Taking Chaoyang District of Beijing as an example, this paper identified Production-Living-Ecological Space in rural-urban fringe, and described the spatial pattern evolution with the help of ...transformation matrix and spatial analysis tools. On this basis, the spatial metrology models were selected to analyze the driving factors of space conversion. The results show that, 1) from 2005 to 2020, according to the spatial order from near to far from the city center, the scale of Production Space was reduced and concentrated, the Ecological Space formed a green ecological landscape belt in the periphery of Beijing, the Eco-Agricultural Production Space and the Life-agricultural Production Space were rapidly reduced, and the Living-Non-farm Production Space was rapidly expanded in the point-line-plane order. 2) From 2005 to 2020, the shift of Production Space to Living-Non-farm Production Space was always the main direction of conversion, the Living-Non-farm Production Space continued to gain a large amount of infl
This chapter provides information on some recent developments of fertilizer production and use that improve nutrient efficiency and minimize environmental impact. The nutrients discussed are mainly ...N, P, and S. Improving N nutrient efficiency includes use of (1) controlled-release coated urea products, (2) slow-release urea–aldehyde polymer products, (3) urea supergranules for deep placement, (4) nitrification inhibitors to reduce nitrate leaching and denitrification, (5) urease inhibitors to reduce ammonia volatilization from urea, and (6) ammonium sulfate to enhance N efficiency of urea. Improving efficiency of conventional P fertilizers includes use of (1) coated water-soluble P fertilizers, (2) urea supergranules containing P and K nutrients, and (3) fluid P fertilizers. Use of nonconventional P fertilizers includes (1) phosphate rock (PR) for direct application with a newly developed computer-based phosphate rock decision support system (PRDSS), (2) a mixture of PR and water-soluble P sources, (3) calcined nonapatite PR for direct application, and (4) nonconventional acidulated P fertilizers containing water-insoluble but citrate-soluble P compounds. The agronomic effectiveness of newly developed granular NP fertilizers containing elemental S to provide S nutrient is discussed. Two processes of producing (1) partially acidulated P fertilizers and (2) compound fertilizers of NP and K by bulk blending are recommended for reducing Cd uptake from P fertilizers by crops. The use of these nonconventional fertilizers may result in an increased relative economic benefit with respect to the use of conventional fertilizers in terms of saving fertilizer cost, enhancing nutrient efficiency, or increasing crop yield.
When the quantity and quality of material and social resources are discussed, the question always arises, why are such proportions formed, and not others? Prolonged inattention to the central ...problems of the village leads to the fact that it is experiencing a crisis of creation. The article analyzes the dominant meanings of the purpose of the agrarian system of society, which determine the priorities of its development, from the position of the social philosophy of understanding contradictions and on the facts of self-movement of the Russian village and agricultural production. The agrosphere contains deep contradictions, primarily in the state of social resources – the intellectual, spiritual, moral, and professional potential of the village, contrary to the victorious realities about the success of the agro-industrial complex. The institutionalization and practices of including the population in independent management over the past decades have resulted in a fragmented system, in which the leading place is occupied by large structures that perform not only positive, but also destructive creation in the country. The author gives two examples of the way of life of a peasant family with a time lag of 150 years and reflects on the problems of labor overload of agricultural workers. The article reveals the specifics of the main contradictions in understanding the current situation, highlights the elements of each side that have the potential for assimilation. The author states the existence of contradictions between the dominance of large organizations of the divisional type within the fragmented economic structure of the village and the limited living space of peasant society. The author draws attention to the phenomenon of communication, constructed by such elements as communication, information and understanding. The article emphasizes the need to understand the situation of rural areas and the agricultural sector from the point of view of their own capabilities.
Rice is the principle staple crop of Asia and any deterioration of rice production systems through climate change would seriously impair food security in this continent. This review assesses spatial ...and temporal vulnerabilities of different rice production systems to climate change impacts in Asia. Initially, the review discusses the risks of increasing heat stress and maps the regions where current temperatures are already approaching critical levels during the susceptible stages of the rice plant, namely Pakistan/north India (Oct.), south India (April, Aug.), east India/Bangladesh (March-June), Myanmar/Thailand/Laos/Cambodia (March-June), Vietnam (April/Aug.), Philippines (April/June), Indonesia (Aug.) and China (July/Aug.). Possible adaptation options for heat stress are derived from regions where the rice crop is already exposed to very high temperatures including Iran and Australia. Drought stress is also expected to aggravate through climate change; a map superimposing the distribution of rainfed rice and precipitation anomalies in Asia highlights especially vulnerable areas in east India/Bangladesh and Myanmar/Thailand.
Then, the review gives emphasis to two rice growing environments that have outstanding importance for food supply in Asia and, at the same time, are particularly vulnerable to climate impacts. The mega-deltas in Vietnam, Myanmar and Bangladesh are the backbone of the rice economy in the respective country and will experience specific climate change impacts due to sea level rise. Significant improvements of the rice production systems, that is, higher resilience to flooding and salinity, are crucial for maintaining or even increasing yield levels in these very productive deltaic regions. The other ‘hotspot’ with especially high climate change risks in Asia is the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) which will be affected by the melting of the Himalayan glaciers. The dominant land use type in the IGP is rice-wheat rotation, and we discuss specific vulnerabilities and possible adaptation options in the different sub-regions of the IGP. We conclude that geo-spatial vulnerability assessments may become crucial for planning targeted adaptation programs, but that policy frameworks are needed for their implementation.
Extensively managed grasslands are recognized globally for their high biodiversity and their social and cultural values. However, their capacity to deliver multiple ecosystem services (ES) as parts ...of agricultural systems is surprisingly understudied compared to other production systems. We undertook a comprehensive overview of ES provided by natural and semi‐natural grasslands, using southern Africa (SA) and northwest Europe as case studies, respectively. We show that these grasslands can supply additional non‐agricultural services, such as water supply and flow regulation, carbon storage, erosion control, climate mitigation, pollination, and cultural ES. While demand for ecosystems services seems to balance supply in natural grasslands of SA, the smaller areas of semi‐natural grasslands in Europe appear to not meet the demand for many services. We identified three bundles of related ES from grasslands: water ES including fodder production, cultural ES connected to livestock production, and population‐based regulating services (e.g., pollination and biological control), which also linked to biodiversity. Greenhouse gas emission mitigation seemed unrelated to the three bundles. The similarities among the bundles in SA and northwestern Europe suggest that there are generalities in ES relations among natural and semi‐natural grassland areas. We assessed trade‐offs and synergies among services in relation to management practices and found that although some trade‐offs are inevitable, appropriate management may create synergies and avoid trade‐offs among many services. We argue that ecosystem service and food security research and policy should give higher priority to how grasslands can be managed for fodder and meat production alongside other ES. By integrating grasslands into agricultural production systems and land‐use decisions locally and regionally, their potential to contribute to functional landscapes and to food security and sustainable livelihoods can be greatly enhanced.
Full text
Available for:
FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Gas sensors are important in many fields such as environmental monitoring, agricultural production, public safety, and medical diagnostics. Herein, Tamm plasmon resonance in a photonic bandgap is ...used to develop an optical gas sensor with high performance. The structure of the proposed sensor comprises a gas cavity sandwiched between a one-dimensional porous silicon photonic crystal and an Ag layer deposited on a prism. The optimised structure of the proposed sensor achieves ultra-high sensitivity (S = 1.9×10
nm/RIU) and a low detection limit (DL = 1.4×10
RIU) compared to the existing gas sensor. The brilliant sensing performance and simple design of the proposed structure make our device highly suitable for use as a sensor in a variety of biomedical and industrial applications.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
...if soil dug from the ground is regarded as a movable object even when returned to the ground, it should follow that burial may not take place in soil that has been excavated and removed to a ...different location.Thatwould be the case even if concrete is regarded as earth and burial is in a concrete crypt,1 and would also be the case even if the crypt is subsequently attached to the ground and filled with transplanted soil that comes into contact with the ground.2 There is a general talmudic controversy with regard to whether something detached from the ground and subsequently reattached (talush u-le-va-sof hibbero) is considered "attached" to the ground or not. ...Rosh asserts that even R. Shimon would concede that produce grown in a roof garden, i.e., soil spread out on a roof as distinct from soil enclosed within a container, is subject to ma'aserot and bikkurim even though the floor of the roof is interposed between that soil and the ground.7 Burial, on the other hand, may not take place in a utensil even if the material of which the utensil is fashioned is heres, or earthenware. The double expression "for bury shall you bury," asserts Nizanei Nisan, is for emphasis (hence the usual translation, "you shall surely bury") and commands more than simple burial. ...the commandment mandating burial does not specifically demand that the corpse be placed below ground but effectively requires burial in that manner by virtue of the fact that subterranean interment is deemed to be the only type of burial that assures that the corpse is fully "hidden and secreted." ...earth removed and transported to another location for use as landfill or the like, even though technically detached from the ground, may be used for burial purposes because the corpse can be securely secreted and safeguarded in such soil.
PDF
