Target regions for silvoarable agroforestry in Europe

Silvoarable agroforestry (SAF) has recently been proposed as an alternative land-use system for Europe. Data on soil, climate, topography, and land cover were integrated in a geographic information system (GIS) to identify agroforestry target regions where (i) productive growth of trees (Juglans spp., Prunus avium, Populus spp., Pinus pinea, and Quercus ilex) in SAF systems could be expected and where (ii) SAF systems could potentially reduce the risk of soil erosion, nitrate leaching and increase landscape diversity.The analysis shows that the investigated tree species could grow productively in SAF systems on 56% of the arable land throughout Europe (potential productive tree growth area). 80% of the European arable land was classified as potential risk area for soil erosion, nitrate leaching, and/or landscape diversity. Overlaying potential productive tree growth areas with the arable land that was considered as environmental risk area yielded target regions. They were found to make up about 40% of the European arable land and thus SAF could contribute to soil protection on 4%, to mitigate nitrate leaching on 18% and to increase landscape diversity on 32% of European arable land.Although limited by constrained data availability, the study shows that SAF could be implemented in a productive way throughout Europe and that it could help resolve some of the major land-use problems. The environmental benefits could justify the support of SAF by subsidies.     

Yield-SAFE: A parameter-sparse, process-based dynamic model for predicting resource capture, growth, and production in agroforestry systems

1. Silvoarable agroforestry (SAF) is the cultivation of trees and arable crops on the same parcel of land. SAF may contribute to modern diversified land use objectives in Europe, such as enhanced biodiversity and productivity, reduced leaching of nitrogen, protection against flooding and erosion, and attractiveness of the landscape. Long-term yield predictions are needed to assess long-term economic profitability of SAF.

2. A model for growth, resource sharing and productivity in agroforestry systems was developed to act as a tool in forecasts of yield, economic optimization of farming enterprises and exploration of policy options for land use in Europe. The model is called Yield-SAFE; from “YIeld Estimator for Long term Design of Silvoarable AgroForestry in Europe”. The model was developed with as few equations and parameters as possible to allow model parameterization under constrained availability of data from long-term experiments.

3. The model consists of seven state equations expressing the temporal dynamics of: (1) tree biomass; (2) tree leaf area; (3) number of shoots per tree; (4) crop biomass; (5) crop leaf area index; (6) heat sum; and (7) soil water content. The main outputs of the model are the growth dynamics and final yields of trees and crops. Daily inputs are temperature, radiation and precipitation. Planting densities, initial biomasses of tree and crop species, and soil parameters must be specified.

4. A parameterization of Yield-SAFE is generated, using published yield tables for tree growth and output from the comprehensive crop simulation model STICS. Analysis of tree and crop growth data from two poplar agroforestry stands in the United Kingdom demonstrates the validity of the modelling concept and calibration philosophy of Yield-SAFE. A sensitivity analysis is presented to elucidate which biological parameters most influence short and long-term productivity and land equivalent ratio.

5. The conceptual model, elaborated in Yield-SAFE, in combination with the outlined procedure for model calibration, offers a valid tool for exploratory land use studies.

Development and application of bio-economic modelling to compare silvoarable, arable, and forestry systems in three European countries

Silvoarable agroforestry could promote use of trees on farms in Europe, but its likely effect on production, farm profitability, and environmental services is poorly understood. Hence, from 2001 to 2005, the Silvoarable Agroforestry for Europe project developed a systematic process to evaluate the biophysical and economic performance of arable, forestry, and silvoarable systems in Spain, France, and The Netherlands. A biophysical model called “Yield-SAFE” was developed to predict long-term yields for the different systems and local statistics and expert opinion were used to derive their revenue, costs, and pre- and post-2005 grant regimes. These data were then used in an economic model called “Farm-SAFE” to predict plot- and farm-scale profitability. Land equivalent ratios were greater than one, showing Yield-SAFE predicted that growing trees and crops in silvoarable systems was more productive than growing them separately. Pre-2005 grants in Spain and The Netherlands penalised silvoarable systems, but post-2005 grants were more equitable. In France, walnut and poplar silvoarable systems were consistently the most profitable system under both grant regimes. In Spain, holm oak and stone pine silvoarable systems were the least profitable system under pre-2005 grants, but only marginally less profitable than arable systems under post-2005 grants. In The Netherlands, low timber values and the opportunity cost of losing arable land for slurry manure application made silvoarable and forestry systems uncompetitive with arable systems under both grant regimes.     

Assessing Environmental Impacts of Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) Expansion: Model Definition and Preliminary Results

Short rotation coppice (SRC) systems can play a role as feedstock for bioenergy supply contributing to EU energy and climate policy targets. A scenario depicting intensive arable crop cultivation in a homogeneous landscape (lacking habitat structures) was compared to a scenario including SRC cultivation on 20 % of arable land. A range of indicators was selected to assess the consequences of SRC on soil, water and biodiversity, using data from the Rating-SRC project (Sweden and Germany). The results of the assessment were presented using spider diagrams. Establishment and use of SRC for bioenergy has both positive and negative effects. The former include increased carbon sequestration and reduced GHG emissions as well as reduced soil erosion, groundwater nitrate and surface runoff. SRC can be used in phytoremediation and improves plant and breeding bird biodiversity (exceptions: grassland and arable land species) but should not be applied in dry areas or on soils high in toxic trace elements (exception: cadmium). The scenario-based analysis was found useful for studying the consequences of SRC cultivation at larger scales. Limitations of the approach are related to data requirements and compatibility and its restricted ability to cover spatial diversity and dynamic processes. The findings should not be generalised beyond the representativeness of the data used.     

汉江流域景观格局变化对土壤侵蚀的影响

在流域尺度上,景观格局变化是决定土壤侵蚀程度的重要因素。以汉江流域为研究区域,基于2000—2015年四期土地利用类型数据及环境气象数据,运用中国土壤流失方程和逐步回归法,探究景观格局变化对土壤侵蚀的影响。结果表明:(1)在2000—2015年间,汉江流域土壤侵蚀量下降,高值区分布在流域中部草地区,低值区分布在流域东西两侧的林地和耕地区。不同坡度下各等级土壤侵蚀量不同,侵蚀量最大值出现在10—30°的坡度范围内。(2)研究期间,汉江流域的景观破碎化程度加强,斑块形状趋于简单,各斑块自身连通性增强,景观类型空间分布均匀。(3)汉江流域土壤侵蚀量与斑块密度和平均邻接度指数呈正相关,与蔓延度指数和香农均匀度指数呈负相关,即景观破碎度越高、连通性越差,土壤越容易遭受侵蚀,反之则不易受到侵蚀;研究表明景观格局变化对土壤侵蚀有显著影响,结果可为流域尺度景观管理与水土保持研究提供参考。     

Integrated agroforestry systems improve soil carbon storage,water productivity,and economic returns in the marginal land of the semi-arid region

Environmental crises, land degradation, and frequent crop failure threaten the livelihoods of millions of the populace in the semi-arid agroecosystems. Therefore, different combinations of annual crops with perennial fruit trees were assessed to restore the soil carbon, and enhance farm productivity and profitability in a semi-arid climate. The study hypothesized that the integration of perennial fruit trees with seasonal crops may enhance farm productivity, economic returns, and environmental sustainability. Integration of phalsa (Grewia asiatica) with mung bean (Vigna radiata) - potato (Solanum tuberosum) system recorded the highest system productivity (25.9 Mg/ha) followed by phalsa with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) -mustard (Brassica juncea) systems (21.2 Mg/ha). However, Karonda (Carissa sp.) with mung bean - potato system recorded maximum net return (3529.1 US$/ha), and water use efficiency (33.0 kg/ha-mm). Concerning the benefit-cost (B:C) ratio, among the agroforestry systems, the karonda + cowpea - mustard system registered a maximum BC ratio (3.85). However, SOC density remained higher (9.10 Mg/ha) under the phalsa + cowpea - mustard and Moringa + mung bean - potato system (9.16 Mg/ha) over other systems. Similarly, phalsa + mung bean - potato system had the highest C sustainability index (27.6), carbon sequestration potential (0.6–0.67 Mg/ha/year), and water use efficiency (33.0 kg/ha-mm). Hence, the study suggested that the integration of short-duration leguminous and oilseeds with fruit trees offer a myriad of benefits and an efficient system for restoring the soil C without compromising the food and livelihood security of the rural populace in semiarid regions.     

Life cycle assessment of corn grain and corn stover in the United States

Background, aim, and scope  The goal of this study is to estimate the county-level environmental performance for continuous corn cultivation of corn grain and corn stover grown under the current tillage practices for various corn-growing locations in the US Corn Belt. The environmental performance of corn grain varies with its farming location because of climate, soil properties, cropping management, etc. Corn stover, all of the above ground parts of the corn plant except the grain, would be used as a feedstock for cellulosic ethanol. Materials and methods  Two cropping systems are under investigation: corn produced for grain only without collecting corn stover (referred to as CRN) and corn produced for grain and stover harvest (referred to as CSR). The functional unit in this study is defined as dry biomass, and the reference flow is 1 kg of dry biomass. The system boundary includes processes from cradle to farm gate. The default allocation procedure between corn grain and stover in the CSR system is the system expansion approach. County-level soil organic carbon dynamics, nitrate losses due to leaching, and nitrogen oxide and nitrous oxide emissions are simulated by the DAYCENT model. Life cycle environmental impact categories considered in this study are total fossil energy use, climate change (referred to as greenhouse gas emissions), acidification, and eutrophication. Sensitivities on farming practices and allocation are included. Results  Simulations from the DAYCENT model predict that removing corn stover from soil could decrease nitrogen-related emissions from soil (i.e., N₂O, NO _x , and NO₃ ⁻ leaching). DAYCENT also predicts a reduction in the annual accumulation rates of soil organic carbon (SOC) with corn stover removal. Corn stover has a better environmental performance than corn grain according to all life cycle environmental impacts considered. This is due to lower consumption of agrochemicals and fuel used in the field operations and lower nitrogen-related emissions from the soil. Discussion  The primary source of total fossil energy associated with biomass production is nitrogen fertilizer, accounting for over 30% of the total fossil energy. Nitrogen-related emissions from soil (i.e., N₂O, NO _x , and NO₃ ⁻ leaching) are the primary contributors to all other life cycle environmental impacts considered in this study. Conclusions  The environmental performance of corn grain and corn stover varies with the farming location due to crop management, soil properties, and climate conditions. Several general trends were identified from this study. Corn stover has a lower impact than corn grain in terms of total fossil energy, greenhouse gas emissions, acidification, and eutrophication. Harvesting corn stover reduces nitrogen-related emissions from the soil (i.e., N₂O, NO _x , NO₃ ⁻). The accumulation rate of soil organic carbon is reduced when corn stover is removed, and in some cases, the soil organic carbon level decreases. Harvesting only the cob portion of the stover would reduce the negative impact of stover removal on soil organic carbon sequestration rate while still bringing the benefit of lower nitrogen-related emissions from the soil. No-tillage practices offer higher accumulation rates of soil organic carbon, lower fuel consumption, and lower nitrogen emissions from the soil than the current or conventional tillage practices. Planting winter cover crops could be a way to reduce nitrogen losses from soil and to increase soil organic carbon levels. Recommendations and perspectives  County-level modeling is more accurate in estimating the local environmental burdens associated with biomass production than national- or regional-level modeling. When possible, site-specific experimental information on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics should be obtained to reflect the system more accurately. The allocation approach between corn grain and stover significantly affects the environmental performance of each. The preferred allocation method is the system expansion approach where incremental fuel usage, additional nutrients in the subsequent growing season, and changes in soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics due to removing corn stover are assigned to only the collected corn stover.     

Local diversity of arable weeds increases with landscape complexity

Patterns of plant diversity are often related to local site conditions and to competitive interactions, but landscape context may also be important for local plant species richness. This is shown here by analysing the relationship between landscape complexity and local species richness of arable weeds in wheat fields. The fields were located in 18 landscapes characterised by a gradient in landscape complexity from structurally complex to structurally simple (39–94% arable land). We quantified local site conditions, field management intensity and landscape characteristics, and used principle component analyses to ordinate the environmental variables. The percentage of arable land was negatively correlated with perimeter–area ratio, habitat-type diversity and topographical heterogeneity, but landscape characteristics did not correlate with local site conditions and field management intensity. The number of plant species was mainly related to landscape characteristics and to a lesser extent to field management intensity (nitrogen fertilisation), whereas local soil characteristics did not contribute to the explanation of arable weed richness. In a geographic scale analysis using circular landscape sectors ranging from 1 km up to 5 km diameter, the predictive power of landscape complexity for local plant species richness was strongest at 2 km indicating a scale-dependent relationship between landscape context and plant species richness. Our results support the hypothesis that local plant species richness in arable fields is greatly influenced by processes operating at the landscape scale. Seed rain from ruderal source habitats and disturbed edges may be the most important underlying process.     

GIS-based Tools for Regional Assessments and Planning Processes Regarding Potential Environmental Effects of Poplar SRC

Based on regional stakeholder preferences and planning guidelines as allocation criteria for SRC, this study aims at providing a transparent approach to evaluate multiple environmental effects and the regional significance of SRC systems. Using the example of two poplar SRC-systems (4-year rotation, 9-year rotation) the potential effects on ground water supply, wind erosion, and biodiversity aspects are evaluated in comparison to arable land for two selected municipalities in the district of Uelzen, Germany. Building on fuzzy membership functions and simple fuzzy-logic rules, the qualitative multi-criteria assessment is transparent and easily to adapt. This approach is transferable to other regions and spatial levels, since it derives from commonly available data and scientific evidence. Results show that implementation of SRC could provide multiple beneficial environmental effects, especially in areas with low landscape heterogeneity. The tools provided allow for a multi-criteria evaluation of environmental effects, and reveal the sensitivity to distinct allocation patterns. Physiographical conditions of the study area implicate a preference for mini-SRC systems. This is supported by smaller decline of annual deep percolation water compared to maxi-SRC. On average, decline in groundwater recharge of mini-SRC (92mm a⁻¹) is comparable to irrigated arable land (80mm a⁻¹), which is common practice in the study area. Currently, the utilization of beneficial environmental SRC effects is quite limited, since only 3 % of arable land is suitable for SRC implementation regarding farmers’ preferences for SRC allocation. Allocation preferences could however change substantially with increasing incentives for SRC, e.g., due to regional bioenergy schemes or “Greening” initiatives within the European Common Agricultural Policy, which is to be reformed by 2013.     

气候变化背景下农林复合系统碳汇功能研究进展

农林复合系统作为一种土地综合利用体系,可以有效吸收和固定CO₂、增加碳储量,在达到收获目的的同时,可有力减轻温室效应.农林复合系统对CO₂的调控作用,使人们认识到农林复合系统较单一作物系统有着明显优势,因此,深入了解不同农林复合系统的碳汇功能及其影响因素,对全球碳循环研究及碳收支准确评估具有重要意义.本文综述了农林复合系统的概念与分类,探讨了农林复合系统不同组分的碳固存潜力及其影响因子,得出不同区域、不同类型农林复合系统内植被的固碳速率相差很大(0.59～11.08 t C·hm^-2·a^-1),其主要受到气候因子和农林复合系统自身特性(物种组成、林木密度和林龄)的影响.农林复合系统内土壤的固碳潜力受到系统内树木和非树木成分输入的生物量多少和质量、土壤质地、土壤结构的影响.不同地区的任何一个农林复合系统的碳储量多少主要依赖于复合系统中各组分的结构和功能.针对目前的研究现状,指出应重点加强农林复合系统优化结构的碳汇功能研究,以及加强农林复合系统碳储量的时空分布格局及其固碳机制的长期研究.     

农林复合系统固碳潜力研究进展

农林复合系统是解决当前资源枯竭、农林用地紧张和实现环境保护的一种可持续土壤管理模式。自《京都议定书》签订以来, 农林复合系统因其较高的固碳潜力引起了科学家的广泛关注。深入理解农林复合系统的固碳过程及其对气候变化、环境条件的改变和管理措施的响应, 是准确地预测农林复合系统在全球变化情景下固碳潜力的关键。该文综述了农林复合系统的概念和分类, 探讨了农林复合系统相比单一系统的固碳潜力及固碳机理, 分析了农林复合系统固碳潜力的测定方法和当前面临的挑战, 综述了气候因子、环境条件和人为管理措施对农林复合系统固碳潜力的影响。我国农林复合系统的固碳潜力相比全球其他区域还处于较低水平, 为提高我国农林复合系统的固碳潜力, 未来需要加强以下四个方面的工作: 扩大农林复合系统的分布面积、加强农林复合系统的合理配置和管理、选择适宜的物种组合和优化系统的群体结构。     

Mizo Homegardens promote biodiversity conservation,nutritional security and environmental development in northeast India

Homegardens (HGs) are dynamic agroforestry systems that ensure food and nutritional security and environmental protection. In northeast India where shifting cultivation (SC) is still prevailing in large scale, HGs offer a viable solution to SC, however, there is limited information on the potential of these systems to improve the landscape, meet the households' daily requirements. Forty two HGs were surveyed to study species diversity, their variation across developmental stages (age), and ability to provide resilience to food shortage and health. The results showed that all HGs irrespective of their age are biodiverse-rich systems showing diversity (H) from 3.765 to 4.245 (tree), 2.803 to 3.65 (shrub), and 3.13 to 3.925 (herb). A higher proportion of species was found occupied height > 6 m at old HG (OHG) while in young HG (YHG) major proportion of species were at low height (0–1 m). Though the species diversity showed weak relationship with HG age, association of diverse species was as per the household requirements. Based on the structure and function six HG groups were recognized; group II showed highest species diversity while group III, V and VI were mainly subsistence oriented. The results showed soil conditions improved with an increase in HG age. All HGs provided a varying degree of nutritional and food security to the households, a most important characteristic for sustaining livelihood under political isolation and economic blockade and land-locked situations. The study concludes that Mizo HGs can be a viable alternative to SC in providing regular income and therefore promotion of HGs can enhance socio-ecological, economic development, and further combats climate change impacts in this region and/or other regions of India having similar eco-regions.     

Agroforestry coffee soils increase the insect‐suppressive potential offered by entomopathogenic fungi over full‐sun soils: A case proposing a “bait survival technique”

Entomopathogenic fungi are important natural enemies of insects. However, there is little information on the insect‐suppressive potential of these fungi and possible effects of farming management on this. Meanwhile, changes in natural landscapes due to agricultural intensification have caused considerable biodiversity loss and consequent decay of ecosystem services. However, the adoption of practices such as agroforestry in agroecosystems can foster abiotic and biotic conditions that conserve biodiversity, consequently restoring the provision of ecosystems services. Here, we assessed the effect of management systems (agroforestry or full‐sun) on the pest‐suppressive potential of entomopathogenic fungi in Brazilian coffee plantations. We used the insect bait method coupled with survival analyses to assess the speed of kill by entomopathogenic fungi and their presence in soil samples from both farming systems. We found that insects exposed to agroforestry soils died more quickly than insects exposed to full‐sun soils. Of the fungi isolated from the bait insects, Metarhizium was found most frequently, followed by Beauveria. Meanwhile, Fusarium was frequently isolated as primary or secondary infections. We propose that the differential survival of insects is indicative of a greater suppressive potential by entomopathogenic fungi in agroforestry, and that this could be promoted by the diversified landscape, microclimatic stability, and reduced soil disturbance in agroforestry systems. Furthermore, our results provide a useful demonstration of the potential use of the insect bait method to investigate pest‐suppressive potential through bait insect mortality, and we term this the “bait survival technique.”     

Comparison of maize,permanent cup plant and a perennial grass mixture with regard to soil and water protection

Agricultural production of biogas maize (Zea mays L.) causes hazards to aquatic ecosystems through high levels of nitrogen (N) inputs. Newly introduced and already established perennial crops such as the cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.) and perennial grass mixtures offer the possibility of more environmentally friendly agricultural bioenergy production. The objectives of this field study were to quantify and compare soil mineral N, water infiltration, water runoff, soil erosion and N leaching under maize, permanent cup plant, and a perennial grass mixture. The study was conducted from October 2016 to March 2019 in Braunschweig, Germany. Plots with cup plant and grass mixture exhibited lower mineral N contents than maize, especially between 30 and 90 cm soil depth. Soil water infiltration was significantly different between the three crops. The grass mixture had the highest infiltration rates (6.2 mm/min averaged across 3 years), followed by cup plant (3.6 mm/min) and maize (0.9 mm/min). During wet periods, higher N leaching was found for maize (up to 42 kg N ha^?1 year^?1) than for cup plant (up to 5 kg N ha^?1 year^?1) or the grass mixture (up to 11 kg N ha^?1 year^?1). While runoff and erosion for cup plant and the grass mixture were negligible during the study period, considerable amounts of runoff water and eroded sediment of up to 1.5 Mg ha^?1 year^?1 were collected from the maize plots despite the near flat terrain of the experimental field. Overall, permanent cup plant proved suitable as a component for energy cropping systems to reduce the risk of N leaching and soil erosion, which is particularly important for the preventive flood protection in view of the more frequent occurrence of high intensity rainfall under climate change conditions.     

填闲种植及其在黄土高原旱作农业区的可行性分析

在主要粮食作物系统休闲期间种植填闲作物可兼顾环境与经济效益。综述了填闲种植对农田土壤水分、养分和后续粮食作物生产力形成等生态过程的影响及其具有的固碳减排、减少淋溶、控制侵蚀等环境与经济效益,并在此基础上从土壤水分限制、养分提高和产量经济效益等角度探讨了填闲种植在黄土高原旱作农业区的可行性,指出今后应重点加强填闲种植系统的水肥生产力形成机制、关键环境效益的形成机理、填闲作物与管理措施选择、生态经济效益评价以及气候变化背景下的填闲种植系统综合效益评估等方面展开定位观测与模型模拟研究,为填闲种植在黄土高原旱作农业区的推广提供科学依据。     

Indicator based assessment of the soil compaction risk at arable sites using the model REPRO

Soil compaction impairs all essential soil functions, which are crucial for the lives of humans, animals, plants and soil organisms. In order to secure the various soil functions, soil compaction must be avoided. One successful method of preventing soil compaction could be based on the precautionary principle, and mathematical modelling might be used to support farmers or consultants when making decisions about husbandry operations. This paper presents a model which calculates an indicator and assesses the risk of soil compaction on arable land based on site-specific data including information on soil, weather and specific husbandry. The first step is to estimate the soil strength in response to soil stress for a topsoil (20 cm) and a subsoil (35 cm) layer. The estimations of these parameters take into account changes in soil moisture throughout the year. Soil strength compared with soil stress is used to calculate the indicator Soil Compaction Index (SCI) for each time the machinery passes over the soil. The results from the separate passes are then integrated for a comprehensive assessment of the risk of soil compaction at farm level. The model was validated in numerous trials. It was found that the calculated SCI was a good reflection of the actual change in soil structure. The model is already being applied on arable farms in Germany. As an example presented in this paper, the calculations for the subsoil at these farms result in low to medium compaction risks.     

Microbial biomass and growth kinetics of microorganisms in chernozem soils under different farm land use modes

The carbon content of microbial biomass and the kinetic characteristics of microbial respiration response to substrate introduction have been estimated for chernozem soils of different farm lands: arable lands used for 10, 46, and 76 years, mowed fallow land, non-mowed fallow land, and woodland. Microbial biomass and the content of microbial carbon in humus (Cmic/Corg) decreased in the following order: soils under forest cenoses-mowed fallow land-10-year arable land-46- and 75-year arable land. The amount of microbial carbon in the long-plowed horizon was 40% of its content in the upper horizon of non-mowed fallow land. Arable soils were characterized by a lower metabolic diversity of microbial community and by the highest portion of microorganisms able to grow directly on glucose introduced into soil. The effects of different scenarios of carbon sequestration in soil on the reserves and activity of microbial biomass are discussed.     

Implications of land-cover types for soil erosion on semiarid mountain slopes: Towards sustainable land use in problematic landscapes

The impact of land-cover types on soil erosion and runoff, as well as on physico-chemical soil properties, was monitored. The study area, an agroforestry landscape was located in Sierra Nevada Mountains in south-eastern Spain. Eight land-cover types were investigated: farmland planted with olive, almond, and cereals; forest with P. halepensis and P. sylvestris; shrubland; grassland; and abandoned farmland. The erosion plots replicated twice were located on hillslopes, where erosion and runoff were measured after 22 storm events. Forest dominated by Pinus stands exhibited significantly the lowest amounts of erosion and runoff, contrasting with abandoned farmland. Olive had higher erosion than did almond, cereals, or grasslands, but with the highest runoff rate under almond groves. The erosion and runoff response to shrubland showed an intermediate situation between forest and farmland–grassland uses. Under forest and shrubland, better soil properties were determined, especially higher organic C and total N, and lower soil-bulk density. Erosion was highly dependent on runoff, bulk density, soil organic C, and the degree of soil surface covered. Thus, the alteration in land cover is essential to an understanding of productivity of soil undergoing erosion, as sustainable planning can mitigate soil-degradation processes in the overall agroforestry landscape.     

Quantification and assessment of changes in ecosystem service in the Three-River Headwaters Region,China as a result of climate variability and land cover change

Rapid and periodic assessment of the impact of land cover change and climate variability on ecosystem services at regional levels is essential to understanding services and sustainability of ecosystems. This study focused on quantifying and assessing the changes in multiple ecosystem services in the Three-River Headwaters Region (TRHR), China in 2000–2012. Based on the widely used biophysical models including Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-Offs (InVEST), Revised Wind Erosion Equation (RWSQ), and Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach (CASA) models, this study assessed the historical flow of regulating services, including soil conservation, water yield, and carbon sequestration, and provisioning service food provision. The soil conservation function of ecosystem was slightly enhanced as a whole, and water yield increased sharply, with both the soil conservation and water yield showing an increasing spatial homogenization. The net primary productivity (NPP) and food production increased substantially from 2000 to 2012. Ecosystem services are closely and complexly interlinked. The correlation analyses indicated a trade-off between the water yield and carbon sequestration, however, a synergy between soil conservation and carbon sequestration. Congruence between the three different ecosystem provisioning services, including pasture, meat, and grain, was found. There was also a synergy between food production and ecosystem carbon sequestration in the TRHR. Climatic variability and vegetation restoration are important for the ecosystem services flow. Correlation analyses showed that the increase in precipitation significantly enhanced the water yield (P < 0.01) and soil erosion (P < 0.01), while the temperature increase influenced positively the NPP (P < 0.1). The experience of ecological rehabilitation and the change in key ecosystem services in the TRHR exemplified the positive effects of environmental policies and the necessity of adopting an adaptive management approach. Thus the ecological construction and policy making should take climate variability into account, and facilitate synergies on multiple ecosystem services in order to maximize human well-being and preserve its natural ecosystems.     

三峡库区典型农林流域景观格局对径流和泥沙输出的影响

以三峡库区秭归县25个典型农林复合小流域作为研究对象,斑块类型水平上选取斑块面积比例指数(PLAND),景观水平上选取斑块丰富度密度(PRD)、双对数回归分维数(DLFD)、Shannon-Weaver多样性指数(SHDI)、聚集度(CONT)等5类景观指数,基于遥感和GIS技术,应用AnnAGNPS(Annualized AGricultural Non-Point Source)模型模拟流域径流和泥沙输出,FRAGSTATS软件计算流域景观格局指数,SPSS19.0分析景观指数和径流、泥沙的相关回归关系,从景观水平探讨景观格局特征对径流、泥沙输出的影响。结果表明：流域径流量与农坡地PLAND、农梯地PLAND、农林梯地PLAND、居民地PLAND、CONT等指数显著正相关,林地PLAND、灌木地PLAND与径流量显著负相关;农坡地PLAND、农林梯地PLAND、居民地PLAND、CONT等与泥沙输出量显著正相关,林地PLAND、灌木地PLAND、SHDI等与泥沙显著负相关。景观指数(因子)与径流和泥沙输出量复相关系数R为0.856和0.962(均高度相关),复相关系数R均大于相对应的单因子相关系数。流域景观水平上,景观格局对径流和泥沙输出影响均显著,景观空间格局是景观功能多样性的反馈,本文是景观格局影响生态过程(径流、泥沙输出)的又一例证。