Agronomy for Sustainable Development

Cover crops promote regulating and supporting ecosystem services without compromising grape yield in temperate vineyards. A meta-analysis - Agronomy for Sustainable Development Vineyards play a crucial role in the economies, landscapes, and ecosystems of temperate regions. Cover cropping is an agroecological practice that enhances ecosystem services delivery while mitigating...

Calderone, F., Scavo, A., Gresta, F. et al. Cover crops promote regulating and supporting ecosystem services without compromising grape yield in temperate vineyards. A meta-analysis. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 70 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#Agroecology #Viticulture #Sustainability

Climatic and design tipping points in agrivoltaic crop production systems. A meta-analysis - Agronomy for Sustainable Development Amidst global climate change, increasing food demand, and land-use competition between agriculture and energy production, agrivoltaic systems are emerging as a potential solution energy. However, the ...

Zhang, W., Hendriks, PW., Uchanski, M. et al. Climatic and design tipping points in agrivoltaic crop production systems. A meta-analysis. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 69 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#Agrivoltaics #Microclimate #Microenvironment #CropPerformance

Assessing management factors limiting rice production in Venezuela - Agronomy for Sustainable Development Rice once played a strategic role for food security in Venezuela, but economic stagnation and the onset of hyperinflation in 2016 led to a sharp decline in production. Today, the country imports about...

de Souza, J.V.S., Pegoraro, C.P., Soares, C.F. et al. Assessing management factors limiting rice production in Venezuela. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 68 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#YieldGap #CropManagement

Paludiculture maintains peat formation potential in rewetted temperate fens - Agronomy for Sustainable Development Drainage for agriculture has transformed temperate fen peatlands from carbon sinks into major carbon sources. Rewetting can halt this degradation, and the productive use of rewetted peatlands through ...

Kreyling, J., Zeterberg, K., Aggenbach, C. et al. Paludiculture maintains peat formation potential in rewetted temperate fens. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 67 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#Paludiculture #RewettingPeatlands #CarbonSequestration

Mapping climate change impacts on cocoa agroforestry systems in Cameroon to mitigate future deforestation - Agronomy for Sustainable Development Climate change is projected to severely limit cocoa (Theobroma cacao) production, threatening livelihoods and increasing pressure on protected forests. To ensure resilient land-use planning, a nuanced...

Gloy, N., Chemura, A., Tchindjang, M. et al. Mapping climate change impacts on cocoa agroforestry systems in Cameroon to mitigate future deforestation. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 66 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#Cocoa #Agroforestry #ClimateChange

Root cutters: perennial weed control with a low risk of soil erosion and nutrient leaching - Agronomy for Sustainable Development It is essential to reduce pesticide and tillage use in agricultural systems, but better alternatives for controlling perennial weeds are needed. The horizontal and vertical root cutters can fragment t...

Ringselle, B., Børresen, T., Lundkvist, A. et al. Root cutters: perennial weed control with a low risk of soil erosion and nutrient leaching. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 65 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#ConservationAgriculture #RegenerativeAgriculture
#OrganicAgriculture

The impact of agricultural intensification on legume seeds with physical dormancy in sustainable farming systems. A review - Agronomy for Sustainable Development Physical dormancy in seeds is caused by a water-impermeable seed coat. It plays a crucial role in the sustainability of ley farming systems in Mediterranean climates by enabling pasture legumes to reg...

Harrison, R.J., Howieson, J.G., Yates, R.J. et al. The impact of agricultural intensification on legume seeds with physical dormancy in sustainable farming systems. A review. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 64 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#SoilSeedBank #PastureLegume #AgriculturalManagement

Maize yield responses to soil organic carbon under integrated soil fertility management in tropical environments - Agronomy for Sustainable Development To ensure the sustainable management of tropical cropping systems, tracking changes in soil fertility and distinguishing long-term crop yield trends from season-to-season fluctuations are essential. H...

Laub, M., Corbeels, M., MacLaren, C. et al. Maize yield responses to soil organic carbon under integrated soil fertility management in tropical environments. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 63 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#Sustainability #MaizeCropping #FarmyardManure #CarbonSequestration

When tourism meets pastoralism: smallholder livelihood dilemmas and overgrazing in the fragile Tien-Shan montane grasslands - Agronomy for Sustainable Development Rapid shifts in land-use policies and environmental conditions have made overgrazing a significant challenge to the sustainability of China’s fragile drylands, particularly the Tien-Shan montane grass...

Zhao, D., Bayaerta, Liu, Z. et al. When tourism meets pastoralism: smallholder livelihood dilemmas and overgrazing in the fragile Tien-Shan montane grasslands. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 62 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#LandUse #GrasslandDegradation #Overgrazing

Reintegrating livestock in a specialized vineyard region: unravelling actor perceptions in southern France - Agronomy for Sustainable Development Reconnecting neighboring specialized crop farms and livestock farms through exchanges of grain, fodder, crop by-products, and manure or grazing animals could be a solution to address limiting factors ...

Ryschawy, J., Grillot, M., Moraine, M. et al. Reintegrating livestock in a specialized vineyard region: unravelling actor perceptions in southern France. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 61 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#Crop-livestockIntegration #AgroecologicalTransition

Assessing water and nitrogen footprints of alternative cropping systems across the precipitation gradient of the North China Plain - Agronomy for Sustainable Development Alternative cropping systems can sustain productivity and reduce impacts (e.g., excessive groundwater exploitation, nitrogen losses), but microclimate impacts in diversified systems are mostly unexplo...

Lu, Y., Xiao, D., Qi, Y. et al. Assessing water and nitrogen footprints of alternative cropping systems across the precipitation gradient of the North China Plain. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 60 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#CropProductivity

Temporal complementarity drives nitrogen uptake in strip intercropping with or without legumes - Agronomy for Sustainable Development Cereal/legume intercropping enables complementary nitrogen (N) uptake, whereas relay intercropping allows temporal complementarity. However, how these mechanisms contribute to N uptake under moderate,...

Dong, B., Wang, Z., Stomph, T.J. et al. Temporal complementarity drives nitrogen uptake in strip intercropping with or without legumes. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 59 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...

Multiple agroecological practices use and climate change mitigation. A review - Agronomy for Sustainable Development Agriculture is increasingly affected by climate change but is also a significant contributor of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This global study aims to find evidence on the impact of agroecological ...

Wezel, A., Marchetti, A., Nichenametla, C.K. et al. Multiple agroecological practices use and climate change mitigation. A review. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 58 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#Agroecology #CarbonSequestration #GreenhouseGasEmission

Vertical farming: productivity, environmental impact, and resource use. A review - Agronomy for Sustainable Development Vertical farming is gaining attention as an indoor growing system because it enables standardised and intense production, thanks to fully controlled growing settings where environmental parameters can...

Pennisi, G., Gianquinto, G., Marcelis, L.F.M. et al. Vertical farming: productivity, environmental impact, and resource use. A review. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 57 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#Lettuce #Sustainability

Compost application and reduced synthetic nitrogen fertilization promote sustainable olive production in super-high-density orchards - Agronomy for Sustainable Development As a high-value crop, olives are widely cultivated in Mediterranean-climate regions, including California. However, appropriate nitrogen (N) fertilization and nutrient management are required for the ...

Curtright, A.J., Haas, S.M. & Zhu-Barker, X. Compost application and reduced synthetic nitrogen fertilization promote sustainable olive production in super-high-density orchards. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 56 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#SoilFertility #OliveOilQuality

Plasticity in ear density drives complementarity effects and yield benefits in wheat variety mixtures - Agronomy for Sustainable Development Variety mixtures represent a promising option to sustainably increase the productivity of grain crops, but the underlying processes driving potential yield benefits remain poorly understood. Notably, ...

Stefan, L., Colbach, N., Fossati, D. et al. Plasticity in ear density drives complementarity effects and yield benefits in wheat variety mixtures. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 55 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#CultivarMixtures #Overyielding

Increasing crop diversity reduces pesticides across diverse production situations - Agronomy for Sustainable Development Pesticides have caused significant losses of biodiversity and pose a threat to human health. Crop diversification is proposed as a major solution to achieve the needed pesticide reduction in agricultu...

Zhang, Y., Zhang, C., Cong, WF. et al. Increasing crop diversity reduces pesticides across diverse production situations. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 53 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#PesticideUse #TreatmentFrequencyIndex #ClimaticConditions #CroppingSystem

Performance of elite and heritage germplasm in barley genotype mixtures: effects on yield and disease under diverse management scenarios - Agronomy for Sustainable Development Genotype mixtures are multiple crop lines grown together to improve yield, stability, and disease control by utilizing different genetic and morphological traits. Incorporating heritage germplasm may ...

Cope, J.E., Newton, A.C. Performance of elite and heritage germplasm in barley genotype mixtures: effects on yield and disease under diverse management scenarios. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 52 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#Landrace #Intracropping #CultivarMixtures #FungalDisease #CroppingSystems

Soil phosphorus budgets in organic farming differ according to plot managements and farm types - Agronomy for Sustainable Development Soil fertility in organic farming systems relies on the use of organic fertilizers and on the introduction of N-fixing crops in rotations. In such systems, the management of phosphorus fertilization c...

Barbieri, P., Demay, J., Maignan, M. et al. Soil phosphorus budgets in organic farming differ according to plot managements and farm types. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 51 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#OrganicFarming #Phosphorus #SoilBudgets #Olsen-P

Ecologically based agriculture benefits earthworms in Argentina’s large-scale systems: farm-level strategies matter - Agronomy for Sustainable Development Conventional agriculture expansion and intensification are among the main causes of land degradation and soil biodiversity losses worldwide. Developing more sustainable approaches poses major challeng...

Escudero, H.J., Domínguez, A., Rodríguez, M.P. et al. Ecologically based agriculture benefits earthworms in Argentina’s large-scale systems: farm-level strategies matter. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 50 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#Earthworms #Agroecology #OrganicFarming

Exploring the interaction of weed control management and crop structure on maize yield in the wide range of Mexican cropping systems - Agronomy for Sustainable Development The widespread reliance on herbicides as the primary weed control strategy is increasingly being questioned. Agroecological management offers a promising alternative, yet comparisons with conventional...

Wies, G., Monroy-Sais, A.S., López-Zepeda, M.L. et al. Exploring the interaction of weed control management and crop structure on maize yield in the wide range of Mexican cropping systems. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 49 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#OnFarmResearch #NativeMaize

A functional ecology approach to define a conceptual and participatory method for designing species mixtures: a case study on nitrogen cycling and weed control - Agronomy for Sustainable Development In agriculture, species mixtures can provide ecosystem services and make agroecosystems more resilient. In particular, weed control and improved nitrogen cycling are much sought-after services provide...

Ouattara, M.S., Paut, R., Prost, L. et al. A functional ecology approach to define a conceptual and participatory method for designing species mixtures: a case study on nitrogen cycling and weed control. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 48 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...

Adapting the Indigenous Three Sisters system to modern row cropping practices - Agronomy for Sustainable Development The Indigenous companion planting technique known as the Three Sisters system improves soil health, weed control, and crop yields by combining mutually beneficial crops. However, existing research foc...

Guo, J., Mooney, H., Wu, P. et al. Adapting the Indigenous Three Sisters system to modern row cropping practices. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 47 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#IndigenousFarming #RowCrops

Soil management shapes the functional diversity of the inter-row vegetation in Mediterranean vineyards - Agronomy for Sustainable Development Weed control in vineyards often relies on intensive tillage, which can negatively affect soil health. While cover crops offer potential benefits (such as weed suppression and soil improvement), they m...

Warren Raffa, D., Virili, A., Carlesi, S. et al. Soil management shapes the functional diversity of the inter-row vegetation in Mediterranean vineyards. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 46 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#Barley #Clover #PigeonBean #CoverCropMixture #FunctionalTraits #Tillage

Combining participatory and modeling approaches to investigate factors and drivers of soil erosion risk in mixed crop-livestock farms - Agronomy for Sustainable Development Soil erosion threatens mixed farms in marginal areas, endangering their cultural and economic role in territories where pastoralist systems are already under pressure for climatic, socioeconomic, and ...

Re, M., De Leo, S., Occelli, M. et al. Combining participatory and modeling approaches to investigate factors and drivers of soil erosion risk in mixed crop-livestock farms. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 45 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#ParticipatoryResearch #RUSLE #SoilManagement #EcosystemServices

Sustainable grass cover management of vineyards enhances pesticide sorption - Agronomy for Sustainable Development Vine is one of the most treated crops. In the Mediterranean area, vineyards are vulnerable to runoff and erosion, both vectors of pesticide dispersion. The substantial pesticide use along with acute d...

Dollinger, J., Dagès, C., Vinatier, F. et al. Sustainable grass cover management of vineyards enhances pesticide sorption. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 44 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#CoverCrop #VineyardSoilManagement #Pesticide #WaterQuality

Applying green manure and zeolite and reducing N fertilization in maize mitigates N2O emission while maintaining yield - Agronomy for Sustainable Development Green manure is widely employed to substitute chemical N fertilizer. However, the potential of further alleviating N2O emission when combined with efficient management technologies has not been fully ...

Liu, R., Chang, D., Liang, H. et al. Applying green manure and zeolite and reducing N fertilization in maize mitigates N2O emission while maintaining yield. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 43 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#EnzymeActivity

Plant proteins for human and environmental health: knowledge, barriers, and levers for their development, a case study in France. A review - Agronomy for Sustainable Development Agriculture faces multiple challenges, including reducing negative environmental impacts and producing quality food for a growing world population. One of the significant issues is the need for an inc...

Gallardo-Guerrero, K., Saint-Eve, A., Cailliatte, R. et al. Plant proteins for human and environmental health: knowledge, barriers, and levers for their development, a case study in France. A review. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 42 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#PlantBiology #Agronomy #HumanNutrition

Understand farmers’decision-making in peanut area allocation and management practices in a Sub-Sahelian region - Agronomy for Sustainable Development Peanut is a crucial cash crop across numerous West African countries, especially in Senegal, where small-scale family farms frequently rotate it with millet. Despite significant research on yield enha...

Djiba, S., Clermont-Dauphin, C., Tounkara, A. et al. Understand farmers’decision-making in peanut area allocation and management practices in a Sub-Sahelian region. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 40 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#FarmerPerceptions #Yield #Livestock #Sustainability

Species combination determines whether forage mixtures gain in dry matter yield or crude protein concentration. A meta-analysis - Agronomy for Sustainable Development Cereal/legume intercropping is gaining attention due to its potential contribution to achieving sustainable intensification of forage production. Productivity and quality of cereal/legume fodder mixtu...

Liu, H., Struik, P.C., Zhang, Y. et al. Species combination determines whether forage mixtures gain in dry matter yield or crude protein concentration. A meta-analysis. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 45, 39 (2025).
doi.org/10.1007/s135...
#AgronomicManagement