Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Science

• Mixed-method approach to analyze consumer preferences for potting soil. • Combined choice-based conjoint analysis with qualitative interviews. • Price, peat content, and color are top drivers in preferences for potting soil. • Dark soil color is preferred, acting as a cue for quality despite no agronomic value. • Brand plays a minor role; premium labels suggest quality, not sustainability. The environmental and climate implications of peat extraction have put pressure on the horticultural industry to reduce its use of peat, particularly in consumer potting soils. However, consumer preferences and the decision-making processes behind substrate choices remain understudied. This study uses a mixed-methods approach that combines a choice-based conjoint analysis (n = 247) with qualitative interviews (n = 44) to investigate the key drivers of potting soil preferences among German hobby gardeners. The choice-based conjoint analysis evaluated four attributes: raw material (peat content), soil color, brand, and price. Hierarchical Bayesian estimation revealed that price (31.6%) and raw material (28.0%) were the most influential factors, followed by color (25.0%) and brand (15.5%). Latent class analysis identified five consumer segments ranging from price-sensitive shoppers to environmentally conscious consumers who strongly prefer peat-free products. While the quantitative results indicate a clear preference for dark-colored, lower-priced soils, the qualitative interviews contextualize these preferences. They reveal that color serves as a visual cue for quality and that consumers have limited knowledge on the environmental impact of peat. Brand loyalty was generally low, with premium brands being associated with perceived quality rather than sustainability. The study suggests that industry and policy efforts to promote sustainable substrates must address knowledge gaps and sensory expectations. By combining quantitative segmentation with qualitative insights, this research provides substrate producers, retailers, and policymakers with actionable recommendations to advance peat-free horticulture through targeted consumer engagement and product design.

Günter Schmitt: Nürtingen in alten Ansichten. Senner-Druck Nürtingen 1980. 96 Seiten, zahlreiche Abbildungen. Gebunden

Despite increasing scientific interest in Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) and a rapid growth of commercial operations in this field, reliable and affordable methods for Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) remain a critical challenge for upscaling. Soil-based MRV methods provide an upper-bound estimate for Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) established through the quantification of feedstock weathering rates. However, robust CDR calculations require accounting for various cation loss pathways, such as plant uptake and soil sorption, necessitating extensive and costly measurements, each with the potential to introduce uncertainty into the CDR estimate. Porewater-based MRV methods, which aim to quantify the export of CDR-relevant aqueous-phase weathering products, also present challenges. These methods typically rely on specialized water extraction instruments that can be expensive to procure, install and maintain, and may not function reliably under low soil moisture conditions. Furthermore, solute flux calculations derived from discrete porewater samples are dependent on accurate water balance estimates, and often involve interpolating data gaps, potentially introducing uncertainty. As commercial ventures continue to explore ERW, developing reliable and scalable MRV methodologies is essential for ensuring the credibility and widespread adoption of this CDR strategy.We propose the use of ion-exchange resin devices, known as Self-Integrating Accumulators (SIAs), as a potential improvement for MRV of ERW. Originally developed to determine nutrient leaching in soils1, SIAs offer the potential for cost-effective and robust time-integrated measurements of subsoil cation and anion fluxes relevant to CDR quantification. The performance of SIAs adapted for this purpose was evaluated in a series of mesocosm-scale weathering experiments, primarily designed to assess the adsorption efficiency and recovery rates of major ions used for MRV.Preliminary experiments, utilizing basaltic feedstock (applied at an equivalent rate of 200 t/ha) and agricultural soil sourced from western Germany, demonstrated high (>90%) major ion adsorption efficiencies by SIA devices, despite the induction of strong weathering fluxes. The second phase of this research employed a lower application rate (100 t/ha) to more closely simulate feasible operational deployments. We present here initial findings from this series of experiments, aiming to demonstrate the applicability of SIAs for large-scale ERW deployments, which we believe could significantly improve the accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency of MRV.References1Bischoff, Wolf-Anno. 2007. “Development and Applications of the Self-Integrating Accumulators: A Method to Quantify the Leaching Losses of Environmentally Relevant Substances.” PhD Thesis, Berlin, Germany: Technische Universität Berlin. https://depositonce.tu-berlin.de/items/64e16848-244b-4b50-920c-8d835efda918.

Abstract Cultural landscapes enhance the spiritual relationship between people and their environment. They represent civilized evidence of peoples’ interaction with nature and exploiting its resources to build civilization. Yemeni urban and rural environments are rich in many cultural landscape elements that reflect the ingenuity of Yemeni people interacting with nature. Unfortunately, there is a severe shortage of research studies that discuss the cultural landscapes in Yemen and the mechanisms for their preservation. Therefore, this study aimed to shed light on the types of mountain cultural landscapes in Yemen and discuss the means of their preservation. The study achieved its objectives through a theoretical review of available studies and field visits to some sites in Ibb, Jableh, and Taiz cities. The authors visited three mountainous cities in May and June 2021: the historic city of Jableh, the historic city of Taiz, and the old city of Ibb. The authors also visited some mountain villages and cultivated terraces in Sana’a, Ibb, and Taiz in July and August 2021. The study highlighted the human contribution to these sites and elements and showed the Yemenis’ skills in adapting to nature and benefiting from it ideally. The results indicate the environmental, social, and economic aspects that Yemenis have reaped through their fruitful use of nature and landscapes. This study can guide the competent authorities in assessing, developing, and protecting cultural landscape sites in Yemen.

International audience