农业绿色发展系统研究思路与定量方法

农业绿色发展研究是融合多学科知识,以食物系统为研究对象,重点剖析系统内不同单元间关联和互馈关系,进而阐明粮食安全、国民健康、资源节约、环境保护等目标的协调机制,探索全产业链技术途径,并致力于协同实现农业"绿色"和"发展"的科学。传统研究方法往往忽视对农业绿色发展的系统思考和定量分析,无法统筹农业绿色发展的各环节和协调多类目标的实现。在本研究中,我们首先基于系统研究的思路,明确了"土壤-作物生产-畜牧业生产-食品加工-家庭消费—环境"整个食物系统是农业绿色发展系统研究边界;其次,结合农业绿色发展全链条和多尺度特性,提出并论述了"自上而下"和"自下而上"的定量研究思路;随后,以上述两方面研究思考为基础,构建了由1个核心模型[食物系统养分流动模型(NUFER)]、3个定量分析模块(水、大气和土地利用分析模块)和1个指标关联模块[耦合驱动力-压力-状态-影响-响应概念框架(DPSIR)、可持续发展指标体系(SDGs)和星球边界理论框架(PBs)]组成的农业绿色发展系统分析耦合模型(NUFER-AGD);最后,梳理了农业绿色发展定量研究的案例。案例研究通过多指标关联分析和指标评价,协同国家农业绿色发展的总体目标;在流域尺度以绿色环境与资源阈值为约束,定量设计农业绿色发展系统解决方案;系统分析全产业链农业绿色发展的技术实现路径。该研究不仅能为农业绿色发展理论和应用研究提供系统思路和定量方法,还可为国家农业绿色发展战略提供科学支撑。     

中国农业绿色发展指标体系构建及其"十四五"趋势预判

构建农业绿色发展评价指标体系有利于定量评价中国农业绿色发展水平，为实现路径探索、政策制定等提供有益参考。基于此，该研究在充分理解农业绿色发展科学内涵的基础上，综合考量系统性、数据可得性等原则，构建了中国农业绿色发展评价指标体系。而后应用熵值法、主成分分析法和层次分析法等分别计算各指标权重值，同时基于组合赋权法求出各指标最终综合权重值，对2007-2019年中国农业绿色发展水平进行评价。在此基础上，应用灰色Verhulst模型预测"十四五"时期的发展趋势。研究结果显示：2007-2019年中国农业绿色发展水平总体上呈稳步上升趋势且逐渐迈向绿色发展路径；"十四五"中国农业绿色发展将进入快车道，农业绿色发展综合指数将达到77.9，比2019年提高了11.67%；"资源节约与高效利用"与"政策支持与科技支撑"指标是影响中国农业绿色发展的重要指标。因此，各级政府应将其作为后续施政重点，以稳步推进农业高质量绿色发展，助力农业现代化进程。     

河北省县域农业绿色发展指标时空变化特征

为剖析河北省县域农业绿色发展的主要问题及限制因素,本文以河北省135个县(区)为研究对象,围绕社会、经济、生产力、资源和生态环境5个维度,选取了26项农业绿色发展指标,基于专家意见和统计资料,参照农业绿色发展程度将入选指标从高到低划分为Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ级,并定量分析了1996年和2016年河北省县域尺度的农业绿色发展指标时空变化特征。结果表明, 20年间河北省农业生产条件不断改善,农业机械化水平与农田灌溉水平均有不同程度的提升;农业经济效益大幅增长,单位面积农业产值与人均可支配收入分别增长了1.96倍和3.05倍;农业生产能力持续提升,表现为单位面积热量产量及植物蛋白产量持续上升,氮素利用效率有所回升;资源投入持续增加,表现为氮、磷、农药及农膜的使用强度不断增加;环境风险仍处于较高水平。从空间变化来看,河北省东北部和南部地区社会发展、经济和农业生产的农业绿色发展程度呈提高趋势;而资源和生态环境指标绿色发展程度总体表现为下降趋势,呈现出西北部和东南部地区高的特征。5类指标绿色发展程度等级处于Ⅰ级水平的县域数量占比较高,呈现明显的空间差异。河北省农业绿色发展的主要瓶颈问题来自资源短缺、环境污染和生态破坏,造成以上问题的原因是资源投入过高、种养结构改变和农牧分离严重,下一步需要提高资源利用效率,保持产地环境的清洁和生态系统的稳定,快速推进河北省县域的农业绿色发展。     

中国食物链养分流动与管理研究

为寻求食物生产与消费系统中粮食安全、资源高效和环境友好的协调和农业绿色发展途径,研究团队构建了"土壤-作物-畜牧-家庭-环境"(简称食物链系统)研究体系,运用物质流动和养分代谢理论方法创立了养分流动模型,深入研究了该系统养分流动规律及调控机理,经过近十多年系统研究,获得结果如下:(1)提出食物链养分流动金字塔概念模型,创建了食物链系统养分流动模型。通过分析养分在"土壤-作物-畜牧-家庭-环境"系统的行为特征,发现养分从"土壤-作物-畜牧"向"家庭"的流动呈金字塔状,其形状决定了系统生产力、养分效率和环境效应。处于金字塔顶端的"家庭"消费驱动了系统养分流动,决定了养分效率;"土壤-作物-畜牧"位于金字塔底层,支撑顶层"家庭"消费,决定了系统养分通量,也是养分调控的核心。在此基础上,开发了食物系统养分流动模型——UFER,构建了参数体系,实现了国家和区域尺度食物链氮磷流量、利用效率和环境排放的定量分析。(2)揭示了食物链系统氮磷养分流量、利用效率及其资源环境代价的时空变化特征。阐明了我国土壤-作物系统、农牧系统和整个食物链系统氮磷养分流量、养分效率和环境排放的时空分异特征;明确了土壤作物、畜牧和家庭各子系统对整个食物链养分环境排放的贡献;提出了食物氮(磷)代价概念,发现我国食物生产和消费的资源环境代价增速很快,已远远超过发达国家。(3)明确了食物链系统养分流动的驱动因素,阐明了提高养分效率和降低环境排放的调控机理。明确了决定食物链系统养分效率的关键环节,发现城镇化、食物结构变化和畜牧业发展是食物链养分流动加速的主要驱动因子;阐明了增加粮食和饲料进口、优化膳食结构和改善农牧业养分管理技术等对食物链系统优化的效应及作用机制。发现农牧结合和粪尿资源化利用是大幅度减少化肥需求和环境排放的关键途径,是实现农业绿色发展和食物链养分优化管理的重要突破口。     

绿色智能肥料：矿产资源养分全量利用的创新思路与产业化途径

肥料是工农业绿色发展的纽带,是支撑绿色转型发展的重要物质。新时期我国工业和农业绿色发展均面临着生产环境代价大、资源利用效率低等重大挑战,尤其是肥料生产过程中产生了大量的养分资源无法实现高效利用。为更好解决工农业发展所面临的关键问题,本文提出了矿产资源养分全量利用思路与产业化途径,着重介绍了矿产资源养分全量利用的基本概念与内涵、利用策略和产业化途径,以期为工农交叉融合创新的绿色智能肥料产业发展提供解决方案,促进科技创新解决产业关键问题,为创新绿色智能肥料与推动化肥产业绿色转型升级提供战略支撑。     

农业绿色发展理论框架和实现路径的思考

农业绿色发展作为一种全新的发展理念、技术模式和系统工程,将成为我国未来农业的发展方向,但仍有许多理论和科学问题亟待解决与回答。本文阐述了农业绿色发展理论框架与实现路径,认为与国际农业可持续发展相比,我国农业绿色发展更注重绿色和发展的协同,强调以发展带动绿色、用绿色促进发展,因此农业绿色发展面临更为艰巨的挑战。本文提出农业绿色发展科学的10大要素,即着眼1个食物系统,坚持绿色和发展2个主题,牢固社会、经济和生态环境3大支柱,聚焦资源、生产、消费、环境等之间4个界面,协调好政府、农民、企业、经销商和消费者5个利益主体的关系,遵循投入控制、循环增效、综合挖潜、减排环保、融合增值、优膳减压、机制保障和区域落地8项原则,依据食物系统物质、能量、信息和价值等流动规律,通过绿色政策、资本、服务、技术、产品、知识、工程7种调控措施的创新,实施基于绿色阈值的生态环境管控机制、全产业链政策激励机制和技术落地、食物供应与需求结构优化与调控的"转绿、促发、协同"3条路径及9种途径,实现与农业相关的社会、经济、生产力、生态、环境、资源等6类目标协同提升,促进可持续发展目标(SDGs)的实现。建议国家强化农业绿色发展理论、技术和战略研究,尽快实施"创建一套基础数据库、创制一批技术装备、搭建一组科技平台、打造一批示范工程和凝练一系列智库成果"等五个"一"的农业绿色发展科技工程,助推国家农业绿色发展转型。     

基于“过程-功能-质量-特性-指标”的耕地质量评价指标体系研究

耕地质量评价是国家进行耕地资源管理的重要手段,是进行高标准农田建设,保护十八亿亩耕地红线的重要依据。我国在耕地质量评价指标体系建设方面,虽有众多研究,但并未根据耕地功能构建一套比较完整的田块尺度的耕地质量评价指标体系。本文运用系统学理论,基于田块尺度的"过程-功能-质量-特性-指标"的耕地质量评价分析框架,根据耕地质量指标体系建立的原则,采取特尔菲法和频度分析法,参考国内外耕地质量评价指标体系研究成果,构建了一套田块尺度的耕地质量评价指标体系,为田块尺度的耕地质量评价提供支撑和理论参考。     

土壤健康指标体系与评价方法研究进展

健康土壤能够保障健康食物生产,维持土壤生态系统多功能性,是农业绿色发展的基础。明确土壤健康现状,系统开展土壤健康诊断是培育健康土壤和提高土壤生产力的基础。然而,以往人们基于单一土壤功能即土壤生产力开展了大量的指标选择和评价工作,忽视了其他土壤功能,评价指标中土壤生物学特性未引起足够重视,对土壤过程的动态监测少。随着对可持续发展的关注以及农业绿色发展的需求,土壤健康指标体系和评价方法正在不断完善。针对不同空间尺度和不同作物体系,建立多目标协同的土壤健康评价体系成为土壤可持续利用的热点和前沿。本文总结了土壤健康指标体系的选择原则,分析了生物学指标在土壤健康评价中的重要性,重点阐述了我国、美国、新西兰等国家土壤健康评价方法以及基于土壤功能和土壤管理等评价方法的进展、优缺点和应用区域,提出了完善土壤健康评价系统的途径。未来需要构建基于区域自然禀赋环境特征的土壤-作物管理大数据平台,发展生物学指标,建立长期和全程动态监测体系,并与快速无损测试技术、智能化信息技术相结合,形成多目标协同、适用于不同区域和作物体系的土壤健康评价方法,通过多主体参与,为农业绿色发展提供重要支撑。     

基于GIS的县域粮食生产资源利用效率评价

该文通过构建生产潜力计算模型,利用GIS技术,定量计算了县域尺度的中国(台湾省除外)粮食生产潜力,以此为基础,结合收集到的全国县域尺度粮食现实产量数据,计算了中国不同地区粮食生产的资源利用效率.结果表明:中国的粮食生产潜力普遍表现为东南高于西北的空间分布格局;县域平均光合、光温、光温水、水资源、土地生产潜力依次为65.12,16.82,13.74,15.27和11.07 t/(hm2·a);县域平均光合资源、光温资源、水资源和土地资源利用效率分别为10.93%、41.43%、46.93%和65.4%,粮食生产的资源利用效率还有进一步提高的空间.中国县域之间粮食生产资源利用效率差异显著,内蒙古高原及长城沿线以及黄土高原地区为县域粮食生产资源利用效率较低的区域,西北、黄淮海、四川盆地区为资源利用效率较高的地区.     

中国农业绿色发展相关氮素指标的时空变化特征

氮素在农业和食物系统中的行为关乎资源、环境、食物安全和人体健康等重要问题,是反映农业绿色发展的关键指标。本文选取18个与农业绿色发展密切相关的氮素指标,并按照农业绿色发展程度从高到低分成Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ级,基于统计数据和文献资料,通过食物链养分流动模型(NUFER)定量相关氮素指标,分析其时空变化特征,探讨相关氮素指标的影响因素,为农业绿色发展提供改善意见和建议。结果表明,1980—2017年间全国氮素使用强度、环境排放及整体利用效率均呈现由Ⅰ级向Ⅳ级水平转变的下降趋势,秸秆循环利用效率、大部分氮素生产类以及食物消费类的指标均呈现由Ⅳ级向Ⅰ级水平转变的上升趋势。从空间分布看,氮素投入和环境损失较高的区域主要分布在华北地区、华东地区、华中地区以及华南地区;食物消费水平在各地区均有提升,其中东部地区提升更明显;东部和北部地区的单位植物和动物蛋白产量水平相对较高,但仍处于Ⅲ级水平;效率类指标在31个省份中,大部分地区处于Ⅲ和Ⅳ级水平。与1980年相比,2017年全国氮素指标Ⅳ级和Ⅲ级水平占比变化不大,但Ⅰ级水平占比由27.1%降低至8.3%,农业绿色发展水平整体呈下降趋势。七大地区中各个地区Ⅰ级水平占比均降低,并且大部分地区均低于30.0%,Ⅲ级和Ⅱ级水平的占比明显增加。在指标类型方面,与1980年相比,2017年氮素生产类和食物消费类指标等级在Ⅳ级水平占比降低,农业绿色发展水平呈上升趋势;氮素环境排放类和效率类指标等级在Ⅰ级和Ⅱ级水平占比之和也在降低,农业绿色发展水平呈下降趋势。这是由种植业和畜牧业氮素资源投入高、种植以及养殖结构改变、农牧系统生产脱节严重、社会经济发展不平衡等因素造成的。因此,需要针对不同类型指标的时空变化特征,通过测土配方施肥、改变种养结构和应用氮素减排技术与政策等手段实现氮素指标的优化,推动中国农业绿色发展。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Biodiversity and ecogeography of wild Lactuca spp. in some European countries

Staff members of the Department of Botany of Palacký University in Olomouc and Gene Bank Department – Workplace Olomouc, Research Institute of Crop Production in Prague, Czech Republic, conducted an expedition in seven European countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland) in August/September 1999 to collect wild Lactuca spp. germplasm and study its geographic distribution, ecology and biodiversity. During the mission, more than 600 locations were visited resulting in the collection of 602 seed samples (accessions) of wild Lactuca species and 13 seed samples of related genera (Chondrilla and Mycelis). Lactuca serriola f. serriola, L. serriola f. integrifolia, L. saligna and L. viminea subsp. chondrilliflora were prevalent in southern Europe (Italy, France), however, only L. serriola was common in central and western Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland). The greatest diversity of Lactuca species was found in France, where also the most seed samples (165) were collected. The most characteristic habitats with a high density of Lactuca spp. populations were observed along roads and highways, grassy ditches, ruderal communities, and dust-heaps. Natural infections by powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) and downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) on some wild Lactuca spp. were observed. Recent observations concerning the geographic distribution, population structure, habitats, and natural occurrence of diseases of Lactuca spp. are discussed. This assemblage of genetic resources of Lactuca spp. can serve as the basis of future studies of species diversification, spatial population structure, plant microevolution, domestication processes, and genetic variability of host-parasite interactions.     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

Properties of anaerobically digested and composted municipal solid waste assessed by linking soil mesofauna dynamics and nitrogen modelling

We have studied the effect of anaerobically digested (ADMSW) and composted municipal solid waste (CMSW) on mineralization and foodweb dynamics to verify the hypothesis that ADMSW would immobilize N right after addition to soil in contrast to addition with CMSW. Another hypothesis was that the mesofauna (enchytraeids and microarthropods) would stimulate N release from the decomposer community. We measured excretion of -N and urea-N from the mesofauna and hypothesized that enchytraeids would release urea. ADMSW and CMSW were amended to pots with sandy loam and barley. The pots were divided into treatments with or without mesofauna. Mesofauna, plant N and biomass, soil N and ergosterol (fungal biomass) were measured over a 113-day period of four equidistant samplings. Soil respiration, N mineralization and N release by the mesofauna were modelled from concurrent studies. ADMSW- and CMSW-treated soils initially (<20 days) immobilized N. The amendments did not increase plant growth substantially, and this was probably due to N-limitation in the early stages of plant growth. Enchytraeid abundance was about three times higher in ADMSW- than CMSW-treated soils, indicating that ADMSW contained more labile compounds, bacteria, and microfauna. The mesofauna did not affect N-content, but the cumulated -N excreted by the mesofauna was estimated to be substantial and about one-fifth of total plant N in ADMSW. An explanation for this discrepancy might be that in the absence of the mesofauna, other members of the detrivore and microbivore community performed the mesofauna’s function. Neither enchytraeids nor microarthropods excreted urea.     

Faculty positions: Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Faculty positions: Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Assessing the effectiveness of conservation measures: Resolving the “wicked” problem of the Steller sea lion

“Wicked” problems are those that are complex and that change when solutions are applied. Many conflicts in conservation fall into this category. The study approached the problem of how to constrain the apparent wickedness of a problem in the conservation management of a species by using simple empirical indicators to carry out iterative assessment of the risk to a population and to document how this risk evolves in relation to the addition of new data and the implementation of management actions. Effects of high levels of uncertainty within data and also concerning population structure were examined through stochastic simulation and by exploration of scenarios. Historical trends in the example used, the Steller sea lion, showed rapid declines in abundance in some regions during the 1980s. The current total population is 130,000-150,000 Steller sea lions through Alaska and British Columbia and this number has been stable since about 1990 in spite of regional differences in population dynamics. Regional differences in the sequence of changes in the number of pups and non-pups, suggested that an internal re-distribution of juveniles could have happened between 1980 and 1990. Current productivity also appears close to the long-term mean. Stochastic population projection using various scenarios showed that, based upon this history, the risk of extinction for the population has declined and is below reasonable thresholds for considering the population to be endangered. The trends in risk suggest that management actions taken since 1990 have probably been effective. Consequently, the conservation management objectives for the Steller sea lion are probably being met. The approach provides a mechanism, based upon experience and scenario analysis, for exploring future policy options and may help to constrain the debate amongst stakeholders about the cost-benefit trade-offs associated with different options.     

Soil-profile distribution of primary and secondary plant-available nutrients under conventional and no tillage

Nutrient distributions under no tillage (NT) compared with conventional disk-and-bed tillage (CT) management in the warm, humid region of the southeastern USA need to be assessed so that future placement, quantity, and type of fertilizers can be altered, if necessary, to efficiently match crop demands. We determined soil-profile distributions of pH, N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu to a depth of 0.9 m at the end of 8.5 years of continuous CT and NT management on a Weswood silty clay loam (fine, mixed, thermic Fluventic Ustochrept) in southcentral Texas. Most dramatic changes occurred within the 0–0.05 m depth, where soil under NT had lower pH, Fe, and Cu than under CT, but greater P, K, Zn, and Mn. Greater P and K under NT than under CT also occurred below the till-zone (0.15–0.3 m). At a depth of 0–0.3 m, soil under NT contained greater amounts of extractable P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu than under CT. Nitrogen fertilization had little effect on nutrient distributions, except resulting in greater extractable K at 0–0.05 m and greater nitrate at 0–0.15 m. Few changes in soil-profile distributions were observed for extractable S, Ca, Mg, and Na. Long-term continuous use of NT on this fine-textured, high-fertility (except for N) soil had no apparent adverse effects on nutrient distributions relative to CT, but enhanced conservation and availability of P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu near the soil surface where crop roots proliferate.     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.