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.