Trends in Pesticide Use and Efficacy During 26 Years of Changing Agriculture in Southern England

We report on trends in agricultural pesticide use from1970 to 1995 inclusive in arable crops on the SouthDowns, West Sussex, U.K. Information is given on theproportion of cropped area treated with pesticides,the percentage spray area, the number of pesticideapplications per field, and the number of compoundsapplied per field for herbicides, foliar fungicidesand insecticides. Compared to national publishedfigures, our data are broadly representative of thenational picture; they provide a complete and detailedtime series whereas national figures are available foronly 7 out of the 26 yr. In general, the areatreated (fungicides, insecticides) and the intensityof use (all three types of pesticide) increased overthe 26 yr. The spectrum of activity of theherbicides applied to arable crops increased from anaverage of 22 weed taxa susceptible in 1970 to 38 weedtaxa susceptible in 1995. The odds on herbicide andfungicide use in break crops were, respectively, 93%and 99% lower than average; odds on insecticide usein spring cereals were 98% lower than average. Comparing winter wheat on the most traditional farm(grass/cereal rotation) with the most modern one(monoculture winter wheat), the proportion of fieldstreated with herbicides was similar, but the odds onbeing treated with fungicides were 129% higher on themodern farm. Insecticides were used in only 2% ofthe fields on the traditional farm, while on themodern farm over the same time period, 79% of thefields were treated. This fits previously observeddifferences in wildlife abundance on the two farms.     

Weed Seedbank Evaluating Method to Generate Spatial Distribution Maps

Abstract

The objective of this work was to develop a fast and practical method of weed seedbank evaluation to generate spatially distributed maps for use in site-specific weed management. Soil cores were collected at 0.20 m depth, air-dried, and then submitted to seedling growth in greenhouse. The sampling grid of 20 by 20 m was georeferenced by Global Positioning System, obtaining 73 soil cores with three replicates. During the greenhouse trial, there were two peaks of weed seedling growth: one in 119 days after water irrigation and another after KNO₃ application. Weeds seedbank maps were obtained at different stages of seedling growth. The Pearson correlation was 0.99 for Brachiaria plantaginea seedbank map, 0.95 for Commelina benghalensis, and 0.85 for Cyperus rotudus generated at 119 days compared with 392 days after seedling growth in the greenhouse. The Brachiaria plantaginea seedbank map evaluated at 35 days presented correlation of 0.97 with 392 days. It was concluded that, for site-specific weed seedbank management, the evaluation of seedling growth in greenhouse until the first emergence peak is enough to generate weed seedbank maps.     

Assessment of susceptibility of olive cultivars to the Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin, 1790) and Camarosporium dalmaticum (Thüm.) Zachos & Tzav.-Klon. attacks in Calabria (Southern Italy)

Within the framework of research concerning the application of techniques alternative to chemical pesticides for control of parasites, the C.R.A. Experimental Institute for Olive Growing for many years has been performing a large investigation in order to detect sources of genetic resistance in olive germplasm. In the present study we observed the behavior related to the olive fly (Bactrocera oleae) infestation and Camarosporium dalmaticum infection of ten olive cultivars farmed under the same agronomic and climatic conditions in Calabria, Southern Italy. The sampling and the data collecting were carried out in three different ripening times.The drupe amount of oleuropein and cyanidine was detected by laboratory analyses in order to verify a possible correlation between these molecules and the level of infestation/infection of the above-mentioned parasites. The obtained data were submitted to analysis of variance. In relation to the fungal infection the results displayed that cvs Tonda nera dolce showed the lowest susceptibility, while the cv Giarraffa turned out to be the most susceptible. The less susceptible cultivars to the phytophagous were Tonda nera dolce and Bhardi Tirana. Since the less susceptible cultivar to olive fly attacks are the same observed in relation to the susceptibility to olive fruit rot, it is suggested a relation between the olive fly infestation and the fungal infection. It suggests the utility to achieve these results both to transfer directly to the farmers' world and to emphasize ecosystem health and biodiversity conservation.     

规模化畜禽养殖产污系数研究

随着畜禽养殖逐渐走向规模化,畜禽养殖污染已成为农村污染的重要来源。以规模化畜禽养殖产生的废水和固体废弃物为监测对象,对规模化畜禽养殖产污系数进行研究,给出单位畜禽从出生到出栏的产污系数计算方法。以四川省内江市为实例,计算了不同季节、不同规模的规模化养猪场产污系数,并与第一次污染源普查数据进行比较。     

Agricultural reuse of the digestate from low-cost tubular digesters in rural Andean communities

This research aimed at assessing the properties of guinea pig manure digestate from low-cost tubular digesters for crops fertilization in rural Andean communities. To this end, field trials were carried out to evaluate the effect of the digestate on two common Andean crops: potato (Solanum tuberosum) and forage (Lolium multiflorum and Trifolium pratense L.). The potato yield (20-25 tha(-1)) increased by 27.5% with digestate, by 15.1% with pre-compost and by 10.3% with the mixture, compared to the control. The forage yield (20-21 tha(-1)) increased by 1.4% with digestate - 50% dose, and by 8.8% with digestate - 100% dose and digestate - 150% dose, compared to the control. The results suggest that the digestate is an appropriate substitute of manure pre-compost for potato fertilization. The results with forage indicate that it can be applied in a range of doses, according to the amount produced by the digester. Currently, manure is either used for cooking or as fertilizer. With low-cost tubular digesters implementation, it could be used to feed the digester, using the digestate for crops fertilization and biogas for cooking; improving household living conditions and protecting the environment. Since soil properties in rural Andean communities differ from experimental layouts, the effect of fertilizers should be re-evaluated in-situ in future research studies.     

Study on Sustainable Development in Vulnerable Eco-areas

The vulnerable eco-area is one of the important research targets in the field of sustainable development. It is the requirement of building a well-off society in an all-round way that we should study more on the vulnerable eco-areas, deal with the relationship between environmental protection and economic development, speed up the economic development in these areas and increase the living standard of the local people. This paper puts forward the countermeasures of environment---economy coordination, on the basis of the recognition of eco-environment features and social economic conditions in the vulnerable eco-areas of China, in view of the progress in sustainable development studies of the vulnerable ones, taking the transitional areas of farming and pasturing in northeast China as an example to study the regional environment vulnerability.     

滇西北高原湖泊剑湖演变过程及其生态环境效应分析

以滇西北高原湖泊剑湖为研究区,1974—2015年间8期遥感影像为数据源,运用遥感和地理信息系统技术,研究剑湖湖泊近40年间的时空演变过程,探析剑湖湖泊的入湖污染物及其生态环境效应变化。结果表明:近40年来剑湖湖泊面积呈现先明显减少再增加后缓慢减少的变化规律,由1974年的504.47 hm~2减至2015年的451.72 hm~2;目前剑湖水体中COD含量较低,符合地表水环境质量Ⅱ类标准;TP含量满足Ⅲ类标准;TN含量仅可满足IV类标准;剑湖入湖的主要污染源是农村生活污染和农业面源污染;随着时间的演变剑湖湖泊TN、TP污染物浓度呈上升趋势,剑湖湖泊生态系统受到极大干扰。     

粤北三座典型中型水库富营养化与浮游植物群落特征

于2010年丰水期（8月）和枯水期（12月）采集粤北地区3座中型水库（沐溪、苍村和赤石迳水库）的水和浮游植物,分析植物群落与水质,以考察季节性温度差异与鱼类养殖对水库水质和浮游植物群落结构的影响。结果表明,3座水库分别属富营养、中营养和中营养水平,营养盐质量浓度丰水期高于枯水期。共鉴定浮游植物7门56种（属）,群落组成以蓝藻、绿藻和硅藻为主。沐溪水库丰枯两季均以蓝藻为优势类群,其浮游植物丰度和生物量明显高于其余两座水库（p〈0.01）;苍村和赤石迳水库丰水期优势门类均为蓝藻,枯水期均为硅藻。3座水库浮游植物丰度均表现为丰水期高于枯水期,生物量则枯水期高于丰水期,但均无显著性差异（p〉0.05）。RDA（冗余分析）结果表明,透明度、总氮和悬浮物是影响浮游植物群落结构的主要因素;其中,沐溪水库的营养盐和悬浮物与浮游植物群落正相关,苍村和赤石迳水库浮游植物群落则与水深和透明度正相关;温度对浮游植物群落的影响主要体现在种类组成的季节差异上。营养盐和优势种类的季节差异造成了浮游植物丰度和生物量在丰水期和枯水期的不一致。聚类分析将不同季节的3座水库分为2个类区,非养鱼水库苍村和赤石迳水库为第一类区,养鱼的沐溪水库为第二类区。沐溪水库库区内发展鱼类养殖业为浮游植物提供了高质量浓度营养盐（尤其是总磷）,即使在温度较低的冬季仍支持蓝藻种类的优势性。     

Environmental characteristics of urban-rural farming migrants in the Republic of Korea and their significance for rural sustainability

ABSTRACT

The number of households migrating to agricultural villages has sharply increased in the Republic of Korea (South Korea) since the late 1990s when the Asian economic crisis developed. This study investigates the environmental behaviour and the socio-economic characteristics of urban-rural migrant farming households and provides insights into their significance for rural sustainability in South Korea. The study is based on survey data collected in 2016 from a sample of 166 migrant farming households and 46 native farming households from the Namwon region in South Korea. The migrant farming households are divided into 29 return and 137 non-return farming households. It was found that most non-return migrants are organic farmers, and can be characterised as anti-urban, amenity-pursuing, green, and lifestyle migrants. It is no wonder that they have a strong intent to make their new home an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable place for their children. Thus, appropriate policy measures need to be designed in such a way to facilitate the synergy between the repopulation of rural areas by farming migrants, their uptake of organic farming, their active engagement in community rebuilding, and regional economic development.