Farming Zones Research Articles

A sequential assessment of WSD risk factors of shrimp farming in Bangladesh: Looking for a sustainable farming system

White Spot Disease (WSD) caused by White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV), is responsible for widespread mortality and economic losses across almost the entire Asian shrimp farming industry. The distribution of disease prevalence is however uneven, and is likely dependent on a range of management, environmental and socio-ecological factors. In this study, 233 farms were surveyed in southwest Bangladesh, the main shrimp farming zone, to produce a dataset from a range of pond types, culture techniques and farming practices. Four categories of data (site/farm characteristics, environmental variables, disease history, and management variables) with associated risk factors were selected following the development of a conceptual framework and a participatory rural appraisal tool. Factors potentially contributing to WSD prevalence in the current shrimp crop were first screened using univariate analysis and subsequently analyzed using a multivariate logistic regression to highlight significant risk factors. Association of the selected factors with WSD prevalence was examined using multivariate stepwise removal. The multivariate analysis revealed that farms operated by a tenant worker (p: 0.03), mixed use of fertilizer (p: 0.009), poor quality water source (p: 0.001), lack of reservoir for water purification (p: < 0.001), and frequent exchange of water during a single crop culture (p: < 0.001) were significantly associated with WSD prevalence. The results suggest that, where possible, better farm management practices including improving water quality, controlling water exchange and/or maintaining constant salinity, will reduce WSD prevalence.

Water spreading weirs altering flood, nutrient distribution and crop productivity in upstream–downstream settings in dry lowlands of Afar, Ethiopia

AbstractAfar in Ethiopia is a drought prone area characterized by low rainfall, high temperature and suffering from flash flood emerging from adjacent mountains. We introduced a flood barrier, water spreading weirs (WSWs) in 2015 to convert floods to a productive use and assessed its effect in 2016 and 2017. WSWs resulted in deposition of sediments where sand deposition was higher in the upside of upstream weir whereas silt and clay deposition was prominent at the central location between the two weirs. There was a moisture gradient across farming fields with volumetric water content (VWC) at 20 cm depth varying between 10 and 22% depending on the relative position/distance of fields from the WSWs, consequently, effecting significant difference in yield between fields. There was a positive relationship between VWC made available by WSWs at planting and the yield (P &lt; 0.001, r = 0.76) and biomass productivity (P &lt; 0.005, r = 0.46). WSWs created differing farming zone following soil moisture regime, affecting grain and biomass yield. In good potential zones with high moisture content, the WSW-based farming enabled to produce up to 5 and 15 t ha−1 yr−1 of maize grain and biomass, respectively, while in low potential zones there was a complete crop grain failure. The system enabled pastoralists to produce huge amount of biomass and grain during Belg (short) and Meher (long) growing seasons that was stored and utilized during succeeding dry periods. Furthermore, the practice ensured a visible recovery of degraded rangelands. This was evident from the filling up of the riverbed as well as the two WSW wings with 1 m high and about 450 m length each with fertile sediment from Belg and Meher seasons of 2016 and 2017. Hence, future studies should analyze the sustainability and the potential of flood-based development at large scale.

Studija slučaja uređenja i korišćenja zemljišta za određivanje načina upravljanja zemljištem koji se može primeniti u poljoprivrednoj praksi za sprečavanje erozije i gubitka plodnog zemljišta

The Büyük Melen river in the Melen Basin meets Istanbul's drinking water needs. Protecting the basin against nutrient pollution is vital in this regard as well. This study focuses on the best possible management practice (BMPs) in the Melen Basin to reduce the export of nutrients from the agricultural areas. A region comprising industrial, farming, and residential zones is the Melen basin. There is a forecast of global climate change in Turkey, and scientists and also governors must know which areas are no longer farming zones and which will be more appropriate for agriculture. Turkey's territory is a high-risk desertification area. In Melen Basin, the soil type and land use properties have been determined and mapped using GIS and Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). Buffer BMP filter strips can be used effectively for nutrient protection that can be carried from residential areas and motorways by runoff. The region in the basin is steep, and its clay and sandy soil structures are ideal for parallel terraces, grade stabilization, strip, and contour cultivation. Unless the ground can not retain or store water, the soil can undergo sudden floods, causing an erosion of the soil's productive surface layer. When we protect the land, this condition is reduced. The land type and land use mapping should be drawn up as soon as possible for the remaining Turkish basins by scientific methods. This research is intended to be an illustration for researches on other agricultural basins in Turkey and the world for this reason.

Impact of contract farming on income of smallholder malt barley farmers in Arsi and West Arsi zones of Oromia region, Ethiopia

This study examined factors that influence farmers’ participation in malt barley contract farming and West Arsi zones of Oromia region, Ethiopia. Data were collected from 384 (190 contract and 194 ...

Вплив ширини міжрядь та доз азотних добрив на водоспоживання та урожайність насіння буркуну білого однорічного

The article presents the results of field studies with various varieties of white annual clover when growing them in the conditions of southern Ukraine. The solution to the problem of feed protein in modern economic conditions, when there is a very high cost of mineral and organic fertilizers, is possible largely due to the increase in acreage, expansion of the range and increase the yield of perennial and annual leguminous grasses. In the zone of risky farming, to which the south of Ukraine belongs, the choice of drought-resistant crops that are able to form stable yields with high quality of seeds under extreme conditions is of great importance. The white one-year white clover fully complies with these requirements - a universal-use culture with high and stable yields, drought-resistant, heat-resistant, relatively unpretentious to soils and technological. In the formation of high-yield crops of the white annual clover, a large role belongs to the variety. In turn, the full realization of the yield potential of a variety is possible only if favorable conditions for growing are created, all activities that fully comply with the requirements of this variety are carried out. Therefore, the development of new and improvement of the existing elements of the culture of cultivation, among which is the determination of the optimal row spacing and the dose of nitrogen fertilizer for the white one-year clover varieties, the South and the Donetsk one-year ones are relevant for agricultural production. The aim of the research was to establish the peculiarities of the formation of seed productivity of various varieties of culture by optimizing the width of the spacing and doses of nitrogen fertilizer in the conditions of the south of Ukraine. Field experience established by the method of split plots was carried out in quadruplicate with the placement of plots randomized in accordance with the method of conducting field research to improve the elements of agrotechnical methods of growing crops. In the experiment, we studied varieties of white clover of one-year-old South and Donetsk one-year (reproduction – super elite) width between rows – 15, 30, 45 and 60 cm; Nitrogen fertilization doses – without fertilizers, N 30 , N 60 , N 90 . The agrotechnical cultivation of the white one-year tributary cultivars was generally accepted for the south of Ukraine, except for the factors that were put to study. The studies used the following methods: general scientific (analysis, observation, comparison, measurement), special (field, laboratory), comparative analytical, regression, information-logical analysis and mathematical modeling. On average for 2016-2018 The maximum yield of white clover seeds of the annual one – 556 kg / ha – is established in the Yuzhny variety with a row spacing of 45 cm and a dose of nitrogen fertilizer N 60 . The analysis of variance revealed that the doses of nitrogen fertilizer had the greatest influence on the formation of the yield of white one-year white clover seeds – 71.1% and the row spacing–- 17.2%. Varieties showed the least impact on the seed productivity of the crop, the share of this factor was 6.3%.

Effect of silicon and mineral extract on heavy metals balance and accumulation rate in the muscle tissue of poultry

The level of contamination of poultry fodder raw material, which includes 30% of corn, 55% of wheat, 5% of oats, 5% of barley and 5% of sunflower meal, by heavy metals (lead, cadmium, zinc, copper) in the zone of intensive farming of the Right-bank Forest-steppe of Ukraine is shown. The impact of silicon and mineral extract on the intensity of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, zinc, copper) accumulation in the edible parts of poultry, namely in the red and white meat, liver and skin is studied. It has been revealed that there is an excess of MAC in cadmium by 2.1 times in the fodder wheat and by 3.0 times in the sunflower meal (Medical and Biological Requirements 5061-89) in the zone of intensive farming of the Right-bank Forest-steppe of Ukraine. The replacement of 10% of water with siliconand mineral water extract in the poultry diet under their keeping at households contributes to increase the removal of lead from their bodies by 27.4 %, cadmium – by 30.2%, zinc – by 20%, and copper – by 16.3%. We determined that the use of silicon and mineral water extract in the poultry diet reduced the concentration of lead by 1.6 times in the liver, by 1.1 times in the white meat and by 1.02 times in the red meat; it reduced the concentration of cadmium by 1.2, 1.6, and 1.2 times; reduced the concentration of zinc by 1.3, 1.05, and 1.8 times; the concentration of copper by 1.3, 1.3, and 1.4 times, respectively.

Duality of trophic supply and hydrodynamic connectivity drives spatial patterns of Pacific oyster recruitment

The recent discovery of Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas (also known as Magallana gigas) spatfields in a Mediterranean lagoon intensely exploited for shellfish farming (Thau lagoon) revealed significant contrasts in spatial patterns of recruitment. We evaluated the processes that drive spatial patterns in oyster recruitment by comparing observed recruitment, simulated hydrodynamic connectivity and ecological variables. We hypothesized that spatial variability of recruitment depends on (1) hydrodynamic connectivity and (2) the ecology of the larval supply, settlement, metamorphosis, survival and biotic environmental parameters. We assessed recruitment at 6-8 experimental sites by larval sampling and spat collection inside and outside oyster farming areas and on an east-west gradient, from 2012-2014. Hydrodynamic connectivity was simulated using a numerical 3D transport model assessed with a Eulerian indicator. The supply of large umbo larvae did not differ significantly inside and outside oyster farming areas, whereas the supply of pediveligers to sites outside shellfish farms was structured by hydrodynamic connectivity. Inside shellfish farming zones, unfavorable conditions due to trophic competition with filter-feeders jeopardized their settlement. In this case, our results suggest loss of settlement competence by oyster larvae. This confirms our hypothesis of top-down trophic control by the oysters inside farming zones of Thau lagoon in summer that fails to meet the ecological requirements of these areas as oyster nurseries. Knowledge of oyster dispersal, connectivity and recruitment in coastal lagoons will help local development of sustainable natural spat collection. On a global scale, our method could be transposed to other basins or used for other species such as mussels, clams or scallops, to better understand the spatial patterns of bivalve recruitment. Management of the oyster industry based on natural spat collection will help develop a sustainable activity, based on locally adapted oyster strains but also by reducing the risks of transferring pathogens between basins and the global carbon footprint of this industry.

Diversity and Use of Edible Grasshoppers, Locusts, Crickets, and Katydids (Orthoptera) in Madagascar.

Madagascar has a long history of using Orthoptera as food and feed. Our understanding of the biological diversity of this resource, its contemporary use, and its future potentials in Madagascar is extremely limited. The present study contributes basic knowledge of the biological diversity and local uses of edible Orthoptera in Malagasy food cultures. Data was collected with key informants in 47 localities covering most of the ecoregions of Madagascar and corresponding to 12 of the 19 ethnic groups. Orthoptera are consumed throughout Madagascar. We report 37 edible Orthoptera species, of which 28 are new species records of edible Orthoptera in Madagascar and 24 are new species records of edible Orthoptera in the world. Most species are endemic and occur in farming zones. Children are the primary collectors and consumers of edible Orthoptera. The insects are eaten both as snacks and main meals. Edible Orthoptera are primarily collected casually and marketing is rare, with the notable exceptions of the large cricket Brachytrupes membranaceus colosseus and during locust outbreaks (e.g., Locusta migratoria). The use of Orthoptera as feed seems rare. Further investigations of cultural and personal preferences are required to assess the future potential roles of Orthoptera in Malagasy food habits.

Design and Implementation of Software for Ship Monitoring System in Offshore Wind Farms

To improve the safety of vessels in the offshore wind farms, this paper develops the design and implementation of a multiclient monitoring system that is a ship monitoring system software (SMSS). The design is based on automatic identification system (AIS) and geographic information system (GIS). The data of the target ships around the offshore wind farm zone will be displayed on a GIS map and monitored in the implemented software system in real time. The localization method and the warning zone judgment algorithm are used to carry out the vessel position around the offshore wind farm area. The software system includes some unavoidable features, namely, AIS encoding and decoding and automatic sending of short messages to ships arriving in the warning area. The tests of the SMSS show that in real time, the software system performs properly by detecting the target ships around the warning zone and sends short messages to these ships, which makes the SMSS more effective and reliable.

Effects of drought at different periods of wheat development on the leaf photosynthetic apparatus and productivity

The problem of drought impact on crop productivity is especially relevant for the leading cereal – wheat, since significant cultivation areas of this crop are located in risky farming zones. The aim of our studies was to compare the peculiarities of drought impact during the period of vegetative growth and reproductive development on the chlorophyll content, activity of chloroplast antioxidant enzymes, the rate of carbon dioxide gas exchange and transpiration as well as productivity of the wheat plants. The studies were carried out on bread winter wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.) of the Astarta and Natalka varieties grown in a pot experiment. The plants were watered daily to maintain the soil moisture level in the pots in the range 70–60% of field capacity. Drought treatment involving decrease in soil moisture to 30% of the field capacity was applied to some of the plants at late stem elongation stage (BBCH 37-45) and to other plants at heading-anthesis (BBCH 59-65) while control plants were watered as usual. After 7 days of drought, the watering of treated plants was resumed to maintain the soil moisture at the level of control plants until the harvest. The penultimate leaf at the late stem elongation stage and flag leaf at the heading–anthesis period were used for measurements of photosynthetic apparatus response to drought. Plants of both varieties treated at stem elongation stage showed lower decline in the photosynthetic activity, chlorophyll content and grain productivity than those treated at heading-anthesis. The results obtained indicated that photosynthetic apparatus of wheat has a higher drought tolerance at the stem elongation stage than during the heading-anthesis stage. Furthermore, plants stressed at the stem elongation stage revealed better compensatory growth of lateral productive shoots due to superior supply of plants with assimilates after drought termination. Astarta variety had a more drought-tolerant photosynthetic apparatus and higher grain productivity in both well-watered and drought conditions as compared to Natalka variety. The differences between varieties were more contrasting when drought was applied at heading-anthesis.

How do fishery resources enhance the development of coastal fishing communities: Lessons learned from a community-based sea farming project in Taiwan

Taiwan government proposes a national level Coastal Blue Economy Growth (CBEG) program to promote ocean-linked industries based on the concept of sustainable development. Sea farming development is considered an important aspect that needs to be promoted for the CBEG program. Generally, sea farming relies on artificial technologies, environmental improvement and resource management to increase fishery resources and to enhance fisheries productivity. Developing sea farming could contribute to the transformation of capture fisheries; it integrates the concept of Blue Economy into sustainable economic development so as to improve economic activities in fishing communities. In line with this, the Taiwan government launched the Community-Based Sea Farming (CBSF) project in 2015. The CBSF project aims to establish sea farming zones to help fishing communities achieve sustainable development. In this paper, the development process of sea farming and site selection of the CBSF project were described and the needs of local people in fishing communities around sea-farming demonstration zones were also assessed. According to findings, a framework for sea farming development is proposed. In this framework, several new sea farming-based industries can serve as the driving force to accelerate the development of fishing communities. The driving forces include developing a community-based tourism recreational industry, strengthening localized marketing of featured seafood products, combining local ecological landscapes and cultures of the fishing village to develop recreational fishery activities, and integrating seafood products with recreational tourism activities. Overall, CBSF are important tasks that warrant continuous attention for enhancing the fishing community development. The experiences and framework of promoting the Taiwan CBSF project would provide beneficial information and foundation for decision makers and natural resources managers in other areas.

Sensitivity of Maize Yield in Smallholder Systems to Climate Scenarios in Semi-Arid Regions of West Africa: Accounting for Variability in Farm Management Practices

Climate change is estimated to exacerbate existing challenges faced by smallholder farmers in Sub-Sahara Africa. However, limited studies quantify the extent of variation in climate change impact under these systems at the local scale. The Decision Support System for Agro-technological Transfer (DSSAT) was used to quantify variation in climate change impacts on maize yield under current agricultural practices in semi-arid regions of Senegal (Nioro du Rip) and Ghana (Navrongo and Tamale). Multi-benchmark climate models (Mid-Century, 2040–2069 for two Representative Concentration Pathways, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5), and multiple soil and management information from agronomic surveys were used as input for DSSAT. The average impact of climate scenarios on grain yield among farms ranged between −9% and −39% across sites. Substantial variation in climate response exists across farms in the same farming zone with relative standard deviations from 8% to 117% at Nioro du Rip, 13% to 64% in Navrongo and 9% to 37% in Tamale across climate models. Variations in fertilizer application, planting dates and soil types explained the variation in the impact among farms. This study provides insight into the complexities of the impact of climate scenarios on maize yield and the need for better representation of heterogeneous farming systems for optimized outcomes in adaptation and resilience planning in smallholder systems.

Preliminary Investigation into the Suitability of Some Selected Soils in Lagos Farming Zones for Tigernut Production, Nigeria

Cultivating crops on land that is not suitable for certain crop will face limited yield potential in spite of the use of improved inputs. However, there is inadequate data on soil nutrients and fertility status of these farming zones in Lagos state for a crop like tigernut. Its production has not been a common state. Therefore, this research focused on assessing the fertility status and suitability for tigernut production of these selected soils from three farming zones of Lagos state of Nigeria. Thirty- six (36) composite soil samples were collected from three farming zones (twelve samples per zone; Badagry, Epe and Ikorodu) and were analyzed for chemical and physical properties. Eighteen soil samples were used for the screen-house experiment to assess the growth and yield of tigernut. All data collected were analyzed using ANOVA (α 0.05 ). The laboratory and screen-house results revealed that the soils were suitable for tigernut production. Nuts yields observed under no fertilizer application treatments were 16.3±0.8, 20.5±2.0 and 13.1±2.2 g and 25.2 ±4.1, 41.4±7.3 and 35.7±3.0 g/pot under fertilizer application for Badagry, Epe and Ikorodu, respectively. Therefore, it is recommended that tigernut should be cultivated in these three farming zones of the state.

TECHNOLOGICAL AND BREAD BAKING TRAITS OF TRITICALE

Winter triticale, carrying the genes of its parental forms, has taken both the positive properties of wheat and rye (a significant amount of protein, presence of gluten, content of biologically active aromatic substances) and negative (a large amount of soluble albumin and globulin proteins and especially high activity of amylolytic enzymes). The weather conditions during the vegetation, as well as the varietal characteristics of this grain crop are of great influence on the grain quality. Therefore, cultivation of winter triticale with high biochemical and baking properties is an important problem in the conditions of the Steppe Zavolzhie, in the zone of risky farming. The article presents the results of study conducted during 2007–2016 on the experimental plots of the Samarsky RIA. To establish an objective assessment of winter triticale quality, there was carried out a study of biochemical, technological and baking traits. Under favorable conditions for plant growth and development, winter triticale accumulates a significant percentage (18.3–18.8) of protein in kernels; forms grain with strong starch and low enzymatic activity (252–274 c of “falling number”, 300–520 a. u. of water-flour viscosity). Analysis of the baking traits of triticale has showed that it is necessary to take into account all the subtleties related to the dough process and the recipe. Due to the low gas-holding capacity and dough thinning (dilution), triticale is almost never used in its pure baking form. When 50 and 70% of triticale is added to flour, there is a significant improvement in bread quality, namely in volume and in texture, in dimensional stability and sensory characteristics (6.2 cm3/g of specific volume; 4.5 points of baking). The study results show that more attention should be paid to the varietal characteristics of winter triticale in the conditions of the Steppe Zavolzhie.

Climate Change-Induced Migration in Coastal Bangladesh? A Critical Assessment of Migration Drivers in Rural Households under Economic and Environmental Stress

Discussions of climate migration have recognized the need for probabilistic, systematic, and empirical analyses. We examine the importance of environmental stressors in migration using a multi-leveled analysis of a household survey of the climate-stressed rural communities of coastal Bangladesh. We find that a relatively small share (6.5%) of rural coastal people have migrated, overwhelmingly domestically and on a temporary basis. The main motives are better employment opportunities in urban areas, marriage/family reunification, and education. About a third are displaced by flooding that created loss of arable land. Being male, younger, and working outside of agriculture facilitate migration, and also those with greater human and horizontal social capital are more likely to migrate. Exposure to severe river erosion, residing closer to major waterways and in saltwater shrimp farming zones spur migration. Climate migration is in its first instance economic-induced with environmental stress contributing as a secondary factor.

Soil acidity and nutrient deficiency cause poor legume nodulation in the permanent pasture and mixed farming zones of south-eastern Australia

Pasture legumes must be adequately and effectively nodulated in order to reach nitrogen-fixation targets. Of 225 pasture paddocks sampled across the Central Tablelands, Central West, Monaro and Riverina regions of New South Wales, 93% had inadequate legume nodulation. Legume content was significantly higher in the mixed faming zone (&amp;gt;50%, Central West and Riverina) than the permanent pasture zone (26%, Central Tablelands; 28% Monaro). Available phosphorus (P) was below critical levels in 40% of paddocks sampled and sulfur (S) in 73% of paddocks; &amp;gt;35% of all paddocks had soil pHCa &amp;lt;5.0. Deficiency of P was more prevalent in the Central Tablelands (63% of paddocks), whereas S deficiency occurred more frequently in the Central West (95% of paddocks). Legume nodule scores were associated with host legume species, soil pH, available P and/or S, and cation exchange capacity, which collectively accounted for 73% of variation. For Trifolium spp., at soil pHCa &amp;gt;5.55, nodulation was predicted to be near adequate (score 3.95, where adequate = 4). At pHCa &amp;lt;5.55, higher available S resulted in a higher nodulation score (2.42) than in paddocks where S was deficient (score 0–1.97). These results suggest that improving the capacity of legumes to supply nitrogen should focus on addressing soil acidity and plant nutrition, specifically P and S.

Long-term surface application of lime ameliorates subsurface soil acidity in the mixed farming zone of south-eastern Australia

An 18-year field experiment was conducted on a highly acidic soil in the mixed farming zone of south-eastern Australia. The experiment was a fully phased design with three major treatment contrasts: perennial systems versus annual systems; unlimed versus limed treatments; and permanent pasture versus pasture-crop rotations. The hypotheses tested in this study were that a) perennial systems would be less acidifying than annual systems, and b) surface liming would lead to amelioration of subsurface soil acidity over time. Results showed that there was no significant difference in soil pH in terms of acidification rate and amelioration rate between perennial and annual systems, thus we rejected the first hypothesis. However, both perennial and annual systems did acidify or re-acidify soil. The re-acidification rate was at least 0.09 pH units per year in the 0–0.10 m depth under the limed treatment. The acidification rate was 0.005 pH units per year in the 0.10–0.20 m depth under the unlimed treatment. The vigorous lime regime of maintaining pH ≥5.5 (measured in 0.01 M CaCl2) in the 0–0.10 m depth increased soil pH in the 0.10–0.20 m depth at a rate of the 0.04 pH units per year, hence we accepted the second hypothesis. There was clear evidence of alkali movement vertically over time, but it was confined within the top 0.30 m depth over the 18-year period of experiment. It is recommended that soil should be limed regularly to maintain pH ≥5.5 to keep the system productive and sustainable.

Relative Importance of Climatic and Anthropogenic Drivers on the Dynamics of Aboveground Biomass across Agro-Ecological Zones on the Mongolian Plateau

The dynamics of aboveground biomass (AGB) are driven by both climate variation and anthropogenic modification, however, few studies have evaluated the relative importance of these two drivers, especially in a heterogeneous landscape. Taking the Mongolian Plateau as a case study and employing the vegetation optical depth retrieval as a proxy of AGB, this study aimed to determine the relative importance of climatic and anthropogenic drivers on the dynamics of AGB in Mongolia (ML) and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (IM), China. Spatial panel data model specific to each agro-ecological zone was employed to fulfill the task. The results revealed that: (1) Since the socio-institutional transition in the early 1990s, AGB declined in most parts of the grazing zone of Mongolia. The reduction of precipitation, the rise of temperature and the intensification of livestock grazing were the major drivers behind it. Ranked by their relative importance, the order in the grazing zone with relatively humid climate was: Precipitation ≈ temperature &gt; livestock grazing; the order in the grazing zone with relatively arid climate was: Precipitation &gt; temperature &gt; livestock grazing; (2) Since the implementation of a series of ecological restoration programs in the early 2000s, AGB increased in most parts of the grazing zone of IM, and the increase of precipitation was the dominant driver behind it; (3) Since the early 2000s, AGB increased in most parts of the grazing-farming zone of IM. The increase of precipitation, the decline of temperature and the intensification of grain production were the major drivers behind it. Ranked by their relative importance, the order was: Precipitation &gt; grain production &gt; temperature; (4) Since the early 2000s, AGB increased in most parts of the farming zone of IM. The increase of precipitation and the intensification of grain production were the major drivers behind it. Ranked by their relative importance, the order was: Grain production &gt; precipitation.

NDVI-based vegetation dynamics and its response to climate changes at Amur-Heilongjiang River Basin from 1982 to 2015

Vegetation in Northern Hemisphere, being sensitive to climate change, plays an important role in the carbon cycles between land and the atmosphere. The response of vegetation to climate change was analyzed at pixel, biome and regional scale in Amur-Heilongjiang River Basin (AHRB) for growing season, spring, summer and autumn using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and gridded climate data for the period 1982–2015. NDVI and climate variables trend detection methods and correlation analysis were applied. The potential impacts of human activities on growing season NDVI dynamics were investigated further using residual trend analysis. Results showed that at river basin scale, growing season vegetation experienced a discontinuous greening trend with two reversals, demonstrating that NDVI initially increased to mid-1990s, then declined to mid-2000s, and finally rebounded to 2015. This may be attributed to the shifting between drought and wet trends, indicating growing season NDVI was mainly regulated by precipitation. Temperature was the dominant factor on affecting spring vegetation growth while autumn NDVI showed negative correlation with precipitation due to the relation of precipitation with sunshine hours available for photosynthesis. The response of vegetation growth to climatic variations varied among vegetation types. Grassland NDVI exhibited positive correlation with precipitation in all time ranges. NDVI of needleleaved forest, broadleaved forest, mixed forest and woodland were positively correlated with temperature in all seasons, while showing significant negative correlation with autumn precipitation. Residual trend analysis revealed that human activities might lead to the vegetation degradation in China farming zone of AHRB. Fires also play an important role in regulating vegetation dynamics in the region. Results of our analysis can be used by national governments from three countries of AHRB in managing and negotiating vegetation resources of the region.

On the Role of Short-Term Animal Movements on the Persistence of Brucellosis

Short-term animal movements play an integral role in the transmission and control of zoonotic infections such as brucellosis, in communal farming zones where animal movements are highly uncontrolled. Such movements need to be incorporated in models that aim at informing animal managers effective ways to control the spread of zoonotic diseases. We developed, analyzed and simulated a two-patch mathematical model for brucellosis transmission that incorporates short-term animal mobility. We computed the basic reproduction number and demonstrated that it is a sharp threshold for disease dynamics. In particular, we demonstrated that, when the basic reproduction number is less than unity, then the disease dies out. However, if the basic reproduction number is greater than unity, the disease persists. Meanwhile, we applied optimal control theory to the proposed model with the aim of exploring the cost-effectiveness of different culling strategies. The results demonstrate that animal mobility plays an important role in shaping optimal control strategy.