Considering crop rotations and residues in agricultural carbon footprint assessments

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Picture copyright Brankatschk et al.

Crop rotations and residues fulfill important agronomic functions but they are inadequately considered in product carbon footprint calculations. Scientists Brankatschk and Finkbeiner recalculated carbon footprints for bread, milk, first-generation biodiesel and second-generation bioethanol and showed that crop rotations and residues influence the results and should be considered in the process. Without inclusion of crop rotation effects, environmental advantages of improvements in agricultural practices enabled by crop rotations will remain undetected.

Soil solarization to control tomato bacterial diseases

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Picture copyright Castello et al.

Sustainable heat-based techniques and exploiting solar energy, are promoted worldwide for the eradication of plant pathogenic fungi, weeds and nematodes. Agronomists Castello et al. showed for the first time that soil solarization with innovative films can also be a sustainable option for growers, especially in the Mediterranean basin, to control effectively the natural infections caused by phytopathogenic bacteria on greenhouse tomatoes.

Sustainable production of globe artichoke in Italy

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Picture copyright Deligios et al.

The conventional cultivation of globe artichoke triggers high nitrogen surpluses rendering this production poorly sustainable. Scientists Deligios et al. tested over ten years in Italy, the effect of crop residue incorporation into soil, the use of soil-building crops and crop rotations on artichoke cropping. Adopting biannual rotation with cauliflower together with the use of cover crop, maintained crop yield and promoted valuable nutrient recycling. Shifting from traditional to alternative artichoke cropping system prevented head disorders, yield losses and avoided environmental problems.

The challenges of protected cultivation for smallholders in sub-Saharan Africa

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Picture copyright Martin, CIRAD

Vegetable production in sub-Saharan Africa faces numerous agronomic constraints that must be overcome to feed the increasing population and to fight malnutrition. Scientists Nordey et al. reviewed low-tech protected cultivation techniques using soil and/or plant covers, affordable to smallholders. They reckon that such techniques are promising. However, they are not always suitable and need to be combined with other methods to ensure adequate pest control. Their profitability is dependent upon market requirements and product prices.

Making the most of weedy rice

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Picture copyright Nadir et al.

Weedy rice has become one of the most common weeds infesting rice fields in the world. Agronomists Nadir et al. review the biological features of this weed and explore ways for its sustainable management and utilization. Weedy rice has several traits potentially useful for breeders, such as tolerance to drought, cold, salinity and many diseases. Exploiting the weedy germplasm natural variation gives hopes of improving the rice crop.

The benefits of conservation agriculture in Cambodia

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Picture copyright Edralin et al.

Adoption of conservation agriculture in Cambodian smallholder commercial household farms, is a profitable conversion. Scientists Edralin et al. demonstrate that minimum soil disturbance, continuous mulch and cultivation of diverse crop species in space and time improve yield and reduce labor costs. They also show that cover crops and surface mulch significantly reduce manual weeding in all cropping seasons.

Weed control under conservation agriculture in Africa

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Picture copyright Lee and Thierfelder

Under conservation agriculture, low biomass production impairs the permanent soil cover and thus limits its usual weed-suppressing benefits. Smallholders farmers must, therefore, find other methods of weed control. Scientists Lee and Thierfelder reviewed the applicability of strategies available to smallholder farmers in rainfed dryland areas of southern Africa. They found that a combination of strategies and further research into new technologies, such as weed steaming, could help farmers to better address weed management challenges.

Sustainable vegetable production of rooftops in Paris

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Picture copyright Dorr et al.

Urban rooftop farming is gaining popularity in European cities, although its impacts have rarely been quantified. Scientists Dorr et al. used Life Cycle Assessment to compare the environmental and economic impacts of producing 1 kg of lettuce or tomato under various substrate types in a rooftop garden in Paris, France. High-yielding lettuce plants had lower impacts than tomato, and systems using compost as a substrate had lower impacts than those using potting soil.

Breeding for nitrogen use efficiency

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Picture copyright Yongran Yi, Wageningen University & Research

Nitrogen use efficiency is a complex trait involving many crop physiological mechanisms. Breeding for this trait has therefore not been challenged, despite its potential benefits. Scientists Lammerts van Bueren and Struik review breeding strategies for nitrogen use efficiency in vegetables and compare those with strategies in grain crops. They argue that some traits are generic across species, while other traits are crop-specific. They conclude that there is sufficient genetic variation available among modern cultivars to improve nitrogen use efficiency.

The benefits of biochar in vineyards

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Picture copyright Maienza et al.

Biochar favors the production of crops by improving the soil, preserving water and retaining nutrients. On the long-term, however, it remains to be studied whether or not biochar amendment on vineyard soil releases harmful pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or heavy metals. Scientists Maienza et al. showed that biochar application in a Tuscany vineyard has no negative impact on soil ecology, reinforcing its interest as a sustainable practice in vineyards.