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Horticulturae
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Sustainable Horticultural Production: Applications of Organic Fertilization and Biofertilizers in...
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Sustainable Horticultural Production: Applications of Organic Fertilization and Biofertilizers in Horticultural Cultivation

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 August 2026 | Viewed by 2166

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Aleksandra Stanojković-Sebić

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Soil Science, Teodora Drajzera 7, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: horticulture; plant nutrition; soil; fertilizer; microbiology; plant physiology; vegetable
Dr. Vladan Ugrenovic

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Soil Science, Teodora Drajzera 7, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: sustainable agricultural production systems; conservation tillage; cover crops; vegetation protective strips
Dr. Vladimir Filipovic

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Kneza Višeslava 1, 11030 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: ecology; environment-soil and plants; bioagrotechnical methods in crop production; biology; soil quality; protection and health of plants

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The intensive use of inorganic fertilizers in horticultural production has contributed to high yields but has also raised serious concerns related to environmental degradation, soil health decline, and food safety. In the context of climate change and increasing pressure on natural resources, sustainable fertilization strategies are becoming essential.

Organic fertilizers and biofertilizers represent promising alternatives for reducing dependency on synthetic inputs. Materials such as compost, manure, slurry, liquid manure, earthworm compost, peat, and green manure improve soil structure, nutrient cycling, and biological activity. In parallel, biofertilizers based on beneficial microorganisms enhance nutrient availability, stimulate plant growth, and support plant resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses.

The application of organic and biological fertilizers influences soil–plant–water interactions and contributes to improved crop quality while maintaining ecological balance. Advances in biotechnology and sustainable agronomic practices enable more efficient formulation and application of these inputs under open-field and protected horticultural systems.

This Special Issue, titled “Sustainable Horticultural Production: Applications of Organic Fertilization and Biofertilizers in Horticultural Cultivation”, welcomes original research articles and reviews addressing innovative approaches, mechanisms, and practical outcomes of organic and biofertilizer use in horticultural crops. Studies focusing on soil health, plant nutrition, yield quality, and environmental sustainability are particularly encouraged.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Aleksandra Stanojković-Sebić
Dr. Vladan Ugrenovic
Dr. Vladimir Filipovic
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Horticulturae 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 2200 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

  • sustainable horticulture
  • new ideas
  • innovative approaches
  • inorganic fertilizers
  • organic and biological fertilization
  • essential natural resources of ecosystem
  • food and consumer safety

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 2615 KB  
Article
Study on the Improvement of Soil Physicochemical Properties in Solar Greenhouses by Carbonized Rice Hull and Fermented Rice Hull and Their Effects on the Growth and Development of Colored Pepper
by Chunyang Du, Haoxuan Sun, Yanfei Zhao, Qingyan Han, Ziye Song, Hongting Chen, Jianfeng Wang and Yunpeng Guo
Horticulturae 2026, 12(3), 324; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12030324 - 9 Mar 2026
Viewed by 696
Abstract
Continuous cultivation in solar greenhouses degrades black soil, leading to soil-borne diseases, nutrient imbalances, reduced porosity, and microbial dysbiosis, all of which collectively decrease crop productivity. Improving soil structure and microbial balance often requires costly amendments that are inconsistent in their effectiveness. This [...] Read more.
Continuous cultivation in solar greenhouses degrades black soil, leading to soil-borne diseases, nutrient imbalances, reduced porosity, and microbial dysbiosis, all of which collectively decrease crop productivity. Improving soil structure and microbial balance often requires costly amendments that are inconsistent in their effectiveness. This study evaluated two low-cost soil amendments—carbonized rice hull (CRH) and fermented rice hull (FRH)—using colored pepper as a model crop. Treatments included soil mixed with 30% CRH (T1), 30% FRH (T2), and untreated black soil (CK). Both amendments significantly improved soil physical properties. Compared with CK, soil porosity increased by 8.80% in T1 and 17.84% in T2, while water-holding capacity increased by 75.32% and 133.45%, respectively. Soil microbial richness, as indicated by Abundance-based Coverage Estimator (ACE) and Chao indices, followed the order T2 > T1 > CK. Plant physiological performance was also enhanced. Net photosynthetic rate increased by 7.18% (T1) and 15.33% (T2), plant height increased by 14.42% (T1) and 28.85% (T2), and root activity improved significantly. Fruit weight increased by 15.33% in T1 and 21.62% in T2. Both rice hull amendments improved soil quality and promoted crop growth, with FRH performing consistently better. These findings indicate that fermented rice hull is a promising, low-cost strategy for greenhouse soil remediation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Horticultural Production: Applications of Organic Fertilization and Biofertilizers in Horticultural Cultivation)
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16 pages, 948 KB  
Article
Mealworm Frass as a Sustainable Organic Fertilizer for Greenhouse Tomato Cultivation
by Nektaria Digalaki, Ioannis Koufakis, Vassilios Triantafyllidis, Argyro Kalaitzaki, Despina Tzobanoglou, Georgios Psarras, Angelos Patakas and Konstantinos Tzerakis
Horticulturae 2026, 12(3), 301; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12030301 - 4 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1051
Abstract
Due to the environmental impact and increasing cost of inorganic fertilizers, farmers are exploring alternative fertilization strategies. Tenebrio molitor, otherwise known as the mealworm, is one of the most widely reared insect species for the production of high-quality protein for animals and [...] Read more.
Due to the environmental impact and increasing cost of inorganic fertilizers, farmers are exploring alternative fertilization strategies. Tenebrio molitor, otherwise known as the mealworm, is one of the most widely reared insect species for the production of high-quality protein for animals and humans. Mealworm frass (MF), a nutrient-rich byproduct of Tenebrio molitor cultivation, presents a viable option for organic fertilization. To investigate the fertilizer potential of frass, a greenhouse pot experiment was conducted, comparing three levels of MF (MF1, MF2, and MF3 at 20, 40, and 80 g/L soil, respectively), organic compost (ORG), and inorganic fertilizer (FERT). MF gave comparable results to FERT in terms of the measured parameters of vegetation, flowering, and production. ORG also gave comparable results to FERT as far as flowering and production but had significantly lower height compared to it. The MF3 treatment significantly improved the average fruit weight and total yield by 19.56% and 30.81%, respectively, compared to the ORG treatment. The two highest doses of MF outperformed FERT in terms of leaf and soil nutrient status, while MF1 and ORG did not differ from it. Furthermore, MF3 yielded 20% greater fruit weight than MF1. However, MF1 was comparable to FERT in fruit weight, resulting in superior fruit color. These results support reduced-input agriculture by providing data for optimizing soil fertility and nutrient management in crops. The findings of this experiment suggest that MF is a viable alternative to inorganic fertilizers and organic compost for greenhouse cultivation of tomatoes. These results highlight the potential of MF as a circular, bio-based fertilizer capable of maintaining tomato productivity while improving soil fertility under protected cultivation systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Horticultural Production: Applications of Organic Fertilization and Biofertilizers in Horticultural Cultivation)
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