Organic farming fosters agroecosystem functioning in Argentinian temperate soils: Evidence from litter decomposition and soil fauna

Benefits of organic farming on soil fauna have been widely observed and this has led to consider organic farming as a potential approach to reduce the environmental impact of conventional agriculture. However, there is still little evidence from field conditions about direct benefits of organic agriculture on soil ecosystem functioning. Hence, the aims of this study were to compare the effect of organic farming versus conventional farming on litter decomposition and to study how this process is affected by soil meso- and macrofauna abundances. Systems studied were: (1) organic farming with conventional tillage (ORG), (2) conventional farming with conventional tillage (CT), (3) conventional farming under no-tillage (NT), and (4) natural grassland as control system (GR). Decomposition was determined under field conditions by measuring weight loss in litterbags. Soil meso- and macrofauna contribution on decomposition was evaluated both by different mesh sizes and by assessing their abundances in the soil. Litter decomposition was always significantly higher after 9 and 12 months in ORG than in CT and NT (from 2 to 5 times in average), regardless decomposer community composition and litter type. Besides, mesofauna, macrofauna and earthworm abundances were significantly higher in ORG than in NT and CT (from 1.6 to 3.8, 1.7 to 2.3 and 16 to 25 times in average, respectively for each group). These results are especially relevant firstly because the positive effect of ORG in a key soil process has been proved under field conditions, being the first direct evidence that organic farming enhances the decomposition process. And secondly because the extensive organic system analyzed here did not include several practices which have been recognized as particularly positive for soil biota (e.g. manure use, low tillage intensity and high crop diversity). So, this research suggests that even when those practices are not applied, the non-use of agrochemicals is enough to produce positive changes in soil fauna and so in decomposition dynamics. Therefore, the adoption of organic system in an extensive way can also be suggested to farmers in order to improve ecosystem functioning and consequently to achieve better soil conditions for crop production.     

Decreasing of methanogenic activity in paddy fields via lowering ponding water temperature: A modeling investigation

Methane (CH₄) is a potent greenhouse gas and the huge CH₄ fluxes emitted from paddy fields can prejudice the eco-compatibility of rice cultivation. CH₄ production in submerged rice crops is known to be highly influenced by water temperature. Hence, lowering ponding water temperature (LPWT) could be an option to mitigate CH₄ emissions from paddy environments when it is possible either to irrigate with slightly colder water or to increase ponding water depth. However, paddy soil is a complex environment in which many processes are simultaneously influenced by temperature, leading to a difficult prediction of LPWT effects. For this reason, LPWT efficiency is here theoretically investigated with a one-dimensional process-based model that simulates the vertical and temporal dynamics of water temperature in soil and the fate of chemical compounds that influence CH₄ emissions. The model is validated with literature measured data of CH₄ emissions from a paddy field under time-variable temperature regime. Based on modeling results, LPWT appears promising since the simulated reduction of CH₄ emissions reaches about −12% and −49% for an LPWT equal to −5 °C during the ripening stage only (last 30 days of growing season, when rice is less sensitive to temperature variations) and −2 °C over the whole growing season, respectively. LPWT affects CH₄ emissions either directly (decreasing methanogenic activity), indirectly (decreasing activity of bacteria using alternative electron acceptors), or both. The encouraging results provide the theoretical ground for further laboratory and field studies aimed to investigate the LPWT feasibility in paddy environments.     

利用生态循环农业综合治理农业污染——以嘉兴市海盐县为例

总结发展生态循环农业的意义,分析了海盐县农业污染现状,并提出利用生态循环农业治理农业污染的措施与对策。     

传统与现代融合视角下欠发达地区美丽乡村规划策略研究——以江西省吉水县江家村为例

在全国开展美丽乡村建设的热浪中,欠发达地区乡村面临着产业结构单一、乡村风貌趋同、特色丧失的问题.以江西省吉水县江家村”美丽乡村”规划设计实践为实例,探索通过分析乡村格局、文化特色、建筑风貌、发展价值及潜力等要素,从经济、文化、建筑三大内容着手,区域联动,城乡统筹,规划先行,保护传统建筑,突出乡土地域特色,塑造具有地域特色和归属感的“美丽乡村”.     

美国农业保护性耕作技术的启示

为了学习与引进先进的保护性耕作技术,阐述了美国保护性耕作的起源,说明了传统耕作给农业生产带来的毁灭性的打击,并通过以免耕为主的保护性耕作的论述,进一步说明了黑龙江省耕作制度改革的必要性。同时通过美国先进耕作制度的论述,提出了黑龙江省发展保护性耕作制度的必要性和具体措施。     

农业院校高等数学教学存在的问题及其解决

根据农业院校高等数学教学体会进行了系统总结和思考,并对当前农业院校高等数学教学遇到的问题提出了改进建议。     

"互联网+"在休闲观光农业中的应用

2015年越来越多的行业运用"互联网+"为行业创造更多的价值,笔者基于休闲观光农业的现状,从服务形式、游客参与度、营销方式、文化内涵、评价体系方面分析了休闲观光农业行业发展和营销推广中存在的问题,提出利用"互联网+"的技术和手段解决这些问题的方法和措施。     

热带农业科技国际合作项目评价体系初探

从国际科技合作项目的特点出发,探讨提出热带农业科技国际合作项目评价体系的雏形,并对评价体系的项目前评价、项目中评价及项目后评价3个阶段的评价指标加以充实,为热带农业科技国际合作项目的科学、规范管理提供参考依据。     

贵州省农业社会化服务体系发展现状与对策研究

农业社会化服务体系越发达，就代表着农业现代化发展的程度越高。贵州省属于典型的山区农业省份，农业经济发展水平相对落后，为推进贵州的农业现代化发展，首先需要完善农业社会化服务体系建设。介绍了贵州省农业社会化服务体系建设的发展现状，包括农业技术推广服务、农产品流通服务、农村金融服务、农产品质量安全监管服务、农村信息服务等，并阐述了几种典型的模式，针对贵州农业社会化服务体系建设过程中存在的问题，提出发展对策。     

Can additional N fertiliser ameliorate the elevated CO2‐induced depression in grain and tissue N concentrations of wheat on a high soil N background?

Elevated CO₂ stimulates crop yields but leads to lower tissue and grain nitrogen concentrations [N], raising concerns about grain quality in cereals. To test whether N fertiliser application above optimum growth requirements can alleviate the decline in tissue [N], wheat was grown in a Free Air CO₂ Enrichment facility in a low‐rainfall cropping system on high soil N. Crops were grown with and without addition of 50–60 kg N/ha in 12 growing environments created by supplemental irrigation and two sowing dates over 3 years. Elevated CO₂ increased yield and biomass (on average by 25%) and decreased biomass [N] (3%–9%) and grain [N] (5%). Nitrogen uptake was greater (20%) in crops grown under elevated CO₂. Additional N supply had no effect on yield and biomass, confirming high soil N. Small increases in [N] with N addition were insufficient to offset declines in grain [N] under elevated CO₂. Instead, N application increased the [N] in straw and decreased N harvest index. The results suggest that conventional addition of N does not mitigate grain [N] depression under elevated CO₂, and lend support to hypotheses that link decreases in crop [N] with biochemical limitations rather than N supply.