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Most studies of agroforestry system biodiversity focus on assessing visible, aboveground biodiversity, largely ignoring soil biodiversity. To fill this gap, a preliminary assessment of soil biodiversity in an agroforestry system was undertaken based on changes in soil enzyme activity. The study was conducted in the village of Maziarnia, Lubelskie Voivodeship, Poland, Europe. Arable fields with spring wheat, mid-field trees and perennial mixed forest were selected for the study. Soil material for physicochemical analyses (pHH2O, pHKCl, sorption properties, total carbon and total nitrogen) and biochemical analyses (activity of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, urease and dehydrogenases) was collected in the spring and autumn of 2022. The present study showed that the biochemical properties of the soils of the selected study sites varied depending on the type of ecosystem determining habitat conditions. Each ecosystem that makes up the agroforestry system studied is characterised by a distinctive microbiome composition and its own level of enzymatic activity. The obtained results support the thesis that agroforestry systems significantly increase the functional diversity and overall biodiversity of agricultural landscapes. However, a full, objective characterisation of the processes taking place in agroforestry systems requires long-term monitoring.

Most studies of agroforestry system biodiversity focus on assessing visible, aboveground biodiversity, largely ignoring soil biodiversity. To fill this gap, a preliminary assessment of soil biodiversity in an agroforestry system was undertaken based on changes in soil enzyme activity. The study was conducted in the village of Maziarnia, Lubelskie Voivodeship, Poland, Europe. Arable fields with spring wheat, mid-field trees and perennial mixed forest were selected for the study. Soil material for physicochemical analyses (pHH2O, pHKCl, sorption properties, total carbon and total nitrogen) and biochemical analyses (activity of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, urease and dehydrogenases) was collected in the spring and autumn of 2022. The present study showed that the biochemical properties of the soils of the selected study sites varied depending on the type of ecosystem determining habitat conditions. Each ecosystem that makes up the agroforestry system studied is characterised by a distinctive microbiome composition and its own level of enzymatic activity. The obtained results support the thesis that agroforestry systems significantly increase the functional diversity and overall biodiversity of agricultural landscapes. However, a full, objective characterisation of the processes taking place in agroforestry systems requires long-term monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Hladnikia is the property of Botanical Society of Slovenia / Botanicno Drustvo Slovenije and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A research was conducted in the Veneto region (NE-Italy) inside kitchen gardens and potato fields of outer pre-Alps, and in asparagus fields on the low Po plain near the Adriatic coast, in late summer-autumn after harvesting. Original vegetation-plot records were compared with historic and recent materials from Italy, especially N-Italy, and with comparable associations from Central and South-Eastern Europe, to ensure a consistent syntaxonomical frame of this highly dynamic vegetation. At the same time it was possible to shed light on the actual occurrence of past coenoses, cited by Italian authors for the Po plain. The analysis not only confirmed the occurrence of Echinochloo-Setarietum pumilae in north-eastern Italian territories, but also showed that it was more extensive than previously thought. It also confirmed the persistence of Panico-Polygonetum persicariae. The historical presence of Veronico-Lamietum hybridi occurring in pre-Alps and Dolomites needs confirmation. Further regional-scale investigations of summer crop weed vegetation appear necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In the past, the floristic diversity of arable fields has been described in terms of species diversity (SD) and their degree of coverage (C), but never in combination with the recording of the actually flowered species (FS) and their flowering intensity (FI) to striking differences in the cultivation methods on arable land. In relation to SD and C, however, FS and FI may provide important additional information on the functional biodiversity of fields. The aim was therefore to investigate the effects of (a) conventional, (b) organic, and (c) smallholder (never application of herbicides) on the floristic diversity. Using a region in Germany, we investigated SD, C, FS, and FI synchronously in (a), (b), and (c), by 356 vegetation surveys (5 × 5 m plots) conducted in spring and summer in 2019 in winter cereals. Statistical tests were used to analyze the differences between (a), (b), and (c). The medians were used to compare the floristic diversity of (a), (b), and (c) and finally relationships of FS and FI to SD were analyzed in relation to the cultivation methods. Significant differences in SD, C, FS, and FI were found between the (a), (b), and (c) in spring and summer characterized by sharp declines from (c) to (b) to (a). A drastic reduction in floristic diversity from (c) 100 to (b) 52 to (a) 3 was determined. Plants in flower (FS, FI) were very poorly in (a), moderately well to well in (b), and well to very well represented in (c). (C) to (a) was characterized by a sharp decline and from (a) to (b) by sharp increase in floristic diversity. With current acreage proportions of (a) in mind, this would affect, about one third of land area in Germany, associated with a drastic reduction in functional biodiversity for insects.

One of the most common annual overwintering weeds in various crops worldwide is silky bent grass (Aspera spica-venti (L.) Beauv). The aim of this study was to investigate the selected morphological characteristics and chemical composition of A. spica-venti from different cultivation fields in Poland, depending on the macronutrient content of the soil. The average pH values of the soil samples, and the average concentration of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in the samples were statistically different between study sites. In turn, the concentration of potassium (K) was at the same statistical level. The average values of N, P and K concentrations in the straw of A. spica-venti (% dry matter) in particular study sites were not statistically different. The mean values of the examined morphological features of A. spica-venti did not differ statistically between the individual test sites. Overall, there was no significant impact of the habitat on the chemical composition and morphology of the A. spica-venti occurring naturally in arable fields. However, an increase in soil abundance in some macronutrients (mainly K) may positively affect the morphology of this weed as opposed to an increase in nitrogen concentration in the soil, and an increase soil pH. The lack of significant influence of soil conditions and location of APESV sites on the morphology and chemical composition of the weed indicates that it has high plasticity and is able to thrive under varying habitat conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phacelia tanacetifolia, an excellent cover, green manure and honey crop is now widely cultivated throughout the world. One of its principal European seed production regions is north-western Hungary, where the recent withdrawal of a potent herbicide, linuron, created a new challenge for many growers. The goal of this study is to identify the main factors determining weed species composition in the phacelia fields of the region and to assess the efficiency of tine harrow and clopyralid herbicide in reducing weed abundance and biomass. We carried out a series of weed surveys across the study region following a two-level design: (i) we estimated the cover of all weed species in 205 fields (broad-scale survey, BS); and (ii) in 22 of these fields, we provided more precise biomass measurements (counting the individuals and measuring the dry weights of all weed species) in microplots samples (fine-scale survey; FS). To characterize the fields, 34 background variables were also collected for all of the studied fields. In both investigations, Chenopodium album was by far the most abundant weed. Within the BS, using a minimal adequate model containing 11 terms with significant net effects, 20.93% of the total variation in weed species data could be explained. The variation in species composition was determined by environmental factors (soil pH, clay and K; precipitation and temperature), non-chemical management variables (crop cover, preceding crop, irrigation and tillage system) and herbicides (linuron and clopyralid). Variation partitioning demonstrated the dominance of environmental and cultural components in shaping the weed species composition. Although the effect of mechanical treatments was most likely masked in the BS by the soil properties, our FS suggests that tine harrow could efficiently decrease the total number and biomass of weeds and can be a useful tool in the phacelia management of the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past, the floristic diversity of arable fields has been described in terms of species diversity (SD) and their degree of coverage (C), but never in combination with the recording of the actually flowered species (FS) and their flowering intensity (FI) to striking differences in the cultivation methods on arable land. In relation to SD and C, however, FS and FI may provide important additional information on the functional biodiversity of fields. The aim was therefore to investigate the effects of (a) conventional, (b) organic, and (c) smallholder (never application of herbicides) on the floristic diversity. Using a region in Germany, we investigated SD, C, FS, and FI synchronously in (a), (b), and (c), by 356 vegetation surveys (5 × 5 m plots) conducted in spring and summer in 2019 in winter cereals. Statistical tests were used to analyze the differences between (a), (b), and (c). The medians were used to compare the floristic diversity of (a), (b), and (c) and finally relationships of FS and FI to SD were analyzed in relation to the cultivation methods. Significant differences in SD, C, FS, and FI were found between the (a), (b), and (c) in spring and summer characterized by sharp declines from (c) to (b) to (a). A drastic reduction in floristic diversity from (c) 100 to (b) 52 to (a) 3 was determined. Plants in flower (FS, FI) were very poorly in (a), moderately well to well in (b), and well to very well represented in (c). (C) to (a) was characterized by a sharp decline and from (a) to (b) by sharp increase in floristic diversity. With current acreage proportions of (a) in mind, this would affect, about one third of land area in Germany, associated with a drastic reduction in functional biodiversity for insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most common annual overwintering weeds in various crops worldwide is silky bent grass (Aspera spica-venti (L.) Beauv). The aim of this study was to investigate the selected morphological characteristics and chemical composition of A. spica-venti from different cultivation fields in Poland, depending on the macronutrient content of the soil. The average pH values of the soil samples, and the average concentration of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in the samples were statistically different between study sites. In turn, the concentration of potassium (K) was at the same statistical level. The average values of N, P and K concentrations in the straw of A. spica-venti (% dry matter) in particular study sites were not statistically different. The mean values of the examined morphological features of A. spica-venti did not differ statistically between the individual test sites. Overall, there was no significant impact of the habitat on the chemical composition and morphology of the A. spica-venti occurring naturally in arable fields. However, an increase in soil abundance in some macronutrients (mainly K) may positively affect the morphology of this weed as opposed to an increase in nitrogen concentration in the soil, and an increase soil pH. The lack of significant influence of soil conditions and location of APESV sites on the morphology and chemical composition of the weed indicates that it has high plasticity and is able to thrive under varying habitat conditions.

Copyright of Praehistorica is the property of Charles University Prague, Karolinum Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Carabid beetles are major predators in agro‐ecosystems. The composition of their communities within crop environments governs the pest control services they provide. An understudied aspect is the distribution of predacious carabid larvae in the soil.We used novel subterranean trapping with standard pitfall trapping, within a multi‐crop rotation experiment, to assess the responses of above‐ and below‐ground carabid communities to management practices.Crop and trap type significantly affected pooled carabid abundance with an interaction of the two, the highest numbers of carabids were caught in subterranean traps in barley under sown with grass.Trap type accounted for the most variance observed in carabid community composition, followed by crop.Tillage responses were only apparent at the species level for three of the eight species modelled.Responses to crop type varied by species. Most species had higher abundance in under‐sown barley, than grass, wheat and barley. Crop differences were greater in the subterranean trap data. For predaceous larvae, standard pitfalls showed lowest abundances in under‐sown barley, yet subterranean traps revealed abundances to be highest in this crop.Comprehensive estimation of ecosystem services should incorporate both above‐ and below‐ground community appraisal, to inform appropriate management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phacelia tanacetifolia, an excellent cover, green manure and honey crop is now widely cultivated throughout the world. One of its principal European seed production regions is north-western Hungary, where the recent withdrawal of a potent herbicide, linuron, created a new challenge for many growers. The goal of this study is to identify the main factors determining weed species composition in the phacelia fields of the region and to assess the efficiency of tine harrow and clopyralid herbicide in reducing weed abundance and biomass. We carried out a series of weed surveys across the study region following a two-level design: (i) we estimated the cover of all weed species in 205 fields (broad-scale survey, BS); and (ii) in 22 of these fields, we provided more precise biomass measurements (counting the individuals and measuring the dry weights of all weed species) in microplots samples (fine-scale survey; FS). To characterize the fields, 34 background variables were also collected for all of the studied fields. In both investigations, Chenopodium album was by far the most abundant weed. Within the BS, using a minimal adequate model containing 11 terms with significant net effects, 20.93% of the total variation in weed species data could be explained. The variation in species composition was determined by environmental factors (soil pH, clay and K; precipitation and temperature), non-chemical management variables (crop cover, preceding crop, irrigation and tillage system) and herbicides (linuron and clopyralid). Variation partitioning demonstrated the dominance of environmental and cultural components in shaping the weed species composition. Although the effect of mechanical treatments was most likely masked in the BS by the soil properties, our FS suggests that tine harrow could efficiently decrease the total number and biomass of weeds and can be a useful tool in the phacelia management of the future.

Considerable polarization of bird habitats has developed in European Russia, where extensive abandoned lands that are already of low suitability for breeding of typical meadow species alternate with increasingly intensively cultivated fields. Though the abundance of most species is low in these fields, the polarization has resulted in their increasing use by the Eurasian Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Redshank, Black-winged Pratincole, Demoiselle Crane, Montagu's Harrier, Grey Partridge, Short-eared Owl, and Mallard, apart from the species that are more typical for fields: the Northern Lapwing, Common Quail, Eurasian Skylark, Calandra Lark, and Western Yellow Wagtail. However, nesting of these species on most crop fields often results in low breeding success. The trends that are the most unfavorable for breeding birds in European Russia are the conversion of grasslands into arable lands, which is associated with the transition to indoor keeping of cattle and increasing no-till farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recession of agriculture in Russia from approximately the mid-2000s changed to an increase, which was accompanied by a reversion to intensive technologies; market transition to cultivation of quick payback crops (potatoes, rapeseed, sunflower) and raising pigs and poultry instead of cattle and the transition from grazing of cattle to an indoor keeping system. The rates of this increase are not equal in different economic sectors and regions of European Russia. It is more pronounced in the Black Soil zone and in the southern part of European Russia, as well as in some of regions in the southern Non-Black Soil zone. These changes have been particularly evident during the past decade and entail changes in the crop structure and development of new areas of agriculture in some regions and are determined both by socio-economic factors and current climate changes. In general, the present-day trend in the development of agriculture is that pastures and most hayfields are becoming unnecessary, whereas the demand for arable fields is increasing. Modern agriculture intensification is different from the intensification of the mid-20th century, since it takes place under conditions when large areas are still abandoned and therefore becoming more overgrown. As a result a considerable polarization of bird habitats has formed in European Russia with vast perennial abandoned lands that are already unsuitable for breeding of typical grassland species alternating with increasingly intensively cultivated fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While climate change mainly applies to global warming and subsequent drought periods, freezing periods also are changing and may trigger genetic adaptation. However, there are few prospective, experimental demonstrations. This paper investigates how effectively genetic frost-resistant variants can respond differently to frost periods, especially in farmers' fields where various other selection pressures occur. An experiment using Avena fatua variants was set up in the field over 8 years of winter crop rotation. The frequency of each variant identified by their leaf isozymes was estimated every year. Six years were necessary to observe a weak trend towards an increased frequency of the frost-resistant phenotype, while the other variants had apparent erratic behaviour. Selection of the frost-resistant variant was challenged by irregular low temperature selection pressure, differential dormancy, germination and seed production, and possibly herbicide sensitivity that mitigated the expression of the selection response. This experiment shows how plant polymorphism and farmers' practices that superimpose habitat unpredictability diversify possible responses to selection pressures and delay adaptation. However, if climate change brings both higher mean temperatures and extreme values, changes of apparent plant phenology could happen for weeds species displaying the appropriate genetic variability within the time-frame of farmers' career, thus necessitating correlative adaptation of farming practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weed surveys have been carried out in Latvia for more than sixty years. A new weed survey project started in spring, 2013. The main task of the project was weed mapping. Scientists from four scientific institutes have been contributing to the project. The farms for the weed survey were selected using the nested sampling grid by dividing the territory into squares with an area of 10 km by 10 km. Twelve to fifteen farms were selected in each of the four historical regions of Latvia: Vidzeme, Latgale, Zemgale and Kurzeme. The information about weed distribution and abundance was collected from 306 fields in 51 farms using the conventional farming systems during the survey in 2013. The most common crops grown in the fields visited during the survey were winter wheat (28% of all the fields), spring barley (16%), spring wheat (16%), spring oilseed rape (9%) and spring oat (7%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: At a time when herbicide use is being challenged by the selection of herbicide‐resistant weeds, reliance on other, innovative weed control strategies is becoming increasingly necessary. However, one may question the sustainability of these novel farming practices if weeds adapt rapidly to these non‐chemical selection pressures. Although farmers and agronomists impose many selective processes through farming practices, there is a paucity of literature demonstrating these selection cases in arable fields. In contrast to the relatively simple case of herbicide resistance, random trait association and variability in selection pressures in field conditions could explain why there are so few clear examples of adaptive processes to non‐chemical control in arable fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In arable fields, plant species richness consistently increases at field edges. This potentially makes the field edge an important habitat for the conservation of the ruderal arable flora (or 'weeds') and the invertebrates and birds it supports. Increased diversity and abundance of weeds in crop edges could be owing to either a reduction in agricultural inputs towards the field edge and/or spatial mass effects associated with dispersal from the surrounding landscape.We contend that the diversity of weed species in an arable field is a combination of resident species, that can persist under the intense selection pressure of regular cultivation and agrochemical inputs (typically more ruderal species), and transient species that rely on regular dispersal from neighbouring habitats (characterised by a more 'competitive' ecological strategy).We analysed a large dataset of conventionally managed arable fields in the UK to study the effect of the immediate landscape on in‐field plant diversity and abundance and to quantify the contribution of spatial mass effects to plant diversity in arable fields in the context of the ecological strategy of the resulting community.We demonstrated that the decline in diversity with distance into an arable field is highly dependent on the immediate landscape, indicating the important role of spatial mass effects in explaining the increased species richness at field edges in conventionally managed fields.We observed an increase in the proportion of typical arable weeds away from the field edge towards the centre. This increase was dependent on the immediate landscape and was associated with a higher proportion of more competitive species, with a lower fidelity to arable habitats, at the field edge.Synthesis and applications. Conserving the ruderal arable plant community, and the invertebrates and birds that use it as a resource, in conventionally managed arable fields typically relies on the targeted reduction of fertilisers and herbicides in so‐called 'conservation headlands'. The success of these options will depend on the neighbouring habitat and boundary. They should be placed along margins where the potential for ingress of competitive species, that may become dominant in the absence of herbicides, is limited. This will enhance ecosystem services delivered by the ruderal flora and reduce the risk of competitive species occurring in the crop. Conserving the ruderal arable plant community, and the invertebrates and birds that use it as a resource, in conventionally managed arable fields typically relies on the targeted reduction of fertilisers and herbicides in so‐called 'conservation headlands'. The success of these options will depend on the neighbouring habitat and boundary. They should be placed along margins where the potential for ingress of competitive species, that may become dominant in the absence of herbicides, is limited. This will enhance ecosystem services delivered by the ruderal flora and reduce the risk of competitive species occurring in the crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most current research on land‐use intensification addresses its potential to either threaten biodiversity or to boost agricultural production. However, little is known about the simultaneous effects of intensification on biodiversity and yield. To determine the responses of species richness and yield to conventional intensification, we conducted a global meta‐analysis synthesizing 115 studies which collected data for both variables at the same locations. We extracted 449 cases that cover a variety of areas used for agricultural (crops, fodder) and silvicultural (wood) production. We found that, across all production systems and species groups, conventional intensification is successful in increasing yield (grand mean + 20.3%), but it also results in a loss of species richness (−8.9%). However, analysis of sub‐groups revealed inconsistent results. For example, small intensification steps within low intensity systems did not affect yield or species richness. Within high‐intensity systems species losses were non‐significant but yield gains were substantial (+15.2%). Conventional intensification within medium intensity systems revealed the highest yield increase (+84.9%) and showed the largest loss in species richness (−22.9%). Production systems differed in their magnitude of richness response, with insignificant changes in silvicultural systems and substantial losses in crop systems (−21.2%). In addition, this meta‐analysis identifies a lack of studies that collect robust biodiversity (i.e. beyond species richness) and yield data at the same sites and that provide quantitative information on land‐use intensity. Our findings suggest that, in many cases, conventional land‐use intensification drives a trade‐off between species richness and production. However, species richness losses were often not significantly different from zero, suggesting even conventional intensification can result in yield increases without coming at the expense of biodiversity loss. These results should guide future research to close existing research gaps and to understand the circumstances required to achieve such win‐win or win‐no‐harm situations in conventional agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper will examine settlement location during the Iron Age in the northeast part of the Netherlands, an area shaped by Pleistocene geology. In recent years, a number of Late Iron Age/Early Roman settlements situated on the low lying slopes of sand ridges and nearby stream ridges revealed traces of an earlier Iron Age occupation. Palynological data revealed that this part of the landscape was used by humans before it was transformed into an area of settlement. An analysis of excavation data from two key sites at Denekamp-De Borchert and Groningen-Helpermaar, as well as other known sites, lead to the conclusion that the transformation of ‘peripheral landscapes’ into permanent settlement locations was preceded by a phase of arable cultivation which left no trace of permanent habitation. It is also suggested that the impact of human behaviour on the natural landscape in the Early and Middle Iron Age was much bigger than previously anticipated. When excavating this type of settlement areas dating to the Late Iron Age, archaeologists must be aware that only of a small group of archaeological features exist. The proposed model for the choice of settlement location may be more widespread, because of similarities in landscape between the study area presented here and other landscapes in Northwest-Europe (e.g. parts of Germany and Denmark). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The definition of “arable weeds” remains contentious. Although much attention has been devoted to specialized, segetal weeds, many taxa found in arable fields also commonly occur in other habitats. The extent to which adjacent habitats are favorable to the weed flora and act as potential sources of colonizers in arable fields remains unclear. In addition, weeds form assemblages with large spatiotemporal variability, so that many taxa in weed flora are rarely observed in plot-based surveys. We thus addressed the following questions: How often do weeds occur in other habitats than arable fields? How does including field edges extend the taxonomic and ecological diversity of weeds? How does the weed flora vary across surveys at different spatial and temporal scales? We built a comprehensive dataset of weed taxa in France by compiling weed flora, lists of specialized segetal weeds, and plot-based surveys in agricultural fields, with different spatial and temporal coverages. We informed life forms, biogeographical origins and conservation status of these weeds. We also defined a broader dataset of plants occupying open habitats in France and assessed habitat specialization of weeds and of other plant species absent from arable fields. Our results show that many arable weeds are frequently recorded in both arable fields and non-cultivated open habitats and are, on average, more generalist than species absent from arable fields. Surveys encompassing field edges included species also occurring in mesic grasslands and nitrophilous fringes, suggesting spill-over from surrounding habitats. A total of 71.5% of the French weed flora was not captured in plot-based surveys at regional and national scales, and many rare and declining taxa were of Mediterranean origin. This result underlines the importance of implementing conservation measures for specialist plant species that are particularly reliant on arable fields as a habitat, while also pointing out biotic homogenization of agricultural landscapes as a factor in the declining plant diversity of farmed landscapes. Our dataset provides a reference species pool for France, with associated ecological and biogeographical information.

ABSTRACT: Fayoum region is the most fertile agricultural land in Egypt and one of the oldest agricultural city in the world. The present study aimed to determine its weed flora composition and its distribution through different habitats. Results recorded 175 species of vascular plants belonging to 124 genera and 35 families distributed in eight habitats. The richest families were Poaceae, Asteraceae (Compositae) and Fabaceae (Leguminoseae), while genera with the highest number of species were Euphorbia, Amaranthus and Cyperus. Cynodon dactylon and Alhagi graecorum were the present species, recorded at all habitats. Old cultivated lands recorded the highest species number followed by orchard habitats, on the contrast road side and wasteland habitats recorded the lowest species numbers. Therophytes were the dominant life form, while Phanerophytes were the smallest group in this study, 5%. The highest Jaccard similarity index was recorded between healthy land and orchard habitats, which supported also by ward classification.

Oil pumpkin is a major emerging alternative crop with several unresolved weed management questions in central-eastern Europe, one of the focal regions of oil pumpkin production worldwide. This study aims to assess the importance of three groups of factors: environment, non-chemical management (all management excluding herbicides), and chemical weed management, in determining the weed species composition of oil pumpkin crops in Hungary. We surveyed the weed flora of 180 oil pumpkin fields across the country, along with 32 background variables. Applying a minimal adequate model consisting of 18 terms with significant net effects, 30.8% of the total variation in weed species data could be explained. Most variation in species composition was determined by environmental factors, with climatic conditions (precipitation and temperature) being most influential. The net effects of seven non-chemical management variables (preceding crop, N and P fertilisers, seeding rate, crop cover, cultivating tillage, and manual weed control), and two herbicides (S-metolachlor and linuron) were also significant. Variation partitioning demonstrated the dominance of environmental factors, and it also showed that non-chemical management practices accounted for five times more variance than herbicides. Within non-chemical management, the relative impact of cultural variables was nearly five times larger than that of mechanical weed management. Among the abundant weeds, Chenopodium polyspermum and Ambrosia artemisiifolia were positively associated with precipitation, Datura stramonium and Hibiscus trionum correlated with higher temperature, and Chenopodium album favoured larger potassium content of the soil. High seeding rate and crop cover suppressed Amaranthus retroflexus , cultivating tillage reduced Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Setaria pumila , while conspicuous tall weeds like Abutilon theophrasti and Chenopodium album were most vulnerable to manual weed control. Although the short stature of pumpkin with its poor weed-suppressive ability could unfavourably influence the results of some cultural practices, our findings suggest that the weed vegetation of oil pumpkin fields can be efficiently managed also with environmentally benign methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Weed species loss due to intensive agricultural land use has raised the need to understand how traditional cropland management has sustained a diverse weed flora. We evaluated to what extent cultivation practices and environmental conditions affect the weed species composition of a small‐scale farmland mosaic in Central Transylvania (Romania). We recorded the abundance of weed species and 28 environmental, management and site context variables in 299 fields of maize, cereal and stubble. Using redundancy analysis, we revealed 22 variables with significant net effects, which explained 19.2% of the total variation in species composition. Cropland type had the most pronounced effect on weed composition with a clear distinction between cereal crops, cereal stubble and maize crops. Beyond these differences, the environmental context of croplands was a major driver of weed composition, with significant effects of geographic position, altitude, soil parameters (soil pH, texture, salt and humus content, CaCO3, P2O5, K2O, Na and Mg), as well as plot location (edge vs. core position) and surrounding habitat types (arable field, road margin, meadow, fallow, ditch). Performing a variation partitioning for the cropland types one by one, the environmental variables explained most of the variance compared with crop management. In contrast, when all sites were combined across different cropland types, the crop‐specific factors were more important in explaining variance in weed community composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arable field is described as place which contains wreck and water in code of laws. It is intended from wreck is place which is abandoned. Water is main element of housing and agriculture. In addition to this description, arable field also describe as place which is agricultural activities maintained. Arable fields generally registered as depending on a village and were seen as an indivisible part of village economy in Tahrir registers. Thus, arable fields perceived as lands which can do agriculture in addition to inadequate agricultural fields which is based within village boundaries. Definition of arable fields vary according to different regions and conditions of time because of the arable fields gained different features based on changing geographical conditions and economical effects in time. In this study, benefiting basically tahrir registers, it is tried to explain how conditions of time influenced arable fields which were located Bozok (Yozgat), Kırşehir and Niğde when transform to village in XVI century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Basic & Applied Ecology is the property of Urban & Fischer Verlag and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Floristic research on segetal communities was carried out in 2000 on arable fields in the Skierbieszów Landscape Park and its protected zone. Three communities of segetal weeds in cereal crops, and two communities of segetal weeds in root crops were separated in the arable fields of the Skierbieszów Landscape Park. The community Vicietum tetraspermae typicum commonly occurred in cereal crops on brown soils developed from loess soils. The community Echinochloo-Setarietum, which belongs to root crops, was noted in the same habitat. The greatest richness of species was found in Consolido-Brometum and Lamio Veronicetum politae, with the average of 25 species in one record. Both communities were abundant in rare segetal species which are considered to be endangered in our country: Adonis aestivalis, Euphorbia exigua, Lathyrus tuberosus, Muscari comosum, Thlaspi perfoliatum, Veronica polita, Agrostemma githago.

The European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post-2020 timeframe reform will reshape the agriculture land use control procedures from a selected risk fields-based approach into an all-inclusive one. The reform fosters the use of Sentinel data with the objective of enabling greater transparency and comparability of CAP results in different Member States. In this paper, we investigate the analysis of a time series approach using Sentinel-2 images and the suitability of the BFAST (Breaks for Additive Season and Trend) Monitor method to detect changes that correspond to land use anomaly observations in the assessment of agricultural parcel management activities. We focus on identifying certain signs of ineligible (inconsistent) use in permanent meadows and crop fields in one growing season, and in particular those that can be associated with time-defined greenness (vegetation vigor). Depending on the requirements of the BFAST Monitor method and currently time-limited Sentinel-2 dataset for the reliable anomaly study, we introduce customized procedures to support and verify the BFAST Monitor anomaly detection results using the analysis of NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) object-based temporal profiles and time-series standard deviation output, where geographical objects of interest are parcels of particular land use. The validation of land use candidate anomalies in view of land use ineligibilities was performed with the information on declared land annual use and field controls, as obtained in the framework of subsidy granting in Slovenia. The results confirm that the proposed combined approach proves efficient to deal with short time series and yields high accuracy rates in monitoring agricultural parcel greenness. As such it can already be introduced to help the process of agricultural land use control within certain CAP activities in the preparation and adaptation phase.

There is broad consensus that land use/cover has changed in central Europe over millennia. However, few studies have addressed the roles of the anthropogenic (socio-economic) and natural (biophysical) factors driving these changes over shorter periods (e.g., 100 years). In this study, we analyse the determinants of land cover composition at three discrete time periods (c. 1780, 1890, and 2000). We hypothesise that different anthropogenic and natural factors are the determinants of the main land cover types (arable fields, grasslands, and forests) and that the effects of natural and anthropogenic factors on the main land cover types differ among landscapes with highly dynamic and more stable forest-open land distributions. The study was carried out in the Uckermark region located in northeastern Germany. We compiled data on natural and anthropogenic factors (e.g. forest cover and number of inhabitants) of 65 municipalities in four landscape sections of equal size (10 × 10 km). Landscape sections were selected to reflect different dynamics (high/low) in conversion from forest to arable fields or grasslands and vice versa from 1780 to 2000. Averaged linear mixed-effect models explained between 7.5 and 81.2 % of the variance. The unique effect of anthropogenic factors varied from 2.1 to 18.7 % and that of natural factors varied from 0.2 to 43.4 %. In four of six models that included both types of factors, the natural factors were more influential than the anthropogenic factors. Except in three cases, anthropogenic and natural factors showed opposite effects on land cover types in more dynamic and more stable windows. Though the Uckermark region has been influenced by human activity for thousands of years, natural factors were a major determinant of land cover composition during all time periods, whereas anthropogenic factors became more important only during the latest time period under investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural intensification is known to lead to biotic homogenization by selecting against habitat and resource specialist species, but most studies on this phenomenon have been limited to certain parts of the landscape diversity gradient. We aimed to reveal the relationships between functional traits of diurnal Lepidoptera and landscape structure along a wide environmental gradient from nature reserves to intensive farmland in Baden-Württemberg, SW Germany. Butterflies and burnet moths were sampled along 1500 m long transects using 'Pollard walk' in 99 sites. Twenty nature reserves, 39 grassland-dominated and 40 arable-dominated agricultural landscapes were selected as study sites. Landscape structure was assessed within a 100 m buffer around each transect. The RLQ method and the 'fourth-corner' approach were combined to find statistical relationships between environmental factors and functional traits of Lepidoptera. We found a strong environmental gradient determined by landscape diversity and proportion of arable fields. Mobility, voltinism and overwintering stage were significantly correlated with these environmental variables. Butterflies with high mobility, high voltinism and non-larval overwintering stage were most abundant in landscapes with high proportion of arable fields and low landscape diversity. The second environmental gradient explained much less variance and separated less-intensively managed grasslands in nature reserves from conventionally managed grasslands in agricultural landscapes. Habitat specialization was correlated with this gradient as specialist butterflies were more abundant in grasslands in nature reserves. Larval diet breadth was not correlated with any environmental gradient or variable. We conclude that the mobility trait syndrome – comprising mobility, voltinism and overwintering stage – is independent from habitat and resource specialization and plays a primary role in shaping diurnal Lepidoptera communities in intensive agricultural landscapes with high cover of arable fields. We suggest that insect monitoring schemes should include some simple assessment of environmental variables to gain insight into the functioning of ecological communities beyond abundance trend estimations. • We studied functional traits of Lepidoptera along a wide landscape diversity gradient • Mobility and voltinism correlated positively with proportion of arable fields • Larval overwintering stage correlated positively with landscape diversity • Habitat specialization weakly negatively related to land-use intensity of grasslands • Larval diet specialization was not correlated with any environmental variable [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species distribution models ( SDM) are increasingly used to understand the factors that regulate variation in biodiversity patterns and to help plan conservation strategies. However, these models are rarely validated with independently collected data and it is unclear whether SDM performance is maintained across distinct habitats and for species with different functional traits. Highly mobile species, such as bees, can be particularly challenging to model. Here, we use independent sets of occurrence data collected systematically in several agricultural habitats to test how the predictive performance of SDMs for wild bee species depends on species traits, habitat type, and sampling technique. We used a species distribution modeling approach parametrized for the Netherlands, with presence records from 1990 to 2010 for 193 Dutch wild bees. For each species, we built a Maxent model based on 13 climate and landscape variables. We tested the predictive performance of the SDMs with independent datasets collected from orchards and arable fields across the Netherlands from 2010 to 2013, using transect surveys or pan traps. Model predictive performance depended on species traits and habitat type. Occurrence of bee species specialized in habitat and diet was better predicted than generalist bees. Predictions of habitat suitability were also more precise for habitats that are temporally more stable (orchards) than for habitats that suffer regular alterations (arable), particularly for small, solitary bees. As a conservation tool, SDMs are best suited to modeling rarer, specialist species than more generalist and will work best in long-term stable habitats. The variability of complex, short-term habitats is difficult to capture in such models and historical land use generally has low thematic resolution. To improve SDMs' usefulness, models require explanatory variables and collection data that include detailed landscape characteristics, for example, variability of crops and flower availability. Additionally, testing SDMs with field surveys should involve multiple collection techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Question How does the conservation (rarity) value of arable weed communities differ along intensification gradients? Which functional traits best distinguish the weed communities of more and less extensively managed fields? Can the same traits predict the rarity of individual weed species? Location Hungary. Methods Using relevé data from 60 cereal and 70 stubble fields, together with weed trait data, we characterized community responses to arable intensification using functional trait analyses based on trait-convergence and trait-divergence assembly patterns. We also examined how well the broad-scale rarity status of species predicts their occurrence along intensification gradients, and how it maps onto our functional classifications describing intensification responses. Results The response of weeds to intensification in cereal fields was best described by a functional classification based on species' flowering duration, maximum height and seed weight: weeds of extensively managed fields have short flowering seasons (2-5 mo) and particularly large or small seeds. The highest proportions of rare species also happen to be found in these groups. The rarest weeds among these species tend to be late-winter and early-summer annuals, while the rare species of stubble fields tend to be broad-leaved with low nitrogen requirements, small seeds and short height. Stubble fields showed a decline in weed cover with increasing application of fertilizer and distance from the field edge, but we could detect no strong associations of management factors with trait composition, perhaps because the intensification gradient across these fields was shorter. Conclusions Many rare Hungarian weeds are associated with traditional extensive farming practices. They are particularly characterized by short, midsummer flowering periods and by preference for low nitrogen levels, but a range of trait syndromes must be considered to understand their ecology and conservation. Analyses based on trait-divergence patterns, rather than trait-convergence patterns, provide better insights into the functional composition of weed communities, emphasizing the importance of disruptive filters in weed community assembly and the need for improved methods to detect such effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sampling proficiency test is evaluated to analyze the influence of soil heterogeneity and sampling parameters on sampling error of nutrient contents. The influence of parameters on sampling error was assessed by multiple linear regression, regression tree analysis, and variance component analysis (VCA). Error was governed mainly by heterogeneity. Among sampling parameters, the number of increment samples had the largest influence. VCA revealed that the component between sampling repetitions was larger than the component between samplers. This suggests a predominance of heterogeneity for the influence on sampling error, increasing with field-scale heterogeneity. Sampling patterns of low complexity seemed sufficient for the homogeneous field, whereas sampling performance was enhanced by more complex sampling pattern on fields of intermediate and high heterogeneity. Overall, the results suggest that sampling error on arable fields sampled with simplified sampling schemes is often determined by soil heterogeneity and to a lesser degree by sampling parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Multivariate analysis of data obtained from 184 cereal and stubble fields in low-input agricultural systems located in western Hungary was undertaken in order to asses environmental factors affecting weed species composition. For each variable, the gross and net effect on weed species composition was calculated. All variables considered in this study had a significant effect on weed species composition and explained 26.99% of the total variation. Most variation in species composition was explained by the aspect (cereal vs. stubble), followed by soil pH, mean annual precipitation, soil texture, mean annual temperature, and altitude. Separating the cereals and stubbles soil pH became the most important factor. Our results suggest that during the long vegetation period, cereal weed communities dominated by winter annuals are replaced by stubble-field weed communities dominated by summer annuals. This seasonal change may also have the same important effect on weed species composition as crop types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The protection of rare arable weeds and the restoration of biodiversity in agroecosystems have become an important issue in most European countries. Traditional analyses of weed dispersal focussing on the prediction and control of infestations have to be adapted to the new aim of restoration ecology by quantifying chances of re-colonisation within fields and across field borders. This study analyses within-field spread of weeds under usual arable cultivation whereas between-field colonisation usually not aided by machinery was simulated in undisturbed controls. The experiments were conducted on an arable farm in the central German lowlands 6 years after conversion to organic management. The test species, Lithospermum arvense and Silene noctiflora, have declined in recent decades but belong to the characteristic weed community. Dispersal was analysed by recording seedling emergence around patches of introduced mother plants where the species were absent. Negative exponential models provided a good fit of the dispersal curves from the mode outward. In the “arable” treatment, the percentage seedlings - distance regression line fell below 0.5% at 5m, in the control this level was reached at a distance of about 2m indicating that long-distance dispersal is a rare event. Cultivation increased the peak distance of the dispersal curves significantly whereas the slope of the curves from the mode outward was hardly affected. Despite different fruit and propagule morphology, seed shadows of both species were very similar. Spatial distribution of the seedlings in the arable treatment occurred along the axis of management and against the prevailing wind direction. The results may help to improve targeting subsidies in agri-environment schemes and assessing the need for re-introduction by sowing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Accelerated eutrophication of surface water is often caused by high phosphorus (P) losses from agricultural fields. Long-term measurements of P concentrations from arable fields are therefore important for understanding of processes and key factors behind losses. Unfortunately, long-time series are difficult to compare due to high variablity, non-normal distribution, precipitation variability and flow relatedness. The objective was to use locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (LOWESS) and Seasonal Kendall Test to account for discharge effects on concentrations of P forms and suspended soil material, and to identify trends for seven agricultural fields included in a Swedish water quality monitoring program. Soil P content and sorption capacity governed concentrations and losses of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP). Other factors, such as preferential flow may influence the importance of these factors. Suspended soil material and unreactive phosphorus (UP) concentrations in water discharge depended on soil texture, slope of the field and total soil P content. Statistically significant trends in concentrations of different P forms were found for two fields. These trends are probably a consequence of changes in P additions and soils P saturation levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We compared the effects of different low-input farming systems on carabids and spiders. The study was performed in a 3-year field survey using a paired-farm approach in six different landscapes units in northwestern Switzerland considering also the nearby semi-natural habitats. Carabids and spiders were sampled in 24 winter cereal crops and 18 semi-natural habitats using five funnel pitfall traps per site. Considering all cereal sites, in low-input ICM fields (= no insecticides, fungicides and growth regulators; ICM: Integrated crop management) 36% less carabids and 8% less spider specimens were found. In several cases, carabid populations of organic fields were significantly richer in species and abundance than in the low-input integrated crop management farmed plots. Endangered, stenoceous carabids (e.g. xero-thermophilous) and top-predators were more abundant in the organic fields. Spider communities differed less in mean number of species and abundance between the two low-input agricultural systems. Multivariate analysis showed that farming method and weed abundance were significant factors altering the carabid fauna and weed diversity influence spider fauna. Wolfspiders such as Pardosa agrestis, P. palustris and Trochosa ruricola seem to be enhanced by organic management. Linyphiids (Erigone atra, Oedothorax apicatus) were more abundant in low-input ICM fields. Several carabid species and wolfspiders which have their main distribution in semi-natural habitats occurred more abundant in organic fields. This indicates that seminatural ha-bitats in combination with organic farming may be an important factor for the conservation and enhancement of the species rich assemblages on agricultural land. Auswirkungen von zwei extensiven Anbausystemen auf die Laufkäfer- und Spinnenfauna wurden unter Berücksichtigung der im Umfeld liegenden naturnahen Habitate untersucht. Sechs vergleichbare Paarbetriebe in sechs Landschaften der Nord-Westschweiz wurden während einer 3-jährigen Untersuchung dazu ausgewählt. Die epigäischen Nutzarthropoden wurden mittels 5 Trichterbodenfallen in 24 Wintergetreideflächen und 18 naturnahen Flächen erfasst. Über alle Ackerstandorte betrachtet wurden in den extensiv, integriert (IP) bewirtschafteten Getreideflächen (keine Anwendung von Fungiziden, Insektiziden und Wachstumsregulatoren) 36% weniger Laufkäfer und 8% weniger Spinnentiere gefunden. In einigen Vergleichsfällen waren die durchschnittliche Artenvielfalt und Aktivitätsdichte der Laufkäfer in den biologisch bewirtschafteten Wintergetreideflächen signifikant höher als in den IP-Extenso Flächen. Gefährdete, stenöke (z.B. xero-thermophile) Laufkäferarten und Top-Prädatoren waren in den biologisch bewirtschafteten Flächen zahlreicher. Bei der Spinnenfauna ergaben sich weniger deutliche Unterschiede betreffend durchschnittlicher Artenzahl und Aktivitätsdichte. Multivariate Analysen zeigten, dass die Anbaumethode und die Dichte der Begleitflora die Laufkäfer signifkant beeinflussende Faktoren waren. Bei den Spinnen erwies sich die Begleifloravielfalt als signifikanter Faktor. Wolfspinnen wie Pardosa agrestis, P. palustris und Trochosa ruricola wurden durch die biologische Bewirtschaftung gefördert. Linyphiiden hingegen wie Erigone atra, Oedothorax apicatus waren in den IP-Extenso Flächen zahlreicher. Verschiedene Laufkäfer- und Wolfspinnenarten, die hautpsächlich in naturnahen Flächen vorkommen, kamen in den Biogetreideflächen zahlreicher vor. Dies zeigt, dass naturnahe Flächen in Kombination mit biologischem Anbau einen wesentlichen Faktor für die Erhaltung und Förderung von artenreichen Gemeinschaften darstellen kann. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Four surface flow constructed wetlands (CWs) have been intensively investigated for phosphorus retention, from 3 to 7 years in the cold temperate climate of Norway. The aim of this study was to identify factors that affect phosphorus retention from non-point sources. The wetlands were located in first order streams, with surface areas of 0.06–0.4% of the watershed (CW-area 350–900 m2). Volume proportional composite samples were taken from inlet and outlet, and sedimentation plates were used in selected areas. The average retention of total phosphorus for the individual CWs was 21–44% of input, despite the high hydraulic load (mean load was 0.7–1.8 m per day). This equals a retention of 26–71 g phosphorus m−2 surface area per year. A first-order model was fitted to the data giving an average removal constant, k, of 214 m per year. However, the constant increased with increasing hydraulic load due to the simultaneous increase particle settling velocity. Hence, retention increased in spite of increasing hydraulic loads. Moreover, linear multiple regression models showed that retention was influenced by several external variables, e.g. input of phosphorus, season, phosphorus content on suspended solids and phosphorus settling velocity. The results suggest that the first-order model is less suitable to estimate phosphorus retention in similar gravity fed wetlands. The best of the proposed statistical prediction models, reproduced observed data from two independent test-CWs with a deviation of 0.1%. The investigation shows that small wetlands are a useful supplement to best management practice on arable fields. However, the present study focuses on the necessity to investigate how pollutants enter wetlands. Such knowledge can then be used to suggest improvements of wetland layout. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The presence of earthworms in relation to clay soil structure problems in arable fields in the Flevopolders (the Netherlands) was studied. Recently, farmers in this area have had difficulty in harvesting potatoes in predominantly wet years. After a dry period, soil particles in the top layer of the potato ridges form a platy structure and are difficult to sieve. Locally, this resulted in many clods, and sometimes harvesting proved impossible. In the field, significantly more earthworms (mainly Aporrectodea caliginosa and A. rosea) were observed in the problem parts than in the non-problem parts. A macrocosm study showed significantly more settlement and soil stickiness and an increasing number of large clods caused by greater numbers of A. caliginosa. The results of this study reveal earthworms to be the main factor affecting the state of the soil and causing the harvesting problems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]