Publications
NIBIOs employees contribute to several hundred scientific articles and research reports every year. You can browse or search in our collection which contains references and links to these publications as well as other research and dissemination activities. The collection is continously updated with new and historical material.
2019
Authors
Xiao Huang Chaoqing Yu Tongbi Tu Shaoqiang Ni ShengChao Qiao Jim W Hall Mats Höglind Hanna Marika SilvennoinenAbstract
In the past decade, China imported massive quantities of soybean from the international market to meet its increasing domestic demand for protein[1]. However, China’s soybean imports from US decreased from 32.86 Mt (Million tons, 34% of the total 95.54 Mt) in 2017 to 16.64 Mt (19% of the total 88.03 Mt) in 2018[2] due to the China-US trade war. To reduce China’s reliance on imports, the Chinese government has been making policy incentive, e.g. higher subsidies, to encourage farmers for soybean cultivation. Traditionally Northeast China is the key production area for soybean. Soybean cultivation is tightly linked to the regional climate and environment. On the one hand, the local soybean growth is vulnerable[3] to the frequent meteorological hazards (e.g. droughts, floods) in the Northeast China[4]. The meteorological risks for soybean production in this area still remain unknown. On the other hand, albeit with relatively high production cost[5] and low water use efficiency[6], the local soybean cultivation is expected to effectively improve the nitrogen use efficiency and therefore alleviate the growing environment pollutions in this region[7]. Yet so far there are few quantitative research being reported on this environmental issue. Our research aims to explore both the meteorological risks and environmental costs of the policy-driven soybean expansion. We have developed a new version of the soybean growth algorithms within the DNDC (DeNitrification-DeComposition) model including nitrogen biogeochemical processes and performed regional simulations for soybean-related cropping systems in Northeast China. We will present the following results by combining model outputs and observations: (i) potential yield and the meteorological risks of soybean cultivation; (ii) fertilizer reduction in different crop rotation systems and the corresponding benefits to water ecosystem; and (iii) consequences of different policy scenarios (e.g. change in subsidy, GMO permission) to soybean production and environment.
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Boris Fuchs Kristin Sørheim Matteo Chincarini Emma Brunberg Solveig Marie Stubsjøen Kjell Bratbergsengen Svein-Olaf Hvasshovd Barbara Zimmermann Unni Støbet Lande Lise GrøvaAbstract
© 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license.
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Abstract
Increasing populations of large carnivores are leading to tension and conflicts with livestock production, a situation that potentially might escalate. In Norway the objective of the large carnivore policy is two-folded: to ensure viable carnivore populations and to secure a sustainable grazing industry. The main instrument is zonation, with carnivore management zones (CMZs) prioritized for reproduction of the large carnivore species separated from other areas prioritized for grazing livestock. The objective of this paper is to describe current knowledge about the impact of the zoning management strategy on the grazing industry. This is done by documenting status and changes in sheep production, losses of livestock to predating carnivores, and the use of grazing areas inside and outside the CMZs. CMZs offering protection for lynx, wolverine, bear and wolf cover 55% of the Norwegian mainland. 30% of the sheep and 50% of the Sami reindeer grazing areas are found inside the CMZs. Livestock (semi-domestic reindeer excluded) is using 59% of the available natural pasture areas outside the CMZs, but only 26% inside the CMZs. The lowest use of available grazing areas was found inside zones for wolves (12%) and brown bears (6%). Livestock in these zones are confined to fenced enclosures, mostly on the farm itself, or moved to pastures outside the management zone for summer grazing. Livestock losses increased in the affected regions during the period when carnivores were reestablished. Later, losses declined when CMZs were established and mitigation efforts were implemented in these zones. The bulk of sheep and reindeer killed by carnivores are now found in boundary areas within 50 km off the CMZs, where sheep are still grazing on open mountain and forest ranges. Therefore, instruments to protect livestock in areas close to the CMZs are also needed. The number of sheep declined inside the CMZs from 1999 to 2014, but increased outside the zones. The reduction in the absolute number of sheep in the CMZs is balanced by a similar increase outside, thus the total sheep production in Norway is maintained. We conclude that although of little consequence for the total food production in Norway, the economic and social impact of the large carnivore management strategy can be serious for local communities and individual farmers who are affected. There is a need for more exact carnivore population monitoring to quantify the carnivore pressure, better documentation of reindeer losses, and a clearer and stricter practicing of the zoning strategy. Increased involvement of social sciences is important in order to understand the human dimension of the carnivore conflicts.