Profile carbon and nutrient levels and management effect on soil quality indicators in the Mardi watershed of Nepal

Abstract

Soil organic carbon (SOC) and nutrient stocks in the soil profile (0–80 cm) in four dominant land uses [forest, upland maize and millet (Bari), irrigated rice (Khet), and grazed systems)] and 0–15 cm depth along elevation gradient 1000 to 3000 m, and aspects in the Mardi watershed were measured. Soil properties at 0–15 cm depth were also measured in undisturbed forest, forest with free grazed system, managed forest, and grassland to compare the soil quality index (SQI) of topsoils. The SOC and nutrient concentration decreased with increasing profile depth. The SOC and N contents in the 0–15 cm depth of forest soils were significantly greater than the corresponding depth in upland maize and millet, irrigated rice, and grazed systems. On the other hand, available P and K concentrations at the same depth were significantly greater in upland maize and millet compared to irrigated rice, grazed system, and forest land uses. The SOC and N stocks (0–15 cm) increased from agricultural land at the valley bottom at about 1000 m above mean sea level (a.s.l.) (24 and 3 Mg ha^?1) compared to undisturbed forest (74 and 5.9 Mg ha^?1) at 2600 m a.s.l, demonstrating the effects of cover and elevation. Both SOC and N stocks decreased sharply in grassland (54 and 4.5 Mg ha^?1) at elevations of 2600 to 2800 m a.s.l. compared with undisturbed forest. Above 2800 m a.s.l. the cover type changed from grass to coniferous forest, and the SOC and N stocks steadily increased at the summit level (3200 m a.s.l.) to 65 and 6.9 Mg ha^?1, respectively. Slope and aspect significantly affected SOC with the northwest aspect having significantly higher concentrations (46 g kg^?1) than other aspects. Similarly, SOC concentration at the lowest slope position (39 g kg^?1) was significantly higher than the middle or upper positions (25 and 13 g kg^?1). Integrated soil quality index (SQI) values varied from 0.17 to 0.69 for different land uses, being highest for undisturbed forest and lowest for irrigated rice. The SQI demonstrated the degradation status of land uses in the following ascending order: irrigated rice?>?grazed system?>?forest with free grazing?>?upland maize and millet?>?managed forest?>?grass land?>?undisturbed forest. The irrigated rice, grazed system, upland maize and millet, and freely grazed forestlands need immediate attention to minimize further deterioration of soil quality in these land uses.     

农村土地利用方式对嘉兴土壤氮磷含量及其垂直分布的影响

为了探讨农村不同土地利用方式对土壤氮磷含量的影响,采用现场采样及室内分析测试方法,对嘉兴市水稻田、菜地、果园、畜禽养殖、农村庭院5种土地利用方式下的土壤氮、磷及其垂直分布进行了比较研究,结果表明：（1）不同农村土地利用方式土壤中TN、TP、OlsenP含量均呈自上层向下层逐渐降低的趋势。（2）在不同土地利用方式下,0～40cm土层土壤TN含量差异显著,而40～80cm土层土壤TN含量差异不大。（3）在不同土地利用方式下,0～80tin各土层土壤TP、OlsenP含量的差异均显著。在0～80cm土壤剖面中,养殖场、庭院、果园、菜地土壤TP平均含量分别为水田土壤的4．0、2．1、1．9、1．8倍;土壤OlsenP平均含量分别为水田土壤的35．5、10．6、10．0、4．4倍。     

中国耕地资源的基本态势及其近年来数量变化研究

耕地资源作为农业最主要的生产资料和农民最直接的劳动对象,是构成粮食综合生产能力的最基本要素之一,实现中国粮食安全的基础和保证。在分析中国耕地资源的现状、1996年以来中国耕地数量减少的途径进行分析的基础上,指出造成中国耕地非农化无序流转的主要原因在于盲目的城市化、土地管理法制化建设滞后、利益驱动、执法和监管不力等方面。     

Microbial Oligosaccharides with Biomedical Applications

Microbial oligosaccharides have been regarded as one of the most appealing natural products attributable to their potent and selective bioactivities, such as antimicrobial activity, inhibition of α-glucosidases and lipase, interference of cellular recognition and signal transduction, and disruption of cell wall biosynthesis. Accordingly, a handful of bioactive oligosaccharides have been developed for the treatment of bacterial infections and type II diabetes mellitus. Given that naturally occurring oligosaccharides have increasingly gained recognition in recent years, a comprehensive review is needed. The current review highlights the chemical structures, biological activities and divergent biosynthetic origins of three subgroups of oligomers including the acarviosine-containing oligosaccharides, saccharomicins, and orthosomycins.     

Relationships between earthworm communities and burrow numbers under different land use systems

This study addresses the influence of three different land use systems (continuous maize, pasture/maize rotation, permanent pasture) on the relationships between earthworm populations and the number of earthworm burrows quantified in a soil profile. Quantified burrows were limited to those observable by the naked eye (i.e. >2 mm in diameter) and enumerated earthworms were limited to those which could have created the observable burrows (i.e. >0.3 g).The results were combined with data from the literature coming from different geographical regions. This study showed that earthworm abundance decreased with the increasing land management intensity (maize crop vs. pasture), while the number of burrows could be higher or similar under maize compared to pasture. Under maize, despite lower earthworm abundance and the annual destruction of the burrows by tillage, the number of burrows was almost as high as under pasture. This absence of a relationship between burrow numbers and earthworm abundance was observed in the soil profile and for each layer of the profile for each land use system. Furthermore, the burrow number/m⁻² per earthworm strongly varied depending on land use and was far higher under maize when compared to pasture (74 vs. 7). Therefore, a power-law type relationship was clearly established between burrow number/m⁻² per earthworm and earthworm abundance. This power type relationship was also observed when including data from the literature although it followed a different mathematical model. These results were explained by (i) increased earthworm burrowing activity (i.e. an increase in the number of burrows produced by each earthworm) under maize, and (ii) the dynamics of burrow number under pasture (i.e. decreased burrowing activity and burrow destruction process); both results of food accessibility combined with inter-individual competition. The results of the study suggest that farmers should not use the number of pores as an indicator of earthworm abundance, but as an indicator of earthworm activity, which could be integrated in an indicator of soil quality.     

金边龙舌兰的开花与栽培繁殖研究(英文)

金边龙舌兰是多年生草本植物。记述了其分类分布、形态特征、生活习性、开花结果、栽培繁殖及日常用途等知识,为金边龙舌兰的开发利用提供了借鉴。     

Agricultural water management and poverty linkages

Water is critically important to the livelihoods of more than 1 billion people living on less than $1 a day, particularly for the 850 million rural poor primarily engaged in agriculture. In many developing countries, water is a major factor constraining agricultural output, and income of the world's rural poor. Improved agricultural water management can contribute to poverty reduction through several pathways. First, access to reliable water improves production and productivity, enhances employment opportunities and stabilizes income and consumption. Secondly, it encourages the utilization of other yield-enhancing inputs and allows diversification into high-value products, enhances nonfarm outputs and employment, and fulfils multiple needs of households. Third, it may contribute either negatively or positively to nutritional status, health, societal equity and environment. The net impact of agricultural water management interventions on poverty may depend individually and/or synergistically on the working of these pathways. Improved access to water is essential, but not sufficient for sustained poverty reduction. Investments are needed in agricultural science and technology, policies and institutions, economic reform, addressing global agricultural trade inequities, etc. But how best to match the agricultural water management technologies, institutions and policies to the needs of the heterogeneous poor living in diverse agro-ecological settings remains unclear. This article provides a menu of promising pathways through which agricultural water management can contribute to sustained poverty reduction.     

不同经济发展阶段下我国的森林资源利用与保护

森林资源是经济发展过程中重要的投入要素,不同经济发展水平下的森林资源利用与保护具有明显的阶段性特征,反映了人类对森林资源的认识程度和发展林业的核心目标。依据经济发展阶段划分的相关理论,本文将我国的经济发展划分为4个阶段,研究了各发展阶段森林资源利用与保护的特点。分析认为:随着经济总量增加和经济增长方式的转变,森林利用的形式从单一趋向综合,对森林质量的要求不断提高,并决定着森林保护的形式和力度。     

Irrigation systems as multiple-use commons: Water use in Kirindi Oya, Sri Lanka

Irrigation systems are recognized as common pool resources supplying water for agricultural production, but their role in supplying water for other uses is often overlooked. The importance of non-agricultural uses of irrigation water in livelihood strategies has implications for irrigation management and water rights, especially as increasing scarcity challenges existing water allocation mechanisms. This paper examines the multiple uses of water in the Kirindi Oya irrigation system in Sri Lanka, who the users are, and implications for water rights and management policies. There are important residential, gender, and class differences among the water users. People use irrigation system water not only for field crops, but also for fishing, homestead gardens, and livestock. Even within irrigated farming households, men have more control over paddy crops in the main fields, whereas homestead gardens are women's domain. Because the irrigation system provides water for birds and animals, even wildlife and non-resident environmental groups can be considered stakeholders. Current policies emphasize user involvement in both irrigation and domestic water supply. While government agencies have had primary responsibility, institutions such as Farmers' Organizations are being promoted. These have the potential to serve as user platforms for negotiating water allocation among irrigated farmers. However, the user organizations reflect the sectoral responsibility of the government agencies. Their membership and structure do not take into account the multiple uses or users of water. Developing platforms that accommodate different user groups remains a major challenge for improving the overall productivity, as well as equity, of water use.