Article
Agronomy
Cynthia A. Bartel, Kenneth J. Moore, Shui-zhang Fei, Andrew W. Lenssen, Roger L. Hintz, Samantha M. Kling
Summary: Perennial groundcover has potential benefits for ecosystem services and weed control in annual row crop systems. However, inadequate suppression of groundcover can negatively affect maize growth. A field study was conducted to assess the timing of groundcover suppression chemicals on maize growth and development. Results showed that early application of suppression chemicals improved maize height and yield, with better results achieved using a combination of paraquat and glufosinate.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Janina Heinen, Monique E. Smith, Astrid Taylor, Riccardo Bommarco
Summary: This study investigated the effects of organic fertilisers, perennial ley, and mineral fertilisers on soil and aboveground communities in 19 spring cereal crop fields. The results showed that the combination of organic fertilisers with perennial ley had the highest richness of soil mesofauna, followed by organic fertilisers with annual crop rotation, and mineral fertilisers with annual crop rotation had the lowest total abundance. The richness of aboveground arthropod predators increased with the legacy of perennial ley. Overall, organic amendments and the inclusion of perennial ley in the rotation led to more abundant and diverse soil and aboveground communities.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Keunbae Kim, Erin J. Daly, Thomas K. Flesch, Trevor W. Coates, Guillermo Hernandez-Ramirez
Summary: This study compared the carbon dioxide and water fluxes between perennial and annual crops and found that perennial crops have a greater carbon sink capacity and higher carbon use efficiency compared to annual crops. Although perennial crops have higher evapotranspiration at the beginning of the growing season, the overall water use efficiency is similar between the two crops.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Baojing Gu, Xiuming Zhang, Shu Kee Lam, Yingliang Yu, Hans J. M. van Grinsven, Shaohui Zhang, Xiaoxi Wang, Benjamin Leon Bodirsky, Sitong Wang, Jiakun Duan, Chenchen Ren, Lex Bouwman, Wim de Vries, Jianming Xu, Mark A. Sutton, Deli Chen
Summary: Cropland is a major contributor to nitrogen pollution, and reducing this pollution is a challenge due to the decentralized nature of the pollution and the limitations in implementing pollution-reduction measures. By analyzing field observations, we have identified key measures that can significantly reduce nitrogen losses from croplands while improving crop yield and nitrogen use efficiency. Implementing these measures on a global scale could lead to significant benefits in food supply, human health, ecosystems, and climate, with relatively low mitigation costs.
Review
Agronomy
Jacob Jungers, Bryan Runck, Patrick M. M. Ewing, Tai Maaz, Craig Carlson, Jeffrey Neyhart, Nathan Fumia, Prabin Bajgain, Samikshya Subedi, Vasudha Sharma, Senait Senay, Mitch Hunter, Colin Cureton, Jessica Gutknecht, Michael B. B. Kantar
Summary: Climate change poses a threat to global agricultural production. Perennial cropping systems offer a viable strategy for adapting agriculture to a changing climate. These systems have unique applications and responses to agricultural challenges brought about by climate change. To effectively utilize the benefits of perennial systems, it is crucial to consider the various components of agroecosystems, including species, genotype, environment, management strategies, and socioeconomics. This review explores the integration of perennial grain and oilseed crops into row crop agriculture and discusses their potential for supporting environmental benefits and climate change adaptation.
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
C. Janusch, E. F. Lewin, M. L. Battaglia, E. Rezaei-Chiyaneh, M. Von Cossel
Summary: The cultivation of perennial wild plant mixtures (WPMs) for biogas production offers not only biomass for energy, but also diverse food and habitats for wildlife, erosion mitigation, and more. It shows social and ecological promise compared to conventional biogas cropping systems dominated by annual crops, but also comes with risks such as weed infestation and poor establishment of plant species. Integrating WPM cultivation into existing agricultural systems with a focus on enhancing ecosystem services besides biomass supply is crucial for optimizing its benefits.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
Lena Simon, Thierry Langin, Benjamin Nowak, Gaelle Marliac
Summary: This study investigated the impact of soil type and crop management practices on soil suppressiveness towards plant pathogens. The results showed that soil type and composition play a key role in fungistasis, and soil suppressiveness is a complex, multifactorial process.
SOIL USE AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Cynthia M. Creze, William R. Horwath
Summary: Cover crops have the potential to enhance multifunctionality and ecosystem services in agriculture, but their adoption in perennial systems is low. Emphasizing multifunctionality may lead to misunderstandings and distract from the need to tailor cover crop practices to specific contexts and value systems. Understanding the distinct environmental realities of perennial agriculture and recognizing different conceptualizations of agricultural sustainability can help improve cover crop adoption rates.
Article
Agronomy
Clementine Meunier, Lionel Alletto, Laurent Bedoussac, Jacques-Eric Bergez, Pierre Casadebaig, Julie Constantin, Noemie Gaudio, Remi Mahmoud, Jean-Noel Aubertot, Florian Celette, Mae Guinet, Marie-Helene Jeuffroy, Marie-Helene Robin, Safia Mediene, Laurence Fontaine, Bernard Nicolardot, Elise Pelzer, Veronique Souchere, Anne-Sophie Voisin, Blandine Rosies, Marion Casagrande, Guillaume Martin
Summary: This study developed a hybrid modeling chain that combines process-based, statistical and knowledge-based models to assess the ecosystem services provided by multiple cereal-legume intercrops. The chain demonstrated high accuracy and can be used as an educational tool for farmers and students to design intercropping systems.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Leo Rocher, Emile Melloul, Olivier Blight, Armin Bischoff
Summary: This study analyzed the effects of inter-row vegetation characteristics on beneficial arthropods and pest insect predation in vineyards. The results showed that flower cover and plant species richness positively influenced most tested beneficial arthropods, especially predators like ladybirds and crab spiders, as well as parasitic wasps. The abundance of ladybirds, hoverflies, and crab spiders was also positively related to plant species richness. These findings highlight the importance of floral resources and plant diversity in supporting beneficial arthropods and biological control of pest insects.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Julian Brown, Scott V. C. Groom, Romina Rader, Katja Hogendoorn, Saul A. Cunningham
Summary: The conversion of natural vegetation to agriculture is a major factor in global biodiversity decline, negatively impacting ecosystem services such as pollination. Studies show that wild pollinators visit crops more frequently in areas with higher levels of natural or semi-natural vegetation. However, in some regions and years, wild bees are rare in apple orchards, indicating that managing land cover to enhance wild bee visitation may not have a significant impact on apple pollination in southeast Australia.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
T. Kralik, J. Knapek, K. Vavrova, D. Outrata, D. Romportl, M. Horak, J. Jandera
Summary: This paper introduces a methodology that combines the modeling of biomass potential from agricultural land with the need for non-productive functions and economic viability of biomass from energy crops. It prioritizes perennial energy crops allocation in areas with high land risk index, determined by 5 basic characteristics. The methodology also includes the assessment of biomass production price for economic competitiveness. The case study in the Czech Republic demonstrates the significant influence of necessary non-productive functions and economic competitiveness on the allocation and contribution of perennial energy crops to biomass energy potential.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yongyang Wang, Yanpeng Cai, Gengyuan Liu, Pan Zhang, Bowen Li, Bo Li, Qunpo Jia, Yaping Huang, Tianchu Shu
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the ecological impact of crop production in different provinces of China, proposing a framework and indicators based on Emergy theory. The analysis reveals that the ecosystem disservice of crop production processes is greater than the services, and factors such as total emergy inputs, fertilizer use, and R% can affect ecological benefits.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Thibault Datry, Andrew J. Boulton, Ken Fritz, Rachel Stubbington, Nuria Cid, Julie Crabot, Klement Tockner
Summary: Non-perennial river segments, which are more abundant than perennial segments globally, play important roles in river networks. The cycles of flowing, non-flowing, and dry phases in non-perennial segments influence biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics. Due to climate change and human activities, the extent of non-perennial segments in river networks has increased and is predicted to continue to increase.
NATURE REVIEWS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Abhishek Bohra, Abha Tiwari, Parwinder Kaur, Showkat Ahmad Ganie, Ali Raza, Manish Roorkiwal, Reyazul Rouf Mir, Alisdair R. Fernie, Petr Smykal, Rajeev K. Varshney
Summary: Crop domestication is a co-evolutionary process that has made plants and animals heavily dependent on human interventions. Grain legumes have played a significant role in the development of agriculture, but their domestication process is not as well understood as cereals. Understanding the domestication of legumes can help in breeding programs by utilizing the genetic variation present in wild relatives. Whole genome sequencing and omics-level data have improved our ability to study the genetic changes accompanying these processes. A detailed domestication history of grain legumes can help in developing modern cultivars with improved traits.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Colin K. Khoury, Stephanie L. Greene, Sarada Krishnan, Allison J. Miller, Tara Moreau, Karen A. Williams, Lorraine Rodriguez-Bonilla, Carol S. Spurrier, Juan Zalapa, Gary Paul Nabhan
NATURAL AREAS JOURNAL
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Brandon Schlautman, Luis Diaz-Garcia, Spencer Barriball
Article
Ecology
Omar Tesdell, Yusra Othman, Yara Dowani, Samir Khraishi, Mary Deeik, Fouad Muaddi, Brandon Schlautman, Aubrey Streit Krug, David Van Tassel
JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS
(2020)
Article
Plant Sciences
Sterling A. Herron, Matthew J. Rubin, Claudia Ciotir, Timothy E. Crews, David L. Van Tassel, Allison J. Miller
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Plant Sciences
Emma S. Frawley, Claudia Ciotir, Brooke Micke, Matthew J. Rubin, Allison J. Miller
Article
Plant Sciences
David L. Van Tassel, Omar Tesdell, Brandon Schlautman, Matthew J. Rubin, Lee R. DeHaan, Timothy E. Crews, Aubrey Streit Krug
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Matthew Maimaitiyiming, Vasit Sagan, Paheding Sidike, Maitiniyazi Maimaitijiang, Allison J. Miller, Misha Kwasniewski
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexander G. Linan, Porter P. Lowry, Allison J. Miller, George E. Schatz, Jean-Claude Sevathian, Christine E. Edwards
Summary: The tree species in the genus Diospyros on the Mascarene islands have significant genetic differences between them, with hybridization observed between closely related species in the same subclade. As diversification progressed, interspecific hybridization occurred among species, but became infrequent as lineages diverged and evolved reproductive barriers. This suggests that introgression has played a role in the adaptation and diversification of Mascarene Diospyros, with implications for conservation.
Article
Microbiology
Joel F. Swift, Megan E. Hall, Zachary N. Harris, Misha T. Kwasniewski, Allison J. Miller
Summary: The study shows that plant compartments have the biggest influence on microbial diversity. Rootstock genotype and irrigation do not significantly affect microbial diversity or composition, but the abundance of specific bacterial and fungal taxa varies with rootstock and irrigation treatment.
Article
Agronomy
Olivier Duchene, Benjamin Dumont, Douglas J. Cattani, Laura Fagnant, Brandon Schlautman, Lee R. DeHaan, Spencer Barriball, Jacob M. Jungers, Valentin D. Picasso, Christophe David, Florian Celette
Summary: Development of intermediate wheatgrass as a new perennial grain crop is hindered by lack of understanding of its environmental requirements. A phenology model for IWG was developed, revealing key environmental factors affecting flowering and grain production. Accurate phenology models will enable optimal field management and inform future breeding strategies.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Sterling A. Herron, Matthew J. Rubin, Matthew A. Albrecht, Quinn G. Long, Marissa C. Sandoval, Allison J. Miller
Summary: The study revealed that genus and life span are important factors in predicting early-life-stage phenotypic variation and trait relationships. There are different correlation patterns between seed traits and vegetative traits among annual and perennial plants, which has important implications for future perennial breeding programs.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Garett C. Heineck, Brandon Schlautman, Eugene P. Law, Matthew R. Ryan, Joseph W. Zimbric, Valentin Picasso, David E. Stoltenberg, Craig C. Sheaffer, Jacob M. Jungers
Summary: The study found that intermediate wheatgrass populations exhibit variability in drying patterns during seed development, posing challenges for determining optimal harvest timing. Field trial results showed differences in drying rates and timing for seeds from different locations on the spike, which have significant impacts on seed yield and quality.
Review
Plant Sciences
David L. Van Tassel, Lee R. DeHaan, Luis Diaz-Garcia, Jenna Hershberger, Matthew J. Rubin, Brandon Schlautman, Kathryn Turner, Allison J. Miller
Summary: De novo domestication is an exciting option for increasing species diversity and ecosystem service functionality of agricultural landscapes. Genomic selection (GS) offers the possibility of rapid genetic improvement, but it may be challenging for some wild species just entering the domestication pipeline. High throughput phenomics has the potential to augment traditional pedigree selection, reduce costs, and even create new predictive selection approaches independent of sequencing or pedigrees.
CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Virginia M. Moore, Tessa Peters, Brandon Schlautman, E. Charles Brummer
Summary: Increasing cropping system diversity has the potential to address environmental problems in modern agriculture. To support the transition to multicrop systems, plant breeders need to shift their programs and objectives, and changes are required in broader research, private sector, and policy contexts.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Brandon Schlautman, Cynthia Bartel, Luis Diaz-Garcia, Shuizhang Fei, Scott Flynn, Erin Haramoto, Ken Moore, D. Raj Raman
Summary: Integrating perennial groundcovers into annual cash-crop systems can address the negative impacts of bare-soil practices on soil and water quality. Designing PGC systems requires maximizing complementarity between PGC and cash crops to avoid competitive interactions and yield loss.
EMERGING TOPICS IN LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)