Responses of vegetation cover to the Grain for Green Program and their driving forces in the He-Long region of the middle reaches of the Yellow River

The implementation of the Grain for Green Program is a great breakthrough in the history of China＇s ecological environment construction,which can control soil erosion effectively,increase land productivity and improve the ecological environment.To investigate the eco-environmental benefits brought by the Grain for Green Program,the spatiotemporal variations of vegetation cover in the growing season from 2000 to 2010 across the Hekou-Longmen （He-Long） region were analyzed by using remote sensing information,meteorological data and land use data.Moreover,the impacts of climate and human activities on vegetation change were evaluated objectively.Annual vegetation cover in the growing season increased very significantly.Increased vegetation cover occurred in 98.7％ of the region,of which the area for vegetation cover improved slightly constituted 79.8％ of the whole area.Vegetation moderately improved was mainly distributed in the south of the He-Long region,covering 9.6％ of the area,and the area for vegetation basically unchanged concentrated in the middle and upper reaches of the Wuding River.Precipitation was found to be an important natural factor influencing vegetation cover change.The area of vegetation cover showing a significantly positive correlation with precipitation occupied 22.14％ of the region.As driven by policies from the Grain for Green Program,forestland increased significantly and land use structure became more intensive.Human activities played a positive and effective role in the protection,restoration and improvement of vegetation in the places where vegetation cover was basically unchanged,even though precipitation declined greatly,and vegetation improved moderately with massive increases of forestland and grassland.

Changes in Land Use and Agricultural Production Structure Before and After the Implementation of Grain for Green Program in Western China–Taking Two Typical Counties as Examples

Soil erosion becomes a serious environmental problem in the world, especially in western China. An effective management practice called the Grain for Green Program(GGP), which was launched in 1999, aims to reduce soil and water loss and alleviate the ecological environment problem in western China. Two typical counties in western China, the Zhongxian(in Chongqing Municipality) and Ansai(in Shaanxi Province) were chosen to evaluate the dynamic changes of land use and agricultural production structure before and after the implementation of the Program in this paper. The results showed that the cultivated land area was reduced by 7.08% from 1989 to 2003. The cultivated land per person was decreased by 8.42% during 1999-2003. Moreover, the stability index of the secondary sector of the economy was increased from 0.91 in the period 1990-1999 to 0.94 in the following ten years. In addition, the stability index of tertiary economic sector increased from 0.88 to 0.92 in Zhongxian county. Meanwhile, the cultivated land area was reduced by 15.48% from 1990 to 1999. The soil erosion modulus was decreased by 33.33% from 1999 to 2006. Also, the stability index of secondary and tertiary economic sectors was 0.86 in the period 1998-2002. However, it decreased by 77% during 2002 to 2007 in Ansai County. These results imply that the Grain for Green Program had different impact on the two regions. Several effective strategies of soil and water conservation have been carried out to ameliorate the sustainable development of ecological environment and economy in these two counties of western China.

Coupling between the Grain for Green Program and a household level-based agricultural eco-economic system in Ansai,Shaanxi Province of China

The implementation of the Grain for Green Program(GGP)has changed the development track of the agricultural eco-economic system in China.In response to the results of a lag study that investigated the coupling between the GGP and the agricultural eco-economic system in a loess hilly region,we used a structural equation model to analyze the survey data from 494 households in Ansai,a district of Yan’an City in Shaanxi Province of China in 2015.The model clarified the direction and intensity of the coupling between the GGP and the agricultural eco-economic system.The coupling benefits were derived through linkages between the program and various chains in the agricultural eco-economic system.The GGP,the agroecosystem of Ansai and their potential coupling effects were in a state of general coordination.The agroecosystem directly affected the coupling effect,with the standardized path coefficient of 0.87,indicating that the agroecosystem in Ansai at this stage provided basic material support for the coupling between the GGP and the agricultural eco-economic system.The direct path coefficient of agroeconomic system impacted on the coupling effect was-0.76,indicating that partial contradictions occurred between the agroeconomic system and the coupling effect.Therefore,although the current agroecosystem in Ansai should be provided sufficient agroecological resources for the benign coupling between the program and the agricultural eco-economic system,agricultural development failed to effectively transform agroecological resources into agricultural economic advantages in this region,which resulted in a relative lag in the development of the agricultural economic system.Thus,the coupling between the GGP and the agricultural eco-economic system was poor.To improve the coupling and the sustainable development of the agricultural eco-economic system in cropland retirement areas,the industrial structure needs to be diversified,the agricultural resources(including agroecological resources,agricultural economic resources and agricultural social resources)need to be rationally allocated,and the chain structure of the agricultural eco-economic system needs to be continuously improved.

Trade-offs and Synergies of Ecosystem Services in Karst Area of China Driven by Grain-for-Green Program

As an important means regulating the relationship between human and natural ecosystem,ecological restoration program plays a key role in restoring ecosystem functions.The Grain-for-Green Program(GFGP,One of the world’s most ambitious ecosystem conservation set-aside programs aims to transfer farmland on steep slopes to forestland or grassland to increase vegetation coverage)has been widely implemented from 1999 to 2015 and exerted significant influence on land use and ecosystem services(ESs).In this study,three ecological models(In VEST,RUSLE,and CASA)were used to accurately calculate the three key types of ESs,water yield(WY),soil conservation(SC),and net primary production(NPP)in Karst area of southwestern China from 1982 to 2015.The impact of GFGP on ESs and trade-offs was analyzed.It provides practical guidance in carrying out ecological regulation in Karst area of China under global climate change.Results showed that ESs and trade-offs had changed dramatically driven by GFGP.In detail,temporally,SC and NPP exhibited an increasing trend,while WY exhibited a decreasing trend.Spatially,SC basically decreased from west to east;NPP basically increased from north to south;WY basically increased from west to east;NPP and SC,SC and WY developed in the direction of trade-offs driven by the GFGP,while NPP and WY developed in the direction of synergy.Therefore,future ecosystem management and restoration policy-making should consider trade-offs of ESs so as to achieve sustainable provision of ESs.

Impacts of Drought and Human Activity on Vegetation Growth in the Grain for Green Program Region,China

The Chinese government adopted six ecological restoration programs to improve its natural environments. Although these programs have proven successful in improving local environments, some studies have questioned their performance when regions suffer from drought. Whether we should consider the effects of drought on vegetation change in assessments of the benefits of ecological restoration programs is unclear. Therefore, taking the Grain for Green Program(GGP) region as a study area, we estimated vegetation growth in the region from 2000–2010 to clarify the trends in vegetation and their driving forces. Results showed that: 1) vegetation growth increased in the GGP region during 2000–2010, with 59.4% of the area showing an increase in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI). This confirmed the benefits of the ecological restoration program. 2) Drought can affect the vegetation change trend, but human activity plays a significant role in altering vegetation growth, and the slight downward trend in the NDVI was not consistent with the severity of the drought. Positive human activity led to increased NDVI in 89.13% of areas. Of these, 22.52% suffered drought, but positive human activity offset the damage in part. 3) Results of this research suggest that appropriate human activity can maximize the benefits of ecological restoration programs and minimize the effects of extreme weather. We therefore recommend incorporating eco-risk assessment and scientific management mechanisms in the design and management of ecosystem restoration programs.

Decomposition dynamics and ecological stoichiometry of Quercus acutissima and Pinus densiflora litter in the Grain to Green Program Area of northern China

Litter decomposition and ecological stoichiometry of nutrient release is an important part of material cycling and energy flow in forest ecosystems.In a study of the ecological stoichiometry and nutrient release during litter decomposition in a pine–oak forest ecosystem of the Grain to Green Program(GTGP)area of northern China,a typical pine and oak species(PDS:Pinus densiflora Sieb.,QAC:Quercus acutissima Carr.)were selected in the Taiyi Mountain study area.The ecological stoichiometry characteristics of carbon(C),nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P)and litter decomposition dynamics were studied by field sampling and quantitative analyses.The results showed the following.(1)The decomposition dynamics of both litters was slow-fast-slow.The most important climatic factor affecting the litter decomposition rate from May to October was precipitation and temperature from November to April of the following year.(2)Throughout the 300-day study,in both litters,C of the two litters was released,N first accumulated and was then released,and P exhibited a release-accumulate-release pattern.(3)C:P was significantly higher than C:N and N:P(p<0.05);the C:N of PSD litter was higher than that of QAC(p<0.05),but the N:P of QAC litter was higher than that of PSD litter(p<0.05).The C:N of both litters was very high in the study area,indicating that the nutrient release ability during litter decomposition in the two typical pine–oak forest ecosystems was relatively weak;therefore,more attention should be paid to nitrogen-fixing species and mixed forests in the GTGP area of northern China.

Issues and Challenges in Implementing China’sGreen Public Procurement Program

Sustainable development and environmental protection are the themes of the day. One popular policy tool that government uses to promote sustainable development and to protect the environment is green public procurement. Chinese government established its public procurement system in the late 1990s. It has moved to implement green procurement since 2004. In this paper, the authors will first trace the development of Chinese green public procurement program. The authors will then examine the issues involved in its implementation and make suggestions as to how to make green public procurement program more effective. This is one of the first papers examining China’s green public procurement program.

Effect of the Grain for Green Project on freshwater ecosystem services under drought stress

The Grain for Green Project(GGP) is an important measure for the prevention of sloping farmland and the restoration of natural vegetation.This project has been critical to the restoration of ecological environments in western China. However,the effect of the GGP on freshwater ecosystem services under extreme climates remains unclear. Thus, taking the middle and upper reaches of the Wujiang River Basin in western China as an example, this study assessed the variation of three freshwater ecosystem services(e.g., water yield, soil retention and nutrient retention) impacted by the GGP under drought stress by employing the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs(In VEST) model. In addition,the trade-off/synergistic relationship between three freshwater ecosystem services was analyzed based on the Pearson correlation coefficient. As revealed from the results, the effect of the GGP on the water yield and nutrient retention under drought stress was significantly higher than that on the soil retention.With the increase in the drought degree, the variation rate of the water yield and nutrient retention impacted by the GGP increased, whereas that of the soil retention decreased. The GGP in droughts of different seasons resulted in a significant heterogeneity in the changes of three freshwater ecosystem services. The correlation coefficients between the water yield and soil retention as well as that between the water yield and the nutrient retention increased, and the correlation coefficients declined between soil and nutrient retention under different drought degrees following the GGP. Unlike for the summer drought case, there were no significant changes in the correlation coefficients between three freshwater ecosystem services in spring, autumn and winter droughts. The results suggest that the amount of farmland converted to shrubland should be regulated to reduce the trade-off intensity between freshwater ecosystem services. In addition, food security and ecological environment protection should be balanced during the implementation of the GGP, and the most concentrated distribution region of farmland-to-forest conversion will be the key area of ecological management in the future.

Partnership in the Community“Going Green”Program

On the lawns and central garden of a community in the Haidian District of Beijing, called ＂Enjili＂, one can see a number of signs with the ＂Michelin＂ logo standing as tall as a man.

Cultivated-land change in Mu Us Sandy Land of China before and after the first-stage grain-for-green policy

Mu Us Sandy Land(MUSL) of China, as a typical eco-fragile and farming-pastoral transitional region, shows great vulnerability to disturbances from cultivation activity. In this region, the conflict between cultivation activity and environmental protection has not attracted great importance until the implementation of China's Grain-for-Green Policy(CGGP) since2000. Here, using Landsat5 TM/Landsat7 ETM+ images from 1990, 2000, and 2010, we monitor the cultivation activity and land-use/cover changes(LUCC) resulting from cultivation activity in the MUSL region. Based on the data from images, we developed a series of databases of cultivated activity-induced LUCC and use them to discuss comparatively the spatio-temporal evolution trends of cultivation activity before and after CGGP implementation. These results provide evidence for managers to evaluate the implementation effectiveness of governmental policy and the influence of cultivation activity on the ecological environment of the MUSL region.

四步法消除SYBR GreenⅠ实时定量RT-PCR中引物二聚体的影响

为建立一种新的SYBRgreenⅠ实时定量RT PCR方法 ,使之能够有效消除引物二聚体 (PDs)对实时定量结果的影响 .对RT PCR特异性扩增产物和PDs分别进行了凝胶电泳检测和熔解曲线分析 .依据PDs和扩增产物的熔解温度 (Tm)特点 ,在通用的三步法的延伸步骤之后 ,增加一个短暂的 (5s)恒温和荧光检测步骤 ,使这个步骤的温度高于PDs的Tm,但低于扩增产物的Tm,简称该法为四步法 .PDs的Tm 通常高于 72℃ ,但低于扩增产物的Tm .将四步法第四步的温度设置在高于PDs的Tm ,但低于扩增产物的Tm 时 ,四步法能够有效地消除PDs的影响 .对三步法和四步法SYBRgreenⅠ实时定量RT PCR进行了比较 ,发现三步法根本不能用于RNA的实时定量 ,而四步法能够实现包括低丰度RNA在内的RNA的定量 .选择Tm 值尽可能小的引物 ,使PDs与扩增产物Tm 值之间有足够的差距 ,将更有利于四步法的应用 。

Trade-off analyses between food provision and soil conservation service of Grain for Green Program in Mountainous Area

The Grain for Green Program and soil and water conservation engineering initiatives are crucial for controlling erosion in steep-slope agriculture.However,it is still unclear how these two management methods should be carried out in respect to the situation in mountainous areas.Therefore,taking a typical mountainous area in southwest China as an example,we simulated six scenarios in order to compare the food provisioning service(FPS)and soil conservation service of the Grain for Green Program(converting to grassland)and Construction Measures(converting to sloping terrace)under different slopes.Results showed that when farmland with a>25°slope was converted into grassland,the amount of soil erosion(M)decreased by 21.0%,while FPS decreased by only 0.7%.However,when farmland with a>25°slope was converted into sloping terrace,M decreased by 31.3%while FPS increased by 18.7%.With the increases of farmland slope ranges in the Construction Measures scenario,M gradually decreased and FPS gradually increased.Particularly when farmland>15°was converted into sloping terrace,M decreased by 63.9%and FPS increased by 52.7%.Furthermore,the trade-offs of Construction Measures are lower than that of Grain for Green on different slope ranges.Therefore,we conclude that Construction Measures are a more suitable method in mountainous areas than the Grain for Green,and we suggest that further research be conducted to consider the ecological risks of construction engineering measures.

Agricultural Production Structure Optimization: A Case Study of Major Grain Producing Areas, China

A large number of mathematical models were developed for supporting agricultural production structure optimization decisions; however, few of them can address various uncertainties existing in many factors （e.g., eco-social benefit maximization, food security, employment stability and ecosystem balance）. In this study, an interval-probabilistic agricultural production structure optimization model （IPAPSOM） is formulated for tackling uncertainty presented as discrete intervals and/or probability distribution. The developed model improves upon the existing probabilistic programming and inexact optimization approaches. The IPAPSOM considers not only food security policy constraints, but also involves rural households’income increase and eco-environmental conversation, which can effectively reflect various interrelations among different aspects in an agricultural production structure optimization system. Moreover, it can also help examine the reliability of satisfying （or risk of violating） system constraints under uncertainty. The model is applied to a real case of long-term agricultural production structure optimization in Dancheng County, which is located in Henan Province of Central China as one of the major grain producing areas. Interval solutions associated with different risk levels of constraint violation are obtained. The results are useful for generating a range of decision alternatives under various system benefit conditions, and thus helping decision makers to identify the desired agricultural production structure optimization strategy under uncertainty.

Optimization of green sand mould system using Taguchi based grey relational analysis

The strength of the mould cavity in sand casting is very much significant to attain high-quality castings. Optimization of green sand process parameters plays a vital role in minimizing casting defects. In the present research work, the effect of process parameters such as AFS grain fineness number, water, molasses, bentonite, fly ash, and ramming, and their levels on the resultant mould properties were investigated and optimized using Taguchi based grey relational analysis. The Taguchi L18 orthogonal array and analysis of variance(ANOVA) were used. The quality characteristics viz., green compression strength, permeability, bulk density, mould hardness and shatter index of green sand mould were optimized using grey relational grade, based on the experiments designed using Taguchi's Design of Experiments. ANOVA analysis indicated that water content is the most influential parameter followed by bentonite, and degree of ramming that contributes to the quality characteristics. The results are confirmed by calculating confidence intervals, which lies within the interval limits. Finally, microstructure observations and X-ray diffraction analysis have been performed for the optimal sand parametric combination. Results show that presence of maximum amount of SiO_2, which might be the reason for enhancement of the physical properties of the sand.

Optimization of Land Use Structure Based on Ecological GREEN Equivalent

Optimization of land use structure consists of economic and social and ecological optimization.Applying the minds of system engineering and principles of ecology,this paper presents such thoughts:the optimal forest_coverage rate calculated according to the reality of a district is set as main standard of ecological rationality in the district;through considering the value of ecosystem services of the land with GREEN equivalent (mainly cultivated land and grassland)and based on the rule,GREEN equivalent,this paper introduces the area conversion between woodland and cultivated land,also between woodland and grassland;this paper establishes a multi_dimension controlling model of optimization of land use structure.In addition,a multi_objective linear programming model for optimization of land use structure is designed.In the end,this paper tests and verifies this theory of ecological optimization,taking Qionghai city in Hainan Province as an example.

Developing green super rice varieties with high nutrient use efficiency by phenotypic selection under varied nutrient conditions

The development of green super rice varieties with improved nutrient use efficiency(NuUE)is a vital target area to increase yield and make it more stable under rainfed conditions.In the present study, we followed an early backcross(BC) breeding approach by using a highyielding and widely adapted Xian variety, Weed Tolerant Rice 1(WTR-1), as a recipient and a Geng variety, Hao-An-Nong(HAN), as a donor.Starting from the BC1F2 generation, the BC population went through one generation of selection under irrigated, low-input, and rainfed conditions, followed by four consecutive generations of screening and selection for high grain yield(GY) under six different nutrient conditions(NPK, 75 N,-N,-P,-NP, and-NPK), leading to the development of 230 BC1F6 introgression lines(ILs).These 230 ILs were evaluated under the same six nutrient conditions for 13 agro-morphological and grain yield component traits in comparison to four checks and parents.Significant trait variations were observed between the treatments and ILs.Positive correlations were identified for GY with biomass, panicle length, flag-leaf area, flag-leaf width, filled grain number per panicle,1000-grain weight, and tiller number under-N,-P,-NP, and-NPK conditions.Out of 230 ILs,12 were identified as promising under two or more nutrient deficiency conditions.The results demonstrated an efficient inter-subspecific BC breeding procedure with a first round of selection under rainfed-drought conditions, followed by four generations of progeny testing for yield performance under six nutrient conditions.The promising ILs can be useful resources for molecular genetic dissection and understanding the physiological mechanisms of NuUE.

GREEN CONSTRUCTION:CONTRACTOR MOTIVATION AND TRENDS IN AUSTIN,TEXAS

The purpose of this paper is to describe and assess one of the first comprehensive residential green-builder programs in the U.S.It compares trends of items used in residential construction during the past five years and reports why participating builders chose to incorporate specific items and their level of commitment to the program.This description provides a baseline of strategies to investigate the effect of this program in developing sustainable communities.The builder study population was derived from a database of registered“green”residences built during 1998-2002 in greater Austin,Texas(2,335 homes and 73 listed builders).Almost half the builders constructed just one“green”home,whereas two builders built almost 75%of the green homes during the 5-year study period.Less than 1%of the homes received a perfect 5-star rating,whereas 87%were rated 1 or 2 stars.The frequency of implementing the 122 green features were compared over time and analyzed for correlation with cost and their associated star-value.Cost was the primary factor determining item use frequency.Participating builders generally concurred that the program was successful and beneficial to homeowners but that the additional work required for participation provided little financial reward for builders.While much can be done with low-cost interventions to reduce the negative environmental impacts of residential construction,builder participation may be enhanced by promotion of some of the higher cost features.In addition,public education about the long-term benefits of green homes is needed to increase homeowner participation,and encourage builders to incorporate more environmentally friendly features in the homes they construct.

Study on the Effect of "Crayfish-Rice Continuous Cropping" on Grain Production:A Case Study of Hubei Province

Taking Hubei Province as an example,starting with the present situation and existing problems of grain production,this paper expounds the great significance of"crayfish-rice continuous cropping"model in improving grain quality,and analyzes the beneficial influence of"crayfish-rice continuous cropping"on grain production and the difficulties it faces.This paper also puts forward some measures and suggestions for the further popularization of"crayfish-rice continuous cropping"in order to maintain food security.

Regional Advantages of Green Feed Production in China: Based on Panel Data of 31 Provinces in China from 2014 to 2016

The panel data of 31 provinces in China from 2014 to 2016 were subjected to production concentration ratio and scale comparative advantage index analysis combining explicit supply and implicit demand. It was found that the explicit supply of green feed production and the production areas of beef cattle and mutton sheep related to implicit demand of green feed production terminal are relatively concentrated and stable. The area of green feed production with scale comparative advantage accounts for a large proportion. The number of advantageous areas was less than that of beef cattle and mutton sheep. There were fewer matching advantageous areas between the explicit green feed supply and the implicit cattle and sheep consumption across China. According to the matching between explicit green feed supply and implicit beef and sheep consumption,China’s green feed production can be divided into four types. Therefore,based on grasping the current layout of green feed and beef cattle and mutton sheep production,according to the comparative advantages of each region,the government should make reasonable arrangements according to local conditions and adopt different development strategies for different regions.

Green resource allocation for mobile edge computing

We investigate the green resource allocation to minimize the energy consumption of the users in mobile edge computing systems,where task offloading decisions,transmit power,and computation resource allocation are jointly optimized.The considered energy consumption minimization problem is a non-convex mixed-integer nonlinear programming problem,which is challenging to solve.Therefore,we develop a joint search and Successive Convex Approximation(SCA)scheme to optimize the non-integer variables and integer variables in the inner loop and outer loop,respectively.Specifically,in the inner loop,we solve the optimization problem with fixed task offloading decisions.Due to the non-convex objective function and constraints,this optimization problem is still non-convex,and thus we employ the SCA method to obtain a solution satisfying the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker conditions.In the outer loop,we optimize the offloading decisions through exhaustive search.However,the computational complexity of the exhaustive search method is greatly high.To reduce the complexity,a heuristic scheme is proposed to obtain a sub-optimal solution.Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed schemes.