Food Security of Shifting Cultivation Systems： Case Studies from Luang Prabang and Oudomxay Provinces, Lao PDR

Introduction The shifting cultivation system is one of the most important agricultural systems in Luang Prabang and Oudomxay provinces, where many production systems are found in the uplands. The factors, determining the systems, include ethnicity,Journal…     

Quantification of 3D macropore networks in forest soils in Touzhai valley (Yunnan,China) using X-ray computed tomography and image analysis

The three dimensional(3D) geometry of soil macropores largely controls preferential flow, which is a significant infiltrating mechanism for rainfall in forest soils and affects slope stability. However, detailed studies on the 3D geometry of macropore networks in forest soils are rare. The intense rainfall-triggered potentially unstable slopes were threatening the villages at the downstream of Touzhai valley(Yunnan, China). We visualized and quantified the 3D macropore networks in undisturbed soil columns(Histosols) taken from a forest hillslope in Touzhai valley, and compared them with those in agricultural soils(corn and soybean in USA; barley, fodder beet and red fescue in Denmark) and grassland soils in USA. We took two large undisturbed soil columns(250 mm×250 mm×500 mm), and scanned the soil columns at in-situ soil water content conditions using X-ray computed tomography at a voxel resolution of 0.945 × 0.945 × 1.500 mm~3. After reconstruction and visualization, we quantified the characteristics of macropore networks. In the studiedforest soils, the main types of macropores were root channels, inter-aggregate voids, macropores without knowing origin, root-soil interface and stone-soil interface. While macropore networks tend to be more complex, larger, deeper and longer. The forest soils have high macroporosity, total macropore wall area density, node density, and large macropore volume, hydraulic radius, mean macropore length, angle, and low tortuosity. The findings suggest that macropore networks in the forest soils have high interconnectivity, vertical continuity, linearity and less vertically oriented.     

Assessment of soil organic carbon stock in the upper Yangtze River basin

Soil organic carbon is of great importance to terrestrial ecosystems.Studies on the amount and spatial distribution of soil organic carbon stock in various types of soil can help to better understand the role of soil in the global carbon cycle and provide a scientific basis for the assessment of the magnitude of carbon stored in a given area.Here we present estimates of soil organic carbon stock in soils in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River based on soil types as defined by Chinese Soil Taxonomy and recently compiled into a digital soil database.The results showed that the total soil organic carbon stock of the upper Yangtze River to a depth of 100 cm was 1.452×1013kg.The highest soil organic carbon stock was found in felty soils(2.419×1012kg),followed by dark brown soils(1.269×1012kg),and dark felty soils(1.139×1012kg).Chernozems and irrigation silting soils showed the lowest soil organic carbon stock,mainly due to the small total area of such soils.The soil organic carbon density of these major soil types ranged from 5.6 to 26.1 kg m-2.The average soil organic carbon density of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River was 16.4 kg m-2,which was higher than that of the national average.Soil organic carbon density indicated a distinct decreasing trend from west to east,which corresponds to the pattern of increasing temperature from cold to subtropical.     

Reconciling Local and Global Agendas in Sustainable Development： Participatory Research with Indigenous Andean Communities

Introduction In tracing the pioneering influences which created the 1980s participatory research movement in international agriculture, health and conserva- tion, the experiences of Latin America must be highlighted. Activist participatory research itselfwas originally inspired by Paulo Freire, the influential Brazilian educator whose pedagogical teachings have been commonplace throughout South America since the 1960s (Freire 1968, Chambers 1994a). Due to a multitude of social forces betwe…     

商河县耕层土壤有机碳密度及储量研究

采用商河县2010年耕地地力评价有机质采样点的数据,运用GIS和地统计学相结合的方法,研究了商河县土壤有机质的密度及储量,并按照土类统计分析了不同土壤类型间的有机碳密度及储量差异。研究表明,商河县土壤有机碳密度范围为1.69~5.17kg/m2,平均3.44kg/m2;有机碳储量为0.26×1010kg。按乡镇统计,有机碳密度最大值为玉皇庙镇3.65kg/m2,最小值为郑陆镇3.15kg/m2,有机碳储量最大值玉皇庙镇3.47×108 kg,最小值张坊乡0.92×108 kg;按土壤类型统计,有机碳密度最大的为湿潮土3.46kg/m2,最小为风沙土3.29kg/m2,有机碳储量最大为潮土10.38×108 kg,最小为褐土化潮土1.34×108 kg。     

Grain size distribution of soils within the Cordillera Blanca,Peru: An indicator of basic mechanical properties for slope stability evaluation

This paper presents results of a study on the mechanical properties of sandy and gravely soils within the Cordillera Blanca, Peru. The soils were divided into groups according to their origin （glacial, fluvial, or debris flow）. The grain size distribution of forty three soil samples was used to classify the soils according to the scheme of the Unified Soil Classification System （USCS）. These distributions have then been used to estimate shear strength and hydraulic properties of the soils. There are clear differences between the soils which reflect their divergent origins. The glacial soils normally fit within one of two distinctive groups according to the proportion of fines （Group A, 7%-21.5%; Group B, 21%-65%）. The estimation of shear strength at constant volume friction angle and peak shear strength of the glacial sediments with low content of fines was made using published data relating to the measured shear strength characteristics of soils with similar origins and grain size distributions. The estimated values were supported by measurements of the angle of repose taken from fourteen samples from two moraines and by shear tests on samples from one locality. The results of the grain size distribution werealso used to estimate the average hydraulic conductivity using the empirical Hazen formula which results were verified by field infiltration tests at two localities.     

Effects of plant types on physico-chemical properties of reclaimed mining soil in Inner Mongolia,China

A field experiment was conducted in Jungar Banner, Inner Mongolia, China to study the effects of plant types on the physical structure and chemical properties of open-cast mining soils reclaimed for 15 years, and to analyze the triggering factors of the soil formation. Results indicate that plant types affect soil-forming process especially in the upper layer (0–20 cm), and the spatial structure of reclaimed plant is the main reason for variability of the soil-forming process. In the upper soil layer at the site reclaimed with mixed plants, the concentrations of soil organic matter (SOM) and soil organic carbon (SOC) are the highest, and they were significantly higher at the sites reclaimed with Leymus chinensis, Caragana sinica, which is mainly due to a large amount of litter fall and root exudation in herbages and shrubs. However, the concentrations of SOM and SOC in the soils at the reclaimed sites are quite low comparing with those in local primary soil, which indicates the importance of using organic amendments during the ecological restoration in the study area.     

Systems of agriculture farming in the Uttranchal Himalaya,India

Agricultural practices are the main stay of the people of Uttranchal. Out of the total population,more than 75% people are engaged either with the main occupation of agriculture or its allied practices,dominated by traditional subsistence cereal farming.Among them, the main crops are rice, wheat, millet,barley, all types of pulses, all types of oilseeds and almost all types of fruits. The crops, vegetables and fruits of all varieties are grown in the different climatic zones such as tropical, temperate, and cold because, the region is characterized by the different altitudinal zones elevated from 200 m to more than 8000m. As a result, different climates are found from hot tropical to sub temperate and chilly cold. Pulses varieties are grown extensively. Among vegetables,potato, onion, carrot, all types of green leaf vegetables,brinzal, pumpkin, ladyfinger, pea, gram, radish,ginger, garlic, etc, are grown widely. All fruit varieties are grown in the different altitudinal zones. The mainfruits are orange, malta (a big size of orange),elephant citrus, lemon and all other types of citrus,apple, stone fruits including peach and pears, manykinds of nuts, and the fruits which are grown in the low lying areas. In spite of feasible climatic conditions,agricultural dominant society, and availability of all types of crops, the production and productivity of these crops are very low, even they are unable to meet the grain-need of the people in Uttaranchal. Agricultural crops are grown almost in all the altitudinal zones -- from the low-lying areas, which are called ‘Ga. ngarh‘, to the highly elevated region,where the legendary term is given as ‘Danda‘. The growing seasons vary according to the heights. The present paper aims to discuss the agricultural practices including cropping season, cropping pattern,land use, production of cropsagricultural system in thisand ecological aspect of Himalayan state and suggest some measures for developing farming system,which could lead the sustainability, in terms of meeting the food grain needs of the people on the one hand and restoring the ecological balance on the other.     

ECOLOGICAL SERIES OF SOIL ANIMALS IN DARLIDAI MOUNTAIN

The ecological series of soil animals under the broad-leaved and pine mixed forest in Darlidai Mountainwas studied. Seven sample plots were selected according to different altitude gradients, which belong to different vegeta-tion types. By investigating and analyzing soil animals in every sample plot it is found that there are 45 groups and 1956individuals, which axe involved in 3 phylums, 7 classes, 16 orders, respectively. The altitude is a key factor which af-fects ecological series of soil animals. Both the groups and individuals of soil animals increase with altitude increasingunder certain conditions, which contrastes with ordinary cases, resulting from special micro-climate in studied area. Thegroups and individuls of soil animals are the most under the broad-leaved and pine forest on the top of the mountain, andthe least under Picea-Abies forest in the foot of the mountain.     

Characteristics and causes of the preconsolidation stress of soils in the Yellow River Delta

Preconsolidation stress ( σ P') is the maximum effective stress that a soil has suffered throughout its life. From a geotechnical point of view, pre-consolidation stress has great importance because it separates elastic and reversible deformations from inelastic and only partially irreversible deformations and marks the starting point of high compressibility. In this study we calculated the preconsolidation stress for 72 undisturbed soil samples from the Yellow River Delta, using the oedometer tes...     

Utilisation and Management Changes in South Kyrgyzstan＇s Mountain Forests

Using political ecology as its conceptual framework, this paper focuses on the changes in forest utilisation and management of South Kyrgyzstan＇s walnut-fruit forests over the last century The aim of this study on human-environment interactions is to investigate the relationship between actors on the one side, their interests and demands, and the forests and forested lands on the other. Forest resource utilisation and management - and even the recognition of different forest products as resources - are connected with political and socioeconomic conditions that change with time. The walnut-fruit forests of South Kyrgyzstan are unique, characterised by high biodiversity and a multiplicity of usable products; and they have been utilised for a long time. Centralised and formal management of the forests started with the Russian occupation and was strengthened under Soviet rule, when the region became a part of the USSR. During this era, a state forest administration that was structured from Moscow all the way down to the local level drew up detailed plans and developed procedures for utilising the different forest products. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the socio-political and economic frame conditions have changed significantly, which has brought not only the sweeping changes in the managing institutions, but also the access rights and interests in the forest resources. At present, the region is suffering from a high unemployment rate, which has resulted in the forests＇ gaining considerable importance in the livelihood strategies of the local population. Political and economic liberalization, increased communication and transregional exchange relations have opened the door for international companies and agents interested in the valuable forest products. Today, walnut wood and burls, walnuts, wild apples and mushrooms are all exported to various countries in the world. Scientists and members of various international organisations stress the ecological value of the forests and are trying to establish nature conservation areas. Nevertheless, it is to fear that a multiplicity of interrelated factors - the present transformation and globalization processes, the appearance of new actors, the local population＇s insecure economic situation and the erosion of managing institutions - are all leading to an intensified and unregulated exploitation of the forests, resulting in their degradation.     

Micromorphology of surface crusts in the Knersvlakte, South Africa

Soils in the Knersvlakte are particularly prone to crusting and have lower inherent infiltrability than other soils across western southern Africa. Micromorphological techniques were used to examine the structure and porosity of soil crusts in the Knersvlakte to ascertain why crusting is so intense in this region. Quantile regression using boundary lines was employed to examine the relationships between infiltrability and soil properties for all samples （n = 67）. This analysis showed that infiltrability is potentially maximal at low water- dispersible ＇clay plus silt＇ content and low silt content （r^2 = 0.72 and 0.64; respectively, n = 67） （Figure 2）. The strength of crusts, pH, EC, clay mineralogy, and water-dispersible clay, silt and ＇clay plus silt＇ content were compared, and a pore analysis using optical microscopy was undertaken on images of six soil thin sections （n = 6） （circular and parallel polarizers）. Pore analysis was further undertaken on five horizontal slices of equal dimensions taken through each soil thin section. The porosity samples with low infiltrability （〈 100 mm·hr^-1, n = 4） had greater crust strength, lower porosity （both total and in the least porous slice） and greater water-dispersible ＇day plus silt＇ and silt content than the porosity samples with high infiltrability （〉 100mm·hr^-1, n = 2）. The porosity samples with low infiltrability showed a trend of lower pH and greater water dispersible clay percentage. Porosity varied within the porosity samples due to the presence of dense clay/silt bands （〈 0.5 mm in width） with relatively few air vesicles. The porosity samples with horizontal slices of low porosity （but large numbers of air vesicles） had low infiltrability, while those without slices of low porosity （and relatively few air vesicles） had high infiltrability. We conclude that the intense crusting and resultant low infiltrability of soils in the Knersvlakte appears to be related to the formation of thin, dense clay/silt bands in the pedoderm.     

An evaluation on using soil aggregate stability as the indicator of interrill erodibility

Aggregate stability is a very important predictor of soil structure and strength,which influences soil erodibility.Several aggregate stability indices were selected for estimating interrill erodibility of four soil types with contrasting properties from temperate and subtropical regions of China.This study was conducted to investigate how closely the soil interrill erodibility factor in the Water Erosion Prediction Project(WEPP) model relates to soil aggregate stability.The mass fractal dimension(FD),geometric mean diameter(GMD),mean weight diameter(MWD),and aggregate stability index(ASI) of soil aggregates were calculated.A rainfall simulator with a drainable flume(3.0 m long × 1.0 m wide × 0.5 m deep) was used at four slope gradients(5°,10°,15° and 20°),and four rainfall intensities(0.6,1.1,1.7 and 2.5 mm/min).Results indicated that the interrill erodibility(Ki) values were significantly correlated to the indices of ASI,MWD,GMD,and FD computed from the aggregate wet-sieve data.The Ki had a strong positive correlation with FD,as well as a strong negative correlation with ASI,GMD,and MWD.Soils with a higher aggregate stability and lower fractal dimension have smaller Ki values.Stable soils were characterized by a high percentage of large aggregates and the erodible soils by a high percentage of smaller aggregates.The correlation coefficients of Ki with ASI and GMD were greater than those with FDand MWD,implying that both the ASI and GMD may be better alternative parameters for empirically predicting the soil Ki factor.ASI and GMD are more reasonable in interrill soil erodibility estimation,compared with Ki calculation in original WEPP model equation.Results demonstrate the validation of soil aggregation characterization as an appropriate indicator of soil susceptibility to erosion in contrasting soil types in China.     

Physico-chemical properties and enzyme activities of the arable soils in Lhasa, Tibet, China

An understanding of the physical,chemical,and biological properties of a soil provides a basis for soil use and management.This paper reports the major physico-chemical properties and enzyme activities of the soils of Lhasa’s main arable lands and the factors that influence these soil properties.Composite and core samples were taken from the three main arable soil types(alluvial soil,subalpine arable steppe soil,and subalpine arable meadow soil) and were analysed using standard methods.The bulk density and the ventilation porosity ratio of the soils were close to the recommended values for arable lands,and the dominant soil texture was sandy.The soil moisture release rates were arable steppe soil > alluvial soil > arable meadow soil.Soil organic matter content,Cation-Exchange Capacity(CEC),total and available nitrogen content,and catalase activity of the arable meadow soil were higher than those of the alluvial and the arable steppe soils,while soil pH in the arable meadow was lower.Most of the measured properties did not show a significant variance among these three soils.However,the measured indices(apart from the total potassium) indicate that there are notable differences among the three types of soil.The results implied that the utilisation patterns of the arable soil or human activities,such as tillage practices and fertiliser applications,have a substantialeffect on the soil properties in this region.Our results suggest that the cultivation practices in the region have apparently positive impact on the soil organic matter,nutrient contents and bulk density probably due to the sound fertiliser management such as the applications of farmyard manure and chemical fertilisers.However,intense cultivation practices lowered the activity of most soil enzymes.The results demonstrate that the choice of soil management strategy had a significant impact on the soil physicochemical and biological properties in the region studied.     

Wind tunnel study of multiple factors affecting wind erosion from cropland in agro-pastoral area of Inner Mongolia, China

In this paper,the process of wind erosion on two kinds of soil from the agro-pastoral area of Inner Mongolia are studied using wind tunnel experiments,considering the wind speed,blown angle of wind and soil moisture content.The results showed that the modulus of soil wind erosion increases with an increase of wind speed.When the wind speed exceeds a critical value,the soil wind erosion suddenly increases.The critical speed for both kinds of soil is within the range of 7-8m·s-1.For a constant wind speed,the rate of soil wind erosion changes from increasing to falling at a critical soil slope.The critical slope of loam soil and sandy loam soil is 20° and 10°,respectively.Soil moisture content has a significant effect on wind erosion.Soil wind erosion of both soils decreases with an increase of the soil water content in two treatments,however,for treatment two,the increasing trends of wind erosion for two soils with the falling of soil water content are no significant,especially for the loam soil,and in the same soil water content,the wind erosion of two soils in treatment one is significantly higher than treatment two,this indicates reducing the disturbance of soil surface can evidently control the soil wind erosion.     

Pedogeochemistry of china and its significance in agricultural production

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‘Initial’ soil moisture effects on the climate in China

In this study, the effects of ‘initial’ soil moisture (SM) in arid and semi-arid Northwestern China on subsequent climate were investigated with a regional climate model. Besides the control simulations (denoted as CTL), a series of sensitivity experiments were conducted, including the DRY and WET experiments, in which the simulated ‘initial’ SM over the region 30–50°N, 75–105°E was only 5% and 50%, and up to 150% and 200% of the simulated value in the CTL, respectively. The results show that SM change can modify the subsequent climate in not only the SM-change region proper but also the far downstream regions in Eastern and even Northeastern China. The SM-change effects are generally more prominent in the WET than in the DRY experiments. After the SM is initially increased, the SM in the SM-change region is always higher than that in the CTL, the latent (sensible) heat flux there increases (decreases), and the surface air temperature decreases. Spatially, the most prominent changes in the WET experiments are surface air temperature decrease, geopotential height decrease and corresponding abnormal changes of cyclonic wind vectors at the mid-upper troposphere levels. Generally opposite effects exist in the DRY experiments but with much weaker intensity. In addition, the differences between the results obtained from the two sets of sensitivity experiments and those of the CTL are not always consistent with the variation of the initial SM. Being different from the variation of temperature, the rainfall modifications caused by initial SM change are not so distinct and in fact they show some common features in the WET and DRY experiments. This might imply that SM is only one of the factors that impact the subsequent climate, and its effect is involved in complex processes within the atmosphere, which needs further investigation.     

Responses of soil inhabiting nitrogen-cycling microbial communities to wetland degradation on the Zoige Plateau,China

The wetlands on the Zoige Plateau have experienced serious degradation, with most of the original marsh being converted to marsh meadow or meadow. Based on the 3 wetland degradation stages, we determined the effects of wetland degradation on the structure and relative abundance of nitrogen-cycling (nitrogen-fixing, ammonia-oxidizing, and denitrifying) microbial communities in 3 soil types (intact wetland: marsh soil; early degrading wetland: marsh meadow soil; and degraded wetland: meadow soil) using 454-pyrosequencing. The structure and relative abundance of nitrogen-cycling microbial communities differed in the 3 soil types. Proteobacteria was the predominant phylum in most soil samples but the most abundant soil nitrogen-fixing and denitrifying microbial bacteria differed at the class, order, family, and genus levels among the 3 soil types. At the genus level, the majority of nitrogen-fixing bacterium sequences related to Bradyrhizobium were from marsh and marsh meadow soils; whereas those related to Geobacter originated from meadow soil. The majority of ammonia-oxidizing bacterium sequences related to Nitrosospira were from marsh (except for the 40-60 cm layer), marsh meadow and meadow soils; whereas those related to Candidatus Solibacter originated from 40-60 cm layer of marsh soil. The majority of denitrifying bacterium sequences related to Candidatus Solibacter and Anaeromyxobacter were from marsh and meadow soils; whereas those related to Herbaspirillum originated from meadow soil. The distribution of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and species were correlated with soil type based upon Venn and Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA). Changes in soil type, caused by different water regimes were the most important factors influencing compositional changes in the nitrogen-fixing, ammonia-oxidizing, and denitrifying microbial communities.     

Pedogeochemistry of china and its significance in agricultural production

Pedogeochemistry of China is controlled by such factors as biology, climate, parent material, topography and anthropogenesis, and the different geochemical types are formed under the different conditions of soil formation which have different abundance levels of elements. The relationship between concentration of elements and plant growth and human health depends upon available forms of element in soils. While the factors affecting element availability are soil pH and Eh, tillage and fertilization by man besides element forms in soils. On the basis of pedogeochemical types and distribution, rational plantation and application of fertilizer to soils will be of great significance for sustainable development of agricultural production.