Land Resources Research Articles

Enhancing the Growth and Yield of Soybean Plants with Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria and Liquid Organic Fertilizer

Background: Many organic wastes are currently used as organic fertilizers. Giving organic fertilizer to plants has a very good impact on soil and plants. The combination of LOF and PGPR can certainly increase the growth and production of soybean plants. This research was conducted in Tanjung Sari Village, Rembang, Central Java from November 2021 to January 2022. Analytical activities were carried out at the Land Resources Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, National Development University "Veteran" East Java. Method: This research method uses a factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD) consisting of 9 treatments 3 replicates so that 27 experimental units are obtained. The first factor is PGPR (A), namely A0: Without PGPR A1: Banana Bark, A2: Bamboo Root and the second factor is LOF (B), namely B0: Without LOF B1: Banana stem B2: Bamboo shoots. Result: The results of this study showed that the combination of PGPR + LOF treatments made from local raw materials was effective in helping the growth of soybean plants obtained by the combination A2B2 (PGPR bamboo root + LOF bamboo shoot) with the number of pods 36 pods, and plant height 56.60cm, in terms of c-organic analysis (3.05%), N (0.63%), P (15.37%), K (1.23%). This combination is best because it contains lignocellulase enzyme and growth regulators. Conclusion: The combination of PGPR + local raw material-based LOF is effective in enhancing the growth of soybean plants.

Quantifying the Cumulative Effects of Large-Scale Reclamation on Coastal Wetland Degradation

Considering the importance of coastal wetlands as key land resources and the ecological degradation caused by large-scale and multi-stage reclamation, as well as the significant synergistic and superimposed effects of reclamation on wetland degradation in temporal and spatial dimensions, it is vital to conduct in-depth research on the impact mechanisms and cumulative effects of reclamation on wetland degradation. However, the existing methods for evaluating these cumulative effects still have some shortcomings in characterizing the spatiotemporal scale. Consequently, it is urgent to introduce or develop a cumulative effect evaluation method based on remote sensing. Taking the Jiangsu coastal wetland as a typical case study area, the present study constructed a cumulative effect evaluation method based on calculus theory combined with landscape succession modeling and statistical analysis. This method was then used to quantitatively analyze the impacts and cumulative effects of reclamation on wetland degradation in the Jiangsu coastal region from 1980 to 2024. The results show that degradation of the Jiangsu coastal wetlands over the last 45 years covered 2931.54 km2, accounting for 46.92% of the area in 1980. This degradation primarily reflects a shift from natural wetland to constructed wetland. In addition, the reclaimed area of 2119.61 km2 is mainly used for aquaculture and agricultural cultivation. The reclamation rate of Jiangsu showed insignificant fluctuations and significant spatial differences. The reclamation rate of the north counties and cities presented a downward trend, while that of the south counties and cities presented an upward trend. Reclamation has a significant impact on wetland degradation, with a contribution rate of 50.62%. The cumulative effect in the study area reached its maximum value in 2015, except for Nantong City. This study provides a new perspective for quantitatively analyzing the impacts and cumulative effects of coastal wetland reclamation and provides guidance for the effective management and sustainable utilization of coastal wetland resources.

Exploring carbon storage and sequestration as affected by land use/land cover changes toward achieving sustainable development goals

Understanding the impact of changes in land use/land cover (LULC) on carbon sequestration (Cseq) and emission leads to achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). For this, Business-As-Usual (BAU) and Sustainable Development (SD) scenarios were examined in Azarshar city, Iran which is faced with urban intensification. The spatiotemporal dynamics of the carbon cycle and influences of various urban growth indicators are still unclear even under climate change, rapid urbanization, and ecological deterioration. In this research, total carbon storage (Cts) and Cseq were determined at four carbon pools i.e., aboveground carbon (AGC), belowground carbon (BGC), dead organic carbon (DeOC), and soil organic carbon (SOC). This research revealed a successful implementation of integrated CA-Markov and InVEST models in delineating LULC changes between 2013 and 2033. It was concluded that land resources management play a crucial role in decreasing Cseq along with increasing carbon emission across the study area. The modelling results showed a significant shifting from barren and cropland to developed land uses. This research goes beyond providing supporting evidence that urban expansion is a key factor driving the aforementioned changes, but also illustrates the importance of remote sensing in ecological modelling, especially where information is sparse.

Participatory evaluation and demonstration of furrow irrigation systems with full irrigation application on Onion (Allium cepa L.) yield, yield component and water use efficiency at Docha Dembela in Demba Gofa woreda, South Ethiopia

Poor irrigation water management is one of the major factors limiting crop production in Ethiopia. Field experiment was conducted at farmers filed at Docha Dambal kebele in Demba Gofa woreda, Gofa zone, South Ethiopia for two consecutive years (2019 & 2020) to evaluate and demonstrate the effect of furrow irrigation systems on onion yield and water use efficiency. The treatments consisted of three furrow irrigation systems (conventional, alternative and fixed). The irrigation treatments were laid out in randomized complete block design with six replications and participant farmers were used as a replication. Results indicated that highest mean value of marketable bulb yield (27758.2 kg ha-1) was brought under Conventional furrow system. However the lowest mean value of marketable bulb yield was recorded from the fixed furrow system (20482.5). However, Superior water use efficiency of 13.33kg/m3 was recorded from alternative furrow irrigation system. The lowest water use efficiency (7.78 kg/m3) was recorded from the Conventional furrow system. Therefore, It could be concluded that alternate furrow irrigation system maximized water use efficiency of onion with tolerable yield penalty at the study area. This result is important for farmers to irrigate supplemental lands with water saved, thus achieving a more efficient and rational use of land and water resources in the water limited area. If areas with no water scarcity, conventional furrow system could be a potential approach for promoting onion bulb yield under field conditions.

The Early Socio-ecological Dimensions of Tricontinental (1967–1971): A Sovereign Social Metabolism for the Third World

This article delves into the socio-ecological dimensions of OSPAAAL, the Cuban Third World solidarity institution, focusing particularly on the early years of its official organ: the magazine Tricontinental (1967–1971). Tricontinental’s articles and graphic works, even if not always in an explicit manner, addressed environmental concerns in a revolutionary way, anticipating debates that would later unfold on international institutional platforms. These concerns were primarily discussed in the context of the Third World’s quest for autonomous production, closely intertwined with the agrarian question and sovereign industrialization. Key aspects such as land access, distribution, and resource management were pivotal. The publication’s central emphasis on struggles for national liberation, especially within the guerrilla arena, played a crucial role in disseminating the anti-imperialist pursuit of a sovereign social metabolism across the Third World. Combining Cuban, Latin Americanist, and internationalist accents, Tricontinental also condemned the ecological impact of transnational corporations’ predatory resource extraction in the Third World, while exploring alternative and cooperative models. This article unveils the latent socio-environmental dimensions of its critique, illustrating how ecological concerns subtly underpinned its anti-imperialist and internationalist discourse.

Orderly and synergistic development of urban-rural integration based on evolutionary game model: A case study in the Jiangxi Province, China

The orderly synergy is crucial to the integrated development of urban and rural areas in China. The orderly synergistic development process can be regarded as a game of balancing the interests of rural and urban areas. Therefore, numerical simulations with scenario analysis using the evolutionary game approach are conducted to investigate the orderly synergistic development of urban-rural integration. The results show that: (1) The values of orderly synergistic benefits of urban-rural integration are negatively correlated with the Nash equilibrium values at the municipal and provincial levels. (2) The orderly synergistic benefits of policy and market environments have different strategic choices and behavioral constraints for both urban and rural areas. (3) The benefits of “market-oriented” urban-rural choices are greater than those of “policy-oriented” directions. At the municipal level, the main factors influencing the choice of a “market-oriented” direction are the increased benefits of water resources, land resources, rural population mobility, and urban innovation factors. while at the provincial level, all factors lead to urban-rural trends in a “policy-oriented” direction.

A Dataset of Distribution and Characterization of Underground Wastewater Treatment Plants in China

Underground wastewater treatment plants (U-WWTPs) have emerged as a novel paradigm for urban wastewater pollutants management, offering benefits such as alleviating the Not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) effect and utilizing land resources efficiently. China stands at the forefront, witnessing swift advancements in U-WWTP technology and deployment. However, the absence of a thorough understanding of their geographical distribution and operational characteristics could lead to misaligned planning and construction, resulting in inefficient resource allocation and treatment capacities for urban wastewater treatment. This dataset provides an up-to-date overview of the spatial distribution, process selection, and discharge standards for all U-WWTPs in China (with a total number of 201) constructed since 1995. To enhance comparative analysis, the dataset has been supplemented with information on conventional aboveground wastewater treatment plants (A-WWTPs), comprising a total of 2464 records, which enriches a more comprehensive evaluation of different wastewater treatment approaches. Utilizing this dataset can provide essential data support for the strategic management of urban wastewater systems and serve as a valuable reference for the paradigmatic renovation of existing wastewater treatment plants.

Management on Transfer Pricing of Farmland Based on the Supply–Demand Mismatches for Multifunction: A Case Study from China

Realizing the multifunctional value of farmland is essential for regulating the pricing of farmland transfers and stabilizing the rural land market. However, in China, the mismatch between supply and demand leads to improper resource allocation, weakens the explicit value of farmland, and causes unreasonable transfer pricing mechanisms that threaten agricultural production and food security. This study develops an analytical framework to examine the relationship between farmland multifunction and transfer pricing from a supply–demand perspective. An evaluation index system is constructed, considering the physical, value, and material quantities. This study uses the matching index method and bivariate spatial autocorrelation to analyze the supply–demand match of farmland multifunction from 2014 to 2021 and its relationship with transfer prices. Additionally, management methods and strategies for dynamic zoning-based pricing under multifunctional matching trade-offs are proposed. The results show that: (1) There is significant heterogeneity in the supply and demand matching degree of different farmland functions in both space and time. The production and ecological functions of farmland are oversupplied, while the living functions are undersupplied. (2) Different spatial autocorrelation relationships exist between the degree of supply and demand matching of farmland functions and farmland transfer prices. Specifically, the supply and demand matching degrees of the production and living functions show a significant negative spatial correlation with farmland transfer prices. In contrast, the ecological function shows a significant positive spatial correlation with farmland transfer prices, which are continuously strengthening over time. (3) Based on the supply and demand matching situation of different farmland functions and the spatial autocorrelation of farmland transfer prices, nine types of regions are delineated for farmland functions. Among them, the surplus-coordinated development areas have the most cities, accounting for about 40%, with a wide distribution range. This study proposes zoning-based pricing instruments and management strategies. This research provides valuable insights for developing countries seeking to alleviate conflicts in multifunctional land use, enhance the sustainable protection of land resources, and improve land resource assessment frameworks.

Spatio-temporal variations and multi-scale correlations of climate, water, land, and vegetation resources over the past four decades in the Heihe River Basin

Study regionHeihe River Basin (HRB), Northwest China. Study focusThe study proposes an analytical scheme to identify trend, periodicity, and scale-correlation in climate, water, land, and vegetation resources over the past four decades using multivariate remote sensing data. New hydrological insights for the regionHeat and precipitation resources in the HRB have increased at rates of 14.27℃ yr−1 and 1.26 mm yr−1, respectively. The glacier area has decreased by 47.47 %. Additionally, the increase in upstream precipitation (2.82 mm yr−1) and glacier meltwater effectively replenishes runoff, soil water, and groundwater. The implementation of the ecological water diversion project (EWDP) in 2000 has contributed to enhancing runoff and lake storage capacity. The 9.28 % increase in vegetation cover (including cropland, forest, grassland, and shrubland) indicates an improvement in the hydrothermal conditions of the HRB. Additionally, the magnitude and direction of interactions among various natural resources vary across multiple spatial scales and time scales. The effect of hydrothermal coupling on vegetation is more prominent at the interdecadal scale. Vegetation growth in the upstream area is primarily influenced by thermal condition, while moisture plays a significant role in the midstream and downstream areas. Knowledge from this study contributes to the informed allocation of natural resources and offer policymakers valuable insights to enhance eco-environmental sustainability.

Study on Parking Adaptability in Urban Complexes on Top of Subways Based on Shared Parking Spaces

Urban complexes on top of subways as a function of intensive building groups, including residential, office, business, and other types nature of land use where parking time differences are obvious, can implement shared parking spaces, thereby reducing the index of parking allotment. Currently, the parking space allocation index for complexes is only a simple superposition of different land uses, resulting in an over-allocation of parking allotments, leading to a waste of land resources and a low utilization rate of parking allotments. Considering the factor of shared parking spaces, this paper conducted an in-depth analysis of the parking adaptability of urban complexes on top of subways and selected five urban complexes on top of subway stations in Wuhan to conduct a parking survey to analyze the parking demand characteristics. This study also investigated the parking behavior of parkers and analyzed the characteristics of parking behavior in urban complexes on top of subways as well as the current parking demand prediction methods and models, establishing a parking demand prediction model based on shared parking spaces and conducting an adaptability analysis. Finally, using five urban complexes in Wuhan as examples, the number of parking spaces demanded by urban complexes on top of subways in 2025 was predicted, and Wuhan Golden Harvest Fashion Plaza was used as an example to verify the feasibility and implementation ability of the theoretical and applied research in this paper.

Regulatory Framework for Gold Mining in Ghana: An Analysis of Damongo’s Mining Sector

This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the regulatory framework governing gold mining in Ghana, with a specific focus on Damongo, a rapidly growing mining hub in the Northern Region. Ghana's gold mining sector, a major contributor to the nation's economy, faces significant challenges despite its economic benefits. These challenges include severe environmental degradation, mercury contamination, and social issues exacerbated by inadequate regulatory enforcement. This article examines the existing regulatory framework, which includes key legislative acts such as the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006, and the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1994, alongside a network of regulatory institutions like the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Minerals Commission. Utilizing Damongo as a case study, this research reveals critical inefficiencies in the local regulatory system, particularly in combating illegal mining activities and managing environmental and social impacts. Findings indicate that while gold mining has stimulated economic growth and provided employment opportunities, it has also led to negative consequences such as increased health problems, social vices, and reduced agricultural productivity. The study underscores the need for more robust regulatory practices, improved institutional capacity, and enhanced community involvement in environmental governance. Comparative insights from regulatory practices in other jurisdictions, such as Australia and Canada, highlight the potential benefits of adopting stricter environmental regulations, comprehensive impact assessments, and better coordination among regulatory agencies. The article concludes with recommendations for strengthening Ghana’s regulatory framework, including increased investment in regulatory institutions, improved enforcement mechanisms, and the promotion of sustainable mining practices. This study aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on mining regulation and sustainability, providing actionable insights for policymakers and stakeholders involved in the governance of Ghana’s gold mining sector.

Enhancing nitrate removal from small wetlands via regulating bacterial-algal symbiosis with macrophyte coverage

With increasing land resource constraints, wetlands, as ecological hotspots, are expected to enhance biogeochemical processes to mitigate nitrogen (N) pollution, particularly nitrate-nitrogen (NO3−-N). However, the interactions among bacteria, algae, and macrophytes in wetlands, which are crucial for N removal, remain largely unknown. This study explored how macrophyte coverage influences bacterial-algal interactions, shifting from mutualism to inhibition, thereby affecting N removal. Moderate coverage enhanced NO3−-N and total nitrogen (TN) removal (P < 0.05), which was correlated with increased microbial abundance (P < 0.05). This may have resulted from moderate algal photosynthesis, reduced physiological stress, and the expansion of ecological niches for microbes. Insufficient coverage promoted algal growth (chlorophyll-a > 31.8 μg·L−1), leading to increased competition for substrates and elevated pH, which further inhibited bacterial activity. Excessive coverage also inhibited bacterial activity by reducing illumination and oxidation-reduction potential. Consequently, insufficient and excessive coverage decreased N removal efficiencies by 2.7–15.7 % (NO3−-N) and 3.7–11.1 % (TN) while increasing methane emission potential by 1.4–6.9 times compared with moderate coverage. These findings offer insights into solving NO3−-N contamination using near-natural methods and balancing the ecological and practical considerations for small wetlands.

Time series land use/land cover mapping and change detection to support policies on sustainable environmental and economic management

The upper Tekeze River Basin is facing challenges of widespread deforestation and natural vegetation cover degradation that could exacerbate the water scarcity, food insecurity and extreme poverty in the region. Using remote sensing and GIS, this study quantified the land use land cover change trend in the last three decades and analyzed the current land use / cover statues in the basin. A hybrid classification technique is applied to obtain better classification accuracy. Moreover, for automated cloud and cloud shadow detection the newly developed Mountainous Fmask is used. Using post classification change detection technique, seven major land use/cover classes were identified. These classes remained the dominant classes during the study period, showing marked changes in the area coverage within them. Based on the error matrix statistical indices, the classification accuracies of each class are found to be strong. The overall accuracy and the kappa coefficient for the 2021 map are 91% and 89%, respectively. The techniques used have contributed to improving the accuracy of the classification process and helped the classified images to practically match the ground truths. The analysis revealed settlement expansion by 570.31% in parallel with the expansion of farmland by 52.32% during the period 1991–2021. In contrast, the forestland decreased significantly, by 75.55%. The environmental degradation and unplanned use of land resources could have contributed to why the upper Tekeze basin is experiencing worsening poverty, water scarcity and food insecurity. Thus, land use/cover time series modeling is essential for various purposes, including land use planning and, managing natural resources. In this regards this study provides basic information for implementing sustainable environmental conservation strategies in the area. Furthermore, the applied methodologies may have practical applications in other similar areas.

Features of the application of geoinformation systems to increase the yield of agricultural land

The main problems in the effective use of land resources as an important factor of the country's development and population's food security are considered. The study was conducted in the northern region of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The object of the study was grain-growing farms in the Akmola region. The study concluded that satellite imagery and unmanned aerial vehicles should be used to monitor crops and assess yields in the Akmola region. These technologies allow for more efficient land management, prompt response to problems and informed decision-making. The experience of GIS application in the United States consists in the formation of database systems for all soil types that are of economic importance. There are 4 national soil databases, as well as several automated soil databases containing data on more than 13,400 soil varieties. The country's Soil Conservation Service has created soil geographic databases, including a geographic database on soil surveys, state soil associations, and major land resource areas. The economic efficiency of land conservation measures will be determined by the amount of net income, taking into account the prevented environmental damage in value form, using the efficiency coefficient of environmental costs relative to the total production and environmental costs. The acreage area in the Akmola region on average for 2018–2023 amounted to 26,264.32 thousand hectares, the average actual crop yield was 12.5 centner/ha. Based on the given system of formulas, the estimated crop yield on non-eroded soils (Yn) is 13.5 centner/ha, and the crop shortfall (V) due to land erosion is 871.88 thousand centners of grain, which is 69,750 thousand tenge at an average grain price of 80,000 tenge/t

Acquisition method based on differential global positioning system for land resource data

With the rapid development of the economy, many types of cultivated land have been occupied or transformed. Therefore, land-management departments need to grasp quickly the changes in land resources and utilise information technology to collect and process data on land resources. This can help with the scientific management of land resources. However, the traditional data collection strategy based on Global Positioning System (GPS)–Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) for land resource dynamic change data collection has noise issues. Therefore, a dynamic acquisition method of land resource data change based on differential GPS is proposed. In order to obtain the geometric data characteristics of land resources, the hierarchical division of land composition, the utilisation of land resource relationship and the combination of passive depth, combined with Kinect depth-acquisition equipment, the spatial geometric relationships of land resource data changes are obtained, and then differential GPS technology is used. The experimental results show that the proposed method can effectively overcome the noise problem of the GPS–PDA-based land resource dynamic change data collection method. It provides technical support for the planning and development of land-resource-management departments.

Rural planning in the UK based on policy research

After experiencing the impact of urbanisation, population migration and land loss, ecological damage and resource shortage, the UK's rural construction has developed into a global model of rural construction through legal planning, orderly rural governance, and urban-rural integration. UK is progressively revitalising the rural economy, building sustainable rural habitats and innovating rural industries while protecting ecology. By exploring the policy framework and practice cases of rural revitalisation in the UK, it is conducive to a better understanding of the trends in the development of rural revitalisation in the UK, which is of great significance for rural planning in other countries.

Rural human settlement environment, non-agricultural transfer of labour and arable land abandonment in China

The arable land abandonment caused by the large-scale non-agricultural transfer of labour has attracted substantial attention from all walks of life in China. Promoting improvement in human settlement environment can accelerate the construction of infrastructure, ameliorate grassroots organization and enhance management capacities while simultaneously decelerating agricultural production costs. High level of human settlement environment can also attract the labour force to return, stimulate the vitality of rural elements and endogenous powers. Then, can improving rural human settlement environment alleviate the phenomenon of arable land abandonment caused by non-agricultural labour transfer? In order to answer this question, based on the micro-survey data of 1325 households in 5 provinces of China, this paper uses the Tobit model to empirically test the effects of rural human settlement environment and non-agricultural transfer of labour on arable land abandoned. The results revealed that rural human settlement can alleviate the arable land abandonment caused by non-agricultural transfer of labour to a certain extent. In particular, the improvement of rural human settlement environment that mainly based on the infrastructure construction and organizational management level, has significantly alleviated the arable land abandonment caused by the non-agricultural transfer of labour. Heterogeneity analysis disclosed that, compared with mountainous and hilly areas, the improvement of rural human settlement environment had a more obvious mitigation effect on arable land abandonment in plain areas. Promoting infrastructure construction and strengthening organizational management ability were effective ways to alleviate arable land abandonment in plain areas. Farmer households with high place attachment level were more likely to be attracted by the improvement of rural human settlement environment to return to their hometown, so as to make use of arable land resources. Improving infrastructure, strengthening organizational management level, and promoting cultural and community development were the main measures for farmer households with high place attachment level to reduce arable land abandonment. In addition, there were significant differences in arable land abandonment and its driving factors in different regions. In the central and eastern regions or major grain-producing areas, improving human settlement environment had a significant mitigation effect on arable land abandonment. Therefore, improving the rural human settlement environment according to local conditions, promoting the supportive policy will be inclined to mountainous and hilly areas, enhancing the attractiveness of rural areas, encouraging farmers with high place attachment level to return to their hometowns for employment and entrepreneurship, and accelerating the cultivation of new types of agricultural operators, which will help alleviate the arable land abandonment caused by non-agricultural transfer of labour.

Unorchestrated Symphony: documenta fifteen as a Site of Resistance

documenta fifteen (d15) was held in Kassel, Germany from June to September 2022, and sparked heated media attention and critical discussions before, during, and after the exhibition. With the indigenous curatorial concept of lumbung, the artistic directors, ruangrupa, a Jakarta-based artist collective, brought a new corpus of artists, artist collectives, artistic projects, and cosmologies largely from the global south to d15. Notwithstanding its decentralised curatorial method and rhizomatic exhibition structure, many critiques of d15 continue to take a top-down approach, focusing on its overarching structure, curatorial discourse, the curators’ trajectory, collective methodology, and the context of international mega-exhibitions. With a bottom-up approach and a lumbung community perspective, this essay examines some of the lumbung practices, including but not limited to social gatherings with feasts and festivals, struggles for land and natural resources, and women and queer groups’ practices. The essay argues that, in spite of challenges and limitations, the lumbung community have enabled d15 to become a site of resistance to colonialism, capitalism and patriarchy, a proposition that aligns with the initial vision for d15.

A new method to quantify the impacts of human activity on soil conservation service

Human activities and climate change impact ecosystem services, thereby affecting economic and social sustainable development. Measuring the heterogeneity in space and time of how human activities affect ecosystem services poses a challenge for the sustainable management of land resources. Based on “human appropriation of net primary production (HANPP) - Fractional Vegetation Cover (FVC) - Soil Conservation Service (SCS)” cascading effect, first, a geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR) model was employed to assess the impact of HANPP in percent of potential NPP (hereafter HANPP%) on the FVC; second, changes in the FVC caused by human activities were quantified; and third, the potential soil conservation service (SCSp) and actual soil conservation service (SCSa) were estimated using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model, and the difference between them represented the changes in soil conservation service caused by human activities (SCSh). Taking the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as a case study, we found that the GTWR model was well suited for analyzing the relationship between the HANPP% and the FVC (R2 = 0.897). The HANPP resulted in a decrease in the FVC from 0.222 in 2001 to 0.199 in 2019 and correspondingly resulted in a decrease in the ratio of SCSh to SCSp from 8.95% to 7.24%. This study provides a quantitative method that allows quantifying the influence of human activity on ecosystem services closely related to the FVC.

A comparative analysis of the composition of the primary bioactive molecules, antioxidant activities, and anti-inflammation abilities of the roots of Zanthoxylum nitidum harvested at different years of cultivation

Zanthoxylum nitidum is a traditional medicinal herb prevalent in China and Southeast Asia. However, despite being a widely cultivated perennial woody plant, an accurate reference and guide for determining the appropriate harvesting age in lacking. This study employed high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry, along with in vitro antioxidant and in vivo anti-inflammatory assays, to comprehensively analyze and compare the roots of Z. nitidum at 1–9 and 14 years. The results indicated a positive correlation between the increase in age and the root biomass. The highest decoction rates were observed in the roots of the 5- (44.08 %) and 4-year-old plants (40.42 %). However, the total alkaloid content (TAC) and the levels of nitidine chloride (NC), chelerythrine, and sanguinarine chloride initially increased but then decreased; their highest contents were 1.49 % (3-year-old), 0.50 % (7-year-old), 0.50 % (5-year-old), and 0.061 % (6-year-old), respectively. The levels of magnoflorine exhibited a trend of 3-year peaks; the respective contents were 0.36 % (3-year-old), 0.30 % (5-year-old), and 0.33 % (14-year-old). The change in the in vitro antioxidant potency composite index correlated with the wave-like trends in the total flavonoid content (TFC) and total phenolic acid (TPA). The indices for 9-, 5-, and 3-year-olds ranked among the top three and were >90. Extracts of Z. nitidum roots demonstrated a therapeutic effect in dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis mice, with that from the roots of 5-year-old plants showing the highest impact. Overall, the Z. nitidum roots of 4–6-year-old plants can be harvested as high-quality raw materials that meet the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China standards. This study provides scientific references for aspects such as the rational harvesting of Z. nitidum during artificial cultivation, the optimal utilization of land resources, and clinical use.