Diversified Systems Research Articles

Study on the Methods of Treaty Interpretation By Domestic Courts

In the context of global integration, domestic courts are faced with an ever-increasing demand for treaty interpretation and application, which is a realistic way to enhance the authority and credibility of the Chinese judiciary. Based on this, we discuss the challenges faced by domestic courts in the specific application of treaty interpretation methods, and put forward suggestions for improvement in response to these problems. These challenges include conflicts and inconsistencies between methods of interpretation, the lack of systematic and comprehensive rules on methods of interpretation, and limitations on the use of dynamic methods of interpretation. In order to overcome these dilemmas, the following recommendations are made: the establishment of a diversified system of interpretation methods; the construction of uniformly applicable rules of interpretation methods; and the reasonable use of dynamic interpretation methods. The implementation of these recommendations will help domestic courts to better respond to cases involving international treaties and, in practice, ensure that treaty provisions are correctly and fairly implemented.

Yield and profit comparison of diversified versus conventional crop rotation systems in South Dakota

AbstractDiversified crop rotations with no‐till management are considered fundamental to sustainable agroecosystems; however, associated uncertainty in economic returns may hinder farmers’ decisions to adopt these practices. The objectives of this study were to compare economic performance (gross revenue, net revenue, and production cost) among various low‐input diversified versus conventional crop rotations. The experiment was initiated in the fall of 2000 with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) planting and planting of remaining crops in the spring of 2001 near Brookings, SD. Economic analysis was performed from data collected during the fifth complete 4‐year crop rotational cycle (2017–2020) of six crop rotations: (1) 4‐year corn (Zea mays L.)‐soybean [Glycine max L. (Merr.)]‐spring wheat‐sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) (CSSwSf), (2) 4 year corn‐soybean‐spring wheat‐pea (Pisum sativum L.) (CSSwP), (3) 4‐year corn‐pea‐winter wheat‐soybean (CPWwS), (4) 4‐year corn‐oat (Avena sativa L.)‐winter wheat‐soybean (COWwS), (5) 2‐year corn‐soybean (CS), and (6) continuous corn (CCC, treatment initiated in 2017). Corn yield in CSSwP rotation, where corn followed peas, was higher (p < 0.05) by 20%, 25%, 45%, and 89%, compared to CPWwS, CSSwSf, CS, and CCC rotations, respectively. Similarly, soybean yield following winter wheat was significantly higher by 16%–38% in COWwS and 13%–38% in CPWwS compared to CSSwP, CSSwSf, and CS. Overall, diversified crop rotations improved both corn and soybean yield and net revenue compared to 2‐year CS and monoculture CCC rotations. Moreover, 4‐year diversified systems, specifically COWwS, CPWwS, and CSSwP, demonstrated economic resilience by maintaining stable production costs.

The Historical Changes and Evolutionary Logic of Transitional Community Governance in China

Effective transitional community governance is an objective requirement for achieving efficient grassroots governance. Analyzing the basic context, internal logic, and development drivers of transitional community governance changes is of positive significance for promoting the modernization of the national grassroots governance system and governance capabilities. Based on the perspective of historical institutionalism, China's transitional community governance has roughly gone through three stages: a government led unitary control system, a core diversified system, and a community governance system. The basic logic of its transformation is from "management" to "governance", from "extensive" to "refined", and from "government led" to "diversified co governance". Further looking ahead to the governance of transitional communities, the main directions lie in three aspects: firstly, continuously absorbing diverse entities and balancing the governance structure of transitional communities; The second is to empower communities with technology through digital empowerment; The third is to promote community cultural construction and eliminate the tension of community governance.

Performance of co-designed diversified Mediterranean cropping systems: Hybridizing stakeholders' knowledge and modelling data

Mediterranean cropping systems, characterised by continuous cereal cropping, are largely dependent on synthetic inputs, such as N fertilisers. On the other hand, they face difficult pedoclimatic conditions, exacerbated by climate change. Diversification is seen as a way to increase cropping systems resilience. The aim of this study was to co-design diversified cropping systems based on the expertise of local stakeholders and co-assess their performance, using modelling data. Our case study is the Ebro valley in Spain, a Mediterranean area with great potential for diversification, particularly where irrigation is available. Two workshops were organized to i) define the reference system in the study area and its limitations ii) co-design diversified systems to overcome these limitations and iii) co-assess reference and diversified systems. Between the two workshops, the STICS soil-crop model was calibrated with local experimental data, enabling to simulate the inter-annual (2000–2021) agronomic and environmental performance of the reference and diversified systems. An economic analysis was conducted. Stakeholders evaluated all economic, agronomic and environmental aspects. The reference system was a continuous winter cereal crop based on synthetic N fertilisation and intensive tillage. The four diversified co-designed systems consisted in introducing pea and/or rapeseed every 2 or 4 years, reducing tillage and partially replacing synthetic N fertilisation with locally sourced livestock manure. Simulation results showed that wheat and barley grain yields remained stable with diversification. Pea and rapeseed yields were lower in rotations where both were introduced compared to when each was the only break crop over 4 years. At the system level, protein yield remained stable with diversification, however, energy yield decreased by 20 % when break crops were introduced twice and by 10 % when introduced once. Gross margins improved with diversification only when pea was introduced once (12 %), mainly due to reduced expenses (-31 %), while incomes remained stable compared to RCS. However, incomes decreased by 5 % when rapeseed was introduced once, and by 10 % when both break crops were introduced. Unexpectedly, environmental performance deteriorated with diversification, with increased N losses through ammonia volatilisation and nitrate leaching in the years following pea and rapeseed cropping, due to greater N availability in the soil. An increased use of pesticides was predicted by the stakeholders in diversified systems, where the environmental impacts were exacerbated with the higher presence of break crops. The reference system presented slightly lower N availability and increased soil organic carbon storage. Overall, the approach proved useful in identifying a diversification strategy that improved agronomic and economic performance, with the system including pea once every four years being the most efficient. However, the environmental trade-offs associated with the increased presence of pea and rapeseed in the crop rotation must be considered in order to mitigate the environmental risks.

Agronomic drivers of pesticide use in small-scale horticultural systems in central Mexico: cropping and farming system factors.

Abstract Horticultural Production Systems (HPS) in Mexico face challenges due to small-scale operations, limited resources, and high dependence on family labor. This study explores the use of agrochemicals in HPS and its impact on productivity and potential exposure to pesticides. Through on-farm surveys in the Morelia-Queréndaro valley, Central Mexico, factors influencing agrochemical use and toxicity were investigated. Results show that HPS configuration plays a pivotal role in predicting agrochemical use. HPS dominated by a single crop tend to use more herbicides and fertilizers, while diversified systems use fewer herbicides. Crop-specific management practices, such as row spacing and intercropping, significantly influence herbicide usage. Surprisingly, higher volumes of insecticides and fungicides do not consistently correlate with increased yields. Additionally, relationships between pesticide use and crop yields vary across onion cropping systems, emphasizing the need for tailored management strategies. We highlight the significant toxicity of insecticides and the importance of understanding factors determining their application volumes. Overall, this research underscores the complexity of agrochemical use in HPS and emphasizes the potential of diversified farming systems to reduce reliance on agrochemical inputs while maintaining productivity. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of sustainable agriculture practices and provide valuable insights for policy makers and farm managers.

Linking farmers' perceptions and management decision toward sustainable agroecological transition: evidence from rural Tunisia.

Global food systems face sustainability challenges like undernourishment, inequity, resource degradation, and pollution. Food production and consumption drive environmental change with greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, and land-system shifts. The climate change crisis has intensified concerns about the ecological impact of these systems. Sustainable food networks, such as community-supported agriculture, are promoting sustainable production and consumption through short supply chains. International bodies like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) are also spearheading initiatives for more equitable and sustainable food systems. In Tunisia, where dryland areas predominate, the ongoing implementation of the Agroecology Initiative provides the context for this study, which explores the drivers and barriers of agroecological transformation in this challenging environment. The research focuses on stakeholder engagement, with a gender perspective to explore farmer perceptions. The study, conducted in the northwest of Tunisia in 2022-2023, involved focus groups, workshops, surveys, and questionnaires with various stakeholders. Findings highlight farmer organizations' potential in promoting sustainable farming, with clear goals, diversified systems, and collaborations. However, challenges such as input scarcity, water shortage, low income, and marketing must be addressed. Results also indicate that over 90% of farmers who received assistance with agroecological practices reported a change in their ideas and practices. Fifty seven percent of the workshops participants identified the olive oil value chain as having the greatest potential for agroecological transformation, but it faces constraints such as climate, lack of policy incentives, training, funding, and difficulty in adopting technical innovations. Women's inclusion in agriculture, environmental, social, and economic challenges were also highlighted. Despite these obstacles, key drivers for agroecological transition were identified. These include the compatibility of many agroecological practices with existing farmer capabilities, their cultural and economic benefits, and the positive outcomes for environmental sustainability and health. The study advocates for a socio-technical systems analysis to address the root causes hindering Tunisia's agroecological transformation. A participatory approach is crucial to understanding priorities and developing a sustainable and resilient food system. Furthermore, the research underscores the importance of considering diverse farmer perspectives and tailoring strategies to support this critical transition effectively.

The value and implementation path of smart media technology application in the cultural heritage of ethnic traditional sports

This study analyses the value of embedding smart media technology in the protection and inheritance of traditional Chinese national sports culture, explores the logical relationship between smart media technology and traditional sports culture inheritance, and proposes innovative development paths based on the basic principles and development trends in an attempt to provide useful references for the living inheritance and sustainable development of traditional Chinese national sports culture. The rational use of smart media technology can effectively drive the high-quality development of various fields. The application of smart media technology in the inheritance and development of traditional ethnic sports culture is expected to reflect the diversified values, based on which it is important to point out that the implementation path of the new smart media technology to accelerate the promotion of traditional ethnic sports culture is of great significance in practical development. This study uses the PDCA cycle theory to establish a research idea based on the main line of “value analysis-proposed path-path evaluation-continuous optimization”, whereby the smart media technology drives the innovation of the development situation, and pushes the dissemination of Chinese traditional national sports culture into the smart media era. It is found that the integration of the two helps to innovate the way of cultural inheritance, is conducive to better excavation and collation of the essence of excellent traditional sports culture, and can better promote diversified development. It is conducive to promoting the sustainable development of the traditional sports culture industry. It is conducive to the promotion of national cultural exchanges, exchanges, intermingling and the enhancement of national cohesion, and helps to effectively excavate and reasonably use the deep value of smart media technology; it should be based on the needs of development and innovative communication and development of smart sports culture mode. The development of traditional sports short video platform, the construction of intelligent traditional sports into the campus system, the construction of a diversified system of communication mode; from the “traditional inheritance mode” to the “intelligent leadership”, the integration of content, innovative inheritance mode. From “cultural inheritance” to “resource sharing”, precise positioning and integration of resources. Eventually, a system will be formed that is led by intelligent innovation, optimizes the mode, improves the content, and strengthens the evaluation and feedback.

Performance of innovative cropping systems diversified with oilseeds and protein crops: identification and resolution of methodological issues, using the Syppre experimental network as a case study

Agroecological transition requires that innovative and diversified cropping systems be developed. Conducting system experiments is an approach well-suited to the analysis of performance of cropping systems when subjected to soil, weather and biotic stresses. Conducting system experiments nevertheless gives rise to methodological challenges. Using the Syppre network of experiments, consisting of five sites in France, we present an original case study that provides valuable methodological and agronomic lessons on system experiments. The innovative cropping systems tested there are based on crop diversification (including oilseeds and protein crops), as well as flexible tillage, technical innovations and optimized crop management. From a methodological standpoint, we show that (i) mixed models are adapted to a range of experimental questions and constraints; (ii) multifactorial analysis enables the characterization of relationships between performance indicators; (iii) a multisite experimental network is an efficient approach not only for answering agronomic questions, but also for addressing methodological issues. From an agronomic standpoint, we showed that reconciling multiple indicators of performance is still challenging. Overall, innovative and diversified systems improved the performance of input utilization and environmental impacts, but with lower productivity and profitability. Introducing legume crops is a promising strategy because this contributes significantly to reductions in mineral N fertilizer use, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, without major trade-offs against other performance indicators. Finally, we showed that the nature of the production situation had a major influence on the performance profile. This led us to be cautious in making overall analyses especially with regard to general conclusions.

Kink phenomena of the time-space fractional Oskolkov equation

<p>In this study, we applied the Riccati-Bernoulli sub-ODE method and Bäcklund transformation to analyze the time-space fractional Oskolkov equation for kink solutions by matching the coefficients and optimal series parameters. The time-space fractional Oskolkov equation is used to analyze the behavior of solitons for different applications such as fluid dynamics and viscoelastic flow. The kink solutions derived have important consequences for stability analysis and interaction dynamic in these systems, and these are useful in controlling the physical behaviour of systems described by this equation. Such effects are illustrated by 2D and 3D plots, showing that the proposed model can handle both fractional and integer-order solitons with different but equally efficient outcomes. This research contributes to a valuable analytical method that can determine and manage processes in diversified systems based on fractional differential equations. This work provides a basis for subsequent analysis in other branches of science and technology in which the fractional Oskolkov model is used.</p>

Research on the Construction of a Diversified System of Preschool Physical Education Curriculum Based on Kruskal Algorithm

Abstract This study constructs a diversified system of physical education curriculum suitable for young children and explores the application of personalized service method in early childhood physical education curriculum. The study designed the structure of early childhood physical education curriculum based on the principles of science, relevance and playfulness. It used the K-means clustering method improved by Kruskal algorithm to recommend early childhood physical education resources. The influence of the curriculum resource system on early childhood physical exercise was investigated by regression analysis. The study results showed that the number of weekly workouts of young children was significantly influenced by the comprehensive developmental features of the curriculum and the diversity of workout programs, (P<0.05). In contrast, the duration of consecutive workouts was mainly influenced by the comprehensive developmental features of the curriculum structural setup and the holistic nature of the curriculum goal setup (0.01<P<0.05). In addition, the cumulative duration of weekly exercise of young children was significantly influenced by regularity perception, comprehensive development and holistic goals in the curriculum resource system (P<0.005). The effectiveness of the personalized service approach in enhancing the efficacy of physical exercise in young children was demonstrated, and it was emphasized that the diversification and comprehensiveness of curriculum content should be emphasized in early childhood physical education.

Nearly half of the world is suitable for diversified farming for sustainable intensification

Sustainable intensification, defined as increasing production per unit without harming the environment, has potential to transform agricultural systems. While questions persist about which practices and conditions lead to sustainable intensification, diversification has gained prominence as a proposed solution. Here we apply niche modelling using maximum entropy modelling approach to predict the global spatial distribution of profitable diversified farming systems under different socio-economic conditions. We found about 47% of the world is suitable for profitable diversified systems with a larger area in the global North. When we combined our findings with knowledge about biophysical potential for cropland expansion and intensification, we found that different areas could benefit from diversification to achieve sustainable intensification through cropland expansion (e.g., Europe), intensification (e.g., sub-tropics and tropics), or both (e.g., West Africa). With these results, we provide insights in which way diversification can support sustainable intensification and contribute to the debate on land sharing vs sparing.

Interactions between animal enterprises and marketing strategies shape organic multispecies farming systems

One of the key ways to improve the sustainability of agricultural systems is through diversification, taking advantage of synergies between farm enterprises. Among diversified systems, multispecies livestock farms with at least two animal enterprises have rarely been studied. We explored 95 organic farms from six countries, accounting for the proportion of animal enterprises, sales management, workforce size, and work organization. The study reveals various types of interactions between animal enterprises. Complementarities were observed between ruminant and monogastric enterprises, particularly fertilizer transfer from monogastric manure to grasslands. Milk production was often associated with on-farm processing and short distribution channels, which enhanced farm viability and reduced its dependency on herd productivity. Eleven out of the 95 farms combined above-average production efficiency, on-farm processing, and the majority of sales in short distribution channels. Their labor productivity converged toward 22 livestock units per annual work unit, regardless of the number of workers. Combining farm structure; livestock production efficiency; social elements, such as the workforce; and sales management led us to distinguish four types of farms: (i) small and very autonomous grassland farms with on-farm processing and short distribution channels; (ii) dairy farms associated with a high-density pig or poultry enterprise, whose feed purchase contributes to high rates of cattle feeding self-sufficiency and stocking rate; (iii) large farms with an extensive, grassland beef enterprise associated with either sheep or monogastrics; and (iv) dairy sheep associated with goat or beef cattle on rangelands, with high added-value products enhancing salaries. This study highlights for the first time the diversity of organic multispecies livestock farms and how consistent patterns of interactions among farm structure, livestock management, sales management, and workforce management shape them. The results are a preliminary basis for designing policy interventions aiming to scale up organic farming and value social assets of diversified and small farms.

Smart Energy Planning in the Midst of a Technological and Political Change towards a 100% Renewable System in Mexico by 2050

This study presents a 100% renewable and diversified system taking advantage of the available energy potential of renewable energies in Mexico with a view to a planned energy transition in cooperation with the environment. The processes of change that are experienced worldwide in favor of the planet make us reflect and propose alternatives that break traditional schemes in the production of energy (for which reason Mexico cannot deviate from its current model). It is here that this research becomes a transcendental and important reference for decision-making and the transformation of the energy sector in Mexico. The current electrical system relies on fossil fuels that need to be replaced by renewable energy sources (and it is necessary to satisfy growing demands in the long term). The methodological process is carried out with the use of the 100% renewable energy market design tool EnergyPLAN, which puts the concept of intelligent energy into practice by 2050. Finally, after analyzing the results, it is concluded that a good energy mix for 2050 is 30% solar photovoltaic, 25% wind, 14.5% hydraulic, 13.8% CSP plants, and 16.7% other technologies. Surpluses may be sold to the United States and Central America through interconnection points.

Transitioning from Monoculture to Mixed Cropping Systems: The Case of Coffee, Pepper, and Fruit Trees in Vietnam

In the Central Highlands of Vietnam, coffee (Coffea canephora) and pepper (Peper nigrum) farmers have started transitioning from monoculture to mix cropping systems. To investigate this ongoing shift towards diversified systems and understand the underlying agronomic and economic drivers, a total of 234 interviews were conducted with farmers in the three provinces of Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Gia Lai in 2021. The interviews showed that farmers are increasingly incorporating coffee, pepper, and fruit trees (mostly avocado, durian, and macadamia) within their plots. This response is likely driven by market prices and government incentives. The addition of perennial crops into existing systems results in an overall increase in planting densities (+33–71% compared with monoculture systems). Despite the intensification and diversification, there is currently no noticeable competition between crops, and productivity per tree remains high in these intensive farming systems. Furthermore, diversified coffee systems exhibit higher gross margins (only considering fertilizer and pesticide costs while excluding labor costs) than monoculture coffee systems. They also demonstrate greater economic resilience to price fluctuations. Given the perennial nature of the crops, this transformation is expected to continue unfolding in the coming years, reshaping the agricultural landscape of the Central Highlands.

Intercropping organic melon and cowpea combined with return of crop residues increases yields and soil fertility

The growth of legumes, reduced tillage and addition of crop residues can be regarded as a good alternative in intercropping systems to increase soil organic matter, soil fertility and biodiversity while enhancing crop production and reducing the use of fertilizers. Despite the potential benefits, there is still a research gap about using the combination of cowpea and melon in intercropping to increase productivity and reduce external inputs. Thus, the aims of this study were to: i) assess if crop yield, crop quality and soil physicochemical properties can be improved by intercropping systems between melon (Cucumis melo L.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) with reduced tillage and addition of crop residues, compared with a melon monoculture with intensive tillage and removal of crop residues, all grown under organic management; and ii) evaluated if cowpea grown as intercrop with fertilization reduced by 30% in the diversified plots can partially replace the use of fertilizers with no negative effects on total crop production. In this study we compared over three crop cycles monocrops with three different melon-cowpea intercropping patterns: mixed intercropping, row intercropping 1:1 (melon:cowpea) and row intercropping 2:1 (melon:cowpea). Our results, presented in this study, showed that intercropping systems, regardless of the pattern, kept soil organic C levels, while it significantly decreased in melon monoculture. Intercropping also significantly increased soil total N, available P and exchangeable K (0.13%, 62 mg·kg-1 and 387 mg·kg-1, respectively), compared to the melon monocrop (0.11%, 25 mg·kg-1 and 306 mg·kg-1). Total crop production was significantly higher under diversified systems, with land equivalent ratios > 1. Hence, the introduction of cowpea associated with melon, combined with reduced tillage and the incorporation of crop residues could be considered as a feasible strategy for sustainable agriculture, with environmental gains and economic savings for fertilizers and water.

Better crop establishment, residue recycling and diversification for sustaining non-basmati rice (Oryza sativa) in western IGP

The conventional non-basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.) is neither economical nor sustainable in IGP. Therefore, an on-farm study was carried out at the farmer’s field in Karnal district of Haryana to find out alternative by diversified crops having legume (summer mungbean) with the best tillage and residue management practices. The intensification through conservation agriculture (CA)-based crop management within the RW system (CTR–ZTWMb and DSR– ZTWMb) and beyond with diversification by maize (ZTMWMb and ZTMMuMb) gave statistically on par yield to conventional non-basmati rice (CTRW). Compared to CTRW, total water use was reduced by 0.8 and 14.8% in CTR– ZTWMb and DSR–ZTWMb, respectively. The total water use was significantly reduced by 53.9 to 60.8% with maize and soybean (ZTMWMb, ZTMMuMb, and ZTSWMb) over DSR–ZTWMb and CTRW. The net returns increased by ₹3.7–6.5 × 103/ha in CTR–ZTWMb and DSR–ZTWMb over the CTRW. In diversified systems, net returns increased by ₹10–16.5 × 103/ha with maize systems compared to three rice production scenarios. Similarly, in soybean, net returns enhanced by ₹4.6 × 103/ha over the CTRW systems. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in global warming potential (GWP) by 53.4–69.1, 53.3–69.0 and 46.9–64.8% was observed under ZTMWMb, ZTMMuMb and ZTSWMb, respectively over the three RW system treatments. These results demonstrate that crop diversification with the inclusion of maize and soybean with CA may be opted to improve crop and water productivity and farmer's income replacing traditional rainy (kharif ) season non-basmati rice in Western Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP).

Review and comparative analysis of energy security concepts of the European Union and Ukraine

The article is devoted to research and comparison of approaches to ensuring energy security in the European Union (EU) and Ukraine. The article analyzes the main aspects of energy security, such as ensuring energy independence, stability and sustainability of the supply of energy resources, the development of energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources, integration into a single energy space, as well as the challenges faced by both sides. The article highlights similarities and differences in approaches to ensuring energy security. Among the common aspects is the recognition of the importance of energy security and the significant attention paid to it by both parties. Both sides are also working on diversifying supply sources and improving energy efficiency. At the same time, there are differences in the development of energy infrastructure and access to resources, where the EU has a developed and diversified system, and Ukraine faces challenges and limitations. The article examines the prospects for the development of the energy sector in both contexts. The EU aims to ensure a stable, stable and sustainable supply of energy resources through the development of a single energy market and cooperation with other countries. Ukraine also has the potential to develop its energy sector, particularly in the field of renewable energy, which can contribute to reducing dependence on imports and ensure a stable and sustainable energy supply. Ukraine's integration into the single energy space of the EU and support and investment from the EU for the development of Ukraine's energy sector are considered important. The article also provides the necessary steps to ensure energy security in Ukraine. Among them, it is worth highlighting the modernization of the energy system, cooperation with the EU and other countries, diversification of supply, improvement of energy infrastructure, increasing energy awareness of the population and harmonization of legislation with European standards. Different research methods were used to obtain reasonable results. The article analyzed the official documents and strategies of the EU and Ukraine related to energy security. This analysis made it possible to identify the main principles and approaches used in each of the concepts. The article is supported by a review of current scientific research and publications on energy security that relate to the EU and Ukraine. This literature review identified key aspects and trends in the field. Deduction and induction methods were used for comparative analysis. The application of the deduction method made it possible to proceed from the general provisions and principles formulated in official documents to derive specific conclusions regarding energy security. With the help of the induction method, an analysis of specific facts and data was carried out, from which generalizations and the formulation of general conclusions were made. The general conclusion of the article is that both the European Union and Ukraine strive to ensure energy security, but their approaches and priorities may differ. The challenges facing both sides require continued effort and cooperation to achieve a sustainable and sustainable energy future.

Diversifying with grain legumes amplifies carbon in management-sensitive soil organic carbon pools on smallholder farms

Crop diversification with grain legumes has been advocated as a means to increase agroecological resilience, diversify livelihoods, boost household nutrition, and enhance soil health and fertility in cereal-based cropping systems in sub-Saharan Africa and around the world. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a primary indicator of soil health and there is limited data regarding SOC pools and grain legume diversification on smallholder farms where soils are often marginal. In Malawi, a range of legume diversification options are under investigation, including rotations and a doubled-up legume rotation (DLR) system in which two compatible legumes are intercropped and then rotated with a cereal. The impact of the DLR system on SOC has not yet been determined, and there is a lack of evidence regarding SOC status over a gradient of simple to complex grain legume diversified systems. We address this knowledge gap by evaluating these systems in comparison to continuous sole maize (Zea mays L.) at three on-farm trial sites in central Malawi. After six years of trial establishment, we measured SOC in bulk soils and aggregate fractions and in faster cycling SOC pools that respond more rapidly to management practices, including water extractable organic carbon (WEOC), particulate organic matter carbon (POM-C), potentially mineralizable carbon (C), and macroaggregate C. Cropping treatment differences were not seen in bulk SOC or total N, but they were apparent in SOC pools with a shorter turnover time. The DLR system of intercropped pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) rotated with maize had higher WEOC, POM-C, potentially mineralizable C, macroaggregate and microaggregate C values than continuous maize. Of the single legume rotations, the pigeonpea-maize rotation had more mineralizable C and microaggregate C compared to continuous maize, while the groundnut-maize rotation had similar C values to the maize system. Overall, this study shows the potential for crop rotations diversified with grain legumes to enhance C in management sensitive SOC pools, and it is one of the first reports to show this effect on smallholder farm sites.

Effect of planning policies on land use dynamics and livelihood opportunities under global environmental change: Evidence from the Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta faces significant challenges in supplying Vietnam and its export market countries with agricultural commodities, while ensuring livelihoods and providing living space to its growing population in the context of climate change and the country’s agrarian transition. Anthropogenic factors, such as the construction of dykes to control river flooding, river sand mining, the further development of triple-cropping rice production, and infrastructure development, together with climate change impacts on sediment and water availability, are all combining to threaten agricultural production. One of the key challenges in sustainable development is the need to identify plausible future states of agricultural-based socio-ecological systems which draw upon differing strategies of land management, and to characterise the impacts of these systems on both the landscape and employment. It was hypothesised from the literature and rapid rural appraisals that each land system can only provide a certain number of jobs, which was further demonstrated using binomial regressions. We show that the odds of being employed are lower for intensive agricultural systems (OR=0.78 for triple rice; 0.91 for intensive aquaculture) than for diversified systems (OR=1.16 for rice-aquaculture; OR=1.63 for mixed fruit trees). Drawing from workshops with local and national stakeholders, we then used Earth observation and national census data in a spatial land use systems dynamic framework to simulate two alternative Mekong Delta futures based upon the climate pathway RCP 4.5 in combination with two existing policies (i) Resolution No. 124 (Specialisation) which promotes triple crop rice and aquaculture intensification and (ii) Resolution No. 639 (Diversification), which states that there should be a development of sustainable rice aquaculture and crop diversification. Based on the quantitative objectives of each policy, we estimated likely changes of services provided by land use systems if either policy were to dominate. The estimated impacts of each future scenario on the provision of employment ultimately indicate that policies with a diversification development paradigm will provide more employment (+0.9%) than policies with a specialisation paradigm (−46%), and that current policies have potentially conflicting consequences. Decisions driving towards intensive farming risk triggering rural unemployment and outmigration, potentially exacerbating urban poverty in major cities such as Can Tho and Ho Chi Minh City. On the other hand, decisions aiming at increasing diversified agricultural systems can help secure more job opportunities. Our results indicate that spatial planning policies should rely on a broad-based assessment of land system services that include employment and environmental impacts to ensure a just transition towards resilient and environmentally sustainable rural territories.

Crop diversification improves the diversity and network structure of the prokaryotic soil microbiome at conventional nitrogen fertilization

BackgroundSustainable agriculture seeks to optimize the application of nitrogen (N) fertilizers to reduce adverse economic and ecological effects. Crop diversification has been proposed to increase the efficiency of N fertilization. An open question is how the soil microbiome responds to these beneficial practices.MethodsIn a field study we investigated the effects of mineral N fertilizer with a 0-control, a conventional amount of 150 kg N ha−1 and an excessive application of 250 kg N ha−1 on the soil microbiome within a diversified cropping system with oil radish and undersown ryegrass over a period of 2.5 years and a non-diversified control, both in rotation of potato, winter rye and maize.ResultsN-fertilizations and crop rotations altered the pH, but differences were less pronounced with the diversified system. Compared to the crop species and season, N fertilization and crop diversification had less influence on the abundance of soil bacteria, archaea and fungi. The crop diversification showed a much stronger effect on archaeal than on bacterial or fungal abundances, while the microbial carbon use efficiency correlated strongly with bacterial abundance. At the end of the growing seasons, crop diversification increased prokaryotic richness and Shannon diversity in response to N addition, with a greater increase in the conventional N. At conventional N supply, prokaryotic co-occurrence networks revealed a much denser and complex structure in the diversified system.ConclusionsThe diversified cropping system under conventional N application rates showed positive effects on the prokaryotic soil microbiome by increasing their richness, Shannon diversity, and promoting a more elaborated network structure.