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This study investigates the determinants of farmers' adoption of sustainable land management (SLM) practices in the case of Central Vietnam. The data was collected from 300 randomly selected households using a survey questionnaire and analysed using duration analysis. The results indicate knowledge of SLM, participation in extension training courses, technological attributes, and physical distance from home to fields have positive effects on the adoption speed of intercropping, crop rotation, and mulching practices. Meanwhile, small farm size, length of farming experience, and low education of household heads are factors delaying the adoption speed of these practices. The findings suggest improving farmers' knowledge of SLM practices and investing in agricultural road infrastructure for agricultural production would enhance the adoption speed of SLM practices in the Vietnamese uplands. The study provides vital empirical evidence that should be considered when enacting development policies for the adoption of SLM in the uplands of developing countries.

A method for producing ferulic acid by ultrasound-assisted, homogeneous, base-catalyzed hydrolysis of γ-oryzanol was developed. Experiments were conducted using various reaction temperatures and ratios of γ-oryzanol to base catalyst in both homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. The reaction performed without ultrasound under the homogeneous conditions of potassium hydroxide/γ-oryzanol ratio (wt/wt) 20 : 1 and 75°C gave a ferulic acid yield of 83.3% in 3 h. Acceleration of the homogeneous reaction using ultrasound irradiation at 20 (horn type) and 200 kHz (planar type) was explored by evaluating the kinetic parameters. At 30°C, the ratios of ultrasonic irradiation at low (20 kHz, 50 W) and high (200 kHz, 50 W) frequencies versus those of the heating method increased by 2.0- and 1.4-fold in comparison with those at 60°C, respectively. The contribution of ultrasonic irradiation (50 W) to the hydrolysis reaction decreased with increase of temperature. However, irradiation at 20 kHz and a power of 180 W gave a 94% ferulic acid yield at 60°C in 3 h. These results indicate that the use of low frequency (horn type and high-power irradiation) enabled yields higher than 90% to be obtained.