Agro-ecological Factors Research Articles

Climate impacts associated with reduced diet diversity in children across nineteen countries

It is widely anticipated that climate change will negatively affect both food security and diet diversity. Diet diversity is especially critical for children as it correlates with macro and micronutrient intake important for child development. Despite these anticipated links, little empirical evidence has demonstrated a relationship between diet diversity and climate change, especially across large datasets spanning multiple global regions and with more recent climate data. Here we use survey data from 19 countries and more than 107 000 children, coupled with 30 years of precipitation and temperature data, to explore the relationship of climate to child diet diversity while controlling for other agroecological, geographic, and socioeconomic factors. We find that higher long-term temperatures are associated with decreases in overall child diet diversity, while higher rainfall in the previous year, compared to the long-term average rainfall, is associated with greater diet diversity. Examining six regions (Asia, Central America, North Africa, South America, Southeast Africa, and West Africa) individually, we find that five have significant reductions in diet diversity associated with higher temperatures while three have significant increases in diet diversity associated with higher precipitation. In West Africa, increasing rainfall appears to counterbalance the effect of rising temperature impacts on diet diversity. In some regions, the statistical effect of climate on diet diversity is comparable to, or greater than, other common development efforts including those focused on education, improved water and toilets, and poverty reduction. These results suggest that warming temperatures and increasing rainfall variability could have profound short- and long-term impacts on child diet diversity, potentially undermining widespread development interventions aimed at improving food security.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF CROP-LIVESTOCK FARMS IN AFRICA

Crop-livestock farms across Africa are highly variable due to in agroecological and socioeconomic factors, the latter shaping the demand and supply of livestock products. Crop-livestock farms in Africa in the 21st century are very different from most mixed farms elsewhere in the world. African crop-livestock farms are smaller in size, have fewer livestock, lower productivity and less dependency on imported feed than farms in most countries of Europe, the Americas and the intensive agricultural systems of Asia. This paper discusses the role African crop-livestock farms have in the broader socio-agricultural economy, and how these are likely to change adapting to pressures brought on by the intensification of food systems. This intensification implies increasing land productivity (more food per hectare), often leading to more livestock heads per farm, producing fertilized feeds in croplands and importing feed supplements from the market. This discussion includes (1) the links between crop yields, soil fertility and crop-livestock integration, (2) the increasing demand for livestock products and the land resources required to meet to this demand, and (3) the opportunities to integrate broader societal goals into the development of crop-livestock farms. There is ample room for development of crop-livestock farms in Africa, and keeping integration as part of the development will help prevent many of the mistakes and environmental problems related to the intensification of livestock production observed elsewhere in the world. This development can integrate biodiversity, climate change adaptation and mitigation to the current goals of increasing productivity and food security. The inclusion of broader goals could help farmers access the level of finance required to implement changes.

Development of a digital model for assessing the influence of agroecological factors on the productivity of wheat grains

The purpose of the study is to build a model of the influence of agro ecological factors on the productivity of wheat grains. In connection with the ongoing climate changes and, as a result, changes in the growing season, it is required to annually adjust the basic parameters that affect the quality and yield of crops. As a rule, the basic parameters include the norms of applied mineral fertilizers, the timing of sowing and the seeding rate. Correct and accurate determination of acceptable values for each of the listed parameters in specific agro-climatic conditions will improve the quality of wheat crops. In the framework of the work, a statistical study of the degree of influence of individual factors on the productivity of seeds of cereal crops was carried out.

Analyzing cereal and grain legumes (pulses) yields patterns in the forest and forest-steppe zones of Ukraine using geographically weighted principal components analysis

This paper aims to explore spatial heterogeneity present in the crop yields data collected from 170 administrative districts in the forest and forest-steppe zones of Ukraine for 27 years using the PCA and GWPCA methods. As a result of the principal component analysis of cereal and grain legumes (pulses) yields variability seven principal components were determined which together explain 66.8 % of the overall yields variability. The global PCA revealed the presence of dynamic processes of the cereal and grain legumes yields variation which have the oscillatory nature with different frequencies. We associate oscillatory processes of the varying frequency with causes of a different nature. The oscillating processes with a period of ten years or more may be of climatic origin. The oscillatory process with the longest period (13 years) is characteristic for the principal component 1, which explains the largest part of cereal and grain legumes yields variability (22.6 %). It is possible to assume that among agroecological factors climate change mostly affects crop productivity. The cluster analysis of administrative districts was conducted based on the cereal and leguminous yield dynamics. The clusters are geographically defined administrative districts that together forming spatially connected areas, which we identified as agroecological zones.

Dynamics of exposure, sensitivity, adaptive capacity and agricultural vulnerability at district scale for Maharashtra, India

Climate variability, in particular, monsoon and temperature variability is an emerging threat for agricultural system across the globe. So far, a number of studies have analyzed the agricultural vulnerability of a region for a particular year, and thereby, the results obtained were biased towards the climatic and agro-ecological factors of that particular year resulting in an imprecise understanding about the contributing factors of vulnerability. Specific reasons of agricultural vulnerability of a region can be clearly identified by analyzing its contributing factors for long-term.In line of this, our study performs the 50-year analysis from the year 1966–2015 to identify the key drivers of agricultural vulnerability at district level for Maharashtra state in India. We used indicator based approach to assess the dynamics of three dimensions of vulnerability i.e., exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity followed by formulating the composite vulnerability index for each district of Maharashtra. Exposure includes monsoon and temperature variability parameters, sensitivity includes land sensitivity parameters i.e., barren land, fragmented land-holdings etc., and adaptive capacity includes parameters of human capital, physical capital, total assets and land productivity. Formulation of vulnerability index is done via i) first, identifying the underlying factors of vulnerability, ii) normalizing the indicators, iii) identifying functional relationship of each indicator with vulnerability, and iv) aggregating the indicators using equal weightage method.We analyzed the reasons for increasing/decreasing trend of vulnerability for each district of Maharashtra. As an example, vulnerability of Ahmednagar district in Nashik region increased by 0.065 units due to decrease in adaptive capacity by 0.06 units and increase in land sensitivity by 0.018 units over past 50 years. Similarly, vulnerability of Chandarpur district in Vidarbha region reduced by 0.025 units by decrease in exposure by 0.017 and sensitivity by 0.007 units along with increase in adaptive capacity by 0.008 units from the year 1966–2015. Findings show that a few districts are vulnerable despite being least exposed to climate variability signifying the contribution of sensitivity and adaptive capacity parameters towards their vulnerability. The results also highlight the intra-regional district level variability in resource distribution, exposure and sensitivity parameters indicating the significance of having a district-wise policy for Maharashtra, India.

Distribution and association of agro-ecological factors influencing garlic rust (Puccinia allii) epidemics in Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. The presentation of equations was incorrect. The corrected equations are given below.

Seed-shattering phenology at soybean harvest of economically important weeds in multiple regions of the United States. Part 1: Broadleaf species

AbstractPotential effectiveness of harvest weed seed control (HWSC) systems depends upon seed shatter of the target weed species at crop maturity, enabling its collection and processing at crop harvest. However, seed retention likely is influenced by agroecological and environmental factors. In 2016 and 2017, we assessed seed-shatter phenology in 13 economically important broadleaf weed species in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] from crop physiological maturity to 4 wk after physiological maturity at multiple sites spread across 14 states in the southern, northern, and mid-Atlantic United States. Greater proportions of seeds were retained by weeds in southern latitudes and shatter rate increased at northern latitudes. Amaranthus spp. seed shatter was low (0% to 2%), whereas shatter varied widely in common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) (2% to 90%) over the weeks following soybean physiological maturity. Overall, the broadleaf species studied shattered less than 10% of their seeds by soybean harvest. Our results suggest that some of the broadleaf species with greater seed retention rates in the weeks following soybean physiological maturity may be good candidates for HWSC.

Seed-shattering phenology at soybean harvest of economically important weeds in multiple regions of the United States. Part 2: Grass species

AbstractSeed shatter is an important weediness trait on which the efficacy of harvest weed seed control (HWSC) depends. The level of seed shatter in a species is likely influenced by agroecological and environmental factors. In 2016 and 2017, we assessed seed shatter of eight economically important grass weed species in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] from crop physiological maturity to 4 wk after maturity at multiple sites spread across 11 states in the southern, northern, and mid-Atlantic United States. From soybean maturity to 4 wk after maturity, cumulative percent seed shatter was lowest in the southern U.S. regions and increased moving north through the states. At soybean maturity, the percent of seed shatter ranged from 1% to 70%. That range had shifted to 5% to 100% (mean: 42%) by 25 d after soybean maturity. There were considerable differences in seed-shatter onset and rate of progression between sites and years in some species that could impact their susceptibility to HWSC. Our results suggest that many summer annual grass species are likely not ideal candidates for HWSC, although HWSC could substantially reduce their seed output during certain years.

Substantiation of agroecological factors on soybean agrophytocenoses by analysis of variance of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe in Ukraine

In the article agroecological factors of competitive bioorganic varietal technology of soybean cultivation which provides development of regulations of application of a complex of alternative types of fertilizers for their cultivation in the context of short-term and long-term action and basic superstructure of factor estimation of block. As part of joint research work of Vinnytsia National Agrarian University and the Institute of Bioenergy Crops and Sugar Beets of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, the authors were involved in research theme "Development of methods for improving the technology of growing legumes using biofertilizers, bacterial preparations, foliar fertilizers and physiologically active substances". To establish the reliability of yield data by analysis of variance, it was determined that LSD 0.05 for factor A in 2017 was 0.09 t/ha. The largest deviations of yield indicators to control among varieties were: variety Podilska 416 +0.41 t/ha, variety Chernivtsi 9 – 0.27 t/ha and variety Agate -0.66 t/ha, which exceeded the value of LSD 0.05 for the factor A (soybean variety) by +0.32, – 0.18 and – 0.57 t/ha, respectively.

Keeping Waste Low through Management: The Socio-ecological Interpretation

Waste is a ceaselessly developing issue at worldwide and territorial just as at neighborhood levels. Due to vigorous globalization and product proliferation in recent years, more waste has been produced by the soaring manufacturing activities. The social ecology of waste recycling implies the structural, functional and managerial intervention of waste generation process. The present study takes a look into the approach, process and impact of ongoing waste management process, followed by the both kalyani and jalpaiguri municipalities. A set of agro-ecological, socio-economic and techno managerial factors have been developed by selecting two sets of operating variables. 21 independent variables and one dependent variable i.e. waste reduction methods (y4) were selected for the research. Total one fifty respondents, seventy five from each municipal area have been selected by systematic random sampling. A basket of multivariate analytic techniques have been carried out to isolate and interpret the variables. Throughout the study it has been observed that in terms of variable behavior and responses there has been stark differences between jalapaiguri and kalyani where as some few variables like income, impact of waste management and recycling on water and micro flora and fauna have recorded the distinct contribution, for jalpaiguri volume of waste generation from household, water consumption per day have gone in the determinant way. But in both municipal areas perception of environmental impact of waste management have recorded equal contribution. So it can be said that improper waste management leads to ecological damage and waste reduction methods will reduce waste generation, improper waste disposal and save our environment and ecology.

Agroecological effect and sexual shape dimorphism in medfly Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) an example in Croatian populations

The Mediterranean fruit fly or medfly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) is one of the most economically important fruit flies globally. Geometric morphometric methods based on principal component analyses, multivariate regressions and two blocks partial least squares analyses were used in this study to estimate patterns of sexual shape dimorphism and the influence of agroecological factors (weather conditions, soil properties) in two different populations on C. capitata in Croatia. Results shown significant differences in mean shape between C. capitata sexes, nevertheless, females did not modify they wing morphology between populations, in contrast to males where the wing shape differ between island and continent populations. Wing size and shape showed particularly differences between agroecological systems suggesting metapopulation structure of C. capitata which is currently favouring sex-specific plasticity. These results show that geometric morphometric procedures can be used to provide key insight into the biological adaptation of medfly in newly invaded habitats, a significant process that ensures invasion success.

Challenges and Prospects in the Adoption of Modern Agricultural Inputs in Gimbo District, Kaffa Region, Southern Ethiopia

The study was carried out to determine the challenges and prospects in the adoption of modern agricultural inputs in rural areas; in the case of Gimbo district. The data was collected from the farmer who lives in Gimbo District. The data for the study was collected from the sample of 100 farmers selected by simple random techniques from the three kebeles in Gimbo District. The adoption of agricultural input in the distinct is influenced by both demographic characteristics such as sex, age distribution, martial, family size, ox number, educational level and farm-land size and factors affecting adoption of modern agricultural inputs like extension contact, price of farm-inputs, price of farm-out puts, physical factors (level of infrastructural availability), agroecological factors such as (risk and uncertainty), credit availability and constrained, economical problem, family labor, information associated problem, availability distribution of inputs, the effectiveness of input, shortage of most needed inputs, accessibility of commodity market. The coordination between the farmers and extension service workers is necessary to achieve agricultural extensions strategies and to adopt different agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, improved seeds and so on. Keywords : Technology Adoption and Innovation, Improved seed, Agriculture, Fertilizer, Pesticides, Herbicides, Farmers and Extension agents (Das) DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/10-8-01 Publication date: August 31 st 2020

The role of agro-ecological factors and transboundary transhumance in shaping the genetic diversity in four indigenous cattle populations of Benin.

The indigenous cattle population of Benin is a diverse mix of taurine and hybrid breeds shaped by diverse ecological and climatic conditions with eight agro-ecological zones (AEZ). Presumably, the taurine breeds face current endangerment due to ongoing indicine introgression following climate change and transboundary transhumance. The aim of the study was to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of the indigenous breeds Lagune, Somba, Pabli and Borgou considering spatial agro-ecological and socio-economic factors (transhumance) based on 50k SNP and microsatellite data. Among the four sampled breeds, six genetic clusters were identified using model-free (discriminant analysis of principal components) and model-based (TESS and ADMIXTURE) methods separating taurine from hybrid breeds. Results based on an extension with publicly available historic SNP data sets from taurine and indicine West African cattle and additional outgroups provided additional insight into changes of genetic structure in the sampled breeds over time. Both taurine breeds, Somba and Lagune, showed a stable foundation but also spatially limited partial indicine introgression associated with transhumance leading to high genetic diversity. In addition, we found evidence for spatial diversity and changes in genetic structure over time in the Borgou breed in comparison of our samples with the historic samples which could be explained by potential continuous indicine introgression into the Borgou breed in two sample regions. Results for the Pabli breed do not conclusively point to full absorbance by the Borgou in comparison with all available Borgou samples. Further research is needed in this regard.

Influence of Geographical Effects in Hedonic Pricing Models for Grass-Fed Cattle in Uruguay

A series of non-spatial and spatial hedonic models of feeding and replacement cattle prices at video auctions in Uruguay (2002 to 2009) were specified with predictors measuring marketing conditions (e.g., steer price), cattle characteristics (e.g., breed) and agro-ecological factors (e.g., soil productivity, water characteristics, pasture condition, season). Results indicated that cattle prices produced under extensive production systems were influenced by all of predictor categories, confirming that found previously. Although many of the agro-ecological predictors were inherently spatial in nature, the incorporation of spatial effects into the estimation of the hedonic model itself, through either a spatially-autocorrelated error term or allowing the regression coefficients to vary spatially and at different scales, was able to provide greater insight into the cattle price process. Through the latter extension, using a multiscale geographically weighted regression, which was the most informative and most accurate model, relationships between cattle price and predictors operated at a mixture of global, regional, local and highly local spatial scales. This result is considered a key advance, where uncovering, interpreting, and utilizing such rich spatial information can help improve the geographical provenance of Uruguayan beef and is critically important for maintaining Uruguay’s status as a key exporter of beef with respect to the health and safety benefits of natural, open-sky, grass-fed production systems.

Traditional Crops for Household Food Security and Factors Associated with on-Farm Diversity in the Mountains of Nepal

Traditional crops play an important role in household food security and livelihood needs of mountain communities, while at the same time safeguarding crop biodiversity for future generations. This study aims to analyse socioeconomic, farm-specific agro-ecological and market factors influencing cultivation and maintenance of crop diversity in Nepal. It used sample surveys of 328 households from mountains of Humla, Jumla, Lamjung and Dolakha districts in 2015. The sample survey was supplemented with participatory rural appraisals, field monitoring visits and local stakeholder consultations. Tobit regression model was used to assess factors driving household decisions to allocate area for production and maintenance ofon-farm diversity. Farm maintenance of crop diversity was related to household food sufficiency level of traditional crops. Factors influencing on-farm crop diversity and household food security varied with the crops, and mainly related with farmers’ age, family size, farm size, agro-ecosystem and market factor. Future research and development interventions need to focus on diversity rich solutions and technologies tailored to specific crops, socioeconomic, market and farm-agroecology of the households enhancing household food security and management of mountain crop biodiversity.

Determinants of agricultural land management practices among smallholder farmers in the Wanka watershed, northwestern highlands of Ethiopia

Small-scale agriculture is an important livelihood in sub-Saharan Africa. In the face of land degradation, identifying the constraints to smallholder farmers in improving soil quality is important to inform institutional interventions. While previous policies and studies have concentrated on structural land management practices, less attention has been paid to farmers’ choice of land management strategies. This study examines the socio-economic, institutional, and agro-ecological factors that influence smallholder farmers’ land management practices, based on a case study of the Wanka watershed in the northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. Household survey questionnaires, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used to gather data, which were analysed using descriptive statistics and a multinomial logit model. The study revealed that socio-economic factors (number of livestock, household size, plot size, farming experience, off-farm income) had a significant impact on mixed cropping and crop rotation, and the use of chemical fertiliser. Institutional factors (access to credit and extension services) strongly influenced farmers’ use of chemical/organic fertiliser and practice of mixed cropping, especially among younger farmers. Agro-ecological differences were also significant, the application of chemical fertiliser alone has decreased, but its practice in combination with crop rotation and drainage ditches increased, at lower elevations. The study concludes that the specific socio-economic circumstances of farmers, agro-ecological conditions of land, and institutional factors, need to be considered in the development of measures and policies that aim to encourage farmers to adopt additional land management practices to enhance sustainable agricultural production.

Ecological and biological conformity of conditions of the brewing barley cultivation zone

The correspondence of agro-ecological and climatic factors of the external environment of the industrial zone of brewing barley to the biological requirements of barley culture has been analyzed. The peculiarity of brewing barley in the formation of the crop and its quality is characterized by the necessity of directing, in the process of photosynthesis, the accumulation of the carbohydrate component of the grain more than in the protein content. The important role of ensuring these requirements depends mainly on the PAR of the long-wavelength range, especially during the second half of the growing season, during the growth and development of the grain. At this time, an important factor in ensuring the brewing quality of barley is the moisture supply of soil moisture, as it depends on the growth process of the grain. The barley culture belongs to the early spring cereals. Due to the changes in climatic conditions, which is directly related to the zone of industrial brewing of barley by analysis of ten-year temperature data, the favorable conditions for the growth and development of barley, the conditions of sowing in early spring have been found. In particular, sowing time is actually possible 20-25 days earlier than traditional, this is the first and second ten days of March. Conducted trial reconnaissance crops in the first decade of March ensured the effective development of plants and the formation of crops favorable to meet the quality requirements for the cultivation of products for the production of malt. The vegetative period of development before the onset of the generative has increased in plants up to 45 days, which by itself is a rather positive component of the efficiency of cultivation technology according to the results of the analysis of climatic factors of the zone of industrial production of brewing barley. As a result of analytical studies the improvement of ecological and biological compliance of spring barley development for the period 2010-2019 has been revealed. Due to the early onset of heat in March, there was a need to make adjustments to certain elements of technology based on appropriate research to ensure effective implementation of the agro-ecological resource of the area. The urgent tasks, with the aim of balanced processes of spring barley development to energy conditions of the environment, are research with seeding rate, row spacing, depth of seeds wrapping, application of mineral fertilizers.

Prospects of sustainable intensification of smallholder farming systems: A farmer typology approach

Smallholder farming systems are highly diverse, owing to differences in farmers’ resource endowments, levels of technology use, degree of market access and agro-ecological factors. Consequently, the prospects of achieving sustainable intensification of smallholder farming systems need to be examined vis-à-vis the dominant farmer typologies, so as to help craft effective and tailored interventions. The objective of this paper is to develop a methodology to establish farm typologies prevalent within the smallholder farming systems and infer their implications for the drive to achieve sustainable intensification of agriculture. A cross-sectional survey was carried out, covering 600 households in four regions of Ethiopia’s Highlands. Multivariate statistical techniques of Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA) were used to group farmers into four distinct clusters. The study then compared relative levels of agricultural intensification and sustainability across the different typology clusters. The study found that households who are more commercially oriented and have larger landholdings, higher levels of productive assets and livestock ownership, exhibit higher levels of both agricultural intensification and relative sustainability. The study concludes that the farm typology approach has important policy application as it helps identify the set of socioeconomic characteristics of farmers that influence their propensity to achieve sustainable intensification.

Ovine fascioliasis: environmental epidemiology and meta-analysis of the prevalence, Agro-ecological and economic factors in five provinces of the Nile Delta region of Egypt

Ovine fascioliasis: environmental epidemiology and meta-analysis of the prevalence, Agro-ecological and economic factors in five provinces of the Nile Delta region of Egypt

Factors influencing adoption of crossbred cattle in different agro-ecological zones of Bangladesh

Crossbred cattle farming by small farm holders are one of the promising agricultural activities to enhance financial and nutritional status of the rural people of Bangladesh. Several factors influence the rural farmers to raise the crossbred cattle farming. Thus, the research investigates the demographic, socioeconomic and agro-ecological factors and farming assets and facilities of the small farm holders that influence the adoption of crossbreds. Multistage random sampling technique was used to random selection of 300 cattle households in four agro-ecological zones. Chi-square tests were carried out to assess the association between cattle breeds and levels of variables. Also, the binary logistic regression model was used to determine the effects of the factors. Age group, level of education, occupation, household income, farming experience and reception of extension services were significantly (p<0.01) associated with the adoption of crossbred cattle. Extension services (OR=128.82, 95%CI=27.74-598.2) and higher income group (OR=6.138, 95%CI=1.352-27.87) were significant and more likely to adopt crossbred cattle compared to no extension services and low-income group respectively. Secondary educated farmers were 3.64 times more likely (OR=3.642, 95%CI=1.24-10.67) and higher than secondary educated farmers were 7.58 times more likely (OR=7.579, 95%CI=2.45-23.40) to adopt crossbred cattle compared to illiterate or primary educated farmers. Industrial zone was more likely and other two zones were less likely to adoption of crossbred cattle compare to river basin zone. Youths should be trained and educated and also extension services should be provided to the farmers to raise crossbred cattle for increased milk production and household poverty alleviation.