2024-03-28T16:24:55Z
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/cgi/oai2
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:35687
2017-01-30T22:25:18Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Exploring the usefulness of structural-functional approaches to analyse governance of planning systems
Potts, Ruth
Vella, Karen
Dale, Allan
Sipe, Neil
Existing planning theories tend to be limited in their analytical scope and often fail to account for the impact of many interactions between the multitudes of stakeholders involved in strategic planning processes. Although many theorists rejected structural–functional approaches from the 1970s, this article argues that many of structural–functional concepts remain relevant and useful to planning practitioners. In fact, structural–functional approaches are highly useful and practical when used as a foundation for systemic analysis of real-world, multi-layered, complex planning systems to support evidence-based governance reform. Such approaches provide a logical and systematic approach to the analysis of the wider governance of strategic planning systems that is grounded in systems theory and complementary to existing theories of complexity and planning. While we do not propose its use as a grand theory of planning, this article discusses how structural–functional concepts and approaches might be applied to underpin a practical analysis of the complex decision-making arrangements that drive planning practice, and to provide the evidence needed to target reform of poorly performing arrangements.
Sage Publications
2016
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/35687/6/35687%20Potts%20et%20al%202016.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1473095214553519
Potts, Ruth, Vella, Karen, Dale, Allan, and Sipe, Neil (2016) Exploring the usefulness of structural-functional approaches to analyse governance of planning systems. Planning Theory, 15 (2). pp. 162-189.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/35687/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:37313
2024-03-02T14:43:50Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Factors influencing farmers' participation in contractual biodiversity conservation: a choice experiment with northern Australian pastoralists
Greiner, Romy
Private landholders' contributions to biodiversity conservation are critical in landscapes with insufficient formal conservation reserves, as is the case in Australia's tropical savannas. This study reports results from a discrete choice experiment conducted with pastoralists and graziers across northern Australia. The experiment was designed to explore the willingness of pastoralists and graziers to sign up to voluntary biodiversity conservation contracts. Understanding preferences for contractual attributes and preference heterogeneity were additional objectives. Such knowledge can increase effectiveness and efficiency of conservation programs by informing contract design, negotiation and administration. Random parameter logit modelling showed that of contract attributes, conservation requirement, stewardship payment, contract duration and flexibility in contract conditions significantly influenced choices. Land productivity was a significant factor as were attitudes. There was significant heterogeneity of preferences for all contract attributes. Models were run for best–worst scaling responses and the first preferences subset, with the latter model deemed superior. Latent class modelling distinguished four classes of decision-makers and illustrated different decision heuristics. Conservation investment strategies, which offer farmers contract options that meet biodiversity requirements while accommodating heterogeneous attribute preferences, are likely to lead to increased participation rates. Complementary suasion efforts are also required which espouse the benefits that pastoralists derive from biodiversity and participation in voluntary conservation contracts.
Blackwell
2016
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/37313/6/37313%20Greiner%202016.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-8489.12098
Greiner, Romy (2016) Factors influencing farmers' participation in contractual biodiversity conservation: a choice experiment with northern Australian pastoralists. Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 60 (1). pp. 1-21.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/37313/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:40311
2024-03-02T15:47:30Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Seaweed compost for agricultural crop production
Cole, Andrew J.
Roberts, David A.
Garside, Alan L.
de Nys, Rocky
Paul, Nicholas A.
This study manipulated the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C:N) of seaweed composts by varying the proportion of high N green seaweed (Ulva ohnoi) and high C sugarcane bagasse to assess their quality and suitability for use in agricultural crop production. Seaweed-bagasse mixes that had an initial C:N ratio greater than 18:1 (up to 50:1) could be transformed into a mature compost within 16 weeks. However, only composts with a high seaweed content and therefore low initial C:N (18 and 22:1) supported a consistently high rate of plant growth, even at low application rates. Sugarcane grown in these high seaweed composts had a 7-fold higher total above-ground biomass than low seaweed composts and a 4-fold higher total above-ground biomass than sugarcane grown in commercial compost that did not contain seaweed. Overall, the optimal initial C:N ratio for seaweed-based compost was 22:1 which corresponds to 82 % seaweed on a fresh weight basis. This ratio will produce a high quality mature compost whilst also ensuring that a high proportion of the nitrogen (>90 %) in the Ulva biomass is retained through the composting process.
Springer
2016
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/40311/6/40311%20Cole%20et%20al%202016.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10811-015-0544-2
Cole, Andrew J., Roberts, David A., Garside, Alan L., de Nys, Rocky, and Paul, Nicholas A. (2016) Seaweed compost for agricultural crop production. Journal of Applied Phycology, 28 (1). pp. 629-642.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/40311/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:41206
2024-03-04T14:30:54Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Clay mineral source tracing and characterisation of Burdekin River (NE Australia) and flood plume fine sediment
Bainbridge, Zoe
Lewis, Stephen
Smithers, Scott
Wilkinson, Scott
Douglas, Grant
Hillier, Stephen
Brodie, Jon
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to define the relative contributions of fine (<10 μm) suspended sediment from tributaries within the Burdekin River catchment, NE Australia, and subsequent delivery to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) lagoon. The temporal variability in these contributions was also investigated.
Materials and methods: Sediments in river and flood plume water samples were analysed for particle size and clay mineral abundance at 31 sites across the Burdekin catchment. Sampling sites included minor tributaries, sub-catchment, reservoir and end-of-river outlets, and the adjacent coastal flood plume. Samples were collected during multiple wet season streamflow events from 2005–2011. Particle size data were used to calculate catchment-wide fine sediment (<10 μm) and clay-only (<4 μm) budgets, and a clay mineral ratio was used to distinguish geological source areas.
Results and discussion: This sediment source tracing study identified basaltic, granitic and sedimentary geologies as the dominant sources of end-of-river and flood plume fine sediments (<10 μm) across the Burdekin. A clay mineral ratio (illite/illite+expandable clays) clearly distinguished between the two main catchment source areas (Upper Burdekin and Bowen River sub-catchments), highlighting the importance of considering both of these sources for management of the finer sediment fractions that are potentially more ecologically damaging in the marine environment. This ratio also highlighted the relative enrichment of expandable clays (i.e. those containing a 'shink-swell' smectitic component) along the salinity gradient within remaining flood plume fine sediment.
Conclusions: The distinctive geological source-related 'fingerprints' found in this study validate the relative proportions of clay minerals as a valuable tracing tool in large and geologically complex catchment settings and across freshwater–marine continuums.
Springer
2016
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/41206/6/41206%20Bainbridge%20et%20al%202016.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11368-015-1282-4
Bainbridge, Zoe, Lewis, Stephen, Smithers, Scott, Wilkinson, Scott, Douglas, Grant, Hillier, Stephen, and Brodie, Jon (2016) Clay mineral source tracing and characterisation of Burdekin River (NE Australia) and flood plume fine sediment. Journal of Soils and Sediments, 16 (2). pp. 687-706.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/41206/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:41464
2024-03-04T14:28:42Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Reasons why some irrigation water users fail to comply with water use regulations: a case study from Queensland, Australia
Greiner, Romy
Fernandes, Leanne
McCartney, Fiona
Durante, Jeanette
Non-compliance with regulation can be a major reason for policy ineffectiveness. Environmental non-compliance can cause environmental harm and undermine the sustainability of resource uses through, for example, overexploitation of water resources. If environmental non-compliance is identified as an issue, it is important to understand why it is occurring so that the causes can be effectively addressed. This paper reports empirical research conducted to identify the reasons why water users in two coastal irrigation areas in Queensland, Australia, may be taking water in excess of license conditions and thereby committing water theft. It applied the Table-of-Eleven (T11) framework, which distinguishes between 'enforcement dimensions', i.e., regulatory aspects meant to detect and deter non-compliance, and 'spontaneous compliance' dimensions. The research involved 67 water users of whom 24 participated in focus group discussions and 43 in face-to-face interviews. The research findings suggest that most water users are compliant with water rules principally because of strong spontaneous compliance, which is chiefly grounded in the belief that the rules are required to safeguard a common water resource. The research results suggest, however, that some water users may be intentionally taking water in excess of license conditions in order to maximize business profitability. Non-compliance is underpinned by perceived low probability of successful prosecution and a comparatively small penalty if a breach can indeed be proven. From a water management perspective, the findings highlight the critical role of ongoing education and communication efforts for maintaining high levels of spontaneous compliance. Stronger deterrents may be needed to address the intentional unlawful taking of water in the given context, including increasing penalties to ensure fines result in a net cost to offenders and reduction of water entitlements of repeat offenders. Improvements in water administrative processes can minimize the likelihood of offenders escaping a penalty.
Elsevier
2016-02
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/41464/1/Reasons_why_some_irrigation.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2015.10.019
Greiner, Romy, Fernandes, Leanne, McCartney, Fiona, and Durante, Jeanette (2016) Reasons why some irrigation water users fail to comply with water use regulations: a case study from Queensland, Australia. Land Use Policy, 51. pp. 26-40.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/41464/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:42913
2024-02-27T15:09:08Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Measuring and modelling CO2 effects on sugarcane
Stokes, C.J.
Inman-Bamber, N.G.
Everingham, Y.L.
Sexton, J.
In order to fully capture the benefits of rising CO2 in adapting agriculture to climate change, we first need to understand how CO2 affects crop growth. Several recent studies reported unexpected increases in sugarcane (C4) yields under elevated CO2, but it is difficult to distinguish direct leaf-level effects of rising CO2 on photosynthesis from indirect water-related responses. A simulation model of CO2 effects, based purely on changes in stomatal conductance (indirect mechanism), showed transpiration was reduced by 30% (initially) to 10% (closed canopy) and yield increased by 3% even in a well-irrigated crop. The model incorporated the results of a field experiment, and a glasshouse experiment designed to disentangle the mechanisms of CO2 response: whole-plant transpiration and stomatal conductance were both 28% lower for plants growing with high-frequency demand-based watering at 720 vs 390 ppm CO2, but there was no increase in biomass, indicating that indirect mechanisms dominate CO2 responses in sugarcane.
Elsevier
2016-04
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/42913/1/42913%20Stokes%20et%20al%202016.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2015.11.022
Stokes, C.J., Inman-Bamber, N.G., Everingham, Y.L., and Sexton, J. (2016) Measuring and modelling CO2 effects on sugarcane. Environmental Modelling & Software, 78. pp. 68-78.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/42913/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:42988
2024-03-01T14:30:22Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Benefits of biochar, compost and biochar-compost for soil quality, maize yield and greenhouse gas emissions in a tropical agricultural soil
Agegnehu, Getachew
Bass, Adrian M.
Nelson, Paul N.
Bird, Michael I.
Soil quality decline represents a significant constraint on the productivity and sustainability of agriculture in the tropics. In this study, the influence of biochar, compost and mixtures of the two on soil fertility, maize yield and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions was investigated in a tropical Ferralsol. The treatments were: 1) control with business as usual fertilizer (F); 2) 10 t ha−1 biochar (B) + F; 3) 25 t ha−1 compost (Com) + F; 4) 2.5 t ha−1 B + 25 t ha−1 Com mixed on site + F; and 5) 25 t ha−1 co-composted biochar–compost (COMBI) + F. Total aboveground biomass and maize yield were significantly improved relative to the control for all organic amendments, with increases in grain yield between 10 and 29%. Some plant parameters such as leaf chlorophyll were significantly increased by the organic treatments. Significant differences were observed among treatments for the δ15N and δ13C contents of kernels. Soil physicochemical properties including soil water content (SWC), total soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), nitrate-nitrogen (NO3− N), ammonium-nitrogen (NH4+-N), exchangeable cations and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were significantly increased by the organic amendments. Maize grain yield was correlated positively with total biomass, leaf chlorophyll, foliar N and P content, SOC and SWC. Emissions of CO2 and N2O were higher from the organic-amended soils than from the fertilizer-only control. However, N2O emissions generally decreased over time for all treatments and emission from the biochar was lower compared to other treatments. Our study concludes that the biochar and biochar–compost-based soil management approaches can improve SOC, soil nutrient status and SWC, and maize yield and may help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in certain systems.
Elsevier
2016-02-01
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/42988/1/Agegnehu2016-SOTE-maize.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.11.054
Agegnehu, Getachew, Bass, Adrian M., Nelson, Paul N., and Bird, Michael I. (2016) Benefits of biochar, compost and biochar-compost for soil quality, maize yield and greenhouse gas emissions in a tropical agricultural soil. Science of the Total Environment, 543 (Part A). pp. 295-306.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/42988/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:42989
2024-03-01T14:30:23Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Crop yield, plant nutrient uptake and soil physicochemical properties under organic soil amendments and nitrogen fertilization on Nitisols
Agegnehu, Getachew
Nelson, Paul N.
Bird, Michael I.
Sustaining soil fertility and enhancing food production on smallholder farms is a great challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. The effects of organic amendments and nitrogen fertilizer on soil physicochemical properties and barley yield were investigated in the central Ethiopian highlands. The treatments were factorial combinations of no organic amendment (control), 10 t ha−1 biochar only (B), 10 t ha−1 compost only (Com), 10 t Com ha−1 + 2 t B ha−1 and 10 t ha−1 co-composted biochar-compost (COMBI) as main plots, and five N fertilizer levels (0, 23, 46, 69 and 92 kg ha−1) as sub-plots, with three replicates at two sites (Holetta and Robgebeya) both on Nitisols in the 2014 cropping season. Application of organic amendments and N fertilizer all significantly improved soil fertility and barley yield. The highest yield, chlorophyll content, number of productive tillers and nutrient uptake were obtained from the Com + B soil amendment at Holetta and from Com at Robgebeya. Mean grain yield responses of barley to the organic amendments were 30–49% at Holetta and 51–78% at Robgebeya, compared to the control. Fertilizer N significantly increased grain yield, chlorophyll content and N uptake at both locations. The highest grain yield obtained was at 69 kg N ha−1 at Holetta and at 92 kg ha−1 at Robgebeya. The organic amendment by N fertilizer interaction significantly influenced grain yield at both sites. Com + B and 69 kg N ha−1 addition resulted in the highest grain yield (5381 kg ha−1) at Holetta, whereas Com and 92 kg N ha−1 resulted in the highest grain yield (4598 kg ha−1) at Robgebeya. Organic amendments significantly improved soil properties through increases in soil water content, soil organic carbon (SOC), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and pH (0–20 cm depth). Addition of B, Com and B + Com increased SOC and CEC by 23–27% and 20–24% at Holetta and 26–34% and 19–23% at Robgebeya compared to their respective initial values. Soil pH increased from the initial value of 5.0 to 5.6 at Holetta and from 4.8 to 5.4 at Robgebeya at harvest due to biochar soil amendment. Grain yield was significantly correlated with total biomass, number of productive tillers, SOC and CEC. We conclude that application of organic amendments optimizes soil physicochemical properties and will help sustain barley yields in the Ethiopian highlands. The use of B, Com or Com + B may substantially reduce the amount of mineral fertilizer required for the sustainable production of barley in the long term.
Elsevier
2016-07
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/42989/1/Agegnehu2016-STILL-Barley.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2016.02.003
Agegnehu, Getachew, Nelson, Paul N., and Bird, Michael I. (2016) Crop yield, plant nutrient uptake and soil physicochemical properties under organic soil amendments and nitrogen fertilization on Nitisols. Soil and Tillage Research, 160. pp. 1-13.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/42989/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:43398
2024-03-05T14:23:02Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Spot spraying reduces herbicide concentrations in runoff
Melland, Alice R.
Silburn, D. Mark
McHugh, Allen D.
Fillols, Emilie
Rojas-Ponce, Samuel
Baillie, Craig
Lewis, Stephen
Rainfall simulator trials were conducted on sugar cane paddocks across dry-tropical and subtropical Queensland, Australia, to examine the potential for spot spraying to reduce herbicide losses in runoff. Recommended rates of the herbicides glyphosate, 2,4-D, fluoroxypyr, atrazine, and diuron were sprayed onto 0, 20, 40, 50, 70, or 100% of the area of runoff plots. Simulated rainfall was applied 2 days after spraying to induce runoff at one plant cane and three ratoon crop sites. Over 50% of all herbicides were transported in the dissolved phase of runoff, regardless of the herbicide’s sediment–water partition coefficient. For most sites and herbicides, runoff herbicide concentrations decreased with decreasing spray coverage and with decreasing herbicide load in the soil and cane residues. Importantly, sites with higher infiltration prior to runoff and lower total runoff had lower runoff herbicide concentrations.
American Chemical Society
2016
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/43398/6/43398%20Melland%20et%20al%202016.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5b03688
Melland, Alice R., Silburn, D. Mark, McHugh, Allen D., Fillols, Emilie, Rojas-Ponce, Samuel, Baillie, Craig, and Lewis, Stephen (2016) Spot spraying reduces herbicide concentrations in runoff. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 60 (20). pp. 4009-4020.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/43398/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:43674
2024-03-03T14:59:16Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Key unknowns in nitrogen budget for oil palm plantations. A review
Pardon, Lénaïc
Bessou, Cécile
Nelson, Paul Netelenbos
Dubos, Bernard
Ollivier, Jean
Marichal, Raphaël
Caliman, Jean-Pierre
Gabrielle, Benoît
Nitrogen (N) losses in agroecosystems are a major environmental and economic issue. This issue is particularly pronounced in oil palm cultivation because oil palm production area is expected to increase to 12 Mha by 2050. N fertilization in oil palm plantations is mainly provided by mineral fertilizers, palm oil mill by-products, and biological fixation using legume cover crops. N loss has a major environmental impact during cultivation. For instance, 48.7 % of the greenhouse gases emitted to produce 1 t of palm oil fruit are due to N fertilization. Actually, there is little comprehensive knowledge on how to calculate N budgets in oil palm plantation in order to optimize fertilization, taking into account N leaching and N gases emissions. Here we modeled knowledge about all N fluxes in an oil palm field following standard management practices of industrial plantations, on a mineral soil, from planting to felling after a 25-year-growth cycle. The largest fluxes are internal fluxes, such as oil palm uptake, with 40–380 kg N ha−1 year−1, and the decomposition of felled palms at the end of the cycle, with 465–642 kg N ha−1. The largest losses are emissions of NH3 and leaching of NO3−, corresponding to 0.1–42 % and 1–34 % of mineral N applied, respectively. The most uncertain and least documented fluxes are N losses such as N2O, NOx, N2 emissions, leaching, NH3 volatilization, and runoff. The most critical conditions for N losses occur during the immature phase when young palms uptake is low and during the mature phase in areas with sparse soil cover or receiving high amounts of fertilizers. Data is lacking about the effects of management practices on NO3− leaching and N2O/NOx emissions in those critical conditions.
EDP Sciences
2016
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/43674/2/Pardon2016-OilPalmNitrogenBudget.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13593-016-0353-2
Pardon, Lénaïc, Bessou, Cécile, Nelson, Paul Netelenbos, Dubos, Bernard, Ollivier, Jean, Marichal, Raphaël, Caliman, Jean-Pierre, and Gabrielle, Benoît (2016) Key unknowns in nitrogen budget for oil palm plantations. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 36 (20).
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/43674/
openpub
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:44178
2024-03-05T14:16:50Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
A theoretical and real world evaluation of two Bayesian techniques for the calibration of variety parameters in a sugarcane crop model
Sexton, J.
Everingham, Y.
Inman-Bamber, G.
Process based agricultural systems models allow researchers to investigate the interactions between variety, environment and management. The 'Sugar' module in the Agricultural Productions Systems sIMulator (APSIM-Sugar) currently includes definitions for 14 sugarcane varieties, most of which are no longer commercially grown. This study evaluated the use of two Bayesian approaches to calibrate sugarcane varieties in APSIM-Sugar: Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE) and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC). Both GLUE and MCMC calibrations were able to accurately simulate green biomass and sucrose yield in both a theoretical and real world evaluation. In the theoretical evaluation GLUE and MCMC parameter estimates accurately reflected differences between two pre-defined sugarcane varieties. We found that the MCMC approach can be used to calibrate varieties in APSIM-Sugar based on yield data. With appropriate variety definitions, APSIM-Sugar could be used for early risk assessment of adopting new varieties.
Elsevier
2016
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/44178/16/Sexton_etal_2016_EMS%20accepted%20version.pdf
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/44178/11/44178%20Sexton%20et%20al%202016.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2016.05.014
Sexton, J., Everingham, Y., and Inman-Bamber, G. (2016) A theoretical and real world evaluation of two Bayesian techniques for the calibration of variety parameters in a sugarcane crop model. Environmental Modelling & Software, 83. pp. 126-142.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/44178/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:44318
2018-02-02T19:01:44Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D626F6F6B5F73656374696F6E
Contract preferences and psychological determinants of participation in agri‑environment schemes
Greiner, Romy
[Extract] Paying farmers for environmental services is a novel concept in the vast landscapes of northern Australia. These landscapes remain sparingly used and the tropical savannas vegetation has been largely retained (Greiner et al. 2009a). But degradation is occurring, and pressures for agricultural development and intensification are mounting. The opportunity still exists to prevent the scale of environmental decline and species extinctions that has been experienced in other parts of Australia. Could agri-environment schemes be an effective policy instrument to safeguard northern Australia's biodiversity, and, if so, what should an effective agri-environment scheme look like?
ANU Press
Ansell, Dean
Gibson, Fiona
Salt, David
2016
Book Chapter
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/44318/1/44318%20Greiner%202016.pdf
http://press.anu.edu.au/publications/learning-agri-environment-schemes-australia/download
Greiner, Romy (2016) Contract preferences and psychological determinants of participation in agri‑environment schemes. In: Ansell, Dean, Gibson, Fiona, and Salt, David, (eds.) Learning from Agri-Environmental Schemes in Australia: investing in biodiversity and other ecosystem services on farms. ANU Press, Acton, ACT, Australia, pp. 163-179.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/44318/
openpub
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:44629
2024-03-03T14:33:18Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Connections: the contribution of social capital to regional development
McShane, Connar Jo
Turnour, Jim
Thompson, Michelle
Dale, Allan
Prideaux, Bruce
Atkinson, Margaret
This article explores perceptions of social capital and sustainability of farming and its contribution to regional development. A review of the literature highlights challenges in the operationalization of social capital as a development tool and the limits of research that gauges community perceptions of the role of social capital in their region's development. The current study investigated stakeholder attitudes regarding regional development within a target region in North Queensland, Australia. Focus groups were conducted at regional, state and national levels. Findings suggest stakeholders perceived social capital to be important for farming sustainability and regional development, but thought it could variously help or hinder effective development. Future research should embrace social capital as a multi-dimensional construct with positive and negative implications for regional development depending on stage and context.
EContent Management
2016
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/44629/11/44629_McShane%20et%20al_2016_accepted%20version.pdf
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/44629/6/44629%20McShane%20et%20al%202016.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10371656.2016.1194326
McShane, Connar Jo, Turnour, Jim, Thompson, Michelle, Dale, Allan, Prideaux, Bruce, and Atkinson, Margaret (2016) Connections: the contribution of social capital to regional development. Rural Society, 25 (2). pp. 154-169.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/44629/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:45009
2024-03-03T14:59:29Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Tourism development in agricultural landscapes: the case of the Atherton Tablelands, Australia
Thompson, Michelle
Prideaux, Bruce
McShane, Connar
Dale, Allan
Turnour, Jim
Atkinson, Margaret
This paper demonstrates how the landscape is an integral component in the development of tourism experiences in agricultural regions. It proposes that agricultural landscapes are composed of three components: naturescape, farmscape and culturescape. Building on the tourist gaze, this research demonstrates how tourists can move from viewing the landscape to engaging with it. A case study of the Atherton Tablelands, located in the Wet Tropics region of Australia, was conducted using content analysis and field observations. The results show that the development of activities within the culturescape enables tourists to engage with the agricultural landscape. This finding has important implications for the farmscape, where agricultural resources (produce) are often used in the creation of memorable tourism experiences in agricultural regions.
Routledge
2016
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/45009/6/45009%20Thompson%20et%20al%202016.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01426397.2016.1174839
Thompson, Michelle, Prideaux, Bruce, McShane, Connar, Dale, Allan, Turnour, Jim, and Atkinson, Margaret (2016) Tourism development in agricultural landscapes: the case of the Atherton Tablelands, Australia. Landscape Research, 41 (7). pp. 730-743.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/45009/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:45798
2024-03-03T14:57:37Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Tree-scale spatial variability of soil carbon cycling in a mature oil palm plantation
Goodrick, Iain
Nelson, Paul N.
Nake, Steven
Webb, Michael J.
Bird, Michael I.
Huth, Neil
Soil carbon fluxes are highly variable in space and time under tree crops such as oil palm, and attempts to model such fluxes must incorporate an understanding of this variability. In this work, we measured soil CO2 emission, root biomass and pruned frond deposition rates and calculated carbon fluxes into and out of the soil in a mature (20-year-old, second planting cycle) oil palm plantation in Papua New Guinea. Tree-scale spatial variability in CO2 emission and root biomass was quantified by making measurements on a 35-point trapezoid grid covering the 38.5-m2 repeating unit of the plantation (n = 4 grids). In order to obtain an overall mean soil CO2 emission rate within 5% of the most accurate estimate, >24 measurement points were required. Soil CO2 emissions were spatially correlated with calculated carbon inputs (r2 = 0.605, slope 1 : 1), but not with soil water content or temperature. However, outputs were higher than inputs at all locations, with a mean overall output of 7.24 umolm–2 s–1 and input of 3.02 umolm–2 s–1. Inputs related to fronds, roots and groundcover constituted 60%, 36% and 4% of estimated inputs, respectively. The spatial correlation of carbon inputs and outputs indicates that mineralisation rate is controlled mostly by the amount rather than the nature or input depth of the additions. The spatially uniform net carbon emission from soil may be due to inaccuracies in calculated fluxes (especially root-related inputs) or to non-biological emissions.
CSIRO Publishing
2016
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/45798/1/Goodrick2016-SR-OilPalmCarbVar.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/SR15211
Goodrick, Iain, Nelson, Paul N., Nake, Steven, Webb, Michael J., Bird, Michael I., and Huth, Neil (2016) Tree-scale spatial variability of soil carbon cycling in a mature oil palm plantation. Soil Research, 54 (4). pp. 397-406.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/45798/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:45800
2024-03-03T15:01:36Z
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Tropical dairy pasture yield and nitrogen cycling: effect of urea application rate and a nitrification inhibitor, DMPP
Koci, J.
Nelson, P.N.
In tropical dairy production systems, where high rates of urea fertiliser are applied, little is known about nitrogen (N) fertiliser response, fertiliser-use efficiency and losses to the environment. This study aimed to determine the effects of N fertiliser (urea) application rate and a nitrification inhibitor (3, 4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate, DMPP) on pasture yield and N losses in a dairy production system in North Queensland, Australia. The experiment was a factorial design with two fertiliser rates (industry standard per application 57 kgNha⁻¹ or half that, applied ~3-weekly), two DMPP rates (0 or 4.86 g kg⁻¹ urea) and four replicates, completed over 1 year. Urea applied at half the industry standard rate, together with DMPP, provided annual dry matter pasture yields (11 462 kg ha⁻¹) not significantly different from those when urea was applied at the higher rate, with or without DMPP (10 691 and 11 156 kg ha⁻¹, respectively). The low rate of urea without DMPP had the lowest annual dry matter yield (8386 kg ha⁻¹). Most of the fertiliser N lost from the system appeared to be via leaching, with loss in surface runoff minimal. During the ryegrass phase, an experiment with ¹⁵N labelling showed that, 3 months after application, 27–39% of the applied N had been taken up by the pasture, 23–45% was recovered in the soil, and 18–40% had been lost. Emission of N₂O peaked within a day of fertiliser application, and DMPP did not reduce emissions during that period. The findings indicate good potential for farmers to use DMPP-treated urea as a means of reducing N fertiliser rates without loss of productivity and with less loss of N to the environment.
CSIRO
2016
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/45800/6/45800%20Koci%20et%20al%202016.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/CP15400
Koci, J., and Nelson, P.N. (2016) Tropical dairy pasture yield and nitrogen cycling: effect of urea application rate and a nitrification inhibitor, DMPP. Crop & Pasture Science, 67 (7). pp. 766-779.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/45800/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:45801
2024-03-03T15:01:38Z
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The effects of biochar, compost and their mixture and nitrogen fertilizer on yield and nitrogen use efficiency of barley grown on a Nitisol in the highlands of Ethiopia
Jenberu, Getachew
Nelson, Paul N.
Bird, Michael I.
The effects of organic amendments and nitrogen (N) fertilizer on yield and N use efficiency of barley were investigated on a Nitisol of the central Ethiopian highlands in 2014. The treatments were factorial combinations of no organic amendment, biochar (B), compost (Com), Com + B and co-composted biochar (COMBI) as main plots and five N fertilizer levels as sub-plots, with three replicates. Application of organic amendment and N fertilizer significantly improved yield, with grain yield increases of 60% from Com + B + 69 kg N ha⁻¹ at Holetta and 54% from Com + 92 kg N ha⁻¹ at Robgebeya, compared to the yield from the maximum N rate. The highest total N uptake was obtained from Com + B + 92 kg N ha⁻¹ at Holetta (138 kg ha⁻¹) and Com + 92 kg N ha⁻¹ at Robgebeya (101 kg ha⁻¹). The agronomic efficiency (yield increase per unit of N applied, AE), apparent recovery efficiency (increase in N uptake per unit of N applied, ARE) and physiological efficiency (yield increase per unit of N uptake, PE) responded significantly to organic amendments and N fertilizer. Mean AE and ARE were highest at B + 23 kg N ha⁻¹ at Holetta and at B + 23 and B + 46 kg N ha⁻¹ at Robgebeya. The PE ranged from 19 to 33 kg grain kg⁻¹ N uptake at Holetta and 29–48 kg grain kg⁻¹ N uptake at Robgebeya. The effects of organic amendments and N fertilizer on AE, ARE and PE were greater at Robgebeya than at Holetta. The enhancement of N use efficiency through application of organic amendments emphasizes the importance of balanced crop nutrition, ensuring that barley crops are adequately supplied with N and other nutrients. Overall, the integration of both organic and inorganic amendments may optimize N uptake efficiency and reduce the amount of N fertilizer required for the sustainable barley production in the long-term.
Elsevier
2016-11-01
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/45801/1/Agegnehu2016-SOTE-NUE.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.033
Jenberu, Getachew, Nelson, Paul N., and Bird, Michael I. (2016) The effects of biochar, compost and their mixture and nitrogen fertilizer on yield and nitrogen use efficiency of barley grown on a Nitisol in the highlands of Ethiopia. Science of the Total Environment, 569-570. pp. 869-879.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/45801/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:45989
2023-08-03T19:36:03Z
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Impact of communication technologies on pastoralist societies
Charmley, Ed
Hay, Rachel
Bishop-Hurley, Greg
The rangelands cover approximately 20% of the World's land surface and provide 16% of annual food production as meat and milk for local and distant markets (Holechek, 2013). Food production from rangelands represents an important source of nutrition as global human population is projected to exceed 9 billion by 2050 (United Nations, 2015). There is pressure to increase production from the pastoralism but this has to be done sustainably to ensure the productive capacity is not eroded in the longer term for short term gains. Information technology represents a very real opportunity to improve livelihoods, increase food production and secure environmental outcomes in the pastoral lands.
About 70% of the World’s pastoral lands are found in developing and emerging economies where they support indigenous human populations existing in a close synergy with their livestock (Reid et al., 2014). Such societies are driven by cultural mores that often lead to sub-optimal livestock production, over grazing and poor resilience to factors such as climate change and societal upheaval. In developed countries, pastoral lands are under threat from depopulation, loss or lack of infrastructure to support developed production systems and competition for alternative use of the rangelands, such as carbon storage, mining, ecosystem services and tourism (Roxburgh and Pratley, 2015). Against this background then, how can information technologies transform the pastoral lands from marginal production systems to those that are resilient to challenges, sustainable in the long term and deliver optimum levels of livestock production?
10th International Rangeland Congress
Iwaasa, Alan
Larnder, H.A.
Schellenberg, Mike
Willms, Walter
Larson, Kathy
2016
Conference Item
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/45989/1/45989%20Hay%20et%20al%202016.pdf
http://www.irc2016canada.ca/pdf/papers/X_IRC_Proceedings_Aug2016.pdf
Charmley, Ed, Hay, Rachel, and Bishop-Hurley, Greg (2016) Impact of communication technologies on pastoralist societies. In: Proceedings of the 10th International Rangeland Congress. pp. 78-83. From: 10th International Rangelands Congress, 16-22 July 2016, Saskatoon, Canada.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/45989/
openpub
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:46150
2024-03-03T14:58:03Z
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Quantifying nitrogen losses in oil palm plantations: models and challenges
Pardon, Lénaïc
Bessou, Cécile
Saint-Geours, Nathalie
Gabrielle, Bénoit
Khasanah, Ni'matul
Caliman, Jean-Pierre
Nelson, Paul N.
Oil palm is the most rapidly expanding tropical perennial crop. Its cultivation raises environmental concerns, notably related to the use of nitrogen (N) fertilisers and the associated pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. While numerous and diverse models exist to estimate N losses from agriculture, very few are currently available for tropical perennial crops. Moreover, there is a lack of critical analysis of their performance in the specific context of tropical perennial cropping systems. We assessed the capacity of 11 models and 29 sub-models to estimate N losses in a typical oil palm plantation over a 25-year growth cycle, through leaching and runoff, and emissions of NH3, N2, N2O, and NOx. Estimates of total N losses were very variable, ranging from 21 to 139 kg Nha-1 yr -1. On average, 31 % of the losses occurred during the first 3 years of the cycle. Nitrate leaching accounted for about 80 % of the losses. A comprehensive Morris sensitivity analysis showed the most influential variables to be soil clay content, rooting depth, and oil palm N uptake. We also compared model estimates with published field measurements. Many challenges remain in modelling processes related to the peculiarities of perennial tropical crop systems such as oil palm more accurately.
Copernicus Publications
2016
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/46150/1/Pardon2016-BG-OilPalmNitrogenModels.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-5433-2016
Pardon, Lénaïc, Bessou, Cécile, Saint-Geours, Nathalie, Gabrielle, Bénoit, Khasanah, Ni'matul, Caliman, Jean-Pierre, and Nelson, Paul N. (2016) Quantifying nitrogen losses in oil palm plantations: models and challenges. Biogeosciences, 13. pp. 5433-5452.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/46150/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:46400
2024-03-01T14:41:35Z
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Sugarcane for water-limited environments: enhanced capability of the APSIM sugarcane model for assessing traits for transpiration efficiency and root water supply
Inman-Bamber, N.G.
Jackson, P.A.
Stokes, C.J.
Verrall, S.
Lakshmanan, P.
Basnayake, J.
Genetic variation in traits affecting transpiration efficiency has been reported in sugarcane, but the impact of this variation on yield in a range of production environments needs to be estimated for assessing the priority and selection weightings to apply to these traits in crop improvement programs. A modelling approach may be useful and even necessary for reasonable assessment of these traits across production environments with different and temporally variable levels of water availability. Earlier theoretical modelling using the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM)-Sugar module, found that traits affecting transpiration efficiency (TE) and water uptake by roots were important for improving sugarcane grown with highly variable rainfall. However, there were limitations of APSIM-Sugar in accommodating key physiological mechanisms, and this led to a revision of the APSIM-Sugar module described in this paper. Four key features were added to enable genetic variation in TE traits and root water supply (RWS) known to exist, to be modelled and assessed for predicted impact. These features were 1) the response of TE to water stress, 2) the midday flattening of hourly transpiration when plants are stressed, 3) conductance limits to hourly transpiration, which can apply even without stress and 4) the separation of soil hydraulic conductivity (k) and root length density (1) rather than the use of combined kl for determining RWS. A dataset of 182 observations of above ground biomass from 13 field experiments of sugarcane were used to check firstly that the new sugarcane module did not affect the simulation results when all the new features were disabled (model stability), secondly to check that the new features did not greatly reduce model performance, and thirdly, to determine the response or sensitivity of yields to the new features. Variation in parameter settings for the new features were based on the best evidence available for genetic variation in these traits, and were set before any testing against observations were made. With these features enabled in partial factorial combinations, the accuracy of the simulation of observed biomass, changed only to a minor extent compared to when no features were enabled. Separating k and I had the most consistent effect on improving model performance.
Three additional published experiments with varying levels of imposed water stress were also simulated, with and without the new features. The simulation of biomass yield from two of the experiments was remarkably accurate regardless of which features were used in the simulation. Dry stalk yields reported for the third experiment were simulated accurately when no features were enabled and when midday flattening of transpiration was enabled and separate k and I enabled, one at a time. When a limit was placed on hourly transpiration, simulated TE and yield increased substantially when water was limiting but not in well-watered conditions; where yield was reduced.
The new APSIM-Sugar features address the limitations of the original module (developed in 1999) for assessing water use related traits, including TE component traits and root growth. Effects of conductance on TE can now be simulated by limiting maximum hourly transpiration at the leaf level or k and specific root length at the root level. The new sugar module will also allow for better discrimination between sugarcane cultivars, now that vigour traits such leaf area development and radiation use efficiency are linked to root water uptake.
Elsevier
2016
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/46400/1/46400_Inman-Bamber%20et%20al_2016.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2016.06.013
Inman-Bamber, N.G., Jackson, P.A., Stokes, C.J., Verrall, S., Lakshmanan, P., and Basnayake, J. (2016) Sugarcane for water-limited environments: enhanced capability of the APSIM sugarcane model for assessing traits for transpiration efficiency and root water supply. Field Crops Research, 196. pp. 112-123.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/46400/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:46496
2024-03-02T15:12:57Z
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Measuring the effectiveness of landscape approaches to conservation and development
Sayer, Jeffrey A.
Margules, Chris
Boedhihartono, Agni K.
Sunderland, Terry
Langston, James D.
Reed, James
Riggs, Rebecca
Buck, Louise E.
Campbell, Bruce M.
Kusters, Koen
Elliott, Chris
Minang, Peter A.
Dale, Allan
Purnomo, Herry
Stevenson, James R.
Gunarso, Petrus
Purnomo, Agus
Landscape approaches attempt to achieve balance amongst multiple goals over long time periods and to adapt to changing conditions. We review project reports and the literature on integrated landscape approaches, and found a lack of documented studies of their long-term effectiveness. The combination of multiple and potentially changing goals presents problems for the conventional measures of impact. We propose more critical use of theories of change and measures of process and progress to complement the conventional impact assessments. Theories of change make the links between project deliverables, outputs, outcomes, and impacts explicit, and allow a full exploration of the landscape context. Landscape approaches are long-term engagements, but short-term process metrics are needed to confirm that progress is being made in negotiation of goals, meaningful stakeholder engagement, existence of connections to policy processes, and effectiveness of governance. Long-term impact metrics are needed to assess progress on achieving landscapes that deliver multiple societal benefits, including conservation, production, and livelihood benefits. Generic criteria for process are proposed, but impact metrics will be highly situation specific and must be derived from an effective process and a credible theory of change.
Springer
2016
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/46496/6/46496%20Sayer%20et%20al%202017.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11625-016-0415-z
Sayer, Jeffrey A., Margules, Chris, Boedhihartono, Agni K., Sunderland, Terry, Langston, James D., Reed, James, Riggs, Rebecca, Buck, Louise E., Campbell, Bruce M., Kusters, Koen, Elliott, Chris, Minang, Peter A., Dale, Allan, Purnomo, Herry, Stevenson, James R., Gunarso, Petrus, and Purnomo, Agus (2016) Measuring the effectiveness of landscape approaches to conservation and development. Sustainability Science, 12 (3). pp. 465-476.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/46496/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:46735
2019-03-04T19:30:51Z
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Ciclos de carbono y nitrógeno en plantaciones de palma de aceite: claves para la productividad y la sostenibilidad / Carbon and nitrogen cycling in oil palm plantations: the keys to yield and sustainability
Nelson, P.N.
Huth, M.I.
Banabas, M.
Webb, M.J.
Goodrick, I.
[Spanish] El alto rendimiento y la rentabilidad de las inversio nes en palma de aceite dependen de la fijación de carbono producto de la fotosíntesis en las ojas, la cual está limitada por la radiación, la temperatura y la disponibilidad de gua y nutrientes, en particular el nitrógeno. Los ciclos de carbono y nitrógeno también son factores determinantes para la condición del suelo en particular, la materia orgánica, la acidez y la actividad biológica), la salud de los ecosistemas acuáticos y las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero. Aunque la productividad y los efectos am bientales del cultivo se han estudiado extensamente, es difícil predecir cómo podrían verse afectados por los cambios en el genotipo, en las condiciones ambientales o en las prácticas de manejo, dada la complejidad de las interacciones entre los ciclos de carbono y nitrógeno, y los factores antes mecanísticos, la integración de nuestro conocimiento a modelos mecanicistas predictivos es esencial para avanzar. Dicha integración se ha logrado recientemente para la palma de aceite utilizando el marco APSIM (www.apsim.info), el cual integra modelos de fisiología de cultivos y de ciclos de agua, carbono y nitrógeno. El modelo ha demostrado tener la capacidad de predecir el crecimiento vegetativo y el rendimiento aropiadamente, y de manera consistente en Papúa Nueva Guinea, en donde fue desarrollado. Ahora debe ser ensayado en un mayor rango de entornos. APSIM Oil Palm tiene un potencial considerable como herramienta para predecir el rendimiento y generar eficiencia al explorar escenarios cuya evaluación experimental no es plausible, tales como los efectos probables de una gestión de fertilizantes distinta, los efectos del tipo de clima y suelo en la productividad, la condición del suelo y el entorno.
[English] High yields and return on investment in oil palm all depend on the fixation of carbon by photosynthesis in the leaves, which is limited by radiation, temperature and the availability of water and nutrients, especially nitrogen. The carbon and nitrogen cycles are also key determinants of soil condition (particularly soil organic matter, acidity and biological activity), aquatic ecosystem health and greenhouse gas emissions. Although productivity and environmental effects of cultivation are well studied, it is difficult to predict how they might be affected by changes in genotype, environmental conditions or management practices, because of complex interactions between the carbon and nitrogen cycles and these factors. Integrating our knowledge into mechanistic predictive models is essential to move forward. Such integration has recently been achieved for oil palm using the APSIM framework (www.apsim.info), which integrates models of crop physiology and cycling of water, carbon and nitrogen. The model has been shown to predict vegetative growth and yield consistently well in Papua New Guinea, where it was developed. It now needs to be tested in a wider range of environments. APSIM Oil Palm has considerable potential as a tool for predicting yield and for efficiently exploring scenarios that are not feasible to assess experimentally, such as the likely effects of different fertilizer management, climate or soil type on productivity, soil condition and the environment.
Fedepalma
2016
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/46735/2/Nelson2016-IOPC2015.pdf
http://web.fedepalma.org/sites/default/files/files/Fedepalma/palmas_tomoI.pdf
Nelson, P.N., Huth, M.I., Banabas, M., Webb, M.J., and Goodrick, I. (2016) Ciclos de carbono y nitrógeno en plantaciones de palma de aceite: claves para la productividad y la sostenibilidad / Carbon and nitrogen cycling in oil palm plantations: the keys to yield and sustainability. Revista Palmas, 37 (1). pp. 214-224.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/46735/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:47083
2024-02-28T15:10:19Z
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Climate change and pastoralism: impacts, consequences and adaptation
Herrero, M.
Addison, J.
Bedelian, C.
Carabine, E.
Havlik, P.
Henderson, B.
van de Steeg, J.
Thornton, P.K.
The authors discuss the main climate change impacts on pastoralist societies, including those on rangelands, livestock and other natural resources, and their extended repercussions on food security, incomes and vulnerability. The impacts of climate change on the rangelands of the globe and on the vulnerability of the people who inhabit them will be severe and diverse, and will require multiple, simultaneous responses. In higher latitudes, the removal of temperature constraints might increase pasture production and livestock productivity, but in tropical arid lands, the impacts are highly location specific, but mostly negative. The authors outline several adaptation options, ranging from implementing new technical practices and diversifying income sources to finding institutional support and introducing new market mechanisms, all of which are pivotal for enhancing the capacity of pastoralists to adapt to climate variability and change. Due to the dynamism of all the changes affecting pastoral societies, strategies that lock pastoral societies into specified development pathways could be maladaptive. Flexible and evolving combinations of practices and policies are the key to successful pastoral adaptation.
World Organisation for Animal Health
2016
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/47083/1/08-Herrero.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.20506/rst/35.2.2533
Herrero, M., Addison, J., Bedelian, C., Carabine, E., Havlik, P., Henderson, B., van de Steeg, J., and Thornton, P.K. (2016) Climate change and pastoralism: impacts, consequences and adaptation. Scientific and Technical Review, 35 (2). pp. 417-433.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/47083/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:47132
2024-02-28T15:05:05Z
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Species' traits affect the occurrence of birds in a native timber plantation landscape
Pryde, E.C.
Nimmo, D.G.
Holland, G.J.
Watson, S.J.
Many of the world's terrestrial environments are dominated by production land-uses, making the incorporation of production landscapes into conservation strategies critical for halting global biodiversity declines. Two challenges for developing such strategies are: (1) determining species' capacity to survive in production land-uses; and (2) understanding why some species can survive, while others cannot. The interaction between biological traits of organisms and their response to disturbances may assist in resolving these challenges. We compared species and trait composition of 41 lowland rainforest birds among unlogged and forestry production land-uses on New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea. At least 92% of forest species occurred in mature, native Eucalyptus plantation and regrown logged forest. However, composition changes demonstrated successive loss of some species (medium-and large-bodied frugivores, forest specialists) with increasing intensity of disturbance, indicating that forestry management practices can affect the functional composition of forest birds. In contrast to many continental studies where endemism confers susceptibility to disturbance, we found endemic island species widely distributed across all land-uses, reflecting their capacity for colonizing new environments. Ecological traits can help to explain species' responses to landscape management, however, the type and intensity of disturbance and biogeography of the region affect the traits-disturbance interaction. Our study indicates that native plantations may be able to assist with biodiversity conservation while providing production values, but only if they are judiciously managed in concert with unlogged and regrown logged forest reserves.
Zoological Society of London
2016
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/47132/1/47132_Pryde%20et%20al_2016.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/acv.12268
Pryde, E.C., Nimmo, D.G., Holland, G.J., and Watson, S.J. (2016) Species' traits affect the occurrence of birds in a native timber plantation landscape. Animal Conservation, 19 (6). pp. 526-538.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/47132/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:47509
2019-11-15T19:07:37Z
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Food production and nature conservation: conflicts and solutions
Gordon, Iain J.
Squire, Geoff R.
Prins, Herbert H.T.
Human development has been intimately linked with the development of agriculture over the past 10,000 years. Significant developments in agronomy and agricultural practice have supported civilizations and technological advances and allowed the human population to grow to over 7 billion people. Much of this increase in food production has happened at the expense of nature, wth consequences for biodiversity decline, nutrient loss, soil loss and pollution. The intensification of agriculture has disconnected food production from nature as nutrient limitations in the sols are supplemented by fertilisers, while weeds, pests and diseases are controlled by medication and a range of chemicals and water shortages are overcome by irrigation and dams.
Routledge
Gordon, Iain J.
Prins, Herbert H.T.
Squire, Geoff R.
2017
Book Chapter
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/47509/1/47509_Gordon%20et%20al_2017_chapt%201.pdf
https://www.routledge.com/Food-Production-and-Nature-Conservation-Conflicts-and-Solutions/Gordon-Prins-Squire/p/book/9781138859395
Gordon, Iain J., Squire, Geoff R., and Prins, Herbert H.T. (2017) Food production and nature conservation: conflicts and solutions. In: Gordon, Iain J., Prins, Herbert H.T., and Squire, Geoff R., (eds.) Food Production and Nature Conservation: conflicts and solutions. Earthscan Food and Agriculture . Routledge, London, UK, pp. 3-11.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/47509/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:47510
2022-08-19T06:55:01Z
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Re-engaging agriculture with nature
Gordon, Iain J.
Squire, Geoff R.
Prins, Herbert H.T.
[Extract] The growing political agenda behind food security will create many challenges for nature conservation. Increasing efforts will be needed to protect vulnerable species within a matrix of agricultural production landscapes and include wildlife species within farming systems. Our science will be needed to inform the integration of conservation and food security goals in land management and to provide insights and innovation in the development of sustainable food-production systems that support animal conservation rather than conflict with it. Addressing the global challenges of food security and protection of nature will not be easy. However, this book demonstrates that we have the knowledge, expertise and skills to meet the challenge. Our civilisation depends upon our reconnecting agriculture and nature and using these resources well.
Routledge
Gordon, Iain J.
Prins, Herbert H.T.
Squire, Geoff R.
2017
Book Chapter
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/47510/1/47510_Gordon%20et%20al_2017_ch%2016.pdf
https://www.routledge.com/Food-Production-and-Nature-Conservation-Conflicts-and-Solutions/Gordon-Prins-Squire/p/book/9781138859395
Gordon, Iain J., Squire, Geoff R., and Prins, Herbert H.T. (2017) Re-engaging agriculture with nature. In: Gordon, Iain J., Prins, Herbert H.T., and Squire, Geoff R., (eds.) Food Production and Nature Conservation: conflicts and solutions. Earthscan Food and Agriculture . Routledge, London, UK, pp. 332-342.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/47510/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:47511
2019-11-15T19:07:39Z
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Food Production and Nature Conservation: conflicts and solutions
Gordon, Iain J.
Prins, Herbert H.T.
Squire, Geoff R.
Feeding the world's growing human population is increasingly challenging, especially as more people adopt a western diet and lifestyle. Doing so without causing damage to nature poses an even greater challenge. This book argues that in order to create a sustainable food supply whilst conserving nature, agriculture and nature must be reconnected and approached together.
The authors demonstrate that while the links between nature and food production have, to some extent, already been recognized, until now the focus has been to protect one from the impacts of the other. Instead, it is argued that nature and agriculture can, and should, work together and ultimately benefit from one another. Chapters describe efforts to protect nature through globally connected protected area systems and illustrate how farming methods are being shaped to protect nature within agricultural systems. The authors also point to many ways in which nature benefits agriculture through the ecosystem services it provides.
Overall, the book shows that nature conservation and food production must be considered as equally important components of future solutions to meet the global demand for food in a manner that is sustainable for both the human population and the planet as a whole.
Routledge
2017
Book
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/47511/1/47511_Gordon%20et%20al_2017_front%20matter.pdf
https://www.routledge.com/Food-Production-and-Nature-Conservation-Conflicts-and-Solutions/Gordon-Prins-Squire/p/book/9781138859395
Gordon, Iain J., Prins, Herbert H.T., and Squire, Geoff R. (2017) Food Production and Nature Conservation: conflicts and solutions. Earthscan Food and Agriculture . Routledge, London, UK.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/47511/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:47856
2024-03-03T14:54:04Z
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Alignment between values of dryland pastoralists and conservation needs for small mammals.
Addison, Jane
Pavey, Chris R.
Policies for conservation outside protected areas, such as those designed to address the decline in Australian mammals, will not result in net improvements unless they address barriers to proenvironmental behavior. We used a mixed-methods approach to explore potential value-action gaps (disconnects between values and subsequent action) for small mammal conservation behaviors among pastoralists in dryland Australia. Using semistructured surveys and open-ended interviews (n = 43), we explored values toward small mammals; uptake of a range of current and intended actions that may provide benefit to small mammals; and potential perceived barriers to their uptake. Pastoralists assigned great conservation value to small mammals; over 80% (n = 36) agreed to strongly agreed that small mammals on their property were important. These values did not translate into stated willingness to engage in voluntary cessation of wild-dog control (r² = 0.187, p = 0.142, n = 43). However, assigning great conservation value to small mammals was strongly related to stated voluntary willingness to engage in the proenvironmental behavior most likely to result in benefits to small mammals: cat and fox control (r² = 0.558, p = 0.000, n = 43). There was no significant difference between stated voluntarily and incentivized willingness to engage in cat and fox control (p = 0.862, n = 43). The high levels of willingness to engage in voluntary cat and fox control highlight a potential entry point for addressing Australia's mammal declines because the engagement of pastoralists in conservation programs targeting cat and fox control is unlikely to be prevented by attitudinal constraints. Qualitative data suggest there is likely a subpopulation of pastoralists who value small mammals but do not wish to engage in formal conservation programs due to relational barriers with potential implementers. A long-term commitment to engagement with pastoralists by implementers will thus be necessary for conservation success. On-property cat and fox control programs that build and leverage trust, shared goals, collaboration, and shared learning experiences between stakeholders and that explicitly recognize the complexity of small mammal dynamics and the property-level ecological knowledge of pastoralists are more likely to gain traction.
Wiley-Blackwell
2017-04
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/47856/2/Addison_et_al-2017-Conservation_Biology.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12803
Addison, Jane, and Pavey, Chris R. (2017) Alignment between values of dryland pastoralists and conservation needs for small mammals. Conservation Biology, 31 (2). pp. 331-342.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/47856/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:48855
2024-03-04T14:17:27Z
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A comparison of data mining algorithms for improving NIR models of cane quality measures
Sexton, J.
Everingham, Y.
Donald, D.
NEAR INFRARED (NIR) analysis systems are used to estimate cane quality measures such as brix and pol in juice and apparent purity. Within the Australian sugarcane industry, partial least squares regression (PLSR) has been used to build NIR models of cane quality measures in the lab, on-line and in the field. PLSR relies on the linear relationship between sample constituents and electromagnetic absorption at NIR wavelengths. In practice, this linear relationship can often break down resulting in relationships that are more complex. Recently, machine learning techniques have become popular for their skill with complex data and ability to produce robust calibrations. The objective of this paper was to compare PLSR with the machine learning technique support vector regression (SVR). The two techniques were used to estimate three cane quality parameters; brix in juice, pol in juice and (apparent) purity. Results from the PLSR models were consistent with previous industry studies and justified the use of PLSR as a baseline against which to compare approaches that are more sophisticated. The SVR models slightly reduced prediction error compared with PLSR models for brix and pol in juice, but slightly increased prediction error for purity. The marginal improvement in model skill using SVR was not considered sufficient to recommend SVR over PLSR, given the relative ease of use and interpretability of PLSR. However, this study showed that certain samples were difficult to model with either approach. Future research should consider machine learning algorithms as well as techniques to identify difficult to model samples. This will allow researchers to seek greater improvement in our ability to utilise NIR modelling techniques.
Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
2017-05-05
Conference Item
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/48855/1/557%20M%2024%20Sexton%20et%20al.pdf
https://www.assct.com.au/
Sexton, J., Everingham, Y., and Donald, D. (2017) A comparison of data mining algorithms for improving NIR models of cane quality measures. In: Proceedings of the 39th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (39) pp. 557-567. From: ASSCT 2017: 39th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, 3-5 May 2017, Cairns, QLD, Australia.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/48855/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:48862
2024-03-04T14:17:27Z
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Identification of climatological sub-regions within the Tully mill area
Sexton, J.
Everingham, Y.
Skocaj, D.
Biggs, J.
Thorburn, P.
Schroeder, B.
Identifying optimal nitrogen application rates that reduce nitrogen loss without adversely reducing yields would benefit growers and the environment. In order to identify optimal nitrogen application rates throughout the Tully mill area, it is important to identify sub-regions that share similar topographical, soil, farm management, productivity or climatological attributes. While current SIX EASY STEPS nitrogen guidelines enable a hierarchy of district, soil, block and crop nitrogen requirements for sugarcane, it would be beneficial for management zones to also take spatial climate variability information into account. Unfortunately, spatial climate variability within a region, is generally not considered when developing nitrogen management practices. The objective of this paper was to identify sub-regions within the Tully mill area based on climatological attributes as a first step towards better informing nitrogen management decisions. Rainfall, radiation and temperature data were obtained on a 0.05 by 0.05˚ grid (approximately 5 km by 5 km) for sugarcane-growing areas within the Tully Mill region. A K-means clustering algorithm was then used to cluster these grid cells into distinct sub-regions based on seasonal or annual climate data. Two distinct sub-regions were identified based on total annual rainfall and annual average daily radiation data. These sub-regions were identified as a northern and southern sub-region, divided roughly along the Tully River. The northern sub-region was characterised by lower radiation, lower temperatures and higher rainfall than the southern sub-region. Crop simulation models will now be able to use this knowledge to assess if nitrogen management plans should vary between the two sub-regions in Tully.
Australian Society of Sugarcane Technologists
2017-05-05
Conference Item
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/48862/6/JCU_48862_Sexton%20et%20al%202017_acepted.pdf
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/48862/1/342%20Ag%2035%20Sexton%20et%20al.pdf
https://www.assct.com.au/
Sexton, J., Everingham, Y., Skocaj, D., Biggs, J., Thorburn, P., and Schroeder, B. (2017) Identification of climatological sub-regions within the Tully mill area. In: Proceedings of the 39th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (39) pp. 342-350. From: ASSCT 2017: 39th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, 3-5 May 2017, Cairns, QLD, Australia.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/48862/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:49102
2024-03-04T14:16:19Z
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Commercialising smallholder agricultural production in Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Alexander, Kim
Case, Peter
Jones, Michael
Connell, John
Many smallholder farmers in Lao People’s Democratic Republic are transitioning from subsistence to commercial production. This paper employs the Agriculture Innovation System (AIS) framework to report on empirical findings from six case studies of Lao smallholder production. It identifies the actors, organisations, and institutions involved in systemic commercialisation of subsistence farming and articulate patterns of interactions that contribute to the relative success of the transition. Of the factors identified in our case studies, the most important enablers of commercial production and adoption of innovative technologies were technical and financial assistance, access to markets and the formation of farmer associations/organisations.
Taylor & Francis
2017
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/49102/1/49102%20Alexander%20et%20al%202017%20Accepted.pdf
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/49102/2/49102%20Alexander%20et%20al%202017.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2017.1353064
Alexander, Kim, Case, Peter, Jones, Michael, and Connell, John (2017) Commercialising smallholder agricultural production in Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Development in Practice, 27 (7). pp. 965-980.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/49102/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:49119
2024-03-05T15:09:58Z
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Towards productive landscapes: trade-offs in tree-cover and income across a matrix of smallholder agricultural land-use systems
Rahman, Syed Ajijur
Sunderland, Terry
Kshatriya, Mrigesh
Roshetko, James M.
Pagella, Tim
Healey, John R.
One of the main causes of tropical forest loss is conversion to agriculture, which is constantly increasing as a dominant land cover in the tropics. The loss of forests greatly affects biodiversity and ecosystem services. This paper assesses the economic return from increasing tree cover in agricultural landscapes in two tropical locations, West Java, Indonesia and eastern Bangladesh. Agroforestry systems are compared with subsistence seasonal food-crop-based agricultural systems. Data were collected through rapid rural appraisal, field observation, focus groups and semi-structured interviews of farm households. The inclusion of agroforestry tree crops in seasonal agriculture improved the systems’ overall economic performance (net present value), even when it reduced understorey crop production. However, seasonal agriculture has higher income per unit of land area used for crop cultivation compared with the tree establishment and development phase of agroforestry farms. Thus, there is a trade-off between short-term loss of agricultural income and longer-term economic gain from planting trees in farmland. For resource-poor farmers to implement this change, institutional support is needed to improve their knowledge and skills with this unfamiliar form of land management, sufficient capital for the initial investment, and an increase in the security of land tenure.
Elsevier
2016
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/49119/1/49119%20Rahman%20et%20al%202016.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2016.07.003
Rahman, Syed Ajijur, Sunderland, Terry, Kshatriya, Mrigesh, Roshetko, James M., Pagella, Tim, and Healey, John R. (2016) Towards productive landscapes: trade-offs in tree-cover and income across a matrix of smallholder agricultural land-use systems. Land Use Policy, 58. pp. 152-164.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/49119/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:49165
2024-03-02T14:59:53Z
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Yield and nitrogen losses in oil palm plantations: main drivers and management trade-offs determined using simulation
Pardon, Lénaïc
Huth, Neil
Nelson, Paul
Banabas, Murom
Gabrielle, Benoît
Bessou, Cécile
Oil palm cultivation has environmental impacts, including those associated with nitrogen (N) losses. Improving
management practices to optimise yield and N losses is critical. In order to identify the key management and site
parameters driving yield and N losses, over a 25-year cycle, we undertook a Morris’s sensitivity analysis of the
Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator oil palm model (APSIM-Oil palm), using 3 sites in Papua New Guinea.
We selected 12 parameters and 3 outputs: yield, nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and N leaching. The influence of
the 12 parameters on the outputs depended on site characteristics, age of the palms, and climate. The most
influential parameters for losses were N mineral fertiliser rate, drainage and fraction of legume in groundcover
vegetation. The simulations suggested that APSIM-Oil palm is a useful tool for assessing management options for
optimising yield and environmental outcomes in different environments. The results can also guide future
measurements needed to improve N loss estimates, and further development of models and risk indicators.
Elsevier
2017
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/49165/1/Pardon2017-FCR.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2017.05.016
Pardon, Lénaïc, Huth, Neil, Nelson, Paul, Banabas, Murom, Gabrielle, Benoît, and Bessou, Cécile (2017) Yield and nitrogen losses in oil palm plantations: main drivers and management trade-offs determined using simulation. Field Crops Research, 210. pp. 20-32.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/49165/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:49257
2024-02-29T14:47:30Z
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Forests, trees, and micronutrient-rich food consumption in Indonesia
Ickowitz, Amy
Rowland, Dominic
Powell, Bronwen
Salim, Mohammad Agus
Sunderland, Terry
Micronutrient deficiency remains a serious problem in Indonesia with approximately 100 million people, or 40% of the population, suffering from one or more micronutrient deficiencies. In rural areas with poor market access, forests and trees may provide an essential source of nutritious food. This is especially important to understand at a time when forests and other tree-based systems in Indonesia are being lost at unprecedented rates. We use food consumption data from the 2003 Indonesia Demographic Health Survey for children between the ages of one and five years and data on vegetation cover from the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry to examine whether there is a relationship between different tree-dominated land classes and consumption of micronutrient-rich foods across the archipelago. We run our models on the aggregate sample which includes over 3000 observations from 25 provinces across Indonesia as well as on sub-samples from different provinces chosen to represent the different land classes. The results show that different tree-dominated land classes were associated with the dietary quality of people living within them in the provinces where they were dominant. Areas of swidden/agroforestry, natural forest, timber and agricultural tree crop plantations were all associated with more frequent consumption of food groups rich in micronutrients in the areas where these were important land classes. The swidden/agroforestry land class was the landscape associated with more frequent consumption of the largest number of micronutrient rich food groups. Further research needs to be done to establish what the mechanisms are that underlie these associations. Swidden cultivation in is often viewed as a backward practice that is an impediment to food security in Indonesia and destructive of the environment. If further research corroborates that swidden farming actually results in better nutrition than the practices that replace it, Indonesian policy makers may need to reconsider their views on this land use.
Public Library of Science
2016-05-01
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/49257/1/49257%20Ickowitz%20et%20al%202016.PDF
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0154139
Ickowitz, Amy, Rowland, Dominic, Powell, Bronwen, Salim, Mohammad Agus, and Sunderland, Terry (2016) Forests, trees, and micronutrient-rich food consumption in Indonesia. PLoS ONE, 11 (5). pp. 1-15.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/49257/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:49265
2024-02-29T14:47:43Z
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Some primary producers are more likely to transform their agricultural practices in response to climate change than others
Marshall, Nadine A.
Crimp, Steve
Curnock, Matt
Greenhill, Murni
Kuehne, Geoff
Leviston, Zoe
Ouzman, Jackie
Climate change is altering the productivity of natural resources with far-reaching implications for agriculture. In some instances, the scale and nature of the likely impacts means that transformations of function or structure of agriculture and/or agricultural enterprises will be required if communities dependent on agriculture are to be sustained. However, industry-wide transformations are unlikely to be supported unless individual primary producers have sufficient capacity to undergo transformational change. We look at: (i) the extent to which primary producers in Australia would be willing to transform, (ii) the extent that transformational capacity is likely to exist within producers, and (iii) the common attributes of producers with high levels of transformational capacity. We conducted a telephone survey of 195 primary producers (response rate 59%) across livestock, cropping and mixed enterprises across five national transects on the Australian continent with a high to low rainfall gradient. About half of the sample (55%) suggested that their land would be suitable for diversification and 45% would consider land-use change. These producers were more likely to come from a dry region rather than a wet region, came from an already mixed production enterprise, were more likely to irrigate and have completed university or a trade. These producers were also more likely to have a higher transformational capacity, particularly in their level of interest in adapting to the future. Across our sample, 23% had high levels of transformational capacity, whilst nearly half (45%) had either low or extremely low capacity to implement such change. Producers with a higher capacity were more likely to have a mixed enterprise, an internal locus of control, and higher levels of trust in networks, government, researchers, and agronomists and in self. Our results provide some important insights into what makes some producers more successful or able to transform than others. Investment in the capacity of producers to transform is likely to be an effective strategy to support Australian agriculture in the face of climate change.
Elsevier
2016-04-15
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/49265/1/49265%20Marshall%20et%20al%202016.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2016.02.004
Marshall, Nadine A., Crimp, Steve, Curnock, Matt, Greenhill, Murni, Kuehne, Geoff, Leviston, Zoe, and Ouzman, Jackie (2016) Some primary producers are more likely to transform their agricultural practices in response to climate change than others. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 222. pp. 38-47.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/49265/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:49280
2024-03-01T14:40:32Z
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Five challenges to reconcile agricultural land use and forest ecosystem services in Southeast Asia
Carrasco, L.R.
Papworth, S.K.
Reed, J.
Symes, W.S.
Ickowitz, A.
Clements, T.
Peh, K.S.-H.
Sunderland, T.
Southeast Asia possesses the highest rates of tropical deforestation globally and exceptional levels of species richness and endemism. Many countries in the region are also recognized for their food insecurity and poverty, making the reconciliation of agricultural production and forest conservation a particular priority. This reconciliation requires recognition of the trade-offs between competing land-use values and the subsequent incorporation of this information into policy making. To date, such reconciliation has been relatively unsuccessful across much of Southeast Asia. We propose an ecosystem services (ES) value-internalization framework that identifies the key challenges to such reconciliation. These challenges include lack of accessible ES valuation techniques; limited knowledge of the links between forests, food security, and human well-being; weak demand and political will for the integration of ES in economic activities and environmental regulation; a disconnect between decision makers and ES valuation; and lack of transparent discussion platforms where stakeholders can work toward consensus on negotiated land-use management decisions. Key research priorities to overcome these challenges are developing easy-to-use ES valuation techniques; quantifying links between forests and well-being that go beyond economic values; understanding factors that prevent the incorporation of ES into markets, regulations, and environmental certification schemes; understanding how to integrate ES valuation into policy making processes, and determining how to reduce corruption and power plays in land-use planning processes.
Wiley-Blackwell
2016
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/49280/1/49280_Carrasco%20et%20al_2016.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12786
Carrasco, L.R., Papworth, S.K., Reed, J., Symes, W.S., Ickowitz, A., Clements, T., Peh, K.S.-H., and Sunderland, T. (2016) Five challenges to reconcile agricultural land use and forest ecosystem services in Southeast Asia. Conservation Biology, 30 (5). pp. 962-971.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/49280/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:49346
2024-03-02T14:52:30Z
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Woody species composition in an African savanna: determined by centuries of termite activity but modulated by 50 years of ungulate herbivory
Seymour, Colleen L.
Joseph, Grant S.
Makumbe, Milton
Cumming, Graeme S.
Mahlangu, Zacheus
Cumming, David H.M.
Questions: Ungulate herbivory and formation of large termite mounds occur over different time scales, but both can affect plant community composition in savannas. Human-managed savanna systems are increasingly dominated by domesticated grazing herbivores. These have replaced a mix of indigenous browsers and grazers, leading to changes in plant communities such as increased bush encroachment. We compared the relative impacts of five decades of different types of ungulate herbivory (cattle grazing, browsing and grazing by wild herbivores, and exclusion of all larger herbivores) on woody plant assemblages in two habitats, namely, large termite mounds, which may be thousands of years old, and the surrounding matrix.
Location: Miombo woodland savanna, Zimbabwe.
Methods: To determine the influence of termite mounds and herbivory on spatial distribution and composition of woody assemblages, we compared 40 paired mound–matrix plots from the three herbivory treatments using PERMANOVA. We assessed whether mound plots were more similar to each other than matrix plots were to each other, and whether herbivory influenced similarity. We used SIMPER analysis to identify changes in abundance of indicator species for each habitat (i.e. mound or matrix).
Results: Species composition differed significantly between mound and matrix and also between herbivory treatments. Woody plant assemblages on mounds were more similar to each other than woody plant assemblages in matrix plots were to each other, regardless of type of herbivory, but herbivory reduced the mound/matrix contrast. Sample location (i.e. on mound or in matrix) explained 23% of the variation in woody species composition, compared to 12% explained by herbivory. Woody plant abundance was lowest where there were both grazers and browsers.
Conclusions: The influence of large termite mounds on plant assemblages was roughly double that of herbivory, which has occurred over five decades. Type of herbivory emerged as relatively influential on woody plant species composition, given that the time periods involved were short by comparison to the slow formation of termite mounds. Type of herbivory also influenced species composition and vegetation structure, with a diversity of herbivores necessary to reduce encroachment by woody species.
Wiley
2016
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/49346/1/49346_Seymour%20et%20al_2016.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12393
Seymour, Colleen L., Joseph, Grant S., Makumbe, Milton, Cumming, Graeme S., Mahlangu, Zacheus, and Cumming, David H.M. (2016) Woody species composition in an African savanna: determined by centuries of termite activity but modulated by 50 years of ungulate herbivory. Journal of Vegetation Science, 27 (4). pp. 824-833.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/49346/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:49668
2022-08-27T19:30:06Z
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74797065733D626F6F6B5F73656374696F6E
A hierarchy of needs for achieving impact in international research for development
Butler, James R.A.
Darbas, Toni
Addison, Jane
Bohensky, Erin L.
Carter, Lucy
Cosijin, Michaela
Maru, Yiheyis T.
Stone-Jovicich, Samantha
Williams, Liana J.
Rodrigues, Luis C.
[Extract] In developing countries, change in environmental and socio-economic systems is occurring at unprecedented rates, driven by rapid globalisation, technological advances, modernisation and increasingly unpredictable economic and environmental shocks (Leach 2008). As a consequence, there are growing concerns that conventional international development initiatives aiming to reduce poverty, conserve or sustainably use the environment and increase resilience, are becoming less effective. Recently, Ramalingam (2013) argued that aid programs’ established assumptions of linear, simple cause-and-effect relationships which have long guided interventions and their evaluation are no longer valid. Instead, he argues for a more ‘systemic, adaptive, networked, dynamic approach ... and a fundamental shift in the mental models, strategic approaches, organisational philosophies and performance approaches of foreign aid’ (Ramalingam 2013, p. 361).
CSIRO Publishing
Schandl, Heinz
Walker, Iain
2017
Book Chapter
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/49668/1/49668_Butler%20et%20al_2017_chapter%20final.pdf
http://www.publish.csiro.au/book/7583/
Butler, James R.A., Darbas, Toni, Addison, Jane, Bohensky, Erin L., Carter, Lucy, Cosijin, Michaela, Maru, Yiheyis T., Stone-Jovicich, Samantha, Williams, Liana J., and Rodrigues, Luis C. (2017) A hierarchy of needs for achieving impact in international research for development. In: Schandl, Heinz, and Walker, Iain, (eds.) Social Science and Sustainability. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, pp. 109-129.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/49668/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:50190
2024-02-28T15:15:01Z
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Forest recovery in an Australian amenity landscape: implications for biodiversity conservation on small-acreage properties
Meadows, John
Herbohn, John
Emtage, Nick
Some urbanising rural (i.e. ‘amenity’) landscapes have seen an increase in forest cover over recent decades. Small-acreage landowners are key stakeholders in this forest recovery and its future ecological trajectory. Using 17 qualitative case-studies of small-acreage properties located in the Noosa hinterland in south-east Queensland, this study explores the types and condition of forests on these properties, the landholder’s differing forest management perspectives, practices and outcomes, and the implications for local biodiversity conservation. The properties contained a diverse mix of managed and un-managed natural and planted forests. Invasive weed species were a common component. Protecting and enhancing the ecological values of amenity landscapes will require an increase in active, best-practice forest management on small-acreage properties. Small-acreage landowners will require greater access to labour support and other subsidised resources to implement recommended practices. Such practices include controlling and reducing the spread of invasive weeds and soil erosion, reducing fire hazards, and positively influencing the rate and pathway of succession in regrowth forests. Peer-mentoring programs incorporating guided tours of ‘model’ small-acreage forests, and supporting landowners to establish their own small native plant nurseries and engage with local community nurseries (i.e. supplying seeds, volunteering labour), could help to increase small-acreage landowners’ forest management interests, knowledge, skills and activity. Long-term cooperative, cross-boundary forest management projects with on-going monitoring and adaptive management guided or implemented by skilled professionals are needed in amenity landscapes, particularly to increase the success of restoration interventions in weed-dominated regrowth forests. There is also a need for long-term socio-ecological analyses of amenity landscapes’ diverse and evolving small-acreage forests to better inform their future management.
Springer
2018
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/50190/1/50190%20Meadows%20et%20al%202018.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10531-017-1422-9
Meadows, John, Herbohn, John, and Emtage, Nick (2018) Forest recovery in an Australian amenity landscape: implications for biodiversity conservation on small-acreage properties. Biodiversity and Conservation, 27 (1). pp. 69-90.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/50190/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:50423
2024-02-27T15:03:14Z
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Livelihood diversity and dynamism in Timor-Leste; insights for coastal resource governance and livelihood development
Mills, David J.
Tilley, Alexander
Pereira, Mario
Hellebrandt, Denis
Pereira Fernandes, Avelino
Cohen, Philippa J.
Coastal communities within small island developing states are typically highly dependent on fisheries and other natural resource-based livelihoods. However, specialisation as a 'fisher' is rare compared to diverse livelihoods that can be adapted as opportunities and challenges emerge. Understanding this dynamic "livelihood landscape" is important for improving governance and livelihood opportunities associated with natural resources. Using data from 495 households across 15 communities on Atauro Island, Timor-Leste, this study evaluates the importance of fisheries within a suite of livelihoods; the correlation of livelihoods structure with wellbeing; and the spatial and temporal variation of those livelihoods. Activities linked to primary production were nominated by 67% of households as their primary livelihood, 41% fished, and of those 54% considered fishing their primary livelihood. Almost all households (95%) owned livestock, and even respondents who considered themselves 'fishers' ranked livestock disease, rather than fisheries related concerns, as their most critical livelihood challenge. Engagement in fishing varied by location and time of year. Communities in more protected locales fished throughout the year, and had less diverse livelihoods. This study highlights that interventions focused on self-identified 'fishers' would only engage a fraction of the population that derive benefit from fisheries resources, would likely overlook the most prevalent challenges fishers face, and would focus on those with relatively high food security and income. Measures of wellbeing were better explained by geography and sociocultural settings, rather than dominant income sources. The results emphasise the value of cross-sector development interventions informed by contextualised analysis of livelihoods and wellbeing outcomes.
Elsevier
2017
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/50423/1/50423_Mills%20et%20al_2017.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2017.04.021
Mills, David J., Tilley, Alexander, Pereira, Mario, Hellebrandt, Denis, Pereira Fernandes, Avelino, and Cohen, Philippa J. (2017) Livelihood diversity and dynamism in Timor-Leste; insights for coastal resource governance and livelihood development. Marine Policy, 82. pp. 206-215.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/50423/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:50428
2024-02-27T15:03:19Z
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The role of biochar and biochar-compost in improving soil quality and crop performance: a review
Agegnehu, Getachew
Srivastava, A.K.
Bird, Michael I.
Multiple nutrient deficiencies related to severe soil fertility depletion have emerged as the major constraint to the sustainability of agriculture on a global scale. Use of biocharand biochar-compost mixtures from different alternative organic sources have been proposed as an option for improving soil fertility, restoring degraded land, and mitigating the emissions of greenhouse gasses associated with agriculture. We review the findings of 634 publications in the last decade on biochar and biochar-compost mixtures as soil amendments in order to identify the potential gaps in our understanding of the role of these amendments in agriculture. We found that: i) the majority of published studies have been carried out in developed countries where soils are less impaired in terms of food production capacity than in many developing countries; ii) studies on biochar produced in small kilns are more common than biochars produced at commercial scale in developed countries, whereas biochars produced using traditional techniques are more commonly used than biochars produced in modern pyrolysis units in developing countries; iii) laboratory and greenhouse studies are more common than field studies; and iv) wood and municipal wastes were the major feedstock for the preparation of biochar compared to crop residues and manures. Although, biochar-compost application proved to be more generally effective in improving soil properties and crop yields (field crops and horticulture crops) than biochar alone, along with desired soil properties, could be a feasible alternative to remediate the degraded soils and improve their productivity potential in the long-term. Overall, a lack of long-term, well-designed field studies on the efficacy of biochar and biochar-compost mixtures on different soil types and agro-climatic zones are limiting our current understanding of biochar's potential to enhance crop production and mitigate climate change. We further suggest that greater collaboration between researchers, biochar producers, and policy makers is required to advance the research and uptake of this important technology at a global scale.
Elsevier
2017
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/50428/1/Agegnehu_2017%20compost%20biochar.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2017.06.008
Agegnehu, Getachew, Srivastava, A.K., and Bird, Michael I. (2017) The role of biochar and biochar-compost in improving soil quality and crop performance: a review. Applied Soil Ecology, 119. pp. 156-170.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/50428/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:50489
2024-02-27T15:04:05Z
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The effect of microwave soil treatment on rice production under field production
Khan, M.J.
Brodie, G.
Gupta, D.
Interest in chemical-free weed management practices has increased to overcome herbicide resistance in sustainable crop production systems. In this study, we examined microwave (MW) irradiation as an alternative weed management strategy in a direct-seeded rice crop under field conditions. Pre-emergence MW irradiation (2.45 GHz, 600 W, 120 s) of the soil was assigned in a randomized complete block design with five replications. The projection of 560 J cm(-2) of MW energy into the soil gave a temperature gradient of 80 degrees C to 90 degrees C in the top 5 to 6 cm, which induced a 70% to 80% reduction in weed establishment through the soil seedbank compared to the untreated control. Therefore, a 34% increase in the grain yield of rice (9.0 t ha(-1)) was achieved compared to the non-MW scenario (6.7 t ha(-1)). Microwave-based weed control could be effective in managing herbicide-resistant weed biotypes in cropping systems.
American Society of Agricultural Engineers
2017
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/50489/1/50489%20Khan%20et%20al%202017.pdf
http://doi.org/10.13031/trans.12125
Khan, M.J., Brodie, G., and Gupta, D. (2017) The effect of microwave soil treatment on rice production under field production. Transactions of the ASABE, 60 (2). pp. 517-525.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/50489/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:50512
2024-02-27T15:04:19Z
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Evaluating an eddy covariance technique to estimate point-source emissions and its potential application to grazing cattle
Coates, Trevor W.
Flesch, Thomas K.
McGinn, Sean M.
Charmley, Ed
Chen, Deli
Measurement of gas emissions from grazing cattle presents a challenging application of the eddy covariance (EC) technique. A cattle herd represents point sources on the landscape, violating the assumptions of spatial homogeneity made in typical EC applications. A proper evaluation of EC fluxes in this case requires an analysis based on the overlap between the EC flux footprint and animal positions. A controlled gas release study was conducted to evaluate the potential of a Lagrangian stochastic (LS) dispersion model to interpret EC fluxes and estimate emissions from point sources. Methane (CH4) gas was released from eight fixed points within a confined area (representing animals in a paddock) while two EC systems monitored CH4 fluxes at two distances downwind of the source area (a near and far tower). Overall accuracy was greater at the far tower location with estimates within 3% of the actual emission rate. The near tower overestimated total emissions by 16%. Deviations from the true emission rate were greatest for night-time and morning periods and least for mid-afternoon to early evening periods when neutral stability and favorable wind directions prevailed. We also investigated the effect of treating the simulated paddock as a homogeneous area emission source. The near tower emission estimate improved with the area source approach (9% overestimation). The far tower suffered a loss of accuracy (17% underestimation), but this was substantially improved (7% underestimation) by reducing the source area to the minimum required to contain the eight release points. Our study suggests that EC can be used to measure animal emissions from grazing cattle on pasture with a level of accuracy similar to other micrometeorological approaches.
Elsevier
2017
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/50512/1/50512_Coates%20et%20al_2017.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2016.12.026
Coates, Trevor W., Flesch, Thomas K., McGinn, Sean M., Charmley, Ed, and Chen, Deli (2017) Evaluating an eddy covariance technique to estimate point-source emissions and its potential application to grazing cattle. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 234-235. pp. 164-171.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/50512/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:50568
2024-02-29T14:34:23Z
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Estate crops more attractive than community forests in West Kalimantan, Indonesia
Langston, James D.
Riggs, Rebecca A.
Sururi, Yazid
Sunderland, Terry
Munawir, Muhammad
Smallholder farmers and indigenous communities must cope with the opportunities and threats presented by rapidly spreading estate crops in the frontier of the agricultural market economy. Smallholder communities are subject to considerable speculation by outsiders, yet large-scale agriculture presents tradeoffs that they must navigate. We initiated a study in Sintang,West Kalimantan in 2012 and have returned annually for the last four years, buildingthe baselines fora longer-term landscape approach to reconciling conservation and developmenttradeoffs in situ. Here, the stakeholders are heterogeneous, yet the land cover of the landscape is on a trajectory towards homogenous mono-cropping systems, primarily either palm oil or rubber. In one village on the frontier of the agricultural market economy, natural forests remain managed by the indigenous and local community but economics further intrude on forest use decisions. Conservation values are declining and the future of the forest is uncertain. As such, the community is ultimately attracted to more economically attractive uses of the land for local development oil palm or rubber mono-crop farms. We identify poverty as a threat to community-managed conservation success in the face of economic pressures to convert forest to intensive agriculture. We provide evidence that lucrative alternatives will challenge community-managed forests when prosperity seems achievable. To alleviate this trend, we identify formalized traditional management and landscape governance solutions to nurture a more sustainable landscape transition.
MDPIAG
2017
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/50568/1/50568_Langston%20et%20al_2017.pdf
https://doi.org/10.3390/land6010012
Langston, James D., Riggs, Rebecca A., Sururi, Yazid, Sunderland, Terry, and Munawir, Muhammad (2017) Estate crops more attractive than community forests in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Land, 6 (1). 12.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/50568/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:50740
2024-02-29T14:35:59Z
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Systemic feedback modelling for sustainable water resources management and agricultural development: an application of participatory modelling approach in the Volta River Basin
Kotir, Julius H.
Brown, Greg
Marshall, Nadine
Johnstone, Ron
Although our understanding of water resource problems has grown in recent years, our ability to improve decision-making is still limited. Participatory modelling and stakeholder engagement is seen as an important tool that can facilitate strategic decision-making in environmental/natural resource management systems. This paper presents the participatory and methodological processes involved in the development of an integrated qualitative, conceptual model using causal loops diagrams to assist integrated water resources management and sustainable agricultural development in the Volta River Basin, West Africa. The developed integrated conceptual model provides a holistic understanding of the key biophysical and socio-economic factors and processes, and the role the systemic feedbacks play in determining the basin's behaviour. An ex-post analysis of the process with stakeholders showed that the process contributed to the shared understanding of the basin's problems. Based on our experience we present some lessons for the design and application of a participatory modelling process.
Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd
2017
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/50740/1/50740_Kotir%20et%20al_2017.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2016.11.015
Kotir, Julius H., Brown, Greg, Marshall, Nadine, and Johnstone, Ron (2017) Systemic feedback modelling for sustainable water resources management and agricultural development: an application of participatory modelling approach in the Volta River Basin. Environmental Modelling and Software, 88. pp. 106-118.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/50740/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:51390
2024-03-04T15:07:26Z
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Rice farming systems in Southern Lao PDR: interpreting farmers' agricultural production decisions using Q methodology
Alexander, Kim S.
Parry, Lucy
Thammavong, Phomma
Sackloham, Silinthone
Pasouvang, Somphanh
Connell, John G.
Jovanovic, Tom
Moglia, Magnus
Larson, Silva
Case, Peter
The agricultural sector in Lao PDR is forecast to move from subsistence rice production to a more modernized and market-oriented sector with greater focus on commercialization of agricultural production. Intensification of agricultural production in the southern and central rice growing regions of Lao PDR is problematic as dryland farmers rely on rainfall and soils are poor, yet rural households have been experiencing rapid change in their farming and livelihood systems. This paper employs Q methodology techniques to explore 35 farmers' viewpoints when contemplating their production goals and potential to adopt technologies to improve productivity. Findings describe the two emerging viewpoints among farmers as 'labour saving productivity maximization' and 'traditional labour productivity using improved techniques'. The two viewpoints describe the different issues currently guiding production decisions. While the Lao Government forecasts substantial increases in rice production in the southern plains, farmers will require specialized and tailored support, accounting for their envisaged livelihood and production goals, to allow the sector transformation that many stakeholders currently envisage.
Elsevier
2018-02
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/51390/6/51390-Alexander-et-al-2017-Accepted-Version.pdf
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/51390/7/51390-Alexander-et-al-2017-Published-Version.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2017.10.018
Alexander, Kim S., Parry, Lucy, Thammavong, Phomma, Sackloham, Silinthone, Pasouvang, Somphanh, Connell, John G., Jovanovic, Tom, Moglia, Magnus, Larson, Silva, and Case, Peter (2018) Rice farming systems in Southern Lao PDR: interpreting farmers' agricultural production decisions using Q methodology. Agricultural Systems, 160. pp. 1-10.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/51390/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:51935
2024-02-28T14:52:48Z
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Ingestive behaviour and forage intake responses of young and mature steers to the vertical differentiation of sugarcane in pen and grazing studies
Benvenutti, M.A.
Pavetti, D.R.
Poppi, D.P.
Mayer, D.G.
Gordon, I.J.
Sugarcane is an important forage resource in sub-tropical and tropical areas as it is used during the winter or dry season when the growth rate of pastures is significantly reduced. The current research study assessed the effect of four vertical sections of sugarcane in a pen trial and the level of sugarcane utilization in a grazing trial on the ingestive behaviour and forage intake of two age groups of steers (1 and 2 years old). The pen trial was comprised of two simultaneous 4 x 4 balanced Latin square designs (one for each age group of animals) of four periods, four animals and four feeding treatments, which consisted of four equal vertical sections of sugarcane. Dry matter (DM) and digestible DM (DDM) intake per kilogram of metabolic weight declined gradually from top to bottom of the sugarcane, with no significant differences between the age groups of steers. This difference in intake was associated with a decline in intake of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) as a proportion of the liveweight of the animal and an increase of total chewing time per kilogram of DM or NDF from top to bottom of the sugarcane. It was concluded that the toughness of plant material played a significant role regulating intake, which was higher for the top sections of sugarcane. In the grazing trial, steers of both age groups grazed down sugarcane in three plots over 9 days. Steers grazed up to four distinctive grazing strata. Digestible DM intake (DDM intake) was high at low levels of horizontal utilization of the top grazing stratum but DDM intake started to decline sharply when this stratum was removed in 0.92 of paddock area (i.e. equivalent to 0.08 of the pasture area remaining un-grazed). It was concluded that the proportion of un-grazed area of the pasture can be used as a grazing management strategy to control forage intake for sugarcane.
Cambridge University Press
2017
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/51935/1/51935%20Benvenutti%20et%20al%202017.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021859617000673
Benvenutti, M.A., Pavetti, D.R., Poppi, D.P., Mayer, D.G., and Gordon, I.J. (2017) Ingestive behaviour and forage intake responses of young and mature steers to the vertical differentiation of sugarcane in pen and grazing studies. Journal of Agricultural Science, 155 (10). pp. 1677-1688.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/51935/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:52153
2024-02-29T14:25:37Z
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Agriculture production as a major driver of the Earth system exceeding planetary boundaries
Campbell, Bruce M.
Beare, Douglas J.
Bennett, Elena M.
Hall-spencer, Jason M.
Ingram, John S.I.
Jaramillo, Fernando
Ortiz, Rodomiro
Ramankutty, Navin
Sayer, Jeffrey A.
Shindell, Drew
We explore the role of agriculture in destabilizing the Earth system at the planetary scale, through examining nine planetary boundaries, or "safe limits": land-system change, freshwater use, biogeochemical flows, biosphere integrity, climate change, ocean acidification, stratospheric ozone depletion, atmospheric aerosol loading, and introduction of novel entities. Two planetary boundaries have been fully transgressed, i.e., are at high risk, biosphere integrity and biogeochemical flows, and agriculture has been the major driver of the transgression. Three are in a zone of uncertainty i.e., at increasing risk, with agriculture the major driver of two of those, land-system change and freshwater use, and a significant contributor to the third, climate change. Agriculture is also a significant or major contributor to change for many of those planetary boundaries still in the safe zone. To reduce the role of agriculture in transgressing planetary boundaries, many interventions will be needed, including those in broader food systems.
Resilience Alliance
2017
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/52153/1/52153%20Campbell%20et%20al%202017.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ES-09595-220408
Campbell, Bruce M., Beare, Douglas J., Bennett, Elena M., Hall-spencer, Jason M., Ingram, John S.I., Jaramillo, Fernando, Ortiz, Rodomiro, Ramankutty, Navin, Sayer, Jeffrey A., and Shindell, Drew (2017) Agriculture production as a major driver of the Earth system exceeding planetary boundaries. Ecology and Society, 22 (4).
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/52153/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:53065
2024-03-02T14:17:52Z
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Road improvement enhances smallholder productivity and reduces forest encroachment in Ghana
Acheampong, Emmanuel Opoku
Sayer, Jeffrey
MacGregor, Colin J.
Agriculture employs about 70% of the active labour force, yet contributes only 30% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Sub-Saharan Africa. About 60% of African farmers cultivate mainly for household consumption on 2–2.5 ha of land and depend upon roads to access local and regional markets. Forest encroachment by smallholder farmers is a major cause of deforestation in Africa. We used regression analysis to determine the degree to which road improvement influenced farm size, forest encroachment and market participation in rural Ghana. We obtained data on household size and characteristics and farm plot size from 300 farmers in 10 communities. Farms accessible by improved roads had stable or slightly declining areas under cultivation. Improved roads led to better market integration, more use of farm inputs and higher yields. Farmers in areas with unpaved roads used fewer inputs, had less market penetration and were forced to encroach on forests for additional farmland to increase production. Our evidence suggests that linking rural people more efficiently to markets by improving roads will encourage commercial farming and reduce farm expansion into forests. Improved agriculture alone will not limit forest encroachment. Enforcement of forest protection regulations will also be needed to restrict encroachment.
Elsevier
2018
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/53065/1/53065%20Acheampong%20et%20al%202018.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2018.04.001
Acheampong, Emmanuel Opoku, Sayer, Jeffrey, and MacGregor, Colin J. (2018) Road improvement enhances smallholder productivity and reduces forest encroachment in Ghana. Environmental Science & Policy, 85. pp. 64-71.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/53065/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:53277
2024-02-28T14:23:19Z
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A Bayesian network model to explore practice change by smallholder rice farmers in Lao PDR
Moglia, Magnus
Alexander, Kim S.
Thephavanh, Manithaythip
Thammavong, Phomma
Sodahak, Viengkham
Khounsy, Bountom
Vorlasan, Sysavanh
Larson, Silva
Connell, John
Case, Peter
A Bayesian Network model has been developed that synthesizes findings from concurrent multi-disciplinary research activities. The model describes the many factors that impact on the chances of a smallholder farmer adopting a proposed change to farming practices. The model, when applied to four different proposed technologies, generated insights into the factors that have the greatest influence on adoption rates. Behavioural motivations for change are highly dependent on farmers’ individual viewpoints and are also technology dependent. The model provides a boundary object that provides an opportunity to engage experts and other stakeholders in discussions about their assessment of the technology adoption process, and the opportunities, barriers and constraints faced by smallholder farmers when considering whether to adopt a technology.
Elsevier
2018-07
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/53277/6/53277_Moglia%20et%20al_2018_accepted%20author%20version.pdf
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/53277/1/53277_Moglia%20et%20al_2018_published%20version.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2018.04.004
Moglia, Magnus, Alexander, Kim S., Thephavanh, Manithaythip, Thammavong, Phomma, Sodahak, Viengkham, Khounsy, Bountom, Vorlasan, Sysavanh, Larson, Silva, Connell, John, and Case, Peter (2018) A Bayesian network model to explore practice change by smallholder rice farmers in Lao PDR. Agricultural Systems, 164. pp. 84-94.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/53277/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:53364
2019-06-27T01:29:00Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D636F6E666572656E63655F6974656D
Smarter irrigation management in the sugarcane farming system using internet of things
Wang, E.
Attard, S.
Everingham, Y.
Philippa, B.
Xiang, W.
Irrigation management is a considerable time investment for many sugarcane farmers. Better irrigation practices can lead to improved yields through less water stress, and reduce water usage to deliver economic benefits for farmers. The reduced runoff and deep drainage from excess irrigation can also deliver benefits to the environment.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is about allowing things to sense, to communicate, and thus creating opportunities for more direct integration between the physical world and computer-based systems. IoT has been transforming all spheres of life into smart homes, smart cities, and smart healthcare. Today’s farms can leverage IoT to remotely monitor sensors, manage and control harvesters and irrigation equipment, and utilise artificial intelligence based analytics to quickly analyse operational data combined with third party information, to provide new insights and improve decision-making.
This project focuses on improving irrigation management by integrating the auto-irrigation system (e.g., WiSA) and IrrigWeb (a sugarcane irrigation scheduling tool) to provide a smarter irrigation solution using IoT. The system generates a two-way communication channel between these two platforms, which allows them to share data. Specifically, the uplink program (WiSA to IrrigWeb) was developed and deployed in a Burdekin farm. It connects the farmer’s WiSA to IrrigWeb, by uploading irrigation data automatically. The farmer’s irrigation records are automatically loaded into IrrigWeb. This saves the farmer time and makes the scheduling more efficient. Another benefit is that the farmer can now see the exact amount being applied to each field, and make modifications to the irrigation management, if required. Moreover, automating the data transfer from WiSA to IrrigWeb will greatly improve the potential for uptake and use of technologies like IrrigWeb. On the other hand, the downlink program (IrrigWeb to WiSA) will be developed to automatically apply scheduling from IrrigWeb to WiSA. Combining the uplink and downlink programs, a smarter irrigation management system can automatically control sugarcane irrigation, and ultimately make sugarcane irrigation fully autonomous.
Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
2018
Conference Item
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/53364/1/53364%20Wang%20et%20al%202018.pdf
https://www.assct.com.au/component/assct/search-result?search_cat=title&filter_search=Smarter%20irrigation%20management%20in%20the%20sugarcane%20far&publisher=any&Itemid=0
Wang, E., Attard, S., Everingham, Y., Philippa, B., and Xiang, W. (2018) Smarter irrigation management in the sugarcane farming system using internet of things. In: Proceedings of the 40th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (40) pp. 117-122. From: ASSCT 2018: 40th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, 17-20 April 2018, Mackay, QLD, Australia.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/53364/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:53596
2024-03-05T14:46:24Z
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Vulnerability of the livestock industry in eastern Australia
Marshall, N.A.
Taylor, B.M.
Heyenga, S.
Butler, D.
Sustaining industries dependent on climate-sensitive natural resources will require strategy given likely future scenarios under climate change. Tools and frameworks to evaluate the vulnerability of agriculture will be key if a plan to minimise vulnerability and maximise resilience is to be created. We use a framework based on a modification of the well-established IPCC vulnerability model (Marshall and Smajgl 2013) to assess the vulnerability of the livestock industry in Eastern Australia to climate change. Using existing data-sets, we show how the framework can be used to holistically quantify and qualify the current and future exposure of the industry to climate-related events, the biophysical and social sensitivity and impacts likely to be experienced, and the current level of adaptive capacity within the context of the livestock industry in eastern Australia. Results suggest that whilst the industry is likely to be sensitive to changes brought about by climate change, it is not necessarily vulnerable if livestock producers can moderate impacts by enhancing their adaptive capacity. Adaptive capacity is examined at the producer and industry level to understand the scope and potential for climate adaptation planning within the industry itself. We discuss six important challenges that the industry must face if it is to manage its vulnerability. Minimising vulnerability within the industry will require careful consideration of the likely ecological, biophysical and socio-economic impacts and an investment in adaptive capacity across scales.
Springer
2018
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/53596/1/53596_Marshall_et_al_2018.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11625-017-0435-3
Marshall, N.A., Taylor, B.M., Heyenga, S., and Butler, D. (2018) Vulnerability of the livestock industry in eastern Australia. Sustainability Science, 13 (2). pp. 393-402.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/53596/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:53623
2024-03-02T15:46:46Z
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Impact of oil palm development on the integrity of riparian vegetation of a tropical coastal landscape
Sheaves, Marcus
Johnston, Ross
Miller, Kelsey
Nelson, Paul N.
Palm oil production provides economic benefits in developing countries but its development can drastically alter landscapes. We investigated an oil palm-dominated landscape in New Britain, Papua New Guinea, and developed a simple remote sensing approach, supported by site visits and video surveys, to assess the condition and the extent of recent change in riparian zones. Riparian buffer zones were extensively modified. Riparian disturbance occurred in both corporate plantations and smallholder blocks. Older areas of oil palm were planted before riparian buffer zone protocols were established, but there has been continuing recent loss and disturbance of natural riparian vegetation, despite increasing awareness of the importance of riparian buffer zones. Explanations for this are complex. For smallholders, a rapidly growing population is increasing the need for income-generating oil palm planting and household gardens, leading to utilisation of riparian zones for oil palm, gardens or villages. Improved management of riparian zones, combined with effective monitoring, is essential to maintain or improve ecological functioning and biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems and the associated benefits for local communities. In conclusion, the simple remote sensing approach developed here, supported by ground truthing and video surveys, provides a robust and effective means of assessing riparian condition in a complex and changing landscape. The techniques could be used to assess the effectiveness of future initiatives to improve aquatic ecosystem condition in similar agriculture-dominated regions.
Elsevier
2018
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/53623/1/Sheaves2018.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2018.04.011
Sheaves, Marcus, Johnston, Ross, Miller, Kelsey, and Nelson, Paul N. (2018) Impact of oil palm development on the integrity of riparian vegetation of a tropical coastal landscape. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 262. pp. 1-10.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/53623/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:53903
2024-02-29T14:52:24Z
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A methodological approach for assessing cross-site landscape change: understanding socio-ecological systems
Sunderland, Terry
Abdoulaye, Rabdo
Ahammad, Ronju
Asaha, Stella
Baudron, Frederic
Deakin, Elizabeth
Duriaux, Jean Yves
Eddy, Ian
Foli, Samson
Gumbo, Davison
Khatun, Kaysara
Kondwani, Mumba
Kshatriya, Mrigesh
Leonald, Laurio
Rowland, Dominic
Stacey, Natasha
Tomscha, Stephanie
Yang, Kevin
Gergel, Sarah
Van Vianen, Josh
The expansion of agriculture has resulted in large-scale habitat loss, the fragmentation of forests, significant losses in biological diversity and negative impacts on many ecosystem services. In this paper, we highlight the Agrarian Change Project, a multi-disciplinary research initiative, that applies detailed socio-ecological methodologies in multi-functional landscapes, and assess the subsequent implications for conservation, livelihoods and food security. Specifically, the research focuses on land use impacts in locations which exhibit various combinations of agricultural modification/change across a forest transition gradient in six tropical landscapes, in Zambia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Bangladesh. These methods include integrated assessments of the perceptions of ecosystem service provision, tree cover loss and gain, relative poverty, diets and agricultural patterns of change. Although numerous surveys on rural livelihoods are undertaken each year, often at great cost, many are hampered by weaknesses in methods and thus may not reflect rural realities. We attempt to highlight how integrating broader socio-ecological methods can be used to fill in those gaps and ensure such realities are indeed captured. Early findings suggest that the transition from a forested landscape to a more agrarian dominated system does not necessarily result in better livelihood outcomes and there may be unintended consequences of forest and tree cover removal. These include the loss of access to grazing land, loss of dietary diversity and the loss of ecosystem services/forest products.
Elsevier
2017-11
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/53903/6/53903-sunderland-et-al-2017.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2017.04.013
Sunderland, Terry, Abdoulaye, Rabdo, Ahammad, Ronju, Asaha, Stella, Baudron, Frederic, Deakin, Elizabeth, Duriaux, Jean Yves, Eddy, Ian, Foli, Samson, Gumbo, Davison, Khatun, Kaysara, Kondwani, Mumba, Kshatriya, Mrigesh, Leonald, Laurio, Rowland, Dominic, Stacey, Natasha, Tomscha, Stephanie, Yang, Kevin, Gergel, Sarah, and Van Vianen, Josh (2017) A methodological approach for assessing cross-site landscape change: understanding socio-ecological systems. Forest Policy and Economics, 84. pp. 83-91.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/53903/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:53934
2024-03-03T15:09:17Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D626F6F6B5F73656374696F6E
Does sustainable intensification offer a pathway to improved food security for aquatic agricultural system-dependent communities?
Attwood, Simon J.
Park, Sarah
Loos, Jacqueline
Phillips, Michael
Mills, David
McDougall, Cynthia
Aquatic agricultural systems (AAS) are diverse production and livelihood systems that occur along inland lakes and rivers, freshwater floodplains, estuarine deltas and coasts. These diverse production systems are typically characterised by seasonal changes in productivity and water availability, driven by periodic variation in rainfall, river flow and/or coastal and marine processes (WorldFish, 2011). Globally, AAS are highly significant; first, they cover vast areas of the non-OECD 1 world, with approximately 2.5 million km2 of inland AAS coverage and a further 2 million km2 of coastal system coverage (Béné and Teoh, 2014). This represents approximately 27% of the non-OECD cultivated area. Second, an estimated 500 million people are dependent on AAS in the non-OECD world, with approximately three-quarters of this number dependent on inland systems. This represents approximately 16% of the total estimated rural population in non-OECD countries (Béné and Teoh, 2014). Within AAS, food production and livelihoods depend on diverse activities and resources. Interdependent terrestrial and aquatic resource uses include agricultural practices (e.g. fish farming, crops, livestock), considerably supplemented by wild harvested foods (e.g. caught fish) from native ecosystems. This diversity of production and resource-use options is coupled with or based on high agricultural and wild biodiversity and associated ecosystem services. Community well-being within AAS heavily depends on the various ecosystem services these systems provide, as well as processes and institutions which mediate access to services. However, AAS and their beneficial characteristics are extremely sensitive to environmental changes, thus rendering communities vulnerable to ecosystem shocks and disturbances (Halwart, 2006; WorldFish, 2011; Weeratunge et al., 2012; Castine et al., 2013). Implicit in this are issues relating to rights and equitable access to the benefits of this productivity (Birch et al., 2014; Loos et al., 2014), where ‘distribution gaps’ may be more important than ‘yield gaps’ and ‘nutrition gaps’ (Pinstrup-Andersen, 2009; Tscharntke et al., 2012). Consequently, the 72productive intensification of these systems through approaches that are both ecologically meaningful and socially and economically equitable is a high priority. Box 5.1 provides an example of the complex interaction of components in the AAS of the Barotse floodplain in Zambia, and the ingenuity of those that manage and depend upon them.
Routledge
Öborn, Ingrid
Vanlauwe, Bernard
Phillips, Michael
Thomas, Richard
Brooijmand, Willemien
Atta-Krah, Kwesi
2017
Book Chapter
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/53934/1/53934_Attwood%20et%20al_2017_chapter.pdf
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781317212010/chapters/10.4324%2F9781315618791-5
Attwood, Simon J., Park, Sarah, Loos, Jacqueline, Phillips, Michael, Mills, David, and McDougall, Cynthia (2017) Does sustainable intensification offer a pathway to improved food security for aquatic agricultural system-dependent communities? In: Öborn, Ingrid, Vanlauwe, Bernard, Phillips, Michael, Thomas, Richard, Brooijmand, Willemien, and Atta-Krah, Kwesi, (eds.) Sustainable Intensification in Smallholder Agriculture: an integrated systems research approach. Earthscan Food and Agriculture Series . Routledge, London, UK, pp. 71-87.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/53934/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:54008
2024-03-03T14:43:14Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D636F6E666572656E63655F6974656D
Consequences of forcing sugarcane growers in the wet tropics to adopt the recommended fertiliser practices
Benn, Karen E.
The dominant scientific paradigm holds sugarcane growers' cultivation practices responsible for the greatest amount of soil and nutrient run-off flowing from the Wet Tropics coast to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) lagoon. Strong encouragement from governmental agencies, coupled with increased fertiliser costs and proposed gains in increased levels of sugar content, have led to marked reduction in the use of N and P fertiliser. However continued governmental pressure exerted on growers to further reduce fertiliser use has been met with reluctance. A qualitative study involving eighty-two in-depth interviews during 2007-2010 with sugar industry and reef protection representatives in the wet tropics region reveals the underlying reasons for this reluctance. Two different conceptual frameworks provide two valuable lenses for understanding the reasons why growers remain unconvinced of proposed benefits for the industry, or the environment, from further reductions in fertiliser applications. Through the lens of ecological modernisation theory (EMT) important economic, social and environmental issues emerge that suggest the proposed benefits of further reductions in fertiliser use are unsustainable. Moreover, through the lens of Foucault's notion of the knowledge/power nexus and associated debates about eco-governmentality, knowledge disputes about the validity and contested nature of the dominant science became an important component of the analysis. These knowledge disputes highlight the power relations of sugar industry and reef protection stakeholders. This combined analysis of growers' reasons for reluctance to further reduce fertiliser use provides insights into the consequences associated with the reliance urban bureaucrats place on scientific expertise to inform natural resource management (NRM) policy without consulting rural peoples' knowledge. The literature reinforces that granting more credence for rural people's knowledge leads to more sustainable NRM policy, which ultimately affects the livelihoods of farmers. More collaborative ways of working with farmers on issues of environmental management need to be applied to avoid undesirable consequences of inappropriate policy.
Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
2017
Conference Item
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/54008/1/54008%20Benn%202017.pdf
https://www.assct.com.au/
Benn, Karen E. (2017) Consequences of forcing sugarcane growers in the wet tropics to adopt the recommended fertiliser practices. In: Proceedings of the 39th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (39) pp. 200-208. From: ASSCT 2017: 39th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, 3-5 May 2017, Cairns, QLD, Australia.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/54008/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:54072
2024-03-05T14:28:42Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D636F6E666572656E63655F6974656D
Herbicides and the water quality conundrum
Ross, Phil
Fillols, Emilie
Billing, Belinda
Davis, Aaron
HERBICIDAL IMPACT ON the health of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) lagoon came to the forefront in 2009 with the Queensland Government's Great Barrier Reef Protection Amendment Act 2009 and the concurrent review of diuron by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). Subsequently, Federal and Queensland government programs have maintained the spotlight on both freshwater and marine water quality. Ambitious pesticide load reduction targets have been set by the Reef 2050 Plan, as one of the means to improve water quality and the resilience of the GBR ecosystem. Photosystem II (PSII) herbicides in particular are targeted under the plan. Gaining sustained industry practice change is paramount to achieving these targets. Progress is being made, although the challenges remain, both on the practice change level and on the technical knowledge level. Weed management practices with demonstrated environmental benefits include timing spray applications to avoid run-off within the 20-25 days following spraying, incorporation of residual herbicides by non-run-off inducing irrigation or rainfall, switching to strategic and/or banded application of residual herbicides, and avoiding the use of residual herbicides on ratoons where trash blanketing provides sufficient weed suppression. Other farming system improvements such as controlled traffic may reduce the amount of run-off, contributing to reductions in overall herbicide losses. Growers are switching to alternative residual herbicides in response to tighter controls on the PS II herbicides diuron, atrazine, ametryn and hexazinone. Relative risk rankings being developed indicate that alternative herbicides can offer reduced environmental risk.
Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
2017-01-01
Conference Item
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/54072/1/54072%20Ross%20et%20al%202017.pdf
https://www.assct.com.au/
Ross, Phil, Fillols, Emilie, Billing, Belinda, and Davis, Aaron (2017) Herbicides and the water quality conundrum. In: Proceedings of the 39th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (39) pp. 182-189. From: ASSCT 2017: 39th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, 3-5 May 2017, Cairns, QLD, Australia.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/54072/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:54092
2024-02-27T15:02:11Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Integrated soil fertility and plant nutrient management in tropical agro-ecosystems: a review
Agegnehu, Getachew
Amede, Tilahun
The greatest challenge for tropical agriculture is land degradation and reduction in soil fertility for sustainable crop and livestock production. Associated problems include soil erosion, nutrient mining, competition for biomass for multiple uses, limited application of inorganic fertilizers, and limited capacity of farmers to recognize the decline in soil quality and its consequences on productivity. Integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) is an approach to improve crop yields, while preserving sustainable and long-term soil fertility through the combined judicious use of fertilizers, recycled organic resources, responsive crop varieties, and improved agronomic practices, which minimize nutrient losses and improve the nutrient-use efficiency of crops. Soil fertility and nutrient management studies in Ethiopia under on-station and on-farm conditions showed that the combined application of inorganic and organic fertilizers significantly increased crop yields compared to either alone in tropical agro-ecosystems. Yield benefits were more apparent when fertilizer application was accompanied by crop rotation, green manuring, or crop residue management. The combination of manure and NP fertilizer could increase wheat and faba bean grain yields by 50%–100%, whereas crop rotation with grain legumes could increase cereal grain yields by up to 200%. Although organic residues are key inputs for soil fertility management, about 85% of these residues is used for livestock feed and energy; thus, there is a need for increasing crop biomass. The main incentive for farmers to adopt ISFM practices is economic benefits. The success of ISFM also depends on research and development institutions to provide technical support, technology adoption, information dissemination, and creation of market incentives for farmers in tropical agro-ecosystems.
Elsevier
2017-08
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/54092/1/54092_Agegnehu%20and%20Amede_2017.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(17)60382-5
Agegnehu, Getachew, and Amede, Tilahun (2017) Integrated soil fertility and plant nutrient management in tropical agro-ecosystems: a review. Pedosphere, 27 (4). pp. 662-680.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/54092/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:56063
2024-03-05T14:40:13Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
A comparison of non-linear regression methods for improved on-line near infrared spectroscopic analysis of a sugarcane quality measure
Sexton, Justin
Everingham, Yvette
Donald, David
Staunton, Steve
White, Ronald
On-line near infrared (NIR) spectroscopic analysis systems play an important role in assessing the quality of sugarcane in Australia. As quality measures are used to calculate the payment made to growers, it is imperative that NIR models are both accurate and robust. Machine learning and non-linear modelling approaches have been explored as methods for developing improved NIR models in a variety of industrial settings, yet there has been little research into their application to cane quality measures. The objective of this paper was to compare chemometric models of commercial cane sugar (CCS) based on four calibration techniques. CCS was estimated using partial least squares regression (PLS), support vector regression (SVR), artificial neural networks (ANNs) and gradient boosted trees (GBTs). Model performance was assessed on an independent validation data set using root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) and r(2) values. SVR (RMSEP = 0.37%; r(2) = 0.92) and ANN (RMSEP= 0.36%; r(2) = 0.93) performed similarly to PLS (RMSEP = 0.37%; r(2) = 0.92) on the validation data set, while GBT exhibited a much lower skill (RMSEP = 0.51%; r(2) = 0.85). Analysis of important wavelengths in each model showed that PLS regression, SVR and ANN techniques emphasized the importance of similar spectral regions. Future research should consider testing model robustness over seasons and/or regions. Comparisons of chemometric models should consider reporting variable importance as a way of understanding how models use spectral information.
SAGE
2018
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/56063/1/56063_Sexton_et_al_2018.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1177/0967033518802448
Sexton, Justin, Everingham, Yvette, Donald, David, Staunton, Steve, and White, Ronald (2018) A comparison of non-linear regression methods for improved on-line near infrared spectroscopic analysis of a sugarcane quality measure. Journal of Near Infrared Spectroscopy, 26 (5). pp. 297-310.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/56063/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:56535
2024-03-04T14:17:17Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Making management decisions in the face of uncertainty: a case study using the Burdekin catchment in the Great Barrier Reef
Kuhnert, P.M.
Pagendam, D.E.
Bartley, R.
Gladish, D.W.
Lewis, S.E.
Bainbridge, Z.T.
Modelling and monitoring pollutants entering into the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) lagoon remain important priorities for the Australian and Queensland governments. Uncertainty analysis of pollutant load delivery to the GBR would: (1) inform decision makers on their ability to meet environmental targets; (2) identify whether additional measurements are required to make confident decisions; and (3) determine whether investments into remediation activities are actually making a difference to water quality and the health of the GBR. Using a case study from the Upper Burdekin catchment where sediment concentrations are the focus, herein we explore and demonstrate different ways of communicating uncertainty to a decision maker. In particular, we show how exceedance probabilities can identify hot spots for future monitoring or remediation activities and how they can be used to inform target setting activities. We provide recommendations for water quality specialists that allow them to make more informed and scientifically defensible decisions that consider uncertainty in both the monitoring and modelling data, as well as allowing the calculation of exceedances from a threshold.
CSIRO
2018-04-16
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/56535/1/56535_Kuhnert_et_al_2018.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1071/MF17237
Kuhnert, P.M., Pagendam, D.E., Bartley, R., Gladish, D.W., Lewis, S.E., and Bainbridge, Z.T. (2018) Making management decisions in the face of uncertainty: a case study using the Burdekin catchment in the Great Barrier Reef. Marine and Freshwater Research, 69 (8). pp. 1187-1200.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/56535/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:56828
2024-03-03T14:29:43Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Oil palm plantation is not a suitable environment for most forest specialist species of Odonata in Amazonia
Carvalho, F.G.
de Oliveira Roque, F.
Barbosa, L.
de Assis Montag, L.F.
Juen, L.
Oil palm monoculture is the most rapidly increasing large‐scale crop in Amazonia due to favourable environmental conditions and incentives from executives and governing authorities. In this study we assessed the effects of oil palm plantations on Odonata assemblages in Amazonia streams. We hypothesized that (1) the expansion of oil palm plantations over the natural landscape affects the habitat structure and physicochemical properties of streams at different scales (50 m, 500 m and 1000 m) and (2) oil palm plantations affect the species composition of Odonata assemblages, leading to the replacement of forest specialist species by non‐forest specialists. A total of 22 streams were sampled which were distributed throughout a landscape comprising areas of oil palm plantations Elaeis guineensis Jacq. to streams located inside large forest remnants. The expansion of oil palm monoculture affected the physicochemical properties of the water and habitat of the streams. A larger amount of woody debris was observed within streams surrounded by a greater amount of forest, whereas streams with a greater area of surrounding oil palm had higher pH values and anthropogenic infrastructures (e.g. roads). As expected, the Odonata community was affected by a replacement of forest specialist species with non‐forest specialist species. To mitigate this impact, we suggest increasing the area of native riparian corridors along streams that flow through oil palm plantations.
Zoological Society of London
2018
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/56828/1/56828_Carvalho_et_al_2018.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12427
Carvalho, F.G., de Oliveira Roque, F., Barbosa, L., de Assis Montag, L.F., and Juen, L. (2018) Oil palm plantation is not a suitable environment for most forest specialist species of Odonata in Amazonia. Animal Conservation, 21 (6). pp. 526-533.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/56828/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:57168
2024-03-03T15:06:13Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Use and perceived importance of forest ecosystem services in rural livelihoods of Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh
Ahammad, Ronju
Stacey, Natasha
Sunderland, Terry C.H.
This study examines the relative benefits (provisioning) and importance (regulating and cultural) of forest ecosystem services to households in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region of Bangladesh. Our results from 300 household interviews in three rural locations stratified by wealth shows that wealth levels of the respondents play a key role in explaining variations in the perceptions and use of forest ecosystem services. Considering the direct benefits, the importance of provisioning ecosystem services (i.e. fuel wood, food, timber, bamboo, thatch grass and fodder) varies according to their relative use (i.e. subsistence and cash income) among households of different wealth groups. No significant difference was found in perceptions of indirect benefits of forest ecosystem services of water purification, regulating air quality, crop pollination, soil fertility, aesthetic and spiritual services. But the higher wealth groups perceived soil protection, soil fertility, pest and disease control as important for crop production as they have large landholdings for agricultural uses and tree cover. This study suggests local wealth conditions of the rural households characterise the demand of the use and perceived importance of forest ecosystem services. Differences in levels of wealth and ecosystem service provision imply careful consideration of social and economic factors in decision-making and making appropriate interventions for forest and tree management. The ecosystem services approach appears to be useful in capturing the broader diversity of benefits of forests and trees (i.e. material and non-material) as well as in supporting their integrated management at the landscape scale.
Elsevier
2019
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/57168/1/57168.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2018.11.009
Ahammad, Ronju, Stacey, Natasha, and Sunderland, Terry C.H. (2019) Use and perceived importance of forest ecosystem services in rural livelihoods of Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh. Ecosystem Services, 35. pp. 87-98.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/57168/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:57387
2024-03-05T14:24:07Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Low-power and high-speed deep FPGA inference engines for weed classification at the edge
Lammie, Corey
Olsen, Alex
Carrick, Tony
Rahimi Azghadi, Mostafa
Deep neural networks (DNNs) have recently achieved remarkable performance in a myriad of applications, ranging from image recognition to language processing. Training such networks on graphics processing units (GPUs) currently offers unmatched levels of performance; however, GPUs are subject to large-power requirements. With recent advancements in high-level synthesis (HLS) techniques, new methods for accelerating deep networks using field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are emerging. FPGA-based DNNs present substantial advantages in energy efficiency over conventional CPU- and GPU-accelerated networks. Using the Intel FPGA software development kit (SDK) for OpenCL development environment, networks described using the high-level OpenCL framework can be accelerated targeting heterogeneous platforms including CPUs, GPUs, and FPGAs. These networks, if properly customized on GPUs and FPGAs, can be ideal candidates for learning and inference in resource-constrained portable devices such as robots and the Internet of Things (IoT) edge devices, where power is limited and performance is critical. Here, we introduce GPU- and FPGA-accelerated deterministically binarized DNNs, tailored toward weed species classification for robotic weed control. Our developed networks are trained and benchmarked using a publicly available weed species dataset, named DeepWeeds, which include close to 18 000 weed images. We demonstrate that our FPGA-accelerated binarized networks significantly outperform their GPU-accelerated counterparts, achieving a>7-fold decrease in power consumption, while performing inference on weed images 2.86 times faster compared to our best performing baseline full-precision GPU implementation. These significant benefits are gained whilst losing only 1.17% of validation accuracy. In this paper, this is a significant step toward enabling deep inference and learning on IoT edge devices, and smart portable machines such as agricultural robots, which is the target application.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
2019
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/57387/1/08693488%20%282%29.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2911709
Lammie, Corey, Olsen, Alex, Carrick, Tony, and Rahimi Azghadi, Mostafa (2019) Low-power and high-speed deep FPGA inference engines for weed classification at the edge. IEEE Access, 7. pp. 51171-51184.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/57387/
openpub
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:57558
2021-08-31T01:41:44Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D6D6F6E6F6772617068
Large agricultural vehicles on roads in Australia
Franklin, Richard C.
King, Jemma C.
Miller, Lauren
This study is the first in Australia to explore the safety of large agricultural vehicles (LAVs) on public roads. LAVs are a requirement of farming and need to be on public roads as part of the business of agriculture and to ensure food and fibre productions. From the research, it is clear that different types of LAV are on roads all year round, however are predominately moving small distances during the day. While there are incidents on public roads, the numbers are small, but more work could be undertaken immediately in educating the public about how to interact with LAV on public roads. These community education campaigns could highlight the need for LAVs to be on roads and what to do when you encounter them, as-well-as a wider campaign around respecting all people on roads. Incorporating information in the written test to achieve your driver’s license was identified as a cost effective ongoing way to educate new drivers.
James Cook University
2018-08-13
Report
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/57558/1/Franklin%20Project%20Report%20Final%20140818.pdf
https://www.nff.org.au/read/6104/dont-forget-share-road-slow-down.html
Franklin, Richard C., King, Jemma C., and Miller, Lauren (2018) Large agricultural vehicles on roads in Australia. External Commissioned Report. James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/57558/
openpub
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:58478
2020-07-28T05:24:47Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D636F6E666572656E63655F6974656D
Smarter irrigation scheduling in the sugarcane farming system using the Internet of Things
Wang, E.
Attard, S.
McGlinchey, M.
Xiang, W.
Philippa, B.
Linton, A.L.
Everingham, Y.
Better irrigation practices can lead to improved yields through less water stress and reduced water usage to deliver economic benefits for farmers. More and more sugarcane growers are transitioning to automated irrigation in the Burdekin and other regions. Automated irrigation systems can save farmers a significant amount of time by remotely turning on and off pumps and valves. However, the system could be improved if it could be integrated with tools that factor in the weather, crop growing conditions, water deficit, and crop stress, to improve irrigation use efficiency. IrrigWeb is a decision-support tool that is turned to as a solution to this problem. IrrigWeb uses CANEGRO to help farmers decide when to irrigate and how much to apply. Farmers can then use this information to plan their irrigation management. However, managing irrigation is a considerable time investment for Burdekin farmers. A tool is needed to integrate the auto-irrigation system (e.g., WiSA) and IrrigWeb to provide a smarter irrigation solution. An uplink program (WiSA to IrrigWeb) has been successfully developed and implemented as part of a pilot study. It saves farmers a significant amount of time by uploading irrigation and rainfall data automatically instead of the farmer having to input them manually. This paper focuses on developing a smarter irrigation-scheduling tool that connects IrrigWeb to WiSA. A downlink program was developed to download, calculate and apply irrigation schedules automatically. In this process, sugarcane irrigators will spend less time manually setting up irrigation schedules as it will happen automatically. The simulation results demonstrated that the downlink program could improve the scheduling by incorporating practical limitations, such as pumping capacity or pumping time constraints, that are found on the farm.
Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
2019
Conference Item
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/58478/6/JCU_58478_Wang%20et%20al%202019_accepted.pdf
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/58478/1/Wang%20Attard%20McGlinchey%20Xiang%20Philippa%20Linton%20Everingham.pdf
https://assct.com.au/component/assct/search-result?search_cat=title&filter_search=Smarter%20irrigation%20scheduling%20in%20the%20sugarcane%20far&publisher=any&Itemid=0
Wang, E., Attard, S., McGlinchey, M., Xiang, W., Philippa, B., Linton, A.L., and Everingham, Y. (2019) Smarter irrigation scheduling in the sugarcane farming system using the Internet of Things. In: Proceedings of the 41st Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (41) pp. 164-170. From: ASSCT 2019: 41st Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, 30 April - 3 May 2019, Toowoomba, QLD, Australia.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/58478/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:58488
2024-03-03T15:07:04Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D636F6E666572656E63655F6974656D
A feasibility test for detection of atypical cane samples using near infrared spectroscopy
Sexton, J.
Everingham, Y.
Donald, D.
Staunton, S.
White, R.
MILL RESEARCHERS HAVE noted that in any given season, 1–5% of samples often have unusually low laboratory estimates of Pol in juice (Pij) given the recorded Brix in juice (Bij) value. These 'atypical' samples are of particular concern as they may represent deteriorated or contaminated cane samples. Deteriorated or contaminated cane has a number of negative impacts on the cane milling process. Deterioration in particular can lead to higher viscosity, longer crystallisation times and overall lower cane purity. Many indicators for cane deterioration have been proposed but most are considered expensive, time consuming or unreliable, making them impractical for use during the milling process. Near Infra Red Spectroscopic (NIRS), analysis has been implemented in many Australian sugarcane mills to replace or supplement laboratory analysis of cane quality. However, there is little evidence in the literature that NIRS has been used to classify atypical samples. The purpose of this research was to test the feasibility of predicting possible atypical cane samples using NIRS analysis. Data were collected from a single Australian sugarcane mill from 2006 to 2009. In total, 13 014 samples were collected with Bij, Pij, apparent purity (AP) and NIR spectroscopic data. Atypical samples were defined based on laboratory Bij and Pij values as cane deterioration/contamination data are not routinely measured. A partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was then used to build an NIRS model to identify the defined atypical cane samples. On a test set, the PLS-DA analysis had a correct classification rate of 91.6% of all samples with 86.6% of atypical samples correctly classified and 91.8% of 'typical' samples correctly classified. These preliminary results suggest that it is feasible to predict 'atypical' samples using NIRS. The ability to identify atypical samples in a rapid and non-invasive manner can be useful in quality control measures within the mill and could lead to improved NIRS models specific to these particular samples.
Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
2018
Conference Item
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/58488/1/58488_Sexton_et_al_2018.pdf
https://www.assct.com.au/component/assct/search-result?search_cat=title&filter_search=A%20feasibility%20test%20for%20detection%20of%20atypical%20cane%20&publisher=any&Itemid=0
Sexton, J., Everingham, Y., Donald, D., Staunton, S., and White, R. (2018) A feasibility test for detection of atypical cane samples using near infrared spectroscopy. In: Proceedings of the 40th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists. pp. 382-390. From: ASSCT 2018: 40th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, 17-20 April 2018, Mackay, QLD, Australia.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/58488/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:58513
2024-02-29T14:16:43Z
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What is technology adoption? Exploring the agricultural research value chain for smallholder farmers in Lao PDR
Alexander, Kim S.
Greenhalgh, Garry
Moglia, Magnus
Thephavanh, Manithaythip
Sinavong, Phonevilay
Larson, Silva
Jovanovic, Tom
Case, Peter
A common and driving assumption in agricultural research is that the introduction of research trials, new practices and innovative technologies will result in technology adoption, and will subsequently generate benefits for farmers and other stakeholders. In Lao PDR, the potential benefits of introduced technologies have not been fully realised by beneficiaries. We report on an analysis of a survey of 735 smallholder farmers in Southern Lao PDR who were questioned about factors that influenced their decisions to adopt new technologies. In this study, we have constructed measures or states of adoption which identify key elements of an adoption decision-making nexus. Analysis was conducted to statistically group explanatory factors of adoption. The key explanatory factors represented attributes of the farmer, the factors considered when undertaking production decisions and elements of the agricultural value chain that present as opportunities or constraints. We describe the combination of farmer's personal attributes, perceptions of the value chain, and the introduction of new technologies by external actors as an "agricultural research value chain", where agricultural research activities intervene to derive greater benefits for local farmers. A generalised linear model, via Poisson (multiple) regression analysis on the identified explanatory factors, was applied to explore how they influence adoption measures and we found several significant relationships.
Springer
2020
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/58513/8/JCU_Alexander%20AHU%20Final.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-019-09957-8
Alexander, Kim S., Greenhalgh, Garry, Moglia, Magnus, Thephavanh, Manithaythip, Sinavong, Phonevilay, Larson, Silva, Jovanovic, Tom, and Case, Peter (2020) What is technology adoption? Exploring the agricultural research value chain for smallholder farmers in Lao PDR. Agriculture and Human Values, 37. pp. 17-32.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/58513/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:58694
2024-03-02T15:59:10Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Retaining forests within agricultural landscapes as a pathway to sustainable intensification: evidence from Southern Ethiopia
Duriaux Chavarría, Jean Yves
Baudron, Frédéric
Sunderland, Terry
There are increasing calls in Africa for ‘sustainable intensification’ of agriculture with the aim of increasing productivity whilst minimizing the negative environmental and social impacts. This paper questions whether adopting a landscape approach—and in particular the retention of forests within agricultural landscapes—could fulfill these goals for smallholder farmers in some regions of Africa. Using a landscape in Southern Ethiopia comprised of three zones of increasing distance from a legally protected forestas a case study, the performance of a stratified sample of 27 farms was assessed through detailed surveys and empirical measurements. While livestock productivity was found to be higher closer to the forest, no difference was found for crop or total farm productivities across the three zones. Partial nutrient balances (a productivity dimension of farm sustainability), redundancy (a proxy of resilience), and equality in the distribution of livestock increased with increasing proximity to the forest. Dependency on external inputs also decreased with increasing proximity to the forest. We conclude that, under certain conditions, the retention of forests in agricultural landscapes, and the use of these forests for livestock grazing and fuelwood collection, may promote sustainability, greater resilience and equality of smallholder farming systems, without compromising on-farm productivity. Thus, landscape approaches may provide a pathway to sustainable intensification, and may represent a research and development arena that deserves increasing attention in the sustainable intensification debate.
Elsevier
2018
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/58694/1/58694_Chavarria_et_al_2018.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2018.04.020
Duriaux Chavarría, Jean Yves, Baudron, Frédéric, and Sunderland, Terry (2018) Retaining forests within agricultural landscapes as a pathway to sustainable intensification: evidence from Southern Ethiopia. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 263. pp. 41-52.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/58694/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:58730
2024-03-04T14:31:20Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Property size drives differences in forest code compliance in the Brazilian Cerrado
Stefanes, Mauricio
de Oliveira Roque, Fabio
Lourival, Reinaldo
Melo, Isabel
Renaud, Pierre Cyril
Quintero, Jose Manuel Ochoa
The Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) dataset opens a new window for spatially explicit studies of the rural landscape of Brazil, enabling analysis with an accurate representation of land use and land cover change dynamics at the property level. Here, we evaluated farm compliance with the Brazilian Forest Code (revised in 2012) in Mato Grosso do Sul state, where agribusiness activities have already converted more than 70% of native vegetation, Cerrado. We analysed the most recent version of the CAR dataset, using geographic information system analytical tools. We observed a positive relationship between compliance with the 20% compulsory Legal Reserves and farm size class. We showed that larger, rather than smaller, farms have important effects on biodiversity conservation at the landscape scale. Large farms (> than 1000 ha), comprising 74.2% of the study area, tended to show better compliance levels (51%) than smaller properties (33%). At the same time, they contain huge amount of land with native vegetation that lies outside Legal Reserves, and so may pose a risk for legal deforestation of near 2 million ha. We argue that a portfolio of socioeconomic incentives for restoration, protected areas, and no-net-loss components in agricultural programmes, are essential measures to increase compliance and halt deforestation in the Cerrado of Central Brazil. Moreover, we argue that considering property size improves the likelihood of success of such initiatives. Although acknowledging that landscape management can help address socioeconomic conflicts and improve food production, it must be accompanied by a strong “anti-deforestation” policy to guarantee the maintenance of existing native vegetation remnants. We also highlight the importance of investigating the role of property size in maintaining remaining vegetation in this region, instead of merely focused on the number of compliant farms.
Elsevier
2018
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/58730/1/58730_Stefanes%20_et_al_2018.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2018.03.022
Stefanes, Mauricio, de Oliveira Roque, Fabio, Lourival, Reinaldo, Melo, Isabel, Renaud, Pierre Cyril, and Quintero, Jose Manuel Ochoa (2018) Property size drives differences in forest code compliance in the Brazilian Cerrado. Land Use Policy, 75. pp. 43-49.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/58730/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:60280
2023-06-14T05:04:27Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D626F6F6B
Agriculture and resilience in Australia’s North:
a lived experience
Noble, Keith
Larkins, Sarah
Dennis, Tania
This book examines the mechanisms and strategies farmers in North Australia adopt to manage the setbacks and challenges they face. This social research is based on farmers’ experiences, but also draws on the principal author’s own experience after his tropical fruit farm was destroyed by two Category 5 cyclones in five years.
Through historical analysis, the book compares historic and contemporary aspirations for northern development, and includes discussion of both the influence of the built environment on individuals, as well as the importance of access to health and other social services.
Exploring the implications of individual resilience strategies for policy development within the broader context of northern development and evolving environmental governance, the book also highlights the fact that this is occurring in a new geological epoch – the Anthropocene.
The book provides a unique perspective and understanding to government, individuals and industries interested in northern Australia and its relationship to the world.
Springer Nature
2019
Book
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/60280/1/2019_Book_AgricultureAndResilienceInAust.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-8355-7
Noble, Keith, Larkins, Sarah, and Dennis, Tania (2019) Agriculture and resilience in Australia’s North: a lived experience. Springer Nature, Singapore.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/60280/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:60354
2021-04-10T19:30:05Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D636F6E666572656E63655F6974656D
Crop size and sugarcane nitrogen fertiliser requirements: Is there a link?
Thorburn, P.J.
Biggs, J.S.
Skocaj, D.
Schroeder, B.L.
Sexton, J.
Everingham, Y.
The Australian sugarcane industry is under pressure to reduce nitrogen (N) fertiliser applications and hence N losses to the environment. One pathway suggested to reduce N applications is to match yield targets in N fertiliser recommendations to the yields achieved by farmers. This seems a sensible strategy: smaller crops generally grown by farmers (relative to current yield targets) 'should' need less N. Is it really that simple? We collated over 150 N response curves for ratoon crops from past experiments to investigate the amount of N (Nopt) needed to achieve 95% of maximum sugarcane yield (Y95). There was little correlation between Y95 and Nopt. For example, low yields (e.g. <50 t/ha) occurred at both low (<50 kg/ha) and high (>200 kg/ha) Nopt values. The low correlation was also seen in individual experiments and thus the results were not an artefact of amalgamating data from different locations. At one experiment, for example, across five years the N requirement varied three-fold. Given that soil and management were consistent across the years, the variation showed the climatic influence on N requirement. The results also showed that there was variation among sites and crops in both yield potential and the amount of N required to grow a tonne of cane. Rather than trying to improve N recommendations by changing concepts around target yields, we suggest it would be more beneficial to develop ways to predict Nopt directly. We simulated N responses with the APSIM model for one of the better characterised experiments in the database and derived Nopt from the response curves. Simulated Nopt was generally within the range of Nopt at the experiment. We conclude that direct prediction of Nopt through application the APSIM model, in combination with seasonal climate forecasts could be the basis of a future decision support system to define optimum N rates.
Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
2018
Conference Item
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/60354/1/210%20%20to%20218%20Ag%2024%20Thorburn%20et%20al.pdf
https://www.assct.com.au/component/assct/search-result?search_cat=title&filter_search=Crop%20size%20and%20sugarcane%20nitrogen%20fertiliser%20requir&publisher=any&Itemid=0
Thorburn, P.J., Biggs, J.S., Skocaj, D., Schroeder, B.L., Sexton, J., and Everingham, Y. (2018) Crop size and sugarcane nitrogen fertiliser requirements: Is there a link? In: Proceedings of the 40th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (40) pp. 210-218. From: ASSCT 2018: 40th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, 17-20 April 2018, Mackay, QLD, Australia.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/60354/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:60452
2024-02-29T14:42:25Z
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74797065733D61727469636C65
Incentivizing compliance: evaluating the effectiveness of targeted village incentives for reducing burning in Indonesia
Watts, John D.
Tacconi, Luca
Hapsari, Nindita
Irawan, Silvia
Sloan, Sean
Widiastomo, Triyoga
Periodic peat and forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan result in haze that blankets Indonesia and neighboring countries, with effects on human health, the environment and the economy. Although the prevailing approach for preventing and reducing the incidence of fire in Indonesia is regulatory, village-level incentive schemes have been trialed by agribusinesses and pulp and paper companies to prevent burning. In this article, we review one integrated incentive program for villages launched by a pulp and paper company in Riau, Sumatra, in 2015. As part of the study, we surveyed six of the villages that participated in the first year of the program as well as six non-program villages, complemented by spatial analyses of hotspots and burn scars. Our analyses show a declining pattern of burning in the years prior and including 2015, followed by the almost total cessation of burning in the years after. During 2015, a severe El Nino event, the program villages experienced 40% fewer fires, while in non-program villages, there were 23% more fires. The main reason cited by the villages was the increased awareness of the regulations in force prior to the program. The information about these laws and regulations had been disseminated to program villages, as well as some of the adjacent non-program villages, prior to the commencement of the incentive program. The transition to non-burning livelihoods was enabled by ongoing changes in the landscape to permanent agricultural crops such as oil palm and rubber, as well as non-farming livelihoods. Although the benefits of the program were valued at the community level, the incentives appeared to function as a pathway for incentivizing compliance with prevailing regulations rather than inducing voluntary behaviors. We argue that the current trend for strict environmental regulations undermines the potential for using voluntary incentives. Consequently, we suggest that future incentive schemes should focus on providing agricultural support to smallholders to enable them to adapt to the strict requirements of the environmental regulations in force.
Elsevier
2019
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/60452/1/60452_Watts_et_al_2019.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2019.101956
Watts, John D., Tacconi, Luca, Hapsari, Nindita, Irawan, Silvia, Sloan, Sean, and Widiastomo, Triyoga (2019) Incentivizing compliance: evaluating the effectiveness of targeted village incentives for reducing burning in Indonesia. Forest Policy and Economics, 108. 101956.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/60452/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:60486
2024-03-01T14:47:38Z
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74797065733D61727469636C65
Nitrogen and carbon management in Australian mango orchards to improve productivity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Dickinson, Geoff
O'Farrell, Patrick
Ridgway, Kaila
Bally, Ian
Masters, Bronwyn
Nelson, Paul
Pattison, Tony
Australian mango orchards, particularly of the 'Kensington Pride' cultivar, are often characterized by low yields and irregular bearing. Improved nutrition management techniques which increase total soil carbon sequestration and reduce nitrogen losses (nitrous oxide) may improve productivity and also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A factorial trial was established in a 'Kensington Pride' mango orchard at Mareeba, Australia to assess the benefits of applying organic hay mulch to tree rows in combination with three nitrogen fertiliser treatments including two controlled-release fertiliser products. Three years after the initiation of treatments it was found that mango tree growth and fruit productivity was significantly improved when mulching was used to increase soil organic matter. Mulched soils had improved soil water holding capacity, less temperature variability, increased root biomass in the top soil, greater canopy leaf area and higher plant tissue potassium levels. Average fruit weights were increased by 10% and mango fruit yields per tree increased by 11%. Fruit quality was not affected when standard fungicide management treatments were used, although disease levels were higher with no post-harvest fungicide treatment. The nitrogen fertiliser products investigated did not have a significant influence on mango growth or final productivity. Trial results suggest that the adoption of mulching practices in mango orchards is a management practice which can increase orchard productivity and the sequestration of soil organic carbon, without detrimental effects on fruit quality.
International Society for Horticultural Science
2019
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/60486/1/Dickinson%20et%20al%202019%20Acta%20Horticulturae%20N%20C%20Mangoes.pdf
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2019.1244.10
Dickinson, Geoff, O'Farrell, Patrick, Ridgway, Kaila, Bally, Ian, Masters, Bronwyn, Nelson, Paul, and Pattison, Tony (2019) Nitrogen and carbon management in Australian mango orchards to improve productivity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Acta Horticulturae, 1244. pp. 49-60.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/60486/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:60748
2024-03-02T16:00:17Z
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Deforestation is driven by agricultural expansion in Ghana's forest reserves
Acheampong, Emmanuel Opoku
MacGregor, Colin J.
Sloan, Sean
Sayer, Jeff
Ghana's protected forest reserves have suffered average annual deforestation rates of 0.7%, 0.5%, 0.4%, and 0.6% for the periods 1990–2000, 2000–2005, 2005–2010 and 2010–2015, respectively. The Ashanti region has recorded the second highest deforestation rates. Despite the government's efforts to maintain and protect Ghana's forest reserves, deforestation continues. We observed deforestation patterns in the Ashanti region of Ghana from 1986 to 2015 using Landsat imagery to identify the main causes of deforestation. We obtained and processed two adjacent Landsat images from the United States Geological Survey's (USGS) National Centre for Earth Resources Observation and Science at 30 m spatial resolution for 1986, 2002, and 2015. We then supported the results with findings from 291 farm household surveys in communities fringing the forest reserves. By 2015, dense forest covered 53.3% of the land area of the forest reserves, and the remaining area had been disturbed. Expansion of annual crop farms and tree crops caused 78% of the forest loss within the 29-year period. Afforestation projects are ongoing some of which employ the participation of farmers, yet agricultural expansion exerts more pressure on the remaining dense forest. Agricultural intensification on existing farmlands may reduce farm expansion into the remaining forest areas. Strengthening and enforcing forest protection laws could minimise the extent of agricultural encroachment into forests. Mixed tree-crop systems could reduce the effects of arable farming on deforestation, limit the clearance of trees from farmlands, enhance the provision of ecosystem services, and improve the soil's fertility and moisture content. A forest transition may be underway leading to more trees in agricultural systems and better protection of residual natural forests.
Elsevier
2019
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/60748/1/Acheampong%20et%20al%202019_Forest%20cover%20paper.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2019.e00146
Acheampong, Emmanuel Opoku, MacGregor, Colin J., Sloan, Sean, and Sayer, Jeff (2019) Deforestation is driven by agricultural expansion in Ghana's forest reserves. Scientific African, 5. e00146.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/60748/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:60761
2024-03-02T14:46:43Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Transdisciplinary agricultural research in Lao PDR
Greenhalgh, Garry
Alexander, Kim S.
Larson, Silva
Thammavong, Phommath
Sacklokham, Silinthone
Thephavanh, Manithaythip
Sinavong, Phonevilay
Moglia, Magnus
Perez, Pascal
Case, Peter
Transdisciplinary research focussing on improving smallholder farmers’ uptake of technological innovations enables the integration of knowledge systems and the co-design and delivery of creative solutions. In this paper, we illustrate how scientific research can be mobilized within professionally facilitated change management workshops to engage a broad range of stakeholders and co-create knowledge in a rural development context. Multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary and multi-national stakeholders have contributed to finding innovative solutions to challenges experienced by smallholder farmers. By combining different worldviews we were able to assess research priorities, define problems and determine research options based on new hybrid knowledge systems. The outcome of this transdisciplinary process was the co-creation of a Research Discussion Tool and identification of 9 thematic areas which, in combination, enabled obstacles to technology uptake to be overcome and for smallholder farmers to benefit from research-based innovations. The process involved assisting Lao national researchers and extension agents to co-develop solutions, strategies and methods to improve technology uptake by farmers in the lowlands of southern Lao PDR using a series of change management interventions. A complex ecology of factors involving farmers’ decision drivers/motivations and farmers’ decision enablers within farmers’ production systems influence technology uptake. The relative importance of each factor is dependent on the specific technology that is being introduced. Hence, projects that introduce new technologies struggle to address all relevant factors and often do not have the ability to deal with the complex array of factors that are at play. The process of co-construction embeds local knowledge that becomes accessible to projects. The approach we document in this paper also has the potential to harness collaborative exchanges with other projects in similar geographical regions.
Elsevier
2019
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/60761/2/JCU_Greenhalgh%20et%20al%20%282019%29%20JRS%20mansucript.pdf
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/60761/7/60761.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2019.10.020
Greenhalgh, Garry, Alexander, Kim S., Larson, Silva, Thammavong, Phommath, Sacklokham, Silinthone, Thephavanh, Manithaythip, Sinavong, Phonevilay, Moglia, Magnus, Perez, Pascal, and Case, Peter (2019) Transdisciplinary agricultural research in Lao PDR. Journal of Rural Studies, 72. pp. 216-227.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/60761/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:61182
2024-03-02T14:46:58Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Crop niche modeling projects major shifts in common bean growing areas
Ramirez-Cabral, Nadiezhda Yakovleva Zitz
Kumar, Lalit
Taylor, Subhashni
Crops experience different climate stresses during development. The magnitude of damage will depend on the phenological stage of the crop and the stress duration. Climate change could intensify some or all of these stresses, thus negatively impacting agriculture. An assessment of staple crop productivity, quality and climatically suitable areas under climate change conditions is necessary to undertake any global initiatives to tackle food security issues. The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a staple crop and the main source of proteins and nutrients in Africa and Latin America. The purpose of this study is to develop a process-oriented niche model to assess the impacts of climate change on the current and future potential distribution of common bean and to use this model to investigate the changes in heat, cold, dry and wet stresses under climate change. We used A2 and A1B emission scenarios and two different global climate models, CSIRO-Mk3.0 and MIROC-H, for the years 2050 and 2100. Our results indicate future climate conditions are more favorable for common bean cultivation in the Northern Hemisphere, but are less favorable in the Southern Hemisphere. Heat and dry stresses are the main factors limiting and reducing common bean distribution under current and future projected conditions. Africa and Latin America are projected to decrease with respect to suitability for common bean cultivation. The model projections indicate that a shift in the common bean productive areas is highly likely with a loss of suitability of the current common bean cultivation areas and an increase in cold regions such as Canada, the Nordic countries and Russia. The results indicate the likelihood of changes in climatic suitability and the distribution of common bean at a global scale under a future climate, which will affect regions where this legume is a staple crop and an important source of household income. Regions in the Northern Hemisphere could take advantage of the increase in suitability by increasing the production and exportation of this grain.
Elsevier
2016
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/61182/1/Ramirez-Cabral%20et%20al%202016%20Agric.%20and%20Forest%20Met..pdf
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2015.12.002
Ramirez-Cabral, Nadiezhda Yakovleva Zitz, Kumar, Lalit, and Taylor, Subhashni (2016) Crop niche modeling projects major shifts in common bean growing areas. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 218-219. pp. 102-113.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/61182/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:61720
2024-03-04T14:24:05Z
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Organic farming provides reliable environmental benefits but increases variability in crop yields: a global meta-analysis
Smith, Olivia M.
Cohen, Abigail L.
Rieser, Cassandra J.
Davis, Alexandra G.
Taylor, Joseph M.
Adesanya, Adekunle W.
Jones, Matthew S.
Meier, Amanda R.
Reganold, John P.
Orpet, Robert J.
Northfield, Tobin D.
Crowder, David W.
To promote food security and sustainability, ecologically intensive farming systems should reliably produce adequate yields of high-quality food, enhance the environment, be profitable, and promote social wellbeing. Yet, while many studies address the mean effects of ecologically intensive farming systems on sustainability metrics, few have considered variability. This represents a knowledge gap because producers depend on reliable provisioning of yields, profits, and environmental services to enhance the sustainability of their production systems over time. Further, stable crop yields are necessary to ensure reliable access to nutritious foods. Here we address this by conducting a global meta-analysis to assess the average magnitude and variability of seven sustainability metrics in organic compared to conventional systems. Specifically, we explored the effects of these systems on (i) biotic abundance, (ii) biotic richness, (iii) soil organic carbon, (iv) soil carbon stocks, (v) crop yield, (vi) total production costs, and (vii) profitability. Organic farms promoted biotic abundance, biotic richness, soil carbon, and profitability, but conventional farms produced higher yields. Compared to conventional farms, organic farms had lower variability in abundance and richness but greater yield variability. Organic farms thus provided a “win-win” (high means and low variability) for environmental sustainability, while conventional farms provided a “win-win” for production by promoting high crop yields with low variability. Despite lower yields, and greater yield variability, organic systems had similar costs to conventional systems and were more profitable due to organic premiums. Our results suggest certification guidelines for organic farms successfully promote reliable environmental benefits, but greater reliance on ecological processes may reduce predictability of crop production.
Frontiers Research Foundation
2019
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/61720/1/61720.pdf
https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2019.00082
Smith, Olivia M., Cohen, Abigail L., Rieser, Cassandra J., Davis, Alexandra G., Taylor, Joseph M., Adesanya, Adekunle W., Jones, Matthew S., Meier, Amanda R., Reganold, John P., Orpet, Robert J., Northfield, Tobin D., and Crowder, David W. (2019) Organic farming provides reliable environmental benefits but increases variability in crop yields: a global meta-analysis. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 3. 82.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/61720/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:61943
2024-03-04T14:26:27Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D636F6E666572656E63655F6974656D
Productivity performance of climatological sub-regions within the Tully mill area
Stringer, J.K.
Skocaj, D.M.
Rigby, A.
Olayemi, M.
Everingham, Y.L.
Sexton, J.
Inter-annual climate variability has a significant impact on productivity in the Wet Tropics region. Climate also varies spatially, yet the impact on productivity is less well known. Two distinct climatological sub-regions (northern and southern) have been identified within the Tully mill area based on total annual rainfall and annual average daily radiation. The wetter northern sub-region is characterised by lower radiation, lower temperatures and higher rainfall than in the drier southern sub-region. Mean cane and sugar yields were analysed for the two climate sub-regions using block productivity data obtained from Tully Sugar Limited for 2000 to 2017. After excluding 2011 (Tropical Cyclone Yasi), only farms with 15 or more years of data were included. The impact of spring-summer (SONDJF) rainfall and El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phases on cane and sugar yields in the two climate sub-regions was also analysed. On average, the northern, wetter climate sub-region yielded less cane and sugar yield than the southern, drier sub-region. There were significant differences between SONDJF rainfall terciles (dry, normal and wet) and ENSO phases (El Niño, Neutral and La Niña) for cane and sugar yields in the two climate sub-regions. Cane and sugar yields were significantly lower in years experiencing high SONDJF rainfall or in the La Niña phase. This analysis validates the results of the analyses used to derive the two climatological sub-regions in Tully. Improved knowledge of how climatic conditions influence sub-regional productivity performance will assist industry extension programs and on-farm management decisions.
Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
2019
Conference Item
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/61943/1/61943_Stringer_et_al_2019.pdf
https://assct.com.au/component/assct/search-result?search_cat=title&filter_search=Productivity%20performance%20of%20climatological%20sub-reg&publisher=any&Itemid=0
Stringer, J.K., Skocaj, D.M., Rigby, A., Olayemi, M., Everingham, Y.L., and Sexton, J. (2019) Productivity performance of climatological sub-regions within the Tully mill area. In: Proceedings of the 41st Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists. pp. 156-163. From: ASSCT 2019: 41st Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, 30 April - 3 May 2019, Toowoomba, QLD, Australia.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/61943/
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oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:62381
2024-03-05T14:38:25Z
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IN-Palm: an agri-environmental indicator to assess nitrogen losses in oil palm plantations
Pardon, Lenaic
Bockstaller, Christian
Marichal, Raphaël
Sionita, Ribka
Nelson, Paul N.
Gabrielle, Benoît
Laclau, Jean-Paul
Pujianto,
Caliman, Jean-Pierre
Bessou, Cécile
Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is currently cultivated on 19 million ha, and palm oil represents more than one-third of the global vegetable oil market. Addition of nitrogen (N) via legume cover crop and fertilizers is a common practice in industrial oil palm plantations, however, there is a tendency for N loss, thus contributing significantly to environmental effects. To improve the sustainability of palm oil production, it is crucial to determine which management practices minimize N losses. Continuous field measurements would be cost-prohibiting as a monitoring tool, and in the case of oil palm, available models do not account for all the potential nitrogen inputs and losses or management practices. In this context, we developed IN-Palm, a model to help managers and scientists estimate N losses to the environment and identify best management practices. The main challenge was to build the model in a context of knowledge scarcity. Given these objectives and constraints, we developed an agri-environmental indicator, using the INDIGO method and fuzzy decision trees. We validated the N leaching module of IN-Palm against field data from Sumatra, Indonesia. IN-Palm is implemented in an Excel file and uses 21 readily available input variables to compute 17 modules. It estimates annual emissions and scores for each N-loss pathway and provides recommendations to reduce N losses. IN-Palm predictions of N leaching were acceptable according to several statistics, with a tendency to underestimate nitrogen leaching. Thus, we highlighted necessary improvements to increase IN-Palm precision before use in plantations.
Wiley
2020
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/62381/1/62381_Pardon_et_al_2020.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20109
Pardon, Lenaic, Bockstaller, Christian, Marichal, Raphaël, Sionita, Ribka, Nelson, Paul N., Gabrielle, Benoît, Laclau, Jean-Paul, Pujianto, , Caliman, Jean-Pierre, and Bessou, Cécile (2020) IN-Palm: an agri-environmental indicator to assess nitrogen losses in oil palm plantations. Agronomy Journal, 112 (2). pp. 786-800.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/62381/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:62433
2021-07-22T05:32:58Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D626F6F6B5F73656374696F6E
Grassland livestock systems
Kemp, David
Guodong, Han
Ping, Li
Zhongwu, Wang
Mengli, Zhao
Gombosuren, Udval
Jargalsaihan, Gantuya
Yingjun, Zhang
Xiangyang, Hou
Addison, Jane
[Extract] The Eurasian grasslands collectively comprise one of the world's largest ecosystems, extending 8000 km from eastern China to eastern Europe. Grasslands are defined commonly as grazing lands used by domestic and wild herbivores and include shrubs and open forests. The Eurasian grasslands, often referred to by the Russian word 'steppes', are characterised by cold, dry climates especially in the east. Of the 957 million ha of land in China over 40 per cent, or about 400 million ha, are grasslands most of which are of low to moderate productivity in the north and west of China.1 In Mongolia there are 125 million ha of grasslands that dominate the landscape within a total area of 155 million ha. The Mongolian Plateau of 320 million ha contains much of the grassland considered in this chapter and extends across Mongolia, Inner Mongolia in China, and into southern Russia, with many aspects in common between the countries. Much of the Mongolian Plateau is at an altitude of 1000 m. Grasslands in montane areas extend to 4500 m in altitude but are mainly at lower latitudes.
Edward Elgar Publishing Limited
Brown, Colin G.
2020
Book Chapter
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/62433/1/62433_.pdf
https://doi.org/10.4337/9781788974059.00010
Kemp, David, Guodong, Han, Ping, Li, Zhongwu, Wang, Mengli, Zhao, Gombosuren, Udval, Jargalsaihan, Gantuya, Yingjun, Zhang, Xiangyang, Hou, and Addison, Jane (2020) Grassland livestock systems. In: Brown, Colin G., (ed.) Common Grasslands in Asia: a comparative analysis of Chinese and Mongolian grasslands. Edward Elgar Publishing Limited, Cheltenham, Glos, UK, pp. 48-77.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/62433/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:62461
2020-12-21T00:05:57Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D636F6E666572656E63655F6974656D
Autoweed: detecting Harrisia cactus in the Goondiwindi region for selective spot-spraying
Calvert, Brendan
Olsen, Alex
Philippa, Bronson
Rahimi Azghadi, Mostafa
Innovations in the field of robotics have sought to combine technology with farming to provide efficient solutions for the ever-present problem of invasive weeds. Research has focused on the development of robotic solutions for use in croplands, while rangeland weed management techniques have remained largely unchanged. In response, we developed a prototype robotic spot-sprayer for pass over foliar spraying in Australian rangelands that we call AutoWeed. In partnership with North West Local Land Services, we take aim at Harrisia cactus (Eriocereus martini)in the Goondiwindi region to determine its suitability as a potential target. We collected an image dataset of Harrisia cactus comprising over 2,000 images of target and non-target plant life in the Goondiwindi region. Using state-of-the-art convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to detect the Harrisia cactus, we achieved an average classification accuracy of 98.14%, which is an encouraging result. To understand the model's learning, class activation maps were utilised to generate heatmaps that identify regions of interest. It was discovered that the CNN models could correctly discriminate between Harrisia cactus and its surroundings despite the highly variable nature of the environment. These results prove the target suitability of Harrisia cactus for future field trials of the AutoWeed spot-sprayer robot.
Queensland Pest Animal and Weed Symposium
2019-06
Conference Item
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/62461/1/62461_Calvert_et_al_2019.pdf
https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/data/UQ_ce54c53/Symposium-Proceedings-PAWS2019.pdf?dsi_version=72940690395bde6eb4f42965c59ef415&Expires=1585878771&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJKNBJ4MJBJNC6NLQ&Signature=XlwbwRowXRKHuBHj8x08GMl31MddBgmZwZL2Gac~EMRfht486A2tX2nl45BeoDtHVy~DYLGLoVMonEgX5sCOv6WRIIV-bDcObcM9dHGIZbVGFgCXpfVB4aGpw1sOy-cL6-kW2PLZLu4KYa7cJqAK6DG9NRvHDED5xKX~36gg4rpXMgiGnnEthaYjEUKew8kFpSmRM-mgxxotvv41vL91r4o2qK1nXUtxpZBaEek93EBZ1C2b3ng6b67hnMb-qLw3d9PYWStEV1aBzFI5HGtOTdVbq0Qrz9WEoKIasaOXBAHHmWmow2vpdd71Iwi7wSdHUQp1uXbsDi3ErZpzzf0vnw__
Calvert, Brendan, Olsen, Alex, Philippa, Bronson, and Rahimi Azghadi, Mostafa (2019) Autoweed: detecting Harrisia cactus in the Goondiwindi region for selective spot-spraying. In: https://www.wsq.org.au/downloads/2019-pest-animal-and-weed-symposium-proceedings/. pp. 52-57. From: PAWS 2019: 1st Queensland Pest Animal and Weed Symposium, 20-23 May 2019, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/62461/
openpub
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:62564
2024-03-02T15:42:11Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Ants drive invertebrate community response to cattle grazing
Neilly, H.
Jones, H.
Schwarzkopf, L.
Livestock grazing acts as a disturbance that alters ground-level habitat structure and can shape faunal communities. Invertebrate fauna have complex responses to grazing, driven by grazing-induced changes to vegetation structure, and may also be influenced by changes to predation pressure and prey availability. However, there is a dearth of knowledge about the effects of grazing on invertebrates, and research is rarely conducted across multiple orders, or at multiple trophic levels. We examined the ordinal-level response of a tropical savanna invertebrate assemblage to four replicated grazing treatments in two vegetation types at a long-term grazing trial in northern Australia. We used overall measures of abundance, order richness, and the assemblage composition (using the 17 orders we observed) to compare invertebrate communities among grazing treatments and between vegetation types. Responses of individual orders were modelled in relation to microhabitat variables. At the end of the dry season in October 2014 and 2015, we sampled 25,785 invertebrates from 17 orders. Ants accounted for over 80% of all individuals captured. We found that, overall, invertebrate abundance was higher in the most heavily grazed treatments, driven by the response of ants, but assemblage composition was not significantly different among grazing treatments. Araneae, Orthoptera, Scolopendromorpha and Scorpiones responded to vegetation type and were associated with % cover of Carissa ovata, bare ground, and grass. Ants, while responsive to grazing treatment, was not associated with any of the microhabitat variables, suggesting habitat structure in combination with other factors may be driving this response. Our results confirm the importance of ants as a sensitive biological indicator of disturbance. Considering their role in ecosystem function, invertebrates, and their responses to livestock grazing, need to be considered when making land management decisions on rangelands, and maintaining invertebrate diversity should be a priority for land managers.
Elsevier Science BV
2020
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/62564/1/62564_Neilly_et_al_2020.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2019.106742
Neilly, H., Jones, H., and Schwarzkopf, L. (2020) Ants drive invertebrate community response to cattle grazing. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 290. 106742.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/62564/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:62894
2024-02-29T14:18:50Z
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Development of a closed-loop irrigation system for sugarcane farms using the Internet of Things
Wang, E.
Attard, S.
Linton, A.
McGlinchey, M.
Xiang, W.
Philippa, B.
Everingham, Y.
Better irrigation practices, through increased water use efficiency, can deliver economic, environmental and social benefits to agro-ecological systems. Increasingly, farmers world-wide are turning to automated irrigation systems to save them a significant amount of time by remotely turning on and off pumps and valves. Unfortunately, automated irrigation systems on their own do not provide insight on (i) the amount and timing of irrigation required by the crop or, (ii) how irrigation schedules should change with soil type, farm management and climate. To unravel these complex interactions, an irrigation decision support tool is needed. However, due to the high frequency of irrigations across dozens of irrigation blocks, and the need to irrigate almost all year-round, irrigation decision support tools can be very tedious and time-consuming for farmers to use daily. For these reasons, many farmers will not adopt these tools, and in doing so, fail to optimise irrigation use efficiency due to the multi-factorial nature of the farming system. This paper describes a cybernetic closed-loop solution that was piloted on a sugarcane farm in north-eastern Australia. The solution seeks to improve irrigation management by seamlessly integrating the WiSA automated irrigation system with the IrrigWeb irrigation decision support tool. Specifically, an Uplink program and a Downlink program were implemented in the pilot study. The Uplink program saved the farmer a significant amount of time. Instead of the farmer manually entering in records, Uplink uploaded irrigation and rainfall data directly to the irrigation decision support tool. The Downlink program calculated and applied irrigation schedules automatically using IrrigWeb, but also incorporated practical constraints, such as energy, pumping capability, irrigation priorities and farmer irrigation preference. The simulation results demonstrated that the developed closed-loop solution could effectively manage irrigation scheduling by incorporating irrigation decision support tools with practical constraints. Systems that increase water use efficiency can deliver practical, profitable and environmental benefits to irrigated agricultural systems worldwide.
Elsevier
2020
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/62894/1/62894_Wang_et_al_2020.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2020.105376
Wang, E., Attard, S., Linton, A., McGlinchey, M., Xiang, W., Philippa, B., and Everingham, Y. (2020) Development of a closed-loop irrigation system for sugarcane farms using the Internet of Things. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 172. 105376.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/62894/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:63393
2024-03-04T14:43:43Z
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Market opportunities do not explain the ability of herders to meet livelihood objectives over winter on the Mongolian Plateau
Bai, Haihua
Yin, Yanting
Addison, Jane
Hou, Yulu
Wang, Linhe
Hou, Xiangyang
Drylands under pastoral land use are considered one of the most vulnerable social-ecological systems to global climate change, but the abilities of different adaptive strategies to adapt to the impacts of different extreme weather events on herders’ livelihood have received little attention in the drylands. Herders on the Mongolian Plateau (MP; including Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China and Mongolia), have had a long history of adapting climatic variability and extreme weather events. However, it is unclear how changes such as increased levels of infrastructure and market integration affect the ability of herders to achieve the two key livelihood objectives: the minimisation of the death and abortion rates of livestock in the winter. Here, we used remotely sensed and household survey data to map, model and explore the climate exposure and sensitivity of herders in the settled area (Inner Mongolia of China) and nomadic area (Mongolia) in the winter of 2012–2013. We aimed to quantify the multi-scaled characteristics of both climate exposure and sensitivity through the lens of key adaptive strategies utilized by herders. Our results showed that the higher levels of infrastructure and market integration, and the lower levels of remoteness on the MP did not increase the herders' ability to achieve the two key livelihood objectives. Our results also suggested that exposure to the snow that is comparatively greater than the long-term average (cumulative exposure) may be more important in determining the social-ecological vulnerability than absolute exposure. We suggested that neither the risk management strategies available to these herders, nor the demographic variables, could compensate for the mode of production governing the pastoral systems. Our study could provide further evidence for the complex and scaled nature of climate exposure and sensitivity, and the results imply that any analysis of the relationship between exposure, sensitivity and vulnerability of pastoral households to climate change in the drylands will require a multi-scaled and interdisciplinary approach.
Kexue Chubanshe
2020
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/63393/1/63393_Haihua_et_al_2020.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-020-0122-6
Bai, Haihua, Yin, Yanting, Addison, Jane, Hou, Yulu, Wang, Linhe, and Hou, Xiangyang (2020) Market opportunities do not explain the ability of herders to meet livelihood objectives over winter on the Mongolian Plateau. Journal of Arid Land, 12 (2). pp. 522-537.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/63393/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:63670
2024-03-02T15:32:34Z
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Gendered roles in agrarian transition: a study of lowland rice farming in Lao PDR
Moglia, Magnus
Alexander, Kim S.
Larson, Silva
(Giger)-Dray, Anne
Greenhalgh, Garry
Thammavong, Phommath
Thephavanh, Manithaythip
Case, Peter
Traditional lifestyles of lowland rice farmers of the southern provinces of Lao People’s Democratic Republic are rapidly changing, due to two important trends. Firstly, there is a push towards modernization and commercialization of farming. Secondly, though farmers still focus on rice farming as a key activity there is an increasing move towards diversification of livelihoods. The changes have seen the uptake of non-rice crops, livestock husbandry and forest and river utilization; as well as non-farming activities. This has influenced gender relations, impacting household agricultural production decisions and amplified transitional trends To explore the processes, we analyzed data from a study of innovation adoption amongst rice farmers in southern Lao PDR. The study revealed nuances of gender-based differences in the priorities and attitudes towards farming and off-farm activities, as well as differences in behaviour related to the adoption of new practices. Women were more focused on non-farming practices and considered engaging in the modern, non-traditional, economy more than did men. Women also reported experiencing greater challenges when engaging and trading in the agricultural marketplace. The study supports the importance of taking a gendered approach to understanding the inherent complexities within agrarian change.
MDPI
2020
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/63670/6/63670.pdf
https://doi.org/10.3390/su12135403
Moglia, Magnus, Alexander, Kim S., Larson, Silva, (Giger)-Dray, Anne, Greenhalgh, Garry, Thammavong, Phommath, Thephavanh, Manithaythip, and Case, Peter (2020) Gendered roles in agrarian transition: a study of lowland rice farming in Lao PDR. Sustainability, 12 (13). 5403.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/63670/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:63860
2024-02-29T14:54:01Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Understanding alignments and mis-alignments of values to better craft institutions in the pastoral drylands
Addison, Jane
Brown, Colin
Pavey, Chris R.
Lkhagvadorj, Enkh-Orchlon
Bukhbat, Duinkherjav
Dorjburegdaa, Lkhagvaa
Tensions in values between dryland pastoralists and non-pastoralists, and often between pastoralists themselves, are common globally. The re-imagining of grazed landscapes must recognize that current pastoralists have their own visions of what pastoralism does, can and should provide to both themselves and society at large. 'Disrupters' may rapidly and permanently alter the social-ecological system but understanding pastoralist visions and values may help highlight effective and ethical mechanisms by which we can gently shift current systems towards socially re-imagined systems. Here we draw on two case studies from grazed dryland landscapes to highlight the ways in which understanding pastoralist values and visions could help with this shift. We choose case studies from contrasting institutional, cultural and economic contexts to better explore fit-for-purpose policy options. The first case study is from the typical and desert steppe of Mongolia, and the second from dryland Australia. Drawing on primary data and the literature, we explore in these contexts: what constitutes a meaningful livelihood for pastoralists? how might these imaginings align (or misalign) with the imaginings of the broader population? what inertia against future societal imaginings might a potential misalignment create? and how might policy provide a push (or pull) against such an inertia? We show that context-specific understandings of pastoralist values and visions can highlight appropriate policy options to encourage the movement of social-ecological systems towards those that are more socially desirable. However, the design of these options requires understanding unique combinations of pastoral and societal values, biophysical parameters and institutional contexts.
Frontiers Research Foundation
2020
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/63860/6/63860_Addison_et_al_2020.pdf
https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2020.00116
Addison, Jane, Brown, Colin, Pavey, Chris R., Lkhagvadorj, Enkh-Orchlon, Bukhbat, Duinkherjav, and Dorjburegdaa, Lkhagvaa (2020) Understanding alignments and mis-alignments of values to better craft institutions in the pastoral drylands. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 4. 116.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/63860/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:64083
2020-11-12T01:36:23Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D626F6F6B
Fractional Calculus for Hydrology, Soil Science and Geomechanics: an introduction to applications
Su, Ninghu
This book is an unique integrated treatise, on the concepts of fractional calculus as models with applications in hydrology, soil science and geomechanics. The models are primarily fractional partial differential equations (fPDEs), and in limited cases, fractional differential equations (fDEs). It develops and applies relevant fPDEs and fDEs mainly to water flow and solute transport in porous media and overland, and in some cases, to concurrent flow and energy transfer. It is an integrated resource with theory and applications for those interested in hydrology, hydraulics and fluid mechanics. The self-contained book summaries the fundamentals for porous media and essential mathematics with extensive references supporting the development of the model and applications.
CRC Press
2020
Book
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/64083/1/64083_Su_2020_front%20matter.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1201/9781351032421
Su, Ninghu (2020) Fractional Calculus for Hydrology, Soil Science and Geomechanics: an introduction to applications. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/64083/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:64111
2024-03-05T14:43:35Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
A game-based approach to exploring gender differences in smallholder decisions to change farming practices: white rice production in Laos
Larson, Silva
(Giger)-Dray, Anne
Corlioney, Tina
Thephavanh, Manithaythip
Thammavong, Phommath
Vorlasan, Sisavan
Connell, John G.
Moglia, Magnus
Case, Peter
Alexander, Kim S.
Perez, Pascal
What influences farmers’ decisions to adopt agricultural technologies is an important question for international agricultural research projects. There are often interpersonal differences between women and men that influence adoption decisions and behaviours but few studies in the literature focus on these factors. We describe a game-based approach to explore decision-making processes underpinning the adoption of new farming technologies and practices in Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Sowing a different rice variety is the tailored technology. The game explored adoption behaviours influencing decisions on transitioning from growing glutinous rice, a traditional variety preferred for consumption, to ‘white’ rice for commercial export to international markets. We conducted separate game-workshops with 36 women and 36 men in 4 villages of southern Laos that were transitioning from subsistence to commercial smallholder production. The gaming exposed various possible behaviours and decisions that women and men considered. Access to resources, both assets and information, was equal for all players yet women were found to adopt new rice varieties more readily than men and to engage in cooperative behaviours in the game situation. The study highlighted the need for further gender-sensitive research into cooperation among women in the agricultural context, an understanding beneficial for countries and regions undergoing agricultural transition.
MDPI
2020
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/64111/1/64111.pdf
https://doi.org/10.3390/su12166594
Larson, Silva, (Giger)-Dray, Anne, Corlioney, Tina, Thephavanh, Manithaythip, Thammavong, Phommath, Vorlasan, Sisavan, Connell, John G., Moglia, Magnus, Case, Peter, Alexander, Kim S., and Perez, Pascal (2020) A game-based approach to exploring gender differences in smallholder decisions to change farming practices: white rice production in Laos. Sustainability, 12 (16). 6594.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/64111/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:64334
2024-02-29T14:53:47Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Agricultural intensification heightens food safety risks posed by wild birds
Smith, Olivia M.
Edworthy, Amanda
Taylor, Joseph M.
Jones, Matthew S.
Tormanen, Aaron
Kennedy, Christina M.
Fu, Zhen
Latimer, Christopher E.
Cornell, Kevin A.
Michelotti, Lucas A.
Sato, Chika
Northfield, Tobin
Snyder, William E.
Owen, Jeb P.
Agricultural intensification and simplification are key drivers of recent declines in wild bird populations, heightening the need to better balance conservation with food production. This is hindered, however, by perceptions that birds threaten food safety. While birds are known reservoirs of foodborne pathogens, there remains uncertainty about the links between landscape context, farming practices, and actual crop contamination by birds. Here, we examine relationships between landscape context, farming practices, and pathogen contamination by birds using a barrier-to-spillover approach. First, we censused bird communities using point count surveys. Second, we collected 2,024 faecal samples from captured birds alongside 1,215 faecal samples from brassica fields and food processing areas across 50 farms spanning the USA West Coast. We then estimated the prevalence of three foodborne pathogens across landscape and livestock intensification gradients. Finally, we quantified the number of plants with faeces. Campylobacterspp. were detected in 10.2% of faeces from captured birds and 13.1% of faeces from production areas. Non-native birds were 4.1 times more likely to haveCampylobacterspp. than native birds.Salmonellaspp. were detected in 0.2% of faeces from production areas and were never detected in captured birds. We detected evidence of Shiga toxigenicE. coliin one sample across the >3,200 tested. Campylobacterspp. prevalence in faeces from production areas increased with increasing mammalian livestock densities in the landscape but decreased with increasing amounts of natural habitat. We encountered bird faeces on 3.3% of plants examined. Despite the impact on pathogen prevalence, amount of natural habitat in the landscape did not increase the number of plants with bird faeces, although on-farm mammalian livestock density slightly did. Synthesis and applications. Food safety and wildlife conservation are often thought to be in conflict. However, our findings suggest that natural habitat around farms may reduce crop contamination rates by birds. This is perhaps because natural habitat can promote native birds that are less likely to harbour foodborne pathogens or because it decreases contact with livestock waste. Our results suggest that preservation of natural habitats around farms could benefit both conservation and food safety, contrary to current standards for 'best practices'.
Wiley-Blackwell
2020
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/64334/1/64334.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13723
Smith, Olivia M., Edworthy, Amanda, Taylor, Joseph M., Jones, Matthew S., Tormanen, Aaron, Kennedy, Christina M., Fu, Zhen, Latimer, Christopher E., Cornell, Kevin A., Michelotti, Lucas A., Sato, Chika, Northfield, Tobin, Snyder, William E., and Owen, Jeb P. (2020) Agricultural intensification heightens food safety risks posed by wild birds. Journal of Applied Ecology, 57 (11). pp. 2246-2257.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/64334/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:64665
2024-02-27T15:09:29Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
1622WQ: a web-based application to increase farmer awareness of the impact of agriculture on water quality
Vilas, Maria P.
Thorburn, Peter J.
Fielke, Simon
Webster, Tony
Mooij, Martijn
Biggs, Jody S.
Zhang, Yi-Fan
Adham, Adam
Davis, Aaron
Dungan, Bertrand
Butler, Roger
Fitch, Peter
Intensive agricultural practices represent a major threat to aquatic ecosystems because they impair water quality. However, this can be ameliorated by farmers improving crop management provided they are aware of their contribution to declining water quality. Water quality information systems can increase farmer awareness, but most were developed to assess water quality targets set in regulations rather than inform farmers. We developed the 1622WQ application using user-centred design principles to provide farmers with real-time information on nitrate and other contextual variables in their local creeks and rivers. The design process identified barriers to uptake of the application such as: (a) limited internet connection; (b) poor data quality; and (c) operational issues. Once these barriers were addressed, there was substantial uptake. Nevertheless, providing real-time information to farmers is only part of the solution due to legacy issues caused by a digital divide between traditional industries and those that are digitally enabled.
Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd
2020
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/64665/1/1-s2.0-S1364815220301596-main.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2020.104816
Vilas, Maria P., Thorburn, Peter J., Fielke, Simon, Webster, Tony, Mooij, Martijn, Biggs, Jody S., Zhang, Yi-Fan, Adham, Adam, Davis, Aaron, Dungan, Bertrand, Butler, Roger, and Fitch, Peter (2020) 1622WQ: a web-based application to increase farmer awareness of the impact of agriculture on water quality. Environmental Modelling and Software, 132. 104816.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/64665/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:65054
2021-01-10T21:33:00Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D636F6E666572656E63655F6974656D
Minimizing electricity cost through smart lighting control for indoor plant factories
Lork, Clement
Cubillas, Michael
Ng, Benny Kai Kiat
Chau, Yuen
Tan, Matthew
Smart plant factories incorporate sensing technology, actuators and control algorithms to automate processes, reducing the cost of production while improving crop yield many times over that of traditional farms. This paper investigates the growth of lettuce (Lactuca Sativa) in a smart farming setup when exposed to red and blue light-emitting diode (LED)horticulture lighting. An image segmentation method based on K-means clustering is used to identify the size of the plant at each stage of growth, and the growth of the plant modelled in a feed forward network. Finally, an optimization algorithm based on the plant growth model is proposed to find the optimal lighting schedule for growing lettuce with respect to dynamic electricity pricing. Genetic algorithm was utilized to find solutions to the optimization problem. When compared to a baseline in a simulation setting, the schedules proposed by the genetic algorithm can achieved between 40-52% savings in energy costs, and up to a 6% increase in leaf area.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
2020
Conference Item
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/65054/1/Minimizing-Electricity-Cost-through-Smart-Lighting-Control-for-Indoor-Plant-Factories.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1109/IECON43393.2020.9255061
Lork, Clement, Cubillas, Michael, Ng, Benny Kai Kiat, Chau, Yuen, and Tan, Matthew (2020) Minimizing electricity cost through smart lighting control for indoor plant factories. In: Proceedings of the 46th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society. pp. 297-302. From: IECON 2020: 46th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, 18-21 October 2020, Singapore.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/65054/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:65442
2024-02-28T15:07:43Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Refining China's grassland policies: an interdisciplinary and ex-ante analysis
Brown, Colin
Behrendt, Karl
Ping, Li
Guanghua, Qiao
Bennett, Jeff
Bao, Zhang
Addison, Jane
Kemp, David
Guodong, Han
Jing, Zhang
China is about to embark on a new round of grassland policies as part of its 14th Five-Year-Plan. While current grassland policies have generally been perceived positively in arresting widespread grassland degradation, concerns have arisen that the current policies may not be effective in achieving the desired reduction in livestock numbers. Furthermore there are concerns the incentive based payments that are part of these policy programs may not reflect herder opportunity costs or the marginal environmental benefits of the program with associated issues of herder satisfaction and compliance. Changes to current policy settings are being considered in response to these concerns. This paper reports on an interdisciplinary and ex-ante analysis of alternative policy settings affecting grazing and livestock management in terms of their environmental impacts, net social benefits and other impacts. The analysis finds that a bundle of instruments involving both positive and negative herder incentives is needed if desired stocking rates are to be achieved. The impact on herder incomes, both positive and negative depending on the grassland biome, along with transaction costs of implementing the policies, have the most influence on net social benefits.
CSIRO
2020
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/65442/3/RJ20097.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ20097
Brown, Colin, Behrendt, Karl, Ping, Li, Guanghua, Qiao, Bennett, Jeff, Bao, Zhang, Addison, Jane, Kemp, David, Guodong, Han, and Jing, Zhang (2020) Refining China's grassland policies: an interdisciplinary and ex-ante analysis. The Rangeland Journal, 42 (6). pp. 435-445.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/65442/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:65486
2024-03-03T14:32:46Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Changing fertilizer management practices in sugarcane production: cane grower survey insights
Hasan, Syezlin
Smart, James C. R.
Hay, Rachel
Rundle-Thiele, Sharyn
Improved fertilizer management practice in sugarcane production is a key component in plans to improve Great Barrier Reef (GBR) water quality. Research focused on understanding wider systemic factors that drive behavioral change in agriculture is currently limited, with the domi-nant focus on individual farmer and psychosocial factors. Adopting a wider systems perspective, this study examines farming behavior change and the role of supporting services among 238 sugarcane growers (74,597 hectares) in Queensland’s Wet Tropics region who completed surveys reporting on changes in the method they used to calculate fertilizer application rates, along with information on their farm business, socio-demographics and self-reported importance ratings on a variety of topics. Informed by the Theory of Planned Behavior., ssurvey data are analyzed us-ing regression models to identify factors influencing the change from traditional to improved practice, and early adoption of improved practice. Results indicate growers were less likely to change fertilizer practice if they regarded maintaining good relationships with other local growers as being extremely important, had off-farm income, or had not attended a govern-ment-funded fertilizer management workshop in the five years preceding the survey. Similar drivers acted to promote or delay early adoption of improved practice. Results demonstrate the influence of government-funded services to support practice change.
MDPI
2021
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/65486/7/land-10-00098-v2.pdf
https://doi.org/10.3390/land10020098
Hasan, Syezlin, Smart, James C. R., Hay, Rachel, and Rundle-Thiele, Sharyn (2021) Changing fertilizer management practices in sugarcane production: cane grower survey insights. Land, 10 (2). 98.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/65486/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:65746
2024-03-02T15:28:24Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
RE-thinking agricultural supply chains in Northern Australia
Babacan, Hurriyet
McHugh, Jennifer
Realizing the potential for growth and capitalizing on opportunities for Northern Australia requires effective supply chain networks. Agriculture is an important sector in the Northern Australian economy with significant production capabilities and the potential for creating national economic benefits. Northern Australia’s fundamental supply chain deficiency constitutes the key source of comparative disadvantage the region faces, despite its significant resources, people and locational advantages. Drawing on reviews of several previous studies, critical analysis of the current value chain situations and consultations with key stakeholders, this article argues that there is a need to re-thinking agricultural supply chains in Northern Australia. Several issues impeding the connectivity between production and market require systematic consideration, including the priorities for Northern agricultural development, integrated supply chain planning, workforce shortages and skills gaps, supply chain infrastructure, capitalizing on Asian market opportunities, transport and non-freight subsidies, east-west and north-south supply chain hubs and improved coordination and collaboration. Corona Virus Disease-2019 has had serious impacts across the supply chains; therefore, re-thinking supply chains is crucial as the business as usual approach is not sustainable. It is now a critical time to re-think supply chains to address the challenges of developing effective and resilient Northern supply chains to enhance agricultural expansion and boost the national economy.
Regional Science Association
2020
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/65746/1/2%20Babacan%20%20McHugh%20Paper%202%20%28002%29.pdf
https://www.anzrsai.org/publications/ajrs/
Babacan, Hurriyet, and McHugh, Jennifer (2020) RE-thinking agricultural supply chains in Northern Australia. Australasian Journal of Regional Studies, 26 (3). pp. 239-268.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/65746/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:65764
2024-02-27T15:18:20Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Traversing community attitudes and interaction experiences with large agricultural vehicles on rural roads
King, Jemma C.
Franklin, Richard C.
Miller, Lauren
Agriculture is one of Australia's largest rural industries. Oversized and slow moving industry equipment and vehicles, hereafter referred to as large agricultural vehicles (LAVs), use public roads. Restrictions exist regarding their on-road operation, but whether this is a function of the risk that their on-road use represents is unknown. A convenience sample of community members was used to explore perspectives about LAVs' presence on roads. An online survey was used to explore LAV interaction experiences, risk perceptions, and how best to promote safe interactions. Ethics approval was obtained. The participants' (N = 239) exposure to LAVs on roads in the last 12 months was variable, but there were clear seasonal points when encounters could be expected. The participants indicated that LAVs have a right to drive on the road (94.8%), and most interactions were neutral, with four LAV crashes reported. Other vehicle types were perceived as representing a higher risk to rural road safety than LAVs. The use of the driver's license test to increase knowledge about LAVs' presence, how to respond, and the use of signs were suggested in order to improve safety. The participants commonly interacted with LAVs, and rarely experienced negative events such as crashes. Continued communication about LAV presence on rural roads is an important consideration in order to help ensure safe interactions.
MDPI
2021
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/65764/1/65764_King_et_al_2020.pdf
https://doi.org/10.3390/safety7010004
King, Jemma C., Franklin, Richard C., and Miller, Lauren (2021) Traversing community attitudes and interaction experiences with large agricultural vehicles on rural roads. Safety, 7 (1). 4.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/65764/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:66054
2024-03-03T14:33:45Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Grasping at digitalisation: turning imagination into fact in the sugarcane farming community
Fielke, Simon J.
Taylor, Bruce M.
Jakku, Emma
Mooij, Martijn
Stitzlein, Cara
Fleming, Aysha
Thorburn, Peter J.
Webster, Anthony J.
Davis, Aaron
Vilas, Maria P.
Nutrient runoff from catchments that drain into the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is a significant source of stress for this World Heritage Area. An alliance of collaborative on-ground water quality monitoring (Project 25) and technologically driven digital application development (Digiscape GBR) projects were formulated to provide data that highlighted the contribution of a network of Australian sugar cane farmers, amongst other sources, to nutrient runoff. This environmental data and subsequent information were extended to the farming community through scientist-led feedback sessions and the development of specialised digital technology (1622 (TM) WQ) that help build an understanding of the nutrient movements, in this case nitrogen, such that farmers might think about and eventually act to alter their fertilizer application practices. This paper reflects on a socio-environmental sustainability challenge that emerged during this case study, by utilising the nascent concept of digi-grasping. We highlight the importance of the entire agricultural knowledge and advice network being part of an innovation journey to increase the utility of digital agricultural technologies developed to increase overall sustainability. We develop the digi-MAST analytical framework, which explores modes of being and doing in the digital world, ranging from 'the everyday mystery of the digital world (M)', through digital 'awareness (A)', digitally 'sparked' being/s (S), and finally the ability of individuals and/or groups to 'transform (T)' utilising digital technologies and human imaginations. Our digi-MAST framework allows us to compare agricultural actors, in this case, to understand present modes of digi-grasping to help determine the resources and actions likely to be required to achieve impact from the development of various forms of digital technological research outputs.
Springer
2021
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/66054/1/66054.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-020-00885-9
Fielke, Simon J., Taylor, Bruce M., Jakku, Emma, Mooij, Martijn, Stitzlein, Cara, Fleming, Aysha, Thorburn, Peter J., Webster, Anthony J., Davis, Aaron, and Vilas, Maria P. (2021) Grasping at digitalisation: turning imagination into fact in the sugarcane farming community. Sustainability Science, 16. pp. 677-690.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/66054/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:67633
2021-06-15T01:26:31Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
"Banana Wars": the food security implications of the Australia-Philippines agricultural trade dispute
Lockie, Stewart
Since 2000 Australia and the Philippines have been engaged in an acrimonious dispute over agricultural trade. Ostensibly, this dispute is about Australia's use of strict phytosanitary standards to restrict the importation of Philippine fruit products. Arguing that these restrictions are being used as non-tariff barriers to trade, the Philippines has retaliated by reducing imports of Australian cattle and boxed meat, threatening to ban Australian dairy imports and, recently, referring the matter to the World Trade Organization. Underlying this seemingly strong reaction is a trade imbalance overwhelmingly in Australia's favor. This paper analyzes the trade in what are in fact luxury foods, including vegetables and tropical fruits, and offers a critical assessment of the competing visions of food security that have been deployed in the trade disputes between the two countries.
Ateneo de Manila University
2003
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/67633/1/67633_Lockie_2003.pdf
https://www.jstor.org/stable/42633651
Lockie, Stewart (2003) "Banana Wars": the food security implications of the Australia-Philippines agricultural trade dispute. Philippine Studies, 51 (2). pp. 284-308.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/67633/
openpub
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:67638
2022-11-01T19:30:06Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D626F6F6B5F73656374696F6E
An Action Learning approach to grower-focussed change: research among cotton producers in Queensland
Lawrence, Geoffrey
Meyers, Melissa
Lockie, Stewart
Clark, Richard
The most striking feature of the irrigated cotton industry is the intensive nature of the production system which is characterised by a high level of chemical inputs and high risk capital outlays, with yield and profit dependent on a guaranteed water supply and technological 'solutions' to production problems. The approach to the cotton industry in Emerald was initially made through the local Cotton Growers and Irrigators Association and resulted in the formation of one group of approximately ten growers. The group has persisted in researching the technology through the monitoring of established sites in the local region, and visiting other sites which use the technology throughout Australia's cotton growing areas. The Local best practices (LBP) approach is a participative group-extension method which is based on a 'farmer first' or 'bottom-up' paradigm. The LBP method of extension provides a structured mechanism to encourage producers to develop and utilise local knowledge.
Routledge
Burch, David
Goss, Jasper
Lawrence, Geoffrey
1999
Book Chapter
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/67638/1/67638_Lawrence_et_al_1999.pdf
https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429448355-18
Lawrence, Geoffrey, Meyers, Melissa, Lockie, Stewart, and Clark, Richard (1999) An Action Learning approach to grower-focussed change: research among cotton producers in Queensland. In: Burch, David, Goss, Jasper, and Lawrence, Geoffrey, (eds.) Restructuring Global and Regional Agricultures: transformations in Australasian agri-food economies and spaces. Routledge, London, UK, pp. 289-305.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/67638/
restricted
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:67639
2021-06-15T00:35:27Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D61727469636C65
Profit, risk and stability: decision making criteria for sustainable cropping
Lockie, Stewart
For some time now there has been a growing trend in cropping areas towards the use of so-called 'alternative' crops. Nevertheless, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS 1989) has reported that the area of land under crop on the central and southern slopes of NSW sown to broadleaf varieties in 1988 was still quite low at only 6 percent. Agronomists from the NSW Department of Agriculture believed that an expansion in the area sown to broadleaf crops would dramatically improve the productivity of farms in the area (Mead, 1992). A joint project was initiated involving NSW Agriculture and the Centre for Rural Social Research to investigate the use of broadleaf based crop rotations and barriers to their further adoption. Researchers from the Centre for Rural Social Research conducted six focus group discussions and 180 random sample interviews, in the agronomy districts of Albury, Cootamundra, Cowra, Temora, Wagga Wagga and Young.
Taylor & Francis
1993
Article
PeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/67639/1/67639_Lockie_1993.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1080/10371656.1993.11005085
Lockie, Stewart (1993) Profit, risk and stability: decision making criteria for sustainable cropping. Rural Society, 3 (2). pp. 7-8.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/67639/
open
oai:researchonline.jcu.edu.au:67640
2022-06-29T19:30:06Z
7374617475733D707562
74797065733D6D6F6E6F6772617068
The future of agricultural technologies
Lockie, Stewart
Fairley-Grenot, Kate
Ankeny, Rachel
Botterill, Linda
Howlett, Barbara
Mcbratney, Alex
Probyn, Elspeth
Sorrell, Tania
Sukkarieh, Salah
Woodhead, Ian
Australian agriculture is world-renowned for leadership in harvesting practices, water-efficient agronomy, crop and livestock breeding, conservation tillage and development of fit-for-purpose farm machinery. While Australia exports two-thirds of its produce, it is a relatively small exporter when compared to countries like the United States and the Netherlands (Howden & Zammit, 2019). Nonetheless, our primary producers (or farmers) are among the most efficient in the world, with a long history of productivity improvement and adaptation to external challenges, including environmental extremes, price fluctuations, variations in international trade conditions and changes in government policy. Farmers have embraced innovation and shown willingness to adopt technologies that lead to improvements in farm practices. Governments, research providers and a range of other stakeholders have been critical to ensuring that the appropriate resources, policies and institutional arrangements are in place to support research, development and extension.
Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA)
2020
Report
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/67640/1/67640_report.pdf
https://acola.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/hs6_agricultural-technologies_acola_report.pdf
Lockie, Stewart, Fairley-Grenot, Kate, Ankeny, Rachel, Botterill, Linda, Howlett, Barbara, Mcbratney, Alex, Probyn, Elspeth, Sorrell, Tania, Sukkarieh, Salah, and Woodhead, Ian (2020) The future of agricultural technologies. External Commissioned Report. Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA), Melbourne, Australia.
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/67640/
open
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