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The severity of drought is predicted to increase across Europe due to climate change. Droughts can substantially impact terrestrial nitrogen (N) cycling and the corresponding microbial communities. Here, we investigated how ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), archaea (AOA), and complete ammonia oxidizers (comammox) as well as inorganic N pools and N2O fluxes respond to simulated drought under different cropping systems. A rain-out shelter experiment was conducted as part of a long-term field experiment comparing cropping systems that differed mainly in fertilization strategy (organic, mineral, or mixed mineral and organic) and plant protection management (biodynamic versus conventional pesticide use). We found that the effect of drought varied depending on the specific ammonia-oxidizing (AO) groups and the type of cropping system. Drought had the greatest impact on the structure of the AOA community compared to the other AO groups. The abundance of ammonia oxidizers was also affected by drought, with comammox clade B exhibiting the highest sensitivity. Additionally, drought had, overall, a stronger impact on the AO community structure in the biodynamic cropping system than in the mixed and mineral-fertilized conventional systems. The responses of ammonia-oxidizing communities to drought were comparable between bulk soil and rhizosphere. We observed a significant increase in NH4+ and NO3− pools during the drought period, which then decreased after rewetting, indicating a strong resilience. We further found that drought altered the complex relationships between AO communities and mineral N pools, as well as N2O fluxes. These results highlight the importance of agricultural management practices in influencing the response of nitrogen cycling guilds and their processes to drought. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 201 ISSN:0038-0717 ISSN:1879-3428

| openaire: EC/H2020/963646/EU//HELIOS Lithium titanate oxide (LTO) batteries have been under intensive research due to their stability, safety, and rapid charging characteristics. Nevertheless, uncertainties as to LTO-batteries behavior when used as a raw material in battery recycling still exist. This study provides a grave-to-gate life cycle inventory for a hydrometallurgical battery recycling process in which Li-battery waste materials nickel manganese cobalt (NMC), LTO, and graphite were used as feed. The simulation showed that NMC cathode materials and lithium from both battery waste fractions could be recovered. In contrast, the titanium present within LTO cannot be recovered by the recycling process. Nevertheless, the life cycle assessment (LCA) of the process demonstrated clear benefits of recycling battery materials, highlighted by the decrease in global warming potential, acidification, eutrophication, and ozone depletion potential. Additionally, two routes for hazardous waste management were simulated to ascertain the environmental impacts of hazardous waste management within the recycling process. Peer reviewed

Decentralized multi-energy systems (MESs) are a key element of a future low-carbon energy supply. Here, we address the crucial role of grid-connected and off-grid MESs in achieving a low-carbon future, particularly relevant for regions like the Mediterranean with high renewable energy potential and carbon-intensive grid networks, using a mixed integer linear program for optimal economic and environmental MES design considering location-specific regulations. The results reveal that substantial cost (up to 30%, potentially saving 1.6 million) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions can be reached in Mediterranean regions with sufficient solar and wind energy resources currently relying on fossil fuel-based generators. However, our case study shows that the actual cost and emission reductions are most likely limited due to location-specific regulations (limiting cost savings to 0.8 million), especially those that constrain solar photovoltaic and onshore wind. Off-grid energy systems might be suitable decarbonization options in Mediterranean regions, to avoid absorbing current GHG-intensive power from the local power grid, under marginal cost increase (15%) compared to grid-connected cost optimization. However, off-grid MESs require substantial upfront investments and exhibit some environmental trade-offs, especially on material utilization, which could be overcome by balanced autonomy. Overall, truly sustainable and secure decentralized energy systems can only be reached by considering life cycle environmental impacts, social acceptance, and regulations during the design phase. Applied Energy, 377 ISSN:0306-2619 ISSN:1872-9118