Soil properties and crop productivity as influenced by flyash incorporation in soil

Field experiments were carried out during 1996–97at Gulawathi, Muthiani and Salarpur Villages, IARI Farm, NewDelhi and NCPP Campus, Dadri to evaluate changes in soilcharacteristics and growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.),mustard (Brassica juncea L.), lentil (Lence esculentaMoench.), rice (Oryza sativa L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) byvarying amounts of flyash addition (up to 50t ha^-1) in soils atsowing/transplanting time of crops. Flyash addition in areasadjoining NCPP Thermal Power Plant, Dadri, Ghaziabad, U.P.ranged from 5–12 t ha^-1 yr^-1 in 1995–96. Shoot and root growthand yield of test crops at different locations after flyashincorporation resulted in beneficial effects of flyashaddition in most cases. The silt dominant texture of flyashimproved loamy sand to sandy loam textures of the surfacesoils at the farmers' fields. The increased growth in yield ofcrops with flyash incorporation was possibly due tomodifications in soil moisture retention and transmissioncharacteristics, bulk density, physico-chemical characterssuch as pH and EC and organic carbon content. The response offlyash addition in the soil on soil health and cropproductivity needs to be evaluated on long-term sustainableaspects.     

Ethics of Sustainable Development – a Study of Swedish Regulations for Genetically Modified Organisms

In spite of stricter provisions inthe new EU directive on deliberate release ofgenetically modified organisms (GMOs), criticsstill advocate a moratorium on permits forcultivation of GMOs. However, in an attempt tomeet concerns raised by the public, thedirective explicitly gives Member States thepossibility to take into consideration ethicalaspects of GMOs in the decision-making. Thisarticle investigates the potential effects ofsuch formulation by means of an empiricalanalysis of experiences gained the last yearsfrom similar Swedish regulations for GMOs,aiming at promoting sustainable development.The faulty implementation shown in the Swedishcase indicates that legal stipulations forethics as such have limited importance. It issuggested that public participation is animportant factor for successful implementationof the ethics of sustainable development.     

Genetically Modified (GM) Crops: Precautionary Science and Conflicts of Interests

Risk governance of GM plants and GMfood products is presently subject to heatedscientific and public controversies. Scientistsand representatives of the biotechnologyindustry have dominated debates concerningsafety issues. The public is suspicious withregard to the motives of scientists, companies,and political institutions involved. Thedilemmas posed are nested, embracing valuequestions, scientific uncertainty, andcontextual issues. The obvious lack of data andinsufficient information concerning ecologicaleffects call for application of thePrecautionary Principle (PP). There are,however, divergent opinions among scientistsabout the relevance of putative hazards,definition of potential ``adverse effects,' andwhether actions should be taken to preventharm. The reliance on the concept ofsubstantial equivalence in safety evaluation ofGM food is equally controversial. Consequently,value assumptions embedded in a scientificframework may be a barrier for employment ofthe PP. One of our major conclusions is thatprecautionary GMP usage requires riskassessment criteria yet undeveloped, as well asbroader and more long-term conceptions of risk,uncertainty, and ignorance. Conflicts ofinterest and public participation are otherissues that need to be taken intoconsideration. GMP governance regimes that arejustifiable from a precautionary and ethicalpoint of view must transcend traditionalscientific boundaries to include alternativescientific perspectives as well as publicinvolvement.     

You Are What You Eat: Genetically Modified Foods, Integrity, and Society

Thus far, the moral debateconcerning genetically modified foods (GMF) hasfocused on extrinsic consequentialist questionsabout the health effects, environmental impacts,and economic benefits of such foods. Thisextrinsic approach to the morality of GMF isdependent on unsubstantiated empirical claimsand fails to account for the intrinsic moralvalue of food and food choice and theirconnection to the agent's concept of the goodlife. I develop a set of objections to GMFgrounded in the concept of integrity andmaintain that food and food choice can beintimately connected to the agent's personalintegrity. I argue that due to the constitutionof GMF and the manner in which they areproduced, such foods are incompatible with thefundamental values and integrity of certainindividual moral agents or groups. I identifythree types of integrity that are threatened byGMF: religious, consumer, and integrity basedon certain other moral or metaphysical grounds.I maintain that these types of integrity aresufficiently important to provide justificationfor political and societal actions to protectthe interests of those affected. I conclude byproposing specific steps for handling GMFconsistent with the moral principles ofinformed consent, non-maleficence, and respectfor the integrity of all members of society.They include mandatory labeling of GMF, theimplementation of a system for control andregulations concerning such foods, andguaranteed provision of conventional foods.     

Respecting The Autonomy of European and American Consumers: Defending Positive Labels on Gm Foods

In her recent article, “Does autonomy count in favor of labeling genetically modified food?,” Kirsten Hansen argues that in Europe, voluntary negative labeling of non-GM foods respects consumer autonomy just as well as mandatory positive labeling of foods with GM content. She also argues that because negative labeling places labeling costs upon those consumers that want to know whether food is GM, negative labeling is better policy than positive labeling. In this paper, we argue that Hansen’s arguments are mistaken in several respects. Most importantly, she underestimates the demands of respecting autonomy and overestimates the cost of positive labeling. Moreover, she mistakenly implies that only a small minority of people desire information about GM content. We also explore the extent to which her arguments would apply to the US context, and argue that any discussion of the relationship between autonomy and labeling should include not just considerations of consumer autonomy but also considerations of what we call citizen autonomy.     

Maize: The Native North American’s Legacy of Cultural Diversity and Biodiversity

Recent research has focused on establishing the values of preserving biodiversity both in agriculture and in less managed ecosystems, and in showing the importance of the role of cultural diversity in preserving biodiversity in food production systems. A study of the philosophy embedded in cultural systems can reveal the importance of the technological information for preserving genetic biodiversity contained in such systems and can be used to support arguments for the protection/preservation of cultural diversity. For example, corn or maize can serve as a paradigm of Native American thinking and can provide one of the few areas from which common philosophical conceptions can emerge. An examination of the cultivation of corn or maize as an agricultural activity and as a cultural activity in Native American literature reveals a philosophy that recognizes the importance of biodiversity and provides techniques for its preservation. Corn, and the food and the materials derived from it, is something thought out, not by specialists, but by the entire tribe and its ancestors, even if this thinking is done within what we might consider a framework of highly mythical notions. Importantly, this framework yields an understanding of both the genetics and nutrition of corn. A survey of these mythical notions (myths and stories) and agricultural practices makes this thought explicit and exemplifies the value of cultural diversity and biodiversity.     

常规施肥条件下农田不同途径氮素损失的原位研究:以长江中下游地区夏玉米季为例

为了解农田常规施肥条件下的不同途径氮素损失特征,本文通过田间原位试验同步研究了长江中下游地区夏玉米生长季氮肥施用后的农田N2O排放、NH3挥发、氮渗漏和地表径流的变化.结果表明,在复合肥为基肥,尿素为追肥,基追肥氮素水平均为150 kg·hm-2的条件下,整个玉米生长季N2O排放系数为3.3%,NH3挥发损失率为10.2%,氮渗漏和地表径流损失率分别为11.2%和5.1%.此外,基肥施用以氮素渗漏损失为主,而追肥氮素损失以氨挥发和渗漏为主,表明不同途径化肥氮素损失主要受氮肥品种影响,玉米季追肥可改用低氨挥发氮肥品种以减少氮素损失.     

锑胁迫下丛枝菌根真菌对玉米生长与锑吸收及抗氧化酶的影响

为了探讨AM(arbuscular mycorrhizal,丛枝菌根)真菌在Sb(锑)胁迫下对农作物生长及吸收Sb的影响,采用盆栽试验研究了在不同Sb添加量[即w(Sb)分别为0、500、1 000 mg/kg]下,接种AM真菌对玉米植株生物量以及N、P和Sb的吸收、膜脂过氧化[MDA(丙二醛)]和抗氧化酶活性的影响.结果表明:随着土壤中Sb添加量的增加,玉米植株的生物量、w(TN)和w(TP)均呈显著下降趋势,植株体内的w(Sb)和Sb积累量、MDA含量、CAT(过氧化氢酶)以及POD(过氧化酶)活性均显著上升.与未接种组相比,接种AM真菌显著促进了玉米植株的生长,提高了玉米植株地上部分的w(TN)和w(TP).在3个Sb添加量处理下,接种显著增加了玉米植株地下部分的w(Sb)、地上和地下部分的Sb积累量以及地上部分的CAT活性,增幅分别为8.90%~23.30%、18.87%~28.37%、27.68%~78.95%及14.92%~88.52%;同时,接种降低了玉米植株中Sb的转运率、玉米植株地上部分的w(Sb)和MDA含量,在1000 mg/kg Sb添加量下差异达显著水平,三者分别降低了36.35%、22.81%和24.29%.研究显示,在Sb污染环境下,接种AM真菌能够减轻玉米植株膜脂过氧化程度,在提高玉米植株地下部分w(Sb)的同时,也会降低Sb向地上部分的转运,减轻Sb对玉米的毒害作用.      

植物对纳米颗粒的吸收、转运及毒性效应

随着工程纳米颗粒的广泛使用,这些纳米材料不可避免地进入环境,对环境造成未知影响.植物是高等生物暴露于纳米颗粒的一条主要途径,工程纳米颗粒可能通过食物链使其在高营养水平生物中积累.植物与纳米颗粒间的相互作用应该受到关注和重视.已有的文献表明纳米颗粒能被植物选择性地吸收并引起植物毒性,但纳米颗粒进入植物体内的机制仍不明确.多数关于植物吸收纳米颗粒的研究是在理想条件如水培实验下开展,并且集中在植物的种子发芽或是幼苗生长阶段.描述纳米颗粒在植物体内的生物转化和在植物体内分配的报道较少,而且这方面的机制没有阐述清楚.目前有许多研究者关注纳米颗粒的植物毒性效应,但这方面的研究需要进一步深入.     

不同玉米品种对新鲜城市污泥处理效果的初步研究

寻求城市污泥安全农用的方法是当前城市污泥处理处置的重要研究课题之一.采用小区试验,研究了8个玉米品种对新鲜城市污泥处理效果.结果表明:所选择的8个玉米品种均可以在污泥上生长,大丰5品种对锌的累积量最低,04杂1品种对镉累积量最低,会单4品种对铜和铅累积量最低;玉米种植可显著降低城市污泥中的含水率,比不种玉米的对照处理(69.43%)水分去除率提高9.05%~17.50%,有利于城市污泥的干化及后续利用;各玉米品种植株中的总养分(氮+五氧化二磷+氧化钾)均高于有机肥标准(NY525—2012)的总养分要求,而重金属镉和铅的质量浓度除赛田3品种外其他品种均低于农用有机肥标准(NY525—2012)的限量值;玉米种植后城市污泥中的总养分和锌、镉、铜、铅4种重金属质量浓度变化很小.可见,利用玉米处理新鲜的城市污泥既可降低城市污泥中的水分,又可以产生一定量优质的有机肥原料,为城市污泥的资源化利用提供新思路.