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The stability of property rights is a key factor in incentivizing farmers to engage in land use and protection activities, which, in turn, serve to mitigate or prevent the degradation of land resources and enhance the effectiveness of agricultural management practices. This research uses Scientometric analysis according to PRISMA guidelines to thoroughly examine academic landscape related to the stability of farmland property rights and its impact on farmers' land utilization and protection behaviors. By examining 4165 publications from 2014 to 2023 in Web of Science and Scopus databases, the study conducts a comprehensive analysis. Theoretical frameworks elucidate three primary avenues through which property rights influence farmers' behavior: the assurance effect, collateral effect, and realizable effect. Through document co‐citation analysis 11 distinct thematic clusters were revealed, highlighting the prominence of land tenure security (Cluster #0). Notably, Ma X's publication experienced a significant 4‐year surge, indicating its key influence. Author co‐citation analysis outlined author clusters, emphasizing the increasing relevance of authors like Cotula L, Angelsen A, and De Schuttero during specific periods. Journal co‐citation analysis revealed cohesive journal clusters such as Development and Change and Journal of Peasant Studies, showcasing thematic boundaries within clusters. Keywords co‐citation analysis (CO‐DESC) identified thematic clusters around "China," "agricultural land," and "land use," with keywords like "land degradation" exhibiting substantial bursts. This systematic analysis highlights influential publications, authors, journals, and thematic clusters, emphasizing the structured landscape within farmland property rights research and revealing critical aspects impacting farmers' behavior and land use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In dryland areas, integrating biochar soil amendment with in situ rainwater harvesting systems may decrease soil erosion, improve soil quality, and increase crop productivity and yield. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of maize straw biochar amendment and ridge‐furrow rainwater harvesting systems on run‐off, sediment yield and the physico‐chemical properties of a Calcic Cambisol soil in semiarid areas. The experiment was conducted on alfalfa (Medicago sativa) production land at the Anjiagou Catchment experimental station in Gansu province, China. The experimental layout was a split‐plot design with three replications. Biochar was applied at a rate of 0 and 30 t ha−1, respectively. The tillage treatments were flat planting, open‐ridging, and tied‐ridging (TR). Overall, the integration of maize straw biochar with TR decreased soil bulk density at 0–40 cm depth. Biochar application reduced run‐off by 37.8% and soil loss by 55.5% during alfalfa‐growing seasons compared to the control. In general, biochar addition increased soil total potassium, but the same effect was not observed for soil pH, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and available phosphorus. These findings demonstrate the potential of integrating maize straw biochar and tillage systems to reduce soil erosion and improve soil quality for rainfed crop production in semiarid areas. Further studies on the effect of biochar‐tillage system interaction are warranted to improve soil conditions for plant growth and increase crop yield in dryland areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grassland is the largest terrestrial ecosystem in the Yellow River Basin and an important ecological barrier in the basin. Scientific and accurate estimation of the service value of grassland ecosystems in the Yellow River Basin is of great significance for maintaining the ecological security of the Yellow River Basin. This study was based on Constanza, a method based on the correction of natural grassland ecosystem service value in the Yellow River Basin. This method considers grassland biomass, estimates the ecological service value of each type of grassland item by item, and analyzes their spatial distribution and topographic gradient differentiation characteristics. The results showed that the unit price of soil conservation services provided by the grassland ecosystem in the Yellow River Basin has an advantage (6.2 times) which is the lowest unit price of raw materials. The total value of grassland ecosystem services in the Yellow River Basin is 100.82 × 1010 Yuan. Among the various services, the adjustment service has the largest value, accounting for 50.56% of the total value, while the sum of the supply service, support service and cultural service amounted to 49.44%. The high-value areas of grassland ecosystem services are mainly distributed in the upper and lower reaches of the basin, as the low-value areas are located in the Ningxia and Hetao Plains and most parts of the Loess Plateau. The ESV per unit area of grassland in the Yellow River Basin showed a decreasing to increasing trend with the increase in elevation and topographic relief, as the ESV continued to increase with slope increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In semiarid areas, low productivity of crops has been attributed to lack of appropriate soil moisture conservation practices since droughts and soil erosion are rampant in most areas of this region. Consequently, ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting is widely used in these regions across the globe. Despite ridge-furrow being widely practiced, tied-ridge-furrow has not been extensively adopted by small-scale farmers in semi-arid regions. Consequently, the effectiveness of tiedridge-furrow as a viable method of increasing crop yield has received less attention. Methodology: For large-scale implementation, a detailed assessment of how ridge furrow, tied–ridge-furrow with fertilizer, tied-ridge-furrow with mulching and tiedridge-furrow without mulching or fertilizer influence crop yield in different agro-environments under varying climatic conditions is needed. This study used the PRISMA guidelines to determine the impact of tied-ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting technique with mulching or fertilizer on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) grain yields. Results: Sorghum grain yield increased by 17% greater in tied-ridge-furrow without mulching or fertilizer in comparison to flat planting. This may be due to increase in soil organic carbon in the region (9 g kg−1 ). Grain yield of millet significantly increased by 20–40% in Africa from 18 study observations in tied-ridge-furrow with fertilizer application as compared to tied-ridge-furrow without mulching or fertilizer treatments. This might be due to the significant increase in total nitrogen by 13–42% in the soil at <50 mg kg−1 quantity which had an effect size of 469.14 [65.60, 872.67]. In terms of soil texture, grain yield of millet and sorghum significantly increased in heavy textured soils (clay loam, silt clay, and clay soils) with an effect size of 469.14 [65.60, 872.67] compared to light and medium-textured soils of zero effect sizes. Millet and sorghum grain yields in tied-ridge-furrow with mulching, on the other hand, were not significantly different from those in flat planting. This may be due to the mulching materials used in those tests. Conclusion: In view of yields of sorghum and millet increased significantly by 32% and 17% in tied-ridge-furrow without mulching or fertilizer treatment compared to flat planting and tied-ridge-furrow with fertilizer treatment compared with tied ridge-furrow without mulching or fertilizer treatment, respectively, this study recommend the use of fertilizers in a tied-ridge-furrow system to increase grain yield in semiarid areas compared to flat planting. Again, the study recommends more research on tied-ridge-furrow systems with other organic mulches and fertilizers in semiarid areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Loss of organic matter and mineral nutrients to soil erosion in rain- fed agriculture is a serious problem globally, especially in China’s Loess Plateau. As a result, increasing rainwater usage efficiency by tied-ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting with biochar is expected to improve agricultural productivity. Nonetheless, with limited knowledge on tied-ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting with biochar, small-scale farmers face the challenge of adoption, thus, the rationale for this study. Materials and methods. A field experiment was conducted to determine the influence of open-ridging (OR) and tied-ridging (TR) with bio-degradable film on ridges and biochar in furrows on runoff, sediment losses, soil moisture, fodder yield, and water use efficiency (WUE) on sloped land, using flat planting (FP) without ridges and furrows as control, during alfalfa-growing year (2020). Results. Runoff in flat planting (30%), open ridging (45%), and tied ridging (52%) were decreased with biochar to the extent where sediment was decreased in flat planting (33%), open ridging (43%), and tied ridging (44%) as well. The mean runoff efficiency was lower in flat planting (31%), open ridging (45%), and tied ridging (50%) in biochar plots compared to no-biochar plots. In biochar and no-biochar plots, soil temperature on ridges of TR was higher than that on OR, which was higher than FP during alfalfa growing season. Soil temperature in furrows during alfalfa growing season in biochar and no-biochar plots were in the order FP > OR > TR. Mean soil water storage for FP, OR, and TR, in biochar plots was higher than in no-biochar plots. This indicates biochar has a beneficial impact on open riding. Total annual net fodder yield (NFY) was significantly (p = 0.00) higher in treatments in the order TR > OR > FP. Tied ridging had a significant effect on actual fodder yield (AFY) in biochar plots, while open ridging significantly affected AFY in no-biochar plots. Annual total mean NFY and AFY increased by 8% and 11% in biochar plots compared to no-biochar plots. In biochar and no-biochar plots, water use efficiency was in the order TR > OR > FP. Conclusively, water use efficiency was significantly higher (p = 0.01) in biochar plots compared to no-biochar plots. Conclusion. When crop production is threatened by soil erosion and drought, mulched tied-ridge with biochar is beneficial to crop growth in rain-fed agriculture, according to this research. Smallholder farmers should be trained on applying this technique for water-saving to mitigate runoff, soil erosion, sediment losses, and improve food security in semiarid areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. China is the leading consumer of plastic film worldwide. Plastic film mulched ridge-furrow is one of the most widely adopted agronomic and field management practices in rain-fed agriculture in dry-land areas of China. The efficiency of plastic film mulching as a viable method to decrease evapotranspiration (ET), increase crop yields, and water use efficiency (WUE), has been demonstrated extensively by earlier studies. Methods. A comprehensive evaluation of how co-application of plastic-film mulch and biochar in different agro-environments under varying climatic conditions influence ET, crop yield, WUE, and soil microbial activity were assessed. We performed a meta-analysis using the PRISMA guideline to assess the effect of plastic-film mulched ridge-furrow and biochar on ET, yield, and WUE of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), and maize (Zea mays L.) in northern China. Results. The use of plastic film increased average yields of wheat (75.7%), potato (20.2%), and maize (12.9%) in Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, and Shanxi provinces, respectively due to the reduction in ET by 12.8% in Gansu, 0.5% in Ningxia, and 4.1% in Shanxi, but increased in Shaanxi by 0.5% compared to no-mulching. These changes may be attributed to the effect of plastic film mulch application which simultaneously increased WUE by 68.5% in Gansu, 23.9% in Ningxia, 16.2% in Shaanxi, and 12.8% in Shanxi, respectively. Compared to flat planting without mulching, in three years, the yield of maize increased with the co-application of plastic film and biochar by 22.86% in the Shanxi and Shaanxi regions. Conclusion. Our analysis revealed co-application of plastic film with biochar is integral for improving soil and water conservation in rain-fed agriculture and as an integrated practice to avert drought while simultaneously mitigating runoff and erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil desiccation is a major challenge faced by subsistence farmers growing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L) in consecutive cultivation in semiarid regions. We hypothesized that alfalfa fodder yield would increase with the length of growing season, growing degree-days, and rainfall. A field experiment was conducted on alfalfa production from 2012 to 2016 to 1) determine the response of fodder yield to rainfall, the length of growing season, and accumulated growing degree day (AGDD) in different growing-cutting stage (GCS)s; 2) obtain the suitable mulching material and the optimum ridge width for ridges with manually compacted soil (MCS), mulched with bio-degradable film (BF), and plastic film (PF). There were 10 treatments (3 ridge widths × 3 ridge-mulching materials + flat planting (FP) as control) with three replications laid in a randomized block design. The ratio of the first GCS to the second GCS in fodder yield ranged from 1.10 to 4.55, which was similar to the ratio of the first GCS to the third GCS in fodder yield ranged from 1.14 to 4.59, although rainfall, the length of growing season, and AGDD were different during the two or three GCSs. The highest fodder yield was obtained from the first GCS in one year and reached the highest level in the second growing year, and maintained a similar level in the subsequent years, although rainfall, the length of growing season, and AGDD varied during the five year periods. Fodder yield was affected by both the rainfall in the GCS and the available soil moisture prior to the GCS. Compared to FP, the increase of evapotranspiration for MCS, BF, and PF was 11, 61, and 63 mm, respectively. Fodder yield for BF and PF increased by 28% and 33%, respectively. Fodder yield for MCS maintained the same level as that for FP. Evapotranspiration increased and fodder yield decreased as ridge width increased. The optimum ridge width for MCS, BF, and PF was 29, 39, and 37 cm, respectively, across five years. Future study should focus on alfalfa-crop rotation to mitigate soil desiccation after alfalfa consecutively production. • High rainfall, growing season length and temperature did not mean high alfalfa fodder yield. • Soil moisture prior to growing-cutting stage and rainfall in the stage had impact on alfalfa fodder yield. • Rainfall had higher effects on alfalfa fodder yield than actual evapotranspiration. • Highest fodder yield was obtained in first growing-cutting stage and reached highest level in second stand year. • Optimum ridge width for ridge compacted with soil, biodegradable and plastic film was 29, 39 and 37 cm, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ridge-furrow rainwater-harvesting (RFRH) has emerged as an effective technology to mitigate drought stress, control soil erosion, and increase crop yield in semiarid regions of China. However, the use of plastic film mulch in RFRH makes this technology impractical. A field experiment was conducted for three consecutive years in a randomized complete block design to determine 1) the runoff coefficient for ridges compacted with soil mixed with two types of biochar (rice straw biochar and cow dung biochar) at two application rates (single application rate i.e., 3 × 104 kg ha−1; and double application rate i.e., 6 × 104 kg ha−1; and 2) the effects of the ridges compacted with soil mixed with two types of biochar at two application rates on soil physico-chemical properties, economic benefit, fodder yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of alfalfa, and ridges compacted with soil (no biochar) as control. The average runoff coefficient for NB, SRSB, DRSB, SCDB, and DCDB (NB, SRSB, DRSB, SCDB, and DCDB were ridges compacted with soil, compacted with soil mixed with single rice straw biochar application, double rice straw biochar application, single cow dung biochar application, and double cow dung biochar application, respectively) over these three years was 31%, 28%, 27%, 22%, and 21%, respectively. Ridges compacted with soil-biochar crust had lower runoff coefficients, soil water storage, net income, and higher soil nutrients, when compared to ridges compacted with soil. The topsoil temperature at ridge tops was affected by the ridges compacted with soil-biochar crust, but the topsoil temperature at furrow bottoms was not affected. Compared to ridges compacted with soil mixed with cow dung biochar, ridges compacted with soil mixed with rice straw biochar had lower soil nutrients, and higher soil water storage resulting in higher fodder yield and WUE of alfalfa. With runoff, the nutrients in biochar flowed from ridges to furrows, becoming usable for plants. Ridges compacted with soil-biochar crust increased topsoil nutrients, especially soil organic matter ranging from 15% to 34%, resulting in high fodder yield and WUE of alfalfa. Compared to NB, annual fodder yield for SRSB, DRSB, SCDB, and DCDB increased by 9.0%, 5.9%, 4.4%, and 3.8%, respectively, over three years, while WUE for the same treatments increased by 2.81, 1.95, 0.65, and 0.45 kg ha−1 mm−1. Rice straw biochar at an application rate of 3 × 104 kg ha−1 was found to be suitable type of biochar for increase in fodder yield and WUE of alfalfa in RFRH. Future studies should be conducted in the form of long-term field study to determine economic benefits of biochar application. • Ridges compacted with soil-biochar had low runoff coefficient, soil moisture, and high soil nutrients. • High topsoil nutrients, especially organic matter, resulted in high fodder yield and WUE of alfalfa. • As biochar application rate increased, runoff coefficient and soil moisture decreased, while soil nutrients increased. • Rice straw biochar resulted in low soil nutrients and high soil moisture, compared to cow dung biochar. • Rice straw biochar (3 × 104 kg ha−1) was suitable form in ridge-furrow rainwater-harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]