Ecological value of different vegetated strip types in providing valuable insect-rich habitats for grey partridge chicks

The intensification and specialisation of agriculture has contributed to farmland wildlife decline, including farmland birds. Grey partridge is a farmland species which has experienced a significant decline across Europe in recent decades. Chick survival rate is a key determinant of grey partridge population change and depends essentially on the availability of insect food. In this study, ground-dwelling and canopy-dwelling insects were collected using pitfall trapping and sweep netting methodologies, respectively, on different strip types in an area established for the conservation of grey partridge. The aim was to further our understanding of the value of different vegetated strip types in providing insect-rich habitats for grey partridge chicks. Overall, wildflower strip (WS) provided the greatest insect abundance. Significantly more ground-dwelling insects were found on WS, natural regeneration (NS) and leguminous strips (LS) than on grass strip (GS). Canopy-dwelling insects were also significantly more abundant on WS compared to all other strip types. This study highlights that WSs may represent important habitats in providing insect-rich food for grey partridge chicks and sowing these strips may therefore play a key role in decreasing chick mortality and supporting grey partridge conservation. It also demonstrates that other different vegetated strip types may still provide strip-specific insect taxa, in addition to other valuable resources. This study recommends a complex mosaic of different strip types to provide key resources for grey partridge, such as insect and plant food, nesting habitats and overwinter cover.

Effects of Different Inflow Rate Patterns and Distributions of Grass Strips on Runoff and Sediment in an Engineering Accumulation Body

Engineering accumulation bodies are critical sources of artificial soil and water loss. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of different inflow rate patterns and distributions of grass strips on runoff and sediment in engineering accumulation bodies. A field runoff plot (20 m long, 1 m wide, and 0.5 m deep) was used for inflow simulation experiments under four inflow rate patterns (even, rising, falling, and rising-falling) and five grass strip patterns (patterns Ⅰ-Ⅴ). The results showed that the changing trends of runoff rate and sediment yield increased with increasing inflow rate and decreased with reduction for the same grass strip pattern. Although the inflow rate pattern affected runoff and sediment yield, it had no significant effect on the total runoff and sediment. The influence of the grass strip pattern on runoff and sediment was significantly higher than that of the inflow rate pattern. The runoff reduction and sediment reduction effects of grass strip patterns were 12.23 to 49.62% and 12.92 to 80.54%, respectively. When grass strips were distributed on a slope in bands (pattern Ⅴ), the soil and water conservation effects were ideal, reducing the average runoff and sediment by 44.98% and 58.09%, respectively. Sediment reduction caused by decreasing runoff (SRR) was the main factor controlling erosion and sediment yield. This study can guide the configuration of vegetation control measures for soil and water loss in engineering accumulation bodies.

METODE KONSERVASI TANAH DENGAN CARA STRIP RUMPUT (GRASS STRIP)

Konservasi tanah pada lahan kering merupakan upaya meningkatkan fungsi lahan untuk berproduksi, sehingga potensinya dapat dioptimalkan sebagai sumber pendapatan. Lahan kering marginal yang berstatus kritis dicirikan oleh solum tanah yang dangkal, kemiringan lereng, tingkat erosi, kandungan bahan organik sangat rendah. Menurunnya kualitas tanah disebabkan dua faktor utama yakni faktor faktor pertama adalah faktor alamiah yang terdiri dari iklim, topografi, kemiringan lereng, vegetasi dan tanah. Faktor ke dua adalah ulah manusia seperti kesalahan dalam pengelolaan lahan. Dalam upaya mengatasi degradasi tanah untuk memperoleh lahan yang ideal dalam usaha pertanian, maka tindakan yang harus ditempuh dengan cara vegetatif. Cara vegetatif antara lain penanaman menurut kontur seperti strip rumput. Metode koservasi tanah secara vegetatif dengn strip rumput dapat mengurangi kehilangan unsur hara tanah melalui erosi, menahan aliran permukaan dan juga menghasilkan hijauan untuk ternak

Comportamiento agronomico y nutricional de genotipos de Brachiaria spp. manejados con fertilizacion nitrogenada solos y asociados con Pueraria phaseoloides en condiciones de la altillanura colombiana

The Colombian Altillanura is a microregion that typifies a extensive cattle production system which requires the use of adapted grasses responding to nitrogen fertilization to improve yield and nutritional quality grassland to intensify livestock production systems. The study was conducted at the headquarters Taluma CORPOICA, located at 04 ° 34'25 "west and 71 ° 20'10" north in the town of Puerto López - Meta, under conditions of climate and soil of the Colombian Altillanura. The objective of this study was to determine the agronomic and nutritional behavior of genotypes of Brachiaria brizantha CIAT 16315, 16467, 26990, 26124, 6387 and Mulato II, handled single nitrogen fertilization and associated with the legume Pueraria phaseoloides. Design of randomized complete block arrangement in divided stripes, where the plot corresponded to the forage grass strip and the level of nitrogen fertilization was used (N46, N92, and N46 + P. phaseoloides). Accessions with greater biomass production (p<0.001) were B. brizantha CIAT 16315 (2040 kgDM.ha-1), B. brizantha CIAT 6387 (2033 kgDM.ha-1) and B. brizantha CIAT 16467 (1864 kgDM. ha-1). Treatment grasses + N92 values had significantly (p<0.001) higher in CP (9.55%) and degradability of forage (65.7%) and lower dry matter content (37.05 %%), NDF (61.97%) and FDA (30.55%) compared with the response of grasses fertilized with 46 kgN.ha-1 and grasses associated with kudzu and fertilized with 46 kgN.ha-1. For higher CP content (p <0.001), materials B. brizantha CIAT 16315 (8.34%) and CIAT 26124 (8.06%) which did not differ significantly with grazing Mulato II (8.18%). The results demonstrated the importance of nitrogen fertilization on the production and nutritional quality pastures B. brizantha.

Forest and Land Rehabilitation Planning Based on Land Capacity of The Lake Tondano Catchment Area

This study aims to analyze and develop alternative forest and land rehabilitation based on land capability in catchment area Tondano lake. Inhibiting factors used in the analysis is the ability of land slope, drainage and infiltration rate. The results of the analysis obtained 42 units of land. Approximately 85 % belong to the class I - V and 15 % belong to the class VI-VIII. Furthermore, the proposed three models of forest and land rehabilitation as follows: (1) Sub East catchment area, proposed pattern-based agroforestry clove plants in cultivation area, (2) Sub South catchment area, proposed pattern of farm crops is designed in agroforestry systems so that the health of soil, especially soil organic matter content can be maintained to support sustainable agriculture, (3) Sub West catchment area, proposed pattern integrated farming cattle crops (maize + grass strip + terrace ridges). While in the forest area developed multi purposes forest on all catchment areas.