From meta-system theory to the sustainable management of rivers in the Anthropocene

Ecological processes occurring at the regional scale, such as the dispersal of organisms, and spatial flows of material and energy are fundamental for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in river networks, yet they remain largely overlooked in most river management practices and underlying policies. We propose a meta-system approach where regional processes acting at different levels of ecological organization – populations, communities and ecosystems – can be integrated into conventional conservation, restoration and biomonitoring of rivers. We recommend a series of measurements and indicators that could be assimilated into the implementation of relevant biodiversity and environmental policies. We highlight the need for alternative management strategies that can guide practitioners towards applying recent advances in ecology to preserve and restore river ecosystems and the ecosystem services they provide in the context of increasing alteration of river network connectivity worldwide.

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BİLGİ YÖNETİMİ UYGULAMALARI KAPSAMINDA İNSAN KAYNAKLARI YÖNETİMİNDE MEYDANA GELEN DEĞİŞİMLER

Business And Management Studies An International Journal ◽

10.15295/bmij.v1i1.3 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 83

Author(s):

Ozan Büyükyılmaz

Keyword(s):

Knowledge Management ◽

Human Resources ◽

Performance Management ◽

Management Practices ◽

Human Resources Management ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Resources Management ◽

Management Philosophy ◽

Management Processes

The development and expansion of knowledge management as an important management philosophy has a significant impact on human resources management as well as on organization as a whole. In this context, knowledge management processes have been used as a strategic tool within human resources management.Therefore, functions of human resources management must adapt itself to this change. The purpose of this study is to determine the role of human resources management in the management of knowledge and to reveal the effects of knowledge management practices on the functions of human resources byexamining the relationship between human resources and knowledge management. In this context, a theoretical investigation was conducted. It has been determined that significant changes occurred on the functions of human resources management such as selection and recruitment, performance management, remuneration and reward, training and development within the framework of the knowledge management strategies.

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Concepts and Practices for Improving Nitrogen Management for Vegetables

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.2.1.121 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 121-125 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

George J. Hochmuth

Keyword(s):

Water Management ◽

Management Practices ◽

Management Strategies ◽

N Fertilization ◽

Nitrogen Management ◽

Land Grant ◽

Land Grant Universities ◽

Production Practices ◽

Negative Impacts ◽

N Management

Efficient N management practices usually involve many potential strategies, but always involve choosing the correct amount of N and the coupling of N management to efficient water management. Nitrogen management strategies are integral parts of improved production practices recommended by land-grant universities such as the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Univ. of Florida. This paper, which draws heavily on research and experience in Florida, outlines the concepts and technologies for managing vegetable N fertilization to minimize negative impacts on the environment.

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Sarasota Bay: Protection of a Natural Resource

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1993.0407 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 28 (3-5) ◽

pp. 91-99

Author(s):

R. A. Wagner ◽

M. G. Heyl

Keyword(s):

Wastewater Treatment ◽

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Treatment Plan ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

Modeling Tools ◽

Best Management ◽

Sarasota Bay ◽

Potential Benefits

As part of the Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program (NEP) evaluation of environmental problems, modeling tools were used to estimate pollution loadings from diverse sources, including surface runoff, baseflow, wastewater treatment plant discbarges, septic tanks, and direct deposition of rainfall on the bay surface. After assessing the relative impacts of the pollution sources, alternative management strategies were identified and analyzed. These strategies focused primarily on future development, and included structural and nonstructural best management practices (BMPs), as well as a regional wastewater treatment plan. Loading reductions, along with planning-level cost data and estimates of feasibility and other potential benefits, were used to identify the most promising alternatives.

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Sustainable Management of Soil for Carbon Sequestration

Science & Technology Journal ◽

10.22232/stj.2017.05.02.10 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 132-140 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kewat Sanjay Kumar ◽

Keyword(s):

Carbon Sequestration ◽

Soil Carbon ◽

Sustainable Management ◽

Management Practices ◽

Atmospheric Co2 ◽

Carbon Pools ◽

Carbon Stabilization ◽

Organic C ◽

Soil Ecosystems ◽

C Stocks

Mechanisms governing carbon stabilization in soils have received a great deal of attention in recent years due to their relevance in the global carbon cycle. Two thirds of the global terrestrial organic C stocks in ecosystems are stored in below ground components as terrestrial carbon pools in soils. Furthermore, mean residence time of soil organic carbon pools have slowest turnover rates in terrestrial ecosystems and thus there is vast potential to sequester atmospheric CO2 in soil ecosystems. Depending upon soil management practices it can be served as source or sink for atmospheric CO2. Sustainable management systems and practices such as conservation agriculture, agroforestry and application of biochar are emerging and promising tools for soil carbon sequestration. Increasing soil carbon storage in a system simultaneously improves the soil health by increase in infiltration rate, soil biota and fertility, nutrient cycling and decrease in soil erosion process, soil compaction and C emissions. Henceforth, it is vital to scientifically explore the mechanisms governing C flux in soils which is poorly understood in different ecosystems under anthropogenic interventions making soil as a potential sink for atmospheric CO2 to mitigate climate change. Henceforth, present paper aims to review basic mechanism governing carbon stabilization in soils and new practices and technological developments in agricultural and forest sciences for C sequestration in terrestrial soil ecosystems.

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Legumes increase grassland productivity with no effect on nitrous oxide emissions

Plant and Soil ◽

10.1007/s11104-019-04338-w ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 446 (1-2) ◽

pp. 163-177 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Arlete S. Barneze ◽

Jeanette Whitaker ◽

Niall P. McNamara ◽

Nicholas J. Ostle

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Production Systems ◽

N Uptake ◽

Relative Proportion ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽

Mineral N ◽

Grassland Productivity

Abstract Aims Grasslands are important agricultural production systems, where ecosystem functioning is affected by land management practices. Grass-legume mixtures are commonly cultivated to increase grassland productivity while reducing the need for nitrogen (N) fertiliser. However, little is known about the effect of this increase in productivity on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in grass-legume mixtures. The aim of this study was to investigate interactions between the proportion of legumes in grass-legume mixtures and N-fertiliser addition on productivity and GHG emissions. We tested the hypotheses that an increase in the relative proportion of legumes would increase plant productivity and decrease GHG emissions, and the magnitude of these effects would be reduced by N-fertiliser addition. Methods This was tested in a controlled environment mesocosm experiment with one grass and one legume species grown in mixtures in different proportions, with or without N-fertiliser. The effects on N cycling processes were assessed by measurement of above- and below-ground biomass, shoot N uptake, soil physico-chemical properties and GHG emissions. Results Above-ground productivity and shoot N uptake were greater in legume-grass mixtures compared to grass or legume monocultures, in fertilised and unfertilised soils. However, we found no effect of legume proportion on N2O emissions, total soil N or mineral-N in fertilised or unfertilised soils. Conclusions This study shows that the inclusion of legumes in grass-legume mixtures positively affected productivity, however N cycle were in the short-term unaffected and mainly affected by nitrogen fertilisation. Legumes can be used in grassland management strategies to mitigate climate change by reducing crop demand for N-fertilisers.

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A model to account for the consequences of host nutrition on the outcome of gastrointestinal parasitism in sheep: model evaluation

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182007002624 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 134 (9) ◽

pp. 1279-1289 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

D. VAGENAS ◽

S. C. BISHOP ◽

I. KYRIAZAKIS

Keyword(s):

Mathematical Model ◽

Worm Burden ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

Sheep Model ◽

Host Nutrition ◽

Gastrointestinal Parasitism ◽

Different Characteristics ◽

Nutritional Strategies ◽

Different Levels

SUMMARYThis paper describes sensitivity analyses and expectations obtained from a mathematical model developed to account for the effects of host nutrition on the consequences of gastrointestinal parasitism in sheep. The scenarios explored included different levels of parasitic challenge at different planes of nutrition, for hosts differing only in their characteristics for growth. The model was able to predict the consequences of host nutrition on the outcome of parasitism, in terms of worm burden, number of eggs excreted per gram faeces and animal performance. The model outputs predict that conclusions on the ability of hosts of different characteristics for growth to cope with parasitism (i.e. resistance) depend on the plane of nutrition. Furthermore, differences in the growth rate of sheep, on their own, are not sufficient to account for differences in the observed resistance of animals. The model forms the basis for evaluating the consequences of differing management strategies and environments, such as breeding for certain traits associated with resistance and nutritional strategies, on the consequences of gastrointestinal parasitism on sheep.

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Precision Agriculture for Resource Use Efficiency in Smallholder Farming Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13031158 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 1158

Author(s):

Cecilia M. Onyango ◽

Justine M. Nyaga ◽

Johanna Wetterlind ◽

Mats Söderström ◽

Kristin Piikki

Keyword(s):

Resource Use ◽

Precision Agriculture ◽

Large Scale ◽

English Language ◽

Management Practices ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Smallholder Farming ◽

Sub Saharan

Opportunities exist for adoption of precision agriculture technologies in all parts of the world. The form of precision agriculture may vary from region to region depending on technologies available, knowledge levels and mindsets. The current review examined research articles in the English language on precision agriculture practices for increased productivity among smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. A total of 7715 articles were retrieved and after screening 128 were reviewed. The results indicate that a number of precision agriculture technologies have been tested under SSA conditions and show promising results. The most promising precision agriculture technologies identified were the use of soil and plant sensors for nutrient and water management, as well as use of satellite imagery, GIS and crop-soil simulation models for site-specific management. These technologies have been shown to be crucial in attainment of appropriate management strategies in terms of efficiency and effectiveness of resource use in SSA. These technologies are important in supporting sustainable agricultural development. Most of these technologies are, however, at the experimental stage, with only South Africa having applied them mainly in large-scale commercial farms. It is concluded that increased precision in input and management practices among SSA smallholder farmers can significantly improve productivity even without extra use of inputs.

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Mitogenomic analysis of diversity of key whitefly pests in Kenya and its implication to their sustainable management

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-85902-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Fathiya M. Khamis ◽

Fidelis L. O. Ombura ◽

Inusa J. Ajene ◽

Komivi S. Akutse ◽

Sevgan Subramanian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Management ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Spatial Models ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Plant Viruses ◽

Pest Species ◽

Agricultural Pests ◽

Protein Coding ◽

Aleyrodes Proletella ◽

Aleurodicus Dispersus

AbstractWhiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) are devastating agricultural pests of economic importance vectoring pathogenic plant viruses. Knowledge on their diversity and distribution in Kenya is scanty, limiting development of effective sustainable management strategies. The present study is aimed at identifying whitefly pest species present in Kenya across different agroecological zones and establish predictive models for the most abundant species in Africa. Whiteflies were sampled in Kenya from key crops known to be severely infested and identified using 16S rRNA markers and complete mitochondrial genomes. Four whitefly species were identified: Aleyrodes proletella, Aleurodicus dispersus, Bemisia afer and Trialeurodesvaporariorum, the latter being the most dominant species across all the agroecology. The assembly of complete mitogenomes and comparative analysis of all 13 protein coding genes confirmed the identities of the four species. Furthermore, prediction spatial models indicated high climatic suitability of T. vaporariorum in Africa, Europe, Central America, parts of Southern America, parts of Australia, New Zealand and Asia. Consequently, our findings provide information to guide biosecurity agencies on protocols to be adopted for precise identification of pest whitefly species in Kenya to serve as an early warning tool against T. vaporariorum invasion into unaffected areas and guide appropriate decision-making on their management.

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Tracking Changes on Soil Structure and Organic Carbon Sequestration after 30 Years of Different Tillage and Management Practices

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11020291 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 291

Author(s):

Ramón Bienes ◽

Maria Jose Marques ◽

Blanca Sastre ◽

Andrés García-Díaz ◽

Iris Esparza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Triticum Aestivum ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Management Practices ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Triticum Aestivum L ◽

Field Trials ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Soil Parameters ◽

Wilting Point

Long-term field trials are essential for monitoring the effects of sustainable land management strategies for adaptation and mitigation to climate change. The influence of more than thirty years of different management is analyzed on extensive crops under three tillage systems, conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT), and no-tillage (NT), and with two crop rotations, monoculture winter-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and wheat-vetch (Triticum aestivum L.-Vicia sativa L.), widely present in the center of Spain. The soil under NT experienced the largest change in organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, macroaggregate stability, and bulk density. In the MT and NT treatments, SOC content was still increasing after 32 years, being 26.5 and 32.2 Mg ha−1, respectively, compared to 20.8 Mg ha−1 in CT. The SOC stratification (ratio of SOC at the topsoil/SOC at the layer underneath), an indicator of soil conservation, increased with decreasing tillage intensity (2.32, 1.36, and 1.01 for NT, MT, and CT respectively). Tillage intensity affected the majority of soil parameters, except the water stable aggregates, infiltration, and porosity. The NT treatment increased available water, but only in monocropping. More water was retained at the permanent wilting point in NT treatments, which can be a disadvantage in dry periods of these edaphoclimatic conditions.

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Soil Mycobiome Is Shaped by Vegetation and Microhabitats: A Regional-Scale Study in Southeastern Brazil

Journal of Fungi ◽

10.3390/jof7080587 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (8) ◽

pp. 587

Author(s):

Danielle Hamae Yamauchi ◽

Hans Garcia Garces ◽

Marcus de Melo Teixeira ◽

Gabriel Fellipe Barros Rodrigues ◽

Leila Sabrina Ullmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fungal Community ◽

Vegetation Index ◽

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽

Deciduous Forest ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Southeastern Brazil ◽

Transitional Region ◽

Illumina Platform ◽

Ecological Processes ◽

Life On Earth

Soil is the principal habitat and reservoir of fungi that act on ecological processes vital for life on Earth. Understanding soil fungal community structures and the patterns of species distribution is crucial, considering climatic change and the increasing anthropic impacts affecting nature. We evaluated the soil fungal diversity in southeastern Brazil, in a transitional region that harbors patches of distinct biomes and ecoregions. The samples originated from eight habitats, namely: semi-deciduous forest, Brazilian savanna, pasture, coffee and sugarcane plantation, abandoned buildings, owls’ and armadillos’ burrows. Forty-four soil samples collected in two periods were evaluated by metagenomic approaches, focusing on the high-throughput DNA sequencing of the ITS2 rDNA region in the Illumina platform. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was used for vegetation cover analysis. NDVI values showed a linear relationship with both diversity and richness, reinforcing the importance of a healthy vegetation for the establishment of a diverse and complex fungal community. The owls’ burrows presented a peculiar fungal composition, including high rates of Onygenales, commonly associated with keratinous animal wastes, and Trichosporonales, a group of basidiomycetous yeasts. Levels of organic matter and copper influenced all guild communities analyzed, supporting them as important drivers in shaping the fungal communities’ structures.

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