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15 pages, 2960 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Convergence of Farming Systems towards a Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in European Union Countries

by Rosa Maria Fanelli

Agronomy 2023, 13(5), 1263; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13051263 - 28 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1502

Abstract

This study investigates change in the intensification of agricultural activities and its effect on the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the 27 European Union (EU) Member States over a ten-year period from 2009 to 2019. Both multivariate and non-parametric convergence analyses were employed, [...] Read more.

This study investigates change in the intensification of agricultural activities and its effect on the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the 27 European Union (EU) Member States over a ten-year period from 2009 to 2019. Both multivariate and non-parametric convergence analyses were employed, using 27 indicators extrapolated from the FAO dataset. The results provide a reasonable assessment of the differences between countries in relation to their farming production methods and show that the levels of convergence/divergence depend on changes in agricultural activities over the past decade. Indeed, differences in land use, the application of organic fertilizers and pesticides, the raising of livestock, and GHG emissions allow “homogenous” groups of Member States with common features to be identified. It is important to understand the dynamics of different agriculture systems and production activities because, beneath management practices, there may be differences between systems. In particular, in the context of the Common Agricultural Policy 2023–2027, the results of grouping can act as the basis for a diversified policy for reducing GHG emissions in relation to specific clusters of EU countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Comparison of Sustainable Approaches in Conservation and Protected Agriculture: Asia, Latin America and Europe)

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16 pages, 2862 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Yield and Quality of Processing Tomato as Improved by Biostimulants Based on Trichoderma sp. and Ascophyllum nodosum and Biodegradable Mulching Films

by Ida Di Mola, Lucia Ottaiano, Eugenio Cozzolino, Roberta Marra, Stefania Vitale, Angela Pironti, Nunzio Fiorentino and Mauro Mori

Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 901; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030901 - 17 Mar 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2606

Abstract

Tomato is a great source of bioactive compounds, is important for human health, and is cultivated worldwide. However, the high inputs required for its cultivation must be sustainably managed in order to limit yield losses, thus obtaining high-quality and environmentally friendly production. In [...] Read more.

Tomato is a great source of bioactive compounds, is important for human health, and is cultivated worldwide. However, the high inputs required for its cultivation must be sustainably managed in order to limit yield losses, thus obtaining high-quality and environmentally friendly production. In this perspective, we compared four biostimulant treatments, i.e., Ascophyllum nodosum extract—Bio; microbial biostimulant containing the micro-organism Trichoderma afroharzianum—Mic; a combination of both—M-B; not treated—Control) and three mulch treatments (biodegradable film Ecovio—ECO; biodegradable film MaterBi^®—NOV; bare soil—BS) and evaluated their effects on yield and quality traits in processing tomato. Both biodegradable films elicited a 27.0% yield increase compared to plants grown on bare soil, and biostimulants determined a 23.7% increase over the Control, with the best performance recorded for M-B (+24.8%). Biodegradable MaterBi^® film (NOV) was associated with higher total soluble solids (TSS) and firmness values (average of 4.9 °Brix and 1.30 kg cm⁻², respectively), even if a significant effect of biostimulants was observed only for the second element. Carotenoid content was higher in non-treated plants grown on bare soil as well as hydrophilic antioxidant activity (AA), but in this case, no differences between biostimulant treatments were recorded. The lipophilic AA in NOV-treated plants was about six and four times higher than observed in BS and ECO treatments, respectively; NOV also caused a 38.7% increase in ascorbic acid content over the Control but was not different from ECO. All biostimulant treatments elicited a 30% increase in phenol content compared to Control plants. Our findings highlight that microbial biostimulants based on A. nodosum extract and T. afroharzianum (both applied singularly and combined) can be considered a sustainable tool for increasing yield and improve some quality traits of processing tomato; in addition, we also confirmed the capability of biodegradable mulches, in particular, MaterBi^®, to enhance the agronomic performance of tomato. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Comparison of Sustainable Approaches in Conservation and Protected Agriculture: Asia, Latin America and Europe)

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16 pages, 4412 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Wheat Yield Gap Assessment in Using the Comparative Performance Analysis (CPA)

by Kambiz Mootab Laleh, Majid Ghorbani Javid, Iraj Alahdadi, Elias Soltani, Saeid Soufizadeh and José Luis González-Andújar

Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 705; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030705 - 27 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2004

Abstract

One of the crucial issues in developing nations is diminishing the yield gaps. Therefore, accurate yield gap estimation has many real-world uses for increasing crop production. Utilizing comparative performance analysis (CPA) techniques, the yield gap of wheat fields was evaluated in this study. [...] Read more.

One of the crucial issues in developing nations is diminishing the yield gaps. Therefore, accurate yield gap estimation has many real-world uses for increasing crop production. Utilizing comparative performance analysis (CPA) techniques, the yield gap of wheat fields was evaluated in this study. In Varamin, Tehran Province, Iran, data on 104 wheat fields were collected between 2018 and 2020 and every aspect of wheat field management has been documented. The CPA model determines the yield gap’s contributing factors and potential yield. The results of data analysis revealed that the production ranged from 2600 to 7600 kg ha⁻¹. The CPA method predicted a potential yield of 9316 kg ha⁻¹ and found a yield gap of 3748 kg ha⁻¹; this amount was 40.23% of the potential yield. Leaf chlorophyll (29%), irrigation at stem extension (9%), LAI (7.7%), soil salinity (8.2%), field area (16.3%), phosphorus consumption (6%), nitrogen utilized at the stage of tillering (16%), and HI (7.8%) all contributed to the yield gap in the CPA. It has been said that the computed yield in CPA is a potential yield that can be reached. CPA is a cheap and straightforward tool that could identify yield gaps and their causes in a district without the need for costly experiments. Therefore, developing nations with significant efficiency and yield gaps can use these techniques effectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Comparison of Sustainable Approaches in Conservation and Protected Agriculture: Asia, Latin America and Europe)

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20 pages, 2302 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Reduced Tillage on Soil Enzyme Activity, Pests Pressure and Productivity of Organically Grown Spring Wheat Species

by Małgorzata Szczepanek, Anetta Siwik-Ziomek, Grzegorz Lemańczyk, Robert Lamparski and Radomir Graczyk

Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 287; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020287 - 17 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1945

Abstract

The possibility of using reduced tillage in organic farming is poorly recognized. The study aimed to assess the impact of the tillage method (shallow tillage and plowing) on soil biochemical activity, pest pressure, and grain yield of Triticum sphaerococcum, T. persicum, [...] Read more.

The possibility of using reduced tillage in organic farming is poorly recognized. The study aimed to assess the impact of the tillage method (shallow tillage and plowing) on soil biochemical activity, pest pressure, and grain yield of Triticum sphaerococcum, T. persicum, and T. aestivum ssp. vulgare, grown in organic farming systems. For this purpose, field experiments were conducted at three certified organic farms located in different regions of Poland. Enzyme activity was influenced to a greater extent by local soil and weather conditions compared to wheat species and the tillage method. Insect pests (Oulema spp.) slightly damaged the leaves of wheat, and the reduced tillage did not increase the damage. Under site conditions favorable for the development of diseases significantly fewer disease symptoms were observed in shallow tillage compared to plowing (powdery mildew by 9.6–46.1%; stripe rust by 15.5–89%; Septoria head blotch by 0–84.4%; Fusarium head blotch by 0–47.4%, Fusarium foot rot by 0–100%). T. aestivum was characterized by the highest yield and the yield stability in various locations and tillage methods. Ancient wheat species (T. sphaerococcum and T. persicum) had a higher yield in shallow tillage compared to plowing tillage (by 64% and 30%, respectively) only under effective weed control. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Comparison of Sustainable Approaches in Conservation and Protected Agriculture: Asia, Latin America and Europe)

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11 pages, 1057 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A New Fertilization Approach for Bread Wheat in the Mediterranean Environment: Effects on Yield and Grain Protein Content

by Fakir Mathlouthi, Roberto Ruggeri, Angelo Rossini and Francesco Rossini

Agronomy 2022, 12(9), 2152; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12092152 - 10 Sep 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2028

Abstract

Plant biostimulants represent an innovative and sustainable solution to address the challenges of the future agriculture, especially when they are used to improve yield and quality of staple crops. The objective of this research was to study, over three consecutive seasons, the effect [...] Read more.

Plant biostimulants represent an innovative and sustainable solution to address the challenges of the future agriculture, especially when they are used to improve yield and quality of staple crops. The objective of this research was to study, over three consecutive seasons, the effect of a novel fertilization plan (Thesis 2, T2) on the productivity and protein content of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), as compared to the traditional fertilization pattern (Thesis 1, T1), commonly used in Tunisia. T2 was based on the use of a pre-sowing soil bioenhancer (SBE, commercially known as ‘Terios’) and a topdressing with foliar bio-stimulant (FBS, commercially known as ‘Celerios’), obtained by nanotechnology transformation of Y-CaCO₃ minerals (called ‘vaterite’); while T1 was based on the use of diammonium phosphate (DAP) at pre-sowing and ammonium nitrate (AN) during the growing season. FBS was applied two times each season and at one rate (3 kg ha⁻¹). In each farm and experimental year, the following traits were recorded: plant height (cm), whole aerial biomass (t DM ha⁻¹), grain yield (t ha⁻¹, 13% moisture content), harvest index, grain weight (mg), spike density (number of spikes per m²), grain protein content (%). T2 protocol slightly, but significantly, increased yield, yield components and grain protein content, while it decreased plant height at harvest. These results suggest that the use of FBS could be of great interest for the cultivation of bread wheat under Mediterranean climatic conditions, as it can make plant nutrients rapidly available even when the uptake from the soil is hindered by water scarcity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Comparison of Sustainable Approaches in Conservation and Protected Agriculture: Asia, Latin America and Europe)

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14 pages, 2306 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Crop-Nitrogen Management Improves Tomato Yield and Root Architecture and Minimizes Soil Residual N

by Changqing Li, Yahao Li, Dongyu Cui, Yanmei Li, Guoyuan Zou, Rodney Thompson, Jiqing Wang and Jungang Yang

Agronomy 2022, 12(7), 1617; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12071617 - 5 Jul 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2159

Abstract

Sustainable intensification of protected vegetable crops entails increasing yield while reducing environmental impact and labor input. To explore a comprehensive strategy for high yielding, highly efficient and high quality production of greenhouse tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), an integrated crop-nitrogen management (ICNM) strategy [...] Read more.

Sustainable intensification of protected vegetable crops entails increasing yield while reducing environmental impact and labor input. To explore a comprehensive strategy for high yielding, highly efficient and high quality production of greenhouse tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), an integrated crop-nitrogen management (ICNM) strategy was compared to farmers’ traditional management (TM) in a field experiment in a solar greenhouse. A split-plot block design was used. The main factor was the management strategy of ICNM and TM. The secondary factor was four different basal fertilizer treatments, being a control (CK; 0 kg N ha⁻¹), carbon-based urea (BU; 100 kg N ha⁻¹), controlled release urea (CU; 100 kg N ha⁻¹), and conventional compound fertilizer (CF; 100 kg N ha⁻¹). An additional 200 kg N ha⁻¹ through drip irrigation as topdressing was used. Tomato fruit yield, N uptake, and N partial productivity with ICNM were significantly higher than with TM, increasing by 32.1%, 39.7%, and 31.1%, respectively. The proportion of fine roots was increased in ICNM, and the average diameter of roots decreased by 10.7% compared to TM. There was a significant negative correlation between mean root diameter and N uptake. In conclusion, the ICNM strategy was beneficial to form a good root system configuration, promote the development of shoot biological potential, increase tomato yield, maintain fruit quality, increase N uptake, and reduce environmental risks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Comparison of Sustainable Approaches in Conservation and Protected Agriculture: Asia, Latin America and Europe)

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14 pages, 3269 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Low Plant Density Improves Fruit Quality without Affecting Yield of Cucumber in Different Cultivation Periods in Greenhouse

by Xiaotao Ding, Wenfeng Nie, Tingting Qian, Lizhong He, Hongmei Zhang, Haijun Jin, Jiawei Cui, Hong Wang, Qiang Zhou and Jizhu Yu

Agronomy 2022, 12(6), 1441; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12061441 - 16 Jun 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3617

Abstract

With the development of the economy, the demand for cucumber quality is quickly increasing. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role that plant density plays in leaf photosynthesis, shoot dry matter distribution, yield and quality of cucumber in different cultivation [...] Read more.

With the development of the economy, the demand for cucumber quality is quickly increasing. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role that plant density plays in leaf photosynthesis, shoot dry matter distribution, yield and quality of cucumber in different cultivation periods under greenhouse conditions. Experimental treatments based on three plant density treatments (2.25, 3.0 and 3.75 plants m⁻²) were conducted in turn during three growth and harvest periods in a year. The results showed that the changes in photosynthesis and weekly yield per unit area were different and dependent on the harvest time, which was mainly induced by temperature and radiation. Interestingly, we found that reducing plant density did not significantly affect the photosynthesis of leaves and did not decrease weekly yield per unit area and total yield. Low-density treatment had the highest weekly yield per plant and total yield per plant in the three harvest periods, the highest ratio of dry matter being allocated to fruits and the highest contents of soluble sugar, total phenols, flavonoid, soluble protein, vitamin C (Vc), chlorophyll and carotenoids in fruits. Moreover, a relatively low nitrite content was found in fruits following low-density treatment. The study indicated that low-density treatment was associated with a high quality of fruits without reducing the cucumber’s total annual yield under natural light in the greenhouse. Hence, our study suggests that properly reducing cucumber plant density to 2.25 plants m⁻² could be a practicable approach for greenhouses in Shanghai, China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Comparison of Sustainable Approaches in Conservation and Protected Agriculture: Asia, Latin America and Europe)

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12 pages, 4854 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards Developing an Epidemic Monitoring and Warning System for Diseases and Pests of Hot Peppers in Guizhou, China

by Kaige Liu, Yumei Mu, Xiaohui Chen, Zhihuan Ding, Min Song, Dan Xing and Ming Li

Agronomy 2022, 12(5), 1034; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12051034 - 26 Apr 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2401

Abstract

Guizhou province is the largest area of hot pepper cultivation and processing in China. However, diseases and pests are major bottlenecks for the sustainable development of the industry. This study proposes a solution that combines intelligent monitoring equipment, a prediction model and decision [...] Read more.

Guizhou province is the largest area of hot pepper cultivation and processing in China. However, diseases and pests are major bottlenecks for the sustainable development of the industry. This study proposes a solution that combines intelligent monitoring equipment, a prediction model and decision support system for hot peppers, including a demonstration of the solution in Guizhou province. We scouted hot pepper diseases and pests in Zunyi city, and deployed weather stations and automatic pathogens and pest monitoring equipment. A prediction model was developed to forecast powdery mildew and anthracnose based on long short-term memory, with accuracy of 0.74 and 0.68, respectively. Using big data analysis and an app for pest outbreaks as the front desks, we developed an epidemic monitoring and warning system for hot peppers in Guizhou. The results could effectively serve grass-roots managers, increase productivity, reduce production costs and overall have a high demonstration effect. This concept could be extended to other crops to accelerate the process of agricultural modernization in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Comparison of Sustainable Approaches in Conservation and Protected Agriculture: Asia, Latin America and Europe)

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17 pages, 13105 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Streamlining Traceability Data Generation in Apple Production Using Integral Management with Machine-to-Machine Connections

by Jing Xie, Chunxu Wan, Alfredo Tolón Becerra and Ming Li

Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 921; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040921 - 12 Apr 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3126

Abstract

Legal requirements and consumer demands have motivated the development and application of traceability technology. Farming practices are the starting point of the agri-food supply chain and the destination of the agri-food traceability system (AFTS). The amount of resource information and the complexity of [...] Read more.

Legal requirements and consumer demands have motivated the development and application of traceability technology. Farming practices are the starting point of the agri-food supply chain and the destination of the agri-food traceability system (AFTS). The amount of resource information and the complexity of the production process of agri-food become the main obstacles to the wide application of AFTS. This study introduces an integrated machine-to-machine system that allows collecting field operation information automatically. This system includes an IoT-based integrated hardware system, a smart farm cloud (SFC) platform, and a mobile application, which accomplished the collection, upload, and storage of operation information. This system had been used in “BSD” organic apple orchard in Qixia, Shandong Province, China for about one year. The effectiveness of the system was evaluated by managing 270 apple trees in one plot of the orchard. Finally, a label with a QR code was successfully generated to provide consumers to query traceability information from a single tree to a fruit tray. This work was a background of a blockchain traceability system. Moreover, the future extendibility of the system was also discussed and prospected. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Comparison of Sustainable Approaches in Conservation and Protected Agriculture: Asia, Latin America and Europe)

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16 pages, 297 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transforming the Farmer into a Rural Entrepreneur as a Path to Sustainability

by Antonio Bliska Júnior and Flávia Maria de Mello Bliska

Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 898; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040898 - 8 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1920

Abstract

This work presents a tool to support the transformation of the farmer into a rural entrepreneur, raising the level of management of his company and increasing its competitiveness and sustainability in the long term, enabling its growth and not just its survival, but [...] Read more.

This work presents a tool to support the transformation of the farmer into a rural entrepreneur, raising the level of management of his company and increasing its competitiveness and sustainability in the long term, enabling its growth and not just its survival, but respecting social and environmental factors that permeate agricultural production. This tool, the Management Degree Identification Method—MIGG, will be able to support the elaboration of public policies for the agricultural segment and improve the service provided to rural entrepreneurs by rural extension and scientific and technological research areas. This tool emphasizes the creation and implementation of mechanisms for greater transparency, professionalization and sustainability in agriculture in different geographic regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Comparison of Sustainable Approaches in Conservation and Protected Agriculture: Asia, Latin America and Europe)

12 pages, 2361 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Indicators in a Human Liver Cell Line HL-7702 for Tetracycline Toxicity in Farm Soil

by Di Liu, Rukhsanda Aziz, Md. Jahidul Islam Shohag, Lingli Lu, Yuyan Wang, Ying Feng, Tingqiang Li, Mei Wang, Shengke Tian, Xiaoe Yang, Siyu Chen, Mingguang Tu and Zhiqiang Wang

Agronomy 2022, 12(3), 730; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12030730 - 17 Mar 2022

Viewed by 2524

Abstract

Tetracycline (TC) contamination has become hot research topic, but little attention has been paid to its ecotoxicological monitoring. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the impact of TC on human normal liver cells (HL-7702) and find indicators for monitoring their [...] Read more.

Tetracycline (TC) contamination has become hot research topic, but little attention has been paid to its ecotoxicological monitoring. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the impact of TC on human normal liver cells (HL-7702) and find indicators for monitoring their ecotoxicity. The cytotoxicity of TC, at concentrations ranging from 0 to 1000 μg L⁻¹, was assessed on HL-7702 cells. The results showed that TC significantly inhibited the cell viability at a high concentration (1000 μg L⁻¹). The TC at exposure levels ≥ 50–100 μg L⁻¹ significantly increased the levels of extracellular catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST), and a significantly positive correlation between the TC concentrations and the values of the above parameters was observed. Swelling of the mitochondrial cristae (MC) and rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and the loss of ribosomes in HL-7702 cells, were observed at high TC levels. There was a positive correlation between soil TC concentration and ALT activities. The above results suggest that TC is cytotoxic to HL-7702 cells and that extracellular ALT activities can be used as a sensitive bioindicator for monitoring soil TC contamination. We, therefore, propose that the HL-7702 cell line can be a novel tool for early antibiotics toxicity monitoring. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Comparison of Sustainable Approaches in Conservation and Protected Agriculture: Asia, Latin America and Europe)

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17 pages, 3372 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interactions between Diffuse Light and Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Canopy Structure, Simulations of Light Interception in Virtual Canopies

by Yingyu Zhang, Juan Yang, Marinus van Haaften, Linyi Li, Shenglian Lu, Weiliang Wen, Xiuguo Zheng, Jian Pan and Tingting Qian

Agronomy 2022, 12(3), 602; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12030602 - 28 Feb 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3749

Abstract

Plant photosynthesis and biomass production are associated with the amount of intercepted light, especially the light distribution inside the canopy. Three virtual canopies (n = 80, 3.25 plants/m²) were constructed based on average leaf size of the digitized plant structures: ‘small [...] Read more.

Plant photosynthesis and biomass production are associated with the amount of intercepted light, especially the light distribution inside the canopy. Three virtual canopies (n = 80, 3.25 plants/m²) were constructed based on average leaf size of the digitized plant structures: ‘small leaf’ (98.1 cm²), ‘medium leaf’ (163.0 cm²) and ‘big leaf’ (241.6 cm²). The ratios of diffuse light were set in three gradients (27.8%, 48.7%, 89.6%). The simulations of light interception were conducted under different ratios of diffuse light, before and after the normalization of incident radiation. With 226.1% more diffuse light, the result of light interception could increase by 34.4%. However, the 56.8% of reduced radiation caused by the increased proportion of diffuse light inhibited the advantage of diffuse light in terms of a 26.8% reduction in light interception. The big-leaf canopy had more mutual shading effects, but its larger leaf area intercepted 56.2% more light than the small-leaf canopy under the same light conditions. The small-leaf canopy showed higher efficiency in light penetration and higher light interception per unit of leaf area. The study implied the 3D structural model, an effective tool for quantitative analysis of the interaction between light and plant canopy structure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Comparison of Sustainable Approaches in Conservation and Protected Agriculture: Asia, Latin America and Europe)

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14 pages, 2672 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of an Occurrence Prediction Model for Cucumber Downy Mildew in Solar Greenhouses Based on Long Short-Term Memory Neural Network

by Kaige Liu, Chunhao Zhang, Xinting Yang, Ming Diao, Huiying Liu and Ming Li

Agronomy 2022, 12(2), 442; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12020442 - 10 Feb 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2520

Abstract

The occurrence of cucumber downy mildew in solar greenhouses directly affects the yield and quality of cucumber. Chemical control methods may cause excessive pesticide residues, endanger food quality and safety, pollute the ecological environment, etc. Therefore, it is very important to predict the [...] Read more.

The occurrence of cucumber downy mildew in solar greenhouses directly affects the yield and quality of cucumber. Chemical control methods may cause excessive pesticide residues, endanger food quality and safety, pollute the ecological environment, etc. Therefore, it is very important to predict the disease before its occurrence. To provide farmers with better and effective guidance for the prevention and control work, minimize the loss of disease damage, this article took cucumber ‘Lyujingling No. 2′ as the experimental material and acquired greenhouse environmental factors data by wireless sensors, including Temp (Temperature), RH (Relative Humidity), ST (Soil Temperature) and SR (Solar Radiation). LSTM (Long Short-Term Memory) neural network structure was constructed based on Keras deep learning framework to develop a prediction model with time-series environmental factors. Combined with the occurrence of downy mildew from manual investigation and statistics, through debugging the parameters, this article developed an occurrence prediction model for cucumber downy mildew and compared it with KNN (K-Nearest Neighbors Classification) and ANN (Artificial Neural Network). In the prediction model, the forecasted results of the four environmental factors were consistent with the true value distributions, and R² (R-Squared) were all above 0.95. Among them, the ST variable predicted the best results, e.g., R² = 0.9982, RMSE (Root Mean Square Error) = 0.08 °C, and MAE (Mean Absolute Error) = 0.05 °C. In the disease occurrence prediction model, the training accuracy was 95.99%, the Loss value was 0.0159, the disease occurrence prediction Accuracy was 90%, Precision was 94%, Recall was 89%, F₁-score was 91%, the AUC (Area Under Curve) value was 90.15%, and Kappa coefficient was 0.80. It also had obvious advantages over other different models. In summary, the model had a high classification accuracy and performance, and it can provide a reference for the occurrence prediction of cucumber downy mildew in actual production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Comparison of Sustainable Approaches in Conservation and Protected Agriculture: Asia, Latin America and Europe)

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12 pages, 1710 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soil Sustainability: Analysis of the Soil Compaction under Heavy Agricultural Machinery Traffic in Extensive Crops

by Guido Fernando Botta, Gustavo Fabian Nardon and Rafael Guirado Clavijo

Agronomy 2022, 12(2), 282; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12020282 - 22 Jan 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3175

Abstract

Crop establishment depends mostly on the soil preparation and sowing methods used. Our main goal was to evaluate soil compaction and its effects on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) yields and seedling emergence with two different tillage [...] Read more.

Crop establishment depends mostly on the soil preparation and sowing methods used. Our main goal was to evaluate soil compaction and its effects on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) yields and seedling emergence with two different tillage methods: no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT). The study was done in the Western Pampas Region during three cropping seasons. The soil of the study site is a Mollisol. The variables measured were: (1) cone index (CI), (2) dry bulk density (DBD), (3) seedling emergence (SE), and (4) crops yield (CY). For both crops, seedling emergence was slower in NT than in CT, but results were similar 22 days after sowing. After 3 years, the results show that in NT the DBD and CI reached values of 1653 kg m⁻³ and 3210 kPa, respectively (between 275 and 300 mm). While in CT the values of DBD and CI reached were 1540 kg m⁻³ and 2300 kPa respectively at the same depth. The highest yields were found in CT (3.31 and 4.10 tons/ha⁻¹, for soybean and wheat, respectively) compared to NT (2.91 and 3.53 tons/ha⁻¹). Topsoil horizon has to be tilled to improve crop yields. In spite of the high number of equipment passes in CT, both tillage systems caused subsoil compaction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Comparison of Sustainable Approaches in Conservation and Protected Agriculture: Asia, Latin America and Europe)

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13 pages, 2628 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Arsenic and Cadmium Accumulation in Soil as Affected by Continuous Organic Fertilizer Application: Implications for Clean Production

by Na Sun, Rodney B. Thompson, Junxiang Xu, Shangqiang Liao, Linna Suo, Yutao Peng, Qing Chen, Jungang Yang, Yanmei Li, Guoyuan Zou and Yanxin Sun

Agronomy 2021, 11(11), 2272; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11112272 - 10 Nov 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2820

Abstract

As and Cd in soil can be assimilated and accumulated by vegetables and can be subsequently ingested by humans. Contradictory effects of organic fertilizer application on As and Cd accumulation in soil have been reported in previous studies. An eight-year greenhouse study was [...] Read more.

As and Cd in soil can be assimilated and accumulated by vegetables and can be subsequently ingested by humans. Contradictory effects of organic fertilizer application on As and Cd accumulation in soil have been reported in previous studies. An eight-year greenhouse study was conducted on a sandy loam soil in Beijing, China to investigate the effects of organic fertilizer application rate on soil properties, and As and Cd accumulation in soil. The contamination risk of pak choi grown after eight years’ application of organic fertilizer was also evaluated. Soil organic carbon increased 3.0–3.8 times with low, medium and high rates of fertilizer application in 2018 compared to the initial soil. Organic fertilizer application significantly increased soil nutrients and microbial biomass while it mildly affected soil pH. The bioavailability of As/Cd has decreased after eight years’ application of organic fertilizer. Pak choi crop harvested from all three treatments in 2018 did not pose a threat to human health, even for life-time consumption. Soil total As content significantly decreased with organic fertilizer application, mainly due to the lower As content in the applied fertilizer than that in soil. Continuous application of clean organic fertilizer can be adopted to reduce the contamination risk of highly contaminated soil in the soil–plant system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Comparison of Sustainable Approaches in Conservation and Protected Agriculture: Asia, Latin America and Europe)

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Review

Jump to: Research

13 pages, 294 KiB

Open AccessReview

Almeria’s Green Pest Management Revolution: An Opportunity That Arose from a Food Safety Alert

by Miguel M. Acebedo, Fernando Diánez and Mila Santos

Agronomy 2022, 12(3), 619; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12030619 - 2 Mar 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3363

Abstract

Almería, a province of Spain, is the leader in horticultural production on a Spanish and European scale. The specific conditions of greenhouse cultivation favor plant development, but also the proliferation of pests. This high incidence of pests was controlled in the past mainly [...] Read more.

Almería, a province of Spain, is the leader in horticultural production on a Spanish and European scale. The specific conditions of greenhouse cultivation favor plant development, but also the proliferation of pests. This high incidence of pests was controlled in the past mainly by means of chemical phytosanitary treatments. The aim of the present work has been to analyze the tools facilitated by the Andalusian Government (Junta de Andalucía) to replace the usual pest management process, taking advantage of the context of the food safety alert arising from the detection of isophenphos-methyl in peppers from the province of Almeria in December 2007. The results illustrate that, unlike many programs of public subsidies which involve long-term expenditure, the aid in question took advantage of the socioeconomic situation following the food safety alert. The program led to substantial economic savings and met its objectives swiftly, achieving excellent results in terms of removing most of the pesticides used in the “conventional production system”. In the 2006–2007 season, only 515 hectares in Almería used biological control organisms, four years later, it reached 20,081 hectares, and the average area during the last ten years was 24,953 hectares. This shows that Almeria’s green pest management revolution had been consolidated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Comparison of Sustainable Approaches in Conservation and Protected Agriculture: Asia, Latin America and Europe)

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Comparison of Sustainable Approaches in Conservation and Protected Agriculture: Asia, Latin America and Europe

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