Integrating agricultural land-use and management for conservation of a native grassland flora in a variegated landscape

1994 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 236 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. McIntyre
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
New England ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Spatial Arrangement ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Land Use And Management

Management of variegated landscapes (in which the native vegetation still forms the matrix but has been modified in a variable way) requires strategies to maintain or enhance existing vegetation within the context of human land-uses such as agriculture. Using rangelands in the New England region of New South Wales as an example, spatial patterns of land-use and modification are described. Management principles for conservation of herbaceous communities in areas of pastoral production are suggested, based on the following assumptions: 1) low intensity pasture utilization and management (i.e., limited fertilization, soil disturbance and grazing) is conducive to the maintenance of species richness at a local and regional scale; 2) stratification of management intensity on farms is compatible with viable grazing operations; 3) landscape context is important as effects of management may spread beyond the managed area; 4) spatial arrangement of land-uses could be optimized to maintain or increase diversity. Although our understanding of these issues is incomplete, there is general observational and theoretical support for them. Incorporation of principles derived from these assumptions in the farm planning process is a useful strategy for preserving grassland vegetation in landscapes where opportunities for reserve conservation are limited.

scholarly journals MicroLEIS DSS

2011 ◽  
pp. 339-376
Author(s):  
D. de la Rosa ◽  
M. Anaya-Romero
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Planning ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Management Planning ◽  
Gis Applications ◽  
Other Information ◽  
Land Use And Management

The main focus of this chapter is that using soil type information in decision making is at the heart for sustainable use and management of agricultural land. The MicroLEIS decision support system (DSS) is based on the multifunctional evaluation of biophysical soil quality, using basically input data collected in standard soil inventories, and with particular reference to the peculiarities of the Mediterranean region. Its design philosophy is a toolkit approach, integrating many software instruments: databases, statistic models, expert systems, neural networks, Web and GIS applications, and other information technologies. As a case study applying MicroLEIS DSS to Cordoba Province (Spain), soil specific strategies to maximize land productivity and to prevent land degradation are predicted within two major topics: i) strategies related to land use planning at a regional scale, and ii) strategies related to soil management planning at a farm level. This DSS has proved to be an appropriate methodology for converting knowledge on land use and management systems, as estimated by research scientists, into information that is readily comprehensible to policy makers and farmers.

scholarly journals Suitability Analysis for Scaling Chickpea Improved Varieties in Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wondafrash Mulugeta ◽  
Demeke Nigussiea Nigussie ◽  
Adamu Molla ◽  
Zewdie Bishaw ◽  
Chandrashekhar Biradar
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Land Suitability ◽  
Suitability Analysis ◽  
Improved Varieties ◽  
Land Use And Management

Abstract Background: Appropriate decision-making on crop production will reduce various risk factors associated with unsustainable land management. The limited available arable land be taken for granted which may turn from ‘best’ to ‘worst’ irrespective of the kind of land use and management practice without understanding its special requirements and potential use. GIS has contributed to the speed and efficiency of the overall planning process in agricultural land use suitability, since it enables quick and efficient access to large amounts of information, exhibiting relationships, patterns, and trends that are useful in monitoring land use potential and suitability evaluation. As crop’s environmental requirements vary from variety to variety, it is recommended to undertake variety specific analysis and mapping for better understand the extent of scaling-up the specific crop technologyResults: GIS-based land suitability map for chickpea was generated for each variety under consideration mapped showing their percentage area coverage of suitability for each regional states in Ethiopia. Based on, the suitability analysis desi chickpea varieties Mastewal, Naatolii, Teketay and Arerti, Habru, Kasech, and Yelbey kabuli chickpea varieties classified as highly suitable that cover 0.67, 0.71, 1.4, 2.3, 1.3, 2.4 and 1.2 million ha of the country respectively. While moderately suitable areas for the same varieties cover 25.2, 11.3, 25.9, 26.4, 26.6, 9.6, 17.1 million ha.Conclusion: The suitability analysis results show that the currently available improved varieties of chickpea can be targeted for scaling out in the identified land suitability classes in Ethiopia with some caution. Amhara, Oromia, SNNP and Tigray remain the major regions with suitable areas for production of available varieties of chickpea compared to Afar, Benishangul Gumuz, Gambella, and Somali regions. However, the highly suitable areas are limited compared to moderately suitable areas, which are higher across the regions.

scholarly journals Changes in Coastal Agricultural Land Use in Response to Climate Change: An Assessment Using Satellite Remote Sensing and Household Survey Data in Tien Hai District, Thai Binh Province, Vietnam

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 627
Author(s):  
Duong H. Nong ◽  
An T. Ngo ◽  
Hoa P. T. Nguyen ◽  
Thuy T. Nguyen ◽  
Lan T. Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Agricultural Land Use ◽  
Landsat 8 ◽  
Land Uses

We analyzed the agricultural land-use changes in the coastal areas of Tien Hai district, Thai Binh province, in 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020, using Landsat 5 and Landsat 8 data. We used the object-oriented classification method with the maximum likelihood algorithm to classify six types of land uses. The series of land-use maps we produced had an overall accuracy of more than 80%. We then conducted a spatial analysis of the 5-year land-use change using ArcGIS software. In addition, we surveyed 150 farm households using a structured questionnaire regarding the impacts of climate change on agricultural productivity and land uses, as well as farmers’ adaptation and responses. The results showed that from 2005 to 2020, cropland decreased, while aquaculture land and forest land increased. We observed that the most remarkable decreases were in the area of rice (485.58 ha), the area of perennial crops (109.7 ha), and the area of non-agricultural land (747.35 ha). The area of land used for aquaculture and forest increased by 566.88 ha and 772.60 ha, respectively. We found that the manifestations of climate change, such as extreme weather events, saltwater intrusion, drought, and floods, have had a profound impact on agricultural production and land uses in the district, especially for annual crops and aquaculture. The results provide useful information for state authorities to design land-management strategies and solutions that are economic and effective in adapting to climate change.

scholarly journals Then and Now: Understanding Change on an Agricultural Landscape

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Pardy
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Great Lakes ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Surface Water Quality ◽  
Laurentian Great Lakes ◽  
Phosphorus Pollution ◽  
Land Use And Management

Freshwater eutrophication typically driven by non-point source phosphorus pollution is one of the worlds’ most prevalent and vexing environmental problems with the Laurentian Great Lakes on the Canada – United States border. During 1975 – 1977, the Pollution from Land Use Activities Reference Group examined eleven agricultural watersheds in order to investigate the impacts of land use activities on surface water quality. This study examined how agricultural land use and management has transformed in two watersheds, Nissouri Creek and Big Creek. The goal of this study was to quantify the phosphorus mass balance change within the watersheds. During 2015 – 2019 land use and management practices survey data was collected. Results of this study showed Nissouri Creek is now depleting -2.19 kilograms of phosphorus per hectare of agricultural land, while Big Creek is still accumulating 4.77 kilograms of phosphorus per hectare of agricultural land. This study can guide efforts to limit the long-term losses of phosphorus in the Laurentian Great Lakes and elsewhere.

Agricultural land use and management weaken the soil erosion induced by extreme rainstorms

2020 ◽  
Vol 301 ◽  
pp. 107047 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianqiao Han ◽  
Wenyan Ge ◽  
Zhe Hei ◽  
Chenyu Cong ◽  
Chunling Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Agricultural Land Use ◽  
Land Use And Management ◽  
Extreme Rainstorms

scholarly journals Estimating Human Impacts on Soil Erosion Considering Different Hillslope Inclinations and Land Uses in the Coastal Region of Syria

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2786 ◽  
Author(s):  
Safwan Mohammed ◽  
Hazem G. Abdo ◽  
Szilard Szabo ◽  
Quoc Bao Pham ◽  
Imre J. Holb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Human Impacts ◽  
Coastal Region ◽  
Water Erosion ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Erosion Processes

Soils in the coastal region of Syria (CRoS) are one of the most fragile components of natural ecosystems. However, they are adversely affected by water erosion processes after extreme land cover modifications such as wildfires or intensive agricultural activities. The main goal of this research was to clarify the dynamic interaction between erosion processes and different ecosystem components (inclination, land cover/land use, and rainy storms) along with the vulnerable territory of the CRoS. Experiments were carried out in five different locations using a total of 15 erosion plots. Soil loss and runoff were quantified in each experimental plot, considering different inclinations and land uses (agricultural land (AG), burnt forest (BF), forest/control plot (F)). Observed runoff and soil loss varied greatly according to both inclination and land cover after 750 mm of rainfall (26 events). In the cultivated areas, the average soil water erosion ranged between 0.14 ± 0.07 and 0.74 ± 0.33 kg/m2; in the BF plots, mean soil erosion ranged between 0.03 ± 0.01 and 0.24 ± 0.10 kg/m2. The lowest amount of erosion was recorded in the F plots where the erosion ranged between 0.1 ± 0.001 and 0.07 ± 0.03 kg/m2. Interestingly, the General Linear Model revealed that all factors (i.e., inclination, rainfall and land use) had a significant (p < 0.001) effect on the soil loss. We concluded that human activities greatly influenced soil erosion rates, being higher in the AG lands, followed by BF and F. Therefore, the current study could be very useful to policymakers and planners for proposing immediate conservation or restoration plans in a less studied area which has been shown to be vulnerable to soil erosion processes.

scholarly journals The environment they lived in: anthropogenic changes in local and regional vegetation composition in eastern Fennoscandia during the Neolithic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teija Alenius ◽  
Laurent Marquer ◽  
Chiara Molinari ◽  
Maija Heikkilä ◽  
Antti Ojala
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Sediment Cores ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Reconstruction Algorithm ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Neolithic Period ◽  
Vegetation Composition ◽  
Fire Dynamics ◽  
Disturbance Processes ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Understanding about regional versus local changes in vegetation is critical in answering archaeological questions, in particular at a time when humans are assumed to have caused higher disturbances at local scales rather than regional scales; this is the case during the Neolithic. The aim of this paper is to assess the impact of Neolithic land use on regional and local vegetation dynamics, plant composition and disturbance processes (e.g. fire) in eastern Fennoscandia. We apply the Landscape Reconstruction Algorithm (LRA) to high-resolution pollen records from three lacustrine sediment cores that cover the Neolithic period. We calculate changes in vegetation composition and the rate of plant compositional change. Fire dynamics are estimated as an indicator of land use, although fire can result from both natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Our results show that during the Early Neolithic, changes were mainly driven by natural and climate-induced factors and vegetation composition and fire activity were similar at both regional and local scales. From ca. 4000 bc onwards, trends in vegetation and fire dynamics start to differ between regional and local scales. This is due to local land uses that are overshadowed at the regional scale by climate-induced factors. The use of the LOVE model in pollen analyses is therefore very useful to highlight local land uses that are not visible by using REVEALS.

scholarly journals Land Use Changes Affecting Soil Organic Matter Accumulation in Topsoil and Subsoil in Northeast Thailand

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Benjapon Kunlanit ◽  
Laksanara Khwanchum ◽  
Patma Vityakon
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Clay Fraction ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Soil Profiles ◽  
Land Uses

The objectives of this study were to investigate effects of land use on accumulation of soil organic matter (SOM) in the soil profile (0–100 cm) and to determine pattern of SOM stock distribution in soil profiles. Soil samples were collected from five soil depths at 20 cm intervals from 0 to 100 cm under four adjacent land uses including forest, cassava, sugarcane, and paddy lands located in six districts of Maha Sarakham province in the Northeast of Thailand. When considering SOM stock among different land uses in all locations, forest soils had significantly higher total SOM stocks in 0–100 cm (193 Mg·C·ha−1) than those in cassava, sugarcane, and paddy soils in all locations. Leaf litter and remaining rice stover on soil surfaces resulted in a higher amount of SOM stocks in topsoil (0–20 cm) than subsoil (20–100 cm) in some forest and paddy land uses. General pattern of SOM stock distribution in soil profiles was such that the SOM stock declined with soil depth. Although SOM stocks decreased with depth, the subsoil stock contributes to longer term storage of C than topsoils as they are more stabilized through adsorption onto clay fraction in finer textured subsoil than those of the topsoils. Agricultural practices, notably applications of organic materials, such as cattle manure, could increase subsoil SOM stock as found in some agricultural land uses (cassava and sugarcane) in some location in our study. Upland agricultural land uses, notably cassava, caused high rate of soil degradation. To restore soil fertility of these agricultural lands, appropriate agronomic practices including application of organic soil amendments, return of crop residues, and reduction of soil disturbance to increase and maintain SOM stock, should be practiced.

scholarly journals If They Come, Where will We Build It? Land-Use Implications of Two Forest Conservation Policies in the Deep Creek Watershed

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 581
Author(s):  
Markandu Anputhas ◽  
Johannus Janmaat ◽  
Craig Nichol ◽  
Adam Wei
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Forest Conservation ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Urban Land Use ◽  
Land Use Type ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Conservation Policies ◽  
Creek Watershed

Research Highlights: Forest conservation policies can drive land-use change to other land-use types. In multifunctional landscapes, forest conservation policies will therefore impact on other functions delivered by the landscape. Finding the best pattern of land use requires considering these interactions. Background and Objectives: Population growth continues to drive the development of land for urban purposes. Consequently, there is a loss of other land uses, such as agriculture and forested lands. Efforts to conserve one type of land use will drive more change onto other land uses. Absent effective collaboration among affected communities and relevant institutional agents, unexpected and undesirable land-use change may occur. Materials and Methods: A CLUE-S (Conversion of Land Use and its Effects at Small Scales) model was developed for the Deep Creek watershed, a small sub-basin in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada. The valley is experiencing among the most rapid population growth of any region in Canada. Land uses were aggregated into one forested land-use type, one urban land-use type, and three agricultural types. Land-use change was simulated for combinations of two forest conservation policies. Changes are categorized by location, land type, and an existing agricultural land policy. Results: Forest conservation policies drive land conversion onto agricultural land and may increase the loss of low elevation forested land. Model results show where the greatest pressure for removing land from agriculture is likely to occur for each scenario. As an important corridor for species movement, the loss of low elevation forest land may have serious impacts on habitat connectivity. Conclusions: Forest conservation policies that do not account for feedbacks can have unintended consequences, such as increasing conversion pressures on other valued land uses. To avoid surprises, land-use planners and policy makers need to consider these interactions. Models such as CLUE-S can help identify these spatial impacts.

scholarly journals Comparatives Study of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) under Forest, Cultivated and Barren Land: A Case of Chovar Village, Kathmandu

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Bhandari ◽  
S Bam
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Forest Soil ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Barren Land ◽  
C Stocks ◽  
Soc Stock ◽  
Land Use And Management

The study was carried out in Chovar village of Kritipur Municipality, Kathmandu to compare the soil organic carbon (SOC) of three main land use types namely forest, agricultural and barren land and to show how land use and management are among the most important determinants of SOC stock. Stratified random sampling method was used for collecting soil samples. Walkley and Black method was applied for measuring SOC. Land use and soil depth both affected SOC stock significantly. Forest soil had higher SOC stock (98 t ha-1) as compared to agricultural land with 36.6 t ha-1 and barren land with 83.6 t ha-1. Similarly, the SOC in terms of CO22-1, 79.27 to 22.02 CO2-e ha-1 and 121.11 to 80.74 CO2-1 for 0- 20 cm to 40-60 cm soil depth, respectively. Bulk density (BD) was found less in forest soil compared to other lands at all depths, which showed negative correlation with SOC. The study showed a dire need to increase current soil C stocks which can be achieved through improvements in land use and management practices, particularly through conservation and restoration of degraded forests and soils.   DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njst.v14i2.10422   Nepal Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 14, No. 2 (2013) 103-108

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