This study aims to assess conservation practices in Izta-Popo National Park(Central Mexico) by evaluating the mechanisms of sediment transfer. We applied a methodology based on fallout ^(137)Cs and optically stimulate...This study aims to assess conservation practices in Izta-Popo National Park(Central Mexico) by evaluating the mechanisms of sediment transfer. We applied a methodology based on fallout ^(137)Cs and optically stimulated luminescence(OSL) analysis. This was tested in the upper catchment of Amalacaxco Gorge, selected for being one of the sectors of the park in which man-made actions have been implemented in last decades to favor forest growth in the alpine grassland and to reduce the effect of water runoff. We quantified the ^(137)Cs activity using gamma and beta spectrometry of fine sediment grains extracted from the surface of parcels of 0.4 m2 in areas of natural forest, natural alpine grassland, alpine grassland with conservation practices, ravines and trails. In general, ^(137)Cs values increases as local slope decreases as it was expected. The natural forest is the most stable area in terms of soil erosion and sediment accumulation and, mean ^(137)Cs activity was taken as reference to assess cumulative zones, with higher ^(137)Cs values and erosive, with lower. We found that trails are accumulative surfaces but in other areas, erosion predominates. Man-made ditches, trenches and afforestation in the alpine grassland have higher ^(137)Cs values than thenatural grassland, which indicates that conservation practices are limiting the sediment transfer from hillslopes to channels, however, soil retention is less than in the natural grassland. Additionally, we evaluated the luminescence(OSL) values obtained from samples extracted from the sediment transported in ravines that are cutting into different sectors of the study area to assess the grade of resetting of fluvial materials. These luminescence results indicated that the sediment transported in ravines that are cutting into the natural forest and alpine grassland is bleached more efficiently than the sediment transported in the alpine grassland with conservation practices. Results of fallout ^(137)Cs and luminescence strongly suggest that man-made actions in this part of the Izta-Popo National Park are dramatically modifying the natural mechanisms of sediment transfer and favoring soil erosion. We conclude that made ditches, trenches and afforestation are not an effective conservation practice in Amalacaxco Gorge because they are promoting soil erosion instead of reducing it.展开更多
This study aims to estimate the hydrodynamic properties of soils under various agricultural practices in the Tougou catchment in northern Burkina Faso. The methodology adopted is based on the determination of the unsa...This study aims to estimate the hydrodynamic properties of soils under various agricultural practices in the Tougou catchment in northern Burkina Faso. The methodology adopted is based on the determination of the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity and capillary sorptivity close to saturation. This method relies on the measurement of the transient infiltration flux at the soil surface with imposed hydraulic head varying from -60 to -20 mm. These tests are carried out on control, stony line, half-moon and zai plots. The results show a difference in hydrodynamic parameters according to the agricultural practices. The unsaturated hydraulic conductivity is 33.1 cm/h, 13.1 cm/h, 20.3 cm/h and 4.0 cm/h for zai, control, stony line and half-moon plots respectively. The unsaturated hydraulic conductivity is 33.1 cm/h, 13.1 cm/h, 20.3 cm/h and 4.0 cm/h for zai, control, stony line and half-moon plots respectively. The pores participating to water transfer also differ. The mean size of drainable pores is 43.7, 56.2, 22.3 and 87.2 pm on control, stony line, half-moon and zai plots respectively.展开更多
The perception of supply chain management （SCM） first appeared in 1982 and the very first papers on SCM were published in the mid 1980s （Houlihan, 1985）. However, this term is still fresh in Vietnam, especially th...The perception of supply chain management （SCM） first appeared in 1982 and the very first papers on SCM were published in the mid 1980s （Houlihan, 1985）. However, this term is still fresh in Vietnam, especially the subject of SCM practices and their impacts on firm performance of small and medium enterprises （SMEs）. Therefore, the research was conducted to study the impact of supply chain management practices （SCMPs） on firm performance of SMEs through firm competitive advantages. Data were collected by surveying SMEs located in Ho Chi Minh City. The research findings showed that customer relationship （CR） and quality of information sharing （IQ） impact on firm performance at 0.01% significance level while the level of information sharing impacts on firm performance at 10% significance level, and strategic supplier partnership impacts on firm performance insignificantly. Moreover, we also found that customer relationship and quality of information sharing influence firm competitive advantage at 0.01% significance level, while strategic supplier partnership and the quality of information sharing impact on firm competitive advantage at 5% significance level. Competitive advantages impact significantly positively on firm performance at significance level of 0.001%. The findings imply that SMEs in Vietnam should manage customer relationship well and increase the level of information quality to improve competitive advantage in order to gain high performance.展开更多
文摘This study aims to assess conservation practices in Izta-Popo National Park(Central Mexico) by evaluating the mechanisms of sediment transfer. We applied a methodology based on fallout ^(137)Cs and optically stimulated luminescence(OSL) analysis. This was tested in the upper catchment of Amalacaxco Gorge, selected for being one of the sectors of the park in which man-made actions have been implemented in last decades to favor forest growth in the alpine grassland and to reduce the effect of water runoff. We quantified the ^(137)Cs activity using gamma and beta spectrometry of fine sediment grains extracted from the surface of parcels of 0.4 m2 in areas of natural forest, natural alpine grassland, alpine grassland with conservation practices, ravines and trails. In general, ^(137)Cs values increases as local slope decreases as it was expected. The natural forest is the most stable area in terms of soil erosion and sediment accumulation and, mean ^(137)Cs activity was taken as reference to assess cumulative zones, with higher ^(137)Cs values and erosive, with lower. We found that trails are accumulative surfaces but in other areas, erosion predominates. Man-made ditches, trenches and afforestation in the alpine grassland have higher ^(137)Cs values than thenatural grassland, which indicates that conservation practices are limiting the sediment transfer from hillslopes to channels, however, soil retention is less than in the natural grassland. Additionally, we evaluated the luminescence(OSL) values obtained from samples extracted from the sediment transported in ravines that are cutting into different sectors of the study area to assess the grade of resetting of fluvial materials. These luminescence results indicated that the sediment transported in ravines that are cutting into the natural forest and alpine grassland is bleached more efficiently than the sediment transported in the alpine grassland with conservation practices. Results of fallout ^(137)Cs and luminescence strongly suggest that man-made actions in this part of the Izta-Popo National Park are dramatically modifying the natural mechanisms of sediment transfer and favoring soil erosion. We conclude that made ditches, trenches and afforestation are not an effective conservation practice in Amalacaxco Gorge because they are promoting soil erosion instead of reducing it.
文摘This study aims to estimate the hydrodynamic properties of soils under various agricultural practices in the Tougou catchment in northern Burkina Faso. The methodology adopted is based on the determination of the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity and capillary sorptivity close to saturation. This method relies on the measurement of the transient infiltration flux at the soil surface with imposed hydraulic head varying from -60 to -20 mm. These tests are carried out on control, stony line, half-moon and zai plots. The results show a difference in hydrodynamic parameters according to the agricultural practices. The unsaturated hydraulic conductivity is 33.1 cm/h, 13.1 cm/h, 20.3 cm/h and 4.0 cm/h for zai, control, stony line and half-moon plots respectively. The unsaturated hydraulic conductivity is 33.1 cm/h, 13.1 cm/h, 20.3 cm/h and 4.0 cm/h for zai, control, stony line and half-moon plots respectively. The pores participating to water transfer also differ. The mean size of drainable pores is 43.7, 56.2, 22.3 and 87.2 pm on control, stony line, half-moon and zai plots respectively.
文摘The perception of supply chain management （SCM） first appeared in 1982 and the very first papers on SCM were published in the mid 1980s （Houlihan, 1985）. However, this term is still fresh in Vietnam, especially the subject of SCM practices and their impacts on firm performance of small and medium enterprises （SMEs）. Therefore, the research was conducted to study the impact of supply chain management practices （SCMPs） on firm performance of SMEs through firm competitive advantages. Data were collected by surveying SMEs located in Ho Chi Minh City. The research findings showed that customer relationship （CR） and quality of information sharing （IQ） impact on firm performance at 0.01% significance level while the level of information sharing impacts on firm performance at 10% significance level, and strategic supplier partnership impacts on firm performance insignificantly. Moreover, we also found that customer relationship and quality of information sharing influence firm competitive advantage at 0.01% significance level, while strategic supplier partnership and the quality of information sharing impact on firm competitive advantage at 5% significance level. Competitive advantages impact significantly positively on firm performance at significance level of 0.001%. The findings imply that SMEs in Vietnam should manage customer relationship well and increase the level of information quality to improve competitive advantage in order to gain high performance.
