Placing Ecosystem Services within the Water–Food–Energy–Climate Nexus: A Case Study in Mediterranean Mixed Orchards
We used Cyprus as a model to link the Water–Energy–Food–Climate (WEFC) nexus indicators (e.g., carbon and water footprints) to the ecosystem services (ES) provided by 39 mixed orchards (stone fruits and nuts) on organic (Org) and conventional (Conv) farms. Food provision was lower for Org than Conv...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/9/2224 |
| _version_ | 1797492068964106240 |
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| author | Sotiroula Ioannidou Vassilis Litskas Menelaos Stavrinides Ioannis Ν. Vogiatzakis |
| author_facet | Sotiroula Ioannidou Vassilis Litskas Menelaos Stavrinides Ioannis Ν. Vogiatzakis |
| author_sort | Sotiroula Ioannidou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We used Cyprus as a model to link the Water–Energy–Food–Climate (WEFC) nexus indicators (e.g., carbon and water footprints) to the ecosystem services (ES) provided by 39 mixed orchards (stone fruits and nuts) on organic (Org) and conventional (Conv) farms. Food provision was lower for Org than Conv orchards. Management practices in Org mixed orchards better support climate change mitigation and water flow regulation. Soil quality parameters (e.g., organic matter and soil respiration), Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF), and farm attributes (e.g., tree age) were significantly correlated to the GHG emissions per Mcal of food. Using cluster analysis, orchards were grouped based on WEFC indicators. Finally, a simple approach was developed to allow a rapid link between the WEFC and ES and to support decision making related to land use. This approach highlighted that in the case of Mediterranean mixed orchards, the main objective towards sustainability should be the balance between input management, food production, and ES from agroecosystems, rather than solely the attainment of high yields. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:58:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0cbb1519a2da4ca19d144c85998e55f4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:58:18Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-0cbb1519a2da4ca19d144c85998e55f42023-11-23T14:39:25ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952022-09-01129222410.3390/agronomy12092224Placing Ecosystem Services within the Water–Food–Energy–Climate Nexus: A Case Study in Mediterranean Mixed OrchardsSotiroula Ioannidou0Vassilis Litskas1Menelaos Stavrinides2Ioannis Ν. Vogiatzakis3Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Open University of Cyprus, Giannou Granidioti 33, Latsia 2220, CyprusFaculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Open University of Cyprus, Giannou Granidioti 33, Latsia 2220, CyprusDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology; Archbishop Kyprianos 30, Limassol 3036, CyprusFaculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Open University of Cyprus, Giannou Granidioti 33, Latsia 2220, CyprusWe used Cyprus as a model to link the Water–Energy–Food–Climate (WEFC) nexus indicators (e.g., carbon and water footprints) to the ecosystem services (ES) provided by 39 mixed orchards (stone fruits and nuts) on organic (Org) and conventional (Conv) farms. Food provision was lower for Org than Conv orchards. Management practices in Org mixed orchards better support climate change mitigation and water flow regulation. Soil quality parameters (e.g., organic matter and soil respiration), Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF), and farm attributes (e.g., tree age) were significantly correlated to the GHG emissions per Mcal of food. Using cluster analysis, orchards were grouped based on WEFC indicators. Finally, a simple approach was developed to allow a rapid link between the WEFC and ES and to support decision making related to land use. This approach highlighted that in the case of Mediterranean mixed orchards, the main objective towards sustainability should be the balance between input management, food production, and ES from agroecosystems, rather than solely the attainment of high yields.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/9/2224CICESclimate changenexusorganic farmingpermanent cropssustainability indicators |
| spellingShingle | Sotiroula Ioannidou Vassilis Litskas Menelaos Stavrinides Ioannis Ν. Vogiatzakis Placing Ecosystem Services within the Water–Food–Energy–Climate Nexus: A Case Study in Mediterranean Mixed Orchards Agronomy CICES climate change nexus organic farming permanent crops sustainability indicators |
| title | Placing Ecosystem Services within the Water–Food–Energy–Climate Nexus: A Case Study in Mediterranean Mixed Orchards |
| title_full | Placing Ecosystem Services within the Water–Food–Energy–Climate Nexus: A Case Study in Mediterranean Mixed Orchards |
| title_fullStr | Placing Ecosystem Services within the Water–Food–Energy–Climate Nexus: A Case Study in Mediterranean Mixed Orchards |
| title_full_unstemmed | Placing Ecosystem Services within the Water–Food–Energy–Climate Nexus: A Case Study in Mediterranean Mixed Orchards |
| title_short | Placing Ecosystem Services within the Water–Food–Energy–Climate Nexus: A Case Study in Mediterranean Mixed Orchards |
| title_sort | placing ecosystem services within the water food energy climate nexus a case study in mediterranean mixed orchards |
| topic | CICES climate change nexus organic farming permanent crops sustainability indicators |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/9/2224 |
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