Agricultural intensification as a geochemical engine: Reshaping spatiotemporal patterns of sediment toxic metal accumulation in a eutrophic plateau lake, Southwest China.

Heavy metal-induced epigenetic disruption in aquatic organisms: A review of mechanisms, impacts, and implications for ecotoxicology.

Efficient degradation vs. enhanced persistence: How soil nutrients drive divergent pesticide fates via microbial strategies on the Tibetan plateau.

The intensification of livestock farming systems can pose significant environmental challenges, including impacts on soil physicochemical properties, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity. This study is the first to quantify the combined effects of dairy system intensification and land-use allocation on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and physicochemical properties at the commercial farm scale. We compared confinement and pasture-based systems across five land-use types: improved pasture (IP), mixed pasture-cropping (MPC), cropping, tree areas (TA), and natural pasture (NP, exclusive to pasture-based systems). A total of 810 soil samples were collected from the top 30 cm across nine farms in New South Wales, Australia. Pasture-based farms stored 75% more SOC and 65% more total nitrogen (TN) per hectare than confinement farms, although differences were partly influenced by regional climate and parent material. Interactions between farming system and land use showed that SOC and TN stocks were highest in IP and TA within pasture-based systems. Conversely, total phosphorus (TP) stocks were 3.7 times higher in confinement systems, independent of SOC patterns. Within pasture-based farms, NP consistently had the highest SOC and TN stocks. These results highlight that dairy system intensification interacts with land-use and environmental conditions to shape soil organic carbon and nutrient stocks. The findings provide policy-relevant benchmarks for soil‑carbon accounting and emphasize the need for regionally adapted land-management strategies and future work quantifying annual SOC sequestration rates under commercial dairy conditions. • First farm-scale assessment of dairy intensification effects on soil properties. • Pasture-based systems store more soil carbon and total N than confinement farms. • Tree areas and natural pastures act as strong soil carbon hotspots. • Soil carbon land-use differences lessen in low-rainfall confinement regions. • Findings support better policy and soil‑carbon accounting for dairy systems.

The intensification of agriculture in Peru has increased the use of agrochemicals, generating hazardous waste such as empty pesticide containers, whose improper management poses environmental and health risks. This review article analyzes the current situation of the management of these residues, contrasting the current regulatory framework with documentary evidence from coastal (Lima, Arequipa) and jungle (Ucayali) regions. Through a systematic review of regulations, scientific articles, and theses published between 2012 and 2024, a significant gap was identified between legislation which requires triple rinsing, perforation, and controlled disposal (D.S. No. 016-2012-AG, Peru) and actual practices. The results show a predominance of inadequate disposal methods: abandonment in the field (68% in Huaral), burial (39% in Ucayali), and disposal in informal dumps (33% in Majes). It is concluded that insufficient collection infrastructure, limited training, and weak enforcement perpetuate harmful practices that contaminate soil and water, affecting public health and the environment.

Co-producing Knowledge on Ecosystem Services: A Multidimensional Participatory Mapping Study in the Kat River Catchment, South Africa.

ABSTRACT Zooplankton egg banks are crucial in rebuilding zooplankton populations in temporary water bodies when favourable conditions return after dry periods. However, their abundance, viability, and hatching success depend on many factors, with changes in land use and flooding regimes being potentially crucial drivers. Here, we studied a large‐river floodplain to compare the egg banks of soils across a land use gradient and at different elevations, the latter affecting inundation frequency and duration. We performed experimental manipulations at both the ecosystem scale (land use in the floodplain) and in the laboratory (incubation of soils of different origins). Six land use types were considered: (i) natural maple swamp, (ii) natural wet meadow, (iii) old forage cropping, (iv) recently sown forage cropping, (v) agri‐environmental corn/soybean cropping, and (vi) conventional corn/soybean cropping implemented in collaboration with agricultural producers. Egg banks were characterized through both (i) direct egg counts and (ii) by counting the individuals emerging following the incubation of soils in the laboratory, testing the effects of land use and flooding regime (duration, frequency) on hatching success. We found no significant difference in the abundance of resting eggs of different taxa in soils across the land use gradient in frequently inundated sites at low elevation. In contrast, at high elevation, where inundation periods are less frequent and shorter, rotifer and cladoceran egg density varied across land uses, with higher abundance in old forage cropping compared to agricultural cropping. Ostracods, rotifers and copepods were the most abundant taxa that hatched in the laboratory. Their abundance varied across land use types, with natural soils supporting higher abundances than agricultural soils, and forage cropping showing intermediate abundances. Frequently inundated sites (low elevation) had higher abundances of hatchlings than the less frequently inundated (high elevation) sites. Inundation duration in incubators strongly influenced ostracod hatching only, with an overall increase after 2 weeks of inundation and a decrease thereafter for most soil types. Different taxa dominated the egg and hatchling counts. For example, cladocerans were common in the egg bank but not in hatchling samples, while ostracods were absent from the former but dominated the latter. This apparent paradox suggests that egg viability varied along the land use gradient (e.g., due to agricultural practices during summer months), that the cues required for hatching differed across taxa, or that stress (land use) modulates the likelihood that ostracods enter dormancy as eggs versus juveniles/adults. Natural wetland habitats in floodplains favour the resilience of zooplankton communities facing a disturbance (i.e., the dry period) via a high potential recovery through the emergence of resting stages. In contrast, alterations to these habitats due to agricultural intensification in floodplains hampers zooplankton community resilience via decreased emergence success. Agricultural practices leading to changes in soil properties, which influence the viability of resting stages, are the plausible explanations for this phenomenon. It is paramount to conserve natural wetlands and implement sustainable land use practices in floodplains, to allow egg banks to rebuild zooplankton communities in floodplains and sustain their productivity and ecosystem services.

ABSTRACT Coastal deltaic regions of Tamil Nadu are increasingly affected by salinization, intensive irrigation, and land-use transformation, yet existing studies often examine water quality or biodiversity independently, limiting their applicability for integrated resource management. Addressing this gap, the present study provides a spatially integrated assessment linking surface water irrigation suitability, hydrochemical controls, and broader land-use and ecological contexts across the coastal districts of Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, and Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu. The study evaluates surface water quality for irrigation, identifies dominant hydrochemical processes and seasonal variability, and examines their implications for environmental sustainability. Field-based surface water sampling was combined with remote sensing, GIS techniques, and multivariate statistical analyses. Irrigation suitability was assessed using the Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQI) along with salinity, sodicity, and magnesium hazard indices, while Pearson correlation and factor analysis were employed to identify the key drivers of water quality degradation. The results indicate that 48% of samples fall under moderate to severe irrigation restrictions, primarily due to elevated magnesium and salinity hazards, whereas sodicity remains largely within acceptable limits. GIS-based spatial analysis identified highly vulnerable coastal tracts, delineated as ‘Red zones’, while multivariate results highlight agricultural intensification, salinization, and excessive groundwater extraction as major anthropogenic controls. Overall, the findings provide actionable insights for zone-specific irrigation management, groundwater regulation, and sustainable coastal resource planning, with indirect relevance to biodiversity conservation, contributing to the achievement of SDGs 6, 13, and 15.

Despite substantial public investment in rice breeding programs in Iran, the adoption of improved rice cultivars (IRCs) remains limited, particularly in Mazandaran Province, the country's largest rice-producing region. This study aimed to identify, categorize, and prioritize the principal barriers limiting farmers' adoption of IRCs. A qualitative and applied research design was employed using a three-phase framework consisting of: (i) literature review and interviews with subject-matter specialists (SMSs), (ii) evaluation by experienced and knowledgeable rice farmers (EKRFs), and (iii) prioritization using the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM). Initially, 49 potential barriers across nine dimensions were identified, of which 42 were validated through the FDM consensus process. The findings revealed that the most influential barriers were price imbalance in the sale of IRCs, weak stakeholder interaction and knowledge-sharing systems, poor marketability of IRCs, farmer-related psychological resistance, and inadequate institutional support packages. Key constraints included low market prices, absence of guaranteed purchasing systems, limited farmer participation in cultivar development, weak extension services, poor sensory quality of IRCs, and farmers' risk aversion toward replacing traditional cultivars. The findings further demonstrate that adoption decisions are shaped not only by agronomic performance, but also by interconnected economic, institutional, behavioral, and market-driven factors. Methodologically, the study contributes to agricultural innovation research by applying a multidimensional and uncertainty-aware prioritization framework using the FDM. Practically, the results provide evidence-based insights for policymakers, extension systems, and breeding institutions seeking to promote sustainable agricultural intensification and farmer-centered cultivar dissemination strategies.

Pollution is recognized as a major threat to soil health; however, significant gaps persist regarding the distribution and risks of chemicals in developing regions. This study investigated the occurrence of pesticide residues in African agricultural soils. Between 2022 and 2024, we collected 272 topsoil samples from 13 countries representing diverse farming systems and analyzed them for 153 pesticide residues, including active ingredients and their metabolites. Pesticides were detected in 216 samples, with 63 different residues identified, several of which were unregistered in the countries where they were found and some banned in the European Union. The most frequently detected compounds were dinoterb, DDE-p,p', chlorpyrifos, metolachlor, atrazine-hydroxy-2, AMPA, and imidacloprid, all of which are substances of environmental, ecotoxicological, or toxicological concern. Individual pesticide concentrations ranged from <0.001 to 4.896 mg kg-1, and the total pesticide load reached 6.998 mg kg-1. At least 25% of the sampling locations are expected to present a high ecological risk (RQ ≥ 1), although data gaps for some substances limit assessment accuracy. Eleven pesticides exceeded the risk thresholds in at least one sample, with chlorpyrifos driving the most exceedances. A monitoring- and hazard-based prioritization approach highlighted additional high-concern compounds, notably dinoterb and glyphosate/AMPA. Overall, the findings reveal the significant environmental impacts of agricultural intensification and highlight regulatory challenges related to pesticide use across Africa.

Almond anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum spp. has become an increasing threat in modern almond orchards in Portugal. This study aimed to characterize the genetic, phylogenetic, morphological and virulence diversity of Colletotrichum species associated with symptomatic and asymptomatic almond tree organs collected in the main producing regions of Portugal. A total of 112 isolates were obtained from fruits, leaves, flowers and branches, with most samples originating from the Alentejo region. Almond anthracnose in Portugal is caused by genetically and biologically heterogeneous Colletotrichum species dominated by C. godetiae, which exhibited high multilocus genetic diversity, with most isolates corresponding to unique haplotypes, indicating the coexistence of genetically distinct strains. Colletotrichum godetiae and C. acutatum were predominantly isolated from symptomatic organs in the field, whereas C. fioriniae, C. karsti and C. gloeosporioides were detected in asymptomatic organs; however, all species were able to cause disease. This study reports C. karsti and C. gloeosporioides on almond for the first time. This diversity suggests multiple introductions and/or ongoing diversification of Colletotrichum populations associated with almond. Differences in virulence among the representative isolates tested, combined with similar incubation and latency periods, indicate that the severity is related to post-penetration events. Moreover, disease prevalence, averaging 36%, was associated with rainfall during the period from fruit set to early fruit development, highlighting the strong influence of meteorological conditions on anthracnose outbreaks. These findings support targeted monitoring, risk assessment and integrated disease management under agricultural intensification and climatic variability.

Agricultural expansion and intensification are driving amphibian and reptile declines worldwide. However, sustainably managed agroecosystems can support a high diversity of herpetofauna, which play a key role in pest control, reducing crop damage. Therefore, integrating herpetofauna conservation into agricultural policies is vital for enhancing human well-being, but it remains largely overlooked. High nature value farmlands (HNVFs) offer a promising framework for conserving herpetofauna outside protected areas; however, the lack of a standardized protocol for HNVF identification can complicate agroecosystem conservation prioritization. We used amphibian and reptile presence data to assess the environmental and climatic factors shaping amphibian and reptile diversity across European agroecosystems and identify HNVFs at large (10km) and small (2km) spatial scales. We compared two approaches for HNVF identification, species richness, and irreplaceability and tested whether these areas are protected by the current conservation framework. Coverage of both groups was promoted by heterogenous agroecosystems with natural elements (forest patches, hedgerows, and water bodies), whereas agricultural cover showed negative effects. HNVF identification was generally consistent among the different spatial scales. HNVFs identified through irreplaceability placed greater emphasis on agricultural areas hosting farmland-associated species, highlighting that irreplaceability provides a more robust approach to HNVF identification. Only a small fraction of HNVFs was protected by the existing European Natura 2000 network, emphasizing the need for improved agrienvironmental schemes to ensure herpetofauna conservation.

Deciphering the microbial and physicochemical pathways of biochar-based fertilizer in driving resource-use efficiency: A comparative study of two contrasting acidic soils.

Cryptosporidium is a waterborne and zoonotic protozoan parasite that causes cryptosporidiosis, a diarrheal disease that disproportionately affects young children and immunocompromised individuals in low- and middle-income settings. In Southeast Asia, ecological diversity, agricultural intensification, and uneven sanitation infrastructure create overlapping transmission pathways across human, animal, and environmental domains. Despite a growing body of regional literature, the structure of the evidence base and its utility for surveillance and control have not been comprehensively evaluated using an integrated One Health lens. This protocol outlines the methodology for a scoping review mapping the published literature on Cryptosporidium in Southeast Asia, characterizing the distribution of evidence on prevalence, diagnostic methods, species and genotype diversity, and environmental, food-related, and socioeconomic determinants of transmission across human, animal, and environmental domains. The review follows the Arksey and O'Malley framework, refined by Levac and colleagues and the Joanna Briggs Institute, and is reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Five databases were searched from inception through September 30, 2024: PubMed, Embase, CABI Digital Library, Cochrane Library, and Index Medicus for the South-East Asia Region (IMSEAR), supplemented by backward citation tracking and targeted searches of organizational websites. Studies were included if they reported primary data on Cryptosporidium in human, animal, or environmental samples collected from one or more of the eleven Southeast Asian countries and addressed prevalence, diagnostic methods, or transmission risk factors. Reviews, editorials, letters, conference abstracts, and non-English publications were excluded. No formal risk-of-bias assessment was conducted, consistent with scoping review methodology. Data were organized thematically and synthesized descriptively, with findings presented across One Health domains using tables, figures, and maps generated in RStudio (version 2023.09.1+494). Database searches retrieved 889 records before deduplication. After removing 177 duplicates, 711 unique records underwent title and abstract screening. Of 333 full-text articles assessed for eligibility, 176 studies were included in the final synthesis, representing nine of eleven Southeast Asian countries and spanning 1985 to 2024. Data extraction and analysis are complete. The manuscript reporting the full findings is being prepared for submission to a peer-reviewed journal. This scoping review provides a comprehensive cross-domain mapping of evidence on Cryptosporidium in Southeast Asia. The findings are expected to identify structural gaps in the regional evidence base, characterize diagnostic heterogeneity and its implications for surveillance utility, and support the development of integrated One Health surveillance strategies in the region.

Improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in wheat is critical for addressing the dual challenges of global food security and environmental sustainability. Globally, only 42%-47% of applied nitrogen (N) fertilisers taken up by crops, with remainder lost to the environment, driving soil and water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and ecological imbalances. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis and integrative framework- integrating agronomic practices, advanced remote sensing and genomic approaches to enhance wheat NUE. We first examine the physiological basis of NUE, emphasising the synergy between photosynthetic carbon assimilation and N metabolism, the critical role of Rubisco in carbon-nitrogen coupling, and the temporal dynamics of N uptake, transport, and remobilisation throughout the wheat growth cycle. The temporal mismatch between source-sink N partitioning during grain filling emerges as a major physiological constraint limiting NUE in modern high-yielding varieties. We then explore transformative advances in remote sensing technologies, highlighting the paradigm shift from traditional vegetation indices to physiological sensing approaches. Through integration of multispectral imaging, LiDAR, thermal infra-red sensing, and solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence, coupled with three-dimensional radiative transfer models and machine learning algorithms, these technologies enable non-destructive, real-time monitoring of crop N status while overcoming spectral-structural ambiguity and saturation limitations. From a genomic perspective, we synthesise recent progress in quantitative trait loci mapping and genome-wide association studies (GWAS), identifying key genetic loci controlling root architecture, N uptake transporters (NRT/AMT families), and grain filling efficiency. Multi-omics integration-spanning genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics-reveals temporal genetic networks distinguishing short-term nitrogen signalling responses from long-term adaptive remodelling, with genes such as TaNAC2-5A, TaNPF6.2, and QMrl-7B emerging as promising targets for molecular breeding. High-throughput phenotyping platforms enable time-series GWAS analysis, capturing developmental dynamics and genotype × environment interactions that traditional approaches miss. Finally, we discuss sustainable N management strategies, including enhanced efficiency fertilisers, precision application technologies, and soil health optimisation. By integrating these multidisciplinary approaches within a Genotype × Environment × Management framework, this review provides a roadmap for developing climate-smart, N-efficient wheat varieties and precision N management systems that simultaneously enhance productivity, reduce environmental footprints, and ensure sustainable agricultural intensification.

The coastal regions of Cameroon comprising South-West, Littoral, and South are major agricultural hubs and important zones for harvesting African giant land snails (Achatinidae). Snail collection provides both a vital protein source for local consumers and a source of income for harvesters. Agricultural intensification has increased pesticide use in these areas, raising concerns about potential impacts on snail populations and human health. This study assessed harvesters’ perceptions of how pesticides influence the quantity and size of snails collected. A total of 211 harvesters from six localities (Kribi, Buea, Limbe, Mbanga, Njombe-Penja, and Dibamba) were surveyed through interviews and participant observations. Descriptive statistics and regression models were applied to explore socio-demographic influences on perceptions. Results showed that while 58% of harvesters believed pesticides reduce snail size, 61% did not perceive an effect on snail quantity. Snail collection was reported to be most successful during nocturnal periods and in October, aligning with ecological seasonality. Regression analysis revealed a weak but statistically significant association between perceptions of pesticide impacts and reported harvesting quantities (R² = 0.065), with perceived effects on snail quantity emerging as the only significant predictor. Despite awareness of pesticide risks, 63% of respondents expressed no interest in snail farming, citing preference for wild harvesting. This study highlights local knowledge on pesticide risks but also reveals a gap between awareness and adaptive practices. Findings are framed as perceptions, not direct ecological measurements, and they underline the need for awareness campaigns, sustainable harvesting practices, and supportive policies for alternative snail production systems.

Agriculture is commonly portrayed as a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, yet it also represents one of the largest human-managed biological systems regulating carbon exchanges between the atmosphere and the biosphere. This study reassesses the role of global agriculture within the terrestrial carbon cycle by quantifying gross photosynthetic CO2 uptake from crops, pastures, and managed forests and by evaluating alternative agricultural development pathways through 2050. Using FAOSTAT data for 156 crops integrated with FAO estimates for pastures and managed forests, we estimate that agricultural systems assimilated approximately 47.64 Gt CO2 in 2023, including 21.87 Gt CO2 from crops alone. This gross uptake exceeds current annual anthropogenic CO2 emissions and approaches total anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions expressed as CO2 equivalents. However, most of the assimilated carbon is subsequently returned to the atmosphere through respiration, decomposition, livestock metabolism, biomass utilization, and food consumption. Gross uptake should therefore be interpreted as a measure of managed biogenic carbon cycling rather than permanent carbon sequestration. Historical analysis indicates that crop CO2 assimilation increased from approximately 5.4 Gt CO2 in 1961 to 21.9 Gt CO2 in 2023, reflecting the combined effects of technological progress, yield improvements, agricultural intensification, and expansion of photosynthetically active biomass. Over the same period, agricultural productivity increased much faster than cropland area, reducing the land required to satisfy growing food demand and thereby limiting the conversion of natural ecosystems. To explore future trajectories, we developed the Emission Scenarios Simulation Dynamic Model (ESSDM), a scenario-based accounting framework that evaluates alternative production pathways under the constraint of meeting projected global food demand. Three scenarios were examined: Sustainable Intensification (SI), Moderate Expansion with Sustainable Intensification (MESI), and Organic Farming with substantial cropland expansion (OF). The simulations reveal substantial divergence among scenarios. By 2050, cumulative emissions are projected to reach 163.51 Gt CO2e under SI, 241.35 Gt CO2e under MESI, and 493.99 Gt CO2e under OF. The markedly higher emissions associated with OF are primarily driven by lower average yields and the resulting expansion of cropland area (+ 52.45% relative to 2023), which generates substantial land-use change emissions through ecosystem conversion. Overall, the results indicate that the climate performance of agricultural systems depends not only on direct greenhouse gas emissions but also on productivity, land-use efficiency, and their influence on future land demand. The analysis highlights that protecting forests and grasslands from conversion remains a central climate objective and that sustainable intensification provides the most effective pathway for reconciling food security with climate mitigation under the assumptions considered. More broadly, the study suggests that agricultural assessments may benefit from integrating emission inventories with information on managed carbon fluxes and land-use dynamics when evaluating alternative development pathways.

Agriculture-conservation nexus in East Asian GIAHS: Paddy reclamation reshapes migratory avian communities.

The intensification of animal farming is associated with increased infectious and zoonotic disease risks. The black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) have antimicrobial activity that could potentially be used to suppress diseases and improve animal health. This study used carbohydrate-rich sweet potato and lauric acid-rich desiccated coconut to differentiate the primary source of lauric acid. The study also investigated the effect of pre-fermenting the substrates with Bacillus sp. and Klebsiella sp. on the BSFL growth performance and fatty acid composition, particularly on lauric acid. Correlation analyses were conducted between the larvae fed with fresh substrate and fermented substrate. Overall, the sweet potato enhanced the lauric acid biosynthesis, and the fermented sweet potato-based substrate resulted in a remarkable lauric acid production of 82%, i.e., 365 mg g−1 in the BSFL biomass. Pre-fermentation aided production of precursors like oleic acid, linoleic acid, and glycolysis of readily available carbohydrates, which spiked the lauric acid biosynthesis.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40643-026-01085-6.

Disentangling agricultural and non-agricultural drivers of groundwater nitrate contamination using an integrated footprint-statistical approach.