{"title":"Multifunctionality of annual forage crop mixtures for improved biomass, beef cattle diets, and soil health outcomes","authors":"Akim Tunde Omokanye, Surendra Bhattarai, Guillermo Hernandez Ramirez, Blasius Azuhnwi, Yamily Zavala, Hayford Gyamfi, Bharat Shrestha","doi":"10.1002/agg2.70325","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70325","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Cover crop mixtures (CCMs) can fit well into various agricultural production systems and have gained popularity among grain and livestock producers, as well as organic and market gardeners across western Canada, due to their potential to enhance forage production and soil health. This study evaluated nine CCM treatments, comprising seven multispecies combinations (two- to eight-way), monocultures of barley and oats, and three seeding rates (100%, 125%, and 150%). The results showed significant effects of CCM (<i>p</i> < 0.001), seeding rate (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and their interaction (<i>p</i> < 0.001) on forage yield and normalized difference vegetation index. The highest forage yield (10,084 kg ha<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>) was observed in a six-species mixture at 125% seeding rate. Nutritive value, such as crude protein (CP), total digestible nutrients (TDN), and fiber components, varied significantly across the mixtures. The eight-species mixture had the highest CP and acid detergent fiber (ADF), while the five-species mixture had the highest TDN. Principal component analysis revealed clear clustering of forage mixtures based on both nutritive and soil parameters, with key indicators including ADF, net energy for lactation, neutral detergent fiber, phosphorus, and soil organic matter. Notably, forage yield was not significantly correlated with any of the nutritive parameters. However, CP and relative feed quality were positively correlated with several quality indicators. These findings highlight the potential of optimized CCMs and seeding rates to enhance forage yield and quality while supporting soil health across diverse agroecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":7567,"journal":{"name":"Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment","volume":"9 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/agg2.70325","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147686763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gillie Cheelo, Hastings Shamaoma, Charles Bwalya Chisanga, Jules Christian Zekeng, Stephen Syampungani
{"title":"Assessing forest fragmentation and biodiversity impacts in sub-Saharan Africa: Methodological challenges and conservation strategies for small-scale agricultural landscapes","authors":"Gillie Cheelo, Hastings Shamaoma, Charles Bwalya Chisanga, Jules Christian Zekeng, Stephen Syampungani","doi":"10.1002/agg2.70349","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70349","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Tropical forests in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) harbor around one-third of the world's species but are becoming more fragmented due to the expansion of human settlements and small-scale agricultural (SCA) areas. This study systematically reviewed the approaches and methods used to analyze forest fragmentation and its impact on biodiversity in SSA, with a focus on their suitability in SCA landscapes. The main findings revealed that most studies in SSA employed generalized approaches to assess fragmentation, failing to account for the distinct contributions of various land cover changes. The other key findings indicate that the majority of studies (i) depended on low-resolution remote sensing imagery, (ii) neglected to assess landscape metrics accuracy, and (iii) had limited focus on socioeconomic aspects. These limitations impede precise and thorough evaluation of SCA's contribution to forest fragmentation. To address these gaps, we recommend the following: (i) adoption of high-resolution images, (ii) integration of socioeconomic data, and (iii) rigorous validation of landscape metrics. Concerning biodiversity implications, 55.2% (21 out of 38) of the reviewed studies reported negative impacts, and 68.2% (26 out of 38) exhibited a taxonomic bias toward avian and tree/plant species. We recommend the following: (i) enhanced utilization of remote sensing data for biodiversity monitoring, (ii) greater emphasis on neglected taxa (e.g., small mammals and amphibians), and (iii) focused conservation initiatives for small forest fragments, which are essential for biodiversity conservation, and reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in SSA.</p>","PeriodicalId":7567,"journal":{"name":"Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment","volume":"9 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/agg2.70349","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147686294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
