Towards sustainable management of agricultural resources: A framework to assess the relationship between water, soil, economic factors, and grain production

Impacts of agricultural production services on green grain production efficiency: Factors allocation perspective

Agricultural production services (APS) can mitigate smallholder farmers' constraints on agricultural production factors and reduce production costs. Clarifying the impact of these services on green grain production efficiency (GGPE) is critical for promoting sustainable agricultural development. The data for this study were collected from a sample of 1185 smallholder farmers in the China Rural Revitalization Survey. This study analyzes the impact of APS on GGPE using quantitative assessment and examines the pathways of APS on GGPE through agricultural land transfer (ALT), rural labor transfer (RLT), and fertilizer application (FA). The results reveal that: (1) APS is shown to have an initially negative and later positive impact on GGPE. (2) The effect of APS on GGPE varies significantly across different smallholder farmers, crops, and types of arable land. (3) ALT in major grain-producing areas significantly affects the impact of APS on GGPE, while RLT significantly moderates the effect of APS on GGPE in non-major grain-producing areas. APS boosts GGPE by reducing FA, with the impact being more pronounced for technology intensive services. In conclusion, it is suggestive for the government to actively promote the coordinated development of agricultural social service systems and land transfer systems. It should expedite the construction of high-standard farmland to facilitate the consolidation and efficient use of land resources. Additionally, APS providers are encouraged to focus on improving service quality, guiding farmers in adopting green production technologies, and expanding their capacity for broader impact.

Assessing the impact of incentive coordination effect on the equilibrium of agricultural water usage by China's South-to-North Water Diversion Middle Route Project

In recent years, the sustainable development of agricultural water resources has received much attention. The mismatch between agricultural water distribution patterns, land resources, and socioeconomics threatens food production, especially in vast water-scarce plains. Therefore, monitoring agricultural water spatial equilibrium (AWRSE) is necessary. Based on equilibrium theory and information entropy, in this study, the AWRSE evaluation model is constructed from three aspects: agricultural water resources, land resources, and socioeconomics. In addition, the relationship between social factors with cropping pattern as the primary explanatory variable and AWRSE was examined in conjunction with the extended STIRPAT model and applied to the water-receiving area of the Middle Route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project (MR-SNWDP). The results show that compared with the pre-diversion period, the AWRSE of 75% of the water-receiving cities has been significantly improved by the MR-SNWTP water supply. The MK test z value of the overall regional AWRSE has changed from - 0.328 to - 2.65, and the AWRSE development has shifted from not significantly better to significantly better. The cropping pattern shows a positive response to this development, and this effect can be mitigated in the late stage of water transfer; when the proportion of food crop cultivation increases by 1%, the sub-regional AWRSE value will increase by 0.347%. The evaluation model demonstrates a broad range of inclusiveness and application potential; it provides novel insights for examining agroecological, social, and economic stability.

Ethnobotanical study of traditional forage plants in the Gansu-Ningxia-Inner Mongolia junction zone: conservation and sustainable utilization for animal husbandry

INTRODUCTION

This study aims to safeguard the ethnobotanical knowledge pertaining to traditional forage plants within the ethnically diverse Gansu-Ningxia-Inner Mongolia junction zone. It seeks to establish a foundation for the sustainable utilization of these traditional resources for animal husbandry.

METHODS

A combination of literature research, village interviews, participatory observation, and ethnobotanical quantitative evaluation methods was employed to investigate and study the traditional knowledge of wild forage plants used by local residents in the study area.

RESULTS

Local residents provided information on 73 forage plants, which were identified as 116 distinct wild forage plant species. These plants belong to 22 families and play an active role in the lives of the local inhabitants. Notably, the families Poaceae, Fabaceae, and Asteraceae are prominent, comprising the most abundant and widely utilized wild forage plants. Bing Cao (collectively referring to plants of the Agropyron, Leymus, and Psammochloa), Suo Cao (collectively referring to plants of the genus Stipa), and Ku Cai (encompassing Lactuca tatarica (L.) C.A.Mey. and Ixeris polycephala Cass.) emerge as the most representative and vital wild forage plants for animal husbandry. Additionally, plants within the Astragalus (referred to collectively as NiaoZi by local residents) in the Fabaceae family, as well as plants from the Amaranthaceae family, exhibit notable significance.

CONCLUSION

Animal husbandry assumes a pivotal role in the local agricultural economy, and the 116 wild forage plants investigated hold substantial importance in its development. Among these, 59 and 103 plant resources display high developmental potential, making them prospective candidates for high-quality cultivated forage grasses. Additionally, extensive grazing practices have resulted in significant ecological degradation within this already fragile ecosystem. The cultivation of forage grasses and the practice of pen-based animal husbandry may emerge as crucial strategies for sustainable development in this area.