B. Dhehibi, M. Salah, A. Frija, A. Aw-Hassan, Hamdane El Ouhibi, Youssef M. Al Raisi
In the frame of the ICARDA project “Development of sustainable date palm production systems in the GCC countries of the Arabian Peninsula”, researchers succeeded to introduce one promising technology (subsurface drip irrigation - SDI) in the date palm farming system in the Gulf region, defined as the poorest in the word in terms of water resources. In the light of these challenges, the main objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of the irrigation water volumes on the date palm productivity and water use efficiency under several conventional and improved irrigations systems.Three intervention levels on SDI have been used: at the rate of 60% 40% and 20% of water requirement. Results of this experimental study showed that SDI under the three intervention/options uses water more efficient in comparison to BI. Indeed, a considerable quantity of water for about 3545.554, 5726.45, and 7565.473 m3/ha could be saved by using SDI at the rate of 20%, 40 and 60% of water requirements, respectively. Thus, the WUE indicator is for about 2.0, 2.7, and 4.7 kg/m3, respectively. These figures are much higher when are compared to BI system where WUE is around 1.3 kgm-3.The economic evaluation suggests that under BI system, the total return, total variable costs, water costs and net profit were 20211.36, 5857.81, 1224.29, and 13129.25 $ ha-1, respectively. From another hand, by using SDI at the rate of 60% of water requirements, we note a slight difference in net profit when using this irrigation system, which is about US$12825.02/ha. Economic findings suggest that using SDI method versus BI method have additional cost but is economical at the long term as the SDI found to sustain the date palm farming system in this region where arid conditions acts as natural constraints for expansive agriculture.
在ICARDA项目“阿拉伯半岛海湾合作委员会国家可持续枣椰树生产系统的发展”的框架内，研究人员成功地在海湾地区的枣椰树种植系统中引入了一种有前途的技术(地下滴灌- SDI)，海湾地区被定义为世界上水资源最贫乏的地区。鉴于这些挑战，本研究的主要目的是评估几种传统和改进灌溉系统下灌溉水量对枣椰树生产力和水利用效率的影响。在SDI上使用了三种干预水平:需水量的60%、40%和20%。本实验研究结果表明，与BI相比，三种干预/方案下的SDI对水的利用效率更高。实际上，使用SDI可以节省大量的水，分别为3545.554、5726.45和7565.473 m3/ha，分别为需水量的20%、40%和60%。因此，WUE指标分别约为2.0、2.7和4.7 kg/m3。与WUE约为1.3 kg -3的BI系统相比，这些数字要高得多。经济评价表明，在BI系统下，总收益、总可变成本、水成本和净利润分别为20211.36、5857.81、1224.29和13129.25美元ha-1。另一方面，通过按需水量的60%使用SDI，我们注意到使用该灌溉系统的净利润略有不同，约为每公顷12825.02美元。经济研究结果表明，使用SDI方法与BI方法相比有额外的成本，但从长远来看是经济的，因为SDI方法可以维持该地区的枣椰树种植系统，而干旱条件是扩张农业的自然限制。
{"title":"Economic and Technical Evaluation of Different Irrigation Systems for Date Palm Farming System in the GCC Countries: Case of Oman","authors":"B. Dhehibi, M. Salah, A. Frija, A. Aw-Hassan, Hamdane El Ouhibi, Youssef M. Al Raisi","doi":"10.5539/ENRR.V8N3P55","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5539/ENRR.V8N3P55","url":null,"abstract":"In the frame of the ICARDA project “Development of sustainable date palm production systems in the GCC countries of the Arabian Peninsula”, researchers succeeded to introduce one promising technology (subsurface drip irrigation - SDI) in the date palm farming system in the Gulf region, defined as the poorest in the word in terms of water resources. In the light of these challenges, the main objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of the irrigation water volumes on the date palm productivity and water use efficiency under several conventional and improved irrigations systems.Three intervention levels on SDI have been used: at the rate of 60% 40% and 20% of water requirement. Results of this experimental study showed that SDI under the three intervention/options uses water more efficient in comparison to BI. Indeed, a considerable quantity of water for about 3545.554, 5726.45, and 7565.473 m3/ha could be saved by using SDI at the rate of 20%, 40 and 60% of water requirements, respectively. Thus, the WUE indicator is for about 2.0, 2.7, and 4.7 kg/m3, respectively. These figures are much higher when are compared to BI system where WUE is around 1.3 kgm-3.The economic evaluation suggests that under BI system, the total return, total variable costs, water costs and net profit were 20211.36, 5857.81, 1224.29, and 13129.25 $ ha-1, respectively. From another hand, by using SDI at the rate of 60% of water requirements, we note a slight difference in net profit when using this irrigation system, which is about US$12825.02/ha. Economic findings suggest that using SDI method versus BI method have additional cost but is economical at the long term as the SDI found to sustain the date palm farming system in this region where arid conditions acts as natural constraints for expansive agriculture.","PeriodicalId":11699,"journal":{"name":"Environment and Natural Resources Research","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76670566","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
James Rodríguez-Echeverry, Rodrigo Fuentes, Margareth Leiton, E. Jaque
AbstractThe forest landscape of southern Chile, which includes Chilean temperate forest ecosystem, has been designated as a hotspot for biodiversity conservation. However, this landscape has been transformed by land-use change. A proper knowledge about how land-use change impact this ecosystem would provide crucial information for planning conservation strategies. At the commune of Arauco – Chile, the impact of the land-use change on the spatial pattern of native forest ecosystem from 1990 to 2010 was evaluated at the landscape level. This evaluation was carried out using satellite images, landscape metrics and spatially explicit models. The loss of native forest ecosystem was of 40.7% (loss rate of 4.39% per year). Conversely, the exotic species plantations increased more than 150%. The number patches of native forest ecosystem increased more than 130%. The size distribution of patches (<100 ha) increased more than 22%. The aggregation index of native forest ecosystem decreased from 62.5 to 40.1. The loss of native forest ecosystem was caused by the expansion of exotic species plantations, which was associated with substantial changes in the spatial pattern of the forest landscape. As a strategy for conservation of the native forest ecosystem we suggest a landscape approach, using the corridor–patch–matrix model. We recommend that this strategy be complemented with land-use planning. Moreover, this strategy must be supported by a framework of environmental policies. We also recommend strengthening the existing ecological restoration programmes and developing new programmes to restore the native forest ecosystem.
{"title":"Changing Landscapes Forest: Implications for its Conservation","authors":"James Rodríguez-Echeverry, Rodrigo Fuentes, Margareth Leiton, E. Jaque","doi":"10.5539/ENRR.V8N3P44","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5539/ENRR.V8N3P44","url":null,"abstract":"AbstractThe forest landscape of southern Chile, which includes Chilean temperate forest ecosystem, has been designated as a hotspot for biodiversity conservation. However, this landscape has been transformed by land-use change. A proper knowledge about how land-use change impact this ecosystem would provide crucial information for planning conservation strategies. At the commune of Arauco – Chile, the impact of the land-use change on the spatial pattern of native forest ecosystem from 1990 to 2010 was evaluated at the landscape level. This evaluation was carried out using satellite images, landscape metrics and spatially explicit models. The loss of native forest ecosystem was of 40.7% (loss rate of 4.39% per year). Conversely, the exotic species plantations increased more than 150%. The number patches of native forest ecosystem increased more than 130%. The size distribution of patches (<100 ha) increased more than 22%. The aggregation index of native forest ecosystem decreased from 62.5 to 40.1. The loss of native forest ecosystem was caused by the expansion of exotic species plantations, which was associated with substantial changes in the spatial pattern of the forest landscape. As a strategy for conservation of the native forest ecosystem we suggest a landscape approach, using the corridor–patch–matrix model. We recommend that this strategy be complemented with land-use planning. Moreover, this strategy must be supported by a framework of environmental policies. We also recommend strengthening the existing ecological restoration programmes and developing new programmes to restore the native forest ecosystem.","PeriodicalId":11699,"journal":{"name":"Environment and Natural Resources Research","volume":"200 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76970531","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Traditional cultivation methods in Namibia are characterised by cultivating the same type of crops persistently on the same piece of land, using a disc or mouldboard plough with minimal to no fertilizer application. This study assessed the knowledge level of farmers' on conservation agriculture and the household factors,which influence farmers to take up conservation agriculture in the Omusati Region of Namibia. Both socioeconomic and biophysical data were collected through household face-to-face interviews from 40 households located in seven constituencies of the Omusati Region. The results showed that technological know-how, limited agricultural inputs and implements for conservation agriculture hindered the uptake of conservation agriculture. In addition, lack of crop residues for mulching purposes and little understanding of the importance of crop rotation were identified as barriers to practice conservation agriculture. Logistic regression analysis showed that age, gender, marital status, education level, crop field size and farming period did not significantly influence the adoption of conservation agriculture. The study indicates that there is a need to encourage the use of climate smart agriculture technologies such as conservation agriculture, which minimizes the negative impacts of dry spells in order to maximize crop production and increase farmers' understanding on the principles of conservation agriculture. Thus, strategies and policies to reduce poverty need to consider local contexts, social norms and values. In this regard, engagement of local farmers and demonstration of the short and long-term benefits of conservation agricultural practices offer promising entry points.
{"title":"Perception of Farmers on Conservation Agriculture for Climate Change Adaptation in Namibia","authors":"M. Taapopi, J. Kamwi, N. Siyambango","doi":"10.5539/enrr.v8n3p33","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5539/enrr.v8n3p33","url":null,"abstract":"Traditional cultivation methods in Namibia are characterised by cultivating the same type of crops persistently on the same piece of land, using a disc or mouldboard plough with minimal to no fertilizer application. This study assessed the knowledge level of farmers' on conservation agriculture and the household factors,which influence farmers to take up conservation agriculture in the Omusati Region of Namibia. Both socioeconomic and biophysical data were collected through household face-to-face interviews from 40 households located in seven constituencies of the Omusati Region. The results showed that technological know-how, limited agricultural inputs and implements for conservation agriculture hindered the uptake of conservation agriculture. In addition, lack of crop residues for mulching purposes and little understanding of the importance of crop rotation were identified as barriers to practice conservation agriculture. Logistic regression analysis showed that age, gender, marital status, education level, crop field size and farming period did not significantly influence the adoption of conservation agriculture. The study indicates that there is a need to encourage the use of climate smart agriculture technologies such as conservation agriculture, which minimizes the negative impacts of dry spells in order to maximize crop production and increase farmers' understanding on the principles of conservation agriculture. Thus, strategies and policies to reduce poverty need to consider local contexts, social norms and values. In this regard, engagement of local farmers and demonstration of the short and long-term benefits of conservation agricultural practices offer promising entry points.","PeriodicalId":11699,"journal":{"name":"Environment and Natural Resources Research","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72841868","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Understanding litterfall and macronutrients in the rainforest ecosystem gives baseline information on nutrient dynamics. Litterfall and macronutrients return were studied for 12 months from November 2011 to October 2012 in a 50 ha plot in the Takamanda National Park, South-western Cameroon. This study evaluates the pattern and quantity of litterfall, with implications for forest productivity. It thus assesses the macronutrient concentrations, nutrient inputs into the surface soil, nutrient retranslocation by some key tree species and some physicochemical properties of the soil in the study site. Litter traps where placed randomly in the study plot. Litter was collected every fortnight sorted and air-dried after which they were oven dried at 70°C to constant weight. Soils were sampled from three flanks at depths of 0-10cm, 10-20cm and 20-30cm. Percentage retranslocation or accumulation before leaf fall was calculated from freshly fallen litter and mature green leaf. Total annual litterfall was 5.46 t/ha/yr and this varied with the seasons. Leaf litter contributed 90.9% of total litterfall. The concentration of N and Ca was higher than other nutrient elements Mg, K, P in all litter fragments. Nitrogen had the highest total nutrient input with the following pattern N>Ca>K>Mg>P (85.36 kg/ha/yr> 56.71 kg/ha/yr> 23.1 kg/ha/yr> 17.32 kg/ha/yr> 4.27 kg/ha/yr) respectively.Pterocarpus soyauxii had the highest retranslocation percentages for all the macronutrients studied compared to Afziliabipidensis and Terminalia ivorensis. It was observed that Terminalia ivorensis could be a good nutrient recycler that could be used to improve on degraded soils. It was however observed that Ca and Mg tend to accumulate in leaf litter for all the three species.
{"title":"Litterfall and Nutrient Returns in the Rainforest of Southwestern Cameroon: Some Implications for Tropical Forest Productivity","authors":"Mary E. Ngaiwi, E. Molua, A. E. Egbe","doi":"10.5539/enrr.v8n3p25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5539/enrr.v8n3p25","url":null,"abstract":"Understanding litterfall and macronutrients in the rainforest ecosystem gives baseline information on nutrient dynamics. Litterfall and macronutrients return were studied for 12 months from November 2011 to October 2012 in a 50 ha plot in the Takamanda National Park, South-western Cameroon. This study evaluates the pattern and quantity of litterfall, with implications for forest productivity. It thus assesses the macronutrient concentrations, nutrient inputs into the surface soil, nutrient retranslocation by some key tree species and some physicochemical properties of the soil in the study site. Litter traps where placed randomly in the study plot. Litter was collected every fortnight sorted and air-dried after which they were oven dried at 70°C to constant weight. Soils were sampled from three flanks at depths of 0-10cm, 10-20cm and 20-30cm. Percentage retranslocation or accumulation before leaf fall was calculated from freshly fallen litter and mature green leaf. Total annual litterfall was 5.46 t/ha/yr and this varied with the seasons. Leaf litter contributed 90.9% of total litterfall. The concentration of N and Ca was higher than other nutrient elements Mg, K, P in all litter fragments. Nitrogen had the highest total nutrient input with the following pattern N>Ca>K>Mg>P (85.36 kg/ha/yr> 56.71 kg/ha/yr> 23.1 kg/ha/yr> 17.32 kg/ha/yr> 4.27 kg/ha/yr) respectively.Pterocarpus soyauxii had the highest retranslocation percentages for all the macronutrients studied compared to Afziliabipidensis and Terminalia ivorensis. It was observed that Terminalia ivorensis could be a good nutrient recycler that could be used to improve on degraded soils. It was however observed that Ca and Mg tend to accumulate in leaf litter for all the three species.","PeriodicalId":11699,"journal":{"name":"Environment and Natural Resources Research","volume":"36 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82767098","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Biodiversity management in Ghana has been largely driven by scientific conservation models. The time-tested and useful traditional conservation ethos in the Ghanaian cultural and artistic elements such as festivals, proverbs, cosmological belief systems and taboos are often watered down by conservationists in biodiversity conservation schemes. This is due to conservationists’ lack of clear-cut guidelines on how to effectively utilize the traditional knowledge systems in complementing the scientific conservation models they are well versed. The developed traditional biodiversity strategy was based on the findings from a robust phenomenological study conducted among purposively and randomly sampled key stakeholders in biodiversity management in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The document aims at offering comprehensive information and guidelines to conservationists on effective ways of implementing traditional knowledge systems in biodiversity conservation issues in Ghana. It ultimately aims at filling the dearth in traditional knowledge systems that have been an age-long problem for the conservation ministries and agencies in Ghana. The informative directions in the developed traditional biodiversity strategy would offer another lens to addressing conservation issues in Ghana while acting as a viable complement to the scientific models. This would ultimately maximize and enrich the conservation strategies for managing Ghana’s biodiversity.
{"title":"Traditional Biodiversity Conservation Strategy As A Complement to the Existing Scientific Biodiversity Conservation Models in Ghana","authors":"Dickson Adom","doi":"10.5539/ENRR.V8N3P1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5539/ENRR.V8N3P1","url":null,"abstract":"Biodiversity management in Ghana has been largely driven by scientific conservation models. The time-tested and useful traditional conservation ethos in the Ghanaian cultural and artistic elements such as festivals, proverbs, cosmological belief systems and taboos are often watered down by conservationists in biodiversity conservation schemes. This is due to conservationists’ lack of clear-cut guidelines on how to effectively utilize the traditional knowledge systems in complementing the scientific conservation models they are well versed. The developed traditional biodiversity strategy was based on the findings from a robust phenomenological study conducted among purposively and randomly sampled key stakeholders in biodiversity management in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The document aims at offering comprehensive information and guidelines to conservationists on effective ways of implementing traditional knowledge systems in biodiversity conservation issues in Ghana. It ultimately aims at filling the dearth in traditional knowledge systems that have been an age-long problem for the conservation ministries and agencies in Ghana. The informative directions in the developed traditional biodiversity strategy would offer another lens to addressing conservation issues in Ghana while acting as a viable complement to the scientific models. This would ultimately maximize and enrich the conservation strategies for managing Ghana’s biodiversity.","PeriodicalId":11699,"journal":{"name":"Environment and Natural Resources Research","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91339815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The following article is a review of oil spills in the Arabian Gulf with a focus on the Kuwait Spill during the Gulf War. The article provides some background on the events leading up to the oil spill, as well as the extent and details of the spill. Impacts on air quality, terrestrial ecology, marine ecology, socioeconomic aspects, and public health are analyzed in detail to assess the extent of damage on various environmental and social components. It was found that significant impacts were incurred on the marine and terrestrial environments, with some negative effects still persisting to our present day. Heavy economic impacts were also incurred in the form of infrastructure damage and loss of productivity. The article further provides a review of various natural, mechanical, and chemical means of remediation utilized during the clean-up efforts and provides a relative comparison of these for potential usage on similar events in the future.
{"title":"Oil Spills in the Arabian Gulf: A Case Study and Environmental Review","authors":"Nivine Issa, Sreya Vempatti","doi":"10.5539/ENRR.V8N2P144","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5539/ENRR.V8N2P144","url":null,"abstract":"The following article is a review of oil spills in the Arabian Gulf with a focus on the Kuwait Spill during the Gulf War. The article provides some background on the events leading up to the oil spill, as well as the extent and details of the spill. Impacts on air quality, terrestrial ecology, marine ecology, socioeconomic aspects, and public health are analyzed in detail to assess the extent of damage on various environmental and social components. It was found that significant impacts were incurred on the marine and terrestrial environments, with some negative effects still persisting to our present day. Heavy economic impacts were also incurred in the form of infrastructure damage and loss of productivity. The article further provides a review of various natural, mechanical, and chemical means of remediation utilized during the clean-up efforts and provides a relative comparison of these for potential usage on similar events in the future.","PeriodicalId":11699,"journal":{"name":"Environment and Natural Resources Research","volume":"146 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90681437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Karst collapse columns are unique collapse structures in karst terranes. Coal mining in China has exposed numerous such features of tens of meters in diameter and hundreds of meters in height. Hydraulically conductive collapses functioned as groundwater pathways between underground workings and aquifers, resulting in water inrushes during coal mining. Over the last 60 years, water inrushes through these collapses have caused fatalities, economic losses, and degradation in the environment. Determination of locations and hydrogeological characteristics of the karst collapse columns are essential in preventing water inrush incidents through them. Advanced geophysical prospecting, directional drilling, aquifer testing and accompanied dye tracing are effective approaches to detecting and characterizing these structures. Five geophysical techniques consisting of both surface and underground geophysical surveys and directional drilling of three exploratory boreholes up to 986 m deep identified a concealed collapse feature of more than 135 m high in Renlou Coal Mine, China. The roof of the collapse feature was at approximately 785 m deep, and there was an open void of 1.5 - 2 m high at the top. Geotechnical properties, results from packer testing and tracer testing, monitoring of potentiometric pressures, and geochemical fingerprinting suggested that this collapse column was hydraulically conductive and still actively developing. Water in the confined thin-bedded limestone and Ordovician limestone aquifer that either overlies or underlie coal seams could flow into the underground working areas if this feature were not identified in advance but encountered during mining. A grouting program was designed and implemented to construct a water plug in the collapse that effectively cut off the hydraulic connections from the aquifers to the underground workings. Successful construction of the water plug in the collapse was confirmed by performance monitoring of the aquifers.
{"title":"Characterization and Remediation of Karst Collapse Columns for Mining Safety and Environmental Protection: A Case Study in Renlou Coal Mine, China","authors":"Shuning Dong, Hao Wang, Wanfang Zhou","doi":"10.5539/enrr.v8n2p128","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5539/enrr.v8n2p128","url":null,"abstract":"Karst collapse columns are unique collapse structures in karst terranes. Coal mining in China has exposed numerous such features of tens of meters in diameter and hundreds of meters in height. Hydraulically conductive collapses functioned as groundwater pathways between underground workings and aquifers, resulting in water inrushes during coal mining. Over the last 60 years, water inrushes through these collapses have caused fatalities, economic losses, and degradation in the environment. Determination of locations and hydrogeological characteristics of the karst collapse columns are essential in preventing water inrush incidents through them. Advanced geophysical prospecting, directional drilling, aquifer testing and accompanied dye tracing are effective approaches to detecting and characterizing these structures. Five geophysical techniques consisting of both surface and underground geophysical surveys and directional drilling of three exploratory boreholes up to 986 m deep identified a concealed collapse feature of more than 135 m high in Renlou Coal Mine, China. The roof of the collapse feature was at approximately 785 m deep, and there was an open void of 1.5 - 2 m high at the top. Geotechnical properties, results from packer testing and tracer testing, monitoring of potentiometric pressures, and geochemical fingerprinting suggested that this collapse column was hydraulically conductive and still actively developing. Water in the confined thin-bedded limestone and Ordovician limestone aquifer that either overlies or underlie coal seams could flow into the underground working areas if this feature were not identified in advance but encountered during mining. A grouting program was designed and implemented to construct a water plug in the collapse that effectively cut off the hydraulic connections from the aquifers to the underground workings. Successful construction of the water plug in the collapse was confirmed by performance monitoring of the aquifers.","PeriodicalId":11699,"journal":{"name":"Environment and Natural Resources Research","volume":"55 1","pages":"128"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91212905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Infrastructural development is considered one of the key steps towards economic advancement and prosperity, although the ecological basis of such intent is often not enshrined in the policies of governments, especially in most developing nations. Thus, infrastructural development has further increased fragmentation of ecologically-rich landscapes, causing biodiversity losses, reduced specie richness and diversity and climate change. Hence, the need for green infrastructure development. This study made use of Geographic Information System (GIS) tool to explore areas with high Ecological Connectivity Index (ECI) that could (easily) support green infrastructure development in Kaduna State in the face of climate change impacts which is already ravaging the region. Kaduna State land use/cover map and Aster GDTM elevation data were acquired, processed and analyzed using ArcGIS 10.5 software. A spatial model was developed that made use of the combination of elevation, slope and land use/cover data of the State via Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) to reveal potentially viable and ecologically-rich areas of the State and the most efficient links between such areas. A total distance of 878 kilometers of potential ecological corridors in the study area were mapped and therefore, serve as a base to be considered in embarking on a state-wide green wall infrastructure development program by Kaduna State government. It is however recommended that Kaduna State as well as other state governments, particularly in northern Nigeria, ought to roll-out phased green infrastructure investment program(s), adopt the use of shrubs and trees in building green walls and to localize all the gains of the continental-wide Green Wall initiative as this will further reduce the threats of climate change in the region. The study also recommended the inclusion of other landscape variables/descriptors (e.g. road proximity, soil properties, cultural setting of local communities, etc.) into building a more comprehensive model to strengthen the accuracy of the map and the model presented in this study.
{"title":"Ecological Connectivity Index Mapping for Green Infrastructure Development in Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria","authors":"F. Ujoh, Patrick Samson Udama Eneche, M. Obiegbu","doi":"10.5539/ENRR.V8N2P116","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5539/ENRR.V8N2P116","url":null,"abstract":"Infrastructural development is considered one of the key steps towards economic advancement and prosperity, although the ecological basis of such intent is often not enshrined in the policies of governments, especially in most developing nations. Thus, infrastructural development has further increased fragmentation of ecologically-rich landscapes, causing biodiversity losses, reduced specie richness and diversity and climate change. Hence, the need for green infrastructure development. This study made use of Geographic Information System (GIS) tool to explore areas with high Ecological Connectivity Index (ECI) that could (easily) support green infrastructure development in Kaduna State in the face of climate change impacts which is already ravaging the region. Kaduna State land use/cover map and Aster GDTM elevation data were acquired, processed and analyzed using ArcGIS 10.5 software. A spatial model was developed that made use of the combination of elevation, slope and land use/cover data of the State via Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) to reveal potentially viable and ecologically-rich areas of the State and the most efficient links between such areas. A total distance of 878 kilometers of potential ecological corridors in the study area were mapped and therefore, serve as a base to be considered in embarking on a state-wide green wall infrastructure development program by Kaduna State government. It is however recommended that Kaduna State as well as other state governments, particularly in northern Nigeria, ought to roll-out phased green infrastructure investment program(s), adopt the use of shrubs and trees in building green walls and to localize all the gains of the continental-wide Green Wall initiative as this will further reduce the threats of climate change in the region. The study also recommended the inclusion of other landscape variables/descriptors (e.g. road proximity, soil properties, cultural setting of local communities, etc.) into building a more comprehensive model to strengthen the accuracy of the map and the model presented in this study.","PeriodicalId":11699,"journal":{"name":"Environment and Natural Resources Research","volume":"1 1","pages":"116"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76328386","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plant invasions have become one of the biggest threats to natural ecosystems across the globe during the last decade, and there is growing interest in their effect on the native flora and biota in invaded areas. However, little is known about their effect on soil microbial communities, especially non-fungal communities, in harsh environments such as a sand-dune ecosystem. The objective of this study, conducted in the northern Sharon sand-dune area of Israel, was to investigate the influence of the invasive alien plant Heterotheca subaxillaris on a sand-dune microbial community. Soil samples were collected under the canopies of the invasive plant, a native plant (Artemisia monosperma), and from bare areas at two sites, at different distances from the seashore going inland during the wet and dry seasons. MicroRespTM system methodology provided data on microbial biomass, basal respiration, and the community-level physiological profile (CLPP) at the community level, in addition to abiotic components, e.g., soil moisture, organic matter, conductivity, and pH. The microbial community in the soil samples found under the canopy of H. subaxillaris was less active and exhibited significantly lower CLPP, microbial biomass, and basal respiration than in the A. monosperma (native plant) samples. Soil abiotic variables were strongly affected by seasonality, sites, and were related to plant cover and the ecophysiological adaptation of each one. This study emphasizes the threat to soil microbial communities induced by plant invasion, especially in unique and harsh sand-dune ecosystems. This threat might also affect other organisms living in this fragile environment.
{"title":"Soil Microbial-Community Alteration in Response to Heterotheca subaxillaris – an Invasive Alien Plant","authors":"H. Wasserstrom, Y. Steinberger","doi":"10.5539/enrr.v8n2p85","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5539/enrr.v8n2p85","url":null,"abstract":"Plant invasions have become one of the biggest threats to natural ecosystems across the globe during the last decade, and there is growing interest in their effect on the native flora and biota in invaded areas. However, little is known about their effect on soil microbial communities, especially non-fungal communities, in harsh environments such as a sand-dune ecosystem. The objective of this study, conducted in the northern Sharon sand-dune area of Israel, was to investigate the influence of the invasive alien plant Heterotheca subaxillaris on a sand-dune microbial community. Soil samples were collected under the canopies of the invasive plant, a native plant (Artemisia monosperma), and from bare areas at two sites, at different distances from the seashore going inland during the wet and dry seasons. MicroRespTM system methodology provided data on microbial biomass, basal respiration, and the community-level physiological profile (CLPP) at the community level, in addition to abiotic components, e.g., soil moisture, organic matter, conductivity, and pH. The microbial community in the soil samples found under the canopy of H. subaxillaris was less active and exhibited significantly lower CLPP, microbial biomass, and basal respiration than in the A. monosperma (native plant) samples. Soil abiotic variables were strongly affected by seasonality, sites, and were related to plant cover and the ecophysiological adaptation of each one. This study emphasizes the threat to soil microbial communities induced by plant invasion, especially in unique and harsh sand-dune ecosystems. This threat might also affect other organisms living in this fragile environment.","PeriodicalId":11699,"journal":{"name":"Environment and Natural Resources Research","volume":"46 2 1","pages":"85"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-05-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86565451","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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