Selected Properties of Soils for Long-Term Use in Organic Farming

Productivity, soil health, and carbon management index of soybean-wheat cropping system under double zero-tillage and natural-farming based organic nutrient management in north-Indian plains

Conservation-agriculture and organic-farming are two sustainable-agriculture approaches to ensure food security and environmental-sustainability. Hence, a field study assessed the productivity, soil-health and carbon-dynamics of soybean-wheat cropping system (SWCS) under four tillage and residue-management practices (TRMPs) viz., Conventional-tillage without residues (CT-R), conventional-tillage with residue-retention in both crops at 3 t ha-1 each (CT + R), zero-tillage without residues (ZT-R), and zero-tillage with residue-retention in both crops at 3 t ha-1 each (ZT + R); and five organic-nutrient-management-practices (ONMPs) in both crops viz., 100 % RDF (N1), 100 % RDN through FYM (N2), 100 % RDN through VC (N3), 100 % RDN through FYM + Biofertilizers + Cow-urine + Panchgavya + Jeevamrut (N4), and 100 % RDN through VC + Biofertilizers + Cow-urine + Panchgavya + Jeevamrut (N5), in split-plot-design replicated-thrice. Among TRMPs, ZT + R enhanced system-productivity (SEY) by ∼17.2 % over CT-R, besides improved soil available-N, P, K by 6.4, 6.5 and 6.5 %, respectively. SMBC, SMBN and SMBP were higher under ZT + R by 16.2, 21.5 and 10.8 % over CT-R, respectively. ZT + R had higher soil enzyme activities of DHA, Acid-P, ALP, URA, and FDA over CT-R by 19.4, 20.7, 21.5, 20.7 and 15.2 %, respectively. ZT + R also had higher VLC, ACP, LI and CMI over CT-R. Among ONMPs, the natural-farming based ONMP, N5 considerably improved SMBC, SMBN, SMBP, FDA, DHA, Acid-P, URA, and ALP by 12.7-12.9 % over N1 (100 % RDF). ONMP-N5 improved the available-N, P, K content over N1 by 6.6, 5.8 and 6.7 %, respectively. ONMP-N5 had higher (p < 0.05) microbial-count, VLC, APC, LI and CMI; however, system-productivity was ∼4.1 % lower than N1 in this two-years' short-study which further need investigation in multi-location long-term experiments. Overall, the dual-crop basis ZT + R at 6 t ha-1 year-1 + NF-based ONMPs (N5) may harness higher and sustained productivity under SWCS besides advancing soil-health and soil carbon-pools in sandy-loam soils of north-Indian plains and similar soils across south-Asia.

Spatiotemporal Changes of Cultivated Land System Health Based on PSR-VOR Model-A Case Study of the Two Lake Plains, China

Cultivated land resources are the material basis of sustainable agricultural development. Climate change, food security, land pollution, and other issues highlight the value of sustainable agricultural development, and the health of the cultivated land system has attracted much attention. By constructing "PSR-VOR" cultivated land system health evaluation framework under the 5 km grid scale and using GIS spatial analysis and mathematical statistics to comprehensively evaluate the health status of the cultivated land system in the two lake plains from 2000 to 2019. The major results have shown that: (1) Over the past 20 years, both the highest and average values of the health index of the cultivated land system have gone down, and the health status of the cultivated land system has changed and gotten worse over time. (2) The health status in the two lake plains has been generally good, mainly in Class I and Class II areas. However, the area of cultivated land with general and poor health status has increased rapidly. On the whole, the health level presents the characteristic of gradually decreasing from the northeast to the southwest and southeast. (3) During the study period, the global Moran's I value of the cultivated land system health index in the two lake plains increased from 0.686 to 0.729, with significant spatial positive autocorrelation, and the spatial heterogeneity of the cultivated land system health index gradually increased. As shown by the spatial distribution characteristics of high in the north, low in the south, and decreasing from the middle to the outside, the distribution of the high-value cluster area and the low-value cluster area of the cultivated land system health index in the two lake plains has not changed significantly over the past 20 years. (4) The two lake plains are divided into five areas: a moderate optimization area, a collaborative optimization area, a potential improvement area, a key improvement area, and a priority improvement area. The urgency of regulating the health status from the moderate optimization area to the priority improvement area has gradually increased, and the differentiated utilization and management of cultivated land resources need to be carried out according to local conditions.

Environmental and Production Aspects of Using Fertilizers Based on Waste Elemental Sulfur and Organic Materials

Crop fertilization with sulfur is an important part of agricultural practices, as is the systematic increase in soil organic matter content. Materials of waste origin constitute a source of plant-available sulfur, as well as soil organic matter. The study was to verify the hypothesis assuming that combining waste sulfur pulp and its mixtures with organic materials enables simultaneous soil enrichment with readily available sulfur and organic matter. A 240-day incubation experiment was conducted, on two soils: very light and heavy; with two sulfur doses applied to each soil (20 and 40 mg S/kg d.m. for very light soil, and 30 and 60 mg S/kg d.m. for heavy soil). The sulfate sulfur content in the incubated soil material, treated with the addition of sulfur pulp and its mixtures with organic materials, increased significantly up to day 60 and then decreased. The application of these materials significantly increased the content of available sulfur and decreased the pH value of the incubated material. The effect of the introduced materials on dehydrogenase activity depended on soil granulometric composition (the impact of the applied materials on the activity of these enzymes in very light soil was small, and in heavy soil, their activity was usually limited by the presence of introduced materials). Application of the studied materials had little effect on the total organic carbon content in the incubated soil material (a significant change in the value of this parameter, in relation to the control soil, was recorded in some treatments of heavy soil).

Assessment of the Possibilities for the Use of Selected Waste in Terms of Biogas Yield and Further Use of Its Digestate in Agriculture

The utilization of municipal waste and sewage sludge as a source of energy is technically very difficult due to high variability of their physical and chemical properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the conversion of biomass contained in the whitewater fraction of municipal waste and sewage sludge by means of methanogenesis. The second objective was to assess the chemical composition of the digestate in the context of its use for fertilizer purposes. The whitewater fraction of municipal waste and sewage sludge was subjected to methanogenesis under static experimental conditions, according to DIM DIN 38414 methodology. The methanogenesis of concentrated substrates used in agricultural biogas plants was taken as a reference to evaluate the efficiency of the process. The organic fraction of the municipal waste was characterized by approximately 30% lower value of the soluble COD, with a comparable level of total COD compared to other materials. The total biogas yield, i.e., 404 dm³ per 1 kg of dry weight of the batch, was measured in the facility with sewage sludge. In COD value, this is 0.232 dm³·g O₂ COD. In the case of corn, these values were, respectively, 324 dm³ and 0.193, and for the organic sub-sieve fraction of municipal waste, 287 dm³·kg⁻¹ dw or 0.178 dm³·g O₂ COD, respectively. The type of fermented material did not affect the intensity of biogas production. The maximum level of biogas production occurred between the 13th and 15th day of the process. The digestate obtained in the process of methanogenesis of corn silage and the organic fraction of municipal waste was characterized by good parameters in terms of possible use for fertilization purposes.

Environmental Performance in EU Countries from the Perspective of Its Relation to Human and Economic Wellbeing

The actual development challenges impose new criteria of national performance evaluation, the concept of wellbeing tending to be measured not just in terms of economic and social dimensions, but also vs. the environment. Accordingly, considering the national environmental performance among the EU countries in 2006-2019 period, we grouped them and concentrated on the clusters registering the highest and lowest levels, analyzing how the components of the human and economic dimensions influence it. Applying panel data models, our main results emphasized that, firstly, for the countries with a better environmental performance, sufficient drinking water, safe sanitation, education, gender equality, and good governance were significant; in the countries with the lowest levels of environmental wellbeing, sufficient food, sufficient to drink, education, and income distribution were insignificant, while the remaining components were relevant. Secondly, in both groups of countries, organic farming and public debt were significant; nevertheless, differences were observed for genuine savings and employment, for which the peculiarities of economic activities seemed to be materialized as different influences upon environmental wellbeing. Our study draws alarm signals regarding the development patterns applied in the EU, seeming to have results that strengthen the sustainable goals, but not sufficient for exceeding the traditional growth-oriented model.

Effects of growth promoting microorganisms on tomato seedlings growing in different media conditions

Plant growth-promoting microbes (PGPM) play vital roles in maintaining crop fitness and soil health in stressed environments. Research have included analysis-based cultivation of soil-microbial-plant relationships to clarify microbiota potential. The goal of the research was to (i) evaluate the symbiotic microorganism effects on tomato seedling fitness under stressed conditions simulating a fragile soil susceptible to degradation; (ii) compare the plant-microbial interactions after inoculation with microbial isolates and fungi-bacteria consortia; (iii) develop an effective crop-microbial network, which improves soil and plant status. The experimental design included non-inoculated treatments with peat and sand at ratios of 50:50, 70:30, 100:0 (v:v), inoculated treatments with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Azospirillum brasilense (AZ) using the aforementioned peat:sand ratios; and treatment with peat co-inoculated with AMF and Saccharothrix tamanrassetensis (S). AMF + AZ increased root fresh weight in peat substrate compared to the control (4.4 to 3.3 g plant^–1). An increase in shoot fresh weight was detected in the AMF + AZ treatment with a 50:50 peat:sand ratio (10.1 to 8.5 g plant^-1). AMF + AZ reduced antioxidant activity (DPPH) (18–34%) in leaves, whereas AMF + S had the highest DPPH in leaves and roots (45%). Total leaf phenolic content was higher in control with a decreased proportion of peat. Peroxidase activity was enhanced in AMF + AZ and AMF + S treatments, except for AMF + AZ in peat. Microscopic root assays revealed the ability of AMF to establish strong fungal-tomato symbiosis; the colonization rate was 78–89%. AMF + AZ accelerated K and Mg accumulation in tomato leaves in treatments reflecting soil stress. To date, there has been no relevant information regarding the successful AMF and Saccharothrix co-inoculation relationship. This study confirmed that AMF + S could increase the P, S, and Fe status of seedlings under high organic C content conditions. The improved tomato growth and nutrient acquisition demonstrated the potential of PGPM colonization under degraded soil conditions.

Quality Assessment of Wild and Cultivated Green Tea from Different Regions of China

Natural products have always enjoyed great popularity among consumers. Wild tea is an interesting alternative to tea from intensive plantations. The term "wild tea" is applied to many different varieties of tea, the most desirable and valued of which are native or indigenous tea plants. Special pro-health properties of wild tea are attributed to the natural conditions in which it grows. However, there are no complex studies that describe quality and health indicators of wild tea. The aim of this research was to evaluate the quality of wild and cultivated green tea from different regions of China: Wuzhishan, Baisha, Kunlushan, and Pu'Er. The assessment was carried out by verifying the concentration of selected chemical components in tea and relating it to the health risks they may pose, as well as to the nutritional requirements of adults. Wild tea was characterized by higher micronutrient concentration. The analyzed teas can constitute a valuable source of Mn in the diet. A higher concentration of nitrates and oxalates in cultivated tea can be associated with fertilizer use. The analyzed cultivated tea was a better source of antioxidants with a higher concentration of caffeine. There were no indications of health risks for wild or cultivated teas.

Effectiveness of Instruments Supporting Inter-Organizational Cooperation in the RES Market in Europe. Case Study of Enterprise Europe Network

In the renewable energy source (RES) market, which is highly atomized, business events play an important role in supporting inter-organizational cooperation. The aim of this paper was to examine the impact of three characteristics of the events, namely, the location of the event, type of event (brokerage event versus company mission), and type of leading partner (public versus private), on the effectiveness of the business events (expressed by the number of meetings during an event and the number of partnerships initiated as a result of these meetings). We analyzed 304 promotional events organized in the European RES market. We employed basic statistical tests to verify our hypotheses. Our findings suggest that (1) the numbers of meetings and partnerships differ depending on the event’s location (country and region of Europe), (2) the type of the event (brokerage event versus company mission) affects the numbers of meetings and partnerships (in particular, during brokerage events (BEs), significantly more meetings take place than during company meetings (CMs)), and (3) the type of an event’s leading partner (public versus private) has no impact on the numbers of meetings and partnerships. With its findings, this paper contributes to RES market development and the theory of inter-organizational relations. It presents meaningful implications and recommendations for enterprises, business networks, and event managers operating in RES markets.

Renewable Energy Promotion Instruments Used by Innovation Brokers in a Technology Transfer Network. Case Study of the Enterprise Europe Network

Stable and sustainable economic development—including that of renewable energy resources (RES)—requires institutional support of an environment that would enable market operations, and support them in case they are ineffective. Innovation brokers, including structured technology transfer networks, play a key role in promoting, disseminating, and liaising between the parties in the RES sector. The aim of the paper is to present the structure of events used to promote RES in Europe by the Enterprise Europe Network in the years 2017–2018; to verify whether the type of promotion instrument used is significantly related to the location of the events organized; to research whether the selection of the supporting partner is determined by the organized event’s geographical location. The analysis is carried out by means of an empirical study of the network of innovation brokers, i.e., the Enterprise Europe Network. Additionally, the available data are analyzed in terms of the type of the partner supporting individual events. It has been shown that there is a significant variation in the structure of the types of events for individual regions of Europe. This could mean that the organizers’ decisions as to the type of events organized in particular regions of Europe are deliberate and in some way adjusted to the region in which they take place.

Promotion of RES in a Technology Transfer Network. Case Study of the Enterprise Europe Network

The promotion of renewable energy is a key concept in the European Union for both environmental and economic reasons. It contributes to securing the objectives set out in the Kyoto Protocol. In addition, it brings various social and economic benefits, e.g., diversification of the energy offer, new jobs, improvement of regional and local development opportunities and building a solid national industry. The main purpose of the article is to contribute to the debate on the instruments promoting renewable energy sources (RES) by emphasizing its importance within the technology transfer network. The subject is an empirical study of an actual technology transfer network. Its international activity promotes RES among entrepreneurs. Data related to meetings as part of brokerage events (BE) and company missions (CM) were subject to statistical and visual analysis, based on the data obtained from the Enterprise Europe Network from the years 2017–2018. The presented results are the foundation for future theoretical and practical studies. One of the important aspects to be examined is the intensity of cooperation launched during CM and BE. It is related to the results of partnership agreements and the importance of increasing the knowledge flow and creating opportunities for partners to acquire foreign technologies.

The Impact of a Controlled-Release Fertilizer on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Efficiency of the Production of Chinese Cabbage

Optimization of plant fertilization is an important element of all quality systems in primary production, such as Integrated Production, GLOBAL G.A.P. (Good Agriculture Practice) or SAI (Sustainable Agriculture Initiative). Fertilization is the most important element of agricultural treatments, affecting the quantity and quality of crops. The aim of the study was to assess greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the cultivation of Chinese cabbage, depending on the technological variant. The factor modifying the production technology was the use of fertilizers with a slow release of nutrients. One tonne of marketable Chinese cabbage crop was selected as the functional unit. To achieve the research goal, a strict field experiment was carried out. Calculation of the total amount of GHG emitted from the crop was made in accordance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044. The system boundaries included the production and use of fertilizers and pesticides, energy consumption for agricultural practices and the emission of gases from soil resources and harvesting residue. The use of slow-release fertilizers resulted in a greater marketable yield of cabbage compared to conventional fertilizers. The results of the research indicate a significant potential for the use of slow-release fertilizers in reducing agricultural emissions. From the environmental and production point of view, the most favourable variant is the one with 108 kg N·ha−1 slow-release fertilizers. At a higher dose of this element, no increase in crop yield was observed. At this nitrogen dose, a 30% reduction in total GHG emissions and a 50% reduction in fertilizer emissions from the use of per product functional unit were observed. The reference object was fertilization in accordance with production practice in the test area.

The Effect of the Addition of a Fat Emulsifier on the Amount and Quality of the Obtained Biogas

Slaughterhouse waste management is an important technological, economic, and environmental challenge. Recently, more and more attention has been paid to the possibility of obtaining biogas from waste generated by slaughterhouses. The aim of the paper was to examine the effect of an emulsifier addition in the form of a carboxymethyl cellulose solution to create animal waste fermentation media based on the quantity and quality of the generated biogas. The adopted research goal was achieved based on a laboratory experiment of methane fermenting poultry processing waste. The waste was divided into two fractions: soft (tissue) and hard (bone). A fat emulsifier in a concentration of 1%, 2.5%, 5%, and 10% of fresh weight of the substrate was added to each substrate sample made from the above fractions. The emulsifier used was a 55% carboxymethyl cellulose solution, since this emulsifier is most commonly used in food production. The experiment was conducted in order to determine how the addition of an emulsifier (55% carboxymethylcellulose solution) affects the hydration of fats during methane fermentation, as demonstrated on poultry slaughterhouse waste. The samples were subjected to static methane fermentation, according to the methodology of DIM DIN 38414(DIN Deutches Institut für Normung). The experiment lasted 30 days. The total amount of biogas obtained after fermentation was 398 mL·g−1 for the soft fraction and 402 mL·g−1 for the hard fraction. In the case of the soft waste fraction, the addition of carboxymethylcellulose at 1% of the mass to the biogas process increased the amount of obtained biogas by 16%. In the case of the hard fraction, no effect of the addition of emulsifier on the total amount of biogas obtained was identified. In each case, the biogas from substrates with added emulsifier contained less methane and slightly more carbon. The emulsifier added to the soft fraction of slaughterhouse waste from poultry processing allowed cutting the process of methanogenesis by over 50% while maintaining the efficiency of biogas production. In the case of biogasification of bone tissue, no unambiguous effect of the addition of emulsifier on the improvement of process efficiency was identified.