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Global warming is the most significant environmental issue that causes the utmost concern for researchers and scientists. Furthermore, impacts recorded include the potential for drought and the reduction of soil ability to support biomass production, subsequently posing a significant threat to agriculture. Moreover, vegetation density is known to support microorganism activities actively, and its analysis requires remote sensing techniques, involving normalized differential vegetation index (NDVI) and soil adjustment vegetation index (SAVI), associated with microbial content in the soil. Besides, the level recorded is assumed to have a strong correlation with soil fertility, which is a prerequisite for the development of vegetation cover. Hence, most of the research was conducted in fertile lands situated in the Ungaran, Merbabu, and Telomoyo volcanic areas. The results show the absence of a positive correlation between soil fertility and the number of microorganism's present, although the association with vegetation cover is relatively low.

Quantitative analysis of the impact of housing prices on fertility levels in Chinese cities is an important step for promoting high-quality economic development. Achieving balanced urban population growth in China will also contribute to sustained and healthy social and economic development. This paper presents empirical research based on panel data from 284 prefecture-level and higher cities in China, covering the period from 2010 to 2022. The research examines both incentive effect and Crowding-out effect. It uses regression models, mediating effect models, and threshold effect models. The study reaches the following conclusions: First, the increase in housing prices initially leads to a decline in fertility rates, followed by an increase. This suggests a positive “U”-shaped relationship. The declining part of the curve is significantly larger than the increasing part, and the results have passed rigorous robustness and endogeneity tests. Second, from the income perspective, in cities where housing prices have risen, labor, capital, and technology have grown significantly, helping to mitigate the decline in fertility. The contribution of the mediating effect of technology expenditure is 9.45%, making it an effective variable. Third, from the consumption perspective, in cities with high housing prices, as per capita GDP rises, the negative impact of housing prices on fertility strengthens. Therefore, this paper also provides four key recommendations for urban development to reduce the negative effect of housing prices on fertility levels.

This study examines whether the fertility of college-educated women is increasing more quickly across cohorts in Generation X than the fertility of their less educated counterparts. Using data from the National Survey of Family Growth in the United States, this study examines the educational differentials in fertility levels and timing across four five-year cohorts of 'Generation Xers'. Results reveal that total fertility rates (TFRs) are increasing across cohorts for all educational groups and the increase is greatest for college-educated women. The increase in cohort TFR among college-educated women is being primarily driven by an increasing proportion of those with two children transitioning to a third birth. The findings in this paper contribute to the current debate on whether there has been a shift in fertility behaviours among college-educated Generation Xers compared with their Baby Boomer counterparts.

PurposeThe distribution and dynamic of residue-derived carbon after incorporation into soil at different fertility levels have been well documented. However, the distribution of maize residue–derived C in particulate organic C (POC) from different types of organic residues in soils of different fertility levels is poorly understood.Material and methodsA 540-day in situ field experiment was carried out. In 2016, three types of 13C-labeled maize residues (root, stem, leaf) were added to brown earth of different fertility levels in Northeast China. 13C-POC content in the soil samples was measured on the 60th, 90th, 180th, and 540th days after in situ incubation.Results and discussionThe results showed that 13C-POC content was significantly higher in high-fertility soil than in low-fertility soil during the whole incubation time. There were significant differences among different types of maize residues at the beginning of 180 days, with stem (0.13 g kg−1) and root (0.11 g kg−1) residues higher than leaf residue (0.08 g kg−1), and sequestration of residue in POC was similar between the roots, stems, and leaves after the 540-day field incubation. The mean residence time and residue POC in soils at each fertility level increased (P < 0.05) with increasing incubation time, with a range from 1.52 to 128.72 years in the high-fertility soil and 1.07 to 60.52 years in the low-fertility soil, but showed no significant differences among different types of maize residue.ConclusionsThe results revealed that high-fertility soil was more conducive for new POC accumulation than low-fertility soil, and its sequestration was similar among the roots, stems, and leaves after 540 days.

There is disparity in fertility level across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. Deeper uunderstanding about the drivers of fertility trends are necessary to prioritize zonal specific strategies for fertility reduction in Nigeria. Thus, this study examined the proximate determinants (PDs) of fertility and decomposed the change in its level across the six geo-political zones in Nigeria. Data from Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys of 2003 and 2018 were analyzed. Fertility data were based on the report of full birth history from women of reproductive age. The Revised Bongaarts framework was used to estimate PDs and fertility levels. The contribution of each PDs to the observed changes in fertility levels was quantified using Das Gupta’s five- factor decomposition method. The Total fertility rate (TFR) in 2003 and 2008 across the zones are South-South (5.04 vs 4.36), South-West (4.88 vs 4.26), North West (7.25 vs 6.85), North East (6.87 vs 6.54), North Central (5.72 vs 5.48), South East (5.06 vs 4.86), Nigeria (6.00 vs 5.59). Across the zones, there was a change in the fertility inhibiting effect of Contraception (Cc) between 2003 and 2018. The fertility inhibiting effect of Postpartum Infecundability (Ci) and Abortion was the highest and smallest respectively across the zones. Delayed sexual exposure (Cm) and contraceptive use (Cc) contributed the most to the change across the regions. The percentage contribution of Cm in South-South, South West, and South East was 87.04%, 52.89%, and 172.85% respectively. Furthermore, most of the fertility change observed in North Central was attributable to Cc. Abortion index was not an important inhibiting factor of fertility in Nigeria. Delayed sexual exposure and contraceptive use accounted for the largest change observed in fertility levels across the six geo-political zones in Nigeria between 2003 and 2018. Strategies that promote delayed sexual exposure, contraceptive use and breast feeding practices will enhance fertility transition in Nigeria.

In view of an unusual transition in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) fertility, periodic re-appraisal is necessary. Using an ecological design, data from Demographic and Health Surveys between 1990 and 2014 were analysed to investigate trends in completed family size (CFS), total fertility rate (TFR), family size preference (FSP), and contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR). The correlates of changes in fertility levels, FSP and CPR were explored. Results showed that CFS declined and was lowest in Southern and Western Africa. However, average CFS for Central African countries appeared virtually the same over the period. Changes in TFR and FSP followed patterns similar to CFS. Western and Central region had very slow increase in CPR with many below 20% as at 2014. Eastern and Southern Africa had faster increase in CPR with some countries achieving almost 60%. Regression results showed that contraceptive prevalence (β= -1.96, p=0.027) and median age at first marriage (β= -0.23, p=0.06) were negatively related to TFR while employment (β= -21.7, p<0.001) was negatively related to FSP. In summary, fertility levels and family size preference declined while contraceptive use improved particularly in Southern and the Eastern Africa. Increased female labour force participation is another potential route to fertility decline in SSA. Compte tenu de la transition inhabituelle de la fécondité en Afrique subsaharienne (ASS), une réévaluation périodique est nécessaire. À l'aide d'un modèle écologique, les données des enquêtes démographiques et de santé menées entre 1990 et 2014 ont été analysées pour étudier les tendances de la taille de la famille achevée (TFA), du taux de fécondité total (TFT), du facteur de préférence de la taille de la famille (PTF) et du taux de prévalence de la contraception (TPC). Les corrélats des variations des niveaux de fécondité, de la PTF et de la TPC ont été explorés. Les résultats ont montré que le TFA avait diminué et était le plus faible en Afrique australe et occidentale. Cependant, la TFA moyenne des pays d'Afrique centrale a semblé pratiquement identique au cours de la période. Les modifications du TFT et de la TFA ont suivi des tendances similaires à celles du PTF. Les régions de l'Ouest et du Centre ont connu une très lente augmentation de la TPC, beaucoup marquant moins de 20% en 2014. L'Afrique de l'Est et du Sud ont connu une augmentation plus rapide de la TPC, certains pays atteignant près de 60%. Les résultats de la régression ont montré que la prévalence contraceptive (β = - 1,96, p = 0,027) et l'âge médian au premier mariage (β = -0,23, p = 0,06) étaient négativement corrélés au TFT alors que l'emploi (β = - 21,7, p <0,001) était en relation négative avec le PTF. En résumé, les niveaux de fécondité et la préférence pour la taille de la famille ont diminué alors que l'utilisation des contraceptifs s'est améliorée, en particulier en Afrique australe et orientale. L'augmentation de la participation des femmes à la population active est une autre voie potentielle vers le déclin de la fécondité en ASS.

Understanding the mechanisms of converting plant residue carbon (C) into soil C is important for managing the soil C pool and improving soil fertility. However, little is known yet about how the heterogeneous C from the plant residues, e.g., from the various plant parts, is bound in the aggregates of soil with different initial fertility. To address this, an incubating experiment was carried out through the addition of the 13C-labelled aboveground (stems and leaves) and belowground (roots) residue of maize into Mollisols with high and low fertility. Soil aggregates (> 250 μm and < 250 μm) were sieved, and their δ13C of soil organic carbon (SOC) was quantified. The amino sugar content (calculating for microbial residue C, MRC) and the contribution of MRC to the SOC pool (MRC/SOC) were calculated. The results showed that the SOC and maize residue-derived carbon (MDC) concentrations decreased quickly at the beginning, and then, the decrease slowed down until reaching a relatively constant level, and the two stages corresponded to two main microbial anabolism processes, which were entailing synthesizing living microbial biomass and producing microbial residues, respectively. During the beginning period, limited priming effects were observed, but this priming effect is stronger in the macroaggregates of high-fertility soil. The study further proved the existing conclusion that soil fertility and maize residue quality both influenced the C sequestration in the short term but not in the long term in macroaggregates. In the microaggregates, however, only maize residue quality influenced the C sequestration in the long term. In addition, the microaggregates exhibited higher MDC and SOC concentration, and reached a steady state for the MRC/SOC dynamics later than the macroaggregates. These indicated that the microaggregates had a larger C sequestrating capacity than the macroaggregates. The results suggest that soil aggregates are a major factor influencing exogenous C sequestration, even regulating the effective duration of soil fertility and plant quality.

Water scarcity and spatial variability in soil fertility are key constraints to stable grain production in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain. However, the interaction mechanisms between regulated deficit irrigation and soil fertility influencing yield formation and water-nitrogen use efficiency in winter wheat remain unclear. In this study, a two-year field experiment (2022–2024) was conducted to investigate the effects of two irrigation regimes—regulated deficit irrigation during the heading to grain filling stage (D) and full irrigation (W)—under four soil fertility levels: F1 (N: P: K = 201.84: 97.65: 199.05 kg ha−1), F2 (278.52: 135: 275.4 kg ha−1), F3 (348.15: 168.75: 344.25 kg ha−1), and CK (no fertilization). The results show that aboveground dry matter accumulation, total nitrogen content, pre-anthesis dry matter and nitrogen translocation, and post-anthesis accumulation significantly increased with fertility level (p < 0.05). Regulated deficit irrigation promoted the contribution of post-anthesis dry matter to grain yield under the CK and F1 treatments, but suppressed it under the F2 and F3 treatments. However, it consistently enhanced the contribution of post-anthesis nitrogen to grain yield (p < 0.05) across all fertility levels. Higher fertility levels prolonged the grain filling duration by 18.04% but reduced the mean grain filling rate by 15.05%, whereas regulated deficit irrigation shortened the grain filling duration by 3.28% and increased the mean grain filling rate by 12.83% (p < 0.05). Grain yield significantly increased with improved fertility level (p < 0.05), reaching a maximum of 9361.98 kg·ha−1 under the F3 treatment. Regulated deficit irrigation increased yield under the CK and F1 treatments but reduced it under the F2 and F3 treatments. Additionally, water use efficiency exhibited a parabolic response to fertility level and was significantly enhanced by regulated deficit irrigation. Nitrogen partial factor productivity (NPFP) declined with increasing fertility level (p < 0.05); Regulated deficit irrigation improved NPFP under the F1 treatment but reduced it under the F2 and F3 treatments. The highest NPFP (41.63 kg·kg−1) was achieved under the DF1 treatment, which was 54.81% higher than that under the F3 treatment. TOPSIS analysis showed that regulated deficit irrigation combined with the F1 fertility level provided the optimal balance among yield, WUE, and NPFP. Therefore, implementing regulated deficit irrigation during the heading–grain filling stage under moderate fertility (F1) is recommended as the most effective strategy for achieving high yield and efficient resource utilization in winter wheat production in this region.

In view of an unusual transition in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) fertility, periodic re-appraisal is necessary. Using an ecological design, data from Demographic and Health Surveys between 1990 and 2014 were analysed to investigate trends in completed family size (CFS), total fertility rate (TFR), family size preference (FSP), and contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR). The correlates of changes in fertility levels, FSP and CPR were explored. Results showed that CFS declined and was lowest in Southern and Western Africa. However, average CFS for Central African countries appeared virtually the same over the period. Changes in TFR and FSP followed patterns similar to CFS. Western and Central region had very slow increase in CPR with many below 20% as at 2014. Eastern and Southern Africa had faster increase in CPR with some countries achieving almost 60%. Regression results showed that contraceptive prevalence (β= -1.96, p=0.027) and median age at first marriage (β= -0.23, p=0.06) were negatively related to TFR while employment (β= -21.7, p<0.001) was negatively related to FSP. In summary, fertility levels and family size preference declined while contraceptive use improved particularly in Southern and the Eastern Africa. Increased female labour force participation is another potential route to fertility decline in SSA. (Afr J Reprod Health 2018; 22[4]: 44-53) Compte tenu de la transition inhabituelle de la fécondité en Afrique subsaharienne (ASS), une réévaluation périodique est nécessaire. À l'aide d'un modèle écologique, les données des enquêtes démographiques et de santé menées entre 1990 et 2014 ont été analysées pour étudier les tendances de la taille de la famille achevée (TFA), du taux de fécondité total (TFT), du facteur de préférence de la taille de la famille (PTF) et du taux de prévalence de la contraception (TPC). Les corrélats des variations des niveaux de fécondité, de la PTF et de la TPC ont été explorés. Les résultats ont montré que le TFA avait diminué et était le plus faible en Afrique australe et occidentale. Cependant, la TFA moyenne des pays d'Afrique centrale a semblé pratiquement identique au cours de la période. Les modifications du TFT et de la TFA ont suivi des tendances similaires à celles du PTF. Les régions de l'Ouest et du Centre ont connu une très lente augmentation de la TPC, beaucoup marquant moins de 20% en 2014. L'Afrique de l'Est et du Sud ont connu une augmentation plus rapide de la TPC, certains pays atteignant près de 60%. Les résultats de la régression ont montré que la prévalence contraceptive (β = -1,96, p = 0,027) et l'âge médian au premier mariage (β = -0,23, p = 0,06) étaient négativement corrélés au TFT alors que l'emploi (β = -21,7, p <0,001) était en relation négative avec le PTF. En résumé, les niveaux de fécondité et la préférence pour la taille de la famille ont diminué alors que l'utilisation des contraceptifs s'est améliorée, en particulier en Afrique australe et orientale. L'augmentation de la participation des femmes à la population active est une autre voie potentielle vers le déclin de la fécondité en ASS. (Afr J Reprod Health 2018; 22[4]:44-53).

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)  is the most popular tuber crop in West Bengal, India. Seed tuber is the single most important factor in potato cultivation and if the seed is not of good quality, then optimum production could not be achieved. Unavailability of good quality seed, high price and untimely supply of seed at the village level are the main limiting factors in potato production. Field experiments were conducted during rabi season of 2017-18 and 2018-19 at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, West Bengal to determine the effects of intra row spacing, dates of haulm cutting and fertilizer dose on disease free quality seed grade tuber production of potato. The experiment was laid out in a split split plot design with three replications having twelve treatment combinations. The results revealed that with the decrease in intra row spacing from 20cm to 15cm seed grade size (< 75g) tuber yield and numbers and total tuber numbers were significantly increased but marketable grade (> 75 g) tuber yield and numbers were significantly reduced. Haulm cutting at 65 DAP increased the seed grade size tuber yield and numbers over 75 DAP. With the decrease in fertility levels from 100% RDF of NPK to 50% RDF of NPK the seed grade tuber production and number were significantly increased at 5% level of significance. Disease incidence and intensity of Phoma leaf spot decreased and early blight increased with decreasing doses of fertilizers. No viral disease was observed. Dehaulming at 65 DAP was found safer so far as infestation and chances of viral disease transmission by the sucking pests were concerned. From the present study it may be concluded that, for quality seed tuber production of potato and to get highest net return under New Alluvial Zone of West Bengal, use of 50cm X 15cm spacing along with haulm cutting at 65 DAP, when planting is done on first week of November and grown with 50% RDF of NPK was found best.