Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Raquel Lujan Soto, Maria Martinez-Mena, Mamen Cuellar Padilla, Joris de Vente
Summary: The study conducted a participatory monitoring project in southeast Spain and found that regenerative agriculture can improve soil quality, with green manure and organic amendments being effective practices. Combining no tillage with organic amendments showed the best results, and all regenerative agriculture treatments maintained crop nutritional status.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Jingyi Yang, Zijin Wang
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the key factors influencing soil bacterial diversity in urban remnant forests, specifically the direct and indirect effects of leaf functional traits. The results showed that leaf functional traits have a direct impact on soil bacterial diversity regardless of urbanization and edge effects, with the roles of different leaf traits being mediated by woody plant ontogenetic stage and life form. These findings provide insights into predicting the distribution of soil microbial communities and understanding plant-microbial interactions in urban remnant forests.
Article
Ecology
Zerihun Tadesse, Sileshi Nemomissa, Debissa Lemessa
Summary: Biological control of insect pests by predators, such as predatory arthropods and birds, is an important ecosystem service that contributes to agricultural production. The habitat quality, specifically the vegetation cover, can influence the provision of this ecosystem service. In a field experiment, it was found that the attack rate by arthropods was consistent across different land use types, while the attack rate by birds was higher in modified land use types with sparse woody vegetation. Additionally, the attack rate for birds showed a decreasing trend with increasing woody species richness, cover, and stem density. This study suggests that shade trees and small forest patches should be promoted in agricultural landscapes to support increased levels of insect pest control services provided by predatory birds and arthropods.
ACTA OECOLOGICA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2023)
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
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
James Eggers, Shannon Davis, Crile Doscher, Pablo Gregorini
Summary: This study aimed to identify species of native woody vegetation and propose spatial configurations and site designs to increase multifunctionality on a case study site in New Zealand. Sixty-three suitable species were identified and assigned scores based on objectives and constraints. Design thinking methodology was used to strategically locate these plants on the case study site, resulting in three individual site designs that propose a model of a multifunctional agricultural landscape.
Article
Ecology
Elias Alfaro, Valentina Perez-Tello, Manuel Acevedo, Juan Ovalle, Ricardo Segovia, Dylan Craven
Summary: This study presents the Rasgos-CL Database, which provides a comprehensive set of plant traits for woody flora in Chile by mobilizing and standardizing unstructured data largely from Spanish-language literature. The database fills gaps in trait data compared to global trait databases and identifies phylogenetic and geographic biases of trait data gaps.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Kira A. Borden, Tolulope G. Mafa-Attoye, Kari E. Dunfield, Naresh V. Thevathasan, Andrew M. Gordon, Marney E. Isaac
Summary: This study measured root and soil respiration in an agricultural landscape, revealing significant differences in the contribution of root respiration to soil CO2 flux among different buffer types. Additionally, interactions between root traits and soil microbial community structure were found to influence soil respiration.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Javier Rivas-Salvador, Martin Strobl, Tomas Kadlec, Pavel Saska, Jiri Reif
Summary: Agricultural intensification poses a serious threat to European biodiversity, and improving farmland habitat suitability is crucial for mitigating this threat. The invasive black locust negatively impacts bird species richness in mid-field woodlots in Central European farmland, particularly affecting habitat specialists and habitat generalists.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Laura Guderjan, Jan Christian Habel, Boris Schroeder, Thomas Schmitt
Summary: We analyzed the impact of different land-use patterns on butterfly diversity and community structures in organic farmland in central Italy. Fallow land had the highest butterfly species richness, while hazelnut plantations had the lowest. Forest edges had a significantly negative effect on butterfly diversity and abundance, while hedges had a positive effect.
Article
Immunology
Ana P. Mansilla, Juan M. Grande, Adrian Diaz
Summary: This study used generalized linear mixed models to analyze the impact of agroecosystems in the Pampa ecoregion of Argentina on the exposure of free-ranging birds to SLEV and WNV. The results showed that agricultural area was the most important factor affecting SLEV seroprevalence.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Carla Pinheiro, Teresa S. David, Paula Baptista, Leonor Guerra-Guimaraes
Summary: The Mediterranean region is a climate change hotspot, with significant impacts on the sustainability, biodiversity, and productivity of agroecosystems. Adaptation and changes in management strategies are crucial to minimize the risks and maintain economic viability.
Article
Plant Sciences
Chao Jin, Bo Jiang, Yi Ding, Shaozong Yang, Yue Xu, Jiejie Jiao, Jihong Huang, Weigao Yuan, Chuping Wu
Summary: Forest edge has significant effects on plant species and trait compositions in urban forests. Species composition differs significantly between forest edge and interior, while species richness and functional diversity remain unchanged. The study emphasizes the importance of protecting interior habitats and reducing the creation of new edges in urban regions for biodiversity conservation.
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Aldis E. Palsdottir, Jennifer A. Gill, Jose A. Alves, Snaebjorn Palsson, Veronica Mendez, Harry Ewing, Tomas G. Gunnarsson
Summary: Planting forests can significantly impact the diversity and abundance of pre-existing wildlife, highlighting the importance of understanding these consequences to avoid unintended effects on habitats and conservation populations. Afforestation in lowland areas of Iceland may affect ground-nesting bird species with international breeding populations, potentially leading to consequences throughout their non-breeding ranges in Europe and Africa. Strategic planning of tree-planting schemes is crucial to mitigate the severe impacts observed on populations of ground-nesting birds in open landscapes, particularly in light of Iceland's commitments to species protection and contribution to global migratory bird flyways.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Vanessa Velasquez-Trujillo, Juan F. Betancurt-Grisales, Angela M. Vargas-Daza, Carlos E. Lara, Fredy A. Rivera-Paez, Francisco E. Fonturbel, Gabriel J. Castano-Villa
Summary: Agricultural systems globally have expanded and intensified, impacting vertebrate functional diversity, ecosystem functioning, and services. This study specifically looks at the effects of monoculture crops on bird functional diversity in the tropical Andes, finding significant differences between agroecosystems and secondary forests. The dominant functional traits in agroecosystems relate to locomotion, nest type, and foraging strata, leading to more homogeneity in bird communities compared to forests.
Article
Ecology
Maribel Vasquez-Valderrama, Carlos P. Carmona, Anibal Pauchard
Summary: The analysis of climatic space shifts in invasive woody legumes between native and introduced areas revealed that most invasive species show differences in climate conditions between the two ranges, with the introduced range having different climatic conditions compared to the native range. The invasive legumes were classified into four groups based on climate differences, with dissociation being the most common. Additionally, species in the expansion group had larger leaves compared to those in the dissociation group.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
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)