Moving beyond Component Research in Mountain Regions: Operationalizing Systems Integration at Farm and Landscape Scales

Most research in support of agricultural development and natural resource management in densely settled mountain ecosystems continues to emphasize component over system-level goals. Research by plant breeders, foresters and animal scientists is generally designed to maximize the yield of products within their particular area of expertise (edible plant parts, tree products and livestock products, respectively), while soil scientists aim largely to increase soil nutrient stocks. At landscape level the same dynamic holds within the agronomic sciences, while water engineers work independently to conserve water through its isolation from broader landscape dynamics, and other common property resources remain largely ignored. Opportunities to foster positive synergies between system components, and to integrate livelihood with conservation goals, are generally missed. This paper presents experiences of the African Highlands Initiative, an ecoregional program of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and a network of the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), in operationalizing integrated research at farm and landscape scale. Following a discussion of the shortcomings of the conventional research paradigm that beg for strongerintegration and a review of the contributions of extant research paradigms that help us move in the right direction, the paper lays a conceptual foundation for integrated research. System components at farm and landscape level are delineated, and this somewhat arbitrary conceptual partitioning of agroecological systems shown to influence the current research paradigm as well as the partitioning of institutional mandates. Diverse meanings of systems integration are then discussed to illustrate the synergies that might be built into agricultural and natural resource research programs. The distinction between the logic of maximization and optimization is then utilized to distinguish between component and “system-level” goals. This conceptual overview is followed by several case studies to illustrate how these concepts can guide the formulation of integrated research objectives, methods and outputs at farm and landscape scale. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of this alternative research paradigm for the structure, function and skill base of national and international agricultural research systems.

Riparian Vegetation Dynamics Across Two Different Landscapes Along the River Cauvery in the Kodagu Region of Western Ghats

Decades of commercial planting and other anthropogenic processes are posing a threat to the riparian landscapes of the Cauvery river basin, which supports a high floral diversity. Despite this, the habitats in the upstream sections of the River Cauvery are still intact, as they are located in sacred groves. To understand the dynamism of riparian forests exposed to anthropogenic pressures, the upstream stretch of Cauvery extending from Kushalanagara to Talacauvery （~102 km） was categorized into two landscapes： agro ecosystem and sacred （i.e. preserved）. The tree species were sampled using belt transects at 5 km intervals and the regeneration status of endemic species assessed using quadrats. A total of 128 species belonging to 47 families, and representing 1,590 individuals, was observed. Amongst them, 65% of unique species were exclusive to sacred landscapes. A rarefaction plot confirmed higher species richness for the sacred compared to the agro ecosystem landscapes, and diversity indices with more evenness in distribution were evident in sacred landscapes. A significant loss of endemic tree species in the agro ecosystem landscapes was found. Overall, this study demonstrates that an intense biotic pressure in terms of plantations and other anthropogenic activities have altered the species composition of the riparian zone in non-sacred areas. A permanent policy implication is required for the conservation of riparian buffers to avoid further ecosystem degradation and loss of biodiversity.

The Impact of Fire Ants Solenopsis sp. on Upland Arthropods in Eastern India

Solenopsis sp. is an important invader on upland arthropod of Eastern India. This study was conducted to evaluate the role of this insect as potential biocontrol agent against some major pests of rice. The ant populations were sampled before and during appearance of hibernating larva and pupa of rice yellow stem borer （YSB） Scirpophaga incertulas （Walk.） inside the rice plant. Species richness and diversity of other ant species were also assessed from YSB protected field with insecticides and the crop grown under natural biological control. The maximum value of Barger-Parker index （d = 0.245） indicated that fire ant constituted 24.55% of the total population. Besides, in natural as in agricultural ecosystems, interference between fire ants and mealy bug as well as aphids was also recorded in different altitudes of the Eastern Himalayas and found that the incidence of fire ants Solenopsis sp. decreased the abundance of borer pests, but in contrast it increased the hopper pests in the same ecological niche.

Poverty and Agroforestry Adoption： The Cases of Mucuna pruriens and Acacia auriculiformis in Godohou Village （Southern Benin）

The decomposition of the environmental degradation cost in Benin Republic revealed that the agricultural activities are responsible of the greatest amount of this cost （76.1%）. This situation is strengthened by the fallow periods shortening （and even suppression） in the southern Benin in general, because of demographic pressure. The promotion of some improved fallow technologies （IFT） was then launched some decades ago. This study focused on two IFT of high agro-ecological value, Mucuna pruriens and Acacia auriculiformis, in order to determine the influence of the farmers＇ wellbeing state on their farming systems in general, and on the adoption level of these two technologies in Godohou village （southern Benin）. The data analysis revealed that： There was no significant difference between the farmers＇ amount knowing the agronomic and ecological value of Mucuna pruriens and Acacia auriculiformis from a level of prosperity to another; Three wealth levels were distinguished： The poor class （Ayatonon class）, the less poor class （Metchivo-Houedeka class） and the non poor class （Hotonon class） which represented respectively 35.4%, 55.9% and 8.7%;The adoption rate of Mucuna and Acacia fallow was globally low in Godohou village （25.7%）, but this adoption rate was lesser in the poorest class than in all other classes. This trend was confirmed if we integrate a global agro-ecological analysis of the farming systems practiced by the farmers.

Assessment of Soil Quality Using Microarthropod Communities Under Different Land System： A Case Study in the Mid-Hills of Central Nepal

The study aimed to evaluate soil quality using microarthopods density, diversity and soil biological quality index （QBS-ar） under different land use systems and elevation gradients. A secondary aim was to determine the relationship among soil biological and physiochemical indicators. Three groups of soil microarthropods were recognized viz. （1） Collembola （38%） （2） Acarina （33%） and （3） other microarthropods （29%）. ANOVA indicated that total microarthropods densities differed significantly with land use and elevation. Population density of Acarina and other mieroarthropods were weakly significant different according to land use, while Collembola and Acarina densities showed highly significant difference with elevation. Total microarthropods, Acarina and Collembola densities were positively significantly correlated with soil organic carbon （SOC） and moisture but negatively correlated with bulk density, pH and temperature of the soil. SOC and soil moisture appeared to be good indicators of soil quality as reflected by the higher density and diversity of soil total microarthropods, Collembola, Acarina and other microarthropods group. The use of microarthropods for soil quality assessment could be effective and relatively inexpensive tool; however, further research is required to evaluate the impact of agricultural practices and elevation gradient on soil microarthropods density, diversity and species composition for the sustainable management of agro ecosystems.

Greenhouse Gases Fluxes on Different Peat Agroecologies at Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

Peatland of central Kalimantan covers 2,934,660 ha and some areas are used for oil palm culture. Oil palm culture in peatland requires drainage system. Petland drainage is regarded to enhance greenhouse gases release due to faster peat decomposition and reduce peat surface （subsidence） in certain time. To improve peat productivity, the in situ ameliorant materials should be applied such as biochar of oil palm bunches. The experiment was conducted in greenhouse gases laboratory using soil column method to determine effect of biochar of oil palm bunches on greenhouse gases flux in different peat agro-ecology. The peat samples were taken from central Kalimantan. The peat samples were collected using soil column with 20 cm-diameter and 50 cm in height. The 3 ~ 5 experiment was arranged using randomized block design with three replicates. The first factor treatment was peat samples with different agroecologies （below 3 years old of oil palm, above 3 years old of oil palm, and scrubs）, and the second factor treatment was rate of oil palm bunches biochar （0, l, 2, 3, 4 t.ha-1）. Without applying biochar of oil palm bunches, the CO2 flux from peat with scrub was higher than from peat with oil palm plantation. Application of oil palm bunches biochar in three peat agro-ecologies emitted CO2 lower than application of no biochar. Under peat with scrub ecology, methane flux increased with time period of incubation. Methane flux was generally higher by applying biochar of oil palm bunches in scrubs agroecology, however, application of oil palm biochar reduced methane flux from peat for oil palm plantation. The increase of rate of oil palm bunches biochar decreased significantly more GHGs emission （P 〈 0.01）.

“问题农药”诱发“毛田事件”

5月以来。南方稻区早稻田间管理进入了集中喷施农药防治病虫害的季节。而这一时期也成为农民生产性中毒的高发期。前不久，湖南省湘乡市毛田乡32名农民集体中毒事件再次敲响了防范“问题农药”的警钟。

Agricultural Land Use Intensity and Its Determinants in Ecologically-vulnerable Areas in North China:A Case Study of Taipusi County,Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Based on rural household survey data in Taipusi County in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, this article analyzes agricultural land use intensity and its determinants. The results reveal marked differences of agricultural land use intensity among households with different ages of householders, proportion of non-farm participants, total agricultural land area, land fragmentation and land utilization capacity. （i） Households with older householders and households with a smaller proportion of non-farming laborers generally spend more time on managing their land and invest less capital and materials than other households. The proportion of non-farming laborers within younger households is relatively high, and they tend to invest more capital and materials because the income derived from non-farm employment relaxes their financial constraints. （ii） Land fragmentation is an important determinant of land use intensity. Households with a bigger land size per plot usually spend less time and invest more capital and materials on their land; （iii） Land with better quality is usually managed intensively. The results suggest that labor has become an important constraint for local agricultural production, and there is the potential to improve land management scale and increase machinery input to substitute for labor. Furthermore, the effects of non-farm employment on land use intensity indicate that the establishment of a coordination mechanism between non-farm employment and agricultural land use is an important way to solve the conflict between ecological security and agricultural production in ecologically-vulnerable areas.

The seasonal role of field characteristics on seed-eating bird abundances in agricultural landscapes

In temperate agroecosystems, avian responses in abundance and distribution to landscape attributes may be exacerbated by the coupling of natural seasons and farming practices. We assessed the sea- sonal roles of field type, field use in the surroundings, and distance from a field to the nearest woodlot on the abundance of seed-eating birds in a 225,000 km2 study area in the Pampas of central Argentina. During spring-summer and autumn of 2011-2013, we randomly selected 392 fields and used transect samples to collect data on abundance and presence of seed-eating bird species. We recorded a total of 11,579 individuals belonging to 15 seed-eating bird species. We used generalized lineal mixed models to relate bird abundance to field type, field use in the surroundings, and distance to the nearest woodlot. In spring-summer （breeding season） most bird responses were associated with their nesting requirements. Species that build their nests in trees, such as eared doves Zenaida auriculata, picazuro pigeons Patagioenas picazuro, and monk parakeets Myiopsitta monachus, were more abundant in fields closer to woodlots, whereas grassland yellow-finches Sicalis luteola, which nest at areas with tall grasses, were more abundant in fields with livestock use patches in the field surroundings. In au- tumn （non-breeding season）, most bird responses were associated with foraging and refuge needs. The high abundance of eared doves in crop stubbles and the association of pigeons at field surroundings dominated by croplands or at crop stubbles surrounded by livestock use fields revealed the intimate association of these species to sites with high availability of food resources. In addition, both picazuro pigeons and spot-winged pigeons Patagioenas maculosa were associated with woodlots, which provide suitable roosting sites. Our results show that in temperate agroecosystems, the relationships between field characteristics and seed-eating bird abundances vary with season.

Evaluation of Agricultural Ecological Security in Hubei Province

With the promotion of agricultural ecological civilization construction in China, agricultural ecological security has received increasing attention. How to ensure agricultural ecological security has become a great concern for many scholars. As an important agricultural province in China, Hubei is of great significance to Chinese food security and agricultural sustainable development. This paper aims to establish an index system of agricultural ecological security and security classification of Hubei via Analytic Hierarchy Process and Pressure-State-Response methods. An evaluation of agricultural ecological security in Hubei, with a base of the national average value in 2015, reveals that the security degree has increased by 0.07566 from 0.90150 in 2005 to 0.97716 in 2015. Results show that agricultural ecological security in Hubei has improved but failed to reach the national average and there is still large space for improvement of the security level, considering a trend of deterioration in some indexes, such as per capita water resources, population density, per unit area pesticide load of farmland, forest coverage, grassland degradation rate and average annual precipitation. Influencing factors, especially population spatial distribution, misconduct in agricultural production, insufficient ability in agricultural natural disaster prevention, deficiency of agro-ecological technology of agricultural ecological security in Hubei are analyzed. For improvement of the degree of agricultural ecological security in Hubei, some countermeasures and suggestions are discussed.