Overuse of fertilizers has been associated with the selection of competitive and dominant weed communities and biodiversity loss. Considering that crop nutrient management is going through a continuous revisitation process to improve nutrient use efficiency and energy savings, we addressed the consequences of different nutritional levels (low, optimal, and surplus) on weed community composition and

Agricultural diversification can enhance climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and livelihood in global farming systems. Diverse agroforestry systems with cocoa have been shown to provide all these benefits, but the often-lower yields compared to monocultures limit agroforestry adoption by smallholder farmers. Cocoa yield is pollination-limited, and here, we quantified the effect of hand pollination

Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide [CO2] is a main climate change driver, and soil respiration is the most relevant contributor to ecosystem respiration. However, the soil microbiome and respiration responses of semiarid agroecosystems under elevated [CO2] (eCO2) conditions must be better understood. In particular, peanut agroecosystems host rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) associations

Under favorable growth conditions cover crops are efficient tools to scavenge available nitrogen in the soil after the main crop and reduce nitrate leaching. However, their ability to reduce nitrate leaching is influenced by the available growth conditions after sowing and their characteristics to assimilate biomass and nitrogen (N). A flexible sowing time of cover crops without compromising their

Agri-environment measures such as flower strips are considered fundamental instruments to reduce farmland biodiversity loss. Their effect on associated ecosystem services, such as biocontrol of crop pests, has received increased attention in recent discussions on the ecological intensification of agriculture, to create a win-win situation for biodiversity and production. However, studies of flower

Millions of hectares of agricultural land have been abandoned globally in recent decades, presenting opportunities for secondary vegetation growth and restoration. While abandoned fields have the potential to return to ecological communities with similar species diversity to their pre-agricultural state, they alternatively may transition to novel ecosystems or persist in degraded states that may have

Grazing affects soil carbon (C) storage in grassland ecosystems through livestock trampling, defoliation, and excretion of urine and dung. However, independent effects of those grazing behaviors on soil organic C (SOC) remains unclear, particularly in alpine grassland ecosystems. To address this knowledge gap, a one-year field experiment was conducted on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Biodiversity is increasingly dependent on the ecological state of agricultural and livestock systems. Here, we assess the relationship between bird functional and taxonomic diversity and forest structure along a gradient in grazing intensity in xerophytic forests in Central-East Argentina. We found that bird functional diversity responds more to forest structure variables than taxonomic diversity.

As a national Agri-environmental Programme in Austria, ÖPUL subsidises mulching/no-till and cover crops to mitigate soil erosion. In this study, the participation rates and effectiveness of these ÖPUL-measures are analysed. In addition, the impact of different farming systems (conventional farming vs organic farming) on the soil erosion risk in Austria are compared. A national analysis is carried out

Nitrogen pollution is a serious threat to water resources worldwide, and it poses a particular threat to groundwater in desert oases where the water table is shallow. Leaching loss of nitrogen fertilizer means economic loss and threatens the water quality of phreatic aquifer with a thinner vadose zone thickness, especially in the Hailiutu River catchment, China, where phreatic aquifer is a unique source

This study presents detailed crop and gas flux data from two years of rice production at the experimental farm of the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India. In comparing 4 nitrogen (N) fertiliser regimes across 4 rice cultivars (CRD 310, IR-64, MTU 1010, P-44), we have added to growing evidence of the environmental costs of rice production in the region. The study shows that

Conservation agriculture, a sustainable farming practice combining no or minimum soil disturbance, crop diversification, and soil cover, can benefit humans and the biophysical environment. However, less than half of Sub-Saharan African countries implement conservation agriculture, and the majority of smallholder farmers are using unsustainable practices. Research and field trials on conservation agriculture

Mitigation of CO2 atmospheric emission rates is partially accomplished through carbon storage in ecosystems, including agricultural systems. In particular, agroforestry systems have been cited as important current and potentially future depositories for carbon. Coffee is produced on substantial areas of tropical lands, traditionally incorporating shade trees as part of the system, but recently having

Grain legumes and drylands cereals including chickpea (Cicer arietinum), common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), lentil (Lens culinaris), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), soybean (Glycine max), finger millet (Eleusine coracana), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) are the leading sources of food grain in drylands of Africa and

Nitrogen (N) runoff loss from paddy fields contributes significantly to non-point source pollution. Straw return to soil may affect N runoff loss by changing soil biochemistry. In situ N runoff monitoring combined with an analysis of soil biochemical indicators was implemented to explore the effect of straw return lasting for five or six years on N runoff loss and its potential mechanism in five rice

Modern agriculture has been focused on optimizing production, neglecting supporting and regulating ecosystem services. Meta-analyses have demonstrated the potential of intercropping to deliver multiple ecosystem services. However, guidelines for the design and management of such systems remain unclear, especially for the understudied vegetable-based intercropping systems. Given the diversity of vegetable

In several countries, coffee is traditionally grown under the shade of large trees; however, the non-shade surface system has increased. Shade cultivation system benefits the soil, helps crops adaption to climate change, and reduces vulnerability. This study aimed to compare the physical, chemical, and biological soil features under coffee production systems: coffee-mango, coffee-banana, and full-sun

Open semi-natural ecosystems have been historically shaped by anthropogenic land-use, and the abandonment or intensification of these activities implied a detrimental alteration of their landscapes. Extensive sheep grazing has gradually decreased during the 20th century in Mediterranean steppes, triggering changes across all taxa. Here, we address the effect of sheep grazing on both arthropod biomass

Farm size increase (FSI) accelerates soil erosion and sediment loss into the river. However, it is not clear how large-scale management, including FSI, changes the proportion of sediment from different land use types (LUTs) into rivers in intensive agricultural catchments. Thus, the aim of this study is to quantify and elucidate the contribution of different LUTs to river sediment before and after

Worldwide, urban areas are spreading at massive rates. Simultaneously, urban agriculture is growing in importance. However, urbanization effects on functional biodiversity on farmland remain poorly studied, especially in urbanization hotspots of the global south. Here, we sampled birds on 36 farms across three seasons (one full year) and along two urbanization gradients in the Indian megacity Bangalore

Adding manure to croplands restores carbon and nutrients in depleted soils, while addressing a waste disposal need. This practice depends on the abundance and activity of microbial communities to break down manure inputs, which provide carbon for microbial growth and release nutrients for plant and microbial uptake. In a 2-year field study, we measured changes to soil physicochemical properties and

White clover, Trifolium repens, is a legume used widely in agriculture due to its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen and improve soil fertility. Due to increasing cost of artificial fertiliser and concern over environmental impact, growing white clover in permanent grassland or in rotation with arable crops can potentially reduce cost and impact while maintaining productivity. White clover is also

The conversion of croplands to shrublands is a common approach used to control soil erosion in the drylands of the Loess Plateau in China and affects the soil, water, and carbon cycles. Knowledge of the soil water content (SWC) and soil organic carbon (SOC) content in response to land-use change is essential for optimizing revegetation strategies and improving ecosystem services. This study investigated

No-tillage with straw mulch is an effective way to achieve soil sustainability. However, the specific redistributions of soil organic carbon composition, stocks, and crop yield remain unclear. The hypothesis that no-tillage had a minor effect on soil organic carbon stocks in 0–50 cm but decreased crop yield compared to plow-tillage under straw return was tested in this study. Soils properties from

Agricultural soils degradation is a global challenge that affects food security, climate change, environmental risks, and the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. In this on-farm study conducted in the Mediterranean mountain area of southern Spain, we used a natural area (NAT) as reference and compared the effect of three tree cropping systems – conventional olive (COL), organic olive (OLO)

Native pollinators are key to enhancing fruit production in apple orchards and maintaining yield stability through taxonomic and functional diversity. Some studies suggest that the distance to the nearest native forest patch, the edge effect, or apple orchard management, modulate the richness and abundance of pollinators. However, such studies have focused on bees, thereby generating knowledge gaps

Protective covers are commonly employed in agricultural systems to reduce the impacts of extreme weather events, pest species and to control the environmental conditions in which crop plants are grown. As protected cropping systems are expanding rapidly, there is an urgent need to better understand how variations in netting practices might impact pollination service delivery by wild and managed insects

Soil health assessment is fundamental to guiding sustainable soil management practices, ensuring healthy soil, crop productivity, and provision of other ecosystem services. Interpretation of soil health in intensive agriculture in the North China Plain (NCP) is still lacking due to an over emphasis on soil chemical management and large variations among smallholders’ farmlands. The objectives of this

The application of composted straw in conventional rice cultivation patterns can enhance soil organic carbon (SOC); however, it increases methane (CH4) emission, thereby reducing its net carbon sequestration efficiency in paddy fields. The rice–edible mushroom pattern may improve this phenomenon because edible mushrooms can promote straw decomposition and soil aggregate formation. Here, we investigated

Livestock grazing can alter biodiversity and ecosystem functions. However, how long-term and continuous grazing intensity affect belowground biodiversity remains unclear, especially for soil microbial diversity. Here, through a well-controlled 5-year field experiment in a Tibetan alpine meadow, the responses of soil bacterial and fungal communities to yak grazing intensity were examined. Our results

In the past centuries, farmland has undergone a fundamental transformation through changed farming practices, such as the use of agrochemicals and advanced machine processing. Particularly since the 1970s, agriculturally driven land-use change has caused destruction of natural and semi-natural habitats, and as a consequence, severe loss of biodiversity. Hence, identifying landscape patterns and habitats

Stingless bees are essential pollinators in tropical ecosystems. Yet compared to their temperate zone counterparts, we know very little about how they respond to agriculture-associated land use, or how this effect is modulated by seasonal variation. Coffee, a dominant crop across the tropics, is grown under diverse management practices, making coffee agroecosystems an important context in which to

As an effective field management practice for better crop productivity, fertilization showed profound impacts on soil health by altering soil chemical, physical, and biological processes. But, how soil health and related ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) respond to long-term fertilization remains unclear. In this study, based on a 29-year field experiment, we evaluated soil health and EMF under chemical

Conservation agriculture management practices (e.g., cover crops and residue retention) have been widely promoted to improve soil quality and environmental sustainability. However, little is known about the long-term interactive effects of cover crops and residue retention on yield of the cash crops and environmental outcomes in dryland cropping systems under climate change. We used the pre-validated

Nitrogen (N) is the key nutrient for crop growth in most agricultural systems, but excessive N fertilizer applications have led to very large ammonia (NH3) and greenhouse gas (GHG), especially nitrous oxide (N2O), emissions, resulting in severe air pollution and making a major contribution to global warming. To clarify the effects of improved N management on NH3 and N2O emissions and crop production

Rice production consumes large amounts of fertilizer and irrigation water and contributes to the non-point source pollution (NPSP) by delivering nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) through surface and subsurface fluxes. However, due to the lack of spatially detailed datasets we barely understand the temporal variations of nutrient fluxes or what the key drivers are. Here, we developed a data-driven model

Populations of managed pollinators are often introduced in agricultural fields to increase pollination levels. Ideally, managed pollinators should show a strong affinity for the target crop, which depends on innate preferences, but also on the availability of alternative co-blooming flower resources. In this study we compared pollen collection in Osmia cornuta and Bombus terrestris populations introduced

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), native to eastern Asia, has become one of the most serious pests of fruit orchards worldwide. This invasive species is highly polyphagous and capable of moving across the agricultural matrix at long distances. However, comprehensive studies exploring how landscape characteristics influence H. halys colonization of orchards

Periodic cropping of otherwise permanent pastures can lead to large losses of carbon (C), especially if cropped for maize silage. The long-term effect on C stocks due to periodic cropping depends on whether the lost C is recovered before any future cropping events. Accordingly, this study tested the hypothesis that C lost during periodic cropping would be recovered following a return to permanent pasture

Agricultural ecosystems are facing critical loss of biodiversity, soil nutrients, and cultural values. Intensive crop production has caused landscape homogenisation, with trees and hedges increasingly disappearing from agricultural land. Changes in farming practices are essential to increase biodiversity and improve soil biogeochemical processes, such as nutrient cycling, soil carbon uptake, and sequestration

Rapid global population growth increases the human demand for food. Reliance on the high input of agrochemicals in agricultural production has been shown to be unsustainable and cost ineffective. The combination of planting and breeding can maximize the utilization of agricultural resources. A novel crop–earthworm coculture model has been gradually practiced in urban agriculture in eastern China. We

Underground water source in North China Plain (NCP) is limited and extensively explored for wheat irrigation, which has caused high carbon emission. Reduced irrigation strategies and soil amendments have been advocated for sustainable agricultural production. However, the interactive effects of irrigation schedule and soil amendment on direct and indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, soil organic

In the Sub-Sahelian region (Senegal), Faidherbia albida trees have been maintained for years in agroforestry parklands for their numerous services offered to people and to crops. The aerial crop biomass and yield are notably greater under the tree crown, but most of this biomass is exported and does not contribute to soil carbon (C) inputs. Belowground litter inputs are crucial, but little is known

Understanding phenological responses of vegetation to temperature have become increasingly important as the global climate changes. We examined how changes in temperature may be associated with the occurrence of rubber leaf fall, a new phenomenon affecting many rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plantations. Spatial and temporal characteristics of the start and end of the rubber season for six study areas

Global population growth and climate change challenge food security severely, and adopting appropriate fertilization strategies to guarantee food production under climate change is uncertain. This research studied the crop yield and soil organic carbon (SOC) in peas-wheat-potato rotation system under four fertilization regimes (viz. unfertilized control (CK), applied mineral nitrogen and phosphorus

Livestock grazing is a popular land-use activity for grasslands. Over grazing and trampling of livestock impairs ecosystem function by changing vegetation growth, soil nutrients, and soil bacterial communities. However, information regarding the characteristics of those allied with above- and belowground of grazing-resistant host plant species under different grazers and grazing practices in grassland