Improving Potato Production in Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia: A System Diagnosis

Increased productivity of potatoes can improve the livelihood of smallholder potato farmers in Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia and is required to meet the growing demand. This paper investigates the opportunities for potato system improvement that could result in improved productivity. Through a diagnosis of the potato systems in the three countries on the basis of surveys and stakeholder workshops, seed potato quality management, bacterial wilt control, late blight control and soil fertility management were identified as key technical intervention topics. For effective problem solving in these areas, the functioning of the potato innovation system requires improvement to better deliver the functions of potato marketing as well as knowledge development and information exchange. With use of a ‘system failure framework’ the shortcomings of the potato innovation system are identified and discussed and options for improvement are suggested.     

How widespread is Parthenium hysterophorus and its biological control agent Zygogramma bicolorata in South Asia?

Parthenium hysterophorus is a weed of global significance causing severe economic, environmental, human and animal health problems in Asia, Africa, Australia and the Pacific. In South Asia, P. hysterophorus occurs in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal. A host-specific leaf-feeding beetle Zygogramma bicolorata from México was introduced into India in 1984, as a biological control agent for P. hysterophorus . In this study, a GIS-based distribution map of P. hysterophorus and its biological control agent Z. bicolorata in South Asia based on meta-analysis is presented. The map highlights the limited published information on P. hysterophorus incidence in many of the states and territories in India, as well as in neighbouring Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan. Incidence of Z. bicolorata was recorded as three distinct clusters, covering many states in India. In Pakistan, Z. bicolorata was recorded in the Punjab region bordering India. A CLIMEX model based on the current distribution of Z. bicolorata in India suggests that the geographic range of this agent in India and Pakistan can extend to other P. hysterophorus -infested areas in the region. The CLIMEX model also suggests that all of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and parts of Nepal are climatically suitable for Z. bicolorata.     

泾阳南塬黄土滑坡的运动规律与液化效应

[目的]查明滑坡的运动特征及其影响因素,探讨滑坡的运动规律与内在机制,为区域防灾减灾工作提供理论借鉴。[方法]以泾阳南塬黄土滑坡为例,通过现场调查及槽探查明了滑坡的运动特征,采用统计学方法分析了滑坡的运动规律,在此基础上,探讨引起滑坡运动特征分异的"液化效应"。[结果]按照运动特征将泾阳南塬黄土滑坡划分为流滑型和滑动型两类,流滑型滑坡的滑距一般为坡高的4倍,滑动型滑坡的滑距约为坡高的2倍。1.50×10~5 m~3可近似的认为是研究区内"足以形成最大液化程度的最小滑体体积"。[结论]滑体体积及边界条件对滑坡运动液化影响显著,一般情况下滑坡体积越大、滑动边界越简单,运动液化程度就越高,运动距离也就越远;而体积越小、滑动边界越复杂,运动液化程度就越低,运动距离也就越近。     

土壤结构改良剂对皖南旱地红壤水分特征的影响

[目的]研究土壤结构改良剂对皖南旱地红壤孔隙、容重及水分特征的影响,为皖南旱地红壤改良、提高土壤持水保水与抗旱保墒性能提供依据。[方法]采用硅藻土(通气性Si改良剂)、泡沫沙类改良剂(T20)和无机矿石类改良剂(G20)等3种土壤结构改良剂,设置1%,2%,5%与10%的4个添加比例,进行土壤物理性状与水分特征测试。[结果]硅藻土与T20均可显著降低土壤容重,而G20在添加5%与10%时才显著降低;硅藻土处理土壤毛管孔隙度由52.1%增加到91.3%,优于T20和G20;硅藻土与T20的吸湿系数与凋萎湿度随用量呈先增加而后下降,而G20则随添加量增加而增加;土壤的饱和持水量与田间持水量均随土壤结构改良剂添加量的增加而增加,以硅藻土增加最多,T20次之,G20最少。随改良剂用量增加,土壤有效水及难效水均呈增加趋势,其中,硅藻土处理的难效水增加量显著高于T20与G20处理。[结论]改良皖南旱地土壤水分需要根据改良剂材料的种类与用量来进行合理施加,必要时可以组合搭配使用,从而达到最优效果。     

南方崩岗侵蚀风险评估构想

[目的]探讨南方崩岗侵蚀风险评估构架,为崩岗防治规划及分期治理提供科学依据。[方法]通过引入风险评估的理念和方法,结合崩岗发育研究进展,参照生态环境、地质灾害等风险评估流程。[结果]界定了崩岗侵蚀风险内涵,拟定了崩岗侵蚀风险评估方法,构建了崩岗侵蚀风险评估指标体系,并提出了崩岗侵蚀风险评估程序。[结论]风险评估为崩岗侵蚀乃至土壤侵蚀研究领域提供了一种新的理念和方法。     

Occurrence of canine hemotropic mycoplasmas in domestic dogs from urban and rural areas of the Valdivia Province,southern Chile

This is the first study to investigate the occurrence, risk factors and hematological findings of hemoplasmas in dogs from Chile. Complete blood count and 16S rRNA conventional PCR for Mycoplasma spp. were performed in 278 blood samples from rural (n = 139) and urban (n = 139) dogs in Valdivia. Real time 16S rRNA PCR (qPCR) allowed species identification. Mycoplasma spp. occurrence was 24.8%. ‘Candidatus M. haematoparvum’ (CMhp) was identified in 12.2% and Mycoplasma haemocanis (Mhc) in 11.9% dogs. It was not possible to identify species in two Mycoplasma spp. samples by qPCR. Sequencing allowed identifying one of them as ‘Candidatus M. turicensis’ (CMt). Frequency in rural localities was higher (41.7%) than in urban (7.9%). Rural locality, maleness and older age were risk factors for hemoplasmosis. Hemoplasma-positive dogs had a higher total protein. This is the first report of Mhc, CMhp and CMt in dogs from Chile, with a high occurrence in rural localities.     

2017年冬季斯科舍海南极磷虾种群结构变动研究

斯科舍海蕴含着丰富的南极磷虾资源,是重要的南极磷虾渔场,该海域南极磷虾种群结构存在显著的时空差异。为了解该海域冬季南极磷虾的种群结构变动,以明晰渔场的变化,并探究南极磷虾的越冬机制,利用2017年5—8月渔业资源调查随机收集的样本,对冬季布兰斯菲尔德海峡和南乔治亚岛东北水域南极磷虾种群结构差异进行分析。结果显示,2017年冬季各月南极磷虾性比差异不大,均为雌性占比稍高于雄性,且各月性成熟度分布不存在显著差异。总体而言,雌性磷虾在整个冬季月份,除个例外均为未成熟个体。对于雄性磷虾,5月未成熟个体少于成熟个体;6月未成熟个体多于成熟个体;7月未成熟个体显著多于成熟个体;8月均为未成熟个体。对于布兰斯菲尔德海峡和南乔治亚岛两区域,整体来说,随月份增加,磷虾雌、雄个体的成熟个体数量减少,而未成熟个体数量逐渐增加。通过历史资料对比可知,斯科舍海冬季磷虾种群结构存在较为显著的年际和年间变化。     

Biofortification of common bean as a complementary approach to addressing zinc deficiency in South Africans

Deficiencies of vitamin A, iodine, iron and zinc (Zn) in humans are caused partly by the consumption of food that has insufficient quantities of these. Their deficiency has a negative impact on the health, wellbeing, social and economic status of human beings. A national survey conducted in 2012 identified deficiencies of vitamin A, Fe, and Zn among other nutrients in South Africans and regarded the deficiencies of vitamin A and Fe as a moderate but not Zn. This review discusses causes of Zn prevalence in low-income South Africans and that it is largely caused by the low content of Zn in their diets. Initiatives to reduce Zn deficiency include fortification of wheat products and maize meal which has failed to address it successfully. Weaknesses of fortification include high cost of fortified food products to low-income populations, poor regulation in ensuring compliance in fortification, non-fortification of sorghum meal, and leaching of fortified nutrients during processing. This review suggests Zn-biofortification of locally-preferred common bean cultivars as an alternative strategy to compliment fortification. The review also discusses advantages of adopting biofortified Nutritional Andean common beans. Furthermore, the review suggests initiatives including evaluation of the common bean genotypes’ adaptation to different agro-ecologies.