Search Results (4,846)

Protecting groundwater against pollution from agricultural sources is a key aspect of sustainable management of soil and water resources. Implementation of sustainable strategies for agricultural production can be supported by modeling tools, which allow us to quantify the effects of different agricultural practices in the context of groundwater vulnerability to contamination. In this study we present a method to assess groundwater vulnerability to nitrate pollution based on a combination of the SWAT agro-hydrological model and the DRASTIC index method. SWAT modeling was applied to assess different scenarios of agricultural practices and identify solutions for sustainable management of soil and groundwater and reduction of nitrate pollution. The developed method was implemented for groundwater resources in a study area (Puck Bay region, southern Baltic coast), which represented a complex multi-aquifer system formed in Quaternary fluvioglacial deposits (sand and gravel) separated by moraine tills. In order to investigate the effects of different agricultural practices, 12 scenarios have been defined, which were grouped into four classes: crop type, fertilizer management, tillage, and grazing. An overlay index structure was applied, and ratings and weights to several factors were assigned. All analyses were processed using GIS tools, and the results are presented in the form of maps, which categorize groundwater vulnerability to nitrate pollution into five classes, ranging from very low to very high. The results reveal significant variability in groundwater vulnerability to nitrate pollution in the study area. Agricultural practices have a very strong influence on groundwater vulnerability by controlling both recharge rates and nitrogen losses from the soil profile. The most pronounced increases in vulnerability were associated with scenarios involving excessive fertilization and intensive grazing. Among crop types, potato cultivation appears to pose the greatest risk to groundwater quality. Full article

The production of essential oils generates substantial quantities of solid post-distillation residues, a largely unutilized waste stream rich in bioactive compounds (e.g., phenolics, flavonoids) as well as polysaccharides. Managing this organic waste presents both environmental and economic challenges. This review critically examines environmentally friendly green innovations and resource-efficient technologies within circular bio-economy strategies for valorizing these residues, focusing on four primary conversion pathways: physico-mechanical, thermochemical, biological, and chemical methods. We highlight their potential for practical applications, including the extraction of active compounds for food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries, utilization in agriculture, incorporation into construction materials and wastewater treatment. Despite these opportunities, wider industrial adoption remains limited by high processing costs and the lack of scalable, cost-effective technologies. Key research gaps included the need for methods applicable at the farm level, optimization of the residue-specific conversion process, and life-cycle assessments to evaluate environmental and economic impacts. Addressing these gaps is crucial to fully exploit the economic and ecological potential of post-distillation solid residues and integrate them into sustainable circular bio-economy practices through various processes. Full article

Climate change and unsustainable agricultural practices are triggering land degradation in semi-arid Mediterranean regions. Organic amendments, such as mulching materials, have shown promising potential to mitigate these impacts by improving soil chemical, physical, and biological properties, while enhancing grapevine growth and productivity. This study evaluated the effects of wheat straw mulch (M) and wheat straw combined with biochar (MB), together with vineyard topography (bottom vs. top), on grape chemical and phenolic composition in four Vitis vinifera L. cultivars (Syrah, Trincadeira, Alicante Bouschet, and Antão Vaz) grown in the Alentejo wine region. Grapes were sampled separately at top and bottom topographic positions, and classical and phenolic parameters were analyzed. The application of M and MB significantly modified must composition, mainly through changes in nitrogen and sugar levels across topographic positions. Only MB exhibited stronger effects, enhancing must quality, while MB and M reduced bottom–top variability. Similar patterns and positional effects were observed for phenolic and color parameters. Both organic treatments lowered total monomeric anthocyanin concentrations, although positional differences with wheat straw mulch were found. The results highlight that combining soil management with topography and variety response can optimize grape phenolic composition and promote sustainable viticulture through targeted, site-specific mulching strategies. Full article

Conventional and organic agriculture can both cause soil microbial community structure (SMCS) destruction, infertility, and abandonment. The application of soil productivity-improving biofertilizers is a sustainable practice that requires holistic knowledge, including complex biointeractions, diverse microbial metabolism, and culture requirements, the last of which rely on methodology and technology. In this study, a holistic culture-based and meta-analysis approach was employed to explore pristine and domesticated soils for presumptive plant growth-promoting (PGP) bacteria. Various soil samples were logistically acquired and processed using enrichment and heat alternatives. Morphologically diverse isolates were streak-purified and analyzed for 16S rRNA bacterial identification. Meta-analysis of PGP bacteria in domesticated environments was conducted using Google Search and NCBI PubMed. Soil fertility was analyzed for the pH and nitrogen/phosphorus/potassium (NPK) contents using biochemical tests. Notably, 7 genera and 15 species were differentially recovered, with Bacillus being the most prevalent and diverse in species. Conversely, Aeromonas, Lactobacillus, Lelliottia, Pseudomonas, and Staphylococcus were found only in pristine soil. While soil pH was consistent in all pristine soil samples, NPK contents ranged widely across the pristine (i.e., P/K) and domesticated samples (i.e., N/P/K). These findings could enhance biofertilizer SMCS, function, and effectiveness in the agricultural productivity needed to feed the expanding population. Full article

Under the background of “Emerging Engineering Education”, promoting reform in the practical teaching of Agricultural Hydraulic Engineering is a crucial task for cultivating water conservancy professionals with sustainability competencies in the new era. This study addresses current issues in the practical education of Agricultural Hydraulic Engineering, including fragmented practical content, disjointed tiered training, superficial teaching models, and simplified assessment methods. Guided by the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) concept and incorporating sustainability education principles, and integrating the distinctive features and course orientation of the university’s programme, this study implements a multidimensional practical teaching reform characterized by “three level–four integration–five dimension–three objective” framework in Agricultural Hydraulic Engineering. This reform has achieved significant outcomes: teaching quality has been notably enhanced, with students demonstrating substantially improved practical and innovative capabilities, earning over ten national and provincial competition awards in the past two years. Faculty teaching research capabilities have strengthened, resulting in multiple provincial-level teaching reform projects and top-tier course approvals. The proportion of courses achieving a satisfactory level of target attainment stands at 66.7% of the total practical courses. Graduate and employer satisfaction rates reached 96.2% and 100%, respectively. The results demonstrate the strong applicability and effectiveness of this multidimensional practical teaching model in fostering talent equipped for sustainable water conservancy development, providing an important reference for practical teaching reforms in agricultural universities during the new era. Full article

Composting represents a sustainable and effective strategy for converting organic waste into nutrient-rich soil amendments, providing a safer alternative to raw manure, which poses significant risks of soil, crop, and water contamination through pathogenic microorganisms. This study, conducted under semi-arid Moroccan conditions, investigated the efficiency of co-composting green garden waste with sheep manure in an open window system, with the objective of assessing pathogen inactivation and evaluating compost quality. The process, conducted over 120 days, maintained thermophilic temperatures exceeding 55 °C, effectively reducing key pathogens including Escherichia coli, total coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus, and sulfite-reducing Clostridia (SRC), while Salmonella was not detected throughout the composting period. Pathogen reductions exceeded 3.52-log despite moderate temperature fluctuations, indicating that additional sanitization mechanisms beyond heat contributed to inactivation. Compost quality, assessed using the CQI, classified Heap 2 (fallen leaves + sheep manure) as good quality (4.06) and Heap 1 (green waste + sheep manure) as moderate quality (2.47), corresponding to differences in microbial dynamics and compost stability. These findings demonstrate that open windrow co-composting is a practical, low-cost, and effective method for safe organic waste management. It supports sustainable agriculture by improving soil health, minimizing environmental and public health risks, and providing guidance for optimizing composting protocols to meet regulatory safety standards. Full article

Endophytic bacteria, which reside within plant tissues without causing harm, play crucial roles in promoting plant health and enhancing tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, making them highly valuable for sustainable agriculture. This review explores the diversity, mechanisms, applications, and challenges associated with endophytic bacteria in enhancing stress tolerance in plants. Endophytic bacteria display extensive diversity, spanning multiple phyla such as Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria, each contributing uniquely to plant growth and stress tolerance. The functional mechanisms by which endophytic bacteria promote stress tolerance against biotic and abiotic stresses include the induction of plant systemic resistance, synthesis of bioactive compounds, competition for space and resources, nutrient production and transfer, etc. Despite their great potentials, challenges such as the complexity of plant–microbe interactions, variability in bacterial efficacy across different environmental conditions, and the need for advanced identification and application techniques hinder the widespread application of endophytic bacteria in agriculture. This review underscores the importance of harnessing the great potential of endophytic bacteria for developing sustainable agricultural practices and highlights the urgent need for further research to overcome existing challenges. Full article

Sustainability constitutes a strategic priority not only at the level of practical implementation but also within the framework of legal regulations and policy-making processes. Within the scope of this study, the forest-related legal frameworks of selected countries from Asia and Europe have been examined. To ensure consistency and objectivity in the analysis, a set of evaluation criteria was established, with particular attention paid to their international recognition and legitimacy. In this context, the criteria developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization and Forest Europe were adopted. Based on these internationally accepted standards, the forest legislation of the selected countries was assessed and analyzed using the EFLD (Environmental and Forest Law Department) scoring methodology to determine the extent to which sustainability is integrated into their legal systems. Six criteria were defined and evaluated separately for each country based on the overall average. It was concluded that Türkiye and Kazakhstan’s forest legislation aligns with sustainability criteria compared to other countries’ legislation, Lithuania and Iran’s forest legislation is close to the overall average, and Poland’s forest legislation requires more explicit and progressive provisions in terms of sustainability. Full article

Silicon (Si) plays a critical role in regulating plant physiological processes, particularly through its influence on non-enzymatic antioxidant systems and amino acid metabolism. This study aims to assess soybean performance in response to both soil and foliar Si applications under well-watered and drought conditions, with the goal of enhancing Si accumulation in plant tissues and potentially strengthening the crop’s physiological responses to water deficit stress. This is especially pertinent given that the mechanisms underlying Si fertilization and its contribution to drought tolerance in soybean remain poorly understood. Greenhouse experiments were conducted using a 3 × 2 factorial design. The factors were: (i) three foliar Si treatments: control (no Si), potassium silicate (SiK; 128 g L⁻¹ Si, 126.5 g L⁻¹ K₂O, pH 12.0), and sorbitol-stabilized potassium silicate (SiKe; 107 g L⁻¹ Si, 28.4 g L⁻¹ K₂O, 100 mL L⁻¹ sorbitol, pH 11.8); and (ii) two soil water levels: well-watered (80% field capacity) and water-restricted (40% field capacity), the latter simulating tropical dry spells. Silicon was applied to the soil via irrigation and to the leaves via foliar spraying prior to the onset water restriction. All Si solutions were adjusted to pH 7.0 with 1 M HCl immediately before application. Potassium (K) levels were standardized across treatments through supplementary applications of KCl to both soil and foliage. Biometric and physiological parameters were subsequently measured. Sorbitol-stabilized Si enhanced Si accumulation in soybean tissues and improved plant resilience under both well-watered and drought conditions by promoting key physiological traits, including increased levels of daidzein and ascorbic acid levels, along with reduced amino acid concentrations. It also improved biometric parameters such as leaf area, root development, and number of pods per plant. These findings further support the role of Si as a beneficial element in enhancing stress tolerance and contributing to sustainable agricultural practices. Full article

Coffee grounds can be used in agriculture as a bio-input to enhance soil fertility and biodiversity in the long term. Furthermore, the use of coffee grounds in agriculture is a sustainable practice because it reuses an organic waste product as natural fertilizer and minimizes the environmental impact resulting from the improper disposal of waste. This study aimed to identify the effects of coffee grounds on the growth and yield of iceberg lettuce plants. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse using 4 kg of substrate in containers with a 5.356 dm³ capacity, following a completely randomized design in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. The primary treatment consisted of plants grown in two types of substrate: soil and sand (01) and soil, sand, and 10% coffee grounds (02). The secondary treatment corresponded to irrigation with water (01) and a 10% coffee ground extract solution (02). Coffee grounds incorporated into the soil increase soil fertility; however, they reduce lettuce growth due to the toxicity of the compounds present and should not be used without prior treatment. Processing coffee grounds into irrigation solutions shows promise due to its high potential for use as an agricultural bio-input in lettuce production. This solution enhances the growth and development of the species, resulting in vigorous plants with market value. Full article

In precision agriculture, the delineation of Management Zones (MZs) is essential for optimizing input use efficiency and site-specific nutrient management. MZs are established based on spatial variability derived from remote sensing data—such as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from satellite or UAV-based imagery—and yield maps collected during harvest. However, the microbial community composition of the soil is often overlooked in MZ delineation. To address this gap, we investigated the soil bacterial community structure across different MZs in an arable field. The zones were delineated using NDVI data, soil profiles were described, and bulk soil samples were collected. Soil physicochemical parameters were analyzed in parallel with 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to characterize bacterial community composition and diversity. The results demonstrated that soil texture and soil organic matter content were the primary drivers influencing bacterial community structure across the field. Moreover, patterns in microbial composition aligned closely with MZ delineations, indicating that microbial profiles could aid in better understanding and supporting the nutrient management practices. Our findings suggest that soil microbiological data can enhance the stability and biological relevance of MZ definitions, thereby improving resource allocation, soil health management, and overall sustainability in precision farming systems. Full article

Biostimulants have emerged as effective tools for enhancing both the productivity and quality of crops. In this study, we assessed the impact of the two commercial biostimulant products (Kiana Earth^® and Kiana Climate^®) on the growth, yield, and quality of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Eight treatments were established, comprising six different biostimulant formulations, a normal control (no fertilizer applied), and a positive control (chemical fertilizer application). Biostimulant treatments significantly improved plant and stem diameters, fresh and dry biomass, and yield (p < 0.01). The best yields and morphological performance were obtained with samples receiving T6 (Kiana Climate^® + 75:50:75 kg ha⁻¹ N:P:K) and T7 (Kiana Earth^® + 150:100:150 kg ha⁻¹ N:P:K) applications, which comprised biostimulant–fertilizer combinations. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll levels were significantly higher with than without biostimulant treatment, indicating that the biostimulants enhanced photosynthetic efficiency. Biochemical analyses further identified significant increases in vitamin C levels, total antioxidant capacity, total phenolic compounds, and flavonoid contents, especially with treatments T5 (Kiana Earth^® + 75:50:75 kg ha⁻¹ N:P:K)–T8 (Kiana Climate^® + 150:100:150 kg ha⁻¹ N:P:K). Nitrogen assimilation analysis showed that leaf NO₃⁻ levels were lower with the combined treatment than with chemical fertilizer alone, suggesting that the biostimulants improved nitrogen-use efficiency. Micronutrient (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Na) and macronutrient (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S) levels were significantly increased with biostimulant-enriched treatments, alongside a rise in soil organic matter. Biostimulants, especially when combined with mineral fertilization, significantly enhanced lettuce growth, yield, and nutritional quality, while also promoting soil fertility. These findings highlight the potential of biostimulants as valuable tools in conventional, regenerative, and organic agricultural practices, offering a sustainable approach to enhancing agricultural productivity while ensuring long-term soil fertility. Full article

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the major health threats of the 21st century and demands innovative sources of bioactive compounds. In 2019, infections caused by resistant bacteria directly accounted for 1.27 million deaths and contributed to an additional 4.95 million associated deaths, underscoring the urgency of exploring new strategies. Among emerging alternatives, specialized plant metabolites stand out, as their biosynthesis is enhanced under biotic or abiotic stress. These stimuli increase reactive oxygen species (ROS), activate cascades regulated by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and trigger defense-related hormonal pathways involving salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), ethylene (ET), and abscisic acid (ABA), which in turn regulate transcription factors and biosynthetic modules, promoting the accumulation of compounds with antimicrobial activity. In this review, we synthesize recent literature (2020–2025) with emphasis on studies that report quantitative activity metrics. We integrate evidence linking stress physiology and metabolite production, summarize mechanisms of action, and propose a conceptual multi-omics pipeline, synthesized from current best practices, that combines RNA sequencing and LC/GC-MS-based metabolomics with bioinformatic tools to prioritize candidates with antimicrobial potential. We discuss elicitation strategies and green extraction, highlight bryophytes (e.g., Pseudocrossidium replicatum) as a differentiated chemical source, and explore citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) as a translational case study. We conclude that integrating stress physiology, multi-omics, and functional validation can accelerate the transition of stress-induced metabolites toward more sustainable and scalable medical and agricultural applications. Full article

Western Macedonia, the leading power-producing region in Greece, has long depended on thermoelectric plants and lignite mining. To reach climate neutrality by 2050, Greece is undergoing a delignitization process aiming to shut down all lignite plants. This structural reconstruction of the energy model will mainly affect society, the economy, the environment, and agriculture. Strengthening efforts to support lignite-dependent areas are essential for this transition. Bioeconomy could be one of the main pillars for the post-lignite era in the Western Macedonia Region (WMR). This paper explores the gender dimension in the adoption of bioeconomy practices and innovativeness among farmers in the Region of Western Macedonia. Based on 331 structured questionnaires and a Two-Step Cluster Analysis, the research identifies five farmer clusters and then correlates the clusters with Rogers’s theory of diffusion of innovations. The findings identify a dynamic group of young female farmers leading the diffusion of innovation, emphasizing their role in promoting sustainable agricultural transitions and the need for gender-responsive policies in regional bioeconomy strategies. Full article

Women play a key role in Greek olive cultivation, a sector at the heart of local economies currently facing increasing pressures from climate change. This study explores gender roles, responsibilities, and access to resources shaping the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices. Through in-depth interviews with female farmers on the island of Crete, the results show that women face limited access to training and financial services as well as gender-based discrimination and the hidden caregiving and house working tasks. However, they manifest a strong openness towards sustainable practices, driven by environmental values, even among those lacking decision-making authority. Despite these challenges, women show a positive attitude toward learning and innovation, calling for more institutional support and training opportunities. This study sheds light on the need for recognition of women’s roles in agriculture, particularly in the context of climate adaptation, and offers practical recommendations to improve gender roles within the olive sector. Full article