The Evolution of Soilless Systems towards Ecological Sustainability in the Perspective of a Circular Economy. Is It Really the Opposite of Organic Agriculture?

Gonnella, Maria; Renna, Massimiliano

doi:10.3390/agronomy11050950

Cited by 34 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 36 publications

(68 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Our food systems need therefore to be set on a sustainable path which will also create new opportunities for operators in the food value chain ( 99 ). While it may seem counterintuitive, high−tech soilless cultivation systems and organic agriculture have several converging points in view of a sustainable use of the planet’s natural resources ( 100 ). In the future those working in the sector should aim to verify that soilless cultivation systems have a low environmental impact and that biofortified vegetables are high quality products.…”

Section: Ongoing Trends and The Challenges Aheadmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soilless biofortification, bioaccessibility, and bioavailability: Signposts on the path to personalized nutrition

et al. 2022

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Propelled by an ever-growing awareness about the importance of following dietary recommendations meeting specific biological requirements linked to a person health status, interest in personalized nutrition is on the rise. Soilless biofortification of vegetables has opened the door to the potential for adapting vegetable production to specific dietary requirements. The evolution of vegetables biofortification toward tailored food is examined focusing on some specific categories of people in a context of personalized nutrition instead to simple describe developments in vegetables biofortification with reference to the single element or compound not adequately present in the daily diet. The concepts of bioavailability and bioaccessibility as a useful support tool for the precision biofortification were detailed. Key prospects for challenges ahead aiming to combine product quality and sustainable are also highlighted. Hydroponically cultivation of vegetables with low potassium content may be effective to obtain tailored leafy and fruit vegetable products for people with impaired kidney function. Simultaneous biofortification of calcium, silicon, and boron in the same vegetable to obtain vegetable products useful for bone health deserve further attention. The right dosage of the lithium in the nutrient solution appears essential to obtain tailored vegetables able to positively influence mental health in groups of people susceptible to mental illness. Modulate nitrogen fertilization may reduce or enhance nitrate in vegetables to obtain tailored products, respectively, for children and athletes. Future research are needed to produce nickel-free vegetable products for individuals sensitized to nickel. The multidisciplinary approach toward tailored foods is a winning one and must increasingly include a synergy between agronomic, biological, and medical skills.

show abstract

Section: Ongoing Trends and The Challenges Aheadmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soilless biofortification, bioaccessibility, and bioavailability: Signposts on the path to personalized nutrition

et al. 2022

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Organic or mineral fertilizers are either added to the blend or nutrients are provided via fertigation during cultivation. Especially for N, there can be a strong interaction between the N source and the growing media blend during storage [1] and use [20], as growing media constituents determine the microbial N conversions in organic growing media for horticulture [17,21]. Organic fertilizers have the most complex interaction in terms of predictability and optimization [21].…”

Section: Interaction Between Growing Media and Organic Fertilizersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Organic fertilizers have the most complex interaction in terms of predictability and optimization [21]. Organic media carry a saprophytic microbial community that can affect the nutrient status of plants during the growing cycle [20]. To ensure a balanced N turnover from the growing media and the organic fertilizers, care should be taken when selecting and mixing organic media constituents [20].…”

Section: Interaction Between Growing Media and Organic Fertilizersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Organic media carry a saprophytic microbial community that can affect the nutrient status of plants during the growing cycle [20]. To ensure a balanced N turnover from the growing media and the organic fertilizers, care should be taken when selecting and mixing organic media constituents [20]. The mineralization of organic fertilizers during the storage of growing media may lead to changes in pH and mineral N concentrations, with subsequent adverse effects on plant growth [1].…”

Section: Interaction Between Growing Media and Organic Fertilizersmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Sustainable Growing Media Blends with Woody Green Composts: Optimizing the N Release with Organic Fertilizers and Interaction with Microbial Biomass

Vandecasteele¹,

Loo²,

Ommeslag³

et al. 2022

Agronomy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The aim of the current study was to create a high quality growing medium blend that replaces 70 vol% peat with 40 vol% woody green compost and 30 vol% bark compost and organic fertilizers (i.e., blood meal and chitin), all locally sourced. A range of “woody composts”, i.e., green composts based on feedstock selection with mainly woody material from tree prunings, were produced for this purpose at green compost facilities. First, the woody composts were characterized chemically and biologically, including their microbial biomass and net N release. In comparison with regular green composts or vegetable, fruit and garden (VFG) waste composts, woody composts are more suitable for use in growing media due to their lower pH, EC and inorganic C content; however, the woody compost had a low N mineralization rate. Three types of composts supported a higher microbial biomass than wood fiber or bark compost. The additional mineral N release after 100 days for compost mixed with blood meal was tested for different VFG and green composts. A significantly higher additional net N release was measured for composts with higher initial mineral N concentrations (317 mg Nmin/L) as well as VFG composts (417 mg Nmin/L) than for green composts with a lower initial mineral N concentration (148 mg Nmin/L). In a last step, woody compost, bark compost, wood fiber, coir and peat were mixed in different ratios, resulting in six blends ranging from 100% peat-free to100% peat. Two batches of woody compost were compared, and the blends were mixed with blood meal or chitin. A strong effect of both the organic fertilizer and the blend composition on the mineral N release was observed, with a clear link between the microbial biomass and the net N release. There was a significant negative correlation between the net change in microbial biomass and the net N release (R = −0.85), which implies that a larger increase in microbial biomass during incubation with the organic fertilizer resulted in less N mineralization. The blends containing woody compost scored better for nitrification activity, as the NH4-N concentrations were lower in these than for the blends without woody compost. For the peat blends, no effect on the microbial biomass was observed after addition of organic fertilizers; mineral N did increase, however. Woody composts have the potential to be used in high vol% in growing media blends, but the blends still need further optimization when supplemented with organic fertilizers.

show abstract

“…The new approach entails making efforts to efficiently use inorganic fertilizers as well as protect the environment by reducing pollution without affecting crop production [9]. This evolution has also influenced soilless plant cultivation systems, especially the hydroponic method [10]. Therefore, the system needs various nutrient sources that are relatively cheaper, easy to obtain, and help to overcome these environmental risks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of Seaweed Liquid Extract and Cow Urine for Lettuce Growth in Hydroponic System

Kilowasid

Arsani²,

Rakian³

et al. 2022

E3S Web Conf.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Lettuce cultivated by millennial farmers using a hydroponic system in urban areas. Seaweed extracts and cow urine contain nutrients and plant growth regulators. This study aims to determine the effect of a formulation containing inorganic nutrient solution, seaweed liquid extract, and mixed cow urine on lettuce growth, as well as the volume of commercial nutrient mixture that can be substituted by these additives in a hydroponic system. The treatment used contains a combination of inorganic fertilizer solution (CF), seaweed liquid extract (SLE), and cow urine (CU). Every repeated three times in a randomized block design. Results, the nutrient mixture had a significant effect on the height, leaves number as well as wet and dry weight of the plants. Lettuce planted on 50% CF+ 25% SLE+ 25% CU was the tallest when observed on days 7, 14, and 42 after planting. The highest fresh and dry weight was also obtained from this nutrient formulation. On day 35, the highest leaves number was recorded from plants on the 100% CF+ 0% SLE+0% CU medium. Concluded, a mixture of seaweed liquid extract and cow urine has the potential to reduce the inorganic fertilizers use as a nutrient solution in a hydroponic system.

show abstract

The Evolution of Soilless Systems towards Ecological Sustainability in the Perspective of a Circular Economy. Is It Really the Opposite of Organic Agriculture?

Cited by 34 publications

References 36 publications

Soilless biofortification, bioaccessibility, and bioavailability: Signposts on the path to personalized nutrition

Soilless biofortification, bioaccessibility, and bioavailability: Signposts on the path to personalized nutrition

Sustainable Growing Media Blends with Woody Green Composts: Optimizing the N Release with Organic Fertilizers and Interaction with Microbial Biomass

Use of Seaweed Liquid Extract and Cow Urine for Lettuce Growth in Hydroponic System

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About