Article
Environmental Sciences
Edmond Alavaisha, Victor Mbande, Lowe Borjeson, Regina Lindborg
Summary: This study evaluated the impacts of investments in small-scale irrigation schemes on land use/land cover (LULC) changes and regional development in Kilombero Valley, Tanzania. The results showed that over the past three decades, the rate of expansion of cultivated land was higher, mainly due to changes caused by investments in irrigation infrastructure, which were more common at the regional scale.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
A. Vanhoyweghen, V. Ginis
Summary: This research investigates the validity of the ergodic hypothesis and the influence of ergodicity breaking on human decision-making processes within economic models. The study introduces the concept of 'risk of ruin' into a decision-making model and finds that human decision-makers are sensitive to non-ergodicity within purely additive dynamics. The findings highlight the importance of time averages in human decision-making and suggest that humans are less irrational than assumed in behavioral models rooted in expected values.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY A-MATHEMATICAL PHYSICAL AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Mette Lovschal, Marie Ladekjaer Gravesen
Summary: This article examines the spread of fencing across East Africa, analyzing the evolution and long-term impact of land tenure dynamics behind it. Through two case studies in grazing lands in Kenya, it explores people's positive or challenging responses to fencing, as well as the impact of fencing on land tenure boundaries and future development.
Article
Environmental Studies
Amani Michael Uisso, Harun Tanrivermis
Summary: The study in Tanzania identified the changes in arable land and suggested agricultural land management policies. It found that factors such as GDP, quantity of exported goods, population growth rate, and arable land per capita have a positive effect on total arable land. However, an increase in forested land has a negative effect on arable land. Additionally, demographic and socio-economic factors have a significant impact on changes in arable land.
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Md Mostafizur Rahman, Gyorgy Szabo
Summary: This study presents a GIS-MCDM approach to optimize the location of a new residential development considering sustainability dimensions. Using this approach, the findings suggest that more sustainability benefits can be achieved. Among the alternative decision strategies, high risk-no trade-off proved to be the most optimal decision strategy that generated the highest sustainability benefit in our case.
ISPRS INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEO-INFORMATION
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Christine E. Blake, Eva C. Monterrosa, Krystal K. Rampalli, Abdullah Nurus Salam Khan, Ligia I. Reyes, Shiny Deepika Drew, Paula Dominguez-Salas, Salome A. Bukachi, Mariah Ngutu, Edward A. Frongillo, Elyse Iruhiriye, Amy Webb Girard
Summary: Increased access to a variety of foods in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) has led to greater autonomy in food choice decision-making. Autonomy allows individuals to make decisions through negotiation of considerations in ways that are consistent with basic values. A study conducted in Kenya and Tanzania revealed that values of conservation, openness to change, self-enhancement, and self-transcendence were prominent drivers of food choice in both settings. Understanding how values drive food choice in the context of changing food availability is essential for promoting sustainable healthy diets in LMICs.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Lara M. Lundsgaard-Hansen, Florence Metz, Manuel Fischer, Flurina Schneider, Win Myint, Peter Messerli
Summary: This paper explores how powerholders influence land use decision-making during a civil war and its aftermath, using three cases in Myanmar's south as examples. The analysis reveals that the state managed to control land use decision-making from a distance through alliances and institutions, while the ethnic organization lost influence. The study concludes that engaging in land use decision-making is crucial in influencing the outcomes of a civil war and represents a form of war and state-making.
JOURNAL OF LAND USE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Development Studies
Somaie Abolhasani, Mohammad Taleai, Tobia Lakes
Summary: This study aims to develop a decision-making framework to simulate the interactive behavior of stakeholders in land-use change processes. The results indicate that the framework effectively simulates interactive decision-making situations and generates results that are more similar to stakeholders' decisions in the real world.
HABITAT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Geography
Andrew M. Linke, Frank D. W. Witmer, John O'Loughlin
Summary: While conflict prediction has been a focus of research, existing literature often relies on aggregated data and overlooks the impact of geographic variations on conflict dynamics. Adding environmental predictors did not improve conflict predictions in 2018 as expected.
POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Manish Aggarwal
Summary: New entropy functions based on an agent's perceived uncertainty are formulated in this paper, highlighting the role of the decision-maker's attitude. The study introduces new attitude-based variants of probabilistic entropies and extends existing fuzzy entropies to consider the agent's specific attitude. The proposed entropy functions are shown to have wide applicability in multi criteria decision making.
EXPERT SYSTEMS WITH APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
John Erasto Sanare, Davide Valli, Cecilia Leweri, Gregory Glatzer, Vicki Fishlock, Anna Christina Treydte
Summary: This study aimed to understand the impact of land use/land cover change on the interface of human-wildlife interactions, specifically the drivers of human-elephant conflicts. The results showed that a significant portion of the area has been converted into farmlands and settlements, creating unsuitable habitats for elephants and increasing the pressure of human-elephant conflicts. Although elephants moved at higher speeds through settlements, they did not avoid them and traveled through all land use types.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Peng Hang, Yiran Zhang, Chen Lv
Summary: In this paper, a human-like driving system is designed that aims to integrate autonomous vehicles (AVs) into human transportation systems and reduce misunderstandings and conflicts with human-driven vehicles. A driving aggressiveness estimation model is established using a fuzzy inference approach based on analysis of the real world INTERACTION dataset. A comprehensive cost function is designed for the human-like lane-change decision-making algorithm, considering driving safety and travel efficiency. A dynamic game algorithm is developed to model interactions and decision making between AVs and human-driven vehicles based on the cost function with multiple constraints. Furthermore, an artificial potential field model is built for collision risk assessment to ensure safety during lane-change of AVs. Additionally, a human-like driving model is designed by integrating the brain emotional learning circuit model (BELCM) with a two-point preview model. The proposed algorithm is evaluated through human-in-the-loop experiments, demonstrating its feasibility and effectiveness.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Fabio de Oliveira Roque, Angelica Guerra, Matthew Johnson, Carlos Padovani, Juliano Corbi, Alan P. Covich, Donald Eaton, Walfrido Moraes Tomas, Francisco Valente-Neto, Ana Claudia Piovezan Borges, Alexandra Pinho, Alexeia Barufatii, Bruno do Amaral Crispim, Rafael Dettogni Guariento, Maria Helena da Silva Andrade, Ary Tavares Rezende-Filho, Rodolfo Portela, Marcia Divina, Julio Cesar Sampaio da Silva, Cassio Bernadino, E. Erica Fernanda Goncalves Gomes de Sa, Pedro Cordeiro-Estrela, Arnaud Desbiez, Isabel M. D. Rosa, Lisa Yon
Summary: A study estimated the pesticide load in the Pantanal and surrounding highlands region for 2050 under different scenarios, predicting varying levels of pesticide usage depending on the scenario. Higher pesticide usage is expected in subbasins with greater agricultural areas within major hydrographic basins.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Sini Kantola, Nora Fagerholm, Ari Nikula
Summary: Public participation GIS (PPGIS) approaches, such as online participatory mapping, are used in land use planning to create data for decision-making processes. However, the challenge lies in effectively utilizing this data instead of merely collecting it. Further research is needed to assess the impact of PPGIS approaches in land use decision-making. Through three cases in Finnish Lapland, it was found that PPGIS can improve interaction between organizations and respondents in land use planning, particularly in the early stages. To maximize its benefits, PPGIS should be used to address practical land use planning issues and systematically store collected data.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wenli Wu, Jiahua Zhang, Yun Bai, Sha Zhang, Shanshan Yang, Malak Henchiri, Ayalkibet Mekonnen Seka, Lkhagvadorj Nanzad
Summary: By using the BEPS model, the study simulated the aboveground biomass (AGB) of the Yellow River Delta from 2000 to 2015 and analyzed the spatiotemporal dynamics of AGB in relation to land use/land cover (LULC) conversion. The results showed that both human and natural driving processes significantly influenced the AGB of coastal wetlands.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
B. Henderson, C. Godde, D. Medina-Hidalgo, M. van Wijk, S. Silvestri, S. Douxchamps, E. Stephenson, B. Power, C. Rigolot, O. Cacho, M. Herrero
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2016)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Stanley Karanja Ng'ang'a, Mark T. Van Wijk, Mariana C. Rufino, Ken E. Giller
REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
(2016)
Article
Agronomy
Bouba Traore, Katrien Descheemaeker, Mark T. van Wijk, Marc Corbeels, Iwan Supit, Ken E. Giller
FIELD CROPS RESEARCH
(2017)
Article
Plant Sciences
Matthias Langensiepen, Marcel A. K. Jansen, Astrid Wingler, Barbara Demmig-Adams, William W. Adams, Ian C. Dodd, Vasileios Fotopoulos, Rod Snowdon, Erola Fenollosa, Mario C. De Tullio, Gerhard Buck-Sorlin, Sergi Munne-Bosch
ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2020)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Ken E. Giller, Thomas Delaune, Joao Vasco Silva, Katrien Descheemaeker, Gerrie van de Ven, Antonius G. T. Schut, Mark van Wijk, James Hammond, Zvi Hochman, Godfrey Taulya, Regis Chikowo, Sudha Narayanan, Avinash Kishore, Fabrizio Bresciani, Heitor Mancini Teixeira, Jens A. Andersson, Martin K. van Ittersum
Summary: Achieving SDG2 requires continued focus on food production and understanding the complex interrelations between farms and farming systems of different scales and methods globally. The bewildering diversity of farming systems worldwide and the economic viability of agriculture are key challenges to be addressed in achieving zero hunger.
Article
Agronomy
Kristina Grotelueschen, Donald S. Gaydon, Matthias Langensiepen, Susanne Ziegler, Julius Kwesiga, Kalimuthu Senthilkumar, Anthony M. Whitbread, Mathias Becker
Summary: Despite favorable hydro-edaphic conditions, lowland rice yields in East Africa remain low due to variations in cultural management practices and poor understanding of interactions. Multi-year field experiments in Tanzania and Uganda revealed the potential to boost yields beyond current regional means, with water table data playing a crucial role in model performance and highlighting the impact of water and N stress on yield.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Ken E. Giller, Thomas Delaune, Joao Vasco Silva, Mark van Wijk, James Hammond, Katrien Descheemaeker, Gerrie van de Ven, Antonius G. T. Schut, Godfrey Taulya, Regis Chikowo, Jens A. Andersson
Summary: Most food in sub-Saharan Africa is produced on small farms, with the majority of farms less than 1 hectare. Analyzing data from household surveys in Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda reveals significant differences in food security and household incomes among households in different farming systems. The study highlights the interplay between population density, farm size, market access, and agroecological potential on food security and income levels.
Article
Agronomy
Thuy Huu Nguyen, Matthias Langensiepen, Thomas Gaiser, Heidi Webber, Hella Ahrends, Hubert Hueging, Frank Ewert
Summary: Drought has a significant impact on crop growth, and understanding the short-term and long-term responses of crops to drought is crucial. Field data analysis showed that different water supply treatments strongly influenced leaf and canopy gas exchange, as well as cumulative growth in winter wheat and maize. The long-term morphological responses of winter wheat played a larger role in regulating transpiration and assimilation rates, while maize exhibited physiological advantages and morphological adjustments under drought conditions. Improved modeling of gas exchange and crop growth should consider dynamic changes in leaf area and stomatal regulation.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thuy Huu Nguyen, Matthias Langensiepen, Hubert Hueging, Thomas Gaiser, Sabine J. Seidel, Frank Ewert
Summary: The study integrates leaf water pressure head and its thresholds characterizing stomatal control of transpiration into dynamic crop models for maize under field conditions, in order to improve model performance and accuracy.
VADOSE ZONE JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Saher Ayyad, Poolad Karimi, Matthias Langensiepen, Lars Ribbe, Lisa-Maria Rebelo, Mathias Becker
Summary: Producing more food for a growing population requires sustainable crop intensification and diversification, with a focus on efficient use of existing green water resources for cultivating short-cycled crops in seasonal floodplain wetlands.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Kristina Grotelueschen, Donald S. Gaydon, Kalimuthu Senthilkumar, Matthias Langensiepen, Mathias Becker
Summary: In East Africa, the yield responses to nitrogen fertiliser vary between different wetlands and years. The use of locally-validated APSIM model has shown that mineral nitrogen fertiliser can significantly increase rainfed rice yields and nitrogen use efficiency, making it profitable for smallholders. Supplemental irrigation can further enhance nitrogen fertiliser use efficiency and profitability. Spatial-temporal water stress pattern simulation can guide efficient irrigation scheduling.
FIELD CROPS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Matthias Langensiepen, Erick Omwandho Opiyo, Alice A. Kaudia, Denis Rugege, Kyambadde Richard, Erick Akotsi, Dan Ashitiva, Julius K. Ningu, Faustin Munyazikwiye, Theogene Ngaboyamahina, Justin K. Urassa, Michael Ugen, Dieudonne Sebashongore, Helida Oyieke, Salome Misana, Ludwig Kammesheidt, Mathias Becker
Summary: The rapidly developing societies in East Africa are putting increasing pressure on wetlands due to higher food demand and degradation of upland soils. Balancing wetland conservation with the need for food and energy is becoming a contentious issue. Stakeholders and actor coalitions bring different perspectives and values to wetland conservation, making wetland policy-making uncertain. In order to address this problem, a cognitive-driven information design (CDID) method has been developed to assist in analyzing and visualizing complex socio-ecological wetland information for policy-making.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Thuy Huu Nguyen, Matthias Langensiepen, Jan Vanderborght, Hubert Huging, Cho Miltin Mboh, Frank Ewert
HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2020)
Article
Ecology
Jordi Vila-Guerau de Arellano, Patrizia Ney, Oscar Hartogensis, Hugo de Boer, Kevin van Diepen, Dzhaner Emin, Geiske de Groot, Anne Klosterhalfen, Matthias Langensiepen, Maria Matveeva, Gabriela Miranda-Garcia, Arnold F. Moene, Uwe Rascher, Thomas Rockmann, Getachew Adnew, Nicolas Brueggemann, Youri Rothfuss, Alexander Graf
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Gaochao Cai, Jan Vanderborght, Matthias Langensiepen, Andrea Schnepf, Hubert Hueging, Harry Vereecken
HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2018)
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)