health in arid and semi-arid regions. In these regions, fallowing constitutes a major component of conventional agriculture. The present study was conducted to determine wind erosion quantities and agricultural activity-induced mass transport from fallow lands and to assess the correlations of mass transport with climate and soil characteristics. Experiments were conducted over the fallow lands of two adjacent agricultural enterprises (Altinova and Gözlü, Turkey). Sediment flux was measured with passive traps in wet and dry seasons (Q<sub>t</sub>WET and Q<sub>t</sub>DRY). Mass transport in wet and dry seasons was respectively measured as 11.38 and 11.40 kg/ha in Altinova and as 31.61 and 19.71 kg/ha in Gözlü. Both the differences between mass transport of the enterprises and the differences between Q<sub>t</sub>WET and Q<sub>t</sub>DRY of each enterprise were found to be significant (P &lt; 0.05). Pearson’s correlation analysis for the correlations of mass transport with soil characteristics revealed significant correlations with electrical conductivity and soil lime content (r = 0.721 and –0.635) (P &lt; 0.05). Total mass transport from the fallow lands of both enterprises throughout a 7-month period of measurement was estimated at 600 t. Based on current findings it was concluded that fallowing should be abandoned and sustainable soil and land management practices from conventional agriculture like minimum tillage or crop rotations should be introduced.  

scholarly journals A laboratory comparison of the interactions between three plastic mulch types and 38 active substances found in pesticides

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9876 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Beriot ◽  
Paul Zomer ◽  
Raul Zornoza ◽  
Violette Geissen
Keyword(s):  
Arid Regions ◽  
Sorption Behavior ◽  
Research Needs ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Conventional Agriculture ◽  
Plastic Debris ◽  
Plastic Mulching ◽  
Safe Approach ◽  
Active Substances ◽  
Semi Arid

Background In semi-arid regions, the use of plastic mulch and pesticides in conventional agriculture is nearly ubiquitous. Although the sorption of pesticides on Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) has been previously studied, no data are available for other plastics such as Pro-oxidant Additive Containing (PAC) plastics or “biodegradable” (Bio) plastics. The aim of this research was to measure the sorption pattern of active substances from pesticides on LDPE, PAC and Bio plastic mulches and to compare the decay of the active substances in the presence and absence of plastic debris. Methods For this purpose, 38 active substances from 17 insecticides, 15 fungicides and six herbicides commonly applied with plastic mulching in South-east Spain were incubated with a 3 × 3 cm2 piece of plastic mulch (LDPE, PAC and Bio). The incubation was done in a solution of 10% acetonitrile and 90% distilled water at 35 °C for 15 days in the dark. The Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged Safe approach was adapted to extract the pesticides. Results The sorption behavior depended on both the pesticide and the plastic mulch type. On average, the sorption percentage was ~23% on LDPE and PAC and ~50% on Bio. The decay of active substances in the presence of plastic was ~30% lesser than the decay of active substances in solution alone. This study is the first attempt at assessing the behavior of a diversity of plastic mulches and pesticides to further define research needs.

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