Climate change impact on bioclimatic deficiency, using microLEIS DSS in Ahar soils, Iran

Regional impact studies of the future climate change effects are necessary because projected changes in meteorological variables differ from one region to another, and different climate systems can react in varied ways to the same changes. In this study, the effects of climate change on bioclimatic deficiency were compared in two cultivation methods (irrigated and rainfed) in a semi-arid region, Ahar (East Azarbaijan, IRAN). The agricultural land uses selected for evaluation were wheat (Triticum aestivum), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), sugar beet (Beta vulgaris), potato (Solanum tuberosum), and maize (Zea mays). In this way, Terraza model included in the land evaluation decision support system, called MicroLEIS DSS, was used. Terraza gives a quantitative prediction of a site bioclimatic deficiency. Soil morphological and analytical data were obtained from 44 sampling points based on a grid survey. Agro-climatic data, referred to temperature and precipitation, were collected from weather stations located in Ahar region, which benefits from more than 20 consecutive years of weather data. A future scenario of climate change was calculated according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on regions of Asia under scenario A1FI (highest future emission) for 2080s. Although, increasing of precipitation being available by climate change in the future scenario, humidity index will be reduced because of high temperature. The results showed that climate change is likely to cause severe water stress in irrigated cultivation of alfalfa, sugar beet, potato, and maize, the use of irrigation methods being essential to maintain agricultural productivity. Although irrigation is indicated as very important in this regime of semi-arid agriculture, cultivation of rainfed wheat can be possible instead of the irrigated one. Also, it is revealed that climate perturbation effects on rainfed conditions are more serious than those on the irrigated conditions in the area.The authors wish to thank Tabriz University for funding this research work, a dissertation of Ph. D. program undertaken by Farzin Shahbazi. They also thank Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), Sevilla, Spain for their sincere cooperation during the candidate’ s sabbatical studies.Peer Reviewe

Development and analysis of the Soil Water Infiltration Global database.

In this paper, we present and analyze a novel global database of soil infiltration measurements, the Soil Water Infiltration Global (SWIG) database. In total, 5023 infiltration curves were collected across all continents in the SWIG database. These data were either provided and quality checked by the scientists who performed the experiments or they were digitized from published articles. Data from 54 different countries were included in the database with major contributions from Iran, China, and the USA. In addition to its extensive geographical coverage, the collected infiltration curves cover research from 1976 to late 2017. Basic information on measurement location and method, soil properties, and land use was gathered along with the infiltration data, making the database valuable for the development of pedotransfer functions (PTFs) for estimating soil hydraulic properties, for the evaluation of infiltration measurement methods, and for developing and validating infiltration models. Soil textural information (clay, silt, and sand content) is available for 3842 out of 5023 infiltration measurements (~76%) covering nearly all soil USDA textural classes except for the sandy clay and silt classes. Information on land use is available for 76% of the experimental sites with agricultural land use as the dominant type (~40%). We are convinced that the SWIG database will allow for a better parameterization of the infiltration process in land surface models and for testing infiltration models. All collected data and related soil characteristics are provided online in *.xlsx and *.csv formats for reference, and we add a disclaimer that the database is for public domain use only and can be copied freely by referencing it. Supplementary data are available at https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.885492 (Rahmati et al., 2018). Data quality assessment is strongly advised prior to any use of this database. Finally, we would like to encourage scientists to extend and update the SWIG database by uploading new data to it

Resistance of canola cultivars affect life table parameters of Nysius cymoides (Spinola) (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae)

A life table can be used as an important and appropriate tool to evaluate the susceptibility or resistance level of different host plant cultivars to insect pests. In the current study, we determined the suitability or inferiority of five different canola cultivars (Hayula420, Hayula401, Hayula50, Hayula60, RGS) to Nysius cymoides, under laboratory conditions. Data were analysed based on the age-stage, two-sex life table theory. Nysius cymoides which fed on Hayula420 had the longest nymphal period, while those which fed on Hayula50 had the shortest nymphal period. Developmental times (sum of incubation and nymphal periods) was longest for those which fe d on Hayula420 and the shortest for those which fed on Hayula50. The adult pre-oviposition period (APOP), total pre-oviposition period (TPOP), mean fecundity, and adult longevity of adults reared on different canola cultivars showed significant differences. The highest and lowest net reproductive rates (R0) were obtained for those which fed on Hayula420 (11.40 offspring per individual) and Hayula401 (5.47 offspring per individual), respectively. The highest value (0.0395 d–1) for the intrinsic rate of increase (r) was obtained for those which fed on Hayula 60 cultivar and the lowest value (0.0261 d–1) for those which fed on Hayula401 cultivar. The shortest and longest mean generation times (T) were obtained for those which fed on RGS and H401 cultivars, respectively. The lowest and highest values of life expectancy (exj) were obtained for those which fed on RGS and Hayula420 cultivars, respectively. The results showed that Hayula401 and RGS were not susceptible cultivars to N. cymoides. These cultivars showed higher resistance to N. cymoides, while Hayula60, Hayula420, and Hayula50 were found to be suitable cultivars but with lower resistance to N. cymoides, respectively

Land capability evaluation and climate change impacts in semiarid and mediterranean areas using MICROLEIS DSS

Comunicación científica presentada en la Sesión 5, B06. Efectos bióticos del cambio del clima B12. Afecciones sobre la salud humana.-- Congresos celebrados del 17-19 de abril 2008, en Huelva, España.Regional impact studies of the effects of future climate change are necessary because projected changes in meteorological variables vary regionally, and different climate systems can react in various ways to the same changes. In this study the effects of climate change on land capability are compared in two different climatological regions: Semi-arid, located in the south part of Ahar province (North western, Iran), and Mediterranean, located in the Eastern of Seville (South-western, Spain). In both areas, soils are depth, generally with a profile A-B-C, and farming is the main land use.Peer reviewe

Alcor and Aljarafe models application for exploring the agro-ecological limits of sustainability in Ahar area (Iran)

Comunicación oral y póster presentados en la citada conferencia, sesión 3, celebrada del 21-24, septiembre, 2009, en Bratislava, Slovakia.Peer reviewe

Suitability of wheat, maize, sugar beet and potato using MicroLEIS DSS software in Ahar area, north-west of Iran

8 pages, 4 figures, 3 tables, 17 references.Sustainable agriculture is the main goal of land evaluation. The current study deals with land suitability evaluation of Ahar soils, 9000 ha approximately, located in East Azarbaijan. The decision support system, MicroLEIS DSS (Microcomputer land evaluation Information system) was used to evaluate the suitability for wheat (Triticum aestivum), maize (Zea maize), sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) and potato (Solanum tubersum). To date, a computerized program has never been used before to evaluate an area in Islamic Republic of Iran. Therefore, Almagra model constituent of this DSS software was selected in order to make strategies related to land suitability evaluation at a regional level. Soil morphological and analytical data were carried out for 44 sampling points based on grid survey and stored in SDBm plus database. The control section data between 0 and 50 cm appropriate to annual crops were calculated by “soil layer generator” to apply and run the Almagra model. Flunentic Haploxerepts and Vitrandic Calcixerepts in total of the 1050 ha were identified as marginal and/or not arable lands while the rest of soil subgroups can be considered as the best agricultural land. Typic Xerorthents under cultivation of all crops were classified as moderate suitable soil (S3). Vertic Haploxerepts has high suitability for all of the selected crops except potato. In this research, the main recognized soil limitation factor was texture in the total of 1670 ha of lands for potato cultivation and 274 ha for the rest of crops (S3t). Calcium carbonate was the secondary limitation factor where the soils of the study area were classified as highly suitable (S2c) soil mainly for maize and potato. The obtained results reveal that the evaluated crops could be arranged according to their soil suitability classes as follows: wheat < maize < sugar beet < potato. This arrangement reflects the priority for agricultural utilization.The authors wish to thank Tabriz University for its support during the course of PhD thesis work of Farzin Shahbazi. We also thank the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), Sevilla, Spain.Peer reviewe

Climate change impact on land capability using MicroLEIS DSS

The effects of climate change on land capability are compared for two cultivation methods (irrigated and rainfed) in a semi-arid region - Ahar (East Azarbaijan, IRAN). Two models: Terraza and Cervatana, included in the land evaluation decision support system called MicroLEIS DSS, were used. While Terraza gives a quantitative prediction of the bioclimatic deficiency of a site, Cervatana forecasts the general land use capability or suitability for abroad series of possible agricultural uses. A future scenario of climate change was calculated according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on regions of Asia under scenario A1 (highest future emission) for 2080s. The results showed that climate change is likely to cause severe water stress in irrigated cultivation of alfalfa, sugar beet, potato, and maize, being the use of irrigation methods essential to maintain the agricultural productivity. However, the land capability classification for wheat crop in the future scenario will remain constant. Although irrigation is indicated as very important in this semi-arid agriculture, cultivation of rainfed wheat can be possible instead of the irrigated cultivation. In summary, this modelling application approach predicts that yield reduction of the selected crops, in rainfed and irrigated conditions, will increase by 18 and 13%, respectively.Peer Reviewe

Exploring impacts of inlet condition on flow structure in a Compound open-channel using PIV

A compound open channel is composed of the main channel and flood plain. In experiments with compound open channel conducted to ensure that the flow is uniform and fully developed, it is necessary to study the distribution of discharge in the main channel and flood plains. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effects of channel inlet condition on flow uniformity by considering distribution of discharge in channels with length to flood plain width ratio lower than 35 (needed for fully developed flow condition) by analyzing the flow field and turbulence parameters. For this purpose, particle image velocimetry method has been used in a rectangular compound open channel. To provide correct measurement of secondary velocities, using a non-intrusive method such as particle image velocimetry is completely essential. The results of this study show that in short compound channels with the same screen installed in the main channel and flood plain, there is significant mass transfer from the flood plain to the main channel until the end of the channel length. It was found that in this case, a considerable downfall occurs for the maximum velocity position in the main channel. However, with a supplementary screen installed in the flood plain, in addition to the typical screen, expected conditions are established similar to the fully developed compound channels. In this condition, the time-averaged streamwise velocities vary considerably in the flood plain along the spanwise direction. On the other hand, in short compound channels with the same screen installed in main channel and flood plain, the streamwise velocities do not change significantly along the flood plain width duo to the imperfect interaction of main channel and flood plain. These observations express that to provide correct distribution of discharge, a supplementary screen should be installed in the flood plain of the compound channel

On Infiltration and Infiltration Characteristic Times

In his seminal paper on the solution of the infiltration equation, Philip (1969), https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-1-4831-9936-8.50010-6 proposed a gravity time, tgrav, to estimate practical convergence time and the time domain validity of his infinite time series expansion, TSE, for describing the transient state. The parameter tgrav refers to a point in time where infiltration is dominated equally by capillarity and gravity as derived from the first two (dominant) terms of the TSE. Evidence suggests that applicability of the truncated two-term equation of Philip has a time limit requiring higher-order TSE terms to better describe the infiltration process for times exceeding that limit. Since the conceptual definition of tgrav is valid regardless of the infiltration model used, we opted to reformulate tgrav using the analytic implicit model proposed by Parlange et&nbsp;al. (1982), https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-198206000-00001 valid for all times and related TSE. Our derived gravity times ensure a given accuracy of the approximations describing transient states, while also providing insight about the times needed to reach steady state. In addition to the roles of soil sorptivity (S) and the saturated (Ks) and initial (Ki) hydraulic conductivities, we explored the effects of a soil specific shape parameter β, involved in Parlange's model and related to the type of soil, on the behavior of tgrav. We show that the reformulated tgrav (notably (Formula presented.) where F(β) is a β-dependent function) is about three times larger than the classical tgrav given by (Formula presented.). The differences between the classical tgrav,Philip and the reformulated tgrav increase for fine-textured soils, attributed to the time needed to attain steady-state infiltration and thus i&nbsp;+&nbsp;nfiltration for inferring soil hydraulic properties. Results show that the proposed tgrav is a better indicator of time domain validity than tgrav,Philip. For the attainment of steady-state infiltration, the reformulated tgrav is suitable for coarse-textured soils. Still neither the reformulated tgrav nor the classical tgrav,Philip are suitable for fine-textured soils for which tgrav is too conservative and tgrav,Philip too short. Using tgrav will improve predictions of the soil hydraulic parameters (particularly Ks) from infiltration data compared to tgrav,Philip