Does crop diversification lead to climate-related resilience? Improving the theory through insights on practice

Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 46(6), P. 877 - 901

Published: May 12, 2022

In recent years, CGIAR researchers have investigated the effectiveness of using agrobiodiversity, and more particularly crop varietal diversity, as an adaptive practice to mitigate climate-change impacts on agriculture contribute rural household community resilience. The hypothesis informing this research is that sustained diversification leads ecological redundancy, which allows farmer households their communities produce multiple positive livelihood benefits. validity by means extensive literature review (covering 2015–2020). Findings reveal ample evidence outcomes, including increased yields incomes, improved nutrition food security, new marketing opportunities, reduced poverty, strengthened innovative capacity. However, far less convincing about last part hypothetical impact pathway, i.e. link between benefits (increased) This shortcoming addressed through elaboration a clearly articulated theory change for refined methodology support farmers in making appropriate decisions. At same time, critical opens window important, novel perspective, look at role could play wider societal transition toward sustainable future.

Language: Английский

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Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change and Impacts on Household Income and Food Security: Evidence from Sahelian Region of Niger

Sustainability, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 14(5), P. 2847 - 2847

Published: March 1, 2022

Sahelian countries, particularly Niger, are more vulnerable to climate change due the high dependence of most their populations on rain-fed agriculture and limited capacities respond variability change. This paper examines factors influencing adaptation strategies impacts household income food security in rural Niger. For this purpose, we collected data from 1783 valid households four main agricultural regions The results showed that crop diversification (72.74%), (67.97%) changing planting times (55%) adopted by households. majority respondents had noticed changes rain patterns (93.21%), amount (91.25%) intensity (81.82%) during last five years. We categorized these into six major groups namely climate-resilient varieties, improved agronomic practices, irrigation water conservation diversification, agroforestry. ran logit regression identify determinants each individual group. show mixed effects independent variables categories strategies. Using matching techniques, found have positive significant impact both security. farmers who adopt likely increase 7721.526 FCFA compared those with zero Similarly, adapters 7% 9% chance be secure did not These suggest strengthening awareness choice appropriate necessary enhance resilience. Strengthening institutional such as access credit market, extension services, using drought-resilient varieties would surely improve production.

Language: Английский

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Model-based design of crop diversification through new field arrangements in spatially heterogeneous landscapes. A review

Agronomy for Sustainable Development, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 42(4)

Published: July 19, 2022

Abstract Intensive agriculture in Germany is not only highly productive but has also led to detrimental effects the environment. Crop diversification together with new field arrangements considering soil heterogeneities can be an alternative improve resource use efficiency (RUE), ecosystem services (ESS), and biodiversity. Agroecosystem models are tools that help us understand design diversified arrangements. The main goal of this study was review extent which agroecosystem have been used for crop at landscape scale by model requirements purpose. We found several available simulating spatiotemporal scale. For spatial diversification, simplified modelling approaches consider interactions light, water, nutrients, they offer restricted combinations. temporal include major crops (e.g., cereals, legumes, tuber crops). However, parameterization limited marginal carbon nitrogen (N). At scale, decision-making frameworks commonly cropping systems. Within-field rarely considered or studies. Combining static dynamic agroecosystems useful evaluation trade-offs ESS delivery To enhance modeling capabilities simulate systems arrangements, it will necessary representation interactions, inclusion more species options, legacy effects, biodiversity estimations. Newly arrangement requires higher data resolution, generated via remote sensing sensors. propose implementation a framework combines process-based optimized respective experiments testing combined framework.

Language: Английский

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Agricultural diversification promotes sustainable and resilient global rice production

Nature Food, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 4(9), P. 788 - 796

Published: Sept. 11, 2023

Language: Английский

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An Overview of the Impact of Tillage and Cropping Systems on Soil Health in Agricultural Practices

Advances in Agriculture, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 2023, P. 1 - 14

Published: May 27, 2023

There is currently a demand to grow more crops in less area as result of urbanization’s reduction agricultural land. As result, soil fertility gradually declining. To maintain fertility, various management methods are used modern times. The conventional tillage method traditional that damages structure, but zero can improve quality. By maintaining structure with no-tillage, biological processes frequently improved and microbial biodiversity increased. This review helps understand the role well cropping systems increasing crop production by fertility. For environmental protection be sustained for future generations, quality must maintained continuous systems. nodulation, nitrogen fixation, community all impacted different methods. They also alter properties including aeration, water utilization. impact system practices such systems, rotation, intercropping, cover cropping, cultivator combinations, prairie strip techniques on carefully summarized this review. highlights conservational much better than aspects their interaction. On other hand, etc., increase yield monocropping. Different types highlighted along advantages disadvantages. Using which In terms management, our main goal while minimizing harm soil’s health.

Language: Английский

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Conversion of steppe to cropland increases spatial heterogeneity of soil functional genes

The ISME Journal, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 17(11), P. 1872 - 1883

Published: Aug. 22, 2023

Language: Английский

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Innovative Organic Fertilizers and Cover Crops: Perspectives for Sustainable Agriculture in the Era of Climate Change and Organic Agriculture

Agronomy, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(12), P. 2871 - 2871

Published: Dec. 1, 2024

Anthropogenic activities have resulted in land desertification various regions of the world, leading to degradation critical soil characteristics such as organic matter (OM) content, nutrient stock, and prevailing biodiversity. Restoring degraded soils through amendments diversified crop rotations is thus an intrinsic part farming. This review discusses a wide range farming impacts on health productivity by focusing fertilizers diversification. Conventional were considered vital for agricultural production harvest high yields. Nevertheless, they are now deemed environmentally hazardous obstacle sustainable agroecosystems due intensive chemical inputs that damage over time long-lasting impacts. fertilization results depletion, loss microbial diversity, reduction, deterioration physical soil. Conversely, makes use naturally existing resources improve health. Organic biochar, manure, fermented grass soil’s physical, chemical, biological properties promote growth diversity beneficial microorganisms—important cycling stability. They facilitate uptake nutrients, hinder pathogen growth, mitigate heavy metals, decompose xenobiotic substances. Moreover, growing cover crops also major strategy Diversified rotation with combinatorial may yields without any detrimental environment soil, ensuring food production, safety, security. integrated approach contributes minimizing their effects environmental It reducing along enhancing OM, biomass, nitrogen fixation, carbon sequestration. Therefore, offer climate change mitigation.

Language: Английский

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Co-designing a landscape experiment to investigate diversified cropping systems

Agricultural Systems, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 217, P. 103950 - 103950

Published: April 13, 2024

Intensive food and feed production in sole-cropped, large fields with high fertilizer pesticide inputs to achieve yields, has contributed detrimental environmental impacts. To move towards more sustainable agricultural landscapes, cropping system diversification been suggested as a promising practice for which the use of digital technologies could be potentially beneficial. Understanding impact diversified, newly arranged systems their management requires long-term experimental data at landscape scale practical experiences using are hardly available. Experimental platforms an setup farmers' involvement meet such demands but have not set up many regions nor process designing described systematically. The overall objective this study was describe how platform can co-designed jointly by researchers practitioners understand practices compared current Eastern Brandenburg, Germany. Specifically, we aimed re-design intensively managed field into smaller segments that called patches assess potential co-created experiment focussing on both, practitioners´ scientists´ perspective. We used DEED research cycle (Describe, Explain, Explore Design) conceptual framework co-design patchCROP within commercial farm. Patches were implemented 0.5 ha original based yield soil maps advanced cluster analysis considered heterogeneity. narrow crop sequence diversified integrating new crops, cover crops flower strips five-year rotation. cultivate patches, machinery during first years will replaced over time autonomous robots. Workshops various methods SWOT adjust reduction. revealed opportunities drawbacks develop participative manner from both scientific farming found farmer-centric position focused mainly economic return feasibility future operations field. perspective other hand needs potentials about evaluating dynamic, interdependent or opposing natural processes interactions like productivity, biodiversity ecosystem service changes context. Co-designed experiments simultaneously developed services beyond level, performance quality multiple scales, implications actors. This is step forward extend systems-based single plot on-farm environment, allowing exploration measures long run.

Language: Английский

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Crop diversification for pollinator conservation

Landscape Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 40(1)

Published: Jan. 11, 2025

Abstract Context Intensive agriculture drives insect decline impacting insect-mediated ecosystem services that support production. Crop diversification shows promise in increasing crop productivity and enhancing services, however, the impact on biodiversity conservation, particularly of pollinators, is unclear. Objectives Here, we synthesize mechanisms current evidence base how spatial temporal diversity crops within across agricultural fields can benefit pollinator biodiversity. Methods We focus research highly intensified regions, Western Europe North America, from which know a lot about decline, but use inspiration tropical regions. Results find higher diversity, with sequentially flowering cultivars, intercropping practices, larger coverage crops, for example through integrating cultivation forgotten, novel, woody increases flower resource availability throughout active flight period pollinators. All practices increase landscape heterogeneity, further enhanced by decreasing field sizes. As result, functional connectivity increases, improves accessibility foraging ranges Conclusions Our review highlights potential various measures supporting pollinating insects without taking land out production, as well limitations, including only subset species may benefit. Empirical suggest could landscape-wide studies are needed to properly evaluate true conservation part solution bending curve decline.

Language: Английский

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Redefining the field to mobilize three-dimensional diversity and ecosystem services on the arable farm

European Journal of Agronomy, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 122, P. 126197 - 126197

Published: Nov. 23, 2020

In this article we explore the concept and implications of three-dimensional (spatial, temporal, genetic) in-field crop diversification to inform systems redesign towards ecological intensification. We first present a conceptual framework for classifying diversity in arable contexts. then apply analyse two long-term experiments The Netherlands where spatial genetic measures were implemented via strip mixed intercropping with aim increase ecosystem service delivery: incidence spreading rate late blight (Phytophthora infestans) potato (Solanum tubersosum L.), biocontrol control potential wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). case blight, potatoes planted strips had significantly lower disease than monoculture reference across all years, adding cultivar mixing within was more powerful mitigating alone. wheat, supported larger (for but one taxonomic group) diverse epigeic natural enemy populations sole culture years. However, addition species did not further indices compared sole-wheat strips. These results imply that compromises between management complexity enhancement are achievable through cropping, an operable practice current machinery, does require thorough reconfiguration production system. proved useful unpacking experimental outcomes terms diversity-mediated mechanisms, however it requires development before can be used facilitate multi-objective optimization.

Language: Английский

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