Life-cycle phosphorus use efficiency of the farming system in Anhui Province,Central China

The rapid increase of phosphorus (P) use in farming has raised concerns regarding its conservation and environmental impact. Increasing the P use efficiency (PUE) is an approach to mitigating these adverse impacts. In this study, we applied substance flow analysis (SFA) to establish a life-cycle P use efficiency model to determine the life-cycle PUE of the farming system used in Anhui Province in 2011, which is typical of the agriculture practiced in central China. Based on this model, the P flows and PUEs of five subsystems were identified and quantified: crop farming, crop processing, livestock breeding, rural living, and urban living. The three largest P flows were found in the crop farming and livestock breeding subsystems; it can therefore be concluded that these subsystems have substantial impacts on the entire farming system. In contrast, the PUEs of crop farming, rural consumption, and livestock breeding subsystems presented the three lowest PUEs (58.79%, 71.75%, and 76.65%, respectively). These results were also consistent with the finding that the greatest P losses occurred in crop farming and livestock breeding. Consequently, the study proposes that great potential exists for increasing PUEs in the farming system of Anhui, and several of the most promising measures could be combined for improving PUEs. Finally, the study assesses data quality and presents a sensitivity analysis for use in interpreting the results. The study also shows that improving PUE and decreasing P losses in farming systems through improved nutrient management must be considered an important issue, and this study represents valuable experience in resource conservation and agricultural development in China.     

Two decades,three WEEE systems: How far did EPR evolve in Korea's resource circulation policy?

Extended producer responsibility (EPR) has become a dominant policy paradigm for the management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in the last two decades. In South Korea the principle has guided the evolution of the resource circulation policy even before its official introduction through a revision of the recycling law in 2002. Elements of producer responsibilities could be found in the producer-based deposit refund system (DRS) a decade earlier and they were strengthened through the enactment of a new resource circulation law in 2008. This article reviews the policy changes in South Korea for the management of WEEE during the past 20 years. The focus of the analysis is on the impacts of EPR and the producers’ responses that were expressed through the quantity and the quality of material flows in the society. The findings are discussed in light of international experiences in order to outline measures to improve the effectiveness of the EPR-based resource circulation policy that could have broader implications beyond the case study.     

The relationship between sustainable development and resource use from a geographic perspective

Geography provides the basic building blocks for the study of resource use and sustainable development, inasmuch as it categorizes the human environment. Within the environment are resources that are needed for the survival of society. As resources are largely limited and finite, humans as agents of change must employ techniques that allow an efficient and lasting use of the available resources in their environment. This paper discusses the nexus between geography, resource exploitation, use, and sustainable development. It also discusses the characteristics, types, and classification of resources, development and sustainable development as well as the challenges and strategies for attaining sustainable development, particularly in developing countries.     

沿海滩涂生态型围垦指标体系研究

随着近几年滩涂围垦工程的进行,为了协调围垦开发与生态环境保护之间的矛盾,生态型围垦的理念应运而生。本文对"生态型围垦"的内涵进行了深入辨析,提出了沿海滩涂生态型围垦概念模型,针对围垦工程规划前期、工程实施和运行管理3个阶段的特点,从管理、环境和生态3个方面提出相应指标,初步构架了生态型围垦指标体系,为沿海滩涂围垦的可持续及匡围区域生态环境管理提供技术支撑。     

土壤有机质含量测定方法的改进研究

通过研究改进了土壤有机质含量的测定方法。首先称取适量土壤置于长管消解系统中进行消解,然后采用全自动电位滴定仪进行滴定,直接获得土壤的有机质含量。使用该方法测定的土壤标准样品的有机质含量均在保证值以内,同时对实际样品进行精密度测试,得到相对标准偏差为1．03％。该方法降低了土壤有机质含量检测的实验成本,减少了环境污染,同时提高了实验数据的准确度与精密度,值得推广。     

A Multi‐Scale Analysis of Single‐Family Residential Water Use in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area

Studies that evaluate determinants of residential water demand typically use data from a single spatial scale. Although household‐scale data are preferred, especially when econometric models are used, researchers may be limited to aggregate data. There is little, if any, empirical analysis to assess whether spatial scale may lead to ecological fallacy problems in residential water use research. Using linear mixed‐effects models, we compare the results for the relationship of single‐family water use with its determinants using data from the household and census tract scales in the city of Phoenix. Model results between the household and census tract scale are similar suggesting the ecological fallacy may not be significant. Common significant determinants on these two spatial scales include household size, household income, house age, pool size, irrigable lot size, precipitation, and temperature. We also use city/town scale data from the Phoenix metropolitan area to parameterize the linear mixed‐effects model. The difference in the parameter estimates of those common variables compared to the first two scales indicates there is spatial heterogeneity in the relationship between single‐family water use and its determinants among cities and towns. The negative relationship between single‐family house density and residential water use suggests that residential water consumption could be reduced through coordination of land use planning and water demand management.     

Integration of technologies and alternative sources of water and energy to promote the sustainability of urban landscapes

Recent research has highlighted the positive role of green areas in urban environments, providing numerous social, environmental and economic services, such as mitigation of the urban heat island effect, storm attenuation, increased water infiltration into the soil, reduction of noise and air pollution, among others. However, the maintenance of green areas may result in high consumption of water, reaching 50% of the total consumption in some municipalities, and energy, becoming a reason of concern. The present study aimed to integrate techniques and technologies that promote the automatic and efficient irrigation of urban landscapes, using alternative sources of energy and water, toward its sustainability. The conceptual unit was able to reduce in 64% the water consumed in irrigation. Rainwater met 69% of the demand and the photovoltaic system supplied all the energy required. The economic feasibility analysis showed that the conceptual unit is financially unfeasible, under the conditions of this study. However, with some interventions for reusing the surplus energy and water, and considering the higher fees charged by other cities, the investment became attractive. In this new scenario, the internal rate of return (15 years) was 27.3% and the discounted payback period was 4.9 years.     

秸秆还田下氮肥用量对玉米产量及土壤无机氮的影响

研究连续2年秸秆还田下氮肥用量对玉米产量、氮肥利用率及土壤硝态氮的影响,结果表明,玉米产量随着施氮量的增加逐渐增加,施氮量达到216 kg·hm^-2时,产量最高,施氮量超过216 kg·hm^-2时产量有降低的趋势。相同施氮处理玉米产量年际变化明显,2010年较2009年产量提高0.69％~4.75％。氮肥利用率、氮肥农学利用率和氮收获指数随着秸秆还田年限的增加,均有不同程度的增加。2年0~100 cm土层土壤硝态氮含量均以施氮240 kg·hm^-2最高,且有向土壤深层迁移的趋势,对浅层地下水构成潜在的威胁。与施氮240 kg·hm^-2相比,施氮168、192 kg·hm^-2和216 kg·hm^-2处理0~100 cm土壤无机氮残留量2年平均减少39.87％、35.84％和29.38％。相同施氮处理,0~100 cm土壤无机氮累积量2010年较2009年略有降低。综合考虑玉米产量、氮肥利用率与生态环境效益,该地区最适施氮量200 kg·hm^-2左右。     

基于任务成功率的装备综合保障工作体系及协同设计环境研究

本文介绍了基于任务成功率的装备综合保障工作体系框架,提出了可靠性、维修性、测试性、保障性、安全性协同设计环境要求,从而为进行可靠性、维修性、测试性、保障性、安全性综合优化设计奠定基础。     

攀枝花市城市基础设施与土地收益关联度分析

以攀枝花市为例,综合运用GIS空间分析技术和变异系数权重分析、灰色关联度等方法建立了城市基础设施与土地收益的关联度模型,定量分析城市基础设施与土地收益的关联关系,揭示两者间的关联规律和作用机理.结果表明：①城市基础与土地收益存在较大关联性;②城市基础设施与土地收益关联度在时间序列上具有明显的波动性且呈周期性变化;③城市基础设施与土地收益关联度在空间上呈分异特征.