Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

On-Farm Information: A Valuable Tool For The Sustainable Management Of Mountain Pastures In Protected Natural Areas, N. Mandaluniz, A. Bernués, A. Igarzabal, I. J. L. Riedel, R. Ruiz, A. Sanz, I. Casasús, L. M. Oregui

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Mountain pastures have traditionally been maintained by livestock. The analysis of data concerning farms' characteristics, productive-reproductive management and land use of commercial farms can constitute a real approach to study these systems and the changes that are occurring. This information is necessary to develop new utilisation guidelines, making compatible livestock production and conservation of natural resources. This paper describes a methodological framework to study the issues described above through some examples taken out from a wider research project (Mandaluniz et al., 2003).

Do Species And Functional Diversity Indices Reflect Changes In Grazing Regimes And Climatic Conditions In Northeastern Spain?, F. De Bello, J. Leps, M. T. Sebastià

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Understanding the mechanisms that maintain biodiversity in various ecosystems enables the development of management practices that prevent degradation (Canals & Sebastia, 2000). Each diversity index reflects some compositional properties and could be influenced differently by stress and disturbance factors (Magurran, 2004). In this study, we aim to reveal 1) which management practices and environmental factors affect biodiversity in rangelands of northeastern Spain and 2) the relationship between species diversity and functional diversity (SD and FD).

Net Ecosystem Productivity Of A Grassland In Comparison With An Arable And A Forest Ecosystem, Phillip A. Davis, K. Black, J. Clifton-Brown, G. Lanigan, J. Burke, A. Fortune, M. B. Jones, B. Osborne

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Grassland, arable farming and forests are the major land use categories in Ireland and it is, therefore, important to know the carbon-source/sink strengths of these land use types. Forest ecosystems are also an important and fast growing land use category in Ireland. Here we present a comparison of the net ecosystem productivity (NEP) of these three land use categories (grass land, arable and forest) from three sites.

The Suitability For Organic Cattle Beef Production Of Mixed Farming Systems In The Highlands Of North East Portugal, J. M. Pires, M. Rodrigues, F. Sousa, A. Bernardo, J. C. Pires, J. Cabanas, H. Resendes, M. J. Ferreira, M. I. Silva, N. Moreira

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The EC Reg. 1804/99 takes account of animal production in organic farming. However, these specifications may limit implementation and expansion of organic animal production, due to environmental and system constraints. Mixed farming, as defined by Spedding (1988) and Grigg (1996), is commonly practiced in the NE highlands of Portugal. Two farms were studied in this region in order to evaluate their suitability for organic cattle beef production, taking account of the technical specifications of the EC regulation.

Implications Of Land Use Changes On The Yields In Dry Matter, Energy And Protein Of Range And Crop Fields In Zamfara Reserve, Northwestern Nigeria, B. S. Malami, P. H. Y. Hiernaux, H. M. Tukur, B. Rischkowsky

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The Zamfara reserve is a 235,500 ha grazing land within the Sudan savannah zone (12º 10' - 13º 05 N; 6º 30' - 7º15' E) of north western Nigeria. Rainfall varies from 500mm in the north to 800mm in the south of the reserve, and is restricted within the months of May - September. The reserve is an important grazing site for the herds of sedentary, transhumant and agro pastoralists. Population growth within the farming communities in the reserve has led to the conversion of more grazing land to croplands. This work was carried out to evaluate the quantity and …

Do Species And Functional Diversity Indices Reflect Changes In Grazing Regimes And Climatic Conditions In Northeastern Spain?, F. De Bello, J. Leps, M. T. Sebastià

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Understanding the mechanisms that maintain biodiversity in various ecosystems enables the development of management practices that prevent degradation (Canals & Sebastia, 2000). Each diversity index reflects some compositional properties and could be influenced differently by stress and disturbance factors (Magurran, 2004). In this study, we aim to reveal 1) which management practices and environmental factors affect biodiversity in rangelands of northeastern Spain and 2) the relationship between species diversity and functional diversity (SD and FD).

Effects Of Landscape Structure On Plants Species Richness In Small Grassland Remnants In Two Different Landscapes, S. A. O. Cousins, O. Eriksson

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

There is an increasing interest in using the landscape as the operational scale in many ecological studies. Current species richness in the landscape may be explained by past land use, and habitats may harbour species favoured by an environment that no longer exists. In this study we have included both a landscape scale and a temporal scale. The objective was to explain species pattern and the effect of isolation, habitat size and surrounding land use, and past land use change, on small grassland remnants in rural landscapes.

Managing Grassy Woodlands: Balancing Production And Conservation Of Resources, John G. Mcivor, Neil D. Macleod, S. Mcintyre

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Eastern Australian eucalypt woodlands are important agricultural areas that have been widely modified during two centuries of European-style use. Despite this they contain important natural resources including significant biodiversity. Long term sustainability of production depends on maintaining resources and management must be for both production and conservation. A research program on four properties in south east Queensland showed the properties were in generally good condition although all had some problems, and has highlighted a number of significant costs and barriers to adopting a more balanced approach to production and conservation.

Influence Of Seasonality And Agricultural Practices On Soil Microbes In Kamishihoro, Japan, Y. Madegwa, Y. Uchida

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Soil microbes are important for maintenance of soil fertility and ecosystem functions. Agricultural practices such as land use, seasonality and fertilizer application effect the soil microbial community structure. However, the effect of these management practices on soil microbes and related functions, especially in one specific region, is still not clear.

Therefore, the study was conducted in Kamishihoro, Japan, to determine effect of land use (cropland, grassland), season (summer, spring) and fertilizer (anaerobic digestate, control) on soil microbial community and functions. Experimental procedure included DNA extraction, quantification, purification, amplification of 16SrRNA (bacterial gene) and Next Generation Sequencing (Ion PGM). Data analysis …

Rangeland Use Changing Effect On Soil Infiltration In Northeastern Of Iran, Hamid Mostafalou, Mohammadreza Tatian, Reza Tamartash, Hamid Jalilvand, Safar Gholi Khajeh

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

Agroforestry And Its Role In Soil Conservation And Erosion Protection, Atena Kabir, Y. Hematzade, H. Barani

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

Maximising Water Yield With Indigenous Tall Grassland/Rangeland On New Zealand Uplands And Trade‐Offs With Alternative Land Uses, Alan F. Mark, Katharine J. M. Dickinson

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

If Watersheds Spoke: A Condition Analysis Of The Rio Tomebamba Watershed In Southern Ecuador Using Gis Analysis, Lenka G. Doskocil

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Understanding processes and ecological threats occurring at the watershed level scale composes a critical piece of water resource conservation and management. This proves doubly true in areas such as the Ecuadorian highlands where water resources depend heavily on the hydrologic regulation capacities of páramo soils. This study examined watershed condition of the Rio Tomebamba watershed and existing habitat for Metallura baroni and Chibchanomys orcesi, two highly endemic species, within its boundaries. Watershed condition was determined based on a simple index that considered nine indicators of watershed health—converted land, impacted riparian zones, impermeable surfaces, water quality, fluvial habitat condition, riparian vegetation …

Soil Fertility Under Grassland Compared To Other Land Uses In Acid Soil Of Himachal Pradesh, India, Sharmistha Pal, Pankaj Panwar, D. R. Bhardwaj

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

In the last decades severe changes in land use occurred in tropical countries, due to increasing population and their demand for food resources. Forest land is rapidly converted into agriculture or pastureland which may cause significant changes in soil fertility. Land-use exerts significant effect on nutrient availability and may also influence secondary succession and biomass production (Lu et al., 2002). Nutrient cycling in agroforestry is in between natural forest ecosystems of the tropics and most of the agricultural systems with are ‘‘leaky’’ having higher nutrient losses. Research indicated that decline of soil organic matter may occur due to conversion …

Global Pattern And Change Of Cropland Soil Organic Carbon During 1901-2010: Roles Of Climate, Atmospheric Chemistry, Land Use And Management, Wei Ren, Kamaljit Banger, Bo Tao, Jia Yang, Yawen Huang, Hanqin Tian

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

Soil organic carbon (SOC) in croplands is a key property of soil quality for ensuring food security and agricultural sustainability, and also plays a central role in the global carbon (C) budget. When managed sustainably, soils may play a critical role in mitigating climate change by sequestering C and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. However, the magnitude and spatio-temporal patterns of global cropland SOC are far from well constrained due to high land surface heterogeneity, complicated mechanisms, and multiple influencing factors. Here, we use a process-based agroecosystem model (DLEM-Ag) in combination with diverse spatially-explicit gridded environmental data to …

Soil Quality In Relation To Forest Conversion To Perennial Or Annual Cropping In Southern Brazil, Elcio Liborio Balota, Ines Fumiko Ubukata Yada, Higo Furlan Amaral, Andre Shigueyoshi Nakatani, Mariangela Hungria, Richard Peter Dick, Mark S. Coyne

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

Many forested areas have been converted to intensive agricultural use to satisfy food, fiber, and forage production for a growing world population. There is great interest in evaluating forest conversion to cultivated land because this conversion adversely affects several soil properties. We examined soil microbial, physical, and chemical properties in an Oxisol (Latossolo Vermelho distrófico) of southern Brazil 24 years after forest conversion to a perennial crop with coffee or annual grain crops (maize and soybeans) in conventional tillage or no-tillage. One goal was to determine which soil quality parameters seemed most sensitive to change. A second goal …

Agriculture Futures: Potential Rural Land Uses On The Palusplain, Rodney Safstrom, Nicolyn Short Dr

Resource management technical reports

The purpose of this project was to identify agricultural land use options and opportunities within the Serpentine–Jarrahdale and Murray Shires, with particular focus on the Palusplain wetland section. The report will contribute to the Department of Planning’s natural resource management plan for the region and guide development of regional and local planning strategies. Historically, the Palusplain was a slowly moving, interconnected, seasonal wetland system with areas of higher ground. Extensive clearing and drainage occurred in the late 1800s through to the mid-1900s to facilitate agriculture; however, agriculture has been found to be a major contributor of nutrients to the system. …

Changing Land Use On Unproductive Soils, Andrew Blake, Mike Clarke, Angela Stuart-Street

Resource management technical reports

A three year study completed in 2010 examined farming systems in the north-eastern agricultural region and eastern wheatbelt of Western Australia which experienced a succession of variable seasons from 2000. This culminated in severe drought in 2006 and 2007. At that time, farmers experienced labour shortages and declining terms of trade triggered by cost inflation outpacing growth in commodity prices. As a result, farm business equity was eroded as farm debt escalated. This left many farm businesses in a highly vulnerable state. At the time of the study many farmers were facing an uncertain future.

These experiences, coupled with a …

Landscapes And Soils Of The Merredin District, D N. Sawkins, Department Of Agriculture And Food

Bulletins 4000 -

The publication aims to provide readers with the principles underlying the formation of local landscapes and soils, and the ability to identify landscapes and their associated soils.

Wilson Inlet Catchment Appraisal 2007, Ron Master

Resource management technical reports

No abstract provided.

Oyster Harbour Catchment Appraisal 2007, Ron Master, South Coast Agricultural Rca Team

Resource management technical reports

No abstract provided.

Soil Survey Of The Bettink Dairy Farm, Riverway Road, Northcliffe, Peter J. Tille, Tilwin Westrup

Resource management technical reports

This soil survey of the Bettink dairy farm in Northcliffe, Western Australia aimed to: provide detailed soil descriptions to add to information associated with the environment in which the dairy industry in Western Australia is located; collect soil samples at predetermined standard depths from documented farm locations for nutrient analysis; map soils with similar characteristics based on description and analysis.

Soil-Landscapes Of Western Australia's Rangelands And Arid Interior, Peter J. Tille

Resource management technical reports

This report documents the process of placing the most recent and detailed mapping of Western Australia's Rangelands and Arid interior that is available into a hierarchy of soil-landscape mapping units. It also provides descriptions of the soil-landscape regions, provinces and zones identified.

Soil Phosphorus Levels In Residential Lawns And Comparisons Among Four Land Uses In Springfield, Missouri, Timothy R. Davis

MSU Graduate Theses

Eutrophication of surface waters due to high phosphorus (P) concentrations is an important water quality concern in Greene County, Missouri. Phosphorus enrichment has been linked to a variety of non-point sources including runoff from both agricultural and urban land uses. Soil P has been shown to be a source of P in runoff. The differences in soil P among different land uses may provide insight into which land use contributes more P in runoff. This study examines the soil composition, geochemistry and total P concentration of surface soil (0-5cm) in four land uses in Greene County, Missouri. The land uses …

Potential Impacts Of Climate Change On Agricultural Land Use Suitability : Wheat, Dennis Van Gool, Luke Vernon

Resource management technical reports

This publication considers the impact of climate change on wheat crops. While a model was first used, it was only partially validated against real data, hence the model is now used as a decision support system that allows people with crop, land resource and climate knowledge to determine potential impacts of climate change on crop growth and production in Western Australia.

Grass Patch-Salmon Gums Area : Catchment Appraisal 2005, Angela Alderman

Resource management technical reports

Rapid catchment appraisal to assess the condition of, and future risks to, agricultural and natural resources within the Grass Patch-Salmon Gums area in Western Australia.

Major Eastern Wheatbelt Soils To Characterise Soil Moisture Availability, Jeffrey Jon Russell

Resource management technical reports

In the Eastern Wheatbelt of Western Australia, there are seven major soil groups (acid sands, good soilplain soils, gravelly sands, duplex soils, medium-heavy soils, heavy non-friable soils and heavy friable soils. This report considers the ability of various soils to store or retain water in an attempt to partially determine the yield potential of crops.

Greenough Region Catchment Appraisal, Angela Stuart-Street, M Clarke

Resource management technical reports

This report discusses a range of options for the Greenough region, which is comprised of eight shires including the Shires of Northampton, Chapman Valley, Mullewa, Greenough, Morawa, Irwin, Mingenew and Three Springs, and also the city of Geraldton. A range of options for reducing land degradation is discussed. Factors such as soil type, annual rainfall, enterprise mix and financial structure are also considered.

Land Evaluation Standards For Land Resource Mapping : Assessing Land Qualities And Determining Land Capability In South-Western Australia, Dennis Van Gool, Peter J. Tille, Geoff Allen Moore

Resource management technical reports

This report describes the standard method for attributing and evaluating conventional land resource survey maps in the south-west agriculture region of Western Australia so that strategic decisions about the management, development and conservation of land resources can be based on the best information available. The standards described are similar to the land suitability assessment (stage one of the two stage) methods described by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO, 1976, 1983).

Wagin-Woodanilling (Zone 5) : Catchment Appraisal 2005, K Ohlsen, T Schulz, T W. Mathwin, Gina Pemberton, Henry Brockman, J Firth, Mitchell Davies, Heather M. Percy

Resource management technical reports

The aim of this report is to assess the current extent of salinity and other natural resource degradation issues and provide landholders with the best current management options to address natural resource management issues and enhance sustainable agricultural production.