Determinants of Farmers’ Adoption of Improved Soil Conservation Technology in a Middle Mountain Watershed of Central Nepal

This study explores different socio-economic and institutional factors influencing the adoption of improved soil conservation technology (ISCT) on Bari land (Rainfed outward sloping terraces) in the Middle Mountain region of Central Nepal. Structured questionnaire survey and focus group discussion methods were applied to collect the necessary information from farm households. The logistic regression model predicted seven factors influencing the adoption of improved soil conservation technology in the study area including years of schooling of the household head, caste of the respondent, land holding size of the Bari land, cash crop vegetable farming, family member occupation in off farm sector, membership of the Conservation and Development Groups, and use of credit. The study showed that technology dissemination through multi-sectoral type community based local groups is a good option to enhance the adoption of improved soil conservation technology in the Middle Mountain farming systems in Nepal. Planners and policy makers should formulate appropriate policies and programs considering the farmers' interest, capacity, and limitation in promoting improved soil conservation technology for greater acceptance and adoption by the farmers.     

边际机会成本与自然资源定价浅析

采用边际机会成本理论,对自然资源定价的原理和方法进行阐述,并比较了各种方法在实际应用中的适用条件,以及相互之间的优劣,为自然资源开发中的环境损失估算提供理论支持.     

中国近海沉积物在生源要素循环中的功能

中国近海沉积物中生源要素的含量与其粒度、河流输入等诸多因素有关。一般沉积物粒度由粗到细 ,有机质含量由低到高 ,OC ,N ,P的含量递增 ,S和Si含量递减。沉积物的生物地球化学环境涉及到Eh ,pH ,温度 ,OC含量 ,Fe3 /Fe2 值 ,水动力条件 ,沉积物的颗粒大小和间隙水的S体系 ,以及生物扰动等因素 ,它们影响着沉积物中生源要素的早期成岩过程和循环。一般而言 ,中国近海沉积物—海水界面S2 -,HS-,H4SiO4,PO43 -,NH4 的扩散通量是从沉积物向上覆水 ,而SO42 -,HCO3 -,NO3 -,NO2 -的扩散通量从上覆水向沉积物中扩散。生物扰动对沉积物—海水界面生源要素的循环起重要作用。     

吉林古陆成岩背景及边缘金构造-成矿系统

吉林克拉通广泛出露的粗粒黑云长英片麻岩是以英云闪长岩为主的TTG深成侵入体 ,原始岩浆来自幔源物质的部分熔融作用 ,同源岩浆不同演化阶段形成多种岩石类型 (Gnbd、GnblⅠ、GnblⅡ ) ,后经变质构成统一古陆。古陆隆升 ,边缘滑脱和裂解并接受元古宙地层沉积。层间滑动和韧性剪切达上地幔 ,使部分太古宙黑云长英片麻岩被卷进地层 ,幔源物质加入成矿。这使人们打破原层控金矿的认识 ,将整个古陆边缘金矿床统归于构造 -成矿系统 ,依构造动力学特征的不同划分为三类 :离散型陆缘构造 -成矿系统 ,以中型金矿和Fe、Al、P、B为主 ;会聚型陆缘构造 -成矿系统 ,以金矿化和Ni、Cr为主 ;走滑型陆缘构造 -成矿系统 ,以大型金矿和Cu、Pb、Zn为主 ,该系统有助于全面认识构造特征和矿床分布规律 ,为区域成矿预测和勘查提供科学依据。     

矿产资源型城市工业路径依赖综合诊断方法——基于改进的柯布-道格拉斯生产函数

将矿产资源和生态环境要素纳入常规的柯布-道格拉斯（C-D）生产函数，构建资源-环境-经济综合诊断方法，并应用于以煤炭经济为主的鄂尔多斯市.结果显示，2001~2015年该市综合产出弹性为0.8158，呈规模报酬递减趋势；全市工业路径依赖于2001~2007年处于综合边际收益（MR_KLME）上升过程，2008~2015年进入MR_KLME下降过程.工业增长的生态环境成本明显升高，对MR_KLME起到显著减降作用，导致MR_KLME曲线拐点较常规C-D函数法提前约2~4a.对此，建议加大生态环境保护与治理力度、实施煤炭资源开发总量和强度“双控”等路径依赖破解措施.该方法可纠正由于未考虑资源和环境效应所产生的诊断偏差，有助于更加合理、准确地诊断特定资源型城市工业发展路径依赖的演化特点，并可据此提出有针对性的破解对策.     

Effectiveness of conservation easements in agricultural regions

Conservation easements are a standard technique for preventing habitat loss, particularly in agricultural regions with extensive cropland cultivation, yet little is known about their effectiveness. I developed a spatial econometric approach to propensity‐score matching and used the approach to estimate the amount of habitat loss prevented by a grassland conservation easement program of the U.S. federal government. I used a spatial autoregressive probit model to predict tract enrollment in the easement program as of 2001 based on tract agricultural suitability, habitat quality, and spatial interactions among neighboring tracts. Using the predicted values from the model, I matched enrolled tracts with similar unenrolled tracts to form a treatment group and a control group. To measure the program's impact on subsequent grassland loss, I estimated cropland cultivation rates for both groups in 2014 with a second spatial probit model. Between 2001 and 2014, approximately 14.9% of control tracts were cultivated and 0.3% of treated tracts were cultivated. Therefore, approximately 14.6% of the protected land would have been cultivated in the absence of the program. My results demonstrate that conservation easements can significantly reduce habitat loss in agricultural regions; however, the enrollment of tracts with low cropland suitability may constrain the amount of habitat loss they prevent. My results also show that spatial econometric models can improve the validity of control groups and thereby strengthen causal inferences about program effectiveness in situations when spatial interactions influence conservation decisions.     

制度变迁框架下的耕地生态环境变化研究

从制度安排的角度考察耕地生态环境．通过设计关于农业发展和耕地生态环境的相关指标,从理论和实证角度分析我国建国以来历次制度变迁对农民行为和耕地生态环境的影响。认为土地制度和其他制度决定农民对“用地”和“养地”行为的选择。分析结果表明,不同的制度安排对我国耕地的数量和质量变化呈现出不同效应,地权的稳定性和其他制度会影响农民的用地行为．从而影响耕地生态环境。所以．保护耕地既要严格控制农用地转为建设用地的总量。又要设计适宜的农地产权制度和其他制度以促进农民主动养护耕地。     

青岛大气气溶胶中氨基化合物的分布特征

氨基化合物是大气气溶胶和雨水中常被检出的一类有机氮化合物,由于其可作为生物生长直接的氮源,因此可能对海洋生态系统产生直接作用.利用2008年1～12月在青岛采集的66个总悬浮颗粒物样品,采用邻苯二甲醛/N-乙酰-L-半胱氨酸柱前衍生高效液相色谱法,分析了其中溶解态(DAC)和颗粒态氨基化合物(PAC)的浓度.气溶胶中DAC浓度为2.4～40.9nmol·m-3,在春季最高,夏季次之,秋季、冬季最低.PAC浓度为0.7～76.1nmol·m-3,呈现春季冬季秋季夏季的变化趋势.不同季节氨基化合物的组成不同.依据气团的后向轨迹,气溶胶样品可分为受北方陆源、南方陆源和海洋源影响,DAC和PAC在受南方陆源影响的气溶胶中浓度最高,北方陆源次之,海洋源气溶胶中最低.不同来源的气溶胶中氨基化合物的组成不同,蛋白质类氨基化合物对总氨基化合物的贡献在海洋源气溶胶中最高,在南方源气溶胶中最低.     

Trends and issues in land and water resources management: Setting the agenda for change

The classical model of a paradigm shift is used to explore changes that are occurring in public lands and water resources management. Recent policy developments suggest that the traditional paradigm, which is characterized by sustained yield, is in the process of being invalidated. While no new paradigm has been fully accepted, the emerging paradigm does appear to be based on two principles: ecosystem management and collaborative decision making. Implementation of these two principles is likely to require extensive revision of traditional management practices and institutions. Failure to address these issues could result in adoption of the rhetoric of change without any lasting shift in management practices or professional attitudes.     

AGGREGATE MARGINAL RETURNS FROM WESTERN IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE1

ABSTRACT: Pressure is increasing in the western United States to reallocate water from irrigated agriculture to other competitive uses. Since water is normally allocated through water rights and not necessarily by the price system, the question of economic efficiency is a continual concern. Study results show that returns per acre-foot of water used in western irrigation are quite high and are closely tied to the livestock industry. Returns per acre-foot of water used for crops ranged from $60 to $1,500. When water was used to support livestock, returns per acre-foot ranged from $100 to $600. Clearly, losses of water supply that reduced irrigation production could also lower farm income significantly. Estimated returns also show what alternative uses would have to pay for water under competitive market conditions. Production elasticities are also shown for various states.