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Agronomy
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Innovations for Sustainable Crop Production in the Mediterranean Region
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Innovations for Sustainable Crop Production in the Mediterranean Region

A topical collection in Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This collection belongs to the section "Horticultural and Floricultural Crops".

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Editors

Dr. Leo Sabatino

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 5, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Interests: vegetable production; vegetable grafting; soilless cultivation; nutritional and nutraceutical vegetable fruit quality linked to cultivation conditions and practices; biofortification of leafy and fruiting vegetable crops, propagation of ornamental plants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Giuseppe Di Miceli

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 5, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Interests: forage crops; fodder; grain legumes; sustainable systems; biodiversity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Beppe Benedetto Consentino

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 5, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Interests: biostimulants; biofortification; vegetables; soilless culture; vegetable grafting
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues,

The current Collection of Agronomy is devoted to the complex topic of pioneering and sustainable agriculture practices for securing crop yield and quality under favorable, sub- or supra-optimal and unfavorable growing conditions in the context of the Mediterranean environment. Contamination resulting from anthropogenic actions, such as industrialization, urbanization, and agriculture have substantially changed the Mediterranean climate by increasing the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. It is well known that by 2050 the negative effects of climate change on agriculture will cause an increase in world hunger by 30%. Agriculture is an economic sector of high importance, as it can meet the food needs of a growing world population and generate income. However, the application of high-input agricultural techniques in recent decades has caused a decline in soil fertility, increased land desertification, reduced the world's water resources, and contributed to the loss of biodiversity. By using unsustainable non-renewable energy resources, agriculture not only contributes to climate change but is also vulnerable to its effects. Therefore, innovations in production methods are needed to increase the sustainability of agricultural production. The goal of the current Topical Collection is to define the research state of the art in terms of environmental impacts in agriculture and to promote possible innovations to increase the sustainability of agricultural products. The Topical Collection will focus on tree fruits, field crops and greenhouse horticulture, medicinal plants and industrial crops, pathogen plant protection, and innovative approaches for agricultural water management in a climate change scenario.

In the current Topical Collection, we invite researchers and experts to contribute original research and opinions on sustainable greenhouse production systems for vegetable crops. Basic and applied research on climate change, biodiversity, Mediterranean food production, and enhancement of water resources and food safety are accepted. Contributions on economic aspects, sustainable crop production and consumption models, and emerging and re-emerging plant diseases in the context of climate change are also welcomed.

Dr. Leo Sabatino
Dr. Giuseppe Di Miceli
Dr. Beppe Consentino
Collection 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 collection website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

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

Published Papers (6 papers)

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2024

28 pages, 1166 KiB  
Review
Processing Tomato and Potato Response to Biostimulant Application in Open Field: An Overview
by Marco Francesco Golin, Vittoria Giannini, Marco Bagarello, Wendy Carolina Vernaza Cartagena, Maria Giordano and Carmelo Maucieri
Agronomy 2024, 14(11), 2699; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14112699 - 16 Nov 2024
Viewed by 489
Abstract
Biostimulants include a wide array of microorganisms and substances that can exert beneficial effects on plant development and growth, often enhancing nutrient uptake and improving tolerance against abiotic and biotic stress. Depending on their composition and time of application, these products can influence [...] Read more.
Biostimulants include a wide array of microorganisms and substances that can exert beneficial effects on plant development and growth, often enhancing nutrient uptake and improving tolerance against abiotic and biotic stress. Depending on their composition and time of application, these products can influence plant physiology directly as growth regulators or indirectly through environmental condition changes in the rhizosphere, such as nutrient and water availability. This review evaluated 48 case studies from 39 papers to summarize the effects of biostimulant application on fruit and tuber yields and on the quality of processing tomato and potato in open field conditions. For potato, PGPR bacteria were the main studied biostimulant, whereas the low number of studies on processing tomato did not permit us to delineate a trend. The yield and quality were greatly influenced by cultivars and biostimulant composition, application method, period, and dose. For processing tomato, a positive effect of the biostimulant application on the marketable yield was reported in 79% of the case studies, whereas for potato, the effect was reported in only 47%. Few studies, on processing tomato and potato, also reported data for quality parameters with contrasting results. The variability of crop response to biostimulant application in open field conditions highlights the need for more comprehensive studies. Such studies should focus on diverse cultivars, deeply understand the interaction of biostimulant application with agronomic management (e.g., irrigation and fertilization), and evaluate yield and quality parameters. This approach is crucial to fully understand the potential and limitations of biostimulant applications in agriculture, particularly regarding their role in sustainable crop production. Full article
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20 pages, 3631 KiB  
Article
Yield Response and Leaf Gas Exchange of Sicilian Wheat Landraces
by Sebastiano Andrea Corinzia, Paolo Caruso, Alessio Scandurra, Umberto Anastasi, Salvatore Luciano Cosentino and Giorgio Testa
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 1038; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14051038 - 13 May 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1095
Abstract
Wheat landraces are traditional varieties that have evolved over generations in response to local environments and farming practices and therefore exhibit remarkable adaptability to challenging climatic conditions and low-input farming systems. While the suitability of Mediterranean landraces to non-optimal climatic conditions during anthesis [...] Read more.
Wheat landraces are traditional varieties that have evolved over generations in response to local environments and farming practices and therefore exhibit remarkable adaptability to challenging climatic conditions and low-input farming systems. While the suitability of Mediterranean landraces to non-optimal climatic conditions during anthesis and grain ripening stage have been previously assessed, the role of photosynthesis efficiency and stomatal control on this resilience remains unexplored. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between grain yield and the post-anthesis flag leaf gas exchanges of Sicilian wheat landraces under irrigated and rainfed conditions and to compare these traits to modern durum (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum) and bread wheat (T. aestivum) varieties. Results indicate that wheat landraces respond to water availability similarly to modern varieties, reducing stomatal conductance by 26.8% and net photosynthesis by 18.1% under rainfed conditions, resulting in 10.6% lower grain yield compared to irrigated conditions. However, some landraces demonstrate comparable or even higher flag leaf net photosynthesis rates and lower transpiration levels, leading to higher yields in both rainfed and irrigated conditions, confirming their value as a source of gene pool for wheat breeding programs in drought-prone Mediterranean regions. Full article
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18 pages, 3113 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Yield and Quality of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) Fruits Improved by Biodegradable Mulching Film in Two Different Regions of Southern Italy
by Giuseppe Di Miceli, Nicolò Iacuzzi, Claudio Leto, Eugenio Cozzolino, Ida Di Mola, Lucia Ottaiano, Mauro Mori and Salvatore La Bella
Agronomy 2024, 14(4), 867; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14040867 - 20 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1884
Abstract
Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) mulching films have an important function in crop cultivation; at the end of their life, however, their removal and disposal become both an economic and environmental problem. One possible alternative to low-density polyethylene (LDPE) mulch is provided by certified soil-biodegradable [...] Read more.
Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) mulching films have an important function in crop cultivation; at the end of their life, however, their removal and disposal become both an economic and environmental problem. One possible alternative to low-density polyethylene (LDPE) mulch is provided by certified soil-biodegradable mulch films, such as those produced by Novamont and commercially available under the trade name MaterBi®. MaterBi is a biodegradable thermoplastic material made with starch and a biodegradable copolyester based on proprietary technology. In this study, we compared two biodegradable MaterBi®-based films (commercial and experimental films) with bare soil and a low-density polyethylene to evaluate their effect on yield and on a number of qualitative characteristics (organoleptic and nutraceutical composition) of eggplant fruits (cv Mirabelle F1) grown in two different regions in Southern Italy (Sicily and Campania). In our study, the use of biodegradable MaterBi® films improved not only yield and production parameters, such as the number and average weight of fruits, but also lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidant activity and phenolic and ascorbic acid content. For many parameters, responses differed according to the cultivation environment and, in particular, the site’s pedoclimatic conditions. Our results suggest that biodegradable MaterBi®-based mulching films are a potentially valid alternative to traditional LDPEs, providing the production and quality benefits reported above and promoting environmental sustainability, thanks to their positive biodegradable properties. Full article
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13 pages, 1050 KiB  
Article
Mixtures of Forage Species as Pasture for Dairy Ewes in a Mediterranean Environment
by Giuseppe Di Miceli, Marialetizia Ponte, Lucia Dinolfo, Giuseppe Maniaci, Marianna Pipi, Riccardo Gannuscio, Simona Prestigiacomo, Adriana Bonanno and Antonino Di Grigoli
Agronomy 2024, 14(2), 393; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14020393 - 18 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1169
Abstract
In Sicilian forage systems, the introduction of native self-seeding annual legumes can be beneficial in low-input farming. Intercropping would be a valuable strategy for implementing pasture resources in Sicilian forage systems during late spring. The aim of this study was to evaluate the [...] Read more.
In Sicilian forage systems, the introduction of native self-seeding annual legumes can be beneficial in low-input farming. Intercropping would be a valuable strategy for implementing pasture resources in Sicilian forage systems during late spring. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects on ewes’ milk production of continuous grazing with two different mixtures (i) sulla (Sulla coronarium L.), burr medic (Medicago polymorpha L.), and chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) (SuBuCh); and (ii) barrel medic (Medicago truncatula Gaertn.), snail medic (Medicago scutellata L.), and burr medic (BuSnBa). Twenty lactating ewes were homogeneously divided into four groups of five ewes. Each group was assigned to one of four 1500 m2 grazing sectors consisting of two replicates of SuBuCh and BuSnBa. Ewes fed with the SuBuCh mixture showed higher milk yield, higher protein (5.17 vs. 4.85%, p < 0.001) and casein content (4.02 vs. 3.73%, p < 0.001), lower urea content (37.70 vs. 45.38 mg dL−1, p < 0.001), and better clotting parameters compared to ewes grazing on the BuSnBa mixture. Finally, ewes in the SuBuCh group showed a smaller decrease in live weight at the end of the grazing period compared to BuSnBa ewes (−2.05 vs. −3.55 kg, respectively), although the difference did not reach a significant level. These preliminary one-year results seem to highlight the promising role of SuBuCh intercrop leading to a potential quantitative/qualitative improvement in grazing resources and the productive performance of grazing ewes in a semi-arid Mediterranean environment. However, it is of note that these outcomes might undergo variations when subjected to a prolonged trial extending beyond three years. Full article
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14 pages, 523 KiB  
Article
Assessing Salinity Tolerance and Fruit Quality of Pepper Landraces
by Theodora Ntanasi, Dimitrios Savvas, Ioannis Karavidas, Evgenia Anna Papadopoulou, Naem Mazahrirh, Vasileios Fotopoulos, Konstantinos A. Aliferis, Leo Sabatino and Georgia Ntatsi
Agronomy 2024, 14(2), 309; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14020309 - 31 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1841
Abstract
Soil salinity caused by climate change is a major global issue, especially in regions like the Mediterranean basin. Most commercially cultivated horticultural species, including pepper, are considered to be salt sensitive. However, some underutilized genotypes exhibit high adaptability to adverse environmental conditions, without [...] Read more.
Soil salinity caused by climate change is a major global issue, especially in regions like the Mediterranean basin. Most commercially cultivated horticultural species, including pepper, are considered to be salt sensitive. However, some underutilized genotypes exhibit high adaptability to adverse environmental conditions, without compromising yield. This study aimed to investigate the effects of salinity stress on the yield, nutrition, and fruit quality of four pepper landraces: JO 109 (Capsicum annuum var. grossum), JO 204 (Capsicum annuum var. grossum), JO 207 (Capsicum annuum var. grossum), and ‘Florinis’. The California cultivar ‘Yolo Wonder’ and the commercial F1 hybrid ‘Sammy RZ‘ were used as controls. The experiment was conducted in the greenhouse facilities of the Laboratory of Vegetable Production at the Agricultural University of Athens. Half of the plants were exposed to a nutrient solution containing NaCl at a concentration that could maintain the NaCl level in the rhizosphere at 30 mM (salt-treated plants), while the remaining plants were irrigated with a nutrient solution containing 0.5 mM NaCl (control plants). Yield and yield quality attributes, such as firmness, titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids content (TSSC), fruit height, and diameter were recorded. The results revealed that the landraces were more tolerant to salinity than the commercial varieties ‘Yolo Wonder’ and ‘Sammy RZ’. Moreover, subjecting pepper plants to increased salinity resulted in increased fruit quality, manifested by an increase in TSSC and TA. Full article
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12 pages, 322 KiB  
Article
Biostimulants Improve Plant Performance of Rosemary Growth in Agricultural Organic System
by Davide Farruggia, Noemi Tortorici, Nicolò Iacuzzi, Federica Alaimo, Claudio Leto and Teresa Tuttolomondo
Agronomy 2024, 14(1), 158; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14010158 - 10 Jan 2024
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2063
Abstract
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is an evergreen and a xerophytic shrub that is frequently employed in culinary, decorative, and industrial applications. It shows significant variations in biomass and essential oil (EO) yield due to effects of biotic and abiotic factors. Biostimulants are [...] Read more.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is an evergreen and a xerophytic shrub that is frequently employed in culinary, decorative, and industrial applications. It shows significant variations in biomass and essential oil (EO) yield due to effects of biotic and abiotic factors. Biostimulants are widely used in agriculture, and in organic agricultural systems, they may contribute significantly to the stability and/or to the increase in crop yields, ensuring respect for the environment. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of different types of biostimulants on the yield performance of rosemary. Four commercial formulations of biostimulants based on Eklonia maxima, Ascophyllum nodosum, fulvic acids, and protein hydrolysates were used for the tests. Water was used as a control. Six applications were performed. At harvest, several morphological and productive parameters were determined. All parameters were affected by biostimulant application. The highest fresh and dry yields were obtained with the application of fulvic acids (13.1 t ha−1 of fresh biomass and 4.3 t ha−1 of dry biomass) and protein hydrolysates (13.6 t ha−1 of fresh biomass and 4.4 t ha−1 of dry biomass) with values 60% higher than that of the control. Regarding the EO content in the dry biomass, the highest value (1.72% v/w) was found in control plants, whilst the lowest (1.14%) was observed in plants treated with fulvic acids. In the case of the EO yield, the lowest value (46.5 kg ha−1) per unit area was found in the control. The application of Eklonia maxima and protein hydrolysates produced the highest EO yield values, 65 kg ha−1 and 66.5 kg ha−1, respectively. This study highlights the use of biostimulants to increase the yield performance of rosemary when grown in an organic agricultural system. Full article
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