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Forest protection under climate change – preventing the downward spiraling of forests into climate change-driven damage and decline
Full text linkStakeholder perspectives on sustainable vineyard practices in Germany\u27s Mosel region: A multicriteria assessment
Full text linkThis research employs a survey of relevant stakeholders to identify low-input farming practices with the potential to mitigate key agronomic and environmental challenges in the Mosel vineyard region (Germany) and enhance their sustainability. Stakeholders are concerned about the future of the Mosel winemaking region as threatened by the lack of farm generational succession and of economic sustainability, as well as suffering problems of excessive fertiliser use and biodiversity loss. Their priorities actions such as: conserving traditional landscapes, recovering traditional crops, reducing soil erosion, and increasing crop profitability. The stakeholders point at minimum tillage, soil mulching, maintenance of natural vegetation on plot edges, green manure, and pheromone control as the most adequate farming practices for the area. Using TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) multi-criteria analysis, these practices have also been ranked as the most effective for facing the identified agronomic and environmental challenges. This analysis, by combining prioritization and effectiveness, yielded even higher valuations than those directly assigned by stakeholders. This is conditioned by some stakeholders rating them low or not choosing them on the grounds of lack of effectiveness, incompatibility with current practices, lack of tradition, or the high implementation or management cost, so, the multi-criteria analysis really shows the true ranking. As we can see the typology of small family-run farms with elderly winemakers, with steep stony plots that make farming difficult and expensive, coupled with changes in the “terroir” due to climate change, compromises the survival of production. This study has highlighted that a change in mentality to modernise farms and adopt agro-ecological practices, as well as diversification with fodder and aromatic crops can offer the community an opportunity which, supported by marketing strategies, may provide an incentive to consumers
Influence of rapeseed oil ethoxylate surfactants on retention and biological efficacy of glyphosate spray solutions in selected weeds
Full text linkChemical weed control plays a major role in increasing productivity of modern cropping systems. Surfactans are used to improve the biological efficacy of foliar-applied herbicides. However, questions have been raised about the safety of the commonly used active ingredients and surfactans. As a consequence of the increasing pesticide safety demands and restrictive regulatory limitations on pesticide use, researchers are looking for new adjuvants with improved biological and ecotoxicological profiles. With this in mind a newer group of vegetable oils, namely rapeseed oil ethoxylates (RSO), was studied. Rapeseed oils with 5 (RSO 5), 10 (RSO 10), 20 (RSO 20), 30 (RSO 30), and 60 (RSO 60) ethoxylation units were added to glyphosate lutions and applied to different weed species (Amaranthus retroflexus, Datura stramonium, Setaria viridis, Viola arvensis). The influence of these oils on spray retention as well as the biological efficiacy of glyphosate was examined, using electron microscopy, spectroscopy, chlorophyll fluorescence, and dry matter determination. Scanning electron microscopy pictures of the weed surfaces were taken and displayed fundamental differences in the epidermal, cuticular and epicuticular structures of the leaf surfaces. Beside different habits and leaf structures the results were regarded as reasons for quantitative differences in the mean spray solutiondeposited. Further tests demonstrated that there was no correlation between retention behavior and biological efficiacy. Maximum chlorophyll fluorescence measurements showed similar or higher impact of glyphosate when rapeseed oils were added in comparison with treatment of Roundup Ultramax®. Good correlation was shown between hydrophilicity/ethoxylation of the solution and dry matter content, In D. straminium and V. arvensis increasing ethoxylation led to descreasing dry mass. The opposite could be shown in S. viridis. Amaranthus retroflexus had lowest dry mass when glyphosate was applied with RSO 20. The rapeseed oil ethoxylates used showed promising impacts on glyphosate spray solutions but further studies needd to be undertaken to clarify other processes of the foliar application of pesticides
Lettuce grown in silver laden soil at two different activity levels of soil microorganisms
Full text linkLettuce biomass, silver accumulation in lettuce, and effect of activity of soil microoorganisms on these items, were studied in a series of experiments, Lettuce was cultivated in two kinds of soil with different organic matter concentrations. Initially the soil was either sterile or non-sterile, and had been supplied with different silver nitrate concentrations. Lettuce growth was significantly negatively affected by silver, especially in initially sterile soil with lower organic matter content. There was also a significantly enhanced silver accumulation at larger silver supply in initially sterile soil with the lower organic matter content, otherwise there was no enhanced silver accumulation. There was a significant difference in respiration rate after hervest between the initially sterile soil and the non-sterile soil. In soil withthe lower organic matter content, microorganism activity was inhibited by silver. In conclusion; silver accumulation increased and growth deceased in the lettuce grown in soil containing silver when the microorganism community in the soil had been affected by sterilization. The negative effects of silver on both lettuce and microorganisms were more distinct when the soil had lower organic matter content. 
Growth alterations in Scots pine seedlings grown in forest soil: implications for restorative forest management
No full textHeave metals originating from smelting activity have deteriorated forest ecosystems in many places, The threat to forest does not cease even when the smelting activity ends, due to the pool of metal cations absobed into soils. When reforestation is planned in such areas, it is vital to know if seedlings survive in those conditions. We investigated the effects of nickel and copper added to soil on the growth of Scots pine seedlings. Root growth showed the strongest response. Ni being more harmful than Cu. The reduction in the green biomass produced during the experiment eas nearly the same as that in root biomass. Cu being more harmful. Copper toxicity in the aboveground parts is not direct, however, since Cu is not transported to the foliage or stem in toxic amaounts. The result show that afforestation may be possible even in areas polluted by smelting activity for decades. 
Perspectives for forest modeling to improve the representation of drought-related tree mortality
Full text linkDerzeit beobachten wir ein erhöhtes Baumsterben nach mehrjährigen Dürreperioden, insbesondere in Mittelgebirgen wie dem Harz in Deutschland, wo über 70 % der Fichtenbestände abgestorben sind. Waldmodelle sind nützliche Instrumente, um die langfristigen Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf Waldökosysteme zu verstehen, können aber dieses massive Absterben nur schwer wiedergeben. In dieser Studie haben wir das Fichtensterben im Harz mit fünf Waldmodellen (ForClim, FORMIND, 3-PG-Hydro, LPJ-GUESS, GOTILWA+) von sehr unterschiedlicher Komplexität simuliert. Die anhand der Waldzustandserhebung geschätzte Fichtensterblichkeit stieg in den zurückliegenden Dürrejahren (2018–2020) auf Werte von über 30 % pro Jahr. Wir stellten fest, dass die meisten Modelle diese beobachteten hohen Sterblichkeitsraten nicht simulieren konnten, obwohl sie ein deutliches Signal für eine verringerte Waldproduktivität während der Trockenheit in den Simulationsergebnissen aufwiesen.Diese Diskrepanz zwischen der beobachteten hohen Fichtensterblichkeit und der simulierten Walddynamik unterstreicht die Notwendigkeit verbesserter Modellierungsansätze, um die Prozesse der Baumsterblichkeit während und nach extremen Dürreereignissen besser darzustellen. In dieser Studie zeigen wir mehrere Perspektiven zur Verbesserung von Waldmodellen durch die Integration fehlender Prozesse auf. Dazu gehören (i) verbesserte prozessbasierte Ansätze zur Baummortalität nach Dürren, (ii) eine verbesserte Beschreibung ökophysiologischer Prozesse wie der Pflanzenhydraulik, (iii) datengetriebene Mortalitätsansätze und KI, (iv) eine verbesserte Abbildung biotischer Schadfaktoren (d. h. Insekten und Krankheitserreger) in Modellen. Die Einbeziehung dieser Perspektiven in Waldmodelle hat das Potenzial, deren Fähigkeit zur Simulation der Walddynamik bei extremer Trockenheit zu verbessern und letztlich zur Bewertung der Widerstandsfähigkeit von Wäldern und zur Information über adaptive Managementstrategien in Deutschland und darüber hinaus beizutragen.We are currently observing increased tree mortality following multi-year drought events, particularly in low mountain ranges like the Harz Mountains in Germany, where over 70% of spruce stands have died. Forest models are useful tools for understanding the long-term effects of climate change on forest ecosystems, yet struggle to reproduce this massive dieback. In this study, we simulated spruce mortality in the Harz Mountains using five forest models (ForClim, FORMIND, 3-PG-Hydro, LPJ-GUESS, GOTILWA+) of very different complexity. Estimated from the crown condition survey, spruce mortality in the Harz region increased to values above 30% during recent drought years (2018-2020). We found that most models failed to capture these observed high mortality rates, although they showed a clear signal in reduced forest productivity during drought.This discrepancy between the observed high spruce mortality and simulated forest dynamics highlights the need for improved modelling approaches to accurately represent tree mortality processes during and after extreme drought events. We discuss several perspectives for enhancing dynamic forest models by integrating missing processes prospectively. This includes novel (i) process-based drought mortality approaches, (ii) enhanced description of eco-physiological processes like plant hydraulics, (iii) data-driven and AI approaches, and (iv) improved representation of biotic damaging agents (i.e., insects and pathogens). Incorporating these perspectives into forest models has the potential to improve their ability to simulate forest dynamics under extreme drought, ultimately contributing to the assessment of forest resilience and informing adaptive management strategies in Germany and beyond
Enhancing sustainability in kohlrabi production by balancing nitrogen use without compromising inner and outer quality aspects
Full text linkSustainability of vegetable production is a declared goal for a more sustainable agriculture in the future. Nitrogen is a crucial macro-nutrient for achieving high yields and quality such as intense greenness in vegetables, particularly in leafy varieties. However, excessive nitrogen contributes to greenness but can lead to groundwater pollution through nitrate leaching. This study evaluates a strategy to enhance the sustainability of kohlrabi production (Brassica oleracea) by reducing N application while improving N use efficiency. It further investigates how product quality such as glucosinolate concentration is affected under these conditions. By applying 80% and 50% of the nitrogen fertilizers which contain an urease inhibitor or an additional nitrification inhibitor, higher sustainability through the mitigation of nitrogen losses is expected. The results show that a 20% reduction in N application is feasible with minimal yield loss and no significant effects on crop vitality or leaf greenness. The type of fertilizer had little impact on yield when 80% of N was supplied. While a 20% N reduction influences glucosinolate profiles, the effect on taste and quality, remains unclear. Overall, a 20% reduction in nitrogen fertilization can be accomplished without yield loss or significant changes in outer quality, although it may slightly alter glucosinolate profiles and taste perception
Between adaptation and necessity: Stored product protection for food safety in the context ofclimate change
Full text linkDer Klimawandel stellt eine massive Gefahr für die gesamte Nahrungsmittelkette dar. In dieser Arbeit wird untersucht, inwiefern der Klimawandel den Schutz gelagerter Lebensmittel vor vorratsschädlichen Insekten beeinflusst und welche Implikationen diese Beeinflussungen für die Nahrungsmittelsicherheit darstellen. Die Analyse basiert auf einer umfassenden Literaturrecherche, die aktuelle wissenschaftliche Studien, Berichte und einschlägige deutschsprachige Werke umfasst. Dabei werden sowohl direkte Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf das Verhalten der Vorratsschädlinge und deren Bekämpfungsmethoden als auch indirekte Auswirkungen auf Ernte- und Lagerbedingungen untersucht. Die Analyse zeigte, dass der Temperaturanstieg und die Zunahme von Extremwettereignissen zu veränderten Ernte- und Trocknungsbedingungen führen, welche auch die anschließende Lagerung und Qualität der Ernteerzeugnisse beeinflussen. Der Temperaturanstieg führt außerdem zu einer Veränderung der geografischen Verbreitung und der Entwicklungszyklen der Vorratsschädlinge, wodurch in Teilen der Welt ein erhöhtes Schädlingsaufkommen verursacht wird. Dieses und auch klimatische Veränderungen haben Auswirkungen auf die Effektivität der traditionellen Schädlingsbekämpfungsmethoden im Vorratsschutz.Climate change poses a massive threat to the entire food chain. This publication examines the extent to which climate change influences the protection of stored products against insects that are harmful to stored products and the implications of these influences for food safety. Two aspects of climate change are investigated in detail. At first, indirect effects on harvests and storage conditions are considered. This is followed by a treatise on the direct effects on the development and behaviour of storage pests, as well as on control methods. The analysis is based on a comprehensive literature review that includes current scientific studies, reports and relevant German-language hand- and textbooks. The analysis has shown that the rise in temperature and the increase in extreme weather events lead to changes in harvest and drying conditions, which also influence the subsequent storage and quality of the harvested produce. The rise in temperature also affects the geographical distribution and developmental cycles of storage pests, causing an increased incidence of pests in parts of the world. This as well as climatic changes have an impact on the effectiveness of traditional pest control methods in stored product protection
Wound callus formation - a microscopic study on poplar (Populus tremula L. x Populus tremuloides Michx.)
Full text linkPoplar trees were mechanically wounded and the subsequently built parenchymatic callus tissue and wound cambium as well as the developing lateral wound callus were investigated by light microscopy. Two strategies of callus formation wre observed. One of them is characterized by four steps: i- formation of a parenchymatic tissue at the wound edge; ii- formation of a cambium within the parenchymatic zone as a tangential extension of the undisturbed vascular cambium; iii- release of radially oriented xylem and phloem cells; iiii- formation of cambial cells with greater parallel orientation to the wound edge. The other strategy can be subdivided into three steps; i- formation of parenchymatic cells at the wound edge; ii- establishment of a wound cambium preferably within the differentiated phloem tissue; iii- formation of wound xylem and phloem cells, with the tendency to cover the wound laterally. Both strategies may occur within the same tree or even at different portions of one and the same wound