Potential Land Research Articles

Sensitivity of Multi-Criteria Analysis Methods in Rural Land Consolidation Project Ranking

Decisions around distributing available funds among potential land consolidation projects require a thorough analysis in order to maximize the effects of land consolidation. In order to avoid choosing the wrong land consolidation projects, different methods can be used. Generally, there are two possible groups of methods: one based on a qualitative approach (DELPHI; SWOT) and one based on a quantitative approach (AHP, VIKOR, SAW, TOPSIS, etc.). In this research, the focus was on the sensitivity of the resulting rankings affected by varying the input data in multi-criteria analysis methods, with an emphasis on the variation in the weight and the choice of criteria. This research was motivated by the subjective character of the choice of criteria and their weighting before applying the multi-criteria analysis methods. Four methods were included (AHP, TOPSIS, VIKOR, and SAW) for the multi-criteria analysis, with three ways of defining weights (consistent, modified, or quasi-consistent and freely determined without taking consistency into account), in order to determine the influence of the different methods on the final ranking. The weights were defined only by an acceptable interval of values. The sensitivity of the methods was investigated using the differences in the obtained rankings between each method. A case study is provided on real data, and the results are discussed. The results showed a relatively small variance and possible equal rankings of projects by means of statistical analyses. This finding opens up the possibility of the valuation of projects instead of simple rankings.

Avoiding ecosystem and social impacts of hydropower, wind, and solar in Southern Africa’s low-carbon electricity system

The scale at which low-carbon electricity will need to be deployed to meet economic growth, electrification, and climate goals in Africa is unprecedented, yet the potential land use and freshwater impacts from this massive build-out of energy infrastructure is poorly understood. In this study, we characterize low-impact onshore wind, solar photovoltaics, and hydropower potential in Southern Africa and identify the cost-optimal mix of electricity generation technologies under different sets of socio-environmental land use and freshwater constraints and carbon targets. We find substantial wind and solar potential after applying land use protections, but about 40% of planned or proposed hydropower projects face socio-environmental conflicts. Applying land and freshwater protections results in more wind, solar, and battery capacity and less hydropower capacity compared to scenarios without protections. While a carbon target favors hydropower, the amount of cost-competitively selected hydropower is at most 45% of planned or proposed hydropower capacity in any scenario—and is only 25% under socio-environmental protections. Achieving both carbon targets and socio-environmental protections results in system cost increases of 3-6%. In the absence of land and freshwater protections, environmental and social impacts from new hydropower development could be significant.

Land Suitability for Pepper in Tanggamus Regency, Lampung Province, Indonesia

Pepper is one of the local commodities developed in Indonesia and has become an export commodity. Improving the productivity of pepper can be done through sustainable land management based on the characteristics of soils and their potential. Therefore, land suitability evaluation is needed to maximize land potential and minimize inhibiting factors for pepper plant growth. This study evaluated the characteristics, potential, and distribution of suitable land for pepper plant development in Tanggamus Regency, Lampung Province, Indonesia. Land suitability was evaluated by matching land characteristics with land suitability criteria for pepper plants. This criterion consists of four classes, namely highly suitable (S1), moderately suitable (S2), marginally suitable (S3), and not suitable (N). The soil's climate and physical and chemical properties were the land characteristics data used. Potential land availability was arranged based on land suitability classes by considering existing land use and forest area status. Soil types in Tanggamus Regency are Inceptisols, Entisols, Alfisols, Andisols, Oxisols, and Ultisols, with the most extensive distribution of soil types being Oxisol (Typic Hapludox). The distribution of relief in Tanggamus Regency is dominated by mountainous areas with very steep slopes (slope >40%). Land suitability classes are moderately suitable (S2), marginally suitable (S3), and not suitable (N) with limiting factors, namely drainage, texture, soil pH, and erosion hazard/slope. Improvement can be made by planting according to contours, planting cover crops, applying lime and organic matter, and ensuring balanced fertilization. The development of pepper plants in Tanggamus Regency can be achieved through diversification and extensification, with a total area of potential land that can be developed of 73,995 ha.
 
 Keywords: land potential, land evaluation, limiting factor, pepper, soil characteristics

Efficiencies of Heavy Metal Hyper-accumulation Plants as Potential Land Remediators for Heavy Metal Polluted Soils

The purpose of this study was to determine which hyper accumulator plant is more efficient for phytoremediation of heavy metals in a heavy metal polluted soil. The plants used were Sunflower (Helianthus annuus), Asiatic dayflower (Commelina communis), Guinea grass (Panicum maximum), Bahama grass (Cynodon dactylon), and Vertiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides). Heavy metals such as Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Ag and Hg were impregnated in the soil samples and analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The plants were planted in the heavy metal polluted soil and harvested after 75 days to determine the percentage concentration of the heavy metals in the root and shoot of the plants. The result showed that heavy metals were hyper-accumulated in the roots and shoots of the plants at the end of the investigation. The heavy metals with a percentage concentration above 50 % can be used as a phytoremediator of that particular metal in a polluted soil. It was discovered that the best hyperaccumulator plants for Pb is the Sunflower, for Zn and Cd is the Bahama grass, for Cu and Ag is the Vertiver grass whilst, for Hg is the Guinea grass.

Exploring the food, energy, and water governance in South‐West Iran

The main purpose of this study was to analyze the social network governing the Nexus of food, energy, and water. Khuzestan province was selected because it has 2.2 million hectares of potential agricultural lands, 190,000 farmers, and produces 11.2 million tons of agricultural production per year. This study used a mixed‐method and data was collected using field surveys. In the first step, using the notion of problem‐shed and issue network, the composition of the Food–Energy–Water (FEW) nexus and its boundaries are determined. In the second step, ‘the social network analysis’ method was used to analyze the structural configuration of the FEW nexus networks. Network surveys were conducted among different actors from different departments and different administrative levels. Also, some key informants such as the university faculty members participated in the network survey. The network data was analyzed using the UCINET software. The results showed that actors tend to communicate with actors within the group. Meanwhile, the actors of the industrial sector as well as the Khuzestan Water and Power Association, tend to establish extra‐group communication at a very high level. Finally, we proffer recommendations based upon lessons learned from this investigation to use in other study areas.

Identification of land characteristics to increase red chili productivity in Mangunan, Bantul, Indonesia

Red chili the vegetable commodities with significant economic value. The supply of chili is often constrained, so it is necessary to increase the land. Land suitability evaluation is needed to determine the suitable of land in Mangunan, Bantul for cultivation of red chili. The objective of this study is to identify land characteristics for red chili to facilitate the expansion of cultivation areas. The study was done using a survey method The soil analysis is conducted in accordance with the methodology prescribed by the Indonesian Centre for Land Resources and Agriculture. The results showed that the actual land suitability at altitudes of 0-300 m asl is S3 with a limiting factor being P element. The height of 300-350 m asl is N with limiting factor slope of land. At altitudes of 350-400 and 400-450 m asl is S3 with limiting factors C- organic and P element. After evaluation and improvement efforts, the suitability of potential land at an altitude of 0-300, 350-400 and 400-450 m asl was S2 with improve the addition of organic matter or fertilization P. The altitude of 300-350 m asl was S3 with improve making bench terraces and parallel planting.

Some Geospatial Insights on Orange Grove Site Selection in a Portion of the Northern Citrus Belt of Mexico

This study aimed to delineate the most suitable areas for sustainable citrus production by integrating multi-criteria decision analysis, time-series remote sensing, and principal component analysis in a portion of the northern citrus belt of Mexico, particularly in the Rioverde Valley. Fourteen specific factors were grouped into four main factors, i.e., topography, soil, climate, and proximity to water sources, to carry out a multi-criteria decision analysis for classifying production areas according to suitability levels. To explore the effect of precipitation on land suitability for citrus production, we analyzed the historical record of annual precipitation estimated by processing 20-year NDVI daily data. The multi-criteria model was run for every precipitation year. The final map of land suitability was obtained by using the first component after principal component analysis on annual land suitability maps. The results indicate that approximately 30% of the study area is suitable for growing orange groves, with specific areas designated as suitable based on both mean annual precipitation (MAP) and principal component analysis (PCA) criteria, resulting in 84,415.7 ha and 95,485.5 ha of suitable land, respectively. The study highlighted the importance of remotely sensed data-based time-series precipitation in predicting potential land suitability for growing orange groves in semiarid lands. Our results may support decision-making processes for the effective land management of orange groves in the Mexico’s Rioverde region.

A New Method for Assessing Land Consolidation Urgency, including Market Value

Public funding for land consolidation projects is an instrument in the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union (CAP). The execution of systematic land consolidation programmes focused on optimising the spatial structure of agricultural areas presents the possibility of improving agricultural production conditions and maximising the efficiency of agriculture at the local, regional, national, and international levels. However, due to limited access to financial resources, it is necessary to delimit priority areas for land consolidation. A contemporary practice based on an assessment of the social support percentage of potential land consolidation projects in individual villages does not represent a real necessity for action. This problem leads to the ineffective utilisation of financial resources and reduces the efficiency of the implemented programmes. We propose a new algorithm for assessing the real needs for land consolidation based on a detailed multi-faceted analysis of the spatial structure of agricultural areas. The research method involved factors describing the spatial structure defectiveness of farms, as well as those determining land quality in relation to investment profitability. Another factor verifying the potential economic rationale of land consolidation is transaction prices, which mostly reflect the agricultural value of the land. The analysis showed that land consolidation in areas with defective spatial structures and relatively high market value should be a priority. The study enabled the extraction of five of the 58 analysed villages, characterised by above-average demand for land consolidation and above-average land prices. This approach will contribute to profit maximisation by increasing the productivity of areas with the highest agricultural suitability.

Optimizing China’s Afforestation Strategy: Biophysical Impacts of Afforestation with Five Locally Adapted Forest Types

Recent research has mapped potential afforestation land to support China’s goal of achieving “carbon neutrality” and has proposed tree species selection to maximize carbon uptake. However, it overlooked biophysical climatic effects, which have a more significant impact on local temperature than CO2 reduction. This study aims to present a comprehensive understanding of how afforestation in China affects local and regional climates through biophysical processes. It focuses on the latitudinal patterns of land surface temperature differences (ΔLST) between five locally adapted forest types and adjacent grasslands using satellite-based observations. Our key findings are as follows: Firstly, broadleaf forests and mixed forests exhibit a stronger cooling effect than coniferous forests due to differences in canopy structure and distribution. Specifically, the net cooling effects of evergreen broadleaf forests (EBFs), deciduous broadleaf forests (DBFs), and mixed forests (MFs) compared to grasslands are −0.50 ± 0.10 °C (mean ± 95% confidence interval), −0.33 ± 0.05 °C, and −0.36 ± 0.06 °C, respectively, while evergreen needleleaf forests (ENFs) compared to grasslands are −0.22 ± 0.11 °C. Deciduous needleleaf forests (DNFs) exhibit warming effects, with a value of 0.69 ± 0.24 °C. In regions suitable for diverse forest types planting, the selection of broadleaf and mixed forests is advisable due to their enhanced local cooling impact. Secondly, temperate forests have a net cooling effect to the south of 43° N, but they have a net warming effect to the north of 48° N compared to grasslands. We recommend caution when planting DNFs, DBFs, and MFs in northeastern China, due to the potential for local warming. Thirdly, in the mountainous areas of southwestern China, especially when planting ENFs and MFs, tree planting may lead to local warming. Overall, our study provides valuable supplementary insights to China’s existing afforestation roadmap, offering policy support for the country’s climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.

China's energy-water-land system co-evolution under carbon neutrality goal and climate impacts

China's 2060 carbon neutrality goal has significant implications for energy, water, and land systems. However, the multi-sector dynamics among China's energy-water-land system have rarely been examined explicitly. This study adopts an integrated assessment framework to simulate China's energy-water-land system co-evolution under alternative carbon neutrality scenarios and climate impacts. Results show that although the net zero emission target provides the incentive for the energy system to move away from fossil fuels, total water withdrawal will increase due to the deployment of nuclear, bioenergy, and coal power plants with carbon capture and storage. Diversifying the negative emission technologies, by leveraging direct air capture technology, can alleviate the potential water stress and land use conflicts, which would otherwise be exacerbated by large-scale deployment of afforestation and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage. Northwest and northeast regions of China are the hotspots experiencing water withdrawal increases, while Bohai Rim and coastal regions are identified to experience fierce land competition. This study demonstrates the potential for general applicability to carry out resource planning and policy evaluation from the multi-sector coordination perspective.

Following Indigeneity to unbuild inequities in teaching for multilingualism: restoring relationship with the Land

ABSTRACT This theoretical article explores how Land-based education could help decolonize language education, starting from the case of dual language bilingual education (DLBE) in the United States. We invoke other scholars’ metaphor of basements versus boutiques to understand how such programs have often either been colonially marginalized into basements or colonially gentrified by middle-class White students. We extend this DLBE problematic beyond and beneath the human-made buildings implied in the basements and boutiques metaphor toward the decolonizing potential Land offers. We analyzed relevant literature on Indigenous language and culture revitalization programs in North America, calling on their expertise and leadership in how to center Land-based thinking and ways of knowing across DLBE. We argue that Land-based pedagogy’s critiques of settler colonialism and Mother Earth’s destruction by humans can help DLBE expand its equity focus toward societal transformation that goes beyond human-centered and language-centered thinking. We theorize what it would mean to bring Land to the heart of non-Indigenous DLBE programs, including six actionable recommendations for a Land-based reframing of DLBE that can further unbuild the coloniality of basements and boutiques.

Sustainable land use: Policy implications of systematic land regularization in Mozambique

Security of land tenure is key to achieve the sustainable development goal of eradicating poverty and can be improved through the regularization of rights to land, property, and natural resources. Making cities and human settlements sustainable, requires participatory and integrated land use planning, accounting for the land’s potential and constraints, with a view to medium and long-term use. The government of Mozambique is actively promoting a process of massive regularization, under common terms of reference for service providers. The terms of reference also intend to achieve a linkage between regularization and community land use plans. The aim of this research is to assess the robustness of such plans to detect and overcome potential conflicts between the given and the potential land use, as well as constraints, weaknesses and threats. This research uses a mixed documental analysis to undertake an ex-ante assessment of 15 participatory community land use plans. Five categories are assumed as a reference of good practices in land use planning suggested by universal and African literature. It was found that the common terms of reference and guidelines promote participatory capacity and provides general directions of community development. However, good practices of land use planning such as effective participation in all phases, alternative scenarios for future land use, regional integration, and disasters risk management are less promoted. It is suggested that the guidelines go beyond the immediate needs of land register, to consider that such interventions in rural areas shape the culture of land use, which, in turn, will influence sustainability in higher level settlements.

Mapping Land Characteristics of Arabica Coffee in Pangaribuan and Simangumban Subdistricts

The yield of Arabica coffee were in low level and needed to be evaluated the land suitability ofPangaribuan and Simangumban subdistrict. This study was aimed to determine land suitabilityclasses by using survey method. Sample was taken purposive sampling and data was matched withland characteristics of Arabica coffee table. Research shows that land suitability classes in LMU 1,2 and 3 were classified as marginally suitable with water availability, rooting condition and nutrientretention as limiting factor. The potential land suitability classes were classified as marginallysuitable with rooting condition limiting factor.

Solar collector tilt angle optimization for agrivoltaic systems

The growing global population increases the need for energy and food. As agricultural land is invaded by renewable energy projects, the area of land that can be cultivated is decreasing day by day. Agrivoltaics offers an alternative solution to this situation by combining agriculture and photovoltaics on the same land. This study investigates the feasibility of a possible 175 m2 Agrivoltaic system in Ankara Turkey (39.57° N-32.53° E). The study consists of three phases. In the first stage, the annual, monthly and seasonal optimum tilt angle for 39.57° N latitude was determined. In the second stage, eight different models were created for different tilt angles for PV panels of three different efficiencies in the agrivoltaic system to be installed. AC electrical energy and net profit ($) that can be produced with these models were calculated. In the third and final stage, the potential land equivalent ratio amount of seven agricultural cropscombined with eight different models was calculated. In the scenario created for the region, the highest yield increase is 11.2 % with M1 model (β = 31.33°)-Thinfilm, while the lowest yield loss is 33.2 % with M4 (β = 90.00°) Thinfilm. The highest generated electricity and net profit are AC-15674 (kW h) and 1286 ($) respectively. For the agricultural land determined to be grown in the system, the highest yielding agricultural product was kiwifruit with a value of 2.07 and the lowest yielding product was bokchoy with 0.25. This study can serve as a basic technical guidance for the establishment of Agrivoltaic plants with the highest efficiency in the Mediterranean climate and mid-latitude regions.

Perendaman Benih Melon Dengan PGPR Pseudomonas sp. dan Bacillus sp. di Dusun Ngadilegi Utara, Kecamatan Pandaan, Kabupaten Pasuruan

Ngadilegi Utara Hamlet is one of the hamlets in Plinlahan Village, Pandaan District, Pasuruan Regency which has large potential land for cultivating plants. Farmers in Ngadilegi Hamlet grow many crop commodities, one of which is melons. Melon (Cucumis melo L) is an annual fruit plant originating from the Persian Hot Valley or the Mediterranean region which is the border between West Asia, Europe and Africa. Melon plants are a type of pumpkin plant which is in the same family as watermelon, cantaloupe and cucumber. One effort to increase melon production in North Ngadilegi Hamlet can be done by good development and correct cultivation technology and supported by the use of new technology, namely the use of bacteria contained in PGPR. Soaking seeds with PGPR aims to ensure that the bacteria contained in PGPR are able to colonize the seeds as early as possible. Proper long soaking treatment of seeds can increase plant yields because bacteria will bind to the seed coat and imbibition into the seeds.

From risk assessment to land planning. The case of a trace element‐contaminated area in Chile

AbstractWhile abundant scientific literature focuses on diagnosing contaminated areas, solutions with a scientific base are far from balanced. This is the case of the Quintero‐Puchuncaví Bay, a widely known contaminated area in the central coast of Chile. Here, arsenic in soils surrounding the industrial complex has been reported as a threat to human health. However, land planning based on As contamination becomes a challenge since the whole area is identified as contaminated. Such a lack of land‐planning constrains the occupation and remediation of contaminated soil leading to a brownfield‐like landscape. To face this challenge, we proposed using a geospatial decision support system (S‐DSS) to integrate the contamination assessment, health and ecosystem risks, and potential land uses. When characterizing soil arsenic concentration thresholds for different land uses in a S‐DSS, we could categorize the land in suitable, caution, and unsuitable areas (based on human health risks). This way, we unravel areas with potential use in the current condition while also discerning caution and unsuitable categories, that can undergo extensive and intensive remediation techniques. Similarly, we took a conservational approach to estimate emerging risk from the industrial complex associated to explosions. Altogether, it highlights the potential of S‐DSS to integrate different geographic information. We finally feature two APPs regarding current land‐use suitability and a modeled one considering future arsenic emissions.

The expansion and remaining suitable areas of global oil palm plantations

Abstract Non-technical summary Oil palm has been criticized for being an environmentally unfriendly oil crop. In recent decades, oil palm plantations have extended into conservation landscapes, causing severe environmental damage and harming biodiversity. Nevertheless, oil palm remains a highly productive oil crop from which most of the world's vegetable oil is produced. Therefore, measuring the environmental impact of oil palm plantations and identifying suitable land to support its sustainable development is crucial. Technical summary To meet the rising global palm oil demand sustainably, we tracked annual land cover changes in oil palm plantation and mapped areas worldwide suitable for sustainable oil palm cultivation. From 1982 to 2019, 3.6 Mha of forests were converted to oil palm plantations. Despite a recent decline in overall conversion, the shift from forest to oil palm plantations has become increasingly more common over the last decade, rising from 14.1 to 34.5% between 2009 and 2019. During 1982–2019, 2.23 Mha of peatland and 0.1 Mha of protected areas were converted for oil palm plantations. The potential sustainable land amounts to 103.5–317.9 Mha (Asia: 44.6–105.1 Mha, Africa: 34.7–96.4 Mha, and Latin America: 35.2–116.5 Mha). Future oil palm expansion is anticipated to take place in countries like Brazil, Nigeria, Colombia, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ghana, where more sustainable land is available for cultivation. Malaysia, on the other hand, is about to exceed the area of sustainable cultivation, and further expansion is not recommended. These findings can advance our understanding of the environmentally damaging impacts of oil palm and enhance the feasibility of sustainable oil palm development. Social media summary How should suitable land be chosen for the establishment of oil palm plantations to support the sustainable development of the oil palm plantation industry?

Landslide risk assessment integrating susceptibility, hazard, and vulnerability analysis in Northern Pakistan

The purpose of this study is to assess the landslide risk for Hunza–Nagar Valley (Northern Pakistan). In this study, different conditioning factors, e.g., topographical, geomorphological, climatic, and geological factors were considered. Two machine learning approaches, i.e., logistic regression and artificial neural network were used to develop landslide susceptibility maps. The accuracy test was carried out using the receiving operative characteristic (ROC) curve. Which showed that the success and prediction rates of LR model is 82.60 and 81.60%, while 77.90 and 75.40%, for the ANN model. Due to the physiographic condition of the area, the rainfall density was considered as the primary triggering factor and landslide index map was generated. Moreover, using the Aster data the land cover (LC) map was developed. The settlements were extracted from the LC map and used as the elements at risk and hence, the vulnerability index was developed. Finally, the landslide risk map (LRM) for the Hunza–Nagar valley was developed. The LRM indicated that 37.25 (20.21 km2) and 47.64% (25.84 km2) of the total settlements lie in low and very high-risk zones. This landslide risk map can help decision-makers for potential land development and landslide countermeasures.

Retraction notice: Geospatial assessment of potential land suitability for oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq) cultivation in the western parts of Ethiopia

Retraction notice: Geospatial assessment of potential land suitability for oil palm (<i>Elaeis guineensis Jacq</i>) cultivation in the western parts of Ethiopia

Expression of concern about the article: Geospatial assessment of potential land suitability for oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq) cultivation in the western parts of Ethiopia

Expression of concern about the article: Geospatial assessment of potential land suitability for oil palm <i>(Elaeis guineensis Jacq)</i> cultivation in the western parts of Ethiopia