Agricultural Land Use Change Research Articles

Analizing Land Use Change and Direction for Controling Space Utilization at Industrial Area of Kasemen District, Serang City

The determination of industrial estates in Kasemen District has a significant influence on the area around the industrial area, especially on agricultural land, public green open spaces (RTH), and river borders around the industrial area. The methodology used in this study is the industrial location theory analysis method, the spatial analysis method of overlaying land use maps with spatial pattern maps of RTRW Serang City using QGis media, the method of analyzing the impact of determining industrial locations using leopod matrix, and the AHP SWOT method to analyze the direction of control. The location of the determination of industrial estates has been in accordance with the industrial location theory, changes in land use before and after the establishment of the RTRW regional regulation show a reduction in agricultural and fishery land, but the built-up land and mangrove forest land have increased and new land use has emerged including industrial land, service trade land. The identification of land use change occurred from 2009, 2016 to 2023. The results of the study show that the largest change in agricultural land use occurred in 2009 - 2016 of 833 hectares, while in 2016 - 2023 it was 90 hectares of land area in Kasemen District. This shows that after the establishment of the Serang City RTRW Regional Regulation, land changes in agricultural areas can be reduced to 0.01%.

Gazing at long-term linkages between agricultural land use and population growth in India: an inverted “U-shape” relationship

Abstract This study investigates the linkages between changes in agricultural land use and population growth in India. We have employed long-term time series and a panel dataset of 1869 samples (267 districts × 7 time points from 1961 to 2021) to determine this. We theorize that there is an inverted “U-shape” relationship between changes in population growth and agricultural land. Our findings suggest a positive impact of population growth on the change in cultivated land. However, this relationship was not static during 1961–2021. We found a two-stage split relationship with a breakpoint in 1981. Prior to the 1980s, there was a 12% expansion in cultivated land in response to a unit increase in population growth. During the post-1980s, with a unit decline in population growth, there was a 5% reduction in cultivated land. The findings were reaffirmed through several robustness checks: analyses using alternative outcome variables, alternative break points in a segmented regression model, and spatial modeling. From a policy perspective, this study advances the need for the reduction of population growth rate in high-fertility states and the adoption of superior and green technology for agricultural intensification and diversification to stop cropland expansion at the cost of environmental sustainability.

Faktor Perubahan Alih Fungsi Lahan Pertanian Akibat Pembangunan Kawasan Aerotropolis Kulon Progo dan Dampaknya Terhadap Tata Guna Lahan LP2B, Pemukiman dan Pariwisata

The development of the Aerotropolis area in Kulon Progo Regency causes frequent changes in agricultural land use to residential areas, hotels, restaurants, and other infrastructure. The excessive rate of conversion of agricultural land will have a negative impact on Kulon Progo Regency. Therefore, it is necessary to know the factors causing changes in agricultural land use and their impact on LP2B areas, residences, and tourism. The research method used is descriptive-analytical with statistical data; observations of situational conditions and the results of interviews regarding the problem being studied will be analyzed and then explained more specifically and in depth. The results of the analysis show that the phenomenon of land conversion in Kulon Regency is influenced by internal factors, namely the strategic location of agricultural land and its proximity to public facilities. The productivity of the agricultural sector has decreased due to difficult farmer regeneration, which causes economic factors to emerge. Apart from that, it is also influenced by external factors, namely increasing population growth, increasing development of the trade and services sector, the COVID-19 pandemic, and government policies that facilitate the conversion of agricultural land. The impact is that land and agricultural productivity are decreasing while the area of residential areas and the tourism sector are increasing. As a result, the GDP growth rate in the agricultural sector decreased, while the accommodation and food and drink (tourism) sector and the service sector increased. This trend has the potential to reduce the implementation of LP2B in Kulon Progo Regency. Recommendations that need to be made are strengthening government policies regarding the protection of LP2B and the involvement of many parties from the community, private sector, NGOs (Non-Government Organizations), and local governments regarding the implementation of LP2B

Evaluation of Changes in Land Use and Their Influence on Ecological Stability of a Selected Area of the Dolný Spiš Region (Slovakia)

In this study, the landscape and ecological stability of the Dolný Spiš region are investigated, focusing on human-induced changes and land use patterns. The purpose is to assess the impact of industrial, agricultural, and social activities on the landscape structure, using current and historical data. Field mapping and data from the DATAcube (Database of the Slovak Statistical Office) and CORINE Land Cover databases (Landscape cover layer for the whole territory of Europe) were used to evaluate land use, with ecological stability measured through the coefficient of ecological stability (CES). Three methodologies—Míchal, Löw, and Miklós—were applied and adjusted for local conditions. The study area, predominantly covered by forests (over 80%), was classified as highly stable based on CES values, with forested areas contributing significantly to this classification. Additionally, the non-forested areas were analyzed to assess the full scope of anthropic influence, revealing low-intensity human activity, as indicated by the coefficient of anthropic influence (CAI), ranging from 0 to 0.45. The results demonstrate that the landscape’s ability to resist disruptive elements is strong, particularly in forested regions. Overall, in this study, the critical role of forests is highlighted in maintaining the ecological stability in the region and suggests that the landscape structure remains resilient despite ongoing changes in agricultural land use.

A decadal change in agricultural land use reduces macroinvertebrate diversity in a headwater stream. A case study in Sri Lanka

A decadal change in agricultural land use reduces macroinvertebrate diversity in a headwater stream. A case study in Sri Lanka

Analisis Perubahan Penggunaan Lahan Pertanian Tanaman Mendong di Desa Blayu, Kecamatan Wajak

The mendong plant is one of the plants that is widely cultivated by people in Blayu Village, Wajak District. However, the number of farmers cultivating mendong plants is decreasing, so the agricultural land for mendong plants is starting to decrease. This research aims to: 1) analyze changes in land use for mendong crop farming in Blayu Village; and 2) know the factors that cause changes in agricultural land use for mendong crops. This research uses a descriptive survey method by collecting several samples in the form of people through questions. Google Earth was used to analyze changes in the use of agricultural land for mendong crops in Blayu Village from 2010 to 2024. Based on the results of the analysis of changes in agricultural land use for mendong crops in Blayu Village in 2010-2024, an increase in changes in the area of ​​mendong crops was obtained by 26.45 ha or 91.4 %. Meanwhile, the factors causing changes in the use of agricultural land for mendong plants in Blayu Village are economic factors, labor, mendong craftsmen, and the availability of mendong plant drying equipment.

Agricultural Runoff Effects on Leaf Litter Decomposition: A Comparative Study in Natural and Constructed Deltaic Mediterranean Wetlands

Wetlands, widely distributed and hotspots of biodiversity, play a crucial role in global biogeochemical cycles and human well-being. However, despite their ecological importance, wetlands worldwide are under threat due to widespread conversion into agricultural fields, leading to changes in hydrology, increased salinity, and more frequent eutrophication. In response to these challenges, constructed wetlands are created to treat agricultural wastewater and mitigate eutrophication. This study aims to assess the effect of natural vs. constructed wetlands on ecosystem functioning (organic matter decomposition of the dominant vegetation: Phragmites australis and Typha angustifolia). We conducted this study in the Ebro River Delta (NE Spain), which represents a deltaic wetland affected by agricultural land-use changes, examining two constructed and two natural wetlands. Our findings indicate that the influence of agricultural runoff on the decomposition process was similar in both types of wetlands, suggesting that freshwater agricultural runoff has a consistent effect on ecosystem functioning, regardless of its origin, natural vs. constructed. Differences in macroinvertebrate communities associated with leaf litter were likely due to specific conductivity but did not impact decomposition rates. The estimated time required to decompose 95% of the T. angustifolia litter produced annually in the studied wetlands ranged from 288 to 856 days. In constructed wetland, this decomposition time exceeded one year, contributing to soil formation and carbon sequestration in wetland ecosystems. Our study suggests that the utilization of constructed wetlands for treating agricultural runoff can aid in mitigating the impacts of agricultural land use in these areas.

The centennial legacy of land-use change on organic carbon stocks of German agricultural soils.

Converting natural vegetation for agriculture has resulted in the loss of approximately 5% of the current global terrestrial soil organic carbon (SOC) stock to the atmosphere. Increasing the agricultural area under grassland may reverse some of these losses, but the effectiveness of such a strategy is limited by how quickly SOC recovers after conversion from cropland. Using soil data and extensive land-use histories gathered during the national German agricultural soil inventory, this study aims to answer three questions regarding agricultural land-use change (LUC): (i) how do SOC stocks change with depth following LUC; (ii) how long does it take to reach SOC equilibrium after LUC; and (iii) what is the legacy effect of historic LUC on present day SOC dynamics? By using a novel approach that substitutes space for time and accounts for differences in site properties using propensity score balancing, we determined that sites that were converted from cropland to grassland reached a SOC equilibrium level 47.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 43.4% to 49.5%) above permanent cropland levels 83 years (95% CI: 79 to 90 years) after conversion. Meanwhile, sites converted from grassland to cropland reached a SOC equilibrium level -33.6% (95% CI: -34.1% to -33.5%) below permanent grassland levels after 180 years (95% CI: 151 to 223 years). We estimate that, over the past century, today's German agricultural soils (16.6 million ha) have gained about 40 million Mg C. Furthermore, croplands with historic LUC from grassland are losing SOC by -0.26 Mg ha-1 year-1 (10% of agricultural land) while grasslands historically converted from cropland are gaining SOC by 0.27 Mg ha-1 year-1 (18% of agricultural land). This study shows that even long-standing temperate agricultural sites likely have ongoing SOC change as a result of historical LUC.

Spatial examination of social and environmental drivers of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) across Kenya

Climate and agricultural land-use change has increased the likelihood of infectious disease emergence and transmissions, but these drivers are often examined separately as combined effects are ignored. Further, seldom are the influence of climate and agricultural land use on emerging infectious diseases examined in a spatially explicit way at regional scales. Our objective in this study was to spatially examine the climate, agriculture, and socio-demographic factors related to agro-pastoralism, and especially the combined effects of these variables that can influence the prevalence of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in dromedary camels across northern Kenya. Our research questions focused on: (1) How MERS-CoV in dromedary camels has varied across geographic regions of northern Kenya, and (2) what climate, agriculture, and socio-demographic factors of agro-pastoralism were spatially related to the geographic variation of MERS-CoV cases in dromedary camels. To answer our questions, we analyzed the spatial distribution of historical cases based on serological evidence of MERS-CoV at the county level and applied spatial statistical analysis to examine the spatial relationships of the MERS-CoV cases between 2016 and 2018 to climate, agriculture, and socio-demographic factors of agro-pastoralism. Regional differences in MERS-CoV cases were spatially correlated with both social and environmental factors, and particularly ethno-religious camel practices, which highlight the complexity in the distribution of MERS-CoV in dromedary camels across Kenya.

Modeling and assessing spatial and temporal changes in recent agricultural land-use in Ben Tre province, Vietnam

Modeling and assessing spatial and temporal changes in recent agricultural land-use in Ben Tre province, Vietnam

Detection of Urban Growth in Taiz City, Yemen, Between 1981 and 2022 by Using Google Earth™ and Geographical Information System Data

Rapid urbanization brought serious socio-economic and environmental problems in many cities around the world, particularly in developing countries like Yemen. Urban "sprawl", a synonym of rapid and unplanned urban growth, is considered an obstacle for sustainable development, which causes serious long- and short-term problems, such as extreme infrastructure expenses, economic inefficiency, environmental destruction, and social instability. This is the case of Taiz City, the third largest city in Yemen, which is facing a huge challenge to manage the spatial extension of its built-up area at the expense of the reduction of natural resources and environment. This study aims to investigate urban growth process in Taiz City, focusing on urban sprawl and agricultural land-use change during 1981–2022. The data used are high resolution geospatial data, which are the topographic map for 1981 and Google Earth (GE) images for 2003, 2012, and 2022. The methodology adopted was manual digitizing using Geographic Information System (GIS) software to extract urban land use features from the images of the different dates. Four land-use maps were produced and used for calculation the urban sprawl and land-use changes. The urban expansion rate and patterns were also identified in three phases: 1981–2003, 2003–2012, and 2012–2022. The results show that the built-up area increased six times from 6.2 km2 in 1981 to 34 km2 in 2022, while the agriculture area decreased by 77% from 18 km2 in 1981 to 4.2 km2 in 2022. The urban sprawl in Taiz covered about 75% of its municipal area and extended to the agricultural and rural areas. The sprawl index (USI) is measured to be 5.4%, indicating a high degree of sprawl in Taiz. There is no open space left for future development, and the water resources are at risk of population and depletion. The study demonstrated that informal and haphazard expansion must be controlled, a development strategy should be prepared, so that sustainable urban growth can be achieved. The results of this study could be used as a decision support tool for urban management activities. The vector layers produced by this study could provide the required input data for the future urban modeling of the city.

Assessing the trends and drivers of agricultural land use change in the Ramsar County, northern Iran

Agricultural land use change (ALUC) is a primary driver of global environmental change, with implications for food security and the environment. Ramsar County in the north of Iran has continuously undergone many changes due to the tourism characteristics of the region. The present study demonstrates the ALUC trends from 1992 to 2022 and the main drivers affecting ALUC in Ramsar County, northern Iran, using household surveys and Landsat data. Six land use classifications have been made for the region by image processing. Images have been categorized using the maximum likelihood classifier. Likewise, utilizing a questionnaire from 200 randomly selected farmers, in-person interviews were conducted. The kappa coefficient and overall accuracy for 1992, and 2022 were 85.91%, 88.86%, and 88.38%, 90.83%, respectively. It was observed that from 1992 to 2022, orchard (12%), open land (4.8%), and built-up areas (160.5%), increased respectively. In contrast, forest (−12.1%), water (−82.6%), and agri-land (−14.8%), declined respectively. Additionally, the analysis of the household survey indicates the high cost of production, the lack of a suitable market and price fluctuations of products, the aging of farmers, the increase in the population of non-native residents, weak policies to support farmers, lack of coordination between relevant institutions, the beautiful nature and tourism of the region, and climate changes and drought in other parts of the country were the most important drivers affecting ALUC in the region. Overall, this study can provide significant insights to decision-makers at the beginning of strategic planning to control the ALUC in the region.

Persisting in a transformed landscape: occupancy and habitat association of the range-restricted Agulhas Long-billed Lark Certhilauda brevirostris

ABSTRACT We investigated how the presence of the highly range-restricted Agulhas Long-billed Lark Certhilauda brevirostris (ALBL) varies with vegetation type and landscape features. The lark’s distribution is nearly completely outside formally protected areas and overlaps with a region where agriculture has transformed the landscape, with very little of the original vegetation type remaining. Establishing important habitat requirements is needed to better manage conservation efforts for the species. We conducted 10-minute point counts at 51 sites along small rural roads quarterly between October 2020 and January 2022, and recorded ALBL in 58% of the counts. A subset of 45 sites was used to model occupancy. According to a null constant parameter model, occupancy at sample sites was high (0.91) with a detection probability of 0.67 for each site where the species was present. Modelling of habitat features and vegetation type found that ALBL occupancy was best explained by the presence of renosterveld, the shrubby indigenous vegetation type. Occupancy increased at a site up to 25% renosterveld cover, after which there was no effect. Occupancy was also positively associated with renosterveld vegetation presence along fence lines and a combination of renosterveld and decreasing riverine vegetation cover. Presence was little modified by seasonal changes in agricultural land use. Overall, our results suggest that although the ALBL is locally abundant, certain habitat features need to be preserved to ensure the species’ continued presence in this agricultural region.

ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF LAND COVER AND LAND USE CHANGE ON URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE IN ABUJA, NIGERIA: A CASE STUDY FROM 2017 TO 2022

The remarkable feature of rapid urbanisation, which has fundamentally altered the distribution of land cover and land use (LULC), is what sets the contemporary era apart. The impact of these modifications on the resilience of Abuja’s metropolitan infrastructure from 2017 to 2022 is examined in this study. Our study examined the dynamic changes in LULC using information from remote sensing, geospatial analysis software, and land cover categorization techniques. The findings indicate major changes in Abuja’s topography, including a decrease in the number of water bodies, a decrease in the number of trees, the expansion of urban areas, changes in agricultural land use, and fluctuations in the amount of grazing land. The previously mentioned changes have significant consequences for urban infrastructure resilience, affecting various sectors such as water supply, transportation, housing, utilities, and food distribution systems. The infrastructure supporting water supply and sanitation may be severely stretched as the number of water bodies decreases, affecting the quantity and quality of accessible water supplies. As metropolitan areas expand, greater strain is placed on transportation infrastructure, exacerbating traffic congestion and complicating road maintenance ifficulties. Changes in agricultural land use can have an impact on food production and distribution, hence affecting food security. Deforestation can cause ecological deterioration, affecting a variety of aspects such as temperature regulation, biological diversity, and atmospheric purity. Adaptive approaches, green infrastructure, and adopting sustainable urban design can all strengthen the resilience of urban infrastructure, according to this study. The significance of renewable energy adoption, community participation, green building laws, the establishment of public-private partnerships, integrated water resource management, and data-driven decision-making is emphasised. Improving legal frameworks that prioritise resilience and sustainability is critical. It is critical to have a complete grasp of the complicated links between changes in LULC, and the resilience of urban infrastructure in order to enable educated urban design and decision-making processes. Policymakers and urban planners may address and minimise the negative consequences of climate change while improving the overall quality of life in cities by using sustainable development practises. The findings of this study have the potential to dramatically improve Abuja’s people’s well-being and sustainability, especially given the variety of urban difficulties they encounter.

Saltwater Intrusion and Agricultural Land Use Change in Nga Nam, Soc Trang, Vietnam

Under the effects of saltwater intrusion from rising sea water levels, climate change, and socioeconomic issues, the Nga Nam district in Vietnam has suffered damage to its agriculture and changes in agricultural land use. This study aimed to investigate the factors that influenced land use changes and to propose approaches to limit the changes in agricultural land use. The damage caused by saltwater intrusion on agricultural production was evaluated via the use of secondary data collected from the Department of Infrastructure Economics of the Nga Nam district in the period of 2010–2021. The results show that during the 2010–2015 period, agricultural production areas were affected in 2010, 2012, and 2015. In the period of 2015–2021, the trend of saltwater intrusion along the damaged area remarkably decreased due to the work of saltwater-preventing structures. In this period, the area of annual plants increased, while that of fruit trees decreased. In the area comprising annual plants, the area using the triple rice land use type converted into an area using the double rice and double rice–fish ones. Lands for fruit trees transitioned from mixed farming to specialized farming to raise the economic efficiency for farmers. These changes were affected by four main factors: the physical factor, the economy, society, and the environment. The environmental and economic factors were seen to play the most important role as drivers of changes in land use. The factors of saltwater intrusion and acid-sulfate-contaminated soil, consumer markets, floods, drought, profit, and investments were noted to be significant drivers in agricultural land use change. Thus, both structural and non-structural approaches are suggested to inhibit the safeguard changes in the future.

Past anthropogenic land use change caused a regime shift of the fluvial response to Holocene climate change in the Chinese Loess Plateau

Abstract. The Wei River catchment in the southern part of the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) is one of the centers of the agricultural revolution in China. The area has experienced intense land use changes since ∼6000 BCE, which makes it an ideal place to study the response of fluvial systems to past anthropogenic land cover change (ALCC). We apply a numerical landscape evolution model that combines the Landlab landscape evolution model with an evapotranspiration model to investigate the direct and indirect effects of ALCC on hydrological and morphological processes in the Wei River catchment since the mid-Holocene. The results show that ALCC has not only led to changes in discharge and sediment load in the catchment but also affected their sensitivity to climate change. When the proportion of agricultural land area exceeded 50 % (around 1000 BCE), the sensitivity of discharge and sediment yield to climate change increased abruptly indicating a regime change in the fluvial catchment. This was associated with a large sediment pulse in the lower reaches. The model simulation results also show a link between human settlement, ALCC and floodplain development: changes in agricultural land use led to downstream sediment accumulation and floodplain development, which in turn resulted in further spatial expansion of agriculture and human settlement.

Potential Changes in Land Use and Plant Production in Poland in the Context of Implementing the European Green Deal

The purpose of this paper is to identify the potential changes in agricultural land use in Poland as a consequence of implementing the European Green Deal, including its potential economic effects. The study covered crops of key importance to Polish agriculture, cultivated in a total area of 8.2 million ha, which accounts for more than 60% of land in good agricultural condition. The analyses were based on average values for 2016–2020 and used three scenarios for EGD implementation by 2030 (no EGD; partial implementation of the EGD; full implementation of the EGD). Each analysis took account of changes in the area of land under conventional, organic and precision farming systems. The study found that EGD requirements can be met by implementing the precision farming system, especially for intensive farming schemes like rape and sugar beet. Organic farming should be used either for extensively farmed cereals like oat or for fruits which are sold at higher prices when farmed organically. Another finding is that the full implementation of the EGD could decrease the production volume of key Polish crops by 13%, which can have important social impacts, such as increased prices of food products or a deterioration of food security.

Forest fires social and climate change in Cyprus

Forest fires and wildfires are increasing in many regions of the world and give the big impact on the environment, local economies, livelihoods, and societies. Cyprus is an island member of the European Union in the south-eastern Mediterranean and it is severely affected by wild fires. The aim of this paper is to review the pertinent, recent literature (which although not exhaustive, identifies the main contributing factors) mostly in the Mediterranean region and to identify the variables that affect the rise in the number and intensity of forest fires, wildfires and how these variables are affecting Cyprus. This research was conducted by using statistical data made by the Cyprus Statistical Service. By compiling the data of climatology, demography, agricultural production, and forest fire incidents, some results were found. The increased forest fires were caused by the rise of the average annual mean temperature in the period of 1990-2021, the change in social conditions and agricultural land use with the urbanization of people living around the forest areas, and the conservative policies adopted by successive administrations with reference to forest management and conservation.

ANALYSIS OF RICE CROP PRODUCTION CHANGES DUE TO LAND USE CHANGES IN BAGIK POLAK VILLAGE, LABUAPI SUBDISTRICT WEST LOMBOK REGENCY

Bagik Polak Village is located in Labuapi District, West Lombok Regency. Its area is 2.50 km2 with 7 sub-villages and a population of 4,232 people and a population density of 1,693 people/km2. Geographically, Bagik Polak is located at coordinates 8037'39" S 116007'57" E. Agricultural activities such as planting rice, corn, horticulture, and livestock, are mostly carried out by the community to meet the needs of life. However, in the last 10 years, there has been a change in the function of agricultural land to non-agricultural land. An increase in population causes this, the dynamics of development and industrial development, which require space, so it has implications for changes in land use. The purpose of this study is to analyze changes in rice crop production based on land use changes in Bagik Polak Village from 2012 to 2022. The method used in this study is the evaluative descriptive method. Data processing and analysis is carried out using ArcGis 10.8, while the stages include geometric correction, image interpretation, calculating the digitized area and field observation. The data used are Google Earth Pro satellite imagery data from 2012-2022 and rice crop production data from 2012-2022. The analysis results show that changes in the use of agricultural land into settlements and housing are the most significant changes. In 2012 the area of agricultural land was 189.51 Ha with rice production of 11.867813 quintals. However, in 2022, the area of agricultural land decreased to 168.32 Ha with rice production of 11.571725 quintals. The average rate of shrinkage of rice crop production is -0.854782108. The land conversion is the main factor causing the decline in rice crop production in Bagik Polak Village. A correlation was found between changes in agricultural land use and a decrease in rice production in Bagik Polak Village, where changes in land use were directly proportional to a decrease in rice production

Sustainability of Informal Artisanal Mining in the Peruvian Andean Region

The purpose of this article is to reflect on the sustainability of informal artisanal mining in the Peruvian Andean area until the year 2022. The research is basic and non-experimental in design and ex post facto in scope. The sample consisted of crime prevention statistics on socio-environmental conflict from guardianship institutions and a television program on mining. Our research procedure focused on gathering secondary information for a documentary review analysis based on past proven and disseminated facts. Informal artisanal mining is strengthened in the Peruvian Andean area due to the following influencing factors: support represented as the social license granted by communal assemblies; the flexibility of governmental management in relaxing compliance related to formalization and preventive laws regarding environmental protection; the resistance to formalization and the 50% increase in socio-environmental conflict; and the 25% increase in production costs related agricultural activities, which promotes the displacement towards mining activities. The environmental sustainability consequences are as follows: limited reconversion of agricultural land-use change in one-third of the communal territories at the headwaters of the basin, which generates the displacement of environmentally friendly economic activity, and a parallel positive action is the impossibility of modification or intervention affecting water surfaces and wetlands due to communal agreements that mining companies must respect during operation.