草业科学在现代马业发展中的研究现状

马是人类社会发展的重要组成部分,人类种草养马历史悠久,但人们对马用饲草的认识和研究还不足,致使现代马业和草业科学发展存在严重脱节现象,影响了两者的可持续发展。因此,结合现代马业发展趋势及其对饲草的利用特点,综述了草地放牧、青干草、青贮及半干青贮饲草等在现代马业发展中的研究与实践现状,并提出了现代马业发展中草业科学存在的问题及建议,以期为保障现代马业的可持续发展提供理论指导,为拓展我国现代草业科学与技术发展空间提供参考。     

中国草地固碳减排研究现状及其建议

随着经济的快速发展,温室气体的排放量不断增加,加之人类对自然资源的利用强度逐渐增加,导致全球生态系统的固碳能力减弱,大气中的温室气体浓度达到新高,所造成的温室效应已经成为国际社会普遍关注的重大全球性问题。中国草地碳汇资源得天独厚,发展草原碳汇经济成为履行国际承诺、打造碳汇新经济、建设美丽中国的重要载体。综述中国草地固碳减排现状及其影响因素,包括草地碳汇和家畜生产减排研究、气候变化背景下的草地碳汇、人工草地建设等方面,并提出中国草地固碳减排发展建议,以期为中国实现碳达峰、碳中和及草地固碳减排的贡献提供理论基础,为推动我国社会高质量发展、创造高品质生活提供坚实的技术支撑。     

禁牧对退化草地恢复的作用

草地是我国重要的农业自然资源之一,但目前草地退化的现象十分严重,超载过牧是主要原因之一。本文就针对草地退化提出的围封禁牧措施对草地植被、土壤及草地生态系统恢复过程中的作用进行综述,发现适度放牧对草地恢复是必需的,但采取长期围封禁牧恢复与重建草地的做法不可取,围栏封育并非恢复退化草地的万全之计。建议在我国要因地制宜,根据草地的退化程度,采取合理的划区轮牧强度和放牧时间,与退化草地生态恢复的围封措施结合,以达到既能恢复退化草地,又可收获畜产品的双赢目的,实现草地生态系统持续平衡发展的目标。     

放牧对草地土壤微生物的影响

土壤质量是草地生态系统生产力可持续发展的关键所在。健康的土壤必定拥有丰富的物种多样性、活跃的生命体、高效的内部养分循环及较好的抗干扰能力。土壤微生物作为土壤系统中各种生物进程的主要推动者,其作用不可小觑。因此,我们可以利用土壤微生物的数量、群落结构和多样性等特征监测土壤质量。本文综述了放牧对草地土壤微生物数量、生物量、群落结构和多样性的影响。指出通过了解土壤微生物与放牧行为间的关系,如何评估土壤质量,选取适宜的放牧梯度,完善草地管理模式,并介绍了土壤微生物群落结构和多样性研究方法的利弊。解决两个关键问题：1）土壤微生物的各种特征是如何响应放牧行为的。2）如何通过这些指标评价土壤质量,然后提出合理的放牧模式,改善和维护草地的生产力。     

Factors affecting a sheep vegetation management system in British Columbia, Canada

A silvopastoral agroforestry system involving sheep is an important silvicultural issue. We examined the factors that affect the continuation or discontinuation of sheep vegetation management (SVM) in British Columbia. A questionnaire was used to conduct interviews with a randomly selected sample of contractors and farmers who were involved in SVM in British Columbia (BC). Based on a stepwise discriminant analysis, we found that the profitability of SVM, and the practitioners' commitment (number of ewes owned by the farmer or contractor), experience (number of years the farmer or contractor has practiced SVM on public lands in BC) and trust or confidence (number of years the farmer or contractor has consistently worked for the landlord) contributed to the farmer's or contractor's continuation or discontinuation of SVM practice. The factors we defined seemed to be validated (corroborated) by a complex of determinants voiced by various experts concerning the relationship between SVM and the forestry economy in BC, the scale of sheep farming in BC, the relative absence of an agricultural infrastructure to support sheep farming in BC, and the continuity of SVM from year to year. Further investigation into these factors and others is required to advance our understanding of SVM in British Columbia. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Seasonal changes of understorey herbage yield in relation to light intensity and soil moisture content in a Pinus pinaster plantation

The relationship of understorey herbage yield with light intensity and soil moisture content was investigated in a 20-year-old Pinus pinaster plantation in Kilkis of Macedonia, northern Greece, in three seasons (fall, winter and spring). The plantation was thinned at three density levels, high, medium and low (2500, 1750 and 1000 trees/ha respectively) and it was seeded with Dactylis glomerata. In addition, two fertilization levels (0 and 110 N+150 P₂O₅ kg/ha) and grazing intensity levels (0 and 0.8 sheep/ha/yr) were applied in a split-split plot experimental design. It was found that herbage yield was highest in the ungrazed and fertilized low tree density stands in all seasons. In the medium tree density stand, although light was lacking, fertilized plots produced higher herbage yield as compared to unfertilized low tree density stands while fertilization is of no use in close stands if herbage production is the goal. Animals seemed to prefer fertilized and medium density stands. Third degree polynomial equations were the best to explain herbage variation through the seasons both in fertilized and unfertilized plots.     

Establishment and early growth characteristics of six Paulownia genotypes for goat browse in Raleigh, NC, USA

Meat goat production in the eastern USA is increasing as a result of growing demand from various ethnic groups. Because goats naturally prefer a high proportion of browse in their diets, research was initiated to investigate various silvopastoral production systems. The genus Paulownia contains several species which exhibit rapid juvenile growth and other characteristics that justify research into their potential use in meat goat feeding systems. In May 1997, six Paulownia genotypes were planted in a randomized complete block experiment with six replications. Trees were between 6 and 12 cm in height at planting. Genotypes included: P. fortunei seedlings, P. tomentosa seedlings, P. elongata seedlings and three P. elongata clones. Each 4-m wide plot contained a single row of 12 trees with an intra-row spacing of 1 m. Plant measurements included height, root collar diameter (RCD) at 3 cm above soil surface, and the number of main branches. Leaf samples were collected from all six replications for estimates of herbage quality. During 1998, trees were browsed with goats on two occasions to assess palatability of the herbage and to determine any preference for specific genotypes by the animals. Compared with seedling trees of all three species, the three P. elongata clones were taller (clones: 79.7 cm, seedlings: 55.9 cm; P < 0.01), had larger RCDs (clones: 18.4 mm, seedlings: 13.9 mm; P < 0.01) and had a higher branching frequency (clones: 4.9, seedlings: 1.5; P < 0.01) by the end of the first growing season. Mortality averaged 4.8% across all treatments and ranged between 0 and 8%. Early in the 1998 growing season before trees were browsed, P. elongata clones grew more rapidly than seedlings (clones: 116.4 cm, seedlings: 84.1 cm; P < 0.01). Estimates of herbage quality indicated favorable concentrations of energy and protein for lamina. In vitro true dry matter disappearance ranged from 85.4 (blades) to 71.5% (petioles) and crude protein from 25.1 (blades) to 4.9% (petioles). Animals readily browsed the lamina during two separate sessions, but no clear preference trends were observed among the different Paulownia genotypes.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Traditional agroforestry practices in Zimbabwe

Traditional agroforestry systems in the communal areas of Zimbabwe are described. There are systems centered on main fields, on home gardens, on homesites and on grazing areas. In the main fields, the major tree-related management practice is the conservation of preferred indigenous fruit trees. Fruit trees are also the focus of forestry activities around the gardens and the homesite; but here it is the planting of exotic species. In a localized area of Zimbabwe Acacia albida is important in fields. There is almost no use of tree fallows in Zimbabwe. Trees in grazing areas have numerous roles, but at present there is little knowledge about traditional management practices in these areas. In the development of agroforestry systems in Zimbabwe it is suggested that those systems designed to improve fodder production will make a significant contribution to farm productivity because of the importance of cattle in the farming system and the present fodder shortage. Interventions involving the planting of fruit trees are likely to be very successful, as there is much interest in such planting. Another area that needs to be developed is that of tree plantings to improve soil fertility.     

Agroforestry systems in North America

Agroforestry systems in North America vary widely in terms of components (tree, forb, graminoid, and shrub species) and outputs. Most of the agroforestry systems used in North America have emphasized wood and livestock production. The objective of each system has been to produce annual and long term economic returns and sustainable yields. Inputs such as fossil fuels, fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides are relatively low compared to those used in conventional agriculture.Major agroforestry system types in each of eight North American regions are described. The major species used as vegetational components in each system are enumerated by region. The numerous variations in how these components are mixed have created an almost endless number of actual systems. Management problems and solutions, economic concerns, and system comparisons have also been addressed for each region.