This study examines social vulnerability by exploring the socio-economic factors, infrastructures, and social networks that can determine how prone and how prepared the rain-fed farming communities are to the adverse ...This study examines social vulnerability by exploring the socio-economic factors, infrastructures, and social networks that can determine how prone and how prepared the rain-fed farming communities are to the adverse impacts of climate change. Increased variability in climatic conditions due to climate change seriously affects the productivity of rain-fed farms. The rain-fed farming communities in the Philippines are located in poor and environmentally fragile rural areas. Their vulnerability is greatly affected by restricted entitlement and access to social and economic capitals. This study is framed on qualitative approach to provide a rich and in-depth understanding on the elements of vulnerability based on the capacities and the practical affairs of life in rain-fed communities. The three subject communities from two agricultural provinces are examined to understand how the context and interactions of people can explicate sociological themes on the social dimension of climate change. The usefulness of multi-site study in probing the unique ways of how people understand and respond to certain environmental issue is part of reflections about the methodology.展开更多
Soil water is strongly affected by land use/cover in the Loess Plateau in China. Water stored in thick loessal soils is one of the most important resources regulating vegetation growth. However, soil water in the deep...Soil water is strongly affected by land use/cover in the Loess Plateau in China. Water stored in thick loessal soils is one of the most important resources regulating vegetation growth. However, soil water in the deep loess proifle, which is critical for maintaining the function of the“soil water pool”is rarely studied because deep proifle soil samples are dififcult to collect. In this study, four experimental plots were established in 2005 to represent different farming systems on the Changwu Tableland：fallow land, fertilized cropland, unfertilized cropland, and continuous alfalfa. The soil water content in the 15-m-deep loess proifles was monitored continuously from 2007 to 2012 with the neutron probe technique. The results showed that temporal variations in soil water proifles differed among the four farming systems. Under fallow land, the soil water content increased gradually over time, ifrst in the surface layers and later in the deep soil layers. In contrast, the soil water content decreased gradually under continuous alfalfa. The distributions of soil water in deep soil layers under both fertilized and unfertilized cropland were relatively stable over time. Thus farming system signiifcantly affected soil water content. Seven years after the start of the experiment, the soil water contents in the 15-m-deep proifles averaged 23.4%under fallow land, 20.3%under fertilized cropland, 21.6%under unfertilized cropland, and 16.0%under continuous alfalfa. Compared to measurements at the start of the experiment, both fallow land and unfertilized cropland increased soil water storage in the 15-m loess proifles. In contrast, continuous alfalfa reduced soil water storage. Fertilized cropland has no signiifcant effect on soil water storage. These results suggest that deep soil water can be replenished under the fallow and unfertilized farming systems. Dry soil layers （i.e., those which have soil water content less than the stable ifeld water capacity） in the subsoil of the Changwu Tableland region can be classiifed as either temporary dry soil layers or persistent dry soil layers. Temporary dry soil layers, which typically form under annual crops, often disappear during wet years. Persistent dry soil layers generally develop under perennial vegetation. Even after removing the vegetation, persistent dry soil layers remain for several decades. This study provides information useful for the conservation and utilization of soil water resources in the Loess Tableland.展开更多
The developmental tendency of dry land farming technologies in the semiarid area of China were reviewed based on the overview of recent progress in dry land farming researches from China and oversea. It was emphasized...The developmental tendency of dry land farming technologies in the semiarid area of China were reviewed based on the overview of recent progress in dry land farming researches from China and oversea. It was emphasized that conservation tillage, limited irrigation, genetic modification and chemical control are the important aspects for the dry land farming research and development of the future. In addition, some consid-展开更多
The variety "Aifeng" was used as experimental material,and the stem diameter,plant height,the number of leaves and yield of P. vulgaris under three ways of ridge culture (bedding,high ridge and M ridge) were...The variety "Aifeng" was used as experimental material,and the stem diameter,plant height,the number of leaves and yield of P. vulgaris under three ways of ridge culture (bedding,high ridge and M ridge) were observed and detected to study the effects of different ridge cultures on the growth and yield. The results showed that the stem diameter,plant height,the number of leaves and yield under M ridge culture were higher than that of bedding and high ridge.展开更多
The study, conducted at the Research Farm of the College of Agriculture, University of Tabriz in 2021, focused on the effects of various nitrogen-fixing bacterial isolates, biofertilizers containing nitrogen and phosp...The study, conducted at the Research Farm of the College of Agriculture, University of Tabriz in 2021, focused on the effects of various nitrogen-fixing bacterial isolates, biofertilizers containing nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as iron and zinc foliar applications on mustard growth under rainfed conditions. The results indicated that biofertilizers, whether used alone or in combination with chemical fertilizers, produced comparable grain and oil outputs compared to chemical fertilizers alone. Additionally, the application of iron and zinc through foliar spraying significantly enhanced both grain and oil production. These findings suggest that integrating nitrogen-fixing bacteria and biofertilizers could reduce reliance on chemical nitrogenous fertilizers, leading to decreased production expenses, improved product quality, and minimized environmental impact. This study highlights the potential for sustainable agricultural practices in dry land farming as a viable alternative to traditional chemical-intensive methods. Substituting chemical nitrogenous fertilizers with nitrogen-fixing bacteria or biofertilizers could result in cost savings in mustard grain and oil production while promoting environmental sustainability.展开更多
A field trial was carried out to study the nitrogen fertilizer recovery by four crops in succession in manurial loess soil in Yangling. The results showed that the nitrogen fertilizer not only had the significant effe...A field trial was carried out to study the nitrogen fertilizer recovery by four crops in succession in manurial loess soil in Yangling. The results showed that the nitrogen fertilizer not only had the significant effects on the first crop , but also had longer residual effects, even on the fourth crop. The average apparent nitrogen fertilizer recovery by the first crop was 31.7%, and the accumulative nitrogen recovery by the 4 crops was high as 62.3%, and the latter was double as the former. It is quite clear that the nitrogen fertilizer recovery by the first crop was not reliable for estimating the nitrogen fertilizer unless the residual effect of nitrogen fertilizer was included.展开更多
The annual rainfall is low and the fresh water resources are scarce for the rainfed farming in dry zone of northern China,which seriously affects the sowing and growth of spring corn. In order to solve this problem,th...The annual rainfall is low and the fresh water resources are scarce for the rainfed farming in dry zone of northern China,which seriously affects the sowing and growth of spring corn. In order to solve this problem,the technology of ridge-mulching and side-sowing of spring corn is put forward,the supporting compound operation seeder is developed,and the effect of different speed on the quality of sowing is tested and analyzed. Under the test conditions described in this paper,the seeding operation with a high speed( up to 6 km/h) can be realized,and the quality of the seeding operation can meet the requirements of the national standards. The application of this machine can solve the problem of " drought damage at the booting stage" for spring corn,thereby realizing the deep fusion of farming machine and agronomy in dry farming of northern China,and achieving the integration of farming machine and agronomy.展开更多
Background:Despite high nutritional and economic value,alfalfa yield has not been improved in the United States.Soil moisture critically influences alfalfa's yield and quality,affecting its physiological processes...Background:Despite high nutritional and economic value,alfalfa yield has not been improved in the United States.Soil moisture critically influences alfalfa's yield and quality,affecting its physiological processes,nutrient uptake,and stand growth.Additionally,the maturity stage at harvest can significantly impact both hay yield and quality.Thus,this study aimed to assess the effect of different soil moisture levels and harvesting times on forage yield,nutritive value,and the overall profitability of commercially cultivated alfalfa.Methods:Two conventional and three lower-lignin alfalfa varieties were planted in a randomized complete block with split plot design under drought,rainfed,and irrigation conditions in 2020 in Manhattan,Kansas,USA.The dry matter yield(DMY)and forage nutritive value were evaluated at late bud,early flowering,and 7 days after early flowering stages,respectively.Results:DMY varied with production year,soil water availability,and growth stages,with drought conditions causing a decline in DMY of 5%to 38%in the second production year.Water conditions and maturity stages influenced crude protein(CP)and in vitro dry matter digestibility(IVDMD).Higher soil moisture and advancing maturity stages negatively impacted CP,IVDMD,and relative forage quality.The study revealed net profit margins of 62%,64%,and 52%for drought-prone,rainfed,and irrigated production,respectively.Conclusions:Harvest timing and irrigation practices were found to have substantial implications for forage yield and nutritive value of alfalfa.The yield-quality trade-off differed under drought and irrigation,with early harvesting leading to lower yields but higher protein content and digestibility.The study findings provide potential guidance for improving alfalfa hay yield,quality,and profitability.展开更多
In rice-wheat rotation systems, changes in soil phosphorus(P) pools and microorganisms in rice-growing seasons have been studied;however, further investigations are required to test whether these indexes exhibit diffe...In rice-wheat rotation systems, changes in soil phosphorus(P) pools and microorganisms in rice-growing seasons have been studied;however, further investigations are required to test whether these indexes exhibit different responses in wheat-growing seasons. Additionally, such studies need to include potential variations in soil carbon(C) structure and microbial community composition. In this study, a long-term rice-wheat rotation P-input reduction experiment was conducted to observe the variations in soil P pools and C composition in the 7th wheat season and to investigate the responses of soil enzyme activity and microbial communities. Four P fertilization treatments were included in the experiment, i.e., P application for rice season only(PR), for wheat season only(PW), and for both rice and wheat seasons(PR+W) and no P application in either season(Pzero). Compared with PR+W treatment, Pzero treatment significantly decreased(P < 0.05) labile and stable P pools. Different P fertilization regimes altered soil microbial community composition and enzyme activity, whereas C composition did not vary. However, PW treatment resulted in relatively more O-alkyl-C than PR treatment and the highest number of microorganisms. Besides, the higher ratios of fungi/bacteria and Gram-positive bactetia/Gram-negative bactetia were related to labile C pools, particularly O-alkyl-C, as opposed to recalcitrant C. Our results clarified the status of soil P pools, C chemistry, and the response of microorganisms under dry-farming conditions in the P input-reduced rice-wheat rotation system.展开更多
文摘This study examines social vulnerability by exploring the socio-economic factors, infrastructures, and social networks that can determine how prone and how prepared the rain-fed farming communities are to the adverse impacts of climate change. Increased variability in climatic conditions due to climate change seriously affects the productivity of rain-fed farms. The rain-fed farming communities in the Philippines are located in poor and environmentally fragile rural areas. Their vulnerability is greatly affected by restricted entitlement and access to social and economic capitals. This study is framed on qualitative approach to provide a rich and in-depth understanding on the elements of vulnerability based on the capacities and the practical affairs of life in rain-fed communities. The three subject communities from two agricultural provinces are examined to understand how the context and interactions of people can explicate sociological themes on the social dimension of climate change. The usefulness of multi-site study in probing the unique ways of how people understand and respond to certain environmental issue is part of reflections about the methodology.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41171033,51179161 and 41101025)
文摘Soil water is strongly affected by land use/cover in the Loess Plateau in China. Water stored in thick loessal soils is one of the most important resources regulating vegetation growth. However, soil water in the deep loess proifle, which is critical for maintaining the function of the“soil water pool”is rarely studied because deep proifle soil samples are dififcult to collect. In this study, four experimental plots were established in 2005 to represent different farming systems on the Changwu Tableland：fallow land, fertilized cropland, unfertilized cropland, and continuous alfalfa. The soil water content in the 15-m-deep loess proifles was monitored continuously from 2007 to 2012 with the neutron probe technique. The results showed that temporal variations in soil water proifles differed among the four farming systems. Under fallow land, the soil water content increased gradually over time, ifrst in the surface layers and later in the deep soil layers. In contrast, the soil water content decreased gradually under continuous alfalfa. The distributions of soil water in deep soil layers under both fertilized and unfertilized cropland were relatively stable over time. Thus farming system signiifcantly affected soil water content. Seven years after the start of the experiment, the soil water contents in the 15-m-deep proifles averaged 23.4%under fallow land, 20.3%under fertilized cropland, 21.6%under unfertilized cropland, and 16.0%under continuous alfalfa. Compared to measurements at the start of the experiment, both fallow land and unfertilized cropland increased soil water storage in the 15-m loess proifles. In contrast, continuous alfalfa reduced soil water storage. Fertilized cropland has no signiifcant effect on soil water storage. These results suggest that deep soil water can be replenished under the fallow and unfertilized farming systems. Dry soil layers （i.e., those which have soil water content less than the stable ifeld water capacity） in the subsoil of the Changwu Tableland region can be classiifed as either temporary dry soil layers or persistent dry soil layers. Temporary dry soil layers, which typically form under annual crops, often disappear during wet years. Persistent dry soil layers generally develop under perennial vegetation. Even after removing the vegetation, persistent dry soil layers remain for several decades. This study provides information useful for the conservation and utilization of soil water resources in the Loess Tableland.
基金supported by the Major State Basic Research Development Program of People’s Republic of China(G1999011708).
文摘The developmental tendency of dry land farming technologies in the semiarid area of China were reviewed based on the overview of recent progress in dry land farming researches from China and oversea. It was emphasized that conservation tillage, limited irrigation, genetic modification and chemical control are the important aspects for the dry land farming research and development of the future. In addition, some consid-
基金Supported by Water-saving and Efficient Model Research of Dry Land Vegetable Planting (2007BAD88B03-3-2)
文摘The variety "Aifeng" was used as experimental material,and the stem diameter,plant height,the number of leaves and yield of P. vulgaris under three ways of ridge culture (bedding,high ridge and M ridge) were observed and detected to study the effects of different ridge cultures on the growth and yield. The results showed that the stem diameter,plant height,the number of leaves and yield under M ridge culture were higher than that of bedding and high ridge.
文摘The study, conducted at the Research Farm of the College of Agriculture, University of Tabriz in 2021, focused on the effects of various nitrogen-fixing bacterial isolates, biofertilizers containing nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as iron and zinc foliar applications on mustard growth under rainfed conditions. The results indicated that biofertilizers, whether used alone or in combination with chemical fertilizers, produced comparable grain and oil outputs compared to chemical fertilizers alone. Additionally, the application of iron and zinc through foliar spraying significantly enhanced both grain and oil production. These findings suggest that integrating nitrogen-fixing bacteria and biofertilizers could reduce reliance on chemical nitrogenous fertilizers, leading to decreased production expenses, improved product quality, and minimized environmental impact. This study highlights the potential for sustainable agricultural practices in dry land farming as a viable alternative to traditional chemical-intensive methods. Substituting chemical nitrogenous fertilizers with nitrogen-fixing bacteria or biofertilizers could result in cost savings in mustard grain and oil production while promoting environmental sustainability.
文摘A field trial was carried out to study the nitrogen fertilizer recovery by four crops in succession in manurial loess soil in Yangling. The results showed that the nitrogen fertilizer not only had the significant effects on the first crop , but also had longer residual effects, even on the fourth crop. The average apparent nitrogen fertilizer recovery by the first crop was 31.7%, and the accumulative nitrogen recovery by the 4 crops was high as 62.3%, and the latter was double as the former. It is quite clear that the nitrogen fertilizer recovery by the first crop was not reliable for estimating the nitrogen fertilizer unless the residual effect of nitrogen fertilizer was included.
基金Supported by Project of Bohai Granary in Hebei Province(2013BAD05B0504)Science and Technology Innovation Project of Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences(F17C10007-4)
文摘The annual rainfall is low and the fresh water resources are scarce for the rainfed farming in dry zone of northern China,which seriously affects the sowing and growth of spring corn. In order to solve this problem,the technology of ridge-mulching and side-sowing of spring corn is put forward,the supporting compound operation seeder is developed,and the effect of different speed on the quality of sowing is tested and analyzed. Under the test conditions described in this paper,the seeding operation with a high speed( up to 6 km/h) can be realized,and the quality of the seeding operation can meet the requirements of the national standards. The application of this machine can solve the problem of " drought damage at the booting stage" for spring corn,thereby realizing the deep fusion of farming machine and agronomy in dry farming of northern China,and achieving the integration of farming machine and agronomy.
基金US Department of Agriculture,National Institute of Food and Agriculture,Grant/Award Number:2019-70005-30238。
文摘Background:Despite high nutritional and economic value,alfalfa yield has not been improved in the United States.Soil moisture critically influences alfalfa's yield and quality,affecting its physiological processes,nutrient uptake,and stand growth.Additionally,the maturity stage at harvest can significantly impact both hay yield and quality.Thus,this study aimed to assess the effect of different soil moisture levels and harvesting times on forage yield,nutritive value,and the overall profitability of commercially cultivated alfalfa.Methods:Two conventional and three lower-lignin alfalfa varieties were planted in a randomized complete block with split plot design under drought,rainfed,and irrigation conditions in 2020 in Manhattan,Kansas,USA.The dry matter yield(DMY)and forage nutritive value were evaluated at late bud,early flowering,and 7 days after early flowering stages,respectively.Results:DMY varied with production year,soil water availability,and growth stages,with drought conditions causing a decline in DMY of 5%to 38%in the second production year.Water conditions and maturity stages influenced crude protein(CP)and in vitro dry matter digestibility(IVDMD).Higher soil moisture and advancing maturity stages negatively impacted CP,IVDMD,and relative forage quality.The study revealed net profit margins of 62%,64%,and 52%for drought-prone,rainfed,and irrigated production,respectively.Conclusions:Harvest timing and irrigation practices were found to have substantial implications for forage yield and nutritive value of alfalfa.The yield-quality trade-off differed under drought and irrigation,with early harvesting leading to lower yields but higher protein content and digestibility.The study findings provide potential guidance for improving alfalfa hay yield,quality,and profitability.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41671304)the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2017YFD0200206)。
文摘In rice-wheat rotation systems, changes in soil phosphorus(P) pools and microorganisms in rice-growing seasons have been studied;however, further investigations are required to test whether these indexes exhibit different responses in wheat-growing seasons. Additionally, such studies need to include potential variations in soil carbon(C) structure and microbial community composition. In this study, a long-term rice-wheat rotation P-input reduction experiment was conducted to observe the variations in soil P pools and C composition in the 7th wheat season and to investigate the responses of soil enzyme activity and microbial communities. Four P fertilization treatments were included in the experiment, i.e., P application for rice season only(PR), for wheat season only(PW), and for both rice and wheat seasons(PR+W) and no P application in either season(Pzero). Compared with PR+W treatment, Pzero treatment significantly decreased(P < 0.05) labile and stable P pools. Different P fertilization regimes altered soil microbial community composition and enzyme activity, whereas C composition did not vary. However, PW treatment resulted in relatively more O-alkyl-C than PR treatment and the highest number of microorganisms. Besides, the higher ratios of fungi/bacteria and Gram-positive bactetia/Gram-negative bactetia were related to labile C pools, particularly O-alkyl-C, as opposed to recalcitrant C. Our results clarified the status of soil P pools, C chemistry, and the response of microorganisms under dry-farming conditions in the P input-reduced rice-wheat rotation system.
