Effects of long-term organic fertilization on soil microbiologic characteristics,yield and sustainable production of winter wheat

We investigated the soil microbiologic characteristics, and the yield and sustainable production of winter wheat, by conducting a long-term fertilization experiment. A single application of N, P and K （NPK） fertilizer was taken as the control （CK） and three organic fertilization treatments were used： NPK fertilizer＋pig manure （T1）, NPK fertilizer＋straw return （T2）, NPK fertilizer＋pig manure＋straw return （T3）. The results showed that all three organic fertilization treatments （T1, T2 and T3） significantly increased both soil total N （STN） and soil organic carbon （SOC） from 2008 onwards. In 2016, the SOC content and soil C/N ratios for T1, T2 and T3 were significantly higher than those for CK. The three organic fertilization treatments increased soil microbial activity. In 2016, the activity of urease （sucrase） and the soil respiration rate （SRS） for T1, T2 and T3 were significantly higher than those under CK. The organic fertilization treatments also increased the content of soil microbial biomass carbon （SMBC） and microbial biomass nitrogen （SMBN）, the SMBC/SMBN ratio and the microbial quotient （qMB）. The yield for T1, T2 and T3 was significantly higher than that of CK, respectively. Over the nine years of the investigation, the average yield increased by 9.9, 13.2 and 17.4% for T1, T2 and T3, respectively, compared to the initial yield for each treatment, whereas the average yield of CK over the same period was reduced by 6.5%. T1, T2, and T3 lowered the coefficient of variation （CV） of wheat yield and increased the sustainable yield index （SYI）. Wheat grain yield was significantly positively correlated with each of the soil microbial properties （P〈0.01）. These results showed that the long-term application of combined organic and chemical fertilizers can stabilize crop yield and make it more sustainable by improving the properties of the soil.

Maximum sustainable yield estimation of enhancement species with the characteristics of movement inside and outside marine ranching

Marine ranching can be regarded as a type of artificial fishery,and its construction aims at the sustainable utilisation of fishery resources.Therefore,the sustainable yield level of target species in marine ranching has become one of the concerns of stakeholders.The enhancement surplus production model proposed by Wang(2021)based on the traditional surplus production model can be used to assess the sustainable utilisation of settled species in marine ranches.However,when the target species has the characteristics of migration inside and outside marine ranches,its sustainability assessment will be aff ected.Based on the movement range and resource density levels of enhancement species inside and outside marine ranches,we built a biomass change model that is suitable for enhancement species with migration characteristics inside and outside marine ranches(migration enhancement biomass model).Moreover,we simulated the effects of factors,such as the ratio of the movement range and the ratio of resource density within and outside marine ranches and the fishing strategy for the enhancement species in marine ranches,on the estimation of maximum sustainable yield(MSY).Results show that the large movement range of enhancement species outside marine ranches was associated with the obvious advantage of the proposed migration enhancement model over the traditional enhancement production model.A small difference in the densities of enhancement species inside and outside marine ranches was highly beneficial for improving the accuracy of MSY estimation.The migration enhancement biomass model proposed in this study provides an idea for estimating the MSY of an enhancement species that migrates inside and outside marine ranches.Researchers can adjust the parameters of the model in accordance with the actual situation of resource distribution and changes to improve the scientificity of fishery stock assessment.

Management of rice straw with relay cropping of Chinese milk vetch improved double-rice cropping system production in southern China

Improved utilization of rice(Oryza sativa L.)straw and Chinese milk vetch(Astragalus sinicus L.,vetch)has positive effects on rice production.So far,few studies have investigated the productivity of vetch under different residue management practices in double-rice cropping system.The effects of rice straw on the growth and nutrient accumulation of vetch across seven years(2011–2017)and the subsequent effects of rice straw and vetch on two succeeding rice crops in a vetch–rice–rice cropping system,with the vetch established by relay cropping,were examined.The seven-year double-rice experiment consisted of the following treatments:(1)100%chemical fertilizer(F-F100);(2)only vetch without chemical fertilizer(M-Con);(3)80%chemical fertilizer plus vetch plus a low-cutting height(low-retained stubble)with the removal of straw(M-F80);(4)80%chemical fertilizer plus vetch plus a low-cutting height with the retention of straw(M-F80-LR);(5)80%chemical fertilizer plus vetch plus a high-cutting height(high-retained stubble)with the retention of straw(M-F80-HR);and(6)no fertilizer(F-Con).The yields of the two rice crops after vetch were not affected by either the cutting height of stubble with retention of straw or by the management of straw(retention vs.removal)with low-cutting height of stubble.The yields of the two rice crops after vetch were significantly higher for M-F80-HR than for M-F80-LR,but the relative contributions of the high-cutting height and straw retention to the higher rice yield could not be determined in this study.The yield stability of the double-rice grain in M-F80-HR was also increased,as determined by a sustainable yield index.Significant increases in vetch biomass and nutrient uptake were observed in the fertilized treatments during the rice season compared with the unfertilized treatments.In M-F80-HR plots,improvements in the growing environment of the vetch by conserving soil water content were associated with the highest vetch biomass,nutrient uptake,and yield stability of vetch biomass.These increased nutrient inputs partially replaced the demand for chemical fertilizer and stimulated the rice yields.It can be concluded that retaining higher-cutting stubble residues with straw retention could be the best straw management practice for increasing the vetch biomass and nutrient use efficiency,thereby allowing utilization of high-cutting height with retention of straw and vetch to improve the stability of rice productivity in a double-rice cropping system.

Applying the Catch-MSY model to the stock assessment of the northwestern Pacific saury Cololabis Saira

The Pacific saury(Cololabis saira)is one of the major harvested species in the temperate waters of the northwestern Pacific Ocean(NPO).The Catch-MSY model uses catch data and basic life history information to estimate the Maximum Sustainable Yield(MSY)for data-limited fisheries.Since there is considerable uncertainty in the current status of the Pacific saury stock in the NPO,the Catch-MSY model was used in this study to estimate MSY on the basis of catch data and life history information from the North Pacific Fisheries Commission(NPFC).During the process,17 scenarios,according to different prior distributions of the intrinsic rate of increase(r)and carrying capacity(K),were set for sensitivity analysis.Moreover,the influence of different catch time series and different process errors were taken into account.The results show the following:(1)there was a strong negative correlation relationship between ln(r)and ln(K);the MSY increases with an increase in the lower limit of r;(2)The time series of catch data had a limited impact on the assessment results,whereas the results of the model were sensitive to the annual catch in the first and last years;(3)The estimated MSYs of the Pacific saury were 47.37×10^4 t(41.57×10^4 t to 53.17×10^4 t)in scenario S1A and 47.53×10^4 t(41.79×10^4 t to 53.27×10^4 t)in scenario S1B.Given the uncertainty of the Catch-MSY model,maintaining a management target between 50×10^4 t and 70×10^4 t was a better management regulation.This study shows that the Catch-MSY model is a useful choice for estimating the MSY of data-limited species such as the Pacific saury.

Evaluation of the fishery status for King Soldier Bream Argyrops spinifer in Pakistan using the software CEDA and ASPIC

Catch and effort data were analyzed to estimate the maximum sustainable yield （MSY） of King Soldier Bream, Argyrops spinifer （Forsskal, 1775, Family： Sparidae）, and to evaluate the present status of the fish stocks exploited in Pakistani waters. The catch and effort data for the 25-years period 1985-2009 were analyzed using two computer software packages, CEDA （catch and effort data analysis） and ASPIC （a surplus production model incorporating covariates）. The maximum catch of 3 458 t was observed in 1988 and the minimum catch of 1 324 t in 2005, while the average annual catch ofA. spinifer over the 25 years was 2 500 t. The surplus production models of Fox, Schaefer, and Pella Tomlinson under three error assumptions of normal, log-normal and gamma are in the CEDA package and the two surplus models of Fox and logistic are in the ASPIC package. In CEDA, the MSY was estimated by applying the initial proportion （IP） of 0.8, because the starting catch was approximately 80% of the maximum catch. Except for gamma, because gamma showed maximization failures, the estimated results of MSY using CEDA with the Fox surplus production model and two error assumptions, were 1 692.08 t （R^2=0.572） and 1 694.09 t （R^2=0.606）, respectively, and from the Schaefer and the Pella Tomlinson models with two error assumptions were 2 390.95 t （R^2=0.563）, and 2 380.06 t （R^2=0.605）, respectively. The MSY estimated by the Fox model was conservatively compared to the Schaefer and Pella Tomlinson models. The MSY values from Schaefer and Pella Tomlinson models were the same. The computed values of MSY using the ASPIC computer software program with the two surplus production models of Fox and logistic were 1 498 t （R^2=0.917）, and 2 488 t （R^2=0.897） respectively. The estimated values of MSY using CEDA were about 1 700-2 400 t and the values from ASPIC were 1 500-2 500 t. The estimates output by the CEDA and the ASPIC packages indicate that the stock is overfished, and needs some effective management to reduce the fishing effort of the species in Pakistani waters.

Application of a Delay-Difference Model for the Stock Assessment of Southern Atlantic Albacore(Thunnus alalunga)

Delay-difference models are intermediate between simple surplus-production models and complicated age-structured models. Such intermediate models are more efficient and require less data than age-structured models. In this study, a delay-differ- ence model was applied to fit catch and catch per unit effort （CPUE） data （1975-2011） of the southern Atlantic albacore （Thunnus alalunga） stock. The proposed delay-difference model captures annual fluctuations in predicted CPUE data better than Fox model. In a Monte Carlo simulation, white noises （CVs） were superimposed on the observed CPUE data at four levels. Relative estimate error was then calculated to compare the estimated results with the true values of parameters a and fl in Ricker stock-recruitment model and the catchability coefficient q. a is more sensitive to CV than fl and q. We also calculated an 80% percentile confidence interval of the maximum sustainable yield （MSY, 21756 t to 23408 t; median 22490 t） with the delay-difference model. The yield of the southern Atlantic albacore stock in 2011 was 24122t, and the estimated ratios of catch against MSY for the past seven years were approxi- mately 1.0. We suggest that care should be taken to protect the albacore fishery in the southern Atlantic Ocean. The proposed de- lay-difference model provides a good fit to the data of southern Atlantic albacore stock and may be a useful choice for the assessment of regional albacore stock.

Application of a catch-based method for stock assessment of three important fisheries in the East China Sea

Most fisheries in China do not have maximum sustainable yield（MSY） estimates due to limited and poor data.Therefore, finding a common method to estimate MSY or total allowable catch（TAC） for fishery management is necessary. MSYs of three important fisheries in the East China Sea were evaluated through a catch-based model.Estimates for intrinsic rate of increase（r） and five levels of process error were considered. Results showed hairtail Trichiurus japonicas（Temminck and Schlegel） and small yellow croaker Larimichthys polyactis（Bleeker） fisheries experienced overfishing from the mid-1990 s to the early 2000 s, and the suggested TACs were 55.8×10^4 t and9.06×10^4 t, respectively. Decades of overfishing in wintering and spawning grounds of large yellow croaker Larimichthys crocea（Richardson） caused the fishery＇s collapse in the 1980 s, and it has not recovered until today.The Catch–MSY model generated similar estimated MSYs with other methods and may be a useful choice for the assessment of regional stocks in China.

Developing an intermediate-complexity projection model for China's fisheries:A case study of small yellow croaker(Larimichthys polyactis)in the Haizhou Bay,China

Projection models are commonly used to evaluate the impacts of fishing.However,previously developed projection tools were not suitable for China’s fisheries as they are either overly complex and data-demanding or too simple to reflect the realistic management measures.Herein,an intermediate-complexity projection model was developed that could adequately describe fish population dynamics and account for management measures including mesh size limits,summer closure,and spatial closure.A two-patch operating model was outlined for the projection model and applied to the heavily depleted but commercially important small yellow croaker(Larimichthys polyactis)fishery in the Haizhou Bay,China,as a case study.The model was calibrated to realistically capture the fisheries dynamics with hindcasting.Three simulation scenarios featuring different fishing intensities based on status quo and maximum sustainable yield(MSY)were proposed and evaluated with projections.Stochastic projections were additionally performed to investigate the influence of uncertainty associated with recruitment strengths and the implementation of control targets.It was found that fishing at FMSY level could effectively rebuild the depleted stock biomass,while the stock collapsed rapidly in the status quo scenario.Uncertainty in recruitment and implementation could result in variabilities in management effects;but they did not much alter the management effects of the FMSY scenario.These results indicate that the lack of science-based control targets in fishing mortality or catch limits has hindered the achievement of sustainable fisheries in China.Overall,the presented work highlights that the developed projection model can promote the understanding of the possible consequences of fishing under uncertainty and is applicable to other fisheries in China.

A continuous time delay-difference type model(CTDDM) applied to stock assessment of the southern Atlantic albacore Thunnus alalunga

A continuous time delay-difference model(CTDDM) has been established that considers continuous time delays of biological processes.The southern Atlantic albacore(Thunnus alalunga) stock is the one of the commercially important tuna population in the marine world.The age structured production model(ASPM) and the surplus production model(SPM) have already been used to assess the albacore stock.However,the ASPM requires detailed biological information and the SPM lacks the biological realism.In this study,we focus on applying a CTDDM to the southern Atlantic albacore(T.alalunga) species,which provides an alternative method to assess this fishery.It is the first time that CTDDM has been provided for assessing the Atlantic albacore(T.alalunga) fishery.CTDDM obtained the 80%confidence interval of MSY(maximum sustainable yield) of(21 510 t,23 118 t).The catch in 2011(24 100 t) is higher than the MSY values and the relative fishing mortality ratio(F_(2011)/F_(MSY)) is higher than 1.0.The results of CTDDM were analyzed to verify the proposed methodology and provide reference information for the sustainable management of the southern Atlantic albacore stock.The CTDDM treats the recruitment,the growth,and the mortality rates as all varying continuously over time and fills gaps between ASPM and SPM in this stock assessment.

Catch per unit effort,maximum sustainable yield and exploitation of demersal fish of Omani artisanal fishery

Objective:To evaluate exploitation status of the stocks of demersal fishes in Omani artisanal fisheries.Methods:Time-series data between 2005 and 2014 on catches and effort represented by the number of fishing boats were used to estimate catch per unit effort and maximum sustainable yields applying Schaefer surplus production model.Regression analyses were made online using GraphPad software.Results:The study revealed that increasing the number of boats on the fishery caused a decrease of catch per unit effort of some species.Maximum sustainable yields and exploitation status were estimated for these species applying.Conclusions:Some demersal fish species were found to be caught in quantities exceeding maximum sustainable yields during some fishing seasons indicating overexploitation of their stocks.

Conservation tillage impacts on soil,crop and the environment

There is an urgent need to match food production with increasing world population through identification of sustainable land management strategies.However,the struggle to achieve food security should be carried out keeping in mind the soil where the crops are grown and the environment in which the living things survive.Conservation agriculture(CA),practising agriculture in such a way so as to cause minimum damage to the environment,is being advocated at a large scale world-wide.Conservation tillage,the most important aspect of CA,is thought to take care of the soil health,plant growth and the environment.This paper aims to review the work done on conservation tillage in different agro-ecological regions so as to understand its impact from the perspectives of the soil,the crop and the environment.Research reports have identified several benefits of conservation tillage over conventional tillage(CT)with respect to soil physical,chemical and biological properties as well as crop yields.Not less than 25%of the greenhouse gas effluxes to the atmosphere are attributed to agriculture.Processes of climate change mitigation and adaptation found zero tillage(ZT)to be the most environmental friendly among different tillage techniques.Therefore,conservation tillage involving ZT and minimum tillage which has potential to break the surface compact zone in soil with reduced soil disturbance offers to lead to a better soil environment and crop yield with minimal impact on the environment.&2015 International Research and Training Center on Erosion and Sedimentation and China Water and Power Press.Production and Hosting by Elsevier B.V.This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Estimation of age and growth and mortality parameters of the sea cucumber Isostichopus fuscus (Ludwig, 1875) and implications for the management of its fishery in the Galapagos Marine Reserve

The fishery of the sea cucumber Isostichopus fuscus was the most important one in the early 2000s in the Galapagos Marine Reserve.Its overexploitation leads to its total closure from 2016 to 2021.At the end of this period,if the co-management system of the Galapagos Marine Reserve decides to open this fishery,a total allowed catch must be established using the methodology of Wolff,Schuhbauer,and Castrejón(2012).The objective of this paper is to evaluate this methodology and improve the total allowed catch calculation.We replicated Wolff et al.‘s methodology that uses the Cadima equation of Maximum Sustainable Yield(in Troadec,1977).We determined the age and growth parameters of I.fuscus to estimate total mortality and improved the calculation of the area of fishing and habitat of this species in Galapagos to estimate its abundance.We found inconsistences in Wolff et al.‘s estimations of mortality and abundance and we recommend that the Maximum Sustainable Yield be used not as the total allowed catch,but as a limit reference point for this fishery.We propose,instead,to use a dynamic abundance model that is capable of estimating a variety of reference points,including the fishing mortality for optimal fishing that is recommended to use to establish a total allowed catch.In addition,for the first time,the age and growth parameters of I.fuscus for Galapagos and the eastern-central region of the Pacific Ocean are determined(L∞=42.5 cm;K=0.21/year).