Ha Of Land Research Articles

Using satellite imagery to assess the changes in land use and land cover in Diyarbakır city (SE Turkey)

This study aims to describe, classify, and analyze the most common anthropogenic factors that have altered the landscape. For this reason, the city of Diyarbakır, one of Mesopotamia’s largest and most urbanized cities, was chosen as an example of several anthropogenic factors. Several field surveys were conducted to determine the most common anthropogenic activities in the study area. They were then classified into four categories: marble quarries, aggregate quarries, water bodies, and built-up areas. A series of satellite images spanning 1975 to 2019 were analyzed by investigating time-based anthropogenic changes. The trends, distributions, and impacts of 177 locations were examined and monitored through remotely sensed images. Between 1975 and 2019, a total of 25224 ha of land were transformed, according to the findings. “Water bodies” were the most extended of the studied classes. The second most rapidly expanding class was “Built-up areas.” The “Built-up areas” class was assumed to be the most effective agent that will continue to modify the land of the study area, given the need for more construction spaces. Surface mining activities can also be assumed to be an efficient agent that will continue to modify the lands of Diyarbakır in the future, considering the export potential of marble products and the demand for construction material. Water resources and building materials supply should be examined in depth throughout future development planning of such urbanized cities to minimize anthropogenic degradation.

Farm income and production impacts from the use of genetically modified (GM) crop technology 1996-2020

ABSTRACT This paper updates previous estimates for the global value of using genetically modified (GM) crop technology in agriculture at the farm level. It examined impacts on yields, important variable costs of production, including the cost of the technology, direct farm (gross) income, and impacts on the production base of the main crops where the technology is used (soybeans, corn, cotton, and canola). Over the period 1996 to 2020, the economic benefits have been significant with farm incomes for those using the technology having increased by $261.3 billion US dollars. This equates to an average farm income gain across all GM crops grown in this period of about $112/hectare. In 2020, the farm income gains were $18.8 billion (average of $103/ha). The cumulative farm income gains have been divided 52% to farmers in developing countries and 48% to farmers in developed countries. Seventy-two percentage of the gains have derived from yield and production gains with the remaining 28% coming from cost savings. These yield and production gains have made important contributions to increasing global production levels of the four main crops, having, for example, added 330 million tonnes and 595 million tonnes respectively, to the global production of soybeans and maize since the introduction of the technology in the mid-1990s. In 2020, the extra global production of the four main crops in which GM technology is widely used (85 million tonnes), would have, if conventional production systems been used, required an additional 23.4 million ha of land to be planted to these crops. In terms of investment, for each extra dollar invested in GM crop seeds (relative to the cost of conventional seed), farmers gained an average US $3.76 in extra income. In developing countries, the average return was $5.22 for each extra dollar invested in GM crop seed and in developed countries the average return was $3.00.

A Study of Soil and Land Features with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Analysis: Iğdır, Türkiye

The aim of this study was to determine the soil and land characteristics of the province of Iğdır in Türkiye and to create a database by using geographical data system analysis, which is widely used today. The study area was 3674.42 km2 and the digital elevation model of the area was created using a 1/25000 scale topographic map from the General Command of Mapping in Iğdır province, and elevation, slope, aspect, and drainage maps were produced. Additionally, by using data and maps from the previous General Directorate of Rural Services and General Directorate of Soil Reform, large soil groups, depth, land use capability classification, problematic soils, water erosion, and wind erosion maps were created, and area calculations were made with ArcGIS Pro 2.5 software. As a result, flat and near flatlands were located in the center, east, and north and mountainous lands with high altitudes were located in the west and south of Iğdır province. Therefore, slopes were steep in the south and west, and low in the central, east, and north parts. The land use capability map consisted of 122040 ha suitable for cultivated agriculture (I-IV class); 211220 ha unsuitable for cultivated agriculture (V-VII class) as grassland; and 29260 ha of non-agricultural land. Land with moderate, severe, and very severe erosion comprised 16.3%, 27.3%, and 25.8%, respectively, of water erosion. Wind erosion affected 36670 ha of land. Iğdır has large diversity and variety in terms of soil and land features, despite its small area.

Location-specific integrated farming system models for resource recycling and livelihood security for smallholders

The present investigation was carried out in a holistic mode to study the interactions among the integrated farming system (IFS) components and to develop and design a sustainable IFS model which is technologically sound, economically viable, environmentally benign, and socially acceptable for the middle Indo-Gangetic Plains. For efficient utilization of farm resources and to enhance the income per unit area of land, 10 IFS models have been developed at the farmers’ fields of Patna, Nalanda, and Vaishali districts of Bihar, India, during 2016–2021, involving components like crops, poultry, cattle, goat, mushroom farming, fishery, and duckery in different combinations. Out of 10 different integrations, three primary cropping systems prevailing in the state were undertaken and seven other components were integrated in a synergistic mode. Each system was allocated an area of 0.8 ha (2,000 m²), viz., (i) rice–wheat, (ii) rice–maize, (iii) rice–maize–moong (crop), (iv) crop + vegetable + goat, (v) crop + fish + goat, (vi) crop + fish + cattle, (vii) crop + fish + duck + goat, (viii) crop + fish + duck, (ix) crop + fish + mushroom, and (x) crop + fish + poultry. To sustain the productivity of soil health, inorganic fertilizers combined with organic wastes, obtained from various components of IFS, viz., recycled pond silts, poultry manure, duck manure, goat manure and cow dung as farmyard manures (FYMs), composted residues, and vermicompost were applied to crops grown under different IFS models. The nutrient content of manure increased manifolds after recycling as compost and vermicompost. Residue recycling revealed that integration of crops with fish and duck resulted in higher fish productivity and higher net returns (increased by USD13) in comparison to poultry dropping fed fishes. Due to the recycling of droppings, viz., poultry, duck, goat, cattle, and plant wastes, an additional quantity of 56.5 kg N, 39.6 kg P2O5, and 42.7 kg K2O was added to the soil during the study. Crop integrated with fish + duck + goat had the maximum rice grain equivalent yield (RGEY), net returns, and employment opportunity (467 man-days/year) from 0.8 ha of land, followed by crop + fish + poultry integration. The sustainability index (0.77) and net energy gain (95,770 MJ) were also found highest with crop + fish + duck+ goat integration indicating the optimum efficiency of all the farming system integrations for the region.

The more wine, the more gas? Estimation of the bioenergy potential of winery wastewater in Moldova: contributions to sustainable development

Wine is one of the most ancient commodities in the world. The critical residues from the wine industry are grape leaves, stems, grape pomace, grape seeds, yeast lees, tartrate, and wastewater. The indiscriminate disposal of produced wastewater has adverse environmental and health consequences. Nevertheless, winery effluent has substantial prospects as an energy source. Hence, this paper aims to briefly showcase the potential of energy generation from wastewater in the wine industry through anaerobic digestion. From literature and statistical records, in 2018, the cultivation of grapes in Moldova covered about 126,873 ha of land and produced 730,171 t of grapes, with over 24% pressed for wine production. Consequently, the industry released over 6 billion litres of wastewater. Therefore, by anaerobic digestion of this effluent, there is a potential for the wine industry to produce 459,166 MWh of electricity annually to satisfy nearly 287,000 people. This potential represents a very important step towards energy self-sufficiency of the wine industry and a contribution to the sustainable development goals concerning wastewater, energy and sanitation.

Strategies for agricultural production management based on land, water and carbon footprints on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Agricultural production consumes land and water resources, and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Optimizing agricultural management to reduce environmental impacts is essential for regional ecological security. An evaluation framework was applied to assess the greenhouse gas emissions, water utilization, and land use of agricultural production in a typical agricultural region of the Huangshui River Basin on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, using footprint analysis. The results showed that agricultural production released 1.73 × 109 kg carbon equivalent (CO2-eq), and used 8.39 × 108 m3 of water and 2.96 × 105 ha of land. For the carbon footprint, agricultural material inputs (such as electricity, machinery, diesel, and nitrogen fertilizer) were the largest emission sources. For the water footprint, the blue water footprint was larger than the green water footprint. In addition, suitable management options were explored by establishing six scenarios according to the key factors influencing greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption. For technical strategy management options, using cleaner electricity in irrigation can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25.53%. Comprehensive strategies, including fertilizer application optimization and technical strategy management, proved to be more effective and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 32.41%. The results of this study help to determine optimal agricultural management options for achieving both food security and environmental sustainability in agricultural areas on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

ANALISIS DINAMIKA SOSIAL EKONOMI DAN KELEMBAGAAN UNTUK PENINGKATAN PERAN PETANI DALAM PENGELOLAAN IRIGASI BATANG TABIK KECAMATAN LUAK KABUPATEN LIMA PULUH KOTA

<p><em><span lang="EN-US">Irrigation management is strongly influenced by socio-economic conditions and community institutions that use and are located in the Irrigation Area (IA). In Batang Tabik IA, although the water is quite large upstream, downstream the water is very small, even some of the farmers' land cannot be planted with rice, thereby reducing land productivity and farmers' income. In this condition, the role of farmers in irrigation management is very much needed to meet the water needs for their farming. This study attempts to describe and analyze the socio-economic dynamics and farmer institutions in Batang Tabik IA. This analysis can be a guide for efforts to increase the role of farmers in irrigation management. This study used a case study method with 84 samples of farmers from Nagari Sungai Kamuyang, Andaleh and Mungo. This research shows that mutual cooperation and irrigation management in Batang Tabik are still lacking, which can be seen from the large amount of garbage found in the canal and illegal collection in the canal. The average income of farmers in 1 planting season for one ha of land is Rp. 8,325,000 to 12,465,000. The majority of Water-Using Farmers' Association (WUFA) in Batang Tabik are less active and have not collected water fees, besides that (WUFA) do not have AD/ART, programs, work plans and operations. It is necessary to enforce regulations regarding waste and illegal water collection. In addition, efforts to improve irrigation techniques, revitalization and (WUFA) development are needed to increase the role of farmers</span></em></p>

Resource Use and Environmental Impacts of Seed and Vegetative Globe Artichoke Production in Mediterranean Environments: A Cradle-to-Farm Gate Analysis

Globe artichoke is propagated by seed (seed propagated, SP) or by plant (vegetative propagated, VP). To date, there is a lack of knowledge of how the propagation system affects the life cycle resource use and environmental performance of globe artichoke production. We combined energetic, exergetic, and environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) to explore “cradle-to-farm gate” resource use and environmental impacts of Mediterranean globe artichoke production using VP and SP. The cumulative energy and exergy were calculated using cumulative energy demand (CED) and cumulative exergy extraction from the natural environment (CEENE). The environmental impacts classified in different impact categories were assessed using the ReCiPe 2016 method. The functional units were 1 ton of artichoke heads (reflecting production efficiency) and 1 ha of cropped land (reflecting production intensity). The results show that the VP globe artichoke generate 14% lower CED (64,212 vs. 75,212 MJ ha−1) and 17% lower CEENE (88,698 vs. 106,664 MJexha−1) per 1 ha of land while 1 ton of product generates higher impact: 29% CED (5384.4 MJ vs. 4178.5 MJ ton−1) and 25% CEENE (7391.5 vs. 5927 MJex ton−1). On a mass basis, SP artichokes had lower water consumption (−18%), freshwater and marine ecotoxicity (−47%), and stratospheric ozone depletion (−32%), but a higher global warming (+19%), fossil (+36%) and mineral scarcity (+39%), and human toxicity-related impacts (+27%). At the endpoint level, VP globe artichoke has higher damage to human health (+13.4%) and ecosystem quality (+20.5%), but lower to resource availability (−24.5%). The single-score LCA analysis indicated that SP globe artichokes generate a 24% higher impact per 1 ha (1911.3 vs. 1452.7 points) but 14% less per unit of product (106 vs. 121.1 points). For both systems, water and fertilizer should be used more carefully and efficiently since the application of irrigation, fuel, and fertilizers were the major contributors to total environmental damage.

EXOGENOUS SPERMINE MEDIATED RESPONSES OF CATALASE AND PEROXIDASE UNDER SALT STRESS IN WHEAT (Triticum aestivum em Thell.)

Soil salinity is a major problem in many countries that adversely affects crop growth. Salinity-affected areas are not fit for crop cultivation and they only support a few halophytes. Several million ha of land were turned into saline soils due to human interference. Salinity stress is considered one of the major environmental stresses and mitigation of it is necessary for sustainable crop production. In the presentinvestigation four wheat cultivars differ in their tolerance to salinity viz. DBW 88, HD 3086, Kharchia 65and KRL 210 were chosen with an aim to study the effect of salinity stress and subsequent sperminetreatment on catalase and peroxidase enzymes which are responsible for the detoxification of reactive oxygenspecies (ROS). It is well documented that plant polyamine (PA), spermine is induced under stress conditionsand imparts tolerance against salinity stress. Effect of exogenous spermine treatment on catalase andperoxide activities were also studied. Catalase activity increased in all four varieties and more increase wasobserved in Kharchia 65 and lesser increase was observed in DBW88 at 21 days after sowing (DAS). Highestcatalase activity with spermine 0.5 mM concentration was observed and it was higher at 15 days aftertreatment (DAT). Mean catalase activity was found higher at 0 DAT in Kharchia 65 and KRL 210 and theactivity was highest at 5 DAT in DBW88 and HD 3086 at 90 DAS. Peroxidase activity increased withincreasing levels of salinity, but the activity was decreased with spermine treatment at 21 DAS. Highestperoxidase activity recorded in Kharchia 65 at 15 DAT and lowest was in DBW 88 at 5 DAT. Peroxidaseactivity decreased with spermine treatment in control and 8 dsm-1 and increased at 12 dsm-1 in all fourvarieties at 90 DAS.

KNOWLEDGE AND ADOPTION OF RICE PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY BY THE FARMERS

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a plant belonging to the family of grasses, Gramineae. There are three major food crops (wheat, rice and maize) of world and rice is one of the foremost cereal crops feeding over more than half of the world's population. The present study was conducted through Ex-post Facto research design and multistage sampling method. Total 160 rice growers were selected from sixteen villages belongs to four talukas of Sabarkantha and Gandhinagar districts. The data were collected by personal contact method with help of structured interview schedule and data were coded, classified, tabulated and analyzed in the light of objectives. Majority of the rice growers were in the middle age, UG/PG Education, above 2 lakh annual income, above 4.00 ha of land holding, no membership in organization, bore well as a source of irrigation, medium yield gap, high extension participation, medium level utilization of source of information, medium level of knowledge and medium level of adoption of rice production technology by the rice growers.

Utilization of Waste Banana Pseudostem for Paper Production via Organosolv Pulping

Banana (Musa sapientum) is a predominant fruit crop grown in Sri Lanka which occupies nearly 60,000 ha of land, accounting for 54% of the total fruit cultivation land utilization in the country. The banana tree has a ten months cycle to bear fruits and after its harvesting, the stems are thrown away and left to decay and rot. The waste produced by a single banana plant can make up to 80% of the total plant mass and it is estimated that 220 tons of post-harvest biomass wastes are produced per hectare annually. This has led to waste disposal problems and serious environmental issues. Management of such a vast amount of agricultural waste promotes the use of this biomass for value addition processes. In this research work, an organosolv process based on a mixture of formic acid, acetic acid, and water was adapted and optimized to pulp banana pseudostem fiber and investigate its potential, as a raw material for pulp and paper production through chemical, morphological and mechanical characterization. The global consumption of paper totals more than 400 million tons, cutting down about 7.2 billion trees each year to meet its demand for printing, packaging, and writing purposes. Therefore, the initiative in utilizing available banana waste as an alternative raw material for paper production could further offer a great potential in reducing the dependence on natural timbers, which in turn reduces the demand for global deforestation in the long run. Banana pseudostem fiber is characterized by a high cellulose content and a low lignin content, which is desirable for better pulp yield and papermaking properties. However, it has a high ash content and its interference in the recovery of black liquor was overcome with the selected pulping method. It resulted in a high pulp yield (48.2%) with a kappa number of 32.4. A shorter fiber length (1.12 mm) contributed to a highly uniform paper structure with a smooth surface. Furthermore, the pulp fibers showed an increased crystallinity and a higher slenderness ratio, which is favorable for paper making. The papers produced were heavier weight boards with a grammage of 272 g/m2 and showed higher tensile index (43.16 Nm/g) and tear index (2.08 mNm2/g) compared to other published non-wood fibers.
 Keywords: Banana pseudostem, Organosolv, Cellulose, Pulp, Lignin

Geospatial suitability and cost analysis modeling for energy crop cultivation: Switchgrass case for Eskisehir

This study aims to determine the most suitable areas for switchgrass cultivation, one of the most tolerable and preferable modern energy crops, in Eskisehir province, Turkey, and present a cost analysis model including a variety of items such as total cost, extra costs, profit, and dry product sales price. The weighted overlay analysis method was used for the first stage, based on a 5-scale suitability range and topographic, climatic, soil, and land-use characteristics. After the restricted areas were extracted from the study area boundaries, the results showed that 81,294 ha of land fell into medium suitability, 190,556 ha high suitability, and 63 ha very high suitability categories. The cost analysis model was made over a 10-ha sample field, resulting in an estimated dry crop sales price of 74 € (86 USD) per ton. This calculation was based on an optimistic assumption of 20 tons/ha of dry crop production in the study area. The model was also applied to multiplies of 10 ha to determine the most competitive price. It was concluded that 21 € (24 USD) crop sales price could be obtained from a 50 ha land in case of a 23% profitability and 1000 tons of crop production.

Integrated Carbon Footprint and Economic Performance of Five Types of Dominant Cropping Systems in China’s Semiarid Zone

Crop production requires large areas of land and makes an important contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Cleaner production of all crop types could be of great significance to realizing carbon neutrality as soon as possible. The present study adopted life cycle assessment (LCA) combined with the profit accounting method of input-output to compare the differences in greenhouse gas emissions in the entire life cycle of apple (Malus pumila Mill.), grain maize (Zea mays L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), silage maize (Zea mays L.), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa Linn.) production in eastern Gansu Province with three functional units, including per ha of land, per ton of product, and per 10,000 yuan of output value. The results showed that apple had the largest carbon footprint per ha. Wheat had the largest carbon footprint per ton of product and per 10,000 yuan output. The results of LCA inventory sensitivity analysis showed that the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions for all crops were the production process of agricultural materials such as chemical fertilizer, machinery, and agricultural film. In particular, the excessive input of chemical fertilizer was the driving factor resulting in greenhouse gas emissions. Based on the study results, this paper also puts forward certain suggestions on the future land use of the cropping systems in the study area.

Economics of Plantain Production among Farmers in Northeast Nigeria

This study analysed the economics of plantain production in Northeast Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to; describe plantain farmers’ socio-economic characteristics in Northeast Nigeria; identify factors affecting plantain production in the study area, and also ascertain farmers’ resource use efficiency in plantain production. The study adopted a multi-stage sampling technique to collect primary data from 250 plantain farmers selected from 13 communities. In the analysis of the data, descriptive statistics and a stochastic frontier model were used. The finding of the study indicated that most (86.8%) of the respondents were male, having an average age of the respondents was 39.15 years, who are mostly educated (92.8%) and cultivate an average of 2.39 ha of land. The stochastic frontier production function maximum likelihood estimates of the parameters indicated that the production of plantain is determined by farm size, the number of suckers planted, the amount of hired labour used, and family labour. Similarly, the plantain production cost is being influenced by the cost of plantain suckers, labour, and the depreciated cost of land. Furthermore, the study revealed that the farmers were technically and allocatively efficient, although, the maximum technical efficiency was not achieved by farmers. Therefore, it was recommended that agricultural extension agents should be encouraged to reach plantain farmers with the required production technologies to promote production efficiency.

How to Account for Changes in Carbon Storage from Coal Mining and Reclamation in Eastern China? Taking Yanzhou Coalfield as an Example to Simulate and Estimate

Carbon sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems plays an essential role in coping with global climate change and achieving regional carbon neutrality. In mining areas with high groundwater levels in eastern China, underground coal mining has caused severe damage to surface ecology. It is of practical significance to evaluate and predict the positive and negative effects of coal mining and land reclamation on carbon pools. This study set up three scenarios for the development of the Yanzhou coalfield (YZC) in 2030, including: (1) no mining activities (NMA); (2) no reclamation after mining (NRM); (3) mining and reclamation (MR). The probability integral model (PIM) was used to predict the subsidence caused by mining in YZC in 2030, and land use and land cover (LULC) of 2010 and 2020 were interpreted by remote sensing images. Based on the classification of land damage, the LULC of different scenarios in the future was simulated by integrating various social and natural factors. Under different scenarios, the InVEST model evaluated carbon storage and its temporal and spatial distribution characteristics. The results indicated that: (1) By 2030, YZC would have 4341.13 ha of land disturbed by coal mining activities. (2) Carbon storage in the NRM scenario would be 37,647.11 Mg lower than that in the NMA scenario, while carbon storage in the MR scenario would be 18,151.03 Mg higher than that in the NRM scenario. Significantly, the Nantun mine would reduce carbon sequestration loss by 72.29% due to reclamation measures. (3) Carbon storage has a significant positive spatial correlation, and coal mining would lead to the fragmentation of the carbon sink. The method of accounting for and predicting carbon storage proposed in this study can provide data support for mining and reclamation planning of coal mine enterprises and carbon-neutral planning of government departments.

Impact Assessment of Front-Line Demonstration (FLDs) on the Yield of Greengram

The green gram cluster frontline demonstrations were conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Jalgaon Jamod during 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 in Kharif season and covered 30 ha of land with 75 demonstrations in total 15 villages in 2 clusters of Buldana District of Maharashtra. In front-line demonstrations, improved quality seed variety, seed treatment, recommended fertilizers doses, Rhizobium culture, PSB bio-fertilizers and crop protection management approaches were exhibited in farmers’ fields. The results showed that the highest grain yield was obtained in the demonstration plot with an average of 6.15 q/ha compared to 4.66 q/ha in the farmers’ practice. A higher average net return (Rs.19,712/ha) was obtained in the demonstration plots compared to the farmers’ plot (Rs.13,250/ha). The average B: C ratio was 2.10 in demonstrated plot compared to 1.80 in farmers plot. The average increase in demonstration yield over farmers practice was 32 percent and the increase in net return over farmer practice was 49 %. This is due to both improved technology and improved varieties. The level of return was significantly low for local practices due to a significant difference in the extent of adoption of recommended practices versus the level of risk in terms of cost-benefit, skill and knowledge of the practices involved.

Social Impact Management of Land Clearing Process in Dieng 2 Sub-Project, PT Geo Dipa Energi (Persero)

PT Geo Dipa Energi (Persero) “GeoDipa” has planned to expand its electricity generation with additional 110 megawatts (MW), 55 MW at the existing Patuha geothermal plant in Ciwidey, Bandung Districts, West Java and 55 MW at the existing Dieng geothermal plant in Wonosobo and Banjarnegara Districts, Central Java. The Dieng 2 sub-project will construct a new power plant, sub-station, transmission lines and pipelines. The expansion of the existing Dieng geothermal plant will require land in total of 30.83 Ha. Of this, 30.53 Ha of land is already owned by GeoDipa while the remaining 3,010 m2 is privately owned land. This will be required for a 10 m wide and approximately 301 m long corridor to serve as the Right of Way (ROW) the construction of a new pipeline and access road from existing wellpad to the proposed site of the Dieng-2 power plant. This paper focuses on the social impact management of land clearing process, prepared for the proposed site of the Dieng-2 power plant. Approximately for 58,479 m2 area that used to be cultivated by 23 (twenty-three) farmers/croppers; located in Karangtengah Village, Batur Sub Districts, Banjarnegara Districts. Land Clearing means to overtake GeoDipa’s land and make use of it for the construction site of Dieng-2 power plant, and it has triggered involuntary resettlement. GeoDipa has avoided unanticipated involuntary resettlement potentially emerged during the process; and also reduced the social impact. The unanticipated involuntary resettlement was mitigated based on the Indonesia legal framework and lender’s policy.

Conservation Agriculture Benefits Indian Farmers, but Technology Targeting Needed for Greater Impacts

Rice and wheat production in the intensive, irrigated farming systems of the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) is associated with significant negative environmental and health externalities. Conservation Agriculture (CA) has the potential to curb some of these externalities while enhancing farm income. However, farmer adoption of CA remains modest in the Indian IGP. The present study focuses on the constraints to adopting the major CA component, zero tillage (ZT). We examine whether ZT wheat is feasible for smallholders and the potential of technology targeting to realize faster and wider diffusion. Econometric models and machine learning algorithms were used to analyze remote sensing data and farm household data collected from the Indian states of Punjab and Bihar, two contrasting agrarian economies of the IGP. While farmer adoption was low among smallholders (owning <2 ha of land), the on-farm effects of ZT on variable cost reduction and yield and profit enhancement for smallholders are comparable to large farmers. We estimate the economic potential of technology targeting using an equilibrium displacement model. In the relatively developed state of Punjab, technology targeting based on landholding size does not appear to add substantive economic benefits. In Bihar, a less prosperous state with a dominance of smallholders in the population, technology targeting could markedly enhance economic surplus and reduce rural poverty.

Optimalisasi Pemanfaatan Ruang pada Hutan Rakyat untuk Mendukung Pengembangan Agrowisata Puncak Suroloyo, Kabupaten Kulon Progo, D.I. Yogyakarta

The tourist visits to Suroloyo has increased due to the improvement of accessibility, supporting facilities, and information technology. However, the community forest surrounding Suroloyo is less optimum to support the tourism sector. Coffee as a new icon of Suroloyo could not fulfill the market demand yet, because the forest land resources are less managed. Hence, this community service activity aimed to: (1) identify the structure and composition of the community forest; (2) increasing the understanding of farmers on the optimization of land resource management; and (3) increasing the skill of farmers on coffee cultivation. The number of 35 members of the coffee farmer group in Keceme Village owned 0,35 ha of land on average. Albizia (Falcataria mollucana), saman (Meisopsis eminii) and mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) dominate the forest stand, by the mean canopy cover of 53% (optimum cover for coffee is 40-60%). The on-farm training for the farmers and interactive discussion with an invited expert on coffee cultivation was held. In addition, the superior coffee seed from the Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute are shared to the farmers with expectations of increasing productivity. The motivation and ability of the farmers on coffee cultivation in order to support the agritourism in Suroloyo were increased.

WATER SOIL EROSION IN RIGHT-BANK UKRAINIAN FOREST-STEPPE ZONE

Problem Statement and Purpose. A water soil erosion is one of the most important ecological problems of the world because in the result of it the soil cover completely destroys and is not able to renew for a long time. In opinion of dr. Montgomery D., the loses of agricultural soils even limited the lifetime of ancient civilizations and the same problem closely touches today human being. Following to the information of scientists in 1970-s, about 430 million ha of lands were destroyed in different countries because of water soil erosion. Annual loses of product lands on our planet equal 5–7 million ha. In Ukraine at the end of first decade of 2000s following to National report (2010) the square of eroded agricultural lands equaled 15.954 million ha or 38.4 per cent of their common territory including 12.940 million ha of arable lands or 39.9 per cent. On average the soil loses about approximately 15 t/ha/year. Thereby the purpose of the study is a spatial distributed quantitative assessment of the intensity of erosion soil loses in the right-bank forest-steppe zone of Ukraine and definition of arable squares with different rates of erosion load considering present climate changes and land use peculiarities. Data &Methods. For the estimation of average soil wash off three typical slope plots (К1-р, К2-р, К3-р) were used. The plots are situated within the territory of Educational and Scientific Stationary of the Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University that is in Podilsk district of the north part of Odesa region. This territory is on south hills of Podolska upland in forest-steppe zone. The plots are the different parts of small valleys slopes which are annual plowed up and used for growing of the most profit-making crops – wheat, corn, barley and sunflower. No any scientifically based crop rotation uses there at least for the last twenty years. The spatial distributed physical and statistical model of soil wash off and accumulation was used as a working model for the estimation of average annual soil loses consideringthe peculiarities of land cultivation and anti-erosion crops properties. The model was developed in Department of Physical geography, Nature Management and Geoinformation Technology of Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University and realized in GIS‑package PCRaster (Utrecht University, Netherlands). Results. The quantitative assessment of today erosion soil loses on typical plots considering land use demonstrates very high rate of soil erosion degradation which is obviously representative for the most territories of the right-bank forest-steppe zone of Ukraine. Areas of more than 20 t/ha/year wash off equal 23–27 per cent. Areas of less than 2 t/ha/year wash off where the intensity of soil erosion equals to soil restoration are about one third of all arable lands. The average values of wash off for plots К1-р, К2-р, К3-р are 14.2; 26.3 and 14.8 t/ha/year respectively. However, these values are not above the same ones obtained earlier, but even some less. This is due to the decreasing of soil erosion because of snow melting in the spring which is connected with global warming. But simultaneously the hydrometeorological conditions of rainstorm erosion have not change. And essential decreasing of wash off has not happened because the part of snow melting erosion is only 15–20 per cent in the right-bank forest-steppe zone of Ukraine. The huge values of average wash off and significant areas with high and very high wash off (about one third of arable lands) evidence about decreasing of economic and ecological worth of lands commonly. Applying of soil protection crops rotation well influence on soil decreasing the rate of erosion. The plowing of lands with great slopes (6–7° and more) and using them for row crops without rotation leads to catastrophic wash off and increasing of areas with high erosion danger. Such lands need to be exclude of plowing up.