Article
Environmental Sciences
Jie Luo, Lukas Beule, Guodong Shao, Edzo Veldkamp, Marife D. Corre
Summary: Conversion of monoculture to agroforestry is seen as a promising approach in reducing N2O emissions from croplands. This study investigated the effects of agroforestry on gross N2O emissions and uptake compared to monoculture. The results showed that agroforestry tended to decrease gross N2O emissions and increase N2O uptake, with tree rows having the lowest emissions and highest uptake. Adjusting the tree and crop coverages and optimizing fertilization can further enhance the benefits of agroforestry in reducing N2O emissions and increasing uptake.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Renske Jongen, S. Emilia Hannula, Jonathan R. De Long, Robin Heinen, Martine Huberty, Katja Steinauer, T. Martijn Bezemer
Summary: This study investigated the plant species-specific microbial communities as mediators of soil legacies, finding that soil legacy effects on decomposition and soil decomposer community composition were most evident shortly after the start of the feedback phase, but disappeared after the establishment of a new plant community. Soil conditioning time and years since disturbance consistently affected soil functions, with no strong effects observed from plant functional group and growth strategy. Recovery time, rather than soil legacy effects, was identified as the most important factor driving soil functions after disturbance.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lukas Beule, Petr Karlovsky
Summary: The study revealed that the composition of soil fungal communities responds rapidly to the integration of trees into arable land through agroforestry, while the fungal biomass is not affected during the first one and a half years after planting the trees. The fungal communities in the tree row significantly diverge with the age of the system.
Article
Agronomy
Guodong Shao, Guntars O. Martinson, Marife D. Corre, Jie Luo, Dan Niu, Xenia Bischel, Edzo Veldkamp
Summary: Agroforestry has the potential to reduce nitrous oxide emissions, especially through unfertilized agroforestry tree rows. Optimized fertilizer input can further enhance the potential of agroforestry for mitigating nitrous oxide emissions.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY BIOENERGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chenggang Liu, Yanqiang Jin, Fangmei Lin, Chuan Jiang, Xiaoling Zeng, Defeng Feng, Fuzhao Huang, Jianwei Tang
Summary: Land use change has significant impacts on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics, as well as specific enzyme activities and fungal communities. Changes in fungal functional guilds greatly influence aggregate-associated carbon and nitrogen pools, with soil pH being the primary driver.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Christopher Graham, Marina Ramos-Pezzotti, Michael Lehman
Summary: Conversion of grassland to cropland can cause short-term impacts on soil microbial biomass and enzyme activity, especially under high precipitation conditions, with strong environmental effects. Conventional tillage significantly reduces fungal biomass and fungal to bacterial biomass ratios, leading to decreased soil microbial biomass and enzyme activity. Overall, land conversion results in significant declines in soil microbial biomass and enzyme activity.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Muhammad Tayyab, Ziqi Yang, Caifang Zhang, Waqar Islam, Wenxiong Lin, Hua Zhang
Summary: Sugarcane monoculture leads to soil problems such as acidification and degradation, reducing soil fertility and beneficial microbes. Analysis showed the impact of this cultivation method on soil and microbial communities.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
Xiaofang Zhang, Qi Feng, Jan F. Adamowski, Asim Biswas, Jianjun Cao, Wei Liu, Yanyan Qin, Meng Zhu
Summary: Changes in land use on China's Loess Plateau have a significant impact on soil microbial communities, with grassland afforestation and the abandonment of arable land leading to changes in bacterial and fungal diversity and composition. These findings have important ecological implications and can inform land management decisions in the study area and similar ecologically-fragile regions.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Panna Chandra W. Nath, Gudeta W. Sileshi, Presenjit Ray, Ashesh Kumar Das, Arun Jyoti Nath
Summary: This study quantified variations in soil physico-chemical properties, soil organic carbon stocks, and stoichiometric ratios under different stand types and ages of agarwood plantations, finding that SOC content and stocks significantly increase with stand age, and SOC stocks in the recalcitrant pools are 1.5 times higher in monoculture compared to polyculture stands.
Article
Ecology
Wanting Li, Xuefeng Hu, Qinghua Liu, Chunying Yin
Summary: The study found that fungi are more sensitive to plant interactions, while bacteria are more affected by soil properties. The main fungal composition and structure of subalpine forests changed under interactions.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Romane Mettauer, Lukas Beule, Zita Bednar, Margaux Malige, Olivier Godinot, Edith Le Cadre
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effect of different silvopastoral agroforestry systems on soil nitrification potential. The results showed that nitrification potential differed between the two agroforestry systems and among the positions in relation to the trees. Nitrification potential was strongly correlated with soil pH, whereas no correlation was observed between nitrification potential and community size of soil nitrifiers.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Meifeng Deng, Ping Li, Zhenhua Wang, Lulu Guo, Yuntao Wu, Junsheng Huang, Xuhui Wang, Lingli Liu
Summary: Grassland afforestation promotes carbon sequestration but consumes water resources. As forest plantations develop, soil moisture decreases leading to increased soil total sodium (Na) and potassium (K) concentrations. There were no significant differences in mineral element concentrations in larch leaves among stands, but mature stand understory vegetation had higher foliar K concentration and lower foliar Na concentration than young stands.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
Antonio Pulina, Sergio Campus, Chiara Cappai, Pier Paolo Roggero, Lorenzo Salis, Giovanna Seddaiu
Summary: This study demonstrates that trees have a significant impact on soil carbon balance in Mediterranean cork-oak silvopastoral systems, highlighting the importance of management practices aimed at increasing herbage production, tree cover, and regulating tree distribution for enhancing ecosystem services such as soil organic carbon sequestration.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yang Yu, Lang Zheng, Yijun Zhou, Weiguo Sang, Jianing Zhao, Lu Liu, Chao Li, Chunwang Xiao
Summary: Grassland degradation has a significant impact on soil microbial communities, with a decrease in bacterial diversity and changes in relative abundance of specific bacterial and fungal taxa. Belowground biomass, soil organic carbon, and total nitrogen are positively correlated with changes in bacterial diversity. Pathogenic fungi are significantly decreased by degradation, indicating a potential shift in soil microbial functionality due to grassland degradation.
JOURNAL OF PLANT ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Ruonan Wu, Michelle R. Davison, William C. Nelson, Emily B. Graham, Sarah J. Fansler, Yuliya Farris, Sheryl L. Bell, Iobani Godinez, Jason E. Mcdermott, Kirsten S. Hofmockel, Janet K. Jansson
Summary: Soil viruses were compared in grassland soils with different historical precipitation levels, revealing higher viral diversity and abundance in areas with lower precipitation. The drier region also exhibited more lysogenic markers and putative auxiliary metabolic genes, indicating a potential impact of historical precipitation on soil viral communities and their functional potential.
Article
Ecology
Raphael Manu, Marife D. Corre, Alfred Aleeje, Majaliwa J. G. Mwanjalolo, Fred Babweteera, Edzo Veldkamp, Oliver van Straaten
Summary: In a humid tropical forest in Uganda, the response of tree stem growth to nutrient additions varied based on tree sizes, species, and leaf habits. Nitrogen additions primarily increased growth in medium-sized trees and Lasiodiscus mildbraedii species. Potassium limitation was evident in semi-deciduous trees, while the role of phosphorus in promoting tree growth was not pronounced.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Victor A. Guerra, Lukas Beule, Cheryl L. Mackowiak, Jose C. B. Dubeux, Ann R. S. Blount, Xiao-Bo Wang, Diane L. Rowland, Hui-Ling Liao
Summary: This study investigated the effects of incorporating legumes on pasture fertility, sustainability, and biodiversity, and analyzed the composition and diversity of soil bacterial communities using amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. The results showed that pastures with legumes had higher abundance of bacteria associated with nitrogen fixation and denitrification, while pastures receiving only mineral nitrogen fertilizer had higher abundance of bacteria associated with high litter turnover. Additionally, the diversity of soil bacteria was higher in pastures receiving both mineral nitrogen and legume-derived nitrogen.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jie Luo, Lukas Beule, Guodong Shao, Edzo Veldkamp, Marife D. Corre
Summary: Conversion of monoculture to agroforestry is seen as a promising approach in reducing N2O emissions from croplands. This study investigated the effects of agroforestry on gross N2O emissions and uptake compared to monoculture. The results showed that agroforestry tended to decrease gross N2O emissions and increase N2O uptake, with tree rows having the lowest emissions and highest uptake. Adjusting the tree and crop coverages and optimizing fertilization can further enhance the benefits of agroforestry in reducing N2O emissions and increasing uptake.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Lukas Beule, Anna Vaupel, Virna Estefania Moran-Rodas
Summary: Modern temperate alley-cropping systems, which combine rows of trees with rows of crops, have the advantage of complementary resource use between trees and crops and are environmentally more sustainable than cropland monocultures. Research on soil microorganisms in these systems has shown that they increase soil microbial abundance, diversity, and functions compared to cropland monocultures, contributing to enhanced biological soil fertility.
Article
Agronomy
Lukas Beule, Victor Guerra, Ena Lehtsaar, Anna Vaupel
Summary: The subsoil microbial community in temperate agroforestry systems plays a crucial role in enhancing the 'safety-net' function of the trees by improving nutrient capture and uptake. The presence of trees not only promotes the growth of soil microbial populations in both the topsoil and subsoil but also extends this promotion into the crop rows. The scarcity of resources in the subsoil triggers a stronger positive response from the subsoil community to the trees compared to the topsoil.
Article
Agronomy
Guodong Shao, Guntars O. Martinson, Marife D. Corre, Jie Luo, Dan Niu, Xenia Bischel, Edzo Veldkamp
Summary: Agroforestry has the potential to reduce nitrous oxide emissions, especially through unfertilized agroforestry tree rows. Optimized fertilizer input can further enhance the potential of agroforestry for mitigating nitrous oxide emissions.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY BIOENERGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Cenk Donmez, Marcus Schmidt, Ahmet Cilek, Meike Grosse, Carsten Paul, Wilfried Hierold, Katharina Helming
Summary: Long-Term Field Experiments (LTEs) were used to study the long-term effects of different management practices. The objective of this study was to quantify the expected changes in agro-climatic conditions at German LTE sites. A framework combining climate data and LTE metadata was developed to identify possible climatic changes and facilitate future agricultural research.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Anna Vaupel, Zita Bednar, Nadine Herwig, Bernd Hommel, Virna Estefania Moran-Rodas, Lukas Beule
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effects of tree species and tree distance on soil biota in a temperate agroforestry system. The results showed that tree rows promoted the abundance of bacteria and earthworms, which may be attributed to tree litter input and the absence of tillage. The composition of fungal communities was also altered by the presence of tree rows, resulting in an increased proportion of ectomycorrhizal fungi.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Najeeb Al-Amin Iddris, Greta Formaglio, Carola Paul, Volker von Gross, Guantao Chen, Andres Angulo-Rubiano, Dirk Berkelmann, Fabian Brambach, Kevin F. A. Darras, Valentyna Krashevska, Anton Potapov, Arne Wenzel, Bambang Irawan, Muhammad Damris, Rolf Daniel, Ingo Grass, Holger Kreft, Stefan Scheu, Teja Tscharntke, Aiyen Tjoa, Edzo Veldkamp, Marife D. Corre
Summary: This full factorial experiment conducted in an Indonesian state-owned industrial oil palm plantation evaluated the effects of reduced management practices on ecosystem functions and biodiversity. The results showed that mechanical weeding exhibited higher multifunctionality and increased plant species diversity compared to herbicide treatment. Furthermore, reduced fertilization and mechanical weeding increased profit and gross margin while achieving similar yields.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Christian Stiegler, Franziska Koebsch, Ashehad Ashween Ali, Tania June, Edzo Veldkamp, Marife D. Corre, Joost Koks, Aiyen Tjoa, Alexander Knohl
Summary: This study measured N2O emissions from an oil palm plantation and found it to be a high source of N2O. The conventional methods of measurement underestimated the emissions. The study also found that the gas exchange of the oil palm canopy and its response to meteorological and soil conditions play an important role in N2O emissions.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY BIOENERGY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Zita Bednar, Anna Vaupel, Simon Bluemel, Nadine Herwig, Bernd Hommel, Verena Haberlah-Korr, Lukas Beule
Summary: Flower strip mixtures with different plant species and durations have varying effects on soil biodiversity and microbial communities. Perennial flower strip mixtures can increase earthworm and soil microbial abundance and diversity, while annual flower strips have limited effects. In addition, non-tilled planting methods are beneficial for the diversity and relative abundance of soil fungi.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Edzo Veldkamp, Marcus Schmidt, Christian Markwitz, Lukas Beule, Rene Beuschel, Andrea Biertuempfel, Xenia Bischel, Xiaohong Duan, Rowena Gerjets, Leonie Goebel, Ruediger Grass, Victor Guerra, Florian Heinlein, Martin Komainda, Maren Langhof, Jie Luo, Martin Potthoff, Justus G. V. van Ramshorst, Carolin Rudolf, Diana-Maria Seserman, Guodong Shao, Lukas Siebicke, Nikolai Svoboda, Anita Swieter, Andrea Carminati, Dirk Freese, Torsten Graf, Joerg M. Greef, Johannes Isselstein, Martin Jansen, Petr Karlovsky, Alexander Knohl, Norbert Lamersdorf, Eckart Priesack, Christine Wachendorf, Michael Wachendorf, Marife D. Corre
Summary: This study comprehensively analyzed the ecosystem functions of agroforestry systems in croplands and grasslands. Results showed that alley-cropping agroforestry improved carbon sequestration, soil biological habitat, and erosion resistance. However, soil nutrient cycling, greenhouse gas abatement, and water regulation did not improve due to high fertilization rates. Efficient nutrient management is needed to enhance the environmental benefits of agroforestry.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)