{"title":"The influence of climate on varietal similarities across countries","authors":"Germán Puga, Kym Anderson","doi":"10.1002/ael2.70001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ael2.70001","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <p>In recent decades, vignerons have focused more on the world's mainstream varieties than on differentiating their varietal mix. This has led countries to become more similar to each other in their mix of winegrape varieties and more varietally concentrated. What are the drivers of those changes? In this study, we focus on one of those drivers, that is, climate similarities. We estimate statistical models to quantify the potential influence of 16 climate variables on varietal similarities across countries, as well as on how their varietal mixes have become more or less similar since 2000. The results indicate not only that countries with more similar climates have more similar varietal mixes but also that in recent years countries with more similar climates have become even more similar in their mixes. This, however, does not necessarily mean that vignerons have been planting the varieties that are better adapted to their climates.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Core Ideas</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <div>\u0000 <ul>\u0000 \u0000 <li>Wine-producing countries have become more similar and concentrated in their mix of winegrape varieties.</li>\u0000 \u0000 <li>This similarity extends particularly among countries sharing similar climatic conditions.</li>\u0000 \u0000 <li>In recent years, countries with similar climates have continued to converge in their winegrape varietal mixes.</li>\u0000 \u0000 <li>Nevertheless, vignerons have not necessarily been planting varieties that are better suited to their climates.</li>\u0000 </ul>\u0000 </div>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48502,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural & Environmental Letters","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ael2.70001","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142525365","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Our connections to soil health through simile","authors":"Alan J. Franzluebbers","doi":"10.1002/ael2.70003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ael2.70003","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Healthy soil supports the global carbon cycle, the water cycle, and many nutrient cycles to stabilize ecosystems. We take these processes for granted, and yet, disruptions to these cycles would be devastating if soils became defunct and plants could not photosynthesize. As with the health of the human body to which we rely on to carry out our daily lives, so too does the health of soil give essential life to our world. Strong corollaries exist between the functioning of the human body and the soil body. This essay explores these two bodies through simile. Just as we wish others good health, so too should each of us (and society) wish a world with excellent soil health. A foundational pathway laid by strong science, but pitched to engage more of the public in this effort to foster better soil health might be through non-traditional impressionistic storylines.</p>","PeriodicalId":48502,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural & Environmental Letters","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ael2.70003","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142525075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
R. Michael Lehman, Shannon L. Osborne, Patrick M. Ewing
{"title":"When are you measuring soil β-glucosidase activities in cropping systems?","authors":"R. Michael Lehman, Shannon L. Osborne, Patrick M. Ewing","doi":"10.1002/ael2.70002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ael2.70002","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In situ soil respiration is driven by annual patterns of temperature and soil moisture, but what about extracellular enzyme activities responsible for depolymerizing soil organic matter? We conducted biweekly measurements of potential soil β-glucosidase activities during a 4-month period from March soil thawing through July in annually cropped field plots in eastern South Dakota. Our objective was to determine the best sampling time to resolve the effects of crop rotational diversity on soil microbial activities. Potential β-glucosidase activities were elevated immediately following soil thaw, peaked in May, and declined to their lowest value in mid-summer. Temperature and precipitation had no value in predicting enzyme activities; however, enzyme activities were affected by crop rotational diversity and responded to current crop and previous crop. These findings are pertinent to the use of soil extracellular enzymes in soil health assessments and as indicators of microbial substrate preference with implications for soil carbon stabilization.</p>","PeriodicalId":48502,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural & Environmental Letters","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ael2.70002","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142525099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Soil organic matter characteristics of four soil types under different conservation strategies across Hubei Province","authors":"Wei Yang, Yangbo He, Xingsheng Song, Lirong Lin, Zhengchao Tian, Ying Zhou","doi":"10.1002/ael2.70000","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ael2.70000","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Soil organic matter (SOM) plays key roles in sloping land erosion control. This study explores SOM content across Hubei Province, China, focusing on four soil types under various conservation strategies. Field samples (<i>n</i> = 243) were collected under 27 monitoring sites employing diverse conservation strategies in runoff plots. Results indicated substantial variability in SOM content among soil types, with calcareous soils exhibiting the highest levels (12.63 g kg<sup>−1</sup>). Conversely, red soils displayed the lowest SOM content (6.32 g kg<sup>−1</sup>). However, short-term conservation strategies and their interaction with soil type did not significantly influence SOM. The findings underscore the intricate relationship between soil types and SOM dynamics. This study contributes to the understanding of SOM dynamics in diverse landscapes, offering valuable guidance for policymakers and land managers to apply practices in mitigating erosion and enhancing soil health.</p>","PeriodicalId":48502,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural & Environmental Letters","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ael2.70000","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142448994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Logan Gall, Tom Glancy, Michael Kantar, Bryan C. Runck
{"title":"A tool for integrating agrometeorological observation data for digital agriculture: A Minnesota case study","authors":"Logan Gall, Tom Glancy, Michael Kantar, Bryan C. Runck","doi":"10.1002/ael2.20147","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ael2.20147","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Agrometeorological data are essential for understanding production using digital agriculture techniques. However, integrating agrometerological observations from multiple sources remains a challenge. Often, digital agriculture scientists download and clean the same datasets many times. We present a prototype system that simplifies the process of collecting, cleaning, integrating, and aggregating data from meteorological data sources by providing a simplified user interface, database, and application programming interface. The prototype provides a standard interface for querying multiple geospatial formats (raster and vector) and integrates observation networks including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Global Historical Climatology Network (NOAA GHCN), NOAA NClim-Grid (NOAA's Gridded Climate Normals), and Ameriflux BASE. The system automatically checks and updates data, saving storage space and processing time, and allows users to summarize data spatially and temporally. Provided as open source code and browser-based user interface, the application and integration system can be run across Windows, Linux, and Mac environments to support broader use of multi-source agrometeorology data.</p>","PeriodicalId":48502,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural & Environmental Letters","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ael2.20147","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142439117","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Including non-growing season emissions of N2O in US maize could raise net CO2e emissions by 31% annually","authors":"Brian Buma","doi":"10.1002/ael2.20146","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ael2.20146","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) is a significant greenhouse gas and the most important currently emitted ozone depleting substance, primarily via agricultural fertilization. Current N<sub>2</sub>O emission estimation methods at the national scale are predominantly via emission factors. Models estimating national-scale emissions are focused on growing season emissions. However, a substantial fraction of N<sub>2</sub>O can be emitted during non-growing season periods. Using newly published off-season N<sub>2</sub>O emission ratio maps and high-resolution nitrogen application data, this study explores the potential magnitude of underestimated N<sub>2</sub>O emissions if using only the default growing-season focused methodology. Although there is large variation at county scales (12%–35%), non-growing season national emissions are estimated at 31% of the total, a potential 12,000 Gg CO<sub>2</sub>e year<sup>−1</sup>. Further work should better refine emission estimates spatially as well as fully integrate estimates across growing and non-growing seasons.</p>","PeriodicalId":48502,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural & Environmental Letters","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ael2.20146","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142169868","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cross-correlating soil aggregate stability methods to facilitate universal interpretation","authors":"Deborah Aller, Joseph P. Amsili, Harold M. van Es","doi":"10.1002/ael2.20145","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ael2.20145","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <p>Aggregate stability is a critical physical indicator of soil health. However, multiple methods are used for measuring aggregate stability, making it difficult to compare results and limiting universal interpretations in soil health assessment frameworks like Soil Health Assessment Protocol and Evaluation. We cross-correlated three common water-stable aggregate methods (WSA<sub>CASH</sub>, WSA<sub>ARS</sub>, and WSA<sub>SLAKES</sub>) using a dataset of nearly 1400 samples and developed pedotransfer functions using random forest models to evaluate method performance. We found that the WSA<sub>ARS</sub> and WSA<sub>CASH</sub> methods can be reasonably cross correlated through pedotransfer functions because they use similar processes for estimating aggregate strength. Conversely, the WSA<sub>ARS</sub> and WSA<sub>SLAKES</sub> methods are not transferable. We suggest that the WSA<sub>ARS</sub> aggregate stability method is the most established and best reference method for use in soil health analysis frameworks. Interpretation consistency will lead to more robust comparisons of aggregate stability as a key physical soil health indicator.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Core Ideas</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <div>\u0000 <ul>\u0000 \u0000 <li>Different approaches for measuring aggregate stability prevent generalized result interpretation.</li>\u0000 \u0000 <li>The water-stable aggregate wet sieve procedure (WSA<sub>ARS</sub>) is proposed as the reference method for interpretation.</li>\u0000 \u0000 <li>Other soil aggregate stability methods can be variably correlated with WSA<sub>ARS</sub>.</li>\u0000 </ul>\u0000 </div>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48502,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural & Environmental Letters","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ael2.20145","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141991596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Revisiting agricultural science and organic farming","authors":"Kristian Nikolai Jæger Hansen","doi":"10.1002/ael2.20139","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ael2.20139","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The decision whether to manage agriculture according to organic farming principles or conventional farming is a question bigger than scientific inquiry; it constitutes a political question. Similarly, deciding the regulations governing organic and conventional production does not fall within the pursuit of science. Rather, science should show how different management practices influence the environment. The regulatory framework of organic farming is derived from normative values rather than scientific principles, which now categorizes the production.</p><p>McGuire (<span>2017</span>) contend that ideology and science do not blend well. However, researchers inherently possess normative values, which shape their research interests and perspectives. It could be argued that this is only problematic when the goal of the scientific pursuit and ideology crosses, thus becoming activistic. This can harm the scientific process by drawing wrongful conclusions upon poorly constructed experiments, and thus the scientific process in general. All scientific decisions—for example., formulating a research question, designing the study, and analyzing the data—are conducted by humans, with values and experiences influencing their choices, therefore including some normative values (Reed, <span>2011</span>; Risjord, <span>2016</span>). While this is generally recognized by social sciences, natural sciences often neglect it.</p><p>Analysis of studies comparing the environmental impacts of organic and conventional farming show variation in environmental impact, as for dairy production (Cederberg & Mattsson, <span>2000</span>; De Boer, <span>2003</span>; Kristensen et al., <span>2011</span>; Thomassen et al., <span>2008</span>). When assessing the two production regimes the production level between the systems is seemingly important. This is because emission or environmental impact are often divided upon the emission per produced product, which as an effect of production levels obtained is favoring higher production. Organic farming utilizes less resources per produced product, but often has a lower productivity. Organic farming, however, often claims other ideologic values besides production, such as health, ecology, fairness, and care (IFOAM, <span>2005</span>).</p><p>Comparison of organic and conventional management also raises the question of whether the production systems are similar enough to be comparable. Both organic and conventional production can be described with the goal to produce goods to sell, while somehow having different aims. Organic farming emphasizes different values, complicating direct statistical comparisons with conventional systems, since these values are not described with a reductionistic approach. The external values in organic production seem to have a cost, often resulting in lower productivity than conventional production.</p><p>The reasoning of McGuire (<span>2017</span>), who advocates that organic agriculture should change its ","PeriodicalId":48502,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural & Environmental Letters","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ael2.20139","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141991597","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Trends in the yield response to nitrogen of winter wheat in Oklahoma","authors":"Amadeo F. Panyi, B. Wade Brorsen","doi":"10.1002/ael2.20143","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ael2.20143","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <p>This study seeks to explain how the response of winter wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum L</i>.) to nitrogen at Lahoma, OK, has changed over time. This objective was motivated by the need for accurate estimation of optimal nitrogen recommendations and to understand why optimal nitrogen rates have changed over time. Yields increased over time, except at the 0 and 22 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> rates of applied nitrogen. Bayesian methods were used to estimate linear plateau models where each parameter has its own time trend. Results show no trend in intercept, an increase of 1.3% per year in the slope coefficient, a 1.9% per year increase in the difference between the plateau and intercept, and a 33% increase in the optimal nitrogen rates from 1971 to 2023. These trends suggest the need to update nitrogen recommendations and help explain why the yield goal approach became imprecise over time due to changing yield potential.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Core Ideas</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <div>\u0000 <ul>\u0000 \u0000 <li>The yield of winter wheat went up over time with nitrogen rates of 45 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> or higher.</li>\u0000 \u0000 <li>The yield on check plots with no nitrogen did not change.</li>\u0000 \u0000 <li>The slope and plateau of the linear plateau model of wheat yield response went up over 1% per year.</li>\u0000 \u0000 <li>Optimal nitrogen went up over 33% over time based on the estimated linear response stochastic plateau model.</li>\u0000 </ul>\u0000 </div>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48502,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural & Environmental Letters","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ael2.20143","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141980383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Artificial intelligence in soil science: Where do we go now?","authors":"Jose Pablo Castro, Caley K. Gasch, Paulo Flores","doi":"10.1002/ael2.20134","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ael2.20134","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <p>Recognizing the fast advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) in soil science, the main objective of this commentary paper is to discuss how this technology is being incorporated into the discipline, focusing on the most common algorithms and their applications. Employing a discursive and reflective methodology, the article draws insights from the authors' expertise and opinions. The paper explores some ethical considerations and the potential impact of AI on the job market and calls for a balanced approach that maximizes the benefits of this technology while vigilantly mitigating its negative implications to ensure the integrity and inclusivity of the profession.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Core Ideas</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <div>\u0000 <ul>\u0000 \u0000 <li>Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing soil science with advanced analytic and predictive modeling tools.</li>\u0000 \u0000 <li>Ethical AI in soil science should focus on data integrity, privacy, and transparent research.</li>\u0000 \u0000 <li>AI is reshaping the soil science job market, emphasizing the need for adaptability, and continuous learning.</li>\u0000 \u0000 <li>Collaboration between technology and soil experts can lead to groundbreaking research and academic solutions.</li>\u0000 \u0000 <li>AI, as a complementary tool, can enhance soil scientists' expertise, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.</li>\u0000 </ul>\u0000 </div>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48502,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural & Environmental Letters","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ael2.20134","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141966668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}