Sustainable Agricultural Development Research Articles

Bibliometric Analysis of Research on the Effects of Conservation Management on Soil Water Content Using CiteSpace

As global climate change intensifies and population growth continues, water scarcity has emerged as a critical constraint to sustainable agricultural development. Conservation management, an effective water-saving technique, plays a crucial role in enhancing soil water content (SWC) and promoting sustainable agriculture. This study utilizes CiteSpace to perform a bibliometric analysis of research literature on the effects of conservation management on SWC, encompassing publications indexed in the Web of Science database from 1992 to 2024. By systematically examining 599 papers, we analyzed key research institutions, authors’ collaborative contributions, keyword co-occurrences, and shifts in research hotspots related to conservation management and its impact on SWC. The results reveal that significant topics in this field include “conservation agriculture”, “water use efficiency”, and “conservation tillage”. China (225, 38%) and the United States (129, 22%) lead in publication volume, whereas European countries and institutions show a higher degree of collaboration. The research focus has transitioned from examining the impacts and mechanisms of conservation tillage on crop yield and soil physical and chemical properties to long-term monitoring, water use efficiency, and mitigation. Furthermore, keyword co-occurrence and temporal analysis highlight a growing emphasis on soil quality and greenhouse gas emissions. In the future, it remains imperative to enhance the implementation of automated monitoring systems, secure long-term continuous monitoring data, promote conservation agriculture technology, and bolster the early warning network for extreme climate events. These measures are crucial for preserving soil nutrient levels and ensuring the sustainable development of agriculture.

Explicating the Role of Agricultural Socialized Services on Chemical Fertilizer Use Reduction: Evidence from China Using a Double Machine Learning Model

Reducing chemical usage, particularly chemical fertilizers, is a crucial measure for advancing sustainable agricultural development. This study utilized field survey data from 894 maize farmers across three northeastern provinces of China. A double machine learning modeling framework was established to empirically examine the impact and mechanism of agricultural socialized services on chemical fertilizer use of farm households. The model addresses numerous stringent constraints of conventional causal inference models and effectively mitigates the “curse of dimensionality” issue. Current research indicates that agricultural socialized services can substantially decrease chemical fertilizer use among farmers. Further investigation reveals that these services facilitate this reduction by enhancing the mechanization level, promoting the use of organic fertilizers, and providing a labor substitution effect. The region heterogeneity test indicates that the impact of agricultural socialized services is more pronounced in Liaoning and Heilongjiang provinces geographically. Regarding the heterogeneity analysis of food crop income levels, agricultural socialized services can decrease chemical fertilizer use among farmers more effectively with elevated food crop income levels. Consequently, the findings imply that the socialization of agricultural services has substantial potential to be an effective chemical fertilizer reduction strategy to support the agricultural green transition, which can be enhanced through promoting the degree of mechanization, organic fertilizer application, and labor division and specialization.

The Impact of Applying Different Fertilizers on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Ammonia Volatilization from Northeast Spring Corn

Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and ammonia (NH3) volatilization by improving fertilization methods to increase crop yield is beneficial for the green and sustainable development of agriculture. This study evaluated the effects of farmer practice fertilization (FP), nutrient expert optimized fertilization (NE—optimized fertilizer usage and time), the application of stable compound fertilizer (SF), and the application of controlled-release coated urea (CRU) on greenhouse gases, NH3 volatilization, and corn yield through field experiments set up in the corn planting area in western Liaoning Province. The results showed that compared with FP treatment, NE could significantly reduce NH3 volatilization by 28% and increase N2O release by 41%. Compared with FP treatment, SF could significantly reduce NH3 volatilization by 48.54%, N2O release by 38.54%, CO2 release by 13.96%, global warming potential (GWP) by 16.60%, and greenhouse gas emission intensity (GHGI) by 27.23%, and could significantly increase corn yield by 15.86%. Compared with FP treatment, CRU could significantly reduce NH3 volatilization by 63.46%, CO2 release by 11.98%, GWP by 10.73%, and GHGI by 13.77%, while increasing N2O release by 6.71%. Overall, NE, SF, and CRU treatments all showed better effects than FP treatment in increasing corn yield or reducing NH3 volatilization and GHG emissions. Among them, SF treatment demonstrated superior performance over NE and CRU treatments in terms of NH3 volatilization, corn yield, and GHGI. Therefore, the application of stable compound fertilizer is the optimal choice for corn planting in western Liaoning, with broad application prospects.

An in-depth multiscale analysis of farmland abandonment and recultivation dynamics in the Yangtze River Delta, China: A landscape ecology perspective empowered by google earth engine

Farmland abandonment represents the extreme utilization of marginal land and results from the interplay between humans and the environment. In the Yangtze River Delta region of China, a significant economic hub, understanding the landscape patterns and driving mechanisms of farmland abandonment and recultivation land is crucial for regional sustainable development. This study aims to map the extent of farmland abandonment in 2020 and recultivation land in 2021 across the Yangtze River Delta, analyze the landscape patterns of farmland abandonment and recultivation land on multiple scales, and explore their driving mechanisms. Utilizing multi-source data and the Land Use Trajectory Change Method on the Google Earth Engine platform, we classified land use and identified farmland abandonment, fallow land, active farmland, and recultivation land. Spatial statistical analysis was conducted to investigate the distribution and patterns of farmland abandonment and recultivation land at Yangtze River Delta, provincial, and municipal scales. Additionally, a stepwise multiple linear regression model was employed to dissect the main driving forces of farmland abandonment and recultivation land. Results revealed that farmland abandonment in the Yangtze River Delta region exceeded an abandonment rate of 10%, with a reclamation rate in the following year of less than 30%. The spatial distribution of farmland abandonment and recultivation land varied significantly across different scales. On the Yangtze River Delta scale, farmland abandonment was positively influenced by altitude, distance to rivers, and temperature, while recultivation land was positively correlated with night light intensity. At the provincial and municipal scales, the driving forces exhibited scaling effects, with different factors becoming significant. Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the complexity and diversity of farmland abandonment in the Yangtze River Delta region. The results provide a scientific basis for formulating land use policies, promoting sustainable agricultural development, and ensuring ecological balance. By uncovering the land use status and ecosystem balance influenced by human-environment interactions, this study offers insights into achieving a harmonious coexistence between economy, society, and ecology in the Yangtze River Delta region.

Discussion on Building Beautiful Villages in the Context of Rural Revitalization

The key and difficult points of building a beautiful China are in the countryside, and poverty is also concentrated in the countryside. Beautiful countryside is the foundation and premise of the construction of beautiful China, and it is also a new project and a new carrier to promote ecological civilization and the construction of new countryside. Rural scenery and culture are unique landscapes. The construction of beautiful villages in poor villages and counties should take into account both prosperity and rural revitalization, and pay attention to the effective use of ecological environment and resources, harmonious coexistence between man and nature, transformation of agricultural development mode and sustainable rural development.

Microbial fuel cell-assisted composting yields higher performance on metals passivation, antibiotics degradation, and resistance genes removal

Little scientific evidence on metal passivation, antibiotic degradation and resistance genes removal, is available under autogenetic electrochemical reactions during composting process. This study established microbial fuel cell (MFC)-assisted composting procedure to ascertain the removal performance and detoxification mechanisms involving metals, antibiotics and their resistance genes. Compared to control treatment, the bioavailability of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in MFC-assisted treatment decreased by 7.8% and 26.9%, while the content of tetracycline (TCL) and oxytetracycline (OCL) reduced by 100% and 89%, respectively. Organics mineralization and humification were responsible for 80% and 70% of the variations in metal passivation and antibiotic degradation during composting process. A decrease of 54% was found for tetW gene, while copA gene increased by 42% in MFC-assisted composting treatment. These findings highlight the detoxification mechanisms underlying metal passivation and antibiotic degradation during composting process, and potentially offer valuable insights for environmental source protection and agricultural sustainable development.

Exploring Spatial and Temporal Temperature Trends and Characteristics for Sustainable Agricultural Planning in Southern Taraba

Knowledge of the past, present and current temperatures in all parts of the atmosphere are crucial for weather forecasting and agricultural practices. Air temperature is one of the most sensitive indicators of the dynamical and physical processes in the atmosphere. It is affected by interactions between air and land or ocean, by the radiation received from the Sun and emitted by the atmosphere and the Earth’s surface, by chemical interactions among others. This paper examined trends and characteristics of temperature in Southern Taraba. Temperature data for the period 1993-2022 were obtained from WorldClim.org. Statistical Packages for Social Sciences was used to determine descriptive statistics of the temperature; linear trend analysis was used to determine the trend of the changes while Fisher's F-test was employed to determine the statistical significance of the changes. The result of the study shows that average values of mean temperature for the period 1993-2022 vary from 27.64°C at Ussa station to 28.17°C while average mean temperature range for the period of study was 2.60°C. Linear trend analysis results of temperature shows positive values indicating a significant general rise in temperature over the study period in all the stations. The study recommends proper dissemination of agro-climatic information for appropriate adjustment and adaptations by farmers in the study for sustainable agricultural development.

Optimizing arable land suitability evaluation using improved suitability functions in the Anning River Basin

Conducting arable land suitability evaluation (ALSE) is essential for identifying agricultural development opportunities and ensuring sustainable production and food security. Traditional ALSE methods, relying on suitability proportion functions, often encounter constraints due to land use structures. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new function methods to avoid the constraints imposed by land use structures, thus making ALSE more convenient. This study aims to propose a novel set of rules for constructing proportion functions, aiming to enhance the applicability of suitability functions in arable land suitability evaluation. The study findings reveal that: (1) In the Anning River Basin, the highly Suitable, Moderately Suitable, and Marginally Suitable current arable land (CAL) respectively account for 45.3%, 29.8%, and 18.9% of the arable land (AL). The proportion of areas deemed Temporarily Unsuitable and Permanently Unsuitable is only 6%. The distribution of suitability levels for the potential arable land (PAL) is relatively uniform, with a proportion of suitable areas reaching 66.1%, indicating substantial development potential. (2) The agricultural production conditions in the arid and warm river valley area of the Anning River Basin are exceptional. Highly Suitable CAL and Highly Suitable PAL cover 93.14% and 82.97% of this region, respectively, making it a focal point for regional agricultural development. (3) The spatial distribution patterns of ALSE results based on the original function and the improved function are essentially consistent. However, there are significant differences among the suitability levels. The correlation analysis results indicate that the evaluation results based on the improved function are closer to reality. This study enhanced the accuracy of ALSE results based on the suitability function. It provided a new approach for evaluating the suitability of AL and offers a beneficial reference for regional arable land resource utilization and sustainable agricultural development.

Impact of Management Strategies on Reducing of Mulching Film Residues Pollution in Arid Regions

Plastic pollution caused by mulching film residues (MFRs) is escalating in arable lands, which affects the function of agricultural ecosystems, and poses a serious obstacle to agricultural sustainable development in arid regions. Internationally, increasing recycling rate of polyethylene (PE) film and adopting biodegradable films are recommended strategies to mitigate plastic pollution in farmland, aiming to increase agricultural sustainability and food security. However, impacts of the future of these strategies remain underexplored. This study estimated MFRs accumulation over the next 50 years under varying PE and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) film recovery scenarios: no recovery, and recovery rates increased to 80%, 85%, 90%, and 95%. Additionally, cumulative ecological effects (CEEs) of MFR pollution were assessed based on historical MFRs accumulations of 75 kg hm−2, 160 kg hm−2, 220 kg hm−2, 300 kg hm−2, and 400 kg hm−2, by evaluating direct and indirect ecological effects. The findings revealed that (1) with no recovery, PE film residues could increase by 480 kg hm−2, whereas achieving a 95% recovery rate could limit residues increasing to below the national threshold of 75 kg hm−2, outperforming the 80%, 85%, and 90% recovery rates. On the other hand, using PBAT film would maintain the increasing MFRs below 75 kg hm−2 regardless of recovery rate. (2) Without PE film recovery, CEEs would intensify significantly, as both the direct and indirect effects increase notably, while the CEEs of MFRs could maintain the current status or decrease under the strategy of 95% recovery rate of PE film and using PBAT film, similar to the variation of direct effects. However, indirect effects would persist due to ongoing microplastics (MPs) and phthalate esters (PAEs) released from residual films. Overall, a 95% PE film recycling rate and PBAT film usage emerged as particularly effective strategies for minimizing MFRs accumulation and mitigating ecological impacts over the next 50 years. Further research should prioritize the indirect ecological effects of MFRs, given their persistence despite reduction efforts. The results could provide a theoretical support for agricultural sustainable development in arid regions.

An Exploration of the Relationship Between Digital Village Construction and Agroecological Efficiency in China

Whether digital village construction can effectively promote agriculture’s green development is essential for modernizing agriculture and rural areas. Using panel data from 30 provinces in China between 2011 and 2022, this study empirically examines the relationship between digital village construction and agroecological efficiency and explores its mechanism of action and threshold effect, contributing to the exploration of agricultural digitization and sustainable development. This study shows that (1) AEE is positively associated with digital village construction; (2) the positive association size varies in regions and construction levels; (3) agricultural land transfer and technological innovation play a mediating role in the positive effect; and (4) there is a single threshold value for the positive effect of digital village construction, and after crossing the threshold value, its marginal effect shows a positive and increasing nonlinear characteristic. This study enhances our comprehension of digital village development to advance agroecological efficiency and offers theoretical insights and policy recommendations for optimizing the rural digital infrastructure and fostering sustainable agricultural growth.

Effects of Biochar and Organic Acid Addition on Phosphorus State and Yield of Cotton Field Under Different Phosphate Fertilizer Application Rates

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of biochar and organic acid on soil phosphorus effectiveness, plant accumulation phosphorus absorption, yield composition, and phosphorus equilibrium under different phosphorus fertilizer dosage conditions. Using the field test method, different phosphate fertilizer dosage treatments (0, 50, 100, 150 kg P2O5/ha) were set, and a control group, biochar (BC), and organic acid (OA) addition treatment were set up on this basis. During the experiment, the soil fast-acting phosphorus, accumulated phosphorus absorption, and cottonseed yield of cotton were measured, and the utilization of phosphorus fertilizer and phosphorus surplus were calculated. The results showed that the addition of biochar and organic acid significantly improved the soil phosphorus content, plant accumulation phosphorus absorption, cottonseed yield, and phosphate fertilizer utilization. In particular, in terms of plant accumulation of phosphorus absorption, cottonseed production and phosphate fertilizer utilization, biochar was better than organic acids, increasing by 10.2%, 0.29%, and 0.21%, respectively. Under the conditions of phosphorus fertilizer loss, the addition of biochar can effectively improve the effectiveness of phosphorus in soil and regulate the absorption and distribution of phosphorus in cotton, thus promoting the yield of cottonseed. In summary, the addition of biochar has important application potential in phosphorus management in cotton fields, which can provide a scientific basis for the sustainable development of cotton fields in Xinjiang. The results provide a reference for the rational use and management of phosphate fertilizer in cotton fields and promote the sustainable development of agriculture.

A review of the current status and common key technologies for agricultural field robots

The arrival of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and the quick advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and internet of things (IoT) have led to the beginning of a new technological revolution in agriculture. As an important branch of agricultural robots, field robots have an irreplaceable role in guaranteeing food security, seizing the global agricultural high ground, and realizing sustainable agricultural development. In this study, we first clarified the definition of field robots and review the different development stages of agricultural robots. Secondly, we searched and screened 678 relevant literature from electronic databases such as Science Direct, Web of Science, etc., and quantitatively analyzed all the literature in terms of three dimensions: year of publication, country, and keywords. Then, we systematically provided the current research status of ploughing-seeding, weeding, monitoring, harvesting, and information-gathering, crop protection and agricultural fly robots. Furthermore, the global development of field robots shows a trend of rapid growth and technology upgrading, and we proposed the common key technologies of field robots, including intelligent sensing, smart decision-making and control, dexterous arm and hand operation, autonomous and stable walking, and Cloud-Edge-End fusion intelligent operation. Finally, we summarized the challenges faced by robots, such as low sensing accuracy, poor operability, and low operating efficiency. Therefore, we attempted to provide new opportunities for the future development of field robots, such as new technologies such as unstructured information analysis, 5G, AI, digital twins, robots swarms collaboration, and other technologies, which enable the realization of field operation scenarios with fully autonomous perception.

Impact of Agroecological Practices on Crop Yield and Food Security in Southwestern Nigeria

This study examines the impact of agroecological practices on crop yield and food security in Southwestern Nigeria. Using data collected from a sample of smallholder farmers, descriptive statistics and regression analysis were employed to assess the relationship between agroecological techniques—such as organic farming, crop rotation, and integrated pest management (IPM)—and agricultural outcomes. The findings reveal that agroecological practices significantly improve crop yield, with organic farming having the strongest positive effect, followed by crop rotation and IPM. Additionally, these practices were associated with higher food security index (FSI) scores, indicating enhanced household food security compared to non-agroecological methods. While soil fertility management showed a positive relationship with yield, it was not statistically significant. The results underscore the potential of agroecological approaches to foster sustainable agricultural development, addressing the dual challenges of productivity and food insecurity in the region. The study recommends promoting these practices through policies and programs that support smallholder farmers, thereby enhancing agricultural resilience and economic well-being.

Can nanotechnology and genomics innovations trigger agricultural revolution and sustainable development?

At the dawn of new millennium, policy makers and researchers focused on sustainable agricultural growth, aiming for food security and enhanced food quality. Several emerging scientific innovations hold the promise to meet the future challenges. Nanotechnology presents a promising avenue to tackle the diverse challenges in agriculture. By leveraging nanomaterials, including nano fertilizers, pesticides, and sensors, it provides targeted delivery methods, enhancing efficacy in both crop production and protection. This integration of nanotechnology with agriculture introduces innovations like disease diagnostics, improved nutrient uptake in plants, and advanced delivery systems for agrochemicals. These precision-based approaches not only optimize resource utilization but also reduce environmental impact, aligning well with sustainability objectives. Concurrently, genetic innovations, including genome editing and advanced breeding techniques, enable the development of crops with improved yield, resilience, and nutritional content. The emergence of precision gene-editing technologies, exemplified by CRISPR/Cas9, can transform the realm of genetic modification and enabled precise manipulation of plant genomes while avoiding the incorporation of external DNAs. Integration of nanotechnology and genetic innovations in agriculture presents a transformative approach. Leveraging nanoparticles for targeted genetic modifications, nanosensors for early plant health monitoring, and precision nanomaterials for controlled delivery of inputs offers a sustainable pathway towards enhanced crop productivity, resource efficiency, and food safety throughout the agricultural lifecycle. This comprehensive review outlines the pivotal role of nanotechnology in precision agriculture, emphasizing soil health improvement, stress resilience against biotic and abiotic factors, environmental sustainability, and genetic engineering.

Trade-offs and synergies of food-water-land benefits for crop rotation optimization in Northeast China

In agricultural management, selecting the appropriate crop rotation type (CRT) is crucial for sustainable development. Despite the focus on food production, water conservation, and farmland protection, systematic and quantitative analyses of the interrelationships and benefits among food, water, and land under different CRT scenarios are lacking. This gap hinders the achievement of goals and limits effective support for agricultural planning. This study utilized yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and farmland degradation and restoration (FDR) conditions to measure benefits related to food production, water resource conservation, and farmland protection. Taking the Northeast China (NEC) region as an example, nine major CRT zones were identified, and their integrated "food-water-land" benefits were quantitatively assessed. The findings revealed that there are significant differences in the annual average yield and WUE under different CRTs. Specifically, the average yield of the Maize-continuous-cropping or Rice-continuous-cropping zone is much higher than that of the Soybean-continuous-cropping zone; the WUE was highest in the Soybean-continuous-cropping zone, with a multi-year mean of 1.105 kg·C·m−3. The NPP-WUE framework for FDR detection indicated that crop rotation is more conducive to farmland protection than continuous-cropping, as a higher proportion of restoration area was detected. By assessing the trade-offs between CRT and "food-water-land" benefits, the results show that when prioritizing a single goal of food production, water resource conservation, or farmland protection, the best CRT for farmland is Maize-continuous-cropping, Soybean-continuous-cropping, or Soybean-Other crops rotation, respectively. When multiple goals are considered, Maize-continuous-cropping or Soybean-continuous-cropping is the most ideal. Therefore, maintaining a large area of maize while expanding soybean planting in the NEC is reasonable. In the NEC, we recommend adjusting Maize-Soybean and Rice-continuous-cropping; the former prioritize shifting to Maize or Soybean continuous-cropping, and the latter prioritizes shifting to Maize-Rice rotation. This study offers valuable insights into the trade-offs and optimization of CRTs, thereby contributing to sustainable agricultural development.

Comparative Analysis of Tillage Practices on Soil Characteristics in Vertisol for Groundnut-based Cropping System

Tillage practices in groundnut-based Vertisol systems is essential for improving soil health and maximizing agricultural productivity. This study investigates the impact of tillage practices and cropping systems on soil physical and chemical properties in the Vertisol region of Karnataka during the 2022-23 Kharif and Rabi seasons. Conducted at the MARS, UAS, Dharwad, the experiment utilized a strip plot design, comparing minimum tillage with crop residue incorporation (M1) and conventional tillage without residue (M2) across four cropping systems. Findings revealed that minimum tillage significantly enhanced soil properties, demonstrating improved porosity (52.14%), maximum water holding capacity (55.97%) and soil aggregate stability (62.42%) while reducing bulk density (1.27 Mg m⁻³) at the surface layer. Among cropping systems, the groundnut + pigeon pea combination showed superior soil characteristics, with porosity at 50.88%, MWHC at 55.05%, and reduced bulk density of 1.31 Mg m⁻³ at 0-15 cm depth. Additionally, minimum tillage led to higher soil organic carbon (7.65 g kg⁻¹) and available NPK levels (315.8 kg ha⁻¹ N, 44.06 kg ha⁻¹ P, 324.53 kg ha⁻¹ K), particularly in the groundnut + pigeon pea system. These findings emphasize the efficacy of conservation agriculture techniques, reinforcing existing research that highlights how minimum tillage and leguminous cropping systems enhance soil health and foster sustainable farming practices. Such results are pivotal for promoting sustainable agricultural development, as they illustrate that implementing these practices can lead to significant improvements in soil vitality, crucial for boosting crop yields and ensuring ecological stability in Karnataka's Vertisol region.

Advanced plasma hydrogel evaporator for efficient solar-driven saline-alkaline water treatment and agricultural application

Saline-alkaline land significantly impedes social development and urgently requires effective solutions. Solar-driven interfacial evaporation provides a promising green alternative to address this challenge. In this work, a high-efficiency plasma hydrogel evaporator (PHE) was crosslinked by liquid phase pulsed discharge plasma (LPDP) technology within 10 min, followed by a simple freeze–thaw process. The PHE demonstrates remarkable performance in treating saline-alkaline water. Under one solar irradiation, the PHE achieved an evaporation rate of 2.68 kg·m−2·h−1 in saline-alkaline water with high salinity stress (150 mmol·L−1, Na+ concentration). The collected purified water (PW) showed a reduction in total dissolved solids by three orders of magnitude and a significant elimination of alkalinity. To further evaluate the feasibility of utilizing saline-alkaline water resources with the PHE technology, PW was used for maize cultivation, demonstrating a favorable growth trend. Additionally, PHE effectively addressed the limitations of complex fabrication processes and high evaporation enthalpy associated with traditional evaporators. The work offers a cost-effective and promising approach for freshwater shortages, soil salinization, and saline-alkaline water treatment in challenging environments, contributing to sustainable agricultural development.

Heterogeneous Impacts of Traditional and Modern Information Channels on Farmers’ Green Production: Evidence from China

Efficient agricultural input is crucial for agricultural green production and sustainable development. The swift evolution of information and communication technologies has diversified the avenues through which farmers access information. However, how different information channels affect farmers’ production input remain poorly understood. Leveraging a two-way fixed-effects model and the Karlson-–Holm–Breen (KHB) method, this study delves into the mechanisms underlying the influence of both traditional and modern information channels on farmers’ inputs of seeds, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides (SCFP) based on over 15,000 sample of Chinese farmers. The findings reveal the following: (1) modern information channels significantly decrease farmers’ SCFP input, whereas traditional channels exhibit the opposite effect; (2) environmental pollution perception acts as a mediator in the influence of both traditional and modern information channels on farmers’ SCFP input; (3) traditional information channels significantly promote farmers’ SCFP input in the grain production and marketing balance areas, and modern information channels inhibit farmers’ SCFP input in major grain-producing areas; and (4) traditional and modern information channels have an impact on farmers’ SCFP input in the western region, but not in the central region. To promote sustainable agricultural development, government departments should enhance rural Internet access, diversify information sources, advocate for eco-farming, ensure regional digital equity, and enhance green agri-tech promotion.

The Assessment of the Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Net Water Erosion and Its Driving Factors in the Yellow River Basin

The Yellow River Basin (YRB) is an important grain production base, and exploring the spatiotemporal heterogeneity and driving factors of soil erosion in the YRB is of great significance to the ecological environment and sustainable agricultural development. In this study, we employed the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) in conjunction with Transport-Limited Sediment Delivery (TLSD) to explore a modified RUSLE-TLSD for use assessing net water erosion. This modification was performed using sediment data, and the explanatory power of driving factors was assessed utilizing an optimal parameters-based geographical detector (OPGD). The results demonstrated that the modified RUSLE-TLSD can accurately simulate the spatiotemporal distribution of net water erosion (NSE = 0.5766; R2 = 0.6708). From 2000 to 2020, the net water erosion modulus in the YRB ranged between 1.62 and 5.33 t/(ha·a). Specifically, the net water erosion modulus decreased in the YRB and the middle reaches of the YRB (MYRB), but it increased in the upper reaches of the YRB (UYRB). The erosion occurred mainly in the Loess Plateau region, while the deposition occurred mainly in the Hetao Plain and Guanzhong Plain. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and slope emerged as significant driving factors, and their interaction explained 31.36% of YRB net water erosion. In addition, the redistribution of precipitation by vegetation and the slope weakened the impact of precipitation on the spatial pattern of net water erosion. This study provides a reference, offering insights to aid in the development of soil erosion control strategies within the YRB.

Nanocząstki krzemu w zrównoważonym rolnictwie

The increasing population, shrinking arable land, and climate change prompt the search for new solutions in agriculture. In a sustainable approach, agriculture should be based on improving the quality and quantity of yields while maintaining biodiversity and protecting the natural environment. Nanotechnology, present in many areas of our lives, offers opportunities to support the development of sustainable agriculture on many levels. Among the numerous solutions and nanomaterials, silicon, which is a natural component of the ecosystem, deserves special attention. In its nanoparticle form, it acquires new, unique properties. This article focuses on the significant role of silicon nanoparticles in organic farming, with particular emphasis on their function as nanofertilizers. The authors analyze the impact of silicon nanoparticles on plant growth and development and their potential in mitigating the negative effects of abiotic stress factors caused by drought, salinity, and exposure to metals. Additionally, the beneficial effects of silicon nanoparticles on plants growing under biotic stress conditions induced by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi are presented. The paper includes a review of original research results conducted in recent years in this area, as well as possible mechanisms and strategies of silicon nanoparticle action at the physiological, cellular, and molecular levels. The issue of the safety of using nanoparticles in agriculture and the prospects for their further use as a factor enhancing the resistance and productivity of crops are also discussed.