Plant species diversity of homegardens of Cuba and its significance for household food supply

The cultivation of different plants in homegardens for self-sufficiency has a long tradition in Cuba, but knowledge about homegardens in Cuba is small. To analyse this more deeply, cultivated plants of 31 homegardens were surveyed in three villages in eastern Cuba in 2001. Two of the study villages were located in a humid area with an annual precipitation of about 2200 mm. The third village was situated in a semiarid area with about 450 mm precipitation. The plants studied in the homegardens included those for human consumption such as fruits, vegetables, tubers and cereals as well as spices and medicinal plants. In total, 101 different plant species were found with an average number of 18 to 24 species per homegarden for the three villages. A broad range of species was found in all villages, because irrigation is used under semiarid conditions, which lead to a relative high similarity in species composition between the villages. But, also differences due to the climatic situation became evident, particularly with the medicinal plants. In general, homegarden production provided a broad and diverse basis for self-sufficiency of the households. Although homegarden production showed to be only a small source of income, it is particularly important because of low-paid outside work and minimal food provision of the state.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Ⅰ-72杨人工林的投入产出及经济成熟龄

本文讨论了山东省沂南县沂河林场不同密度Ⅰ-72杨人工林的投入产出及经济成熟龄。投入分为一次性投入和每年投入。一次性的总投入量为2 33 1.00元/ha,其中整地占84％;平均年投入为253.21元/ha·a,其中追肥占74％。文中还计算了长期占用资金的复利。对各密度的年投入量、年生长量、年产值、年均净产值及其年动态进行了研究,同时做了林木的年均生长量和年均净产值数学模拟。杨树人工林在造林后第三年才能获得利润。数量成熟龄为6～10年,年均最高生长量可达25.252 1 m~3/ha·a。经济成熟龄为6～7年,年均最高净产值可达6 110.52元/ha·a。杨树人工林的数量成熟龄与经济成熟龄主要受密度及投入成本的影响。     

Agroforestry in the interior highlands

The USDA Agricultural Research Service, headquartered at the South Central Family Farm Research Center, Booneville, Arkansas, recently initiated an agroforestry research program for the interior highlands and the southeastern United States. The purpose of the agroforestry program is to develop a research and technology transfer program in agroforestry that will provide additional alternative income opportunities for family farms of this region. The objectives of the program are: 1) to develop new information on the establishment, maintenance, and utilization of conifer and hardwood tree stands in open pastures, 2) to develop new knowledge in multiple-use management and their environmental impacts, and 3) to facilitate multidisciplinary networks and partnerships of farmers, technical specialists, scientists, and managers for accomplishing agroforestry research and technology transfer.     

Impact of agroforestry intervention on farm income under the subsistence farming system of the middle hills, Nepal

Practices that minimize the rate of soil degradation, increase crop yields and raise farm income are key to sustaining agricultural productivity in the hills of Nepal. The use of farmland is undergoing rapid changes in response to increasing population pressure, deforestation and subsistence needs. Against this background, this study examined the impact of an agroforestry intervention project on farm income based on a sample of subsistence farm households in Dhadhing district. The project was implemented by Nepal Agroforestry Foundation in 1993/94 to increase fodder production through the promotion of agroforestry. A total of 223 households (82 with project and 141 without project) were interviewed during May–October 1998 to collect information on production and agroforestrys' impact on farm income. The benefit-cost analysis showed that the agricultural system including agroforestry was more profitable than the conventional one. The results also showed that the introduction of mulberry trees for sericulture could further enhance the profitability of an agroforestry-based system. Thus, agroforestry has great potential for enhancing food production and farmers' economic conditions in a sustainable manner through its positive contributions to household income.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

户用分布式光伏对农户收入的影响——以中部地区Y县为例

户用分布式光伏对农户收入影响具有长期性,如何发挥分布式光伏在乡村振兴战略中的作用需进一步探索。本文以户用分布式光伏为例,利用中部地区Y县2014—2019年农户追踪数据,运用双重差分法,分析户用分布式光伏对农户收入的影响,探讨户用分布式光伏对农户收入影响的作用机制。结果表明,2014—2019年农户收入大幅度提升,其中建光伏农户的人均收入增长幅度大于未建光伏农户,户用分布式光伏使农户人均收入提高25.4%,其中经营性收入、财产性收入分别提高74.4%和444.5%,而工资性收入降低45.3%。户用分布式光伏是通过减少非农劳动时间和缩短非农就业空间距离降低农户工资性收入,增加经营性收入,从而影响人均收入。进一步分析发现,户用分布式光伏对非中心村农户的工资性收入和经营性收入影响大于中心村农户,劳动力能力越强的农户经营性收入上升幅度越大,工资性收入下降幅度越小。因此,建议统一维护光伏设施,促进劳动力要素有效配置;并依据劳动能力差异分层分配股份,降低劳动能力强的农户对政府补贴的依赖;另外,创新光伏产业发展模式,拓宽光伏产业增收渠道。     

Co-application of compost or inorganic NPK fertilizer with biochar influences soil quality,grain yield and net income of rice

Most agricultural soils in sub-Saharan Africa are degraded, compromising the grain yield of rice and farmers return on investment. A 3-year field study was undertaken to explore the effect of the application of compost or inorganic NPK fertilizer applied alone or in combination with biochar on soil quality, grain yield of rice and net income. The five treatments were laid out using a randomized complete block design with four replications. The treatments were applied to supply approximately 75 kg N ha^–1. The best fertilizer input was compost+biochar which resulted in the greatest improvement in soil physico-chemical properties by reducing bulk density and increasing porosity and moisture retention, organic matter content, percent nitrogen, available phosphorus and cation exchange capacity. Apart from treatment with inorganic fertilizer alone, treated soils showed a decrease in pH. Bacterial and fungal counts and basal respiration decreased in soils in the following order: compost+biochar>compost only>inorganic NPK fertilizer+biochar>inorganic NPK fertilizer>control. The increase in pooled grain yield and net income in response to treatment followed the order: compost+biochar>NPK+biochar>NPK>compost>control. The findings suggest that the use of compost or NPK alone might improve soil quality and increase grain yield and net income, but it is greatly recommended to co-apply these fertilisers with biochar.     

The use of antibiotics on small dairy farms in rural Peru

Very little is known about the use of antibiotics on small dairy farms in lower/middle-income countries. The use of these drugs can have profound impacts on animal health, farmer income and public health. A survey of 156 farmers was conducted in Cajamarca, a major dairy-producing center in the highlands of Peru characterized by small farms (<15 cows) to assess patterns and determinants of antibiotic use and farmers’ knowledge of antibiotics. The reported incidence of disease on these farms was relatively low (0.571 episodes of disease per cow-year), but more than 83% of the reported episodes were treated with antibiotics. The most commonly used antibiotics were oxytetracycline, penicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole drugs; antiparasitic drugs were also used to treat what were likely bacterial infections. An increased incidence of treated disease was significantly associated with smaller farm size, lower farmer income, the previous use of the Californian Mastitis test on the farm and antibiotic knowledge. Farmers’ knowledge of antibiotics was assessed with a series of questions on antibiotics, resulting in a “knowledge score”. Increased knowledge was significantly associated with the use of antibiotics for preventative reasons, the purchase of antibiotics from feed-stores, the experience of complications in animals after having administered antibiotics, the number of workers on the farm and the educational level of the farmer. Overall, antibiotics appeared to be used infrequently, most likely because therapeutic interventions were sought only when the animal had reached an advanced stage of clinical disease. Few farmers were able to define an antibiotic, but many farmers understood that the use of antibiotics carried inherent risks to their animals and potentially to the consumers of dairy products from treated animals. The results of this study are useful for understanding the patterns of antibiotic use and associated management, demographic and knowledge factors of farmers on small dairy farms in rural Peru.     

Non-timber forest products and household incomes in Bonga forest area,southwestern Ethiopia

We identified the major non-timber forest products （NTFPs）, their contributions to household incomes, and the determinants influenc-ing engagement of households in using NTFPs in the Bonga forest area of Gimbo and Decha Districts of Kaffa Zone, southwest Ethiopia. Six Kebeles （the lowest administrative unit in Ethiopia） were sampled from two Districts and 150 households were randomly sampled using propor-tional-to-size techniques based on the number of farm households in each Kebele. Secondary data were collected from and focus group discussions were conducted with selected individuals. The farmers diversified liveli-hood activities such as crop and livestock production, collection of NTFPs and off-farm activities. NTFPs played a significant role in household incomes. The contribution from the major NTFPs （forest coffee, honey and spices） accounted for 47% of annual household in-come. The role of NTFPs was influenced by a number of factors. Vari-ables including being native to the area （＋）, total land holding （＋）, pos-session of livestock （＋） and access to extension （＋） significantly affected forest coffee production. Age of household head （-）, land holding （＋） and distance of the market from the residence （-） significantly affected honey production. Size of landholding （＋）, distance to market （-） and distance of the forest from the residence （-） were significant variables determining the NTFP incomes derived by the households. Attention is needed in the design of policies and strategies for the well-being of households to the contribution of NTFPs to local incomes and the variables that affect the collection of NTFPs must be considered.     

基于支持向量回归与地统计学的农民收入预测

农民收入既受其自身动态时序特性的影响,又与国家政策、农产品产量、天气等多种人为因素和自然因素关系密切,是一种典型的多维时间序列数据.该研究以国民总收入、乡村人口等11个可能与农民收入相关的影响因子为自变量,农村居民家庭平均每人纯收入为因变量,基于1982～2011年我国相关统计数据,采用支持向量回归与地统计学非线性时间序列预测模型对农民收入进行分析.结果表明：非线性时间序列预测模型大幅度提高了农民收入预测精度;农民的主要收入来源已不是粮食生产,而是向其他农业生产、进城务工等方面转移.     

不同栽培方式对大豆产量及构成因子的影响

为了提高大豆产量,试验设置2种配套栽培模式处理,研究45cm窄行密植栽培模式和65cm垄作栽培模式对大豆产量及其构成因子的影响,并对经济效益进行分析。结果表明:垄作栽培下,黑河36的株荚数、株粒数、荚粒数均高于窄行密植栽培模式下的合农60。合农60窄行密植栽培模式产量为3 615kg·hm-2,黑河36垄作栽培模式产量为2 865kg·hm-2,2种栽培模式下产量差异达到极显著水平。窄行密植栽培模式较垄作栽培模式增产750kg·hm-2,增产率达到26.18%,增收效益为3 000元·hm-2。