Article
Entomology
Elsa Blareau, Pauline Sy, Karim Daoud, Fabrice Requier
Summary: This study in an urban area near Paris found that wild pollinators are able to support strawberry production in an urban agricultural context. Honey bees were not observed visiting the flowers, but fruits were larger when pollinators were able to visit. These results highlight the importance of wild urban pollinators in providing high-quality, local, and sustainable crops in urban areas.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Robert McDougall, Paul Kristiansen, Tanya Latty, Jeremy Jones, Romina Rader
Summary: Pollination in urban food gardens is influenced by complex factors, and the relationship between pollinator visitation and plant reproductive outcomes is not always clear. The total crop yields in urban gardens are strongly influenced by surrounding environmental factors, such as canopy cover and plant diversity, rather than pollination-related metrics.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Fabrizia Ratto, Peter Steward, Steven M. Sait, James Stephen Pryke, Rene Gaigher, Michael J. Samways, William Kunin
Summary: The introduction of enhanced floral resources has a positive impact on apple flower visitors and crop yield in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa, particularly on apple size and economic value. Increased landscape complexity benefits wild bees but not honey bees, while enhancing overall pollinator abundance and honey bee flower visitation in apple orchards.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Christopher McCullough, Heather Grab, Gina Angelella, Sarah Karpanty, Jayesh Samtani, Elissa M. Olimpi, Megan 'Rourke
Summary: Biodiversity-friendly farming practices, such as on-farm wildflower plantings and preserving semi-natural habitat, can support ecosystem services and benefit both biodiversity and crop production. These practices have different effects on regulating services and crop yield at both local and landscape scales.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Alessandra La Notte
Summary: Ecosystem services play a crucial role in agriculture, and it is important to carefully assess their significance. An economic accounting-based assessment is needed to avoid underestimating the role of ecosystem services. This can help us understand how agricultural management practices and environmental changes impact ecological resilience and prevent misconceptions about the importance of ecosystem services in agriculture.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Andres F. Ramirez-Mejia, Silvia Lomascolo, Pedro G. Blendinger
Summary: Wild pollinators contribute to higher yields and larger berries in blueberry crops, and the farm's land cover is related to the abundance of wild pollinators and RPFG. However, these effects are contingent on the blueberry cultivar, highlighting the importance of considering cultivar-specific variation when assessing pollinator benefits.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Ana Carolina Pereira Machado, Gudryan Jackson Baronio, Favizia Freitas de Oliveira, Caroline Tito Garcia, Andre Rodrigo Rech
Summary: The study highlights the importance of maintaining native vegetation in agricultural landscapes for bee distribution and reproduction. While richness and abundance of bee species vary among different seasons and vegetation types, the composition of bee communities is more dependent on seasonality and vegetation types.
JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Mike Image, Emma Gardner, Tom D. Breeze
Summary: Land use policy in England is promoting tree planting on farms, including woodland creation, hedgerow planting, and agroforestry, to meet decarbonisation targets. However, their relative effectiveness in enhancing bumblebee abundance and crop pollination services at a landscape scale has not been studied. This study simulated six tree planting scenarios and found that hedgerow planting and woodland were predicted to have the greatest impact on increasing bumblebee abundance, while silvoarable agroforestry using fruit trees or willow was predicted to have the greatest effect on crop pollination service. The magnitude of increase varied, but hedgerow creation provided a more consistent increase in crop pollination services compared to other approaches.
Article
Environmental Studies
Mike Image, Emma Gardner, Tom D. Breeze
Summary: Land use policy in England encourages tree planting on farms to meet decarbonisation targets. Different approaches, such as woodland creation, hedgerow planting, or agroforestry, can provide co-benefits for wild bee populations and crop pollination services. However, their relative effectiveness at a landscape scale has not been studied.
Article
Plant Sciences
Alef Iury Siqueira Ferreira, Dia Felix Felipe da Silva, Fernanda Neiva Mesquita, Thierson Couto Rosa, Victor Hugo Monzon, Jose Neiva Mesquita-Neto
Summary: Bees capable of buzz-pollination are effective pollinators of blueberries, but the identification of efficient pollinators is challenging. Traditional taxonomy methods rely on experts and microscopic characteristics, which is difficult due to the large number of species. To overcome this, we used Deep Learning algorithms and Convolutional Neural Networks to automatically identify blueberry pollinating bee species based on their buzzing sounds.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Agustin Saez, Lucas A. Garibaldi, Marcelo A. Aizen, Carolina L. Morales, Anna Traveset, Grecia S. de Groot, Reto Schmucki
Summary: Phenological overlap between crop flowering and pollinators significantly affects pollination and fruit production, highlighting the importance of considering the seasonal aspect of plant-pollinator mutualism in crop management.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Philipp W. Eckerter, Matthias Albrecht, Colette Bertrand, Erika Gobet, Felix Herzog, Sonja C. Pfister, Willy Tinner, Martin H. Entling
Summary: Flowering plants can enhance wild insect populations and their pollination services to crops. The availability of floral resources and land cover maps both have an impact on crop pollination success, with land cover maps playing a more significant role. Factors such as habitat disturbance and nesting sites also contribute to pollination. Increasing non-crop woody plants in agricultural landscapes can ensure higher levels of crop pollination by wild pollinators.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Tohar Roth, Moshe Coll, Yael Mandelik
Summary: Uncultivated habitat patches in agricultural landscapes play a crucial role in supporting communities of ecosystem service providers, specifically wild bees. However, little is known about the differences among various types of uncultivated habitat patches in terms of resource provision and population maintenance of these beneficial organisms. Our study in Mediterranean agricultural landscapes revealed that both local and landscape factors influenced the diversity, functional composition, and availability of forage and nesting resources for bees. The different types of uncultivated habitats maintained complementary bee and flower communities, and were essential for supporting wild bee communities and crop pollination services.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Fei Jiang, Patrick J. Drohan, Raj Cibin, Heather E. Preisendanz, Charles M. White, Tamie L. Veith
Summary: Meeting the challenge of balancing food production needs with water quality maintenance is crucial in watersheds globally. By exploring a soil-based land use framework, the EU has shown potential for economic and environmental targets. Through redistribution of crop rotations, significant water quality improvements were achieved in a sub-watershed of the Chesapeake Bay without the need for additional practices.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Benito Cortes-Rivas, Cecilia Smith-Ramirez, Victor Hugo Monzon, Jose Neiva Mesquita-Neto
Summary: Chile is the most important global producer of fresh blueberries during wintertime in the Northern Hemisphere. Some native bee species in Chile, especially those with sonication behavior like Cadeguala occidentalis, can provide efficient pollination service to highbush blueberry crops.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Denise Castle, Abdulrahim T. Alkassab, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter, Jens Pistorius
Summary: The response of bee species to various stressors depends on diet. Bees fed with balanced and species-dependent nutrition showed reduced sensitivity to agrochemicals. Prochloraz reduced the survival of A. mellifera and O. bicornis fed with pollen, while Chlorantraniliprole impaired the survival of A. mellifera fed with sugar or pollen diet. The mixture of these chemicals affected the survival of both A. mellifera and O. bicornis with every diet, but only affected B. terrestris when fed with sugar diet.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Gaetane Le Provost, Noelle Schenk, Caterina Penone, Jan Thiele, Catrin Westphal, Eric Allan, Manfred Ayasse, Nico Bluthgen, Runa S. Boeddinghaus, Andrea Larissa Boesing, Ralph Bolliger, Verena Busch, Markus Fischer, Martin M. Gossner, Norbert Hoelzel, Kirsten Jung, Ellen Kandeler, Valentin H. Klaus, Till Kleinebecker, Sophia Leimer, Sven Marhan, Kathryn Morris, Sandra Mueller, Felix Neff, Margot Neyret, Yvonne Oelmann, David J. Perovic, Sophie Peter, Daniel Prati, Matthias C. Rillig, Hugo Saiz, Deborah Schaefer, Michael Scherer-Lorenzen, Michael Schloter, Ingo Schoening, Marion Schrumpf, Juliane Steckel, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter, Marco Tschapka, Juliane Vogt, Christiane Weiner, Wolfgang Weisser, Konstans Wells, Michael Werner, Wolfgang Wilcke, Peter Manning
Summary: This study examines the impact of biodiversity on the supply of ecosystem services in European agricultural grasslands. The results show that plant diversity at both plot-level and surrounding areas plays a significant role in the provision of cultural and aboveground regulating services. In contrast, provisioning and belowground regulating services are more influenced by field-level management and abiotic factors. The findings also highlight the positive influence of biodiversity on different stakeholder groups.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Carolina Ocampo-Ariza, Manuel Toledo-Hernandez, Felipe Libran-Embid, Dolors Armenteras, Justine Vansynghel, Estelle Raveloaritiana, Isabelle Arimond, Andres Angulo-Rubiano, Teja Tscharntke, Valeria Ramirez-Castaneda, Annemarie Wurz, Gabriel Marcacci, Mina Anders, J. Nicolas Urbina-Cardona, Asha de Vos, Soubadra Devy, Catrin Westphal, Anne Toomey, Yolanda Sheherazade, Yolanda Chirango, Bea Maas
Summary: Strengthening the participation of Global South researchers in tropical ecology and conservation is a target of the scientific community. Ten key actions are proposed to foster equitable international collaborations in tropical ecology, considering the unique challenges and contexts of the Global South.
PERSPECTIVES IN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Margot Neyret, Sophie Peter, Gaetane Le Provost, Steffen Boch, Andrea Larissa Boesing, James M. Bullock, Norbert Hoelzel, Valentin H. Klaus, Till Kleinebecker, Jochen Krauss, Joerg Mueller, Sandra Mueller, Christian Ammer, Francois Buscot, Martin Ehbrecht, Markus Fischer, Kezia Goldmann, Kirsten Jung, Marion Mehring, Thomas Mueller, Swen C. Renner, Peter Schall, Michael Scherer-Lorenzen, Catrin Westphal, Tesfaye Wubet, Peter Manning
Summary: This study provides a tool to quantify the social impact of land-use changes by combining broad ecological data with information on the ecosystem service priorities of multiple stakeholder groups. The research shows that most major land-use changes proposed for Europe could lead to social conflicts and reduced multifunctionality. However, moderate gains in multifunctionality and equity can be achieved by expanding and diversifying forests and de-intensifying grasslands.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Vusani Mphethe, Sina Weier, Catrin Westphal, Birthe Linden, Lourens Swanepoel, Daniel Parker, Peter Taylor
Summary: In the Limpopo Province of South Africa, fruit bats primarily feed on wild fruit trees, with commercial fruit only contributing 2% to their diet, even during the litchi harvest season. This highlights the important ecosystem services provided by fruit bats in orchards and surrounding natural vegetation, and their ability to mitigate crop damage.
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Kevin Li, Ingo Grass, Delphine Clara Zemp, Hendrik Lorenz, Lena Sachsenmaier, Fuad Nurdiansyah, Dirk Hoelscher, Holger Kreft, Teja Tscharntke
Summary: As oil palm cultivation continues to expand at the expense of rainforests, enriching plantations with native trees is proposed as a strategy for restoring biodiversity and ecosystem function. However, the impact of tree enrichment on insect-mediated ecosystem functions has not been well studied. This study found that tree enrichment mainly affects insect-mediated ecosystem functions through canopy openness, suggesting that maintaining canopy gaps during the development of enrichment plots may be beneficial for increasing habitat heterogeneity and insect-mediated ecosystem functions.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Mina Anders, Ingo Grass, Valerie M. G. Linden, Peter J. J. Taylor, Catrin Westphal
Summary: More sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices, including ecological intensification, are needed to reduce biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. Our study examined the potential of ecological intensification to enhance pollination services in macadamia orchards. We found that insect pollination significantly increased nut set, and the presence of semi-natural habitats in the surrounding landscape positively influenced flower visitation rates. Orchard design, including the orientation of tree rows and the proximity to natural habitats, had a greater impact on nut set than agronomic practices like irrigation. The restoration and conservation of semi-natural habitats in and around orchards can play a crucial role in boosting insect pollination and improving macadamia nut development.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Delphine Clara Zemp, Nathaly Guerrero-Ramirez, Fabian Brambach, Kevin Darras, Ingo Grass, Anton Potapov, Alexander Roell, Isabelle Arimond, Johannes Ballauff, Hermann Behling, Dirk Berkelmann, Siria Biagioni, Damayanti Buchori, Dylan Craven, Rolf Daniel, Oliver Gailing, Florian Ellsaesser, Riko Fardiansah, Nina Hennings, Bambang Irawan, Watit Khokthong, Valentyna Krashevska, Alena Krause, Johanna Kueckes, Kevin Li, Hendrik Lorenz, Mark Maraun, Miryam Sarah Merk, Carina C. M. Moura, Yeni A. Mulyani, Gustavo B. Paterno, Herni Dwinta Pebrianti, Andrea Polle, Di Ajeng Prameswari, Lena Sachsenmaier, Stefan Scheu, Dominik Schneider, Fitta Setiajiati, Christina Ani Setyaningsih, Leti Sundawati, Teja Tscharntke, Meike Wollni, Dirk Hoelscher, Holger Kreft
Summary: There are still knowledge gaps in how to increase biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in cash crop-dominated tropical landscapes in the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. This study presents findings from a 5-year ecosystem restoration experiment in an oil palm landscape enriched with 52 tree islands, showing higher indicators of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in tree islands compared to conventionally managed oil palm. Enriching oil palm-dominated landscapes with tree islands is a promising ecological restoration strategy that does not decrease oil palm yield.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vannesa Montoya-Sanchez, Holger Kreft, Isabelle Arimond, Johannes Ballauff, Dirk Berkelmann, Fabian Brambach, Rolf Daniel, Ingo Grass, Jes Hines, Dirk Hoelscher, Bambang Irawan, Alena Krause, Andrea Polle, Anton Potapov, Lena Sachsenmaier, Stefan Scheu, Leti Sundawati, Teja Tscharntke, Delphine Clara Zemp, Nathaly Guerrero-Ramirez
Summary: Increasing landscape heterogeneity through establishing tree islands in oil-palm plantations can enhance multi-taxa diversity, particularly due to the increased presence of soil fauna and habitat diversity. Soil fauna, bacteria, and fungi have a stronger association with the overall community than aboveground taxa, emphasizing the importance of considering soil biota in strategies to enhance multi-taxa diversity.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Oussama Bouarakia, Mina Anders, Valerie M. G. Linden, Ingo Grass, Catrin Westphal, Peter J. Taylor, Stefan H. Foord
Summary: Climate change affects crop production by altering precipitation patterns and temperatures, which in turn influence the damage caused by insect pests. This study examines the combined effects of elevation and weather conditions on macadamia nut quality in South Africa. Results show that higher rainfall decreases nut quality, but colder temperatures at higher elevations help mitigate this effect. The findings suggest that future climate changes may lead to reduced macadamia nut quality and economic losses, even in higher elevation areas.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Gabriel Marcacci, Catrin Westphal, Vikas S. Rao, Shabarish Kumar S., K. B. Tharini, Vasuki V. Belavadi, Nils Noelke, Teja Tscharntke, Ingo Grass
Summary: Urbanization is a complex and significant factor in shaping plant-pollinator networks, with seasonal dynamics and environmental filtering playing a larger role than spatial distance in determining interaction diversity. Furthermore, urbanization amplifies these dynamics, particularly in terms of seasonal turnover and native plant species.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lucas A. Garibaldi, Paula F. Zermoglio, Esteban G. Jobbagy, Lucas Andreoni, Alejo Ortiz de Urbina, Ingo Grass, Facundo J. Oddi
Summary: This article discusses guidelines for transitioning to multifunctional landscapes and proposes an iterative process for designing these landscapes. It emphasizes the importance of restoring natural habitats and creating biological corridors, as well as redesigning field size and configuration. The authors argue that multifunctional landscapes will play a critical role in achieving global biodiversity targets and moving towards net-zero emissions.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gabriel Marcacci, Soubadra Devy, Arne Wenzel, Vikas S. Rao, Shabarish S. Kumar, Nils Nolke, Vasuki V. Belavadi, Teja Tscharntke, Ingo Grass, Catrin Westphal
Summary: The research examines the impact of urbanization and insecticides on pollinator abundance and mango yield in the city of Bengaluru, India. The results indicate that wild insects, especially bees, play a crucial role in mango pollination and yield. The study also highlights the negative effects of insecticide use on wild bee populations and mango weight.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(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)
