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Agronomy
Special Issues
Agroecology and Organic Agriculture for Sustainable Crop Production
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Agroecology and Organic Agriculture for Sustainable Crop Production

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Farming Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 July 2020) | Viewed by 78656

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Francesco Montemurro

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics - Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via Celso Ulpiani 5, 70125 Bari, Italy
Interests: agronomy; organic farming; composting process, compost application and organic fertilization; sustainable development; crop rotations and cropping systems; agro-ecosystem techniques; nutrient management, efficiency, and balance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Mariangela Diacono

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics - Research Center for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via Celso Ulpiani 5, 70125 Bari, Italy
Interests: organic farming; agro-ecology; compost production, evaluation and application; sustainable agriculture assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Alessandra Trinchera

E-Mail Website1 Website2 Website3 Website4
Guest Editor
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics - Research Center for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), 00198 Roma, Italy
Interests: belowground functional biodiversity in diversified organic cropping systems; plant strengtheners and biostimulants in organic farming; crop mycorrhizal symbiosis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Increasing land degradation, loss of agrobiodiversity, and climate changes are the main significant threats to achieving food and nutrition security. One solution is sustainable intensification, producing with a high eco-efficiency by maximizing the agricultural products per unit of inputs. However, to reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture, win–win approaches are required. Agroecology is the application of ecological principles to agricultural systems by incorporating environmental, economic, ethical, and social aspects. Organic farming can be considered as the main driver of the agroecological approach to sustainable farming, aiming at diversifying food systems, reducing external inputs, and enhancing ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling, soil functional biodiversity, pest and disease control, soil conservation, and carbon sequestration. We invite experts and researchers to contribute to our Special Issue with original research and reviews covering all issues related to agroecology and organic agriculture. Authors are particularly encouraged to consider the most important topics such as agrobiodiversity improvement, climate change resilience, soil fertility, and closing the nutrient cycle, assessing the environmental performance of agriculture systems.

Dr. Francesco Montemurro
Dr. Mariangela Diacono
Dr. Alessandra Trinchera
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • agroecology
  • belowground functional biodiversity
  • crop diversification
  • climate change resilience
  • soil fertility
  • sustainable agriculture
  • environmental performance assessment
  • organic agriculture
  • ecosystem services

Published Papers (18 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

3 pages, 181 KiB  
Editorial
An Overview on Agroecology and Organic Agriculture Strategies for Sustainable Crop Production
by Mariangela Diacono, Alessandra Trinchera and Francesco Montemurro
Agronomy 2021, 11(2), 223; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11020223 - 25 Jan 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2448
Abstract
Within the new “European Green Deal”, the European Commission defined crucial challenges for the agriculture of future decades, such as making food production more sustainable by considering the local pedo-climatic and socio-economic specificities [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology and Organic Agriculture for Sustainable Crop Production)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

29 pages, 1499 KiB  
Article
Proposal of a Bioregional Strategic Framework for a Sustainable Food System in Sicily
by Paolo Guarnaccia, Silvia Zingale, Alessandro Scuderi, Ezio Gori, Vincenzo Santiglia and Giuseppe Timpanaro
Agronomy 2020, 10(10), 1546; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10101546 - 11 Oct 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3593
Abstract
The alignment of food systems with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is generally envisaged to make a positive impact on sustainability. This paper outlines some critical environmental and socio-economic indicators for Sicily in order to compare and explore the outcomes of two juxtaposing [...] Read more.
The alignment of food systems with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is generally envisaged to make a positive impact on sustainability. This paper outlines some critical environmental and socio-economic indicators for Sicily in order to compare and explore the outcomes of two juxtaposing key drivers in a scenario planning exercise, where the extremities are Industrial versus Regenerative Agriculture/Agroecology and a Proactive versus Reactive government response. The most rational and less risky scenario becomes the most sensible sustainable development option, around which a 2030 vision is projected for a bioregional sustainable food system for Sicily, which is aligned with the SDGs and related policies. To accomplish the 2030 vision, a holistic education-led developmental approach is outlined with a supporting bioregional strategic framework, whose key milestone deliverables are projected through a backcasting process. This paper therefore highlights the importance of consistency and alignment of a development vision with its strategic framework and ensuing implementation, failing which, the holistic bioregional approach is compromised by activities that are shown to negatively impact environmental and socio-economic indicators. For this reason, all public and private sector development plans and associated resources ought to be aligned with a bioregional strategic plan for a sustainable food system for Sicily. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology and Organic Agriculture for Sustainable Crop Production)
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19 pages, 1158 KiB  
Article
Medium-Term Influence of Organic Fertilization on the Quality and Yield of a Celery Crop
by Antonio Sánchez Navarro, Juan Antonio Sánchez Romero, María del Carmen Salas Sanjuan, María Arantzazu Blanco Bernardeau and María José Delgado Iniesta
Agronomy 2020, 10(9), 1418; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10091418 - 18 Sep 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3394
Abstract
For some years now, part of society has been demanding the implementation of circular economy models and so the use of organic matter as a source of nutrients is once again taking center stage. In this scenario, the aim of this work was [...] Read more.
For some years now, part of society has been demanding the implementation of circular economy models and so the use of organic matter as a source of nutrients is once again taking center stage. In this scenario, the aim of this work was to implement an integrated management model for a farm and to study the influence on a celery crop of organic amendments (animal and vegetable) obtained on the farm, as opposed to inorganic fertilization. This influence was evaluated for the yield and the nutritional, organoleptic, and sanitary quality of the resulting crops. The yield and size of the marketable parts of the celery plants were greater with the inorganic treatment; however, the nutritional and sanitary quality was better in the organic treatments, while the chromatic attributes, as well as the total P and Ca, were not affected by the different fertilization treatments applied. It is therefore concluded that the organic management model is environmentally and economically sustainable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology and Organic Agriculture for Sustainable Crop Production)
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14 pages, 1417 KiB  
Article
Cover Crop for a Sustainable Viticulture: Effects on Soil Properties and Table Grape Production
by Concetta Eliana Gattullo, Giuseppe Natale Mezzapesa, Anna Maria Stellacci, Giuseppe Ferrara, Giuliana Occhiogrosso, Giuseppe Petrelli, Mirko Castellini and Matteo Spagnuolo
Agronomy 2020, 10(9), 1334; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10091334 - 05 Sep 2020
Cited by 37 | Viewed by 5131
Abstract
Cover crops are increasingly adopted in viticulture to enhance soil quality and balance the vegetative and reproductive growth of vines. Nevertheless, this sustainable practice has been only recently used for table grape viticulture, with results often contrasting. The aim of this study was [...] Read more.
Cover crops are increasingly adopted in viticulture to enhance soil quality and balance the vegetative and reproductive growth of vines. Nevertheless, this sustainable practice has been only recently used for table grape viticulture, with results often contrasting. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a fescue (Festucaarundinacea Schreb.) cover crop on soil quality, yield, and grape qualitative parameters in a table grape vineyard (cv “Italia”) located in southern Italy, comparing results with the conventional tillage. Soil organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), microbial biomass C (MBC), β-glucosidase (BGLU) and alkaline phosphomonoesterase (APME) activities were assessed during three growing seasons (2012–2014) and three phenological stages. The trend of soil chemical and microbiological properties was jointly influenced by the soil management system, growing season and phenological stage. Compared to conventional tillage, cover crops increased, on average, soil organic C, total N, MBC, BGLU and APME by 136%, 93%, 112%, 100% and 62%, respectively. Slight or no effects of cover crops were observed on grape quality and yield, except for 2012 (the driest season), when a yield reduction occurred. This study reveals that cover crops strongly enhance soil quality in the short-term, with potential advantages for grape production in the long-term. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology and Organic Agriculture for Sustainable Crop Production)
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20 pages, 1511 KiB  
Article
Effect of Organic Amendments on the Productivity of Rainfed Lowland Rice in the Kilombero Floodplain of Tanzania
by Julius Kwesiga, Kristina Grotelüschen, Kalimuthu Senthilkumar, Daniel Neuhoff, Thomas F. Döring and Mathias Becker
Agronomy 2020, 10(9), 1280; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10091280 - 29 Aug 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2827
Abstract
Organic amendments can reportedly sustain and increase lowland rice productivity in smallholder systems. Few studies have assessed locally-available substrates in hydrologically variable floodplain environments. We investigated the effects of green and farmyard manures on rice yields, and total soil C and N in [...] Read more.
Organic amendments can reportedly sustain and increase lowland rice productivity in smallholder systems. Few studies have assessed locally-available substrates in hydrologically variable floodplain environments. We investigated the effects of green and farmyard manures on rice yields, and total soil C and N in the Kilombero floodplain, Tanzania. At both the fringe and the middle positions, five treatments were applied in 2016 and 2017, comprising (1) non-amended control, (2) farmyard manure, (3) pre-rice legumes, (4) post-rice legumes and (5) a combination of green and farmyard manures. Residual treatment effects were assessed in 2018 when rice plots were uniformly non-amended. Depending on the year and the position, organic amendments increased rice grain yields by 0.7–3.1 Mg ha–1 above the non-amended control. Sole green and farmyard manure applications had similar effects on grain yield, while a combination of green and farmyard manure led to a significant increase in grain yield above both the control and sole applications of organic amendments in both years. The contribution from biological N2 fixation by legumes ranged from 4 to 61 kg N ha–1. Despite partial N balances being mostly negative, we observed positive residual effects on the yield of the non-amended rice in the third year. Such effects reached up to 4 Mg ha−1 and were largest with post-rice legumes, sole or combined with farmyard manure. Irrespective of the position in the floodplain, manures significantly increased soil C and N contents after two years, hence enhancing soil fertility and resulting in increased rice grain yields. Comparable benefits may be obtained along the hydrological gradients of other large river floodplains of the region and beyond. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology and Organic Agriculture for Sustainable Crop Production)
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15 pages, 1500 KiB  
Article
Supporting Beneficial Insects for Agricultural Sustainability: The Role of Livestock-Integrated Organic and Cover Cropping to Enhance Ground Beetle (Carabidae) Communities
by Subodh Adhikari and Fabian D. Menalled
Agronomy 2020, 10(8), 1210; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10081210 - 17 Aug 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5743
Abstract
Ground beetles (Carabidae) are beneficial insects providing ecosystem services by regulating insect pests and weed seeds. Despite several studies conducted on ground beetles worldwide, there is a lack of knowledge on how these insects are affected by differently managed organic systems (e.g., tillage-based [...] Read more.
Ground beetles (Carabidae) are beneficial insects providing ecosystem services by regulating insect pests and weed seeds. Despite several studies conducted on ground beetles worldwide, there is a lack of knowledge on how these insects are affected by differently managed organic systems (e.g., tillage-based versus grazed-based) compared to that of chemical-based no-tillage conventional cropping systems. In a 5-year (2013–2017) study, we assessed the ground beetle communities in cover crops and winter wheat (Triticum aestivium L.) in Montana, USA, with three contrasting cropping systems: a chemically managed no-tillage, a tillage-based organic, and a livestock-integrated organic with reduced tillage. The first three years (i.e., 2013–2015) corresponded to the transition to organic period, while the last two (i.e., 2016–2017) were conducted in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic-certified tillage-based and livestock-integrated organic systems. The experiment was designed with three management systems across three blocks as the whole plot variable and 5-year rotation of crop phases as the subplot variable. Using pitfall traps, we sampled ground beetles across all cover crop and winter wheat subplots for five years (n = 450). The data were analyzed using mixed effects models and PERMANOVA and visualized with non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination. Our study indicated that organically managed farms, whether tilled or grazed, enhance activity density, species richness, diversity, and evenness of ground beetles in the dryland row crop productions. Also, irrespective of farming system, cover crops supported higher species richness, diversity, and evenness of ground beetles than winter wheat. The ground beetle communities were mostly similar during the transition to organic period. However, during the established organic phase, cropping systems acted as contrasting ecological filters and beetle communities became dissimilar. Cover cropping affected ground beetle communities positively not only in organically managed systems but also in chemical-based conventional systems. Our study provides evidence supporting the adoption of ecologically-based cropping systems such as crop-livestock integration, organic farming, and cover cropping to enhance beneficial insects and their pest-regulation services. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology and Organic Agriculture for Sustainable Crop Production)
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15 pages, 609 KiB  
Article
Assessment of the Suitability of 10 Winter Triticale Cultivars (x Triticosecale Wittm. ex A. Camus) for Organic Agriculture: Polish Case Study
by Beata Feledyn-Szewczyk, Małgorzata Nakielska, Krzysztof Jończyk, Adam Kleofas Berbeć and Jerzy Kopiński
Agronomy 2020, 10(8), 1144; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10081144 - 06 Aug 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2626
Abstract
The aim of the study was to compare 10 winter triticale varieties according to their traits useful for cultivation in organic farming. The study was carried out in the years 2014–2017 in the experimental organic farm of the Institute of Soil Science and [...] Read more.
The aim of the study was to compare 10 winter triticale varieties according to their traits useful for cultivation in organic farming. The study was carried out in the years 2014–2017 in the experimental organic farm of the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation–State Research Institute in Pulawy (Poland). The highest-yielding varieties under organic conditions were Pizarro and Subito. Borowik cultivar showed the highest competitive ability against weeds. The highest number of weeds was found in the Leontyno cultivar, which was connected to the lowest plant density, the lowest weight of the above-ground parts of the canopy and smaller value of tillering coefficient. The most affected by the fungal pathogens Drechslera tritici-repentis (Died.) Shoem. and Puccinia striiformis Schwein. were Fredro and Algoso. Cluster analyses indicated that the most useful cultivars for cultivation in the organic system were: Borowik, Subito, and Tomko, which all showed higher yielding potential, bigger competitiveness against weeds, and average resistance against fungal pathogens. Pizarro, Tulus, and Twingo, which showed high resistance to fungal pathogens with lower competitiveness to weeds, were classified to the second group of usefulness. The least useful for the organic system were: Algoso, Fredro, Grenado, and Leontyno. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology and Organic Agriculture for Sustainable Crop Production)
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18 pages, 1950 KiB  
Article
Bioactive Properties of Fruits and Leafy Vegetables Managed with Integrated, Organic, and Organic No-Tillage Practices in the Mediterranean Area: A Two-Year Rotation Experiment
by Costanza Ceccanti, Marco Landi, Daniele Antichi, Lucia Guidi, Luigi Manfrini, Michele Monti, Giacomo Tosti and Christian Frasconi
Agronomy 2020, 10(6), 841; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10060841 - 12 Jun 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2431
Abstract
The sustainability of current farming systems has been questioned in the last decades, especially in terms of the environmental impact and mitigation of global warming. Also, the organic sector, which is supposed to impact less on the environment than other more intensive systems, [...] Read more.
The sustainability of current farming systems has been questioned in the last decades, especially in terms of the environmental impact and mitigation of global warming. Also, the organic sector, which is supposed to impact less on the environment than other more intensive systems, is looking for innovative solutions to improve its environmental sustainability. Promisingly, the integration of organic management practices with conservation agriculture techniques may help to increase environmental sustainability of food production. However, little is known about the possible impact of conservation agriculture on the content of bioactive compounds in cash crops. For this reason, a two-year rotation experiment used 7 cash crops (4 leafy vegetables and 3 fruit crops) to compare integrated (INT), organic farming (ORG), and organic no-tillage (ORG+) systems to evaluate the possible influence of cropping systems on the nutritional/nutraceutical values of the obtained fruits and leafy vegetables. The results pointed out specific responses based on the species as well as the year of cultivation. However, cultivation with the ORG+ cropping system resulted in effective obtainment of fruits and vegetables with higher levels of bioactive compounds in several cases (11 out 16 observations). The ORG+ cropping system results are particularly promising for leafy vegetable cultivation, especially when ORG+ is carried out on a multi-year basis. Aware that the obtained data should be consolidated with longer-term experiments, we conclude that this dataset may represent a good starting point to support conservation agriculture systems as a possible sustainable strategy to obtain products with higher levels of bioactive compounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology and Organic Agriculture for Sustainable Crop Production)
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11 pages, 1621 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Wind Erosion Depending on Cropping System and Tillage Method in a Semi-Arid Region
by Caihong Yang, Yanxiang Geng, Xing Zhou Fu, Jeffrey A. Coulter and Qiang Chai
Agronomy 2020, 10(5), 732; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10050732 - 20 May 2020
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4969
Abstract
Wind erosion is a major environmental problem in arid and semi-arid regions, where it has significant impacts on desertification and soil degradation. To understand the effects of cropping systems and tillage methods on the reduction of soil wind erosion, wind tunnel investigations were [...] Read more.
Wind erosion is a major environmental problem in arid and semi-arid regions, where it has significant impacts on desertification and soil degradation. To understand the effects of cropping systems and tillage methods on the reduction of soil wind erosion, wind tunnel investigations were performed on soil samples from an irrigated field in an experiment conducted in semi-arid northwestern China in 2016–2018. Three cropping systems for annual spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/maize (Zea mays L.) strip intercropping (W/M), a two-year wheat-winter rape-maize rotation (WRM), and a two-year wheat-maize rotation (WM)) were each evaluated with two tillage methods (conventional tillage without wheat straw retention (CT) and no-tillage with 25–30 cm tall wheat straw (NT)). The mean rate of soil erosion by wind with NT was 18.9% to 36.2% less than that with CT. With increasing wind velocity, the rate of soil erosion by wind increased for both CT and NT but was faster with CT than NT. Soil wind erosion occurred with a wind velocity ≥14 m s−1, and NT greatly decreased the rate of soil erosion when wind velocity exceeded 14 m s−1. W/M, WRM, and WM with NT increased non-erodible aggregates by 53.7%, 53.7%, and 54.9% in 2017, and 51.3%, 49.6% and 44.6% in 2018, respectively, than conventional tillage. At a height of 0–20 cm, the rate of soil transport with CT decreased with increasing height. The volume of soil transport at a height of 0–4 cm and soil transport percentage at a height of 0–4 and 0–20 cm (Q0–4/Q0–20) with NT were less than with CT. These findings show that NT with cropping system intensification can be an effective strategy for resisting wind erosion in irrigated semi-arid regions, thereby reducing the negative environmental impacts of crop production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology and Organic Agriculture for Sustainable Crop Production)
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14 pages, 1300 KiB  
Article
Cover Crop as Living Mulch: Effects on Energy Flows in Mediterranean Organic Cropping Systems
by Francesco Montemurro, Alessandro Persiani and Mariangela Diacono
Agronomy 2020, 10(5), 667; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10050667 - 09 May 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2274
Abstract
Sustainability of agricultural practices is one of the most important issues in organic agriculture and its assessment is crucial. To this aim, evaluating the balance between the energy inputs and outputs in crop rotations could be a valuable tool. Therefore, we compared different [...] Read more.
Sustainability of agricultural practices is one of the most important issues in organic agriculture and its assessment is crucial. To this aim, evaluating the balance between the energy inputs and outputs in crop rotations could be a valuable tool. Therefore, we compared different management strategies in a four-year organic cropping system, by estimating the energy balance of crop production. Two different living mulches with no-till (B1) and green manure (B2) were compared with a cropping system without cover crop (B3), performing both energy analysis and energy balance. Energy parameters were also evaluated. The energy input of fertilizers and water was more than 55% of the total energy required by the cropping systems, suggesting that these agronomic practices should be tailored by farmers to decrease total energy inputs. The potential energy output was significantly higher in the B1 than the B2 and B3 cropping systems (20% and 54%, respectively). Results indicated that B1 and B2 could enhance the energy outputs without negatively affecting the energy consumption, since these cropping systems also showed higher energy efficiency. The introduction of the cover crop as living mulch combined with no-till could be a powerful tool to enhance systems sustainability, without compromising the crop yields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology and Organic Agriculture for Sustainable Crop Production)
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13 pages, 1173 KiB  
Article
Pennycress as a Cash Cover-Crop: Improving the Sustainability of Sweet Corn Production Systems
by Sarah A. Moore, M. Scott Wells, Russ W. Gesch, Roger L. Becker, Carl J. Rosen and Melissa L. Wilson
Agronomy 2020, 10(5), 614; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10050614 - 25 Apr 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4280
Abstract
Commercial sweet corn (Zea mays convar. saccharata var. rugosa) production has a proportionally high potential for nutrient loss to waterways, due to its high nitrogen (N) requirements and low N use efficiency. Cover crops planted after sweet corn can help ameliorate [...] Read more.
Commercial sweet corn (Zea mays convar. saccharata var. rugosa) production has a proportionally high potential for nutrient loss to waterways, due to its high nitrogen (N) requirements and low N use efficiency. Cover crops planted after sweet corn can help ameliorate N lost from the field, but farmers are reluctant to utilize cover crops due to a lack of economic incentive. Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) is a winter annual that can provide both economic and environmental benefits. Five N-rates (0, 65, 135, 135 split and 200) were applied pre-plant to sweet corn. After the sweet corn harvest, pennycress was planted into the sweet corn residue with two seeding methods and harvested for seed the following spring. Residual inorganic soil N (Nmin), pennycress biomass, biomass N and yield were measured. The nitrogen rate and seeding method had no effect on pennycress yield, biomass, or biomass N content. The nitrogen rate positively affected Nmin at pennycress seeding, wherein 200N plots had 38–80% higher Nmin than 0N plots, but had no effect on Nmin at pennycress harvest. Control treatments without pennycress had an average of 27–42% greater Nmin. In conclusion, pennycress can act as an effective N catch crop, and produce an adequate seed yield after sweet corn without the need for supplemental fertilization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology and Organic Agriculture for Sustainable Crop Production)
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16 pages, 1839 KiB  
Communication
Innovative Pro-Smallholder Farmers’ Permanent Mulch for Better Soil Quality and Food Security Under Conservation Agriculture
by Sibongiseni Mgolozeli, Adornis D. Nciizah, Isaiah I. C. Wakindiki and Fhatuwani N. Mudau
Agronomy 2020, 10(4), 605; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10040605 - 23 Apr 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4151
Abstract
Soil degradation is the greatest threat to agricultural production globally. The practice of applying or retaining crop residues in the field as mulch is imperative to prevent soil erosion, maintain soil quality and improve crop productivity. However, smallholder farmers resort to maximizing profit [...] Read more.
Soil degradation is the greatest threat to agricultural production globally. The practice of applying or retaining crop residues in the field as mulch is imperative to prevent soil erosion, maintain soil quality and improve crop productivity. However, smallholder farmers resort to maximizing profit by removing crop residues after harvest to sell or use them as feed for livestock. Agrimats are innovative pro-smallholder farming mulching materials that are manufactured using cheap or freely available organic waste materials. These materials include forestry waste, grasses, etc., therefore allowing smallholder farmers to make more profit through improved crop productivity for better food security. The most notable attributes of agrimats include their ability to prevent soil erosion, increase and sustain soil organic matter, suppress weeds, and conserve soil moisture. Food security challenge can be addressed by adopting agrimat technology as a sustainable permanent soil cover to improve soil quality and crop productivity. Agrimat incorporation in conservation agriculture practice could produce more food from less input resources (chemical fertilizers, water, etc.) with minimal or no adverse effect on the environment. This study aims to advocate permanent soil cover using agrimat as an innovative pro-smallholder farmer technology to improve soil quality for better food security. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology and Organic Agriculture for Sustainable Crop Production)
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13 pages, 1612 KiB  
Article
Cover Crops Affect Performance of Organic Scarlotta Seedless Table Grapes Under Plastic Film Covering in Southern Italy
by Luigi Tarricone, Giambattista Debiase, Gianvito Masi, Giovanni Gentilesco and Francesco Montemurro
Agronomy 2020, 10(4), 550; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10040550 - 10 Apr 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3234
Abstract
In sustainable or organic vineyard systems, the introduction of cover crops could represent a powerful tool for farmers to influence, positively, the agro-ecosystem by promoting the whole soil-plant system equilibrium. Concerning table grape production, nitrogen fertilizers are medium-high; for environmental aspects, organic viticulturists [...] Read more.
In sustainable or organic vineyard systems, the introduction of cover crops could represent a powerful tool for farmers to influence, positively, the agro-ecosystem by promoting the whole soil-plant system equilibrium. Concerning table grape production, nitrogen fertilizers are medium-high; for environmental aspects, organic viticulturists are more interested in legume inter-row cover crops. Research on cover crop effects was carried out in 2015–2016, on organic table grapes (the Sugranineteen variety) in Mediterranean conditions. Three inter-row soil management techniques were compared: (TR) inter-row spacing was cultivated with subterranean clover; (V) inter-row spacing with common vetch incorporated in the soil as green manure, and (RC) inter-row spacing with common vetch flattened by the roller crimper technique, making a living mulch. No significant difference was recorded in grapevine water status among the treatments. RC vines performed the highest net photosynthesis rate from shoot growth to veràison. Cover crops did not affect cluster weight, berry weight, and juice composition; however, they influenced berry detachment force. Our research findings confirmed that legume cover crops (subterranean clover and common vetch) increased soil organic matter and could represent an economic and sustainable soil use to reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizers applied in table grape production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology and Organic Agriculture for Sustainable Crop Production)
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18 pages, 1252 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Origin of Phosphonic Acid Residues in Organic Vegetable and Fruit Crops: The Biofosf Project Multi-Actor Approach
by Alessandra Trinchera, Bruno Parisi, Valentina Baratella, Giancarlo Roccuzzo, Ivano Soave, Carlo Bazzocchi, Daniele Fichera, Mauro Finotti, Francesco Riva, Giacomo Mocciaro, Marco Brigliadori and Luca Lazzeri
Agronomy 2020, 10(3), 421; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10030421 - 19 Mar 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 9548
Abstract
Recently, on the EU market, phosphonic acid residues were detected in many organic goods, although fosetyl-derivates and phosphite salts are not allowed by Reg. EC n. 889/2009. The BIOFOSF project “Solving phosphite issue in organic fruit and horticultural crops” aimed at verifying whether [...] Read more.
Recently, on the EU market, phosphonic acid residues were detected in many organic goods, although fosetyl-derivates and phosphite salts are not allowed by Reg. EC n. 889/2009. The BIOFOSF project “Solving phosphite issue in organic fruit and horticultural crops” aimed at verifying whether the phosphonic acid contamination could be due to unproper use of fertilizers/plant protection products by organic farmers, or to the plant’s ability to self-produce it spontaneously. Applying a participative approach, field case-studies on potato, rocket lettuce, and pears were carried out (organic vs. integrated systems). The ethyl-phosphonic acid and phosphonic acid were determined in soil, tubers, leaves, fruits, tree woody organs, used fertilizers, and plant protection products to correlate them to the applied farming management. Tested crops were not able to self-synthetize phosphonic acid, being its detection due to: (i) external inputs not allowed in organic farming; (ii) fertilizers/plant protection products allowed in organic farming, contaminated by fosetyl or phosphite. In addition, it was found that tree crops can stock the phosphite in their woody organs, then translocate it from branches to leaves and fruits over time. Regression models applied to field data showed that fruit trees decontamination could take more than 5 years, depending on the starting value of phosphonic acid contamination, useful to define the phosphite maximum residue limit in organic fruit crops. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology and Organic Agriculture for Sustainable Crop Production)
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11 pages, 692 KiB  
Article
High Maize Density Alleviates the Inhibitory Effect of Soil Nitrogen on Intercropped Pea
by Cai Zhao, Zhilong Fan, Jeffrey A. Coulter, Wen Yin, Falong Hu, Aizhong Yu, Hong Fan and Qiang Chai
Agronomy 2020, 10(2), 248; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10020248 - 07 Feb 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2813
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) fixation is essential in the development of sustainable agriculture, but nodulation of legumes is usually inhibited by N fertilization. In this study, we evaluated the increased density of intercropped maize (Zea mays L.) as a means to alleviate the inhibitory [...] Read more.
Nitrogen (N) fixation is essential in the development of sustainable agriculture, but nodulation of legumes is usually inhibited by N fertilization. In this study, we evaluated the increased density of intercropped maize (Zea mays L.) as a means to alleviate the inhibitory effect of soil mineral N on intercropped pea (Pisum sativum L.) and improve system performance. A field experiment was conducted in the Hexi Corridor region of northwestern China from 2012 to 2014. The experiment consisted of monoculture pea, monoculture maize, and a pea/maize strip-intercropping system. Two levels of N fertilization were evaluated in both cropping systems during the co-growth period of intercropping, i.e., 0 kg N ha−1 (N0) and 135 kg N ha−1 (N1), and three maize densities were evaluated with both levels of N fertilization in the intercropping system, i.e., 45,000 plants ha−1 (D1), 52,500 plants ha−1 (D2), and 60,000 plants ha−1 (D3). The application of N reduced the number of nodules of intercropped pea by 135% at D1 and by 9% at D2 compared to no application of N, in all the years examined. The alleviation of the inhibitory effect of soil mineral N on the nodulation of intercropped pea (Cis) was calculated as the percentage increase in nodulation with intercropping relative to monoculture for a given level of N fertilization. With the application of N, Cis was improved by increased intercropped maize density (D3 > D2 > D1) at all stages. The internal efficiency of nitrogen (IEN) of pea was improved with intercropping and, on average, was 19% and 12% greater at D3 than at D1 and D2, respectively. These results demonstrate that increased maize density can alleviate the inhibitory effect of soil N on the nodulation of pea and sustain the productivity of maize/pea intercropping while reducing N fertilizer requirements in arid regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology and Organic Agriculture for Sustainable Crop Production)
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19 pages, 1472 KiB  
Article
Sustainability Assessment of the Green Compost Production Chain from Agricultural Waste: A Case Study in Southern Italy
by Maria Pergola, Alessandro Persiani, Vittoria Pastore, Assunta Maria Palese, Carmine D’Adamo, Enrica De Falco and Giuseppe Celano
Agronomy 2020, 10(2), 230; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10020230 - 04 Feb 2020
Cited by 37 | Viewed by 6801
Abstract
Horticultural farms are faced with the problem of disposing of huge amounts of agricultural by-products whose management requires sustainable solutions. Composting means to recycle organic waste to make compost—a high agronomic value product—able to positively affect soil quality: A good occasion to switch [...] Read more.
Horticultural farms are faced with the problem of disposing of huge amounts of agricultural by-products whose management requires sustainable solutions. Composting means to recycle organic waste to make compost—a high agronomic value product—able to positively affect soil quality: A good occasion to switch definitively from a conventional agriculture to an organic one. Nevertheless, composting can have negative direct/indirect environmental impacts. The aim of this research was to assess the sustainability of a windrow composting system, able to treat agricultural green waste of different typology (“light” and “heavy” with dry matter below or above 10%, respectively). Environmental impacts, energy consumptions, and production costs of all composting stages were evaluated by Life Cycle Assessment. Results show that the production of 1 ton of compost caused CO2eq emissions ranging from 199 to 250 kg and required between 1500 and 2000 MJ of energy; costs ranged between 98 and 162 euro, nevertheless lesser than the commercial green compost. The raw material typology affected significantly the composting process making compost based on “heavy” materials the most sustainable. These findings underline the need to spread this low technology process, easy to apply, especially in organic farms, and to promote the agronomic use of compost. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology and Organic Agriculture for Sustainable Crop Production)
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13 pages, 3408 KiB  
Article
Supporting Crop and Different Row Spacing as Factors Influencing Weed Infestation in Lentil Crop and Seed Yield under Organic Farming Conditions
by Piotr Kraska, Sylwia Andruszczak, Ewa Kwiecińska-Poppe, Mariola Staniak, Krzysztof Różyło and Hubert Rusecki
Agronomy 2020, 10(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10010009 - 19 Dec 2019
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3842
Abstract
A field study was conducted at the Certified Organic Farm in Poland over the period 2014–2016. This study evaluated weed infestation and seed yield of the lentil varieties ‘Tina’ and ‘Anita’, as well as of a mixture of these two varieties, sole cropped [...] Read more.
A field study was conducted at the Certified Organic Farm in Poland over the period 2014–2016. This study evaluated weed infestation and seed yield of the lentil varieties ‘Tina’ and ‘Anita’, as well as of a mixture of these two varieties, sole cropped and row intercropped with naked oats as a supporting crop. Additionally, lentil was sown at a different row spacing of 20 and 25 cm. The lentil variety ‘Anita’ produced 25.3% higher yields than var. ‘Tina’. Weight of 1000 seed, number of pods per plant, and first pod height did not differ significantly in the treatments with the lentil varieties. The lentil seed yield obtained in the treatments with a supporting crop was lower by 9.4% compared with the sole cropped plots. In turn, the 1000 seed weight was 3.9% higher in the treatment where a supporting crop was used. The presence of oats as a supporting crop in lentil crop allowed crop competitiveness against weeds to be increased significantly, thus reducing their total number and dry weight by 5.3% and 30.5%, respectively. Sowing lentil at different row spacings did not have a significant effect on seed yield and weed infestation in crop. The greatest diversity of weed species was found in the treatments where the mixture of the lentil varieties was sown and in the treatment with the smaller row spacing. Intercropping of lentil with oats resulted in reduced occurrence of monocotyledonous weeds such as Echinochloa crus-galli and Elymus repens. The presence of oat as a supporting crop can effectively reduce the pressure from weeds without significantly reducing lentil cultivar yield in organic farming. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology and Organic Agriculture for Sustainable Crop Production)
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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

34 pages, 1910 KiB  
Review
Sociotechnical Context and Agroecological Transition for Smallholder Farms in Benin and Burkina Faso
by Parfait K. Tapsoba, Augustin K. N. Aoudji, Madeleine Kabore, Marie-Paule Kestemont, Christian Legay and Enoch G. Achigan-Dako
Agronomy 2020, 10(9), 1447; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10091447 - 22 Sep 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 6418
Abstract
West Africa is facing the challenge of its population’s food insecurity in a context of accelerated degradation of natural resources. In order to efficiently face this double bottleneck, agroecological interventions were implemented as a way to promote best agricultural practices. Agroecology is a [...] Read more.
West Africa is facing the challenge of its population’s food insecurity in a context of accelerated degradation of natural resources. In order to efficiently face this double bottleneck, agroecological interventions were implemented as a way to promote best agricultural practices. Agroecology is a mode of production that nowadays questions our food system which, despite technological progress, still struggles to feed the world’s population. This systematic review is part of the vision of a deep agroecology and aims at analyzing the institutional, political, organizational, and social obstacles and levers for an agroecological transition and its amplification in Burkina Faso and Benin. For this purpose, a structured literature review was conducted using grey and published literature. It appears that despite the mitigated results of the implementation of the Green Revolution model of agricultural production in West Africa, African public authorities seem to have placed once again their faith in conventional production practices to respond to the challenges facing agriculture in the region. This situation goes beyond the regional framework to take root at the national level, (e.g., Burkina Faso, Benin), with the corollary of an apparent lack of institutional interest in sustainable modes of production. However, there is a network of stakeholders who are developing promising initiatives for scaling up agroecological practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroecology and Organic Agriculture for Sustainable Crop Production)
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