Variation Among Populations and Correlation Among Seedling Characters of White Jabon (Neolamarckia Cadamba (Roxb.) Bosser) Under Drought and Water Logging Stress

Drought and water logging stress are the most critical environmental factors that affect tree seedling survival and growth in the field. In this study, 12 populations of white jabon (Neolamarckia cadamba (Roxb.) Bosser) were evaluated to determine the genetic variability among populations and correlation among morpho-physiological seedling characters under drought and water logging stresses. Two research units were carried out by the randomized complete design with 2 x 12 factorial arrangements, i.e. (1) drought stress (2 treatments) and population (12 populations), and (2) water logging stress (2 treatments) and population (12 populations). Results showed that the responses of seedling traits were varied among populations under drought and water logging stresses. White Jabon seedling has higher adaptation to water logging stress than to drought stress. Kampar and Gowa populations have better adaptation to water logging stress. In drought stress, Gowa population had better adaptation followed by Nusa Kambangan population. Seedling height, total biomass and proline content characters based on value of broad sense heritability and correlation among characters, could be considered as important indicators for improvement programs for drought tolerance, while in the water logging stress, height, total biomass, root length and leaf area could be considered as important indicators for improvement program of white Jabon for tolerance on waterlogged sites

PRESERVING WATER QUALITY IN AGRICULTURE: BIOBED ROTATION TO VERTICAL

Up to 95% of the contamination of surface water by pesticides comes from on-farm point sources in connection with washing and preparation operations. This contamination is a growing concern for environment and human health. Because of their efficiency, their low cost and their friendly and simple use, Biobeds were recognized as the best tool to treat these pesticide effluents. Assuming a single passage of the effluent through the Biobed followed by release of the percolate, the research focused on the efficiency of the depuration after a single percolation. Accounting for unknown hazards such as metabolites and bound residues leads, however, local rules in Europe to enjoin a recycling of the effluent until full evaporation to prevent any release in the environment. Managed as such, we show that the Biobeds are waterlogged and no longer perform the elimination of the effluent. This induces large hazards of either direct volatilization or effluent release, and goes with increased costs, dissatisfaction or demotivation of the farmers, thus jeopardizing the development of this solution. Accounting for these new depuration conditions leads to a new Biobed paradigm, namely optimization of the transpiration of the water rather than optimization of the single percolation depuration, which leads to sharp changes in Biobed forms, content and management. Moreover, the corresponding new system shows larger performance, decreased space and maintenance requirements, and improved aesthetics. This is shown in the present study based on compared monitoring of the systems performance, hydrodynamics and substrate conditions during use.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Effect of seed-beds on the cultivation of Radicchio (Cichorium intybus L., Rubifolium group)

The use of raised beds (i.e., ridged soil layers) to cultivate vegetables can improve soil quality, crop performance, water use and even reduce soil erosion. Although those advantages are well known and documented in the literature for many vegetable species, Radicchio, a particular variety of chicory, is usually cultivated in flat seed-beds and, therefore, the achievable benefits of raised beds for this vegetable are not yet known. The possibility to grow plants of Radicchio on raised beds is here evaluated by comparing the most important yield performances indicators deriving from the adoption of this practice (grown plants percentage, average head weight, marketable yields, and net incomes) with the same indicators recorded with a conventional practice making use of flat seed-beds. The results evidenced that raised beds for Radicchio had a statistically significant effect on the average head weight (+55.45 g plant-1 with 15-cm beds) with significant increases of field yields (up to +30.6%) and net incomes (up to +29.7%) on the trials with flat seed-beds. The experiment showed that the production of chicory can take an economical advantage from the use of raised seed-beds and, therefore, this system is preferable to the traditional cultivation practice

Importance of Soil Quality in Environment Protection

Soil quality can be characterised by the harmony between it’s physical and biological state and the fertility. From the practical crop production viewpoint, some important contrasting factors of soil quality are: (1) soil looseness – compaction; (2) aggregation – clod and dust formation; friable structure – smeared or cracked structure; (3) organic material: conservation – decrease; (4) soil moisture: conservation – loss; water transmission – water-logging; (5) at least soil condition as a result of the long term ef ect of land use moderates or strengthens climatic harm. In our long-term research project practical soil quality factors were examined in arable i eld and experimental conditions. We state that prevention of the soil quality deterioration can be done by the developing and maintaining harmony between land use and environment. Elements of the soil quality conditions such as looseness, aggregation, workability, organic matter, water transport are examined and the improving methods are suggested. Tillage and production factors which can be adopted to alleviate the harmful climatic impacts are also summarised

Cost and benefits of intermediate water storage structures: case study of diggies in Rajasthan

Water storageWater deliveryIrrigation schedulingWater controlIrrigation canalsWatercoursesFarmsCrop productionCost benefit analysis

Handbook on Climate Change and Disaster Resilient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Practices

This handbook was developed to help governmental and non-governmental agencies involved in safe water delivery, sanitation hygiene at local level, union and ward disaster management committees, to enhance their respective capacities to cope with climate change and disaster risks. It considers the rural context of Bangladesh and provides field-level workers and practitioners practical ideas about water supply, sanitation and hygiene practices in the context of climate change and disaster risk

Dynamics of a salinity-prone agricultural catchment driven by markets, farmers' attitude and climate change

An agent-based simulation model has been developed with CORMAS combining simplified bio-physical processes of land cover, dry-land salinity changes, rainfall, farm profitability and farmer decisions on land uses in a dry-land agricultural catchment (no irrigation). Simulated farmers formulate individual decisions dealing with land use changes based on the combined performance of their past land cover productivity and market returns. The willingness to adapt to market drivers and the ability to maximize returns varies across farmers. In addition, farmers in the model can demonstrate various attitudes towards salinity mitigation as a consequence of experiencing and perceiving salinity on their farm, in the neighborhood or in the entire region. Consequently, farmers can adopt land cover strategies aiming at reducing salinity impact. The simulation results using historical rainfall records reproduces similar trends of crop-pasture ratios, salinity change and farm decline as observed in the last 20 years in the Katanning catchment (Western Australia). Using the model as an explorative tool for future scenarios, the simulation results highlighted the importance of rainfall changes and wide-spread willingness of farmers to combat dry-land salinity. Rainfall changes as a consequence of climate change can lead to prolonged sequences of dry and wet seasons. Adaptation to these sequences by farmers seems to be critical for farm survival in this catchment. (Résumé d'auteur

Optimizing Commercial Wetlands in Rural Landscapes

Commercial wetlands can contribute to different policy objectives simultaneously. The aim of this study is to investigate the opinion of the Dutch population with respect to commercial wetlands. The commercial wetland functions valued the most by the Dutch population are water treatment and water storag

Economic Governance to Expand Commercial Wetlands: Within- and Cross-Scale Challenges

Commercial wetlands are defined as wetlands directed by an entrepreneur with the intention of making a profit. The combination of ecosystem services that commercial wetlands can provide seems to be an attractive societal perspective. Nevertheless, these wetlands are not developed on a large scale in the Netherlands. This paper discusses different types of economic governance that could facilitate the development of new commercial wetlands and addresses challenges that have to be overcome. We conclude that developing governance solutions that address ecosystem services with different scales is crucial for the introduction of commercial wetlands. Also, distinct and autonomous property rights of entrepreneurs need to be addressed

Economic Policy and Desertification in Arid and Semi-arid Developing Countries

Environmental degradation in arid and semi-arid regions often results from trade-offs between immediate and long-term needs. Ecological (and ultimately economic) benefits of restrained, sustainable resource use are well-understood by scientists, and are usually apparent to local farmers and herders as well. However, immediate economic needs often conflict, and excessive exploitation of resources may be necessary to subsistence producers’ survival. Such issues are illustrated in a variety of settings. Solutions to problems containing important economic components require appropriate economic policies, as well as technical action. Long-term sustainable resource utilisation rather than short-term exploitation must be made more attractive to local producers in their daily lives.