Cambios en el uso del suelo de las tierras del ingenio Las Palmas, provincia de Chaco, en los a��os 1987 y 2001

En el departamento Bermejo, provincia de Chaco, a fines del siglo XIX se origina uno de los ingenios azucareros m��s importantes del pa��s: Las Palmas del Chaco Austral S.A. En la d��cada de los noventa es v��ctima de las pol��ticas de privatizaci��n imperantes del momento. Como consecuencia, se produce su cierre y posterior desaparici��n, lo que supuso la eliminaci��n de la principal fuente de trabajo de la localidad. Las tendencias actuales y novedosas en teledetecci��n, cartograf��a digital y Sistemas de Informaci��n Geogr��fica (SIG) son una forma ��til e importante de ofrecer conocimientos actualizados para el diagn��stico, monitoreo y su aplicaci��n en la gesti��n e investigaci��n de recursos presentes en los distintos lugares de nuestro pa��s. En el presente trabajo se pretende analizar los cambios producidos en el uso de suelo en las tierras del ex Ingenio a partir del cierre del mismo, mediante el uso de im��genes satelitales de los a��os 1987 y 2001, y de sistemas de informaci��n geogr��fica (SIG). El an��lisis multiespectral y multitemporal de las mismas permitir�� discriminar los tipos de cobertura del suelo sobre la base de su respuesta espectral.

Transformaciones territoriales en el periurbano de Mar del Plata

El estudio de las transformaciones territoriales de las ��reas periurbanas demanda el conocimiento de la evoluci��n de las actividades que all�� se desarrollan. El presente trabajo analiza las transformaciones del periurbano de Mar del Plata entre los noventa y la actualidad, enfatizando en los cambios de las actividades. Para ello, se realiza una clasificaci��n supervisada de usos sobre im��genes satelitales de 1989 y 2009, que es ajustada a partir de una base de datos del ��rea. Posteriormente, se analizan las transformaciones considerando distintas fases de estructuraci��n de las ciudades y se establece una periodizaci��n siguiendo las nociones de r��gimen y ruptura. El estudio realizado constituye una base para generar estrategias de ocupaci��n y desarrollo del ��rea y la metodolog��a aplicada puede extenderse a otros territorios

Evaluaci��n de la calidad ambiental en relaci��n con los usos del suelo de tipo peligroso : El caso de La Carlota, C��rdoba

La calidad ambiental se refiere a la contribuci��n del ambiente al bienestar humano. Los usos del suelo de tipo peligroso en un ambiente urbano pueden afectar dicha calidad. En este trabajo, se analiza y eval��a la calidad ambiental urbana con respecto a los usos del suelo de tipo peligroso ubicados dentro del ejido urbano: dep��sitos de agroqu��micos; silos; garajes de fumigadores terrestres; dep��sitos de garrafas y tubos de gas licuado; estaciones de servicio. La metodolog��a propuesta para este estudio es la aplicaci��n de Sistemas de Indicadores Ambientales bajo el modelo "Presi��n-Estado-Respuesta" (OCDE), con el fin de plantear y medir un ��ndice de Calidad Ambiental. El objetivo final es identificar factores que se comportan como profundizadores o mitigadores del riesgo, medidos a trav��s de indicadores de presi��n, estado y respuesta

Cambios en el uso del suelo de las tierras del ingenio Las Palmas, provincia de Chaco, en los a��os 1987 y 2001

En el departamento Bermejo, provincia de Chaco, a fines del siglo XIX se origina uno de los ingenios azucareros m��s importantes del pa��s: Las Palmas del Chaco Austral S.A. En la d��cada de los noventa es v��ctima de las pol��ticas de privatizaci��n imperantes del momento. Como consecuencia, se produce su cierre y posterior desaparici��n, lo que supuso la eliminaci��n de la principal fuente de trabajo de la localidad. Las tendencias actuales y novedosas en teledetecci��n, cartograf��a digital y Sistemas de Informaci��n Geogr��fica (SIG) son una forma ��til e importante de ofrecer conocimientos actualizados para el diagn��stico, monitoreo y su aplicaci��n en la gesti��n e investigaci��n de recursos presentes en los distintos lugares de nuestro pa��s. En el presente trabajo se pretende analizar los cambios producidos en el uso de suelo en las tierras del ex Ingenio a partir del cierre del mismo, mediante el uso de im��genes satelitales de los a��os 1987 y 2001, y de sistemas de informaci��n geogr��fica (SIG). El an��lisis multiespectral y multitemporal de las mismas permitir�� discriminar los tipos de cobertura del suelo sobre la base de su respuesta espectral.

An��lisis de usos normativos y su vinculaci��n con ��reas en riesgo de inundaci��n. El caso de 23 partidos del litoral bonaerense

El presente trabajo se basa en un an��lisis de la normativa dispuesta en materia de ordenamiento territorial y usos de suelo de los 23 partidos de la cuenca Parano- Platense que conforman el ��rea de estudio del proyecto en el cual se encuadra el mismo1, considerando el tratamiento espec��fico de ��reas afectadas y prevenci��n de las inundaciones. Para ello se ha tenido en cuenta: a) el an��lisis de la evoluci��n de la regulaci��n del Estado en la ocupaci��n del suelo para el Gran Buenos Aires; b) el registro actualizado de ordenanzas en materia de ordenamiento territorial y Usos del Suelo convalidadas por Poder Ejecutivo (PE) (N�� de ordenanza y el N�� de Decreto del Poder Ejecutivo de convalidaci��n; c) la norma espec��fica (N�� de ordenanza / N�� de decreto del PE) por municipio / por contenido. Los datos para llevar a cabo el estudio de usos de suelo normativos se obtuvieron del nuevo Mapa Interactivo de Ordenamiento Territorial de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, que fue generado por el Ministerio de Gobierno de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Subsecretar��a de Asuntos Municipales. El an��lisis de la normativa vigente de cada uno de los 23 partidos que abarcan el ��mbito de estudio nos permitir�� definir estrategias futuras de intervenci��n, las cuales actuar��n como instrumento en materia de ordenamiento territorial desde la gesti��n de cada municipio.

Fractal parameters of pore space from CT images of soils under contrasting management practices

Soil structure plays an important role in flow and transport phenomena, and a quantitative characterization of the spatial heterogeneity of the pore space geometry is beneficial for prediction of soil physical properties. Morphological features such as pore-size distribution, pore space volume or pore?solid surface can be altered by different soil management practices. Irregularity of these features and their changes can be described using fractal geometry. In this study, we focus primarily on the characterization of soil pore space as a 3D geometrical shape by fractal analysis and on the ability of fractal dimensions to differentiate between two a priori different soil structures. We analyze X-ray computed tomography (CT) images of soils samples from two nearby areas with contrasting management practices. Within these two different soil systems, samples were collected from three depths. Fractal dimensions of the pore-size distributions were different depending on soil use and averaged values also differed at each depth. Fractal dimensions of the volume and surface of the pore space were lower in the tilled soil than in the natural soil but their standard deviations were higher in the former as compared to the latter. Also, it was observed that soil use was a factor that had a statistically significant effect on fractal parameters. Fractal parameters provide useful complementary information about changes in soil structure due to changes in soil management. Read More: http://www.worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.1142/S0218348X14400118?queryID=%24%7BresultBean.queryID%7D&

Deforestaci��n y P��rdida de h��bitat en Bosques de monta��a en la Cuenca alta del R��o Zamora (Loja, Ecuador)

Los bosques h��medos de monta��a se encuentran reconocidos como uno de los ecosistemas m��s amenazados en el mundo, llegando inclusive a ser considerado como un ���hotspot��� por su alta diversidad y endemismo. La acelerada p��rdida de cobertura vegetal de estos bosques ha ocasionado que, en la actualidad, se encuentren restringidos a una peque��a fracci��n de su ��rea de distribuci��n hist��rica. Pese a esto, los estudios realizados sobre cual es efecto de la deforestaci��n, fragmentaci��n, cambios de uso de suelo y su efecto en las comunidades de plantas presentes en este tipo de vegetaci��n a��n son muy escuetos, en comparaci��n a los realizados con sus similares amaz��nicos. En este trabajo, el cual se encuentra dividido en seis cap��tulos, abordaremos los siguientes objetivos: a) Comprender cu��l es la din��mica que han seguido los diferentes tipos de bosques montanos andinos de la cuenca del Rio Zamora, Sur de Ecuador durante entre 1976 y 2002. b) Proveer de evidencia de las tasas de deforestaci��n y fragmentaci��n de todos los tipos diferentes de bosques montanos andinos presentes en la cuenca del Rio Zamora, Sur de Ecuador entre 1976 y 2002. c) Determinar qu�� factores inducen a la fragmentaci��n de bosques de monta��a en la cuenca alta del r��o Zamora entre 1976 y 2002. d) Determinar cu��les son y c��mo afectan los factores ambientales y socioecon��micos a la din��mica de la deforestaci��n y regeneraci��n (p��rdida y recuperaci��n del h��bitat) sufrida por los bosques de monta��a dentro de la zona de estudio y e) Determinar si la deforestaci��n y fragmentaci��n act��an sobre la diversidad y estructura de las comunidades de tres tipos de organismos (comunidades de ��rboles, comunidades de l��quenes ep��fitos y comunidades de hep��ticas ep��fitas). Este estudio se centr�� en el cuenca alta del r��o Zamora, localizada al sur de Ecuador entre las coordenadas 3�� 00�� 53��� a 4�� 20�� 24.65��� de latitud sur y 79�� 49��58��� a 78�� 35�� 38��� de longitud oeste, que cubre alrededor de 4300 km2 de territorio situado entre las capitales de las provincias de Loja y Zamora-Chinchipe. Con objeto de predecir la din��mica futura de la deforestaci��n en la regi��n de Loja y c��mo se ver��n afectados los diferentes tipos de h��bitat, as�� como para detectar los factores que m��s influyen en dicha din��mica, se han construido modelos basados en la historia de la deforestaci��n derivados de fotograf��as a��reas e im��genes satelitales de tres fechas (1976, 1989 y 2002). La cuantificaci��n de la deforestaci��n se realiz�� mediante la tasa de inter��s compuesto y para la caracterizaci��n de la configuraci��n espacial de los fragmentos de bosque nativo se calcularon ��ndices de paisaje los cuales fueron calculados utilizando el programa Fragstats 3.3. Se ha clasificado el recubrimiento del terreno en forestal y no forestal y se ha modelado su evoluci��n temporal con Modelos Lineales Generalizados Mixtos (GLMM), empleando como variables explicativas tanto variables ambientales espacialmente expl��citas (altitud, orientaci��n, pendiente, etc) como antr��picas (distancia a zonas urbanizadas, deforestadas, caminos, entre otras). Para medir el efecto de la deforestaci��n sobre las comunidades modelo (de ��rboles, l��quenes y hep��ticas) se monitorearon 11 fragmentos de vegetaci��n de distinto tama��o: dos fragmentos de m��s de cien hect��reas, tres fragmentos de entre diez y noventa ha y seis fragmentos de menos de diez hect��reas. En ellos se instalaron un total de 38 transectos y 113 cuadrantes de 20 x 20 m a distancias que se alejaban progresivamente del borde en 10, 40 y 80 m. Nuestros resultados muestran una tasa media anual de deforestaci��n del 1,16% para todo el per��odo de estudio, que el tipo de vegetaci��n que m��s alta tasa de destrucci��n ha sufrido, es el p��ramo herb��ceo, con un 2,45% anual. El an��lisis de los patrones de fragmentaci��n determin�� un aumento en 2002 de m��s del doble de fragmentos presentes en 1976, lo cual se repite en el an��lisis del ��ndice de densidad promedio. El ��ndice de proximidad media entre fragmentos muestra una reducci��n progresiva de la continuidad de las ��reas forestadas. Si bien las formas de los fragmentos se han mantenido bastante similares a lo largo del per��odo de estudio, la conectividad entre estos ha disminuido en un 84%. Por otro lado, de nuestros an��lisis se desprende que las zonas con mayor probabilidad de deforestarse son aquellas que est��n cercanas a zonas previamente deforestadas; la cercan��a a las v��as tambi��n influye significativamente en la deforestaci��n, causando un efecto directo en la composici��n y estructura de las comunidades estudiadas, que en el caso de los ��rboles viene mediado por el tama��o del fragmento y en el caso del componente ep��fito (hep��ticas y l��quenes), viene mediado tanto por el tama��o del fragmento como por la distancia al borde del mismo. Se concluye la posibilidad de que, de mantenerse esta tendencia, este tipo de bosques desaparecer�� en corto tiempo y los servicios ecosist��micos que prestan, se ver��n seriamente comprometidos. ABSTRACT Mountain rainforests are recognized as one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world, and have even come to be considered as a ���hotspot��� due to their high degree of diversity and endemism. The accelerated loss of plant cover of these forests has caused them to be restricted today to a small fraction of their area of historic distribution. In spite of this, studies done on the effect of deforestation, fragmentation, changes in soil use and their effect on the plant communities present in this type of vegetation are very brief compared to those done on their analogues in the Amazon region. In this study, which is divided into six chapters, we will address the following objectives: a) To understand what the dynamic followed by the different types of Andean mountain forests in the Zamora River watershed of southern Ecuador has been between 1976 and 2002. b) To provide evidence of the rates of deforestation and fragmentation of all the different types of Andean mountain forests existing in the upper watershed of the Zamora River between 1976 and 2002. c) To determine the factors that induces fragmentation of all different types of Andean mountain forests existing in the upper watershed of the Zamora River between 1976 and 2002. d) To determine what the environmental and anthropogenic factors are driving the dynamic of deforestation and regeneration (loss and recuperation of the habitat) suffered by the mountain forests in the area of the study and e) To determine if the deforestation and fragmentation act upon the diversity and structure of three model communities: trees, epiphytic lichens and epiphytic liverworts. This study is centered on the upper Zamora River watershed, located in southern Ecuador between 3�� 00�� 53��� and 4�� 20�� 24.65 south latitude and 79�� 49�� 58��� to 78�� 35�� 38��� west longitude, and covers around 4,300 km2 of territory located between Loja and Zamora-Chinchipe provinces. For the purpose of predicting the future dynamic of deforestation in the Loja region and how different types of habitats will be affected, as well as detecting the environmental and socioeconomic factors that influence landscape dynamics, models were constructed based on deforestation history, derived from aerial photographs and satellite images for three dates (1976, 1989 and 2002). Quantifying the deforestation was done using the compound interest rate; to characterize the spatial configuration of fragments of native forest, landscape indices were calculated with Fragstats 3.3 program. Land cover was classified as forested and not forested and its evolution over time was modeled with Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM), using spatially explicit environmental variables (altitude, orientation, slope, etc.) as well as anthropic variables (distance to urbanized, deforested areas and roads, among others) as explanatory variables. To measure the effects of fragmentation on three types of model communities (forest trees and epiphytic lichen and liverworts), 11 vegetation fragments of different sizes were monitored: two fragments of more than one hundred hectares, three fragments of between ten and ninety ha and six fragments of fewer than ten hectares . In these fragments, a total of 38 transects and 113 20 x 20 m quadrats were installed at distances that progressively moved away from the edge of the fragment by 10, 40 and 80 m. Our results show an average annual rate of deforestation of 1.16% for the entire period of the study, and that the type of vegetation that suffered the highest rate of destruction was grassy paramo, with an annual rate of 2.45%. The analysis of fragmentation patterns determined the number of fragments in 2002 more than doubled the number of fragments present in 1976, and the same occurred for the average density index. The variation of the average proximity index among fragments showed a progressive reduction of the continuity of forested areas. Although fragment shapes have remained quite similar over the period of the study, connectivity among them has diminished by 84%. On the other hand, it emerged from our analysis that the areas of greatest probability of deforestation were those that are close to previously deforested areas; proximity to roads also significantly favored the deforestation causing a direct effect on the composition of our model communities, that in the case of forest trees is determined by the size of the fragment, and in the case of the epiphyte communities (liverworts and lichens), is determined, by the size of the fragment as well as the distance to edge. A subject under discussion is the possibility that if this tendency continues, this type of forest will disappear in a short time, and the ecological services it provides, will be seriously endangered.

Qualidade da ��gua de um reservat��rio e do solo da zona rip��ria sob diferentes usos na regi��o semi��rida do Rio Grande do Norte

Reservoirs are artificial ecosystems intermediate between rivers and lakes widely used in the Brazilian semiarid region as a way to provide water supply due to the said region���s water scarcity. The use of water from these supply sources for multiple uses, along with occupation and utilization of its riparian zone without proper management, directly influences the increased nutrient flow into aquatic environments, there with contributing to the acceleration of eutrophication. The semi-arid region is characterized by peculiar weather conditions, such as severe evaporation, high temperatures with little variation throughout the year and long water residence time, making it susceptible to prolonged drought occurrence, which tends to concentrate the nutrients in reservoirs, which favors the development of eutrophic conditions. Moreover, it is common soil use and occupation by carrying out activities with potential environmental impact on natural resources such as agriculture, livestock farming and lack of sanitation. The aim of this study is both to evaluate the water quality of the Cruzeta Reservoir, located in the semiarid region of Rio Grande do Norte, during a prolonged drought period, and assess the quality of its riparian zone soil under different uses, by monitoring physical-chemical variables. Along the prolonged drought, high levels of turbidity, suspended solids, nutrients and chlorophyll a were verified as present, therefore featuring low water quality. In the riparian zone of Cruzeta Reservoir, the areas under use of agriculture and livestock farming appeared as one of the main diffuse sources of nutrients to the said reservoir, featuring the highest levels of phosphorus and nitrogen in the soil, originated from decomposition of animal excreta and from the use of fertilizers, creating a tendency to increased eutrophication of such water supply source. The indicators of water and soil quality are useful for monitoring and evaluating the conservation status of natural resources, allowing the control and mitigation of the reservoir eutrophication process. This study confirmed the hypothesis that the reduction of water level, resulting from prolonged drought event, aggravates the symptoms of eutrophication; and also that using the soil under severalways modifies the physic chemical properties of the soil, having livestock farming and agriculture as the usages with greatest potential towards yielding P and N to the aquatic environment.

Diagn��stico ambiental da ��rea de influ��ncia do complexo sucroalcooleiro Usina Vale do S��o Sim��o Ltda

One of the most widespread renewable energy sources in Brazil is ethanol, from sugarcane, therefore, the sugar and alcohol sector is expanding, with positive impacts for the economy of the country. Sugar cane was introduced in Brazil as a crop during its colonization, for the production of sugar, and put the country in the global scenario. The expansion of this crop occurred in the seventies, to reduce the reliance in fossil energy sources and to stimulate the development of the agricultural activity. Thus, the federal government has promoted the sugar cane crop and the production of ethanol as a fuel. However, it is important to minimize possible impacts that the crop may cause to the environment. Sugar cane has expanded in the frontiers of the mesoregion of Tri��ngulo Mineiro and Alto Parana��ba-MG, and, in this perspective, the agroindustrial complex known as Companhia Energ��tica Vale do S��o Sim��o Ltda., with the Mill located in the county of Santa Vit��ria, Minas Gerais, was adopted to evaluate the environmental impacts caused by the sugarcane in the area of influence of the mill. The mill has a polygonal area corresponding to 53,525.20 hectares, and for its establishment a Study and Report of Environmental Impacts (EIA/RIMA) was presented, as required as an environment protection instrument by the Environment National Policy (Law n�� 6.938/81), and detailed by the Resolution CONAMA n�� 01/1986. These studies pointed that native vegetation fragments in the Area of Influence of the Mill, before its implantation, corresponded to approximately 20.7% of the area. Therefore, this study evaluated the impacts of the installation of Usina Vale do S��o Sim��o, between 2007 and 2012, determining its reflex on the environmental regularization of the farms, and the vegetation fragments existing in the area, in the recovery and recomposition of areas defined as Legal Reserve and Permanent Preservation. Previous studies of the area were analyzed, soil use and occupation was mapped for the years 2007 and 2012, and the areas of permanent preservation and native vegetation fragments were marked. In general, there was a decline in native vegetation coverage in the period, although it cannot be stated that such reduction was a direct effect of the milling activity. Therefore, the legal requirement of preserving such areas was not capable of bringing the positive effects of protection and recovery as demanded by the Law, highlighting that the current legislation was not enough to protect such areas.

Caracteriza����o da diversidade parasit��ria em carn��veros silvestres e implica����es na conserva����o

Recolher dados para actualizar os conhecimento da diversidade parasit��ria dos mesocarn��voros mais abundantes nas regi��es do sul de Portugal e relacionar a dispers��o parasit��ria, a conserva����o e a sa��de humana constitu��ram os principais objetivos deste estudo. Raposas (Vulpes vulpes), sacarrabos (Herpestes ichneumon), fuinhas (Martes foina), ginetes (Genetta genetta) e texugos (Meles meles) atropelados foram os carn��voros-hospedeiros em estudo. Um grupo de raposas ca��adas foi tamb��m considerado parte da amostra. A informa����o geo-referenciada de todos os animais serviu para executar a an��lise espacial. Realizaram-se necr��psias meticulosas e procedeu�� se �� recolha, identifica����o e preserva����o dos parasitas encontrados. Pela primeira vez em Portugal �� registada a presen��a do parasita da gineta Ancytostoma martinezi. A correla����o entre os factores humanos e ambientais e, a riqueza de esp��cies foi determinada estatisticamente. Densidade populacional, disponibilidade de ��gua, tipo de uso de solo e dist��ncia m��nima ��s sedes de concelho n��o apresentaram uma rela����o estatisticamente significativa com a infec����o parasit��ria das raposas. Os resultados obtidos relativamente �� presen��a de parasitas zoon��ticos nos animais silvestres em estudo fomentam o trabalho multidisciplinar entre a Biologia da Conserva����o e as ci��ncias m��dicas. ABSTRACT; The aim of this study was to collect data in order to update the information related to the parasitic diversity of the predominant mesocarn��vores in the southern regions of Portugal and to establish relationships between the parasite dispersal, conservation and human health. Road killed foxes (Vulpes vulpes), mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon), stone marten (Martes foina), common genets (Genetta genetta) and euroasian badgers (Meles meles) were the considered carnivore-hosts. A sample of hunted foxes was also regarded.AD the animals had geo-reference information, ultimately used for spatial analysis. Thorough necropsies were performed and macroparasites collected, identified and preserved. For the first time in Portugal Ancylostoma martinezi, a common genets parasite.is recorded. Statistical species richness and correlation between human and environmental factors were determined. Human population density, water drainage, soil use, minimum distance to head council cities and the infection status of foxes proved no significant statistical relation. Results obtained on zoonotic parasites present in wild animals enhance the necessity of multidisciplinary work between Biology conservation and medical sciences.

Mineralogical changes caused by grape production in a regosol from subtropical Brazilian climate.

Purpose Inadequate soil use and management practices promote commonly negative impacts on the soil constituents and their properties, with consequences to ecosystems. As the soil mineralogy can be permanently altered due to soil use, this approach can be used as a tool to monitor the anthropogenic pressure. The objective of the present study was to assess the mineralogical alterations of a Brazilian regosol used for grape production for 40 years in comparison with a soil under natural vegetation (forest), aiming to discuss anthropogenic pressure on soils. Material and methods Soil samples were collected at depths of 0?0.20 and 0.20?0.40 m from vineyard production and natural vegetation sites. Physical and chemical parameters were analysed by classic approaches. Mineralogical analyses were carried out on <2 mm, silt and clay fractions. Clay minerals were estimated by the relative percentage of peak surface area of the X-ray patterns. Results and discussion Grape production reduced the organic matter content by 28% and the clay content by 23% resulting in a decreasing cation exchange capacity. A similar clay fraction was observed in both soils, containing kaolinite, illite/mica and vermiculite with hydroxy-Al polymers interlayered. Neither gibbsite nor chlorite was found. However, in the soil under native vegetation, the proportion of illite (79 %) was higher than vermiculite (21 %). Whereas, in the soil used for grape production during 40 years, the formation of vermiculite was promoted. Conclusions Grape production alters the proportions of soil constituents of the regosol, reducing clay fraction and organic matter contents, as well as promoting changes in the soil clay minerals with the formation of vermiculite to the detriment of illite, which suggests weathering acceleration and susceptibility to anthropogenic pressure. Recommendations and perspectives Ecosystems in tropical and subtropical climates can be more easily and permanently altered due to anthropogenic pressure, mainly as a consequence of a great magnitude of phenomena such as temperature amplitude and rainfall that occurs in these regions. This is more worrying when soils are located on steep grades with a high anthropogenic pressure, like regosols in Southern Brazil. Thus, this study suggests that changes in soil mineralogy can be used as an important tool to assess anthropogenic pressure in ecosystems and that soil quality maintenance should be a priority in sensible landscapes to maintain the ecosystem quality.

Evaluation of the sustainability level of a dairy and poultry farm: The Response-Inducing Sustainability Evaluation (RISE) method

Within this master thesis, various aspects related to the issue of sustainability in the food sector were addressed, focusing on the greenhouse gas emissions derived from livestock production. The increment in population number and wealth is directly related to the growing demand for meat products, which is, in turn, related to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Consumers are becoming more and more aware of these environmental issues and, therefore, sustainability factors are becoming even more relevant also from the environmental point of view. A very useful tool in this field is Response-Inducing Sustainability Evaluation (RISE), a software that allows you to determine the sustainability of a farm under many aspects, like energy consumption, livestock management and soil use. The RISE software processes the information obtained through a questionnaire submitted by the farmer, in which 10 different areas of sustainability in the farm are covered. For each theme, the results are expressed clearly with a score that goes from 0 to 100. The experimentation discussed in this work included two different projects, one regarding a dairy farm and the other regarding a poultry farm. The first one was conducted on a dairy farm in Germany and the results allowed to highlight the weakest areas of the farm on which recommendations were given for ecological improvement. The second project was conducted on a chicken broiler farm in Italy, on an experimental basis since it was the first time that the software was applied to poultry. The results pointed out the aspects that can be improved in the RISE software in order to make it more suitable for future poultry studies.

Discharge-calcium concentration relationships in streams of the Amazon and Cerrado of Brazil: soil or land use controlled

Stream discharge-concentration relationships are indicators of terrestrial ecosystem function. Throughout the Amazon and Cerrado regions of Brazil rapid changes in land use and land cover may be altering these hydrochemical relationships. The current analysis focuses on factors controlling the discharge-calcium (Ca) concentration relationship since previous research in these regions has demonstrated both positive and negative slopes in linear log(10)discharge-log(10)Ca concentration regressions. The objective of the current study was to evaluate factors controlling stream discharge-Ca concentration relationships including year, season, stream order, vegetation cover, land use, and soil classification. It was hypothesized that land use and soil class are the most critical attributes controlling discharge-Ca concentration relationships. A multilevel, linear regression approach was utilized with data from 28 streams throughout Brazil. These streams come from three distinct regions and varied broadly in watershed size (< 1 to > 10(6) ha) and discharge (10(-5.7)-10(3.2) m(3) s(-1)). Linear regressions of log(10)Ca versus log(10)discharge in 13 streams have a preponderance of negative slopes with only two streams having significant positive slopes. An ANOVA decomposition suggests the effect of discharge on Ca concentration is large but variable. Vegetation cover, which incorporates aspects of land use, explains the largest proportion of the variance in the effect of discharge on Ca followed by season and year. In contrast, stream order, land use, and soil class explain most of the variation in stream Ca concentration. In the current data set, soil class, which is related to lithology, has an important effect on Ca concentration but land use, likely through its effect on runoff concentration and hydrology, has a greater effect on discharge-concentration relationships.

Toward sustainable soil and water resources use in China`s highly erodible semi-arid loess plateau

The water-wind crisscross region of the Loess Plateau in China is comprised of 17.8 million hectares of highly erodible soil under limited annual rainfall. This requires a sustainable water balance for the restoration of dryland ecosystems to reduce and manage soil erosion. In this region, alfalfa has been one of the main legumes grown to minimize soil erosion. However, alfalfa yields were significantly lower in years of reduced rainfall suggesting that high water use and deep rooting alfalfa make it an unsustainable crop due to the long-term decline in soil water storage and productivity. Our objectives in this Study were to evaluate the soil water balance of Loess Plateau soils during vegetative restoration and to evaluate practices that prevent soil desiccation and promote ecosystem restoration and sustainability. Field observations of soil moisture recovery and soil erosion were carried out for five years after alfalfa was replaced with different crops and with bare soil. Soil water content changes in cropland, rangeland, and bare soil were tracked over several years, using a water balance approach. Results indicate that growing forages significantly reduced runoff and sediment transport. A forage-food-crop rotation is a better choice than other cropping systems for achieving sustainable productivity and preventing soil erosion and desiccation. However, economic considerations have prevented its widespread adoption by local farmers. Alternatively, this study recommends consideration of grassland crops or forest ecosystems to provide a sustainable water balance in the Loess Plateau of China. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Impacts of land-use pattern on soil water-content variability on the Loess Plateau of China

Long-term vegetation restoration carried out on the slopes of the Loess Plateau of China employed different spatial and temporal land-use patterns but very little is known about the effects of these patterns on soil water-content variability. For this study the small Donggou catchment was selected to investigate soil water-content distributions for three spatial scales, including the entire catchment area, sampling transects, and land-use systems. Gravimetric soil water contents were determined incrementally to a soil depth of 1.20 m, on 10 occasions from April to October, 2007, at approximately 20-day intervals. Results indicated that soil water contents were affected by the six land-use types, resulting in four distinct patterns of vertical distribution of soil moisture (uniform, increasing, decreasing, and fluctuating with soil depth). The soil water content and its variation were also influenced in a complex manner by five land-use patterns distributed along transects following the gradients of five similar slopes. These patterns with contrasting hydrological responses in different components, such as forage land (alfalfa)-cropland-shrubland or shrubland-grassland (bunge needlegrass)-cropland-grassland, showed the highest soil water-content variability. Soil water at the catchment scale exhibited a moderate variability for each measurement date, and the variability of soil water content decreased exponentially with increasing soil water content. The minimum sample size for accurate data for use in a hydrological model for the catchment, for example, required many more samples for drier (69) than for wet (10) conditions. To enhance erosion and runoff control, this study suggested two strategies for land management: (i) to create a mosaic pattern by land-use arrangement that located units with higher infiltration capacities downslope from those with lower soil infiltrabilities; and (ii) raising the soil-infiltration capacity of units within the spatial mosaic pattern where possible.