Organic carbon stock in topsoil of Jiangsu Province, China, and the recent trend of carbon sequestration

Data collection of soil organic carbon(SOC) of 154 soil series of Jiangsu, China from the second provincial soil survey and of recent changes in SOC from a number of field pilot experiments across the province were collected. Statistical analysis of SOC contents and soil properties related to organic carbon storage were performed. The provincial total topsoil SOC stock was estimated to be O. 1 Pg with an extended pool of 0.4 Pg taking soil depth of 1 m, being relatively small compared to its total land area of lOl?00 km^2. One quarter of this topsoil stock was found in the soils of the Taihu Lake region that occupied 1/6 of the provincial arable area. Paddy soils accounted for over 50% of this stock in terms of SOC distribution among the soil types in the province. Experimental data from experimental farms widely distributed in the province showed that SOC storage increased consistently over the last 20 years despite a previously reported decreasing tendency during the period between 1950--1970. The evidence indicated that agricultural management practices such as irrigation, straw return and rotation of upland crops with rice or wheat crops contributed significantly to the increase in SOC storage. The annual carbon sequestration rate in the soils was in the range of 0.3-3.5 tC/(hm^2. a), depending on cropping systems and other agricultural practices. Thus, the agricultural production in the province, despite the high input, could serve as one of the practical methods to mitigate the increasing air CO2.     

污灌区农田土壤环境质量评价

分别利用主成分分析法和内梅罗污染指数法对取自鞍山的6种不同类型农田(弃耕地、旱田、菜田、大棚、污灌稻田和清灌稻田)的土壤环境质量进行评价.结果表明,农田种植和灌溉方式的不同会在区域农田土壤污染物含量和土壤环境质量上表现出较明显的差异性.6种类型农田中,弃耕地的土壤环境质量最好,以下依次是菜田、旱田、清灌稻田和大棚,污灌稻田的土壤环境质量最差.利用内梅罗污染指数法和主成分分析法对6种类型农田土壤的评价结果基本一致,除菜田和旱田的排序结果略有不同外,对其他4种类型农田土壤环境质量的评价结果完全一致.主成分分析法可以用于土壤环境质量评价和土壤污染物的定量化识别.      

基于生产成本的中国农地利用集约度的变化特征

以价值形态的农作物种植成本为表征指标,对我国1980-2002年农地利用集约度的变化特征进行了年际间、不同种植业之间与不同区域之间的比较研究。结果表明:①近20多年来,我国农地利用的集约度不断提高,但在1985-1986年、1993-1994年与1998-2002年,农地利用的集约度出现过三次明显的下降;②我国农地利用主要以物质成本投入为主;物质成本投入相对稳定,而劳力成本的投入变化较大,其变化同总成本变化同步;③不同种植业生产的集约度有一定差异,但在总的时序变化规律上差异不明显;④不同区域之间农地利用集约度的变化特征差异显著。低收入地区农地利用集约度的提高幅度比高收入地区大;高收入地区集约度的提高主要依赖于物质成本的投入,劳力成本投入增加不明显,而低收入地区劳力成本与物质成本的投入比例基本相当,且在1991年以后,劳力成本的投入比例超过了物质成本;从集约度的波动上看,集约度下降的阶段,收入高的地区下降幅度大,而收入低的地区下降幅度小。     

中国农业植被净初级生产力模拟(I)——模型的建立与灵敏度分析

以业已建成的稻麦作物净初级生产力模型为基本框架,建立了一个具有普适性的中国农业植被净初级生产力模型(CropC-)。CropC-的模拟对象为占我国农作物总播种面积2/3的水稻、小麦、玉米、棉花、油菜和大豆。该模型包括2个主要功能模块:光合作用和呼吸作用;土壤-作物系统氮素运移。前者综合考虑了环境因子和氮素的影响,后者包括了作物氮素吸收、土壤氮矿化和化肥氮释放。灵敏度分析表明,在输入参数变化±10%时,CropC-对6个主要输入参数响应的敏感性依次为温度>光合有效辐射>大气CO2浓度>土壤全氮含量>施氮量>降水。模型分析表明,气候变暖将降低作物净初级生产力。     

苏北辐射沙洲海岸带农业景观生态分析与优化设计

在世界上具有独特环境资源意义的苏北辐射沙洲位于南黄海西南隅,其不断并岸成陆产生大片开发潜力巨大的农用土地资源.但目前存在诸如岸线冲淤、生态脆弱、过度与无序开发等环境资源问题.在实地综合调研的基础上,运用景观生态学的基本理论,对区域农业景观空间格局进行调整与优化设计,提出促进区域农业生态-经济-美学多重价值同步提高,实现持续农业的有效途径,并以具典型特征的如东县作为个案分析,提出了调整与优化设计的建议.     

Degradation of telone II in contaminated and noncontaminated soils

Abstract

Degradation of the nematicide Telone II (cis‐ and trans‐1,3‐dichloropropene comprise the active ingredients) in soil was studied using ¹⁴C‐l,3‐dichloropropene (DCP) along with soil samples collected from a field test site near Quincy, Florida. A mixed bacterial culture isolated from the soil in the presence of a second carbon source, glucose or yeast extract, completely degraded ¹⁴C‐DCP to ¹⁴CO₂, water‐soluble products, and microbial mass. ¹⁴C‐DCP in soil was also degraded to ¹⁴CO₂. After 28 days of incubation, the labeled chemical was completely degraded to ¹⁴CO₂, water‐soluble metabolites, bound‐residues, and possibly some microbial mass. Little or no difference was observed in the degradation of ¹⁴C‐DCP in soil samples collected one week prior to field application of Telone II, or two weeks and two years after application.     

Detection of residual organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides in agricultural soil in Rio Verde region of San Luis Potosi,Mexico

Organochlorine pesticides were intensively used in Mexico from 1950 until their ban and restriction in 1991. However, the presence of these compounds is commonly reported in many regions of the country. The aim of the present study was to identify and quantify residual organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides in agricultural soil in Rio Verde region, San Luis Potosi state, which has been identified as possibly polluted by pesticides. Composed samples from 24 zones covering an area of approximately 5,440 ha were analyzed. The most frequently found pesticides were p,p´-DDT followed by ,p,p´-DDE, heptachlor, endosulfan and γ-HCH whose frequency rates were 100, 91, 83 and 54%, respectively. The concentration of p,p´-DDT in the crops grown in these soils was in the following order: chili > maize > tomato > alfalfa. The results obtained in this study show that p,p´-DDT values are lower or similar to those found in other agricultural regions of Mexico. Methyl and ethyl parathion were the most frequent organophosphate pesticide detected in 100% and 62.5% of the samples with average concentrations of 25.20 and 47.48 μg kg^–1, respectively. More research is needed to establish the background levels of pesticides in agricultural soils and their potential ecological and human health effects in this region.     

Epiphyte Biodiversity in the Coffee Agricultural Matrix: Canopy Stratification and Distance from Forest Fragments

Abstract: Quality of the agricultural matrix profoundly affects biodiversity and dispersal in agricultural areas. Vegetatively complex coffee agroecosystems maintain species richness at larger distances from the forest. Epiphytes colonize canopy trees and provide resources for birds and insects and thus effects of agricultural production on epiphytes may affect other species. We compared diversity, composition, and vertical stratification of epiphytes in a forest fragment and in two coffee farms differing in management intensity in southern Mexico. We also examined spatial distribution of epiphytes with respect to the forest fragment to examine quality of the two agricultural matrix types for epiphyte conservation. We sampled vascular epiphytes in a forest fragment, a shade polyculture farm, and a shade monoculture farm at 100 m, 200 m, and 400 m from the forest. Epiphyte and orchid richness was greater in the forest than in the monoculture but richness was similar in the forest and polyculture farm. Epiphyte species composition differed with habitat type, but not with distance from the forest. In the forest, epiphytes were distributed throughout tree canopies, but in the farms, epiphytes were primarily found on trunks and larger branches. Epiphyte richness and species similarity to forest species declined with distance from the forest fragment in the monoculture, but richness and similarity to forest species did not decline with distance from forest in the polyculture. This suggests polyculture coffee has greater conservation value. In contrast, monoculture coffee is likely a sink habitat for epiphytes dispersing from forests into coffee. Coffee farms differ from forests in terms of the habitat they provide and species composition, thus protecting forest fragments is essential for epiphyte conservation. Nonetheless, in agricultural landscapes, vegetatively complex coffee farms may contribute to conservation of epiphytes more than other agricultural land uses.     

Exploring the relationship between climate change and violent conflict

ABSTRACT

Does climate change lead to violent conflict? This article reviews the existing literature connecting climatic conditions to conflict. It finds that the existing literature has not detected a robust and general effect from climate to conflict onset. Moreover, there exists scientific agreement that climatic changes can contribute to conflict under some conditions and through certain pathways. In particular, the recent literature offers considerable suggestive evidence that climatic changes can lead to conflict in countries and/or regions, which are dependent on agriculture, host politically excluded groups, and have ineffective institutions. Future research should focus not only on understanding of the pathways and contexts in which climatic changes are most likely to increase or exacerbate the risk of conflict but also work to understand the mechanisms by which climate variability and change might cause conflict.     

Public Investment and Environmental Sustainability of Agricultural Production in China

Abstract

The excessive application of fertilizer and pesticides in grain production in China has posed a threat to the environmental sustainability of agricultural production. One of the major reasons of the increasing usage of chemical inputs by farmers is their trying to reach higher yields, especially In absence of adequate public inputs, such as development and extension of appropriate technology and necessary production infrastructure, etc. Based on the crop-specific data of the past 20 years, this paper examines how the public Investments in agricultural researches could impact on the reduction of farmers' private material inputs of major grain crops in China. It manifests that the increased investments in public sector, especially in agricultural researches, is a favorable and effective way to reduce farmers' private material inputs and should be given a priority consideration in the policy emendation to increase yields and improve production sustainability.