Soil management practices for sustainable agro-ecosystems

A doubling of the global food demand projected for the next 50 years poses a huge challenge for the sustainability of both food production and global and local environments. Today’s agricultural technologies may be increasing productivity to meet world food demand, but they may also be threatening agricultural ecosystems. For the global environment, agricultural systems provide both sources and sinks of greenhouse gases (GHGs), which include carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O). This paper addresses the importance of soil organic carbon (SOC) for agro-ecosystems and GHG uptake and emission in agriculture, especially SOC changes associated with soil management. Soil management strategies have great potential to contribute to carbon sequestration, since the carbon sink capacity of the world’s agricultural and degraded soil is 50–66% of the historic carbon loss of 42–72 Pg (1 Pg=10¹⁵ g), although the actual carbon storage in cultivated soil may be smaller if climate changes lead to increasing mineralization. The importance of SOC in agricultural soil is, however, not controversial, as SOC helps to sustain soil fertility and conserve soil and water quality, and organic carbon compounds play a variety of roles in the nutrient, water, and biological cycles. No-tillage practices, cover crop management, and manure application are recommended to enhance SOC storage and to contribute to sustainable food production, which also improves soil quality. SOC sequestration could be increased at the expense of increasing the amount of non-CO₂ GHG emissions; however, soil testing, synchronized fertilization techniques, and optimum water control for flooding paddy fields, among other things, can reduce these emissions. Since increasing SOC may also be able to mitigate some local environmental problems, it will be necessary to have integrated soil management practices that are compatible with increasing SOM management and controlling soil residual nutrients. Cover crops would be a critical tool for sustainable soil management because they can scavenge soil residual nitrogen and their ecological functions can be utilized to establish an optimal nitrogen cycle. In addition to developing soil management strategies for sustainable agro-ecosystems, some political and social approaches will be needed, based on a common understanding that soil and agro-ecosystems are essential for a sustainable society.     

三峡库首地区土壤养分状况与年际变化

三峡库区长期以来人地矛盾突出,蓄水和移民搬迁使土地资源进一步减少,过度开发引起的土壤肥力下降和生态退化问题日趋严重。通过布点调查和土壤取样,对秭归县水田坝乡区域不同海拔高度和农业土地利用管理方式土壤养分状况及其变化趋势进行分析。结果表明: 研究区域内山地农业已普遍采用梯田进行保护性耕作,海拔600~700 m区域主要开辟为脐橙园,700~900 m区域山地主要种植常规作物;研究区域土壤有明显粗骨化和沙质化特性,其肥力特征是蓄水力偏弱,持水保肥性较差,但通气和透水性好,易耕作;研究区域土壤有机质含量偏低,中高海拔区域土壤有机质、全氮含量相对较高,而低海拔区域土壤全磷、全钾含量较高;坡改梯有利于改善土壤肥力状况,提高土壤氮磷养分含量;根据2005~2010年研究结果,研究区域土壤肥力退化趋势仍未得到控制,同时因水土流失和化肥大量使用,该区域大多数土壤有机质含量、全氮、全磷和全钾含量呈降低趋势,而土壤速效养分含量有增高趋势     

有机无机肥料对农业环境影响述评

论述了有机肥在中国的使用情况和对农业生产的作用、化肥对农产品质量的影响、化肥对土壤肥力的贡献、有机肥和化肥对大气环境和水体的影响。目前人们在对化肥使用的认识上普遍存在误区,认为施用化肥一定会对环境产生污染,只有使用有机肥才能解决问题。中国是一个人口大国,今后在一个相当长的时间内,农业产品的生产在养分的投入上仍然需要以化肥为主,充分、合理、平衡的化肥投入不仅能满足人们对农产品数量上的需要,而且一定能满足人们对农产品品质的要求。化肥的合理施用可以改善和提高农产品品质,提高土壤有机质含量,改善土壤理化性质,减少温室气体的排放和水体污染。化肥本身是无害的,有害的是对化肥的不合理施用。在肥料问题上,今后需要关注 的应该是生产和使用更优质、更高效的化肥,推广科学合理的施肥技术,提高化肥的利用效率。     

不同种植方式对稻茬紫云英的生长及土壤养分的影响

研究绿肥作物种植方式对其生长状况及土壤特性的影响，可为长江下游农区“水稻(Oryza sativa L.)—绿肥作物”轮作模式下如何以草增粮提供科学依据。于2018~2019年在江苏省昆山市采用套播留茬、浅旋直播、板茬直播3种种植方式，研究不同绿肥种植方式对自身群体基础、越冬稳定性、生育进程、主要形态指标、产草量及还田后土壤养分动态的影响。结果表明，相同播种量水平下，浅旋直播的群体起点最高，为58.29万基本苗/hm ²；越冬稳定性以套播留茬方式最高，越冬率为94.3%。不同种植方式下生育进程递进规律总体一致，主要影响绿肥作物的营养生长期，套播留茬方式的营养生长期最长（122 d），比最短的浅旋直播方式高出20 d。套播留茬方式下的株高、茎粗及其他主要形态指标明显高出其他两种方式。套播留茬方式的鲜草产量最高，浅旋直播方式居中，板茬直播方式最低，且均超过30 000 kg·hm^-2。翻压还田后，3种方式下土壤有机质、全氮、铵态氮、硝态氮、速效磷、速效钾等土壤养分含量均有一定的增加，其中套播留茬方式增加幅度最高。     

How global conditions impact regional agricultural production and nitrogen surpluses in the German Elbe River Basin

Agricultural land use has shifted towards more intensified production because the prices of agricultural products have increased during the past years. Just a few years ago, voluntary area set-aside was a lucrative alternative in some regions. But nowadays, land is re-cultivated again, inter alia with biomass crops. Consequently, this affects the soil and nutrient balances in agriculture. The global changes on the world markets influence agricultural production and thus the water cycle at the regional scale. In this paper, the regional developments and policy alternatives are discussed for the Elbe River Basin. The paper concludes that on average, no substantial effects of nitrogen surpluses are expected for the Elbe River Basin due to a continuing decline in animal herds. However, at the county level, nitrogen surpluses are likely to exceed the maximum threshold of 60 kg nitrogen per hectare (stipulated in the German Fertiliser Regulation) due to regional concentrations of animal production. A halving of the threshold to 30 kg per hectare shows that the marginal costs of nitrogen surplus reduction regionally exceeded 10 Euros per kilogram nitrogen.     

Correction to: Opportunities to reduce nutrient inputs to the Baltic Sea by improving manure use efficiency in agriculture

While progress has been made in reducing external nutrient inputs to the Baltic Sea, further actions are needed to meet the goals of the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP), especially for the Baltic Proper, Gulf of Finland, and Gulf of Riga sub-basins. We used the net anthropogenic nitrogen and phosphorus inputs (NANI and NAPI, respectively) nutrient accounting approach to construct three scenarios of reduced NANI-NAPI. Reductions assumed that manure nutrients were redistributed from areas with intense animal production to areas that focus on crop production and would otherwise import synthetic and mineral fertilizers. We also used the Simple as Necessary Baltic Long Term Large Scale (SANBALTS) model to compare eutrophication conditions for the scenarios to current and BSAP-target conditions. The scenarios suggest that reducing NANI-NAPI by redistributing manure nutrients, together with improving agronomic practices, could meet 54–82% of the N reductions targets (28–43 kt N reduction) and 38–64% P reduction targets (4–6.6 kt P reduction), depending on scenario. SANBALTS output showed that even partial fulfillment of nutrient reduction targets could have ameliorating effects on eutrophication conditions. Meeting BSAP targets will require addressing additional sources, such as sewage. A common approach to apportioning sources to external nutrients loads could enable further assessment of the feasibility of eutrophication management targets.

     

Are the parasiticidal avermectins resistant to dissipation in the environment? The case of eprinomectin

Eprinomectin (EPM) is a veterinary drug currently licensed in many countries for the treatment of endo- and ecto-parasites in cattle. Despite the notable evidence for its high toxicity to the terrestrial and aquatic environment ecosystems, its environmental behavior and fate are currently unknown. In the present research, the dissipation of EPM was studied in three soils and in cattle manure by using the OECD 307 guideline and the recently developed European Medicines Agency (EMA/CVMP/ERA/430327) guideline, respectively. The procedure presented by the FOrum for Co-ordination of pesticide models and their USe (FOCUS) was adopted for estimating the EPM degradation kinetics in soil and cattle manure. The EPM dissipation in soil was best described by the SFO (Simple First Order) and the HS (Hockey Stick) models, under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, respectively. The EPM dissipation in cattle manure was best described by the FOMC (First Order Multi Compartment) model. The Dissipation Time for the 50% of the initial EPM mass (DT₅₀) range was 38–53 days under aerobic and 691–1491 days under anaerobic conditions. In addition, the DT₅₀ for EPM in cattle manure was 333 days. Therefore, EPM could be characterized as moderately to highly persistent to dissipation in soil, which depends on soil type, its oxygen content (aerobic or anaerobic conditions in soil) and the microbial activity. Moreover, the EPM resists dissipation in cattle manure, resulting to a high load in soil after manure application in agricultural land (or direct defecation in grassland). Consequently, the high possibility for EPM accumulation in soil and cattle manure should be considered when assessing the environmental risk of the drug.     

To terrace or not: the short-term impact of bench terraces on soil properties and crop response in the Peruvian Andes

Soil erosion is considered as a serious threat to agricultural development in developing countries. Soil and water conservation measures, such as terraces, are often promoted to combat soil erosion and to increase agricultural production. In this paper, the short-term impact of bench terraces, 2–4 years after their establishment, on soil properties and maize yield in the Peruvian Andes is analysed and discussed. The results show that bench terraces did not result in any short term change in soil properties, such as fertility or infiltration capacity. Nevertheless, the bench terraces resulted in 20% higher yields, due to a higher planting density, compared with adjacent sloping fields. However, this increase in yield was nullified by the loss of area occupied by the bench terraces. Bench terraces should therefore be accompanied with other measures to intensify agriculture, such as irrigation or cash crops, to improve the profitability and uptake of bench terraces in the Andes.     

三峡库区坡地果园间植草篱的水土保持效应

坡地果园水土流失对三峡库区生态环境和农业可持续性发展构成双重压力。以皇竹草篱为纽带间植于坡地果园营建复合生态模式,对草篱拦蓄泥沙、径流的效应进行了长期观测。结果表明：草篱间植的应用能有效减少坡地果园的水土流失,尤以侵蚀量减少更为显著,与传统果园经营模式相比,径流量减少了5871%~6574%,侵蚀量减少了7070%~7792%。同时,草篱间植的应用对减少养分的流失总量效果也相当显著,对减少库区面源污染,保持和提高坡地果园的土地生产力具有重要作用,为三峡库区坡地果园的利用与保护提供了技术与模式支撑。     

Soil Fertility Quality and Agricultural Sustainable Development in the Black Soil Region of Northeast China

The black soil in northeast China is considered one of the most fertile soils in China. Consequently, the black soil region has become one of the most important regions for cereal grain production in China. Agriculture has developed rapidly since the early part of the nineteenth century. To date, approximately 70 percent of total land in the area is cultivated. Even though the agricultural production in this region is increasing continuously, some soil fertility quality problems have become serious. This is hampering agricultural development and sustainability in the region. A brief history of population growth and agricultural development in the region is presented. Major soil quality problems, particularly soil degradation and soil erosion, are analyzed. Based on studies, suggestions for improving soil quality and for promoting sustainable agricultural development in the region are presented. These suggestions include improving agricultural landscape patterns, developing conservation cultivation, promoting combinations of crop production with combinations of forestry and animal husbandry, and implementing integrated management for soil and water conservation.     

江苏太湖地区农业耕作制度变化及其对地表水土环境的影响

农业耕作制度变化及其环境效应是国内外广泛关注的学术前沿问题。近60 a来,江苏太湖地区农业耕作制度发生较大变化,主要表现在种植制度从偏重粮食生产转向粮经作物协调发展,用地作物增多而养地作物减少,作物品种经历了改进与优化过程,作物熟制经历了从“双三制”恢复到两熟制。施肥种类从有机肥为主转变为完全施用化肥,氮磷钾肥投入比例从长期严重失调发展到逐渐趋于协调。在总结近60 a来江苏太湖地区农业耕作制度变化特征的基础上,〖JP2〗分析了农业耕作制度变化对地表水土环境的影响,并提出了今后需要进一步关注的研究方向     

Agricultural productivity and environmental insecurity in the Usangu plain, Tanzania: policy implications for sustainability of agriculture

Sustainable agricultural development is a necessity for sustainable economic growth and social development in Africa. Sustainable agriculture largely depends on how effective natural and environmental resources are managed and utilized; it also depends on the security of continuous access to such resources. This research was aimed to look into trends in agricultural productivity, examine the persistence of the environmental insecurity, analyze the relationship between the two, and explore their links to the national development policies. The results are discussed in the context of relevance to national development policies and their implications on the sustainability of agriculture and rural livelihoods security. Literature survey, records collection from the stakeholders, village level participatory assessments (PAs), observations and questionnaire survey were tools used for data collection. The study shows significant (P < 0.01) declines in cereal crop yields, cattle milk yield and cattle calving rate, and increasing cattle mortality rate. Elements of environmental insecurity were found to account for decline in agricultural productivity; significant (P < 0.01) proportion (68%), of 266 households interviewed, reported land resources deterioration, declining soil fertility, and increasing drought frequencies as the causes of their low productivity. Declined fertilizer consumption and increasing variability in rainfall amount significantly (P < 0.01) accounted for 59% and 39%, respectively, of the variations observed in total annual production of rice and maize, which are major cereals in the study area. This study recommends measures to improve soil productivity such as improved fertilizer application and use of organic manures along with mineral fertilizers for maintaining soil productivity; education of farmers on sustainable use and management of land resources; and pro-poor rural policies in agricultural development and environmental governance. Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.     

Spatial analysis of soil resources in the Mewat district in the semiarid regions of Haryana,India

The soil characteristics are critical for crop health and its yield and therefore for agriculture. The soil properties are spatially variable and therefore soil resources should be managed as per location-specific requirements. An integrated spatial analysis of the soil resources of Mewat district was conducted to identify the soil resource management zones to develop site-specific soil management plan which might lead to sustained and enhanced crop yield. Spatial analysis of soil resources was conducted by modeling soil fertility and erosion which determines the crop productivity in the region. Soil fertility of the region was modeled using weighted overlay approach using 10 soil parameters, namely nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, iron, zinc, manganese, organic carbon, electrical conductivity, and pH. Each parameter was assigned weights based on their relative importance to agricultural productivity. The modeled soil fertility was classified into three fertility zones, low, medium, and high. Soil fertility was found to be low to moderate in 65% of the area, largely because of the low nitrogen, soil organic carbon, phosphorus concentration, and excessive salinity. Soil erosion was modeled using the universal soil loss equation (USLE) model by estimating rainfall erosivity factor (R), the soil erodibility factor (K), the topographic factors (L and S), cropping factor (C), and the conservation practice factor (P). Soil erosion problems were limited to areas having high elevation with barren land and areas with minimal management practices. The severity of soil erosion was found high in 15% of the region, while the remaining 85% showed low to moderate erosion. Soil fertility and erosion were integrated using the multivariate clustering method to identify soil management zones. The region was delineated into three soil management zones. Zone I (29%) which covers majorly Tarou block, was characterized by high soil fertility and low soil erosion. Zone II (18%) with medium soil fertility and high erosion covers villages of Taoru, Nuh, Nagina, FP Jhirka, and Punhana, which are located in the foothills of Aravalli ranges. Zone III represents the major part of the region, covering Nuh, Nagina, and FP Jhirka blocks (54%) with low soil fertility and erosion conditions. Thus, within the study area, the soil management domains are spatially variable in terms of fertility and soil erosion, and thus zone-specific soil management measures are required to improve the soil condition in order to sustain and improve agriculture production. The study would help the policy makers to design site-specific planning for identified soil resource management zones.     

基于物质流分析的区域食物链氮素流动规律与调控研究

以食物链物质流调控为核心的区域生态共生系统研究是当今可持续发展领域的重要研究内容。基于物质流分析方法和系统动力学建模平台,构建了区域食物链氮素流动效应评估框架,以上海市青浦区为例,对区域食物链氮素流动进行分析与情景模拟。研究结果表明:(1)2000～2014年青浦区食物链氮输入和输出量经历了急剧下降到逐渐稳定的过程,区域内农业生产无法自给自足;(2)基准情景下,食物链氮素流动对环境的负面效应总体影响较小,但2020年农业生产能力已不能满足当地人口对肉类及水产品氮的需求;(3)优化情景下,区域化肥氮投入减少了53.75%,且农业生产满足了当地常住人口的消费需要,减少区外氮产品调入量2 245.16 t,氮综合循环效率提高至25.54%,农业生产对水环境的影响降低。该优化方案在保证粮食安全的同时,较好地保护了环境免受集约农业生产的冲击。研究成果可为区域食物链氮素养分管理提供方法和思路借鉴。     

土壤基础生态位适宜度模型在耕地土壤肥力综合评价中的应用

将生态位理论引入到土壤肥力评价中,利用GIS和土壤基础生态位适宜度模型,对江汉平原后湖地区耕地土壤肥力进行了综合评价。首先,确定土壤肥力评价指标体系及权系数,按照评价指标对采集的样品进行室内理化分析;然后,根据平移·级差变换法对样点数据标准化,计算各评价单元的土壤基础生态位适宜度值,通过分析土壤基础生态位适宜度值与水稻单产的关系,表明二者存在显著相关;最后,利用聚类分析法划分研究区土壤肥力级别,并借助ArcGIS实现评价结果图的输出。结果表明：研究区土壤肥力整体较高,1、2、3、4级肥力土壤分别占33.430%、35.990%、22.701%、7.879%;引入土壤基础生态位适宜度模型是对土壤肥力评价新方法的一种探索,其结果对农业生产实践具有重要的理论和指导意义。     

向家坝水电站不同修复模式下根际土壤微生物化学计量特征

为探究水电站扰动区人工植被恢复后土壤质量及肥力的变化,以向家坝植被混凝土、厚层基材和框格梁3种典型边坡下优势物种荩草根际与非根际土壤为研究对象,对土壤的养分和微生物生态化学计量比进行研究。结果表明：（1）植被混凝土、厚层基材样地的养分平均含量均显著高于框格梁样地;植被混凝土、框格梁样地下土壤养分含量在根际存在一定的富集,以有机碳的富集作用最为明显,而厚层基材样地则表现为土壤全量养分在根际土壤中存在亏缺;（2）植被混凝土和框格梁修复模式样地的土壤微生物量为根际土壤较高,MBC/MBN、MBC/MBP表现为非根际土壤较高,3种样地下根际与非根际土壤微生物生态化学计量比差异性显著（P＜0.05）;（3）相关性分析表明,土壤微生物碳、微生物氮、有机碳和全氮之间具有显著的正相关性（P＜0.01）,微生物量磷与土壤有机碳和全磷具有极显著的正相关性（P＜0.01）。综合评价十数年后向家坝水电站工程扰动区人工修复土壤技术,植被混凝土和厚层基材修复措施对该区土壤全量养分含量的累积作用较好,框格梁样地的植物生长发育受到磷素营养的限制较大。     

川东丘陵区青花椒种植对土壤肥力的影响

以川东丘陵区退耕青花椒林、弃耕地和农耕地为研究对象,对青花椒林分(2 a、5 a、9 a和14 a,分别以QHJ2、QHJ5、QHJ9和QHJ14表示)及对照农耕地(CK)和弃耕地(14 a,QGD)土壤物理性质、养分含量、微生物数量和酶活性进行研究,并利用隶属函数法对土壤肥力进行综合评价,探究青花椒不同种植年限对土壤肥力特征的影响,以指导青花椒种植和培肥改土。结果表明:青花椒林和弃耕地的土壤持水量、孔隙度、养分含量、微生物数量和酶活性均为高于CK,且随青花椒种植年限的增加而增加;相反,花椒林和弃耕地的土壤容重低于CK,且逐渐随青花椒种植年限的增加而降低。土壤肥力综合值呈QHJ14QHJ9QGDQHJ5QHJ2CK的变化规律,林地均显著高于农耕地,QGD与QHJ14差异显著而与QHJ9差异不显著;土壤肥力综合值与土壤物理性质、养分含量、酶活性和微生物数量呈显著相关(P0.05)。说明种植青花椒具有显著的培肥效应,对于提高川东丘陵区土壤肥力和促进农民增收致富具有重要作用,土壤肥力综合值能综合反应土壤肥力高低差异。     

农户对高产农业技术扩散的生态环境影响感知实证

农民生态环境感知对促进农民自觉环境保护行为和农村两型社会建设具有重要作用。通过对湖南省洞庭湖湿地水稻主产区6个乡镇的调查,将农户生态影响感知具体化为土壤、水源、身体健康和水稻4个方面的感知,借助定量分析建立了农户综合环境感知指数,研究农民对以化学农业为代表的高产农业技术扩散的生态环境影响感知,并运用Tobit模型探讨了影响农户生态影响感知的主要因素。结果表明:农民已经意识到以石化农业为代表的高产农业技术扩散带来的不利影响,尽管他们的意识还只限于一些看得见的因素如土壤肥力、捕鱼量和健康问题,对于看不见的影响的感知还很薄弱。以化学农业为代表的高产农业技术采用的水平和持续时间直接决定了人们对于不利影响的感知。提高收入水平与教育水平、强化农业技术推广能提升农民生态环境感知,而农田水利基础设施建设和土壤肥力对农户环境感知有复杂的影响关系。     

Water use in arid rural systems and the integration of water and agricultural policies in Europe: the case of Andarax river basin

Water is a precious resource in arid rural areas with irrigated agriculture. Nonetheless, water and agricultural policies in Europe show different management scopes and objectives, usually translated in divergent drivers of rural change. This paper has a double aim: to propose a specific method for quantitative biophysical analysis of water use in rural systems with the multi-scale integrated analysis of societal and ecosystem metabolism approach and to show the usefulness of this method for the assessment of the integration of water and agricultural policies. The river basin scale is chosen, since it is the socioecological unit for water management established in the water framework directive 2000/60/CE. A multi-scale water use accounting is provided for a Mediterranean river basin in Andalusia, integrating water cycle, ecosystems and social levels. Particularly focusing on agricultural production, a relevant set of indicators is proposed in order to analyze and compare different metabolic patterns. Finally, the integration of water and agricultural planning is assessed in terms of external (biophysical) and internal (economic, institutional) constraints of the new water-use patterns generated by the scenarios posed in these policies. While on a European level water policy is ambitious in terms of ecological conservation, the lack of integration within the common agricultural policy and the entanglement of multiple scales of political and economic organization of local ruralities blur its priority in a rather slow transition to a new water culture.     

江西省耕地土壤有效态微量元素含量空间变异特征及其影响因素

采用Pearson相关性分析、Spearman相关性分析、偏相关性分析、方差分析和地统计学方法,对江西省耕地表层(0~20 cm)土壤有效态B、Cu、Fe、Mn和Zn等5种微量元素含量空间变异特征及其影响因素进行研究。结果表明：研究区土壤有效态B、Cu、Fe、Mn和Zn总体处于中等以上水平,B表现为强变异性,其他有效态元素均呈中等变异性。空间结构方面,B、Cu、Fe、Mn和Zn的块金效应值依次为15.68%、12.09%、87.63%、77.98%和25.27%,表明B和Cu具有强烈的空间相关性,Zn呈中等空间相关性,而Fe和Mn空间相关性较弱。空间分布方面,土壤有效B含量表现出“两边低、中间高”的空间分布趋势,Fe、Cu、Zn呈现出较为平滑的空间分布格局,Mn在空间分布上并无明显规律。Pearson相关性分析和偏相关性分析表明5种微量元素之间存在一定的耦合关系但并无直接相关性。Spearman相关性分析和方差分析结果表明,高程、坡度、pH、有机质、全氮、成土母质、地貌类型、土壤类型、灌溉能力、秸秆还田方式和常年耕作制度对5种微量元素含量的空间变异影响显著(P<0.05)。结果可为江西省测土配方施肥卡制定与耕地资源利用与管理及优质高产种植提供可靠参考依据。 关键词： 江西省;微量元素;空间变异;相关性分析;偏相关性分析;影响因素