Land Development Research Articles

Value switching: Extracting profit from the city

Land and property, and the wealth extracted from it, has reappeared as a central concern in understanding the process of urbanisation under capitalism. Much of the academic discussion centres on the re-emergence of ‘rentier capitalism’ drawing on 19th-century concepts of land economics. However, the accumulation of wealth through property ownership and the development process points towards a value proposition contained in the land question that is not satisfactorily explained by notions of ‘rent’ or ‘rentier’ capitalism, rooted as they are on 19th-century concepts of the land development process. This article seeks to extend this debate by exploring multiple regimes of value that underpin the contemporary urban development process. The first part of the article maps out four intersecting regimes of land value, before arguing by reference to empirical analysis of land and property sales data in Sydney Australia that switching between these value regimes – value switching – is a key transformative moment in the urban development process. Specifically, this article argues that value switching, as triggered by the land use planning process, has become the key driver of urban development dynamics and adds a further dimension to theories on land and housing development in the financialised city.

Ecosystem service supply–demand ratio zoning and thresholds of the key influencing factors in the Pearl River Delta, China

ContextHuman demand for natural resources continues to increase owing to climate change and population growth. The supply capacity of ecosystem services has also declined drastically, posing a severe threat to the long-term sustainability of human society.ObjectivesTaking the fast-urbanized Pearl River Delta (PRD) as the study area, the specific research objectives of this study were to intuitively reveal the spatial distribution of ecosystem service supply–demand relationships in rapid urbanization and explore the dominant influencing factors and their impact process on ecosystem service supply–demand relationships.MethodsIt zoned the ecological space based on the ecosystem service supply–demand ratio (ESSDR) evaluated by six typical ecosystem services. And then, the Geographical Detector model, Structural Equation Modeling and regression analysis were used to explore the ranking and threshold effects of influencing factors of ESSDR.Results(1) From 2000 to 2020, the ESSDR in the central PRD deteriorated, whereas the ESSDR in the remote areas of the PRD was further optimized. Stable grading eigenvalues of the ESSDR were found based on cumulative frequency curves from 2000 to 2020. (2) Green density (GD) and land development size (LDS) were the dominant natural and social factors influencing ESSDR in the PRD, respectively. (3) There were two thresholds in the impact process of GD (21% and 66%) and LDS (8% and 54%) on the ESSDR, which matched the gradients of urban, developing urban, and rural areas.ConclusionsThere are certain thresholds in the ESSDR responding to land use change. The focus should be on the imbalance in areas with GD < 21% or LDS > 54% and protective measures should be strengthened in areas with GD > 66% or LDS < 8%.

Optimal groundwater depth and irrigation amount can mitigate secondary salinization in water-saving irrigated areas in arid regions

Secondary salinization poses a significant threat to the sustainable development of water-saving irrigation districts. This study aims to explore the spatial and temporal variations in soil salinity and the factors influencing these changes in water-saving irrigation areas in the inland arid regions of Northwest China. The Manas River Irrigation District was selected as the study area. A grid measuring 10 km × 14 km grid was designed to determine the latitude and longitude coordinates of the grid centers, resulting in 66 sample points. Soil samples were collected from these points in 2013, 2014, 2020, and 2021 from the 0100 cm layer to obtain salinity data. Based on existing research and practical conditions in water-saving irrigation areas, 11 factors influencing soil salinity changes were identified, including irrigation area and irrigation amount. Classical statistical methods and interpretable machine learning techniques were employed to analyze the distribution characteristics of soil salinity and the influencing factors. This analysis proposes effective solutions to mitigate potential secondary salinization in irrigation areas. The results revealed that soil salinity in the irrigation area belonged to moderate variation (Cv = 46.74 %51.80 %). The horizontal direction of the irrigation area shows higher salt content in the upstream and downstream areas, and a gradual decrease in variability with increasing depth characterizes the vertical direction. From 2013–2021, soil salinization in the irrigation area gradually decreased. In 2013 and 2014, the area was predominantly covered by mild saline-alkali soil, accounting for 75.1 % and 76.6 % of the total area, respectively. However, in 2020 and 2021, non-saline soils became dominant, covering 60.9 % and 66.5 % of the total irrigation area, respectively. In order of importance, the factors affecting the spatial and temporal evolution of soil salinity are groundwater depth, annual water surface evaporation, water-saving irrigation area, underground water diversion amount, mineralization of groundwater, irrigation amount, surface water diversion amount, and annual rainfall. In the oasis irrigation area, maintaining a groundwater depth of 4.06.0 m and an irrigation amount of 55006000 m3 ha−1 can alleviate the problem of secondary salinization that may result from large-scale development of water-saving irrigation. The findings of this study provide a basis for the prevention and control of soil salinization in water-saving irrigation areas and the development and management of saline land in oasis areas.

Innovative Research on Land Resource Studies Curriculum Based on the Integration of OBE and CDIO Concepts

Land Resource Studies is an interdisciplinary applied science that encompasses the study of related concepts of land resources, types of land, their characteristics and spatial distribution, quantity and quality of land, land survey and evaluation, land development and utilization, land governance and restoration, as well as land protection and management. By examining the current state and existing issues in the teaching of land resource courses, and integrating the OBE-CDIO concept, this study conducts reforms and innovations from multiple dimensions including OBE outcome-oriented educational innovation, CDIO engineering education model innovation, and the integration of ideological and political elements. The ultimate goal is to realize a student-centered, outcome-oriented, and theory-practice integrated approach in the land resource studies curriculum. This innovation aims to cultivate students ability for systematic thinking and hands-on practice, achieving the goal of training interdisciplinary talents in the field of land resource studies.

Valorization of sewage sludge incineration ash as a novel soilless growing medium for urban agriculture and greenery

Limited open areas for urban agriculture and greenery have led to the search for innovative, sustainable growing media to strengthen the food supply and improve atmospheric quality for a resilient city. Rampant land developments have caused soil to become increasingly scarce. Sewage sludge incineration ash (SSIA), the by-product of waste-to-energy (WtE) incineration of sewage sludge, is a major municipal waste containing phosphorus-fertilizing nutrients. For the first time, we investigated the novel application of SSIA as a soilless plant-growing medium with built-in fertilizer. SSIA outperformed topsoil in bulk density, water-holding capacity, porosity, and nutrient content. However, it was found that SSIA has a high salinity and should be treated first. Wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum L.), a fast-growing glycophyte, thrived in the desalinated SSIA, showing growth and nutrient content comparable to the topsoil case. Simultaneously, it demonstrated phytoremediation. The SSIA residue was then recycled into cementitious materials, using desalinating water for mixing. SSIA upcycle into a growing medium facilitates urban resource management by utilizing nutrients in sewage waste for eco-friendly plant cultivation, benefiting urban agriculture and greenery. It is also a prudent valorization step before further recycling SSIA to reduce landfill requirements.

Increasing Empowerment of Islamic Boarding Schools with Entrepreneurship in Indonesia and Malaysia

Islamic Boarding School, which is synonymous with the spirit of Islamic education and the study of Islamic law, needs to empower students and benefit from the surrounding community. Thus can synergize for community development. The purpose of this community service is to develop the ability of the sociopreuneurship spirit of students to have life skills for independence and be able to maintain the independence of the community around the Islamic boarding school. In addition, it is to be able to transform this spirit of independence in the surrounding community. One of which is the Daarut Tauhid Islamic boarding school in Bandung, West Java, where community service was carried out between LPPM Unisba and UITM. This method is carried out through training and mentoring in entrepreneurship practices. Data analysis were done using qualitative method with pretest and posttest. The result is that entrepreneurial activities were able to have an economic impact and life skills for the students. Economic impact can contribute to Islamic Boarding Schools in land development and subsidizing students’ personal needs. While the impact of life skills is in the form of instilling entrepreneurial values in students. These values include self-confidence, taking risks, leadership, creative, and innovative santripreuneurship. Keywords: Islamic boarding School, entrepreneur, santripreuner, sociopreuneurship

Changes in ecosystem services supply–demand and key drivers in Jiangsu Province, China, from 2000 to 2020

AbstractHuman activities and regional land development have considerably contributed to the degradation of ecosystems and the growing contradiction between the supply and demand of ecosystem services (ESs) in Jiangsu Province, China. However, few studies have applied a comprehensive approach to elucidate the patterns and evolutionary characteristics of ESs over long periods. This study investigated the spatial–temporal evolution of the supply, demand, and supply–demand relationships of six individual ESs and comprehensive ESs in Jiangsu Province from 2000 to 2020. It revealed the key drivers of the changes in comprehensive ecosystem services supply–demand relationship (CESSD) using a geo‐detector model and a geographically and temporally weighted regression model to address the shortcomings of previous studies. The results showed that at the provincial level, the CESSD presented a surplus while the supply–demand state tended to be imbalanced. At the 1‐km2 grid scale, the spatial heterogeneity of CESSD was obvious, with surplus supply–demand zones primarily distributed in the Taihu Lake watershed, hilly areas, riverside zones, the watershed from Hongze Lake to Gaoyou Lake, and the eastern coastal zone, while deficit supply–demand zones were mainly clustered in areas with concentrated and contiguous construction land. From 2000 to 2020, the area of deficit in CESSD increased from 626 to 3257 km2 and the degree of deficit gradually deepened, with socioeconomic factors having the greatest influence on changes in CESSD. Our findings reveal the balance/imbalance between human society and natural ecology in Jiangsu Province and highlight the need for effective management of regional ecosystems.

Long-Term Landscape Changes in the Ojców National Park (Poland) and Its Surroundings: Implications for the Effectiveness of Buffer Zones

Protected areas (PAs) serve as crucial elements in biodiversity conservation but are in danger of becoming isolated islands in human-dominated landscapes. It is related to landscape changes, especially changes in land use and land cover (LULC). Over the past decades, most research on the effectiveness of nature conservation has focused mainly on PAs, while the areas surrounding PAs are of key importance for maintaining ecological connectivity and biodiversity. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to determine the long-term changes in LULC within the selected national park in Poland and its surroundings and to assess the effectiveness of the BZ based on these changes. We hypothesized that, despite restrictions within the buffer zone, land development has intensified and increased, in the nearest surroundings of the analyzed national park. For the analysis, we selected Ojców National Park (southern Poland), one of the oldest national parks in Poland. We analyzed landscape changes before (since the 1930s) and after establishing the park and its BZ. We conducted a comprehensive quantitative analysis of the landscape structure and LULC. We used historical maps and the contemporary national LULC database. Our results showed that almost 40% of the study area consisted of lands with non-persistent LULC. The main changes include a three-fold increase in built-up areas and an increase in forest cover, mainly on abandoned agricultural land. We also found that land development around the national park is at a level similar to the general rate for the area outside the BZ. It suggests the ineffectiveness of the buffer zone in preventing land development. The identified long-term landscape changes the basis for sustainable development land management from the nature conservation perspective.

Human activities and ecosystem health: A historical analysis of Poyang Lake

Urbanization, industrialization, land development, and other human activities have led to ecological issues such as shrinking lake wetlands, fragmented cropland, and reduced biodiversity. Taking the Poyang Lake urban agglomeration as the study area, the textual analysis method was used to analyze the typical facts of the historical succession of human activities since 1949, and then the index method and the spatial analysis method were adopted to characterize the spatial and temporal evolution of the ecosystem health and human activities in the period of 2003–2020. On this basis, the spatial spillover effects of human activities on ecosystem health were investigated based on the spatial Durbin model in four dimensions. The results of the study show that since 1949, human activities in the Poyang Lake area have gone through the management path from “agricultural retreat and fishery advancement” and “dike reclamation” to “sand ban” and “returning the lake”. Ecological protection has gone through the sublimation from “enlightenment” to “full implementation” to “strengthening and upgrading”. The ecosystem health of Poyang Lake urban agglomeration from 2003 to 2020 has been in the range of 0.37709 ∼ 0.3709 ∼ 0.3709. 0.37709 ∼ 0.48485, with the spatial characteristics of “low in the center and high in the periphery”. The city expansion and agricultural activities in the county are generally distributed in the pattern of “high center, low periphery”, while the spatial distribution of water body area is characterized by “near-lake” and “near-river”, and the newly registered enterprises show a change from “point” to “surface”. The spatial distribution of water body area is characterized by “proximity to the lake” and “proximity to the river”, and the newly registered enterprises show changes from “point” to “surface”. There is a significant spatial competition effect on the effects of city expansion on ecosystem health, while there is a significant negative spatial collaboration effect on the effects of industrial activities, and agricultural activities show a significant spatial spillover effect. The results of the study can provide more detailed empirical support for the regulation and management of ecosystem health in global lakeside urban agglomerations.

Soft Adventure and Spiritual Tourism: A Case Study of Khaptad National Park

Tourism for lifetime pride is adventure tourism. Khaptad National Park and its core area are the land of meditation of renounced (sage) Yogi Khaptad Baba. It is a natural beauty hub and centre of soft adventure tourism in Far West Nepal. The land is adventurous from different dimensions of tourism. Thus, to find out the elements of adventure tourism in the Khaptad area the study has been conducted. To explore the elements, the study has analyzed the attraction component of adventure tourism in the zone. It is a case study of Khaptad National Park, Nepal. The facts were collected through field observation, focus group discussion, and qualitative interviews on qualitative exploratory approach. From the review, discussion, and analysis, it was found that the land is perfectly suitable for high-altitude hiking, trekking, bird and butterfly watching, rock climbing, yoga, meditation, and snow sports. Any type of outdoor sports (Cricket, football, mountain biking, running, skiing, and many more) at cool high altitudes can be organized in the Khaptad. The land can be the milestone for Nepalese soft adventure sports tourism including spiritual, cultural, and eco-tourism. However, infrastructure tourism development in the pristine land must be as much as environmentally friendly. One ring road around the Khaptad National Park is advisable but motorable roads should be constructed upward to the plateau. It is the land like a natural heaven that must not be indulged by concretization and modernization.

Spatial valuation of urban green lungs: Unveiling the true worth of urban parks through MGWR in Chengdu, China

Urban green spaces (UGS), often metaphorically referred to as the “green lungs of cities,” play a crucial role in sustainable urban development and are a key element of land-use policy. This study evaluates the economic value conferred by UGS through urban parks, employing a Multi-scale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) model within a hedonic pricing framework. By focusing on the localized impact of UGS on housing markets in developing megacities, this research utilizes Chengdu, China, as a case study to reveal spatial patterns in property valuations. The findings demonstrate a significant localized impact of UGS on housing prices, characterized by pronounced spatial heterogeneity. A substantial premium on housing values is correlated with proximity to urban parks, reflecting a high market valuation of these green spaces. This premium varies spatially, diminishing in more peripheral urban zones but still significantly influencing overall housing market dynamics. The study highlights the importance of reassessing rapid, policy-driven park expansions. There is a need for value-based UGS integration in sustainable urban planning, emphasizing strategic, ecologically informed decision-making that balances land development with conservation and meaningful resident engagement.

Stand growth and carbon stocks of community-based mangrove rehabilitation in Singkawang City, West Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract. Astiani D, Roslinda E, Widiastuti T, Ekamawanti HA, Ekyastuti W, Dwianto W, Alfikri F, Ngidu EY. 2024. Stand growth and carbon stocks of community-based mangrove rehabilitation in Singkawang City, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 2799-2805. The ability of tropical mangrove ecosystems to store carbon in the form of biomass is well-founded. The mangrove forest in Setapuk Besar Village, Singkawang City, West Kalimantan Province, Indonesia has been managed by community members in response to the development of alluvial sediment land in recent years. The community's efforts in Setapuk Besar Village to rehabilitate and manage mangrove forests illustrate how essential mangrove forests are to the local ecology and should be applauded for their success. This study aims to investigate the growth and development, carbon stored and sequestered in mangrove forests planted by community in Setapuk Besar between 2015 and 2020. Field survey was conducted from July to November 2022 by mapping the sediment land that had expanded since 2015 and continued with the measurement of density and diameter of mangrove stands that were systematically planted in each planting year using sampling plot method. In addition, site factors such as pH, carbon content, nitrogen, phosphorus, CEC, and soil solution salinity were investigated. Our findings indicate that due to alluvial sedimentation, the coastline in Setapuk village is expanding by 3.3 to 4.6 ha annually, accumulating 24 ha throughout a six-year period. The mangroves planted in 2015-2016 are now thriving on the new land. The six-year-old trees diameter achieved an average of 6.80±0.13 cm, averaged 5.1 m in height, and increased from 0.45 to 2.2 cm in diameter. The total biomass (above and below-ground) of plants aged 4, 5 and 6 years was 250, 303 and 430 tons ha-1, with a potential to absorb carbon of 28-33 tons ha-1 year-1, correspondingly. Given that this mangrove area plays a crucial role in CO2 capture in nature and has a relatively high ability to absorb and store carbon, conservation efforts and best practices are necessary for this forest.

Digital Economy and Green and Low-Carbon Transformation of Land Use: Spatial Effects and Moderating Mechanisms

The green and low-carbon transformation of land use (GLTLU) is a pressing global issue that requires urgent attention. The digital economy has emerged as a new driver for the GLTLU. However, current research mainly focuses on the measurement and environmental effects of the digital economy, with less exploration of how the digital economy influences the spatial effects and regulatory mechanisms of GLTLU, particularly regarding the differential impacts and specific mechanisms at the regional level. This study uses panel data from 283 cities in China from 2011 to 2019, employing the spatial Durbin model (SDM) and the panel threshold model to examine the spatial and regulatory mechanisms of the digital economy’s impact on GLTLU. The findings reveal that digital economy promotes GLTLU not only within cities but also in surrounding regions. Robustness analyses support this conclusion. Notably, the digital economy’s positive impact on GLTLU in surrounding areas is confined to the central region of China. In contrast, the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration experiences a significant negative impact on GLTLU in nearby regions due to the digital economy. The study also identifies that the positive spatial spillover effect of the digital economy on GLTLU reaches its peak at a distance of 450 km. Additionally, the digital economy’s ability to promote GLTLU is contingent upon financial agglomeration levels exceeding 9.1728. Moreover, the local government’s emphasis on the digital economy and intellectual property protection enhances the digital economy’s impact on GLTLU. The promotion effect is maximized when these factors surpass the thresholds of 27.8054 and 3.5189, respectively. Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of how the digital economy influences sustainable land development, highlighting the critical role of regional factors and regulatory mechanisms in amplifying the digital economy’s positive effects on GLTLU.

Spatiotemporal heterogeneity of the relationship between urban morphology and land surface temperature at a block scale

Understanding the relationship between urban morphology and land surface temperature (LST) is essential for mitigating urban heat island (UHI). This study investigates the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of the relationship between urban morphology and LST across 5 experiment sites located in different temperature zones of China at a block scale. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), building density (BD), floor area ratio (FAR), average building height (ABH) and open space ratio (OSR) are adopted to indicate the physical urban morphology. The results show positive relationship between BD and LST, and negative relations between LST and NDVI, ABH and OSR from a global perspective. The relations of FAR to LST are mixed. However, variable relationship between urban morphological indicators (UMIs) and LST are significantly observed at a block scale. 12 scenes that generate local relations of UMIs and LST differing from that of the surroundings are identified. Typical strategies for land development, vegetation phenology, large natural elements and human activities may be the most important causative factors to the heterogenous relationship between urban morphology and LST. Findings derived in the study would promote studies on mechanisms of the effects of urban morphology on LST and contribute to practices of UHI mitigation.

IMPROVED DECISION-MAKING ALGORITHM FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIAL AREAS

Raising of problem. As a result of the financial and economic crisis, many industrial enterprises have ceased operations or significantly reduced production volumes due to the shrinking markets for their products, which is accompanied by destructive processes and phenomena. In a dynamic competitive environment, some enterprises have outdated and worn-out fixed assets, their products are not in demand, their premises are leased, large areas are covered with waste and harmful substances that are environmentally hazardous, low technological level of production, weak scientific and technical sphere, and reduced supply of labour resources. Therefore, ensuring sustainable development of Ukraine is impossible without solving the problems of restructuring and qualitative renewal of industrial production, reconstruction of degraded urban areas occupied by abandoned buildings and structures of industrial enterprises. Thus, there is an objective need to increase the level of profitability of land development by justifying alternative land use options: demolition of degraded industrial enterprises and construction of new facilities or reconstruction of industrial buildings and structures with a change of functional purpose. However, there is currently no unified approach to building an information model of the decision-making process for the reconstruction of industrial enterprises with a change in their functional purpose. Translated with DeepL.com (free version). Purpose of the aricle. To develop an improved decision-making algorithm for the reconstruction of mining enterprises with a change in functional purpose. Conclusion. The decision-making algorithm for the reconstruction of industrial enterprises with a change in functional purpose, which ensures the receipt of substantiated values of technical and economic indicators of such projects, depending on the available initial information about the object and the conditions of production of works, and also provides the possibility of specifying the values indicators of the effectiveness of managerial decisions at different stages of the life cycle, thanks to the adjustment of the values of the duration and cost of reconstruction by varying the parameters that are part of the determining factors.

RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SYSTEM OF GREENING TERRITORIES OF THE DNIPRO AREA IN THE MINDS OF FURTHER TRANSFORMATIONS OF EXOGENIC, ENDOGENIC AND ANTHROPOGENIC FACTORS OF THE OLD DEVELOPMENT

Raising of problem. As a result of the financial and economic crisis, many industrial enterprises have ceased operations or significantly reduced production volumes due to the shrinking markets for their products, which is accompanied by destructive processes and phenomena. In a dynamic competitive environment, some enterprises have outdated and worn-out fixed assets, their products are not in demand, their premises are leased, large areas are covered with waste and harmful substances that are environmentally hazardous, low technological level of production, weak scientific and technical sphere, and reduced supply of labour resources. Therefore, ensuring sustainable development of Ukraine is impossible without solving the problems of restructuring and qualitative renewal of industrial production, reconstruction of degraded urban areas occupied by abandoned buildings and structures of industrial enterprises. Thus, there is an objective need to increase the level of profitability of land development by justifying alternative land use options: demolition of degraded industrial enterprises and construction of new facilities or reconstruction of industrial buildings and structures with a change of functional purpose. However, there is currently no unified approach to building an information model of the decision-making process for the reconstruction of industrial enterprises with a change in their functional purpose. Translated with DeepL.com (free version). Purpose of the aricle. To develop an improved decision-making algorithm for the reconstruction of mining enterprises with a change in functional purpose. Conclusion. The decision-making algorithm for the reconstruction of industrial enterprises with a change in functional purpose, which ensures the receipt of substantiated values of technical and economic indicators of such projects, depending on the available initial information about the object and the conditions of production of works, and also provides the possibility of specifying the values indicators of the effectiveness of managerial decisions at different stages of the life cycle, thanks to the adjustment of the values of the duration and cost of reconstruction by varying the parameters that are part of the determining factors.

Evaluating inequality divides in urban development intensity between the Global North and South

As the significance of cities worldwide with regard to human activities increases, Urban Development Intensity (UDI) becomes an increasingly critical factor for achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 11.3 and serves as a scientific foundation for establishing urban land development guidelines. However, the existing literature lacks systematic quantification of fine-scale UDI on the global scale. In this study, we propose a comprehensive framework for evaluating UDI globally, utilizing multi-source surveys to compare spatial variations between the Global North and South. We created structured grided UDI layers at a 1-km resolution covering urban areas worldwide, considering various aspects of urban development on land surface characterized by three-dimensional (3D) building metrics, population density, nighttime lights, and transport constructions. By employing composite models and the inequality index, we assessed UDI disparities across 6986 cities and metropolitan areas globally to investigate variations in UDI levels and heterogeneity among the Global North–South regions, inter-city, and intra-city contexts. Furthermore, the bivariate local Moran’s I statistic and k-medoid algorithm were utilized to identify spatial and pattern clusters of UDI among global cities. Our findings revealed diverse spatial distribution of multi-source UDI differences globally, with urban areas in the Global North generally exhibiting higher and more equitable intensity than that exhibited by urban areas in the Global South, where the intensity tends to be lower at the urban peripheries and highly concentrated in city centers. Recognizing the disparities and clustering patterns of UDI levels of global cities underscore the importance of promoting urban equalization to ensure containment and drive improvement in UDI towards diverse models under local urban circumstances for effective implementation of sustainable urbanization development across cities both in the Global North and South.

Enhancing agricultural sustainability through CNN-LSTM based land suitability assessment for improved production

Agricultural sustainability is an important concern facing global population expansion and environmental challenges. Accurate land suitability evaluation is critical for ensuring efficient and effective land usage. The aim of this research is to assess the following framework that the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) developed, if the land in India is suitable for two key crops, namely maize and barley. Soil specimens and physical-chemical properties from 105 genetic soil profile layers are collected. Weather and landscape data were gathered. Deep learning (DL) techniques were used to map the two crops' land suitability classifications after computation. This study suggests a unique method for assessing land potential for increased agricultural output by Convolution Neural Networks-Long Short-Term Memory (CNN-LSTM) networks. The maps generated by the two ways showed significant disparities. Studies on rain-fed corn, for example, showed that DL-based land suitability maps were more accurate than those created using the traditional method. The outcomes demonstrated that when contrasting the CNN-LSTM method with the conventional methodology, the areas with classes C2 were higher and the areas with categories C1 were less projected. Rainfall during the flowering period, steep slopes, poor soil depth, high pH and a high gravel component were the research area's main drawbacks. Land development activities are recommended to boost productivity and build a sustainable agricultural system. This research contributes to balance farm expansion and environmental protection, supporting a sustainable and resilient agricultural system to fulfill the requirements of the world's rising population.

How Does Digital Inclusive Finance Policy Affect the Carbon Emission Intensity of Industrial Land in the Yangtze River Economic Belt of China? Evidence from Intermediary and Threshold Effects

Digital inclusive finance (DIF) is a strategic tool that fosters the green transformation of the industrial economy. Based on the data from the 11 provinces and municipalities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt of China between 2012 and 2021, This paper utilizes the Tobit, intermediary effect, and threshold effect models to empirically study the impact of DIF on the industrial land carbon emission intensity (ILCEI). This paper reaches the following conclusions: (1) The ILCEI in the region revealed a downward trend during the study period. There are substantial differences in carbon ILCEI; higher upstream and lower downstream. The average ILCEI in the lower reach provinces is 0.5829 ton/m2 during the research period, while that in the upper reach region is 1.0104 ton/m2. (2) DIF has a significantly inhibitory effect on the ILCEI; this effect has nonlinear characteristics. The impact of DIF on ILCEI exhibits a marginally diminishing trend as the industrial land economic agglomeration degree improves. (3) Regarding the transmission mechanism, the level of industrial R&amp;D investment plays a primary intermediary role in the impact of DIF on ILCEI. (4) Concerning control variables, foreign investment dependence and trade contribute significantly to inhibiting ILCEI. Lastly, this paper proposes a series of measures to promote DIF to fully utilize the emission reduction effect. The research outcomes have substantial implications for the sustainable development of industrial land.

Evaluation and Promotion of Alluvial Fan Land Suitability for Agriculture in the Lhasa River Basin, Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

Alluvial fans have been proven to have great utilisation potential in QTP, but to what extent they are suitable for agricultural development is unknown. Therefore, using the alluvial fan in the Lhasa River Basin (LRB) as a case study, this paper established an evaluation system of land suitability for agriculture (LSA). Principal component analysis (PCA) and the exhaustive method (EM) were used to define the minimum dataset (MDS) and then the LSA of the alluvial fan in the LRB was evaluated using a comprehensive index of LSA. Two scientific approaches were implemented to improve the LSA using a scenario simulation. The results showed that the MDS assessed by the EA was more representative compared to the PCA. Alluvial fans with suitable grades are mainly distributed in the Lhasa River’s middle and lower reaches. Developing facility agriculture and repairing roads accessing the alluvial fans are effective approaches to improve the LSA, which can increase the suitable-grade area from 58.62% to 97.82% and 63.85%, respectively. Therefore, most alluvial fans in the LRB are suitable for developing agriculture, and under the influence of human activities, there will be more alluvial fans suitable for developing agriculture. Our research provides scientific methods for the sustainable development of land in alpine regions.