Land Productivity Research Articles

Climate change and staple grain acreage: Regional adaptation in China's agricultural cluster

The regionally adaptative use of cropland for staple grain production forms a critical foundation for agricultural clustering, however, the effects of climate change on grain acreage across regions have received insufficient attention. This study uses recent county-level data from 2000 to 2019 in China and employs an empirical framework that incorporates 10-year averages of weather variables to analyze regional variations in grain acreage in response to changes in temperature and precipitation. Our findings reveal significant regional heterogeneity: increases in temperature and precipitation generally lead to an expansion of staple grain acreage in initially colder or drier regions. These findings remain robust after accounting for a range of confounding factors. Mechanism analysis indicates that these climate-induced changes in grain acreage stem from variations in land productivity. Furthermore, the study identifies shifts in comparative advantages among staple grains across regions: rising temperatures favor paddy over corn in colder regions and corn over wheat in warmer areas, while increased precipitation enhances corn's advantage over wheat in arid regions. These findings have important implications for designing effective adaptation policies to sustain grain productivity in China's agricultural clusters and ensure food security targets.

Promoting equity in priority area identification for productive lands: A protection-management-restoration hierarchy

Promoting equity in priority area identification for productive lands: A protection-management-restoration hierarchy

Land use change, cropping pattern and productivity of major crops in Janjgir-Champa (C.G)

The primary objective of this study is to analyze the land use changes in Janjgir-Champa, examining their temporal and spatial patterns and identifying key drivers such as urbanization and agricultural practices. It aims to study the cropping patterns, focusing on the seasonal and spatial distribution of major crops like paddy, wheat, and pulses, while evaluating the impact of practices like crop rotation and intercropping on sustainability. The research also seeks to assess the productivity trends of these crops in relation to changing land use and farming techniques, identifying factors such as soil quality and irrigation. Jangir-Champa, a prominent agricultural district in Chhattisgarh, India, is characterized by its rich agro-climatic diversity and reliance on traditional cropping systems. This study delves into the cropping patterns prevalent in the region, emphasizing the potential and adoption of organic farming practices. The analysis identifies major crops such as paddy, wheat, and pulses, exploring their spatial and seasonal distribution alongside intercropping and crop rotation methods. Organic farming, as an eco-friendly alternative, is gaining momentum in the region due to its promise of sustainability, improved soil health, and reduced chemical dependency. This research highlights the socio-economic benefits and challenges of transitioning to organic farming, including farmer awareness, certification hurdles, and market dynamics. By integrating field surveys, soil analyses, and farmer interviews, the study provides insights into optimizing cropping patterns while promoting organic farming. The findings aim to guide policymakers and stakeholders in fostering an agricultural paradigm that balances productivity, environmental health, and farmer livelihoods in Jangir-Champa.

Public Policy Network Implementation: A Case Study in the Development Urban Farming for Sustainable Food Independence in Makassar City

Urban farming uses land intensification to meet the daily need for fresh fruit and vegetables for residential areas in urban areas. Urban agriculture provides positive value in meeting food needs and practical values ​​that are meaningful for environmental and regional economic sustainability. Urban farming solves the problems above by creating green open space through open land management amid dense buildings and urban settlements. This research aims to analyze the implementation of development network policies for urban farming for sustainable food independence in Makassar City. This research uses a descriptive qualitative approach with data collection methods, namely observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation. The informants in this research are the authorities and are directly involved in the development of urban farming for sustainable food independence in Makassar City. The research results show that the implementation of the development policy network urban farming for sustainable food independence in Makassar City, it still needs to be improved through joint actions carried out between stakeholder. This is because there is still a lack of instructors assisting the Women Farmers Group (KWT) which is the target of the program urban farming in Makassar City. So, this influences the sustainability of the activities of utilizing yard land into productive land which can help in food independence for the people of Makassar City.

The Impact of Agricultural Machinery Services on Food Loss at the Producer Level: Evidence from China

Reducing food loss can improve environmental sustainability, resource use, and food security. Agricultural machinery services have considerable advantages in enhancing the adaptability and competitiveness of farms, but little is known about its potential for addressing food loss. Here, this work attempts to reveal a strong yet under-discussed connection between agricultural machinery services and food loss. Using survey data covering 483 corn farmers in the Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces of China from October to December 2024, this study examined the extent to which participation in agricultural machinery services reduced food loss. Our results confirmed the existence of this significant causal effect and estimated 0.864% and 0.862% reductions in weight and value losses in response to a 1% increase in the purchase of agricultural machinery services. The possible mechanisms driving this relationship, including factor allocation optimization and technology introduction, were further verified. A variety of robustness tests were conducted to validate the strength and reliability of the empirical results and address endogeneity issues. Also, to better contextualize the heterogeneous effects of agricultural machinery services on food loss, the differences across production links, land fragmentation, and service quality were explored. By highlighting the important roles of agricultural machinery services in reducing food loss, our analysis contributed to contemporary debates about the long-term linkage between the wide popularization of agricultural machinery services and achieving food security, particularly providing insights for developing countries.

The Impact of High-Standard Farmland Construction (HSFC) Policy on Green Agricultural Development (GAD): Evidence from China

Studying the policy effectiveness and impact process of the high-standard farmland construction (HSFC) on the green agricultural development (GAD) provides reference for sustainable development of agriculture. Based on the quasi experimental conditions for the sub regional promotion of China’ s HSFC policy and making use of the balanced panel data from 2004 to 2022 in China, this article diagnoses the level and evolution characteristics of GAD in China, empirically tests the effects of the China’s HSFC policy on the GAD level by the continuous difference-in-differences (DID) model, and then further analyzes the mediating roles of horizontal agricultural production division and land management scale efficiency. The research results indicate that (1) the GAD level of China continues to improve form 2004 to 2022; (2) the HSFC policy has been positively influencing the GAD level, and has gone through a significance level test of 0.01; (3) further study reveals that the HSFC policy promotes the GAD level primarily through the agricultural green technology progress (AGTP) and the agricultural green efficiency change (AGEC), with the AGTP being the main contributor; and (4) the HSFC policy positively influences the GAD level by enhancing horizontal agricultural production division and land management scale efficiency. To improve the level of GAD, it is essential to continuously optimize policy for the HSFC, promote the AGTP and the improvement of the AGEC, and effectively improve the horizontal agricultural production division level and land management scale efficiency.

Evaluasi Kesesuaian Lahan untuk Tanaman Kopi Robusta (Coffea canephora) di Kecamatan Belinyu Kabupaten Bangka

Robusta coffee (Coffea canephora) plays an important role in the national economy. Robusta coffee is one type of plantation plant that is widely cultivated by the people in Indonesia, including in Bangka Belitung. Evaluation of land suitability for robusta coffee plants is needed as land use planning that lead to more productive land use. The purpose of this study is to determine the class and distribution of actual and potential land suitability for robusta coffee plants base on order, class and sub-class levels in Belinyu District, Bangka Regency and find out recommendations of land improvement for cultivation of robusta coffee plants in Belinyu District, Bangka Regency. The study was conducted in May – September 2023 located in Belinyu District, Bangka Regency. This research uses survey methods and map analysis. The results showed that from the land area of Belinyu Subdistrict 74,812 Ha, 27,498.5 Ha of land can be developed for robusta coffee plant cultivation. The actual land suitability obtained after soil analysis is 25,781.1 Ha of land included in the S3 (marginally suitable) class and 1,717.4 Ha of land included in the N (unsuitable) class, after land improvement recommendations are made, the potential land suitability of robusta coffee plants in Belinyu District is classified into the S2 (moderately suitable) land suitability class with an area of 21,328.9 Ha, S3 (marginally suitable) 6,165.4 Ha and N (unsuitable) land area of 4.2 Ha. Limiting factors found in the research location are oxygen availability, rooting media, nutrient retention, available nutrients, erosion hazard and flood hazard. Recommendations for land improvement are the use of manure in improving soil physics, the addition of organic materials, liming and terracing

Spatiotemporal Evolution and Driving Mechanisms of Non-Grain Production Rate of Planting Structure in Jilin Province from the Perspective of Grain Security

Grain security is the foundation of national security, and non-grain production of cultivated land (NGPCL) poses a challenge to grain security. Existing research on the NGPCL has mainly focused on large-scale studies, with relatively few analyses at smaller scales, such as county-level units. Therefore, we selected Jilin Province, one of China’s most important grain-producing areas, as the study region. We extracted data on NGPCL from 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020, and calculated the non-grain production rate of cultivated land for each of the province’s counties. Based on this, we used the gravity center and standard deviation ellipse models, and spatial autocorrelation analysis tools to reveal the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of the non-grain production rate of the planting structure (NGPRPS) in Jilin Province. Finally, we applied the geographic detector to analyze the impact of 10 factors on the changes in the NGPRPS. The results show that: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the NGPRPS in Jilin Province generally showed a downward trend, which can be divided into three phases: fluctuation, decline, and an initial increase followed by a decrease. (2) There is a clear spatial differentiation in the non-grain production of planting structure (NGPPS) in Jilin Province, with the spatial pattern being generally low in the center and higher at the periphery. In the early stage, the non-grain production rate (NGPR) increased rapidly, while in the later stage, the spatial distribution of NGPPS became more pronounced in the southeastern direction. (3) In the short term, policy factors played a significant role in the changes in the NGPRPS. In the long term, however, natural environment, production resources, economic level, and social development showed interactive effects on the changes in the NGPR in the region. Based on these findings, the government can adopt corresponding measures and management policies considering the impact of these factors, the research results, and the proposed strategies. These include the rational implementation of land use planning, delineating the baseline for cultivated land protection, and controlling the use of cultivated land.

The state program for involving abandoned lands into circulation and the progress of its implementation

The article considers the main reasons for the withdrawal of previously developed productive lands from agricultural circulation. The author positively assesses the implementation of the special state program adopted in 2021 to solve this problem. By the author, the program effect will be higher with proper land management support, that requires the adoption of a new version of the Federal Law "Land Management".

The Impact of Agricultural Digitization on Land Productivity: An Empirical Test Based on Micro Panel Data

Digital technology has transformed agriculture by changing traditional production methods and resource allocation. This paper investigates how agricultural digitization affects land productivity, based on farm household data. Findings indicate that agricultural digitization significantly enhances land productivity, with results remaining robust under sensitivity and endogeneity tests. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the positive effects are more pronounced for larger landholdings, lower levels of human capital, and older farming populations. Mechanism analysis indicates that agricultural digitization improves land productivity by optimizing resource allocation, reducing pollution, enhancing risk resilience, and facilitating the adoption of new technologies. These findings provide valuable insights for developing countries pursuing agricultural digital transformation.

Soil quality indicator-based land productivity modelling for agricultural sustainability.

Rapid population expansion has made food security a global concern for humanity, necessitating a sustainable assessment of natural resources. Well evaluated and managed soil is one of the most significant resources that can assist close the gap between supply and demand for food to attain food security. A precise assessment of land productivity (LP) is essential for sustainable land use management. The primary aim of this research is to predict the land productivity index (LPI) for certain locations on Egypt's northwest coast under current conditions using soil quality indicators (SQIs). Additionally, the study proposed relevant management actions to boost land productivity in the future. To achieve this aim, a spatial model was created to assess LPI for some areas in the north western coast of Egypt. LP equation was used to estimate current land productivity index (CLPI) and potential land productivity index (PLPI). Results found that the study area mainly located under two classes of CLPI, e.g., average (class ⅡⅠ) represents an area of 13322.63 ha (67.55%) and good grade (class Ⅱ) covers an area of 4339.78 ha (22%). PLPI grades were good (II) and average (III) with an area of 16192.54 ha (82.10%) and 1903.23 ha (9.65%), respectively. The finding showed that more than 60% of the studied area was converted from poor and average class to good class after applying the proposed solutions of soil improvement. The methodology presented here can easily be replicated under similar circumstances in arid zones, allowing local governments and decision-makers to utilize the quantitative results obtained to ensure sustainable development.

Land productivity and environmental sustainability for G7 economies: Does an inverted U‐shaped curve exhibit green finance?

AbstractLand productivity including both water and agriculture are equally important for sustainable environment. The study investigate the role of water productivity and agriculture land along with the non‐linear effect of green finance on environment. Specifically, this research aims to investigate the effect of agriculture land, water productivity, green finance, environmental taxes and technologies on environmental sustainability in the Group of Seven (G7) countries, covering the timeframe of 1990–2020. The study also scrutinized the effect of green innovation and environmental regulations on the environment. This study uses novel panel data methods that are robust to nonparametric data. The empirical data are confirmed to be nonnormally distributed; therefore, the quantile regression approach is used. The empirical results confirmed an inverted U‐shaped curve for green finance, as its linear term is positive, and its nonlinear term negatively impacts carbon emissions. This supports the idea that green finance is effective for a group of seven economies; however, its magnitude should increase. Moreover, agricultural land, water productivity, environmental regulations, and green innovation negatively impact carbon emissions. By contrast, increasing economic activities, such as gross domestic product, increase carbon emissions. This study recommends increasing the focus on green finance, agricultural land, water productivity, and environmental regulations for the G7 countries to achieve the target of COP 27 and address climate change.

Impact of Spatial Evolution of Cropland Pattern on Cropland Suitability in Black Soil Region of Northeast China, 1990–2020

Agricultural land resources are essential for food production, and thus it is vital to examine the spatiotemporal changes in these resources and their impacts on land suitability to optimize resource allocation. In this study, we investigated the spatial evolution of cropland resources through land use change analysis by utilizing four periods of land use data from 1990 to 2020 in the black soil region of northeast China (BSRNC). Employing niche theory, we developed a cultivability evaluation model tailored to the BSRNC, which was used to assess the impact of the spatial changes in cropland patterns over the past 30 years on land suitability. Our key findings are as follows: (1) Cropland resources have generally tended to expand in the BSRNC, with an increase of 7.16 × 103 km2 in the cultivated area and a northeastward shift in the cropland center by 52.94 km, indicating significant changes in the spatial configuration of the land. (2) The region’s cultivable land resources were substantial, covering 694.06 × 103 km2, or 55.78% of the total area, with notable spatial variability, influenced by the regional climate and topography. (3) The land cultivability has slightly improved, as shown by a 0.10 increase in the cultivability index, but a significant declining trend in the cultivability of cropland was observed after 2000. Our findings provide valuable insights to help accurately assess land productivity in the BSRNC and facilitate the sustainable use and conservation of black soil.

Effects of Different Intertillage Practices on Soil Biochemical Properties and Soybean Yield in Soybean Fields

Heilongjiang Province, China, is a major soybean-producing area where low temperatures in early spring and poor soil moisture retention are the main limiting factors leading to low soybean yields. To improve land productivity, this study was conducted in Heilongjiang Province, China, from 2020–2021 via a field plot trial method, where four different intertillage treatments were set up in 2020: conventional intertillage (T1), early intertillage (T2), conventional subsoiling (T3), and early subsoiling (T4). In 2021, the effects of intertillage on soil biochemical characteristics and soybean yield formation were systematically analyzed under the T5 treatment (subsoiling at the stage of full development from the fourth to the fifth compound leaf) and the T6 treatment (soil culture at the stage of full development from the fourth to the fifth compound leaf). The results of the experiment revealed that deep loosening in advance improved the chemical properties of the soil. Compared with those of the T1 treatment, the contents of the organic carbon, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus and potassium in the early subsoiling treatments (T4, T5, and T6) were significantly increased. Intertillage time and depth had a strong influence on the soil microbial characteristics. Early medium intertillage could significantly increase the species abundance of bacteria and fungi in the soil, whereas subsoiling could increase the relative abundance ratio and uniformity of the dominant species. Compared with that in the T1 treatment, the yield of soybean in the T4 treatment was significantly greater, with yield increases ranging from 18.71% to 19.36%. In summary, the intertillage measures of one deep loosening and one medium soil cultivation at the stage of full development from the fourth to the fifth compound leaf and one large soil cultivation at the stage of full development from the sixth to the seventh compound leaf can be adopted on the basis of early deep loosening 4–5 d after soybean sowing to achieve high soybean yields. The results provide a theoretical basis for increasing the yield and efficiency of soybean fields under corn–soybean rotation, as well as innovation and development of cultivation systems

Comparison of conventional and organic paddy cropping systems in South Sulawesi, Indonesia

<p><span>Rice is the food source for the community, including in the South Sulawesi area. Consequently, proper management is needed to support optimal production results. Several farmers are currently starting to develop organic farming systems due to the shortcomings of the conventional farming system such as the use of chemical inputs, land degradation, and decreased production. This study aims to compare the organic farming developed by farmers with conventional farming systems in terms of land ownership, input, soil quality, and productivity. This research used a simple random sampling method to collect land and production data from 130 farmers (90 conventional, 40 organic).In general, in South Sulawesi, the organic farming system is better than conventional farming systems. The inputs in the conventional are certified seeds, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides, which will affect costs and have an effect in the long term. Meanwhile, in an organic farming system, seed needs are met independently by farmers, using organic materials (manure, compost, bokashi) and biopesticides. Productivity also shows that the organic farming system increases production than conventional farming. In the future, farmers can start to develop an organic farming system by adding various organic ingredients to support their field performance</span><span lang="EN-US">.</span></p>

Efficiency of Land Degradation Neutrality Assessment Indicators of United Nation to Identify Land Degradation in a Semi‐Arid Environment

ABSTRACTThe primary objective of this study was to contribute to a deeper understanding of land degradation neutrality (LDN), with a specific focus on Malatya province, located in the semi‐arid region of eastern Türkiye. This case study served as a foundation for establishing a framework to monitor land degradation over time. The research employed three key sub‐indicators—land cover (LC), land productivity (LP), and carbon stocks—following the guidelines of SDG 15.3.1. To assess changes in these sub‐indicators, the SDG 15.3.1 indicator was calculated using 2015 as the baseline year and the preceding period (2000–2015) for comparison. The results indicated that approximately 3.24% of the study area experienced land degradation, primarily attributed to a decline in LP. Of this degradation, about 89.15% was linked to LP loss, while LC (5.91%) and soil organic carbon (SOC) (4.94%) contributed smaller proportions. The study also identified regional variations in land degradation, with intensified degradation occurring in areas undergoing rapid urbanization.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles foliar use and arbuscular mycorrhiza inoculation retrieved salinity tolerance in Dracocephalum moldavica L. by modulating growth responses and essential oil constituents

The production of medicinal plants under stressful environments offers an alternative to meet the requirements of sustainable agriculture. The action of mycorrhizal fungus; Funneliformis mosseae and zinc in stimulating growth and stress tolerance in medicinal plants is an intriguing area of research. The current study evaluated the combined use of nano-zinc and mycorrhizal fungus on the physiochemical responses of Dracocephalum moldavica under salinity stress. The study employed a factorial based on a completely randomized design with three replications. The treatments were different levels of salinity (0, 50, and 100 mM NaCl), two levels of mycorrhiza application (0 and 5 g kg− 1 of soil), and two levels of foliar spraying of nano zinc oxide (0 and 1000 ppm). Salinity decreased the photosynthetic pigments content, SPAD value, and chlorophyll fluorescence data (Fm, Fv, Fv/Fm). Plant dry weight, Na+ content, and essential oil content were significantly higher at 50 mM salinity + co-application of mycorrhiza and nano zinc oxide. Electrolyte leakage increased under salt stress, while mycorrhizal inoculation compensated for the trait. The main essential oil constituents were geranyl acetate, nerol, geranial, geraniol, viridiflorol, hexadecane, humulene, and germacrene D. Energy metabolism demonstrates the effectiveness of treatment combinations in promoting the biosynthesis and accumulation of essential oil components. The overall results with more comprehensive field-based studies would be advisable for the extension section to utilize marginal salty lands for the reliable production of a valuable medicinal plant.

The impact and mechanism of E-commerce of agricultural products on nongrain production of cultivated land in rural China.

Improving China's grain production level is conducive to achieving the sustainable development goal of zero hunger worldwide by 2030. As an important innovation in sales channels, e-commerce of agricultural products (EAP) directly affects grain production. However, no study has directly discussed the impact and mechanism of EAP on nongrain production of cultivated land (NGPL). Using data from large-scale household survey in rural China and econometric methods, this study analyzed the mechanism and effect of EAP on NGPL. The results show that EAP had a positive effect on NGPL. This conclusion is still valid after a series of robustness tests. EAP can improve farmers' timely access to agricultural product transaction information and promote the adjustment of farmland size. It leads to an increase in the planting of cash crops and an intensification of NGPL under the pursuit of maximizing profits. EAP mainly had a direct impact on large-scale farmers, those who have received e-commerce training, and farmers whose main source of income is agricultural income. China can fully leverage the advantages of rural e-commerce development to create agricultural brands and promote the upgrading of grain industry, improve the economic benefits of growing grain. It is also necessary to strengthen e-commerce training for farmers, improve their digital technology application capabilities and promote the high-quality agricultural products from villages to cities.

Assessing the economics of maize production in western undulating lands of Odisha

Assessing the economics of maize production in western undulating lands of Odisha

Available land for cellulosic biofuel production: a supply chain centered comparison

Abstract The land that is potentially available to produce dedicated cellulosic bioenergy crops, often referred to as ‘marginal’ land, depends heavily on the underlying assumptions used to classify and identify it. In this study we compare three definitions and types of marginal land to identify the interactions between the bioenergy landscape and the logistics networks needed for the biofuel supply chain. Typical studies of the scale, cost, and greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation potential of cellulosic biofuel take a land-centered approach which may neglect to account for the trade-offs between establishing bioenergy crops and the supply chain design decisions needed to allow those crops to be converted to liquid fuel. A mathematical programming approach is used to minimize the total annualized cost of a large-scale field-to-product system producing bioethanol in the USA midwest. Results show that a high concentration of marginal land leads to efficient systems and that the bioenergy landscape design becomes increasingly important with a higher emphasis on GHG mitigation. Additionally, targeted landscape design (including fertilization) with a focus on fields with high soil carbon sequestration potential can greatly reduce the system-wide GHG emissions for only a small increase in the unit cost of biofuel.