Article
Environmental Sciences
Emanuele Fanfarillo, Claudia Angiolini, Enrico Tordoni, Giovanni Bacaro, Erika Bazzato, Maurizio Castaldini, Maria A. Cucu, Martina Grattacaso, Stefano Loppi, Michela Marignani, Stefano Mocali, Lucia Muggia, Elena Salerni, Simona Maccherini
Summary: Soil microbiota is important for agroecosystem biodiversity and has a significant impact on plant growth and agricultural services. This study found that arable plant communities can serve as a surrogate for bacterial and fungal communities in the rhizosphere of Elephant Garlic. The composition of plant communities was correlated with the composition of bacterial and fungal communities, with similar responses to geographic and environmental factors, and biotic interactions playing a role in fungal community composition.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Marion Lang, Johannes Kollmann, Julia Prestele, Klaus Wiesinger, Harald Albrecht
Summary: The study investigated the population growth of three winter annuals under different agricultural management methods, finding that the best conditions for planting these plants were in fields with limited crop competition, preferably with no cover crop. This suggests good opportunities for the reintroduction of rare arable plants under different crop rotations, with best results for extensively managed fields with low crop competition.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Chiara Piccini, Roberta Farina, Claudia Di Bene, Silvia Vanino, Rosario Napoli
Summary: This study assesses the long-term sustainability of two fertilization strategies (synthetic fertilizers vs. organic sources of nitrogen) in a processing tomato/durum wheat rotation. The results show that the conservative strategy with organic sources of nitrogen can increase tomato and wheat yield, improve soil organic carbon, increase nitrogen use efficiency, and reduce nitrate leaching, under different climate scenarios.
Article
Environmental Studies
Maria Rosa Mosquera-Losada, Francico Javier Rodriguez-Rigueiro, Jose Javier Santiago-Freijanes, Antonio Rigueiro-Rodriguez, Pablo Silva-Losada, Anastasia Pantera, Juan Luis Fernandez-Lorenzo, Maria Pilar Gonzalez-Hernandez, Rosa Romero-Franco, Jose Antonio Aldrey-Vazquez, Nuria Ferreiro-Dominguez
Summary: Silvoarable practices, a type of agroforestry practice, deliver significant ecosystem services in the Mediterranean areas of Europe. This paper analyzes the extent and implementation of silvoarable practices in 27 Rural Development Programmes and highlights the need for better policies in the future Common Agricultural Policy to promote agroforestry adoption.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ivana Radic, Clara Monaco, Claire Cerdan, Iuri Peri
Summary: This case study examines the Mediterranean extra virgin olive oil value chain and its contribution to incorporating the concept of agrobiodiversity in enhancing the value of origin products. It illustrates the tools and mechanisms for market competitiveness and product differentiation, supporting the transition towards sustainable development in food systems. The study identifies three stages of community building around the sustainable, local product: product positioning, consumer attraction, and communities of value co-creation, emphasizing the importance of connecting individuals through shared values for the transition to more sustainable origin food systems.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiufang Zhu, Guofeng Xiao, Shuai Wang
Summary: The existing cultivated land in the Mediterranean region is under great pressure and a suitability evaluation of potential arable land is urgently needed. This study used 15 factors to evaluate the suitability and compared the results between different methods. The results showed that the artificial neural network method had the best correlation with average yield and harvested area.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Anfal Alsharekh, Mohamed A. El-Sheikh, Abdulrahman A. Alatar, Eslam M. Abdel-Salam
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the allelopathic potential of Conocarpus erectus against selected weeds and crops. The results showed that the leaves and seeds of C. erectus exhibited high inhibition rates against certain weeds, but did not show toxicity against tomato and cucumber plants grown in pots.
Article
Biology
Tlou D. Raphela, Kevin J. Duffy
Summary: This study explored the impact of the weed Lantana camara on mammals in an urban Game Reserve in South Africa. It found that the weight of small mammals varied by season and the quantity of weeds. For large mammals, the density of L. camara was a significant predictor of species richness. The study concluded that the presence of L. camara negatively affected mammals in the Groenkloof Nature Reserve.
Article
Plant Sciences
Michael Glaser, Christian Berg, Fabrizio Buldrini, Serge Buholzer, Jana Buerger, Alessandro Chiarucci, Milan Chytry, Pavel Drevojan, Swen Follak, Filip Kuzmic, Zdenka Lososova, Stefan Meyer, Dietmar Moser, Petr Pysek, Nina Richner, Urban Silc, Alexander Wietzke, Stefan Dullinger, Franz Essl
Summary: This study introduces a new resource - the AgriWeedClim database, which collects vegetation plot data of arable habitats in Central Europe. The database contains georeferenced data from 32,889 vegetation plots sampled from 1916 to 2019. The researchers outline potential research questions, including analyzing the patterns and causes of vegetation changes in arable habitats.
APPLIED VEGETATION SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Michael Glaser, Stefan Dullinger, Dietmar Moser, Johannes Wessely, Milan Chytry, Zdenka Lososova, Irena Axmanova, Christian Berg, Jana Buerger, Serge Buholzer, Fabrizio Buldrini, Alessandro Chiarucci, Swen Follak, Filip Kuezmic, Stefan Meyer, Petr Pysek, Nina Richner, Urban Silc, Siegrid Steinkellner, Alexander Wietzke, Franz Essl
Summary: This study investigated changes in vascular plant species in Central European arable fields and their edges from 1930 to 2019. The results showed a small decline in overall species occupancy, but a more pronounced species turnover. Species with environmental preferences for nutrient-rich sites with neutral pH increased in occupancy, while species typical for arable fields decreased. No response to climate change was observed, and there was a decrease in archaeophytes and native species and an increase in neophytes.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jan Winkler, Tomas Ricica, Vera Hubacikova, Eugeniusz Koda, Magdalena Daria Vaverkova, Ladislav Havel, Mariusz Zoltowski
Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate weed occurrence under limited herbicide use in order to protect water resources. The results showed significant differences in weed occurrence and composition in maize, wheat, and rapeseed stands due to herbicide regulation. The changes in weed composition led to a preference for specialized weed species at the expense of widespread species. Limiting pesticide use in sensitive water areas is important for protecting the aquatic environment, but it can result in difficult-to-control weed growth, therefore new weed control methods need to be explored.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
U. Rashid Sumaila, Melissa Walsh, Kelly Hoareau, Melissa Walsh, Louise Teh, Patrizia Abdallah, Wisdom Akpalu, Zuzy Anna, Dominique Benzaken, Beatrice Crona, Timothy Fitzgerald, Louise Heaps, Ibrahim Issifu, Katia Karousakis, Glenn Marie Lange, Amanda Leland, Dana Miller, Karen Sack, Durreen Shahnaz, Torsten Thiele, Niels Vestergaard, Nobuyuki Yagi, Junjie Zhang
Summary: The ocean plays a crucial role in regulating climate and supporting ecosystem services, but is facing threats from anthropogenic pressures and climate change. To support a sustainable ocean economy, addressing financing barriers and incentivizing investments in topnotch science and management is essential.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Dean Schrieke, Nicholas S. G. Williams, Claire Farrell
Summary: Lack of maintenance can result in weedy vegetation on green roofs. The design of green roofs, such as substrate depth and roof height, can influence spontaneous vegetation. Sedum species are commonly planted on shallow substrate green roofs and irrigated during summer. However, the response of spontaneous vegetation to Sedum cover and water availability is unclear.
Article
Entomology
Kristijan Franin, Gabrijela Kustera Franin, Branka Maricic, Sime Marcelic, Marina Pavlovic, Tomislav Kos, Bozena Baric, Ziga Laznik
Summary: The study demonstrates that ecological infrastructures such as weed margins and wildflower strips are effective in attracting and conserving beneficial insect populations in vineyards, ultimately enhancing biodiversity. The highest species richness and abundance of beneficial insects were found in the ecological infrastructures associated with integrated vineyards.
BULLETIN OF INSECTOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ezequiel Gonzalez, Martin Strobl, Petr Jansta, Tomas Hovorka, Tomas Kadlec, Michal Knapp
Summary: Creating unsown patches in agricultural fields can increase parasitoid species richness and abundance, providing important resources for natural enemies of crop pests and supporting greater biodiversity. Additionally, unsown patches in oilseed rape fields are more significant during crop senescence, potentially aiding in pest control and enhancing agricultural ecosystem stability.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Ines Rocha, Ying Ma, Maria F. Carvalho, Catarina Magalhaes, Martina Janouskova, Miroslav Vosatka, Helena Freitas, Rui S. Oliveira
ARCHIVES OF AGRONOMY AND SOIL SCIENCE
(2019)
Article
Plant Sciences
Marta Correia, Ruben Heleno, Luis Pascoal da Silva, Jose Miguel Costa, Susana Rodriguez-Echeverria
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Paula Lorenzo, Pablo Souza-Alonso, Alejandra Guisande-Collazo, Helena Freitas
JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
(2019)
Article
Biology
Marta Correia, Susana Rodriguez-Echeverria, Sergio Timoteo, Helena Freitas, Ruben Heleno
Article
Agronomy
Ines Rocha, Isabel Duarte, Ying Ma, Pablo Souza-Alonso, Ales Latr, Miroslav Vosatka, Helena Freitas, Rui S. Oliveira
Article
Plant Sciences
Victoria Ferrero, Lander Baeten, Lidia Blanco-Sanchez, Rosario Planello, Juan Antonio Diaz-Pendon, Susana Rodriguez-Echeverria, Annelies Haegeman, Eduardo de la Pena
Article
Ecology
Francisco Pugnaire, Jose A. Morillo, Cristina Armas, Susana Rodriguez-Echeverria, Aurora Gaxiola
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alienor Jeliazkov, Darko Mijatovic, Stephane Chantepie, Nigel Andrew, Raphael Arlettaz, Luc Barbaro, Nadia Barsoum, Alena Bartonova, Elena Belskaya, Nuria Bonada, Anik Brind'Amour, Rodrigo Carvalho, Helena Castro, Damian Chmura, Philippe Choler, Karen Chong-Seng, Daniel Cleary, Anouk Cormont, William Cornwell, Ramiro de Campos, Nicole de Voogd, Sylvain Doledec, Joshua Drew, Frank Dziock, Anthony Eallonardo, Melanie J. Edgar, Fabio Farneda, Domingo Flores Hernandez, Cedric Frenette-Dussault, Guillaume Fried, Belinda Gallardo, Heloise Gibb, Thiago Goncalves-Souza, Janet Higuti, Jean-Yves Humbert, Boris R. Krasnov, Eric Le Saux, Zoe Lindo, Adria Lopez-Baucells, Elizabeth Lowe, Bryndis Marteinsdottir, Koen Martens, Peter Meffert, Andres Mellado-Diaz, Myles H. M. Menz, Christoph F. J. Meyer, Julia Ramos Miranda, David Mouillot, Alessandro Ossola, Robin Pakeman, Sandrine Pavoine, Burak Pekin, Joan Pino, Arnaud Pocheville, Francesco Pomati, Peter Poschlod, Honor C. Prentice, Oliver Purschke, Valerie Raevel, Triin Reitalu, Willem Renema, Ignacio Ribera, Natalie Robinson, Bjorn Robroek, Ricardo Rocha, Sen-Her Shieh, Rebecca Spake, Monika Staniaszek-Kik, Michal Stanko, Francisco Leonardo Tejerina-Garro, Cajo ter Braak, Mark C. Urban, Roel van Klink, Sebastien Villeger, Ruut Wegman, Martin J. Westgate, Jonas Wolff, Jan Zarnowiec, Maxim Zolotarev, Jonathan M. Chase
Article
Ecology
Susana Rodriguez-Echeverria, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo, Jose A. Morillo, Aurora Gaxiola, Marlene Manzano, Pablo A. Marquet, Leticia Gonzalez, Lohengrin A. Cavieres, Francisco I. Pugnaire, Cristina Armas
Summary: Research in the Chilean Andes has shown that in high-elevation ecosystems, cushion plants, aridity, and UV-B radiation are the major drivers of the distribution, composition, and diversity of soil microbial communities. Factors like pH, total C and N content have a much lower impact on the composition of soil microbial communities in these ecosystems.
Article
Plant Sciences
Marta Correia, Josep Maria Espelta, Jose A. Morillo, Joan Pino, Susana Rodriguez-Echeverria
Summary: The study indicates that past land use history has impacted soil properties and the symbiosis between ECM fungi and beech trees in regenerating beech forests.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Andreu Cera, Estephania Duplat, Gabriel Montserrat-Marti, Antonio Gomez-Bolea, Susana Rodriguez-Echeverria, Sara Palacio
Summary: The study found seasonal variations in AMF colonisation, rhizospheric soil content, and plant nutrient status in gypsum plants. Mutualism between plants and AMF was highest in spring when P-requirements are higher for plants.
Article
Plant Sciences
Helena Castro, Catarina Siopa, Vinicius Casais, Mariana Castro, Joao Loureiro, Hugo Gaspar, Maria Celeste Dias, Silvia Castro
Summary: This study quantified pollination deficits in kiwifruit orchards, finding a negative correlation between pollination deficits and pollinator abundance, and a positive correlation with yield. Understanding the factors influencing pollination deficits is crucial for promoting pollinators and management practices.
Article
Horticulture
H. Castro, C. Siopa, V Casais, M. Castro, J. Loureiro, H. Gaspar, S. Castro
Summary: This study investigated the impact of artificial pollination on kiwifruit production and found that pollen supply improved productivity in most orchards, especially in terms of increasing fruit set and improving fruit quality. However, not all orchards required or benefited from artificial pollination. Further research is needed to assess the efficiency of the methodologies used in this region.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Hugo Gaspar, Joao Loureiro, Helena Castro, Catarina Siopa, Mariana Castro, Vinicius Casais, Silvia Castro
Summary: Insects play economically important roles in ecosystem services such as pollination, but their loss of biodiversity is putting pressure on modern agriculture. Understanding the diversity of insect pollinators at different scales is important to recognize trends in pollinator populations. This study found that in-field practices that are less harmful to insect pollinators are associated with higher pollinator diversity and abundance of certain wild pollinator groups. Agricultural dominated landscapes have lower pollinator diversity and lower abundance of wild pollinators, but higher abundance of managed honeybees compared to forest and herbaceous dominated landscapes. Despite differences in pollinator communities, comparable yields were observed across different landscape types.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Rachel F. Kruger, Susana Rodriguez-Echeverria, Paola Quatrini, Matthew A. Parker
Summary: New research reveals that the spread of Scotch broom in North America involved the invasion of a European genetic element (SI) into North American Bradyrhizobium nodule bacteria. Additionally, the spread of this SI variant likely facilitated the invasion of Scotch broom in North American habitats.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Jiarui Zhao, Xiaohu Yuan, Zhanjun Liu, Haotian Shi, Bingnian Zhai, Yuanjun Zhu
Summary: Overfertilization is common in rainfed apple orchards on China's Loess Plateau, but its impacts on soil physicochemical properties in deep soil profiles are poorly understood. This study found that different land-use types showed divergent distribution patterns in soil properties, with low variability for SWC and pH, moderate variability for NH4+-N, AP, and AK, and high variability for SOC, NO3--N, and EC. The results also showed that fertilization influenced soil water content, NO3--N, AP, and AK, and NO3--N played a crucial role in regulating pH and EC. Soil profiles were useful for studying the evolution of soil quality.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Daniel Nyfeler, Olivier Huguenin-Elie, Emmanuel Frossard, Andreas Luscher
Summary: Grass-legume mixtures combine high yields, low fertiliser requirements, and low nitrate leaching better than either pure grass or pure legume swards, both during the intact plant cover and after tilling for the subsequent crop.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Martin Faucher, Seraphine Grellier, Clemence Chaudron, Jean-Louis Janeau, Gabrielle Rudi, Fabrice Vinatier
Summary: The Mediterranean region is expected to experience more intense rainfall events and severe droughts due to climate change, leading to an increase in runoff and erosion rates in agrosystems. Vegetation cover can help reduce erosion and the soil seed bank can provide cost-effective vegetation. This study assessed the effect of vegetation cover on seed loss in vineyards and evaluated the differences in the soil seed bank along a transect. The results suggest that vegetation may not protect interrows from runoff-induced seed loss.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Christian Thierfelder, Blessing Mhlanga, Isaiah Nyagumbo, Kelvin Kalala, Esau Simutowe, Mazvita Chiduwa, Chloe Maclaren, Joao Vasco Silva, Hambulo Ngoma
Summary: The performance of different maize-legume diversification strategies was compared in southern Africa. Intercropping systems showed significant nutritional and economic benefits, but had higher labor requirements compared to other cropping systems. Soil organic carbon content and pH were not affected by the tested cropping systems.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Han Chen, Han Li, Yizhao Wei, Edward Mcbean, Hong Liang, Weimin Wang, Jinhui Jeanne Huang
Summary: This research introduces a hybrid four-sub-deep neural network (HFSD) model for partitioning NEE into GPP and ER. The HFSD employs dual sub-deep neural networks to estimate ERa and ERb and incorporates GPP and environmental variables to predict vegetation transpiration. The results of the model show that the dual sub-DNNs architecture enhances the accuracy of ER simulations, while using EC-derived T as a constraint improves the accuracy of GPP simulations. Correlation analyses suggest that solar radiation and air temperature primarily influence the seasonal variations in GPP and ER, while soil moisture has a strong impact during dry seasons. This study advances the biophysical description of data-driven models for NEE partitioning and enhances the accuracy of GPP and ER estimates.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Michael Glaser, Stefan Dullinger, Dietmar Moser, Johannes Wessely, Milan Chytry, Zdenka Lososova, Irena Axmanova, Christian Berg, Jana Buerger, Serge Buholzer, Fabrizio Buldrini, Alessandro Chiarucci, Swen Follak, Filip Kuezmic, Stefan Meyer, Petr Pysek, Nina Richner, Urban Silc, Siegrid Steinkellner, Alexander Wietzke, Franz Essl
Summary: This study investigated changes in vascular plant species in Central European arable fields and their edges from 1930 to 2019. The results showed a small decline in overall species occupancy, but a more pronounced species turnover. Species with environmental preferences for nutrient-rich sites with neutral pH increased in occupancy, while species typical for arable fields decreased. No response to climate change was observed, and there was a decrease in archaeophytes and native species and an increase in neophytes.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Thomas Abrell, Krishna Naudin, Felix J. J. A. Bianchi, Debora Veiga Aragao, Pablo Tittonell, Marc Corbeels
Summary: This study demonstrates that reducing fallow periods in shifting cultivation systems in the Eastern Amazon region has negative effects on soil fertility and weed pressure, posing a threat to the sustainability and productivity of local farming systems.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Jun Wang, Lu Lv, Ronggui Hu, Haiyang Ma, Bo Liu, Wenju Zhang, Lei Wu
Summary: Nitrification and denitrification are crucial for nitrogen losses in agricultural soils and are affected by soil properties. This study investigated the patterns and controlling factors of nitrification and denitrification potentials in paddy soils in major rice-producing areas of Hubei Province, China. The results showed that soil pH and SOC were the primary factors regulating nitrification and denitrification potentials, respectively.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Olga Fishkis, Jessica Weller, Jorn Lehmhus, Franz Pollinger, Jorn Strassemeyer, Heinz -Josef Koch
Summary: The Farm to Fork strategy of the European Union aims to reduce pesticide use and replace chemical measures with mechanical methods in weed control. However, there is currently no comprehensive evaluation of the ecological and economic parameters of mechanical methods. This study quantified these parameters for different weed control methods in sugar beet and found that no method can be considered fully environmentally friendly.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Mercedes Guerrero-Brotons, Nuria Perujo, Anna M. Romani, Rosa Gomez
Summary: Proper bed substrate selection is crucial for the performance of constructed wetlands, especially when treating drainage water with high nitrogen and low carbon and phosphorus concentrations. In a field-scale pilot plant, adding a carbon-rich substrate such as soil or biochar increased phosphorus availability in beds. Beds with soil displayed higher microbial density and activity, as well as better plant growth compared to gravel. These findings highlight the importance of selecting suitable substrates for treating irrigated agricultural water.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Beatrice Giannetta, Cesar Plaza, Giorgio Galluzzi, Iria Benavente-Ferraces, Juan Carlos Garcia-Gil, Marco Panettieri, Gabriel Gasco, Claudio Zaccone
Summary: This study examines the long-term effects of biochar application on soil organic C protection and finds that biochar, especially when combined with other amendments, has the potential to increase the content of particulate organic C and mineral-associated organic C in soils. The presence of ferrihydrite may mediate the positive effects on mineral-associated organic matter.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Emily Rose Waring, Carl Pederson, Ainis Lagzdins, Chelsea Clifford, Matthew J. Helmers
Summary: Addressing the global problem of eutrophication requires better management of inorganic nitrogen in the agricultural landscape. This study compares the effects of different tillage practices and cover crops on soil and water quality. The results show that the conventional tillage system is more effective in improving water quality and maintaining crop yields compared to other tillage practices. Additionally, the study reveals that the impact of tillage practices and cover crop growth methods on water and soil quality changes over time.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Annalisa Stevenson, Yakun Zhang, Jingyi Huang, Jie Hu, Keith Paustian, Alfred E. Hartemink
Summary: Considerable advances have been made in the assessment and mapping of soil organic carbon stocks. However, the rates of change in carbon stocks are influenced by various factors and need to be quantified. This study found that sandy soils under cultivation and forests have different organic carbon stocks. Factors such as tillage, irrigation, and nitrogen applications contribute to the decline in soil organic carbon stocks. Afforestation of abandoned cultivated fields can increase soil organic carbon, but it is still lower than soils under forest that have never been cultivated.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Zhiyuan Yao, Chuanxiong Huang, Huiling Hu, Tao Wang, Yulong Li, Xiaoming Sune, Sina Adl, Bo Zhu
Summary: Enhancing soil organic carbon levels through improved fertilization strategies is important for soil health and sustainable crop production. This study found that the relative abundance of organisms from higher trophic levels and increased network complexity in the soil micro-food webs are vital contributors to effective SOC accumulation.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Qing Qu, Lei Deng, Zhouping Shangguan, Jian Sun, Jinsheng He, Kaibo Wang, Zhengchao Zhou, Jiwei Li, Josep Penuelas
Summary: Grazing exclusion is a widely implemented strategy for restoring degraded grassland ecosystems and increasing carbon stocks. This study analyzed data from 199 experiments to understand the temporal responses and factors influencing plant and soil carbon stocks following grazing exclusion in different grassland ecosystems. The results showed that plant biomass carbon stocks and soil organic carbon stocks decreased exponentially or rationally with years since enclosure. Grazing exclusion had positive effects on aboveground biomass carbon, but the effects on belowground biomass and soil carbon were influenced by climate, initial carbon levels, and grazing exclusion duration. The response of carbon stocks to grazing exclusion stabilized after approximately 40 years, with soil carbon sequestration showing a lagged pattern compared to plant biomass carbon. The study highlighted the effectiveness of grazing exclusion in regions with low carbon content and non-water limited conditions. However, it might not be an effective measure to increase soil organic carbon stocks in water-limited areas like desert grasslands.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2024)