Agricultural research reclamation in Ukraine: Professor D.O. Dzhovani (1886–1971)

Author(s):  
V. Verhunov ◽  
Yu. Dovgoruk

The monograph highlights the main stages of development of agricultural research land reclamation work in Ukraine, one of the founders, creators and developers of which was Professor D.O. Dzhovani. The scientific, scientific-organizational and pedagogical activities of the well-known domestic scientist was described, who is an iconic figure for the formation of experimental reclamation work in Ukraine and abroad. The professor laid the scientific-organizational and conceptual principles, in particular the state legislative acts of development of the scientific direction of agro-amelioration in Ukraine and Russia during the 20-30's of the 20th century. He is the author of a number of scientific papers in the field of experimental land reclamation, author of the first textbook in Ukrainian for agricultural courses "Reclamation legislation: a guide for the agricultural schools"(1927). D.O. Dzhovani was personally involved in the opening of a number of reclamation stations in the research network of Ukraine. He was a member of the Scientific & Advisory Board (SAB) on the construction of Dniprelstan and the Special Commission on Dniprelstan at the Agricultural Scientific Committee of Ukraine. The scientist is one of the founders of the Ukrainian Scientific & Research Institute of Agricultural Land Reclamation. The available archival documents attest to his significant contribution to the establishment and subsequent functioning of this institution. After forced emigration to Great Britain, he continued to supplement his inventions and research in the field of agriculture, until the end of his days he did not lose active interest in the business of his life – land reclamation and swamp culture. This edition also contains bibliographic descriptions of his works, written personally and in co-authorship, reports on scientific activities, scientific & popular publications. The book is recommended for scientists, teachers, graduate students, students, specialists in agricultural science, all those who are interested in the history of agricultural research work development.

2018 ◽  
Vol 51 ◽  
pp. 7-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. I. Bashchenko ◽  
M. V. Gladyi

The authors have argued that doctor of agricultural sciences, professor and academician of Ukrainian Academy of Agrarian Sciences V. P. Burkat made a significant contribution to the development of agricultural science in Ukraine as an outstanding scientist in the field of animal breeding, organizer of agricultural research work, public figure. His greatest achievement is development of the conceptual aspects of breed formation in cattle-breeding, which was implemented in creation of a few highly specialized cattle breeds. The scientist is co-author of the first created in Ukraine Ukrainian Red-and-White Dairy, Ukrainian Black-and-White Dairy, Ukrainian Red Dairy, Ukrainian Brown Dairy, Volyn Beef, Polesian Beef, Southern Beef breeds and their structural units (interbreed types, lines and families). The article shows that the scientist substantiated the feasibility of comprehensive genetic monitoring as one of the main conditions in creating new and improving existing breeds of cattle. He developed biotechnological and genetic principles of farm animal breeding. He laid foundation of a new comprehensive science – biotech breeding, identified the main components of its structural status and applied new theoretical approaches to the selection process, taking into account the practical use of biotechnological methods. The scientist first raised ethical, social and legal aspects of introduction of biotechnology in agriculture. V. P. Burkat`s achievement is development of the theory of conservation of the gene pool of farm animals. He initiated development of concept of gene objects creation and placing, defined their purpose in the system of conservation of the farm animal breeding resources. He explained importance of the gene pool banks as the main link of farm animal conservation. The authors have proven that scientific heritage of academician V. P. Burkat didn`t lose its importance and relevance in the current development of animal husbandry. Some parts of it, including the theory of breed creation; methodical bases of management of breed genealogy; theory of consolidation of breed units; bases of breeding, evaluation and sustainable use of sires; genetic, biotechnological and technological bases of selection; methods of conservation and sustainable use of animal gene pool should be used as a theoretical and methodological basis for development of further strategies in cattle breeding. Academician V. P. Burkat is prominent organizer of agricultural research work in animal husbandry of Ukraine. He made significant efforts to obtain status of main methodological and coordination center of agriculture of Ukraine by Ukrainian Academy of Agrarian Sciences. Almost 30 years he devoted to the establishment of branch guidance and coordination center – Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics. One of the most important achievements of scientist was organization of scientific school "Breeding and Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry" at Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics in 1980. His disciples are famous scientists, including academicians of NAAS M. Baschenko, V. Ladyka, Yu. Melnik, corresponding members of the NAAS S. Ruban, S. Kovtun, doctor of agricultural sciences A. Havruk, V. Antonenko, S. Voitenko, A. Dubin, V. Smetanin, V. Dzitsyuk, Yu. Polupan, K. Kopylov and others. The article shows that V. P. Burkat is known public figure who defended the national idea at all levels of exposure, as a co-founder of the historical-biographical series "Ukrainian Agrarian Scientists of the Twentieth Century", initiator of a number of encyclopedic, reference and bibliographic publications, editor of scientific journals, author of fundamental scientific generalizing papers and others.


Author(s):  
Arusey Chebet ◽  
Ruth Njoroge ◽  
Wilson Ng’etich

A successful strategy aimed at enhancing crop productivity relies on its ability to be implemented practically in the field (farmers’ field). Many research-based activities and promising soil fertility technologies are largely not adopted. This paper examines the impact of the agricultural research conducted at the University of Eldoret, agricultural institutes and the government of Kenya projects at a farm level on crop yields. Precisely, this paper narrows down to research done with an aim of exploring system approaches that address soil phosphorus and its effect on increasing crop yields in Western Kenya. Strategies like the collaboration of scientists and non scientists (transdisciplinary process) produced successful results. A qualified soil test with differentiated soil testing recommendations increases the yield by about 1.5 t dry maize ha-1. Participating in a transdisciplinary process provides an additional surplus of about 1 t dry maize ha-1 yield. Economically, this is a highly attractive result; given that soil testing costs around 20 USD, a surplus of 1 t dry maize returns approximately 330 USD. Although literature registers success stories of many research work, there is slow and limited adoption rate of the output by farmers. We          suggest the development and expansion of transdisciplinary research and creation of Farmer Research Network to seek a one-size-fits-all solution for farmers to adopt technologies with proven success.


Author(s):  
Andrey ilinsky ◽  
Alexander Nefedov ◽  
Konstantin Evsenkin

Global climatic changes, technogenic pollution by pollutants, violations of technologies of exploitation of reclaimed land lead to a decrease in fertility and soil degradation of agricultural land. Adverse weather conditions, resulting in a lack of adequate flood water, and economic difficulties in agriculture make it difficult to fill the deficit of organic matter and macronutrients in reclaimed alluvial soils. The monitoring of agrochemical properties of alluvial meadow medium-loamy soil of the stationary site (reclaimed lands of JSC «Moskovskoye» of Ryazan region), located in the floodplain of the Oka river, conducted by the Meshchersky branch of Vniigim, showed the presence and intensification of degradation changes in the soil. Thus, comparing the agrochemical indicators in the layer 0–20 cm, carried out in 1995, with the indicators of 2019, it should be noted a decrease in soil fertility. The decrease in soil quality was expressed in a decrease in the amount of mobile phosphorus by 37.6 %, mobile potassium by 53.3 %. Also, during this time there was a decrease in organic matter by 9.1 %, and an increase in soil acidity was 0.6 pH. As a result of such changes, soils lose ecological stability and become more vulnerable to adverse weather and negative anthropogenic impacts. In such a situation, advanced agricultural techniques should be actively used to obtain guaranteed, environmentally safe crop yields and restore the fertility of degraded reclaimed soils. In this regard, there is a need to develop innovative methods of fertility restoration of degraded alluvial soils in reclaimed lands using multi-component organic-mineral ameliorants. Meshchersky branch performs research work in addressing this issue.


Author(s):  
P. N. Vanyushin ◽  
A. V. Kuzin ◽  
А. А. Pavlov ◽  
А. V. Nefedov ◽  
N. А. Ivannikova

The article analyzes the current state of the irrigation and drainage systems of the Ryazan region. It is shown that the lack of technical operation of the drainage network led to its failure and failure to perform its functions. Irrigation, in spite of the fact that it gives stability in the years of droughts due to aging and the dismantling of machinery and equipment is not carried out. It is shown that for the reconstruction and / or modernization of irrigation and drainage systems it is necessary on the basis of inventory to determine the environmentally optimal and economically viable systems, their parts and structures that require rehabilitation, reconstruction and / or modernization. The decision to reconstruct may include not only the ameliorative system as a whole, but also some part of it, for example, a canal, pipeline or a separate hydraulic structure, taking into account the justification of economic feasibility. In dry periods, for the Meshcherskaya lowland and areas with peat soils, it is necessary to provide for land-reclamation systems for dual regulation of soil moisture, which reduces the possibility of peat ignition and the spread of fire. It should be borne in mind that the reconstruction of land-reclamation systems has its specific features, which include: socio-economic (increasing the productivity of agricultural land, obtaining additional income, creating modern infrastructure, increasing employment, living conditions, labor, etc.) ; ecological (creation of cultural landscapes, ensuring their ecological sustainability, prevention of land degradation processes, improvement of recreational conditions, elimination of waterlogging, flooding, salinization, erosion, etc.). Reclamation activities are carried out in compliance with the requirements of land, water, forestry legislation of the Russian Federation, as well as the legislation of the Russian Federation on the protection of the environment, on the subsurface, on the plant world and on the animal world.


2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 1139-1148
Author(s):  
Othman & et al.

The research work was conducted in Izra’a Research station, which affiliated to the General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), during the growing seasons (2016 – 2017; 2017 – 2018), in order to evaluate the response of two durum wheat verities (Douma3 and Cham5) and two bread wheat varieties (Douma4 and Cham6) to Conservation Agriculture (CA) as a full package compared with Conventional Tillage system (CT) under rainfed condition using lentils (Variety Edleb3) in the applied crop rotation. The experiment was laid according to split-split RCBD with three replications. The average of biological yield, grain yield,  rainwater use efficiency and nitrogen use efficiency was significantly higher during the first growing season, under conservation agriculture in the presence of crop rotation, in the variety Douma3 (7466 kg. ha-1, and 4162kg. ha-1, 19.006 kg ha-1 mm-1,  39.62 kg N m-2respectively). The two varieties Douma3 and Cham6 are considered more responsive to conservation agriculture system in the southern region of Syria, because they recorded the highest grain yields (2561, 2385 kg ha-1 respectively) compared with the other studied varieties (Cham5 and Douma4) (1951 and 1724 kg ha-1 respectively). They also exhibited the highest values of both rainwater and nitrogen use efficiency.


Author(s):  
V.V. Tanyukevich ◽  
◽  
S.V. Tyurin ◽  
D.V. Khmeleva ◽  
A.A. Kvasha ◽  
...  

Works on protective afforestation are carried out in order to protect agricultural land from degradation processes, as well as to improve the microclimate of land. The research purpose is to study the bioproductivity and environmental role of Robinia pseudoacacia L. forest shelterbelts in the conditions of the Kuban lowland. The approved and generally accepted methods of forest valuation, forest land reclamation, botany, and mathematical statistics were applied. Plantings were created according to the standard technology for the steppe zone of the Russian Federation. The area of forest shelterbelts is 62.4 ths ha, including 5 % of the young growth (I state class), 80 % of middle-aged forest plantings (II state class), 10 % of maturing plantings (II state class), 5 % of mature and overmature plantings (III state class). Living ground cover is formed by the following species: Koeleria pyramidata L., Poa pratensis L., Festuca pratensis H., Elytrígia repens L., Dactylis glomerata L., and Phlum pratense L. Aboveground phytomass is 100–300 g/m2; height is 25–32 cm. Plantings are characterized by the quality classes: young growth – I and II; middle-aged and maturing – III; mature and overmature – IV. At the age of natural maturity (70 years), the Robinia trunk reaches the average height of 15.1 m with the average diameter of 22.1 cm. The total stock of wood reaches 18, (ths m3), including (ths m3): young growth – 68 (ths m3); middleaged plantings – 14,871 (ths m3); maturing plantings – 2,187 (ths m3); mature and overmature plantings – 1,314 (ths m3). Aboveground phytomass in young growth is 20.2 t/ha; in mature and overmature plantings it is 391.2 t/ha. In the region it is estimated at 17,070 ths t, including (ths t): young growth – 64; middle-aged plantings – 13,753; maturing plantings – 2,032; mature and overmature plantings – 1,221. The share of stem mass reaches 84.5–80.8 %; woody greenery – 4.2–1.5 %; branches – 11.3–17.7 %. Recalculation coefficients of the stock into aboveground phytomass are the following for: young growth – 0.936; mature and overmature forest shelterbelts – 0.929. Phytosaturation of forest shelterbelts varies within 0.314–2.474 kg/m3. Forest shelterbelts have accumulated 8,534 ths t of carbon, which is estimated at 145.1 mln dollars. The sphere of application of the research results is the Krasnodar Krai forestry, which is recommended to create an additional 60 ths ha of forest shelterbelts, which will provide a normative protective forest cover of arable land of 5 % and annual carbon sequestration up to 3.4 t/ha.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1835
Author(s):  
Anja Schmitz ◽  
Bettina Tonn ◽  
Ann-Kathrin Schöppner ◽  
Johannes Isselstein

Engaging farmers as citizen scientists may be a cost-efficient way to answering applied research questions aimed at more sustainable land use. We used a citizen science approach with German horse farmers with a dual goal. Firstly, we tested the practicability of this approach for answering ‘real-life’ questions in variable agricultural land-use systems. Secondly, we were interested in the knowledge it can provide about locomotion of horses on pasture and the management factors influencing this behaviour. Out of 165 volunteers, we selected 40 participants to record locomotion of two horses on pasture and provide information on their horse husbandry and pasture management. We obtained complete records for three recording days per horse from 28 participants, resulting in a dataset on more individual horses than any other Global Positioning System study published in the last 30 years. Time spent walking was greatest for horses kept in box-stall stables, and walking distance decreased with increasing grazing time. This suggests that restrictions in pasture access may increase stress on grass swards through running and trampling, severely challenging sustainable pasture management. Our study, involving simple technology, clear instructions and rigorous quality assessment, demonstrates the potential of citizen science actively involving land managers in agricultural research.


2021 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-36
Author(s):  
Fan Zhou ◽  
Xovee Xu ◽  
Goce Trajcevski ◽  
Kunpeng Zhang

The deluge of digital information in our daily life—from user-generated content, such as microblogs and scientific papers, to online business, such as viral marketing and advertising—offers unprecedented opportunities to explore and exploit the trajectories and structures of the evolution of information cascades. Abundant research efforts, both academic and industrial, have aimed to reach a better understanding of the mechanisms driving the spread of information and quantifying the outcome of information diffusion. This article presents a comprehensive review and categorization of information popularity prediction methods, from feature engineering and stochastic processes , through graph representation , to deep learning-based approaches . Specifically, we first formally define different types of information cascades and summarize the perspectives of existing studies. We then present a taxonomy that categorizes existing works into the aforementioned three main groups as well as the main subclasses in each group, and we systematically review cutting-edge research work. Finally, we summarize the pros and cons of existing research efforts and outline the open challenges and opportunities in this field.


2014 ◽  
Vol 998-999 ◽  
pp. 1642-1648
Author(s):  
Chun Mei Wang ◽  
Bao Feng Chen

Research achievements of the ASTP Policy-Oriented cannot generate directly economic benefit, social benefit and ecological benefit. It would realize benefit of ASTP only if the outputs can be transformed practical productive forces. In this paper, the mechanism and pathway of achieving benefit of ASTP is analyzed deeply based on the logical framework model. Then the empirical studies shows that the inputs (research investment) have positive correlation with outputs (research achievement), extension and outcomes (changes in productivity). Although the inputs have a certain influence to agricultural economics, it mainly affects indirectly agricultural development by research achievements and extension. Therefore, the benefits of ASTP should not be evaluated according by inputs/outputs methods. We must analyze and assess the anticipated chain of cause/effect relationships of ASTP based on the program “theory-driven” approach. It can promote agricultural research and extension projects to integrated closely, at the same time the benefit of ASTP can be improved greatly.


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