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Do European agroforestry systems enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services? A meta-analysis

. 315 isolated semi-natural and natural stands in NW Germany were investigated floristically, 285 stands of ancient woodlands and 30 recent ones. In the study area nearly all semi-natural and natural ancient woodlands are found on mesotrophic or eutrophic sites and can be assigned to the Fagetalia. 54 selected herbaceous and five woody Fagetalia-species have been tested in their association to ancient woodlands. 21 of the 59 selected plant species show a highly significant association to ancient woodlands and seven species show a weak significance. 31 plant species are not significantly correlated with ancient woodland sites, but 25 of them have a low frequency. The result shows that investigations of the historical ecology can help to understand floristic composition of present-day woodlands. 
 
 
 
Restriction of many woodland species to ancient woodlands, especially rare species, emphasizes the importance of woodlands with a long continuous history for the preservation of endangered species. Irrespective of ecological conditions, the restriction of plant species to ancient woodlands seems to be mainly caused by their low ability to colonize recent woodlands, especially isolated stands. Differences in the association to ancient woodlands between European countries are assumed to be a function of both time and degree of isolation of woodlands, of the dispersal mode of the plant species and of the availability of suitable habitats.

Plant species as indicator of ancient woodland in northwestern Germany

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Current extent and stratification of agroforestry in the European Union

Converting sewage sludge into functional environmental materials has become an attractive sewage sludge disposal route. In this study, we synthesize a sewage sludge-based material via a facile one-pot hydrothermal carbonization method and construct a visible light molecular oxygen activation system with hydrothermally carbonized sewage sludge (HTC-S) and oxalate to degrade various organic pollutants. It was found that iron species of HTC-S could chelate with oxalate to generate H2O2 via molecular oxygen activation under visible light, and also promote the H2O2 decomposition to produce •OH for the fast organic pollutants degradation. Taking sulfadimidine as the example, the apparent degradation rate of HTC-S/oxalate system was almost 5–20 times that of iron oxides/oxalate system. This outstanding degradation performance was attributed to the presence of iron-containing clay minerals in HTC-S, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction measurements and Mossbauer spectrometry. In the oxalate solution, these iron-cont...

Visible Light Driven Organic Pollutants Degradation with Hydrothermally Carbonized Sewage Sludge and Oxalate Via Molecular Oxygen Activation

The study assessed the economic performance of marketable ecosystem services (ES) (biomass production) and non-marketable ecosystem services and dis-services (groundwater, nutrient loss, soil loss, carbon sequestration, pollination deficit) in 11 contrasting European landscapes dominated by agroforestry land use compared to business as usual agricultural practice. The productivity and profitability of the farming activities and the associated ES were quantified using environmental modelling and economic valuation. After accounting for labour and machinery costs the financial value of the outputs of Mediterranean agroforestry systems tended to be greater than the corresponding agricultural system; but in Atlantic and Continental regions the agricultural system tended to be more profitable. However, when economic values for the associated ES were included, the relative profitability of agroforestry increased. Agroforestry landscapes: (i) were associated to reduced externalities of pollution from nutrient and soil losses, and (ii) generated additional benefits from carbon capture and storage and thus generated an overall higher economic gain. Our findings underline how a market system that includes the values of broader ES would result in land use change favouring multifunctional agroforestry. Imposing penalties for dis-services or payments for services would reflect their real world prices and would make agroforestry a more financially profitable system.

https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa48808/Download/0048808-26022019120541.pdf

Agroforestry is paying off – Economic evaluation of ecosystem services in European landscapes with and without agroforestry systems

The aim of the present research is to investigate the effect of a young alley cropping system (planted for experimental purposes) on the soil microclimate, compared with a control site. The trial system, involving the agroforestry plantation and a control site, has been implemented in 2013 in an intensive monoculture agricultural environment. Measurement of soil microclimatic parameters started in 2014. Based on the results of the examination carried out in an agroforestry and a monoculture production site, there is a clear difference between soil moisture and soil temperature of the two cultivation systems. This effect can be observed even from the second year of the fast growing tree (Paulownia) plantation.

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Soil Moisture and Temperature Characteristics in a Young Silvoarable Agroforestry System

Establishing shelterbelts for field protection is one of the rediscovered agroforestry practices in Europe and Hungary. Several studies have focused on the effects of these plantations on agricultural production. Prior scholarship reveals that shelterbelts enhance the diversity of bird and insect communities but generally fail to consider herbaceous cover. Our study aimed to describe the herbaceous vegetation in shelterbelts of different origins, tree species composition, and land management. We investigated surveys in four agricultural landscapes of North West Hungary, where the intensity of the landscape transformation is different. The diversity and species composition of the herbaceous vegetation were analyzed, including plant sociology and forest affinity. Our results highlight the importance of landscape history in herbaceous flora. Shelterbelts planted on cultivated without an immediate connection to former woody vegetation soil are not appropriate for the appearance of forest-related herbaceous species, regardless of tree species composition or the extent of the shelterbelt. On the contrary, the remnants of former woody vegetation are refuges for those herbaceous species that are very slow at colonizing new plantations. These findings expose that protecting existing woody areas is an essential task of agricultural land management.

Shelterbelts Planted on Cultivated Fields Are Not Solutions for the Recovery of Former Forest-Related Herbaceous Vegetation

Soil mesofauna and herbaceous vegetation patterns in an agroforestry landscape

Agroforestry (AF) systems where trees are managed together with crops and/or animal production systems in agricultural settings seem to give promising results in making agriculture more productive and resilient, in particular towards climate change. Thanks to the economic and environmental benefits explained below agroforestry has been evolving, both as a land use practice and as a science in recent years.

Adaptation of Methods and Technologies in Agriculture and Forestry, in Water Resources Economy, and Changes in Biosphere

Climate change presents growing environmental, economic, and social problems for the industrializing and developing world. Applying new technologies and transitioning to a cleaner, more flexible economy are essential to solving these problems. These solutions focus on climate change mitigation and work toward a complete transformation in line with sustainable development goals. Agroforestry systems are used for climate change adaptation and to support biodiversity. They also help combat desertification and soil erosion. Practical experiences show that applying forestry alley cropping systems can contribute to the climate adaptation of young forest stocks. The present study examined a historical forestry intercropping method known as Vákáncsos following the effects of microclimate stress on poplar seedlings (Populus × euramericana cv. I-214). This study investigated the background of previous observations concerning the practice of using intermediate crops in forest conditions – and the favorable results from these – and compared the stress effects on seedlings. When assessing the microclimate of the system, we used the EC tester (EC–electrical conductivity) to measure soil temperature and conductivity. We employed an agrometeorological hand-held instrument to measure air temperature, humidity, and wind speed. The results show that the agroforestry system significantly reduces temperature extremes and provides more favorable humidity. The agroforestry system reduced soil temperature values by 1–14 Co in the warmest period of the year. Experience and measurements indicate that the applied agroforestry practice can increase stress tolerance, afforestation efficiency, land use maximization, and profitability. Applied agroforestry can also serve other purposes like ecosystem services and feeding. Forestry alley cropping systems can be combined with resource efficiency.

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Andrea Vityi

Papers

Soil Moisture and Temperature Characteristics in a Young Silvoarable Agroforestry System

Shelterbelts Planted on Cultivated Fields Are Not Solutions for the Recovery of Former Forest-Related Herbaceous Vegetation

Soil mesofauna and herbaceous vegetation patterns in an agroforestry landscape

Adaptation of Methods and Technologies in Agriculture and Forestry, in Water Resources Economy, and Changes in Biosphere

Soil and Atmospheric Microclimate Research in Poplar Forestry Intercropping System in Hungary