The Red Soils of China

The Red Soils of China
Author: Michael Wilson
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 424
Release: 2004-05-26
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 9781402021374

The red soils of China are typical in their chemical, physical and mineralogical characteristics of red soils in other tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world, particularly in South America, Africa and south-east Asia. For the most part, these soils are highly weathered and inherently infertile. They are acidic, nutrient deficient, poor in organic matter and have a low water-holding and supplying capacity. They cannot sustain arable cropping systems without the most careful management and are highly susceptible to soil erosion, particularly on sloping land. It is the purpose of this book to present recent research showing how the problems associated with using the red soils in China for sustainable agricultural production can be overcome, using a variety of traditional and novel approaches. In principle, these approaches should be useful in other tropical and sub-tropical countries faced with the problem of making the best use of their fragile red soil resources. The term "in principle" is used deliberately because, of course, the different red soil countries invariably operate within dissimilar socio-economic frameworks. At the present time, China may be considered to be in the process of an "industrial revolution", rather like that that took place in Britain in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

Eucalyptus Plantations: Research, Management And Development - Proceedings Of The International Symposium

Eucalyptus Plantations: Research, Management And Development - Proceedings Of The International Symposium
Author: Runpeng Wei
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 433
Release: 2003-09-04
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9814485306

The book contains papers presented at a meeting by eucalyptus experts, scholars, consultants and company managers from different countries and regions. The authors report: (1) the most recent advances in eucalyptus research from different perspectives — genetics, breeding, cultivation techniques, soil nutrition, plantation management, wood utilization, etc.; (2) the world-wide extension and development of the cultivated eucalyptus as a strategic forest tree with great economic, environmental and social significance; (3) plantation management merging ecological, environmental and legal concerns in operations practised by the private sector; (4) new approaches to utilization of eucalyptus woods. This book also represents a successful combination of academic research and practical operation in managing commercial eucalyptus plantations.

Sustainable Reconstruction of Highland and Headwater Regions

Sustainable Reconstruction of Highland and Headwater Regions
Author: R.B. Singh
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 708
Release: 1995-01-01
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 9789054107194

Rebuilding the vitality of mountain environments (Ecosystem health / Bio- diversity / Social, cultural and economic aspects); Environmental impacts of development in headwater regions (Impacts of commercial forestry, tourism, road construction, mining, etc.); Hydrology of headwater regions (Impacts of acid rain, land use change, climatic change, biological aspects of hydrological cycle); Environmental monitoring in headwater environments (Including GIS / remote sensing / problems of field research in isolated regions); Erosion control in steeplands (Soil conservation, torrent control, etc.); Management of mountain forrests and community actions (Land use, forest ecology, NGO activities, etc.); Sustainable development of mountain environment (CIDA-SICI experience).

Agroecology in China

Agroecology in China
Author: Luo Shiming
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 473
Release: 2017-03-27
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1315360152

Key features: Reviews the development of agroecology in China, including research, practice, management, and education regarding challenges for rural and agricultural progress Presents information from sources not readily available in the West about agricultural development in China during the last several decades Provides models and indicates starting points for future research and practice Addresses how to meet future challenges of agroecosystems from the field to the table in China from scientific, technological, and management perspectives During the past 30 years, industrialization has fundamentally changed traditional rural life and agricultural practices in China. While the incomes of farmers have increased, serious issues have been raised concerning the environment, resource depletion, and food safety. In response, the Chinese government and Chinese scientists encouraged eco-agriculture, the practice of agroecology principles and philosophy, as a way to reduce the negative consequences of large-scale industrialized systems of farming. Agroecology in China: Science, Practice, and Sustainable Management represents the work of experts and leaders who have taught, researched, and expanded Chinese agroecology and eco-agriculture for more than 30 years. It reviews decades of agricultural change to provide an integrated analysis of the progress of research and development in agroecological farming practices. The book contains research on traditional and newly developed agricultural systems in China, including intercropping systems, rainfall harvest systems, and rice–duck, rice–fish, and rice–frog co-culture systems. It covers current eco-agriculture practices in the major regions of China according to climate conditions. The book closes with a discussion of the major technical approaches, necessary policy support, and possible major development stages that must occur to allow broader agroecological implementations toward the sustainability of future food systems in China. Presenting eco-agriculture systems that are somewhat unique in comparison to those of the United States, Latin America, and Europe, Agroecology in China gives insight on how Chinese agroecologists, under the political and cultural systems specific to China, have created a strong foundation for ecologically sound agroecosystem design and management that can be applied and adapted to food systems elsewhere in the world. By using selected regional examinations of agroecological efforts in China as examples, this book provides models of how to conduct research on a broad range of agroecosystems found worldwide.

Tropical Forage Plants

Tropical Forage Plants
Author: W.D. Pitman
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 579
Release: 2000-11-28
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1000611957

Tropical Forage Plants: Development and Use covers the research and resulting pasture development in the tropics and subtropics, which has undergone dramatic changes in the past few decades. Providing a broad, global perspective, it serves as a comprehensive resource covering a wide range of subjects pertaining to forage and animal production in th

Adaptation Mechanisms of Grass and Forage Plants to Stressful Environments, Volume II

Adaptation Mechanisms of Grass and Forage Plants to Stressful Environments, Volume II
Author: Jin-Lin Zhang
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Total Pages: 156
Release: 2023-12-11
Genre: Science
ISBN: 2832538428

This Research Topic is part of the article collection series - Adaptation Mechanisms of Grass and Forage Plants to Stressful Environments. Grass and forage plants serve multiple functions and benefits to humans and animals, such as beautifying landscapes, protecting the environment, improving human recreational activities, and providing feed for livestock and wild animals. There are growing concerns about continued global warming and increasing extreme weather events, which subsequently lead to frequent natural disasters and environmental problems. Compared to crops, grass and forage plants have evolved multiple mechanisms at physiological, biochemical, molecular, cellular, and subcellular levels to adapt to different environmental stresses such as high salinity, drought, heavy metal, insufficient or excessive light, extreme temperatures, pathogens and pests, etc. Increasing evidence indicates several main strategies for improving stress tolerance in grass and forage plants, including (i) natural metabolites or synthetic chemicals priming; (ii) application of beneficial microbes such as fungi and bacteria; (iii) biotic and/or abiotic stress priming; (iv) genetic breeding; and (v) traditional cross-breeding. A comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying these strategies may facilitate breeding for stress tolerance improvement in grass and forage plants.