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Societal Impact Statement: Over the last 50 years, the practice of 'intercropping' (planting a mixture of several crops on the same field) has drawn growing attention in crop science. Given its high yields but low requirement for fertiliser or pesticides, it offers considerable advantages over conventional 'industrial' agriculture. Nevertheless, although research on intercropping has been conducted since the late 19th century, that work became largely invisible after 1945 as the rapid rise of industrial agriculture erased alternative approaches from view. Since the 1970s, however, intercropping and other alternatives have reappeared on the research agenda as the damaging impacts of industrial agriculture have become evident. Summary: Intercropping has long been of interest in agro‐ecology. Indeed, as the first generation of (English‐speaking) agro‐ecologists saw it, research on intercropping began in the 1970s and 1980s just as the field was beginning to emerge. Although the evidence confirms a rapid increase in such work from the 1970s, however, what nearly all agro‐ecologists then overlooked was the existence of two older traditions of work dating from the late 19th century. The aim of this paper is to explain why early agro‐ecologists were unaware of previous work. The history of research on intercropping in both the English‐ and German‐speaking worlds was traced using the journal literature as well as textbooks of agronomy. What this survey revealed is that in Europe and North America, agronomists had been working on intercropping since the 1890s, and during the interwar period and into the 1950s, the practice attracted considerable attention from colonial agronomists. Although this early work was in the public domain during the 1970s, however, few agro‐ecologists noticed it. There are various reasons why the first generation of agro‐ecologists might have known about but chose to ignore earlier work on intercropping. But more likely is that most members of that generation were simply unaware of the older work. For the forgotten history of intercropping, research appears to be just one aspect of a more general phenomenon during the 20th century in which a wide variety of 'alternative' cultivation practices were marginalised after 1945, only to re‐emerge from the 1970s as the social and environmental consequences of industrial agriculture came under attack. Over the last 50 years, the practice of 'intercropping' (planting a mixture of several crops on the same field) has drawn growing attention in crop science. Given its high yields but low requirement for fertiliser or pesticides, it offers considerable advantages over conventional 'industrial' agriculture. Nevertheless, although research on intercropping has been conducted since the late 19th century, that work became largely invisible after 1945 as the rapid rise of industrial agriculture erased alternative approaches from view. Since the 1970s, however, intercropping and other alternatives have reappeared on the research agenda as the damaging impacts of industrial agriculture have become evident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the work of 'Fundación Entre Mujeres' (FEM), a feminist peasant collective organized in cooperatives and working on food sovereignty, agro-ecology, and the economic, ideological and organizational empowerment of peasant women in the dry corridor of Nicaragua. I argue that by centring an ethics of care and the sustainability of human and more-than-human life in their thinking and responses to the food and climate crises, FEM has opened a space of radical contestations to a dominant capitalist and patriarchal rationale and worldview that is at the core of these crises and mainstream approaches towards agricultural transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the biochemical polymorphism of hemoglobin (Hb) and its relationship with performance traits of Ethiopian indigenous and Sasso chicken breeds. A total of 284 chickens reared in three agro-ecologies were examined for genetic diversity and associations with productive traits at Hb locus using agarose gel electrophoresis. The results showed that the HbA allele was dominant in both breeds, and a higher proportion of male chickens were HbAA genotypes, while females were predominantly HbBB types. In the highland agro-ecology, chickens with the HbAA genotype were the most dominant, whereas in mid- and low-land agro-ecologies, chickens with HbBB and HbAB genotypes were found to be more frequent. A moderate level of expected heterozygosity was obtained with 0.47 and 0.445 for indigenous and Sasso chickens, respectively, with an average effective number of alleles per locus of 1.89 and 1.80. Moreover, chickens with HbAA genotypes showed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher body weight and linear body measurements than those of HbAB and HbBB genotypes. However, for appendage body structures (comb and wattle dimensions), chickens with the HbAB and HbBB genotypes had higher mean values. Additionally, clutch size (14.2 ± 0.4), clutch length (21.8 ± 0.7), and eight-month egg production (84.1 ± 1.2) were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher for hens with HbBB genotypes, followed by those with HbAB-types. Therefore, the considerable hemoglobin variability and significant associations of Hb variants with the performance traits can be sought as guiding information for further genetic improvement interventions in the chicken breeds under investigation. Further microsatellite marker-based genotyping is recommended to validate the higher morphometric values for HbAA genotypes and the better egg production for HbBB and HbAB genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of climate change and especially the associated climate variability require farmers to adjust to increasing frequencies of extreme events. In the agriculturally highly productive Romanian Plain, the frequency, intensity, and duration of heatwaves and drought have increased over the past 20 years. Although recent surveys revealed farmers' awareness of climate change and enumerated a number of farm adaptation measures in the Romanian context, a systems approach to adaptation that allows conclusions on farm vulnerability and adaptive capacity is missing. Here, we use archetypal analysis to elucidate and characterize for the first time the types of adaptation responses of arable farmers in southern Romania. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 30 farmers managing 51,500 ha located across the southern lowlands of Romania, selected for their diversity of management approaches. Farmers were asked about experienced climatic disturbances, crop production losses during the most extreme events over the past 5–10 years, and the adaptation measures they implemented over that period of time. In addition, structural characteristics of the farm were recorded. The adaptation measures were classified and mapped on the efficiency, substitution, and redesign gradient used to classify sustainability stages. Results revealed three archetypes of adaptation, consisting of measures at field and farm level ranging from predominantly efficiency-enhancing ones (e.g., crop choice and management and risk insurance) to complete farm redesign involving agrotechnical and financial management changes. Structural farm characteristics did not explain differences between farms in their association with one of the archetypes. Our approach and results show for the first time both the need for strengthening farmer-level support in one of Europe's key food production areas and the lessons that can be drawn from the outlier adaptation examples. Current European and national policies offer opportunities for farmer organizations in Romania to make these conclusions actionable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the social and spatial dimensions of climate impacts are increasingly recognized, livelihood vulnerability studies combining gender and agro-ecology have received less attention. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, these studies have not employed stepwise Principal Component Analysis (PCA).This study examines livelihood vulnerability to climate change and variability from gender and agro-ecological perspectives in Bako-Tibe District, Ethiopia. Rural livelihood analysis was used to measure the adaptive capacity of households. Two-stage PCA was employed to index vulnerability dimensions: sensitivity and exposure in the first stage, and adaptive capacity in the second stage. The results show that disparity in adaptive capacity largely mediates vulnerability levels. Further, for agro-ecological factors, households residing within more climate exposure have better adaptive capacity; hence, they are less vulnerable than those in lower exposure agro-ecology. In all comparisons, female-headed households are significantly more vulnerable than male-headed households, but do not necessarily possess lower adaptive capacities. While agro-ecological and gender-specific factors differentiate vulnerability of male-and female-headed household across agro-ecologies, only gender-specific factors set such variations at district level and within agro-ecology. The results imply that scrutinizing the potential sensitivity of vulnerability level to study context is crucial. Results also suggest that, managing agro-ecological and/or gender-specific factors that hamper livelihood assets is vital for reducing climate-induced vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Scavenging indigenous village chickens play a vital role in sub-Saharan Africa, sustaining the livelihood of millions of farmers. These chickens are exposed to vastly different environments and feeds compared to commercial chickens. In this study, we analysed the caecal microbiota of 243 Ethiopian village chickens living in different altitude-dependent agro-ecologies. Results: Differences in bacterial diversity were significantly correlated with differences in specific climate factors, topsoil characteristics, and supplemental diets provided by farmers. Microbiota clustered into three enterotypes, with one particularly enriched at high altitudes. We assembled 9977 taxonomically and functionally diverse metagenome-assembled genomes. The vast majority of these were not found in a dataset of previously published chicken microbes or in the Genome Taxonomy Database. Conclusions: The wide functional and taxonomic diversity of these microbes highlights their importance in the local adaptation of indigenous poultry, and the significant impacts of environmental factors on the microbiota argue for further discoveries in other agro-ecologies. EEwR8PKafK2-LVnkA2-YG- Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement Over the last 50 years, the practice of ‘intercropping’ (planting a mixture of several crops on the same field) has drawn growing attention in crop science. Given its high yields but low requirement for fertiliser or pesticides, it offers considerable advantages over conventional ‘industrial’ agriculture. Nevertheless, although research on intercropping has been conducted since the late 19th century, that work became largely invisible after 1945 as the rapid rise of industrial agriculture erased alternative approaches from view. Since the 1970s, however, intercropping and other alternatives have reappeared on the research agenda as the damaging impacts of industrial agriculture have become evident. Summary Intercropping has long been of interest in agro‐ecology. Indeed, as the first generation of (English‐speaking) agro‐ecologists saw it, research on intercropping began in the 1970s and 1980s just as the field was beginning to emerge. Although the evidence confirms a rapid increase in such work from the 1970s, however, what nearly all agro‐ecologists then overlooked was the existence of two older traditions of work dating from the late 19th century. The aim of this paper is to explain why early agro‐ecologists were unaware of previous work. The history of research on intercropping in both the English‐ and German‐speaking worlds was traced using the journal literature as well as textbooks of agronomy. What this survey revealed is that in Europe and North America, agronomists had been working on intercropping since the 1890s, and during the interwar period and into the 1950s, the practice attracted considerable attention from colonial agronomists. Although this early work was in the public domain during the 1970s, however, few agro‐ecologists noticed it. There are various reasons why the first generation of agro‐ecologists might have known about but chose to ignore earlier work on intercropping. But more likely is that most members of that generation were simply unaware of the older work. For the forgotten history of intercropping, research appears to be just one aspect of a more general phenomenon during the 20th century in which a wide variety of ‘alternative’ cultivation practices were marginalised after 1945, only to re‐emerge from the 1970s as the social and environmental consequences of industrial agriculture came under attack.

Abstract Background Scavenging indigenous village chickens play a vital role in sub-Saharan Africa, sustaining the livelihood of millions of farmers. These chickens are exposed to vastly different environments and feeds compared to commercial chickens. In this study, we analysed the caecal microbiota of 243 Ethiopian village chickens living in different altitude-dependent agro-ecologies. Results Differences in bacterial diversity were significantly correlated with differences in specific climate factors, topsoil characteristics, and supplemental diets provided by farmers. Microbiota clustered into three enterotypes, with one particularly enriched at high altitudes. We assembled 9977 taxonomically and functionally diverse metagenome-assembled genomes. The vast majority of these were not found in a dataset of previously published chicken microbes or in the Genome Taxonomy Database. Conclusions The wide functional and taxonomic diversity of these microbes highlights their importance in the local adaptation of indigenous poultry, and the significant impacts of environmental factors on the microbiota argue for further discoveries in other agro-ecologies. Video Abstract

Abstract The occurrence of trematodes among ruminants and their snail vectors is a major concern across various agro-ecological regions of Ethiopia. Trematodes pose significant threats to animals, causing considerable economic losses and impacting public health. In this study, we have investigated 784 ruminant fecal samples, and 520 abattoir samples, alongside the collection and identification of snail vectors from various agro-ecological regions. Fecal examinations revealed Fasciola, Paramphistomum and Schistosoma species infected 20.5% (95% CI: 17.6, 23.8), 11.7% (95% CI: 9.6, 14.2), and 6.3% (95% CI: 4.1, 9.1) of the animals, respectively. The overall prevalence of trematodes among ruminants was 28.8% (95% CI: 25.7, 32.1%), with 6.0% (95% CI: 4.3, 7.7) showing mixed infections. Fasciola was more prevalent in Asela (26%) compared to Batu (19%) and Hawassa (11.5%), while a higher proportion of animals in Batu were infected with Paramphistomum. Schistosoma eggs were detected only in Batu (12.5%), but not in other areas. Sheep and cattle exhibited higher infection rates with Fasciola, Paramphistoma, and Schistosoma compared to goats. Significant associations were observed between trematode infections and risk factors including agro-ecology, animal species, body condition score, and deworming practices. About 20.8% and 22.7% of the slaughtered animals harbored Fasciola and Paramphistomum flukes, respectively, with a higher prevalence in Asela and Hawassa abattoirs compared to Batu abattoir. Additionally, a total of 278 snails were collected from the study areas and identified as lymnae natalensis, lymnae trancatula, Biomphalaria pffiferi, Biomphlaria sudanica, and Bulinus globosus. In conclusion, the study highlights the widespread occurrence of trematode infections, emphasizing the need for feasible control measures to mitigate their economic and public health impacts.

The occurrence of trematodes among ruminants and their snail vectors is a major concern across various agro-ecological regions of Ethiopia. Trematodes pose significant threats to animals, causing considerable economic losses and impacting public health. In this study, we have investigated 784 ruminant fecal samples, and 520 abattoir samples, alongside the collection and identification of snail vectors from various agro-ecological regions. Fecal examinations revealed Fasciola, Paramphistomum and Schistosoma species infected 20.5% (95% CI: 17.6, 23.8), 11.7% (95% CI: 9.6, 14.2), and 6.3% (95% CI: 4.1, 9.1) of the animals, respectively. The overall prevalence of trematodes among ruminants was 28.8% (95% CI: 25.7, 32.1%), with 6.0% (95% CI: 4.3, 7.7) showing mixed infections. Fasciola was more prevalent in Asela (26%) compared to Batu (19%) and Hawassa (11.5%), while a higher proportion of animals in Batu were infected with Paramphistomum. Schistosoma eggs were detected only in Batu (12.5%), but not in other areas. Sheep and cattle exhibited higher infection rates with Fasciola, Paramphistoma, and Schistosoma compared to goats. Significant associations were observed between trematode infections and risk factors including agro-ecology, animal species, body condition score, and deworming practices. About 20.8% and 22.7% of the slaughtered animals harbored Fasciola and Paramphistomum flukes, respectively, with a higher prevalence in Asela and Hawassa abattoirs compared to Batu abattoir. Additionally, a total of 278 snails were collected from the study areas and identified as lymnae natalensis, lymnae trancatula, Biomphalaria pffiferi, Biomphlaria sudanica, and Bulinus globosus. In conclusion, the study highlights the widespread occurrence of trematode infections, emphasizing the need for feasible control measures to mitigate their economic and public health impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to identify the selection criteria and husbandry practices of chicken producers in different agro-ecological zones of Northwest Ethiopia as input for designing a breeding program. The study employed a purposive selection of districts and peasant associations with high indigenous chicken potential. The study areas were stratified based on the major agro-ecologies (highland, midland, and lowland). A total of 360 households were included in the study, and data on chicken breeding practices, selection criteria, and reproductive performance were collected and analyzed using SPSS software. In all agro-ecologies, egg production was prioritized by chicken owners when choosing female chickens. For male chickens, plumage color (index = 0.27), appearance (index = 0.24), and growth rate (index = 0.23) were the main selection factors. Farmers kept chickens primarily to generate cash through the sale of eggs and live animals (male chickens). There was a significant difference (p

Climate change poses significant challenges for smallholder farmers worldwide, particularly in regions like sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia, requiring effective coping strategies for resilience. This study examines farmers’ exposure to climatic shocks and their adoption of coping strategies. Findings from a survey of 646 farm households and qualitative discussions revealed farmers’ high vulnerability to climate-related hazards. Smallholder farmers rely on ex-ante coping strategies, including early planting (48.5%), income diversification (41.3%), increasing savings (42 %), water management (39.2%), and sowing drought-resistant varieties (37%). Similarly, they resort to ex-post coping techniques, such as reducing expenses (46.1%), utilizing savings (41.6%), changes in consumption patterns (39.5%), seeking assistance from relatives (23.5%), borrowing (17.6%), selling assets (11.9%), and migration for employment (8.7%). Farmers also encounter constraints such as limited access to weather information, inadequate extension services, weak institutional support, insufficient skills, high poverty levels, and limited access to innovations. Factors like land size, climate training, self-efficacy, cost-effectiveness perception, and hazard consequence perception positively influence farmers’ adoption of proactive strategies against climate change, while being male, older, less educated, owning a farm, limited access to extension services, and market constraints hinder anticipatory measures. Additionally, household head being male, education level, farm experience, land ownership, and access to climate information positively impact the implementation of ex-post strategies, whereas age, agroecology, infrequent extension worker visits, and limited road access have negative effects. Enhancing access to climate information, institutional support, and design policy with an understanding of these multifaceted contexts could substantially improve smallholder farmers’ resilience to climate change.

Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of climatic conditions within a region is paramount for informed rural planning and decision-making processes, particularly in light of the prevailing challenges posed by climate change and variability. This study undertook an assessment of the spatial and temporal patterns of rainfall trends across various agro-ecological zones (AEZs) within Wolaita, utilizing data collected from ten strategically positioned rain gauge stations. The detection of trends and their magnitudes was facilitated through the application of the Mann–Kendall (MKs) test in conjunction with Sen's slope estimator. Spatial variability and temporal trends of rainfall were further analyzed utilizing ArcGIS10.8 environment and XLSTAT with R programming tools. The outcomes derived from ordinary kriging analyses unveiled notable disparities in the coefficient of variability (CV) for mean annual rainfall across distinct AEZs. Specifically, observations indicated that lowland regions exhibit relatively warmer climates and lower precipitation levels compared to their highland counterparts. Within the lowland AEZs, the majority of stations showcased statistically non-significant positive trends (p > 0.05) in annual rainfall, whereas approximately two-thirds of midland AEZ stations depicted statistically non-significant negative trends. Conversely, over half of the stations situated within highland AEZs displayed statistically non-significant positive trends in annual rainfall. During the rainy season, highland AEZs experienced higher precipitation levels, while the south-central midland areas received a moderate amount of rainfall. In contrast, the northeast and southeast lowland AEZs consistently received diminished rainfall across all seasons compared to other regions. This study underscores the necessity for the climate resilient development and implementation of spatiotemporally informed interventions through implementing region-specific adaptation strategies, such as water conservation measures and crop diversification, to mitigate the potential impact of changing rainfall patterns on agricultural productivity in Wolaita.

This study investigated soil characteristics that have the most significant influence on basal stem rot (BSR). Surveys and soil sampling were carried out at the research site located in Lampung, Indonesia in June 2021. The sampling was conducted on three categories of land with mild, moderate, and severe disease incidences. A total of 20 soil-related variables, including physicochemical properties as well as disease incidence and severity, were analyzed through the Pearson correlation and Lasso regression. The results showed that four soil chemical properties, namely Mg, K, Na, and base saturation, were negatively correlated with the incidence and severity of BSR, while Mn had a positive correlation. The Lasso regression equation model that affects the disease incidence is Y = 92,19-20,77Mg-6,93K+0.19Mn (%Dev = 60%), whereas the equation affecting the disease severity is Y=98,46-4,25pH-23,12Mg-3,32K-0,07KB+0.03Mn (%Dev=62%). These results can guide decisions regarding BSR control in oil palm plantations. To reduce the disease intensity in oil palms, fertilization recommendations must pay attention to soil chemical properties, such as an increase in pH and cationic base factors (Mg, K, and BS) and a decrease in Mn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollination is a crucial ecosystem service contributing to global food security. Moringa (Moringa oleifera) is an economically important tropical crop, mostly cultivated by smallholder farmers.Well‐established approaches of planting flower‐rich patches used in temperate agroecosystems for pollination enhancement were adapted to tropical moringa systems. Based on existing evidence, we hypothesised that floral interventions would improve flower visitor diversity and abundance in the crop, thereby increasing pollination services and moringa yield and quality.We used standardised methods to survey flower visitors on moringa and assess economically relevant measures of crop yield quality and quantity. We selected 24 moringa fields in Tamil Nadu, India, to compare fields with and without floral interventions. We planted red gram, Cajanus cajan as a border crop, and marigold, Tagetes erecta as an intercrop on moringa fields to enhance floral resource availability for pollinators. These interventions were co‐designed with local farmers to ensure additional benefits to their community.We found that flower visitor abundance and species richness were significantly (50% for abundance and 33% for species richness) greater in fields with floral interventions compared with control fields. We also found that the percentage of flowers that resulted in harvestable fruits were significantly (30%) greater in fields with floral intervention. Production benefits in yield and quality were significantly positively correlated with the abundance and species richness of flower visitors.Synthesis and applications. Our results provide clear evidence that floral interventions in the form of intercropping and border cropping can enhance pollinator communities and services they provide in tropical smallholder systems. These findings underpin a practical management option for farmers to enhance flower visitor communities and pollination services, which can potentially also provide additional co‐benefits to farmers, improving livelihoods and sustainable production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The socio-ecological crisis is an issue that has become crucial today. The predominant agro-food model has led to the homogenization of food production practices. This has had repercussions on the health of the hydrological cycle and the soil, caused by deforestation, intensive agriculture, grazing, extensive cattle ranching, depletion of fossil fuels and excessive water use. The transition to agroecology is essential to address the climate crisis and biodiversity loss, which requires deep reflection and a change in the way food is produced and consumed. The synergy between agriculture and biodiversity requires policy frameworks that prioritize the communal and the health of the land, as well as the participation of communities in territorial decision-making. Collective awareness of the importance of food for the health of humanity and the earth's life system must be recovered, and agroecological restoration can be an encouraging scenario for reorganizing agricultural landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Description of the production condition and level of performance is the first step in improving production performance. The study described the indigenous cattle reproductive performances, management practices and production limitations in north-western Ethiopia. Multistage purposive and random sampling methods were used to select the study sites/districts and households. A semi-structured questionnaire (320 interviewees), focus group discussions (12) and personal observations were used for data collection. Chi-square (χ2) test, the least squares mean and the ranking indexes were the statistical methods employed for data analysis. Livestock composition, reproductive performance and production constraints of cattle showed significant differences (p < 0.001) between agro-ecological zones. Cattle were the dominant livestock species, with mean numbers of 18.3 ± 9.9, 8.1 ± 3.2 and 5.4 ± 2.5 heads in the lowland, midland and highland agro-ecological zones, respectively. The mean ages at first mating of bulls, first service of heifers, first calving and calving interval of cows were best in the highlands, while the midland agro-ecology had the worst performance. Feed shortage (Index = 0.4) and disease prevalence (Index = 0.25) were the main cattle production problems. Natural pasture was the main feed source for cattle in the study areas. The study revealed a significant effect agro-ecology on landholding, cattle management practices, species composition; cattle herd structure, reproductive performances and cattle production constraints. This implies that the socioeconomic characteristics, management-level constraints for production and performance level of the livestock stock are important for developing improvement strategies for smallholder livestock production in different agro-ecological zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) is a simple and inexpensive practice for restoring vegetation cover on degraded land, unlike reforestation. Current knowledge on the socioeconomic factors that may influence its adoption is limited. The objective of this study is to analyze the socioeconomic determinants of FMNR adoption by communities. 197 households were surveyed. The probit model was used to identify the socioeconomic determinants of adoption. The results show that ethnicity, access to external support, receptivity to technological innovations, mode of land acquisition and the importance of production are determining factors in the adoption of FMNR. According to farmers, FMNR contributes to improving soil fertility and soil moisture conservation (21% and 17% of farmers, respectively). According to them, the FMNR improves the supply of wood (18 %) and non-timber forest products (13 %). The main constraints to the scaling up of this practice are, respectively, illegal logging (42%), animal roaming (29%), and the difficulties of using animal traction in a farm having many trees/shrubs (12 %). These results provide an overview of the considerations to be integrated for the success of FMNR as a strategy to strengthen the resilience of communities and ecosystems to climate disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural extension, or advisory services, have a key role to play in supporting farmers' learning and adoption of new practices and technologies. This paper analyses gaps and needs which require addressing in order for extension systems to more effectively contribute to the upscaling of ecological intensification approaches in East African smallholder agriculture. Our starting point is the push-pull technology (PPT), a promising approach. PPT originated in East Africa and is being continuously improved through cycles of interdisciplinary and participatory experimentation. Despite well-documented benefits to farmers and the environment, more institutional support from agricultural extension systems (AES) is needed for PPT to realise significant impact on poverty reduction, food security, and sustainability. Departing from this assessment, we review literature on AES in five East African countries. After clarifying the AES characteristics that ecological intensification requires, emphasising the capacity to embrace complexity, we identify four thematic areas that are in urgent need of attention: first, widely recognised problems with access and inclusiveness have seen welcome innovation but remain substantial. Second, information and communication technologies provide many benefits and new possibilities, but expectations must be tempered. Third, pluralistic AES present coordination challenges that risk undermining and misdirecting extension. Finally, the political-economic underpinnings of extension require critical scrutiny and strategic interventions. While many challenges threaten extension effectiveness broadly, we highlight implications for ecological intensification approaches like PPT. Our insights thus speak to the broader question of how to design and implement extension for sustainable agricultural development in East Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the methods used to fatten beef cattle in the Tembaro area of southern Ethiopia. Woyena Dega (Sub-humid), Dega (Humid), and Kola (Arid) agro-ecological zones were included in this study. Accordingly, six kebeles (two from each agro-ecology) were purposively selected. Moreover, 155 respondents were chosen at random from fatteners who had at least two fattening cattle for interviews and focus group discussions. Descriptive statistics and rank indexing were used to analyze the data. The majority of household heads involved in activities related to cattle fattening were male (89 %), and the remaining (11 %) were female. The average livestock holding was 5.4, 4.5, and 9.5 tropical livestock units (TLU) for Woyena Dega, Dega, and Kola agro-ecologies, respectively. The purpose of cattle fattening was primarily for drought power and food security. The fattening experience of the households was between 5 and 20 years in all agro-ecologies. As most (49.7 %) respondents reported, old oxen were the most commonly used class of cattle being fattened. The cattle selection criteria were body conformation (34.2 %) and color (20 %). The duration of fattening was 3–6 months and the preferred season for fattening was summer (45.2 %), followed by religious festivals (34.8 %). Green grass was ranked first, followed by crop residue. The sale of some livestock can be used to purchase land and reinvest in other business ventures. High market demand, the existence of livestock, and the availability of high-quality meat have all been cited as outstanding potential that could be used to boost the effectiveness of the livestock fattening operation in the research region. It should be essential to provide farmers with proper training and extension services on improved cattle fattening technology, management techniques, and market information in order to increase their income and that of the agricultural communities that depend on cyclically accessible feed supplies.

The current study emphasizes fungi as an important tool against heavy metals and how isolated fungal species can be used to create a successful strategy for the bioremediation of chromium and arsenic-contaminated sites/soils. Globally, heavy metal pollution is a serious issue. In the current investigation, contaminated sites were chosen, and samples could be taken from various localities of Hisar (29.1492° N, 75.7217° E) and Panipat (29.3909° N, 76.9635° E), India. A total of 19 fungal isolates were obtained from the collected samples through the enrichment culture technique using PDA media supplemented with Cr as chromic chloride hexahydrate (50 mg/L) and As as sodium arsenate (10 mg/L) and the potential of fungal isolates to be used for the removal of heavy metals was examined. The isolates were screened for minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) exhibiting tolerance capabilities, and the four best isolates C1, C3, A2, and A6 with the highest MICs (>5000 mg/L), were chosen for further investigations. To use the chosen isolates in the remediation of heavy metals (Cr and As), the culture conditions were optimized. The fungal isolates C1 and C3 estimated the highest removal of 58.60% and 57.00% at 50 mg/L chromium concentration, while the isolates A6 and A2 recorded the highest removal efficiency of 80% and 56% at 10 mg/L arsenic concentration under optimal conditions. Finally, the chosen fungal isolates C1 and A6 were molecularly identified as Aspergillus tamarii and Aspergillus ustus, respectively.

Moth populations have declined across large parts of north-western Europe since the mid-20th century due, in part, to agricultural intensification. Agri-environment schemes (AES) are widely implemented across Europe to protect biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. Grass field margins enriched with wildflowers typically out-perform grass-only margins in terms of increasing insect abundance and diversity. However, the effect of wildflower enrichment on moths remains largely unstudied. Here, the relative importance of larval hostplants and nectar resources for adult moths within AES field margins are investigated. Two treatments and a control were compared: (i) a plain grass mix, the control, (ii) a grass mix enriched with only moth-pollinated flowers, and (iii) a grass mix enriched with 13 wildflower species. Abundance, species richness and Shannon diversity were up to 1.4, 1.8 and 3.5 times higher, respectively, in the wildflower treatment compared to plain grass. The difference in diversity between treatments became greater in the second year. There was no difference in total abundance, richness or diversity between the plain grass treatment and grass enriched with moth-pollinated flowers. The increase in abundance and diversity in the wildflower treatment was due primarily to the provision of larval hostplants, with nectar provision playing a smaller role. The relative abundance of species whose larval hostplants included sown wildflowers increased in the second year, suggesting colonisation of the new habitat. Implications for insect conservation. We show that, at the farm scale, moth diversity can be greatly enhanced and abundance moderately enhanced by sowing diverse wildflower margins, providing these insects with both larval hostplants and floral resources, compared to grass-only margins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was conducted in the northwest Ethiopia to investigate the land use/cover dynamics and its driving forces. ArcGIS and ERDAS Imagine software's were used for spatial analysis, land use classification and change detection. The field experiment was designed in three treatments (land use types) with four replications. The treatments were; (i) Eucalyptus globulus plantation land use, (ii) crop based land use, and (iii) grazing based land use. Plantation land use showed extensive expansion for the last three decades, due to its higher economic return compared with other land uses. The net income gained from Eucalyptus globulus land use was a multiple of 1.5 and 13.5 from cultivated and grazing land uses, respectively. Land use productivity was also influenced by agro-ecology as higher Wheat grain yield was obtained from the lower elevation than the higher elevations agro-ecologies. On the contrary, the productivity of plantation land use was high on high elevation than lower elevation agro-ecologies. In general, income and agro-ecology were found to influences land use changes. Hence, Eucalyptus globulus plantation is recommended in the high elevation agro-ecologies and Wheat cultivation in the lower elevation agro-ecologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Properly mapping the spatial variability of the practiced crop calendars is useful for precise planning of agricultural activities. A seasonal calendar based on the livelihood zone (LHZ) map is widely employed as a crop calendar in Ethiopia. However, using the LHZ-based crop calendar for agricultural purposes may cause problems of doubtful accuracy, since non-ecological parameters are included in the LHZ map. This research was conducted in the central and southeastern parts of Ethiopia to compare the hypertemporal normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and LHZ-based stratification methods in explaining the spatial variability of the farmers’ actual crop calendar. A NDVI strata generated from SPOT-VGT and PROBA-V NDVI data of 16 years and the 2008 LHZ map of Ethiopia were processed to select sampling sites that represented three NDVI strata and four LHZs in common. Interview data were collected randomly from individual farmers on ploughing, planting and expected harvesting dates of teff (Eragrostis tef), wheat and barley (fields), and were analysed using non-parametric tests. The results revealed that the NDVI strata had greater spatial quality and precision than the LHZs in terms of uniqueness and internal homogeneity of the spatial units, indicating its suitability as a preferable alternative crop calendar.

The nitrogen applied (N-input) to cropping systems supports a high yield but generates major environmental pollution in the form of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and losses to land and water (N-surplus). This paper examines the scope to meet both GHG emission targets and zero N-surplus in high-intensity, mainly cereal, cropping in a region of the Atlantic zone in Europe. A regional survey provides background to crops grown at an experimental farm platform over a run of 5 years. For three main cereal crops under standard management (mean N-input 154 kg ha−1), N-surplus remained well above zero (single year maximum 55% of N-input, five-year mean 27%), but was reduced to near zero by crop diversification (three cereals, one oilseed and one grain legume) and converted to a net nitrogen gain (+39 kg ha−1, 25 crop-years) by implementing low nitrification management in all fields. Up-scaling N-input to the agricultural region indicated the government GHG emissions target of 70% of the 1990 mean could only be met with a combination of low nitrification management and raising the proportion of grain legumes from the current 1–2% to at least 10% at the expense of high-input cereals. Major strategic change in the agri-food system of the region is therefore needed to meet GHG emissions targets.

The current study emphasizes fungi as an important tool against heavy metals and how isolated fungal species can be used to create a successful strategy for the bioremediation of chromium and arsenic-contaminated sites/soils. Globally, heavy metal pollution is a serious issue. In the current investigation, contaminated sites were chosen, and samples could be taken from various localities of Hisar (29.1492° N, 75.7217° E) and Panipat (29.3909° N, 76.9635° E), India. A total of 19 fungal isolates were obtained from the collected samples through the enrichment culture technique using PDA media supplemented with Cr as chromic chloride hexahydrate (50 mg/L) and As as sodium arsenate (10 mg/L) and the potential of fungal isolates to be used for the removal of heavy metals was examined. The isolates were screened for minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) exhibiting tolerance capabilities, and the four best isolates C1, C3, A2, and A6 with the highest MICs (>5000 mg/L), were chosen for further investigations. To use the chosen isolates in the remediation of heavy metals (Cr and As), the culture conditions were optimized. The fungal isolates C1 and C3 estimated the highest removal of 58.60% and 57.00% at 50 mg/L chromium concentration, while the isolates A6 and A2 recorded the highest removal efficiency of 80% and 56% at 10 mg/L arsenic concentration under optimal conditions. Finally, the chosen fungal isolates C1 and A6 were molecularly identified as Aspergillus tamarii and Aspergillus ustus, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Interactions among plants have been long recognized as a major force driving plant community dynamics and crop yield. Surprisingly, our knowledge of the ecological genetics associated with variation of plant–plant interactions remains limited. In this opinion article by scientists from complementary disciplines, the international PLANTCOM network identified four timely questions to foster a better understanding of the mechanisms mediating plant assemblages. We propose that by identifying the key relationships among phenotypic traits involved in plant–plant interactions and the underlying adaptive genetic and molecular pathways, while considering environmental fluctuations at diverse spatial and time scales, we can improve predictions of genotype-by-genotype-by-environment interactions and modeling of productive and stable plant assemblages in wild habitats and crop fields. A better understanding of plant community diversity, productivity, and stability relies on deciphering the ecological genetics and molecular bases of plant–plant interactions in wild and crop species, which range from competitive to positive interactions. Compared with other categories of biotic interactions, we have limited knowledge of the genetics associated with natural variation of plant–plant interactions. Interdisciplinary projects are needed to explore the genetic and molecular underpinnings of key interacting phenotypic traits involved in plant–plant interactions, at complementary observation scales in a complex biotic and abiotic environment. Our future knowledge on the genetics of plant–plant interactions can fuel models aimed at predicting the best performing and/or stable plant assemblages, leading to alternative and eco-friendly agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Local knowledge on climatic conditions which hitherto was used to predict the likelihood of weather outcomes is under threat of extinction due to lack of documentation coupled with a gradual decline in its knowledge transfer. Using participatory and ethnographic research approaches including focus groups discussion, key informant interviews, in-depth interviews, and purposively selecting small-scale farmers in the Upper East Region of Ghana, this study has identified key local climatic knowledge that would contribute to achieving sustainable agro-ecological practices. The study found that plant phenology like the sprouting of Faidherbia albida and the presence of Ficus carica are relevant for sustainable agro-ecological practices. Also, the frequency or otherwise of rains and the colour (perceived) and appearance of the water of the first rain at the onset of the rainy season presupposes the likelihood of the rainfall pattern in that year. Some animal and bird behaviour such as the movement of migratory birds, which was used to predict the likelihood of weather patterns or seasons, has been adversely affected by the changing climatic conditions. This knowledge is very relevant for agro-ecological practices since it enables farmers to plan ahead of seasons, which contributes to improving the adaptive capacity of small-scale farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legumes are a pivotal component of the agro-ecosystems and sustainable agriculture worldwide and are of immense importance for providing food to the ever-growing population. Legumes are also a significant source of fodder and are grown on a large scale in the semiarid tropics including Africa, Asia and Latin America. They deliver several important services to societies as sources of oil, fiber, and protein-rich food and feed while supplying nitrogen to agro-ecosystems via their unique ability to fix atmospheric N2 in symbiosis with the soil bacteria rhizobia, thus stimulating the productivity of the associated or following crops. They contribute efficiently to agro-ecosystems services through low reliance on synthetic N fertilizers, reduced greenhouse-gas emissions, increased diversification of crop rotations with concomitant increases in above- and below-ground biodiversity, soil fertility, carbon storage and changes in weed, pest, and disease pressures. This review examines how the inclusion of legumes in redesigned cropping and forage systems might assist in reducing the environmental risk associated with the need to further increase the production of food, forage, and fiber while addressing the current reliance on N fertilizer to maintain high crop yields in most of the planet's agro-ecosystems. Highlighted Conclusion Legumes fix the atmospheric nitrogen, release in the soil high-quality organic matter and facilitate soil nutrients' circulation and water retention. Based on these multiple functions, legume crops have high potential for conservation agriculture, being functional either as growing crop or as crop residue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-four pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L) R. Br) single-cross hybrids were evaluated at four environments of northern Ghana during the 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons to estimate the magnitude of genetic variability, heritability and stability for grain yield and related traits and grain micronutrients among the varieties with the view to selecting the most stable hybrids for adoption by farmers. Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) showed significant genotype × environment (G×E) interaction, and stability for the hybrids across the environments with genotypic variance (σ2G) contributing a greater proportion of the phenotypic variance (σ2p) for four traits including grain Fe content and yield. IPCA 1 and IPCA 2 accounted for between 75.95% for downy mildew incidence and 91.28% for grain Zn of the interaction sum of squares for the traits studied. IPCA 1 component accounted for 50.7, 63.2 and 64.1 of the G×E interaction, while IPCA 2 accounted for 30.8, 26.3 and 27.1, respectively, for grain yield, grain Fe and grain Zn content. Moderate to high broad-sense heritability was recorded for most traits, especially grain yield and grain micronutrient, implying that significant trait improvement may be achieved in these traits through recurrent selection. Overall, 3 hybrids viz ICMH IS 16013, ICMH 177023 and ICMH IS 16075 combined high yield with stability, whereas 4 viz ICMH 177023, ICMH IS 16044, ICMH IS 16076 AND ICMH IS 16214 high grain Fe and Zn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study looked at patterns of erratic climate and farmer perceptions in the Gelda watershed of Lake Tana Basin in northwestern Ethiopia. The National Meteorological Agency of Ethiopia provided essential climatic data for the period between 1981 and 2011. A household survey and focus group discussions were also used to understand about local communities' perceptions of climate variability and its impact on food production. Time series trend analysis of observed rainfall and temperature conditions was detected using linear regression analysis. To compare the means of climatic parameters and determine whether the average difference was significantly different from zero, the paired sampled t -test was used. The study found that the average annual temperature trend increased by 1.1°C, while the amount and distribution of annual and monthly rainfall decreased, varied across the catchment, and fluctuated during the study periods (1981–2011) at mean temperature rise with an average rate of 0.17°C in the last decade. The variability of annual and monthly rainfall in terms of intensity and distribution has decreased and varied across the watershed. The analysis revealed that annual rainfall variability was variable in the upper catchment (CV > 11.7%) and lower catchment (CV > 14.4%). The amount and intensity of temperature, on the other hand, increased throughout the study watershed, despite observed variation both spatially and temporally (stated decades). Farmers' understanding and expression of climate variability in terms of erratic rainfall distribution, decreasing amount, and increasing temperature over the last three decades, however, matched the observed data. Moreover, farmers are pointed out that high population pressure; deforestation and intensified agriculture are responsible factors for the variability of climate in the study watershed. Therefore, based on the findings, scientist and policymakers has to design appropriate adaptation measures that can tackle the aggravation of climate variability for future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bioeconomy continues to be a contested field in the political debate. There is still no consensus on how a bioeconomy should be designed and anchored in society. Alternative bioeconomy concepts that deviate from the mainstream discourse and are based on small-scale, agro-ecological models are usually underrepresented in the debate. This also applies to Argentina, where the diversity of bioeconomic approaches has not yet been documented and analyzed. The objective of this paper is to identify bioeconomic approaches in Argentina, and characterize alternative, more socio-ecological and locally embedded approaches in order to make them more visible for the political debate. Based on literature research, categories were extracted that can be used to distinguish different types of the bioeconomy. Subsequently, these categories were used in an online survey of 47 enterprises representing different sectors of Argentina's bioeconomy. Using cluster analysis, three groups can be distinguished: a biomass, a biotechnology, and a bioembedded cluster. Argentina's bioeconomy seems to follow a path dependency logic, but new development paths are also opening up. The bioeconomic approaches discovered in Argentina are partly consistent with contemporary bioeconomy typologies, but there is also great diversity within the groups. All bioeconomic approaches have local connections, but are locally embedded in different ways. In addition to the differences between the bioeconomic approaches, two common elements could also be detected: an interest in sustainable use of natural resources and in building networks using synergies with other actors in the territory. These two elements mean that bioeconomic initiatives could pave the way for a new rural development model in Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of the research is to analyze the possibility of introducing the agro-ecological concept through appropriate agro-ecological measures in agricultural policy of Bosnia and Hercegovina. For this purpose, theoretical and empirical studies have been conducted. Theoretical research included analysis of the strategic and regulatory framework in the European Union and Bosnia and Hercegovina and analysis of the development of the concept of agro ecology. Empirical research has included surveying holders of agricultural holdings of subjects according to the Eco Stack project methodology. The survey results confirm that farmers are generally not familiar with the concept of agro ecology, but do apply some of the agro-environmental measures. On the basis of the research results, steps have been proposed to introduce a new model of support for the application of the agro-environmental concept and measures in the framework of agricultural policy of Bosnia and Hercegovina.

The wild pig is well known for its generalist diet, a contributing factor to its successful invasion around the globe. We used DNA metabarcoding analyses of scat to examine wild pig diet on a cow-calf operation in south-central Florida. This 4,249-ha ranch is comprised of improved pastures and semi-native pastures that contain a mosaic of vegetation types. Both pasture types contain numerous wetlands and ditches as well as oak-palm woodlands. Fecal sampling was conducted along transects from March 2016 to February 2017. The study site was divided into five sampling areas to ensure dispersed sampling across the ranch. At least five freshly deposited scats were collected every two months from each sampling area and frozen. Regions of multiple genes that targeted either animal or plant DNA (CO1, trnL, and 12S rRNA marker genes) were selected for high throughput sequencing. Sequences were identified using the GenBank reference database. Two hundred nineteen fecal samples were collected and 196 were analyzed. Consensus lineages were retained if they could be confidently identified to family and were likely intentionally consumed by a pig. Between the three marker genes, 66 plant, 68 animal, and 12 fungal families were identified. Plant species dominated the diet with oak, torpedograss, joyweed, Bahiagrass, dayflower, and other grasses occurring in over half the samples analyzed. Animals were present across a wide taxonomic breadth, but encountered less frequently than plants with the exception of an exotic earthworm. Cattle, house mouse, cotton mouse, raccoon, mole cricket, Virginia opossum, and six species of fly were recorded from over 10% of fecal samples. This represents the first study to employ DNA metabarcoding to examine the dietary composition of this invasive vertebrate across an entire year.

The yellow passion fruit, Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa, belonging to the Passifloraceae family, is a climbing plant that has long branches with a grooved stem. It is cultivated in different regions of Brazil. The fruit can be consumed fresh or in the form of juices, among products, and is also used in the pharmaceutical industry. The yellow passion fruit plant has self-incompatible reproductive structures, so the flowers need pollinators to carry the pollen from one flower to another for fertilization, generating fruits. The crop thus depends on effective pollinators, without which growers must resort to artificial pollination. Among the effective pollinators are large and robust bee species belonging to the genera Xylocopa, Centris, Epicharis, Eulaema and Bombus. This study sought to identify the species of native bees visiting yellow passion fruit plants growing in an area of 20m2 located in an urban area (Conduru, district of Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, south of Espírito Santo). The surrounding areas contain residences with few spaces for home and/or public gardens, and also by a small strip of adjacent pasture. Observations were carried out in October 2021, when the passion fruit plants were in bloom. Strategic points were set within the area where two observers simultaneously identified and counted the visiting bees. The observations were carried out between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., three times a week, totaling a sampling effort of 36 hours. Five species of bees were identified, distributed in four tribes and one family: Xylocopa frontalis (Olivier, 1789) and Xylocopa grisescens Lepeletier, 1841, for Xylocopini, Apidae; Epicharis flava Friese, 1900, for Centridini, Apidae; Bombus morio (Swederus, 1787), for Bombini, Apidae; and Trigona spinipes (Fabricius, 1793), for Meliponini, Apidae. Xylocopa frontalis was the most abundant species, with eight individuals, followed by Xylocopa grisescens, with five individuals, Bombus morio and Trigona spinipes with three individuals each, and Epicharis flava, with two individuals. The bees with the highest frequency of visits to the flowers were Xylocopa frontalis, with 55% of all visits, followed by Xylocopa grisescens, with 25%, Bombus morio, with 10%, and Epicharis flava and Trigona spinipes, with 5% each. The richness and abundance of bees in the studied area was low, which is probably related to the absence of nearby green areas, since the crop area us mainly surrounded by residences. The presence of bumblebees in passion fruit crops depends on some factors, mainly the availability of resources close to the cultivation environments, since these bees have some ecological requirements, such as the presence of dry trunks and branches to build their nests. For native bees in general, and for effective pollinators of passion fruit, it is essential to offer food resources (nectar, pollen, oils and resins) provided by the adjacent flora (forested environments, spontaneous plants, gardens, among others) found nearby cultivation areas, as they are supplementary resources in the periods when the crops are not in bloom, thus contributing to maintain the bee community in the areas of interest. Therefore, preserving green areas, as well as enriching the surroundings of cultivation areas with plants that offer resources, can provide benefits to bees and contribute to crop pollination.