Economic Livelihood Research Articles

Relational Empowerment and Ethnic Minority Women in Vietnam: How Do Household and Community Relations Matter?

ABSTRACT Empowerment projects and research have focused on marginalised women, but often with less attention to the intersectional and relational conditions affecting their marginalisation. Ethnic minority women in Vietnam have multiple marginalising conditions, and they are targeted by government programmes to increase their participation in labour markets, their income, and their empowerment. Yet what the empowerment process looks like and achieves for these women is an important area for further study. This paper draws on a mixed-methods longitudinal study of an economic empowerment and livelihoods project that involved Hmong and Dao households in Vietnam. The quantitative data showed differences in women’s and men’s empowerment as measured on the A-WEAI, and among the different ethnic groups. Given these differences, we explored how power relations in the household and in the community affected Hmong and Dao women’s empowerment differently. We used a relational capabilitiarian approach to analyse the relations between men and women as well as the community structures that affected empowerment and wellbeing. The analysis shows that women’s and men's sharing of information, resources and workload are critical for improving women’s livelihoods and wellbeing, but these processes look different for Hmong and Dao women, and they are affected by different social structures.

Boko Haram terrorism and the burden of managing internal displacement in Nigeria: Is the end in sight?

Boko Haram terrorism has since its inception in 2009 claimed the lives of over 20,000 people and caused the displacement of about 3 million following violent attacks on communities and the destruction of social structure and economic livelihood opportunities for communities. Since the number of displaced persons resulting from the activities of Boko Haram is on the increase, efforts are being intensified by both the state and non-state humanitarian actors to manage the crisis that results from this displacement. Despite these efforts, very few results have been achieved. This is largely a result of problems that bedevil the Nigerian state, namely (i) inadequate resources to finance humanitarian programmes for the internally displaced persons (IDPs), (ii) poor data management system, (iii) clash of responsibilities among humanitarian delivery agencies and institutions and (iv) the lack of policy support and poor implementation of provisions of other frameworks. Utilising systems theory, the study investigates the efforts of state and non-state actors in managing Boko Haram-induced internal displacements and the effectiveness or otherwise of managing the IDPs in Nigeria. It is found that the management of IDPs in Nigeria remains poorly handled owing to the above factors. Relying on the secondary method of data collection, the study also found that prolonged Boko Haram terrorism increases the possibility of internal displacements. Based on these findings, the study concludes that the government should quicken the process of policy adoption and implementation on IDP to serve as a legal framework for the management of IDPs in Nigeria, as well as develop a robust mechanism of data management to enhance the administration of humanitarian support.

Economic, equity, and political trade-offs in energy transition in irrigation in Bihar, India

Affordable and reliable energy is an important driver for improving access to irrigation in South Asia. Policies for improving electricity access and augmenting supply are likely to impact affordability and equity in irrigation access, especially in regions where agriculture is the mainstay of the economy. In this paper, we focus on the state of Bihar in eastern India to study trade-offs across economic, equity, and political dimensions of energy transition in irrigation. We argue that in the context of the nascent but steadily increasing solar-powered irrigation, a decentralised energy regime is techno-economically and socio-politically distinct from a conventional centralised grid supply. With different economic costs, governance issues, and varied incentives of stakeholders, there are significant trade-offs associated with the two pathways of energisation. We further assess the multidimensional trade-offs associated with the conventional ‘centralised’ and the modern ‘decentralised’ energy supply systems for irrigation to present a comprehensive understanding of the technical systems aiming to address economic development and livelihood security issues. We find that the life cycle costs (LCC) of centralised grid supply are not only higher than that of decentralised solar-powered irrigation (SIP) but also the LCC for grid supply has a high sensitivity to average cost to supply electricity (ACS). We also find that at lower pumping hours or lower average cost to supply (ACS), grid electricity is competitive compared to SIP, but with an increase in pumping hours, ACS or both, there is a considerable increase in the LCC of the grid connected pump, making SIP a more economical option. Furthermore, we augment the analysis using primary data on farmers to examine the economic, equity, and political trade-offs. By highlighting the complexities associated with the diffusion of decentralised energy solutions in irrigation, our findings provide useful insights for public policy related to energy transition in irrigation in India.

COVID-19 Pandemic, Economic Livelihoods, and the Division of Labor in Rural Communities of Delta and Edo States in Nigeria

The COVID-19 pandemic affected economic, social, health, and political aspects of most global, national, and local populations, including urban and rural communities. Government measures like lockdowns resulted in the closure of schools and businesses, while social distancing preventing group gatherings impacted public and private spaces. Based on key informants’ interviews with 36 participants drawn equally from three senatorial districts of Edo and Delta states of Nigeria, we analyzed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the type of work men and women do and division of household activities, such as cooking, child, and family care. The findings show that traditional gender role ideology (GRI) defines and shapes rural men’s and women’s work, with women more engaged in farming, rearing livestock, and trading while men are engaged in farming, rearing livestock, and carrying out skilled jobs like carpentry, plumbing, and blacksmithing. The lockdown of schools and workplaces resulted in women disproportionately bearing the burden of cooking and caring for children, the elderly, and the sick. A few rural men shared childcare, while women spent more time on housework and childcare activities than in the pre-pandemic period when children were in school for 6–7 h daily. During the pandemic, rural men and women spent more time with the children, such that rural women stayed at home or took children to the farms and marketplaces where possible. Older siblings and the elderly also provided support for women. In conclusion, work and family activities during COVID were, to an extent, difficult to manage as parents had to cope with increasing food insecurity, economic and transportation costs, and social deprivation fostered by social norms, values, and practices that perpetuate gender inequality and marginalization of women.

EMPOWERING WOMEN THROUGH MILLET ENTREPRENEURSHIP: CULTIVATING SUCCESS AND SUSTAINABILITY

The value addition of millets presents significant opportunities for elevating the economic status and livelihoods of rural women not only for increased income, but also for enhancing national productivity, creating employment, and fostering economic independence, personal growth, and social upliftment. Major millets, minor millets, and little millets constitute distinct types within the millet family. In India, minor and little millets are classified as coarse cereals. Women SHGs in Odisha have been directly involved in the marketing of millets and millet-based products since 2021.This report seeks to investigate the extent to which women active in millet marketing are empowered. The study is for doing a qualitative analysis of the respondents' abilities to promote the product and focus on drawing useful conclusions on how they are being empowered. The sample for the study would involve one woman from each Self Help Group (SHG) and 5 to 6 SHGs would be taken for the collection of data. This study understands the processes involved in marketing of millets and throws light on how women empowerment is possible through it.

INVENTORY AND STUDY PHARMACOLOGICAL POTENTIAL OF PLANTS IN THE PAJANGAN HAMLET, WEDOMARTANI, NGEMPLAK, SLEMAN, YOGYAKARTA

This research aims to inventory and study pharmacological potention of plants in Pajangan Hamlet, Wedomartani, Ngemplak, Sleman, Yogyakarta as medicinal plants and live stalls. The research was conducted from June to October 2023 using observational methods. Plants were identified with PlantNet software and reference againts the Flora of Java book. In addition, the study of the utilization of these plants was carried out by literature study and distributing questionnaires to the residents. The results found 104 plant species with 19 different families can be identified in Pajangan Hamlet. The plants are categorized as herbs, ornamental plants/flowers, fruits, vegetables, and wild plants. These findings highlight the richness of biodiversity in Pajangan Hamlet with significant potentital for improving health and economic livelihoods through the use of local plant species in traditional practices and diets. Based on the result, it can be concluded that Pajangan Hamlet has a variety of plants that are widely used in traditional medicine and food, thereby underscoring the importance of local biodiversity in improving health and well-being.

Employment Pathology in Undergraduate Counseling Graduates: A Qualitative StudyEmployment Pathology in Undergraduate Counseling Graduates: A Qualitative Study

Aim: The present study was conducted with the aim of employment pathology in undergraduate counseling graduates. Methods: The present study is qualitative and has been done by content analysis method. The study population was undergraduate counseling graduates in which 15 people were selected as a sample by targeted and snowball methods. Sampling continued until the data reached saturation. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. After the initial coding, the topics were analyzed and the categories were categorized. Findings: The analysis of the findings of the semi-structured interview led to the extraction of 2 main themes, 6 sub-themes and 23 sub-themes on employment challenges from 88 codes. The main themes are intrapersonal challenges and extrapersonal challenges; Intrapersonal challenges include two sub-themes: personality issues and cognitive issues, and interpersonal challenges include four sub-themes: economic issues, educational issues, socio-cultural issues, and professional issues. Conclusion: Findings obtained from the sub-themes of cognitive and personality issues show that it is important to know the different dimensions of the field of study at the time of choosing it and personality traits in choosing and finding a suitable job appropriate to their field of study. The results obtained from the sub-topics of external challenges also show that the unhealthy economic situation and livelihood problems on the failure to achieve a job commensurate with education, poor quality and non-practical education in the undergraduate course, lack of diversity in related jobs, the difficulty of the counseling profession and the time consumption are obstacles that make it difficult for graduates of this field at the undergraduate level to be employed in more suitable jobs.

Association between the survey-based women’s empowerment index (SWPER) and intimate partner violence in sub-Saharan Africa

BackgroundIntimate partner violence (IPV) is high among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, empowering women enables them to confront and mitigate IPV. In this study, we examined the association between the survey-based women's empowerment index (SWPER) and IPV in SSA.MethodsWe used data from the Demographic and Health Surveys of 19 countries conducted from 2015 to 2021. Our study was restricted to a weighted sample of 82,203 women of reproductive age who were married or cohabiting. We used spatial maps to show the proportions of women who experienced past-year IPV. A five-modelled multilevel binary logistic regression analysis was adopted to examine the association between SWPER and IPV. The results were presented using the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with their respective 95% confidence interval (CI). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.ResultsWith physical and emotional violence, the country with the highest prevalence was Sierra Leone, with a prevalence of 39.00% and 38.97% respectively. Rwanda (10.34%), Zambia (11.09%), Malawi (15.00%), Uganda (16.88%), and Burundi (20.32%) were the hotspot countries for sexual violence. Angola (34.54%), Uganda (41.55%), Liberia (47.94%), and Sierra Leone (59.98%) were the hotspot countries for IPV. A high SWPER score in attitudes to violence significantly decreased the odds of IPV [AOR = 0.70; 95% CI = 0.66, 0.75]. Also, women with medium score in decision-making were less likely to experience IPV compared to those with lower scores [AOR = 0.89; 95% CI = 0.83, 0.95]. However, higher odds of experiencing IPV was found among women with medium score in autonomy compared to those with low scores [AOR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.01, 1.14].ConclusionsOur study has shown that the three dimensions of SWPER significantly predict IPV among women. Consequently, it is crucial that sub-Saharan African countries implement various initiatives, such as IPV advocacy programs and economic livelihood empowerment initiatives. These initiatives should not only aim to improve women's attitudes to domestic violence but also to enhance their social independence, autonomy, and decision-making capacity.

Khat use and related determinants among pregnant women within Haramaya, Ethiopia: a mixed methods study.

Khat, a green leafy plant grown in East Africa and throughout the Arabian Peninsula, is chewed for its psychoactive and amphetamine-like effects, serving as a significant aspect of culture, economic livelihood, and global trade. Khat consumption during pregnancy has been associated with adverse effects, including anemia, premature rupture of membranes, and low birth weight, among others. This cross-sectional, explanatory sequential mixed methods study was conducted in the Haramaya District of eastern Ethiopia using a questionnaire and focus group discussions. Questionnaires assessed socio-demographic information, pregnancy history, and diet, including khat use. Data were analyzed using SPSS v28 to include descriptive statistics, proportions, odds ratios, binary logistic regression, and chi-square analysis. FGDs expanded on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of khat in the region, including pregnant or lactating women from two different kebeles. Two independent reviewers conducted a qualitative content analysis to examine the qualitative findings from the FGDs. Transcripts from the focus groups were entered into NVivo 14 to aid in capturing salient themes. A total of 444 pregnant women with a median age of 25 years completed the questionnaire. Two-thirds of the women, 66.9%, reported currently consuming khat while pregnant, and 72.7% of them reported daily consumption. The FGD analysis resulted in the discovery of five themes: Economic Livelihood, Maternal Significance, Medicinal Implications of Khat, Pesticide Use, and Social and Cultural Applications. This study revealed an alarming high prevalence of khat consumption among pregnant women in the Haramaya District, highlighting the pressing need for long-term studies to assess the health consequences. The role of khat as both an economic staple and an energy source for daily activities underscores the challenges in curbing its use. The documented health risks associated with the chemicals used in khat cultivation, including cancer, call for interventions to enhance safe agricultural practices in households involved in khat farming.

Moderating Effect of Entrepreneurship Determinants on the Relationship between Economic Diversification and Sustainable Livelihoods among Fish Farmers in Kakamega County

This study investigates the effect of entrepreneurship determinants on economic diversification and sustainable livelihoods among fish farmers in Kakamega County, Kenya. Entrepreneurship determinants encompass a range of factors including access to finance, training, market information, infrastructure, and supportive institutional frameworks. Economic diversification is vital for reducing reliance on traditional income sources and enhancing resilience to economic shocks, while sustainable livelihoods ensure long-term prosperity while preserving natural resources. The specific objective was to examine the moderating effect of entrepreneurship determinants on the relationship between economic diversification and sustainable livelihoods among fish farmers in Kakamega County. The study was guided by Sustainable Livelihoods Theory. The target population was 4500 fish farmers in Kakamega County from which a sample of 354 fish farmers was selected for the study using the Krejcie and Morgan Table 1970. Data was collected using closed-ended questionnaires. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS version 26. Using descriptive and survey research designs, data was collected from a sample of fish farmers in Kakamega County. The findings reveal significant correlations between entrepreneurship determinants, economic diversification, and sustainable livelihoods. Economic Activity Diversification explained 50.8% changes on sustainable livelihoods. However, when moderated with entrepreneurial determinants, the influence of economic diversification explained 66.3% of the changes in sustainable livelihoods among the fish farmers in Kakamega County. The analysis utilized unstandardized coefficients to elucidate the relationships between variables. In Model 1, Vertical Diversification (B = 0.271, p = 0.000) and Portfolio Diversification (B = 0.488, p = 0.000) significantly influenced Sustainable Livelihoods, while Structural Diversification (B = -0.044, p = 0.493) did not. Model 2 introduced Entrepreneurial Determinant, which exhibited a significant positive effect (B = 0.356, p = 0.000), alongside Vertical (B = 0.111, p = 0.041) and Portfolio (B = 0.329, p = 0.000) Diversifications. In Model 3, while all diversification variables remained significant, the interaction terms showed significant impact, emphasizing the moderating role of entrepreneurial determinants in influencing sustainable livelihoods among fish farmers in Kakamega County. Access to finance and market information emerged as key determinants influencing the ability of fish farmers to diversify their economic activities and achieve sustainable livelihoods. Additionally, supportive institutional frameworks, infrastructure development and access to training were identified as critical enablers of entrepreneurial success among fish farmers. The study concludes by highlighting policy implications and recommendations aimed at enhancing entrepreneurship development, promoting economic diversification, and fostering sustainable livelihoods among fish farmers in Kakamega County and similar contexts.

Effect of Environmental Disasters on the Socio- Economic Livelihoods of the People; A Case of Musanze District in Rwanda

Effect of Environmental Disasters on the Socio- Economic Livelihoods of the People; A Case of Musanze District in Rwanda

Community Based Adaptation To Climate Change And Social Economic In Xe Champhone Wetland, Champhone District, Savannakhet Province

Climate change is key significant factor that impacts on multi-dimensions, which is relevant to social economic development, livelihood and environment, hence, Community Based Adaptation (CBA) to climate change is a mechanism of adapting based on the existing practices, knowledge, policy and experiences of the rice farmers to sustain their lives on changing climate, the objective of the study is to assess the social economic and find the practice management of rice farmers to adapt during flood and drought seasons. Hence, according to the research finds that, majority of the rice farmers are experienced and learnt from the previous effect and adjust themselves by using knowledge skills, experiences to build the resilience for their rice and crop planting in order to prevent and avoid the damages from climate change within the wetland. Besides that, the local communities still utilize the existing potential natural based adaptation to be flexible sustainably their agricultural activities and livelihood during rainy and dry season

The Effect of Backyard Agriculture on Household Income in the COVID-19 Era in Southeast Nigeria

Poverty is a major menace in Nigeria, and the onset of COVID-19 complicated the issue by limiting people's economic activities and livelihoods. Thus, there is a need for households to engage in sustainable economic activities to cope with economic shocks. Backyard agriculture could play a critical role in enhancing household income, especially during economic shocks; yet there exists a dearth of empirical information on this. Hence the need for this study, which investigated the effect of backyard agriculture on household income in southeast Nigeria. The study employed a multistage sampling procedure to get to the respondents. The data collected from randomly selected 480 households were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and multiple regression. The study revealed that households that engaged in backyard agriculture had a higher income (N130,125=USD 204.84) than households that did not engage in backyard agriculture (N64,700=USD 101.85). Thus, there is a difference of N65,425 (USD 102.99) between the average income of households that engaged in backyard agriculture and households that did not engage in backyard agriculture. The t-test results indicate that the difference between their income was significant at 1%. The regression result further shows that backyard agriculture significantly increased the income level of households. Thus, backyard agriculture is a crucial tool to enhance household economic status and livelihood during health and economic shocks. Based on these, this study recommends the promotion of backyard agriculture among households to boost household income by the government through agricultural extension agents.

Poverty Detection Using Satellite Imagery

As the universe finds it challenging to define poverty, the world bank views poverty as anyone living below $2 per day. Government and international organizations are working to eradicate this poverty. The study reviews some research on satellite images on the prediction of poverty through the concept of CNN. The study split the datasets satellite images of four (4) countries: Nigeria, Mali, Malawi, and Ethiopia obtained from Kaggle in 90% for training with 15% of it for validation and 10% for testing. The datasets were analyzed using CNN, VGG16, ResNet50, which shows that the VGG16 model performs better than the other two models with the validation accuracy of 94%, while CNN has 91%. ResNet has the lowest validation accuracy of 62%. The rise of high-resolution satellite images that contain extensive data of regions or countries' patterns, features, and landscapes can be applied to determine the economic livelihood of people or nations. The application of satellite images to the prediction of poverty is much easier, faster, and less expensive compared to more the prediction becomes more accessible. This study recommends the need for the availability of large satellites images for every region or country. Future researchers should focus on satellite images to predict poverty and the application of satellite images in detecting crime, road traffic, agricultural soil, and the like. Key Words: Convolutional Neural Network, Residual Network, Satellite Images, Architectural Neural Network, Support Vector Machine, Visual Geometry Group.

Adapting to climate change-induced flooding: insights from women traders in the riverine areas of Nigeria—a qualitative study

IntroductionIn the riverine areas of Bayelsa State, Nigeria, the intersection of climate change and flooding poses an escalating threat to the livelihoods and well-being of women traders. This qualitative study investigates the experiences and adaptive strategies employed by women traders in response to climate change-induced flooding.MethodsEmploying an exploratory research design with purposive sampling, 46 women traders participated in the study, involving 23 in-depth interviews and three focus group discussions. Thematic analysis was applied to scrutinize the collected data.ResultsThe study unravels the impacts of climate change-induced flooding on economic, social, and gender dynamics, revealing economic disparities, gender inequality, livelihood disruptions, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to information among women traders. Vulnerabilities emanated from disruptions in supply chains, damage to goods, and constrained market access, with agricultural traders being notably affected. Flood events exacerbated gender inequalities, amplifying caregiving responsibilities and limiting decision-making power for women traders. Resilience surfaced through diversified income sources, community solidarity, collective narratives, and local adaptive strategies, including indigenous knowledge and innovations.DiscussionPolicymakers and stakeholders should prioritize resilient infrastructure investments, such as flood-resistant marketplaces and storage facilities, to safeguard women traders’ businesses during flooding events and enhance the overall economic resilience of the community.

Regional reef fish assemblage maps provide baseline biogeography for tropicalization monitoring

The Anthropocene rise in global temperatures is facilitating the expansion of tropical species into historically non-native subtropical locales, including coral reef fish. This redistribution of species, known as tropicalization, has serious consequences for economic development, livelihoods, food security, human health, and culture. Measuring the tropicalization of subtropical reef fish assemblages is difficult due to expansive species ranges, temporal distribution shifts with the movement of isotherms, and many dynamic density-dependent factors affecting occurrence and density. Therefore, in locales where tropical and subtropical species co-occur, detecting tropicalization changes relies on regional analyses of the relative densities and occurrence of species. This study provides a baseline for monitoring reef fish tropicalization by utilizing extensive monitoring data from a pivotal location in southeast Florida along a known transition between tropical and subtropical ecotones to define regional reef fish assemblages and use benthic habitat maps to spatially represent their zoogeography. Assemblages varied significantly by ecoregion, habitat depth, habitat type, and topographic relief. Generally, the southern assemblages had higher occurrences and densities of tropical species, whereas the northern assemblages had a higher occurrence and density of subtropical species. A total of 108 species were exclusive to regions south of the Bahamas Fracture Zone (BFZ) (South Palm Beach, Deerfield, Broward-Miami) and 35 were exclusive to the north (North Palm Beach, Martin), supporting the BFZ as a pivotal location that affects the coastal biogeographic extent of tropical marine species in eastern North America. Future tropicalization of reef fish assemblages are expected to be evident in temporal deviance of percent occurrence and/or relative species densities between baseline assemblages, where the poleward expansion of tropical species is expected to show the homogenization of assemblage regions as adjacent regions become more similar or the regional boundaries expand poleward. Ecoregions, habitat depth, habitat type, and relief should be incorporated into the stratification and analyses of reef fish surveys to statistically determine assemblage differences across the seascape, including those from tropicalization.

Coastal Restoration Challenges and Strategies for Small Island Developing States in the Face of Sea Level Rise and Climate Change

The climate crisis poses a grave threat to numerous small island developing states (SIDS), intensifying risks from extreme weather events and sea level rise (SLR). This vulnerability heightens the dangers of coastal erosion, chronic water quality degradation, and dwindling coastal resources, demanding global attention. The resultant loss of ecological persistence, functional services, and ecosystem resilience jeopardizes protection against wave action and SLR, endangering coastal habitats’ economic value, food security, infrastructure, and livelihoods. Implementing integrated strategies is imperative. A thorough discussion of available strategies and best management practices for coastal ecosystem restoration is presented in the context of SIDS needs, threats, and major constraints. Solutions must encompass enhanced green infrastructure restoration (coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves/wetlands, urban shorelines), sustainable development practices, circular economy principles, and the adoption of ecological restoration policies. This requires securing creative and sustainable funding, promoting green job creation, and fostering local stakeholder engagement. Tailored to each island’s reality, solutions must overcome numerous socio-economic, logistical, and political obstacles. Despite challenges, timely opportunities exist for coastal habitat restoration and climate change adaptation policies. Integrated strategies spanning disciplines and stakeholders necessitate significant political will.

Analyze the Impact of Nuclear Energy on Many Aspects of Life Cycles—Review

AbstractEnergy has long been seen as an important factor in meeting needs of people, in order to sustain and support the economic growth and livelihood. To understand the various technological processes in the nuclear power life cycle, it is first necessary to know the types of fuels used today. There are two types of gasoline in use today, “open” and “partially closed,” respectively, referred to as “single cycle” (OTC) and “double cycle” (TTC). A distinction must be made between “partial” closed fuel cycles, as they apply to current critical (thermal neutron spectrum) reactor technology, which is limited to two passes, and “full” closed cycles, which allow for greater circulation of spent oil but must be used. Fast reactors (FR) are included in the reactor fleet. Many recoveries of FR—already proven but not yet widely used in industry—will lead to reduced demand for uranium mining. In this section, references to “closed” fuel cycles include “partially” closed cycles, i.e., TTCs. What type, if any, is the correct content or information in question? Analysis of the world's energy consumption in recent years shows that the world's energy consumption has increased by 50% in less than a decade.

Gender, livelihoods and local development in artisanal and small-scale mining areas: Evidence from gemstone production in Zambia and Tanzania

This article uses data collected from male and female miners and gemstone traders in an amethyst production zone in Zambia and tanzanite production zone in Tanzania to explore the gendered dynamics of investment of artisanal and small-scale mining profits in local communities. We investigated payment arrangements at mining sites and variations between how men and women are paid; and asked how men and women use proceeds from mining. These research themes allow us to identify mining and non-mining investments made by miners and develop an assessment of the broader, rather than narrow, impacts of ASM on economic livelihood alternatives in the community.

Reduction of Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Urine Patches from Grazed Dairy Pastures in New Zealand: A Preliminary Assessment of ORUN® as an Alternative to the Use of Nitrification Inhibitor Dicyandiamide (DCD)

Agriculture plays a significant role in economic development and livelihood and is a key contributor to food security and nutrition. However, global concerns regarding the sustainability of the agricultural sector (mainly environmental damage) is linked to agricultural activities such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of ORUN® (a formulated agricultural chemical mixture) to reduce N2O emissions from urine patches and to improve pasture yield, pasture N uptake, and soil mineral N concentrations. The field trials were conducted during the spring of 2015 on dairy urine patches at Massey University, New Zealand. Treatments consisted of control nil urine, control nil urine + ProGibb®, urine only, urine + ProGibb®, urine + ORUN®, and urine + ORUN PLUS® replicated four times in a randomized complete block design. At 31 days after treatment (DAT), analysis of soil samples in 0–5 cm soil profiles showed that urine + ProGibb® significantly (p = 0.0041) increased the soil nitrate concentration (121.40 kgN/ha) compared with 48.15 kgN/ha from urine only. The urine + ProGib® treatment produced significantly lower herbage N recovery (35% of applied N) compared with the urine only. Throughout the trial period, the urine patches treated with ProGibb® and ORUN® produced significantly higher N2O fluxes compared with urine only and urine + ORUN PLUS®, as well as higher surface soil nitrate and mineral N concentrations.