WATER-ENERGY LINKAGES IN NEBRASKA1

ABSTRACT Nebraska is well endowed with water, particularly groundwater, but has few fossil fuel reserves. However, it is located adjacent to states which have almost no water but have enormous quantities of coal and oil shale. Recent court cases facilitate the movement of water from water-rich states such as Nebraska to water-short states, such as Colorado and Wyoming. The possibility of an energy-water partnership exists and raise numerous policy questions. Within Nebraska, energy consumption patterns are similar to those of the nation's, with consumption of electricity in the agricultural sector growing fastest. Water consumption in the state is dominated by agriculture, and future development of groundwater for irrigation is expected to be intense. Although water and energy are both factors of economic production, an equivalent amount of water consumption provides more jobs in the energy industries than in agriculture. Water and energy are also interdependent. Each is required to produce the other and conservation of one will cause conservation of the other. If both agriculture and electricity are involved, such as in irrigation, the conservation effects are synergistic. Current water policy in Nebraska is biased toward agriculture relative to the energy industries and provides little incentive for water conservation. Given recent court cases and economic conditions, the advantages and disadvantages of the sale of water for export or the use of water with Wyoming coal for energy development need to be compared systematically with those of using water only for agriculture.     

Impact of education on the attitudes of college students toward biotechnology

An interdisciplinary course was designed as an introduction to the applications of, and the socio-economic issues associated with, biotechnology. College students enrolled in the course were surveyed prior to the first formal lecture, and again upon completion of the course. Assessment was made of the impact of the educational materials on the attitudes and perceptions of the students toward the applications of biotechnology to agriculture. Data were collected for the first three semesters in which the course was offered. Answers to survey questions were analyzed on a before and after basis. It was found that students were very accepting of biotechnology prior to taking the course, despite a generally low level of exposure to this type of technology. The course was effective in increasing the knowledge base of the students, but not as effective in allaying their perceptions of risks associated with biotechnology.     

长白山区立体气候资源与立体农业开发

本文概述了吉林省东部长白山区农业气候资源的立体变化规律,分析了如何根据立体气候规律安排农作物品种的垂直布局,确定主要特产植物适宜裁培高度、森林植被类型和立体农业生态经济系统建设等问题,指出了充分利用气候资源搞好山区农业立体开发的有效途径。     

PLANNING DIFFUSE POLLUTION CONTROL: AN ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK1

ABSTRACT: Determination of an optimal nonpoint pollution control strategy demands information relating to (1) costs of pollutant reduction, (2) transport of pollutants, (3) water quality impact of pollutants, and (4) the economic impact of water quality changes. This paper briefly reviews the literature in each of these areas and suggests an analytical framework useful in the development of an optimal nonpoint pollutant control strategy.     

PATTERNS OF PERIPHYTON CHLOROPHYLL α IN AN AGRICULTURAL NONPOINT SOURCE IMPACTED STREAM1

ABSTRACT: An agricultural nonpoint source polluted stream in northern Idaho was examined to determine seasonal and longitudinal patterns of periphyton chlorophyll α. Chlorophyll a was measured at eight sites along Lapwai Creek, a fifth order stream impacted by agricultural runoff containing nutrients and eroded soils. Seasonally, periphyton chlorophyll α was lowest in the spring (cumulative x?= 60.4 mg m^?2) and highest in the summer (cumulative x?= 222 mg m^?2). Winter concentrations were higher than expected (cumulative x?= 168.6 mg m^?2). The headwaters, flowing through an open grassy meadow, had the lowest concentrations of the study (two-year x?= 49.7 mg m^?2). Immediately below a small, eutrophic reservoir, periphyton chlorophyll α increased markedly (two-year x?= 155.8 mg m^?2) and remained high through a deep canyon (two year x?= 135.5 mg m^?2) and down to the mouth of the stream (two-year x?= 172.3 mg^?2). Periphyton chlorophyll α in Lapwai Creek was at least two times greater than values reported in the literature for comparable, undisturbed Idaho streams. We suggest that increased nutrient concentrations via agricultural nonpoint source pollution and increased light penetration from the removal of large, woody riparian vegetation have resulted in high periphyton chlorophyll α along the continuum of Lapwai Creek.     

Ethics and farm animal welfare

In this paper the authors argue that ethical considerations are relevant for evaluating animal production systems and that in consequence agrologists should seriously consider the arguments of animal welfare supporters. Furthermore, the authors point out the ethical basis for some (though not all) of the conclusions proposed by supporters of animal welfare. In consequence it is necessary to determine the nature of animal welfare and methods of evaluating the welfare of animals and to recognize when production systems fail to satisfy the needs of animals.     

中国北方农牧交错带农村土地利用变化因子分析--以内蒙古尧勒甸子村为例

以北方农牧交错带典型生态示范村尧勒甸子村为例,应用参与式农村评估法(PRA)并结合GPS与野外测量,恢复了该村1949年后50 a来的土地利用历史过程与格局,利用GIS分析其1950-1999年的土地利用变化特点.运用因子分析和逐步回归分析方法揭示了人类活动因素对土地利用变化的作用.结果发现1985年以前耕地面积扩大,草地面积减小,沙地面积迅猛持续增加;1985年以后土地利用变化向相反的方向发展,土地利用结构趋向合理.     

土壤空间变异性研究评述

在研究方法上，土壤空间变异性研究经历了由定性描述到传统统计学、再到地统计学的不断改进过程，而研究内容也由对单一特性的研究逐渐转向多特性的研究。土壤空间变异性研究虽取得了明显的进展，但也存在地统计学方法在实际应用中主观性太强，土壤综合特性的空间变异性研究、时空结合的变异性研究以及与数学模型有机结合研究不够深入等问题。文章在分析国内外研究现状的基础上，提出了亟待深入研究的若干问题，对这些问题的研究有助于“数字土壤”、“精准农业”和生态环境建设的实施。     

《绿色食品产地环境质量现状评价纲要（试行）》刍议

绿色食品产地生态环境质量评价中优化监测方案和评价标准与方法的合理确定尤为重要。现行的《评价纲要》中监测布点偏多、所选取的某些评价标准与方法欠佳，需加以修订和改进，以提高我国绿色食品产地生态环境质量评价的科学性与实用性。     

自由表面人工湿地脱氮效果中试研究

对自由表面人工湿地去除农业面源污水中氮的效果及途径进行了研究 ,结果表明 ,脱氮效率随水力停留时间(HRT)延长而增加 ,HRT为 0 5、1、2和 3d时 ,系统总氮去除率分别为 18 3 %、3 8 9%、84 9%和 85 6%。HRT <2d ,出水水质波动较大 ,2d以上 ,系统即可高效稳定运行。硝化 /反硝化是湿地脱氮的主要途径 ,挥发和填料吸附脱氮量可以忽略 ,依靠植物吸收可以去除一部分氮 ,茭草 (Zizaniacaduciflora)和芦苇 (Phragmitascommunis)的氮吸收量每年分别为 44 0和70 0kgN/hm2 。