Search Results (74)

Living mulch intercropping systems are considered as nature-based solutions with a low environmental footprint for managing weeds, improving biodiversity and agroecosystem sustainability. In drylands, however, they may increase intra/inter-specific competition for water, reducing crop productivity. We tested conservation tillage (TLG) carob plots with and without irrigation (TLG_irr; TLG_dry) vs. rainfed intercropping systems of carob and (i) thyme (Thymbra capitata; T-System) or (ii) clover (Trifolium squarrosum; C-System), strategically planted on the south (sun)-exposed soil side (SES) of carobs, to reduce soil temperature/evaporation. Carob water relations, productivity and environmental footprints were examined for three years under semi-arid, low weed-competition (Skarinou-SKR) and arid high weed-competition (Vrysoules-VRY) conditions in Cyprus. Carob yield efficiency (kg/m³) in SKR, was >27% higher for the T-System (p < 0.05; SES cover ca. 85%; year-3), matching a higher leaf water content (p < 0.001) compared to TLG_dry. The T-System reached 28% and 56% of TLG_irr yields during very dry and normal rainfall years; TLG_dry yields approached zero. For VRY, no negative impacts on carob leaf water, at 25% SES cover, were found. SKR’s C-System improved leaf water content (p < 0.05) for only one year. The T-System also outperformed TLG_irr and TLG_dry in terms of reducing irrigation needs and energy consumption, breaking new grounds for dryland agroforestry. Full article

Growing cover crop mixtures is a sustainable agriculture tool that helps to reduce fertilizer use and, at the same time, ensures lower environmental pollution. The aim of this research is to assess the biomass of the aboveground part of cover crop mixtures and the nutrients accumulated in it and to determine their influence on the soil properties and productivity of spring oats (Avena sativa L.). The biomass of the aboveground part of cover crop mixtures of different botanical compositions varied from 2.33 to 2.67 Mg ha⁻¹. As the diversity of plant species in cover crop mixtures increased, the accumulation of nutrients in the aboveground part biomass increased, and the risk of nutrient leaching was reduced. The post-harvest cover crop mixture TGS GYVA 365, consisting of eight short-lived and two perennial plant species, significantly reduced the mineral nitrogen content in the soil in spring and had the strongest positive effect on organic carbon content. Post-harvest cover crop mixtures TGS GYVA 365 and TGS D STRUKT 1 did not affect the content of available potassium in the soil but significantly reduced the content of available phosphorus. All tested cover crop mixtures, including the undersown TGS BIOM 1 and the post-harvest mixtures TGS D STRUKT 1 and TGS GYVA 365, reduced soil shear strength and improved soil structure, although the reduction was not statistically significant for TGS D STRUKT 1. Cover crop mixtures left on the soil surface as mulch had a positive effect on the chlorophyll concentration in oat leaves, number of grains per panicle, and oat grain yield. A significant positive correlation was found between oat grain yield and several yield components, including crop density, plant height, number of grains per panicle, and grain mass per panicle. These findings highlight the potential of diverse cover crop mixtures to reduce fertilizer dependency and improve oat productivity under temperate climate conditions. Full article

The experiment aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of using high doses of nitrogen (N) and delaying the sowing of living mulch in the apple tree (Malus domestica Borkh.) orchard as factors stimulating tree growth and influencing fruit quality. Blue fescue (Festuca ovina L.), as a cover crop, was sown in the tree rows in the second and fourth year after tree planting. It was compared to herbicide fallow control treatment. In each floor management, four N doses (50, 80, 110, and 140 kg ha⁻¹) were used every year. The study indicated the dominance of living mulch, especially sowing in the second year after tree planting as a factor influencing the reduction in growth and yield but improving the red blush surface on the fruit skin. The growth of trees was also strongly influenced by biotic and abiotic stress factors, which did not allow for a clear assessment of N fertilization. With objectively low cropping levels and poor growth of all trees tested in the experiment, their N needs were satisfied by a dose of 50 kg ha⁻¹. The application of the highest dose of 140 kg N ha⁻¹ had a significant and negative impact on the red color of the fruit skin. Full article

The development of microbial-based biostimulants to enhance the growth of crops and support a healthy and sustainable soil requires the isolation and large-scale industrial culture of effective microorganisms. In this study, work was undertaken to isolate and characterize free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria capable of acting as biostimulants alone or by incorporation into and/or supplementation with a current commercial crop biostimulant for farmers. Free-living bacteria were isolated from soil, sugar cane mulch, and plant roots following preliminary culture in a nitrogen-free media that targeted specific groups of known diazotrophs. Following the identification of each isolate by 16S rDNA sequence analysis, isolates selected for further study were identified as most closely related to Priestia megaterium, Sphingobium yanoikuyae, and Burkholderia paludis. Each isolate was investigated for its capacity to promote plant growth in nitrogen-free media. Wheat seedlings were inoculated with the isolates separately, together as a consortium, or in combination with the commercial biostimulant, Great Land Plus^®. Compared to no-treatment control plants, the fresh weights were higher in both the shoots (183.2 mg vs. 330.6 mg; p < 0.05) and roots (320.4 mg vs. 731.3 mg; p < 0.05) of wheat seedlings inoculated with P. megaterium. The fresh weights were also higher in the shoots (267.8 mg; p < 0.05) and roots (610.3 mg; p = 0.05) of wheat seedlings inoculated with S. yanoikuyae. In contrast, the fresh weight of the shoot and root systems of plants inoculated with B. paludis were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than that of the no-treatment control plants. Moreover, when Great Land Plus^® was supplemented with a consortium of P. megaterium and S. yanoikuyae, or a consortium of P. megaterium, S. yanoikuyae, and B. paludis no promotion of plant growth was observed. Full article

Orchards are complex agricultural systems with various characteristics that influence crop evapotranspiration (ET_c), such as variety, tree height, planting density, irrigation methods, and inter-row management. The preservation of biodiversity and improvement of soil fertility have become important goals in modern orchard management. Consequently, the traditional approach to weed control between rows, which relies on herbicides and soil mobilization, has gradually been replaced by the use of permanent living mulch (LM). This study explored the potential of a remote sensing (RS)-assisted method to monitor water use and water productivity in apple orchards with permanent mulch. The experimental data were obtained in the Lis Valley Irrigation District, on the Central Coast of Portugal, where the “Maçã de Alcobaça” (Alcobaça apple) is produced. The methodology was applied over three growing seasons (2019–2021), combining ground observations with RS tools, including drone flights and satellite images. The estimation of ET_a followed a modified version of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) single crop coefficient approach, in which the crop coefficient (K_c) was derived from the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) calculated from satellite images and incorporated into a daily soil water balance. The average seasonal ET_a (FAO-56) was 824 ± 14 mm, and the water productivity (WP) was 3.99 ± 0.7 kg m⁻³. Good correlations were found between the K_c’s proposed by FAO and the NDVI evolution in the experimental plot, with an R² of 0.75 for the entire growing season. The results from the derived RS-assisted method were compared to the ET_a values obtained from the Mapping Evapotranspiration at High Resolution with Internalized Calibration (METRIC) surface energy balance model, showing a root mean square (RMSE) of ±0.3 mm day⁻¹ and a low bias of 0.6 mm day⁻¹. This study provided insights into mulch management, including cutting intensity, and its role in maintaining the health of the main crop. RS data can be used in this management to adjust cutting schedules, determine K_c, and monitor canopy management practices such as pruning, health monitoring, and irrigation warnings. Full article

The indiscriminate use of plastic products and their inappropriate management and disposal contribute to the increasing presence and accumulation of this material in all environmental zones. The chemical properties of plastics and their resistance to natural degradation lead over time to the production of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics, which are dispersed in soil, water, and air and can be absorbed by plants, including those grown for food. In agriculture, MPs can come from many sources (mulch film, tractor tires, compost, fertilizers, and pesticides). The possible effects of this type of pollution on living organisms, especially humans, increase the need to carry out studies to assess occupational exposure in agriculture. It would also be desirable to promote alternative materials to plastic and sustainable agronomic practices to protect the safety and health of agricultural workers. Full article

Maritime forests are coastal ecosystems that stabilize coastlines, recharge aquifers, and provide protection against storm surges. The range of these forests has been decreasing due to threats such as urban expansion, clearing for agriculture, climate change, and an influx of native but competitive loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) from pine plantations. To restore maritime forests, southern live oak (Quercus virginiana Mill.) should be established as the dominant canopy species; however, knowledge of how to grow live oak in a restoration setting is limited. We planted southern live oak seedlings into a clearcut experimental site that was formerly a loblolly pine plantation. Our goal was to test how planting density (1, 2, or 3 m), mulch, and fertilization at planting impacted the initial growth of seedlings over the course of four growing seasons. The application of fertilizer had an initial positive effect on seedling diameter (36%) after the first growing season. The application of mulch increased seedling height in years 2 through 4 (25.6% to 22.7%), diameter in years 3 and 4 (20.9% to 19.3%), and crown width in year four (8.5%). Planting density had no consistent effect over the first four years. These results demonstrate the potential benefits of incorporating fertilizer and mulch into restoration prescriptions to promote seedling field establishment. Planting density should continue to be monitored through canopy closure for potential effects of plant facilitation. Integrating silvicultural treatments such as planting density, soil amendments, and vegetation control may inform cost-effective management recommendations for maritime forest restoration. Full article

Mulching plays a pivotal role in modern sustainable agriculture, offering a versatile solution to enhance soil quality, improve soil health, conserve resources, and optimize crop performance. This study examined the effects of various mulching materials on soil properties, seasonal variations in soil and environmental variables, and yam production in a tropical environment, with a focus on sustainable agricultural practice. We applied a range of mulch treatments, including black polythene, weedmat, sugarcane straw, organic compost, cowpea-live, juncao grass, sawdust, and a control with no mulch. The results indicated that the organic compost mulch significantly increased soil pH and soil electrical conductivity (EC). The control treatment resulted in the highest soil moisture content, while the highest soil temperature were recorded for the black polythene and organic compost mulch treatments. The organic compost mulch enhanced the soil organic carbon (SOC) content, soil available phosphorus (SAP) content, and soil exchangeable calcium (SECa) content. The weedmat mulch showed the highest soil exchangeable potassium (SEK) content, and the control treatment exhibited the highest soil exchangeable magnesium (SEMg) and sodium (SENa) content. In terms of micronutrients, the sawdust mulch and black polythene mulch significantly increased soil exchangeable iron (SEFe) and copper (SECu) levels, respectively. Notable seasonal variations in soil pH, temperature, and environmental humidity were observed during the crop period. The soil pH fluctuated from slightly acidic levels in August 2023 to neutral levels in October, and then decreased to slightly acidic levels in early 2024 before stabilizing by March 2024. The soil temperature peaked in November and dropped in January, while the environmental humidity ranged from 48.25% in December to 76.33% in February. The study demonstrated that the organic compost mulch stood out as an advantageous choice because of its capacity to enhance the soil’s properties and offer a balanced nutrient mix, making it particularly beneficial for yam cultivation. It also proved to be a reliable and balanced option to enhance soil quality with stable soil quality indices (SQIs). The weedmat mulch proved to be highly effective in enhancing yam growth and productivity. The weedmat mulch is the most profitable and cost-effective option for yam cultivation, providing the highest net returns and strong financial viability. This study emphasizes the value of choosing the right mulching materials to support soil quality, crop productivity, and economic returns in tropical settings, making strides toward more sustainable farming practices. Full article

Living grass mulching (LMG) is a modern, environmentally friendly, practical, and efficient production management technology that improves the ecological environment, quality, and efficiency of the orchard. However, in arid and semi-arid areas, the effects of different grass species mulching on soil carbon composition, carbon pool stability, and nitrogen content are still unclear. Therefore, in order to explore the impact of different LMG on soil carbon, nitrogen, and its component content, as well as the related soil carbon pool management index in an apple orchard located in the semi-arid region of the Loess Plateau, a control experiment was conducted. The experiment involved different grass species cover treatments on an 11-year-old semi-dwarf Qinguan apple orchard from 2019 to 2022. Soil carbon and nitrogen content were measured under each treatment. The results indicated that the application of LMG treatment and depth of the soil had a significant impact on the soil organic carbon (SOC), particulate organic carbon (POC), inactive organic carbon (NAOC), total nitrogen (TN), and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C/N). Planting Vulpia myuros mulches significantly enhanced 39.6% surface soil organic carbon, 61.7% surface particulate organic carbon, 20.3% surface dissolved organic carbon (DOC), 75.8% surface inactive organic carbon, and 20.6% surface soil total nitrogen compared to clean tillage. Mulching treatment with the planting of Vulpia myuros boosted surface soil organic carbon and decreased soil carbon pool activity (CPA) and carbon pool activity index (CPAI), ultimately improving the stability of the soil carbon pool. The findings will have a beneficial impact on improving soil quality, carbon sequestration, and emission reduction in arid and semi-arid regions. Full article

The combination of no-till farming and green manure is key to nourishing the soil and increasing crop yields. However, it remains unclear how to enhance the efficiency of green manure under no-till conditions. We conducted a two-factor field trial of silage maize rotated with hairy vetch to test the effects of tillage methods and returning. Factor 1 is the type of tillage, which is divided into conventional ploughing and no-tillage; factor 2 is the different ways of returning hairy vetch as green manure, which were also compared: no return (NM), stubble return (H), mulching (HM), turnover (HR, for CT only), and live coverage (LM, for NT only). Our findings indicate that different methods of returning hairy vetch to the field will improve maize yield and quality. The best results were obtained in CT and NT in HM and LM, respectively. Specifically, HM resulted in the highest dry matter quality and yield, with improvements of 35.4% and 31.9% over NM under CT, respectively. It also demonstrated the best economic and net energy performance. However, other treatments had no significant effect on the beneficial utilization and return of nutrients. The LM improved yields under NT by boosting soil enzyme activity, promoting nitrogen transformation and accumulation, and increasing nitrogen use efficiency for better kernel development. Overall, NTLM is best at utilizing and distributing soil nutrients and increasing silage maize yield. This finding supports the eco-efficient cultivation approach in silage maize production in the region. Full article

Weed infestation of cereal crops in organic farming is becoming a serious problem in agriculture. Sustainable agriculture requires the search for and implementation of crop management techniques that will reduce weeds without negatively impacting the environment. This research refers to the principles of integrated plant protection in sustainable agriculture, allowing the use of chemical plant protection products to be limited to the absolute minimum. Technology for growing spring barley based on the use of bacterial consortia in combination with living mulch (LM) can be an interesting approach to this problem. The aim of this three-year field research was to determine the effects of bacterial consortia and LM on the level of weed infestation in the organic spring barley crop. Two factors were tested in the experiment: bacterial consortia factors: control (without bacterial consortia); 1—Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum and Arthrobacter agilis; 2—Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, and Pseudomonas fluorescens; and LM: control (without LM); red clover; red clover + Italian ryegrass; and Italian ryegrass. This research demonstrated that the bacterial consortia tested significantly reduced both the biomass and number of weeds, including the following dominant weeds: Chenopodium album, Sinapis arvensis, Elymus repens, and Tripleurospermum inodorum. The use of LM also significantly reduced the weed infestation of spring barley stands. The lowest biomass and number of weeds, with the exception of Elymus repens, were recorded on objects with LM Italian ryegrass in spring barley in combination with bacterial consortium 2. The introduction of cultivation with LM Italian ryegrass or its mixture with red clover and the use of bacteria should be recommended for the practice of sustainable agriculture, which will reduce weeds through an ecological method. Full article

Nowadays, the world is facing a general problem of resource overconsumption and waste overproduction: to address these two issues, the United Nations delivered the 12th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), which has the objective of ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns. Currently, polymers are present in every aspect of our lives and have the disadvantage of mostly coming from fossil sources and causing pollution when disposed of the wrong way. Agriculture plays a key role in the overall world environmental issues, being responsible for the creation of between 13 and 21% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Moreover, it represents a continuously growing field, producing large amounts of waste. These residues can cause serious environmental concerns and high costs when disposed. However, agri-food waste (AFW) is a natural source of natural biopolymers, such as lignin, cellulose, pectin, and starch, but can also be used as a substrate to produce other non-toxic and biodegradable biopolymers, such as chitosan, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), and polylactic acid (PLA) through microbial fermentation. These polymers find applications in agricultural practices such as mulching films, soil stabilizers, hydrogels, nanocarriers, and coating for seeds, fruits, and vegetables. The employment of AFW in the production of non-toxic, sustainable, and biodegradable biopolymers for their agricultural utilization is an example of a virtuous circular economy approach that could help agriculture to be more sustainable. Full article

Research was carried out to assess the yield and quality of fruits from the new Polish apple tree ‘Chopin’—a ‘green peel’, scab-resistant cultivar under grass living mulch management. Blue fescue and red fescue were tested in experiment no. 1. In experiment no. 2, meadow grass and perennial ryegrass were used. Every species of grass was sown in two doses of 50 and 150 kg per ha. Herbicide fallow was introduced as a control in both experiments. Strongly variable temperatures and precipitations in the years of evaluation made it possible to estimate year—a function of variable environmental conditions—as an additional experimental factor. An unexpected effect of the presence of living mulch was its significant impact on the appearance of blush on the ‘green peel’ fruit. However, living mulches had little effect on weight and fruit size. Cool days during apple ripening enhanced the process of fruit skin red coloration. The effect of both agrotechnical and environmental factors on fruit quality was more visible in the case of less vigorous trees, which were more susceptible to experimental, stressful conditions. However, increasing the sowing dose of each grass seed did not influence red blushing, weight, or fruit size. An additional difficulty for the trees was the competition caused by the early germination of these living grass mulches, reinforced by the presence of Trifolium repens L. Full article

Mulching practices have been used to improve peach growth and production across the globe. However, the impact of mulching on the physiochemical properties and soil characteristics of orchards remains largely unknown. This study aimed to decipher the impacts of various mulching patterns on the soil environment and the quality of Prunus persica fruit in “Zijinhuangcui”. Three treatments were set up, which included black ground fabric mulch (BF) and two living grass mulch treatments (HV: hairy vetch and RG: ryegrass). The results showed that different mulching treatments have different effects on soil, plant growth, and fruit quality. Living grass mulch treatments, especially the HV treatment, significantly improved soil nutrients by enhancing nitrogen-related indicators. Of note, the BF treatment had higher total phosphorus and available phosphorus contents than the HV and RG treatments. The HV treatment had the highest relative abundance of Proteobacteria (33.49%), which is associated with symbiotic nitrogen fixation, followed by RG (25.62%), and BF (22.38%) at the young fruit stage. Similarly, the abundance of Terrimonas, which has a unique nitrogen fixation system at the genus level, was significantly higher in the living grass mulch (HV, 1.30–3.13% and RG, 2.27–4.24%) than in the BF treatment. Living grass mulch also promoted tree growth, increased fruit sugar content, sugar-related components, and sugar-acid ratio, and reduced the acid content. Collectively, the findings of this study show that living grass mulch can promote tree growth and improve fruit quality by improving soil fertility, bacterial diversity, and richness. Full article

The impact of living mulches established with three officinal plants (Alchemilla vulgaris, Fragaria vesca and Mentha x piperita) on the soil bacterial microbiome and activity, the nematodes population, and the nutrient status of an organic apple orchard was assessed. The composition and diversity of the bacterial communities were differentially modified by living mulches. The activity of the bacterial microbiome associated with F. vesca was higher and utilized more C sources in comparison to other treatments. The combined analysis of the core bacterial microbiome and metabolic activity pointed to a potential effect of F. vesca on different levels of the soil’s trophic network. The living mulches did not affect the overall number of nematodes, but in some cases, they modified the structure of the population: F. vesca induced the highest share of bacteria feeders and the lowest number of herbivores and fungal feeders. The living mulches modified the availability of some nutrients and the pH. Multivariate analysis of the whole dataset showed several potential inter-dependencies between the assessed parameters that are worthy of further study. In conclusion, the introduction of multifunctional living mulches based on officinal plants induced changes to the soil’s genetic and functional biodiversity and chemical properties. These modifications could deliver ecosystem services particularly relevant to organic apple orchards. Full article