Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Aurelija Paulauskiene, Daiva Sileikiene, Rasa Karkleliene, Zivile Taraseviciene, Laima Cesoniene
Summary: This research compared the differences between conventionally and organically grown beetroots, demonstrating the life processes in the products using chemical and electrochemical research methods. The study found that conventionally grown vegetables had a higher yield of 4-19% compared to organically grown vegetables, and the relationship between chemical composition and farming system was uncertain. Organic beetroots had higher levels of DM, TSS, and sugars, while conventionally grown plants accumulated higher amounts of betalains. However, ecologically grown beetroot showed better quality, vitality, and suitability for human consumption based on lower values of electrochemical parameters rH and P.
Article
Soil Science
Heppy Suci Wulanningtyas, Yingting Gong, Peiran Li, Nobuo Sakagami, Junko Nishiwaki, Masakazu Komatsuzaki
Summary: This study found that no-tillage systems and cover crop management can improve soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium-magnesium, bulk density, soil penetration resistance, and substrate-induced respiration which serve as indicators of soil health. The combination of no-till and rye cover crops appears to be a promising technique for enhancing SOC and soil health in Andisols. The melanic index values suggest that the soil is fulvic Andisols with low degree of humification, indicating that the no-till with rye system can enhance SOC and soil health.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Theresa M. Reif, Sabine Zikeli, Ann-Marleen Rieps, Carina P. Lang, Jens Hartung, Sabine Gruber
Summary: The cultivation of lentils saw a revival in Southwest Germany in the first decade of the millennium, despite almost losing the knowledge of cultivation techniques. Farmers in the region are motivated to grow lentils by observing good examples from their colleagues and by the desire to promote the ecological and social benefits of lentils.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Qiliang Huang, Yingting Gong, Ratih Kemala Dewi, Peiran Li, Xiaolong Wang, Rahmatullah Hashimi, Masakazu Komatsuzaki
Summary: No-tillage combined with a rye cover crop has the potential to contribute to environmental conservation in organic agriculture by reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint. Although no-tillage may result in decreased yield, the use of a rye cover crop can mitigate the yield reduction. The no-tillage system with a rye cover crop has the potential to be an environmentally friendly and sustainable cropping system with high yield, energy efficiency, and low carbon footprint.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Review
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Pietro Barbieri, Thomas Starck, Anne-Sophie Voisin, Thomas Nesme
Summary: Organic agriculture is recognized as a strategy to reduce environmental impacts while achieving global climate and biodiversity targets. However, recent studies have shown strong nitrogen limitation in many organic cropping systems. This study aims to provide a systematic estimate of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) operated by legume crops under organic management and how it varies with crop species and cropping practices.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Naser Valizadeh, Kaveh Sadeghi Shahrnoy, Masoud Bijani, Dariush Hayati, Zeynab Hallaj, Hossein Azadi
Summary: The purpose of this study was to explore the willingness of farmers to participate in the management and conservation of wetlands in Iran and introduce social identity models of collective action into the discourse of sustainable wetland management. The study found a strong correlation between farmers' willingness to participate in wetland management and conservation and their social identity beliefs.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Economics & Policy
Charles Rees, Christian Grovermann, Robert Finger
Summary: The expansion of organic agriculture plays a critical role in sustainable food systems. The European Union has been leading efforts to increase organic farming and has set a target of 25% organic farmland by 2030. This study evaluates the effectiveness of organic action plans in four different countries and finds that the plans in France and Sweden have positive effects on organic farmland area, while the plans in Czech Republic and Austria are ineffective. While organic action plans are useful in setting agendas, caution is needed in relying on them for consistent results.
Article
Agronomy
Simone Severini, Maurizia Castellari, Daniele Cavalli, Luciano Pecetti
Summary: The study assessed the profitability and riskiness of terminated cover crop techniques in organic agriculture compared to traditional inter-row tillage for weed control. While overall cover crops were found to be less sustainable economically, exceptions such as hairy vetch showing higher profitability and lower riskiness were observed and warrant further research.
Article
Agronomy
L. T. T. Nguyen, A. N. Kravchenko
Summary: Agriculture contributes to about 10% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the US, with CO2 and N2O being significant contributors to global warming. Organic farming, particularly the use of cover crops, can help mitigate these emissions. Different cover crop systems and plant residue sizes can impact soil CO2 and N2O fluxes, with soil temperature, moisture, and aboveground biomass also playing important roles in these emissions.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Nicholas Mawira Gitonga, Ezekiel Mugendi Njeru, Richard Cheruiyot, John M. Maingi
Summary: Organic farming systems promote the proliferation of rhizobial species, contributing to enhanced soybean production, while showing high levels of diversity in both morphological and genetic characteristics.
FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Krista M. Milich, Kayce Sorbello, Lev Kolinski, Richard Busobozi, Moses Kugonza
Summary: Negative interactions between humans and wildlife pose a major threat to biodiversity conservation, causing food insecurity and economic instability for subsistence farmers. A Participatory Action Research approach was used to collaboratively address these issues, implementing land-use changes to reduce crop damage and improve conservation efforts in the community. Compliance with these changes significantly reduced instances of crop damage, indicating the effectiveness of sustainable interventions in improving human-wildlife interactions.
CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Anastasia V. Vasilchenko, Alexey S. Vasilchenko
Summary: Plaggic Anthrosol, artificially created fertile soils, serve as an archive chronicling the paleoecological and paleogeographical history of mankind. They have been discovered in Western Europe and North Asia, and are similar to Terric Anthrosols found in southwestern Pacific and South America. This article discusses the geographical distribution, genesis, key properties, and carbon stabilization mechanisms of Plaggic Anthrosol, emphasizing their potential for sustainable carbon sequestration and soil fertility enhancement.
Article
Nursing
Sandra Cabrera Jaime, Cristina Martinez, Veronica Gonzalo Bachiller, Nuria Zarza Arnau, Luis Martin Maldonado, Ana Belen Manrique Palles, Inmaculada Artiga Sarrion, Noelia Tierno Sanchez, Joaquim Julia Torras, Juan Manuel Sancho, Laura Cabrera Jaime
Summary: The aim of this study was to design and implement a plan to improve the sleep quality of oncohaematological patients. The study found that more than half of the patients experienced sleep disturbances during their hospitalization, which negatively impacted their health outcomes and satisfaction. The improvement plan identified four domains for work, ten areas for improvement, and thirty-five actions for implementation.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Satya Narayan Meena, Shanti Kumar Sharma, Pratap Singh, Asha Ram, Bharat Prakash Meena, Devendra Jain, Deepak Singh, Sovan Debnath, Suman Yadav, Uditi Dhakad, Preeti Verma, Jitendra Kumar Meena, Surya Nandan
Summary: Comprehensive knowledge of soil fertility status and its variability is crucial for achieving higher crop production in a soybean-wheat cropping system. Different crop management practices were investigated in a field study, with conservation tillage and organic nutrient management showing significant improvements in soil fertility. Particularly, conservation tillage with chemical nutrient management resulted in higher system productivity compared to other treatments. These findings are important for improving the productivity and sustainability of soybean-wheat cropping systems in arid to semiarid regions.
FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Celina Schelle, Benno Pokorny
Summary: The study found that sustainability standards may impede small-scale farmers' participation in agribusiness, with the implementation of organic certification being the primary reason for exclusion. Companies, clients, and certifiers should be aware of this issue and work together to find appropriate measures to overcome this challenge.
Article
Agronomy
Inka Notz, Cairistiona F. E. Topp, Johannes Schuler, Sheila Alves, Leonardo Amthauer Gallardo, Jens Dauber, Thorsten Haase, Paul R. Hargreaves, Michael Hennessy, Anelia Iantcheva, Philippe Jeanneret, Sonja Kay, Juergen Recknagel, Leopold Rittler, Marjana Vasiljevic, Christine A. Watson, Moritz Reckling
Summary: Legume-supported cropping systems have the potential to increase protein self-sufficiency and reduce environmental impacts in European agriculture. Using the DEED framework, we collaborated with scientists and advisors in 17 study areas to describe, explain, explore, and redesign cropping systems. The results showed that legume integration reduced N fertilizer use and nitrous oxide emissions, decreased nitrate leaching, and increased protein yield per hectare. However, energy yields were lower in legume-supported systems, and economic criteria were identified as important for feasibility and adaptation. Overall, the close stakeholder interactions and large-scale application of the DEED framework demonstrated the benefits of redesigning legume-supported cropping systems in Europe.
AGRONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Hend Mandour, Hamid Khazaei, Frederick L. Stoddard, Ian C. Dodd
Summary: This study provides insights into the physiological and genetic control of transpiration in faba bean, and identifies opportunities for marker-assisted selection to improve its performance in water-limited environments.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Van Hung Do, Nguyen La, Goran Bergkvist, A. Sigrun Dahlin, Rachmat Mulia, Van Thach Nguyen, Ingrid Oborn
Summary: In hilly areas, agroforestry is a sustainable alternative to sole-cropping for food production. This study evaluated the formation of terraces in agroforestry and their role in reducing soil and nutrient losses. The results showed that terraces formed gradually through sediment deposition above grass strips and trees, leading to significant reductions in soil, carbon, and nutrient losses.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Murukarthick Jayakodi, Agnieszka A. Golicz, Jonathan Kreplak, Lavinia Fechete, Deepti Angra, Petr Bednar, Elesandro Bornhofen, Hailin Zhang, Raphael Boussageon, Sukhjiwan Kaur, Kwok Cheung, Jana Cizkova, Heidrun Gundlach, Asis Hallab, Baptiste Imbert, Gabriel Keeble-Gagnere, Andrea Koblizkova, Lucie Kobrlova, Petra Krejci, Troels W. Mouritzen, Pavel Neumann, Marcin Nadzieja, Linda Kaergaard Nielsen, Petr Novak, Jihad Orabi, Sudharsan Padmarasu, Tom Robertson-Shersby-Harvie, Laura Avila Robledillo, Andrea Schiemann, Jaakko Tanskanen, Petri Toronen, Ahmed O. Warsame, Alexander H. J. Wittenberg, Axel Himmelbach, Gregoire Aubert, Pierre-Emmanuel Courty, Jaroslav Dolezel, Liisa U. Holm, Luc L. Janss, Hamid Khazaei, Jiri Macas, Martin Mascher, Petr Smykal, Rod J. Snowdon, Nils Stein, Frederick L. Stoddard, Jens Stougaard, Nadim Tayeh, Ana M. Torres, Bjorn Usadel, Ingo Schubert, Donal Martin O'Sullivan, Alan H. Schulman, Stig Uggerhoj Andersen
Summary: Increasing the proportion of locally produced plant protein in diets could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and loss of biodiversity. However, plant protein production is hindered by the lack of a cool-season legume equivalent to soybean. This study presents a high-quality genome assembly of faba bean and demonstrates its potential for sustainable protein production.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Georgia M. Daykin, Marcelo A. Aizen, Luke G. Barrett, Lewis J. Bartlett, Peter Batary, Lucas A. Garibaldi, Ali Guncan, Sridhar Gutam, Bea Maas, Jayalakshmi Mitnala, Flavia Montano-Centellas, Tarirai Muoni, Erik Ockinger, Ode Okechalu, Richard Ostler, Simon G. Potts, David C. Rose, Cairistiona F. E. Topp, Hope O. Usieta, Obaiya G. Utoblo, Christine Watson, Yi Zou, William J. Sutherland, Amelia S. C. Hood
Summary: Many publications lack sufficient background information, hindering scientific progress and the application of science to practice. Reporting guidelines, such as checklists, can improve reporting standards. This study develops a reporting checklist (AgroEcoList 1.0) for ecological and agricultural research through a community-centred approach. The checklist is well-received by the agroecological community, indicating the need for improved reporting standards in these fields. AgroEcoList 1.0 consists of 42 variables and can serve as a guide to enhance reporting standards.
Article
Plant Sciences
Elina Brauna-Morzevska, Frederick L. Stoddard, Biruta Bankina, Janis Kaneps, Gunita Bimsteine, Irina Petrova, Ingrida Neusa-Luca, Ance Roga, Davids Fridmanis
Summary: Fungi of genus Botrytis are important pathogens causing gray mold and chocolate spot diseases in legumes. Molecular methods have led to the discovery of new species and associations of Botrytis with diseases. This study aimed to identify Botrytis species from legume crops and evaluate their pathogenicity in vitro.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Moritz Reckling, Christine A. Watson, Anthony Whitbread, Katharina Helming
Summary: This virtual issue consists of papers exploring diversification for sustainable solutions in cropping, grassland, and food systems at various scales. Authors examine processes in landscape-scale case studies where the complex trade-offs between social and environmental objectives are most evident. Contributions from different continents highlight regional specificities related to diversification, blending both natural and social sciences and employing interdisciplinary approaches such as knowledge synthesis, empirical experiments, and case study assessments with interviews. Key findings emphasize the negative impact of agricultural intensification, emphasizing the need for diversification of cropping systems and landscapes to achieve sustainable transformation.
AGRONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Rafaelle Reumaux, Pierre Chopin, Goran Bergkvist, Christine A. Watson, Ingrid Oborn
Summary: A study in Sweden analyzed crop diversity and patterns in organic and conventional farming systems using large-scale field data. The results showed that organic farms had higher crop diversity, and the pre-crop type to winter wheat and spring barley varied between organic and conventional systems. This information can be used to optimize crop diversity and pre-crop effects for more resource-efficient crop production.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Johan Nilsson, Fatima F. El Khosht, Goran Bergkvist, Ingrid Oborn, Pernilla Tidaker
Summary: Modern agriculture's heavy reliance on chemical inputs has led to high environmental impacts and potential vulnerability in food security. Diversifying crop rotations to include perennial leys can enhance ecosystem services and increase yields, while also mitigating global warming. However, there is a lack of long-term studies on the effects of short-term perennial leys under different conditions. This study used data from a long-term experiment in Sweden to assess the environmental and yield effects of including ley in crop rotations. The results showed that rotations with two-year mixed ley under low nitrogen regime had the lowest environmental impact, primarily due to reduced chemical fertiliser input.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Rose Boyko, Graeme Paton, Robin Walker, Christine Watson, Gareth Norton
Summary: This study compares different methods of determining liming requirement (LR) and identifies the soil characteristics that contribute to LR reactions. It finds that the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) lookup chart and RothLime model underestimate LR in acidic soils, while the buffers over or underestimate LR. By including exchangeability factors in lime management calculations, LR accuracy can be improved for better resource management and yield optimization.
JOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ashley B. Ward, Patricia A. Harris, Caroline McG. Argo, Christine A. Watson, Neil M. Burns, Madalina Neacsu, Wendy R. Russell, Dai Grove-White, Philippa K. Morrison
Summary: Native ponies are prone to obesity and metabolic disorders, but appropriate management practices can help maintain their health. The likelihood of adopting preventative weight management approaches is influenced by owners' experience, confidence, and the types of diseases they have managed.
Article
Soil Science
Matias Fernandez-Huarte, John G. Elphinstone, Ian P. Adams, Joana G. Vicente, Anne Bhogal, Christine A. Watson, Francois Dussart, Elizabeth A. Stockdale, John Walshaw, Sam McGreig, Robert W. Simmons, Lucie Maskova, Lynda K. Deeks, Matthew R. Goddard
Summary: There is still a significant gap in our understanding of sustainable management of agricultural soils to preserve soil biodiversity. In this study, we evaluated the effects of agricultural management and location on soil microbiology using nine field trials in the United Kingdom. Our analysis revealed that the impact of different management interventions varied greatly across sites, and that location had an equal or greater effect on soil bacterial and fungal diversity compared to most management interventions. These findings suggest that the effect of management on soil biodiversity may depend on location, making it unreliable to generalize findings from trials conducted at only one location.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Aled Jones, Sarah Bridle, Katherine Denby, Riaz Bhunnoo, Daniel Morton, Lucy Stanbrough, Barnaby Coupe, Vanessa Pilley, Tim Benton, Pete Falloon, Tom K. Matthews, Saher Hasnain, John S. Heslop-Harrison, Simon Beard, Julie Pierce, Jules Pretty, Monika Zurek, Alexandra Johnstone, Pete Smith, Neil Gunn, Molly Watson, Edward Pope, Asaf Tzachor, Caitlin Douglas, Christian Reynolds, Neil Ward, Jez Fredenburgh, Clare Pettinger, Tom Quested, Juan Pablo Cordero, Clive Mitchell, Carrie Bewick, Cameron Brown, Christopher Brown, Paul J. Burgess, Andy Challinor, Andrew Cottrell, Thomas Crocker, Thomas George, Charles J. Godfray, Rosie S. Hails, John Ingram, Tim Lang, Fergus Lyon, Simon Lusher, Tom Macmillan, Sue Newton, Simon Pearson, Sue Pritchard, Dale Sanders, Angelina Sanderson Bellamy, Megan Steven, Alastair Trickett, Andrew Voysey, Christine Watson, Darren Whitby, Kerry Whiteside, Michael S. Carolan
Summary: This study reports the most likely routes to civil unrest in the UK through a structured expert elicitation. Experts identified food distribution problems as the most likely scenario for unrest within the next 10 years, while a lack of total food in the UK was considered the most probable scenario over a 50-year timeframe.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ashley B. Ward, Patricia A. Harris, Caroline McG. Argo, Christine Watson, Madalina Neacsu, Wendy R. Russell, Antonio Ribeiro, Elaina Collie-Duguid, Zeynab Heidari, Philippa K. Morrison
Summary: This study investigates the impact of different preservation treatments on the bacterial community in equine faecal samples. The results show that NAP buffer is effective in preserving the prominent features of the bacterial community for up to 150 hours at room temperature, while processing with FTA cards is inadequate. Cold preservation, CLX, and NAP treatments are equally effective for preserving the bacterial community in equine faecal samples for up to 24 hours. These findings are important for sample preservation in horse-related research.
Article
Agronomy
Ferdaous Rezgui, Adolfo Rosati, Fatima Lambarraa-Lehnhardt, Carsten Paul, Moritz Reckling
Summary: The intensification of Mediterranean farming systems has had negative impacts on the environment, but agroforestry systems can address these issues. This study developed a practical methodology to assess the sustainability of Mediterranean agroforestry systems and found that they provide agro-environmental benefits and economic profitability, although they also require increased workload.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY
(2024)
Article
Agronomy
Xiaofei Wang, Jiawei Zhang, Xiaoqin Wang, Yibo Hu, Xiaolong Ren, Zhikuan Jia, Tiening Liu, Zhenlin Wang, Tie Cai
Summary: Film mulching ridge-furrow planting (RF) is an important dry farming mode for wheat, but it often causes lodging due to lignin accumulation in the stems. This study investigated the effects of regulating the population distribution on lodging occurrence in wheat and found that adjusting the population distribution can improve lodging resistance by enhancing the mechanical properties of the stems and promoting lignin synthesis and accumulation. The light environment plays a crucial role in lignin biosynthesis and lodging resistance.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY
(2024)
Article
Agronomy
Wei Wang, Jian-Hua Zhao, Meng-Ying Li, Wei Zhang, Muhammad Maqsood Ur Rehman, Bao-Zhong Wang, Fazal Ullah, Zheng-Guo Cheng, Li Zhu, Jin-Lin Zhang, Hong-Yan Tao, Wen-Ying Wang, You-Cai Xiong
Summary: This study investigated the physiological mechanism of yield loss in intercropped inferior species and found that plastic film mulching can alleviate water competition between maize and faba bean, reducing kernel abortion in maize.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY
(2024)
Article
Agronomy
Michael Merkle, Matthias Schumacher, Roland Gerhards
Summary: This study conducted a field experiment to test different methods and species of cover crops. The results showed that early establishment of cover crops, specifically direct sowing or sowing 10 days before harvest, had a positive impact on biomass formation and weed suppression. The performance of cover crops varied depending on the species, sowing date, and weather conditions, but a diverse cover crop mixture showed more stable performance under variable weather conditions.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY
(2024)
Article
Agronomy
Dereje Ademe, Kindie Tesfaye, Belay Simane, Benjamin F. Zaitchik, Getachew Alemayehu, Enyew Adgo
Summary: This study used simulation experiments to evaluate the effects of planting time, nitrogen rate, and crop variety choice on potato productivity in Ethiopia. The results showed that shifting planting time forward and changing the nitrogen application rate had greater productivity benefits than switching varieties. In the mid-century climate period, early planting of medium and long maturity varieties with higher nitrogen rates showed potential adaptation benefits.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY
(2024)
Article
Agronomy
Wenlong Li, Xiaobo Gu, Heng Fang, Tongtong Zhao, Rui Yin, Zhikai Cheng, Chuandong Tan, Zhihui Zhou, Yadan Du
Summary: This study aims to establish critical nitrogen dilution curves (CNDC) for maize and diagnose the nitrogen status under different mulching planting patterns. The results showed no significant differences in CNDC and its estimated parameters across years and mulching planting patterns, suggesting the establishment of a universal CNDC model for maize nitrogen diagnosis.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY
(2024)
Article
Agronomy
Guillermo A. A. Dosio, Pablo Cicore, Roberto Rizzalli
Summary: This study demonstrates through field experiments that reducing sink demand during the grain filling period in maize accelerates leaf senescence, particularly at specific phenological stages. The results also suggest that protecting grains can prevent yield reduction.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY
(2024)
Article
Agronomy
Xuan Wei, Yongjie Liu, Qiming Song, Jinping Zou, Zhiqiang Wen, Jiayu Li, Dengfei Jie
Summary: This study successfully established a model for detecting the spores of Agaricus bisporus disease using hyperspectral imaging and deep learning methods, providing a new approach for early prevention and detection of the disease.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY
(2024)
Article
Agronomy
Ferdaous Rezgui, Adolfo Rosati, Fatima Lambarraa-Lehnhardt, Carsten Paul, Moritz Reckling
Summary: The intensification of Mediterranean farming systems has had negative impacts on the environment, but agroforestry systems can address these issues. This study developed a practical methodology to assess the sustainability of Mediterranean agroforestry systems and found that they provide agro-environmental benefits and economic profitability, although they also require increased workload.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY
(2024)