Changes In Management Practices Research Articles

Contribution of change management Principles to Human Resource Management in Educational Organizations

Constant change and transformation are needed in educational organizations. change management determines the organization's growth and the impact of the quality of education on its students and its services. The aim of this article is to discover the impact of change management principles on human resource management within educational institutions. To do so, this paper will present a critical meaning of human resources management, educational organization, and change management; it will analyze how change management principles can make an impact on the way human resources management is directed, by doing this, this paper will provide new findings and specific steps that educational organizations can apply to enhance growth and transformation through change management practices. In order to meet this objective, This research follows a strictly qualitative approach with a grounded theory methodology so that the instruments and type of information to be gathered will be through theoretical sampling with an inductive method to the description, and analysis of theories, and concepts. As a main finding, it is proposed that educational management arises in response to the proper application of change management principles.

The Impact of Change Management on Enhancing Performance Efficiency at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Hospital at Riyadh

The study aims to investigate the impact of change management on enhancing performance efficiency at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Hospital in Riyadh. To achieve this goal, the researchers opted for the descriptive approach. the study sample consisted of (150) from the study items (Administrative, Doctor, Nurse and Technician) at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Hospital in Riyadh. The study utilized a questionnaire as a research tool for data collection, and in light of that, the study arrived at several results, with the most significant being the study on the impact of change management on enhancing performance efficiency at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Hospital in Riyadh. The findings indicate a significant positive correlation between effective change management strategies (Cultural, Technological, Structural, and Human Dimension) and enhancing performance efficiency within the organization. These outcomes collectively contribute to a heightened level of performance and productivity. As organizations navigate an increasingly dynamic business environment, the importance of embracing change management practices becomes evident in sustaining and enhancing operational effectiveness. The study recommends the following in light of the results The necessity of thorough and well-planned change management through the development of long-term strategic plans, along with the presence of short-term goals. The importance of ensuring that organizational structural changes align with the internal work requirements within the hospital, following careful study of both internal and external environmental change requirements. Working on automating systems within the government sector and developing technology for use within the hospital to enhance quality of healthcare services provided by the hospital.

Looking to the Future in Managing a Dairy Production System: A Perspective

Future directions in the cattle industry will be driven by consumer demand for higher quality foods and production methods involving animal health and comfort in changing climates, diet quality, management practices and disease reduction

Nontarget Effects of Preemergence Herbicide Diuron in Hamlin and Valencia Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbek) in Florida

The prevalence of Huanglongbing (HLB) disease, also known as citrus greening, has compelled the citrus industry to change management practices to increase production. However, these changes, such as enhanced nutrition and irrigation programs, have caused weed proliferation, subsequently leading to increased use of herbicides. Thus, our study evaluated a popular preemergence herbicide active ingredient, diuron, for nontarget impacts on young Hamlin and Valencia sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbek) trees in two commercial orchards in southwest Florida. The treatments included the preemergence application of diuron at three rates (1.8, 3.6, and 7.3 kg a.i./ha), a weed-checked control (using postemergence herbicides: glufosinate ammonium + saflufenacil), and a nontreated control. The treatments were applied twice (in Fall 2021 and Spring 2022) in a randomized complete block with four replicates. Results indicate that over a 5-month period, the application of diuron generally had no significant impact on citrus root growth. Further, over a 2-month observation period for Hamlin and a 4-month observation period for Valencia, it was found that diuron application had no notable effect on fruit detachment force. Valencia trees treated with diuron high showed higher HLB disease severity at location 1. In addition, Hamlin trees treated with diuron low and medium showed higher fruit drop (∼19% more) than the untreated control at location 1. However, this trend was inconsistent across the locations and cultivars. This result suggests that increased disease severity and fruit drop were not associated with diuron treatment. Thus, our study finds diuron as a tree-safe option for preemergence weed suppression in citrus production, as long as it is used in accordance with the recommended dosage and restrictions stated on the herbicide label.

Study of the Impact of Climate Change Factors, Management Practices, and Labor Availability on Productivity of Agricultural Resource Management: The Case of Fruit Farmers in Binjai

Climate change poses significant challenges to agricultural systems, affecting productivity and sustainability. This study investigates the impact of climate change factors, management practices, and labor availability on agricultural resource management productivity among fruit farmers in Binjai. A sample of 121 farmers was surveyed, and data were analyzed using IBM SPSS. Results indicate a 1.5°C temperature increase over the past decade, negatively correlating with crop yields. Diverse management practices were observed, with integrated pest management positively influencing productivity. Labor availability exhibited seasonal variations, influenced by migration patterns. Spatial analysis highlighted temperature-sensitive clusters and regions prone to extreme weather events. The findings provide actionable insights for tailored interventions, emphasizing the need for climate-resilient strategies in Binjai's fruit farming.

A Phase 3 Study of Eltrombopag Vs. Standard First-Line Management for Newly Diagnosed Immune Thrombocytopenia in Children: Trial in Progress Update

Background: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) causes low platelet counts, variable bleeding symptoms, and reductions in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Despite this, novel therapies for newly diagnosed ITP have not been introduced in over 30 years. Eltrombopag, a thrombopoietin receptor agonist (TPO-RA), was FDA approved for children with chronic ITP in 2015. The use of eltrombopag for adults with newly diagnosed ITP has been described in two small single-center trials (Tripathi et al, Int J Hematol, 2014; Gόmez-Almaguer et al, Blood, 2014), and pediatric hematologists do use TPO-RAs off-label in some cases of newly diagnosed ITP (Neunert et al, Pediatr Blood Cancer, 2016). TPO-RAs may be an efficacious and more durable first-line therapy for children with newly diagnosed ITP who require treatment. This abstract provides a 4-year interval update on the Pediatric ITP Newly diagnosed patients Eltrombopag vs Standard therapy (PINES) trial in progress. Study Design and Methods: The PINES trial, NCT03939637, is an investigator-initiated prospective, open label, randomized, multi-center trial sponsored by the ITP Consortium of North America (ICON) and funded by Novartis. The primary objective is to determine if the proportion of patients with a platelet response, defined as ≥3 of 4 platelet counts >50 x10 9/L during weeks 6-12 without rescue treatment, is significantly greater in patients with newly diagnosed ITP treated with eltrombopag compared to those treated with standard first-line therapy. Patients (n=162) from 30 ICON centers (Figure) are randomized 2:1, stratified by age and treatment status, to receive the experimental treatment, eltrombopag, or investigator's choice of 3 standard first-line therapies: prednisone, intravenous immune globulin or anti-D globulin at standardized doses. Eligible patients are ages 1 to <18 with primary ITP, within 3 months of diagnosis, with platelet count <30 x10 9/L who require pharmacologic treatment from the perspective of the treating clinician. Baseline treatment status is 1) upfront treatment, or patients within 10 days of ITP diagnosis with no prior treatment, and 2) treatment failure, or patients previously managed with observation or a first-line standard agent. Patients are ineligible if they can be observed without medication or have severe bleeding. A one-sided z-test, at alpha=0.025, will be used to compare the proportion of patients who have a platelet response between the two treatment arms. All randomized patients will be analyzed in the intention-to-treat analysis. Secondary objectives include treatment arm comparison of bleeding scores (WHO Bleeding Scale and Modified Buchanan Score), changes in HRQoL (measured by the Kids ITP Tool, Hockenberry Fatigue Scale, PROMIS, and Global Change Scale), and changes in percentage of CD4 +25 +Foxp3 + regulatory T (Treg) cells. Due to challenges related to recruitment and the logistics and safety of obtaining frequent assessments during the COVID-19 pandemic, the primary endpoint was re-defined in 2021 to what is considered a clinically equivalent definition of response, from ≥6 of 8 weekly to ≥3 of 4 biweekly platelet counts >50 x10 9/L during weeks 6-12. Baseline Characteristics: Since first site activation in 2019, 100 patients have been enrolled (Table). Subjects include 42 patients aged 1-<6 years, 34 patients aged 6-<12 years, and 24 patients aged 12-<18 years. Thirty-six patients received upfront treatment and 64 patients had treatment failure prior to enrollment. Median baseline platelet count at enrollment was 5 x10 9/L (range 1 - 28 x10 9/L). Median WHO Bleeding Scale at enrollment was 1 (range 0 - 3) and median modified Buchanan Overall Score was 3 (range 0 - 3). Baseline HRQoL surveys have been obtained for >80% of eligible subjects. Treg samples have been obtained for 95% of subjects, and 74% of subjects have consented to optional biology studies. Conclusion: Despite historical difficulty completing interventional trials in pediatric ITP and pandemic-related enrollment challenges, PINES trial enrollment is progressing successfully and will ultimately provide definitive data regarding the efficacy of eltrombopag in children with newly diagnosed ITP. There are no current data supporting the use of TPO-RAs for newly diagnosed ITP in children, or as monotherapy for newly diagnosed ITP in adults. Results from this trial therefore carry the potential to change management practices in ITP.

Using the information-motivation-behavioral skills model for targeting older adults’ climate change management practices: in the road of COP27

BackgroundClimate change is a rapidly evolving public health problem warranting global attention in the 21st century. The World Health Organization declared that climate illiteracy is highly prevalent among older adults, especially in lower- and middle-income nations. AimTo determine the effect of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model-based intervention for climate change management practices among older adults. DesignA quasi-experimental employed a pre-posttest, two-group research design. ParticipantsThe studied sample comprised 80 older adults (aged 60 years and above), assigned to study and control groups (n = 40 each) after completing a baseline survey of six validated measures. ResultsThe study group of proposed intervention based on IMB model demonstrated significant improvement in the mean scores of information (98.62 ± 3.56), motivation (90.14 ± 3.02), actual skills (84.13 ± 8.76), and practices (85.80 ± 3.94), p = 0.001. ConclusionThe intervention based on the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model has demonstrated credible feasibility in significantly improving the climate change-related information, motivation, skills, and management practices of older adults immediately after the posttest. It should be emphasized that this improvement showed a significant decline at the six-week mark; albeit the study participants’ scores remained significantly higher than their pre-test values, there is clearly a need for reinforcement to maintain positive outcomes over the long term. The existing outcomes call for replication of this intervention in other cohorts, such as uneducated older adults and those residing in assisted-living facilities.

Green corporate image: Assessing the effects of climate change management practices on corporate reputation

AbstractThe overarching aim of this study is to determine how distinct climate change management practices (CMPs), ranging from the establishment of carbon targets to the adoption of renewable energy and carbon assurance, resonate in the realm of corporate reputation (CR). The study sample comprises US S&P 500 companies (2016–2018). Reputation insights are obtained from the Global RepTrak® Pulse of the Reputation Institute, and data on the adoption of various CMPs are extracted from Carbon Disclosure Project reports. Logistic regression analysis shows that the findings underscore the pivotal role of absolute carbon and renewable energy use targets in enhancing CR. However, the effects of CMPs on CR vary with carbon trading regulations and intensive sector affiliation. The main findings hold after the Heckman selection model is used as an endogeneity technique. This research offers valuable insights to corporations that seek to strategically manage their reputation amidst the challenges of climate change.

MANAGEMENT OF STRATEGIC CHANGE AT COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF VIHIGA, KENYA

The County Government of Vihiga, Kenya aligns its governance with a resonating change management strategy geared towards progressive socio-economic development. With the advent of devolution and county governments in Kenya in 2013, the efficient management of strategic changes has been a key area of focus.Implementing strategic change management at the County Government of Vihiga is vital for better performance in economic, health, education, and other sectors. It ensures flexibility and adaptability to continually changing circumstances, simultaneously maintaining transparency, accountability, and improved service delivery. However, as with any evolving system, strategic change management faces challenges in this county. This comprises resistance to change among employees, inadequate resources, and unstable political environment. The County Government of Vihiga must be committed to change leadership, capacity building, resource allocation, managing resistance to change, and creating an environment that facilitates continuous improvement.Reviewed studies have focused mainly on strategic change management in private institutions hence there is little empirical data on the application of strategic change management in public institutions, a gap this research aims to bridge. The specific objectives of the study are to establish change management practices adopted by Vihiga County Government,to determine challenges faced by Vihiga County Government in managing strategic change and to ascertain the measures Vihiga County Government has put in place to mitigate challenges of management of strategic change. The research was anchored on open systems theory, chaos and complexity theory and contingency theory. Primary data was collected by use of interview schedule and analysed through content analysis. The results revealed that the county uses various strategies for strategic change management which include employee participation, effective communication active leadership and training. Similarly, it was discovered that the notable challenges encountered in managing strategic change included employee resistance, middle management resistance due to perceived loss of power and poor resource allocation. The main mitigation measures that the county management used to mitigate these drawbacks encompassed the creation of strong synergy and management monitoring of the change implementation process. The study concludes thatCurrently Vihiga County Government has successfully navigated through the change management. It recommends that,there is need to introduce change in a humane way, and if need be, set a guiding and counselling office to enable employees to cope with the change.

Climate Strengthens the Positive Effects of Stand Structure on Understory Plant Diversity in Chinese Temperate Forests

Stand structure, which links function and management, plays a crucial role in regulating forest ecosystems and influencing biodiversity. Nevertheless, knowledge of the effect of climate change on stand structure and plant diversity is still poorly understood on a large scale. To explore the effects of various climate conditions on stand structure–plant diversity, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of data from 1272 plots across China’s temperate and subtropical forests. Leveraging the structural equation model (SEM), we explored the direct and indirect effects of climate, topography, and tree diversity on understory woody and herbaceous plants with respect to stand structure. Furthermore, we evaluated the effect size of stand structure on understory vegetation diversity under different climatic zones. Our results showed that tree size variation (CV DBH) and stem density (SD) were the key drivers for understory woody plants, while the stand structure complexity index (SSCI) was more important for understory herbaceous diversity. Furthermore, the positive effects of stand structure differed across various climate zones and were enhanced with an increase in the climatic gradient. For instance, the impact of SD on understory woody plants, as well as the influence of the SSCI on the diversity of understory herbaceous vegetation, were both strengthened. These findings raise our awareness of the pressing need to manage stand structure heterogeneity differently across different climate zones, and different management also needs to be implemented among different understory plant types. It becomes evident that distinct forest management measures must be applied under future climate change and forest management practices in order to preserve biodiversity.

The Mediating Role of Resource Availability and Allocation in Strengthening the Relationship of Change Strategies in the Growth and Development of Entrepreneurial Projects after Covid 19

With limited contemporary examinations investigating interactions between change management strategies and startups and entrepreneurial ventures’ growth and development, judgements are bound to be clouded. As a result, the study’s main objective is to identify the key challenges faced by startups and entrepreneurial ventures in response to the post-pandemic business landscape. The study is important for providing valuable insights into successful change management practices, offering practical recommendations for business leaders, and contributing to the understanding of post-pandemic resilience and adaptation in the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The study formulated 8 hypotheses linking digital transformation, customer-centric, financial restructuring and resource optimization, and resource availability and allocation change management approaches with the growth and development of startups and entrepreneurial ventures. A quantitative method involving a Structural Equation Modelling approach was applied to 326 clustered survey responses collected from CEOs, general managers, finance managers, human resources managers, change management leaders and employees and team members of start-ups and entrepreneurial ventures in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. According to the findings, digital transformation significantly enhances resource availability and allocation, and growth and development. While customer-centricity may not directly affect resource availability and allocation post-Covid-19, the study concludes that a customer-centric mindset and strategy remain critical to business resilience. Most importantly, financial restructuring and resource optimization positively and significantly affect resource availability and allocation, as well as growth and development. Lastly, the study upholds that resource availability and allocation’s mediating effects are not valid within the context of startups and entrepreneurial ventures in the post-pandemic business landscape.

An arts-based process to build Workforce agility

PurposeThe world of work is constantly evolving such that the Workforce in the previous era was driven by the need for stability and is now driven by the desire for creative disruption. While firms must respond to the challenges and dynamics continuously, employees must be ready for any upcoming change to progress despite the turbulence and attain a competitive position. This paper's focal theme is Workforce agility – the ability of employees to respond to and make the most out of changes. Studies on the personal factors affected by changes, in turn, influencing Workforce agility have been scarce. The authors propose a conceptual model with propositions to address this gap. Additionally, the authors propose an employee-centric experiential training practice to foster agility.Design/methodology/approachThe authors have employed conceptual description methodology to build propositions about the personal factors influencing Workforce agility and an arts-based intervention to enhance it.FindingsIntermodal arts-based intervention (IABI) can influence employees' epistemic curiosity, which aids with managing ruminative thoughts, thus enhancing Workforce agility, while dispositional joy moderates this relationship.Practical implicationsThe proposed “Intermodal Arts-Based Intervention (IABI)” can help firms move from a traditional training-based approach to an experiential one to foster their Workforce's agile capacities. Considerations for its implementation are explained.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first attempts to integrate multiple art forms as a change management practice. The conceptualized model also brings out the adaptive and maladaptive aspects of epistemic curiosity and rumination and the role of joy in promoting agile behaviors.

Imbibing Organizational Change Management: A Pre-Requisite Among The Employees

In the present competitive world, the modern organizations are highly concerned about the change management process for their existence in the industry. Adapting to the changes and managing them are important for the organizational success. Change Management is a comprehensive process of methods and manner in which change in an organization is implemented internally or externally. The present study emphasizes on strategies for Change Management among employees within the organizations, role of communication in Change Management, indicators of effective Change Management and consequences of employee resistance towards change. This study provides valuable suggestions to the organizations in fostering the existing change management practices and fully collaborated organizational transformation

Change Resistance Management, Strategic Change Management Practices and Service Quality in Counties in Western Kenya

Globally, service delivery has remained an issue of utmost concern among public organizations as it anchors key government operations. Statistics indicate that delivery of service in terms of health, sanitation and infrastructure in county governments of Kenya averages 39% countrywide with that of the ten county governments in western Kenya averaging 28%. This is against the Transparency International Kenya requirement of 40%, indicating poor service delivery. Both change resistance management and strategic change management have been shown to improve service delivery. Prior studies focus on change resistance and strategic change management for business organizations. Moreover, the moderating role of change resistance management on the relationship between strategic change management practices and service quality has not been explored in the context of county governments in Kenya. The study sought to investigate the influence of change resistance management on the relationship between strategic change management practices and service quality among county governments in western Kenya. Correlational research design was used, targeting 380 directors and chief officers. Questionnaires were used to collect data. Results showed that change resistance management has a significant moderating effect on the relationship between and change resistance management and service quality (R2Change = .129, p = .003), implying that change resistance management leads to an increase of 12.9% in the original effect of strategic change management practices on service quality. It is concluded that change resistance management practices be embraced among so as to improve service delivery.

Emergent Properties of Organizational Sensemaking Systems: A Grounded Theory Assessment of The HITEC Project

The process of organizational sensemaking initially attracted empirical attention as a tool for retrospectively assessing organizational decision-making during critical incidents (Weick, 1988, 1993). However, recent advancements in multilevel theory design have created an opportunity to re-envision organizational sensemaking not only as an individual and retrospective process but as a broader macro-cognitive and multilevel organizational system. The identification and intentional design of organizational sensemaking systems can potentially facilitate present and future decision-making processes and organizational change management. Using the organizational sensemaking systems paradigm proposed by Hughes, et al. (2022), this study builds on the inductive assessment of a significant organizational change effort to extract novel theoretical propositions of the emergent properties of organizational sensemaking systems. Results include the identification of properties of organizational sensemaking systems and a series of theoretical propositions about the nature of sensemaking emergence. The potential implications for change management practice and future empirical work are discussed.

Managing change in the face of a pandemic: the case of Cargills (Ceylon) PLC

Research methodology This case study has been developed based on the primary data obtained through a series of interviews held with the senior management of Cargills, and the secondary data obtained from the company’s corporate website www.cargillsceylon.com/,annual reports and publicly available sources of information such as newspaper articles. Case overview/synopsis This case study focuses on the strategic responses employed by Cargills (Ceylon) PLC – a leading business conglomerate in Sri Lanka – in response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The duration of this case study is from January 2020 to September 2021. The case study particularly examines the key business sectors of Cargills (Ceylon) PLC – retail, food manufacturing and quick service restaurants – which elaborate on the change management practices and strategies deployed by the company in each of these sectors during this challenging period. This study is based on the primary data gathered from the interviews held with the Cargills (Ceylon) PLC team, and the secondary data obtained from the corporate website of Cargills (Ceylon) PLC. This case study is most suitable to be taught in academic courses related to strategic change management. Complexity academic level The case is most suited to be discussed with undergraduates (3rd year and 4th year) following business and management studies related disciplines. While the pivotal area around which the case has been developed is strategic change management, covering environmental analysis, strategic analysis and process of change management, the case could also be used in strategic management classes, to discuss environmental analysis, strategic planning approaches and business and corporate level strategies. Subject code CSS 11: Strategy.

Home-field advantage affects the local adaptive interaction between Andropogon gerardii ecotypes and root-associated bacterial communities.

Due to climate change, drought frequencies and severities are predicted to increase across the United States. Plant responses and adaptation to stresses depend on plant genetic and environmental factors. Understanding the effect of those factors on plant performance is required to predict species' responses to environmental change. We used reciprocal gardens planted with distinct regional ecotypes of the perennial grass Andropogon gerardii adapted to dry, mesic, and wet environments to characterize their rhizosphere communities using 16S rRNA metabarcode sequencing. Even though the local microbial pool was the main driver of these rhizosphere communities, the significant plant ecotypic effect highlighted active microbial recruitment in the rhizosphere, driven by ecotype or plant genetic background. Our data also suggest that ecotypes planted at their homesites were more successful in recruiting rhizosphere community members that were unique to the location. The link between the plants' homesite and the specific local microbes supported the "home field advantage" hypothesis. The unique homesite microbes may represent microbial specialists that are linked to plant stress responses. Furthermore, our data support ecotypic variation in the recruitment of congeneric but distinct bacterial variants, highlighting the nuanced plant ecotype effects on rhizosphere microbiome recruitment. These results improve our understanding of the complex plant host-soil microbe interactions and should facilitate further studies focused on exploring the functional potential of recruited microbes. Our study has the potential to aid in predicting grassland ecosystem responses to climate change and impact restoration management practices to promote grassland sustainability. IMPORTANCE In this study, we used reciprocal gardens located across a steep precipitation gradient to characterize rhizosphere communities of distinct dry, mesic, and wet regional ecotypes of the perennial grass Andropogon gerardii. We used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and focused oligotyping analysis and showed that even though location was the main driver of the microbial communities, ecotypes could potentially recruit distinct bacterial populations. We showed that different A. gerardii ecotypes were more successful in overall community recruitment and recruitment of microbes unique to the "home" environment, when growing at their "home site." We found evidence for "home-field advantage" interactions between the host and host-root-associated bacterial communities, and the capability of ecotypes to recruit specialized microbes that were potentially linked to plant stress responses. Our study aids in a better understanding of the factors that affect plant adaptation, improve management strategies, and predict grassland function under the changing climate.

Short-term effects of a high-severity summer wildfire on conifer forest moth (Lepidoptera) communities in New Mexico, USA.

Forest fires in North America are becoming larger in area and burning with higher severity as a result of climate change and land management practices. High-severity, stand-replacement fires can inflict major changes to forest insect communities, potentially extirpating many species through altered post-fire habitat resources. We assessed forest-dwelling macrolepidopteran moth communities in mixed conifer and ponderosa pine forests during the first year after the 2011 Las Conchas fire in New Mexico, USA. We deployed blacklight traps in replicated burned and unburned stands during June, July, and August in 2012. We collected 9,478 individuals, representing 211 species and 8 families. Noctuidae (124 species) and Geometridae (53) comprised the majority of the taxa, followed by Erebidae (21), Sphingidae (5), Notodontidae (3), Lasiocampidae (2), Saturniidae (2), and Drepanidae (1). Moth communities (species composition and abundances) in each forest type (mixed conifer vs. ponderosa pine) were statistically distinguishable, but shared 56.4% (119) of observed species. Overall, compared to unburned forests, post-fire moth communities in both forest types had significantly lower numbers of individuals, species richness and diversity, and lower evenness in ponderosa pine forests. As expected, categorizing moth taxa by larval host plant taxa revealed that reductions of moth populations following fire were associated with the elimination or reduction of available larval host plants (particularly conifers, oaks, and junipers). We predict that future moth community succession will likely parallel the overall transformation from a forested landscape to a montane meadow/grassland ecosystem, with continued reduction in tree-feeding species and increasing dominance by forb/grass-feeding species.

Spatial-Temporal Response of Sediment Loads to Climate Change and Soil Conservation Practices in the Northern Aegean Watershed, Türkiye

Climate change and agricultural activities are significant sources of stress to the natural environment and water resources. These also affect erosion and the associated estimation of sediment yields, which is also a crucial task in the hydrological models. The presented study is significant for the development of sustainable watershed management practices. It also aims to determine the effects of climate change and different agricultural best management practices (BMPs) on the sediment loads of the North Aegean Basin in Türkiye by using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. While sediment calibration was performed for 2014, streamflow calibration and verification were performed using the SWAT Calibration and Uncertainty Program (SWAT-CUP) for the period 2012–2013 and 2014–2015, respectively. The obtained results showed that the climate change scenarios reduce the surface waters of the basin and sediment yield in accordance with the hydrological transport processes. During the 2012–2030 time period, runoff in the basin for the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 climate change scenarios decreased by 38.5% and 31.8%, respectively, and the basin sediment yield decreased by 55.7% and 50.7%, respectively. The sediment yields to water resources had distinctive reductions due to BMPs such as zero tillage, vertical tillage, cover crop, and terracing. Considering the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios, BMPs reduced the sediment yield in the range of 0.93–4.03% and 0.89–3.85%, respectively. Determining the sediment transport by using hydrological modeling and the effects of climate change for different agricultural practices on erosion will be useful for decision-makers.

Linking Soil Structure, Hydraulic Properties, and Organic Carbon Dynamics: A Holistic Framework to Study the Impact of Climate Change and Land Management

AbstractClimate change and unsustainable land management practices have resulted in extensive soil degradation, including alteration of soil structure (i.e., aggregate and pore size distributions), loss of soil organic carbon, and reduction of water and nutrient holding capacities. Although soil structure, hydrologic processes, and biogeochemical fluxes are tightly linked, their interaction is often unaccounted for in current ecohydrological, hydrological and terrestrial biosphere models. For more holistic predictions of soil hydrological and biogeochemical cycles, models need to incorporate soil structure and macroporosity dynamics, whether in a natural or agricultural ecosystem. Here, we present a theoretical framework that couples soil hydrologic processes and soil microbial activity to soil organic carbon dynamics through the dynamics of soil structure. In particular, we link the Millennial model for soil carbon dynamics, which explicitly models the formation and breakdown of soil aggregates, to a recent parameterization of the soil water retention and hydraulic conductivity curves and to solute and O2 diffusivities to soil microsites based on soil macroporosity. To illustrate the significance of incorporating the dynamics of soil structure, we apply the framework to a case study in which soil and vegetation recover over time from agricultural practices. The new framework enables more holistic predictions of the effects of climate change and land management practices on coupled soil hydrological and biogeochemical cycles.