Search

Cotton, with a cultivated area of 31.92 × 106 ha−1 across 80 countries and an estimated annual turnover of USD 5.68 billion, is the world's leading natural textile fiber. However, many cotton-producing countries have neglected to improve production practices, adversely affecting the environment and society. A systematic review of the sustainable cotton cultivation literature was performed for the first time to identify and suggest context-specific agricultural strategies that can be applied within different agroecosystems. The key aspects include (1) inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal species such as Gigaspora margarita, Funneliformis mosseae, and Acaulospora scrobiculata to enhance root exploration, biomass, and nutrient uptake; (2) using grass, legume, and brassica cover crops as a valid alternative to monoculture and fallow crop rotations to reduce resource depletion and increase the sustainability of cotton production; (3) adopting drip and mulched drip irrigation systems over traditional furrow and sprinkler systems for water conservation; (4) exploring the feasibility of prematurely terminating irrigation in humid subtropical and Mediterranean climates as an alternative to chemical defoliation without affecting cotton yield. This paper, which describes various farming practices adopted in different climates, provides farmers a guide for eco-friendly cotton agronomic management without sacrificing productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND The utilization of Trifolium subterraneum L. cover crops may represent an innovative and efficient option in low‐input and organic farming, especially in Mediterranean agroecosystems where low and irregular rainfall require frequent soil tillage and use of herbicides to reduce moisture losses and weed competitiveness. Since imbalances of soil macro‐ and micro‐nutrients due to cover cropping establishment could be responsible for numerous problems in specialized orchards, such as disturbances in the normal tree growth and quality of fruits, the objective of this study was to investigate, the cumulative effects of a 3‐years established T. subterraneum cover cropping, compared with a spontaneous flora and a conventional management (as a control), on the levels of mineral nutrients in the apricot leaves and fruits. RESULTS: Our findings indicated that T. subterraneum cover cropping tended to stimulate higher leaf macro‐ and micro‐nutrients content than conventional management and flora spontaneous cover cropping. In addition, the presence of T. subterraneum cover cropping, especially with the incorporation of dead mulches into the soil, increased the content of potassium (K), nitrogen (N), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) in apricot fruits. CONCLUSION: Taking also into account the effects of T. subterraneum cover cropping on both the reduction of soil weed and enhancement of bacteria communities involved in the soil N‐cycle, we may suggest its application in Mediterranean orchards as an eco‐friendly alternative to synthetic herbicides for weed control and mineral N fertilizers, while enhancing the apricot tree nutritional status and fruit quality. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research is to contribute to food security by studying the development of integrated organic production models related to the biodiversity of food sources, soil fertility and water availability, both in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Sicily. Using the FAO's multi-facetted approach of the Sustainable Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems (SAFA) Tool, combined with interviews and visits to two organic farming communities in the UAE and Sicily, preliminary results were obtained consisting of: SAFA reports for each farmer and each community and the identification of some additional SAFA Tool indicators for local markets and migrant worker relations. Overall, the two systems contain elements described in the literature, such as Short Food Local Systems and as such contribute to territorial food support. Some best practices in organic production, direct marketing and migrant worker integration were identified and shared with farmers. The study highlights some operational issues that will be further focused upon in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]