Lancaster University

About: Lancaster University is a education organization based out in Lancaster, Lancashire, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 13080 authors who have published 44563 publications receiving 1692277 citations. The organization is also known as: The University of Lancaster & Lancaster University.

Biogenic volatile organic compounds in the Earth system

Abstract: Biogenic volatile organic compounds produced by plants are involved in plant growth, development, reproduction and defence. They also function as communication media within plant communities, between plants and between plants and insects. Because of the high chemical reactivity of many of these compounds, coupled with their large mass emission rates from vegetation into the atmosphere, they have significant effects on the chemical composition and physical characteristics of the atmosphere. Hence, biogenic volatile organic compounds mediate the relationship between the biosphere and the atmosphere. Alteration of this relationship by anthropogenically driven changes to the environment, including global climate change, may perturb these interactions and may lead to adverse and hard-to-predict consequences for the Earth system.New Phytologist (2009) 183: 27-51doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.02859.x.

Improving crop productivity and resource use efficiency to ensure food security and environmental quality in China

Abstract: In recent years, agricultural growth in China has accelerated remarkably, but most of this growth has been driven by increased yield per unit area rather than by expansion of the cultivated area Looking towards 2030, to meet the demand for grain and to feed a growing population on the available arable land, it is suggested that annual crop production should be increased to around 580 Mt and that yield should increase by at least 2% annually Crop production will become more difficult with climate change, resource scarcity (eg land, water, energy, and nutrients) and environmental degradation (eg declining soil quality, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and surface water eutrophication) To pursue the fastest and most practical route to improved yield, the near-term strategy is application and extension of existing agricultural technologies This would lead to substantial improvement in crop and soil management practices, which are currently suboptimal Two pivotal components are required if we are to follow new trajectories First, the disciplines of soil management and agronomy need to be given increased emphasis in research and teaching, as part of a grand food security challenge Second, continued genetic improvement in crop varieties will be vital However, our view is that the biggest gains from improved technology will come most immediately from combinations of improved crops and improved agronomical practices The objectives of this paper are to summarize the historical trend of crop production in China and to examine the main constraints to the further increase of crop productivity The paper provides a perspective on the challenge faced by science and technology in agriculture which must be met both in terms of increased crop productivity but also in increased resource use efficiency and the protection of environmental quality

Significant Excess of ElectronLike Events in the MiniBooNE Short-Baseline Neutrino Experiment

Abstract: The MiniBooNE experiment at Fermilab reports results from an analysis of ν_{e} appearance data from 12.84×10^{20} protons on target in neutrino mode, an increase of approximately a factor of 2 over previously reported results. A ν_{e} charged-current quasielastic event excess of 381.2±85.2 events (4.5σ) is observed in the energy range 200