Despite cropland changes' critical role in ensuring food security, fostering socio-economic development, and balancing ecological protection, the regional variability in cropland dynamics within large-scale watershed economic belts remains understudied. To address this gap, we mapped land use change intensity to analyze cropland change patterns and stability in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB). Through statistical analysis, we identified key driving factors and predicted cropland changes for 2030 using the FLUS model. We also proposed region-specific sustainable use scenarios. The results reveal a systematic trend of cropland conversion to built-up land and water transforming into cropland in the YREB. Despite a steady decline in cropland area over the past two decades, the intensity of cropland inflows and outflows has remained balanced. The cropland center of gravity follows an east-north trajectory, with local meandering, isotropic shifts, and transverse displacements. Transport networks significantly influence cropland changes in the upper YREB, while climate impacts on cropland in the lower YREB are increasing. Future projections suggest the cropland center of gravity will shift toward southern mountainous regions in the upper and middle YREB and toward northern plains in the lower YREB. Among the proposed scenarios, only the Cropland Protection Scenarios (CPS) align closely with the cropland coverage targets of the Sustainable Pathways in Shared Socio-Economic Development Pathways (SPP1). Urban expansion encroaching on agricultural land is evident in Deyang and Mianyang, while competition with ecological space is pronounced in the middle and lower reaches and in riverine and coastal areas. This study provides a novel perspective on cropland changes in the YREB, emphasizing regional variability and the need for tailored policy interventions, thereby offering a scientific foundation for cropland management and planning.

Agricultural land conversion not only threatens the sustainability of the farm sector, but also influences the socioeconomic conditions of farmer. The purpose of this study is to examine the external and internal factors affecting agricultural land conversion on the household economy of rice farmers. Using a quantitative survey approach, this study collected primary data from 30 rice farmers in Kloposepuluh Village, Sidoarjo Regency, selected through purposive sampling. Secondary data were obtained from official sources, including government agencies and regional planning documents. The influence of independent variables on land conversion was examined using multiple linear regression analysis. Results show some variables significantly influence on land conversion, including land area ownership, influences from developers and other farmers, employment opportunities, and economic pressures. These variables encourage farmers to convert their land to non-farm uses. On the other hand, land conversion is not significantly affected by government policy variables, indicating the weak effectiveness of policy interventions in controlling land conversion. The results highlight the need for the government to play an active role in enhancing agricultural land protection policies by adopting more adaptive and participatory strategies. Furthermore, providing economic incentives and safeguarding farmers is expected to reduce the economic pressures that lead to land conversion.

In January 2024, a major flood from Batang Merao River occurred in Sungai Penuh City, submerging residential areas and agricultural land to a depth of 0.5–1.5 m. One of the most severely impacted areas was Hamparan Rawang District with a total of 3985 houses and 866.025 ha of agricultural land inundated. This research aims to identify effective flood management alternatives to reduce inundation area and mitigate flood losses. The research was carried out through hydrological analysis, hydraulic analysis using HEC-RAS, and loss analysis using the ECLAC (Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean) method. The study found that with Q25 discharges of 48.34 m³/s upstream and 720.62 m³/s downstream, an existing inundation area of 968.64 ha occurred, resulting in total losses of IDR 95.239 billion. Therefore, two flood management scenarios were developed, scenario 1 (river normalization) and scenario 2 (combination of river normalization and retention pond). Modeling results showed the inundation area under scenario 1 was 802.78 ha, reduce losses to IDR 43.604 billion (45.78% reduction). Under scenario 2, the inundation area was 780.51 ha, reduce losses to IDR 42,001 billion (44.10% reduction). Scenario 2 is effective for reducing inundation area, but for reducing financial losses, scenario 1 is more effective.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural land due to excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides has detrimental effects on soil quality, plant growth, and human health. Bioremediation offers a simple and environmentally friendly approach to address this issue. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of Bacillus sp., FOBIO biopesticide, and green mustard (Brassica rapa L. var. parachinensis) as bioremediation agents for Cd-contaminated soil. The experiment was conducted using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with seven treatments and four replications. Observed parameters included Cd concentration in the soil before and after remediation, as well as the growth and physiological responses of mustard plants. The application of FOBIO biopesticide without plants resulted in the highest Cd reduction (4.57 mg/kg), while the combination of Bacillus sp. and mustard plants reduced Cd by 4.11 mg/kg, and mustard plants alone reduced Cd by 2.40 mg/kg, outperforming the control. FOBIO biopesticide application significantly enhanced leaf number, plant height, and fresh weight compared to other treatments. These findings indicate that Bacillus sp., FOBIO biopesticide, and green mustard have strong potential as bioremediation agents for Cd-contaminated soils.

Indonesia possesses vast land resources, offering significant potential for agricultural development. Among high-value commodities, durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.) is widely cultivated. Bumiaji District in Batu City, characterized by hilly topography and extensive agricultural land, serves as a prominent durian production center. Optimizing durian productivity, however, requires a thorough understanding of land suitability based on soil characteristics. This study evaluated land suitability for durian cultivation in Bumiaji District, focusing on key soil chemical properties, including soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), base saturation (BS), and organic carbon (C-organic) content. The research was conducted using a survey method with purposive random sampling based on land mapping units (LMUs). Results indicated that most areas were classified as highly suitable (S1) based on CEC and organic carbon parameters, with CEC values ranging from 18.89 to 35.97 cmol/kg and C-organic levels above 1.2%. However, limitations were noted for pH and base saturation, with some areas classified as moderately (S2) or marginally suitable (S3). Improving land suitability can be achieved through targeted soil management strategies, such as liming with dolomite to enhance pH and base saturation. The findings of this study are expected to serve as a reference for implementing sustainable land management practices aimed at boosting durian productivity in Bumiaji District.

The Jordanian portion of the Jordan Valley serves as a critical geostrategic and agricultural corridor, yet it faces an existential threat from absolute water scarcity, climate change, and regional demographic pressures. This study provides an exhaustive qualitative analysis of water governance in the valley, drawing on national strategies, institutional archives, and longitudinal data from 2000 to 2025. The research evaluates the transition of the Jordan Valley Authority (JVA) from a centralized development agency toward a mature, tri-tier decentralization framework involving Water User Associations (WUAs). Despite these reforms, systemic challenges such as elite capture, non-revenue water (NRW) losses in the King Abdullah Canal (KAC), and the subsidies continue to hinder efficiency. The study applies the Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystem (WEFE) nexus framework to examine the interdependencies between energy-intensive pumping, the reuse of Treated Wastewater (TWW) for 98% in certain sectors, and the preservation of the Dead Sea ecosystem. Findings indicate that while land-use policies have preserved 371,000 dunums of agricultural land, approximately 71,000 dunums remain uncultivated due to water shortages. The manuscript identifies the Amman-Aqaba Water Conveyance Project (AAWA) and the 2030 Digital IT Roadmap as essential catalysts for long-term resilience. The paper concludes with adaptive governance recommendations aimed at reconciling national strategic priorities with localized operational efficiency.

Complex socio-ecological issues involving climate change and fresh water management highlight the importance of trust in interactions amongst humans in highly variable landscapes subject to multiple pressures. This study investigated the role of trust in establishing and maintaining relationships between individuals in research teams that included private landholders in southeast Australia as well as researchers. Using social constructivist grounded theory methodology, interviews with members of a university research institute, a government agency and a farmer group in Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin were visualized using the Trust/Distrust Matrix. Findings emphasized the importance and differing impacts of trust amongst individuals, and within and between organizations. Interviewees highlighted the impacts of time and location on trust and relationships for effective natural resource management (NRM) research projects on private lands. The authors examined the implications for research managers and multidisciplinary groups seeking to influence NRM in highly contested socio-ecological spaces on agricultural lands.

Soil salinity threatens faba bean production globally, with 20-35% of agricultural lands affected in arid regions. Seed enhancement technologies offer practical solutions for improving crop establishment in salt-affected soils. This study evaluated multi-component seed coating versus hydropriming for enhancing faba bean germination, vigor, stress tolerance, and yield under four salinity levels (320-3000 ppm NaCl) in laboratory and field conditions under Egyptian conditions. Laboratory germination tests followed a completely randomised design, while field pot experiment used a randomised complete block design during 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 winter seasons. Treatments comprised four salinity levels and three seed treatments: untreated, hydropriming, and multi-component coating containing (gum Arabic, humic/fulvic acids, NPK, salicylic acid, and Rhizobium leguminosarum). Salinity reduced germination, seedling vigor, stress tolerance, and membrane stability while increasing electrolyte leakage. Multi-component coating outperformed hydropriming, particularly under stress. Compared to hydropriming, coating enhanced germination (6.1%), reduced mean germination time (13.6%), and increased seedling vigor index (32.2%). Under severe salinity (3000 ppm), coating advantages intensified: 3.9% higher germination and 16.7% improved vigor index over hydropriming. The coating’s relative vigor advantage increased from 39.2% at 320 ppm to 106.8% at 3000 ppm, demonstrating superior stress mitigation. Coating improved stress tolerance indices more effectively than hydropriming by enhancing membrane stability (26%) and reducing electrolyte leakage (25%) compared to untreated seeds. Biochemically, coating reduced malondialdehyde (20.4%) and sodium accumulation (16.3%) while maintaining higher potassium concentrations (26.8%) compared to hydropriming, with 32.1% higher K+/Na+ ratios under severe stress. Pot field experiments over two growing seasons validate lab results: coating seeds improved emergence by 12.5%, pods per plant by 40-45%, seeds per plant by 32-36%, and potential seed yield by 39-42% compared to untreated seeds. Strong laboratory-field correlations (r = 0.86-0.98) confirmed predictive validity. Multi-component seed coating offers a promising strategy for faba bean production in saline soils.

Silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav.) is one of the most problematic invasive plants threatening agricultural lands in the northern Middle East. Its recent widespread occurrence has raised serious concern, as one of the major problems associated with lands infested by this weed is its allelopathic effect on successive crops. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the allelopathic effect of different concentrations of its aqueous extracts on the germination and seedling development of three potential successive crops, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), broad bean (Vicia faba L.) and flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) and to screen its chemical components. All tested concentrations of the plant extract had a negative impact, inhibiting germination and suppressing seedling growth. The highest concentration (12.5 %) inhibited germination of wheat and broad bean by 100 %, while flax seeds showed complete germination inhibition at concentration of 7.5 % and above. Furthermore, the lower concentrations exhibited an inhibitory effect on growth over time, likely due to the accumulation of active substances within seedlings, preventing normal germination and development. The results of the chemical composition analysis also indicated that the residues of this plant contain a considerable amount of bioactive secondary metabolites known to inhibit seed germination, particularly glycosides and terpenes. The study's findings demonstrate the adverse impact of this plant’s spread and recommend implementing all possible measures to limit its further expansion. Conversely, the study highlights the potential use of its bioactive compounds as natural agents for biological control.

The suitability of rice varieties to agroclimatic conditions is a key factor in determining rice productivity in Indonesia. Climate variability and land limitations require a decision support system capable of assisting farmers in selecting rice varieties suitable for local environmental conditions. This study aims to develop an integrated artificial intelligence-based system that combines YOLOv9 for image-based rice variety recognition and Naïve Bayes for climate suitability prediction based on temperature and humidity parameters. Image data of five rice varieties Ciherang, Inpari 32, Inpari Nutrizinc, Mekongga, and Baroma were collected directly from agricultural fields in Bandung Regency and processed through annotation, augmentation, and model training stages. The YOLOv9 model performed well in distinguishing rice varieties with relatively similar morphological characteristics, with an mAP@50 value of 0.8932. Meanwhile, the Naïve Bayes model achieved 78% accuracy in predicting climate suitability based on altitude, temperature, and humidity, and produced predictions consistent with agronomic recommendations. Both models were then integrated into a Gradio-based interactive interface to facilitate use by non-technical users. The results indicate that this integrated approach has the potential to be an effective decision support system for assisting in the selection of rice varieties that are adaptive to microclimate conditions, thereby supporting more efficient and sustainable rice cultivation practices.

Contrasting land-use sources of microplastic and endocrine-disrupting compound pollution in a major coastal river network.

Controlled Environment Agriculture has the potential to achieve food security and lower carbon emissions in agri-food systems. However, contextual factors such as what is produced and how it is produced determine the feasibility of meeting these goals. Here we show how the use of a Maximum Energy-use Threshold, shaped by these contextual factors, can define, identify and enable low-carbon operations. Results support the potential of low-carbon controlled environment agriculture over international import when growing leafy greens in land-locked countries with low grid emission factors or when substituting air freight of short shelf-life produce. Prospective low-carbon energy scenarios helps but optimising energy use remains critical. As controlled environment agriculture allows intensive farming with a reduced land footprint, controlled environment agriculture of high energy use crops as a lower-carbon alternative can be supported when the potential for agricultural land substitution and restoration for environmental services is considered, along with other contextual condition.

Purpose This study investigates the impact of agricultural land ownership on smallholder rice farmers’ technical efficiency and productivity in Banten, Indonesia. It aims to address the research gap concerning the specific link between land ownership and institutional/socio-economic factors, providing empirical evidence to inform policy-making for improving land tenure regulations, agricultural modernization, and rural poverty reduction in Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach A multistage sampling procedure was used to collect data from 497 smallholder rice farmers across four districts in Banten, Indonesia. The study employs an econometric approach, combining the Stochastic Production Frontier (SPF) model to analyze the determinants of technical efficiency and Propensity Score Matching (PSM) to estimate the causal effect of land ownership on technical efficiency and productivity. Findings Landowner farmers consistently exhibit higher technical efficiency and productivity. The SPF results indicate that farm size, fertilizer, seed, and labor are key factors in determining productivity. Access to extension services, credit, and training significantly reduces inefficiency. While extension services were accessed by both landowners and non-landowners at similar rates, landowners had significantly better access to credit, farmer groups, and training opportunities, which contributed to their higher efficiency and productivity. PSM analysis reveals that land ownership increases technical efficiency by 5.2 percentage points and productivity by 52.49 kg/ha. Research limitations/implications The consistent positive and significant impact of land ownership implies that investment in land ownership can optimize the potential impact on the technical efficiency and productivity of smallholder farmers. Originality/value This study uses a robust combined econometric approach (SPF and PSM) to provide novel empirical evidence on the causal impact of land ownership on technical efficiency and productivity among smallholder rice farmers in Banten, Indonesia. It links land ownership to a broader set of institutional and socio-economic factors, offering a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics often overlooked in previous research.

Explainable and causal machine learning to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics patterns of coastal water quality in Hong Kong.

Incursions upon agricultural land within metropolitan peripheries: Deadlocks and geo-legal trajectories of regularization in Paris and Mexico-city

Objectives: The study aims to analyze changes in land use and land cover (LULC) in the southern governorates of Jordan—Karak, Ma'an, Tafila, and Aqaba—over the period 1994–2023. It further examines the extent to which these changes have been influenced by migration patterns, employing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and time-series analysis. Methods: The research methodology focused on understanding demographic changes. so, Time-series data were used to identify patterns and trends in population distribution, assisting in monitoring the influence of migration on demographic structure over time. Additionally, quantitative and qualitative analyses were combined to provide a comprehensive perspective, with quantitative analysis focusing on numerical data such as migration rates and population counts, while qualitative analysis explored sociological and cultural factors that affect land use and migration dynamic Results: The results of the study indicate that migration patterns in southern Jordan are primarily driven by economic and spatial factors, with Where it is considered Aqaba governorate the primary receiving area for migrants while other regions (Karak, Ma'an, Tafila (experience negative net migration due to insufficient infrastructure and job opportunities. Conclusions: Migration trends have significantly impacted receiving areas, leading to increased urbanization that strains infrastructure and services. This expansion has caused land-use shifts, with residential areas replacing agricultural and industrial lands, driving up housing demand and property prices. These changes underscore the need for strategic urban planning and infrastructure investments for sustainable development.

Socioecological determinants of dog ownership in Mara region, Tanzania.

The rapid expansion of groundwater-based irrigation has transformed agricultural productivity in Bangladesh, yet it has also intensified pressure on subsurface water resources. This study examined the impacts of irrigated agrarian land expansion on groundwater security in Mithapukur Upazila, Rangpur District, Bangladesh, an agriculturally intensive region characterized by dry-season Boro rice cultivation and limited surface-water availability. High-resolution land use maps derived from Orthorectified and Sentinel-2 imagery of 2000, 2010, and 2023 were combined with long-term groundwater level data from the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) to analyze spatiotemporal irrigation patterns and aquifer responses. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (ρ) was used to examine the relationship between irrigated area and groundwater level, while Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) was used to evaluate model prediction accuracy. Results indicate that the irrigated area increased from 269.57 km2 in 2000 to 318.97 km2 in 2023, while groundwater levels declined from 4.25 m to 5.48 m below the surface. Statistical analysis revealed a strong positive correlation (ρ = 0.879) between irrigation expansion and groundwater depletion, primarily driven by increased groundwater withdrawals, with limited surface water availability intensifying reliance on groundwater resources. These findings highlighted the urgent need for integrated water management strategies, including regulated pumping, adoption of water-efficient irrigation practices, and coordinated use of seasonal surface water for irrigation, combined with groundwater abstraction during dry periods, to safeguard both agricultural productivity and aquifer sustainability.

The illusion of spectral greening: Unveiling the hidden transformation of agricultural land use in an arid peri-urban landscape of central Iran

Sources and transformations of shallow groundwater nitrate in intensively irrigated agricultural lands of the Yinchuan Plain, Northwest China.