@incollection{MichlerAschenbrand2020, author = {Michler, Thomas and Aschenbrand, Erik}, title = {»Natur Natur sein lassen«}, series = {Urwald der Bayern: Geschichte, Politik und Natur im Nationalpark Bayerischer Wald}, booktitle = {Urwald der Bayern: Geschichte, Politik und Natur im Nationalpark Bayerischer Wald}, editor = {Heurich, Marco and Mauch, Christof}, publisher = {Vandenhoeck \& Ruprecht}, isbn = {978-3-525-36095-8}, doi = {10.13109/9783666360954.165}, publisher = {Hochschule f{\"u}r nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde}, pages = {165 -- 184}, year = {2020}, language = {de} } @incollection{NautiyalSmithaKaechele2020, author = {Nautiyal, Sunil and Smitha, K. C. and K{\"a}chele, Harald}, title = {Medicinal Plant Biodiversity in India: Harnessing Opportunities for Promoting Livelihood and Food Security}, series = {Socio-economic and Eco-biological Dimensions in Resource use and Conservation - Strategies for Sustainability}, booktitle = {Socio-economic and Eco-biological Dimensions in Resource use and Conservation - Strategies for Sustainability}, editor = {Roy, Niranjan and Roychoudhury, Shubhadeep and Nautiyal, Sunil and Agarwal, Sunil K. and Baksi, Sangeeta}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, isbn = {978-3-030-32462-9}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-32463-6_7}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-7306}, publisher = {Hochschule f{\"u}r nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde}, pages = {135 -- 169}, year = {2020}, abstract = {India's rich biodiversity is distributed across its ecological regions. Traditional medicinal plants are recognised for their value and they constitute source of livelihood and food security for large Indian population. Cultivation of medicinal plants is also a source of income; thereby improve the standard of living for local communities and reduce poverty. Yet, today Indian medicinal habitat and ecosystem are going through tremendous pressure for meeting the requirement of various pharmaceutical and aroma-chemicals related industries. The objective of this paper is to synthesis the existing information on current status; explore the potential opportunities and constraints in medicinal plant cultivation in India. Based on the documentation of two cases i.e., Bhotiya tribe of Central Himalayan Region and Soliga tribe of Biligiri Ranga-swamy Temple Tiger Reserve (BRTTR), an attempt has been made to suggest a framework for harnessing medicinal plant cultivation for promoting food security in India. Finally, SWOT analysis of medicinal plants and food security in India has been presented.}, language = {en} } @article{MahmoodArshadKaecheleetal.2020, author = {Mahmood, Nasir and Arshad, Muhammad and K{\"a}chele, Harald and Ullah, Ayat and M{\"u}ller, Klaus}, title = {Economic efficiency of rainfed wheat farmers under changing climate: evidence from Pakistan}, series = {Environmental Science and Pollution Research}, journal = {Environmental Science and Pollution Research}, number = {27}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, issn = {1614-7499}, doi = {10.1007/s11356-020-09673-5}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-7287}, pages = {34453 -- 34467}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Rainfed wheat farming directly depends upon climatic indicators and is mostly at the mercy of climatic extremes. This study analyzed the relationship between the economic efficiency of rainfed wheat farmers and indicators of climate variability in Pakistan employing a two-stage methodological framework. We used farm household level crop input-output and management data and secondary data on climate. In the first stage, a stochastic production frontier (SPF) approach was used to calculate economic efficiency. Then, in the second stage, the calculated economic efficiency scores were regressed against the temperature threshold, temperature anomaly, and total rainfall, in addition to socioeconomic, institutional, and farm variables, using OLS and quantile regression models. The results showed that temperature anomaly and the number of days when temperatures exceed 30 °C have negative and significant impacts on the economic efficiency of rainfed wheat farmers. Total rainfall showed positive and significant impacts across both OLS and quantile regression models. Further, we modeled a novel and very important variable in the context of rainfed wheat production in Pakistan, that is, farmers' participation in trainings in climate-resilient crop farming. This variable showed a positive and highly significant impact on economic efficiency of wheat farmers across all regression models. Our findings call for important policy implications, including developing up-to-date climate resilient adaptation strategies that are particularly focused on rainfed wheat farming. Establishing strong linkages between extension departments and rainfed wheat farmers could help sustain and improve the efficiency of rainfed wheat farmers and hence food and livelihood security.}, language = {en} } @article{HossainArshadQianetal.2020, author = {Hossain, Md. Shakhawat and Arshad, Muhammad and Qian, Lu and K{\"a}chele, Harald and Khan, Imran and Islam, Md Din Il and Mahboob, M. Golam}, title = {Climate change impacts on farmland value in Bangladesh}, series = {Ecological Indicators}, journal = {Ecological Indicators}, number = {112}, publisher = {Elsevier}, issn = {1872-7034}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106181}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-7278}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Many studies have examined the effects of climate change on farmland value in developed countries, but our understanding of the impact of climate change on farmland value is still very limited, especially in developing countries. In this study, we aimed to assess the effects of climate change on farmland value in Bangladesh using the Ricardian model. Household-level data collected from seven selected agroecological zones in Bangladesh were used to estimate the relationships among farmland value and long-term climate, farm household, and policy variables. The results showed that the current land values of farmers are sensitive to climate. A new variable called "flooding" was added to the Ricardian model, and the results indicated that floods are responsible for reductions in farmland value, especially in lowland areas. Among the socio-economic variables, the availability of extension services and access to irrigation facilities were positively correlated with farmland value. The estimated marginal impact results suggested that increases in temperature were associated with losses in small farmland value, whereas the precipitation levels in both seasons positively influenced farmland value. Selected global climate models predicted that climate change would have a negative impact on land value depending on the climate model and source of farm income. The empirical findings obtained from this study are expected to contribute to the formulation of sustainable adaptation strategies to maintain farm productivity and farmland value in Bangladesh in the context of climate change.}, language = {en} } @article{SamPadmajaKaecheleetal.2020, author = {Sam, Anu Susan and Padmaja, Subash Surendran and K{\"a}chele, Harald and Kumar, Ranjit and M{\"u}ller, Klaus}, title = {Climate change, drought and rural communities: Understanding people's perceptions and adaptations in rural eastern India}, series = {International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction}, volume = {44}, journal = {International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction}, publisher = {Elsevier}, issn = {2212-4209}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijdrr.2019.101436}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-7269}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Household's adaptation to drought risk consists of two steps. First step is acquiring knowledge on drought from previous drought experiences. Second step is formulation of local adaptation measures that can reduce drought risk. Lack of knowledge regarding households' perception about droughts and local adaptation measures are identified as barriers in formulating effective adaptation strategies and polices. Therefore, this paper aims to gather information on households' perceptions about drought impacts and local adaption and coping measures. We also analysed the potential determinants that affect the household's preferences for future adaptation and coping strategies. Data for the study was collected from 157 drought prone rural households of Odisha state in India. We employed both qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze the data. The major impacts of drought reported by rural people were the yield reduction/loss and issues of various diseases during drought. Although more than half of rural households reported adverse effects of drought, it was not their predominate concern. The most common coping measure adopted by the rural people during drought was reduction in the consumption of rice/cereals. The results indicate that rural people prefer to follow reduction in the food consumption strategy in future also. Family size, gender and education of household head and distance to nearby town influenced the preference of adaptation and coping strategies. This research can stand as one mainstay in providing insights to researches and policy makers in formulating strategies and policies for vulnerability reduction in rural India.}, language = {en} } @article{KhaliliArshadFarajzadehetal.2020, author = {Khalili, Niloofar and Arshad, Muhammad and Farajzadeh, Zakariya and K{\"a}chele, Harald and M{\"u}ller, Klaus}, title = {Effect of drought on smallholder education expenditures in rural Iran: Implications for policy}, series = {Journal of Environmental Management}, journal = {Journal of Environmental Management}, number = {260}, publisher = {Elsevier}, issn = {1095-8630}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110136}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-7250}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Drought is a major global environmental challenge. It affects the livelihoods of many people, mainly in developing countries. Iran is one of the most affected and vulnerable countries in the Middle East to drought. In this paper, we present a microlevel analysis by employing the Tobit multiplicative heteroscedasticity regression to examine the effects of drought on small farm household education expenditures in rural Iran. We collected primary data from a sample of 300 smallholders in Marvdasht County in Fars Province of Iran. The results revealed a negative relationship between the farm income and education expenditures. This means that the farm households in rural Iran that were affected by the drought increased their expenditures on education for their children. The analysis of income elasticity indicated that a one percent decrease in farm income led to a 0.86\% increase in education expenditures, which indicated that the education expenditures were necessary. Furthermore, we observed that in drought-affected families, girls were more likely to be pulled out of university education than were boys; however, for school education, there were no significant differences between the boys and girls. Our findings revealed the need to provide improved facilities and further finances for education expenditures, especially for female university students, and to formulate environmental management policies that include the provision of education facilities by the government of Iran in drought-affected villages. Our findings also shed light on the presence of positive externalities and the important role of education in helping rural households better cope with the negative repercussions of drought on their livelihoods.}, language = {en} } @article{UllahArshadKaecheleetal.2020, author = {Ullah, Ayat and Arshad, Muhammad and K{\"a}chele, Harald and Khan, Ayesha and Mahmood, Nasir and M{\"u}lle, Klaus}, title = {Information asymmetry, input markets, adoption of innovations and agricultural land use in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan}, series = {Land Use Policy}, volume = {90}, journal = {Land Use Policy}, publisher = {Elsevier}, issn = {0264-8377}, doi = {10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.104261}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-7240}, year = {2020}, abstract = {This paper presents empirical evidence on the effects of information asymmetry in input markets on the adoption of innovations and agricultural land use in rainfed districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Farmers' input market integration may contribute to innovation and adoption among farmers, which may in turn positively influence the sustainable use of agricultural land. To examine this hypothesis, we conducted a study of farmers and input providers to assess the potential constraints on quality inputs, prices, and extension information. We used a multistage random sampling technique to collect data from 395 respondents. We then compared differences among adopters and non-adopters using the Mann-Whitney U test and Mood's median test. Our results indicate that there is a significant difference between the adopters and non-adopters when considering their perceptions of asymmetric market information. Non-adopters are suspicious of exaggerated prices, the non-availability of price lists, adulteration of agricultural inputs, unbalanced input weight and the supply of low-quality alternate commodities (e.g., fertilizers and pesticides) in place of the recommended commodities in the markets. Our results call for the reformulation and implementation of appropriate policies to ensure transparent and equal information sharing among farmers engaged in input markets and for the provision of timely and quality inputs assured by regulatory checks and price checks. Free availability of information on innovations and appropriate oversight over markets appear not only to motivate farmers to adopt agricultural technologies but also to influence more sustainable land use practices.}, language = {en} } @article{UllahArshadKaecheleetal.2020, author = {Ullah, Ayat and Arshad, Muhammad and K{\"a}chele, Harald and Zeb, Alam and Mahmood, Nasir and M{\"u}ller, Klaus}, title = {Socio-economic analysis of farmers facing asymmetric information in inputs markets: evidence from the rainfed zone of Pakistan}, series = {Technology in Society}, volume = {63}, journal = {Technology in Society}, number = {101405}, publisher = {Elsevier}, issn = {1879-3274}, doi = {10.1016/j.techsoc.2020.101405}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-7235}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Information asymmetry plays an important role in the non-adoption of modern agricultural inputs like improved seeds, pesticides and fertilizers etc. Therefore, this study investigated the role of farmers' socio-economic attributes and farm level characteristics in avoiding asymmetry of information in agricultural input markets (i.e. exaggerated prices and low quality). The approach captures the farm level heterogeneity and complexity that may help the authorities in strengthening existing market regulations to control price and quality disparities. We analysed 395 randomly selected farm households using multinomial logit model. We found that farmers with large landholding size are less likely to face quality and more likely to face price information asymmetry. Farmers with higher education, more physical assets and better access to other sources of information are less likely to face both quality and price information asymmetry. Borrowers as compared to purchasers are more likely to face information asymmetry on prices of agricultural inputs. Non-adopters of improved agricultural technologies are more suspicious of information asymmetry than adopters. The paper thus provides evidence that the socio-economic dynamics of information asymmetry can have an important influence on wide spread adoption of technology. Paying more attention to farm level heterogeneity and complexity would help to develop general market management plan and improve the adoption of technology by farmers.}, language = {en} } @article{NautiyalKaecheleUmeshBabuetal.2020, author = {Nautiyal, Sunil and K{\"a}chele, Harald and Umesh Babu, M. S. and Imran Khan, Y. D. and Dutta, Himangshu}, title = {Avian conservation under two management regimes: a case study from the viewpoint of governance and social dimension}, series = {Environment Systems and Decisions}, journal = {Environment Systems and Decisions}, number = {40}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, issn = {2194-5403}, doi = {10.1007/s10669-019-09745-z}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-7229}, pages = {148 -- 169}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The tropical regions of the world are highly vulnerable to the loss of biodiversity and the biodiversity of various ecologically important ecosystems in the tropics seems to be in jeopardy. The protected areas alone cannot conserve all the species and, hence, there is the need to expand the conservation approach beyond the boundaries of the protected areas. A study was carried out in two areas known for the conservation of bird species in India, viz. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary (RBS) and Kokkare Bellur Village Ecosystem (KBV) in the state of Karnataka in South India. In RBS, the top-down approach is followed and bird species are conserved through policy instruments, whereas KBV is a rural ecosystem in which the social instrument has been introduced for the conservation of bird species. Two near-threatened birds Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) and the Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) are conserved in KBV. KBV is one of the five last breeding sites for the globally threatened bird species, the Spot-billed in India. A study was conducted to document the avifaunal diversity using standard methods and understand various important aspects of bird conservation in both the sites. It revealed that both RBS and KBV efficiently conserved several important bird species and had completely different mechanisms to do so. This helped to develop a proper understanding on different facets of top-down and bottom-up approaches of wildlife conservation.}, language = {en} } @incollection{IbischSommer2020, author = {Ibisch, Pierre L. and Sommer, J{\"o}rg}, title = {F{\"u}r einen globalen {\"O}kohumanismus - Wie wir die Grenzen von Natur- und Heimatschutz {\"u}berwinden}, series = {{\"O}kologie und Heimat - gutes Leben f{\"u}r alle oder die R{\"u}ckkehr der braunen Natursch{\"u}tzer?}, booktitle = {{\"O}kologie und Heimat - gutes Leben f{\"u}r alle oder die R{\"u}ckkehr der braunen Natursch{\"u}tzer?}, editor = {Leitschuh, Heike and Brunnengr{\"a}ber, Achim and Ibisch, Pierre L. and Loske, Reinhard and M{\"u}ller, Michael and Sommer, J{\"o}rg and von Weizs{\"a}cker, Ernst Ulrich}, publisher = {S. Hirzel}, isbn = {978-3-7776-2864-6}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-6976}, publisher = {Hochschule f{\"u}r nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde}, pages = {231 -- 244}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Die kommenden gesellschaftlichen Großkonflikte werden ganz erheblich von {\"o}kologischen Faktoren beeinflusst. Dennoch wird die {\"o}kologische Frage nicht im Zentrum stehen, da kurz- und mittelfristig soziale Spannungen in den Vordergrund dr{\"a}ngen. Wie kann sie dennoch die n{\"o}tige Ber{\"u}cksichtigung erfahren? Durch eine Weiterentwicklung {\"o}kologischen Denkens zu einem radikalen und globalen {\"O}kohumanismus.}, language = {de} } @incollection{Ibisch2020, author = {Ibisch, Pierre L.}, title = {Eine {\"O}kologie gegen Rechts - von {\"O}kosystemen Unsicherheit und Demut lernen}, series = {{\"O}kologie und Heimat - gutes Leben f{\"u}r alle oder die R{\"u}ckkehr der braunen Natursch{\"u}tzer?}, booktitle = {{\"O}kologie und Heimat - gutes Leben f{\"u}r alle oder die R{\"u}ckkehr der braunen Natursch{\"u}tzer?}, editor = {Leitschuh, Heike and Brunnengr{\"a}ber, Achim and Ibisch, Pierre L. and Loske, Reinhard and M{\"u}ller, Michael and Sommer, J{\"o}rg and von Weizs{\"a}cker, Ernst Ulrich}, publisher = {S. Hirzel}, issn = {978-3-7776-2864-6}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-6968}, publisher = {Hochschule f{\"u}r nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde}, pages = {191 -- 205}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Die Sozial- und Naturwissenschaften des 19. Jahrhunderts befruchteten sich gegenseitig und gebaren mit der Evolutionstheorie nicht nur eine kopernikanische Revolution, sondern auch ein folgenschweres Missverst{\"a}ndnis. Die Idee des Kampfes ums Dasein wurde zu einem biologistischen Fundament v{\"o}lkisch-rassistischer Ideologie. Die Erkenntnisse der modernen {\"O}kologie sind weder mit dem simplen Prinzip des {\"U}berlebens der St{\"a}rkeren noch mit einem Gleichgewicht in der Natur vereinbar. Vielmehr ist das Ausmaß von Kooperation und Integration im stetig anwachsenden Netzwerk des Lebens geeignet, ein v{\"o}llig neues Bild von funktionierenden {\"o}kologischen und sozialen Systemen zu inspirieren.}, language = {de} } @incollection{IbischSommer2020, author = {Ibisch, Pierre L. and Sommer, J{\"o}rg}, title = {Heimaterde und Heimat Erde - Globale Verantwortung statt "Blut und Boden"}, series = {{\"O}kologie und Heimat - gutes Leben f{\"u}r alle oder die R{\"u}ckkehr der braunen Natursch{\"u}tzer?}, booktitle = {{\"O}kologie und Heimat - gutes Leben f{\"u}r alle oder die R{\"u}ckkehr der braunen Natursch{\"u}tzer?}, editor = {Leitschuh, Heike and Brunnengr{\"a}ber, Achim and Ibisch, Pierre L. and Loske, Reinhard and M{\"u}ller, Michael and Sommer, J{\"o}rg and von Weizs{\"a}cker, Ernst Ulrich}, publisher = {S. Hirzel}, isbn = {978-3-7776-2864-6}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-6950}, publisher = {Hochschule f{\"u}r nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde}, pages = {26 -- 39}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Wir haben die identit{\"a}tsstiftenden Natur- und Kulturr{\"a}ume im Namen des Fortschritts zerst{\"o}rt. Daran sind wir selbst schuld und keineswegs andere Menschen, die sich in unserer auf Raub und Zerst{\"o}rung basierenden Gesellschaft vermeintlich nicht integrieren wollen. Die Antwort in Form eines "Heimatministeriums" ist verlogen, weil es sich in keinerlei Weise um die Bek{\"a}mpfung der wahren Ursachen der Zerst{\"o}rung unseres Lebensraum bem{\"u}ht.}, language = {de} } @incollection{MuellerSommerIbisch2020, author = {M{\"u}ller, Michael and Sommer, J{\"o}rg and Ibisch, Pierre L.}, title = {Heimat - Ein schwieriges Thema}, series = {{\"O}kologie und Heimat - gutes Leben f{\"u}r alle oder die R{\"u}ckkehr der braunen Natursch{\"u}tzer?}, booktitle = {{\"O}kologie und Heimat - gutes Leben f{\"u}r alle oder die R{\"u}ckkehr der braunen Natursch{\"u}tzer?}, editor = {Leitschuh, Heike and Brunnengr{\"a}ber, Achim and Ibisch, Pierre L. and Loske, Reinhard and M{\"u}ller, Michael and Sommer, J{\"o}rg and von Weizs{\"a}cker, Ernst Ulrich}, publisher = {S. Hirzel}, isbn = {978-3-7776-2864-6}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-6942}, publisher = {Hochschule f{\"u}r nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde}, pages = {14 -- 25}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Heimat ist gerade in der deutschen Debatte ein mehrdimensionaler Begriff. Die Auseinandersetzung mit ihm erfordert ein Aushalten und vor allem ein Austragen von Differenzen und Gegens{\"a}tzen, von Spannungen zwischen Sicherheit und Unsicherheit, N{\"a}he und Ferne, Vertrauen und Misstrauen, Geborgenheit und Einsamkeit, Demokratie und Chauvinismus.}, language = {de} } @book{OPUS4-693, title = {{\"O}kologie und Heimat - Gutes Leben f{\"u}r alle oder die R{\"u}ckkehr der braunen Natursch{\"u}tzer?}, series = {Jahrbuch {\"O}kologie 2021}, journal = {Jahrbuch {\"O}kologie 2021}, editor = {Leitschuh, Heike and Brunnengr{\"a}ber, Achim and Ibisch, Pierre L. and Loske, Reinhard and M{\"u}ller, Michael and Sommer, J{\"o}rg and von Weizs{\"a}cker, Ernst Ulrich}, publisher = {S. Hirzel}, isbn = {978-3-7776-2864-6}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-6939}, publisher = {Hochschule f{\"u}r nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde}, pages = {248}, year = {2020}, language = {de} } @incollection{TechenHelmingBrueggemannetal.2020, author = {Techen, Anja-K. and Helming, Katharina and Br{\"u}ggemann, Nicolas and Veldkamp, Edzo and Reinhold-Hurek, Barbara and Lorenz, Marco and Bartke, Stephan and Heinrich, Uwe and Amelung, Wulf and Augustin, Katja and Boy, Jens and Corre, Marife and Duttman, Rainer and Gebbers, Robin and Gentsch, Norman and Grosch, Rita and Guggenberger, Georg and Kern, J{\"u}rgen and Kiese, Ralf and Kuhwald, Michael and Leinweber, Peter and Schloter, Michael and Wiesmeier, Martin and Winkelmann, Traud and Vogel, Hans-J{\"o}rg}, title = {Chapter Four - Soil research challenges in response to emerging agricultural soil management practices}, series = {Advances in Agronomy}, booktitle = {Advances in Agronomy}, number = {161}, editor = {Sparks, Donald L.}, publisher = {Elsevier}, issn = {0065-2113}, doi = {10.1016/bs.agron.2020.01.002}, publisher = {Hochschule f{\"u}r nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde}, pages = {179 -- 240}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Agricultural management is a key force affecting soil processes and functions. Triggered by biophysical constraints as well as rapid structural and technological developments, new management practices are emerging with largely unknown impacts on soil processes and functions. This impedes assessments of the potential of such emerging practices for sustainable intensification, a paradigm coined to address the growing demand for food and nonfood products. In terms of soil management, sustainable intensification means that soil productivity is increased while other soil functions and services, such as carbon storage and habitat for organisms, are simultaneously maintained or even improved. In this paper we provide an overview of research challenges to better understand how emerging soil management practices affect soil processes and functions. We distinguish four categories of soil management practices: spatial arrangements of cropping systems, crops and rotations, mechanical pressures, and inputs into the soil. Key research needs identified for each include nutrient efficiency in agroforestry versus conventional cropping systems, soil-rhizosphere microbiome elucidation to understand the interacting roles of crops and rotations, the effects of soil compaction on soil-plant-atmosphere interactions, and the ecotoxicity of plastics, pharmaceuticals and other pollutants that are introduced into the soil. We establish an interdisciplinary, systemic approach to soil science and include cross-cutting research activities related to process modeling, data management, stakeholder interaction, sustainability assessment and governance. The identification of soil research challenges from the perspective of agricultural management facilitates cooperation between different scientific disciplines in the field of sustainable agricultural production.}, language = {en} } @article{BartkowskiBartkeHelmingetal.2020, author = {Bartkowski, Bartosz and Bartke, Stephan and Helming, Katharina and Paul, Carsten and Techen, Anja-Kristina and Hansj{\"u}rgens, Bernd}, title = {Potential of the economic valuation of soil-based ecosystem services to inform sustainable soil management and policy}, series = {PeerJ}, journal = {PeerJ}, doi = {10.7717/peerj.8749}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-6319}, pages = {31}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The concept of ecosystem services, especially in combination with economic valuation, can illuminate trade-offs involved in soil management, policy and governance, and thus support decision making. In this paper, we investigate and highlight the potential and limitations of the economic valuation of soil-based ecosystem services to inform sustainable soil management and policy. We formulate a definition of soil-based ecosystem services as basis for conducting a review of existing soil valuation studies with a focus on the inclusion of ecosystem services and the choice of valuation methods. We find that, so far, the economic valuation of soil-based ecosystem services has covered only a small number of such services and most studies have employed cost-based methods rather than state-of-the-art preference-based valuation methods, even though the latter would better acknowledge the public good character of soil related services. Therefore, the relevance of existing valuation studies for political processes is low. Broadening the spectrum of analyzed ecosystem services as well as using preference-based methods would likely increase the informational quality and policy relevance of valuation results. We point out options for improvement based on recent advances in economic valuation theory and practice. We conclude by investigating the specific roles economic valuation results can play in different phases of the policy-making process, and the specific requirements for its usefulness in this context.}, language = {en} } @article{UllahMahmoodZebetal.2020, author = {Ullah, Ayat and Mahmood, Nasir and Zeb, Alam and K{\"a}chele, Harald}, title = {Factors Determining Farmers' Access to and Sources of Credit: Evidence from the Rain-Fed Zone of Pakistan}, series = {Agriculture}, volume = {10}, journal = {Agriculture}, number = {12}, publisher = {MDPI}, issn = {2077-0472}, doi = {10.3390/agriculture10120586}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-3419}, pages = {13}, year = {2020}, abstract = {This study investigates the factors that affect farmers' access to agricultural credit and its role in adopting improved agricultural technologies in the rain-fed zone of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. Using logistic models, we assess and compare the relative role of farmers' socioeconomic attributes in their access to credit and adoption strategies. The results indicate a moderate positive association between farmers' access to agricultural credit and their adoption of improved agricultural technologies. The binary logit model's results indicate that farmers with a large-sized farm, high farm income, better access to information, and large physical asset ownership showed a positive influence on credit access. However, farming experience showed a negative effect on farmers' access to agricultural credit. Regarding farmers' credit sources, this study found that asset-rich farmers with more farming experience and better access to information relied more on banks than on input providers and informal credit sources. Similarly, older farmers with more education, larger farm sizes and high farm income were more likely to have borrowed from input providers than banks. We conclude that the role of the effective provision of information on credit and agricultural technology is imperative and requires separate policies that are specifically aimed at different groups of farmers with different socioeconomic and farm-related characteristics.}, language = {en} } @article{JhaKaecheleLanaetal.2020, author = {Jha, Srijna and K{\"a}chele, Harald and Lana, Marcos and Amjath-Babu, T.S and Sieber, Stefan}, title = {Exploring Farmers' Perceptions of Agricultural Technologies: A Case Study from Tanzania}, series = {Sustainability}, volume = {13}, journal = {Sustainability}, number = {3}, publisher = {MDPI}, issn = {2071-1050}, doi = {10.3390/su12030998}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-3340}, pages = {21}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The low agricultural productivity of key crops and food insecurity continue to be key issues in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Tanzania. The growing population, depleting resources, and changing climate further amplify these issues. Globally, many agricultural technologies (AgTs) are available as pathways for improved agricultural productivity and food security, however, they have had relatively little success in SSA and Tanzania. This is because the uptake of AgTs is a complex process, which is highly localized, involving multiple actors, stages, and spatial and time dimensions. Smallholder farmers often experience issues of sustainability, constraints for adoption, and scaling-up throughout the uptake process of AgTs, all of which vary by region. This indicates a need for a systematic and simultaneous understanding of sustainability, constraints for adoption, and scaling-up of AgTs to better guide agricultural strategy and policy interventions in SSA and Tanzania. Moreover, in order to understand the local settings better, a consideration of the perceptions of the farmers themselves, who are the primary actors in the uptake process of AgTs, is key. Acknowledging this, the study takes on a case study approach, using the scaling-up assessment (ScalA) method and three focus group discussions with a total of 44 smallholder farmers to systematically and simultaneously assess the sustainability, constraints for adoption, and scaling-up of three AgTs (use of fertilizers, improved seeds, and small-scale irrigation) in Tanzania. The study finds that the farmers perceive all three AgTs to be sustainable for the study region. Adoption rates are perceived to be medium for use of fertilizers, high for improved seeds, and low for small-scale irrigation. The most significant constraints for adoption experienced by the farmers are lack of technical physical inputs, marketing facilities, and know-how. Scaling-up is perceived to be well fulfilled for use of fertilizers and improved seeds, but only partially fulfilled for small-scale irrigation, which is the most limited of the three AgTs. The most significant constraints for scaling-up experienced by farmers are a lack of confidence in the added value of the AgTs beyond project activities, marketing facilities, and technical physical inputs. The overall success potential is high for the use of fertilizers and improved seeds, and the average for small-scale irrigation. The farmers' perceptions partially indicate why the bundle of AgTs is lacking in the study region and provide a basis for discussing targeted agricultural and policy interventions in Tanzania.}, language = {en} } @article{MahmoodArshadKaecheleetal.2020, author = {Mahmood, Nasir and Arshad, Muhammad and K{\"a}chele, Harald and Shahzad, Muhammad Faisal and Ullah, Ayat and Mueller, Klaus}, title = {Fatalism, Climate Resiliency Training and Farmers' Adaptation Responses: Implications for Sustainable Rainfed-Wheat Production in Pakistan}, series = {Sustainability}, volume = {12}, journal = {Sustainability}, number = {4}, publisher = {MDPI}, issn = {2071-1050}, doi = {10.3390/su12041650}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-3338}, pages = {21}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Climate change is a severe threat to the agricultural sector in general and to rainfed farming in particular. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that can potentially affect the adaptation process against climate change. This study focused on wheat farmers and farming systems in the rainfed agroecological zone of Pakistan. Farmers' data related to climate change fatalism, the availability of climate-specific extension services, socioeconomic and institutional variables, and farm characteristics were collected. A logit model to assess farmers' decisions to adopt an adaptation measure and a multinomial logit model to assess their choice of various adaptation measures were used. The results showed that fatalistic farmers were unlikely to implement climate change adaptation measures. The variables related to the climate-specific extension services, including farmers' participation in training on climate-resilient crop farming and the availability of mobile communication-based advisory services, had highly significant and positive impacts on farmers' decisions and their choice of adaptation measures. Input market access and tractor ownership also had positive and significant impacts on farmers' decisions to adapt and their choice of adaptation measures. This study highlights the need to improve rainfed-wheat farmers' education levels to change their fatalistic attitudes towards climate change. Furthermore, government action is needed to provide climate-specific extension services to ensure sustainable production levels that will ultimately lead to food and livelihood security under a changing climate.}, language = {en} } @article{PaulKuhnSteinhoffKnoppetal.2020, author = {Paul, Carsten and Kuhn, Kristin and Steinhoff-Knopp, Bastian and Weißhuhn, Peter and Helming, Katharina}, title = {Towards a standardization of soil-related ecosystem service assessments}, series = {European Journal of Soil Science}, volume = {72}, journal = {European Journal of Soil Science}, number = {4}, publisher = {Wiley}, issn = {1365-2389}, doi = {10.1111/ejss.13022}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-5801}, pages = {1543 -- 1558}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The concept of ecosystem services (ES) creates understanding of the value of ecosystems for human well-being. With regard to soils, it provides a framework for assessments of soil contributions and soil management impacts. However, a lack of standardization impedes comparisons between assessment studies and the building of synthesis information. The Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES) is an important step forward, although its application to soils is not without difficulty. CICES version 5.1 defines 83 ES classes, of which only some are relevant for soils. We compiled two subsets of CICES classes: one set of soil-related ES comprising 29 services defined as directly and quantifiably controlled by soils and their properties, processes and functions, and another set of 40 ES defined as being affected by agricultural soil management. Additionally, we conducted a systematic literature review, searching for published lists of soil-related ES that claim completeness. We identified 11 relevant lists. Of all CICES classes, 12 were included in more than 75\% of the lists, whereas another 36 classes were included in 25-75\% of them. Regarding the suitability of the CICES classification for addressing ES in the context of soils and their agricultural management, we identified constraints, such as overlaps, gaps, and highly specific or very broad class definitions. Close cooperation between the soil research and ES communities could ensure better consideration of soils in future CICES updates. A shortlist of 25 service classes affected by agricultural soil management facilitates a standardized approach and may function as checklists in impact assessments.}, language = {en} }