USE OF SOIL AND WATER PROTECTION PRACTICES AMONG FARMERS IN THE NORTH CENTRAL REGION OF THE UNITED STATES1

ABSTRACT: Data were collected in the fall of 1998 and the winter of 1999 from 1,011 land owner‐operators within three watersheds in the North Central Region of the United States to assess adoption of soil and water protection practices. Farm owner‐operators were asked to indicate how frequently they used 18 different agricultural production practices. Many farmers within the three watersheds had adopted conservation protection practices. However, they also employed production practices that could negate many of the environmental benefits associated with conservation practices in use. Comparison of adoption behaviors used in the three watersheds revealed significant differences among the study groups. Respondents in the Iowa and Ohio watersheds reported greater use of conservation production systems than did farmers in Minnesota. However, there were no significant differences between Ohio and Iowa farmers in terms of use of conservation production practices. This was surprising, since farmers in the Ohio watershed had received massive amounts of public and private investments to motivate them to adopt and to continue using conservation production systems. These findings bring into serious question the use of traditional voluntary conservation programs such as those employed in the Ohio watershed. Study findings suggest that new policy approaches should be considered. It is argued that “whole farm planning” should be a significant component of new agricultural conservation policy.     

Cumulative adverse effects of offshore wind energy development on wildlife

Offshore wind energy development (OWED) is being pursued as a critical component in achieving a low-carbon energy economy. While the potential generating capacity is high, the cumulative effects of expansion of OWED on wildlife remain unclear. Since environmental regulations in many countries require analysis of the cumulative adverse effects (CAE) during permitting processes, this paper reviews the state of knowledge on CAE of OWED on wildlife. We synthesize ecological research on the effects of OWED on wildlife; delineate a framework for determining the scope of CAE assessments; describe approaches to avoiding, minimizing and compensating for CAE; and discuss critical uncertainties.     

Connecting environmental management and farm household livelihoods: The Rural Environment Protection Scheme in Ireland

This paper presents the relationship between an environmental protection scheme, established in Ireland in 1994 under EU Regulation No. 2078/92, and the livelihoods of Irish farm households. It explores this relationship within the framework of the new policy environment for EU agriculture and rural areas as set out in Agenda 2000. At the centre of this new policy environment is the European model for agriculture, embodying the concept of multifunctionality, which recognizes the pivotal position of an evolving agricultural sector in enhancing the viability of rural areas through broadening the assets of farm families. Research undertaken with farm households in the west of Ireland indicates a positive relationship between the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme and the economic and natural assets upon which they build their livelihoods. The case of a small-scale dairy farm household is presented, showing clearly the positive impact of the scheme, while also highlighting the vulnerability of these improvements. A major challenge facing policy-makers is the extent to which acceptable levels of income and an enhanced natural environment on such farms can be sustained. The position of advisory and research institutions in strengthening human capacities on farms is highlighted and their enhanced role is suggested in order to give meaning to multifunctional and sustainable agriculture within the context of rural area viability. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Recombinant human AhR-mediated GUS reporter gene assays for PCB congeners in transgenic tobacco plants in comparison with recombinant mouse and guinea pig AhRs

Four expression plasmids for recombinant human aryl hydrocarbon receptor (hAhR) consisting of a ligand binding domain of hAhR, a DNA-binding domain of LexA and a transactivation domain of VP16 as well as β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter genes were constructed. All the expression plasmids were transformed into tobacco plants. The selected transgenic tobacco plants were used to assay. PCB congeners showed GUS activity in a TEF-dependent manner. The selected transgenic tobacco plant XhD4V17 was compared with the transgenic tobacco plants XmD4V26 and XgD2V23 containing recombinant mouse (m) AhR-mediated GUS reporter gene expression cassette and recombinant guinea pig (g) AhR-mediated GUS reporter gene expression cassette for PCB congener-inducible GUS activity. The data revealed that the tobacco plant XgD2V23 was the most active in PCB congener-inducible GUS activity. In a 1:1 mixture of PCB126 and PCB80 a reduced PCB126-induced GUS activity was observed in plant XgD2V23, which could possibly be due to interaction between PCB126 and PCB80.     

厌氧氨氧化工艺处理猪场废水沼液的试验研究

本文以实际猪场沼气废水为研究对象,以ASBR为反应器,接种厌氧消化污泥培养厌氧氨氧化细菌,厌氧氨氧化阶段成功启动后,研究了厌氧氨氧化脱氮最佳运行工艺。试验研究表明,厌氧氨氧化反应适宜的温度在35（±1）℃之间,适宜的pH在7．5—8．0之间,HRT选用24h。当达到最佳运行参数时,NH4＋-N的去除率达到87．6％,NO2- -N的去除率达到99．96％。     

An exploration of the relationships betweenmacroinvertebrate community composition and physical andchemical habitat characteristics in farm dams

Recently, Australian interest in farm dams has focused on rates of harvest of surface waters (runoff), and the impact this has on nearby natural systems. Little research has been directed towards the role of these artificial water bodies in sustaining biological reserves within the wider ecosystem. Macroinvertebrate communities in three farm dams in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales were surveyed, and water quality variables were correlated with species richness and abundance. Community responses to habitat factors including sediment depth, stock use, vegetation and debris were also examined. Communities were described at several taxonomic levels in addition to allocation to trophic groups and primary functional feeding groups.Species richness and abundance of communities were found to vary between dams and between habitat types within dams. The extent of these differences was decreased when communities were described by either trophic status or functional feeding mechanisms. Habitats were influenced by water quality and by physical features of the habitat, with the two factors interacting to define equilibrium conditions. Localised conditions resulted in different macroinvertebrate communities. Physicochemical parameters that correlated most closely with communities included light penetration, chlorophyll-a and conductivity. Habitat factors that were most frequently linked with communities were sediment depth and canopy cover, with localised disturbances related to stock use affecting feeding groups rather than specific taxa.One of the major problems associated with increasing modification of landscapes by agriculture or urbanisation is the fragmentation of undisturbed habitats. Creation of joint aquatic and woodland habitats enhances biodiversity corridors. The recognition of the potential for farm dams as reservoirs of biodiversity and development of management practices that optimise this neglected biodiversity reserve may have much wider benefits biologically, aesthetically and productively.     

A comparative study of microbial communities in soils amended by manures from pigs fed with organic versus synthetic feeds

We applied pyrosequencing to determine bacterial communities in soil samples taken from test fields amended by manures of pigs fed with green feeds (GPMS), synthetic feeds (APMS), and the reference field without swine manure amendment (NPMS), respectively. For each sample, 7050 effective sequences were selected and utilized to do the bacterial diversity and abundance analysis, respectively. In total, 2986, 2873, and 1602 operational taxonomic units were obtained at a 3% distance cut-off in GPMS, APMS, and NPMS, respectively. Bacterial phylotype richness in GPMS was higher than the other samples. NPMS had the least richness. The most dominant class in both GPMS and APMS is Betaproteobacteria, whereas Alphaproteobacteria is dominant in NPMS. Circa 7.5% sequences in GPMS were found to be affiliated with Burkholderiales order. Bacterial diversity and abundance in the soil varied with swine manure amendment, due to nutrient elements as well as toxic metals in swine manures. Compared with the soil amendment by manures from pigs bred with synthetic feeds, more bacterial diversity but less potentially pathogenic bacterial genera in the soil amended by manures of pigs fed with green feeds were found, which indicated that these manures were better land-applied organic fertilizers.     

钢丝绳产业区重金属对土壤－农产品的复合污染及生态风险评价?

选取钢丝绳行业比较发达的某乡镇为研究区域,对其地区周边土壤及农产品的污染状况进行了野外调查和实验分析研究。结果表明：（1）土壤中铅、锌的含量均有不同程度的污染。（2）土壤中重金属含量与废水灌溉方式有关。（3）废水灌溉的农产品均有不同程度的污染。（4）重金属主要富集在农产品的根部,果实中富集的量很少。     

生物沥浸法去除猪粪中重金属的研究

探讨以猪粪为培养介质,驯化和加富培养获得硫细菌混合菌液,并研究其对猪粪中重金属的生物沥浸效果。结果表明：猪粪可以在18 d内完成驯化,经3轮富集培养的猪粪粪液可作为硫细菌接种菌液。采用此菌液对猪粪粪液接种并投加硫粉,经过9 d的生物沥浸,Cu、Zn和Cd的沥出率分别达到93.0%、90.1%和67.8%。     

鸡粪与猪粪所含土霉素在土壤中降解的动态变化及原因分析

采用室内模拟培养实验,研究不同用量鸡粪与猪粪所含土霉素在土壤中降解的动态变化规律及消解途径.结果表明,畜禽粪便中土霉素在土壤中能迅速进入降解期,含量变化呈"L"型,但不同粪肥种类和用量处理的降解率和变化幅度有显著差异(P<0.05).180 d时,鸡粪处理土壤中OTC的降解率高于猪粪处理,半衰期分别为26.98 d和31.32 d.低用量鸡粪和猪粪处理土壤中OTC降解率最大,对应分别可达84.06%和80.47%.降解率与畜禽粪便用量呈负相关,与时间呈正相关且可用v=A+Blnt回归方程拟合(r>0.96).土霉素进入土壤50 d时,光降解量占减少总量的20.03%,下降了25.05%;微生物降解量占3.16%,增加了2.50%.可见,鸡粪所含土霉素在土壤中的降解情况好于猪粪,光照对土壤中土霉素有较好的降解作用,土壤微生物降解作用很小,且随着培养时间的延长,微生物降解增加,光降解减弱.