Agricultural Intensification Research Articles

The effects of land use changes on site occupancy and breeding success of the barn owl (Tyto alba) from 1993 to 2020

Land use changes, driven by human activities such as agricultural intensification and urban expansion, have drastic effects on biodiversity. As these changes are anticipated to continue, understanding species’ adaptations to their evolving habitats is essential to find solutions for effective conservation efforts and sustainable management. In this study, we investigated how long-term changes in the agricultural landscape influence the breeding performance of a population of barn owls (Tyto alba) residing in nest boxes using data collected from 1993 until 2020. Specifically, we assessed how agricultural intensification, urbanization, and site availability affected barn owls' site occupancy and breeding success. Our results reveal that nest boxes surrounded by more agricultural fields are more likely to be occupied and have higher fledging success. Additionally, nest boxes installed higher on the barn were more likely to be occupied. Owls laid more eggs in nest boxes facing North than South or East. Clutches laid in nest boxes installed at higher altitudes were smaller. Finally, nest boxes with a higher density of surrounding nest boxes were less likely to be occupied and had smaller clutches. These insights show barn owls high reliance on the agricultural landscape surrounding their nesting sites, but also the importance of nest box characteristics to optimize their breeding success.

ORGANIC FARMING: DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS IN RUSSIA, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET

The production of organic agriculture products has become one of the most growing areas of economic activity, with projected annual growth of 10-12%. At the same time, the demand for organic products significantly exceeds the supply, which is largely due to the lack of land that can be allocated for this production. Russia, which has significant areas of virtually unused land on which mineral fertilizers and pesticides have not been used for a long time, reaching 19.7 million. ha, has a significant potential for development in this direction. At the same time, considering that a significant part of unused territories is located within the zone of risky agriculture, and also has soils with a low level of natural fertility, degraded, arid, waterlogged, etc., the actual amount of land resources that can be involved in organic agriculture is significantly less. For the most complete introduction into circulation of unused agricultural lands, it is necessary to increase the knowledge intensity and manufacturability of organic agriculture, for which research work in the following areas is highly relevant: 1) optimization of the balance of humus and nutrients in soils, 2) breeding and seed production of crops for organic agriculture, 3) development of biological products for disease and pest control, 4) development of optimal farming systems taking into account local soil and climatic conditions, 5) optimization of agricultural landscapes based on increasing the diversity of agricultural land use. Along with the involvement of unused lands in the organic production system, the development of the industry largely depends on the system of training qualified personnel in this area, which should take into account the specifics of the technologies used, which differ significantly from traditional farming systems. To do this, it is necessary to update existing professional standards, which should include generalized labor functions related to the development and implementation of organic farming technologies, as well as knowledge and skills in organizing organic production. On the basis of updated professional standards, universities should form new professional competencies and a corresponding set of academic disciplines. The personnel training system for the industry should include various levels of training: agricultural classes, higher education, additional professional education.

Sustained bacterial N2O reduction at acidic pH

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a climate-active gas with emissions predicted to increase due to agricultural intensification. Microbial reduction of N2O to dinitrogen (N2) is the major consumption process but microbial N2O reduction under acidic conditions is considered negligible, albeit strongly acidic soils harbor nosZ genes encoding N2O reductase. Here, we study a co-culture derived from acidic tropical forest soil that reduces N2O at pH 4.5. The co-culture exhibits bimodal growth with a Serratia sp. fermenting pyruvate followed by hydrogenotrophic N2O reduction by a Desulfosporosinus sp. Integrated omics and physiological characterization revealed interspecies nutritional interactions, with the pyruvate fermenting Serratia sp. supplying amino acids as essential growth factors to the N2O-reducing Desulfosporosinus sp. Thus, we demonstrate growth-linked N2O reduction between pH 4.5 and 6, highlighting microbial N2O reduction potential in acidic soils.

Distance decay effects predominantly shape spider but not carabid community composition in crop fields in north-western Europe

Agricultural intensification and expansion are regarded as main drivers of biodiversity loss. This conclusion is mainly based on observed declines of local diversity (α-diversity), while effects on community composition homogenization (decrease of β-diversity) at a larger spatial scale are less well understood. Carabid beetles and spiders represent two widespread guilds and are important predators of pest species. Here we surveyed carabid beetles and spiders in 66 winter wheat fields in four northwestern European countries (Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and UK) and analyzed how their community composition was related to geographic distance (separation distance between any pairwise fields) and three environmental variables: crop yield (proxy for land-use intensity), percentage cropland (proxy for landscape complexity) and soil organic carbon content (proxy for local soil conditions). We further analyzed whether the relationship between carabid beetle and spider community composition and geographic distance was influenced by environmental variables. We found that, 55 % and 75 % of all observed carabid and spider individuals, respectively, belonged to species that occurred in all four countries. However, individuals of species that were unique to a particular country only accounted for 3 % of all collected individuals for both taxa. Furthermore, we found a negative relationship between distance and similarity of spider communities but not for carabid beetle communities. None of the environmental variables were related to similarity of carabid beetle and spider communities, nor moderated the effects of distance. Our study indicates that across a great part of the European continent, arthropod communities (especially carabid beetles) in agricultural landscapes are composed of very similar species that are robust to current variations in environment and land-use.

New cash cropping in the Black Volta river valley: Banana production, rural innovation, and social entrepreneurship in the Ghana–Burkina Faso border region

AbstractDuring the mid‐1990s, a banana river irrigation farm that was launched in Southwestern Burkina Faso by a returning emigrant refugee spread throughout the region as far as neighboring Ghana. With relative abundant fertile, arable farmland in Ghana, easy access to input and modest capital mobilization by a few Ghanaian University lecturers to clear farmland and construct ridges and lay pipes for irrigation, a new cash crop production was set in motion. This paper analyzes the implication of this innovative rural agricultural intensification in the Ghana side of the border by shifting the angle of analysis away from narratives of transnational African agricultural commercialization driven by foreign corporations to instead focus on the role played by the local elite. The paper demonstrates that the viability of this irrigated farming can be attributed to imported banana crop variety, local rural producers' entrepreneurial zest, and enhanced existing cross‐border ties and commercial opportunities made possible by the construction of a strategic regional highway linking the farm sites with large urban and market centers in Burkina Faso.

Mapping drivers of land conversion among smallholders: A global systems perspective

CONTEXTAgriculture-driven land conversion poses a significant threat to global biodiversity conservation. Balancing agricultural expansion with conservation is a critical challenge for governments and development partners. Sustainability-oriented agriculture programs such as conservation agriculture and land intensification aim to reduce land conversion and deforestation; however, evidence of their effectiveness remains complex and elusive, especially regarding the role of smallholders. OBJECTIVEThis study addresses this knowledge gap by systematically mapping the drivers of smallholder land conversion and their interconnections across three focal biodiverse contexts including sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia as well as from a global scale. METHODSUsing literature that focuses on the nexus of smallholder farmers and agricultural intensification, this study systematically identified the potential of distinct factors and dynamic processes to serve as system leverage points toward improved outcomes for biodiversity, food security, and smallholder livelihoods, using a combination of structural factor analysis, centrality analysis, and feedback loop analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSThe results highlight the importance of strengthening land tenure systems, providing technical support to farmers, improving market access, and prioritizing smallholder livelihoods in mitigating land conversion. SIGNIFICANCEContextual differences emphasize the need for context-specific interventions and further research to explore factors driving land conversion more deeply within specific contextual boundaries. Future studies should map proposed policy interventions onto local systems driving land conversion and incorporate the diverse perspectives of local stakeholders to guide effective and sustainable agriculture interventions.

Determinants of Profit Efficiency among Rice Farmers in Kilombero Valley, Morogoro, Tanzania

Farmers in the Kilombero Valley are experiencing a growing trend towards commercialization seen through the expansion in the cultivated land area rather than agricultural intensification. There is a modicum of information on whether the observed increase in commercialization in the area is associated with an increase in profit. This study used the stochastic profit frontier function to estimate the profit efficiency of rice commercializing farmers and the respective determinants. The study used data collected from 377 rice farmers who were selected by using a multi-stage stratified sampling method. Results indicate that rice commercialising farmers' mean profit efficiency level was 75.65%. This indicates that rice farmers can improve their efficiency levels by 24.4% without increasing the level of inputs used. Maximum likelihood estimates indicated that wage, price of fertilizer, rice area in hectares, and production assets value were significant in determining the profit efficiency of rice commercializing farmers in Kilombero. The study concludes that commercializing farmers in the study area was profit efficient. The study recommends that more emphasis on early formal education in farmers’ society be emphasized for the literate group is more profit-efficient than the illiterate. With the present national educational policy to support education, farming households should strategically take advantage of it as education has exhibited a positive impact on their efficiency. Different services (marketplaces and inputs dealerships) in the area should be improved further to create more room for rice farmers to improve their productivity and profitability.

Gullying and landscape evolution: Lavaka in Lac Alaotra, Madagascar shed light on rates of change and non-anthropogenic controls.

Gully evolution remains poorly understood, largely because multidecadal analysis is lacking. Large gullies (called lavaka) that pepper Madagascar's highlands are generally attributed to human impact; but longitudinal data are few, and anthropogenic causation is inferred not verified. We focus on Lac Alaotra, Madagascar's largest lake and wetland, its major rice-growing region, and an ecological hotspot surrounded by fault-controlled steep hills with abundant lavaka. Analysis of historical aerial photographs and recent orthoimagery reveals that the proportion of highly active lavaka has decreased since mid-20th century. At the same time, human population, farming intensity, and livestock density have increased exponentially. This suggests that background factors, including seismicity, are primary drivers of lavaka formation. Although human activities may contribute to erosion overall, land management policies that overemphasize human causation of gullying and neglect background forcing factors (in Madagascar and elsewhere) are unlikely to be effective in erosion mitigation.

Missing Landscapes: A Geohistory of Parkland Landscapes in Northwestern Morocco

Northwestern Morocco is characterized by highly anthropized landscapes under the combined effect of agricultural intensification, resource overexploitation, urbanization, and tourism, but also local reforestation. Reconstructing the recent changes in vegetation in the region of the lower valley of the Loukkos river near Larache and their relationship to the settlement history are particularly helpful for understanding the processes at work within the landscape construction. The geohistorical approach combines paleoenvironmental, documentary, and historical data. The last few centuries have seen the emergence of wooded stands, in which cork oaks are a structural element. As forests were retreating, parklands intended for agriculture, agroforestry, and herding, like the Spanish dehesa and Portuguese montado, began to emerge. Nearly all of them have disappeared today, but we can identify their legacy and evaluate their cultural significance through comparing them with their counterparts in the Iberian Peninsula, but also in other areas of Morocco. Their deep historical roots give this landscape an evolving heritage character that is directly linked to the communities’ lifestyles, culture, and history.

Hirundo rustica (Barn Swallows) and Tachycineta bicolor (Tree Swallows) select wetlands in agriculturally intensive landscapes, as revealed by GPS tracking

Abstract Aerial insectivorous birds breeding in North America have experienced decades of population declines for reasons hypothesized to be related to changes in their insect prey. In agricultural landscapes, land management practices can affect insect communities, leading to concerns that ongoing trends toward more intensive cultivation could affect the ability of farmland-breeding aerial insectivores to forage and provision their offspring with aerial insect prey. To understand how differences in agricultural intensity may affect the foraging behavior of different aerial insectivore species, we used GPS tags to compare the movements and habitat use of 2 species with different foraging ecologies, Hirundo rustica (Barn Swallow) and Tachycineta bicolor (Tree Swallow), breeding at 17 sites in agricultural landscapes in Saskatchewan, Canada. Although we identified differences in foraging behavior consistent with each species’ reported ecological traits, including T. bicolor foraging farther and over larger areas than H. rustica, overall foraging behavior was similar between species. Resource selection function analyses indicated that both species used wetlands disproportionately often relative to local wetland availability, especially when detected farther from their nests. Hirundo rustica and T. bicolor both also avoided cropped foraging habitat, using it proportionally less than it was locally available. In landscapes with greater wetland cover, both species selected for wetland habitat more strongly, and among T. bicolor, higher wetland density decreased maximum foraging distance and home range area. In contrast, we found no effect of crop cover on foraging habitat selection or foraging movements. These findings suggest that H. rustica and T. bicolor breeding in Saskatchewan agroecosystems share similar foraging strategies, with wetland habitats appearing to be highly important despite comprising only a small proportion of landscape area. Overall, these results indicate that protecting wetland habitats should be a priority for aerial insectivore conservation in the intensive agricultural landscapes such as the Canadian prairies.

Ecological and anthropogenic drivers of waterfowl productivity are synchronous across species, space, and time.

Knowledge of interspecific and spatiotemporal variation in demography-environment relationships is key for understanding the population dynamics of sympatric species and developing multispecies conservation strategies. We used hierarchical random-effects models to examine interspecific and spatial variation in annual productivity in six migratory ducks (i.e., American wigeon [Mareca americana], blue-winged teal [Spatula discors], gadwall [Mareca strepera], green-winged teal [Anas crecca], mallard [Anas platyrhynchos] and northern pintail [Anas acuta]) across six distinct ecostrata in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America. We tested whether breeding habitat conditions (seasonal pond counts, agricultural intensification, and grassland acreage) or cross-seasonal effects (indexed by flooded rice acreage in primary wintering areas) better explained variation in the proportion of juveniles captured during late summer banding. The proportion of juveniles (i.e., productivity) was highly variable within species and ecostrata throughout 1961-2019 and generally declined through time in blue-winged teal, gadwall, mallard, pintail, and wigeon, but there was no support for a trend in green-winged teal. Productivity in Canadian ecostrata declined with increasing agricultural intensification and increased with increasing pond counts. We also found a strong cross-seasonal effect, whereby more flooded rice hectares during winter resulted in higher subsequent productivity. Our results suggest highly consistent environmental and anthropogenic effects on waterfowl productivity across species and space. Our study advances our understanding of current year and cross-seasonal effects on duck productivity across a suite of species and at finer spatial scales, which could help managers better target working-lands conservation programs on both breeding and wintering areas. We encourage other researchers to evaluate environmental drivers of population dynamics among species in a single modeling framework for a deeper understanding of whether conservation plans should be generalized or customized given limited financial resources.

Vegetation structure drives mosquito community composition in UK’s largest managed lowland wetland

PurposeThe rising burden of mosquito-borne diseases in Europe extends beyond urban areas, encompassing rural and semi-urban regions near managed and natural wetlands evidenced by recent outbreaks of Usutu and West Nile viruses. While wetland management policies focus on biodiversity and ecosystem services, few studies explore the impact on mosquito vectors.MethodsOur research addresses this gap, examining juvenile mosquito and aquatic predator communities in 67 ditch sites within a South England coastal marsh subjected to different wetland management tiers. Using joint distribution models, we analyse how mosquito communities respond to abiotic and biotic factors influenced by wetland management.ResultsOf the 12 mosquito species identified, Culiseta annulata (Usutu virus vector) and Culex pipiens (Usutu and West Nile virus vector) constitute 47% of 6825 larval mosquitoes. Abundant predators include Coleoptera (water beetles) adults, Corixidae (water boatmen) and Zygoptera (Damselfy) larvae. Models reveal that tier 3 management sites (higher winter water levels, lower agricultural intensity) associated with shade and less floating vegetation are preferred by specific mosquito species. All mosquito species except Anopheles maculipennis s.l., are negatively impacted by potential predators. Culiseta annulata shows positive associations with shaded and turbid water, contrary to preferences of Corixidae predators.ConclusionsTier 3 areas managed for biodiversity, characterised by higher seasonal water levels and reduced livestock grazing intensity, provide favourable habitats for key mosquito species that are known vectors of arboviruses, such as Usutu and West Nile. Our findings emphasise the impact of biodiversity-focused wetland management, altering mosquito breeding site vegetation to enhance vector suitability. Further exploration of these trade-offs is crucial for comprehending the broader implications of wetland management.

Dietary DNA metabarcoding reveals a trophic niche partitioning among sympatric Iberian sandgrouses and bustards

The study of trophic niche partitioning is of great importance for understanding community structure and species coexistence, particularly if these are threatened. Here DNA metabarcoding was used to assess the diet of four threatened steppe bird species (two bustards and two sandgrouses), with the aim of better understanding their dietary requirements, trophic interactions, and potential threats. The results showed seasonal and interspecific differences in their plant diet, with greater importance of cultivated plants during autumn and winter (around 50 % of their diet) than spring. Plants of the genus Convolvulus and of the family Brassicaceae were frequently consumed by all species. In spring, poppies (Papaver spp.) were a considerable part of their diet, and could be used as a source of carotenoids or for their anti-parasitic properties. Furthermore, results evidenced a trophic niche partitioning among species, with a marked segregation between bustard species and, to a lesser extent, between sandgrouse species. Diet similarity was generally higher between species from different orders that occur in mixed-species flocks (bustard - sandgrouse) than between species of the same order. This partitioning was probably related to a stratification in habitat use rather than to specialisation and might prevent competition to some extent. However, the homogenization of trophic resources resulting from agricultural intensification could pose an important threat, particularly during autumn, when weeds are scarcer and the most abundant trophic resource are sown seeds, which are often treated with pesticides.

Clear-cuts support the metapopulation of a critically endangered butterfly

Clear-cutting is believed to have a negative impact on forest biodiversity, but numerous studies have also shown its positive effects, especially in temperate and boreal regions. This phenomenon is mainly related to the creation of early successional habitats that serve as temporary meadows. Among the species that benefit the most are those associated with semi-natural grasslands, i.e. biotopes that have been disappearing from the landscape due to agricultural intensification. A good example is the Danube Clouded Yellow Colias myrmidone, one of the most endangered butterflies in Europe. Its last lowland metapopulation in the EU exists in the Knyszyn Forest (north-eastern Poland), but the species occurrence is limited to the eastern parts of this large forest complex. All currently known habitats are forest clear-cuts located mainly on former agricultural land, i.e. mostly extensively used pastures that were afforested in the 20th century. Chamaecytisus ruthenicus, the only local larval food plant of C. myrmidone, is currently found almost exclusively in first-generation forests. Logging allows the host plants to flourish, and clear-cuts are colonized by the butterfly. In 2022, intensive mark-release-recapture studies were carried out in the focal metapopulation. The estimated metapopulation size was 4643 adults, indicating a six-fold increase compared to previous studies conducted in 2017. This was plausibly mainly due to the increase in the area of potential habitats, as butterfly densities were very similar in both seasons. The improved connectivity between habitat patches resulted in a very high proportion of dispersing individuals successfully reaching other patches, which is in contrast to the dispersal mortality of ca. 50% observed five years earlier. A relatively high mobility was also observed in the case of the much smaller spring generation. To our knowledge, this is the first study to document a reversal of selection against dispersal and it demonstrates that such changes can occur relatively quickly, i.e. within a few generations. In order to ensure the long-term persistence of the viable C. myrmidone metapopulation and mitigate the negative effects of climate change, a network of stable forest-steppe-like habitats in combination with the creation of clear-cuts in forest stands with presence of C. ruthenicus would be optimal. To achieve this, we recommend leaving some selected clear-cuts without replanting to restore grasslands (through grazing and removal of excess trees, shrubs and invasive plants), while the suitability of ephemeral habitats could be improved through appropriate silvicultural measures.

Traditional paddy field-supported bird diversity ignored by forest-focused protection of ecosystems in tropical China.

Biodiversity in tropical regions is facing threats from agricultural expansion and intensification. Therefore, a promising future for local ecosystem conservation depends not only on traditional protected areas but also on well-managed agricultural landscapes. In this study, we compared the ecological traits of bird species in paddy fields outside of protected areas and natural forests within the protected areas of Xishuangbanna, southern China. There were 148 species in total, of which 98 were in forests and 55 in paddy fields. The abundance of birds in paddy fields was 176 per kilometer, which was much higher than the 60 per kilometer in forests. There were 26 law-protected species observed, half of which were found in each habitat. The main functional groups living in nature reserves are invertivores and frugivores, whereas paddy fields provide habitats for aquatic predator and granivore bird species. Our results indicate that paddy fields act as a refuge for wetland and grassland bird species when natural wetlands disappear, highlighting the urgent need to focus more on wetland protection and eco-friendly agricultural schemes at the landscape scale in future conservation policies.

Unveiling the frontiers: Historical expansion and modern implications of agricultural land use in Denmark

This study offers a first-of-its-kind investigation into the spatial and temporal transformation of agricultural land use and expansion in crops and livestock at national scale during the middle and latter half of the 19th century.We introduce an innovative methodological framework that combines historical data with advanced spatial analysis to trace and map the evolution of frontiers of agricultural land use changes, illustrating Denmark's agricultural evolution towards the modern era.Our research uncovers critical shifts in cropland, grazing land, and livestock density offering unprecedented insights into the mechanisms driving agricultural expansion and intensification. The mechanisms driving this expansion and their potential impact on contemporary agroecological challenges linked to land use intensification are explored. Our results point to a significant broadening and shifting of land use frontiers offering a historical perspective on agricultural land use. This sets the stage for promoting the analysis of drivers of change and gaining insights into how landscape development could be steered into an environmentally and societally more desirable and sustainable direction tackling present-day agroecological challenges.

Ecology and abundance of a relict population of the bush cricket Saga pedo in the Northern Apennines, Italy.

The expansion of forest cover and intensification of agriculture represent the main threats to the bush cricket Saga pedo, currently listed as Vulnerable globally by the IUCN and included in Annex IV of the European Union Habitats Directive. Gathering information on its ecology and population size is challenging due to its low abundance and localized distribution. Additionally, the elusive and cryptic behavior of this species reduces the likelihood of its detection, potentially resulting in population underestimations. Thus, in this study, we aimed to (1) estimate S. pedo population size in relation to environmental variables and prey availability and (2) predict abundance of S. pedo in our study area for future monitoring in nearby territories. We found that the population of S. pedo in our study area consists of 197 (±115) individuals with a detection probability of 21.01% (±11.09). Detection probability of S. pedo further decreases on windy days. Moreover, we found that the investigated population of S. pedo occupies suboptimal areas, as highlighted not only by the predicted abundances but also by the association between S. pedo and other subfamilies of orthoptera that are ecologically very distant from our target species and mostly linked to mesophilic biotopes. Most of the individuals we observed are concentrated in small clearings completely within wooded matrices and therefore isolated from each other. Based on our results, it is possible that forest expansion toward open meadows represents the main threat to this population, transforming the clearings and xeric meadows (to which S. pedo is linked) into small and fragmented patches that are suboptimal and insufficient to host viable populations.

HOW DOES THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR AFFECT THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF DEMAK REGENCY?

This research is motivated by the phenomenon that the area of ​​agricultural land in Demak Regency has changed the function of the land, from paddy fields to non-rice fields in the form of housing and industry. Changes in land use are thought to be due to rob, abrasion, land acquisition for the Semarang-Demak toll road. The agricultural sector was originally the leading sector/base sector in Demak Regency, then slowly shifted to the industrial sector. The purpose of this study was to analyze the performance of the agricultural sector in Demak Regency. This research method uses SWOT analysis which has been modified by using the Demak Regency stakeholder questionnaire and spatial data analysis approach using maps processed by GeoDa. The results of the analysis show that from 2017 to 2021, Demak Regency, based on the Klasson Typology, is included in the criteria for a developed but depressed area. This means that the economic growth of Demak Regency is developing in accordance with the existing geographical conditions. The superior agricultural production in Demak Regency is rice, corn, sweet potato, cassava, peanuts, green beans, soybeans, and cassava sorghum. Based on a SWOT analysis with threats to the agricultural sector in Demak Regency in the form of ROB floods, abrasion, reduced use of paddy fields to non-rice fields, prices of agricultural products that do not break even point, Demak Regency policies adopting agricultural intensification strategies, and agricultural extensification policies.

Pasture-crop rotations modulate the soil and rhizosphere microbiota and preserve soil structure supporting oat cultivation in the Pampa biome

Mixed systems of grain and livestock production based on pasture-crop rotations are a promising strategy to promote agriculture resilience and allow an ecological intensification of agriculture yet little is known about underlying processes in soil. To test the hypothesis that pasture-crop rotations preserve soil structure and select for beneficial soil and rhizosphere microbiota, supporting soil health and grain production, a long-term field experiment under no-tillage was studied. The experiment evaluated a gradient of land use intensities and vegetation diversities, from highly intensive continuous cropping to the least intensive system i.e. a nearby natural grassland, with two intermediate land use intensities i.e. short pasture-crop rotation and long pasture-crop rotation. Soil health was assessed based on soil physicochemical properties, microbial (Bacteria/Archaea and Fungi) community diversity and composition and oat performance. Pasture-crop rotations preserved soil bulk density and larger aggregates better than continuous cropping. High-throughput amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA gene and ITS fragments revealed that the pasture-crop rotations fostered taxa that are associated with soil structure maintenance and selected potential plant-beneficial bacterial genera in the oat rhizosphere (i.e. Bosea, Devosia and Microbacterium), that may have contributed to the observed increase in N uptake, N accumulation and biomass in oat. In summary, this study shows that pasture-crop rotations are an ecologically sustainable alternative to continuous cropping in the Uruguayan Pampa biome.

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF TALAS BENENG (Xanthosoma undipes) AGROFORESTRY IN CIAMIS REGENCY, INDONESIA

Recently, the Indonesian government has sought to secure food production from forestlands by implementing agroforestry in rural areas. Talas beneng or tall elephant ear plant (Xanthosoma undipes) is a potential species for agroforestry that produces medicinal tubers and leaves. It has high productivity and export opportunities, but its management strategy under community forestland needs to be more widely studied. In Ciamis Regency, talas beneng has been cultivated for the last two years, but the progress has not been significant. This study aimed to formulate strategic management for improving its business model by identifying internal and external factors. Two groups of farmers in Ciamis Regency were chosen as the case study. Observation and in-depth interviews with farming group leaders as key informants were employed to gather the existing model business. Internal and external factors were analyzed using a business model canvas (BMC) framework, SWOT analysis and quantitative strategic planning matrix (QSPM). Results show that the market channels between the two groups of talas beneng producers are slightly different. SWOT analysis shows that both groups have positions in which product development and market penetration are required as strategies to improve future management. Specific strategies that need to be prioritized include 1) improving farming intensification, 2) improving talas beneng product competitiveness, and 3) expanding the business partnership to access market information better.