Search Results (944)

Agricultural activities and dry climatic conditions promote the evaporation and salinization of groundwater in arid areas. Long-term irrigation alters the groundwater circulation and environment in arid plains, as well as its hydraulic connection with surface water. A comprehensive assessment of groundwater irrigation suitability and its interaction with surface water is essential for water–ecology–agriculture security in arid areas. This study evaluates the irrigation water quality and groundwater–surface water interaction influenced by agricultural activities in a typical arid plain region using hydrochemical and stable isotopic data from 51 water samples. The results reveal that the area of cultivated land increases by 658.9 km² from 2000 to 2023, predominantly resulting from the conversion of bare land. Groundwater TDS (total dissolved solids) value exhibits significant spatial heterogeneity, ranging from 516 to 2684 mg/L. Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, and Na⁺ are the dominant ions in groundwater, with a widespread distribution of brackish water. Groundwater δ¹⁸O values range from −9.4‰ to −5.4‰, with the mean value close to surface water. In total, 86% of the surface water samples are good and suitable for agricultural irrigation, while 60% of shallow groundwater samples are marginally suitable or unsuitable for irrigation at present. Groundwater hydrochemistry is largely controlled by intensive evaporation, water–rock interaction, and agricultural activities (e.g., cultivated land expansion, irrigation, groundwater exploitation, and fertilizers). Agricultural activities could cause shallow groundwater salinization, even confined water deterioration, with an intense and frequent exchange between groundwater and surface water. In order to sustainably manage groundwater and maintain ecosystem stability in arid plain regions, controlling cultivated land area and irrigation water amount, enhancing water utilization efficiency, limiting groundwater exploitation, and fully utilizing floodwater resources would be the viable ways. The findings will help to deepen the understanding of the groundwater quality evolution mechanism in arid irrigated regions and also provide a scientific basis for agricultural water management in the context of extreme climatic events and anthropogenic activities. Full article

The rapid urbanization process has accelerated the degradation of ecosystem services (ESs) in peri-urban rural areas of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), leading to increasing landscape ecological risks (LERs). Establishing a scientifically grounded landscape ecological risk assessment (LERA) system and corresponding control strategies is therefore imperative. Using rural areas of Jiangning District, Nanjing as a case study, this research proposes an optimized dual-dimensional coupling assessment framework that integrates ecosystem service value (ESV) and ecological risk probability. The spatiotemporal evolution of LER in 2000, 2010, and 2020 and its key driving factors were further studied by using spatial autocorrelation analysis and geodetector methods. The results show the following: (1) From 2000 to 2020, cultivated land remained dominant, but its proportion decreased by 10.87%, while construction land increased by 26.52%, with minimal changes in other land use types. (2) The total ESV increased by CNY 1.67 × 10⁹, with regulating services accounting for over 82%, among which water bodies contributed the most. (3) LER showed an overall increasing trend, with medium- to highest-risk areas expanding by 55.37%, lowest-risk areas increasing by 10.10%, and lower-risk areas decreasing by 65.48%. (4) Key driving factors include landscape vulnerability, vegetation coverage, and ecological land connectivity, with the influence of distance to road becoming increasingly significant. This study reveals the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of LER in typical peri-urban villages. Based on the LERA results, combined with terrain features and ecological pressure intensity, the study area was divided into three ecological management zones: ecological conservation, ecological restoration, and ecological enhancement. Corresponding zoning strategies were proposed to guide rural ecological governance and support regional sustainable development. Full article

Cultivated land quality is a key factor in ensuring sustainable agricultural development. Exploring differences in cultivated land quality under distinct cropping systems is essential for developing targeted improvement strategies. This study takes place in Shenyang City—located in the typical black soil region of Northeast China—as a case area to construct a cultivated land quality evaluation system comprising 13 indicators, including organic matter, effective soil layer thickness, and texture configuration. A minimum data set (MDS) was separately extracted for paddy and upland fields using principal component analysis (PCA) to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of cultivated land quality. Additionally, an obstacle degree model was employed to identify the limiting factors and quantify their impact. The results indicated the following. (1) Both MDSs consisted of seven indicators, among which five were common: ≥10 °C accumulated temperature, available phosphorus, arable layer thickness, irrigation capacity, and organic matter. Parent material and effective soil layer thickness were unique to paddy fields, while landform type and soil texture were unique to upland fields. (2) The cultivated land quality index (CQI) values at the sampling point level showed no significant difference between paddy (0.603) and upland (0.608) fields. However, their spatial distributions diverged significantly; paddy fields were dominated by high-grade land (Grades I and II) clustered in southern areas, whereas uplands were primarily of medium quality (Grades III and IV), with broader spatial coverage. (3) Major constraint factors for paddy fields were effective soil layer thickness (21.07%) and arable layer thickness (22.29%). For upland fields, the dominant constraints were arable layer thickness (27.57%), organic matter (25.40%), and ≥10 °C accumulated temperature (23.28%). Available phosphorus and ≥10 °C accumulated temperature were identified as shared constraint factors affecting quality classification in both systems. In summary, cultivated land quality under different cropping systems is influenced by distinct limiting factors. The construction of cropping-system-specific MDSs effectively improves the efficiency and accuracy of cultivated land quality assessment, offering theoretical and methodological support for land resource management in the black soil regions of China. Full article

Urban agriculture (UA) is emerging as a promising strategy for sustainable food production in response to growing environmental pressures. Indoor vertical farming (IVF), combining Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) with Building-Integrated Agriculture (BIA), enables efficient resource use and year-round crop cultivation in urban settings. This study assesses the environmental performance of a prospective IVF system located on a university campus in Portugal, focusing on the integration of photovoltaic (PV) energy as an alternative to the conventional electricity grid (GM). A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted using the Environmental Footprint (EF) method and the LANCA model to account for land use and soil-related impacts. The PV-powered system demonstrated lower overall environmental impacts, with notable reductions across most impact categories, but important trade-offs with decreased soil quality. The LANCA results highlighted cultivation and packaging as key contributors to land occupation and transformation, while also revealing trade-offs associated with upstream material demands. By combining EF and LANCA, the study shows that IVF systems that are not soil-based can still impact soil quality indirectly. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of sustainability in urban farming and underscore the importance of multi-dimensional assessment approaches when evaluating emerging agricultural technologies. Full article

Moringa oleifera (MO), a nutritionally and pharmacologically potent species, is emerging as a sustainable candidate for applications across bioenergy, agriculture, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and biomedicine. This review explores recent advances in MO-based biotechnologies, highlighting novel extraction methods, green nanotechnology, and clinical trial findings. Although MO’s resilience offers promise for climate-smart agriculture and public health, challenges remain in standardizing cultivation and verifying therapeutic claims. This work underscores MO’s translational potential and the need for integrative, interdisciplinary research. MO is used in advanced materials, like electrospun fibers and biopolymers, showing filtration, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties—important for the biomedical industry and environmental remediation. In textiles, it serves as an eco-friendly alternative for wastewater treatment and yarn sizing. Biotechnological advancements, such as genome sequencing and in vitro culture, enhance traits and metabolite production. MO supports green biotechnology through sustainable agriculture, nanomaterials, and biocomposites. MO shows potential for disease management, immune support, metabolic health, and dental care, but requires further clinical trials for validation. Its resilience is suitable for land restoration and food security in arid areas. AI and deep learning enhance Moringa breeding, allowing for faster, cost-effective development of improved varieties. MO’s diverse applications establish it as a key element for sustainable development in arid regions. Full article

Objectives: The major sugarcane-producing regions of Guangxi represent a critical agricultural zone in China. Investigating the mechanisms of land use change and carbon storage dynamics in this area is essential for optimizing regional ecological security and promoting sustainable development. Methods: Employing the land use transfer matrix, the InVEST model and the Geodetector model to analyze carbon storage changes and identify key driving factors and their interactive effects. Results: (1) From 2011 to 2022, Guangxi’s major sugarcane-producing regions experienced significant land use changes: reductions in cultivated land, grassland and water bodies alongside expansions of forest, bare land and construction land. (2) The total carbon storage in Guangxi’s major sugarcane-producing regions has increased from 2011 to 2018 by 0.99%, representing 1627.03 and 1643.10 million tons, while it has decreased by 0.1% in 2022 (1641.47 million tons) compared to 2018. (3) Cultivated land proportion and forest coverage rate were the primary drivers of spatial heterogeneity, followed by average slope and land urbanization rate. (4) Interaction analysis revealed strong synergistic effects among cultivated land proportion, forest coverage rate, NDVI and average slope, confirming multi-factor control over carbon storage changes. Conclusions: Carbon storage in the Guangxi sugarcane-producing regions is shaped by land use patterns and multi-factor interactions. Future strategies should optimize land use structures and balance urbanization with ecological protection to enhance regional carbon sequestration. Full article

The review summarizes the historical and current research on perennial grain breeding in Russia within the context of growing global interest in perennial crops. N.V. Tsitsin’s pioneering work in the 1930s produced the first wheat–wheatgrass amphiploids, which demonstrated the capacity to regrow after harvest and survive for 2–3 years. Subsequent research at the Main Botanical Garden in Moscow focused on characterizing Tsitsin’s material, selecting superior germplasm, and expanding genetic diversity through new cycles of hybridization and selection. This work led to the development of a new crop species, Trititrigia, and the release of cultivar ‘Pamyati Lyubimovoy’ in 2020, designed for dual-purpose production of high-quality grain and green biomass. Intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) is native to Russia, where several forage cultivars have been released and cultivated. Two large-grain cultivars (Sova and Filin) were developed from populations provided by the Land Institute and are now grown by farmers. Perennial rye was developed through interspecific crosses between Secale cereale and S. montanum, demonstrating persistence for 2–3 years with high biomass production and grain yields of 1.5–2.0 t/ha. Hybridization between Sorghum bicolor and S. halepense resulted in two released cultivars of perennial sorghum used primarily for forage production under arid conditions. Russia’s agroclimatic diversity in agricultural production systems provides significant opportunities for perennial crop development. The broader scientific and practical implications of perennial crops in Russia extend to climate-resilient, sustainable agriculture and international cooperation in this emerging field. Full article

Red soil regions commonly experience land degradation and low nutrient availability. Excessive fertilizer use in recent years has intensified these challenges, necessitating scientifically informed fertilization strategies to ensure agricultural sustainability. To identify optimal fertilization strategies for maize cultivation in Yunnan’s red soil regions, this study conducted field experiments involving partial substitution of nitrogen fertilizer with organic manure to determine whether this approach improves soil health and boosts maize yield. Four treatments were compared in a randomized complete block design over one growing season: no fertilization (NF), soil testing and formula fertilization (STF), 15% organic fertilizer (swine manure) replacing nitrogen fertilizer (OF15), and 30% organic fertilizer replacing nitrogen fertilizer (OF30). The results indicated that substituting organic fertilizer for nitrogen fertilizer reduced soil acidification while increasing total phosphorus (TP) and available phosphorus (AP), thereby enhancing soil physicochemical properties. Maize grown under OF30 exhibited improved agronomic traits including plant height, stem diameter, ear height, and ear length. Additionally, the partial replacement of synthetic fertilizer with organic fertilizer notably increased maize yield and the weight of 100 grains, but there was no significant difference (p < 0.05) between OF15 and OF30. Moreover, the OF30 treatment generated the highest economic return of 25,981.73 CNY·ha⁻¹. Correlation and principal component analyses revealed that substituting organic fertilizer for nitrogen fertilizer notably influenced total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), available phosphorus (AP), and yield, with maize yield positively correlated with TP and AP content. This study presents evidence that replacing 30% of nitrogen fertilizer with organic fertilizer is a viable strategy to enhance soil health, maize productivity, and profitability in Yunnan’s red soil regions, providing a crucial scientific foundation to support sustainable agricultural development in the region. Full article

The Eastern Huang–Huai region of China is a representative mining area with a high groundwater level. High-intensity underground mining activities have not only induced land cover and land use changes (LUCC) but also significantly changed the watershed hydrological behavior. This study integrated the land use prediction model PLUS and the hydrological simulation model MIKE 21. Taking the Bahe River Watershed in Huaibei City, China, as an example, it simulated the hydrological response trends of the watershed in 2037 under different land use scenarios. The results demonstrate the following: (1) The land use predictions for each scenario exhibit significant variation. In the maximum subsidence scenario, the expansion of water areas is most pronounced. In the planning scenario, the increase in construction land is notable. Across all scenarios, the area of cultivated land decreases. (2) In the maximum subsidence scenario, the area of high-intensity waterlogging is the greatest, accounting for 31.35% of the total area of the watershed; in the planning scenario, the proportion of high-intensity waterlogged is the least, at 19.10%. (3) In the maximum subsidence scenario, owing to the water storage effect of the subsidence depression, the flood peak is conspicuously delayed and attains the maximum value of 192.3 m³/s. In the planning scenario, the land reclamation rate and ecological restoration rate of subsidence area are the highest, while the regional water storage capacity is the lowest. As a result, the total cumulative runoff is the greatest, and the peak flood value is reduced. The influence of different degrees of subsidence on the watershed hydrological behavior varies, and the coal mining subsidence area has the potential to regulate and store runoff and perform hydrological regulation. The results reveal the mechanism through which different land use scenarios influence hydrological processes, which provides a scientific basis for the territorial space planning and sustainable development of coal mining subsidence areas. Full article

Century-long land-use practices have a profound impact on soil physical and chemical properties, with direct implications for soil health and agricultural sustainability. This study aimed to assess the effects of four contrasting land uses—remnant vegetation, pasture, cultivated areas, and loafing areas—on the physical and chemical properties of Red Ferrosols in the Toowoomba region, Queensland, Australia. Soil samples were collected from upper and lower slope positions for each land use. Physical properties, including bulk density, porosity, water retention, and permeability, as well as chemical properties such as organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, were analysed. The results showed that remnant vegetation preserved the most favourable soil conditions, with lower bulk density, higher porosity, and greater water retention. Cultivated areas exhibited significant soil degradation, marked by compaction, reduced infiltration, and depleted organic matter. Loafing areas displayed localised nutrient enrichment but higher compaction due to livestock trampling. Pastures maintained intermediate conditions, retaining some beneficial soil characteristics. These findings emphasise the critical need for sustainable land management strategies to protect soil structure and function, supporting the long-term productivity and resilience of Red Ferrosols. Full article

Agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions contribute significantly to climate change and underline the importance of reliable measurements and mitigation strategies. This life cycle assessment (LCA)-based study evaluates the environmental impacts of four key Mediterranean agricultural products, namely olives, sweet potatoes, corn, and grapes using GHG measurements at four pilot fields located in different regions of Greece. With the use of a cradle-to-gate approach six environmental impact categories, more specifically acidification potential (AP), eutrophication potential (EP), global warming potential (GWP), ozone depletion potential (ODP), photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP), and cumulative energy demand (CED) as energy-based indicator are assessed. The functional unit used is 1 ha of cultivated land. Any potential carbon offsets from mitigation practices are assessed through an integrated low-carbon certification framework and the use of innovative, site-specific technologies. In this context, the present study evaluates three life cycle inventory (LCI)-based scenarios: Baseline (BS), which represents a 3-year crop production period; Field-based (FS), which includes on-site CO₂ and CH₄ measurements to assess the effects of mitigation practices; and Inventoried (IS), which relies on comprehensive datasets. The adoption of carbon mitigation practices under the FS scenario resulted in considerable reductions in environmental impacts for all pilot fields assessed, with average improvements of 8% for olive, 5.7% for sweet potato, 4.5% for corn, and 6.5% for grape production compared to the BS scenario. The uncertainty analysis indicates that among the LCI-based scenarios evaluated, the IS scenario exhibits the lowest variability, with coefficient of variation (CV) values ranging from 0.5% to 7.3%. In contrast, the FS scenario shows slightly higher uncertainty, with CVs reaching up to 15.7% for AP and 14.7% for EP impact categories in corn production. The incorporation of on-site GHG measurements improves the precision of environmental performance and supports the development of site-specific LCI data. This benchmark study has a noticeable transferability potential and contributes to the adoption of sustainable practices in other regions with similar characteristics. Full article

As a crucial manifestation of ecosystem water regulation and supply functions, water conservation plays a vital role in regional ecosystem development and sustainable water resource management. This study investigates nine major Chinese river basins (Songliao, Haihe, Huaihe, Yellow, Yangtze, Pearl, Southeast Rivers, Southwest Rivers, and Inland Rivers) through integrated application of the InVEST model and geographical detector model. We systematically examine the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of water conservation capacity and its driving mechanisms from 1990 to 2020. The results reveal a distinct northwest–southeast spatial gradient in water conservation across China, with lower values predominating in northwestern regions. Minimum conservation values were recorded in the Inland River Basin (15.88 mm), Haihe River Basin (42.07 mm), and Yellow River Basin (43.55 mm), while maximum capacities occurred in the Pearl River Basin (483.68 mm) and Southeast Rivers Basin (517.21 mm). Temporal analysis showed interannual fluctuations, peaking in 2020 at 130.98 mm and reaching its lowest point in 2015 at 113.04 mm. Precipitation emerged as the dominant factor governing spatial patterns, with higher rainfall correlating strongly with enhanced conservation capacity. Land cover analysis revealed superior water retention in vegetated areas (forests, grasslands, and cultivated land) compared to urbanized and bare land surfaces. Our findings demonstrate that water conservation dynamics result from synergistic interactions among multiple factors rather than single-variable influences. Accordingly, we propose that future water resource policies adopt an integrated management approach addressing climate patterns, land use optimization, and socioeconomic factors to develop targeted conservation strategies. Full article

The Altay oasis, located at the heart of the transnational ecological conservation zone shared by China, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Mongolia, is a region with tremendous potential for water resource utilization. However, with the continued expansion of agriculture, its ecological vulnerability has become increasingly pronounced. Within this fragile balance lies a critical opportunity: efficient water resource management could pave the way for sustainable development across the entire arid oasis regions. This study uses a decision tree model based on a feature threshold to map the spatial distribution of major crops in the Altay Prefecture oasis, assess their water requirements, and identify the coupling relationships between agricultural water and land resources. Furthermore, it proposed optimization planting structure strategies under three scenarios: water-saving irrigation, cash crop orientation, and forage crop orientation. In 2023, the total planting area of major crops in Altay Prefecture was 3368 km², including spring wheat, spring maize, sunflower, and alfalfa, which consumed 2.68 × 10⁹ m³ of water. Although this area accounted for only 2.85% of the land, it consumed 26.23% of regional water resources, with agricultural water use comprising as much as 82.5% of total consumption, highlighting inefficient agricultural water use as a critical barrier to sustainable agricultural development. Micro-irrigation technologies demonstrate significant water-saving potential. The adoption of such technologies could reduce water consumption by 14.5%, thereby significantly enhancing agricultural water-use efficiency. Cropping structure optimization analysis indicates that sunflower-based planting patterns offer notable water-saving benefits. Increasing the area of sunflower cultivation by one unit can unlock a water-saving potential of 25.91%. Forage crop combinations excluding soybean can increase livestock production by 30.2% under the same level of water consumption, demonstrating their superior effectiveness for livestock system expansion. This study provides valuable insights for achieving sustainable agricultural development in arid regions under different development scenarios. Full article

The increasingly severe ecological and environmental problems in rural areas pose a serious threat to agricultural sustainability and human well-being. Protecting the ecological environment of cultivated land is fundamental to ensuring food security and achieving sustainable development goals. The effective integration of digital technology into farmers’ production and daily life is a key driver for transforming farming practices and advancing the ecological protection of cultivated land. This study draws on data from the 2020 China Rural Revitalization Survey (CRRS) to systematically examine the impact of farmers’ digital participation on the ecological protection of cultivated land. The main findings are as follows: (1) Digital participation significantly promotes ecological conservation of cultivated land, with each unit increase associated with a 7.8% reduction in fertilizer use intensity; (2) the results are robust across various empirical strategies, including instrumental variable estimation, the ERM approach, residual analysis, and alternative indicator specifications; (3) mechanism analysis indicates that digital participation reduces fertilizer use through three main channels: expansion of social networks (accounting for 7.10%), enhancement of subjective cognition (29.66%), and adoption of agricultural technologies (10.18%); and (4) heterogeneity analysis shows that the protective effects on cultivated land are more pronounced among households with off-farm employment experience, in villages where leaders have higher educational attainment, and in regions with more advanced digital environments. Based on these findings, the following policy recommendations are proposed: enhancing digital infrastructure in rural areas, strengthening the training of agricultural practitioners, and developing localized digital environments tailored to local conditions. Full article

Habitat quality functions as a critical metric for evaluating regional ecological health and the capacity of ecosystem services. Understanding its temporal dynamics is critical for advancing ecological civilization sustainability. Focusing on the Tacheng region, this study analyzes the evolution characteristics of land use based on long-term sequential land use data from 2003 to 2023. By coupling the PLUS and InVEST models, it predicts land use change trends under three distinct scenarios for the year 2033 and assesses the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of habitat quality in the Tacheng region from 2003 to 2033. Findings reveal: (1) The land use types in the Tacheng region are dominated by grassland and unutilized land. During 2003–2023, the area of grassland and water showed a decreasing trend, while the areas of cultivated land and unutilized land significantly increased. Among them, NDVI was identified as the primary driver influencing the expansion of cultivated land, grassland, and unutilized land in the Tacheng region, addressing the gap in quantitative contribution analysis of specific drivers in arid region studies. (2) Overall, habitat quality in the Tacheng region significantly deteriorated during 2003–2023, with areas of high habitat quality continuously decreasing and transitioning to medium and relatively low habitat quality zones. This degradation is primarily attributed to the unidirectional conversion of grassland and water into cultivated land and unutilized land. (3) Under different scenario simulations, land use and habitat quality in the Tacheng region exhibit marked differences, with habitat quality showing significant improvement, particularly under the ecological protection scenario. Compared to existing research, this study pioneers the coupling of PLUS and InVEST models in the typical arid region of the Tacheng region, implements localization of model parameters, quantifies future evolution trends of land use and habitat quality under multiple scenarios, and reveals core drivers of land use change in arid regions. This work addresses the research gap regarding habitat quality simulation and driving mechanisms in the Central Asian arid-semiarid transition zone. Full article