The life cycle of rice: LCA of alternative agri-food chain management systems in Vercelli (Italy)

The Vercelli rice district in northern Italy plays a key role in the agri-food industry in a country which accounts for more than 50% of the EU rice production and exports roughly 70%. However, although wealth and jobs are created, the sector is said to be responsible for environmental impacts that are increasingly being perceived as topical. As a complex and comprehensive environmental evaluation is necessary to understand and manage the environmental impact of the agri-food chain, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology has been applied to the rice production system: from the paddy field to the supermarket. The LCA has pointed out the magnitude of impact per kg of delivered white milled rice: a CO_2eq emission of 2.9 kg, a primary energy consumption of 17.8 MJ and the use of 4.9 m³ of water for irrigation purposes. Improvement scenarios have been analysed considering alternative rice farming and food processing methods, such as organic and upland farming, as well as parboiling. The research has shown that organic and upland farming have the potential to decrease the impact per unit of cultivated area. However, due to the lower grain yields, the environmental benefits per kg of the final products are greatly reduced in the case of upland rice production and almost cancelled for organic rice. LCA has proved to be an effective tool for understanding the eco-profile of Italian rice and should be used for transparent and credible communication between suppliers and their customers.     

Spatial and temporal projected distribution of four crop plants in Egypt

This study focuses on the management of the local agroecosystems in order to adapt planting or sowing practices for the projected climate change scenarios. It is projected that there will be increased air temperature throughout all four seasons in the coming 100 years, from the southern towards the northern parts of Egypt. The objective of this study is to investigate the influence of that increased air temperature on the spatial and temporal distribution of four of the major economic crops in Egypt. The study species are cotton (Gossypium barbadense L., cv. Giza 89), wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Gemiza 9), rice (Oryza stiva L., cv. Sakha 101) and maize (Zea mays L., cv. Hybrid 10). Optimum air temperature allowing maximum growth for each of the study crop cultivars and the current and projected air temperature patterns in the future years were used for projection of the seasonal and crop distribution maps in the years 2005, 2025, 2050, 2075 and 2100. Results showed that sowing dates of a target crop may be managed in order to allow maximum predicted planting area in the same region. The current maximum area suitable for planting the Cotton crop in Egypt (104 thousand Fadden/year; one Fadden = 0.96 hectare or 0.42 acre) showed few variations over the coming hundred years. In this case, the sowing dates should be changed from the hotter months (February to April) to the cooler months (January to February). Alternatively, a great reduction in the area planted by Wheat crop was predicted in the coming 100 years. Despite the early planting, a reduction of about 147 thousand Fadden/year was projected by the year 2075. On the other hand, with earlier sowing dates, the maximum areas that are planted by Rice and Maize may not be greatly affected by the projected increase in air temperature.     

Thermochemical esterifying citric acid onto lignocellulose for enhancing methylene blue sorption capacity of rice straw

In this paper, rice straw was esterified thermochemically with citric acid (CA) to produce potentially biodegradable cationic sorbent. The modified rice straw (MRS) and crude rice straw (CRS) were evaluated for their methylene blue (MB) removal capacity from aqueous solution. The effects of various experimental parameters (e.g., initial pH, sorbent dose, dye concentration, ion strength, and contact time) were examined. The ratio of MB sorbed on CRS increased as the initial pH was increased from pH 2 to 10. For MRS, the MB removal ratio came up to the maximum value beyond pH 3. The 1.5g/l or up of MRS could almost completely remove the dye from 250mg/l of MB solution. The ratio of MB sorbed kept above 98% over a range from 50 to 450mg/l of MB concentration when 2.0g/l of MRS was used. Increase in ion strength of solution induced decline of MB sorption. The isothermal data fitted the Langmuir model. The sorption processes followed the pseudo-first-order rate kinetics. The intraparticle diffusion rate constant (k(id)) was greatly increased due to modification.     

The Potential of Soil Carbon Sequestration Through Improved Management Practices in Norway

The study was conducted to assess the potential of Norwegian agricultural ecosystems to sequester carbon (C) based on the data from some long-term agronomic and land use experiments. The total emission of CO₂ in Norway in 1998 was 41.4 million metric ton (MMT), of which agriculture contributed only 0.157 MMT, or <0.4% of the total emissions. With regards to methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) gases, however, agricultural activities contributed 32.5% and 51.3% of their respective emissions in Norway. The soil organic carbon (SOC) losses associated with accelerated soil erosion in Norway are estimated at 0.475 MMTC yr^–1. Land use changes and soil/crop management practices with potential for SOC sequestration include conservation tillage methods, judicious use of fertilizers and manures, use of crop residues, diverse crop rotations, and erosion control measures. The potential for SOC sequestration is 0.146 MMTC yr^–1 for adopting conservation tillage, 0.011–0.035 MMTC yr^–1 for crop residue management, 0.026 MMTC yr^–1 for judicious use of mineral fertilizer, 0.016–0.135 MMTC yr^–1 for manure application, and 0.036 MMTC yr^–1 for adopting crop rotations. The overall potential of these practices for SOC sequestration ranges from 0.591 to 1.022 MMTC yr^–1 with an average value of 0.806 MMTC yr^–1. Of the total potential, 59% is due to adoption of erosion control measures, 5.8% to restoration of peat lands, 21% to conversion to conservation tillage and residue management, and 14% to adoption of improved cropping systems. Enhancing SOC sequestration and improving soil quality, through adoption of judicious land use and improved system of soil and crop management, are prudent strategies for sustainable management of soil, water and environment resources.Readers should send their comments on this paper to: bhaskarn ath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.     

Combined amendment reduces soil Cd availability and rice Cd accumulation in three consecutive rice planting seasons

The scientific application of stabilized materials has been considered an effective method for the in situ remediation of Cd-contaminated soil. This study aimed to investigate the persistence of the effect of a combined amendment of limestone and sepiolite(LS) on soil Cd availability and accumulation in rice grown in a mildly Cd-contaminated paddy field(0.45 mg/kg of Cd) over three consecutive rice seasons. 1125–4500 kg/ha of LS was applied to the soil before the first rice planting season and 5...     

Chronic renal failure among farm families in cascade irrigation systems in Sri Lanka associated with elevated dietary cadmium levels in rice and freshwater fish (Tilapia)

Chronic renal failure (CRF), in the main agricultural region under reservoir based cascade irrigation in Sri Lanka has reached crisis proportion. Over 5,000 patients in the region are under treatment for CRF. The objective of this study is to establish the etiology of the CRF. Concentrations of nine heavy metals were determined in sediments, soils of reservoir peripheries, water and Nelumbo nucifera (lotus) grown in five major reservoirs that supply irrigation water. All five reservoirs carried higher levels of dissolved cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe) and lead (Pb). Dissolved Cd in reservoir water ranged from 0.03 to 0.06 mg/l. Sediment Cd concentration was 1.78-2.45 mg/kg. No arsenic (As) was detected. Cd content in lotus rhizomes was 253.82 mg/kg. The Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) of Cd based on extreme exposure of rice is 8.702-15.927 mug/kg body weight (BW) for different age groups, 5-50 years. The PTWI of Cd due to extreme exposure of fish is 6.773-12.469 mug/kg BW. The PTWI on a rice staple with fish is 15.475-28.396 mug/kg BW. The mean urinary cadmium (UCd) concentration in CRF patients of age group 40-60 years was 7.58 mug Cd/g creatinine and in asymptomatic persons UCd was 11.62 mug Cd/g creatinine, indicating a chronic exposure to Cd. The possible source of Cd in reservoir sediments and water is Cd-contaminated agrochemicals. The CRF prevalent in north central Sri Lanka is a result of chronic dietary intake of Cd, supported by high natural levels of fluoride in drinking water, coupled with neglecting of routine de-silting of reservoirs for the past 20 years.     

利用根箱法解析水稻根际土壤中氮的行为

为研究水田土壤中氮的行为,施给15NH4 或15NO3-标记的硝胺(NH415NO3或15NH4NO3)的沙壤土(Shirasu soil)添充在根箱里,对Japonica水稻(品种Hinohikari)进行温室栽培6周.收割后,水稻植株分地上部和根部,对各自的全氮,15N atom％进行测定.根箱各区域的土壤按着鲜土形态进行采取后,对此全氮,NO3-N,水溶性NH4-N,KCl抽出NH4-N和其各自的15N atom％进行测定.研究结果表明,土壤全氮含量与栽培前相比,在非根际明显降低,但在根际比非根际要高,保持了与栽培前相同的水平.土壤NO3-N浓度从非根际到根际递增,但与其栽培前相比显著地降低,在整个根箱里,施给NO3-N的79％为因脱氮而损失.土壤中NO3-N的大部分来自于土壤氮化合物,来自施肥的比例却较低,尤其是在根际.反而,施给NO3-N的残存率约仅为16％左右,但其中有机态氮所占的比率在非根际里55％～86％,在根际却达到了93％.土壤水溶性NH4-N和KCl抽出NH4-N浓度靠近根际逐渐降低,而且在非根际两者匀由1∶10的比例存在,但在根际里水溶性NH4-N没被检索到.在非根际里,土壤KCl抽出NH4-N的35％～66％为来自施肥,但其比例在根际里却降到15％左右.在土壤中残存的来自施给NH4-N的氮化合物之中,有机态氮所占的比例在非根际里约为11％～65％,但在根际却达到了92％.以上结果表明,在水稻根际,氮的无机化和有机化的活性比非根际显著.     

双季稻区冬种覆盖作物对土壤微生物量的影响

利用氯仿熏蒸浸提法研究了南方双季稻区4种冬季覆盖作物对土壤微生物量碳、氮周年动态的影响.结果表明:冬季种植紫云英(Astragalus sinicus L.)、黑麦草(Lolium multiflroum Lam.)和马铃薯(Solanum tuberosum L.)土壤微生物量碳含量分别为:248.8mg·kg-1、256.7mg·kg-1和238.9mg·kg-1均显著高于冬闲田的218.3 mg·kg-1(P<0.05),增幅为9.43%～17.59%;冬季种植油菜(Brassica campestris L.)土壤微生物量碳比冬闲田提高了0.63%,没有显著性差异.4种覆盖作物土壤微生物量氮含量分别为:紫云英,100.3 mg·kg-1、黑麦草,153.8 mg·kg-1、马铃薯,99.9 mg·kg-1和油菜,86.2 mg·kg-1,均显著高于冬闲田,73.5 mg·kg-1(P<0.05).对比冬闲田,各个覆盖作物均显著提高土壤有机质含量(P<0.05).说明种植冬季覆盖作物可以提高土壤有机质含量和有效养分含量,促进了土壤微生物的活动,有利于保持土壤肥力.     

Estimation of crop residue in China based on a Monte Carlo analysis

Accurate crop residue resource estimation is important for bioenergy development.This is done by the ratio of residue to grain(R/G),which is usually regarded constant and is widely used for crop residue estimation though uncertainty is inevitable in practice.In this study,a Monte Carlo algorithm was applied to estimate national crop residue by R/G taken from published reports in China.The estimated result was further mapped in pixels by geographic information system.In2009,the amount of crop residue was found to be 802.32 million tons(Mt),with 679.36 and 947.28 Mt as the lower and upper limits for 95%confidence limits.Chinese crop residue was dominated by rice,wheat,and corn,accounting for74.57%(598.29 Mt).From 1949 to 2009,the amount of crop residue increased by four times,accompanied by component change.The spatial distribution of crop residue in China is markedly heterogeneous.Compared to the shortage of crop residue in northwest China,there is an abundant crop residue of about 334 Mt in eastern China,attracting 90%of the country's electricity or heat generation plants.     

周年轮作休耕对土壤AMF群落和团聚体稳定性的影响

为探究轮作休耕对丛枝菌根真菌（AMF）群落组成及土壤团聚体稳定性的影响,以坡耕地红壤为研究对象,采用Illumina MiSeq高通量测序和湿筛法分别测定AMF群落组成和团聚体,研究了苕子轮作玉米（V-C）、豌豆轮作玉米（P-C）、冬闲-玉米（F-C）和周年休耕（F-F）这4个处理下AMF群落组成及其与土壤养分和团聚体稳定性之间的关系.结果表明,F-F、V-C和P-C处理的>2 mm团聚体含量、R_0.25及MWD均显著高于F-C （P<0.05）,<0.25 mm团聚体含量均显著低于F-C （P<0.05）;F-F处理的ACE、Chao1和Shannon指数较F-C分别显著提高29.56%、35.78%和45.55%;球囊霉属（Glomus）为各处理AMF群落的优势属,盾巨孢囊霉属（Scutellospora）在各处理间差异显著（P<0.05）;PCoA分析发现,PC1和PC2分别累计解释了AMF群落组成差异的29.99%和22.40%;相关性分析表明,盾巨孢囊霉属与碱解氮（AN）和有机质（SOM）呈显著负相关（P<0.05）,与速效钾（AK）呈显著正相关（P<0.05）,球囊霉属与碱解氮呈显著正相关（P<0.05）;RDA分析表明,AMF多样性（Shannon指数）和盾巨孢囊霉属分别与>2 mm和2~1 mm团聚体含量显著正相关（P<0.05）.因此,周年休耕和苕子轮作玉米有利于提高土壤团聚体稳定性和改变AMF群落组成,研究结果为我国南方周年轮作系统提高土壤质量和推行合理轮作休耕模式提供理论依据和参考.