Clarifying the definition ofSustainable agriculture

A number of distinct definitions ofsustainable agriculture have been proposed. In this paper we criticize two such definitions, primarily for conflating sustainability with other objectives such as economic viability and ecological integrity. Finally, we propose and defend a definition which avoids our objections to the other definitions.     

硝化抑制剂硝基吡啶在农业和环境保护中的应用

讨论了硝化抑制剂硝基吡啶的作用机理,综述了硝基吡啶对农作物营养元素吸收、作物品质、作物产量、植物病害和毒害的影响,以及该硝化抑制剂对氮肥的淋溶损失和气态损失的影响.     

QUANTIFICATION OF THE WATER BUDGET AND NUTRIENT LOADING IN A SMALL PEATLAND1

ABSTRACT: Few water budgets exist for specific types of wetlands such as peatlands, even though such information provides the basis from which to investigate linkages between wetlands and upland ecosystems. In this study, we first determined the water budget and then estimated nutrient loading from an upland farm field into a 1.5 ha, kettle-block peatland. The wetland contains highly anisotropic peat and has no distinct, active layer of groundwater flow. We estimated the depth of the active layer using Fick's law of diffusion and quantified groundwater flow using a chemical mass balance model. Evapotranspiration was determined using MORECS, a semi-physical model based on the Penman-Monteith approach. Precipitation and surface outflow were measured using physical means. Groundwater provided the major inflow, 84 percent (44,418 m³) in 1993 and 88 percent (68,311 m³) in 1994. Surface outflow represented 54 percent (28,763 m³) of total outflows in 1993 and 48 percent (37,078 m³) in 1994. A comparison of several published water budgets for wetlands and lakes showed that error estimates for hydrologic components in this study are well within the range of error estimates calculated in other studies. Groundwater inflow estimates and nutrient concentrations of three springs were used to estimate agricultural nutrient loading to the site. During the study period, nutrient loading into the peatland via groundwater discharge averaged 24.74 kg K ha^-1, 1.83 kg total inorganic P ha^d, and 21.81 kg NO₃-N ha^-1.     

A role-playing game as a tool to facilitate social learning and collective action towards Climate Smart Agriculture: Lessons learned from Apuí, Brazil

Addressing the global challenges of climate change (CC), food security and poverty alleviation requires enhancing the adaptive capacity and mitigation potential of land use systems. To this end, Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) aims to identify land use practices that sustainably increase productivity, enhance climate change (CC) adaptation and contribute to CC mitigation. A transition towards CSA requires technical, but also socio-institutional changes, for improved smallholder agricultural systems. Such changes may be triggered by stakeholder participation processes that stimulate social learning and collective action. This article evaluates whether a role-playing game (RPG) is an effective participatory tool to encourage social learning and collective action among local stakeholders towards adoption of CSA strategies. We designed and implemented an RPG with three groups of farmers in Apuí (Southern Amazonas), evaluating the game’s impact on social learning by interviewing each farmer before and after the RPG. Our findings show that the RPG induced not only technical learning, but also socio-institutional learning and engagement for collective action, though outcomes varied between different RPG sessions and among farmer participants.     

洞庭湖区农业环境与湖垸农业可持续发展模式

围湖垦殖形成了洞庭湖区湖垸农业形式,湖垸农业的形成加速了湖区人口的增长,人口的压力也促进了围垦。不断的围湖垦殖使耕地面积迅速增加。由于湖泊面积减少,湖垸农业处于外洪内涝的环境中。归纳了洞庭湖区的农业环境问题：洪涝灾害发生频率加大;水面减少,生物多样性降低;环境污染严重,湿地生态功能衰退;土壤退化和潜育化严重;血吸虫病死灰复燃等。结合已有经验,提出了湖垸农业可持续发展模式：认真实施生态保护工程,减少泥沙淤积;调整湖垸农业结构,建立可持续发展生态农业模式：避灾、减灾模式、水生经济植物模式、工业原料作物模式、林农复合经营模式、湖洲草地草食畜禽模式、麻基（油菜）渔塘农业模式等。     

我国现代农业发展路线与发展战略

在当前,我国现代农业发展背负着重大包袱,面临着日益激烈的国际竞争,大力发展现代农业成为迫切需要.世界农业形势出现了新的变化,集中体现在理念创新、科技创新和制度创新.结合我围发展现代农业的国情,构建一个以产业理念创新为核心,以科技创新为动力,以组织保障制度创新为支撑的现代农业发展战略框架,描绘一个30年跨度的我国农业发展路线图,具有积极的理论意义与现实意义.     

我国高效节水型可持续农业发展模式选择

通过发展高效节水农业的背景和技术基础分析,根据我国区域光热、水土资源特点,以提高大气水、地表水、土壤水和地下水等水资源的利用效率为目的,以提高土地的生物学产量和经济效益为目标,研究提出了抗旱型、立体型、设施型、 复合型、免耕型和集水型等高效节水型农业发展模式,为今后建立我国不同特色的集约高效节水型农业提供可供借鉴的模式。     

集水型生态农业：西北半干旱区可持续农业发展的模式

西北地区是中国的主要农牧业区之一,中国农业、农村、农民问题,在很大程度上也是西北地区问题,西北地区的生态环境问题不是工业的污染,而农业生产活动的破坏,因此,在西部大开发过程中,必须将生态环境的重建与当地农民的脱贫、与农业和农村经济发展紧密结合起来,采适应地区特点的集水型生态农业发展模式,实现西北地区农业的可持续发展和生态环境的逐步恢复和重建。     

山西农业可持续发展面临的困境与对策

本文对影响山西农业可持续发展的农业资源、环境状况等制约因素进行 了分析探讨,并针对存在的问题提出了山西农业可持续发展的策略与措施。     

TOWARDS CHARACTERIZING AND PLANNING FOR DROUGHT IN VERMONT‐PART I: A CLIMATOLOGICAL PERSPECTWE1

ABSTRACT: In the Green Mountain state of Vermont, droughts of one form or another and of varying intensities, seventies, and areal extent are not uncommon occurrences. The 1990s were marked by at least three drought events of which the 1998 to 1999 was the most recent. In spite of this recurrence, ongoing drought monitoring and mitigative planning efforts are not as advanced as they could be and no official drought plan exists for the state. This article is the first of two in this volume. It summarizes the cascade of drought types that impacted the state during the 1998 to 1999 episode. From a number of precipitation statistics and drought indices, fine spatial scales (county or better) were found to best capture the character of drought impacts, while the weekly time step is recommended as the temporal unit around which to base planning and monitoring efforts. The companion article outlines a possible framework for drought planning efforts and highlights key constituencies to be included in the process.