The River Wadu role play — ten years experience

This paper describes a role playing planning exercise that has been used for training agriculturists, engineers and agricultural economists for more than ten years. It sets out the objectives and key features of the exercise and the experience that has been gained in its use. The exercise has been found to successfully test and integrate subject matter expertise acquired from formal teaching. It also highlights the multiple and often conflicting objectives of irrigation planning, and the need for full evaluation of alternatives and sound technical judgements under conditions of inadequate data and time pressure. The exercise is also successful in developing professional personal skills such as group working, interviewing and presentation, and is recommended as an effective training aid.     

Modelling the long-term impacts of selective logging on genetic diversity and demographic structure of four tropical tree species in the Amazon forest

In the last three decades, Amazon tropical forests have experienced high rates of deforestation, both by clearing for agriculture and by logging. In this study, we use computer simulations to examine the potential effects of forest logging on genetic diversity and demographic recovery (basal area development) of four neotropical tree species over a time frame reflecting multiple logging events. The study species, Bagassa guianensis Aubl., Hymenaea courbaril L., Manilkara huberi (Ducke) Chevalier, and Symphonia globulifera L.f., are all taxa which are commonly exploited for timber in the Brazilian Amazon. The simulations were parameterized using empirical data from field studies in the Tapajós National Forest, Pará State, Brazil, including genotypes at microsatellite loci, demography, ecology and growth for each species. Eight scenarios, combining two different cutting cycles and two minimum cutting diameters, were examined for each of the four species. The scenarios represent the actual forest practices used in Brazil and French Guiana (cutting diameter 45 and 60 cm, and cutting cycle of 30 and 65 years, respectively). Logging scenarios were applied for six cutting cycles, and final genetic and demographic data were compared to baseline data from corresponding control scenarios. At the end of the simulated period the basal area was strongly reduced under all conditions in B. guianensis, H. courbaril, and M. huberi. In only two scenarios was a species able to recover its basal area following logging (S. globulifera with both 45- and 60-cm cutting diameters under a 65-year cutting cycle). In the logging scenarios, all species showed a loss of alleles and genotypes and an increased genetic distance (calculated between each population at the start and the end of the simulations). These effects were higher under the most intensive logging cycles (30 years, 45 cm). However, effective number of alleles, expected and observed heterozygosities, and the fixation index were little affected by the logging simulations. Over all, we conclude that, even under very optimistic conditions for growth and recruitment, current logging practices are not sustainable in terms of basal area. Our simulations show that different species respond differently to logging, both demographically and genetically. No single set of logging parameters can be applied to the forest as a whole. Rather, forest management practices must be species-specific, taking into account not only growth parameters but also ecological and reproductive variables, in order to move toward long-term forest sustainability.     

Predicting lumber grade and by-product yields for Scots pine trees

The purpose of this study was to develop models for estimating yields of lumber grades and by-products of individual Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees using stem and crown dimensions as explanatory variables. Two separate data sets were used: (1) one simulated by the process-based growth model, PipeQual, which provides information about stem form and branch properties. The model was used to predict the 3D structure of Scots pine stems from thinning regimes of varying intensity and rotation periods and (2) an empirical data set with detailed 3D measurements of stem structure. The stems were sawn using the WoodCim sawing simulator and the yields and grades of the individual sawn pieces, as well as by-products, were recorded. The sawn timber was classified on A, B, C and D-grades for side and centre boards separately (Nordic Timber grading). By-products were pulpwood, sawmill chips, sawdust and bark.     

小型无人直升机超低空飞行时下洗流场数值分析

为了研究小型植保无人直升机超低空飞行时下洗流场的特征,利用SolidWorks软件和Ansys Workbench软件建立全尺寸物理模型并抽取外流场,使用ICEM软件对模型进行网格划分,运用Fluent软件对小型无人机超低空飞行进行三维数值模拟研究.数值分析结果表明:小型无人直升机超低空飞行时下洗流场的主要运动形式为垂直向下运动,同时伴随有周向旋转运动和径向收缩运动;在旋翼0.8R(R为旋翼半径)位置下方,下洗流场速度最大;随着高度的降低,下洗流场速度逐渐减小,水平方向速度分布逐渐趋于平缓.获得的下洗流场数据为小型植保无人机的设计提供了参考依据.     

Urea-SCR催化器压力损失及其对柴油机性能的影响

在柴油机排气系统上安装SCR催化器会有效降低NOx排放,但同时也会造成较大的排气背压,对发动机的动力性和经济性带来负面影响。该文利用计算流体力学软件FIRE和发动机热力循环软件BOOST相耦合的方法,对SCR催化器的压力损失进行了计算,对带Urea-SCR催化器的柴油机动力性和经济性能进行了仿真分析。结果表明,催化器载体的沿程阻力损失是催化器压力损失的主要来源;柴油机排气系统上安装SCR催化器后,其动力性、经济性均有所下降,下降幅度在5%左右。研究结果对SCR催化器的设计和安装有一定指导意义。     

Performance of DSSAT-Nwheat across a wide range of current and future growing conditions

Crop models are widely used in agricultural impact studies. However, many studies have reported large uncertainties from single-model-based simulation analyses, suggesting the need for multi-model simulation capabilities. In this study, the APSIM-Nwheat model was integrated into the Decision Support System for Agro-technology (DSSAT), which already includes two wheat models, to create multi-model simulation capabilities for wheat cropping systems analysis. The new model in DSSAT (DSSAT-Nwheat) was evaluated using more than 1000 observations from field experiments of 65 treatments, which included a wide range of nitrogen fertilizer applications, water supply (irrigation and rainout shelter), planting dates, elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations, temperature variations, cultivars, and soil types in diverse climatic regions that represented the main wheat growing areas of the world.DSSAT-Nwheat reproduced the observed grain yields well with an overall root mean square deviation (RMSD) of 0.89 t/ha (13%). Nitrogen applications, water supply, and planting dates had large effects on observed biomass and grain yields, and the model reproduced these crop responses well. Crop total biomass and nitrogen uptake were reproduced well despite relatively poor simulations of observed leaf area measurements during the growing season. The low sensitivity of biomass simulations to poor simulations of leaf area index (LAI) were due to little changes in intercepted solar radiation at LAI >3 and water and nitrogen stress often limiting photosynthesis and growth rather than light interception at low LAI.The responses of DSSAT-Nwheat to temperature variations and elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations were close to observed responses. When compared with the two other DSSAT-wheat models (CERES and CROPSIM), these responses were similar, except for the responses to hot environments, due to different approaches in modeling heat stress effects.The comprehensive evaluation of the DSSAT-Nwheat model with field measurements, including a comparison with two other DSSAT-wheat models, created a multi-model simulation platform that allows the quantification of model uncertainties in wheat impact assessments.     

Phosphorus and iron erosion from non-vegetated sites in a post-mining landscape,Lusatia, Germany: Impact on aborning mining lakes

Particulate phosphorus (P) can be transported via soil erosion in overland flow to waters, where it provides a long-term source of P for aquatic biota, and can accelerate freshwater eutrophication. Hence, knowledge of P sources is important for good environmental management. However, data on P, and related Fe, losses from various structures of a post-mining landscape are lacking. A year-long monitoring, and ten short rainfall simulations on plot scale, at ridges and rills and a combination of them, revealed high erosion from bare lignite mining dumps at Schlabendorf-North, Lusatia, Germany. The mean annual soil erosion rate from the year-long monitoring site was 18 × 10⁶ kg km^− 2 yr^− 1, corresponding to 0.034 g m^− 2 min^− 1. The erosion rates were lowest at rill plots (1.9–4.4 g m^− 2 min^− 1), intermediate at ridge plots (14.3–37.1 g m^− 2 min^− 1), and highest at a combined rill and ridge plot (48.7–63.4 g m^− 2 min^− 1). These differences in extent were due to small scale differences in morphology and extreme water repellency. The hydrophobicity leads to very low infiltration, thus generating surface runoff even at low rainfall intensities. Loss rates of P and Fe, as deduced from the year-long erosion rate, were 470–650 kg km^− 2 yr^− 1, and 37.9 × 10³–71 × 10³ kg km^− 2 yr^− 1 respectively. However, these P inputs from lignite mining dump erosion, consisting of P-poor (17–90 μg g^− 1) tertiary spoil materials, into aborning mining lakes, are negligible since they are accompanied by high Fe inputs, which favour an efficient P co-precipitation in the water column.     

Soil degradation and soil surface process intensities on abandoned fields in Mediterranean mountain environments

The Pyrenean and Pre‐Pyrenean mountain areas have been intensively used at least since roman times, but nowadays depopulation has lead to widespread land abandonment without a steering land‐management. Vegetation recovery is weak in most abandoned fields. Soil formation and characteristics are conditioned by this fact, and for this, soils show past degradation processes and are mostly predominant factors for continuing land degradation or restoration. Three study areas were set up along a climatic gradient with increasing summer water deficit in the sub‐humid zone between the Central Pyrenees and Pre‐Pyrenees. Soil survey combined with experiments for the determination of infiltration, runoff and erosion were applied for understanding the degradation history and the future development of the soils. All areas are dominated by Entisols, but also Inceptisols and Alfisols are found, and even soils with hydromorphic features. The soils show signs of heavy erosion. The parental material determines the nutrient supply and the general chemical properties. All sites show a weak water storing capacity, as a result of the removal of fine material by erosion and due to the depletion of soil organic matter. In addition, infiltration capacity and runoff generation are high within the studied areas, averaging between 27 and 37 per cent. The driest area studied shows an ongoing trend to degradation, with high erosion rates combined with a high degradations status of the soil. The other areas are characterised by a patchy pattern of soil degradation and regradation processes. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺链构象转变以及溶剂化效应的分子动力学模拟

应用分子动力学方法模拟了聚合度为100的聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺分子链在真空和稀水溶液中的构象转变。可以观察到分子链在500K下逐渐发生蜷缩,末端距下降,与实验现象定性一致。此外,研究结果还表明,随着温度的升高,高分子链重复结构单元NiPA上(C)O和(N)H基团均发生明显的去溶剂化作用,且高分子链段间发生聚集。     

Wind-generated transport of fictitious passive larvae into shallow tidal estuaries

Four 14-day field experiments were conducted to determine the densities of postlarval white shrimp and blue crab megelopae moving into a tidal inlet along the south-eastern United States. Certain winds directions were statistically associated with peaks in abundance, a result which motivated us to use a high resolution finite-element numerical model to simulate passive larval transport under a variety of wind directions into the inlet. The passive particles were initially distributed uniformly in a zone of the continental shelf which extended 20 km offshore and 20 km alongshore in either direction. Each simulation was conducted for five tidal cycles (2.5 days) under constant wind stress. These simulations indicated that larvae are withdrawn from the continental shelf into the inlet from a narrow zone parallel to the shoreline but extending less that 5 km offshore. The withdrawal zone changed to one directly offshore of the inlet mouth only for a wind direction that pointed directly toward the inlet mouth. Under downwelling-favourable winds, particles originating in the surface accumulate along the downwind boundary and drift shoreward with time thus causing a 'pooling' of larvae along the coast. This scenario is repeated with less efficiency for upwelling-favourable winds with particles originating near bottom. The 'pooling' process occurs over the scale of the particle domain. A second and smaller scale is indicated by the relatively few particles which are withdrawn into the inlet as they pass inside the 7-m isobath (within 5 km of the coast). Those that do pass become available for inlets farther downstream.