Agricultural Cultivation Research Articles

Input Behavior of Farmer Production Factors in the Range of Asian Elephant Distribution: Survey Data from 1264 Households in Yunnan Province, China

This article, based on the sustainable livelihood framework and survey data from 1264 households in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Puer City, and Lincang City in Yunnan Province, China, analyzes the impact mechanism of livelihood capital on the production input behavior of farmers affected by Asian elephant damage and the moderating effect of Asian elephant damage on this process using ordinary least squares (OLS) models. The study finds the following: (1) Asian elephant damage has a significant negative effect on farmers’ production input, meaning that as the severity of Asian elephant damage increases, farmers reduce their input into agricultural production factors. (2) Livelihood capital has a significant positive effect on farmers’ production input, and both the increment and stock of livelihood capital promote an increase in farmers’ production input. (3) Asian elephant damage strengthens the influence of livelihood capital on farmers’ inputs of agricultural production factors. Based on these findings, four recommendations are proposed: emphasizing the cultivation and enhancement of farmers’ livelihood capital, improving strategies for managing and preventing wildlife damage, optimizing the economic compensation mechanism for human–wildlife conflicts, and adhering to sustainable development and resource allocation. These recommendations aim to enhance wildlife conservation and management policies, strengthen farmers’ risk-coping capabilities, and ensure the sustainability of agricultural production and livelihoods.

Facing extinction ‒ The historic range reduction and decline of the critically endangered Liben Lark (Heteromirafra archeri) populations: a review for conservation implications

Abstract This review addresses the status of the Liben Lark (Heteromirafra archeri) population across its current and historic range. Since the 1970s, the Liben Lark has disappeared from most of its geographical range, remaining only in Ethiopia at the Liben and Jijiga Plains, where its range and population size continue to decrease. This decline is due to habitat loss associated with anthropogenic factors, severe droughts, and climate change. The Liben Lark prefers a grass sward of intermediate height (5–15 cm) while avoiding woody vegetation, very short grass, and bare ground, all symptomatic of degraded rangelands. Surveys in 2007 confirmed that its range shrunk from 750 km2 to only 40 km2, and its population declined from 1,600–2,000 to 90–256 individuals. The remaining habitat is rapidly degraded by agricultural cultivation and grazing, and the estimated population is 50–250 mature individuals. Further surveys, particularly during the breeding season, are needed to determine the population viability, nest survival, and sex ratio. The poor status of the Liben Lark population calls for raising awareness of the local communities and authorities to protect its habitat from degradation and save this endemic species from extinction.

Multi-Criteria Selection in Gram (Cicerarietinum L.) Germplasm

An experiment involving 12 genotypes of Gram (Cicer arietinum L) was carried out at B. R. D. P. G. college farm to select varieties close to ideal plant types through a multi-criteria selection. These genotypes were grown in three replications under standard package of practices to raise a good crop. These genotypes were evaluated on 12 characters namely, plant height, days to 50% flowering, primary branches/plant, secondary branches/plant, days to maturity, number of pods/plant, number of seeds/plant, biological yield/plant, seed yield/plant and the harvest index. The normalized cumulative rank analysis was used to find out a preference order of these genotypes. The preference order is PUSA 362, P-3719, CSG-151, E-100YM, ICCI6015, GNG1581, RADHA, IPC 94-94, ICC15850, ICC 3535, ICC1009 and KWR 108. The top five genotypes from these could be recommended to farmers for cultivation in this region. A single table is enough to present the results of such experiments.

Distribution and drivers for blue water dependence in crop production in China, 1999–2018

The process of blue water used in crop cultivation has both natural and economic properties due to the intervention of irrigation facilities. This study revealed crop water use (CWU) from 1999 to 2018 in each province of China based on water footprint theory, and then established the blue water dependence index (BDI) to evaluate the dependence of agricultural cultivation on irrigation water from the perspective of water withdraw, and conducted a spatial and temporal pattern analysis.The influencing factors and structural pathways of BDI were explored using least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) at national and regional scales. Results indicated that the annual amount of water used for crop production in China exceeded 900.0 Gm³. The growth in CWU from 1999 to 2018 for cash crops and grain crops was 145.4 Gm³ and 74.4 Gm³, respectively.BDI of all crops was 0.281 over the study period in China, with grain crops being 2.6 times more dependent on blue water resources than cash crops. Xinjiang, with annual average BDI of 0.716, 0.805, and 0.620 for all, grain and cash crops, respectively, has the highest irrigation demand. The PLS-SEM results showed a significant causal relationship between the economy and BDI, with obvious regional differences in structural path analysis. Based on the analysis of agricultural water use, the regions can adjust the structure of crop cultivation, optimize the allocation of water and soil resources, expand the cultivation of fodder grains and promote steady economic growth, to achieve a "win-win" situation of ensuring food security and sustainable use of agricultural water resources.

ANALISIS IMPLEMENTASI KEBIJAKAN PERCEPATAN PENCEGAHAN DAN PENANGGULANGAN STUNTING DAN IMPLIKASINYA BAGI KEMADIRIAN KESEHATAN DI KABUPATEN BONE BOLANGO

This study aims to analyze the policy to accelerate stunting prevention and control in Bone Bolango Regency and its implications for regional health independence in Gorontalo Province. The focus of this research is the implementation of policies to accelerate stunting prevention and the implications of policies on health independence. The population is determined by purposive sampling and purposive sampling. The data analysis used is a qualitative descriptive method, namely identifying related to the implementation of policies to accelerate stunting prevention and the implications of policies for health independence. In general, the implementation of stunting prevention social policies in Bone Bolango Regency has been going well. The stunting prevention and control policy emphasizes aspects of commitment and responsibility of local governments and community participation as the main issues. The Bone Bolango district government is expected to maintain its commitment to overcome stunting problems by improving coordination in all regional apparatuses related to stunting. Public education is needed about the importance of eating nutritious foods with a balanced nutritional pattern. Improvement from the downstream side, namely by increasing agricultural production through intensification and extensification of agricultural cultivation, as well as providing decent jobs for the community, so as to increase people's purchasing power.

Risk assessment of Bacillus cereus in lettuce grown in open-field and greenhouse farming systems in China: A comparative study

Abstract Objectives Bacillus cereus isolates from vegetables can cause diarrheal syndrome food poisoning. Lettuce, the most highly consumed ready-to-eat vegetable, poses a significant risk of B. cereus exposure. Hence, B. cereus monitoring and evaluation during cultivation are essential for preventing foodborne illnesses caused by this food–pathogen combination. However, the impact of different cultivation practices on B. cereus contamination in lettuce currently remains unclear. Furthermore, a validity indicator for the experimental models cannot be effectively validated under field conditions. Materials and Methods Herein, we assessed the risk of B. cereus exposure using lettuce grown under two different cultivation farming systems in China (open-field versus greenhouse) using a quantitative microbial risk assessment model. Tukey’s mean comparison method and kernel density estimation frequency distribution statistics were used for model validation using environmental samples and lettuce. Results The mean concentration of B. cereus in open-field-grown lettuce was significantly higher than that in greenhouse-grown lettuce (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed between measured, formula-calculated, and risk assessment values in environmental samples or lettuce (P>0.05), verifying the accuracy of the risk model. Conclusion Soil solarization, complete manure treatment, usage of mulch films, and irrigation water quality should be considered in agricultural practices to control B. cereus concentrations in lettuce. Overall, we found that B. cereus was more abundant in open-field-grown lettuce, and we provide a risk evaluation framework that can guide farmers and policy-makers to control B. cereus contamination in farm-to-fork lettuce chains in China.

Availability of Land, Water, Human and Technology Resources in the Development of Food Estate Areas in Merauke-Indonesia

The development of a food estate area in Merauke requires the availability of adequate resources in terms of quality and quantity. The research objective is to analyze the availability of resources in the development of industrial estates based on agricultural production produced in the development of food estates . The research was conducted in the food estate development area, namely Merauke Regency, analyzing secondary data. The data were analyzed from spatial data and then analyzed using a qualitative descriptive analysis approach. Some observation indicators are data on the availability of agricultural land for cultivation, analysis of potential water sources and needs, availability of human resources, and supporting infrastructure. The results of the analysis show that the availability of Merauke's land resources for the food estate is sufficient in terms of quantity and quality for agricultural cultivation, but has not been supported by adequate human resources, namely farmers and agricultural extension workers. Likewise with the availability of water resources and infrastructure facilities such as road networks, ports, electricity, and irrigation networks, it is necessary to revitalize existing facilities and add basic infrastructure networks for the development of a food estate area in Merauke.

Evolution and Impact of Agrarian and Revenue Systems: A Study of Hyderabad State

This article based on the ‘evolution and impact of agrarian and revenue systems: A study of Hyderabad state’ during the second half of the 19th century important changes have taken place in the agricultural sector. The new land revenue reforms and the land tenure systems introduced by Salar Jung contributed to the growth of agriculture cultivation and the introduction of modern methods of cultivation increased the yields. Importantly, the state of Hyderabad was on Economic depression and unfavorable trade due to impact I world war struck the state economy. However, the area under cultivation in 18 percent at the end of the period against 1911. The disappointed rainfall resulted in restricted cultivation for the period 1921-31. Consequence was cattle loss and people migration. Part of the Telangana declared as famine-stricken and relief rendered. The state experienced good health of its economy during the period 1901-1911. During the period, irrigation and railway expansion and increase in textile and mine industry. Agricultural methods were improved and area cultivated advanced (84 per cent increased from 1881 figure). It resulted in increase in population (36 per cent). In 1911-1921, the natural calamity, plague (1911) and influenza epidemic (1918-19) were the main setbacks. Hyderabad State evolved from the Mughal Provinces of the Deccan under NizamalMulkAsalJah. The Mughal agrarian system as existing in the Deccan was continued and adopted by NizamelMulk and it formed the basis for that of Hyderabad. The same was continued by Nizam Ali Khan and his successors with some changes and improvement from time to time to the exigencies of time and for the benefit and welfare of the people. The study may be classified into three systems as followed Land Revenue System, Jagirdari System and the Chauth and Sardeshmukhi System.

Research on the Cultivation of New Farmers under the Background of "Promoting Agriculture through Digital Commerce"

The vigorous promotion of the "Digital Commerce Revitalizing Agriculture" project has provided a good model for realizing economic value for the construction of digital rural areas. In order to accelerate the modernization of agriculture and rural areas and high-quality rural development, and improve the resource participation of rural population, it will become an important work content in the next stage of digital rural construction. Faced with new opportunities, while grasping the internal, organizational, economic, and innovative driving forces that promote the development of new farmers, we need to face the following challenges: the types of professions brought about by digitization need to be clarified, the direction of employment needs to be clarified, the scale of the platform needs to be expanded, and digital technology needs to achieve full process coverage. We need to optimize the new farmer training model through five paths: identifying with "ideological power", expanding the "cultivation chain", building a "technical framework", building a "talent pool", and building a "circular body", in order to accumulate energy for the realization of rural talent revitalization.

Relationship between adaptation and mitigation of climate change with the climate village program (ProKlim) In Paser Regency

This study aims to understand the relationship between the Climate Village Program (ProKlim) success rate and climate change adaptation and mitigation actions in Paser Regency. The results of the analysis showed that simultaneously climate change adaptation actions had a real effect on the success rate of ProKlim in Paser Regency by 81.45% with a significance level of 0.00054 (less than α = 0.05), while climate change mitigation actions have a real effect on the success rate of ProKlim in Paser Regency by 83.66% with a significance level of 0.0052 (less than α = 0.05). Meanwhile, the relationship of adaptation actions to the success rate of the ProKlim in Paser Regency is partially influenced by the efforts of control of climate change-related diseases with a significant level of 0.0305 (less than α=0.05). Meanwhile, climate change mitigation actions, it is partially influenced by low-emission agricultural cultivation efforts with a significant level of 0.0305 (less than α=0.05). Thus, the efforts to achieve the success of ProKlim cannot be done partially but must be carried out comprehensively because the impact of climate change has been felt in all aspects so it is necessary to apply all variables of climate change adaptation and mitigation sustainably.

Chemical Composition of Organic Carbon in Tropical Soils Under Agricultural Cultivation and Peat-Swamp Forest

ABSTRACT Soil organic carbon (SOC) is important for agricultural production and from an environmental perspective. This research determined the chemical composition of SOC and studied factors related to its distribution for various crops and peat-swamp forests in the tropical region. In total, 21 topsoil samples were collected from areas of paddy rice, sugarcane, cassava, pineapple, oil palm, para rubber, and peat-swamp forest in Thailand. Four groups of SOC chemical composition were investigated (carbonyl C, aromatic C, O-alkyl C, and alkyl C) using solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The dominant peak of the NMR spectra indicated that SOC originated from a variety of lignin compound units. The results revealed the dominant SOC chemical component was O-alkyl C (36.57–50.90%), followed by alkyl C (22.32–32.60%), aromatic C (16.65–23.41%), and carbonyl C (7.99–10.95%), respectively. Most of the SOC chemical components were derived from plant debris, particularly biodegraded lignin compounds. There were slightly differences between the distributions of the SOC functional groups in each vegetation type, perhaps partially as a result of the specific management activities for each crop, including tillage. Furthermore, alkyl C was related to some soil properties (silt and clay fractions), while O-alkyl C was related to available P in the soil. The hydrophobicity index, aromaticity index, and degree of humification were in the ranges 0.69–1.12, 0.17–0.23, and 0.46–0.92, respectively. These findings provided SOC chemical composition data of several economic crops to further support soil management for crop production and carbon stock preservation in tropical soils.

Coastal narratives and Baltic ecotones: Painting beaches and boulders at the water’s edge

This paper evaluates Nils Kreuger’s and Teodors Ūders’ engagement with the sea on two sides of the Baltic coast, noting the diffusion of landscape, seascape, and coastline in paintings of Öland and Halland in Sweden, and the Dunte seaside in Latvia. Extending a discussion of artist encounters with coastal seaside communities reveals the ecological and cultural complexities characteristic of this environment. Kreuger’s paintings, while experimenting with tone, light, and form are rooted in the distinctive island landscape of Öland and the weather-beaten coastline of Halland. While for Ūders, the Dunte seaside presented a return to a ‘primeval’ nature, associating symbolism, impressionism, and realism with coastal life. In borrowing ideas from the natural sciences to describe visual culture, I contend with historic methods of ecological and agricultural cultivation, and contemporary ecocritical readings of art history, with regards to the Baltic coastal ecotone. The interaction with the sea and coast, on two sides of the Baltic, grapples with the regional identity, cultural specificity, and ecological variables of the shore; from woodland clearing and seaweed cultivation to the distinctiveness of the grasses, beaches, boulders, and water. This critical evaluation is not simply concerned with images of ecosystem damage and decline; rather these paintings are aware of the respective topographies, ecologies, and landscapes of the Swedish and Latvian Baltic coastline. As such, I consider these paintings not only within the social, historical, and visual narrative of Nordic and Baltic coastal art history, but as records of cultural and ecological memory.

A New Remote Sensing Service Mode for Agricultural Production and Management Based on Satellite–Air–Ground Spatiotemporal Monitoring

Remote sensing, the Internet, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and other technologies have become the core elements of modern agriculture and smart farming. Agricultural production and management modes guided by data and services have become a cutting-edge carrier of agricultural information monitoring, which promotes the transformation of the intelligent computing of remote sensing big data and agricultural intensive management from theory to practical applications. In this paper, the main research objective is to construct a new high-frequency agricultural production monitoring and intensive sharing service and management mode, based on the three dimensions of space, time, and attributes, that includes crop recognition, growth monitoring, yield estimation, crop disease or pest monitoring, variable-rate prescription, agricultural machinery operation, and other automatic agricultural intelligent computing applications. The platforms supported by this mode include a data management and agricultural information production subsystem, an agricultural monitoring and macro-management subsystem (province and county scales), and two mobile terminal applications (APPs). Taking Shandong as the study area of the application case, the technical framework of the system and its mobile terminals were systematically elaborated at the province and county levels, which represented macro-management and precise control of agricultural production, respectively. The automatic intelligent computing mode of satellite–air–ground spatiotemporal collaboration that we proposed fully couples data obtained from satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and IoT technologies, which can provide the accurate and timely monitoring of agricultural conditions and real-time guidance for agricultural machinery scheduling throughout the entire process of agricultural cultivation, planting, management, and harvest; the area accuracy of all obtained agricultural information products is above 90%. This paper demonstrates the necessity of customizable product and service research in agricultural intelligent computing, and the proposed practical mode can provide support for governments to participate in agricultural macro-management and decision making, which is of great significance for smart farming development and food security.

Whole-genome sequence of the Halobacillus naozhouensis type strain KACC 21980.

We present the whole-genome sequence of Halobacillus naozhouensis Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (KACC) 21980T, isolated from China by Chen et al.. The genome of Halobacillus naozhouensis KACC 21980T comprises a circular chromosome (4.2 Mb) and one plasmid (17 kb). It includes a total of 4,168 predicted coding genes.

Soybean Production in the Municipality of Cascavel - PR: Rainfall Indices as the Main Influence Factor

Objective: This work presents factors that influence soybean production in various scenarios, more specifically in Cascavel-PR, between the summer seasons 2016/17 to 2022/23. Theoretical reference: Soy production is an economic activity with great potential in Brazil and, especially, in the state of Paraná. The climatic conditions present great challenges for the producers, since different factors (shortage of chuvas, high temperatures and the incidence of rain and diseases) affect the development of culture. Method: Foram pointed out and made comparisons in the production of comfort in various contexts, cultivation areas and relevant information on the climate, specifically as rainfall precipitations below or above the average in various stages of culture in the municipality of Paranaense, and consequently, as oscillations in the summer holidays. They are used in literature, articles, information on sites, magazines and data from governmental organizations (federal and state), with quantitative and qualitative analyses, using the Sisvar software. Results and conclusion: Among the factors analyzed, climate as the main agent of influence in soybean production. Implications of the research: To minimize the impacts on productivity and its consequences in regional/economic development, it is necessary to review management techniques at the sole, plant, new technologies and also at the global level; o aquecimento, o dematamento that influences the increase in temperatures and the incidence of rain. Originality/value: Analyzing two rainfall indices and their relationships with agricultural cultures is crucial to guarantee healthy and productive production. It allows farmers to adapt their management practices, make informed decisions and minimize the risks associated with varying climatic conditions.

Hydrothermally prepared phytofabricated magnetite nanoparticles for its potential antimicrobial application in disease management of agricultural crops

The present study explores the antimicrobial properties of Fe3O4 nanoparticles synthesized by chemical and green routes using hydrothermal methods. In this respect, the neem tree (Azadirachta indica) bark extract was used as a green source to utilize the advantage of the phytochemicals present in it. The synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy, HR-TEM, DLS, XRD and FTIR. The average particle size of chemically synthesized and phytofabricated NPs was ∼ 23 nm and ∼ 6 nm, respectively. FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of different phytochemicals like phenols, amines, aromatic, amides and carboxylic groups in the phytofabricated Fe3O4 NPs. Further, its antibacterial activity was evaluated using the agar well diffusion method against phytopathogens: Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris Xcc –C7, Bacillus subtilis DTBS-5 and Pseudomonas fluorescens DTPF-3 (PSfl) under in vitro conditions. The antifungal property of NPs was studied by poison food agar assay against mycopathogens, i.e., Fusarium graminearum and Phytophthora spp. The phytofabricated Fe3O4 NPs showed bactericidal action against Xcc and inhibited the fungal growth as well. The outcome of this study will be beneficial for its potential application in the management of bacterial and fungal plant pathogens during crop cultivation in agriculture.

Становление Харбина как русского центра аграрного производства, земледельческой культуры и науки. 1898–1931 гг. (к 125-летию со дня основания)

In the article dedicated to the anniversary date – the 125th anniversary of the founding of Harbin, in retrospect, the author analyzes the cultural and industrial and technological influence of Russia on the modernization of the agricultural and industrial complex of the north-eastern frontier of China – the NEC (Manchuria). A brief analysis of the history of Harbin's development as a major center of the formation of Russian agricultural pro-duction, agricultural culture and science is given. The role of the Land Department of the KVZhD, the Manchuri-an Agricultural Society (MAS), the Society for the Study of the Manchurian Region (OSMR), as well as 3 agricul-tural Centers identified by the author in the process of research, with experimental fields at them, including the Harbin Experimental field, which played a leading role in the zoning of new crops for the region. The contribu-tion of Russian agricultural scientists and agricultural practitioners of Harbin to the development of the agricul-tural complex of the region is assessed. It is concluded that in the 1910–20s. By the beginning of the Japanese occupation of Manchuria in 1931, Harbin was formed as the basic center for the formation and development of the modern agrarian-industrial complex in the economic organization of the region at that time, which served to transform the traditional agrarian structures of this region of China.

Monitoring of wetland cover changes in protected areas to trade-offs between ecological conservation and food security: A case study from the Dongting Lake, China

The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030 underscore the urgency of “eradicating hunger and ensuring food security” (SDG 2: Zero Hunger) and the critical need to “cease and reverse land degradation and biodiversity decline” (SDG 15: Life on Land). The Dongting Lake area in China, serving as a significant wetland nature reserve and grain production zone, is increasingly confronted with complex, interdependent trade-offs between agricultural cultivation and the ecological and environmental preservation of wetlands (SDG 2 and 15). To analyze the trade-off between conservation and food security, it is crucial to rely on long-term, continuous monitoring of land cover changes in the lake area. However, the absence of reliable optical remote sensing has posed a significant challenge due to the prevalence of cloudy and rainy conditions. Our study begins by integrating long-term Landsat and MODIS data using the GF-SG fusion algorithm to generate 8-day NDVI data with a spatial resolution of 30 m. This analysis focuses on the areas outside the embankment of Dongting Lake (referred to as O-DTL) from 2003 to 2020. We then employ a pixel-connected sample migration method to facilitate automated sampling of land cover types and a random forest classification algorithm to analyze long-term dynamic changes. Finally, by combining meteorological and social data, we examine the temporal patterns of land cover changes in the study area and identify the underlying factors influencing them. The results indicate a trade-off between the fluctuation of cropland and forest area from 2003 to 2020. Water body areas have exhibited a significant decrease, while impervious surface areas have consistently increased annually. Impervious surface areas have experienced a substantial increase of approximately 70%, with almost 90% of this expansion resulting from the conversion of cropland. Under the premise of maintaining a stable area for food cultivation, the land consumed by urban expansion eventually encroached on the wetland water bodies of the reserve. The reduction in wetland water area in the O-DTL can be primarily attributed to agricultural cultivation, while urban expansion and urbanization have indirectly contributed to the decrease. This study provides a case in which prioritizing food security (SDG 2) takes precedence over ecological conservation (SDG 15), highlighting its significant implications for guiding subsequent development in the Dongting Lake area. This finding is crucial for minimizing unintended consequences and maximizing co-benefits between sustainable development goals.

Erosivity and seasonal rainfall for Pelotas-RS, Brazil with the RainfallErosivityFactor package and Modified Fournier Index

One of the main factors affecting water erosion is rainfall erosivity. Knowledge of this factor can contribute to the prediction of soil losses and to the identification of the most suitable periods for agricultural cultivation operations. The use of software, based on current calculation tools, can contribute to the quick and accurate analysis of long series of rainfall data. The objective of this work is to determine the rainfall volume and rainfall erosivity (R), in different seasons of the year, through the correlation between the EI30 index, the rainfall coefficient (Rc) and the Fournier Index modified (MFI), for rainfall data from Pelotas-RS-Brazil. Rainfall data was used with an interval of 10 min, from 1993 to 2015, evaluated with the RainfallErosivityFactor package of the R-Project software. In the package, the R-factor is obtained by averaging the monthly EI30 values from the data series. Data was evaluated on a monthly, annual and seasonal scale. It was found that the average annual rainfall is 1369.46 mm, with February being the month with the highest rainfall. The series of annual precipitation data did not show a significant trend according to the Mann-Kendall test and the average annual erosivity is 8166.8 MJ mm h−1 ha−1 yr−1. Erosivity in summer is significantly higher than in winter, with the summer-autumn period accounting for 64.4% and winter represented only 17% of annual erosivity. There is a strong positive correlation between the erosivity and the rainfall coefficient, for monthly average data. Erosivity and MFI showed a very strong significant correlation for summer and autumn. The rainfall coefficient tended to show lower values in March and higher values in February. The results obtained are important to identify the periods of most critical erosivity, in which management systems must prioritize surface coverage and minimum soil disturbance.

Optimizing delayed sowing date decreases methane emissions from paddies and ensures the comprehensive benefits of rice production

Adjusting the sowing date presents a cost-effective and advantageous practice to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on agricultural cultivation. However, its impact on the comprehensive benefits of rice production in terms of methane (CH4) emissions remains uncertain. During the 2019–2021 rice growing season, field studies with different sowing dates were carried out, including a conventional sowing date (CS) and a delayed sowing date of 10 days (DS1) and 20 days (DS2) from the conventional sowing date. CH4 fluxes were monitored using a transparent box-high precision greenhouse gas analyzer (LGR). During the crucial growth stage of rice, the physicochemical properties and enzyme activities of the soils were assessed, while both atmospheric and soil temperatures were recorded. Changes in rice yields were analyzed, and the comprehensive benefits of rice production were calculated. The results demonstrated a significant decrease in the peak of CH4 flux with the delayed sowing date, and the growth stages of rice characterized by high cumulative CH4 emissions were observed to be delayed. Compared to CS, DS1 and DS2 exhibited reductions in cumulative CH4 emissions by 29.98 % and 56.61 %, respectively (three-year average). Atmospheric and soil temperatures showed significant increasing exponential correlations with CH4 fluxes, and temperature sensitivity decreased with the delay of sowing date. The delayed sowing date resulted in more stable changes in soil carbon and nitrogen levels, elevated soil pH, and diminished soil enzyme activity, which could potentially serve as a mechanism for mitigating CH4 flux. DS1 improved the solar radiation and heat utilization efficiency of rice and promoted the growth of panicles and grains, so the yield increased by 20.16 % compared with CS. However, the growth period of DS2 was insufficient for photosynthetic product formation and posed a risk of yield reduction, with an average decrease of 6.46 % over the three-year average. Relative to CS, DS1 effectively reduced cumulative CH4 emissions while ensuring an increase in production, resulting in a 28.90 % increase in comprehensive benefits. Although DS2 achieved greater reductions in cumulative CH4 emissions, the decline in yield resulted in a 7.73 % decrease in comprehensive benefits. In summary, optimizing delayed sowing (delayed sowing for 10 days) is conducive to achieving rice yield and CH4 emission reduction, and this finding provides important and novel insights for eco-efficient rice planting.