Cover crop evapotranspiration under semi-arid conditions using FAO dual crop coefficient method with water stress compensation

Cover cropping is a common agro-environmental tool for soil and groundwater protection. In water limited environments, knowledge about additional water extraction by cover crop plants compared to a bare soil is required for a sustainable management strategy. Estimates obtained by the FAO dual crop coefficient method, compared to water balance-based data of actual evapotranspiration, were used to assess the risk of soil water depletion by four cover crop species (phacelia, hairy vetch, rye, mustard) compared to a fallow control. A water stress compensation function was developed for this model to account for additional water uptake from deeper soil layers under dry conditions. The average deviation of modelled cumulative evapotranspiration from the measured values was 1.4% under wet conditions in 2004 and 6.7% under dry conditions in 2005. Water stress compensation was suggested for rye and mustard, improving substantially the model estimates. Dry conditions during full cover crop growth resulted in water losses exceeding fallow by a maximum of +15.8% for rye, while no substantially higher water losses to the atmosphere were found in case of evenly distributed rainfall during the plant vegetation period with evaporation and transpiration concentrated in the upper soil layer. Generally the potential of cover crop induced water storage depletion was limited due to the low evaporative demand when plants achieved maximum growth. These results in a transpiration efficiency being highest for phacelia (5.1 g m⁻² mm⁻¹) and vetch (5.4 g m⁻² mm⁻¹) and substantially lower for rye (2.9 g m⁻² mm⁻¹) and mustard (2.8 g m⁻² mm⁻¹). Taking into account total evapotranspiration losses, mustard performed substantially better. The integration of stress compensation into the FAO crop coefficient approach provided reliable estimates of water losses under dry conditions. Cover crop species reducing the high evaporation potential from a bare soil surface in late summer by a fast canopy coverage during early development stages were considered most suitable in a sustainable cover crop management for water limited environments.     

Considering sink strength to model crop production under elevated atmospheric CO2

Climatic changes and elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations will affect crop growth and production in the near future. Rising CO₂ concentration is a novel environmental aspect that should be considered when projections for future agricultural productivity are made. In addition to a reducing effect on stomatal conductance and crop transpiration, elevated CO₂ concentration can stimulate crop production. The magnitude of this stimulatory effect (‘CO₂ fertilization’) is subject of discussion. In this study, different calculation procedures of the generic crop model AquaCrop based on a foregoing theoretical framework and a meta-analysis of field responses, respectively, were evaluated against experimental data of free air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) environments. A flexible response of the water productivity parameter of the model to CO₂ concentration was introduced as the best option to consider crop sink strength and responsiveness to CO₂. By varying the response factor, differences in crop sink capacity and trends in breeding and management, which alter crop responsiveness, can be addressed. Projections of maize (Zea mays L.) and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production reflecting the differences in responsiveness were simulated for future time horizons when elevated CO₂ concentrations and climatic changes are expected. Variation in future yield potential associated with sink strength could be as high as 27% of the total production. Thus, taking into account crop sink strength and variation in responsiveness is equally relevant to considering climatic changes and elevated CO₂ concentration when assessing future crop production. Indicative values representing the crop responsiveness to elevated CO₂ concentration were proposed for all crops currently available in the database of AquaCrop as a first step in reducing part of the uncertainty involved in modeling future agricultural production.     

参考作物腾发量计算方法的适用性研究

选用5种方法,利用陕西6站的气象资料,计算了各站逐日ET0。并以FAO56 Penman-Monteith(P-M)法为标准,对其它方法进行评价。结果表明,在陕西6地区,5种方法计算的ET0变化趋势基本相同,但数值上有一定差异,所有的差异随ET0的增大而增大。Hargreaves法计算结果差异性较小,适用性较好;1948Penman和Priestley-Taylor二方法估值较FAO24 Penman法更接近P-M法的计算结果;缺气象资料时,Priestley-Taylor法可获得较好估值,且更适用于湿润地区;FAO24 Penman法也能获得较好结果,但其估值精度低于Priestley-Taylor法,一般不宜采用。同时分析了P-M法计算的ET0值和水面蒸发量之间的关系,为利用水面蒸发资料估算陕西6地区ET0值提供参考。     

FAO可持续土地资源管理综合规划指南及启示

土地资源可持续利用是基于可持续发展的核心内容——资源的可持续利用而形成的，指对人类生存所依赖的物质资源，在追求经济效益最大的同时，维持和改善土地资源的生产条件和环境基础。在当前社会主义市场经济体制下,可持续土地资源管理的任务主要依靠政府严格的土地利用规划事先调节和控制，引导、限制或鼓励人们的土地利用行为，保证土地资源的合理配置和可持续利用。该文试图在分析FAO的土地规划的概念、内容、体系、成功的关键因素、及编制的步骤和方法基础上，展开探讨并对完善我国土地利用规划提出了借鉴意义。     

Exotic species,fisheries and conservation of freshwater biodiversity in tropical Asia: the case of the Sepik River,Papua New Guinea

1. Development of effective conservation strategies for freshwater biodiversity must take account of the trade‐off between species preservation and human use of ecosystem goods and services. The latter cannot be prevented, and attempts to manage ecosystems that focus solely on maximizing biodiversity will fail. 2. A compromise position of management for ecosystem functioning and human livelihoods — rather than preservation of every species — will provide a better basis for biodiversity conservation. This has implications for the management of exotic species. 3. There are some situations, in lentic habitats in Sri Lanka, for example, where the establishment of exotics has increased fishery yields without apparent detriment to native biodiversity. The Sepik River in Papua New Guinea provides another illustration of potential compromises between human livelihoods and biodiversity conservation. 4. The Sepik supports a relatively unproductive fishery. Two fish stocking projects (in 1987–93 and 1993–97), representing a partnership between the Papua New Guinea Government and the United Nations (UNDP/FAO), led to the introduction of a suite of exotic fish into the Sepik. Species were selected on the basis of their potential to occupy niches not filled by native fish. Unfortunately, the outcomes of these introductions are poorly documented, although there is preliminary evidence both of increased human use of exotic fish as well as declines of some native species associated with the spread of exotics. 5. Better understanding of the results of the Sepik fish introductions is important, because the pressures of burgeoning human populations in most of tropical Asia make it impossible to preserve near‐pristine environments such as the Sepik. While attempts to conserve natural or near‐natural systems must remain a priority, there is a need to develop strategies for the management of damaged or degraded ecosystems, which may contain exotics, with the aim of maintaining ecosystem functioning and, if possible, maximizing the persistence of native biodiversity. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Accessing genetic resources: international law establishes multilateral system

The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is rapidly gathering sufficient ratifications to become international law. Once it enters into force, it will define the rules for access and benefit-sharing associated with most genetic resources of major food crops. This paper explains how the new Multilateral System established by the Treaty will work, and points out a number of ambiguities and problems in the text. Despite these shortcomings, the Treaty provides the international community of researchers, plant breeders, and farmers with an opportunity to foster cooperation and further the conservation and use of plant genetic resources.     

东北丘陵半干旱区参考作物蒸散量计算方法比较

利用FAO Penman-Monteith公式、FAO Penman修正式和Priestley-Taylor公式对东北丘陵半干旱区观测到的气象数据进行了逐日参考作物蒸散量计算.结果显示,FAO Penman修正式的计算值比FAO Penman-Monteith公式的计算值平均偏大约16%,2种比较方法具有很好的相关性;而Priestley-Taylor公式的计算值与FAO Penman-Monteith公式的计算值相比,差异比较显著,是由于Priestley-Taylor公式没有考虑空气动力项对参考作物蒸散量的影响.因此,在东北丘陵半干旱区使用Priestley-Taylor公式计算参考作物蒸散量,必须根据不同月份对公式中的常数项重新进行修正.     

代森锰锌液相色谱法成功晋升为CIPAC方法的历程与启示

由利民化学有限责任公司自主研发的代森锰锌液相色谱分析方法,历时4年,终于在2019年德国布伦瑞克召开的第63届国际农药分析协作委员会(CIPAC)年会上顺利通过答辩,成功晋升为CIPAC方法。本文对此过程进行了总结梳理,以为我国农药标准方法走向国际提供借鉴。     

Evapotranspiration and crop coefficient of Populus euphratica Oliv forest during the growing season in the extreme arid region northwest China

Based on successive observation, fifteen-day evapotranspiration (ET_c) of Populus euphratica Oliv forest, in the extreme arid region northwest China, was estimated by application of Bowen ratio-energy balance method (BREB) during the growing season in 2005. During the growing season in 2005, total ET_c was 446.96 mm. From the beginning of growing season, the ET_c increased gradually, and reached its maximum value of 6.724 mm d⁻¹ in the last fifteen days of June. Hereafter the ET_c dropped rapidly, and reached its minimum value of 1.215 mm d⁻¹ at the end of growing season. The variation pattern of crop coefficient (K_c) was similar to that of ET_c. From the beginning of growing season, the K_c value increased rapidly, and reached its maximum value of 0.623 in the last fifteen days of June. Afterward, with slowing growth of P. euphratica, the value dropped rapidly to the end of growing season. According to this study, the ET_c of P. euphratica forest is affected not only by meteorological factors, but by water content in soil.