Impact of urbanization trends on production of key staple crops

Urbanization has appropriated millions of hectares of cropland, and this trend will persist as cities continue to expand. We estimate the impact of this conversion as the amount of land needed elsewhere to give the same yield potential as determined by differences in climate and soil properties. Robust spatial upscaling techniques, well-validated crop simulation models, and soil, climate, and cropping system databases are employed with a focus on populous countries with high rates of land conversion. We find that converted cropland is 30–40% more productive than new cropland, which means that projection of food production potential must account for expected cropland loss to urbanization. Policies that protect existing farmland from urbanization would help relieve pressure on expansion of agriculture into natural ecosystems.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13280-021-01674-z.     

Levels of glyphosate in surface waters, sediments and soils associated with direct sowing soybean cultivation in north pampasic region of Argentina

Levels of glyphosate were determined in water, soil and sediment samples from a transgenic soybean cultivation area located near to tributaries streams of the Pergamino-Arrecifes system in the north of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Field work took into account both the pesticide application and the rains occurring after applications. The pesticide was analysed by HPLC-UV detection, previous derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethylchloroformate (FMOC-Cl). In addition, SoilFug multimedia model was used to analyse the environmental distribution of the pesticides. In the field, levels of glyphosate in waters ranged from 0.10 to 0.70mg/L, while in sediments and soils values were between 0.5 and 5.0mg/Kg. Temporal variation of glyphosate levels depended directly on the time of application and the rain events. The results obtained from the application of the model are in accordance with the values found in the field.     

干旱河谷区退耕还林的意义与效益 ——以阿坝州小金县为例

在生态考察和资料调研的基础上 ,以阿坝州小金县为例 ,探讨了四川省干旱河谷区退耕还林的思路及效益 ,认为退耕还林对于干旱河谷区、生态脆弱区、旅游资源丰富地区具有重大的现实意义。     

Analysis of China‘s Water Security and Virtual Water Trade

Producing goods and services all needs water consumption. The water used in the process of an agricultural or industrial product is called the “Virtual Water“ contained in this product.Through international trade, water-scarce countries and regions could purchase water-intensive products--especially foods, from water-rich countries to balance their water deficits and achieve water safety. China is one of the 13 most water-deficit countries whose water safety have been severely challenged. This paper generalized the recent global research development and made a brief introduction about the methods calculating virtual water content in specific products. As a case study, we qualified China‘s annual virtual water flows from year 2000 to 2002 with trade in crops, and ended with some policy advice for application and practice of virtual water strategy.     

The Magic Bullet Criticism of Agricultural Biotechnology

One common method of criticizing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is to label them as “magic bullets.” However, this criticism, like many in the debate over GMOs, is not very clear. What exactly is the “magic bullet criticism”? What are its origins? What flaw is it pointing out in GM crops and agricultural biotechnology? What is the scope of the criticism? Does it apply to all GMOs, or just some? Does it point to a fatal flaw, or something that can be fixed? The goal of this paper is to answer these questions and clarify the magic bullet criticism of agricultural biotechnology. It is hoped that the results of this exercise will be helpful in advancing deliberation over the role GMOs and agricultural biotechnology should play in 21st century agriculture.     

A Social Contract for Biotechnology: Shared Visions for Risky Technologies?

Future technological developmentsconcerning food, agriculture, and theenvironment face a gulf of social legitimationfrom a skeptical public and media, in the wakeof the crises of BSE, GM food, and foot andmouth disease in the UK (House of Lords, 2000). Keyethical issues were ignored by the bioindustry,regulators, and the Government, leaving alegacy of distrust. The paper examinesagricultural biotechnology in terms of a socialcontract, whose conditions would have to be fulfilled togain acceptance of novel applications. Variouscurrent and future GM applications areevaluated against these conditions. Successwould depend critically on how far a sharedvision can be found with the public. Tore-establish trust, significant changes areidentified in the planning and pursuit ofbiotechnology.     

上海地区开发利用木本能源植物初探

阐述了能源植物的概念、开发利用能源植物的意义，以及能源植物的发展现状和趋势。重点论述了上海地区开发利用木本能源植物的必要性、可行性，并就如何开发利用木本能源植物提出了相关建议。     

Economic effects of CO2 fertilization of crops: transforming changes in yield into changes in supply

Increasing concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide CO₂ have a beneficial effect on crop production that would tend to offset some of the economic losses that might be generated in some areas by the climatic effects of atmospheric CO₂ and other greenhouse gases. Previous estimates of the economic benefits of CO₂ fertilization on world crop production, however, were based on the assumption that percent changes in supply are equal to percent changes in yield. This assumption is not valid, however, because it confounds changes in supply with changes in quantity supplied. This error leads to an overestimation of the real economic benefits of CO₂ fertilization by 61–166%. The effects of CO₂ fertilization on crop production, therefore, will reduce some of the potential damages caused by the climatic impacts of greenhouse gases, but by significantly less than that indicated in earlier research.     

Trace element concentration in wheat grain: results from the Swedish long-term soil fertility experiments and national monitoring program

Concentrations of trace elements in wheat grain sampled between 1967 and 2003 from the Swedish long-term soil fertility experiments were analyzed using ICP-MS. The long-term effect of inorganic and organic fertilization on trace metal concentrations was investigated including the impact of atmospheric deposition and myccorhiza, whereas other factors such as soil conditions, crop cultivar, etc. are not discussed in this paper. Mean values derived from 10 experimental sites were reported. Significantly declining Pb and Cd concentrations in wheat grain could be explained by lower atmospheric deposition. Mean Se contents in all samples were 0.031 mg kg⁻¹ grain dry weight. No samples had sufficiently high Se concentrations for human (0.05 mg Se kg⁻¹) or animal demand (0.1 mg Se kg⁻¹). Concentrations of Co in wheat grain were extremely low, 0.002–0.005 mg Co kg⁻¹ grain dry weight, and far below the minimum levels required by animals, which applied to all fertilizer treatments. A doubling of Mo concentrations in grain since 1975 resulted in Cu/Mo ratios often below one, which may cause molybdenosis in ruminants. The increase in Mo concentrations in crops correlated with the decline in sulfur deposition. Concentrations of Cu and Fe declined in NPK-fertilized wheat as compared to unfertilized or manure-treated wheat. Very low concentrations of Se and Co and low concentrations of Fe and Cu require attention to counteract risks for deficiencies. The main characteristic of the study is that there are few significant changes over time between different fertilizer treatments, but throughout there are low concentrations of most trace elements in all treatments. In general, good agreement between concentrations in wheat from the long-term fertility experiments and the national monitoring program indicate that values are representative.     

川南山区土壤与农作物重金属特征及成因

土壤及农作物中的重金属超标会影响人类生存环境和身体健康,为研究重金属在川南山区土壤与农作物中的富集特征及成因,以四川省南部山区的沐川县北部为研究区,采集了耕作土壤样品1699件,水稻籽实样品30件,玉米籽实样品31件,茶叶样品15件,对应农作物根系土壤样品76件,应用数理统计、主成分分析、相关分析等技术,研究土壤和农作物中重金属富集特征及成因、重金属在农作物与根系土的相关性.结果表明耕作土壤中重金属含量较高,其算术均值高于全国土壤背景值,且均存在超过风险筛选值采样点,其中Cd超标点数达770个;耕作土壤中重金属主要来源于地质背景,其次受土壤中的有机质及酸碱度和人类活动的影响.农作物中重金属均低于国家标准,农作物对重金属的富集系数总体表现为：茶叶 > 水稻 > 玉米.通过相关分析表明,土壤中重金属总体特征为含量高和活性低,未对3种农作物的质量安全造成影响,而土壤中CaO、Fe₂O₃和MgO对玉米和水稻籽实中重金属含量有一定影响.