• Authors:
    • Margenot,A. J.
    • Calderón,F. J.
    • Bowles,T. M.
    • Parikh,S. J.
    • Jackson,L. E.
  • Source: Soil Science Society of America Journal
  • Volume: 79
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2015
  • Summary: The objectives of this study were to examine soil organic matter (SOM) functional group composition and its relationship to labile SOM fractions with diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). We analyzed soils from 13 organically managed tomato (Solatium lycopersicum) fields in northern California for labile organic C, N, and P fractions and by DRIFTS for bands representing organic functional groups, including aliphatic C-H (2924, 2850, 1470, 1405, 1390 cm-1), aromatic C=C (1650 cm-1) and C-H (920, 840 cm-1), polysaccharide and phenol C-O (1270, 1110, 1080 cm-1), and amine and amide N-H (3400, 1575 cm-1). Significant differences in relative band intensities occurred among the 13 organic tomato fields, in particular a relative increase in absorbance of bands representing aliphatic C-H positively associated with soil organic carbon (SOC), as well as permanganate-oxidizable carbon (POXC), extractable organic carbon (EOC) and nitrogen (EON), and potentially mineralizable N (PMN). In comparison, organic P fractions like sodium bicarbonate extractable (NaHCO3-P0) and sodium hydroxide extractable organic P (NaOH-P0) were poorly associated with SOC and functional groups represented by bands, including aliphatic C-H. This could reflect limitations of DRIFTS, but is consistent with hypotheses of greater decoupling of C and P vs. C and N in soils. This study implicates relative differences in organic functional groups with differences in SOC and labile SOM fractions, and in agreement with previous studies, identifies absorbance of infrared bands representing aliphatic C-H functional groups in these systems as a potential indicator of SOM transformations related to changes in its labile fractions. © Soil Science Society of America, 5585 Guilford Rd., Madison Wl 53711 USA.
  • Authors:
    • Normand,F.
    • Lauri,P. E.
    • Legave,J. M.
  • Source: Acta Horticulturae
  • Volume: 1075
  • Year: 2015
  • Summary: Climate change is becoming an observed reality, very likely due to the increase of anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentration. Since a few decades, several research teams around the world carry out a huge work to model the future climatic change during the 21st century, based on several scenarios of greenhouse gas emission. We have to expect rise in average temperatures, in atmospheric CO 2 concentration, in soil salinity in some areas, and lower and more irregular rainfall. The climate variability and the frequency of extreme events (scorching heat, heavy rainfall, drought, hurricane) are also expected to rise. Climate change is therefore a great concern for agriculture. Mango is one of the most widely cultivated and popular fruits in these regions for its economic and nutritional values. It is the fifth most cultivated fruit in the world. It is consequently justified to wonder about the impact of climate change on the mango tree and about the consequences on mango production and cultivation. The lack of crop model for mango prevents the prediction of the effects of climate change on mango tree development and production. They are then assessed on the basis of our current knowledge on the influence of climatic variables on mango tree development and production. We describe the influence of climatic variables on processes of agronomical importance for the mango tree: photosynthesis, vegetative and reproductive development, fruit quality. We then review the climate changes predicted for two areas of mango production and draw the possible consequences for mango cultivation. Finally, we propose some research ways to adapt mango cultivation to climate change in the coming decades, such as cultivar and rootstock selection, and improvement of cultural practices. The interest of developing a mango crop model is discussed.
  • Authors:
    • Kibue,Grace Wanjiru
    • Pan,Genxing
    • Zheng,Jufeng
    • Li Zhengdong
    • Mao,Li
  • Source: Environment, Development and Sustainability
  • Volume: 17
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2015
  • Summary: Agricultural production is a complex interaction between human and natural environment, making agriculture both significantly responsible and vulnerable to climate change. China, whose socioeconomy is fundamentally dependent on agriculture, is already experiencing climate-change-related issues that threaten food security and sustainable development. Climate change mitigation and adaptation are of great concern to ensure food security for the growing population and improve the livelihoods of poor smallholder producers. A questionnaire survey was conducted in Henan Province, China to assess agronomic practices of smallholder farmers, adaptation strategies and how climate change awareness and perceptions influence the farmers' choice of agronomic practices. The results showed that the vast majority of farmers owned < 10 Chinese Mu (0.7 ha) and nearly all farmers' relied on intensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to increase yield at the detriment of environment. However, farmers who were aware of climate change had adopted agronomic practices that reduce impacts of climate change. Information about climate change, lack of incentives, lack of credit facilities and small farm sizes were major hindrance to adaptation and adoption of farming practices that can reduce impacts of climate change. This study recommends that research findings should be disseminated to farmers in timely and appropriate ways. The central government should formulate policies to include subsidies and incentives for farmers to motivate adoption of eco-friendly agronomic practices.
  • Authors:
    • Martinez-Luscher,J.
    • Morales,F.
    • Sanchez-Diaz,M.
    • Delrot,S.
    • Aguirreolea,J.
    • Gomes,E.
    • Pascual,I.
  • Source: Plant Science
  • Volume: 236
  • Year: 2015
  • Summary: The increase in grape berry ripening rates associated to climate change is a growing concern for wine makers as it rises the alcohol content of the wine. The present work studied the combined effects of elevated CO 2, temperature and UV-B radiation on leaf physiology and berry ripening rates. Three doses of UV-B: 0, 5.98, 9.66 kJ m -2 d -1, and two CO 2-temperature regimes: ambient CO 2-24/14°C (day/night) (current situation) and 700 ppm CO 2-28/18°C (climate change) were imposed to grapevine fruit-bearing cuttings from fruit set to maturity under greenhouse-controlled conditions. Photosynthetic performance was always higher under climate change conditions. High levels of UV-B radiation down regulated carbon fixation rates. A transient recovery took place at veraison, through the accumulation of flavonols and the increase of antioxidant enzyme activities. Interacting effects between UV-B and CO 2-temperature regimes were observed for the lipid peroxidation, which suggests that UV-B may contribute to palliate the signs of oxidative damage induced under elevated CO 2-temperature. Photosynthetic and ripening rates were correlated. Thereby, the hastening effect of climate change conditions on ripening, associated to higher rates of carbon fixation, was attenuated by UV-B radiation.
  • Authors:
    • Michalsky,M.
    • Hooda,P. S.
  • Source: Environmental Science and Policy
  • Volume: 48
  • Year: 2015
  • Summary: Today considerable efforts are being made in identifying means of further energy efficiencies within the UK food system. Current air importation of fruit and vegetables (FVs) generates large amounts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions part of which could be avoided. Local food production has been recognized as an environmentally feasible alternative production option and could help reduce GHG emissions, as required under the legally binding emissions targets stipulated by the UK Climate Change Act 2008. Climate change impacts of FVs importation were determined for a selection of five indigenous FV commodities, namely: apples, cherries, strawberries, garlic and peas. Carbon dioxide equivalents (CO 2e) emissions associated with the production and transport stages were calculated using the sample of selected fruit and vegetables (SFVs). The latter stage includes three diverse geographic locations/regions for emissions comparison, namely the UK, Europe and non-European (NE) countries. On average (across the five SFVs), NE commodities, all in fresh/chilled state, were found to contain embedded (arising from production, air freighting and distribution within the UK) GHG emissions of 10.16 kg CO 2e/kg. This is 9.66 kg more CO 2e emissions compared to a kilogram of these commodities produced and supplied locally. A scenario-based approach determined the level of emissions savings that could be achieved by local FVs production in the UK. The least dramatic change of SCENARIO-1 (25% reduction in NE SFVs imports by increasing their local production by the same amount) could save 28.9 kt CO 2e/year, while SCENARIO-2 (50% reduction in NE SFVs imports) and SCENARIO-3 (75% reduction in NE SFVs imports) could result in saving of 57.8 kt and 86.7 kt, respectively.
  • Authors:
    • Wang YaoLin
    • Zhao ChuanYan
    • Ma QuanLin
    • Li YingKe
    • Jing HuJia
    • Sun Tao
    • Milne,E.
    • Easter,M.
    • Paustian,K.
    • Yong HoiWenAu
    • McDonagh,J.
  • Source: Journal of Environmental Management
  • Volume: 157
  • Year: 2015
  • Summary: The largest global source of anthropogenic CO 2 emissions comes from the burning of fossil fuel and approximately 30% of total net emissions come from land use and land use change. Forestation and reforestation are regarded worldwide as effective options of sequestering carbon to mitigate climate change with relatively low costs compared with industrial greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction efforts. Cash trees with a steady augmentation in size are recognized as a multiple-beneficial solution to climate change in China. The reporting of C changes and GHG emissions for sustainable land management (SLM) practices such as afforestation is required for a variety of reasons, such as devising land management options and making policy. The Carbon Benefit Project (CBP) Simple Assessment Tool was employed to estimate changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and GHG emissions for wolfberry ( Lycium barbarum L.) planting on secondary salinized land over a 10 year period (2004-2014) in the Jingtai oasis in Gansu with salinized barren land as baseline scenario. Results show that wolfberry plantation, an intensively managed ecosystem, served as a carbon sink with a large potential for climate change mitigation, a restorative practice for saline land and income stream generator for farmers in soil salinized regions in Gansu province. However, an increase in wolfberry production, driven by economic demands, would bring environmental pressures associated with the use of N fertilizer and irrigation. With an understanding of all of the components of an ecosystem and their interconnections using the Drivers-Pressures-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework there comes a need for strategies to respond to them such as capacity building, judicious irrigation and institutional strengthening. Cost benefit analysis (CBA) suggests that wolfberry cultivation was economically profitable and socially beneficial and thus well-accepted locally in the context of carbon sequestration. This study has important implications for Gansu as it helps to understand the role cash trees can play in carbon emission reductions. Such information is necessary in devising management options for sustainable land management (SLM).
  • Authors:
    • Brookes,G.
    • Barfoot,P.
  • Source: GM Crops & Food
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2015
  • Summary: This paper updates previous assessments of how crop biotechnology has changed the environmental impact of global agriculture. It focuses on the environmental impacts associated with changes in pesticide use and greenhouse gas emissions arising from the use of GM crops since their first widespread commercial use in the mid 1990s. The adoption of GM insect resistant and herbicide tolerant technology has reduced pesticide spraying by 553 million kg (-8.6%) and, as a result, decreased the environmental impact associated with herbicide and insecticide use on these crops (as measured by the indicator the Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ)) by 19.1%. The technology has also facilitated important cuts in fuel use and tillage changes, resulting in a significant reduction in the release of greenhouse gas emissions from the GM cropping area. In 2013, this was equivalent to removing 12.4 million cars from the roads.
  • Authors:
    • Hou,Yong
    • Ma,Lin
    • Sardi,Katalin
    • Sisak,Istvan
    • Ma,Wenqi
  • Source: Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems
  • Volume: 102
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2015
  • Summary: Nitrogen (N) emissions from food production can cause serious environmental problems. Mitigation strategies require insights of N cycles in this complex system. A substance flow analysis for N in the Hungary food production and processing chain over the period 1961-2010 was conducted. Our results show that the history of the total N input and output for the Hungary food chain consists of four distinct periods: 1961-1974 a rapid increase; 1974-1988 a steady increase; 1988-1992 a sharp decrease; 1992-2010 a period of large annual variations. The total N input to the food chain largely depended on N fertilizer input (on average 83 % of total input). Nitrogen losses were the largest outflows, particularly via ammonia emissions and denitrification from agricultural systems. The N use efficiency (NUE) for crop production sharply decreased from 1961 to 1974, but went up since the late 1980s. The NUE of animal production increased from 11 % in 1961 to 20 % in 2010. The N cost of food production in Hungary largely varied from 3 to 10 kg kg(-1) during 1961-2010, which was related to changes in fertilizer use and human dietary preferences. Increased dependence of crop yield on weather was observed since the early 1990s where large decrease in N fertilizer use occurred. The observed weather-dependence has resulted in large yearly variations in crop yields, the NUE of crop production and also the food N cost, which may pose a threat to food security of Hungary.
  • Authors:
    • Traerup,Sara
    • Stephan,Jean
  • Source: Climatic Change
  • Volume: 131
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2015
  • Summary: Increasing attention is being given to climate technologies on the international climate change agenda, not least in the agricultural sector and water sectors, and to technologies for adaptation. However investments in technology-based adaptation (seeds, dams, irrigation, etc.) are complicated by the fact that it remains difficult to predict future climate change impacts, especially on a local scale. In addition, evidence for the costs and benefits of implementing adaptation technologies is relatively limited. The analysis presented in this paper shows that there is a large potential for integrating adaptation technologies into the planning and implementation of on-going and future projects. Based on local-level data from a technology needs assessment project in Lebanon, this paper presents two examples of the economic feasibility of implementing adaptation technologies in the agricultural and water sectors. The results show that the technologies can be applied at low cost and with relatively little effort.
  • Authors:
    • Fiore,A.
    • Dichio,B.
    • Celano,G.
    • Modarelli,A.
    • Palese,A. M.
    • Quinto,G.
    • Pergola,M. T.
    • Xiloyannis,C.
  • Source: Acta Horticulturae
  • Volume: 1084
  • Year: 2015
  • Summary: The most recent and recognised standards for carbon footprint (CFP) ISO 14067:2013 requires the inclusion of land based emissions (CO2 fluxes from soil organic carbon change and field emissions from fertilization) into greenhouse gas accounting. These two categories of emissions are often disregarded from CFP studies of fruit products. In the present paper a simple methodology to include land-based emissions into greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting of fruit product from perennial crops is tested on a case study, and the results compared to experimental measurement from literature in order to evaluate its point of strength and weakness; this methodology is based on IPCC guidelines for national GHG inventories (IPCC, 2006). All fossil (anthropogenic) and biogenic emissions arising from all agricultural operations during orchard life cycle have been accounted according ISO 14067:2013. Fertilization resulted to be the most impacting agricultural operation, together with the production of materials constituting the irrigation pipe system and its supporting structure (metal and cement poles, wire). The most innovative aspect of the tested methodology consists in considering the sink role of soil in fruit orchards managed according to sustainable agronomical practices (increasing of internal and external carbon input to soil). Comparison with measurements data from literature revealed that the simple methodology tested can be improved in order to improve the accuracy of the estimates according to pedoclimatic conditions and crop specificities. © 2015 ISHS.