Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture (MJSA)

Climate change has already received global attention as it is threatening vulnerable communities, sectors, regions, and countries. Bangladesh, especially in coastal areas, is not of exception, because of witnessed the adverse effects of climate change. Increasing industrialization, urbanization, and the greenhouse effect are affecting the climate and causing scenarios like increased soil and water salinity, deforestation, surface water contamination, reduced groundwater level, heavy metal pollution in soil, water, and food, malnutrition, temperature rise, late precipitation, and cropping season shifting etc. These adverse effects affect people’s well-being, particularly vulnerable communities, agricultural production, and natural biodiversity. This paper is focused on reviewing literature about the impact of climate change on the soil-water, food, and nutrition sectors in coastal areas of Bangladesh. According to this study, climate change has made the coastal region of Bangladesh even more vulnerable to problems with nutrition, food security, and soil-water quality. Sustainable farming methods, climate-smart agriculture (CSA), and creative approaches to water management, livelihood diversification, and enhancing emergency and humanitarian responses should be the main focuses of climate crisis solutions. Thus, coordinating these initiatives with the management of the climate crisis will enhance sustainable development goals (SDGs) and promote long-term prosperity and food security for the coastal community.

The aim of this study was to explore the potential of prickly pear Opuntia ficus-indica as a sustainable fodder crop and soil ameliorant in semi-arid conditions in Adana Plain, southern Türkiye. Followed by high forage productivity and ecological restoration, O. ficus-indica is not only known for its Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) but also for its impressive resilience to drought, heat, and low soils.For green forage yield, field experiments in 2023 showed an average yield of 18.2t/da/year or about 182t/ha/year with a dry matter and crude protein contents of about 12.4 and 5.2%, respectively. The in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) was 57.8 and as such is confirmed to be a significant moisture content, highly digestible forage for integrated livestock systems. Meanwhile, a post-harvest soil analysis revealed significant gains in the ecology, with the amount of organic matter increased by 6.3%, nitrogen enriched approximately 8.7 times and pH between stable, this contributed to the composite Soil Fertility Change Index (SFCI) values from 1.23 to 1.52 for all plots. The findings were further strengthened through multivariate analyses, which added depth and interpretive power. Using k-means clustering, three distinct performance groups were identified, with Group A having the highest average productivity and soil fertility indicators. Pearson correlation analysis indicated strong correlations with soil organic matter (r = 0.8) nitrogen content (r = 0.72) and biomass yield (r = 0.78) while, separated by Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Factor 1 correlated with soil quality, and Factor 2 correlated to forage quality. Green forage yield also was a bridge variable between the two factors.
Such results add information to O. ficus-indica as sustainable feedstuff and soil restoration tool. With its low-input needs, high adaptation potential and multifunctional role as a food source, ingredient and industrial crop, it is now positioned as a strategic crop under climate-resilient Mediterranean agriculture (and alike). This study adds a strong theoretical foundation for inserting 0. ficus-indica in global warming adaptation strategies of restoration and feed security at the regional level.

As a solution to challenges associated with global agricultural productivity, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focus on smart agricultural practices in order to support the global population of 9.7 billion people projected to exist in 2050. This study presents an loT-based smart system to monitor soil nutrients and prescribe fertilizers on real time basis, which measures eight major soil parameters namely moisture, salinity, temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The real-time monitoring capability of the system was confirmed by field experiments conducted on the vegetative stage of the sorghum crops at Rahim Yar Khan, in Pakistan. 10 samples of the soil were taken using the proposed loT device at the depth of 0-6 inches in different locations within the sorghum field. The system was proved to be quicker than the manual soil testing technique in measurements, therefore providing a more precise, real-time observation of soil fertility, decreasing human error, and providing a timely and data-driven decision-making to optimize crop management.

Recurrent droughts have threatened crop yields and livelihoods of many small-scale farmers in dryland areas of Kenya. An evaluation of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench) and green gram [(Vigna radiata (L.) Wilezek] intercropping was conducted to determine the yield and competitiveness among the green gram varieties and crop arrangements. Two field experiments were performed simultaneously during the 2022 short rain season in two dryland areas of southeastern Kenya. Four green gram varieties (N26, KS20, Biashara, and Karembo) and three crop arrangements (sole crop, double row, and single row) and control of both sole crop green gram and sorghum were used. Treatments were placed in a randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement where a crop arrangement system formed the main plots while the green gram variety assumed the subplots and was replicated three times. Data collected were soil fertility status at the start of the trials, nodulation, plant height, and yield of green gram and sorghum. Competition ratio was used to assess the intercropping systems. Green gram variety N26 outperformed the other varieties, irrespective of crop arrangement. Competition ratios (CR) between the two crops showed that the CR of green gram was >1, thus legume(s) were more aggressive in affecting the growth of sorghum. The study findings indicate that green gram was more aggressive than sorghum and the double row planting of N26 enhances competitiveness and productivity of sorghum-green gram intercropping systems in dryland areas. This crop arrangement can improve land use efficiency, increase grain yields, and contribute to improved food security in arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya. Further studies are proposed to screen for green gram varieties that are compatible with sorghum to provide optimal intercropping productivity in different agro ecological zones.