Litter decomposition and nitrogen release in a sloping Mediterranean subtropical agroecosystem on the coast of Granada (SE, Spain): Effects of floristic and topographic alteration on the slope

On the coast of Granada (SE, Spain), an economically important area for subtropical fruit cultivation, the crops are grown on orchard terraces. Also, high amounts of fertilizers, often excessive, are used in this type of intensive agriculture. However, each year significant fractions of nutrients taken up by the trees return to the soil by fallen leaves. Using a litter-bag technique, we assessed the decomposition rates and N-release in various types of litter. Our main purpose was to compare two different agroecosystem scenarios: (1) an unaltered slope consisting mainly of a mixture of herbaceous plants (Papaver rhoeas, Convolvulus sp., Malva sylvestris, Reseda phyteuma, Anacyclus sp., Sinapis arvensis, Medicago sp.) among spontaneous perennial woody shrubs (Genista umbellata, Olea europaea, Lavandula officinalis, Phlomis purpurea, Retama sphaerocarpa), and (2) an altered slope cultivated with subtropical trees on terraces: loquat (Eriobotrya japonica), mango (Mangifera indica), avocado (Persea americana), and cherimoya (Annona cherimola), with groundcover plantings of aromatic, medicinal, and melliferous plants (AMMPs) on the taluses of the terraces, which are usually used for erosion control: Lavandula dentata, Thymus mastichina, Satureja obovata, Rosmarinus officinalis, Anthyllis cytisoides. In the leaves from the subtropical crops, we found the highest decomposition rates in cherimoya and the lowest in mango (1.30 and 0.64 years⁻¹, respectively). Leaves from mango and loquat registered initial peaks of N immobilization and later N-release, which was highest in cherimoya and avocado leaves (71.2 and 56.8% of the initial remaining N). In the spontaneous woody shrubs, O. europaea and G. umbellata were the slowest in decomposing (1.18 and 1.01 years⁻¹, respectively) contrary to L. officinalis, which decomposed fastest (2.22 years⁻¹). Only L. officinalis and P. purpurea registered a net N-release at the end of the study. The AMMPs showed different decomposition patterns: L. dentata registered the highest decomposition rates and Rosmarinus the lowest (1.9 and 1.1 years⁻¹, respectively). T. mastichina, L. dentata, and S. obovata had the highest N-release, whereas R. officinalis and A. cytisoides showed N immobilization (183 and 122% of the initial N). Knowledge of the dynamics of nutrient release and litter decomposition will be useful for predicting nutrient availability and nutrient cycles in these types of agroecosystems where subtropical orchards are grown on terraces.     

Waste management from the perspective of circularity of materials

The purpose of the study was to analyze the social phenomenon of collecting animal carcasses from rural properties using the perspective of the ecological modernization theory. The results show that the success of the Recolhe pilot project is associated with users’ engagement in environmental awareness, environmental regulations, sanitary and environmental risk management, minimization of labor in rural properties, and municipal legal pressures.     

中国农业生态补偿法律制度建设研究

2014年通过的《环境保护法》第31条规定:国家建立、健全生态保护补偿制度.紧随其后,2014年5月苏州市人大常委会正式批准了《苏州市生态补偿条例》,彰显了国家和地方政府对于生态补偿这一法律制度的重视.农业生态补偿作为生态补偿的一个具体分支,法律制度的建设,将对当前中国日趋严重的农业面源污染问题,提供一个现实的解决路径.文中找出农业生态补偿法律制度存在的问题,并提出具体的建设意见,为中国农业生态补偿法律制度的建设提供理论上的支撑.     

Floodplain Trapping and Cycling Compared to Streambank Erosion of Sediment and Nutrients in an Agricultural Watershed

Floodplains and streambanks can positively and negatively influence downstream water quality through interacting geomorphic and biogeochemical processes. Few studies have measured those processes in agricultural watersheds. We measured inputs (floodplain sedimentation and dissolved inorganic loading), cycling (floodplain soil nitrogen [N] and phosphorus [P] mineralization), and losses (bank erosion) of sediment, N, and P longitudinally in stream reaches of Smith Creek, an agricultural watershed in the Valley and Ridge physiographic province. All study reaches were net depositional (floodplain deposition > bank erosion), had high N and P sedimentation and loading rates to the floodplain, high soil concentrations of N and P, and high rates of floodplain soil N and P mineralization. High sediment, N, and P inputs to floodplains are attributed to agricultural activity in the region. Rates of P mineralization were much greater than those measured in other studies of nontidal floodplains that used the same method. Floodplain connectivity and sediment deposition decreased longitudinally, contrary to patterns in most watersheds. The net trapping function of Smith Creek floodplains indicates a benefit to water quality. Further research is needed to determine if future decreases in floodplain deposition, continued bank erosion, and the potential for nitrate leaching from nutrient‐enriched floodplain soils could pose a long‐term source of sediment and nutrients to downstream rivers.     

国内流域生态系统土壤动物群落结构研究

土壤动物与其生存环境息息相关.土壤质地优良,食物种类丰富多样,则土壤动物个体数、类群数、多样性显著增多.目前,国内学者多侧重研究农田、森林、草原等生态系统土壤动物群落结构,而流域生态系统土壤动物研究较少涉及.对此,从土壤动物的水平分布、垂直分布和群落多样性三个方面来综述流域生态系统相关因素对土壤动物的影响具有代表性.在此基础上借鉴其他生态系统土壤动物相关研究并且结合流域生态系统自身特点拓展土壤动物研究方向,为研究区土地利用方向提供依据.研究流域中不同环境因素对土壤动物区系的影响,了解国内外土壤动物的研究和流域生态系统对土壤动物影响的进展.对于生态环境的恢复与重建具有重大意义.     

马克思恩格斯关于依靠科学技术发展生态农业的思想及其当代启示

马克思恩格斯虽然没有专门论述生态农业的著作,但在他们的理论文本中蕴涵着深刻的生态农业思想。在马克思恩格斯看来,依靠技术,改良耕作方法,可以保持和改良土质;通过在农业中利用现代科学技术能够提高农业生产率,促进农业发展。马克思恩格斯关于依靠科学技术发展生态农业的思想,为我国的农业发展指明了方向。     

我国节水农业发展现状研究

中国的灌溉水利用系数只有45%,大大落后于发达国家的70%;全国农业用水效率较低,单位粮食产量耗水量比发达国家高2.5～3倍。所以我国发展节水农业具有至关重要的意义。本文根据我国农业发展现状,结合我国节水农业发展布局,重点分析5大节水农业区在技术、制度、资金和政策等方面的节水农业现状,总结交流发展节水农业的成功经验,分析其存在的不足,从而提出更好的促进节水农业发展的路径。     

南海海港疏浚淤泥悬浮物对海洋动物的急性毒性效应

为评价海港疏浚淤泥对倾倒海区海洋动物的影响,对疏浚淤泥悬浮相进行了生物急性毒性试验。研究结果表明：疏浚淤泥悬浮相对浮游甲壳类的致毒效应明显。22.0～24.0℃试验水温时,悬浮相对卤虫无节幼体和浮游挠足类的急性毒性试验结果分别为：96hLC₅₀为71.6mg/L（卤虫无节幼体）,48hLC₅₀为61.3mg/L（浮游挠足类）。低浓度和低温时,悬浮相对前鳞鲻（Mugilophuyseni）幼鱼的致毒效应不明显。随温度的升高,毒性效应亦增强。试验水温为18.8～20.0℃时,悬浮相对前鳞鲻幼鱼24h和96hLC₅₀分别为5801.3mg/L和5045.5mg/L;而当试验水温升至22.0～24.0℃时,悬浮相对前鳞鲻幼鱼24、48、72、96hLC₅₀分别为1996.4、769.9、592.8及556.3mg/L。     

河南省畜牧业走向强省的指标体系和发展战略

根据河南省畜牧业的现状,本文指出了河南省实现畜牧业朝强省迈进应达到的目标,并提出了实现这些目标应继续走好畜牧产业化之路的发展战略。