Plot Size Research Articles

Performance Evaluation of Different Sorghum Genotypes (Sorghum bicolour (L.) Moench) Using GGE Bi-plot Stability Analysis

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is an important essential cereal crop in Ethiopia. Conversely, its productivity is low due to numerous biotic and abiotic factors. There are diverse and dynamic environmental conditions which needs detail and continue study on genotypes by environment interaction (GEI) to develop stable genotypes. The objective of this study was to determine the magnitude of GEI for grain yield of forty two sorghum genotypes and to identify stable and high yielding genotypes across locations. The experiments were laid out at three locations for two growing seasons using alpha lattice design with three replications. The plot size 5 m x 0.75 m x 2 rows (7.5 m<sup>2</sup>) and distance between block, replication, and plot was 1m, 1.5m, and 0.75m, respectively. Phonologic, agronomic, diseases and grain yield data were collected but only grain yield was used for stability analysis. The ANOVA revealed highly significant variation (p <0.01) among sorghum genotypes across locations and seasons. Mean grain yield of genotypes ranged from 1.29 to 3.69 with mean grain yield of 2.36, while environment range from 1.18 to 3.63 t/ha. The genotype G1 showed good performance across all test sites which range 5<sup>th</sup> at E1,3<sup>rd</sup> at E3 and E4, 15<sup>th</sup> and 7<sup>th</sup> at E5 and E6 and maximum grain yield was harvested from E3. Yield data were also analyzed using the GGE (that is, G, genotype +GEI, genotypes-by- environment interaction) bi-plot method. The first two principal components (PC1 and PC2) were used to create a 2- dimensional GGE bi-plot and explained 59.67 and 13.48 % of GGE sum of squares, respectively. GGE bi- plot identified G16, G4, and G1 high yielders and stable and G34 and G25 was the lowest yielding and least stable across locations. On the other hand, the environment E6, E4 and E1 were the most suitable to select desirable genotypes.

Impacts of Rural–Urban Labour Transfer and Land Transfer on Land Efficiency in China: A Analysis of Mediating Effects

In the midst of China’s ongoing rural–urban integration and development, a pivotal transformation involving the realignment of labour dynamics and land utilisation is underway. This paradigm shift has substantial implications for rural land use and agricultural productivity. Drawing from the field survey conducted in Zhejiang Province in 2019, this study puts non-agricultural employment, land transfer, and land efficiency into one econometric model and establishes a comprehensive framework to explain the mechanisms. Unlike existing research, this paper delves into the impact of different land-transfer behaviours, namely inflow and outflow, on land efficiency. The findings indicate that non-agricultural employment has no significant impact on land efficiency. Rural households acquiring land significantly enhance land efficiency, whereas relinquishing land shows no significance, thus addressing the gap in existing literature regarding the study of different transfer behaviours. Furthermore, to explore the underlying mechanisms, we investigate the mediating effect of land inflows on land efficiency, finding that it operates through plot size. In light of this, we propose that, in guiding land inflows, more emphasis should be placed on the integration and reorganisation of fragmented land rather than simply expanding the total land area, aiming to create large, well-managed areas of arable land by achieving concentrated and contiguous transferable land parcels.

Unlocking the Secrets of Soil Health: Exploring the Influence of Natural and Synthetic Nutrients on Soil Organic Carbon and Active & Passive Carbon Pool in Vertisols

The experiment carried out in this field study was between 2022 and 2023 at the (AICRP) research farm in the outward-bound farm of the College of Agriculture, Indore. Indore is a small city in the western part of Madhya Pradesh, Central India, situated on the Malwa Plateau. An experiment was conducted with three replication by using different combination of N, P levels and crop residues in RBD design. Experiment field was medium to black soil with pH of 7.63 and medium in organic carbon 0.58%. The soil was low in available nitrogen (208.0 kg/ha) medium in available phosphorus (21.0 kg/ha) and high in potassium (585 kg/ha) and divided into gross plot size of 10 x 7.2 m2 and a net plot size of 9 x 6.4 m2, respectively. During crop harvest four different depths were used to gather the soil samples: 0–10, 10–20, 20–30, and 30–40 cm. All the collected samples are examined separated for soil organic carbon, active (highly labile, labile SOC), and passive (non-labile, less labile SOC) carbon pools. The finding showed that maximum soil organic carbon (%) was observed with the application of treatment T6 treatment (FYM 6 t ha-1 + N20 P13. Similar trend was found with active (very labile, labile) and passive carbon (less labile, non-labile) pools of soil.

Assessing coarse woody debris by integrating full area sampling and line intersect sampling: Combining the best of both worlds

Effective and comprehensive monitoring of the quantity of deadwood has become an important aspect of forest inventories for studies on structural and demographic dynamics, biodiversity and carbon stocks. Assessing dead wood quantity, however, is challenging and time consuming due to the structural complexity of deadwood. To monitor coarse woody debris (CWD) in a 10-year remeasuring cycle, we propose to combine full area sampling, to assess and position large-diameter CWD, with line intersect sampling, to estimate the volume of small-diameter CWD. The aim was to simultaneously I) lower the work load in the field, II) ensure low variability in average CWD volume and III) enable remeasurement of a high share of individual CWD objects to study dead wood dynamics and related biodiversity. Using data from 1601 circular plots measured with full area sampling in 16 temperate forest reserves (Flanders, northern Belgium), we simulated line intersect transects and tested threshold diameters between 10 and 130 cm to subdivide CWD to be measured with full area or line intersect sampling. The work load of the combined sampling with a threshold diameter of 20 to 40 cm was about 50 to 90% of the full area sampling work load respectively. Yet, no significant increase in the coefficient of variation (CV) of the average CWD volume was registered for threshold diameters up to 30 cm (133 %) compared to the full area sampling (125 %). The probability to relocate a 30 cm diameter CWD object after 10 years was 50 % and the probability for remeasuring increased with diameter. Using full area sampling with 10 cm threshold results in only 32 % of the objects relocated and remeasured after 10 years; using the combined sampling, only positioning logs over 30 cm increases this figure to 67 %, thus avoiding idle work. We conclude that combining full area and line intersect sampling has the advantage of lowering the work load, increasing the share of relocated objects over time, while not significantly increasing the variability in average CWD volume. An optimal threshold diameter between both methods was comprised between 20 and 40 cm but might further depend on relative importance of work load, need for relocation, CV, the study setup (e.g. number and size of plots), stand characteristics (e.g. CWD volume, dominant tree species) and decay rate. We propose to use a 30 cm threshold diameter for measuring CWD in temperate forest reserves.

Acquisition of land ownership rights by foreign persons according to the laws of Ukraine and Canada

The article conducts a comparative legal study of the specifics of acquisition and exercise of land ownership by foreigners, stateless persons and foreign legal entities under the legislation of Ukraine and Canada, as a result of which the Canadian experience of legal regulation in the specified area, which is most acceptable for Ukraine, is substantiated. It has been established that in the science of land law of Ukraine, one of the most controversial issues is the possibility, scope, conditions and grounds of granting land ownership rights to foreigners, stateless persons, and foreign legal entities, especially considering the provisions of Art. 13 of the Constitution of Ukraine, which declares all land to be the property of the Ukrainian people. This issue has not been resolved definitively in the land legislation, as access of foreign persons to ownership of agricultural land can be granted only after a positive decision of the All-Ukrainian referendum. The conducted research showed that Canadian legislation provides for the possibility of establishing restrictions on the acquisition of land ownership by foreign entities both at the federal level (a two-year restriction on the purchase of residential real estate, including vacant land plots intended for residential development), and at the level of individual provinces and territories. At the level of the provinces and territories, there are different legal models for restricting the access of foreign persons to the right to ownership of land, primarily for agricultural purposes. There are no legal restrictions on the acquisition of the right to ownership of land by foreign persons in British Columbia, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. At the same time, in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Quebec, the access of foreigners to land ownership is significantly limited, in particular, by establishing the maximum size of land plots that they can acquire on ownership. The article claims that the establishment of restrictions in Canadian legislation on the acquisition of ownership rights to land, primarily for agricultural purposes, is conditioned by the need to ensure priority access to the lands of Canadian citizens and Canadian corporations, which can be a reference point for the settlement of these issues in Ukrainian land law. Canadian legislation, both at the federal level and at the level of individual provinces and territories, provides effective mechanisms of legal responsibility in the event of violation of legal restrictions on foreign persons' access to land ownership, which should be provided for in Ukrainian legislation.

Effects of Water Irrigation Methods Combined with Mulching Materials on the Growth and Yield of Allium chinense on Acid Sulfate Soil

Background: To determine the optimal water irrigation method combined with covering material for Allium chinense growth and yield on acid sulfate soil. Methods: The field experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design, which include four treatments, each with four replications. The plot size was 83.3 m2 (19.6 m in length, 4.25 m in width). Treatments were flooding irrigation combined with rice straw covering (FI-RS), flooding irrigation combined with Eleocharis dulcis covering (FI-ED, control), spray irrigation combined with rice straw covering (SI-RS) and spray irrigation combined with Eleocharis dulcis covering (SI-ED). Result: Experimental results showed that Allium chinense planted on the treatment of SI increased clump height (47.2 cm) and weight of bulb (4.38 g), gave the highest yield of 40.9 t ha-1 and increased up to 25.9% in comparison to planted in conventional method (control). The spray irrigation method was more suitable than the flooding irrigation method for growing Allium chinense. Vitamin C content in bulbs was not changed under different water irrigation methods combined with mulching materials.

Improving plot-level above ground biomass estimation in tropical Indian forests

Accurate plot-level estimates of above ground biomass (AGB) are crucial for reducing uncertainty in spatial AGB quantification, a key requirement for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation framework (REDD+) and achieving Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) goals. This study explores the impact of plot size, selection and use of height-diameter (H–D) model, and allometric models on plot-level AGB estimation in tropical Indian forests. We analyze a dataset of 8179 tree measurements from 51 one-hectare plots across four tropical sites to investigate these factors and improve estimation accuracy. Our findings highlight the importance of locally derived H–D models for superior accuracy. We propose two H–D models for improved plot-level AGB estimation accuracy in tropical Indian forests: a general model with a residual standard error (RSE) of 4.18 m and a forest type-specific model with a RSE of 3.65 m. These models outperform global models, which significantly underestimate tree height by up to 51.3% and overestimate by 43.4% across our sites. The developed H–D models were evaluated using spatial cross-validation to ensure broader applicability across Indian tropical forests. Further, we evaluated the impact of the choice of the allometric model on plot-level AGB estimation using the prevalent models (local destructive models by the Forest Survey of India and global pantropical models). Our results indicate minimal variability between the local destructive models and the pantropical model when height measurements are derived from this study's developed H–D models. We have also investigated the effect of plot size on plot-level AGB estimation using synthetic plots generated from 1-ha plot data. Notably, the relative error diminishes from approximately 22% to about 5% as plot size increases from 0.04 ha (20x20m) to 0.49 ha (70x70m) across all sites, and we recommend field plots of size ≥0.5 ha for AGB mapping over Tropical Indian Forests. By making this data publicly available, this study paves the way for more accurate spatial AGB mapping in tropical Indian forests, ultimately contributing to better forest management.

Determinants of farmers’ willingness to pay for irrigation improvements in Northcentral Ethiopia

Investing in agricultural water management by improving irrigation schemes helps to establish climate-resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, thus contributing to sustainable poverty reduction. The purpose of this study was to identify the determinants of farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for irrigation water improvements in Northcentral Ethiopia. Primary data collected from a random sample of 132 households were analyzed using the double-bounded contingent valuation method and binary logit regression model to identify what determines farmers’ WTP for irrigation improvement. The findings show that farmers’ mean WTP for irrigation water improvements is 141.60 Birr/ha/year (2.50 USD/ha/year). The results of bivariate Probit model revealed that crop type, education, relative location to the irrigation scheme, irrigated plot size, and perceived drought risk statistically and positively determine farmers’ WTP for irrigation water improvement. These findings offer valuable policy implications on how best to guide practical agricaltural water management. Policy interventions aimed at enhancing farmers' behavior, awareness, and perception of drought-related issues, while also promoting cash crop production, are likely to drive more farmers towards a positive WTP for irrigation water improvement.

Diversity of bivalve and gastropod species in mangrove restoration areas

Bivalvia and gastropods are two types of mollusks found in mangrove habitats. This group of mollusks performs a vital function in their environment, including serving as a biofilter and decomposing organic waste. The abundance of bivalves and gastropods in their natural environment is presumed to have been impacted by deforestation and restoration processes in mangrove ecosystems. Therefore, this study was conducted to collect information about the composition and variety of bivalves and gastropods in the mangrove restoration area of Bagan Serdang village in North Sumatra. This research was conducted using the plot method with a plot size of 2m x 2m. Observation plots are created along specified paths with alternate placements. According to the findings, up to 19 types of mollusks were discovered at the study site. This investigation discovered 14 snail species and 10 gastropod families. The other five species are Bivalvia from four different families. M. strigata has the greatest density of 0.26 and the highest relative density of 3.90%. At the study site, the bivalve and gastropod diversity index was moderate (2.127), the evenness index was high (0.722), and the dominance index was low (0.211). It is highly recommended to continue to promote vegetation species at the study location in order to improve bivalves and gastropod species and numbers.

Impact of organic fertilizers on morphological characteristics of giloy (tinospora cordifolia) in Jharkhand

Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Hook. f. & Thoms., commonly known as Giloy, belonging to the family Menispermaceae and is an important medicinal plant. The plants of Tinospora cordifolia were planted in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 12 treatments and 3 replications in a plot size of 2 m x 2 m at a spacing level of 100 cm x 100 cm. The experiment was conducted at the Botanical Garden, PG Department of Botany, Vinoba Bhave University, Hazaribag (Jharkhand). The plant is used in Ayurvedic “Rasayanas” to improve the immune system and the body’s resistance against infections. Four seedlings were transplanted into each plot for each treatment. The useful part of this plant is the stem and the effectiveness of its medicinal value depends upon its thickness. The objective of this research work to find out the impact of organic fertilizer on the morphological characteristics (including stem thickness) of the Giloy plant. Maximum stem diameter (20.67 mm) was recorded from the application of Farm Yard Manure (FYM) 10 t ha-1 . Hence, it can be concluded that Farm Yard Manure (FYM) was best for the commercial cultivation of the Giloy plant.

Analyzing the Impact of Harvesting Methods on Barley Yield Across Different Varieties

Barley exhibits greater resilience in challenging conditions compared to other cereal crops. It plays a significant role as a primary source of feed for livestock. A field experiment was carried out at Agronomy Research Farm, The University of Agriculture Peshawar during summer season, 2022 to evaluate the Impact of harvesting methods on barley yield across different varieties". The experiment was laid out in Randomized complete block design having three replications. Plot size was 3m x 3.5m having five rows with Row to Row and Plant to plant distance was maintained at 30 cm and 15 cm, respectively. The experiment comprised of six Barley varieties (Bajaur, Wana, Balochistan, Afghanistan, Aaj and Dir) and two cutting levels (cut and no-cut). Results revealed that Dir variety had increased plant height (67.81 cm), grain yield (2500 kg ha-1) biological yield (8518 kg ha-1) and harvest index (29.35%) as compared to other varieties. In cutting levels, the no-cut plants showed increased plant height (81.77 cm), grain yield (2432 kg ha-1), biological yield (7148 kg ha-1) and harvest index (37.52%). Interaction between barley varieties and cutting levels was found to be non-significant except in case of biological yield and harvest index. It is concluded from the results that barley variety Dir produced more biological and grain yield as compared to other varieties. In case of cutting levels, no-cut enhanced yield and yield traits of barley varieties. It is recommended that Dir variety with no-cut is recommended for higher productivity of barley in agro-climatic condition of studied area

GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND LIVELIHOOD IN CULTIVATION OF VANNAMEI SHRIMP (Litopenaeus vannamei) IN INTENSIVE TAMBAK PT. ANDULANG SHRIMP FARM SUMENEP, EAST JAVA

Incentive shrimp farming system has become a farming system adopted by most Indonesian farmers to rapidly increase pond productivity with high stocking densities ranging from 100-300 fish/m2. The study aimed to determine the growth performance and survival rate of Vannamei shrimp culture at PT Andulang Shrimp Farm, Sumenep, East Java with different plot sizes and stocking densities. In the augmentation method, 2 culture plots are used, each with an area of plot D4 (1,932 m2) with a stocking density of 177 fish/m2 and plot F3 (2,600 m2) with a stocking density of 172 fish/m2. In plot D4, the average body weight (ABW) was 26.45 g, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was 1.63 and the survival rate (SR) was 74.05% with a total harvest tonnage of 4,845.64 kg. In plot F3, the average body weight (ABW) was 26.36 g, the FCR was 1.61 and the SR was 75.42% with a total yield of 6,674.42 kg. A high protein diet contributes to the growth of Vannamei shrimp. Optimal water quality and proper feeding can promote the growth of Vannamei shrimp.

Cushions serve as conservation refuges for the Himalayan alpine plant diversity: Implications for nature-based environmental management

Globally, rapid climate and land-use changes in alpine environments are posing severe risks to their bountiful biodiversity and ecosystem services. Currently, nature-based solutions are fast-emerging as the preferred approach to address the challenges of environmental sustainability. In alpine environments, cushion plants owing to their unique architecture and adaptability offer a potential nature-based system to plan biodiversity conservation and habitat restoration strategies. Here, we employed an analytical framework to test whether and how the cushion plants facilitate the sustenance of alpine plant diversity in Kashmir Himalaya. We specifically aimed to answer: what are the effects of the cushion plants on the patterns of alpine species richness and phylogenetic diversity, and whether these effects vary across spatial scales (local versus landscape), cushion types, and changing elevation. We randomly selected pairs of cushion and neighbouring non-cushion plots (size 100 m2) across 34 different alpine sites in the study region. Within each plot, we randomly laid three 5 m2 quadrats for vegetation sampling, and sampled a total of 204 quadrats in 68 plots with seven cushion types along elevation ranging from 3100 to 3850 m. Our results revealed positive effects of the cushions by supporting a higher community species richness (SR) and phylogenetic diversity (PD). The effects were consistent both at the local (i.e., quadrat) and landscape (i.e., plot) scales, but varied significantly with the cushion type. Interestingly, SR and PD showed an increasing trend with increase in elevation in cushion communities, thereby supporting stress gradient hypothesis. Along the elevational gradient, the cushion communities showed phylogenetic overdispersion, but clustering by non-cushions. Overall, our study provides empirical evidence to reinforce the role of the cushions as conservation refugia for an imperilled alpine plant diversity in the Himalaya. Looking ahead, we highlight the far-reaching implications of our findings in guiding the nature-based environmental management of alpine ecosystems worldwide.

Chili Growth-Yield Improvement under Different Experience-Creativity Farmer Levels, Agronomical Components, and Their Partial Economic Analysis

Chili (Capsicum annuum L.), though it is one of the strategic and important vegetable commodities in Indonesia; still faces a main problem, i.e. low productivity with 7.78 tons ha-1 nationally and 6.45 tons ha-1 specifically in Jawa Tengah. Consequently, the improvement of chili growth yield under different experience and creativity farmer levels (ECFLs), components of agronomy (ACs), and their economic analysis partially was addressed as the main objective of the research. C. annuum ‘Akar’, healthy and farmer seedlings were used in the field research. The factorial experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. ECFLs from high (ECFL-1), moderate (ECFL-2), less (ECFL-3), and initially developed (ECFL-4) were used as the first treatment, and five different ACs with gradual component reduction of ACs-1, ACs-2, ACs-3, ACs-4 and ACs-5 as second treatment. The research clearly revealed that different seedlings, ECFLs, and ACs significantly affected the ‘Akar’ growth yield. Cultivation of the healthy seedlings by ECFL-1, who had ± thirty years’ experience in chili cultivation and fast response to all and potential problems during chili cultivation, under ACs-1, as a complete and optimal ACs, increased vegetative growth and yielded 417.8 flowers and 289.7 fruits plant-1, 1,040.6 g chili plant-1, and 1,044.8 kg chili plot-1; 110-337% improvement; IDR. 16,750,081 farmer income from 250 m2 plot size; and 4.77 R/C ratio, respectively. However, for positive income, R/C ratio, and low production cost for all farmers, further applications of ACs-2 were promisingly chosen. Entirely the optimal growth yield of chili was established by using healthy seedlings, choosing suitable Acs, and paying more attention to the ECFL. The results can be applied to other chili types and varieties.

Satellite hyperspectral imagery reveals scale dependence of functional diversity patterns in a Qinghai-Tibetan alpine meadow

Knowing how functional diversity varies across environmental gradients is crucial in investigating biodiversity formation and community assembly processes. The majority of studies concerning functional diversity are based on one fixed plot size, resulting in weakened sensitivity of the spatial patterns to sampling resolution. This weakness may obscure the true mechanisms behind community assemblage. In this study, we utilized hyperspectral imagery collected by Orbita hyperspectral satellites (OHS) to explore the spatial distribution patterns of functional traits and diversity in alpine meadows at four sampling radii (25 m, 50 m, 100 m, 200 m). We examined how functional traits and their diversity responded to variations in climatic and soil conditions at different sampling resolutions. Our findings revealed a significant influence of solar radiation and soil depth on the patterns of functional traits in alpine meadows. Scale dependency was evident in the functional richness (FRic), functional evenness (FEve), and functional dispersion (FDis) of different traits, indicated by a notable difference from the null model. In the presence of stronger soil nutrient and water limitation, chlorophyll a content (CAC), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf thickness (LT), and plant height (Height) exhibited increased clustering and convergence at larger sampling resolutions, illustrating environmental filtering in habitat patch assembly in the alpine meadow. For the first time, this study explores scale dependency in functional diversity patterns in alpine meadows using satellite-based hyperspectral imagery. It unveils the environmental filtering effect of soil nutrient limitation on shaping vegetation patch structures at a landscape level from a remote sensing perspective. The study underscores the significance of accounting for sampling resolution in future related research.

Climate change adaptation and smallholder farmers welfare: Empirical evidence from the Sahelian Region of West Africa

Global climate change has threatened sustainable agricultural growth over the years, severely affecting food sufficiency and the livelihood of farmers. The Climate-Smart Agricultural Technologies (CSAT), as a form of adaptation, offer pathways for mitigating the negative effect of climate change on crop producers in developing countries. This study uses cross-country (Mali and Niger) cross-sectional data to examine the welfare (proxied by crop sales revenue and income) impact of multiple adoptions of CSAT on smallholder farm households. To control for potential endogeneity that leads to bias estimates, we employ the multinomial endogenous treatment effect (METE) model, complemented with the inverse probability weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA) for the analysis. The result reveals that household (education, location, and assets) and plot (plot size, plot topography, and soil fertility) characteristics, institutional factors (farmer-based organization, access to formal credit, and extension service) and crop disease shock significantly influence different combinations of CSAT adoption. The impact estimates show that adopting joint combinations of CSAT leads to higher crop sales revenue and income among the farmers in most cases. These findings suggest that the adoption of CSAT as a package should be encouraged and disseminated in the West Africa Sahel region. Moreover, some sociodemographic and institutional factors such as education, credit access, farmer-based organizations, and extension services could be strengthened for easy and rapid adoption of CSAT by smallholder farmers, which subsequently improves their economic welfare.

The Effect of Spatial Scale on the Prediction of Tropical Forest Attributes from Image Texture

The availability of high-resolution satellite imagery has boosted the modelling of tropical forest attributes based on texture metrics derived from grey-level co-occurrence matrices (GLCMs). This procedure has shown that GLCM metrics are good predictors of vegetation attributes. Nonetheless, the procedure is also sensitive to the scale of analysis (image resolution and plot size). This study aimed to analyse the effect of spatial scale on the modelling of forest attributes, and to provide some ecological insight into such effect. Nineteen 32 × 32 m sampling plots were used to quantify forest structure (basal area: BA; mean height: H; standard deviation of height, HSD; density, D; and aboveground biomass, AGB). The 19 plots were subdivided into four 16 × 16 m, one of which was subdivided into four 8 × 8 m plots. To match this design, 12 GLCM metrics were calculated from a GeoEye-1 image (pixel size ≤ 2 m) using a 5-, 9-, and 21-pixel window from the R, NIR, NDVI, and EVI bands. For each of the windows, we modelled the five structural variables as linear combinations of the 12 metrics through linear models. The modelling potential ranged from high (R2 = 0.70) to low (0.11). H was the best-predicted attribute; this occurred at the smallest scale, with increasing scales producing lower R2 values. The second best-predicted attribute was HSD, which peaked at the intermediate scale. D and AGB displayed a similar pattern. BA was the only attribute best predicted at the largest scale. Thus, in predicting tropical forest attributes from GLCM-derived texture metrics, the spatial scale to be used should reflect the spatial scale at which ecological processes occur. Therefore, understanding how ecological processes express themselves in a remotely sensed image becomes a critical task.

Socioeconomic Determinants of Poverty Reduction among Irrigating Farmers in Mberengwa District, Zimbabwe

Sustainable Development Goal 1 aims to end extreme poverty everywhere by the year 2030. Smallholder irrigation development is arguably a vital strategy to reduce rural poverty. The authors assessed the socioeconomic determinants of poverty reduction in Mberengwa district, Zimbabwe. Data were collected from 444 randomly selected households. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27 and Microsoft Excel 2019 software packages. Chi-square tests, t-tests, and Foster–Greer–Thorbecke (FGT) poverty index and binary logistic regression model tests were performed. The chi-square test results show an association between access to irrigation and farmer’s level of education (p < 0.01). The t-test results show significant differences between irrigators and non-irrigators for household size (p < 0.01), household labor (p < 0.05), and rainfed plot size (p < 0.05). FGT indices show that the poverty incidence, depth, and severity were lesser for irrigators than non-irrigators. The binary logistic regression model results show that age, household size, access to irrigation and household income significantly influence household poverty status. In conclusion, access to irrigation reduces poverty in rural areas. However, access to irrigation is not a panacea for poverty reduction in rural areas. Smallholder irrigation development policies should consider socioeconomic determinants of poverty reduction to properly target and tailor interventions, and increase the relevance and effectiveness of poverty reduction efforts.

Land Cover Patterns of Urban Lots and Their Contribution to Ecological Functions

The green infrastructure of urban lots performs socio-ecological functions and provides several ecosystem services (ESs) in urban environments. By assessing the land cover patterns of such sites, one can deduce ecological functions and potential ESs. We represented the various land cover combinations of lots by mapping and classifying the vegetation quality of 2828 lots in the city of Belo Horizonte, Southeast Brazil. We performed cluster analysis of land cover with weighting according to ecological functions, potential for ES provision, and performance. Most lots (1024, 36.21%) were in the moderate vegetation quality class (trees/native vegetation between 25% and 50% or >50% herbaceous-shrubby vegetation), which included the largest plot of 383,300 m2 and a median plot size of 403 m2. A total of 244 (8.63%) lots were in the highest vegetation quality class (trees/native vegetation between >50% and 100%). The lots included diverse vegetation cover combinations of up to ten land cover types, with two dominant types: herbaceous-shrubby vegetation and tree clumps. Among the four land cover patterns obtained, those covered by tree clusters (1193 lots; 42.18%) had the highest ecological performance and the greatest potential for regulating and supporting ESs. This cluster had the highest average land cover of tree clumps (49%) and the highest averages for native vegetation formations (2–6%). Our study showed a variety of land cover patterns and an expressive percentage of lots with capabilities to provide ecological functions and ESs, which can support urban sustainability policies that have yet to be addressed.

Enhancing Sesame Yield in Arid Conditions through NPK Fertilizer Optimization

Sesame, an important oilseed crop and valuable source of protein, plays a central role in global agriculture. This study, conducted during the 2021-2022 Kharif season at Karor Adaptive Research Farm (ARF), Layyah, Pakistan, aimed to optimize the use of NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) fertilizers to increase sesame yield under dry conditions. Our research aimed to determine the most effective application rates of NPK fertilizer (34:24:12) kg/acre for sesame variety TH-6 in the region, consistent with the objectives of maximizing sesame yield and biomass accumulation. The experimental design RCBD included multiple treatments, with meticulous attention to plot sizes, replicates, and robust data collection and analysis methods. These measures ensure the reliability of our results and their potential applicability to similar agroclimatic conditions. The use of NPK fertilizer at the rate of (113:113:60) kg ha-1 in ARF gave promising results. A maximum grain yield of 765.3 kg ha-1 was observed in 2021, exceeding the yield of 738.6 kg ha-1 in 2022. Similarly, the use of NPK (113:113:60) kg ha-1 in a farmer's field resulted in a maximum grain yield of 828.6 kg ha-1 in 2021, as opposed to 702.6 kg ha-1 in 2022. These results highlight the potential of NPK fertilizer application combined with optimal field practices to increase sesame yield and its components under the challenging agro-climatic conditions of Karor, Layyah. The discussion interprets the results and emphasizes the importance of NPK fertilizers for sesame cultivation. Although our primary focus is not on climate discussions, the consistent methodology in both years, from sowing to harvesting, revealed significant differences in yield and growth parameters, leading to climate change being considered as a potential contributing factor. This study shows that the application of NPK fertilizer at the rate of (113:113:60) kg ha-1 can significantly increase sesame yield under adverse conditions.