While modern agriculture brings more food to people, it causes environmental pollution as well. Agricultural pollution has attracted extensive public attention. A lot of reviews on agricultural research were conducted from different research aspects, but there is a lack of work on analyzing the research trend from large volumes of publications in the field of agricultural pollution. In the present work, a scientometric analysis of agricultural pollution was conducted to fill the gap by using the software of VoSviewer and HistCite™. The datasets are collected from the core database of Web of Science from 1991 to 2019, totally 1338 records on the topic of agricultural pollutions. In most years (1996, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2009, 2011, and 2013), the total local citation score (TLCS) and total global citation score (TGCS) have coincident peaks. Zhang, Ju, and Zhu have the highest TLCS and TGCS. In terms of institutes, Chinese Acad Sci and China Agr Univ are the leading institutes in this field. The Univ Calif Davis, INRA, and USDA ARS have very high global impacts. From the research hot topics, the representative words include “soil,” “agriculture,” “contamination,” “environment,” “lead,” and “balance.” Representative words like “heavy-metals,” “groundwater,” “land-use,” and “water” are emerging in the latter time period. Five leading research co-cited reference clusters are identified, including environment management, underground water, monitoring and alarming for the agriculture-environment standards, intrinsic mechanism to the circulatory system, and ecology system and land use. The recent trend is revealed from the bibliographical-coupling network, focusing on classical and old-fashion research, like pollution chemicals including N management, pesticides, and heavy metal. This work provides a holistic picture on the research in the field of agriculture pollution.

Previous research in agricultural catchments showed that past inputs of nitrate continue to influence present observations and future characteristics of nitrate concentrations in stream water for a long period of time. This persistence manifests itself as a “memory effect” with a prolonged response of stream water nitrate levels to reductions of nitrate inputs on the catchment scale. The question we attempt to resolve is whether such a memory effect also exists in mountainous catchments with a snowmelt-dominated runoff regime. We analyzed long-term records (∼20 years) of nitrate-nitrogen concentrations measured in stream at three stations on the upper Váh River (Slovakia). Applying spectral analysis and detrended fluctuation analysis, we found a varying degree of persistence between the three analyzed sites. With increasing catchment area, the fluctuation scaling exponents generally increased from 0.77 to 0.93 (fluctuation exponents above 0.5 are usually considered as a proof of persistence while values close to 0.5 indicate “white” uncorrelated noise). The nitrate-nitrogen signals temporally scaled as a power-low function of frequency (1/f noise) with a strong annual seasonality. This increase in persistence might be attributable to the catchment areas upstream the sampling sites. These results have important implications for water quality management. In areas where reduction of nitrate in surface waters is imposed by legislation and regulatory measures, two catchments with different persistence properties may not respond to the same reduction of sources of nitrogen at the same rate.

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is a new agricultural development pattern to address future food crises. Since CSA was proposed in 2010, it has attracted the attention of scholars from all over the world. It is of great significance to scientifically summarize the overview and emerging trends of CSA research, providing ideas for scholars concerned about CSA to engage in research in this field. Based on bibliometrics and CSA-related literature data in the WOS database, this paper used CiteSpace software to draw knowledge maps to scientifically analyze publications in the field of CSA. Our study found that (1) CSA research is showing a rapid upward trend, focusing on the environmental sciences and agricultural economic management; (2) international organizations such as the FAO, World Bank, and the international agricultural research institute have made significant contributions to CSA research; (3) among the nine clusters in the CSA literature, CSA practice, conservation agriculture, smallholder farmers, and sub-Saharan Africa have been consistently given high attention; (4) CSA research can be divided into three phases, and the research hotspots have transferred from essential elements of CSA to household and carbon emissions. We believe that in future research, more attention should be paid to the trade-off and synergy of the three pillars of CSA, as well as the investment, finance, and evaluation criteria of CSA. Such strengthening is of great significance to the sustainable promotion of CSA.

This study assessed the long-run (LR) and short-run (SR) impacts of climatic and non-climatic factors, i.e., CO₂ emissions (CO₂e), average level of temperature (ALT), average level of precipitation (ALP), area harvested of wheat and rice crops (AHW and (AHR), domestic credit (DCR), and agricultural labor (ALB) on wheat and rice production (WP and RP) in Turkey by using annual time series data ranging from 1980 to 2016 and by employing several econometric techniques. The autoregressive distributed lag-bounds (ARDL) approach and the Johansen and Juselius cointegration (JJC) test confirmed a valid long-term connection among underlying variables. The estimation results from the ARDL model reveal that climatic factors such as CO₂ emissions and temperature adversely affected wheat production in the long run as well as in the short run, whereas precipitation positively improved wheat production in both periods. Further results indicate that non-climatic factors like area harvested of wheat and domestic credit positively and significantly enhanced wheat production in the long run and short run. Similarly, CO₂ emissions also adversely affected rice production in both periods, while temperature and precipitation positively contributed towards rice production in both cases. In addition, area harvested of rice positively and significantly boosted rice production in the long run as well as in the short run, while domestic credit negatively influenced rice production in the long run but in the short run positively improved rice production. Additionally, the outcomes of the VECM Granger Causality for both rice and wheat production confirm that both climatic and non-climatic variables have a strong influence on the production of both crops. This study found that climate change has a deleterious influence on both wheat and rice production; therefore, the study suggests that temperature-resistant varieties of both crops should be developed and introduced by agricultural research institutions. In addition to this, up-to-date information is more needed related to climate change, and in the farming communities, it should be provided by agricultural extension workers.

Nitrogen fertilizer availability to plants is strongly linked with water availability. Excessive or insufficient use of nitrogen can cause reduction in grain yield of wheat and environmental issues. The per capita per annum water availability in Pakistan has reduced to less than 1000 m³ and is expected to reach 800 m³ during 2025. Irrigating crops with 3 or more than 3 in. of depth without measuring volume of water is not a feasible option anymore. Water productivity and economic return of grain yield can be improved by efficient management of water and nitrogen fertilizer. A study was conducted at post-graduate agricultural research station, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, during 2012–2013 and 2013–2014 to optimize volume of water per irrigation and nitrogen application. Split plot design with three replications was used to conduct experiment; four irrigation levels (I₃₀₀ = 300 mm, I₂₄₀ = 240 mm, I₁₈₀ = 180 mm, I₁₂₀ = 120 mm for whole growing season at critical growth stages) and four nitrogen levels (N₆₀ = 60 kg ha⁻¹, N₁₂₀ = 120 kg ha⁻¹, N₁₈₀ = 180 kg ha⁻¹, and N₂₄₀ = 240 kg ha⁻¹) were randomized as main and sub-plot factors, respectively. The recorded data on grain yield was used to develop empirical regression models. The results based on quadratic equations and economic analysis showed 164, 162, 158, and 107 kg ha⁻¹ nitrogen as economic optimum with I₃₀₀, I₂₄₀, I₁₈₀, and I₁₂₀ mm water, respectively, during 2012–2013. During 2013–2014, quadratic equations and economic analysis showed 165, 162, 161, and 117 kg ha⁻¹ nitrogen as economic optimum with I₃₀₀, I₂₄₀, I₁₈₀, and I₁₂₀ mm water, respectively. The optimum irrigation level was obtained by fitting economic optimum nitrogen as function of total water. Equations predicted 253 mm as optimum irrigation water for whole growing season during 2012–2013 and 256 mm water as optimum for 2013–2014. The results also revealed that reducing irrigation from I₃₀₀ to I₂₄₀ mm during 2012–2013 and 2013–2014 did not reduce crop yield significantly (P < 0.01). The excessive nitrogen application ranged from 31.2 to 55.4% at N₁₈₀ and N₂₄₀ kg ha⁻¹ for different levels of irrigation. It is concluded from study that irrigation and nitrogen relationship can be used for efficient management of irrigation and nitrogen and to reduce nitrogen losses. The empirical equations developed in this study can help farmers of semi-arid environment to calculate optimum level of irrigation and nitrogen for maximum economic return from wheat.

Grazing can accelerate and alter the timing of nutrient transfer, and could increase the amount of extractable phosphorus (P) cycle from soils to plants. The effects of grazing management and/or forage type that control P cycling and distribution in pasture's resources have not been sufficiently evaluated. Our ability to estimate the levels and changes of soil-extractable P and other crop nutrients in subtropical beef cattle pastures has the potential to improve our understanding of P dynamics and nutrient cycling at the landscape level. To date, very little attention has been paid to evaluating transfers of extractable P in pasture with varying grazing management and different forage type. Whether or not P losses from grazed pastures are significantly greater than background losses and how these losses are affected by soil, forage management, or stocking density are not well understood. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of grazing management (rotational versus “zero” grazing) and forage types (FT; bahiagrass, Paspalum notatum, Flugge versus rhizoma peanuts, Arachis glabrata, Benth) on the levels of extractable soil P and degree of P saturation in beef cattle pastures. This study (2004–2007) was conducted at the Subtropical Agricultural Research Station, US Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service located 7 miles north of Brooksville, FL. Soil (Candler fine sand) at this location was described as well-drained hyperthermic uncoated Typic Quartzipsamments. A split plot arrangement in a completely randomized block design was used and each treatment was replicated four times. The main plot was represented by grazing management (grazing vs. no grazing) while forage types (bahiagrass vs. perennial peanut) as the sub-plot treatment. Eight steel exclosures (10 × 10 m) were used in the study. Four exclosures were placed and established in four pastures with bahiagrass and four exclosures were established in four pastures with rhizoma peanuts to represent the “zero” grazing treatment. The levels of soil-extractable P and degree of P saturation (averaged across FT and soil depth) of 22.1 mg kg⁻¹and 11.6 % in pastures with zero grazing were not significantly (p ≤ 0.05) different from the levels of soil-extractable P and degree of P saturation of 22.8 mg kg⁻¹and 12.9 % in pastures with rotational grazing, respectively. On the effect of FT, levels of soil-extractable P and degree of P saturation were significantly higher in pastures with rhizoma peanuts than in pastures with bahiagrass. There was no net gain of soil-extractable P due to the presence of animals in pastures with rotational grazing. Averaged across years, soil-extractable P in pastures with rotational grazing and with “zero” grazing was less than 150 mg kg⁻¹, the water quality protection. There had been no movement of soil-extractable P into the soil pedon since average degree of P saturation in the upper 15 cm was 14.3 % while the average degree of P saturation in soils at 15–30 cm was about 9.9 %. Overall, average extractable P did not exceed the crop requirement threshold of 50 mg P kg⁻¹and the soil P saturation threshold of 25 %, suggesting that reactive P is not a problem. Our study revealed that rhizoma peanuts and bahiagrass differ both in their capacity to acquire nutrients from the soil and in the amount of nutrients they need per unit growth. Rhizoma peanuts, which are leguminous forage, would require higher amounts of P compared with bahiagrass. The difference in the amount of P needed by these forages could have a profound effect on their P uptake that can be translated to the remaining amount of P in the soils. Periodic applications of additional P may be necessary especially for pastures with rhizoma peanuts to sustain their agronomic needs and to potentially offset the export of P due to animal production. Addition of organic amendments could represent an important strategy to protect pasture lands from excessive soil resources exploitation.

BACKGROUND, GOAL, AND SCOPE: Natural radioactivity in phosphate rock (PR) is transferred to phosphate fertilizer (PF) during the manufacturing process of the PF. The continuous addition of the PF to the cultivated soil accumulates the radionuclides in the land and increases the level of radioactivity in the soil. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the enhanced level of accumulated radioactivity due to the continuous addition of the PF in the farmlands of Nuclear Institute of Agriculture and Biology (NIAB) at Faisalabad in Pakistan. The selected study area consisted of the highly fertilized farmlands and an unfertilized barren land of the NIAB. INTRODUCTION: The understudy area is very fertile for the growth of various types of crops; therefore, four agricultural research institutes have been established at Faisalabad and NIAB is one of those. The NIAB has developed various research farmlands at different places in Pakistan. The crop yield has been increased by adding various fertilizers in the farmlands. The addition of the PF accompanied with the radionuclides enhances radioactivity in the fields. Human being is exposed directly or indirectly to this radiological hazard. A prolong exposure may become a cause of health risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The area of study consisted of three types of lands: the land under cultivation for the last 40 and 30 years called Site 1 and Site 2, respectively, and the barren land was called Site 3. A total of 75 soil samples were collected within the crop rooting zone (up to 25 cm deep) of the soil of the NIAB farms. The samples were dried, pulverized to powder, sealed in plastic containers, and stored to achieve equilibrium between 226Ra and 222Rn. Activity concentrations of the radionuclides 238U (226Ra), 232Th, and 40K in soil samples were determined by using a high resolution gamma ray spectrometry system, consisting of an high purity germanium detector coupled through a spectroscopy amplifier with a PC based MCA installed with Geni-2000 software. RESULTS: The measured activity concentration levels of 40K were 662 ± 15, 615 ± 17, and 458 ± 20 Bq kg−1, 226Ra were 48 ± 6, 43 ± 5, and 26 ± 4 Bq kg−1, and that of 232Th were 39 ± 5, 37 ± 5, 35 ± 5 Bq kg−1, respectively, in the soil of the Sites 1, 2, and 3. Gamma dose rate 1 m above the soil surface was 55, 51, and 40 nGy h−1 from Sites 1, 2, and 3, respectively. External dose rates in the rooms constructed of the bricks made of the soil from Sites 1, 2, and 3 were 161, 149, and 114 nGyh−1, respectively. DISCUSSIONS: Activity concentration values of 40K and 226Ra in the soil of Sites 1 and 2 were higher than that in the soil of Site 3. The relative rise of 40K was 43 % and 34 % and that of 226Ra was 85 % and 65 % respectively in these sites. Activity concentrations of 232Th in all these sites were in the background range. Gamma dose rate 1 m above soil surface of Sites 1 and 2 was 40 % and 30 % respectively higher than that from the soil of Site 3. The rise in activity of 40K and 226Ra and gamma dose from the Site 1 was greater than that from the Site 2. The least activity and dose were observed from the Site 3. Gamma dose in the dwellings made of fertilized soil bricks of Site 1 and Site 2 were respectively calculated to be 41 % and 32 % higher than that in the abodes made of unfertilized soil bricks of Site 3. CONCLUSIONS: Activity concentrations of 226Ra and 40K were observed to be enhanced in the fertilized farmlands of the NIAB. Outdoor and indoor gamma dose as radiological hazard were found to be increasing with the continuous addition of PF in the understudy farmlands. RECOMMENDATIONS: It is recommended that naturally occurring radioactive metal should be removed during the process of manufacturing of the PF from the PR. PROSPECTIVE: The rise in radioactivity in the farmlands due to the addition of the PF can be a source of direct or indirect exposure to radiation that may enhance cancer risk of the exposed individuals.