Prognose der mechanischen Belastbarkeit und der auflastabhängigen Änderung des Lufthaushaltes in Ackerböden anhand von Bodenkarten

Prediction of soil strength of arable soils and stress dependent changes in ecological properties based on soil maps Based on a database of at present 160 mechanical soil profile datasets, the site and horizon dependent mechanical soil strength expressed as precompression stress can be predicted by multiple regression analysis and used for documentation in maps at different scales. Stress dependent changes in air permeability or air capacity can be derived for the virgin compression stress range as well as the effect of stress propagation in soils or stress attenuation capacity and depth dependent changes of ecological properties. Thus, areas with defined mechanical sensitivity as a function of depth can be derived and recommendations for site adjusted farming techniques can be given. In addition it allows the agricultural machine industry to develop site adjusted machines to support the ideas of good farming practice, defined by the soil protection law of Germany.     

Critical body residues (CBRs) for ecotoxicological soil quality assessment: copper in earthworms

The term ‘critical body residue’ (CBR) was defined as the lowest observed total body concentration of a contaminant in an organism, which is associated with the occurrence of adverse toxic effects in either individuals or populations of a defined age or stage of development. In this study, internal toxicity thresholds were determined for copper in the clitellated adult stage of earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus and Aporrectodea caliginosa). The objective was to assess the applicability of CBRs as a practical tool in soil quality assessment of contaminated sites and as a means of a sustainable protection of earthworm fauna. Laboratory studies showed that body concentrations of Cu were generally in agreement with the chemically available CaCl₂-extractable fraction in soil, but that there was also some evidence of internal pH-related homeostatic regulation. Toxicological correlates of body Cu concentrations with adverse effects on cocoon production (fecundity) suggested an approximate sublethal internal threshold of about 40 mg kg⁻¹, with mortality occurring at about 60 mg kg⁻¹. Adult L. rubellus sampled from areas with a wide range of metal pollution showed body Cu concentrations with a minimum of 8 mg kg⁻¹ and a maximum of 60 mg kg⁻¹. Beyond this apparent physiological tolerance range, environmental management directed at optimal earthworm population survival may not be sustainable in contaminated fields. Studies of L. rubellus colonizing a metal-contaminated experimental sludge-treated field showed that a reduced rate of colonization can already be associated with an average body Cu concentration of 25 mg kg⁻¹. However, in this particular field situation mixture effects of other metals that were also present in the soil and the occurrence of avoidance behaviour during colonization may have contributed to this low internal toxicity threshold. It is concluded that the CBR approach seems to be a feasible option for use as a tool in a bioavailability-based soil quality assessment, even for essential trace metals like copper, but that further insight may be needed to establish the uncertainty and reliability of the application in environmental quality assessment and decision making.     

Rehabilitation of a lignite mine‐disturbed area in the Indian desert

Extensive lignite mining in the Indian (Thar) Desert commenced within the past decade. Accompanying extraction of this valuable resource there have been visible, important environmental impacts. The resultant land degradation has prompted concern from both public and regulatory bodies. This research assesses the success of rehabilitation plans implemented to revegetate a lignite mine‐disturbed area, near the village of Giral in western Rajasthan State. Rehabilitation success was achieved within the environmental constraints of this northwest Indian hot‐desert ecosystem using a combination of: (1) backfilling (abandoned pits) with minespoil and of covering the backfilled‐surfaces with fresh topsoil to a thickness of about 0·30 m; (2) use of micro‐catchment rainwater harvesting (MCWH) technique; (3) soil profile modification approaches; (4) plant establishment methodologies; and (5) the selection of appropriate germplasm material (trees, shrubs and grasses). Preliminary results indicate that the resulting vegetative cover will be capable of self‐perpetuation under natural conditions while at the same time meeting the land‐use requirements of the local people. The minespoil is alkaline in nature and has high electrical conductance. The average content of organic carbon, N, P and K is lower than in the regional topsoil. However, the concentration of Ca, Mg, Na and total S in the minespoil is much higher than in the topsoil. Further, the spoil material has no biological activity. Enhanced plant growth was achieved in MCWH plots, compared to control plots, where minespoil moisture storage was improved by 18–43 per cent. The rehabilitation protocol used at the site appears to have been successful because, in addition to the planted species, desirable native invasive species have become established. This study developed methods for the rehabilitation of lignite mine‐disturbed areas and has also resulted in an understanding of rehabilitation processes in arid regions with an emphasis on the long‐term monitoring of rehabilitation success. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Watershed Health Characterization Using Reliability–Resilience–Vulnerability Conceptual Framework Based on Hydrological Responses

An attempt was made to employ the reliability (R_el)–resilience (R_es)–vulnerability (V_ul) conceptual framework to develop a typical indicator system for quantitative assessment of watershed health. The study aimed to conceptualize and customize the R_elR_esV_ul framework to watershed health assessment for the Shazand Watershed in Markazi Province, Iran, for the period of 1977–2014. To this end, four easily, reliable, available and accessible criteria viz. standardized precipitation index (SPI), low and high flow discharges (LFD and HFD), and suspended sediment concentration (SSC) were selected, and corresponding indices for reliability–resilience–vulnerability (R_elR_esV_ul) framework were accordingly conceptualized and calculated. The thresholds of 0.1, 0.16 m³ s⁻¹, 12.63 m³ s⁻¹ and 25 mg l⁻¹ day⁻¹ were thus selected for SPI, LFD, HFD and SSC, respectively. The results showed a decreasing trend in R_el and R_es, and an increasing trend in V_ul for SPI and LFD in the Shazand Watershed. The results further showed an increasing trend in R_el, and a decreasing trend in V_ul for HFD and SSC. A decreasing trend was ultimately recognized in watershed health index for all criteria except SSC. Additionally, the integrated hydrological watershed health index of 0.16 ± 0.11 obtained from the geometric mean of the R_elR_esV_ul framework indices also showed a decreasing trend for the Shazand Watershed health during the study period. The results of the present initiative study can be considered as a baseline by decision makers and managers to effectively adjust watershed management strategies to handle land degradation issues in the area. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modeling of Soil-Plant-Fertilizer Relationships for Optimizing Fertilizer Doses for Different Levels of Finger Millet Yield under Semi-Arid Alfisols

Experiments were conducted to test the superiority of treatment combinations of nitrogen (N; 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 kg ha^?1), phosphorus (0, 30, 60, 90 kg ha^?1) and potassium (0, 30, 60 kg ha^?1) for finger millet during 2005–2007. Application of 200-90-60 kg ha^?1 gave maximum yield of 1666, 1426 and 1640 kg ha^?1 in 3 years, respectively. The yield regression model through soil and fertilizer nutrients gave predictability of 0.98, 0.97 and 0.98, with sustainability yield index (SYI) of 50.4, 49.4 and 52.5 in 2005, 2006 and 2007, respectively. Optimum nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) doses for attaining yields of 800 and 1200 kg ha^?1 were derived at soil nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium of 75–400, 10–70 and 150–750 kg ha^?1. Fertilizer nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium ranged from 30–128, 3–19, 13–25 kg ha^?1 and 105–203, 4–32, 27–39 kg ha^?1 for attaining 800 and 1200 kg ha^?1 yield, respectively. The doses could be adopted for attaining sustainable yields under semiarid Alfisols.     

Productivity and Sustainability of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)–Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Cropping System as Influenced by Prilled Urea, Farmyard Manure and Azotobacter

Field experiments were conducted at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, during 2001–2002 and 2002–2003, to study the effect of inorganic, organic and Azotobacter combined sources of N on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and their residual effect on succeeding wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop. The results indicated considerable increase in yield attributes and mean seed cotton yield (2.33 Mg ha^?1) with the combined application of 30 kg N and farmyard manure (FYM) at 12 Mg ha^?1 along with Azotobacter (M₄). The treatment in cotton that included FYM, especially when fertilizer N was also applied could either improve or maintain the soil fertility status in terms of available N, P and K. Distinct increase in yield attributes and grain yield of wheat was observed with the residual effect of integrated application of 30 kg N ha^?1 + FYM at 12 Mg ha^?1 + Azotobacter. Direct application of 120 kg N ha^?1 resulted 67.4 and 17.7 % increase in mean grain yield of wheat over no N and 60 kg N ha^?1, respectively. Integrated application of organic and inorganic fertilizer is therefore, recommended for higher productivity and sustainability of the cotton–wheat system.     

浅谈榆林地区防沙治沙的策略

防沙治沙必须坚持可持续性、依法治沙、政府投资与群众的积极性相结合,创造出人与自然和谐发展的防沙治沙策略。     

Estimating Weathering Rates of Swedish Forest Soils in Different Scales,Using the PROFILE Model and Affiliated Databases

Abstract

Weathering rates of forest soils are important for estimating nutrient sustainability and critical loads of acidity. Such rates can be estimated with the PROFILE model using input data about soil properties, climate, and forest species. PROFILE has been extensively tested on field data in the past, and found to perform well under a wide range of conditions. A high resolution soil geochemistry database now available in Sweden implies new possibilities for regional assessments of weathering rates as well as assistance to local assessments. Regional weathering rates are required by decision makers as inputs in forest sustainability assessments and critical load calculations, whereas calculations on a local level can provide help for the forest owners to adjust their forestry to the nutrient availability of the soil in order to inhibit long-term nutrient deficiency. In this paper weathering calculations for different scales, using the PROFILE model, are demonstrated and discussed. The high resolution geochemical database of Sweden is a good basis for PROFILE weathering calculations in different scales. The required resolution of complementing input data depends on the requested accuracy in the output, which is closely connected to the aim of the calculations.     

The implications of controlling grazed sward height for the operation and productivity of upland sheep systems in the UK. 5. The effect of stocking rate and reduced levels of nitrogen fertilizer

The implications for UK upland sheep systems of reducing nitrogen fertilizer application to perennial ryegrass/white clover swards were studied over 3 years. Sward height (3·5–5·5 cm) was controlled for ewes with lambs until weaning using surplus pasture areas for silage; thereafter, ewes and weaned lambs were grazed on separate areas, and sward height was controlled by adjusting the size of the areas grazed and using surplus pasture areas for silage if necessary. Combinations from three stocking rates [10, 6 and 4 ewes ha⁻¹ on the total area (grazed and ensiled)] and four nitrogen fertilizer levels (150, 100, 50 and 0 kg ha⁻¹) provided six treatments that were replicated three times. Average white clover content was negatively correlated with level of nitrogen fertilizer. The proportion of white clover in the swards increased over the duration of the experiment. Control of sward height and the contribution from white clover resulted in similar levels of lamb liveweight gain on all treatments. All treatments provided adequate winter fodder as silage. It is concluded that the application of nitrogen fertilizer can be reduced or removed from upland sheep pastures without compromising individual animal performance provided that white clover content and sward height are maintained. Resting pastures from grazing by changing ensiled and grazed areas from year to year sustained white clover content over a 3-year period.     

21世纪中国农业可持续发展面临的严峻形势及对策取向

中国农业的可持续发展在21世纪面临着严峻的形势。本文从经济、生态和社会3个方面分析了对中国至关重要的“可持续的食物安全保障”问题。指出农民生产积极性的保持和不断有所提高至关重要;而通过提高资源利用率及实现可再生资源对农用资源的部分替代,以及打破农业的集约化与环境退化之间的连锁,则是可持续发展的关键。为此,须开展有中国特色的“多重绿色革命”。