Agronomy for Sustainable Development最新文献

{"title":"Integrating legumes into cropping systems increases soil carbon and nitrogen content while it reduces the soil carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. A meta-analysis","authors":"Zhiqiang Lu,&nbsp;Yapeng Li,&nbsp;Jiali Yang,&nbsp;Yisha Yang,&nbsp;Ran Xu,&nbsp;Liyan Shang,&nbsp;Guorui Li,&nbsp;Tong Li,&nbsp;Yuncheng Liao,&nbsp;Xiaoxia Wen","doi":"10.1007/s13593-026-01132-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13593-026-01132-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Integrating legumes into cropping systems offers a promising strategy to mitigate the decline in soil fertility caused by continuous agricultural intensification. However, existing studies have mainly examined individual soil carbon or nitrogen indicators, or have been conducted within limited contexts, leaving a comprehensive understanding of soil carbon and nitrogen responses at the global scale lacking. We therefore conducted a global meta-analysis of 1199 observations from 173 field experiments to evaluate integrating legumes into cropping systems impacts on soil carbon and nitrogen under diverse management practices and environmental conditions. Our results showed that integrating legumes into cropping systems significantly increased the soil organic carbon and total nitrogen content by 4.60% and 7.90%, respectively, while reducing the soil carbon-to-nitrogen ratio by 2.37%. Changes in soil organic carbon and total nitrogen due to legume integration were positively correlated with mean annual precipitation and mean annual temperature, but negatively correlated with initial soil organic carbon and initial soil carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. Integrating legumes as cover crops led to greater increases in soil organic carbon and total nitrogen, whereas the reduction in soil carbon-to-nitrogen ratio was more pronounced when legumes were used as main crops. Moreover, soil organic carbon and total nitrogen increased when legumes replaced fallow or gramineous crops, whereas soil carbon-to-nitrogen ratio significantly decreased only when legumes replaced gramineous crops. Furthermore, the benefits of integrating legumes into cropping systems on soil organic carbon and soil carbon-to-nitrogen ratio were amplified by greater crop diversity. Overall, this study provides the first comprehensive global synthesis of the effects of integrating legumes into cropping systems on soil carbon and nitrogen status, quantifies how environmental conditions and management practices modulate these effects, and provides practical guidance for the site-specific implementation of legume-based cropping systems in sustainable agriculture.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7721,"journal":{"name":"Agronomy for Sustainable Development","volume":"46 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148538167","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Selected native genotypes, plantation design, and management intensity boost fine flavor cacao productivity","authors":"Carolina Ocampo-Ariza,&nbsp;Evert Thomas,&nbsp;Fredy Yovera,&nbsp;Rachel Atkinson,&nbsp;Justine Vansynghel,&nbsp;Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter,&nbsp;Bea Maas,&nbsp;Teja Tscharntke","doi":"10.1007/s13593-026-01127-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13593-026-01127-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Native fine flavor cacao fetches premium prices on specialty markets, owing to its superior sensorial traits. However, alleged low productivity limits its planting, and high-yielding bulk cacao dominates the international market. Overcoming the yield gap is necessary to promote fine flavor cacao and thus conserve cacao’s native genetic diversity, while increasing farmers’ revenues. We studied the compatibility and yield potential of six Blanco de Piura cacao genotypes, a fine flavour landrace from northwestern Peru. We compared planting designs with different genotype diversity and assessed the impact of plantation management intensity (frequency of pruning and removal of infested pods) on productivity. Following renewing the canopy of adult cacao trees using grafting, we quantified the yields of the six white-bean genotypes on 12 smallholder farms using three clonal designs: (1) monoclonal (one genotype per plot), (2) polyclonal rows (three genotypes alternated by row), and (3) polyclonal trees (three genotypes per tree). Yields were monitored for 3 years, starting 2 years after grafting, and compared with non-grafted controls. After 3 years, grafted trees yielded 59% more cacao than non-grafted controls, regardless of clonal design and management intensity. Monoclonal designs performed best under intensive management, whereas polyclonal designs excelled under poor management, suggesting that diversification is most beneficial for farmers with limited management capacity. Cacao yields on frequently managed farms were 118% higher than on poorly managed farms, reaching 1200–1500 kg dry beans/ha. Polyclonal trees offered no yield advantage over polyclonal rows, suggesting that the close vicinity of different genetic materials may not represent a benefit for cross-pollination by non-flying insects. We conclude that canopy renewal can increase the yield of native fine flavor cacao, matching or surpassing levels of high-yielding bulk cacao under smallholder farming conditions. A translated version of this manuscript in Spanish is available online.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7721,"journal":{"name":"Agronomy for Sustainable Development","volume":"46 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s13593-026-01127-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148538168","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Climate change adaptation of Iberian dehesa: a simulation approach using the Hi-sAFe model","authors":"Jesús Fernández-Habas,&nbsp;Gerardo Moreno,&nbsp;Alejandro Carrascosa,&nbsp;M. Lourdes López-Díaz,&nbsp;Arnaud Carrara,&nbsp;Christian Dupraz,&nbsp;Jonathan Eden,&nbsp;Marie Gosme,&nbsp;Felix Herzog,&nbsp;Klaus A. Jarosch,&nbsp;Isabelle Lecomte,&nbsp;M. Pilar Martín,&nbsp;Víctor Rolo","doi":"10.1007/s13593-026-01131-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13593-026-01131-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Agroforestry is a promising solution to enhance the resilience of agricultural systems against climate change. However, evidence on the long-term response of semi-natural agroforestry systems, such as extensive silvopastures, remains limited. To address this knowledge gap, this study assessed the production and temporal stability of a Mediterranean silvopastoral system, the Iberian dehesa, under climate change. The process-based Hi-sAFe model was used to simulate tree growth, pasture production, and their temporal stability from 1990 to 2100 under the very high emissions Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 scenario in open grasslands and silvopastures with 25 and 50 trees ha^-1. Simulations were validated with long-term data on tree growth (2011-2023) and pasture production (2014-2024). We explored the optimal farm composition to maximize production and its temporal stability. The model accurately simulated tree growth (stem diameter; RMSE=1.63 cm, R² = 0.98) and pasture production (RMSE=0.4 t ha^-1, R²=0.95). Results indicated higher tree development and pasture biomass temporal stability at 25 than at 50 trees ha^-1, with 40% and 111% higher diameter increase and temporal stability, respectively. Open pastures had higher productivity than agroforestry and declined at all tree land covers over the 1990-2100 period. The agroforestry scenario at 25 trees ha^-1 showed the smallest decrease in pasture production (-1.4 kg ha^-1 yr^-1), compared to open pastures (-2.1 kg ha^-1 yr^-1) and 50 trees ha^-1 (-4.1 kg ha^-1 yr^-1), indicating a buffering effect against increased aridity. The optimal farm composition showed an increasing share of agroforestry at 25 trees ha^-1 density as climate change effects intensify. At the farm/landscape scale, a combination of open pastures and dehesas with different tree densities is recommended. This is the first study to apply the Hi-sAFe model to complex silvopastoral systems, indicating its usefulness and limitations in exploring trends and outcomes associated with different tree density scenarios under climate change.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7721,"journal":{"name":"Agronomy for Sustainable Development","volume":"46 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s13593-026-01131-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148538173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Experts expect European agroforestry systems to stabilize crop yields under climate change","authors":"Christina den Hond-Vaccaro,&nbsp;Klaus Jarosch,&nbsp;Sonja Kay,&nbsp;Yafei Li,&nbsp;Felix Herzog","doi":"10.1007/s13593-026-01119-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13593-026-01119-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Climate change is having an impact on European agricultural systems and will increasingly do so into the future. Agroforestry, the integration of trees or shrubs in agricultural production systems, has been repeatedly described as a productive, sustainable, and resilient approach to food production. Quantifying agricultural benefits of agroforestry in the context of resilience to current and future climate change in Europe is challenging. To fill this knowledge gap, we gathered the assessments of 60 experts on the resilience of different forms of agroforestry (silvoarable, silvopastoral, and systems with hedgerows, riparian buffer strips, and windbreaks) in diverse European regions to various climate change variables. Across all regions and independently of the agroforestry system type, agroforestry systems were observed to show stable yields (0% change in yield compared to −8% in non-agroforestry systems). Experts expected yields in non-agroforestry to decline by 20% until 2050, while agroforestry systems were expected to maintain stable yields (0% change). This gap was highest in Central and Eastern Europe. In north-western and northern Europe, small yield increases were expected in agroforestry systems. Silvopastoral, silvoarable, and systems with hedgerows, riparian buffer strips, and windbreaks were similar in terms of observed and expected yield changes. The quality of saleable agricultural products until 2050 was estimated to be reduced in non-agroforestry systems, particularly in arable and hedgeless systems. Heavy precipitation events, prolonged drought, late frost, summer heat waves, and hail were the main threats by climate change–related threats listed by experts. Our online expert study is a novel approach to quantify agricultural benefits and emphasizes a general resilience of agroforestry systems to climate change impacts, regardless of the exact system type and climate region.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7721,"journal":{"name":"Agronomy for Sustainable Development","volume":"46 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s13593-026-01119-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148466378","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Driving climate resilience: citizen attitudes toward agroforestry and their policy implications in the UK","authors":"Shan Jin,&nbsp;Rao Fu,&nbsp;Kyriaki Remoundou,&nbsp;Novieta H. Sari,&nbsp;Meng Yue,&nbsp;Yit Arn Teh,&nbsp;Felix Eigenbrod,&nbsp;Francisco J. Areal,&nbsp;Lynn J. Frewer","doi":"10.1007/s13593-026-01130-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13593-026-01130-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Agroforestry provides essential ecosystem services while enhancing climate resilience and biodiversity in rural landscapes. Despite a growing body of research on farmers’ adoption of agroforestry, much less is known about citizens’ attitudes and priorities. Citizen disapproval of agroforestry practices or policies may undermine the legitimacy of these initiatives and impede their long-term implementation. This risk is particularly relevant in countries where agroforestry is being promoted as a national policy priority, such as the UK. We surveyed 1509 UK citizens to examine their attitudes toward agroforestry, explore factors influencing these attitudes, and study how these factors operate across distinct segments of the sample. Overall, participants expressed neutral to positive attitudes toward agroforestry. Benefits associated with climate resilience (wildlife habitat creation, greenhouse gas capture, and flood control) were rated most highly. Negative socio-economic consequences (delayed benefit realization, higher input requirements, and potential stakeholder conflicts) were identified as representing the greatest risks. Structural equation modeling validated a novel hybrid model explaining participants’ attitudes toward agroforestry, highlighting three primary drivers: evoked affect, perceived benefits, and the perceived importance of environmental conservation in farming. Latent class analysis identified three distinct citizen groups. The negative impact of perceived risk associated with agroforestry on attitudes was greatest among <i>cautious conservation-oriented citizens</i>. The positive impact of perceived threat to the rural environment exceeded the influence of perceived importance of environmental conservation in farming among <i>citizens sensitive to threats to the rural environment</i>. Among <i>countryside-engaged eco-productive citizens</i>, perceived importance of both environmental conservation and food productivity as well as attachment to the countryside emerged as strong positive predictors of acceptance. Our results provide evidence for adopting a holistic approach that accounts for diverse citizen preferences when promoting agroforestry across UK regions, and highlight the importance of addressing multiple ecosystem services at the landscape level in agroforestry policies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7721,"journal":{"name":"Agronomy for Sustainable Development","volume":"46 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s13593-026-01130-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148428824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Opportunities for methanotrophs to contribute to sustainable agronomy. A review","authors":"Chris Pratt,&nbsp;Zainab Mahdi,&nbsp;Niloofar Ordou,&nbsp;Ali El Hanandeh","doi":"10.1007/s13593-026-01126-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13593-026-01126-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Methanotrophs are methane (CH₄)-oxidizing proteobacteria and archaea that occupy most ecological niches. Their contributions towards regulating global CH₄ budgets, potential to generate high-value carbon products, and capacity to mitigate contaminant impacts have been exhaustively reviewed. Another, less explored, area where methanotrophs offer enormous potential is sustainable agronomy. Agricultural settings host extensive methanotrophic communities. However, disturbance within these landscapes can disrupt community function and impede methane oxidation efficiency. In this review, we evaluate the opportunity for abating agricultural CH₄ emissions via methanotrophy using a novel approach that integrates potential across multiple emission sources. First, we appraise agricultural settings which are simultaneously CH₄ emission and methanotrophy hotspots. We then estimate the quantity of CH₄ available for abatement in these hotspots and propose methods to enhance methanotrophy. Finally, we evaluate and synthesize ecosystem services that methanotrophs offer to the agronomic sector. We identified four substantial agricultural CH₄ hotspots with high potential for improved CH₄ oxidation: (1) rice farming, (2) livestock lagoons/ponds, (3) grazing pastures on heavy soils, and (4) tropical/lowland cane farming. The total pool of anthropogenic CH₄ that can be mitigated in these systems exceeds 1.5 Gt carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂-e) year⁻¹, which is almost 20% of total global anthropogenic CH₄ emissions. Within these systems, methanotroph resilience and re-establishment can be enhanced by the following: using alternatives to acidifying ammonia-based fertilizers; aerating soils with high surface area amendments, like biochar; reduced tillage; promoting biological activity on the boundaries of livestock ponds; and soil application of biofertilizers containing plant growth–promoting rhizosphere microorganisms. The potential agricultural services offered by methanotrophs are profound and include increased nitrogen and carbon fixation, and soil nutrient mining. We conclude that enhancing methanotrophy in agricultural settings not only offers an opportunity to meaningfully reduce emissions driving climate change, but also presents attractive economic and environmental benefits for the agronomic sector.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7721,"journal":{"name":"Agronomy for Sustainable Development","volume":"46 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s13593-026-01126-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148408992","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Sustainability of biodegradable superabsorbent hydrogels in agriculture. A review","authors":"Portia Agyemang,&nbsp;Sujata Mandal,&nbsp;Sangchul Hwang","doi":"10.1007/s13593-026-01125-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13593-026-01125-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Biodegradable superabsorbent hydrogels have been proposed as soil conditioners to mitigate agricultural water stress, yet evidence on their agronomic relevance and environmental safety remains fragmented and contradictory. This review synthesizes current knowledge across five domains: material composition, swelling performance, biodegradation, field-scale application, and economic viability. A recurring performance–sustainability paradox is identified, whereby formulations that improve swelling stability and durability often compromise biodegradability, while environmentally benign designs show poor persistence and limited field efficacy. A critical analysis reveals a systematic overestimation of performance in laboratory studies relative to field conditions. Swelling capacities measured in distilled water are often 5–10 times higher than those realized in field soils, and biodegradation studies predominantly rely on indirect proxies rather than confirming complete mineralization, leaving ecological risks unresolved. Field application techniques, such as broadcasting, incorporation, and seed coating, provide localized benefits but lack scalability. Meanwhile, high production costs and incomplete life cycle assessments undermine claims of sustainability. Unlike earlier descriptive reviews, this study offers a critical integrative synthesis across technical, agronomic, ecological, and economic dimensions. Future progress depends on whole-system frameworks that incorporate standardized agro-climatic testing, isotopic tracing, and metagenomic monitoring of biodegradation, mechanized delivery technologies, and life cycle assessment. Such interdisciplinary validation is essential for harmonizing performance with sustainability and advancing BSAHs from experimental prototypes to credible tools for climate-resilient agriculture.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7721,"journal":{"name":"Agronomy for Sustainable Development","volume":"46 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s13593-026-01125-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148380165","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Ecosystem services and management options of grass-based cover crops in Mediterranean climates: a review","authors":"Aurelio Scavo,&nbsp;Francesca Calderone,&nbsp;Aurora Maio,&nbsp;Danilo Scordia,&nbsp;Fabio Gresta","doi":"10.1007/s13593-026-01113-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13593-026-01113-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Grasses constitute a key functional group in cover cropping strategies, particularly under the challenging conditions of Mediterranean climates, owing to their drought tolerance, rapid development, high biomass production, and extensive ground cover. Although their role in enhancing ecosystem services and supporting sustainable agroecosystems is increasingly recognized, a comprehensive synthesis specifically addressing Mediterranean climates is still lacking. To evaluate management options for efficient cover cropping strategies and the associated ecosystem services, this systematic review synthesizes evidence from 64 peer-reviewed field studies on grass cover crops, grown as single species or within grass-based mixtures, across three major Mediterranean agroecosystems (vineyards, orchards, and arable cropping systems). The following key points emerged: (1) cool-season grass species, either grain annual cereals or perennial forages, are the most effective at increasing soil organic matter content and nutrient availability, decreasing soil erosion, and suppressing weeds in Mediterranean environments; (2) if not properly managed, grass cover crops can compete with cash crops, immobilize soil N, and decrease crop yield; (3) species selection should be based on specific pedo-climatic characteristics and intended agronomic purposes; (4) despite context-specific differences, recommended management options in Mediterranean climate regions include drill planting, early autumn sowing, an appropriate seeding rate, and timely mechanical termination; and (5) optimizing cover cropping management based on biomass production and C/N ratio can help balance benefits and trade-offs, enabling targeted enhancement of specific ecosystem services. Grasses, when combined with legumes, often deliver even greater ecosystem services than when grown alone, as legumes complement grasses by increasing N availability, improving residue quality, and supporting more balanced biomass production. We conclude that grass cover crops hold considerable promise for promoting sustainable Mediterranean agriculture but require more long-term, multifunctional research to optimize their use.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7721,"journal":{"name":"Agronomy for Sustainable Development","volume":"46 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s13593-026-01113-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148323583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Combining participatory approach and modeling to quantify spatial interdependencies in pest control services","authors":"Sandrine Petit,&nbsp;Hugues Boussard,&nbsp;Caroline Gibert,&nbsp;Diane Esquerré,&nbsp;Sylvain Poggi,&nbsp;Benoit Ricci,&nbsp;Juliette Young,&nbsp;Aude Vialatte","doi":"10.1007/s13593-026-01121-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13593-026-01121-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Reinforcing the regulation of pests by their natural enemies is a promising way of reducing the use of pesticides and can be achieved through the adoption of management options at multiple scales, from field to landscape. In practice, however, most management efforts concentrate on modifying farming practices at the field level and examples of implementation of landscape-scale pest management strategies are scarce. Here, we report on place-based research that combined the co-design of scenarios of landscape-scale changes in farming practices and ex ante evaluation of pest control services under such scenarios, through the development of predictive models mobilizing long-term local data in two contrasting landscape case studies. We found that scenarios of farming change and predictive models of pest control services were site-specific. In both case studies, we show a high degree of spatial interdependency between farmers in the delivery of on-farm pest control services and, more importantly, that a wide adoption of pest control friendly-farming practices in the landscape leads to a win-win situation for each individual farmer. Farms that implemented changes were predicted to increase on-farm pest control services between 2% and 25%, depending on the changes in farming practices and case studies. When changes were implemented more widely at the landscape scale, the gain varied between 12.5% and 20% in farms where changes were implemented and between 9% and 12.5% in farms where no changes in practices were implemented. Additional gains were obtained when neighboring farmers collaborated and adjusted crop allocation on their farm in order to optimize pest control services at the landscape scale. This outcome reinforced the positive attitude of farmers towards the idea of acting collectively to promote pest control services, although such collective management was not perceived as being easy to implement and should be accompanied.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7721,"journal":{"name":"Agronomy for Sustainable Development","volume":"46 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s13593-026-01121-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148323035","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Sustainable resource optimization for tomato cultivation in a rooftop greenhouse: an 8-year case study","authors":"Guido Evangelista,&nbsp;Gara Villalba,&nbsp;Francesco Orsini,&nbsp;Joan Muñoz-Liesa,&nbsp;Verónica Arcas-Pilz,&nbsp;Xavier Gabarrell","doi":"10.1007/s13593-026-01118-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13593-026-01118-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Tomato is one of the most popular and consumed crops worldwide and its cultivation via hydroponic techniques is widespread. In this study, we evaluated the performance of an evolving management strategy through an iterative system design over 8 years in an integrated-rooftop greenhouse in Barcelona. Yield, solar radiation, water and nutrient consumption, and environmental impacts through Life Cycle Assessment were analysed. We hypothesized that improving irrigation management, partially substituting mineral fertilizers with recovered nutrients, and ensuring optimal solar radiation would enhance tomato productivity while reducing the environmental impact. The highest productivity was obtained in 2023 (49 g plant⁻¹ day⁻¹), in a cycle using 100 g plant⁻¹ of struvite and in a cycle using mineral fertilization. The replacement of deteriorated polycarbonate sheets in 2023 increased greenhouse solar transmissivity and led to the highest productivity. Life Cycle Assessment impacts were mainly driven by crop yields, growing system characteristics, and energy required to power artificial lighting or nebulization systems, among other inputs. The lowest environmental impacts were obtained in the 2017 cycle (0.54 kg CO₂ eq.) followed by the 2023 cycle (0.94 kg CO₂ eq.), in which the highest yields were produced thanks to optimal solar transmissivity, dynamic fertigation, and/or struvite. The highest environmental impacts (3.84–12.05 kg CO₂ eq.) were achieved in cycles with the lowest productivity (0.9–3.3 kg m⁻²) and in cycles using artificial lighting in the greenhouse (3.71 kg CO₂ eq.) or in an indoor environment (7.07 kg CO₂ eq.). Our findings demonstrate that statistically higher yields and environmental sustainability can be achieved by adopting struvite-based fertilization and regularly replacing the greenhouse covering material to ensure maximum light transmissivity. This research provides valuable and novel insights into optimizing tomato cultivation in rooftop greenhouses, achieving constant yields, and reducing the environmental footprints thus contributing to sustainable food production.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7721,"journal":{"name":"Agronomy for Sustainable Development","volume":"46 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s13593-026-01118-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148322738","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}