The Role of the Federal Government in the Provision of Agricultural Market Information: Results from a Policy Survey

ABSTRACT

Information technology is perhaps the most pervasive technology in U.S. agriculture. Despite such pervasiveness, the federal government continues to play a crucial role in providing agricultural market information that may be obtained from several sources, including private vendors. Results from a policy survey suggest that seventy-five percent of farmers want the government to continue to play that role. Further results from a logistic regression examine the determinants of that role by examining the influence of several socio-economic variables such as education, membership in agricultural organizations, land tenure and income.     

Michigan State University Extension Portal Planning and Implementation

ABSTRACT

Michigan State University Extension is launching a portal-based information system to help address information delivery, archiving, and cataloging, in addition to geographic dispersion and time and/or budget constraints. The system, expected for public launch during the first quarter of 2005, is described from the planning stages to current configuration. Library staff are cataloging and loading organizational content and helping to develop global content modules. Portal technology facilitates workgroup collaboration–a major design goal in addition to information management and delivery.     

The Sampler Platter: An Introduction to Nine Agricultural and Food Digital Projects

ABSTRACT

Information technologies are offering new ways for Extension personnel to reach a wider audience. Incorporating these technologies into an educational strategy requires an assessment of the propensity of Extension's clientele to use such technologies. Results from a survey of farmers suggest a preference for receiving information through direct communication. This method provides an opportunity for Extension to encourage farmers to use existing information technologies in order to realize greater efficiency gains. The results also suggest that the socio-economic factors examined were not related to the preference for any type of information technology.     

丛枝菌根真菌领域专利情报分析

丛枝菌根真菌 (AMF) 与植物共生在提高植物的抗逆性、抗病性和维护植物健康方面发挥着关键作用,其在农业、林业和生态环境等方面的应用受到广泛关注。本研究基于incoPat科技创新情报平台,检索了2019年前国内外丛枝菌根真菌的专利产出,对专利申请数量、主要申请人、技术构成等方面进行了分析,以揭示国内外丛枝菌根真菌领域的研发状况、技术发展趋势和产学研合作情况。近年来,中国丛枝菌根真菌领域专利数量急剧增加,AMF产品化不断加强,AMF应用领域从农业领域向污染修复领域拓展,结合现代生物、信息技术等新兴技术的AMF检测技术和研究方法正在快速发展,新的研发充分考虑了AMF产品化和应用的结合;我国在丛枝菌根真菌领域的专利申请人多隶属高校和科研院所,企业参与度较低。AMF菌种扩繁和污染修复领域的应用已成为焦点,生物和信息新技术成果正引入AMF检测技术的开发;中国在丛枝菌根真菌领域的产学研合作研发亟需加强。     

水土保持规划中低空遥感数据的获取及应用

[目的]为实现水土保持规划设计的高精度、高效率及现时性要求,探求低空遥感技术在水土保持规划设计中的应用基础和前景。[方法]选取陕西省榆林市横山区鲍家寺景区进行低空遥感试验,通过建立数字高程模型(DEM)和数字正射模型(DOM),从3个方面比较分析低空遥感数据的优势,并进一步探索了低空遥感成果在水土保持规划前期基础信息获取阶段的基本应用。[结果]低空遥感不但具有灵活性好,时效性好,数据精度高等基础优点,而且借助其他地理信息系统软件可方便、快捷提取地形现状信息和水土保持治理现状信息等水土保持规划基础资料,大大提高工作效率,能满足水土保持规划设计的要求。[结论]低空遥感数据应用于水土保持规划设计具备广阔前景。     

Haloxylon stocksii (Boiss.) Benth. et Hook. f., a promising halophyte: distribution, cultivation and utilization

Neglected and underutilized species often play a vital role in securing food and livestock feed, income generation and energy needs of rural population. In spite of their great potential little attention has been given to these species. Khar, Haloxylon stocksii (Boiss.) Benth. et Hook. f. (syn. Haloxylon recurvum sensu Bunge in Boiss.) (Chenopodiaceae) is a halophyte shrub naturally growing in the arid and semi-arid saline lands. The species has been used for making Saji and a number of other beneficial applications that include the use as fodder, folk medicine and plant ash as washing agent. Moreover the species is tolerant to environmental stresses, which make it suitable for cultivation in saline land of arid and semi-arid regions. One major factor hampering its successful improvement and promotion is the limited and scattered knowledge available on this species. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of H. stocksii by presenting information on species’ occurrence, ecology, uses, cultivation and ethnobotany to stimulate interest to promote its domestication and commercialization for regional and global markets.     

Technical Intelligence in a Dot.com Milieu: A Dialog/Dialog DataStar Perspective

ABSTRACT

Technical intelligence in an Internet-oriented environment requires an awareness of the role of information in a research and development/technically-driven organization. This paper will describe an integrated system of intellectual property analysis using the Dialog/Dialog DataStar family of products. Boolean-based systems such as Dialog/Dialog DataStar permit access to the building blocks of research and intellectual property–scientific and patent prior art precedence–through a standardized search language and, unlike Web-based search engines, offer iterative search capability. This paper will examine scientific and intellectual property searching on both systems and discuss the merits of each system for scientific researchers and information professionals.     

Occurrence of 7,7′-biphyscion in Japanese soils

Abstract

A variety of higher plants and microorganisms, especially soil fungi, form anthra-quinone pigments (Thomson 1987) and, although many of these compounds are biologically active as antibiotics, chelating agents and possible contributors of humic substance formation (Kumada 1987), little information is available about their distribution and role in soil systems.     

1990-2015年红碱淖地区土地利用/土地覆盖与景观格局的时空演变

[目的]研究近25 a红碱淖地区的土地利用景观格局演变,为西北矿区生态环境保护、煤炭的绿色开采以及沙漠湖泊的环境管理和决策提供基础数据和科学依据.[方法]选取1990,2000,2005,2010和2015年5期Landsat TM/ETM+/OLI影像,利用遥感、地理信息系统技术和地理数学统计方法定量分析红碱淖地区土地利用/土地覆盖的动态变化和景观格局的演变特征.[结果] 1990-2015年,红碱淖地区的耕地和沙地面积分别增加了3.56％和21.87％,林草地和水体的面积分别减少了23.85％和2.25％,区域内水体和林草地退化严重,林草地主要转化为沙地和耕地;景观指数中,平均斑块面积减少,斑块总数、形状指数和多样性指数增加,景观破碎化程度加大,景观类型增加.[结论]上游修建水库和开采地表水使湖泊面积减少,退耕还林工程使得林草地面积增加等人为因素是影响红碱地区域景观格局变化的主要驱动因素.     

University Outreach in the Twenty-First Century

ABSTRACT

Educational outreach, especially from land-grant universities, will have a more prominent, visible role in the twenty-first century. There is a widespread belief among university leaders that the effect of universities must reach beyond the limits of the campus to positively influence the social, cultural and economic well-being of constituents. Enhanced outreach efforts will involve all academic units and provide appropriate faculty rewards for their accomplishments. Existing extension/outreach organizations such as Cooperative Extension Services will expand their base to draw from the total university expertise and knowledge base. Funding will be a challenge as public resources become less available. Distance education through satellite communications and other advanced technology will be a growing part of education outreach.     

A Review of the Use of Manure in Small-Scale Crop Production Systems in South Africa

ABSTRACT

This paper reviews the problems of soil fertility under small-scale crop production systems in KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa. The role of manure in maintaining and replenishing soil fertility for crop production and the fate of manure once applied to the soil are reviewed and discussed. Special emphasis is placed on cattle and chicken manure and the role that soil texture plays in the mineralization of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). In KwaZulu-Natal, small-scale farmers' maize (Zea mays L.) yields are between 1.0 and 1.5 mg ha^?1, which is very low compared with the maize potential yield of 4.5 mg ha^?1 for the area under small-scale farming conditions. A review of available literature on the use of manure for soil-fertility management showed that manure is a good source of plant nutrients. The use of manure is an old technology that is appropriate for small-scale farmers in South Africa, as most farmers practice mixed livestock and crop farming. Despite the use of manure dating back many years, small-scale farmers in South Africa are not fully exploiting the available manure for replenishing the fertility of their soils.     

Information Poor,Information Rich: Rural America and the Internet

ABSTRACT

Rural America has traditionally lagged behind urban areas in the delivery of information goods and services. Two major barriers to enhanced information access: distance and a limited number of information resources, can be negated by telecommunications networks such as the Internet. Using three common Internet telecommunications systems, the Cooperative Extension Service is examined as a developing resource of networked information for rural America.     

基于图谱可视化的中国大气氮沉降研究态势分析

[目的]系统地探究近10a中国大气氮沉降研究态势,为今后的相关研究提供科学借鉴。[方法]基于科学计量学与信息可视化分析方法,借助Citespace软件,从文献中分析近10a中国大气氮沉降研究热点及趋势。[结果]近10a来,在氮沉降背景下,森林生态系统中凋落物分解与土壤微生物特征一直是研究热点;近5a草地生态系统的研究地区更加广泛,但较少涉及林下草地;碳氮循环相关研究多集中于温带及亚热带森林区,研究内容更加丰富,研究方法向大数据分析及模型建立方向发展;大气氮沉降通量观测以水域生态系统为主,近5a来较多地结合了非点源污染及示踪技术。[结论]近10a来,中国氮沉降领域各学科交叉性和系统性增强,研究内容和尺度不断扩大,研究方法和技术趋于多样化;草地生态系统及微生物群落特征、氮沉降与全球变化及人类活动耦合关系研究成为近年来关注的热点。     

福建省水土流失现状分析

[目的]运用遥感技术监测福建省水土流失状况,为研究区的水土保持工作提供一定的科学依据。[方法]利用2014年Landsat-8OLI等遥感数据,基于通用土壤流失方程(USLE)定量计算得到研究区的土壤侵蚀量,并运用GIS空间分析和数理统计的方法分析水土流失在地理空间上分布特征。[结果]福建省2014年的水土流失总面积为10 939.8km2,总流失率为8.93%,其中以轻度流失为主,占总流失面积的82.3%,境内流失等级为强度及以上的区域主要集中在北部的宁德和南平、南部的漳州和西部的龙岩一带;其中22个水土流失重点县流失面积为4 786.65km2,占全省流失总面积的43.76%,平均流失率为10.54%。[结论]水土流失主要发生在海拔高程为200~1 000m的区域,流失面积有8 954.35km2,占流失总面积的81.85%;坡度与水土流失关系密切,水土流失主要发生在坡度为8°~25°的区域,流失面积有69 871.71km2,占总流失面积的57.23%;容易发生水土流失的土地利用类型是裸地和林地,流失比例分别达到30.99%和9.47%。     

Information Access and Availability: Government Gateways–Planning,Construction, Refinement: A Government Perspective

ABSTRACT

Identifying threats, to the United States and the international agricultural community, in the form of agro-terrorism presents a serious challenge to those needing specific information. Of particular interest is the new legislation, Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, and how the legislation affects the agriculture community. There is a greater need than ever for up-to-date, cutting-edge information. This paper deals with the ways in which researchers can locate that information in the BIOSIS Previews database.     

Integrated approach of multiple environmental datasets for the assessment of sediment contamination in marine areas affected by long-lasting industrial activity: the case study of Bagnoli (southern Italy)

Purpose

The Bagnoli’s brownfield site (southern Italy) is an environmental priority for the Italian Government and is currently considered as a case study for the definition and application of innovative approaches to ecosystem recovery after a prolonged pollution history and eventual steel plant decommissioning.

Materials and methods

Here, we analyse high-quality datasets that constrain the distribution patterns and sources of contaminants in the coastal zone facing the site where the steel plant operated for almost one century. Innovative statistical approaches provide new insights into the temporal and spatial distribution of anthropogenic impacts, documented over the last 30 years, following lines of evidence emerging from investigations on grain size, TOC, heavy metals, PAHs, PCBs and high-resolution morpho-bathymetric information.

Results and discussion

The results derived from statistical analysis, referred also to the seafloor morphological variability, highlighted the presence of recent disposal of highly contaminated sediments and their potential pathways of dispersion to wider and deeper water zones.

Conclusions

The adopted multidisciplinary approach yields fundamental information towards an effective and proper ecosystem recovery of highly contaminated marine coastal areas and provides at the same time, a sound base for the refitting of decommissioned industrial plants.

     

适用于三峡水库中陡土坡消落区等高种植的土工结构模型

[目的]探讨在当前三峡库区面临的严峻生态环境下,采取何种适合的生态治理技术以解决库区生态环境安全问题,为三峡库区生态环境修复提供一定的参考依据。[方法]通过生态治理模型整体框架结构,提高中、陡土坡生态系统地表基底稳定性;通过等高种植平面绿化技术、土工格室垂直绿化技术,提高消落区植被覆盖率和土壤肥力;通过不同高层区段消落区适宜植物"乔—灌—草—藤(177~170 m)、"灌—草—藤"(170~160m)、"草—藤"配置(160~145m),对消落区的生物多样性、植被覆盖率及景观层次起提高作用。[结果]通过模型设计,将传统混凝土护坡技术与现代生态护坡技术相结合、等高种植平面绿化技术与土工格室垂直绿化技术相结合,实现了生物措施与工程措施的高度统一、系统稳定性与开放性的高度统一、植被覆盖率与景观层次的高度统一。[结论]该土工结构模型的应用对三峡水库中陡土坡消落区生态治理具有一定的参考价值和现实的应用前景。     

A Primer on Agricultural Communications for Student,Librarians and Researchers

ABSTRACT

Libraries have often played a major role in preserving our agricultural heritage. Many special libraries have helped to assemble the agricultural literature, much of which is in formats traditionally difficult to collect and maintain, particularly those of agricultural significance. This paper presents a brief overview of the changing nature of agricultural communications and how units within special libraries, such as the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC), play an important role in the creation, dissemination, and archiving of this vital information. Other specialized collections and services, such as the materials of The National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB) and the Agriculture Network Information Center (AgNIC) will also be discussed.     

Supporting the Research Practices of Agricultural Scientists at Oregon State University

ABSTRACT

As part of a cross-institutional collaboration organized by Ithaka S+R, Oregon State University Libraries faculty interviewed 15 faculty members in the College of Agricultural Sciences about their research, publishing, and information management practices. The work of Agricultural Sciences faculty is uniquely influenced by their regional geography and climate, as well as by their local and disciplinary communities of practice, which includes both growers and scholars. Findings showed that publishing decisions, access to research, barriers to access, and a systems thinking approach were influenced by behaviors and standards established by these various communities. Implications for the libraries' role in discovery, access, and dissemination are considered and discussed.     

Capparis decidua (Forsk.) Edgew.: an underutilized multipurpose shrub of hot arid region—distribution, diversity and utilization

Capparis decidua (Forsk.) Edgew. commonly known as “Kair”, is an important shrub widely distributed in arid and semi-arid regions. The species has been used for making pickle and vegetables and number of other uses that include medicine, fuel wood and fodder. It is tolerant to temperature, salt and drought stresses and helps in arresting wind erosion and improving soil fertility. This paper is an attempt to provide scientific information pertaining to distribution, morphology, propagation, phenological characteristics, diversity and uses of the species for stimulating interest to promote its domestication and commercialization.