Search Results (335)

Palm trees, referred to here as vegetation cover (VC), provide essential ecosystem services in an arid Oasis. However, because of socioeconomic transformation, the rapid urban expansion of major cities and villages at the expense of agricultural lands of the Al-Ahsa Oasis, Saudi Arabia, has placed enormous pressure on the palm-growing area and led to the loss of productive land. These challenges highlight the need for robust, integrative methods to assess their impact on the agroecosystem. Here, we analyze spatiotemporal fluctuations in vegetation cover and its effect on the agroecosystem to determine the potential influencing factors. Data from Landsat satellites, including TM (Thematic mapper of Landsat 5), ETM+ (Enhanced Thematic mapper plus of Landsat 7), and OIL (Landsat 8) and Sentinel-2A imageries were used for analysis, while GeoEye-1 satellite images as well as socioeconomic data were applied for result validation. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to extract pure endmembers, facilitating Spectral Mixture Analysis (SMA) for mapping vegetation and urban fractions. The spatiotemporal change patterns were analyzed using time- and space-oriented detection algorithms. Results indicated that vegetation fraction patterns differed significantly; pixels with high fraction values declined significantly from 1990 to 2020. The mean vegetation fraction value varied from 0.79 to 0.37. This indicates that a reduction in palm trees was quickly occurring at a decreasing rate of −14.24%. Results also suggest that vegetation fractions decreased significantly between 1990 and 2020, and this decrease had the greatest effect on the agroecosystem situation of the Oasis. We assessed urban sprawl, and our results indicated substantial variability in average urban fractions: 0.208%, 0.247%, 0.699%, and 0.807% in 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020, respectively. Overall, the data revealed an association between changes in palm tree fractions and urban ones, supporting strategic vegetation and/or agricultural management to enhance the agroecosystem in an arid Oasis. Full article

A GIS-based Plant Coefficient Method (PCM), termed the Plant Coefficient Method Tool (PCMT), is presented and validated through this research. It is designed for sustainable irrigation management within arid urban environments, exemplified by Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study integrates remote sensing data, including Landsat 8 satellite imagery, vegetation indices (NDVI, LAI), and climatic parameters to estimate daily and seasonal plant water demand for diverse landscape species. Results demonstrate that plant-specific coefficients (${\mathrm{K}}_{\mathrm{p}\mathrm{l}}$) fluctuate seasonally, ranging from 0.1 to 1.4, with average water demand (${\mathrm{E}\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{p}\mathrm{l}}$) reaching up to 25 L per square meter during the summer months and decreasing to around 6 L in winter. It may be found by good management based on PCMT that average daily projected ${\mathrm{E}\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{p}\mathrm{l}}$ rates can be lowered to as low as 3 mm/day, resulting in a significant decrease in water needs, by around 70% to 50%, when compared to higher categories. Validation across three sites (urban trees, date palms, and turf grass), showed strong correlations (R² > 0.8) between satellite-derived vegetation indices and modeled water needs. The volumetric water demand estimates closely aligned with actual irrigation practices, albeit with some over- and under-irrigation episodes. Spatial analysis indicated that high-demand zones predominantly occur in summer, emphasizing the necessity of adaptive irrigation scheduling. Overall, the PCMT presents a scalable, accurate tool for optimizing water use, supporting sustainable landscape management aligned with Saudi Arabia’s green initiatives. Full article

The impact of biochar pyrolyzed at 450 ± 10 °C and made from date palm (D) and olive tree (O) wastes on the hydrophysical characteristics of sandy soil was assessed in this study through a laboratory column experiment. Two different application rates (wt/wt) were tested: 1% and 5%. The prepared biochars were added at 25 °C to the upper 10 cm layers of the soil columns. The outcome showed that, in comparison to O, D biochar possessed slightly less alkalinity and more salinity. The corresponding values for pH and EC in D and O biochars were 8.99 and 4.10 dS/m and 9.42 and 2.17 dS/m. Therefore, these biochars should be used cautiously as soil amendments in saline–sodic soils because of their excessive salinity, especially D biochar. On the other hand, they are safe to employ as amendments in acidic and non-saline soils. Cumulative evaporation (CE) decreased with all treatments, and the highest decrease of 10.2% (compared to control treatments after five cycles) was observed for D biochar and 5% application rate (D450, 5%). Moreover, the available water increased by 182%, 158%, 153%, and 29% for D450, 5%, D biochar and 1% application rate (D450, 1%), O biochar and 5% application rate (O450, 5%), and O biochar and 1% application rate (O450, 1%), respectively. The saturated hydraulic conductivity decreased by 94.8%, 87.0%, 76.6%, and 35.1% for D450, 5%, D450, 1%, O450, 5%, and O450, 1%, respectively. It was also found that the date palm biochar was more efficient than olive waste biochar in decreasing the cumulative infiltration and infiltration rate. Finally, this study showed the superiority of biochar prepared from date palm trees over that prepared from olive tree waste for improving the hydrophysical properties of sandy soil. Full article

Pharomachrus mocinno breeds in the cloud forests of the El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, and migrates annually for six months to elevations of 900–1600 m. On the Gulf slope, temperate forests were identified as habitats for migration, but the forests on the Pacific slope have not been similarly described. In this study we described the emergent properties and phenological behavior of the plant communities of five sites identified as migration habitats, in order to test if the number of fruit-bearing species is related to the migration period. At each site, 10,000 m² was sampled, for which PBH (perimeter at breast height) and the height of shrubs and trees were annotated, including the number of palms and ferns included. We identified 25 orders, 41 families, 71 genera, and 94 species; 86.6% of these species produce fleshy fruits or fruits with modified structures that are eaten by Quetzals. During the migration period, 25–43% of these species have fruits. Eight woody species included 49% of the total individuals, which produce Quetzals’ feeding resources. The sites differed in vertical structure, composition and diversity levels. The rarefaction curve indicated that the upper site (1600 m) required more sampling. We identified three plant communities that were distributed either in montane rain forest or in the temperate forest. Since nearly 84% of the plant species are listed in the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), these forests have an intrinsic importance. The number of fruit-bearing species did not differ between migration and breeding seasons (X² (1, N = 76) 0.57; p = 0.32. Lauraceae did not stand out for the number of fruit-bearing species in any of the migration sites. Full article

Deforestation monitoring is critical to support compliance with regulatory frameworks such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which requires that products containing or derived from beef, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soy, and timber are deforestation-free after 31 December 2020. Earth observation (EO) offers a means to assess deforestation, yet map-based verification remains technically limited and uncertain. This study addresses the lack of a systematic assessment of global Forest/Non-Forest (FNF), Tree Cover/Non-Tree Cover (TC/NTC) and Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) datasets by identifying and evaluating 21 publicly available global forest/tree cover reference maps for their alignment with EUDR criteria. This goes beyond merely treating these datasets as simply “fit” or “not fit” for the purpose of the EUDR, but rather aims to assess how well each dataset meets the needs compared to others, acknowledging strengths, weaknesses, and trade-offs. The 21 datasets are reviewed based on EUDR-related parameters (temporal proximity, spatial resolution, and forest definition) as well as accuracy metrics. From this broader review, eight datasets are shortlisted based on their alignment with key regulatory requirements. However, most datasets fail to fully meet all EUDR requirements, particularly forest definitions, with only two datasets satisfying all indicators. Notably, all datasets are unable to distinguish forests from other non-forest, tree-based systems. Reported accuracy metrics reveal a general overestimation of forest areas, while canopy height-based maps tend to underestimate tree cover, potentially excluding forested regions. Regional comparisons show more consistent estimates in South America, while Europe and North America display greater variability. These findings support informed decision-making by companies and policymakers for selecting suitable datasets, while also highlighting conflicts and challenges associated with the use of global forest/tree cover maps for regulatory compliance. Full article

In the forests of Jambi Province, Indonesia, the Indigenous Suku Anak Dalam have encountered rapid alterations to the environment upon which they previously depended. Their culinary traditions—and the knowledge that accompanies them—are placed at a greater risk as palm oil plantations expand and forest areas diminish. This research is based on extensive interviews with customary leaders (called Tumenggung, who guide communal life and cultural practices), elders, and women in five settlements in Merangin District. Rather than regarding participants as research subjects, we engaged with their narratives. The image that emerged was not merely one of food scarcity but also one of cultural loss. Instead of forest tubers, untamed fruits, or fish, families now depend on instant noodles or cassava. The rivers are no longer clean, and the trees that were once a source of both sustenance and medicine are largely extinct. Nevertheless, individuals devise strategies to adapt, including cultivating small crops in the vicinity of their dwellings, collecting what is left along the plantation’s perimeter, and distributing their meager possessions to their neighbors. This research demonstrates that food security for Indigenous peoples is not solely dependent on agriculture or nutrition. It is about the right to have a voice in one’s own land, dignity, and memory. Genuine solutions must transcend technical fixes and nutritional aid. The first step is to respect Indigenous voices, protect their territories, and support their methods of knowing and living before they are also lost. Full article

As a globally significant oil crop, precise ripeness identification of palm fruits directly impacts harvesting efficiency and oil quality. However, the progress and application of identifying the ripeness of palm fruits have been impeded by the computational limitations of agricultural hardware and the insufficient robustness in accurately identifying palm fruits in complex on-tree environments. To address these challenges, this paper proposes an efficient recognition network tailored for complex canopy-level palm fruit ripeness assessment. Progressive combination optimization enhances the baseline network, which utilizes the YOLOv8 architecture. This study has individually enhanced the backbone network, neck, detection head, and loss function. Specifically, the backbone integrates the StarNet framework, while the detection head incorporates the lightweight LSCD structure. To enhance recognition precision, StarNet-derived Star Blocks replace standard bottleneck modules in the neck, forming optimized C2F-Star components, complemented by DIoU loss implementation to accelerate convergence. The resultant on-tree model for recognizing palm fruit ripeness achieves substantial efficiency gains. While simultaneously elevating detection precision to 76.0% mAP@0.5, our method’s GFLOPs, parameters, and model size are only 4.5 G, 1.37 M, and 2.85 MB, which are 56.0%, 46.0%, and 48.0% of the original model. The effectiveness of the model in recognizing palm fruit ripeness in complex environments, such as uneven lighting, motion blur, and occlusion, validates its robustness. Full article

This study evaluated the influence of different male date palm cultivars, distinguished by their chloroplast haplotypes, on pollen quality, pollination efficiency, metaxenia effects, and gene expression during fruit development. Chloroplast DNA analysis of 37 male trees revealed multiple haplotypes, from which cultivars B25, P8, C22, and B46 were selected for further investigation. Pollen viability varied significantly among cultivars, with P8 and B25 exhibiting the highest germination rates and pollen tube elongation, while C22 showed the lowest. These differences correlated with pollination success: P8 and B25 achieved fertilization rates near 99%, whereas C22 remained below 43%. Pollination outcomes also varied in fruit traits. Despite its low pollen performance, C22 induced the production of larger fruits at the Bleh (Kimri) stage, potentially due to compensatory physiological mechanisms. Phytochemical profiling revealed significant cultivar effects: fruits from B25-pollinated trees had with lower moisture and polyphenol content but the higher sugar levels and soluble solids, suggesting accelerated maturation. Ripening patterns confirmed this finding, with B25 promoting the earliest ripening and B46 causing the most delayed. Gene expression analysis supported these phenotypic differences. Fruits pollinated by P8, B25, and B46 exhibited elevated levels of cell-division-related transcripts, particularly the PdCD_1 gene (PDK_XM_008786146.4, a gene encoding a cell division control protein), which was most abundant in P8. In contrast, fruits from C22-pollinated trees had the lowest expression of growth-related genes, suggesting a shift toward cell expansion rather than division. Overall, the results show the critical role of male genotype in influencing fertilization outcomes and fruit development, offering valuable insights for targeted breeding strategies at enhancing date palm productivity and fruit quality. Full article

Euterpe oleracea Martius, also popularly known as açaí palm, is a palm tree of the Aracaceae family widely found in the Amazon region. Traditional plant use reports indicate the beneficial effects of açaí juice on fever, pain, and flu. Moreover, many studies have demonstrated the pharmacological potential of açaí, mainly the pulp and seed of the fruit, due to its chemical composition, which significantly consists of polyphenols. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in investigating the neuroprotective effects of açaí, with the potential for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, mainly due to the increasing aging of the population that has contributed to the increase in the number of individuals affected by this disease that has no cure. Therefore, this review aims to evaluate the potential role of açaí fruit in preventing or treating cognitive deficits, highlighting its potential in Alzheimer’s disease therapy. Preclinical in vivo and in vitro pharmacological studies were utilized to investigate the learning and memory effects of the pulp and seed of the açaí fruit, focusing on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and autophagy restoration actions. Full article

A palm oil company based in Bangka is actively expanding its operations in the palm oil processing industry. The company specializes in producing crude palm oil (CPO) and palm kernel, with its production process encompassing five key stages: weighing, sterilization, threshing, pressing, and clarification. Oil loss, especially at the pressing station, is one of the company’s biggest problems. Nuts, fibers, empty bunches, and effluent are some of the sources of oil loss in CPO production. Since extreme losses that exceed set norms can cause serious inefficiencies and financial repercussions, it is imperative that the organization identifies and mitigates the underlying causes of oil loss. One option that the business could use is the fault tree analysis (FTA) method, which offers a methodical way to pinpoint the root causes of production inefficiencies to solve this problem. According to current assessments, empty bunches caused the largest average oil loss over a one-month period, with a loss rate of 0.11%. Oil loss at the pressing station is caused by a number of factors, such as inadequate maintenance practices, non-compliance with established work procedures, suboptimal ripeness levels of harvested palm fruit, and operator neglect in maintaining optimal machine pressure in accordance with company standards. To reduce oil loss in the production process and increase efficiency, these concerns need to be addressed. Full article

While the role of expanding agriculture in deforestation and the loss of other natural ecosystems is well known, the specific drivers in the context of small- and large-scale agriculture remain poorly understood. In this study, we employed satellite data and a deep learning algorithm to map the agricultural landscape of Central Africa (Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon) into large- (including for plantations and intensively cultivated areas) and small-scale tree crops and non-tree crop cover. This permits the assessment of forest loss between the years 2000 and 2022 as a result of small- and large-scale agriculture. Thematic [user’s] accuracy ranged between 91.2 ± 2.5 percent (large-scale oil palm) and 17.8 ± 3.9 percent (large-scale non-tree crops). Small-scale tree crops achieved relatively low accuracy (63.5 ± 5.9 percent), highlighting the difficulties of reliably mapping crop types at a regional scale. In general, we observed that small-scale agriculture is fifteen times the size of large-scale agriculture, as area estimates of small-scale non-tree crops and small-scale tree crops ranged between 164,823 ± 4224 km² and 293,249 ± 12,695 km², respectively. Large-scale non-tree crops and large-scale tree crops ranged between 20,153 ± 1195 km² and 7436 ± 280 km², respectively. Small-scale cropping activities represent 12 percent of the total land cover and have led to dramatic encroachment into tropical moist forests in the past two decades in all six countries. We summarized key recommendations to help the forest conservation effort of existing policy frameworks. Full article

Thermal stress due to high temperatures has different negative effects on citizens as it generates a decrease in physical capacity and causes cardiovascular and respiratory alterations, which is especially true for pedestrians. In this paper, using a drone, routes for pedestrians with the best thermal comfort were traced between the different headquarters of the Simón Bolívar University (Barranquilla, Colombia). Maps were created for three time intervals, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., from 1 to 2 p.m. and from 2 to 3 p.m., and variations in temperature and relative humidity of both natural and artificial shadow areas were identified. The routes with the best thermal comfort were those with natural shade that presented ca. 3 °C less than the unshaded areas. The predominant trees’ genera in most of the traced pedestrian routes were Arecaceae (palm), Tabebuia (purple oak), Mangifera (mango), and Delonix (red acacia). Some of them lose their leaves between March and June, which gives rise to an increase in the temperature along those routes. The developed cell phone application allows for the selection of walking environments with the best thermal comfort, favoring the mobility of the pedestrians along the considered area. Full article

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Albedinis (Foa) is the causal agent of Bayoud disease, responsible for the loss of 75% of date palm trees in Morocco and posing a threat to its cultivation across North Africa. This study examined ten Foa isolated from various Moroccan locations for the presence of the transposable element Fot1 and the distribution of “Secreted in Xylem” (SIX) genes. Pathogenicity assays on date palm seedlings revealed varying levels of aggressiveness among isolates, with a positive correlation between aggressiveness and SIX gene count. Highly aggressive isolates harbored 9–12 SIX genes, while hypo-aggressive and moderately aggressive isolates carried 0–6. SIX2, SIX6, SIX7, SIX11, SIX12, and SIX13 were differently dispersed among aggressive isolates, whereas SIX12 and SIX13 were present in all aggressive isolates, suggesting their potential role in virulence. This study is the first to highlight a correlation between Foa aggressiveness and SIX gene distribution, providing a foundation for future functional analyses to elucidate their role in pathogenicity. Full article

Longer inflorescence stalks in oil palm enhance harvesting efficiency and reduce labor costs. However, the research on this topic is limited. This study aimed to investigate the differences in stalk lengths between male and female inflorescences in Tenera oil palm and to elucidate the underlying hormonal and transcriptomic mechanisms. The stalk lengths from inflorescences associated with the fourth to eighteenth leaf positions of Tenera oil palm trees were measured, and hormone profiling and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) were conducted in immature (F4 and M5) and mature (F14 and M13) stalks from an individual tree. The male stalks were significantly longer than the female stalks since the thirteenth inflorescences and the differences increased with maturation. The elevated levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in both immature and mature male stalks suggested auxin’s critical role in promoting stalk elongation. In M13, we identified the upregulated auxin influx carrier LAX2, Gibberellic Acid-Stimulated Arabidopsis 6 (GASA6), and SMALL AUXIN UP RNA (SAUR) genes, indicating enhanced auxin accumulation, signaling, and response. Moreover, the auxin response factor (ARF11) was upregulated, linking auxin transport to gene activation for cell elongation. Conversely, in F14, higher levels of abscisic acid (ABA) and the expression of ABA receptor PYL3 and gibberellin 2-beta-dioxygenase 8 GA2ox8, which may inhibit stalk elongation, were identified. The results suggested that LAX2-mediated IAA accumulation activates ARF11 and SAURs, promoting stalk elongation, with GASA6 possibly acting as a downstream modulator. This study provides insights into the hormonal and genetic regulators of stalk elongation in oil palm and may guide breeding strategies for oil palm varieties with longer stalks of female inflorescences, thereby enhancing harvesting efficiency. Full article

This study explores the sustainability of Islamic decorative arts by examining the symbolic, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of botanical decorations in Makkah’s architectural heritage. Grounded in Carl Jung’s theory of the collective unconscious and Lamya Al-Faruqi’s philosophy of Tawhid, the research uncovers the profound psychological and spiritual meanings embedded in these motifs. Employing a qualitative methodology, the study integrates symbolic analysis, cultural interpretation, and historical documentation, supported by digital design tools, to assess the relevance of these decorations in contemporary urban contexts. Findings reveal that botanical motifs, such as palm trees and pinecones, reflect universal archetypes of resilience and growth while symbolising divine unity through abstraction and harmony. The research highlights their integral role in architectural structures and their potential in cultural tourism and educational initiatives. However, challenges such as urbanisation necessitate urgent documentation and innovative preservation strategies. This study offers valuable insights into sustaining Makkah’s architectural identity by bridging psychological and philosophical perspectives. Its recommendations align with Saudi Vision 2030 and global sustainability goals, advocating for the revival and integration of these motifs into modern urban design to ensure the continued appreciation and recognition of Makkan architectural heritage. Full article