Soil protection for a sustainable future: options for a soil monitoring network for Ireland

The increased recognition of the importance of soil is reflected in the UN Post‐2015 Development Agenda with sustainable development goals that directly and indirectly relate to soil quality and protection. Despite a lack of legally binding legislation for soil protection, the European Commission remains committed to the objective of soil protection. However, the achievement of a legally binding framework for soil protection relies on the implementation of a soil monitoring network (SMN) that can detect changes to soil quality over time. As beneficiaries do not pay for the provision of soil information, the options for soil monitoring are limited. The use of existing data sets should be considered first. Using Ireland as an example, this research explored the opportunities for a SMN for Ireland considering three existing national data sets. The options for a SMN are considered in terms of their spatial and stratified distribution, the parameters to be measured and an economic analysis of the options proposed. This research finds that for Ireland, either a 10 or a 16 km² grid interval stratified by land use and drainage class offers the best potential in relation to the spatial distribution of existing data sets to reflect local data at a national level. With existing data, the stratified SIS data using the 16 km² grid offers the best value for money, with baseline costs for analysis, excluding field costs, of between €706 481 and €2.8 million. Acknowledging the impossibility of measuring all parameters with ideal frequency, this study proposes a two‐tier system for optimized monitoring frequency. Parameters must anticipate future policy requirements. Finally, the implementation of a SMN must be accompanied by standardized methods, defined thresholds and action mandates to maintain soil quality within allowable limits.     

Factors influencing decline in soil pH in Hawaiian Eucalyptus and Albizia plantations

Soil pH declined from 5.9 to 5.0 in 8 years beneath plantations of Eucalyptus saligna (Sm.) in Hawaii. In stands of Albizia falcataria, (L.) Fosberg, the soil pH change was more dramatic, declining from 5.9 to 4.6. We measured several components of soil acidity beneath four mixtures of the two tree species to gain insight on the processes responsible for the decline in soil pH. These components were studied using an empirical method of comparing acid quantity, degree of neutralization (depletion of base cations), and acid strength. The decline in soil pH differed between species as a result of differences in the degree of neutralization of the soil exchange complex; the larger decrease in soil pH under Albizia was produced by greater acidification of the exchange complex. Empirical titration curves suggested that differences in acid strength moderated the divergence in soil pH beneath the species. Had the acids accumulating in the soil under Albizia been as strong as those in the Eucalyptus soil, the difference in soil pH would have been greater. Though the two species had contrasting effects on soil pH, the differences in degree of neutralization, responsible for the pH decline, were small compared with differences in the amount of cations stored in tree biomass. Continued supply of nutrient cations (from weathering or fertilization) will ultimately control both the extent of soil pH decline and the level of productivity sustained by the forest.     

Effects of 'Agri-SC' soil conditioner on soil structure and erodibility: some further observations

Abstract. In field and laboratory experiments the conditioner‘Agri-SC’has shown improvements in the structure of loamy sand soils in east Shropshire, UK. It resulted in statistically significant decreases in soil bulk density values and increases in soil porosity and aggregate stability. Further experiments are in progress on both loamy sand and silt loam soils.     

海南半干旱地区芒果间作柱花草及作物效益初探

1998～2001年在海南东方干旱半干旱燥红土芒果与柱花草及作物间作示范区的实践表明，在芒果园间作扁豆、柱花草、番薯和花生可显著提高芒果挂果率，芒果收入比芒果单种分别增加97．79％、98．53％、54．41％和48．28％，果园综合收入比芒果单种分别增加108．55％、98．53％、97．98％和91．58％，同时，果园间作可显著提高果园土壤有机质、全氮、速效磷的含量和土壤pH值，间作扁豆使土壤有机质含量增加53．3％，间作柱花草使土壤全氮增加43．92％，速效磷增加78．16％，从而达到了以短养长、增加农民收入、提高土壤肥力和持续管理利用的目的。     

南、北盘江流域（贵州部分）土地退化类型及机理

在对珠江上游南、北盘江流域（贵州部分）调查的基础上，分析了该流域土地退化成因，原生生态系统的脆弱性只是导致土地退化的一个方面。而人为活动才是土地退化的主要因素。根据土地退化的成因、结果，将珠江上游南、北盘江流域（贵州部分）土地退化划分为：土壤侵蚀、石漠化、土地贫瘠、土壤污染、土壤破坏五种类型，并提出了退化土地的管理及恢复措施。     

不同条件下蒙古冰草种子产量及产量构成因子的分析

在西苏旗对蒙古冰草的种子产量及产量构成因子进行了分析得出结果为冰草的实际种子产量与潜在种子产量差别很大，蒙古冰草种子产量的主要限制因子为抽穗率和结实率。     

气象因子对棉花产量和品级影响的灰色关联分析

采用灰色关联分析法，研究了气候因子对棉花产量和纤维品级的影响。结果在明，气象因素的变化曲线与皮棉单产和纤维品级的变化曲线相似。气象因子与皮棉产量之间的灰色关联度平均为０．６４２２．与纤维品级之间的灰色关联度为０．５５５８．对湖南棉花皮棉单产和纤维品红影响最大的气候因子是降雨日和日照时数，影响最小的是日平均温度。     

我国物流行业上市公司资本结构影响因素实证研究

采用实证分析和规范分析相结合的方法来研究影响物流行业上市公司资本结构的内外因素，并提出相应的对策与建议，以期能为物流行业上市公司制定合理的资本结构提供实证数据和参考。     

有源负载恒温槽性能分析

本文阐述了有源负载恒温槽的工作原理，推导了描述其静态特性的缩减因数表达式，并对这种恒温槽的性能和应用作出了评价。     

拖拉机集材对迹地土壤条件及苗木生长影响的研究(Ⅱ)——拖拉机对集材道苗木生长影响的灰色动态分析

履带式拖拉机和轮式拖拉机由于其走行机构的不同,其集材道土壤压实也存在差异,特别衡量土壤压实的两个重要指标——土壤硬度和孔隙度——两种机型不一致。通过对调查测定数据进行计算处理以及用灰色系统理论进行动态分析,结果表明:与轮式拖拉机相比,履带式拖拉机对苗木生长是有利的。