Southern Plain Research Articles

Better growth and yield performance of lentil under different level of phosphorus,sulphur and zinc in sub-humid Southern plain of Rajasthan

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) season of 2020–21 and 2021–22 at Instructional Farm, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur (Rajasthan) to assess the impact of different levels of phosphorus, sulphur and zinc on growth parameters and yield of lentil. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and 18 treatment combinations. Phosphorus factor comprised of 3 levels, viz. 30, 40 and 50 kg P2 O5 /ha along with sulphur that comprised of 3 levels, viz. 15, 20 and 25 kg/ha; and zinc factor with 2 levels, viz. control and 0.5 % ZnSO4 foliar spray at 55 Days after sowing (DAS). Results revealed that the higher plant height, dry matter accumulation (DMA) and primary branches/plant were recorded with application of 40 kg P2 O5 /ha in combination of 25 kg/ha sulphur and foliar spray of 0.5% ZnSO4 at 55 DAS. The dry matter accumulation (0.838**) and plant height (0.871**) had a significant and positive correlation with the seed yield. The crop growth rate (CGR) enlaced by 10.49% and root-shoot ratio by 7.21% with application of 40 kg P2 O5 /ha over 30 kg P2 O5 /ha. Similarly, the CGR and root-shoot ratio of lentil were significantly enhanced by 11.95 and 5.19%, respectively with 25 kg/ha over 15 kg/ha sulphur application at 60-90 DAS. Likewise, the significantly increased CGR by 5.09% and root-shoot ratio by 3.72% with application of 0.5% ZnSO4 as foliar spray over control. Moreover, the effective nodules increased by 22.68% and fresh and dry weight by 20.9 and 8.0% respectively with 50 kg P2 O5 /ha during both the years. The effective nodules and fresh and dry weight of nodules/ plant increased by 13.59, 12.68 and 6.52% respectively with 25 kg/ha over 15 kg/ha suphur application while it was increased by. 6.71%, the by 6.39 and 4.08% respectively with 0.5% foliar spray of ZnSO4 over control. Furthermore, significantly higher seed, haulm and biological yields increased by 9.34, 12.90 and 11.75%, respectively with 40 kg P2 O5 /ha followed by 50 kg P2 O5 /ha over 30 kg P2 O5 /ha. Similarly, the application of 25 kg/ha sulphur significantly enhanced seed yield, haulm and biological yields of lentil but it has no significant effect on the harvest index. The foliar spray of 0.5% ZnSO4 increased the seed yield by 4.71 per cent, haulm yield by 7.30 per cent and biological yield by 6.45% over control. The plant growth parameters, yield attributes and yield of lentil were significantly enhanced with the application of P2O5 (40 kg/ha) and sulphur (25 kg/ha) along with ZnSO4 (0.5%) as foliar spray at 55 days after sowing as compared to other treatment combinations. These treatment combinations could be adopted to achieve better growth performances and bridging yield gap of lentil in sub-humid agro ecologies.

Better growth and yield performance of lentil under different level of phosphorus,sulphur and zinc in sub-humid Southern plain of Rajasthan

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) season of 2020–21 and 2021–22 at Instructional Farm, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur (Rajasthan) to assess the impact of different levels of phosphorus, sulphur and zinc on growth parameters and yield of lentil. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and 18 treatment combinations. Phosphorus factor comprised of 3 levels, viz. 30, 40 and 50 kg P2 O5 /ha along with sulphur that comprised of 3 levels, viz. 15, 20 and 25 kg/ha; and zinc factor with 2 levels, viz. control and 0.5 % ZnSO4 foliar spray at 55 Days after sowing (DAS). Results revealed that the higher plant height, dry matter accumulation (DMA) and primary branches/plant were recorded with application of 40 kg P2 O5 /ha in combination of 25 kg/ha sulphur and foliar spray of 0.5% ZnSO4 at 55 DAS. The dry matter accumulation (0.838**) and plant height (0.871**) had a significant and positive correlation with the seed yield. The crop growth rate (CGR) enlaced by 10.49% and root-shoot ratio by 7.21% with application of 40 kg P2 O5 /ha over 30 kg P2 O5 /ha. Similarly, the CGR and root-shoot ratio of lentil were significantly enhanced by 11.95 and 5.19%, respectively with 25 kg/ha over 15 kg/ha sulphur application at 60-90 DAS. Likewise, the significantly increased CGR by 5.09% and root-shoot ratio by 3.72% with application of 0.5% ZnSO4 as foliar spray over control. Moreover, the effective nodules increased by 22.68% and fresh and dry weight by 20.9 and 8.0% respectively with 50 kg P2 O5 /ha during both the years. The effective nodules and fresh and dry weight of nodules/ plant increased by 13.59, 12.68 and 6.52% respectively with 25 kg/ha over 15 kg/ha suphur application while it was increased by. 6.71%, the by 6.39 and 4.08% respectively with 0.5% foliar spray of ZnSO4 over control. Furthermore, significantly higher seed, haulm and biological yields increased by 9.34, 12.90 and 11.75%, respectively with 40 kg P2 O5 /ha followed by 50 kg P2 O5 /ha over 30 kg P2 O5 /ha. Similarly, the application of 25 kg/ha sulphur significantly enhanced seed yield, haulm and biological yields of lentil but it has no significant effect on the harvest index. The foliar spray of 0.5% ZnSO4 increased the seed yield by 4.71 per cent, haulm yield by 7.30 per cent and biological yield by 6.45% over control. The plant growth parameters, yield attributes and yield of lentil were significantly enhanced with the application of P2O5 (40 kg/ha) and sulphur (25 kg/ha) along with ZnSO4 (0.5%) as foliar spray at 55 days after sowing as compared to other treatment combinations. These treatment combinations could be adopted to achieve better growth performances and bridging yield gap of lentil in sub-humid agro ecologies.

Extremes of Temperature and Precipitation Under CMIP6 Scenarios Projections Over Central Hokkaido, Japan

ABSTRACTClimate extreme events are intensifying globally, posing increasing risks across various sectors. Understanding climate extremes' spatiotemporal patterns and responses to climate change is crucial for effective management, especially on a regional scale. This study examines temperature and precipitation extremes, as well as compound dry‐hot events (CDHEs), in the Ishikari River basin (IRB) of Northeastern Japan, an area of significant socioeconomic importance. We focus on spatiotemporal analysis under multiple scenarios of temperature/precipitation extremes and CDHEs based on statistical downscaled datasets from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6. Results indicate that IRB underwent increased trends of extreme hot periods, extreme droughts, and heavy rainfalls during 1985–2014, which are significantly affected by the North Pacific Oscillation and Southern Oscillation Index. Future projections show that warming temperatures and less rainfall shift asymmetrical impacts on temperature and precipitation extremes, expecting increased warm spells and CDHEs but increased wet durations and less heavy rainfalls. Emission scenarios analysis suggests low‐emission scenarios (SSP1‐2.6) could mitigate their exacerbations, especially for CDHEs (decreased by 139%). Moreover, spatial‐pattern analysis reveals regional heterogeneity in temperature and precipitation extremes, with northern mountainous regions more susceptible to thermal extremes and southern plain regions (e.g., Sapporo city) experiencing prolonged drought and CDHEs. This study provides valuable insights into climate risk management and adaptation strategies.

Coupling Coordination Measurement and Multi-dimensional Conflict Diagnosis among Territorial Space Functions

Exploring the relationship between urban, agricultural, and ecological functions is crucial for optimizing the territorial spatial patterns and achieving balanced territorial spatial development. Based on the classification system of "urban-agricultural-ecological" territorial spatial planning and with the help of multi-source data, including land use, population density, nighttime light, road network, precipitation, and county statistical data from 2010 to 2020, we constructed an evaluation index system of territorial space functions at the grid scale in the Poyang Lake Ecological Economic Zone. The coupling coordination levels among territorial space functions was measured using the coupling coordination degree model and spatial autocorrelation analysis. Moreover, the multi-dimensional function conflict identification model was used to diagnose the type and intensity of function conflicts. The results showed that： ① The urban function was mainly improved, accounting for 75.67%. The grids with high function evaluation index were mainly located in the south of the study area, whereas the intensity of urban function improvement in the north was higher than that in the south. Otherwise, the agricultural and ecological functions were mainly reduced, accounting for 77.44 % and 57.66%, respectively, and the majority of grids with a significant decrease were distributed in the south of Poyang Lake. ② From 2010 to 2020, the coupling coordination type was dominated by an imbalance recession, accounting for 53.87% and 49.89 %, respectively. However, the number of grids with crucial imbalance and primary coordination was reduced, and the coupling coordination types tended to change from both ends to the middle. The coupling coordination hot spots were mainly concentrated in the southern plain, whereas the cold spots were mainly distributed in the northern mountainous and hilly areas, both of which showed a reducing trend. However, in the north of Poyang Lake, a small number of hot spots, distributed along the lake area with relatively flat terrain, showed an expanding trend. ③ The intensity of four territorial space function conflicts was mainly moderate or severe. In addition to the slight positive trend of 'urban-agricultural' function conflict, the function conflicts of "urban-ecological", "agricultural-ecological", and "urban-agricultural-ecological" were all aggravated. The grids with aggravating conflicts were mainly distributed in the Ganjiang River and Fuhe River Basin. The major reason for the aggravation was that the urban function increased obviously, whereas the ecological and agricultural functions decreased significantly. In conclusion, in both the coupling coordination types and multi-dimensional conflicts among territorial space functions, significant spatial differences existed； thus, proposing optimization strategies according to local conditions is necessary. Additionally, the protection of ecological and agricultural spaces during each stage of urbanization development must be focused.

Complex Financial Analysis of Agricultural Enterprises in the Southern Plain Region

Complex Financial Analysis of Agricultural Enterprises in the Southern Plain Region

A synergic approach using the model and remote sensing data for flood monitoring in under-observed transboundary rivers

ABSTRACT The southern plain of Nepal recognized as the ‘granary of Nepal’, confronts recurrent monsoon-induced flooding, posing a substantial threat to its pivotal role as a major agricultural contributor to the national economy. As an analysis, this study employs advanced satellite imagery to delineate historical floods in nine flood-prone transboundary basins and compares the rainfall-induced model-based inundation in the West Rapti Basin (WRB) to validate the result. The extent of flooding was mapped between 2015 and 2022 using Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar data processed on Google Earth Engine. Hydrodynamic modelling centred on the WRB, incorporated daily measured precipitation data with varying return periods over a 10 m resolution digital elevation model generated through an in situ survey. The model was calibrated for the August 2017 flood event with Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency greater than 70% and validation reasonably with satellite-derived flood maps with Cohen's Kappa value of 0.58 and an overall accuracy metric of 0.84. This synergic approach integrates climatology, remote sensing data, and hydraulics to monitor transboundary river floods in Nepal where precise hydro-meteorological data are limited, thus, offering continuous all-weather monitoring.

Molecular characterisation of hepatitis A in the Western Cape province, South Africa in 2023

In 2023, passive laboratory-based surveillance showed an increase in hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection. We investigated hepatitis A incidence using the notifiable medical condition surveillance system (NMCSS) data and molecularly characterised positive blood samples from the Western Cape province for 2023. All HAV IgM seropositive cases from the NMCSS from 1 January to 31 October 2023 in South Africa were investigated. HAV RNA from blood samples that had tested positive for HAV IgM from Western Cape was amplified in the VP1/P2B junction and sequenced (3500Xl Genetic Analyser). Sequences were assembled, aligned (Sequencher) and analysed (Aliview 1.27 and MEGA11). Statistical analysis was performed using Excel and the CuSum2 Threshold to determine suspected outbreaks. In 2023, the incidence of HAV IgM was 6.28/100,000 in South Africa, with the highest incidence in Western Cape province (15.86/100,000). Children aged 5 to 14 years were affected the most in the Western Cape. The positive cases in the Western Cape were above the CuSum2 threshold from January to May 2023, with the highest incidence observed in the City of Cape Town Metropolitan (14.8/100,000). Genotyping was successfully performed on 92.7% (139/150) of serum samples, for which the IB sub-genotype was detected. Three primary mutations R63K, R71S and M104I were observed in more than 49% of the samples. Most of the samples sequenced belonged to patients residing in areas close to each other within the City of Cape Town Southern, Western, and Mitchells Plain sub-districts. The CuSum2 threshold method allowed the identification of suspected HAV outbreaks in the districts within the Western Cape in 2023 while genotyping identified clusters of sub-genotype IB. Genotyping could assist with determining the common source of infection during an outbreak, especially if coupled with epidemiological and geographical data. Further active surveillance can assist in investigating the HAV risk factors for targeted public health responses.

Nutrients Variability in Soils of the Hill-Valley Transect of NPI Farmlands in Chitwan

Based on landscape position, soils in plain areas are generally considered to be more fertile than those in adjoining sloping areas of Nepal. This article compares the soil fertility of upland crop areas to those of lowland crop areas of Bharatpur municipality of Chitwan district using soil data from Nepal Polytechnic Institute (NPI). The study employed a rapid test method to analyze surface soil samples for pH, organic matter and available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content. In contrast to the widely held notion, results of soil test in the upland area of Kabilash exhibited superior fertility in most parameters when compared to those in the southern plain areas. Therefore, further and detailed study is warranted to validate the results in the study area.

Achaemenid settlements in the Shiraz, Sepidan and Kavar Plains, Iran

In 2008, for the first time, an archaeological full coverage survey on Shiraz plain and its adjacent plains was conducted under the supervision of the author of this report. As a result of this survey, a different perspective was obtained from the settlements of the ancient period in particular the Achaemenid period from Shiraz plain and its southern plain, Kavar plain, and the northern plain, namely Sepidan plain. In this paper, the archeological sites of the Achaemenid period of these plains are introduced, discussed and evaluated.

Influence of phosphorus, sulphur and zinc levels on yield, quality and nutrients uptake of lentil (Lens culinaris) in sub-humid southern plain of Rajasthan

An experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (factorial experiment) during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2020–21 and 2021–22 at Instructional Farm, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, MPUAT, Udaipur (Rajasthan) to study the effect of P (30, 40 and 50 kg P2 O5 /ha), S (15, 20 and 25 kg S/ha) and zinc (control and foliar spray of 0.5% ZnSO4 ) on yield nutrient content and nutrients uptake in lentil. Seed yield increased to a maximum of 9.35% following P application, 9.38% after S application and 4.71% after Zn application. Corresponding increase in haulm yield was 12.90%, 10.64% and 7.30% respectively. Application of P, S and Zn improved protein content in seed as well as in haulms and increasing application level of both P and S maintained the increasing trend in protein content. Application of P, S and Zn increased both the content and the uptake of N, P, K, S and Zn both in seeds and in haulms. In most instances these changes were statistically significant.

Wide-Area Subsidence Monitoring and Analysis Using Time-Series InSAR Technology: A Case Study of the Turpan Basin

Ground subsidence often occurs over a large area. Although traditional monitoring methods have high accuracy, they cannot perform wide-area ground deformation monitoring. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) interferometry (InSAR) technology utilizes phase information in SAR images to extract surface deformation information in a low-cost, large-scale, high-precision, and high-efficiency manner. With the increasing availability of SAR satellite data and the rapid development of InSAR technology, it provides the possibility for wide-area ground deformation monitoring using InSAR technology. Traditional time-series InSAR methods have cumbersome processing procedures, have large computational requirements, and rely heavily on manual intervention, resulting in relatively low efficiency. This study proposes a strategy for wide-area InSAR multi-scale deformation monitoring to address this issue. The strategy first rapidly acquires ground deformation information using Stacking technology, then identifies the main subsidence areas by setting deformation rate thresholds and visual interpretation, and finally employs advanced TS-InSAR technology to obtain detailed deformation time series for the main subsidence areas. The Turpan Basin in Xinjiang, China, was selected as the study area (7474.50 km2) to validate the proposed method. The results are as follows: (1) The basin is generally stable, but there is ground subsidence in the southern plain area, mainly affecting farmland. (2) From 2016 to 2019, the maximum subsidence rate in the farmland area was approximately 0.13 m/yr, with a maximum cumulative subsidence of about 0.25 m, affecting a total area of approximately 952.49 km2. The subsidence mainly occurred from late spring to mid-autumn, while lifting or subsidence mitigation occurred from late autumn to early spring. The study also analyzed the impacts of rainfall, geographical environment, and human activities on subsidence and found that multiple factors, including water resource reduction, overexploitation, geological characteristics, and the expansion of human activities, contributed to the subsidence problem in the Turpan Basin. This method contributes to wide-area InSAR deformation monitoring and the application of InSAR technology in engineering.

Prediction of Spatial Distribution of Heavy Metals in Cultivated Soil Based on Multi-source Auxiliary Variables and Random Forest Model

Spatial prediction of the concentrations of soil heavy metals (HMs) in cultivated land is critical for monitoring cultivated land contamination and ensuring sustainable eco-agriculture. In this study, 32 environmental variables from terrain, climate, soil attributes, remote-sensing information, vegetation indices, and anthropogenic activities were used as auxiliary variables, and random forest (RF), regression Kriging (RK), ordinary Kriging (OK), and multiple linear regression (MLR) models were proposed to predict the concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in cultivated soils. In comparison to those of RK, OK, and MLR, the RF model had the best prediction performance for As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, and Zn, whereas the OK and RK models had highest prediction performance for Cu and Ni, respectively, showing that R2 was the highest, and mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) were the lowest. The prediction performance of the spatial distribution of soil HMs under different prediction methods was basically consistent. The high value areas of eight HMs concentrations were all distributed in the southern plain area. However, the RF model depicted the details of spatial prediction more prominently. Moreover, the importance ranking of influencing factors derived from the RF model indicated that the spatial variation in concentrations of the eight HMs in Lanxi City were mainly affected by the combined effects of Se, TN, pH, elevation, annual average temperature, annual average rainfall, distance from rivers, and distance from factories. Given the above, random forest models could be used as an effective method for the spatial prediction of soil heavy metals, providing scientific reference for regional soil pollution investigation, assessment, and management.

Sustainability of dairy practices in southern plain IV B zone, Rajasthan

Sustainability of dairy practices in southern plain IV B zone, Rajasthan

Poverty Changes Among Regions of Uttar Pradesh: A Decomposition Exercise During the 2000s

This article examines the disparities in poverty among the regions of Uttar Pradesh during the 2000s through a poverty decomposition exercise. While the poverty reduction from 2004–2005 to 2011–2012 is faster in the northern and southern upper Ganga plain, the reduction is slower in the eastern and southern regions. The poverty headcount ratio increases for the central region. While eastern and southern regions have higher real Monthly Per Capita Expenditure (MPCE) growth than the state average, the lower poverty elasticity in these regions caused slower poverty reduction. The southern and northern upper Ganga plain have high poverty elasticity causing a faster poverty reduction. This study finds that Uttar Pradesh’s central region faces a critical problem with increased Head-Count Ratio and declining MPCE. The differential change in poverty among the regions has also been analysed using the occupational pattern and landholding distribution among regions, both rural and urban areas. JEL Codes: R32, R11, R12

Hydrochemical Characterization and Quality Assessment of Groundwater in the Southern Plain of Hebei Province, China

The purpose of this research was to understand the hydrogeochemical characteristics and assess the quality of phreatic and confined groundwater in southern Hebei Province. A total of 107 groundwater samples were collected, representing different aquifer conditions over the study area. Multivariate statistical analysis, hydrochemical maps, ionic ratio coefficients, geographic information system (GIS) and geochemical simulation were comprehensively and systematically used to reveal the hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater and its controlling mechanism. The results revealed that both phreatic (pH = 7.02–9.08) and confined groundwater (pH = 7.00–10.60) were slightly alkaline. The hydrochemical types were mainly present as the HCO3-Ca-Mg type in the western premontane area and mixed Ca-Mg-SO4-Cl and Na-Cl-SO4 types in the eastern plains. The hydrochemical composition was dominated by water–rock interactions of natural processes, including silicate weathering, dissolution of sulfate minerals (gypsum, anhydrite), and cation-exchange adsorption. Anthropogenic activities were the main factor causing NO3− content in some groundwater samples to exceed the geochemical baseline. The hydrogeochemistry of groundwater in different aquifers was significantly varied. The average contents of TH, TDS, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl− and SO42− in phreatic aquifers were significantly higher than those in confined aquifers. The Entropy Weighted Water Quality Index (EWQI) results revealed that 17.78% of phreatic and 50% of confined water samples were meeting the purpose of drinking water. The groundwater samples with EWQI values exceeding 100 were mainly situated in the Handan urban area and the eastern region of Xingtai City, which should be avoided for direct utilization and needs to be improved through protection and management measures, to enhance the quality of groundwater. Correlation analysis showed that groundwater quality was significantly dominated by TH, TDS, Na+, Mg2+, Cl− and SO42− concentrations.

Analysis of the Superposition Effect of Land Subsidence and Sea-Level Rise in the Tianjin Coastal Area and Its Emerging Risks

Tianjin is a coastal city of China. However, the continuous rise of the relative sea-level has brought huge hidden danger to Tianjin’s economic and social development. The land subsidence is the most important factor that influences relative sea-level rise. By analyzing the current situation of subsidence in Tianjin through PS-InSAR, it was found that the subsidence rate of the southern plain of Tianjin is slowing down as a whole. In addition, Wuqing and Jinghai sedimentary areas as well as other several subsidence centers have been formed. By establishing a regular grid of land subsidence and ground water to construct a geo-weighted regression model (GWR), it was found that Wuqing sedimentary area as a whole is positively correlated with TCA. According to the relative sea-level change, it can be predicted that the natural coastline of Tianjin will recede by about 87 km2 in 20 years. Based on the research results above, this paper, by using machine-learning method (XGBoost), has evaluated Tianjin’s urban safety and analyzed high-risk areas and main contributing factors. Potential risks to urban safety brought about by relative sea-level rise have been analyzed, which will improve the resilience of coastal areas to disasters.

Implementing conjunctive management of water resources for irrigation development: A framework applied to the Southern Plain of Western Nepal.

Climate variability and insufficient irrigation are primary constraints to stable and higher agricultural productivity and food security in Nepal. Agriculture is the largest global freshwater user, and integration of surface- and ground-water use is frequently presented as an strategy for increasing efficiency as well as climate change adaptation. However, conjunctive management (CM) planning often ignores demand-side requirements and a broader set of sustainable development considerations, including ecosystem health and economics of different development strategies. While there is generic understanding of conjunctive use, detailed technical knowhow to realize the CM is lacking in Nepal. This article presents a holistic framework through literature reviews, stakeholders consultations and expert interviews for assessing CM and implementation prospects from a systems-level perspective. We demonstrate the framework through a case study in Western Nepal, where climatic variability and a lack of irrigation are key impediments to increased agricultural productivity and sustainable development. Results show that knowledge of water resources availability is good and that of water demand low in the Western Terai. Additional and coordinated investments are required to improve knowledge gaps as well as access to irrigation. There is therefore a need to assess water resources availability, water access, use and productivity, to fill the knowledge gaps in order to pave pathways for CM. This paper also discusses some strategies to translate prospects of conjunctive management into implementation.

Ecological Balance of Agri-Food Supply Chains—The Case of the Industrial Tomato

Tomatoes are one of the major productions in Italy. One of the main cultivation areas is the southern plain of Capitanata (Puglia, Southern Italy). However, a series of impacts from cultivation to distribution are connected to this production. Different methodologies have been proposed to evaluate and quantify these impacts from the single product to the supply chain. This work proposes a methodology for assessing environmental sustainability, using the agri-food chain of industrial tomatoes in a specific area of Italy (Puglia) as a case study. The theoretical approach adopted refers to the paradigm of ecological economics, recalling the concept of strong sustainability through the conservation of natural capital and its non-replacement with economic capital. This condition can be assessed through the ecological balance tool by comparing the availability and use of natural capital in economic activities. The aim of this study was to understand the extent of the load generated on the environment, thus evaluating whether the carrying capacity of the agricultural system was able to support the environmental load of the entire supply chain. The results show an overall unsustainability of the entire supply chain with a value of EB = −1911.49 gha. The agricultural phase is the only one to present a positive value EB = +62.99 gha, which fails to compensate for the impacts of the transport (EB = −349.13) and industrial (EB = −1630.96) phases. To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the sustainability of the tomato food chain using the ecological footprint method. In the agricultural sector, there is a constant search for tools capable of combining economic efficiency and environmental sustainability. In this sense, the ecological footprint methodology provides essential information that can be used by policymakers of different levels to define sustainable development strategies.

Application of Basin Morphometry for Hydro-geomorphological Implications: A Study of the Indo-Bhutanese Duduya Watershed

Abstract A drainage basin morphometric analysis has been carried out for the trans-boundary Duduya watershed located in the marginal parts of the Eastern Himalaya and its foreland of Bhutan and India. The linear, areal and relief morphometric parameters have been estimated based on topographical maps and SRTM DEM data. It is found that the Duduya is a 6th order drainage basin with asymmetric drainage arrangements with a total stream length of 1208.19 km. Almost all of the eleven sub-watersheds of the Duduya are elongated in nature and are characterized by medium drainage related parameters, e.g., density, frequency and texture signifying moderate flood susceptibilities while the presence of permeable soils, good vegetation cover facilitated considerable infiltration and water storage implying good groundwater potentials. The skewed distribution of relief parameters specially total relief, relief ratio and slope are indicators of erosion potential, however, this erosion potential is balanced by the elongated shape of the individual sub-watersheds and medium drainage related parameters. The region receives very high annual rainfall, besides majority of the watershed area is featured with very gentle slopes and flat terrains and therefore has prolonged runoff disposal meaning increased chances of floods in the downstream reaches. Several of the computed morphometric parameters were observed to have varied statistical associations and some of them are impacting each other significantly. A hierarchical cluster analysis suggested two different clusters of sub-watersheds, where SW1 and SW3 of the Eastern Himalayas need proper management for environmental issues like flash flood, channel avulsion and erosion due to high reliefs and moderate slopes, the rest of the sub-watersheds that are draining the lower parts of piedmont and the low-lying southern plain provide ideal conditions for cultivation due to flat terrains, meager slopes, greater infiltration and water storage capacities.

Trace-elements monitoring of single rainwaters for the environmental risks assessment in the “Land of Fires” located between the provinces of Naples and Caserta

Since rainwater chemical composition can provide valuable information on sources of local air pollution in urbanized and industrialized areas, rainwaters have been collected in the southern Plain of the region known as Campania (located between Caserta and Napoli provinces, Southern Italy). This area is characterized by the presence of heavy traffic, industries, high activity of intensive agriculture and recently sadly known as “Land of Fires” due to illegal uncontrolled burnings. Monitoring of major elements and trace elements of each single rainy event was conducted from May 2016 to January 2017 in four sampling sites long the perpendicular to the coastline, taking into account the main direction of local winds, influenced by sea breeze, to study chemical evidences. Samples were divided in the field into two aliquots: one for the analysis of anions (Cl−, NO3− and SO42−) and cations (Na+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+) by ion chromatography, and another one filtered and acidified for the analysis of trace elements (B, Al, Si, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr and Ba) by ICP-MS. Moreover, electrical conductivity (EC) and pH were determined just after the rainfall by a portable instrument and total alkalinity (as HCO3−) was determined in the field by titration with 0.01 M HCl and methyl orange as indicator. Results and data processing confirm that the vertical wash-out of the atmospheric layers closest to the soil is the main mineralization process. There is also chemical evidence linked to the hardest environmental risks, probably just to the illegal uncontrolled burnings and to the agriculture activity. In fact, the maximum values of NO3− and of SO42− obtained in this study are, respectively, 51.6 mg/l and 19.5 mg/l. Moreover, sea breeze has a lavage effect, as well as morphology can save the atmospheric composition despite polluting sites closeness. Therefore, this research has tried to find an innovative experimental design in the environmental risks assessment, which may lead to differently unknown results due to the diversity of sources and/or extension and/or morphology of the territories studied. This is due to the simultaneous application of points only recently introduced in other similar studies, which are the monitoring of trace elements, of single rainfall and the study of air dynamics too through water data. This experimental design has proven to be a first step very suitable for locating and detailing the hardest environmental risks despite geographical extension and complexity of the investigated region: all the trace elements have shown high R correlations with both NO3− and SO42− for specific individuated groups of data, as well as due to the specific probable polluting processes above. In the future, there should be a study on trace elements in air to compare with the values obtained in rainwater.