Farmers' perceptions of constraints to plantain production in Ghana

SUMMARY

Plantain (Musa AAB), a primary food crop in Ghana, is a key component in sustainable agricultural systems in high rainfall zones. Recently, there has been a substantial yield decline and reduction in plantation life. To elucidate the context in which intervention strategies should be developed, a Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) was conducted at five villages in the major plantain-producing belt of Ghana. The importance of plantain as a preferred food was confirmed, although farmers tended to sell plantain for cash income, using cheaper, less preferred alternatives for home consumption. Farmers identified decreasing soil fertility, the high cost of labour for weeding, pests and diseases, lack of good quality planting material and marketing-related issues as the major production constraints. Due to declining productivity in less fertile regions, plantain has been replaced with other food crops such as cassava and maize. Farmers overestimated the importance of insect pests but were unaware of the extensive damage that could be caused by nematodes and the foliar disease, black sigatoka. They observed, however, that pest damage is more severe when soil fertility is poor. Clearly, integrated pest management is likely to be most effective when practiced within the context of cropping systems management; sustainable strategies that are being developed for resource-limited plantain farmers in Ghana are discussed.     

Participatory assessment of soil degradation in the uplands of southwestern Tanzania: Implications for sustainable agriculture and rural livelihoods

Rural household food insecurity and poverty are closely linked to soil degradation in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, causes, degradation processes, coping strategies and need for interventions may vary from one place to another. This study was conducted in Mbinga District, SW Tanzania, to investigate causes and biophysical processes of soil degradation; effects on livelihoods, coping strategies and entry points for interventions. Implications for sustainable production and rural livelihoods are discussed. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), household surveys using a short open-ended questionnaire and biophysical exploration were the research tools used. Soil fertility depletion resulting from continuous cropping and erosion losses is the main form of soil degradation. Maize yield was 57% lower in fertility-depleted farms than in productive farms. Soil pH, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and CEC accounted for 79% of variations in maize yield. Organic soil fertility amelioration was a common strategy used by smallholders. Use of beneficial tree and shrub fallows is the most environmentally, economically and socially promising improvement that can be used to build on the existing strengths of farmers' knowledge and strategies. Subsidy for the right type of fertilizers, infrastructure improvement and education of farmers on proper use of fertilizers should significantly contribute to improved and sustainable production and livelihoods.     

推荐管理措施情景下黄淮海地区旱地土壤固碳潜力模拟研究——以河南省获嘉县为例

农田土壤固碳不仅可以减缓气候变化,而且能够提高土壤质量。推荐管理措施,如少、免耕和秸秆还田等,具有促进农田土壤有机碳（SOC）增加的巨大潜力。旱地占中国农田面积的70%以上,在固定大气CO2方面可以发挥重要作用。本研究基于黄淮海地区的一个旱地土壤肥力长期监测点数据并运用Century模型模拟了监测期间（1998～2007）土壤有机碳动态变化。在此基础上,设计了1种基础管理措施情景和4种推荐管理措施情景并模拟了它们未来20年的固碳潜力。模拟结果表明,监测期间监测点土壤有机碳密度增加2.72 Mg.hm-2,年均增加0.27 Mg.hm-2。土壤有机碳的增加主要是因为氮肥施用量的增加。模型验证结果表明,Century模型很好地模拟了监测点土壤有机碳的动态变化。各推荐管理措施均具有较大的固碳潜力,其中50%秸秆还田是比少、免耕更有效的固碳措施,而少耕＋50%秸秆还田的固碳潜力最大。因此,在黄淮海地区旱地推广实施推荐管理措施是促进农田土壤固碳的有效策略,有助于减缓大气CO2浓度升高和保障国家粮食安全。     

宁夏引黄灌区农田土壤酶活性及其空间变异

采集了同一地点不同土地利用方式,及不同地点不同典型土地利用类型下银川平原的灌淤土样品,在分析了土壤基本理化性质的基础上,用奈氏比色法、苯磷酸二钠比色法和高锰酸钾滴定法,分别测定了宁夏引黄灌区农田不同利用方式下土壤的磷酸酶、脲酶、过氧化氢酶的活性状况,并对土壤酶活性与土壤的基本理化性质的相关性进行了相关分析。结果表明,土地利用方式对三种酶活性有很大的影响。12年果园磷酸酶活性最高,常年旱田脲酶和过氧化氢酶活性最高,而盐化旱田及常年淹水的稻田,三种酶活性都很低。脲酶活性与土壤全氮之间显著正相关,全磷与三种酶活性都极显著相关,三种酶之间达到显著或极显著正相关关系。表明磷酸酶、脲酶和过氧化氢酶活性的大小可以敏感地表征宁夏引黄灌区土壤肥力和生产力的高低。     

Effects of organic and inorganic fertilisation on soil nutrient dynamics in a Savannah region (DR Congo)

Very few studies have considered the residual effect of inorganic and organic fertilisation on oxisol chemistry and plant productivity while studying the response of maize to fresh fertiliser application. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of five treatments of inorganic and organic fertilisers on maize productivity and soil fertility under field conditions in a Savannah region. The trials were conducted from 2009 to 2011 and the treatments included inorganic nitrogen–phosphorus (NP), Entada abyssinica, Tithonia diversifolia, inorganic NP combined with E. abyssinica, and inorganic NP combined with T. diversifolia, and no fertilised plots. The combination of NP with T. diversifolia or E. abyssinica leaves resulted in the highest increase in grain yields during the first crop season.The positive residual effects of fertilisers on maize grain yield were strong and significant in the immediate succeeding season and decreased during the second year following fertilisation. The highest residual effect was observed in plots fertilised with E. abyssinica combined with NP, followed by T. diversifolia combined with NP, and E. abyssinica and T. diversifolia without NP, respectively. The lowest residual effect was observed in plots fertilised with inorganic NP. Analytical results revealed that total nutrients in the soil matrix are not dominantly in forms available for plant uptake. There were significant residual effects for total potassium in the site with low initial nutrient levels. The soil content of bioavailable phosphorus, nickel, zinc, copper, and cobalt was in general below detectable levels.     

耕作方式对华北冬小麦田土壤微生物生物量碳分布特征的影响

土壤微生物生物量碳（SMBC）反映了土壤有机碳（SOC）情况,其值大小代表了土壤肥力的高低,研究不同耕作方式SMBC的变化特征及其影响因素具有重要意义。试验于2001年在中国科学院栾城农业生态系统实验站开始,试验设置翻耕（CT）、旋耕（RT）、免耕（NT）三个处理。利用熏蒸提取-容量分析法研究了不同耕作处理2007～2008年冬小麦生育期的SMBC分布特征及影响因素。结果表明SMBC具有时空变化特征：在冬小麦生育期中,各SMBC处理均随着时间波动起伏,并在小麦返青期和扬花期达到峰值;空间分布上SMBC含量随土壤深度的增加而降低。不同耕作处理间差异显著,0～5 cm土层SMBC以NT最高,CT最低;5～10 cm土层RT与CT相当,NT最低;10～20 cm土层以CT最高,NT最低;20～30 cm各处理均较低,NT亦为最低。对不同处理SMBC层化率分析显示：NT具有明显的表层富集现象;RT处理0～10 cm SMBC分布均匀;CT处理0～20 cm SMBC分布均匀。对SMBC的影响因素分析表明：土壤有机碳是SMBC空间分布的主要影响因素,二者呈显著正相关。而土壤温度和土壤含水量是影响SMBC季节变化的主要外界因素。     

温州市粮食生产潜力及土地人口承载力研究

在光能生产潜力计算的基础上,经过温度、降水、土壤肥力和土壤质量等自然因素的订正,分析了温州市的土地生产潜力、粮食生产潜力。通过对温州市历年来主要粮食作物产量分析,采用产潜比增长速度法预测了２０００年和２０１０年的粮食产量,并据此计算了２０００年、２０１０年和潜在最大的人口承载量,指出温州市建立稳定协调可持续发展的人地关系的关键。     

Soil landscape constraint mapping for coastal land use planning using geographic information system

The aim of the study was to delineate soil landscape constraints to various land uses for urban and regional planning in the coastal areas of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Soil landscape units mapped at 1:100,000 or coarser were sub-divided into component facets using advanced terrain modelling techniques in a geographic information system (GIS). The output facet grids were further overlain and linked with relevant GIS layers and soil databases to derive soil landscape constraint ratings for various land use purposes such as residential development, cropping and grazing. The constraint ratings for a specific land use were calculated based on objective and rule-based assessments of soil and landscape features such as engineering hazards, intrinsic fertility, drainage and other parameters. A series of soil landscape constraint maps which portray specific land use capability have been produced for the NSW coast. The methodology developed in this study has been demonstrated to be efficient in delineating soil landscape constraints and there is over 90% agreement between the model outputs and the assessment by soil surveyors with local knowledge. The output maps show levels of unprecedented detail of soil and landscape constraint for the coast of NSW and can be readily interpreted by land use planners and land managers for sustainable land use decision making practices.     

保护性耕作对土壤养分及有机碳库的影响

以稻草覆盖免耕方式稻田冬种马铃薯(Solanum tuberosum L.)为例,研究了保护性耕作对土壤养分以及有机碳库的影响.结果表明:保护性耕作能显著增加表层土层的养分含量,土壤氮素含量比传统耕作增加0.81%～7.24%,磷素含量增加14.95%～19.21%,钾素含量增加0.57%～15.40%,且全氮、全磷、全钾含量与传统耕作之间均达到了极显著差异水平,除碱解氮含量与传统耕作之间差异不显著外,速效磷与速效钾含量与传统耕作之间达到了显著差异水平与极显著差异水平;保护性耕作能增加土壤总有机碳与活性有机碳含量,提高土壤碳库管理指数,0～10 cm土层土壤的碳库管理指数分别比传统耕作高出9.10%、13.95%,10～20 cm土层则比传统耕作略低.因此保护性耕作能使土壤朝着有利于土壤质量提高的方向发展.两个保护性耕作处理:免耕稻草覆盖(8 cm)、免耕覆盖稻草(8 cm)后盖黑色地膜之间差异不大.     

Use of Maize (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> L.) for phytomanagement of Cd-contaminated soils: a critical review

Maize (Zea mays L.) has been widely adopted for phytomanagement of cadmium (Cd)-contaminated soils due to its high biomass production and Cd accumulation capacity. This paper reviewed the toxic effects of Cd and its management by maize plants. Maize could tolerate a certain level of Cd in soil while higher Cd stress can decrease seed germination, mineral nutrition, photosynthesis and growth/yields. Toxicity response of maize to Cd varies with cultivar/varieties, growth medium and stress duration/extent. Exogenous application of organic and inorganic amendments has been used for enhancing Cd tolerance of maize. The selection of Cd-tolerant maize cultivar, crop rotation, soil type, and exogenous application of microbes is a representative agronomic practice to enhance Cd tolerance in maize. Proper selection of cultivar and agronomic practices combined with amendments might be successful for the remediation of Cd-contaminated soils with maize. However, there might be the risk of food chain contamination by maize grains obtained from the Cd-contaminated soils. Thus, maize cultivation could be an option for the management of low- and medium-grade Cd-contaminated soils if grain yield is required. On the other hand, maize can be grown on Cd-polluted soils only if biomass is required for energy production purposes. Long-term field trials are required, including risks and benefit analysis for various management strategies aiming Cd phytomanagement with maize.     

苏南稻田土壤持续生产力与种植制度关系研究

研究了苏南稻田不同种植制度与土壤持续生产力的关系。维持土壤持续生产力的实质是维持土壤肥力，多熟种植制度养分产出增加，加大了土壤养分的消耗，但有机物质生产增加，有利于有机物质归还和土壤有机质平衡。在多熟种植制度中间套插种绿肥等豆科养地作物和油菜、蔬菜等培肥作物，结合秸秆还田和轮作，将能维持稻田多熟制的土壤持续生产力。     

耕地土壤碳固存的措施与潜力

土壤CO2排放与土壤退化、土壤有机质(SOC)含量减少和土壤质量下降密切相关。耕地具有较大的碳固存潜力。通过采用最佳管理措施(BMPs)和进行土壤修复来提高土壤质量，能增加SOC含量和提高土壤生产力，并能部分起到减缓温室效应的作用。文章从土壤固碳的机制入手，系统总结了在耕作土壤碳固存方面的研究。从土壤侵蚀控制、退化土壤修复、保护性耕作、残落物管理，改善农作物制度等方面，论述了耕地的固碳潜力，并提出了一系列实现碳固存的措施。最后估算出耕地土壤总的固碳潜力为0．73～0．87Pg/a。研究表明,在替代性能源开发之前，耕地碳固存是一项切实可行的措施。     

Assessment of land degradation and its impact on crop production in the Dry Zone of Myanmar

Land degradation in terms of soil degradation is a major environmental issue posing threat to sustainable livelihood in the semi-arid region of Central Myanmar. However, the studies on soil degradation status and its impacts in this region are very scanty. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of land degradation on crop production both in terms of area and yield in the Dry Zone of Myanmar. Remote sensing and geographic information system-based modelling was utilized to assess and map soil erosion rates. Household survey was conducted to understand the causes of land degradation and its impacts on crop productivity and livelihoods. It has been found out that the current rate of soil erosion ranged from 0 to 114 t ha^–1 yr^–1, and that the average rate of soil erosion increased from 14.2 to 54.6 t ha^–1 yr^–1 over a period from 2000 to 2012. The major types of land degradation were physical and chemical soil degradation. Farmers identified topographic condition, soil types, improper crop management practices and climatic factors as the main causes of soil erosion. The observed crop yields of monsoon rice, groundnut, sesame and cotton in the highly degraded area were 3–12 times lower compared with the yields of these crops grown in less degraded area. Livelihoods of the farmers in the high-degraded area were affected by crop yield reduction, increased cultivation cost and increased uncultivable land area. The impact of land degradation on crop production was dependent on the severity of degradation. This suggests that advanced conservation measures are immediately required and the supportive policy strategies need to be implemented to educate farmers and to strengthen extension services for sustainable land management in the Dry Zone of Myanmar.     

Using plants for health: Indigenous knowledge in health care in a tribal region of Bihar,India

While the potential of indigenous knowledge for health care is fully recognised in the literature and by many health professionals, the practices of so many indigenous peoples go unrecorded and untested. Indigenous knowledge remains essentially untapped, an unwritten resource involving information, language and skills in many groups, languages, cultures and environments. An attempt is made in this paper to identify selected indigenous health technologies in a tribal area of Bihar State, India; to describe the treatments, their application and preparation; and to link the traditional practice with the relevant scientific information to test or determine the validity of the practices. These practices were found to be effective in the treatment of a variety of health problems, and most were also scientifically confirmed. The paper argues, however, that other plant uses practised by tribal people still need to be explored: in order to popularise more widely the authenticated practices; to preserve indigenous knowledge; to integrate or blend it with scientific knowledge so that health professionals and healthcare users may benefit from a wider range of healthcare strategies which are environmentally unthreatening.     

A roadmap for knowledge exchange and mobilization research in conservation and natural resource management

Scholars across all disciplines have long been interested in how knowledge moves within and beyond their community of peers. Rapid environmental changes and calls for sustainable management practices mean the best knowledge possible is needed to inform decisions, policies, and practices to protect biodiversity and sustainably manage vulnerable natural resources. Although the conservation literature on knowledge exchange (KE) and knowledge mobilization (KM) has grown in recent years, much of it is based on context‐specific case studies. This presents a challenge for learning cumulative lessons from KE and KM research and thus effectively using knowledge in conservation and natural resources management. Although continued research on the gap between knowledge and action is valuable, overarching conceptual frameworks are now needed to enable summaries and comparisons across diverse KE‐KM research. We propose a knowledge‐action framework that provides a conceptual roadmap for future research and practice in KE/KM with the aim of synthesizing lessons learned from contextual case studies and guiding the development and testing of hypotheses in this domain. Our knowledge‐action framework has 3 elements that occur at multiple levels and scales: knowledge production (e.g., academia and government), knowledge mediation (e.g., knowledge networks, actors, relational dimension, and contextual dimension), and knowledge‐based action (e.g., instrumental, symbolic, and conceptual). The framework integrates concepts from the sociology of science in particular, and serves as a guide to further comprehensive understanding of knowledge exchange and mobilization in conservation and sustainable natural resource management.     

Social network effects on the adoption of sustainable natural resource management practices in Ethiopia

Soil loss, nutrient depletion and land degradation contribute to the skimpy performance of smallholder agriculture and pose serious policy challenges in developing countries. Surprisingly, natural resource management practices that enhance sustainability while improving productivity have not been fully adopted despite continuous efforts of promotion. Using data collected from 2901 farm households in the Farmers Innovation Fund (FIF) of the World Bank, this study examines factors delaying adoption of resource management and farming practices from the perspective of social learning and network size. Specifically, the study aims at identifying the extent to which differences in network structure matter in providing opportunities to learn about new ways of sustainable resource management practices using regression analysis. The result confirms that social network size plays a significant role in enhancing adoption of natural resource management practices. Moreover, external sources of information such as extension provision play a crucial role in enhancing adoption of resource management practices. Thus, future endeavours should link extension services to informal networks to enhance adoption of sustainable natural resource management practices.     

施肥对落叶松人工林林地土壤肥力的可持续性的影响

以14年生和34年生落叶松人工林为研究对象，对该林分所在的白浆化暗棕壤林地进行施肥试验。设置了9个施肥处理和1个无肥对照，运用土壤生物和养分指标讨论了不同林龄落叶松人工林林地土壤肥力可持续性指数。结果表明：(1)不同施肥处理对土壤肥力可持续性指数影响不同；(2)同一施肥处理对不同林龄的土壤可持续性指数影响也不同；在林木生长最快的幼龄期施肥，提高土壤肥力可持续性指数的效果要明显高于在林木近熟期施肥；(3)施用有机肥有利于提高生物管理指数，单施化肥可增加土壤氮、磷的管理指数；(4)有机肥和化肥混施是提高林地土壤可持续性指数的最好施肥方式。     

江苏省沿江高沙土地区种植业可持续发展的技术途径研究

根据多年的生产实践经验和定位试验结果，提出了江苏省沿江高沙土地区多熟种植制、合理轮耕制、用养结合的培肥制和高产高效的栽培制相结合的种植业可持续发展的一体化技术体系，研究结果对我国中低产土壤地区种植业的持续发展具有重要意义。     

保护性耕作对土壤有机碳、氮储量的影响

以辽宁彰武县保护性耕作示范推广基地土壤为研究对象,通过实地调查和取样分析,对比研究了传统犁耕和6年免耕秸秆覆盖条件下的土壤有机碳、氮储量,为广泛评价保护性耕作的土壤碳、氮截获功能和合理选择农业耕作方式提供科学依据。研究结果表明,与犁耕相比,免耕覆盖不同程度地提高了0-5cm和5～15cm土层的有机碳、氮储量,对15cm以下土层没有影响,从而增加了0～100em土体总的有机碳、氮储量,证明了免耕覆盖的土壤碳、氮截获功能,年均截获率分别为1．37Mg·hm-2和0．84Mg·hm-2有机碳、氮在犁耕土壤0～30cm剖面的垂直分布较为均匀,免耕覆盖后则发生明显的分层,产生表聚现象。     

免耕生态系统中土壤动物对土壤养分影响的研究

对紫色水稻土自然免耕生态系统中土壤动物群落结构的变化及其对土壤养分的影响进行了调查研究。结果表明．水稻土免耕耕作制度有利于土壤动物的生长繁殖．并能改善土壤化学性质。土壤动物平均密度是垄作免耕＞垄作常耕＞平作免耕＞平作常耕。免耕土壤中有效氮、有效磷、有效钾和有机质含量均分别高于常耕土壤。