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Sustainable Agricultural Engineering: Agroecology Sustainable Development and Agriculture Environmental Impact Assessment and Measurement

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 6278

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Nan Sun

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Interests: eco-agriculture; organic fertilizer replaces chemical fertilizer; sustainable agriculture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Kun Cheng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Interests: land and water resource system; agricultural water prices

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

At present, global agricultural systems are facing unprecedented challenges, particularly climate change, increased disasters, soil degradation, and shortages of agricultural resources, which have all led to a lack of diversity and low productivity in agricultural systems, thereby hindering the achievement of sustainable development goals. Moreover, the global population could reach 9.73 billion by 2050. The agricultural sector faces the challenge of producing enough agricultural products with lower environmental impacts. The sustainable development of agricultural systems is crucial for ensuring global food security. To address these challenges, this Special Issue aims to explore the impact of Agroecology Sustainable Development and Agriculture Environmental Impact Assessment and Measurement for achieving sustainable development.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to provide a platform for researchers to showcase their original research and reviews related to the impact of sustainable agricultural on agriculture, ecosystem sustainability, agriculture environmental impact, and ecological security. The goal is to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in this field and identify effective strategies for addressing the challenges posed by sustainable agricultural.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Impacts on greenhouse gas reduction after sustainable agroecology development.
  • Impacts on soil organic carbon stability after sustainable agroecology development.
  • Assessment and measurement of the impact of sustainable agriculture on the agri-environment.
  • Bio-organic fertilizer replacement of chemical fertilizers to improve sustainable agricultural quality and efficiency technology.
  • Beneficial microorganisms, bio-organic fertilizer development and impacts on agro-ecosystem sustainability potentials.
  • Policy formulation for the sustainable management of regional/global sustainable agricultural in response to serious environmental impacts in agricultural systems, etc.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Nan Sun
Dr. Kun Cheng
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • agroecology
  • agriculture environmental impact
  • bio-organic fertilizer
  • greenhouse gas
  • soil organic carbon

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 15025 KiB  
Article
The Coupling Coordination Degree and Its Driving Factors for Water–Energy–Food Resources in the Yellow River Irrigation Area of Shandong Province
by Wei Zhang, Chang Liu, Lingqi Li, Enhui Jiang and Hongjun Zhao
Sustainability 2024, 16(19), 8473; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198473 - 29 Sep 2024
Viewed by 786
Abstract
Water resources, energy, and food are essential for the development of society, and they are strongly interdependent. The coupling and coordination relationships of the water–energy–food (WEF) system are important for regional resource security and high-quality development. The Yellow River Irrigation Area in Shandong [...] Read more.
Water resources, energy, and food are essential for the development of society, and they are strongly interdependent. The coupling and coordination relationships of the water–energy–food (WEF) system are important for regional resource security and high-quality development. The Yellow River Irrigation Area in Shandong Province, China, is a grain production base and has a substantial impact on national food security. To examine the water, energy, and food subsystem dynamics in this area, an evaluation system for the WEF system was established. A comprehensive weighting method based on game theory was employed to determine index weights. TOPSIS was used to assess the development level of the WEF system. A coupling coordination degree model was used to analyze the evolution of the coupling coordination degree of the WEF system from 2000 to 2020, and a GWR model was constructed to explore the spatial heterogeneity of its driving factors. The findings indicated that the development level of the WEF system in the study area was moderate, with a gradual upward trend. The coupling coordination degree fluctuated between 0.62 and 0.739. The GWR model revealed that temperature had an overall negative effect on the coupling coordination degree, with the greatest impact on the central irrigation area; the slope and NDVI had a negative effect, with increasing intensity from the southwest to the northeast; and rainfall had an overall positive effect, with the greatest impact on the irrigation area near the estuary in the northeast. Overall, the building area ratio had a negative effect on the coupling coordination degree, with exceptions in some areas. These research outcomes provide theoretical support for sustainable agricultural development in the Yellow River irrigation areas of Shandong Province and methodological reference data for studying collaborative resource utilization in irrigation regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agricultural Engineering: Agroecology Sustainable Development and Agriculture Environmental Impact Assessment and Measurement)
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20 pages, 2598 KiB  
Article
Adapting to the Agricultural Labor Market Shaped by Robotization
by Vasso Marinoudi, Lefteris Benos, Carolina Camacho Villa, Maria Lampridi, Dimitrios Kateris, Remigio Berruto, Simon Pearson, Claus Grøn Sørensen and Dionysis Bochtis
Sustainability 2024, 16(16), 7061; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16167061 - 17 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 899
Abstract
Agriculture is being transformed through automation and robotics to improve efficiency and reduce production costs. However, this transformation poses risks of job loss, particularly for low-skilled workers, as automation decreases the need for human labor. To adapt, the workforce must acquire new qualifications [...] Read more.
Agriculture is being transformed through automation and robotics to improve efficiency and reduce production costs. However, this transformation poses risks of job loss, particularly for low-skilled workers, as automation decreases the need for human labor. To adapt, the workforce must acquire new qualifications to collaborate with automated systems or shift to roles that leverage their unique human abilities. In this study, 15 agricultural occupations were methodically mapped in a cognitive/manual versus routine/non-routine two-dimensional space. Subsequently, each occupation’s susceptibility to robotization was assessed based on the readiness level of existing technologies that can automate specific tasks and the relative importance of these tasks in the occupation’s execution. The qualifications required for occupations less impacted by robotization were summarized, detailing the specific knowledge, skills, and work styles required to effectively integrate the emerging technologies. It was deduced that occupations involving primary manual routine tasks exhibited the highest susceptibility rate, whereas occupations with non-routine tasks showed lower susceptibility. To thrive in this evolving landscape, a strategic combination of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) skills with essential management, soft skills, and interdisciplinary competences is imperative. Finally, this research stresses the importance of strategic preparation by policymakers and educational systems to cultivate key competencies, including digital literacy, that foster resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability in the sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agricultural Engineering: Agroecology Sustainable Development and Agriculture Environmental Impact Assessment and Measurement)
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13 pages, 1540 KiB  
Article
An Approach to the Key Soil Physical Properties for Assessing Soil Compaction Due to Livestock Grazing in Mediterranean Mountain Areas
by Rafael Blanco-Sepúlveda, María Luisa Gómez-Moreno and Francisco Lima
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4279; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104279 - 19 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 924
Abstract
The selection of key soil physical properties (SPPs) for studying the impact of livestock treading is an unexplored research topic, especially in studies that analyze the influence of livestock management on the degradation process. The objective of this work was to demonstrate that [...] Read more.
The selection of key soil physical properties (SPPs) for studying the impact of livestock treading is an unexplored research topic, especially in studies that analyze the influence of livestock management on the degradation process. The objective of this work was to demonstrate that the key SPPs for studying the impact of livestock treading depend on the objectives of the research and the environmental characteristics of the study site. This work used discriminant analysis to establish the most significant SPPs among the following: bulk density (BD), total porosity (P), field capacity (FC), infiltration capacity (IC), and aggregate stability (AS). Results showed that (1) IC and BD are the key properties for identifying the areas affected (bare patch) and unaffected (vegetated patch) by livestock treading, (2) none of the SPPs are significant under increasing stocking rates, and (3) BD is the key property for analyzing livestock impact with increasing stocking rate, using soil calcium carbonate content, slope exposure, and grass cover. We concluded that the relationship between physical soil degradation and stocking rate is not linear because it depends on environmental factors; therefore, to establish the key SPPs, it is necessary to take this fact into account. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agricultural Engineering: Agroecology Sustainable Development and Agriculture Environmental Impact Assessment and Measurement)
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24 pages, 3387 KiB  
Article
Inventory, Dynamic Evolution, and Scenario Projections of Agricultural Carbon Emissions in Shandong Province, China
by Chenxi Gao, Qingping Hu and Lingxin Bao
Sustainability 2024, 16(8), 3196; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083196 - 11 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1458
Abstract
The reduction in agricultural carbon emissions (ACEs) in Shandong Province is essential to China’s carbon peak and carbon neutrality objectives. In this regard, we constructed an ACE inventory for Shandong Province at a resolution of 1 km × 1 km, integrating the emission [...] Read more.
The reduction in agricultural carbon emissions (ACEs) in Shandong Province is essential to China’s carbon peak and carbon neutrality objectives. In this regard, we constructed an ACE inventory for Shandong Province at a resolution of 1 km × 1 km, integrating the emission factor method with geographic information system (GIS) technology. Building upon this, we explored the dynamic evolution patterns of ACEs using kernel density estimation and conditional probability density estimation. Additionally, long short-term memory networks were trained to predict ACEs under various scenarios. The results showed that: (1) ACEs in Shandong Province exhibited two stages of change, i.e., “rise and decline”. Notably, 64.39% of emissions originated from the planting industry. The distribution of emissions was closely correlated with regional agricultural production modes. Specifically, CO2 emissions were predominantly distributed in crop cultivation areas, while CH4 and N2O emissions were primarily distributed in livestock breeding areas. The uncertainty of the emission inventory ranged from −12.04% to 10.74%, mainly caused by emission factors. (2) The ACE intensity of various cities in Shandong Province is decreasing, indicating a decoupling between ACEs and agricultural economic growth. Furthermore, the emission disparities among different cities are diminishing, although significant spatial non-equilibrium still persists. (3) From 2022 to 2030, the ACEs in Shandong Province will show a continuous downward trend. By 2030, the projected values under the baseline scenario, low-carbon scenario I, and low-carbon scenario II will be 6301.74 × 104 tons, 5980.67 × 104 tons, and 5850.56 × 104 tons. The low-carbon scenario reveals greater potential for ACE reduction while achieving efficient rural economic development and urbanization simultaneously. This study not only advances the methodology of the ACE inventory but also provides quantitative references and scientific bases for promoting low-carbon, efficient, and sustainable regional agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agricultural Engineering: Agroecology Sustainable Development and Agriculture Environmental Impact Assessment and Measurement)
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15 pages, 2362 KiB  
Article
Effects of Biochar-Coated Nitrogen Fertilizer on the Yield and Quality of Bok Choy and on Soil Nutrients
by Haiwen Bi, Jiafeng Xu, Kaixuan Li, Kaiang Li, Huanling Cao and Chao Zhao
Sustainability 2024, 16(4), 1659; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16041659 - 17 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1596
Abstract
This study was aimed at problems associated with low fertilizer using efficiency, excessive nitrate content of vegetables, and soil degradation in greenhouse vegetable production. A pot experiment was conducted to assess the effects of applying biochar-coated nitrogen fertilizer (BCNF) on the yield, quality, [...] Read more.
This study was aimed at problems associated with low fertilizer using efficiency, excessive nitrate content of vegetables, and soil degradation in greenhouse vegetable production. A pot experiment was conducted to assess the effects of applying biochar-coated nitrogen fertilizer (BCNF) on the yield, quality, and nitrate content of bok choy (Brassica rapa subsp. Chinensis) as well as on soil nutrients in greenhouses. Four treatments were set up as follows: no nitrogen fertilizer application (BA), chemical nitrogen fertilizer application (CK), biochar-coated nitrogen fertilizer application (BCNF, the amount of nitrogen was equal to that of chemical fertilizer), and reduced biochar-coated nitrogen fertilizer application (D-BCNF, the amount of fertilizer was 80% of BCNF). Compared with the other treatments, BCNF treatment increased chlorophyll content, plant height, maximum leaf length, maximum leaf width, and other biological characters of bok choy. Compared with CK treatment, BCNF treatment increased the fresh weight of bok choy by 14.02%, while reducing the root–shoot ratio and nitrate content by 19.1% and 46%, respectively. It was further found that the application of BCNF could effectively increase the content of soil organic matter; reduce the leaching loss of nitrate nitrogen, exchangeable calcium and magnesium; and effectively improve nitrogen use efficiency. Therefore, the application of BCNF can not only reduce the loss of fertilizer nutrients, promote plant growth, and improve fertilizer utilization, but it can also improve soil nutrients, fix carbon, and reduce emissions. It is a new type of environmental protection fertilizer with application prospects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agricultural Engineering: Agroecology Sustainable Development and Agriculture Environmental Impact Assessment and Measurement)
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