Inverse method to estimate mineralisation rate constants for nitrogen simulation models: interaction between sampling strategy and quality of parameter estimates

Soil Research ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. O. Snow ◽  
W. J. Bond
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Sampling Strategy ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Simulation Modelling ◽  
Land Application ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Concentration Data ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Sustainable Agricultural Practices

Sustainable agricultural practices and land application of wastes require that the accession of nitrate to groundwater be within acceptable limits. Simulation modelling is a valuable aid to the development and testing of management practices that achieve this goal, but requires unbiased and precise parameter estimates. Here we consider the role of simple lysimeter-based techniques, which may yield only a single integral observation in the form of total solute leached or total drainage, in supplementing infrequent concentration data for the purposes of parameter optimisation. The utility of such techniques was evaluated using a simulation model to create a ‘no-error data set’ of nitrate concentration values and summary observations of the total mass of nitrate leached and total drainage over a 182-day period. From that no-error data set a more realistic data set incorporating random error was created. By using those concentrations, the value of the mass of nitrate leached or total drainage was evaluated by their effect on the unbias and precision of optimised mineralisation or evaporation parameters. The effects of observation weight, error in the observations, and 2 other experimental strategies involving a higher intensity of solute sampling were also tested. It was found that the summary observations, such as those obtainable from simple lysimeter-based techniques, had the potential to reduce bias and improve the precision of the optimised parameters. The consequence of this effectiveness was that error in the summary observations led to considerable error in the optimised parameters.

Increasing the Productivity and Profitability of Paddy through Front Line Demonstrations in Irrigated Agro Ecosystem of Kaymore Platue and Satpura Hills

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
DHANANJAI SINGH ◽  
A.K. PATEL ◽  
S.K. SINGH ◽  
M.S. BAGHEL
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Scientific Practices ◽  
Economic Returns ◽  
Front Line ◽  
Yield Increase ◽  
Benefit Cost Ratio ◽  
Sustainable Agricultural Practices ◽  
Improved Technology

Krishi Vigyan Kendra laid down Front Line Demonstration in the year 2010-11 and 2011-12 introducing new, high yielding and scented variety “Pusa Sugandha-3” and applying scientific practices in their cultivation. The FLDs were carried out in village “Dainiha” of Sidhi district in supervision of KVK scientist. The productivity and economic returns of paddy in improved technologies were calculated and compared with the corresponding farmer's practices (local check). Improved practices recorded higher yield as compared to farmer's practices. The improved technology recorded higher yield of 30.83 q/ha and 32.65 q/ha in the year 2010-11 and 2011-12, respectively than 22.13 and 24.21 q/ha. The average yield increase was observed 37.15 per cent. In spite of increase in yield of paddy, technology gap, extension gap and technology index existed. The improved technology gave higher gross return (37020 and 39180 Rs./ha), net return (16820 and 18920 Rs./ha) with higher benefit cost ratio (1.83 and 1.93) as compared to farmer's practices. The variation in per cent increase in the yield was found due to the poor management practices, lack of knowledge and poor socio economic condition. Under sustainable agricultural practices, with this study it is concluded that the FLDs programmes were effective in changing attitude, skill and knowledge of improved package and practices of HYV of paddy adoption.

scholarly journals Implications of Climate Change on Soil Functions: A Case for Achieving Local Coconut Sufficiency from Sustainable Agricultural Practices

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chinedu Egbunike ◽  
Nonso Okoye ◽  
Okoroji-Nma Okechukwu
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Soil Functions ◽  
Soil Biodiversity ◽  
Environmental Consequences ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Sustainable Agricultural Practices

Climate change is a major threat to agricultural food production globally and locally. It poses both direct and indirect effects on soil functions. Thus, agricultural management practices has evolved to adaptation strategies in order to mitigate the risks and threats from climate change. The study concludes with a recommendation the coconut farmers should explore the idea of soil biodiversity in a bid to mitigate the potential negative impact of climate related risk on the farming. The study proffers the need for adopting sustainable agricultural practices to boost local coconut production. This can contribute to the simultaneous realisation of two of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations: SDG 2 on food security and sustainable agriculture and SDG 13 on action to combat climate change and its impacts. The study findings has implications for tackling climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa and in particular Nigeria in order to boost local agricultural production and coconut in particular without negative environmental consequences and an ability to cope with climate change related risks.

scholarly journals Barriers and Facilitators for Adopting Sustainable Soil Management Practices in Mediterranean Olive Groves

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 506 ◽  
Author(s):  
José A. Aznar-Sánchez ◽  
Juan F. Velasco-Muñoz ◽  
Belén López-Felices ◽  
Fernando del Moral-Torres
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Soil ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Carbon Sink ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Sustainable Practices ◽  
Sustainable Soil Management ◽  
Sustainable Agricultural Practices

Soil is a fundamental resource, subject to severe and quick degradation processes because of the pressure of human activities, particularly in many regions of the Mediterranean where agriculture is an important economic activity. It has been proven that the use of sustainable soil management practices can potentially give rise to the creation of a carbon sink, an increase of soil organic matter content, the maintenance of crop productivity and a reduction in erosion. Despite the existence of scientific evidence about the benefits generated by the use of sustainable practices on soil, many farmers are reluctant to adopt them. The objective of this study is to identify and give a hierarchical structure to the factors that condition the adoption of sustainable practices in the management of agricultural soil. The case of olive tree cultivation in Southeast Spain has been studied, using a participatory qualitative methodology. The results show a series of seven principal barriers (information, costs, risk aversion, characteristics of the farm and sustainable practices, macro factors, and cultural barriers) and five facilitators (technology, farmer training, awareness, incentives, and social pressure) for the adoption of the proposed sustainable agricultural practices. The principal political and legislative actions proposed to increase the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices include: administrative control, fostering environmental awareness, technical knowledge, and on-farm demonstrations; and, on the economic and financial level, incorporation of both general incentives and subsidizing specific costs. This study contributes to the development and discussion of intervention proposals that are designed to stimulate the implementation of sustainable practices in agricultural soil management.

Rhizosphere interactions: root exudates, microbes, and microbial communities

Botany ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 267-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xing-Feng Huang ◽  
Jacqueline M. Chaparro ◽  
Kenneth F. Reardon ◽  
Ruifu Zhang ◽  
Qirong Shen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Root Exudates ◽  
Root Exudate ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Plant Root ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Rhizosphere Interactions ◽  
Broad Variety ◽  
Sustainable Agricultural Practices ◽  
Made In

The study of the interactions between plants and their microbial communities in the rhizosphere is important for developing sustainable management practices and agricultural products such as biofertilizers and biopesticides. Plant roots release a broad variety of chemical compounds to attract and select microorganisms in the rhizosphere. In turn, these plant-associated microorganisms, via different mechanisms, influence plant health and growth. In this review, we summarize recent progress made in unraveling the interactions between plants and rhizosphere microbes through plant root exudates, focusing on how root exudate compounds mediate rhizospheric interactions both at the plant–microbe and plant–microbiome levels. We also discuss the potential of root exudates for harnessing rhizospheric interactions with microbes that could lead to sustainable agricultural practices.

Impact of agricultural practices and river catchment characteristics on river and bathing water quality

2003 ◽  
Vol 48 (10) ◽  
pp. 217-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.N. Aitken
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Land Application ◽  
Farm Management ◽  
Catchment Characteristics ◽  
Run Off ◽  
Bathing Waters ◽  
Manure Storage ◽  
Bathing Water Quality ◽  
River Catchments

The objective was to investigate the potential risk of faecal indicator organism (FIO) bacteriological contamination of river catchments and coastal bathing waters from farm management practices and to develop practices to reduce the risk. A risk assessment on 117 farms was carried out in two river catchments in south-west Scotland. Manure storage facilities, farming practices, field conditions and catchment characteristics were assessed. River samples at 33 locations were regularly taken and analysed for FIOs. Available manure storage capacity and farm management practices are inadequate on a high proportion of farms and FIO contamination of watercourses was likely the result of effluent transported into watercourses due to non-collection or poor containment. In addition, surface run-off or leaching following land application of manure or intensive stocking in adverse conditions was a high risk on up to 50% of farms. The concentrations of FIOs in the streams of two sub-catchments with high livestock intensity was 4 to 8 times higher compared to the two sub-catchments which had a low livestock intensity. The majority of potential risks of agricultural pollution to watercourses may be eliminated through improved manure and dirty water management, forward planning of manure spreading activities and improved operational procedures.

PCB Concentration Trends in Lake Michigan Coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and Chinook Salmon (O. tshawytscha)

1994 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 1384-1390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig A. Stow ◽  
Stephen R. Carpenter ◽  
James F. Amrhein
Keyword(s):  
Exponential Decay ◽  
Chinook Salmon ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Lake Michigan ◽  
Oncorhynchus Kisutch ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Concentration Data ◽  
Decay Model ◽  
Double Exponential ◽  
Exponential Decay Model

Lake Michigan coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) PCB concentration data from 1974 to 1990 were examined. The mean and variance of the concentrations exhibited a generally decreasing pattern in each species. Three alternative models, an exponential decay model, a double exponential decay model, and an exponential decay model with a nonzero asymptote, were fit to the data. The double exponential model provided the best fit for both species. Estimated rate coefficients for this model indicated that an early rapid decrease in PCBs has slowed and that PCBs may currently be increasing in coho and chinook salmon. These PCB increases may be the indirect result of a decline in the alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) forage base that occurred during the 1980s. Parameter estimates from the nonzero asymptote model suggested that PCB levels may not decrease substantially below the current 2 mg/kg FDA action level. Significant decreases of PCB concentrations in coho and chinook salmon may depend on fisheries management practices that promote higher fish growth rates.

scholarly journals Impact of Better Management Practices on Sustainable Cotton Production: Evidence from South Punjab

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 92-97
Author(s):  
Tayyaba Hina ◽  
Muhammad Asad ur Rehman Naseer
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Farmyard Manure ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Positive Sign ◽  
Cotton Production ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Adoption Rate ◽  
The Impact

The basic purpose of this study was to look at the position of Better Management Practices (BMPs) of cotton crop in order to reduce the burden on our natural scarce resources. Relevant information was taken from 150 respondents from the district Khanewal, Punjab. The results of this study revealed that the education level and landholding size of respondents have a positive impact on the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. While the farmer’s age and farming experience were found a negative impact on BMPs adoption rate. Similarly, contact of respondents with the staff of farmer’s field schools and the number of visits of farmer’s field school staff were found positively correlated to BMPs adoption rate. The results of the regression analysis revealed the impact of different agriculture inputs and BMPs on cotton yield. The results showed that the age of the farmers, education, fertilizer, irrigations, water scouting, cotton area, farmyard manure, and hybrid seed variety and sowing method had a positive sign while the sign of pesticide coefficient was negative. The gross margins of BMPs adopter and non-adopter were 45,955 PKR and 28,790 PKR per acre respectively. The model also indicated that the production function fits well with the given data set. Therefore, the results of this study conveyed policy messages for the private and public organizations to promote BMPs for the betterment of the farming community.

Evaluation of a Sparse Sampling Strategy for Determining Vancomycin Pharmacokinetics in Preterm Neonates: Application of Optimal Sampling Theory

1997 ◽  
Vol 31 (9) ◽  
pp. 980-983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron H Burstein ◽  
Peter Gal ◽  
Alan Forrest
Keyword(s):  
Pharmacokinetic Parameter ◽  
Sampling Strategy ◽  
Absolute Error ◽  
Sampling Theory ◽  
Preterm Neonates ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Parameters ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Optimal Sampling ◽  
Concentration Data ◽  
Sampling Times

Objective To use optimal sampling theory to determine the fewest vancomycin concentrations required and the appropriate sampling times to calculate vancomycin pharmacokinetic parameters in neonates. Design Unblinded evaluation in neonates with presumed sepsis. Setting Level 3 community-based neonatal intensive care unit. Patients Eleven neonates with presumed sepsis. Interventions Twelve courses of intravenous vancomycin 20 mg/kg were administered. Blood samples were collected 3 and 9 hours after initiation of a 1-hour infusion of the first dose. Measurements and Main Results A two-compartment model was fit to vancomycin concentrations using iterative two-stage analysis. Pharmacokinetic parameter estimates were used for determination of optimal sampling times for two-, three-, and four-sample strategies with subsequent generation of two-, three-, and four-sample concentration data for 100 cases. Relative performance of strategies was compared through calculation and comparison of D efficiency for the determined strategies. Bias (median percent error) and precision (median percent absolute error) of pharmacokinetic parameter estimates for each strategy in the 100 simulated cases were determined. Conclusions For estimation of total clearance and volume in the central and peripheral compartments, all strategies performed similarly with no difference in efficiency or bias and precision of estimates. Our results suggest that for clinical evaluations two appropriately timed samples (0.5 h after a 1-h infusion, trough concentration) are adequate for estimation of vancomycin clearance in neonates.

Increasing Productivity Of Vegetables Through Front-line Demonstrations

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. S. Suman
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Front Line ◽  
Rainfed Condition ◽  
Percent Increase ◽  
Recommended Practices ◽  
High Yielding Varieties ◽  
Climate Parameter ◽  
Sustainable Agricultural Practices ◽  
The Relationship

The highest yield (420 kg/ha) was recorded in the year 2011-12. In Front-Line Demonstration, it was 27.27 percent more over the farmers practice (320 kg/ha), however, the lowest yield (350 kg/ha) was recorded in the year 2010-11 under Front-Line Demonstration and 310 kg/ha in farmers' practice. Increase in the yield (27.27%) under Front-Line Demonstration over farmers practice was obtained during the year 2011-12. The variation in the percent increase in the yield was found due to variation in agro climate parameter under rainfed condition. Under sustainable agricultural practices, with this study it is concluded that the Front- LineDemonstration programme was effective in changing attitude, skill and knowledge of improved / recommended practices of High Yielding Varieties of peas included adoption. This also improved the relationship between farmers and scientist and built confidence between them.

Climate resilience in rural Zambia: evaluating farmers’ response to El Niño-induced drought

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Federica Alfani ◽  
Aslihan Arslan ◽  
Nancy McCarthy ◽  
Romina Cavatassi ◽  
Nicholas Sitko
Keyword(s):  
El Niño ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Unobserved Heterogeneity ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Climate Resilience ◽  
Diversification Strategies ◽  
Household Incomes ◽  
Rural Zambia

Abstract This paper aims at identifying whether and how sustainable land management practices and livelihood diversification strategies have contributed to moderating the impacts of the El Niño-related drought in Zambia. This is done using a specifically designed survey called the El Niño Impact Assessment Survey, which is combined with the Rural Agricultural Livelihoods Surveys, as well as high resolution rainfall data at the ward level over 34 years. This unique panel data set allows us to control for the time-invariant unobserved heterogeneity to understand the impacts of shocks like El Niño, which are expected to become more frequent and severe as a result of climate change. We find that maize yields were substantially reduced and that household incomes were only partially protected from the shock thanks to diversification strategies. Mechanical erosion control measures and livestock diversification emerge as the only strategies that provided yield and income benefits under weather shock.

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