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Sustainable Soil and Field Management Practices in Agricultural Ecosystems under Climatic Challenges

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (26 March 2023) | Viewed by 35090

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Vasileios Tzanakakis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Greece
Interests: soil (bio)chemistry; soil fertility; nitrogen and carbon cycling; natural resources management; reuse in agriculture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Theocharis Chatzistathis

E-Mail Website
Chief Guest Editor
Hellenic Agricultural Organization (H.A.O.) ‘Demeter’ (Institute of Soil and Water Resources), Thermi-Thessaloniki 57001, Greece
Interests: plant nutrition; fertilization (inorganic and organic); nutritional physiology; soil fertility; sustainable agriculture; sustainable oliveculture; organic agriculture; crop management; crop production; nutrient management; soil analysis; organic matter
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cost crop production has significantly increased during the last few decades. This has happened mainly due to the increase in the prices of fertilizers and plant protection products. Furthermore, imprudent use of chemical fertilizers and plant protection substances and the implementation of improper/unsustainable field management practices have led to the degradation of soil (e.g., decrease in microorganism activity, decline in soil organic C, and impaired soil function) and water (e.g., high NO3- and phosphate content, which leads to eutrophication, and increase in soluble salts) resources. In addition, some researchers have found that fruit and vegetables produced under sustainable management are of higher quality and healthier, compared to those produced with conventional systems. Thus, the combined need to (i) protect the environment; (ii) enhance the sustainability of agroecosystems; (iii) ameliorate fruit quality; and (iv) decrease cost production enhances the necessity toward adopting more sustainable, environmental friendly, and cost-effective soil and field management practices in order to support sufficient crop nutrition and economically viable agricultural production.

Horticultural crops (tree and vegetable crops, Vitis vinifera L.) are among the most suitable ones for sustainable management production systems. These systems could meet climate change mitigation and adaptation goals, driven by global warming and climate variability, and successfully respond to problems that have arisen by the increasing demands in the human population in developing countries. However, further knowledge is needed in order to boost the sustainability and efficient use of inputs and natural resources (fertilizers, irrigation water) to crops, via also decreasing the negative impacts on the environment and climate (this may be mainly achieved by reducing nutrient losses—especially those of N by denitrification); in parallel, the targeted future research directions should also include maintaining sufficient and qualitative horticultural crop productions.

This Special Issue of Sustainability focuses on sustainable soil, fertilization, and other field management practices (mainly—but not exclusively—in horticultural crops) in order to address the abovementioned aspects. Thus, we call on our colleagues, who are experts on these topics, for their submission of manuscripts dealing with sustainable nutrient and field management practices aimed at decreasing fertilizers and irrigation water demand/input.

The main topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Presenting and thoroughly discussing the benefits and drawbacks for agroecosystems in adopting sustainable nutrient and field management practices in horticultural crops;
  • Emphasizing sustainable field practices (e.g., pruning material recycling, manure application, reduced or no tillage systems, cover crops, etc.) targeted at decreasing fertilizers and irrigation water demand/input in crops;
  • Providing insights into current and future technological solutions, promising the sustainable and efficient use of natural resources by crops;
  • Valorizing the impact of sustainable management on the decrease of cost production;
  • Discussing how sustainable management systems for horticultural crops may ameliorate fruit quality, compared to conventional management systems;
  • Evaluating how nutrient, C, and water footprints could be ameliorated via sustainable practices in crops;
  • Comparing N losses (via denitrification and leaching) and N-use efficiency (as well as those of other nutrients) between conventional and sustainable management systems;
  • Thoroughly discussing and evaluating the impact of sustainable management practices on soil health and functioning by examining soil microorganisms’ populations, community, and activity responses, in particular those involved in the C and N cycles;
  • Proposing innovative soil and field sustainability aspects to enhance soil fertility and satisfy the nutritional needs of horticultural and other crops.

Dr. Theocharis Chatzistathis
Dr. Vasileios Tzanakakis
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

  • Olea europaea L.
  • Vitis vinifera L.
  • vegetable crops
  • horticultural crops
  • sustainable horticulture
  • sustainable agriculture
  • sustainable crop management
  • organic fertilization
  • plant nutrition
  • soil fertility
  • soil microorganisms
  • soil health
  • organic matter
  • nutrient use efficiency
  • water use efficiency

Published Papers (15 papers)

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21 pages, 2196 KiB  
Article
Accounting for Weather Variability in Farm Management Resource Allocation in Northern Ghana: An Integrated Modeling Approach
by Opeyemi Obafemi Adelesi, Yean-Uk Kim, Heidi Webber, Peter Zander, Johannes Schuler, Seyed-Ali Hosseini-Yekani, Dilys Sefakor MacCarthy, Alhassan Lansah Abdulai, Karin van der Wiel, Pierre C. Sibiry Traore and Samuel Godfried Kwasi Adiku
Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7386; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15097386 - 28 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1613
Abstract
Smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana face challenges due to weather variability and market volatility, hindering their ability to invest in sustainable intensification options. Modeling can help understand the relationships between productivity, environmental, and economical aspects, but few models have explored the effects of [...] Read more.
Smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana face challenges due to weather variability and market volatility, hindering their ability to invest in sustainable intensification options. Modeling can help understand the relationships between productivity, environmental, and economical aspects, but few models have explored the effects of weather variability on crop management and resource allocation. This study introduces an integrated modeling approach to optimize resource allocation for smallholder mixed crop and livestock farming systems in Northern Ghana. The model combines a process-based crop model, farm simulation model, and annual optimization model. Crop model simulations are driven by a large ensemble of weather time series for two scenarios: good and bad weather. The model accounts for the effects of climate risks on farm management decisions, which can help in supporting investments in sustainable intensification practices, thereby bringing smallholder farmers out of poverty traps. The model was simulated for three different farm types represented in the region. The results suggest that farmers could increase their income by allocating more than 80% of their land to cash crops such as rice, groundnut, and soybeans. The optimized cropping patterns have an over 50% probability of increasing farm income, particularly under bad weather scenarios, compared with current cropping systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Soil and Field Management Practices in Agricultural Ecosystems under Climatic Challenges)
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12 pages, 1117 KiB  
Article
Rhizobium Grants the Reduction of Phosphate Fertilization during the Production of Coffee Seedlings
by Sucleidi Nápoles Vinent, Jorge González Aguilera, Ruben De Jesus Fernandez Aguilera, Ionel Hernández Forte, María Caridad Nápoles Garcias, Eliseo Pumacallahui Salcedo, Richar Marlon Mollinedo Chura, Roxana Madueño Portilla, Ruth Nancy Tairo Huamán, Rafael Felippe Ratke, Alfredo Modesto Marcavillaca Luna and Luis Morales-Aranibar
Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 6559; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15086559 - 12 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1343
Abstract
The use of bacterial inoculants is an attractive alternative that could reduce the consumption of chemical fertilizers in crops. In the production system of quality coffee seedlings, it is essential to achieve an adequate balance of nutrients that allows for healthy plants that [...] Read more.
The use of bacterial inoculants is an attractive alternative that could reduce the consumption of chemical fertilizers in crops. In the production system of quality coffee seedlings, it is essential to achieve an adequate balance of nutrients that allows for healthy plants that are resistant to subsequent handling. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of Rhizobium sp. inoculation on the growth, nutrition and quality of coffee seedlings cultivated with different doses of phosphoric fertilization. Inoculation tests were carried out under nursery conditions using Coffea arabica L. cv. “Isla 5–15” and Coffea canephora Pierre ex Froehner cv. “Robusta” seeds inoculated with the Rhizobium sp. Rpr2 strain. Sixty days after sowing, the hypocotyldonal graft was performed, and the resulting plants were also treated with the bacterial inoculant. Plants were then planted in substrate with different doses of phosphorus (P): 25, 50, 75 and 100%. At seven months of cultivation, variables of growth (plant height, stem diameter, number of leaf pairs, main root length, root volume, dry mass of the aerial part, root and total), phosphoric nutrition (leaf and root P contents) and posture quality index were evaluated. The inoculation stimulated the aerial part (37%), root growth (34%), the quality index of the grafted postures (30%), and phosphorus absorption (42%) and allowed a decrease from 25 to 75% of the mineral fertilizer. For the first time in Cuba, the benefits of rhizobial inoculation on the nutrition and quality of coffee seedlings were demonstrated. The inoculation of grafted coffee seedlings with Rhizobium sp. Rpr2 through the inoculation method proposed in this study can be recommended as a new easy, cost-effective and efficient inoculation approach to obtain additional benefits for coffee growth, improving the absorption of nutritive elements and the quality characteristics of the coffee seedlings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Soil and Field Management Practices in Agricultural Ecosystems under Climatic Challenges)
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22 pages, 8786 KiB  
Article
Sustainability Analysis of Soil Erosion Control in Rwanda: Case Study of the Sebeya Watershed
by Félicien Majoro, Umaru Garba Wali, Omar Munyaneza and François-Xavier Naramabuye
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 1969; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15031969 - 19 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2222
Abstract
Soil erosion is a complex process that results in soil and fertility losses from agricultural land and, ultimately, leads to river sedimentation. This study aimed to assess various influential factors and processes affecting soil erosion and to recommend suitable site-based Soil Erosion Control [...] Read more.
Soil erosion is a complex process that results in soil and fertility losses from agricultural land and, ultimately, leads to river sedimentation. This study aimed to assess various influential factors and processes affecting soil erosion and to recommend suitable site-based Soil Erosion Control Measures (SECM) for sustainable agriculture while minimizing the downstream rivers and reservoir sedimentation in the Sebeya watershed of Rwanda. The present research used a literature review, site visits, and focus groups to assess various SECM within the Sebeya watershed. As a result, various site-based SECM were evaluated, recommended, and simulated to alleviate high soil loss rates in the Sebeya watershed using the Universal Soil Erosion Equation (USLE) model. Simulating existing and proposed SECM, soil loss was reduced significantly from 73 t/ha/y to 29 t/ha/y. To highlight the implication of the site-based recommended SECM in improving agricultural productivity, this study suggests field investigations in soil erosion plots and prediction of crop yields from an established linear correlation model between soil loss and crop yields in the Sebeya watershed. For effective action in reducing high soil erosion rates to tolerable rates in the Sebeya watershed, the present research recommends implementing the site-based recommended SECM with mulching and drainage channels on the same farmland. However, lack of money and knowledge are the main limitations in implementing SECM in the Sebeya watershed. Therefore, governmental and non-governmental organizations should technically and financially help farmers in the Sebeya watershed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Soil and Field Management Practices in Agricultural Ecosystems under Climatic Challenges)
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17 pages, 2225 KiB  
Article
Fertilization Practices: Optimization in Greenhouse Vegetable Cultivation with Different Planting Years
by Feifei Pan, Sha Pan, Jiao Tang, Jingping Yuan, Huaixia Zhang and Bihua Chen
Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 7543; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14137543 - 21 Jun 2022
Viewed by 1630
Abstract
Cucumber plant growth and the fate of N in the plant-soil system are influenced by fertilization practices, the strengths of which may vary among soils. Three soils with different years of greenhouse vegetable cultivation (0, 2, and 18 years) were fertilized differently (CK, [...] Read more.
Cucumber plant growth and the fate of N in the plant-soil system are influenced by fertilization practices, the strengths of which may vary among soils. Three soils with different years of greenhouse vegetable cultivation (0, 2, and 18 years) were fertilized differently (CK, no N fertilizer applied; CF, chemical NPK fertilizers applied; RCF, reduced chemical NPK fertilizers applied, with N, P, and K reduced by 46.5%, 68.6%, and 54.7%; RCF+CM, 75% of the total N derived from chemical fertilizer and the rest from chicken manure in the case of reduced fertilization) in a pot experiment to study the changes in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) growth, N uptake, residue, and losses. The original N in soil was insufficient to maintain leaf growth and chlorophyll synthesis at later growth stages, even in soil with 18 years of greenhouse vegetable cultivation, where the original N content was the highest (total N 1.73 g kg−1). However, the CF treatment with excessive N fertilization inhibited leaf growth at the early growing stage and accelerated leaf senescence later, especially in soil with longer years of greenhouse vegetable cultivation. Therefore, reduced fertilizer application (RCF and RCF+CM) is appropriate to improve cucumber growth and productivity in greenhouse cultivation with different planting years. Although the same amount of N was applied, the RCF+CM treatment performed better than the RCF treatment in terms of increasing plant N uptake (by 30.5%) and soil N pool storage (by 25.0%) while decreasing N losses (by 16.6%) in soil with 0 years of greenhouse vegetable cultivation. In soil with 2 and 18 years of greenhouse vegetable cultivation, the soil itself functions much better in exogenous N retention and supply, with the N storage and losses not significantly different between the RCF and RCF+CM treatments. We conclude that reduced fertilization with the co-application of chicken manure is optimal for plant growth promotion, output-input ratio increase, soil N fertility improvement, and environmental risk mitigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Soil and Field Management Practices in Agricultural Ecosystems under Climatic Challenges)
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20 pages, 6647 KiB  
Article
Measuring Compound Soil Erosion by Wind and Water in the Eastern Agro–Pastoral Ecotone of Northern China
by Degen Lin, Peijun Shi, Michael Meadows, Huiming Yang, Jing’ai Wang, Gangfeng Zhang and Zhenhua Hu
Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6272; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14106272 - 21 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2017
Abstract
Land degradation induced by soil erosion is widespread in semiarid regions globally and is common in the agro–pastoral ecotone of northern China. Most researchers identify soil erosion by wind and water as independent processes, and there is a lack of research regarding the [...] Read more.
Land degradation induced by soil erosion is widespread in semiarid regions globally and is common in the agro–pastoral ecotone of northern China. Most researchers identify soil erosion by wind and water as independent processes, and there is a lack of research regarding the relative contributions of wind and water erosion and the interactions between them in what is referred to here as compound soil erosion (CSE). CSE may occur in situations where wind more effectively erodes a surface already subject to water erosion, where rainfall impacts a surface previously exposed by wind erosion, or where material already deposited by wind is subject to water erosion. In this paper, we use the Chinese Soil Loss Equation (CSLE) and the Revised Wind Erosion Equation (RWEQ) to calculate the rate of soil erosion and map the distribution of three types of soil erosion classified as (i) wind (wind-erod), (ii) water (water-erod), and (iii) CSE (CSE-erod) for the study area that spans more than 400,000 km2 of sand- and loess-covered northern China. According to minimum threshold values for mild erosion, we identify water-erod, wind-erod, and CSE-erod land as occurring across 41.41%, 13.39%, and 27.69% of the total area, while mean soil erosion rates for water-erod, wind-erod, and CSE-erod land were calculated as 6877.65 t km−2 yr−1, 1481.47 t km−2 yr−1, and 5989.49 t km−2 yr−1, respectively. Land subject to CSE-erod is predominantly distributed around the margins of those areas that experience wind erosion and water erosion independently. The CSLE and RWEQ do not facilitate a direct assessment of the interactions between wind and water erosion, so we use these equations here only to derive estimates of the relative contributions of wind erosion and water erosion to total soil erosion and the actual mechanisms controlling the interactions between wind and water erosion require further field investigation. It is concluded that CSE is an important but underappreciated process in semiarid regions and needs to be accounted for in land degradation assessments as it has substantial impacts on agricultural productivity and sustainable development in regions with sandy and/or loess-covered surfaces. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Soil and Field Management Practices in Agricultural Ecosystems under Climatic Challenges)
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19 pages, 3817 KiB  
Article
Effects of Grazing Indigenous Laying Hens on Soil Properties: Benefits and Challenges to Achieving Soil Fertility
by Pedro R. Soares, Rosinda L. Pato, Susana Dias and Daniela Santos
Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3407; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14063407 - 14 Mar 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2892
Abstract
Crop–livestock integration fosters a holistic view of the agricultural system, which is nowadays particularly relevant due to the rising environmental concerns. Laying hens can contribute to improvement of soil chemical properties, but their effects in soil fertility are not fully known. This study [...] Read more.
Crop–livestock integration fosters a holistic view of the agricultural system, which is nowadays particularly relevant due to the rising environmental concerns. Laying hens can contribute to improvement of soil chemical properties, but their effects in soil fertility are not fully known. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of grazing laying hens on soil fertility. To meet this goal, we assessed the effects of indigenous laying hens in 22 soil parameters, including chemical, physical, and microbiological parameters, in two farms from the central region of Portugal: an organic horticultural field (A) and a conventional orchard (B). At farm A, the animals grazed during the dry period for 84 continuous days, at a density of 4 m2 per hen. At farm B, the animals grazed during the wet period, at a density of 3.50 m2 per hen, in two periods (34 + 33 days), with a 50 day break period in between grazing. The hens contributed to an increase in the extractable macronutrients phosphorus (P2O5) and potassium (K2O), mineral nitrogen (NH4+-N and NO3−-N), and exchangeable bases calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) in both farms, making these central parameters to consider in their grazing management. At farm A, where soil disturbance is higher, the grazing did not affect soil moisture retention but positively affected soil dry bulk density and contributed to an increase in total aerobic bacteria and nitrogen-fixing bacteria abundances. At farm B, where the hens’ presence led to the understory eradication, soil moisture retention, total aerobic bacteria, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and fungi abundances were negatively affected, while soil dry bulk density was unaffected. These results show that hens can significantly contribute to improve soil fertility, but more research is needed regarding their grazing management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Soil and Field Management Practices in Agricultural Ecosystems under Climatic Challenges)
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18 pages, 14000 KiB  
Article
Soil Remediation of Subtropical Garden Grasses and Shrubs Using High-Performance Ester Materials
by Hao Gou, Jin Liao, Fan Du, Changliang Tang, Yali Lin, Dingjuan Li, Yulei Zhang, Yangyang Ning, Zihui Ye, Zheyao Xu, Cuiying Zhou and Zhen Liu
Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3228; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14063228 - 09 Mar 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1663
Abstract
Soil erosion due to rainstorms is a serious problem in subtropical gardens in South China. Soil conservation and the restoration of degraded landscapes are important research topics at home and abroad. Because of the sluggish growth of plants under traditional cultivation techniques, they [...] Read more.
Soil erosion due to rainstorms is a serious problem in subtropical gardens in South China. Soil conservation and the restoration of degraded landscapes are important research topics at home and abroad. Because of the sluggish growth of plants under traditional cultivation techniques, they are incapable of effectively protecting the soil. Therefore, the rapid and high-quality soil conservation of subtropical landscapes remains an urgent problem to be overcome. The purpose of this study is to improve the red soil and ground environment for the growth of grasses and shrubs through high-performance ester materials. Our objective was to find a solution for the high impact of soil loss on subtropical landscapes. In this study, we used the ecological restoration of soil as the starting point and selected a typical subtropical garden in South China as the field test point. We carried out soil erosion resistance testing using high-performance ester materials. The anti-erosion abilities of slopes under various working conditions are discussed. During the growth period, the soil indexes were monitored for a long time, and the growth of grasses and shrubs was compared. The obtained monitoring data were analyzed with mathematical statistics. We found that the addition of high-performance ester materials significantly reduced soil loss by 52.60%. High-performance ester materials have a good hydrothermal regulation function, which can promote the germination and later growth of sloping plants. The decrease in ground internal density promotes the extension of plant roots. High-performance ester materials can improve soil permeability and activity and promote vegetation growth. In terms of turf thickness and overall growth as well as shrubs crown width and height, high-performance ester materials have a beneficial effect on promoting plant growth. Soil remediation using high-performance ester materials has good economic value, high water-holding capacity, adaptability, and convenience. In this study, we determined a solution for the high impact of soil loss on subtropical landscapes. The soil remediation of a subtropical garden using high-performance ester materials was successful. The practice of landscape soil remediation engineering presented in this paper can provide a reference for typical landscape soil remediation in subtropical zones. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Soil and Field Management Practices in Agricultural Ecosystems under Climatic Challenges)
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13 pages, 629 KiB  
Article
Role of Combined Inoculation with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, as a Sustainable Tool, for Stimulating the Growth, Physiological Processes, and Flowering Performance of Lavender
by Gheorghe Cristian Popescu and Monica Popescu
Sustainability 2022, 14(2), 951; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14020951 - 14 Jan 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1927
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are essential soil microorganisms for terrestrial ecosystems and form beneficial symbioses with the root systems of most agricultural plants. The purpose of this paper was to examine the effect of the community of six AMF on the growth, physiological [...] Read more.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are essential soil microorganisms for terrestrial ecosystems and form beneficial symbioses with the root systems of most agricultural plants. The purpose of this paper was to examine the effect of the community of six AMF on the growth, physiological response, and flowering performance in organic potted lavender culture. The mixture of AMF containing Rhizophagus irregularis, Claroideoglomus claroideum, Funneliformis mosseae, Funneliformis geosporum, Claroideoglomus etunicatum, and Glomus microaggregatum was added in a pot with peat, volcanic rock, and coconut bark. We analyzed the fresh shoot biomass, root biomass, total plant biomass, leaf area, flowering performance, photosynthesis rate, and photosynthetic pigment content. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was performed to get a better understanding of the relationships between the studied variables. The total plant biomass was more pronounced in plants with AMF-S20g (212.01 g plant−1) and AMF-S30g (220.25 g plant−1) than with AMF-S10g (201.96 g plant−1) or in untreated plants (180.87 g plant−1). A statistically significant increase for Chl a, Chl b, and Car was found for AMF-S20g and AMF-S30. Our findings suggest that the AMF mixture application in a growing substrate with peat, coconut bark, and volcanic rock improved plant growth, physiological processes, and ornamental value in mycorrhizal lavender plants. This environmentally friendly agricultural practice could be used for the sustainable production of lavender. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Soil and Field Management Practices in Agricultural Ecosystems under Climatic Challenges)
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14 pages, 2775 KiB  
Article
Crop Litter Has a Strong Effect on Soil Organic Matter Sequestration in Semi-Arid Environments
by Nikolaos V. Paranychianakis, Giorgos Giannakis, Daniel Moraetis, Vasileios A. Tzanakakis and Nikolaos P. Nikolaidis
Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13278; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132313278 - 30 Nov 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1701
Abstract
The agricultural soils in the Mediterranean are characterized by low stocks of soil organic matter (SOM) because of the intensive management practices and constraints on litter inputs to the soil imposed by environmental conditions (low precipitation, high evapotranspiration). To date, several studies have [...] Read more.
The agricultural soils in the Mediterranean are characterized by low stocks of soil organic matter (SOM) because of the intensive management practices and constraints on litter inputs to the soil imposed by environmental conditions (low precipitation, high evapotranspiration). To date, several studies have provided evidence for a low potential of Mediterranean agroecosystems, especially on its southern part, to store C, even under soil conservation practices (e.g., non-tillage), questioning the capacity of commonly applied practices to restore soil health, mitigate climate change and improve resilience of agroecosystems to climate extremes. Using paired orchards of avocado and olive trees, we show that soils in the South Mediterranean have a high potential for C storage that depends strongly on crop type and soil properties. Soils planted with avocado trees showed higher SOM contents compared to olive trees mainly in the upper soil layer (0–10 cm) which were linked to higher inputs and litter chemistry. Our findings enable us to re-define achievable thresholds of SOC (≈8%) in Southern Mediterranean soils to store C, to quantify the effect of different cropping systems, and the period required to reach this potential and how this potential is affected by soil properties. Thus, the findings have profound implications for the design of soil conservation practices compatible with Mediterranean conditions and developing initiatives describing achievable targets of SOM restoration depending on soil properties and cropping systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Soil and Field Management Practices in Agricultural Ecosystems under Climatic Challenges)
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16 pages, 2831 KiB  
Article
Terra Preta Properties in Northwestern Amazonia (Colombia)
by Juan Manuel Orozco-Ortiz, Clara Patricia Peña-Venegas, Sara Louise Bauke, Christian Borgemeister, Ramona Mörchen, Eva Lehndorff and Wulf Amelung
Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7088; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13137088 - 24 Jun 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2992
Abstract
Whereas many researchers still approach Terra Preta (TP) as a soil category, new evidence suggests that TP refers to a directional grading of soil property changes (i.e., color, pH, nutrients, etc.) within human-made soils, originating from human activities in pre-Columbian times. Currently, most [...] Read more.
Whereas many researchers still approach Terra Preta (TP) as a soil category, new evidence suggests that TP refers to a directional grading of soil property changes (i.e., color, pH, nutrients, etc.) within human-made soils, originating from human activities in pre-Columbian times. Currently, most TP research focuses on the Brazilian part of the Amazon basin, but only little information is available on TP soils in the Colombian Amazon. Here, we sampled four TP and surrounding soils in the Colombian Amazon region at different soil depths and analyzed them for (i) general soil properties such as color, pH and texture, (ii) soil organic carbon and black carbon (BC) contents, the latter using benzene polycarboxylic acids as molecular marker, (iii) phosphorus availability based on sequential fractionation, and (iv) microbial residue contents using amino sugars. Our data from Colombia’s middle Caquetá River and Leticia confirmed that SOC, BC, and total P were present in significantly higher concentrations in the TP areas than the surrounding soils, while pH values and microbial residue contents were unchanged. The enrichment of P forms comprised both easily extractable and stable P pools, which both dominated to a different degree, both in TP and adjacent soils. The different degree of SOC, BC and P enrichment suggests different amounts of waste disposal by the ancient populations at different TP sites, now warranting further research for reconstructing ancient population sizes from TP chemical analyses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Soil and Field Management Practices in Agricultural Ecosystems under Climatic Challenges)
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19 pages, 2091 KiB  
Article
Impact of Application of Abscisic Acid, Benzothiadiazole and Chitosan on Berry Quality Characteristics and Plant Associated Microbial Communities of Vitis vinifera L var. Mouhtaro Plants
by Dimitrios-Evangelos Miliordos, Myrto Tsiknia, Nikolaos Kontoudakis, Maria Dimopoulou, Costas Bouyioukos and Yorgos Kotseridis
Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 5802; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13115802 - 22 May 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2685
Abstract
The phenolic profile of the grape berries is a key quality factor for the red grapevine varieties and several techniques have been applied to improve it. An innovative technique is the application of resistance elicitors and phytohormones. In the present study, leaves and [...] Read more.
The phenolic profile of the grape berries is a key quality factor for the red grapevine varieties and several techniques have been applied to improve it. An innovative technique is the application of resistance elicitors and phytohormones. In the present study, leaves and berries of a Greek red indigenous variety (Mouhtaro) sprayed with two elicitors, benzothiadiazole and chitosan and a plant hormone abscisic acid, during veraison. Physicochemical and phenolic characteristics of the berries and microbial communities of rhizosphere, phyllosphere and carposphere were analyzed at harvest. Differences in the microbial communities on different plant compartments were observed after the application of the plant activators. Chitosan treatment increased the abundance of the beneficial lactic acid bacteria, while the abscisic acid treatment decreased the presence of spoilage fungi on the carposphere. Treatments differentiate total phenolics, anthocyanins and in the chemical characteristics of grape must with chitosan treated grapes had increased anthocyanins and skin-derived phenolics that correlated positively with the microbial taxa that was discriminant by LefSe analysis. This research provides an overview of the effect of plant activators on the microbial ecology and grape quality of the Greek variety Mouhtaro and presents the potential of new and innovative approaches in the field of sustainable viticulture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Soil and Field Management Practices in Agricultural Ecosystems under Climatic Challenges)
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19 pages, 1916 KiB  
Article
Effects of Salinity and Rootstock on Nutrient Element Concentrations and Physiology in Own-Rooted or Grafted to 1103 P and 101-14 Mgt Rootstocks of Merlot and Cabernet Franc Grapevine Cultivars under Climate Change
by Kleopatra-Eleni Nikolaou, Theocharis Chatzistathis, Serafeim Theocharis, Anagnostis Argiriou, Stefanos Koundouras and Elefteria Zioziou
Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2477; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13052477 - 25 Feb 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1777
Abstract
Under the current and future climate crisis, a significant rise in soil salinity will likely affect vine productivity in several Mediterranean regions. During the present research, the rootstock effects on salinity tolerance of Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapevine cultivars were studied. In a [...] Read more.
Under the current and future climate crisis, a significant rise in soil salinity will likely affect vine productivity in several Mediterranean regions. During the present research, the rootstock effects on salinity tolerance of Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapevine cultivars were studied. In a pot hydroponic culture, own-rooted Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapevine cultivars or grafted onto the rootstocks 1103 P and 101-14 Mgt were drip-irrigated with saline water. A completely randomized 3 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment was designed with two vine rootstocks or own-rooted vines, two scion cultivars, and 100 mM NaCl salinity or control treatments, with six replications. A significant effect of scion cultivar, rootstock, and salinity was observed for most of the measured parameters. At the end of salinity stress period, leaf, shoot, root, and trunk nutrient concentrations were measured. Salinity stress increased Chloride (Cl) and Sodium (Na) concentrations in all parts of the vines and decreased leaf concentrations of Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Nitrogen (N), and Iron (Fe). In contrast, salinity stress increased leaf Boron (B) concentrations, whereas that of Manganese (Mn) remained unaffected. Leaf chlorophyll concentration decreased from 42% to 40% after thirty and sixty days of salt treatment, respectively. A similar trend was observed for the CCM-200 relative chlorophyll content. Salinity significantly decreased steam water potential (Ws), net CO2 assimilation rate (A), and stomatal conductance (gs) in all cases of grafted or own-rooted vines. Sixty days after the beginning of salt treatment, total Phenolics and PSII maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) decreased significantly. The rootstock 1103 P seems to be a better excluder for Na and Cl and more tolerant to salinity compared to 101-14 Mgt rootstock. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Soil and Field Management Practices in Agricultural Ecosystems under Climatic Challenges)
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17 pages, 10094 KiB  
Article
The Use of Crop Yield Autocorrelation Data as a Sustainable Approach to Adjust Agronomic Inputs
by Thomas M. Koutsos, Georgios C. Menexes and Andreas P. Mamolos
Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 2362; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13042362 - 22 Feb 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2240
Abstract
Agricultural fields have natural within-field soil variations that can be extensive, are usually contiguous, and are not always traceable. As a result, in many cases, site-specific attention is required to adjust inputs and optimize crop performance. Researchers, such as agronomists, agricultural engineers, or [...] Read more.
Agricultural fields have natural within-field soil variations that can be extensive, are usually contiguous, and are not always traceable. As a result, in many cases, site-specific attention is required to adjust inputs and optimize crop performance. Researchers, such as agronomists, agricultural engineers, or economists and other scientists, have shown increased interest in performing yield monitor data analysis to improve farmers’ decision-making concerning the better management of the agronomic inputs in the fields, while following a much more sustainable approach. In this case, spatial analysis of crop yield data with the form of spatial autocorrelation analysis can be used as a practical sustainable approach to locate statistically significant low-production areas. The resulted insights can be used as prescription maps on the tractors to reduce overall inputs and farming costs. This aim of this work is to present the benefits of conducting spatial analysis of yield crop data as a sustainable approach. Current work proves that the implementation of this process is costless, easy to perform and provides a better understanding of the current agronomic needs for better decision-making within a short time, adopting a sustainable approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Soil and Field Management Practices in Agricultural Ecosystems under Climatic Challenges)
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20 pages, 1420 KiB  
Article
Inorganic and Organic Amendments Affect Soil Fertility, Nutrition, Photosystem II Activity, and Fruit Weight and May Enhance the Sustainability of Solanum lycopersicon L. (cv. ‘Mountain Fresh’) Crop
by Theocharis Chatzistathis, Vasileios Tzanakakis, Anastasia Giannakoula and Polyxeni Psoma
Sustainability 2020, 12(21), 9028; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12219028 - 30 Oct 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2472
Abstract
One of the most important issues for modern agriculture is how to decrease fertilization rates and enhance the sustainability of crops, without decreasing yields. Two inorganic (zeolite—zeo; vermiculite—ver) amendments and their mixtures with an organic soil amendment (goat manure) (i.e., zeo + ver, [...] Read more.
One of the most important issues for modern agriculture is how to decrease fertilization rates and enhance the sustainability of crops, without decreasing yields. Two inorganic (zeolite—zeo; vermiculite—ver) amendments and their mixtures with an organic soil amendment (goat manure) (i.e., zeo + ver, manure + ver, manure + zeo) were tested, and compared to the application of a controlled release fertilizer (CRF), in order to investigate if they were able to satisfy the nutritional needs of Solanum lycopersicon L. plants. For this purpose, a 112-day pot experiment was performed. After zeo and manure application, exchangeable K was increased from 16.5 times to 37.5 times. At the end of the experiment, total plant biomass was significantly higher in the CRF treatment, compared to the ver treatments (ver, ver + manure). Leaf K concentration was significantly higher in the zeo treatment (5.93% dw), compared to those determined in the CRF, ver, and ver + manure. In contrast, significantly higher foliar N was found in the CRF (4.83% dw) and zeo + ver (4.24% dw) treatments, compared to manure + ver. Finally, photosystem II (PSII) activity was significantly higher in ver, and this was ascribed to the optimum foliar Mn found in this treatment (138 mg kg−1 dw). It is expected that these data will provide a thorough insight towards decreasing chemical fertilization inputs and enhancing the sustainability of Solanum lycopersicon L. crop. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Soil and Field Management Practices in Agricultural Ecosystems under Climatic Challenges)
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Review

Jump to: Research

24 pages, 2359 KiB  
Review
Nano-Priming against Abiotic Stress: A Way Forward towards Sustainable Agriculture
by Abdul Salam, Muhammad Siddique Afridi, Muhammad Ammar Javed, Aroona Saleem, Aqsa Hafeez, Ali Raza Khan, Muhammad Zeeshan, Baber Ali, Wardah Azhar, Sumaira, Zaid Ulhassan and Yinbo Gan
Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 14880; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142214880 - 10 Nov 2022
Cited by 43 | Viewed by 4399
Abstract
Agriculture is directly linked to human life, providing food for survival and health. It is threatened by a number of challenges, such as climate change, resource depletion, and abiotic stresses, including heavy metals (HMs), salinity, drought, etc. Various strategies have been employed to [...] Read more.
Agriculture is directly linked to human life, providing food for survival and health. It is threatened by a number of challenges, such as climate change, resource depletion, and abiotic stresses, including heavy metals (HMs), salinity, drought, etc. Various strategies have been employed to palliate the phytotoxic effects of these stressors from the soil–plant system. Nanotechnological approaches have emerged as a promising tool for increasing crop productivity and promoting sustainable agriculture. Interestingly, the seed nano-priming approach has shown potential against all of the above-mentioned abiotic stress factors and has improved crop productivity. The application of nanoparticles (NPs) via seed priming is an innovative and cost-effective approach that improves seed germination and subsequent plant growth by activating plant physiological processes and providing tolerance against various stresses. The seed priming with NPs induces electron exchange and increases surface reaction capabilities related to plant cell and tissue components. This review aims to provide an overview of recent advances and research findings on seed nano-priming and the possible mechanism of plant stress-tolerance augmentation against various stresses. Furthermore, we also shed light on gaps in studies conducted in previous years, which will open new avenues for future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Soil and Field Management Practices in Agricultural Ecosystems under Climatic Challenges)
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