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Systematic elucidation of the evolution trend of karst rocky desertification (KRD) is of great significance for correctly understanding its occurrence and development process, and implementing effective comprehensive control measures. Based on the existing studies, the authors explore the formation and evolutionary mechanisms and trends of KRD in the karst mountains of Southwest China based on the literature and field investigations. The factors driving the occurrence and formation of KRD are: the single livelihood of farmers in karst mountain areas (KMA); the great land pressure, the low land carrying capacity; and the fragile ecology. With a background of low land carrying capacity, land‐use practices such as over‐cutting, over‐cultivation, and over‐grazing have triggered land degradation in the KMA, including the KRD. With the evolution of social and economic background and the disappearance of its driving factors, the trend of KRD expansion will undergo fundamental change, essentially a KRD transition. KRD transition is the response of the land‐use system to the comprehensive action of economic and social development and ecosystem, which accords with the general trend of economic and social development and ecosystem evolution. The transition of KRD areas outlined in this paper reveals the change of human–land relationship in a KMA in Southwest China and provides a valuable reference for rural revitalization and ecological construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of incorporating the priorities of local communities in developing countries is important in the formulation of effective policies for environmental and natural resource conservation. With this outlook, this study was conducted to assess community priorities and socio-cultural values associated with ecosystem services provided by the socio-ecological landscapes. The study was carried out in 31 villages across four major agriculture-based land-use systems of Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya, covering an elevation gradient of 700–2300 m. Data on perception of ecosystem services were collected by focus group discussions (n = 37) using participatory rural appraisal tools, like listing, ranking, and trend analysis. Twenty-eight ecosystem services belonging to provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services were identified as important by the local communities, majority of which were associated with well-being and socio-economic values of the community. Differences in perception across different localities were observed, which relates to diversified livelihood strategies. Provisioning and cultural services were readily recognized by the local communities; yet, regulating services were valued over them. Provision and regulation of freshwater were found to be the most highly prioritized ecosystem services across the landscape, suggesting the perceived role and importance of freshwater in rural well-being. Local communities perceived declining trends in the availability of many ecosystem services (mostly provisioning), particularly freshwater. This calls for an urgent need for formulation of better policies and management interventions to restore the declining yet highly prioritized services in the rural areas of the landscape, through stakeholder consultations that involve the local communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term monoculture of coconuts has resulted in several land-use-related concerns, such as decreasing land productivity, degraded soil, and ineffective resource utilization on a local and global level. Modifying traditional coconut farming with agroforestry concepts is a well-suited predominant nature-based solution for Sri Lanka as well as for other coconut-growing countries to achieve environmental, social, and economic benefits. By intentionally and intensively integrating annual and perennial plants with farm animals in a dynamic and interactive manner, this land-use system creates a sustainable harmonious mini-ecosystem with landscape restoration. Agroforestry mixed with coconut cultivation decreases the risk of crop failure, generates additional income sources, and balances the ecosystem functions by increasing species richness, enhancing soil physical, biological, and chemical properties, opening new carbon sequestration pathways, purifying air and water sources, and being an excellent feedstock source for bioenergy generation. This environmentally friendly farming will promote the Kyoto Protocol and lessen global warming by limiting the atmospheric buildup of greenhouse gases. A proper and accurate plan is required to implement a successful and profitable long-lived coconut-based agroforestry system. The objective of this paper is to recognize the various agroforestry concepts applicable to coconut-based farming, highlight the wide range of benefits and ecosystem services that can be gained through in-situ and ex-situ agroforestry practices, and explore the challenges that may arise during the integration of agroforestry techniques into a coconut-based farming system.

In order to support livelihoods, enhance food security, restore ecosystem services, and reduce pressure on forests, degraded land can be restored by utilising alternative land-use systems (ALUS), such as silviculture, silvipasture, and hortipasture techniques. ALUS significantly modify the dynamics of soil nutrients in both the surface and subsurface layers. Soils from the 0–15, 15–30, and 30–45 cm layers of Leucaena leucocephala (S)-, Hardwickia binata (H)-, Emblica officinalis (A)-, and Azadiracta indica (N)-based silviculture systems, Acacia nilotica-based silvipasture systems (SPS), natural grassland (NT), and fallow land (F) were sampled in order to better understand the nutrient dynamics of ALUS. Soils under S, H, and SPS had ~203%, 195%, and 129% higher organic carbon (SOC), respectively, than fallow land in the 0–15 cm soil layer. In the subsequent soil layer, those land-use systems had ~199%, 82%, and 110% higher SOC, respectively, than fallow land. Similarly, in the deeper layer, those land uses had ~232%, 23%, and 105% higher SOC, respectively, than fallow land. SPS and NT also improved the SOC concentration significantly over fallow land. Plots under S, H, and SPS had ~198%, 190%, and 125% higher available N, respectively, than fallow land in 0–15 cm soil layer. In the 15–30 cm soil layer, those land-use systems had ~19%9, 82%, and 110% higher available N, respectively, than fallow land. These systems also improved the P and K contents in subsurface soil. Micronutrient concentrations were also improved in soils under S, H, and SPS. Hence, ALUS' adoption in degraded areas with trees provides a chance for C storage and improves the nutrient dynamics on degraded land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to support livelihoods, enhance food security, restore ecosystem services, and reduce pressure on forests, degraded land can be restored by utilising alternative land-use systems (ALUS), such as silviculture, silvipasture, and hortipasture techniques. ALUS significantly modify the dynamics of soil nutrients in both the surface and subsurface layers. Soils from the 0–15, 15–30, and 30–45 cm layers of Leucaena leucocephala (S)-, Hardwickia binata (H)-, Emblica officinalis (A)-, and Azadiracta indica (N)-based silviculture systems, Acacia nilotica-based silvipasture systems (SPS), natural grassland (NT), and fallow land (F) were sampled in order to better understand the nutrient dynamics of ALUS. Soils under S, H, and SPS had ~203%, 195%, and 129% higher organic carbon (SOC), respectively, than fallow land in the 0–15 cm soil layer. In the subsequent soil layer, those land-use systems had ~199%, 82%, and 110% higher SOC, respectively, than fallow land. Similarly, in the deeper layer, those land uses had ~232%, 23%, and 105% higher SOC, respectively, than fallow land. SPS and NT also improved the SOC concentration significantly over fallow land. Plots under S, H, and SPS had ~198%, 190%, and 125% higher available N, respectively, than fallow land in 0–15 cm soil layer. In the 15–30 cm soil layer, those land-use systems had ~19%9, 82%, and 110% higher available N, respectively, than fallow land. These systems also improved the P and K contents in subsurface soil. Micronutrient concentrations were also improved in soils under S, H, and SPS. Hence, ALUS’ adoption in degraded areas with trees provides a chance for C storage and improves the nutrient dynamics on degraded land.

Copyright of Economic Botany is the property of Springer Nature 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.)

Soil fertility capability classification (FCC) is a system of representing soils with a set of physical and chemical properties particularly fertility-related constraints of topsoil as well as sub-soil as which directly influences plant growth and production. An investigation was undertaken to study the soils in detail in a 1:10000 scale survey. Soils were classified into 10 series and 53 mapping units as per soil taxonomy based on morphological, physical, and chemical properties. Soil fertility capability classification was applied to all the identified soils from different land-use systems of the south Telangana plateau. The major soil constraints identified through condition modifiers in the descending order were dry soil moisture (d: 100%), gravelliness (>35%) (r++: 51.68%), low K reserve (k: 34.07%), basic reaction (b: 32.58%), low organic carbon content (m: 24.05%), acidity (h: 23.01%), low cation exchange capacity (e: 16.81%), and gravelliness (10–35%) (r+: 13.48%). The limitations identified in specific landform and land use through condition modifiers help to combat the deterioration of land quality and also helps to implement suitable land management practices for elevated production and productivity apart from reducing land degradation and erosion besides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appraisals of land-use sustainability (LUS) are indispensable for the attainment of sustainable land-use planning and management. At present, China is experiencing a pivotal phase of comprehensive reform in land-use policy, engendering a practical necessity for system-oriented land evaluations. Despite this, studies focused on national-scale systematic LUS evaluation remain scarce. Within this context, we developed a hierarchical structural framework for land-use systems based on the assumption that sustainable land-use systems adapted to development needs have mutually adaptable internal subsystems and fewer conflicting system elements. Employing this framework, we assessed the LUS across Chinese counties from 2000 to 2015 by using a newly introduced static equilibrium equation；we also analyzed the natural and socioeconomic influences and driving effect of land-use change to LUS. Findings reveal a significant spatial clustering and urban-rural differentiation within the LUS spatial pattern. Five LUS hot and cold spots and eight metropolitan areas with poor LUS were identified. Furthermore, conflicting land capability elements and the non-adaptability of land function subsystems with capability subsystems are the primary constraints on LUS; gross domestic product (GDP), population growth, and the GDP growth per unit land area had the most significant impacts on LUS; The transformation of construction and cropland into ecological land and the re-purposing of grassland into building land are primary drivers of LUS. Our findings highlight the prospective utility of the proposed LUS framework in integrated natural resource management and territorial spatial planning. Meanwhile, Insights from this evaluation case could be harnessed to optimize land-use in critical regions (including northern arid and semiarid regions, the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau region, the poverty belt around the capital, Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta metropolitan areas, as well as Fuzhou and Xiamen metropolitan areas), thereby enhancing land management decision-making processes. • Developing a hierarchical structural framework for land-use systems to evaluate land-use sustainability (LUS). • Evaluating LUS of 2855 county-level units in China between 2000 and 2015. • The LUS exhibits significant spatial clustering and urban–rural differentiation. • Identifying the influence of natural and socioeconomic factors on LUS and the driving role of land-use change. • LUS can be integrated into territorial spatial planning, key regional land-use optimization, and land management decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil aggregate stability is an important indicator for controlling soil losses and can improve soil quality, particularly in an area such as the Loess Plateau. The objective of this study was to estimate the differences in soil aggregates across six different land-use systems (grassland, apple orchard, abandoned apple orchard, cropland maize, cropland wheat, and shrub-grassland). For this purpose, dry and wet sieving techniques were employed to assess aggregate content and aggregate stability. Higher percentages of water stable aggregates were observed in the abandoned apple orchard and shrub-grassland at 63% and 61%, respectively. The maximum dry aggregate stability (%) was recorded at 78% and 77% in both wheat cropland and common apple orchard, and the abandoned apple orchard was only 74%. Both mean weight diameters and geometric mean diameters of aggregate were recorded as higher in grassland, shrub-grassland, and the abandoned apple orchard, than the other land uses. The formation of soil aggregates and their stability were positively correlated with soil organic carbon content and root biomass of different plant communities. Higher amounts of soil organic carbon content were noted in the abandoned apple orchard, common apple orchard, and natural grassland at the 0-20 cm soil layer. The results of the correlation coefficient showed a positive significant correlation between the mean weight diameter, geometric diameter, root biomass, and soil organic carbon content. Conclusively, the type of land use affected the soil aggregation and distribution of size fractions; the small fractions of the aggregates formed large fractions by combining with fresh organic matter, and increased soil organic carbon concentrations were closely linked with the formation of macro-aggregates. Thus, converting slope farmland to forestland and grassland could improve water-stable aggregate and reduce soil disturbances in areas (like the Loess Plateau) with the highest erosion risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Location factors are vital elements for describing housing price variation. However, limited studies have explicitly illustrated the relationship between urban design and the heterogeneity of housing price patterns. This article specifically evaluates how the interactions between the spatial layouts and land-use system at various scales through street network affect the valuation of the residential properties and the segmentation of housing markets in a network-based Mixed-scale Hedonic Model (MHM) where the submarkets pattern are determined and annotated by the spatially varying estimates on streets. The application of the delivered method in the case of Shanghai City, China, confirms the necessity of using the non-Euclidean distance metric and represent the coexistence between the stationarity and the non-stationarity of the introduced street accessibility variables. The results provide evidence that the impacts of street accessibility measures on the local levels showcase significant spatial variation. It is common for all the places that the properties located on the streets with the higher levels of angular closeness, smaller values of angular betweenness and longer angular distance to the nearby land-uses at the larger scales will be bided higher. It is proven that our delineation of submarket performs better in prediction accuracy than the traditional submarket specifications. The detected submarkets pattern yields that reachable land-use diversity at the pedestrian level is not a preferred factor in the housing submarkets located in the developed city centres. The signs of the price effects of the angular distance to local land-uses distinguish the developing submarkets as two main groups with different degrees of geometrical walkability. It is suggestive that continuously developing pedestrian-oriented neighbours in the walkable areas could contribute to decelerating the growth of house price in Chinese cities. The productions of this study can enrich the understanding of the socioeconomic effects of urban design with greater spatial precision across submarkets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A watershed is a geohydrological unit draining at a common point. Such natural unit has evolved through rain water interaction with land mass, typically comprising arable land, non-arable land and natural drainage lines in rain-fed areas. Sustainable production depends on the health, vitality and purity of a particular environment in which land and water are important constituents. A pilot study was thus undertaken to study the geomorphology, land-use systems and their impact on water resource management on the Meghalaya Umbaniun micro-watershed. In this Micro-watershed (3951.18 ha), water body covers an area of 5.69ha (0.14%). The paper highlights the linkage between geomorphology, land use systems and its impact on quality of water resources on the Umbaniun Micro-Watershed, Meghalaya. Topographical and physical-chemical characteristics, such as pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and water temperature, were used as environmental degradation indicators

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different land uses and soil-management systems (LU and SMS) on key soil physicochemical indicators [aggregate stability, distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC), and nitrogen (N) in aggregate fractions] and to interpret significance of long-term cultivation of agroforestry plantations [Prosopis julifloraL. (AFP) andCasuarina equisetifoliaL. (AFC)], horticultural plantations [(Tamarindus indica(HI) andSyzygium cumini(HJ)], and rice–wheat system (RW) in sodic soil of the Indo-Gangetic plain. Soil samples collected from the different LU and SMS plots were analyzed. The barren sodic soil (BSS) exhibited the least mean weight aggregate diameter (0.21), whereas AFP recorded the greatest (0.59). Total N content in surface soil under RW system was about the same as AFP, AFC, HI, and HJ and significantly greater than BSS. Across the LU and SMS except BSS, microaggregates recorded a narrower C/N ratio than macro- and mesoaggregates. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Copyright of Revista Ingeniería e Investigación is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Facultad de Ingenieraia 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.)

Understanding the effect of human activities on the soil environment is fundamental to understanding global change and sustainable development. In the process of transformation of tropical rain forests and semiarid grasslands to farmlands, land degradation usually occurs. But the transformation of arid desert landscape to oasis is found to have quite different consequences. Taking an alluvial plain oasis in the north piedmont of the Tianshan Mountains as a case study, we investigate oasis soil properties related to different land-use systems during the transformation of arid desert to oases. Selected land-use systems consisted of an annual crop field less than 3 years old, annual crop field 3&2-6 years old, annual crop field more than 6 years old, perennial crop field less than 4 years old, perennial crop field of 4&2-6 years old, perennial crop field more than 6 years old, abandoned farmland more than 3 years old, woodland field more than 6 years old, ecological forestation field, natural shrubbery field, desert grass land, and saline or alkaline field. Different land-use systems affect significantly the distribution of sand, silt and clay. Sand content in oasis soil tends to decrease with cultivation years but silt and clay contents tend to be increased in the oasis soils. Soil fertility is higher in the land-use systems under strong human disturbance than under weak human disturbance. Oasis soil nutrients also tend to increase with cultivation years. Soils have a significantly lower salinity in the land-use systems under strong human disturbance than under weak human disturbance. Soil organic matter and nutrients of the annual and perennial crop systems in the oasis tend to increase with cultivation time with the oasis soil acting as a carbon sink. These results show that soils are not degraded and the soil quality is gradually improved under rational land use and scientific management patterns, including uniform exploitation of land resources, effective irrigation systems, sound drainage systems, balanced fertilizer application, crushed straw return to soil and transformation of annual crop fields to perennial ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The primary goal of this research was to explore the potential of farmer''s knowledge as a source of information on the past and present cultural landscapes, focusing on the land-use system, the cultural heritage, and the farmer''s perception of landscape changes, from the 1950s to the present day. For this purpose, 42 semi-structured interviews were conducted from a random sample of 10% of the villages in an area of the Northern Mountains of Galicia (NW Spain). As shown in farmers’ reports, the main crops in the 1950s were wheat or rye, potatoes or maize (only near the coast) and turnips. Scrubland areas were an essential resource for pasture, litter, temporary crops and charcoal, whereas deciduous forest was mainly used as a source of wood for carpentry, firewood and litter. Agriculture was the main economic activity, whereas crafts and other activities in the fisheries or forestry industry were secondary. Granaries, watermills and stone laundry basins were the most frequent elements of built heritage that was mentioned in the interviews. Farmers were also comprehensively aware of the broad changes that occurred in the landscape. The results indicate that farmer''s knowledge is a valuable source of information for documenting past and present land-use practices, local cultural heritage and changes in the landscape, all of which are helpful for the design of landscape-orientated policies. Moreover, observed ancestral cultural practices, such as extensive grazing in scrubland areas, may be promoted as strategies for helping the sustainability of cultural landscapes in the study area and in other areas with similar characteristics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• State-space and principal component analyses were used to evaluate Ksat variability. • Different spatial relationships were exhibited between Ksat and driven factors. • Ksat and SOC showed the highest and the lowest variability along the transect. • Macroporosity could be used as a proxy for estimating the spatial variation of Ksat. • Land-use system could be used as a soil structural predictor of Ksat variations. Saturated soil hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) is a key factor in hydrological management projects and its variability along the landscape hinders its correct use in the formulation of such projects. Ksat varies under different climatic and hydrological conditions at spatial scales as reported in several studies. However, co-regionalization of Ksat remains a challenging aspect with regard to identifying supportive co-variates and suitable spatial models. The objectives of this study were to (i) identify factors that relate Ksat with soil and topographic attributes and land-use systems along a 15-km transect using principal component analysis, and (ii) describe the spatial continuum of Ksat across the transect through co-regionalization with autoregressive state-space models. The transect was established in the Fragata River Watershed (FRW), Southern Brazil. One hundred soil sampling points were distributed along the transect at equal distances (150 m). Clay and sand fractions, soil organic carbon content, soil bulk density, soil macroporosity, Ksat, and the soil water retention curve were determined for the 0–20 cm layer at each point. Topographic attributes were derived from the digital elevation model and a land-use map was derived from satellite images. The highest and lowest spatial variabilities were exhibited by Ksat and soil organic carbon content, respectively. Applying the state-space approach, spatial relationships among Ksat and soil and topographic attributes, and land-use systems along the transect, could be found. Principal component analysis used jointly with state-space showed that macroporosity could be used as a proxy to estimate the spatial variation of Ksat in the FRW watershed, assessing surface and subsurface runoff potentials at areas of different land-use. Further studies should be carried out to investigate the use of the type of land-use system as a soil structural predictor of the spatial variations of Ksat at the watershed scale since it is nowadays an "easy-to-measure" variable from satellite images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ecosystem carbon status signified the success of forest restoration in exclosures. • Cropland SOC requires urgent rehabilitation. • Subsoils comprised as much as 40% of total SOC stock. • SOC stock is negatively related to rock fragment content. • Land-use system and soil order indicate priority areas for rehabilitation. Our study investigated the total terrestrial stock of organic carbon and its controlling factors in prevalent land‐use systems in semi-arid Ethiopia (610 mm of annual rainfall), as part of the impact assessment of the national Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) program. Above- and below-ground biomass and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks of major land-use systems (i.e., exclosure, cropland, rangeland, and bare land) were quantified after field sampling along a topographic gradient. We found that aboveground carbon stocks peaked in the 15-year-old exclosures (9.08 ± 1.44 Mg ha−1) owing to intact woody and grass vegetation as well as substantial litter cover (>20% of the total biomass). Croplands cultivated with wheat and rangelands vegetated with perennial grasses showed average aboveground carbon stocks of 3.16 ± 0.24 and 1.45 ± 0.19 Mg ha−1, respectively. The belowground biomass carbon stock was particularly low in croplands (0.76 ± 0.09 Mg ha−1), exceeded by that in both exclosures and rangelands, where values averaged 3.67 ± 0.06 and 3.04 ± 0.42 Mg ha−1, respectively. The topsoil (0–30 cm) SOC stocks also varied with land-use systems but showed a different order, peaking in rangelands (53.9 ± 10.1 Mg ha−1) and exclosures (41.4 ± 8.1 Mg ha−1), followed by bare lands (29.0 ± 11.5 Mg ha−1) and croplands (26.4 ± 4.6 Mg ha−1). The sub-soils (30–100 cm) added 40% to this SOC storage. The greatest total SOC stock identified in exclosures that had been established primarily on degraded hillslopes may signify a successful restoration effort under the IWM program. However, croplands exhibited the lowest SOC stock, which implies the need for urgent interventions to improve the soil fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]