How livelihood capital synergies and trade-offs shape farmer's resilience in underdeveloped mountainous areas, China

The agroecological transition offer opportunities to reduce agriculture's environmental impacts by reducing reliance on synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. Crop diversification, in both time and space, is a key strategy including extended crop rotations, intercropping, and cover crops. Yet, relationships between reduced input use and associated environmental impacts remain insufficiently quantified. We assessed the environmental performance of six innovative low-input cropping systems that used cover crops, cultivar mixture and intercropping in term of nitrogen fertiliser and pesticide use, as well as nitrate and pesticide losses. From 2010 to 2016, cropping systems were monitored for input use and drainage water was collected with tension plate lysimeters at 1 m depth. Nitrate and up to 44 pesticide compounds were analysed annually. Nitrogen fertiliser application varied across systems, with more diversified systems applying less thanks to legumes. Pesticide use remained similar among systems but reduced by over 50% compared to conventional rates. Cover crops played a key role in reducing pollution. Nitrate leaching reduced by 42–56% in systems with cover crops. More originally, pesticide leaching decreased by 53–82% for these systems with S-metolachlor representing more than 50% of the quantity of pesticide losses. These results demonstrate that diversifying cropping systems, particularly through cover cropping, can reduce agriculture's environmental footprint greatly. When combined with reducing input use, such strategies provide a promising pathway towards more sustainable and resilient farming systems, with clear benefits for water quality and agroecosystem functioning. • Six low-input diversified arable cropping systems were tested for six years. • Nitrate and pesticide leaching were collected over the six years of monitoring. • Cover crops cut nitrate leaching by 42–56% under field conditions. • First evidence that cover crops reduce pesticide leaching by 53–82%. • S-metolachlor loss is the main driver of the pesticide leaching pattern observed.

Millet specialization and secondary settlements: How social inequality shaped agricultural resilience under late Holocene climatic stress in Neolithic China

Agricultural systems in the European Union face simultaneous pressures from demographic decline, economic fragility, and biodiversity loss. The shrinking share of young farmers raises concerns about the long-term viability of rural areas, while monoculture and production intensification continue to erode crop diversity and ecosystem resilience. Although generational renewal policies aim to address demographic challenges, their potential to intersect with environmental or resilience-related dimensions remains insufficiently explored, particularly in structurally constrained agricultural contexts such as Greece. This study investigates how the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Young Farmers Measure, designed primarily to support generational renewal, relates to crop diversification and resilience-related characteristics among young farmers. The analysis addresses three questions: whether young farmers who intend to remain in agriculture beyond the mandatory support period exhibit different diversification trajectories; whether distinct socio-economic and agronomic profiles are associated with heterogeneous diversification behaviours; and how resilience-related attributes vary across diversification levels and across the farmer profiles identified through clustering. Farm level and socio-economic data from young farmers in Greece were used to quantify crop diversification through a standardized Crop Diversification Index (CDI). K-means clustering was applied to identify heterogeneous farmer profiles based on structural, socio-economic, and diversification characteristics. A multidimensional Young Farmers Resilience Index (YFRI) was constructed using Min–Max normalization across ten economic, social, and environmental indicators, providing a composite description of resilience-related attributes. The methodological approach is descriptive and exploratory, focusing on variation within the beneficiary population rather than on causal inference. Young farmers intending to remain in agriculture beyond the mandatory support period displayed higher and more variable CDI values than non-continuing farmers, indicating distinct diversification trajectories associated with long-term engagement. The cluster analysis revealed three structurally and behaviourally differentiated farmer profiles, each exhibiting characteristic diversification patterns shaped by farm size, production orientation, and household composition. YFRI scores also varied across clusters, reflecting the interaction of structural capacity, socio-economic conditions, and diversification profiles. These findings highlight substantial heterogeneity within the beneficiary population and illustrate how generational-renewal policies intersect with diversification and resilience-related attributes under the structural conditions of Greek agriculture. The study provides a replicable framework for examining how socio-economic context measures within the CAP relate to environmental and resilience-relevant characteristics. By demonstrating the diversity of pathways through which young farmers combine structural conditions, behavioural orientations, and crop portfolios, the findings support more integrated policy design capable of jointly addressing demographic, environmental, and structural challenges. • Generational renewal, biodiversity and social resilience challenge agricultural systems. • Young farmers with long-term engagement intentions exhibit higher diversification levels. • Young farmers' socio-economic and agronomic profiles co-shape diversification. • Generational renewal policy should be linked with environmental and resilience dimensions.

Land degradation driven by unsustainable land use practices is a serious concern, especially in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands, and it has led to soil erosion, loss of vegetation cover, and reduced agricultural productivity. The consequences include declining crop yields and increased vulnerability to climate change impacts like droughts and floods. Famer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) is one of the low-cost agroforestry practices being promoted in land restoration. Data collected from a cross-sectional baseline study conducted by World Vision Kenya in July 2024 in the counties of Makueni, Kajiado and Narok was used to demonstrate the economic benefits of FMNR to farmers practising it. The study analyses (1) FMNR’s association with crop and livestock yield improvements and resulting income changes; (2) its contribution to enhanced soil fertility and water retention, which bolster agricultural resilience and reduce the cost of regeneration. A total of 1628 farmers from four areas within the three counties were sampled for the study and interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. This information was complemented by focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The benefits of FMNR accruing to farmers were categorised into increased crop yields, increased pasture yields, improved soil fertility and reduced costs of regenerating land. The benefits were compared between FMNR and non-FMNR farmers. The data was then analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results show that more than 50% of the farmers reported high crop yield, indicating the potential of FMNR to increase crop productivity. Furthermore, there are significant differences in pasture yields (χ² = 72.05, p0.05 < 0.05), soil fertility (χ² = 237.76, p0.05 < 0.05) and cost of land regeneration (χ² = 20.72, p0.05 < 0.05) between FNMR and non-FMNR farmers. There were significant differences in soil fertility perceptions across the study sites (p 0.05 = 0.029568), with Kajiado farmers perceiving the highest soil fertility attributed to the practice of FMNR. It was concluded that tangible economic benefits in terms of increased crop yield, pasture yields and soil fertility are realised by farmers who have embraced FMNR at the onset of the project. These benefits are attributed to increased environmental services associated with complex interactions between trees, crops, animals and the abiotic environment. It was recommended that longitudinal data over the life of the project should be collected in order to quantify the actual benefits accruing to farmers adopting FMNR practice.

Agrivoltaics (AV) has emerged as an integrated land-use innovation capable of simultaneously addressing food, energy, and water challenges, yet its systemic implications for farming system sustainability remain insufficiently synthesized. This review adopts a farming system dynamics perspective to examine how AV systems reorganize biophysical, ecological, and socio-economic interactions across agroecosystems. Drawing upon agroecological principles, pathways of sustainable intensification and ecological intensification, and resource-loop strategies in circular economy, we identify the key elements and cause-and-effect relationships that shape AV system performance. Evidence indicates that the co-location of photovoltaics (PV) structures and crop cultivation generates new system properties, altered light distribution, moderated microclimates, redistributed soil moisture, and diversified production functions that influence productivity, resource-use efficiency, ecological services, and farm resilience. Using causal loop analysis, we conceptualize four central feedback dynamics: (i) PV–crop trade-offs and spatial-sharing relationships; (ii) microclimate modifications and crop physiological responses; (iii) ecological performance and landscape-level interactions; and (iv) circularity loops connecting resource conservation, renewable-energy substitution, soil processes, and material flows. This feedback collectively determines eco-efficiency outcomes, including enhanced land-equivalent productivity, improved water-use efficiency, strengthened regulating services, and reductions in external energy dependence. At the farming-system scale, AV diversifies income streams and stabilizes yields under climatic variability, whereas at the landscape scale, it fosters multifunctionality by supporting regenerative resource flows and ecological resilience. Building on these insights, we propose an integrated framework that links agroecological elements with dynamic feedback structures to guide context-specific AV design, management, and governance. This system-oriented synthesis provides a foundation for future research and policy efforts aimed at optimizing AV as a circular, resilient, and sustainable farming system innovation.

Soil microbiomes are foundational to climate-smart agriculture, driving both climate mitigation and adaptation. Microbes contribute to carbon sequestration through necromass formation and glomalin production, while methanotrophs and nosZ-harboring bacteria reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions with inoculants achieving up to 81% N₂O reduction. For adaptation, microbial mechanisms including ACC deaminase, exopolysaccharides, and phytohormones enhance drought tolerance and nutrient efficiency under climate stress. Key management strategies; conservation agriculture, organic amendments, and stress-adapted native consortia preserve microbial habitats, build soil carbon, and improve crop resilience. Field applications across sub-Saharan Africa, Brazil, and temperate regions demonstrate yield increases up to 43% under drought, fertilizer replacement, and enhanced carbon sequestration. Realizing this potential requires integrated research, supportive policies, harmonized regulations, and farmer engagement to transition toward microbiome-aware farming systems that ensure long-term agricultural resilience and sustainability.

Importance of the Work: Bacterial wilt, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum (International Society for Plant Pathology; www.isppweb.org) is a devastating plant disease that is difficult to control with conventional methods. Green-synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) offer a sustainable, eco-friendly and biocompatible alternative. Their biogenic production uses natural extracts, reduces toxic inputs and energy consumption, and provides strong antibacterial activity. Objectives: To review the biogenic synthesis of IONPs from plant and microbial sources, and to evaluate their mechanisms, characterization and potential for bacterial wilt control. Materials and Methods: The synthesis process involved three stages: reduction of metal salts by biomolecules, nucleation and growth into nanoscale clusters, and stabilization/capping to prevent aggregation. Characterization of these IONPs was performed using a suite of techniques: ultraviolet-visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and atomic force spectroscopy (AFM). Results: The reviewed studies showed that green-synthesized IONPs exhibited strong antibacterial efficacy against R. solanacearum both in vitro and in greenhouse trials. In tomato plants, root-zone treatments and foliar applications significantly reduced disease incidence dropping as low as 13.09% compared to 98.01% in untreated controls in some reports. Furthermore, IONPs improved plant growth parameters, including biomass, shoot length and chlorophyll content, while enhancing soil health through increased enzyme activity and nutrient availability. Main Findings: The primary finding was that IONPs combat bacterial wilt through a multifaceted mechanism involving: disrupting bacterial cell membranes via electrostatic interactions; generating reactive oxygen species that damage DNA and proteins; and inhibiting the formation of protective biofilms by interfering with quorum sensing. These findings suggest that integrating IONPs into disease management strategies could substantially reduce reliance on chemical pesticides and enhance agricultural resilience.

<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chiapas is the main coffee (<em>Coffea arabica</em>) producer in Mexico. However, this sector faces environmental, productive, and socio-economic limitations. Among them, the lack of spatial information at the local level to support decision-making constitutes a critical factor. <strong>Objectives: </strong>i) To generate a land suitability map for <em>C. arabica</em> production in Chiapas, Mexico and ii) to assess under which suitability conditions coffee is currently grown in the state. <strong>Methodology: </strong>We used geospatial information on mean annual temperature, annual accumulated precipitation, soil texture, and altitude, along with the locations of 325,268 plots cultivated with <em>C. arabica</em>, covering an area of 246,911.4 ha. The suitability map was developed using a weighted sum multicriteria analysis, assigning equal weight to all variables. <strong>Results: </strong>Precipitation was identified as the most restrictive variable, providing the smallest area with optimal conditions, which highlights the sector’s vulnerability under climate change scenarios. In Chiapas, Mexico, 214,300 ha were classified as highly suitable for coffee cultivation; however, only 25,045.6 ha (50,209 plots) are currently cultivated under these conditions. In contrast, about 90% of the coffee-growing area is located on lands with limitations for optimal development: 126,659.4 ha classified as medium suitability; 40,118.9 ha as low suitability and 36,899.8 ha as unsuitable. This same trend was observed in six of the most important coffee-producing municipalities located in the Sierra Madre of Chiapas, Mexico. <strong>Implications: </strong>The generated suitability map represents a strategic tool for land-use planning and shade coffee management, aimed at optimizing productivity and reducing climate risks. It also supports the design of promotion policies, the implementation of sustainable production practices, and fair pricing schemes for producers in highly suitable areas. <strong>Conclusions: </strong>Although Chiapas, Mexico, has a considerable area of highly suitable land for coffee cultivation, most coffee plantations are located on land with productive limitations. This underscores the need to integrate spatial information into decision-making to strengthen the resilience of coffee farming, anticipate future scenarios, and ensure the sustainability of the sector in this region.</p><p> </p>

Agricultural antibiotic contamination poses increasing threats to crop productivity and ecosystem stability through disruption of the plant-associated microbiome. While antibiotic impacts on bulk soil and rhizosphere communities are documented, the extent to which spatial compartmentalization across the plant-soil continuum buffers these effects remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated how compartment-specific selective pressures influence bacterial community assembly, functional resilience, and interaction networks under antibiotic stress. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) was grown under five treatments in a completely randomized greenhouse design: T1 (sulfamethoxazole [SMX], 3mg kg⁻¹ + manure + plant), T2 (trimethoprim [TMP], 3mg kg⁻¹ + manure + plant), T3 (manure + plant, antibiotic-free control), T4 (manure only, plant-free control), and T5 (soil only, negative control). Bacterial communities were profiled across bulk soil, rhizosphere, and endosphere compartments using full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Spatial compartmentalization emerged as the primary driver of bacteriome structure and functional potential, surpassing antibiotic treatment effects across all analytical approaches. PERMANOVA revealed significant compartment-driven community structuring (R² = 0.189, P = 0.001), while treatment effects were non-significant (R² = 0.145, P = 0.116). Endosphere communities exhibited substantially lower alpha diversity than bulk soil and rhizosphere (P = 0.0001), with significant treatment × compartment interactions (P = 0.007). Antibiotic treatments selectively enriched xenobiotic degradation (P = 0.042) and secondary metabolism functions, particularly in bulk soil, without systematically increasing pathogen-associated or resistance-related functions. Network analysis revealed reduced bacterial connectivity under antibiotic pressure, yet cooperative interactions dominated across all treatments. Compositional differential abundance testing (ALDEx2) detected no significantly altered taxa for primary antibiotic contrasts (T1 vs. T3, T2 vs. T3), indicating context-driven rather than antibiotic-driven compositional changes. Functional diversity was significantly structured by compartment (Shannon P = 0.0017; richness P = 0.0039), while core plant-beneficial functions remained stable across treatments, with large effect sizes (Cohen's d ≥ 0.8) restricted to antibiotic degradation and secondary metabolism pathways. Our findings demonstrate that plant-microbe spatial structuring provides an ecological buffer that maintains core bacteriome functions against pharmaceutical disturbance, preserving plant-beneficial capabilities despite compositional shifts. The selective enrichment of antibiotic degradation pathways suggests potential for microbiome-assisted mitigation of pharmaceutical residues in agricultural systems. These results provide insights for developing compartment-specific microbiome management strategies that integrate with One Health approaches to enhance agricultural resilience under increasing pharmaceutical pressure in agroecosystems.

Climate variability poses major challenges to agriculture worldwide amid an increasing world population and growing food demand. This study evaluates the impact of climate variability on rice production in Liberia. Rice yields and production data (1990–2023) were attained from the Food and Agriculture Organization Statistics (FAOSTAT), while temperature and precipitation were sourced from ERA5 Agrometeorological Indicators and the Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station (CHIRPS). Trends and relationships were analyzed using Mann–Kendall, Sen’s slope tests, and Spearman’s rank correlation. Multiple linear regression estimates climate variables’ impact on rice productivity. The results show that mean, minimum, and maximum temperatures increased by 0.57 °C, 0.55 °C, and 0.55 °C, respectively, with precipitation variability at 180.31 mm. Climate variables showed diverse correlations with rice production. Regression results revealed a significant negative impact of minimum temperature (p-value = 0.015) on production and a positive effect of precipitation on yields (p-value = 0.036). Farmers in Liberia recognized climate impacts and adopted adaptation strategies, but resilience is hindered by limited credit access, low technology adoption, reliance on traditional practices, and inadequate extension services. Overall, the findings highlight the sensitivity of rice production in Liberia to climate variability and underscore the need for guided adaptation and institutional support to augment farmer resilience.

In the context of accelerating climate change and increasing pressure on natural resources, agriculture needs to rethink its operating models to ensure both sustainability and long-term stability. The circular economy (CE) is increasingly invoked as a possible solution, but its concrete contribution to the climate resilience of agricultural systems remains insufficiently integrated and often assessed in a fragmented manner. This study aims to analyze the role of circular strategies in strengthening the climate resilience of agriculture, through a systemic approach based on multiple indicators. The methodology is based on a structured and comparative analysis of recent scientific literature, complemented by a bibliometric and co-occurrence analysis of keywords, in order to identify the main research directions and evaluation methods used. The analyzed indicators cover dimensions related to soil, water, crop performance, energy and socio-economic resilience of farms. The results suggest that circular economy strategies may contribute to climate resilience through cumulative, and context-dependent effects, including improvements in soil quality, resource-use efficiency, and reduced dependence on external inputs. However, evidence regarding direct impacts on production stability and adaptive capacity remains heterogeneous and often indirect. The study contributes by proposing an integrated conceptual framework that highlights the systemic nature of climate resilience and its links to decarbonization pathways, providing a basis for future empirical research and policy development.

Globally, climate change is increasing stress on freshwater resources and rainfed agriculture, disrupting food systems and livelihoods, especially in regions where there is low adaptive capacity like West Africa. The Volta River Basin (VRB) is the focus of this study because it is a lifeline to over 24 million people. This study investigates how increasing temperatures, altered rainfall patterns and increased atmospheric water demand are affecting evapotranspiration (ET) and crop water stress in maize and rice production. Using over two decades of satellite data (2000–24) and future projections under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5, the results indicate a pronounced but non‐linear increase in reference evapotranspiration (ET₀), with peak values occurring around 2018, followed by a decline towards 2024. This trend coincides with a warming rate of +0.012 to +0.021°C yr ‐1 and dry‐season Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI) values exceeding 0.75, extending well into the severe stress regime. Spatial analysis identifies northern and transitional areas as endemic hotspots of water stress. By integrating climate data and crop physiology, the study offers prescriptive insight for building agricultural resilience. It prescribes site‐specific interventions like drought‐tolerant crop varieties, supplementary irrigation and soil water conservation. The study informs climate adaptation, risk zoning and policy planning, ensuring food security and rural livelihoods.

Pig farming is one of the key and strategically important branches of livestock production, playing a crucial role in ensuring food security, economic stability, and rural development. In Ukraine, pork remains one of the most consumed types of meat due to its high nutritional value, digestibility, and versatility in processing. However, the pig farming sector currently operates under conditions of significant structural transformation caused by epizootic threats, rising production costs, market volatility, and the consequences of military actions. Under these circumstances, feed efficiency and cost optimization become decisive factors determining the competitiveness and sustainability of pork production. Since feed costs account for up to 70% of total production expenses, the modernization of the feed base and the introduction of alternative nutrient sources are of particular importance. This article substantiates the feasibility of using dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS), a byproduct of bioethanol and alcohol production, as a valuable component of compound feeds for pigs. DDGS is characterized by a high content of crude protein, metabolizable energy, available phosphorus, B-group vitamins, and residual yeast biomass, which makes it a promising substitute for conventional protein ingredients such as soybean meal. The effectiveness of DDGS use depends on its botanical origin, production technology, processing methods, and inclusion rates in diets. Special attention is given to technological approaches such as drying and extrusion, which improve nutrient availability, reduce anti-nutritional factors, lower microbial contamination, and extend shelf life. The study analyzes global and national trends in compound feed production, identifies key challenges affecting the Ukrainian feed and pig farming sectors, and evaluates the potential volumes of distillers’ grains generated by the domestic alcohol industry. Based on statistical data and analytical calculations, the potential volume of dried distillers’ grains suitable for feed manufacturing in Ukraine is estimated. It is shown that the rational integration of DDGS into pig diets at scientifically justified inclusion levels can significantly reduce feed costs, improve feed conversion efficiency, and enhance overall production profitability. In addition to economic benefits, the utilization of DDGS contributes to solving environmental issues related to the disposal of alcohol production by-products and supports the principles of circular economy and resource-efficient agriculture. The results confirm that the use of dried distillers’ grains in compound feeds for pigs is a technologically sound, economically viable, and environmentally responsible solution that can strengthen the resilience of pig farming and feed manufacturing in Ukraine under current and post-crisis conditions.

Farming the Native Micro-biome: Engineering Rhizosphere Communities for Climate Resilient Agriculture

This article presents a framework to revitalize India’s agricultural research system, targeting sustainable growth, resilience, and inclusivity by 2047. Despite past gains in food sufficiency, India possesses significant agroecological and regional diversity in terms of natural resources. Maximizing the potential of the agricultural systems necessitate a scientific focus on biodiversity conservation to enhance ecosystem services, ensure sustainable resource utilization, and build resilience against environmental and socio-economic challenges. The proposed shift to a systems perspective, including agri-food systems, emphasizes the need for increased investment in agro- climatic and diversity-sensitive research, the promotion of sustainable practices, and enhanced knowledge dissemination to empower farmers and stakeholders across the value chain. Enhancing collaborative research through public-private partnerships can bridge the gap between research institutions and real-world farming needs. Drawing on global models from Japan, South Korea, and the Netherlands, the article advocates governance reforms within ICAR, integration of advanced technologies, and stringent quality control especially in seed systems. By harnessing India’s agro-climatic diversity, these reforms aim to create an efficient, equitable, and resilient agriculture sector that supports national goals for Viksit Bharat 2047, aligning agricultural advancements with environmental and economic sustainability.

Abstract The escalating effect of climate change on crop yields necessitates urgent adaptation measures. Shifting sowing dates is emerging as one cost‐effective adaptation strategy. However, the implications for global wheat yields are unclear. Here, we use an optimality‐based model, assuming farmers select sowing dates to maximize yields, to quantify changes in wheat sowing dates and potential grain yields by the 2090s under two climatic scenarios (SSP126 and SSP370). We find that the optimal wheat sowing dates are affected by climate change, primarily driven by temperature norms and warming trends. Global warming prompts earlier sowing (10–20 days) and even a switch from spring to winter wheat in cold areas, while strong warming delays sowing (20–40 days). Scenario modeling shows climate change is projected to negatively impact wheat potential yields under both moderate (−2.4%, SSP126) and strong (−7.8%, SSP370) warming scenarios. Adaptive sowing dates coupled with CO 2 fertilization could mitigate these losses and even enhance yields, resulting in a +5.6% increase in potential yield for SSP126 and a +12.4% for SSP370. However, the benefits are not uniformly distributed across regions, with hotter and less developed regions—such as sub‐Saharan Africa and Latin America—facing heightened risks of yield decline. Our findings suggest that simple adaptation strategies could help address the challenges posed by climate change for agricultural production and emphasize the need for region‐specific adaptation policies to ensure equitable climate resilience in agriculture.

Coevolution of plant-microbe interactions, friend-foe continuum, and microbiome engineering for a sustainable future.

The rapid expansion of urbanization and industrial activities in Ibadan, Nigeria, has led to the proliferation of dump sites, posing significant challenges to the environment and agricultural practices. A significant amount of elements and organic materials in leachates from solid waste can exceed the needs for crop production and environmental sustainability, potentially enhancing soil properties like moisture and alkalinity. In Ibadan, Nigeria, farmers utilize solid waste as compost to enrich soils, but there are concerns regarding contaminant transfer to crops, which may affect productivity and human health. This study aims at assessing the impact of dump sites on agricultural soils in Ibadan by examining soil contamination implications on crop (okra) productivity. Through soil sampling and analysis, the study evaluates key physio-chemical properties, including pH, organic matter content, nutrient availability, and heavy metal concentrations. The findings reveal that soils from the Lapite dumpsite provide the best conditions for plant growth compared with samples obtained from other dumpsites, showing lower pH of 6.23 and higher organic matter levels of 3.82% It also shows that the pH is within the standard pH value for agricultural soil which is between 6.0 to 7.5 making it suitable for crop growth and higher yield. In contrast, soils from Abaeku and Ajakanga exhibited poor fertility and higher contamination, resulting in 12% reduction in the crop yields. The results indicated that high levels of contaminants in these soils negatively impact nutrient absorption and hinder agricultural productivity, posing potential health risks for consumers. Okra plants cultivated in contaminated soils exhibited 2% fewer leaves, and 2% thinner stems, which further demonstrates the detrimental effects on agricultural output. Farmers in affected areas are prone to experience significant financial strain due to decreased productivity, while the accumulation of toxic substances in crops raises concerns about food safety and public health. The study underscores the need for sustainable waste management practices, stricter regulatory enforcement, and appropriate location to mitigate the negative effects of dump sites on agricultural lands. This research contributes valuable insights into the development of policies aimed at improving environmental sustainability and agricultural resilience in urbanizing regions like Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

• Soil fauna drive N-cycling influencing mineralization, nitrification and denitrification. • Fauna-microbe interactions regulate nutrient availability and organic matter retention. • Climate change and chemical inputs threaten faunal diversity, function and soil health. • Sustainable practices support soil fauna, improving N-cycling and agricultural resilience. Soil fauna play crucial roles, both directly and indirectly in nitrogen (N) cycling thereby strongly influencing soil health, fertility, and agricultural productivity. They interact with soil microorganisms and organic matter to drive processes such as decomposition, mineralization, nitrification, and denitrification. However, the complex and context-dependent nature of soil faunal contributions to nutrient cycling remain underexplored, limiting their integration into sustainable agricultural practices. This review examines the functional roles of key soil faunal groups – microfauna (e.g., nematodes, rotifers), mesofauna (e.g., mites, collembolans), and macrofauna (e.g., earthworms, termites) in regulating N dynamics and shaping agroecosystem function. We highlight the synergetic relationships between soil fauna and microbial communities, emphasizing their roles in N transformations, soil structure formation, and organic matter retention. This review further explores how agricultural practices, plant-soil feedback, and abiotic factors shape soil faunal communities and their roles in N-cycling. Sustainable agricultural practices such as reduced tillage, multi-species cropping, and organic amendments have been shown to promote soil faunal activity, thereby improving N-use efficiency and reducing nutrient losses to the environment. Despite recent advances, critical knowledge gaps remain, particularly regarding the mechanistic pathways linking faunal activity to microbial processes, and their responses to climate change, land-use intensification, and other anthropogenic stressors. Addressing these gaps through integrative, interdisciplinary approaches is critical to harnessing the potential of soil fauna as drivers of nutrient cycling and ecosystem resilience. Incorporating soil fauna into nutrient management frameworks offers a promising pathway toward more sustainable, efficient, and climate-resilient agricultural systems.