Soils In Countries Research Articles

Features of the application of geoinformation systems to increase the yield of agricultural land

The main problems in the effective use of land resources as an important factor of the country's development and population's food security are considered. The study was conducted in the northern region of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The object of the study was grain-growing farms in the Akmola region. The study concluded that satellite imagery and unmanned aerial vehicles should be used to monitor crops and assess yields in the Akmola region. These technologies allow for more efficient land management, prompt response to problems and informed decision-making. The experience of GIS application in the United States consists in the formation of database systems for all soil types that are of economic importance. There are 4 national soil databases, as well as several automated soil databases containing data on more than 13,400 soil varieties. The country's Soil Conservation Service has created soil geographic databases, including a geographic database on soil surveys, state soil associations, and major land resource areas. The economic efficiency of land conservation measures will be determined by the amount of net income, taking into account the prevented environmental damage in value form, using the efficiency coefficient of environmental costs relative to the total production and environmental costs. The acreage area in the Akmola region on average for 2018–2023 amounted to 26,264.32 thousand hectares, the average actual crop yield was 12.5 centner/ha. Based on the given system of formulas, the estimated crop yield on non-eroded soils (Yn) is 13.5 centner/ha, and the crop shortfall (V) due to land erosion is 871.88 thousand centners of grain, which is 69,750 thousand tenge at an average grain price of 80,000 tenge/t

“Canada is a Big Deal Here”: The eFP Battle Group and Host Nation Public Opinion

Does personal contact between allied service members and local citizens result in greater public acceptance of foreign military presence? To what extent do members of the host nation's domestic society assess favorably the forward deployment of allied military personnel on their own national territory? Substantial scholarly literature has probed these types of questions in the context of US globe-spanning military deployments. This study, however, departs from the US-centric approach and focuses on the deployment of a middle power. In the presented analysis, we examine the Canadian approach to “winning hearts and minds” in Latvia. In 2023, upwards of 800 Canadian troops were stationed in Latvia. Using original survey data, we measure local citizens' attitudes towards the Canadian-led battlegroup. Our results speak to the fact that Canadian and other foreign armed forces' presence in Latvia is generally accepted by the wider society. Despite Moscow's active attempts to cultivate anti-NATO sentiments, the Latvian public welcomes the stationing of Canadian troops on the country's soil.

Quantitative analysis of the contribution of sources, diffusion pathways, and receptor attributes for the spatial distribution of soil heavy metals and their nested structure analysis in China

Investigation of heavy metal pollution degree, pollution sources, and spatial distribution structure is crucial for the country's soil pollution prevention, but relevant research is lacking. In this study, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn in the national scope are taken as research objects. Among them, Cd has the highest pollution level. Four sources were quantitatively allocated as soil type, mining and dressing industry, GDP, and NDVI, which accounted for 92.93, 97.81, 99.30 and 96.24 % of Cr, Cd, Zn and As contamination, respectively. In addition, according to the geographical detector, the spatial distribution of As was affected by three diffusion pathways, whose influence degree were 0.822–0.947, especially the slope. Cadmium was primarily affected by both receptor attributes and diffusion pathways, with an influence degree of 0.010–0.175, especially soil water content and slope; Cr and Pb were affected by receptor attributes, with an influence degree of 0.886–0.986 and 0.007–0.288, respectively, especially for soil water content and soil organic carbon; Cu and Zn were affected by receptor attributes, with an influence degree of 0.182–0.823 and 0.002–0.150, respectively, especially for soil texture. There are two spatial distribution structures with nested scales in east–west and north–south directions. The large spatial structure has a more significant impact on the spatial distribution of heavy metals, especially in the east–west direction. Overall, the mining and dressing industry is the main source in Hunan, Yunnan, and Liaoning, where many mines exist and mining activities are frequent. GDP was the main source in Shanghai and Zhejiang areas, where the economy is developed. NDVI was the main source in Guangdong and Anhui areas, where agriculture is relatively developed. These results provide a basis for determining remediation and prevention objectives in soil pollution remediation and prevention in the national scope.

Урожайность льна масличного и микробиоценоз чернозема обыкновенного при внесении золоуглеродного препарата агробионов

Every year the anthropogenic impact on natural resources on the territory of Kazakhstan, in particular, on the soil cover, is increasing, which leads to its degradation. Along with this, there is a decrease in the content of humus, available forms of nutrients in the soils of the republic, which leads to a sharp decrease in the productivity of crops. In this regard, there is increasing concern for maintaining a stable bioproductivity of the country's soil resources. To solve existing problems, it becomes necessary to take measures on the part of the state to reproduce soil fertility and rational use of soil resources and agricultural land. The accumulation of waste is also a global and national environmental problem. Ash and slag belong to V hazard class waste (practically safe), and they are quite applicable as fertilizers for agriculture and are of great importance for the environment, as they contribute to waste disposal. The article presents the results of examining the doses effect of the preparation from ash and slag and technical fertilizer on the biological activity of ordinary chernozem and the yield of oil flax. The experiments were carried out on the experimental field of the Educational-Scientific-Production Center "Elite" of Sh. Ualikhanov Kokshetau University. The microbiological activity of the soil was determined by the method of application of flax. It has been established that the application of the preparation made from ash and slag and carbon black contributes to the activation of microbiological processes in ordinary chernozem and an increase in the yield of oil flax.

The diplomatic burden of pandemics: lessons from malaria

AbstractThis note seeks to understand the extent of the disruptions to international relations caused by pandemics, focusing on one globally-endemic disease: malaria. We posit that longstanding diseases such as malaria have the potential to undermine the political ties of nation states, as well as the many benefits of these connections. Our argument is tested empirically using both directed-dyadic and monadic data, while incorporating methods that account for endogeneity and other relevant concerns. We find that the geographic malaria rates of a country not only serve to historically discourage foreign governments from establishing diplomatic outposts on a country's soil, but also lead to an aggregate decrease in the total diplomatic missions that a country receives. We then discuss the current implications of these findings.

Soil carbon and its associate resilience using big data analytics: For food Security and environmental management

Soils are a binding site for carbon storage. Climatic variables, namely precipitation, and temperature are regarded as the primary factors controlling soil organic carbon (SOC) storage; however, no consensus has been made about the magnitude and direction that changes in climatic variables may have on SOC. Based on copula theory, the present study investigates the soil carbon dynamics and the likelihood of SOC occurrence under varying climatic conditions across India's 14 agro-climatic zones. Results demonstrate the possibility of occurrence of SOC under both low and high temperature/precipitation conditions. It was found that the SOC of agro-climatic zones situated in semi-arid and arid regions are more sensitive to changes in climatic variables compared to that of the others. We then quantify the soil resilience of the agro-climatic zones based on the amount of SOC content. Results showed that only 1/3 of India's agro-climatic zones were resilient during the study period (1985–2005). Thus, the study's findings facilitate the identification of India's most sensitive agro-climatic zone for soil carbon management and climate-related policy. It stresses the need for big data assimilation to identify site-specific management practices that can facilitate soil health and improve the country's soil resilient capacity for food security and environmental management.

The Effect of Natural Radioactive Elements in the Soil and Ground Water Toward Human Beings

The new study was assessed the effect of naturally radioactive elements in soil and water to ward human being. The most of the world's coverage was of radioactivity element exist in water and soil surface. Natural radioactive material such as ²³⁸U ²³²Th, ²³⁸U, and ⁴⁰K, are of major concern to emit ionizing radiation. Water is one of the vastest natural resources. The amount of naturally occurring radioactivity in the country's soils, and groundwater is associated in its occurrence. The soil and water sample were technically distinguished by using advanced instrument high-purity germanium gamma-ray detector. Natural radioactivity and radiation in soils and water have gained substantial works attention because humans are exposed to natural radioactivity at different levels depending on natural radioactive materials were presented throughout in country. The aim of the current work was to know the risk of radiation and forward the scientific information to the researchers. The main source of ionizing radiation that pollutant the soil and water was occurred in nature. In this work have focused the property and associated between the source of emitting ionizing radiation with target sample. It seen that the consequence of determinant and somatic effect. The study was also assessed the producer of radionuclide exposed to the peoples.

Possibilities and Prospects Regarding Ethanol Production from Saccharin Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench

Sugarcane has been used as the principal raw material for ethanol production in Brazil, and its adaptability to the country's soil and climate represents an advantage. However, because of the high demand for fuel, coupled with the low production of off-season ethanol from sugarcane, it is necessary to search for other raw materials, such as sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. In addition to possessing characteristics similar to those of sugarcane, it can be cultivated in the off-season, thereby ensuring ethanol production throughout the year. This production would boost the regional economy, which is based on ethanol production from sugarcane. The present study proposes the establishment of an industry for the production of ethanol from saccharin sorghum to be implemented in the region of Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil. The estimated production of the industry proposed is 500,000 tons of saccharin sorghum per crop. Considering the consumption of approximately 202.25 tons/h, the production of 20 million liters of ethanol could be obtained at the end of the harvest. The company will have a staff of 300 employees, and the implementation at the productive, commercial, safety and environmental levels has been planned in accordance with the appropriate regulations related to the type of industry proposed.

Free, open, quantitative and adaptable digital soil map data and database for Nigeria.

Nigeria's digital soil map (DSM) and database is the most comprehensive and detailed source of quantitative information on the country's soil distribution. Digital cartography and geographic information system (GIS) operations were methods used in producing the DSM and database. We obtained analogue soil data in 8 hard copy maps (each at a displayable scale of 1: 650,000) from the Federal Department of Agricultural Land Resources (FDALR), which archived the result of Nigeria's reconnaissance soil survey. The survey started in 1985 and by 1990; it has completed the compilation of hard copy maps that outline Nigeria's major soil distribution. Our experimental design begins with electronic scanning of these paper maps. We set the scanning system to 500 dpi, creating high-resolution raster images, which were imported into ESRI ArcGIS software, for orthorectification by geo-referencing to WGS 1984 geographic coordinate system. We applied a spatial processing tool on the orthorectified images and created a geometrically-seamless mosaicked raster image for the soil data of the whole Nigeria. Using GIS on-screen digitization – with optimal snapping tolerance – we created vector polygons (spatial data) of soil components (mapping units). Finally, we coded the metadata (attributes) of Nigeria's soil distribution into Microsoft EXCEL spreadsheet, which we linked to the soil spatial data. The combined spatial and attribute soil data forms the soil database for Nigeria and provides, on-demand, vital soil information, such as thematic maps of soil characteristics. The department of Geoinformatics and surveying University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC) is the major repository of Nigeria's DSM and database.

Effects of Vermicompost on Plant Growth and Soil Structure

Vermicompost is the name given to organic material in which virtually any organic waste is converted into a useful fertilizer and effective soil conditioner. Chemical substances that have been used intensively for many years have adversely affected soil fertility and microbial activity. Vermicompost products confer plant nutrient elements, various hormones, enzymes, humic substances and especially organic matter to the soil. Thus it improves the soil structure while preparing a suitable environment for plant growth as well. It is a material with high water holding capacity and cation exchange capacity. It also has a positive effect on the ventilation of the soil. It also helps plants to more efficiently utilize plant nutrients in the soil. The average organic matter content of our country's soils is quite low (2% or less). For all these reasons the use of vermicompost should be encouraged. The aim of this study is to give information about the properties of vermicomposts, and its effects on plant growth and soil structure and to provide a current literature source.

Estimation of soil erosion rate in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea using the RUSLE model

ABSTRACTForests are well known to control soil erosion and severe flooding. In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), deforestation was estimated at 20% between 1997 and 2014. This decline was mainly reflective of improper land use practices on steep slopes. Intensive deforestation and inappropriate land management can lead to severe soil erosion. The objective of this study was to describe the regional soil erosion severity in North Korea using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model coupled with a GIS technique. This model is widely being used to assess the potential mean annual soil erosion under different rainfall, soil characteristics, slope, and land use conditions. The results showed that the average annual rate of soil loss was estimated to be 15.8 tonnes ha−1 yr−1. Regionally, Nampo city is the most vulnerable region to soil erosion (55.1 tonnes ha−1 yr−1), followed by Hwanghaebuk-do (30.5 tonnes ha−1 yr−1), due to rapid land development. Denuded lands, which are estimated at around 6.5% of the total area, are predicted to have contributed 192.1 million tonnes yr−1 to the country's soil erosion. Participatory agroforestry and reforestation were found to be practical solutions to reduce soil erosion, particularly on degraded landscapes, and improve people's farm-based livelihoods.

He Results of the Research of Biological and Genetic Properties of the Anthrax Strains Isolates during the Epizootic 2016 in Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District

The article is dedicated to the results of the studies of Bacillus anthracis isolates, selected during the liquidation of anthrax epizootic in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District in summer 2016. The above mentioned isolates turned out to be highly sensitive to the means of general emergency prophylaxis (doxycycline, pefloxacin and rifampicin), as well as to the main means of special emergency prophylaxis and etiotropic therapy of anthrax (ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, amikacin, gentamicin). The studies revealed also the high virulence of B. anthracis strain in white mice. The lethal dose (LD 50 ) turned out to be from 5 to 7 spores, and the average lifetime of animals since the moment of contamination till death did not exceed 3,6 days. The results of VNTR typing allowed to state, that the genotype of B. anthracis isolates, that caused the anthrax epizootic outbreak in the Yamal, was not exotic for Russia. The Russian National Collection of Microorganisms already possesses the stem with identical VNTR-genotype. The Yamal isolates of B. anthracis coincide with the B. anthracis strain 1051, obtained in 1935 by the veterinary laboratory in Ufa from the corpse of the horse. It shows the presence of steady hotbeds of B. anthracis of the above mentioned genotype in our country's soil in the Southern Urals

Soils under condition of climate changes: adaptation, preadaptation, readaptation?

Aim. To cover the current humus state of Ukraine and Podillya, to prove the significance of improving it as a guarantee of increasing their resilience to contemporary and future climate change and productive use in conditions of increasing its extreme.Methods. The basis of the study was statistical data and materials of special reports and scientific works, its methodological basis – the methods of structural-system analysis and forecasting.Results. Аnalysis of statistical data indicates the continuation of dehumidification of soil cover and violation of scientifically grounded crop rotation structures. As a result of annual losses of humus in the country's soils with 1,07 t/ha and its negative balance of 0,44 t/ha, there is a significant increase of sowing of corn and industrial crops. During the period of 2000-2015, the area under it increased by three times, and sunflower by 1,76. Also, during this period, the area under rape increased by 3,2 times, reaching 2.53%. The sowing of сrops of perennial grasses decreased by 2,9 times with a share in crop rotations of 3,8% (with the recommended crop structure in Polissya 5%, in other zones – 10 %).A similar trend is observed in the Podillya region. The area under corn for the period 2010-2015 increased by 5,5%, sunflower – by 1,2%.Conclusions. The key to increasing sustainability of soils in conditions of intensifying extreme weather phenomena and their productivity is an urgent application instead of adaptation strategy (gradual adaptation to new climatic conditions) of preventive actions - roar (the restoration of their important components and properties lost) and adaptation (improvement of their agroecological condition). In the current economic climate, this can be achieved by adhering to scientifically sound agricultural development (which is often ignored by land users) with a share of their perennial grasses not less than 10% and introduction of low-cost grain-herbal types that provide a deficit-free humus balance in the soil.

Voloshchuk M. D., Petrenko N. I., Yatsenko S. V. Erosian of soils of Ukraine: the evolution of theory and practice. – Kyiv : Nilan, Ltd., 2014. – 325 p.

At the present time the great part of soils is exposed to various negative processes. One of the basic processes that lead to the degradation of soils in Ukraine is the erosion. According to the recent data, water and wind erosion covers 13.9 million hectares; it is about 33 % of the total arable land in the country. On this basis, the greater relevance belongs to the scientific studies displaying the features of negative phenomena of our soil, and, most importantly, the ways of solving of these urgent problems on the soil cover of Ukraine. The monograph «Soil erosion in Ukraine: the evolution of theory and practice» of such famous scientists in the field of Soil Erosion Science as Voloshchuk M. D., Petrenko N. I. and Yatsenko S. V. is one of such fundamental works. In the present monograph, considerable attention is paid to the periodization of the formation and development of the doctrine of soil erosion in Ukraine. The authors identify six basic stages of formation of the national Soil Erosion Science. The paper discusses the characteristic features of isolation of Soil Erosion Science as an independent scientific direction and a self-discipline, which are based on the works of such renowned scientists as P. S. Tregubov, M. N. Zaslavsky and G. I. Shvebs. A significant place in the monograph is devoted to the characteristics of the scientific centers of Ukraine, in which the Soil Erosion Science has been developed. These centers are distinguished by leading scientists, under the leadership of whom, the erosion processes have been studied. The authors of the monograph provides four main scientific centers of the country in the field of Soil Erosion Science development: National Scientific Centre «Institute of Agriculture of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences» (central region), National Scientific Center «Institute for Soil Science and Agrochemistry Research named after O. N. Sokolovsky», Scientific-Technical Center «Fertility» (Kharkiv region), Odessa I. I. Mechnikov National University (south region), Lviv National Agrarian University, Institute of Ecology of the Carpathians of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv and others (west region). In addition to considering the features of the listed centers, in the work there is a presentation of a brief description of the project, research institutes, agricultural and agroforestry research stations that are active in a scientific work in relation to soil erosion processes. In the work, there are also the historical aspects and mechanisms for the further development of wind erosion researches. Considerable attention the authors of the monograph pay to the analysis of the current state, challenges and prospects of solving the problem on protecting the soil from erosion. The main problem of the country's soil, which is the cause of widespread erosion, is a very high agricultural development of the territory, more than half of which falls onto an arable land. At the end of the monograph, there are a large number of photos, provided by Professor M. D. Voloshchuk, which recorded various aspects of soil erosion manifestations, as well as the ways of its overcoming in the conditions of forest-steppe and steppe zones in Ukraine and on the territory of Moldova. The reviewed monograph is certainly a very relevant and timely generalizing scientific research that will be useful in the theoretical and practical use of students, academic staff of the natural and agricultural higher education institutions, research organizations.

Effects of the grain-for-green program on soil erosion in China

Severe soil erosion is a serious environmental problem in China. In 1999 the Chinese government implemented the Grain-for-Green Program (herein referred to as the Program), a well rounded program of ecological reconstruction to help control the country's soil erosion problems. This study quantitatively analyzed the impacts of the Program using data from 11 Chinese river systems to evaluate the effects of the Program on soil erosion. Results show runoff decreased and the soil erosion significantly decreased because of an increase in the area of farmland-converted forestlands. When comparing two time periods, 2003-2007 and 1998-2002, runoff and soil erosion were reduced by 18% and 45.4%, respectively. Therefore, the Program has the effect of controlling soil erosion while producing ecological benefits.

Determination of radioactivity levels and hazards of soil and sediment samples in Fırtına Valley (Rize, Turkey)

The natural radioactivity levels in soil and sediment samples of Fırtına Valley have been determined. To our knowledge, there seems to be no information about radioactivity level in the Fırtına Valley soils and sediments so far. For this reason, soil and sediment samples were collected along the Fırtına Valley and analysis on the collected samples were carried out to determine 238U, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs radioisotopes using high purity germanium detector. The activity concentrations obtained for 226Ra, 214Pb, 214Bi, 228Ac, 208Tl, 40K and 137Cs are given in the unit of Bq/kg. The results have been compared with other radioactivity measurements in different country's soils and sediments. The radium equivalent activity (Ra eq), the absorbed dose rate ( D), the external hazard index ( H ex), the annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE) and the annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) were also calculated and compared with the international recommended values.

Introduction to a series of papers dealing with pedological implications of the quaternary succession in New Zealand

Almost without exception, the soils of New Zealand are forming on materials deposited or exposed during the Quaternary Period. Two geological events have had a profound impact on the soil pattern of New ZealandHolocene and Pleistocene volcanism in the North Island, and Pleistocene glaciations throughout the country but particularly in the South Island. Both have produced, and volcanism still is producing, distinctive parent materials on which a large proportion of the country's soils are forming. Clearly, then, Quaternary research in New Zealand must profit from pedological studies and the aim of this series of papers is to explore some of the pedological implications of the Quaternary succession. These papers are mainly centred around two topics-tephra and loess-although a few are concerned with other pedological aspects of Quaternary research such as analytical techniques for the identification of paleosols, or for the fingerprinting of tephra events. The final paper af the s1eries dmws together all the available data and reconstructs those events of the late Quaternary which are represented by deposits retaining a pedological imprint. The following papers are included in the series: