Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment最新文献

{"title":"Bromus inermis forage production and quality under long-term rotational grazing and nutrient enrichment in Eastern Nebraska, U.S.","authors":"Hassan Shehab ,&nbsp;Makki Khorchani ,&nbsp;Anastasios Mazis ,&nbsp;Jeremy Hiller ,&nbsp;Galen Erickson ,&nbsp;Marty Schmer ,&nbsp;Brian Wardlow ,&nbsp;Andy Suyker ,&nbsp;Xiangmin Sun ,&nbsp;Lidong Li ,&nbsp;Rebecca McDermott ,&nbsp;Ariel Freidenreich ,&nbsp;Girma Birru ,&nbsp;Virginia Jin ,&nbsp;Tala Awada","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110216","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110216","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rising food and feed demand, coupled with climate uncertainties, poses a growing threat to the sustainability and resilience of pasture and agriculture lands in the Great Plains. Smooth bromegrass (<em>Bromus inermis, Lyess</em>), a C₃ cool-season grass, dominates cattle grazing pastures in eastern Nebraska and is valued for its productivity and nutritional quality. However, nitrogen fertilization of smooth brome pastures carries nitrate leaching risks, and potential water degradation. Dry Distiller Grains plus Solubles (DDGS), a by-product of corn ethanol production, has emerged as an alternative to mineral fertilization. This study investigated the interactive effects of long-term (2005–2023) pasture management (fertilization and rotational grazing) and climate variability on smooth bromegrass performance over four years (2020–2023). Treatments included mineral nitrogen fertilization, DDGS supplementation, and no fertilization, each under grazed and ungrazed conditions. Biomass (total and live), leaf area index, chlorophyll content, crude protein, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and soil moisture were measured seasonally and across years. Results showed that fertilization consistently produced higher biomass, leaf area index, and crude protein, relative to other treatments, reinforcing its role in sustaining forage productivity. DDGS, while offering a reduced environmental footprint, showed potential in enhancing forage production and quality under average or above average precipitation and soil moisture. However, its efficacy declined during dry years. While long-term fertilization treatment remained the most consistent strategy for sustaining productivity under both ungrazed and rotational grazing systems, DDGS supplementation emerged as a strategic option for regions with adequate growing season precipitation, reducing reliance on mineral fertilizers without compromising yields. These findings emphasize the value of adaptive practices that integrate fertilization and grazing to maintain smooth bromegrass productivity under increasing climate variability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"400 ","pages":"Article 110216"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145956701","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":"Weed control provided by seed predators saves 20 % crop yield in cereal fields","authors":"Lucile Muneret ,&nbsp;Benjamin Carbonne ,&nbsp;Bruno Chauvel ,&nbsp;Alexandre Dosset ,&nbsp;Chantal Ducourtieux ,&nbsp;Nicolas Henon ,&nbsp;Emeline Felten ,&nbsp;Emilien Laurent ,&nbsp;Annick Matejicek ,&nbsp;Sandrine Petit","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.110196","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.110196","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although many herbicide active substances have been banned, and while weed infestation is a major threat to crop productivity, the extent to which natural weed control provided by seed predators can help farmers manage weed communities remains unknown. The contribution of seed predators to crop productivity through weed control was quantified, and it was assessed whether farming systems such as conservation agriculture played a role in bolstering their impact. A total of 112 seed predator-exclusion cages were set up in 28 cereal fields in France (14 pairs of plots, in which one plot was managed under conservation agriculture and the other under conventional agriculture). Weed emergence and biomass were surveyed, crop yield was measured, and the main seed predators—carabid beetles and rodents—were sampled. A 20 % reduction in yield loss due to weeds was found to be caused by seed predator activity, which was extrapolated to an economic gain of 285 €/ha. However, a whole 60 % of the maximum crop yield potential reached in the absence of weeds remains lost. Moreover, while conservation agriculture enhances weed control, this does not translate into increased crop yield. This study demonstrates the tangible importance of considering seed predators for weed control but highlights the need to combine this approach with other weed control practices or to substantially redesign cropping systems to enhance the beneficial effects of biodiversity on crop productivity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"400 ","pages":"Article 110196"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145941074","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":"Livestock production systems shape alpha and beta diversity of small mammal assemblages","authors":"Rodrigo Javier Alonso ,&nbsp;Rosario Lovera ,&nbsp;Melanie Ruiz ,&nbsp;Malena Rospide ,&nbsp;Martin Neyen Lammen ,&nbsp;Daniela Paula Montes de Oca ,&nbsp;Juliana Sánchez ,&nbsp;Regino Cavia","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.110176","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.110176","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Within highly modified environments, livestock production systems shape small mammal assemblages, which are particularly relevant due to their responsiveness to local habitat structure and management practices, and their role as agricultural pests and reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens. This study examines changes in the composition and structure of small mammal assemblages, assessed through taxonomic alpha and beta diversity, across different livestock farming systems, seasons, years, and geographical regions in northeast Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Seasonal sampling was conducted on dairy farms, intensive and extensive pig farms, and feedlots from 2008 to 2021, though not continuously. For alpha and beta diversity comparisons, we used abundance-based diversity indices and multivariate ordination analyses, respectively. A total of 1317 individuals from ten species were captured, with <em>Rattus norvegicus</em> (n = 777) as the dominant species. Multivariate analyses revealed that the composition of small mammal assemblages was influenced by the type of farm and season. Species richness was highest on dairy and intensive pig farms, whereas feedlots exhibited greater evenness with more common and dominant species. Seasonal variations affected diversity patterns, with the highest species richness in fall and winter. The results highlight how different types of farms, seasons and landscape contexts shape small mammal communities, changing abiotic factors and introducing interactions between native and invasive species. These findings underscore the need for tailored small mammal management strategies to mitigate biodiversity loss and zoonotic risks in livestock systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"400 ","pages":"Article 110176"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145941020","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":"Contrasting responses of particulate and mineral-associated organic carbon stocks to grazing exclusion in an alpine meadow","authors":"Jiacong Zhou ,&nbsp;Shuo Liu ,&nbsp;Kees Jan van Groenigen ,&nbsp;Carsten W. Mueller ,&nbsp;Raúl Ochoa-Hueso ,&nbsp;Nicolas Fanin ,&nbsp;Zixuan Ren ,&nbsp;Yixuan Zhang ,&nbsp;Ying Ma ,&nbsp;Siyi Sun ,&nbsp;Junxi Hu ,&nbsp;Yao Zhang ,&nbsp;Laura Yahdjian ,&nbsp;Wolfgang Wanek ,&nbsp;Jørgen Eivind Olesen ,&nbsp;Yakov Kuzyakov ,&nbsp;Ji Liu ,&nbsp;Ji Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110227","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110227","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Grazing exclusion is widely used as an effective soil restoration strategy in degraded grasslands to enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. However, the magnitude and direction of the effects of grazing exclusion on SOC remain unclear, due to limited understanding of changes in SOC constituent pools. Here, we investigated the impacts of 6-year (GE6) and 14-year (GE14) grazing exclusion on particulate (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) stocks in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Compared to grazing treatments, GE6 and GE14 reduced POC stocks by 41 % and 68 %, respectively, across the 0–30 cm soil depth. In contrast, GE6 increased MAOC stocks by 49 %, whereas GE14 had no significant effect on MAOC stocks. The decline in POC likely resulted from reduced litter incorporation into soils, together with enhanced decomposition driven by elevated oxidative enzyme activities. Changes in MAOC stocks were linked to increased above- and belowground plant biomass, which promoted microbial necromass C production. However, the absence of MAOC gains under GE14 limited overall SOC accumulation, underscoring the need to optimize grazing exclusion duration. Collectively, these results show that the responses of SOC stocks to grazing exclusion depend largely on microbial transformation of plant-derived C rather than on increased plant biomass alone, highlighting the pivotal role of microbes in regulating SOC sequestration in alpine grasslands.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"400 ","pages":"Article 110227"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145941175","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":"Leaf and root traits codetermine biomass production and allocation patterns in agriculturally managed wetlands in a semi-arid region","authors":"Xiaofei Wang ,&nbsp;Yu An ,&nbsp;Le Wang ,&nbsp;Mingye Zhang ,&nbsp;Xianglong Xing ,&nbsp;Shouzheng Tong ,&nbsp;Haitao Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110229","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110229","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In semi-arid regions, wetlands are increasingly converted to agriculture use due to growing food demand. Current practices like mowing and grazing considerably alter plant biomass allocation patterns, yet the underlying functional mechanisms remain unclear. To clarify this, we combine community-level leaf and root traits with biomass partitioning analysis across a management gradient (from natural to heavily grazed wetlands) in China's Songnen Plain. Results revealed that agricultural intensification triggered strategic biomass reallocation: aboveground biomass (AGB) and belowground biomass (BGB) decreased 83.1 % and 51.9 % from natural wetlands (NW, 1093.5 g m⁻²) to heavily grazed sites (HG), while root-to-shoot ratio (RSR) increased 12-fold (HG:3.6 vs. NW:0.3). This coincided with the coordinated leaf-root economic strategies: NW favored acquisitive strategies (e.g. peak high leaf area [LA] =1917.1 mm², and specific root length [SRL] = 3219.3 cm g⁻¹), whereas mowed/grazed sites optimized conservation investments (e.g. peak leaf carbon concentration [LCC] = 487.4 g kg⁻¹, and root carbon concentration [RCC] = 391.0 g kg⁻¹), illustrating a functional shift from resource acquisition to conservation. Correlation analysis and stepwise regression identified leaf dry weight (LDW), leaf carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, leaf phosphorus concentration, LA, LCC, root length, specific root area (SRA), RCC, and root surface area (RSA) as key predictors for AGB, whereas BGB was predicted by LCC, LDW and leaf nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio, RSA, SRA and root phosphorus concentration (RPC). Leaf traits (LA and LDW) and root traits (RCC, RPC, and SRL) were identified as the best predictors of RSR. Variance partitioning analysis showed that leaf-root trait interactions dominated biomass production and allocation (76.9 %-89.8 % of explained variance), underscoring an integrated root-leaf economic network. Structural equation modeling further revealed that the decreased LA indirectly enhanced RSR through positive effects on AGB and synergistic interactions with LDW, SRL and RCC. Contrasting effects of LA-LDW/SRL interactions on BGB further regulated RSR. LA-driven synergies with SRL and trade-offs between RCC and SRL directly modulated RSR. These results collectively demonstrate that trait interaction networks, rather than individual traits, serve as the key driver of biomass production and allocation in agriculturally managed wetlands. This functional trait-coordination framework advances our understanding of plant strategies for enhancing wetland resilience in semi-arid agricultural landscape.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"400 ","pages":"Article 110229"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145941078","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":"The Bambi effect: Leveraging public sentiment on roe deer fawn rescue for broader conservation effort","authors":"Jan Cukor","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110228","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110228","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Conventional agricultural practices, especially the rapid harvesting of meadows, pose a serious threat to wildlife. Roe deer (<em>Capreolus capreolus</em> L.) fawns are particularly vulnerable, as their survival strategy is to stay hidden in tall vegetation without movement to avoid predators. In Central Europe, the meadow harvest results in the unethical deaths of tens of thousands of roe deer fawns. This human-wildlife conflict has led to large-scale fawn rescues by the wildlife managers and public, especially in recent years with the development of thermal-imaging drone use. These efforts are often emotionally driven and widely shared on social media, focusing on protecting visually appealing species. However, this selective attention risks neglecting less “attractive” yet endangered farmland species, such as birds and invertebrates. Therefore—based on the strong public engagement in fawn rescue—the aim is to highlight that the effort should be expanded toward broader biodiversity conservation in agroecosystems, including protection of less attractive species, promoting habitat diversity, sustainable land use, and long-term ecological resilience.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"400 ","pages":"Article 110228"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145941176","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":"Synergistic agricultural systems improve soil health and support sustainable land use in sandy soils","authors":"Camila P. Cagna ,&nbsp;Moges K. Biru ,&nbsp;Diego A.H.S. Leitao ,&nbsp;Patricia A.B. Barreto-Garcia ,&nbsp;Viviany Viriato ,&nbsp;Jose C.B. Dubeux Jr. ,&nbsp;Cassio A. Tormena ,&nbsp;Marcio R. Nunes","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.110193","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2025.110193","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sandy soils cover around 900 million hectares globally and are increasingly targeted for agricultural expansion and food production. However, these soils are highly vulnerable to degradation due to their low nutrient and water retention capacity, poor structure, and susceptibility to compaction. Our objective was to identify conservation-based production systems to sustain or enhance the health of sandy soils. Soil physical, chemical, and biological properties and processes were assessed across three soil depths (0–5, 15–20, and 25–30 cm). Diversified cropping systems, particularly the sod-based rotation system combined with cover crops and nitrogen fertilization (SBR-GL34), improved overall soil health. This production system increased total soil porosity by up to 18 %, reduced subsurface bulk density by 11 %, and enhanced soil organic carbon stock by up to 18 % compared with business-as-usual (BAU). Labile fractions also improved, with permanganate-oxidizable carbon increasing by 38 %, while β-glucosidase and arylsulfatase increased by 60 % and 64 %, respectively. Despite these improvements, compared to native, all production systems had lower carbon stocks (55–65 %) and showed signes of soil physical degradation. Integrating cover crops, nitrogen fertilization, and grazing also enhanced microbial activity and nutrient cycling, mitigating the negative effects of converting from native to agricultural systems. Among all agricultural systems, SBR-GL34 showed the highest potential to improve (compared to BAU) and sustain (compared to native) soil health and productivity of sandy soils. Overall, combining appropriate nutrient management with long-term agricultural practices that reduce soil disturbance and maximize diversity and soil cover with live plants and crop residue supports sustainable agricultural production in sandy soils.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"400 ","pages":"Article 110193"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145941075","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":"Effects of anti-hail netting on pollinator activity, fruit quality, and economic yield in kiwifruit","authors":"Camila Corti ,&nbsp;Facundo R. Meroi Arcerito ,&nbsp;María Belén Lezcano ,&nbsp;Facundo Ramos ,&nbsp;Leonardo Galetto ,&nbsp;Matías Maggi","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110217","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110217","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Protective anti-hail nets are increasingly used in kiwifruit orchards, yet their integrated effects on pollination and yield are unclear. We compared two prevalent management systems: a netted system (anti-hail net with manual pollination, no on-site hives) versus an open-field system (no net, manual pollination with honey bee hives). Across seven commercial kiwifruit orchards, we assessed pollinator communities, visitation rates, fruit quality (weight and seed number), and economic yield. The management system significantly altered pollinator composition (PERMANOVA: F=4.58, R² = 0.48, p = 0.029). <em>Apis mellifera</em> dominated (&gt;60 % of visits) in open fields but was nearly absent under nets, where syrphid flies prevailed. A complementary analysis on the wild pollinator assemblage (excluding <em>A. mellifera</em>) indicated that netting itself explained 31.5 % of the variation (F = 2.30, R²=0.315, p = 0.086), suggesting a substantial, albeit marginally non-significant, filter effect independent of hive management. Visitation frequency was 47 % lower in the netted system. Fruits from the netted system were 30 % lighter and had 45 % fewer seeds. Gross revenue per hectare was 31.5 % lower under nets (USD 47,385 vs. 69,213). The netted management system explained 46.0–64.6 % of the variance in fruit quality and 58.0 % in economic yield. Our results demonstrate that the netted system creates a substantial pollination deficit not compensated by standard manual pollination, directly reducing fruit quality and profitability. Integrating pollinator-friendly practices is needed to balance crop protection with sustainable production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"400 ","pages":"Article 110217"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145941079","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":"Particulate and mineral-associated organic matter in cropland soils: Meta-analysis of management effects","authors":"Ranran Zhou ,&nbsp;Yanfang Xue ,&nbsp;Amit Kumar ,&nbsp;Anna Gunina ,&nbsp;Jun Ling ,&nbsp;Zhenling Cui ,&nbsp;Yakov Kuzyakov ,&nbsp;Jing Tian","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110218","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110218","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil organic carbon (SOC), a critical component of terrestrial carbon storage, can be classified into particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC), which differ in both stability and sensitivity to management. POC is dynamic and accumulates rapidly, whereas MAOC is more stable and critical for long-term sequestration, making their simultaneous increase a major challenge in agroecosystem management. Here, we synthesized 1702 paired observations from croplands globally to assess the individual and combined effects of nitrogen (N) and organic matter (OM) inputs on SOC pools, classifying their interactions as additive (sum of individual effects), antagonistic (less than expected), or synergistic (greater than expected). N fertilization alone primarily increased POC by 30 %, contributing to an 11 % rise in total SOC. OM inputs, whether applied alone or in combination with mineral N, increased both POC and MAOC, with integrated N and OM inputs showing predominantly additive effects—increasing POC and MAOC by 87 % and 24 %, respectively. MAOC dynamics were influenced by both edaphic and management factors, with responses being time-dependent and strongly modulated by initial SOC content and pH. Short-term increases in MAOC were particularly evident in low-carbon (&lt;16 g kg⁻¹) and alkaline soils. In contrast, POC was mainly governed by management factors, particularly the interactions between carbon source type and application duration, with manure co-application accelerating rapid accumulation within the first six years. Global projections indicated substantial potential for POC increases, especially in Southeast Asia and Europe, whereas MAOC gains remained spatially constrained. Overall, although N and OM inputs did not consistently yield synergistic effects, combined applications generally outperformed individual inputs and were able to increase POC and MAOC over short timescales, underscoring the advantages of context-dependent integrated management for efficiently increasing sequestration across multiple SOC pools.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"400 ","pages":"Article 110218"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145941077","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":"Context-dependent effects of livestock grazing on forest attributes and ecosystem multifunctionality in Nothofagus forests","authors":"Paula Rodríguez ,&nbsp;Verónica Cruz Alonso ,&nbsp;Silvina Romano ,&nbsp;Gimena Bustamante ,&nbsp;Rosina Soler","doi":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110219","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agee.2026.110219","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Forests under livestock grazing sustain important ecosystem services but face potential trade-offs between production and ecological integrity. While the effects of grazing on individual forest attributes are well documented, their integrated consequences remain poorly understood, particularly in temperate forest ecosystems. We evaluated the combined influence of livestock grazing intensity and canopy cover on individual attributes and ecosystem multifunctionality in native <em>Nothofagus</em> forests of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Across eight ranches spanning two agroecological regions (Ecotone and Mountain Range), we quantified forest regeneration, understorey richness and biomass, and soil properties, integrating them into a multifunctionality index. Using generalized linear mixed models, we found strong context-dependence: in the Mountain Range, higher grazing intensity reduced seedling and sapling density, organic matter content, coarse woody debris, and overall multifunctionality. In the Ecotone, these effects of livestock use intensity were attenuated, and canopy cover diminished sapling density and multifunctionality, but moderate cover enhanced understorey. Our results extend multifunctionality research from grazed grasslands to grazed temperate forests and show that ecological responses and trade-offs vary across landscape units. We conclude that the Mountain Range is more vulnerable to grazing, requiring stricter management, whereas the Ecotone retains greater capacity to sustain multifunctionality under controlled livestock use intensity. These findings underscore the importance of region-specific silvopastoral strategies that reconcile food production with forest conservation in southern Patagonia and comparable temperate forest landscapes worldwide.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7512,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment","volume":"400 ","pages":"Article 110219"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145941063","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}