Pub Date : 2026-01-17DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2026.110253
Christian T.L. Djuideu , Felicitas C. Ambele , Hervé D.B. Bisseleua , François X.A. Ndzana , Sevilor Kekeunou
Termites are major ecosystem engineers, contributing to organic matter recycling and soil health, but they are also increasingly recognized as a major constraint to cocoa production due to their damage to cocoa trees. However, the impact of reducing shade tree density and seasonal temperature shifts on termite assemblages, feeding behavior, and soil health remains unclear. We investigated termite functional diversity, cocoa tree infestation, and soil organic matter decomposition across five cocoa agroforestry systems over two seasons. We showed that shade management towards tree reduction associated with temperature increase significantly increased the number of cocoa trees infested by harmful termites. Cocoa trees in poorly shaded systems were more infested by non-beneficial termite species during dry seasons than those in heavily shaded systems during the same period. Soil-feeding species such as Procubitermes undulans and Anenteotermes humerus apparently shifted from below-ground foraging to attack cocoa branches in dry periods. Shade management towards tree reduction also contributed to reduce decomposition of soil organic matter (Humification score of 2.1 <2.5). This result implies that reducing companion tree density in cocoa agroforestry systems may lead to more beneficial termite species becoming non-beneficial, more termite outbreaks, less soil organic matter and poor soil health. These phenomena could be severe with global increasing temperatures. Proper management of shade trees by keeping a diversity of shade trees is the recommended solution to reduce pest pressure on cocoa trees, improve cocoa soil health and enhance beneficial interactions.
{"title":"Shade management and seasonal temperature shifts reshape termite feeding dynamics and soil health in cocoa agroforestry systems","authors":"Christian T.L. Djuideu , Felicitas C. Ambele , Hervé D.B. Bisseleua , François X.A. Ndzana , Sevilor Kekeunou","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110253","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110253","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Termites are major ecosystem engineers, contributing to organic matter recycling and soil health, but they are also increasingly recognized as a major constraint to cocoa production due to their damage to cocoa trees. However, the impact of reducing shade tree density and seasonal temperature shifts on termite assemblages, feeding behavior, and soil health remains unclear. We investigated termite functional diversity, cocoa tree infestation, and soil organic matter decomposition across five cocoa agroforestry systems over two seasons. We showed that shade management towards tree reduction associated with temperature increase significantly increased the number of cocoa trees infested by harmful termites. Cocoa trees in poorly shaded systems were more infested by non-beneficial termite species during dry seasons than those in heavily shaded systems during the same period. Soil-feeding species such as <em>Procubitermes undulans</em> and <em>Anenteotermes humerus</em> apparently shifted from below-ground foraging to attack cocoa branches in dry periods. Shade management towards tree reduction also contributed to reduce decomposition of soil organic matter (Humification score of 2.1 <2.5). This result implies that reducing companion tree density in cocoa agroforestry systems may lead to more beneficial termite species becoming non-beneficial, more termite outbreaks, less soil organic matter and poor soil health. These phenomena could be severe with global increasing temperatures. Proper management of shade trees by keeping a diversity of shade trees is the recommended solution to reduce pest pressure on cocoa trees, improve cocoa soil health and enhance beneficial interactions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"400 ","pages":"Article 110253"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145995458","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-17DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2026.110230
Hanna Susi , Paula Thitz , Marleena Hagner , Krista Raveala , Johan Ekroos , Anna-Liisa Laine
Biodiversity loss from intensive agriculture poses a major threat to the long-term sustainability and resilience of food production systems. Sustainable land management practices, such as carbon farming, offer promising alternatives, but their biodiversity impacts and the most effective methods for detecting these impacts remain poorly understood. We surveyed 19 farms in boreal Finland to assess the effects of four carbon farming practices—cover crops, all-in mixes, adaptive grazing and ley mixtures—on plants, arthropods, nematodes and birds. We evaluated biodiversity responses using four alpha diversity metrics (abundance, species richness, Shannon’s diversity and Pielou’s evenness) and two beta diversity metrics (Bray–Curtis and Chi-square dissimilarity). Biodiversity responses were strongly context-dependent, varying by farming practice, taxonomic group and diversity metric. Abundance emerged as the most sensitive alpha metric across taxa, often detecting changes not reflected in community composition metrics. These findings suggest that abundance may serve as a useful early indicator of ecological change in managed landscapes. Adaptive grazing increased herbivorous arthropod abundance in contrast to control treatment, whereas ley mixture and adaptive grazing supported higher nematode abundances than cover crops and all-in mixes. All diversity metrics except species richness detected changes in at least one species group, practice or field status, but abundance consistently captured the broadest responses. Carbon farming practices can support biodiversity when tailored to species group and context. Monitoring approaches that incorporate multiple metrics—and prioritize abundance as a sensitive and early indicator—can improve the detection of ecological responses to sustainable farming interventions.
{"title":"Impacts of carbon farming practices on biodiversity at the farm scale","authors":"Hanna Susi , Paula Thitz , Marleena Hagner , Krista Raveala , Johan Ekroos , Anna-Liisa Laine","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110230","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110230","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biodiversity loss from intensive agriculture poses a major threat to the long-term sustainability and resilience of food production systems. Sustainable land management practices, such as carbon farming, offer promising alternatives, but their biodiversity impacts and the most effective methods for detecting these impacts remain poorly understood. We surveyed 19 farms in boreal Finland to assess the effects of four carbon farming practices—cover crops, all-in mixes, adaptive grazing and ley mixtures—on plants, arthropods, nematodes and birds. We evaluated biodiversity responses using four alpha diversity metrics (abundance, species richness, Shannon’s diversity and Pielou’s evenness) and two beta diversity metrics (Bray–Curtis and Chi-square dissimilarity). Biodiversity responses were strongly context-dependent, varying by farming practice, taxonomic group and diversity metric. Abundance emerged as the most sensitive alpha metric across taxa, often detecting changes not reflected in community composition metrics. These findings suggest that abundance may serve as a useful early indicator of ecological change in managed landscapes. Adaptive grazing increased herbivorous arthropod abundance in contrast to control treatment, whereas ley mixture and adaptive grazing supported higher nematode abundances than cover crops and all-in mixes. All diversity metrics except species richness detected changes in at least one species group, practice or field status, but abundance consistently captured the broadest responses. Carbon farming practices can support biodiversity when tailored to species group and context. Monitoring approaches that incorporate multiple metrics—and prioritize abundance as a sensitive and early indicator—can improve the detection of ecological responses to sustainable farming interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"400 ","pages":"Article 110230"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145995455","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-16DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2026.110234
Carolin Biegerl , Andrea Holzschuh , Fabian A. Boetzl , Jochen Krauss , Jie Zhang , Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter
In simplified agricultural landscapes, the continuous availability of food and nesting resources for pollinators, often associated with semi-natural habitats, is limited. This threatens pollinator populations and essential pollination services. Winter oilseed rape (OSR) can temporarily compensate for this lack of floral resources in spring by providing large amounts of nectar and pollen. While flowering OSR attracts pollinators, knowledge about its effects on pollinator populations in adjacent semi-natural habitats over the season remains vague. We therefore asked how OSR cover affects bee abundance in high-value semi-natural habitats throughout the season, and how habitat area, quality, and bee life-history traits modulate these effects. To answer this, we sampled bees in 40 semi-natural calcareous grasslands in Germany. Wild bee abundance (excluding bumblebees) in grasslands was positively related to landscape OSR cover during OSR flowering. Bumblebee abundance showed a positive relationship with OSR cover only after flowering, and only in large grasslands. Wild bees foraging on flowering OSR likely spilled over into calcareous grasslands which offer abundant nesting sites. Bumblebees, less restricted in nesting needs, built up populations in OSR-rich landscapes and benefited from continuous floral resources in large grasslands after OSR flowering. Although OSR positively affected wild bees, this effect was short-lived for non-Bombus bees and delayed for bumblebees. Our findings emphasize the ecological value of calcareous grasslands as high-quality foraging habitats after OSR flowering and crucial nesting sites during OSR flowering. We conclude that pollinator communities on calcareous grasslands can benefit from mass-flowering crops in the surrounding agricultural landscapes, but the conservation of these grasslands remains essential.
{"title":"Landscape-level oilseed rape cover shapes seasonal patterns of wild bee abundance in conservation areas","authors":"Carolin Biegerl , Andrea Holzschuh , Fabian A. Boetzl , Jochen Krauss , Jie Zhang , Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110234","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110234","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In simplified agricultural landscapes, the continuous availability of food and nesting resources for pollinators, often associated with semi-natural habitats, is limited. This threatens pollinator populations and essential pollination services. Winter oilseed rape (OSR) can temporarily compensate for this lack of floral resources in spring by providing large amounts of nectar and pollen. While flowering OSR attracts pollinators, knowledge about its effects on pollinator populations in adjacent semi-natural habitats over the season remains vague. We therefore asked how OSR cover affects bee abundance in high-value semi-natural habitats throughout the season, and how habitat area, quality, and bee life-history traits modulate these effects. To answer this, we sampled bees in 40 semi-natural calcareous grasslands in Germany. Wild bee abundance (excluding bumblebees) in grasslands was positively related to landscape OSR cover during OSR flowering. Bumblebee abundance showed a positive relationship with OSR cover only after flowering, and only in large grasslands. Wild bees foraging on flowering OSR likely spilled over into calcareous grasslands which offer abundant nesting sites. Bumblebees, less restricted in nesting needs, built up populations in OSR-rich landscapes and benefited from continuous floral resources in large grasslands after OSR flowering. Although OSR positively affected wild bees, this effect was short-lived for non-<em>Bombus</em> bees and delayed for bumblebees. Our findings emphasize the ecological value of calcareous grasslands as high-quality foraging habitats after OSR flowering and crucial nesting sites during OSR flowering. We conclude that pollinator communities on calcareous grasslands can benefit from mass-flowering crops in the surrounding agricultural landscapes, but the conservation of these grasslands remains essential.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"400 ","pages":"Article 110234"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973850","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}
Straw return, as a traditional conservation tillage practice, has been widely applied; however, the suitability of different straw return approaches has rarely been evaluated under various land degradation degrees. In this study, three straw return approaches (strip mulching, rotary tillage and deep plowing) were applied to Mollisols with four degrees of degradation (non-degradation, light, moderate and severe degradation). Soil physical, biological and nutrient properties as well as crop growth characteristics were monitored at different soybean growth stages in 2023. Crop yield was also measured for different treatments. Compared to control (straw removal), the suitability of different approaches was assessed. The results showed that the benefits of straw return were strongly regulated by land degradation. With land degradation intensified, the advantages of rotary tillage in promoting microbial activity and nutrient availability were gradually replaced by the approach of strip mulching. Compared to straw removal, straw return by strip mulching increased soybean yield from 3.1 % in non-degraded cropland to 20.8 % in severely degraded cropland, whereas the yield increases of rotary tillage and deep plowing declined from 15.4 % to 7.1 % and from 12.6 % to 1.3 %, respectively. Changes in soil structure and hydrothermal conditions were the main drivers of yield variation under different straw return approaches. For non-degraded Mollisols, straw incorporation or deep plowing is recommended to alleviate low-temperature stress in cool and humid regions, while for degraded Mollisols, straw return by strip mulching is preferable to improve topsoil aggregate stability, erosion resistance and water retention. This study offers critical insights into optimizing straw return approach under various soil degradation degrees, contributing to sustainable agricultural productivity in response to global challenges of land degradation.
{"title":"Appropriate straw return approaches can improve soil properties and crop yield of Mollisol farmlands with various degradation degrees","authors":"Shukun Xing , Guanghui Zhang , Yatong Zhang , Yi Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110248","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110248","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Straw return, as a traditional conservation tillage practice, has been widely applied; however, the suitability of different straw return approaches has rarely been evaluated under various land degradation degrees. In this study, three straw return approaches (strip mulching, rotary tillage and deep plowing) were applied to Mollisols with four degrees of degradation (non-degradation, light, moderate and severe degradation). Soil physical, biological and nutrient properties as well as crop growth characteristics were monitored at different soybean growth stages in 2023. Crop yield was also measured for different treatments. Compared to control (straw removal), the suitability of different approaches was assessed. The results showed that the benefits of straw return were strongly regulated by land degradation. With land degradation intensified, the advantages of rotary tillage in promoting microbial activity and nutrient availability were gradually replaced by the approach of strip mulching. Compared to straw removal, straw return by strip mulching increased soybean yield from 3.1 % in non-degraded cropland to 20.8 % in severely degraded cropland, whereas the yield increases of rotary tillage and deep plowing declined from 15.4 % to 7.1 % and from 12.6 % to 1.3 %, respectively. Changes in soil structure and hydrothermal conditions were the main drivers of yield variation under different straw return approaches. For non-degraded Mollisols, straw incorporation or deep plowing is recommended to alleviate low-temperature stress in cool and humid regions, while for degraded Mollisols, straw return by strip mulching is preferable to improve topsoil aggregate stability, erosion resistance and water retention. This study offers critical insights into optimizing straw return approach under various soil degradation degrees, contributing to sustainable agricultural productivity in response to global challenges of land degradation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"400 ","pages":"Article 110248"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973846","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-16DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2026.110239
Kathryn E. White , Michel A. Cavigelli , Harry H. Schomberg , Steven B. Mirsky
Poultry litter (PL) is used by grain farmers in poultry producing regions to supply nitrogen (N). Knowledge of the effects of long-term applications on plant available N (PAN) is limited, particularly when combined with historical inputs from legume cover crops and forages. Previous research at the Farming Systems Project (FSP) in Maryland, USA found that historical inputs from legumes and PL increased PAN, likely reducing maize PL requirements. We quantified the effects of three reduced PL application rates on PAN and the effects of PAN and weeds on maize yields in three organically managed rotations at FSP. We established PL application rate microplots in two-year hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) plus rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop–maize (Zea mays L.)–rye cover crop–soybean (Glycine max L.), three-year hairy vetch plus rye–maize-rye cover crop–soybean–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and six-year maize–rye cover crop–soybean–wheat–alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) –alfalfa–alfalfa rotations. Rotational diversity increased microbially active carbon, N, and PAN concentrations, eliminating maize PL requirements in the six-year rotation. In the two- and three-year rotations, eliminating PL decreased yields by 1645 and 1009 kg ha−1, respectively. However, application rates could be reduced by 43 % and 58 % without affecting maize yields. Weeds reduced yields in the two-year rotation by 1394 kg ha−1. Results indicate that long-term PL and legume inputs increase N storage, N cycling, and soil PAN sufficient to support maize yields, but rates are rotation-dependent. Reducing PL recommendations in comparable rotations, whether organic or conventional, would reduce fertility costs and likely lower N loss risks.
家禽垃圾(PL)被家禽生产区的粮食农民用来提供氮(N)。长期施用对植物速效氮(PAN)影响的认识有限,特别是当与豆类覆盖作物和牧草的历史投入相结合时。美国马里兰州农业系统项目(FSP)先前的研究发现,豆类和PL的历史投入增加了PAN,可能降低了玉米PL的需求。我们量化了在FSP上三个有机管理轮作中,三种降低PL施用量对PAN的影响,以及PAN和杂草对玉米产量的影响。我们在2年毛豌豆(Vicia villosa Roth)加黑麦(Secale cereale L.)覆盖作物-玉米(Zea mays L.) -黑麦覆盖作物-大豆(Glycine max L.)、3年毛豌豆加黑麦-玉米-黑麦覆盖作物-大豆-小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)和6年玉米-黑麦覆盖作物-大豆-小麦-苜蓿(Medicago sativa L.)中建立了PL施用量小地块。-alfalfa-alfalfa旋转。轮作多样性增加了微生物活性碳、氮和PAN浓度,消除了6年轮作对玉米PL的需求。在两年和三年的轮作中,去除PL分别使产量降低1645和1009 kg ha−1。然而,在不影响玉米产量的情况下,施用量可降低43% %和58% %。杂草在两年轮作中使产量减少1394 kg ha−1。结果表明,长期施用有机肥和豆科作物增加了氮素储存量、氮素循环和土壤PAN,足以支持玉米产量,但速率与轮作有关。在可比较的轮作中,无论是有机轮作还是常规轮作,减少氮肥推荐量将降低生育成本,并可能降低氮肥损失风险。
{"title":"Plant available nitrogen varies with crop rotation due to legacy effects of legume and poultry litter inputs","authors":"Kathryn E. White , Michel A. Cavigelli , Harry H. Schomberg , Steven B. Mirsky","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110239","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110239","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Poultry litter (PL) is used by grain farmers in poultry producing regions to supply nitrogen (N). Knowledge of the effects of long-term applications on plant available N (PAN) is limited, particularly when combined with historical inputs from legume cover crops and forages. Previous research at the Farming Systems Project (FSP) in Maryland, USA found that historical inputs from legumes and PL increased PAN, likely reducing maize PL requirements. We quantified the effects of three reduced PL application rates on PAN and the effects of PAN and weeds on maize yields in three organically managed rotations at FSP. We established PL application rate microplots in two-year hairy vetch (<em>Vicia villosa</em> Roth) plus rye (<em>Secale cereale</em> L.) cover crop–maize <em>(Zea mays</em> L.)–rye cover crop–soybean (<em>Glycine max</em> L.), three-year hairy vetch plus rye–maize-rye cover crop–soybean–wheat (<em>Triticum aestivum</em> L.), and six-year maize–rye cover crop–soybean–wheat–alfalfa (<em>Medicago sativa</em> L.) –alfalfa–alfalfa rotations. Rotational diversity increased microbially active carbon, N, and PAN concentrations, eliminating maize PL requirements in the six-year rotation. In the two- and three-year rotations, eliminating PL decreased yields by 1645 and 1009 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. However, application rates could be reduced by 43 % and 58 % without affecting maize yields. Weeds reduced yields in the two-year rotation by 1394 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>. Results indicate that long-term PL and legume inputs increase N storage, N cycling, and soil PAN sufficient to support maize yields, but rates are rotation-dependent. Reducing PL recommendations in comparable rotations, whether organic or conventional, would reduce fertility costs and likely lower N loss risks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"400 ","pages":"Article 110239"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973848","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-16DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2026.110251
Xi Lin , Shengwei Zhang , Alfredo Huete , Han Y.H. Chen , Hongbin Zhao , Qinsi He , Shengwei Lv , Qian Zhang , Xiaoduo Zhang , Xiaofeng Zhang
Global climate change is altering carbon cycling in terrestrial ecosystems and challenging the carbon storage capacity of grasslands. The ecological effects of grazing exclusions, as a key management strategy, and the scale-dependent mechanisms underlying them warrant further investigation. We constructed a multi-scale nested analysis framework for the China-Inner Mongolia region and global scale to systematically assess the impact patterns of grazing exclusion on soil carbon content and vegetation properties under varying environmental conditions. Based on our meta-analysis, we found that grazing exclusion resulted in an average increase of 23.4 % in soil organic carbon content compared to continuous grazing on a global scale, with long-term grazing restrictions (>30 years) having the most significant positive impact on soil organic carbon. Grazing exclusion significantly enhanced the sustained recovery of global grassland plant biomass, coverage, and soil properties (including soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, soil water content, and bulk density). However, species richness displayed a distinct temporal pattern, with significant gains occurring only during moderate grazing exclusion periods (10–30 years). Globally and in China, both soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil water content (SWC) positively influenced vegetation richness during short-term grazing exclusion (0–10 years). In Inner Mongolia, detailed analyses revealed a decoupling of soil and vegetation responses: grazing exclusion markedly improved vegetation recovery but did not significantly alter SOC, underscoring complex local-scale ecological processes. Overall, our findings demonstrate the global generality of grazing exclusion effects alongside their scale-dependent mechanisms, providing a scientific foundation for scale-appropriate, adaptive grassland management strategies.
{"title":"Global-to-regional variations in the effects of grassland management on soil carbon","authors":"Xi Lin , Shengwei Zhang , Alfredo Huete , Han Y.H. Chen , Hongbin Zhao , Qinsi He , Shengwei Lv , Qian Zhang , Xiaoduo Zhang , Xiaofeng Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110251","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110251","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Global climate change is altering carbon cycling in terrestrial ecosystems and challenging the carbon storage capacity of grasslands. The ecological effects of grazing exclusions, as a key management strategy, and the scale-dependent mechanisms underlying them warrant further investigation. We constructed a multi-scale nested analysis framework for the China-Inner Mongolia region and global scale to systematically assess the impact patterns of grazing exclusion on soil carbon content and vegetation properties under varying environmental conditions. Based on our meta-analysis, we found that grazing exclusion resulted in an average increase of 23.4 % in soil organic carbon content compared to continuous grazing on a global scale, with long-term grazing restrictions (>30 years) having the most significant positive impact on soil organic carbon. Grazing exclusion significantly enhanced the sustained recovery of global grassland plant biomass, coverage, and soil properties (including soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, soil water content, and bulk density). However, species richness displayed a distinct temporal pattern, with significant gains occurring only during moderate grazing exclusion periods (10–30 years). Globally and in China, both soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil water content (SWC) positively influenced vegetation richness during short-term grazing exclusion (0–10 years). In Inner Mongolia, detailed analyses revealed a decoupling of soil and vegetation responses: grazing exclusion markedly improved vegetation recovery but did not significantly alter SOC, underscoring complex local-scale ecological processes. Overall, our findings demonstrate the global generality of grazing exclusion effects alongside their scale-dependent mechanisms, providing a scientific foundation for scale-appropriate, adaptive grassland management strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"400 ","pages":"Article 110251"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973849","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-15DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2026.110246
Jiayi Jiang , Xiaomin Yang , Zimin Li , Dongchen Ruan , Jie Zeng , Qixin Wu , Hai Xu
With climate change, extensive Poaceae crop cultivation endows the agricultural systems with a distinctive and influential role in the global coupled biogeochemical cycles of silicon (Si) and carbon (C). This study selected highland barley (Hordeum vulgare var. nudum), a dominant Poaceae crop in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), to clarify the effects of Si on biomass C accumulation and phytolith-associated C production using a comparative analysis of Si-C interactions. Analytical results from quantitative statistics and qualitative characterization across most organs of highland barley demonstrated Si functional role in partially substituting C within the tissue biomass on a per-unit dry mass basis. Combined with the biomass data, Si accumulation (156.13 ± 73.07 kg ha–1) was significantly positively correlated with biomass C accumulation (6.44 ± 2.33 ×103 kg ha–1) within aboveground organs of highland barley. These findings indicates that the Si accumulation promotes, rather than inhibits, C storage in Poaceae crops. Path model further revealed that plant available Si (PASi) in soil exerted a significant direct influence on crop biomass, with 20 % of explanation, whereas 76 % of the variance in phytolith-associated C production was explained. Given the widespread risk of Si deficiency in global cropland soils, our study indicates that increasing Si enrichment in Poaceae crops via improving Si fertilization management can ultimately drive global C cycling by enhancing the biomass C accumulation and phytolith-associated C production.
{"title":"Silicon affects alpine cropland carbon cycling by enhancing the biomass carbon accumulation and phytolith production in highland barley","authors":"Jiayi Jiang , Xiaomin Yang , Zimin Li , Dongchen Ruan , Jie Zeng , Qixin Wu , Hai Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110246","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110246","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With climate change, extensive Poaceae crop cultivation endows the agricultural systems with a distinctive and influential role in the global coupled biogeochemical cycles of silicon (Si) and carbon (C). This study selected highland barley (<em>Hordeum vulgare</em> var. <em>nudum</em>), a dominant Poaceae crop in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), to clarify the effects of Si on biomass C accumulation and phytolith-associated C production using a comparative analysis of Si-C interactions. Analytical results from quantitative statistics and qualitative characterization across most organs of highland barley demonstrated Si functional role in partially substituting C within the tissue biomass on a per-unit dry mass basis. Combined with the biomass data, Si accumulation (156.13 ± 73.07 kg ha<sup>–1</sup>) was significantly positively correlated with biomass C accumulation (6.44 ± 2.33 ×10<sup>3</sup> kg ha<sup>–1</sup>) within aboveground organs of highland barley. These findings indicates that the Si accumulation promotes, rather than inhibits, C storage in Poaceae crops. Path model further revealed that plant available Si (PASi) in soil exerted a significant direct influence on crop biomass, with 20 % of explanation, whereas 76 % of the variance in phytolith-associated C production was explained. Given the widespread risk of Si deficiency in global cropland soils, our study indicates that increasing Si enrichment in Poaceae crops via improving Si fertilization management can ultimately drive global C cycling by enhancing the biomass C accumulation and phytolith-associated C production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"400 ","pages":"Article 110246"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973845","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-15DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2026.110244
J. García-Guerra, J. Dorado, J.M. Peña
This study examines how different irrigation levels influence weed community composition and functional structure in a Mediterranean vineyard, explicitly considering spatial heterogeneity (vineyard rows vs. inter-rows) and seasonal variability (spring vs. summer). Weed surveys and functional trait measurements (vegetative plant height, leaf area, specific leaf area, and leaf dry matter content) were conducted under three irrigation treatments (low: Kc = 0.2; moderate: Kc = 0.4; high: Kc = 0.8). Irrigation significantly modified weed community composition, particularly during the active irrigation period in summer, with effects persisting into the following spring. Increased irrigation consistently boosted total weed cover and favoured competitor species, while stress-tolerant species declined under higher irrigation levels. Functionally, greater water availability promoted resource-acquisitive traits (e.g. higher leaf area and specific leaf area, lower leaf dry matter content). Dominant species, such as Cirsium arvense, exhibited pronounced intraspecific trait plasticity, notably increasing leaf area under high irrigation, underscoring the critical role of trait plasticity in shaping community responses. Functional diversity metrics—functional richness and divergence—increased significantly under high irrigation, particularly within vineyard rows directly receiving water. Moreover, irrigation influenced weed communities beyond directly irrigated areas and periods, demonstrating spatial and temporal legacy effects. Agronomically, our findings demonstrate that increased irrigation levels may intensify weed pressure, highlighting the necessity for irrigation management strategies to incorporate ecological insights into weed community dynamics to achieve an optimal balance between productivity and ecological sustainability.
{"title":"Irrigation-driven shifts in weed community composition, functional identity, and functional diversity: Evidence from a Mediterranean vineyard","authors":"J. García-Guerra, J. Dorado, J.M. Peña","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110244","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110244","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines how different irrigation levels influence weed community composition and functional structure in a Mediterranean vineyard, explicitly considering spatial heterogeneity (vineyard rows vs. inter-rows) and seasonal variability (spring vs. summer). Weed surveys and functional trait measurements (vegetative plant height, leaf area, specific leaf area, and leaf dry matter content) were conducted under three irrigation treatments (low: Kc = 0.2; moderate: Kc = 0.4; high: Kc = 0.8). Irrigation significantly modified weed community composition, particularly during the active irrigation period in summer, with effects persisting into the following spring. Increased irrigation consistently boosted total weed cover and favoured competitor species, while stress-tolerant species declined under higher irrigation levels. Functionally, greater water availability promoted resource-acquisitive traits (e.g. higher leaf area and specific leaf area, lower leaf dry matter content). Dominant species, such as <em>Cirsium arvense</em>, exhibited pronounced intraspecific trait plasticity, notably increasing leaf area under high irrigation, underscoring the critical role of trait plasticity in shaping community responses. Functional diversity metrics—functional richness and divergence—increased significantly under high irrigation, particularly within vineyard rows directly receiving water. Moreover, irrigation influenced weed communities beyond directly irrigated areas and periods, demonstrating spatial and temporal legacy effects. Agronomically, our findings demonstrate that increased irrigation levels may intensify weed pressure, highlighting the necessity for irrigation management strategies to incorporate ecological insights into weed community dynamics to achieve an optimal balance between productivity and ecological sustainability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"400 ","pages":"Article 110244"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974736","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-15DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2026.110237
Zhenling Li , Jiawei Ying , Xiaokang He , Yangyang Li , Guangchun Shan , Chenghong Feng , Mingjun Ding , Gaoxiang Huang , Jia Liu
Organic amendment addition represents one of the most effective soil organic matter (SOM) sequestration strategies, faced with the dilemma of deepening organic carbon losses due to increased agricultural intensification. However, little is known regarding the impacts of long-term fertilizer reduction and organic substitution on microbe-mediated multi-nutrient (C, N, P, S) in agricultural ecosystems, especially with the alternation of green manure and manure application. Here, the responses of soil physicochemical properties, microbial community structure, and nutrient cycling processes to the application of fertilizer reduction and organic substitution were investigated with metagenome analysis. The results indicated that the content of SOM, pH, available phosphorus, total nitrogen and cation exchange capacity in soils with organic and chemical fertilizer combinations exhibited a significant increase (p < 0.05) compared to soil with chemical fertilizer alone. These drove significant differences in microbial community structure and enrichment in specific archaeal and bacterial groups. Additionally, chemical fertilizer reduction and organic substitution can alter soil nutrient cycling. Specifically, carbon fixation through the Wood-Ljungdahl Pathway was significantly stimulated (p < 0.05) while methanogenesis was significantly inhibited (p < 0.05). The abundance of functional genes responsible for the oxidative generation of sulfate was significantly suppressed (p < 0.05). Notably, organic fertilizers significantly enhance the potential of microorganisms to inorganic phosphorus solubilization and organic phosphorus mineralization while significantly inhibiting their potential for nitrogen fixation and nitrification. The findings underpin a scientific comprehension of agroecosystem health and eco-agriculture.
{"title":"Impacts of long-term fertilizer reduction and organic substitution on microbe-mediated multi-nutrient in agricultural ecosystems","authors":"Zhenling Li , Jiawei Ying , Xiaokang He , Yangyang Li , Guangchun Shan , Chenghong Feng , Mingjun Ding , Gaoxiang Huang , Jia Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110237","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110237","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Organic amendment addition represents one of the most effective soil organic matter (SOM) sequestration strategies, faced with the dilemma of deepening organic carbon losses due to increased agricultural intensification. However, little is known regarding the impacts of long-term fertilizer reduction and organic substitution on microbe-mediated multi-nutrient (C, N, P, S) in agricultural ecosystems, especially with the alternation of green manure and manure application. Here, the responses of soil physicochemical properties, microbial community structure, and nutrient cycling processes to the application of fertilizer reduction and organic substitution were investigated with metagenome analysis. The results indicated that the content of SOM, pH, available phosphorus, total nitrogen and cation exchange capacity in soils with organic and chemical fertilizer combinations exhibited a significant increase (p < 0.05) compared to soil with chemical fertilizer alone. These drove significant differences in microbial community structure and enrichment in specific archaeal and bacterial groups. Additionally, chemical fertilizer reduction and organic substitution can alter soil nutrient cycling. Specifically, carbon fixation through the Wood-Ljungdahl Pathway was significantly stimulated (p < 0.05) while methanogenesis was significantly inhibited (p < 0.05). The abundance of functional genes responsible for the oxidative generation of sulfate was significantly suppressed (p < 0.05). Notably, organic fertilizers significantly enhance the potential of microorganisms to inorganic phosphorus solubilization and organic phosphorus mineralization while significantly inhibiting their potential for nitrogen fixation and nitrification. The findings underpin a scientific comprehension of agroecosystem health and eco-agriculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"400 ","pages":"Article 110237"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974735","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-15DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2026.110245
Zhitao Li , Jinyong Zhu , Tianbin Shi , Chengwei Gao , Xiaoqiang Qiu , Minmin Bao , Yuanming Li , Zhenzhen Bi , Panfeng Yao , Chao Sun , Huaijun Si , Yuhui Liu , Zhen Liu
Continuous potato monoculture induces soil degradation and yield reduction. While crop rotation alleviates continuous cropping obstacles, its microbial regulatory mechanisms underlying soil quality improvement remain poorly understood. Through field trials in arid and semi-arid regions of Northwest China, we systematically analyzed the effects of five rotation systems (potato - broad bean rotation, PB; potato - maize rotation, PM; potato - fallow, PF; potato - oil flax rotation, PO; and potato - quinoa rotation, PQ) on soil microbial community structure and soil quality, along with tuber yield, with continuous potato cropping (PP) as the control. A Soil Quality Index (SQI) was developed through principal component analysis by integrating multiple soil physicochemical indicators. All rotations significantly increased SQI (21.5 %-37.7 %) and tuber yields by 2.1 %-16.2 % compared to PP, with PO achieving the peak yield enhancement (16.2 %). Random forest modeling identified available phosphorus (AP), potassium (AK), and soil organic matter (SOM) as primary SQI influencing factors. Microbial analysis revealed rotations enriched Acidobacteriota (6.1 %-38.5 %) while reducing Anthophyta abundance (8.8 %-154.2 %). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis demonstrated bacterial networks exhibited higher node complexity but lower connectivity than fungal networks. Key bacterial family (1.1 % of taxa) including Pyrinomonadaceae (positively correlated with TK/AP, r < -0.50, P = 0.01) and Chitinophagaceae (yield-associated, r = 0.52, P = 0.03) were identified by Zi-Pi analysis as microbial indicators of soil fertility and productivity. The superior performance of the potato-oil flax rotation is attributed to enhanced SOM accumulation, improved nutrient availability (AP, AK), and the selective stimulation of functional bacterial groups promoting nutrient cycling. This work advances understanding of rotation-mediated soil remediation by systematically characterizing microbial interaction networks, providing actionable insights for sustainable potato cultivation in arid and semi-arid regions.
{"title":"Microbial community restructuring under crop rotation: A sustainable strategy to counteract potato monoculture-induced soil degradation in arid ecosystems","authors":"Zhitao Li , Jinyong Zhu , Tianbin Shi , Chengwei Gao , Xiaoqiang Qiu , Minmin Bao , Yuanming Li , Zhenzhen Bi , Panfeng Yao , Chao Sun , Huaijun Si , Yuhui Liu , Zhen Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110245","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110245","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Continuous potato monoculture induces soil degradation and yield reduction. While crop rotation alleviates continuous cropping obstacles, its microbial regulatory mechanisms underlying soil quality improvement remain poorly understood. Through field trials in arid and semi-arid regions of Northwest China, we systematically analyzed the effects of five rotation systems (potato - broad bean rotation, PB; potato - maize rotation, PM; potato - fallow, PF; potato - oil flax rotation, PO; and potato - quinoa rotation, PQ) on soil microbial community structure and soil quality, along with tuber yield, with continuous potato cropping (PP) as the control. A Soil Quality Index (SQI) was developed through principal component analysis by integrating multiple soil physicochemical indicators. All rotations significantly increased SQI (21.5 %-37.7 %) and tuber yields by 2.1 %-16.2 % compared to PP, with PO achieving the peak yield enhancement (16.2 %). Random forest modeling identified available phosphorus (AP), potassium (AK), and soil organic matter (SOM) as primary SQI influencing factors. Microbial analysis revealed rotations enriched Acidobacteriota (6.1 %-38.5 %) while reducing Anthophyta abundance (8.8 %-154.2 %). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis demonstrated bacterial networks exhibited higher node complexity but lower connectivity than fungal networks. Key bacterial family (1.1 % of taxa) including Pyrinomonadaceae (positively correlated with TK/AP, <em>r</em> < -0.50, <em>P</em> = 0.01) and Chitinophagaceae (yield-associated, <em>r</em> = 0.52, <em>P</em> = 0.03) were identified by <em>Zi-Pi</em> analysis as microbial indicators of soil fertility and productivity. The superior performance of the potato-oil flax rotation is attributed to enhanced SOM accumulation, improved nutrient availability (AP, AK), and the selective stimulation of functional bacterial groups promoting nutrient cycling. This work advances understanding of rotation-mediated soil remediation by systematically characterizing microbial interaction networks, providing actionable insights for sustainable potato cultivation in arid and semi-arid regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"400 ","pages":"Article 110245"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974675","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}