scholarly journals Modeling Yields Response to Shading in the Field-to-Forest Transition Zones in Heterogeneous Landscapes

Agriculture ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Schmidt ◽  
Claas Nendel ◽  
Roger Funk ◽  
Matthew G. E. Mitchell ◽  
Gunnar Lischeid

In crop modeling and yield predictions, the heterogeneity of agricultural landscapes is usually not accounted for. This heterogeneity often arises from landscape elements like forests, hedges, or single trees and shrubs that cast shadows. Shading from forested areas or shrubs has effects on transpiration, temperature, and soil moisture, all of which affect the crop yield in the adjacent arable land. Transitional gradients of solar irradiance can be described as a function of the distance to the zero line (edge), the cardinal direction, and the height of trees. The magnitude of yield reduction in transition zones is highly influenced by solar irradiance—a factor that is not yet implemented in crop growth models on a landscape level. We present a spatially explicit model for shading caused by forested areas, in agricultural landscapes. With increasing distance to forest, solar irradiance and yield increase. Our model predicts that the shading effect from the forested areas occurs up to 15 m from the forest edge, for the simulated wheat yields, and up to 30 m, for simulated maize. Moreover, we estimated the spatial extent of transition zones, to calculate the regional yield reduction caused by shading of the forest edges, which amounted to 5% to 8% in an exemplary region.

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 749
Author(s):  
Leonardo Bianchini ◽  
Gianluca Egidi ◽  
Ahmed Alhuseen ◽  
Adele Sateriano ◽  
Sirio Cividino ◽  
...  

The spatial mismatch between population growth and settlement expansion is at the base of current models of urban growth. Empirical evidence is increasingly required to inform planning measures promoting urban containment in the context of a stable (or declining) population. In these regards, per-capita indicators of land-use change can be adopted with the aim at evaluating long-term sustainability of urbanization processes. The present study assesses spatial variations in per-capita indicators of land-use change in Rome, Central Italy, at five years (1949, 1974, 1999, 2008, and 2016) with the final objective of quantifying the mismatch between urban expansion and population growth. Originally specialized in agricultural productions, Rome’s metropolitan area is a paradigmatic example of dispersed urban expansion in the Mediterranean basin. By considering multiple land-use dynamics, per-capita indicators of landscape change delineated three distinctive waves of growth corresponding with urbanization, suburbanization, and a more mixed stage with counter-urbanization and re-urbanization impulses. By reflecting different socioeconomic contexts on a local scale, urban fabric and forests were identified as the ‘winner’ classes, expanding homogeneously over time at the expense of cropland. Agricultural landscapes experienced a more heterogeneous trend with arable land and pastures declining systematically and more fragmented land classes (e.g., vineyards and olive groves) displaying stable (or slightly increasing) trends. The continuous reduction of per-capita surface area of cropland that’s supports a reduced production base, which is now insufficient to satisfy the rising demand for fresh food at the metropolitan scale, indicates the unsustainability of the current development in Rome and more generally in the whole Mediterranean basin, a region specialized traditionally in (proximity) agricultural productions.


Plant Direct ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rubí Raymundo ◽  
Sarah Sexton‐Bowser ◽  
Ignacio A. Ciampitti ◽  
Geoffrey P. Morris
Keyword(s):  

Purpose. To characterize the methodological approaches that we develop in the formation of a system of information support for the creation and maintenance of the functioning of modern sustainable agricultural landscapes and to show the results of their implementation on the example of the territory of some agricultural enterprises of the Kharkiv region. Methods. Cartographic, geoinformation analysis, calculation, statistical and mathematical. Results. Some results of the work of the collective on the issues of information support for the creation and maintenance of the functioning of modern sustainable agricultural landscapes. Namely, verification of erosion models, studies of the functionality of shelter belts, the formation of an agroeconet (an extensive network of natural and quasi-natural landscapes) on agricultural land massifs, which ensures the maintenance of stable functioning of meso and macrolevel agrolandscapes, as well as the experience of using magnetic prospecting methods to verify the results of mathematical modeling of erosion processes. Conclusions. A number of methodological approaches to information support of the formation of sustainable agricultural landscapes in the natural and socio-economic conditions of Ukraine have been developed. They relate to the functioning of anti-erosion measures of permanent action, the processes of modern transformation of agro-landscapes, the ecological impact of erosion processes on the environment. The connection between the length of forest belts per unit of arable land and soil erosion is shown. A methodical approach has been developed to estimate the amount of soil washed away from arable land and to calculate the measures necessary to eliminate its harmful effects on the environment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 339-348
Author(s):  
Vladimir TATARINTSEV ◽  
◽  
Leonid TATARINTSEV ◽  
Alex MATSYURA ◽  
Andrei BONDAROVICH ◽  
...  

The aim of the work was the landscape analysis of agricultural geographical landscapes in the Altai Territory and elaboration of measures aimed at the rational use of agricultural lands. Environmental and landscape (landscape) approach became the main method of scientific research used in the analysis of modern agricultural landscapes. The cartographic method, using GIS-technologies, made it possible to digitize the obtained materials. Synthesized maps of agro-ecological, natural and other zoning of territories are based on topographic, soil, geobotanical and other thematic maps made during land surveying during the field survey. Retrospective analysis, induction and deduction methods,analysis and synthesis, as well as the abstract-logic method were also used in the work. Our main result was the analysis of land use territory for agricultural enterprise in municipal district of Altai Krai. Exploration of lands indicates a pronounced plant-growing specialization of JSC “Pobeda” with a developed animal breeding direction. Limiting factors affecting the rational use of land are natural and climatic conditions, terrain,unsystematic anthropogenic activity and, as a result, the development of erosion processes. The degree of eroded and deflated arable land is more than 50%, hay and pasture lands are also very unstable. Landscapes have been typified, based on which eleven types of land have been identified and their geomorphological description has been carried out. The first five types of land can be used for agricultural production with limitations compensated by crop technology and erosion control measures, the sixth and seventh types require grassing and, in some cases,conservation, the eighth and ninth types can be partially used for pasture and area valorization; the remaining two are not suitable for agricultural use but should be potentially used for planting and forest management. As a result of the presented transformation of agricultural lands, the structure of cultivated areas has changed. The area of arable land decreased by 877 ha, and of pastures by 365 ha,while the area under hayfields, fallow lands, and forest lands increased by 295, 191, and 875 ha respectively. Low-productive lands were withdrawn from agriculture. We suggested that the sustainability of agricultural land use was mainly caused by the reduction of anthropogenic load and increase in ecological equilibrium of the territory.


Author(s):  
S. M. Vasilyev ◽  
◽  
A. N. Babichev ◽  

Purpose: to establish the basic principles of the organization of reclamed agricultural landscapes and to substantiate the use of the agricultural landscape approach in the organization of the territory. Materials and Methods. When preparing this article, the materials of Russian scientists dealing with the issues of soil fertility conservation and ecological sustainability of reclaimed agricultural landscapes were considered. The methods used were analysis, generalization, synthesis and other methods of working with literary sources on this issue. Results. In performing the work, the main principles and indicators were determined, such as productivity, sustainability, the rule of transforming measures for the natural environment, optimization of the agricultural landscape, authenticity, principles of the formation of reclaimed agricultural landscapes, the complexity of the reclamation impact, the required diversity, the uniqueness of the reclamation impact. The basic requirements for the preservation of soil fertility of reclaimed irrigated agricultural landscape have been established. It was found that to maintain ecological balance within the irrigated agricultural landscape, it is necessary to adhere to the indicators of the reclamation load of the natural environment. The limits of agricultural lands saturation in reclaimed agricultural landscapes for various agro-climatic zones have been substantiated and recommended. Conclusions. It has been determined that the coefficient of reclamation loading of irrigated lands, showing the maximum share of irrigated lands that can be irrigated in a particular climatic zone, varies from 0.3 in the forest-steppe zone to 0.60–0.85 in the semi-desert and desert zone. This suggests that with an increase in moisture supply, this indicator decreases, the recommended amount of agricultural land in various agroclimatic zones varies from 30 to 87 %, while the area of arable land should not exceed 20–25 % in a very dry zone, and with an increase in moisture supply, it can increase up to 80 % in the semi-arid zone. The amount of irrigated land in the reclaimed agricultural landscape should not exceed 18–20 %. Irrigated meadows and pastures should account for 1–2 to 5–6 % of the area.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Zitian Zhang ◽  
Michel Rod ◽  
Farah Hosseinian

Rapid population growth is expected to lead to the global population reaching 8.9 billion by 2050. In order to sustain such population growth, global food production must grow more than 70% by 2050. Arable land per capita, however, is on the decline. Vertical farming (VF) provides an enterprising solution to these concerns. VF utilizes stacked levels of growing racks and beds to maximize grow space per square foot of land and typically uses hydroponics to reduce water use. Similarly, film farming (FF) is a new agricultural technique developed in Japan for the soilless cultivation of crops while drastically reducing water use. FF has the potential to be integrated into VF systems to improve water use efficiency, and further improve food safety. This, however, relies on the possible improvements in yield and plant quality to increase sales volume and price to offset the added cost of FF. This review illustrates a cost-benefit analysis of a theoretical VF to show the yield increase and price point needed for FF integration to be viable as 27 247 kg (43.57%) and $9.67/kg (26.90%) respectively. This review also shows the benefits to yield and quality is enough for the integration to be viable.


1999 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 845-851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas G. Goodin ◽  
J. M. S. Hutchinson ◽  
Richard L. Vanderlip ◽  
M. C. Knapp

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 93-109
Author(s):  
Stavros KOLIOS ◽  
◽  
George NTOGAS ◽  
Efthimios ZERVAS ◽  
◽  
...  

The scope of the study is to detect spatial changes in the forested areas over six decades (1945 - 2010) of two completely different landscapes in Greece (pilot areas). The first pilot area is Kastoria which is a relatively remote and mountainous area located northwestern on the Greek peninsula, while the second one is Propontida which is a coastal area in the Chalkidiki peninsula (central Macedonia, Greece). High resolution orthorectified aerial images are used to detect the general types (classes) of land use/land cover (LULC) in these pilot areas. The results reveal that during the examined period, a notable spatial growth and thickening of the forest areas was found (10,51%) in the pilot area of Kastoria. The spatial homogeneity of the forested areas in Kastoria decreased only by 2,11%. Regarding Propontida, the forested areas decreased in total about 13,02% while the agricultural and arable land has increased by 12,10%.


2019 ◽  
Vol 268 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Schmidt ◽  
Gunnar Lischeid ◽  
Claas Nendel
Keyword(s):  

2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (11) ◽  
pp. 1368 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Bakker ◽  
G. J. Hamilton ◽  
D. J. Houlbrooke ◽  
C. Spann ◽  
A. Van Burgel

Waterlogging of duplex soils in Western Australia has long been recognised as a major constraint to the production of agricultural crops and pastures. The work described in this paper examines the application of raised beds to arable land that is frequently waterlogged for the production of crops such as wheat, barley, field peas, lupins and canola. Raised beds are 138 cm wide, seed beds separated by 45 cm wide furrows 183 cm apart. These beds were made with a commercial bed former. Seven sites were selected across the south-eastern wheat belt of Western Australia with the experimental areas varying in size from 10 to 57 ha. These large sites were used to accommodate commercial farm machinery. Each site had raised beds formed with a commercial bedformer. The production from the bedded areas was compared with crops grown conventionally on flat ground under minimum tillage as the control. The experiments were established in 1997 and 1998 and the sites were monitored for a maximum of 5 years. In 11 of the 28 site-years of the experiments, grain yields on the raised beds were statistically significantly higher than the yield from crops grown on the control, with an average yield increase of 0.48 t/ha. Across the whole dataset, growing crops on raised beds did not produce significantly lower yields. Below average rainfall was received for much of the experimental period at several sites. Growing season rainfall had a large effect on grain yield and high rainfall over a period of 40 days after seeding significantly increased the grain yield difference between the raised bed and the control. These data indicate that the use of raised beds lead to higher grain yields when seasonal conditions are appropriate.


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