Modelling impacts of alternative farming management practices on greenhouse gas emissions from a winter wheat–maize rotation system in China

Agricultural production plays an important role in affecting atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. Field measurements were conducted in Quzhou County, Hebei Province in the North China Plains to quantify carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from a winter wheat–maize rotation field, a common cropping system across the Chinese agricultural regions. The observed flux data in conjunction with the local climate, soil and management information were utilized to test a process-based model, Denitrification–Decomposition or DNDC, for its applicability for the cropping system. The validated DNDC was then used for predicting impacts of three management alternatives (i.e., no-till, increased crop residue incorporation and reduced fertilizer application rate) on CO₂ and N₂O emissions from the target field. Results from the simulations indicated that (1) CO₂ emissions were significantly affected by temperature, initial SOC, tillage method, and quantity and quality of the organic matter added in the soils; (2) increases in temperature, initial SOC, total fertilizer N input, and manure amendment substantially increased N₂O emissions; and (3) temperature, initial SOC, tillage, and quantity and quality of the organic matter added in the soil all had significant effects on global warming. Finally, five 50-year scenarios were simulated with DNDC to predict their long-term impacts on crop yield, soil C dynamics, nitrate leaching losses, and N₂O emissions. The modelled results suggested that implementation of manure amendment or crop residue incorporation instead of increased fertilizer application rates would more efficiently mitigate GHG emissions from the tested agro-ecosystem. The multi-impacts provided a sound basis for comprehensive assessments on the management alternatives.     

Fattening strategies in dominance-structured greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) flocks in winter

Relationships between social status and levels of body reserves stored by members of greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) flocks in winter were investigated. In addition, the adjustment of reserves by birds of different rank to experimental changes in food predictability and to changed weather conditions were examined. Birds with low social status carried overall larger body reserves than high-ranked birds. The results of the experiments suggest that this was mainly because subordinates, due to their low priority to food access, perceived future foraging success as less predictable than dominants. In response to severe weather, which probably increased the risk of starvation for birds, dominants temporarily increased their reserves more than subordinates. This response also indicated that birds with low social status carried larger reserves than high-ranked birds, and demonstrated that dominants could increase food intake when there was a risk of energetic shortfall. The results suggest that fattening strategies in greenfinches depend on social status. In winter, subordinates may be forced to carry larger reserves than dominants to safeguard against social constraints in access to food during critical times. As body reserves may be costly to carry and acquire, this should reduce the probability of surviving the winter for subordinates compared to dominants. Received: 2 March 1995/Accepted after revision: 13 April 1996     

Using Landsat data to estimate evapotranspiration of winter wheat

An evapotranspiration (ET) model that accurately estimates daily water use and soil moisture on a regional basis is required for many agricultural and hydrological studies. The model should use meterological data that are readily available and crop information that is responsive to the changing vigor of the plants.We evaluated an ET model with a weighing lysimeter and then applied it to winter wheatfields at four Kansas locations. Model inputs are solar radiation, temperature, precipitation, and leaf area index (LAI); included in the outputs are estimates of transpiration, evaporation, and soil moisture. An equation was developed to estimate LAI from Landsat data. Because LAI can be estimated from satellites, the ET model can potentially be used on a regional basis.     

Absence of status signalling by structurally based ultraviolet plumage in wintering blue tits (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyanistes caeruleus</Emphasis>)

Structurally based ultraviolet (UV)-reflective plumage parts can be important cues in mate choice. However, it remains largely unknown if UV plumage variation can also function as a signal of social status during competitive interactions. In blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus), the UV-reflective crown plumage functions as a female mate choice cue that probably indicates male quality, as males with higher UV reflectance have been shown to have better chances of over-winter survival. Possibly, the UV crown plumage acts as a status signal in the competition over scarce food sources during winter. To test this idea, we related dominance of individuals at an artificial food source during adverse winter conditions to spectrophotometric measurements of their crown plumage. However, while controlling for the confounding effects of sex, age, and distance from territory, we found no significant effect of crown UV reflectance on dominance. Consistent with this result, we also found no relation between crown UV reflectance and over-winter survival. We conclude that the structurally based UV reflectance of the blue tit crown feathers plays little role in competition between individuals during winter despite its importance as a cue in mate choice.     

Effect of potential HONO sources on peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) formation in eastern China in winter

As an important secondary photochemical pollutant, peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) has been studied over decades, yet its simulations usually underestimate the corresponding observations, especially in polluted areas. Recent observations in north China found unusually high concentrations of PAN during wintertime heavy haze events, but the current model still cannot reproduce the observations, and researchers speculated that nitrous acid (HONO) played a key role in PAN formation. For the first time we systematically assessed the impact of potential HONO sources on PAN formation mechanisms in eastern China using the Weather Research and Forecasting/Chemistry (WRF-Chem) model in February of 2017. The results showed that the potential HONO sources significantly improved the PAN simulations, remarkably accelerated the RO_x (sum of hydroxyl, hydroperoxyl, and organic peroxy radicals) cycles, and resulted in 80%–150% enhancements of PAN near the ground in the coastal areas of eastern China and 10%–50% enhancements in the areas around 35–40°N within 3 km during a heavy haze period. The direct precursors of PAN were aldehyde and methylglyoxal, and the primary precursors of PAN were alkenes with C > 3, xylenes, propene and toluene. The above results suggest that the potential HONO sources should be considered in regional and global chemical transport models when conducting PAN studies.     

红壤丘陵区冬闲稻田CH4和N2O排放通量的研究

CH4和N2O是与全球气候变化密切相关的2种主要温室气体,其排放规律以及减排措施已成为当前研究的热点。休闲期抛荒稻田普遍存在于我国西南和南方地区,而对于其CH4和N2O排放规律的研究还比较少。本实验选取江西红壤丘陵区进行观测,于稻田休闲期采用静态箱-气相色谱法进行原位观测,旨在探讨休闲期CH4和N2O的排放规律,可为制定减排措施提供一定的依据。研究结果表明：红壤丘陵区冬闲稻田CH4和N2O平均排放通量（以CH4和N2O-N计）分别为0.03mg.m-2.h-1和3.27μg.m-2.h-1。冬闲期CH4和N2O平均排放通量与土温、降雨量无明显线性关系（P〉0.05）。冬闲稻田排放CH4和N2O的综合温室效应（以CO2-eq计）为7.58 g.m-2,其中,CH4和N2O产生的温室效应（以CO2-eq计）分别为2.33和5.25 g.m-2。N2O排放量是冬闲稻田温室气体观测中不可忽视的部分。     

2022冬奥背景下京北地区绿色发展战略研究初探

随着经济的快速发展,人们逐步意识到依靠不断增加生产要素投入的粗放型经济发展模式已难以为继,绿色发展遂成为全球共识。作为北京生态涵养区的京北地区,在冬奥会和京津冀协同发展的机遇下,制定绿色发展战略,保护生态涵养功能,加快产业转型升级,促进经济、社会、环境协调发展,具有十分重要的意义。本文归纳总结了国际上绿色发展的借鉴经验,通过对京北地区经济发展现状和绿色发展SWOT的分析,设计出京北地区绿色发展基本框架,包括一个目标、三大战略、五项重点任务和五项保障措施。通过落实经济系统、社会系统和环境系统的三大战略措施,突破资源环境约束和共享绿色经济,最终实现京北地区的绿色跨越式发展。     

沈阳市冬季一次严重污染天气过程成因分析

为探讨沈阳市冬季重污染天气的初步成因。以2013年1月11日~16日沈阳市发生的一次严重污染天气为例,利用中国气象局的MICAPS系统和美国的HYSPLT模式,从污染形成的天气背景、污染物扩散受地形的影响情况以及外来污染物输送的气流轨迹等几方面综合分析,从而探讨此次严重污染过程的成因:长白山小高压和西部倒槽双重系统的控制下,地面吹东北风,风速较小,湿度大,不利于污染物的水平扩散;有较强接地逆温存在时,不利于污染物的垂直扩散,导致近地面污染物累积;受来自于北部和东北部低层气流的影响,将内蒙古、辽宁东北部的污染物携带到沈阳地区汇聚。     

中国典型冰雪旅游地开发模式及优化路径

北京冬奥会的筹办为中国冰雪旅游发展带来巨大契机,促进了冰雪旅游地的蓬勃发展。基于冰雪旅游地系统理论,构建了冰雪旅游地发展水平评价指标体系,并利用层次分析法、熵权法及加权Topsis法,对崇礼、亚布力、神农架、西岭雪山四个中国典型冰雪旅游地发展水平进行了测度。结果表明：崇礼冰雪旅游发展水平最高,亚布力次之,神农架及西岭雪山仍有待提升。基于此,提炼出四种典型冰雪旅游地开发模式,包括资源主导内驱模式、市场主导外驱模式、资源市场双核共驱模式以及资源市场政策综合齐驱模式。同时,从冰雪旅游地系统视角,提出了中国冰雪旅游地开发优化路径。研究有助于丰富冰雪旅游开发相关理论,为中国冰雪旅游地高质量发展提供智力支撑和案例借鉴。     

An application of Markov Decision Programming to ecologico-cybernetics—A decision method applied to the antifrost of winter wheat

Modern ecologico-cybernetic principle is of importance to decreasing damages in relation to agricultural productions. As an illustration of this, the authors studied some of the questions about the optimal policy of choosing actions for the antifrost measures of winter wheat by means of the finite-stage model of Markov Decision Programming (MDP). The related data came from the investigation results of the investigated region in the northeastern part of Henan, China. First, the authors give the states, ecologico-cybernetic action measures, transition probabilities and reward values in relation to these antifrost action measures of winter wheat crop. Second, the authors describe the principles and computational procedures of the ecologico-cybernetic decision-makings based on the finite-stage model of MDP. Third, a simple table applicable to the decision-making practice is given. Finally, we evaluate the results of this study, point out their shortcomings and suggest that this method is applicable to the other fields in relation to decreasing damage ecologico-cybernetics.