scholarly journals Linking coleopteran diversity with agricultural management of maize agroecosystems in Oaxaca, Mexico

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilia González González ◽  
Tania Lara García ◽  
Lev Jardón-Barbolla ◽  
Mariana Benítez
Keyword(s):  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Multivariate Statistics ◽  
Local Knowledge ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Agricultural Lands ◽  
Agricultural Matrix ◽  
Matrix Quality ◽  
Coleoptera Diversity

AbstractBiodiversity is known to be influenced by agricultural practices in many ways. However, it is necessary to understand how this relation takes place in particular agroecosystems, sociocultural contexts and for specific biological groups. Also, in order to systematically study and track how biodiversity responds or changes with agricultural practices, it is necessary to find groups that can be used as practical indicators. We conduct a study of beetle (Coleoptera) diversity in maize-based agricultural plots with heterogeneous management practices in the Central Valleys of Oaxaca, Mexico. First, we use a mixture of local knowledge and multivariate statistics to group the plots into two broad and contrasting management categories (traditional vs. industrialized). Then, we present an analysis of Coleopteran diversity for each category, showing higher levels across different diversity indexes for the traditional plots. Also, our results let us postulate the Curculionidae family as an indicator of both management type and overall Coleopteran diversity in the agricultural lands of the study site. We discuss our results in terms of the agricultural matrix quality and its role in joint productive and biodiversity conservation strategies.

scholarly journals Linking Coleopteran Diversity With Agricultural Management of Maize-Based Agroecosystems in Oaxaca, Mexico

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilia González González ◽  
Tania Lara García ◽  
Lev Jardón-Barbolla ◽  
Mariana Benítez
Keyword(s):  
Pest Control ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Agricultural History ◽  
Agricultural Systems ◽  
Agricultural Matrix ◽  
Matrix Quality ◽  
Coleoptera Diversity ◽  
Natural Pest Control

Biodiversity is known to be influenced by agricultural practices in many ways. However, it is necessary to understand how this relation takes place in particular agroecosystems, sociocultural contexts and for specific biological groups, especially in highly biodiverse places. Also, in order to systematically study and track how biodiversity responds or changes with agricultural practices, it is necessary to find groups that can be used as practical indicators. We conduct a study of beetle (Coleoptera) diversity in maize-based agricultural plots with heterogeneous management practices in the Central Valleys of Oaxaca, Mexico, a region with outstanding biodiversity and a long agricultural history. We use a mixture of local knowledge and multivariate statistics to group the plots into two broad and contrasting management categories (traditional vs. industrialized). Then, we present an analysis of Coleopteran diversity for each category, showing higher levels across different diversity indexes for the traditional plots. Specifically, Coleopteran guilds associated with natural pest control and soil conservation are more common in traditional plots than in industrialized ones, while herbivorous beetles are more abundant in the second. Also, our results let us postulate the Curculionidae family as an indicator of both management type and overall Coleopteran diversity in the agricultural lands of the study site. We discuss our results in terms of the agricultural matrix quality and its role in strategies that favor the coexistence of culturally meaningful agricultural systems and local biodiversity.

scholarly journals Landscape heterogeneity of peasant-managed agricultural matrices

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana L. Urrutia ◽  
Cecilia González-González ◽  
Emilio Mora Van Cauwelaert ◽  
Julieta A. Rosell ◽  
Luis García Barrios ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Landscape Heterogeneity ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Agricultural Matrix ◽  
Wildlife Migration ◽  
Managed Landscapes

ABSTRACTIn agricultural landscapes, management practices and other environmental and social factors shape complex agroecological matrices. In turn, the structure of such matrices impacts both agricultural activities and biodiversity conservation, for instance, by mediating wildlife migration between agricultural and habitat patches. One way to characterize a matrix, its potential role in biodiversity conservation, and how its descriptors change across different spatial scales, is characterizing heterogeneity metrics and systematically examining how such metrics change with grain size and landscape extent. However, these methods have rarely been applied to tropical, peasant-managed landscapes, even though this type of landscape occupies most of the agricultural surface in or near biodiversity hotspots. We focus on a peasant-managed agricultural landscape in Oaxaca, Mexico, for which we mapped and quantified the land-use classes and evaluated heterogeneity metrics. We also examined the response of heterogeneity metrics to changes in grain and extent scales. This allowed us to further understand the structure and conservation potential of the agroecological matrix in this type of landscape, to broadly compare this landscape with other agricultural landscapes in North America, and to recommend specific landscape metrics for different types of studies involving agricultural matrices. We conclude that this type of agricultural matrix is ideal to pursue joint agricultural and conservation strategies in an integrated landscape.

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 Assessment of alternative land management practices using hydrological simulation and a decision support tool: Arborea agricultural region, Sardinia

2007 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1811-1823 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Cau ◽  
C. Paniconi
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Land Management ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Water Movement ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Treated Wastewater ◽  
Hydrological Simulation ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Quantifying the impact of land use on water supply and quality is a primary focus of environmental management. In this work we apply a semidistributed hydrological model (SWAT) to predict the impact of different land management practices on water and agricultural chemical yield over a long period of time for a study site situated in the Arborea region of central Sardinia, Italy. The physical processes associated with water movement, crop growth, and nutrient cycling are directly modeled by SWAT. The model simulations are used to identify indicators that reflect critical processes related to the integrity and sustainability of the ecosystem. Specifically we focus on stream quality and quantity indicators associated with anthropogenic and natural sources of pollution. A multicriteria decision support system is then used to develop the analysis matrix where water quality and quantity indicators for the rivers, lagoons, and soil are combined with socio-economic variables. The DSS is used to assess four options involving alternative watersheds designated for intensive agriculture and dairy farming and the use or not of treated wastewater for irrigation. Our analysis suggests that of the four options, the most widely acceptable consists in the transfer of intensive agricultural practices to the larger watershed, which is less vulnerable, in tandem with wastewater reuse, which rates highly due to water scarcity in this region of the Mediterranean. More generally, the work demonstrates how both qualitative and quantitative methods and information can assist decision making in complex settings.

scholarly journals Does Traditional Agroforestry a Sustainable Production System in Bangladesh? An Analysis of Socioeconomic and Ecological Perspectives

Conservation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-35
Author(s):  
Kazi Kamrul Islam ◽  
Mohammad Saifullah ◽  
Kimihiko Hyakumura
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Agroforestry Systems ◽  
Sustainable Land Use ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Benefit Cost Ratio ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
The Social ◽  
Traditional Agroforestry ◽  
Benefit Cost

In the tropics, products and services provided by the traditional agroforestry systems (TAS) support the basic needs and promote the livelihood of millions of rural people. However, the outcomes and mitigation of TAS, in particular, the social and environmental issues are not systematically addressed. Thus, the objective of the study was to assess the economic, social and environmental outcomes of two important TAS in Bangladesh. This study reports results on prospective analyses using the Date palm and Jackfruit-based TAS practiced in the Jashore and Mymensingh districts of Bangladesh. The results revealed that the TAS enhanced farm productivity and the benefit–cost ratio of both systems were much higher than the general agricultural practices in Bangladesh. The TAS also improved resilience of rural farmers through more efficient water utilization, enhancing soil fertility, improving microclimate, controlling pests and diseases, and diversifying products. At the same time, the farmers’ problems were neglected due to the absence of farmers’ platforms, and also tradeoffs may arise; thus, the social aspects of the TAS farmers had not developed equally. Therefore, the study would recommend minimizing the tradeoffs through enhancing the conservation strategies at farmers’ levels to make the TAS more viable and sustainable land-use practices.

scholarly journals Traditional Biodiversity Conservation Strategy As A Complement to the Existing Scientific Biodiversity Conservation Models in Ghana

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Dickson Adom
Keyword(s):  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Traditional Knowledge ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Belief Systems ◽  
Knowledge Systems ◽  
Scientific Models ◽  
Conservation Strategy ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Biodiversity Management ◽  
Clear Cut

Biodiversity management in Ghana has been largely driven by scientific conservation models. The time-tested and useful traditional conservation ethos in the Ghanaian cultural and artistic elements such as festivals, proverbs, cosmological belief systems and taboos are often watered down by conservationists in biodiversity conservation schemes. This is due to conservationists’ lack of clear-cut guidelines on how to effectively utilize the traditional knowledge systems in complementing the scientific conservation models they are well versed. The developed traditional biodiversity strategy was based on the findings from a robust phenomenological study conducted among purposively and randomly sampled key stakeholders in biodiversity management in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The document aims at offering comprehensive information and guidelines to conservationists on effective ways of implementing traditional knowledge systems in biodiversity conservation issues in Ghana. It ultimately aims at filling the dearth in traditional knowledge systems that have been an age-long problem for the conservation ministries and agencies in Ghana. The informative directions in the developed traditional biodiversity strategy would offer another lens to addressing conservation issues in Ghana while acting as a viable complement to the scientific models. This would ultimately maximize and enrich the conservation strategies for managing Ghana’s biodiversity.

scholarly journals Comparison of arthropod communities between high and low input maize farms in Mexico

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. del-Val ◽  
E. Ramírez ◽  
M. Astier
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Agriculture ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Sampling Period ◽  
Arthropod Communities ◽  
Arthropod Diversity ◽  
Low Input ◽  
Intensive Farming ◽  
Arthropod Predators ◽  
Animal Communities

Abstract Background Animal communities are vulnerable to agricultural practices. Intensive farming considerably reduces overall arthropod diversity, but not necessarily pest abundance. Natural control of herbivores in agroecosystems is accomplished by predators and parasitoids, but in intensified agricultural regimes, the chemical control used to reduce pest abundances also affects pests’ natural enemies. To achieve more sustainable agriculture, there is a need to better understand the susceptibility of predators to conventional management. Methods In order to quantify the arthropod diversity associated with different schemes of agricultural management of maize, we evaluated agricultural fields under two contrasting management regimens in Michoacán, México during the spring–summer cycle of 2011. Arthropod communities were evaluated in plots with conventional high-input versus low-input agriculture in two sites—one rainfed and one with irrigation. The experimental units consisted of twelve 1 ha agricultural plots. To sample arthropods, we used 9 pitfall traps per agricultural plot. Results During the sampling period, we detected a total of 14,315 arthropods belonging to 12 Orders and 253 morphospecies. Arthropod community composition was significantly different between the sites, and in the rain-fed site, we also found differences between management practices. Predators, particularly ants, were more abundant in low-input sites. Herbivory levels were similar in all fields, with an average of 18% of leaf area lost per plant. Conclusions Our results suggest that conventional farming is not reducing herbivore abundances or damage inflicted to plants, but is affecting arthropod predators. We discuss repercussions for sustainable agriculture.

scholarly journals Mitigación de daños provocados por fauna silvestre en cultivos agrícolas en un bosque montano de Bolivia

2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 1495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eddy Pérez L. ◽  
Luis F. Pacheco
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Integrated Management ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Dasypus Novemcinctus ◽  
Natural Area ◽  
Rural People ◽  
Sapajus Apella ◽  
Pecari Tajacu

<p>Wildlife is often blamed for causing damage to human activities, including agricultural practices and the result may be a conflict between human interests and species conservation. A formal assessment of the magnitude of damage is necessary to adequately conduct management practices and an assessment of the efficiency of different management practices, is necessary to enable managers to mitigate the conflict with rural people. This study was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of agricultural management practices and controlled hunting in reducing damage to subsistence annual crops at the Cotapata National Park and Natural Area of Integrated Management. The design included seven fields with modified agricultural practices, four fields subjected to control hunting, and five fields held as controls. We registered cultivar type, density, frequency of visiting species to the field, crops lost to wildlife, species responsible for damage, and crop biomass. Most frequent species in the fields were <em>Dasyprocta punctata</em> and <em>Dasypus novemcinctus</em>. Hunted plots were visited 1.6 times more frequently than agriculturally managed plots. Crop lost to wildlife averaged 7.28% at agriculturally managed plots, 4.59% in plots subjected to hunting, and 27.61% in control plots. Species mainly responsible for damage were <em>Pecari tajacu</em>, <em>D. punctata, </em>and <em>Sapajus apella</em>. We concluded that both management strategies were effective to reduce damage by &gt;50% as compared to unmanaged crop plots.</p><p><strong> </strong></p>

scholarly journals In vitro performance in cotton plants with different genetic backgrounds: the case of Gossypium hirsutum in Mexico, and its implications for germplasm conservation

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandra Hernández-Terán ◽  
Ana Wegier ◽  
Mariana Benítez ◽  
Rafael Lira ◽  
Tania Gabriela Sosa Fuentes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gossypium Hirsutum ◽  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Germplasm Conservation ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Wild Germplasm ◽  
Wild Cotton

One of the best ex situ conservation strategies for wild germplasm is in vitro conservation of genetic banks. The success of in vitro conservation relies heavily on the micropropagation or performance of the species of interest. In the context of global change, crop production challenges and climate change, we face a reality of intensified crop production strategies, including genetic engineering, which can negatively impact biodiversity conservation. However, the possible consequences of transgene presence for the in vitro performance of populations and its implications for biodiversity conservation are poorly documented. In this study we analyzed experimental evidence of the potential effects of transgene presence on the in vitro performance of Gossypium hirsutum L. populations, representing the Mexican genetic diversity of the species, and reflect on the implications of such presence for ex situ genetic conservation of the natural variation of the species. We followed an experimental in vitro performance approach, in which we included individuals from different wild cotton populations as well as individuals from domesticated populations, in order to differentiate the effects of domestication traits dragged into the wild germplasm pool via gene flow from the effects of transgene presence. We evaluated the in vitro performance of five traits related to plant establishment (N = 300): propagation rate, leaf production rate, height increase rate, microbial growth and root development. Then we conducted statistical tests (PERMANOVA, Wilcoxon post-hoc tests, and NMDS multivariate analyses) to evaluate the differences in the in vitro performance of the studied populations. Although direct causality of the transgenes to observed phenotypes requires strict control of genotypes, the overall results suggest detrimental consequences for the in vitro culture performance of wild cotton populations in the presence of transgenes. This provides experimental, statistically sound evidence to support the implementation of transgene screening of plants to reduce time and economic costs in in vitro establishment, thus contributing to the overarching goal of germplasm conservation for future adaptation.

scholarly journals The 1909 North Carolina Drainage Act and Agricultural Drainage Effects in Eastern North Carolina

2012 ◽  
Vol 128 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 59-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. O'Driscoll
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Agricultural Drainage ◽  
Agricultural Lands ◽  
Stream Water Quality ◽  
Agronomic Management ◽  
Effective Drainage ◽  
Eastern North Carolina

Abstract Over the last two centuries, agricultural drainage in eastern North Carolina has transformed extensive wetlands to productive croplands. At the start of the drainage movement in the early 1900s, approximately 200,000 hectares (one half million acres) of drained agricultural lands existed in North Carolina. The 1909 North Carolina Drainage Act allowed for more extensive drainage projects. Drainage districts provided effective drainage outlets for farms and reduced flooding for the district. The districts dramatically increased the extent of drained lands during the 20th century. Currently, it is estimated that over 2 million hectares (five million acres) of drained agricultural lands exist in North Carolina, with the majority in the Coastal Plain. Agricultural drainage has contributed to huge gains in agricultural productivity in the region. However, this drainage has contributed to regional stream water quality impairment, altered stream hydrology, and wetland conversion. Over the last three decades, much work has been focused on reducing watershed nutrient exports in eastern North Carolina. Several major strategies have been used to decrease the environmental impacts of agricultural drainage, including: agronomic management practices; controlled drainage; riparian and wetland buffers; and channel alterations. Management of agricultural drainage during the 21st century will play a crucial role in regional stream, wetland, and coastal ecosystem health.

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