Search Results (76)

This article explores the impacts of climate change on the rural and natural landscapes in the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, northeastern Greece. The spatial distributions of the bioclimatic de Martonne Index and the phytoclimatic Emberger Index were calculated at a very high resolution (~500 m) for present conditions (1970–2000), two future time periods (2030–2060; 2070–2100), and two greenhouse gas concentration scenarios (RCP4.5; RCP8.5). The results show significant bioclimatic changes, especially in the Rhodope Mountain range and along almost the whole length of the Greek–Bulgarian border, where forests of high ecosystem value are located, together with the rural areas along the Evros river valley, as well as in the coastal zone of the Aegean Sea. The article describes the processes of bioclimatic changes that can significantly modify the study area’s landscapes. The study area reveals a shift toward xerothermic environments over time, with significant bioclimatic changes projected under the extreme RCP8.5 scenario. By 2100, de Martonne projections indicate that around 40% of agricultural areas in the eastern, southern, and western regions will face Mediterranean and semi-humid conditions, requiring supplemental irrigation for sustainability. The Emberger Index predicts that approximately 42% of natural and agricultural landscapes will experience sub-humid conditions with mild or cool winters. In comparison, 5% will face drier humid/sub-humid, warm winter conditions. These foreseen futures propose initial interpretations for key landscape conservation, natural capital, and ecosystem services management. Full article

The objective of this paper is to propose an artificial neural network (ANN) model to forecast the Danube River temperature at Chiciu–Călărași, Romania, bordered by Romanian and Bulgarian ecological sites, and situated upstream of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant. Given the temperature increase trend, the potential of thermal pollution is rising, impacting aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The available data covered a period of eight years, between 2008 and 2015. Using as input data actual air and water temperatures, and discharge, as well as air temperature data provided by weather forecasts, the ANN model predicts the Danube water temperature one week in advance with a root mean square deviation (RMSE) of 0.954 °C for training and 0.803 °C for testing. The ANN uses the Levenberg–Marquardt feedforward backpropagation algorithm. This feature is useful for the irrigation systems and for the power plants in the area that use river water for different purposes. The results are encouraging for developing similar studies in other locations and extending the ANN model to include more parameters that can have a significant influence on water temperature. Full article

Irrigation schemes represent the backbone of Sudan’s food security and economy. The Gezira, Rahad, and El-Gunied irrigation schemes depend mainly on the Blue Nile as their primary water source. However, the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in the Blue Nile at the Sudan border has changed water flow regulations along the Blue Nile. Therefore, the Sudanese irrigation schemes that depend on the Blue Nile are affected by the operation and management of the GERD. This study used datasets derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), specifically the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) and crop water use efficiency (CWUE), alongside climate time-series data obtained from the Climate Research Unit, to evaluate the performance of irrigation schemes in Sudan affected by climate variability and the construction and filling of the GERD. The analysis was carried out using R version 4.4.1 and spreadsheets. A dummy variable approach was employed to examine the effects of the GERD on the EVI, given the limited timeframe of the study, whilst Grey Relational Analysis was applied to investigate the influence of selected climate variables on the EVI. The results revealed that in the Gezira scheme, the impact of the GERD on the EVI was minimal, with rainfall and temperature identified as the predominant factors. In contrast, the construction of the GERD had significant negative repercussions on the EVI in the Rahad scheme, while it positively affected the El-Gunied scheme. The advantageous effects observed in the El-Gunied scheme were linked to the mitigation measures employed by the heightening of the Roseires Dam in Sudan since 2013. The Rahad and El-Gunied schemes exhibited heightened sensitivity to GERD-induced changes, primarily due to their reliance on irrigation water sourced from pumping stations dependent on Blue Nile water levels. Additionally, this study forecasts a decrease in cropping intensity attributed to the GERD, estimating reductions of 3.9% in Rahad, 1.5% in Gezira, and 0.8% in El-Gunied. Ultimately, this study highlights the detrimental impact of the GERD on Blue Nile water levels as a significant adverse factor associated with its construction and filling, which has led to a marked decline in CWUE across the irrigation schemes. The research underscores the intricate inter-relationship among environmental, political, institutional, and infrastructural elements that shapes irrigation efficiency and water management practices. This study concludes that enhancing irrigation efficiency and assessing the performance of irrigation schemes require significant consideration of institutional, economic, and political factors, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Full article

Background: The wine industry in arid area serves as a crucial livelihood source at the frontiers of anti-desertification and anti-poverty. By making use of a carbon footprint (CF) management system, formerly untapped climate values can be explored, embedded, and cherished to connect rural communities with the global goals of sustainable development. However, the current standards of CF management mainly represent the traditional wine grape growing areas of Europe, Oceania, and North America. Limited study of the arid areas in lower-income regions exists, which offers a kind of potential development knowledge regarding creating climate-related livelihoods. Methods: This paper attempts to construct a cradle-to-gate CF Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) framework based on the prominent emission factors in three GHG emission phases (raw material input, planting management, and transportation) of a wine grape variety, Cabernet Sauvignon (chi xia zhu), planted at the Eastern Foothills of the Helan Mountains in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China. Results: It is found that viticulture processes (instead of wine-making, bottling, or distribution) account for a larger proportion of GHG emissions in Ningxia. Due to the large amount of irrigation electricity usage, the less precipitation wine producers have, the larger CF they produce. By using organic fertilizer, the CF of Ningxia Cabernet Sauvignon, being 0.3403 kgCO₂e/kg, is not only lower than that of the drier areas in Gansu Province (1.59–5.7 kgCO₂e/kg) of Western China, but it is even lower than that of the Israel Negev Region (0.342 kgCO₂e/kg) that experiences more rainfall. Conclusions: The measurement of CF also plays a role in understanding low-carbon experience sharing. As the largest wine grape production area in China, CF analysis of the Ningxia region and its commercial value realization might practically fill in the knowledge gap for desert areas in developing countries. It is inspiring to know that by applying green agricultural technologies, the viticulture CF can be effectively reduced. For the potential exchanges in global carbon markets or trading regulations under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), positive variations in CF and soil organic carbon (SOC) storage volume need to be considered within financial institutional design to lead to more participation toward SDGs. Full article

Ecological restoration of abandoned mining areas in arid regions presents significant challenges, especially in terms of soil salinization, vegetation loss, and limited water resources. In the Hami arid area of Xinjiang, vegetation restoration is crucial for stabilizing ecosystems and combating land degradation. This study investigated the effects of two irrigation methods—drip and border irrigation—on the growth and survival of four plant species: Tamarix chinensis, Calligonum mongolicum, Haloxylon ammodendron, and Phragmites australis, each exposed to salinity levels of 8 g/L, 12 g/L, and 16 g/L. Our results showed that drip irrigation significantly improved the growth and survival outcomes for most species, particularly T. chinensis and H. ammodendron, with average heights, crown sizes, and base diameters substantially higher under drip irrigation compared to border irrigation (p < 0.05). C. mongolicum, however, displayed optimal vertical growth under border irrigation, although drip irrigation promoted a denser, more compact crown structure. Salinity tolerance varied by species, with 8 g/L salinity being optimal for all, while higher salinity levels (12 g/L and 16 g/L) reduced growth across species, underscoring the importance of salinity management in restoration efforts. P. australis, assessed only under border irrigation due to its high water requirements, showed stable growth but reduced tolerance at higher salinities. These findings highlight that drip irrigation, particularly when combined with moderate salinity (8 g/L), is a more effective strategy for enhancing vegetation growth and survival in arid, saline environments. Our study provides practical recommendations for irrigation and salinity management in ecological restoration, offering insights for improving vegetation resilience in arid mining landscapes. Full article

The contradiction between increased irrigation demand and water scarcity in arid regions has become more acute for crops as a result of global climate change. This highlights the urgent need to improve crop water use efficiency. In this study, four irrigation volumes were established for drip-irrigated maize under plastic mulch: 2145 m³ ha⁻¹ (W1), 2685 m³ ha⁻¹ (W2), 3360 m³ ha⁻¹ (W3), and 4200 m³ ha⁻¹ (W4). The effects of these volumes on soil moisture, maize growth, water consumption, crop coefficients, and yield were analyzed. The results showed that increasing the irrigation volume led to a 2.86% to 8.71% increase in soil moisture content, a 24.56% to 47.41% increase in water consumption, and a 3.43% to 35% increase in the crop coefficient. Maize plant height increased by 16.34% to 42.38%, ear height by 16.85% to 51.01%, ear length by 2.43% to 28.13%, and yield by 16.96% to 39.24%. Additionally, soil temperature was reduced by 1.67% to 5.67%, and the maize bald tip length decreased by 6.62% to 48%. The irrigation water use efficiency improved by 6.57% to 28.89%. A comprehensive evaluation using the TOPSIS method demonstrated that 3360 m³ ha⁻¹ of irrigation water was an effective irrigation strategy for increasing maize yield under drip irrigation with plastic mulch in the southern border area. Compared to 4200 m³ ha⁻¹, this strategy saved 840 m³ ha⁻¹ of irrigation water, increased the irrigation water use efficiency by 23.96%, and resulted in only a 0.84% decrease in yield. The findings of this study provide a theoretical foundation for optimizing production benefits in the context of limited water resources. Full article

The variability of natural parameters in border fields is one of the main factors leading to poor irrigation performance. To explore the impact of natural parameter variation on border irrigation performance, a four-year field irrigation experiment was conducted in this study, and the obtained parameters were combined with the WinSRFR V4.1 model to simulate the advance–recession process under different discharge scenarios. Based on the observed and simulated data, the influence of natural parameter variation on the flow process of constant discharge irrigation was analyzed, and thus the optimal observation points for advancing and discharge regulation strategy were further established. The results indicated that in a constant discharge border irrigation system, the irrigation performance index showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with the increase in discharge, and the variation range of the reduced section was smaller than that of the increased section. Therefore, the risk of inefficient irrigation caused by flow fluctuations could be reduced to a certain extent by increasing the discharge. Additionally, variability in natural parameters also caused the water advance time to deviate gradually from expectations, and the deviation would be obvious when the flow advanced to the point of 40 m. The adjustment range of the optimal regulation discharge q_M was greater than the corresponding optimal constant discharge q_D2 under natural parameter variations. In the ideal situation of uniform natural parameters within the border, the optimal discharge regulation scheme could improve the application efficiency, irrigation uniformity, and water storage efficiency to 97.3%, 95.5%, and 96.9%, respectively. The results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for the development of automatic regulation of border irrigation systems. Full article

In the context of water scarcity, understanding the mechanisms influencing and altering agricultural water consumption can offer valuable insights into the scientific management of limited water resources. Using Henan Province as a case study, this research applies the Mann–Kendall test method, the spatial Markov transfer chain model, the optimal parameter geo-detector model, and the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) decomposition method to investigate the evolution characteristics of agricultural water consumption in Henan Province and its key influencing factors. The findings revealed the following: (1) Agricultural water consumption has shown a significant decline from 1999 to 2022. (2) According to observations, the stability of agricultural water consumption exceeds the spillover effect, and cross-border grade transfer is challenging. Moreover, this phenomenon is influenced by the neighboring regions. (3) The key influencing factors of added agricultural value are the sown area of food crops, total sown area, irrigated area, and average annual air temperature. (4) Among the decomposition effects on agricultural water consumption, the contribution of each decomposition effect to changes in agricultural water consumption and the role of spatial distribution exhibit notable differences. Overall, these findings provide theoretical references for the efficient use of agricultural water resources and sustainable development in the region. Full article

This study estimates the relative contribution of different factors to the wide variation in agricultural economic water productivity (EWP) across Colorado River Basin counties. It updates EWP measures for Basin counties using more detailed, localized data for the Colorado River mainstem. Using the Schwarz Bayesian Information Criterion for variable selection, regression analysis and productivity accounting methods identified factors contributing to EWP differences. The EWP was USD 1033 (USD 2023)/acre foot (af) for Lower Basin Counties on the U.S.–Mexico Border, USD 729 (USD 2023)/af for other Lower Basin Counties, and USD 168 (USD 2023)/af for Upper Basin Counties. Adoption rates for improved irrigation technologies showed little inter-county variation and so did not have a statistically significant impact on EWP. Counties with the lowest EWP consumed 25% of the Basin’s agricultural water (>2.3 million af) to generate 3% of the Basin’s crop revenue. Low populations/remoteness and more irrigated acreage per farm were negatively associated with EWP. Warmer winter temperatures and greater July humidity were positively associated with EWP. When controlling for other factors, being on the Border increased a county’s EWP by USD 570 (2023 USD)/af. Border Counties have greater access to labor from Mexico, enabling greater production of high-value, labor-intensive specialty crops. Full article

A comprehensive understanding of the impact of land fragmentation on collective action is essential for rural governance in developing countries. Prior publications have argued that land fragmentation impedes the sustainable development of agricultural economies and rural societies, while the connection between humans and nature has not been considered comprehensively. Therefore, the conclusion that the impact of land fragmentation on collective action is purely negative may be one-sided. To examine this conclusion, this paper re-evaluates the relationship between land fragmentation and rural collective action from a multidisciplinary perspective. Based on a rural field survey using stratified random sampling, Oprobit regression was employed to conduct an econometric analysis on data from 798 rural households across 14 cities in the border region of Guangxi, China. The following research findings were obtained: (1) When the human–nature connection is considered, the relationship between land fragmentation and collective action follows an inverted U-shaped curve. Specifically, moderate initial increases in land fragmentation can lead to improvements in collective action; however, when the degree of land fragmentation exceeds a certain threshold, further increases in land fragmentation will decrease the collective action capacity. (2) This nonlinear relationship between land fragmentation and collective action may be realized through three pathways: agricultural production, land use patterns, and the ecological environment. Under the context of collective action, this study shows that a moderate level of land fragmentation objectively exists in reality. This insight provides a new impetus for developing countries to shift policy perspectives to increase their land use efficiency. Additionally, this paper integrates relevant findings from both social sciences and natural sciences. Thereby, it not only expands the existing understanding of key factors influencing rural household collective action but also emphasizes the potential for cross-disciplinary integration between social sciences and natural sciences. Full article

Large lakes face considerable challenges due to human activities and climate change, impacting local weather conditions and ecosystem sustainability. Lake Urmia, Iran’s largest lake and the world’s second-largest saltwater lake, has undergone a substantial reduction in water levels, primarily due to drought, climate change, and excessive irrigation. This study focuses on the potential repercussions on local climate conditions, particularly investigating the impact of moisture sources, evaporation from lake surfaces, and evapotranspiration from agricultural activities, on local convection rainfall. The prevailing westerly winds in the basin suggest a hypothesis that this moisture is transported eastward within the basin, potentially leading to local precipitation as it ascends to higher altitudes near the eastern basin border. To validate this hypothesis, climate data from 1986 to 2017 from the Sarab meteorological station (east of the lake basin, influenced by local precipitation) and Saqez meteorological station (south of the basin, unaffected by local precipitation) were analyzed. The impact of lake water level reduction was assessed by categorizing data into periods of normal lake conditions (1986–1995) and water level reduction (1996–2017). Additionally, the MSWEP global precipitation product was used to examine the precipitation distribution in the entire basin over the entire period and sub-periods. The findings indicate Lake Urmia’s significant influence on convective rainfall in the eastern basin, especially during the summer. Despite decreasing lake levels from 1996 to 2017, convective rainfall in the eastern basin increased during the summer, suggesting intensified agricultural irrigation, particularly in hot seasons. Full article

Understanding the distribution of water and nitrate nitrogen in the soil profile is crucial for the reasonable operation of fertigation, and it is also fundamental for controlling and regulating nitrate nitrogen in the root zone, thereby meeting a crop’s requirements. The application rates of fertilizer and water directly influence this distribution of water and nitrate nitrogen. However, the effects in Aeolian sandy soil, a type of developing soil bordering deserts, remain ambiguous. In this study, field experiments for different drip fertigation treatments in Aeolian sandy soil were conducted to investigate the soil water distribution, as well as that of nitrate nitrogen. A completely randomized experimental design was implemented, encompassing three levels of irrigation amount: low (W1), medium (W2), and high (W3), and three levels of nitrogen application rate: low (F1), medium (F2), high (F3). After the completion of each irrigation treatment, soil samples were extracted at 10–20 cm intervals. The soil water and nitrate nitrogen contents in the profiles of these samples were measured. The experimental results revealed that increasing the nitrogen application rate facilitated the retention of greater amounts of water and nitrate nitrogen in the soil profile. However, with an increase in the nitrogen application rate, both soil water and nitrate nitrogen exhibited a radial tendency to move away from the drip emitter. Some moved upward and accumulated in surface soil near a ridge furrow, while some moved downward and remained in a deeper area approximately 30 cm horizontally from the emitter at depths of 40–60 cm. The uniformity of the water distribution decreased with increasing nitrogen application under low water conditions, with a reversal of this trend observed in medium and high water treatments. The effect of nitrogen application level on the uniformity of the nitrate nitrogen distribution was not significant. There was no significant correlation between the average soil water content and nitrate nitrogen content along the horizontal direction, however, a positive correlation existed in the vertical direction. In the whole profile, increasing the nitrogen application enhanced the correlation under low water conditions, but under medium and high water conditions, this trend was the opposite. This implies that, to avoid nitrate nitrogen leaching or limiting in a specific area, a moderate nitrogen application level is advisable. Under low water conditions, nitrogen application showed a positive effect on the nitrate nitrogen content, and a higher application is recommended. In cases of substantial water irrigation or rainy years, the nitrogen application rate should be decreased. Full article

Background: Treatment of a flexor tendon sheath infection of the thumb usually involves prompt surgical irrigation and debridement (ID). There are few descriptions of this procedure despite the unique anatomy of the thumb flexor sheath. The aim of this study was to investigate thumb flexor sheath ID and explore the relevant anatomy. Methods: The current ID technique was performed on eight embalmed cadaveric hands. Coloured latex was injected into the sheath, and the surrounding region was dissected. Outcomes of interest were the distribution of latex, the success of the procedure, and the anatomy of the radial bursa. Results: Latex was successfully injected into all specimens, although A1 pulley stenosis caused significant resistance to flow. Latex filled the radial bursa (four specimens), reached the distal boundary of the transverse carpal ligament (three), or did not pass the A1 pulley (one); in addition, latex was found in the deep spaces of the hand and wrist (five specimens). The radial bursa was located at a median (range) of 33.2 (23.9–34.5) mm proximal to the carpometacarpal joint and at 7.8 (0–14.0) mm distal to the distal border of the pronator quadratus. Conclusion: These findings contribute to the existing body of knowledge on the anatomy of the thumb flexor sheath and radial bursa, and will help guide hand surgeons to perform thorough ID for infection. A modified surgical technique is presented, which may help further inform the treatment of pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis and other serious hand conditions. Full article

Remote sensing technology is widely used to obtain evapotranspiration (ET_a), but whether it can distinguish the differences in farmland energy balance components and ET_a under different irrigation methods has not been studied. We used Landsat 8 data as the primary dataset to drive the METRIC model and inverted the surface parameters and ET_a of the Shiyang River Basin from 2014 to 2018. After improving the METRIC model using T_a obtained by the regression method instead of interpolation to calculate the net radiation flux (R_n), R² was improved from 0.45 to 0.53, and the RMSE was reduced from 61 W/m² to 51 W/m². The ET_a estimation results on satellite overpass days performed well, with R² equal to 0.93 and RMSE equal to 0.48 mm when compared with the Eddy covariance method (EC) observations. Subsequently, the different growth stages and daily average ET_a estimates of maize were compared with three observations (water balance, WB; Bowen ratio and energy balance method, BREB; and EC). The daily estimates of ET_a correlate well with the observations of BREB (R²_BI = 0.82, R²_DI = 0.92; RMSE_BI = 0.46 mm/day, RMSE_DI = 0.32 mm/day) and EC (R²_BI = 0.85, R²_DI = 0.92; RMSE_BI = 0.45 mm/day, RMSE_DI = 0.34 mm/day), and the estimation for drip irrigation was found to be better than for border irrigation. The total accuracy of the ET_a estimation on the five-year overpass day of maize farmland reached R² = 0.93 and RMSE = 0.48 mm. With sufficient remote sensing data, the 4-year average ET_a of maize was 31 mm lower for DI than for BI, and the mean value of ET_a obtained from the three observation methods was 40 mm. The METRIC model can be used to distinguish ET_a differences between the two irrigation methods in maize farmlands. Full article

Shortages of water resources and labor make it urgent to improve irrigation efficiency and automation. To respond to this need, this study demonstrates the development of an adaptive border irrigation system. The inflow is adjusted based on the functional relationship between the advance time deviation and the optimal adjustment inflow rate, thereby avoiding the real-time calculation of infiltration parameters required by traditional real-time control irrigation systems. During the irrigation process, the inflow rate is automatically adjusted based only on the advance time deviation of the observation points. The proposed system greatly simplifies the calculation and reduces the requirements for field computing equipment compared with traditional real-time control irrigation systems. Field validation experiments show that the proposed system provides high-quality irrigation by improving the application efficiency, distribution uniformity, and comprehensive irrigation performance by 11.3%, 10.7%, and 11.0%, respectively. A sensitivity analysis indicates that the proposed system maintains a satisfactory irrigation performance for all scenarios of variations in natural parameters, flow rates, and border length. Due to its satisfactory irrigation performance, robustness, facile operation, and economical merit compared with traditional real-time control irrigation systems, the proposed system has the potential to be widely applied. Full article