500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik
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Keywords
- Agriotes spp. (1)
- Bodenfeuchtesimulation (1)
- Drahtwürmer (1)
- Fusarium spp. (1)
- Phytophthora infestans (1)
- simulation of soil moisture (1)
- wireworms (1)
Institute
- Institut für Integrierte Naturwissenschaften, Abt. Geographie (2) (remove)
This study explored the question whether greenhouse gas mitigation projects in Namibia could be initiated through local economic development programmes. In particular, research was done on whether the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol could play an essential role in the promotion of such mitigation projects.
In a first step supporting and inhibiting factors (potential for mitigation projects, business and investment climate, institutions, etc.) were discussed, which have a negative or positive influence on mitigation projects. In a second step the mind-set of climate and energy experts as well as of local economic development experts and practitioners was analysed with regard to the research questions. To this end, 229 questionnaires, 28 interviews and the output of a focus group discussion with 20 participants were evaluated. Additionally, the author conducted a real life case study to investigate the practicability of initiating greenhouse gas mitigation projects through local economic development efforts. Parallel to the development of an economic development strategy in the Namibian region of Otjozondjupa, the potential for greenhouse gas mitigation projects was explored. Based on the outcome of this investigation project ideas were developed and their potential socio-economic impact was evaluated. Promising projects were then included into the development strategy.
Due to various factors such as the complexity of CDM, low greenhouse gas emissions in Namibia, the low price of emission rights and insufficient financial means it is unlikely that CDM projects can be initiated through local economic development initiatives in Namibia. However, many stakeholders consider the idea of interlinking mitigation projects and local economic development initiatives favourably as long as such projects support the broader objectives of those initiatives. This research has shown that locally initiated mitigation projects do not contribute much to employment or income generation at the local level in Namibia. Thus, national strategic objectives should be considered, such as improving access to electricity to all strata of society or becoming less dependent on electricity imports. This requires, however, that local economic development strategies also cover the energy sector, that local governments are willing and capacitated to initiate mitigation projects, that national and local public institutions work together more closely, that national and local economic framework conditions are improved so as to attract private investments, and that the experiences and interests of the relevant stakeholders are considered throughout the project development process.
In this study the influence of soil moisture and soil type on the selected pests and diseases Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary, Fusarium graminearum Schwabe and F. culmorum (W.G. Smith) Saccardo, respectively, as well as the larvae of the most important Elateridae Agriotes lineatus Linnaeus, A. obscurus Linnaeus, A. sputator Linnaeus, A. sordidus Illiger and A. ustulatus Schaller (called wireworms) was characterized. The aim was to integrate soil modules in prediction models for agricultural and horticultural pests and diseases, to optimise the scheduling of disease controls, to detect periods of high-intensity attacks and to reduce the number of preventive treatments. The measurement of soil moisture is time intensive and additionally soil moisture is highly varying within small areas. Therefore this parameter did not have a high impact in the prediction models for agricultural and horticultural pests and diseases in the past. In this study the possibilities for a site-specific simulation of soil moisture was investigated. The soil moisture simulation model SIMPEL (HÖRMANN 1998) was adapted to agricultural conditions and the site-specific simulation of soil moisture was realised on the basis of radar measured precipitation data from the German Meteorological Service (DWD) and on interpolated weather data (ZEUNER 2007). The comparison of the simulated soil moisture data with the field measurements showed a highly significant correlation (Alpha = 0.01) and an average of 3.8 % differences. Therefore the site-specific simulation of soil moisture will be possible and can be included in the prediction models for agricultural and horticultural pests and diseases. The results of laboratory and field experiments as well as analyses on monitoring data showed, that the influence of soil parameters on the three selected pests and diseases varied. Whereas the investigations on the influence of soil moisture on P. infestans identified no clear correlation, considerable correlations between soil moisture and soil type on wireworms as well as F. graminearum and F. culmorum could be detected. For the prediction of the appearance of wireworms in the upper soil level in relation to soil moisture and soil type the simulation model SIMAGRIO-W was developed. The validation of the new model showed highly significant correlations between soil moisture and soil type on the appearance of wireworms. The influence of soil type on F. graminearum and F. culmorum was integrated in the existing prediction model FUS-OPT. A correlation between air cached spores of F. graminearum and simulation results from the modified model FUS-OPT showed a high significance in PEARSON test. The results of this study showed that the implementation of soil moisture and soil type in the prediction models for agricultural and horticultural pests and diseases can be realised. The developed and modified prediction models can be used by the Governmental Crop Protection Services in Germany through www.isip.de.