浅谈联合收割机驾驶员培训

通过分析安徽省肥西县联合收割机驾驶员培训的现状与存在的不足,旨在探索联合收割机驾驶员培训的有效途径,促进农机化事业健康发展。     

Historical Land‐use and Vegetation Change in Northern Kwazulu‐Natal,South Africa

The role of anthropogenic activity is increasingly recognized as an agent of environmental change. Photographs, taken more than 130 years ago in KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa, show a very different landscape to that viewed today. In attempting to understand some of the dynamics behind the changes in the landscape, we explored the history of land‐use in communal rangelands in KwaZulu‐Natal from the arrival of Iron Age man through to modern practices. Communal farming is frequently cited as a major cause of environmental degradation. Traditional lifestyles have been eroded by social, political and economic changes since the arrival of European explorers and settlers in the early 1800s. This may have contributed to encroachment by woody plants into the open savannas and grasslands of KwaZulu‐Natal in recent times because of increased grazing pressure and, perhaps reduced fires. Furthermore, there is decreasing dependence on wood for everyday needs due to the increased availability of electricity. Interviews with a number of community members indicate that they have noted a change in climate and in vegetation structure. Their observations have been confirmed by climate data and historic photographs. Environmental planners need to view change in a holistic manner, taking cognisance not only of the physical changes but also of the history of land‐use and human needs and to give credence to community perceptions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A MULTIDISCIPLINARY MODEL FOR ASSESSING DEGRADATION IN MEDITERRANEAN RANGELANDS

This paper presents an annual multidisciplinary, non‐spatial model which formalizes the relationships linking the dynamics of shrubs, herbs, soil, livestock and farmers' behaviour with possible exogenous drivers of degradation, such as weather and prices. The model does not represent a pasture–livestock system but a shrub–soil one and is applied to a rangeland in Lagadas County (Northern Greece). A sensitivity analysis of the model is also presented. It shows that livestock, in general, and factors increasing farmers' profits, in particular, are currently helping to combat shrub invasion in Lagadas while having low impacts on erosion rates. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Making Tropical Succession and Landscape Reforestation Successful

Forests are dynamic ecosystems, spatial mosaics of localized disturbances and regenerating vegetation. Following forest conversion to human land uses, expanding forest cover follows four different modes of reforestation: (a) spontaneous natural regeneration; (b) assisted natural regeneration; (c) agroforestry; and (d) commercial tree plantations. Natural regeneration fundamentally depends on the alignment of ecological and social factors at landscape scales. A deeper socioecological understanding of reforestation in the tropics will lead to the development of effective policies and governance structures that enhance forest cover and ecosystem services, protect biodiversity, and improve forest-dependent livelihoods.     

Drivers and risk factors for circulating African swine fever virus in Uganda, 2012–2013

We explored observed risk factors and drivers of infection possibly associated with African swine fever (ASF) epidemiology in Uganda. Representative sub-populations of pig farms and statistics were used in a case-control model. Indiscriminate disposal of pig viscera and waste materials after slaughter, including on open refuse dumps, farm-gate buyers collecting pigs and pig products from within a farm, and retention of survivor pigs were plausible risk factors. Wire mesh-protected windows in pig houses were found to be protective against ASF infection. Sighting engorged ticks on pigs, the presence of a lock for each pig pen and/or a gate at the farm entrance were significantly associated with infection/non-infection; possible explanations were offered. Strict adherence to planned within-farm and community-based biosecurity, and avoidance of identified risk factors is recommended to reduce infection. Training for small-scale and emerging farmers should involve multidimensional and multidisciplinary approaches to reduce human-related risky behaviours driving infection.     

近60年来克里雅绿洲耕地动态变化驱动力及生态环境效应

利用1950-2008年统计资料和土地详查数据,采用多元统计分析与文献调查,分析了塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘克里雅绿洲近60年来耕地动态变化情况及其驱动机理,并讨论了耕地动态变化对绿洲生态环境的影响。结果表明:(1) 1950-2008年克里雅绿洲耕地面积经历了急剧增加(1950-1961年)→缓慢减少(1962-1990年)→快速增加(1991-2008年)的变化过程,耕地数量总体呈增加趋势,人均耕地面积呈减少趋势;(2)影响克里雅绿洲耕地动态变化的驱动因子可归纳为政策变动、经济发展、人口增长、农业科技进步等四大因素;(3)耕地动态变化某种程度上改善了克里雅绿洲生态环境的同时,导致了绿洲外围沙漠化,绿洲内部土壤盐渍化,湿地减少,河道缩短等一系列生态环境问题,威胁了绿洲稳定性。     

Challenges in organic component selection and biochar as an opportunity in potting substrates: a review

Plant production in potting substrates provides maximum profit on the applied inputs, and hence, directly improving the socio-economic condition of the grower/nurserymen. The main challenge in this industry is sourcing of materials for their potting substrates. Peat and perlite have been widely preferred materials. However, recently higher prices, more restrictive legislation of many countries and wetland ecosystem destruction through its extraction has limited peat use. Nowadays, producers focus towards peat alternatives that provide good performance, are readily available, inexpensive and environment friendly to attain sustainability in potted plant production. In an effort to grasp sustainability during the last few decades, many industrial and agricultural waste materials were reviewed for their use in potting substrates. In these studies, the major focus remained on material characterization, neglecting their economics, technical aspects and environmental impacts. Thus, switching from peat and perlite to alternatives requires material exploration. In the present review, we summarize a clearer and practical approach for substituting different materials especially biochar to fulfill the need of modern potting substrate industry. Biochar has the potential to sustain the substrate production on a long-term basis.     

基于整合驱动因素和适宜性评价的乡村聚落重构模式研究

为了破解乡村发展过程中的土地供需矛盾,保护农户合法权益,减少农村居民点整合过程中的争议,推进乡村振兴战略的实施,该研究以陇中黄土丘陵区通渭县四合村为案例区,综合“参与式农村评估(participatory rural appraisal,PRA)+结构方程模型(structural equation modeling, SEM)+适应性评价(suitability evaluation, SE)”方法,剖析农户对乡村聚落的整合意愿及驱动机制,并在适宜性评价的基础上探究乡村聚落重构模式,为陇中黄土丘陵区乡村聚落的空间格局优化与整合提供一种方法与案例研究。结果表明:1)190户受访农户中79.5%的农户不愿意整合,整合意愿受到家庭、居住和社会等因素的综合影响,其中房屋建造时间、交通通达度及家庭非农收入是影响农户整合意愿主要驱动因素;2)四合村域由外向内依次可分为不适宜居住区、较适宜居住区和适宜居住区3级,其中位于适宜居住区的农户共计168户,占四合村农户数量的51.38%,超过半数的农户位于不适宜居住区和较适宜居住区,具有一定程度的整治潜力和较大的乡村聚落居住质量提升空间;3)构建基于整合驱动因素和适宜性评价的乡村聚落重构模式:生态转化模式、异地搬迁模式、旧村整治模式和改造提升模式,并对现有聚落进行空间重构。重构后,四合村宅基地数量将由354个减少至275个,面积由102 105.63 m2减少至79 708.79 m2,节约土地22 396.84 m2。研究结果对于引导宜居乡村建设具有指导意义,亦可为陇中黄土丘陵区乡村聚落重构提供科学依据。     

Ecology and regeneration of tropical dry forests in the Americas: Implications for management

Dry forests represent the most endangered ecosystem in tropical regions and continue to be one of the most sought after environments for human colonization, development and production. In spite of this, dry forests are one of the least well studied tropical habitats. This special issue is dedicated to reviewing much of the information that exists about tropical dry forest in the Americas. The introduction summarizes the articles presented herein, highlighting management strategies that are suggested throughout the special issue that may be useful for conserving tropical dry forest environments.     

山东省耕地面积变化的经济驱动力分析

笔者根据山东省人口规模、经济发展和城市化水平等因素,研究了18a闻山东省土地利用的变化特征及其社会经济驱动因素。研究表明,经济的快速发展是导致耕地面积减少的最主要驱动因子,随着人口增加和城市化水平提高,大量耕地被占用,人多地少的矛盾会进一步加剧。