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Environmentally-Friendly Agricultural Practices For Achieving Sustainable Ecosystem Services

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 19 April 2024 | Viewed by 19317

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. José Manuel Mirás-Avalos

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Guest Editor

Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), Unidad de Suelos y Riegos (asociada a EEAD-CSIC), Av. Montañana, Zaragoza, Spain
Interests: irrigation; crop modeling; sustainable agriculture; plant ecophysiology; soil management and quality; viticulture; fruit trees; crop water requirements; biodiversity; ecology
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Dr. Emily Silva Araujo

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Guest Editor

Laboratory of Entomology Professor Ângelo Moreira da Costa Lima, Department of Basic Pathology, Federal University of Paraná, Av. Cel. Francisco H. dos Santos, s/n, Curitiba 81531-980, Paraná, Brazil
Interests: integrated pest management; organic agriculture; biological control; insect population dynamics; taxonomy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ecosystem services are the many and varied benefits to humans provided by the natural environment. These include the natural pollination of crops, clean air, climate change mitigation, etc. In the current context of global change, and in order to achieve the long-term sustainability of agroecosystems, these services must be promoted. Indeed, establishing environmentally friendly management practices might help in sustaining these services and enhance the health of agroecosystems. The framework of many policies, including the European Green Deal, focuses on the promotion of a more ecofriendly agriculture. In this context, the role of ecosystem services, provisioning (such as the production of food and water), regulating (such as pest control and climate regulation), supporting (nutrient cycles and oxygen production) and cultural (spiritual and recreational benefits), is becoming incredibly relevant and of paramount importance.

This Special Issue aims at collecting original and quantitative research on the effects that agricultural and forest practices exert on ecosystem services, and how this management can be employed to promote some of these services, including:

Research on climate change mitigation/adaptation through the use of environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
Studies about the use of green infrastructures for promoting biodiversity within agroecosystems.
Methodological research on the quantification of ecosystem services.
Studies on the effects that agricultural management has on pollinators and natural biological control agents (such as predators, parasitoids and fungi).
Research on the advantages of soil management through cover crops in comparison with tillage practices: effects on soil health, crop production and biodiversity.
Work using novel techniques at different application scales (orchards and watersheds), through remote-sensing technologies.

The topics proposed can be considered from many viewpoints, and we encourage authors working on crop modelling to submit their manuscripts for consideration.

This Special Issue may contribute to highlighting the relevance of ecosystem services for achieving sustainable agricultural systems.

Thank you very much for your contributions.

Dr. José Manuel Mirás-Avalos
Dr. Emily Silva Araujo
Guest 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 special issue 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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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.

Keywords

biodiversity
functional groups
cover crops
conservation
integrated pest management
soil health
modelling
climate-change adaptation
agricultural diversification

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 759 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Soil Quality Index of Young and Differently Managed Almond Orchards under Mediterranean Conditions

by José Manuel Mirás-Avalos, Pedro Marco, Sergio Sánchez, Beatriz Bielsa, María José Rubio Cabetas and Vicente González

Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 14770; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142214770 - 09 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1198

Abstract

Sustainable agriculture has drawn attention to the maintenance and enhancement of soil health. However, research on soil quality has been carried out mainly in field crops and, to a lesser extent, in mature orchards, neglecting the relevance of assessing the soil quality status in the first years of tree plantations. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the soil quality index of young almond orchards located in marginal lands and managed under different practices. The survey was carried out in the Teruel Province (Northeast Spain), in three almond orchards: Alacón (2 years old, 0.75 ha, rainfed, conventionally managed), San Martín (1 year old, 0.4 ha, irrigated, organically managed), and Valdealgorfa (6 years old, 0.2 ha, rainfed, organically managed). The composite soil samples were taken from three spots within each orchard. To determine the soil quality index, four main soil functions were considered: filtering and buffering, nutrient supply, water relations, and crop limitation. The soil quality indices were 0.55, 0.75, and 0.54 for Alacón, San Martín, and Valdealgorfa orchards, respectively. These values suggested that the evaluated soils are adequate for almond production, although they require management actions to improve their quality (for instance, the application of organic amendments) and increase the sustainability of these agroecosystems. Furthermore, this work provides a framework for the assessment of the soil quality in tree orchards at a young stage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally-Friendly Agricultural Practices For Achieving Sustainable Ecosystem Services)

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14 pages, 1374 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Come Out of a Hiding Place: How Are Cover Crops Allocated on Finnish Farms?

by Pirjo Peltonen-Sainio and Lauri Jauhiainen

Sustainability 2022, 14(5), 3103; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14053103 - 07 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1450

Abstract

Cover crops (CCs) may provide many ecosystem services for crop production systems, and interest has increased in the cultivation of CCs among Finnish farmers. Piloting farmers applied for agricultural payments to support the cultivation of CCs (AP-CCs) in 2020. Novel data with a total of 34,515 field parcels with CCs from 5747 farms was used to assess how farmers allocated CCs depending on farm and parcel characteristics. Pioneering farmers often had conventional, large farms with cereal areas exceeding 25%, and expertise with special crop(s). Conventional farmers seemed to allocate CCs to large parcels. The allocation of CCs was not solely dictated by cash crops. Cover crops were planted more frequently in parcels close to waterways. Conventional farmers allocated CCs to parcels with a history of highly monotonous cereal sequencing. Hence, farmers seem to benefit from ecosystem services provided by CCs: increasing spatial diversity, reducing the environmental footprint, and improving soil health. This novel understanding is used to support the implementation of CCs beyond pilot farms and to develop a decision support system for their allocation. The ultimate goal is to support a transition towards more sustainable crop production systems with currently underutilized CCs in high-latitude conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally-Friendly Agricultural Practices For Achieving Sustainable Ecosystem Services)

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14 pages, 3123 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Renewable Mixed Hydrogels Based on Polysaccharide and Protein for Release of Agrochemicals and Soil Conditioning

by Elena Khan, Kadir Ozaltin, Andres Bernal-Ballen and Antonio Di Martino

Sustainability 2021, 13(18), 10439; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su131810439 - 18 Sep 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2405

Abstract

The study deals with the combination of biopolymers to develop hydrogels intended for agriculture application. The aim is to propose a renewable and eco-compatible solution to enhance agrochemicals and water efficiency and contribute to maintaining soil fertility. We developed a set of hydrogels based on casein and chitosan for water retention and release of agrochemicals, in particular nitrogen fertilizer urea. The weight ratio of biopolymers, from 0.5 to 2, was investigated to understand the influence of their content on the morphology, swelling, swelling-drying cycles, and water retention in soil. The average content of urea in the hydrogels was 30% of the total weight, and up to 80% was released in the soil in 50 days. The biodegradation of the hydrogels in soil has been investigated by the burial method and monitoring the release of CO₂. Results demonstrated that by increasing the content of chitosan, the biodegradation time is prolonged up to 20% in 90 days. The obtained results support the ultimate purpose of the work that the combination of two biopolymers at proper weight ratio could be a valid alternative of the marketed hydrogels with the final goal to promote soil fertility and water retention and prolong biodegradation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally-Friendly Agricultural Practices For Achieving Sustainable Ecosystem Services)

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21 pages, 3914 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Agro-Industrial Symbiosis and Alternative Heating Systems for Decreasing the Global Warming Potential of Greenhouse Production

by Miika P. Marttila, Ville Uusitalo, Lassi Linnanen and Mirja H. Mikkilä

Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9040; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13169040 - 12 Aug 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3073

Abstract

Greenhouses require large amounts of energy, which is the dominant factor making greenhouses more emission intensive than open-field cultivation. Alternative heating systems, such as combined heat and power (CHP), biogas, and industrial waste heat, are continuously being researched for reducing the environmental impacts of greenhouses. This paper assesses utilizing industrial waste heat and CO₂ enrichment in greenhouses as an example to propose “agro-industrial symbiosis” (AIS), to refer to a symbiotic co-operation between agricultural and industrial partners. The global warming potentials (GWPs) of greenhouse production using different heating systems are inadequately compared in the literature, which is the research gap addressed herein. Additionally, potential emission reductions of greenhouse production with industrial waste heat are yet to be assessed via lifecycle assessment (LCA). A comparative LCA of Finnish greenhouse tomato and cucumber production using various heating systems was conducted. Naturally, replacing fossil fuels with bioenergy and renewables significantly decreases the GWP. CHP systems result in decreased GWP only when using biogas as the energy source. Additionally, utilizing industrial waste heat and CO₂ resulted in a low GWP. These results are applicable worldwide to guide political decision-making and clean energy production in the horticultural sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally-Friendly Agricultural Practices For Achieving Sustainable Ecosystem Services)

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22 pages, 1588 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Developing Farm-Level Social Indicators for Agri-Environment Schemes: A Focus on the Agents of Change

by Jane Mills, Hannah Chiswell, Peter Gaskell, Paul Courtney, Beth Brockett, George Cusworth and Matt Lobley

Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7820; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13147820 - 13 Jul 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3840

Abstract

Most monitoring and evaluation programmes for agri-environment schemes focus on understanding the environmental outcomes and the cost-effectiveness of these schemes. Evaluation of the social dimensions of agri-environment schemes, particularly the socio-cultural factors that might influence the quality of engagement with the schemes and the social wellbeing impact of scheme engagement, is limited. This is a critical gap in knowledge as there is growing recognition that without more explicit consideration of the farmers involved in land management as agents of change, the required environmental improvements will not be achieved. The aim of this paper was to undertake a systematic literature review to inform the development of a set of social indicators that can be used to measure the level of farmers’ engagement with their scheme agreement and the social sustainability outcomes from participation. Following the literature review and a short-listing ranking exercise with two sets of experts, 20 high-level (composite) social indicators and associated sub-level (component) indicators were identified. A series of scale or ranking questions that can be used to capture the indicator data were also developed and tested. This paper presents the first stage in the development of a robust set of social indicators for agri-environment schemes that will also provide a good indicator of long-term environmental outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally-Friendly Agricultural Practices For Achieving Sustainable Ecosystem Services)

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Review

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28 pages, 898 KiB

Open AccessReview

Aquatic Plants and Aquatic Animals in the Context of Sustainability: Cultivation Techniques, Integration, and Blue Revolution

by Abdallah Tageldein Mansour, Mohamed Ashour, Ahmed E. Alprol and Ahmed Saud Alsaqufi

Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3257; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14063257 - 10 Mar 2022

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 6158

Abstract

The aquaculture industry has rapidly increased in response to the increasing world population, with the appreciation that aquaculture products are beneficial for human health and nutrition. Globally, aquaculture organisms are mainly divided into two divisions, aquatic animals (finfish, crustaceans, and molluscs) and aquatic plants (microalgae and seaweed). Worldwide aquaculture production has reached more than 82 million tonnes (MTs) in 2018 with more than 450 cultured species. The development of economical, environmentally friendly, and large-scale feasible technologies to produce aquaculture organisms (even aquatic animals and/or aquatic plants) is an essential need of the world. Some aquaculture technologies are related to aquatic animals or aquatic plants, as well as some technologies have an integrated system. This integration between aquatic plants and aquatic animals could be performed during early larvae rearing, on-growing and/or mass production. In the context of the blue revolution, the current review focuses on the generations of integration between aquatic plants and aquatic animals, such as live feeds, biomass concentrates, water conditioners “green water technique”, aqua-feed additives, co-culturing technologies, and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA). This review could shed light on the benefit of aquatic animals and plant integration, which could lead future low-cost, highly efficient, and sustainable aquaculture industry projects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally-Friendly Agricultural Practices For Achieving Sustainable Ecosystem Services)

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