Wintertime Patterns of Chlorophyll Fluorescence in Red Spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) Foliage

SUMMARY

For twenty years, Lesotho and South Africa have engaged in a co-operative program for the conservation and development of the shared Maloti-Drakensberg Mountains, also known as Ukhahlamba or “barrier of spears.” A history of conflict has left its mark on the landscape and the communities which live there. The area has been marginalized by inappropriate land settlement and agricultural practices and there has been ongoing illegal traffic in cattle and drugs. Impacts include the degradation of biodiversity, unsustainable land use practices and, most importantly, a lack of development and economic alternatives.

The area is internationally significant not only because of its unique biodiversity and cultural resources but also as the primary source of water for the southern African sub-region. A process of transboundary engagement between the two countries has intervened in the cycle of degradation, and seeks to build a vibrant transfrontier economy, which overcomes barriers and engenders cooperation and development. The future agenda encompasses key actions relating to biodiversity, community and economics, including institutional development, capacity-building processes and the legal means for creating and sustaining transboundary cooperation. This transboundary regional landscape strategy both informs and is informed by global best practice.     

Shifts in Cropping System and Its Effect on Human Nutrition: Case Study from India

SUMMARY

More than twenty cropping systems are practiced in India. Rice-wheat and rice-rice are the major cropping systems practiced in an estimated 120 districts and 50 districts of the country, respectively. The rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) of the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) region of South Asia (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan) is the creation of the agricultural green revolution. Higher production of rice and wheat was necessary to meet the calorie needs of an increasing population in this region; as a result, the percent of malnutrition amongst children and adults decreased during the green revolution era. However, in recent years, there has been a reduction in both the rate of malnutrition decline and of the partial and total factor productivity of the RWCS in India. One of the many reasons for the decreased rate of malnutrition decline is micronutrient deficiency. Malnutrition amongst children and adults is a silent emergency in South Asia, including India. This review compares the food consumption habits, nutritional status, and cropping system practiced for different states of India to provide reasons for shifting the rice-wheat cropping system through crop diversification. Diversification of the RWCS will increase the supply of legumes and vegetables, help to diversify the diets consumed, and increase micronutrient intake. This approach is important for a largely vegetarian population of India, and is therefore, considered to be one of several important Food Systems strategy to address the silent emergency of malnutrition in the region.     

Soil Salinity in South India: Problems and Solutions

SUMMARY

Soil salinity is assuming menacing proportions for production of agricultural and horticultural crops in South India. South India comprises of Andhra Pradesh (AP), Tamil Nadu (TN), Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, and Islands in Bay of Bengal (Andaman and Nicobar) and Arabian Sea (Lakshadweep). It comprises central uplands, Deccan plateau (Karnataka plateau and Telangana plateau of AP), Nilgiri hills of TN, South Sahiailri, Eastern hills (Eastern Ghats, TN, upland) and Coastal Plains. The rainfall ranges from 400 to 500 mm in AP, 450 to 1300 mm in Karnataka, 500 to 1215 mm in TN, 100 to 450 mm in Kerala. Climate is mainly semi-arid in nature. Red soils (Alfisols, Inceptisols, and Entisols) make up about 60–65% and are well drained, blacksoils (Vertisols and Inceptisols) comprise about 20–25% and the rest are coastal sands. Soil salinity problems are encountered in almost all the districts in Karnataka and AP. The area extends to about 0.176 million ha in AP, 0.2 million ha in Karnataka, 0.0427 million ha in TN and about 0.03 million ha in Kerala. Introduction of canal irrigation water and use of underground saline waters accelerated the appearance of salt affected soils. Soil salinity observed in South India ranges from hydrometphic saline soils in Kerala to highly saline (EC 20–30 dS m^?1) in Karnataka and AP. Saline soils were classified in to Natrargids or Solarthrids at subgroup level depending on the occurance of nitric or salic horizon within few centimetres of the surface. Soil salinity has reduced crop yields upto 50% and consequently cropping has been abandoned in many areas. Excess soluble salts can be removed through scrapping the surface salt crust or flushing and leaching or through subsurface drainage depending on the problem. Crops also vary in their ability to tolerate salinity at different stages of growth. In most crops subjected to irrigations with saline waters, germination and early seedling stages are generally the most sensitive and their tolerance increases with age. Salt tolerant varieties and nutrient management of crops in saline soils are important solutions for crop production under saline soils.     

苏南现代化建设下的土地综合利用调控目标与路径

系统分析了苏南现代化建设进程中的土地利用问题、特点及面临的形势,提出了苏南土地综合利用现代化目标,以及通过城市用地控制与调整、万顷良田建设工程布局与建设、开发区再开发等土地综合利用调控路径,为苏南现代化示范区建设规划实施以及苏南率先基本实现现代化提供有序、高效、宜居的用地支撑。     

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。     

基于能值分析的华南双季稻种植模式可持续性评价

【目的】华南双季稻区是我国重要的水稻主产区之一,从生态经济角度判断华南地区当前双季稻 种植模式的可持续性,对于我国农业健康稳定发展具有重要意义。【方法】以广东省典型双季稻种植系统为研 究对象,采用能值分析方法对其可持续发展能力进行定量化评价。【结果】华南双季稻区农业系统中环境资源 的投入占总能值投入 44.16%,其中不可辅助能占总能值的 52.40%,净能值产出率（EYR）为 1.78,环境负荷率（ELR） 为 1.06,可持续发展指标（ESI）为 4.07。【结论】能值评价指标体系综合表明,当前华南双季种植模式环境压 力较小,可持续性发展潜力较大,但其净能值产出率较低,原因在于过分依赖自然环境资源和人力劳动资源。 若能对华南双季稻系统进行标准化管理,适当增加农用机械的投入,并投入有机肥的使用,将能在一定程度上 提高该地区水稻种植模式的可持续发展能力。     

环境教育视角下的南粤古驿道保护和活化策略研究

南粤古驿道历史悠久,其丰富的自然资源和人文资源创造了得天独厚的环境教育条件。以西京古道为例,通过现场勘查和文献阅读,以历史文化、生态环境、科学研究和环境道德教育资源4个角度阐述古驿道承载的环境教育优势,并提出以挖掘古道历史、引入生态旅游、完善基础设施为途径,实现古驿道环境教育和以环境教育为导向的古驿道保护与活化,以期为南粤古驿道的保护和发展提供新的路径和思考方向。     

Relationship between soil erosion and distance to roadways in undeveloped areas of China

The presence and condition of roadways control the utilization of natural resources, which are associated with direct and indirect impacts on soil erosion in undeveloped countries. This paper addresses the relationship between soil erosion and distance to roadways in Xingguo County, an undeveloped area in Jiangxi Province of South China, for four time periods, 1958, 1975, 1982, and 2000. Soil erosion maps for each time period were interpreted using remote sensing and GIS technology for buffer zones four kilometers wide, subdivided into eight strips, each 0.5 kilometers wide, which were located alongside various types of road classes, namely trunk, town, village, and unpaved. The distribution patterns of various types of erosion were identified by GIS overlay of buffer strips and soil erosion maps. Results demonstrate that soil erosion cases found in buffer zones along both sides of trunk and town roads are the most severe, and areas with severe erosion decrease as distance from the strip to the road increases. However, moderate and slight erosion cases only have a minor relationship to the strip to road distance. There are more severe erosion cases than moderate and light erosion cases alongside village and unpaved roads, but the total area is not distinctly different from moderate and slight erosion cases, and severe erosion cases tend to decrease with an increase in the strip to road distance. Also, areas with severe erosion differentiated by time periods in the strips alongside roadways of all classes, except trunk roads, rank from highest to lowest as follows: 1975, 1958, 1982, and 2000. Notably, severe erosion areas in 1975, 1958 and 1982 are all quite extensive. Soil erosion alongside roadways of various classes is impacted jointly by historical policy, distance to roadways, and landscape. In undeveloped countries and areas, much more attention should be paid to the impacts of road construction, specifically soil erosion associated with road edge construction, and relevant measures for forest resource conservation should be formulated before initiating road construction projects.     

韩国稻作技术创新与转型

随着社会经济的发展及农业劳动力的转移,韩国水稻种植方式发生了转型。从上世纪70年代末期开始,韩国水稻机插秧比例快速上升,手插秧比例下降,到90年代基本实现了水稻种植的机械化;省工节本的直播稻产量受不确定因素影响较大,且稻米品质不如机插秧和手插秧,其种植面积出现了波动,现只占韩国水稻种植面积的4%左右。本文介绍了韩国水稻机插秧、湿润直播和旱直播技术的作业流程。