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A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecosystem, Environment and Climate Change in Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 October 2023) | Viewed by 27532

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Dr. Mirna Velki

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Department of Biology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek 31000, Croatia
Interests: ecotoxicology; biomarkers; environment; pesticides; metals; earthworm; fish; birds

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Growing demand for food is accompanied by the increasing application of different agricultural practices in order to fulfill this demand. From the extensive use of agricultural machinery and the utilization of technologies like selective breeding and biofortification to the application of different agro-chemicals, all these practices directly affect the environment. The disturbance and contamination of soil, which is considered a non-renewable resource, may lead to losses in biodiversity, but also negatively affect soil fertility and compromise its ecosystem service as a food-providing resource. Not only soil is affected, but indeed all environmental compartments, considering the fact that agro-chemicals are dispersed in the air and end up in different water bodies. Improvements in food production are necessary, but it is also important to be aware of their effects on the environment in order to be able to reduce the harmful consequences.

The focus of this Special Issue is on the effects of different agricultural practices on the environment. This broad topic involves the investigation of effects of mechanization, selective breeding and improvement of the nutritional content of crops, the application of mineral fertilizers and pesticides, and any other kind of agricultural practice on the affected biota. Studies from diverse research fields are welcomed, and both original research articles and reviews are accepted.

Dr. Mirna Velki
Guest Editor

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Keywords

agricultural practices
environment
mechanization
selective breeding
biofortification
mineral fertilizers
pesticides
soil
water
biota

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 2571 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biochemical Indicators and Mortality in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Workers after Oral Exposure to Plant Protection Products and Their Mixtures

by Paweł Migdał, Agnieszka Murawska, Ewelina Berbeć, Karol Zarębski, Natalia Ratajczak, Adam Roman and Krzysztof Latarowski

Agriculture 2024, 14(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14010005 - 20 Dec 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2056

Abstract

The honey bee obtains food from bee forage, which comprises crops grown in multi-hectare agricultural fields where various types of plant protection products such as pesticides are used. Some of these negatively affect the honey bee organism. In our research, we aimed to evaluate the effects of three pesticide groups: fungicides (tebuconazole), insecticides (acetamiprid), herbicides (glyphosate), and their mixtures on the functioning of honey bee workers (A. mellifera carnica). Pesticides in various proportions and dilutions were added to sugar syrups and then fed to the bees. Mortality and food intake were recorded daily, while hemolymph analysis was performed after seven days of exposure. Food intake, mortality, and the results of various biochemical analyses differed between the experimental group and the control group receiving untreated sugar syrup. PPP’s mixture of glyphosate tebuconazole and acetamiprid is more toxic to bees than single pesticides. Certain protection products such as pesticides can disrupt the antioxidant and detoxification systems associated with immunity in honey bees. Consequently, honey bees experience weaker conditions and their proper functioning deteriorates. The results obtained from biochemical changes provide a basis for field studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Agricultural Practices on the Environment)

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17 pages, 1904 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Visitation of Apis mellifera L. in Runner Bean (Phaseolus coccineus L.) and Its Exposure to Seasonal Agrochemicals in Agroecosystems

by Izabela Kot, Magdalena Lisecka, Katarzyna Kmieć, Katarzyna Golan, Edyta Górska-Drabik, Tomasz Kiljanek, Beata Zimowska and Barbara Skwaryło-Bednarz

Agriculture 2023, 13(11), 2138; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13112138 - 13 Nov 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1828

Abstract

Plant species and abiotic factors including season appear to be the most important variables influencing the frequency of visits by honeybees (Apis mellifera L.). In the present study, we evaluated the activity of honeybee workers visiting runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus L.) local cultivar ‘Piękny Jaś’. The runner beans are widely cultivated in south-eastern Poland, and are an important forage plant for honeybees in agroecosystems. We aimed at a comprehensive monitoring of the health of colonies and symptoms in A. mellifera in response to acute exposure to pesticides. The most numerous visits of A. mellifera were observed at the highest flower opening of the runner bean. A very weak positive correlation was observed between the number of honeybees on P. coccineus, the number of visited flowers, the time spent per flower and air temperature. The visitation rates of honeybees were more frequent at mid-day and decreased after 15:00. Signs of poisoning were detected in two out of seven apiaries monitored for acute pesticide exposure symptoms on runner bean plantations. The analysis of dead honeybee samples revealed the acute exposure of honeybees to the imidacloprid (neonicotinoid) and chlorpyrifos (organophosphorus) insecticides, which are highly toxic and banned in the European Union. Hazard quotient (HQ) screening showed an elevated burden of imidacloprid and chlorpyrifos corresponding to 7.1% and 10% of the LDD₅₀, respectively, most likely indicating bee poisoning due to chronic exposure to these substances with contaminated food. Noteworthy was the presence of three fungicides that could pose a risk of poisoning in honeybees. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Agricultural Practices on the Environment)

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11 pages, 1068 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Tebuconazole on the Earthworm Dendrobaena veneta: Full Life Cycle Approach

by Marija Kovačević, Nikolina Stjepanović, Luca Zelić and Željka Lončarić

Agriculture 2023, 13(11), 2119; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13112119 - 8 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1555

Abstract

Tebuconazole (TEB), a widely used triazole fungicide, is effective against soil-borne and foliar fungal pathogens. Toxicants can exhibit varying effects depending on the life stage of organisms, although standard toxicity tests typically focus on adult individuals. This study aimed to assess TEB’s potential adverse effects on the earthworm Dendrobaena veneta throughout its life cycle. Effects were evaluated by exposing cocoons to varying TEB concentrations, monitoring hatching, newly hatched juvenile mass, and growth to adulthood. A reproduction test assessed impacts on adults, offering insights into how these results compared with cocoon exposure findings. Results revealed that TEB delayed hatching at concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg by 6, 8, and 15.5 days, respectively. Newly hatched juveniles exhibited a 15.96% (50 mg/kg) and 27.37% (100 mg/kg) reduction in body mass compared to controls, with no subsequent compensation during growth. Results from the reproduction tests showed no adverse effects on adult survival, but the effects are observed on juveniles, indicating a higher sensitivity of this developmental stage. While several adverse effects were observed, it is important to note that these occurred at concentrations exceeding recommended application rates. TEB appears safe for earthworms when used correctly, but the presence of multiple contaminants and stressors warrants consideration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Agricultural Practices on the Environment)

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15 pages, 2664 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Cropping Systems on Environmental Impact Associated with Winter Wheat Production—An LCA “Cradle to Farm Gate” Approach

by Chisenga Emmanuel Mukosha, Jan Moudrý, Magdaléna Lacko-Bartošová, Lucia Lacko-Bartošová, Festus Onyebuchi Eze, Reinhard W. Neugschwandtner, Elnaz Amirahmadi, Jiří Lehejček and Jaroslav Bernas

Agriculture 2023, 13(11), 2068; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13112068 - 27 Oct 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2937

Abstract

The demand for wheat production is increasing and is associated with environmental effects. To sustain the increased demand, there is a need to find sustainable methods of wheat production. The choice of cropping system can significantly affect the environmental burden of agricultural production systems. This study presents the results of monitoring emission loads resulting from winter wheat cultivation under different cropping systems: organic unfertilized (ORG), organic fertilized (ORG-F), conventional unfertilized (CON), and conventional fertilized (CON-F). The system boundaries include all the processes from “cradle to farm gate” and the functional unit was 1 kg of wheat grain. The primary data were obtained from experimental field trials and secondary data from Ecoinvent v3.5, WFLDB, and Agri-footprint v5.0 databases. The results of this study are related to eight impact categories. The SimaPro 9.2.0.1 software and ReCiPe Midpoint (H) V1.13/Europe Recipe H were used for calculation. The results show that fertilized variants recorded higher environmental impacts compared to the unfertilized variants. The results indicate that ORG-F was more environmentally friendly compared to the CON-F variant at the expense of lower yields. Overall, ORG imposes the lowest environmental impact and is deemed to be more environmentally friendly. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Agricultural Practices on the Environment)

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18 pages, 2528 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Morpho-Physiological and Antioxidative Responses of Wheat Seedlings to Different Forms of Selenium

by Ana Vuković Popović, Ivna Štolfa Čamagajevac, Rosemary Vuković, Magdalena Matić, Dharmendra K. Gupta and Zdenko Lončarić

Agriculture 2023, 13(8), 1632; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13081632 - 19 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1794

Abstract

Selenium (Se) deficiency in human and animal nutrition is primarily due to low levels of Se in soils. It can be prevented by enriching crops, such as wheat, with Se through agronomic biofortification. Although Se is not essential for plants, it shows a dual effect on their metabolism depending on its concentration. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of five different concentrations (0.4, 4, 20, 40, and 400 mg/kg) of selenate and selenite on the oxidative status and antioxidative response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Kraljica) shoots and roots. According to morpho-physiological analyses, selenite was found to have a lower toxicity threshold than selenate. The measurement of oxidative stress biomarkers showed that Se did not cause oxidative damage to wheat seedlings due to the activation of detoxification mechanisms at the biochemical level, which depended on the type of tissue, concentration, and form of applied Se. Treatment with 20 mg/kg of selenate can be recommended for wheat seedling biofortification due to a sufficient increase in Se accumulation in shoots without signs of toxicity. These results contribute to a better understanding of wheat seedlings’ physiological and biochemical responses to Se and the development of more effective biofortification strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Agricultural Practices on the Environment)

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15 pages, 1238 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Temporal Dynamics of Biomarker Response in Folsomia candida Exposed to Azoxystrobin

by Marija Kovačević, Nikolina Stjepanović, Luca Zelić and Željka Lončarić

Agriculture 2023, 13(7), 1443; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13071443 - 21 Jul 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1649

Abstract

Azoxystrobin (AZO) is widely used to prevent and treat fungal diseases in important crops but can also impact non-target organisms, including mammals, amphibians, aquatic, and soil organisms. Collembolans play important roles in ecosystems as decomposers, fungal feeders, and regulators of microbes. This study aimed to investigate the effects of AZO on Collembola Folsomia candida using a reproduction test and assess biomarker responses over different time intervals (3, 5, 7, 14, and 28 days). Results showed AZO negatively affected reproduction at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 mg_./kg, resulting in decreases of 48.3%, 64.5%, and 81.3%, respectively, compared to the control. Adult survival remained unaffected. The estimated EC50 (reproduction) in artificial soil was 61.28 mg kg⁻¹. Biomarker responses varied with concentration and time. Protein and glycogen concentrations increased with exposure time, while lipid content was affected initially but returned to control levels by day 28. Oxidative stress biomarkers (CAT, SOD, GST, TBARS) indicated AZO induced oxidative stress, intensifying over time. After 28 days, MDA concentrations were significantly elevated compared to the control, suggesting the antioxidant system is overwhelmed which caused damage to lipid membranes. This study showed that azoxystrobin caused negative effects at molecular and population level on non-target species of Collembola. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Agricultural Practices on the Environment)

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18 pages, 6383 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamics of Biomass and Carbon Stocks during Reforestation on Abandoned Agricultural Lands in Southern Ural Region

by Nikolay Fedorov, Pavel Shirokikh, Svetlana Zhigunova, Elvira Baisheva, Ilshat Tuktamyshev, Ilnur Bikbaev, Mikhail Komissarov, Gleb Zaitsev, Raphak Giniyatullin, Ilyusya Gabbasova, Ruslan Urazgildin, Aleksey Kulagin, Ruslan Suleymanov, Dilara Gabbasova, Albert Muldashev and Shamil Maksyutov

Agriculture 2023, 13(7), 1427; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13071427 - 19 Jul 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2262

Abstract

Due to the global increase in CO₂ in the atmosphere, studies focusing on the carbon balance in forest ecosystems are currently particularly relevant. Abandoned agricultural lands could provide an important contribution to carbon sequestration in many parts of the world. In the broad-leaved forest zone of the Cis-Ural (Southern Ural region, Russia), the carbon sequestration dynamics in the biomass of woody and herbaceous plants, as well as in the litter and soil on abandoned arable lands repopulated with silver birch (Betula pendula), was studied. The data were collected on 35 round (with diameter of 30 m) sample plots located within communities representing the different stages of reforestation with tree stands aged 3 to 30 years. It was found that the carbon content of the stem wood and herbaceous understory did not depend on the succession stages, which largely corresponds to the literature data. The carbon content in root biomass and soil organic matter increased along with the growth of tree stands. While the forest stand grew, the carbon content in the grey forest soil increased from 2.5 to 4.4%, and in the more fertile dark grey forest soil it changed only slightly. The carbon deposition by the forest stands on the sample plots located on the dark grey forest soils was higher than on grey forest soils. The average rate of carbon sequestration in the tree stand was 2.7 t/ha/year. Most mature, 25–30-years-old silver birch tree stands provided the highest average annual increase in tree biomass and the rate of carbon sequestration evaluated was 9 t/ha/year. Also, the carbon pool in the 30 cm soil layer was 2.7 times greater than in the tree stand. It was concluded that abandoned agricultural lands overgrowing by forest in the Cis-Ural are promising for carbon sequestration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Agricultural Practices on the Environment)

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16 pages, 2512 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Photosynthetic Efficiency and Antioxidative Response of Soybean Exposed to Selective Herbicides: A Field Study

by Lidija Begović, Nikola Jurišić, Martina Šrajer Gajdošik, Alma Mikuška and Selma Mlinarić

Agriculture 2023, 13(7), 1385; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13071385 - 12 Jul 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2687

Abstract

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is one of the most economically important crops in the world due to its nutritional value. To optimize soybean growth and yield, a wide range of commercial herbicides intended for weed control in crops are used. Although the herbicides used are selective, they can still cause oxidative stress and disturb photosynthetic reactions in soybean crops. In this work, the influence of commercial selective herbicides for weed control on the photosynthetic efficiency and antioxidative response of two soybean cultivars was investigated. The parameters describing the photosynthetic performance of soybean were derived by measuring in vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence while the antioxidative response was evaluated by determining activities of the selected antioxidative enzymes and parameters of oxidative stress at different development stages. The results showed a different response of the two soybean cultivars to herbicide treatment. Both investigated soybean cultivars showed that herbicide treatment did not cause oxidative damage. However, they revealed different adaptation mechanisms of photosynthetic apparatus. A negative impact of herbicide application was observed mainly on the electron transport chain in both varieties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Agricultural Practices on the Environment)

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16 pages, 1741 KiB

Open AccessArticle

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) Nestlings Affected by Agricultural Practices? Assessment of Integrated Biomarker Responses

by Dora Bjedov, Mirna Velki, Lucija Sara Kovačić, Lidija Begović, Ivan Lešić, Luka Jurinović, Tibor Mikuska, Mirta Sudarić Bogojević, Sandra Ečimović and Alma Mikuška

Agriculture 2023, 13(5), 1045; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13051045 - 12 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1988

Abstract

The present study assessed the effect of agricultural practices on biomarker response in white stork (Ciconia ciconia) nestlings from continental Croatia. During the breeding season of 2022, blood was sampled (n = 54) from the landfill Jakuševec and the agricultural areas Baranja and Srijem. Different patterns of biomarker response in regard to the sampling site were detected. Results demonstrate the presence of inhibitory pollutants from the landfill Jakuševec and agricultural area Baranja, which is reflected in lower cholinesterase (ChE) activity. Oxidative stress biomarkers show different responses concerning study sites. Glutathione reductase (GR) activity was higher in Baranja and Srijem, suggesting a different mixture of pollutants inducing an antioxidative response. Leachate from the landfill Jakuševec is suspected to affect the white stork nestlings by elevating the concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS). An environmental combination of pollutants appears to induce oxidative stress in white stork nestlings. In addition to agricultural practices, white stork nestlings may also be under environmental pressure from the surrounding pollution. Further research is warranted to include additional chemical analysis to associate the environmental concentrations with the potential adverse effects in apex predators, such as the white stork. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Agricultural Practices on the Environment)

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12 pages, 2132 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Carbon Emissions from Agricultural Inputs in China over the Past Three Decades

by Shixiong Song, Siyuan Zhao, Ye Zhang and Yongxi Ma

Agriculture 2023, 13(5), 919; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13050919 - 22 Apr 2023

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4391

Abstract

Global warming has become one of the major threats to the security of human survival, security, and sustainable development. Agricultural production has been widely suspected as one of the main sources of anthropogenic carbon emissions. Analyzing the changing characteristics and influencing factors of agricultural carbon emissions is of great significance for the mitigation of global climate change and the sustainable development in agriculture. Taking China, a large agricultural country, as an example, this study used the empirical model to quantify carbon emissions from agricultural inputs from 1991 to 2019, and analyzed the driving factors using ridge regression. We found that agricultural carbon emissions in China have been on the rise in the past 30 years, but at a markedly slower pace. From 2008 to 2019, the average annual growth rate of agricultural carbon emissions was 1.47%, down significantly from 2.92% between 1991 and 2007. The carbon emissions per unit of planting area showed an overall increasing trend, which grew from 179.35 t ce/km² to 246.26 t ce/km², with an average annual growth rate of 1.13%. The carbon emissions per unit of agricultural output mainly showed a decreasing trend, which decreased from 0.52 kg ce/CNY to 0.06 kg ce/CNY, with an average annual rate of change of −7.42%. China’s agricultural carbon emissions were closely related to macro-policies. Fertilizer inputs, agricultural industry structure, and energy use intensity were significantly positively correlated with carbon emission intensity. The degree of urban feedback to rural areas, public investment in agriculture, and large-scale planting were significantly negatively correlated with carbon emission intensity, but the impacts of these factors had a “lag effect”. In order to reduce carbon emissions from agriculture and promote development in green agriculture, we suggest that the government should further increase the degree of urban feedback to rural and public investment in the agricultural sector. In addition, large-scale agricultural production should be encouraged to increase resource efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Agricultural Practices on the Environment)

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15 pages, 2003 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Subcellular Responses and Avoidance Behavior in Earthworm Eisenia andrei Exposed to Pesticides in the Artificial Soil

by Carina Lackmann, Antonio Šimić, Sandra Ečimović, Alma Mikuška, Thomas-Benjamin Seiler, Henner Hollert and Mirna Velki

Agriculture 2023, 13(2), 271; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13020271 - 22 Jan 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2861

Abstract

Earthworms are key organisms of the soil ecosystem and bioindicators for soil quality. While pesticides are used for the improvement of crop yields, they also present a burden for soil organisms. To understand the complex effects of pesticides on soil organisms, it is important to test these effects in soil exposures to include influences of the soil matrix on the toxicity. Therefore, the aim of this study was the assessment of the effects pesticides on earthworm Eisenia andrei. In an initial screening, active ingredients and commercial preparations were tested for comparison. Since the commercial preparations showed a higher toxicity, all further investigations (biomarkers, multixenobiotic resistance (MXR) activity, and avoidance behavior) were performed using the commercial pesticide formulations only: Sumialfa (esfenvalerate), Calypso (thiacloprid), Frontier (dimethenamid-p), and Filon (prosulfocarb). Significant differences in avoidance behavior were observed for Filon and Frontier. All pesticides inhibited the MXR activity and affected oxidative stress-related markers. Frontier was the only pesticide that did not affect enzymatic biomarkers related to neurotransmission. The results show the potential hazards associated with the usage of the tested pesticides and the importance of evaluating the effects of commercial pesticide preparations for a more realistic insight into the adverse effects on the environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Agricultural Practices on the Environment)

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