Agricultural Regions Research Articles

A place to call our home: innovative rural physical therapy training in Canada

BackgroundTo promote rural practice and increase enrollment in the entry-level Master of Science Physical Therapy program at the University of Alberta, the Department of Physical Therapy developed a rural physical therapy satellite campus located in a farming region in central Alberta. A distributed learning format was used to connect the rural cohort to the main urban campus. Real time video conferencing was used to connect the two campuses for all lectures, seminars and clinical skills classes. This evaluation aimed to describe a unique rural training program for physical therapy students and its effectiveness in promoting work in rural communities after graduation.MethodsPhysical Therapy students in the first three years (2012–2015) of commencing the rural satellite program (n = 280) were surveyed, and six focus groups were held to capture student experiences, satisfaction and engagement. Data were collected on employment locations of the 2012–2019 graduates’ first physical therapy position and current employment.ResultsSurvey results suggested comparable levels of satisfaction and engagement for all physical therapy students regardless of campus. Focus group data revealed that students quickly accepted the distributed learning technological interface, enjoyed their local campuses, and felt connected to instructors and student colleagues. Compared to the overall physical therapy workforce, a higher percentage of physical therapists graduating from the rural campus reported working in rural centers for both their first and current jobs.ConclusionRegardless of campus, students were satisfied and equally engaged in the physical therapy program. Students who completed the physical therapy program in a rural setting tended to work rurally after graduation. A distributed learning model may be useful for other healthcare training programs to promote engagement in rural health.

Portfolio Agriculture: A Model for Resilient Regional Agricultural Planning

Food security is threatened by climate change worldwide; consequently, agriculture and farming livelihoods must adapt to new and unpredictable conditions. These conditions vary along spatial scales, and since agricultural yields are sensitive to microclimate conditions, a locally tailored data-driven approach may be helpful. Furthermore, limited agricultural resources like water and labor increasingly constrain food production. This research proposes a regional portfolio model for identifying crop choices and regional portfolio compositions that align with known and forecasted microclimate variation in temperature and humidity. The model will enable farmers to assess tradeoffs between the financial returns and agricultural production risks. The goal of this work is to provide new insights into agricultural planning in the face of climate risk and limited access to water and labor resources. Three steps are taken. Firstly, regional agricultural land is divided into farming subunits, with each representing a terroir characterized by temperature and humidity. Then a simulated yield coefficient is used to assess the effect of microclimate variables on the yield of the different crops in the portfolio of each subunit. Secondly, farming resource allocation, represented by water and labor, across crops and farming subunits is optimized to maximize the yield and associated financial return from farming across the agricultural region. Finally, a resilient agricultural planning model is developed based on the assumed data for regional microclimate and agricultural resources. The results of this research can be used by regional farmers as a reference for selecting crop portfolios and resource allocations to maximize overall profit.

Potential of Hyperspectral Data Combined With Optimal Band Combination Algorithm for Estimating Soil Organic Carbon Content in Lakeside Oasis

ABSTRACTAccurate estimation of soil organic carbon (SOC) content is essential for promoting regional sustainable agriculture and improving land quality. Visible and near‐infrared (Vis‐NIR) near‐Earth remote sensing spectroscopy has become an effective alternative to the traditional time‐consuming and costly methods due to its high‐resolution and nondestructive application, but it is vulnerable to the redundancy of spectral information and the overlap between bands. This study delves into the potential of optimal spectral parameters for estimating SOC in arid lakeside oases, using Bosten Lake in Xinjiang, China, as a focal point. Soil samples (0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, 20–30 cm, 30–40 cm) were collected, and their SOC content and hyperspectral reflectance were measured. The spectral data underwent preprocessing techniques, including continuum removal (CR), standard normal variate (SNV), and continuous wavelet transform (CWT). SOC content was predicted using back propagation neural network models constructed based on one‐dimensional (1D), two‐dimensional (2D), and three‐dimensional (3D) correlation coefficients. Results showcased the effectiveness of the CWT method in accentuating potential spectral information and enhancing variable correlation. Among the indices, 3D exhibited the highest performance (R2 = 0.82, RPD = 2.02 for TDI‐1 at 0–10 cm; R2 = 0.85, RPD = 2.28 for TDI‐2 at 10–20 cm; R2 = 0.83, RPD = 2.24 for TDI‐1 at 20–30 cm; R2 = 0.86, RPD = 2.53 for TDI‐4 at 30–40 cm), followed by 2D and then 1D. These insights offer guidance for future strategies in hyperspectral data preprocessing and spectral index determination, facilitating SOC spatial distribution mapping and advancing sustainable agricultural planning. They also have implications for determining the spatial distribution of SOC content based on spatial interpolation, which would contribute to regional agricultural planning and sustainable development.

Transforming Small-Scale Farm Entrepreneurship Through Innovation: the Case of Cross Link

The study focuses on the critical role of innovation, education, and technology in fostering agricultural entrepreneurship among youth, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. The research highlights the challenges and opportunities encountered in the intersection of traditional agricultural practices and modern technology. The purpose of the research is to bridge the gap in literature regarding young agricultural entrepreneurs in Ghana, providing a detailed case study that could serve as motivation for other aspiring small-scale farmers. The paper investigates the factors that contributed to the success of Cross Link Farms, including the educational background, networking, and mentorship received by the entrepreneur, as well as the practical application of innovative technologies such as smart incubators and hydroponic systems. This case-paper demonstrates the importance of entrepreneurial education that instilled a passion in a student to become the co-founder of a farm entrepreneurship startup. The paper applied a case study approach; data were collected through the usage of interview. The interview was recorded and transcribed. The data were analyzed interpretively. The main conclusions emphasize that innovation and technology, when coupled with a strong educational foundation and support system, are vital in transforming agriculture in Ghana and similar regions. Cross Link Farms serves as a model for how young entrepreneurs can leverage these elements to drive change, enhance food security, and contribute to rural development. The findings suggest that targeted policies and programs that foster entrepreneurial innovation in agriculture are essential for sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa. Based on the case-study findings, recommendations for future research include conducting empirical studies involving entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan countries to assess the role of curiosity, resilience and passion in their entrepreneurship journey.

Future Food Security Challenges in Riau Province, Indonesia

The food crisis is a real problem in various regions around the world, including Indonesia. This phenomenon is influenced by the rate of population growth which is increasing while farmlands are depleting due to the conversion of land into settlements, especially in Riau Province which is experiencing food security threats. Food security projections are made to provide an overview of the future condition of food security in Riau Province to support sustainability. The basic data used are data for 2018 and 2019. The measurement method used is the scenario method and then the availability calculation method according to Minister of Agriculture Regulation Number 43/Permentan/OT.140/7/2010. Meanwhile, the calculation of food needs uses a formula taking into account the average consumption per capita per year from the regional agriculture service multiplied by the population in the year concerned. Then, the projections are measured using the arithmetic population growth formula approach for food availability and the geometric population growth formula for the food needs of the population. The food commodity in Riau Province used in the analysis is rice. The calculation results show that in the future food availability in Riau Province will not be able to meet its food needs. Keywords: availability of rice, rice needs, food security

Genetic variability, diversity and principal component analysis in B and R lines of rabi sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench

Hybrid technology is exploited in kharif (rainy) sorghum while the same is not the scenario in Rabi sorghum which is still dominated by landraces and varieties which have poor yield potentiality. Considering the necessity of development of heterotic hybrids, an attempt was made to screen hybrid parents (B and R lines) to assess variability and genetic diversity, for productivity traits. The study was conducted with 32 B and R lines at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Vijayapur during 2021-22. PCV was observed to surpass GCV across all traits. The traits grain yield per plant, fodder yield per plant, grain number per plant, and harvest index exhibited notably high PCV and GCV. Plant height, panicle length, panicle harvest index, and harvest index recorded high heritability and genetic advance, suggesting their control by additive gene action and potential for improvement via selection. Cluster analysis classified the 32 genotypes into four groups. PCA condensed 14 traits into five principal components, capturing 81.50% of total variation. The genotypes remained scattered in all four quadrants in PCA- Biplot, showing large genetic variability in quantitative traits studied. Keywords: Genetic variability, heritability, diversity, clusters, PCA and rabi sorghum

Effect of Different Kharif Paddy Straw Management Options and Different Levels of Nitrogen on Soil Dehydrogenase and Urease Activity

A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2020-21, at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Polasa, Jagtial, PJTSAU to study soil dehydrogenase and urease activity as influenced by different kharif paddy straw management options and nitrogen levels. The results reveal that dehydrogenase and urease activity of soil was significantly influenced by paddy straw management options and activity was increased with crop duration up to 60 DAT and decreased after harvest. Dehydrogenase activity was reduced after burning (1.93 mg TPF produced g-1 soil d-1) as compared to the initial values (2.34 mg TPF produced g-1 soil d-1). The highest dehydrogenase activity of 3.74 and 3.54 mg TPF produced g-1 soil d-1 was recorded at 60 DAT in paddy straw incorporation with phosphorus and incorporation without phosphorus and decreased to 3.36 and 3.03 mg TPF produced g-1 soil d-1 after harvest respectively. Soil urease activity was showed an increasing trend with crop duration up to 60 DAT and then declined. Maximum activity of 3.05, 4.84, 5.17 mg NH4+ released g-1 soil h-1 was observed at 60 DAT under paddy straw burning, paddy straw incorporation with phosphorus incorporation without phosphorus respectively. Paddy straw incorporation with phosphorus recorded higher urease activity and paddy straw burning recorded lower urease activity at all the intervals of crop growth. The effect of nitrogen levels on soil urease activity was found to be significant. Soil urease was highest with 120% RDN followed by 115% RDN, followed by 110% RDN, followed by 100% RDN and the similar trend was observed at all the intervals of crop growth.

UN Assistance to African countries in building climate-resilient agriculture

Relevance. Africa is the mirror and quintessence of modern international processes. The continent faces a gigantic number of challenges, some of an existential nature. But at the same time, there is an active search for ways to solve them.The purpose is to consider the experience of forming climate-resilient agriculture on the example of individual African countries and the role of the UN in this process.Objectives: to characterize the conditions and reasons for the formation of climate-resilient agriculture in the African region; assess the policies of the governments of Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Rwanda on the development of climate-resilient agriculture.Methodology. The comparative research method was used in the study of agricultural development programs in African countries. Chronological and historical methods of studying legal documents, programs of the United Nations, FAO, NEPAD, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda aimed at the formation of climate-resilient agriculture. A statistical research method for operating with data from the statistical databases of Globaleconomy and the World Health Organization.Results. The introduction of new technologies in agriculture is a condition for saving the environment, which is under pressure from two sides: global climate change and unprecedented growth in the population and its needs. One of the most important areas is to increase the productivity of agriculture, the solution of this urgent task will depend on the introduction of new technologies: seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, plant protection, etc.Conclusions. The introduction of programs and technologies for the formation of climate-resilient agriculture in African countries requires significant funding and institutional and legal preparation.

Evaluation of Groundwater Resources in the Middle and Lower Reaches of Songhua River Based on SWAT Model

The SWAT model primarily investigates sources of water pollution and conducts ecological assessments of surface water in contemporary hydrology and water resources research. To date, there have been limited accomplishments in the study of groundwater resources in China. The MODFLOW model currently primarily simulates groundwater levels and the migration of water quality, depending on the hydrological surface water data in the relevant area. This study aims to investigate the groundwater distribution characteristics of the middle and lower reaches of the Songhua River, a significant agricultural and grain production region in China. The research focuses on the middle and lower reaches of the Songhua River basin in Northeast China and employed the SWAT distributed hydrological model to simulate runoff. The monthly recorded runoff at Tongjiang Station in Jiamusi City was utilized to calibrate the model parameters. Consequently, the MODFLOW model was introduced to compare and assess the simulation outcomes of the SWAT model, ultimately ascertaining the distribution characteristics of shallow groundwater, groundwater recharge, recoverable volume, and groundwater levels in the Songhua River Basin. The findings indicate that: (1) The SWAT model demonstrates efficacy in the study region, achieving R2 and NS values of 0.81 and 0.76, respectively, thereby fulfilling the fundamental criteria for scientific research. The MODFLOW model exhibits strong performance in the study region, achieving a periodic R2 of 0.98 and a verification R2 of 0.97, with the discrepancy between simulated and actual groundwater levels confined to 0.6 m, thereby satisfying the criteria for scientific research. (2) In 2011, 2014, and 2016, the groundwater recharge in the middle and lower sections of the Songhua River was 24.33 × 108 m3, 30.79 × 108 m3, and 32.25 × 108 m3, respectively, aligning closely with the SWAT simulation results, while the average annual groundwater level depth was 8.17 m. (3) In the research area, groundwater recharging occurs primarily by atmospheric precipitation, while drainage predominantly transpires via groundwater as base flow, constituting 81.46%. Secondly, the recharge of shallow groundwater to deep aquifers is around 7.14%, with a minimal share attributed to vadose zone loss, constituting merely 2.1%. (4) From 2010 to 2016, the average groundwater runoff modulus of the middle and lower reaches of the Songhua River basin was 1.005 L/(s·km²), with a total recharge of 216.58 × 108 m3 and a total recoverable amount of 105.11 × 108 m3. The mean yearly supply was 25.11 × 108 m3. The total groundwater recharge was 26.54 × 108 m3 in the driest year (2011) and 33.25 × 108 m3 in the year of most ample water (2016).

Assessing the Efficiency and Economic Feasibility of Mustard Cultivation Using a Happy Seeder

Mustard, scientifically known as Brassica juncea, is a vital oilseed crop sown during the Rabi season in various agricultural regions. This crop not only contributes significantly to the edible oil supply but also plays a crucial role in the agricultural economy, providing farmers with essential income and employment opportunities. However, one of the major challenges faced by farmers in mustard cultivation is the tillage process, which is both time-consuming and labor-intensive. Conventional tillage methods often require extensive land preparation, leading to increased labor costs and decreased efficiency. In light of these challenges, this study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the Happy Seeder technology, a modern innovation designed to facilitate direct sowing in the standing stubble of previous crops. This research focused on the mustard variety Pusa-27 and was executed over two consecutive Rabi seasons, specifically from 2021-22 and 2022-23. The experiment was implemented by KVK Rohtas, utilizing both long-term experimental plots and 20 different farmers’ fields to ensure a comprehensive assessment across various agricultural settings. To analyze the impact of the two different sowing methods, two groups of plots were established at each site: one group employed the conventional tillage method (T1), while the other group utilized the Happy Seeder technique (T2). The experimental design followed a randomized block format, consisting of 21 replications for each treatment to ensure robust and reliable data collection. The results of the study revealed that the Happy Seeder sowing method significantly enhanced the productivity of mustard. The average yield recorded for the Happy Seeder group was an impressive 16.25 quintals per hectare, markedly higher than the 12.70 quintals per hectare achieved with conventional tillage. This increase in yield not only highlights the effectiveness of the Happy Seeder technology but also suggests that it can potentially help meet the growing demand for oilseeds. In addition to higher yields, the Happy Seeder method also resulted in reduced input costs, primarily due to lower labor requirements associated with its use. The reduced need for extensive tillage and the ability to sow directly into the stubble allow farmers to save on labor costs and time, making the farming process more efficient. Moreover, the implementation of the Happy Seeder method was associated with significant improvements in soil health. The study indicated enhancements in both the physico-chemical and biological properties of the soil, which are crucial for sustainable agricultural practices. Improved soil health not only contributes to better crop yields but also promotes long-term fertility, allowing farmers to sustain their agricultural productivity over time. This result is in conformity to Jat et al. 2009. In conclusion, the findings of this study strongly advocate for the adoption of the Happy Seeder sowing method in mustard cultivation. The notable improvements in productivity, reduction in input costs, and enhancement of soil health suggest that this innovative technique can play a pivotal role in transforming mustard farming into a more sustainable and profitable venture. By embracing such modern agricultural practices, farmers can significantly contribute to food security while also improving their economic viability.

Spatio-temporal pattern change of LULC and its response to climate in the Loess Plateau, China

Exploring land use/cover (LULC) change is essential for the sustainable development of ecologically fragile areas. The main objective of this study was to clarify the characteristics and differences in the spatiotemporal changes of LULC on the Loess Plateau (LP) based on the transfer matrix and land use dynamics and to quantitatively describe the impact of natural factors on LULC using a geodetector. The results indicated that the overall LULC change in the LP was characterized by a decrease in the area of cropland, grassland, and bare land, and an increase in the area of woodland and built-up land. This trend shows a clear phase-change characteristic around 2000. LULC changes were primarily affected by human activities in the southeastern agricultural region. The project of returning farmland to forest and grassland had a great impact on LULC change in the central region. Vegetation was sensitive to temperature and precipitation, and the impact of LULC change was significantly higher than that in the humid region in the northwest arid region. NDVI, PRE, and TEM were determined to be the main contributors to LULC changes in the LP. These results provide a scientific basis for the sustainable development of LP.

Land use change and ecosystem service tradeoffs on California agricultural land

Abstract Introduction 
The need to transition to sustainable agricultural practices while maintaining high food yield and strengthening resilience to climate change cannot be overstated. California farmers have received incentive funding from federal and state agencies to use land management practices that are less impactful to the land and in line with California’s sustainability goals. However, there are no regional monitoring measures to determine whether farming is becoming more sustainable. 

Methods 
In this study, we used land cover change analysis and ecosystem services modeling to understand how farming practices influence environmental benefits on California farmland from 2010 to 2020. We analyzed the tradeoffs between soil erosion control, soil carbon storage, and production of California’s top agricultural commodities, and we compared these changes to changes in land cover in five agricultural regions statewide. 

Results and Conclusion 
We found that the trade-offs in ecosystem services and food production differ depending on the regional context, and that major expansion in almond production and land use changes have had different impacts throughout California. Statewide, soil organic carbon storage increased, soil erosion control increased slightly, and food production boomed for most commodities. Incentive programs that influence farming practices may need to operate at a regional level rather than a statewide level to achieve sustainable outcomes specific to each region.

Комплексный подход к развитию инфраструктуры сбыта продукции аграрного малого и микро-бизнеса

Small and private subsidiary farms are important members of agricultural community. However, they still lack good infrastructure to market their products because they remain beyond the scope of state interest. The agricultural infrastructure in its present condition neither gives farmers access to co-financing nor allows them to shape the list of services they need. The research featured program documents issued by the Government of the Russian Federation that determine the development of wholesale food markets and aggregators of farm produce. The author generalized the experience of retail chains and agricultural consumer marketing cooperatives, as well as studied the cases of small rural businesses merging into marketing cooperatives in agricultural regions. The bibliographic study covered best foreign practices in shaping infrastructure for small farm produce, which were compared with Russian experience. The author also developed an abstract-logical method of establishing the interaction between stakeholders in a new system of farm produce aggregators. In this research, agricultural regions demonstrated the most acute problems in small business marketing. A good system of agricultural infrastructure supports production in all sectors of small business with growth potential. Today, small businesses are alone in organizing their own sales as wholesale distribution centers are not available to them. These centers work with small suppliers through intermediaries, i.e., aggregators. In the Kemerovo Region, an example of such aggregators is the one created on corporate principles between the Magnit retail chain and the Kalina-Malina agricultural consumer marketing cooperative. The experience demonstrated some advantages and disadvantages. The article introduces conditions for successful financial relations in commodity circulation chains in different distribution systems, including farmers, aggregators, and wholesale distribution centers. This approach reduces prices on consumer markets while increasing the efficiency of small farms.

Harmonization potential of the fragmented farmlands in Finland: The pros and cons for critical parcel characteristics

Agricultural landscapes have been shaped by gradual, partially optimized changes in farms and surrounding areas which have resulted in fragmented agricultural landownership and increased distances on farms. Since Finland joined the EU in 1995, the average farm size has more than doubled which has increased the distances on farms. This may have caused trade-offs with resource use efficiency, productivity, and sustainability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential and impacts of land reallocation by integrating regional variability, logistical factors, and emerging satellite imagery, with an emphasis on enhancing resilience in future climates. This study estimated the theoretical potential for land reallocation between farms to reduce farmland fragmentation but also applied fixed land exchange rates (5 % to 40 %) with the primary aim to reduce distances within each farm depending on the farm size and region. The aim was also to identify co-benefits and trade-offs on the number of parcels in a farm, the production capacity of exchanged parcels, diversification potential, and the proximity of parcels to waterways. While keeping the farm size constant, large potential was found to optimize fragmented landscapes and reduce distances within farms especially on large farms. However, only a moderate exchange rate of 5 % almost halved the distances in the best cases of the farms, while exchange rates >20 % provided less additional logistic benefits. Thereby, modest, well targeted measures are not only more acceptable to landowners but may provide the most benefits with fewer trade-offs. In unsatisfactory cases, large parcels were replaced by higher numbers of smaller ones, productivity differences occurred, and closer parcels became more uniform, which may reduce diversification options, which are important for resilience and sustainability. Hence, merging and reshaping nearby parcels after reallocation might be needed to complete rationalization. Estimated changes in the proximity of the parcels to waterways tended to improve the farmers’ readiness to implement irrigation as an adaptation measure to climate change. The variable outcome of parcel reallocation emphasizes the central role of the current customer-driven consolidation system chaired by independent land surveyors to boost the land reallocation also in the future to improve logistics, resource efficiency, and sustainability on farms that today struggle with cost-crises.

The contribution of Arabian Sea warming to decreasing summer precipitation in the northern Greater Mekong Subregion

The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) is one of the world's most important agricultural regions. Over recent decades, the declining trend in precipitation has caused more frequent droughts over the northern plateau of the GMS, and this has led to a significant reduction in agricultural productivity. These drought events can also affect agriculture within the middle and lower parts of the Mekong River basin. To reveal the main causes of the decline in precipitation, this study investigates interdecadal variations in summer precipitation over the northern GMS during 1979–2022. Results indicate that summer conditions over the northern GMS entered a relatively dry period after the late 1990s. The interdecadal decrease in summer precipitation is closely associated with the warming of the northern Arabian Sea (AS), which induces a cyclonic anomaly that enhances local precipitation and associated diabatic heating. The anomalous diabatic heating induces a downstream Rossby wave train that intensifies the circumglobal teleconnection (CGT) pattern and causes the South Asian high (SAH) to extend farther southeastwards. The southeastward-displaced SAH induces easterly anomalies over the northern Bay of Bengal (BOB) that weaken the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) southwesterly flows and reduce moisture transport from the northern BOB to the northern GMS. The southeastward displacement of the SAH also causes anomalous descent over the northern GMS. Both conditions result in reduced precipitation over the northern GMS. Numerical experiments substantiate the proposed modulating role of AS warming in the interdecadal decrease in summer precipitation over the northern GMS.

Local sediment amendment can potentially increase barley yield and reduce the need for phosphorus fertilizer on acidic soils in Kenya

Soil acidification and low nutrient availability are two major challenges facing agriculture in most regions of East Africa, resulting in aluminum toxicity and poor crop yields. The amendment of local sediments to cropland can potentially alleviate these challenges, but responses are variable. In this study, we investigated the potential of two different local sediments influenced by volcanic deposits to increase soil pH, Si and P availability and reduce Al toxicity, thereby improve barley yield. Hence, a field experiment was established in Eldoret, Western Kenya, using 1% and 3% addition by weight of two sediments in barley cultivated plots. The Baringo 3% amendment significantly increased soil pH (from 4.7 to 7.0), the available P content (from 0.01 mg g−1 to 0.02 mg g−1) and decreased the Al availability (from 3.03 mg g−1–2.17 mg g−1). This resulted in a barley yield of 4.7 t/ha (+1061%). The Nakuru 3% and Baringo 1% amendments increased yield to 2–3 t/ha, while the Nakuru 1% did not significantly increase yield. These results highlight that, from a biophysical perspective, there are natural and local opportunities to reduce soil acidification and to partly replace mineral fertilizer, but its magnitude depends on the sediment and the amendment rate.

Nanotechnology and agriculture in the tropical region: The perspective of the National Institute of Science and Technology in Brazil

Agriculture in the tropics plays a fundamental role in producing food, feed and fiber for the world due to the diversity of production possibilities. However, despite its productive potential, there are many demands for technologies, whether for improving plant growth and development, monitoring field conditions, protecting plants from adverse climatic conditions, or pest control. Nanotechnology can assist in integrated crop management through different applications (e.g., nanosensors for pest monitoring and controlled-release nanoformulations of agrochemicals and biostimulants), thus bringing benefits to tropical agriculture. In this context, the creation of institutes with an interdisciplinary focus, such as the recently created National Institute of Science and Technology in Nanotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture in Brazil, can bring advantages through carrying out research and development, as well as transfer of technology for society, thus contributing to sustainable agriculture.

Impact of biomass burning on air quality: A case study of the agricultural region in South Korea

Various combustion processes occur concurrently during biomass burning events, emitting a complex mixture of particulate and gaseous pollutants into the atmosphere. These emissions undergo chemical transformations facilitated by factors such as solar radiation and cloud formation, thereby altering the composition of aerosols. Additionally, these pollutants can affect the region of origin and neighboring countries, presenting regional and global environmental challenges. Therefore, precise evaluation of the particulate and gaseous pollutants emitted during biomass burning is essential to formulate effective management strategies. This study aimed to assess the concentration and chemical characteristics of particulate matter emitted during biomass burning in South Korea. On June 7, 2021, a research flight was conducted utilizing a High Resolution Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS) and a Single Particle Soot Photometer (SP2) for airborne measurements over South Korea inland areas. For data analysis based on administrative regions, the flight path was divided into four major areas (Areas A, B, C, and D). During the research flight, evidence of biomass burning events was observed primarily in Area C. A positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis categorized the organic aerosols (OA) into five factors: biomass burning OA (BBOA), hydrocarbon-like OA (HOA1, HOA2), low-oxidized oxygenated OA (LO-OOA), and more-oxidized OOA (MO-OOA). Across all areas, MO-OOA accounted for the highest proportion of aerosols, whereas BBOA dominated in Area C at 23.8%, indicating the significant influence of biomass burning in this region. Instead of running a PMF analysis with all measurement data, a BBOA formula was derived from the previous study and this one. This allows us to estimate BBOA concentration without running PMF.

Groundwaterscapes: A Global Classification and Mapping of Groundwater's Large‐Scale Socioeconomic, Ecological, and Earth System Functions

AbstractGroundwater is a dynamic component of the global water cycle with important social, economic, ecological, and Earth system functions. We present a new global classification and mapping of groundwater systems, which we call groundwaterscapes, that represent predominant configurations of large‐scale groundwater system functions. We identify and map 15 groundwaterscapes which offer a new lens to conceptualize, study, model, and manage groundwater. Groundwaterscapes are derived using a novel application of sequenced self‐organizing maps that capture patterns in groundwater system functions at the grid cell level (∼10 km), including groundwater‐dependent ecosystem type and density, storage capacity, irrigation, safe drinking water access, and national governance. All large aquifer systems of the world are characterized by multiple groundwaterscapes, highlighting the pitfalls of treating these groundwater bodies as lumped systems in global assessments. We evaluate the distribution of Global Groundwater Monitoring Network wells across groundwaterscapes and find that industrial agricultural regions are disproportionately monitored, while several groundwaterscapes have next to no monitoring wells. This disparity undermines the ability to understand system dynamics across the full range of settings that characterize groundwater systems globally. We argue that groundwaterscapes offer a conceptual and spatial tool to guide model development, hypothesis testing, and future data collection initiatives to better understand groundwater's embeddedness within social‐ecological systems at the global scale.

Hydroeconomic Optimization of Integrated Water and Salinity Management in an Arid Agricultural Region

Hydroeconomic Optimization of Integrated Water and Salinity Management in an Arid Agricultural Region