Blog List

Wednesday, 22 March 2017

Feature Selection as a Time and Cost-Saving Approach for Land Suitability Classification (Case Study of Shavur Plain, Iran)

Author
Saeid Hamzeh (saeid.hamzeh@ut.ac.ir), Marzieh Mokarram(m.mokarram@shirazu.ac.ir), Azadeh Haratian (haratian_a@iricss.org), Harm Bartholomeus (harm.bartholomeus@wur.nl), Arend Ligtenberg(arend.ligtenberg@wur.nl) and Arnold K. Bregt (arnold.bregt@wur.nl)
Additional contact information
Agriculture, 2016, vol. 6, issue 4, pages 52

Abstract: Land suitability classification is important in planning and managing sustainable land use. Most approaches to land suitability analysis combine a large number of land and soil parameters, and are time-consuming and costly. In this study, a potentially useful technique (combined feature selection and fuzzy-AHP method) to increase the efficiency of land suitability analysis was presented. To this end, three different feature selection algorithms—random search, best search and genetic methods—were used to determine the most effective parameters for land suitability classification for the cultivation of barely in the Shavur Plain, southwest Iran. Next, land suitability classes were calculated for all methods by using the fuzzy-AHP approach. Salinity (electrical conductivity (EC)), alkalinity (exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP)), wetness and soil texture were selected using the random search method. Gypsum, EC, ESP, and soil texture were selected using both the best search and genetic methods. The result shows a strong agreement between the standard fuzzy-AHP methods and methods presented in this study. The values of Kappa coefficients were 0.82, 0.79 and 0.79 for the random search, best search and genetic methods, respectively, compared with the standard fuzzy-AHP method. Our results indicate that EC, ESP, soil texture and wetness are the most effective features for evaluating land suitability classification for the cultivation of barely in the study area, and uses of these parameters, together with their appropriate weights as obtained from fuzzy-AHP, can perform good results for land suitability classification. So, the combined feature selection presented and the fuzzy-AHP approach has the potential to save time and money for land suitability classification.
Keywords: land suitability; fuzzy-AHP; feature selection; random search; genetic method (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations Track citations by RSS feed
Downloads: (external link)
http://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/6/4/52/pdf (application/pdf)
http://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/6/4/52/ (text/html)
Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.
Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text
Access Statistics for this article
Agriculture is currently edited by Prof. Dr. Les Copeland
More articles in Agriculture from  MDPI, Open Access Journal
Series data maintained by XML Conversion Team (xml-conversion@mdpi.com).

For further details log on website :
http://econpapers.repec.org/article/gamjagris/v_3a6_3ay_3a2016_3ai_3a4_3ap_3a52-_3ad_3a80104.htm
at No comments:

Determinants of the Use of Certified Seed Potato among Smallholder Farmers: The Case of Potato Growers in Central and Eastern Kenya

Author
Julius Juma Okello (j.okello@cgiar.org), Yuan Zhou (yuan.zhou@syngenta.com), Norman Kwikiriza (n.kwikiriza@cgiar.org), Sylvester Ochieng Ogutu(syloch2000@yahoo.co.uk), Ian Barker (ian.barker@syngenta.com), Elmar Schulte-Geldermann (e.schulte-geldermann@cgiar.org), Elly Atieno (e.o.atieno@cgiar.org) and Justin Taj Ahmed (jahmed9411@gmail.com)
Additional contact information
Agriculture, 2016, vol. 6, issue 4, pages 55

Abstract: Potato yields in sub-Saharan Africa remain very low compared with those of developed countries. Yet potato is major food staple and source of income to the predominantly smallholder growing households in the tropical highlands of this region. A major cause of the low potato yields is the use of poor quality seed potato. This paper examines the factors determining the decision to use certified seed potato (CSP), as well as the intensity of its use, among potato growers with access to it. We focused on potato growers in the central highlands of Kenya and used regression analysis to test hypotheses relating to potential impediments of CSP use. The study found that the distance to the market (a proxy for transaction costs), household food insecurity, and asset endowment affect the decision to use CSP. However, the effect of the intensity of use of CSP depends on how the intensity variable is defined. Several other control variables also affect the decision and extent of CSP use. The study concludes that transaction costs, asset endowment, and household food insecurity play a major role in the decision by smallholder potato farmers to use CSP and the extent to which they do so. We also discuss the policy implications of the findings.
Keywords: smallholder farmers; seed systems; certified seed potato; use and intensity of use; Kenya (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations Track citations by RSS feed
Downloads: (external link)
http://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/6/4/55/pdf (application/pdf)
http://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/6/4/55/ (text/html)
Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.
Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text
Access Statistics for this article
Agriculture is currently edited by Prof. Dr. Les Copeland
More articles in Agriculture from  MDPI, Open Access Journal
Series data maintained by XML Conversion Team (xml-conversion@mdpi.com).

For further details log on website :
http://econpapers.repec.org/article/gamjagris/v_3a6_3ay_3a2016_3ai_3a4_3ap_3a55-_3ad_3a81240.htm
at No comments:

Disaster risk assessment management - implications to urban development and agriculture - experience from Kosovo

Author
Pren Domgjoni

Abstract: The level of integration of DRAM into spatial planning is limited in Kosovo despite the fact that Kosovo has experienced several floods, earthquakes, landslides, and avalanches. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) through its Municipal Spatial Planning Support Programme (MuSPP) funded by Swedish Government (Sida) is supporting different partner municipalities towards improving the effectiveness of the spatial planning efforts in Kosovo. UN-HABITAT has supported the municipality of Ferizaj, Kosovo for retrofitting DRAM in Municipal Development Plan (MDP) and Urban Development Plan (UDP) as such aspect was not incorporated within MDP or UDP. The activities conducted were: discussions between central and local institutions, examination of laws and practices on DRAM in Kosovo; creation of Spatial Information Database for DRAM analysis; providing trainings to municipal counterparts; implementation of disaster surveys; conducting hazard mapping by using geographic information system (GIS) tool and drafting DRAM document for retrofitting MDP and UDP. The project implications of disasters to urban and rural areas are new urban developments, protection of agriculture land from impact of disasters: flooding, storm-hails, erosions and pollution which cause significant implications to agriculture land and food security and environment.
Downloads: (external link)
http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=61041 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.
Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text
Access Statistics for this article
More articles in International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology from  Inderscience Enterprises Ltd
Series data maintained by Darren Simpson (informationadministrator4@inderscience.com).

For further details log on website :
http://econpapers.repec.org/article/idsijarge/v_3a10_3ay_3a2014_3ai_3a1_3ap_3a103-109.htm
at No comments:

Current Advances in Genomics and Breeding of Leaf Chicory ( Cichorium intybus L.)

Author
Gianni Barcaccia (gianni.barcaccia@unipd.it), Andrea Ghedina(andrea.ghedina@studenti.unipd.it) and Margherita Lucchin(margherita.lucchin@unipd.it)
Additional contact information
Agriculture, 2016, vol. 6, issue 4, pages 50

Abstract: This review gives an overview of agricultural topics on a non-model species, in other words, leaf chicory. Often classified as a minor crop, “Radicchio”, the Italian name of leaf chicory, is assuming a very important role at both a local and national level, as it characterizes a high proportion of the agricultural income of suited areas. Botanical classification along the genus Cichorium is reported and a detailed description of the most important cultivated biotypes typical of northern Italy is presented. A special consideration is reserved to breeding aspects, from molecular marker-assisted selection to the implementation of the first genome draft and leaf transcriptomes. Sexual barriers, for example, self-incompatibility or male-sterility, are described in great detail with the aim to be utilized for breeding purposes. The main aspects of seed production are also critically presented. In conclusion, the present work is a sort of handbook to better understand this orphan crop and it is mainly directed to breeders and seed producers dealing with leaf chicory.
Keywords: Radicchio; population genetics; cultivated varieties; marker-assisted breeding (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations Track citations by RSS feed
Downloads: (external link)
http://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/6/4/50/pdf (application/pdf)
http://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/6/4/50/ (text/html)
Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.
Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text
Access Statistics for this article
Agriculture is currently edited by Prof. Dr. Les Copeland
More articles in Agriculture from  MDPI, Open Access Journal
Series data maintained by XML Conversion Team (xml-conversion@mdpi.com).

For further details log on website :
http://econpapers.repec.org/article/gamjagris/v_3a6_3ay_3a2016_3ai_3a4_3ap_3a50-_3ad_3a79921.htm
at No comments:

Malaysia?s competitiveness in the European timber market

Author
Noor Aini Zakaria, Ismariah Ahmad and Lim Hin Fui (limhf@frim.gov.my)
Additional contact information
EAS Strategic Options, 2013, vol. 2013, issue 18, pages 14-15

Abstract: Europe has been in prolonged debt crisis and the markets including timber products were badly affected. Since the 1970?s, European market has been one of the traditional markets for Malaysian timber products, particularly sawntimber. Currently, Malaysia is facing many competitors (especially Brazil and China) in the export of timber products to the European market. To what extent is Malaysia affected by the increasing international competition and what are the steps necessary to remain competitive?
Keywords: Malaysia; forest products; timber; market; trade; consumption; Europe(search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations Track citations by RSS feed
Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.
Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text
Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
Puan Rohana, EAS, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, 52109 Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
rohanasr@frim.gov.my
Access Statistics for this article
EAS Strategic Options is currently edited by Ismariah Ahmad
More articles in EAS Strategic Options from  CIRAD, Forest department, UPR40 Contact information at EDIRC.
Series data maintained by Roda Jean-Marc (roda@cirad.fr).

For further details log on website :
http://econpapers.repec.org/article/epfeasopt/201309.htm
at No comments:

Selling timber in Poland

Author
Marek Giergiczny, Natalia Nehrebecka (nnehrebecka@wne.uw.edu.pl) and Tomasz Zylicz
Additional contact information

Abstract: The paper looks at how the foresters try to reconcile sustainable management practices with economic viability of their operations within the legal framework they operate in. In particular, we compare prices received by the State Forest Enterprise in Poland in two types of timber auctions: constrained and unconstrained ones. While the latter allow for higher revenues, the former are maintained for political reasons. The authors verify alternative hypotheses regarding market behaviour of timber buyers. The data from timber auctions in 2011-2012 demonstrate that winning prices are determined by starting prices and by the market power of the State Forest Enterprise (diversified with respect to specific timber varieties), as well as by price expectations. Based on the modelling results the paper makes policy recommendations with respect to the design of timber auctions and – more broadly – with respect to striking a balance between timber and non-timber benefits from the forestry in Poland.
Keywords: Timber markets; Public forests; Multi-unit auction; Sustainable management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D44 L73 Q23 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-env and nep-tra
Date: 2015
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations Track citations by RSS feed
Downloads: (external link)
http://www.wne.uw.edu.pl/index.php/download_file/2065/ First version, 2015 (application/pdf)
Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.
Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text
Access Statistics for this paper
More papers in Working Papers from  Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of WarsawContact information at EDIRC.
Series data maintained by Marcin Bąba (mbaba@wne.uw.edu.pl).

For further details log on website :
http://econpapers.repec.org/paper/warwpaper/2015-34.htm
at No comments:

Negotiating the supply of legal timber to the domestic market in Ghana: Explaining policy change intent using the Advocacy Coalition Framework

Author
Emmanuel Marfo and James P. Mckeown
Forest Policy and Economics, 2013, vol. 32, issue C, pages 23-31

Abstract: Negotiating a policy change involves formation of coalitions of actors in a particular policy subsystem with substantial mobilisation of resources to deploy strategic actions to direct the outcome of the process to a certain interest. The Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) has been demonstrated as a useful heuristic framework to explain policy change within a particular political system. This study applies the ACF to the negotiation of a policy change for the supply of timber to the domestic market in Ghana. The study largely confirms selected coalition hypotheses and makes a contribution to a possible revision of some of them.
Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1389934113000087
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.
Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text
Access Statistics for this article
Forest Policy and Economics is currently edited by M. Krott
More articles in Forest Policy and Economics from  Elsevier
Series data maintained by Dana Niculescu (repec@elsevier.com).

For further details log on website :
http://econpapers.repec.org/article/eeeforpol/v_3a32_3ay_3a2013_3ai_3ac_3ap_3a23-31.htm
at No comments:

Linking collective action to non-timber forest product market for improved local livelihoods: Challenges and opportunities

Author
Heru Komarudin, Yuliana L. Siagian and Ngakan Putu Oka

Abstract: "The paper draws on findings from research in South Sulawesi and Jambi Provinces, Indonesia, looking at the role of collective action in helping two local community groups enhance their bargaining power vis a vis other market players (such as collectors, small- and large-scale industries) and promote an increased demand for non-timber forest products. The first group has traditionally collected rattan (Calamus sp) from surrounding forests and was struggling to sell their products at a better price amid market uncertainties and the lack of supportive government policies. The second one was involved in the propagation of another high-value rattan species, widely known as Dragon Blood (Daemonorops sp), in anticipation of an increased market demand for this product. The paper describes challenges and opportunities for the country's forestry decentralization and marketing of forest products, and the role of collective action in improving groups' access to government resources and markets. It also discusses the research team's part in facilitating the groups and highlights the strengths of participatory action research approach in fostering collective action among local stakeholders." authors' abstract
Downloads: (external link)
http://www.capri.cgiar.org/pdf/capriwp73.pdf (application/pdf)
Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.
Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text
Access Statistics for this paper
More papers in CAPRi working papers from  International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Contact information at EDIRC.
Series data maintained by (ifpri-library@cgiar.org).

For further details log on website :
http://econpapers.repec.org/paper/fprworpps/73.htm
at No comments:

From Short Food Supply Chains to Sustainable Agriculture in Urban Food Systems: Food Democracy as a Vector of Transition

Author
Yuna Chiffoleau (chiffole@supagro.inra.fr), Sarah Millet-Amrani (sarah.millet-amrani@supagro.fr) and Arielle Canard (arielle.canard@gmail.com)
Additional contact information
Agriculture, 2016, vol. 6, issue 4, pages 57

Abstract: In industrialized nations, local food networks have generally been analyzed through alternative food systems, in spite of the fact that they are much more diverse than this would imply. In France, ‘short food chains’ are both a continuation of a long tradition and a recent trend which now extends beyond activists, to consumers and producers as well. This paper will explore the conditions under which these chains can change the practices and knowledge of ordinary actors in urban food systems, from producers to urban consumers and policy-makers, in the area of agriculture and sustainability. It will consider the case study of the creation and development of an urban open-air market which has been analyzed using intervention research with input from economic sociology. We will highlight how personal relations, which are encouraged by a participatory context, support the evolution of practices and knowledge. We will also illustrate how a system of produce labelling has emerged as a mediation resource, and has increased changes as well as participation within the re-territorialization of the urban food system. By describing a concrete expression of food democracy which is spreading in France via a free collective trademark, and by showing its role in the transition of ‘ordinary’ actors towards a more sustainable agriculture, this paper will shine new light onto local food chains as well as traditional short food chains, and will call for more research on the subject.
Keywords: short food chains; urban food systems; food democracy; re-territorialization; food labelling; sustainability; transition; non-activists; economic sociology; intervention research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations Track citations by RSS feed
Downloads: (external link)
http://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/6/4/57/pdf (application/pdf)
http://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/6/4/57/ (text/html)
Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.
Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text
Access Statistics for this article
Agriculture is currently edited by Prof. Dr. Les Copeland
More articles in Agriculture from  MDPI, Open Access Journal
Series data maintained by XML Conversion Team (xml-conversion@mdpi.com).

For further details log on website :
http://econpapers.repec.org/article/gamjagris/v_3a6_3ay_3a2016_3ai_3a4_3ap_3a57-_3ad_3a81642.htm
at No comments:

Detection and Differentiation between Laurel Wilt Disease, Phytophthora Disease, and Salinity Damage Using a Hyperspectral Sensing Technique

Author
Jaafar Abdulridha (jafar.rida@yahoo.com), Reza Ehsani (ehsani@ufl.edu) and Ana de Castro (anadecastro80@gmail.com)
Additional contact information
Agriculture, 2016, vol. 6, issue 4, pages 56

Abstract: Laurel wilt (Lw) is a fatal disease. It is a vascular pathogen and is considered a major threat to the avocado industry in Florida. Many of the symptoms of Lw resemble those that are caused by other diseases or stress factors. In this study, the best wavelengths with which to discriminate plants affected by Lw from stress factors were determined and classified. Visible-near infrared (400–950 nm) spectral data from healthy trees and those with Lw, Phytophthora, or salinity damage were collected using a handheld spectroradiometer. The total number of wavelengths was averaged in two ranges: 10 nm and 40 nm. Three classification methods, stepwise discriminant (STEPDISC) analysis, multilayer perceptron (MLP), and radial basis function (RBF), were applied in the early stage of Lw infestation. The classification results obtained for MLP, with percent accuracy of classification as high as 98% were better than STEPDISC and RBF. The MLP neural network selected certain wavelengths that were crucial for correctly classifying healthy trees from those with stress trees. The results showed that there were sufficient spectral differences between laurel wilt, healthy trees, and trees that have other diseases; therefore, a remote sensing technique could diagnose Lw in the early stage of infestation.
Keywords: Laurel wilt; spectroradiometer; hyperspectral classification; remote sensing; multilayer perceptron (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations Track citations by RSS feed
Downloads: (external link)
http://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/6/4/56/pdf (application/pdf)
http://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/6/4/56/ (text/html)
Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.
Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text
Access Statistics for this article
Agriculture is currently edited by Prof. Dr. Les Copeland
More articles in Agriculture from  MDPI, Open Access Journal
Series data maintained by XML Conversion Team (xml-conversion@mdpi.com).

For further details log on website :
http://econpapers.repec.org/article/gamjagris/v_3a6_3ay_3a2016_3ai_3a4_3ap_3a56-_3ad_3a81545.htm
at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Advantages and Disadvantages of Fasting for Runners

Author BY   ANDREA CESPEDES  Food is fuel, especially for serious runners who need a lot of energy. It may seem counterintuiti...