In Zambia, simple weir technology is increasingly gaining popularity as an alternative method for river water diversion among rural small-scale farmers. The now widely-adopted technology was first introduced in the Northern Province region of Zambia to promote small-scale irrigation in local communities. These small-scale facilities are constructed across the width of the river using forest materials such as poles, twigs, thatching grass, and tree bark strips. These types of irrigation structures produce an adequate head of water enough for the diversion of water from the river into a canal conveying water for irrigation. However, simple weirs that farmers have been constructing with forest materials are observed to experience challenges such as breaching, and often break down and collapse within six to seven months. Therefore, the objective of this research was to investigate the characteristics of simple weirs constructed by farmers on a self-help basis for community-based small-scale irrigation schemes in the Luapula, Muchinga, and Northern Province regions of Zambia. We observed the simple weirs constructed before the start of irrigation season (May) and simple weirs built in the operational phase (May-November) and we characterized simple weirs as 1) single-line weir, 2) inclined weir, 3) trigonal weir, and 4) double-line weir. The results show an improvement in the irrigated area by small-scale farmers since the introduction of simple weirs. The findings revealed that challenges that were often encountered on the simple weirs were not solely caused by river flooding, but also by compromises in the construction, inconsistencies in maintenance, and lack of measures to sustain and protect the weirs. It was also observed that simple weirs in operation were regularly maintained and repaired during the irrigation season. Despite the challenges farmers were experiencing with the simple weirs, farmers persistently conducted maintenance activities, replaced worn-out poles and thatching grass and de-silted before the start of the irrigation season.

It is crucial to establish appropriate water management in agriculture. Due to financial difficulties, it is also necessary for farmers to work together with government agencies in water management. Existing water allocation models, however, require much effort to collect data. They are also black boxes difficult for farmers to understand, which may discourage farmers from participating in irrigation planning. In this study, we attempted to construct a farm-block-level water balance model with a simple tank model concept and easily collectible data. The model consists of two parts that reproduce the water distribution process from the farm block intake to each field (Canal Tank Model; CTM) and the water balance process in the paddy field (Paddy Tank Model; PTM), respectively. The model coefficients were identified using data from 2002 to 2003, and the model validity was evaluated using data from 2004 and 2005. The CTM coefficients were identified for 2002 and 2003 because of the different land use patterns. The CTM runoff coefficients and hole heights were changed on days when the farmers were considered to have operated diversion ratios significantly. The PTM coefficients were identified using the SDFP method and trial and error referring to the groundwater level. However, the PTM seepage holes were fixed to the corresponding values that the vertical seepage was approximately 5 mm/d based on the on-site survey. As a result, despite the arbitrary water manipulation by farmers, the same CTM coefficients for 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005, when the land use pattern was similar, were able to reproduce the water allocation well. This water allocation model can be used to estimate the optimal delivery water management rate and to quantitatively evaluate the excess water withdrawal resulting from the labor reduction in water management.

Effective, equitable, and sustainable management of water resources in river basins requires clarification of the current river basin situation and potential water use and water balance challenges. This study performs a water balance calculation involving an analysis of the appropriate water distribution of the Boribo-Bamnak River basin in Cambodia. This river basin covers the Boribo and Bamnak basins, both of which are interlinked by the Bamnak headworks. Together, this constitutes an integrated irrigation and drainage system. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was used to simulate rainfall-runoff in the Boribo-Bamnak basin over a study period of nine years (2010-2018), whereupon a simulated daily streamflow was applied to the water balance computation in the river basin according to the water distribution ratio at Bamnak headworks. The SWAT model yielded NSE, PBIAS, and RSR values of 0.55, 9.70, respectively, and 0.67 for model calibration. It also obtained values of 0.51, 3.70, and 0.70 for model validation of the three quantitative statistics, NSE, PBIAS, and RSR. The results of the calculated water balance indicate that although the Bamnak and Boribo Rivers have abundant water in the wet season, they have faced water shortages in the dry season during every year of the study period except 2016. Irrigation safety during the dry season is always low (approximately 10%). Attaining a desirable safety level of 80% in all existing irrigation areas would require additional water resources of approximately 6.0 × 10⁶ m³ for the Boribo River basin and 10⁷ m³ for the Bamnak River basin. In light of the above findings, this study provides recommendations for coordination strategies to improve water resource management and development plans in the river basin.

Pickled cucumbers selling at wet markets in Cambodia are popular among local people. It has been reported that pickles using homemade recipes are at a high risk of spoiling and causing food poisoning, as there are no heating steps in the production process. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the hygienic conditions of the food supply to make safe pickles in Cambodia. Heat treatments using hot pack filling and pasteurization lead to microbiologically safe products and extended shelf life. This study aimed to examine the effect of heat treatments (hot pack filling and pasteurization) on preservative properties and to evaluate the acceptability of the pickled cucumbers prepared with the heating process. Pickled cucumbers prepared with and without the heating process were made using a traditional Cambodian recipe and stored at 30 °C for 7 days. The presence of total viable bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, yeasts, and molds in the pickled products was tested during the storage periods. The samples without the heating process resulted in contamination with coliforms, E. coli, yeasts, and molds and were in an initial putrefactive state because of the number of total viable bacteria. On the other hand, coliforms, E. coli, yeasts, and molds were not detected in the samples prepared with the heating process from Day 0 to Day 7. This result indicated that the pasteurization treatment killed many spoilage microbes, including foodborne pathogens. To investigate the acceptability of the pickled cucumbers prepared with the heating process, sensory evaluation tests were performed. From the results of the sensory evaluation and questionnaire survey, there was the possibility of acceptance of the pickled cucumbers prepared with the heating process made either in Japan or Cambodia by the Cambodian panelists; however, further improvement in the softness of the pickles was commented upon.

Electrokinetic treatment (ET) is widely used for soil remediation, specifically for removing heavy metals from soil. Till date, we have focused on the nutrients released in soils using a solar cell-powered ET, which contributes to increasing the productivity of organic farming. Previously, when a 1.5 V solar cell was used in ET, the release of ammonium ions and the growth of microorganisms were observed. However, no release of phosphate ions was observed. Thus, it is presumed that a 1.5 V solar cell is insufficient to release phosphate in soils. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effects of solar cell voltage on the release of phosphate in soils. In laboratory experiments, an anode (oxidation reaction) and a cathode (reduction reaction) were installed in andosol mixed with cow manure compost, and a 3 or 6 V solar cell was used to produce an electric current between the two electrodes. Sixty-two days after the current generation, the chemical properties of the soil were measured. The results suggest that soil redox conditions can be controlled by changing the solar cell voltage. From the pH distributions, a higher voltage of solar cells was used and a large change in pH was obtained. Furthermore, a decrease in soil redox potential was obtained by increasing the solar cell voltage. From the phosphate distributions, a 6 V solar cell is required to release phosphate in soils. It is recommended that applying ET powered by a 6 V solar cell (potential gradient: 0.12 V/cm) facilitates nutrient release in soils, which is the most important factor in organic farming.

Increasing water scarcity is lowering the agricultural production of the Tadla region in Morocco. This necessitates the Moroccan government to actively stimulate farmers about converting their irrigation systems from surface irrigation (furrow) to drip irrigation and subsidize the investment costs by 80%-100%. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the impact of the drip irrigation system on the planning and management of water delivery after the conversion program from surface (furrow) irrigation to drip irrigation in the Beni Amir irrigation district on the right side of the Tadla region. The water management practices before and after conversion were gathered through discussions and interviews with officials and representatives of the management team responsible for the study irrigation scheme. An open questionnaire survey was also conducted, focusing on farmers’ irrigation management practices such as on-farm water distribution methods, application rate, water adequacy, and equity water satisfaction level before and after conversion, and the results were analyzed by paying attention to their farms’ upstream, midstream, and downstream locations. The analysis reveals that most of the interviewed farmers indicated satisfaction with equitable water distribution. Some variations in the water management system may occur due to the conversion project, such as an increase in irrigation time and increased cost and labor in water management. These will have an impact on the CDA’s (Agriculture Development Center) overall water management monitoring and planning at the tertiary canal, as well as farmers’ water management labor.

Bio-slurry is an organic fertilizer produced from the decomposition of organic waste or residues in anaerobic digestion. It is applicable for improving vegetable production as it contains necessary nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) for plant growth and organic matter that improves soil structure and water-holding capacity. About 29,000 biodigesters have been installed across Cambodia using animal waste to produce biogas, so huge quantities of bio-slurry are produced. Therefore, this study aimed (1) to assess the conditions of bio-slurry application in crop production in rural areas, (2) to determine NPK content in the bio-slurry, and (3) to estimate annual bio-slurry production and NPK production from biodigesters. The research was conducted between April and September 2022 by selecting 30 farming households that have biodigesters and use bio-slurry for crop cultivation in Prey Chhor District, Kampong Cham Province. It was found that 70% of the farmers used bio-slurry for rice cultivation and 16.7% for backyard vegetables, basically before planting. The nutrient content of slurry produced from cow manure consists of 0.20% N, 0.22% P, and 0.44% K. Most farmers preferred to use solid slurry for rice cultivation and liquid slurry for vegetables such as chili peppers, sweet peppers, eggplant, spinach, mustard greens, and cucumbers. However, bio-slurry was commonly mixed with chemical fertilizer in the crop growth stage. Farmers are willing to use both slurry and chemical fertilizers as this helps the plants to grow well and have higher yields.

Nem trey (NT), Sangvak (SV) (minced fish), and Nem sbek chrouk (NC) (minced fish mixed with pork skin) are fermented fish products popular in Cambodia; NC and NT are ready for direct consumption after two or three days of fermentation, while SV must be additionally grilled before consuming. However, food safety standards for these products including control of biogenic amines such as histamine are neglected, which could pose a health problem. Biogenic amines are nitrogenous organic chemical compounds mainly produced from the decarboxylation of amino acid, histidine, by the activity of certain bacteria associated with fish products processed under poor hygiene and unstable temperature control. This study aimed to determine the histamine level in NT, SV, and NC products and studied its correlation with the viable bacterial count (BVC). Twenty-six samples, NT (n=12), SV (n=5), and NC (n=9), were collected from different producers from Battambang (BB) and Kratie (KT) provinces. A histamine test kit utilizing a colorimetric enzymatic assay, was used to determine histamine level. The BVC was done using the spread plate technique on Luria Bertani agar media incubated at 37^oC for 24h. For KT province, NT and NC contained BVC (log₁₀ CFU/g) in the range of 5.74±0.02 to 6.57±0.01 and 5.52±0.01 to 5.98±0.01, while histamine (mg/kg) ranged from 0 to 156.43±0.13 and 28.76±0.71 to 73.87±0.13, respectively. SV, NT, and NC from BB province contained the BVC (log₁₀ CFU/g) ranging from 6.02±0.16 to 6.56±0.15, 5.97±0.15 to 6.04±0.15, and 5.69±1.18 to 6.12±0.11, while histamine (mg/kg) ranging from 6.10±0.44 to 54.52±0.00, 0 to 10.90±0.14, and 0 to 38.54±0.00, respectively. The BVC and histamine showed a significant correlation, with a value of 0.448 (p-value < 0.05). Therefore, raw materials, processing, and storage conditions along the production chain should be evaluated in further studies to ensure safety of the fermented fish products.

Soil erosion by water is a serious problem in the Amazonia region of Bolivia. In the area of Cobija, Bolivia, around 8 Mg ha^-1 of Amazon soil is lost to the nearby watershed annually. The physical weathering of soils under natural conditions is one of the key processes for understanding structural changes in the soil. The soil erodibility (K) factor in RUSLE represents the susceptibility of soils to erosion, which can be measured with the standard unit plot experiment or through calculation with particle sizes and organic matter. Soil weathering affects soil particle distribution that is closely related to the K factor. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to evaluate and determine the change in the distribution of soil particles as well as the K value. The experiment was conducted in a laboratory setting. A total of 120 cans containing 1 g of soil each were used and treated with different periods and volumes of water added to represent weathering. The simulated weather conditions were set in line with conditions observed in Bolivian Amazonia. The pipette method was used to determine the distribution of soil particles. The results indicated slight changes in the distribution of the soil particles, reducing the percentage of fine sand and increasing the silt content, which affected the K factor as well as the estimate of soil losses based on RUSLE.

Fermented fish and vegetables produced by spontaneous fermentation are the most well-known traditional foods in Cambodia. Even though fermented foods provide health benefits related to nutrition, probiotics, and postbiotics, some of them are not safe due to the survival of bacteria harmful to humans. The purpose of this research is to examine in vitro the antibacterial activity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from fermented fish and vegetables against E. coli O157:H7 and Proteus penneri, histamine forming LAB, and the survival of LAB in low pH levels and high salt concentration using pH and salt tolerance tests. LAB was isolated from 134 naturally fermented fish and vegetables from four different provinces and identified using the Biolog GEN III MicroStation semi-automated system. The antagonistic properties of these isolates against E. coli O157:H7, and Proteus penneri were examined using a co-culture method at 24, 48, and 72 hours of incubation times. As a result, 36 strains of LAB were identified from a total of 134 samples. Seven LAB species out of 36 strains can survive at pH 3 for 6 hours, while four of these seven LAB can tolerate pH 2. Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus gasseri, Leuconostoc lactis, and Leuconostoc gilidum have a significant capacity to inhibit E. coli O157:H7 and Proteus penneri growth when compared to control. These five LAB do not produce histamine and can tolerate up to a 10% salt concentration. All the results demonstrate that Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus lactis, Lactobacillus gasseri, Leuconostoc lactis, and Leuconostoc gilidum have great potential for use as starter cultures for suppressing pathogenic bacteria growth in fermented fish and vegetables.

Seepage water in underground mining voids arises from interception with aquifers that may become contaminated with nitrogen (N)-based explosive during underground blasting operations. The nitrogen-contaminated water may be pumped from underground mining voids and stored at the surface or discharged to a nearby river without treatment if sufficient dilution is achieved to minimize effects on the aquatic environment and pastoral activities. Maximum N concentration in dewatering water was observed to be 200 times the receiving water of the nearby river when compared against ANZECC/ARMCANZ (2000) water quality guidelines. This study sought to identify sources of N contamination of underground seepage water, pumped to the surface for discharge to the nearby river. The level of protection (for an aquatic ecosystem) specified the water quality objectives to be achieved following water release. The ANZECC/ARMCANZ (2000) has three levels of aquatic ecosystem protection, and ’Level 2 Aquatic Ecosystem’ was selected being described as applying to slightly-moderately disturbed systems including rural streams receiving runoff from land disturbed to varying degrees by grazing or pastoralism, nearby or adjacent to urban areas. The study considered river flow data, underground dewatering production, discharge rates, and river water quality for upstream and downstream of the discharge point, as well as quantities of explosives used underground at specified % N in explosives estimated to remain following blasting. The most important nitrogen form present in the mine discharge wastewater was found to be oxidized-N (>93%). Only 0.54 % of end-of-pipe discharge was measurable in the downstream river and indicated that rapid dilution and removal of oxidized-N (nitrate/nitrite) by biota could be achieved. The level of oxidized-N expressed as load discharged to the river showed that the quantity of N discharged was similar in magnitude to the spillage of 4% explosive.

Construction of reservoirs is a priority for ensuring sustainability of water resources. In the Republic of North Macedonia, there are 23 big and over 120 small water reservoirs. On the other hand, erosion and the filling of reservoirs with sediment is one of the main problems in reducing the lifespan of the reservoir. The total annual accumulated sediment in all the reservoirs in the Republic of Macedonia is 3,000,000 m³ (Erosion map of RM, 1993). The selected study area for the current research is the Kalimanci reservoir in the frames of the catchment of the Bregalnica River, North Macedonia. The main method used to estimate the sediment transport on catchment level is the Erosion Potential Method (EPM; Gavrilovic method), and the validity is assessed on the basis of accumulated sediment in the reservoirs. The EPM method only estimates the total transported sediment at one point. To estimate how the sediment is transported, re-transported, and accumulated in the river bed, a hydraulic sediment transport model (HEC RAS) was used. Then the critical sub-catchments from an erosion point of view are delineated. Most of the critical sub-catchments are situated around the Kalimanci reservoir, while the middle of the catchment experiences erosion of medium severity, and the highest parts of the Bregalnica River are the least critical. The largest part of the sediment transported by the Bregalnica River (nearly 75%) is deposited in the valleys. With the aggregation of the previous steps, the erosion zones of the Kalimanci reservoir were identified.

Vegetable production in Cambodia is unstable during the rainy season due to saturated soil conditions, leaving the comparative market advantage to neighboring Vietnam and Thailand. One potential solution that has been proposed is the introduction of a Subsurface Drainage (SD) system, as elucidated in our previous studies. In the current study, SD systems was installed on plots of Chinese cabbage in Svay Chrum District, Svay Rieng Province, to determine their potential in increasing the production period and productivity during the rainy season. The treatments consisted of three SD systems within three growing conditions (GC) including open-field, plastic house, and net house including five replications with a total of 45 plots. The results of the experiment showed positive improvement in terms of growth and yield of Chinese cabbage at a rate of 15% and 22% for SD2 and SD3 systems respectively; and 58% and 66% for net house and plastic house conditions, respectively. The extension of the production period from intermittent to year-round is of great benefit to vegetable producers, and will lead to improved market connections and better production margins, stabilizing income generation. However, the analysis still excluded the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of the experiment due to the absence of detailed data on expenditures, including the cost of drainage pipes, construction of the net and plastic houses, and water consumption.

The expansion of agricultural land and the diminishment of forest cover in Battambang Province (Cambodia) has been recently reported. At the same time, while forest cover has decreased, the amount of water resources in the river basin has been variable. The aim of the current study was to forecast land use change in the upper Sangkae River basin of Battambang Province by 2030. For this purpose, remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) methods were used to analyze satellite data from 2014 to 2018, using the generated maps as data input in the cellular automata (CA)-Markov model. We also integrated the CA-Markov model and GIS spatial analyst tools to assess what will most likely occur in the presence of policy intervention from land use development planning by 2030. Additionally, the model simulated actual and predicted land use in 2022 for accuracy assessment, using the Kappa Index of Agreement for confirmation. Based on the findings, the modeled scenario predicted the increase in built-up land and the decrease in the natural forest cover by 2030 in the absence of a land use policy. Additionally, the findings suggested that in the absence of a land use policy, forest cover will suffer from continued deforestation until forest loss reaches the protected area boundary. Conversely, in the presence of a land use policy, the model shows an increase in forest cover by 2030, even though some areas would be allocated under economic land concessions for industrial agriculture. Moreover, non-forest cover, such as farmlands and paddy fields, is not expected to decline, whereas built-up land is forecast to dramatically increase, with or without policy intervention. This study sheds light on the use of practical evaluation tools for governmental land use policies and development planning.

The crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) is an invasive alien species consumed as a food source worldwide. However, there is an extremely low demand for it as a food resource in Japan, and it is typically targeted for extermination. One reason for the lack of progress in considering crayfish a sustainable food resource is limited education on the issue during secondary education programs. It is well known that astaxanthin is the pigment responsible for the body color of common red crayfish and crustaceans such as shrimp and crabs. At the same time, while there are ample study materials on plant pigments in the science education curriculum in junior high and high schools in Japan, there are no such materials to our knowledge that focus on animal pigments. Therefore, this research sought to develop teaching materials to deepen understanding of color as a food component of crayfish through an experiment involving extracting and separating their pigments. Using pigments extracted from red crayfish exoskeletons, we developed experimental teaching materials to observe astaxanthin by employing thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. In addition, an experiment was conducted to observe the effect of different foods on crayfish body color. For the experiment, food was developed to make crayfish bodies white (decolorized) and orange. When the decolorized crayfish were fed norbixin or bixin, which are components of the orange annatto pigment, norbixin tended to accumulate as orange in the exoskeleton more than bixin based on the apparent body color change, color extraction from images, and thin-layer chromatography. These findings are expected to be useful for science and nutrition education, supporting the development of the students’ awareness and understanding of crayfish as a food resource.

In Japan, the installation of biotopes, defined as aquatic systems aiming to recreate a natural environment, has been popular since the 20^th century. Due to the closed character of many biotopes and high nutrient inputs, one of the main issues related to water quality in a biotope is the occurrence of blue-green algae. In this environment, reduction and control of the blue-green algae cannot be done by chemicals. Water quality must be maintained by other non-chemical means. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effectiveness of patinopecten yessoensis shells inoculated with effective microorganisms as a method for nutrient and water quality control in a biotope environment. In Japan, huge numbers of patinopecten yessoensis shells are left out in the open because they cannot be properly handled. At the same time, patinopecten yessoensis shells are porous and have been studied for water purification. Accordingly, this research has focused on the water purification capacity of patinopecten yessoensis shells inoculated with effective microorganisms. In the study experiment, patinopecten yessoensis shells inoculated with lactobacillus, bacillus subtilis var. natto, and saccharomyces cerevisiae were used to purify water samples taken from a pond in Yatoyama Park in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. To compare nitrogen removal capacity, the experiments consisted of 8 treatments in total. In the first group of four treatments, patinopecten yessoensis shells were burned at 600 degrees to increase pore size and distribution, and were then inoculated with the aforementioned microorganisms. In the second group of four treatments, patinopecten yessoensis shells were not burned, and were only inoculated with the microorganisms. Uninoculated burned and unburned shells were used as control treatments. The experimental results showed total nitrogen removal rates of 42% for unburned and uninoculated shells, 0% for lactobacillus-inoculated unburned shells, 45% for bacillus subtilis var. natto-inoculated unburned shells, and 58% for saccharomyces cerevisiae-inoculated unburned shells. Regarding the burned shells, results showed 51% nitrogen reduction at the uninoculated shells treatment. Lactobacillus-inoculated burned shells reduced nitrogen by 47%, bacillus subtilis var. natto-inoculated burned shells reduced by 34% and saccharomyces cerevisiae-inoculated burned shells reduced the nitrogen in the water sample by 69%. Since this was a short-term experiment, a long-term experiment as well as field-applicable methods need to be discussed in the future.

Lao PDR is a landlocked country and around 90% of the country is located in Mekong River Basin. Average annual rainfall is around 1,900 mm and 35% of the annual flow in the Mekong River is from Lao tributaries. Given the abundance of water resources in Laos, many hydropower dams have been constructed in the country. The generated electricity is exported to Thailand and other surrounding countries and has become an important means of earning foreign currency for Laos. In particular, the Nam Ngum 1 dam has been in operation since 1971 in the Nam Ngum watershed near Vientiane, the capital of Laos, and several additional dams have been completed in this watershed since 2010. Hydropower has great potential to boost the national income and raise living standards in Lao PDR. At the same time, hydropower reservoirs have a large number of potential cross-sector impacts, including changes in the downstream water environment. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the impact of the construction of multiple dams in the Nam Ngum watershed on the river flow regime, as well as on the hydropower generation of the preceding Nam Ngum 1 dam. In this study, the fully distributed TOPMODEL was developed and applied to analyze the water flow in the Nam Ngum watershed with a spatial resolution of 1 km X 1 km. Simulated river discharge and dam storage were in good agreement with observed data. Subsequently, we investigated the impact of the construction of the Nam Lik 1/2, Nam Ngum 2, and Nam Ngum 5 dams, which were newly developed after 2010. Results indicated that new dam construction has positive effects in decreasing flood flow during the rainy season and increasing discharge in the dry season, while electricity generation at the Nam Ngum1 dam also increased by 6.8%.

Monitoring hydro-structural infrastructure is becoming an important and challenging issue. In Japan, there are an increasing number of aging hydro-structural facilities, which need to be inspected to guarantee their strength and durability function. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) photogrammetric images have been used in the detection of structural deterioration of various infrastructure. However, there is a challenge in determining the optimum flying conditions (altitude, angle of camera, and flying patterns) of UAVs for obtaining images. The designs, shapes, and sizes of hydro-structural facilities also pose a challenge for obtaining ideal images. In this study, verification of various flying conditions for producing images and 3D models was proposed for water gates and open surface water channels. Additionally, an evaluation method for the images and 3D models was suggested. In this study, UAV was used for visual inspection and obtaining the image of the water gate and open surface water channel at the Tone diversion gate in Saitama, Japan. Various geometric patterns were pasted on the surface and walls of the structures to evaluate the detection of the patterns with the images taken from UAVs at different flying conditions. The obtained ortho-mosaic images were processed by a PIX4D mapper to obtain a point cloud-based 3D model and were compared with the actual measurements of the patterns. The results of the study suggested that altitude and camera angles affected the quality of images significantly. Cameras at lower angles provided better images, although cameras at high altitudes with wider angles also demonstrated a high degree of efficiency. The circular flying pattern generated satisfactory results, where flyovers were conducted multiple times while changing altitudes and angles of the camera. Additionally, this study proposes a method named "leveling" for the evaluation of images and 3D models.

Information transfer is vital in improving knowledge and proper technology implementation, especially in agriculture. This paper aimed to describe the information system among the Pangasinan mango contractors. Specifically, it aimed to 1) identify the sources of information for the mango contractors, 2) determine information channels for information transfer, 3) establish the type of information that mango contractors prioritize, 4) determine the challenges and issues in the transfer of information, and 5) recommend interventions to improve information transfer among mango contractors. The study area is Pangasinan, Philippines, the country’s top mango-producing province. The research used a purposive sampling of 55 mango contractors covering six mango-producing municipalities. Descriptive statistics and correspondence analyses were employed in the study. Results showed that most mango contractors generally receive information on the production and marketing of mangoes from farm technicians and buyers. They usually get information on production technologies from farm technicians and other mango contractors. Expectedly, they get their information on mango marketing from their buyers. On the other hand, information transfer usually happens through mobile phones and during farmers’ meetings. Furthermore, contractors prefer to get information on the buying price of mangoes, followed by the quality requirements of buyers. Contractors also choose to have a face-to-face conversation when obtaining information. The next preference is through text and calls using mobile phones. In summary, mango contractors still prefer the traditional information system through face-to-face conversations, text, and mobile phone calls. This has implications for the implementation of modern technologies used for information dissemination. Mango contractors might not be receptive to new ways of receiving communication, even if the information might be urgent or essential. It is recommended that contractors be trained to use modern communication technologies to make them more receptive to other communication channels.

Organic nutrient sources are an effective way to improve soil fertility and increase crop yield. Bio-slurry provides tremendous nutrient potential for the vegetative and reproductive growth of field crops and its long-term sustainability. Application of the bio-slurry on the field can help to reduce fertilizer use, maintain productivity, and improve soil health. Soil enzyme activity was enhanced by swine slurry. Enzyme activity following fertilization takes precedence over microbial biomass in the short term. The study aimed (1) to study the effect of bio-slurry and chemical fertilizer on soil enzymes activity, and (2) to compare the biomass growth of corn using bio-slurry and chemical fertilizer. The research was conducted from November to December 2022 at the Throckmorton Plant Sciences Center, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, United States. The experiment was conducted in pots under greenhouse conditions with 5 treatments, including Treatment 1: Control (without fertilizer), Treatment 2: bio-slurry, Treatment 3: urea, Treatment 4: NH₄NO₃ and Treatment 5: KNO₃+NaNO₃. Each treatment was conducted in 3 replications with 1 pot per replication and 2 seeds per pot. The activities of soil enzymes, biomass of corn above ground and root were collected and analyzed. Corn plants treated with bio-slurry and inorganic fertilizer were found to have a non-significant growth of corn soil β-glucosidase enzyme with 4.41 mg/L, 3.83 mg/L, 4.23 mg/L, 4.11 mg/L, and 4.14 mg/L, respectively. With regard to aboveground and belowground biomass, no significant differences between the control and other treatments were observed. The results showed that bio-slurry released low amounts of enzyme activity to the soil and provided good growth conditions to corn.

This study clarifies how small-scale cassava producers endeavor to stabilize their household income. We conducted the survey between April and December 2017 in Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, and Gia Lai provinces, which are major cassava-producing provinces; 182 small-scale cassava producers were randomly selected for interviews. According to the results, each household has 4.5 members, of which 2.1 are involved in cassava production. The average household income was $7,071.29 per year, while the average income per employee was $3,535.15, which is 36.8% less than the average income of Vietnamese employees. The primary income is derived from two sectors: $3,648.41 (51.59%) and $3,422.88 (48.41%) from agricultural and non-agricultural incomes, respectively, along with $25.0 (0.4%) and $14.7 (0.2%) from remittance and pensions, respectively. Further, the cassava income shared 23.57% and 12.16% of agricultural and total household incomes, respectively, with an average of $859.81. As their primary sources of income, some small-scale cassava producers produce industrial crops, such as rubber trees, sugarcane, cashew, tobacco, and acacia. Moreover, they produce vegetables and fruits and engage in animal husbandry activities and agro-processing. In terms of non-farm income, they work as hired laborers and receive a stable income from the government or private companies. Thus, small-scale cassava producers in Vietnam stabilize their household income with multiple income sources and do not rely heavily on cassava.

Green manure is a type of crop that is used for soil enhancement, both physical and biological. It is enriched with organic matter that provides nutrients to the soil and improves soil fertility. However, improper chemical use by farmers results in soil degradation and adverse effects on beneficial soil microorganisms. To mitigate this problem, farmers need to use fertilizer only as required. The purpose of the current study was to grasp the efficacy of green manure on soil improvement, with consideration of the principles of sustainable agriculture. The research aimed to study the effect of green manure on soil properties including soil pH, soil EC, and available nitrogen. Experiments were carried out in field conditions at the National Meanchey University, Cambodia, from June 25 to July 25, 2022. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (CRBD) with 4 treatments and 8 replications utilizing green manure produced from different plants. Treatment T0 represented the control, T1 Glycine max, T2 Vigna radiata, and T3 Crotalaria Juncea. The result showed that green manure has a significantly positive effect on soil properties such as pH, electric conductivity, and available nitrogen. T3 produced the highest post-treatment soil pH and reduction in soil electric conductivity (EC), which averaged 7.14 and 0.46, respectively. T2 provided the greatest amount of available nitrogen, while untreated soil was not significantly different among treatments. Therefore, the application of green manure can be a vital choice in soil improvement for sustainable agriculture and increased yield.

In rural areas, agricultural irrigation and drainage systems developed for paddy fields have a high potential to become components of green infrastructure by providing ecosystem services. In order to manage and operate agricultural waterways as green infrastructure, the habitat evaluation of aquatic organisms is important. In this context, we conducted a habitat evaluation of aquatic organisms in the waterway network where environmental improvement was practiced to promote recreational use by residents. Based on evaluation results, the physical characteristics of canals with high biodiversity were investigated. The Evaluation Program for Fish Habitats in Agricultural Canals, which was developed for non-professional users such as residents, was applied to biological (fishes and crustaceans) and physical data collected in the waterway network in the town of Koura, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. The model generated by the program showed high fitness (0.80 for fishes, 0.76 for crustaceans), which suggests the program applies to waterway networks including various types of watercourses. The characteristics of the canals which were assigned a high habitat score by the program included 1) deeper water depth, 2) higher velocity for fish, 3) lower velocity, 4) higher vegetation coverage, and 5) gravel canal bed for crustaceans, relative to the low-scoring canals. The canals in diversion parks developed as part of environmental improvement efforts tended to have these characteristics and higher scores. Therefore, our findings suggest that conserving irrigation canals and developing diversion parks in waterway networks, which were conducted as part of environmental improvement efforts in the target area, contributes not only to promoting recreational use by residents but also to habitat conservation.

Soil respiration (SR) is the second largest flux of carbon in most terrestrial ecosystems after photosynthesis. Research indicates that a slight change in climate conditions induces a variation of the SR that could be equal to the release of CO₂ by fossil fuel emissions. For this reason, it is important to study what conditions control the variation of SR. Soil temperature is an important predictor of SR when there is no severe drought stress. The estimation of SR rates by the effect of temperature has been expressed with the Q₁₀ relationship. This study aims to determine the Temperature Sensitivity (Q₁₀) coefficient of the red-yellow soil organic carbon and estimate its conservation strategy using biochar. To analyze temperature sensitivity, each treatment was kept under 25ºC and 35ºC for 150 days, and the soil respiration ratio (SRR) as well as soil organic carbon (SOC) content were measured by the spectrophotometry method. Lastly, a treatment of biochar at 5% was added as a carbon conservation mechanism. The experimental results showed a significant difference in SOC content between different temperature conditions. After 150 days under treatment, 35ºC treatment had a significant reduction of SOC in contrast with 25ºC treatment (3.65 and 6.02 mg C/g respectively). The addition of biochar resulted in higher values of SOC at the same temperature, relative to non-biochar treatments. The Q₁₀ value was higher in soil without biochar (1.82), while the addition of biochar reduces the coefficient to 1.12. The SRR was reduced gradually with higher values at 35ºC, however, the biochar reduced the emission at 25ºC lower than other treatments. The results indicated that the Q₁₀ value of red-yellow soil can be affected by the addition of biochar, which works as a carbon source to maintain and increase SOC content and reduce the release of CO₂ in the short term.

Understanding the rainfall dynamics of a nation/region is key to decision-making, especially regarding agriculture within protected areas. This study focused on the area of Cape Maclear and the adjacent villages located within the Lake Malawi National Park (LMNP). By gaining insight into how communities whose agricultural activities interact with protected areas operate, we can gain insight into the long-term sustainability of the LMNP. This study aimed to assess the historical rainfall dynamics for Cape Maclear using 35-year annual rainfall and temperature data. Rainfall trends were established and compared with recorded events. The results indicated that Cape Maclear rainfall trends resonate with reported national drought events, though with variations. This provides a proxy possibility of making localized predictions of such events. Analysis of the return period shows annual rainfall of between 500-900 mm occurs every 2-3 years, indicating no significant shifts from what has been observed in the past. Due to the sensitivity and fragility of the LMNP ecosystem, there is a need to design local solutions for the communities living within the park to enable them to better prepare for future climatic shocks, especially rainfall inadequacies.