@article{AlffKonysbayevSalmyrzauly2023, author = {Alff, Henryk and Konysbayev, Talgarbay and Salmyrzauly, Ruslan}, title = {Old stereotypes and new openness: discourses and practices of trans-border re- and disconnection in south-eastern Kazakhstan's agricultural sector}, series = {Eurasian Geography and Economics}, journal = {Eurasian Geography and Economics}, publisher = {Taylor \& Francis}, issn = {1538-7216}, doi = {10.1080/15387216.2023.2169184}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-6340}, pages = {23}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Since the Soviet breakup, rural communities in the Kazakhstan-China borderlands have faced cataclysmic social, economic, and ecological transformations. Collective and state farms have been replaced by precarious smallholder agriculture suffering from a decline in financial inputs and the deterioration of infrastructure. At the same time, dynamic transformations of border permeability (and trans-border reconnections) between Kazakhstan and China have challenged the until relatively recent widespread Soviet rhetoric on Western China (or rather Xinjiang) as an underdeveloped space across the border. This article is based on several months of fieldwork between 2019 and 2021 in Panfilov District, located at major cross-border road and railway intersections and hosting important infrastructural objects, such as a dry port, a major railway transhipment hub, and a trans-border special economic zone. The article explores how the border situation (and the border's changing permeability for people, commodities, and ideas since the early 1990s) as well as the implementation of new trans-border infrastructures eventually shaped local discourses and practices in the socio-economic development of south-east Kazakhstan's agricultural sector. It is scrutinized herein how various forms of trans-border socio-economic interactions (although heavily regulated) and China's (agri-) economic policy in Xinjiang started to affect farmers' ambitions and practices across the border.}, language = {en} } @article{WenigReppeHorbeltetal.2023, author = {Wenig, Charlett and Reppe, Friedrich and Horbelt, Nils and Spener, Jaromir and Berendt, Ferr{\´e}ol and Cremer, Tobias and Frey, Marion and Burgert, Ingo and Eder, Michaela}, title = {Adhesives free bark panels: An alternative application for a waste material}, series = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, journal = {PloS one}, number = {1}, publisher = {Public Library of Science (PLoS)}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0280721}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-6104}, year = {2023}, abstract = {The proportion of bark in tree trunks is in the range of ~ 10-20\%. This large amount of material is currently mainly considered as a by- or even waste-product by the timber processing industry. Recently, efforts towards the use of bark have been made, e.g. as a raw material to harvest different chemical compounds or as an additive for wood particle boards. Our motivation for this work was to keep the bark in an almost natural state and explore alternative processes and applications for use. The traditional method of de-barking tree trunks by peeling was used to harvest large bark pieces. Two pieces of peeled bark were placed crosswise, with the rhytidom side (outer bark) facing each other. After different conditioning steps, bark pieces were hot pressed to panels without adding adhesives. These experiments on bark samples of different Central European tree species suggest that production of panels with species dependent properties is possible and feasible. This is a step towards producing sustainable panels by using a natural waste material, while retaining its beneficial structure and its natural chemical composition.}, language = {en} } @misc{BolteRockWolff2021, author = {Bolte, Andreas and Rock, Joachim and Wolff, Barbara}, title = {Setting aside forests or harvesting them for bioenergy: Short-term benefits for climate protection are still unknown}, series = {GCB Bioenergy}, volume = {13}, journal = {GCB Bioenergy}, number = {3}, publisher = {Wiley}, issn = {1757-1707}, doi = {10.1111/gcbb.12769}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-6081}, pages = {364 -- 366}, year = {2021}, 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} } @article{BielyvonMuenchhausenvanPassel2022, author = {Biely, Katharina and von M{\"u}nchhausen, Susanne and van Passel, Steven}, title = {Vertical integration as a strategy to increase value absorption by primary producers: The Belgian sugar beet and the German rapeseed case}, series = {AIMS Agriculture and Food}, volume = {7}, journal = {AIMS Agriculture and Food}, number = {3}, publisher = {AIMS Press}, issn = {2471-2086}, doi = {10.3934/agrfood.2022041}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-5610}, pages = {659 -- 682}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Vertical integration is a means of increasing market power. For some agricultural products, it is easier for farmers to exert control over their product beyond the farm gate, but for others it is more difficult. Cases in the latter category have two main characteristics. First, the farmer cannot sell the respective product to final consumers without processing. Second, processing is capital-intensive. Consequently, farmers have limited sales channels, and vertical integration of the supply chain is complex and challenging. It implies cooperation among farmers to process the raw material at a profitable scale and to finance the installation of processing facilities. Thus, for these product categories, farmers are prone to market power issues, since they depend on private businesses that have the financial means to install processing facilities and the logistical capacities to organize the collection of large amounts of raw material. This paper aims to identify and analyze the role of supply chain integration for farmers who are already cooperating horizontally. Two case studies serve as the basis for the analysis: sugar beet in Flanders, Belgium, and oilseed rape in Hessen, Germany. The analysis is based on a qualitative research approach combining interviews, focus groups, and workshops with farmers and processors. While for sugar beet, the effects of market power are emerging only now with the termination of the quota system, farmers growing oilseed rape have been experiencing these problems since the 1990s. Our analysis concludes that most strategies to maintain or improve farm income have been exhausted. Even various forms of vertical integration supported by European policies do not necessarily work as a successful strategy.}, language = {en} } @article{ZellerGoettert2021, author = {Zeller, Ulrich and G{\"o}ttert, Thomas}, title = {Humans, megafauna and landscape structure - Rock engravings from Namibia encourage a comparative approach to central Europe and southern Africa}, series = {Vertebrate Zoology}, volume = {71}, journal = {Vertebrate Zoology}, issn = {1864-5755}, doi = {10.3897/vz.71.e72811}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-5538}, pages = {631 -- 643}, year = {2021}, abstract = {This paper deals with reflections that arose after observing prehistoric rock engravings at different locations in Namibia. These observations stimulated comparative considerations with focus on southern Africa and central Europe. Similar to the Aurignacian rock art of European origin, the most common motifs in the Namibian rock engravings are large animals. While in Europe, the species that served as a blueprint for the illustration of Aurignacian rock art have mostly disappeared, the megafauna illustrated on the rock engravings in Namibia can still be found in the immediate vicinity of the rock art. Against this background, we discuss and further develop a comparative regional approach. We reconstruct and evaluate the suitability of African savannas and still-existing megafauna communities as an appropriate reference-frame for natural European grassland systems and extinct associated warm-adapted megafauna (Eemian Interglacial megafauna). Special attention is laid on the unique situation in Africa in the light of a global extinction wave of megafauna following increasing human activity in the Late Quaternary. This leads us to discuss the use of domesticated ungulates as surrogate taxa to fulfill ecosystem functions in Europe as part of concepts termed "rewilding" or "naturalistic grazing". After critically examining these concepts, we conclude that using domesticated forms as representatives of extinct or locally disappeared species in Europe has its justification to some extent. If, however, the naturally occurring megaherbivore community still exists (Africa), these naturally occurring species should be given priority due to their organismic abilities and limitations adapted to the harsh conditions in their specific environment. Finally, we discuss the application of (transboundary) protected areas as effective instruments to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts. A holistic approach, including nature conservation and preservation of cultural achievements (domesticated forms, grazing systems), appears promising for the effective protection of the natural African savanna ecosystems with their unique fauna elements, as illustrated in rock engravings that inspired us to write this paper.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{SchroederGuerickeKoerner2021, author = {Schr{\"o}der, Jens and Guericke, Martin and K{\"o}rner, Michael}, title = {Fingerprints of biotic agents in tree-ring and NDVI time series of forest stands}, series = {TRACE - Tree Rings in Archeology, Climatology and Ecology - Virtual Conference 2021}, booktitle = {TRACE - Tree Rings in Archeology, Climatology and Ecology - Virtual Conference 2021}, doi = {10.13140/RG.2.2.17808.33286}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-5559}, pages = {1}, year = {2021}, language = {en} } @article{GrohDiamantopoulosDuanetal.2022, author = {Groh, Jannis and Diamantopoulos, Efstathios and Duan, Xiaohong and Ewert, Frank and Heinlein, Florian and Herbst, Michael and Holbak, Maja and Kamali, Bahareh and Kersebaum, Kurt-Christian and Kuhnert, Matthias and Nendel, Claas and Priesack, Eckart and Steidl, J{\"o}rg and Sommer, Michael and P{\"u}tz, Thomas and Vanderborght, Jan and Vereecken, Harry and Wallor, Evelyn and Weber, Tobias K. D. and Wegehenkel, Martin and Weiherm{\"u}ller, Lutz and Gerke, Horst H.}, title = {Same soil, different climate: Crop model intercomparison on translocated lysimeters}, series = {Vadose Zone Journal}, volume = {21}, journal = {Vadose Zone Journal}, number = {4}, publisher = {Wiley}, issn = {1539-1663}, doi = {10.1002/vzj2.20202}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-5395}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Crop model intercomparison studies have mostly focused on the assessment of predictive capabilities for crop development using weather and basic soil data from the same location. Still challenging is the model performance when considering complex interrelations between soil and crop dynamics under a changing climate. The objective of this study was to test the agronomic crop and environmental flux-related performance of a set of crop models. The aim was to predict weighing lysimeter-based crop (i.e., agronomic) and water-related flux or state data (i.e., environmental) obtained for the same soil monoliths that were taken from their original environment and translocated to regions with different climatic conditions, after model calibration at the original site. Eleven models were deployed in the study. The lysimeter data (2014-2018) were from the Dedelow (Dd), Bad Lauchst{\"a}dt (BL), and Selhausen (Se) sites of the TERENO (TERrestrial ENvironmental Observatories) SOILCan network. Soil monoliths from Dd were transferred to the drier and warmer BL site and the wetter and warmer Se site, which allowed a comparison of similar soil and crop under varying climatic conditions. The model parameters were calibrated using an identical set of crop- and soil-related data from Dd. Environmental fluxes and crop growth of Dd soil were predicted for conditions at BL and Se sites using the calibrated models. The comparison of predicted and measured data of Dd lysimeters at BL and Se revealed differences among models. At site BL, the crop models predicted agronomic and environmental components similarly well. Model performance values indicate that the environmental components at site Se were better predicted than agronomic ones. The multi-model mean was for most observations the better predictor compared with those of individual models. For Se site conditions, crop models failed to predict site-specific crop development indicating that climatic conditions (i.e., heat stress) were outside the range of variation in the data sets considered for model calibration. For improving predictive ability of crop models (i.e., productivity and fluxes), more attention should be paid to soil-related data (i.e., water fluxes and system states) when simulating soil-crop-climate interrelations in changing climatic conditions.}, language = {en} } @article{RaabSpies2023, author = {Raab, Christoph and Spies, Michael}, title = {Characterising cropland fragmentation in post-Soviet Central Asia, using Landsat remote-sensing time series data}, series = {Applied Geography}, journal = {Applied Geography}, number = {156}, publisher = {Elsevier}, issn = {0143-6228}, doi = {10.1016/j.apgeog.2023.102968}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-5362}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, agricultural reforms in Central Asia often translated into the fragmentation of large fields into smaller shares. Most remote-sensing-based land use classification approaches are categorical in nature, and thus they are unable to capture these changes. We have developed an approach to detecting the timing of land fragmentation based on textural information from a time series of Landsat images for four Central Asian countries (Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan) between 1990 and 2019. Our results showed that detected fragmentation events correspond well with documented agrarian reform processes in the different countries, and validation yielded maximum overall accuracies between 67 and 73\%. In a case study of a former collective farm in Kyrgyzstan, we demonstrate how our method can accurately detect changes on the local scale. Texture time series data have great potential for analysing the trajectories of cropland fragmentation, in particular in regions where additional information on land use is limited.}, language = {en} } @article{SunYuLietal.2020, author = {Sun, Lingxiao and Yu, Xiang and Li, Boshan and Zhang, Haiyan and Sha, Dong and Wang, Yao and Lei, Jiaqiang and Yu, Yang and Welp, Martin and Yu, Ruide}, title = {Coupling analysis of the major impact on sustainable development of the typical arid region of Turpan in Northwest China}, series = {Regional Sustainability}, volume = {1}, journal = {Regional Sustainability}, number = {1}, publisher = {Elsevier}, issn = {2666-660X}, doi = {10.1016/j.regsus.2020.08.002}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-5420}, pages = {48 -- 58}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Analyzing the sustainable development of a given region can provide an important reference and guide for future orientation. The study selects Turpan (including Gaochang District, Shanshan County, and Toksun County) in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of Northwest China as the study area and first investigates the essence of regional sustainable development. Based on the relevant data of the population, economy, and environment of Turpan from 2002 to 2018, we constructed an evaluation index system for three dimensions, namely, the population, economy, and environment, and analyzed them systematically. Specifically, we quantitatively calculated the comprehensive evaluation index, coupling degree, and coupling coordination degree of the sustainable development system of the study area. The study finds that Turpan has on some dimensions become increasingly sustainable, especially the economic development level has improved. The results show that the coupling coordination degree has increased from 0.3692 to 0.8894 during the period 2002-2018, which reflects the actual situation of Turpan and indicates that the proposed analysis method can effectively measure and evaluate the level of sustainable development in this region. Moreover, the study also puts forward main functional zoning of Turpan (i.e., Gaochang District as an optimized development zone, Shanshan County as a major agricultural production zone, and Toksun County as a key ecological function zone) and regional planning principles based on the population, economic, and environmental coupling analysis for the three jurisdictions in Turpan.}, language = {en} }