Rice is a dietary staple and vital economic crop for the majority of Bangladesh's population. To sustain yields amidst growing demand, the widespread application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has led to concerns over soil health and long-term productivity. This study presents a novel mathematical model, comprising a system of non-linear ordinary differential equations (ODEs), to analyze the effects of diminishing soil fertility due to excessive fertilizer use. The model was investigated analytically and numerically, examining equilibrium points, stability, and the interactions between soil nutrients, plant nutrients, and rice yield. Numerical solutions were obtained using the Runge-Kutta method. Findings indicate that while the initial application of chemical fertilizers results in an increase in yield, prolonged usage ultimately depletes soil organic matters, causing a decline in long-term productivity. The improper use of organic fertilizers exacerbates soil salinity, further hindering rice cultivation. Additionally, rising global temperatures encourage pest proliferation, necessitating higher pesticide usage that adversely affects human health and the environment. The study underscores that optimal fertilizer application, combined with sustainable practices such as straw residue incorporation and land relaxation, improves soil fertility and ensures long-term productivity, addressing food security concerns. Optimal fertilizer application strategies are recommended to sustain rice yields and minimize adverse environmental impacts. The model's insights are crucial for policymakers and farmers in optimizing fertilizer and pesticide use to secure long-term rice productivity in Bangladesh while mitigating the risk of soil degradation.
In compliance with European Regulation (EC) 2018/848, organic farming practices necessitate the use of organically produced seeds when available. When suitable organic seeds cannot be sourced, farmers may seek an exemption permitting the use of non-organic seeds. This study examines data from the German national organic seed database to assess trends in the use of crop varieties originating from both organic and conventional seed production. Findings reveal that the diversity of cultivars produced organically is expanding across 15 of the 17 analyzed crops. Correlation analysis suggests that as the availability of organic cereal seed cultivars rises, recorded in the national database, the demand for derogations to use conventional cereal seed cultivars decreases, and vice versa. This positive development in the organic seed sector implies that farmers are adapting their practices in response to the expanding supply of organically multiplied cultivars available through the national database. Nevertheless, challenges such as crop diseases and production limitations in organic cereal seed multiplication can lead to supply deficits, which subsequently result in increased derogation requests for non-organic seeds in the following year. The findings underscore the importance of ensuring robust multiplication of organic cereal seeds to increase the supply, leading to higher adoption of organic seeds and a reduction in derogation requests for non-organic seeds. This study contributes to understanding the impact of supply trends on farmer behavior and highlights the need for further strengthening organic seed multiplication to facilitate full compliance with European organic farming regulations.
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