A Survey of Trace Metals in Vegetation, Soil and Lower Animal Along Some Selected Major Roads in Metropolitan City of Lagos

The concentration of trace metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) in a total of 144 samples of grass, soil and lower animal (earthworm, Lybrodrilus violaceous) were collected and analysed for their metallic content. Levels of cadmium ranged from 0.01–0.07 g g^–1; 0.01–0.12 g g^–1 and from trace–0.05 g g^–1 dry weight for plant, soil and animal samples respectively. Mean concentration of copper ranged 0.10–1.48 g g^–1; 0.10–2.90 g g^–1 and 0.01–0.08 g g^–1 for samples in similar order as above. The levels of Pb varied from 0.01–0.14 g g^–1; 0.02–0.23 g g^–1 and from trace–0.07 g g^–1 while that of Zn ranged from 0.19–1.80 g g^–1; 0.51–3.35 g g^–1and 0.01–0.08 g g^–1 also in the same order of samples as mentioned above. Levels of metals in soil samples were higher than the background levels with the exception of Zn but lower than European Union (EU) limits. The results generally revealed the presence of metals in plant and animal samples and metal dynamics up the food chain is highly possible. Acceptable recoveries of the spiking experiment validate the experimental protocol.     

内蒙古农业灌区夏、秋浇的氮磷流失变化

通过对内蒙古农业灌区引黄灌溉的2次主要大规模灌溉（夏浇、秋浇）的跟踪监测,研究了农业灌区的氮磷流失情况.分析了2次灌溉期的各引水渠和排水渠中总氮（TN）、氨氮（NH4＋-N）、硝氮（NO3--N）、总磷（TP）、溶解性无机磷（DIP）、溶解性有机磷（DOP）、颗粒磷（PP）的变化情况.研究表明：夏浇时,由于植物吸收、灌水量小等因素,基本不产生污染.而秋浇期间,由于灌水量大、土地裸露成为非点源污染产生的主要时期.在对第8排域的TN、TP的连续监测中发现,排干沟中的总氮总磷含量基本维持在4.16mg.L^-1和0.1725mg.L^-1,且氮为主要的污染控制因子;排干沟中的N/P为24,排入乌梁素海中极易引起水华发生.结合河套农业灌区的自然条件、耕作方式等因素,综合分析了河套灌区在夏浇及秋浇时期的非点源污染产生过程及污染特点.为该地区非点源污染管理和控制提供科学依据.     

Validation of an agricultural non-point source （AGNPS） pollution model for a catchment in the Jiulong River watershed, China

This study tested and evaluated the agricultural non-point source(AGNPS)model for the Wuchuan catchment, a typical agricultural area in the Jiulong River watershed, Fujian Province. China. The AGNPS model was calibrated and validated for the study area with observed data onten storms. Thedata on eight stormsin 2002 were used for calibration while data on two stormswere used for validation of the model. Considering the lack of water quality data over a long-term series, a novel method, comparing an internal nested catchment with its surrounding catchment, was used to supplement the less long-term series data. Dual calibration and validation of the AGNPS model was obtained by this comparison. The results indicate that the correlation coefficients were 0. 99 and 0. 98 for runoff, 0. 94 and 0. 95 forthe peak runoff rate of the large catchment and the small catchment, respectively, and 0. 76 forthe sediment of the small catchment only. Each pair of correlation coefficients is homogeneous for the same event for the two catchments. With the exception of the sediment yield and particulate phosphorus, the peak nmofr rate and other nutrients were well predicted. Sensitivity analysis showed that the Soil Conservation Service curve number and rainfall quantity were the most sensitive parameters, which resulted in high output variations. Erosivitv and other parameters had little influence on the hydrological and quality outputs.     

试论精确农业及我国行动对策

精确农业是超前性的农业新技术。由于精确农业充分地利用了作物、土壤和病虫害的空间和时间变化量来进行耕作和田间管理,因而,取得的经济和环境边际效益非常显著。结合我国国情,研究发展适用的精确农业技术体系、应用体系不仅是必要的,而且是可能的。精确农业的研究与发展将有助于我国人口、资源与环境方面重大问题的解决,有助于农业资源的高效利用和农业环境保护。为了适应精确农业应用,作为核心技术的地理信息系统（ＧＩＳ）技术也应在界面、功能、可操作性、信息源、实时性和处理速度等方面进行改进,深入研究多层次集成系统     

滇池富营养化及面源控制问题思考

滇池严重富营养化的主要成因之一是农田面源化肥流失污染,利用“微生物菌肥”部分替代化肥是实施“高效清洁农业”的有效措施。      

Scale,context, and decision making in agricultural adaptation to climate variability and change

This work presents a framework for viewing agricultural adaptation, emphasizing the multiple spatial and temporal scales on which individuals and institutions process information on changes in their environment. The framework is offered as a means to gain perspective on the role of climate variability and change in agricultural adaptation, and developed for a case study of Australian agriculture. To study adaptation issues at the scale of individual farms we developed a simple modelling framework. The model highlights the decision making element of adaptation in light of uncertainty, and underscores the importance of decision information related to climate variability. Model results show that the assumption of perfect information for farmers systematically overpredicts adaptive performance. The results also suggest that farmers who make tactical planting decisions on the basis of historical climate information are outperformed by those who use even moderately successful seasonal forecast information. Analysis at continental scales highlights the prominent role of the decline in economic operating conditions on Australian agriculture. Examples from segments of the agricultural industry in Australia are given to illustrate the importance of appropriate scale attribution in adapting to environmental changes. In particular, adaptations oriented toward short time scale changes in the farming environment (droughts, market fluctuations) can be limited in their efficacy by constraints imposed by broad changes in the soil/water base and economic environment occuring over longer time scales. The case study also makes the point that adaptation must be defined in reference to some goal, which is ultimately a social and political exercise. Overall, this study highlights the importance of allowing more complexity (limited information, risk aversion, cross-scale interactions, mis-attribution of cause and effect, background context, identification of goals) in representing adaptation processes in climate change studies.     

Urban agriculture,civil interfaces and moving beyond difference: the experiences of plot holders in Dublin and Belfast

Recent literature suggests that a “shared politics of place” attained through joint activities fosters social integration and provides people with a means to practise co-operation [Baumann, G., 1996. Contesting culture: discourses of identity in multi-ethnic London. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; Sanjek, R., 1998. The future of us all: race & neighbourhood policies in New York City. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press; Sennett, R., 2012. Together: the rituals, pleasures and politics of cooperation. UK: Penguin]. Such a “shared politics of place” is most likely to occur in the context of public space conceptualised broadly as “the setting for everyday spatial behaviour of individuals and communities, emphasizing ordinary activities of citizens” [Lownsbrough, H. and Beunderman, J., 2007. Equally spaced? Public space and interaction between diverse communities. London: Demos, p. 8]. Here we explore one element of such public space – urban agriculture sites – with a view to identifying the extent to which a “shared politics of place” can be created and nurtured among the cultivating citizenry. The paper draws on data collected on allotment gardening sites in two urban contexts: Dublin (Ireland) and Belfast (Northern Ireland) over the period 2009–2013. We demonstrate the centrality of allotment cultivation to the generation of solidarity, mutuality and trust among participating citizens. Individuals engaging in allotment gardening in both Dublin and Belfast create and sustain civil interfaces – dismantling barriers, exchanging knowledge, challenging stereotypes, generating empathy and getting on with the business of simply getting on with their lives. The modus operandi of allotment gardening is predicated on a willingness to disregard social and ethno-national categorisations while on site. This is not to deny that such differences exist and persist, but allotments offer a “space of potential” where those differences are, at least for a time, rendered less salient.     

土壤中稀土元素的生态毒性研究进展

为了解稀土元素对农田生态系统的影响,综述了近几十年来国内外有关土壤稀土元素生态毒性的研究进展,包括土壤稀土元素的主要来源途径,稀土元素对农田生态系统中植物、动物和微生物生长、发育、繁殖的影响。高浓度的稀土元素会破坏植物细胞膜的性质和结构,影响植物的抗氧化系统,扰乱植物对矿质营养元素的正常吸收和利用,诱使植物细胞发育不良、染色体畸变等现象发生。稀土元素可影响动物的消化、呼吸、生殖、神经、血液和免疫系统等。稀土元素对土壤微生物数量、种类、群落结构与功能多样性等均有影响。探讨了土壤稀土元素的生态毒性诊断方法,目前常见的植物毒性诊断法、蚯蚓毒性诊断法、土壤微生物诊断法、生物标记物诊断法和遗传毒性诊断法等可用来诊断土壤中稀土元素的生态毒性。提出了以后开展土壤稀土元素生态毒性研究应加强的方面:在群落、个体和细胞水平上研究稀土元素对土壤动物和微生物的影响,加强稀土元素生态毒性诊断新方法和新技术的探讨,进行稀土元素生物有效性与土壤因素关系的研究等。     

Effectiveness of conservation easements in agricultural regions

Conservation easements are a standard technique for preventing habitat loss, particularly in agricultural regions with extensive cropland cultivation, yet little is known about their effectiveness. I developed a spatial econometric approach to propensity‐score matching and used the approach to estimate the amount of habitat loss prevented by a grassland conservation easement program of the U.S. federal government. I used a spatial autoregressive probit model to predict tract enrollment in the easement program as of 2001 based on tract agricultural suitability, habitat quality, and spatial interactions among neighboring tracts. Using the predicted values from the model, I matched enrolled tracts with similar unenrolled tracts to form a treatment group and a control group. To measure the program's impact on subsequent grassland loss, I estimated cropland cultivation rates for both groups in 2014 with a second spatial probit model. Between 2001 and 2014, approximately 14.9% of control tracts were cultivated and 0.3% of treated tracts were cultivated. Therefore, approximately 14.6% of the protected land would have been cultivated in the absence of the program. My results demonstrate that conservation easements can significantly reduce habitat loss in agricultural regions; however, the enrollment of tracts with low cropland suitability may constrain the amount of habitat loss they prevent. My results also show that spatial econometric models can improve the validity of control groups and thereby strengthen causal inferences about program effectiveness in situations when spatial interactions influence conservation decisions.     

石墨烯纳米材料对哺乳动物的毒性及其作用机制

石墨烯是一种应用广泛的新兴非金属纳米材料,具有独特的电学机械性能、超大的比表面积以及潜在的生物相容性,在材料、电子、能源、光学以及生物医学等领域得到广泛应用。与此同时,石墨烯的环境行为和生物毒性也随之引起日益广泛的关注。本文通过对石墨烯纳米材料的动物毒性、细胞毒性、毒性影响因素和毒性机制等相关研究进展进行总结。石墨烯纳米材料可通过气管滴注、吸入、静脉注射、腹腔注射以及口服等方式进入体内,通过机械屏障、血脑屏障和血液胎盘屏障等积累在肺、肝、脾等部位引起急性或者慢性损伤;目前有关石墨烯毒性机制的研究主要集中于线粒体损伤、DNA损伤、炎性反应、凋亡等终点及氧化应激参与的复杂信号通路,不同石墨烯纳米材料的浓度、尺寸、表面结构和官能团等对石墨烯的生物毒性影响不同。鉴于当前该领域研究的局限性,对石墨烯纳米材料生物毒性研究的发展方向进行了展望,进而为石墨烯材料的安全应用提供理论借鉴和实践参考。