Search

It is essential to assess the soil organic carbon pool (SOCP) in dry environments to apply appropriate management techniques that address sustainable development. A significant opportunity for sustaining agricultural output and reducing climate change is the storage of soil organic carbon in agricultural soil. The goal of this study was to measure the spatial variability of SOCP content, and determine the effects of soil texture, changes in land use, and land cover on SOCP in surface soil samples. The study additionally investigated the relationships between SOCP and other characteristics, including the normalized vegetation index (NDVI) and land surface temperature (LST), as well as the effects of increasing soil organic carbon on the amount of greenhouse gases. To accomplish this goal, 45 soil surface samples were collected to a depth of 30 cm at the Fayoum depression in Egypt, and analyzed. The soil samples were representative of various soil textures and land uses. The average SOCP concentration in cultivated regions is 32.1 and in bare soils it is 6.5 Mg ha−1, with areas of 157,112.94 and 16,073.27 ha, respectively. According to variances in soil textures, sandy soils have the lowest SOCP (1.8 Mg ha−1) and clay loam soils have the highest concentrations (49 Mg ha−1). Additionally, fruit-growing regions have the greatest SOCP values and may therefore be better suited for carbon sequestration. The overall average SOCP showed 32.12 Mg C ha−1 for cultivated areas. A rise in arable land was accompanied by a 112,870.09 Mg C rise in SOCP. With an increase in soil organic carbon, stored carbon dioxide emissions (greenhouse gases) would be reduced by 414,233.24 Mg CO2. We should consider improving fertilization, irrigation methods, the use of the multiple cropping index, decreasing desertion rates, appropriate crop rotation, and crop variety selection. The research highlights the significance of expanding cultivated areas towards sustainable carbon sequestration and the climate-change-mitigation potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil erosion constitutes one of the main environmental and food security threats, derived from the loss of its productive capacity. With the help of remote sensing (RS), geographic information systems (GIS), and a revised version of the universal soil loss equation (RUSLE), this research has mostly focused on measuring the potential soil erosion hazard and soil water conservation ratio (SWCR) in the El-Minia region of Egypt. Based on the integration of S2A images and the digital elevation model (DEM), geomorphological units of the study area were identified. The RUSLE model includes parameters that allow for mapping soil erosion, such as rain erosivity, soil erodibility, slope length and steepness, soil cover and management, and soil conservation practices. The outcomes revealed that the classes of annual erosion rates of the study area are those of "slight erosion", "low erosion", "moderate erosion" and "moderately high erosion", which represent percentages of 29%, 18%, 33% and 20%, respectively, of the total area. The rate of erosion decreases from east to west. The main erosion factors in the research area are the low vegetation cover and the high slope values. This study highlights the utility of combining the classic RUSLE equation with techniques such as remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) as a basis for assessing current erosion conditions in arid environments and, specifically, for the application of soil management patterns aimed at increasing soil organic matter and any other soil conservation actions. The findings of this study can be used by policymakers to implement soil conservation measures if development projects are to proceed in areas with a high risk of soil erosion. The approach described here is therefore adaptable to similar environments in arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, Food security is considered one of the most issues for humanity due to rapid population growth thus sustainable natural resources assessment is required. Well assessment and management of soil can aid in achieving food security. Agriculture sector in Egypt is facing some obstacles related to sustainability. These include scarce land and water resources, degradation of environment and high rate of population growth. This study focuses on evaluating of agricultural sustainability development in Bahariya oasis, western desert of Egypt. Maps of physiographic and soils were produced using analysis of multispectral Sentinal-2 image with spatial resolution 10 m dropped over digital elevation model (DEM), A shuttle radar topography mission (SRTM) 1-arc-second v.30 DEM. Fifty soil profiles were dug to represent geomorphological units within study area. Soil productivity, environmental security, environmental protection, economic viability, and social acceptability of proposed management options were calculated within the study's landscapes using the Framework for Evaluating Sustainable Land Management (FESLM). The results revealed that the investigated area classified into lands that are marginally below the requirement of sustainability with an area of 534.34 km2 and the rest of study area are not meet sustainability requirements. The sustainability challenges in the investigated area are associated with productivity, economic viability and social acceptability. This research suggests some practices to achieve sustainable development in the study area for instance practicing farmers on modern ways of well management and soil conservation, increase level of health and school care, facilitation of loans for farmers and increasing markets number. outputs from this study can provide decision makers with valuable data that help them to ensure achieving of sustainable management within study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Halayeb area is one of the most important Egyptian places, occupying a portion of the country's southeastern desert zone and serving as a strategic border with Sudan. The major goal of this study is to combine existing data on landforms, soil qualities, and climate data to define agro-ecological zones (AEZ) that are suitable for agricultural development. Thirty-two soil profiles were dug throughout the study region to represent physiographic units, and a digital soil map was generated based on an analysis of the digital elevation model and Landsat 8 satellite data, as well as climatic data from nine sites within the study area. Using the Model Builder in ArcGIS software, AEZ were created based on overlay maps of topography, soil chemical and physical properties, temperature, and precipitation maps. Zone (I) represents highly suitable areas (2.6 percent), zone (II) represents suitable areas (12.4 percent), zone (III) represents moderately suitable areas (26.5 percent), and zone (IV) represents marginally suitable areas (37.3 percent). highly suitable(S1), suitable (S2), and moderately suitable(S3) were the most appropriate classes for all of the crops studied. The findings will aid decision-makers in developing various development plans based on the research area's conditions. The study's methodology and findings can be used to evaluate which land is best suited for agricultural productivity growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Microscopic unilateral approach for bilateral decompression became an alternative surgery for traditional full laminectomy resulting in better outcomes for patients as well as avoiding extensive bony loss. Objective: to evaluate clinical outcomes of unilateral laminectomy approach for bilateral decompression (ULBD) to those of traditional full laminectomies as a treatment of Lumbar Canal Stenosis (LCS). Subjects and methods: Three-hundred LCS patients were included in the study subdivided into two equally groups. Group A patients operated upon with traditional full laminectomies; group B operated upon with unilateral approach for bilateral decompression. Clinical and radiological data were assessed. VAS score and ODI were used to measure patient-reported outcome. Results: Group A and group B (LCS) had a mean age of 46.9±11 and 53.2±6.9 respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between groups as regards number of levels of decompression (p-value>0.05). Pre-operative and post-operative clinical assessment for patients were done. Results revealed significant improvement of ODI and VAS for leg pain in both groups where in group I, the mean ODI decreased from 50.1±10.1 to 27.1±6.7, and the mean VAS decreased from 8.1±0.7 to 2.9±1.2. Group B, the mean ODI decreased from 46.7±9.9% to 22.5±11.1%, and the mean VAS decreased from 7.5±1.4 to 2.5±1.2. As for the back pain, VAS score decreased in group A from 5.1±1.4 to 4.7±1.7 and in group B from 4.2±2.1 to 2.8±1.2. Conclusion: Both techniques are effective procedures for LCS treatment, however ULBD had better outcome regarding postoperative back pain but with longer length of operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction:  Fetus in fetu (FIF) is an extremely rare condition of abnormal twinning during embryogenesis. Most publications are single case reports. We describe the combined experience of four large tertiary referral centers with FIF which were not previously reported or published, and thereby draw conclusions to establish criteria for the workup, diagnosis, and management including intraoperative risk.Materials and Methods:  A survey was forwarded to a national pediatric surgery group which includes members from all pediatric surgery centers in the country enquiring about unpublished cases of FIF encountered over a 20-year interval. The cohort was analyzed for age of presentation, type of presentation, diagnostic workup, surgical management, and outcome.Results:  From 1998 to 2018, a total of 10 FIF cases were included in the study. Mean age of presentation was 4 months. Computed tomography and ultrasound were the main preoperative diagnostic modality in our cohort. Resection of the mass was curative in nine cases. Two cases in which the FIF was in direct topographic proximity to the biliary tree suffered severe intraoperative or lethal postoperative complications.Conclusion:  Complete excision of FIF is the treatment of choice and generally results in excellent long-term quality of life. Mortality is rare and may be associated with biliary involvement and retroperitoneal right upper quadrant location of the FIF tends to be associated with increased risk in excision, and there is also a possible association with the presence of immature elements in the pathology report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]