<div>Background: The soil is a fundamental natural resource of any nation hence proper assessment of the kind and extent of this resource is prerequisite to its improvement and rational use. 
 
Method: Random sampling technique was used to collect soils from each of the 18 LGAs of Cross River State, Nigeria and each separated into two parts. One part was used for the cultivation of local maize while the other part of soil was analysed for pedochemical properties and fertility indices. 
 
Result: The results reveal that organic carbon ranged from 1.40 g/kg3 to 2.84 g/kg3. Available Phosphorus varied from 3.31 mg/kg to 29.24 mg/kg. The value of total nitrogen varied from 0.11 g/kg3 to 0.24 g/kg3. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) also varied from 7.01 Cmol/kg3 to 12.01 Cmol/kg3. The soils across the agroecology were more acidic 5.00 to less acidic 0.61. Boron varied from 0.52 mg/kg3 to 2.01 mg/kg3 while Zinc also ranged from 1.93 mg/kg3 to 5.0 mg/kg3. The results also show that 33.33% of the soils were rated high, medium and low for available phosphorus. It was identified that total nitrogen nutrient fertility ratings for the soils was 77.78% high fertility ratings and 22.22% medium fertility ratings. Results identified organic carbon fertility rating was of high fertility rating of 72.23% while 27.67% medium rating was identified for organic carbon content. Ten (10) principal components (PC) were identified to contribute to the total 100% support for maize crop production in the study area.</div>

Identification and Validation of Pedochemical and Fertility Indices of Soils Influencing Maize (Zea mays) Crop Production in the Rain Forest Agro-ecology of Nigeria

Background: The livelihood patterns of indigenous tribal communities residing in the Ghumsur forests are intricately interwoven with their dependence on forest-related activities. However, the degradation of forest ecosystems, particularly the incidence of forest fires, exerts a profound impact on the socio-economic dynamics and resilience of these communities. Consequently, an exigent need arises to comprehensively elucidate, evaluate and comprehend the nuanced characteristics of these areas concerning the complex interplay between forest fires and livelihoods.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: A thorough investigation was conducted to evaluate livelihood vulnerability to forest fires in the Ghumsur North Division forests. This assessment utilized the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI), incorporating 34 indicators condensed into six factors for a comprehensive composite index. The factors represented various aspects of vulnerability and were based on tangible indicators reflecting the complexity of livelihood vulnerability. Data sources were primarily used, with indicators standardized on a scale from 0 to 1, where values near 1 indicated higher vulnerability.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The Gallery sub-region is particularly vulnerable due to factors like poor infrastructure, increased reliance on forests, close proximity to forested areas, socio-economic fragility and exposure to extreme weather events. It&rsquo;s crucial to improve adaptive capacity in fire-affected regions to reduce vulnerability to forest fires. Tailored policy interventions should focus on sector-specific development programs and involve communities in adaptation planning to address the link between livelihoods and susceptibility to forest fires.

Forest Fire Hazards and Livelihood Vulnerability Assessment of Ghumsur Forests in Ganjam District of Odisha

<div style="text-align: justify;">Farmers are backbone of India and they suffer many hurdles while growing crops. In post-harvesting steps, drying crops plays a major role in grain production. About 70% of the threshed grains are sun-dried in many regions. During sudden rains farmers face difficulty to cover the threshed grains and some of them die because of thunderstorm/lighting with this older methods. It necessitates to design a new system for these conditions instead of older methods. The aim of the project is to provide an innovative design for helping farmers from unseasonal rains easily. The newly modelled Rain Sensor Capsule for farmers, whose operation is compiled by the automatic rain sensor, wooden capsule, controllers and power conversion unit. The capsule is modelled in AutoCAD software package, then a prototype is fabricated and tested.&nbsp;</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Rain sensor capsule (RSC) for farmers during un-seasonal rains in post-harvesting period</div>

Background: In Russia 5.2 million hectares of protective forest plantations were created on agricultural land. Forest strips optimize moisture turnover, heat and gas exchange of the territory and transform agrarian landscapes into more sustainable forest-agrarian ecosystems (agroforest landscapes). Studying the impact of shelterbelt forests on the transformation of soil properties in the context of climate change (organic carbon storage) is an important problem. The aim of our research was to study the effect of shelterbelt forests on soil indicators and to digitally map the contours of forest-meliorated soils on the test site using GIS-technology and field studies. 
 
Methods: In the present study, the methodology of soil studies in agroforested soils (1978) and the methodology of assessing the accumulation of substances in plants and soils in agroforested landscapes were used to study forest-meliorated soils. We proceeded from the position that the reclamation effect of forest belts occurs at a distance of 30 heights. The research was conducted from 2016 to 2022. 
 
Result: Research has established, that the soil profile under the forest belt has an organogenic horizon A0 (forest floor); the thickness of the humus horizon (A+B1) under the forest belt is 8-10 cm higher compared to other zones. Spatial distribution of humus content in the A+B1 horizon from the forest belt to the centers of inter-belt squares (zone 20H) is not characterized by great variability and clear patterns and on average makes 1.15-1.2%. The increase in calcium carbonate (CaCO3) content in the soil occurs in the direction from the forest belt to the 20H zone. The indicator of dense residue in terms of the content of readily soluble salts is not relevant in estimating the forest belt&rsquo;s influence on transformation of soil properties. A preliminary digital map of the contours of forest-reclaimed soils has been compiled. The obtained materials will serve as a basis for modeling the spatial and temporal dynamics of soils under forest belts in the zonal section and improving soil fertility in the interstrip space.

Influence of Forest Strips on Changes in Soil Properties in the Agrolandscape

<div>Background: The food grain and non-food grain crops occupy 48 and 68% area respectively under rain fed condition. Due to uneven rainfall, the rainfed crop suffers for want of adequate soil moisture at critical growth stages. Under such situation, protective irrigation ensures adequate soil moisture which results higher production. Crops like tomato, maize, groundnut and red gram are predominantly grown during kharif as rain fed crops. Relieving the soil moisture stress during the critical crop growth stages with more efficient irrigation system assumes importance in rain fed farming.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: An experiment was conducted for three years during kharif 2008, 2009 and 2010 at the College Farm, Prof. Jayashankar Telangana State Agril. University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad&nbsp;on a sandy loam soil to study the yield advantage of protective sprinkler irrigation to kharif grown rain fed tomato, maize, groundnut and red gram crops. The trial was conducted in strip plot design with protective sprinkler irrigations as main plots and rainfed kharif crops as sub-plots and replicated thrice. The three main treatments comprised of - one protective sprinkler irrigation at flower/peg/tassel initiation, two protective sprinkler irrigations at flower and fruiting, tassel and grain filling, peg formation and pod filling and flowering and pod filling stages and rain fed (control). The sub treatments consisted of four crops- tomato, maize, groundnut and red gram.&nbsp; 
 
Result: There was an increase in yield with one and two protective sprinkler irrigations by 16.7 and 27.9; 17.7 and 44 5; 26.4 and 34.5 and 21.1 and 28.9% over their corresponding rain fed crops of tomato, groundnut, maize and red gram, respectively. There was an increase of 20.4 and 31.6% in Maize Equivalent Yield (MEY) with one and two protective irrigations as compared to rain fed crop. The water productivity was lower in all the crops grown under rain fed conditions (0.77 kg MEY m-3) as compared to that of one and two protective irrigations.</div>

<div>Influence of Protective Sprinkler Irrigation on Yield and Water Productivity of Kharif Grown Rain Fed Crops</div>

A common environmental problem brought on by the atmospheric deposit of acidic accoutrements is acid rain. This abstract looks into the colourful aspects of acid rain, emphasizing its sources, consequences and strategies used to lessen its dangerous impacts. Anthropogenic emigrations of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, primarily from the burning of fossil energies and artificial processes, are the main causes of acid rain. Another factor contributing to this complex miracle is natural sources like stormy eruptions. The goods of acid rain span colourful ecosystems, impacting submarine life, soil quality, foliage and mortal health. Acidification of water bodies disrupts ecological balance, causing detriment to submarine organisms and posing a trouble to biodiversity. Also, acid rain&rsquo;s ecological goods are made worse by the release of poisonous essence into the terrain. Enhancing energy effectiveness and promoting indispensable energy sources are two sustainable practices that support a holistic strategy to reduce precursors of acid rain. One naturally being remedy that helps restore acid rain- affected ecosystems is reforestation. Understanding the sources, impacts and measures of acid rain is essential for developing effective programs and practices that promote sustainable cohabitation with our earth as humanity tries to strike a balance between development and environmental preservation.

Causes, Effects and Management Measures of Acid Rain: A Review

Background: Assessing the forest suitability of soils is one of the key areas of agroforestry science. Research in this direction makes it possible to characterize areas where tree and shrub vegetation does not grow under natural conditions. The research carried out makes it possible to assess the possibilities of afforestation in the area of interest; they contribute to the perception of landscape diversity in the context of the reclamation efficiency of the created systems of protective forest plantings, their productivity and durability. Identification of soil suitability for forests is closely related to the assessment of soil quality and fertility. The study of forest suitability of soils has a pronounced regional aspect. This article presents materials from cartographic studies of the dry steppe zone of the Volgograd region of the Russian Federation. The study region is characterized by a wide variety of soil cover. Dark chestnut, chestnut soils and light chestnut soils are common in this zone. The processes of erosion, salinizationand deflation make a great contribution to the diversity of soil complexes. 
 
Methods: In this work, the cartographic research method is the main one. Achieving the research goal, creating a cartographic model of the forest vegetation properties of the study area, was carried out in three stages. At the first stage, the contours of the soil map at a scale of 1:400000 were classified into forest suitability groups. During the second stage, based on the functionality of the QGIS software package, new soil contours were created. At the third stage, area characteristics were taken, share parameters were calculated and an analysis of changes in soil cover was carried out in natural and economic areas. The research materials presented in this article were obtained during the implementation of the state task of the research work of the FSC of Agroecology RAS. The research period is from 2021-08 to 2023-11. 
 
Result: The result of the research is the creation of a cartographic model of the forest suitability of soils in the dry steppe zone of the Volgograd region. Based on measuring the areas of soil contours for each of the 17 administrative districts, the ratio of groups of forest suitability of soils was established. The revealed value of the share indicator for the study area as a whole is as follows: soils I, forest suitability groups occupy 10.4% of the territory; II -9.3%; III - 68.3%; IV - 12%. The data obtained are necessary for planning agroforestry work in the study area.

Assessment of Forest Suitability of Soils in the Dry Steppe Zone of the Volgograd Region

Background: The article presents the results of a study which is characterizing the impact of a forest shelterbelt on the productivity and profitability of winter wheat of the dry steppe zone of Volgograd region (Russia). The relevance of the problem was due to the fact that most of the agriculture is used to be concentrated in the steppe and forest-steppe natural zones. It is known that these territories were used to be forest reclamation facilities in the form of a network of protective forest belts. Also it touched&nbsp; the research aimed n need&nbsp; to evaluate the efficiency of winter wheat production within depression zones. The hypothesis means that&nbsp; the soil and climatic conditions of dry steppe regions, were utilizing these depression zone for arable land which significantly reduced the productivity and profitability of winter wheat cultivation. 
 
Methods: The work presents the biological productivity which was taken into account by using the method of meter-long plots in triplicationand a soil moisture was determined by the thermostat-weight method and grain quality was determined by using an infrared analyzer &ldquo;InfraLUM FT-12&rdquo;. The territory was visualized by using an unmanned aerial vehicle and chemical analyzes of soil samples were performed in the soil analysis laboratory of the FSC of Agroecology RAS by using generally accepted methods in soil science. 
 
Result: The research determined that depression zones arise in the steppe and dry steppe zones on the territory of agroforest landscapes near protective forest plantations. The areas of these zones occupy 4-8% of the total arable land area. Observations have shown that soil moisture in the depression zone in the meter-long layer is lower than in the inter-strip space. At the same time, the lack of mineral nutrition elements leads to a significant decrease in biometric indicators and the quality of winter wheat grown.

The Influence of the Depression Zone of Forest Shelterbelts on the Productivity and Profitability of Winter Wheat

Background: Quantifying the growth patterns, biomass production and carbon storage capability of different forest types has gained more attention in recent decades due to the global focus on climate change and carbon budgeting. Depending on their condition, age, species makeup and management techniques, forests can be both generators and sinks of carbon. Significant carbon reservoirs can be found in the North-Western Himalayan broadleaf forests, which are frequently distinguished by their multi-layered canopies and abundant understory vegetation. 
 
Methods: The current investigation was carried out in the broad leaf forest of Solan district in Himachal Pradesh from 2020-21 to 2021-22. The study region belongs to subtropical to sub temperate climatic zone. The identified research area was split into five replicates of 10 &times; 10 m each. All of the trees in each replication were chosen and counted. A total of 41 trees from the broad leaf forest were chosen and the tree species included. Bauhinia variegata, Grewia optiva, Pinus roxburghii, Toona ciliata and Quercus leucotricophora. Tree biomass and growth at the study site were counted. The following growth metrics were measured: total tree height, crown length, crown spread, crown index and Dbh. Volume equations were used to estimate biomass. Growth and biomass metrics were averaged (Mean+S.E.). 
 
Result: Present study provided the information about growth of broad leaf forest, its biomass and capacity to sequester carbon in the mid-hill Himalayas. With a height of 18.33 metres, Pinus roxburghii dominated the forest tree stand while- Bauhinia variegata had height and crown spread of 5.06 m and 0.57 m, respectively. The calculated total biomass of broad leaf forest was 407.48 Mg/ha/year, that might have contributed to the total carbon stock of 183.36 Mg/ha/year. Carbon was sequestered by broad leaf forest at a rate of 672.95 Mg/ha/year. The findings indicated that excellent management methods are necessary for such forests to have improved soil and carbon-storing capacity.&nbsp;

Growth, Biomass and Carbon Sequestration Potential of Broad Leaf Forest in North-West Himalayas

<div style="text-align:justify">Within West Africa (WA), poverty, population growth rate and food insecurity are high and most agriculture is conducted at an un-mechanised level, reliant on rain-fed conditions. As with elsewhere around the world, there is a clear fingerprint of climate change on WA, with increasing temperatures and shifts in precipitation patterns. As the century progresses and climate change intensifies, so too will the impact on rain-fed horticulture. This creates an urgent need to understand and synthesis the responses of horticultural crops to climate change and identify adaptation options. This review provides an overview of climate change across WA and the impacts on key horticultural crop groups (vegetables, plantations, fruits and root and tubers) and identifies regions within WA where these crops may be more or less vulnerable to changing conditions. Adaptation actions and strategies- ranging from education, introduction of new cultivars and development of effective cropping systems, to transference of skills from other regions and expansion of farmer-government-NGO collaborations are discussed.</div>