Determination of solute leaching potential within a hummocky agricultural landscape

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (5) ◽  
pp. 541-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Thibodeau ◽  
L G Fuller ◽  
D S Chanasyk
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Soil Classification ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Soil Horizon ◽  
Leaching Potential ◽  
Potential Index ◽  
Curvature Measurements

Leaching of water-soluble contaminants has resulted in degradation of groundwater quality. This research project examined the long-term spatial variability of leaching processes within two hummocky, agricultural landscapes near Bittern Lake, in central Alberta. Analysing the distribution of soil profiles within a landscape, we created a leaching potential index based on a soil profile index (SPI) and plan curvature measurements. The index accurately differentiated locations of very high and high leaching potential from low and very low leaching potential. This index may become a useful tool to determine the variability of leaching within an agricultural landscape, to identify areas of high leaching potential, to determine agricultural best management practices, and to minimize contamination of groundwater. Key words: Soil-landscape, soil horizon, soil classification, sulphate, electrical conductivity, leaching

Interactive role of topography and best management practices on N2O emissions from agricultural landscape

2021 ◽  
Vol 212 ◽  
pp. 105063
Author(s):  
Waqar Ashiq ◽  
Hiteshkumar Vasava ◽  
Mumtaz Cheema ◽  
Kari Dunfield ◽  
Prasad Daggupati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Best Management

scholarly journals Impact of Shelterbelt and Peatland Barriers on Agricultural Landscape Groundwater: Carbon and Nitrogen Compounds Removal Efficiency

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1972
Author(s):  
Marek Szczepański ◽  
Lech W. Szajdak ◽  
Teresa Meysner
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
High Water ◽  
Agricultural Runoff ◽  
Water Quality Regulations ◽  
The Many ◽  
Agricultural Areas

In the context of declining water quality, the threat of nonpoint source pollution (NSP) to aquatic habitats and species is a well-recognized phenomenon. The recognition of NSP continues to grow as legal regulatory practices as well as public and scientific awareness of this source of pollution increase. Agricultural runoff from farms and fields often contains various contaminants such as pesticides, fertilizers, pathogens, sediments, salts, trace metals, and substances that contribute to changes in biological oxygen demand. Farmers and growers releasing agricultural runoff are increasingly required to implement water-quality regulations and management practices to reduce NSP. Constructed or restored shelterbelts and natural peatlands can be two of the many best management practices farmers can use to address this problem. We compared the barrier efficiency of the agricultural landscape elements, i.e., a shelterbelt of various plant compositions and a peatland, to control the spread of NSP in groundwater between ecosystems. In agricultural areas with high water tables, biogeochemical barriers in the form of shelterbelts and peatlands can remove or retain many groundwater pollutants from agricultural runoff with careful planning and management.

scholarly journals Assessment of the Environmental Risk of Pesticides Leaching at the Watershed Scale under Arid Climatic Conditions and Low Recharge Rates

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 418
Author(s):  
Hesham M. Ibrahim ◽  
Ali M. Al-Turki
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Pollution ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Attenuation Factor ◽  
Recharge Rate ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Entire Area ◽  
Leaching Potential ◽  
Recharge Rates

The assessment of the vulnerability of soil and groundwater resources to pesticide contamination is important to reduce the risk of environmental pollution. The applicability of the expanded attenuation factor (EAF) to assess leaching potential of 30 pesticides was investigated under four recharge rates (0.0003–0.002 m d−1) in the arid environment of the Jazan watershed. EAF results revealed that Picloram, Carbofuran, Monocrotophos, and 2,4-D pesticides showed high leaching potential, mainly because of their low K O C , and relatively longer t 1 / 2 . In addition, medium leaching potential was observed with six more pesticides (Atrazine, Aldicarb, Simazine, Methomyl, Oxamyl, and Lindane). Regardless of the recharge rate, all other pesticides showed a very low leaching potential in the Jazan watershed. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the output of the EAF index is most sensitive to the fraction of organic carbon ( f o c ) , water content at field capacity ( θ F C   ) , recharge rate ( q ) , and partition coefficient ( K O C ) , and least sensitive to soil bulk density ( ρ b ) and air-filled porosity ( n a ). The areal extent of areas with larger leaching potential in the Jazan watershed was consistent with soils having f o c < 0.3, θ F C   > 10 m3 m−3, and ρ b < 1450 kg m−3, and were mostly associated with the loamy sand soils, followed by the sand and silt loam soils. EAF index model performed well in assessing relative rankings of leaching potential and delineating areas that are more susceptible to pesticide leaching. At the lowest recharge rate, general risk maps showed that the risk of leaching potential was very low for all pesticides in the entire area of the Jazan watershed. On the other hand, under the worst case scenario (0.002 m d−1), only Picloram and Carbofuran showed very high leaching potential in areas that represented 10.8 and 8.2% from the total area of the Jazan watershed, respectively. The information gained from this research can help farmers and decision-makers to implement regulations and best management practices to reduce the risk of environmental pollution, and protect soil and groundwater resources in Jazan watershed.

scholarly journals Landscape heterogeneity of peasant-managed agricultural matrices

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana L. Urrutia ◽  
Cecilia González-González ◽  
Emilio Mora Van Cauwelaert ◽  
Julieta A. Rosell ◽  
Luis García Barrios ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Landscape Heterogeneity ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Agricultural Matrix ◽  
Wildlife Migration ◽  
Managed Landscapes

ABSTRACTIn agricultural landscapes, management practices and other environmental and social factors shape complex agroecological matrices. In turn, the structure of such matrices impacts both agricultural activities and biodiversity conservation, for instance, by mediating wildlife migration between agricultural and habitat patches. One way to characterize a matrix, its potential role in biodiversity conservation, and how its descriptors change across different spatial scales, is characterizing heterogeneity metrics and systematically examining how such metrics change with grain size and landscape extent. However, these methods have rarely been applied to tropical, peasant-managed landscapes, even though this type of landscape occupies most of the agricultural surface in or near biodiversity hotspots. We focus on a peasant-managed agricultural landscape in Oaxaca, Mexico, for which we mapped and quantified the land-use classes and evaluated heterogeneity metrics. We also examined the response of heterogeneity metrics to changes in grain and extent scales. This allowed us to further understand the structure and conservation potential of the agroecological matrix in this type of landscape, to broadly compare this landscape with other agricultural landscapes in North America, and to recommend specific landscape metrics for different types of studies involving agricultural matrices. We conclude that this type of agricultural matrix is ideal to pursue joint agricultural and conservation strategies in an integrated landscape.

Development of soil-landscape and vegetation indicators for managing waterlogged and saline catchments

2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 245 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Fitzpatrick ◽  
J. W. Cox ◽  
B. Munday ◽  
J. F. Bourne
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Local Community ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Soil Classification ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Soil Features ◽  
Soil Landscape ◽  
Surrounding Areas ◽  
Field Indicators

The objectives of this study were to develop a systematic approach to identify important soil morphological and vegetation field indicators to better target land management in degraded landscapes in a specific region. The authors were able to link the soil-landscape features to the main soil and water processes operating within the landscape. This information was used to develop a set of field indicators (e.g. soil colour) within a user-friendly soil classification key that is linked to land use options to form the basis of a manual. It was shown that information written in this format helped farmers and regional advisers to identify options for remediation of waterlogged and saline areas and to improve planning at property and catchment scales. The authors identified a series of steps to be taken in producing the manual. Steps 1–5 describe the soil layers and construct them in toposequences, which are then used to map soil types in key surrounding areas. Steps 6–9 involve the local community in developing the manual.The paper provides an account of how manuals have been produced for 2 badly degraded areas in southern Australia (Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia; and western Victoria) and promotes the methodologies for other regions. Descriptive soil information is pictorially integrated along toposequences and applied to identify key soil features. Complex scientific processes and terminology are more simply communicated to local groups using coloured cross-sectional diagrams and photographs of soil and vegetation to overcome some of the perceived barriers to adoption of best management practices. We consider the approach should have generic application.

Roosting ecology of insectivorous bats in a tropical agricultural landscape

Mammalia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tharaka Kusuminda ◽  
Amani Mannakkara ◽  
Rajika Gamage ◽  
Bruce D. Patterson ◽  
Wipula B. Yapa
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Agricultural Pests ◽  
Roosting Ecology ◽  
Tea Plantations ◽  
Tea Production ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract Bats spend more than half of their life in roosts, where key life events transpire. Therefore the availability and selection of roosts are important to bats everywhere, and may limit their ability to exploit every habitat, including agricultural landscapes such as paddy fields, orchards and tea plantations. This study aimed to investigate the day roosts used by insectivorous bat species in tea plantations of Sri Lanka. We surveyed 18 tea plantations where we recorded a total of 44 roosts involving five families and nine species of bats (Hipposideros galeritus, Hipposideros lankadiva, Hipposideros speoris, Rhinolophus beddomei, Rhinolophus rouxii, Megaderma spasma, Pipistrellus ceylonicus, Pipistrellus coromandra and Miniopterus cf. fuliginosus). Most (26) of the recorded roosts were geomorphic, (11) were anthropogenic, and (7) were in vegetation. H. lankadiva and M. cf. fuliginosus are the only species known to roost exclusively in geomorphic roosts; all others were opportunistic. Although protecting bat roosts is crucial for their conservation, it is challenging in view of existing tea management practices. Therefore, natural roosts should be maintained and protected. The introduction of artificial roosts might increase the number of bats able to forage over tea plantations and maximize their consumption of agricultural pests, thereby increasing tea production.

scholarly journals The Role of Small Farm Activities for the Sustainable Management of Agricultural Landscapes: Case Studies from Europe

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (21) ◽  
pp. 5966 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Slámová ◽  
Ingrid Belčáková
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Landscape Types ◽  
Traditional Land Use

In Europe, a broad variety of agricultural landscape types have originated as a result of traditional farming activities and landscape diversity maintenance over centuries. The rapid development of socio-economic activities during the twentieth century caused significant loss of traditional rural landscapes. Traditional/historical European agricultural landscape types (EALs) represent a type of cultural landscape with many specific unique cultural, historical, and biodiversity patterns. Despite their high value, maintenance in practice is lacking. European farmers and landowners need to learn how to implement innovative multifunctional farming techniques within these landscapes. An online interactive educational tool of the ERASMUS+ FEAL project (FEAL: multifunctional Farming for the sustainability of European Agricultural Landscapes) deals with these topics. Case studies from the FEAL project showed the best examples of sustainable agricultural management practices in different types of EALs. The aim of this article was to evaluate case studies within coordination of information on the environment (CORINE) Land Cover (CLC) 2012 classes representing traditional land use forms, nature and landscape protection areas, and ecologically important areas, as well as High Nature Value (HNV) farmland. Results based on 28 case studies from five European countries interpreted the positive external effects of farms on values of EALs. A prevailing number of farms exhibited a coincidence between CLC 2012 classes with traditional land use forms and HNV farmland and protected areas. Regarding land cover classes with traditional land use forms, key words selected by farmers gave importance to recreation and tourism, furthering of biodiversity, direct sale, social farming, renewable energy, and traditional building. The highest frequencies of the key words were achieved in CLC 2012 classes concerning (to some degree) natural and semi-natural ecosystems.

scholarly journals Review of Lessons Learned in Changing Agricultural Landscapes in Ethiopia: What Worked Well and What Didn’t Work so Well?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amare Haileslassie ◽  
Wolde Mekuria ◽  
Petra schmitter ◽  
Stefan Uhlenbrook ◽  
Eva Ludi
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Management Interventions ◽  
Land And Water Management ◽  
The Impact

Ethiopia has decades of experience in implementing land and water management interventions. Nonetheless, there remains persisting challenges to follow an adaptive management (AM) approach in efforts of restoring and transforming agricultural landscapes. This review was carried out to synthesize evidences on the impact on agricultural landscapes following the implementation of land and water management practices and to evaluate the use of AM approaches. We explored how elements of the structures and functions of landscapes have been transformed, and how the components of AM, such as structured decision-making and learning processes, have been applied. Despite numerous environmental and economic benefits of land and water management interventions in Ethiopia, this review revealed gaps in AM approaches. These include: (i) insufficient efforts in relation to evidence based contextualization of interventions, (ii) insufficient efforts in monitoring of bio-physical and socio-economic processes and changes post implementation, (iii) lack of trade-off analyses, and (iv) inadequacy of local community engagement and provision of feedback. Given the many uncertainties we must deal with, efforts to restore and transform agricultural landscapes cannot follow a business-as-usual approach. Future investment, in AM approach, tailored to the needs and context would help to achieve the goals of sustainable agricultural landscape transformation. The success depends on three interdependent pillars of action: the ability to make a robust, co-developed plan of interventions, the ability to continuously monitor changes based on key variables, and to learn from the knowledge generated and apply the learning as implementation evolves.

scholarly journals Keeping Water and Nutrients in the Florida Citrus Tree Root Zone

2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas A. Obreza ◽  
Arnold Schumann
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Nutrient Use Efficiency ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Soluble Nitrogen ◽  
N Budget ◽  
Citrus Grove ◽  
Florida Citrus

Florida citrus (Citrus spp.) producers must improve water and nutrient use efficiency to remain sustainable as they face increasing urbanization, plant disease, and environmental awareness. Producers have traditionally used water-soluble nitrogen (N) and phosphorus fertilizer sources with calendar-based irrigation, but they are slowly integrating enhanced efficiency fertilizers into nutrient management plans and converting to sensor or evapotranspiration-based irrigation scheduling. Recent research has improved the understanding of the citrus grove N budget, which has led to development of appropriate best management practices (BMPs) that will maintain production while protecting the environment. BMPs that have been shown to decrease N loss to groundwater include applying the appropriate fertilizer rate, splitting fertilizer applications, converting to fertigation, and improving irrigation scheduling.

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