Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Tamara Rischen, Matilda Kaffenberger, Eva Plath, Jessica Wolff, Klaus Fischer
Summary: Arthropod biodiversity in agricultural landscapes is influenced by compositional and configurational heterogeneity. Boundaries as habitats enhance the taxonomic diversity of carabid beetles and spiders, suggesting their value. Increasing configurational heterogeneity seems important for preserving farmland biodiversity.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Zulin Mei, Jeroen Scheper, Riccardo Bommarco, Gerard Arjen de Groot, Michael P. D. Garratt, Katarina Hedlund, Simon G. Potts, Sarah Redlich, Henrik G. Smith, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter, Wim H. van der Putten, Stijn van Gils, David Kleijn
Summary: Reconciling biodiversity conservation with agricultural production requires understanding how carabid beetles and spiders, which provide biocontrol services, respond to agricultural intensification. A survey of 66 winter wheat fields in northwestern Europe found that carabids and spiders were generally related to different aspects of agricultural intensification. Carabids were positively related to crop yield and negatively related to evenness, while spiders were negatively related to percentage cropland. Enhancing one guild may not promote another, and management practices can enhance the overall diversity of a guild.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lanya Feng, Fredrik Arvidsson, Henrik G. Smith, Klaus Birkhofer
Summary: The study found that the age of fallows and the presence of permanent grassland in the surrounding landscape have an impact on the taxonomic and functional diversity of natural enemy communities, with older fallows producing more diverse natural enemy communities.
INSECT CONSERVATION AND DIVERSITY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Franziska Deppe, Klaus Fischer
Summary: Agricultural intensification and expansion are major factors causing the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Landscape-level effects, in addition to on-site management, play a significant role in insect declines.
INSECT CONSERVATION AND DIVERSITY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Francesca Della Rocca, Alfredo Venturo, Pietro Milanesi, Francesco Bracco
Summary: The study found that in the highly cultivated Po Valley in Europe, different types of natural habitats play a crucial role in maintaining high biodiversity, with tree rows serving as corridors for forest carabid dispersion. Despite similar species richness in different habitats, each had a distinct species assemblage.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Lucy Alford, Sacha Roudine, Jean-Sebastien Pierre, Francoise Burel, Joan van Baaren
Summary: This study compared the physiological thermotolerance and behavioral thermoregulation of carabid beetles in different landscape contexts. The results showed that landscape composition influenced the cold tolerance of carabid beetles, but the effect was reduced in larger beetles due to their greater mobility. Burrowing behavior was found to be the main behavioral response to cold stress, significantly raising carabid body temperature.
Article
Agronomy
Ulrich Irmler
Summary: This study found that ground beetle species from marginal areas have a higher abundance and species richness in organic farmed fields compared to conventionally farmed fields. The researchers discovered that these marginal species use the fields differently depending on their seasonal activity, with some species reaching the center of the field and others only reaching a certain distance. Overall, the presence of marginal species contributes to a closer interaction between farmlands and adjacent natural landscapes, as well as higher biological pest control in organic farming.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jens Schirmel, Rebekka Gerlach
Summary: This study investigated the potential of traditional lowland meadow irrigation as a biodiversity-friendly management strategy. The findings showed that irrigation positively influenced the occurrence of species of conservation concern and shaped species-habitat networks and trait composition of carabid beetles.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Jens Schirmel, Stefan Petschner, Verena Roesch, Martin H. Entling
Summary: This study analyzed the effects of organic and conventional viticulture on carabid beetle diversity. The results showed that organic viticulture had a positive impact on carabid diversity in the simple landscape, but not in the complex landscape. The species composition of carabid beetles was also differently influenced by organic management in the two landscapes.
ANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Meina Wang, Zhenrong Yu, Yunhui Liu, Panlong Wu, Jan Christoph Axmacher
Summary: The study found that effective measures to increase the population and diversity of ground-dwelling arthropods in apple orchards include protecting semi-natural habitats, managing local environments properly, and reducing nitrogen fertilizer use. The results of the study demonstrate that the abundance and species composition of carabid beetles and spiders vary depending on different landscape conditions and local management intensities.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Alice Charalabidis, Stephane A. P. Derocles, Diana M. Mosquera-Munoz, Sandrine Petit, Francois-Xavier Dechaume-Moncharmont, David A. Bohan
Summary: Carabids beetles are important biocontrol agents of weeds, but it is difficult to predict their consumption levels and regulation of weed seeds. Olfactory cues from predators or potential competitors can influence the selection and consumption of food resources by foraging individuals. Identifying and understanding the factors that drive the seed foraging behavior of carabid beetles is essential for predicting consumption levels in different carabid communities and improving weed regulation.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Luisa Taranto, Isabel Rodrigues, Sonia A. P. Santos, Maria Villa, Jose Alberto Pereira
Summary: This study evaluated the response of the Coccinellidae community in vineyards to different landscape contexts and found that the presence of seminatural habitat benefits Coccinellidae while habitat fragmentation is detrimental. Some Coccinellidae species may have important roles in pest control in vineyards.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Pablo Cavigliasso, Colin C. Phifer, Jessie L. Knowlton, Julian A. Licata, David J. Flaspohler, Christopher R. Webster, Natacha P. Chacoff
Summary: Landscapes dominated by conventional agriculture have negative consequences for ecosystem regulating services. Floral resource diversity and habitat richness impact the diversity of wild bees. In a semi-arid region of Argentina, pasture/croplands and native espinal savanna have the highest abundance, richness, and diversity of bees. The diversity of floral resources and habitat richness synergistically affect wild bee communities.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jose D. Rivera, Alejandro Espinosa de los Monteros, Pedro Giovani da Silva, Mario E. Favila
Summary: Understanding how human-modified landscapes affect the phylogenetic composition and assembly mechanisms of biological communities is critical for effectively managing and restoring tropical ecosystems. In a protected but highly fragmented tropical landscape, we evaluated how forest coverage loss, fragmentation, and landscape heterogeneity affect the phylogenetic diversity and assembly mechanisms of dung beetles.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Maria M. Makwela, Rob Slotow, Thinandavha C. Munyai
Summary: The sustainability of agroecosystems is at risk due to human disturbance. Carabid beetles have been proposed as indicators for monitoring agricultural management systems, but there is still disagreement about their effectiveness. A systematic review of studies showed that carabid beetles respond differently to different agricultural practices, and more research is needed, particularly in underdeveloped countries.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Nijat Narimanov, Dries Bonte, Martin H. Entling
Summary: The study found that the dispersal behavior of the invasive dwarf spider Mermessus trilobatus is heritable in the parental generation, with offspring of highly dispersive parents showing a higher dispersal propensity. This recessive inheritance may contribute to promoting high dispersal behavior in inbred founder populations at the invasion front.
Article
Ecology
Alfonso Allen-Perkins, Ainhoa Magrach, Matteo Dainese, Lucas A. Garibaldi, David Kleijn, Romina Rader, James R. Reilly, Rachael Winfree, Ola Lundin, Carley M. McGrady, Claire Brittain, David J. Biddinger, Derek R. Artz, Elizabeth Elle, George Hoffman, James D. Ellis, Jaret Daniels, Jason Gibbs, Joshua W. Campbell, Julia Brokaw, Julianna K. Wilson, Keith Mason, Kimiora L. Ward, Knute B. Gundersen, Kyle Bobiwash, Larry Gut, Logan M. Rowe, Natalie K. Boyle, Neal M. Williams, Neelendra K. Joshi, Nikki Rothwell, Robert L. Gillespie, Rufus Isaacs, Shelby J. Fleischer, Stephen S. Peterson, Sujaya Rao, Theresa L. Pitts-Singer, Thijs Fijen, Virginie Boreux, Maj Rundlof, Blandina Felipe Viana, Alexandra-Maria Klein, Henrik G. Smith, Riccardo Bommarco, Luisa G. Carvalheiro, Taylor H. Ricketts, Jaboury Ghazoul, Smitha Krishnan, Faye E. Benjamin, Joao Loureiro, Silvia Castro, Nigel E. Raine, Gerard Arjen de Groot, Finbarr G. Horgan, Juliana Hipolito, Guy Smagghe, Ivan Meeus, Maxime Eeraerts, Simon G. Potts, Claire Kremen, Daniel Garcia, Marcos Minarro, David W. Crowder, Gideon Pisanty, Yael Mandelik, Nicolas J. Vereecken, Nicolas Leclercq, Timothy Weekers, Sandra A. M. Lindstrom, Dara A. Stanley, Carlos Zaragoza-Trello, Charlie C. Nicholson, Jeroen Scheper, Carlos Rad, Evan A. N. Marks, Lucie Mota, Bryan Danforth, Mia Park, Antonio Diego M. Bezerra, Breno M. Freitas, Rachel E. Mallinger, Fabiana Oliveira da Silva, Bryony Willcox, Davi L. Ramos, Felipe D. da Silva e Silva, Amparo Lazaro, David Alomar, Miguel A. Gonzalez-Estevez, Hisatomo Taki, Daniel P. Cariveau, Michael P. D. Garratt, Diego N. Nabaes Jodar, Rebecca I. A. Stewart, Daniel Ariza, Matti Pisman, Elinor M. Lichtenberg, Christof Schueepp, Felix Herzog, Martin H. Entling, Yoko L. Dupont, Charles D. Michener, Gretchen C. Daily, Paul R. Ehrlich, Katherine L. W. Burns, Montserrat Vila, Andrew Robson, Brad Howlett, Leah Blechschmidt, Frank Jauker, Franziska Schwarzbach, Maike Nesper, Tim Diekoetter, Volkmar Wolters, Helena Castro, Hugo Gaspar, Brian A. Nault, Isabelle Badenhausser, Jessica D. Petersen, Teja Tscharntke, Vincent Bretagnolle, D. Susan Willis Chan, Natacha Chacoff, Georg K. S. Andersson, Shalene Jha, Jonathan F. Colville, Ruan Veldtman, Jeferson Coutinho, Felix J. J. A. Bianchi, Louis Sutter, Matthias Albrecht, Philippe Jeanneret, Yi Zou, Anne L. Averill, Agustin Saez, Amber R. Sciligo, Carlos H. Vergara, Elias H. Bloom, Elisabeth Oeller, Ernesto I. Badano, Gregory M. Loeb, Heather Grab, Johan Ekroos, Vesna Gagic, Saul A. Cunningham, Jens Astrom, Pablo Cavigliasso, Alejandro Trillo, Alice Classen, Alice L. Mauchline, Ana Montero-Castano, Andrew Wilby, Ben A. Woodcock, C. Sheena Sidhu, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter, Ioannis N. Vogiatzakis, Jose M. Herrera, Mark Otieno, Mary W. Gikungu, Sarah J. Cusser, Thomas Nauss, Lovisa Nilsson, Jessica Knapp, Jorge J. Ortega-Marcos, Jose A. Gonzalez, Juliet L. Osborne, Rosalind Blanche, Rosalind F. Shaw, Violeta Hevia, Jane Stout, Anthony D. Arthur, Betina Blochtein, Hajnalka Szentgyorgyi, Jin Li, Margaret M. Mayfield, Michal Woyciechowski, Patricia Nunes-Silva, Rosana Halinski de Oliveira, Steve Henry, Benno I. Simmons, Bo Dalsgaard, Katrine Hansen, Tuanjit Sritongchuay, Alison D. O'Reilly, Fermin Jose Chamorro Garcia, Guiomar Nates Parra, Camila Magalhaes Pigozo, Ignasi Bartomeus
Summary: This article introduces CropPol, a dynamic, open, and global database on crop pollination. The database contains records from 202 crop studies, covering 47,752 insect records from 48 commercial crops worldwide. This is the most comprehensive open global dataset on measurements of crop flower visitors, crop pollinators, and pollination to date.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ezequiel Gonzalez, Felix Jan Joost Antoine Bianchi, Philipp W. Eckerter, Verena Pfaff, Sarah Weiler, Martin H. Entling
Summary: The study found that the abundance of pests in wheat fields is closely related to the growth stage of wheat. Some pests have a low abundance in landscapes with high edge density and SNH cover, while the abundance of Sitobion avenae is positively associated with SNH cover. The abundance of insect natural enemies is influenced by flower resources, while the abundance of aphids affects the parasitoids and Nabis sp.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Lolita Ammann, Aliette Bosem-Baillod, Philipp W. Eckerter, Martin H. Entling, Matthias Albrecht, Felix Herzog
Summary: Predatory insects play a crucial role in natural pest control in agriculture, utilizing plant pollen or nectar as supplementary food sources. Land cover maps were effective in predicting predator abundance, particularly showing positive effects of forest edges. However, floral resource maps may not be as effective in predicting predators due to the potential importance of other resources such as overwintering sites or alternative prey. Further research is needed to enhance understanding of resource requirements beyond floral resources for aphid predators at the landscape scale.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Jens Schirmel, Stefan Petschner, Verena Roesch, Martin H. Entling
Summary: This study analyzed the effects of organic and conventional viticulture on carabid beetle diversity. The results showed that organic viticulture had a positive impact on carabid diversity in the simple landscape, but not in the complex landscape. The species composition of carabid beetles was also differently influenced by organic management in the two landscapes.
ANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Verena Gerstle, Alessandro Manfrin, Sara Kolbenschlag, Maximilian Gerken, A. S. M. Mufachcher Ul Islam, Martin H. Entling, Mirco Bundschuh, Carsten A. Bruehl
Summary: This study found that Bti may indirectly affect the abundance of dragonflies by reducing the number of chironomid larvae, and also have an impact on the composition of aquatic macroinvertebrate communities. As dragonflies include species of conservation concern, the necessity of Bti applications in habitats such as floodplains should be carefully evaluated.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Marvin Kaczmarek, Martin H. Entling, Christoph Hoffmann
Summary: Biodiversity loss is a major challenge for agricultural sustainability, driven by local management and landscape simplification. Conservation measures aim to increase organic agriculture, reduce pesticide use, and increase the proportion of semi-natural habitats. It is important to understand the effects of such measures.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tomas Duque, Rufat Nuriyev, Joerg Roembke, Ralf B. Schaefer, Martin H. Entling
Summary: The chemical sensitivity of six earthworm species to imidacloprid and copper was assessed to improve the risk assessment of pesticides on soil macroorganisms. The hazardous concentrations affecting 5% of species were determined, with some pesticide concentrations in European agroecosystems exceeding the values, indicating toxic risks. Additionally, soil pH and earthworm traits were found to have significant relationships with chemical sensitivity.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jan Thiele, Gunda Schulte Auf'm Erley, Michael Glemnitz, Doreen Gabriel
Summary: This study investigated the accuracy of different spatial sampling designs in estimating the abundance and species richness of carabids in agricultural landscapes. Area-proportional stratified random sampling was found to be the most accurate method for estimating abundance, while a sample size of 50 was the best trade-off between accuracy and cost. For species richness assessment, sample size was more important than spatial sampling design.
Article
Agronomy
Jo Marie Reiff, Keerthi Sudarsan, Christoph Hoffmann, Martin H. Entling
Summary: Organic management and cultivating disease-resistant varieties may reduce the impact of pesticides, but in grape cultivation, organic management does not have significant benefits for beneficial arthropods.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sara Kolbenschlag, Eric Bollinger, Verena Gerstle, Carsten A. Bruehl, Martin H. Entling, Ralf Schulz, Mirco Bundschuh
Summary: Emerging aquatic insects that provide high-quality prey are essential for linking aquatic and terrestrial food webs. However, the emergence dynamics of non-biting midges, a major component of aquatic subsidy, were altered by the mosquito control agent Bti. Riparian spiders, which rely on aquatic subsidy, may be affected by changes in prey availability. Through a field study, we found that Bti did not significantly alter the nutritional value of emerged chironomids, but it did impact the diet of riparian spiders. Spiders from Bti-treated areas had a lower trophic position and potentially consumed more terrestrial prey and other aquatic organisms unaffected by Bti, such as Baetidae.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Jo Marie Reiff, Theresa Pennington, Sebastian Kolb, Konrad Theiss, Ekaterina Alakina, Marvin Ehringer, Paul Mason, Rosalie Shrestha, Martin H. Entling, Christoph Hoffmann
Summary: This five-year study examines the effects of fungicide reduction and altered plant architecture on arthropod abundances and natural pest control. The results indicate that reduced fungicide sprayings benefit arthropods, especially predators, leading to enhanced natural pest control. Minimal pruning has a weaker effect, primarily impacting leaf mesofauna, earwigs, and leafhoppers.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Marvin Kaczmarek, Melanie Gillich, Martin H. H. Entling, Christoph Hoffmann, Jens Schirmel
Summary: Our study demonstrates that the cultivation of FRG varieties in organic viticulture benefits certain orthopteran species. Reducing the use of non-specific pesticides such as copper and sulfur is crucial to mitigate negative impacts and promote orthopteran populations in vineyards. Given the significant environmental effects of agriculture, it is important to understand the effects of conservation measures on organisms in order to provide evidence-based and effective implications for conservation.
JOURNAL OF INSECT CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Tomas Duque, Sumaiya Chowdhury, Marco Isaia, Stano Pekar, Kai Riess, Gregor Scherf, Ralf B. Schaefer, Martin H. Entling
Summary: This study highlights the high sensitivity of spiders to lambda-cyhalothrin, which can have unintended negative effects on pest suppression. Sensitivity is strongly related to phylogeny and climate, with spiders from boreal and polar climates being more sensitive. The observed differences in sensitivity between spider families and genera suggest that the functional composition of spider communities would change in areas affected by pesticide pollution. The variation in spider sensitivity emphasizes the need for multispecies investigations in pesticide risk assessment.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maike Huszarik, Alexis P. Roodt, Teagan Wernicke, Fernanda Chavez, Annika Metz, Moritz Link, Eva Lima-Fernandes, Ralf Schulz, Martin H. Entling
Summary: This study reveals the impact of chemical pollutants on the emergence of aquatic insects and the activity and hunting behavior of bats in riparian areas. Streams with higher pollution levels showed higher pesticide toxicity and more frequent detection of wastewater. Although there was no reduction in insect emergence or bat activity and hunting rates, bats in more polluted streams exhibited higher activity and hunting rates.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
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)