Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment最新文献

{"title":"Matrix-protection rather than protected area conservation can safeguard multilevel amphibian diversity in Colombian agroforestry systems","authors":"José Pinzón ,&nbsp;Leydy Aceros ,&nbsp;Björn Reu ,&nbsp;Martha Patricia Ramírez-Pinilla ,&nbsp;Raffael Ernst","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.109559","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.109559","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Land use change and intensification are among the major threats to amphibian diversity. Nonetheless, human-modified agroforestry systems have been shown to preserve significant amphibian species richness, presumably because they provide alternative microhabitat structures that can be used by several species. Few studies have systematically analyzed the response of amphibians to different management types within these agroforestry systems considering multiple components of diversity. We assessed the composition of amphibians and their taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity across an agroforestry management gradient in the northern Andes, Colombia. This nonlinear gradient included montane and riparian forests and 6 different land-use systems. We evaluated amphibian assemblages along 34 independent transects covering the entire gradient and applying standardized visual and acoustic encounter techniques. We recorded 18 ecosystem structure variables to characterize the different management systems. We recorded a total of 3796 individuals belonging to 14 species and 7 families during 320 hours of transect sampling. Agroforestry systems with shaded plantations showed the highest overall amphibian species richness, while functional and phylogenetic diversity was highest in wetlands and a riparian forest fragment. Cattle pastures, the most intensive management type showed functional and phylogenetic homogenization and the lowest species richness. Structural habitat parameters that best explained the change in species composition were related to vegetation coverage and density. Our results highlight that total amphibian diversity cannot be preserved within a single management type. While less intensive agroforestry systems could be a helpful alternative for amphibian conservation in managed landscapes, linking natural forest fragments and sustainable agroforestry systems in a mosaic matrix design are key to maintaining diversity outside and inside of protected areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"386 ","pages":"Article 109559"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143548085","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Wildlife response to land-use change forces encounters between zoonotic disease hosts and farms in agricultural landscapes","authors":"Kilian J. Murphy ,&nbsp;Andrew W. Byrne ,&nbsp;Nicola Marples ,&nbsp;Maria J.H. O’Hagan ,&nbsp;David J. Kelly ,&nbsp;David Quinn ,&nbsp;Phillip Breslin ,&nbsp;Virginia Morera-Pujol ,&nbsp;Renée M. Khouri ,&nbsp;Damien Barrett ,&nbsp;Guy McGrath ,&nbsp;Simone Ciuti","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.109561","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.109561","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><ul><li><span>1.</span><span><div>Land-use change can significantly alter wildlife movement patterns and behaviour which may increase the risk of zoonotic disease transmission, particularly diseases with wildlife maintenance hosts that intersect regularly with farmland such as bovine tuberculosis (bTB).</div></span></li><li><span>2.</span><span><div>This study utilized an agent-based model (ABM) with high-resolution input data to simulate badger responses to clearfell forestry across 100 sites in Ireland. The model environment was constructed from multiple GIS datasets, including sett locations, habitat, farm boundaries, and forestry operations. Animal movement and behaviour in the model were parameterised using detailed analysis of GPS tracking data from over 200 collared badgers in the wild.</div></span></li><li><span>3.</span><span><div>Our results show that badger density and herd type were the strongest predictors of <em>alien encounters</em>—instances where badgers move beyond their established territories and enter farms outside their usual home range. These encounters, if used as a proxy for bTB transmission risk, represent opportunities for badgers to interact with livestock, particularly cattle, increasing the likelihood of disease spread. Dairy herds, despite being fewer in number compared to beef and suckler enterprises, had a higher risk of alien encounters. Larger clearfell events significantly increased alien encounters, supporting the hypothesis that landscape disturbances elevate disease risk.</div></span></li><li><span>4.</span><span><div>Contrary to expectations, badger dispersal distance did not significantly affect encounter rates. Instead, landscape heterogeneity, including clearfell size and farm density, played a more substantial role in modulating encounters.</div></span></li><li><span>5.</span><span><div>Validation of the ABM using empirical bTB breakdown data confirmed a positive correlation between simulated badger encounter rates per study site and real world bTB outbreaks within those sites.</div></span></li><li><span>6.</span><span><div>This research provides a novel spatial framework for predicting bTB risk in disturbed landscapes, offering a valuable tool for Ireland's efforts to mitigate wildlife-livestock disease transmission. By integrating high-resolution GIS data and GPS-tracked wildlife movements, this approach enhances the accuracy of agent-based models (ABMs) for applied ecology and wildlife conflict research.</div></span></li></ul></div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"386 ","pages":"Article 109561"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143548086","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sphagnum cultivation enhances soil carbon stock by alleviating microbial phosphorus limitation","authors":"Dan Xue ,&nbsp;Huai Chen ,&nbsp;Xiaohan Yang ,&nbsp;Jennifer Ene Idoko ,&nbsp;Lin Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.109587","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.109587","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Sphagnum</em> cultivation has several ecological environmental effects, including land restoration, and economic benefits. However, complex mechanisms involving the interaction of microbial structure, functions, and nutrient limitations under <em>Sphagnum</em> cultivation are still unclear. In this study, we explored microbial nutrient limitation by examining the soil extracellular enzyme stoichiometry across different years of <em>Sphagnum</em> cultivation and further analyzed the impacts of <em>Sphagnum</em> cultivation on soil properties, microbial communities, and microbial functional genes. The results revealed that microbial carbon (C) limitation increased with the years of <em>Sphagnum</em> cultivation. However, <em>Sphagnum</em> cultivation alleviated microbial phosphorus (P) limitation. <em>Sphagnum</em> cultivation significantly decreased the microbial diversity, and microorganisms shifted from copiotrophic (r-) to oligotrophic (K-) groups, which was consistent with the observed reduction in the 16S rRNA operon copy number within the microbial community. However, the functions related to C, nitrogen (N), P, and sulfur cycles displayed a similar “decrease–peak–increase” trend across different years of <em>Sphagnum</em> cultivation. Microbial C limitation increased mainly through increasing the expression of functional genes involved in C cycling, whereas microbial P limitation decreased mainly through decreasing the expression of functional genes involved in N and P cycling with the years of <em>Sphagnum</em> cultivation. Therefore, microbial functional attributes were the key factors driving the response of soil microbial metabolic constraints to the chronosequences of <em>Sphagnum</em> cultivation. Additionally, soil organic C (SOC) content increased and total N and total P contents first decreased and then increased with the years of <em>Sphagnum</em> cultivation. The SOC content was significantly higher by 110.9 % and 178.8 % on average in paddies under long-term <em>Sphagnum</em> cultivation (10 and 20 years, respectively) than in those without <em>Sphagnum</em> cultivation. These findings demonstrated the positive influence of <em>Sphagnum</em> farming on soil ecosystems, particularly in boosting organic C sequestration, which is crucial for combating global climate change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"386 ","pages":"Article 109587"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143548087","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Depth-dependent patterns in soil organic C, enzymatic stochiometric ratio, and soil quality under conventional tillage and reduced tillage after 55-years","authors":"Wenhao Feng ,&nbsp;Juanjuan Ai ,&nbsp;Antonio Rafael Sánchez-Rodríguez ,&nbsp;Shiwei Li ,&nbsp;Wentao Zhang ,&nbsp;Haishui Yang ,&nbsp;Antonios Apostolakis ,&nbsp;Christiane Muenter ,&nbsp;Feng-Min Li ,&nbsp;Michaela A. Dippold ,&nbsp;Jie Zhou ,&nbsp;Klaus Dittert ,&nbsp;Haitao Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.109584","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.109584","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Interest in managing agroecosystems for improving soil health has driven the application of conservation practices, such as reduced tillage. However, our understanding remains limited regarding changes in soil organic carbon (SOC), microbial resource limitations, and soil ecosystem multifunctionality across the soil profile (not just in the upper layers) following long-term reduced tillage as compared to conventional tillage. This study aimed to compare the impacts of reduced tillage (RT) and conventional tillage (CT) on SOC storage, soil enzyme activities, and ecosystem functionality in a 90 cm soil profile. Soil cores were collected from four different soil depths (0–10, 10–30, 30–50, 50–90 cm) in a 55-year field experiment (crop rotation primarily featured cereals) in central Germany comparing RT (rotary harrow, 5–8 cm depth) and CT (mouldboard plough, 25 cm depth). Results showed that RT increases SOC content by 24 % at 0–10 cm depth but decreases SOC content by 22 % at 10–30 cm depth relative to CT. The enhanced SOC content under RT further improved soil ecosystem multifunctionality by a factor of 2.8 at 0–10 cm compared to CT. Notably, higher available nitrogen (N) content increased vector length at 0–10 cm depth under RT, related to the higher production and release of C-acquisition enzymes. In contrast, the higher exudation of N-acquiring enzymes found at 10–50 cm depth indicated N limitation for microorganisms under RT. At this depth, CT alleviated microbial N limitation. Moreover, RT lowered SOC stock by 24 % compared to CT at 10–30 cm, resulting in an 11 % decrease in SOC across the entire 0–90 cm soil profile. In conclusion, while reduced tillage improved soil ecosystem functionality in the 0–10 cm, it may not enhance SOC sequestration, highlighting the importance of considering the whole soil profile when comparing the SOC sequestration potential of different tillage practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"385 ","pages":"Article 109584"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143535284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nutrient additions have minor impact on microbial carbon use efficiency","authors":"Qunou Jiang ,&nbsp;Lingyuan Yan ,&nbsp;Huimin Wang ,&nbsp;Xiaoqin Dai ,&nbsp;Shengwang Meng ,&nbsp;Xiaoli Fu ,&nbsp;Fengting Yang ,&nbsp;Zeqing Ma ,&nbsp;Wenjiao Shi ,&nbsp;Wenjun Lv ,&nbsp;Yuxin Wang ,&nbsp;Decai Gao","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.109582","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.109582","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil nutrient and organic matter contents play a pivotal role in shaping microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) by modulating microbial catabolic and anabolic processes, thereby influencing carbon (C) dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems. However, a comprehensive understanding of how organic matter, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) additions, as well as their interactions affect soil microbial CUE remains unclear. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis comprising 531 observations from 153 published studies to investigate the effects of organic matter, N, and P additions on microbial growth, respiration, and CUE. Our results revealed that N addition significantly decreased soil respiration by 6 %, without affecting microbial growth or CUE. P addition showed no significant effects on microbial physiology. Combined N and P additions significantly enhanced microbial growth and respiration by 9 % and 16 %, respectively, but did not influence microbial CUE. Organic matter addition significantly promoted microbial growth, respiration, and CUE by 37 %, 30 %, and 9 %, respectively. The impacts of N addition on microbial CUE varied across ecosystem types and forms of N applied. Soil microbial responses were more pronounced at lower N addition rates and shorter durations but diminished at higher N addition rates and longer durations. Furthermore, the impacts of inorganic nutrients and organic matter additions on microbial CUE strongly depended on soil properties. These findings provide critical insights into microbial physiological responses to nutrient additions and offer a robust foundation for improving Earth System Models, thereby enhancing predictions of C cycling under scenarios of increased nutrient availability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"385 ","pages":"Article 109582"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143535285","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Agricultural practices influence phosphorus transport and ecosystem health in rice-paddy systems: Insights from HYDRUS-1D simulations","authors":"Shuoshuo Liang ,&nbsp;Qingnan Chu ,&nbsp;Ali Ashrafi ,&nbsp;Zheng Zhao ,&nbsp;Xiangyu Liu ,&nbsp;Shuang Liu ,&nbsp;Bei Yang ,&nbsp;Detian Li ,&nbsp;Ping He ,&nbsp;Linkui Cao ,&nbsp;Zhimin Sha ,&nbsp;Chengrong Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.109581","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.109581","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phosphorus (P) is a critical macronutrient in rice-paddy systems, essential for crop productivity. However, inefficient P management often leads to significant environmental issues such as nutrient leaching and eutrophication. This study investigated the impacts of different fertilization strategies conventional chemical fertilization (CT), partial organic substitution (MT), and fully organic fertilization (OT)—on P transport, rice yield, and environmental risks over a seven-year period. Using a combination of field experiments and HYDRUS-1D simulations, we analyzed how agricultural management influences P distribution in the soil profile, crop uptake, and leaching potential. Our results showed that HYDRUS-1D model could accurately simulate P transport, with RMSE range from 0.024 to 0.031 mg L⁻¹ during calibration in 2012 and 0.053–0.073 mg L⁻¹ during validation in 2018. The results demonstrated that the MT treatment achieved the highest P use efficiency, maintaining rice yields comparable to CT while significantly reducing P leaching into deeper soil layers. In contrast, OT resulted in excessive P buildup in the topsoil, increasing leaching risks. Model simulations further show that an increase in temperature by up to 2°C had minimal effects on P transport, suggesting that proper P fertilization strategies are more critical than temperature variability for minimizing environmental pollution. According to model simulation, the recommended P application rates for CT, MT, and OT are 64.18, 55.86, 50.97 kg hm⁻² respectively, with MT providing the best balance between crop productivity and environmental sustainability. Overall, this study offers novel insights into how mixed fertilization practices can optimize P management in rice-paddy systems, contributing to sustainable agriculture by reducing P losses and enhancing environmental protection. Future research should assess the long-term applicability of these strategies across diverse agricultural landscapes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"385 ","pages":"Article 109581"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143529709","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of novel P fertilizers on microbial abundance related to N and P cycling in two on-farm systems","authors":"Stefanie Katharina Thaqi ,&nbsp;Roberto Siani ,&nbsp;Akane Chiba ,&nbsp;Nora Vitow ,&nbsp;Christel Baum ,&nbsp;Peter Leinweber ,&nbsp;Kerstin Panten ,&nbsp;Michael Schloter ,&nbsp;Stefanie Schulz","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.109565","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.109565","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient element for plant growth and development. Its limited availability makes alternative P sources crucial for fertilizer production. This study investigated the effects of three recycling-derived fertilizers with varying P solubility on microbial nutrient turnover at two fields in central Germany, Kiebitzbreite and Schmatzfelder Breite, which differ in management practices and soil characteristics. Samples were collected during the stem elongation stage of winter wheat from bulk soil and rhizosphere. Fertilization treatments included traditional triple superphosphate (TSP) and a no-P control (P0) for comparison. The abundance of microorganisms involved in P and Nitrogen (N) turnover was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. Potential acid and alkaline phosphatase activity, mycorrhizal colonization rate, Carbon (C) to P, N to P ratios in the soil and the plant, and water-extractable P were measured. Although all treatments received the same amount of P, the differing solubilities of the fertilizers significantly affected water-extractable P levels, while nutrient ratios in the plant biomass remained comparable among sites and fertilizer treatments. However, the microbial strategies for maintaining P levels varied significantly across the sites. At the Kiebitzbreite, the site with silty loam texture and deep plowing, high ratios of available C and N to P in the soil were accompanied by high alkaline phosphatase activity and a larger abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere. Conversely, P solubilization was more pronounced at Schmatzfelder Breite, a site with finer soil texture managed by deep chiseling. Notably, the fertilization treatments influenced not only the abundance of bacteria catalyzing P turnover but also those catalyzing major steps of the N cycle, especially at Schmatzfelder Breite, where higher P solubility led to increased bacteria involved in N mineralization. This non-targeted effect on N cycling underscores the importance of fertilizer type, beyond just P supply, in influencing broader nutrient turnover dynamics. Our findings suggest that recycling-derived P fertilizers are promising alternatives to conventional P sources, though their on-farm impacts on microbial nutrient turnover vary significantly with site conditions and management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"385 ","pages":"Article 109565"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143518983","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Age-driven structural characteristics relate to epigeal arthropod communities in olive agroecosystems of the Atacama Desert","authors":"B.N. Wallberg ,&nbsp;J. Pizarro-Araya ,&nbsp;F.M. Alfaro ,&nbsp;J.E. Calderón ,&nbsp;A.P. Loayza","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.109593","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.109593","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Intensive agriculture has led to a significant global decline of biodiversity. However, agroecosystems like olive groves can serve as biodiversity refuges, especially in arid environments, by acting as resource islands that promote the persistence of multiple species, including arthropods. The structural complexity and productivity of olive groves typically increase with age, enhancing their ability to sustain high biodiversity. In this study, we examined how epigeal arthropod diversity patterns vary across olive orchards of different ages in the Huasco Valley of Chile's Atacama Desert. We hypothesized that older olive orchards, with greater structural complexity and productivity, would harbor higher arthropod abundance, diversity, and distinct community compositions than a younger olive orchard. To test this hypothesis, we sampled epigeal arthropods in three olive orchards of different ages (young, intermediate, and centennial) using pitfall traps and characterized each orchard's structure and productivity (NDVI). Our findings indicate that olive orchard age is related to arthropod composition and abundance but not diversity. Young and intermediate olive orchards had higher arthropod abundance, dominated by isopods and hymenopterans, while entomophthorans and mites predominated in the centennial orchard. Each orchard harbored a unique arthropod community, with NDVI being a key factor in the centennial orchard, dry weed biomass in intermediate orchards, and leaf litter in young groves. These results suggest that the structural characteristics associated with olive orchard age play a crucial role in shaping arthropod communities in arid environments, highlighting the importance of habitat management within agroecosystems for promoting biodiversity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"385 ","pages":"Article 109593"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143527476","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Crop diversity enhances drought tolerance and reduces environmental impact in commodity crops","authors":"Yamila Leguizamón ,&nbsp;Matías G. Goldenberg ,&nbsp;Esteban Jobbágy ,&nbsp;Juan I. Whitworth-Hulse ,&nbsp;Emilio Satorre ,&nbsp;María Paolini ,&nbsp;Gustavo Martini ,&nbsp;Jose Roberto Micheloud ,&nbsp;Lucas A. Garibaldi","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.109585","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.109585","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Key challenges in agriculture include enhancing tolerance to extreme climatic events and reducing environmental impacts. While diversified crop rotations and cover crops are known to reduce pest incidence and improve soil health, their combined effects on production, especially during extreme droughts, remain unclear. To examine the impact of crop rotation diversity and cover crops on grain yield and pesticide footprint (measured by the Environmental Impact Quotient, EIQ) of rainfed maize and soybean in both normal and extremely dry years, we applied mixed-effects models to data from 1777 fields in Argentina. Overall, increasing crop rotation diversity reduced field EIQ, with the impact on grain yield varying based on crop type, nitrogen fertilization, and year. Maize yield improved with crop rotation diversity in the dry year, particularly with low nitrogen fertilization, reaching yields similar to those in normal year. Soybean yield, instead, was unaffected by either crop rotation diversity or cover crops. While grain yields of crops following cover crops and fallow were comparable, fields with cover crops showed a reduction in EIQ of up to 20 %. Diversified crop rotations emerge as an effective management strategy to alleviate drought and low nitrogen fertilization’s adverse effects on maize yield. Additionally, cover crops help reduce agriculture’s environmental impact without diminishing maize and soybean production. Our findings underscore the importance of crop diversification in developing a more sustainable agricultural system with reduced inputs and enhanced drought resilience.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"385 ","pages":"Article 109585"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143512475","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Elevated ozone mitigates warming-induced methane emissions in a rice paddy field","authors":"Xin Zhong ,&nbsp;Evgenios Agathokleous ,&nbsp;Jianghua Wu ,&nbsp;Yujie Zhang ,&nbsp;Yuqing Zhou ,&nbsp;Yansen Xu ,&nbsp;Bo Shang ,&nbsp;Yang Ji ,&nbsp;Zhaozhong Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.109577","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.109577","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Global warming cooccurs with tropospheric ozone (O₃); however, their joined effect on methane (CH₄) emissions in agricultural ecosystems remains largely unknown. Here, a two-year field study was conducted to quantify the effects of elevated O₃ (1.5 ×ambient) and/or warming (ambient+2℃) on CH₄ emissions from paddy fields in a free-air O₃-concentration enrichment and warming system, and to clarify the main influencing factors. Four treatments were applied: (1) ambient O₃ and ambient temperature (CK), (2) elevated O₃ and ambient temperature (E-O₃), (3) ambient O₃ and elevated temperature (W), and (4) elevated O₃ and elevated temperature (E-O₃W). Results showed that elevated O₃ significantly inhibited or tended to inhibit CH₄ emissions from paddy fields at ambient temperature, especially at the jointing and booting stages of rice. Elevated O₃ mitigated the stimulatory effect of warming on CH₄ emissions. The effects of elevated O₃ concentration and warming on CH₄ emission were related to significant changes in soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and NH₄⁺ content, but not to the number of rice tillers, soil pH, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and NO₃^- content. Our study provides evidence that elevated O₃ concentration and warming have an antagonistic effect on CH₄ emissions from paddy fields. To accurately predict global change impacts, the effects of both elevated O₃ and warming should be incorporated within the CH₄ models for paddy fields.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"385 ","pages":"Article 109577"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143511209","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}