Article
Plant Sciences
Chonnanit Choopayak, Kodchakorn Aranyakanon, Nuttamon Prompakdee, Pranee Nangngam, Anupan Kongbangkerd, Kumrop Ratanasut
Summary: Natural herbicides are considered sustainable weed management methods in agriculture. This study found that extracts from Piper betle and the allelochemical eugenol have inhibitory effects on the germination and seedling growth of rice and associated weeds. The results showed that the extract had similar allelopathic activity as eugenol and was more effective against the major weed, barnyard grass, compared to rice.
Article
Ecology
Sarina Macfadyen, Wee Tek Tay, Andrew D. Hulthen, Cate Paull, Andrew Kalyebi, Frances Jacomb, Hazel Parry, Peter Sseruwagi, Zuberi Seguni, Christopher Abu Omongo, Donald Kachigamba, Michael Otim, Nancy Schellhorn, Andrew Polaszek, John Colvin, Paul De Barro
Summary: The study found that the cotton whitefly species SSA1 dominated cassava fields, with other species also present; landscape factors surrounding the field had a significant impact on nymph density and parasitism, including the size of the focal cassava field and the area of cassava in the landscape; unlike other studies, this pattern was not solely related to the amount of non-crop vegetation or crop diversity in the landscape.
Review
Agronomy
Balaji A. Pandian, Sarah Sexton-Bowser, P. V. Vara Prasad, Mithila Jugulam
Summary: Grain sorghum is a versatile crop that can thrive under limited resources, but weed infestation remains a major constraint in production. The lack of herbicide options for post-emergence grass weed control in sorghum poses a great challenge. The development of herbicide-resistant sorghum technology has the potential to improve weed management, but the risk of escape of resistance traits into weedy relatives is a major concern.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biology
Emily R. R. Mackie, Andrew S. Barrow, Rebecca M. Christoff, Belinda M. Abbott, Anthony R. Gendall, Tatiana P. Soares da Costa
Summary: This study expands our understanding of the mode of action of herbicidal lysine biosynthesis inhibitors, revealing an additional mode of action through their inhibition of a second lysine biosynthesis enzyme. The molecular determinants of inhibition were also investigated. The herbicidal activity analyses were extended to include a weed species of global significance.
Article
Plant Sciences
Maria Noelia Ulrich, Esteban Muniz-Padilla, Alejandra Corach, Esteban Hopp, Daniela Tosto
Summary: This study evaluated the stability of different reference genes of glyphosate-resistant S. halepense, finding that PP2A and ARI8 were the most stable genes. The results provide valuable information for gene expression analysis under glyphosate stress and will facilitate resistance mechanism studies in this weed species.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sakineh Rashidi, Ali Reza Yousefi, Nieves Goicoechea, Majid Pouryousef, Parviz Moradi, Sara Vitalini, Marcello Iriti
Summary: Allelopathy refers to the interference to plant growth caused by chemical interactions among plants and organisms, with Portulaca oleracea seeds showing negative effects on germination of common bean and onion seeds, while common bean and onion seeds also inhibit the germination of Portulaca oleracea seeds. Overall, crop species like common bean, onion, and sugar beet exhibited potential allelopathic effects against Portulaca oleracea seeds, suggesting their potential use as bio-herbicides in future screening programs.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Cynthia Tobisch, Sandra Rojas-Botero, Johannes Uhler, Johannes Kollmann, Jörg Mueller, Christoph Moning, Sarah Redlich, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter, Caryl Benjamin, Jana Englmeier, Ute Fricke, Cristina Ganuza, Maria Haensel, Rebekka Riebl, Lars Uphus, Jörg Ewald
Summary: The decline in terrestrial arthropods in Europe requires effective methods for biodiversity monitoring and promotion in human-dominated landscapes. The suitability of plants as indicators of arthropod diversity is still debated, and the potential of conservation-relevant plant species subsets to estimate arthropod richness needs further investigation. The importance of plant species richness compared to other factors driving arthropod richness is not well understood.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Review
Agronomy
Rita Ofosu, Evans Duah Agyemang, Adrienn Marton, Gyoergy Pasztor, Janos Taller, Gabriella Kazinczi
Summary: Over the years, agricultural interventions and technologies, such as herbicides, have contributed greatly to global food production. However, the success of chemical weed control has now brought about herbicide resistance in agricultural weeds, posing a threat to food security and human survival. This paper discusses the molecular background of herbicide resistant weed biotypes and proposes alternative non-chemical weed management methods to prevent further development and spreading of herbicide-resistant weeds.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Marketa Santruckova, Jiri Dostalek, Lucia Bendikova, Tomas Frantik, Katarina Demkova
Summary: Manor landscape gardens serve as important local habitats for biodiversity and provide valuable ecosystem services. This study examined the distribution and quality of natural habitats within these gardens, finding that forests are more abundant in peripheral sections, while wetlands and riverine vegetation are intentionally designed near manors. The quality of natural habitats generally increases with distance from manor buildings, but some forests and grasslands deteriorate as distance increases.
Article
Ecology
J. van Schalkwyk, J. S. Pryke, M. J. Samways, R. Gaigher
Summary: Corridor orientation and width are important design variables for butterfly conservation. Wide corridors at a variety of orientations benefit different subsets of the butterfly assemblage, and edge orientation influences resident butterflies more strongly than transient butterflies and specialists more strongly than generalists.
Article
Forestry
Ian H. Willoughby, Jack Forster, Robert Coventry
Summary: Rhododendron ponticum is an invasive shrub that hinders tree regeneration and kills native plants. The study suggests that alternative non-hazardous adjuvants do not enhance the effectiveness or rainfastness of glyphosate applications to rhododendron. Only the use of glyphosate plus Mixture B NF adjuvant showed acceptable levels of control. Current recommendations for rhododendron control involving the use of Mixture B NF adjuvant are still valid.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Felix Klaus, Teja Tscharntke, Johannes Uhler, Ingo Grass
Summary: The study revealed the importance of calcareous grassland fragments as sources of solitary bees, where larger fragments supported more than twice as many solitary bees as smaller ones. The limited foraging range of solitary bees seemed to be compensated by other groups such as bumblebees and hoverflies, suggesting a greater forage radius and/or independence from the grassland fragments as habitat.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
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
Ecology
Robert Galle, Csaba Tolgyesi, Peter Csaszar, Zoltan Batori, Nikolett Galle-Szpisjak, Hardeep Kaur, Istvan Maak, Attila Torma, Peter Batary
Summary: This study examined the effects of forest fragment size, landscape composition, and landscape configuration on plant and arthropod biodiversity. The results showed that increasing forest fragment size, forest habitat amount, and forest edge length had positive effects on forest spider abundance, but negative effects on open-habitat arthropod abundances and plant species richness. The effects of fragment size were often moderated by both landscape composition and landscape configuration, as well as the habitat association of species.
Review
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Kerry C. Harrington, Hossein Ghanizadeh
Summary: Although New Zealand is experiencing an increase in herbicide-resistant weed populations, the incidence of resistance is much lower compared to Australia. The differences can be explained by the larger size of Australia, resulting in a greater exposure of weeds to herbicides annually. Another factor is the presence of Lolium rigidum in Australian agricultural systems, which is almost absent in New Zealand, but closely related species in New Zealand are also showing resistance.
NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Anne-Christine Mupepele, Helge Bruelheide, Carsten Bruehl, Jens Dauber, Michaela Fenske, Annette Freibauer, Barbel Gerowitt, Andreas Kruess, Sebastian Lakner, Tobias Plieninger, Thomas Potthast, Sabine Schlacke, Ralf Seppelt, Hartmut Stuetzel, Wolfgang Weisser, Wolfgang Waegele, Katrin Boehning-Gaese, Alexandra-Maria Klein
Summary: Addressing the decline of biodiversity in European agricultural landscapes requires urgent transformative changes through measures in politics, economics, and civil society. An informed society and political initiatives are essential for promoting sustainable farming practices that balance food production and biodiversity conservation.
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matthias Schroter, Lukas Egli, Lilith Bruening, Ralf Seppelt
Summary: The study revealed significant increases in fertilizer use, net capital stock and manure use intensity in lower-middle-income countries, while high-income countries showed stagnation or decrease in these factors. Fertilizer use intensity, manure use intensity, and agricultural suitability were found to explain yield variation to a considerable degree (R-2=0.62).
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Nikolaos Alexandridis, Glenn Marion, Rebecca Chaplin-Kramer, Matteo Dainese, Johan Ekroos, Heather Grab, Mattias Jonsson, Daniel S. Karp, Carsten Meyer, Megan E. O'Rourke, Mikael Pontarp, Katja Poveda, Ralf Seppelt, Henrik G. Smith, Emily A. Martin, Yann Clough
Summary: Natural control of invertebrate crop pests has the potential to complement or replace conventional insecticide based practices, but its mainstream application is hampered by predictive unreliability across agroecosystems. Existing models have used a multitude of techniques to represent specific crop-pest-enemy systems at various spatiotemporal scales, but less wealthy regions of the world are underrepresented. Developing a general modelling framework for natural pest control in agroecosystems must balance generality and realism, while incorporating context-sensitive, trait-mediated responses to land-use gradients.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Christophe Dominik, Ralf Seppelt, Finbarr G. Horgan, Josef Settele, Tomas Vaclavik
Summary: The relationship between arthropod traits and landscape heterogeneity in tropical rice agroecosystems is poorly understood. Our study found that landscape composition and configuration filter arthropod traits in these ecosystems. Landscape diversity and rice habitat fragmentation influence rice-arthropod traits, indicating distinct habitat requirements for different species. Increasing compositional heterogeneity in rice landscapes can promote parasitoids but may negatively affect predators.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lukas Egli, Matthias Schroeter, Christoph Scherber, Teja Tscharntke, Ralf Seppelt
Summary: This study found that crop diversity can increase the stability of agricultural production, especially in regions with large areas equipped for irrigation and low soil type diversity. The stabilizing effect of nitrogen use was substantially higher at the European level, while the relationship between crop diversity and stability was weak in Germany.
REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Andre Zuanazzi Dornelles, Wiebren J. Boonstra, Izabela Delabre, J. Michael Denney, Richard J. Nunes, Anke Jentsch, Kimberly A. Nicholas, Matthias Schroeter, Ralf Seppelt, Josef Settele, Nancy Shackelford, Rachel J. Standish, Tom H. Oliver
Summary: Based on analysis of food systems data from 161 countries over 25 years, three distinct transformation archetypes were identified globally: rapidly expansionist, expansionist, and consolidative. Different agricultural structure changes and social-environmental outcomes were found across these archetypes, indicating unsustainable trajectories independent of productivity improvements.
SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Nikolaos Alexandridis, Glenn Marion, Rebecca Chaplin-Kramer, Matteo Dainese, Johan Ekroos, Heather Grab, Mattias Jonsson, Daniel S. Karp, Carsten Meyer, Megan E. O'Rourke, Mikael Pontarp, Katja Poveda, Ralf Seppelt, Henrik G. Smith, Richard J. Walters, Yann Clough, Emily A. Martin
Summary: Controlling crop pests through adjusting the availability of host plants and natural enemy activity at a landscape scale can enhance agricultural sustainability. However, achieving natural pest control across different agroecological contexts requires a better understanding of its benefits. By combining trait-mediated understanding with mechanistic modeling, we can utilize existing empirical, theoretical, and methodological knowledge to improve predictions and management of natural pest control.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Matias G. Goldenberg, Alfred Burian, Ralf Seppelt, Fernanda A. Santiban Ossa, Camilo E. Bagnato, Emilio H. Satorre, Gustavo D. Martini, Lucas A. Garibaldi
Summary: The fundamental challenge of land use management is to balance food, energy, and fiber production with biodiversity conservation and ecosystem functions. This study evaluates the distribution of natural habitat in relation to agricultural input and crop production potential, and investigates whether natural habitat can explain yield variations not explained by management and environmental factors. The findings suggest that fields with higher fertilizer and seed input have lower percentages of natural habitat, and spatial variation in yield can be explained by environmental and management variables.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
John M. Anderies, Graeme S. Cumming, Hayley S. Clements, Steven J. Lade, Ralf Seppelt, Sivee Chawla, Birgit Mueller
Summary: As conservation biology has evolved, it has become apparent that conservation problems are closely tied to human interactions. However, there is a lack of models that accurately capture the complexities of human-nature interactions. To address this, the authors propose a simple yet versatile modeling framework that combines ideas from economics, social sciences, and ecology.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Marta Bonato, Emily A. Martin, Anna F. Cord, Ralf Seppelt, Michael Beckmann, Michael Strauch
Summary: Managing agricultural land to maximize natural pest control can reduce pesticide use, but the reliability and predictive power of generic models are largely unknown. We applied an existing model based on landscape structure to test its effectiveness in predicting natural pest control. The results showed little correlation between modeled and field-measured values, highlighting the need for tailored models that consider local factors and are trained using field measurements.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ralf Seppelt, Stefan Klotz, Edgar Peiter, Martin Volk
Summary: Pathways to eradicate global hunger and minimize biodiversity loss include changing diets, closing yield gaps through agroecological principles, using modern breeding technologies to enhance stress resilience and yields, and reducing harvest losses and food waste. However, a global temperature increase of 3 degrees Celsius would lead to significant yield losses and threatening food security. More systemic research is needed to address these challenges.
Article
Political Science
Tiffany H. Morrison, Orjan Bodin, Graeme S. Cumming, Mark Lubell, Ralf Seppelt, Tim Seppelt, Christopher M. Weible
Summary: The success or failure of a polycentric system depends on complex political and social processes, such as coordination between actors and venues to solve specialized policy problems. However, there is currently no accepted method to isolate distinct coordination processes or understand how their variance affects polycentric governance performance. Researchers in Australia have developed and tested a building-blocks approach using different patterns or motifs to measure and compare coordination over time on the Great Barrier Reef. Their approach confirms that polycentric governance involves interdependent venues and actors that evolve over time, but mobilizing venues to improve issue specialization and actor participation can also fragment the overall capacity of polycentric governance to resolve conflicts and adapt to new problems. This building-blocks approach enhances understanding and practice of polycentric governance by enabling a more precise diagnosis of internal dynamics in complex environmental governance systems.
POLICY STUDIES JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elina Takola, Jonathan Bonfanti, Ralf Seppelt, Michael Beckmann
Summary: This article presents a database of evidence on the impact of agricultural management practices on biodiversity and yield. The database is the result of a systematic literature review, including 33 relevant meta-analyses, and can be used for conducting second-order meta-analyses and creating evidence maps on agriculture-related questions.
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)
