From Experience-Oriented to Quantity-Based: A Method for Landscape Plant Selection and Configuration in Urban Built-Up Areas

Sunshine is the key ecological factor for the growth, development, and reproduction of all green plants. Experience-oriented methods are the main approach in the stage of plant selection and configuration for landscape planning and design. However, our survey showed that this approach is unreliable in complex built-up environments. The objective of this research was to find a sound strategy for the selection and configuration of landscape plants, thereby ensuring their healthy growth and development. In this research, we adopted a geographic information system (GIS) as the technological platform, combined with a sunshine simulation and evaluation model, and a landscape plant database. The system can automatically retrieve and match landscape plants for different levels of solar radiation at specific geographic sites. This quantity-based assessment of the solar environment can overcome the drawbacks of the experience-oriented approaches, and can be used for landscape plant selection in the early stages of landscape planning and design, and also for their conservation and replacement.     

Soil organic carbon status and sustainability of slash-and-burn cultivation in India

ABSTRACT

The study was carried out (a) to identify the changes in the soil organic carbon (SOC) content during the different phases of slash-and-burn cultivation—i.e., before slash-and-burn (Phase 1), after slash-and-burn (Phase 2), and after harvest (Phase 3); and (b) to determine the status of soil organic carbon content in the primary undisturbed forest (Site 1) and in the secondary forests, where slash-and-burn cultivation was taken up ~25 yr (Site 2), 15 yr (Site 3), and 5 yr back (Site 4). The undisturbed forest holds the largest amount of SOC % (5.25) followed by 25 yr (3.07), 5 yr (2.86), and 15 yr (2.27) fallow. The mean percentages of SOC in the 0- to 15-cm layer fell from 3.07 in Phase 1 to 2.53 and 2.37, respectively, in Phases 2 and 3; in the subsurface 15- to 30-cm layer, they fell from 1.95 to 1.62 and 1.63, respectively. Although, the SOC in Phase 3 still seems sufficient to support another round of cultivation, further studies are needed to examine crop yields in successive cultivation cycles, suitability of other rice varieties, and weed and pest types and rates of invasion. Tribal population dynamics is another major concern, which needs assessment for monitoring future land requirements.     

国外城市农业景观(Urban Agriculture Landscape)案例评析

从城市农业概念界定、国外城市农业景观实践与案例启示三个部分,对国外城市农业景观的指导原则、发展策略、设计方法进行解读,以期在社会学意义、生态学功能等层面上为中国高速城市化进程中开放空间的规划与绿色基础设施建设提供深度参照。文章认为景观正成为对城市空间碎片进行生态整合的主要媒介之一,城市农业在城市生态与城市形态、食品安全与食物供给、自然教育与工作机会等诸多方面有着巨大潜力,可以作为构建现代可持续发展城市的路径之一。     

Traditional homegardens of Kerala: a sustainable human ecosystem

An analogue approach to analysing the traditional homegardens of Keralavis-à-vis natural climax ecosystems is adopted. The traditional homegarden is apparently a climax ecosystem, where ecological succession is consciously manipulated by human beings. High intensity of vertical and horizontal space use, the highly dynamic chronological structure and the capacity to perform essential ecological processes make this ecosystem relatively sustainable. Homegardens in Kerala effectively serve as human ecosystems with their low input demand, staggered supply of outputs, and enhancement of habitat quality. However, recent trends in agrarian structure and the high market orientation exert pressures on the homegarden, and its sustainability as a human ecosystem is in question.This joint paper is based on part of the research conducted by Darley Jose for the degree of M.Sc. (Natural Resource Management) at the Agricultural University of Norway under the guidance of N. Shanmugaratnam.     

山区效益农(林)业发展研究

通过论述效益农（林）业特征和作用的基础上，围绕浙江山区效益农（林）业的三种主要类型（龙头企业带动型，特色品牌型，生态观光型）进行剖析。同时在分析浙江山区效益农（林）业存在的问题的基础上，提出了发展效益农（林）业的目标和对策。     

浅析陇川农业污染源与农村环境保护

报道云南陇川县第一次农业污染源普查结果,提出了农业环境保护的对策和建议,为制定社会经济发展和环境保护政策、规划提供了依据。     

娄底市休闲农业产业升级的途径与建议

指出了当今社会发展迅速,生活节奏加快,给都市人群带来了身体和精神上的双重压力,对于田园生活的渴求日益迫切。在这种情况下,休闲农业这个巨大的商机涌现了,这个新型产业不但有广大的市场支撑,而且也不缺相关的政策支持。但只有不断进行产业升级,完善产业升级的动力机制,制定合理完整的政策保障,才能取得长足发展。为此,提出了娄底市休闲农业产业升级的途径与建议,以供参考。     

The role of agroforestry in the farming systems in Rwanda with special reference to the Bugesera-Gisaka-Migongo (BGM) region

The Rwandan farmers, faced with a perpetual land shortage, have evolved certain intensive systems of organic agriculture. These systems, particularly the homestead (compound) farming, involve the combination of food, fodder and tree crops. to a certain extent these systems can satisfy the multiple needs of the subsistence farmers living under several risks and constraints. However, they cannot cope with the expanding food demand of the rapidly increasing population. Some multipurpose, low-input technologies and agroforestry approaches have been designed to improve the productivity of these traditional systems; these include inter/mixed cropping systems and rotations, alley cropping with leguminous trees and shrubs, use of planted fallow, planting tree legumes on anti-erosive lines, mixed farming,community forestry and woodlots, and tree planting on farm/field boundaries. The essential aspects of these technologies are briefly discussed.ISAR-IITA FSR PROJECT, B.P. 629, Kigali RwandaISAR-Swiss Intercooperation, c/o Forestry Department, B.P. 617, Butare, Rwanda     

基于深度学习的小浆果一体化智能采摘与分选研究进展

小浆果因具有较高的营养价值和保健作用深受人们喜爱,被国际市场誉为第3代水果。随着市场需求量的增加,林业小浆果的智能采摘与分选成为一种新的趋势。目前,由于现有技术自动化和智能化程度不高,导致大量人力、物力的投入。深度学习方法的飞速发展促进了检测技术的精确作业和检测精度的提高。文中概述了深度学习的发展进程,通过总结国内外关于深度学习方法在小浆果采摘与分选中的应用,提出深度学习方法在实际应用过程中存在的问题及解决措施,并展望深度学习方法在小浆果智能采摘与分选检测方面的发展趋势。     

Agroforestry systems with Ilex paraguariensis (American holly or yerba mate) and native timber trees on small farms in Misiones, Argentina

In Misiones, in the northeast of Argentina, agroforestry systems of timber trees and perennial cash crops are becoming increasingly common. We evaluated the productivity of Ilex paraguariensis St Hill (South American holly or yerba mate, Aquifoliaceae) in association with indigenous trees: Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vellozo) Morong. (timbó, Leguminosae, a N₂-fixing tree), and two timber species, Balfourodendron riedelianum (Engler) Engler (guatambú, Rutaceae) and Tabebuia heptaphylla (Vellozo) Toledo (lapacho negro, Bignoniaceae). Five years after planting, the tree species were 2.7 to 5.0 m high and 3 to 7 cm in diameter at breast height, and the yerba mate produced its first harvest. Additionally, the production of associated crops of subsistence covered the annual needs of the farmer. These systems are promising for sustainable use of deforested lands in the region.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.