Long-term declines of European insectivorous bird populations and potential causes

Evidence of declines in insect populations has recently received considerable scientific and societal attention. However, the lack of long-term insect monitoring makes it difficult to assess whether declines are geographically widespread. By contrast, bird populations are well monitored and often used as indicators of environmental change. We compared the population trends of European insectivorous birds with those of other birds to assess whether patterns in bird population trends were consistent with declines of insects. We further examined whether declines were evident for insectivores with different habitats, foraging strata, and other ecological preferences. Bird population trends were estimated for Europe (1990–2015) and Denmark (1990–2016). On average, insectivores declined over the study period (13% across Europe and 28% in Denmark), whereas omnivores had stable populations. Seedeaters also declined (28% across Europe; 34% in Denmark), but this assessment was based on fewer species than for other groups. The effects of insectivory were stronger for farmland species (especially grassland species), for ground feeders, and for cold-adapted species. Insectivory was associated with long-distance migration, which was also linked to population declines. However, many insectivores had stable populations, especially habitat generalists. Our findings suggest that the decline of insectivores is primarily associated with agricultural intensification and loss of grassland habitat. The loss of both seed and insect specialists indicates an overall trend toward bird communities dominated by diet generalists.     

Adsorption–desorption behavior of atrazine on agricultural soils in China

Adsorptionanddesorptionareimportantprocessesthataffectatrazinetransport,transformation,andbioavailabilityinsoils.Inthisstudy,theadsorption–desorptioncharacteristicsofatrazinein three soils (laterite, paddy soil and alluvial soil) were evaluated using the batch equilibrium method. The results showed that the kinetics of atrazine in soils was completed in two steps: a “fast” adsorption and a “slow” adsorption and could be well described by pseudo-second-order model.In addition,the adsorption equilibrium isotherms were nonlinear and were well fitted by Freundlich and Langmuir models. It was found that the adsorption data on laterite, and paddy soil were better fitted by the Freundlich model;as for alluvial soil,the Langmuir model described it better. The maximum atrazine sorption capacities ranked as follows: paddy soil > alluvial soil > laterite. Results of thermodynamic calculations indicated that atrazine adsorption on three tested soils was spontaneous and endothermic. The desorption data showed that negative hysteresis occurred. Furthermore, lower solution pH value was conducive to the adsorptionofatrazineinsoils.Theatrazineadsorptioninthesethreetestedsoilswascontrolled by physical adsorption, including partition and surface adsorption. At lower equilibrium concentration, the atrazine adsorption process in soils was dominated by surface adsorption;while with the increase of equilibrium concentration, partition was predominant.     

Local PM10 and PM2.5 emission inventories from agricultural tillage and harvest in northeastern China

Mineral particles or particulate matters(PMs) emitted during agricultural activities are major recurring sources of atmospheric aerosol loading.However,precise PM inventory from agricultural tillage and harvest in agricultural regions is challenged by infrequent local emission factor(EF) measurements.To understand PM emissions from these practices in northeastern China,we measured EFs of PM_(10) and PM_(2.5) from three field operations(i.e.,tilling,planting and harvesting) in major crop production(i.e.,corn and soybean),using portable real-time PM analyzers and weather station data.County-level PM_(10) and PM_(2.5) emissions from agricultural tillage and harvest were estimated,based on local EFs,crop areas and crop calendars.The EFs averaged(107 ± 27),(17 ± 5) and 26 mg/m~2 for field tilling,planting and harvesting under relatively dry conditions(i.e.,soil moisture 15%),respectively.The EFs of PM from field tillage and planting operations were negatively affected by topsoil moisture.The magnitude of PM_(10) and PM_(2.5) emissions from these three activities were estimated to be 35.1 and 9.8 kilotons/yr in northeastern China,respectively,of which Heilongjiang Province accounted for approximately45%.Spatiotemporal distribution showed that most PM_(10) emission occurred in April,May and October and were concentrated in the central regions of the northeastern plain,which is dominated by dryland crops.Further work is needed to estimate the contribution of agricultural dust emissions to regional air quality in northeastern China.     

Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuel demand and solar energy conversion efficiency in European bioethanol production for automotive purposes

Crop derived biofuels such as (bio)ethanol are increasingly applied for automotive purposes. They have, however, a relatively low efficiency in converting solar energy into automotive power. The outcome of life cycle studies concerning ethanol as to fossil fuel inputs and greenhouse gas emissions associated with such inputs depend strongly on the assumptions made regarding e.g. allocation, inclusion of upstream processes and estimates of environmentally relevant in- and outputs. Peer reviewed studies suggest that CO₂ emissions linked to life cycle fossil fuel input are typically about 2.1–3.0 kg CO₂ kg⁻¹ starch-derived ethanol. When biofuel production involves agricultural practices that are common in Europe there are net losses of carbon from soil and emissions of the greenhouse gas N₂O. Dependent on choices regarding allocation, they may, for wheat (starch) be in the order of 0.6–2.5 kg CO₂ equivalent kg⁻¹ of ethanol. This makes ethanol derived from starch, or sugar crops, in Europe still less attractive for mitigating climate change. In case of wheat, changes in agricultural practice may reduce or reverse carbon loss from soils. When biofuel production from crops leads to expansion of cropland while reducing forested areas or grassland, added impetus will be given to climate change.     

Leaching of nitrogen in Swedish agriculture — a historical perspective

There is a need to examine long-term changes in nitrogen leaching from arable soils. The purpose of this study was to analyse variations in specific leaching rates (kg ha⁻¹ per year) and gross load (Mg per year) of N from arable land to watercourses in Sweden from a historical perspective. The start of the study was set to 1865 because information on crop distribution, yield and livestock has been compiled yearly since then. The SOIL/SOILN model was used to calculate nitrogen leaching. Calculations were done for cereals, grass and bare fallow for three different soil types in nine agricultural regions covering a range of climatic conditions. Results indicate that both specific leaching rates and gross load of nitrogen in the middle of 19th century were approximately the same as they are today for the whole of south and central Sweden. Three main explanations for this were (1) large areas of bare fallow typical for the farming practice at the time; (2) enhanced mineralisation from newly cultivated land; and (3) low yield . From 1865, i.e. the start of the calculations, N leaching rates decreased and were at their lowest around 1930. During the same period, gross load was also at its lowest despite the fact that the acreage of arable land was at its most extensive. After 1930, average leaching increased by 60% and gross load by 30%, both reaching a peak in the mid-1970s to be followed by a declining trend. The greatest increase in leaching was in regions where the increase in animal density was largest and these regions were also those where the natural conditions for leaching such as mild winters and coarse-textured soils were found. Extensive draining projects occurred during the period of investigation, in particular an intensive exploitation of lakes and wetlands. This caused a substantial drop in nitrogen retention and the probable increase in net load to the sea might thus have been more affected by this decrease in retention than the actual increase in gross load.     

新疆生产建设兵团农垦城镇土地等级体系研究

本文建立了新疆生产建设兵团农垦城镇类、等、级及基准地价的城镇土地等级体系,为兵团农垦城镇不同层次的土地管理提供了科学依据,对深化我国土地有偿使用制度改革,建立健全合理的土地市场,实现土地资源资产化等具有较好的理论和实践探索意义。     

调整农村能源结构是改善西部农业生态环境的核心问题之一

农村能源建设是农业生态系统的中心枢纽之一，通过小型高效沼气池发酵，一方面，改善了我国绝大部分地区农户用能结构及居住环境条件，促使农民的传统生活习惯向现代文明转变，提高农民的生活质量。另一方面，可减少薪柴的樵采，保护植树造林成果，提高森林覆盖率，治理水土流失，实现农作物秸杆的合理利用，增加土壤有机质，改善农业生态环境，促进农业可持续发展。     

Vulnerability and adaptation to climate risks in Ontario agriculture

A vulnerability approach to climate change adaptation research is employed to explore prospects of agricultural adaptation to climatic variability and change. The methodological approach focuses on the system of concern, in this case, farms in Perth County, Ontario. Twenty-five interviews and four focus groups with farmers were used to identify climate risks on farms, and to document farmers’ responses to conditions and risks associated with climate and weather. The information collected describes a complex decision-making environment, with many forces both external and internal to the farm operation influencing management decisions. Within this environment, climate and weather are consistently referred to as a significant force influencing both farm operations and management decisions. Farmers have, however, developed a wide-range of anticipatory and reactive management strategies to manage climate risks. While these have potential to address future climate-related risks and opportunities, there are limits to adaptation, and an increase in the frequency of extreme events may exceed their adaptive capacities. Farmers are also generally unaware and/or unconcerned about future climate change, which could constrain opportunities to adopt long-term climate change adaptations.     

浙江省农业清洁生产技术体系构建的探讨

通过对农业清洁生产的内涵特征以及农业清洁生产对技术需求的全面分析,阐明了农业清洁生产技术体系的构建思路,提出了以标准化生产技术、农产品质量安全监测技术、农业投入品替代及农业资源高效利用技术、产地环境修复和地力恢复技术、农业废弃物资源化及其清洁化生产链接技术、农业信息技术等为主要内容的农业清洁生产技术体系框架.通过稻田清洁生产实施案例,验证了农业清洁生产技术在实际中的成功应用.     

Sequential extraction of copper from soils and relationships with copper in maize

We studied copper uptake by maize grown on soils that have been contaminated with CuSO₄. In soil the total copper level ranged from 24 to 135 mg kg^–1. The copper distribution in soil fractions was assessed by sequential extraction, showing that anthropogenic copper is mainly concentrated in oxides fractions. The copper concentration of maize at the maturity stage reached values from 36.3 to 65.9 mg kg^–1 compared to copper levels usually found in non-contaminated crops (5–30 mg kg^–1). Here we demonstrate that copper can be accumulated by maize and that copper concentration in maize can be predicted by equations including copper concentration of soil fractions.