Agri-Food Waste as a Method for Weed Control and Soil Amendment in Crops

Abstract

The continued and extensive use of synthetic herbicides to control weeds to maximize crop yield is no longer sustainable, as it results in negative impacts on the environment and human health. Innovative sustainable and resilient food production systems should preserve resources and environmental health by incorporating alternative natural herbicides, recycling waste, and favoring a circular economy. The present work assesses the value of different organic waste (Urtica dioica residues, Vicia faba pods, spent coffee grounds, and corn cobs) as bioherbicides and fertilizers in different seasons through pot and field two-year sequential experiments. Pot assays revealed that V. faba pods, spent coffee grounds, and corn cob waste showed the best inhibitory effect, which were subsequently evaluated in the Spring–Summer and Autumn crops. In the field, spent coffee grounds reduced the biomass of total naturally-emerged weeds and stimulated crop growth under scarce rainfall and warm days. However, its effect varied under different environmental conditions. Spent coffee grounds can partially control weeds in the field, which valorizes them as a bioherbicide and boosts sustainable agriculture.

The Effect of Recycled Spent Coffee Grounds Fertilizer, Vermicompost, and Chemical Fertilizers on the Growth and Soil Quality of Red Radish (Raphanus sativus) in the United Arab Emirates: A Sustainability Perspective

“…This present study offers valuable insights into agricultural practices, particularly for enhancing the fresh weight of red radish plants through strategic fertilizer use. The strong association between fertilizer types and fresh and dry weight outcomes suggests potential avenues for manipulating plant growth characteristics through targeted fertilization strategies [38,40,41,42].…”

Unlocking the Potential of Agrifood Waste for Sustainable Innovation in Agriculture

“…Plant by-products can exploit the dual function of soil amendment and weed control agents. Lorenzo et al [53] assessed the herbicidal activity of several AFW biomasses and found that Urtica dioica waste, Vicia faba pod waste, coffee (Coffea arabica) grounds and corn (Zea mays) cobs were effective in inhibiting weed growth. Mallek et al [54] reported that the application of dried and milled crop residues of different Allium species inhibited the germination of weeds in a concentration-dependent manner.…”

Effects of different extraction methods on the phenolic profile, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the coffee grounds and coffee silverskin (Coffea arabica L.)

“…This reality increases the search for natural agrochemicals since compounds found in plants have the desired action without the main disadvantages found in synthetic agrochemicals. 12,13 Recent studies show that coffee processing by-products have an inhibitory action on weed growth, which is related to the presence of phenolic compounds, such as chlorogenic acids, tannins, and caffeine. 13 The valorization of these by-products would be an innovative and ecological way to contribute to sustainable development and promote the use of alternative sources of bioactive compounds having potential market value.…”

“…In this regard, the exacerbated use of herbicides and synthetic fertilizers has a number of disadvantages, such as soil, water, and air pollution, in addition to reduced effectiveness over time. This reality increases the search for natural agrochemicals since compounds found in plants have the desired action without the main disadvantages found in synthetic agrochemicals 12,13 …”