Spatially targeting the distribution of agricultural input stockists in Malawi

Developing the rural agricultural input markets in sub-Saharan Africa can improve the current low productivity of smallholder farmers. Malawi has seen significant efforts in addressing the availability of agricultural inputs at village level in the last few years; for example, the improvement of rural agro-dealer networks. Nevertheless inputs are still difficult to obtain for many remote smallholder farmers. Spatial analysis can help in the expansion of input stockists, especially agro-dealer networks, by assessing the coverage of existing input outlets and deriving optimum locations for village-level input stockists.We address three research questions. First, what is the locational efficiency of the current village-level stockists of inputs (Citizens Network for Foreign Affairs – Rural Agricultural Market Development Trust trained network of agro dealers and public sector)? Secondly, how many village-level stockists of markets are needed to reach 60% of the population in the central region of Malawi within one hour? Finally we address the potential spatial components of the sustainability of input stockists relating to the potential demand from smallholder farmers and the access to bulk supplies. The problem of finding the optimum location for village-level stockists of markets is addressed in two stages, using spatial analysis in conjunction with location–allocation models. First, the locational efficiency of the existing network of stockists of inputs is determined, followed by the establishment of a set of optimal sites for village-level stockists of inputs. A final step explores the viability of stockists and calculates the population surrounding the stockists taking into account competition from other sources of inputs and the accessibility of the selected stockists to potential wholesalers who are bulk distributors of farm inputs.Our results show that locational efficiency can be assessed in terms of the differential access of households to resources and transport. Often, these differences are not considered in covering problems and can have a large effect on the physical access to inputs. The results can be used to define which areas are inherently difficult to serve with agricultural inputs and could inform efforts to provide incentives to remote areas. Further implications for input policies in Malawi are that improvements in road infrastructure might not directly benefit the poorest farmers (if they are walking) but could serve to reduce the wholesale prices and therefore the retail price. In addition, the improvement in roads might increase the number of potential customers of any particular stockist, with economies of scale allowing the reduction of prices while ensuring a satisfactory profit margin for the stockist. The results of our models imply that Citizens Network for Foreign Affairs may need to train stockists over a wider area to increase the access to inputs of those smallholder farmers with least resources.     

天津市棉花地膜覆盖栽培技术

从选地与整地,选择品种,播种与覆膜,化学除草,调整覆盖度,打孔放苗,全生育期覆盖,平衡施肥等方面介绍了天津市棉花地膜覆盖栽培关键技术。     

盛夏干旱期猕猴桃园百喜草覆盖与敷盖的生态生理效应

在盛夏干旱期，猕猴桃园行间百喜草覆盖（Covering)与株间百喜草敷盖（Mulching)可以降低地表温度，根际土温与冠幕气温，有效保持土壤含水量及冠幕空气相对湿度，随干旱期的持续延长，猴猴桃园土壤含水量，叶片水势，叶片光合速率均逐渐降低，而进喜草覆盖与敷盖可在一定程度上延缓它们的下降。     

沙地云杉座水覆膜造林试验

从2004年到2006年,通过3 a对沙地云杉2 a、3 a和4 a生苗木的田间座水覆膜试验,结果表明:座水覆膜可以明显地提高土壤温度,抑制土壤水分蒸发。土壤温度平均提高2℃,土壤含水量平均提高1.87%~2.36%。2 a、3 a和4 a生苗木造林成活率比对照分别提高25%、21.4%和23.8%,苗木高生长量比对照分别提高26%、44%和22%。     

行间生草对葡萄叶片光合特性的影响

在赤霞珠(Cabernet Sauvignon)葡萄生产园行间种植多年生黑麦草、白三叶草和紫花苜蓿,在葡萄浆果膨大期,测定叶片光合作用相关指标及土壤含水量、叶片相对含水量.结果表明:与清耕相比,行间生草降低了葡萄园土壤含水量和葡萄叶片相对含水量,使葡萄光合速率、气孔导度及蒸腾速率降低,并使气孔导度、光合速率最高峰有所提前.     

硼钾肥及其配施对压砂西瓜产量与品质的影响

对黄土高原西北部地区压砂西瓜进行了硼、钾肥效应试验,研究了CK（N）、NB0.1、NB0.2、NB0.3、NK、NKB0.1、NKB0.2、NKB0.3 8个施肥处理对压砂西瓜产量和品质的影响。结果表明,硼、钾肥及配施均能提高压砂西瓜产量、可溶性糖及VC含量,降低硝酸盐含量,其中硼钾肥配施效果好于单施,且以NKB0.3（N 105 kg?hm-2、K2O 115 kg?hm-2、B 0.3 %）处理最为显著,其产量、可溶性糖含量、VC含量较CK（N 105 kg?hm-2）分别提高了18.72 %、21.12 %和31.08 %,硝酸盐含量较CK降低了21.43 %。     

旱地果园起垄覆膜集雨措施对树体水分利用的影响

针对甘肃陇东黄土高原旱地苹果园季节性干旱问题,以15年生长富2号苹果树为试材,研究果园起垄覆膜、小沟集雨技术措施对土壤水分、主干液流速率、叶片光合速率等的影响。结果表明,在萌芽前晴天,覆黑地膜能显著提高主干液流速率;在果树生长季节,覆黑地膜能降低株间蒸发量,较长时间保持土壤水分,提高水分利用效率和叶片光合能力,同时可以...     

双垄全膜马铃薯套种豌豆对马铃薯生育期及病害的影响

在双垄全膜马铃薯套种针叶豌豆的栽培模式下,研究了其对马铃薯的生育期及病害的影响。结果表明,马铃薯在双垄全膜栽培条件下出苗、现蕾、开花及成熟都较露地有所提前。在病害方面,覆膜使马铃薯早疫病的发生加重,但对晚疫病的发生有很好的抑制作用。     

地膜覆盖作物农田光温效应研究

试验研究地膜覆盖作物农田光温效应结果表明 ,夏季作物旺长期 (棉花开花～吐絮期、玉米抽雄穗～乳熟期、大豆开花～结荚期 )地膜覆盖作物枝叶茂盛 ,白天所截留的太阳总辐射量多 ,作物中下部光照强度小于对照地 ,且地膜覆盖作物农田土壤温度低于对照地 ,其中白天地面最高温度降温较明显 ,棉花、玉米与大豆农田土壤温度比对照分别降低 3 1℃、2 7℃和 2 5℃ ,其光温效应可有效减轻夏季高温对作物的危害而利于增产     

棚膜颜色对避雨栽培酿酒葡萄果实品质的影响

为揭示棚膜颜色对避雨栽培酿酒葡萄[赤霞珠(Cabernet sauvignon)]果实品质的影响,分别对露地栽培和不同颜色棚膜(红、黄、蓝、紫、白)避雨栽培下果穗周围空气温湿度、风速以及果实品质进行比较。结果表明:1与露地栽培相比,避雨栽培降低葡萄果穗附近的空气温度,其大小为空白对照白色棚膜蓝色棚膜紫色棚膜黄色棚膜红色棚膜;避雨栽培提高果穗周围空气的湿度,棚膜颜色对湿度的影响结果与温度相反;避雨栽培能降低果穗周围的风速,不同颜色棚膜处理之间的风速无显著差异。2避雨栽培中蓝、黄、红色棚膜均能提高赤霞珠葡萄果实的糖酸质量浓度,其中紫色和红色棚膜处理分别对还原糖和总酸质量浓度影响最大,而白、紫色棚膜在提高其含糖量的同时降低总酸质量浓度。3紫色棚膜处理下葡萄果实的单宁质量分数最高,其次为蓝色棚膜和露地栽培,白色棚膜最低;总花色素质量分数在紫色棚膜和露地栽培下最高,其次为蓝色棚膜,红色棚膜最低;露地栽培、紫色棚膜、蓝色棚膜、黄色棚膜、红色棚膜、白色棚膜下的总酚质量分数依次降低。因此,采用紫色棚膜覆盖能够提高酿酒葡萄果实品质。