Sustainability of farmers' soil fertility management practices: a case study in the North China Plain

To ensure regional self-sufficiency and adequate rural livelihoods in the North China Plain (NCP), tremendous efforts were made over the last two decades by the Chinese government to raise the productivity of crops, despite increasing pressure on the land caused by a growing population. Emphasis was placed on high external input use, especially for wheat, maize and cotton, ignoring the particularities and limitations of the natural resource base. This study assesses the sustainability of current soil fertility management practices on the basis of selected location-specific indicators, such as fertilizer use, soil pH, soil organic matter content, levels of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in the soil, and identifies determining factors of the yield and environmental impacts of inputs use. Data used for the analysis were gathered from soil tests, groundwater and chive plant tests, household surveys, and statistical yearbooks. Stepwise multiple regression analysis is applied to determine factors affecting the yields. The study revealed unbalanced use of nutrients. Organic fertilizers (manure, crop residues) and K are insufficiently applied, whereas N and P are considerably overused in comparison with recommended doses. The intensive cropping in the area using high-input technologies -particularly fertilizer- has resulted in a remarkable general enhancement of crop productivity and improvement of soil fertility over the years. The yield of wheat and maize has increased 173 and 180 kg ha(-1) annually from 1982 to 2000, respectively and soil fertility status also improved over the years and the values of the selected indicators are within the borderline for sustainability. Irrigation water, FYM application, and total labor used during the cultivation season (with the exception of cotton and chive) for production are the main factors determining the yields of four major crops under study, while popularly and overly used N did not appear to be a significant factor affecting the yield. Its overuse, however, leads to leaching of nitrate into groundwater and nitrate enrichment of vegetables. Of 20 groundwater samples, 16 showed nitrate levels between 55 and 180 mg l(-1), which exceeds recommendations for drinking water (相似文献   

西安市生态经济系统的能值分析与发展评估

运用能值理论与方法,分析了西安2000-2005年的人口承载量、人均能值、能值投入率、能值货币比率、电力能值比、环境负荷率、净能值产出率和可持续发展指数8个指标及其变化趋势,并与其他国家和地区的相关指标进行比较研究.结果表明,西安市经济发展主要是依赖当地资源,能值自给率达93.35%,人口数量已经超出环境承载量,未来加强优势资源的开发、引进外界资源、控制人口规模、转变经济增长方式、减少与防治污染才是实现其持续性发展的必由之路.     

Emergy Evaluation of the Natural Value of Water Resources in Chinese Rivers

Emergy theory and method were used to evaluate the economy of China and the contributions of water resources in Chinese rivers to the real wealth of the Chinese economy. The water cycle and energy conversion were reviewed, and an emergy method for evaluating the natural value of water resources in a river watershed was developed. The indices for China calculated from the emergy evaluation were close to those of developing countries. Despite a small surplus in its balance of payments, China had a net emergy loss from its trade in 2002. The efficiency of Chinese natural resource use was still not high and did not match its economic growth rate. Furthermore, the Chinese economy placed a stress on its ecological environment and natural resources. Several indices of Chinese rivers from the emergy evaluation were close to those of average global river water. The main average indices of Chinese rivers were transformity (4.17 × 10⁴ sej/J), emergy per volume (2.05 × 10¹¹ sej/m³), and emdollar per volume (0.06 $/m³). The total value of all the rivers’ water made up 13.0% of the GDP of China in 2002, and that of water consumption accounted for 2.1%. The value of the water resources in the Haihe-luanhe River (11.39 × 10⁴ sej/J) was the highest, followed by the Yellow River (10.27 × 10⁴ sej/J), while the rivers in Southwest China had the lowest values (2.92 × 10⁴ sej/J).     

System Dynamics to Sustainable Water Resources Management in the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer Under Water Supply Uncertainty1

Abstract: Water supply uncertainty continues to threaten the reliability of regional water resources in the western United States. Climate variability and water dispute potentials induce water managers to develop proactive adaptive management strategies to mitigate future hydroclimate impacts. The Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer in the state of Idaho is also facing these challenges in the sense that population growth and economic development strongly depend on reliable water resources from underground storage. Drought and subsequent water conflict often drive scientific research and political agendas because water resources availability and aquifer management for a sustainable rural economy are of great interest. In this study, a system dynamics approach is applied to address dynamically complex problems with management of the aquifer and associated surface‐water and groundwater interactions. Recharge and discharge dynamics within the aquifer system are coded in an environmental modeling framework to identify long‐term behavior of aquifer responses to uncertain future hydrological variability. The research shows that the system dynamics approach is a promising modeling tool to develop sustainable water resources planning and management in a collaborative decision‐making framework and also to provide useful insights and alternative opportunities for operational management, policy support, and participatory strategic planning to mitigate future hydroclimate impacts in human dimensions.     

我国不同海域的大气腐蚀环境评估

本文利用碳钢在我国不同海域海洋大气环境为期1年的腐蚀速率数据和不同海域大气环境的温度、湿度、氯离子沉积速率、SO₂沉积速率等环境因素数据,对我国渤海、东海、南海不同海域的大气腐蚀环境进行准确评级,结果表明,黄渤海和东海海域海洋大气腐蚀性等级相对较低,为C3或C4;南海海域海洋大气腐蚀性等级相对较高,为C5或CX。     

Water Dispatch Model for Middle Route of a South‐to‐North Water Transfer Project in China1

Chang, Jian‐xia, Yi‐min Wang, and Qiang Huang, 2011. Water Dispatch Model for Middle Route of a South‐to‐North Water Transfer Project in China. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 47(1):70‐80. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2010.00478.x Abstract: The objective of this paper is to present a simulation model to address the water dispatch problem of the south‐to‐north water transfer project for the Middle Route system in China. Reasonable rules and a system network structure are established. This model consists of five modules: (1) a data‐processing module, (2) an initial control module, (3) a multisource simulation dispatch module, (4) a system identification module, and (5) a revision module. Water allocated to each province and city along the route is obtained by simulation, and the long‐term operation results show that water supply reliabilities are significantly improved if the transferred water is jointly dispatched with the local water resources.     

The South to North Water Diversions in China: Review and Comments

This paper presents a brief review of the South to North Water Diversion Project (STNWDP) in China. Basic information about the geography, climate, water resource, water pollution and social situation are provided in order to understand the decision by the Chinese government on the expedited implementation of the STNWDP. The potential problems associated with the STNWDP are discussed. It is proposed that the ultimate objective is to help improve the water environment in north China, rather than to simply meet the ever-increasing water demand and to produce more sewage, and that water price, investment policy and engineering operations are important for achieving this objective. Legislation is needed in the long run because this project involves a large number of districts. The STNWDP, together with global climate warming, will enlarge the temporal variability of water discharge from the Yangtze into the sea and therefore have far-reaching effects on the freshwater resource in areas around the Yangtze delta.     

Modeling Megacity Drinking Water Security under a DSS Framework in a Tidal River at the North Pearl River Delta,China

A modeling study was undertaken under a decision support system (DSS) for drinking water security in the Foshan section of the Beijiang River, a typical tidal river in the North Pearl River Delta. The DSS included a database layer, application support layer, and an application layer. As an integral part of the DSS application support layer, an integrated modeling system was developed to simulate hydrodynamics. The balance of dissolved oxygen and toxicants was based on an environmental fluid dynamics code and a water quality analysis simulation program (WASP) modeling framework. Model calibration and validation was undertaken using monitoring data in normal hydrological conditions. Four scenarios for the environmental management of water, including current water temp‐spatial feature analysis, control of pollution sources, and emergency response, were designed and analyzed in the DSS. The results indicated that the tide downstream has a distinct influence on hydrodynamics and pollutant diffusion, and the DSS could be used to design effective schemes to reduce pollutant discharges and provide emergency responses for ensuring drinking water security.     

Field Testing the Riparian Ecosystem Management Model on a Riparian Buffer in the North Carolina Upper Coastal Plain

The riparian ecosystem management model (REMM) was field tested using five years (2005‐2009) of measured hydrologic and water quality data on a riparian buffer located in the Tar‐Pamlico River Basin, North Carolina. The buffer site received NO₃‐N loading from an agricultural field that was fertilized with inorganic fertilizer. Field results showed the buffer reduced groundwater NO₃‐N concentration moving to the stream over a five‐year period. REMM was calibrated hydrologically using daily field‐measured water table depths (WTDs), and with monthly NO₃‐N concentrations in groundwater wells. Results showed simulated WTDs and NO₃‐N concentrations in good agreement with measured values. The mean absolute error and Willmott's index of agreement for WTDs varied from 13‐45 cm and 0.72‐0.92, respectively, while the root mean square error and Willmott's index of agreement for NO₃‐N concentrations ranged from 1.04‐5.92 mg/l and 0.1‐0.86, respectively, over the five‐year period. REMM predicted plant nitrogen (N) uptake and denitrification were within ranges reported in other riparian buffer field studies. The calibrated and validated REMM was used to simulate 33 years of buffer performance at the site. Results showed that on average the buffer reduced NO₃‐N concentrations from 12 mg/l at the field edge to 0.7 mg/l at the stream edge over the simulation period, while the total N and NO₃‐N load reductions from the field edge to the stream were 77 and 82%, respectively.     

Emergy evaluation perspectives of a multipurpose dam proposal in Korea

The 'emergy' concept was used to evaluate the economy of Korea and the contributions of a multipurpose dam proposal to the real wealth of the Korean economy. Emergy is defined as the available energy of one kind previously used up directly and indirectly to make a product or service. The indices for Korea calculated from the emergy evaluation were close to those of developed countries. Even though its monetary balance of payments was negative in 1997, the economy of Korea showed positive balance in trade when exports and imports were expressed in emergy. The emergy evaluation showed that the Korean economy places a large stress on its environment. Water supply and generation of electricity were the most important contributions of the proposed dam in terms of emergy; 46.5 and 45.1% of the total benefit, respectively. Flood control contributed 8.4% of the total benefit. Major costs associated with the proposed dam were from sediments (33.2% of the total cost), construction services (22.8%), and social disruption of the region (21.6%). In terms of emergy, the ratio of benefits to costs of the proposed dam was 2.78 if sediments are not included, and 1.86 if sediments are included, which result in more benefits than costs in both cases. The benefit to cost ratio of the dam was larger than that of the current system (1.42) without the dam whether sediments are included in the total cost or not. The environmental stress of the proposed dam was considerably lower than that of the Korean economy, but the dam might increase stress on local environment.     

构建我国饮用水资源保护中的公益诉讼制度

本文在对饮用水资源保护法律法规中引入公益诉讼制度的必要性分析的基础上,提出在饮用水资源保护法律调控中构建公益诉讼制度的具体措施,为我国饮用水资源法制建设进行了有益的探索.     

创新我国饮用水资源保护之法律制度

本文阐述了饮用水资源保护法律制度创新的必要性，并提出了法律制度创新的主要内容。     

我国水资源可持续利用中的经济刺激制度

本文在对完善我国水资源可持续利用中的经济刺激制度的必要性进行分析的基础上，从建立明确、可交易的水权和水市场制度，制定合理的水资源价格税费制度以及建立水资源可持续利用责任保险制度等几方面提出完善我国水资源可持续利用中的经济刺激法律制度的具体措施，为我国水资源法制建设进行了有益探索。     

我国跨区域水环境行政管理体制之检讨与完善

我国对水资源实施的是流域管理与行政区域管理相结合的管理体制。流域管理机构的地位不明确,在监督管理中没有完全独立的权限,基本上属于一种协调机构,因此完善我国的跨区域水环境行政管理体制具有重要的现实意义。从尽早完善水环境保护管理体制立法、明确各环境监督管理部门的具体职责、健全环境保护跨部门以及中央与地方的协调机制、成立跨区域环境保护管理协调机构、明确流域管理机构在流域水环境保护中的行政执法地位等方面作出了探讨,以利于更好地保护跨区域的水资源。     

我国水质在线监测系统的发展与展望

阐述了我国水质在线监测技术的现状和发展历程,介绍了水质在线监测系统的前沿,分析了我国水质在线监测科技水平与发达国家的差距及存在的问题等,指出了我国水质在线监测技术面,临的机遇与挑战以及今后的发展方向。     

EXCEL在原水水质评价中的应用

采用综合水质指数法对原水水质评价的过程中,水质指数的计算十分繁琐,出错率高,且不易校核。本文运用Excel电子表格处理软件自动计算水质指数,可以大大减小水质指数计算的工作量,明显提高工作效率。     

柴达木盆地地下水环境质量评价

文章根据地下水调查的水质分析和动态监测资料，参照地下水质量标准和生活饮用水卫生标准，对柴达木盆地地下水水质状况进行了综合评价。结果表明，柴达木盆地地下水质量状况总体较好，但在一些局部地区地下水已受到污染。其中，可直接利用的地下水主要富集于盆地戈壁砾石带前缘地区，不可直接利用的地下水（咸卤水）主要分布于盆地中心地带，地下水污染呈点状或线状分布于人口密集的城镇及与工矿企业排污相关的地区。     

旱三熟带状轮作小春预留行栽油菜技术

本文根据南充地区冬春气候特点,并针对旱地实行的中厢分带间套种植小春预留行未充分利用的状况,从1984年开始在预留行进行了栽油菜研究。结果表明,一般亩增菜籽30～40kg,增加产值34～45元,纯收入21～32元,并找出了适于预留行栽植的油菜品种和配套栽培技术。     

Criteria for the Assessment of Sustainable Water Management

Pressure on the world’s water resources is increasing, restraining social and economic development in many countries, and threatening ecological values in others. In order to manage water resources in a more sustainable manner, new planning methodologies/processes for river basin management need to be developed. This study attempts to construct a set of useable normative criteria for the analysis and evaluation of such processes. The criteria were designed as a response to the lack of deductive approaches in the evaluation of methodologies and working procedures used in the context of river basin management, making it possible to highlight their potential for sustainable development. The criteria are based on the twin concepts of participation and integration. These concepts function as well-established dimensions of both sustainable development and sustainable river basin management, and they are of significant methodological relevance. A synthesis of the key aspects connected to the two concepts is undertaken, based on a broad literature review. Focus is laid on how in methodological terms, and in relation to regional water management, to achieve participation and integration in a decision-making or planning process. The criteria are concerned with how knowledge and values are integrated into the planning process and how commitment, legitimacy, or acceptance for the resulting plan is generated.     

英国环境影响评价制度演进对中国的启示

本研究采用文件分析和文献研究的方法对英国环评制度的历史演进进行剖析,并从环评产生背景与使用目的、制度基本特征、相关制度间衔接、制度演进方式、灵活多样性五个方面与中国进行了比较分析。研究建议,中国要把握生态文明建设契机推动环评制度改革,推动环评去审批化回归环评本质,构建内嵌式和结合式环评制度,推动环评制度与规划体系融合,完善反馈路径和机制,加强环评导则和指导文件编制。