Agricultural Utilization Research Articles

Systematic characterization of extracellular vesicles from potato (Solanum tuberosum cv. Laura) roots and peels: biophysical properties and proteomic profiling

IntroductionExtracellular vesicles (EVs) facilitate inter and intra-species/kingdom communication through biomolecule transfer, including proteins and small RNAs. Plant-derived EVs, a hot topic in the field, hold immense capability both as a potential biomarker to study plant physiology and as a biomaterial that can be mass-produced to be used in various industries ranging from cosmetics and food additives to biological pesticides. However, a systematic characterization of plant EVs is required to establish a foundation for further applications and studies.MethodsIn this study, EVs were enriched from hydroponically cultivated potato plants (Solanum tuberosum, cv. Laura). We isolated EVs from root exudates and the apoplastic wash of potato peels using vacuum infiltration. These EVs were then systematically characterized for their biophysical and chemical properties to compare with standard EV characteristics and to explore their roles in plant physiology.ResultsBiophysical and chemical analyses revealed morphological similarities between potato root and peel-derived EVs. The average diameter of root-derived EVs (164.6 ± 7.3 nm) was significantly larger than that of peel-derived EVs (132.2 ± 2.0 nm, p < 0.004). Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) demonstrated substantial protein enrichment in purified EVs compared to crude samples, with a 42% enrichment for root EVs and 25% for peel EVs. Only 11.8% of the identified proteins were common between root and peel EVs, with just 2% of significantly enriched proteins shared. Enriched pathways in both EV proteomes were associated with responses to biotic and abiotic stress, suggesting a defensive role of EVs in plants.DiscussionWith further experimentation to elucidate the specific methods of communication, these findings increase the details known about plant EVs in terms of their physical and chemical characteristics and their potential functions, aiding in sustainable agricultural waste utilization for large-scale EV production, aligning with the concept of “valorization”.

Pelatihan Pengolahan Minuman Berbahan Lokal Menjadi Produk Bernilai Ekonomi di Desa Margacinta, Pangandaran

This community service activity aims to improve basic knowledge of skills in making drinks from plantations and agriculture that grow around the village, as well as to improve the entrepreneurial spirit for managers of Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDES) and Tourism Awareness Groups (Pokdarwis) in Margacinta Village, Cijulang District, Pangandaran Regency. The activity was carried out at the Karangkamal Hamlet Hall and was attended by 25 participants. The delivery method was carried out using interactive and demonstrative counseling techniques, with the aim of transforming knowledge, attitudes and skills as well as achieving prosperous village communities. The results of the activity showed an increase in the skills and understanding of the participants regarding the utilization and knowledge of plantations and agriculture, namely coconut and honje, which are processed into mixed drinks with the hope that the benefits, uses, processing and results of the drinks contained therein can be obtained. as well as in terms of processing plantation and agricultural products from the garden to being served in a glass, as well as the motivation and follow-up of participants in making, producing and even consuming their own beverage products along with the utilization of other commodities have been successfully improved through this activity.

A holocellulose air filter with highly efficient formaldehyde adsorption prepared via low temperature pulping and partial dissolving from corn stalks

Emissions of particulate matter (PM) originating from industrial and agricultural incineration had emerged as a significant public health concern. Furthermore, the considerable annual production of straw remains underutilized, particularly in China. In this study, we proposed a novel approach for holocellulose air filter production from corn stalks via low-temperature anthraquinone pulping, partial dissolving, and high-speed shear-induced regeneration. About 61.40–78.23 % of hemicellulose in corn stalks was retained in holocellulose, furthermore, the delignification rate was up to 81.63–92.51 % after low temperature (<100 °C) alkaline exactment. Subsequently, holocellulose air filters (RHF) was prepared through regeneration with high-speed shear induced (25,000 rpm) and freeze-drying. The final air filters contained approximately 8.56–12.4 % hemicellulose, exhibiting a substantial adsorption capacity for low molecules such as formaldehyde. The results revealed remarkably low PM2.5 penetration ratio (0.12 %) and pressure drop (14.3 Pa) of the air filter, while exhibiting a remarkable formaldehyde adsorption capacity of 54.5 mg/g. Moreover, the characters of high crystallinity index and robust micro/nano-structure of regenerated cellulose were obtained. This study introduced an innovative and facile strategy for gaseous formaldehyde adsorption and introduced novel solutions for agricultural waste utilization.

Sustainability Assessment of Agricultural Waste Biogas Production System in China Based on Emergy and Carbon Evaluation Methods

Biogas production is widely recognized as an effective solution for addressing agricultural waste treatment in rural areas. However, its development is often hindered by economic and environmental constraints. This study combined emergy evaluation and carbon footprint analysis methods to establish a new environmental radius assessment model for evaluating the ecological performance and optimization direction of an agricultural waste biogas production system, using a biogas production company in China as a case study. Compared with the straw return model and straw power generation model, the results of emergy indicators and carbon accounting showed that the biogas production model had a lower environmental load and higher economic output and level of emergy sustainability. Additionally, the biogas production system was found to reduce 0.47 kg of carbon emissions per 1 kg of agricultural waste utilized. The application of the biogas production model in rural areas had high ecological sustainability and carbon emission reduction benefits. Environmental radius assessment results confirmed that the reasonable changes in resource collection distance could further enhance the ecological sustainability, carbon mitigation ability, and economic benefits of the biogas production system. The environmental radius assessment method offers a new approach to the location planning of agricultural waste biogas utilization companies in rural areas.

The Role of Fertilization on Soil Carbon Sequestration in Bibliometric Analysis

The soil carbon pool is the largest and most dynamic carbon reservoir in terrestrial ecosystems. Fertilization, an important component of agricultural management, is a significant factor influencing soil carbon sequestration. This study analyzed literature from the Web of Science from 2008 to 2024 using CiteSpace. The results revealed a steady increase in publications on this topic, with a significant surge in the recent four years. The analysis highlighted key collaborations among countries, institutions, and authors, and identified main journal sources and seminal works in the research on the role of fertilization in soil carbon sequestrations. Keyword analysis indicated that current research hotspots include ‘soil organic carbon dynamics and organic matter decomposition’, ‘microbial community dynamics and carbon cycling’, and ‘agricultural management practices on carbon sequestration’. In the context of climate change, future research is likely to focus on enhancing sustainable agricultural practices, promoting biochar and resource utilization, and utilizing microbial communities to optimize soil carbon sequestration. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the role of fertilization in soil carbon sequestration, providing important insights for improving soil carbon sequestration strategies.

Preference for water sources and agricultural utilisation among rural households: a case of Akoko district of Ondo State, Nigeria

The increasing challenge of freshwater scarcity amid rising demand and diminishing availability has led to a critical issue threatening sustainable development, especially in rural areas of developing countries like Nigeria. Despite the abundance of studies on rural water use, gaps remain in understanding the interplay between socio-economic factors, and agricultural practices in shaping these preferences and utilisation. Thus, the study investigates the preference for water sources and their utilisation in agricultural activities among rural households in the Akoko district of Ondo State, Nigeria. Cross-sectional data from randomly sampled 240 rural households were collected with the aid of a questionnaire, and employed for the data analysis. Descriptive statistics, logit, and multinomial regressions were used for the data analysis. The findings revealed a dominant preference for rainwater and well water. Factors such as access to safe water sources, time spent, extension service, technology adoption, soil type, experience, and proximity to water sources significantly influence the choice of water source utilization in the area using multinomial logit regression. Again, the results from logit regression revealed that water source, technology adoption, soil type, fish farming, crop farming, farming experience, and distance to water sources significantly affect the use of water for agricultural purposes. Therefore, the policy should enhance water access, consider soil characteristics in agricultural planning, and facilitate knowledge transfer among farmers for optimal water use, recognizing the symbiotic relationship between water access and agricultural sustainability.

Institutional fragmentation and smallholder irrigation performance: a case of Mkoba and Silalatshani Irrigation Schemes, Zimbabwe

ABSTRACT The study sought to understand the influence of institutions on irrigation infrastructure utilization using two irrigation schemes in Zimbabwe. The results show that duplication, overlap and fragmentation of mandates across institutions reduce the influence of formal rules while increasing the influence of socially embedded institutions yet without an official change of roles. Such conditions weaken cooperation among the irrigators and hinder infrastructure utilization and maintenance. Attention to reducing institutional fragmentation while giving space for collective efforts and other ways of knowing and doing irrigation may improve infrastructure utilization in irrigated agriculture.

The Effect of Biochar Particle Size on the Leaching of Organic Molecules and Macro- and Microelements

Biochar is a carbon-rich material that has recently received attention due to its increasing agronomical potential. The agricultural utilization of biochar relates to its potential to act in the soil as a soil conditioner; nevertheless, complex information on the direct dependence of biochar’s physical properties (texture, particle size) and corresponding leaching and availability of organic molecules (e.g., the polycyclic and heterocyclic organic compounds) and inorganic mineral salts (based on micro- and macroelements) is still inconsistent. Multi-elemental analysis by using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) was used to assess the information on the contents and availability of macro- and microelements in studied commercial biochar samples. The results showed a statistically significant indirect relation between an increase in the size fraction of biochar and the content of aqueous-extractable K and Na and the direct relation with the aqueous-extractable Ca, Mg, and P. Compared to the macroelements, the detected contents of aqueous-extractable microelements were almost three orders lower, and the dependence on fraction size was not consistent or statistically significant. In addition, gas chromatography (GC) coupled with mass spectroscopy (MS) was further used to reveal the concentrations of available polycyclic aromatic and heterocyclic compounds in biochar samples. The detected concentrations of these types of organic compounds were far below the certified limits, and a statistically significant indirect correlation with particle size was also observed for all the studied biochar samples. The proposed methodological concept could provide the necessary insights into the description of biochar mineral content and its connection to biochar texture, the physicochemical properties, and the potential of biochar to release nutrients into the soil. These findings could help in the further assessment of biochar as a soil conditioner in modern agriculture.

Response of the Cyanobacteria Plankton Community to Anthropogenic Impact in Small Lakes of Urbanized Territory in the Permafrost Zone of Northeast Asia (Eastern Siberia, Yakutia)

In the conditions of growing anthropogenic pressure, aquatic ecosystems all over the world are subject to transformation, expressed in the growth of eutrophication, increase in acidity, changes in water exchange, etc. In the region of Eastern Siberia we studied, located in Yakutia in the middle reaches of the Lena River basin, there is a significant population growth accompanied by advancements in agriculture and public utilities. The region is rich in small lakes, which have been under pressure from human activities for the past few decades. The studied region is located in the permafrost zone and is characterized by severe climatic conditions, cold long winters, short hot summers, and a short ice-free period on reservoirs. We studied 17 lakes of various genesis, with varying degrees of anthropogenic pressure, located in the largest city of the region, small villages, and at different distances from them. Previous studies have established that cyanobacteria constitute the phytoplankton main group in these lakes during the summer period. Therefore, we selected them as the focus for our bioindication analysis. An integrated assessment of the bioindication properties of cyanobacteria, along with chemical water parameters, was undertaken using statistical mapping methods, JASP, and Redundancy Analysis (RDA). This analysis revealed the impact of urbanized areas, characterized by a decrease in pH, runoff of nitrogen compounds, and an increase in organic matter. Despite the cryolithozone harsh conditions, in small lakes of urbanized areas, cyanobacteria exhibit their competitive advantages within the plankton community. The prospect of continuing our work is associated with the need to determine the risk of cyanoHAB development since potentially toxic cyanobacteria have a mass development in a number of lakes.

Toxicity Assessment of Tannery Sludge Extract During Early Seedling Growth in Brassica nigra, Vigna radiata, Vigna mungo, Raphanus sativus and Capsicum frutescens

Tannery sludge (TS) contains a number of useful components like Organic carbon, Organic Matter, PO43-, Ca2+, Mg2+, and other nutrients essential for plant growth. However, presence of water-soluble toxic metals in TS may cause phytotoxicity. Primary objective of this work was to adopt a bio-chemical strategy for assessing the potential consequences of agricultural application of tannery sludge, via sludge characterization and subsequent bioassay investigations. Heavy metal concentration in the TS was found to be in the order of: Cr (19576±2065.52) &gt; Pb (16.98±2.54) &gt; Cu (1.76±0.20) &gt; Ni (0.98±0.00) &gt; Cd (0.19±0.00) mg kg-1. Further, bioassay tests were performed in terms of germination index (GI), relative seed germination (RSG) and relative root growth (RRG) on Brassica nigra, Vigna radiata, Vigna mungo, Raphanus sativus, and Capsicum frutescens. RSG and RRG were found to be more than 80% whereas, GI was &gt; 66% in all the tested crops exposed to TS extract at 1:5 and 1:10 (w/v) dilutions. Results revealed that the toxicants present in the TS were failed to cause toxicity at early seedling growth and may be used as a soil conditioner after appropriate dilution. However, long term field trails are essential before agricultural utilization.

Critical stages in pea photosynthesis impaired by tetracycline as an environmental contaminant.

The widespread use of antibiotics in intensive animal husbandry, and the agricultural utilization of manure from such farms, imposes a significant burden on the environment. Consequently, the effects of antibiotics should be studied not only in animals and humans but also in all components of biocenoses and agrocenoses. In our study, we analyze the impact of four different concentrations of tetracycline present in soil (0, 5, 50, and 500mg/kg of soil) on the growth and key photosynthesis parameters of pea seedlings: chlorophyll concentration, aminolevulinic acid concentration, aminolevulinic acid dehydrogenase activity, and ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase (RuBisCO) activity. At the lowest tetracycline concentration, chlorophyll content decreased by 13% compared to the control (0 tetracycline), while at the highest antibiotic concentration, it decreased by as much as 27%. Similarly, the decrease in aminolevulinic acid (a chlorophyll precursor) concentration was significant, amounting to 34%. However, the activity of the dehydrogenase enzyme, which consumes this precursor, decreased even more drastically by 51%, indicating significant disturbances in the light phase of photosynthesis. However, the activity of RuBisCO in pea plants subjected to tetracycline was even more severely affected, dropping by 58%, 69%, and 70% in soils with increasing concentrations of tetracycline. The reduction in enzyme activity could only partially be explained by a less pronounced decrease in the quantity of RuBisCO (large subunit) protein, which amounted to 6.5%, 11%, and 35% for tetracycline concentrations of 5, 50, and 500mg/kg of soil, respectively.

Genetic diversity, essential oil's chemical constituents of aromatic plant Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze Syn. Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit. and its uses in crop protection: a review.

This review provides evidence on the genetic diversity, chemical constituents, and ecotoxicology of Mesosphaerum suaveolens ' essential oil. It emphasizes the agricultural benefits such as crop protection effectiveness of the plant and highlights the existing knowledge gaps and research perspectives to promote its utilization in agriculture. A systematic and extensive review of the literature was done and all pertinent full-text articles and abstracts were analyzed and incorporated into the review. Mesosphaerum suaveolens is used traditionally in pharmacology to treat several diseases such as malaria, constipation, stomach problems, and renal inflammation. It also treats cramps, digestive infections, headaches, and skin infections. To date, very few studies have been conducted worldwide about its genetic diversity. These studies highlighted three morphological variants, the blue-flowering, the white-flowering, and the light-purple flowering M. suaveolens. Its wide biological actions may be attributed to the numerous groups of chemical constituents in its essential oil including monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and diterpenes. Biological studies highlighted evidence of M. suaveolens being used as an antifungal, bactericidal, antimicrobial, insecticidal, and repellent plant. The essential oil extracted from M. suaveolens showed significant potential for the control of agricultural pests such as Sitiophilus zeamais, Helicoverpa armigera and Helminthosporium oryzae. M. suaveolens is commonly used worldwide as a pesticidal plant in healthcare, agriculture, and food preservation. However, there is a lack of studies concerning the toxicity and effectiveness of isolated potent phytotoxic substances, the efficacy screening in the field, the genetic diversity, the essential oil yield, and productivity. Consequently, further studies are required to fill the knowledge gaps.

Refining soil nutrient assessment: Incorporating land use boundaries for precision agriculture.

Soil nutrient levels play a crucial role in determining crop yield. A comprehensive understanding of the spatial distribution patterns and evaluation grades of soil nutrients is of significant practical importance for informed fertilization practices, enhancing crop production, and optimizing agricultural land utilization. This study focuses on the urban area of Kashi Prefecture in Xinjiang as a case study. Utilizing soil sample data, GIS spatial interpolation analysis was conducted, incorporating plot boundary information to propose a comprehensive evaluation method for assessing soil nutrient levels at the plot level. Experimental findings revealed the following: (1) The average values of soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (AN), total potassium (AK), and total phosphorus (AP) in the study area were determined to be 13.3 g/kg, 0.74 g/kg, 0.33 g/kg, and 0.03 g/kg, respectively. Among these, AN and SOM were classified as the fourth grade, indicating relatively deficient levels, while AK and AP were classified as the first and second grade, indicating relatively abundant levels. (2) The comprehensive evaluation of soil nutrient grades in the study area primarily fell within the third, fourth, and second grades, representing areas of 29.08 km2, 25 km2, and 4.05 km2, accounting for 50.03%, 43%, and 6.97% of the total area, respectively. (3) The evaluation results of soil nutrient levels at the plot level emphasized the boundary characteristics and provided a more refined assessment grade. This evaluation method is better suited to meet the practical production requirements of farmers and is considered feasible. The outcomes of this study can serve as a reference for precision agriculture management.

The Potential and Models of Agricultural Utilization of Reclaimed Mine Land

This study delves into the potential and models of agricultural utilization of reclaimed mine land, analyzing its significant role in environmental restoration, economic development, and social stability. The research indicates that through scientific planning and management, reclaimed mine land can be transformed into highly productive agricultural land, while also promoting the recovery of the ecological environment and the sustainable development of the socio-economy. The paper proposes agricultural utilization models that integrate the characteristics of reclaimed mine land, emphasizing the application of ecological agriculture concepts in land reclamation, and analyzes the positive impact of agricultural utilization on the socio-economic development of mining areas. The study also explores the relationship between agricultural utilization and the sustainable development of mining communities, highlighting the importance of policy support and community participation. Finally, the paper summarizes the innovative points and practical significance of the research and points out future research directions.

From Field to Pharmacy: Isolation, Characterization and Tableting Behaviour of Microcrystalline Cellulose from Wheat and Corn Harvest Residues.

A lack of strategies for the utilization of harvest residues (HRs) has led to serious environmental problems due to an accumulation of these residues or their burning in the field. In this study, wheat and corn HRs were used as feedstock for the production of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) by treatment with 2-8% sodium hydroxide, 10% hydrogen peroxide and further hydrolysis with 1-2 M hydrochloric acid. The changes in the FT-IR spectra and PXRD diffractograms after chemical treatment confirmed the removal of most of the lignin, hemicellulose and amorphous fraction of cellulose. A higher degree of crystallinity was observed for MCC obtained from corn HRs, which was attributed to a more efficient removal of lignin and hemicellulose by a higher sodium hydroxide concentration, which facilitates the dissolution of amorphous cellulose during acid hydrolysis. MCC obtained from HRs exhibited lower bulk density and poorer flow properties but similar or better tableting properties compared to commercial MCC (CeolusTM PH101). The lower ejection and detachment stress suggests that MCC isolated from HRs requires less lubricant compared to commercial MCC. This study showed that MCC isolated from wheat and corn HRs exhibits comparable tableting behaviour like commercial sample, further supporting this type of agricultural waste utilization.

A Stacking Ensemble Learning Model Combining a Crop Simulation Model with Machine Learning to Improve the Dry Matter Yield Estimation of Greenhouse Pakchoi

Crop models are instrumental in simulating resource utilization in agriculture, yet their complexity necessitates extensive calibration, which can impact the accuracy of yield predictions. Machine learning shows promise for enhancing yield estimations but relies on vast amounts of training data. This study aims to improve the pakchoi yield prediction accuracy of simulation models. We developed a stacking ensemble learning model that integrates three base models—EU-Rotate_N, Random Forest Regression and Support Vector Regression—with a Multi-layer Perceptron as the meta-model for the pakchoi dry matter yield prediction. To enhance the training dataset and bolster machine learning performance, we employed the EU-Rotate_N model to simulate daily dry matter yields for unsampled data. The test results revealed that the stacking model outperformed each base model. The stacking model achieved an R² value of 0.834, which was approximately 0.1 higher than that of the EU-Rotate_N model. The RMSE and MAE were 0.283 t/ha and 0.196 t/ha, respectively, both approximately 0.6 t/ha lower than those of the EU-Rotate_N model. The performance of the stacking model, developed with the expanded dataset, showed a significant improvement over the model based on the original dataset.

Factors Affecting Socio-Economic Status of the Residents of Mbeere North; Embu County Kenya

Mbeere North, a rural constituency in Embu County, Kenya, faces significant socio-economic challenges despite its potential for agricultural productivity and resource utilization. The region, inhabited predominantly by the Mbeere community and characterized by diverse ethnic groups, suffers from inadequate infrastructure, limited access to quality healthcare and education, and a reliance on subsistence farming. These issues are exacerbated by environmental degradation and climate change, leading to high poverty rates and economic instability. This study assessed the socio-economic status of Mbeere North's residents by identify the factors influencing their well-being. The research employed a descriptive design, targeting a sample of 150 residents, including households, community leaders, business owners, and providers of education and healthcare. Data collection methods included questionnaires and interviews, with a focus on key areas such as infrastructure, health, education, and economic activities. The findings revealed a population with low levels of education, limited healthcare access, and average monthly household incomes of KES 15,000. Infrastructure development is rated moderately, with significant variability in perceptions among respondents. The theoretical framework integrated Gary Becker's Human Capital Theory and Structural Functionalism. The paper presents analysis of descriptive statistics on socio-economic indicators, alongside the results of regression analysis. This analysis sheds light on the relationships between various independent variables, including education, health, economy, infrastructure, social services, and welfare, and the dependent variable, socio-economic status. Regression analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between the independent variables (education, healthcare, and infrastructure) and socio-economic status, with an R value of 0.75 and an R Square of 0.5625. In conclusion, Mbeere North requires targeted interventions to improve infrastructure, diversify agriculture, and enhance healthcare and education services. Recommendations include promoting agro-processing industries, investing in modern farming techniques, and developing eco-tourism. These strategies are essential for fostering economic growth, improving living standards, and achieving sustainable development in the region. Keywords: Effects of Socio-Economic Status on the Residents of Mbeere North; Embu County Kenya.

AN ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION OF AGRICULTURE IN INDIA

Agricultural transformation and its development are multidimensional, it includes a variety of aspects like agricultural land utilization, intensity of cropping, crop productivity, crop concentration, crop diversification, crop combination, commercialization of agriculture, nature of agrarian relationship, and maintenance of ecological balance and so on. Agriculture plays an essential role in the process of economic development of less developed nations like India and agricultural development is an integral part of overall economic development. This paper, intends to analyse the nature of structural transformation in agriculture in India, and to determine the factors responsible for the structural transformation of agriculture. KEYWORDS: Agriculture, agriculture transformation, structural transformation

Predicting the impact of climate change on crop water footprint using CMIP6 in the Shule River Basin, China

Quantitatively predicting the impacts of climate change on water demands of various crops is essential for developing measures to ensure food security, sustainable agriculture, and water resources management, especially in arid regions. This study explored the water footprints (WFs) of nine major crops in the middle and downstream areas of Shule River Basin, Northwest China, from 1989 to 2020 using the WF theory and CROPWAT model and predicted the future WFs of these crops under four emission and socio-economic pathway (SSPs-RCPs) scenarios, which provides scientific support for actively responding to the negative impacts of climate change in arid regions. Results indicated: (1) an increasing trend of the overall crop WF, with blue WF accounting for 80.31–99.33% of the total WF in the last 30 years. Owing to differences of planting structure, water-conservation technologies, and other factors, the multi-year average WF per unit area of crops was 0.75 × 104 m3 hm−2 in downstream area, which was higher than that in midstream area (0.57 × 104 m3 hm−2) in the last 30 years; therefore agricultural water use efficiency in the downstream area was lower than that in the midstream area, implying that the midstream area has more efficient agricultural water utilization. (2) an initial increase and then decrease of crop WFs in the study area under SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5 scenarios by the end of the century, reaching their peak in 2030s which was higher than that from 1989 to 2020; with the maximum growth rates in the midstream area ranging from −0.85% in SSP5-8.5 to 5.33% in SSP2-4.5 and 29.74% in SSP5-8.5 to 34.71% in SSP2-4.5 in the downstream area. The local agricultural water demand would continue to increase and water scarcity issues would be more severe in the next 10–20 years, affecting downstream areas more. Under the SSP3-7.0 scenario, crop WF values of the midstream and downstream regions will be 2.63 × 108 m3 and 4.22 × 108 m3 in 2030, respectively, which is significantly higher than those of other scenarios and show a long-term growth trend. The growth rate of the midstream and downstream regions will reach 44.71% and 81.12%, respectively, by the end of this century, so the local agricultural water use would be facing more strain if this scenario materializes in the future. Therefore, the Shule River Basin should encourage development of water-saving irrigation technologies, adjust the planting ratio of high water consuming crops, and identify other measures to improve water resource utilization efficiency to cope with future water resource pressures.

International Development Trends in the Field of Agricultural Resources and the Environment

The development trends and research layout of agricultural resources and the environment (ARE) are the focus of global attention. In this study, we compiled a data set of SCI papers published in the ARE field since the 13th Five-Year Plan. Thereafter, the topic extraction model of Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) was used to mine the text content so as to explore the research layout of global ARE. The results show that, between 2016 and the time of this study, 31,559 articles were published in the ARE field, exhibiting an overall upward trend. During this time, China and the United States were the main forces in paper publishing. The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, and the US Department of Agriculture were the top three publishing institutions. Research institutes in China, the United States, Russia, Sweden, the Netherlands, Brazil, and Australia cooperated closely, and the CAS was at the center of the cooperation network. The clustering results of text topics based on the LDA model show that three topics—namely, the interaction mechanisms of plants, the rhizosphere, and microorganisms; the mechanisms and predictive evaluation of soil landslides or erosion; and the decomposition and interaction response of organic matter in agroforestry ecosystems—have been the hot research areas in this field since 2016. The management and efficient utilization of farmland nutrients, and the technology and mechanisms of agricultural waste resource utilization have become key research directions since 2019. The research layouts of China and the United States in this field were analyzed, and the similarities and differences were compared. In addition, suggestions for the future development of ARE are proposed. This study is of great significance for the overall development trend of ARE, the timely tracking of scientific research hotspots, outlining key research and development directions, and promoting scientific and technological innovation.