Short-Term Effects of Changing Soil Management Practices on Soil Quality Indicators and Crop Yields in Greenhouses

Salinas, Jerónimo; Meca, D.E.; Torres, Fernando del Moral

doi:10.3390/agronomy10040582

Cited by 16 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 91 publications

(103 reference statements)

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“…There are several opportunities to apply the principles of the bioeconomy and circular economy in the Almeria model [11,21,22], which has been identified as one of the collective changes to be made in the production system [10]. The reuse of plant debris can help to reduce the quantity of inorganic fertilizer applied to crops, mainly when their incorporation is carried out through the biosolarization technique [23][24][25] to decrease production costs [11]. However, the self-management of plant residue is not a technique that is widespread in greenhouse agriculture in Almeria [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biodisinfection as a Profitable Fertilization Method for Horticultural Crops in the Framework of the Circular Economy

et al. 2022

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Intensive agriculture has resulted in various environmental impacts that affect ecosystems. In some cases, the application of conventional fertilizers has deteriorated water quality, which includes the marine environment. For this reason, institutions have designed various strategies based on the principles of the circular economy and the bioeconomy. Both of these dynamics aim to reduce excessive fertilization and to inhibit the negative externalities it generates. In our work, a field trial is presented in which a 100% reduction in conventional inorganic fertilizers has been evaluated through a production methodology based on fertilization with reused plant debris in combination with other organic compounds. Based on one tomato crop, the profitability of this production technique has been analyzed in comparison with other conventional vegetable production techniques. The productivity and economic yield of the alternative crop was similar to that of the conventional crop, with a 37.2% decrease in water consumption. The reuse of biomass reduced production costs by 4.8%, while the addition of other organic amendments increased them by up to 22%. The results of our trial show that farms are more sustainable and more profitable from a circular point of view when using these strategies.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biodisinfection as a Profitable Fertilization Method for Horticultural Crops in the Framework of the Circular Economy

et al. 2022

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“…Some investigations have also reported decreases in the production of a bell pepper crop nourished with tomato plant debris and compost compared to the conventional crop. It should be noted that a small amount of inorganic fertilizer was added to the organic fertilization and that the solarization technique was not used [ 22 ]. Thus, the technique of soil solarization combined with organic amendments, also known as biosolarization, has resulted in increases in the production of different crops.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some of the alternatives evaluated to mitigate this problem (transformation into bioenergy or animal feed) do not offer a viable option compared to the predominant management of the by-product [ 4 , 19 ], which currently consists of its delivery to an agent authorized by the administration to transform the plant material into compost [ 18 ]. However, several studies have posited self-management of plant debris by farmers as a suitable reuse process [ 4 , 7 , 17 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. This is a great opportunity for the Almeria Model to apply the principles of the circular economy and the bioeconomy, which so far have not been extensively implemented in Almeria greenhouse agriculture [ 7 , 17 , 18 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is a great opportunity for the Almeria Model to apply the principles of the circular economy and the bioeconomy, which so far have not been extensively implemented in Almeria greenhouse agriculture [ 7 , 17 , 18 ]. Through this management methodology, it is possible to generate economic [ 4 ] and productive [ 20 , 21 , 22 ] benefits since its use as an organic amendment makes it possible to reduce and even eliminate external inputs of fertilizing materials during the crop cycle [ 20 , 21 ] thanks to the mineral elements associated with these plant by-products [ 23 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of Repeated Plant Debris Reutilization as Organic Amendment on Greenhouse Soil Fertility

Segura

Marín-Guirao

Ureña

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Greenhouse agriculture typically generates large amounts of waste with plant residue (agricultural biomass) being the most abundant. This residue is generated on a seasonal basis, which complicates the external management of the material. Recently, the European Union (EU) has been implementing a policy based on sustainability through the circular economy that seeks to minimize waste generation. The effect of reusing 3.5 kg·m−2 tomato plants from the previous season as the only fertilizer versus no fertilization and inorganic fertilization in 215-day tomato cycles after transplanting was studied in this trial. The study was carried out during three seasons in greenhouse agriculture in Almeria (Spain) with the repeated use of the solarization technique. The plant debris had similar production results during two of the three seasons and fruit quality parameters were similar to inorganic fertilization. In addition, some physicochemical variables improved and the biological depressive effect of solarization was mitigated. The results suggest that the reuse of the tomato plant debris as the only fertilizer could be an alternative to conventional fertilization under the conditions tested.

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“…This contributes to cost savings through a more sustainable agricultural practice according to principles of circular economy [95]. Furthermore, the incorporation of the vegetal biomass into the soil provides fertilising elements and improves soil quality [141,142]. When combined with solarisation (i.e., soil biosolarisation) it reduces, or even eliminates, the extra inputs of fertilisers for the correct development of a greenhouse tomato crop [92,143,144], reducing nitrate leaching [94,143], mitigating the soil fatigue and monoculture effects through the restoration of the soil productive capacity [145], while also being economically beneficial for growers.…”

Section: Niche 3: Transitions In Sustainable Soil Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reconnecting Farmers with Nature through Agroecological Transitions: Interacting Niches and Experimentation and the Role of Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems

Giagnocavo

Cara

González³

et al. 2022

Agriculture

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Sustainability transitions in agriculture are explored through an analysis of niche initiatives within a common production system, relying on sustainable transitions, multi-level perspectives, and agroecological frameworks, and involving multi-actor, agricultural knowledge, and innovation systems (AKIS). The article focuses on how experimental niches and sustainable activities affect farmers’ relationships with nature, and the reconceptualisation of the production system in which they operate, particularly where this system is embedded in less sustainable conventional or dominant regimes and landscapes. The need for fundamental changes, in the way that humans interact with nature, is widely argued for in order to achieve sustainable development, and farmers occupy a central role through participation in complex networks of agri-food systems. They have also found themselves disconnected from nature through conventional agri-industrial production practices. Four niches (biological control, ecological restoration, soil health, and ecological pond management) within the greenhouse sector of Almeria (SE Spain) are explored in a case study. Our results indicate that a farmer’s interaction with nature is functional, but through agroecological practices, a deeper understanding of the ecosystems in which greenhouse landscapes are embedded may be gained. As they become more connected to nature and benefit from ecosystem services, they can transition to more sustainable agricultural systems.

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Short-Term Effects of Changing Soil Management Practices on Soil Quality Indicators and Crop Yields in Greenhouses

Cited by 16 publications

References 91 publications

Biodisinfection as a Profitable Fertilization Method for Horticultural Crops in the Framework of the Circular Economy

Biodisinfection as a Profitable Fertilization Method for Horticultural Crops in the Framework of the Circular Economy

Effect of Repeated Plant Debris Reutilization as Organic Amendment on Greenhouse Soil Fertility

Reconnecting Farmers with Nature through Agroecological Transitions: Interacting Niches and Experimentation and the Role of Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems

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