Effect of time resolution of rainfall measurements on the erosivity factor in the USLE in China

Rainfall erosivity, one of the factors in the Universal Soil Loss Equation, quantifies the effect of rainfall and runoff on soil erosion. High-resolution data are required to compute rainfall erosivity, but are not widely available in many parts of the world. As the temporal resolution of rainfall measurement decreases, computed rainfall erosivity decreases. The objective of the paper is to derive a series of conversion factors as a function of the time interval to compute rainfall erosivity so that the R factor computed using data at different time intervals could be converted to that computed using 1-min data. Rainfall data at 1-min intervals from 62 stations over China were collected to first compute the ‘true’ R factor values. Underestimation of the R factor was systematically evaluated using data aggregated at 5, 6, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 60-min to develop conversion factors for the R factor and the 1-in-10-year storm EI₃₀ values. Compared with true values, the relative error in R factor using data at fixed intervals of ≤10min was <10% for at least 44 out of 62 stations. Errors increased rapidly when the time interval of the rainfall data exceeded 15 min. Relative errors were >10% using 15-min data for 66.1% of stations and >20% using 30-min data for 61.3% of stations. The conversion factors for the R factor, ranging from 1.051 to 1.871 for 5 to 60-min data, are higher than those for the 1-in-10-years storm EI₃₀, ranging from 1.034 to 1.489 for the 62 stations.     

1981-2017年砚瓦川流域蒸发量变化特征研究

利用砚瓦川流域1981-2017年蒸发量实测数据，运用数理统计、线性回归分析、Man-Kendall检验等方法分析研究砚瓦川流域多年蒸发量变化特征。结果表明，（1）砚瓦川流域37年蒸发量变化总体呈下降趋势，其平均减少速率为4.75mm，2006年是减少突变年。（2）砚瓦川流域37年年平均蒸发量为1182.23mm，80年代的年均蒸发量高于平均值。（3）砚瓦川流域春季蒸发量波动幅度最大，秋季次之，冬季蒸发量波动幅度最小，夏季蒸发量最大，约占全年蒸发量的42.36%。（4）砚瓦川流域月平均蒸发量最大的为6月，最小的为12月。（5）砚瓦川37年降雨量和蒸发量均在减小，但降雨量的减小速率略大于蒸发量的减小速率。     

Dynamic study of infiltration rate for soils with varying degrees of degradation by water erosion

Ultisols, widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas of south China, are suffering from serious water erosion, however, slope hydrological process for Ultisols under different erosional degradation levels in field condition has been scarcely investigated. Field rainfall simulation at two rainfall intensities (120 and 60 mm/h) were performed on pre-wetted Ultisols with four erosion degrees (non, moderate, severe and very-severe), and the hydrological processes of these soils were determined. The variation of soil infiltration was contributed by the interaction of erosion degree and rainfall intensity (p < 0.05). In most cases, time to incipient runoff, the decay coefficient, steady state infiltration rate, and their variability were larger at the high rainfall intensity, accelerating by the increasing erosion severity. Despite rainfall intensity, the infiltration process of Ultisols was also significantly influenced by mean weight diameter of aggregates at the field moisture content, soil organic carbon and particle size distribution (R² > 30%, p < 0.05). The temporal erodibility of surface soil and soil detachment rate were significantly and negatively correlated with infiltration rate (r < -0.32, p < 0.05), but less significant correlation was observed between sediment concentration and infiltration rate for most soils, especially at the high rainfall intensity. The variation of surface texture and soil compactness generated by erosion degradation was the intrinsic predominant factors for the change of infiltration process of Ultisols. The obtained results will facilitate the understanding of hydrological process for degraded lands, and provide useful knowledge in managing crop irrigation and soil erosion.     

Comparing water-vegetative indices for rice (Oryza sativa L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) drought assessment

Drought indices (DI) are an useful tool for assessing different sectarian droughts. Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) has been used worldwide to assess/monitor the onset, active phase, cessation and severity of drought. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) provides a comprehensive vegetation dynamics, which directly linked with rainfall received in a particular region. Indo-Gangetic Region (IGR), providing employment and livelihood to tens of millions of rural families directly or indirectly and rice (Oryza sativa L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (RW) system of the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) contributes 80% of the total cereal production and is critical to food security of the region. This study tries to verify the applicability of water-vegetative indices viz., SPI, Rainfall Index (RI) and NDVI for drought assessment of rice-wheat system productivity over IGR-India. The relationship between monsoon rainfall and NDVI shows that at around 1100 mm rainfall, the NDVI reached saturation point and no further significant increase in NDVI with increase of rainfall is noticed. Even though, there was a positive correlation of seasonal monsoon rainfall and average NDVI, conflicting results are noticed between monthly distribution of rainfall and monthly anomaly of NDVI over IGR States. It is noticed that June dif NDVI (actual NDVI-mean NDVI) contributes more to rice productivity followed by July. However, the combined effect of June, July and August, explains 15% of the variation of Kharif Rice Productivity Index (KRPI). As far as wheat is concerned, statistically significant relation was found between Wheat Productivity Index (WPI) and anomaly NDVI during December-March. This explains 35% of the variability in WPI.     

雨水中污染物浓度分布规律研究

通过对多场降雨中pH、可沉降物、总磷、总氮、氨氮以及高锰酸盐指数的监测,分析了不同污染物质在雨水中的分布规律。分析表明,雨水呈酸性,雨水中可沉降物、总磷、总氮、氨氮以及高锰酸盐指数的浓度分别在9~245、0.038~0.250、2.83~6.25、0.11~4.90和0.70~16.00 mg/L;除pH和总氮浓度随降雨量增加变化趋势不是很明显外,其他物质的浓度随着降雨量增大而逐渐减少;初期雨水中各物质的浓度（pH除外）较高,在降雨量达8~15 mm时物质浓度趋于稳定。     

Determinants of groundnut rosette virus disease occurrence in Uganda

Groundnut rosette virus disease (GRVD) is the major constraint to groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) production in Uganda. It is principally transmitted by the groundnut aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch). The disease is known to cause total crop failure in cases where susceptible varieties are used. During any particular season, GRVD displays variations in incidence and severity in different agro-ecologies within the country, but the reasons for the varying disease patterns remain unclear. This study was aimed at establishing the factors influencing the occurrence of GRVD in Uganda. Trials were established for three seasons in four groundnut growing locations situated in different agro-ecologies in Uganda. Four groundnut genotypes were used as treatments in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Disease progress and aphid populations were assessed at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after planting. Data on environmental factors; particularly rainfall, temperature and wind speed were obtained from standard meteorological stations located at/near the study sites. Soil samples and yield data were also obtained in each season. The study revealed that disease incidence; severity and groundnut yields were significantly affected by season, location and genotype. The same applied to their three way interactions. Levels of disease infection were found to be majorly influenced by rainfall and wind speed. Disease incidence and severity were generally higher in conditions with less rainfall and low wind speeds. The Pearson's two tailed correlation between total rainfall and disease incidence for all trial sites was negative and highly significant (r = −0.280, P ≤ 0.01). The same was true for wind speed and disease incidence (r = −0.476, P ≤ 0.01). However, there was no conclusive trend between temperature and disease incidence with the Pearson's two tailed correlation showing significantly positive and negative trends depending on location.     

播期对不同熟期玉米品种生育期及产量的影响

为了探索适宜本地区种植的玉米品种与播期,于2015年在山西省早熟玉米区以特早熟、早熟、中熟3个不同熟期玉米品种为测试材料,测定不同播期下玉米的生育期和产量及其构成。结果表明,在本试验设置的4个播期中,特早熟和早熟品种都能安全成熟,而中熟品种4月21日以后播种不能正常成熟。随着播期的提前,所有不同熟期的玉米品种产量均呈上升趋势。早熟和中熟品种的产量显著大于特早熟,但早熟与中熟品种之间的产量差异不显著。产量差异的主要原因是由于百粒重之间的不同引起的。在产量与相关环境因子之间的关系中,生育期积温与产量呈显著正相关,产量随积温增加而增加。由此可见,本地区适宜种植早熟品种,最佳播期一般在4月20号左右,产量最高。     

Assessment of insurance coverage and claims in rainfall related risks in processing tomato in Western Spain

An extension of guarantees related to rainfall-related risks in the insurance of processing tomato crops has been accompanied with a large increase in claims in Western Spain, suggesting that damages may have been underestimated in previous years. A database was built by linking agricultural insurance records, meteorological data from local weather stations, and topographic data. The risk of rainfall-related damages in processing tomato in the Extremenian Guadiana river basin (W Spain) was studied using a logistic model. Risks during the growth of the crop and at harvesting were modelled separately. First, the risk related to rainfall was modelled as a function of meteorological, terrain and management variables. The resulting models were used to identify the variables responsible for rainfall-related damages, with a view to assess the potential impact of extending insurance coverage, and to develop an index to express the suitability of the cropping system for insurance. The analyses reveal that damages at different stages of crop development correspond to different hazards. The geographic dependence of the risk influences the scale at which the model might have validity, which together with the year dependency, the possibility of implementing index based insurances is questioned.     

1960～2010年宜良县降雨量和蒸发量变化特征分析

利用宜良县1960～2010年的年降水量和小型蒸发量资料,采用线性趋势、干燥度等统计学方法,分析近51年宜良县降雨量和蒸发量的变化特征.结果表明,1960～ 2010年宜良县降雨量和蒸发量均在逐年减小,特别是21世纪以来降雨量和蒸发量均减少,可利用水资源较少.宜良县降雨主要集中在5～10月,蒸发主要集中在3～9月,其中3～5月降雨量较少,而蒸发对水的消耗比较明显,气候比较干燥,容易发生春旱;10 ～11月蒸发对水的消耗比较小,而这个阶段降水也比较少,也容易发生秋旱.     

湖南省一次飞机人工增雨作业的方案设计及效果评估

根据湖南省干旱需求,利用CPAS平台,结合EC细网格资料和MM5模式分别对作业条件等进行系统分析,并对作业后进行效果分析。结果表明,衡阳、株洲及周边地域上空云中云水含量充足,具有较好的增雨潜力。整个过程影响区增雨约32%,面雨量增加0.44 mm,增加水量约792万t,作业后长沙普降小雨,长沙空气质量指数(AQI)达99,空气质量获得比较明显的改善,此次增雨的作业效果较佳。