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Wheat field earthworms under divergent farming systems across a European climate gradient
Full text linkEarthworms are a key faunal group in agricultural soils, but little is known on how farming systems affect their communities across wide climatic gradients and how farming system choice might mediate earthworms' exposure to climate conditions. Here, we studied arable soil earthworm communities on wheat fields across a European climatic gradient, covering nine pedo-climatic zones, from Mediterranean to Boreal (S to N) and from Lusitanian to Pannonian (W to E). In each zone, 20–25 wheat fields under conventional or organic farming were sampled. Community metrics (total abundance, fresh mass, and species richness and composition) were combined with data on climate conditions, soil properties, and field management and analyzed with mixed models. There were no statistically discernible differences between organic and conventional farming for any of the community metrics. The effects of refined arable management factors were also not detected, except for an elevated proportion of subsurface-feeding earthworms when crop residues were incorporated. Soil properties were not significantly associated with earthworm community variations, which in the case of soil texture was likely due to low variation in the data. Pedo-climatic zone was an overridingly important factor in explaining the variation in community metrics. The Boreal zone had the highest mean total abundance (179 individuals m−2) and fresh mass (86 g m−2) of earthworms while the southernmost Mediterranean zones had the lowest metrics (<1 individual m−2 and <1 g m−2). Within each field, species richness was low across the zones, with the highest values being recorded at the Nemoral and North Atlantic zones (mean of 2–3 species per field) and declining from there toward north and south. No litter-dwelling species were found in the southernmost, Mediterranean zones. These regional trends were discernibly related to climate, with the community metrics declining with the increasing mean annual temperature. The current continent-wide warming of Europe and related increase of severe and rapid onsetting droughts will likely deteriorate the living conditions of earthworms, particularly in southern Europe. The lack of interaction between the pedo-climatic zone and the farming system in our data for any of the earthworm community metrics may indicate limited opportunities for alleviating the negative effects of a warming climate in cereal field soils of Europe
Comparison and analysis of self-thinning models based on diameter-based maximum size-density relationships
Full text linkIdentifying self-thinning phase is one of the key issues to deal with stand density management and simulate the growth and yield in a forest stand. This study was conducted to figure out the carrying capacity of silver birch plantations and provide the self-thinning zone for practicability. The analyzed data were the stand-wise observations from the experimental plots of silver birch plantations in southern and central Finland, which were established and measured between 1977 and 2020. Models for the diameter-based maximum size-density relationship (MSDR) were fitted only to the censored data after classifying the stand observations undergoing self-thinning phase. The applied diameter-based MSDR in this study were Reineke’s self-thinning rule (STR), competition-density (C-D) rule, and Nilson’s stand sparsity index (SSI). Model fitting was executed using linear quantile mixed-effect model for Reineke’s STR and Nilson’s SSI and nonlinear mixed-effect model for the C-D rule. For practical purpose, a lower boundary of the self-thinning zone based on the developed MSDR was analyzed using the concept of relative density (RD) according to the ratio of stem number (N) to maximum stem number (Nmax) at quadratic mean diameter (DQ). Linear quantile mixed models were fitted well with the 0.99 level for Reineke’s STR and with the 0.01 level for Nilson’s SSI to find the MSDR between DQ and N. Among the fitting methods for the C-D rule, the three-parameter method performed better than the four-parameter method or the method with Reineke’s slope of −1.605. The fitted slope of Reineke’s STR in this study was −1.5848, which was close to the original slope from Reineke’s. Our results from the developed models and the observations undergoing self-thinning phase implied that the slope of MSDR is not always invariant. Moreover, a different slope for MSDR was suggested by initial planting density and the stand development stage; a self-thinning phase occurred earlier with lower initial planting density, which meant a steeper slope. When the lower boundary of the self-thinning zone was analyzed applying RD to the MSDR models, the results suggested that RD 0.7 for Reineke’s STR at DQ ≤ 18.65 cm and RD 0.8 for Nilson’s SSI at DQ ≥ 18.65 cm provided adequate level for self-thinning phase. It is considered in this study that the diameter-based MSDR measures were analyzed and examined adequately, and the practical self-thinning zone was provided using RD for silver birch plantations
Public acceptance of microbiome management strategy in dairy calves: a European survey on colostrum, probiotic provision and prolonged cow-calf contact
Full text linkThe microbiome plays a crucial role in the calves’ early stages of life. Several management practices can be considered to enhance the development and composition of the microbiome in calves. However, their social acceptance is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the public acceptance of innovative microbiome management practices aimed at improving the health and welfare of calves and to assess the factors influencing these levels of acceptance. Data used in the analysis were obtained from an online survey conducted in July 2023. The final sample consists of 3 220 citizens from four EU countries (Finland = 813, France = 803, Ireland = 801 and Poland = 803). Participants were asked to assess four management practices designed to improve calves’ health and welfare: (1) using colostrum, (2) providing mix probiotics powder, (3) providing probiotics as yogurt or kefir and (4) prolonged cow-calf contact. Participants were provided with different levels of information: one group received only a short description of the intervention, while the other group received both the intervention description and information on aspects such as potential costs and environmental impact of the intervention. Participants were asked to rate the acceptance on a standardised scale ranging from 1 to 5, with 1 indicating “strongly agree” and 5 indicating “strongly disagree”. Additionally, the participants were questioned about their socio-demographic background (e.g. age, education). They were also asked to provide their perspectives on various dimensions concerning familiarity with farming and microbiome, food safety, environmental awareness, cost consideration, and cultural perspective of consuming dairy products. Obtained data were analysed using the ordinary least squares regression model. The findings reveal that prolonged cow-calf contact was the most acceptable measure among tested interventions in all countries (79% of responders agreed or strongly agreed). Attitudinal and socio-economic variables were found to have a differential effect across the studied management strategies. For instance, individuals with greater familiarity with farming systems and microbiomes were more inclined to accept all four interventions, while women, compared to men, showed higher acceptance of prolonged cow-calf contact. Results also indicate that the provision of additional information to the participants was associated with a decrease in the acceptance of the measures. In conclusion, the public’s perceptions regarding microbiome management strategies in dairy calves are shaped by complex factors. Also, our discussion emphasises the importance of clarity and transparency of messages, ethical dissemination of scientific knowledge, and the necessity for balanced and coherent communication
Enhancing Switchgrass Growth With Biochar Derived From Mushroom Residue: A Study on Regulating Physicochemical Properties of Acidic Phosphogypsum
Full text linkAcidity limits plant growth, particularly when the growing medium has a pH below 5, a challenge that is particularly relevant for certain plants like switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). Although adding biochar to the growing medium has been shown to improve plant growth by modulating acidity, its specific impact on switchgrass remains largely uninvestigated. Thus, we conducted a pot experiment to assess how different biochar application rates (0%, 1%, 2.5%, 5%, 10%, and 20% w/w), derived from mushroom residue through muffle furnace pyrolysis at 350°C for 2 h, affect the physicochemical attributes of phosphogypsum and subsequent switchgrass growth. Our findings revealed that adding biochar to phosphogypsum significantly alleviated acidity and enhanced moisture, organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, available phosphorus, and available potassium contents. Notably, the 10% biochar treatment had the most positive impacts on germination rates, while the 5% treatment had the greatest improvements in shoot length, tiller number, and total weight compared to the control. Structural equation modeling illustrated that biochar indirectly contributed to switchgrass health by altering the physicochemical properties of phosphogypsum, with pH as the pivotal regulator. Our study demonstrated the potential of mushroom residue biochar as an effective amendment for acidic substrates/matrix (e.g., soil), offering a promising strategy to improve physicochemical conditions and stimulate plant growth
Remote sensing of post-restoration changes in hydrology and vegetation in boreal peatlands
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A Coupled Model of Hydraulic Eco-Physiology and Cambial Growth - Accounting for Biophysical Limitations and Phenology Improves Stem Diameter Prediction at High Temporal Resolution
Full text linkTraditional photosynthesis-driven growth models have considerable uncertainties in predicting tree growth under changing climates, partially because sink activities are directly affected by the environment but not adequately addressed in growth modelling. Therefore, we developed a semi-mechanistic model coupling stomatal optimality, temperature control of enzymatic activities and phenology of cambial growth. Parameterized using Bayesian inference and measured data on Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris in peatland and mineral soils in Finland, the coupled model simulates transpiration and assimilation rates and stem radial dimension (SRD) simultaneously at 30 min resolution. The results suggest that both the sink and phenological formulations with environmental effects are indispensable for capturing SRD dynamics across hourly to seasonal scales. Simulated using the model, growth was more sensitive than assimilation to temperature and soil water, suggesting carbon gain is not driving growth at the current temporal scale. Also, leaf-specific production was occasionally positively correlated with growth duration but not with growth onset timing or annual cambial area increment. Thus, as it is hardly explained by carbon gain, phenology itself should be included in sink-driven growth models of the trees in the boreal zone and possibly other environments where sink activities and photosynthesis are both restrained by harsh conditions.202
Local population dynamics of gray wolves Canis lupus and Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx exhibit consistency with intraspecific contest competition models
Full text linkIn Europe, the gray wolf and Eurasian lynx populations are recovering after various levels of persecution. The two species differ in their social structure and spatial patterns of aggregation. Using model selection, we investigated the consistency of the available time series data on local wolf and lynx sub-populations with a number of single-species population growth models that pertain to two types of intraspecific competition, namely, scramble (SC) and contest competition (CC), and reflect random (R) or aggregated (A) distribution of individuals. The applied models of population growth—the Ricker (SCR), Skellam (CCR), Hassell (SCA), and Beverton–Holt (CCA) models—were all parameterized in terms of intrinsic growth rate and carrying capacity with unified definitions. The projected carrying capacity was allowed to show a temporal trend, which was justified by an observed increase in prey abundance in recent decades. For both species, the models pertaining to contest competition outperformed the scramble competition models, and the Beverton–Holt model had the greatest weight. However, for the lynx, the difference of performance between the scramble and contest competition models was considerably smaller than that for the wolves. In most of the models, when it was meaningful, an optional time lag operator was added to account for a delay in individual maturity and reproduction. However, the models with a time lag had a worse fit than the models without it. This study promotes the application of population models that reflect intraspecific competition for modeling population dynamics in a single- or multi-species framework
Suositukset rakeisten kierrätyslannoitevalmisteiden fysikaalisille ominaisuuksille
Full text linkRakeisia kierrätyslannoitevalmisteita on kehitetty maatalouden käyttöön jo vuosikymmenten ajan. Vaikka näille tuotteille on syntynyt vakiintuneet markkinat sekä kansallisesti että kansainvälisesti, ei niiden fysikaalisille ominaisuuksille ole luotu yleisiä standardeja.
Tässä tietokortissa esitellään Luken suosituksia näille fysikaalisille ominaisuuksille perustuen Luken tutkimustuloksiin