Response of cowpea and soybean to P and K on terre de barre soils in southern Bénin

Good growth of grain legumes helps food security and protection of the environment but this may require nutrient inputs. A participatory technology development activity explored from 1998 to 2000 the responses of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) to inorganic soil amendments (P and K) on terre de barre soils with different levels of degradation in southern Bénin. Adingnigon, on the Abomey plateau, represents a level of severe degradation, while Hayakpa, on the Allada plateau, is still relatively non-degraded. Treatments included: (i) an unamended control, (ii) P fertilizer only, applied in 1998 or 1999, and (iii) P plus K applied in 1999. At Hayakpa, yields without fertilizer were generally moderate to high; responses to P were statistically significant and K application had a significant effect on soybean yield in 2000. At Adingnigon, P application had a large relative effect (30–200%) but a small absolute effect (less than 100 kg/ha) on cowpea and soybean yield. Subsequent K application increased grain yields further (approximately 100 kg/ha) but still not up to the cowpea yield potential. When 13 Mg/ha of organic amendment (chicken manure or cotton seed) were applied to severely degraded plots at Adingnigon with prior grain yields below 200 kg/ha, cowpea yields of more than 500 kg/ha were achieved, approaching their biological potential for the zone. It is clear from this study that (i) P and K inputs are needed for grain legumes even on relatively non-degraded terre de barre soils and (ii) inorganic fertilizer alone will not revive highly degraded soils on the terre de barre plateaus of southern Bénin.     

Cassava, maize and tree root development as affected by various agroforestry and cropping systems in Bénin, West Africa

Soil fertility levels, climate, aboveground interaction for light in plant canopies, and belowground interactions of the root systems for nutrients and water have an important influence on the performance of cropping systems. This study aims at identifying the impact of agroforestry treatments and fertilizer application on the root development of cassava-based cropping systems. At three sites in southern Bénin, the root development of intercropped maize (Zea mays) and cassava (Manihot esculenta) vs. sole-cropped cassava was monitored in an NPK fertilizer treatment and a no-fertilizer and no-mulch treatment. The latter represented local farmers’ practice. In addition, root development of sole-cropped cassava in three agroforestry systems was recorded at the same sites consisting of: (i) annually planted Cajanus cajan, (ii) perennial alleys, and (iii) a tree block of a Gliricidia sepium, Flemingia macrophylla, Parkia biglobosa, Millettia thonningii mixture. Soil monolith sampling was used to extract roots and generate data on the morphological development of root systems and their interactions. In general, intercropping reduced cassava root length density (RLD). Fertilizer applications significantly increased (P≤0.05) the RLD of intercropped maize and intercropped cassava at all sites. Annual alleys of C. cajan developed smaller RLD and root weight densities (RWD) than the perennial tree mixture, leading to less interference with cassava. Block arrangement of the tree mixture had detrimental effects on the cassava growth in the adjacent rows, indicated by high RLD and RWD of the tree mixture. However, the overall effect on cassava yield was positive, when the crop yield is calculated on an entire field basis.     

Exploring diversity in soil fertility management of smallholder farms in western Kenya: I. Heterogeneity at region and farm scale

The processes of nutrient depletion and soil degradation that limit productivity of smallholder African farms are spatially heterogeneous. Causes of variability in soil fertility management at different scales of analysis are both biophysical and socio-economic. Such heterogeneity is categorised in this study, which quantifies its impact on nutrient flows and soil fertility status at region and farm scales, as a first step in identifying spatial and temporal niches for targeting of soil fertility management strategies and technologies. Transects for soil profile observation, participatory rural appraisal techniques and classical soil sampling and chemical analysis were sampled across 60 farms in three sub-locations (Emuhaia, Shinyalu, Aludeka), which together represent much of the variability found in the highlands of western Kenya. Five representative farm types were identified using socio-economic information and considering production activities, household objectives and the main constraints faced by farmers. Soil fertility management and nutrient resource flows were studied for each farm type and related to differences in soil fertility status at farm scale. Farm types 1 and 2 were the wealthiest; the former relied on off-farm income and farmed small pieces of land (0.6–1.1 ha) while the latter farmed relatively large land areas (1.6–3.8 ha) mainly with cash crops. The poorest farm type 5 also farmed small pieces of land (0.4–1.0 ha) but relied on low wages derived from working for wealthier farmers. Both farm types 1 and 5 relied on off-farm earnings and sold the least amounts of farm produce to the market, though the magnitude of their cash, labour and nutrient flows was contrasting. Farms of types 3 and 4 were intermediate in size and wealth, and represented different crop production strategies for self-consumption and the market. Average grain yields fluctuated around 1 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ for all farm types and sub-locations. Grain production by farms of types 4 and 5 was much below annual family requirements, estimated at 170 kg person⁻¹ year⁻¹. Household wealth and production orientation affected the pattern of resource flow at farm scale. In the land-constrained farms of type 1, mineral fertilisers were often used more intensively (ca. 50 kg ha⁻¹), though with varying application rates (14–92 kg ha⁻¹). The use of animal manure in such small farms (e.g. 2.2 t year⁻¹) represented intensities of use of up to 8 t ha⁻¹, and a net accumulation of C and macronutrients brought into the farm by livestock. In farms of type 5, intensities of use of mineral and organic fertilisers ranged between 0–12 kg ha⁻¹ and 0–0.5 t ha⁻¹, respectively. A consistent trend of decreasing input use from farm types 1–5 was generally observed, but nutrient resources and land management practices (e.g. fallow) differed enormously between sub-locations. Inputs of nutrients were almost nil in Aludeka farms. Both inherent soil properties and management explained the variability found in soil fertility status. Texture explained the variation observed in soil C and related total N between sub-locations, whereas P availability varied mainly between farm types as affected by input use.     

基于农户经济和环境“双优”目标的粮食主产区化肥施用优化模拟分析——以邯郸地区小麦生产为例

我国目前面临着粮食供求紧平衡和化肥过量施用导致农业面源污染的严峻挑战。利用河北邯郸地区1026户小麦种植农户的调研数据,构建经济理性与环境可持续双目标下的农户化肥施用模型,并进行优化模拟分析,旨在探讨应该如何优化粮食主产区农户的化肥施用行为,以实现经济与环境的“双优”目标。结果表明：农户对化肥的认知和化肥价格是实现“双优”目标的关键因素。现阶段农户过高估计了化肥投入对粮食增产的效果,农户的预期化肥产出弹性显著高于化肥实际产出弹性,化肥使用效率偏低;当前粮食主产区化肥价格是模拟优化分析结果中最优化肥价格的一半左右,较低的化肥施用成本促使农户倾向高化肥投入以实现粮食增产。基于研究结果,提出了矫正农户施肥认知偏差、科学高效施肥和适当提高化肥价格水平、优化化肥使用结构等政策建议。     

农业技术推广过程中制度因素的影响——湖北省天门市棉花害虫综合防治项目案例分析报告

针对中国主产棉区在病虫害防治中大量施用化学农药加重农业污染，以及害虫产生抗药性导致防治失灵等问题，由亚洲开发银行（ＡＤＢ）资助，英联邦国际生物防治研究所（ＣＡＢＩ）负责实施，于１９９３～１９９６年在中国湖北省天门市建立害虫综合防治（ＩＰＭ）项目试点，旨在研究和开发控制病虫危害和改善生态环境的适用于中国主产棉区的ＩＰＭ技术体系。ＩＰＭ项目有两个特点：①与以往因土地、人口压力而引致的技术变革不同，ＩＰＭ项目是一项因环境压力而引致的技术变革；②以往的技术变革的阻力大多来自于乡村社会结构尤其是农民对新技术的不接受，而ＩＰＭ项目在运作层面首先遇到了高度集中的防治体系的阻碍，即受到制度因素的影响。本文着重分析高度集中的防治体系形成的过程和原因，以及制度因素影响ＩＰＭ项目实施的作用机制，并提出解决问题的政策建议。     

基于林权制度改革对生态环境影响多维量表分析

林权改革是促进林业发展的根本措施,但不可否认其对生态环境产生一定的影响。2011年7-8月,本研究选择江西遂川,福建三明、永安,辽宁清原,北京怀柔等进行实地问卷调查,并对调查结果进行多维量表分析。研究表明：林权改革对森林生态环境有明显的影响,尤其林改前后林业的投入对森林生物多样性、森林水源涵养和水土保持有显著的影响。同时,农民（林农）对林权改革的态度、家庭年收入水平、教育程度和性别等对环境影响评价结果也有一定的影响。研究建议,林权改革涉及面广,并涉及国家生态环境安全和农民的长远利益,应该深入开展生态环境影响的评价研究,并把林权改革作为重点领域开展政策环境影响评价的试点,为在我国在规划环评基础上进一步推行政策环评制度和完善林权改革配套政策提供技术支撑。     

Emission trading in agriculture: a study of design options using an agent-based approach

The Scottish Government has proposed reducing Scotland’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 80% by 2050, compared to the 1990 baseline level. It is not yet clear how these reductions will be achieved, but it is likely that all sectors will be expected to make some contribution. Depending on their farm activities, farmers have different sets of abatement alternatives—the challenge facing them, however, is in finding strategies that help to meet reduction targets while maintaining their income. In this paper, we use an agent-based modelling approach to study the implications of carbon trading design options aimed at reducing GHG emissions in the agricultural sector, such as auctions, fixed carbon prices, or carbon credit banking. The feasibility of carbon trading scheme options is assessed regarding their ability to ensure that farmers obtain carbon credits at an affordable and adequate price, since low prices would reward farmers not adopting on-farm abatement options and high prices would encourage non-compliance to targets, thus increasing enforcement costs. Assuming a closed market within the agricultural sector, this study shows that farmers may face up to 50% loss of income to achieve a 30% reduction target if this requires a cut in production. However, market design options such as credits banking may allow farmers to progressively adapt to the scheme constraints. At an individual level, the rate of on-farm compliance and the mandated emission reduction target will determine which farmer strategy is the most efficient to cope with a trading scheme.     

Agricultural bio-char production,renewable energy generation and farm carbon sequestration in Western Australia: Certainty,uncertainty and risk

Reducing the vulnerability of agriculture to climate change while increasing primary productivity requires mitigation and adaptation activities to generate profitable co-benefits to farms. The conversion of woody-wastes by pyrolysis to produce bio-char (biologically derived charcoal) is one potential option that can enhance natural rates of carbon sequestration in soils, reduce farm waste, and substitute renewable energy sources for fossil-derived fuel inputs. Bio-char has the potential to increase conventional agricultural productivity and enhance the ability of farmers to participate in carbon markets beyond traditional approach by directly applying carbon into soil. This paper provides an overview of the pyrolysis process and products and quantifies the amount of renewable energy generation and net carbon sequestration possible when using farm bio-waste to produce bio-char as a primary product. While this research provides approximate bio-char and energy production yields, costs, uses and risks, there is a need for additional research on the value of bio-char in conventional crop yields and adaptation and mitigation options.     

黄淮海平原农区不同类型农户的土地利用方式选择及其环境影响——以河北省曲周县为例

以农户调查为基础,采用农户分类和方差分析等方法,对农户土地利用方式选择行为及其环境影响进行对比分析。受其兼业性、收入水平、文化素质和生产规模影响,不同类型的农户在地块尺度的土地利用方式选择存在差异:纯农业户、低收入农户的土地利用方式选择具有多元化的特征,兼业户、高收入农户、文化水平高的农户往往选择经济效益高、耗时少的土地利用方式。不同类型农户由于其土地利用方式及其肥料投入、水资源利用和秸秆处理等的不同,对土地质量和环境变化产生不同的影响。     

作物种植专业化与化肥减量来源——兼顾经营规模的影响

以作物种植横向专业化和纵向专业化为切入点,运用中国13个粮食主产省份1980—2018年的面板数据,考察了作物种植专业化对农业化肥减量的影响及其作用机制。研究主要发现：（1）基础回归分析表明,作物种植横向专业化和纵向专业化均对化肥施用强度具有显著的削减效应,对化肥的利用效率有显著的增效作用。且作物种植纵向专业化或社会化服务卷入程度加深,能够增强横向专业化对化肥的减量增效作用。（2）影响路径分析表明,作物种植横向专业化通过扩大农地经营规模,进而增强了作物种植纵向专业化对化肥施用强度的削减效应和利用效率的增效作用。但也应警惕,通过扩大农地经营规模以增强作物种植纵向专业化的减量效应可能存在临界水平。此外,当作物种植横向专业化和纵向专业化积极配合时,可能推移临界点的到来。据此,通过发展作物种植横向专业化,鼓励农户通过服务外包卷入农业的纵向专业化分工以及发展农业适度规模经营,进而实现农业领域化肥的减量增效。     

Climate change and agricultural technology adoption: the case of drought tolerant maize in rural Nigeria

Climate change is a major problem undermining agricultural production in Africa. Consequently, efforts are being made to provide farmers with adaptation technologies, but little empirical research exists on the determinants of adopting such technologies. This article addresses this research gap, using the case of drought tolerant maize (DTM) technology in Nigeria. With survey data from 200 farm households and econometric techniques, we explore the determinants of whether to invest and how much to invest in adaptation technology by smallholder farmers. Results from the study indicate that among the key determinants of adoption are access to the technology, complementary inputs, extension services, and climate change information. We also show that off-farm income and wealth status of a household play a significant role in adoption, implying capital constraints; hence, it can be difficult for resource-poor farmers to adopt the technology. Moreover, the farmers identified cost of the technology and complementary inputs, particularly fertilizer as major constraints to adoption. We conclude that while the DTM technology is suitable and important in helping smallholder maize farmers to continue to produce under a changing climate, more support is needed for them to invest in the technology and overcome adoption constraints. Necessary interventions include improving access to information about climate change and the available adaptation technology, timely access to the technology and complementary inputs, and improving access to credit, particularly for the resource-poor farm households.     

上海设施蔬菜主要品种污染物含量调查评估

通过对上海郊区单栋大棚、连栋大棚和现代化智能温室生产的叶菜类和茄果类设施蔬菜的主要品种污染物（农药和硝酸盐）含量抽样调查，并以附近大田蔬菜作为对照，分析结果发现，上海郊区设施蔬菜农药和硝酸盐的污染物含量普遍高于大地蔬菜，且超标状况比较严重。究其因，设施蔬菜生产较常规大田蔬菜生产农药与化肥使用水平高，而且在封闭环境条件下污染物降解速度慢，容易残留或积累超标。     

三工河流域油料作物的农户种植意愿影响因素分析——基于Logistic模型和240户农户微观调查数据

论文以新疆三工河流域27个行政村(连队)240户农户的调查数据为基础,通过建立农户种植油料作物意愿和各自变量的Logistic回归计量模型,从家庭特征因素、 资源禀赋因素、 家庭经济因素和其他因素四大方面分析了农户对油料作物种植意愿的影响因素。研究表明:家庭总人口、 对农业技术服务的态度与农户的种植意愿呈正相关关系,且对农业技术服务的态度标准化系数更大,影响更显著;常年从事农业劳动人数、 户主文化水平和地块位置与之呈反相关关系,且户主文化水平的标准化系数更大,影响更显著。但是反映土地投入、 种地收入以及人均收入没有通过检验,不能得出这几个变量与农户种植油料作物意愿之间的关系。文章最后探讨了兵地差异对农户种植意愿的影响及研究展望。     

非农就业对农户种植多样性的影响:以江苏省泰兴市和宿豫区为例

为分析非农就业对农户种植多样性的影响,通过农户问卷调查手段获得356份农户问卷,以在江苏省泰兴市和宿豫区的农户问卷调查数据为基础,采用Poisson回归方法,估计了农户种植多样性决策模型。依据模型估计结果,分析了非农就业对农户种植多样性的影响。分析表明,农户的种植多样性受到多种因素的影响。负责农业生产家庭成员受教育年限提高1 a,种植多样性提高1.5%左右;种植面积增加1 hm²,则农户种植多样性提高28%左右;就农户参与非农活动的影响而言,与负责农业生产家庭成员不参与非农活动的农户相比较,负责农业生产家庭成员参与非农活动家庭的种植多样性减少11%左右;负责农业生产家庭成员参与非农活动月数增加1个月,农户种植多样性大约降低1.4%。分析说明负责农业生产家庭成员参与非农就业会显著降低农户种植多样性。     

耕地地块细碎程度及其对山区农业生产成本的影响

在务农成本持续上涨和省工性技术普及的背景下,山区地块细碎化逐渐成为抑制农民增收的重要因素。厘清山区耕地细碎程度及其对农业生产的影响,对于降低农业生产成本具有指导价值。基于重庆市武隆区、巫山县和酉阳县的1015份农户调研数据,分别从地块权属和空间分布两个角度测算耕地细碎程度,并采用半对数经济计量模型评估耕地细碎差异对农业生产成本的影响。结果表明：研究区耕地细碎程度严重,辛普森指数和地块距离指数分别为0.71和0.19,户均耕地面积6.19亩、地块数8.89块,地块与家庭平均相距430 m,即呈现出“块数多、规模小和距离短”的特征;耕地细碎程度加剧提高了农业生产成本,当辛普森指数和地块距离指数每增加一个标准差时,单位产量总成本依次上升33.8%和16.6%;具体到各单项成本,耕地细碎程度加剧显著提高了劳动力、化肥和种子成本,而限制机械及其他要素的使用。分作物的实证显示,耕地细碎化效应存在明显的作物异质性。此外,优质耕地能缓解地块细碎带来的成本上升,同时扩大地块面积有助于降低生产成本。政策启示：降低农业经营成本是缓解山区耕地撂荒的重要举措,政府应建立低成本的农地流转网络,并鼓励农户或村庄之间的土地互换,提高地块规模和减少耕作距离,同时政府还应推广和普及适合山区农业的微耕机械。     

耕地细碎化对农户化肥使用效率的影响

在国家提倡化肥使用零增长、减量化的背景下,如何提高农户化肥使用效率变得至关重要。论文从技术效率角度衡量化肥使用效率,使用回归分析和基于R²的夏普里值分解方法考察了耕地细碎化对农户化肥使用效率的影响方向及程度。结果表明：（1）农户在化肥使用上存在着较高的技术无效率,在保持劳动力、土地等其他要素投入数量不变的情况下,约52.51%的化肥投入可以削减且不影响产出。通过提高农户对化肥的使用和管理水平完全可以做到化肥减量而作物不减产。（2）耕地细碎化对农户化肥使用效率具有显著负影响,是导致农户化肥使用效率低下的一个重要原因,能够解释农户间化肥使用效率差异12.15%,在所有决定因素中位居第四,仅次于村虚拟变量、水田比例和粮食作物种植比例。而且,在细碎化程度越高的西部地区,耕地细碎化对农户化肥使用效率差异的贡献越强。（3）农户在化肥使用效率上的差异主要源于所在村特征和包括经营规模、种植结构、土地质量、是否加入合作社等因素在内的生产经营特征的不同;而农户个体特征受集体决策影响,解释力较弱。     

Applying the concept of agrodiversity to indigenous soil and water conservation practices in eastern Kenya

Agrodiversity – the diversity of cropping systems, crop species and farm management practices has received increasing attention in recent years as a way of spreading risk and supporting food security in resource-poor farming systems. This paper discusses the dynamic aspects of indigenous soil and water conservation (ISWC) practices in a semi-arid part of Kenya. The objective is to show the range of sources of variability and diversity that prevail in this environment, the responses of farmers to this variability, and the way farmers' rationalise the heterogeneity of soil and water management practices. Methods used included participatory surveys and evaluations, on-farm monitoring, soil and rainfall data analyses, and questionnaire surveys. Sources of variability affecting cropping systems and land management practices included rainfall, soil fertility, farmer resource level and farm productivity. A decision-tree was developed to examine how biophysical and socio-economic variability affected farmers' choice of ISWC. Different ISWC structures dominated on sandy and stony soils, respectively. Low resource farmers tended to choose cheaper and less labour demanding techniques, and constructed smaller ISWC structures than better endowed farmers. The largest diversity of ISWC practices was found on newly-opened land with mixed soils. Moreover, on-farm productivity levels indicated that costly investments in SWC are unfeasible, as this would further increase the risk for negative returns to farming. The wider implications of the results are that SWC interventions in marginal areas should build on the existing agrodiversity and an understanding of the complex interactions between environmental and socio-economic factors that give rise to differences in farming systems and land management practices.     

Increasing land pressure in East Africa: The changing role of cassava and consequences for sustainability of farming systems

Increasing land pressure during the past three to four decades has transformed farming systems in the mid-altitude zone of East Africa. Traditional millet-, cotton-, sugarcane- and/or banana-based farming systems with an important fallow and/or grazing component have evolved into continuously cultivated cassava or cassava/maize-based systems. Within three to four decades, cassava cultivation increased from 1–11 to 16–55% of cropped fields in our six study sites. Declining soil fertility, and not labour or food shortage, was apparently the primary trigger for this transformation. The land use changes have increased nutrient offtakes and reduced nutrient recycling rates. Cassava and maize now account for 50–90% of nutrient removal. Whereas single-season fallows were the most important source of nutrient recycling on cropped fields in the past, currently cassava litterfall and maize stover contribute roughly 70% of nutrient recycling, with 50–70% of N, P and K recycled in cassava litterfall. This may explain why many farmers reason that cassava ‘rests’ the soil. With increasing land use pressure farmers progressively use cassava as an ‘imitation fallow’ throughout their farm. Farmers increasingly target cassava to poor fertility fields characterized by low pH and available P. High cassava intensities are nonetheless maintained on more fertile fields, probably to guarantee regeneration of soil fertility on all fields. Once cassava is targeted to poor fertility soils, farmers have run out of low-input management options and need to intensify management to maintain system productivity. As cassava is now used by more farmers and on a larger acreage than fallowing in the studied farming systems, cassava cropping could perhaps serve as an excellent entry point to strengthen system sustainability.     

Profitability of intensification technologies among smallholder maize farmers in the forest-savanna transition zone of Nigeria

Sustaining the productive capacity of the land resource under the existing land-use system and increasing population pressure requires the use of appropriate technologies that will enhance farm productivity and income levels.This paper examines the effect on farm profitability of smallholder maize farmers’ use of intensification technologies in tropical agriculture. The survey was conducted in southwest Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 300 respondents from two major agroclimatic zones in Osun State. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire and complemented with focus group discussions (FGDs), while the State’s Ministry of Agriculture provided secondary data.Pressure on land was found high because farmland was continuously cropped for an average of 10 years with a mean fallow period of 2 years only. Technologies used to intensify agriculture included inorganic fertilizer, organic manure, alley cropping, and tree planting.Results from costs and returns analysis showed that average net returns to inorganic fertilizer use ranked highest in the two zones, while tree planting ranked lowest. There was a significant ecoregional difference on the average net returns/year earned by users of mineral fertilizer. While organic manure use earned higher net returns than alley cropping practice in the rain forest, the reverse was the case for the derived savanna. FGDs revealed that respondents’ preferred to use inorganic fertilizer despite its inadequate supply because, apart from enhancing higher returns and net gains, it also improved output level and provided an opportunity for the continuous use of the scarce land.These results imply that economic returns play a critical role in farmers’ use of intensification technologies and consequently affect their resource management decisions. Policy measures aimed at promoting research on appropriate technologies that are profitable on farmers’ fields will be more effective in enhancing farmers’ use of intensification technologies.     

干旱缺水地区缓解水危机的途径: 水资源需求管理的政策效应

水资源短缺是制约干旱区经济发展的瓶颈因素,缓解水资源供需矛盾必须引入水资源需求管理政策。基于市场机制的价格调整和基于行政管理的数量控制是水资源需求管理的两种重要手段。论文基于分布式水资源-经济模型,在用水需求零增长、用水结构升级调整的情景下,研究了水价调整和水量控制在抑制农业用水需求中的政策效应。结果表明,因现行灌溉水价过低,农户对水价上涨不敏感,水量控制比水价调整更加有效。如果要达到相同的节水效果,水价调整政策下农户收入损失比水量控制要更大。水价调整政策下农户收入损失由于成本上涨和作物结构转换导致,水量控制政策下农户收入损失主要是作物种植规模压缩所致,两种政策均需考虑一定的利益补偿。水价调整和水量控制都会导致种植结构转换,但对区域粮食安全影响不大,对经济作物的影响较大,水价上涨会减少用水量多的作物种植,水量控制会使作物种植结构由单方水效益低的作物转向单方水效益高的作物。