In the field of global changes, the relationship between plant phenology and climate, which reflects the response of terrestrial ecosystem to global climate change, has become a key subject that is highly concerned. U...In the field of global changes, the relationship between plant phenology and climate, which reflects the response of terrestrial ecosystem to global climate change, has become a key subject that is highly concerned. Using the moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS)/enhanced vegetation index(EVI) collected every eight days during January- July from 2005 to 2008 and the corresponding remote sensing data as experimental materials, we constructed cloud-free images via the Harmonic analysis of time series (HANTS). The cloud-free images were then treated by dynamic threshold method for obtaining the vegetation phenology in green up period and its distribution pattern. And the distribution pattern between freezing disaster year and normal year were comparatively analyzed for revealing the effect of freezing disaster on vegetation phenology in experimental plot. The result showed that the treated EVI data performed well in monitoring the effect of freezing disaster on vegetation phenology, accurately reflecting the regions suffered from freezing disaster. This result suggests that processing of remote sensing data using HANTS method could well monitor the ecological characteristics of vegetation.展开更多
In Balochistan, Agriculture is dominated by small-scale farmers and the apple production sector is confronted with the chronic constraint of low output per unit of input. Although some agricultural policies have been ...In Balochistan, Agriculture is dominated by small-scale farmers and the apple production sector is confronted with the chronic constraint of low output per unit of input. Although some agricultural policies have been implemented in this province, studies on effectiveness and impacts of such policies over apple production and farmers' performance are still limited. This study is an effort to bridge the research gap on this potential crop in the plateau by investigating technical and scale efficiency of 181 officially designated small-scale apple farmers in mountainous district Mastung in Balochistan; then explored factors that underlie differences in production inefficiency. A two-stage input-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis(DEA) methodology was employed to evaluate technical and scale efficiency followed by truncated bootstrapped regression framework to analyze the correlative determinants to efficiency. Average technical and scale efficiencies of larger landholders were higher than medium and small landholders. Analysis indicated that there is still ample scope for inefficient sample farmers to reduce the input use by 33% without compromising the given yield level. Maximum contributions to the total input savings were from the use of urea, farm yard manure(FYM) and labor-use. Farmer's experience, farm ownership, irrigation constraints, and farmer's access to trainings, credit and extension services significantly affected apple farmers' technical efficiency. Based on the findings of this study, strategies are suggested to enhancing efficiencies by farmers' capacity development through effective extension services and trainings and provision of adequate credit.展开更多
文摘In the field of global changes, the relationship between plant phenology and climate, which reflects the response of terrestrial ecosystem to global climate change, has become a key subject that is highly concerned. Using the moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS)/enhanced vegetation index(EVI) collected every eight days during January- July from 2005 to 2008 and the corresponding remote sensing data as experimental materials, we constructed cloud-free images via the Harmonic analysis of time series (HANTS). The cloud-free images were then treated by dynamic threshold method for obtaining the vegetation phenology in green up period and its distribution pattern. And the distribution pattern between freezing disaster year and normal year were comparatively analyzed for revealing the effect of freezing disaster on vegetation phenology in experimental plot. The result showed that the treated EVI data performed well in monitoring the effect of freezing disaster on vegetation phenology, accurately reflecting the regions suffered from freezing disaster. This result suggests that processing of remote sensing data using HANTS method could well monitor the ecological characteristics of vegetation.
基金supported by core funds of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan and the University of Balochistan (Reg.440/07),under Faculty Development Project
文摘In Balochistan, Agriculture is dominated by small-scale farmers and the apple production sector is confronted with the chronic constraint of low output per unit of input. Although some agricultural policies have been implemented in this province, studies on effectiveness and impacts of such policies over apple production and farmers' performance are still limited. This study is an effort to bridge the research gap on this potential crop in the plateau by investigating technical and scale efficiency of 181 officially designated small-scale apple farmers in mountainous district Mastung in Balochistan; then explored factors that underlie differences in production inefficiency. A two-stage input-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis(DEA) methodology was employed to evaluate technical and scale efficiency followed by truncated bootstrapped regression framework to analyze the correlative determinants to efficiency. Average technical and scale efficiencies of larger landholders were higher than medium and small landholders. Analysis indicated that there is still ample scope for inefficient sample farmers to reduce the input use by 33% without compromising the given yield level. Maximum contributions to the total input savings were from the use of urea, farm yard manure(FYM) and labor-use. Farmer's experience, farm ownership, irrigation constraints, and farmer's access to trainings, credit and extension services significantly affected apple farmers' technical efficiency. Based on the findings of this study, strategies are suggested to enhancing efficiencies by farmers' capacity development through effective extension services and trainings and provision of adequate credit.
