scholarly journals Reversing land degradation through grasses: a systematic meta-analysis in the Indian tropics

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debashis Mandal ◽  
Pankaj Srivastava ◽  
Nishita Giri ◽  
Rajesh Kaushal ◽  
Artemi Cerda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Management ◽  
Land Degradation ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Western Himalaya ◽  
Ecological Condition ◽  
Pennisetum Purpureum ◽  
Western Ghat ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Infiltration Capacity ◽  
Grazing Land

Abstract. The present study critically analyzes the effect of grasses in reversing the process of land degradation using a systematic review. The collected information was segregated under three different land use and land management situations. Meta-analysis was applied to test the hypothesis that use of grasses reduce runoff and soil erosion. Effect of grasses was deduced for grass strip and in combination with physical structures. Similarly, the effects of grasses were analyzed in degraded pasture lands. The overall result of the meta-analysis showed that infiltration capacity increased approximately two-fold after planting grasses across the slopes in agricultural fields. Grazing land management through cut and carry system increased conservation efficiencies by 42 % and 63 % with respect to reduction in runoff and erosion, respectively. Considering comprehensive performance Index (CPI) it has been observed that hybrid napier (Pennisetum purpureum) and sambuta (Saccharum munja) seem to posses the best desirable attributes as effective grass barrier for western Himalaya and eastern Gahts while natural grass (Dicanthium annulatum) and broom grass (Thysanolaena maxima) are found to be most promising grass species for Konkan region of western Ghat and north eastern Himalayan region, respectively. In addition to these benefits, it was also observed that soil carbon loss can be reduced by 83 % with the use of grasses. Overall, efficacy for erosion control of various grasses was more than 60 % hence their selection should be based on the production potential of these grasses under given edaphic and agro-ecological condition.

scholarly journals Reversing land degradation through grasses: a systematic meta-analysis in the Indian tropics

Solid Earth ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 217-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debashis Mandal ◽  
Pankaj Srivastava ◽  
Nishita Giri ◽  
Rajesh Kaushal ◽  
Artemi Cerda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Land Management ◽  
Land Degradation ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Pennisetum Purpureum ◽  
Eastern Ghats ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Western Himalayas ◽  
Infiltration Capacity ◽  
Degraded Pasture

Abstract. Although intensive agriculture is necessary to sustain the world's growing population, accelerated soil erosion contributes to a decrease in the environmental health of ecosystems at local, regional and global scales. Reversing the process of land degradation using vegetative measures is of utmost importance in such ecosystems. The present study critically analyzes the effect of grasses in reversing the process of land degradation using a systematic review. The collected information was segregated under three different land use and land management situations. Meta-analysis was applied to test the hypothesis that the use of grasses reduces runoff and soil erosion. The effect of grasses was deduced for grass strip and in combination with physical structures. Similarly, the effects of grasses were analyzed in degraded pasture lands. The overall result of the meta-analysis showed that infiltration capacity increased approximately 2-fold after planting grasses across the slopes in agricultural fields. Grazing land management through a cut-and-carry system increased conservation efficiencies by 42 and 63 % with respect to reduction in runoff and erosion, respectively. Considering the comprehensive performance index (CPI), it has been observed that hybrid Napier (Pennisetum purpureum) and sambuta (Saccharum munja) grass seem to posses the most desirable attributes as an effective grass barrier for the western Himalayas and Eastern Ghats, while natural grass (Dichanthium annulatum) and broom grass (Thysanolaena maxima) are found to be most promising grass species for the Konkan region of the Western Ghats and the northeastern Himalayan region, respectively. In addition to these benefits, it was also observed that soil carbon loss can be reduced by 83 % with the use of grasses. Overall, efficacy for erosion control of various grasses was more than 60 %; hence, their selection should be based on the production potential of these grasses under given edaphic and agro-ecological conditions. The present analysis also indicated that grass must be used as a vegetative strip to maintain soil quality in sloppy arable areas (8.5 Mha) of Indian hilly regions. Similarly, due attention should be paid for establishing grasses in 3 Mha of degraded pasture lands and 3.5 Mha of shifting cultivation areas in India to reverse the land degradation.

scholarly journals Analyzing Factors Affecting the Sustainability of Land Management Practices in Mecha Woreda, Northwestern Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7007
Author(s):  
Habtamu Nebere ◽  
Degefa Tolossa ◽  
Amare Bantider
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Land Management ◽  
Land Degradation ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Household Heads ◽  
The Impact

In Ethiopia, the practice of land management started three decades ago in order to address the problem of land degradation and to further boost agricultural production. However, the impact of land management practices in curbing land degradation problems and improving the productivity of the agricultural sector is insignificant. Various empirical works have previously identified the determinants of the adoption rate of land management practices. However, the sustainability of land management practices after adoption, and the various factors that control the sustainability of implemented land management practices, are not well addressed. This study analyzed the factors affecting the sustainability of land management practices after implementation in Mecha Woreda, northwestern Ethiopia. The study used 378 sample respondents, selected by a systematic random sampling technique. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the quantitative data, while the qualitative data were qualitatively and concurrently analyzed with the quantitative data. The sustained supply of fodder from the implemented land management practices, as well as improved cattle breed, increases the sustainability of the implemented land management practices. While lack of agreement in the community, lack of enforcing community bylaws, open cattle grazing, lack of benefits of implemented land management practices, acting as barrier for farming practices, poor participation of household heads during planning and decision-making processes, as well as the lack of short-term benefits, reduce the sustainability of the implemented land management practices. Thus, it is better to allow for the full participation of household heads in planning and decision-making processes to bring practical and visible results in land management practices. In addition, recognizing short-term benefits to compensate the land lost in constructing land management structures must be the strategy in land management practices. Finally, reducing the number of cattle and practicing stall feeding is helpful both for the sustainability of land management practices and the productivity of cattle. In line with this, fast-growing fodder grass species have to be introduced for household heads to grow on land management structures and communal grazing fields for stall feeding.

A meta-analysis of the effects of land management practices and land uses on soil loss in Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 322 ◽  
pp. 107635
Author(s):  
Gizaw Desta ◽  
Wuletawu Abera ◽  
Lulseged Tamene ◽  
Tilahun Amede
Keyword(s):  
Land Management ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Land Uses

Rottboellia husainii (Poaceae: Andropogoneae), a new grass species from Western Himalaya, India

Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 507 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-104
Author(s):  
SHAILJA TRIPATHI ◽  
SHUBHAM JAISWAL ◽  
DILESHWAR PRASAD ◽  
REKHA YADAV ◽  
GAURI SAXENA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Western Himalaya ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Jammu And Kashmir ◽  
Taxonomic Key ◽  
A New Species

A new species of Rottboellia (Poaceae), R. husainii is described from Rakh Jargoh village in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The species is closely allied to R. cochinchinensis in possessing similar habit and inflorescence but differs in certain characters, which are discussed below. A detailed description, photographs and taxonomic key are provided for easy identification of the species in India.

The effects of land use change on soil infiltration capacity in China: A meta-analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 626 ◽  
pp. 1394-1401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Di Sun ◽  
Hong Yang ◽  
Dexin Guan ◽  
Ming Yang ◽  
Jiabing Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Soil Infiltration ◽  
Infiltration Capacity ◽  
Effects Of Land Use

Impacts of improved grazing land management on sediment yields, Part 1: Hillslope processes

2010 ◽  
Vol 389 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 237-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Bartley ◽  
Jeff P. Corfield ◽  
Brett N. Abbott ◽  
Aaron A. Hawdon ◽  
Scott N. Wilkinson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Management ◽  
Grazing Land ◽  
Sediment Yields ◽  
Hillslope Processes

scholarly journals GENETIC DIVERSITY OF Digitaria horizontalis Willd. IN BUILT ENVIRONMENTS IN BENIN CITY, NIGERIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-42
Author(s):  
B. Ikhajiagbe ◽  
V. D. Odenore ◽  
E. O. Umeokeke ◽  
E. S. Ahanor ◽  
O. Amadin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Pennisetum Purpureum ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Test Plant ◽  
Benin City ◽  
Band Size ◽  
Edo State ◽  
Minimum Disturbance

The influence of humans on biodiversity at the genetic, species, community, and ecosystem levels is enormous. This is even more impactful on plant populations, which, being immobile, are at the mercy of their immediate environment. Digitaria horizontalis is a very common grass species in Benin City. Its ruderal nature accounts mostly for its widespread. The current study investigated the existence of possible genetic diversity of the grass in built environment in Benin City. Plant samples were randomly collected from 21 built environment locations within 6 Local Government Council Areas that make up Benin City. Test plants were allowed to acclimatize in experimental bowls and then allowed to grow for 4 weeks after which morphological characteristics were determined. Genetic diversity was determined by Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA. Significant differences in plant height (33.0 – 59.0 cm) occurred when plants were compared based on location of collection. Changes in patterns of the association with weeds within the vicinity of the test plant was observed. The most prevalent plant species associated with the test plant was Pennisetum purpureum with a 12.18% prevalence. RAPD analysis using primer OPA 04 revealed a locus (about 600bp) that was absent in one or more of the locations with minimum disturbance. This 600pb fragment was however observed in most samples from highly built up and trampled environments. Primer OPA 03 showed monomorphic bands in 2 test samples with a band size of 400bp. It is therefore reported that there is an existence of the genetic diversity in a landscape of grass species (Digitaria horizontalis) found in different built environment in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.

scholarly journals Detection, Identification, and Significance of Phytoplasmas in Wild Grasses in East Africa

Plant Disease ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
George O. Asudi ◽  
Johnnie Van den Berg ◽  
Charles A. O. Midega ◽  
Bernd Schneider ◽  
Erich Seemüller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
East Africa ◽  
Napier Grass ◽  
Pennisetum Purpureum ◽  
Universal Primers ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Disease Symptoms ◽  
Rdna Sequences ◽  
Northern Tanzania ◽  
White Leaf ◽  
16S Rdna Sequences

Plant-pathogenic phytoplasmas found in wild grasses in East Africa could pose a serious threat to the cultivation of Napier grass, Pennisetum purpureum, the most important livestock fodder in the region. To asses this threat, leaves from plants of 33 grass species were sampled from Mbita, Bungoma, and Busia districts in western Kenya; Tarime district in northern Tanzania; and Busia and Bugiri districts in the eastern Uganda to determine which species host phytoplasmas, the identity of the phytoplasmas, and their relationship with disease symptoms. Phytoplasmas were detected using universal primers based on conserved phytoplasma-specific 16S rDNA sequences from 11 grass species collected. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of Napier grass stunt-related phytoplasmas in 11 grass species, ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma cynodontis’ in three, and goosegrass white leaf phytoplasma in 2 wild grass species. This study showed that the geographical distribution, diversity of phytoplasmas, and their grass host species in East Africa is greater than antecedently thought and that typical disease symptoms, including white leaf or stunting alone, are not reliable indicators of the presence of phytoplasma. It also shows the need to identify insect vectors responsible for phytoplasma transmission from native grasses to Napier grass or other cereals present in the region.

Indicators of Land Degradation Vulnerability due to Anthropic Factors

2013 ◽  
pp. 1400-1413 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Imbrenda ◽  
M. D’Emilio ◽  
M. Lanfredi ◽  
M. Ragosta ◽  
T. Simoniello
Keyword(s):  
Land Management ◽  
Land Degradation ◽  
Resource Availability ◽  
Census Data ◽  
Vulnerability Index ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Accurate Estimation ◽  
Spatial Characterization ◽  
Land Cover Data ◽  
First Time

Land degradation is one of the most impacting phenomena on natural resource availability, both in quantitative and qualitative terms. In order to provide efficient tools for territorial sustainable management in areas affected by land degradation, it is important to define suitable models and indicators able to identify exposed areas and their vulnerability level, so as to provide an effective support for decision makers in identifying intervention priorities and planning mitigation/adaptation strategies. This work is focused on the evaluation at high spatial detail of land degradation vulnerability due to anthropic factors, which is a crucial issue in areas devoted to farming practices. Vulnerability is evaluated by integrating a new indicator of the mechanization level the authors recently developed, with a set of census based indicators of land management. The new indicator is independent of census data being based on land cover data; thus, it can provide a better spatial characterization and a more frequent updating compared to commonly adopted indices that are evaluated at municipal scale. By analyzing data for the whole Southern Italy, such an indicator was integrated for the first time at full spatial resolution to obtain a final vulnerability index of land management. This comprehensive index enabled a more accurate estimation of the land degradation vulnerability due to anthropic factors allowing the discrimination of priority areas within the municipal areas.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document