The concurrent assessment of agronomic, ecological and environmental variables enables better choice of agroecological service crop termination management

Navarro‐Miró, David; Blanco‐Moreno, José M.; Ciaccia, Corrado; Testani, Elena; Iocola, Ileana; Depalo, Laura; Burgio, Giovanni; Kristensen, Hanne Lakkenborg; Hefner, Margita; Tamm, K.; Bender, I.B.; Persiani, Alessandro; Diacono, Mariangela; Montemurro, Francesco; Willekens, Koen; Védie, Hélène; Bavec, Martina; Robačer, Martina; Arlotti, Donatienne; Deltour, Pauline; Gebremikael, Mesfin Tsegaye; Chamorro, Lourdes; Caballero‐López, Berta; Pèrez-Ferrer, Alejandro; Canali, Stefano; Sans, F. Xavier

doi:10.1111/1365-2664.14112

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…The block factor was included in the random part of the model with the block (B) nested within the rotational areas. Since the experimental layout was characterized by non-randomization, we introduced spatial correlation structures in the model to account for the lack of independence among samples (Pinheiro and Bates, 2000; Navarro-Miró et al ., 2022). Models without and with different (exponential, Gaussian and spherical) spatial correlation structures were compared considering Akaike's and Bayesian information criteria.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strip cropping in organically managed vegetable systems: agronomic and environmental effects

Campanelli¹,

Iocola²,

Leteo³

et al. 2023

Renew. Agric. Food Syst.

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This study evaluated the agro-environmental and economic effectiveness of strips introduced in a diversified organic vegetable system. Two experiments of three experimental years (2018, 2019, 2020) were carried out within the 4-year rotation of MOnsampolo VEgetable organic Long-Term Experiment (MOVE LTE) in Central Italy to test strip cropping vs pure stand. The crop combinations in the two experiments were faba bean (Vicia faba L.)–tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L.) and common wheat (Triticum aestivum)–zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.). We determined the productive and economic performances, disease and weed control, nutritional differences and effectiveness in returning carbon to the soil. The two strip cropping systems allowed a better use of resources, enhancing plant biomass and crop residues, particularly for tomato (+24%) and zucchini (+63%). However, the greater plant biomass did not always result in an increase in crop yields. For example, while the wheat–zucchini strip system showed a land equivalent ratio >1 in all three experimental years with a high yield performance in zucchini (+54% of yield), the faba bean–tomato system was more productive in strips only in 2018. On the contrary, this latter system contributed a carbon return >1 in all three experimental years. No significant differences between strip and pure stand systems were observed for fusarium (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici) and oidium (Oidium spp.) diseases on tomato and zucchini crops, respectively, and for weed control. Lastly, greater labor costs associated in both experiments did not affect their profitability (+21% and +319% in faba bean–tomato and wheat–zucchini experiments, respectively). Overall, our findings pointed out that farmers could increase sustainability of their cropping systems with the introduction of a well-designed strip cropping system, which can lead to the reduction of economic risks, greater potential soil carbon and more efficient use of resources on the same land.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strip cropping in organically managed vegetable systems: agronomic and environmental effects

Campanelli¹,

Iocola²,

Leteo³

et al. 2023

Renew. Agric. Food Syst.

Self Cite

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“…The use of cover crops (CC) combined with reduced tillage (RT) is a promising practice that can minimize soil erosion (Alliaume et al, 2014), increase and maintain high SOC levels (Haddaway et al, 2017;Li et al, 2020), increase water infiltration (Alliaume et al, 2014), enhance biological activity and biological control (Navarro-Miró et al, 2022;Tamburini et al, 2016), reduce N leaching (Jokela & Nair, 2016;Zhang et al, 2020) and reduce CO2 emissions (Abdalla et al, 2013;Boeckx et al 2011). However, CC-RT management often results in variable and low crop yields, and farmers face technical difficulties implementing this system (Alliaume et al, 2014;Erenstein, 2002;Jokela & Nair, 2016;Navarro-Miró et al, 2022;Peigné et al, 2007). Thus, while promising, CC-RT needs to be further developed to become a practically feasible management option.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological intensification pathways for vegetable production systems in south Uruguay

Scarlato García

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Vegetables are commonly produced with high inputs of pesticides and fertilisers to boost production and meet cosmetic market standards. Yet, reports on the relationships between agrochemical inputs and crop productivity are scattered and an overview is missing. We assessed the relationship between pesticide and nutrient inputs and crop productivity for five vegetable crops in the south of Uruguay at field and farm level and explored the relation with farm resource endowment. We analysed crop yield and input use for tomato, onion, sweet potato, and strawberry with a dataset of 82 farms and 428 fields constructed between 2012 and 2017. Clear crop-specific patterns in pesticide and nutrient input levels were found, despite considerable variation across fields within the same crop. Strawberry and long cycle tomato had the greatest pesticide input regarding of the number of applications (20 and 18, respectively) and pesticide load (21 kg AI per ha). Cumulative nutrient inputs were greatest for long cycle tomato (1127 kg per ha). The relationships between inputs and yield were weak or non-significant, indicating inefficiencies and overuse of inputs, and there was no agronomical rationale for input use. We found substantial variation in management practices between fields and farms. In several cases, 21% of the fields and 17% of the farms producing onion, strawberry and tomato, attained relatively high yield levels with limited input levels. Yield and input use levels were not related to farm resource endowment. Our findings question the efficiency of the current high levels of pesticide and nutrient inputs in Uruguayan vegetable systems. The inputs may pose environmental and human health risks and in most cases did not increase yields. Learning from positive deviant farmers in combination with guided farm redesign, high-quality extension services, and use of context-specific knowledge and technologies may equip farmers to use more sustainable management practices.

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Reducing fossil fuel dependency in smallholding farming in l'Horta de València, Spain: A socio-metabolic approach

Galiana-Carballo,

Rivera-Ferre,

Méndez

et al. 2024

Ecological Economics

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The concurrent assessment of agronomic, ecological and environmental variables enables better choice of agroecological service crop termination management

Cited by 6 publications

References 63 publications

Strip cropping in organically managed vegetable systems: agronomic and environmental effects

Strip cropping in organically managed vegetable systems: agronomic and environmental effects

Ecological intensification pathways for vegetable production systems in south Uruguay

Reducing fossil fuel dependency in smallholding farming in l'Horta de València, Spain: A socio-metabolic approach

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