Agricultural Land Degradation Research Articles

Using of Agricultural Land in Astrakhan Region. Problems and Solutions

The article examines the regulation of land relations in the agricultural sector of economy, as well as state and municipal administration of agricultural land use in Astrakhan region. The paper also considers private land ownership, the state land use and the rental system of agricultural land use with the vicious practice of one-time consumption of soil fertility and post-rental degradation of agricultural lands, land rent as a regulation of the rational use of agricultural land and the formation of local budgets using land payments, and other land problems and the ways to solve them. “Words follow facts” (Ivan Petrovich Pavlov).

Preface

4th International Interdisciplinary Conference on Green Development in Tropical Regions (4th IICGDTR) “Governance Challenges of Green Development in Tropical Asia” Virtual Conference The Graduate Program – Universitas Andalas, West Sumatera, Indonesia 7 – 8 July 2021 The 4th International Interdisciplinary Conference on Green Development in Tropical Regions (4th IICGDTR) has successfully held virtually on 7 – 8 July 2021 organized by the Graduate Program, Universitas Andalas, West Sumatera, Indonesia.IICGDTR is the biannual international conference on Green Development in Tropical Region (ICGDTR). This 2021 conference is the 4th interdisciplinary ICGDTR which held virtually due to the covid-19 pandemic, with the theme “Governance Challenges of Green Development in Tropical Asia”. The main objective of this international conference is to enhance the discourse and discussion on various aspects of green development in tropical regions, especially on the issue of governance challenges of green development in tropical regions.Since the early 21st century, conventional development strategies have been questioned by various development analysts, especially those concerned with issues and conflicts surrounding its environmental, human and socio-economic impacts. The debate on issues surrounding degradation of natural resources, forest, coastal, and agricultural land, along with understanding climate change, has led to the new proposition of the green development paradigm. The conceptual understanding of the green development paradigm is concerned with the strategy and planning of all aspects including environmental planning, rural and urban planning, regional development planning, agriculture and industrial development planning.The tropical region of Asia, covering South, Southeast, and part of East Asia, is a region with a large population, rich biodiversity, and also high growth. More importantly, this is a culturally rich region. Tropical Region of Asia (TRA) is the most dynamic region and is in a constant effort to balance its development path. Much of the region’s economic growth is supported by the exploitation of common-pool natural resources, i.e., forest, land, water. Agriculture is still a dominant livelihood strategy with very slow technological adoption. But the region also utilizes its ecosystem services for the tourism sector to diversify livelihood. Rural and urban development is still not balanced but instead is urban biased. Unfortunately, housing and settlement development in urban areas sometimes threatens agricultural land.List of Committee is available in this Pdf.

Time Preferences, Land Tenure Security, and the Adoption of Sustainable Land Management Practices in Southeast Nigeria

Sustainable land management (SLM) practices are important for tackling agricultural land degradation. This study investigates the association between farmers’ time preferences and their adoption of SLM practices (agroforestry, terracing, and land fallow practices) with intertemporal benefits, and further documents the moderating role of land tenure security in this relationship. The analysis in the paper is based on data from a survey of 480 farmers in south-east Nigeria, complemented by semi-structured interviews. Farmers’ time preferences were elicited using both a survey and experiments with hypothetical payouts. Land tenure was conceptualised as a composite concept to suit the legally pluralistic context of the study area. This study found that many of the sampled farmers have high discount rates. The result further shows that farmers’ time preferences are negatively associated with their adoption of agroforestry and land fallow practices. Moreover, the result shows that both legal and de facto tenure security encourage the adoption of SLM practices. Other factors influencing the adoption of SLM practices include gender, household size, education, credit constraints, marital status, risk attitude, farming experience, and farm characteristics (e.g., erosion problems and steepness of slope). Furthermore, this study found that the security-enhancing effect of land tenure security (de facto) can alleviate the negative influence of time preferences on farmers’ adoption of SLM practices. The findings suggest that farmers with higher discount rates, who have secure tenure rights to land, are more likely to adopt SLM practices, compared to similar farmers without tenure security.

Uncovering hidden determinants of millennial farmers’ intentions in running conservation agriculture: An application of the Norm Activation Model

Abstract Land degradation in mountainside areas is a serious threat that requires conservation actions, and the role of millennial farmers in this issue is crucial for future agricultural land sustainability. The perception of degraded land condition (LC) and the risk of farming due to ongoing agricultural land degradation (RISK) are suspected to be able to drive the intention to make conservation efforts. Based on the norm activation model, this study aims to analyze the influence of millennial farmers’ perceptions on the condition of degraded agricultural land and the risk of land degradation on their intention to perform conservation-based potato farming (CBPF). This study involved 169 millennial potato farmers on the western slope of Mount Slamet, Central Java, Indonesia. Data were collected using a cross-sectional survey from January to March 2022. The hypothesis was tested using structural equation modeling. The results showed that more than 90% of respondents stated that agricultural land had been degraded. The risk and personal norms (PN) have a significant effect on the intention of CPBF (β = 0.144, β = 0.505; p-value <0.01), respectively. Unexpectedly, LC did not directly affect the intention to practice CPBF (β = 0.076, p-value = 0.159). This study provides insight into understanding the behavioral intentions of agricultural land conservation, especially millennial farmers’ perceptions of land degradation in their farming areas. To encourage the millennial farmers’ agricultural land conservation intentions, it should be started by increasing the awareness of farmers’ PN since they only pay little attention to degraded LC.

A fine digital soil mapping by integrating remote sensing-based process model and deep learning method in Northeast China

Accurate soil type maps provide an important basis for agricultural decision-making and land degradation control. In soil classification studies, the various environmental covariates are often selected based on the soil-forming framework. Since the mapping area and available observation data are limited, meteorological and vegetation cover factors have not been fully developed, and their role in soil classification needs to be evaluated. In addition, whether deep learning has out-performance in soil classification remains to be tested. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the accuracy of deep learning modelling techniques in classifying soil type using different combinations of input variables, and evaluate the importance of soil-forming variables in soil type classification. Therefore, we collected commonly used environmental covariates in Northeast China (NEC), including multiple meteorological factors and adopted a satellite-based biophysical model (Boreal Ecosystem Productivity Simulator, BEPS) to enrich vegetation cover factors. Next, four modeling strategies were developed: the soil-forming factors of soil and relief were considered as traditional environmental covariates (T), as well as combined with meteorologic variables (T + C), vegetation cover variables (T + V) and all available environmental covariates (T + C + V). Then, the effectiveness of different modeling strategies for soil classification was explored with convolutional neural network (CNN) model and multi-layer random forest (MRF) model based on soil separability. Finally, a 30 m resolution soil type map was established. The results demonstrated that both MRF and CNN can achieve high accuracy soil classification, while the CNN model performs better. The descending order of classification accuracy based on different modeling strategies of the CNN model is shown as T + C + V: 91.08%, T + V: 88.84%, T + C: 86.82%, and T: 83.96%. Meanwhile, the separability of different soil-forming factors for soil classification is soil properties, vegetation cover, temporal variation, meteorologic and relief in descending order. For Castanozems and Brown soils, MRF has higher classification accuracy, while CNN has better performance in Meadow soils and Fluvo-aquic soils. The methodology proposed in this paper aims to achieve high accuracy soil classification, provide an approach to understand the importance of soil-forming factors for the region, as well as for different soil types, and provide references for facilitating the interpretation of misclassified areas. Our results are accurate in the core areas, and therefore, this work facilitates researchers to be able to focus more on areas where different soil types intersect, thus significantly improves efficiency and saves resources, and promises to be a useful tool for future soil surveys.

Directions of land degradation in the greater Istanbul metropolitan area: A view from four decades

AbstractIn an era of dynamic urbanization, especially in densely populated regions such as the Greater Istanbul Metropolitan Area, land degradation (LD) is a widespread and multifaceted phenomenon. Hence, there is a need for monitoring LD to track the direction of urban sprawl and respond rationally. In this context, the purpose of this study was to investigate the magnitude and directions of LD in Istanbul from 1984 to 2022. The originality of the study lies in the development of the CAI_A index, which is a quantitative measure of the degree of anthropogenic impact. This study utilized Landsat 5 and Landsat 8 satellite imagery from 1984, 2002, and 2022, employing a maximum likelihood classification method to determine land cover and land use changes. The results show that the area of LD by anthropogenic activity has increased by an average of nearly 40 percentage points in each district of Istanbul over the past four decades, significantly impacting both natural and semi‐natural areas. Furthermore, a noteworthy observation was made regarding forests in the northern part of the study area, which demonstrated stability and resilience to LD. The results of the study are important for the urban environment because they facilitate a better understanding of the impact of human activities on mitigating LD in the context of climate change, among other things. Moreover, the results identify specific areas in need of targeted monitoring and remedial actions regarding LD.Research Highlights Istanbul's urbanization has been consistent since 1984. Urban expansion primarily contributes to agricultural land degradation. Land degradation clusters near settlements and on the southern coast. State forests are crucial for preserving natural areas and resisting degradation. Forest services are threatened by fragmented urban expansion.

Farmland Loss and Livelihood Effects: Diamond and Gold Mining Implications on Farmers’ Sustainability in Sierra Leone

Mining businesses are problematic in developing countries because they intrude on farming ecologies, rendering arable lands almost unavailable to farmers and making them unproductive. This paper expounds on the impact of agricultural land loss on mining activities in Kenema, as farming is the primary source of income for the locals; nevertheless, small-farm holdings are a definitive characteristic of this district. Using perceptions-based data gathered from 358 respondents, the software STATA 14 was employed to analyse the ordinal logit model. The results suggest that though mining operations gave the community quick income and short-term jobs, the negative impacts on farmers’ livelihood and outcomes surpass the benefits. The challenges farmers face from mining activities are Water pollution, displacement from their lands, and agricultural land degradation, and most get into illegal mining due to these constraints. This is mirrored in the average cultivation area of about 4 acres, with a relatively small harvest and an average monthly farm income of less than USD 40. Moreover, the results disclosed that the mines had increased land concession with less or no land reclamation or restoration. Therefore, it is recommended that all parties involved use a standardized method of communication that will prevent mining-related farmland encroachment. Moreover, it is good that authorities empower environmental law-enforcing bodies to monitor mining operations closely to ensure total compliance with the laws of the land management system.

Dynamic assessment and prediction of land use alterations influence on ecosystem service value: A pathway to environmental sustainability

In the face of rapid urbanization, understanding and managing changes in Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) is crucial for the sustainability and resilience of urban ecosystems. Rapid urban growth resulting from changes in LULC, can lead to the fragmentation and degradation of Ecosystem Services (ES), including habitat provision, water regulation, and air purification. This study investigates LULC changes in Dhaka City, Bangladesh, from 2010 to 2021 and forecasts their future impacts on ES in 2030 and 2040. Landsat images were processed using the Google Earth Engine platform, and a cellular automata technique was integrated with an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) for LULC mapping and prediction. Results showed an increase in built-up areas from 31% to 42% between 2010 and 2021, with a projected decrease to 34% and 32% in 2030 and 2040, respectively. Water bodies, vegetation, and agricultural land declined from 2010 to 2021 but are expected to increase in 2030 and 2040. This trend indicates a growing awareness of the need for a sustainable environment and resilience in urban ecosystem development. The value of ES is predicted to drop from $172.66 to $160.23 over thirty years (2010–2040), primarily due to the degradation of water bodies ($7.64) and agricultural land ($6.89). However, the projected increase in water bodies, vegetation, and agricultural land by 2040 suggests a potential for recovery and enhancement of these ES values through sustainable practices. Future land use policies should promote sustainable agriculture and water resource management while fostering resilience against rapid urban growth. This approach will ensure the sustainable development of urban ecosystems. This study informs future land use strategies in Dhaka City, supporting sustainable natural resource management, urban ecosystem quality management decisions, and resilience planning. It underscores the importance of integrating sustainability and resilience into urban development policies for the benefit of both the environment and the city's inhabitants.

Understanding how management can prevent degradation of the structurally fragile soils of the Amazonian periphery

The dynamics and responses to mulching management processes, which affect sustainability in tropical agroecosystems, remain poorly understood. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate and distinguish the short-and long-term effects of mulch of leguminous biomass on fertility of a tropical soil enriched with calcium. This experiment was conducted using the treatments: Long-term mulching (LTM) consisted of planting without mulch in 2019 in soil that had been mulched for six years previously, while short-term mulching (STM) consisted of planting without mulch for six years and with mulch only in 2019. LTM + STM consisted of planting in mulched soil for seven years (from 2013 to 2019), while LTM + synthetic nitrogen (LTM + sN) consisted of the LTM treatment with the addition of 150 kg N ha−1. The remaining treatments were STM + sN; LTM + STM + sN; bare soil with sN, and bare soil without sN as control. In areas with LTM the interactions between products derived from biomass, sN, and Ca resulted in higher total SOC and BS, while STM maintained soil moisture, decreased penetration resistance, and enhanced N uptake providing biological nitrogen able to replace sN for maize nutrition. The positive effects of short- and long-term mulching were cumulative as they increased accumulated N by maize in 163%, and maize grain yield by 125% (4.77–10.78 Mg ha−1) compared to cultivation with sN without mulch. Our results showed that interactions between continuos mulch of leguminous biomass, Ca and sN prevent degradation of agricultural land in Amazonian conditions. Therefore, this combination must be recommended to prevent Amazonian soil management, which in turn reduces the risk of new deforestation in Amazonian periphery.

Greening and agroecological assessment of the agricultural sector of the Karabakh region

State of the problem. During the occupation by Armenia of the Karabakh economic district of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the military degradation of agricultural lands and their use in agriculture and animal husbandry without observing agroecological rules led to the deterioration of soil fertility and the reduction of the optimality of agrarian landscapes. Object learning. The article presents modern ideas for re-doing the agroecological assessment of the lands and solving the actual agroecological problems of their use in agriculture for greening the development of the agricultural area in the Karabakh economic region. In the economic region, the main approach is given to methodological issues of agro-ecological assessment of soil quality, greening of efficient use of agricultural land, agro-ecological analysis of anthropogenic dynamics of soils, regional integration of assessment of agro-ecological quality of soils. In the design of agroecosystems in the Karabakh economic region, the agroecological approach of the differentiation of the area according to the soil-climate factors, the evaluation of the soil taking into account the geomorphological and climatic factors is given. At the same time, the importance of cadastral assessment and accounting of the modern ecological condition of the region's land resources, as well as the issues of their effective use and protection are explained. In the article, in order to ensure the development of the agrarian sector in the region, the importance of the complex agro-ecological re-evaluation of land resources, ways to eliminate the main indicators of land degradation and ecological requirements for the cultivation of plants, determination of territorial units characterized by variability of natural and climatic conditions, agro-production grouping of elementary areas of agro-landscapes and according to the agro-ecological assessment of the area, the ways of organizing the efficient use of land were investigated. Methodology. Generalization, historical, statistical, systematic analysis, and comparison methods were used to prepare the article. Research results. Environmental and economic stability may become more challenging in the future due to increasing anthropogenic pressure on agroecosystems in the economic region and poor infrastructure. Due to intensive land use, frequent erosion, river floods, and environmental pollution in the region can lead to a decline in the quality of agricultural land. Also, anthropogenic activities in the region can have a negative impact on the state and development of agroecosystems and the sustainable development of agriculture in the region, to optimize which it is considered necessary to improve and update the methods and technologies used in agriculture. The scientific novelty of the research. It is necessary to apply agroecological concepts and principles in the redesign, development, and management of sustainable agricultural systems in the economic region. The development of agroecosystems in the region should be ensured by alternative agricultural methodologies and approaches that combine the socio-economic and historical context of agriculture. The production of organic agricultural products, which do not harm human health and the natural environment, should be carried out, and the ecological condition of the soil should also be monitored regularly.

Geospatial model of negative processes of agricultural land as a means of digitalization of the educational and experimental farm

The article discusses the creation of a series of maps of negative processes for the purpose of digitalization of the Educational and Experimental Farm of the Stavropol State Agrarian University when assessing the degree of degradation of agricultural lands. The article is devoted to the problem of studying modern methods for assessing the condition of agricultural lands subject to negative processes. As a result of the research, the main negative processes were established, the degrees of their development and the intensity of their spread were determined. The main task of creating a geospatial model is to determine the current state of agricultural land and the possibility of their further use in agriculture. As a result, the prospects for the economic use of agricultural land were determined based on a comprehensive assessment of the qualitative condition of the land, a geospatial model will identify the dangers of the development of negative processes and a system of practical recommendations for planning the economic use of agricultural land.

Assessment of salt‐affected soil in Indo‐Gangetic Plain of Uttar Pradesh and prediction using regression model

AbstractIn the present study, multiple sites in the Indo‐Gangetic Plain (IGP) were examined, and most of the sites were found to be non‐saline, with electrical conductivity (EC) values below 4.0 dSm−1. The highest value of EC 8.5 dSm−1 was reported for samples collected from JAN‐2, which, followed by site RBL‐3, also shows a high value of EC 6.5 dSm−1. The highest CEC (cmolkg−1) was reported in samples collected from site JAN‐1 (8.4), JAN‐2 (8.2), and JAN‐3 (8.21), and the lowest at RBL‐2 (3.99). The highest exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) value of 34.07% was observed at RBL‐3, indicating a potential salinity risk associated with elevated sodium contents. The analysis showed that salt was present at all study sites, and there were strong correlations between the variables examined. The relationship between measured ESP and predicted ESP shows a strong correlation with an r2 value of 0.91, indicating the applicability of ESP–sodium adsorption ratio (SAR). Paired samples t‐test results p‐value = 0.27 indicated no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the soil ESP values predicted by the soil ESP–SAR model and those obtained through laboratory testing. The statistical results of the study suggested that the soil ESP–SAR model was reliable for predicting ESP values. The soil ESP differences between the two methods were normally distributed, and the 95% limits of agreement were calculated as −7.79 and 5.55. The mean difference between the ESP–SAR model and the “Measured” method was calculated as 2.24, representing the average deviation between the two. The study presents the ESP–SAR model as a cost‐effective and efficient method for estimating soil ESP and assessing soil salinity. By analyzing soil properties and validating the model, it provides valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders in combating agricultural land degradation in the IGP. The novelty lies in its comprehensive evaluation of soil salinity indices, reinforcing the applicability of the ESP–SAR model for future research and agricultural management.

Regenerative Agriculture as a Sustainable System of Food Production: Concepts, Conditions, Perceptions and Initial Implementations in Poland, Czechia and Slovakia

In order to produce agri-food products in a sustainable way, a new and pro-environmental farmer attitude to soil is of key importance. In a situation of significant degradation of agricultural land as a result of the spread of intensive farming, there has been growing interest in regenerative agriculture. Based on a literature review as well as quantitative and qualitative primary data, the authors aim to analyse various ways in which regenerative agriculture is defined, understood and implemented, with selected countries, namely Poland, Czechia and Slovakia, serving as examples. The objective of the study is also to recognise how and to what extent the concepts and practices of regenerative agriculture meet the principles of sustainable food production. An examination of the literature shows that regenerative agriculture is a relatively new and diversely described concept drawing on many models of agriculture. The results of a bibliometric and webometric analysis suggest that the scientific, expert and public perceptions of regenerative agriculture are still limited. In the countries under consideration, regenerative agriculture is often identified with the concept of biological farming (biologisation of agriculture), and the conscious implementation of its practices at farms is infrequent, usually only taking place at large farms. The study was conducted from the point of view of the social sciences and agricultural economics, is comparative in character, and includes recommendations for agricultural policy as well as guidelines for possible future research.

Microbial Exudates as Biostimulants: Role in Plant Growth Promotion and Stress Mitigation.

Microbes hold immense potential, based on the fact that they are widely acknowledged for their role in mitigating the detrimental impacts of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which were extensively employed during the Green Revolution era. The consequence of this extensive use has been the degradation of agricultural land, soil health and fertility deterioration, and a decline in crop quality. Despite the existence of environmentally friendly and sustainable alternatives, microbial bioinoculants encounter numerous challenges in real-world agricultural settings. These challenges include harsh environmental conditions like unfavorable soil pH, temperature extremes, and nutrient imbalances, as well as stiff competition with native microbial species and host plant specificity. Moreover, obstacles spanning from large-scale production to commercialization persist. Therefore, substantial efforts are underway to identify superior solutions that can foster a sustainable and eco-conscious agricultural system. In this context, attention has shifted towards the utilization of cell-free microbial exudates as opposed to traditional microbial inoculants. Microbial exudates refer to the diverse array of cellular metabolites secreted by microbial cells. These metabolites enclose a wide range of chemical compounds, including sugars, organic acids, amino acids, peptides, siderophores, volatiles, and more. The composition and function of these compounds in exudates can vary considerably, depending on the specific microbial strains and prevailing environmental conditions. Remarkably, they possess the capability to modulate and influence various plant physiological processes, thereby inducing tolerance to both biotic and abiotic stresses. Furthermore, these exudates facilitate plant growth and aid in the remediation of environmental pollutants such as chemicals and heavy metals in agroecosystems. Much like live microbes, when applied, these exudates actively participate in the phyllosphere and rhizosphere, engaging in continuous interactions with plants and plant-associated microbes. Consequently, they play a pivotal role in reshaping the microbiome. The biostimulant properties exhibited by these exudates position them as promising biological components for fostering cleaner and more sustainable agricultural systems.

Оценка экологического состояния и устойчивости агроландшафтов на локальном уровне

The purpose of the study: assessment of the ecological state and sustainability of land use (local level) to improve the productivity of land use. Research methods: system analysis has become the main method of this scientific work. The works and works of scientists who studied the problems of sustainable development, agricultural land management, soil diversity, climate became the methodological basis of our scientific research. Well-known scientific methods were also used: monographic, analysis and synthesis, statistical processing of analytical information, cartographic and others. Research results. The methodology for the environmental assessment of the state and sustainability of agrolandscapes at the local level makes it possible to determine their agroindustrial potential and prevent the degradation of agricultural land. On the example of a municipal district with an area of 198 thousand hectares, located in the dry steppe zone of the Altai Krai, an environmental assessment of the state and sustainability of agricultural landscapes was carried out. We compiled a unique landscape map-scheme on which five landscape areas were identified. It was established that 80% of the territory is occupied by ancient alluvial flat and slightly undulating plains with chestnut soils, in combination with dark chestnut and meadow chestnut soils, solonetsous in places. Agricultural landscapes are everywhere subject to deflationary processes. It was determined that the agricultural development of the territory exceeds 94%, the coefficient of ecological stability of the agricultural landscape is 0,27, the coefficient of anthropogenic load is 3,62 points, the coefficient of the ecological state of the agricultural landscape is 0,30, which characterizes the territory as extremely highly developed (59% of landscapes – very unstable, 36% – unstable, and only 3 % and 2 % – very and moderately resistant, respectively). The results of the research can be used in the design and organization of farming systems at the level of an agricultural organization. Conclusions. 1. It has been established that the studied agrolandscapes are typical for large areas of the south of Western Siberia and Northern Kazakhstan in terms of a whole range of conditions and factors. 2. Particular attention in the environmental assessment of the state and sustainability of agricultural landscapes at the local level should be given to the structure of the land fund, agricultural land, sown areas and crop rotations. 3. It was determined that the studied agrolandscapes are experiencing a critical anthropogenic load, degradation (deflationary) processes are manifested everywhere on the territory, sustainability indicators characterize two-thirds of the territory as very unstable, more than 30% as unstable, and only 5% of landscapes are stable. 4. Research results can be used in the design and organization of farming systems at the level of an agricultural organization.

ANALYSIS OF THE CLIMATIC DEFLATION INDICATOR DYNAMICS ON THE EXAMPLE OF ERZIN WEATHER STATION DATA

Link for citation: Kozlova I.V., Zenkova Zh.N., Kvasnikova Z.N. Analysis of the climatic deflation indicator dynamics on the example of Erzin weather station data. Bulletin of the Tomsk Polytechnic University. Geo Аssets Engineering, 2023, vol. 334, no. 9, рр. 154-162. In Rus. The relevance of the research is caused by the need to identify factors affecting the development of deflationary processes of arid geosystems of the Tuva Republic. This will allow us to propose further measures to reduce the degradation of agricultural land and minimize the development of land desertification. Objective: assessment of climatic conditions and identification of anthropogenic factors of the potential danger of deflation to monitor changes in vulnerable geosystems and natural and anthropogenic processes. Objects: a section of the north-eastern (Russian) part of the Ubsunur basin within the Erzinsky district of the Tuva Republic. Methods: statistical analysis, regressions, moving average, comparative geographical method, interpretation of satellite images. Results. The dynamics of the climatic index of deflation based on the data of the Erzin weather station for 1966–2020 is analyzed; graphs of changes in the temperature regime, the amount of precipitation, wind speed are plotted; a linear trend of the distribution of the average annual temperature is revealed; coefficients of the climatic index of deflation and aridity indices are determined, graphs of their dynamics for the period under study are plotted; a tendency to weaken deflation is revealed; the studied landscapes are subarid on average, and according to the index fluctuation – from weakly arid (0,6–0,8) to arid (0,3) and subarid (0,5 –0,6).

Assessment of Soil Erosion by RUSLE Model using remote sensing and QGIS: A Case Study on Sina River Basin

Soil erosion is a significant environmental problem that affects river basins globally, leading to the loss of fertile topsoil, degradation of agricultural lands, and water pollution. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model is commonly used to assess soil erosion by considering various factors such as rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, slope length and steepness, vegetation cover, and conservation practices. To obtain the necessary data for accurate predictions, remote sensing techniques and Quantum Geographic Information Systems (QGIS), specifically QGIS software, are utilized. The objectives of this research are to determine to estimate soil loss using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model for the Sina River watershed using QGIS. This research paper focuses on assessing soil erosion in the Sina River Basin located in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India, using the RUSLE model and QGIS, having a drainage area of 12,372 km2 . The parameters of the RUSLE model were estimated using remote sensing data and the erosion was determined using QGIS. The estimated rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, topographic and crop management factors range from 83 to 84 MJ/mm·ha−1hr−1/year, 0 to 0.25t ha−1·MJ−1·mm−and 0 to 957.083, 0 to 0.19 respectively. The results indicate that the estimated total annual potential soil loss of about 14.37 t/yr. The predicted soil erosion rate due to the increase in a barren area is about 9.76 t/yr. The results can certainly aid in the implementation of soil management and conservation practices to reduce soil erosion in the Sina River Basin.

Measuring the extent and impact of urban expansion in an agricultural-urbanized landscape in Central Iran.

The unplanned urban expansion is a major environmental challenge in Iran resulting in vast degradation of agricultural lands. Focusing on an agricultural-urbanized landscape in Central Iran, the spatial pattern of built-up expansion was assessed from Landsat data processed in 1992 (TM), 2002 (ETM+), 2012 (TM), and 2022 (OLI). Multi-year crop NDVI was also used as a proxy for cropland suitability to assess the intensity of the urban growth impact. Results showed that (1) the area of built-up surfaces increased almost up to double than that of 1992 and passed 36% (413.42 km2) by 2022, (2) the region experienced a coalescence-diffusion transition phase with decreasing spatial connectivity of newly developed patches with old ones, (3) the most suitable croplands were lost in the middle period (2002-2012) when urban patches started to diffuse, and (4) a significantly positive spatial (Spearman's) relationship (r (22100) = 0.181, p = 0.000) was found between the area and quality of croplands which further highlights the high importance of cropland protection in the region.

Evaluation of Conventional and Mechanization Methods towards Precision Agriculture in Indonesia

Food security is a major concern in many countries, including Indonesia. Land productivity has decreased due to shrinking agricultural land, global warming, and land degradation. Precision agriculture (PA) empowers people to use agricultural technology to increase productivity. Therefore, this study aims to examine PA from adopting agricultural machinery. The method used in time series analysis is pooled least squares (PLS). The results show that the transition from conventional methods to using mechanized tools, especially tractors, significantly (at a sig level of 1%) affects rice production in Indonesian rice centers. These results form the basis that Indonesian rice farmers are enthusiastic about various technologies, so the opportunities for PA are significant. However, the gap between PA research in Indonesia and developed countries needs attention, and research collaboration can be a solution. From a practical standpoint, PA integrated with the internet is challenging for Indonesian farmers. Therefore, empowering farmers through various synergy mechanisms is proposed in this study.

Evaluation of Soil Loss and Identification of Dominant Factors in the Semi-Arid Region Using GIS: A Case of Bhavnagar District, Gujarat, India

Abstract: The loss of valuable topsoil worldwide has led to agricultural land degradation and a reduction in crop yields. Soil erosion is mainly caused by both natural phenomena and human interference with the ecosystem. The efficiency of spatial information systems like GIS and RS has been effectively developed. From 2015 to 2021, soil loss estimation was conducted using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model, with remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) assistance. We have produced the RUSLE model's five essential potential parameters (R*K*LS*C*P) pixel-by-pixel. We generated the R factor map through the Indian Meteorological Department's (IMD) daily rainfall data, and the K factor map using the FAO's digital soil series global map. For the LS-factor map, we used the digital elevation model data (DEM) of SRTM. Landsat 8 dataset was used to generate LULC, and NDVI maps to derive C and P factors. The highest mean annual soil loss in 2021 was estimated to be 209.16 tons per hectare per year. The riverbank area of the Shetruji River near Palitana Taluka in this district had an extremely high risk of soil loss. The coastal area from Bhavnagar to Dholera was classified as a high and very high-risk area for soil loss, which contained barren land. The results revealed that barren land is the most susceptible to soil erosion. As per statistical analysis, the C factor is the dominant factor in this region which is most influential in soil erosion. The soil erosion maps from this study will provide policymakers with the necessary information to implement suitable conservation measures in this region.