Oasis Agriculture Research Articles

A Machine Learning Based Framework for a Stage-Wise Classification of Date Palm White Scale Disease

Date palm production is critical to oasis agriculture, owing to its economic importance and nutritional advantages. Numerous diseases endanger this precious tree, putting a strain on the economy and environment. White scale Parlatoria blanchardi is a damaging bug that degrades the quality of dates. When an infestation reaches a specific degree, it might result in the tree's death. To counter this threat, precise detection of infected leaves and its infestation degree is important to decide if chemical treatment is necessary. This decision is crucial for farmers who wish to minimize yield losses while preserving production quality. For this purpose, we propose a feature extraction and machine learning (ML) technique based framework for classifying the stages of infestation by white scale disease (WSD) in date palm trees by investigating their leaflets images. 80 gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) texture features and 9 hue, saturation, and value (HSV) color moments features are extracted from both grayscale and color images of the used dataset. To classify the WSD into its four classes (healthy, low infestation degree, medium infestation degree, and high infestation degree), two types of ML algorithms were tested; classical machine learning methods, namely, support vector machine (SVM) and k-nearest neighbors (KNN), and ensemble learning methods such as random forest (RF) and light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM). The ML models were trained and evaluated using two datasets: the first is composed of the extracted GLCM features only, and the second combines GLCM and HSV descriptors. The results indicate that SVM classifier outperformed on combined GLCM and HSV features with an accuracy of 98.29%. The proposed framework could be beneficial to the oasis agricultural community in terms of early detection of date palm white scale disease (DPWSD) and assisting in the adoption of preventive measures to protect both date palm trees and crop yield.

A strategic approach to sustainable agricultural tourism “case study of Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia”

PurposeThe percentage of tourism revenues from the national income decreased during the period (2000: 2020) which necessitates diversification in tourism activity and tourism revenues through agricultural tourism as one of the types of tourism activities. On other hand, Al-Ahsa governorate is the largest governorate in Saudi Arabia, covering an area of about 2,500 square kilometers. Moreover, it includes an oasis that is the largest irrigated agricultural oases in the world. It is distinguished by its strategic geographical location, in addition to being one of the most famous palm oasis in the world. Although Al-Ahsa governorate has many ingredients for agricultural tourism; the number of farms approved in the Aryaf program reached about 101 farms at the level of Al-Ahsa with a rate that not exceed about 0.5% of farms in 2018 of the total farms. That means it still Agricultural tourism has not received sufficient attention from investors and farm owners.Design/methodology/approachThe study targeted planning for agricultural tourism activities in Al-Ahsa Governorate using a long-term sustainable approach to achieve sustainable development and diversification of sources income in agriculture sector. The study depended on the sample size was determined from Al-Ahsa farms in light of the fact that the number of farm owners in Al-Ahsa. In addition the study relied on the use of descriptive and quantitative statistical analysis through the use of percentages, chi-square test and Likert's triple test.FindingsThe results of the study strategic plans of farms in Al-Ahsa points to the importance of enhancing agricultural tourism services in Al-Ahsa, including health, environmental, recreational and food services, which may have an impact on increasing the economic return of farms in a better way in order to gain competitive advantage by focusing on developing the farms themselves in line with the Aryaf program of the Ministry of Tourism in the Kingdom to ensure safe and sustainable growth of revenues Economic.Originality/valueThis study is concerned with Agricultural Tourism. The study is helpful in policy formation to target sustainable development and diversification of sources income in Saudi Arabia. The authors whose names are listed immediately below certify that they have NO affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers' bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Spatiotemporal variability of photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic vegetation under climate change in arid and semiarid regions in China

ABSTRACT Understanding the spatiotemporal characteristics of photosynthetic vegetation (PV) and non-photosynthetic vegetation (NPV) is critical for the study of vegetation in arid and semiarid regions. However, the evaluation of the fractional cover of PV (f PV) and NPV (f NPV) in Xinjiang has received very little attention. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of PV and NPV and their responses to precipitation and temperature in Xinjiang from 2001 to 2020. The results showed that the overall stability of f PV and f NPV were of the low fluctuation and high fluctuation types, respectively. A significant increase trend of f PV was found in most regions (P < 0.01), while f NPV showed an insignificant increase trend in general, except for eastern Xinjiang (P > 0.05). The comparison of f PV and f NPV shows that the vegetation of Xinjiang has improved over time, except for the Yili region, showing the need to strengthen the environmental protection of this region. Through the spatial analysis, some agricultural oasis areas experienced an expansion in the distribution of vegetation, while some sparse vegetation distribution area has not improved. From the climate perspective, the response degree of f PV and f NPV with precipitation is higher than that of temperature. The responses of f PV and f NPV to precipitation are greater in the summer and spring phases, respectively. Whereas, the responses of both f PV and f NPV to temperature are greater in the autumn phase. In the time phase, precipitation mainly promotes the distribution of PV and NPV, while temperature mainly inhibits their distribution. This study provides a theoretical basis for ecological restoration and conservation in Xinjiang and other arid and semiarid regions worldwide.

Mountain valleys, alluvial fans and oases: Geomorphologic perspectives of the mixed agropastoral economy in Xinjiang (3000–200 BC)

Xinjiang serves as a hub for trans-Eurasian exchange. The Xinjiang hominids are supposed to be greatly influenced by the environment due to the fragile ecology and arid climate. As the territory with the most significant and complex geomorphic units in Inner Asia, Xinjiang features a diverse spectrum of geomorphic forms, including mountains, basins, deserts, river valleys, and oases. This paper presents a systematic summary of the geomorphic locations of 127 Bronze Age to early Iron Age (3000–200 BC) sites and cemeteries in Xinjiang and their economic strategies, exploring the different economic choices of ancient humans who lived in other geomorphic units, and how they adapted to their microenvironments. We have divided Xinjiang into five regions: the Junggar Basin, the Tarim Basin, the Western Tianshan Mountains, the middle Tianshan Mountains, and the Eastern Tianshan Mountains. Our study shows that there were different agropastoral economic modes in different geographical units. Roughly bounded by the Tianshan Mountains, the economy in northern Xinjiang was heavily based on animal husbandry, while oasis farming was popular in the Southern Xinjiang reigon. From the perspective of geomorphology, most sites are situated in mountain valleys, alluvial fans, and oases regions with surface water sources and fine-textured soil cover. Sites near mountains were more likely to develop a mixed pastoral-hunting economy, and oasis communities of a specific size were more likely to build a mixed agricultural-pastoral economy. In large river valleys or alluvial fans, it is expected that settlement clusters and large central settlements will grow, leading to the emergence of social complexity. This study will help to understand the complex “man-land” dynamics between 3000 and 200 BC in Xinjiang.

Бұланды (Баланды) фортификациясын зерттеу нәтижелері

The article considers the fortification of the Balanda I fortress, which is located at the ancient Syr Darya delta, where the agricultural Chirikrabat archaeological culture was widespread in the second half of the I millennium BC. Balanda Fortress is the center of a small agricultural oasis of the IV+II centuries BC, which was based on the main canal, between the channels of the Inkardarya and Zhanadarya lower reaches of the Syr Darya, as a whole. The center of the settlement and the entire oasis was the fortified manor-fortress of Balanda. During the field works of Chirikrabat expedition in 2007-2014, it was possible to identify and partially reconstruct the constructions of defense. Based on the data obtained, it is possible to distinguish at least 2 main periods of the construction of fortress walls, which, in turn, are divided into stages. The system of fortification revealed during the excavations of Balanda I seems to be quite archaic. The corners were protected by semicircular towers, which were a solid monolith of brickwork on a base-a plinth made of dense clay-pakhsa, to which a pakhsa platform with a width of 1.3-1.4 m and a height of no more than 1 m was attached from the inside. The long walls of the fortress were also flanked by semicircular towers. The walls and the protruding towers were cut with arrow-shaped loopholes. Based on archaeological data, the Balanda Fortress was a large fundamental building

Deficit mulched drip irrigation improves yield, quality, and water use efficiency of watermelon in a desert oasis region

In the context of global warming, drought is a crucial factor affecting agricultural production, especially for the oasis farming areas of northwestern China, where water resources are extremely scarce. To reveal the response of watermelon water consumption (WC), yield, quality, and water use efficiency (WUE) to water deficit (WD) and to determine the optimal mode of irrigation in the desert oasis areas of Hexi, we applied different WD treatments on a field oasis watermelon in 2020 and 2021. The experiments employed two gradients of light (l) and moderate (m) WD treatments during the seedling (S), vine (V), expansion (E), and maturity (M) stages except for flowering and fruiting (F) stage, with full irrigation during the entire growth period as the control (CK). The results showed that the WC of oasis watermelon at each growth stage was in the order: E > V > S > M > F, in which WC by E stage accounted for 33.15–40.33%. Compared with the CK, WD had an obvious effect on water saving, and WD during the V or E stages inhibited the growth of vine leaves to a certain extent. The Sl treatment (light WD during S stage) had the highest yield and WUE, with significant increases of 5.23–5.38% and 7.10–7.37% (p < 0.05), respectively, in the two years, while the Mm treatment (moderate WD during the M stage) resulted in the best overall nutritional quality of watermelon, with soluble solids, soluble sugars, vitamin C, and soluble protein contents increasing by 11.31%, 33.43%, 24.03%, and 10.31% (p < 0.05), respectively. However, an integrated evaluation that coupled grey relation analysis (GRA) with a technique for determining order preference by its similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) model, considering growth, yield, quality, and efficiency indicators, concluded that the Ml treatment (light WD during the M stage) achieved the highest comprehensive score, followed by the Sl treatment. Therefore, it is recommended that the optimal deficit irrigation mode for oasis watermelon is the Ml treatment, which can balance water savings, yields, and quality improvements, while the Sl treatment can be considered as a backup mode. This study provides theoretical and technical support for achieving efficient water-saving cultivation and scale development of watermelon production in desert oasis areas.

Showcasing the multifaceted aspects of agricultural transformation: The example of mountain oases in Oman.

In the Anthropocene the consequences of land-use transformation on ecosystem services are of growing concern, particularly in fragile areas of mountain agriculture that often represent high nature-value farmland. This study uses a decadal repeated survey approach to analyse the effects of modernisation on oasis systems in the Jabal Al Akhdar region of northern Oman. This rugged mountain region at the north-eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula experiences a growing influx of regional and international tourists since the opening of a modern highway 15 years ago. In 2007, at the onset of transformation processes, a survey was conducted with all households (HH) located in three major settlements along the 1000-m-altitude gradient of the Wadi Muaydin watershed. The survey was repeated in 2018, including all remaining HH of the three settlements. This longitudinal approach allowed studying the consequences of social-ecological transformation processes on crop and livestock husbandry, agricultural labour use, product marketing, and perception of the region's future by its local residents. Though the village inhabitants are aging and declining in numbers, they still adhere to agriculture, largely because of tradition and identity. Fallowing and abandoning farmland increased over the investigated time span but was paralleled by increased application of agrochemicals and animal manure on fields, purchase of roughage and concentrate feeds for small ruminants, concentration on cash crop and meat production for sale, and increased employment of migrant workers. These indicators of modernisation of oasis agriculture are accompanied by predominantly pessimistic views on future prospects of oasis farming. Commonly perceived problems are shortage of irrigation water and profound societal change. Against these challenges, value chain generation and direct marketing opportunities for local agricultural produce are seen as prerequisites to keep the high nature-value farmland of these mountain oases alive.

Characteristics of Dissolved Organic Matter and Its Relationship with Water Quality along the Downstream of the Kaidu River in China

The variability in the quality of water that runs along the course of a river, flowing out of a mountain pass, through an agricultural oasis and into a lake, has been a key topic of research in recent years. In this study, the characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) along the river flow, and its relationship with water quality, were analyzed using the Canadian water quality index (CWQI), parallel factor (PARAFAC) and self-organizing map (SOM). The study results include: (1) The conclusion of field sampling along the lower reaches of the Kaidu River and laboratory measurements of water quality parameters, using CWQI to determine the water quality index of the lower Kaidu River, ranging between 59.58 and 93.47. The water quality of the lower reaches of the Kaidu River generally ranges between moderate and good, and can meet the water use requirements of Class II water function standards. (2) The DOM composition of the river predominantly contained three fluorescence components, while the three fluorescence indices of the water body varied less in different river sections. Based on the SOM training model, the fluorescence intensity of the C1 component was larger among the three fluorescence components, followed by the C2 component, and the smallest fluorescence intensity of the C3, which was dominated by humic-like substances, with a high authigenic origin and humification degree. (3) The fluorescence index and fluorescence components were correlated with water quality parameters, and it was found that C1, C2 and C3 were negative and correlated significantly with SO42- and Total-dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations; FI, HIX and BIX showed strong positive correlations with SAL and Cu and negative correlations with dissolved oxygen (DO). This study provides a scientific basis for surface water quality monitoring and water quality pollution management in the Kaidu River.

Linking Critical Zone With Watershed Science: The Example of the Heihe River Basin

AbstractWatersheds are the basic unit of Earth's terrestrial systems and are therefore ideal units for the study of critical zones (CZs). However, grand challenges remain regarding the observation, modeling, and management of CZs and watershed systems. We synthesize the progress and breakthroughs associated with watershed science and CZ research in the Heihe River basin (HRB), a large‐scale endorheic river basin with unique mountain cryosphere‐oasis‐desert landscapes and prominent human‐nature competition for water resources. The HRB observation system consists of mountain cryosphere, agricultural oasis, and natural oasis observatories and is promoted by large‐scale comprehensive experiments to achieve multiscale observations. A watershed system model that couples ecohydrological models with socioeconomic models is developed to investigate the complex interactions among water, ecology, and socioeconomics in the HRB. The model is embedded in a decision support system to bridge science and decision‐making and to better serve river basin sustainability. Significant progress and breakthroughs have been made in CZ and watershed process research (e.g., cryospheric hydrological processes, ecological and hydrological interactions, and surface‐groundwater interactions) in the HRB. Nevertheless, observation and modeling of geochemical and geomorphological processes in the CZ have not been well addressed in integrated watershed studies of the HRB. In the future, new observation technologies, agent‐based models, machine learning, and data assimilation will benefit both watershed science and CZ science and help to address complexity and dynamics in the CZ at the river basin scale. Overall, the HRB has successfully demonstrated how an experimental river basin can link CZ science with watershed science.

The effects of landscape change on habitat quality in arid desert areas based on future scenarios: Tarim River Basin as a case study.

Human activities have caused spatiotemporal patterns of land use and land cover (LULC) change. The LULC change has directly affected habitat quality (HQ) and ecosystem functions. Assessing, simulating, and predicting spatiotemporal changes and future trends under different scenarios of LULC-influenced HQ is beneficial to land use planners and decision-makers, helping them to formulate plans in a sustainable and responsible way. This study assesses and simulates the HQ of the Tarim River Basin (TRB) using the future land use simulation model (FLUS), the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) model, and partial least squares regression (PLSR). Since 2000, the TRB has experienced a declining trend in HQ from 0.449 to 0.444, especially in the lower elevations (740-2000m) and on sloped land (<10°). The decline will continue unless effective and sustainable plans are implemented to halt it. Agricultural and settlement areas have a lower HQ and a higher degree of habitat degradation than native habitats. This shows that the expansion of oasis agriculture (with an annual growth rate of 372.17 km2) and settlements (with an annual growth rate of 23.50 km2) has caused a decline in native habitat and subsequent habitat fragmentation. In other words, changes in LULC have caused a decline in the HQ. Moreover, there is a significant negative correlation between HQ and urbanization rate (p<0.01), and the PLSR also indicate that number of patches (NP), area-weighted mean fractal dimension index (FRAC_AM), percentage of landscape (PLAND), and largest patch index (LPI) were also important contributors to worsening the HQ. Therefore, the TRB urgently needs appropriate strategies to preserve its natural habitats into the future, based on the ecological priority scenario (EPS) and harmonious development scenario (HDS), which can help to maintain a high-quality habitat.

Effects of Climate and Land Use Change on Agricultural Water Consumption in Baicheng County

Changes in climate and land type directly affect the transformation and utilization of regional water resources. To analyze the evolutionary characteristics and drivers of agricultural water consumption (AWC) in arid regions, the Baicheng County is selected as an example. Based on the meteorological and land use/cover data from 1990 to 2020, the Penman–Monteith model and sensitivity method were used for analysis. The results show that: (1) The water consumption of major crops during the growth period was increasing, which was caused by climate change and changes in agricultural planting structure. (2) The sensitivity of AWC to meteorological factors was as follows: mean temperature (1.56) &gt; mean wind speed (0.6) &gt; precipitation (−0.12) &gt; sunshine duration (−0.06). Temperature and wind speed were the dominant factors contributing to increased water consumption in oasis agriculture. (3) The change in land type was more obvious, mainly in cultivated land and urban and rural residential land with obvious growth, while the area of water area, forestland, and grassland showed a decreasing trend. In the past 30 years, the increase in cultivated land has reached 24.32%. The increase in cultivated land area was an important reason for the increase in AWC.

Effects of Farmland Landscape Fragmentation on Agricultural Irrigation in Hotan Oasis

Farmland landscape fragmentation is an important problem affecting the agricultural modernization process in China. However, farmland landscape fragmentation leads to land being wasted and increases management costs, particularly in the dryland’s oasis regions. Therefore, investigating the impact of farmland landscape fragmentation on agricultural irrigation is of great significance in developing oasis agriculture. This paper used the landscape quantitative index (DIVISION), the moving window method, and gradient analysis methods to study the temporal and spatial pattern changes in farmland fragmentation in the Hotan Oasis. Additionally, the impact of fragmentation on irrigation in the oasis was elaborated upon by exploring the relationship between evapotranspiration and its components in farmland fragmentation. The results showed that the farmland area of the Hotan Oasis increased from 1546.19 km2 in 2000 to 2068.23 km2 in 2020, and farmland landscape fragmentation increased with the expansion of the Hotan Oasis. In addition, a significant relationship between farmland fragmentation and evapotranspiration and its components was evident. A lower DIVISION value corresponded to a higher ET value, a lower ETs/ETc ratio, and a higher water use efficiency. When the total farmland area is assumed to remain unchanged, the irrigation water consumption is reduced by 4.82 × 108 m3 according to the size and proportion of arable land with the lowest degree of fragmentation (L1, division value of 0.46). In addition, with the increase in the proportion of farmland, the scale of oasis decreases by 2431.56 km2 for the reduction in field roads, shelterbelt, and bare land. These findings suggest that solving the problem of farmland fragmentation can effectively reduce irrigation water consumption, realize the internal expansion of the oasis through intensive land use, and relieve the pressure of the external expansion of the oasis.

Common and novel metabolic pathways related ESTs were upregulated in three date palm cultivars to ameliorate drought stress

Date palm is an important staple crop in Saudi Arabia, and about 400 different date palm cultivars grown here, only 50–60 of them are used commercially. The most popular and commercially consumed cultivars of these are Khalas, Reziz, and Sheshi, which are also widely cultivated across the country. Date palm is high water-demanding crop in oasis agriculture, with an inherent ability to tolerate drought stress. However, the mechanisms by which it tolerates drought stress, especially at the transcriptomic level, are still elusive. This study appraised the physiological and molecular response of three commercial date palm cultivars Khalas, Reziz, and Sheshi at two different field capacities (FC; 100% and 25%) levels. At 25% FC (drought stress), leaf relative water content, chlorophyll, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and transpiration were significantly reduced. However, leaf intercellular CO2 concentration and water use efficiency increased under drought stress. In comparison to cvs. Khalas and Reziz, date palm cv. Sheshi showed less tolerance to drought stress. A total of 1118 drought-responsive expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were sequenced, 345 from Khalas, 391 from Reziz, and 382 from Sheshi and subjected to functional characterization, gene ontology classification, KEGG pathways elucidation, and enzyme codes dissemination. Three date palm cultivars deployed a multivariate approach to ameliorate drought stress by leveraging common and indigenous molecular, cellular, biological, structural, transcriptional and reproductive mechanisms. Approximately 50% of the annotated ESTs were related to photosynthesis regulation, photosynthetic structure, signal transduction, auxin biosynthesis, osmoregulation, stomatal conductance, protein synthesis/turnover, active transport of solutes, and cell structure modulation. Along with the annotated ESTs, ca. 45% of ESTs were novel. Conclusively, the study provides novel clues and opens the myriads of genetic resources to understand the fine-tuned drought amelioration mechanisms in date palm.

Effects of biodegradable film resilience and irrigation amounts on film degradation and maize growth in arid northwest China

Biodegradable films are considered an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional polyethylene (PE) film mulches, as they effectively reduce film pollution in the farmland when using mulched drip irrigation. However, the effects of different degradable films on soil micro-climate and maize growth have not been examined, especially under different irrigation amounts, which are critical considerations for oasis agriculture in arid areas. Therefore, we conducted a field study in 2019–2020 on maize farmland using two biodegradable films, one with an 80-day induction period (M80) and the other with a 100-day induction period (M100), and compared them with traditional PE film (MPE). Four irrigation amounts (4875, 5250, 5625, and 6000 m3 ha−1) were tested. Our results showed that weight loss rates of M80 and M100 were 7.21 times and 9.63 times higher than that of MPE, and this degradation process was slowed down with increased irrigation amounts. We attribute this mitigation to changes in soil moisture and the physiological characteristics of the crop. Using film of higher resilience together with higher irrigation amount resulted in more active photosynthesis and fluorescence, especially at the later maize growth stage, and improved maize yield compared to the other degradable film. In addition, the reduction in maize yield caused by the use of biodegradable films could be largely compensated for by applying higher irrigation amounts. Our findings recommend using M100 with an irrigation amount of 5625 m3 ha−1 for maintaining maize yields while reducing plastic pollution.

Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Sandy Land and its Impact on Soil Wind Erosion in the Kubuqi Desert in Recent 30 Years

Continuous remote-sensing monitoring of sand in desert areas and the exploration of the spatio–temporal evolution characteristics of soil–wind erosion has an important scientific value for desertification prevention and ecological restoration. In this study, the Kubuqi Desert was selected as the study area, and the Landsat series satellite remote sensing data, supplemented by satellite remote sensing data such as GE images, SPOT-5, ZY-3, GF-1/2/6, etc., integrated object-oriented, decision tree, and auxiliary human–computer interaction interpretation methods, developed the Kubuqi Desert area dataset from 1990 to 2020, and established a soil erosion intensity database of the past 30 years based on the soil–wind erosion correction equation. The results show that the application of the training samples obtained by a high-score collaborative ground sampling to land use/cover classification in desert areas can effectively improve the efficiency of remote-sensing mapping of sand changes and the accuracy of change information identification, and the overall accuracy of the classification results is 95%. In general, the sandy area of the Kubuqi Desert area has decreased year by year, during which the mobile sand in the hinterland of the desert has expanded in a scattered distribution. The overall soil–wind erosion intensity showed a downward trend, especially since 2000; the ecological improvement trend after the implementation of desertification control projects is obvious. Changes in the sand type contributed the most to the reduction of soil–wind erosion intensity (contribution 81.14%), ecological restoration played a key role in reducing the soil–wind erosion intensity (contribution 14.42%), and the increase of forest and grass vegetation covers and agricultural oases played a positive role in solidifying the soil- and wind-proof sand fixation. The pattern of sandy land changes in desert areas is closely related to the national ecological civilization construction policy and the impact of climate change.

Comparing the uses of available labor and capital in diversified farming systems in Drâa oases (Morocco)

In this study, uses of labor were characterized using the ‘Work Balance’ method in a sample of 17 oasis farms. The results showed that almost 44% of total uses of labor are devoted to livestock, while the remainders 56% are used for crops. The labor required to raise livestock was almost entirely (92%) provided by family member, whereas that required for crops was mostly provided by hired laborers. Date palms are the pillar of the oasis farming system and enable the positive synergies of this mixed crop/livestock system. Date wastes and cereal straw are used to feed the animals, while the livestock supplies the farmers with milk and meat, and their sale ensures the purchase of agricultural inputs in the period preceding date harvest. Our results show that labor is an essential component of oasis farming systems, as it provides opportunities to achieve a circular economy. Otherwise, on farms specialized in crops that have no livestock, the economic efficiency of labor is higher, thanks to higher investments. Taken together, these results suggest that there are ways to improve the efficiency of the uses of labor on oasis farms.

Quantifying the Spatial–Temporal Patterns and Influencing Factors of Agricultural Carbon Emissions Based on the Coupling Effect of Water–Land Resources in Arid Inland Regions

Agricultural carbon emissions are supposed to be a fundamental component of the regional carbon cycle in regions with intense agricultural activities. However, the patterns and controls of agricultural carbon emissions based on the water–land resource coupling effect remain poorly understood in arid inland regions. Thus, we constructed a research framework combining water and land resources with agricultural carbon emissions to assess the linkage of water–land–agricultural carbon emissions in arid inland regions. The agricultural carbon emission measurement model and water–land resource coupling coordination degree model (WLCD) were used for exploring the spatial and temporal patterns of agricultural carbon emissions and water–land elements. The interaction between societal , economic , and ecological factors on agricultural carbon emissions was clarified using the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI). The applicability of the method was verified in the Zhangye oasis in northwest China. The results are as follows: 1) from 2012 to 2019, the agricultural carbon emissions in Zhangye increased first and then declined, with 96% of which mainly coming from chemical fertilizers and plowing; 2) the coupling coordination index of water–land resources in Zhangye increased from 0.3715 in 2012 to 0.5399 in 2019, an increase of 45.33%, indicating a conversion from mild disordered to basic coordination; 3) regarding the effects among the factors, the economic output of agricultural water resource, cropland area per capita, and population (the water and land resource ratio and agricultural carbon emission intensity) exerted positive (negative) impacts on agricultural carbon emissions. Accordingly, it is suggested that the green and low-carbon development strategies for oasis agriculture require a high level of integrated planning and management of water and land resources, as well as comprehensive consideration of low-carbon agriculture and elements related to water and land.

The Classification Method Study of Crops Remote Sensing with Deep Learning, Machine Learning, and Google Earth Engine

The extraction and classification of crops is the core issue of agricultural remote sensing. The precise classification of crop types is of great significance to the monitoring and evaluation of crops planting area, growth, and yield. Based on the Google Earth Engine and Google Colab cloud platform, this study takes the typical agricultural oasis area of Xiangride Town, Qinghai Province, as an example. It compares traditional machine learning (random forest, RF), object-oriented classification (object-oriented, OO), and deep neural networks (DNN), which proposes a random forest combined with deep neural network (RF+DNN) classification framework. In this study, the spatial characteristics of band information, vegetation index, and polarization of main crops in the study area were constructed using Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data. The temporal characteristics of crops phenology and growth state were analyzed using the curve curvature method, and the data were screened in time and space. By comparing and analyzing the accuracy of the four classification methods, the advantages of RF+DNN model and its application value in crops classification were illustrated. The results showed that for the crops in the study area during the period of good growth and development, a better crop classification result could be obtained using RF+DNN classification method, whose model accuracy, training, and predict time spent were better than that of using DNN alone. The overall accuracy and Kappa coefficient of classification were 0.98 and 0.97, respectively. It is also higher than the classification accuracy of random forest (OA = 0.87, Kappa = 0.82), object oriented (OA = 0.78, Kappa = 0.70) and deep neural network (OA = 0.93, Kappa = 0.90). The scalable and simple classification method proposed in this paper gives full play to the advantages of cloud platform in data and operation, and the traditional machine learning combined with deep learning can effectively improve the classification accuracy. Timely and accurate extraction of crop types at different spatial and temporal scales is of great significance for crops pattern change, crops yield estimation, and crops safety warning.

Understanding diversified oasis farms’ economic performances through an analysis of labor uses and their relation to the invested capital

In this study, uses of labor were characterized using the ‘Work Balance’ method in a sample of 30 farms representing the diversity of farming dynamics within the Drâa valley oases (South East of Morocco). The efficiency of labor was analyzed through the elaboration of work time uses per products’ outputs (either crops or animal source food), as well as labor remuneration (i.e. Euros per day). The results showed that almost half of total uses of labor (48.8%) are devoted to livestock, while the remainders 51.2% are used for crops. The labor required to raise livestock was mainly provided by family members (72%), whereas that required for crops was mostly assumed (64.8%) by hired laborers. In all farms’ types (either smallholder units, average or large farms), date palms constitute the most vital crop for the oasis farming system, given their contribution to incomes generation, as well as they enable positive synergies of crop/livestock integration, while adapting to the harsh climate conditions. At the opposite, livestock ensures variable roles, as it is mostly crucial within smallholder farms given their limited investment means, whereas large farms rear animals for diversification purposes. By contrast, large farms devote increased interest and investments to cash crops such as watermelon and date palms market varieties, with almost entirely hired workforce, and without any consideration for their ecological impacts, particularly on groundwater depletion. Return on investments rate defined as the annual incomes divided by the invested capital is only 10.1% in smallholder farms, whereas it reaches a value of 23.7% in large farms; average farms showing an intermediate value of 15.4%. Altogether, the results confirm that there is still for improvement of work uses and efficiency in the oasis farming system, taking into account the diversity of situations, and considering the existing constraints such as scarce water (exacerbated by the ongoing effects of the global warming) and land, as well as limited investment means in a majority of farms.

The Green Morocco Plan in Boudnib: Examining Effects on Rural Livelihoods

In southeastern Morocco, irrigated agriculture is expanding rapidly in a desert area formerly characterized by oasis agriculture and livestock grazing. The 2008 Green Morocco Plan (GMP) is fueling this expansion with incentives encouraging agricultural growth and foreign investment. Despite the GMP’s green, poverty fighting claims, job opportunities are low-paying and unreliable and water supply is decreasing. Outsider investors and farmers benefit from free groundwater and cheap local labor, leaving locals to deal with the long-term ecological damage. This research utilizes a mixed methods approach including document analysis, semi-structured interviews, household surveys, and a roundtable discussion. It examines GMP implementation in Boudnib as a continuation of historical, state-managed water policies that emphasize technological fixes and ignore associated social and environmental costs. It calls for action on the part of those in power to prevent the deepening of existing inequalities and threats to the livelihoods and environment of already vulnerable populations.