scholarly journals Conventional agriculture and not drought alters relationships between soil biota and functions

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Birkhofer ◽  
Andreas Fliessbach ◽  
María Pilar Gavín-Centol ◽  
Katarina Hedlund ◽  
María Ingimarsdóttir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Significant Loss ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Soil Biota ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Conventional Farming ◽  
Soil Biodiversity ◽  
Conventional Agriculture

AbstractSoil biodiversity constitutes the biological pillars of ecosystem services provided by soils worldwide. Soil life is threatened by intense agricultural management and shifts in climatic conditions as two important global change drivers which are not often jointly studied under field conditions. We addressed the effects of experimental short-term drought over the wheat growing season on soil organisms and ecosystem functions under organic and conventional farming in a Swiss long term trial. Our results suggest that activity and community metrics are suitable indicators for drought stress while microbial communities primarily responded to agricultural practices. Importantly, we found a significant loss of multiple pairwise positive and negative relationships between soil biota and process-related variables in response to conventional farming, but not in response to experimental drought. These results suggest a considerable weakening of the contribution of soil biota to ecosystem functions under long-term conventional agriculture. Independent of the farming system, experimental and seasonal (ambient) drought conditions directly affected soil biota and activity. A higher soil water content during early and intermediate stages of the growing season and a high number of significant relationships between soil biota to ecosystem functions suggest that organic farming provides a buffer against drought effects.

scholarly journals Long-Term Trends in Air Temperature Distribution and Extremes, Growing Degree‐Days, and Spring and Fall Frosts for Climate Impact Assessments on Agricultural Practices in Nebraska

2012 ◽  
Vol 51 (11) ◽  
pp. 2060-2073 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kari E. Skaggs ◽  
Suat Irmak
Keyword(s):  
Air Temperature ◽  
Central City ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Growing Degree Days ◽  
Degree Days ◽  
Temperature Changes ◽  
Growing Season Length ◽  
Average Maximum

AbstractAir temperature influences agricultural practices and production outcomes, making detailed quantifications of temperature changes necessary for potential positive and negative effects on agricultural management practices to be exploited or mitigated. Temperature trends of long-term data for five agricultural locations, ranging from the subhumid eastern to the semiarid western parts of Nebraska, were studied to determine local temperature changes and their potential effects on agricultural practices. The study quantified trends in annual and monthly average maximum and minimum air temperature (Tmax and Tmin), daily temperature range (DTR), total growing degree-days, extreme temperatures, growing‐season dates and lengths, and temperature distributions for five heavily agricultural areas of Nebraska: Alliance, Central City, Culbertson, Fremont, and Hastings. July and August were the months with the greatest decreases in Tmax for the central part of Nebraska—Culbertson, Hastings, and Central City. Alliance, Culbertson, and Fremont had year-round decreases in DTR. Central City and Hastings experienced growing‐season decreases in DTR. Increases in growing‐season length occurred at rates of 14.3, 16.7, and 11.9 days century−1 for Alliance, Central City, and Fremont, respectively. At Hastings, moderately earlier last spring frost (LS) at a rate of 6.6 days century−1 was offset by an earlier (2.7 days century−1) first fall frost (FF), resulting in only a 3.8 days century−1 longer growing season. There were only slight changes in LS and FF dates of around 2 days earlier and 1 day later per century, respectively, for Culbertson.

scholarly journals The role of variety and forecrop in the population dynamics of Rhizoctonia solani in soil

2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-32
Author(s):  
A. A. Malyuga ◽  
N. S. Chulikova
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Rhizoctonia Solani ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Steppe Zone ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Forest Steppe ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Two Peaks

Long-term studies (2014–2019) of the population dynamics of the fungus Rhizoctonia solani Küch. were carried out in the soil on the Purple Majesty, Vitelotte and Fioletovy potato varieties and preceding crops (potatoes, oats and tendergreen). The study was carried out in Novosibirsk region in the soil and climatic conditions typical of the forest-steppe zone of Western Siberia. To study the peculiarities of R. solani fungus population dynamics in potato plantations, soil samples were taken from under the plants during the entire growing season. The accumulation of rhizoctonia propagules in the soil was determined using the method of multiple soil pellets. The difference in the amount and rate of accumulation of the fungus R. solani on different varieties, as well as the influence of previous crops on this process, was established. Two peaks of the fungus accumulation were observed on the Purple Majesty variety: the first (48.7 propagules/100 g of soil) – during the full germination period, the second (57.2 propagules/100 g of soil) – at the end of the crop maturation phase. One peak was observed in the population dynamics of the fungus on Vitelotte and Fioletovy varieties, at the end of the ripening period (59.0 and 49.1 propagules/100 g soil, respectively). The smallest amount of R. solani fungus in the soil on average during the growing season was noted on the Fioletovy variety – 33.3 propagules/100 g of soil. In the Purple Majesty and Vitelotte varieties, this figure was 41.5 and 40.4 propagules/100 g of soil, respectively. When potato variety Agata was cultivated as monoculture, there was a rapid and significant accumulation of the fungus R. solani in the soil (from 34.6 to 126.8 propagules/100 g of soil). When this variety was cultivated following tendergreen or oats, the amount of the pathogen varied to a lesser extent (25.1–52.2 and 19.8–41.0 propagules/100 g of soil, respectively). No sharp increases in the number of propagative structures of the phytopathogen in the soil were noted.

scholarly journals Restoration ecologists might not get what they want: Global change shifts trade-offs among ecosystem functions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Fiedler ◽  
José A.F. Monteiro ◽  
Kristin B. Hulvey ◽  
Rachel J. Standish ◽  
Michael P. Perring ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Plant Traits ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
List Type ◽  
Trade Offs

ABSTRACTEcological restoration increasingly aims at improving ecosystem multifunctionality and making landscapes resilient to future threats, especially in biodiversity hotspots such as Mediterranean-type ecosystems. Successful realisation of such a strategy requires a fundamental mechanistic understanding of the link between ecosystem plant composition, plant traits and related ecosystem functions and services, as well as how climate change affects these relationships. An integrated approach of empirical research and simulation modelling with focus on plant traits can allow this understanding.Based on empirical data from a large-scale restoration project in a Mediterranean-type climate in Western Australia, we developed and validated the spatially explicit simulation model ModEST, which calculates coupled dynamics of nutrients, water and individual plants characterised by traits. We then simulated all possible combinations of eight plant species with different levels of diversity to assess the role of plant diversity and traits on multifunctionality, the provision of six ecosystem functions (covering three ecosystem services), as well as trade-offs and synergies among the functions under current and future climatic conditions.Our results show that multifunctionality cannot fully be achieved because of trade-offs among functions that are attributable to sets of traits that affect functions differently. Our measure of multifunctionality was increased by higher levels of planted species richness under current, but not future climatic conditions. In contrast, single functions were differently impacted by increased plant diversity. In addition, we found that trade-offs and synergies among functions shifted with climate change.Synthesis and application. Our results imply that restoration ecologists will face a clear challenge to achieve their targets with respect to multifunctionality not only under current conditions, but also in the long-term. However, once ModEST is parameterized and validated for a specific restoration site, managers can assess which target goals can be achieved given the set of available plant species and site-specific conditions. It can also highlight which species combinations can best achieve long-term improved multifunctionality due to their trait diversity.

scholarly journals Suppressed N fixation and diazotrophs after four decades of fertilization

Microbiome ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kunkun Fan ◽  
Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo ◽  
Xisheng Guo ◽  
Daozhong Wang ◽  
Yanying Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Processes ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Organic Fertilization ◽  
Soil Biodiversity ◽  
Fertilization Experiment ◽  
Fundamental Process ◽  
Diazotrophic Community

Abstract Background N fixation is one of the most important microbially driven ecosystem processes on Earth, allowing N to enter the soil from the atmosphere, and regulating plant productivity. A question that remains to be answered is whether such a fundamental process would still be that important in an over-fertilized world, as the long-term effects of fertilization on N fixation and associated diazotrophic communities remain to be tested. Here, we used a 35-year fertilization experiment, and investigated the changes in N fixation rates and the diazotrophic community in response to long-term inorganic and organic fertilization. Results It was found that N fixation was drastically reduced (dropped by 50%) after almost four decades of fertilization. Our results further indicated that functionality losses were associated with reductions in the relative abundance of keystone and phylogenetically clustered N fixers such as Geobacter spp. Conclusions Our work suggests that long-term fertilization might have selected against N fixation and specific groups of N fixers. Our study provides solid evidence that N fixation and certain groups of diazotrophic taxa will be largely suppressed in a more and more fertilized world, with implications for soil biodiversity and ecosystem functions.

scholarly journals The Profitability of Sustainable Agriculture on a Representative Grain Farm in the Mid-Atlantic Region, 1981–89: Comment

1995 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 136-137
Author(s):  
Wayne S. Roberts ◽  
Scott M. Swinton
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Agriculture ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Computational Error ◽  
Risk Averse ◽  
Conventional Farming ◽  
Government Programs ◽  
Atlantic Region ◽  
Conventional Agriculture ◽  
Low Input

A long term whole farm analysis comparing conventional and low-input farming systems is reviewed. A computational error led to the mistaken conclusion that conventional farming with government programs is less preferred by risk-averse farmers than the low input alternative. The greater income variance of conventional agriculture need not make it less preferred provided a higher mean income sufficiently offsets the higher variance.

Long-term application of organic matter based fertilisers: Advantages or risks for soil biota? A review

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 408-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakub Hlava ◽  
Jiřina Száková ◽  
Jaroslav Vadlejch ◽  
Zuzana Čadková ◽  
Jiří Balík ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Chemical Compounds ◽  
Physicochemical Characteristics ◽  
Soil Biota ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Feedback Cycle ◽  
The Many ◽  
Hazardous Compounds

The addition of organic matter rich materials to agricultural soil is currently a common practice to improve its quality and fertility. However, the input of organic matter rich waste materials into soils significantly impacts ecosystem functions. The potential contamination of soil by various chemical compounds is one of the many risks that should be taken into account. Recent environmental studies have assessed the introduction of potentially hazardous compounds from pharmaceutical and personal care products, heavy metals, and other sources. This review summarizes knowledge concerning the influence of long-term soil fertilisation on soil biota, with special attention to soil nematodes. The interaction between fertilisers and soil organisms is highly complex. Nematode communities can be used as an ecosystem assessment tool to provide a holistic measure of the biotic and functional status of soils. However, extensive investigation of nematode interaction with the affected soil, and the physicochemical characteristics of the soil, should elucidate their role as one of the components in the feedback cycle controlling ecosystem processes.

scholarly journals Cost-Benefit Analysis of Conservation Agriculture Implementation in Syrdarya Province of Uzbekistan

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 48-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Azizbek Daujanov ◽  
Rolf Groeneveld ◽  
Alim Pulatov ◽  
Wim J.M. Heijman
Keyword(s):  
Central Asia ◽  
Land Degradation ◽  
Resource Use ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
Conventional Agriculture

Abstract Most irrigated lands of Central Asia suffer from land degradation, and unsustainable agricultural practices are one of the factors contributing to land degradation. Conservation agriculture (CA) is seen as a way to mitigate land degradation and rationalize resource use. The aim of this article is to investigate the efficiency of CA implementation in the Syrdarya province of Uzbekistan, Central Asia by carrying out a cost-benefit analysis (CBA). The CBA was conducted for a hypothetical situation where the farm decides to switch from conventional agriculture to CA. Unlike the previous studies, this study investigates complete crop rotation cycle in the long-term period. The study outcomes suggest that investment in CA implementation results in positive incremental benefit if the advantages of CA are monetized.

scholarly journals Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) anatomical, physiological, biochemical and production responses to drought stress - A mini-review essay

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Massimi
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Review Essay ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Significant Loss ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Natural Factor ◽  
Tomato Crop ◽  
Biochemical Alterations ◽  
The Impact

The cultivated plant climate association in agricultural yields is getting expanded consideration with regards to changing climatic conditions. Abiotic stressors can lead to morpho-anatomical, physiological, and biochemical alterations in harvests, resulting in a significant loss of profit. A comprehension of ecological elements and their communication with physiological cycles is critical for improving agricultural practices. Drought stress is among the main natural factor affecting plant development, growth, and yield measures. Assessing the impact of environmental change and atmospheric variability on tomato crop output will require a thorough understanding of this stress element. The physiology, development, improvement, yield, and quality of the tomato crop are all affected by dry season stress. This mini-review essay presents the most prominent features about the effects of drought stress on tomato crop plant physiology and production, with specific highlighting for the complex relationship between drought stress, and nutrients uptake.

scholarly journals Long-term tendencies in climate change of the Urals due to global warming

2020 ◽  
Vol 222 ◽  
pp. 05001
Author(s):  
A.A. Vasiliev ◽  
L.V. Ufimtseva ◽  
N.V. Glaz ◽  
D.Yu. Nokhrin
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Cultivated Plants ◽  
Hydrothermal Coefficient ◽  
Chelyabinsk Region ◽  
Annual Amount ◽  
Observation Period

During the observation period, the annual air temperature increased: in Yekaterinburg (1832-2018) by 3,1°C, in Zlatoust (1881-2018) by 2,2°C, in Kurgan (1894-2018) by 2,2°C and in Shadrinsk (1894-2018) by 2,1°C. The analogical climate change was noted for the period 1966-2018. The strongest warming is observed in winter (by 2,3-3,0°C), the weakest warming is observed in spring (by 0,8-1,7°C). We noted an increase the annual amount of precipitation in Ivdel (by 68,2 mm), Shadrinsk (by 50,9 mm) and Krasnoufimsk (by 43,6 mm). Also marked an increase the amount of precipitation during the growing season in Ivdel (by 43,9 mm), Shadrinsk (by 42,8 mm) and Krasnoufimsk (by 26,8 mm). The annual amount of precipitation increased in Chelyabinsk and Yekaterinburg, but the amount of precipitation during the growing season decreased in Kurgan. Favorable changes in the agro-climatic conditions of growing season were noted in Shadrinsk and Zlatoust. Unfavorable changes in hydrothermal coefficient for cultivated plants were noted in Chelyabinsk, Kurgan, Troitsk, Yekaterinburg and Bredy. Identified the need to introduce an irrigation system for cultivated plants of the southern districts (Chelyabinsk region).

scholarly journals Sunflower cultivation technology with strip tillage in the Ciscaucasian zone

2021 ◽  
pp. 78-80
Author(s):  
Yu. A. Kuzychenko ◽  
R. G. Gadzhiumarov ◽  
A. N. Dzhandarov
Keyword(s):  
Fractal Dimension ◽  
Root System ◽  
Plant Development ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Soil Density ◽  
Cultivation System ◽  
Cultivation Technology ◽  
Strip Tillage

The article presents research materials devoted to evaluating the technology of sunflower cultivation with strip basic soil cultivation using elements of Strip-till technology in comparison with the recommended one. The originality of the approach to the cultivation system, in comparison with the classic Strip-till technology, consists in preliminary surface stubble cultivation in two tracks, which retains productive moisture, provokes more intensive germination of weeds, and, accordingly, a more effective effect of subsequent spraying of the stubble with glyphosate. It was found that during the growing season of sunflower with abnormally harsh climatic conditions in 2020 (GTC = 0.07) the soil density in the flowering phase of sunflower was 1.30-1.32 g/cm3, with low moisture reserves in layer 0-100 cm both in spring (57 and 65 mm, respectively) and in bloom (5 and 16 mm, respectively). Applying the fractal dimension method with the calculation of the development index of the root system D, it was found that the harder the agrophysical parameters were during the period of plant development, the less intensively the roots developed: at GTC = 0.22, the D index with the recommended technology and Strip-till technology was 1.63 and 1.76 units respectively, and at GTK = 0.07 — 1.46 and 1.51 units. The low yield of sunflower is associated with a deficit of productive moisture in the summer-autumn period of 2019 and 2020, with a lower reserve of 23 and 102 mm from the long-term norm; nevertheless, a significant increase in the yield of sunflower over the years of research was established by 0.96 and 0.14 tons/ha when cultivating a crop with strip tillage based on the introduction of elements of Strip-till technology in comparison with the recommended one, with a decrease in costs by 11% and an increase in profitability up to 136%.

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