Replacement of deep-rooted, perennial native vegetation with shallow-rooted,
annual agricultural plants has resulted in increased recharge causing shallow
saline water tables leading to dryland salinity and loss of agricultural
production. Restoring the vegetation by regeneration or replanting lowers
water levels locally but field evidence and computer modelling suggests this
needs to be widespread for regional effects, which conflicts with the future
of conventional agriculture. Alley farming allows agriculture to be continued
in the bays between the rows, but needs as much perennial, preferably
deep-rooted, vegetation as possible in the bays to achieve the required
recharge reductions.
Where the asset to be preserved is valuable and a means of safe saline
effluent disposal exists, pumps and drains will be part of any salinity
management system, but where these conditions are not met they will be of
limited use on an economic basis.
To limit the spread of dryland salinity substantial change in farming systems
is required and farmers need assurance that the recommended strategies will
have the desired effect. Computer modelling is the only timely way to do this.
An operationally simple 1-dimensional model already exists, and a
2-dimensional one is under development and testing. Three-dimensional
modelling is also probably required to support strategic, intensive
interventions.
computer modelling, revegetation, engineering, perennial.
The results of a feasibility study on using a transputer array to obtain a numerical solution of the characteristic initial value problem of general relativity are presented. Codes have been developed for two cases: gravity only, and gravity and matter. The testing of the codes is, so far, very limited, but timing results etc. are presented thus giving an indication of the expected performance.
I distinguish several doctrines that economic methodologists have found attractive, all of which have a positivist flavour. One of these is the doctrine that preference assignments in economics are just shorthand descriptions of agents' choices. Although most of these doctrines are problematic, the latter doctrine about preference assignments is a respectable one, I argue. It doesn't entail any of the problematic doctrines, and indeed it is warranted independently of them.
Neuroeconomics is a research program founded on the thesis that cognitive and neurobiological data constitute evidence for answering economic questions. I employ confirmation theory in order to reject arguments both for and against neuroeconomics. I also emphasize that some arguments for neuroeconomics will not convince the skeptics because these arguments make a contentious assumption: economics aims for predictions and deep explanations of choices in general. I then argue for neuroeconomics by appealing to a much more restrictive (and thereby skeptic-friendly) characterization of the aims of economics.
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