森林转型、农地边际化与生态恢复

中国20世纪80年代迎来了国家土地利用形态的转型,即代表自然生态空间的森林面积降至低谷后反转向上,代表人类干扰较强的耕地面积从扩张到收缩.这是生态状况从整体恶化向整体改善转变的最直接原因.森林转型对应着国家经济社会发展的阶段性演进过程,存在着必然性.其直接原因,是农林交错带的农业在与森林竞争土地资源的过程中失去优势.伴随工业化和城市化的劳动力价格上升,生活水平提高带来的林木产品需求增加,是森林竞争力提高和农业竞争力下降的经济驱动力;而转型前农业扩张引起的生态退化,则是其政策驱动力.在中国森林转型初期,政策起到了关键的促进作用.随着城市化的加速发展,人口年龄结构向老年型转变,中国迎来了劳动力工资持续上涨的阶段.以坡耕地为代表的劳动力密集型农地利用方式,由于难以实现机械化,劳动生产率与平原区农业的差距将越来越大,被“边际化”的可能性越来越高.这给森林面积或自然生态空间的进一步扩张提供了机会.     

AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION PROGRAM: AN EVALUATION1

The Agricultural Conservation Program (ACP), is undergoing a new, rigorous evaluation to determine its effectiveness in conserving the Nation's agricultural soils and waters. ACP deals with many types of conservation practices, but the focus here is on the evaluation of soil and water related practices. ACP has depended heavily on the State and private forestry services, Soil Conservation Service, and the Cooperative Extension Services, for technical expertise. Thus, the process is an evaluation of the effectiveness of a “team of agencies,” as well as of the program itself. Results of the evaluation have helped to develop new thrusts which have moved ACP further into the position of treating the total conservation problem. Phase I has its limitations. It did not address the impact of wind erosion, water quality, change in productive capacity, soil quality, wildlife habitat, off site and farm income impacts. It does show that ACP has and is doing a very good job in meeting its stated purposes. It is clear that ACP's effectiveness can be improved with more and better advanced planning and more intensive use of soil maps, the USLE, and other scientific tools. ACP is headed in this direction.     

农业气象灾害分析网络服务系统

以大量翔实的农业气象灾害资料为基础,结合实时农业气象灾情分析,在ｗｉｎｄｏｗｓＮＴＳｅｒｖｅｒ网络环境下,研制出具有网络功能的农业气象灾害分析服务系统,系统在Ｉｎｔｅｒｎｅｔ的ＮｅｔｓｃａｐｅＮａｖｉｇａｔｏｒ或Ｅｘｐｌｏｒｅｒｔｏ览器下运行,简便实用．系统以灾害服务为宗旨,体现了信息量大、服务迅速的特点。内容包括农业气象灾害类型库、逐年农业气象灾害评判库、实时农业气象灾害分析及灾情服务流程．     

The development and applications of a Drought Early Warning System in Botswana*

This article describes the indicators and data sources used by the Botswana Drought Early Warning System formally established in early 1984, the main uses of the indicators in the assessment of drought conditions and the design of relief programmes are outlined. Limitations of the sources of data available are discussed, as is the feasibility of adding some possible further indicators. In conclusion, the importance of a functioning Early Warning System in a country highly susceptible to repeated droughts is stressed, in the context of die current effort to elaborate a comprehensive National Food Strategy and to establish a Regional Early Warning System for Southern Africa.     

Methods of increasing food self-sufficiency following disasters in the commonwealth Caribbean*

In the Caribbean, catastrophic events take their toll on food availability through loss of food crops and livestock, disruption in the channels of distribution and loss of foreign exchange earnings from export crops, which are used to procure imported foodstuffs. Nutritional consequences such as the protein energy malnutrition among children, pregnant and lactating women and hard-working males and females are likely to follow. Choice of crops and livestock systems following disasters should be such as to allow for a rapid rehabilitation of the agricultural production and distribution system to eliminate prolonged dependence on food aid. Opportunities should be provided for balanced meal plans including staples, legumes, vegetables, food from animals, fruits, oils and fats. These issues are addressed in this article.     

Land-Cover Change Trajectories in Northern Ghana

Land-cover change trajectories are an emergent property of complex human–environment systems such as the land-use system. An understanding of the factors responsible for land change trajectories is fundamental for land-use planning and the development of land-related policies. The aims of this study were to characterize and identify the spatial determinants of agricultural land-cover change trajectories in northern Ghana. Land-cover change trajectories were defined using land-cover maps prepared from Landsat Thematic Mapper dataset acquired in 1984, 1992, and 1999. Binary logistic regression was used to model the probability of observing the trajectories as a function of spatially explicit biophysical and socioeconomic independent variables. Population densities generally increased along the continuum of land-use intensity, whereas distance from market and roads generally decreased along this continuum. Apparently, roads and market serve as incentives for settlement and agricultural land use. An increase in population density is an important spatial determinant only for trajectories where the dominant change process is agricultural extensification. A major response to population growth is an increase in cultivation frequency around the main market. Agricultural intensification is highly sensitive to accessibility by roads. The increase in land-use intensity is also associated with low soil quality. These results suggest the need for policies to restore soil fertility for agricultural sustainability. The models also provide a means for identifying functional relationships for in-depth analyses of land-use change in Ghana.     

提速货车钩尾框安全使用寿命的估算方法

提出一种估算提速货车钩尾框安全使用寿命的方法。该方法基于损伤容限设计思想 ,通过子模型有限元技术和虚拟裂纹扩展方法 ,仿真应力集中区的裂纹及其扩展 ,应用能量释放率理论计算裂纹前沿的应力强度因子 ,由Paris公式估算在实测载荷谱下钩尾框的裂纹扩展寿命。估算结果与统计的使用寿命有较好的一致性     

DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF LAND/WATER RESOURCES: THE EVERGLADES,AGRICULTURE, AND SOUTH FLORIDA1

ABSTRACT: South Florida and the Everglades have been under intensive development since 1850 by Federal and State governments who encouraged and financed extensive drainage and hydraulic changes, primarily for agricultural settlement. Agricultural development of the sugar industry in the northern Everglades adjacent to Lake Okeechobee rapidly progressed only after the 1900s. Political and resource management conflicts have arisen because policies which once favored development are now being reversed by policies and regulation efforts to restore and conserve natural ecosystems. Currently, the environmental and ecological impacts of agricultural land use adjacent to natural wtlands of the Everglades are being assessed. The objectives of this paper are: (1) to outline the historical development of south Florida and the sugar industry, (2) to relate this history to political and management policy changes occurring as it pertains to ecosystem restoration and the multiuser competition for water/land resources, and (3) to propose how integrated resource management might be utilized for a sustainable Everglades and south Florida. This paper outlines the historical paradox of urban settlement, land development, and agricultural production, with efforts in the recent decade to acquire, manage, and preserve land and water resources for natural areas conservation. Only though the use of integrated resource management will the defined resource conflicts be mediated.     

A Review of Range Production and Management Extension Activities in Kenya

The paper presents an overview of the development of range management extension activities in Kenya. The status quo of range management activities is discussed with particular reference to extension infrastructure, scope of extension interventions and mechanisms of dissemination of these innovations. On the basis of the nature of available innovations and efficiency of dissemination mechanisms, the paper emphasizes the need for future institutional reforms to facilitate successful application of technological interventions, validation of the Kenyan innovation Diffusion Model and enhancement of the social acceptability of technological interventions. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Influence of Agricultural Antibiotics and 17β-Estradiol on the Microbial Community of Soil

Agricultural pharmaceuticals are a major environmental concern because of their hazardous effects on human and wildlife. This study analyzed phospholipid ester-linked fatty acids (PLFAs) and quinones to investigate the effects of a steroid (17β-estradiol) and agricultural antibiotics (chlortetracycline and tylosin) on soil microbes in the laboratory. Two different types of soil were used: Sequatchie loam (0.8% organic matter) and LaDelle silt loam (9.2% organic matter). The soils were spiked with 17β-estradiol and antibiotics, alone or in combination. In Sequatchie loam, 17β-estradiol significantly increased the microbial biomass, especially the biomarkers for beta proteobacteria (16:1ω7c, 18:1ω7c, Cy17:0, and UQ-8). The coexistence of antibiotics decreased the stimulatory effect of 17β-estradiol on the microbial community. In LaDelle silt loam, there were no significant differences in total microbial biomass and their microbial community structure among the treatments. Overall, 17β-estradiol changed the microbial community of soil and the presence of antibiotics nullified the effect of 17β-estradiol. However, the effects of 17β-estradiol and antibiotics on soil microbes were sensitive to the soil properties, as seen in the LaDelle silt loam.