Geospatial analysis for utilizing the marginal land in regional biofuel industry: A case study in Guangdong Province,China

Due to the intensive and exhaustive land use in China, the so-called marginal land is expected to play a major role in supporting the biofuel industry of the country. We developed a regional-level framework of using geospatial information technologies to achieve an optimal utilization of the marginal land for biofuel production. The framework includes identifying marginal lands, evaluating optimality of the land for growing certain bioenergy crops, estimating local potential feedstock production, and finally selecting optimal sites for biofuel factories. We present a case study of farming Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.) and Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) in Guangdong, China. The marginal land was identified from satellite imageries at a 30-m resolution. The optimality for growing the two species was evaluated using the Ecological Niche Models (ENMs), which incorporates local temperature, precipitation, soil, and terrain. The optimality value was then converted into potential feedstock production using a conversion model. The site selection for the factories incorporated the local potential feedstock production, the transportation cost measured by road distance, and the farming cost related to the land patch geometry. Each candidate site received an overall optimality score derived based on those factors. We identified five sites that have high scores and also minimal or none spatial overlaps of their supporting areas. Three of them (Zhanjiang, Yunfu, and Jieyang) are for Cassava, located on in southern Guangdong. Two (Qingyuan and Meizhou) are for Jatropha in northern Guangdong.     

国内外主要粟类作物的种植、研究及产业化概况（网络首发、推荐阅读）

粟类作物是一类籽粒小、抗旱、耐贫瘠的一年生作物的统称，多种植和消费在亚洲和非洲的发展中国家，我国栽培面积比较大的是谷子和糜子。与种植和消费情况不同，亚洲、欧洲和美洲相对发达国家的政府更重视粟类作物的科学研究及其科研投入。我国国家自然科学基金资助发表的粟类研究论文居世界之首，欧洲委员会、英国研究与创新署、美国国家科学基金会资助的粟类研究论文数量排名紧跟其后。梳理了近5年发表的粟类科研论文，印度最多，其次是我国和美国。基于粟类作物富含膳食纤维、蛋白质、矿物质、多酚等，其具有多方面的健康功效，因此粟类的食品科学技术和植物科学成为最热的研究领域。最后阐述了国内外传统的和工业化的粟类产品情况。     

Some physiological characteristics to estimate species potential as a mine reclamation ground cover

In finding what physiological characteristics can be used to predict ground cover success on mine reclamation sites, 14 herb and grass species were tested. Establishment and early growth was tested on three different soils, ie vermiculate and quartz sand mixture, quarry overburden and coal mine overburden in a greenhouse. The results indicate that plant height and cover, transpiration rate and foliar pigments may be used to select plant adaptability to mined soil. White clover (Trifolium repens L.) showed the greatest potential as ground cover for mined soils. Species most widely used in reclamation tended to be perennials of moderate rate.     

Biogas production from catch crops: Increased yield by combined harvest of catch crops and straw and preservation by ensiling

The combination of catch crop cultivation with its use for biogas production would increase renewable energy production in the form of methane, without interfering with the production of food and fodder crops. The low biomass yield of catch crops has been shown as the main limiting factor for using these crops as co-substrate in biogas plants, since the profit obtained from the sale of methane barely compensates the harvest costs. Therefore, a new agricultural strategy to harvest catch crops together with the residual straw of the main crop was investigated, in order to increase the biomass and the methane yield per hectare. Seven catch crops harvested together with stubble from the previous main crop were evaluated. The effects of stubble height, harvest time and ensiling as a storage method for the different catch crops/straw blends were studied. Biomass yields as TS ranged between 3.2 and 3.6 t ha⁻¹ y⁻¹of which the catch crop constituted around 10% of the total biomass yield. Leaving the straw on the field until harvest of the catch crop in the autumn could benefit methane production from the straw both due to increased biomass yield and an increased organic matter bioavailability of the straw taking place on the field during the autumn months. Ensiling as a storage method could be feasible in terms of energy storage and guaranteeing the feedstock availability for the whole year. This new agricultural strategy may be a good alternative for economically feasible supply of catch crops and straw for biogas production.     

The attitudes of French and Spanish winegrowers towards the use of cover crops in vineyards

Vineyards are an intensive cultivation system and expose the soil to long-lasting stress. Many vineyard areas already show high degrees of soil degradation. To prevent further soil erosion, cover crops, which have various positive effects on the environment, are highly recommended. But, depending on the climatic conditions, cover crops can reduce grape yields and are sometimes more work intensive than bare soil management. In some areas cover crops are already widespread while in others bare soil is dominant. In this qualitative study, we explore the attitudes of European winegrowers towards cover crops and determine the background for differences in the adoption of greened vineyards. Thus, we conducted focus groups with winegrowers in two different regions, namely Coteaux du Layon in France and Montilla-Moriles in Spain. In this setting, the transregional differences are mainly based on the climatic conditions but also on different business structures and knowledge levels. Direct sellers seem to be more attentive to the environment and use cover crops more often than farmers which sell their grapes to cooperatives.     

A review of varietal change in roots,tubers and bananas: consumer preferences and other drivers of adoption and implications for breeding

This review of the literature on varietal change in sub-Saharan Africa looks in detail at adoption of new varieties of bananas in Uganda, cassava in Nigeria, potato in Kenya, sweetpotato in Uganda and yams in Côte d’Ivoire. The review explored three hypotheses about drivers of varietal change. There was a strong confirmation for the hypothesis that insufficient priority given to consumer-preferred traits by breeding programmes contributes to the limited uptake of modern varieties (MVs) and low varietal turnover. Lack of evidence meant the second hypothesis of insufficient attention to understanding and responding to gender differences in consumer preferences for quality and post-harvest traits was unresolved. The evidence on the third hypothesis about the informal seed system contributing to slow uptake of MVs was mixed. In some cases, the informal system has contributed to rapid uptake of MVs, but often it appears to be a barrier with inconsistent varietal naming a major challenge.     

面向深度学习识别高空农作物的方法

为探讨深度学习技术运用于高空或卫星图像处理的问题,针对其高空层次特征丰富但细节信息不充分,以及背景多元化干扰等特点,研究一种有效的多分类方法。利用消费级无人机采集农作物高空图像,从图像数据规模有限,较难实现有效训练的问题出发,提出一种综合数据增强和迁移学习的方法克服数据集不足;结合高空图像的独特特征,改进高维空间的最优分类函数,对模型进行优化,使之更吻合高空拍摄农作物图像的识别与处理。通过构建多组数据、多种模型的对比实验,验证了该方法的有效性与性能,为农业智慧决策提供有益补充。     

Recent research on fertilizer problems in Asian agriculture

Asian agriculture has made enormous gains in food production despite rapid population growth and a shortage of land. This paper reviews the role of fertilizer in agricultural production and the results of recent research on fertilizers and plant nutrition in the region. Fertilizer use has contributed greatly to the increase in food production which has occurred largely in the high potential areas. In these areas research has shown that losses reduce the efficiency of broadcast urea and that the use of high analysis fertilizers is inducing sulfur deficiency in some areas. In upland areas, research has highlighted a major problem of boron deficiency in Thailand. Research progress is being made in understanding the magnitude of nitrogen fixation inputs and the role of shrub legumes in upland systems.     

钙素肥料及微量元素肥料对农作物的生理作用

论述钙、镁、锰、锌、硼、钼、铜、铁、硅等元素对农作物的生长成熟取着重要的作用。     

农用硝酸钾与氯化铵联产新工艺

生产农用硝酸钾对发展经济作物,特别是烟草、茶叶、水果等忌氯作物的生产有重要意义。用氯化钾与硝酸铵为原料,采用复分解法生产农用硝酸钾与氯化铵。该生产工艺设备简单,消耗低,无“三废”污染,经济效益好。