The migratory locust has become a principal threat to agricultural production in Kazakhstan, exacerbating risks posed by drought, fires, and other natural disasters. The widespread and persistent use of chemical pesticides, often referred to as "chemical press" tactics, has been the conventional approach to locust control. However, such methods are associated with escalating costs, environmental contamination, and the development of pesticide resistance. In response, alternative strategies that focus on preventive control and localized treatment have been explored. This approach aims to mitigate the negative ecological impacts of indiscriminate pesticide application by targeting locust populations with biological control agents and low-toxicity plant protection products in identified foci. This study evaluates the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the precision application of biopesticides in Kazakhstan's locust-affected regions. Orthophotographic maps generated from UAV imagery were employed to detect locust presence based on indirect diagnostic indicators. These maps facilitated the identification of locust aggregations, which were subsequently treated with biologically based pest management solutions. The effectiveness of UAV-based localized treatments was assessed, demonstrating significant control over locust populations in focal areas, with minimal environmental impact. The results suggest that UAV technology, combined with targeted biological treatments, offers a promising alternative to traditional chemical methods, potentially reducing pesticide resistance and ecological harm while maintaining effective pest control. This approach aligns with sustainable agricultural practices and enhances the efficiency of pest management strategies in locust-prone regions.

Soil salinization is a critical global issue that undermines agricultural productivity, threatens food security, and compromises the sustainability of farming systems. In the coastal region of Navotas, Balayan, Batangas, Philippines, the increasing salinization of irrigated rice farmlands due to saline-sodic soils has become a pressing concern. The understanding of farmers' perceptions regarding the risks associated with soil salinity, as well as their insights into the causes, consequences, and coping mechanisms, remains inadequately explored. This gap in knowledge may hinder the development of effective countermeasures and appropriate policy interventions. In this study, farmers' perceptions of saline-sodic soils were assessed through Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), which were analysed using thematic analysis and Causal Loop Diagrams (CLDs). Saltwater intrusion was consistently identified as the primary cause of soil salinization, with subsequent reductions in rice yields ranging from 60% to 100%, depending on the growth stage of the crop. The most vulnerable periods were identified as June to August, particularly during the vegetative and flowering stages of rice. Farmers reported coping strategies such as irrigation with freshwater and the cultivation of salt-tolerant rice varieties; however, challenges related to delayed access to freshwater and seeds were frequently mentioned. The expansion of saline-sodic areas was identified as the most significant threat to rice production, with the condition of saline-sodic soils in lowland rice paddies increasingly viewed as a worsening problem. These findings underscore the severe impact of saline-sodic soils on both agricultural productivity and farmers' livelihoods, providing valuable insights that can inform the development of tailored management strategies and mitigation measures.

The sustainability of organic rice farming has become a significant focus in agricultural development, as it addresses the interconnected challenges of economic viability, environmental preservation, and social equity. This study evaluates the sustainability of organic rice farming across five districts in Central Java and Yogyakarta, Indonesia, through a comprehensive assessment of economic, ecological, and social dimensions. A proportional stratified random sampling approach was employed, involving 150 farmer respondents, with 30 farmers selected from each district. Descriptive analysis revealed an average sustainability score of 2.94, indicating a moderate level of sustainability. In addition, the Rapid Appraisal for Sustainability (RAPS) tool yielded an average index score of 68.56, categorising the farming systems as "fairly sustainable." The model was further validated through a normalization test, which demonstrated strong consistency across the three sustainability dimensions, with a Standardized Residual Sum of Square (STRESS) value of 0.14 and an R-Squared (RSQ) value of 0.95, suggesting that the data were robust and the model reliable. Sensitivity analysis identified seven critical factors influencing sustainability: agricultural product prices, financial management, poverty alleviation, crop rotation, the involvement of women and young farmers, and preservation of tradition. The results of validation and stability tests indicated that the sustainability model was both stable and reliable across all three dimensions, with an overall sustainability score of 1. These findings underscore the importance of promoting sustainable agricultural practices in organic rice farming and highlight the need for enhanced government involvement in raising awareness, providing training, and fostering educational initiatives to support the economic, ecological, and social dimensions of sustainability in the region.

This study examines the predatory efficiency and biological characteristics of Phytoseiulus persimilis in managing Tetranychus urticae (two-spotted spider mite) populations under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Laboratory assessments were conducted to evaluate feeding preferences and reproductive performance by providing Ph. persimilis with different prey types, including T. urticae eggs, Sitotroga cerealella eggs, and decapsulated Artemia salina cysts. Findings indicated a marked preference for T. urticae eggs, with Ph. persimilis consuming an average of 23.5 eggs per day, significantly surpassing other prey types in consumption rate. Greenhouse trials in cucumber cultivation systems evaluated the predator's efficacy in reducing T. urticae populations at a predator-to-prey ratio of 1:10. Within 10 days, Ph. persimilis achieved a reduction of over 70% in T. urticae populations, underscoring its effectiveness as a biological control agent in greenhouse settings. Statistical analyses, conducted using dispersion analysis via Microsoft Excel and SigmaStat 3.1 software, validated these findings. Controls comprised untreated greenhouse sections and laboratory containers devoid of predators to ensure accurate comparative assessments. The results support Ph. persimilis as a highly effective biological control agent, demonstrating significant predation rates and reproductive success, which underscores its potential to reduce chemical pesticide reliance and promote sustainable, eco-friendly pest management in integrated pest management (IPM) frameworks.

This study investigates the sustainability practices employed by cattle farmers in Indonesia, applying the Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems (SAFA) framework. As global concerns surrounding environmental degradation and resource depletion intensify, understanding sustainable agricultural practices, particularly in livestock farming, has become imperative. A qualitative approach was employed, gathering data through interviews and field observations with seven cattle farmers from Boyolali and Salatiga, two districts recognized for their significant cattle farming activities. The analysis focused on four key dimensions of sustainability: environmental integrity, social well-being, economic resilience, and good governance. It was found that while farmers implement various sustainable practices, such as crop rotation and the use of organic fertilizers, significant challenges remain. These include limited access to environmentally friendly technologies, inadequate financial resources, and insufficient government policy support. The selection of participants was based on their ability to provide in-depth insights into sustainability practices in cattle farming, complementing the qualitative data collected. The findings highlight the necessity of improving technological adoption and enhancing community engagement to drive more sustainable outcomes in the sector. Additionally, the study underscores the role of policymakers in fostering more supportive environments for sustainable agriculture. This research fills a critical gap in the literature on the sustainability of cattle farming in Indonesia, offering practical recommendations to stakeholders, including policymakers, to promote more resilient and environmentally sustainable farming practices. By detailing the current practices and challenges encountered by farmers, the study contributes to the development of informed agricultural policies aimed at ensuring long-term sustainability within the cattle farming sector in Indonesia.

The mismanagement of sewage sludge generated by wastewater treatment plants poses significant environmental and health risks, necessitating the exploration of sustainable alternatives for its reuse in forestry production. This study aims to assess the impact of sewage sludge stabilization and composting, utilizing effective microorganisms (EM), on the growth performance of Tecoma stans. A completely randomized experimental design was implemented in two phases. In the first phase, four treatments were tested with 12 kg of mixture in each: Treatment 1 (T1) (100% sludge with EM), Treatment 2 (T2) (75% sludge and 25% organic waste with EM), Treatment 3 (T3) (50% sludge and 50% organic waste with EM), and Treatment 4 (T4) (25% sludge and 75% organic waste with EM). The second phase involved testing five composite substrates, mixing agricultural soil with compost derived from each treatment and a control substrate, for the cultivation of Tecoma stans seedlings. Each substrate was tested with 20 experimental units, containing 15 seedlings per unit, totaling 300 seedlings. T3 demonstrated superior results in the first phase, containing 34.78% organic matter, 1.39% nitrogen, a carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio of 14.7, and a pH of 7.4, adhering to Chilean, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and Mexican standards. In the second phase, T3 exhibited enhanced seedling growth, with an optimal nitrogen concentration and a Dickson quality index (DQI) of 0.768. The findings suggest that composting sewage sludge with organic residues in equal proportions and inoculating with EM produces mature, high-quality compost that meets international standards for forestry applications. This approach offers a sustainable solution for wastewater sludge management, promoting environmental restoration and supporting local forestry development.

The global food system faces significant vulnerabilities due to pandemics, which not only disrupt economies and governmental functions but also threaten food security and public health. Organic farming, particularly within cooperatives, plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable agriculture and enhancing rural development while contributing to ecosystem protection. This study investigates the production efficiency of 306 agricultural cooperatives in Hung Yen Province, Vietnam, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The efficiency assessment utilizes the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model to examine the influence of factors such as the potential of cooperatives, labor resources, production processes, supply chains, and governmental support on the technical efficiency of these cooperatives. The findings indicate that organic cooperatives in Hung Yen maintained production efficiency throughout the pandemic, largely due to the adoption of advanced technologies and active participation in supply chains, which facilitated swift adaptation to new challenges. Among the influencing factors, the internal potential of cooperatives, labor resources, product development processes, and supply chain dynamics were identified as the most significant, whereas governmental support was found to have the least impact (0.07 for the first group, 0.06 for the second, and 0.06 for the third) during the pandemic. Additionally, three key factors—years of operational experience, product diversity, and business procedure support—were determined to have the greatest effect on production efficiency across different cooperative groups in the COVID-19 context. The study underscores the importance of enhancing the intrinsic potential of organic cooperatives to better adapt to rapid changes, thereby supporting rural development and agricultural productivity in the face of economic shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

The productivity of sandy tropical soils may be enhanced through the application of composted organic materials. This study investigates the effects of composted mixtures of brewery spent grain (BSG) and animal manures on the growth of green amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus L) under field conditions. Composted treatments included BSG mixed with poultry droppings (PD) or cattle dung (CD) in volumetric ratios of 1:1 and 2:1 prior to composting, resulting in four compost variants: BSG+PD_(1:1), BSG+PD_(2:1), BSG+CD_(1:1), and BSG+CD_(2:1). Additionally, composted BSG alone served as a reference. Each amendment was added at 20 t ha^–1, alongside an un-amended control for comparative purposes. Growth and yield assessments conducted four weeks post-sowing revealed that not all amended treatments outperformed the control. Notably, the BSG+PD_(1:1) treatment consistently increased total biomass (fresh and dry matter yields by approximately 143% and 58%, respectively) as immediate effects, and significantly more (184% and 108%, respectively) as residual effects when compared to the control. Leaf yields under this treatment showed increases of 173-177% (immediate effects) and 122-125% (residual effects). These variations in amaranth growth and yield were primarily attributed to improvements in soil exchangeable calcium (Ca) and total nitrogen (N) content due to the compost application. The findings suggest that a composted equal-volume mix of BSG and PD may serve as an effective organic amendment for enhancing the yield of short-duration leafy vegetables like amaranth in coarse-textured soils of the humid tropics.

The atmospheric El Nino phenomenon, characterized by elevated sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean, leads to reduced precipitation and increased temperatures in Indonesia due to diminished influx of moist air. These conditions necessitate the development of drought-resistant rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) seedlings, particularly for regions susceptible to such climatic variations. This study focuses on the PB 260 clone, investigating the efficacy of burnt husk applications in enhancing drought resilience. Employing a non-factorial randomized block design (RBD), three treatments were administered to the seedlings: no burnt husk, burnt husk as mulch, and burnt husk as a planting medium, with each treatment replicated three times and utilizing 30g of burnt husk per polybag. It was observed that the application of burnt husk as mulch significantly promoted root growth compared to the other treatments. This was quantified by measurements showing an increase in root length (98.7m), surface area (45.54m²), and volume (30 mL). These results suggest that the use of burnt husk as mulch might offer a viable strategy for enhancing drought adaptation in Hevea brasiliensis, providing a foundation for earlier tapping maturity through improved root development under drought conditions.