Growing three aromatic grasses in different alkali soils in semi‐arid regions of northern India

Alkali lands in India occupy about 3 million ha. Due to poor physical properties, excessive exchangeable sodium and high pH, most of these lands support a very poor vegetation cover. Many of the medicinal and aromatic plants are in great demand for both internal requirements and export. But since these crops are non‐conventional in nature, it is not always possible for them to be produced on fertile lands, which can be used for arable crops. The marginal lands, specifically the lands affected by salinity or sodicity problems where profitable returns are not possible from agricultural crops, could be successfully utilized for the cultivation of these high‐value crops with marginal inputs. Results reported in this paper clearly indicated that out of three aromatic grasses, palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii (Roxb.) Wats.) and lemon grass (C. flexuosus (Steud.) Wats.) could successfully be grown on moderatly alkali soils of pH up to 9·2 while vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash), which withstands both high pH and stagnation of water, could successfully be grown without significant yield reduction on highly alkali soils. These grasses not only produce essential oils used for industrial purposes but also ameliorate the soil. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rationale and methods for compiling an atlas of desertification in Italy

This study presents the main results and the methodology used in the creation of the atlas of the risk of desertification in Italy. A desertified area was defined as an unproductive area for agricultural or forestry use, due to soil degradation processes. An area at risk of desertification was a tract of the earth's surface which is vulnerable or sensitive to the processes of desertification. In a vulnerable land, environmental characteristics are close to that of a desertified area, but some factors (e.g. vegetation cover or irrigation), successfully mitigate the desertification process. On the other hand, sensitive land is a surface where the process leading to desertification is active, although the land is not yet unproductive. The DPSIR (Driving force‐Pressure‐State‐Impact‐Response) framework has been adopted as a reference. Using the national soil information system and socio‐economic layers, an atlas of indicators of desertification risks was created, which was organized into different soil degradation systems. 51.8 per cent of Italy was considered to be at potential risk of desertification. Some 21.3 per cent of Italy (41.1 per cent of the area at potential risk) featured land degradation phenomena. Specifically, 4.3 per cent of Italy is already unproductive; 4.7 per cent is sensitive and 12.3 per cent is vulnerable. In the territory at potential risk of desertification, unproductive lands, plus areas vulnerable or sensitive to soil erosion, are at least the 19 per cent. Areas affected by aridity also sum up to 19 per cent. Salt‐affected soils in Italy are estimated to cover >1 million ha. Irrigation can mitigate soil aridity and salinization, nevertheless, only about 15 per cent of the sensitive and vulnerable lands of southern Italy are actually equipped with irrigation networks. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

广东边际性土地能源植物种植潜力适宜性评价

利用边际性土地种植能源植物是发展液体生物能源产业,解决产业原料供应瓶颈问题和缓解碳减排压力,保护环境的重要途径。准确评价边际土地能源植物的种植潜力是合理利用边际性土地的重要环节。针对目前边际性土地能源植物适宜性评价模型多以线性为主,容易造成单生态因子的评价结果的高估或低估问题。该文建立了边际土地开发非线性生态位适宜度评价模型,该模型引入了专家知识,利用高斯曲线去拟合边际土地利用的现实生态位与能源植物种植需求生态位的匹配关系,利用最佳生态位值及限制性生态因子,以贴近度作为适宜性划分的标准测度各评价单元的生态位适宜度指数,来界定能源作物的边际土地的种植潜力。将模型应用于广东省,选取木薯、麻疯树、油桐和黄连木4种广东省最具潜力的液体生物能源植物进行边际土地适宜性分析,结果表明:广东省边际性土地资源丰富,良好的水热,土壤等生境条件使得其具有较高开发适宜性。适合4种能源植物的边际土地为62.15×104 hm2,占总边际土地面积的58.44%。麻疯树和黄连木2种植物生态适宜度最高,并且具有相似的生态位,在空间上存在竞争关系;其次是油桐树;木薯在4种能源植物中高适宜度范围最小,主要适合种植在粤西台地平原和粤东滨海丘陵台地地区。     

Land degradation factors in arid irrigated areas: the case of Wafra in Kuwait

A large area in Wafra, south of Kuwait, was developed for crop production both in open fields and agriculture units. For more than a decade, farmers had been using groundwater and desalinated water for irrigating crops under both conditions. The study area occupied about 125 000 ha lying within the northwestern sandbelt. Land-use pattern, soil characteristics and vegetation attributes were studied to assess the extent of land degradation in the area. Land-use classes in the developed area showed a total area of about 9371 ha. About 35 per cent of this area was uncultivated due to sand encroachment and soil salinity build-up problems. Soil chemical and physical properties were described and determined at various depths in representative profiles. The soil belonged to the three categories: Typic Torripsamments, Typic Haplocalcids and Typic Aquisalids. The total vegetative cover was poor, covering about 18 per cent of the marginal areas and about 33 per cent of arable lands. Plant community type was altered from Rhanterium epapposum to Cyperus conglomeratus and Stipagrostis plumosa. Annual forbs dominated species composition. Results of the study indicated that land degradation occurred both in marginal and arable areas. To expand in the Wafra agricultural area and to increase productivity potential of the existing farms, implementation of irrigation and drainage systems as well as projects to combat sand encroachment are recommended. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

怀来县水土资源高效利用模式与农业节水技术探讨

根据怀来县自然气候条件和水土资源利用现状以及在沙漠化形成和防治过程中的重要地位,分析了该县粮果生产和生态环境的矛盾,针对首都圈生态环境建设的整体需求,总结提出了适宜该县不同区域的水土资源高效利用的优化模式和农业节水技术。其宗旨是杜绝过度垦殖现象,调整农业结构布局,实施"退耕还林还草"工程和农业节水技术,提高该区水土资源的生产效率,建设稳产高效农业和林果业,增加当地群众的经济收入,形成环京津地区的天然绿色防线。     

Land use Change,a Case Study from Southern Italy: General Implications for Agricultural Subsidy Policies

For many years, farmers across Italy have struggled to convert rocky landforms into farmlands. Recently, expensive, heavy machineries have been widely used for these activities, exaggerating costs on land preparation. Subsidised by the Italian authorities, nearly 20% of Apulia lands in southern Italy have been converted to farmland through these methods. Recent evidence shows that in the short term, rock grinding enriches the soil with nutrients and improves soil quality. However, over the long run, land degradation and ecosystem service deterioration become prominent, resulting in the abandonment of extensive lands. This Italian case study should be considered as an alarming example of the possible detrimental effects of the national subsidies policy that supports the conversion of natural landforms into agricultural lands. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

怀来盆地不同土地利用方式对土壤质量的影响分析

基于对河北省怀来县官厅水库南北两岸8种主要土地利用类型的土壤养分、pH值和土壤容重等的分析,讨论了不同土地利用方式对土壤质量的影响,并评价了不同土地利用方式下的土壤退化程度。结果表明:怀来县官厅水库北岸的防护林地,由于合理的土地利用管理与保护措施,土壤容重最低,土壤养分含量高于其它几种土地利用方式;而由坡耕地撂荒后演替而来的草地,由于当地干旱寒冷多风的气候环境,土壤的母质条件以及缺乏有效的恢复措施等原因引起土壤质量继续退化;在长期不合理的土地管理措施影响下位于水库南岸的防护林地及葡萄园、果园、玉米地等土壤也发生较严重退化,表现为土壤容重、pH值显著增加,大部分土壤养分显著降低。土壤退化指数的计算结果也表明草地及南岸的玉米地、葡萄园的土壤发生了较严重的退化。在对数据进行处理分析过程中发现,土壤有机质、有机碳与全氮之间存在显著正相关关系。     

Mapping Land Suitability for Agriculture in Malawi

Population growth, climate sensitivity, and edaphic properties are important factors that influence decision‐making and risk mitigation for agricultural production. Within the agricultural sector in Malawi, continuous cropping without the use of long‐term sustainable strategies and frequent cultivation on marginal lands have resulted in continually declining soil fertility. Improving soil quality of marginal lands using innovative technologies is imperative for increasing agricultural productivity and improving food security. Here, we propose an ensemble approach to map agricultural land suitability and identify the distribution of marginal land in Malawi. Quantitative data available for eight soil and terrain factors were rated individually, and five distinct models were applied to generate a spatial distribution map of land suitability. The results indicate that highly suitable, moderately suitable, marginally suitable, and unsuitable agricultural areas account for 8·2%, 24·1%, 28·0%, and 39·7% of the total land area, respectively. The majority of suitable lands are currently used for agriculture, but more than half (57·4%) of Malawi's total cropland exists on marginally suitable or unsuitable land categories and is likely a candidate for rehabilitation through sustainable agricultural practices. The methods and products herein will be valuable resources for effectively managing and improving Malawi's agricultural lands for increasing food security. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

内蒙古边际土地油莎豆种植及生产潜力评估

开展精细的区域边际土地分布研究并进行充分利用是缓解人地矛盾的重要途径之一.内蒙古土地沙化严重且生产力低下,边际土地分布广泛.近年来,油莎豆因其产量高、含油量高,种植及产业化发展迅速,成为保障中国粮油安全的重要优选作物之一.在内蒙古大量边际土地上推广油莎豆种植是解决土地沙化问题、土地利用率低等问题的新思路.基于此,研究基...     

Sustainable green tea production through agroecological management and land conversion practices for restoring soil health,crop productivity and economic efficiency: Evidence from Northern Vietnam

Tea is a very important cash crop in Vietnam as it provides crucial income and employment for farmers in poor rural areas. Unfortunately, the dominance of long-term, conventional tea cultivation has caused severe soil health degradation and environmental pollution. At the same time, as tea production may provide a better net income compared with other annual crops such as rice and vegetables, farmers have been converting parts of their allocated land to cultivate tea plants. Little is known about the benefit of agroecological management as an alternative to conventional tea management practices, and thus, there is a need to understand how it can improve tea yields, quality and the livelihoods of the farmers. Conducted in Northern Vietnam from 2019 to 2022, this study examined the impacts of agroecological tea management practices on soil health indicators, tea yield and quality, and net income of tea farmers. We showed that agroecological management practices significantly enhanced soil organic matter by 0.8% and soil pH by 0.5 units on average. Conversely, conventional management based on chemical fertilizer applications, significantly increased soil total nitrogen by 0.15%–0.2%. No significant differences were observed between soil texture and other soil chemical characteristics. Soil biological parameters were also significantly higher in agroecological tea soil and root samples than in conventional tea plots. Average AMF frequency and intensity of the agroecological tea roots were 98% and 37%, respectively, compared with 73% and 15% of the conventional tea roots. Likewise, soil macrofauna and mesofauna abundance in the agroecological tea plantations was 76 individuals/m² and 101 individuals/100 g fresh soil on average, respectively, while that of conventional tea farms were 34 and 63 individuals/100 g fresh soil, respectively. Interestingly, a comparison between the converted and nonconverted lands did not show any significant effect of the conversion on soil physicochemical and biological characteristics, apart from tea root AMF colonization. Conventional tea management consistently resulted in higher tea yield and yield components, even though the differences were not always statistically significant. Despite lower tea yields, agroecological tea adopters earned around USD 8400 ha/year more than the farmers still practicing conventional management. This study shows that it is economically and environmentally more sustainable to produce organic tea than conventional tea, and our results should encourage more farmers to adopt such agroecological practices in Northern Vietnam.     

松嫩平原西部盐渍荒漠化机理研究

选择松嫩平原西部盐碱化程度最高的大安市叉干镇明乐村,研究碱斑地的蒸散过程、土壤水分入渗过程,以及盐分运移和水盐平衡规律,进一步探讨该地区盐渍荒漠化的形成机理。结果表明:碱斑地没有植被覆盖,蒸散过程以土壤蒸发为主,水分运动带动盐分大量向土表积累;碱斑地土壤水分入渗率低,下行盐分远远小于上行盐分。土壤表层盐分累积的结果,使得该地区的草地景观退化,碱斑地面积增加,导致盐渍荒漠化程度加剧。     

巴西东北部地区土地退化对土壤微生物量和活性的影响

Land degradation causes great changes in the soil biological properties.The process of degradation may decrease soil microbial biomass and consequently decrease soil microbial activity.The study was conducted out during 2009 and 2010 at the four sites of land under native vegetation(NV),moderately degraded land(LDL),highly degraded land(HDL) and land under restoration for four years(RL) to evaluate changes in soil microbial biomass and activity in lands with different degradation levels in comparison with both land under native vegetation and land under restoration in Northeast Brazil.Soil samples were collected at 0-10 cm depth.Soil organic carbon(SOC),soil microbial biomass C(MBC) and N(MBN),soil respiration(SR),and hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate(FDA) and dehydrogenase(DHA) activities were analyzed.After two years of evaluation,soil MBC,MBN,FDA and DHA had higher values in the NV,followed by the RL.The decreases of soil microbial biomass and enzyme activities in the degraded lands were approximately 8-10 times as large as those found in the NV.However,after land restoration,the MBC and MBN increased approximately 5-fold and 2-fold,respectively,compared with the HDL.The results showed that land degradation produced a strong decrease in soil microbial biomass.However,land restoration may promote short-and long-term increases in soil microbial biomass.     

Stratification of soil aggregation and organic matter under conservation tillage systems in Africa

Soil degradation due to tillage has been reported Africa-wide. Other main causes of soil degradation are overgrazing, extensive cultivation of marginal lands, widespread clearing of vegetation for agriculture, deforestation, exploitation of unsuitable agricultural technologies, mis-management of arable lands, and frequent drought. Hence, declining soil fertility and increasing population pressure on lands are fragile bases on which to build expectations for improved crop production. This paper recognizes conservation tillage systems as one means for preventing food shortages and natural resources degradation throughout the continent. Conservation tillage has the potential for increasing soil organic matter content and enhancing soil aggregation. Conservation tillage systems can create an aggregated, fertile surface layer that is important from a soil erosion reduction perspective and thus for a sustainable agriculture in Africa. Some indigenous tillage systems in Africa can be adapted to meet objectives of conservation tillage systems. Further, recent technological developments in tillage and seeding machinery will certainly enhance the rate of farmer’s acceptance and adoption of conservation tillage.     

Soil degradation and restoration as affected by land use change in the semiarid Bashang area,northern China

The Bashang area, located in the semiarid agropastoral zone, represents a typical degraded ecosystem under intensified human activities. This region has undergone profound land use changes during the past century. Natural grasslands had been progressively cultivated, and subsequently, part of cultivated lands had been abandoned by farmers due to severe desertification. In this study, we collected soil samples (0–20 cm depth) from four farmlands on both flat and gentle slope lands where cultivation had occurred for 0, 8, 30, and 50 years to assess the effects of grassland cultivation on soil degradation. In addition, soil samples were taken and plant species were investigated from eight sites in age sequence of 0- to 50- year-old abandoned field to assess natural restoration process following field abandonment. The results showed that cultivation of grassland result in a significant soil degradation which is manifested by the coarsening in soil texture and the losses in organic C and nutrients. After 50 years of cultivation, soil organic C, total N, and total P concentrations had declined 73–79%, 60–70%, and 67–68% in the 0–20 cm plough layer, respectively. Over half of these losses occurred during the first 8 years of cultivation, and subsequent was slow. After fields were abandoned, vegetation got self-restoration, and plant species composition moved toward that of the natural grassland community with time. Soil organic C, total N, and total P levels gradually improved with increasing years of land abandonment, with a faster restoration rate in the early vegetation recovery stage and a slower rate in the late succession stage. The results suggested that soil degradation may occurred drastically by inappropriate land use and management with a short time, while soil restoration for a degraded ecosystem may take long period of time, especially in this fragile ecosystem. From the perspective of soil resource management and desertification control, conservational tillage and management for farmlands and proper grazing management for recovered grassland should be taken into account in this area.     

Agroforestry as a strategy for carbon sequestration

During the past three decades, agroforestry has become recognized the world over as an integrated approach to sustainable land use because of its production and environmental benefits. Its recent recognition as a greenhouse gas–mitigation strategy under the Kyoto Protocol has earned it added attention as a strategy for biological carbon (C) sequestration. The perceived potential is based on the premise that the greater efficiency of integrated systems in resource (nutrients, light, and water) capture and utilization than single‐species systems will result in greater net C sequestration. Available estimates of C‐sequestration potential of agroforestry systems are derived by combining information on the aboveground, time‐averaged C stocks and the soil C values; but they are generally not rigorous. Methodological difficulties in estimating C stock of biomass and the extent of soil C storage under varying conditions are compounded by the lack of reliable estimates of area under agroforestry. We estimate that the area currently under agroforestry worldwide is 1,023 million ha. Additionally, substantial extent of areas of unproductive crop, grass, and forest lands as well as degraded lands could be brought under agroforestry. The extent of C sequestered in any agroforestry system will depend on a number of site‐specific biological, climatic, soil, and management factors. Furthermore, the profitability of C‐sequestration projects will depend on the price of C in the international market, additional income from the sale of products such as timber, and the cost related to C monitoring. Our knowledge on these issues is unfortunately rudimentary. Until such difficulties are surmounted, the low‐cost environmental benefit of agroforestry will continue to be underappreciated and underexploited.     

水蚀风蚀交错区土壤呼吸影响因素及其对土地利用方式变化的响应

为准确评估黄土高原水蚀风蚀交错区土壤呼吸速率季节变化影响因素及其对不同土地利用方式的响应,于2009~2012年植物生长季节,选取6 种当地典型的土地利用类型,应用红外气体分析法对土壤呼吸速率进行测定,并结合土壤水、热与养分因子进行分析。结果表明, 水蚀风蚀交错区退耕会显著改变土壤呼吸强度,该区典型农地的土壤呼吸速率为1.06～1.39 mol/（m2s）,农地转变为裸地的过程中,土壤呼吸速率下降为原来的42%～63%,尤其在植物生长旺季的7、 8、 9 三个月下降明显。 农地弃耕后建设人工草（灌木）地使土壤呼吸速率提高了109%～200%,农田撂荒样地土壤呼吸速率约为农地的79%～179%,农地略高于长芒草地和荒草地。该区土壤呼吸速率变化的主导因子为土壤温度,尤其与10 cm土层的土壤温度相关性最好,土壤呼吸速率与土壤含水量之间拟合优度较差, 但土壤温度与含水量双因子指数模型Rs=aebTc 对该地区土壤呼吸速率的拟合均优于相应的单因子模型。10 cm土层的土壤呼吸温度敏感性系数（Q10值）排序为:无植被生长样地（裸地,2.09）农地（农地、坡地农地,2.07～1.69） 撂荒地（坡地撂荒地、撂荒地、梯田撂荒地,1.71～1.53）草（灌木）地（柠条地、苜蓿地、长芒草地、荒草地,1.51～1.42）,可见随着未来气温的升高,在生态系统土壤呼吸整体有可能增加的背景下,退耕还林（草）会降低土壤呼吸对温度的敏感性,且Q10值随土壤含水量降低而降低。土壤呼吸速率与土壤有机质、全氮之间有极显著的正相关关系。因此,水蚀风蚀交错区土壤呼吸受到土壤温度、水分、养分及土地利用方式的显著影响。     

粤西坡地土壤侵蚀特征及退化分析——以广东省郁南县大湾镇为例

坡地是广东省重要的土地资源,也是水土流失的策源地。研究坡地的土壤侵蚀及退化问题,对于坡地的可持续利用具有重要的意义。本文以广东省郁南县大湾镇为例,探讨了粤西典型坡地不同侵蚀区的侵蚀形态特征,以及土壤侵蚀所导致的坡地退化,分析了影响土壤退化的原因,并提出了退化坡地的整治措施。研究区以花岗岩发育的弱侵蚀强度为主,占总侵蚀面...     

Cultivation of medicinal isabgol (Plantago ovata) in alkali soils in semiarid regions of Northern India

There is growing global demand for medicinal drugs including isabgol (Plantago ovata). With increasing demand of food for an ever‐increasing population in India, it is not possible to bring arable lands under cultivation for aromatic and medicinal plants. Salt‐affected lands (both saline and alkali) occupy about 8·6 million ha. Due to poor physical properties and excessive exchangeable Na⁺, most of these lands do not support good vegetation cover. The marginal and salt‐affected lands could be successfully utilized for the cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants. We achieved almost complete germination of isabgol seeds using up to 5000 ppm salt‐solution. Grain yield (including husk) was 1·47 to 1·58 t ha⁻¹ at pH 9·2 showing no significant yield reduction as compared to normal soil. At pH 9·6 the grain yield was 1·03 to 1·12 t ha⁻¹. At higher pH there was significant reduction in yield. Sowing in good moisture (at field capacity) of soil was found best, but to save time sowing at shallow depth in dry soil, followed by irrigation was also suitable as compared to broadcasting seeds. The chlorophyll content was greater 70 days after sowing compared to younger stages (50 days after sowing). The total chlorophyll and plant biomass were lower from crops grown by broadcasting methods of sowing as compared to two other methods of sowing. The leaf area index (LAI) was higher for the broadcasting method of sowing as compared to the other two methods. Na⁺ absorption increased and K⁺ and K⁺/Na⁺ ratio decreased with increase in pH. Results reported in this paper clearly indicate that isabgol can successfully be grown on moderately alkali soils up to pH 9·6 without the application of any amendment. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

论湖南省坡耕地综合治理开发的障碍因素及途径

湖南省坡耕地治理开发的障碍因素除投入少、政策不配套外 ,主要是水土流失引起的土壤肥力下降、季节性干旱和种植结构不合理等 ,其综合治理开发途径是 :实施坡改梯工程 ,建立土体“富水层” ;合理施用有机肥 ;建立商品生产基地 ;建立健全投资和激励机制     

Adoption of technologies that enhance soil carbon sequestration in East Africa. What influence farmers’ decision?

The last two decades have seen a rise of interest in the adoption and diffusion of agricultural technologies aimed at improving the sustainability of agricultural lands among smallholder farmers in developing countries. This papers set out to understand factors that influence the adoption of technologies that enhance soil carbon sequestration among smallholder farmers, using secondary data recorded in the World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) database from 45 to 50 smallholders’ farmers in selected places in Kenya and Ethiopia respectively. A Probit model was used to analyse whether socio-economic, institutional, off-farm income, technical know-how, farmers’ perceptions, and land use characteristics influences the adoption of technologies that enhance soil carbon sequestration. The results show that smallholder farmers that positively perceived net benefits of the soil carbon enhancing technologies were more likely to adopt such technologies that enhance soil carbon sequestration in both countries. Access to off-farm income and land ownership with title deeds were also found to be positively associated with adoption. Off-farm income positively influences adoption among farmer with a moderate income (100-500US$ per year) but not the rich (>500US$) farmers. Moderate to high level of skills and technical know-how required for implementing and maintaining a technology on the farm had a negative influence on adoption. This shows that interventions, aimed at addressing specific factors such as inadequate skills and knowledge, change in perception among farmers, and off-farm income are likely to have the greatest impact in decisions relating to the adoption of the soil carbon enhancing practices among farmers in East Africa.