No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the author.
Green revolution agriculture and chemical hazards
... Herbicide drift on to non-target areas may affect other crops and wild plants alike, and is a common cause of economic injury to neighbouring farmers, which can reach up to 10% yield losses in the case of canola [38]. For this reason, aerial sprays of 2,4-D on fields of cereal crops must be carefully planned to avoid drift onto nearby sensitive crops like cotton [10]. Granular formulations of herbicides are otherwise preferred. ...
... Although evidence indicates that 'conventional' chemically-based agriculture renders higher yields per area than 'organic' traditional practices, this has come at a price -high costs due to chemicals and fuel inputs to produce them [180], and multiple environmental impacts which in the long term can be detrimental [10]. Indeed the 'chemotherapy' applied to agriculture has had many side-effects and one wonders if it can go on forever without destroying the fabric of the biosphere. ...
... Annual pesticide usage in the world up to 1996. Source:[10] ...
Pesticides are toxic chemicals used to control pests, weeds and pathogens. Three quarters of all pesticides are employed in agricultural production, particularly in developed countries, in an effort to mitigate crop damage endured by intensive agriculture. However, after more than 60 years of worldwide usage, their side-effects on terrestrial ecosystems – even when applied as recommended – are obvious. This chapter examines the ecological problems caused by specific chemicals/groups, so that this awareness may help improve agricultural practices through appropriate risk management. Fungicides alter the microbial-fungi communities responsible for the recycling of nutrients in the soil, and copper fungicides are toxic to earthworms and other animals. The routine application of herbicides has produced a net loss of plant biomass and biodiversity in many landscapes, which indirectly reduces the associated arthropod communities and leads to population declines in many species of birds, and possibly amphibians too, due to lack of food. Insecticides are very toxic to most invertebrates in the soil, birds and small mammals, causing significant reductions in their populations and disturbing the trophic structure of their communities. Persistent pesticides accumulate in soil and concentrate through the trophic chain, causing a plethora of sublethal effects which are negative for the survival of individuals as well as the viability of their populations; the long term effects of DDT and cyclodiene poisoning in birds is still an ecological issue despite more than 30 years of not being applied in most developed countries. While pesticides have increased our agricultural productivity and helped feed the current human population, the price of this productivity is being paid by the Earth's ecosystems at large.
... The rate of chemical fertilizer application is low in the country due to unaffordable price for resource-poor smallholder farmers . The continued use of chemical fertilizers is also not recommendable as it causes for health and environmental hazards such as ground and surface water pollution by nitrate leaching (Pimentel, 1996). ...
... The rate of chemical fertilizers application is low in the country due to unaffordable price for resource-poor smallholder farmers . The continued use of chemical fertilizers is also not recommended since it causes health and environmental hazards such as ground and surface water pollution as a consequence of mainly nitrate leaching (Pimentel, 1996). ...
... Agrochemicals are not only toxic to the fish but toxic to almost all kinds of flora and fauna in a rice-based ecosystem. Researchers have documented mortality of many fish, avian, and snail species as a result of pesticide applications (Simpson and Roger 1995;Pimentel, 1996;Parsons et al. 2010;Cochard et al. 2014). Dwindling biota, in turn, have collapsed the easily obtainable dietary diversity from the rice-based agroecosystem (Cagauan 1995). ...
... In summary, the evidence suggests that industrial agriculture has been blind to the diversity of organisms in field, their food value, and their key role in nutrition; that rice farmers and fishers have relied on for centuries or even for millennia (Scoones et al. 1992). Intensification might have substantially increased the grain production in last decades but incurred a huge cost in terms of degradation of soil, water, and thus damaging to human health and ruining the future resource of food production (Naylor, 1996;Pimentel, 1996;Matson et al. 1997;Altieri 1998;Rosset et al. 2000;Pingali and Roger 2012). Moreover, the advocates of agricultural intensification cry out for serving food for ever-growing world population, whereas there is an equally large body of literature showing the problem of undernutrition does not entirely stem from the magnitude of food production but driven by global and national distribution of food (Sen 1982;Swinburn et al. 2011;Berners-Lee et al. 2018). ...
Irrigated, rainfed, deepwater rice agro-ecosystems of Asia replete with a suite of edible flora and fauna have provided an alternate and affordable source of essential nutrients apart from the sta- ple. This diverse edible biota once constituted a viable means to supplement the staple and sus- tained large populations of the rice growing countries of Asia; it is imperative especially in the current crisis of micronutrient deficiency or hidden hunger that afflicts one-third of the global population. In this narrative review, we sketch the breadth of the edible biota found in rainfed, deepwater, and irrigated rice field that have been accepted as food across a large geography of Asian rice-eaters. The nutritional outcome of this edible biodi- versity has also been described. We argue that it has been an integral part of the food system that eroded with the intensification of agriculture in recent centuries. Finally, we identify and empha- size on the underlying drivers leading to the fall of this system and suggest a possible way to re- vive this age-old practice for sustainable agricultural intensification, simultaneously addressing the potential of this system to combat the global health problem of micronutrient deficiency.
... The green revolution has been widely criticized for causing environmental degradation (IFPRI 2002;Pingali 2012), raising a number of environmental concerns, including chemical pollution, land degradation, soil toxicity, and soil salinity (Pingali and Rosegrant 1994;Pimentel 1996;Evenson and Gollin 2003). The green revolution, including rice monoculture, requires excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides with resulting negative impacts on soil fertility (Berg 2002;Jewitt and Baker 2007). ...
... The green revolution led to initial concern about the risks of traditional varieties and local crops in Asia (Hazell 2009). The excessive use of pesticides has had adverse effects on wildlife habitat, flora, and fauna (McLaughlin and Mineau 1995;Pimentel 1996). Because of intensive fertilizer and chemical application, the green revolution often creates water conflicts due to an enormous demand for irrigation water (Shiva 1993). ...
Despite an increase in food production due to the green revolution of agriculture and corresponding to the blue revolution of aquaculture, the challenge of feeding an ever-increasing global population remains. Concerns have been raised about the environmental sustainability, food productivity, and social responsibility of the blue revolution. Similarly, the green revolution has received criticism for its socioeconomic and environmental impacts. A blue-green revolution of integrated rice-fish cultivation offers a solution to the issues of environmental sustainability, food productivity, and socioeconomic benefits. Combining the blue revolution (aquaculture) and the green revolution (agriculture), integrated rice-fish cultivation would provide a form of sustainable intensification that able to produce more food from the same area of land and water without or less environmental impacts. Compared to rice monoculture, rice-fish coculture could increase by up to 27% of total production. The integration of other crops (e.g., cattle, ducks, and vegetables) could increase a diverse food production. However, water management is one of the potential challenges for rice-fish culture. Further research with the collaboration of major stakeholders is needed to address water management for the wider adoption of rice-fish cultivation.
... The rate of chemical fertilizer application is low in the country due to unaffordable price for resource-poor smallholder farmers . The continued use of chemical fertilizers is also not recommendable as it causes for health and environmental hazards such as ground and surface water pollution by nitrate leaching (Pimentel, 1996). ...
... The rate of chemical fertilizers application is low in the country due to unaffordable price for resource-poor smallholder farmers . The continued use of chemical fertilizers is also not recommended since it causes health and environmental hazards such as ground and surface water pollution as a consequence of mainly nitrate leaching (Pimentel, 1996). ...
... The rate of chemical fertilizer application is low in the country due to unaffordable price for resource-poor smallholder farmers . The continued use of chemical fertilizers is also not recommendable as it causes for health and environmental hazards such as ground and surface water pollution by nitrate leaching (Pimentel, 1996). ...
... The rate of chemical fertilizers application is low in the country due to unaffordable price for resource-poor smallholder farmers . The continued use of chemical fertilizers is also not recommended since it causes health and environmental hazards such as ground and surface water pollution as a consequence of mainly nitrate leaching (Pimentel, 1996). ...
... The rate of chemical fertilizer application is low in the country due to unaffordable price for resource-poor smallholder farmers . The continued use of chemical fertilizers is also not recommendable as it causes for health and environmental hazards such as ground and surface water pollution by nitrate leaching (Pimentel, 1996). ...
... The rate of chemical fertilizers application is low in the country due to unaffordable price for resource-poor smallholder farmers . The continued use of chemical fertilizers is also not recommended since it causes health and environmental hazards such as ground and surface water pollution as a consequence of mainly nitrate leaching (Pimentel, 1996). ...
... The rate of chemical fertilizer application is low in the country due to unaffordable price for resource-poor smallholder farmers . The continued use of chemical fertilizers is also not recommendable as it causes for health and environmental hazards such as ground and surface water pollution by nitrate leaching (Pimentel, 1996). ...
... The rate of chemical fertilizers application is low in the country due to unaffordable price for resource-poor smallholder farmers . The continued use of chemical fertilizers is also not recommended since it causes health and environmental hazards such as ground and surface water pollution as a consequence of mainly nitrate leaching (Pimentel, 1996). ...
... There has been a recognition that the green revolution, with its associated intensification of synthetic fertiliser and pesticide use, has increased crop yields but resulted in negative environmental (e.g. reduced water quality), health (exposure to toxic chemicals) and economic (farmers trapped in a cycle of debt) impacts (Agoramoorthy 2008;Bhattacharyya et al. 2015;Connor and Mínguez 2012;Mariappan and Zhou 2019;Pimentel 1996;UN 2015). Furthermore, the affordability and availability of synthetic inputs could be at risk as a result of rising natural gas and coal prices, sanctions and export restrictions and uncertainty around Indian fertiliser subsidies (World Bank Group 2022). ...
Unlabelled:
Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) is a grassroot agrarian movement and a state backed extension in Andhra Pradesh, and has been claimed to potentially meet the twin goals of global food security and environmental conservation. However, there is a lack of statistically evaluated data to support assertions of yield benefits of ZBNF compared to organic or conventional alternatives, or to mechanistically account for them. In order to fill this gap, controlled field experiments were established in twenty-eight farms across six districts, spanning over 800 km, over three cropping seasons. In these experiments, we compared ZBNF (no synthetic pesticides or fertilisers, home-made inputs comprising desi cow dung and urine with mulch) to conventional (synthetic fertilisers and pesticides) and organic (no synthetic pesticides or fertilisers, no mulch, purchased organic inputs, e.g. farmyard manure and vermicompost) treatments, all with no tillage. Comparisons were made in terms of yield, soil pH, temperature, moisture content, nutrient content and earthworm abundance. Our data shows that yield was significantly higher in the ZBNF treatment (z score = 0.58 ± 0.08), than the organic (z= -0.34 ± 0.06) or conventional (-0.24 ± 0.07) treatment when all farm experiments were analysed together. However, the efficacy of the ZBNF treatment was context specific and varied according to district and the crop in question. The ZBNF yield benefit is likely attributed to mulching, generating a cooler soil, with a higher moisture content and a larger earthworm population. There were no significant differences between ZBNF and the conventional treatment in the majority of nutrients. This is a particularly important observation, as intensive use of synthetic pesticides and fertilisers comes with a number of associated risks to farmers' finances, human health, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution. However, long-term field and landscape scale trials are needed to corroborate these initial observations.
Supplementary information:
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13593-023-00884-x.
... Aproximadamente 80 millones de toneladas de N comercial se utilizan en la agricultura mundial cada año y solo entre el 50 y 75% se cosecha en el cultivo, mientras el resto se pierde por la erosión, lixiviación y volatilización (Pimentel, 1996). El N es un contaminante del medio ambiente originado en la industria agrícola, el cual incrementa el contenido de sal en el suelo donde puede contaminar tanto la superficie como aguas subterráneas (Heichel, 1987). ...
La agricultura sostenible requiere la rotación de cultivos y asociación con leguminosas para aumentar la materia orgánica y reducir el uso de fertilizantes inorgánicos. En este estudio se llevaron a cabo tres experimentos (diferentes fechas de siembra) para evaluar el efecto de dos leguminosas apisonadas (LA), mucuna enana (Mucuna pruriens) y crotalaria (Crotalaria juncea 'Tropic Sun'), versus siembra convencional (SC; arado y pases de disco) sobre el rendimiento y tamaño de mazorca verde, daño por insectos y rendimiento de semilla del maíz [Zea mays (L.) 'Suresweet 2011']. Los experimentos se llevaron a cabo en abril y julio 2013, y febrero 2014 en la Estación Experimental Agrícola de Isabela (Puerto Rico) en un suelo Oxisol. Se encontró mayor aporte de biomasa (MS) y nitrógeno (N) en julio (verano), cuando la mucuna enana produjo 1.66 Mg/ha MS y 45.54 kg/ha de N comparado con crotalaria 'Tropic Sun' con 0.96 Mg/ha MS y 26.33 kg/ha de N. Esta diferencia posiblemente está relacionada con las respuestas fotosensitivas de las LA. Análisis de contrastes entre LA vs. SC y comparaciones entre mucuna enana vs. 'Tropic Sun', no mostraron diferencias significativas para el rendimiento de mazorca fresca y semilla comerciable en la siembra de abril. Sin embargo, en la siembra de julio, la mucuna enana sobrepasó (P3.63 Mg/ha) que con LA. El daño promedio de la mazorca ocasionado por Helicoverpa zea fue de 1 a 2 cm y no presentó diferencias significativas entre las tres fechas de siembra en los tres sistemas. A pesar de las diferencias en los rendimientos con sistemas de siembra, la mucuna enana proporcionó rendimientos más uniformes en las tres siembras.
... The low soil reaction value causes element deficiencies such as calcium and magnesium due to the displacement and washing of soil particles (Naqvi et al. 1999). In case of continued use of chemical fertilizers, surface runoff and surface water pollution caused by nitrate leaching will cause health and environmental damage (Pimentel 1996). ...
In the pepper plant, which has an important place in agricultural production, plant nutrition is important in increasing the yield. Giving the plant nutrients needed by the plant in organic or inorganic form can have different effects on yield. For this reason, this study was carried out at Erciyes University Agricultural Research Center in Turkey, for a total of three years between 2019 and 2021. In this study, the effects of different liquid organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer application doses on yield and yield parameters of Kapya, Acı Sivri, and Acı Mor pepper cultivars were investigated. For this purpose, 5 different doses of fertilizer were determined as 100% organic, 75% organic—25% chemical, 50% organic—50% chemical, 100% organic—100% chemical and 100% chemical, respectively. Experimental plots were formed from a total of 15 plots with 3 replications according to the randomized blocks trial design. In total fruit yield, positive results were obtained from all three pepper varieties at the application dose of 100% organic—100% chemical fertilizer. In yield parameters, 50% organic—50% chemical fertilizer application dose was effective in fruit length measurements. However, chemical fertilizer was found to be more effective in two types of peppers in fruit width, which is one of the yield parameters. As a result of the study, it was seen that the use of chemical fertilizers (50/50) together with organic fertilizers was effective on yield and yield parameters, considering the varietal differences and soil characteristics.
... The topic of meat consumption has received increasing attention due to its many documented concerns regarding sustainability; significant loss of biodiversity (Machovina, Feeley, andRipple 2015, Westhoek et al. 2011) substantial soil and water contamination (Pimentel 1996) and indications of the threat to food security due to extensive land grabbing for the purpose of meat production (Lovera 2015). Yet, in light of the looming climate change crisis, its most harmful impact is perhaps that of greenhouse gas emissions, with livestock emitting roughly 14,5% of human-induced emissions globally (Gerber et al. 2013). ...
Performing meat reduction: exploring how existing food practices enable and complicate meat reduced diets in Norwegian households. ABSTRACT Consumers in Western societies are increasingly called upon to reduce their consumption of meat to help alleviate the many environmental consequences of industrial livestock production. Dominant discourses around sustainable consumption, including meat reduction, understand consumption as driven by the attitudes, values and choices of individuals, portrayed as responsible for consuming in unsustainable ways and change to come about when individuals choose to act differently. In contrast, by framing consumption as embedded in social practices, this thesis emphasises how broader cultural, social and material condition's structure eating and hence meat consumption. A focus on practices shifts attention away from the individualisation of responsibility towards the many actors who has a hand in reproducing and sustaining meat-intense eating. The thesis explores the experiences, approaches and challenges of nine Norwegian meat reducers through in-depth interviewing coupled with structured food diaries. In doing so, it seeks to understand what enables and complicates efforts at meat reduction in Norwegian households. A main finding is how efforts to reduce meat consumption are influenced by social forces of which individuals do not assert much control. The findings suggest that through processes of socialisation and habituation, performances of eating often intuitively conforms to the prevailing conventions inscribed in socio-material environment in which they are embedded, thus, emphasising the influence of social norms and material affordances in enabling and complicating meat reduction. Furthermore, the findings suggest that the dependence on timesaving and hassle-free ways to eat in everyday life, coupled with a meat-intense repertoire of convenient cooking and a foodscape that heavily facilitates convenient meat-eating, pushes people towards meat-dependent convenience. Moreover, the analysis elaborates on the concept of bounded creativity to highlight how informants' creative and innovative efforts at doing meat reduction are rooted in and circumscribed by bodily, material and social elements-which in essence limit the possible ways in which meat reduction might be carried out. In sum, the research findings in this thesis suggest that a radical change towards meat-reduced diets seems unlikely without fundamental changes to the social, physical and economic structures that reproduce meat consumption as the appropriate, easy and cheapest way to eat.
... Environmentally benign agricultural production systems are required to meet the future global food demands and minimize the effect on climate change. During the green revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, the global problem with food shortfalls was solved by conventional and variation breeding of high-yielding varieties suitable for intensified crop farming practices, but dependent on heavy use of nonrenewable resources, with severe negative long-term environmental impacts (1). Globally, green revolution varieties in maize, wheat, and rice were integrated quickly in farming practices and these highyielding variants remain in the pedigree of current elite germplasm (2). ...
Improved agricultural and industrial production organisms are required to meet the future global food demands and minimize the effects of climate change. A new resource for crop and microbe improvement, designated FIND-IT (Fast Identification of Nucleotide variants by droplet DigITal PCR), provides ultrafast identification and isolation of predetermined, targeted genetic variants in a screening cycle of less than 10 days. Using large-scale sample pooling in combination with droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) greatly increases the size of low-mutation density and screenable variant libraries and the probability of identifying the variant of interest. The method is validated by screening variant libraries totaling 500,000 barley (Hordeum vulgare) individuals and isolating more than 125 targeted barley gene knockout lines and miRNA or promoter variants enabling functional gene analysis. FIND-IT variants are directly applicable to elite breeding pipelines and minimize time-consuming technical steps to accelerate the evolution of germplasm.
... Intensification has been enabled by a 2-fold increase in irrigated area globally, a 2-fold increase in the use of agricultural machinery, a more than 6-fold increase in the application of nitrogenous fertilizers, a four fold increase in phosphorus application and a five fold increase in potassium (Pellegrini & Fernández, 2018;Pretty & Bharucha, 2014;Tilman, 1999). The resulting intensive, high-input agriculture relying on chemical fertilisers, pesticides and irrigation, has led to evidence of environmental degradation and negative health impacts associated with exposure to synthetic chemicals [Pimentel, 1996;Agoramoorthy, 2008]. ...
To feed the growing population of world agricultural intensification has set feet in limited land area. It includes high seed rate, application of more amount of irrigation water, a 2-fold increase in the use of agricultural machinery, a more than 6-fold increase in the application of nitrogenous fertilizers, a 4-fold increase in phosphorus application, and a 5-fold increase in potassium. These practices lead to degradation of land and water reducing productivity in the coming years. As a result, a number of agricultural systems have been developed that are focusing to be more sustainable alternatives to high-input conventional agricultural systems. This adds force to the Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) approach, which aims to address both environmental and socio-economic concerns within the agricultural sector.
... Microbial activity and population in soil also badly affected due to irregular fertilizer application. Moreover, excessive fertilizer applications are also contaminating surface and underground water bodies especially by nitrate leaching [1] and causing harmful effects on environment, which also create health problem for human and animals. Therefore, in present context, there is dire need to follow climate resilient integrated crop management modules so that soil health and crop productivity could be sustained for longer time. ...
The waste management and crop residues are serious problems in the world. Ma-jor crops like rice, wheat, sugarcane residues burning causes environmental pol-lution like smog. The best technique to manage all kind of waste is vermicom-posting that is environment friendly, economically viable and socially acceptable approach which convert garbage in to black gold that is called vermi-fertilizer. Compositing process is mainly involved for increased transformation of organic decay within stable organic compound via the interaction of beneficial microor-ganisms under regulate increased temperature 45°C-60°C that permits sanitation of organic decay by eradication harmful microbes. In preparation of vermicom-post, organic waste products are being oxidized via the mutual activity of useful microbes and earthworm. Vermi-fertilizer is rich source of all macro and micro nutrients, i.e., Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), Potassium (K), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), manganese (Mg), growth promoters and regulators hormones like Auxin, gibberellin, enzymes i.e., protease, lipase, chitinase, beneficial bacte-rias i.e., Bacillus subtilis. Almost 3,000 species of earthworms are identified for vermicomposting, in which Eisenia fetida, Eisenia Andrei, Eudrilus eugeniae and Perionyn excavates are most suitable for vermicompost preparation.
... Its success was evidenced during the "Green Revolution," when public agricultural extension was delivered to millions of smallholders (Alston et al., 2000;Swanson, 2006b;Van Braun, 2007). However, the central goal of agricultural extensions during the "Green Revolution" was to increase productivity (Swanson et al., 2003), and most technologies introduced, such as chemical fertilizers, pesticides (Pimentel, 1996;Carvalho, 2006), and largescale mechanization (Pingali, 2007), were less concerned about environmental sustainability. ...
Purpose – Soil nutrient management and fertilizer use by farmers are important for sustainable grain production. The authors examined the effect of an experimental agricultural extension program, the science and technology backyard, in promoting sustainable soil nutrient management in the North China Plain (NCP).
The science and technology backyard integrates farmer field schools, field demonstrations, and case-to-case counselling to promote sustainable farming practices among rural smallholders.
Design/methodology/approach – The authors conducted a large-scale household survey of more than 2,000 rural smallholders. The authors used a multivariate regression analysis as the benchmark to assess the effect of the science-and-technology backyard on smallholder soil nutrient management. Furthermore, the authors used coarse exact matching (CEM) methods to control for potential bias due to self-selection and the (endogenous) switching regression approach as the main empirical analysis.
Findings – The results show that the science-and-technology backyard program increased smallholders’ wheat yield by approximately 0.23 standard deviation; however, no significant increase in maize yield was observed. Regarding soil nutrient use efficiency, the authors found a significant improvement in smallholders’ phosphorus and potassium use efficiencies for both wheat and maize production, and a significant improvement in nitrogen use efficiency for wheat production, but no significant improvement of nitrogen use efficiency for maize production.
Originality/value – This study evaluated a novel participatory agricultural extension model to improve soil nutrient management practices among smallholders. The integration of agronomists’ scientific knowledge and smallholders’ local contextual experiences could be an effective way to improve farmers’ soil nutrient management. This study provides the first quantitative estimates based on rigorous impact assessment methods of this novel extension approach in rural China.
... These adaptation strategies may look effective in the short term but might lead to fewer benefits, no benefits, or negative impact in the long term. For instance, providing subsidies on water and fertilizers to farmers was an effective strategy during the era of green revolution, while its excessive use resulted in soil erosion and unproductive land in the long term (Pimentel 1996). Similarly, high yielding variety seeds as an adaptation strategy were introduced for improving crop productivity. ...
Inevitability of climate change and stressors such as insects, pests, scarcity of water resources, and poor socio-economic condition of farmers have led to a substantial reduction in crop yield across the Indian subcontinent. The farming community follows adaptation measures to deal with these multiple stressors. Sometimes following the adaptation measures leads to a detrimental impact on crop yield, land, and soil quality. This raises the question of the effectiveness of these adaptation measures, that is, whether these strategies have enough potential to deal with the multiple stressors (climate, insects, water scarcity) or not. It requires a closer examination of the negative consequences of these adaptation measures, which is missing in the literature. To fill this gap, the current study assesses the success or failure of an agricultural adaptation strategy followed by identification of the relative importance of each strategy from the crop-loss perspective. We used logit model to evaluate the effectiveness of adaptation measures i.e., crop diversification, sowing drought resistant, short duration crop varieties, drip irrigation, livestock rearing, crop insurance, use of groundwater for irrigation, increase in cropped area, and change in planting/harvesting dates towards crop loss of 400 farmers surveyed across Vidarbha and Marathwada regions of Maharashtra, India. Evaluation of adaptation strategies reveals that the highly practiced adaptation strategies, namely, crop diversification, sowing short duration, and drought resistant crop varieties turned out to be detrimental for crop productivity, while migration and increase in the cropped area benefit the farmers by reducing the crop loss. Findings emphasize that a thorough understanding of the repercussions of an adaptation strategy is required before implementation. Outcome of the study can facilitate the government and other decision-making agencies in prioritizing one strategy over another.
... Excessive use of chemical pesticides on the environment and natural resources, including humans, has recently been a major cause of concern (Pimentel, 1996;Margni et al., 2002). Synthetic pesticides have long been known to harm the environment, affecting animal and plant biodiversity, as well as terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems (Mahmood et al., 2016). ...
The world's population is rapidly increasing, putting a colossal strain on the world's food supply. Pesticides are one of the most frequent strategies for increasing food production, but their continued usage has some pessimistic consequences for the environment. Over the last two decades, there has been a surge in interest in biopesticides as a prospective replacement. A bibliometric study was conducted from 2002 to 2021 to identify the scientific evolution of biopesticides. In the dimension database, a total of 5680 documents were identified as suitable for this analysis. The documents were analyzed, and nations were ranked based on authors, productivity, article citations, and co-authorship using parameters such as the number of papers, article citations, keywords, source impact, and country of publication. From 2002 to 2021, Pest Management Science and the Journal of Economic Entomology produced the most articles as well as the top contributions in biopesticide publishing by authors Benelli (first) and Tyagi (second). In 2006, Halkier received the highest degree of citation, while Berg received the highest level of citation in 2009. The University of Queensland and the University of Florida were the top two institutes that contributed to the publication of biopesticides.
... In addition, the estimation can vary between years, partly due to developments in the other sectors (e.g., transportation or energy) [3]. During the course of the 20th and early 21st century, subsidence agriculture is shifting towards highly optimised and resource-intensive bio-industry, thus driving the emissions of greenhouse gasses [2,4]. In addition, populations increasingly rely on international food trade, a trend that is expected to continue in especially developing nations [5]. ...
The production, processing, and transportation of food, in particular animal-based products, imposes great environmental burden on the planet. The current food supply system often constitutes a considerable part of the total carbon emissions of urban communities in industrialised cities. Urban food production (UFP) is a method that can potentially diminish food emissions. In parallel, a shift towards a predominantly plant-based diet that meets the nutritional protein intake is an effective method to curtail carbon emissions from food. Considering the high land use associated with the production of animal-based products, such a shift will prompt a community food demand that is more inclined to be satisfied with local production. Therefore, during the design process of a future low-carbon city, the combined application of both methods is worth exploring. This work introduces, describes, and demonstrates the diet shift component of the FEWprint platform, a user friendly UFP assessment platform for designers that is constructed around the broader three-pronged strategy of evaluation, shift, and design. For three neighborhoods, in Amsterdam, Belfast, and Detroit, the contextual consumption and country-specific environmental footprint data are applied to simulate a theoretical community-wide diet shift from a conventional to a vegan diet, whilst maintaining protein intake equilibrium. The results show that in total terms, the largest carbon mitigation potential awaits in Detroit (−916 kg CO2eq/cap/year), followed by Belfast (−866 kg) and Amsterdam (−509 kg). In relative terms, the carbon reduction potential is largest in Belfast (−25%), followed by Amsterdam (−15%) and Detroit (−7%). The FEWprint can be used to generate preliminary figures on the carbon implications of dietary adaptations and can be employed to give a first indication of the potential of UFP in urban communities.
... Pesticides were introduced in agriculture during the Green Revolution, which occurred in the late 1950s due to food shortages in several developing countries. 1 From 1995, the Board of Directors of the United Nations Environment Program, concerned about the damage caused by persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to health and the environment, started a series of international actions culminating in the Stockholm Convention in 2001, which advocates for the restriction and banning of these substances. These initiatives demonstrate the global concern about the use of pesticides and their potential negative impact on health and the environment. ...
Objective
The study aimed to conduct a systematic review of the literature to verify the association between exposure to pesticides and allergic diseases (asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis) in children and adolescents.
Method
A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed using the PRISMA method with the question “What is the association between exposure to pesticides and allergic diseases in children (asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis)?” MEDLINE, EMBASE, SciELO, and Cochrane electronic databases were searched throughout the period in the literature up to September 2020. A total of 1296 studies were found, and 24 were selected.
Results
Exposure to pesticides showed a two-fold greater risk of developing or exacerbating asthma in children and adolescents (odds ratio [OR] = 2.14 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26-3.64, p < 0.01). There was no association between exposure to pesticides and the development of allergic rhinitis (OR = 2.73, 95% CI 0.13-57.8, p = 0.52) and atopic dermatitis (OR = 2.19, 95% CI 0.51-9.36, p = 0.29).
Conclusions
Exposure to pesticides increases the risk of developing or exacerbating asthma in children and adolescents. There was no evidence of an association between exposure to pesticides and the development of allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis in children and adolescents, possibly due to the low number of studies found in this review.
... To achieve the food security goals it is of utmost necessity to bring scientific and technological innovations in the food and agriculture sector (Tanaka, 1999). Though the green revolution and biotechnology have strengthened the agriculture sector in the past at the same time, we have inevitably and heavily become reliant on agrochemicals knowing their adverse impact on the environment and ecosystem (Pimentel, 1996;Sandin and Moula, 2015). ...
In the present time, the world is facing many grave issues especially
associated with climate and we may witness more adverse events in the coming time. Uncontrolled population growth is adding further
challenges to it, especially to the food security and sustainability of life.
In the last decade, the world had a 690 million population undernourished and the COVID19 pandemic has added almost 83-132
million furthermore (Kah et al., 2019). The United Nations (UN) has
projected that the population of the world will reach up to 10.9 billion by the year 2100 that would cause a 50% increased demand for food
(Gerland et al., 2014). To cope up with food security, the UN has set a
“Zero Hunger” goal under the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of
the UN and the world would strive to achieve it by the year 2030 (Griggs
et al., 2013). Improving the yield and optimum utilization of resources has always been an approach to sustainable agriculture. Nanotechnology has been greatly appreciated for its contribution to the agriculture sector by improving the growth and yield of plants. Metals-based nanoparticles (NPs) that include Fe, Zn, and Cu act as micronutrients for the plants. Some NPs are interestingly able to provide tolerance to various abiotic stresses. Such tolerance helps to restore the degraded land employing nanophytoremediation approaches. This chapter has highlighted the role of NPs in the efficient utilization of resources and enhancing the yield and of NPs in the agriculture sector. It also discussed the impact of NPs on soil and the restoration of degraded land using nanophytoremediation techniques.
... To achieve the food security goals it is of utmost necessity to bring scientific and technological innovations in the food and agriculture sector (Tanaka, 1999). Though the green revolution and biotechnology have strengthened the agriculture sector in the past at the same time, we have inevitably and heavily become reliant on agrochemicals knowing their adverse impact on the environment and ecosystem (Pimentel, 1996;Sandin and Moula, 2015). ...
From a global perspective, modern civilization gives rise to a new
society, a new state of the biosphere that is constantly changing
depending on the new technologies and energy sources introduced.
However, this society, permeated with myriads of connections with other
organisms inhabiting the biosphere and dependent on cosmic rhythms
and galactic disturbances, is transforming Nature into a qualitatively
new state whose signs can be characterized in the short run as one of the
natural evolutionary stages of the biosphere called technogenesis.
At the same time, the improvement of civilization associated with the
transition of the biosphere to the noosphere is associated with a stage of
“adaptation”. The latter consists in approaching the technologies of the
society and using materials to a state of the material migration and/or
the energy transformation which fits into relatively natural
biogeochemical cycles and corresponds to Le Chatelier’s principle. In
biogeochemistry, the significance of this principle is most completely
reflected in the study of cycles for chemical elements and be one of the
principal criteria for the formation of biogeochemistry of the noosphere.
... Phosphorus-rich soils are washed into lakes, where some of the phosphorus dissolves and stimulates growth of phytoplankton and aquatic plants (Carpenter 2005). Eutrophication occurs when lakes and rivers are enriched with N, P, K, and other nutrients from eroded or leached fertilizers, algae and other micro-and macro-plants frequently explode in growth (Pimentel 1996). Excessive enrichment of nutrients causes an intensification of all biological activity and typically leads to vast changes in the composition and structure of aquatic food webs (Smith et al. 2006). ...
... Phosphorus-rich soils are washed into lakes, where some of the phosphorus dissolves and stimulates growth of phytoplankton and aquatic plants (Carpenter 2005). Eutrophication occurs when lakes and rivers are enriched with N, P, K, and other nutrients from eroded or leached fertilizers, algae and other micro-and macro-plants frequently explode in growth (Pimentel 1996). Excessive enrichment of nutrients causes an intensification of all biological activity and typically leads to vast changes in the composition and structure of aquatic food webs (Smith et al. 2006). ...
... Phosphorus-rich soils are washed into lakes, where some of the phosphorus dissolves and stimulates growth of phytoplankton and aquatic plants (Carpenter 2005). Eutrophication occurs when lakes and rivers are enriched with N, P, K, and other nutrients from eroded or leached fertilizers, algae and other micro-and macro-plants frequently explode in growth (Pimentel 1996). Excessive enrichment of nutrients causes an intensification of all biological activity and typically leads to vast changes in the composition and structure of aquatic food webs (Smith et al. 2006). ...
... Reason behind using organic products for crop growth enhancement is not only to raise nutritional quality but to avoid the distortion of soil structure and mineral nutrients in soil as well as to maintain environmental and human health (Timsina, 2018). Several workers have advocated for using an alternative way in farming to reduce the negative impacts of agricultural activities on environment like Ullah et al., (2018); Timsina (2018);Pimentel (1996);Tilman et al., (2002); Avery (1996); Kirchmann et al., (2008). Tilman et al., (2002) suggested that there is a need to develop new and healthy methods in agriculture that would not compromise with natural resources nor involve any biodegradable process. ...
... Since the 1950s, the use of pesticides has been essential in supporting and maintaining the productivity of crops, to combat food shortages [1,2]. Today, a range of different substances are used to prevent, destroy or control harmful organisms or diseases. ...
Purpose of review:
With the development and use of pesticide products increasing, information on the safe handling of pesticides becomes increasingly important. In this article, the denomination of lung toxicity on labelling is reviewed.
Recent findings:
The results highlight that whereas hazards, warning statements and instructions for safe use are broadly defined, the different categories of products used as pesticides are associated with different types of clinical manifestations of toxicity. These clinical manifestations are however not directly warned for by means of information provided on the label: more overarching terminology is used to describe hazards associated with acute toxicity, respiratory sensitization, specific lung toxicity after single or repeated exposure, as well as hazards from aspiration.
Summary:
This misalignment between hazard labelling and experienced issues increases the difficulty for users of products and clinicians in dealing with adverse events. Together with ensuring that in risk assessment, an integrated approach is taken to study pesticide products, improving the labels will support the safe handling of pesticides.
... The so-called Green Revolution, underpinned by a productivist mentality, promoted the widespread production and distribution of hybrid seeds and chemically intensive agricultural inputs (Patel 2013). These agricultural innovations, together with the more recent introduction of genetically modified (GM) seeds and their cotechnologies, have caused far reaching and often contested environmental, social, economic, political, cultural, and ethical implications (e.g Binimelis and Wickson 2019;Goodman and Redclift 2002 ;Pimentel 1996;McAfee 2008;Herrero, Binimelis, and Wickson 2017). ...
Technological changes embedded in the processes of agrarian modernization have profoundly reshaped agricultural environments , practices, discourses and institutions worldwide. This article explores how social-ecological relations shift in agricultural practices following the introduction of modern seed varieties , including hybrid and genetically modified (GM) seeds and their co-technologies. Drawing on interviews and ethnographic work in smallholder maize farms in South Africa, we introduce the concept of ecological deskilling in agriculture and describe three dimensions related to it: loss of ecologically based practices , loss of relational knowledge, and loss of socio-ecological agency. Our findings suggest that the introduction of modern seed varieties may contribute to the process of ecological deskilling due to the disruption of the co-evolution of knowledge between smallholder farmers and agroecological environments. We argue that this form of deskilling can undermine food sovereignty and farmers' agency. It can also narrow future possibilities and pathways for sustainable agricultural development.
... Since the green revolution in the 1970s, the use of nitrogen (N) fertilizers is still a major practice used to increase food production, as by providing this nutrient, almost always higher yields are achieved (Pimentel, 1996;Khush, 1999). However, there are economic limitations to the use of N-fertilizers, related to (i) their high cost, as petroleum is used as the energy source for the synthesis of ammonia; (ii) the external dependence of many countries to their supply, e.g., Brazil imports more than 70 % of N-fertilizers; (iii) the low-efficiency use of N-fertilizers by plants, estimated at 30 to 50 %, depending on the crop, climate, soil, and management. ...
For decades, researchers around the world search for strategies aiming at higher sustainability in agriculture. The microbial inoculants or biofertilizers are biotechnological products used for different purposes, the main one being to totally or partially replace chemical fertilizers, with an emphasis on N-fertilizers, reducing costs of production and decreasing the contamination of the soil, water, and atmosphere. Depending on the microorganism and the inoculated crop, inoculants can also induce plant protection to abiotic and biotic stresses and positively modify their physiology. Although inoculation studies and the use of inoculants by farmers date more than a century ago, they have gained more notoriety in the past decade. Brazil has a long tradition in the use of rhizobial inoculants, especially for the soybean crop, but it was only in 2009 that the first commercial inoculant carrying the plant-growth-promoting Azospirillum brasilense strains Ab-V5 (=CNPSo 2083) and Ab-V6 (=CNPSo 2084), identified by our research group, reached the market. One decade after the release of these two strains, 10.5 million doses were commercialized for grasses, including corn, wheat, rice, and pastures of brachiarias, and co-inoculation of legumes, such as soybean and common bean. Several research groups in Brazil presented impressive results of increases in root growth, biomass production, grain yield, uptake of nutrients and water, and increased tolerance to abiotic stresses due to the inoculation with Ab-V5 and Ab-V6. In this review, we gathered the results obtained so far in one decade with these two strains in several grasses and legume crops, confirming their versatility and indicating that with convincing, reliable, and consistent results, the Brazilian farmers are receptive to the adoption of new sustainable technologies based on microorganisms.
... Due to the growing environmental contamination, which is also reflected in adverse effects on human health, "green" solutions are indispensable today. However, unlike the "Green Revolution" of the mid-20th century, which significantly increased the amounts of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers to achieve high yields [1], increased attention is now being paid to the widest possible use of biologically/pharmacologically active compounds of natural origins [2][3][4]. Medicinal plants, and in particular their essential oils (EOs), have been used in folk medicine since prehistoric times. ...
Medicinal and aromatic plants have been used by mankind since ancient times. This is primarily due to their healing effects associated with their specific secondary metabolites (some of which are also used as drugs in modern medicine), or their structures, served as a basis for the development of new effective synthetic drugs. One way to increase the production of these secondary metabolites is to use nanoparticles that act as elicitors. However, depending on the specific particle size, composition, concentration, and route of application, nanoparticles may have several other benefits on medicinal and aromatic plants (e.g., increased plant growth, improved photosynthesis, and overall performance). On the other hand, particularly at applications of high concentrations, they are able to damage plants mechanically, adversely affect morphological and biochemical characteristics of plants, and show cytotoxic and genotoxic effects. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the beneficial and adverse effects of metal-, metalloid-, and carbon-based nanoparticles on the germination, growth, and biochemical characteristics of a wide range of medicinal and aromatic plants, including the corresponding mechanisms of action. The positive impact of nanopriming and application of nanosized fertilizers on medicinal and aromatic plants is emphasized. Special attention is paid to the effects of various nanoparticles on the production of valuable secondary metabolites in these plants cultivated in hydroponic systems, soil, hairy root, or in vitro cultures. The beneficial impact of nanoparticles on the alleviation of abiotic stresses in medicinal and aromatic plants is also discussed.
... Microbial activity and population in soil also badly affected due to irregular fertilizer application. Moreover, excessive fertilizer applications are also contaminating surface and underground water bodies especially by nitrate leaching [1] and causing harmful effects on environment, which also create health problem for human and animals. Therefore, in present context, there is dire need to follow climate resilient integrated crop management modules so that soil health and crop productivity could be sustained for longer time. ...
The waste management and crop residues are serious problems in the world. Ma-jor crops like rice, wheat, sugarcane residues burning causes environmental pol-lution like smog. The best technique to manage all kind of waste is vermicom-posting that is environment friendly, economically viable and socially acceptable approach which convert garbage in to black gold that is called vermi-fertilizer. Compositing process is mainly involved for increased transformation of organic decay within stable organic compound via the interaction of beneficial microor-ganisms under regulate increased temperature 45°C-60°C that permits sanitation of organic decay by eradication harmful microbes. In preparation of vermicom-post, organic waste products are being oxidized via the mutual activity of useful microbes and earthworm. Vermi-fertilizer is rich source of all macro and micro nutrients, i.e., Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), Potassium (K), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), manganese (Mg), growth promoters and regulators hormones like Auxin, gibberellin, enzymes i.e., protease, lipase, chitinase, beneficial bacte-rias i.e., Bacillus subtilis. Almost 3,000 species of earthworms are identified for vermicomposting, in which Eisenia fetida, Eisenia Andrei, Eudrilus eugeniae and Perionyn excavates are most suitable for vermicompost preparation.
... Le contrôle de ces agents nuisibles se base principalement sur l'utilisation des pesticides de synthèse . Les risques inhérents à l'usage des pesticides de synthèses sont multiples (e.g., Pimentel, 1996 ;Bolognesi et Merlo, 2011, Kim et al., 2017. Parmi les méthodes alternatives de gestion phytosanitaire, la lutte biologique par conservation (LBC) constitue une approche appropriée respectueuse de l'environnement et peu coûteuse ; elle consiste à protéger et favoriser les populations d'ennemis naturels déjà présents dans l'agrosystème afin de réduire l'impact d'organismes nuisibles aux plantes cultivées (Barbosa, 1998 ;Wyckhuys et al., 2013). ...
L’évaluation in vitro de l’efficacité de différentes concentrations (2, 4, 8, 16 et 32 μl/ml) des huiles essentielles d’origan (Origanum compactum), et de Cannelle (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) ainsi qu’un l’extrait d’ail (Allium sativum) sur les nématodes à galles. Le travail s’est intéressé, d’une part, à la mortalité des juvéniles après une période d’exposition de 24h, 48 et 72h d’exposition, et d’autre part, à l’éclosion des œufs de Meloidogyne incognita. Ainsi, les résultats obtenus indiquent
que les traitements testés agissent sur les larves du deuxième stade et inhibent également l’éclosion des oeufs de M. incognita dont l’effet varie selon la nature de traitement, le temps d’exposition et la concentration. Par ailleurs, les traitements effectués sur la mortalité des juvéniles ont donné un bon résultat et que l’augmentation du taux de mortalité est étroitement lié au temps d’exposition et de la concentration des traitements. Ce taux atteint 82,4% et 81,6% respectivement pour les huiles essentielles de la cannelle et de l’origan et 84,6% pour l’extrait d’ail. Cependant, le pourcentage d’inhibition de l’éclosion des œufs de M. incognita est respectivement 78,4%, 73,9%, et 67,3% pour l’extrait d’ail et les huiles essentielles d’origan et de cannelle à la concentration 32 ppm après 8 jours d’incubation.
... Bioinsecticides are derived from natural materials, such as animals, plants, bacteria, and fungi (Environmental Protection Agency, 2020). Bioinsecticides have become increasingly popular as alternatives to synthetic insecticides for a variety of reasons, including the emergence of insecticide resistance to many synthetic insecticides, an increase in public demand for organically grown fruits and vegetables, strict regulations on (maximum) residue limits on produce, and concerns about environmental safety of synthetic insecticides and associated non-target effects (Pimentel 1996;Glare et al., 2012;Lacey et al., 2015;Dara 2017;Preininger et al., 2018;Glare and O'-Callaghan 2019). While synthetic insecticides are often less expensive (Bale et al., 2008;Thakore, 2006), easier to apply (Preininger et al., 2018), store longer (Dunham, 2015), faster-acting (Preininger et al., 2018), and generally thought to be more efficacious than bioinsecticides (Arthurs and Dara, 2019), partnerships among large agrochemical companies to develop new formulations and application technologies have made bioinsecticides more competitive (Dunham, 2015;Thakore, 2006). ...
Little is known about the performance of bioinsecticides in combination with adjuvants approved for organic onion production. To address this issue, two studies were conducted in 2018 and 2019: 1) combinations of four bioinsecticides (Isaria fumosorosea Apopka strain 97, azadirachtin + pyrethrins, azadirachtin, and spinosad) and
three adjuvants (pinene polymers, potassium salts of fatty acids, and neem oil) in field trials in New York and Wisconsin, and 2) the same four bioinsecticides co-applied with neem oil as an adjuvant in field trials in New York. In both studies, spinosad was the most effective bioinsecticide, providing the largest reductions in thrips densities (26–85%) and feeding damage (56–69%) and the largest increases in total onion yield (10–26%) compared with the untreated control. Co-applications of spinosad with either neem oil or salts of fatty acids more effectively reduced thrips densities compared with co-applications of spinosad and pinene polymers; however, onion yield was similar regardless of the adjuvant used with spinosad. Isaria fumosorosea Apopka strain 97 and the premix of azadirachtin + pyrethrins did not control thrips. Implications of our results underscore the importance of evaluating the performance of insecticide and adjuvant combinations for optimizing pest management.
... Developed countries invest much in weeds control than any other pest attacking agricultural product. While the other part of the world less and least developed countries spend a lot of money in weeding of their agricultural land (Pimentel, 1996). It has been previously report 50% time spend in farming is for land clearing. ...
Weeds are consider as a significant important biological indicator of crop production resulting to yield loss of about 50%. Identification of weeds is very difficult from their morphological features. Despite wees are the real challenge in farming in the developed, developing and underdeveloped countries. Nevertheless, weeds ar also part of primary producers. Major constrain of crop production are weeds but they are also consider as important aspect of agricultural system in the world. Weeds are wild plants grow in an environment without the contribution of any human activities that that have positive or negative impact to the environment. The aim of the study is to documents weeds of family Boraginaceae and agricultural crops grown in Taif region of Saudi Arabian kingdom in a mountain with an elevation level of (Area A = Al sail 1700 m, Area B = Al Wahat and Al Watit 1500, C = Leeih 1500, D = AL Gaim and Saisad 1500, F = E = Al Shafa 2200 m, F = AL Hada = 2000 m). The study was carried out based on enviromental survey. Diverse number of weeds were identified and collected from the examined study area. Results revealed aggressive weeds species. Echium vulgars, Heliotropium currsivicium and Sisymbrium orientale. Similarly, ten agricultural crops were documented from the study area; Portulaca oleracea, Ficus carica, Phoenix dactylifera, Solanum melongena, Punica granatum, Solanum lycopersicum, Vitis spp, Vicia faba, Cucurbita pepo and Rosa damascene. Findings from the studyof the will aid management control and proposing research toward improved new weed control measures. Also has provided insight on purposeful weeds control in Taif Area.
... Developed countries invest much in weeds control than any other pest attacking agricultural product. While the other part of the world less and least developed countries spend a lot of money in weeding of their agricultural land (Pimentel, 1996). It has been previously report 50% time spend in farming is for land clearing. ...
Agricultural system is currently undergoing uprising in political social shift to form a sustainable agricultural system with the aim of providing adequate ecological biodiversity and food production. Weeds are wild plants grow in an environment without the contribution of any human activities that that have positive or negative impact to the environment. The study aims at carrying a survey on weeds of family Amarantheceae grown in cultivated environment with purpose of recording and identification. the study was conducted in the Taif region of Saudi Arabian kingdom in a mountain with an elevation level of (Area A = Al sail 1700 m, Area B = Al Wahat and Al Watit 1500, C = Leeih 1500, D = AL Gaim and Saisad 1500, F = E = Al Shafa 2200 m, F = AL Hada = 2000 m). The study was conducted between December 2018 to August 2019. The study was carried out based on enviromental survey. Diverse number of weeds were identified and collected from the examined study area. Results revealed 10 aggressive weeds species. hybridus 407, Amaranthus viridis 382, Chenopodium murale ,Chenopodium album 142, Chenopodium vulvaria 81, Amaranthus graecizans 32, Chenopodium 39, Atriplex leucoclada 30 ,Chenopodium opulifolium 15, Aerva javanica 3. Similarly, eight agricultural crops were documented from the study area; Brassica oleracea var, botrytis 159, Solanum melongena 54, Petroselinum sp 165, Ficus carica 178, Lactuca sativa 27, Punica granatum 12, Vitis spp 43 and Brassica oleracea 56 respectively. Results of the survey obtained from the study would be useful in creating management control and proposing research toward improved new weed control measures. Also has provided insight on purposeful weeds control in Taif Area. The study recommends further studies on order types of weeds in the area.
... Application of fertilizers, the nutrients may be concentrated nearby roots of the plants. Directly or indirectly they may pollute the ground water as well as through runoff it may reach in the down streams in which these nutrients can increase eutrophication in the water [19,20]. ...
Recently adopted horticultural crops under the policy of diversification of agriculture in Ethiopia will possibly have an impact on bio-physical, social-economic environment. This study was conducted to assess the potential impact of under construction horticultural project, for different crops of horticulture. Impacts were computed on soil and water resources, air quality, flora and fauna, local socioeconomic aspects and human health in the peripheries of the Tana Lake, Ethiopia. Environmental quality index and range methods were used for impact assessment. The analysis shows that high level impact may be on soil and water resources, medium level impact on ecosystem and human health and low level of impact on the air quality and socioeconomic conditions of surrounding population.
... O uso intensivo dessas substâncias químicas, associado ao emprego de novas tecnologias, aumentou a produção mundial de alimentos, porém tal utilização resultou em ampla degradação do meio ambiente em danos à saúde daqueles que as manipulavam (Fischer, 1993;Pimentel, 1996;Peres, 2001). Cabe lembrar ainda que essas inovações tecnológicas não foram acompanhadas de um programa de qualificação para manuseio destas tecnologias e, portanto, os trabalhadores rurais ficam expostos a riscos ainda desconhecidos. ...
... Since the Green Revolution (ca. 1950-1970), food production and agriculture has been reliant on chemical input to control pathogenic microbes, either in animal or plant production [11]. However, the overuse of these chemicals, combined with the lack of diversity in their modes of action, has driven the appearance of resistance to these compounds. ...
Fungal natural products and their effects have been known to humankind for hundreds of years. For example, toxic ergot alkaloids produced by filamentous fungi growing on rye poisoned thousands of people and livestock throughout the Middle Ages. However, their later medicinal applications, followed by the discovery of the first class of antibiotics, penicillins and other drugs of fungal origin, such as peptidic natural products, terpenoids or polyketides, have altered the historically negative reputation of fungal “toxins”. The development of new antimicrobial drugs is currently a major global challenge, mainly due to antimicrobial resistance phenomena. Therefore, the structures, biosynthesis and antimicrobial activity of selected fungal natural products are described here.
More than half of the world's population consumes rice. The area under modern rice varieties has expanded, the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has increased in various countries. The hydrology of wetlands are also influenced by its chemical and physical characteristics. Hence, this research focused on temporal and spatial changes in crop patterns, input usage, and hydrological change in Fogera floodplain, with the objectives: a. what are the spatial and temporal trends in crops production pattern? b. What inputs have been used in the past and present to produce rice and other crops? c. What looks like the hydrological alteration of the area? The primary data was gathered through a questionnaire, focus group discussions, interviews, and field observations. Secondary data from Landsat imageries, SWAT input data, water flow, normalized difference vegetation index, and hydrological alteration of the site were collected. To analyze data, tables, graphs, and charts percentage, mean, and correlation were used.
NDVI results indicated that rice crop is growing while other variables are decreasing. artificial inputs are currently used but before the introduction of rice were not. Recession farming activities have also diminished wetland. Annual average water flow and rainfall have been trending upward. Flow of water with Nitrogen and Phosphorous has a negative correlation, with Pearson's values − 0.069 and − 0.072, respectively whereas the value 0.242 indicates that nitrogen and phosphorus have a positive relationship.
In conclusion, these extended and intensification of farming practices have an impact on the biodiversity of fauna and flora of the area.
Burgeoning world population has pressurized the agricultural sector immensely. Fertilizer and pesticide usage injudiciously in conventional farming has adversely affected environment and human health. Globally coordinated sustainable agriculture is the way forward. Sustainable agriculture aims to maintain productivity, feed billions, and yet conserve the environment. Productivity devoid of environmental degradation, maintenance of agro-ecosystem health, and agro-biodiversity are essential for proper management of cultivated ecosystems. Soil dwelling microbial communities are key to resolving these concerns. A prominent rhizospheric microbial assemblage termed plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria contributes significantly to plant growth promotion and development. PGPR bioinoculants release and modify endogenic phytohormone levels, other biologically active molecules, solubilize or fix minerals facilitating nutrient uptake, helping crops overcome abiotic stresses. Further they control plant pathogenesis/disease by deploying antibiosis, rhizospheric competence, enzyme secretion, and induction of systemic resistance in host plants. Soil health and fertility are maintained owing to biofortification of nutrients. This translates to greater food security, social well-being, and human health. Bioinoculant viability and effectiveness are determined by the carrier material. Persistent research developing nontoxic, user-friendly bioformulations that can remain functionally viable during storage is pertinent to the continued large-scale application of PGPR. This chapter focuses upon the potential of four agriculturally important microbes—Azotobacter, Serratia, Bacillus, and Pseudomonas. Furthermore, the challenges to crop production by the usage of PGPR, problems in shelf life of bioformulations for commercial agriculture, and directions for future of PGPR research are highlighted.
Organic agriculture is a production system based on the principles of complete sustainability, which guarantees health-safe food products. The chapter's primary goal is to pinpoint all potentials and limitations that affect the development of organic farming in Serbia. To this end, the authors analyze the development of nationally available production capacities, normative framework, and organizational scheme of institutions responsible for the functioning of organic agriculture, available sources of funding, market situation, and product placement. The results of the comprehensive analysis show that despite the minor participation in the world production and trade of organic products, extremely modest share of active farms in organic production, e.g., about 1% of the total number of farms in Serbia, and the negligible percentage of organic areas in the utilized agricultural area (UAA) (0.63%), Serbia could be, according to the growth rate of the mentioned agricultural sector, referred to as one of the regional leaders. Further development of organic production in Serbia is of considerable importance from the following aspects: preservation of the health of the nation, environmental protection and natural resources, employment of young people and women in rural areas, positive impact on slowing down migration to urban areas, and strengthening of the competitiveness of national agriculture and economy, which rely on it, such as rural tourism.
BauckgroundMore than half of the world's population consumes rice. The area under modern rice varieties has expanded, the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has increased in various countries. The hydrology of wetlands are also influenced by its chemical and physical characteristics. Hence, this research focused on temporal and spatial changes in crop patterns, input usage, and hydrological change in Fogera floodplain, with the objectives: a. what are the spatial and temporal trends in crops production pattern? b. What inputs have been used in the past and present to produce rice and other crops? c. What looks like the hydrological alteration of the area? The primary data was gathered through a questionnaire, focus group discussions, interviews, and field observations. Secondary data from Landsat imageries, SWAT input data, water flow, normalized difference vegetation index, and hydrological alteration of the site were collected. To analyze data, tables, graphs, and charts percentage, mean, and correlation were used. ResultNDVI results indicated that rice crop is growing while other variables are decreasing. artificial inputs are currently used but before the introduction of rice were not. Recession farming activities have also diminished wetland. Annual average water flow and rainfall have been trending upward. Flow of water with Nitrogen and Phosphorous has a negative correlation, with Pearson's values -0.069 and -0.072, respectively whereas the value 0.242 indicates that nitrogen and phosphorus have a positive relationship. Conclusion
In conclusion, these extended and intensification of farming practices have an impact on the biodiversity of fauna and flora of the area.
Weeds are consider as a significant important biological indicator of crop production resulting to yield loss of about 50%. Identification of weeds is very difficult from their morphological features. Despite weeds are the real challenge in farming in the developed, developing and underdeveloped countries. Nevertheless, weeds are also part of primary producers. Major constrain of crop production are weeds but they are also consider as important aspect of agricultural system in the world. Weeds are wild plants grow in an environment without the contribution of any human activities that have positive or negative impact to the environment. The aim of the study is to documents weeds of family Chenopodiaceae and agricultural crops grown in Taif region of Saudi Arabian kingdom in a mountain with an elevation level of (Area A = Al sail 1700 m, Area B = Al Wahat and Al Watit 1500 m, C = Leeih 1500 m, D = AL Gaim and Saisad 1500 m, F = E = Al Shafa 2200 m, F = AL Hada = 2000 m). The study was carried out based on environmental survey. Diverse number of weeds were identified and collected from the examined study area. Results revealed aggressive weeds species. Atriplex leucoclada, Chenopodium valria, Chenopodium album, Chenopodium murale, Chenopodium vulvaria, Chenopodium mavele, Dysphania ambrosioides and Lamb's quarters with the total number of 1727. Chenopodium vulvariawas found with the highest number of species 553, follow by Chenopodium album 394 and the least is Lamb's quarters 17. The study, similarly, documented 12 agricultural crops weeds from the study area; Portulaca oleracea, Raphanus sativus, Phoenix dactylifera, Mentha, Rosa damascena, Solanum melongena, Petroselinum sp, Zea mays, Cauliflower, Vitis spp, Brassica oleracea var. capitate and Cucurbita pepo. Findings from the study will aid management control and proposing research toward improved new weed control measures. Also has provided insight on purposeful weeds control in Taif Area.
Weeds are consider as a significant important biological indicator of crop production resulting to yield loss of about 50%. Identification of weeds is very difficult from their morphological features. Despite weeds are the real challenge in farming in the developed, developing and underdeveloped countries. Nevertheless, weeds are also part of primary producers. Major constrain of crop production are weeds but they are also consider as important aspect of agricultural system in the world. Weeds are wild plants grow in an environment without the contribution of any human activities that have positive or negative impact to the environment. The aim of the study is to documents weeds of family Chenopodiaceae and agricultural crops grown in Taif region of Saudi Arabian kingdom in a mountain with an elevation level of (Area A = Al sail 1700 m, Area B = Al Wahat and Al Watit 1500 m, C = Leeih 1500 m, D = AL Gaim and Saisad 1500 m, F = E = Al Shafa 2200 m, F = AL Hada = 2000 m). The study was carried out based on environmental survey. Diverse number of weeds were identified and collected from the examined study area. Results revealed aggressive weeds species. Atriplex leucoclada, Chenopodium valria, Chenopodium album, Chenopodium murale, Chenopodium vulvaria, Chenopodium mavele, Dysphania ambrosioides and Lamb's quarters with the total number of 1727. Chenopodium vulvariawas found with the highest number of species 553, follow by Chenopodium album 394 and the least is Lamb's quarters 17. The study, similarly, documented 12 agricultural crops weeds from the study area; Portulaca oleracea, Raphanus sativus, Phoenix dactylifera, Mentha, Rosa damascena, Solanum melongena, Petroselinum sp, Zea mays, Cauliflower, Vitis spp, Brassica oleracea var. capitate and Cucurbita pepo. Findings from the study will aid management control and proposing research toward improved new weed control measures. Also has provided insight on purposeful weeds control in Taif Area.
This paper presents the role, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of FRG in agricultural technologies adoption and dissemination in the central highlands of western Shewa Oromia Ethiopia. Two sub-districts were selected because of the presence of different FRGs. The objective of the study was to investigate FRG approach is an approach which helps farmers to adopt new agricultural technologies. Data were collected by multi-stage sampling methods SWOT analysis, group discussion; key informant interview, mapping and task analysis were employed for data analysis. A total of one hundred thirty (130), interviewers were participated as individual households and group discussion where 54 from FRG members and 76 non-members. Data were analyzed in qualitative and SWOT analysis. The Results of analysis reveal that roles of FRG were enhancing new agricultural technologies adoption and dissemination. As Strengths voluntary participation and organization, simple chain of command, improve interaction with group and strong linkage with agricultural researchers. As weakness documentation, recording and handling of data wear not well organized. As an opportunity policy and enabling policy of the country favored group work, non participant farmers show a tendency of organizing themselves by FRGs, availability of improved agricultural technologies and very positive mutual understanding and perception about agricultural researchers. As a threats there is no expected support from district agricultural office, less participation of stakeholders except agricultural researchers, very less women participation, no body take responsibility to access stable market.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any references for this publication.