Article
Environmental Sciences
Yanru Wen, Till Kasielke, Hao Li, Bin Zhang, Harald Zepp
Summary: Terracing of hillslopes can lead to gully erosion, as observed in the Black Soil Region of Northeast China. Improperly designed terraces can cause runoff concentration and eventually result in gully incision. Proper countermeasures are suggested to prevent further soil loss and land degradation on abandoned terraced hillslopes.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Albert Nkwasa, Celray James Chawanda, Jonas Jagermeyr, Ann van Griensven
Summary: Most hydrological models fail to accurately represent crop cultivation and management practices. This study presents an approach to incorporate crop phenology in a regional hydrological model and evaluates its impact on simulations. The results show that improved representation of crop phenology leads to better simulation results.
HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Virginie Sellier, Oldrich Navratil, J. Patrick Laceby, Michel Allenbach, Irene Lefevre, Olivier Evrard
Summary: Opencast mining in New Caledonia has worsened land degradation, with mining activities dominating sediment sources in the region. Geological tracers indicate that mining has significantly contributed to sediment deposition, while factors such as cyclones and collapses in mining areas have influenced sediment dynamics over time.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shu-Yan Ren, Si-Fang Kong, Hong-Gang Ni
Summary: This study quantified the contribution of agricultural mulch film (AMF) to microplastics in farmland soil and surface water in China. The results showed that AMFs contributed approximately 10% to 30% of the total microplastics in farmland soil. It was estimated that a significant amount of microplastics from agricultural soil were transferred to surface water and then to the ocean.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Economics & Policy
Kajal Gulati, Patrick S. Ward, Travis J. Lybbert, David J. Spielman
Summary: Evaluations of agricultural technologies rarely consider the implications of how adoption may alter the labor allocation of different individuals within a household. We found that women value mechanical rice transplanting (MRT) more than men, especially when they participate in transplanting on their own farms. However, despite having stronger preferences for MRT, women have less influence on the household's technology adoption decision than men, reflecting the intrahousehold power structure.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Honghong Lin, Xingwu Duan, Yawen Li, Lanlan Zhang, Li Rong, Ruimin Li
Summary: Soil erosion in croplands has a significant impact on global carbon cycling, leading to the loss of soil organic carbon. However, the soil organic carbon stock can be restored after erosion stops. Simulation results suggest that erosion reduces carbon inputs from crop residue and restricts heterotrophic respiration in eroded soils.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Thomas Grangeon, Valeria Ceriani, Olivier Evrard, Aurelie Grison, Rosalie Vandromme, Arthur Gaillot, Olivier Cerdan, Sebastien Salvador-Blanes
Summary: This study quantified water and sediment transfers in a tile drained catchment of central France and found high seasonal variability and two transfer pathways in the soil column during 36 recorded flood events.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Guang-yu Zhu, Zhou-ping Shangguan, Lei Deng
Summary: The study found that restored vegetation had better soil aggregate stability, soil organic carbon (SOC), and nitrogen (N) than apple orchards, and the composition of soil particles with the best aggregate stability was clay 6%, silt 8%, and sand 86%. At a 0-10 cm soil depth, soil aggregate stability had a significant positive correlation with SOC and soil total nitrogen (STN), and a negative correlation with NO3- and NH4+.
Article
Soil Science
Amelie Jeanneau, Tim Herrmann, Bertram Ostendorf
Summary: Soil erosion is a major cause of land degradation globally, and this study focused on using the G2 erosion model to predict and monitor monthly hillslope erosion in two agricultural regions of South Australia. By combining high spatio-temporal resolution rainfall data with other datasets, the study aimed to develop a model that realistically represents the complex combination of critical drivers of erosion in the region.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Haiqiang Li, Hansong Zhu, Xiaorong Wei, Baoyuan Liu, Mingan Shao
Summary: The study revealed that agricultural erosion leads to degradation of soil hydraulic and physical properties, with organic matter, water content, bulk density, and other indicators significantly affected by erosion.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Thomas Sonderegger, Stephan Pfister
Summary: This study uses a Life Cycle Assessment framework to estimate potential long-term soil productivity losses caused by soil compaction and water erosion due to agricultural crop production on a global scale. The results show that both compaction and water erosion impacts matter at the global level, with potential long-term productivity losses ranging from 10-20%, especially impacting low input production systems.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Janet Hooke, Jonas Souza, Miguel Marchamalo
Summary: Connectivity analysis is valuable in understanding runoff and sediment fluxes in catchments, and different versions of Connectivity Index have been developed. This study tested the effects of various Index versions in an agricultural-terraced catchment in the semi-arid Mediterranean region, with UAV imagery providing detailed topography and vegetation cover. Models showed similarities in flow patterns, with the vegetation-inclusive model closer to field conditions. However, all models lacked in accurately modeling ponding and sedimentation created by terraces.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Xingchi Li, Mande Zhu
Summary: This study examines the impact of agricultural mechanization services (AMS) on pesticide input reduction using the Chinese Family Database and the endogenous switching regression model. The results show that AMS has a significant negative impact on pesticide input, reducing pesticide expenditures and the use of insecticides and herbicides. Furthermore, AMS is more effective in plain areas and for small-scale farmers.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Barasa Bernard, Majaliwa J. G. Mwanjalolo, Banduga Moses, Katwere James, Magaya Paul, Sadadi Ojoatre, Wanjiru Lydia, Margaret N. Walusimbi
Summary: The degradation of soil, vegetation and socio-economic transformations pose a significant threat to land production in Africa. This study assesses soil and land productivity, and finds that high land productivity is attributed to factors such as soil quality, land management, land policy reforms, and favorable climatic conditions. The study also determines the influence of rainfall on standing biomass.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Gundula Fischer, Bekele Kotu, Christopher Mutungi
Summary: The study found that while agricultural mechanization can reduce the drudgery of men and women in maize shelling, achieving true equity requires a change in gendered labor allocation and decision-making at the household level. Additionally, concerted efforts in multiple institutional sites are needed to make mechanized shelling more equitable and sustainable.
RENEWABLE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS
(2021)