这一微小的土壤改良减少了蝗虫危害，并使产量翻倍

Cease 领导着亚利桑那州立大学的全球蝗虫倡议，她在那里研究蝗虫的行为以及如何控制其破坏性的蝗群。虽然她的研究重点是减少对农作物和社区的损害，但她对昆虫本身也怀有深切的敬意。

蝗群仍是全球性威胁

对许多人来说，蝗群让人联想到古代的瘟疫景象，但这种危险在当今依然真实存在。在世界各地，蝗群可以摧毁广大地区的农作物，毁灭生计，在某些地区甚至会扰乱教育和儿童的长期经济前景。一个蝗群就能覆盖数百平方英里——其面积大致相当于纽约或菲尼克斯等主要城市。

正因如此，当 Cease 和她的国际研究团队发现一种简单的、基于土壤的方法可以减少蝗虫取食时，他们给予了密切关注。科学家们很早就意识到，这种方法可能会产生改变生活的后果。据他们所知，这是首项在真实农业环境中测试该方法并证明其在实验室外有效的研究。

在塞内加尔与农民共同验证这一理念

研究人员与塞内加尔的农民展开了合作，这些农民经常面临塞内加尔蚱蜢的爆发。与沙漠蝗不同，该物种不会形成巨大的蝗群，但其频繁的出现和较小规模的群体群聚可能对当地农民造成更大的危害。这些社区此前曾与 Cease 合作过，并促成了这项更大规模的实地研究。

每位农民种植了两块小米地——一块施用了氮肥，另一块则未作处理。

对比十分鲜明。施用氮肥的地块蝗虫数量较少，农作物受损减轻，且产量是未处理地块的两倍。

“这一突破代表了迁飞性害虫可持续管理向前迈出的重要一步，它提供了一种基于社区的工具，扩展了现有的治理方案，”Cease 说道，她同时也是亚利桑那州立大学可持续发展学院和生命科学学院的副教授。

该研究发表在《科学报告》期刊上。塞内加尔圣路易加斯顿·伯杰大学的副教授 Mamour Touré 担任第一作者，而 Cease 则是美国国际开发署资助该项目的首席研究员。

“这些结果对科学界和塞内加尔农民都具有重要意义，”Touré 表示，“这项研究让他们对蚱蜢和蝗虫有了更好的了解，同时也提供了一种在地方层面控制害虫的实用方法。”

为何土壤质量会影响蝗虫行为

全球蝗虫倡议是朱莉·安·瑞格利全球未来实验室的一部分，重点关注影响蝗虫爆发的众多系统。环境条件、昆虫生物学与行为、经济压力、公共政策以及土地管理共同促成了破坏循环，同时也创造了阻断这些循环的契机。

 

经过15年多的研究，Cease发现了一贯的模式。生长在贫瘠土壤中的作物往往会助长蝗虫爆发，因为这些植物含有高水平的碳水化合物，而蛋白质含量极低。

“这种碳水化合物偏向，或者说‘甜甜圈饮食’，对于蝗虫和群居蚱蜢种群而言是最佳的，”Cease说道。就像依靠碳水化合物获取能量的耐力运动员一样，蝗虫依赖高碳水植物为它们的长距离移动提供燃料。

生长在富氮土壤中的植物则情况迥异。它们含有更多的蛋白质和较少的碳水化合物，这对蝗虫来说是难以下咽的食物。它们的身体难以处理过量的蛋白质，且无法获得足够的能量来维持生存。

富含蛋白质的植物可防治害虫

这些发现引出了一个关键问题。改变作物中蛋白质和碳水化合物的平衡能否防止蝗虫破坏？早期的实验室实验和实地观察暗示这是可能的，但这一想法从未在实际耕作的农田中进行过测试。对Cease而言，这一空白使得下一步的工作显而易见。

两个此前曾与她合作过的塞内加尔村庄主动提出参与。这些村庄的农场常年遭受塞内加尔蚱蜢群造成的严重损失。

在实验中，100名农民每人种植了两块小米地——一块施用氮肥，另一块则未作处理以供对比。

研究人员不确定蝗虫是否仍会从附近未处理的田地进入处理过的地块，或者高蛋白植物是否会吸引其他害虫。为了查明真相，团队在生长季期间分三次清点了蝗虫数量并测量了作物受损情况，还在收获时记录了产量。

结果是决定性的。处理过的地块蝗虫数量更少，叶片受损更轻，收获时的小米产量更是翻了一番。团队也没有发现证据表明添加氮肥会加剧其他虫害问题。

从化肥到堆肥解决方案

尽管研究提供了氮肥，但这对于许多农业社区来说并非现实的长期选择。可持续防控需要既经济实惠又能保护土壤健康的方法。

“目前的工作完全集中在堆肥上，而且我们似乎得到了相同的结果，”Cease说。

美国国际开发署（USAID）对该项目的资助于2025年初结束，但在成果的鼓舞下，塞内加尔的农民已自行继续采用堆肥方法。

* "but instead practice composting to fertilize their fields": 而是改用堆肥方式为农田施肥. "Composting" -> 堆肥. * "thereby helping to reduce grasshopper infestations": 从而有助于减少蝗虫侵害 / 虫害. "Grasshopper" -> 蝗虫 (specifically grasshoppers, distinct from locusts in English context usually, but in Chinese "蝗虫" covers both, though sometimes "蚱蜢" is used for grasshopper. However, in agricultural pest control contexts, "蝗虫" is the standard term for the pest. Let's check context. Later text distinguishes locusts vs grasshoppers. I should be careful. "Grasshopper" usually translates to 蝗虫 or 蚱蜢. In a scientific pest context, "蝗虫" is often used for the group, but if distinguishing from "locust" (飞蝗/蝗灾), "grasshopper" might be translated as 土蝗 (non-migratory) or just 蝗虫. Let's look at the "Dirty Dozen" context later. They are "rangeland grasshoppers". Standard translation for grasshopper in this context is 蝗虫. Locust is also 蝗虫 (specifically migratory). I will use "蝗虫" for grasshopper and "飞蝗" or just "蝗虫" for locust depending on flow, or distinguish if necessary. Actually, in Chinese agricultural science, "locust" is often "飞蝗" (migratory locust) or "蝗虫" (general), and "grasshopper" is also "蝗虫". To distinguish, I might use "土蝗" (non-migratory) for grasshopper if the text contrasts them heavily, or stick to "蝗虫" and rely on context. Let's look at the sentence: "reduce grasshopper infestations". I will translate as "蝗虫侵害" or "蝗害". Later the text says "Even without locusts, grasshoppers already pose major challenges". This requires a distinction. Locust = 飞蝗 (often implies swarming/migratory). Grasshopper = 蝗虫 (often implies non-migratory in this specific contrast) or 土蝗. Let's use "蝗虫" for grasshopper generally, but if the contrast is sharp, maybe "土蝗" (non-migratory locusts/grasshoppers) vs "飞蝗" (migratory locusts). However, "grasshopper" is the general term. Let's stick to "蝗虫" for grasshopper and "飞蝗" or "群居型蝗虫" for locust if needed, but usually "locust" is translated as "蝗虫" as well. Let's see standard practice. USDA "rangeland grasshoppers" -> 牧场蝗虫. "Locust" -> 飞蝗/沙漠蝗 etc. I will translate "grasshopper" as "蝗虫" and "locust" as "飞蝗" (migratory locust) or "蝗虫" depending on the specific species mentioned (Central American locust). Wait, the text says "Why Locust Research Matters... The U.S. currently has no native locust species... Even without locusts, grasshoppers already pose major challenges". Here the distinction is key. I will translate "locust" as "飞蝗" (migratory locust) or "群居蝗" to distinguish from "grasshopper" (蝗虫/土蝗). Let's try: Locust -> 飞蝗, Grasshopper -> 蝗虫. This is a common distinction in Chinese entomology when contrasting the two behaviors. * "This technique was fully mastered thanks to the project": 这一技术多亏了该项目才得以完全掌握. * "Touré says": 图雷说. * *Draft 1:* 图雷说：“农民们一致表示，他们在清理土地后不再焚烧作物残茬，而是改用堆肥为农田施肥，从而有助于减少蝗虫侵害。多亏了该项目，这项技术才得以完全掌握。” * *Segment 2:*

The research team is now seeking additional funding to expand the work into other regions heavily affected by locusts.

* "The research team is now seeking additional funding": 研究团队目前正在寻求额外资金. * "to expand the work into other regions": 以将工作扩展到其他地区. * "heavily affected by locusts": 受蝗灾严重影响 / 受飞蝗严重影响. Since this refers to the "locust" context (likely migratory), I will use "飞蝗" or just "蝗虫" if the distinction isn't strictly defined yet. Given the previous sentence used "grasshopper", and this uses "locust", I should probably maintain a distinction if possible, or use the general term. Let's look ahead. The text contrasts them later. I will use "飞蝗" for locust here to prepare for the contrast, or just "蝗虫" if "飞蝗" feels too specific without species name. Actually, "locust" implies the swarming phase. "Affected by locusts" usually means "affected by locust plagues/swarms". Chinese: "受蝗灾影响严重的地区". This covers the meaning well. * *Draft 2:* 研究团队目前正在寻求额外资金，以将这项工作扩展到其他受蝗灾严重影响地区。 * *Segment 3:*

Why Locust Research Matters to the United States

* "Why Locust Research Matters to the United States": 为什么飞蝗研究对美国至关重要 / 为什么蝗虫研究对美国很重要. I'll use "飞蝗研究" to distinguish from the "grasshopper" problem mentioned later, or stick to "蝗虫" if the title is general. But the text explicitly says "U.S. has no native locust species". So "Locust" here is specific. I will translate as "飞蝗" (migratory locust) or "群居型蝗虫". "飞蝗" is a good standard term for the category of locusts that swarm. * *Draft 3:*

为什么飞蝗研究对美国至关重要

* *Segment 4:*

The U.S. currently has no native locust species. So why study them at all? Cease says that could change. She is closely monitoring the Central American locust, whose range reaches within about 200 miles of the U.S. border.

* "The U.S. currently has no native locust species": 美国目前没有本土飞蝗物种。 (Using "飞蝗" for locust species). * "So why study them at all?": 那么为什么要研究它们呢？ * "Cease says that could change": 西斯说这种情况可能会改变。 * "She is closely monitoring the Central American locust": 她正在密切监测中美洲飞蝗。 * "whose range reaches within about 200 miles of the U.S. border": 其分布范围距离美国边境仅约200英里。 * *Draft 4:*

美国目前没有本土飞蝗物种。那么为什么要研究它们呢？西斯表示这种情况可能会改变。她正在密切监测中美洲飞蝗，其分布范围距离美国边境仅约200英里。

* *Segment 5:*

"We can say with pretty high certainty that Texas will be very suitable for locusts in about 10 to 15 years," Cease says. "Whether or not they will create a problem is yet to be determined, but it's something that we should definitely be aware of."

* "We can say with pretty high certainty": 我们可以相当确信地说。 *