Soil Rehabilitation Promotes Resilient Microbiome with Enriched Keystone Taxa than Agricultural Infestation in Barren Soils on the Loess Plateau

Drylands provide crucial ecosystem and economic services across the globe. In barren drylands, keystone taxa drive microbial structure and functioning in soil environments. In the current study, the Chinese Loess plateau’s agricultural (AL) and twenty-year-old rehabilitated lands (RL) provided a unique opportunity to investigate land-use-mediated effects on barren soil keystone bacterial and fungal taxa. Therefore, soils from eighteen sites were collected for metagenomic sequencing of bacteria specific 16S rRNA and fungi specific ITS2 regions, respectively, and to conduct molecular ecological networks and construct microbial OTU-based correlation matrices. In RL soils we found a more complex bacterial network represented by a higher number of nodes and links, with a link percentage of 77%, and a lower number of nodes and links for OTU-based fungal networks compared to the AL soils. A higher number of keystone taxa was observed in the RL (66) than in the AL (49) soils, and microbial network connectivity was positively influenced by soil total nitrogen and microbial biomass carbon contents. Our results indicate that plant restoration and the reduced human interventions in RL soils could guide the development of a better-connected microbial network and ensure sufficient nutrient circulation in barren soils on the Loess plateau.

Op onvruchtbare bodem?

On barren soil? Early nature reserves of Natuurmonumenten and the Dutch landscape In 1905, Natuurmonumenten (Natural Monuments Society), a Dutch NGO for nature conservation, was founded. The society aimed to preserve some uncultivated lands, such as heathlands, fens, peat bogs but also forests, which were under threat of cultivation and reclamation. Natuurmonumenten managed to acquire a number of nature reserves in the years 1905-1940 for scientific, recreational and aesthetic reasons. In this article, this collection is analyzed and compared to the reserves of other Dutch nature conservation organizations in the same period. Although Natuurmonumenten acquired mainly barren soils, it turned out to be a fruitful start of a nature preservation organization that operated nationwide, and established a strong network within Dutch society.

Study of Potassium and Sodium content of Mahad-Raigad Tertiary Soil by Flame Photometry

The present study is devoted to determine the content of K, Na, pH of soil samples collected from Mahad tehsil territory. Elements leached from the deposits of the fertilizers have been accumulated in soil, thus constituting to soil pollution index. Focusing this study was carried out to compare out the nutrient contents of barren soil and Rice field soil in Mahad tehsil tertiary, by Flame photometry analysis.

Monitoring of Land Use–Land Cover Change and Potential Causal Factors of Climate Change in Jhelum District, Punjab, Pakistan, through GIS and Multi-Temporal Satellite Data

Land use–land cover (LULC) alteration is primarily associated with land degradation, especially in recent decades, and has resulted in various harmful changes in the landscape. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) has the prospective capacity to classify the vegetative characteristics of many ecological areas and has proven itself useful as a remote sensing (RS) tool in recording vegetative phenological aspects. Likewise, the normalized difference built-up index (NDBI) is used for quoting built-up areas. The current research objectives include identification of LULC, NDVI, and NDBI changes in Jhelum District, Punjab, Pakistan, during the last 30 years (1990–2020). This study targeted five major LULC classes: water channels, built-up area, barren land, forest, and cultivated land. Satellite imagery classification tools were used to identify LULC changes in Jhelum District, northern Punjab, Pakistan. The perception data about the environmental variations as conveyed by the 500 participants (mainly farmers) were also recorded and analyzed. The results depict that the majority of farmers (54%) believe in the appearance of more drastic changes such as less rainfall, drought, and decreased water availability for irrigation during 2020 compared to 30 years prior. Overall accuracy assessment of imagery classification was 83.2% and 88.8% for 1990, 88.1% and 85.7% for 2000, 86.5% and 86.7% for 2010, and 85.6% and 87.3% for 2020. The NDVI for Jhelum District was the highest in 1990 at +0.86 and the lowest in 2020 at +0.32; similarly, NDBI values were the highest in 2020 at +0.72 and the lowest in 1990 at −0.36. LULC change showed a clear association with temperature, NDBI, and NDVI in the study area. At the same time, variations in the land area of barren soil, vegetation, and built-up from 1990 to 2020 were quite prominent, possibly resulting in temperature increases, reduction in water for irrigation, and changing rainfall patterns. Farmers were found to be quite responsive to such climatic variations, diverting to framing possible mitigation approaches, but they need government assistance. The findings of this study, especially the causes and impacts of rapid LULC variations in the study area, need immediate attention from related government departments and policy makers.

Modeling habitat suitability of vulnerable Mollucan Babirusa Babyrousa babyrussa in small island of Buru, Indonesia

Babirusa is a mammal belongs to Suidae family. This mammal belongs to Babyrousa genus is known endemic to Indonesia. Recently there are 3 species of Babyrousa, one species is Babyrousa babyrussa, listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Babyrousa occurs in Indonesia on Sulawesi island, Togian, Sula islands, and Taliabu, Mangole and Buru islands in the Molucca regions. The Moluccan Babirusa is now restricted to upland forests and mountainous terrain. Then this study aims to assess the suitability of Buru island as habitat for Moluccan Babirusa. The suitability analysis was based on GIS analysis using 4 determinant environmental variables required by B. babyrussa species including NDVI, barren soil, elevation, and river network. The particular location was a Batabual landscape sizing 292.60 km2 located in the east parts of Buru island. Based on NDVI, less vegetation covers were observed in north and east parts of Batabual. In contrast, NDVI values were higher in the central, west, and south indicating that half of the landscape was covered by intact primary forest. Batabual has a hilly landscape surrounded by coastal areas with hilly areas were observed in the south and west. There were 2 river streams in the east parts. The analysis has divided the landscape into several parts based on the habitat suitability levels. About one third of the landscape located in north was considered less and not suitable for Babirusa. Some areas in west were also considered moderate to be inhabited by Babirusa considering a presence of hilly landscape that may limit the vertical distribution of Babirusa. Most suitable habitats were estimated in central parts of the landscape spanning to the south. South parts of the landscape were characterized by high NDVI values and forest covers then these areas were considered as suitable habitats for Babirusa. The size of this suitable habitat was estimated around 188.62 km2 or more than half of the size (64.46%) of Batabual landscape.

INFLUENCE OF HARVEST TIME OF WINTER WHEAT VARIETIES TO THE GRAIN YIELDS IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE SOUTHERN REGION

This article describes the differences of winter wheat "Selyanka", "Jayhun", "Krasnadarskaya-99" and "Turkiston" in the conditions of ancient irrigated, grazing light gray and barren soils of Kashkadarya region. the Turkestan variety was observed on May 14, May 22, June 8, respectively, while the phase was observed on May 21 and the full ripening phase on June 7; Krasnadarskaya-99 variety matured on May 16, May 24, June 10 and Jayhun variety on May 18, May 26, June 12, or the Turkestan variety growing season was 1 day, Krasnadarskaya-99 variety ripened for 3 days and Jayhun variety ripened 5 days later than Selekta. Turkestan and Krasnadarskaya-99 varieties of winter wheat and Selyanka and Jayhun varieties of winter wheat in the conditions of high irrigated soils, when the harvest period reaches the stage of full ripening on June 5-7 in the conditions of light gray soils grazing in order to obtain high and quality harvests of winter wheat. June 7-12 to reap the full maturity stage, when the impact of information. KEYWORDS – previously irrigated, grazing light gray soil, barren soil, winter wheat varieties “Selyanka”, “Jayhun”, “Krasnadarskaya-99” and “Turkiston”, harvest dates, grain harvest of winter wheat.

INFLUENCE OF HARVEST TIME OF WINTER WHEAT VARIETIES TO THE GRAIN YIELDS IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE SOUTHERN REGION

This article describes the differences of winter wheat "Selyanka", "Jayhun", "Krasnadarskaya-99" and "Turkiston" in the conditions of ancient irrigated, grazing light gray and barren soils of Kashkadarya region. the Turkestan variety was observed on May 14, May 22, June 8, respectively, while the phase was observed on May 21 and the full ripening phase on June 7; Krasnadarskaya-99 variety matured on May 16, May 24, June 10 and Jayhun variety on May 18, May 26, June 12, or the Turkestan variety growing season was 1 day, Krasnadarskaya-99 variety ripened for 3 days and Jayhun variety ripened 5 days later than Selekta. Turkestan and Krasnadarskaya-99 varieties of winter wheat and Selyanka and Jayhun varieties of winter wheat in the conditions of high irrigated soils, when the harvest period reaches the stage of full ripening on June 5-7 in the conditions of light gray soils grazing in order to obtain high and quality harvests of winter wheat. June 7-12 to reap the full maturity stage, when the impact of information. KEYWORDS – previously irrigated, grazing light gray soil, barren soil, winter wheat varieties “Selyanka”, “Jayhun”, “Krasnadarskaya-99” and “Turkiston”, harvest dates, grain harvest of winter wheat.

CHANGE DETECTION AND GIS-BASED FUZZY AHP TO EVALUATE THE DEGRADATION AND RECLAMATION LAND OF TIKRIT CITY, IRAQ

LULC factors in Tikrit city (Iraq) and the neighboring municipalities are studied among 1989, 2002 and 2015 using various techniques of remote sensing, geographical information system (GIS), and fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP). Satellite imagery with GIS helped to assess the standard LULC changes in the long term period. FAHP permitted estimating the importance of various LULC by determination of the suitable weight for used factors and then producing the evaluating models. Using different techniques, two models were created (1) to estimate the degradation of the land (2) is generated to determine the reclamation of the area. The finding reveals that the a overall accuracy of 97.0939%, 98.9199% and 99.5817% or 1989, 2002 and 2015 respectively. The outcomes also revealed that urban, vegetation, and water features area are developed in the long term (1989–2015) about 4.35%, 4.28%, and 1.49%, respectively, while barren area is reduced about 5.57%.The degradation map index showed that the lands strongly debased are these converted from vegetation to barren, followed by moderate to high these changed from water areas to urban, while moderate degradation is noticed of urban transformed to barren soil. Contrary, the reclamation map index illustrated that the lands are powerfully transformed from barren to the vegetation and followed by those converted from barren to the water, while barren transformed to the urban is marked as moderate reclamation. The transformation from urban to vegetation or water was classified as the low and deficient class to evaluate the area. The study is also revealed that the integration of remote sensing and GIS produces a successful method for LULC monitoring and managing the environment.

Activation of soil enzymes by addition of artificial root exudate combinations

<p>In vegetated soils,plants naturally release root exudates, consisting of sugars, organic acids, and amino acids, into the soil increasing soil enzymatic activity.  Liberty State Park, located in Jersey City, New Jersey, is an industrial brownfield contaminated with heavy metals and organic pollutants.  Some sites have soils that function poorly, as indicated by low soil enzymatic activity, and do not support plant growth.  This study will determine whether different combinations of artificial root exudates increase soil enzymatic activity in these contaminated and low functioning soils. Different combinations of sugars, organic acids, and amino acids and will be added to barren, poorly functioning soil.  Three soil enzymatic activities will be examined at several time points over 120 days to assess the impacts of different combinations of root exudates on soil function. Further, soil microbial community composition will be determined to examine whether different artificial exudate solutions result in changes in soil microbial community.  Preliminary results suggest that the combination of sugars, organic acids, and amino acids greatly increased phosphatase, cellobiohydrolase, and L-leucine amino peptidase activity over time in poorly-functioning, barren soil from Liberty State Park. The other combinations (sugars and organic acids, sugars and amino acids, organic acids and amino acids) also increase the three enzyme activities more than the individual groups. Dormant microbes in barren soil can possibly be revived with the addition of artificial root exudates to mimic the presence of plants in revitalizing the microbial communities and improving soil function. </p>