Search Results (71)

Small mammals are common in farmland, where their communities are affected by agricultural management. However, so far, no clear patterns have emerged, its effect varying in accordance with the ecological context, spatial scale, and geographic area. We aimed to assess whether the discontinuation of land cultivation and pasture grazing leads to significant changes in the abundance, diversity, and composition of small mammal communities. These were surveyed in transects of live traps set in used and abandoned arable fields and pastures in highly patched agricultural landscapes in Transylvania (Romania). Farmland abandonment was positively related to species richness, taxonomic and functional diversity, and abundance. Its effect was stronger in pastures, where intensive grazing is a limiting factor for small mammals. Functional trait composition was also sensitive to fallowing and abandonment of grazing, which promote diurnal activity, broader niches, and lower fertility. In conclusion, small mammals benefit from the maintenance of uncultivated plots and low numbers of grazing livestock, which we recommend as management strategy in traditional mosaic landscapes, to support taxonomic and functional biodiversity with implications in ecosystem service functionality. Our results also revealed more diverse communities than those showcased by similar studies in central and western Europe, with similar overall abundances. Full article

The Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia’s most agriculturally developed region, lies within the fertile Pannonian plain. Decades of agricultural intensification have transformed its landscape into a near continuous expanse of arable land, largely devoid of natural elements such as trees, shrubs, or non-crop vegetation. These simplified agroecosystems support very low biodiversity, contradicting the key principles of sustainable agricultural development. To assess farmers’ willingness to support more ecologically sound landscape practices, a survey was conducted of 400 farmers across Vojvodina. The results revealed limited openness to change; i.e., most respondents expressed a low interest in all three offered interventions: (a) introducing landscape elements, (b) fallowing, (c) converting arable land to grassland. This resistance reflects a prevailing productivist mindset in which farmers perceive themselves as producers of food, raw materials, and energy. Within this view, a neat, highly cultivated landscape is perceived as a hallmark of professionalism and success. These findings underscore the importance of developing context-sensitive policies and educational efforts that align sustainability goals with farmers’ values and economic realities. Full article

Increased saltwater intrusion likely causes a significant reduction in food production in alluvial river deltas worldwide. One of the mitigation measures for saltwater intrusion is to increase natural flow through irrigation water conservation and land-fallowing policies to prevent the saltwater from moving further inland. However, economic estimates of the costs of such measures under uncertainty are scant. Herein, we develop an integrated modeling framework for estimating the costs of saltwater intrusion mitigation policies by 2050 in the Mekong Delta. The integrated model combines hydrodynamic, advection-dispersion, statistical, crop yield, and economic models, thus allowing us to account for the risk and uncertainty of saltwater intrusion and the costs of mitigation policies. We found that a 95% confidence interval of the saltwater intrusion-impacted area is estimated to be 186,000–201,000 hectares for the baseline, 193,000–209,000 hectares for a sea level rise of 22 cm, and 204,000–219,000 hectares for a sea level rise of 53 cm scenarios, respectively. To bring the saltwater intrusion under the sea level rise of 22 cm back to the baseline level, 100,000–150,000 hectares of currently cultivated rice would need to be fallowed at least once a year. This is equivalent to annual economic losses, with a 50% chance, ranging from $100.03–$176.67 million, implying a substantial economic cost of sea level rise-induced saltwater intrusion even under a modest sea level rise scenario. Under the sea level rise of 53 cm scenario, the results show that widespread adoption of alternate wetting and drying and approximately 300,000 ha of land-fallowing would be needed to push saltwater intrusion back to the baseline level. The findings indicate that saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta is more likely than not to intensify considerably and is much less predictable, posing a greater risk to one of the most important rice-producing regions in the world. Full article

In order to cope with the ecological pressure caused by the uncontrolled expansion of cultivated land in arid areas and ensure regional food security, the implementation of a cultivated land fallowing system has become an effective way to restore the ecology, alleviate the pressure on cultivated land, and increase productivity. In view of this, this paper takes the Tarim River Basin, located in the arid zone of China’s agricultural continent, as the research object. Using a land use transfer matrix and a gravity center migration model, the paper analyzes the spatiotemporal characteristics of cultivated land expansion in the Tarim River Basin from 2000 to 2020. Through remote sensing and the integration of multi-source data, the paper constructs an arable land fallow urgency index (SILF) from multiple dimensions such as human activity intensity, ecological vulnerability, output value, water resources status, and terrain conditions. The research results show that (1) cultivated land in the Tarim River Basin expanded by 15,665.133 km² in general, which is manifested by spreading around based on existing cultivated land, mainly from the conversion of grassland and unused land; the center of gravity of cultivated land moved 37.833 km to the northeast and 7.257 km to the southwest first. (2) The area of not urgently fallow (NUF) in the watershed showed an overall downward trend, decreasing by 10%, while the area of very urgently fallow (VUF) increased by 16%. VUF is mainly distributed in the marginal areas of cultivated land close to the desert and is gradually expanding into the interior of cultivated land. (3) The overall ecological environment of cultivated land in the watershed is showing a deteriorating trend, and the deterioration is gradually spreading from the edge of the cultivated land to the interior. (4) There are significant differences in the SILF values of different land use types after conversion to cultivated land. The urgency of fallowing cultivated land converted from unused land is the highest, followed by grassland, forest land, water bodies, and construction land. The expanded cultivated land has a higher SILF value than the original cultivated land. The research results can provide insights into regional land resource management, the formulation of cultivated land protection policies, and the ecological restoration of cultivated land. Full article

Fallow is a practice in which the soil is left uncultivated for a period of time and is used less due to the pressure on agricultural land, which impairs soil regeneration. The cultivation of legumes, such as peanuts, is a viable alternative that leads to an improvement in the soil chemistry and grain capacity. Despite their importance, there are gaps regarding the use of peanuts for land reclamation and their importance for enzymatic activity in the soil. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of straw incorporation and peanut cultivation in fallow land on the soil’s chemical and biological quality and to determine whether the introduction of these elements contributes to an improvement in the soil fertility parameters and enzymatic activity. To achieve these objectives, experimental plots were established in fallow soils with different amounts of straw (0; 5 and 10 t ha⁻¹), with and without herbicide application and with peanut incorporation. The soil chemistry and enzymatic activity, plant biometrics and productivity were evaluated. The results showed that the straw treatment resulted in better plant development and increased productivity by up to 80%. The pH, soil organic matter, soil organic carbon, P, K, sum of bases and cation exchange capacity variables increased significantly with the presence of the plant and the incorporation of straw compared to uncovered soil, by 10%, 86%, 80%, 68%, 42%, 38% and 27%, respectively. For the enzymatic activity, the values showed that straw and peanut management affects the higher activity of β-glucosidase and arylsulfatase, with differences of 75 and 74% compared to the control. The incorporation of straw and peanuts in fallow land improves the chemical and biological quality of the soil. The use of herbicides has no effect on the soil dynamics or peanut development in the presence of straw and the presence of peanuts provides a better soil quality index and increases the β-glucosidase and arylsulfatase activity in the soil. Full article

Agriculture in the Indian Sundarbans deltaic region primarily depends on a rice-based monocropping system during the rainy season, with the subsequent season often remaining fallow. To mitigate this issue, a series of experiments using zero tillage and straw mulching (ZTSM) potato cultivation were conducted over eight consecutive years (2017–2024) across various islands in the Sundarbans Delta, West Bengal, aimed to intensify the cropping system and ensure the betterment of the land use pattern using climate-smart agricultural practices. In the initial two years, the experiments concentrated on assessing different potato cultivars and nutrient dosages under zero tillage and paddy straw mulching conditions. During the subsequent years, the focus shifted to field demonstrations under diverse climatic conditions. The research included the application of different macronutrients and growth regulators, in combination with different depths of straw mulching. In the final years of the study, the intervention was dedicated solely to the horizontal expansion of cultivated land. These initiatives aimed to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainable land use in the polders, promoting climate-resilient farming practices. From the sets of experiments, we standardized the sustainable nutrient management strategies and selection of appropriate potato cultivars vis-à-vis depth of straw mulching and, finally, the overall best agronomic practices for the region. The adoption of the ZTSM potato cultivation system demonstrated considerable success, as evidenced by the remarkable increase in the number of farmers employing this sustainable agricultural practice. The number of farmers practicing zero tillage potato cultivation surged from 23 in the initial year to over 1100, covering an area of more than 15 ha, highlighting the effectiveness of the technology. The analysis of the estimated adoption also showed that more than 90% adoption is likely to be achieved within a decade. This potential expansion underscores the benefits of the ZTSM potato cultivation system in improving soil health, conserving water, and reducing labour and costs. As more farmers recognize the advantages of zero tillage potato mulching, this approach is poised to play a pivotal role in sustainable agriculture, enhancing productivity while promoting environmental stewardship. Full article

The abandonment of cultivated land has profoundly affected the agroecological landscape, national food security, and farmer livelihoods, especially in China. Based on land use change survey data and national geoinformation survey data, this paper identified the distribution of abandoned cultivated land and analyzed the overall characteristics and spatial differentiation patterns of abandoned cultivated land in China. The results showed that: (1) In 2017, the abandoned area of cultivated land in China was approximately 9.10 million hectares, with an overall abandoned rate of approximately 5.57%. (2) The distribution of abandoned land in China had obvious spatial differences, and the trend of the area of abandoned land had an “inverted U” shape from east to west. (3) The pattern of abandonment showed a trend of spreading from a scattered distribution to a concentrated and continuous expansion from the edges of large cities and remote rural areas to the main grain-producing regions of fertile cultivated land. (4) The cultivated land abandonment has a great impact on grain production capacity, and there are differences among provinces. In 2017, China lost 40.89 million tons of grain yield due to cultivated land abandonment, accounting for 6.48% of the total grain yield, and the loss of potential grain yield reached 254.45 million tons. The cultivated land abandonment was driven not only by social effects under the dual structure of urban and rural areas but also by the rational choices of farmers under the overall balance of national policy, cultivated land income, and opportunity cost under the framework of urbanization. In the future, policy tools such as fallowing, land conversion, high farmland construction standards, and subsidies should be used to implement differentiated land use policies and optimize the spatial pattern of cultivated land use. Full article

This study investigates the impact of crop type and soil characteristics on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Latvian agriculture, offering insights directly relevant to policymakers and practitioners focused on sustainable land management. From 2020 to 2023, emissions were monitored across four agricultural sites featuring different crop rotations: blueberry monoculture, continuous maize cropping, winter barley–winter rapeseed rotation, and spring barley–bean–winter wheat–fallow rotation. Results indicate that GHG emissions vary widely depending on crop and soil type. CO₂ emissions varied significantly based on both crop and soil type, with organic soils under maize cultivation in Mārupe averaging 184.91 kg CO₂ ha⁻¹ day⁻¹, while mineral soils in Bērze under spring barley emitted 60.98 kg CO₂ ha⁻¹ day⁻¹. Methane absorption was highest in well-aerated mineral soils, reaching 6.11 g CH₄ ha⁻¹ day⁻¹ in spring barley fields in Auce. Maize cultivation contributed the highest N₂O emissions, reaching 33.15 g N₂O ha⁻¹ day⁻¹. These findings underscore that targeted practices, like optimized crop rotation and fertilizer use, can substantially reduce GHG emissions. Climate variability across locations affects soil moisture and temperature, but these factors were statistically controlled to isolate the impacts of crop type and soil characteristics on emissions. This study provides valuable data to inform sustainable agricultural policies and help achieve EU climate goals. Full article

Ethnopedology offers a unique opportunity to recognize and highlight invaluable local soil knowledge (LSK). We aimed to classify three soil profiles in a Brazilian irrigated district with salt-affected soils based on smallholder farmers’ LSK and scientific knowledge. The study occurred in the Baixo-Açu irrigation district in Brazil’s semi-arid region. Three soil profiles were characterized by researchers (etic approach) and farmers (emic approach) in the following areas: P1 profile (area under banana cultivation), P2 profile (fallow area), and P3 profile (native forest area). Smallholder farmers identified the studied areas with salt problems based on the salt precipitation on the surface, changes in leaf color, and incidence of indicator plants of salinized areas. Researchers classified P1 profile as Pantohypereutric Calcaric Leptic Cambisol (Loamic, Humic), P2 as Pantohypereutric Calcaric Leptic Cambisol (Loamic, Humic), and P3 as Leptic Calcic Chernozem (Loamic). Smallholder farmers classified the P1 profile as “Terra de Salitre” (Salt Soil), the P2 profile as “Terra de Piçarro” (Saprolite Soil), and the P3 profile as “Terra Boa” (Good Soil). The results indicate that valuing local soil knowledge is effective and crucial for improved scientific research and land use, highlighting the importance of recognizing and utilizing their expertise and experience. Full article

Karst yellow soil is one of the most important cultivated soils in southwest China. At present, only a few studies have dealt with rainfall erosivity and erosive rainfall thresholds in the karst yellow soil region. This paper utilizes statistical methods to identify erosive rainfall thresholds and slope erosion-prone areas in the Qianzhong region. This analysis is based on long-term experimental data from 10 experimental stations and 69 experimental plots within the region in 2006 to 2022. The findings show the following: The rainfall amount threshold was 12.66 mm for woodland plots, 10.57 mm for grassland plots, 9.94 mm for farmland plots, and 8.93 mm for fallow plots. Soil and water conservation measures in forestry and grassland effectively increase the rainfall amount thresholds. Compared to farmland, the rainfall threshold increased by 27.32% for woodland and 6.32% for grassland. Bare land and farmland are erosion-prone areas in the karst yellow soil region. The erosive rainfall thresholds for farmland plots with slopes of 13°, 15°, 20°, 23°, and 25° were 10.41 mm, 10.28 mm, 9.66 mm, 9.52 mm, and 9.15 mm, respectively. With the increase in the 13–25° slope gradient of farmland, the initial rainfall required for runoff generation leads to a reduction. The wrong selection indices (WSI) of all landcover plots were less than 10%, and the efficiency indices (EFF) were between 80.43% and 90.25%. The relative error index (REI) of the erosive rainfall thresholds for all landcover runoff plots was less than 0.50%, very close to 0, indicating that these thresholds have small errors and high accuracy. This study gained a better understanding of natural rainfall-induced erosion characteristics in the study area, determined rainfall thresholds for distinguishing erosive rainfall events from non-erosive across different landcover types, and reduced the workload of calculating rainfall erosivity while enhancing the accuracy of soil erosion forecasting and simulation in the karst mountain yellow soil area. Full article

We propose a land use planning protocol which integrates criteria for both the intrinsic properties of a unit and its significance in a broad spatial context. The purpose was to develop a methodology, represented as a questionnaire, that allows thorough consideration of the static and dynamic attributes of a landscape for making land use decisions. The methodology involves: (1) identification of landscape patterns, (2) revealing mechanisms of radial and lateral relationships, (3) considering changes of landscape patterns, (4) revealing functioning mechanisms that cause directed changes, and (5) socio-economic regulations. The protocol integrates knowledge of processes within biophysical units, catenas, catchments, and matrix elements. We proposed a plan for the taiga landscapes in northern European Russia. The highest ecological value was assigned to the units that control matter transportation over vast areas, and a lower value to the units that protect important habitats or intercept pollutants on their pathway towards rivers and floodplains. Outside the ecological network, we recommended reducing arable lands on eroded slopes (288 ha), increasing buffer zones at the footslopes (39 ha), and cultivating, instead, 331 ha of fallows with nutrient-rich soils. Full article

The problems experienced with the decrease in agricultural areas per capita against the uncontrolled population growth in the World and in Turkey are becoming increasingly evident. Especially the manpower engaged in horticulture is increasingly experiencing the problems of migration, economic reasons, and inefficient production methods. For healthy and efficient production, agricultural lands need a sequential cycle that includes cultivation and fallow periods. Agricultural lands, the salt they contain, etc. When left fallow, the soil area needs to rest to re-establish the mineral balance. It is now vital for small producers, whose production areas are gradually shrinking due to global conditions, to continue production while their lands are resting to produce more continuously and efficiently. In the face of increasing demands, decreasing production amounts and areas, the constantly increasing prices of economically simple agricultural products “fresh vegetables” and affecting the easy accessibility of local products, it has become inevitable to seek new and alternative solutions. This study includes an innovative solution proposal to increase the production efficiency of low-scale producers and individual gardeners, especially those producing in small agricultural areas. Critical problems of large-scale greenhouse systems, interactions of agricultural practices within the framework of urban life, water and energy efficiency in agriculture, and sustainability and waste management of the proposed system are examined. To meet changing conditions and maintain productivity in small areas, it is envisaged that mobile and vertical production stations, which can produce by increasing productivity even in fallow areas while the soil is resting, can be an alternative solution to the problems of small producers. The vertical planting system “PETREE” develops mobile units for sustainable agriculture by collecting 5th LT-PET packages, which have a natural lifespan of about 90 years, and reusing them as plant pots and some recycled plastic pieces as structures. With efficient and environmentally friendly design suggestions, the system also examined the possibilities of more efficient gardening with mobile production stations in small agricultural areas, and efficient and enjoyable gardening that suits the needs of urban consumers “production with local seeds and seedlings” with the increase in environmental awareness and food safety concerns. Full article

The proper fallowing of soil maintains or even improves its yield potential. The aim of this research was to compare five methods of soil protection with high production potential on the yield and quality of strategic plants. The tested methods consisted of five variants: bare fallow—BF; natural fallow—NF; fodder galega (Galega orientalis Lam.)—FG; a mixture of fodder galega (Galega orientalis Lam.) with smooth brome (Bromus inermis)—FG+SB; and smooth brome (Bromus inermis)—SB. The soil had been set aside for 9 years, after which time the fallows were terminated and the fields were cropped with winter oilseed rape, winter wheat, and spring wheat in three consecutive years. After the end of fallowing, the content of N_og. and C_tot., pH, and forms of available macro- and microelements in the soil were determined. The influence of each type of fallow on the yield of seeds/grain, straw, total protein, crude fat, and the content of macronutrients in the seeds/grain and straw of the grown crops was determined. Regarding the yields of the crops, the best solution was long-term soil protection via sowing fodder galega or a mixture of fodder galega and smooth brome. A field previously maintained as a fallow with these plants (singly or in combination) could produce over twice-as-high yields of wheat and oilseed rape as those harvested from a field established on bare fallow. The yields of the cereals and oilseed rape obtained in this study prove that food security and environmental protection issues can be reconciled. The methods for protecting farmland temporarily excluded from agricultural production presented in this paper correspond perfectly to the framework of the Green Deal for Europe. Arable land excluded from cultivation can be used to overcome new challenges facing modern agriculture. Full article

Enhancing the comprehension of alterations in land use holds paramount importance for water management in semi-arid regions due to its effects on hydrology and agricultural economics. Allowing agricultural land to lie fallow has emerged as a technique to decrease water use. This research employs the methodology of system dynamics modeling to evaluate the hydrologic and agricultural economic ramifications of employing the fallowing strategy, which aims to preserve water resources in interconnected socio-hydrologic systems. This strategy is explored across three different crops, focusing on the Mesilla–Rincon Valley (MRV) in southern New Mexico. The study’s timeline spans from 2022 to 2050 with historical background from 1969 and encompasses various dimensions, including water availability, land utilization, and agricultural economics. Three types of crops were selected for the fallowing strategy, including cotton, alfalfa/hay, and chile. For each crop, 2500 acres of it would be designated for fallowing separately in two subsequent years, allowing the land to be cultivated in the third year and recurring such pattern. Simulation findings across scenarios (GFDL, UKMO, and NCAR) indicate that water withdrawals for all crops decreased significantly, ranging from approximately 2.69% to 4.37%. Similarly, agriculture income experienced reductions, varying from around 1.53% to 2.26%. Also, surface water and groundwater withdrawals are represented as percentages. The data illustrate significant reductions in water withdrawals across all scenarios. For instance, in the GFDL scenario, surface water withdrawal decreased by approximately 1.85% for cotton, 2.56% for alfalfa/hay, and 1.58% for chile. Similarly, groundwater withdrawals saw substantial reductions, such as 14.93% for cotton, 20.44% for alfalfa/hay, and 12.62% for chile. These numbers emphasize the urgent need for sustainable water management practices to address the challenges posed by reduced water availability. Full article

Conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs, generally viewed as policies to modernize and increase agricultural production and commercialization, also have social and environmental impacts. Among the first Mexican CCT programs, PROCAMPO is directed toward traditional agriculture and pays farmers for permanent cultivation, ignoring traditional fallow systems. It was implemented nationally in 1994 to counteract the effects of trade liberalization. Its objectives encompassed modernizing and improving agricultural competitiveness and environmental conservation. Here, we analyze PROCAMPO from the perspective of environmental conservation to understand its effects on agricultural practices and forest cover, specifically in the Yucatán Peninsula, where agriculture sustainability was previously achieved via an alternating cycle of multi-crop system (milpa) and forest. We performed an in-depth program analysis, reviewing 51 documents, including scientific literature, technical evaluations, and official records. Research consistently showed direct effects of PROCAMPO on agricultural practices resulting in extensive land use change, including a reduction in crop diversity and the elimination of traditional milpas and fallow. PROCAMPO has impacted conservation by causing high rates of deforestation. Our findings show the need to reorient the design and implementation of agricultural policy to increase agroecosystem resilience and ecological service provision to face climate change. Full article