scholarly journals A Review of Egyptian Afforestation Program and its Effect on Agriculture

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
M Subandi ◽  
Abdelwahab M Mahmoud ◽  
Cecep T
Keyword(s):  
Water Reservoir ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Root Systems ◽  
Food Crop ◽  
Political Factors ◽  
Nile Water ◽  
Desert Areas ◽  
Ancient Times ◽  
Afforestation Program

Egypt has been famous as agricultural country since ancient times. Most Egyptian horticultural and food crop plants are shrubs or small trees with shallow root systems. These plants are susceptible to drought and have a little or no hydrological effect. Egyptian agriculture is mostly dependent on the Nile water (82.59%). Desert areas can be ecologically reclaimed or restored to agronomically productive areas if socioeconomic, cultural, and political factors permit the restoration. Afforestation is when a desert is turned into a woods or forest as a climate change agent and water reservoir. This survey found that Egyptian land was greener than Indonesian land. The availability of the Nile water should be managed as effective as possible to accelerate Egyptian afforestation projects. Egypt may imitate Indonesian success in re-greening the Gunungkidul region of Jogyakarta with the Wanagama forest. The afforestation program affects agricultural practices in Egypt in both the near- and long-term.

scholarly journals Effect of ecological and conventional managements on soil enzymatic activities in coffee agroecosystems

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 420-428
Author(s):  
Johana Juliet Caballero Vanegas ◽  
Karen Bibiana Mejía Zambrano ◽  
Lizeth Manuela Avellaneda-Torres
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Management ◽  
Climatic Variability ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Enzymatic Activities ◽  
Acid And Alkaline Phosphatase ◽  
Dry Seasons ◽  
Synthetic Fertilizers ◽  
Coffee Agroecosystems ◽  
Alkaline And Acid Phosphatase

ABSTRACT Understanding the impacts of agricultural practices on soil quality indicators, such as enzymatic activities, is of great importance, in order to advance in their diagnosis and sustainable management. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ecological and conventional agricultural managements on enzymatic activities of a soil under coffee agroecosystems. The enzymatic activities were associated with the biogeochemical cycles of nitrogen (urease and protease), phosphorus (acid and alkaline phosphatase) and carbon (β-glucosidase), during the rainy and dry seasons. Physical-chemical soil proprieties were also assessed and related to resilience scores linked to the climatic variability reported for the areas under study. The activities of urease, alkaline and acid phosphatase and ß-glucosidase were statistically higher in ecological agroecosystems than in conventional ones. This may be attributed to the greater application of organic waste in the ecological environment, as well as to the absence of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, which allow better conditions for the microbial activity. The resilience scores to the climate variability that showed the highest correlations with the assessed enzymatic activities were: the farmers' knowledge on soil microorganisms, non-use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers and non-dependence on external supplies. It was concluded that the enzymatic activities are modified by the management systems, being specifically favored by the ecological management. This agroecosystem, in the long term, ensures an efficient use of the soil resources, with a lower degradation and contamination.

scholarly journals Sustaining Rice Production through Biofertilization with N2-Fixing Cyanobacteria

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 4628
Author(s):  
Macarena Iniesta-Pallarés ◽  
Consolación Álvarez ◽  
Francisco M. Gordillo-Cantón ◽  
Carmen Ramírez-Moncayo ◽  
Pilar Alves-Martínez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Rice Production ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Paddy Fields ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilizers ◽  
Trophic Chain ◽  
Agricultural Practice ◽  
Biotechnological Potential

Current agricultural productivity depends on an exogenous nutrient supply to crops. This is of special relevance in cereal production, a fundamental part of the trophic chain that plays a vital role in the human diet. However, our agricultural practices entail highly detrimental side-effects from an environmental point of view. Long-term nitrogen fertilization in croplands results in degradation of soil, water, and air quality, producing eutrophication and subsequently contributing to global warming. In accordance with this, there is a biotechnological interest in using nitrogen-fixing microorganisms to enhance crop growth without adding chemically synthesized nitrogen fertilizers. This is particularly beneficial in paddy fields, where about 60% of the synthetic fertilizer that has been applied is dissolved in the water and washed away. In these agricultural systems, N2-fixing cyanobacteria show a promising biotechnological potential as biofertilizers, improving soil fertility while reducing the environmental impact of the agricultural practice. In the current study, Andalusian paddy fields have been explored to isolate N2-fixing cyanobacteria. These endogenous microorganisms have been subsequently re-introduced in a field trial in order to enhance rice production. Our results provide valuable insights regarding the use of an alternative natural source of nitrogen for rice production.

An Experimental Approach to the Function of Classic Maya Chultuns

1971 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 322-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis E. Puleston
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Approach ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Food Storage ◽  
Food Crop ◽  
Traditional Foods ◽  
Long Term Storage ◽  
Brosimum Alicastrum ◽  
Term Storage

AbstractExperimental techniques have provided an exciting breakthrough for the functional analysis of Maya chultuns. While deep cistern-like chultuns, common at certain sites in the northern lowlands, have been shown to be functional for water storage, smaller lateral-chambered chultuns characteristic of certain parts of the southern lowlands probably had a very different function. Excavation and examination of the latter features, in light of a whole range of possibilities, suggest that they were constructed to be used for food storage. Experimental studies, however, reveal them to be unsuitable for the storage of most traditional foods, including maize. At least one local food crop, the seed of the ramon (Brosimum alicastrum, Moraceae), appears to be ideally suited for long-term storage under these conditions. Chambers constructed beneath platforms in the northern lowlands may have been used for the storage of maize. A need for more experimental work is indicated.

scholarly journals Influence of political turbulence on economic development of Ukraine

2019 ◽  
pp. 22-36
Author(s):  
Taras Marshalok
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Development Strategy ◽  
Economic Situation ◽  
Political Factors ◽  
Political Transformations ◽  
Political Cycles ◽  
Economic Sphere ◽  
Macroeconomic Indicators ◽  
Economic Imbalances

Introduction. The influence of political factors on economic processes in Ukraine is extremely important. Changes in political elites, their use of certain social and economic instruments, types and models, affect the state of social and economic development of the country in the short, medium and long term. That is why research and analysis of the economic situation in political cycles is an important issue that needs to be studied. Methods. The theoretical and methodological basis of the research are the fundamental positions of modern economic theory, scientific works of scientists on the problems of economic cycles. The general development of the Ukrainian economy under the influence of political factors is analyzed in the course of the research on the basis of the historical approach, as well as the method of analysis and synthesis used to determine the influence of political cycles on the development of the country's economy, abstraction and synthesis, comparison and analogy when comparing the results obtained by researchers and establishing the possibility of their use for carrying out tasks for the prevention of economic imbalances. Results. The article deals with the influence of political cycles on the economic situation, the dynamics of macroeconomic indicators and economic development in Ukraine. The main problems of economic policy are outlined and recommendations on elimination of economic imbalances and increase of welfare of citizens, increase of efficiency of fiscal measures in Ukraine are developed. It has been determined that in order to overcome the above-mentioned problems in the economic sphere in the process of elaboration of the economic development strategy for the long-term perspective, it is necessary to involve experts from among the scholars, business circles, expert analytical organizations in forming the directions of implementation of fiscal policy in the long-term perspective, as well as to ensure transparent and open relations. between state authorities and other actors in the social and economic sphere. Discussion. The study of political transformations and the analysis of their impact on economic fluctuations will enable future researchers to use better the results of their work to prevent economic imbalances in Ukraine. Keywords: prime minister, politics, economy, gross domestic product, taxes, expenditures, deficit, public debt, inflation, personal incomes, currency rate.

Coffee farmers' incentives to comply with sustainability standards

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 365-383
Author(s):  
Sylvaine Lemeilleur ◽  
Julie Subervie ◽  
Anderson Edilson Presoto ◽  
Roberta Souza Piao ◽  
Maria Sylvia M. Saes
Keyword(s):  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Price Premium ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Poor Access ◽  
Private And Public ◽  
Coffee Farmers ◽  
Sustainability Standards ◽  
Public Strategies

PurposeThis paper investigates the incentives to coffee farmers to participate in certification schemes that require improved agricultural practices.Design/methodology/approachThe authors ran a choice experiment among 250 Brazilian coffee farmers in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.FindingsThe authors’ findings show that both cash and non-cash payments are likely to incentive farmers' participation in a certification scheme. Besides price premium, incentives as long-term contracts and provision of technical would encourage producers to adopt eco-certification schemes. Our results also suggest that non-cash payments may be appropriate substitutes to a price premium to some extent.Research limitations/implicationsThe large coffee producers are over-represented in our sample compared to the population of Brazilian coffee farms. However, it seems reasonable to focus on these producers, as they are usually the ones who individually adopt strategies, since small farmers are induced by collective strategies (e.g. cooperatives).Social implicationsThe result regarding technical assistance makes sense given that Brazilian farmers generally have poor access to rural extension services.Originality/valueWe contributed in the literature about adoption of sustainable agriculture practices analyzing the requirements and motivations for farmer participation in certification schemes. We also contribute private and public strategies to encourage the adoption of sustainable practices.

scholarly journals The Role of Citizen Science in Sustainable Agriculture

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 10375
Author(s):  
Khaldoon A. Mourad ◽  
Seyyed Hasan Hosseini ◽  
Helen Avery
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Agriculture ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Science Literature ◽  
Target Groups ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Farming Communities ◽  
Sustainable Agricultural Practices

Farmers know much more than we think, and they are keen to improve their knowledge in order to improve their farms and increase their income. On the other hand, decision-makers, organizations, and researchers are increasing their use of citizen volunteers to strengthen their outcomes, enhance project implementation, and approach ecosystem sustainability. This paper assesses the role of citizen science relating to agricultural practices and covers citizen science literature on agriculture and farmers’ participation during the period 2007–2019. The literature was examined for the role of citizen science in supporting sustainable agriculture activities, pointing to opportunities, challenges, and recommendations. The study identified the following gaps: insufficient attention to (1) long-term capacity building and dialogue between academics and farming communities; (2) developing countries in the global South and smallholders; (3) agriculture trading and marketing; (4) the rationales of selecting target groups; (5) contributing to accelerated sustainability transitions. The main aim of the research projects reviewed in this study tended to focus on the research outcomes from an academic perspective, not sustainable solutions in practice or sustainability in general. More research is needed to address these gaps and to widen the benefits of citizen science in sustainable agricultural practices.

The Electoral System of Israel

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew S. Shugart
Keyword(s):  
Party System ◽  
Institutional Design ◽  
Electoral System ◽  
Proportional Representation ◽  
Product Model ◽  
Political Factors ◽  
Proportional Systems ◽  
Seat Allocation ◽  
Over Time

The electoral system of Israel is an “extreme” example of proportional representation because of its use of a single nationwide district. This feature has been a constant since 1949, while secondary features, such as legal thresholds and the proportional seat-allocation formula, have changed and had an impact on degrees of proportionality. The party system is highly fragmented, as expected in extreme proportional systems. By applying the Seat Product Model to indices of election outcomes, it is possible to determine whether Israel’s system is more or less fragmented and proportional than expected for its institutional design. This chapter reports that the long-term average outputs are about as expected, but they have fluctuated over time. Some of these fluctuations reflect changes in the secondary features of the system, while others are the results of political factors independent of the institutions.

scholarly journals Amphibians of northwestern Buenos Aires province, Argentina: checklist, range extensions and comments on conservation

Check List ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
María G. Agostini ◽  
Pablo E. Saibene ◽  
Ignacio Roesler ◽  
David Bilenca
Keyword(s):  
Buenos Aires ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Buenos Aires Province ◽  
Annotated List ◽  
Native Grasslands ◽  
Extant Species ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Conservation Actions

Northwestern Buenos Aires province is located within the Pampas region of Argentina. Agricultural practices have extensively modified native grasslands in a relatively short period, leaving no intact pristine areas. Based on data collected between 2006 and 2015 at 153 ponds in agricultural landscapes, we compiled an annotated list of the amphibians of northwestern Buenos Aires province. We report 13 extant species of amphibians, which represent 43% of the known amphibian diversity in Buenos Aires province, and extend the ranges of three species. Three species found only in herpetological collections extend the list to 16 species. Our study is the first long-term survey of amphibians conducted in this part of Argentina and provides valuable information for future conservation actions across agricultural landscapes.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document