The role of the rural settlements in the Brazilian savanna deforesting process

Although the drivers of deforestation in Brazil are relatively well known, there is still limited understanding of the role of family farm-based rural settlements in land cover changes, particularly in the Brazilian savanna. This research aims to identify land use patterns within rural settlements and examine how they are influenced by regional dynamics. The study is based on GIS techniques and satellite image classification (Landsat 5-TM and RapidEye imagery), combined with geo-referenced fieldwork data in three different regions of the State of Goiás. The results reveal that the deforestation arrangement within the studied rural settlements is very similar to the deforestation found in the surrounding regions. As a positive outcome, the rural settlements have a higher share of remnant vegetation when compared to the surrounding areas, but this is still concentrated within legal reserves. We conclude that the changing patterns of rural settlement land cover are highly influenced by regional dynamics.     

How farmers develop local ecological knowledge for on-farm tree management: The perspectives of some farming communities of Ghana

Scientific insights into what it means to manage on-farm trees by local farmers, is an essential step towards documenting local ecological knowledge for sustainable landscape management. A study was therefore conducted in the Kumawu Forest District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana to assess how farmers conceptualise on-farm tree management and develop local knowledge for it. Using a case study approach, data were collected through informal interviews and focus group discussions with 120 farmers drawn from 15 communities who were involved in the management of three cropping systems; cocoa, maize and cassava-cocoyam-plantain mix. It was observed that the farmers regard on-farm tree management as a continuous process which occurs in three phases of the farming cycle; land preparation, crop cultivation and fallow management. For each of the three phases, farmers are guided by specific principles that ensure enough light penetration in-between tree crowns in the land preparation phase, suitable spacing between trees and crops in the crop cultivation phase and adequate tree regeneration in the fallow phase. The decisions made during the selection of tree species, spacing of trees adjudged suitable for any particular cropping system and recruitment of saplings prior to the fallow phase of farming constitute tree management. Farmers develop tree management knowledge by studying the physical characteristics of species, matching them to ecological functions they could perform and how they are likely to respond to treatments meant to control or enhance their development. Species are then subjected to trial and recommended or otherwise.     

Soil fertility dynamics in runoff-capture agriculture, Canary Islands, Spain

In the extremely arid (∼150 mm yr⁻¹) eastern Canary Islands of Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and La Graciosa, agriculture has been sustained for decades by a traditional runoff-capture (RC) farming system known as “gavias”. Although the main goal of these systems is to increase water supply for crops, making unnecessary conventional irrigation, a secondary and equally important factor is that this system allows for sustainable agricultural production without addition of chemical or organic fertilizers. A field study was conducted to assess the impact of long-term agriculture (>50 yr) on soil fertility and to evaluate key factors affecting the nutrient sustainability of RC agricultural production. Soil fertility and nutrient dynamics were studied through chemical characterization of the arable layer (0-25 cm) of RC agricultural plots, adjacent natural soils (control) not affected by runoff and cultivation, and sediments contributed by a series of RC events. Results showed that RC soils have enhanced fertility status, particularly because they are less affected by salinity and sodicity (mean electrical conductivity = 1.8 dS m⁻¹ vs. 51.0 dS m⁻¹ in control soils; mean exchangeable sodium percentage = 11.1% vs. 30.6% in control soils), and have higher water and nutrient holding capacities (mean clay plus silt contents ≈87% vs. 69% in control soils). In general, sediments transported with the runoff and deposited in RC plots (average sediment yield ≈ 46 ton ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), contain sufficient nutrients to prevent a progressive reduction of essential plant nutrients below natural levels in spite of nutrient uptake and removal by the harvested crop. Average additions of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium with the runoff sediments were 33.6, 35.3 and 48.8 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, respectively. Results of this study show how a crop production system can be sustained in the long term by natural hydrological and biogeochemical catchment processes. This system maintains a nutrient balance that is not based on energy-intensive inputs of fertilizers, but is integrated in natural nutrient cycling processes, unlike other tropical farming agroecosystems.     

环境监测设备管理实践与探索

结合环境监测仪器设备的特点,着重阐述了从设备分类、量值溯源、维修维护等几方面环境监测设备的常规管理方法,并对其现代化的管理进行了探索。     

冬季低温下MBR与CAS工艺运行及微生物群落特征

研究了在冬季低温条件下,膜生物反应器(MBR)与传统活性污泥法(CAS)工艺运行效果及微生物群落特征的差异,对工艺出水水质和微生物活性进行了分析,并借助454焦磷酸高通量测序法对微生物群落组成和结构进行了解析.结果表明,三套对比工艺(MBR两套:高污泥浓度R1和低污泥浓度R2,CAS工艺R3)的出水总氮平均去除率分别为85.2%、56.1%、58.8%;NH+4-N的平均去除率分别为99.7%、99.7%、59.7%,比硝化速率由大到小依次为R2、R1、R3,比反硝化速率由大到小依次为R3、R1、R2,高浓度MBR污泥具有较好的耐寒特性和氨氮去除效果;从454焦磷酸测序结果看,相似性为97%时,菌群丰富度:R2>R3>R1,多样性:R2>R1>R3;MBR污泥微生物菌群的组成和丰度与CAS系统有较大不同;R1、R2、R3中主要的硝化菌为Nitrospira菌属,总相对度依次为:1.22%、1.64%、0.15%,主要的反硝化菌为Zoogloea菌属、Thauera菌属、Comamonadaceae菌属及Comamonas菌属,总相对丰度依次为:5.8%、4.52%、15.21%;低温环境下,泥龄长、污泥浓度高、TN负荷低的MBR系统有利于硝化、反硝化细菌累积,提升生物脱氮效果.     

海州湾海洋牧场人工鱼礁投放对营养盐的影响

为了解海州湾海洋牧场人工鱼礁投放对营养盐的影响,基于2008—2015年间共24个航次水质调查资料,分析了海州湾海洋牧场鱼礁区和对照区活性磷酸盐(PO_4~(3-)-P)、活性硅酸盐(SiO_3~(2-)-Si)和溶解无机氮(DIN)的浓度、组成及营养盐结构的变化.同时,比较了鱼礁区和对照区营养盐的变化,初步分析了人工鱼礁投放量与营养盐的相关性,尝试探索人工鱼礁投放对营养盐浓度与结构的影响.结果表明,鱼礁区和对照区PO_4~(3-)-P、SiO_3~(2-)-Si浓度均呈现出秋季夏季春季的特点,且鱼礁区高于对照区.DIN在鱼礁区和对照区也呈现出同样的季节变化特点,但鱼礁区的变化幅度显著大于对照区.海洋牧场人工鱼礁的投放使鱼礁区PO_4~(3-)-P和DIN浓度增加.受热力学平衡的影响,对照区DIN浓度也出现了增加,而PO_4~(3-)-P受人工鱼礁投放的影响小.鱼礁区和对照区SiO_3~(2-)-Si受人工鱼礁投放影响均不明显.另外,海洋牧场DIN组成也发生了改变,2012年前NO_3~--N为DIN主要组成,之后为NH_4~+-N.营养盐结构分析显示,海州湾海洋牧场营养盐对浮游植物主要表现为磷限制.     

长江三角洲水田保护性耕作制度的碳收集效应估算

耕作制度对农田土壤有机碳的稳定和积累作用显著,探讨耕作制度演变下农田土壤碳库动态,将有助于农田土壤碳收集的技术选择及政策制定。利用已发表的田间定位试验数据,构建不同耕作制度下长江三角洲水田耕层土壤有机碳密度的估算模型。依据该区近20多年来耕作制度演变动态,对保护性耕作制度的土壤碳收集效应进行了初步估算。结果表明,油菜面积的扩大、小麦的少免耕和作物秸秆的还田分别约增加土壤耕层有机碳0.94 Tg、2.76 Tg和3.95 Tg,其中以麦稻复种转向油稻复种的单位面积碳收集效应为最高。最后,就碳收集效应估算的方法进行了相关讨论,并就土壤碳收集研究和如何提高土壤碳收集潜力提出了一些建议。     

Trace elements and microbiological parameters in farmed Nile tilapia with emphasis on muscle,water, sediment and feed

Fish may bioaccumulate contaminants from the aquatic environment and extend them to the food chain provoking risks to human health. This study evaluated the microbiological parameters of the pond´s water and trace elements concentrations in samples of water, sediment, feed and muscle of farmed Nile tilapia used for human consumption in southern Brazil. A total of 240 fish were collected from 12 tilapia farms. Sediment, tank water and dry ration used in the animals' diet were collected for analysis. Analysis were performed by Energy Dispersion X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF), Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS), Induced Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES), and Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS-VGA). In addition, the microbiological analysis of the water was carried out. The concentrations of Se, I, Fe, Cu and Zn in fish muscle were higher than the recommended by the Brazilian legislation, considering the advised daily intake for adults. The arsenic element had concentrations above the limit stipulated by the present Brazilian legislation, observed in all samples of muscle, sediment and tank water highlighting a possible environmental and fish contamination by the toxic element. Moreover, the arsenic concentration in the water presented a positive correlation (ρ?=?0.33) with arsenic in the muscle, suggesting that tilapia is a good environmental bioindicator, once they properly reflect the levels of arsenic in the water. It is suggested to perform an arsenic speciation for quantification of the inorganic form and accurate assessment of the degree of toxicity in the muscle samples and risks it can bring to human health. Regarding the other potentially toxic elements (Hg, Pb and Cd), and microbiological analysis of water it was verified that the consumption of the fish in question does not raise risks, since the values are within a quality benchmark established by law. The concentration of total and fecal coliforms in pond´s water in the facilities was in agreement with the microbiological indexes required by the legislation of CONAMA class II. Western region presented the lowest concentrations of fecal coliforms when compared to the other regions. There was no significant difference in the microbiological counts of total heterotrophic bacteria, Vibrio spp. and Pseudomonas spp. among the regions.     

不同养殖水体溶解氧与环境因子关系的比较

根据2003年7月到2004年6月间对厦门铁道公司东山牙鲆工厂化养殖车间和同安湾网箱养殖区养殖水体水环境监测的资料分析整理而得.研究结果表明:东山牙鲆养殖车间的DO、NH4-N、NO2-N均达到了二类渔业水质标准,但COD偏高,超出四类渔业水质标准.在工厂化养殖中,由于受人为的影响,DO与其他环境因子不存在线性关系.而在同安湾,NH4-N、NO2-N、DO和COD均达到了二类渔业水质标准,同时DO与COD,DO与NH4-N之间都存在较好线性关系.     

三峡库区坡耕地利用与水土保持种植制

三峡库区耕地资源十分有限,且坡耕地占有相当大的比重,陡坡地多,在不良的耕作方式下肥力低下,水土流失十分严重在分析三峡库区自然条件与坡耕地资源特点的基础上,讨论了坡耕地种植制度与土壤侵蚀的关系,提出通过合理搭配作物种类进行多熟制间套作,一年生农作物与多年生经饲作物间作及农作物与木本植物等高间作等手段来建立坡耕地水土保持种植制,从而达到减轻土 蚀之目的。