Fallow Land Research Articles

Modelling future urban growth utilizing multilayer perceptron and Markov chain models in West Himalayan urban centre: Srinagar Municipal Corporation

The urban spatial planning challenges encountered in areas situated in hilly regions, such as the Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, are distinguished by the swift growth of population, disorganized expansion of built-up areas, and insufficient data on alterations in urban expansion and land utilization. The study was conducted to examine the trends in urban growth in order to implement sustainable urban management within the Srinagar Municipal Corporation. The complexities arising from the rapid aggregation of population and unregulated urbanization necessitate a proactive approach to urban spatial planning. The aim of this investigation is to contribute to the development of effective strategies by analysing the current patterns of urban growth and anticipating future changes. The findings of this investigation display a notable trend in which the predicted LULC shows the rapid expansion of built-up areas from 134.72 km2 to 170.89 km2 and corresponds with a continuous decrease in agricultural and Fallow lands to 16.64 km2 and 6.62 km2 respectively. This emphasizes the transformative impact on the land-use, highlighting the requirement for comprehensive surveillance and predictive tools to direct the dynamic interplay between human activities and the environment. Also, the study could improve the city's planning, resource allocation and decision-making processes by providing probabilistic insights into various urban issues especially land-use planning in hilly regions.

Ecosystem Health Assessment in Kalimpong District (West Bengal), India Based on AHP-VORS Model

The present research paper proposes an AHP model based on integrating weight and VORS modelis used to prepare of ecosystem health conditions map in Kalimpong district of West Bengal from 1991 to 2021. In this study, LULC map is prepared based onlandsat-5 (for 1991) and also landsat-8 (for 2021)applyingArcgis 10.3.1.The district is covered by 7 types of LULCclasses such as agriculture fallow land, forest,social forestry, agriculture plantation, build up area, agriculture land and water bodies1. LULC map of 1991 and 2021 were used to prepare ESVs map based on ESVs of biomes, 1997 and 2014 to analysis of spatio-temporal dynamics in ESVs of the district.EH of the district is categorised into five classes in the period of 1991 to 2021. The output results show that about 30.05 % and 23.30 % areas under very good health condition in 1991 are predicted while the areas under very good health conditions are changed to 22.00 % and 22.00 % in 2021 as per used ecosystem services map which prepared based on global coefficient values. This work gives a valuable guide line for conducting sustainable environmental management steps for the district in future.

The Spatial Distribution of Fallow Land and Its Ecological Effects in the Agro-Pastoral Ecotone of Northern China

The Spatial Distribution of Fallow Land and Its Ecological Effects in the Agro-Pastoral Ecotone of Northern China

Spatio-temporal analysis of vegetation dynamics in new protected areas: Exploring the partial nature reserve of Aghien (southern Côte d'Ivoire)

The Aghien Partial Nature Reserve, located in the district of Abidjan, is a new protected area that requires special monitoring because it is subject to strong urbanization pressure. To analyse the spatio-temporal dynamics of land use at this site, field data was first collected, followed by processing of Landsat OLI/TIRS images of the reserve from 2020 and 2024. Parameters such as the average annual rate of spatial expansion (T), the conversion rate (Tc), the transition matrix and the conversion intensity were then calculated. Finally, a forecast was made for land-use dynamics up to 2032. A total of ten land-use units were identified within the administrative boundaries of the reserve. Among these units, old rubber plantations, fallow land and secondary forests are the most represented plant formations. Over the period from 2020 to 2024, vegetation dynamics are marked by the expansion of secondary forests (Tc = 9.48%; T = 2.26%), young palm plantation (Tc = 15.01%; T = 3.50%) and bare soil (Tc = 18.50%; T = 4.24%). However, the forecast to 2032 shows a significant expansion of fallow land (Tc = 11.66%; T = 0.92%) and secondary forest (Tc = 26.46%; T = 1.96%). This reflects the gradual restoration of floristic diversity in the reserve's landscape. However, given the persistence of certain human activities, the site needs to be monitored.

The current humus state of the fallow lands of the Akmola region in the subzone of the southern chernozems

The research studied the humus state and humus reserves in a layer of 0-20 cm for 3 types of deposits in the steppe zone of the Akmola region on southern chernozems, on which agricultural use was discontinued in different periods of time. An assessment of the postagrogenic recovery of humus content in deposits of different ages is given. It was determined that the content and reserves of humus in layers 0-10 and 10-20 cm differ significantly depending on the age of fallow lands. Also, a change in soil density in a 20-centimeter soil layer was found with an increase in the age of the deposit. This indicates the processes of natural reproduction of humus of southern chernozems in the region during post-agrogenic land restoration, using the example of a deposit. The increase in the age of the deposit was accompanied by an increase in humus content and soil density. The results obtained allowed to determine the prospects for their further use in agriculture.

Enhancing Agro-ecosystem Services through Integrated Watershed Management in Etmadpur Watershed of Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India

The changing climate affects agriculture sector severely especially in developing countries like India. To overcome such impacts, the Government of India has undertaken several adaptation programs, and integrated watershed management program (IWMP) is one of them. Currently, there is limited understanding about the impact of implementing soil and water conservation measures on ecosystem services at micro-watershed level. Therefore, present study was undertaken to enlighten the watershed-level ecosystem services with their economic valuation through a case study of Etmadpur micro-watershed of Agra in Uttar Pradesh, India. The impact evaluation of the watershed intervention was carried out by calculating incremental changes or differences in ecosystem services before and after the watershed development. The results indicated that gully plugging and bench terracing increased the cropped area during winter season by 13% with 80% reduction in fallow lands. Moreover, the watershed interventions led to 10% to 43% increase in crop productivity due to improved irrigation facilities, adoption of recommended package of agricultural practices and augmented soil fertility. In addition, watershed development increased provision of ecosystem services, which improved livelihood security by enhancing employment opportunity, estimated to be Rs. 2,163 ha-1. The results further revealed generation of both marketed and non-marketed ecosystem services, worth Rs. 44,665 ha-1, with a total value of Rs. 226.36 lakhs at the watershed level. Crop production is found to be the foremost ecosystem service, accounting for 72% of the total value of watershed ecosystem services, followed by livestock (14%), carbon sequestration (7%), causal employment (5%), and stored water (2%). Watershed development improved soil health by promoting the use of farm yard manure and increasing green cover, which in turn ensured carbon stock in the soil. The value of carbon sequestered in the soil was found to be of more than Rs. 3,292 ha-1, with a total monetary value of Rs. 16.89 lakhs at the watershed level. Findings of this study suggested that policy makers and practitioners need to consider the issues related to ecosystem services at the micro-watershed level in view of climate variability along with increasing human pressure.

A study of land cover and land surface temperature changes triggered by tropical cyclone "Titli".

The intensity and frequency of tropical cyclones (TC) are on the rise due to climate change, resulting in severe damage to coastal regions. Hence, the mitigation of socioeconomic and environmental consequences of cyclones has attained paramount importance in the recent years. In this study, the rapid impact of a very severe cyclonic storm "Titli" on land cover (LC) changes were evaluated using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and high-resolution Sentinel-2 data. The cyclonic event caused substantial modifications in land use and land cover with nearly 46% decrease in dense vegetation, 129% increase in fallow land, and 111% increase in water body, over the study region. Widespread damage (dense to less dense vegetation) was evident on the left side of the cyclone track as compared to the right. The analysis revealed a 98.3% decrease in dense vegetation, marked by a decrease in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from 0.73 to 0.44 over the landfall region. This NDVI decrease continued for nearly 3months before the onset of vegetation regrowth. Change in vegetation into other LCs over the landfall region resulted in an increase of the mean daytime land surface temperature by ~ 6°C. The analysis highlights the magnitude of spatiotemporal scale damages to LULC and consequent loss in seasonality that can be ushered in by a single short-duration extreme weather event like TC and thus emphasizes the need for well-formulated mitigation strategies.

Correlation Between Agricultural Machinery Fleet and Arable Land Area

The paper examines the dependence of grain and crop production volumes on the availability and utilization of land resources in agriculture. (Research purpose) The study carries out a retrospective analysis of overarching trends and correlation between agricultural land area and the size of the tractor fleet. (Materials and methods) The analysis focuses on the evolution of land use systems and the integration of agricultural lands into economic turnover over three distinct historical periods in Russia: 1920-1940, 1945-1990, and 1991-2022. The study identifies key evolutionary factors and development patterns in the correlation between agricultural land area and tractor fleet capacity. (Results and discussion) The analysis reveals that the industrialization and collectivization programs implemented between 1928 and 1940 led to a significant expansion in agricultural land area, increasing from 113 million to 150 million hectares, and in the tractor fleet, which grew from 27,000 to 531,000 units. In 1945, the sown area reached a low of 113.8 million hectares, with the tractor fleet reduced to 397,000 units. By 1960, the development of virgin and fallow lands had expanded the sown area to 203 million hectares, and the tractor fleet had grown to 1,122,000 units. The study further identified that the highest recorded expansion in sown land area, reaching 210.3 million hectares, occurred in 1985 due to an increase in mechanization, with the tractor fleet peaking at 2,830,000 units. From 1991 to 2022, however, a steady decline in the tractor fleet led to the gradual withdrawal of agricultural land from use. In 1991, the tractor fleet stood at 1,344,200 units, but by 2022, it had decreased by 1,147,400 units, leaving only 196,800 units. The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the shift from a state-command to a market economy had a profound impact on the trajectory of Russian agricultural development. (Conclusions) The dynamics of soil use over different periods have reflected both extensive and intensive farming methods. The extensive approach involved expanding agricultural land by developing virgin, fallow, and unused lands. Currently, development follows the intensive path, marked by increased mechanization, automation, chemical use, and higher crop yields.

Ecological potential of soils of old-growth natural forests Skole Beskydy (Ukrainian Carpathians)

The ecological potential of the soils of natural old-growth forests is analyzed. It has been found that the upper horizon of brown mountain-forest soils is characterized by excellent indicators of total porosity (63,63 %), soil water permeability (3,08 cm⸱min-¹), soil bulk density (0,88 g⸱cm-³) and catalase enzyme activity (4,9 cm3 O2 per 1 g of soil per 1 min). The results indicate excellent ecological potential of the soils, which allows using their indicators as a reference for restoring soil cover under the forest ecosystems of the Skole Beskydy. The recreational and agrogenic impact on soils in the mountainous region was also analyzed. It was found that the upper humus-accumulative horizon suffers the most from plowing, trampling by livestock, and damage by erosion processes caused by prolonged recreational use. While cattle grazing is seasonal, the impact of recreationists is increasing and corresponds to stages II and IV of recreational degradation, soils under arable land are subject to the greatest anthropogenic impact in terms of time interval due to the transfer of the upper horizons downwards, and vice versa. The processes of soil recovery under pasture, after the removal of agrogenic load, are much faster than under plowed areas. Arable land undergoes several successive stages of recovery (arable land → fallow land → shrub vegetation → woody vegetation I (mainly gray alder and birch-aspen stands) → woody vegetation II (indigenous forest-forming species of the region), where the process itself takes 150-200 years. Третє місце серед досліджуваних ділянок посідають туристичні шляхи. Зазначимо, що само відновлення стежок відбувається здебільшого на початку ІІ стадії дегресії, ІV стадія потребує реконструкції, а період відновлення сягає кілька десятків років. The analysis of water-physical properties under old-growth natural stands as a benchmark shows that the density of soil structure increases by 1,2 times on the category II trail and 1.5 times on the category IV trail Based on the results of the analysis of data made within the soil profile, it was found that under pasture the soil is compacted to a depth of 10 cm, under arable land - to the depth of plowing, and on trails the compaction is 5-10 cm in the initial stages and reaches 30 cm to the depth of the parent rock at the IV stage of recreational degradation. Systematic monitoring of the tourist routes and ecological trails of the Skole Beskydy National Park will help prevent degradation processes in a timely manner. In the areas with low recreational load, it is proposed to mark the tourist trails, and for safety and convenience, to install bridges with handrails over mountain streams. On the trails of the IV category, it is necessary to mark the routes, limit the access of recreationists in bad weather to the outstanding attractions. Key words: еcological potential of soils; old-growth natural forests; trail; land use; brown mountain-forest soils; forest floor; mountainous region.

Trends and Direction of Land Use Change in the Perspective of Urbanization in Karnataka: A District Level Study

Background: Urbanization and industrialization are mainly responsible for the conversion of large tract of agricultural lands and other vegetation-rich lands to non-agricultural purposes. Land and its utilization across various activities must be analysed to frame suitable policies for optimum land use. In Karnataka, the share of the net sown and non-agricultural areas increased. However, the share of permanent pasture and other grazing lands, barren and unculturable land, current and other fallow lands, culturable wasteland and land under miscellaneous tree crops and groves decreased compared to their share in 2000-01. The goal is to explore the direction of land use change between these land use categories in the context of urbanization. Methods: We utilized the district-level data sourced from reports of the Directorate of Economics and Statistics of the Government of Karnataka, enabling us to conduct a robust panel data regression using fixed effects model that empirically establishes the relationships between different land use categories, particularly non-agricultural land, barren land and arable land, from 2000-01 to 2020-21. We recorded the land use changes in the major land use classes at the district level by comparing the temporal dynamics for 2000-01 to 2020-21 and also studied the dynamics of each category’s land use outcomes and the changes in urbanization status at the district level. Result: This study provides a detailed insight into the trends and direction of land use changes in Karnataka from the perspective of urbanization, which has been getting a significant focus in the country’s development. The study’s findings have significant policy implications, as they underscore how rapid population growth and the expansion of non-agricultural areas at the district level negatively impact arable and barren land.

Analysis and Future Projections of Land Use and Land Cover Changes in the Hindon River Basin, India Using the CA-Markov Model

Land use and land cover change is a significant issue in emerging countries. The enormous rate of population growth, industrialization, and urbanization is responsible for these developments. Monitoring and mapping of changes in land cover and land use is essential to the sustainable development and management of the area. The study attempts to track changes in LULC pattern for the years 2002, 2013, and 2023 in the Hindon River Basin, a major tributary of the Yamuna River, using remote sensing and geographic information system techniques. Images obtained from Landsat data were employed to extract historical land use and land cover maps. Additionally, the CA-Markov model was implemented to forecast future land use and land cover patterns. This study examines the historical and predicted LULC in the area. Field observations and site-specific interviews were used to confirm and determine the ground realities. High-resolution images were used to evaluate the accuracy of the classified map. According to the results, the agricultural land decreased from 60.98% in 2002 to 54.70% in 2050, while built-up areas increased from 12.95% to 21.25% during the same period. By 2050, vegetation is predicted to increase to 2.58%, whereas surface water, fallow land, barren areas, and dry water bodies are predicted to decrease to 0.58%, 18.87%, 1.20%, and 0.83%, respectively. The rapid pace of urbanization is facilitating economic growth within the country; however, this development is occurring at the expense of the natural landscape, which subsequently diminishes the overall quality of human life. In order to maintain sustainable development in the Hindon Basin, proper urban planning is essential. Important policy implications for the sustainable management of land use and conservation in the Hindon River basin are highlighted by the study’s research and findings.

Different Species and Cultivars of Broad Beans, Lupins, and Clovers Demonstrated Varying Environmental Adaptability and Nitrogen Fixation Potential When Cultivated as Green Manures in Northeastern Portugal

The success of growing legumes as green manure depends on their spatial and temporal integration within agroecosystems, which minimizes competition with cash crops, and on their nitrogen (N) fixation potential. This study evaluated seven legume species for biomass production, N fixation, and suitability for use in cropping systems in northern Portugal. Oats (Avena sativa L.) were grown to estimate the N fixation using the difference method, as a non-legume reference crop is required for this purpose, and oats are widely grown in the region. The study was conducted over four cropping cycles (2021–2024) in two climate zones across four land plots. The results indicated that the biomass production and N fixation varied by the species/cultivar and cropping cycle, which was significantly influenced by spring precipitation. Broad beans (Vicia faba L.) failed to develop in one cycle on highly acidic soil (pH 4.9), showing negative N fixation values when calculated by the difference method. Conversely, the lupins maintained a relatively high level of N fixation across all the conditions, demonstrating strong environmental adaptability. Thus, the N fixation values across the four cycles ranged from −5.4 to 419.4 kg ha−1 for broad bean (cv. Favel), while yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus L.) exhibited average values between 204.0 and 274.0 kg ha−1. The percentage of N derived from the atmosphere (%Ndfa) ranged from −13.3 to 91.6, −39.4 to 85.8, 83.8 to 94.7, 74.9 to 94.3, 72.8 to 92.2, 23.1 to 75.8, and 11.7 to 21.7 for these species/cultivars. Due to their environmental adaptability, biomass production, and N fixation capacity, these legumes could be used as green manure in inter-rows of woody crops or in summer annual crops like tomatoes and maize, grown in winter as an alternative to fallow land. The lupins showed strong promise due to their environmental resilience.

Investigating the urban eco-environmental quality utilizing remote sensing based approach: evidence from an industrial city of Eastern India

Urbanization, coupled with industrialization, leads to both economic growth and exponential urban growth, resulting in deteriorating environmental quality in urban areas, which poses a significant threat to the sustainability of cities. Hence, to restore biodiversity and ensure regional sustainability, it is necessary to immediately evaluate the eco-environmental quality of urban areas. The present research investigates the spatio-temporal changes in urban eco-environmental quality of the Asansol industrial city using an integrated ‘Urban Eco-Environmental Index’ (UEEQI) developed utilizing the Google Earth Engine platform and a remote sensing-based approach. The study used four spectral indices, including Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI), Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI), Normalized Difference Bareness Index (NDBaI), along with Land Surface Temperature (LST) (as a thermal index), derived from the remote sensing data to measure environmental quality. Global Moran’s I and LISA were used to quantify spatial autocorrelation, showing the clustering of similar values or outliers of UEEQ within geographic space. The findings showed that high mean values of NDBI and NDBaI contributed to a lower mean UEEQI value of 0.38 in 2021 compared to previous decades. The spatio-temporal distribution of UEEQI showed that the ‘Very Poor’ category had grown from 0.06% in 1991 to 2% in 2021, while the ‘Poor’, ‘Good’, and ‘Excellent’ categories had declined. Over the 30 years, the UEEQI showed a rising trend of ‘Highly Degraded’ and ‘Degraded’ areas while decreasing the trend of ‘Improved’ or ‘Highly Improved’ environmental quality in the city. Moran’s scatter plot illustrated a highly positive clustered pattern of UEEQ across the city. Hotspots were mainly found in urbanized areas that had an “Average” urban eco-environment quality. Conversely, areas covered with bare surfaces, fallow lands, and brickfields were recognized as Coldspots. This study is crucial for determining specific regions of declining environmental quality and encourages local authorities and decision-makers to integrate eco-environmental conservation zones into city planning to foster healthier, more resilient, and sustainable cities.

Soil Carbon Sequestration in Different Land Use Types

Assessing the influence of agricultural land use on soil carbon sequestration is important for the management of soil carbon stocks in cultivated sandy soils. Soil carbon sequestration in different land use types was studied in Benin, Edo State, Nigeria. Three oil palm fields, OM1, OM2, and OM3, of different years of establishment and management practices were selected, along with nursery (NUR), livestock (LIV), vegetable (VEG), arable (ARB), and fallow (FAL) land. Soil samples were collected in the representative portion of each land use and analyzed for particle size distribution, bulk density, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, organic carbon, and pH, while the soil carbon sequestration was calculated. OM1 (6.72 tons/ha) and LIV (6.40 ton/ha) sequestered more carbon than other land use types, revealing the potential of oil palm to sequester carbon in sandy soils. There is a significant relationship between bulk density and soil carbon sequestered in the land use; therefore, practices that will improve the soil bulk density and increase the soil organic matter were recommended.

A hybrid ecological evaluation of the fisheries in changing climate: case study from a peri-urban tropical wetland of Kolkata, Eastern India.

The degradation of peri-urban wetlands has been a significant consequence of urban development and climate change. The present study discovered the decadal changes in land cover and climate impact on Raja Wetland, revealing significant alterations from 2011 to 2021. The analysis indicates substantial reductions in agricultural land (36.36%), fallow land (30.90%), water spread areas (10.14%) and surrounding wetlands (18.06%). Conversely, settlements, terrestrial vegetation and aquatic macrophytes increased by 19.77%, 3.39% and 1.16%, respectively. The primary driver of wetland shrinkage was urban expansion leading to a decrease in wetland area from 43.39ha in 2011 to 38.99ha in 2021. Climate data from 1991 to 2020 show a decreasing trend in annual rainfall (τ = - 0.274, p = 0.035) and an increasing trend in annual temperature (τ = 0.339, p = 0.009), with significant warming particularly during the monsoon months. The wetland's physicochemical attributes fluctuate seasonally, with eutrophic conditions prevailing (TSI range: 61.41-80.36). Notably, fish diversity is impacted by the dominance of the invasive species Oreochromis niloticus, which constitutes 89.31% of the catch. The established planktonic indicator genera of organic pollution were found to be abundant throughout the study period. These, combined with urban pollution and eutrophication, have led to a reduction in native fish species and overall aquatic health. The study highlights the urgent need for conservation measures to address the ecological imbalance and restore wetland resilience amidst ongoing climate and anthropogenic pressures. The communication also proposes various recommendations for the recovery and sustainable future use of wetland fisheries in the context of ongoing changes.

Determinants of Agricultural Land Fallowing in Kerala, India: Insights and Implications

Kerala's land use dynamics have undergone significant transformations, with increasing fallows emerged as a key concern amid changing land utilization patterns. The study explores key factors contributing to the fallowing of agricultural land in Kerala. The research was conducted across three districts selected based on implementation of fallow land development schemes representing the northern, central, and southern regions of the state. A total of 360 farmers were surveyed, comprising 180 farmers with owned fallow land and 180 beneficiaries of fallow land development schemes. Data were collected using a pretested interview schedule, developed through extensive literature review and expert inputs. Factor analysis was employed to identify key determinants. Six major factors with eigenvalues greater than one were extracted, explaining 58.95% of the cumulative variance. These factors include perspectives on fallowing, socio-economic attributes, land use experience, risk contingencies, personal traits, and economic and agro-ecological features. The findings highlight that perspectives on fallowing contribute the largest variance (21.96%), emphasizing the importance of farmers' perception on causes and consequences of fallowing. Socio-economic attributes (11.25%) underline the role of family size, subsidiary enterprises, land value, and wage rate in influencing land use decisions. Land use experience (9.06%) reflects farming experience and preceding crop cultivated. Risk contingencies (6.22%) emphasize challenges like wild animal attacks and distance of farm land from road. Personal traits (5.50%) comprise of age and personal reason for fallowing. Economic and agro-ecological features (4.96%) including income, extreme weather events and land fragmentation, also emerged as critical determinants. The study provides a comprehensive understanding of the multi-dimensional factors driving agricultural land fallowing in Kerala, offering insights for policymakers and stakeholders to design targeted interventions to promote sustainable land use.

Evaluation of Soils Affected by Salts in the Al-Jufra - Sokna Area

This study was conducted to assess the extent of the impact of natural, environmental and human factors on soil salinity and its distribution variation in the Al-Jufra region, specifically in the Al-Hamam Agricultural Project - Sokna, in addition to identifying the type of soil prevailing in the region. To achieve the objectives of this study, a series of laboratory experiments were conducted where samples were collected from the surface layer 0 - 30 cm and the subsurface layer 30 - 60 cm and were prepared and some physical and chemical properties were estimated, including pH, EC, CaCO3, O.M. CEC. After conducting the tests, it was noted that most of the soils in the study area have three different types of texture. The results of the chemical analysis showed a high electrical conductivity of the surface layer soil compared to the subsurface layer. On the other hand, the results showed high ESP values for most soils, as its value in the surface layer was higher than the lower layer of the soil. The study shows the role played by human factors in the increasing phenomenon of salinization of agricultural soils in the project area through mismanagement by leaving the land fallow after exploitation, and the lack of drains and the low efficiency of the existing ones.

Development of a machine for cultivation and sowing of grain crops

BACKGROUND: When designing sowing machines, requirements are imposed to ensure soil preparation and sowing of grain crops as part of the implementation of energy-saving technology, since their productivity largely depends on these types of work. Thus, increasing the efficiency of sowing machines is an urgent task. AIM: – the development of a seeder design that allows, with maximum simplification of the design compared with analogues, reducing metal consumption and increasing the manufacturability of the product, both in production and in operation, to ensure the best conditions for the growth of crops and a significant increase in yield. In one pass, the seeder sows the main crop, small-seeded crop (binary component) and introduces mineral fertilizers, and can also be used when putting waste and fallow lands into circulation. METHODS: Methods of system analysis, mathematical modeling, and experiment planning were used in the development of the drill design. Experimental studies were conducted in the field and laboratory conditions in accordance with existing methods, using modern electronic and mechanical devices. Experimental data processing was carried out in the environment of the MathCAD system, Microsoft Office Excel. RESULTS: In contrast to known analogues, the proposed technical solution of the seeder simplifies the design, reduces the weight and improves the manufacturability of the product - on a simple frame welded in one plane from pipes, but free enough for the passage of crop residues and soil particles, on one side are installed stands with tines for mounting discs, and on the other - for mounting the hopper. The plane of attachment of tines for disc mounting is as close as possible to the soil surface, which reduced the load on the frame and reduced its material intensity. The seed drill-cultivator developed by the authors allows to realise all operations related to soil cultivation and sowing of grain crops Translated with DeepL.com (free version). CONCLUSIONS: The design solutions for the cultivator planter obtained by the authors simplified the design of the planter compared to its analogues, reduced its metal consumption, and therefore its weight, which makes it possible to use tractors of a smaller class with lower fuel consumption. The adjustment of the angle of attack of the discs has also been simplified, and the additional installation of baking powder has reduced the clogging of the seeder with crop residues and soil lumps.

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

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

A threefold plant specialist – distribution, habitat requirements and nesting biology of the rare leafcutter bee Megachile genalis in the eastern Swiss Alps (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae)

The leafcutter bee Megachile genalis Morawitz, which nests in thick, erect and usually hollow plant stems, is rare and endangered throughout Europe. In Switzerland, it was recorded only six times in the Grisons between 1932 and 2019. In order to create the necessary basis for the conservation of this rare bee, its distribution, habitat requirements and nesting biology were investigated in the eastern Swiss Alps by systematically searching for its nests, by DNA metabarcoding of the cell-building material, by analysing the pollen contained in abandoned brood cells and larval faeces, and by deducing aspects of the species’ nesting biology from collected old nests. A total of 141 new and 64 old nests were discovered at elevations between 600 m and 1270 m in – with decreasing frequency – the Albula Valley, the Lower Engadine, the Domleschg and the Ruinaulta. The nests were exclusively built in living stems of Peucedanum verticillare (Apiaceae), an up to 2–3 m tall umbellifer that grew on fallow land, road and railway embankments, scree slopes, ruderal areas and forest clearings. The leaf fragments used by the females of M. genalis to construct the brood cells in 20 selected nests were largely from shrubs and trees of the Rosaceae (e.g. Rosa, Rubus, Prunus, Sorbus), rarely also from Corylus (Betulaceae). The pollen in 65 brood cells was exclusively collected on thistles (e.g. Arctium, Carduus, Cirsium) and other Asteraceae. The nests were characterised by a surprisingly high variability in their architecture. They consisted of i) an approximately 6 mm x 9 mm large nest opening gnawed by the female bee at a height of 22–217 cm above ground with her mandibles, which are well adapted to penetrate the hard stem walls due to their enlarged base indicating strong adductor muscles and the short and chisel-like shape; ii) a 5–25 mm thick nest plug built 1.5–45 cm below the nest opening from pith particles, leaf fragments and/or grass fibers; iii) 1–14 brood cells usually arranged in one cigar-like series and lying 11–99 cm below the nest opening; and iv) a facultative 4–40 mm thick basal plug consisting of pith particles and/or leaf fragments. Brood mortality was high: at least 56% of 284 brood cells were unsuccessful due to parasites, mould or unknown reasons, and reproduction completely failed in almost half of 46 nests. The most harmful brood parasite was Melittobia acasta Walker (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae), which infested 19% of the brood cells and 28% of the nests. Measures to conserve the population of M. genalis in the eastern Swiss Alps should focus on the conservation and propagation of suitable habitats for P. verticillare in close vicinity to Asteraceae-rich areas and on the promotion of thistles.