Emergy Efficiency and Structural Adjustment of Hunan Agro-ecosystem

[Objective] To analyze the efficiency of Hunan agro-ecosystem in 1980- 2010. [Method] This paper adopts the emergy methods to evaluate the emergy input and output. [Result] The growth of total emergy input was mainly caused by the auxiliary factors in this phase. The proportion of the nonrenewable purchased emergy input to the total auxiliary emergy input increased from 21.80% in 1980 to 33.04% in 2010. In 1980-2010 the total emergy output of the system increased by 2.43 times, the proportions of the stock farming emergy output and fishery emergy output to the total emergy output increased sharply, while those of the planting emergy output and forestry emergy output showed a considerable decline. [Conclusion] The emergy yield ratio of this system was improved but its sustainability was worrying.

Seasonal and Annual Variations of CO_2 Fluxes in Rain-Fed Winter Wheat Agro-Ecosystem of Loess Plateau, China

To accurately evaluate the carbon sequestration potential and better elucidate the relationship between the carbon cycle and regional climate change, using eddy covariance system, we conducted a long-term measurement of CO 2 fluxes in the rain-fed winter wheat field of the Chinese Loess Plateau. The results showed that the annual net ecosystem CO 2 exchange （NEE） was （-71.6±5.7） and （-65.3±5.3） g C m-2 y-1 for 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 crop years, respectively, suggesting that the agro-ecosystem was a carbon sink （117.4-126.2 g C m-2 yr-1）. However, after considering the harvested grain, the agro- ecosystem turned into a moderate carbon source. The variations in NEE and ecosystem respiration （R eco ） were sensitive to changes in soil water content （SWC）. When SWC ranged form 0.15 to 0.21 m3 m-3, we found a highly significant relationship between NEE and photosynthetically active radiation （PAR）, and a highly significant relationship between R eco and soil temperature （T s ）. However, the highly significant relationships were not observed when SWC was outside the range of 0.15-0.21 m3 m-3. Further, in spring, the R eco instantly responded to a rapid increase in SWC after effective rainfall events, which could induce 2 to 4-fold increase in daily R eco , whereas the R eco was also inhibited by heavy summer rainfall when soils were saturated. Accumulated R eco in summer fallow period decreased carbon fixed in growing season by 16- 25%, indicating that the period imposed negative impacts on annual carbon sequestration.

Advances in Nitrogen Denitrification and N_2O Emission in Agro-ecosystem

Nitrification and denitrification are two key links of nitrogen flow cycle in soil.N2O and N2,generated from biochemical process of nitrogen,can cause not only the nitrogen losses and reduction of nitrogen use efficiency,but also the boosted concentration of greenhouse gases,severely endangering the environment.Accordingly,nitrification-denitrification has been more and more concerned from whether an agricultural view,or an environmental one.Referring to the related literatures published at home and abroad in recent years,we overviewed the denitrification-caused N loss and N2O emission in various agro-ecosystems,and based on which we put forward countermeasures to reduce the denitrification-caused N loss and N2O emission and its research prospects in the future.

NUMERICAL CLASSIFICATION OF REGIONAL STRUCTURE OF AGRO-ECOSYSTEM IN GUANGDONG

On the basis of 'The Statistical Data of Guangdong Province in 1981' and the 14 selected original variables, 107 counties and suburbs in Guangdong are classified. In the classification, cluster analysis is applied, and the cluster hierarchy of the agro-ecosystem is achieved with a computer. According to output level, planting structure, and input level of energy, there is an evident regionalism in the agro-ecosystem of Guangdong, which presents approximately concentric circles centralized by Guangzhou City.

Agro-ecosystem Emergy Evolution and Trend in Hunan Province

Using the emergy analysis method,we conduct trend analysis of changes in the total emergy,input and output structure,various emergy indicators of agro-ecosystem in Hunan Province during the period 1999-2008.The results show that during the study period,total emergy input basically remained stable,but the emergy input structure was constantly optimized,of which the input of non-renewable industrial assistant emergy increased by 38.4%,from 4.00E +22 sej to 5.53E +22 sej,and the input of renewable organic emergy declined from 1.32E +23 sej to 1.20E + 23 sej;total emergy yield and yield efficiency of this system were promoted dramatically,and in 2008,the total emergy yield reached 1.69E +23 sej,increasing by 23.8% as against that in 1999,the net emergy yield ratio rose from 0.79 to 0.96;since the environmental loading ratio also tended to rise constantly,from 1.12 to 1.79,the sustainability index of this system also experienced the slow downward trend,from 0.71 to 0.54,always less than 1,indicating that the agriculture in Hunan Province is the high consumption-driven ecosystem in general,with obvious features of extensive development.

Enhancing the Social and Natural Capital of Canadian Agro-Ecosystems through Incentive-Based “Alternative Land Use Services” (ALUS) Programs: Recurring Themes and Emerging Lessons

Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) is an incentive-based program established in Canada to pay farmers for their voluntary delivery of ecosystem services (ES). All seven ALUS programs across the country were examined using a standardized case-study approach based on site visits, reading internal documents, attending program meetings, and engaging in semi-structured interviews with program administrators, participating farmers, and advisory board members. Direct content analysis was used to highlight recurrent themes and emerging lessons in relation to the salient particulars of program physical location, administration framework, delivery of ES, and development and receipt by communities. Our three major findings are: 1) Overall, ALUS has been judged by participants to be a very successful program, whose strength is that it is completely voluntary, non-permanent, and readily adaptable to each location’s environmental conditions, economic funding base, and cultural milieu. 2) One serious shortcoming of all ALUS programs is a general lack of quantifiable data on their ability to increase ES. Instead, environmental benefits are either assumed or based on the idea that the areal extent of enrolled land is the sole measure of its environmental worth. 3) It may be that the social impact of ALUS is its greatest success. In this regard, for farmers, it is the process of engaging in land-use decision making and the recognition of their role as environmental stewards that is a bigger motivation for participating in an ALUS program than the modest financial incentives which they receive.

Lesser Kestrel Foraging Habitats in Special Protection Areas in Agro-ecosystems

The European Union （EU） Wild Birds Directive recognises that the most serious threats to wild birds＇ conservation in Europe are habitat loss and degradation, and hence, habitats of threatened and migratory species must be protected with the establishment of the network of the special protection areas （SPAs） for migratory and endangered bird species in the EU member states. The major European population of the lesser kestrel Falco naumanni, a migratory falcon listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive, occurs in low-input farming systems in the Mediterranean basin, including Greece. The aim of this study was to identify foraging habitats of lesser kestrels and relate them to the delimited SPAs in the agro-ecosystems of Greece, where the stronghold of the species population for Greece occurs. Foraging habitat preferences were assessed using Poisson regression models （PRMs）. SPAs were examined on whether they can effectively protect foraging habitats for breeding lesser kestrels in the study area. Foraging lesser kestrel abundance was positively associated with grasslands and non-irrigated land （dry cereals）, and negatively associated with irrigated land （wet cotton）, scrubland and woodland. Electricity facilities were used as foraging perches by lesser kestrels. The current SPAs cover a small percentage of the species＇ foraging sites and cannot be considered coherent enough to support and protect the foraging habitats of lesser kestrels and other priority species in the agro-ecosystems of the study area. Proposals for effective conservation of low-input farming systems, supporting priority species, are also presented.

Project on Interaction between Agro-ecosystems and Global Change Making Progress

A research project on interaction between agroecosystems and global change has been accepted as a Category Ⅰ contribution to IGBP-GCTE (International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme-Global Change & Terrestrial Ecosystems) Core Research, the highest-level support GCTE has offered to an individual research project so far. This was confirmed by Prof. Noble, GCTE Chairman, in a letter to Prof. Peng Shaolin, Principal Investigator of

川中丘陵区农田生态系统太阳辐射及土壤热通量数据集(2005-2021年)

太阳辐射是地表生态系统的主要能量来源,是生态系统维持本身正常运转和发展的原始动力;地表层土壤热通量是地表能量平衡的重要参数之一。四川盐亭农田生态系统国家野外科学观测研究站(简称盐亭站)是国家布局在亚热带四川盆地农业生态区的唯一农田生态系统监测野外站。该区域具有优越的光、热、水资源,非地带性土壤紫色土广泛分布,形成亚热带湿润季风气候与非地带性紫色土的最佳农业组合,农耕活跃,是四川盆地农业的主体区域。本研究基于盐亭站综合气象观测场Vaisala(芬兰)自动气象观测系统,经过数据采集、处理、数据质量控制与评估,集成2005-2021年紫色土典型农田生态系统太阳辐射和土壤热通量数据集,太阳辐射监测包括总辐射、反射辐射、紫外辐射、净辐射和光合有效辐射。数据集包含5个EXCEL文件,有各类辐射的时值、日值和月值观测及统计数据,数据量32.7 MB。本数据集可为生态系统生产能力评估、应对气候变化等方面的研究提供数据支持。

中国典型农业生态系统的固碳减排现状、影响因素及减排措施

农业生态系统既是温室气体的重要贡献者之一,也是固碳端,在固碳减排上发挥着重要作用。在“碳达峰”和“碳中和”的背景下,农业生态系统的固碳减排潜力巨大。本文主要综述了中国典型农业生态类型中主要温室气体的来源、固定途径及其影响因素,讨论了农业生态系统固碳减排的现有研究成果、减排潜力以及存在问题,总结了推动整个农业生态系统固碳相关领域的研究,展望了新的研究方向和探索途径。为中国进一步固碳减排、农业可持续发展,尽快实现“双碳”目标提供重要理论参考。

Changes in cropland topsoil organic carbon with different fertilizations under long-term agro-ecosystem experiments across China's Mainland

Topsoil soil organic carbon(SOC) data were collected from long-term Chinese agro-ecosystem experiments presented in 76 reports with measurements over 1977 and 2006.The data set comprised 481 observations(135 rice paddies and 346 dry croplands) of SOC under different fertilization schemes at 70 experimental sites(28 rice paddies and 42 dry croplands).The data set covered 16 dominant soil types found in croplands across 23 provinces of China's Mainland.The fertilization schemes were grouped into six categories:N(inorganic nitrogen fertilizer only),NP(compound inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers),NPK(compound inorganic nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium fertilizers),O(organic fertilizers only),OF(combined inorganic/organic fertilization) and Others(other unbalanced fertilizations such as P only,K only,P plus K and N plus K).Relative change in SOC content was analyzed,and rice paddies and dry croplands soils were compared.There was an overall temporal increase in topsoil SOC content,and relative annual change(RAC,g kg-1 yr-1) ranged -0.14-0.60(0.13 on average) for dry cropland soils and -0.12-0.70(0.19 on average) for rice paddies.SOC content increase was higher in rice paddies than in dry croplands.SOC increased across experimental sites,but was higher under organic fertilization and combined organic/inorganic fertilizations than chemical fertilizations.SOC increase was higher under balanced chemical fertilizations with compound N,P and K fertilizers than unbalanced fertilizations such as N only,N plus P,and N plus K.The effects of specific rational fertilizations on SOC increase persisted for 15 years in dry croplands and 20 years in rice paddies,although RAC values decreased generally as the experiment duration increased.Therefore,the extension of rational fertilization in China's croplands may offer a technical option to enhance C sequestration potential and to sustain long-term crop productivity.

Groundwater recharge under irrigated agro-ecosystems in the North China Plain: From a critical zone perspective

From a critical zone perspective, the present paper aims to present the magnitude of groundwater recharge under different agricultural land-use types, reveal the process of water and solute transport in thick vadose zone, evaluate the "time lag" effect of recharge, and underscore the role of thickening vadose zone in recharge. The results indicated that different agricultural land-use types need to be further considered in recharge rate estimate. Under the typical irrigation condition in the piedmont plain, the recharge rate under flood irrigated winter wheat and summer maize(W/M_F), maize(M), non-cultivation(NC), native vegetation(NV), vegetables(V), and orchards(O) is 206.4, 149.7, 194.1, 46.4, 320.0, and 48.6 mm/yr, respectively. In the central plain, the value under W/M_F, M, NC, V, and cotton(C) is 92.8, 50.8, 85.0, 255.5, and 26.5 mm/yr, respectively. Soil water residence time(several years) and groundwater level response time(several months) should be distinguished to further understand the processes of groundwater recharge, because the soil water displacement velocities range from 0.2 to 2.2 m/yr while the rate of wetting front propagation is approximately 47 m/yr in the piedmont plain. The thickening vadose zone would prolong residence time of soil water and contaminant, which could postpone the time of or alleviate groundwater pollution, but have no significant influence on the magnitude of recharge in a long time scale. Recharge coefficient based on shorter time span(e.g. 2 or 3 years) should be used with caution as a parameter for groundwater resources evaluation, because it varies with total water input and target soil depth. Uncertainties in evapotranspiration and other water balance components should be evaluated in recharge estimation and the impact of land-use types on recharge should be emphasized. The critical zone science would greatly improve the understanding of groundwater recharge processes. The results of the present study will be helpful in sustainable groundwater resources management.

Impact of sole and combined application of biochar,organic and chemical fertilizers on wheat crop yield and water productivity in a dry tropical agro-ecosystem

Agriculture under changing climate scenario is facing major challenges of water scarcity and resource imbalances.Crop water productivity(WP)may act as an indicator of crop responses to water limitation.Organic amendments such as biochar and manure application to soil are suggested for improving soil quality and reducing water requirements from agricultural sector.However,studies exploring the impact of biochar as sole or in combination with organic and/or chemical fertilizers on WP in dry tropical agro-ecosystems are limited.In this study,we observed the effect of rice-husk ash(RHA,biochar)along with farm-yard manure(FYM)and chemical fertilizers(CF)under varying water conditions on soil hydro-physical properties,yield and WP of wheat crop.Water-filled pore space(WFPS),grain and straw yield,irrigation and total water productivity varied significantly(at P<0.001)at treatment level.Grain and straw yield were found higher under sole and combined CF applied treatments.Sole and combined RHA and FYM amendment improved water holding capacity(WHC)and WFPS,whereas a decrease in crop yield was observed as compared to the control.Irrigation and total water productivity were found higher under combined RHA+FYM and sole CF treatments with reduced water supply(except sole CF)as compared to control and sole RHA treatments with full water irrigation.Crop water productivity was found positively correlated with grain and straw yields,however,significant correlations were not observed with WHC and WFPS.Results indicate that increasing soil hydro-physical properties in silty-loam soil may hinder crop yield and WP under sole biochar applied soils.Overall,the implications of the study would help in devising agro-management practices based on combined application of RHA and FYM with reduced chemical fertilizer and water inputs to mitigate the impacts of climate change without compromising crop yield in the highly vulnerable dry tropical agro-ecosystem of India.Moreover,long-term studies are needed in these ecosystems to identify the appropriate agricultural package for mitigating the forthcoming water scarcity conditions.

Carbon flow analysis of China＇s agro-ecosystem from 1980 to 2013： A perspective from substance flow analysis

Research on carbon cycling has attracted attention from both scientists and policy-makers. Based on material flow analysis, this study systematically budgets the carbon inputs, outputs and balance from 1980 to 2013 for China＇s agro-ecosystem and its sub-systems, including agricultural land use, livestock breeding and rural life. The results show that from 1980 to 2013, both the carbon input and output were growing gradually, with the carbon input doubling from 1.6 Pg C/year in 1980 to 3.4 Pg C/year in 2013, while carbon output grew from 2.2 Pg C/year in 1980 to 3.8 Pg C/year in 2013. From 1980 to 2013, the crop production system in China has remained a carbon source, and the agricultural land uses were also almost all carbon sources instead of carbon sinks. As soil carbon stock plays a very important role in deciding the function of China＇s agro-ecosystem as a carbon sink or source, practices that can promote carbon storage and sequestration will be an essential component of low carbon agriculture development in China.

放牧压力对中国北方农牧交错带生态系统健康的影响

中国北方农牧交错带生态系统敏感脆弱、不稳定,其健康状况受多种因素影响,其中以放牧为代表的人类经济活动影响显著。高强度放牧是造成草地退化的重要原因,草地退化又是影响草原生态系统健康的关键因素。利用归一化植被指数和牲畜量量化放牧压力,并选取合理的模型探究放牧对于中国北方农牧交错带生态健康的影响,确定合理的放牧强度和策略,以实现草畜平衡和区域可持续发展。基于“活力-组织力-弹性-生态服务”(VORS)模型,构建起包括自然、社会等多方面的指标体系,评估了2000—2015年北方农牧交错带的生态健康系统水平,并采用Moran′s I探讨放牧压力和生态系统健康指数的空间相关性,并从普通最小二乘法、地理加权回归模型、时间加权回归模型和时空地理加权回归模型选择最优回归模型,揭示放牧压力对于生态系统健康的影响机制。结果表明:(1)2000—2015年放牧强度格局高值区域主要为内蒙古草原地区,低值区域主要为陕西高原地区。(2)2000—2015年中国北方农牧交错带的生态系统健康指数呈现上升趋势,区域整体处于亚健康状态和一般健康状态。(3)全局双变量Moran′s I结果显示在2000—2015年呈现负相关影响关系,但影响力度在变小。(4)多种回归模型相比较,GTWR模型表现最优。2000—2015年,正向驱动空间集中在内蒙古、辽宁以及山西省区县;负向驱动空间集中在陕西省、甘肃等区域,同时影响强度持续增强。研究通过不同区县、不同的草原的反应状况,提出放牧政策的不同实施建议,致力于实现草原资源的可持续利用和生态系统的持续健康。

新疆阿克苏地区农业生态系统的脆弱性及其驱动因素分析

为研究新疆阿克苏地区农业生态系统的脆弱性及其驱动因素,以阿克苏9个县(市)为研究对象,从压力、敏感性、恢复力3个方面选取20项指标,建立阿克苏农业生态系统脆弱性评价体系。采用熵权法确定指标权重,用综合指数法对各县(市)农业生态系统的脆弱性进行计算和分类,通过主成分分析法研究农业生态系统脆弱性的主要驱动因素。结果表明:(1)压力的权重为36.245%,敏感性的权重为38.005%,恢复力的权重为25.750%。(2)阿克苏各县(市)农业生态系统脆弱性不一,以高度脆弱和中度脆弱为主,以微度脆弱为辅。极度脆弱的县有1个,占阿克苏地区总面积的11.0%,高度脆弱的县(市)有3个,占阿克苏地区总面积的41.7%;中度脆弱的县有2个,占阿克苏地区总面积的14.4%;微度脆弱的县有3个,占阿克苏地区总面积的32.8%。(3)阿克苏农业生态系统脆弱性的主要驱动因素分别是农业生产条件、气候状况、农业经济状况、农业机械化水平、极端天气和森林覆盖情况,其中农业生产条件是首要驱动因素。因此,降低阿克苏地区农业生态系统脆弱性的重点是改善中高度脆弱区的农业生产条件,降低农业生态系统的敏感性。

基于WOS的国际农业生态学研究热点与前沿探究

农业生态学作为生态学和农业科学的交叉学科,有助于优化传统农业体系和生态农业实践。为厘清国际农业生态学的发展现状和研究趋势,本文借助CiteSpace对2012—2021年Web of Science核心数据库的国际农业生态学论文进行计量分析,研究发现:1)国际农业生态学的热点议题主要是农业生态系统的整体表现及其评价的研究、以生态农业实践为基础的科学研究以及关于生态农业社会运动与社会影响的研究等。2)国际农业生态研究人员在农业生态学领域有很多基础性和创新性研究,主要围绕农业生态转型与生态农业产业形态、生态农业社会运动以及如何调节农业生态系统内部诸生态因子、建构可持续农业生态体系展开。3)国际农业生态学研究的前沿趋势不仅聚焦于涉及自然学科的生物多样性保护、景观生态安全格局、农业种植体系与农业环境污染等内容,还涉及社会管理相关领域的知识型农民培育、农业教育和参与式治理模式等方面。未来国内农业生态学的发展可在立足国情的基础上,加强国际交流合作,同时,紧随国家发展战略,推动新型农业技术的创新发展。

农业生态系统服务价值评价及其驱动因素:基于动态调节当量的实证考察

考察农业生态系统服务价值及其驱动因素是实现农业生态保护和高质量绿色发展的基本前提。基于动态当量调节因子模型测算2000—2019年我国31个省份农业生态系统服务价值,采用标准差椭圆和时空地理加权回归模型,考察农业生态系统服务价值的空间格局及分布动态演进,识别其驱动因素的时空异质性。研究发现:全国农业生态系统服务价值总量以及人均农业生态系统服务价值均呈现波动式上升趋势,而全国农业生态系统服务价值总量占第一产业GDP的比重、人均农业生态系统服务价值占人均GDP的比重呈现下降趋势,存在较大的提升空间。农业生态系统服务价值存在明显的空间非均衡特征,呈现稳定的“东北-西南”分布方向,其中西部地区最大。降水、气温、城镇化、经济发展水平和环境治理有利于提升农业生态系统服务价值,而人口密度以及产业结构具有抑制作用,各驱动因素存在明显的时空分异性。

退耕还林(草)工程对中国北方农牧交错带生态系统健康的影响

生态系统健康是生态环境治理的目标,探究国家级生态修复项目退耕还林(草)工程对中国北方农牧交错带生态系统健康的影响,确定合理的生态环境恢复和资源管理策略,有助于加快生态环境建设、促进区域可持续发展。基于“压力-状态-响应”(PSR)模型,构建起一套包括自然、社会和经济等方面的综合指标体系,评估了2000年、2005年、2010年和2015年中国北方农牧交错带的生态系统健康水平,利用Moran′s I分析退耕还林(草)工程和区域生态系统健康的空间相关性,并从普通最小二乘法、地理加权回归模型、时间加权回归模型和时空地理加权回归模型中,选择最优回归模型,揭示退耕还林还草实施强度变化(△NDVI)对生态系统健康变化(△EHI)的影响机制。结果表明:(1)2000—2015年,中国北方农牧交错带的生态系统健康指数呈现“先下降后上升”的变化趋势,区域整体处于亚健康状态和一般健康状态,健康状况逐渐转好。(2)全局双变量Moran′s I结果显示,在2000—2010年工程的开始和发展阶段,退耕还林(草)工程对生态系统健康呈现正相关影响关系,而2010—2015年间,两者之间变为负相关关系。(3)多种回归模型相比较,GTWR模型表现最优。在2000—2010年间,退耕还林(草)工程对研究区域东北部生态系统健康变化具有显著正向影响,在2010—2015年间,该区域由正向驱动变为负向驱动;中部地区则一直保持正向驱动;西南部地区则呈现“负向驱动—正向驱动—负向驱动”的波动变化情况。

农业产业集聚与农田生态系统碳足迹:影响机理与空间溢出效应

碳足迹可以衡量人类活动对生态系统的影响,探究农业产业集聚对农田生态系统碳足迹的影响效应对于促进农业高质量发展具有重要的现实意义。本文运用2000—2019年省际面板数据,通过构建空间杜宾模型实证分析农业产业集聚对农田生态系统碳足迹的影响,结果表明:2000—2019年全国农田生态系统碳足迹总体上呈下降趋势,且具有明显“南高北低、东高西低”的特征;农田生态系统碳足迹具有显著的空间正相关性;农业产业集聚对农田生态系统碳足迹的影响存在空间溢出效应且具有区域异质性。基于以上结论,本文从推动农业产业合理集聚、加强区域之间农业碳减排合作以及因地制宜施策等方面提出相关对策建议。