ABSTRACT This study aimed to assess the effects of cultivation system (organic and conventional) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) treatments on quality characteristics and bioactive compounds of tomato fruit (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Şencan 9) stored in cold storage conditions, at 8°C ± 0.5°C and 90% ± 5% relative humidity, for 21 days. At the end of the cold storage period, lower weight loss

ABSTRACT The common use of peat as a growing medium for plant production is questioned due to the negative effects on the environment and climate. Therefore, it is of great importance to find substitutes for peat with similar positive properties that have made peat one of the most important substrates in the horticultural sector. Production of biogas from organic residues is a valuable process, producing

ABSTRACT The present study investigated the effects of applying organic amendments and biodynamic preparations on phenological attributes, fruit set, fruit drop, yield and quality of Khasi mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata Blanco). There were eleven treatments; T1: farmyard manure (FYM); T2: vermicompost (VC); T3: pig manure (PIM); T4: poultry manure (POM); T5: neem cake (NC); T6: FYM + cow pat pit

ABSTRACT In organic production of potatoes for processing into starch, it is essential to obtain high and stable starch yields, as determined by the yield of tubers and the content of starch in the tubers. The stability of these traits in potato varieties is especially important in variable environments affected by soil properties and climatic conditions. Pre-sprouting of the seed tubers before planting

ABSTRACT Ecological intensification of agroecosystems on marginal land through cultivation of perennial wheat may provide greater belowground biomass than cultivation of annual wheat, and thus improve soil organic carbon (SOC) and consequently benefit soil microbial activity. However, little is known about how organically managed hybridised perennial wheat (Triticum aestivum L. × Thinopyrum spp.) stimulates

ABSTRACT Alternatives to pesticides to control the rosy apple aphid, Dysaphis plantaginea, are being developed. Natural enemies usually arrive too late after the first aphid infestation to provide effective control. This study tested the effects of mass release of two parasitoid species, Aphidius matricariae and Ephedrus cerasicola, on the numbers of aphid colonies and aphids per tree. In a trial undertaken

ABSTRACT The decay curves of the delayed luminescence of egg yolks after excitation with white, yellow and blue light were investigated, using fluorescence excitation spectroscopy (FES), and the relationships to the origin of the eggs were examined. FES measurements were done by exciting the sample with light of defined wavelengths, representing the colours white (w), blue (bl) and yellow (ye), and

ABSTRACT Plant nutrient deficiencies can reduce crop development and yields and can be especially problematic in high-yielding intensive crop production systems and when organic materials are used as the only source of nutrients. Aqueous extracts used in organic agriculture, such as compost – or vermicompost-tea, often have deficiencies in macro-nutrients and ionic imbalances. However, when organic

ABSTRACT This study investigated effects of disinfection treatments and storage conditions on the nutrient quality characteristics of tomatoes harvested and transported under typical commercial conditions in South Africa. The experimental treatments included harvest of tomatoes in two seasons, three maturity stages, three transportation conditions (varying distances and road surface profiles), four

ABSTRACT Agronomic and chemical parameters of chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) with respect to the effects of different rates of fertiliser and of net shading were evaluated in a plantation that was in the fifth and sixth year of cultivation. Two commercial organic fertilisers, Fertor and Siforga, were applied at four rates (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 t ha−1), and shading was applied with two types of green

ABSTRACT Cornflower (Cyanus segetum Hill) used to be very frequent and abundant in winter wheat a few decades ago, but because of agricultural intensification it is now an insignificant weed, even classified as endangered in Western Europe. However, cornflower produces nectar that is a resource for pollinators and crop pest predators and parasitoids. To gain benefit from this resource, it is necessary

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the productivity and nutrient concentrations of organic cherry tomatoes and leguminous green manures grown in intercropping systems in rotation with maize. The experimental design was a complete randomised block design with five replications and eight treatments, as follows: monocrop of cherry tomato adding residual maize crop residue (straw) as a mulch (control), monocrop

ABSTRACT Soil carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were determined and the soil structure evaluated for four annual courses in a rotation (Year 1, fattening, non-nose-ringed pigs at a stocking density of one pig produced per 150–200 m2 depending on seasonal conditions; Years 2 and 3, spring wheat; Year 4, reseeded grass-clover) for organically accredited pig production on a shallow calcareous

ABSTRACT The effects of two factors that determine the quality and quantity of saffron yields, i.e. organic fertilisers, including i) humic acid (Humax®), ii) organic-mineral emulsion (Omic®), iii) cow manure, and iv) unfertilised control, and mother-corm weight (using corms of 0.1–4 g, 4.1–8 g and 8.1–12 g) were investigated by measuring yield-related traits of saffron in 2 years. In the first year

ABSTRACT Plant residues are often composted prior to use as organic amendments or fertilisers, but in this study a new approach, referred here to as greenponics, was evaluated, using undecomposed plant biomass as the growing substrate and fertiliser. Cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) cv. Perinha Água Branca, were grown in 8 L pots filled with 600 g of air-dried bahia-grass clippings (Paspalum

ABSTRACT An on-vineyard approach was used to investigate effects of the biodynamic preparations horn manure and horn silica (BD) on the soil structure in five vineyards on different bedrocks and that had been under organic management for different time periods. The underlying hypothesis was that the effects of the biodynamic preparations increase aggregate stability and improve soil structure. The

ABSTRACT In sub-Saharan Africa, the high cost of synthetic fertilisers and the need to produce higher quality crops have necessitated research on alternative nutrient inputs. The effects of soil amendments with poultry manure + Tithonia diversifolia compost at 10, 20, 30 t ha−1 (PMC10, PMC20, PMC30), cow dung + T. diversifolia compost at 10, 20, and 30 t ha−1 (CDC10, CDC20, CDC30) poultry manure (PM)

ABSTRACT Litterfall production, decomposition and nutrient release was investigated for three prominent agroforestry tree species, Prosopis cineraria, Tecomella undulata and Hardwickia binata, grown in the arid western region of India. The highest litterfall was recorded for H. binata (9.44 Mg ha−l y−1) followed by P. cineraria (8.94 Mg ha−l y−1) and T. undulata (3.74 Mg ha−l y−1). It took 15, 12 and

ABSTRACT Controversial issues have been raised regarding the use of plastic mulches, as they can have a destructive effect on agricultural production systems and because of the reliance on fossil fuels for the manufacturing. Investigating the use of organic materials as alternatives to black plastic mulch is thus crucial to enhance both the productivity and the sustainability of agricultural systems

ABSTRACT The production of healthy food in a sustainable manner is a major challenge for agriculture. Pot experiments were conducted in an open field during the rainy season in 2017 and 2018 to study the effects of the application of composted leaves of Tithonia diversifolia (T) and organo-biodegradable (OBD+) formulated fertiliser on growth, yield and concentrations of minerals and bioactive compounds

ABSTRACT For reasons of aspired naturalness and cost reduction, vitamin additions should be kept low in organic livestock systems. To define safe lower threshold levels of riboflavin supplementation in organic poultry feeding, 135 hybrid layers were allocated to three dietary treatments supplemented with either 4.5 (R4.5), 3.0 (R3.0) or 1.5 mg (R1.5) GMO-free riboflavin added per kg feed. This resulted

ABSTRACT Given the need to minimise the environmental impact of synthetic agrochemicals in agroecosystems and to increase the sustainability of production systems, it is necessary to identify alternative methods for weed management and crop protection. Regular pruning of evergreen trees, including Ficus retusa L., can provide large quantities of leaf litter and this study aimed to evaluate the use

ABSTRACT The present study investigated the effects of ozone and salicylic acid (SA) on storage life and quality of parsley. Parsley bunches were subjected to three treatments: immersion in SA solutions (1 and 2 mM), immersion in distilled water (control) and exposure to gaseous ozone (2.14 mg m−3) after dipping into distilled water. Treated bunches were stored at 1°C and 90% (± 5%) relative humidity

ABSTRACT Microbial soil additives and plant biostimulants contain substances and microorganisms that can enhance stress tolerance in plants and increase the yield and quality of the crop. The interest in such inputs for sustainable and agroecological farming systems has led to the development of a range of products. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of some microbial soil additives

ABSTRACT Agriculture needs to supply food for a growing population whilst also minimising the environmental impact, and the adoption of sustainable agriculture systems has been proposed as a solution to achieve this. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of seven fertilisation treatments (FT1-FT6 organic fertilisers, FT7 conventional fertiliser) and two irrigation methods (drenching

ABSTRACT Intercropping medicinal plants with grain legumes provides an excellent opportunity for small-scale farmers to generate more income and move towards sustainable cropping systems. The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation on yield, quality and nutrient uptake of isabgol and lentil, when grown as monocrops or in various intercropping ratios, were evaluated. Inoculation with

ABSTRACT A novel method for assessing antimicrobial (AMP), colour retainment (CRP) and slice healing properties (SHP) of cucumber fruit (Cucumis sativus L.) was presented. The fruit was sliced in 15 mm slices, foliated in transparent plastic and placed at 23.5°C in a heating cabinet for 14 days. Subsequently, AMP and CRP were scored on scales of 1–9 and 1–7, respectively, with units of one. SHP was

ABSTRACT This research was carried out in an organic crop sequence of cauliflowers (Brassica oleracea L.) and tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) intercropped with different cover crop species (burr medic (Medicago polymorpha L) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.)) grown as living mulches and cultivated on a ridge system on a site characterised by extreme weather events (floods) in the Mediterranean

ABSTRACT Plant nutrition practice in organic agricultural systems is sometimes reduced to a renunciation of applying readily soluble mineral fertilisers. In organic farming, however, soil nutrient stocks are regarded as an additional source of plant-available nutrients that can be mobilised by crop plants through rhizosphere effects. Therefore, unlike in conventional farming, the focus is not on replacement

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine the impact of plant diversity and agricultural practices on crop productivity on organically managed mixed and arable farms under different natural conditions. Organic farms in three regions of Lithuania, differing in landscape homogeneity, soil quality and farming intensity, were evaluated. The results showed that there were arable farms in all regions

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of plant diversity and agricultural practices on crop productivity on organically managed mixed and arable farms under different natural conditions...

To evaluate the effect of the management system on soil quality, chemical and biological properties were measured in soils (0–20 cm depth) from Japanese plum orchards managed under organic and conv...

ABSTRACT The use of organic soil amendments to sustain crop production provides a feasible option for low-income farmers. In La Montaña, in southern Mexico, farmers grow organic hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) as their main source of income, but yields are low. The aim of this study was to evaluate the decomposition and nutrient release of different species traditionally used by farmers and to make

ABSTRACT Small-scale farmers in South-East Asia face serious challenges in agricultural productivity, food security and environmental degradation. Complex Rice Systems (CRS) entail an integrated farming approach that combines new technologies with traditional practices and knowledge to sustainably increase agricultural productivity. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential of CRS

ABSTRACT Residue from processing bambara seeds is abundant in West Africa, but scientific knowledge on the suitability of this residue for improving soil fertility is limited. Bambara seed residue (BSR), at 0, 10, 20 and 30 t ha−1, was applied annually to an Ultisol in a two-year field experiment with cucumber. BSR input at 30 t ha−1 produced the highest yield of 256.80 g (= 0.46 t ha−1) compared with

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to compare the effects of using compost and vermicompost as soil amendments in organic herb production, using four herb species (Dracocephalum moldavica L., Melissa officinalis L., Nepeta cataria L. and Thymus vulgaris L.) as model plants. Plants were cultivated in a greenhouse in containers filled with soil from an organically certified field and that had been amended

ABSTRACT Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are mutualistic fungi that play important roles in plant nutrition and soil ecosystem functions. While AMF are known to benefit diverse host plants under a range of conditions, little is known about their presence in commercial almond orchards and how frequently used management practices regulate AMF root colonisation. A large-scale survey of almond orchards

ABSTRACT In organic production systems, penalties in cereal forage yield and low crude protein (CP) concentration are mainly caused by limited soil nitrogen (N) availability, which can be addressed by using cereal/grain legume bi-cropping systems. To confirm this, a bi-cropping experiment with spring wheat cv. Paragon and faba beans cvs. Fuego and Maris Bead were conducted in 2 years, using a randomised

ABSTRACT The sensory characteristics of suckling lamb meat from 40 animals of the Castellana and Churra breeds from both conventional and organic maternal rearing systems were evaluated by a trained panel and texture and colour properties were also assessed by instrumental methods. The fatty acid profile of the feeding milk and the suckling lamb meat was evaluated by gas chromatography. The results

ABSTRACT In greenhouse organic horticulture there is a great challenge in supplying the crop with adequate amounts of nutrients at the right stage of crop development. This has been identified as one of the main factors compromising yields in organic systems as compared with conventional hydroponic systems based on the use of synthetic fertilisers. In organic systems, the supply of nutrients is reliant

ABSTRACT This study investigated the effect of two planting systems (raised bed and flat) in combination with incorporation of faba bean green manure at two plant growth stages (FS, incorporation at flowering; SAH, incorporation after harvest of fresh pods) on soil microbial activity, yield and quality of tomatoes grown in an organic cultivation system. Treatments without the faba bean green manure

ABSTRACT An on-vineyard approach was used to investigate the effects of biodynamic (BD) preparations on soil microbial biomass and microbial functional diversity in five vineyards on calcareous bedrocks under organic management. The vineyards formed two groups according to soil type; Cambic Leptosols (A1, A2, and B) and Calcaric Leptosols (C1, C2) as well as two groups according to duration of BD application;

ABSTRACT At present, consumer concern about the impact of food production on the environment is driving increased demand for high quality and healthy tomatoes. However, the yield of processing tomatoes in organic systems are generally lower than that in conventional systems and only a limited number of genotypes suitable for low input or organic systems are available for farmers. The technique of grafting

ABSTRACT The quality attributes of two goji berry cultivars, Lasa and New Big, grown in an organic system in the Lithuanian climate were investigated in two consecutive years (2015 and 2016). Concentrations of mineral elements (N, K, P, Mg, Ca, Fe, Zn, B, Cu, Mn, and Se), toxigenic elements (Pb and Cd), dry matter, soluble solids, vitamin C and carotenoids were evaluated. The results showed that the

ABSTRACT To study the effects of intercropping different sugar beet cultivars with soybean, Moldavian balm and proso millet in an organic production system on the yield and quality of sugar beet, a factorial experiment was conducted in 2016 and 2017 in West Azarbayjan, Iran. In 2016, the sugar beet-soybean intercropping resulted in the highest Na and α-amino-N concentrations in the sugar beet (2.384

ABSTRACT Soilborne diseases are persistent problems in potato production and alternative management practices are needed, particularly in organic production, where control options are limited. Selected biocontrol organisms, including two naturally occurring hypovirulent strains of Rhizoctonia solani (Rhs1A1 and Bs69) and a commercially available Bacillus subtilis (GB03), were evaluated, both individually

ABSTRACT Mexico is one of the world leaders in the production of coffee, but research on bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity in Mexican coffee has been extremely limited and, importantly, the effect of organic farming on these properties has not been widely studied. Spent coffee grounds (SCG), the main by-product of coffee brewing, represent a serious environmental problem, but could become

ABSTRACT Organic agriculture has received attention in Iran because of the environmental problems that have resulted from the overuse of chemicals in agriculture, but despite the many benefits, the adoption rate of organic farming is still low. This study used an expert consensus Delphi technique in three rounds to identify drivers and barriers for organic rice production in the Guilan Province, Iran

ABSTRACT Climate change tends to intensify extreme weather events worldwide, negatively affecting agriculture and threatening global food security. More resilient agroecosystems are required to assure yield stability. In this research, which was carried out in a Mediterranean environment in 2013–2015, the response of organic lettuce to cover crop management and organic fertilisation, in terms of yield

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of rooting stimulators on the rooting of rose cuttings harvested at different phenological stages of the stock plants and on concentrations of carbohydrates in the shoots and leaves of the rooted cuttings. Shoots from once-blooming, difficult-to-root cultivars Duchesse d’Angoulême, Hurdals, Maiden’s Blush, Mousseuse Rouge were cut at the phenological

ABSTRACT In this study, the effects of a winter cover crop (CC) and its combination with composted cattle manure (CC-M) on the development of potato late blight (Phytophthora infestans) and crop yield were investigated and compared with a system with no cover crop (NC). In the CC and CC-M systems, winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L) was used as the winter cover crop before potatoes. The hypothesis

ABSTRACT This study investigated different methods of applying vermicompost (VC), with the aims of improving yield in organic tomato production and decrease the amount of fertiliser required. Three methods of placement (application) of the VC were used in the field trial: a) VC placed in a row on the soil surface with incorporation behind the planting lines (R), b) broadcast in the field (B), and c)

It is with great sadness that I write to announce the death of Dr David Hodges, Founding Editor of Biological Agriculture & Horticulture. David Hodges was born in 1934 and spent his early childhood years in places close to London and then in Devon, England. Hodges studied Zoology at Exeter University, where he met his wife Ursula (nee Rumley). After graduating in 1957, Hodges moved to London to undertake

ABSTRACT Natural substances are extensively used as biostimulants in agriculture. Notably, horn-manure preparation (HMP) is fermented cow manure sprayed at low concentrations onto biodynamically cultivated fields. The present study investigated the effect of HMP on the growth of garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.) cultivated in a bioassay (randomized block design, n = 20). Seedlings were cultivated

ABSTRACT Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is an important medicinal and aromatic herb, used by various pharmaceutical, food and cosmetics industries. For most species, seed-based multiplication is effective and convenient, but for rosemary, seed germination is a problem due to the mucilaginous seed coat, and sometimes the germination is no more than 10–20% resulting in non-uniform crop establishment

ABSTRACT In a two-year field experiment undertaken in Central Italy, different agro-ecological service crops (ASCs), terminated by the no-till roller crimper technology before organic melon production (Cucumis melo L.), were evaluated by assessing soil-plant N dynamics, weed management and crop performance, and by comparing with a tilled control without ASC. The ASCs (Poaceae, i.e. rye, barley, wheat

ABSTRACT Field experiments were conducted from April 2015 to September 2016 at the Royal Agricultural University, UK to explore the impact of drilling pattern and species mixtures on weed growth and forage yield. The bi-crops of spring field bean (Vicia faba) cv. Maris Bead and Fuego with spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) cv. Paragon were evaluated at four drilling patterns in a randomized complete

ABSTRACT The use of cover crops in crop rotations provides a wide range of ecosystem services including protection of the soil from nutrient loss. The objective of this study was to determine the suitability of winter cover crop species for Estonian conditions. Field trials with cover crop species winter rye (Secale cereale L), winter turnip rape (Brassica rapa spp. oleifera L.), forage radish (Raphanus

ABSTRACT Effects of cover crops on soil physical and chemical properties and yield of the following cash-crops were evaluated in an organic system in a high tunnel. The sequence of crops in the two-year study was: vetch or vetch-rye followed by zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) and then lettuce (Lactuca sativa L) in 2016 and celery (Apium graveolens L.) in 2017. In the plots with cover crops, two mulches (black

ABSTRACT Orobanche foetida is a devastating weed parasitising faba bean crops in Tunisia. Several methods have been used for controlling this parasite, but without much success. In this study, the effect of intercropping with fenugreek on O. foetida infestation and faba bean production was studied. Results showed a significant reduction in O. foetida infestation in the susceptible (Badi) and resistant