Search Results (71)

This on-farm study evaluated the effects of a regenerative (plant polyculture) as compared to conventional (monoculture) pasture-based New Zealand dairy production system on milk and yoghurt nutraceutical properties and environmental impact. Milk and yoghurt produced by two adjacent regenerative and conventional farms were sampled throughout the year and analyzed for chemical composition, metabolomics, and microbiome. Milk samples were also collected over four consecutive days (one day after herbage sampling) on four occasions throughout lactation: early lactation (October), peak lactation (December/January), mid-lactation (March), and late lactation (May). Overall, the regenerative system had a lower environmental impact while maintaining a similar yield and the same milk composition compared to conventional systems. Furthermore, milk and yoghurt from the regenerative system had a more favourable profile of phytochemical antioxidants with potential positive benefits to human health (anti-inflammatory and antioxidant). Full article

We propose a data-efficient framework for automating sowing operations by agricultural robots in densely mixed polyculture environments. This study addresses the challenge of enabling robots to identify suitable sowing positions with minimal labeled data by integrating image-based field sensing with expert agricultural knowledge. We collected 84 RGB-depth images from seven field sites, labeled by synecological farming practitioners of varying proficiency levels, and trained a regression model to estimate optimal sowing positions and seeding quantities. The model’s predictions were comparable to those of intermediate-to-advanced practitioners across diverse field conditions. To implement this estimation in practice, we mounted a Kinect v2 sensor on a robot arm and integrated its 3D spatial data with axis-specific movement control. We then applied a trajectory optimization algorithm based on the traveling salesman problem to generate efficient sowing paths. Simulated trials incorporating both computation and robotic control times showed that our method reduced sowing operation time by 51% compared to random planning. These findings highlight the potential of interpretable, low-data machine learning models for rapid adaptation to complex agroecological systems and demonstrate a practical approach to combining structured human expertise with sensor-based automation in biodiverse farming environments. Full article

China leads global carp aquaculture (farming of species within the family Cyprinidae), producing 20 million tons annually in a sector shaped by favorable policies, infrastructure, and innovation. Carp farming in China is rooted in millennia of traditional practices and transformative post-1978 economic reforms. This review synthesizes the historical trajectory, technological advancements, policy frameworks, and sustainability challenges shaping China’s carp aquaculture sector. Historically, carp polyculture systems, developed during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE), laid the foundation for resource-efficient practices. Modern intensification, driven by state-led policies, genetic innovations, and feed-based systems, enabled unprecedented growth. However, rapid expansion has exacerbated environmental trade-offs, including nutrient pollution, habitat loss, and antibiotic resistance, while socioeconomic disparities, aging labor forces, and market volatility threaten sectoral resilience. Policy shifts since the 2000s prioritize ecological sustainability, exemplified by effluent regulations, wetland restoration, and green technologies. Despite progress, challenges persist in reconciling economic viability with environmental safeguards. Key success factors include long-term policy support, smallholder capacity building, vertically integrated supply chains, product differentiation, and adaptive management. With balanced policies emphasizing economic, social, and environmental sustainability, carp aquaculture can enhance domestic food and nutrition security. China’s experience showcases the potential of aquaculture to bolster food security but highlights the urgent need to harmonize productivity with ecological and social equity to ensure long-term resilience. Lessons from China’s model offer actionable insights for global aquaculture systems navigating similar sustainability imperatives. Full article

Integrated aquaculture–agriculture systems (IAASs) offer a sustainable approach to mitigating soil salinity by utilizing aquaculture effluents for irrigation. This study evaluates the growth performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and red tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) under varying salinity conditions and investigates their effluents on intercropped wheat and sugar beet. A field experiment was conducted using a randomized block design with seven treatments: control (chemical fertilizers dissolved in freshwater) and brackish water effluents from Nile tilapia and red tilapia at salinities of 5 ppt and 10 ppt as monocultures or mixed polycultures. Fish growth parameters were assessed, while wheat and sugar beet morphological and yield traits were monitored. Statistical analyses, including correlation and principal component analysis, were performed. Red tilapia outperformed Nile tilapia at 10 ppt salinity, achieving the highest final weight (174.52 ± 0.01 g/fish) and weight gain (165.78 ± 0.01 g/fish), while the mixed polyculture at 10 ppt exhibited optimal feed conversion (FCR: 1.32 ± 0.01). Wheat growth and yield traits (plant height, stalk diameter, and panicle weight) declined significantly under salinity stress, with 10 ppt treatments reducing plant height by ~57% compared to the control. Conversely, sugar beet demonstrated resilience, with total soluble solids (TSS) increasing by 20–30% under salinity. The mixed effluent partially mitigated salinity effects on wheat at 5 ppt but not at 10 ppt. This study highlights the potential of IAAS in saline environments, demonstrating red tilapia’s adaptability and sugar beet’s resilience to salinity stress. In contrast, wheat suffered significant reductions in growth and yield. Full article

This study systematically deciphers a comprehensive analysis of biochemical and sensory variations in Takifugu obscurus, evaluating the seasonal dynamics, salinity gradients (0 and 3‰), and nutritional regimes on quality determinants in aquaculture. To the best of our knowledge, the mechanistic links between cultivation factors and organoleptic quality were first established through integrative biochemical profiling, including proximate composition, free amino acids, taste-active nucleotides, and mineral ions, coupled with quantitative sensory evaluation. The results revealed that spring samples exhibit 44.7% higher inosine monophosphate than that of autumn and 92.8% elevated ATP, correlating with superior umami-kokumi attributes. Salinity adaptation drove metabolic trade-offs: freshwater cultivation amplified flavor-enhancing amino acids, while brackish systems prioritized ionic precision. Short-term fasting induced alanine accumulation without sensory compromise, demonstrating nutritional plasticity. Polyculture compatibility was evidenced by negligible quality divergence from monoculture, despite enhanced productivity. These insights advance sustainable aquaculture through science-driven strategies that harmonize ecological resilience, economic viability, and culinary excellence in commercial Takifugu obscurus production. Full article

Human-caused habitat conversion, degradation, and climate change threaten global biodiversity, particularly in tropical forests where vascular epiphytes—non-parasitic plants growing on other plants—may be especially vulnerable. Epiphytes play vital ecological roles, in nutrient cycling and by providing habitat, but are disproportionately affected by land-use changes due to their reliance on host trees and specific microclimatic conditions. While tree species in secondary forests recover relatively quickly, epiphyte recolonization is slower, especially in humid montane regions, where species richness may decline by up to 96% compared to primary or old-growth forests. A review of nearly 300 pertinent studies has revealed a geographic bias toward the Neotropics, with limited research from tropical Asia, Africa, and temperate regions. The studies can be grouped into four main areas: 1. trade, use and conservation, 2. ecological effects of climate and land-use change, 3. diversity in human-modified habitats, and 4. responses to disturbance. In agricultural and timber plantations, particularly those using exotic species like pine and eucalyptus, epiphyte diversity is significantly reduced. In contrast, most native tree species and shade-grown agroforestry systems support higher species richness. Traditional polycultures with dense canopy cover maintain up to 88% of epiphyte diversity, while intensive management practices, such as epiphyte removal in coffee and cacao plantations, cause substantial biodiversity losses. Conservation strategies should prioritize preserving old-growth forests, maintaining forest fragments, and minimizing intensive land management. Active restoration, including the translocation of fallen epiphytes and planting vegetation nuclei, is more effective than passive approaches. Future research should include long-term monitoring to understand epiphyte dynamics and assess the broader impacts of epiphyte loss on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Full article

The nitrogen budget and the effects of varying densities of sea grape (Caulerpa lentillifera) on water quality and the growth performance of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) in a polyculture system were evaluated. Four treatments were tested, each stocked with 20 fish (average weight: ~20 g; density: 2.66 kg/m³). Treatment 1 (control) contained no sea grapes, while treatments 2, 3, and 4 included 100, 200, and 400 g of sea grapes, corresponding to 0, 667 g/m³, 1333 g/m³, and 2666 g/m³, respectively. Significant (p < 0.05) reductions in total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), total suspended solids (TSS), and turbidity were observed with increasing sea grape density; however, no significant differences (p > 0.05) were found among the three sea grape treatments. Higher sea grape densities increased nitrite (NO₂–N) and nitrate (NO₃–N) concentrations due to enhanced nitrification. Approximately 65% of the nitrogen input originated from feed, but only 47.78–48.96% was assimilated into fish biomass. Nitrogen losses included 1.17–1.46% via water exchange and final drainage, while 45.27–50.76% was likely retained in sediments, volatilized, or lost through denitrification. Sea grapes effectively absorbed total nitrogen (TN), demonstrating their potential as biofilters for improving water quality without compromising fish growth performance. The optimal density was 100 g of sea grapes per 2.66 kg/m³ of seabass biomass, offering a sustainable strategy to enhance productivity while mitigating environmental impacts. Full article

Background/Objectives: Patients with central nervous system injuries who are hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs) are at high risk for nosocomial infections. Limited data are available on the incidence and patterns of microbial colonization and infection in this patient population. Methods: To fill this gap, we performed an electronic health record-based study of 1614 chronic patients with brain injury admitted to the ICU from 2017 to 2023. Results: Among the infectious complications, pneumonia was the most common (n = 879; 54.46%). Sepsis was diagnosed in 54 patients, of whom 46 (85%) were diagnosed with pneumonia. The only pathogen that showed an association with the development of pneumonia and sepsis in colonized patients was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (pneumonia: p = 7.2 × 10⁻⁹; sepsis: p = 1.7 × 10⁻⁵). Bacterial isolates from patients with and without pneumonia did not differ in pathogen titer or dynamics, but patients with monomicrobial culture were more likely to develop pneumonia than patients with polymicrobial culture (1 vs. 2 pathogens, p = 0.014; 1 + 2 pathogens vs. 3 + 4 pathogens, p = 2.8 × 10⁻⁶), although the pathogen titer was lower in monoculture than in polyculture. Bacterial isolates from all patients and all culture sites showed high levels of multidrug resistance (Gram-negative bacteria: 88–100%; Gram-positive bacteria: 48–97%), with no differences in multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) colonization and infection rates. Conclusions: Our results highlight the high burden of MDROs in neurological ICUs and provide novel ecosystem-based insights into mono- and polymicrobial colonization and infection development. These findings may be useful for developing strategies to protect against infections. Full article

Glyphosate (GLY) is the most widely used herbicide in agriculture worldwide, posing a significant contamination risk to rivers, lakes, wetlands, and soils. Its ultimate fate represents a potential threat to the health of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. This study evaluated the removal efficiency of glyphosate and conventional pollutants in mesocosm-scale horizontal subsurface flow-constructed wetlands planted with Canna indica, Heliconia psittacorum, and Alpinia purpurata in runoff water contaminated with glyphosate. Additionally, the study examined the performances of these species in monoculture and polyculture settings of tropical ornamental plants. Canna indica exhibited the highest growth (up to 160 cm) in both monoculture and polyculture conditions, as well as the highest removal efficiencies for total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and phosphate (PO₄³⁻), achieving a 91%, 93%, and 98% removal, respectively. Polyculture systems demonstrated a superior ammonium removal efficiency, reaching 94%. Alpinia purpurata (>5 ppm after 40 days) and Heliconia psittacorum (>5 ppm after 200 days) were the most effective species for glyphosate removal. Glyphosate can be effectively removed from aquatic environments through constructed wetlands planted with ornamental species, offering a sustainable approach to mitigating herbicide contamination in water bodies. Full article

Avocado cultivation is displacing traditional coffee production in Veracruz, Mexico. This change modifies the floristic composition and agronomic management (AM), both of which are affected by socioeconomic factors and generate variation in edaphic conditions. The objective of this research was to identify the socioeconomic variables that modify the characteristics of the AM of avocado and coffee systems and have repercussions on the carbon and nitrogen pools. Four case studies were analyzed: a renovated coffee polyculture (SRC), severely cleaned coffee polyculture (IPC), avocado–coffee system (ACS), and conventional avocado orchard (CAO). A socioeconomic analysis was carried out with a 30-year economic projection and 56 variables. Three plots were installed where vegetal biomass carbon (VBC) was evaluated; soil samples were taken in theses plots at three depths (in triplicate) to determine soil organic carbon (SOC) and total soil nitrogen (TSN) in each case. A principal component analysis (PCA) was performed. Four economic variables explain 50.9% of the variation in agronomic management and five social variables 50.2%, in both cases where the component is considered. In all systems, the variation in VBC is explained by the agronomic management, while the reported SOC presents an inverse relationship with AM. The ACS presents the higher values in total C in the system, and SOC and TSN pools, while the CAO shows negative impacts concerning soil organic matter quality. The ACS is sensitive to investment, market diversity, education, and external organic residue addition, explaining the variations in AM and the TSN pools. Full article

Agroforestry has been widely suggested as a tool for storing carbon while also providing other ecosystem services like food and income production. A greater understanding of how carbon storage in agroforestry systems varies, and particularly how it is intertwined with the productivity of these systems, could enable farmers and policymakers to make changes that simultaneously increase carbon storage and alleviate poverty. In this study, we used allometric equations to evaluate the carbon storage in the biomass of two complex agroforestry systems in Bali, Indonesia—rustic where a native tree canopy is still present, and polyculture where all native trees have been removed, and the canopy consists only of cropping trees. We then compared these figures to that of a nearby primary forest and linked carbon storage to productivity for both agroforestry systems. We found that the primary forest (277.96 ± 149.05 Mg C ha⁻¹) stored significantly more carbon than either the rustic (144.72 ± 188.14 Mg C ha⁻¹) or polyculture (105.12 ± 48.65 Mg C ha⁻¹) agroforestry systems, which were not significantly different from each other. We found productivity and carbon storage to be significantly positively correlated with each other within the polyculture system but not within the rustic system. We also found that for the rustic system, an increase in the density of native trees is accompanied by an increase in carbon storage, but no significant change in productivity. Consequently, we conclude that within the rustic system, carbon storage can be increased or maintained at a high value by the preservation and encouragement of large native trees, and that this need not necessarily result in a decrease in productivity. Full article

The aquaculture sector is developing sustainability measures to address resource limitations and environmental concerns. A key strategy is replacing fishmeal and fish oil with alternatives that can equally sustain fish health, growth, and water quality. This study compared a standard diet (STD) to an alternative diet (ALT) containing sustainable ingredients, such as plant-based proteins and animal by-products, for meagre raised in earthen ponds within a polyculture system. Over 150 days, 5400 meagre juveniles (174.9 ± 32.8 g) were fed these diets. Fish on the ALT diet showed superior growth, likely due to higher dietary protein content and reduced protein degradation in liver and muscle, leading to increased protein content and reduced levels of dry matter, lipid, ash, energy, and phosphorous. While muscle cohesiveness was affected, fiber area and density were unchanged. ALT-fed fish exhibited higher saturated (SFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids, reflecting the diet. Water quality indicators, including ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and phosphates, were similar across diets, though chlorophyll a was higher in ponds with STD-fed fish. Overall, the ALT diet emerges as a sustainable alternative to the STD diet, maintaining or enhancing protein levels while reducing fishmeal usage. This approach effectively supports meagre growth and fillet quality without significant additional environmental impact. Full article

Food security has been an essential priority for decades due to its direct impact on human development. Despite significant advances in meeting basic food needs, food security remains a global challenge. In Mexico, the sustainable traditional polyculture system known as milpa allows synergy among three or more food sources, increasing the economic income for peasants. We integrated the controlled production of huitlacoche (Ustilago maydis + Zea mays) galls, traditional food consumed since pre-Hispanic times, in a milpa from Las Ánimas community, Tecoanapa Municipality, Guerrero, Mexico, in order to improve food diversity, productivity, income, and food security. Two contiguous plots were evaluated: the traditional milpa system (TMS) and the milpa integrating controlled production of huitlacoche galls (TMS + Huitlacoche). Different variables were assessed including weight and size of maize ears and huitlacoche galls; degree of huitlacoche infection; production and income of maize (Zea mays), beans (Phaseolus spp.), squash (Cucurbita spp.), and huitlacoche; and sustainability indicators, maize grain sales, type of maize seed, huitlacoche sales, beans sales, and squash sales during the dry season. The integration of the controlled production of huitlacoche improved productivity and net incomes from the traditional milpa. The traditional milpa system (TMS) had an income of USD $111.00 from maize grains, while the milpa integrating controlled production of huitlacoche galls (TMS + Huitlacoche) had an income of USD $409.00 from galls. This is reflected in the cost/benefit ratio, in which milpa integrating controlled production of huitlacoche galls (TMS + Huitlacoche) was 1.48, while the traditional milpa system (TMS) was not profitable (0.91). Sustainability indicators show that the controlled production of huitlacoche galls contribute to food diversity, productivity, and income in the traditional milpa system, based on the association of maize, beans, squash, and huitlacoche, showing potential for improving food security in rural communities. Full article

Changes in root traits and rhizosphere microbiome are important ways to optimize plant phosphorus (P) efficiency and promote multifunctionality in intercropping. However, whether and how synthetic microbial communities isolated from polyculture systems can facilitate plant growth and P uptake are still largely unknown. A field experiment was first carried out to assess the rice yield and P uptake in the rice/soybean intercropping systems, and a synthetic microbial community (SynCom) isolated from intercropped rice was then constructed to elucidate the potential mechanisms of growth-promoting effects on rice growth and P uptake in a series of pot experiments. Our results showed that the yield and P uptake of intercropped rice were lower than those of rice grown in monoculture. However, bacterial networks in the rice rhizosphere were more stable in polyculture, exhibiting more hub nodes and greater modularity compared to the rice monoculture. A bacterial synthetic community (SynCom) composed of four bacterial strains (Variovorax paradoxus, Novosphingobium subterraneum, Hydrogenophaga pseudoflava, Acidovorax sp.) significantly enhanced the biomass and P uptake of potted rice plants. These growth-promoting effects are underpinned by multiple pathways, including the direct activation of soil available P, increased root surface area and root tip number, reduced root diameter, and promotion of root-to-shoot P translocation through up-regulation of Pi transporter genes (OsPht1;1, OsPht1;2, OsPht1;4, OsPht1;6). This study highlights the potential of harnessing synthetic microbial communities to enhance nutrient acquisition and improve crop production. Full article

Farmers have a pivotal responsibility in soil conservation: they can either preserve or deplete it through their choices. The responsibility of agriculture increases when practised in delicate ecosystems, such as lagoonal ones. The Venetian Lagoon islands, which are increasingly subjected to natural and anthropic subsidence, occasional flooding events (acqua alta), and eustatic sea level rise, are constantly exposed to erosive processes that challenge farmers to play with their adaptive capability. This research was carried out on the islands of Sant’Erasmo and Vignole, the most representative of island agriculture in the Venetian Lagoon: they almost exclusively rely on agriculture, which is almost nil in the other islands. This empirical research aimed to explore farmers’ agricultural practices, perceptions of soil changes, and how they adapt to them. It was fundamental for this study that the field research involved direct human contact with farmers (through semi-structured interviews) for data collection and using qualitative methods for data analysis, integrating scientific and non-scientific forms of knowledge and actors. The final purpose was to demonstrate the sustainability (valued on the potential depletion or regeneration capability) of agricultural practices and adaptation strategies on a theoretical basis. Despite their polycultural landscape (maintained by low-input farming systems), escaped from the predominant landscape oversimplification, Sant’Erasmo and Vignole are also subjected to unsustainable agricultural practices, including heavy mechanisation and synthetic inputs. Coupled with natural soil salinity that is exacerbated by increasing drought periods, these practices can contribute to soil degradation and increased salinity. The reported adaptation strategies, such as zeroed, reduced, or more conscious use of machines, were guided by the need to reduce the negative impact of soil changes on productivity. Our research revealed some of them as sustainable and others as unsustainable (such as increasing irrigation to contrast soil salinity). Participatory action research is needed to support farmers in designing effective sustainable agricultural practices and adaptation strategies. Full article