Search Results (159)

Rising temperatures, extreme precipitation events such as excessive or insufficient rainfall, increasing levels of carbon dioxide, and associated climatic factors will persistently impact crop growth and agricultural production. The warming temperatures have reduced the agricultural crop yields. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the major food crop, which is particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change. It is very important to accurately evaluate the impacts of climate change on rice growth and rice yield. In this study, the rice growth during 1981–2018 (baseline period) and 2041–2100 (future period) were separately simulated and compared within the CERES-Rice model (v4.6) using high-quality weather data, soil, and field experimental data at six agro-meteorological stations in Hainan Province. For the climate data of the future period, the SSP1-2.6, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5 scenarios were applied, with carbon dioxide (CO₂) fertilization effects considered. The adaptation strategies such as adjusting planting dates and switching rice cultivars were also assessed. The simulation results indicated that the early rice yields in the 2050s, 2070s, and 2090s were projected to decrease by 6.2%, 11.8%, and 20.0% when the CO₂ fertilization effect was not considered, compared with the results of the baseline period, respectively, while late rice yields would decline by 9.9%, 23.4%, and 36.3% correspondingly. When accounting for the CO₂ fertilization effect, the yields of early rice and late rice in the 2090s increased 16.9% and 6.2%, respectively. Regarding adaptation measures, adjusting planting dates and switching rice cultivars could increase early rice yields by 22.7% and 43.3%, respectively, while increasing late rice yields by 20.2% and 34.2% correspondingly. This study holds substantial scientific importance for elucidating the mechanistic pathways through which climate change influences rice productivity in tropical agro-ecosystems, and provides a critical foundation for formulating evidence-based adaptation strategies to mitigate climate-related risks in a timely manner. Cultivar substitution and temporal shifts in planting dates constituted two adaptation strategies for attenuating the adverse impacts of anthropogenic climate change on rice. Full article

Greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural crops remain a critical challenge for climate change mitigation. This review synthesizes evidence on cropland management interventions and global N₂O mitigation potential. Agricultural practices such as cover cropping, agroforestry, reduced tillage, and diversification show promise in reducing CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O emissions, yet uncertainties in measurement, verification, and socio-economic adoption persist. This review highlights that biochar application reduces N₂O emissions by 16.2% (95% CI: 9.8–22.6%) in temperate systems, demonstrating greater consistency compared to no-till agriculture, which shows higher variability (11% reduction, 95% CI: −19% to +1%). Legume-based crop rotations reduce N₂O emissions by up to 39% through improved nitrogen efficiency and increase soil organic carbon by up to 18%. However, reductions in synthetic fertilizer use (65% lower in legume vs. cereal systems) can be offset by the effects of biological nitrogen fixation. Optimized nitrogen fertilization, when combined with enhanced-efficiency fertilizers, can reduce N₂O emissions by 55–64%. Complementing this, global-scale analysis underscores the dominant role of optimized nitrogen fertilization in curbing N₂O emissions while sustaining yields. To bridge gaps between practice-level interventions and global emission dynamics, this paper introduces the ICEMF, a novel approach combining field-based management strategies with spatially explicit emission modeling. Realistic implementation currently achieves 25–35% of technical potential, but bundled interventions combining financial incentives, training, and institutional support can increase adoption to 40–60%, demonstrating ICEMF’s value through integrated, context-adapted approaches. Only peer-reviewed articles published in English between 1997 and 2025 were selected to ensure recent and reliable findings. This review highlights knowledge gaps, evaluates policy and technical trade-offs, and proposes ICEMF as a pathway toward scalable and adaptive mitigation strategies in agriculture. Full article

Hydrological droughts represent a growing challenge for northern watersheds in Thailand, where climate change is projected to intensify seasonal water stress and destabilize agricultural productivity and water resource management. This study employed the Composite Hydrological Drought Index (CHDI) to evaluate the spatiotemporal characteristics of future droughts under representative concentration pathway (RCP) scenarios. The findings revealed a pronounced seasonal contrast: under RCP8.5, the CHDI values indicated more severe drought conditions during the dry season and greater flood potential during the wet season. Consequently, the region faces dual hydrological threats: prolonged water deficits and increased flood exposure within the same annual cycle. Drought persistence is expected to intensify, with maximum consecutive drought runs extending up to 10–11 months in future projections. The underlying mechanisms include increased actual evapotranspiration, which accelerates soil moisture depletion, enhanced rainfall variability, which drives the sequencing of floods and droughts, and catchment storage properties, which govern hydrological resilience. These interconnected processes alter the timing and clustering of drought events, concentrating hydrological stress during periods that are sensitive to agriculture. Overall, drought behavior in northern Thailand is projected to intensify in a spatially heterogeneous pattern, emphasizing the need for localized, integrated adaptation measures and flexible water management strategies to mitigate future risks of drought. Full article

The high energy consumption characteristics across all segments of the agricultural supply chain, coupled with rural areas’ excessive reliance on traditional power grids and fossil fuel-based energy supply models, not only result in persistently high energy utilization costs and low efficiency but also inflict ongoing negative environmental impacts. This undermines sustainable development and the achievement of energy security. In response, this paper proposes a multi-timescale robust operation scheme for the coordinated operation of rural integrated energy systems and agricultural supply chains. Its core components are as follows: (1) Establish a collaborative operation framework integrating renewable energy-based rural integrated energy systems with agricultural supply chains; (2) Holistically consider energy consumption characteristics across supply chain segments, leveraging sensor-based environmental parameters for crop yield forecasting and hourly energy consumption assessment. This effectively addresses misalignments between crop growth and energy optimization scheduling, as well as inconsistent energy measurement scales across supply chain segments, thereby advancing agricultural sustainability; (3) Introducing a two-stage robust optimization model to quantify the impact of environmental uncertainty on the collaborative framework and integrated energy system, ensuring optimal operation of supply chain equipment under worst-case conditions; (4) Identifying critical energy consumption nodes in the supply chain through system performance analysis and revealing optimization potential in the collaborative mechanism, enabling flexible load shifting and cross-temporal energy allocation. Simulation results demonstrate that this coordinated operation scheme enables dynamic estimation and optimization of crop growth and energy consumption, reducing system operating costs while enhancing supply chain reliability and renewable energy integration capacity. The two-stage robust optimization mechanism effectively strengthens system robustness and adaptability, mitigates the impact of renewable energy output fluctuations, and achieves spatiotemporal optimization of energy allocation. Full article

The wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a highly adaptable species that has spread into urban-proximate areas, consequently intensifying human–wildlife conflicts in South Korea. Understanding the range and environmental preferences of this species is crucial for efficient population management. Therefore, we investigated wild boar occupancy in Bukhansan National Park (BNP), a protected area near Seoul. We deployed camera traps at 24 locations from March to May 2022 to investigate spring season habitat use patterns. We used single-season, single-species occupancy modeling to explore the impact of environmental and anthropogenic factors on the distribution of wild boar. During 2208 trap nights, we recorded wild boars at 14 sites, with an average occupancy probability (Ψ) of 0.67 ± 0.03. The distance to human settlements was the best predictor of occupancy, with wild boars avoiding regions near human activity sites. In contrast, proximity to puddles significantly increased detection and occupancy probabilities, indicating the importance of water sources for drinking and wallowing. Wild boars also showed a preference for areas near agricultural lands but exhibited behavioral avoidance of direct human presence. Our spring season findings suggest the need for targeted management strategies that prioritize population control in areas far from settlements but adjacent to water and agricultural boundaries. This study provides critical insights into the spatial ecology of wild boars in urban-proximate landscapes and provides science-based measures for mitigating conflicts and disease risks. We recommend long-term monitoring for the assessment of seasonal variations and efficacy of management interventions. Full article

The biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen (N) in natural waterbodies, ranging from freshwaters to estuaries and seawater, is fundamental to the health of aquatic ecosystems. Anthropogenic pressures (agricultural runoff, atmospheric deposition, and wastewater discharge) have profound effects on these cycles, leading to widespread problems, such as eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, and contamination of drinking water sources. Monitoring of different N-species—ammonium (NH₄⁺), nitrite (NO₂⁻), nitrate (NO₃⁻) ions, dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), and total nitrogen (TN)—is of crucial importance to protect and mitigate environmental harm. Traditional analytical methodologies, while providing accurate laboratory data, are hampered by logistical complexity, high cost, and the inability to capture transient environmental events in near-real time. In response to this demand, miniaturised microfluidic technologies offer the opportunity for rapid, on-site measurements with significantly reduced reagent/sample consumption and the development of portable sensors. Here, we review and critically evaluate the principles, state-of-the-art applications, inherent advantages, and ongoing challenges associated with the use of microfluidic colorimetry for N-species in a variety of environmental waterbodies. We explore adaptations of classical colorimetric chemistry to microfluidic-based formats, examine strategies to mitigate complex matrix interferences, and consider future trajectories with autonomous platforms and smart sensor networks for simultaneous multiplexed N-species determination. Full article

In order to help mitigate climate change, carbon farming methods must be urgently introduced. The research systematically reviewed peer-reviewed literature, national statistical reports, and policy documents published between 2000 and 2024, focusing on the impact of land management on soil organic carbon in Croatia. This paper provides an overview of current agricultural practices on croplands and grasslands in Croatia. It identifies the weak points of current soil management and suggests possible measures for carbon sequestration in cropland and grassland soils. About 89% of Croatian soils are tilled conventionally, along with other harmful practices such as uncontrolled grazing and improper fertilization, which contribute to increasing carbon losses and soil degradation. Different practices are presented and discussed as possible solutions, each adapted to the specific environmental and soil conditions of Croatia. For example, studies in Croatian Stagnosols report 5% lower CO₂ emissions under conservation tillage compared to conventional tillage, while long-term grass cover in perennial croplands has shown soil organic carbon increases of up to 51%. The recommendations are categorised according to the possibility of a change in carbon stocks over time and the associated carbon storage potential. Croatia needs to recognize any shortcomings in the existing system and create incentives and policies to transform management practices into site and environment-specific regional practices. Full article

The chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a key legume crop in Mediterranean agriculture, valued for its nutritional profile and adaptability. However, its productivity is severely impacted by drought stress. To identify microbial solutions that enhance drought resilience, we isolated seven Mesorhizobium strains from chickpea nodules collected in southern Spain and evaluated their cultivar-specific symbiotic performance. Two commercial cultivars (Pedrosillano and Blanco Lechoso) and twenty chickpea germplasms were tested under growth chamber and greenhouse conditions, both with and without drought stress. Initial screening in a sterile substrate using nodulation assays, shoot/root dry weight measurements, and acetylene reduction assays identified three elite strains (ISC11, ISC15, and ISC25) with superior symbiotic performance and nitrogenase activity. Greenhouse trials under reduced irrigation demonstrated that several strain–cultivar combinations significantly mitigated drought effects on plant biomass, with specific interactions (e.g., ISC25 with RR-98 or BT6-19) preserving over 70% of shoot biomass relative to controls. Whole-genome sequencing of the elite strains revealed diverse taxonomic affiliations—ISC11 as Mesorhizobium ciceri, ISC15 as Mesorhizobium mediterraneum, and ISC25 likely representing a novel species. Genome mining identified plant growth-promoting traits including ACC deaminase genes (in ISC11 and ISC25) and genes coding for auxin biosynthesis-related enzymes. Our findings highlight the potential of targeted rhizobial inoculants tailored to chickpea cultivars to improve crop performance under water-limiting conditions. Full article

Extreme rainfall events driven by climate change are increasing flood risks. Addressing flood mitigation solely from either a hydraulic engineering or urban planning perspective may overlook both feasibility and effectiveness. This study focuses on Tainan City and the Tainan Science Park in Taiwan, applying the NbS framework to assess flood mitigation strategies. From an urban planning perspective, Agricultural Development Zone Type II (Agri-DZII), parks, green spaces, and Taiwan Sugar Corporation (TSC) land were selected as flood detention sites. Hydraulic modeling was used to evaluate their effectiveness under both current and climate-change-induced rainfall conditions. Simulation results show that under current rainfall conditions, flood mitigation measures reduced inundated areas with depths exceeding 2.0 m by up to 7.8% citywide and 20.8% within the Tainan Science Park Special District Plan Area. However, under climate change scenarios, the reduction effects declined significantly, with maximum reductions of only 1.6% and 17.8%, respectively. Results indicate that, even when utilizing all available detention areas, the overall flood reduction in Tainan City remains limited. However, TSC agri-land within the Tainan Science Park overlaps with high-flood-risk zones, demonstrating significant local flood mitigation potential. This study recommends integrating hydrological analysis into urban planning to prevent high-density residential and economic zones from being designated in flood-prone areas. Additionally, policymakers should consider reserving appropriate land for flood detention to enhance climate resilience. By combining urban planning and hydraulic engineering perspectives, this study highlights the flexibility of NbS in disaster management, advocating for the integration of Natural Water Detention Measures into flood adaptation strategies to improve urban water management and climate adaptability. Full article

This study investigates the gendered nexus between climate change, food insecurity, and conflict in Plateau State, Nigeria. This region in north-central Nigeria is marked by recurring farmer–herder clashes and climate-induced environmental degradation. Drawing on qualitative methods, including interviews, gender-disaggregated focus groups, and key informant discussions, the research explores how climate variability and violent conflict interact to exacerbate household food insecurity. The methodology allows the capture of nuanced perspectives and lived experiences, particularly emphasizing the differentiated impacts on women and men. The findings reveal that irregular rainfall patterns, declining agricultural yields, and escalating violence have disrupted traditional farming systems and undermined rural livelihoods. The study also shows that women, though they are responsible for household food management, face disproportionate burdens due to restricted mobility, limited access to resources, and a heightened exposure to gender-based violence. Grounded in Conflict Theory, Frustration–Aggression Theory, and Feminist Political Ecology, the analysis shows how intersecting vulnerabilities, such as gender, age, and socioeconomic status, shape experiences of food insecurity and adaptation strategies. Women often find creative and local ways to cope with challenges, including seed preservation, rationing, and informal trade. However, systemic barriers continue to hinder sustainable progress. This study emphasized the need for integrating gender-sensitive interventions into policy frameworks, such as land tenure reforms, targeted agricultural support for women, and improved security measures, to effectively mitigate food insecurity and promote sustainable livelihoods, especially in conflict-affected regions. Full article

The Caribbean faces many environmental issues, and the mitigation and adaptation strategies to address the challenges of global warming are not sufficient in this geographical region. Considering that agriculture is a relevant activity in most countries around this region, our study proposes to enhance Caribbean waste management by transitioning to a sustainable and resilient process in the framework of a green, circular economy. The research has been focused on the thermochemical transformation of the typical residues of Caribbean farm products (plantain rachis, and cassava peel). Biochar samples were synthesized from these biomasses by the slow pyrolysis method at different temperatures (300 °C, 400 °C, and 500 °C). Biochar samples with a smooth surface were synthesized from plantain rachis biomass, while biochar samples with a porous surface were obtained from cassava peel biomass. At the same pyrolysis temperature, all biochar samples derived from plantain rachis exhibited higher production biochar yields than those biochar samples derived from cassava peel. The yield percentages were determined to be 65.7% and 62.0% at a pyrolysis temperature of 300 °C; 45.6% and 37.5% at 400 °C; and 33.7% and 25.4% at 500 °C, respectively. XRD measurements revealed that both biomass-derived biochar samples were found to be enriched with several compounds, such as kalicinite, arcanite, sylvite, CaO₃Si, and MgO₃Si, which vary according to the pyrolysis temperature. FTIR analysis revealed the presence of carbonyl and carboxyl functional groups on the surface of all biochar samples. However, only the aliphatic functional groups were observed on the surface of the biochar samples derived from cassava peel. These characteristics are of particular relevance due to their potential application in soil amendment or water remediation. Full article

The subtropics are affected by severe climate change, which may induce heat stress in animals. Moreover, the region is significantly seasonal; hence, mitigating climate risks and implementing climate adaptation measures are necessary. Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, and 13 call for no poverty, zero hunger, and climate action. These are the most severe problems affecting food security in the modern world. Food security refers to a situation in which all people have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, proper, and healthy food that satisfies their dietary requirements. Nevertheless, the projected increase in the human population implies a greater demand for employment opportunities; hence, developing countries are building more industrial areas. The burning of fossil fuels in various industries potentiates climate change and environmental pollution. It is predicted that the ecological temperature will increase by almost 2.3–4.8 °C by 2100 due to climate change. Agriculture and animal products remain vital in Africa as drivers of the economy and transformation for sustainable livelihood and development. Sheep production has long been used as a source of income and livelihood and provides jobs for people who live in rural areas. It is also sometimes used for ritual ceremonies and to pay penalties to local authorities. Nevertheless, sheep have been identified to be sensitive to heat stress, characterized by low reproductive performance, low microbiota quantities, and poor general health. There are different strategies for mitigating heat stress; however, many smallholder farmers have limited access to education and lack the financial support required to incorporate artificial shade and plant trees for shade to limit heat stress. In this review, we aim to understand the effects of environmental heat stress on sheep production and reproductive performance. Based on this review, it can be concluded that heat stress can threaten food security if not addressed, especially for farmers who depend on sheep rearing. As a result, future studies are recommended to understand different adaptation methods that can be used to mitigate the heat stress effect on sheep productivity, reproductivity, and general health. Full article

Sustainable agricultural development in China in the face of growing environmental concerns relies critically on how well regulatory policies strengthen agricultural resilience. This study aims to systematically investigate the impact of air pollution on agricultural economic resilience and its mechanisms of action and to explicitly assess the moderating role of environmental regulation. This study develops a thorough index system that evaluates agricultural economic resilience in three areas: risk resistance and recovery, adaptive adjustment capacity, and restructuring innovation. Panel data from 30 Chinese provinces from 2000 to 2023 is used to achieve this. The implications of air pollution and its diverse consequences on agricultural economic resilience are systematically assessed using a two-way fixed-effects and moderating-effects model. The following are the primary conclusions: First, air pollution has a significant negative impact on the economic resilience of agriculture. This conclusion holds after considering the endogeneity problem and a series of robustness tests, such as the exclusion of samples, random sampling, and quantile regression. Second, different dimensions of agricultural economic resilience, intensity levels, and economic growth phases influence how much air pollution reduces agricultural economic resilience. Notably, at various stages of economic growth, air pollution steadily weakens the economic resilience of agriculture. In particular, the impact is more pronounced in the post-financial-crisis phase of domestic demand expansion and the phase of financial clearing and high-quality development. According to a dimensional perspective, air pollution significantly reduces the farm sector’s capacity to endure and recover from dangers while also making adaptive modifications easier, and the impact on transformational innovation is not significant. In terms of intensity, in contrast to places with higher resilience, those with lower resilience are disproportionately more adversely affected by air pollution. Third, environmental control mitigates some of the detrimental effects of air pollution on agricultural economic resilience. Based on these results, this study calls for stricter air pollution control measures, strengthens environmental regulatory support for agricultural resilience, and demonstrates region-specific governance solutions to guarantee the stability and sustainability of the agricultural economic framework. Full article

Integrated foliar spraying has been proposed as an effective measure to mitigate the increasingly severe impacts of hot–dry–windy (HDW) events on winter wheat yield under ongoing climate change, and its physiological effectiveness has been mechanistically validated. However, there are still few quantitative assessments of the application of this technology at the regional scale. First, hourly meteorological data from the ERA5-Land reanalysis (1981–2020) were matched to the centroids of 599 counties within China’s major winter wheat-producing regions, allowing precise alignment with county-level yield data. Subsequently, spatial and temporal trends of sub-daily HDW events were analyzed. These HDW events were classified according to daily duration into three categories: short-duration (HDW_sd1, 1 h d⁻¹), moderate-duration (HDW_sd2, 2–3 h d⁻¹), and prolonged-duration (HDW_sd3, 4–8 h d⁻¹). Finally, a difference-in-differences (DiD) approach combined with panel matching methods was employed to quantitatively assess the effectiveness of integrated foliar spraying technology—comprising plant growth regulators, essential nutrients, fungicides, and insecticides—on wheat yield improvements under varying irrigation conditions. The results indicate that HDW is a major compound event threatening high-yield and stable-yield regions within the main winter wheat production areas of China, and in the study area, the annual average number of HDW days ranges from 3 to 13 days, increasing by 1–4 days dec⁻¹. While HDW events continue to intensify, the integrated foliar spraying technology effectively mitigates yield losses due to HDW stress. Specifically, yield increases of up to 18–20% were observed in counties with sufficient irrigation infrastructure since the large-scale implementation began in 2012, particularly in regions exposed to more than 2 days of HDW stresses annually. However, the effectiveness of integrated foliar spraying was notably compromised in areas lacking adequate irrigation infrastructure, highlighting the necessity of reliable irrigation conditions. In these poorly irrigated areas, yield improvements remained limited and inconsistent, typically fluctuating around negligible levels. These findings underscore that robust irrigation infrastructure is pivotal to unlock the yield benefits of integrated foliar spraying technology, while also highlighting its transformative potential in advancing climate-smart agriculture globally—particularly in regions grappling with intensifying compound stress events driven by climate change, where this innovation could foster resilient and adaptive food systems to counter escalating environmental extremes. Full article

This study investigated the dynamic factors influencing food security in Saudi Arabia, a critical concern for the nation’s stability and development. The purpose of this research was to analyze the impact of several key determinants on the Food Security Index and to distinguish between their short-term and long-term effects, thereby providing evidence-based policy recommendations. Using annual time-series data spanning 1990 to 2023, the research employs the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) methods. We specifically examined the roles of agricultural GDP contribution, agricultural insurance coverage, food price stability, government policies related to agriculture, climate change impacts, agricultural productivity, and technology adoption. Short-run estimates reveal that agricultural GDP contribution, government policies, and agricultural productivity express a significant positive influence on food security. Importantly, climate change showed a counterintuitive positive association in the short term, potentially indicating immediate adaptive responses. Conversely, food price stability exhibited an unexpected negative association, which may indicate that the index captures high price levels rather than just volatility. The long-run analysis highlights the crucial importance of sustained factors for food security. Agricultural GDP contribution, agricultural insurance coverage, and agricultural productivity are identified as having significant positive impacts over the long term. In contrast, climate change demonstrates a significant negative long-run impact, underscoring its detrimental effect over time. Government policies, while impactful in the short term, become statistically insignificant in the long run, suggesting that sustained structural factors become dominant. Granger causality tests indicate short-term causal relationships flowing from climate change (positively), agricultural GDP contribution, government policies, and agricultural productivity towards food security. The significant error correction term confirms the existence of a stable long-run equilibrium relationship among the variables. On the basis of these findings, the study concludes that strengthening food security in Saudi Arabia requires a multifaceted approach. Short-term efforts should focus on enhancing agricultural productivity and implementing targeted measures to mitigate immediate climate impacts and refine food price stabilization strategies. For long-term resilience, priorities must include expanding agricultural insurance coverage, investing in sustainable agricultural practices, and continuing to boost agricultural productivity. The study contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive dynamic analysis of food security determinants in Saudi Arabia using robust time-series methods, offering specific insights into the varying influences of economic, policy, environmental, and agricultural factors across different time horizons. Further research is recommended to explore the specific mechanisms behind the observed short-term relationship with climate change and optimize food price policies. Full article