Agricultural Encyclopedia of China - Volume on Agricultural Meteorology

Author: Editorial Committee of the Livestock Industry Volume, General Editorial Committee of the China Agricultural Encyclopedia, Editorial Department of the China Agricultural Encyclopedia
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1996-12-01
Features: The China Agricultural Encyclopedia is a comprehensive reference book that compiles agricultural science knowledge from China and abroad, spanning ancient to modern times. China has a long history of agriculture, and the accumulation of agricultural science knowledge is profound. Many agricultural works published in various dynasties of China are important components of the cultural treasure trove of the Chinese nation. The "Qimin Yaoshu" by Jia Sixie during the Northern Wei Dynasty and the "Agricultural Administration Encyclopedia" by Xu Guangqi in the Ming Dynasty are hailed as ancient Chinese agricultural encyclopedias and are cherished by scholars both at home and abroad to this day. In modern times, with the rapid advancement of science and technology, agricultural production has developed swiftly, and agricultural science has evolved into a comprehensive system composed of multiple disciplines. Facing modernization and the world, compiling and publishing the China Agricultural Encyclopedia with modern significance to provide accurate and concise knowledge of various agricultural disciplines to readers is a common aspiration of the academic community and the general public. The rural economy of China is undergoing a transformation toward specialization, commercialization, and modernization. The basic characteristics of modern agriculture are the extensive application of advanced science and technology and management methods to accelerate the comprehensive development of agriculture. To gradually achieve agricultural modernization, it is necessary to accelerate the development of agricultural scientific research and education, train numerous agricultural science and technology professionals, and popularize agricultural science and technology knowledge among farmers. It is also necessary to organize the legacy of past agricultural works and summarize practical agricultural production experience based on modern agricultural science principles, as well as to absorb and introduce advanced science and technology from abroad. Therefore, compiling and publishing a comprehensive and concise large-scale reference book that introduces existing agricultural science and technology knowledge is an urgent need for building a socialist modern agricultural economy.
In early 1980, the National Agricultural Commission decided to compile and publish the China Agricultural Encyclopedia and began preparations for the project. In June 1981, the leadership team for compilation and publication and the General Editorial Committee were established to oversee and guide the work. The Agricultural Publishing House was tasked with setting up the Editorial Department of the China Agricultural Encyclopedia to handle the specifics. After the National Agricultural Commission was dissolved in 1982, the compilation and publication work was under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Fishery, and Forestry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of Water Conservancy and Electric Power, the Ministry of Mechanical Industry, and the National Meteorological Bureau, ensuring the smooth progress of the work.
The compilation of the China Agricultural Encyclopedia was guided by Marxism and Mao Zedong Thought, based on the knowledge system of various agricultural disciplines. Professionals from the agricultural science community and relevant departments were organized to contribute and review articles. Emphasizing academic democracy, adhering to a scientific and realistic attitude, focusing on manuscript quality, and following the encyclopedia format, the work was imbued with Chinese characteristics and style.
The China Agricultural Encyclopedia primarily summarizes knowledge related to natural and economic reproduction in agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery. While outlining fundamental theories, it places importance on the introduction of applied technologies, offering both depth and practicality. Its main readers include agricultural science and technology workers, faculty and students of agricultural universities, agricultural cadres with high school or equivalent education, and farmers. This specialized encyclopedia presents knowledge in the form of entries, each covering an independent topic. It not only offers convenient retrieval and easy access like general reference books but also systematically introduces knowledge from basic to advanced levels, aiding readers in exploring both depth and breadth.
The China Agricultural Encyclopedia is organized into volumes based on the knowledge system of various agricultural disciplines, with a planned 30 volumes to be published in installments. Volume titles are indicated without volume numbers, and if a single discipline or specialty is covered in more than one volume, it is marked as upper, middle, and lower. This organizational structure facilitates readers' selective purchases and the phased compilation and publication of volumes.
I. The entire encyclopedia is organized into volumes based on the knowledge system of agricultural disciplines. Each volume consists of entries.
II. Entries are arranged in alphabetical order based on the Pinyin romanization of their titles. If two titles have the same sound, they are ordered by tone (level tone, rising tone, falling-rising tone, falling tone). If the sound and tone are identical, they are ordered by stroke count. If the sound, tone, and stroke count are the same, they are ordered by the starting stroke shape. If the titles are identical, they are ordered by the sound, tone, stroke count, and starting stroke shape of the second character, and so on. Titles beginning with Latin, Cyrillic, Greek letters, or numerals are placed at the end.
III. Each volume includes a classified index of entries at the beginning to help readers grasp the overall content or find specific entries under a branch or major theme. To maintain the integrity of disciplinary or subdisciplinary systems and facilitate retrieval, some entries may appear under multiple classification headings.
IV. Pinyin romanization is added above each title, and most titles are accompanied by English translations.
V. If the content of an entry refers to other entries that need further explanation, the "See" format is used.
VI. Foreign names, places, and organizations mentioned in the text are generally translated into Chinese, with the original names in parentheses.
VII. Color illustrations are compiled into inserts, and references to them are noted in relevant entries as "See Color Plate XX page or XX figure."
IX. The top margin of the main text indicates the Pinyin romanization and Chinese characters of the entry on the double-page spread and the entry on the single-page spread.
X. The technical and scientific terms used in this book are based on those approved by relevant departments of each discipline. Terms not yet approved or standardized are used based on common usage. Place names are based on those approved by the Chinese Name Commission, with common aliases optionally added in parentheses when necessary.
XI. The units of measurement used in this book follow the "Legal Units of Measurement of the People's Republic of China." The Agricultural Meteorology volume temporarily includes a conversion table.