Plastic-film-side seeding,as an alternative to traditional film mulching,improves yield stability and income in maize production in semi-arid regions

Planting under plastic-film mulches is widely used in spring maize production in arid-cold regions for water conservation and warming the soil.To ameliorate the associated issues such as plastic-film residues and additional labor during the“seedling release”in spring maize production,we have developed a plastic-film-side seeding(PSS)technology with the supporting machinery.In the semi-arid regions of Northwest China,a 7-year trial demonstrated that PSS increased plant number per hectare by 6547 and maize yield by 1686 kg ha–1compared with the traditional method of seeding under plastic-film mulch(PM).Two-year experiments were conducted in two semi-arid regions to further understand the effects of PSS on three important aspects of production:(i)the moisture and temperature of soil,(ii)maize development,yield output,and water use efficiency(WUE),and(iii)the revenue and plastic-film residuals in comparison with that of flat planting(CK)and PM.Continuous monitoring of the soil status demonstrated that,compared with CK,the PSS treatment significantly increased the temperature and moisture of the 0–20 cm soil in the seeding row at the early stage of maize development,and it also promoted grain yield(at 884–1089 kg ha^(–1))and WUE,achieving a similar effect as the PM treatment.Economically,the labor inputs of PSS were equal to CK,whereas the PM cost an additional 960 CNY ha–1in labor for releasing the seedlings from below the film.Overall,the PSS system increased profits by 5.83%(547 CNY ha^(–1)yr^(–1))and 8.16%(748 CNY ha^(–1)yr^(–1))compared with CK and PM,respectively.Environmentally,PSS achieved a residual film recovery rate of nearly 100%and eliminated 96 to 130 kg ha^(–1)of residual plastic-film in PM in 3–5 years of maize production.Collectively,these results show that PSS is an eco-friendly technique for improving yield stability and incomes for the sustainable production of maize in semi-arid regions.

Exploring the Potential of Cowpea-Wheat Double Cropping in the Semi-Arid Region of the Southern United States Using the DSSAT Crop Model

Information is limited on the potential of double-cropping cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the semiarid region of the southern United States. Using the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) crop model and weather data of 80 years, we assessed the possibility of cowpea-wheat double-cropping in this region for grain purpose as affected by planting date and N application rate. Results showed that the possibility of double-cropping varied from 0% to 65%, depending on the cropping system. The possibility was less with systems comprising earlier planting dates of wheat and later planting dates of cowpea. Results indicated that cowpea-wheat double-cropping could be beneficial only when no N was applied, with wheat planted on October 15 or later. At zero N, the double-crops of cowpea planted on July 15 and wheat planted on November 30 were the most beneficial of all the 72 double-cropping systems studied. With a delay in planting cowpea, the percentage of beneficial double-cropping systems decreased. At N rates other than zero, fallow-wheat monocropping systems were more beneficial than cowpea-wheat double-cropping systems, and the benefit was greater at a higher N rate. At 100 kg N ha-1, the monocrop of wheat planted on October 15 was the most beneficial of all the 94 systems studied. Results further showed that fallow-wheat yields increased almost linearly with an increase in N rate from 0 to 100 kg∙ha-1. Fallow-wheat grain yields were quadratically associated with planting dates. With an increase in N rate, wheat yields reached the peak with an earlier planting date. Wheat yields produced under monocropping systems were greater than those produced under double-cropping systems for any cowpea planting date. Cowpea yields produced under monocropping systems were greater than those produced under any double-cropping system. The relationship between cowpea grain yields and planting dates was quadratic, with July 1 planting date associated with the maximum yields.

Selecting proper sites for underground dam construction using Multi-Attribute Utility Theory in arid and semi-arid regions

Although the construction of underground dams is one of the best methods to conserve water resources in arid and semi-arid regions,applying efficient methods for the selection of suitable sites for subsurface dam construction remains a challenge.Due to the costly and time-consuming methods of site selection for underground dam construction,this study aimed to present a new method using geographic information systems techniques and decision-making processes.The exclusionary criteria including fault,slope,hypsometry,land use,soil,stream,geology,and chemical properties of groundwater were selected for site selection of dam construction and inappropriate regions were omitted by integration and scoring layers in ArcGIS based on the Boolean logic.Finally,appropriate sites were prioritized using the Multi-Attribute Utility Theory.According to the results of the utility coefficient,seven sites were selected as the region for underground dam construction based on all criteria and experts’opinions.The site of Nazarabad dam was the best location for underground dam construction with a utility coefficient of 0.7137 followed by sites of Akhavan with a utility coefficient of 0.4633 and Mirshamsi with a utility coefficient of 0.4083.This study proposed a new approach for the construction of the subsurface dam at the proper site and help managers and decision-makers achieve sustainable water resources with limited facilities and capital and avoid wasting national capital.

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Effects on Cowpea and Winter Wheat Yields in the Semi-Arid Region of the Southern US

Information is limited on the effects of climate variability on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yields in the semiarid region of the southern US. Using the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) crop model and weather data spanning 81 years, we assessed the impact of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the grain yields of these crops in the Llano Estacado region of the southern US as affected by cowpea and wheat planting dates and N application rate. Simulated results showed that the El Niño phase of ENSO produced about 30% more yields of mono-cropped cowpea than those produced under the La Niña phase, especially with the cowpeas planted in July. The cowpea yields under El Niño were about 10% more than the 81-year average normal yield, whereas those under La Niña were about 20% less. At the N rates of 0, 50, and 100 kg·ha−1, regardless of wheat planting dates, the El Niño years produced, respectively, about 8%, 40%, and 60% higher wheat yields than those produced in the La Niña years, and about 5%, 20%, and 27% more than the 81-year average normal yield. In the La Niña years, the wheat yields at 0, 50, and 100 kg N ha−1 were, respectively, about 5%, 15%, and 20% less than the normal yield with similar N levels. The impact of ENSO on wheat yields under cowpea-wheat double-cropping systems was significant, especially for the wheat crops planted on October 15 (October 30) or later following the cowpea crops planted in June (July). At zero N, the mono-cropped wheat yields were not impacted by ENSO due to N limitation. However, the double-cropped wheat yields were impacted by ENSO even when no N fertilizer was applied due to high soil N status caused by N transfer from cowpea stover residues and roots. Results indicated that management strategies need to be attentive to ENSO forecasts and adjust potential planting dates and N application rates with the ENSO phase to avert risks of crop failure and economic loss.

Numerical Study of Impacts of Soil Moisture on the Diurnal and Seasonal Cycles of Sensible/Latent Heat Fluxes over Semi-arid Region

The semi-arid regions, as climatic and ecosystem transitional zones, are the most vulnerable to global environmental change. Earlier researches indicate that the semi-arid regions are characterized by strong landatmosphere coupling in which soil moisture is the crucial variable in land surface processes. In this paper, we investigate the sensitivity of the sensible/latent heat fluxes to soil moisture during the growing season based on the enhanced observations at Tongyu in the Jilin province of China, a reference site of international Coordinated Energy and Water Cycle Observations Project （CEOP） in the semi-arid regions, by using a sophisticated land surface model （NCAR_CLM3.0）. Comparisons between the observed and simulated sensible/latent heat fluxes indicate that the soil moisture has obvious effects on the sensible/latent heat fluxes in terms of diurnal cycle and seasonal evolution. Better representation of the soil moisture could improve the model performance to a large degree. Therefore, for the purpose of simulating the land-atmosphere interaction and predicting the climate and water resource changes in semi-arid regions, it is necessary to enhance the description of the soil moisture distribution both in the way of observation and its treatment in land surface models.

Can climate change influence agricultural GTFP in arid and semi-arid regions of Northwest China?

There are eight provinces and autonomous regions(Gansu Province,Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region,Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,Tibet Autonomous Region,Qinghai Province,Shanxi Province,and Shaanxi Province)in Northwest China,most areas of which are located in arid and semi-arid regions(northwest of the 400 mm precipitation line),accounting for 58.74%of the country's land area and sustaining approximately 7.84×10^6 people.Because of drought conditions and fragile ecology,these regions cannot develop agriculture at the expense of the environment.Given the challenges of global warming,the green total factor productivity(GTFP),taking CO2 emissions as an undesirable output,is an effective index for measuring the sustainability of agricultural development.Agricultural GTFP can be influenced by both internal production factors(labor force,machinery,land,agricultural plastic film,diesel,pesticide,and fertilizer)and external climate factors(temperature,precipitation,and sunshine duration).In this study,we used the Super-slacks-based measure(Super-SBM)model to measure agricultural GTFP during the period 2000-2016 at the regional level.Our results show that the average agricultural GTFP of most provinces and autonomous regions in arid and semi-arid regions underwent a fluctuating increase during the study period(2000-2016),and the fluctuation was caused by the production factors(input and output factors).To improve agricultural GTFP,Shaanxi,Shanxi,and Gansu should reduce agricultural labor force input;Shaanxi,Inner Mongolia,Gansu,and Shanxi should decrease machinery input;Shaanxi,Inner Mongolia,Xinjiang,and Shanxi should reduce fertilizer input;Shaanxi,Xinjiang,Gansu,and Ningxia should reduce diesel input;Xinjiang and Gansu should decrease plastic film input;and Gansu,Shanxi,and Inner Mongolia should cut pesticide input.Desirable output agricultural earnings should be increased in Qinghai and Tibet,and undesirable output(CO2 emissions)should be reduced in Inner Mongolia,Xinjiang,Gansu,and Shaanxi.Agricultural GTFP is influenced not only by internal production factors but also by external climate factors.To determine the influence of climate factors on GTFP in these provinces and autonomous regions,we used a Geographical Detector(Geodetector)model to analyze the influence of climate factors(temperature,precipitation,and sunshine duration)and identify the relationships between different climate factors and GTFP.We found that temperature played a significant role in the spatial heterogeneity of GTFP among provinces and autonomous regions in arid and semi-arid regions.For Xinjiang,Inner Mongolia,and Tibet,a suitable average annual temperature would be in the range of 7℃-9℃;for Gansu,Shanxi,and Ningxia,it would be 11℃-13℃;and for Shaanxi,it would be 15℃-17℃.Stable climatic conditions and more efficient production are prerequisites for the development of sustainable agriculture.Hence,in the agricultural production process,reducing the redundancy of input factors is the best way to reduce CO2 emissions and to maintain temperatures,thereby improving the agricultural GTFP.The significance of this study is that it explores the impact of both internal production factors and external climatic factors on the development of sustainable agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions,identifying an effective way forward for the arid and semi-arid regions of Northwest China.

Runoff of arid and semi-arid regions simulated and projected by CLM-DTVGM and its multi-scale fluctuations as revealed by EEMD analysis

Runoff is a major component of the water cycle, and its multi-scale fluctuations are important to water resources management across arid and semi-arid regions. This paper coupled the Distributed Time Variant Gain Model （DTVGM） into the Community Land Model （CLM 3.5）, replacing the TOPMODEL-based method to simulate runoff in the arid and semi-arid regions of China. The coupled model was calibrated at five gauging stations for the period 1980-2005 and validated for the period 2006-2010. Then, future runoff （2010-2100） was simulated for different Representative Concentration Pathways （RCP） emission scenarios. After that, the spatial distributions of the future runoff for these scenarios were discussed, and the multi-scale fluctuation characteristics of the future annual runoff for the RCP scenarios were explored using the Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition （EEMD） analysis method. Finally, the decadal variabilities of the future annual runoff for the entire study area and the five catchments in it were investigated. The results showed that the future annual runoff had slowly decreasing trends for scenarios RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5 during the period 2010-2100, whereas it had a non-monotonic trend for the RCP 4.5 scenario, with a slow increase after the 2050s. Additionally, the future annual runoff clearly varied over a decadal time scale, indicating that it had clear divisions between dry and wet periods. The longest dry period was approximately 15 years （2040-2055） for the RCP 2.6 scenario and 25 years （2045-2070） for the RCP 4.5 scenario. However, the RCP 8.5 scenario was predicted to have a long dry period starting from 2045. Under these scenarios, the water resources situation of the study area will be extremely severe. Therefore, adaptive water management measures addressing climate change should be adopted to proactively confront the risks of water resources.

Impact of rainfed and irrigated agriculture systems on soil carbon stock under different climate scenarios in the semi-arid region of Brazil

Understanding the dynamics of soil organic carbon(SOC) is of fundamental importance in land use and management, whether in the current researches or in future scenarios of agriculture systems considering climate change. In order to evaluate SOC stock of the three districts(Delmiro Gouveia, Pariconha, and Inhapi districts) in the semi-arid region of Brazil in rainfed and irrigated agriculture systems under different climate scenarios using the Century model, we obtained RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 climate scenarios derived from the Eta Regional Climate Model(Eta-Had GEM2-ES and Eta-MIROC5) from the National Institute for Space Research, and then input the data of bulk density, p H, soil texture, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, and rainfall into the soil and climate files of the Century model. The results of this study showed that the Eta-Had GEM2-ES model was effective in estimating air temperature in the future period. In rainfed agriculture system, SOC stock under the baseline scenario was lower than that under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 climate scenarios, while in irrigated agriculture system, SOC stock in the almost all climate scenarios(RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) and models(Eta-Had GEM2-ES and Eta-MIROC5) will increase by 2100. The results of this study will help producers in the semi-arid region of Brazil adopt specific agriculture systems aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.

How to Build Artificial Grassland in the Cold and Semi-Arid Regions? ——A Case Study in Naqu

Construction of artificial grassland is a key factor to solve the shortage of grass and forage balance in cold and semi-arid areas of high plateau,and it is the key measure to ensure the sustainable development of grassland animal husbandry in this area. At present,the artificial grassland construction is neither reasonable nor scientific,which restricts the healthy and rapid development of artificial grassland in the cold and semi-arid areas of high plateau. In this research,with Naqu Area in Tibet as a case,problems and current status in construction process of artificial grassland are analyzed in cold and semi-arid areas of high plateau. Suitable artificial forage species in Nagqu are elaborated,and recommendations for the construction and development of artificial grassland are discussed.

A Review on Renewable Energy Systems for Irrigation in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions

The lack of water in arid and semi-arid regions has often limited agricultural production. Indeed, even where water is available for irrigation, the lack of electricity, as well as the high costs of diesel, has created constraints on small farmers. The purpose of this research is to review the renewable energy potential available in arid and semi-arid zones that can be used for irrigation as a substitute for fossil fuels. In this review, the solar thermal irrigation, solar photovoltaic (PV) irrigation, wind pumping and biomass pumping are discussed. The comparison of different hybrid pumping systems and analyses of renewable sources irrigation assessment in arid and semi-arid regions of Mozambique also are discussed. The results of this study showed that there are still certain technological limitations regarding the use of solar thermal energy for irrigation. As far as wind power is concerned, the analysis of the pumping water life cycle cost showed that the wind power water pumping system is more economical and viable compared to the diesel based system. However, the study concluded that photovoltaic solar energy has been shown to be more viable for pumping water for irrigation in arid and semi-arid regions.

Comparisons of plant calcium fraction between two different vegetation zones in semi-arid region

To explore the characteristics of plant calcium(Ca) fraction, we analyzed 91 plant species in the Ningxia Habahu National Nature Reserve in Yanchi County of Ningxia and 84 plant species in Zhenglan Banner of Inner Mongolia. Results show that, for the two regions, there is no significant difference between Ca fraction for the same growth type, and between water soluble Ca content or between hydrochloric acid soluble Ca content for plants of the same ecosystem and between hydrochloric acid soluble Ca content for plants of the same family. In similar vegetation zones, there is a significant difference among hydrochloric acid soluble Ca content for different growth types in Yanchi County and Zhenglan Banner,which was the highest for annual herbs and the lowest for perennial herbs. There is a significant difference between acetic acid soluble Ca content and between hydrochloric acid soluble Ca content for sandy land and grassland ecosystems in Yanchi County. There is a significant difference among the same Ca fraction of different families in the same region. Thus, the characteristics of plant Ca fraction are results of long-term adaptation to the environment.

Evaluation of SEBS Algorithm for Estimation of Daily Evapotranspiration Using Landsat-8 Dataset in a Semi-Arid Region of Central Iran

Evapotranspiration is one the most important parameters in the hydrological cycle and plays a significant role in energy balance of the earth’s surface. Traditional field-based measurements approaches for calculation of daily evapotranspiration are valid only for local scales. Using advanced remote sensing technology, the spatial distribution of evapotranspiration may now be quantified more accurately. At the present study, daily evapotranspiration is estimated using Landsat 8 datasets based on the Surface Energy Balance System (SEBS) algorithm over the Zayanderud Dam area in central Iran. For this purpose, three Landsat 8 datasets in the years 2013, 2014 and 2015 covering the study area were atmospherically corrected using the FLAASH approach. The biophysical parameters of the earth’s surface for SEBS algorithm, such as normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), Leaf area index (LAI), fractional vegetation cover (FC) were extracted from the visible and near infrared bands and land surface temperature was computed from thermal bands the Landsat 8 datasets. The spatial distribution of daily ET was provided separately for each year. In addition to the SEBS algorithm, the Penman-Monteith method was applied to estimate the daily ET from meteorological datasets which was obtained from two synoptic stations within the study area. Finally, the simulated daily ET values from both SEBS and Penman-Monteith method were compared to observed values obtained from a lysimeter within the study area. Although the estimated results from both SEBS and Penman-Monteith show a strong correlation with the observed values, the derived ET maps and following analysis demonstrated SEBS has higher accuracy and strength in estimation of daily ET in Zayanderud Dam region.

Satellite-Based Monitoring of Decadal Soil Salinization and Climate Effects in a Semi-arid Region of China

Soil salinization is a common phenomenon that affects both the environment and the socio-economy in arid and semi-arid regions; it is also an important aspect of land cover change. In this study, we integrated multi-sensor remote sensing data with a field survey to analyze processes of soil salinization in a semi-arid area in China from 1979 to 2009. Generally, the area of salt-affected soils increased by 0.28% per year with remarkable acceleration from 1999 to 2009 （0.42% increase per year）. In contrast, the area of surface water bodies showed a decreasing trend （-0.08% per year） in the same period. Decreases in precipitation and increases in aridity due to annual （especially summer） warming provided a favorable condition for soil salinization. The relatively flat terrain favored waterlogging at the surface, and continuous drought facilitated upward movement of soil water and accumulation of surface saline and calcium. Meanwhile, land-use practices also played a crucial role in accelerating soil salinization. The conversion to cropland from natural vegetation greatly increased the demand for groundwater irrigation and aggravated the process of soil salinization. Furthermore, there are potential feedbacks of soil salinization to regional climate. The salinization of soils can limit the efficiency of plant water use as well as photosynthesis; therefore, it reduces the amount of carbon sequestrated by terrestrial ecosystem. Soil salinization also reduces the absorbed solar radiation by increasing land surface albedo. Such conversions of land cover significantly change the energy and water balance between land and atmosphere.

Discussion on an Eco-Agriculture Model in the Semi-Arid Region of China

The semi-arid region of China covers an area of 2.2×10^6kin^2. Water shortage in this region is the core but not the only one factor for the sustainable development of agriculture. Effective application of the energy and all kinds of resources and overall maintenance of the balance of ecological environment must be emphasized for sustainable development of the agriculture in the region. The extensive development of rural yard-economy is the only way to realize the intensive agricultural development there. A model is developed on the basis of our studies in recent years.

Identification and analysis of root causes of desertification in semi-arid region of China──a case study from Ejin Horo Banner, Inner Mongolia

A case study on the driving forces of desertification in the semi-arid region was carried out in the Ejin Horo Banner of Inner Mongolia. The occurrence and development of desertification were demonstrated and its driving factors were identified and analyzed. The results obtained indicated that over-reclamation of land overgrazing and denudation of natural vegetation cover were immediate and dominant factors causing land vulnerability to desertification. For a better understanding of the deep-rooted causes of the inappropriate land use and agricultural practices, the problems arising from various socioeconomic facets were comprehensively discussed.

Multiple Impact of Integrated Watershed Management in Low Rainfall Semi-Arid Region: A Case Study from Eastern Rajasthan, India

The agriculture in low rainfall areas of eastern Rajasthan, India is characterized by high risks from drought, degraded natural resources and pervasive poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition. In this region, water is the main limiting factor for upgrading rainfed agriculture. For such areas integrated watershed management is recognized as a potential approach for agriculture growth and rehabilitation of fragile and degraded lands. At Gokulpura-Goverdhanpura village in Bundi eastern Rajasthan, India an integrated watershed project was implemented using the holistic systems approach. This paper discusses the impacts of this watershed program on bio-physical, socio-economic, environmental and ecological parameters. Results indicate that due to watershed interventions the groundwater availability has substantially increased which brought changes in cropping patterns with high value crops. Significant increases in irrigated area, cropping intensity along with diversification of crops from traditional to commercial cash crops were recorded. The watershed program also significantly improved the socio-economic status of the watershed community. It has increased the income and reduced poverty of the people in the watershed. The watershed interventions generated good employment opportunities and significantly reduced the migration of both skilled and unskilled labor from the watershed village to urban areas. It has also improved the environmental quality and ecological status in the watershed. The watershed interventions increased the vegetative index or greenery, reduced runoff, soil loss, and land degradations and improved the bio-diversity in fragile ecosystems. Overall, the integrated watershed program at Gokulpura-Goverdhanpura provided resilience by ensuring continued and sustainable multiple outputs, besides soil and water conservation and other positive environmental effects.

The Analysis of Spring Precipitation in Semi-Arid Regions: Case Study in Iran

In this study, Zanjan from Iran has been chosen from among all the semi-arid regions of world, which has Synoptic station and statistical data since 1955. Spring and monthly precipitations are also provided in the period of 1956-2005. First, all data has been controlled by double mass method with the help of adjacent stations, and then it was normalized by the box-cox transformations method. The global SPI index was calculated for all months and spring, also drought and wet periods were determined and finally compared. In the drought category view, spring months have represented the great similarities. The moving averages are represented all months and spring’s precipitations such as three years, five years, seven years and nine years are shown. Statistical period was observed and analyzed based on five periods of ten years, and results precipitation with more than 5mm and 10mm has gradually decreased on April. However the number of days with precipitation has increased. The calculated spring precipitations and all of the atmospheric factors represented the dependence of this model to maximum average of spring temperature and relative humidity of spring and winter by the use of multi variable regression method. The predicted precipitation of spring also showed the gradual decline of precipitation in the next 30 years by the arima model.

Improvement of Supplementary Irrigation Water Quality for Rain-Fed Agriculture in the Semi-Arid Region Using Magnetization Techniques

Rain-fed agriculture depends on the groundwater as a supplementary source of irrigation. The poor quality of water from the hard rock area is applied to the crops to save the crop. Continuous irrigation leads to degradation of soil, drip irrigation system as well plants. This study assessed the damages on the drip irrigation system and soil, inflicted by the use of low-quality irrigation water. The quality of water was improved with reference to raw water in terms of pH (1.57% - 5.88%), EC (3.08% - 10.08%), ions (0.96% - 46%) by using magnetization method, without disrupting the existing irrigation system in the basaltic aquifer in semi-arid to the arid condition. This was demonstrated before the farmers in central India.

Relationship between Rainfall Instability and Agricultural Production in the Brazilian Semi-arid Region

The study evaluated the synergy between the indicators of rainfall,vegetation cover,land productivity in crop production,livestock production and the relationship between the value of aggregate agricultural production and the gross domestic product of municipalities in the semi-arid region of the State of Ceará,Brazil.The data sources are:CearáMeteorology and Water Resources Foundation(FUNCEME)and Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics(IBGE)for the years 1996,2006 and 2017.The research used the methodology of factor analysis(FA),with decomposition into principal components,to construct the index of agricultural production preservation(IAPP).The results showed that 1996 had the best rainfall levels and the highest IAPP values compared to the other years studied.Year of 2017 was the last one of a draught period that extended in Cearáfrom 2012 to 2017.In that year the lowest values for IAPP were observed.The main conclusion is:there was the expected interaction between rainfall and agricultural preservation indicators applied in the semi-arid region of the state of Cearáin the years 1996,2006 and 2017.