Journal Articles

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/7915

Browse

Filters

20221

Settings

Author: search.filters.author.Zhang XHas files: No

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Clustering Analysis on Sustainable Development Goal Indicators for Forty-Five Asian Countries
    (28/03/2023) Mathrani A; Wang J; Li D; Zhang X; Sacco, PL
    This paper draws upon the United Nations 2022 data report on the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the following four dimensions: economic, social, environmental and institutional. Ward’s method was applied to obtain clustering results for forty-five Asian countries to understand their level of progress and overall trends in achieving SDGs. We identified varying degrees of correlation between the four dimensions. The results show that East Asian countries performed poorly in the economic dimension, while some countries in Southeast Asia and Central and West Asia performed relatively well. Regarding social and institutional dimensions, the results indicate that East and Central Asian countries performed relatively better than others. Finally, in the environmental dimension, West and South Asian countries showed better performance than other Asian countries. The insights gathered from this study can inform policymakers of these countries about their own country’s position in achieving SDGs in relation to other Asian countries, as they work towards establishing strategies for improving their sustainable development targets.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Effect of Reaction-Finished Solution of Hydrochar (HRFS) Application on Rice Grain Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Saline Soil
    (Tech Science Press, 2022) Yi Z; Jeyakumar P; Jiang J; Zhang X; Yue C; Sun H
    We conducted a pot experiment to examine the feasibility of applying a reaction-finished solution of hydrochar (HRFS) to enhance rice production in a saline soil. With this purpose, HRFS was applied (0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mL/pot) and rice yield and nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE) were determined. HRFS application significantly (P < 0.05) increased rice grain yield by 19.6%–30.0% compared to the control treatment (CKU, with N but without HRFS addition). Moreover, HRFS application promoted plant height and straw biomass of rice. Increases of rice yield were mainly achieved by increases in the number of panicles and grains per panicle. Compared with the CKU treatment, the NUE of HRFS amendments significantly (P < 0.05) increased by 56.3%–71.7%. This indicated that the improvement of NUE was one of the mechanisms to improve rice grain yield with HRFS amendment. The results of regression analysis showed that there was a positive relationship (R2 = 0.8332) between rice yield and HRFS application rate within an appropriate range. The highest rice yield was recorded with the HRFS application of 40 mL/pot, but a further increase in HRFS application rate appeared to reduce rice yield. Based on the results of this pot study, HRFS application can increase rice yield in a saline soil by regulating its yield components and enhancing NUE. However, impact of HRFS on these variables showed a “dose effect”.