Agricultural Systems最新文献

{"title":"Develop a modelling framework to identify and optimize the dominant factors that limit cropland productivity","authors":"Xiaoyang Han ,&nbsp;Changqing Song ,&nbsp;Leina Zhang ,&nbsp;Peichao Gao ,&nbsp;Sijing Ye ,&nbsp;Yakov Kuzyakov","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2026.104635","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2026.104635","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Analysing the influence mechanism of farming conditions (soil properties and agricultural infrastructure) on cropland productivity is a key prerequisite for increasing yields in low- to medium-quality land.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>We proposed a modelling framework to identify key farming condition factors that limit cropland productivity and analyse the numerical ranges within which they exert a dominant influence. The responses of cropland productivity to changes in dominant farming conditions were simulated.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The framework consisted of processed long-term sequence earth observation data and random forest model. By filtering high-density cropland samples and increasing crop identification accuracy, gross primary production (GPP) was proven to be an appropriate indicator of cropland productivity in scenarios lacking high-precision crop yield data.</div></div><div><h3>Results and conclusions</h3><div>Farming conditions explained &gt;60% of the spatial differences in the rice GPP and &gt; 65% of those in the wheat GPP. Soil texture and pH were key factors limiting rice and wheat GPP. A decrease in sand content and a corresponding increase in clay content increased rice GPP. Soil nitrogen supply rapidly decreased when clay content approached 20%, decreasing rice GPP. Climate conditions influenced the preference of wheat for soil water retention and drainage-permeability, resulting in an increase wheat GPP in northern and decrease in southern regions with raising clay content. The annual total GPP of rice and wheat increased by up to 6.8% through adjusting clay and sand contents and increasing mean field size. In the northwestern and southeastern regions, small adjustments (−5% … +5%) to clay and sand contents led to annual GPP increases of &gt;600 kg<strong>·</strong>C<strong>·</strong>ha⁻¹ for rice and &gt; 800 kg<strong>·</strong>C<strong>·</strong>ha⁻¹ for paddy-wheat rotations.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>The framework can provide support to optimize farming conditions in low- to medium-yield cropland renovation projects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"233 ","pages":"Article 104635"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146014807","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 optimization of field management measures for yield increase and emission reduction of Panax notoginseng based on DNDC model and NSGA-III","authors":"Qiliang Yang ,&nbsp;Liuhui Mo ,&nbsp;Wentao Zhang ,&nbsp;Ling Yang ,&nbsp;Chunhao Cao ,&nbsp;Na Li","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2026.104650","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2026.104650","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;CONTEXT&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em&gt;Panax Notoginseng&lt;/em&gt; is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Panax genus in the Araliaceae family. It has the core effects of promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, stopping bleeding, and reducing swelling, which is known as “gold cannot be exchanged” due to its unique medicinal value. At present, there were widespread problems of yield decline and environmental effects caused by improper management measures such as chemical fertilizer application, irrigation, and tillage in the production process of &lt;em&gt;Panax notoginseng&lt;/em&gt;.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;OBJECTIVE&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Therefore, this study constructed the EFAST-DNDC-NSGA-III collaborative framework to optimize the field planting management measures of &lt;em&gt;Panax notoginseng&lt;/em&gt; and realize sustainable development of &lt;em&gt;Panax notoginseng&lt;/em&gt; with increased yield and reduced emissions.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;METHODS&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The crop varieties genetic parameters and field management parameters sensitive to &lt;em&gt;Panax notoginseng&lt;/em&gt; yield and greenhouse gas emissions in the DNDC model were analyzed by the extended Fourier amplitude sensitivity test (EFAST) method. The applicability of DNDC model to &lt;em&gt;Panax notoginseng&lt;/em&gt; was calibrated and validated by adjusting the sensitive crop varieties genetic parameters. Finally, based on the NSGA-III multi-objective optimization algorithm, the appropriate field management measures to promote increased production and reduced emissions of &lt;em&gt;Panax notoginseng&lt;/em&gt; were explored.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The results identified that water demand, root carbon‑nitrogen ratio, grain carbon‑nitrogen ratio, leaf carbon‑nitrogen ratio, and nitrogen fixation coefficient were the main sensitivity parameters affecting &lt;em&gt;Panax notoginseng&lt;/em&gt; yield. It was found that the DNDC model had good applicability to &lt;em&gt;Panax notoginseng&lt;/em&gt; (&lt;em&gt;d&lt;/em&gt; = 0.89, &lt;em&gt;NRMSE&lt;/em&gt; = 0.16) by adjusting the sensitivity parameters to calibrate and verify the DNDC model. Further sensitivity analysis of field management measures revealed that urea application rate, irrigation amount, fertilization depth, tillage depth, and nitrification inhibitor efficiency were key field management measures affecting the yield and environmental emissions (CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; and N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O) of &lt;em&gt;Panax notoginseng&lt;/em&gt;. On this basis, the NSGA-III multi-objective optimization algorithm was applied to perform Pareto optimization on these five key management practices, obtaining an optimal solution set that balances yield maximization with environmental emission minimization. The results showed that the optimized scheme with irrigation amount of 16–23 mm, urea application amount of 160–210 kg N·ha&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt;, fertilization depth of 10–25 cm, plowing depth of 5–10 cm, and nitrification inhibitor efficiency of 30–50% could maintain the yield per unit area of &lt;em&gt;Panax notoginseng&lt;/em&gt; or increase by 50%, while CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; and N","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"233 ","pages":"Article 104650"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146073692","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":"A modelling framework for assessing the plausible impacts of biological nitrification inhibition in cropping systems","authors":"Ismail I. Garba ,&nbsp;Wolfram Buss ,&nbsp;Enli Wang ,&nbsp;Cathryn A. O’Sullivan ,&nbsp;Vadakattu V.S.R. Gupta ,&nbsp;Alison R. Bentley ,&nbsp;Kirsten Verburg","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104569","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104569","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>Retaining nitrogen (N) in soils in the form of ammonium (NH₄⁺) by inhibiting nitrification has been proposed as a strategy to reduce N gaseous losses and nitrate (NO₃^-) leaching. Biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) involves the release of natural metabolites from crop roots that suppress nitrifying microbes. Unlike synthetic nitrification inhibitors BNIs act directly in the rhizosphere and may provide a more spatially and temporally sustained inhibition. Because BNI effectiveness depends on crop species, and interactions with biophysical factors, a systems modelling approach is needed to assess its plausible benefits in cropping systems.</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><div>(1) develop a BNI model suitable for integration into systems models, enabling simulation of BNI release, fate, and bioactivity within cropping systems, and (2) use the model in-<em>silico</em> to illustrate how system interactions influence BNI impacts.</div></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><div>A BNI subroutine was developed and integrated into the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) Next Generation to model BNI exudation, bioactivity, fate, and persistence in soil. Simulations for wheat, canola and sorghum were conducted to assess its plausible effects on N cycling and crop productivity.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><div>Four prerequisite conditions under which within-season plausible N loss and yield benefits may be realized from BNI: (i) adequate root growth and BNI release achieving effective bioactivity, (ii) BNI persistence with slow degradation at most 50% daily degradation to ensure longevity of inhibition, (iii) the crop being able to take up N in both NH₄⁺ and NO₃^- forms ensuring that ‘saved N’ is assimilated and (iv) occurrence of N loss events when BNI is active. When these conditions co-occurred, simulated systems showed decreased N loss, and/or yield responses.</div></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><div>The integrated APSIM-BNI framework provides a tool for exploring where and when BNI may deliver agronomic and environmental benefits and guiding future field experiment and trait improvement efforts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"232 ","pages":"Article 104569"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145537363","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":"Spatio-temporal changes in cropland system and its impacts on grain production in China","authors":"Lanping Tang ,&nbsp;Peter H. Verburg ,&nbsp;Xinli Ke ,&nbsp;Chengcheng Wang ,&nbsp;Shaohua Wu ,&nbsp;Wuyan Li ,&nbsp;Jinxia Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104573","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104573","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;CONTEXT&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Global food security remains a pressing concern, with rising undernourishment rates exacerbated by urbanization, climate change, and soil degradation. Understanding the dynamics of cropland systems is therefore crucial for enhancing grain production, particularly in countries like China, which supports a significant portion of the world's population with limited cropland resources.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;OBJECTIVE&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study aims to analyze spatial variability in cropland intensification at the prefectural scale in China from 1980 to 2018. It further reveals the spatial-temporal changes of the cropland management systems by combining cropland-use intensity and spatial variability in cropland intensification. This focuses on the relationship between changes in cropland area and intensification and evaluates their relative contributions to grain production.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;METHODS&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;A K-means clustering algorithm was adopted to identify distinct cropland management systems. The LMDI (Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index) method was applied to quantify the contribution of changes in cropland area and intensification to grain production.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The results indicate a sharp rise in agricultural input intensity, particularly pesticide and fertilizer, alongside a notable decline in time investment by laborers. Six distinct cropland management systems were identified, with Type 1 and Type 3 being the most prevalent. Type 1, predominantly observed in the northeast and northwest, exhibited low initial intensity with a slight input growth and a minor time investment decrease. Type 3, concentrated in the south, demonstrated stable input increases accompanied by a moderate drop in time investment. Furthermore, expansion of cropland area and intensification co-occur in 58 % of the prefectures. Intensification drove 79 % of grain production growth, yet with clear spatial disparities: large gains in northeastern and central prefectures contrasted with declines in southeastern coastal areas due to cropland loss. The study underscores the pivotal role of cropland intensification in enhancing grain production. These findings advocate for targeted, region-specific strategies to support sustainable intensification and labor-saving technologies, thereby ensuring long-term food security amid urbanization and rising labor costs.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;SIGNIFICANCES&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study offers a novel, long-term analysis of cropland system dynamics in China—integrating cropland intensification and area changes—at a fine spatial scale and examines their collective impact on grain production. The study not only helps to understand that production can be increased through area expansion or intensification, but also to understand which pathway dominates where, to what degree, and in what combination. The study provides critical insights for policymakers and stakeholders, contributing to the discou","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"232 ","pages":"Article 104573"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145578129","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":"Agrivoltaic systems: Trade-offs on microclimate, physiology, yield and canopy thermal-spectral maps","authors":"Maryam Rahimi Jahangirlou ,&nbsp;Johannes Wilhelmus Maria Pullens ,&nbsp;Magnus Kamau Katana Lindhardt ,&nbsp;Yannick Valentin El Khoury ,&nbsp;Vita Antoniuk ,&nbsp;Kiril Manevski ,&nbsp;Carl-Otto Ottosen ,&nbsp;Uffe Jørgensen","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104557","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104557","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>Competition between solar energy deployment and cropland use is intensifying. Agrivoltaics (APV), which co-produces food and electricity, modifies the microclimate between panels, influencing plant physiology, yield, and quality. Comparative field-scale evidence across different PV configurations and crops is required to optimize APV design for both productivity and resilience.</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><div>To evaluate how APV-induced microclimate alters crop physiology, canopy traits, yield, and quality over two years, with interannual weather variability and to determine system- and crop-specific responses that inform climate-smart APV design.</div></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><div>Two bifacial APV systems (25° south-tilted and vertical east–west) were compared with an open-field reference in rotations of winter wheat, grass–clover, and soybean in a temperate climate. Measurements stratified by panel-relative zones (shaded, semi-shaded, open) included: (i) microclimate (air temperature, humidity, wind speed) used to derive VPD and ET₀; (ii) leaf traits (temperature, stomatal conductance, Fv/Fm) at key growth stages; (iii) UAV-based thermal multispectral maps (NDVI, surface temperature); (iv) yield and quality at harvest.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><div>Grass–clover biomass was consistently higher between vertical panels (5.8 and 14.8 t/ha in 2023 and 2024) than between tilted panels (4.3 and 14.0 t/ha, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.01), and comparable to open field. Wheat yields were similar across treatments in the dry year 2023 (3.7–4.7 t/ha), but declined between panels in the wet year 2024 (6.0–6.2 vs 7.0–7.1 t/ha in reference). However, wheat quality improved under APV in both years: grain protein (9.5–9.8 % vs 8.1 %) and gluten (17–18 % vs 15–16 %, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.01). Soybean yields were reduced in APV zones (3.25–3.50 vs 4.91 t/ha, p &lt; 0.01), although dry matter content remained ∼35 %. APV reduced mean wind speed (vertical 1.19, tilted 1.58 vs reference 2.17 m/s) and ET₀, and lowered canopy/leaf temperatures while increasing Fv/Fm. NDVI and thermal maps partly reflected these physiological patterns. Responses varied with interannual weather: APV conferred greater shelter benefits in the dry year, particularly in the vertical system.</div></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><div>By linking leaf-level physiology to canopy and landscape indicators, this framework enables systematic APV assessment across weather conditions and designs. Findings highlight vertical APV as a promising configuration for stabilizing yields under drought, supporting evidence-based decisions for land-efficient, climate-resilient food–energy systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"232 ","pages":"Article 104557"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145598998","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":"Sowing the seeds for international cooperation: The Dutch diamond in action","authors":"Melle Leenstra ,&nbsp;Fleur Kilwinger","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104571","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104571","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>The Netherlands has a long-standing presence and influence in the international seed sector. Through partnership initiatives, diverse stakeholders are committed to leveraging Dutch know-how and fostering international cooperation to transform the seed sector in African countries. This effort is viewed as a key contribution of the Netherlands to global food and nutrition security rooted in the collaborative model known as the “Dutch diamond,” which brings together research, policy, business, and civil society. However, international cooperation is ultimately a human endeavour, where policy priorities, funding decisions, and staffing are influenced by both human agency and external circumstances.</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><div>This paper examines narratives surrounding Dutch international cooperation in the seed sector with a focus on the human factor, such as personal ambitions, motivations, values, experiences, opportunity, social ties and serendipity.</div></div><div><h3>METHOD</h3><div>Based on key informant interviews, this paper traces the life histories of nine key actors who have driven cooperation in Dutch efforts for international seed sector development. These actors were purposively selected due to their central, influential, and connective roles. Using concepts of Actor Network Theory we analysed the interviews to describe how these key actors became part of the Dutch seed sector development network, how they were shaped by this network, and how they shaped it.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND DISCUSSION</h3><div>Our findings show that change in international seed sector development emerged through a dynamic interplay of serendipitous encounters and deliberate interventions. Beyond more formalized collaboration structures, friendship, trust, and mutual understanding—often built through shared experiences and knowledge exchange—played an important role in translating seed system approaches. Alumni acted as boundary-spanning actors, moving knowledge between policy, research, and practice. Together, these dynamics illustrate how bonding and bridging enabled the adaptation and circulation of seed system development approaches across diverse contexts.</div></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><div>This study contributes to wider debates on innovation and international development cooperation by showing how seed sector development approaches and networks are shaped. While the findings reflect a Dutch perspective, they underline the importance of engaging African viewpoints and knowledge systems to move toward more equitable forms of cooperation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"232 ","pages":"Article 104571"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145598569","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":"Corrigendum to ‘Evaluating the economic and environmental benefits of rice-soybean diversification in South Korea’ [Agricultural Systems 224 (2025) 104258]","authors":"Seojin Cho ,&nbsp;Heeyeun Yoon","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104513","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104513","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"232 ","pages":"Article 104513"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145733456","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":"Identifying the coupling coordination relationship between new-type urbanization and cultivated land use transition and its impact mechanism—A case study of the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River in China","authors":"Longbo Ma ,&nbsp;Qian Wang ,&nbsp;Xiaoming Tan ,&nbsp;Yaru Chen ,&nbsp;Wenbin Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104568","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104568","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>The sustainable management of cultivated land resources is essential for attaining the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Rapid urbanization has posed significant challenges to cultivated land systems. Therefore, understanding the interaction mechanisms between new-type urbanization (NTU) and cultivated land use transition (CLUT) is vital for addressing resource constraints and promoting coordinated development of human and land systems.</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><div>This study analyzes the evolution of the coupling coordination degree (CCD) between NTU and CLUT in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yellow River region. It aims to identify key problematic areas and uncover the underlying factors driving their interaction.</div></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><div>The study utilizes the entropy weight method and linear weighting approach to assess NTU and CLUT levels. A coupling coordination degree model (CCDM) is employed to quantify their relationship, complemented by a geographic detector analysis to identify primary drivers influencing the CCD.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><div>The results indicate that: (1) The NTU index increased from 0.26 in 2005 to 0.46 in 2020, displaying notable spatial and temporal heterogeneity characterized by higher levels in the southeast, moderate levels in the northwest, and lower levels centrally. Conversely, CLUT levels saw a modest rise from 0.37 to 0.41, with higher values concentrated mainly in inland cities of Shandong and Henan provinces. (2) The CCD improved from 0.55 to 0.65, following a pattern of rapid growth initially, then stabilization, with evident spatial clustering and limited inter-city disparities. (3) Diagnostic analysis identified over 15 areas with problematic coordination between 2005 and 2020, primarily along the middle reaches of the Yellow River, where CLUT lagged behind. (4) The CCD is influenced by a combination of economic, social, and governmental factors, with economic drivers—such as industrial clustering, fiscal investment, and infrastructure development—exerting the strongest effects. Interaction effects between two factors generally demonstrated greater influence than individual factors alone.</div><div><strong>Significance:</strong> The Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yellow River serve as a representative region for understanding regional disparities, offering valuable insights into the key drivers of unbalanced development and strategies for achieving coordinated progress—lessons that are applicable to similar regions globally.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"232 ","pages":"Article 104568"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145583877","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":"FarmLCA: A novel approach to assess agroecological innovations in Life Cycle Assessment","authors":"Simon Moakes ,&nbsp;Philipp Oggiano ,&nbsp;Jan Landert ,&nbsp;Catherine Pfeifer ,&nbsp;Laura de Baan","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104560","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104560","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Context&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Agroecological innovations are seen as solutions to reduce environmental impacts of agriculture but can potentially lead to trade-offs with food production. Appropriate tools are needed to better understand synergies and trade-offs among environmental issues, resource efficiency and food production.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objective&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study presents the FarmLCA tool, which models farms as interconnected crop-livestock systems and assesses environmental impacts from farms and farm-inputs. A mixed beef farm serves as case study to assess synergies and trade-offs of avoiding human edible feed in beef production.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;FarmLCA allows the calculation of cradle-to-farm gate life cycle assessments (LCA). Emissions of environmentally harmful substances from crops and livestock are modelled based on the farm management. Upstream impacts from imported inputs (including fertilizer or feed) are accounted for with life cycle inventory data. Yields and nutrient requirements are checked for plausibility, based on management handbooks, while manure availability and composition are calculated based on livestock production. Environmental impacts, nutrient use efficiency and food production for a typical mixed beef farm in Scotland were calculated (&lt;em&gt;baseline&lt;/em&gt;) and compared to alternative farm management scenarios: a &lt;em&gt;Feed-no-Food&lt;/em&gt; scenario, avoiding concentrate feeds resulting in a smaller herd size and a &lt;em&gt;circular Feed-no-Food&lt;/em&gt; scenario, additionally optimizing productivity and synergies between crop and livestock (e.g. more legumes in crop rotation, reduced replacement rate and feed waste).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results and conclusions&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;In the &lt;em&gt;Feed-no-Food&lt;/em&gt; scenario, the beef production was reduced by 25 %, but more calories and protein were produced overall due to cereal and legumes now being available for direct human consumption. However, slower growth of livestock led to increased environmental impact of beef, whilst reduced livestock numbers required more mineral fertilizer for crop production to replace on-farm manure. In the &lt;em&gt;circular Feed-no-Food&lt;/em&gt; scenario, beef and overall calorie production were slightly reduced compared to the baseline, but 1.5 more high quality protein (expressed by the Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score, DIAAS), were produced. Environmental impacts of beef were reduced and nitrogen self-sufficiency improved due to increased legume share in the rotation.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Significance&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Existing LCA approaches often fail to capture the complex dynamics of integrated crop-livestock systems and agroecological practices. FarmLCA addresses this by modelling both on-farm processes and upstream inputs, enabling a consistent assessment of environmental impacts, nutrient use efficiency, and food production. It offers a more holistic and systemic view of the consequences of agroecological innovations and enables the identi","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"232 ","pages":"Article 104560"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145593036","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":"A meta-analysis on the impact of trees on yield of intercrops in alley-cropping systems of temperate climates","authors":"Anna Panozzo ,&nbsp;Paul Quataert ,&nbsp;Tom De Swaef ,&nbsp;Paul Pardon ,&nbsp;Teofilo Vamerali ,&nbsp;Kris Verheyen ,&nbsp;Bert Reubens","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104578","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104578","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>The environmental benefits of agroforestry have been highlighted worldwide, although improved intercrop productivity has been clearly demonstrated only in the tropics.</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE AND METHODS</h3><div>This meta-analysis aimed at summarizing knowledge from 18 trials on grain yield of arable intercrops in alley-cropping systems of temperate climates, within a mixed-effect model framework.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><div>A general negative impact of trees on crop grain yield was documented, with an average reduction by 30 % compared to full sun, across the whole inter-row of wheat, barley, soybean and maize. Key findings included: (i) distance from trees is the major driver of the grain yield response, with increasing impact in the vicinity of the tree row, (ii) significance of crop phenology and species choice, with lower impact on winter vs. summer crops; (iii) tree age is the only relevant variable of the woody component, with increasing impact with aging; and (iv) available rainfall and potential evapotranspiration are key moderators, with a less detrimental or positive impact of trees under low rainfall and high evapotranspiration. This study also describes the implications of some tree design and management practices: (i) branchless tree rows allows for halving the alley width where crop yield is negatively affected by the tree line compared to a hedgerow, (ii) crop yield recovers at distances (D) from the tree row at which D/tree heigh approaches 1, this suggesting the interrow should be at least twice the maximum height of trees, (iii) intercrop should be varied across the tree cycle, by cultivating high shade-tolerant species/varieties when the tree age is &gt;8 years.</div></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><div>This meta-analysis underscores the need for further empirical studies on other intercrops and within climatic zones where limited data is currently available.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"232 ","pages":"Article 104578"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145611873","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}