4. Agricultural Land use, Soils and Resource Management
In this special issue, various research articles address crucial aspects
of agricultural land use, sustainable soil management, and its
implications. For instance, Swe et al. (2020) investigates the
repercussions of agricultural land use changes caused by the
construction of the Paunglaung Hydropower Dam in Myanmar. The study
unveils shifts in agricultural practices and income strategies among
different income groups through satellite imagery and household surveys.
The research highlights the impact of dam-induced land changes on local
livelihoods and food security. Singh et al. (2020) looked at how
changing the way farmers grow crops affects the soil quality in India.
They found that crop rotations involving vegetables or pulses can make
the soil healthier and improve crop growth. Hu et al. (2020) studied how
planting certain legume plants can help restore grasslands in China’s
Loess Plateau. They found that one particular legume, Caragana
korshinskii, is better at improving the land than others. Behera et al.
(2020) focus on soil management zones to combat nutrient deficiencies,
proposing strategies for sustainable crop growth in the Narmada River
Basin, India. Also in India, Tripathi and Tiwari (2021) investigated how
too much salt in the soil affects crops. They used satellite data to
predict where soil salinity might be a problem for growing wheat. Yao et
al. (2020) explored how adding different amounts of nitrogen fertilizer
to soil affects the bacteria that live in coastal areas. They discovered
that adding more nitrogen can change the types of bacteria in the soil.
Ray et al. (2021) looked at a traditional farming practice in India’s
northeastern hills called ”jhuming” (the practice of cutting down and
burning the vegetation from an area of forest in order to create
farmable land) and reported significant soil degradation in these lands.
They also suggested alternative practices to prevent soil degradation.
Focusing on soil potassium content in China’s Yangtze River Basin, Zhu
et al. (2021) use experimental and statistical data to evaluate changes
caused by K-fertilizer application and straw return. They find that
balanced K fertilization and increased straw residues return contribute
to improved soil K status, providing insights for sustainable soil
management.
In summary, the articles in this special issue provide a comprehensive
understanding of various issues on land use, degradation, ecosystem
services, and agricultural soil management, contributing to enhanced and
sustainable decision-making considering the changing LCLUC dynamics
across diverse Asian countries.