scholarly journals Spread of Chilean needle grass (Nassella neesiana) in Marlborough New Zealand

2006 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. 266-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bell

Chilean needle grass (Nassella neesiana) is a containment pest in the Regional Pest Management Strategy for Marlborough It is of concern because it has sharptipped seeds that bore into the eyes and pelts of livestock Discovered in Marlborough in the 1930s it now infests 4311 ha In 1987 18 properties were infested increasing to 53 by 2000 and 96 by December 2005 In addition both the range and density of Chilean needle grass has increased significantly since 1987 and to date no infestations have been eradicated Failure to stop this spread is due to the difficulty of both identification and control Effective control and land management methods for this weed are urgently needed The probability of this weed spreading further both within and beyond Marlborough appears to be high This conclusion along with land use changes has implications for the review of the Regional Pest Management Plan

2014 ◽  
Vol 67 ◽  
pp. 184-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.M. Davidson ◽  
R.C. Butler ◽  
N.M. Taylor ◽  
M-C. Nielsen ◽  
C.E. Sansom ◽  
...  

Bactericera cockerelli (tomato potato psyllid; TPP) is an important pest of solanaceous crops in New Zealand and North America A volatile compound that alters the behaviour of TPP could be developed into a component of an integrated pest management strategy for solanaceous crops One compound 2undecanone was found to increase the percentages of female and male TPP (65 P


2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (03) ◽  
pp. 464-474
Author(s):  
Tessa de Boer ◽  
Peter Smith ◽  
Kevin Chandler ◽  
Robert Nurse ◽  
Kristen Obeid ◽  
...  

AbstractThe development of a linuron-free weed management strategy for carrot production is essential as a result of the herbicide reevaluation programs launched by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency in Canada for herbicides registered before 1995 and the discovery of linuron-resistant pigweed species in Ontario. Field trials were conducted in one of Ontario’s main carrot-growing regions on high organic soils in 2016 and 2017. Pigweed species seedlings were effectively controlled with PRE treatments of prometryn, pendimethalin, S-metolachlor, or glufosinate. POST treatments of pyroxasulfone and metribuzin followed by predetermined biologically effective dose (≥90% control of pigweed seedlings) of acifluorfen, oxyfluorfen, fluthiacet-methyl, and fomesafen achieved excellent crop selectivity and commercially acceptable pigweed species seedling control under field conditions. Carfentrazone-ethyl or fomesafen applied PRE severely reduced seedling emergence and yield in the wet growing season of 2017. This study demonstrated clearly that an alternative linuron-free strategy can be developed for carrots. The strategy of exploring the potential to use the biologically effective dose of selected herbicides to achieve crop selectivity and control of pigweed species seedlings was verified.


2009 ◽  
Vol 60 (7) ◽  
pp. 619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard W. McDowell

Land use can influence stream sediment composition and water quality, whereas moisture status affects sediment phosphorus (P) bioavailability to algae. Declining upland surface-water quality in South Otago, New Zealand, may reflect land-use changes from sheep- to dairy-farming. I sampled sediment (0–20 cm) from streams draining 12 dairy- and 12 sheep-farmed catchments in spring (wet) and autumn (dry). 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and the EDTA-fractionation scheme were used to determine different P forms and infer P bioavailability. Significantly more P was present in the sediment of streams draining dairy- than sheep-farmed catchments. Total P did not differ with the moisture regime; however, changes occurred in the following P fractions: acid-soluble organic P, NaOH-P, CaCO3≈P, Fe(OOH)≈P and residual organic P. Extraction for 31P NMR analysis removed 78–85% of sediment total P and isolated five P classes. More bioavailable P such as orthophosphate (23–40% of P extracted) and diesters (2–6% of P extracted) was present in dry than in wet sediments, and in sediments draining dairy streams than in those from sheep-farmed catchments. This indicates substantial reserves of bioavailable P in sediment from these catchments, especially from dairy-farmed catchments, sustaining in-stream P concentrations for many years even without additional P input from land.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (11) ◽  
pp. 92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rick Kool ◽  
Judy Lawrence ◽  
Martin Drews ◽  
Robert Bell

Sea-level rise increasingly affects low-lying and exposed coastal communities due to climate change. These communities rely upon the delivery of stormwater and wastewater services which are often co-located underground in coastal areas. Due to sea-level rise and associated compounding climate-related hazards, managing these networks will progressively challenge local governments as climate change advances. Thus, responsible agencies must reconcile maintaining Levels of Service as the impacts of climate change worsen over the coming decades and beyond. A critical question is whether such networks can continue to be adapted/protected over time to retain Levels of Service, or whether eventual retreat may be the only viable adaptation option? If so, at what performance threshold? In this paper, we explore these questions for stormwater and wastewater, using a dynamic adaptive pathway planning (DAPP) approach designed to address thresholds and increasing risk over time. Involving key local stakeholders, we here use DAPP to identify thresholds for stormwater and wastewater services and retreat options, and for developing a comprehensive and area-specific retreat strategy comprising pathway portfolios, retreat phases, potential land use changes, and for exploring pathway conflicts and synergies. The result is a prototype for an area near Wellington, New Zealand, where a managed retreat of water infrastructure is being considered at some future juncture. Dynamic adaptive strategies for managed retreats can help to reduce future disruption from coastal flooding, signal land use changes early, inform maintenance, and allow for gradual budget adjustments by the agencies that can manage expenditure over time. We present this stepwise process in a pathway form that can be communicated spatially and visually, thereby making a retreat a more manageable, sequenced, adaptation option for water agencies, and the communities they serve.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Ferrando ◽  
Francesco Faccini ◽  
Flavio Poggi ◽  
Paola Coratza

<p> <span><span>Geoheritage is an important natural resource that can represent a link between geosciences and the wider public, and all over the world initiatives have emerged to protect, value and enhance it. Therefore, geoheritage assessment is a fundamental step in choosing a correct land management strategy. The Liguria Region in Northern Italy is characterized by a wide geological and geomorphological variety, encompassing an important and valuable geoheritage. In Liguria, a regional law (L.R. 39/2009) protect and enhance geodiversity and geosites, establishing the Regional Inventory of Geosites. However, an approved official inventory is still lacking. In the present work a first reasoned inventory of 120 geosites is proposed for the Liguria Region, based on field surveys and literature review. A quantitative assessment of the value and the degradation risk was carried out. The value assessment takes into account the scientific value, the additional (aesthetic and cultural) value and the potential for use value; these three values are combined to obtain a total value (Q). Nine geosites obtain a Q value higher than 4: these geosites are among the best known of the Liguria region and are already exploited for tourism, such as the Palmaria and Tino islands, the Portovenere cliffs, the Gambatesa Mine, the Mt. Ramaceto sandstones, the Fascette Gorge, the S. Bernardino karst plateau, the Capo Mortola nummulitic limestones, the ophiolite outcrops of the Beigua Geopark and Framura. The degradation risk assessment takes into account both fragility and vulnerability of the geosites. The geosites selected and assessed in the present research will be implemented in the Regional Inventory of Geosites. Moreover, the results provides the necessary ground for interested parties to take actions for the implementation of effective regional geoconservation strategy or environmental management plan. </span></span></p>


2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (04) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul Sadat ◽  
Kaushik Chakraborty

A survey on jute farmers’ knowledge, perceptions and practices (KPP) in pest management strategy was conducted during jute cultivation season of 2015 in the upper Gangetic plains of Uttar Dinajpur District, West Bengal, India. Detection and control of insect pests was largely based on damage symptoms of host plant. Damage caused by jute semilooper (Anomis sabulifera) was often mistakenly attributed to other leaf feeding caterpillars. Nearly all of the farmers applied insecticides (99%) without target specific use with an average 1.5 per season which may increase up to two to three spray per week. Pyrethroids were mostly accepted insecticide (67%), followed by organophosphates (33%) without knowing its toxic effect on environment. Farmers’ estimated yield loss due to insect pests was significantly correlated to estimated pest control cost. Due to pesticide sellers’ recommendations, farmer’s insecticidal ‘spray load’ significantly increased in every year, whereas the adopted number of insecticidal increased with advice following the guidance of extension staff and advertisement. Expenditure for pesticides was in concurrent with that of fertilizers. Only 10% of participating farmers knew about natural enemies, all of which were predators. Investigation is needed to evaluate whether significant savings can be obtained given a more judicious use of pesticides.


Hydrology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman Tariq ◽  
Zohreh Rajabi ◽  
Nitin Muttil

Agricultural damage due to floods in the Indus basin’s fertile land has been the most damaging natural disaster in Pakistan so far. Earthen dikes are protecting the vast areas of the floodplain from regular flooding. However, the floodplain is attractive to farmers due to its fertility and experiences regular crop production within and out of the dike area. This paper evaluates the flood risk in a floodplain of the Chenab river in Pakistan and recommends land-use changes to reduce the flood risk for crops and associated settlements within the study area. The objective of the land-use change is not just to reduce flood losses but also to increase the overall benefits of the floodplain in terms of its Economic Rent (ER). This preliminary study analyses the economic impacts of the risk-based land-use improvements on existing floodplain land uses. Expected Annual Damage (EAD) maps were developed using hydrodynamic models and GIS data. The developed model identified the areas where maize can be economically more productive compared to rice under flood conditions. Promising results were obtained for the settlement relocations. It was also observed that the infra-structure, running parallel to the river, plays a significant role in curtailing the extent of floods. The results show that a combination of structural and non-structural measures proves more effective. The study also recommends the inclusion of social and environmental damages as well as other types of non-structural measures to develop the most effective flood management strategy.


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