The effect of catch crops on sulphate leaching and availability of S in the succeeding crop on sandy loam soil in Denmark

Sulphate leaching losses may reduce the long-term possibility of maintaining the S supply of crops in low input farming systems. The ability of catch crops (Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam), winter rape (Brassica napus L.) and fodder radish (Raphanus sativus L.)) to reduce soil sulphate concentrations in autumn and make it available to a succeeding crop was investigated in 1996–1998 on sandy loam soil in Denmark. All catch crops reduced soil sulphate concentrations in the autumn compared to bare soil. Especially, the cruciferous catch crops had the ability to deplete efficiently soil sulphate levels and thus, reduce the sulphate leaching potential. The S uptake in aboveground catch crop was 8, 22 and 36 kg S per ha for ryegrass, winter rape and fodder radish, respectively. In the following spring, sulphate levels of the autumn bare soil were low in the top 0.5 m and a peak of sulphate was found at 0.75–1 m depth. In contrast, where a fodder radish catch crop had been grown, high sulphate levels were present in the top 0.5 m, but only small amounts of sulphate were found at 0.5–1.5 m depth. In spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), that followed catch crops, S concentrations at heading and maturity revealed that the availability of soil S increased following winter rape and fodder radish, whereas there were indications that following ryegrass, the S availability was reduced compared to bare soil. This initial study showed that catch crops have a high potential for reducing sulphate leaching and may be used to synchronise S availability with plant demand in a crop rotation.     

Post-dispersal predation of weed seeds by small vertebrates: Interactive influences of neighbor land use and local environment

The influences of spatial scale, local conditions, and small vertebrate preferences on post-dispersal predation of weed seeds were tested in agricultural ecosystems of the Southern Pampas Region of Argentina. Seeds from different weed species were offered through exclusion experiments at different distances from the weedy field borders, inside maize (2005) and wheat (2006) stubbles with contrasting land use in the neighbor fields (annual crop fields vs. seminatural grasslands), and inside seminatural grasslands adjacent to stubbles. Canopy structure was characterized inside the wheat stubbles, and small mammals were sampled in both stubble crops and grasslands. All weed species were predated in both 2005 and 2006 trials, but predation ratios varied among weed species, partly due to their seed size, with larger ones being more preferred. While in the maize stubbles no distance or neighbor field land use effects, or interactions between the different factors were detected, in the wheat stubbles, influence of neighbor field land use on weed species predation varied according to distance from field border and the height of the stubble canopy. In wheat stubbles adjacent to annual crop fields, predation increased with canopy height at every different distance from the field borders (5 m, 30 m and 60 m). The opposite was found in wheat stubbles adjacent to seminatural grasslands, where seed predation sharply decreased with canopy height, except for the farthest distance to the border. Capture results suggest a predominance of Calomys spp. populations in crop areas (stubbles adjacent to annual crops) which contrasted with the more diverse small mammal’s community of the grasslands. Based on these data, we provide an insight into the hierarchical nature of factors affecting the predation of weed seeds and discuss some implications of land use patterns on the regulation of weed populations by small vertebrates.     

Winter diet of reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus in fallow and stubble fields

An analysis of droppings collected in winter on unused fields in SW Poland (fallow, stubble of root crop, vegetable and cereal) showed that the base of the reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus diet were seeds of annual weed species: Chenopodium album (74.06% of all recorded seed species), Amaranthus retroflexus (16.05%), Setaria viridis (9.50%), Stellaria media (0.21%), Fumaria officinalis (0.01%). The share of dominant weed species in the diet of reed bunting wintering on particular types of fields varied markedly. In the droppings from fallows and cereal stubbles, C. album clearly dominated (respectively, 88.60 and 66.12%). The highest proportion of A. retroflexus and S. viridis was detected in the diet of birds staying on root crop stubbles (respectively, 45.56 and 23.90%). The most diverse food composition was found in the case of birds feeding on root crops and the least diverse on fallows.     

黄土丘陵沟壑区苜蓿地土壤水分环境效应

根据田间试验资料,分析研究了黄土丘陵沟壑区苜蓿地土壤水分的周年变化规律,并以休闲地和几种一年生作物地作为对照进行对比研究,得出以下主要结论:①雨季降水对苜蓿地土壤水分的补给起着重要的作用,其土壤贮水量动态与年内的降雨周期相吻合,但总体上朝着土壤不断干化的方向发展;②经过一个雨季,苜蓿地的土壤贮水量与平均含水量分别呈不同程度的下降,而休闲地与4月份持平;③相同的降水对不同作物地的补给效果不同,以3m土层计算,苜蓿地的农田蒸散量与谷子、玉米相当,比豆子地高,但要低于高粱地;④长期种植苜蓿引起的深层土壤干化问题必须引起足够的重视,干化土地的水分恢复不是一朝一夕的事情。     

Population dynamics and the physical and financial impacts to cereal crops of the Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus on the Agulhas Plain, Western Cape, South Africa

Cereal crop farmers in the Western Cape province of South Africa regard the Egyptian Goose as a serious pest. The Agulhas Plain, in particular, attracts thousands of geese annually primarily because of the abundance and availability of nutritious crops such as wheat Triticum spp. and barley Hordeum spp. for food and permanent water bodies for roosting, moulting and breeding. Therefore, this paper investigates the population dynamics and physical and financial impacts to cereal crops of the Egyptian Goose on the Agulhas Plain, Western Cape. Egyptian Geese inflict damage during three main periods, viz. soon after sowing (surface seeds); young, developing plants (growing plants); and cut plants stacked in windrows (long, linear piles) to dry. The largest numbers of geese were recorded during June and July when they foraged on growing plants less than 25 cm tall. Overall, the mean yield loss was 65.6% in 1997 and 63.5% in 1998. Fields suffering greatest yield loss in 1997 and 1998 were generally those within 600 m of the roosting sites and had about 300 geese grazing on them on areas of around 2 ha in size for about 2 months. By August, geese moved from croplands on to pastures. During October and November, geese once again fed primarily on barley seeds in harvested crops stacked in windrows. Damage by geese to farmers was estimated to be >2.5 and 7% of annual revenue received from barley and wheat farming, in 1997 and 1998, respectively. There are many variables that need to be considered when attempting to quantify and explain damage to cereal crops by Egyptian Geese.     

Winter bird use of seed-rich habitats in agri-environment schemes

To assess the effectiveness of over-winter seed provision by agri-environment schemes, bird use of patches of seed-bearing crops was compared with that of other seed-rich habitats on 53 farms in eastern Scotland over three winters. Seed-bearing crops were the most frequently selected habitat, and held 28% of birds of the 10 species recorded. Outside schemes, cereal stubble was the most selected habitat and held 44% of birds. For nine species, seed-bearing crops were used by more birds than expected from the area of crop available in at least one winter, and five species were more likely to occur in first-winter patches, reflecting a greater abundance of cereal grain than in second-winter patches. For cereal grain specialists such as buntings, sowing cereal-based crops annually would ensure that grain is available in each winter, whilst either a 1-year or a 2-year crop would be appropriate for finches that favour oilseeds, and species with a more generalist diet.     

周年轮作休耕对土壤AMF群落和团聚体稳定性的影响

为探究轮作休耕对丛枝菌根真菌（AMF）群落组成及土壤团聚体稳定性的影响,以坡耕地红壤为研究对象,采用Illumina MiSeq高通量测序和湿筛法分别测定AMF群落组成和团聚体,研究了苕子轮作玉米（V-C）、豌豆轮作玉米（P-C）、冬闲-玉米（F-C）和周年休耕（F-F）这4个处理下AMF群落组成及其与土壤养分和团聚体稳定性之间的关系.结果表明,F-F、V-C和P-C处理的>2 mm团聚体含量、R_0.25及MWD均显著高于F-C （P<0.05）,<0.25 mm团聚体含量均显著低于F-C （P<0.05）;F-F处理的ACE、Chao1和Shannon指数较F-C分别显著提高29.56%、35.78%和45.55%;球囊霉属（Glomus）为各处理AMF群落的优势属,盾巨孢囊霉属（Scutellospora）在各处理间差异显著（P<0.05）;PCoA分析发现,PC1和PC2分别累计解释了AMF群落组成差异的29.99%和22.40%;相关性分析表明,盾巨孢囊霉属与碱解氮（AN）和有机质（SOM）呈显著负相关（P<0.05）,与速效钾（AK）呈显著正相关（P<0.05）,球囊霉属与碱解氮呈显著正相关（P<0.05）;RDA分析表明,AMF多样性（Shannon指数）和盾巨孢囊霉属分别与>2 mm和2~1 mm团聚体含量显著正相关（P<0.05）.因此,周年休耕和苕子轮作玉米有利于提高土壤团聚体稳定性和改变AMF群落组成,研究结果为我国南方周年轮作系统提高土壤质量和推行合理轮作休耕模式提供理论依据和参考.     

The conversion of overgrazed pastures to almond orchards and alfalfa cropping systems may favor microbial indicators of soil quality in Central Iran

Land use changes may have a major influence on soil quality that is important in sustaining ecosystem productivity. Yet, the effects of these changes on soil quality are not well understood, particularly in poor heterogeneous pastures overgrazed by sheep. The aim of this study was to determine the short-term response of soil quality indicators to changes in land use from permanent pastures overgrazed to almond orchards and then to alfalfa cropping systems occurring in Saman plain, Central Iran. Soil quality indicators were evaluated in four land use systems including permanent pastures (PP) overgrazed by sheep, pastures converted to almond orchards (AO) for more than 45 years, almond orchards converted to alfalfa fields for 5 years (FA) and almond orchards converted to alfalfa fields for 2 years (TA). Composite soil samples from each of the four random replicates of the land use systems were sampled to a depth of 30 cm, and analyzed for soil bulk density, total N, total organic C, wet aggregate stability, C mineralization, microbial biomass C, and phosphatase activities. Land use changes (i.e. conversion of pastures to almond orchards and then to alfalfa fields) resulted in significant increases in soil bulk density, and total organic C and N contents. Similarly, total organic C and N pools were far greater in TA and FA compared to PP and AO land use systems. The soil porosity and aggregate stability (MWD) in PP and AO land use systems were significantly greater than those in TA and FA land use systems. Carbon mineralization and microbial biomass C and the activity of acid and alkaline phosphatases were substantially higher in the alfalfa fields than those in overgrazed pastures and almond orchards. The microbial metabolic quotient (qCO₂) increased in alfalfa fields, although the increases were marginal. It would appear that (1) the conversion of poor pastures to alfalfa cropping systems favors soil microbial properties, (2) microbial properties are the most sensitive soil quality indicators responding positively to short-term changes in land use. It is also concluded that improvement in soil quality and enhanced biological activity in alfalfa fields demonstrated the gradual resilience of the poor and overgrazed pastures once converted to a fast growing and N₂ fixing legume crop.     

Impact of bioenergy crops in a carbon dioxide constrained world: an application of the MiniCAM energy-agriculture and land use model

In the coming century, modern bioenergy crops have the potential to play a crucial role in the global energy mix, especially under policies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions as proposed by many in the international community. Previous studies have not fully addressed many of the dynamic interactions and effects of a policy-induced expansion of bioenergy crop production, particularly on crop yields and human food demand. This study combines an updated agriculture and land use (AgLU) model with a well-developed energy-economic model to provide an analysis of the effects of bioenergy crops on energy, agricultural and land use systems. The results indicate that carbon dioxide mitigation policies can stimulate a large production of bioenergy crops, dependent on the level of the policy. This production of bioenergy crops can lead to several impacts on the agriculture and land use system: decreases in forestland and unmanaged land, decreases in the average yield of food crops, increases in the prices of food crops, and decreases in the level of human demand of calories.

The role of perennial habitats for Central European farmland spiders

Spiders are important predators of insect pests. Some species invariably dominate spider communities in crop fields over large parts of Europe, and are therefore considered as “agrobionts”. It is however not clear if these species generally prefer arable habitats, or to what degree they utilize other habitats during times when crops are inhospitable. Here, spider abundances in 26 crop fields and 16 perennial habitats in Germany were compared during spring. Overall spider abundance in winter wheat was 75% lower than in perennial habitats, and species richness was reduced by 46%. Out of a total of 91 species, 73 had higher densities in perennial habitats, including the most dominant crop spiders Erigone atra and Tenuiphantes tenuis. Only one species (Oedothorax apicatus) was significantly more abundant in crops than in perennial habitats. Hence, the high dominance of most “agrobiont” species in crops was due to low densities of other species, and not to their own higher abundances. Therefore, perennial habitats adjacent to crop-fields could enhance spider populations and their potential for biological control in arable fields on a landscape level.     

Alleviating land degradation and increasing cereal and livestock production in North Africa and the Middle East using annual medicago pasture

The winter rainfall zone of North Africa and the Middle East is suffering from acute soil erosion combined with declining livestock production and almost static cereal yields. Experience on projects and commercial farms throughout the region has shown that the annual medicago (Medicago species) pasture system first developed in southern Australia is climatically suited to the region and can be used either in rotation with a cereal crop or in the marginal rainfall areas of the steppe as a permanent pasture.The annual medicago pasture will increase the forage available for livestock and increase the nitrogen in the soil for subsequent cereal crops. The build-up in organic matter and the protection provided by the dense stand of annual medicago will reduce soil erosion to a minimum. The high economic returns achieved relatively quickly provide a strong incentive to farmers and livestock owners to adopt the system. The annual medicago pasture can provide a means of fulfilling production and conservation objectives simultaneously.     

东北典型黑土区耕地轮作休耕的空间重构

轮作休耕是保障黑土区耕地资源可持续利用的重要手段。科学合理确定粮食作物轮作休耕的耕地利用规模及空间分布,对实现黑土区耕地修养生息、提升地力和平衡粮食供求结构具有重要意义。以东北典型黑土区——克山县、拜泉县和依安县为研究区,运用作物种植空间适宜性评价模型、多目标优化（MOP）模型和智能体土地布局优化配置（AgentLA）模型,基于地块尺度构建耕地轮作和休耕布局,适度调整轮作休耕规模及分布。结果发现：（1）研究区主要作物种植适宜性高值和低值区存在明显空间差异。玉米和大豆种植适宜性高值区交汇于依安县北部和克山县西部,是玉米—大豆轮作优势区域。主要作物种植适宜性低值区交汇于依安县南部和拜泉县西南部,是休耕的重点区域。（2）基于种植结构优化的轮作规模实现了大豆种植比例增加和玉米种植比例减少,缓解了目前玉米阶段性供大于求、大豆供给不足的现实矛盾。通过设定多种粮食供求情景确定休耕规模有利于灵活应对粮食市场变动。（3）兼顾耕地空间适宜性和集聚性的轮作休耕布局有利于充分利用耕地资源禀赋比较优势、发展规模化经营,对提高耕地利用效率具有重要作用。研究通过科学重构黑土区耕地轮作和休耕空间布局,实现了耕地空间适宜性、空间集聚性、种植结构合理性和粮食供求稳定性的同步提升,为实现黑土区耕地资源合理可持续利用和粮食安全提供政策参考。     

黄土高原沟壑区小流域土壤NO3--N的积累特征及其影响因素

以小流域为单元,分析了黄土高原沟壑区化肥投入、土壤NO₃^--N积累及其影响因素。结果表明,化肥投入是流域土地利用结构调整的重要支撑和保证因素,而流域土地利用结构的变化进一步拉动了化肥的投入。目前施肥条件下,流域内坡地果园存在显著的NO₃^--N积累,其积累量高于农田土壤,应作为今后重点监测对象。农田系统中,小麦或玉米连作土壤中NO₃^--N的积累最显著,通过作物之间的轮作可显著降低剖面中NO₃^--N的深层积累。土壤NO₃^--N的积累是小流域治理过程中产生的问题,与流域氮肥投入、氮肥吸收利用和土壤水分演变密切相关。     

中国耕地利用投入的时空差异

耕地投入量在不同农作物间配置格局转变的信息对于国家制定粮食安全政策非常重要。论文在将农作物划分为谷物作物、豆类作物、油料作物、纤维作物、糖料作物和蔬菜作物的基础上,测算了我国耕地利用投入,并进一步分析了耕地利用投入及其内部构成的时空差异。结果表明:①我国耕地利用投入从1998年的27.67×10¹⁰元增加到2011年的38.15×10¹⁰元,1999年起蔬菜作物投入超过谷物作物,我国耕地利用的投入格局已从谷物作物转向蔬菜作物;②耕地利用高投入的省份集中在黄淮海平原,低投入的省份主要分布在西北地区,耕地利用投入增长集中于北方和西南省份;③我国粮食主产省份的谷物作物投入比例大,东部沿海地区的蔬菜作物投入比例大;④种植集约度上升对经济较发达省份的谷物和蔬菜作物投入增长具有明显的推动作用,而大多数西部省份的谷物和蔬菜作物投入增长的主要原因为播种面积增加。     

中国耕地利用产出的结构特征

耕地利用产出结构特征,即不同农作物产值分配格局的详实信息,对国家制定粮食安全和耕地利用专业化及可持续管理的政策非常重要。在将耕地利用中的农作物分为谷物、薯类、豆类、油料、纤维、糖料和蔬菜7种类型的基础上,分析中国耕地利用产出结构的时空变化特征,并构建“产量弹性系数”和“价格弹性系数”来反映农作物产值变化受产量和价格影响的程度。结果表明：① 谷物和蔬菜已成为当今中国耕地利用产出的主体,2007年开始蔬菜产值超过谷物,标志着中国耕地利用产出主导格局已从谷物转向蔬菜;② 耕地产出为蔬菜主导型的省份分布范围由2004年的东部扩大到了2012年的内陆区域,其中包括了近2/3的粮食主产区;③ 大多数粮食主产区谷物产值增长的主要动因是总产量增加,而中东部蔬菜产值增长主要为价格上升;④ 在耕地利用专业化进程中,东北应扩大谷物种植优势,新疆需突出棉花种植特色,而黄淮海地区应着重考虑不同县域种植业的比较优势。     

Farmers’ nutrient management practices in indigenous cropping systems in southern Cameroon

With increasing population densities, food production needs to be increased. A common response of farmers is to shorten fallow periods, which can lead to a decline in crop yields, due to incomplete nutrient replenishment. However, whether farmers change their management of soil and nutrients according to the fallow length is not known. A survey was carried out in southern Cameroon in 1995 to establish factors determining farmers’ nutrient management practices (NMPs). Three classes of indigenous NMPs were identified: crop placement, mulching, and the use of inputs. Crop placement comprised intentional cultivation of certain crops in ash patches or near to tree trunks and stumps. Mulching was done with weeds and crop residues, on the soil surface next to crops or in planting holes. Crop placement was found in 88.8% of fields and mulching in 57.4%, while inputs were used in only 1.7%. Nutrient management seemed to be restricted to an optimal allocation of crops to nutrient sources in the field.Relationships were weak between the frequency of crop placement or mulching and indices of land or labor availability. Fallow length seems to be negatively correlated to crop placement at rotten trunks or stumps or in ash patches and positively to placement near recently felled trees. Crop placement and mulching of crop residues were used less often in simplified crop associations than in traditional intercrops. Nutrient inputs were mainly given to monocrops. Application of purchased inputs concentrated on commercial crops.Most respondents knew the advantages and risks of currently practiced methods, but often lacked information on the use of locally available internal inputs (refuse, kitchen ash, manure). Application of internal inputs was considered too labor demanding. The use of purchased inputs was limited by high prices. Soil fertility was in most cases not regarded as a problem.     

Diversity of cereal aphid parasitoids in simple and complex landscapes

Structurally complex landscapes may enhance local species richness and interactions, which is possibly due to a higher species pool in complex landscapes. This hypothesis was tested using cereal aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera, Aphidiidae) by comparing 12 winter wheat fields in structurally complex landscapes (>50% semi-natural habitats; n = 6) and structurally simple landscapes dominated by agricultural lands (>80% arable land; n = 6). Surprisingly, landscape structural complexity had no effect on aphid parasitoid species diversity. In complex landscapes 12 and in simple landscapes 11 species were found; 9 species occurred in both landscape types. Hence, arable fields in high-intensity agricultural landscapes with little non-crop area can support a similar diversity of cereal aphid parasitoids as structurally complex landscapes. This finding suggests that cereal aphid parasitoids may find necessary resources even in simple landscapes, making generalisations concerning the relationship between landscape composition and biodiversity in arable fields difficult.     

连续周年轮作休耕对土壤团聚体稳定性及有机碳的影响

为探究连续周年轮作休耕对红壤团聚体稳定性及有机碳含量的影响,以坡耕地红壤为研究对象,采用湿筛法和重铬酸钾-浓硫酸外加热法分别测定水稳性团聚体和有机碳含量,分析了2020~2022年玉米-苕子-玉米轮作（M-V-M）、玉米-豌豆-玉米轮作（M-P-M）、玉米-冬闲-玉米（M-F-M）和周年休耕（F-F-F）这4个处理下土壤团聚体稳定性及有机碳含量变化特征以及两者间的相互关系.结果表明,在2021年和2022年中,F-F-F、M-V-M和M-P-M处理的> 2 mm团聚体含量较M-F-M分别显著提高了67.01%~100.92%、29.71%~33.67%和29.68%~38.07%;2021年和2022年中F-F-F、M-V-M的团聚体稳定性参数显著高于M-F-M（P < 0.05）.M-V-M处理下的> 2 mm团聚体含量、GMD（几何平均直径）和MWD（平均重量直径）及F-F-F处理的R_0.25（ > 0.25 mm团聚体含量）、MWD和> 2 mm团聚体含量随着轮作休耕年限的延长而增加,而F-F-F处理下1~2 mm和< 0.25 mm团聚体含量随着休耕年限的增加而降低.绿肥轮作和休耕处理均能够提高SOC含量,且F-F-F和M-V-M处理的SOC含量随年限的延长而增加.相关性分析表明,所有处理下SOC含量与R_0.25呈极显著正相关,与GMD呈显著正相关;F-F-F处理下的R_0.25和GMD及M-V-M处理下的GMD和MWD均与SOC含量显著正相关.结果表明,连续周年轮作休耕有利于提高土壤大团聚体含量、团聚体稳定性和SOC含量,可为我国南方坡耕地红壤区推行合理的连续周年轮作休耕模式和水土流失防治提供理论依据.     

中国农产品贸易的虚拟土地资源量化研究

虚拟资源对于揭示农产品贸易隐含的资源流动及效应具有重要意义。随着我国农产品贸易量和贸易格局的变化,定量核算我国农产品贸易隐含的土地资源量变化,可以从资源利用的角度评价我国农产品贸易的合理性,为相关贸易政策的制定提供理论依据。研究重点探讨了农产品及加工制品的虚拟土地资源量的核算方法,分别从生产者角度和消费者角度对1986—2009年我国农作物产品及其加工制品贸易的虚拟土地资源量进行了核算。计算结果表明,我国农作物产品隐含的虚拟土地资源量由1986年的净出口442.6×10⁴ hm²,转变为2009年的净进口2 889.0×10⁴ hm²,假设进口农产品在本国生产的情况下,2009年我国所需的虚拟土地资源量为3 817.5×10⁴ hm²。从虚拟土地资源进口结构和空间分布来看,我国虚拟土地资源净进口主要作物类别由谷物转变为油料作物,主要进口来源国由美国、加拿大、澳大利亚转变为美国、巴西、阿根廷。     

旱地作物根际和非根际土壤硝酸盐异化还原成铵细菌群落组成的研究

为研究典型旱地农田土壤硝酸盐异化还原成铵过程(Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium,DNRA)的群落组成,针对DNRA过程的功能基因nrfA进行高通量测序.根际和非根际、4种典型农作物共16个样品,质控后每个样品得到87000条序列,在相似度≥90%下划分到27952个OTUs,选取其中丰度较高的258个代表OTUs进行生态学分析.多样性分析(OTUs水平)结果表明:3/4的作物根际土壤样品中的DNRA群落丰富度、物种多样性和物种均匀度高于相应非根际样品,对比4种作物,粟作物根部土壤DNRA群落多样性最高,玉米作物非根际土壤最低.对代表OTUs进行分类,共定义到6个门(Phylum),19个属(Genus).其中相对丰度最高的3个属为Hyalangium(29.31%)、Chthoniobacter(20.33%)和Nitrospira(13.41%),表明三者在群落组成中占主导地位.结合土壤理化因子分析,DNRA群落相对丰度与NO~-_2-N、TN、含水率、TOM、pH及温度呈显著相关关系.本研究在一定程度上揭示了旱地农田土壤DNRA细菌的群落组成、多样性及与土壤环境因子的关系,为提高氮肥的利用效率和减小环境污染提供理论依据.