TY - JOUR A1 - Spies, Michael A1 - Schick, Axel A1 - Karomatov, Sharofiddin A1 - Bakokhoja, Bobozoda A1 - Zikriyokhon, Khaidarov A1 - Jobirov, Shonazar A1 - Bloch, Ralf A1 - Ibisch, Pierre L. T1 - Adapting a Participatory and Ecosystem-Based Assessment Impacted by the Pandemic: Lessons Learned With Farmers in Tajikistan JF - Frontiers in sustainable Food Systems N2 - The paper presents a systemic and participatory assessment approach and scrutinizes how methodological changes necessitated during the Covid-19 pandemic implicated the process and its outcomes. The approach was applied in rural Tajikistan to evaluate changes effected by a development project that promoted the enhancement of biodiversity and ecosystem services in agrarian landscapes. The central building block of the assessment consisted of participatory workshops in 2018 and 2020 with farmers and other stakeholders to develop a systemic knowledge map and to evaluate the promoted strategies based on local expertise. The methodological basis was MARISCO (adaptive MAnagement of vulnerability and RISk at COnservation sites), a holistic and participatory approach to ecosystem-based assessment and management that requires well-trained facilitators. While the activities in 2018 could be implemented as planned, major changes in the work plan were necessary in 2020 due to severe travel restrictions and social distancing rules. Conducting virtual workshops was not possible, as it would have excluded key stakeholders from the process. Instead of conducting a comprehensive assessment workshop guided by two German MARISCO facilitators as originally planned, a series of short and small workshops could be realized. These workshops were facilitated by Tajik scientists after receiving virtual training from their German colleagues. Although it was possible to bring the assessment to a satisfactory conclusion, the methodological changes revealed significant drawbacks. Radical simplifications of the methods were necessary that led to reduced depth of the assessment and missed learning opportunities for participants. Limited experience in workshop guidance by the new facilitators posed challenges to the participatory process and the quality of its outcomes. While the adapted method created training effects that would otherwise have been missed, it also put additional pressure on the capacities of local partners. Our experience during the pandemic offers valuable lessons learned for future applications of systemic-participatory approaches. Whereas, a complete shift to remote applications is problematic, there is a need to put greater emphasis on capacitating local partners. Methodological trade-offs are necessary for partially remote working processes, but principles of participation and systemic thinking should not be compromised. KW - Eco-system-based sustainable development KW - MARISCO KW - Participatory methods KW - Biodiversity and ecosystem service assessment KW - Sustainable agriculture KW - Tajikistan Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-2263 SN - 2571-581X IS - 5 PB - Frontiers ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lorenz, Tommy A1 - Gerster, Lea A1 - Wodzinowski, Dustin Elias A1 - Wartenberg, Ariani A1 - Martetschläger, Lea A1 - Molitor, Heike A1 - Cremer, Tobias A1 - Bloch, Ralf T1 - Innovative Teaching and Learning Formats for the Implementation of Agroforestry Systems—An Impact Analysis after Five Years of Experience with the Real-World Laboratory “Ackerbaum” JF - Forests N2 - Since 2017, the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) offers transformative learning modules in their curricula, which are called ITL—Innovative Teaching and Learning formats. Student tutors change into the role of teachers and organize lectures, excursions, and assignments at the Real-World Laboratory “Ackerbaum”—an agroforestry system in the federal state of Brandenburg, Germany. Students can learn about agroforestry systems, participate in research, and take practical action. The examination of the module is a scientific report linked to the experimental area. In this study, an attempt was made to verify the quality and impact of teaching formats in the ITL via the analysis of 53 reports created by 170 students as well as surveys among participants. For this purpose, indicators were formulated that capture the quality of scientific methods and the contribution to higher education for sustainable development. Students and tutors appreciate the open working atmosphere and the possibility to actively participate in the course; many leave the module motivated. Some even move toward transformation in agriculture professionally as, e.g., consultants in the field of agroforestry. As a transformative institution, HNEE offers with ITL a rare opportunity for practical application, scientific methods, and transdisciplinary collaboration with different stakeholders to work on future models to change today’s agriculture. KW - agroecology KW - education for sustainable development KW - interdisciplinarity KW - transdisciplinarity KW - transformative science KW - forestry Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-3092 SN - 1999-4907 VL - 13 IS - 7 PB - MDPI ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Halwani, Mosab A1 - Reckling, Moritz A1 - Egamberdieva, Dilfuza A1 - Omari, Richard Ansong A1 - Bellingrath-Kimura, Sonoko Dorothea A1 - Bachinger, Johann A1 - Bloch, Ralf T1 - Soybean Nodulation Response to Cropping Interval and Inoculation in European Cropping Systems JF - Frontiers in Plant Science N2 - To support the adaption of soybean [Glycine max (L) Merrill] cultivation across Central Europe, the availability of compatible soybean nodulating Bradyrhizobia (SNB) is essential. Little is known about the symbiotic potential of indigenous SNB in Central Europe and the interaction with an SNB inoculum from commercial products. The objective of this study was to quantify the capacity of indigenous and inoculated SNB strains on the symbiotic performance of soybean in a pot experiment, using soils with and without soybean history. Under controlled conditions in a growth chamber, the study focused on two main factors: a soybean cropping interval (time since the last soybean cultivation; SCI) and inoculation with commercial Bradyrhizobia strains. Comparing the two types of soil, without soybean history and with 1–4 years SCI, we found out that plants grown in soil with soybean history and without inoculation had significantly more root nodules and higher nitrogen content in the plant tissue. These parameters, along with the leghemoglobin content, were found to be a variable among soils with 1–4 years SCI and did not show a trend over the years. Inoculation in soil without soybean history showed a significant increase in a nodulation rate, leghemoglobin content, and soybean tissue nitrogen concentration. The study found that response to inoculation varied significantly as per locations in soil with previous soybean cultivation history. An inoculated soybean grown on loamy sandy soils from the location Müncheberg had significantly more nodules as well as higher green tissue nitrogen concentration compared with non-inoculated plants. No significant improvement in a nodulation rate and tissue nitrogen concentration was observed for an inoculated soybean grown on loamy sandy soils from the location Fehrow. These results suggest that introduced SNB strains remained viable in the soil and were still symbiotically competent for up to 4 years after soybean cultivation. However, the symbiotic performance of the SNB remaining in the soils was not sufficient in all cases and makes inoculation with commercial products necessary. The SNB strains found in the soil of Central Europe could also be promising candidates for the development of inoculants and already represent a contribution to the successful cultivation of soybeans in Central Europe. KW - soybean KW - Bradyrhizobia KW - cropping interval KW - inoculation KW - nodulation KW - Central Europe Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-2576 SN - 1664-462X VL - 12 PB - Frontiers Media S.A. ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Halwani, Mosab A1 - Reckling, Moritz A1 - Schuler, Johannes A1 - Bloch, Ralf A1 - Bachinger, Johann T1 - Soybean in No-Till Cover-Crop Systems JF - Agronomy N2 - Introducing agro-ecological techniques such as no-tillage systems with cover crops in rotations with soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) could provide more resilience to changing climatic conditions and, at the same time, reduce soil erosion, nitrate leaching, and weed density in the main crop. However, there are challenges in introducing no-tillage techniques in crop systems in Europe as there is little quantitative knowledge about the agro-economic impact. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the agronomic and economic impacts of three soybean cropping systems involving a rye (Secale cereal L.) cover crop prior to soybean, i.e., two no-tillage systems; either herbicide-free with crimping the rye or herbicide-based without rye crimping and one plough-based in which rye was cut as green silage. The impacts of these cropping strategies were compared in a three-year cropping system experiment at a research station in north-eastern Germany with and without irrigation. The following parameters were measured: (1) cover crop biomass; (2) weed biomass; (3) soybean plant density; (4) soybean grain yield; and (5) gross margin of the cropping system. The results showed that all three soybean cropping systems can effectively suppress weeds. System (C), the no-tillage herbicide-based system, produced the lowest rye biomass and highest soybean yield; system (B), the no-tillage herbicide-free/crimped rye system, produced the highest rye biomass and lowest soybean yield compared to system (A), the standard cutting/plough-based system. The differences in rye biomass and soybean yield observed between the three systems could be mainly attributed to the timing of the cover crop termination and the soybean sowing date. The gross margin was highest in system (C), due to the high soybean grain yield. The low soybean grain yield in system (B) resulted in lower revenues and gross margins compared to systems (A) and (C), although system (B) could be economically attractive in organic farming with higher prices for organic soybean. In the particularly dry year 2016, gross margins were higher when soybean was irrigated compared to the rainfed cultivation, due to significantly higher grain yields. Before recommending the application of the no-tillage with cover crop technique for the conditions tested in north-eastern Germany, more investigations on the benefits and risks of this technique are needed. Further research needs to focus on maintaining a high rye biomass as well as on ensuring an early soybean planting date. Optimizing the crimping and drilling equipment is still required in order to develop good management practices for no-tillage herbicide-free systems in European conditions. KW - no-tillage KW - cover crop KW - irrigation KW - weed suppression KW - gross margin Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-3314 SN - 2073-4395 VL - 9 IS - 12 PB - MDPI ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Donat, Marco A1 - Geistert, Jonas A1 - Grahmann, Kathrin A1 - Bloch, Ralf A1 - Bellingrath-Kimura, Sonoko D. T1 - Patch cropping- a new methodological approach to determine new field arrangements that increase the multifunctionality of agricultural landscapes JF - Computers and Electronics in Agriculture N2 - Agricultural intensification decreased land cover complexity by converting small complex arable field geometries into large and simple structures which then were managed uniformly. These changes have led to a variety of negative environmental effects and influence ecosystem services. We present a novel small-scale and site-specific cropping system which splits a large field into small homogeneous sub-fields called ‘patches’ grouped in different yield potentials. A detailed workflow is presented to generate new spatially arranged patches with special focus on preprocessing and filtering of multi-year yield data, the variation in patch sizes and the adaptation of maximum working width to use available conventional farm equipment and permanent traffic lanes. The reduction of variance by the used cluster algorithm depends on the within-field heterogeneity. The patch size, the number of growing seasons (GS) used for clustering and the parallel shift of the patch structure along the permanent traffic lane resulted in a change in relative variance. Independent cross validation showed an increased performance of the classification algorithm with increasing number of GS used for clustering. The applied cluster analysis resulted in robust field segregation according to different yield potential zones and provides an innovative method for a novel cropping system. KW - Soil Management Zone Delineation; Yield Productivity Zones; Python; Clustering Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-4365 SN - 0168-1699 IS - 197 SP - 1 EP - 15 PB - Elsevier ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mouratiadou, Ioanna A1 - Lemke, Nahleen A1 - Chen, Cheng A1 - Wartenberg, Ariani A1 - Bloch, Ralf A1 - Donat, Marco A1 - Gaiser, Thomas A1 - Hanike Basavegowda, Deepak A1 - Helming, Katharina A1 - Ali Hosseini Yekani, Seyed A1 - Krull, Marcos A1 - Lingemann, Kai A1 - Macpherson, Joseph A1 - Melzer, Marvin A1 - Nendel, Claas A1 - Piorr, Annette A1 - Shaaban, Mostafa A1 - Zander, Peter A1 - Weltzien, Cornelia A1 - Bellingrath-Kimura, Sonoko Dorothea T1 - The Digital Agricultural Knowledge and Information System (DAKIS): Employing digitalisation to encourage diversified and multifunctional agricultural systems JF - Environmental Science and Ecotechnology N2 - Multifunctional and diversified agriculture can address diverging pressures and demands by simultaneously enhancing productivity, biodiversity, and the provision of ecosystem services. The use of digital technologies can support this by designing and managing resource-efficient and context-specific agricultural systems. We present the Digital Agricultural Knowledge and Information System (DAKIS) to demonstrate an approach that employs digital technologies to enable decision-making towards diversified and sustainable agriculture. To develop the DAKIS, we specified, together with stakeholders, requirements for a knowledge-based decision-support tool and reviewed the literature to identify limitations in the current generation of tools. The results of the review point towards recurring challenges regarding the consideration of ecosystem services and biodiversity, the capacity to foster communication and cooperation between farmers and other actors, and the ability to link multiple spatiotemporal scales and sustainability levels. To overcome these challenges, the DAKIS provides a digital platform to support farmers' decision-making on land use and management via an integrative spatiotemporally explicit approach that analyses a wide range of data from various sources. The approach integrates remote and in situ sensors, artificial intelligence, modelling, stakeholder-stated demand for biodiversity and ecosystem services, and participatory sustainability impact assessment to address the diverse drivers affecting agricultural land use and management design, including natural and agronomic factors, economic and policy considerations, and socio-cultural preferences and settings. Ultimately, the DAKIS embeds the consideration of ecosystem services, biodiversity, and sustainability into farmers' decision-making and enables learning and progress towards site-adapted small-scale multifunctional and diversified agriculture while simultaneously supporting farmers' objectives and societal demands. KW - Digital agriculture KW - Ecosystem services KW - Decision support system KW - Farming practices KW - Biodiversity KW - Modelling KW - Small-scale management Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-8012 SN - 2666-4984 VL - 16 PB - Elsevier ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Arrekhi, Armin A1 - Niknahad Gharmakher, Hamid A1 - Bachinger, Johann A1 - Bloch, Ralf T1 - Investigation of Feasibility and Effect of Alternative Farming System on the Grain Yield of Barley and Forage Production in Western Semi-arid Region of Golestan Province, Iran JF - Journal of Rangeland Science N2 - One of the major challenges in semi-arid regions of Iran is to supply the adequate forage for livestock and meanwhile prevent the destruction of rangelands due to overgrazing. Therefore, this study aimed to compare three cropping systems of barley using Salsola turcomanica (ST), and Chrysopogon zizanioides (CZ) in three treatments of barley+ST, barley+ST+CZ and mono-culture of barley. Two-year field trials data were collected from November 2018 to October 2020 in two experimental sites using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. The results of analysis of variance over two years indicated that the effects of year, location, and year by location interaction were significant (p<0.01) for all of barley’s yield components. Mixed cropping of barley with other species had no negative effect on barley traits such as grain yield, straw yield and harvest index. In addition, the mixed cropping of barley+ST and barley+ST+CZ in the first year produced 2.5 t/ha more forage yield than that mono-culture of barley. This was due to high production of Salsola (ST), in mixed cropping. In both years, yield of Salsola production was about 25% of whole produced biomass. Drastic reduction in rainfall in the second year reduced the obtained yield; so, there was no significant difference among three cropping systems in the second year. However, cropping systems of barley+ST and barley+ST+CZ produced about 1 t/ha more forage than that for the mono-culture of barley. Mixed cropping of barley +ST+CZ did not affect yield components of barley. Mixed cropping of barley with Salsola turcomanica could guarantee soil cover throughout the year and is recommended for forage production in rangeland in Iran. KW - Barley; Salsola turcomanica; Chrysopogon zizanioides; Mixed cropping Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-8022 SN - 2008-9996 VL - 13 IS - 2 SP - 155 EP - 167 PB - IA University, Borujerd Branch ER -