scholarly journals Nutrient Load Mitigation with Wintertime Cover as Estimated by the INCA Model

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 450
Author(s):  
Katri Rankinen ◽  
Eila Turtola ◽  
Riitta Lemola ◽  
Martyn Futter ◽  
José Enrique Cano Bernal
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Nutrient Loading ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Nature Management ◽  
Particulate Phosphorus ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Total N ◽  
No Till ◽  
Receiving Waters ◽  
Environmental Measures

Increased nutrient loading causes deterioration of receiving surface waters in areas of intensive agriculture. While nitrate and particulate phosphorus load can be efficiently controlled by reducing tillage frequency and increasing vegetation cover, many field studies have shown simultaneously increased loading of bioavailable phosphorus. In the latest phase of the Rural Programme of EU agri-environmental measures, the highest potential to reduce the nutrient loading to receiving waters were the maximum limits for fertilization of arable crops and retaining plant cover on fields with, e.g., no-till methods and uncultivated nature management fields. Due to the latter two measures, the area of vegetation cover has increased since 1995, suggesting clear effects on nutrient loading in the catchment scale as well. We modeled the effectiveness of agri-environmental measures to reduce phosphorus and nitrogen loads to waters and additionally tested the performance of the dynamic, process-based INCA-P (Integrated Nutrients in Catchments—Phosphorus) model to simulate P dynamics in an agricultural catchment. We concluded that INCA-P was able to simulate both fast (immediate) and slow (non-immediate) processes that influence P loading from catchments. Based on our model simulations, it was also evident that no-till methods had increased bioavailable P load to receiving waters, even though total P and total N loading were reduced.

scholarly journals Influence of EU policy on agricultural nutrient losses and the state of receiving surface waters in Finland

2008 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 282 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. EKHOLM ◽  
K. GRANLUND ◽  
P. KAUPPILA
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Nutrient Loading ◽  
Nutrient Losses ◽  
Agricultural Catchments ◽  
Receiving Waters ◽  
Environmental Measures ◽  
Current Loading ◽  
Regional Specialisation

In Finland, the first large-scale efforts to control nutrient loading from agriculture got under way with the introduction of the EU Agri-Environmental Program in 1995. We examined whether these efforts have decreased agricultural nutrient losses and improved the quality of receiving waters. To do so we used monitoring data on fluxes of nutrients and total suspended solids in agricultural catchments in 1990–2004 and on the water quality of agriculturally loaded rivers, lakes and estuaries in 1990–2005. No clear reduction in loading or improvement in water quality was detected. Hydrological fluctuations do not seem to have eclipsed the effects of the measures taken, since there was no systematic pattern in runoff in the period studied. The apparent inefficiency of the measures taken may be due to the large nutrient reserves of the soil, which slowed down nutrient reductions within the period studied. Simultaneous changes in agricultural production (e.g. regional specialisation) and in climate may also have counteracted the effects of agri-environmental measures. The actions to reduce agricultural loading might have been more successful had they focused specifically on the areas and actions that contribute most to the current loading.;

scholarly journals AN ASSESSMENT OF DISTURBANCE EFFECTS ON PLANT COVER OF NUMTO NATURAL PARK (KHANTY-MANSIYSK AUTONOMOUS OKRUG - UGRA)

2020 ◽  
pp. 81-89
Author(s):  
D. V. Moskovchenko ◽  
S. P. Aref’ev ◽  
V. A. Glazunov ◽  
I. V. Filippov
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Oil Extraction ◽  
Oil Field ◽  
Nature Management ◽  
Field Development ◽  
Natural Park ◽  
Oil Deposits ◽  
The Impact

The Numto Natural Park, Khanty-Mansi Autono-mous Okrug - Yugra, Russia, has recently attracted the attention of environmental organizations due to oil extraction operations in its territory. This paper presents the study of the vegetation cover dynamics and the assessment of natural and anthropogenic disturbances of Numto’s ecosystems. Due to the development of oil deposits, more than 60 adventitious plant species arrived to the park, and the synan-thropization index reached 26.4%. Tree rings showed the predominant influence of the climatic and pyrogenic components on the growth of trees. The technogenic impact that had occurred in the 1990s gave a spasmodic increase in cedar growth in the disturbed areas in the form of abnormal hard streaks. Later on, the impact of technogenic factors on the wood growth waned. Satellite imagery helped to determine changes in the vegetation cover. From 2011 to 2018, the area of disturbed sites doubled while the length of infield roads and pipelines increased by 5.7 times. The area of burnt fire sites increased manifold; how-ever, fires occurred at a considerable distance from the oil extraction sites and were of natural origin. Currently, the disturbed ecosystems, including burnt fire sites and fire-damaged ecosystems, occupy 2.1% of the oil deposits area, and the area of pyrogenic disturbances is larger than the area of technogenic ones. Compared to the oil and gas fields in the adjacent areas, the level of disturbance in the Numto Natural Park can be considered low. Since deer pastures were not disturbed by the oil extraction operations, the traditional nature management remains possible. Further oil field development requires ongoing monitoring of the ecosystem condition.

MOSAICITY OF THE VEGETATION COVER OF THE KOCHUBEY BIOSPHERE STATION PASTURES

1970 ◽  
pp. 40-42
Author(s):  
М. А. Babaeva ◽  
S. V. Osipova
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Avena Fatua ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
Fodder Plants ◽  
Falcaria Vulgaris

The regularities of changes in the resistance of different groups of fodder plants to adverse conditions were studied. This is due to the physiological properties that allow them to overcome the harmful effects of the environment. As a result of research species - plant groups with great adaptive potential to the harsh continental semi-desert conditions were identified. Monitoring observation and experimental studies showed too thin vegetation cover as a mosaic, consisting of perennial xerophytic herbs and semishrubs, sod grasses, saltwort and wormwood, as well as ephemera and ephemeroids under the same environmental conditions, depending on various climatic and anthropogenic factors. This is due to the inability or instability of plant species to aggressive living environment. It results in horizontal heterogeneity of the grass stand, division into smaller structures, and mosaic in the vegetation cover of the Kochubey biosphere station. The relative resistance to moderate stress was identified in the following species from fodder plants Agropyron cristatum, A. desertorum, Festuca valesiaca, Cynodon dactylon, Avena fatua; as for strong increasing their abundance these are poorly eaten plant species Artemisia taurica, Atriplex tatarica, Falcaria vulgaris, Veronica arvensis, Arabidopsis thaliana and other. On the site with an increasing pressure in the herbage of phytocenoses the number of xerophytes of ruderal species increases and the spatial structure of the vegetation cover is simplified. In plant communities indigenous species are replaced by adventive plant species. The mosaic of the plant cover of phytocenoses arises due to the uneven distribution in the space of environmental formation, i.e. an edificatory: Salsola orientalis, S. dendroides, Avena fatua, Cynodon dactylon, Artemisia taurica, A. lercheanum, Xanthium spinosum, Carex pachystyli, under which the remaining components of the community adapt. Based on the phytocenotic indicators of pasture phytocenoses it can be concluded that the vegetation cover is in the stage of ecological stress and a decrease in the share of fodder crops and an increase in the number of herbs indicates this fact.

Effects of Cover Crops and Tillage on Sweet Corn Production

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 476d-476
Author(s):  
Gary R. Cline ◽  
Anthony F. Silvernail
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Sweet Corn ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Corn Production ◽  
Total N ◽  
No Till ◽  
Winter Cover ◽  
Winter Cover Crops

A split-plot factorial experiment examined effects of tillage and winter cover crops on sweet corn in 1997. Main plots received tillage or no tillage. Cover crops consisted of hairy vetch, winter rye, or a mix, and N treatments consisted of plus or minus N fertilization. Following watermelon not receiving inorganic N, vetch, and mix cover cropsproduced total N yields of ≈90 kg/ha that were more than four times greater than those obtained with rye. However, vetch dry weight yields (2.7 mg/ha) were only about 60% of those obtained in previous years due to winter kill. Following rye winter cover crops, addition of ammonium nitrate to corn greatly increased (P < 0.05) corn yields and foliar N concentrations compared to treatments not receiving N. Following vetch, corn yields obtained in tilled treatments without N fertilization equaled those obtained with N fertilization. However, yields obtained from unfertilized no-till treatments were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than yields of N-fertilized treatments. Available soil N was significantly (P < 0.05) greater following vetch compared to rye after corn planting. No significant effects of tillage on sweet corn plant densities or yields were detected. It was concluded that no-tillage sweet corn was successful, and N fixed by vetch was able to sustain sweet corn production in tilled treatments but not in no-till treatments.In previous years normal, higher-yielding vetch cover crops were able to sustain sweet corn in both tilled and no-till treatments.

scholarly journals Technical Note: A comparison of model and empirical measures of catchment scale effective energy and mass transfer

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 3027-3044
Author(s):  
C. Rasmussen ◽  
E. L. Gallo
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Primary Production ◽  
Net Primary Production ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Base Flow ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Empirical Measures ◽  
Climatological Data ◽  
Effective Precipitation ◽  
Average Percentage

Abstract. Recent work suggests that a coupled energy and mass transfer term (EEMT), that includes the energy associated with effective precipitation and primary production, may serve as a robust prediction parameter of critical zone structure and function. However, the models used to estimate EEMT have been solely based on long term climatological data with little validation using point to catchment scale empirical data. Here we compare catchment scale EEMT estimates generated using two distinct approaches: (1) EEMT modelled using the established methodology based on estimates of monthly effective precipitation and net primary production derived from climatological data, and (2) empirical catchment scale EEMT estimated using data from 86 catchments of the Model Parameterization Experiment (MOPEX) and MOD17A3 annual net primary production (NPP) product derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). Results indicated positive and significant linear correspondence between model and empirical measures but with modelled EEMT values consistently greater than empirical measures of EEMT. Empirical catchment estimates of the energy associated with effective precipitation (EPPT) were calculated using a mass balance approach and base flow that accounts for water losses to quick surface runoff not accounted for in the climatologically modelled EPPT. Similarly, local controls on primary production such as solar radiation and nutrient limitation were not explicitly included in the climatologically based estimates of energy associated with primary production (EBIO) whereas these were captured in the remotely sensed MODIS NPP data. There was significant positive correlation between catchment aridity and the fraction of total energy partitioned into EBIO, where the EBIO increases as the average percentage catchment woody plant cover decreases. In summary, the data indicated strong correspondence between model and empirical measures of EEMT that agree well with catchment energy and water partitioning and plant cover.

scholarly journals Distribution and vertical stratification of carbon and nitrogen in soil under different managements in the pampean region of Argentina

2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 1985-1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carina Rosa Álvarez ◽  
Alejandro Oscar Costantini ◽  
Alfredo Bono ◽  
Miguel Ángel Taboada ◽  
Flavio Hernán Gutiérrez Boem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Layer ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
C Storage ◽  
C Pools ◽  
No Till ◽  
Total Organic C

One of the expected benefits of no-tillage systems is a higher rate of soil C sequestration. However, higher C retention in soil is not always apparent when no-tillage is applied, due e.g., to substantial differences in soil type and initial C content. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of no-tillage management to increase the stock of total organic C in soils of the Pampas region in Argentina. Forty crop fields under no-tillage and conventional tillage systems and seven undisturbed soils were sampled. Total organic C, total N, their fractions and stratification ratios and the C storage capacity of the soils under different managements were assessed in samples to a depth of 30 cm, in three layers (0-5, 5-15 and 15-30 cm). The differences between the C pools of the undisturbed and cultivated soils were significant (p < 0.05) and most pronounced in the top (0-5 cm) soil layer, with more active C near the soil surface (undisturbed > no-tillage > conventional tillage). Based on the stratification ratio of the labile C pool (0-5/5-15 cm), the untilled were separated from conventionally tilled areas. Much of the variation in potentially mineralizable C was explained by this active C fraction (R² = 0.61) and by total organic C (R² = 0.67). No-till soils did not accumulate more organic C than conventionally tilled soils in the 0-30 cm layer, but there was substantial stratification of total and active C pools at no till sites. If the C stratification ratio is really an indicator of soil quality, then the C storage potential of no-tillage would be greater than in conventional tillage, at least in the surface layers. Particulate organic C and potentially mineralizable C may be useful to evaluate variations in topsoil organic matter.

Resource Partitioning in Two Coexisting Sunfish: Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) and Northern Longear Sunfish (Lepomis megalotis peltastes)

1980 ◽  
Vol 37 (9) ◽  
pp. 1411-1420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis R. Laughlin ◽  
Earl E. Werner
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Lepomis Gibbosus ◽  
Sediment Type ◽  
Vegetation Density ◽  
Sympatric Populations ◽  
Sparse Vegetation ◽  
Lepomis Megalotis ◽  
Longear Sunfish

Qualitative surveys of 22 lakes in southern Michigan indicated that relative abundances of the northern longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis peltastes) and pumpkinseed (L. gibbosus) depended upon amount of plant cover and sediment type. The longear sunfish occurred only in lakes with marl sediments and regions of sparse vegetation cover. The pumpkinseed occurred in all lakes surveyed and increased in abundance in lakes with greater vegetation density and/or more organic sediments. Quantitative measurements of habitat and food use were made in five lakes with sympatric populations. Data from underwater transects indicated that large (> 75 mm standard length) longear sunfish occurred primarily in shallow regions containing moderate to low vegetation cover whereas large pumpkinseeds were concentrated in deeper areas with heavy vegetation cover. The smaller size-classes of both species occupied the vegetation in deeper areas of the littoral zone. Large longears consumed predominantly large, sediment-dwelling mayfly or odonate nymphs regardless of the lake or habitat types. Pumpkinseeds consumed mainly gastropods and other prey from the vegetation. Preliminary studies of seasonal food use indicated that the pumpkinseed and longear sunfish both consumed more food in the spring and exhibited greater overlap in diet during this period. The relationship between foraging behaviors of these two species and the types of prey consumed is discussed as well as the complications of assessing competition between species when food and habitat use are dependent on size.Key words: Habitat use, size-class, lake types, food overlap, competition, Lepomis, Michigan

scholarly journals Flora of spoil heaps after hard coal mining in Trzebinia (southern Poland): effect of substratum properties

2013 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcin W. Woch ◽  
Magdalena Radwańska ◽  
Anna M. Stefanowicz
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Hard Coal ◽  
Total Carbon Content ◽  
Total N ◽  
Southern Poland ◽  
Spoil Heaps

Abstract - The aim of the present study was to investigate the composition of spontaneous plant cover and the physicochemical properties of the substratum of spoil heaps of the Siersza hard coal mine in Trzebinia (southern Poland) abandoned in 2001. Floristic and soil analyses were performed in 2011. The substratum was very diverse in terms of texture (sand: 55-92 %, clay: 6-38 %), nutrient content (total C: 1.3-41.0 %, total N: 0.05-0.49 %, total Ca: 0.5-7.3 %) and pH (3.7-8.7). Moreover, total thallium concentration in the substratum was high, ranging from 6.0 to 14.6 mg kg-1. Plant cover varied from 50 to 95 %. The number of plant species per 4m2 varied from 6 to 29 and correlated negatively with total carbon content (r = -0.85, p < 0.01), and positively with sand content in the substratum (r = 66, p < 0.05). The highest number of species per area unit was observed on a humus substratum, where initial soil has developed on the part of carboniferous waste rock spoil under 20-30 year old trees, and the lowest on carbon shale with coal and culm. Among 197 plant species, most belong to Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae and Rosaceae families. Hemicryptophytes (49%) and terophytes (18%) predominated. The investigated area was primarily colonized by native species spread by the wind. However, invasive alien species also had a significant share (8%) in the plant cover.

scholarly journals Space-time dynamics of the Minawao plant cover and surrounding area (Far North, Cameroon)

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-115
Author(s):  
Paul Kodji ◽  
Tchobsala ◽  
Adamou Ibrahima
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Satellite Images ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Tamarindus Indica ◽  
Surrounding Area ◽  
Time Dynamics ◽  
Far North ◽  
Local Populations ◽  
Acacia Albida ◽  
The Village

The study, which covered "study the dynamics of the Minawao vegetation cover and its surroundings (Far North, Cameroon), took place in five villages: Minawao, Gawar, Sabongari, Windé and Zamay. The main objective was to help manage the impacts of populations on the Minawao vegetation cover and its surroundings in order to improve the living conditions of refugees and local populations. In each village, floristic surveys were carried out in 5 plants formations (shrub savannah, forest gallery, tree savannah, field and dwellings). For satellite images, the 14-year interval (2006 to 2020) was retained. Analysis of the data identified 23 species, 21 gender and 14 families over the 120 hectares of study area. The annual rate of regression indicates that the village of Minawao and the river side villages are experiencing more degradation after the settlement of refugees than before, with their respective regression rates of -10.81 ha/year and -8.93 ha/year. The maximum carbon is stored by Acacia albida (11.77 tC/ha) and Tamarindus indica (8.11 t/ha). The total amount of carbon in this area is 32.32 tC/ha.

scholarly journals Applied-Geographic Analysis of the Pasmove Pobuzhzhia Territory

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Cover ◽  
System Analysis ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Urban System ◽  
Urban Ecosystem ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Nature Management ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Geographic Analysis ◽  
Environmental Measures

Pasmove Pobuzhzhia is a unique geosystem of the Male Polissia nature region which is formed by the thawed waters of the Oka glaciation. Today, this geosystem undergoes negative anthropogenic transformations mainly due to its vicinity to the urban system of Lviv city. Purpose. To carry out a complex applied-geographic analysis of the territory of the Pasmove Pobuzhzhia. Methods. System analysis, synthesis, generalization, comparison, methods of laboratory and instrumental research for determining the quality of groundwater, a cartographic method for creating a map of objects of economic infrastructure and the proposed environmental measures within the Pasmove Pobuzhzhia. Results. The natural conditions, forest cover, the density of the river network, the agricultural land cultivation and the main types of nature management were analyzed. The Pasmove Pobuzhzhia is experiencing a rather powerful negative anthropogenic impact, which is associated, in particular, with a close interconnection with the Lviv urban ecosystem. The western part of the Malekhivs’ke Pasmo, which relates to the location of the city garbage dump, is under special stress. Conclusions. The main problems hindering the sustainable development of the research area were revealed. The priority measures were proposed to improve the geoecological situation within the research area.

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