Intensification or extensification? Factors affecting technology use in peri-urban lowlands along an agro-ecological gradient in West Africa

The paper analyses whether the increased use of lowlands in proximity to urban centres in West Africa is associated with technological intensification or extensification. Technologies are typified in terms of their orientation – land or labour saving – and market dependence for their procurement and reviews the factors driving and modifying their use in lowlands. The factors associated with technology use are analyzed empirically using geo-referenced lowland data around four urban centers along an ecological gradient in Côte d’Ivoire and Mali. The technologies analyzed include both external inputs (fertilizer, pesticide, herbicide, improved varieties) and crop management practices (plot level bunding, rice transplanting and rice direct seeding). Results from binomial logit models highlight the prominent positive and non-linear role of proximity to urban markets for the technological intensification of lowlands – an issue associated with factor scarcities and the transaction costs for procurement and marketing. Technology use in lowlands is also associated with the agro-ecological gradient, lowland development and non-native lowland users. A common thread linking these variables is that they modify resource scarcity and therefore intensification incentives. Lowlands are not always as valuable as they may seem and there may be limited incentives to intensify. Instances of significant lowland cultivation and intensification in the study sites tend to be associated with specific opportunities – driven by market opportunities and modified by seasonal, institutional or development-induced relative land scarcity. Market access is therefore a necessary but not sufficient factor for the technological intensification of lowland use. There is a need for better targeting of development efforts in terms of enabling lowland intensification or extensification as appropriate.     

Soil bacterial characteristics between surface and subsurface soils along a precipitation gradient in the Alxa Desert,China

Bacteria in desert soil have unique phylogeny and important ecological functions, and theirresponses to changes in precipitation need further attention. However, relevant studies have mainlyfocused on the surface soil, and studies on the responses of bacteria at different soil depths to variationsin precipitation are rare. Thus, we used 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing to investigate the changesin soil bacterial distribution along a mean annual precipitation gradient (50–150 mm) in the Alxa Desert,China, and compared the variation characteristics in the surface soil layer (0–10 cm) and subsurface soillayer (10–20 cm). Results showed that soil bacterial communities significantly changed along theprecipitation gradient in both soil layers. However, the subsurface soil layer could support bacterialcommunities with higher diversity and closer internal relationships but more internal competition than thesurface soil layer. Additionally, compared with the surface soil layer, variations in diversity andco-occurrence patterns in the subsurface soil layer were more in line with the changes in the mean annualprecipitation, while bacterial community structure was less variable in the subsurface soil layer. Comparedwith the mean annual precipitation, soil moisture had little influence on the structure and diversity of soilbacterial community but had a high correlation with intercommunity connectivity. Therefore, soilmoisture might play a complex role in mediating environmental conditions and soil bacterial communitycharacteristics. Due to the different responses of surface and subsurface soil bacteria to the changes inprecipitation, it is necessary to distinguish different soil layers when predicting the trends in desert soilbacterial conditions associated with precipitation, and prediction of subsurface soil bacteria may be moreaccurate.     

根茎类作物单摆铲栅收获装置渐变抛掷特性

单摆铲栅是基于变幅变向振动技术研发的铲栅一体收获装置。为明确单摆铲栅工作特性及抛掷分离作业机理,该研究在运动学及动力学分析基础上建立了铲栅工作面抛掷系数解析方程,铲栅工作面各点抛掷系数随工作长度逐渐增大且具有明显的渐变抛掷特性和较强的抛掷能力,分离区最大抛掷系数达9.98～19.72;建立了单摆铲栅EDEM-MBD耦合仿真模型,以振幅、振动频率、前进速度为因素开展单因素仿真试验,试验结果表明：受工作面抛掷特性及土壤粘塑性影响,牵引阻力、驱动转矩具有明显的强弱周期,在强周期内：单摆铲栅与土壤互作力较大,分离间距最大值发生在该周期切削行程终点时刻分离区中点处;振幅为7～11 mm时,牵引阻力均值约1 580.93～2 019.9 N、最大驱动转矩约224.04～322.11 、最大分离间距约59.58～98.3 mm;振动频率为6.67～10.67 Hz时,牵引阻力均值约1 416.43～1 866.38 N、最大驱动转矩约315.28～364.19 、最大分离间距约78.43～94.67 mm;前进速度为0.2～0.4 m/s时,牵引阻力均值约1 429.43～2 110.48 N、最大驱动转矩约241.27～387.78 、最大分离间距约62.5～102.5 mm。甘草收获试验结果表明：甘草收获机牵引阻力32.17 kN、驱动转矩802.02 、挖掘深度468 mm时,收净率为96.42%,单摆铲栅作业过程流畅有序,渐变抛掷作用明显,根茎土壤分离效果良好。该研究结果可为根茎作物特别是深根茎作物节能高效收获提供参考。     

典型黑土区坡耕地退化程度诊断与评价

为了对黑土区坡耕地退化程度进行全面、综合、客观的诊断与评价,通过文献计量法和频度分析法对国内外耕地退化评价文献内的高频指标进行了统计分析,建立了适用于东北典型黑土区坡耕地退化程度诊断与评价的指标体系(TIS)。同时以拜泉县为研究区域,通过聚类分析建立了土壤退化程度诊断与评价最小指标集(MIS)。结果表明:(1)TIS共包括物理、化学、生物和侵蚀特征因子4类共11项指标:腐殖质层厚度、黏粒含量、有机质含量、pH值、坡度、垄坡角、沟壑密度、容重、水稳性大团聚体含量、土壤阳离子交换量和作物产量,其中前6项指标组成了MIS。(2)研究区未退化土壤占12%,轻度退化土壤占12%,中度及以上退化土壤占76%。坡度可能是影响研究区土壤退化的主要因素之一,坡度与垄坡角之间存在协同关系。此外,施用农药、化肥以及连作导致土壤酸化问题突出。     

水旱轮作对土壤微生物群落构建过程的影响机制

为探究稻田生态系统微生物学机制,采集水旱轮作稻田土壤,并以相同土壤母质下长期淹水的藕田土壤以及旱作的果树土壤为对照,研究了稻田生态系统细菌群落结构以及基于零模型的群落构建机制。结果表明:旱作和水旱轮作两个生态系统,由于频繁耕作以及施肥管理等农业措施形成特定的生态位格局,确定性过程主导群落构建。旱作生态系统下确定性过程占78.6%,随机性过程占10.7%;相对于旱作,由于水旱轮作的淹水条件,土壤肥力积累,水体连通性较好等特性导致内部环境变化缓和,其随机性过程(39.3%)影响增加,确定性过程(50.0%)下降;同理,长期淹水的水生生态系统中随机性群落构建(50.0%)成为主导过程。群落构建影响细菌群落结构和功能,因此随机性生态过程的增强进一步增加了细菌多样性以及物种生态网络的交互度和稳定性,增强了微生物抵抗外部环境扰动的能力,该过程有助于维持农田生态系统功能的稳定性和可持续性。     

坡度对降雨径流挟沙能力影响的模拟试验

高陡边坡降雨径流侵蚀输移能力是一个重要的科学问题。通过室内模拟降雨试验研究相同雨强不同坡度和坡长条件下的降雨径流侵蚀输移规律。结果表明：(1)试验条件下,水深与水力坡度的1/3次方呈负相关,与坡长的3/5次方呈正相关,流速与水力坡度和水深呈幂函数增加;(2)相同雨强裸坡条件下,径流含沙量与水力坡度的1/2次方呈正相关,与坡长的4/5次方呈正相关。水流挟沙能力约与水力坡度的1/2次方呈正相关。(3)降雨径流的水流紊动扩散作用与重力作用的比值较明渠水流偏大,表明雨滴打击的紊动作用较明显,给出挟沙能力公式。与常用的河流泥沙挟沙能力公式比较,系数偏大,指数偏小。研究成果对深入分析降雨径流侵蚀输移的机制具有重要意义。     

淹水培养过程中水稻土地杆菌科微生物群落结构变化特征

采用淹水非种植水稻土微环境模式系统,对水稻土进行1 h和1、5、10、20、30 d淹水培养,利用PCR-DGGE技术检测、多元统计分析淹水培养过程中地杆菌科微生物的群落结构和多样性变化规律及其影响因子。结果表明,淹水培养过程中地杆菌科微生物群落结构发生了明显的演替性变化：由r-对策优势种群演替至k-对策优势种群,且群落结构由不稳定向稳定演变（培养1 h和1 d处理间相似性最低,群落结构变化最大,20 d和30 d处理间相似性最高,群落结构变化最小）;该过程中,地杆菌科微生物物种丰富度指数和Shannon-Weiner指数在1 h处理中均为最小,5 d处理的最大;CCA相关性分析表明,淹水培养过程中Fe（Ⅱ）浓度与群落结构多样性指数呈正相关,证实该类微生物对于异化铁还原能力具有重要作用;测序结果表明,19个优势DGGE条带与来自水稻土中的未培养地杆菌科微生物亲缘关系相近。     

东江中上游4树种水势日变化特征及其与环境因子的关系

在东江中上游,以6a生树种木荷、红锥、火力楠和藜蒴为材料,采用PSYPRO露点水势仪对4树种在旱季与雨季的土水势、根水势、茎水势和叶水势日变化过程进行了测定,探讨了4树种在自然生境下的水势梯度变异及叶水势与气象因子的关系。结果表明,叶水势日变化均呈"单峰"型曲线,日均值表现为木荷>火力楠>红锥>藜蒴,旱季叶水势明显低于雨季;叶水势与大气温度(Ta)和光合有效辐射(PAR)呈极显著负相关(P<0.01),而与空气相对湿度(RH)和大气水势(Фa)呈极显著正相关(P<0.01),气象因子对东江流域主要造林树种叶水势直接作用由大到小结果如下:火力楠和藜蒴(Ta>RH>Фa>PAR),红锥(RH>Фa>Ta>PAR),木荷(Ta>Фa>RH>PAR)。     

坡度对紫花苜蓿和狗牙根光合生理特性的影响

通过模拟试验,测定不同坡度条件下紫花苜蓿和狗牙根光合和蒸腾速率变化,从而分析坡度对护坡植物光合生理特性的影响。结果表明:紫花苜蓿和狗牙根的净光合速率与蒸腾速率随着坡度的增大表现为"单峰"型,且都在坡度为15°左右达到最大值。随着坡度的增大,两种植物的光合生理都受到胁迫影响,但紫花苜蓿变化极显著,而狗牙根则表现为在坡度60°以下的变化很小。紫花苜蓿的固氮能力较强,能在30°以下坡面较好地生长;而狗牙根的强抗逆性,可以在高陡边坡绿化中担当重要角色。研究不仅为边坡修复的物种选择提供了科学参考,也为边坡生态修复提供了理论依据。     

典型自然带土壤氮磷化学计量空间分异特征及其驱动因素研究

植物生活型、地形及区域气候特征等对土壤养分的空间分布有着重要的影响。通过对我国典型自然带土壤氮磷化学计量与植物生活型、地形及气候因素间相互关系的研究,探讨了我国土壤氮磷的空间变异与分布特征及其主要控制因素。结果发现,5个自然带的土壤全氮(TN)和氮磷比(N/P)存在显著差异(p0.01);除温带荒漠带较低(0.47 mg g~(-1))外,土壤全磷(TP)均值总体变化不明显(p0.05)。在不同自然带区域内,TN、TP及N/P变化与海拔、温度及降水呈现出显著的线性和非线性二次相关,即表现出线性与单峰模式。暖温带落叶阔叶林带、温带草原带、温带荒漠带森林土壤中TN,以及青藏高原高寒植被带草本土壤中TP、温带荒漠带森林土壤的N/P主要受海拔因素的影响,而温带草原带草本植物的土壤TP则主要受降水的影响。同时,研究还发现,在多要素共同作用时,其影响程度也略有差异,温度和海拔作为控制因素影响亚热带常绿阔叶林带森林和温带草原带草本土壤TN变化,但前者受温度控制更为明显,后者则以海拔为主要驱动因素,而温带荒漠带草本土壤和森林土壤的TN主要受海拔和降水作用的影响,但以降水影响为主;亚热带常绿阔叶林带森林土壤TP,温带草原带、温带荒漠带和青藏高原高寒植被带草本土壤的N/P受植物生活型、地形及气候的共同影响,但程度略有不同,其中TP表现为降水温度海拔,而N/P为温度海拔降水。因此,在自然带和植物生活型的主控背景下,海拔、温度和降水的主控或交互作用直接驱动土壤氮磷及其化学计量特征的空间分异。