Analysis of Spatial Distribution of Agricultural Meteorological Conditions in Sanjiang Plain during Nearly 50 Years

[ Objective] The study aimed to analyze the spatial distribution of agricultural meteorological conditions in Sanjiang Plain during nearly 50 years. [ Method] Accumulated temperature of Sanjiang Plain was computed based on meteorological observation data from different meteorological stations in Sanjiang Plain, including temperature, precipitation, sunshine time, etc. A spatial interpolation map involving varieties of meteorological elements in neady 50 years was generated based on the Kriging interpolation, and the spatial distribution characteristics of those meteorological ele- ments were analyzed. [ Result] Temperature of Sanjiang Plain decreased with the increase of latitude and altitude, and the annual average temper- atura varied from 2.5 to 4.5 ~（3 generally, showing a zonal distribution. Precipitation of Sanjiang Plain changed spatially and the annual average pre- cipitation varied from 500 to 600 mm symmetrically in northwest-southeast direction. Spatial distribution of the annual average wind speed in San- jiang Plain was identical with the spatial pattern of topography here, and the annual average wind speed changed from 3.0 to 3.6 rn/s in most re- gions. Relative air humidity of Sanjiang Plain in summer half year was relatively high and always above 65%. The maximum sunshine hours of San- jiang Plain in one year distributed similarly to the annual changing curve of solar declination, and both of them presented a normal distribution and changed with geographic latitude. The days from the beginning to the end of daily average temperature ~〉 10 ~C in Sanjiang Plain were 135 -146 d, and its distribution presented a latitudinal trend, with certain vertical zonality. [ Conclusion] The research could provide scientific references for the reasonable arrangement of agricultural production and effective prevention of meteorological disasters in Sanjiang Plain.

Spatio-temporal changes in agricultural hydrothermal conditions in China from 1951 to 2010

Based on the daily observation data of 824 meteorological stations during 1951-2010 released by the National Meteorological Information Center, this paper evaluated the changes in the heat and moisture conditions of crop growth. An average value of ten years was used to analyze the spatio-temporal variation in the agricultural hydrothermal conditions within a 1 km2 grid. Next, the inter-annual changing trend was simulated by regression analysis of the agricultural hydrothermal conditions. The results showed that the contour lines for temperature and accumulated temperatures(the daily mean temperature ≥0°C) increased significantly in most parts of China, and that the temperature contour lines had all moved northwards over the past 60 years. At the same time, the annual precipitation showed a decreasing trend, though more than half of the meteorological stations did not pass the significance test. However, the mean temperatures in the hottest month and the coldest month exhibited a decreasing trend from 1951 to 2010. In addition, the 0°C contour line gradually moved from the Qinling Mountains and Huaihe River Basin to the Yellow River Basin. All these changes would have a significant impact on the distribution of crops and farming systems. Although the mechanisms influencing the interactive temperature and precipitation changes on crops were complex and hard to distinguish, the fact remained that these changes would directly cause corresponding changes in crop characteristics.

Designing a watershed scorecard as a performance evaluation tool for Ur River watershed,Tikamgarh District,Madhya Pradesh

The study is an attempt to design a watershed scorecard by identifying and evaluating selected set of indicators,such as surface water quality,ground water quality,soil condition,agriculture condition,and forest condition,which accurately reflect the health of the watershed.Ur River Watershed in Tikamgarh District,Madhya Pradesh was taken as a case study to assess the watershed health.Evaluation was done by calculating different indices for the selected set of indicators and comparing them with the National standards and guidelines.Based on the performance of each indicator,the grades were assigned to the indicators which helped in designing the watershed scorecard.The results revealed that within the watershed,the forest and soil conditions need a considerable plan for improvement in order to maintain the ecosystem whereas the surface water quality,groundwater quality and the agricultural conditions requires protection as well as enhancement in certain areas.

Has“Grain for Green”threaten food security on the Loess Plateau of China?

There is debating over the question of whether the large-scale‘Grain for Green’program on the Loess Plateau of China threatens regional food security.Self-sufficiency index and cropland pressure index were used to assess food security on the Loess Plateau after the implementation of revegetation program.The results showed that the‘Grain for Green’program initially had a considerable impact on regional food security,where grain yield fell from 1999 to 2001,resulting in a lower grain self-sufficiency and increased farmland stress.Subsequently,grain yield in this region increased due to the elevated agricultural material input and increased construction of terraces and check dams.The grain self-sufficiency index would have increased to 96.55%if there were improvements to the agricultural conditions,such as fertilization and irrigation,which would have resulted in an increase in the crop yield per unit of 20%.However,the grain self-sufficiency increased to 105.25%via the construction of terraces and check dams.Thus,the government should further expand the‘Grain for Green’program in coordination with improvements to the agricultural production conditions and the construction of terraces and check dams on the Loess Plateau.