Agricultural Development Research Articles (Page 1)

ABSTRACT Investigating the effects of crop protection drones on agricultural carbon emissions intensity is crucial for devising more efficient emissions-reduction strategies in the context of smart agriculture. Utilizing continuous panel data from 324 cities in China spanning from 2006 to 2021, this paper examines the impact of the crop protection UAVs subsidy policy (UAVs) and addresses how agricultural mechanization influences green and low-carbon development against the backdrop of rapid smart agricultural machinery development. The findings indicate that: (1) UAVs can significantly reduce agricultural carbon emissions intensity. Specifically, this conclusion holds true even after undergoing various robustness tests. (2) UAVs can achieve agricultural decarbonization goals through horizontal specialization and efficient operations, with labour transfer playing a moderating role in the policy’s carbon reduction effects. (3) The carbon reduction effects of UAVs vary across different resource endowment levels, agricultural functional zones, and levels of agricultural carbon emissions in cities. This paper provides empirical evidence for exploring the mechanisms and optimization paths through which smart agricultural machinery can drive agricultural carbon reduction.

The agricultural development of saline alkali land has always been an important direction for improving land use efficiency and food production. The study aims to explore the effects of biomass organic fertilizer and reducing the use of chemical fertilizers on watermelons in saline alkali land, providing a scientific basis for the sustainable development of saline alkali agriculture. The study selects a mixed application of biomass organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer with different proportions, and compares the growth, yield, and quality of watermelon in saline alkali soil. The research results indicated that the biomass organic fertilizer improved the growth rate and yield of watermelon in saline alkali soil. Compared with conventional fertilization treatment, the combination of biomass organic fertilizer and weight loss significantly increased soil organic matter content and promoted watermelon growth. In addition, watermelon treated with biomass organic fertilizer also performed better in terms of quality, including better fruit size, soluble solid content, and vitamin C content than conventional fertilizer treatment. The study also found that applying organic biomass fertilizer and weight loss in saline alkali land can increase the yield and quality of watermelons, and have a significant improvement effect on soil nutrients. This fertilization method could effectively increase the soil organic matter content and provide a more suitable environment for the growth of watermelons. The above results indicate that the proposed combination has significant advantages in watermelon cultivation in saline alkali land, and is significant for the sustainable development of saline alkali agriculture.

Pesticides are widely used in food cultivation and have become one of the most important means of ensuring the development of agriculture, forestry and animal husbandry. At the same time, pesticide residue detection technology needs to be updated to provide a scientific and effective basis to cope with the problems arising from the use of pesticides. As a new type of nicotine insecticide, acetamiprid is widely used in agricultural production. This paper reports a fluorescent biosensor based on graphene oxide and G-quadruplex that can be used for the determination of the target acetamiprid. It contains a specific DNA probe that can form the G-quadruplex structure and the nucleic acid sequence of the acetamiprid aptamer as the main element. The probe is stabilized and adsorbed by the π-π interaction of graphene, achieving the variation of the assay results. The optimal sequences designed for rapid screening of nucleic acids were modeled and simulated using bioinformatics tools such as NUPACK and AutoDock prior to the experiment. The detection limit of acetamiprid was 165.5 pM, which was much lower than the national food safety standard residue of 0.05 mg/kg. The sensor has the advantages of obvious economic value, fewer steps and shorter detection time. It has great application prospects in the field of food safety.

The Tafrata Irrigated Perimeter (TIP) in Taourirt province, located in a semi-arid environment, faces pressures from intensive agriculture and unsustainable resource use, leading to soil degradation, low organic matter, salinity risks, and nutrient imbalances. Despite the need for effective management, limited studies have used spatial and geostatistical tools to assess soil quality in the region. This study aims to evaluate the physico-chemical quality of TIP soils and to identify management priorities for sustainable agricultural development. To achieve this, 84 soil samples analyzed for particle size, density, electrical conductivity, pH, organic matter, total carbonate content, potassium, and phosphorus. GIS was used to generate thematic maps. Findings show that 55% of the area consists of balanced sandy loam soils, with 76% of samples having slightly alkaline pH. Phosphorus and potassium concentrations average 35.23 (mg∙kg−1) and 166.06 (mg∙kg−1), respectively. While 76% of soils are non-saline, 87% have moderate carbonate content. Organic matter is critically low at 1.46%, raising concerns about soil fertility and water retention. The study emphasizes the need for sustainable agricultural practices to manage soil variability and improve fertility, offering actionable insights to support long-term soil health and resource sustainability in the TIP.

The mechanisms of microbial and soil carbon pool responses to soil aggregates improvement by different organic fertilizers.

The purpose of the study was to investigate socio-economic challenges affecting small-scale macadamia producing farmers in the Mpumalanga Lowveld. In South Africa, the macadamia industry has shown substantial growth, especially in the Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, respectively. However, Mpumalanga is by far the leading province in macadamia nut production. Contrastingly, the growth of the industry has not translated into the accelerated entry and participation of small-scale farmers in the sector. To understand the socio-economic challenges faced by these producers, a survey study was conducted between September and November 2020 within the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality (BLM). A total of 26 farmers were purposively sampled, with the assistance of extension officers. Data was collected through structured questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics and crisp-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (CsQCA). The study results showed that 76.9% of the respondents were males while only 23.1% were females. Half (50%) of the respondents were between the ages of 51-60. The study found equivalent levels of satisfaction and dissatisfaction with the macadamia nut crop amongst the respondents. The reasons for dissatisfaction cited were competition with other crops (100%), high cost of orchard establishment (92.3%), low profit margins (92.3%), lack of capital (69.2%) and lack of production knowledge (46.2%). The results also suggest that older farmers with access to markets, extension services, and SAMAC (South African Macadamia Growers' Association) awareness consistently report higher satisfaction, while farmers who lack SAMAC awareness, extension services, and market access consistently reported lower satisfaction. These findings demonstrate that access to irrigation, extension services, and engagement with institutional structures such as SAMAC were critical factors influencing farmer satisfaction. Dissatisfaction was also linked to limited access to inputs like fertilizers and pest control technologies, as well as exclusion from more profitable segments of the value chain. While some farmers reported satisfaction and intended to continue with macadamia production, others were discouraged by unmet expectations and poor returns. Notably, youth and women were underrepresented among producers, though this study does not conclusively determine the reasons for their limited participation. The findings suggest that improving access to support services and inputs, alongside inclusive policies tailored to local conditions, could enhance participation and sustainability among small-scale macadamia farmers. Key words: Small-scale farmers, macadamia nuts, socio-economic challenges, agricultural development

With the rapid transformation of rural economies, optimizing crop planting structures has become a key strategy to address limited resources, market volatility, and environmental risks. This issue is especially critical in the mountainous regions of North China, where arable land is scarce and topographic constraints pose serious challenges to traditional agriculture. This study develops a multi-objective mathematical model that comprehensively considers key uncertain factors, including yield per mu, planting costs, and sales volume. By integrating Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) with Robust Optimization techniques, the model identifies an optimal crop planting scheme for the period 2025–2030. The proposed solution remains stable under uncertainty and meets practical requirements for adaptability and feasibility. The results provide valuable theoretical and decision-making support for improving land use efficiency, reducing planting risks, and promoting sustainable agricultural development in resource-constrained mountainous areas. This research offers practical guidance for policymakers and agricultural planners seeking data-driven strategies in the context of rural economic transformation.

Promoting improved crop varietal adoption will prevent a waste of scarce resources deployed to breeding programs for sustained agricultural development in Nigeria. Using household-level survey data, this study aimed to identify farmers' trait preferences and their influence on the adoption of cassava varieties in Southwest, Nigeria. Specifically, it profiled the preferences based on the perspectives of the cassava farming households and determined the factors that influenced the rate and intensity of adoption. The results are in two folds: First, for reasons bordering on the realization of cassava farming households' sustenance and economic goals, early maturing and bigger root size were given preferences among others. Second, education of household head, farm size, extension contacts, and market-related traits were the major drivers of adoption and intensity of adoption of biofortified cassava varieties. Thus, poor market demand was key to the low adoption of biofortified cassava varieties. We suggest that crop development efforts should be tailored to address farmers' concerns. This will undoubtedly increase the adoption rate and also lower the advocacy cost.

Against the backdrop of global climate change and tightening resource constraints, sustainable agricultural development has emerged as a central issue for countries worldwide in addressing environmental challenges. As a major agricultural nation, China’s livestock industry accounts for over 35% of the total agricultural output value, serving as a crucial pillar for ensuring national nutritional security and rural economic development. However, traditional farming models have long relied on high-density rearing, excessive use of chemical inputs, and end-of-pipe pollution control measures. These practices have resulted in greenhouse gas emissions accounting for 45% of the agricultural total, an annual generation of over 3 billion tons of livestock manure, and a resource utilization rate of less than 60%. This “high-input, high-emission, low-efficiency” development path has not only exacerbated ecological issues such as soil degradation and water eutrophication but also undermined the industry’s international competitiveness and consumer trust due to food safety hazards like antibiotic residues and heavy metal contamination. In this context, Muyuan Group has actively pursued green technology innovation to achieve simultaneous enhancement of economic and ecological benefits.

ABSTRACT Land degradation threatens global food security and ecological sustainability, with Northern China particularly vulnerable due to its pivotal role in agricultural production and exposure to climate stress. This study assesses the impacts of land degradation under climate stress, hypothesizing that environmental factors especially drought and water quality significantly affect agriculture, water resources, and rural development. The objective is to inform sustainable policy measures aligned with global sustainability goals. Panel data from 2000 to 2023 for eight provinces (Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Jilin) were analyzed using dynamic Generalized Method of Moments and Vector Autoregression models. Data sources include the China Statistical Yearbook and the Ministry of Water Resources. Results show that land degradation is highly persistent, with drought severity, measured by the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), as the primary driver. The SPI is a probabilistic measure of precipitation anomalies, standardized against historical data, where values below −1 indicate moderate to severe drought, −1.5 to −2 signify extreme drought, and below −2 represent exceptional drought conditions, thereby quantifying the intensity and duration of water deficits impacting land health. The effects of temperature and precipitation operate mainly through drought, whereas agricultural variables (crop yield, irrigation, fertilizer use) have no direct impact once climate factors are controlled. Poor water quality exacerbates degradation, whereas socio‐economic indicators, such as rural income, display no direct effect. These findings underscore the urgency of integrated policies combining climate adaptation, water management, and land conservation to secure sustainable agriculture and rural development in Northern China. By clarifying the pathways through which climatic and environmental pressures influence land degradation, this research advances understanding of degradation dynamics in semi‐arid regions and supports strategies for achieving land degradation neutrality in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The article discusses the goals and types of business plans, the approaches of foreign and domestic scientists to this tool of strategic management and the method of solving internal business problems of the enterprise. The balance of production factors in agriculture sets the task of developing the land and property complex as the basis for the successful functioning of business structures. The key parameters of business planning take into account the need to substantiate existing or proposed directions for the development of a peasant (farming) economy from the standpoint of economic feasibility. Using the example of "IP head of K(F)X Romazanova E.N." of the Sargatsky municipal district of the Omsk region, the distribution of land by land is analyzed, the state of the property complex of K(F)X is assessed, and economic performance indicators are studied. Proposals for the development of the land and property complex "IP chapter K(F)X Romazanova E.N." include the following stages: assessment of development prospects based on SWOT analysis, development of the material and technical base, optimization of the use of land resources taking into account the ecological state of the lands, justification of the size and sources of financing of the proposed measures, assessment of the economic feasibility of the project offers. The financing of the project is proposed using state support funds within the framework of the Omsk Region state program "Development of agriculture and regulation of agricultural products, raw materials and food markets in the Omsk region", designed for the period up to 2030. Calculations of the effectiveness of investments based on the planned period are given, and their payback period is determined. The effectiveness of the proposed solutions is complex, manifested in economic, social and environmental aspects. The proposed business plan for the development of the land and property complex makes it possible to use land resources in a balanced manner, modernize the production base, creating the basis for sustainable development of the economy in the long term.

Cloud farming is an emerging online farming model where owners remotely participate in raising animals or plants without direct contact. The commercialized cloud farming economy represents an innovative development of traditional agriculture leveraging internet technology, characterized by strong online attributes. This paper will conduct an in-depth study on the criminal regulation of online cloud farming economy activities. In recent years, many criminals have exploited the guise of agricultural innovation, breeding numerous crimes within the cloud farming economy sector. These activities exhibit characteristics such as conceptual hype and deviation from the inherent nature of the agricultural industry, involving issues related to illegal fundraising crimes. Challenges include disputes over factual determinations, debates over the legal characterization between the crimes of illegal absorption of public deposits and fundraising fraud, and complexities in identifying participants' legal statuses. To refine the criminal regulatory framework for online cloud farming economy activities, a criminal policy of strict prevention, strict control, and strict suppression. should be advocated. This involves enhancing the criminal classification system at the legislative level, strengthening regulations against behavioral patterns such as promising high returns without genuine business support, and promoting cross-departmental collaborative governance. Moving forward, further refinement of adjudication standards based on judicial practice is needed to enhance the effectiveness of criminal regulation in this domain.

Against the backdrop of global food security and circular agriculture development, edible fungi, as a high-protein food source, have both ecological and economic value in their production model using agricultural and forestry wastes. Based on the “Cycle Production of Plants, Animals, and Fungi” theory, this paper systematically reviews the research progress of alternative substrates for edible fungi. First, alternative substrates are categorized into plant-derived, animal-derived, and microbial-derived types according to their sources. The physicochemical properties, application status, and bottlenecks of each type are analyzed, such as difficult lignin degradation in plant-derived substrates, pollutant risks in animal-derived substrates, and lack of unified application standards for microbial-derived substrates. Second, the mechanisms of key influencing factors including substrate nutritional content, pH and moisture content are elaborated. Furthermore, the paper points out current industrial challenges such as regional resource heterogeneity, difficult control of pretreatment parameters, pollutant residues, and poor batch stability, and summarizes targeted optimization strategies, including regional substrate formulations, precise pretreatment technologies, nutritional regulation, and circular utilization models. Finally, future directions are prospected from four aspects: localized resource utilization, technological innovation, circular model upgrading, and standardized governance, providing theoretical support for the large-scale and sustainable development of the edible fungi industry and contributing to agricultural waste resource utilization and the achievement of “dual carbon” goals.

Agriculture is the cornerstone of human civilization and social development. The Silk Road served as an important bridge between ancient China and the world. Based on the establishment of the ancient Silk Road, rice, which originated in China, has become one of the most important food crops in the world. However, the importance of the Silk Road in the spread of rice cultivation technology and rice seeds from East Asia to the West is often ignored. According to the analysis of literature reviews and archaeological evidence, this study explores the important role of the Silk Road in the spread of rice and reveals that the Silk Road not only promoted the global trade of luxury goods such as silk and tea but also promoted the two-way exchange of agricultural civilization between the East and the West. After the spread of rice along the Silk Road, it promoted the innovation of agricultural technology and the development of new irrigation practices in the areas along the Silk Road and gradually integrated into the local food culture and cooking tradition. This study highlights the far-reaching impact of the Silk Road on global agricultural development and farming civilization. At present, the spread of rice, which has become the global staple crop, has fundamentally changed the human diet structure and the global agricultural development pattern.

The sustainable development of agriculture hinges on effective fertilizer management, and China’s experience with chemical fertilizer overuse highlights the challenges and opportunities in this domain. This study examines the impact of agricultural subsidy policy on chemical fertilizer use across 2319 counties from 2012 to 2022. By treating the “Action Plan for Organic-Substitute-Chemical-Fertilizer (OSCF) for Fruits, Vegetables and Tea” as a quasi-natural experiment, this study uses a Double Machine Learning model to analyze its effects on fertilizer use and the underlying mechanisms, considering technical and scale efficiency as mediating variables. The findings reveal that the OSCF policy has a significant negative effect on chemical fertilizer use, primarily by enhancing both technical and scale efficiency. This study further reveals regional heterogeneity in the policy’s effectiveness. The results imply that while the impact of the OSCF policy is generally beneficial, it is shaped by regional economic development, agricultural production structure and initial level of fertilizer use. This highlights the importance of tailored policy instruments to address regional disparities in agricultural practices and targeted strategies to maximize the OSCF policy’s impact on sustainable agricultural development. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers and farm managers to enhance the sustainability of agricultural practices.

Abstract International trade of agricultural intermediates faces increasing trade barriers, which disrupt agri-food global value chains (GVC) and impair agricultural development across the world. This study estimates ad valorem equivalents of non-tariff measures to construct a composite measure of trade barriers in bilateral trade flows of agricultural intermediates, with both tariff and non-tariff measure data detailed at the HS6-digit product level for 76 countries during 1995–2020. We investigate the impact of trade barriers on GVC trade flows as well as forward and backward GVC participations using a PPML model, and further evaluate the influence of GVC on agricultural development using an instrumental variable approach with a trade barrier shock constructed for GVC indicators. Our findings show that a 1% increase in trade barriers reduces GVC trade by about 1.68%, with greater impacts on the forward participation, food sector, and developing countries. GVC trade fosters agricultural development both in terms of the level as manifested in per capita GDP, but also in the inclusiveness of distribution as reflected by lower urban-rural gaps, Gini coefficients, and poverty rates. Technology spillover, trade gains, and industrial upgrades are identified as key mechanisms that underly these effects. Our results highlight the need to reduce trade barriers and deepen GVC engagement to foster agricultural development.

Coumarin causes severe poisoning in animals, affecting the development of agriculture and animal husbandry. Coumarin induces hepatotoxicity, but the inflammatory mechanism of coumarin is unclear. Here, we explored the effects of coumarin on systemic and hepatic inflammation. Our study found that coumarin reduced the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila. The number of colonic goblet cells and the expression of Claudin 1 and ZO-1 were decreased in coumarin-treated groups, increasing intestinal permeability. Coumarin elevated the expression of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis genes and serum LPS. These changes increased oxidative stress indicators and total BA (TBA) in the liver. Coumarin inhibited Fxr and Shp expressions in the liver, thereby promoting cholesterol 7-alpha hydroxylase (Cyp7a1) transcription and upregulating TBA level. Collectively, coumarin induced systemic and hepatic inflammation by decreasing tight junction protein and colonic goblet cells, increasing LPS biosynthesis genes of gut microbiota and serum LPS, and elevating TBA level via the Fxr-Shp pathway.IMPORTANCECoumarin, a compound found in Melilotus officinalis, a high-quality forage plant crucial to animal husbandry, has raised safety concerns due to its potential for severe animal poisoning and liver toxicity. It is not clear about the mechanism of coumarin-induced systemic inflammation and liver inflammation. This research aims to elucidate the mechanisms of coumarin-induced systemic and hepatic inflammation, which is of significant importance for the development of agriculture and animal husbandry. In agriculture, understanding how coumarin affects the gut microbiota and intestinal barrier function could lead to the development of new varieties of Melilotus officinalis with lower coumarin concentrations, thus improving its safety as a forage crop.

Greenhouses play a vital role in modern agriculture by providing controlled environments for year-round crop production. However, climate regulation within these structures accounts for a significant portion of their energy consumption, often exceeding 50% of operational costs. Current greenhouse systems predominantly rely on reactive control strategies, leading to energy inefficiency and unstable internal conditions. Addressing this gap, the present study develops a machine learning-based framework that leverages time series forecasting models—specifically Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM)—that predict key climate parameters and generate optimal actuator control recommendations. The system utilizes multivariate environmental data to forecast temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels and minimize a composite energy proxy through proactive adjustments to heating, ventilation, and lighting systems. Experimental results demonstrate high prediction accuracy (R2 = 0.9835) and significant improvements in energy efficiency. By integrating predictive analytics with real-time sensor feedback, the proposed approach supports intelligent, energy-aware decision-making and advances the development of smart agriculture through proactive greenhouse climate management.

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif season of 2024 at Crop Research Farm of Center for Agriculture and Farmer Development, Sahaspur, Dehradun, Uttrakhand. The experiment consisted of eight treatments laid out in Randomized Block Design and replicated three. Minimum weed dry weight (g/m2) 30,60,90 DAS and at harvest (0.71, 0.71, 1.67, 1.82), Weed Control, Effciency % at harvest (94.37), Weed Index (0.00), Plant height at 30,60,90 and at harvest (34.90,66.60,92.00,101.00), Dry matter accumulation (g m-2) at 30,60,90 DAS and at harvest (258.00,829.80,12.76.60,1484.50), Leaf area index at 30,60,90 DAS (2.10, 4.45,4.88) and grain yield (63.25 q/ha), straw yield (85.20 q/ha), biological yield (148.45 q/ha), harvest index (42.61%), Net return (71672 Rs/ha) and B:C Ratio (2.37) was recorded in treatment 7 weed free till 60 DAS.

The article presents the results of a study of the disparities in the standard of living between the urban and rural population, as one ofthedrivers of internal and interregional migration. The authors argue that this is a crucial aspect for understanding migration patterns and serves as an indirect indicator of the level of socio-economic development of a region and its potential for future growth. To examine the differences in the standard of living, a comparative analysis of indicators for two time periods (2016 and 2022) was conducted using the Tambov Region as a case study. This region is notable within the Central Federal District for its significant share of rural population and its specialization in agricultural production. The first stage of the study involved assessing socio-economic situation in cities and villages of the region. Subsequently, the authors developed a system of indicators reflecting the population's standard of living, and calculated an integral index of the standard of living for the region's municipalities. This index provides an objective measure of the degree of territorial disparity in living standards. Based on the developed system of indicators, a multivariate statistical analysis was performed. It led to the conclusion that the standard of living of the rural population in the Tambov Region rose over the 2016–2022 period. This improvement is largely attributed to measures implemented under the Russian Federation's Food Security Doctrine, which has stimulated the active development of agriculture, thereby creating preconditions for the rise in the standard of living across the region.