Perceived effects of COVID-19 restrictions on smallholder farmers: Evidence from seven lower- and middle-income countries.

Context: The COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented global disruption and continues to wreak havoc. Dire predictions were made about the risks to smallholder farmers in lower- and middle- income, but hard data have been lacking. We present the results from 9201 interviews with smallholder farmers from seven countries.

Effect of feeding practices and manure quality on CH and NO emissions from uncovered cattle manure heaps in Kenya.

Countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) rely on IPCC emission factors (EF) for GHG emission reporting. However, these were derived for industrialized livestock farms and do not represent conditions of smallholder farms (small, low-producing livestock breeds, poor feed quality, feed scarcity). Here, we present the first measurements of CH and NO emissions from cattle-manure heaps representing feeding practices typical for smallholder farms in the highlands of East Africa: 1) cattle fed below maintenance energy requirements to represent feed scarcity, and 2) cattle fed tropical forage grasses (Napier, Rhodes, Brachiaria).

Interactive effects of dung deposited onto urine patches on greenhouse gas fluxes from tropical pastures in Kenya.

Dung and urine patches on grasslands are hotspots of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in temperate regions, while its importance remains controversial for tropical regions as emissions seem to be lower. Here we investigated NO, CH and CO emissions from urine and dung patches on tropical pastures in Kenya, thereby disentangling interactive and pure water, dung or urine effects. GHG fluxes were monitored with automated chambers for 42-59 days covering three seasons (short rainy season, long rainy season, dry season) for six treatments (Control; +1 L water; +1 kg dung; 1 L urine; 1 L water +1 kg dung; 1 L urine +1 kg dung).

Legacy effects of drought on nitrate leaching in a temperate mixed forest on karst.

With climate change the occurrence of summer droughts is expected to increase in Central Europe. This could lead to increased nitrate (NO) leaching when water scarcity affects the N-uptake capacity of trees and increases soil N availability due to early leaf senescence and higher litter input. In the present study, we used 16 years of ecological monitoring data from the LTER research site "Zöbelboden" in Austria.

Response of Microbial Communities and Their Metabolic Functions to Drying⁻Rewetting Stress in a Temperate Forest Soil.

Global climate change is predicted to alter drought-precipitation patterns, which will likely affect soil microbial communities and their functions, ultimately shifting microbially-mediated biogeochemical cycles. The present study aims to investigate the simultaneous variation of microbial community compositions and functions in response to drought and following rewetting events, using a soil metaproteomics approach. For this, an established field experiment located in an Austrian forest with two levels (moderate and severe stress) of precipitation manipulation was evaluated.

Decoupling of microbial carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling in response to extreme temperature events.

Predicted changes in the intensity and frequency of climate extremes urge a better mechanistic understanding of the stress response of microbially mediated carbon (C) and nutrient cycling processes. We analyzed the resistance and resilience of microbial C, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) cycling processes and microbial community composition in decomposing plant litter to transient, but severe, temperature disturbances, namely, freeze-thaw and heat. Disturbances led temporarily to a more rapid cycling of C and N but caused a down-regulation of P cycling.

Influence of litter chemistry and stoichiometry on glucan depolymerization during decomposition of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) litter.

Glucans like cellulose and starch are a major source of carbon for decomposer food webs, especially during early- and intermediate-stages of decomposition. Litter quality has previously been suggested to notably influence decomposition processes as it determines the decomposability of organic material and the nutrient availability to the decomposer community. To study the impact of chemical and elemental composition of resources on glucan decomposition, a laboratory experiment was carried out using beech (Fagus sylvatica, L.

Stoichiometric controls of nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in decomposing beech leaf litter.

Resource stoichiometry (C:N:P) is an important determinant of litter decomposition. However, the effect of elemental stoichiometry on the gross rates of microbial N and P cycling processes during litter decomposition is unknown. In a mesocosm experiment, beech (Fagus sylvatica L.