scholarly journals Understanding the Impact of a Major Hydro-Agricultural Project in Low Mondego Area (Portugal)

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 114
Author(s):  
Maria Cunha ◽  
João Marques ◽  
José Azevedo ◽  
Ana Castilho
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Nitrogen Sources ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Nitrogen Surplus ◽  
Nitrogen Emissions ◽  
Land Use Types ◽  
Human Interventions ◽  
Anthropogenic Nitrogen ◽  
The Impact

The Low Mondego (Baixo Mondego, in Portuguese) river basin has been considerably modified by human interventions to prevent floods and to improve agricultural conditions over recent decades. This work analyzes the main impacts arising from those interventions and the socio-economic context in which they occurred. The development and application of a framework to compute the variation of the nitrogen surplus between 1986 and 2018 in the Low Mondego watershed in the central part Portugal is presented. The nitrogen mass balances take into consideration different land use types, inputs and outputs, thereby making it possible to understand how human interventions have impacted the variation of the surplus. It is noticeable that the major nitrogen sources are related to the agricultural sector. However, factors such as the implementation of the Code of Good Agricultural Practices, as well as social conditions, and regulations to reduce nitrogen emissions to the atmosphere helped to cut the nitrogen surplus. This work shows how improving the agricultural conditions has served to increase the crop productivity in improved areas. Very particular social circumstances led to the reduction in anthropogenic nitrogen sources, which has been accompanied by a decline in the nitrogen that is exported at the river outlet.

Reactive Nitrogen Cycling in the Atmosphere and Ocean

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katye E. Altieri ◽  
Sarah E. Fawcett ◽  
Meredith G. Hastings
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Deposition ◽  
North Pacific Ocean ◽  
Open Ocean ◽  
Reactive Nitrogen ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Nitrogen Emissions ◽  
Nitrogen Inputs ◽  
Anthropogenic Nitrogen ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Anthropogenic Nitrogen Deposition

The budget of reactive nitrogen (Nr; oxidized and reduced inorganic and organic forms of nitrogen) has at least doubled since the preindustrial era due to human activities. There are significant detrimental effects of this excess Nr on many terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, although less is known about the impact on the open ocean. Nr deposition may already rival biological N2 fixation quantitatively and will likely continue to rise in the future. However, it is unclear how much of the Nr currently deposited to the ocean is external in origin. Understanding the importance of ocean Nr emissions versus external Nr deposition is key to quantifying the influence of deposition on ocean biogeochemistry and climate. This article reviews our understanding of the impacts of Nr deposition on the open ocean and the emissions of Nr from the ocean, placing particular emphasis on stable isotopes as a tool to investigate the surface ocean–lower atmosphere Nr cycle and its variations over time. ▪ The ocean has a dynamic exchange of reactive nitrogen with the atmosphere and is not just a passive recipient of nitrogen pollution from land. ▪ Tracing anthropogenic nitrogen deposition to the ocean is a challenge due to overlapping geochemical signatures with other nitrogen inputs. ▪ However, studies suggest an imprint of external (anthropogenic) nitrogen deposition in the Mediterranean Sea and North Pacific Ocean. ▪ Climate change will impact nitrogen emissions from the ocean through warming, acidification, stratification, and changes in food webs. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Volume 49 is May 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

scholarly journals Climate-smart Agricultural Practices in Agro-climatic Zones of Meghalaya: A Social Network Analysis

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Alethea Dympep ◽  
R. J. Singh ◽  
L. Hemochandra ◽  
R. Singh
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Climatic Zones ◽  
Farming Community ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Impact

Aims: To understand the flow of information of Climate Smart Agricultural (CSA) practices among the farmers, the factors that impede this flow and the impact of the social network on adapting CSA practices. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in hilly state, Meghalaya, India between August 2016 and April 2017. Methodology: A sample of 120 farmers was selected from agriculturally vulnerable villages to climate change by snowball sampling. The villages were selected from two Agro-climatic zones (ACZs) of the state, Meghalaya. UCINET software was utilised for analysing the Social Network Analysis (SNA) of the community with the performance index used to measure the impact in adopting CSA practices. Results: The network centralization index obtained in Tropical ACZ was relatively high (0.63) depicting a fragile social network as farmers relied on certain central actors for information and if these actors were to be removed, many farmers would be left isolated. However, in Sub-tropical ACZ, a low index (0.37) was attained implying that farmers had maximum connections in the network. Very low cohesion density measures (<0.05) was obtained in both the ACZs portraying a slow rate of diffusion of information on CSA in the farming community. Further, the homophily index of SNA indicated that the farmers tend to associate more with other farmers having similar socio-economic characteristics. The impact of the social networks in both of the ACZs were highest (68.30%) under low, and (63.30%) under the medium adoption levels of CSA practices in Tropical and Sub-tropical ACZs. Conclusion: Hence improving access to climate information is an important step to improve the livelihood of people in such variable conditions. With a better understanding of the social factors that influence the flow of knowledge and the adoption of CSA practices in the agricultural sector, researchers and policy makers could be able to identify and reduce barriers to technology diffusion and adoption.

scholarly journals Climate Variability on Growing Season Rainfall and Temperature: its impact on sustainable agriculture in Imo State, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajiere S
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Moving Average ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Imo State ◽  
Recent Trends ◽  
Rural Dwellers ◽  
The Impact

Rainfall and Temperature are important factors in agriculture especially in Nigeria where rain-fed agriculture is practiced extensively and agriculture contributes to food security and provides employment for urban and rural dwellers. Therefore, climate variability poses a big threat to agriculture by altering the growing season rainfall and temperature, thereby resulting to serious danger in the sustainability of food. This is why all nations of the world are concerned about the effects of climate variability on agriculture. This work therefore, examined the impact of climate variability on growing season rainfall and temperature in Imo State, South Eastern Nigeria. The rainfall and temperature data were obtained from Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) for a period of 30 years which was analyzed using descriptive statistics, decadal distribution, trend graph anomalies and 5 year moving average. The analysis showed increasing trend in annual mean maximum, minimum temperature and decrease in mean rainfall, The third order polynomial trend shows a decrease in the anomaly of annual mean rainfall (y = -0.0002x4) and a persistent increase in the mean temperature anomaly especially in the second decade (1996-2007).The findings show that there is a notable variability in the pattern of rainfall and temperature which revealed  an  increase in temperature and decrease in growing season rainfall. This calls for serious attention as people in this part of Nigeria critically depend on rainfall for agricultural practices. It is recommended that government should support the agricultural sector by providing mechanized farming systems such as irrigation and drilling of water borehole in farm sites for agriculture, especially for the rural farmers and create awareness to the farmers on recent trends in climate issues to achieve sustainability of food.

scholarly journals Estimation of Crop Production and CO2 Fluxes Using Remote Sensing: Application to a Winter Wheat/Sunflower Rotation

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Gaétan Pique ◽  
Taeken Wijmert ◽  
Rémy Fieuzal ◽  
Eric Ceschia
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Co2 Flux ◽  
Co2 Fluxes ◽  
Food Needs ◽  
The Impact

To meet the incoming growth of the world’s food needs, and the demands of climate change, the agricultural sector will be forced to adapt its practices. To do so, the contribution of agricultural fields to greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the impact—on soil, climate and productions—of certain agricultural practices have to be known. In this study, the SAFY-CO2 crop model is driven by remote sensing products in order to estimate CO2 fluxes on the main crop rotation observed in the study area, i.e., winter wheat followed by sunflower. Different modeling scenarios are tested, particularly for intercropping periods, the approach being validated locally, thanks to eddy covariance flux measurements, and then applied regionally. Results showed that the model was able to reproduce crop production with high accuracy (rRMSE of 21% and 24% for winter wheat and sunflower yield, respectively) as well as daily net CO2 flux (RMSE of 1.29 and 0.97 gC.m−2.d−1 for winter wheat and sunflower respectively). Moreover, the tested modeling scenarios highlight the importance of taking the regrowth events into account for assessing accurate carbon budgets. In a perspective of large-scale application, the model was upscaled over more than 100 plots, allowing discussion of the effect of regrowth on carbon uptake.

DAMPAK KEBIJAKAN FISKAL TERHADAP KINERJA SEKTOR PERTANIAN DI SULAWESI TENGGARA

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
La Ode Jabuddin ◽  
Ayub M Padangaran ◽  
Azhar Bafadal Bafadal
Keyword(s):  
Fiscal Policy ◽  
Interest Rates ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Simultaneous Equations ◽  
Poor People ◽  
Land Area ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Historical Simulation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Direct Expenditure

This study aims to: (1) Knowing the dynamics of fiscal policy and the performance of the agricultural sector, (2) Analyze the factors that influence fiscal policy and the performance                   of the agricultural sector, and (3) Analyzing the impact of fiscal policy on the performance of the agricultural sector. The data used in this study were pooled 2005-2013 data in the aggregate. Econometric model the impact of fiscal policy on the performance of the agricultural sector is built in the form of simultaneous equations, consisting of 7 equations with 25 total variables in the model, 7 endogenous variables, 12 exogenous variables, and 6 variables lag. The model is estimated by 2SLS method SYSLIN procedures and historical simulation with SIMNLIN procedure.The results showed that: (1) The development of fiscal policy in Southeast Sulawesi from year to year tends to increase, (2) The performance of the agricultural sector from the aspect of GDP has decreased, from the aspect of labor is still consistent, in terms of investment to grow positively, and assign roles which means to decrease the number of poor people, (3) factors affecting fiscal policy is local revenues, equalization funds, other revenues, as well as the lag fiscal policy, (4) the factors that affect the performance of the agricultural sector from the aspect GDP is labor, direct expenditure and GDP lag; from the aspect of labor is the total labor force, investment, land area, direct expenditure, as well as the lag of labor; from the aspect of investment is influenced by GDP per capita, land area, interest rates and investment lag; as well as from the aspect of poor people, are affected by population, investments, direct expenditure and poverty lag, (5). Fiscal policy impact on the agricultural sector GDP increase, a decrease in the number of poor, declining agricultural laborers, and a decrease in the amount of investment in the agricultural sector.Keywords: Fiscal policy, the performance of the agricultural sector, the simultaneous equations

Comparative Advantage of Using Biopesticides in Ukrainian Agroecosystems

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasrat Arjjumend ◽  
Konstantia Koutouki ◽  
Olga Donets
Keyword(s):  
Shelf Life ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Plant Protection ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Soil Biology ◽  
Chemical Contamination ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Irreversible Damage

The use of unsustainable levels of chemical fertilizers and plant protection chemicals has resulted in a steady decline in soil and crop productivity the world over. Soil biology has undergone irreversible damage, coupled with a high concentration of toxic chemical residues in plant tissues and human bodies. Agricultural practices must evolve to sustainably meet the growing global demand for food without irreversibly damaging soil. Microbial biocontrol agents have tremendous potential to bring sustainability to agriculture in a way that is safe for the environment. Biopesticides do not kill non-target insects, and biosafety is ensured because biopesticides act as antidotes and do not lead to chemical contamination in the soil. This article is part of a larger study conducted in Ukraine by researchers at the Université de Montréal with the support of Mitacs and Earth Alive Clean Technologies. The responses of farmers who use biofertilizers (“user farmers”) and those who do not (“non-user farmers”), along with the responses of manufacturers or suppliers of biofertilizers, and research and development (R&D) scientists are captured to demonstrate the advantages of applying microbial biopesticides to field crops. Participants reported a 15-30% increase in yields and crop production after the application of biopesticides. With the use of biopesticides, farmers cultivated better quality fruits, grains, and tubers with a longer shelf life. Moreover, while the risk of crop loss remains high (60-70%) with chemically grown crops, this risk is reduced to 33% on average if crops are grown using biopesticides. The findings indicate that a large proportion of farmers would prefer to use biopesticides if they are effective and high quality products. In this context, the quality and effectiveness of products is therefore very important. Despite their benefits to soil, human health, and ecosystems, biopesticides face significant challenges and competition vis-à-vis synthetic pesticides for a variety of reasons. Therefore, the development of biopesticides must overcome the problems of poor quality products, short shelf life, delayed action, high market costs, and legal/registration issues.

Influence of long-term fertilization on soil microbial biomass and dehydrogenase activity in relation to crop productivity in an acid Inceptisols

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 305-311
Author(s):  
Debasis Purohit ◽  
Mitali Mandal ◽  
Avisek Dash ◽  
Kumbha Karna Rout ◽  
Narayan Panda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Dehydrogenase Activity ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Maturity Stage ◽  
Microbial Biomass Nitrogen ◽  
Biological Potential ◽  
Initiation Stage ◽  
The Impact

An effective approach for improving nutrient use efficiency and crop productivity simultaneously through exploitation of biological potential for efficient acquisition and utilization of nutrients by crops is very much needed in this current era. Thus, an attempt is made here to investigate the impact of long term fertilization in the soil ecology in rice-rice cropping system in post kharif - 2015 in flooded tropical rice (Oryza sativa L.) in an acidic sandy soil. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with quadruplicated treatments. Soil samples at different growth stages of rice were collected from long term fertilizer experiment.The studied long-term manured treatments included 100 % N, 100% NP, 100 % NPK, 150 % NPK and 100 % NPK+FYM (5 t ha-1) and an unmanured control. Soil fertility status like SOC content and other available nutrient content has decreased continuously towards the crop growth period. Comparing the results of different treatments, it was found that the application of 100% NPK + FYM exhibited highest nutrient content in soils. With regards to microbial properties it was also observed that the amount of microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial biomass nitrogen ( MBN) showed highest accumulation in 100 % NPK + FYM at maximum tillering stage of the rice. The results further reveal that dehydrogenase activity was maximum at panicle initiation stage and thereafter it decreases. Soil organic carbon content, MBC, MBN and dehydrogenase activity were significantly correlated with each other. Significant correlations were observed between rice yield and MBC at maturity stage( R2 = 0.94**) and panicle initiation stage( R2 = 0.92**) and available nitrogen content at maturity stage( R2 = 0.91**).

THE IMPACT OF DIFFERENT URBAN LAND USE TYPES ON AIR POLLUTION IN THE MEGACITY OF SÃO PAULO

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 91
Author(s):  
Júlio Barboza Chiquetto ◽  
Maria Elisa Siqueira Silva ◽  
Rita Yuri Ynoue ◽  
Flávia Noronha Dutra Ribieiro ◽  
Débora Souza Alvim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Urban Land ◽  
Sao Paulo ◽  
Urban Land Use ◽  
São Paulo ◽  
Land Use Types ◽  
The Impact

A poluição do ar é influenciada por fatores naturais e antropogênicos. Quatro pontos de monitoramento (veicular, comercial, residencial e background urbano (BGU))da poluição do ar em São Paulo foram avaliados durante 16 anos, revelando diferenças significativas devidoao uso do solo em todas as escalas temporais. Na escala diurna, as concentrações de poluentes primários são duas vezes mais altas nos pontos veicular e residencial do que no ponto BGU, onde a concentração de ozonio (O3) é 50% mais alta. Na escala sazonal, as concentrações de monóxido de carbono(CO) variaram em 80% devido ao uso do solo, e 55% pela sazonalidade.As variações sazonais ede uso do solo exercem impactos similares nas concentrações de O3 e monóxido de nitrogênio (NO). Para o material particulado grosso (MP10) e o dióxido de nitrogênio(NO2), as variações sazonais são mais intensas do que as por uso do solo. Na série temporal de 16 anos, o ponto BGU apresentou correlações mais fortes e significativas entre a média mensal de ondas longas (ROL) e o O3 (0,48) e o MP10 (0,37), comparadas ao ponto veicular (0,33 e 0,22, respectivamente). Estes resultados confirmam que o uso do solo urbano tem um papel significativo na concentração de poluentes em todas as escalas de análise, embora a sua influência se torne menos pronunciada em escalas maiores, conforme a qualidade do ar transita de um sistema antropogênico para um sistema natural. Isto poderá auxiliar decisões sobre políticas públicas em megacidades envolvendo a modificação do uso do solo.

A Macroeconomic Analysis of Agricultural Sector in Nigeria

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-25
Author(s):  
Isah Funtua Abubakar ◽  
Umar Bambale Ibrahim
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Time Series Data ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Size Analysis ◽  
The Real ◽  
Real Gdp ◽  
The Impact

This paper attempts to study the Nigerian agriculture industry as a panacea to growth as well as an anchor to the diversification agenda of the present government. To do this, the time series data of the four agriculture subsectors of crop production, livestock, forestry and fishery were analysed as stimulus to the Real GDP from 1981-2016 in order to explicate the individual contributions of the subsectors to the RGDP in order to guide the policy thrust on diversification. Using the Johansen approach to cointegration, all the variables were found to be cointegrated. With the exception of the forestry subsector, all the three subsectors were seen to have impacted on the real GDP at varying degrees during the time under review. The crop production subsector has the highest impact, however, taking size-by-size analysis, the livestock subsector could be of much importance due to its ability to retain its value chain and high investment returns particularly in poultry. Therefore, it is recommended that, the government should intensify efforts to retain the value chain in the crop production subsector, in order to harness its potentials optimally through the encouragement of the establishment of agriculture cottage industries. Secondly, the livestock subsector is found to be the most rapidly growing and commercialized subsector. Therefore, it should be the prime subsector to hinge the diversification agenda naturally. Lastly, the tourism industry which is a source through which the impact of the subsector is channeled to the GDP should be developed, in order to improve the impact of such channel to GDP with the sole objective to resuscitate the forestry subsector.

scholarly journals Drought and Salinity in Citriculture: Optimal Practices to Alleviate Salinity and Water Stress

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1283
Author(s):  
Vasileios Ziogas ◽  
Georgia Tanou ◽  
Giasemi Morianou ◽  
Nektarios Kourgialas
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Review Paper ◽  
Cell Metabolism ◽  
High Water ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Fruit Tree ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Negative Effect

Among the various abiotic stresses, drought is the major factor limiting crop productivity worldwide. Citrus has been recognized as a fruit tree crop group of great importance to the global agricultural sector since there are 140 citrus-producing countries worldwide. The majority of citrus-producing areas are subjected to dry and hot summer weather, limited availability of water resources with parallel low-quality irrigation water due to increased salinity regimes. Citrus trees are generally classified as “salt-intolerant” with high water needs, especially during summer. Water scarcity negatively affects plant growth and impairs cell metabolism, affecting the overall tree growth and the quality of produced fruit. Key factors that overall attempt to sustain and withstand the negative effect of salinity and drought stress are the extensive use of rootstocks in citriculture as well as the appropriate agronomical and irrigation practices applied. This review paper emphasizes and summarizes the crucial role of the above factors in the sustainability of citriculture.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document