Central Plains Region Research Articles

The lag in agricultural civilization during the Bronze Age in Northeast China: A stable isotope study based on the faunal remains of the Weizili site

In recent years, the feeding patterns of ancient livestock in Northeast China has been a hot but unclear research topic. In this study, we selected 42 faunal collagen samples from the Weizili site (c. 3207–2155 a BP), a typical Bronze Age site, to study the rearing diets of animals based on carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes. The results showed that roe deer (−18.1 ± 3.2‰, 6.4 ± 1.0‰, n = 5) relied on a C3 food, indicating that wild vegetation in Weizili site was primarily composed of C3 plants. Cattle (−14.6 ± 1.9‰, 7.5 ± 0.4‰, n = 9), horses (−16.6 ± 2.7‰, 7.9 ± 2.9‰, n = 3), canines (four were dogs, one was a racoon dog) (−14.8 ± 4.2‰, 7.3 ± 1.3‰, n = 5), pigs (−15.2 ± 4.3‰,6.4 ± 1.2‰, n = 18), and humans (−15.3 ± 0.4‰, 10.6 ± 1.3‰, n = 2) were mainly lived on C3 and C4 mixed food. We compared the results with the available data for the same period of time from different regions, such as the Central Plains region, the Northeast region and the interior of the Northeast region (especially the Liaodong and Liaoxi regions). We concluded that pigs, horses, cattle, dogs and roe deer from the Weizili site were domesticated and that most individuals of these domestic animals were reared by C3 and C4 mixed food, but that there was quite significant diversity in the food sources of a given species, particularly for pigs and roe deer. The isotope results from the Weizili site, together with previously published data from related sites in Northeast China, demonstrated that the level of human intervention in the animal diets was relatively high but different from that of other sites in the same region, such as the Changshan (c. 3000–2200 a BP) and Wanfabozi sites (c. 3000–2300 a BP). Hence, an uneven pace of agricultural development in Northeast China was shown. This comparatively primitive agricultural production lagged behind the agricultural production of the Central Plains region of the same period.

Analysis of the evolutionary path of early civilization agriculture based on the plain Bayesian model

Abstract First, this paper focuses on the problem of nonlinear association between attributes and categories, combines inverse document frequency information and deep attribute weighting, improves the distance correlation coefficient, and proposes an attribute-weighted polynomial plain Bayesian text classification algorithm based on the improved distance correlation coefficient. Then a specific scheme for stage classification of early Chinese civilization provides a theoretical premise and expository framework for systematically exploring the relationship between primitive agricultural types and early Chinese civilization and also provides conditions for forming the agricultural revolution of early Chinese civilization in the Central Plains region. Finally, according to the research objectives, the 7000-year-old Ningzhen area was selected as the research object, and the attribute-weighted polynomial plain Bayesian text classification algorithm was used to analyze the data of the research object. The results show that: in the Neolithic burials of the North Yingying culture period alone, there are 240 burial relics with a total of 1,580 pieces of all burial relics, including 554 pieces of stone production workers, but the fundamental reason is the active change of human for the survival crisis. This study is a preliminary attempt to conduct an interdisciplinary study on the history of agriculture and civilization and provides an academic path for the sublimation of agricultural history to the study of the history of agricultural civilization.

Good for the soil, but good for the farmer? Addiction and recovery in transitions to regenerative agriculture

While the ecological benefits of regenerative agriculture (RA) are becoming clearer, its effects on farmers themselves are less well-understood. This paper's aim is to understand how farmers experience transitions from industrial agriculture to regenerative agricultural practices. Drawing on the ‘good farmer’ concept of identity, we provide a qualitative, narrative analysis of 51 farmers in United States' Central Great Plains region, who, at various points in time, began transitioning to RA. We found that transitioning farmers set themselves apart from those practicing industrial agriculture, including their past selves, who constituted an ‘other’ against which they contrasted their emerging identities as ‘regenerative’ farmers. These farmers used the discourse of addiction to describe industrial agriculture, seeing RA as a form of recovery from the chemical-intensive and subsidy-fueled treadmill of production that characterizes industrial agriculture. RA is experienced as a process of recovery that entails shifts in farmers' identities as ‘good’ farmers.

A satellite-observation based study on responses of clouds to aerosols over South Asia during IOD events of south-west monsoon season

The present study investigated the possible effects of aerosols on cloud properties during positive and negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) months over South Asia using 20 years (2002–2021) of long-term satellite-based observations and reanalyses datasets. Positive aerosol optical depth (AOD) differences between the two IOD phases are found mainly over the land areas and some parts of the Indian Ocean, with the maximum value observed over Indonesia, Malaysia, Northern China, Western India, and the Northern Arabian Sea. The negative AOD differences are seen over the equatorial Indian Ocean, some regions of Indian land mass, the North Indian Ocean, and some parts of the South China Sea, with the highest dip over the central Indo-Gangetic Plain region. The highest increase (decrease) in rainfall is observed over the western (eastern) pole. The reduced rainfall is responsible for the increased AOD over Indonesia, Malaysia, and neighboring regions. The strong negative relationships of cloud fraction (CF) with cloud top pressure and cloud optical depth (COD) suggest persisting optically thick middle and high-level clouds during the IOD months. Twomey effect is noticed over the study region during both the IOD phases irrespective of the meteorological conditions. CF and COD both showed an upsurge with increased AOD in the presence of high relative humidity and stronger updrafts, suggesting the role of prevailing meteorology in forming thicker clouds. However, the height of the cloud tops is getting lowered in polluted conditions. The aerosol-cloud relationships observed during IOD scenarios could be attributed to the prevailing meteorology.

Early Season Environmental Indicators of Wheat Stripe Rust Epidemics in Kansas and the Central Great Plains Region of United States.

During the past two decades, the wheat producing areas of the Great Plains region in North America experienced frequent, severe yield losses to stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis f.sp.tritici). In general, outbreaks of rust diseases in the Southern Great Plains region often precede disease problems in the Central and Northern Great Plains. However, these generalizations provide little information and our objective for this study was to identify weather variables, geographical areas and time periods that influence the early stages of stripe rust epidemics in the Great Plains. Data used in this analysis consisted of monthly summaries of temperature, precipitation and soil moisture from 10 climate districts in the US state of Texas. These environmental variables were paired with estimates of wheat yield losses to stripe rust in Kansas, 2000-2019 with yield loss coded as a binary variable (1 = >4% statewide yield loss). An ensemble of simple models representing weather variables, time periods and geographical locations hypothesized to be influential in the development of stripe rust epidemics. Model performance were verified with observations not used in model development. Results of this study indicated that soil moisture within 2 to 3 climate districts in Texas were particularly influential in regional disease development. These areas of Texas were 700-1000 km away from locations in Kansas where the disease related yield losses were observed, and often preceded disease losses by 3-6 months. In the future, these models could help establish priority locations and time periods for disease scouting, and inform regional estimates of disease risk.

A case study on the changing pattern of monsoon rainfall duration and its amount during recent five decades in different agroclimatic zones of Punjab state of India

Rainfall is an important part of hydrological cycle and any alteration in its pattern influence water resources. In Punjab, the monsoon season of 77 days extending during three months July, August and September, receives rainfall at an average rate of 6 mm/day. In the present study, monsoon rainfall data for three parts of the state, viz., the north eastern region (1984-2020), Central plain region (1970-2020) and the south western region (1977-2020) of the state have been analyzed using non-parametric tests, i.e., descriptive statistics, trend analysis, Mann Kendall test and Sen’s slope. Though, the duration of the monsoon season has increased over the last two decades at 0.8 day/year, the rate of rainfall has decreased as rainfall has been less than normal during 17 of the past 20 years. The monsoon rainfall analysis for the five decades indicates a significant decrease in rainfall at 0.7 mm/year which has mainly been due to a decline in rainfall in the north eastern region. The Sen’s slope value of -4.77 (Ballowal) and -0.60 (Bathinda) indicate a decreasing trend of rainfall in the region. The decreasing trend in rainfall received during the July-August months with Sen’s slope values ranging between -0.04 to -2.50 and -0.24 to -3.14, indicates that the months which contribute 70 percent to total rainfall are not a good signal for the agriculture sector in the state.

Maize planting date and maturity in the US central Great Plains: Exploring windows for maximizing yields

Region-specific guidelines for maize in the US Great Plains are needed to account for variability in farmer practices and inherent soil and climate differences. Therefore, it becomes critical to define environment tailored management strategies for maize crop to improve and sustain yields over time. The aims of this study were to: i) define homogenous maize yield environments classified as related to the maximum yield and its stability over time in the US central Great Plains region; ii) explore the combinations of planting date and hybrid maturity that lead to optimal yield for each of the previously defined homogenous maize yield environments; and iii) identify environments presenting different windows for maximizing yields (combinations of planting date by hybrid maturity). Hybrid maturity (growth cycle) by planting date combinations were explored at 70 sites within central and eastern Kansas and northern Oklahoma (herein defined as the US central Great Plains region) using 30 years of historical weather data. In addition to the analysis of an extensive maize field dataset, a crop growth model, Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM), was utilized to evaluate the crop yield and phenology of all hybrid maturity by planting date combinations to define environment tailored management strategies. The simulated yields were spatially clustered based on attainable yield and stability over time to delimit more homogeneous productivity environments. Overall, greater yields were attained with long-maturing hybrids (comparative relative maturity, CRM, 101 and 115). Delaying the planting date from April to mid-May decreased yield in eastern environments. Moreover, late planting maintained yields and increased stability in central environments. For central Kansas and Oklahoma, anticipation of physiological maturity date (3–16 days) with reduced yield penalties (<5%) were possible by using short-season hybrid maturities (CRM 85). Future scenarios for intensification could be explored in those environments presenting more windows for maximizing yields, either with early planting and harvest dates or via late planting providing time for a short crop before maize. Adoption of more region-specific guidelines for maize management could help to optimize yield and its stability over time and seek further opportunities to diversify risk and intensify our current maize-based farming systems in the US central Great Plains.

Multi-state economic contribution and multi-congressional district impact analysis of an inland waterway disruption

In spring 2019, the Oklahoma segment of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (OK-MKARNS), a significant in-land water transportation segment in the Central Great Plains region of the United States, was forced to close for months due to an extreme flooding event. The OK-MKARNS supports the economy of multiple states and their connection to domestic and international markets through the Mississippi River. However, the flood’s direct, indirect, and induced impacts on Oklahoma’s economy and the economies of the surrounding states of Arkansas, Colorado, and Kansas are unknown. The disruption’s impacts on the region’s economies are evaluated at the congressional district levels of these states using a multi-regional input–output model. Disruption of the waterway transportation resulted in a total loss ranging between 66 and 791 jobs, $15.36 to $175.04 million in output, and $6.08 to $72.98 million in value-added, depending on the duration of the delay experienced by industries. The magnitude of economic loss varied for each congressional district, depending on its economic base’s composition and proximity to the OK-MKARNS navigational system. These findings could be helpful to legislators and other decision-makers in allocating scarce resources toward the maintenance of navigable waterway infrastructure. The multi-regional focus of the analysis also suggests a potential role concerning collaborative efforts between legislators across state borders to garner federal spending to support navigable waterway services.

Spatial Analysis of Tertiary Industry Evolution Based on Gravity Model: A Case of Central Plains Economic Region in China

The service and knowledge economy has emerged as the primary drivers of national economic growth, with the tertiary industry leading the way. To promote growth in the central plain region and achieve structural convergence of industries for sustainable, rapid, and healthy economic development, conducting a spatial structural analysis of the evolution of the industrial structure is essential. However, traditional statistical analysis needs to keep pace with the dynamic and non-linear relationships within and outside industries. In this paper, we propose a novel spatial analysis method based on the gravity model to examine the tertiary industry in China’s central plains economic region (CPER). By analyzing statistical data from 2018 to 2022, our results reveal that the economic linkage intensity (F-value) of the tertiary industry in CPER has increased over the years. Specifically, F-values for the high-end, general, and other service industries are 2815, 9882, and 14,826, respectively. The network density (D-value) indicates a single-core structure, with D-values of 0.71, 0.74, and 0.82 for high-end, general, and other service industries. Our findings suggest that the economic linkage network of the tertiary industry in CPER has matured, with solid industry integration and convergence of the regional financial industry structure. There is a high correlation (p &lt; 0.01) among various network structures in the service industry, and a stable and cohesive subgroup with multicentre characteristics is beginning to emerge. These findings provide valuable insights for the development of the tertiary industry in CPER during the later stage of the 14th Five-Year Plan in China.

Ensemble species distribution modeling of Culex tarsalis (Diptera: Culicidae) in the continental United States.

West Nile virus (WNV) is the primary mosquito-borne disease in the United States and has had case reports every year since its introduction in 1999. As such, it is critical that we characterize the distribution of WNV vectors. Estimates of Culex tarsalis Coquillett species distribution, a major WNV vector, are scarce. We used ensemble distribution modeling to estimate habitat suitability for this species across the contiguous United States by consolidating presence data from four publicly available mosquito trapping data servers. The central plains region and much of the western US were estimated to have high habitat suitability. We identified multiple metrics of temperature and precipitation to be important in predicting the occurrence of Cx. tarsalis in a given geographic area. Furthermore, we observed habitat suitability for Cx. tarsalis to be significantly higher in areas with a high incidence of West Nile neuroinvasive disease compared to areas with low WN disease incidence, suggesting that Cx. tarsalis is present in regions with a high incidence of disease.

Vegetation History and Estuarine Ecology of the Texas Gulf Coastal Plain in Relation to Climate and Sea-Level Changes According to Three Pollen Cores

The vegetation history of the Texas Gulf Coastal Plain in the Holocene is considered according to pollen evidence from three coring sites where both terrestrial and marine ecology are reconstructed. These pollen sites record oscillations in the limit of the Southeastern US Forest zone in relation to climate changes, with a major, southward migration of the forest limit and expansion of the range limit of Betula nigra being recorded in the 6th millennium BP and a northward migration in the 4th millennium BP. The appearance of Rhizophora pollen also indicates increased tropical influence in the Middle Holocene. Moreover, changes in the salinity profiles of estuaries are reconstructed in relation to broader coastal environmental changes, such as sea-level oscillations and the formation of barrier islands, with a major sea-level transgression phase being recorded in the 4th millennium BP and still-stand conditions after the 3rd millennium BP. These vegetation changes are finally compared to occupational evidence of prehistoric humans in the Central Texas Gulf Coastal Plain region in relation to ecological factors. Here, human occupation of the coastal zone is correlated with afforestation, the proliferation of pecan and the emergence of low-salinity estuaries.

Effect of seed priming on growth and yield of late sown wheat (Triticum aestivum) in central plain region of Punjab

Poor seed germination affects growth and yield of crop under late sown conditions. Therefore, this research was conducted to study the effect of seed priming on growth and yield of late sown wheat at student's Research Farm, Department of Agriculture, Khalsa College, Amritsar, India during rabi 2020-21 and 2021-22. The experiment was set up in a randomised block design which included 10 treatments and three replications. Late sown variety PBW 752 of wheat was used during experiment. The results showed that using different treatments of seed priming had no significant effect on parameters i.e. test weight, harvest index and protein content but other parameters like plant height, dry matter accumulation, leaf area index, number of tillers, number of effective tillers, spikelets per spike, grains per ear, biological yield, grain yield and straw yield were significantly affected by seed priming. In the treatment of seed priming with potassium nitrate @ 10,000 ppm recorded highest grain yield (34.9 q/ha), biological yield (87.67 q/ha), effective tillers per metre row (50.30), spike length (9.50 cm) and number of grains per spike (38.20). The results of this study allowed us to draw the conclusion that wheat grain production can be improved by seed priming under late sown conditions.

Study on optimizing the built environment of universities guided by disaster resilience theory

The threats and challenges of climate change and public health and safety hazards have made the optimal construction of habitat a hot topic, and the resilience of habitat has gradually become a hot topic of concern for academics and the public. The study investigated the current situation of resilience construction in some university campuses in the Central Plains region. The preliminary evaluation index system model of the resilience of university built environment was compiled. The study provides research inspiration for the resilience enhancement of the built environment of universities in a universal way.

Fractal Theory-Based Analysis of Architectural Form Design for Rural Dwellings in Plain Regions: A Case Study of T Village in Z City, H Province

Fractal theory is a nonlinear research method that uses fractal geometry to study complex phenomena. This study applies fractal theory to analyze the individual housing units, spatial environment, and other influencing factors in T Village, a region located in the central plains of China. The analysis highlights the importance of considering local integration, the construction of a harmonious relationship between humans and the natural environment, and the impact of political, economic, and urban development factors on housing design. The aim of this study is to provide a broader path for the design of rural housing in the central plains region.

Response of Toria (Brassica campestris var. Toria) to Integrated Nutrient Management in Central Plain Region of Punjab, India

Response of Toria (Brassica campestris var. Toria) to Integrated Nutrient Management in Central Plain Region of Punjab, India

Assessment of Genetic Variability to Contribute Yield and its Components Characters in Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] Genotypes in Central Plain Agro-Climatic Region of Uttar Pradesh, India

The present investigation entitled “assessment of genetic variability to contribute yield and its components Characters in Pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]” genotypes in central plain agro-climatic region of uttar pradesh”was conducted at Oilseed Research Farm, Kalyanpur, C. S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur- 208002 (U.P.) during kharif season 2021-22. Genetic variability studies were carried out for 34 pigeon pea genotypes during the years 2021-2022. The analysis of variance revealed that there was significant amount of variation for all the characters during these years. Days to maturity, plant height, number of secondary branches, days of 50% flowering, 100 seed weight, number of primary branches, biological yield, seed yield per plant, harvest index, number of pods per plant and number of seeds per pod was shown to have identified as high heritability value. High estimate of (phenotypic coefficient of variance and genotypic coefficient of variance) PCV and GCV were observed for the number of secondary branches, number of primary branches and days to maturity while moderate estimate of PCV and GCV were observed for plant height, 100 seed weight, days to 50% flowering, seed yield per plant, number of pods per plant and harvest index. The character association studies revealed that at genotypic and phenotypic level, seed yield per plant had positive and high significant correlation to harvest index, days to maturity, biological yield, 100 seed weight and number of pods per plant.

Reconstructing late Miocene depositional environments in the central High Plains, USA: Lithofacies and architectural elements of the Ogallala Formation

The late Miocene Ogallala Formation hosts much of the High Plains aquifer of North America, though it is poorly studied in the central High Plains region where only a small fraction of its total thickness is exposed. One exception is in western Kansas, where up to 40 m of the Ogallala Formation crop out along the bluffs of Ladder Creek Canyon. These deposits consist of stacked and laterally extensive, multistory channel bodies dominated by sandy bedforms with little or no intervening floodplain mudstone. We interpret each ~2–4 m-thick story as a sandstone bed that formed during a single depositional episode and infilled a broad and relatively shallow braided river channel. Each story preserves elements suggesting high discharge conditions, followed by low discharge or the complete abandonment of the river channel after active streamflow either migrated away from the study area or ceased regionally for a relatively long period of time. High discharge conditions are characterized by channel-filling, current-formed transverse bars, gravel-rich longitudinal bars, and sand sheets deposited while the channel was largely flooded and nearly the entire riverbed mobilized. Low discharge conditions are indicated by lens-shaped, trough cross-stratified channels scoured into previously deposited bars. Channel-fill deposits were formed when the remaining flow was confined to one or more narrow streams that braided across the exposed channel belt. Persistent low discharge conditions are suggested by channel-belt-wide subaerial exposure of bar surfaces for a period of time sufficient to promote colonization by soil-burrowing organisms and moderate soil development. Abandonment of the broader channel belt is indicated by advanced calcretization within a story and the presence of aerially restricted and fossiliferous mud-filled channel pools where the final repositories of surface water attracted local paleofauna before infilling or drying completely. The depositional environment of the Ogallala Formation in the study area is most similar to “Platte type” fluvial systems characterized as shallow, perennial, and sand-dominated braided rivers. Comparisons with previously studied localities in the northern and southern High Plains reveal differences in fluvial style, sediment source areas, cut-and-fill geometries, and eolian input.

The Effect of Harvest Regulations on White Crappie Fisheries in Kansas Impoundments

AbstractCrappie Pomoxis spp. (White Crappie P. annularis and Black Crappie P. nigromaculatus) support important harvest‐oriented fisheries throughout the United States. However, effects of harvest regulations vary among crappie populations and fisheries managers have little guidance for selecting the most appropriate regulatory scenario given the diversity of crappie populations throughout their distribution. In an effort to guide successful implementation of White Crappie harvest regulations, we evaluated the influence of daily creel limits and minimum length limits (MLLs) on White Crappie fisheries from a diverse suite of Kansas impoundments. White Crappie populations were sampled from 39 impoundments in 2019 and 2020, and a subsample was sacrificed for age and growth estimation. Creel data from 22 impoundments were used to estimate percent reduction in harvest when daily creel limits ranged from liberal (50 fish/d) to more restrictive (5 fish/d). Equilibrium yield models were used to evaluate the effects of various MLL regulations (203, 254, and 305 mm) on yield, the number of White Crappie harvested, and the number reaching memorable length (300 mm). Our results suggest that daily creel limits would need to be less than 10 crappie/d to reduce harvest by more than 25%. In general, the 254‐mm MLL was the most effective harvest regulation for improving yield when the growth rate was above average, conditional natural mortality was low, and exploitation was at least moderate—factors commonly associated with populations in large impoundments in this study. In populations characterized by slow growth, liberal daily creel limits (50 fish/d) may be best suited to maximize yield. Overall, our results provide a framework for fisheries managers to make informed decisions regarding implementation of harvest regulations for crappie in impoundments throughout the Central Plains region.

Rural Living Environment Governance: A Survey and Comparison between Two Villages in Henan Province of China

Rural living environment governance is an issue of great importance in global economic development. It is also a significant facet of the rural revitalization strategy pursued by the Chinese government. Henan Province is a major agricultural province in the inland Central Plains region and is one of the most populous provinces in China. In this study, we take two villages in the underdeveloped areas of Henan Province in central China as case studies. We use field investigations and in-depth interviews to analyze the feelings of farmers in the case study villages towards the efforts to improve the rural environment, and explored the factors that affect levels of satisfaction with the rural living environment from the perspective of grassroots governance. The results showed that there were significant differences in the perceptions and satisfaction levels of rural residents in the two villages. The grassroots government has great influence over the rural human settlement environment, and its deployment capacities and management level are the key factors that affect overall levels of farmer satisfaction. China’s experience in improving rural human settlements provides reference for rural governance in other developing countries and regions around the world.

Analysis of results of prenatal diagnosis for 67 pedigrees affected with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in the central plain region of China

To retrospectively analyze the results of prenatal diagnosis for 67 pedigrees affected with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) from the Central Plain Region of China and explore the optimal diagnostic strategy. Probands from the 67 pedigrees were subjected to multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), next-generation sequencing (NGS) and Sanger sequencing to attain the diagnosis. The fetuses were subjected to prenatal diagnosis, and the results were verified with short tandem repeat (STR) analysis. Among the 67 probands, large deletions, duplications and small mutations have accounted for 73.13% (49/67), 10.45% (7/67), and 16.42% (11/67), respectively. A hotspot deletion has involved exons 45 to 52. There were 11 small mutations, among which four were unreported previously. De novo mutations have accounted for 41.80% (28/67), of which 27 were novel large fragment deletions. Prenatal diagnosis was provided to 39 women who have carried the DMD gene mutations, 10 fetuses were identified as male patients and 7 fetuses were female carriers. Among the prenatal diagnosis results of 28 non-carrier pregnancies, one fetus was a male patient with the same mutation site as the proband. For the prenatal diagnosis of DMD, in addition to known pathogenic mutations, deletion of large fragments should also be excluded. Mothers of probands who do not carry the DMD mutation should also undergo prenatal diagnosis to rule out gonadal mosaicism.