The influence that traditional Ghanaian norms, taboos, and folktales had in ensuring environmental protection and sustainability has been greatly minimized by the inroads of foreign cultures and religions such as Chri...The influence that traditional Ghanaian norms, taboos, and folktales had in ensuring environmental protection and sustainability has been greatly minimized by the inroads of foreign cultures and religions such as Christianity and Islam. Currently, modem methods of environmental protection and sustainability have not achieved the desired goals. As a result, Ghana is at the mercy of countless forms of environmental abuses to the extent that Ghana is ranked the seventh dirtiest nation and also second in open defecation worldwide. This paper examines how the incorporation of Humanist ethical principles to integrate with the traditional Ghanaian environmental taboos and modem technological methods to salvage the continuous and relentless environmental abuses in Ghana.展开更多
Changes in soil organic matter (SOM) can affect food security, soil and water conservation, and climate change. However, the drivers of changes in SOM in paddy soils of China are not fully understood because the eff...Changes in soil organic matter (SOM) can affect food security, soil and water conservation, and climate change. However, the drivers of changes in SOM in paddy soils of China are not fully understood because the effects of agricultural management and environmental factors are studied separately. Soil, climate, terrain, and agricultural management data from 6 counties selected based on representative soil types and cropping systems in China were used in correlation analysis, analysis of variance, and cforest modeling to analyze the drivers of changes in SOM in paddy soils in the Middle and Lower Yangtze River Plain from 1980 to 2011. The aims of this study were to identify the main factors driving the changes in SOM and to quantitatively evaluate their individual impacts. Results showed that the paddy SOM stock in the study area increased by 12.5% at an average rate of 0.023 kg m-2 year-1 over the 31-year study period. As a result of long-term rice planting, agricultural management practices had a greater influence than soil properties, climate, and terrain. Among the major drivers, straw incorporation, the most influential driver, together with fertilization and tillage practices, significantly increased the accumulation of SOM, while an increase in temperature significantly influenced SOM decomposition. Therefore, to confront the challenge of rising temperatures, it is important to strengthen the positive effects of agricultural management. Rational fertilizer use for stabilizing grain production and crop straw incorporation are promising measures for potential carbon sequestration in this region.展开更多
文摘The influence that traditional Ghanaian norms, taboos, and folktales had in ensuring environmental protection and sustainability has been greatly minimized by the inroads of foreign cultures and religions such as Christianity and Islam. Currently, modem methods of environmental protection and sustainability have not achieved the desired goals. As a result, Ghana is at the mercy of countless forms of environmental abuses to the extent that Ghana is ranked the seventh dirtiest nation and also second in open defecation worldwide. This paper examines how the incorporation of Humanist ethical principles to integrate with the traditional Ghanaian environmental taboos and modem technological methods to salvage the continuous and relentless environmental abuses in Ghana.
文摘Changes in soil organic matter (SOM) can affect food security, soil and water conservation, and climate change. However, the drivers of changes in SOM in paddy soils of China are not fully understood because the effects of agricultural management and environmental factors are studied separately. Soil, climate, terrain, and agricultural management data from 6 counties selected based on representative soil types and cropping systems in China were used in correlation analysis, analysis of variance, and cforest modeling to analyze the drivers of changes in SOM in paddy soils in the Middle and Lower Yangtze River Plain from 1980 to 2011. The aims of this study were to identify the main factors driving the changes in SOM and to quantitatively evaluate their individual impacts. Results showed that the paddy SOM stock in the study area increased by 12.5% at an average rate of 0.023 kg m-2 year-1 over the 31-year study period. As a result of long-term rice planting, agricultural management practices had a greater influence than soil properties, climate, and terrain. Among the major drivers, straw incorporation, the most influential driver, together with fertilization and tillage practices, significantly increased the accumulation of SOM, while an increase in temperature significantly influenced SOM decomposition. Therefore, to confront the challenge of rising temperatures, it is important to strengthen the positive effects of agricultural management. Rational fertilizer use for stabilizing grain production and crop straw incorporation are promising measures for potential carbon sequestration in this region.