Improving adoptability of farm forestry in the Philippine uplands: a linear programming model

In the Philippines, smallholder farmers have become major timber producers. But the systems of timber production practiced have several limitations. In intercropping systems, the practice of severe branch and/or root pruning reduces tree-crop competition and increases annual crop yields, but is detrimental to tree growth and incompatible with commercial timber production. In even-aged woodlots, lack of regular income and poor tree growth, resulting from farmers’ reluctance to thin their plantations, are major constraints to adoption and profitable tree farming. In the municipality of Claveria, Misamis Oriental, the recent practice of planting trees on widely spaced (6–8 m) contour grass strips established for soil conservation suggests ways to improve the adoptability (i.e., profitability, feasibility and acceptability) of timber-based agroforestry systems. Assuming that financial benefits are the main objective of timber tree farmers, we develop a simple linear programming (LP) model for the optimal allocation of land to monocropping and tree intercropping that maximizes the net present value of an infinite number of rotations and satisfies farmers’ resource constraints and regular income requirements. The application of the LP model to an average farmer in Claveria showed that cumulative additions of widely spaced tree hedgerows provides higher returns to land, and reduce the risk of agroforestry adoption by spreading over the years labour and capital investment costs and the economic benefits accruing to farmers from trees. Therefore, incremental planting of widely spaced tree hedgerows can make farm forestry more adoptable and thus benefit a larger number of resource-constrained farmers in their evolution towards more diverse and productive agroforestry systems.     

The role of agroforestry in the farming systems in Rwanda with special reference to the Bugesera-Gisaka-Migongo (BGM) region

The Rwandan farmers, faced with a perpetual land shortage, have evolved certain intensive systems of organic agriculture. These systems, particularly the homestead (compound) farming, involve the combination of food, fodder and tree crops. to a certain extent these systems can satisfy the multiple needs of the subsistence farmers living under several risks and constraints. However, they cannot cope with the expanding food demand of the rapidly increasing population. Some multipurpose, low-input technologies and agroforestry approaches have been designed to improve the productivity of these traditional systems; these include inter/mixed cropping systems and rotations, alley cropping with leguminous trees and shrubs, use of planted fallow, planting tree legumes on anti-erosive lines, mixed farming,community forestry and woodlots, and tree planting on farm/field boundaries. The essential aspects of these technologies are briefly discussed.ISAR-IITA FSR PROJECT, B.P. 629, Kigali RwandaISAR-Swiss Intercooperation, c/o Forestry Department, B.P. 617, Butare, Rwanda     

Erythrina brucei: Propagation attributes, leaf nutrient concentration and impact on barley grain yield

Erythrina brucei Schweinf. emend. Gillett (Papilionaceae),a tree species that is endemic to Ethiopia, is known to possess useful agroforestry attributes, but these attributes have not been quantified. To achieve this, propagation of the species, growth rate of young trees and their impact on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and leaf-nutrient concentrations were examined. Germination of seeds planted in plastic pots varied from 73 to 93%, and direct seeding in the field yielded 83%germination. Branch cuttings obtained from 2 to 3-year-old stock plants (n =150) resulted in 70 to 80% rooting within 8 to 12 weeks after setting cuttings into the rooting medium. Considerable nodulation occurred on leaves one year after planting out seedlings and stecklings. Leaf concentrations of Mg, N,P, and S were significantly lower in nodulated than in the non-nodulated leaves. On the other hand, leaf Fe concentration was higher in nodulated than in the non-nodulated leaves. There was no significant difference in Ca and K contentsbetween the nodulated and non-nodulated leaves. E. brucei-treatment significantly increased tiller and seed numbers, as well as seed weight. However, thousand-grain weight and grain size were similar in harvests from E. brucei-treated and the control plots. The results indicate that the species is easy to propagate by seed and vegetative means, grows fast, is desirable for intercropping, and has relatively high leaf-nutrient concentration.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

山杏种皮黑色素的抗氧化活性

对山杏种皮黑色素的抗氧化活性进行评价.结果表明:山杏种皮黑色素可以显著抑制β-胡萝卜素的氧化褪色,其清除自由基活性具有量效性,清除羟自由基能力与2,6-二叔丁基对甲酚(BHT)无显著差异而高于抗坏血酸(VC),清除超氧阴离子能力超过BHT和VC.山杏种皮黑色素既可以作为氢供体,清除DPPH自由基,但清除能力低于BHT和VC,也可作为电子供体,其还原能力高于BHT和VC.     

The potential of alley farming in humid West Africa — a re-evaluation

Previously published hypothesis concerning the potential impact of alley farming on maize yields are re-examined relative to the humid regions of West Africa. When more realistic assumptions regarding the availability of organic nitrogen are used, it is concluded that alley farming may have potential in a wider range of maize yield environments in West Africa than previously proposed. A pragmatic approach to alley farming research is proposed, and the importance of on-farm research in the development of ‘farmer friendly’ alley farming is stressed. (Former Agronomist, International Livestock Centre for Africa, P.M.B. 5320, Ibadan, Nigeria)     

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.     

人造板游离甲醛释放量测定的主要影响因素的研究

试验表明，人造板在存放过程中，板材的游离甲醛释放量逐渐下降并趋于稳定。在测定中的萃取时间、样品大小、甲苯的重复使用对测定结果都有一定的影响。     

退耕坡地系统生态综合评价中几个景观生态学问题

退耕坡地系统属于退化土地生态系统,大部分是毁林(草)开荒形成的,是人为加速了自然生态系统的逆行演替而形成的低产脆弱的生态系统。对退化生态系统进行综合整治与恢复,以及人工生态系统的重建的理论基础是生态演替和人为设计理论。退耕还林(草)是通过一定的社会物质和能量的投入定向加速景观生态系统的演替过程。评价退耕地的生态经济效益是退耕还林(草)工程的重要组成部分,重点评定项目是否实现预期目标、项目的产出、效果和影响。本文应用景观生态学的理论:景观尺度与等级理论、景观空间格局与异质性理论、景观演化与干扰理论探讨了退耕地生态评价的内容、方法和应注意的问题,从而为退耕还林(草)工程的顺利进行提供有力的保障。     

南岳区退耕还林植物景观林造林模式

从2001年到2005年,抓住国家退耕还林的机会,在南岳衡山核心景区营造植物景观观赏林136.8 hm2,植物景观林种类16种,达到了南岳核心景区退耕还林、还绿、还美目标。提高了南岳的旅游景观质量,促进了南岳生态建设的发展。     

Integrating traditional and local ecological knowledge into forest biodiversity conservation in the Pacific Northwest

The potential for traditional and local ecological knowledge to contribute to biodiversity conservation has been widely recognized, but the actual application of this knowledge to biodiversity conservation is not easy. This paper synthesizes literature about traditional and local ecological knowledge and forest management in the Pacific Northwest to evaluate what is needed to accomplish this goal. We address three topics: (1) views and values people have relating to biodiversity; (2) the resource use and management practices of local forest users, and their effects on biodiversity; (3) models for integrating traditional and local ecological knowledge into biodiversity conservation on public and private lands. We focus on the ecological knowledge of forest users belonging to three groups who inhabit the region: American Indians, family forest owners, and commercial nontimber forest product harvesters.