Article
Environmental Sciences
Juha Heiskanen, Hanna Ruhanen, Lasse Aro, Pasi Rautio
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of several industrial and farming sidestream materials as top-dressing on the growth of downy birch and Scots pine seedlings in natural sphagnum peat soil. The results suggest that these sidestream materials have the potential to serve as soil ameliorants on forested peatlands.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Muhammad Talha Bin Yousaf, Muhammad Farrakh Nawaz, Ghulam Yasin, Irfan Ahmad, Sadaf Gul, Muhammad Ijaz, Muhammad Zia-ur-Rehman, Xuebin Qi, Shafeeq Ur Rahman
Summary: This study investigated the effects of organic amendments on the growth of Vachellia nilotica and Dalbergia sissoo in saline soils. The results showed that both tree species responded positively to different organic amendments. The use of farmyard manure and farmyard manure biochar significantly increased the growth of V. nilotica and D. sissoo. The findings suggest that these high-value tree species can be included in afforestation programs in saline conditions.
Article
Economics
Kartik Yadav, Aditya Vikram Yadav
Summary: By shifting areas under crop cultivation to mixed variety afforestation, developing countries like India can achieve significant increase in afforestation and carbon sequestration to address ecological challenges caused by population growth and urbanization.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2023)
Review
Environmental Studies
Sally Westaway, Ian Grange, Jo Smith, Laurence G. Smith
Summary: The UK government has committed to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and plans to plant nearly a million hectares of new woodland by then. This raises a potential conflict between land for food production and land for carbon sequestration. However, integrating trees and woodlands into farming systems can help farmers adapt to climate change and be more resilient.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Nuria Ferreiro-Dominguez, Francisco Javier Rodriguez-Rigueiro, Antonio Rigueiro-Rodriguez, Maria Pilar Gonzalez-Hernandez, Maria Rosa Mosquera-Losada
Summary: Silvopastoral systems are crucial for climate change mitigation due to their impact on soil carbon sequestration. This study in northwest Spain evaluated the soil chemical properties and tree growth in a Pinus radiata silvopastoral system. Results showed that fertilization initially increased soil pH and carbon, but did not compensate for cations extraction over time. It is suggested to apply amendments in the middle years of the plantation and manage tree competition to enhance carbon incorporation.
Article
Microbiology
Weiyu Chen, Tengfei Yu, Chenguang Zhao, Baofeng Li, Yanyan Qin, Huiying Li, Haojie Tang, Junliang Liu, Xiaoyou Zhang
Summary: Using the method of space-for-time substitutions, the study evaluated the development and determinants of topsoil bacterial and fungal communities over nearly 40 years of afforestation by aerial sowing in Tengger Desert, China. The results showed that afforestation had significant effects on the bacterial community, but less impact on the fungal community. Soil physicochemical properties had divergent effects on the abundance and diversity of bacterial and fungal communities.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Juhi Gupta, Moni Kumari, Arti Mishra, Swati, Mohd Akram, Indu Shekhar Thakur
Summary: Agroforestry waste not only produces a significant amount of residues and products, but also holds important implications for the economy and environment. Effective management of waste collection, transportation, and recycle or valorization is key to maintaining a circular sustainable bioeconomy, requiring the employment of appropriate pretreatment technologies. Additionally, the introduction of appropriate policies and global initiatives are crucial in addressing the challenges faced by the agroforestry sectors.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Antonio Pulina, Victor Rolo, Ana Hernandez-Esteban, Giovanna Seddaiu, Pier Paolo Roggero, Gerardo Moreno
Summary: The oversowing of legume-rich mixtures is an important management practice in Mediterranean silvo-pastoral farms, which enhances forage production, quality, and ecosystem service provision. However, it can be expensive due to high costs and low persistence. This study assessed the long-term impacts of legume-rich mixtures oversowing on pasture production using remote sensing. The results showed that oversowing significantly improved biomass production and stability. Remote sensing using Landsat images proved to be an effective tool for assessing grassland management practices in silvopastoral systems.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Yury G. Chendev, Anthony R. Lupo, Edgar A. Terekhin, Maria A. Smirnova, Aleksandr N. Gennadiev, Anastasia G. Narozhnyaya, Maria G. Lebedeva, Valery G. Belevantsev
Summary: This article presents the results of a spatiotemporal dynamic analysis conducted in the forest vegetation areas of the Central Russian Upland. The study reveals that the forest cover in the region has increased from 14% to 24% over the period of 50 years. The planting and expansion of shelterbelts are identified as the main contributors to this expansion. However, the study also highlights the degradation of forests in certain areas. Additionally, the impact of shelterbelts on soil properties and soil cover is examined.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Weiyu Chen, Tengfei Yu, Tuo Han, Chenguang Zhao, Huiying Li, Xuejuan Liu, Junliang Liu, Xiaoyou Zhang
Summary: Nowadays, afforestation by tree planting is a highly effective measure to combat desertification and restore degraded land. However, the effects of large-scale afforestation by aerial sowing on soil physicochemical properties have been rarely studied.
JOURNAL OF SOILS AND SEDIMENTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Santa Neimane, Santa Celma, Austra Zusevica, Dagnij A. Lazdina, Gederts Ievinsh
Summary: The study found that wood ash fertilizer had different effects on different tree species, with Alnus glutinosa being the least affected, and Populus v. Vesten and Betula pendula benefiting from wood ash fertilization. While significant differences were detected between fertilized and unfertilized plots in most cases, the effects of increasing wood ash doses were rarely observed. Due to the lack of significant benefits and environmental concerns, the lowest wood ash dose is recommended.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Qiaoqiao Zhou, Zhenyu Liu, Ta Yeong Wu, Lian Zhang
Summary: This paper reviews the state-of-the-art advances of furfural production from biomass, focusing on C6 sugars and the emerging pyrolysis method. The conversion of C6 to furfural has not been successful, while C5 sugars have been the primary target. The effects of operating conditions, catalysts, and reaction pathways were extensively reviewed. Future perspectives include unlocking C6 sugars, advancing pyrolysis technology, and synthesizing advanced solid acid catalysts.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Muhammad Talha Bin Yousaf, Muhammad Farrakh Nawaz, Muhammad Zia ur Rehman, Sadaf Gul, Ghulam Yasin, Muhammad Rizwan, Shafaqat Ali
Summary: Biochar may be a potential source for soil amelioration in salt-affected soils, with farmyard manure biochar being the most efficient treatment among the three types studied. Different types of biochar had varying effects on plant growth, with sugarcane bagasse biochar showing better results for certain tree species compared to woodchips biochar. The use of biochar improved physicochemical characteristics of saline soils and promoted plant growth in this study.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOREMEDIATION
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Iris Vogeler, Johannes L. Jensen, Ingrid Kaag Thomsen, Rodrigo Labouriau, Elly Moller Hansen
Summary: The study found that early sowing and catch crop planting are effective mitigation options for reducing nitrogen leaching in intensively managed agricultural land.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Muhammad Talha Bin Yousaf, Muhammad Farrakh Nawaz, Sadaf Gul, Irfan Ahmed, Muhammad Rizwan, Ghulam Yasin, Taimoor Hassan Farooq
Summary: Salinity is a global issue and afforestation of degraded soils is a sustainable approach to combat salt toxicity. Organic soil amendments have been reported to enhance the yield of cultivated crops under local climatic conditions, but their effects and efficiency on tree establishment in saline soils need further research. This study investigated the transferability of different organic amendments on tree establishment in salt affected soils, with promising results for biochar treatments in future afforestation programs.
FRESENIUS ENVIRONMENTAL BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
J. J. Santiago-Freijanes, M. R. Mosquera-Losada, M. Rois-Diaz, N. Ferreiro-Dominguez, A. Pantera, J. A. Aldrey, A. Rigueiro-Rodriguez
Summary: Agroforestry is a sustainable land management system that has been globally promoted, but faces challenges in policy implementation and practice in Europe.
AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Francisco Javier Rodriguez-Rigueiro, Jose Javier Santiago-Freijanes, Maria Rosa Mosquera-Losada, Marina Castro, Pablo Silva-Losada, Andrea Pisanelli, Anastasia Pantera, Antonio Rigueiro-Rodriguez, Nuria Ferreiro-Dominguez
Summary: Silvopasture, integrating trees with grazed pastures, is crucial for sustainable livestock farming. Although not widely used in Europe, policy measures are adapted to local needs, supporting existing agroforestry systems and focusing on forest fire prevention in areas without agroforestry practices.
Editorial Material
Agronomy
A. Pantera, M. R. Mosquera-Losada, F. Herzog, M. den Herder
Summary: Agroforestry, as a traditional land use system, integrates woody vegetation with crops and/or animal systems to benefit from ecological and economic interactions. It is seen as a key means for achieving sustainable methods of food and fiber production, providing various ecosystem services and environmental benefits. However, research on the contribution of agroforestry to the environment is still limited.
AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Victor Rolo, Jose V. Roces-Diaz, Mario Torralba, Sonja Kay, Nora Fagerholm, Stephanie Aviron, Paul Burgess, Josep Crous-Duran, Nuria Ferreiro-Dominguez, Anil Graves, Tibor Hartel, Konstantinos Mantzanas, Maria Rosa Mosquera-Losada, Joao H. N. Palma, Anna Sidiropoulou, Erich Szerencsits, Valerie Viaud, Felix Herzog, Tobias Plieninger, Gerardo Moreno
Summary: Rural Europe offers a variety of landscapes with different levels of forest, agriculture, and agroforestry, each providing unique ecosystem services. Forest was found to have a positive relationship with provisioning and regulating ES in landscapes, while agriculture showed negative relationships. The study identified four distinct bundles of ES, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing agroforestry in certain areas.
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
N. Ferreiro-Dominguez, J. H. N. Palma, J. A. Paulo, A. Rigueiro-Rodriguez, M. R. Mosquera-Losada
Summary: The land use sector has a significant impact on climate change, particularly in semi-arid climate areas. This study found that agroforestry systems can improve long-term soil carbon storage and allow for agricultural production compared to traditional forest systems, making them a sustainable land use option in these areas.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Nuria Ferreiro-Dominguez, Francisco Javier Rodriguez-Rigueiro, Antonio Rigueiro-Rodriguez, Maria Pilar Gonzalez-Hernandez, Maria Rosa Mosquera-Losada
Summary: Silvopastoral systems are crucial for climate change mitigation due to their impact on soil carbon sequestration. This study in northwest Spain evaluated the soil chemical properties and tree growth in a Pinus radiata silvopastoral system. Results showed that fertilization initially increased soil pH and carbon, but did not compensate for cations extraction over time. It is suggested to apply amendments in the middle years of the plantation and manage tree competition to enhance carbon incorporation.
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
Environmental Sciences
Andressa Morato Freitas, Vimala D. Nair, Willie G. Harris, Maria Rosa Mosquera-Losada, Nuria Ferreiro-Dominguez
Summary: Biosolids have been used as a soil amendment to promote nutrient recovery, but over application of phosphorus (P) can cause environmental issues. Pyrolysis shows promise in reducing P release from biosolids. The study compared changes caused by pyrolysis and P leaching potentials of biosolids and biochar in different soils. Results suggest using biosolids-biochar mixtures can maintain soil fertility while reducing P loss risk.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Antonio Rigueiro-Rodriguez, Maria Rosa Mosquera-Losada, Nuria Ferreiro-Dominguez
Summary: Short-term productivity in silvopastoral systems can be enhanced through sewage sludge fertilisation, with the key aspects being appropriate doses and timing of application. Evaluating the long-term effects of sewage sludge on soil fertility and heavy metal concentrations is important for sustainable management practices.
AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Nuria Ferreiro-Dominguez, Antonio Rigueiro-Rodriguez, Maria Rosa Mosquera-Losada
Summary: In a silvopastoral system under Pseudotsuga menziesii, the use of pelletised sewage sludge as organic fertilizer was found to enhance zinc levels in soil and pasture, increase pasture production, and not adversely affect tree growth. Regardless of the type of sludge used for fertilization, zinc levels in the soil did not exceed maximum values set by Spanish regulations and had no harmful effects on plants and animals.
AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS
(2021)
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)
