A review of non-chemical weed control on hard surfaces

Weed control research to date has mainly focused on arable land, especially regarding herbicides, but also regarding non‐chemical methods. Some of these experiences can be applied to hard surface areas. However, weeds on hard surface areas cause problems that are different from those on arable land. Additionally, crop tolerance does not need to be considered when choosing an appropriate weed control method on these areas. The aim of this review is to describe current knowledge of weeds and weed control methods on hard surface areas and reveal potential ways of advancement. One of the shortcomings of non‐chemical weed control on hard surfaces thus far, is a lack of proper definition of efficiency of the weed control methods. To obtain effective control, more frequently repeated treatments are required than chemical weed management, thereby increasing the costs of labour and fuel. One way to reduce costs can be by adjusting the level of control to the required visual street quality. Weeds are adapted to the hard surface environment and may be less susceptible to certain control methods. This review indicates that for efficient weed control on hard surfaces there is a need for combining weed control techniques, applying sensors for detecting weeds, adapting the energy dose to type of weed flora and prevention of weeds by improved construction of new surfaces.     

Dispersal of invasive Phytolacca americana seeds by birds in an urban garden in China

Although seed dispersal is a key process determining the regeneration and spread of invasive plant populations, few studies have explicitly addressed the link between dispersal vector behavior and seedling recruitment to gain insight into the invasion process within an urban garden context. We evaluated the role of bird vectors in the dispersal of pokeweed (Phytolacca americana), a North American herb that is invasive in urban gardens in China. Fruiting P. americana attracted both generalist and specialist bird species that fed on and dispersed its seeds. The generalist species Pycnonotus sinensis and Urocissa erythrorhyncha were the most frequent dispersers. Seedling numbers of P. americana were strongly associated with the perching behavior of frugivorous birds. If newly recruited bird species use seedling‐safe perching sites, the P. americana will regenerate faster, which would enhance its invasive potential. Based on our observations, we conclude that the 2 main bird vectors, P. sinensis and U. erythrorhyncha, provide potential effective dispersal agents for P. americana. Our results highlight the role of native birds in seed dispersal of invasive plants in urban gardens.     

Urbanization Development under Climate Change: Hydrological Responses in a Peri‐Urban Mediterranean Catchment

Relatively few studies have so far investigated the hydrological impacts of urbanization in Mediterranean catchments, and particularly in peri‐urban catchments experiencing relatively rapid and large changes in their land‐use mosaic. This study uses data‐based model simulations to investigate such impacts, with the Ribeira dos Covões catchment in Portugal as a concrete Mediterranean peri‐urban catchment example. We distinguish the impacts of urbanization from those of climatic change on the water flux partitioning and connectivity in the catchment over the period 1958–2013. Decrease in precipitation over this period has primarily driven decreases in annual runoff and actual evapotranspiration, while the urbanization development has primarily changed the relative flux partitioning and connectivity pattern in the catchment. The relative contribution of overland flow to annual and seasonal runoff has increased, keeping the absolute overland flow more or less intact, while the baseflow contribution to the stream network has decreased. Methodologically, the present simulation approach provides a relevant means for distinguishing main drivers of change in hydrological flux partitioning and connectivity under concurrent urbanization and climatic changes. © 2017 The Authors. Land Degradation & Development Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Agronomic Traits of Corn Fertilized with Sewage Sludge

Although research on the environmental impacts of using waste as a fertilizer is of great importance, the basic principle for using a product as fertilizer is that it should provide nutrients for plants without causing any harm to them. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic traits (number of nodes, plant height, leaf number, yield, and protein content of grains) and the nutritional status of corn treated with sewage sludge. The experiment was conducted in the municipality of Jaboticabal in a Red Latosol. A randomized block design with four treatments (0, 55, 110, and 167.5 Mg ha^?1 of sewage sludge) and five repetitions was used. At 30 days after emergence (DAE), the dose of 110 Mg ha^?1 dry weight presented greater values for plant height, leaf number and stem diameter. At 60 DAE, the treatments did not affect the agronomic traits. No influence from the treatments tested was observed for protein content of grains and yield. The dose of 167.5 Mg ha^?1 showed greater weight of 100 seeds. All treatments showed nutritional imbalances. This study confirmed the agricultural potential of sewage sludge as a source of nutrients.     

青岛市新型农村社区建设的成效、问题与对策

以青岛市新型农村社区建设为试点,探索了多种类型的建设模式,总结了新型农村社区建设中存在的主要问题,并提出了改进对策。     

昆明都市农业的地位和作用研究——基于滇中城市经济圈一体化发展的视角

随着《云南省滇中城市经济圈区域协调发展规划》的出台，昆明市作为经济圈的核心，其农业发展为加快经济圈的一体化进程、保持圈内经济社会的和谐发展，将产生重要作用。分析了在经济圈一体化发展格局下，昆明都市农业的地位和功能，以及都市农业发展的内涵拓延，并提出了相关政策建议。     

城乡一体化视角中贵州农村劳动力素质研究

推进城乡一体化,建设社会主义新农村,需要具有高素质的新型农民。目前贵州省农民整体素质相对较低,与全面建设小康社会不相适应。因而在城乡一体化过程中,要发挥农民在新农村建设中的主体作用,就应把提高农民素质、培育新型农民作为一项战略任务,加大农村教育培训的力度,采用多种形式,实施培训工程,培养有文化、懂技术、会经营的新型农民。     

北京市顺义区畜牧业发展问题的思考

对北京顺义区畜牧业现状进行了调研,总结顺义区畜牧业发展的经验,分析其面临的新挑战和新机遇,对如何建设都市型现代畜牧业提出对策和建议。     

Does returning sites of historic peri‐urban waste disposal to vegetable production pose a risk to human health? – A case study near Manchester,UK

Urban waste disposal occurred on fenland to the west of Manchester, England, between 1900 and 1964. The reclaimed fenland, Chat Moss, is now used for mixed arable farming. A total of 1.92 Mt of waste including privy midden, street sweepings, clinkers and slaughterhouse refuse was incorporated into the moss resulting in a modified topsoil with raised pH and reduced organic matter content compared with the subsoil. Elevated levels of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) are observed in the topsoil beyond the typical depth of atmospheric contamination; Cd and As concentrations exceed soil guideline values (SGVs) at 1.8 and 43 mg/kg, respectively. Sequential extraction indicates that waste‐derived Pb, Zn and Ni remain predominantly in the residual fraction, whereas Cu was mainly organically bound. Arsenic was predominately found in oxide and organic matter fractions with Cd in carbonate, oxide, organic matter and residual fractions. Pot trials indicated limited uptake of PTEs by vegetables grown on the waste‐amended soil, with the exception of Cd uptake by lettuce (0.22 mg/kg FW) and Pb uptake by radish (0.16 mg/kg FW), which exceeded current EU limits of 0.2 and 0.1 mg/kg FW, respectively. Hazard quotients (HQs) identified no risks to adults from consumption of vegetables grown in these soils with the exception of lettuce consumption with a HQ of 1.4. Risks to children were slightly greater with HQs >1 for Cd in lettuce, spinach, carrots and onion, As in lettuce, parsley and onion and for Zn in spinach.     

Anthropogenic effects on the physical and chemical properties of subtropical coastal urban soils

We investigated the effects of various anthropogenic factors on urban soil properties in subtropical, coastal Tampa, FL, USA. Specifically, we explored the influence of (i) urbanization as measured by land use, land cover, population density and years since urban development and (ii) socioeconomic conditions as reflected in household income and property values on bulk density (BD) and several key soil chemical properties. Results indicate that Tampa’s urban soils were affected to varying degrees by these factors with chemical properties being more variable than BD. Across land uses significant differences were found for Mehlich‐1 (M1) extractable P, Ca and Na. A similar trend was observed for land‐cover classes, although significant differences were also found for pH and M1‐Cu. Soil properties had no statistically significant relationship with population density. However, time since urbanization did with M1‐P and Na varying significantly across age categories. For our socioeconomic analyses, M1‐K and Mg levels differed significantly by household income while pH, P, Ca and Na values differed significantly by property value. Overall, our findings indicate that despite their inherent heterogeneity, there are identifiable patterns among subtropical coastal urban soil properties. We suggest that a more thorough understanding of these patterns and their drivers is an essential first step towards developing soil management strategies aimed at maintaining environmental quality and ecosystem services in subtropical cities.