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Understanding long-term changes in topography and topsoil grain composition is crucial for the management of agricultural landscapes, especially in areas prone to wind erosion. This study investigates long-term changes in topography and topsoil grain composition within an agricultural landscape in south-western Slovakia. To analyse topographic changes over time, we used high-precision positioning measurements and airborne laser scanning to create digital terrain models (DTM) for the years 2011, 2017 and 2020. To assess changes in soil grain composition, we performed grain size analyses on soil samples collected during three different periods: M1 (1961-1970), M2 (2009-2015) and M3 (2015-2016). Changes in soil texture were evaluated to understand the impact of wind erosion on soil composition. The influence of windbreaks was also analysed by comparing the accumulation and deflation processes. The results showed significant changes in both topography and soil texture over the study period. The DTMs showed marked differences in the accumulation and deflation processes, highlighting areas affected by wind erosion. Comparisons of soil samples showed a shift in dominant soil types from loam and clay loam to silty loam, highlighting the effects of wind erosion. Analysis revealed a decrease in clay and silt content and an increase in sand content, indicating wind-induced soil degradation. The presence of windbreaks played a crucial role in reducing soil erosion by reducing wind speed, promoting soil accumulation and stabilising the landscape up to 80 m windward and 20 m leeward. The study highlights the complex interplay of climate and wind factors in shaping topography and soil properties and emphasises the protective role of windbreaks in agricultural landscapes over time. Our results show that wind erosion significantly alters soil texture, which can affect agricultural productivity. However, windbreaks have proven to be an effective measure in reducing soil erosion and maintaining soil quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management of landscapes and agricultural activities significantly impacts phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) losses, directly influencing eutrophication risk. This study quantifies the eutrophication potential of different land covers through in-situ measurements and analysis of runoff and inorganic substances. The research was conducted in two sub-catchments in the Bedřichovský stream basin, Novohradské hory, Czech Republic: a forest-dominated upper sub-catchment (UFS) and an agricultural lower sub-catchment (LAS). Water flows and surface water samples were measured over a hydrological year (November 2017 to October 2018) to determine runoff and concentrations of nitrate (N-NO3−) and phosphate (P-PO43−). The ReCiPe 2016 method, as a tool for LCIA, was used to quantify the eutrophication potential, converting N and P concentrations into nitrogen equivalents (N eq ha−1 sub-catchment) for marine eutrophication and phosphorus equivalents (P eq ha−1 sub-catchment) for freshwater eutrophication. The potential loss of species (species·yr ha−1 sub-catchment) was assessed as follows. Results indicate UFS has about 60% lower freshwater and 80% lower marine eutrophication potential compared to LAS, along with about 60% lower potential for biodiversity loss. This highlights the role of forest and grassland covers in mitigating eutrophication and protecting water sources. These findings can guide landscape management practices to reduce eutrophication potential, enhancing environmental quality and biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities serve as both political and economic hubs. Sustainable development has long been acknowledged as crucial to the well-being of the environment, people, and society. In order to improve the current state of spatial affairs and attain long-term resilience, humanity is looking for reliable and sustainable urban planning approaches. Urban agriculture has received a lot of attention in recent years as an enduring and pervasive kind of landscape. Although the contribution of urban agriculture has been well documented in many studies on economic, social and ecological aspects, there has been little discussion of its practical value as a tool for spatial development. Additionally, the potential of urban agriculture as a landscape approach remains underdeveloped. In summary, current research and practice lacks a scientific framework for considering urban agriculture as a landscape approach to intervene in urban spaces. To this end, this paper explores the potential of urban agriculture as a landscape approach in sustainable urban planning and design through qualitative case study. Taking Songzhuang in Beijing as an example, we discuss and summarise the operational value and potential of urban agriculture from a design perspective. The findings suggest that landscape-based urbanism that includes urban agriculture can harmonise social, economic, environmental and ecological elements. Finally, in order to provide a generalised approach, this paper proposes a scientific framework for articulating a landscape approach to urban agriculture to guide future research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey bees are vital to human well-being and are under multiple stresses. We need to be able to assess the viability and productivity of honey bee colonies in different landscapes and under different management and climate-change scenarios. We have developed a prototype digital twin, HONEYBEE-pDT, based on the BEEHAVE model, which simulates foraging, population dynamics and Varroa mite infestation of a single honey bee colony. The main input data are land-cover maps and daily weather data. We have developed the pDT for simulating large areas and have tested it for the whole of Germany. We have also developed a web-based GUI that users can use to run the pDT for specific sites. Hive weight data from hundreds of hives will be used for calibration and validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the course of the postglacial period has managed to add degrade a substantial portion of the world's potential agricultural land. The soil loss and degradation that has repeatedly impacted regional societies around the world resulted from agricultural practices that increased the physical loss of soil (erosion), reduced soil organic matter, changed pH (acidification) or salinity, and disrupted or altered communities of soil life. In the coming century, as continued soil degradation threatens global food security while the global population keeps rising it is imperative that farmers develop and adopt soilhealth building (regenerative) practices to solve a problem that has plagued societies throughout history. Growing evidence suggests that agricultural systems that combine cover crops, reduced tillage, and diverse crop rotations can reduce erosion, enhance soil health and rebuild soil organic matter to cultivate beneficial soil life and harvest both economic and environmental benefits. In the coming post-oil world, global food security would benefit from a global effort to promote soil restoration to help addresses the challenge of sustainably feeding the world, increase soil-based carbon sequestration, protect on-farm biodiversity and reduce off-farm water pollution. Because soil security sets a solid foundation for global food security, agricultural policies and subsidies should be reformed to encourage farmers to adopt regenerative, soil-building practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the contemporary agricultural landscape, agriculture faces four pressing demands: competitiveness, ensuring food security for a growing population, environmental sustainability, and providing farmers with acceptable living conditions. To meet this global challenge, digital technologies represent a major avenue for innovation and development towards modernized digital agriculture. In this context, irrigation advisory platforms have proven to be transformational tools for both farmers and policymakers, offering insights into the appropriate crop water requirements. This article presents a benchmarking analysis of around 20 professional irrigation advisory platforms. The methodology involves selecting 20 platforms based on accessibility ensuring geographical characteristic diversity. Our findings highlight key criteria shaping the ecosystem of such platforms, including the services offered and their objectives, the types of covered crops, the target users, the form, as well as the source, the availability of the platform, and the variety of data utilized. Lastly, we discuss the main conclusions drawn from our analysis and provide insights into the challenges and future perspectives of irrigation advisory platforms in enhancing agricultural practices and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst the agricultural landscape of Ghana lies a complex interplay of practices governing the use of approved pesticides and adherence to safety standards among farmers. By analysing data gleaned from 400 farmers through the multistage sampling technique, our aim is reveal the multifaceted influences that shape farmers' decisions in the use of approved pesticides and safety compliance. Age, education, marital status, farm ownership, experience, farm size, access to equipment and services, cooperative membership, secondary occupations, and income, significantly influence farmers' choices in the use of approved pesticides. Furthermore, compliance with safety protocols is found to be influenced by factors such as farm size, access to extension services, and the perceived relative advantage of pesticides. We advocate for policies that promote the use of approved pesticides and prioritise safety standards in agricultural practices. This may include strengthening regulatory frameworks, incentivising sustainable farming practices, and enforcing penalties for noncompliance with safety regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context and background This study aims to study, through a socio-systemic approach, the cohabitation between agricultural land and gold panning, if not the occupation of agricultural land by gold panning. To this end, we decided to focus on the case of the rural commune of Bancoumana, Kati circle, Koulikoro region, an agricultural area par excellence, but faced with the invasion of gold panning. This commune, located on the outskirts of Bamako, is experiencing a desire for its land suitable for agriculture (cereals, citrus fruits, fruits and vegetables). Through this study, we ask the question of how agriculture coexists with gold panning? What are the effects and impacts of one on the other? What measures or arrangements have been taken by the politicaladministrative authorities to protect agricultural land from gold panning? How are these measures perceived by the populations, particularly farmers? Goal and Objectives: Study the cohabitation between agricultural land and gold panning. This involves studying the effects, if not the impacts, of one on the other. Methodology: To carry out the study, our approach is based on empirical research methods. First, we carry out a documentary analysis in order to pose the problem of the study. Secondly, we carry out field surveys using individual and collective interview guides with the stakeholders concerned, in particular farmers, gold miners, local and regional authorities, and managers of farmers' defense NGOs. For the analysis of the data collected in the field, we favored the analysis of thematic content according to our centers of interest. The data collected in the local "Bambara" language were transcribed into French for this purpose. Results: The results of the study reveal that the idleness of rural and urban young people explains their rush to gold panning areas. It also shows that gold panning seriously impacts agriculture, particularly family farming. The impacts are of several orders. Encroachment or invasion on agricultural areas, flight of agricultural labor, decline in agricultural productivity, decline in agricultural income and land conflicts between farmers and gold miners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey bees exhibit age polyethism and thus have a predictable sequence of behaviors they express through developmental time. Numerous laboratory studies show exposure to pesticides may impair critical honey bee behaviors (brood care, foraging, egg-laying, etc.) that adversely affect colony productivity and survival. There are fewer studies that examine the impacts of pesticides in natural field settings, especially given the challenges of implementing treatment groups and controlling variables. This study helps address the need for impact studies on pollinators under field conditions to assess the consequences of chemical overuse and dependency in agricultural and urban landscapes. To assess the impact of systemic pesticides in a natural field setting on worker bee behavioral development, observation hives were established to monitor changes in behaviors of similarly aged workers and sister queens within 2 experimental groups: (i) colonies located near point-source systemic pesticide pollution (pesticide contaminated treatment), and (ii) colonies embedded within a typical Midwestern US agricultural environment (control). In this study, worker bees in the contaminated environment exhibited important and biologically significant behavioral differences and accelerated onset of hive tasks (i.e. precocious behavioral development) compared to similarly aged bees at the control site. Queen locomotion was largely unaffected; however, the egg-laying rate was reduced in queens at the contaminated (treated) site. These results show that environmental pesticide exposure can disrupt colony function and adversely affect worker bee behavioral maturation, leading to reduced worker longevity and decreased colony efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In pursuing advancing solar energy systems, this research uniquely occupies a position at the intersection of photovoltaic (PV) efficiency, innovative design and aesthetic integration into urban landscapes. This study explores the potential of thin solar cells applied to spherical and hemispherical surfaces and the influence of temperature variations throughout the day. By conducting a comprehensive analysis of voltage–current diagrams, the study deciphers the intricate interconnections of spherical geometries and their response to external thermal impacts, elucidating their subsequent effects on energy conversion efficiency. Moreover, it delved into the dynamics of connecting multiple spherical modules, unveiling their potential to form artistic and utilitarian constructs such as solar trees and architectural embellishments. The findings indicate that while spherical configurations provide superior aesthetics and a power generation profile comparable to solar tracking systems, hemispherical configurations offer a 32% increase in efficiency compared with the spherical configuration and a notable reduction in land footprint. This research underscores the importance of striking a balance between aesthetic appeal, efficiency and land utilization, providing valuable insights for the future of PV technology integration into urban and agricultural landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article generalizes the urbanization process and its impact on agricultural land use in Vietnam. The high rate of urbanization has led to a great demand for purchasing agricultural products, especially high-quality ones, and as a result, this affects agricultural development. On one hand, it offers new chances to expand the domestic market and to encourage exports. On the other hand, the conversion of agricultural land into non-agricultural land under accelerated urbanization leads to a large area of arable land being abandoned or polluted, consequently affecting food security and sustainable development. Therefore, to meet the people's food needs in the context of urbanization, it is necessary to have proper solutions to improve the efficiency of agricultural land use, such as: implementing land laws aimed at developing agricultural production in the direction of large-scale, concentrated commodities; executing land-use planning, performing agricultural production planning towards specialized cultivation with a stable term to ensure profitable investment; boosting the restructuring of the agricultural sector; developing collective and cooperative economics in agriculture; having policies to support, forecast, and search for markets for consumption and the processing of agricultural products; creating a transparent land-use rights market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing pollution of lotic ecosystems in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Nigeria, poses a threat to water quality, public health and biodiversity. It is therefore essential to develop appropriate tools and methods for monitoring these rivers, particularly in heavily affected areas, where these water resources are vital to the surrounding communities that are heavily dependent on them. To fill this gap, we propose to develop a multimetric index based on macroinvertebrates for the assessment of ecological quality of rivers in Niger State (NSRBI). Eighty-eight metrics were evaluated through a step-by-step statistical process (namely, range test and stability, redundancy test and relationship with abiotic variables), in which metrics that did not meet the conditions were excluded. At the end of this process, only four metrics (%Hemiptera, Diptera richness, Pielou equitability and % of very large individuals (size > 40 mm)) fulfilling all criteria were included in the index. These metrics were then scored on a continuous scale and divided into four water quality classes: "very poor", "poor", "fair" and "good". Evaluation of the performance of the index on test sites showed a correspondence of 90% between index result and environmental-based classification. Therefore, the NSRBI could be a valuable tool for monitoring and assessing the ecological conditions of rivers in Niger State and the North Central Nigeria ecoregion predominantly in urban and agricultural landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is the main driver of the rapid collapse of biodiversity, upon which all life on Earth, including agricultural production, depends. As we face the challenge of feeding a growing human population under a changing climate regime, the pressure on biodiversity is expected to further intensify. While the potential to expand and improve natural habitats for biodiversity conservation has been widely explored in large-scale scenarios of agricultural systems, the critical role of agricultural landscapes’ management on halting the loss of biodiversity remains unexplored at this scale. We argue that, to achieve an effective conservation of biodiversity (both natural and agricultural), the combined multivariate effects of agriculture on biodiversity must be accounted for, including its surface area as well as its management. Based on a literature review, we identified the main biodiversity pressures stemming from agriculture: land-use change, contribution to climate change, water withdrawal, pesticide pollution, nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) pollution, and landscape and farmscale simplification (of croplands and pastures). For each one, we proposed a critical boundary, based on reviews of studies covering a range of taxa, biodiversity metrics, and biomes, below or above which negative impacts on biodiversity are minimized or positive effects arise. Implemented simultaneously, the identified boundaries would integrate biodiversity conservation within and across farmlands and minimize agriculture’s far-reaching impacts on biodiversity. We present a framework called “agricultural boundaries for biodiversity” that will allow to explore the potential of developing agricultural systems that effectively reconcile food production and biodiversity conservation at large scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One common renewable energy source for substituting fossil sources is photovoltaic (PV) systems. However, installing PV systems in agricultural areas can lead to competition with other land uses. These projects, therefore, often encounter problems with social acceptance in affected communities. Especially from the perspective of nature conservation targets, conflicts can arise. These potential differences are still under-researched but represent important knowledge for the societally broadly accepted design of such facilities and their contribution to energy transformation. In this paper, we investigate the perspectives of nature conservationists on PV in the region of Brandenburg, Germany. We comparatively analyse attitudes towards ground-mounted photovoltaics (GM-PV) and agrophotovoltaics (APV). APV combines energy supply and agricultural production on the same land and could thus be a possible solution for mitigating land-use conflicts. Results: We investigated the degree of local acceptability and positive and negative influencing factors through a qualitative text analysis of ten interviews with local representatives and position papers by Nature Conservation Associations. Our findings show a growing consensus around basic assumptions of the need for renewable energies, the prioritised support for PV systems on rooftops over the installation on agricultural land (GM-PV and APV), and the necessity for PV systems to be compatible with nature conservation objectives. Regarding specific site decisions on agricultural land, we find diverging attitudes when comparing the content of position papers and the responses of interviewees. The interviewees advocate taking into account local interests and specific regional conditions, the effects of PV systems on the local environment, and the need for distributional justice. Large-scale plants are locally less accepted than smaller ones and there is a more open attitude towards the expansion of APV than of GM-PV on agricultural land. However, a range of concerns regarding consequences for landscape and biodiversity persists, and further research and clarification is required to address these issues. Conclusions: We conclude that basic ecological standards and the demands of local stakeholders and interest groups should be taken into account when planning, implementing and reviewing PV projects in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agriculture / Poljoprivreda is the property of Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agriculture in Osijek and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Agricultural practices have a significant impact on stream water quality in rural landscapes; however, there is still little empirical evidence of how different types of cultivation alter the hydrochemistry of running water. Thus, the current study explored the spatial dynamics of selected ion concentrations and their land cover dependence in lowland agricultural catchments. From November 2021 to October 2022, water samples were collected from 30 sites located across small tributaries of the rivers Bzura, Pilica, and Radomka for chemical analysis of their NO3, NO2, NH4, Ca, Mg, K, Na, As, Ba, Sr, and V concentrations. The results indicated a clear spatial heterogeneity of water quality, related to lithology and dominant land cover evaluated with the CORINE Land Cover 2018 dataset. Overall, sites representing agricultural land promoted increased concentrations of major and trace elements, while those with pepper cultivation were additionally contaminated with NO3 and NO2. The correlation performance for nitrogen compounds was the highest for narrower buffer zones, which was not documented for major and trace elements, which were linked more strongly with land cover at larger scales. Such new insights into the water quality dynamics of lowland agricultural catchments, being a simultaneous reflection of lithology, agricultural practices, and several municipal impacts, have significant implications for appropriate water management in rural landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In agro-tourism development, sustainable agricultural development in Nagari Pandai Sikek is expected to continue in terms of superior commodities and tourist attraction objects. This study aimed to analyze agro-tourism development based on agricultural and cultural landscapes in Nagari Pandai Sikek based on ecological, economic, socio-cultural, and institutional aspects, using Multi-Dimensional Scaling (MDS) analysis and the Rapfish method. The results of the status of agro-tourism development in Nagari Pandai Sikek on the Jorong Pagu-pagu of Nagari Pandai Sikek ecological dimension have the highest value of 56.76, with a fairly sustainable sustainability status. The economic dimension of Jorong Baruah of Nagari Pandai Sikek has the highest value of 84.41 with its sustainability status. The social dimension of Jorong Baruah of Nagari Pandai Sikek has the highest score of 99.98, with good sustainability status. The institutional dimension of Jorong Baruah of Nagari Pandai Sikek has the highest score of 99.98 with its sustainability status. The attributes that influence each dimension are the ecological dimension of land management and the economic dimension of harvest productivity. The dimension of community social organization is the institutional dimension of the tourism management group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to use landscape grass from species-rich orchards for biogas production, thus preserving these very valuable areas for future generations. Since these grass clippings have high lignocellulose content, the substrate has to be pretreated before being fed into the biogas digester. In this study, three different mechanical treatment processes (cross-flow grinder, ball mill and a mounted mower) were investigated and compared with untreated grass clippings. Chemical composition, specific methane yield, degradation kinetics and microscopic images were analyzed. In order to derive recommendations, the harvesting and pretreatment processes were examined in terms of energy demand, additional methane yield, and suitability of the substrate for use in biogas plants, taking into account conservation aspects. Within the pretreatment process, ball milling leads to the highest significant increase in specific methane yield of up to 5.8% and the fastest gas formation kinetics (lag time λBM: 0.01 ± 0.0 d; duration to reach half of total gas production ½M(x)BM: 5.4 ± 0.2 d) compared to the untreated variant (λUT: 1.02 ± 0.2 d; ½M(x)UT: 6.5 ± 0.2 d). A comparison of the energy required for the mechanical disintegration of the substrates with the increased yield of methane during the digestion process shows that the mechanical processing of these substrates appears to be useful. A positive energy balance was achieved for the cross-flow grinder (12.3 kWh tVS−1) and the ball mill (21.4 kWh tVS−1), while the Amazone Grasshopper left a negative balance (−18.3 kWh tVS−1), requiring more energy for substrate pretreatment than was generated as methane surplus. In summary, the pretreatment of landscape management grass is a suitable approach for utilizing agricultural residues efficiently in a biogas plant and thus contributing to sustainable energy production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, we introduce a groundbreaking method for the classification of Historical Architectural Heritage (HAH) resources, with a particular focus on their integration within agricultural landscapes. Employing a sophisticated blend of Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies and advanced feature fusion techniques, our approach uniquely emphasizes the interaction between architectural heritage and agricultural land use. The methodology commences with the extraction of historical and agricultural attributes from HAH sites, leveraging sensor fusion technology to capture the nuances of their relationship with surrounding farmlands. We categorize these resources into three distinct classifications: 'agriculturally integrated', 'agriculturally independent', and 'absent agricultural linkage'. This innovative classification is sensitive to the architectural merits of the HAH resources and their agricultural context, shedding light on the symbiotic interplay between heritage sites and rural agrarian practices. A pivotal component of our approach is integrating agricultural spatial features in the classification process. This involves analyzing HAH sites' proximity, dependency, and interaction with adjacent agricultural lands, thereby enriching the heritage classification with an agro-centric perspective. The effectiveness of this methodology has been rigorously tested in the agricultural regions of Hubei Province, China, demonstrating enhanced precision and depth in the classification of HAH resources within an agricultural framework. The proposed method stands out for its cost-effectiveness and practicality, offering a novel tool for the management and preservation of HAH resources in agricultural settings. It bridges the often-overlooked gap between architectural heritage conservation and agricultural land management, thus paving the way for sustainable development in rural landscapes. This research contributes significantly to both theoretical and applied aspects of heritage conservation, promoting an integrated approach that respects and upholds the intrinsic value of agricultural landscapes in historical heritage management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sand mining activities on agricultural land and rivers in Bambang Village, Wajak District, Malang Regency, have been ongoing for a long time. The sand mining activities on private agricultural lands, besides being illegal, also damage the land and the environment. In addition, these sand mining activities are also unsustainable. This study aimed to analyze and formulate sustainable alternative livelihoods of sand miners on agricultural lands in Bambang Village, Wajak District, Malang Regency, based on local resources. The study method was carried out using a combination of case studies and survey methods, accompanied by indepth interviews and field observation. The in-depth interviews were conducted by interviewing 60 respondents for key informants from miners, farmers, many stakeholders, and experts that were selected purposively. The data obtained were analyzed using a multi-criteria analysis (MCA), namely PROMETHEE (Preference Ranking Organization Methods for Enrichment Evaluation) program to formulate sustainable alternative livelihoods. The results showed that the best alternative sustainable livelihood at this location is agriculture. The second best alternative sustainable livelihood is ecotourism, the third is animal husbandry, and the fourth is informal sectors based on local resources. The government should support the development of agriculture, ecotourism, animal husbandry, and the informal sectors in the village. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban expansion occurs in big cities in Indonesia, including Batu City. An increase in the built-up area occurred in Batu City by 554.4 ha or 2.78%, and a decrease in agricultural land by 341.1 ha occurred in 2008-2018. If the Batu City government does not pay attention to the availability of environmental services or consider the geomorphological conditions of Batu City for developing settlements. In that case, it will have an environmental impact. The environmental problem in Batu City during the 2009-2019 period was an increase in greenhouse gases by 0.75% per year. Batu City is located in a hilly area. It is necessary to explore land capability in Batu City so that land use planning follows its environmental services and is sustainable. This study aimed to determine the land capability for settlements in Batu City based on the Regulation of the State Minister for the Environment Number 17 of 2009 concerning Guidelines for Determining Environmental Supporting Capacity in Regional Spatial Planning. This study used a geographic information system (GIS) and ArcGIS 10.8 software. The method used was overlapping soil texture, slope, drainage, effective soil depth, erosion, and flood potential maps. Batu City has a slope of 30-45% and a total area of 6,581.03 ha, or 33% of the area of Batu City. The largest erosion rate reached 10,326.33 ha or 52% of the total area of Batu City. Erosion occurs on land used for agriculture or moorland. Soil protection and erosion control measures are strongly recommended. The area around Batu City, 1,174.28 ha, experienced considerable erosion, and 2,631.62 ha of land in Batu City is used for settlements. Land capability analysis can determine the starting point or basis for settlement land management in Batu City, which has a slope of more than 15%. There are only 461.9 ha of land management for settlement which follows the regional spatial planning and land capability in Batu City, spread over three different districts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The methods of developing photovoltaics on agricultural land in France are still very poorly documented and this article offers a contribution to understanding their implications. The authors explain how this development is taking place at the intersection of national public regulation, strategies of public and private actors, and emerging territorial dynamics. They show that the rules governing the use of land and the production of renewable energy constrain, but do not prohibit, photovoltaics on agricultural land. They identify a rule of priority for installation on artificialized spaces, but also four exceptions to the rule, all subject to interpretation processes. They then describe the strategies carried out in this context by agricultural stakeholders, public authorities and energy companies. At local levels, energy companies are looking for agricultural land taking into account the doctrines affirmed by public and agricultural stakeholders in the territories concerned. On a national scale, these companies are pleading for changes to the rules of the game, on the one hand to restrict regulatory obstacles to the installation of photovoltaics on agricultural land, and on the other hand to gain recognition for the approaches they present as demanding in the combination between agriculture and energy production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grassland is grouped into temporary, permanent, and rough grazing types in the United Kingdom (UK), making up more than 60% of the national agricultural land area. It provides avenues for grazed fodder or ensiled forage contributing a large proportion of the diets consumed by cattle and sheep. The official agricultural census data in 2011 to 2020 showed that, on average, UK cattle and sheep farming can produce meat to satisfy 83.3 and 100.8% of domestic cattle beef and sheep meat consumption levels, respectively. Out of the large agricultural census datasets, we used the populations of cattle and sheep, as well as the UK definition of a standard livestock unit (SLU), to normalise the respective herd populations into a total standard livestock unit (TSLU). We then used the annual domestic meat production in dressed carcass weight to calculate cattle and sheep meat productivity per SLU. Using the potential herbal dry matter yields per year and areas of the different grassland types across the UK, the potential total available pasture feed was calculated. This potential production of herbal biomass was translated into the potential carrying capacity expressed in a TSLU. This total potential carrying capacity was partitioned into cattle and sheep sectors so that the routes of pasture-based-only options with which to produce ruminant meat to meet the current UK domestic consumption demands were assessed. The estimated mean potential annual pasture forage feed in 2011–2020 was approximately 82.0 million (M) metric tonnes (t), which can be translated into a potential carrying capacity of 17.9 M SLUs compared with the current mean 9.36 M SLUs in the survey data of the UK. With the ratio of sheep to cattle at 8.2:25 in the national TSLU, the UK national demands at present consumption levels of cattle and sheep meat can be arithmetically met with pasture grass utilisation rates at or above 65% and 50% by cattle and sheep farming systems, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green development is an inevitable trend in the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, and promoting the green development of agriculture has always been an important measure for China's sustainable growth. However, due to the influence of diverse regional environments and the wide range of landscapes in China, a largely agricultural country, China is facing ongoing challenges in improving the overall level of agricultural green development and narrowing regional differences, which has recently garnered worldwide attention. This study aims to measure and analyze the agricultural green development level of 30 provinces in China (Tibet, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan are not included in the target areas of this research due to a lack of data). Here, we applied GIS technology, an entropy-TOPSIS (technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution) model, quantitative analysis methods such as global spatial autocorrelation analysis, coldspot and hotspot analysis, and a spatial Durbin model to construct measurement models and index systems, after which we performed a comprehensive spatiotemporal analysis of China's agricultural green development level. Furthermore, the present study also analyzed the factors that influence agricultural green development in China. The present study demonstrated that: (i) between 2005 and 2020, China's overall level of agricultural green development exhibited a fluctuating upward trend, with significant improvement and enhancement in most provinces. However, the overall level of China's agricultural green development remains low, and differences at the provincial level are particularly prominent, with the main regions displaying the following descending development pattern: Eastern > Central > Western regions. (ii) The level of China's agricultural green development shows clear signs of spatial aggregation, characterized by spatial dependence and heterogeneity. Although this phenomenon is gradually weakening over time, the high levels of agricultural green development in the eastern regions and low levels in the western regions are likely to persist in the near future. (iii) Green agricultural structure, technology supply, agricultural mechanization level, and arable land area are the key factors influencing China's level of agricultural green development. Among these factors, technology supply, agricultural mechanization level, and arable land area have the largest direct impact, whereas green agricultural structure has a positive spatial spillover effect on the level of agricultural green development. Technology supply has both a positive direct impact and a negative indirect impact on the level of agricultural green development. Therefore, further improving technology supply and agricultural mechanization level can directly promote China's agricultural green development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolving customer demands have significantly influenced the operational landscape of agricultural companies, including the transformation of their supply chains. As a response, many organizations are increasingly adopting green supply chain practices. This paper focuses on the initial step of selecting a green supplier, using the case study of the Semberka Company. The objective is to align the company with customer requirements and market trends. Expert decision making, grounded in linguistic values, was employed to facilitate the transformation of these values into fuzzy numbers and subsequently derive rough number boundaries. Ten economic-environmental criteria were identified, and six suppliers were evaluated against these criteria. The fuzzy rough LMAW (Logarithm Methodology of Additive Weights) method was employed to determine the criteria weights, with emphasis placed on the quality criterion. The fuzzy rough MABAC (Multi-Attributive Border Approximation Area Comparison) method was then utilized to rank the suppliers and identify the top performer. The validity of the results was established through validation techniques and sensitivity analysis. This research contributes a novel approach to green supplier selection, employing the powerful tool of fuzzy rough sets. The flexible nature of this approach suggests its potential application in future investigations. The limitation of this study is more complicated calculations for the decision maker. However, this approach is adapted to human thinking and minimizes ambiguity and uncertainty in decision making, and in future research, it is necessary to combine this approach with other methods of multi-criteria analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In agricultural landscape management, the conventional top-down approaches that primarily focus on market-led responses struggle to preserve the landscape elements essential for environmental sustainability. To address this deficiency, land use and land cover change (LUCC) scenarios promote an integrated understanding of landscape dynamics and highlight the inconsistency between the compartmentalisation of the public sector ("siloisation") and the necessity for management that reflects the interdependencies of socio-ecological systems. This study investigates the extent to which the creation and dissemination of LUCC scenarios lead to modifications in the values, attitudes, and behaviours of local actors engaged in land management, giving particular emphasis to the role of these scenarios in encouraging integrated management. To accomplish this objective, we interviewed local actors who actively participated in the co-construction of the scenario narratives or learned about the scenarios during dissemination workshops. We then analysed the data via a thematic and lexicometric analysis. The findings highlighted the dual function of these scenarios as a catalyst for pre-existing political will to promote integrated management and as a tool for raising awareness about major environmental challenges. At the group level, the outcomes encompassed aspects such as basing political decisions on the results of scenarios and fostering collaboration between institutions. These outcomes were observed among the actors involved in co-constructing scenarios or those with pre-existing motivations to pursue integrated management initiatives. Additional personal outcomes included an increased awareness of environmental challenges and the consolidation of non-formalised knowledge. We argue that combining co-construction and dissemination enhances the outcomes of scenarios considerably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection of the exchange and distribution of agricultural lands allows many projects and plans to be made and interpreted correctly, such as food safety, planning, and environmental risk analysis. From this point of study in the spatial changes and distribution of agricultural land in time across Turkey were examined. CORINE Land Cover (CLC) data was used to identify agricultural land and examine changes over time. As a result of the study, it was observed that agricultural lands increased slightly from 1990 to 2018, but this increase has not always been in the form of preserving existing agricultural lands and adding existing agricultural lands. While some areas have lost their agricultural land characteristics, some areas have become agricultural land. New agricultural areas are usually realized by the transformation of forests and semi-natural areas while the agricultural areas that disappear are provided from heterogeneous agricultural areas. The Central Anatolia region stands out in the distribution of agricultural areas by region. The region with the highest concentration of agricultural land in terms of both proportion and area is the Central Anatolia region. Also, the Central Anatolia region is the region with the most intensive Non-irrigated agriculture. The area where irrigated agriculture is proportionally most made is the southeast Anatolia region. According to province-based, the provinces with more than 40% of the provincial surface area are Kırıkkale, Kırşehir, Nevşehir, Aksaray in the Central Anatolia region, Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa in the Southeastern Anatolia region, Edirne and Tekirdağ in the Marmara region. The provinces of Artvin, Tunceli, Bingöl, and Hakkari are the provinces where the percentage of agricultural land is below 10%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on the spatiotemporal variability of soil properties and states within the agricultural landscape is vital to identify management zones supporting precision agriculture (PA). Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and electromagnetic induction (EMI) techniques have been applied to assess soil properties, states, processes, and their spatiotemporal variability. This paper reviews the fundamental operating principles of GPR and EMI, their applications in soil studies, advantages and disadvantages, and knowledge gaps leading to the identification of the difficulties in integrating these two techniques to complement each other in soil data studies. Compared to the traditional methods, GPR and EMI have advantages, such as the ability to take non-destructive repeated measurements, high resolution, being labor-saving, and having more extensive spatial coverage with geo-referenced data within agricultural landscapes. GPR has been widely used to estimate soil water content (SWC) and water dynamics, while EMI has broader applications such as estimating SWC, soil salinity, bulk density, etc. Additionally, GPR can map soil horizons, the groundwater table, and other anomalies. The prospects of GPR and EMI applications in soil studies need to focus on the potential integration of GPR and EMI to overcome the intrinsic limitations of each technique and enhance their applications to support PA. Future advancements in PA can be strengthened by estimating many soil properties, states, and hydrological processes simultaneously to delineate management zones and calculate optimal inputs in the agricultural landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital Twin is conceived as a tool designed to monitor the effects of climate change and human activity on a global scale by integrating Earth Observation with local information. When applied to Cultural Heritage and built environment, this concept requires a detailed analysis to decode the richness of sites and context, highlighting specific local features. This paper aims to contribute to the preservation of the complexity of natural, agricultural, and designed landscapes, including the architectural scale. The case study is the Villa Arconati site in Castellazzo of Bollate, in the metropolitan-peri-urban area of Milan, which is a monumental 16th Century complex, with a significant historical and cultural value and an exceptional green biomass resource in a densely built area. The analysis is carried out at two scales, which complement each other: (i) an environmental-scale study that uses historical maps and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) analysis from the last two decades to monitor biodiversity transformations and highlight the level of conservation; (ii) a local-scale multi-sensor survey, which uses experimental equipment, such as a spherical camera, to extract 3D vegetation models - referred to historical views - to set conservation criteria of the landscape layout. The multi-temporal-scale analysis helps to define sustainable future management practices (such as FAR and PAS) and raises awareness among the community and the visitors about the importance of preserving both the historical and architectural value and the site's biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-point sources of water pollution caused by agricultural crop production are a serious problem in Czechia, at present. This paper describes a new approach for the mutual delineation and assessment of different pollution sources where the critical points method is used to identify the origin of contamination and the source areas. The critical points, i.e., sites presenting the entry of quick surface and drainage runoff into waters, are classified into three (for surface pollution sources using a WaTEM/SEDEM model) or four (subsurface = drainage sources via the catchment-measures need index) categories, respectively. This enabled us to prioritize the most endangered areas at different scales, ranging from the third-order catchments to very small subcatchments, and to design the appropriate combination of control measures to mitigate surface and drainage water runoff, with these being the main drivers of associated pollution. This methodology was applied to a study conducted in the Czech Republic within the entire Vltava River basin, with a total area of 27,578 km2, and utilized in depth to assess a 543 km2 catchment of the Vlašimská Blanice River. When the effect of the designed surface runoff control measures system had been assessed for sediment transport through outlet profiles of the fourth-order catchments, the average reduction reached 43%. The total reduction in the subsurface transport of nitrogen within the fourth-order catchments was 24%. The approach and results are planned to be projected into river basin management plans for the Vltava River basin. Nevertheless, a thorough reassessment of current legislations and strategies is needed to enable the broader adoption of mitigation measures and sustainable management patterns within agricultural landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale farming by agricultural land transfers has been increasingly promoted in recent years, but the possible impacts on crop production, especially cash crops, and soil acidification remain unclear. This study obtained data for 110 banana plantations in Long'an County, China, and categorized them into small (< 0.67 ha), medium (0.67-6.7 ha), and large (> 6.7 ha) to determine banana cultivation, nutrient management, and soil acidification rates on farms of the three sizes. Banana yield per unit area significantly increased with increased farm size, and large farms had the highest average yield (48.9 t·ha-1) with the least variation. Despite a significant increase in organic fertilizer and base cation inputs, nitrogen (N) surplus did not differ significantly with increasing farm size. With large farms, actual soil acidification rate was significantly lower by 19.1 to 24.0 keq·ha-1·yr-1; however, potential soil acidification rate increased with increased overuse of phosphorus. Overall, larger banana plantations used fewer mineral N fertilizers reducing the rate of soil acidification and increasing the H+ buffering provided by organic fertilizers. It is concluded that larger farms deliver the dual benefits of higher, less variable banana yield and mitigation of soil acidification by substituting organic N for mineral N fertilizers, supporting sustainable soil management and food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Sustainable agricultural landscape management needs reliable and accurate soil maps and updated geospatial soil information. Recently, machine learning (ML) models have commonly been used in digital soil mapping, together with limited data, for various types of landscapes. In this study, we tested linear and nonlinear ML models in predicting and mapping soil properties in an agricultural lowland landscape of Lombardy region, Italy. We further evaluated the ability of an ensemble learning model, based on a stacking approach, to predict the spatial variation of soil properties, such as sand, silt, and clay contents, soil organic carbon content, pH, and topsoil depth. Therefore, we combined the predictions of the base learners (ML models) with two meta-learners. Prediction accuracies were assessed using a nested cross-validation procedure. Nonetheless, the nonlinear single models generally performed well, with RF having the best results; the stacking models did not outperform all the individual base learners. The most important topographic predictors of the soil properties were vertical distance to channel network and channel network base level. The results yield valuable information for sustainable land use in an area with a particular soil water cycle, as well as for future climate and socioeconomic changes influencing water content, soil pollution dynamics, and food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wise-use of land resources determines sustainability of environment and human welfare. But, the ongoing land-use change constrains environmental sustainability. Thus, this study aims to quantify past and future land-use change trend with its associated drivers in Koore's agricultural landscape of Southern Ethiopia. To quantify the change trends, geospatial tools were applied. A CA–Markov model was used to predict land-use changes. Relative Importance Index was used to identify major drivers of the change. The result of the study showed agroforestry, built-up and cultivation rise by 192%, 152% and 18% at the expense of natural environment. Population growth and agricultural expansion are among the leading land-use change drivers. CA–Markov model revealed a continued increment of anthropogenically modified land-use classes which adversely affect the sustainability of the landscape. Information on spatiotemporal dynamics has been confirmed as effectual measure for nature conservation, agriculture, urban planners, and policymakers to plan sustainable development actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous observation and management of agriculture are essential to estimate crop yield and crop failure. Remote sensing is cost-effective, as well as being an efficient solution to monitor agriculture on a larger scale. With high-resolution satellite datasets, the monitoring and mapping of agricultural land are easier and more effective. Nowadays, the applicability of deep learning is continuously increasing in numerous scientific domains due to the availability of high-end computing facilities. In this study, deep learning (U-Net) has been implemented in the mapping of different agricultural land use types over a part of Punjab, India, using the Sentinel-2 data. As a comparative analysis, a well-known machine learning random forest (RF) has been tested. To assess the agricultural land, the major winter season crop types, i.e., wheat, berseem, mustard, and other vegetation have been considered. In the experimental outcomes, the U-Net deep learning and RF classifiers achieved 97.8% (kappa value: 0.9691) and 96.2% (Kappa value: 0.9469), respectively. Since little information exists on the vegetation cultivated by smallholders in the region, this study is particularly helpful in the assessment of the mustard (Brassica nigra), and berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) acreage in the region. Deep learning on remote sensing data allows the object-level detection of the earth's surface imagery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southern Malawi is continuously affected by tropical cyclone-related floods (TCRFs), which have negative consequences on households' livelihoods, thereby displacing most households to neighbouring communities of Mozambique. The TCRFs have further threatened national, regional, community, and household food security agenda, which is already constrained by poverty, poor agricultural practices, low use of improved varieties, unaffordable inorganic fertilizers, and fragmenting landholding sizes. Accordingly, households have indigenously engineered resilience-based Sustainable Landscape Management (SLM) practices, like intercropping, agroforestry, cover cropping, and soil and water conservation practices, against the adverse effects of TCRFs on-farm productivity. Hence, this study examines the effect of TCRFs and SLM adoption on-farm productivity. While using rigorous endogenous switching regression econometric tools, the study finds TCRFs reducing farm productivity by 27 percent. After SLM adoption, the study observes farm productivity enhancement by 29-126 percent when households adopt at least one SLM practices under varying degrees of TCRFs. Despite the highlighted advantages of SLM adoption, female farmers are less likely to adopt SLM practices because they do not have access to productive resources. Hence, the study proposes the need of gender targeted extension services, accompanied by some seed capital for SLM adoption. Besides, there is need to sensitize farmers on the complementarities between inorganic fertilizer and SLM practices. Lastly, future studies should assess the effect of sustained SLM adoption or dis-adoption and input intensification on farm productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to define a low-cost replicable methodology for obtaining fast multiscale information models. The experiments carried out were conducted by researchers from Dada LAB and PLAY experimental Laboratories of the University of Pavia, Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, on the case study of the irrigated landscape of the Pavia plain. The entire work process was developed according to a low-cost purpose, starting from fast acquisition activities with UAV instruments, to the processing of photogrammetric data, urban and detailed scale modelling with open-source software, to the census, filing, and computerisation of the model. The resulting product is configured as a multiscale reality-based information system. A census card is associated with each constituent element of the model (crops, canals, valuable hydraulic artefacts). Connection to the GIS platform allows the user to query the model. The result is a digital system oriented to facilitate the management of the agricultural and irrigation landscape, and to digitally document and preserve the heritage of historical hydraulic existing artefacts. Two different GIS platforms for structuring the information system were tested. The first involved a high-budget solution using ESRI ArcGIS Pro/ArcSCENE software, and the second involved using QGIS software, an Open-Source Geographic Information System, to develop an accessible information system without license fees, to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of low-cost processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Landscape Convention aims to promote landscape protection, management and planning. This must be done based on identification and knowledge of those basic landscape types that were created by the interaction of human and nature over the course of historical development. This paper presents a methodological approach for creation and evaluation of representative biocultural types of landscape, in order to elaborate an effective strategy for landscape protection, and proposes a management strategy of sustainable use of representative biocultural landscapes of Slovakia. That will ensure the regular maintenance of the landscape in view of current global trends and factors affecting the landscape. Our interdisciplinary approach is based on previous landscape classifications and the interaction of natural and cultural elements. The classification of the biocultural landscape is obtained as a result of multi-criteria analysis in GIS and synthesis of maps of potential vegetation, real ecosystems and current land use, abiotic conditions of representative geoecosystems of Slovakia, and other specific statistical data. We assessed the perception and significance of individual landscape types by way of a questionnaire survey. In Slovakia, seven basic types of landscape were singled out, ranging from natural to semi-natural to anthropogenic, within which other subtypes were specified. We assessed the protection of individual types, as well as threats and degradation of the landscape. Insufficient protection is given to the most valuable types of biocultural landscape and new tools and methods of support and protection have to be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dung beetles are important actors in the self‐regulation of ecosystems by driving nutrient cycling, bioturbation, and pest suppression. Urbanization and the sprawl of agricultural areas, however, destroy natural habitats and may threaten dung beetle diversity. In addition, climate change may cause shifts in geographical distribution and community composition. We used a space‐for‐time approach to test the effects of land use and climate on α‐diversity, local community specialization (H2′) on dung resources, and γ‐diversity of dung‐visiting beetles. For this, we used pitfall traps baited with four different dung types at 115 study sites, distributed over a spatial extent of 300 km × 300 km and 1000 m in elevation. Study sites were established in four local land‐use types: forests, grasslands, arable sites, and settlements, embedded in near‐natural, agricultural, or urban landscapes. Our results show that abundance and species density of dung‐visiting beetles were negatively affected by agricultural land use at both spatial scales, whereas γ‐diversity at the local scale was negatively affected by settlements and on a landscape scale equally by agricultural and urban land use. Increasing precipitation diminished dung‐visiting beetle abundance, and higher temperatures reduced community specialization on dung types and γ‐diversity. These results indicate that intensive land use and high temperatures may cause a loss in dung‐visiting beetle diversity and alter community networks. A decrease in dung‐visiting beetle diversity may disturb decomposition processes at both local and landscape scales and alter ecosystem functioning, which may lead to drastic ecological and economic damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species‐specific responses to landscape configuration and landscape composition have been studied extensively. However, little work has been done to compare intraspecific differences in habitat preferences. Bats have potential as good bioindicator taxa in woodland habitats. Therefore, studying sex differences in responses to woodland and the wider landscape can allow us to gain insight into the relative importance of these habitats for both bats and other taxa. In this study, we aimed to test the predictions that (i) habitat type and connectivity will influence the probability of recording female bats in woodlands and (ii) sex differences in response to habitat type and connectivity will be species‐specific. Bat capture data was collected in 206 woodlands over 3 years in England. The probability of detecting females relative to males was modeled in response to a range of woodland characteristics and landscape metrics for six bat species. We recorded sex differences in responses to landscape features in three species. We found a higher probability of capturing female Myotis nattereri in woodlands that were surrounded by a higher proportion of improved grasslands, whereas female Myotis mystacinus were less likely to be recorded in woodlands surrounded by semi‐natural vegetation. Female Plecotus auritus were more likely to be recorded in isolated woodlands with less connectivity to other woodlands and where agriculture dominated the surrounding landscape. Our findings indicate that sexual segregation occurs across several UK bat species in response to landscape connectivity and composition. Sexual segregation in response to landscape characteristics in bats should therefore be an important consideration in the management of fragmented agricultural landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loss of biological diversity is one of the greatest challenges that our civilization must face nowadays. Reaction to the diminishing biodiversity of agricultural landscapes is various measures promoting free-living organisms. The study deals with the vegetation composition and structure of agro-environmental-climatic measures applied on arable land in operating conditions (intensively farmed regions of the Czech Republic). Additional study focus was applied to a popular measure of the feeding bio-belts. Bio-belts are not only hiding places for free-living animals but can provide them a rich food offer in the period from the harvest of main crops until winter. Thanks to the bio-belts, the landscape gains in biodiversity, and sloping sites can be protected from soil erosion. The vegetation of land parts used as bio-belts was assessed using phytocoenological relevés. Dominant plant species sown in the bio-belts were Avena sativa, Panicum miliaceum, Brassica oleracea var. acephala, Fagopyrum esculentum, Phacelia tanacetifolia, and Pisum arvense. Apart from the sown plants, there were also weeds occurring in the bio-belts, of which the most abundant were Chenopodium album, Amaranthus retroflexus, Setaria verticillata, Cirsium arvense, Equisetum arvense, etc. Risks connected with the realization of feeding bio-belts in respect of weeds occurring on arable land are negligible. Weeds from bio-belts have only a limited potential to spread to adjacent arable land. A potential spreading of weeds from the bio-belts to adjacent arable land was not demonstrated. On the contrary, thanks to its composition, the vegetation of bio-belts has the potential to extend the food offer for animals. Thus, bio-belts are useful for supporting biodiversity in regions intensively used for agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In studies aimed at expanding the range of the organic farming system, the authors studied the comparative productivity of such field crops like barley and safflower cultivated with the use of traditional and biologized technologies. The use of biological preparations and organic biofertilizers of the latest generation was studied as a biologized technology on barley and safflower crops. As shown by the experimental data, with the biologized technology in the conditions of the zone in question, the yield of barley increased by 27.02% compared to traditional technologies, the harvest of protein increased by 0.02 t/ha, and the energy value by 2.25 GJ/ha. In this work, it was concluded that the use of the biologized technology of barley and safflower cultivation was important to improve the efficiency of agricultural landscape management in the system of organic farming, which constitutes the scientific novelty of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land resources are an important foundation for human survival and development. In recent years, land resources have experienced rapid industrialization and urbanization. With the expansion of urban construction land and the sharp decline of natural and agricultural landscapes, ecological and social problems have gradually surfaced. Based on the intuitive interpretation of LandsatTM/ETM +/OLI image data from 2016 to 2020, this work created an annual land use reference database. The use of resources and the recovery of nutrients from vegetable waste are necessary measures to achieve sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture. Collecting and analyzing data from the literature are to determine the risk of vegetable waste pollution and the possibility of resource utilization. The amount of vegetable waste produced and the total amount of nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total potassium pollution in the study area are estimated, and ArcGIS is used to characterize TN (total nitrogen) and TP (total phosphorus). The spatial distribution of TK (total potassium) pollution intensity and pollution risk comprehensive index determines the key areas of vegetable waste nonpoint source pollution control in the region and compares the resource utilization potential of vegetable waste based on the demand for fertilizer. This paper combines the research of the subject; takes cultivated land as the research object; clarifies the main pollutants, contaminated area, content, and distribution of cultivated land; uses factor analysis method to conduct a preliminary study on the causes of heavy metal contaminated soil in the study area; and adopts a source-sink balance model, analyze the cumulative characteristics of soil pollution. Based on geographical information system (GIS) and remote sensing technology, this paper investigates the risk assessment of vegetable waste pollution and discusses the analysis of resource potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oilseed rape is an ideal model crop of great significance for research on agricultural-tourism integration and multi-functional development of agriculture. This paper explores the application of technologies for agricultural tourism based on rape flowers in rural revitalization of China. It includes perspectives of technologies for colorful rape flowers, flowering time regulation, multi-season blooming and farm landscape, aiming to further utilize the industrial potential of the multiple functions of agricultural crops, and promote the development of agriculture and rural economy to serve the strategic need of rural revitalization in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a troubling time to be an animal rights activist in Canada. Recently, Alberta adopted legislation to create harsh penalties for trespassing onto private property, for obtaining permission to enter private property based on false pretences, and for interfering with vehicles on public highways. These laws relate to agricultural lands, to private property generally, and, where roads are concerned, to public property. Ontario has adopted similar legislation aimed specifically at agricultural property. The legislation in both provinces purports to protect the security of farmers, their families, and rural property owners generally, as well as the safety of the food system, by preventing contamination of farmed animals by trespassers and those who would interfere with farmed animals in transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]