title: Plant availability of boron adsorbed or occulted on goethite to rape (Brassica napus L.) seedling

authors: Ren, Liying

subjects: boron-doped goethite

abstract: The purpose of the study was to determine plant availability of boron (B) and relaxation of soil acid to rape seedling exhibited by B-doped goethite in acidic soil. For this purpose, two kinds of B-doped goethite were synthesized: one was goethite with adsorbed B prepared by reacting goethite with borax solution, and the other was goethite with occluded B by synthesizing goethite in the presence of boric acid. The reaction process in soil-like natural minerals of the B-doped goethite was simulated in a rhizobox culture system. Results showed that the B-doped goethite can provide available B for rape growth. Its addition on acidic soil can alleviate soil acidification by increasing soil pH and decreasing soil exchangeable acid. The observation that nutrient uptake was improved supports the view that the B-doped goethite improved soil quality, as also proved by the increase of root morphology and dry weight.

text: Plant availability of boron adsorbed or occulted on goethite to rape (Brassica napus L.) seedling The purpose of the study was to determine plant availability of boron (B) and relaxation of soil acid to rape seedling exhibited by B-doped goethite in acidic soil. For this purpose, two kinds of B-doped goethite were synthesized: one was goethite with adsorbed B prepared by reacting goethite with borax solution, and the other was goethite with occluded B by synthesizing goethite in the presence of boric acid. The reaction process in soil-like natural minerals of the B-doped goethite was simulated in a rhizobox culture system. Results showed that the B-doped goethite can provide available B for rape growth. Its addition on acidic soil can alleviate soil acidification by increasing soil pH and decreasing soil exchangeable acid. The observation that nutrient uptake was improved supports the view that the B-doped goethite improved soil quality, as also proved by the increase of root morphology and dry weight.

year: 2010

title: Episodic, seasonal, and long term morphological changes of Coromandel beaches

authors: Wood, Andrew

subjects: storm

abstract: The Coromandel Peninsula was subject to subdivision and development primarily since the 1960's. Much of the development that has occurred now renders protection from the existing beach systems which have typically been altered by development. Coupled with huge populations during summer, the region is of national significance therefore an understanding of coastal impacts is paramount. Analysis of the spatial and temporal variation of beaches along the eastern Coromandel Peninsula from Whangapoua in the north to Whiritoa in the south provided results ranging from single storm events to decadal scale oscillations. Beach similarity was determined by measuring parameters such as beach length, beach connectivity to neighbouring beaches, aspect, and beach slope. The analysis of variability in beach face volumes was undertaken using an extensive beach profile database collected by R. Keith Smith, Ron Ovenden and a monitoring program maintained by Environment Waikato since 1978. The database had a higher-resolution sampling interval from 1996 until present (a maximum sampling frequency of approximately bimonthly).
Results showed that short term beach volume changes were explained by the beach classification devised from the Wright and Short (1984) model and available planform morphology data. Intermediate beaches overall had a greater range of variation, but had a higher frequency of low magnitude of change events. Reflective beaches had a higher frequency of large magnitude of change events and subsequently greater short term volume changes. Beaches adjacent to harbours and two outliers were identified which did not accord to the classification. The classification model maintained its applicability for seasonal scale beach response. Embayed beaches on the Coromandel Peninsula also exhibited beach rotation to varying degrees. Beaches with similar planform morphology showed similar long term beach rotation characteristics. A biennial oscillation related to the El Ni o Southern Oscillation (ENSO) was evident as well as an interdecadal oscillation related to the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) was evident across the Peninsula. In particular, no beaches north of the Kuaotunu Peninsula showed a strong ENSO signal, and the strongest IPO response was on beaches north of the Kuaotunu Peninsula. The IPO appeared to enter a long term negative phase indicating decadal scale persistence of La Ni a events, therefore Coromandel beaches are likely to exhibit erosion dominant trends for the next 20 to 35 years.
Based on these results, 3 sediment transport and behavioural cells were defined, they were: beaches located north of the Kuaotunu Peninsula from Whangapoua to Otama with northerly orientations; Mercury Bay beaches including Opito Bay; and, easterly orientated beaches south of Mercury Bay.

text: Episodic, seasonal, and long term morphological changes of Coromandel beaches The Coromandel Peninsula was subject to subdivision and development primarily since the 1960's. Much of the development that has occurred now renders protection from the existing beach systems which have typically been altered by development. Coupled with huge populations during summer, the region is of national significance therefore an understanding of coastal impacts is paramount. Analysis of the spatial and temporal variation of beaches along the eastern Coromandel Peninsula from Whangapoua in the north to Whiritoa in the south provided results ranging from single storm events to decadal scale oscillations. Beach similarity was determined by measuring parameters such as beach length, beach connectivity to neighbouring beaches, aspect, and beach slope. The analysis of variability in beach face volumes was undertaken using an extensive beach profile database collected by R. Keith Smith, Ron Ovenden and a monitoring program maintained by Environment Waikato since 1978. The database had a higher-resolution sampling interval from 1996 until present (a maximum sampling frequency of approximately bimonthly).
Results showed that short term beach volume changes were explained by the beach classification devised from the Wright and Short (1984) model and available planform morphology data. Intermediate beaches overall had a greater range of variation, but had a higher frequency of low magnitude of change events. Reflective beaches had a higher frequency of large magnitude of change events and subsequently greater short term volume changes. Beaches adjacent to harbours and two outliers were identified which did not accord to the classification. The classification model maintained its applicability for seasonal scale beach response. Embayed beaches on the Coromandel Peninsula also exhibited beach rotation to varying degrees. Beaches with similar planform morphology showed similar long term beach rotation characteristics. A biennial oscillation related to the El Ni o Southern Oscillation (ENSO) was evident as well as an interdecadal oscillation related to the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) was evident across the Peninsula. In particular, no beaches north of the Kuaotunu Peninsula showed a strong ENSO signal, and the strongest IPO response was on beaches north of the Kuaotunu Peninsula. The IPO appeared to enter a long term negative phase indicating decadal scale persistence of La Ni a events, therefore Coromandel beaches are likely to exhibit erosion dominant trends for the next 20 to 35 years.
Based on these results, 3 sediment transport and behavioural cells were defined, they were: beaches located north of the Kuaotunu Peninsula from Whangapoua to Otama with northerly orientations; Mercury Bay beaches including Opito Bay; and, easterly orientated beaches south of Mercury Bay.

year: 2010

title: New Zealand’s Performance Based Research Funding (PBRF) model undermines Maori research

authors: Roa, Tom

subjects: Performance Based Research Funding

abstract: The Performance Based Research Funding (PBRF) model was instigated in 2002 to increase “the quality of research through peer assessment and performance indicators” in New Zealand (Ministry of Education 2002: 17). It is used to allocate funding between universities, departments and researchers according to the putative quality and quantity of their research outputs over the preceding 6 years. PBRF is expected to incentivise improved research excellence and efficiency, and allow government to invest research funds where greatest returns will result. This is potentially a huge gain for Māori. However, “by changing the conditions of knowledge production, research assessment exercises may also alter the shape and direction of disciplines by diverting and channelling researchers’ intellectual attention and political engagement, influencing what they study, how they do it, and how they report and write” (Middleton 2009: 194). Indeed, universities repeatedly encourage researchers to focus on activities that will improve their PBRF rankings. We believe that an unintended consequence of PBRF is the creation of significant barriers to increasing the volume, scope and quality of environmental research for Māori.

text: New Zealand’s Performance Based Research Funding (PBRF) model undermines Maori research The Performance Based Research Funding (PBRF) model was instigated in 2002 to increase “the quality of research through peer assessment and performance indicators” in New Zealand (Ministry of Education 2002: 17). It is used to allocate funding between universities, departments and researchers according to the putative quality and quantity of their research outputs over the preceding 6 years. PBRF is expected to incentivise improved research excellence and efficiency, and allow government to invest research funds where greatest returns will result. This is potentially a huge gain for Māori. However, “by changing the conditions of knowledge production, research assessment exercises may also alter the shape and direction of disciplines by diverting and channelling researchers’ intellectual attention and political engagement, influencing what they study, how they do it, and how they report and write” (Middleton 2009: 194). Indeed, universities repeatedly encourage researchers to focus on activities that will improve their PBRF rankings. We believe that an unintended consequence of PBRF is the creation of significant barriers to increasing the volume, scope and quality of environmental research for Māori.

year: 2009