scholarly journals Mapping from spatial meaning: bridging Hñahñu (Otomi) ecological knowledge and geo-information tools

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
José María León Villalobos ◽  
Verónica Vázquez García ◽  
Enrique Ojeda Trejo ◽  
Michael K. McCall ◽  
Juan Hernández Hernández ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Field Trips ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Participatory Mapping ◽  
Cultural Meanings ◽  
Information Tools ◽  
Taxonomic Organization ◽  
Scarce Water ◽  
Access To Water ◽  
Soil And Water

Abstract Background Hñahñu (Otomi) farmers organize their experiences and ecological learning into a farmland system designed to grow food in areas of scarce water and low soil fertility. The purpose of this paper is to examine Hñahñu concepts and categories pertaining to the farming landscape and the ecological foundations underlying the system, its management implications, and categorial organization in Huitexcalco de Morelos, Mezquital Valley, Mexico. Methods Native terms and their links to landscape were recorded and discussed in various workshops. Open interviews and field trips with local experts were used to explain soil and water management practices that allow Hñahñu farmers to maintain sustained yields throughout the year. We then used participatory mapping in order to explore the semantic relations of the terms with the space and its validity in the productive landscape. Results We elicited 7 Hñahñu language terms related to landforms, 4 related to land use categories, and 17 related to their constituent components organized in two hierarchical levels. We found that mothe as a term of land usage was followed by mothee, ñut’athee, gadñhe, or muiñhe; these primarily refer to the topographic position of the parcel and the form of access to water for irrigation. Stone barriers and earth channels represent the functional structures that are most commonly used by Hñahñu farmers to retain soil and water. In the participatory mapping results, mothe muiñhe displayed a robust spatial link with the gullies. Identifying other landscape categories required a substantial understanding both of management practices of soil and water and forms of organization. Conclusions This study revealed a complex system of knowledge that contributes to the continued proper management of the local landscape. The terms and their elicited meanings are key to understand the ways in which Hñahñu farmers conceptualize and relate the reality of their landscape and its cultural meanings. Scale and perception were found to have a determining role in defining their taxonomic organization, semantic structure, and relations in space.

Managing Landscape Irrigation to Avoid Soil and Nutrient Losses

EDIS ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
George Hochmuth ◽  
Laurie Trenholm ◽  
Don Rainey ◽  
Esen Momol ◽  
Claire Lewis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Environment ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Nutrient Losses ◽  
County Agents ◽  
The Right ◽  
Soil And Water

Proper irrigation management is critical to conserve and protect water resources and to properly manage nutrients in the home landscape. How lawns and landscapes are irrigated directly impacts the natural environment, so landscape maintenance professionals and homeowners must adopt environmentally-friendly approaches to irrigation management. After selecting the right plant for the right place, water is the next critical factor to establish and maintain a healthy lawn and landscape. Fertilization is another important component of lawn and landscape maintenance, and irrigation must be applied correctly, especially following fertilization, to minimize potential nutrient losses. This publication supplements other UF/IFAS Extension publications that also include information on the role of soil and the root zone in irrigation management. This publication is designed to help UF/IFAS Extension county agents prepare materials to directly address nutrient losses from lawns and landscapes caused by inadequate irrigation management practices. This 6-page fact sheet was written by George Hochmuth, Laurie Trenholm, Don Rainey, Esen Momol, Claire Lewis, and Brian Niemann, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, October 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss586

scholarly journals Prioritization of Sub-Watersheds to Sediment Yield and Evaluation of Best Management Practices in Highland Ethiopia, Finchaa Catchment

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 650
Author(s):  
Wakjira Takala Dibaba ◽  
Tamene Adugna Demissie ◽  
Konrad Miegel
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Swat Model ◽  
Sediment Yields ◽  
Soil And Water

Excessive soil loss and sediment yield in the highlands of Ethiopia are the primary factors that accelerate the decline of land productivity, water resources, operation and function of existing water infrastructure, as well as soil and water management practices. This study was conducted at Finchaa catchment in the Upper Blue Nile basin of Ethiopia to estimate the rate of soil erosion and sediment loss and prioritize the most sensitive sub-watersheds using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The SWAT model was calibrated and validated using the observed streamflow and sediment data. The average annual sediment yield (SY) in Finchaa catchment for the period 1990–2015 was 36.47 ton ha−1 yr−1 with the annual yield varying from negligible to about 107.2 ton ha−1 yr−1. Five sub-basins which account for about 24.83% of the area were predicted to suffer severely from soil erosion risks, with SY in excess of 50 ton ha−1 yr−1. Only 15.05% of the area within the tolerable rate of loss (below 11 ton ha−1yr−1) was considered as the least prioritized areas for maintenance of crop production. Despite the reasonable reduction of sediment yields by the management scenarios, the reduction by contour farming, slope terracing, zero free grazing and reforestation were still above the tolerable soil loss. Vegetative contour strips and soil bund were significant in reducing SY below the tolerable soil loss, which is equivalent to 63.9% and 64.8% reduction, respectively. In general, effective and sustainable soil erosion management requires not only prioritizations of the erosion hotspots but also prioritizations of the most effective management practices. We believe that the results provided new and updated insights that enable a proactive approach to preserve the soil and reduce land degradation risks that could allow resource regeneration.

scholarly journals Local ecological knowledge on the goliath grouper epinephelus itajara (teleostei: serranidae) in southern Brazil

2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 441-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leopoldo Cavaleri Gerhardinger ◽  
Rosemeri Carvalho Marenzi ◽  
Áthila Andrade Bertoncini ◽  
Rodrigo Pereira Medeiros ◽  
Maurício Hostim-Silva
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Local Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Biological Data ◽  
Knowledge System ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Local Conservation ◽  
Spawning Aggregations ◽  
Long Line ◽  
Goliath Grouper

The goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara is a large sized (> 400 kg) and critically endangered marine fish, which is protected in many countries, including Brazil. Through the application of semi-structured interviews, we investigated the local ecological knowledge of seven fishermen specialist on catching E. itajara from the Babitonga bay, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Local long-line fisheries for E. itajara seemed to be a disappearing tradition in the studied site, with a detailed inherent local ecological knowledge system, which is also being lost. Our study also showed that fishermen engaged in recent fisheries, such as spear-fishing, can also possess a detailed local ecological knowledge system. Through the analysis of fishermen local ecological knowledge, several aspects of E. itajara life history were registered. This species is found in the inner and outer Babitonga bay, from saline waters to areas with a large input of freshwater, and inhabits submerged wooden substrates and artificial reefs such as shipwrecks, mooring pillars and cargo containers. It is known to spawn in December and subsequent summer months in the studied area. Spawning aggregations are usually seen in December (during full moon), being also eventually observed in January and February by our informants. While lobsters, spadefishes and octopuses seem to constitute the most important food items of inner bay E. itajara, outer bay individuals may feed on catfishes, crustaceans and other fish species. The goliath grouper is regarded as pacific and curious fish, but frequently display agonistic behavior in the presence of divers. Based on the perception of well experienced spear fishermen, we hypothesize that E. itajara undertakes seasonal migrations from the inner to the outer bay during summer, and that the studied population is suffering from growth over-fishing. Our data provides a practical evidence of how joining scientific and local ecological knowledge will likely benefit E. itajara local conservation and management practices by adding important new biological data into the decision-making process.

scholarly journals Application of the SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model in the Ronnea catchment of Sweden

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 252-257
Keyword(s):  
Input Data ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Swat Model ◽  
Soil Parameters ◽  
Daily Step ◽  
Calibration And Validation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Water Assessment ◽  
Soil And Water

The subject of this article is the estimation of quantitative (hydrological) and qualitative parameters in the catchment of Ronnea (1800 Km2, located in south western Sweden) through the application of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). SWAT is a river basin model that was developed for the U.S.D.A. Agricultural Research Service, by the Blackland Research Center in Texas. The SWAT model is a widely known tool that has been used in several cases world-wide. It has the ability to predict the impact of land management practices on water, sediment and agricultural chemical yield in large complex watersheds. The present work investigates certain capabilities of the SWAT model which have not identified up to now. More in specific, the main targets of the work carried out are the following: • Identification of the existing hydrological and qualitative conditions • Preparation - Processing of data required to be used as input data of the model • Hydrological calibration - validation of the model, in 7 subbasins of the Catchment of Ronnea • Estimation and evaluation of the simulated qualitative parameters of the model All available data were offered by the relevant Institutes of Sweden, in the framework of the European program EUROHARP. The existing conditions in the catchment of Ronnea, are described in detail including topography, land uses, soil types, pollution sources, agricultural management practices, precipitation, temperature, wind speed, humidity, solar radiation as well as observed discharges and Nitrogen and Phosphorus substances concentrations. Most of the above data were used as input data for the application of SWAT model. Adequate methods were also used to complete missing values in time series and estimate additional parameters (such as soil parameters) required by the model. Hydrological calibration and validation took place for each outlet of the 7 subbasins of Ronnea catchment in an annual, monthly and daily step. The calibration was achieved by estimating parameters related to ground water movement and evaluating convergence between simulated and observed discharges by using mainly the Nash & Sutcliffe coefficient (NTD). Through the sensitivity analysis, main parameters of the hydrological simulation, were detected. According to the outputs of the SWAT model, the water balance of Ronnea catchment was also estimated. Hydrological calibration and validation is generally considered sufficient in an annual and monthly step. Hydrological calibration – validation in daily step, generally does not lead to high values of the NTD indicator. However, when compared to results obtained by the use of SWAT in Greece, a relatively high value of NTD is achieved in one subbasin. Finally, a comparison between the simulated and observed concentrations of total Phosphorus and Nitrogen was carried out.

Exploratory Study of Cultural Impact on Management Practices and Organizational Behaviour in Christian-based Universities on Java Island

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-74
Author(s):  
Jahja Hamdani Widjaja ◽  
Boedi Hartadi Kuslina
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Culture ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cultural Meanings ◽  
Christian University ◽  
Cultural Formation ◽  
Christian Universities ◽  
Organizational Behaviour ◽  
Long Run

Universities, especially in the United States, have developed from an organization that aims to educate someone with a higher knowledge and spiritual awareness of God which is at the same time related to the interests and goodness of society (Murphy, 2005) into an organization that considers profit as a measure of success (Bridgman, 2007). Therefore, the application of a business management system to manage a university to produce high performance is important and this is known as a university enterprise or entrepreneurial university (Sandgren, 2012). Culture is central to management because it influences various things in the organization such as leadership, organizational management, adaptability, performance, and others that will influence in the long run (Paksoy, Genc, and Kilic, 2015). In the context of a Christian-based university in Indonesia, the understanding of cultural meanings and the process of cultural formation is an interesting topic to study. Even though it has a fundamental similarity, namely Cristianity, it appears that there are different management practices and behaviours in 'A' rank accreditation Christian university on Java island. The process of cultural formation in Christian universities and its elaboration in management practices and patterns of organizational behaviour are things that are rarely studied. The purpose of this study is to explain the process of organizational culture forming in Christian-based universities on Java island. The description of this process is expected to inspire how to build an organizational culture in a university. Keywords: Culture, Organizational Culture, Organizational Behaviour, Universities, Christianity

Best Management Practices for Irrigating Lawns and Urban Green Spaces with Reclaimed Water

EDIS ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary G. Lusk ◽  
Don Rainey
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Reclaimed Water ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Urban Landscapes ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Home Lawns ◽  
Soil And Water

The purpose of this article is to present some sound recommendations, known as best management practices (BMPs), for irrigating lawns and other green spaces with reclaimed water (RW). These BMPs are for homeowners and landscaping professionals who use RW to irrigate home lawns or other irrigated green spaces in urban landscapes. Written by Mary G. Lusk and Don Rainey and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Soil and Water Sciences; 4 pages.

scholarly journals Assessment of Main Cereal Crop Trade Impacts on Water and Land Security in Iraq

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salam Hussein Ewaid ◽  
Salwan Ali Abed ◽  
Nadhir Al-Ansari
Keyword(s):  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Water Footprint ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Virtual Water ◽  
Cereal Crops ◽  
Scarce Water ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Resources Assessment

Growing populations, socio-economic development, the pollution of rivers, and the withdrawal of fresh water are all signs of increasing water scarcity, and with 85% of global use, agriculture is the biggest freshwater user. The water footprint (WF) and virtual water (VW) are concepts used recently for freshwater resources assessment. The WF reflects how much, when and where the water was used whereas VW reveals the volume of water embedded in goods when traded. The first goal of this research is to determine the WF per ton and the WF of production (Mm3/yr) of wheat, barley, rice, and maize in Iraq. The second goal is estimating the quantities of the 4 main cereal crops imported into Iraq and assessing the impact on reducing WF and land savings for 10 years from 2007 to 2016. The results showed that the WF per ton was 1736, 1769, 3694, 2238 m3/ton and the WF of production was 5271, 1475, 997, 820 Mm3/yr for wheat, barley, rice, and maize, respectively. The median total VW imported was 4408 Mm3/yr, the largest volume was 3478 Mm3/yr from wheat, and Iraq saved about 2676 Mm3 of irrigated water and 1,239,539 M ha of land by importing crops every year during 2007–2016. The study revealed the significance of better irrigation management methods to decrease the WF through a selection of crops that need less water and cultivation in rain-fed areas, as well as the use of cereal import to conserve scarce water resources, which is crucial both in terms of water resource management and preservation of the environment. The results of this research could be used as a guideline for better water management practices in Iraq and can provide helpful data for both stakeholders and policymakers.

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