Agricultural Systems最新文献

{"title":"Strategic use of index-based frost insurance to reduce financial risk and improve income stability for wheat producers in Australia","authors":"Jonathan Barratt ,&nbsp;Jarrod Kath ,&nbsp;Shahbaz Mushtaq ,&nbsp;Brian Collins ,&nbsp;Karine Chenu ,&nbsp;Jack Christopher ,&nbsp;Duc-Anh An-Vo","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104306","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104306","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Losses due to frost undermine the financial sustainability of growing spring wheat, which is often managed by the late sowing of crops. While late sowing may reduce frost risk, it can compromise yields due to increasing risks of heat and drought stress later in crop development.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To develop and test a novel targeted frost index insurance cover called the heating degree day temperature minimum call option, which allows farmers to plant earlier and increases their chances of attaining higher yields while also financially protecting them in case of a frost event.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The potential value of the insurance was investigated using crop simulation modelling. Based on the integration of the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) modelling framework and index insurance structures for 22 frost-affected farms over 40 years in Australia's wheat growing regions, we (i) determined the optimal sowing date and potential yield benefits, (ii) estimated the yield impact of frost for crops sown on that date, and (iii) examined the utility of index-based frost insurance options that may financially protect farmers from frost risk if they sow on the optimal date, assuming they sow and insure their crops every year.</div></div><div><h3>Results and conclusions</h3><div>On all farms modelled, gains were made on those sowed on the optimal date. Where frost occurred regularly, the use of the targeted frost index helped secure increased returns and, therefore, benefits. The targeted integration of the frost index insurance with optimal sowing dates, especially for frost-prone regions, may be an important strategy for reducing financial impacts and enhancing income stability.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>The use of the targeted frost index where frost occurred regularly could help secure increased returns and, therefore, benefits to farmers and the wider community. The targeted integration of the frost index insurance with optimal sowing dates, especially for frost-prone regions, may be an important strategy for reducing financial impacts and enhancing income stability in frost-affected food bowls globally. We are not aware of any similar study that has been conducted.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 104306"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143696655","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":"Adding pasture and grazing management to the Agro-IBIS agroecosystem simulation model","authors":"Hunter C. Mackin,&nbsp;Randall D. Jackson,&nbsp;Christopher J. Kucharik","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104326","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104326","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>Well-managed pastures support many ecosystem services, but in the Midwest US perennial pastures increasingly are converted to annual row crops mostly fed to confined livestock and ethanol refineries. This agronomic intensification increases yields but drives soil loss, climate change, water quality degradation, flooding, anti-microbial resistance, pesticide resistance, and biodiversity decline. Maintaining and expanding well-managed pastures for livestock production is key to more multifunctional agricultural landscapes, but we need better predictions about how ecosystem functions co-vary under alternative pasture management.</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><div>Add cool-season pasture and grazing management functionality to a process-based agroecosystem model (Agro-IBIS) and compare output to observed data in southern Wisconsin, USA.</div></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><div>We adapted Agro-IBIS to represent the phenology and growth of cool-season pasture under three grazing management approaches: ungrazed, rotational (livestock moved after 2 d), and continuous. Pasture phenology, growth, and carbon (C) allocation were modified to be linked processes occurring at a daily timestep. Plant functional type (PFT) C pools (root, stem, leaf, reproductive) were updated daily through dynamic feedbacks and C-allocation that responds to phenological stage, environmental conditions, and grazing management. We compared model output to pasture observations of plant growth (aboveground biomass) and phenology (leaf area index; LAI) from a two-year field experiment in southern Wisconsin comparing grazing management approaches.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><div>Model output aligned well with pasture observations capturing seasonal dynamics in aboveground biomass and LAI for each grazing system (R² = 0.47 to 0.90 across 2 response variables and all 3 grazing managements). Agro-IBIS predicted higher ANPP and NPP under rotational than continuous and no grazing, similar to experimental observations.</div></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><div>Representation of pasture phenology, growth, and response to grazing management in Agro-IBIS improves our ability to explore how agricultural landscapes can be composed, configured, and managed for multifunctional outcomes under a changing climate.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 104326"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143666459","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":"Unlocking agricultural mechanisation potential in Indonesia: Barriers, drivers, and pathways for sustainable agri-food systems","authors":"Kodrad Winarno,&nbsp;Joko Sustiyo,&nbsp;Ammar Abdul Aziz,&nbsp;Risti Permani","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104305","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104305","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;CONTEXT&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Agricultural mechanisation is crucial for achieving Sustainable Development Goals by increasing productivity, food quality, resource efficiency, and climate change mitigation. However, the current uptake suggests significant disparities in mechanisation adoption among smallholder farmers across developing countries. Recognising the importance of agricultural mechanisation for SDGs, scholars have identified factors influencing the farm, local, and regional adoption rates and the need to improve sustainable mechanisation. Nevertheless, a critical gap remains in understanding the dynamic interplay between current and future mechanisation pathways, rapid technological advancements, and evolving socioeconomic and agroecological factors. Clarifying supply and demand dynamics for sustainable agricultural mechanisation is crucial for agri-food value chains.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;OBJECTIVES&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Using Indonesia as a case study, this study aims to assess the country's development of agricultural mechanisation and systematically review the literature on mechanisation practices (drivers, barriers, and impacts) on sustainable agri-food systems. With Indonesia's diverse agroclimatic conditions, farmland endowments, land use change to non-agriculture purposes, high population density, and the dominance of smallholder farmers, learnings from this study apply to other developing countries contexts.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;METHODS&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study included three stages. First, Indonesia's agricultural mechanisation development was analysed by reviewing data and documents from the government and relevant institutions. It discussed development, regional disparities, and current levels of agricultural mechanisation. Second, guided by the PRISMA framework, a systematic literature review was used to analyse drivers, barriers, and impacts of agricultural mechanisation adoption. Third, the results from previous stages were used to develop a novel framework for sustainable agricultural mechanisation development in Indonesia, considering theories like the food system framework, theory of change of mechanisation, and innovation ecosystem.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The study reveals Indonesia's low mechanisation level, significant regional disparities, and opportunities to improve policy effectiveness. Various barriers to mechanisation adoption are also identified, including individual and institutional factors and agroecological conditions. Overall, the study highlights the importance of optimising the multi-stakeholder roles in agricultural mechanisation value chains and developing inclusive access to sustainable agricultural mechanisation for smallholder farmers.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;SIGNIFICANCE&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study offers a crucial roadmap for empowering smallholder farmers to adopt agricultural mechanisation for a more productive and sustainable future. The novel framework offers a way to achieve inclusive access to t","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 104305"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143685642","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":"Environmental impact assessment of piston technology in mitigating emissions from pig farming: Insights for sustainable agriculture","authors":"Zhen Wang ,&nbsp;Hui Liu ,&nbsp;Hao Li ,&nbsp;Zhengxiang Shi ,&nbsp;Shihua Pu","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104325","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104325","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>Global agricultural activities, particularly pig farming, significantly contribute to environmental pressures through the emission of pollutants, which adversely impact air and water quality.</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><div>This study aimed to investigate the environmental footprint of swine production under two scenarios, assess the effectiveness of piston emission reduction technology (PERT) in mitigating environmental impacts, and analyze the associated environmental trade-offs of its application.</div></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><div>We employed a life cycle assessment to quantify the environmental impact of conventional pig farming in producing 1 kg of live weight from cradle to farm gate under two scenarios: baseline and PERT. Primary data on agricultural activities were obtained through onsite measurements, while secondary data on pollutant emissions were estimated from the literature, and data on raw materials were obtained from databases.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><div>PERT reduced 10 out of 16 impact categories, with 4 unchanged and 2 slightly increased. Compared with those at baseline, terrestrial eutrophication, acidification, and particulate matter were reduced by 31.37 %, 28.00 % and 26.95 %, respectively. However, trade-offs were observed between emission reductions and resource use-related categories. Moreover, sensitivity analysis revealed that PERT with a 10-year lifespan consumed 126.30 MJ fewer renewable and 1471.65 MJ fewer nonrenewable resources than did PERT with a 5-year lifespan but 42.10 MJ more renewable and 490.55 MJ more nonrenewable resources than did PERT with a 15-year lifespan.</div></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><div>This study expands existing research on pig farm emission control and provides both theoretical insights and practical examples for enhancing environmental sustainability in other livestock sectors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 104325"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143685645","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":"Inclusive and gender-transformative seed systems: Concepts and applications","authors":"Alessandra Galiè ,&nbsp;Berber Kramer ,&nbsp;David J. Spielman ,&nbsp;Nozomi Kawarazuka ,&nbsp;Anne M. Rietveld ,&nbsp;Stellamaris Aju","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104320","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104320","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;CONTEXT&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Seed is vital to the nutrition and livelihoods of millions of women and men small-scale farmers in low- and middle-income countries. Seed systems interventions can significantly enhance food security and nutrition by accelerating the adoption of improved varieties and the use of quality seed, which in turn increase the rate of genetic gain, productivity, and household welfare. These interventions can be particularly effective when advancing gender equality by supporting women's empowerment and addressing discriminatory gender norms. However, there is relatively little evidence on the ways in which seed systems can be an entry point for advancing gender equality by transforming discriminatory gender norms.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;OBJECTIVES&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;We develop and illustrate a gender transformative approach applied to seed sector development. Our first objective is to provide a framework to better understand how seed systems interventions can contribute to gender equality by (1) integrating gender-accommodative and gender-transformative approaches; and (2) assessing their gendered impacts. Our second objective is to apply this framework to a particular innovation – gender messaging via information and communications technologies (ICTs) – and explore how seed system interventions can be made more gender-transformative.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;METHODS&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;We first reviewed the existing literature to develop a framework that defines gender-transformative and accommodative seed system interventions and their impacts. We then synthesized lessons learned from the application of this framework to case studies from Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda that used ICTs that contained gendered components.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;RESULTS AND CONCLUSION&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;We discuss how a gender-accommodative approach aims for gender considerations to improve seed systems, while a gender-transformative approach flips the goal around by aiming at progress toward gender equality through seed systems. We find growing evidence on the potential of gender-transformative seed systems interventions to influence positively the empowerment of women and also men, and to create more conducive gender norms, as shown by three case studies on ICT enablers. These case studies also show that accommodative and transformative approaches are often complementary.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;SIGNIFICANCE&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;We introduce research questions that research and development practitioners can ask to develop accommodative or transformative approaches in seed system interventions, and show the potential of both approaches to progress toward gender equality. The case studies indicate the feasibility of gender-transformative, ICT-enabled seed system interventions, with clear indications of the potential for low-cost adaptation at scale. However, the transformative potential of these interventions requires careful consideration of messaging content, format, and context, as well as strat","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 104320"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143685644","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":"Patterns, processes and scales shaping invasive pest species dynamics within agricultural landscapes: Modelling the spread of the African citrus psyllid in European lemon orchards","authors":"Pedro Nunes ,&nbsp;Manuela Branco ,&nbsp;José Carlos Franco ,&nbsp;Mário Santos","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104295","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104295","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>The African citrus psyllid, <em>Trioza erytreae</em> (Del Guercio) (Hemiptera, Triozidae), is an invasive pest recently introduced into Europe, showing a particular preference for lemon trees (<em>Citrus × limon</em> (L.) Osbeck). It is also a vector of huanglongbing, the most damaging citrus disease, caused by the bacteria <em>Candidatus liberibacter</em>. Understanding the psyllid's spread dynamics across the landscape is crucial for future management and control of this pest.</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><div>A novel spatio-temporal modelling approach was developed to understand the spread dynamics of <em>T. erytreae,</em> and assess the effectiveness of insecticide management strategies in controlling its dispersal.</div></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><div>The study divided the landscape into patches representing specific land use/cover types. The spread of <em>T. erytreae</em> was simulated using a susceptible-infested-susceptible model, an adaptation of epidemiological approaches for landscape/agronomic contexts. The model's performance was evaluated by comparing simulation results with field observations. Additionally, the effectiveness of management strategies was tested by simulating the spread of the species in the landscape, with and without insecticide spraying.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><div>Scattered citrus trees in residential areas were found to play a significant role towards the dispersal of <em>T. erytreae</em>, counteracting the effects of lemon orchard fragmentation and management strategies. Insecticide applications reduced the overall abundance of the psyllid but had no significant impact on its dispersal. Even under an extreme and intensive chemical control scenario, the probability of eradication was low, with only 25 % of simulations achieving eradication. The results obtained highlight the influence of the interplay between the landscape structure and management practices in the dynamics of pest species dispersal.</div></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><div>This study presents a novel method for modelling the population dynamics of multivoltine species in the scope of understanding the factors influencing their spread in agricultural landscapes. The insights gained could improve management strategies and planning, particularly the effectiveness of management strategies, with potential applicability to other pests and contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 104295"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143637767","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":"Selecting suitable sites for livestock manure composting via the integration of machine learning, median center and geographic information system","authors":"Jingjie Yan ,&nbsp;Bojie Yan ,&nbsp;Wenjiao Shi ,&nbsp;Yulin Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104300","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104300","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>Composting livestock manure in suitable areas near farmlands is important for the application of livestock manure to farmlands and the realization of resource utilization of livestock manure and crop–livestock integration. However, few studies have focused on selecting suitable sites for livestock manure composting.</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><div>To process and evaluate the spatial clustering of farmland via six machine learning methods, analyze the priority and limiting factors of suitable site selection for livestock manure composting, and determine suitable sites for livestock manure composting and the annual amount of livestock manure composting in three scenarios.</div></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><div>This research investigated the spatial clustering of farmlands by using six machine learning methods. Then, a priority and limitation analysis of suitable sites for livestock manure composting was conducted, and suitable sites for livestock manure composting and the annual amount of livestock manure composting in three scenarios were documented.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><div>Results indicated that the algorithm called balanced iterative reducing and clustering using hierarchies could effectively identify uneven spatial clusters of farmlands in hilly areas. A total of 114 suitable sites for livestock manure composting were identified based on the priority and limitation analysis. Then, the spatial association relation between suitable sites for livestock manure composting and farmlands were established. Finally, the annual amount of livestock manure composting at 114 suitable sites for livestock manure composting was estimated as pig manure equivalent in the three scenarios.</div></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><div>These findings have significant implications for promoting the resource utilization of livestock manure and crop–livestock integration. The results also help to improve the utilization rate of livestock manure, reduce the economic cost of applying livestock manure to farmland, and alleviate the environmental pollution risk of livestock manure. In addition, the results have good application for the utilization of livestock manure and the layout planning of livestock and poultry breeding.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 104300"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143628021","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":"Intensifying neotropical beef cattle grazing systems: Navigating complexity through modelling","authors":"Raul R. Vera-Infanzón ,&nbsp;Carlos A. Ramírez-Restrepo ,&nbsp;Idupulapati M. Rao","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104301","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104301","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;CONTEXT&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Cow-calf and fattening grazing systems in the tropical, well-drained savanna ecosystem of the Eastern Plains in the Colombian Orinoco River Basin are being intensified to enhance technical efficiency. These systems, often starting from degraded pastures, present significant challenges for both researchers and producers in analyzing and predicting their transformation.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;OBJECTIVE&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study aimed to develop a model capable of simulating the multifaceted interaction between land use, beef herd management, animal productivity, enteric methane (CH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;) emissions, and carbon footprint (CF) at the system level. The model should assist in making informed decisions towards sustainable beef farming systems that improve resource management.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;METHODS&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The model compared three alternative regional scenarios (SCEs) using conceptual medium-sized 400-ha farms. Scenario (SCE) 0 starts with degraded &lt;em&gt;Urochloa humidicola&lt;/em&gt; pastures, followed by low-intensity rejuvenation to support a cow-calf system. SCE 1 follows a similar path but introduces, in later stages, 100 ha of moderately well-managed, better-quality &lt;em&gt;U. brizantha&lt;/em&gt; pastures to further develop the cow-calf system. SCE 2 begins as SCE 1 but later transitions into a full-cycle beef production system. In all cases, the systems are conservatively managed to ensure sustainable production.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The outputs of the modelled SCEs reveal and quantify the complex interplay of numerous system feedbacks, determining system outputs and identifying quantitative variables that significantly influence system behaviors. Culling rates of cows and the fattening of feeder cattle are decisive events that modify the dynamics of the beef herds over time, impacting production and greenhouse gas emission outputs. Under conservative management, all three SCEs resulted in significant increases in production ha &lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt; and animal units &lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt; (AU; 450 kg), although the magnitude and temporal development of these increases varied among SCEs. These increases were accompanied by higher enteric CH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; emissions ha &lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt;. However, emissions substantially decreased AU &lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt; and kg &lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt; liveweight sold, reducing CFs. This highlights the potential of well-managed Neotropical beef cattle grazing systems (NBCGS) to balance productive gains with environmental sustainability, offering actionable strategies to enhance NBCGS management.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;SIGNIFICANCE&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study underscores the importance of evaluating Neotropical beef cattle grazing systems (NBCGS) across various temporal and spatial dimensions and considering technical decisions. Simulation modelling constitutes a powerful tool for assessing system dynamics that are otherwise difficult to design and subject to long-term field research. This approach enables a deeper understand","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 104301"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143621110","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":"Characterizing implementers of on-going large-scale diversification of land use in Finland – One of the northernmost agricultural regions in Europe","authors":"Pirjo Peltonen-Sainio ,&nbsp;Lauri Jauhiainen","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104315","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104315","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Finland is one of the northernmost crop production regions in Europe, where monotonously sequenced spring cereals and grasslands dominate the agricultural land use. Climate warming has, however, enabled diversification supported by established markets and adapted cultivars.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study focused on six diversifying crops: winter wheat, oilseed rape, peas, faba beans, maize, and oil hemp. The aims were to characterize recent changes in cultivation intensity and their likely drivers, identify implementers, understand how the novel crops were allocated on farms, and whether all these varied over time.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We used farm- and parcel scale-data from Finnish Food Authority to study the number of parcels allocated to diversifying crops in grid cells of 10 × 10 km across Finland and to characterize implementers and allocation of crops on a farm on three regions in 2011, 2016 and 2021. Sentinel-2 satellite images were used to estimate productivity gaps.</div></div><div><h3>Results and conclusion</h3><div>The cultivation area of diversifying crops has substantially increased but plenty of unexploited potential still exists. The area of winter wheat and peas has continued to expand compared with 2016. Due to the challenge of climate resilience, the area of faba bean has stagnated, while oilseed rape has declined also due to a high pest risk. Oil hemp and silage maize are very novel crops with growing interest, cultivated in small, scattered areas. Farmers who had large farms and produced pigs, poultry, and cereals were key implementers of diversifying crops, which were typically allocated to large parcels. The farm types of primary adopters of different crops varied slightly over time, but not how crops were allocated on a farm, depending on parcel characteristics. Winter wheat was adopted especially by conventional farmers, who allocated it to highly productive parcels with break-crop and diverse rotations. Organic farmers especially implemented faba beans more frequently, as well as peas, but this was not the case in 2021. Pig farmers have adopted grain legumes likely to substitute for imported soya. In 2011, implementers of oilseed rape had typically a high cereal share on farms, while in 2021, adoption was independent of cereal share. Oilseed rape was favored by conventional farmers, who allocated it to highly productive parcels likely to avoid problems with root penetration.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>This study gives examples of how large-scale adoption routes may differ, depending on the crop, and indicates sensitivity to external factors that either motivate or hinder transition despite warmer northern climates, established markets, and adapted cultivars.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 104315"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143621111","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":"Optimization of manure recycling and fertilizer use to meet crop nutrient demands and reduce nutrient losses, a case study in Quzhou, China","authors":"Weikang Sun ,&nbsp;Gerard H. Ros ,&nbsp;Qichao Zhu ,&nbsp;Donghao Xu ,&nbsp;Yong Hou ,&nbsp;Wim de Vries","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104321","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104321","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>The average manure recycling ratio in China is lower than 40 %, implying that over half of the nutrients in manure is lost to the environment. To reduce environmental pollution caused by nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) losses, it is crucial to enhance manure recycling and reduce N and P fertilizer inputs. Manure provides nutrients and reduces soil acidification due to high levels of potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg).</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><div>The study aims to optimize regional manure recycling in view of crop nutrient demands and environmental impacts, using soil nutrient balances accounting for soil P fertility, N losses to air and water and soil acidification.</div></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><div>We identified optimal manure recycling ratios by calculating required crop nutrient demands while minimizing soil N and P surpluses and soil acidification. The approach was applied to Quzhou, a typical Chinese city consisting of six counties.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><div>Results show that current manure inputs satisfy almost all crop nutrient demands in Quzhou city except for N and K. Full manure recycling provides sufficient crop nutrients except for N. Combining full manure recycling with an attainable increase in N use efficiency (NUE) and an associated decline in N inputs reduced N losses by 46 %, of which 36 % is due to the NUE increase and 10 % due to enhanced manure recycling. Due to the relatively high soil P status, however, the calculated long-term potential for manure recycling based on the build-up and maintenance approach, called optimal recycling, was only ca 50 %. In the short term, this percentage equaled 68 % and 100 % when the total dose to bring all soils to optimum P levels was spread over 20 or 10 years, respectively. Differences in optimal manure recycling ratios among the counties depended on the availability of local manure resources, cultivated crop areas and soil P status. Consequently, optimal recycling ratios were higher than current ratios in four counties and lower in two counties. Although a higher regional manure recycling rate generally reduced N losses and counteracted soil acidification, these ratios were maximized in view of the soil P status, underscoring the need for maximum manure production levels.</div></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><div>This study shows that enhancing manure recycling is limited when soils have a high P status, thereby reducing the required P input to avoid potential adverse impacts on water quality. The environmental space for P should be considered in policies promoting regional manure recycling.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 104321"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143610665","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}