Agroecological practices improve soil biological properties in an organic vegetable system

Testani, Elena; Ciaccia, Corrado; Diacono, Mariangela; Fornasier, Flavio; Ferrarini, Andrea; Montemurro, Francesco; Canali, Stefano

doi:10.1007/s10705-023-10259-z

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…Therefore, the use of mulch film appeared to be crucial in terms of tomato yield. This is in agreement with Testani et al [47]. Authors observed a higher tomato yield for the system where Mater-bi film was used than in the system where a cover crop mixture of barley and vetch were managed as green manure.…”

Section: Processing Tomato Yieldsupporting

confidence: 92%

Effects of Conservation Agriculture Practices on Tomato Yield and Economic Performance

et al. 2023

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Conservation agriculture practices, such as reduced tillage and the incorporation of cover crops, play a crucial role in improving the sustainability of organic farming systems. The aim of this two-year field trial was to evaluate five different organic technical itineraries (ST, IN1, IN2, M1, and M2) which differed on soil management practices adopted before processing tomato transplantation and regarding weed control strategies performed. Soil management practices in comparison consisted of conventional deep tillage (ST and M1) or reduced tillage together with the use of a cover crop mixture composed of common vetch and barley (IN1, IN2, and M2). Weed control strategies involved the use of biodegradable mulch together with mechanical weeding (ST and M2), or false seedbed technique and mechanical weeding (IN1, IN2, and M1). Weed biomass at harvest, tomato yield, and the operational and economic performance of each of the technical itineraries was evaluated. No significant differences emerged in terms of weed biomass at harvest between itineraries. Best yield results were obtained tendentially by ST and M2 when biodegradable mulch was used, with values equal to 42.14 and 41.47 Mg ha−1 in 2020 and 30.68 and 31.19 Mg ha−1 in 2021, respectively. Even though the itineraries where mulch film was used (ST and M2) resulted in significantly onerous processes, they also obtained the highest gross income compared to the other itineraries, with values of 30,998 and 29,900 € ha−1 in 2020, and of 16,060 and 15,186 € ha−1 in 2021, respectively. These results revealed the importance of using mulching to help cope with critical climatic conditions, such as drought seasons. Further studies are needed to evaluate the yield and economic advantages of both the effect of shallower soil tillage over a longer period in this specific context and the creation of ground cover with cover crops managed as dead mulch.

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Section: Processing Tomato Yieldsupporting

confidence: 92%

Effects of Conservation Agriculture Practices on Tomato Yield and Economic Performance

et al. 2023

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“…Consequently, growth characteristics, particularly biological yield, were often better in the second year. It could be due to proper nutrient perception, good soil wetness, and suitable assimilation and translocation into the plants' sections, all receiving enhanced photosynthetic rates elevating vegetative expansion but decreased grain yield (Grossi et al, 2019;Zamin et al, 2019;Testani et al, 2023).…”

Section: Degree Of Quality Acceptability and Balancementioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic Potential of Bermuda Grass (Cynodon Dactylon L.) in Response to Foliar Application of Organic Fertilizer (Libro) and Cultar (Paclobutrazol)

KHALEEL

2023

SABRAOJBG

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A study on the Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon L.) materialized from February to October 2022 at the Department of Horticulture and Landscaping, College of Agriculture, University of Anbar, Iraq. The organic fertilizer Libro used comprised four concentrations (0, 1, 2, and 3 ml L-1) and the growth retardant Paclobutrazol with three concentrations (0.00, 0.03, and 0.05 g2), with their interaction effects assessed on the vegetative, phenotypic, and chemical characteristics of Bermuda grass. All the 12 treatments had randomized complete block design (RCBD) arrangements, with three replications. The results showed that Bermuda grass with organic fertilizer Libro at a concentration of 3 ml L-1 led to a significant increase in most vegetative growth and phenotypic and chemical characteristics. The number of vegetative branches, the percentage of chlorophyll and carbohydrates, and the degree of acceptability of quality and homogeneity emerged with 8.912 plant branches-1, 19.129%, 30.892 mg g-1, and 6.778, respectively. However, the rates of internode length and the number of mowing times decreased after treating the Bermuda grass with Paclobutrazol at 0.05 g2 concentration, recorded with 5.840 mm and 2.000, respectively.

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“…The current agricultural management practices for increasing food production have driven to soil fertility degradation, salinization in irrigated areas, groundwater depletion, increased resistance to pests and weeds and loss of biodiversity, which has driven to 25% of land resources in highly degraded (Tillman et al 2002;FAO, 2011). Between the need to reduce the polluting load generated in agricultural processes, the depletion of mineral sources, and the continuous and increased demands for food and fertilizers, an important effort is now driven to understand, adopt and validate environmentally viable solutions to address agricultural sustainability (Valizadeh and Hayati 2021;Testani et al 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microalgae biomass as a conditioner and regulator of soil quality and productivity

Lorentz,

Calijuri,

Rad

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Characteristics of an acid soil cultivated with Uruchloa brizantha cv. Marandu were evaluated in relation to two types of fertilization: a conventional one, chemical based on nitrogen and potassium, and a biological one, based on microalgae biomass. The results were compared among three treatments: control, conventional, and biological fertilization, with seven replications each. The study evaluated microalgae community, total carbon and nitrogen contents, mineral nitrogen, and enzymatic activity. Chlorella vulgaris showed the highest organism density, which can be explained by its rapid growth and high resistance. The highest species diversity was detected in the control 1,380,938 org.(cm3)−1 and biological 1,841,250 (org.(cm3)−1 treatments, with the latter showing a higher density of cyanobacteria, especially Pseudanabaena limninetica with 394,554 org. (cm3)−1. The soil treated with chemical fertilization showed higher nitrate (9.14 mg.NKg− 1 NO3−-N) and potassium (52.32 mg.dm− 3) contents. The highest levels of sulfur (21.73 mg.dm− 3) and iron (96.46 mg.dm− 3) were detected in the biological treatment. The chemical treatment showed higher activity of the enzymes acid phosphatase, acetilglucosaminidase, and sulfatase, while α-glucosidase and leucine-aminopeptidase stood out in the biological treatment. Soil properties were not significantly affected by the treatments. The use of microalgae biomass derived from wastewater treatment from milking parlors was evaluated and presented as a promising fertilizer for agriculture, following the line of recovering nutrient-rich wastes. In this sense, although many challenges need to be overcome, the results suggest that microalgae-based fertilizers could lead to low-impact agriculture.

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Agroecological practices improve soil biological properties in an organic vegetable system

Cited by 7 publications

References 60 publications

Effects of Conservation Agriculture Practices on Tomato Yield and Economic Performance

Effects of Conservation Agriculture Practices on Tomato Yield and Economic Performance

Genetic Potential of Bermuda Grass (Cynodon Dactylon L.) in Response to Foliar Application of Organic Fertilizer (Libro) and Cultar (Paclobutrazol)

Microalgae biomass as a conditioner and regulator of soil quality and productivity

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