Upland Farming Research Articles

Vetiver [Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty]: An Aromatic Root Crop for Soil and Water Conservation

Khus grass or vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty) is a hardy perennial aromatic grass with long enormous tufted fibrous root system. Commercially, dry roots are used for extraction of essential oil that acts as a fixative in perfumery industry worldwide. Besides, vetiver roots are used in medicinal and pharmaceutical industries to treat rheumatism, arthritis, gouty joints, paralysis and indigestion. Roots and root oil have strong anti-oxidant, stimulant, carminative and cooling properties and used in Ayurvedic medicines. Traditionally, vetiver plants are being used to cultivate across hill slopes, waterways and wastelands to reduce runoff and soil conservation. During 1990’s World bank was promoting use of vetiver grass as contour vegetative barrier in upland farming systems of Asian and African countries. Further, recent studies report the use of vetiver in phytoremediation, reclamation of mined lands and soil and water detoxification in addition to carbon sequestration. Due to introduction of modern cultivation practices, traditional soil conservation practices are being vanished gradually over a period of time. In this regard, an attempt has been made to review the scientific evidence for use of vetiver grass as a soil and water conservation measure along with phytoremediation.

Resurgent diversity: upland agriculture, indigenous crops and foodways in Eastern Himalayas

ABSTRACT In this article, we are concerned with the cultivation of food crops – comparing trajectories of millets and buckwheat in Eastern Himalayas, and the circumstances under which farmers plant or forgo certain crops. Crop choices and how farmers cultivate their crops have far-reaching consequences for society, economy and the environment. With accelerating climate change, present global, corporate food regime based on a handful of genetically identical crops appears as a high-risk venture. For many Indigenous peoples alternatives to and negotiations with these regimes are commonly located in their traditions: the crops, foodways, and diversity-based agricultural systems of their ancestors even as a multitude of factors have conspired to their decline across the Eastern Himalayan Region. Yet, paradoxically, with climate change these crops, agriculture and knowledge systems seem to hold the future, especially for smallholder farmers.

Toward an Integrated Social-ecological Assessment of a Traditional Upland Rice-based Agroecosystem in Southern Philippines

Located in Southern Philippines, the Sarangani traditional agroecosystem currently sits at the nexus of ecological devastation, bio-cultural erosion, and pervasive modernization. Upland farms in these remote areas are inhabited predominantly by smallholder tribal households who cultivate rice landraces using traditional farming methods. Integrated agroecosystem assessment revealed Sarangani social-ecological system (SES) components, along with connections and feedback loops that underlie their interactions. DPSIR and CCA jointly identified drivers of change in Sarangani SES, revealed its key features, and investigated the whole gamut of issues impacting it. CCA, based on an Ishikawa cause and effect diagram, identified upland poverty, tribal culture and government mismanagement as root causes of intractable problems in the Sarangani SES while DPSIR successfully gauged the suitability of responses instituted by the local government. Study results can thus be used as bases for policy/programs that will resolve problem root causes in the Sarangani SES. In addition, steps must be undertaken to mitigate the effects of climate change which has proven to be utterly devastating in these vulnerable areas. Finally, for traditional agroecosystems like the Sarangani SES, interventions that uphold human well-being while conserving tribal culture/resources and preserving the environment are therefore warranted. Keywords: social-ecological systems, DPSIR, causal chain analysis, Sarangani, traditional agroecosystem

Farm adaptive business strategies in crisis management: COVID-19

The global COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted businesses worldwide, with rural businesses being no exception. This study examines the effects of the global crisis on upland farmers in England. It builds on the under-researched area of constrained rural entrepreneurship. Institutional theory is applied as a theoretical lens to understand how crisis events shape the constrained institutional contexts in which farm businesses strategically navigate. Using a qualitative, multiple case study approach, we explore how different farmers, traditionalist and entrepreneurial, have strategically responded to the aftermath of crisis-influenced constraints. Our findings highlight the importance of business strategy—particularly farm diversification—in helping farmers navigate these challenges. We provide a conceptual framework, the Farm Crisis Adaptation Framework, (FCAF) that theorizes farmer adaptation strategies in response to crisis situations. Our findings indicate a greater needed for rural policymakers to help develop the strategic entrepreneurship skillsets of farmers—helping farmers to future-proof their businesses against uncertainties. Moreover, investment is needed in the local and regional economy, establishing a conducive environment supportive of farm development strategies.

The impacts and resilience of upland farming communities in Davao Oriental, Philippines through vulnerabilities and adaptation to climate change

The impacts and resilience of upland farming communities in Davao Oriental, Philippines through vulnerabilities and adaptation to climate change

Long-term straw return enhanced crop yield by improving ecosystem multifunctionality and soil quality under triple rotation system: An evidence from a 15 years study

ObjectiveRice-rice-oilseed rape rotation is a typical triple cropping system in Asia, and the development of rice-oilseed rape rotation plays an important role in ensuring global food and oil security. With the intensive cropping rotation and frequent changes between paddy and upland farming under anaerobic and aerobic conditions, whether tillage and straw return would be benefit for both agronomic and environmental perspectives remained to be tested. MethodTherefore, we used a long-term locational experiment (15 years) employing four treatments of conventional tillage without straw incorporation (CT); conventional tillage with straw incorporation (CTS); no-tillage without straw mulching (NT); no-tillage with straw mulching (NTS), to assess the relationships among soil quality, ecosystem multifunctionality, and crop yields under the straw-returning and tillage strategies, based on both agronomic and environmental perspectives. ResultThe results showed that long-term straw return to the field could increase the yield of early rice by 6.24–8.80%, late rice by 3.81–7.13%, and oilseed rape by 9.55–14.45%. Long-term straw return enhanced soil quality index (SQI) by 22.21–40.74% and ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) by 104.19–141.14% in the 0–20 cm soil layer. Long-term conventional tillage (i.e., CT and CTS) showed higher SQI and EMF values especially in the oilseed rape season. Structural equation modelling (SEM) indicated that straw return and tillage mainly increased crop yield by increasing the SQI in the oilseed rape season. ConclusionIn conclusion, long-term straw return with conventional tillage would be more benefit for the improvement of soil quality and the multifunctionality of soil ecosystems under triple paddy-upland rotation system, offering an effective approach for sustainable soil management and crop production.

Contextualized Social Science Learning Activities from Upland Corn Farming Practices: A Literature Review

The agricultural landscape of the Philippines, characterized by its rich natural endowments and tropical climate, has emerged as a cornerstone of socio-economic development, driven largely by small-scale farming practices. Despite its significance, challenges such as soil erosion and unsustainable farming practices persist in upland regions, necessitating a shift towards sustainable resource management. This literature review explores the contextualization of social science learning activities within agricultural frameworks, focusing particularly on upland corn farming practices. Drawing from a multidisciplinary approach, this study examines the evolutionary trajectory of agriculture, traditional farming methods, and their contemporary relevance in shaping educational paradigms. Through an analysis of educational initiatives and cultural practices, the review highlights the importance of integrating indigenous knowledge and traditional farming methods into educational frameworks. Key findings underscore the critical role of social science in promoting sustainable agriculture, community empowerment, and cultural preservation within farming communities. The review concludes by emphasizing the need for further research to bridge the gap between social science education and agricultural practices, particularly in upland farming communities, to advance sustainable agricultural development and preserve cultural heritage.

Multisource spatiotemporal analysis of cropping patterns on dry upland: A case study in Rubaru Sub-district, Sumenep Regency

Dry upland agriculture is vital for securing food production in several countries. However, the research on evaluating cropping patterns using remote sensing techniques is completely neglected due to several factors such as the availability of clean imagery and the complexity of the landscape. This research primarily focused on the evaluation of data availability from three different satellite imageries: Sentinel-2, Landsat-8, and MODIS. The consistently high data availability demonstrated by Sentinel-2 established its potential as a reliable source for gap-filling analysis in remote sensing studies. Using a classification model, various land cover types were identified with an overall accuracy of 86.4%, indicating the model's efficiency in accurately classifying these areas. This research also analyzed the detailed cropping patterns, revealing seven distinct temporal cultivation patterns of various crops. This period is strategically positioned between the cultivation of maize, which spans an area of 5,943 ha in December, January, and February, suggesting a potential crop rotation system. The rotation indicated that nearly 83.7% of the cultivated land was planted between maize and shallot throughout the year. The study emphasizes the significance of continuous monitoring and adaptive management in agriculture to ensure sustainability and productivity.

ASSESSMENT OF FOREST DISTURBANCES USING REMOTE SENSING: CASE OF KALIWA RIVER FOREST RESERVE (KRFR), PHILIPPINES

Abstract. The Kaliwa River Forest Reserve (KRFR) is located in the southwestern part of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, Philippines. KRFR is one of the most important forest reserves in the country that is adjacent to urban areas and is very much affected by various forest disturbances. Forest disturbances can be caused by either anthropogenic or natural phenomena (e.g., typhoons, drought, and pathogen outbreaks) and may have negative effects on the forest structure and function. The study used the Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI) in detecting forest disturbances for the period of 2010, 2015, and 2020. Results showed that the deforestation rate has significantly decreased from 6.22% in 2010 to 3.40% in 2020. The National Greening Program (NGP) and intensified forest protection activities of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) may have contributed to the observed decreasing trend in deforestation rate. However, forest disturbance in the closed and open forest areas of KRFR gradually increased from 0.11% to 0.40%. Based on the accuracy assessment, the NDMI performed well in determining forest disturbances with mean values of 0.91 and 0.93 for completeness and correctness, respectively. The main contributor to forest disturbances in KRFR was mainly anthropogenic factors such as kaingin, illegal logging, urban sprawl, and upland farming. Outputs of this study can aid in the formulation of policies for better forest resource management, rehabilitation, and protection in the protected area.

Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Livelihood Assets of Smallholder Agroforestry Farmers in Selected Upland Farming Communities in the Philippines

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the social and economic activities of humanity across the globe. It has created immediate negative impacts on the livelihoods and agricultural production activities of smallholder farmers. A study was conducted in 2022-2023 to assess the impacts of the pandemic on smallholder farmers engaged in vegetable-based agroforestry systems in the Philippines. Using mixed methods of data gathering such as focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and a survey of 383 smallholder agroforestry farmers, results revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in travel restrictions and lockdowns, which has caused the immobility of farmers, farm labor, farm inputs and produce. Most (80%) of the production activities of the vegetable-based agroforestry system of the smallholder farmers were affected by the pandemic because of the lack of access to farm inputs, including labor. Poor marketing of agroforestry produces and the low market prices of the produce have decreased farm income of almost all (92%) of the respondent-smallholder farmers. About 92% of farmers were not able to attend any training courses related to agroforestry during the height of the pandemic. The social capital, particularly the bonding social capital within family members and neighborhoods, was enhanced during the pandemic. This led to the exchange of planting materials, and sharing of farm inputs with fellow farmers in the four study sites. Likewise, the natural capital was enhanced since the farms, soil and the surrounding natural resources such as rivers and springs were left untouched during the pandemic. Increased production for home consumption, reduced production for markets, engaging in additional sources of income, use of organic inputs, shift to online selling, and availing loans from formal and informal credit service providers were among the coping strategies employed by the smallholder farmers. Results imply the need to future-proof smallholder agroforestry systems by developing farmers’ capacity to produce their own natural and organic fertilizers and organic pesticides; appropriate and more sustainable seed collection and storage; and expand partnerships with external organizations.

Flow of mangrove ecosystem services to coastal communities in the Brazilian Amazon

Mangrove forests are broadly recognized to support a variety of ecosystem services on coastal margins worldwide. These services may significantly contribute to the wellbeing of millions of people, but there is limited information about their importance in the Global South. This study mapped for the first time the flow of ecosystem services in Brazilian Amazon mangroves, which represent over 700,000 ha of mangroves in the country. We also identified the spatial changes in the flow of services across coastal landscapes, including urban, agricultural upland areas and coastal natural protected areas. Our matrix model indicated that mangroves, waterbodies, sandflats and mudflats are critical to the flow of multiple ecosystem services, including provisioning (fish, mariculture), cultural (historical and intrinsic value, research, and education), and regulation (climate, flood control, nursery, and breeding grounds). Social economic context, occupation, education, and residence time are important factors influencing villagers to identify the flow of ecosystem services, which could be compared across other coastal marine reserves in South America that have similar management of natural resources. Adjacent coastal upland habitats such as forests and croplands are important to support many provisioning ecosystem services to coastal villagers that would otherwise be obtained from mangroves, suggesting that protecting these connected habitats and supporting small-scale agriculture may help to avoid deforestation of mangrove forests. As over 80% of the mangroves in the country are managed as extractive reserves and may support communities with comparable socio-economic characteristics, we provide a foundation for the development and replication of ecosystem services assessments in Brazilian mangroves, which cover an area of over 1 million hectares. Our work highlights the importance of mangrove forests in providing food, and cultural services and to increase local climate resilience of coastal villages in the Amazon coast.

Technical efficiency of cocoa farms at varying elevation levels in Davao City, Philippines: implications to sustainable upland farming systems

Technical efficiency of cocoa farms at varying elevation levels in Davao City, Philippines: implications to sustainable upland farming systems

Evaluation of AnnAGNPS Wetland Nitrogen Removal Component on Farmed Prairie Potholes

Highlights AnnAGNPS offers a wetland module (AgWET) to simulate farmed prairie potholes soluble nitrogen dynamics. Three key parameters of the AgWET nitrogen removal components show high and very high Relative Sensitivity (Sr ). AnnAGNPS tends to underestimate the soluble nitrogen concentration at the beginning of the cropping season. Abstract. Farmed prairie potholes are common in northern Iowa and have been considered an impediment to agricultural development. Potholes have distinctive wetland characteristics where they might contain a high concentration of soluble nitrogen coming from agricultural upland runoff. With sub-surface drainage underneath them, providing short circuit nutrient transport downstream, Iowa poses a significant threat to nitrogen export to the Gulf of Mexico. Watershed models, such as AnnAGNPS, developed a wetland module allowing users to find the possible BMPs to accomplish nutrient reduction targets. Previous research indicates that AnnAGNPS may be used to mimic inundation depth fluctuations in potholes with moderate success. However, there has been little research on the wetland nitrogen removal components of the model. This study aims to evaluate the AnnAGNPS wetland module's performance in simulating the soluble nitrogen concentration in three farmed prairie potholes by comparing the simulation output with the observed data. The sensitivity analysis of the three key parameters of the model shows high and very high levels of sensitivity, with the temperature coefficient's relative sensitivity ranging from -6.7 to 8.6. Attempts in parameterization on the three targeted parameters indicated that the model poorly simulated the soluble nitrogen concentration. The comparison between observed and simulated data shows that the model fails to predict the high concentration of soluble nitrogen in the early cropping season. This conclusion is consistent with earlier research indicating that AnnAGNPS tends to underestimate the nitrogen concentration during the cropping season. Keywords: AnnAGNPS wetland module, Farmed prairie pothole, Soluble nitrogen concentration.

Constrained rural entrepreneurship: Upland farmer responses to the socio-political challenges in England's beef and sheep sector

UK farmers are facing significant uncertainty due to recent post-Brexit policy changes. Upland farmers in England are particularly at risk, due to their high dependence on European subsidy support payments. Farm entrepreneurship strategies may be a viable solution for these farmers to achieve economic sustainability while continuing to make valuable social and environmental contributions via multifunctional enterprises. However, many socio-economic constraints often prevent farmers from implementing these strategies. This paper builds upon existing research on ‘constrained entrepreneurship in UK agriculture’ by examining the Constrained Institutional Contexts that upland farmers operate within. Using a qualitative approach, the paper explores and theorizes how upland farmers are constrained by exogeneous forces which control access to and dependence on resources. The findings highlight the importance of a supportive rural environment for farm entrepreneurship; however, they also reveal that the success of such strategies is often beyond the control of individual farmers and policy support is often necessary to alleviate these constraints.

Spatiotemporal analysis of soil loss in cold climate upland farming watersheds using SWAT: case study of Tokoro River watershed, Hokkaido, Japan

ABSTRACT Severe soil erosion can cause both loss of ecosystem services and riverine environmental contaminations. Thus, understanding the spatiotemporal characteristics of soil loss at the watershed scale is critical for sustainable management of land and water resources. The primary objective of this study was to estimate the spatiotemporal variation in water runoff and soil loss in the Tokoro River watershed (TRW), Hokkaido, Japan. Assuming that agricultural land, which becomes bare depending on the season, is the main source of erosion and that large soil losses occur especially during the snowmelt/freeze-thaw period, we quantified and analyzed the mechanism of soil loss using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool 2012 (SWAT2012). Simulation results based on a publicly available dataset showed that croplands were the primary source of stream sediment load, contributing to 86% of the total soil loss. Furthermore, the soil loss rate was high (241.1–270.9 Mg km−2 yr−1) in sub-basins with a higher percentage of cropland, especially sloped croplands. These sub-basins had a higher risk of productivity loss due to intense erosion and river contamination by muddy runoff. Soil loss mainly occurred in early spring (March and April) and late summer (August – October), accounting for 36% and 45% of the annual soil loss, respectively. Vegetation removal by harvest exacerbated soil loss in October. In March, soil drainage was suppressed by frozen soil, resulting in high surface runoff and soil loss. Therefore, surface runoff when the soil was frozen was considered an important driver of soil loss. The estimation error of the stream sediment loads out of the 95% prediction uncertainty accounted for 26% of the total absolute error. This error could be attributed a lack of certainty in the observation data of high stream sediment loads and the model’s underestimation of water runoff during intense snowmelt and rainfall events.

Critical Factors Determining The Adoption of Sustainable Upland Agriculture In Upland Lawu, Indonesia

<p><em>Several sustainable farming practices have been introduced and have shown a low farmer participation. This paper scrutinizes factors behind the poor adoption of sustainable upland agriculture by engaging the DPSIR in combination with the framework of Capacity-Incentive and Environmental Degradation. This paper employed a simple random sampling method by applying a questionnaire to 408 farmers. We used multiple linear regression analysis to know the linkage between the predictor and the dependent variable. The resulted R-Square was 0.649, with the </em><em>F</em><em> statistic less than 0.05. The regression model can explain the linkage between the proposed predictors and the dependent variable. Governmental incentive is the significant predictor affecting the adoption of sustainable upland agriculture. Ensuring the profitability of it by facilitating market channels, credit, and allocating subsidies for organic input are critical. Building human capital in agriculture through services is also critical in strengthening the upland farmers’ confidence to adopt sustainable agriculture.</em></p>

Using qualitative methods to explore farmers' antimicrobial use decisions through a more detailed lens.

Veterinary RecordVolume 192, Issue 12 p. 479-480 Research comment Using qualitative methods to explore farmers' antimicrobial use decisions through a more detailed lens Lucy Coyne, Corresponding Author Lucy Coyne [email protected] National Office for Animal Health, Stevenage, UKSearch for more papers by this author Lucy Coyne, Corresponding Author Lucy Coyne [email protected] National Office for Animal Health, Stevenage, UKSearch for more papers by this author First published: 16 June 2023 https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.3192Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL No abstract is available for this article. References 1Shallcross LJ, Davies SC. Antibiotic overuse: a key driver of antimicrobial resistance. Br J Gen Pract 2014; 64: 604– 5 2Xie T, Liu W, Anderson BD, et al. A system dynamics approach to understanding the One Health concept. PLoS One 2017; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184430 3 HM Government. Tackling antimicrobial resistance 2019–2024: the UK's five-year national action plan. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1070263/UK_AMR_5_year_national_action_plan.pdf (accessed 1 June 2023) 4 Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance. Targets task force report 2020. http://ruma.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/RUMA-REPORT-021220.pdf (accessed 1 June 2023) 5 Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance. Antibiotic use in cattle: dairy trend data and usage by beef farm type 2015–2019. https://ruma.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Antibiotic-Use-in-Cattle-Report.pdf (accessed 1 June 2023) 6 Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance. RUMA targets task force 2: two years on. https://www.ruma.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/RUMA-TTF-Report-2022-FINAL-FINAL.pdf (accessed 1 June 2023) 7Jorritsma R, Van der Heide A, Van Geijlswijk IM. Survey of veterinarians in the Netherlands on antimicrobial use for surgical prophylaxis in dairy practice. J Dairy Sci 2021; 104: 9106– 14 8Padda H, Wemette M, Safi AG, et al. New York State dairy veterinarians' perceptions of antibiotic use and resistance: a qualitative interview study. Prev Vet Med 2021; doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105428 9Pate LA, Milne CE, McMorran R, et al. Factors influencing Scottish dairy farmers' antibiotic use. Vet Rec 2023; doi: 10.1002/vetr.2997 10Hamilton W, Bosworth G, Ruto E. Entrepreneurial younger farmers and the ‘young farmer problem’ in England. Agric For 2015; 62: 61– 9 11Morris W, Henley A, Dowell D. Farm diversification, entrepreneurship and technology adoption: analysis of upland farmers in Wales. J Rural Stud 2017; 53: 132– 43 12Thelwall M, Nevill T. Is research with qualitative data more prevalent and impactful now? Interviews, case studies, focus groups and ethnographies. Libr Inf Sci Res 2021; doi: 10.1016/j.lisr.2021.101094 13Christley R, Perkins E. Researching hard-to-reach areas of knowledge: qualitative research in veterinary science. Equine Vet J 2010; 42: 285– 6 14Reschovsky JD, Rich EC, Lake TK. Factors contributing to variations in physicians' use of evidence at the point of care: a conceptual model. J Gen Intern Med 2015; 30(Suppl 3): S555– 61 Volume192, Issue1217 June–1 July 2023Pages 479-480 ReferencesRelatedInformation

Development of land-use-specific pedotransfer functions for predicting bulk density of acidic topsoil in eastern Himalayas (India)

Soil bulk density (BD), although a key input parameter in many soil functions is often overlooked in soil studies, including surveys. Direct measurements over a large area are slow and expensive, especially in resource-poor mountain ecosystems. For soils of eastern Himalayan ecosystems, cost-effective indirect methods such as pedotransfer functions (PTFs) are lacking. We developed seven landuse-specific PTFs for BD estimation using a soil particle size distribution (sand, and silt) and soil organic carbon database of 1206 sampling sites. Land uses were 3 uncultivated (dense forests-DF, open forests-OF, and grasslands-GL), 3 cultivated (shifting cultivation-SC, upland agriculture -UA, lowland paddy-LP), and a perennial plantation (PL). PTFs were developed using five machine learning algorithms (MLAs) and a multi-linear regression (MLR). The best PTFs were chosen based on cross-validation performance with the values of the greatest coefficient of determination (R2) and the smallest root mean square error (RMSE). In addition, the relative performance of thirteen (13) documented PTFs was evaluated on soils in the region. Among the MLAs, the artificial neural network (ANN) showed the best BD prediction for the whole dataset (R2: 0.58, RMSE: 0.09 Mg m−3) and four (e.g. GL, UA, SC, and LP: R2 of 0.65 to 0.69, RMSE of 0.06 to 0. 09 Mg m−3) of the seven land use classes. For the remaining three land uses (e.g., DF, OF and PL), based on the greatest R2 values (0.55 to 0.75), PTFs based on random forests (RF) made the best predictions. However, considering the smallest RMSE values (0.06–0.08 Mg m−3), ANN-PTFs were another option for these three land uses. Of the land uses, the best prediction for BD was obtained for PL (R2: 0.75), while the DF with variable soil properties had the lowest predictive performance (R2: 0.55). The performance of MLA-based PTFs such as the support vector machine (SVM), ridge regression (RR), and extreme gradient boosting (XGB) and MLR-PTFs were lower than the ANN-PTFs and RF-PTFs. The precision of BD prediction for 13 published PTFs was inconsistent and inferior (R2: 0.13 to 0.39) to the ANN-PTFs and RF-PTFs (R2: 0.55 to 0.75) developed in this study. Since PTFs are very region-specific, we suggest ANN-PTFs to estimate the BD of grasslands and cultivated soils while the RF-PTFs (based on the greatest R2) for dense and open forests and plantation soils in the eastern Himalayas and similar mountain ecosystems.

Agricultural activities lead to sediment infilling of wetlandscapes in the Canadian Prairies: Assessment of soil erosion and sedimentation fluxes

Wetlandscapes are vulnerable to land conversion and sediment infilling from upland agriculture, causing them to act as sinks for sediment deposition and putting at risk their ecosystem services. Wetlandscapes in the Canadian Prairies agroecosystems are particularly susceptible to sediment infilling because of the intensification of human activities and agricultural practices. The rising risk of soil erosion in cultivated landscapes has generated a need to estimate soil redistribution rates and soil loss monitoring tools and techniques. This research examines the effects of agricultural activities on soil loss and sedimentation rates within agricultural landscapes in the Canadian Prairies. Land and atmospheric fluxes of sediment into wetlands are quantified over the past 60 years using catchment-scale tracing (137Cs) and budgeting techniques. Findings indicate that the pattern of 137Cs erosion/deposition varies along catchment toposequences, with erosion near the top of the toposequences (the average annual soil erosion rates were found to be 1.1 kg m−2 yr−1 for Manitoba and 0.3 kg m−2 yr−1 for Alberta) and deposition within the wetland ecosystem (total deposition rates were estimated at about −3.6 kg m−2 yr-1for Manitoba and −0.9 kg m−2 yr−1 for Alberta). The sediment delivery ratios were approximately 57% and 35% in Manitoba and Alberta, respectively, indicating that a noticeable amount of the mobilized sediment exits the field. These transfers from cultivated fields into wetlands reveal that wetlandscapes in Canadian Prairies are vulnerable to sediment infilling, and soil erosion control practices are needed to achieve sustainable management of agricultural landscapes.

Sustainability strategies and stakeholder management for upland farming

Upland farming provides important benefits to society. To retain these benefits, measures to encourage farms to adopt practices that balance economic, environmental and social aspects of sustainability are required. This study used survey data from a sample of farms located in less-favoured areas in Northern England to identify the trade-offs between the three dimensions of farm-level sustainability and the impacts of farm behaviours on them, including diversification, participation in agri-environmental policies and stakeholder management. Results showed that farm businesses may face a trade-off between improving economic and environmental performance through their decisions about participating in agri-environmental schemes and that strengthening relationships with some stakeholders is critical for achieving sustainability. This suggests that future policy design may simultaneously improve three dimensions of sustainability by promoting environmental conservation activities through non-economic incentives and by encouraging farm businesses to build good working relationships with their stakeholders.