Uncultivated Land Research Articles

Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Uncultivated Arable Lands at Dongting Lake Basin, China

Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Uncultivated Arable Lands at Dongting Lake Basin, China

Study of hanging valley in loess-paleosoil sediments with soil erosion assessment using nuclear and erosion potential methods

This paper is dealing with soil erosion assessment using two different approaches: nuclear model and erosion potential method, also known as Gavrilovic's method. Complex valley systems on Titel Loess Plateau were selected for investigation. Radiocaesium is favored in many studies as an optimal erosion tracer due to its relatively long half-life, negligible renewal in the environment and strongly binding ability onto soil particles. The use of gamma-spectrometry in environmental testing laboratories acts as a precise and fast measurement technique for determination of 137Cs activity concentrations, without the need for complicate preparation of samples. Annual erosion and deposition rates were estimated according to three conversion models for uncultivated land: the profile distribution model with two years of dominant fallout of 137Cs (1963 and 1986) and the diffusion and migration model using WALLING software. The applied nuclear models were validated by comparison with erosion potential model which is the most relevant empirical model for erosion processes in torrent valleys. The obtained results indicate a good agreement with overall low values of average annual soil erosion rates on all soil profiles in the investigated area. Correlation analysis has determined the different influence of slope, terrain curvature, and vegetation index on the erosion models.

Characteristics, Sources, and Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Uncultivated Land Soils and Coastal Beach Sediments in the Yellow River Delta, China

Characteristics, Sources, and Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Uncultivated Land Soils and Coastal Beach Sediments in the Yellow River Delta, China

Адам и Ева как прообраз Нового Адама и Новой Евы (по учению святителя Иринея Лионского, Тертуллиана и святителя Викторина Петавийского). К вопросу о теории рекапитуляции в раннехристианском богословии

The doctrine of Adam and Eve as prototypes of New Adam and New Eve (the so-called theory of recapitulation) was first encountered in the epistles of the apostle Paul. Revealing the main feature of this teaching, the supreme apostle reports that the disobedience and sin that Adam and Eve committed were corrected by New Adam and New Eve (see: Rom. 5, 14-15). As a result, instead of the death of Adam and Eve and their descendants (by bodily birth), humanity received immortality, starting with New Adam and New Eve and their descendants (by spiritual birth). Subsequently, the pre-nicene christian writers, for example, Irenaeus of Lyon, Tertullian and Victorinus of Poetovio, resorted to the doctrine of Adam and Eve as prototypes of New Adam and New Eve.
 Developing the theory of recapitulation, Irenaeus of Lyon in his works — «Against heresies» and «Proof of the apostolic sermon» — used the epistles of the apostle Paul and the typological method of interpreting Holy Scripture. The saint of Lyon taught, first, that on that day (that is on friday), on which Adam was born, New Adam, or the Lord Jesus Christ, was born; secondly, on that day (that is on saturday), on which Adam violated the only commandment of God (see: Gen. 2, 16-17), the incarnate Son of God suffered. In addition, what the virgin Eve did not fulfill, being disobedient, since she ate the forbidden fruit, the Virgin Mary did, being obedient, since she gave birth to the Lord Jesus Christ.
 Following tradition in the presentation of the theory of cancer-capitulation, Tertullian in his treatise «On the flesh of Christ» uses the epistles of the apostle Paul, the works of Irenaeus of Lyon and the typological-mysterious method of interpreting Holy Scripture. The first latin theologian in his work resorted to analogies: the first is an uncultivated land, that is, since the first Adam was created from an uncultivated earth — the Second Adam was also created from an uncultivated earth, or was born from the Blessed Virgin Mary; the second — the heard word, that is, because through the heard word the first Eve sinned — the second Eve also through the heard word did not sin, or became the cause of the salvation of the entire human race.
 Developing the theory of recapitulation, Victorinus of Poetovio in his works — «On the сreation of the world» and «On the life of Christ» — relied on the epistles of the apostle Paul, the works of Irenaeus of Lyon and the typological method of interpreting Holy Scripture. The saint of Poetovio taught, first, that on that day (that is on friday), on which Adam was born, the incarnate Son of God was born; secondly, on that day (that is on saturday), on which Adam and Eve violated the only commandment of God (see: Gen. 2, 16-17), the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary took place and the Lord Jesus Christ suffered; and, thirdly, on that day (that is on the resurrection), on which God the Father and the Son of God created light, the conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary took place, the incarnate Son of God rose from the dead and the second time He will come to earth to judge all human genus.

Habitat selection by a predator of rodent pests is resilient to wildfire in a vineyard agroecosystem.

Conservation of uncultivated habitats can increase the potential for ecosystem services in agroecosystems, but these lands are also susceptible to wildfires in the arid western United States. In Napa Valley, California, abundant rodent pests and an interest in integrated pest management have led wine producers to use nest boxes to attract Barn Owls (Tyto furcata) to winegrape vineyards. The viability of this practice as a method to control rodent pests depends heavily on the amount of hunting effort that Barn Owls expend in vineyards, which is known to be influenced by the amount of uncultivated land cover types surrounding the nest box. Wildfires burned nearly 60,000 ha of mainly urban and uncultivated lands surrounding Napa Valley in 2017, altering Barn Owl habitats. We compared GPS tracking data from 32 Barn Owls nesting in 24 individual nest boxes before and after the fires to analyze their hunting habitat selection. Owls with burned areas available to them after the fires had home ranges that shifted toward the fires, but selection was not strongly associated with burned areas. Though there was some spatial use of burned areas, selection of land cover types was similar for birds before and after the fires and in burned and unburned areas. The strongest selection was for areas closest to the nest box, and most recorded locations were in grassland, though selection indicated that owls used land cover types in proportion to their availability. Overall, habitat selection was resilient to changes caused by wildfires. These results are important for farmers who use nest boxes as a means of rodent control, which may be affected after dramatic disturbance events, especially as wildfires increase in the western United States.

Op onvruchtbare bodem?

Abstract On barren soil? Early nature reserves of Natuurmonumenten and the Dutch landscape In 1905, Natuurmonumenten (Natural Monuments Society), a Dutch NGO for nature conservation, was founded. The society aimed to preserve some uncultivated lands, such as heathlands, fens, peat bogs but also forests, which were under threat of cultivation and reclamation. Natuurmonumenten managed to acquire a number of nature reserves in the years 1905-1940 for scientific, recreational and aesthetic reasons. In this article, this collection is analyzed and compared to the reserves of other Dutch nature conservation organizations in the same period. Although Natuurmonumenten acquired mainly barren soils, it turned out to be a fruitful start of a nature preservation organization that operated nationwide, and established a strong network within Dutch society.

Understanding the Collapse of the Longshan Culture (4400-3800 BP) and the 4.2 ka Event in the Haidai Region of China – from an Agricultural Perspective

ABSTRACT The Haidai region was important for early Chinese cultures that reached their prehistoric peak during the Longshan period (4400–3800 BP). However, the continuous development of Longshan societies was interrupted from the Yueshi period (3800–3600 BP) in West-Haidai but in the Late Longshan phase (4100/4000–3800 BP) in East-Haidai. As archaeobotanical data has accumulated, a comprehensive study on agriculture over this time has become feasible, one which is quite sensitive to climate change and also crucial to human society. Therefore, we conducted a synthetic analysis of macro-botanical remains from 25 Longshan sites using Representativeness Index (RI) and Correspondence Analysis (CA). We identified sub-regional differences in crop structures and cultivation regimes between West- and East-Haidai that offer new insights into social changes that arose after the 4.2 ka BP event. While facing abrupt cooling and drought, societies engaged in millet farming in West-Haidai exhibited stronger resilience than those in East-Haidai that were occupied primarily with rice farming. Moreover, to cope with environmental deterioration, West-Haidai inhabitants may have attempted to change cropping practices by exploiting previously uncultivated lands whereas those in East-Haidai were preoccupied with intensive rice farming throughout the entire Longshan period and probably mitigated food shortages by population migration.

Animals, environment and sustainability: Global warming reducing and inducing attributes of the farm animals

Animals, environment and sustainability are related with each other. The intricate soil-plant-animal relationship is vital for the very ecological integrity of the biosphere. Animal diversity, both inter- and intra-species, has multiple socio-economic attributes. In an agroecosystem with uncultivated land, cultivated land, livestock and households as the integral components, livestock play crucial role in transferring nutrients from ecologically more sustainable ecosystem (forest/ rangeland/ grassland) to ecologically vulnerable one (cultivated land), and in the recycling of nutrients in the cultivated lands. Draught animal power (DAP) is a key source for realizing sustainability in traditional agricultural systems which is ensured by their role in enhancing ecological processes—cropping diversification, agro-biodiversity maintenance, and soil fertility management. Farm animals also play negative role leading to environmental degradation through overgrazing and carbon emissions. Grazing animals significantly affect an ecosystem in triple ways, viz. herbivory, physical effects, and deposition. Overgrazing alters community structure as well as ecosystem functioning, including primary productivity and it has triggering effects on an ecosystem. Farm animals are key agents as well as sufferers of the on-going climate change. Their role in land degradation, water pollution, biodiversity erosion and release of GHGs contributes to exacerbate global warming.

Opportunities for an African greenhouse gas observation system

Global population projections foresee the biggest increase to occur in Africa with most of the available uncultivated land to ensure food security remaining on the continent. Simultaneously, greenhouse gas emissions are expected to rise due to ongoing land use change, industrialisation, and transport amongst other reasons with Africa becoming a major emitter of greenhouse gases globally. However, distinct knowledge on greenhouse gas emissions sources and sinks as well as their variability remains largely unknown caused by its vast size and diversity and an according lack of observations across the continent. Thus, an environmental research infrastructure—as being setup in other regions—is more needed than ever. Here, we present the results of a design study that developed a blueprint for establishing such an environmental research infrastructure in Africa. The blueprint comprises an inventory of already existing observations, the spatial disaggregation of locations that will enable to reduce the uncertainty in climate forcing’s in Africa and globally as well as an overall estimated cost for such an endeavour of about 550 M€ over the next 30 years. We further highlight the importance of the development of an e-infrastructure, the necessity for capacity development and the inclusion of all stakeholders to ensure African ownership.

Kaveri River Water Dispute and Reduction in Crop Productivity in a Sample Village Depending on River Water for Irrigation

The essence of the Cauvery dispute is still a conflict of interest between a downstream state (Tamil Nadu) that has a long history of vast irrigated agriculture land and has in the process been making substantial use of Cauvery waters and an upstream state (Karnataka) that was a late starter in irrigation development. It has been making rapid progress and has the advantage of being an upper riparian with greater control over the waters. Frequent inadequate rainfall in Tamil Nadu every time to approach the Supreme Court asking for an immediate release of 30tmc feet by Karnataka to save the standing crops in Thanjavur delta. In keeping the above background of information about the two interstate problems, the Kaveri delta region is most affected during the past decades. Due to erratic monsoon season the delta which is solely depending on the Kaveri river water irrigation is another blow to the farmers. This has resulted the decrease in crop productivity and also majority of the land which was put to use for agricultural activities, now let on as uncultivated lands due to Kaveri river water for irrigation. The delta farmers and the agriculture worker are rendered without any agricultural activities and some of them who are exclusively depending on agriculture, like small farmers, have been suffered drastically for their day to day bread. The present research would highlight the loss of agricultural productivity from the past to the present, and how it has affected the granary of Tamil Nadu. For the purpose of the sample study a village namely Eachankottai, which is solely depending on the Kaveri river water for the irrigation purpose has been selected for the present study.

APPLICATION OF HERBICIDES IN THE CONTROL OF THE INVASIVE SPECIES<i> HERACLEUM SOSNOWSKYI</i> MANDEN. (SOSNOWSKY’S HOGWEED) IN FORESTRY

A representative of the family Apiacea, Sosnowsky's hogweed ( Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden.) previously cultivated as a fodder plant and now occupying vast territories along roads and railways, in and near settlements, uncultivated agricultural lands, on farms and in many other areas, poses a serious threat to human health. On these lands, an active eradication campaign has been going on for over 15 years. This invasive species also spreads actively on the lands of the forest fund including plantations, felling sites, young stands of natural origin, clearings and hayfields, forest stands of different ages with a small basal area, and in the most productive forest conditions. As a result, in forest plantations growth of woody plants (primarily of coniferous species) is inhibited, their death is observed, and environmental, aesthetic and industrial damage increases due to the growth and dominance of Sosnowsky's hogweed. As a result of field experiments in the Leningrad Region, a high effectiveness of a number of modern herbicides (Roundup, Anchor-85, and Magnum) for control of Sosnowsky's hogweed and other unwanted herbaceous vegetation, as well as their selectivity in relation to pine and spruce, has been demonstrated.

Soil nitrogen‐hydrolyzing enzyme activity and stoichiometry following a subtropical land use change

AbstractSoil extracellular enzyme activities reflect the microbial nutrient demand by microorganisms and can be strongly affected by land use change. However, how soil N‐hydrolyzing enzymes and soil extracellular enzyme stoichiometry (EES) respond to land use change remains unclear. Here, we explored seasonal variations in β‐1,4‐N‐acetyl glucosaminidase and leucine aminopeptidase activities and EES under afforested land (woodland and shrubland), cropland, and uncultivated land for better understanding microbial metabolism around the Danjiangkou Reservoir area. Both afforested and cropland soils averaged higher N‐hydrolyzing enzyme and specific enzyme activities [i.e., enzyme activities per unit of soil organic nitrogen (SON)] compared to the uncultivated soils, indicating fast N turnover rates after afforestation and cultivation. Higher N‐hydrolyzing enzyme activities under afforestation and cultivation could be attributed to increasing soil organic carbon and soil organic nitrogen contents. All land use types were generally restricted by nutrients limitation than C demand as mean soil ecoenzymatic C:N:P ratios deviated from 1:1:1. However, afforestation and cultivation r|esulted in greater C demand and alleviate nutrient limitation for soil microorganisms with higher ecoenzymatic C:N ratios, C:P ratios, and vector lengths. In addition, all land use types were restricted by P than N limitation with ecoenzymatic N:P ratios less than 1 and vector angle >45°, among which afforestation increased P limitation and cultivation alleviated P limitation for microbes compared with uncultivated land. Overall, our results provide insight into mechanisms of soil microbial metabolic limitation regulated by soil N‐hydrolyzing enzyme activity and EES under global land use change.

Selected Physicochemical Properties of the Soils Under Different Land Uses in Some Areas of Ethiopia

Agriculture is the primary source of income for most developing countries, including Ethiopia. However, Ethiopian agriculture is under risk due to unwise use of land resources and changes in land use. In Ethiopia, land use changes such as conversion of natural forest to farming, open grazing, and homestead land are common. These activities have resulted in the degradation of agricultural soil quality and a decrease in land productivity, resulting in low agricultural production and food insecurity in the country. As a result, long-term advantages for environmental health and economic growth are provided through sustainable management of agricultural resources such as soil. As a result, Ethiopia has recently developed an interest in assessing the quality of soil resources. Understanding the impact of agro-ecosystem change on agricultural soil quality and long-term land production requires assessing soil physicochemical parameters and their implications on soil fertility. Thus, many studies have been conducted with regards to designated physicochemical properties of the soils under different land use types. Therefore, this review papers were aimed to assess selected physicochemical properties of the soils under different land use in some areas of Ethiopia. Different studies showed that soil physicochemical properties such as Soil texture (sand, silt, clay), Bulk density, Total porosity (%), OC, C: N ratio, TN, pH, CEC Ava-P, and Ava (EB: K + , Ca 2+ , and Mg 2+ ), Ava (EX; Fe 2+ , Mn 2+ , Zn 2+ , Cu 2+ ) were influenced by different land use systems. The findings of the various research revealed that the degree and direction of changes in soil attributes under various land uses reflect the long-term impact of humans on land resources, as well as the repercussions of expanding human and animal populations. In comparison to the neighboring forest and grazing area soils, the soil properties under farmed land indicated an overall trend in the direction of loss of fertility. In general, continuous cultivation has degraded greatest of the important soil physicochemical attributes of the area as compared to the uncultivated lands. Therefore, the studies have been showed that reducing the continues cultivation and the use of integrated soil fertility management could help to sustain current soil conditions and restore the country’s damaged soil qualities. Keywords : land uses, soil fertility, soil physicochemical properties DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-15-02 Publication date: August 31 st 2021

Influence of Slope Gradient and Aspect on Soil Organic Carbon Content in the Region of Niš, Serbia

Topography-induced microclimate differences determine the local spatial variation of soil characteristics as topographic factors may play the most essential role in changing the climatic pattern. The aim of this study was to investigate the spatial distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) with respect to the slope gradient and aspect, and to quantify their influence on SOC within different land use/cover classes. The study area is the Region of Niš in Serbia, which is characterized by complex topography with large variability in the spatial distribution of SOC. Soil samples at 0–30 cm and 30–60 cm were collected from different slope gradients and aspects in each of the three land use/cover classes. The results showed that the slope aspect significantly influenced the spatial distribution of SOC in the forest and vineyard soils, where N- and NW-facing soils had the highest level of organic carbon in the topsoil. There were no similar patterns in the uncultivated land. No significant differences were found in the subsoil. Organic carbon content was higher in the topsoil, regardless of the slope of the terrain. The mean SOC content in forest land decreased with increasing slope, but the difference was not statistically significant. In vineyards and uncultivated land, the SOC content was not predominantly determined by the slope gradient. No significant variations across slope gradients were found for all observed soil properties, except for available phosphorus and potassium. A positive correlation was observed between SOC and total nitrogen, clay, silt, and available phosphorus and potassium, while a negative correlation with coarse sand was detected. The slope aspect in relation to different land use/cover classes could provide an important reference for land management strategies in light of sustainable development.

Optimum allocation of salt discharge areas in land consolidation for irrigation districts by SahysMod

Soil salinization seriously threats the sustainability of agriculture in irrigation districts in arid and semi-arid regions. Unreasonable land consolidation aimed to increase cultivated land by developing uncultivated land makes soil salinization more serious in irrigation districts in the northwest of China. The uncultivated land serves as the salt discharge area, which is necessary for cultivated land with reasonable area, excavation depth, and spatial allocation. Therefore, this study aims to optimize the allocation of salt discharge areas based on soil water and salt movements simulated by SahysMod, choosing Yinchuan North Irrigation District as a case study in the northwest of China. Results showed that SahysMod was an effective tool to simulate soil water and salt movements between cultivated land and salt discharge areas. The parameters of optimum allocations, including excavation depths of salt discharge areas and area ratios of cultivated land to salt discharge areas, indicated the negative and positive effects of power functions on soil salinity of cultivated land, respectively. In this case study, an excavation depth of 0.3 m, the area ratio of 1.5, and salt discharge areas located in the southwest and northeast were more conducive and cost effective in terms of removing soil salinity of cultivated land. Moreover, the average soil salinity of cultivated land by optimum allocation was reduced to 1.2 dS/m compared with 2.7 dS/m by original allocation in 2027. It proved that the reasonable allocation of salt discharge areas was very important to address soil salinization of cultivated land and ensure its sustainable utilization, which provided a theoretical basis and technical guide for the allocation of salt discharge areas in land consolidation in the arid irrigation districts.

Effects of soil depth and characteristics on phosphorus adsorption isotherms of different land utilization types: Phosphorus adsorption isotherms of soil

Phosphorus (P) is an indispensable natural mineral for biological processes and structures that support life in plants and animals. P deficiency is the most common nutritional stress of cultivated land in many regions of the world. The aim of this study was to determine the phosphorus (P) sorption characteristics of some soils and derive parameter estimates relevant in the prediction and management of P as well as their relationship to the properties of the soils. Four soil samples (each taken from depths of 0−10, 10−20 and 20−30 cm) were obtained from the Eastern Region of Ghana for this study. An uncultivated virgin land at Huhunya (HV), a cocoa farm in Akwadum (AC), a plantain farm also in Huhunya (HP) and piece of land which had been allowed to go fallow in Huhunya (HF) was used. Measurement of P sorption was conducted by equilibrating air-dried soil (<2 mm) in 0.2 M CaCl2 solution containing various concentrations of P. Phosphorus sorption data for soils was fitted to the Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherm equations. The result of the study show that the amount of phosphorus adsorbed increased with increasing depth with AC soil recording an average range of 114.16−211.55 μg/g. Phosphate adsorption was well described by the three isotherm equations. The data from the soils did conform best to the Langmuir equation with an average r2 value of 0.99. It was realized that virgin soil (from Huhunya) would require the most P fertilizer. The least P fertilizer would be required by the soil from the plantain farm (HP). Correlation analysis showed a significant relationship between some soil characteristics and the sorption parameters derived from the three equations.

HEMIDESMUS INDICUS (ANANTMOOL): A POTENTIAL TRADITIONAL PLANT WITH ANTIVENOM ACTIVITY

The field of Ayurvedic Science is acquiring more importance and prevalence all through the world as a result of its amazing medicinal uses. Therapeutic plants have been utilized by humankind since ancient times. According to World Health Organization, 80% of individuals depend on natural drugs for some aspect of their primary healthcare. Hemidesmus indicus (Anantmool) is a significant medicinal plant, which is described in Ayurvedic literature and current science because of the presence of its number of remedial properties. Hemidesmus indicus is locally known as Anantmool and Indian Sarsaparilla. It is an aromatic, long-rooted plant that belongs to the Apocynaceae family. The plant is widely cultivating in deciduous forests, uncultivated lands and moist hedges. The medicinal plant is used against a variety of diseases due to the presence of various phytochemicals like Hemidesmol, Resin, Glucoside, Tannin and Resin. The plant parts, roots and rhizome have been utilized for hundreds of years in Ayurvedic medication for relieving countless diseases. Many reported studies highlighted the potential pharmacological properties of H. indicus like anti-cataractous, anti-diarrhoeal, anti-cancerous, anti-diabetics, anti-venom, anti-angiogenic. The present work aims overall Ayurvedic and modern therapeutical information of Hemidesmus indicus with various reported Ayurvedic literature and scientific pharmacological studies.

Using bromide data tracer and HYDRUS‐1D to estimate groundwater recharge and evapotranspiration under film‐mulched drip irrigation in an arid Inland Basin, Northwest China

AbstractAccurate estimation of groundwater recharge (GR) and evapotranspiration (ET) are essential for sustainable management of groundwater resources, especially in arid and semi‐arid regions. In the Manas River Basin (MRB), water shortage is the main factor restricting sustainable development of irrigated agriculture, which relies heavily on groundwater. Film‐mulched drip irrigation significantly changes the pattern and dominant processes of water flow in the unsaturated zone, which increases the difficulty of GR and ET estimation. To better estimate GR and ET under film‐mulched drip irrigation in the MRB, bromide tracer tests and soil lithologic investigation were conducted at 12 representative sites. A one‐dimensional variably saturated flow model (HYDRUS‐1D) was calibrated at each site using soil evaporation data inferred from the bromide tracer tests. The results showed that average annual soil evaporation in uncultivated lands calculated from bromide trace tests was 25.55 mm. The annual GR ranged from 5.5 to 37.0 mm under film‐mulched drip irrigation. The annual ET ranged from 507.0 to 747.1 mm, with soil evaporation between 35.7 and 117.0 mm and transpiration between 460.9 and 642.3 mm. Soil evaporation represented 7% to 16% of the total ET and more than 70% of precipitation and irrigation water was used by cotton plants. Spatial variations of soil lithology, water table depth and initial soil water content led to the spatial differences of GR and ET in the MRB. Our study indicated that bromide tracer tests are useful for inferring ET in the arid and semi‐arid oases. The combination of bromide tracer tests and HYDRUS‐1D enhances reliability for estimation of GR and ET under film‐mulched drip irrigation in the MRB and shows promise for other similar arid inland basins around the world.

English

The chemical properties in the rhizosphere of fruit tree species were investigated during different season at CCS HAU, Hisar. Results revels that pH value, OC, N, P, K, Zn contents increased significantly with all the fruit orchards over control (uncultivated land). However, maximum pH, EC, OC, CN ratio, available N, P, K, Zn and Fe (8.30, 0.33 dS/m, 0.54 %, 11.63, 126.26 kg/ha, 32.24 kg/ha, 284.93 kg/ha, 2.10 ppm and 3.34 ppm) was found in aonla, sweet orange, jamun, jamun, guava, sweet orange, guava, ber and sweet orange, respectively. Highest EC, CEC, OC and available K were found in winter season but pH, EC, available N, Zn, Mn and B contents were recorded maximum in summer season.CN ratio and available P were maximum in rainy season. Inter row spaces soil had highest pH, CEC, CN ratio and Zn contents while maximum OC, Available N, P, K, Fe, Mn and B contents was observed under the canopy of fruit trees.

EFFECTS OF RAINWATER HARVESTING ON YIELD OF WHEAT AND MAIZE CROPS IN PAKISTAN

This paper attempts to identify the effect of rainwater harvesting (RWH) and rainfed irrigation on yield of wheat and maize crops in Pakistan. The study was carried out in two villages, namely, Reerh and Ghoutar of district Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A total of 200 farming households were randomly selected from both villages. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect primary data. The descriptive analysis shows that farmers in the research area had adopted small-scale, indigenous RWH schemes such as channels, bunds, tanks, and rooftop collection. A paired-samples t-test was used to compare the yield of wheat and maize crops between irrigated and rainfed farming systems. The results of the paired t-test confirmed a difference in yield of wheat and maize in irrigated and rainfed conditions. The study concludes that the large portion of uncultivated land could be cultivated if water shortage problem is resolved through the promotion of community-led RWH schemes in the area. This will help in sustainable agricultural development in the area. &#x0D;