Assessment of the socio-economic impacts associated with the arrival of apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) in Mwea irrigation scheme,Kenya

Background

In Kenya, rice (Oryza sativa L.) is mainly produced under irrigation by small-scale farmers. Mwea irrigation scheme (MIS) in Kirinyaga County accounts for 80–88% of rice production. Here, rice is the main source of livelihood and a source of revenue generation for the county. However, a recently established invasive freshwater snail, Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck) (family: Ampullariidae), a species of apple snail, presents a serious threat to rice production.

Results

Household surveys, focus group discussions and key informant interviews highlight apple snail as a serious problem in MIS. Households that observed at least a moderate level of infestation (>20% of cultivated area) experienced significant reductions in rice yield (~14%) and net rice income (~60%). Farmers reported increased use of chemical pesticides for management of apple snail. In addition, the cost of hired labor for physical removal of egg masses and snails is resulting in substantial negative effects on net income. Farmer age, area of land owned, responsibility for decision-making, receipt of extension advice, training, and membership of a farmer organization, were all statistically significant variables to explain farmers awareness of the need for area-wide apple snail management.

Conclusion

Strategies to limit the spread of apple snail are urgently needed. A Multi-Institutional Technical Team (MITT) has been established to spearhead management efforts and consolidate advice to farmers on how to manage apple snail. However, without action to mitigate spread, the consequences could be disastrous for rice production and food security in Kenya, and for other rice growing regions across Africa. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

粘土路基施工技术

本文主要论述了路基填筑粘土不利因素以及粘土掺灰的机理特点，同时介绍了粘土处理在工程施工中的技术应用。     

Ecophysiological and genetic variation in seedling traits and in first-year field performance of eight <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia senegal</Emphasis> provenances in the Blue Nile,Sudan

The genetic variation in seed weight, seed number per kg and seedling traits was compared among eight Acacia senegal provenances originating from the clay plain (east) and sand plains (west) of the gum belt in Sudan. The main objective of this study was to identify germplasm sources of A. senegal that have a good seed germination capacity and seedling traits suitable for reforestation in the clay-soil part of the dryland gum belt in the Blue Nile region in Sudan. A specific objective was to tentatively explore the adaptive strategy of A. senegal populations. Seventeen-week-old seedlings were planted in the field at spacing of 3 m × 3 m, giving 100 trees per plot and replication; within a randomized complete block design with four replications. The experimental site was in the clay plain region. Seed variables showed significant differences. Clay plain provenances showed considerable variation in seed weight and seed number. They had the smallest seed weight but the highest seed number, while the sand (western) provenances had the largest seed weight but lowest seed number. Seedling branch number, root length, root to shoot ratio and shoot dry weight differed significantly among the provenances 12 weeks after germination. Clay provenances had the highest branch number and shoot dry weight but the shortest roots and lowest root to shoot ratio. This was interpreted as showing better adaptation to the site in these local provenances in comparison to those originating from the western sandy soil regions. High positive correlations were observed between seedling variables, such as root nodule and branch numbers; this could be used for early selection. The variation was greater between provenance groups than within them, suggesting that especially selection among groups would yield genetic gain.     

洞庭湖洲滩杨树人工林对钉螺孳生的影响

为探讨修枝强度、林农间种、异龄林等因素对洞庭湖洲滩钉螺孳生的影响,对拐棍洲有螺滩地杨树人工林的螺情分布进行了长期定点调查。结果表明:4年生杨树林,修枝次年林分内的活螺框出现率、活螺密度均低于修枝当年,其中1/3修枝强度次年林分活螺框出现率、活螺密度较修枝当年分别降低了68.00%和80.80%。林农间种的杨树林较翻耕不种和不耕不种的杨树林抑螺效应显著,翻耕而不间种的杨树林,活螺框出现率与不耕不种的1年生杨树林一样,但活螺密度却较不耕不种下降了47.20%。异龄林营造后,活螺密度大致呈下降趋势,营造后的第2、3、4年时活螺框出现率、活螺密度分布较营造当年下降73.33%、50.00%、77.67%和75.96%、43.94%、83.85%。林分郁闭后,全面翻垦的林分活螺框出现率、活螺密度均比不翻垦的林分低直至趋于零。除了高程(32.64m)较高的林分外,其他高程全耕不种林分内活螺框出现率、活螺密度均低于全垦间种。     

南昌市抑螺防病林工程实施探讨

分析了南昌市自然、经济、螺情概况,从组织领导、科学规划、经营主体等方面探讨了抑螺防病林工程实施成效及措施,指出了目前存在的问题,并提出了相应的建议。     

黏土颗粒表面分维模型的构建及其应用

构建了黏土颗粒物表面分维数学模型,并以高精度数字光学显微系统为基础,测算了部分黏土样品的颗粒表面分维,结果验证了表面分维数学模型的合理性,形成了一套简约的黏土颗粒表面分维分析方法。     

土壤透气性及粘土颗粒比表面积与粘土颗粒粒度分布分形维数关系

采用数字显微系统测定了部分华南地区土壤中粘土颗粒粒径分布分形维数值,提出了土壤中粘土颗粒群粒度分布分形维数的几何法计算模型,并就这种分形维数与土壤比表面积和土壤透气性等性质的相互关系作了初步探讨。结果表明,采用数字显微系统测定的粘土颗粒粒径分布分形维数值介于2.2708到2.9483之间,与常规方法测定结果吻合;含砂较多的土壤样品,BET比表面积和Blaine透气时间随粒度分布分形维数值增大而减小;含粘粒较多的土壤样品,BET比表面积和Blaine透气时间同随粒度分布分形维数值增大而增大。     

青海省东部山区旱作农田土壤团聚体特征研究

比较了青海省东部山区垂直梯度分布的三种旱作农田土壤(黑钙土、栗钙土、灰钙土),在0~60 cm土层的不同粒级土壤风干团聚体和水稳性团聚体含量间的差异,并结合其它土壤质量指标(有机质、粘粒)对不同土壤结构和抗侵蚀能力进行了综合评价。结果表明,>0.25mm风干团聚体、>0.25mm水稳性团聚体含量和土壤有机质含量与土壤类型间有密切关系。均表现为黑钙土>栗钙土>灰钙土。黑钙土和栗钙土的土壤有机质含量与>0.25mm水稳性团聚体间存在显著正相关关系(P<0.05),灰钙土则无明显相关性;三种土壤粘粒含量与>0.25mm风干团聚体和0.25mm水稳性团聚体含量间无明显相关性。各项指标综合比较,三种土壤抗侵蚀能力大小为:黑钙土>栗钙土>灰钙土。     

Desiccation and cracking behaviour of clay layer from slurry state under wetting-drying cycles

Laboratory tests were conducted to investigate the effect of wetting-drying (W-D) cycles on the initiation and evolution of cracks in clay layer. Four identical slurry specimens were prepared and subjected to five subsequent W-D cycles. The water evaporation, surface cracks evolution and structure evolution during the W-D cycles were monitored. The effect of W-D cycles on the geometric characteristics of crack patterns was analyzed by image processing. The results show that the desiccation and cracking behaviour was significantly affected by the applied W-D cycles: the measured cracking water content θ_c, surface crack ratio R_sc and final thickness h_f of the specimen increased significantly in the first three W-D cycles and then tended to reach equilibrium; the formed crack patterns after the second W-D cycle were more irregular than that after the first W-D cycle; the increase of surface cracks was accompanied by the decrease of pore volume shrinkage during drying. In addition, it was found that the applied W-D cycles resulted in significant rearrangement of specimen structure: the initially homogeneous and non-aggregated structure was converted to a clear aggregated-structure with obvious inter-aggregate pores after the second W-D cycle; the specimen volume generally increased with increasing cycles due to the aggregation and increased porosity. The image analysis results show that the geometric characteristics of crack pattern were significantly influenced by the W-D cycles, but this influence was reduced after the third cycle. This is consistent with the observations over the experiment, and indicates that the image processing can be used for quantitatively analyzing the W-D cycle dependence of clay desiccation cracking behaviour.     

黑垆土有机碳在团聚体中的分配及其保护机制

以黄土高原广泛分布的黑垆土为研究对象,研究了6个粒级团聚体中总有机碳(TOC)、稳定性有机碳(St OC)、矿物保护态有机碳(MOC)、化学稳定性有机碳(ROC)和游离氧化铁(Fed)、无定形氧化铁(Feo)、络合态氧化铁(Fep)以及黏土矿物含量的特征,重点分析了有机碳在各粒级团聚体中的分配及其与黏土矿物和各种形态氧化铁之间的相关性,及探讨了有机碳的保护机制。结果表明:黑垆土中约80%的土壤有机碳赋存于0.5~0.25、0.25~0.05和0.05 mm的3个粒级团聚体中;黑垆土中的有机碳以St OC为主,其含量随着团聚体粒级的减小而增加。在0.5~0.25和0.25~0.05 mm团聚体中,TOC含量与Fed含量呈正相关关系,相关性系数(r)均为0.72(P0.05);在0.25~0.05 mm粒级团聚体中,ROC含量与Fed含量呈正相关关系(r=0.68,P0.05),而St OC和MOC含量与伊利石含量具有正相关关系r分别为0.71(P0.05)和0.68(P0.05)。黑垆土中对有机碳起保护作用的主要是Fed和伊利石,但二者对有机碳的保护机制可能有所不同:Fed与有机碳络合形成化学稳定性有机碳,而伊利石主要通过吸附作用实现对有机碳的保护。