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Environmental benefits can be achieved by organic farming systems; however, weed pressure and timely crop nutrition remain important drawbacks for many field crops. Agroecological practices, such as double cropping (e.g., intercropping and relay cropping), using forage legume species can provide nitrogen (N) to the companion crop through biological N fixation and tackle weed issues by competing for light, water and land. The present study investigated the effect of intercropping (IC) and relay-cropping (RC) systems of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn) and forage legumes (Trifolium subterraneum L., Medicago polymorpha L., and Lotus corniculatus L.) by varying organic N fertilization with the aim to reduce N-requirement and weed pressure and increase wheat grain yield and grain protein content in Mediterranean organic farming systems. N fertilizer significantly improved wheat grain yield and grain protein, while a null effect on legume and weed biomass yields was found. Double cropping (T. durum-M. polymorpha, and T. durum-L. corniculatus) enhanced wheat grain yield as compared to the control and the T. durum-T. subterraneum. IC significantly improved legume yield, grain protein and the land equivalent ratio (LER) and reduced weed dry biomass as compared with the RC and the control. Among legume species, T. subterraneum outperformed the others and was less affected by the wheat's competitive performance. Nonetheless, M. polymorpha was as effective as T. subterraneum in controlling weeds. Weed dry biomass was linearly reduced by increasing legume yield; the relationship improved by cumulating wheat grain yield to legume yield. Overall, this study indicated that double cropping, especially IC, can be a suitable agroecological practice to tackle weed issues and reduce N-requirement in Mediterranean organic cereal-based systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental benefits can be achieved by organic farming systems; however, weed pressure and timely crop nutrition remain important drawbacks for many field crops. Agroecological practices, such as double cropping (e.g., intercropping and relay cropping), using forage legume species can provide nitrogen (N) to the companion crop through biological N fixation and tackle weed issues by competing for light, water and land. The present study investigated the effect of intercropping (IC) and relay-cropping (RC) systems of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn) and forage legumes (Trifolium subterraneum L., Medicago polymorpha L., and Lotus corniculatus L.) by varying organic N fertilization with the aim to reduce N-requirement and weed pressure and increase wheat grain yield and grain protein content in Mediterranean organic farming systems. N fertilizer significantly improved wheat grain yield and grain protein, while a null effect on legume and weed biomass yields was found. Double cropping (T. durum-M. polymorpha, and T. durum-L. corniculatus) enhanced wheat grain yield as compared to the control and the T. durum-T. subterraneum. IC significantly improved legume yield, grain protein and the land equivalent ratio (LER) and reduced weed dry biomass as compared with the RC and the control. Among legume species, T. subterraneum outperformed the others and was less affected by the wheat’s competitive performance. Nonetheless, M. polymorpha was as effective as T. subterraneum in controlling weeds. Weed dry biomass was linearly reduced by increasing legume yield; the relationship improved by cumulating wheat grain yield to legume yield. Overall, this study indicated that double cropping, especially IC, can be a suitable agroecological practice to tackle weed issues and reduce N-requirement in Mediterranean organic cereal-based systems.

Plant–soil biota represent a unique living system crucial for improving crops' adaptation to climate change. In vineyards, plant–soil relations are mediated by rootstock–scion interaction, with grafted vines being the main plant material employed in vineyard planting. The interaction between two deeply different biological systems such as Vitis vinifera sativa and the American Vitis species may modify vines' adaptation to abiotic stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological response (chlorophyll content—CHL; stomatal conductance—gs) of grafted and ungrafted vines and assess the involvement of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) in this response. In two vineyards located in Central Italy, the presence of AMF was assessed in the roots of grafted and ungrafted cv 'Aleatico' vines. The morphological traits of AMF and root mycorrhizal colonization differed in the grafted and ungrafted vines. Under limited climate conditions, ungrafted vines showed better leaf resilience traits (high CHL and gs values) and larger AMF storage organs (vesicles). On the other hand, the grafted ones—which are more sensitive to climate conditions (lower gs and CHL)—involved AMF colonization strategies (greater abundance of arbuscoles and mycorrhizal colonization potential) linked to the improved uptake and transport of water from the bulk soil to the vine. Taken together, these findings highlight different mycorrhizal colonization strategies and storage behaviors in grafted and ungrafted vineyards and with respect to different physical and chemical soil traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is a central issue to address regarding the nitrogen (N) uptake by crops, and can be improved by applying the correct dose of fertilizers at specific points in the fields according to the plants status. The N nutrition index (NNI) was developed to diagnose plant N status. However, its determination requires destructive, time-consuming measurements of plant N content (PNC) and plant dry matter (PDM). To overcome logistical and economic problems, it is necessary to assesses crop NNI rapidly and non-destructively. According to the literature which we reviewed, it, as well as PNC and PDM, can be estimated using vegetation indices obtained from remote sensing. While sensory techniques are useful for measuring PNC, crop growth models estimate crop N requirements. Research has indicated that the accuracy of the estimate is increased through the integration of remote sensing data to periodically update the model, considering the spatial variability in the plot. However, this combination of data presents some difficulties. On one hand, at the level of remote sensing is the identification of the most appropriate sensor for each situation, and on the other hand, at the level of crop growth models is the estimation of the needs of crops in the interest stages of growth. The methods used to couple remote sensing data with the needs of crops estimated by crop growth models must be very well calibrated, especially for the crop parameters and for the environment around this crop. Therefore, this paper reviews currently available information from Google Scholar and ScienceDirect to identify studies relevant to crops N nutrition status, to assess crop NNI through non-destructive methods, and to integrate the remote sensing data on crop models from which the cited articles were selected. Finally, we discuss further research on PNC determination via remote sensing and algorithms to help farmers with field application. Although some knowledge about this determination is still necessary, we can define three guidelines to aid in choosing a correct platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution has reached such an advanced stage that no measure can effectively stop the adverse effects shortly. The effort of many future generations is necessary globe wide to be able to restore within normal limits the damage that has been reached at present. Agriculture must contribute to these remedies by recycling plant residues, improving cultivation technologies to make them as environmentally friendly as possible, using biological pesticides and alternative methods of fighting harmful organisms, as well as redirecting farmers to choose new crops that can complete the range and diversify it to practice sustainable agriculture. The purpose of this research was to observe the quantity of maize biomass depending on the type of tillage by comparing specific conservative agriculture tillage with the classic soil tillage - plowing in drought and heat conditions of 2021-2022. The maximum values of green biomass (37.04 Mg ha-) and dry biomass (10.57 Mg ha-) were recorded in the scarified plot - L3, and the minimum values of 22.63 Mg ha-respectively 6.93 Mg ha-, in the control plot L1 - plowed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplying the necessary food to the global population is threatened by how pollution affects food quality. Pollution manifests itself through the defective management of natural resources and the instability of environmental factors. These variations in temperatures and rainfall become problematic with each passing year. The worrisome predictions of climate change and particularly its repercussions on agriculture and the survival of mankind challenge researchers to constantly look for solutions regarding crop technology and the type of cultivated plants so that the impact on the environment is minimum while obtaining rich and qualitative harvests. This paper aims to observe and analyze the adaptability of straw cereal species to the types of tillage that characterize the dry-farming work system under different conditions of abiotic stress recorded between 2019-2022. The triticale crop showed positive yield increases compared to the control tillage in all specific conservation agriculture tillages during the three-year study, while the rye crop showed instability regarding yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was laid out on a Haplic Phaeozem (PH ha) (WRB-SR 2014) characterized by a dark colored mollic A horizon (Am), a cambic B horizon (Bv), and an accumulation calcareous illuviation horizon (Cca) of secondary calcium carbonates which occurs deeper than 125 cm (SRTS, 2012). Clay content in the first 40 cm varies between 39.4 and 42.6%, total nitrogen is 0.186%, available phosphorus soluble in the ammonium acetate lactate solution (PAL) 76 mg/kg, available potassium soluble in the same solution (KAL) 250 mg/kg, and soil reaction (pH) 6.3. The land is slightly uneven, groundwater below 5 m depth. The humus content was average in the beginning of the experimentations after which increases were noticed especially in the upper layer (5-10 cm). Soil humus content evolution following different agricultural technologies use was similar at all three studied depths, with increases in the case of minimum tillage system, but without statistically significant differences as compared to the classic one. Therefore, the various agricultural technological systems must assert the conservation and increase of soil organic matter, respectively, the soil humus supply, through their technological chain links. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant–soil biota represent a unique living system crucial for improving crops’ adaptation to climate change. In vineyards, plant–soil relations are mediated by rootstock–scion interaction, with grafted vines being the main plant material employed in vineyard planting. The interaction between two deeply different biological systems such as Vitis vinifera sativa and the American Vitis species may modify vines’ adaptation to abiotic stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological response (chlorophyll content—CHL; stomatal conductance—gs) of grafted and ungrafted vines and assess the involvement of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) in this response. In two vineyards located in Central Italy, the presence of AMF was assessed in the roots of grafted and ungrafted cv ‘Aleatico’ vines. The morphological traits of AMF and root mycorrhizal colonization differed in the grafted and ungrafted vines. Under limited climate conditions, ungrafted vines showed better leaf resilience traits (high CHL and gs values) and larger AMF storage organs (vesicles). On the other hand, the grafted ones—which are more sensitive to climate conditions (lower gs and CHL)—involved AMF colonization strategies (greater abundance of arbuscoles and mycorrhizal colonization potential) linked to the improved uptake and transport of water from the bulk soil to the vine. Taken together, these findings highlight different mycorrhizal colonization strategies and storage behaviors in grafted and ungrafted vineyards and with respect to different physical and chemical soil traits.

Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is a central issue to address regarding the nitrogen (N) uptake by crops, and can be improved by applying the correct dose of fertilizers at specific points in the fields according to the plants status. The N nutrition index (NNI) was developed to diagnose plant N status. However, its determination requires destructive, time-consuming measurements of plant N content (PNC) and plant dry matter (PDM). To overcome logistical and economic problems, it is necessary to assesses crop NNI rapidly and non-destructively. According to the literature which we reviewed, it, as well as PNC and PDM, can be estimated using vegetation indices obtained from remote sensing. While sensory techniques are useful for measuring PNC, crop growth models estimate crop N requirements. Research has indicated that the accuracy of the estimate is increased through the integration of remote sensing data to periodically update the model, considering the spatial variability in the plot. However, this combination of data presents some difficulties. On one hand, at the level of remote sensing is the identification of the most appropriate sensor for each situation, and on the other hand, at the level of crop growth models is the estimation of the needs of crops in the interest stages of growth. The methods used to couple remote sensing data with the needs of crops estimated by crop growth models must be very well calibrated, especially for the crop parameters and for the environment around this crop. Therefore, this paper reviews currently available information from Google Scholar and ScienceDirect to identify studies relevant to crops N nutrition status, to assess crop NNI through non-destructive methods, and to integrate the remote sensing data on crop models from which the cited articles were selected. Finally, we discuss further research on PNC determination via remote sensing and algorithms to help farmers with field application. Although some knowledge about this determination is still necessary, we can define three guidelines to aid in choosing a correct platform.

The main means of capitalizing the new technological solutions obtained through the scientific research effort consists in the production process and products’ modernization. The replacement of absolute technologies with those of high performance is a decisive factor for ensuring the economic development of the entities and increasing the financial results. In this article, the necessity of implementing innovative technologies and attracting investments in enhancing financial results were analysed and argued. In this context, the efficiency of applying the conservative technology of soil processing Mini- Till and No-Till, compared to the traditional one, and the assurance of the agricultural enterprises with native varieties of crops, resistant to drought, diseases and pests, have been studied. The comparative analysis of the results of the project “Transition to Performance Agriculture” implementation was carried out, regarding the rehabilitation of the irrigation system in the agricultural entities of the Central region.

It is hard today to convince a farmer to move to a new and unknown technology if there are no calculations on return on sales that argue its economic reasoning. In this article, a comparative analysis shall be carried out between the conservative and conventional soil work system at the costs of nutrients (fertilisers) for the most widespread agricultural crops grown in agricultural entities in the country. The use of nutrients in the cultivation process remains a necessity, regardless of the technology applied, and the share of their costs, in the structure of the cost of production, changes according to the technology applied. According to the results obtained, essential changes are found in the structure of unit costs in the crops analysed, depending on the level of nutrients.

The development of functional materials that promote the infiltration and retention of water and the controlled release of fertilizers and nutrients in soil is of interest in agriculture. In this context, hydrogels, three-dimensional polymeric structures able to absorb high amounts of water in their swelling process, play an important role. The swelling ability of hydrogels depends on their crosslinking: the higher the crosslinking degree, the higher the number of interactions in the structure, the lower the swelling response. In this work, we describe biodegradable hydrogels composed of natural feedstocks: cellulose, clay minerals, and humic acids, designed to (i) protect, hydrate, and help germinating seedlings to root even in unfavorable conditions; (ii) sustainably contribute to soil fertility in terms of moisture and nutrients; and (iii) act as a nutritive and protective coating for the seeds. Upon assessing the correlations between curing process and swelling degree (SW), we evaluated the degradation of new biodegradable hydrogels as a function of the synthesis parameters (swelling degree and composition) and environmental conditions (type of soil and water amount for the hydration of the hydrogels). The term curing is hereafter referred to the operation of baking the ingredients at given combinations of time and temperature to obtain a dry hydrogel. The results show that the environmental parameters considered, i.e., amount of hydration water and physical and chemical properties of the soil, play a more decisive role in determining the stability of these hydrogels in soil than their synthesis parameters, such as the composition and the swelling degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural land is a very important ecosystem that provides a range of services like food, maintenance of soil structure, and hydrological services with high ecological value to human wellbeing Ecosystem Services (ESs). Understanding the contribution of different agricultural practices to supply ESs would help inform choices about the most beneficial land use management. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are defined by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) as actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems, which address societal challenges (e.g., climate change, food and water security, or natural disasters) effectively and adaptively, while simultaneously providing human wellbeing and biodiversity benefits. Some actions farmers can implement in the new Rural Development Programs (RDP 2021–2022 and 2023–2027) can be considered as NbS and could affect the quantity, quality, and time of some ESs related to water regulation and supply, N adsorption and erosion protection. This study aims to evaluate these ESs in different scenarios in the upper Foglia river basin (Italy) and at a local scale (farming), and to highlight the issue to compensate farmers for the production of public goods which benefit the whole society (ESs) by the implementation of RDP’s actions. These scenarios highlight how actions have positive effects on ecosystem services and their economic value related to land use management, on maintaining agricultural practices by integrating Water Frame Directive (2000/60/EC), Directive 2007/60/EC on the management of flood risks and highlighting the potential role of farmers in a high diversity landscape. This study highlights a new way to evaluate the processes of natural capital in the production of public goods, which benefits the whole society (ESs), by emphasizing the economic and environmental role of farmers in producing them and putting on the table data to trigger a PES (Payment for Ecosystem Services) mechanism. To facilitate decision making, robust decision support tools are needed, underpinned by comprehensive cost-benefit analyses and spatially modeling in which agriculture can be a strategic sector to optimize food production and environmental protection in harmony with the Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy.

The experimental results regarding the changes in the properties of degraded arable ordinary chernozem from southern zone of Moldova and agricultural crops harvests in 5-field crop rotation with incorporation into the soil of one and two harvests of vetch green mass as organic fertilizer are presented. The results carried out in 2015-2019 showed that the introduction in the first agricultural year by disking into the soil of two green mass of vetch, led to restoration of the physico-chemical properties of the arable layer 0-20 cm and increased crop productions. The bulk density of 0-20 cm soil layer from unfavorable state became very favorable, the resistance to penetration from high and very high, became extremely low and low, which contributed to the easy penetration into soil of plant roots. The soil structure became agronomical favorable. The hydrostability of soil aggregates not soil layers 0-10 and 0-20 cm did not change, that is explained by the texture peculiarities of ordinary chernozem (loamy-dusty with high fine sand content). The porosity values correlate with the bulk density are favorable for a normal regime of soil aeration. The humus content increased by 0.16-0.26% in five years. The money value of the 4-year harvest increase was 18 080 MDL or 1090$. The results conducted in 2015-2019 confirmed that the preventive restoration of the quality state of the degraded arable soils is absolutely necessary to be carried out until the implementation or in the process of using the conservative agriculture system, based on No-till or Minimum-till technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term experiment was carried out during 2005-2018, with samples collected on the experimental farm of the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in the city of Iasi (47'07' N latitude, 27'30' E longitude). The soil under investigation is classified as Cambic Chernozem (WRB) with a clay-loamy texture. Initial physical characteristics of the soil on 0-20 cm depth were: bulk density 1.33 g.cm-3, pH (1:2.5) 6.23, clay 364.2 g.kg-1, silt 263.2 g.kg-1, loam 372.6 g.kg-1, humus 2.95%. In the last 5 years a continuous maize cropping system was used. The tillage treatments included: (1) No-till: direct drilling in untilled soil with a disc drill without previous removal of residues, using a FABIMAG FG01 seeder (NT); (2) a reduced system using a chisel at 22-25 cm depth, after harvest without overturning the furrow (RT); (3) moldboard ploughing after harvest to a soil depth of 28-30 cm (CT). The crumbled and loosened soil was turned over and thereby residues were fully incorporated into the soil. After the harvest of pre-crop, stubble breaking (disking to the depth 10 cm) was used. Seedbed preparation was applied using a compactor after chisel and conventional tillage. In spring the weeds were suppressed by total herbicides before seeding. Crop-specific fertilization was performed according to good agricultural practice. Combine harvest was performed in October (between 5th and 28th) using a Wintersteiger Delta Plot Combine. Tillage systems affected soil penetration resistance (PR) under maize crop only for certain soil depths. At 0-5 cm depth, the highest value (0.78 MPa) was recorded on no-till system, whilst in the case of the other two variants the values ranged from 0.56 to 0.61 MPa. In CT variant at 30-40 cm, we noticed a compacted layer (2.54 MPa) indicating the existence of hardpan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to climate change, sustainability has become the keyword for exploring alternative ways of cultivation in different parts of the world. However, local farmers still understand these sustainable alternatives in terms of soil nutrients and their absorption by crops. I examine how sugar beet farmers in western Poland read the condition of crops and field conditions, and accordingly try to cope with agricultural droughts in spring and early summer. While they maintain a practical position that is extremely inductivist, they simultaneously allow for symbolic, indexical meanings. These meanings of farming practices are multilayered and evoke relationships, local histories, and traditions. The farmers accept the reality of climate change only hesitantly, and their aspiration of gaining recognition in Europe has only started to penetrate the multilayered indexical meanings of farming practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of functional materials that promote the infiltration and retention of water and the controlled release of fertilizers and nutrients in soil is of interest in agriculture. In this context, hydrogels, three-dimensional polymeric structures able to absorb high amounts of water in their swelling process, play an important role. The swelling ability of hydrogels depends on their crosslinking: the higher the crosslinking degree, the higher the number of interactions in the structure, the lower the swelling response. In this work, we describe biodegradable hydrogels composed of natural feedstocks: cellulose, clay minerals, and humic acids, designed to (i) protect, hydrate, and help germinating seedlings to root even in unfavorable conditions; (ii) sustainably contribute to soil fertility in terms of moisture and nutrients; and (iii) act as a nutritive and protective coating for the seeds. Upon assessing the correlations between curing process and swelling degree (SW), we evaluated the degradation of new biodegradable hydrogels as a function of the synthesis parameters (swelling degree and composition) and environmental conditions (type of soil and water amount for the hydration of the hydrogels). The term curing is hereafter referred to the operation of baking the ingredients at given combinations of time and temperature to obtain a dry hydrogel. The results show that the environmental parameters considered, i.e., amount of hydration water and physical and chemical properties of the soil, play a more decisive role in determining the stability of these hydrogels in soil than their synthesis parameters, such as the composition and the swelling degree.

Despite the positive impact of no-tillage (NT) on soil organic carbon (SOC), its potential to reduce soil CO2 emission still needs enhancing for climate change mitigation. Combining NT with controlled-grazing of crop residues is known to increase nutrient cycling; however, the impacts on soil CO2 effluxes require further exploration. This study compared soil CO2 effluxes and SOC stocks from conventional tillage with free grazing (CTFG), NT with free grazing (NTFG), NT without grazing (NTNG), NT without crop residues (NTNR) and NT with controlled-grazing (NTCG), in South Africa. Soil CO2 effluxes were measured 1512 times over two years using LI-COR 6400XT, once to thrice a month. Baseline SOCs data were compared against values obtained at the end of the trial. Overall, NTCG decreased soil CO2 fluxes by 55 and 29% compared to CTFG and NTNR, respectively. NTCG increased SOCs by 3.5-fold compared to NTFG, the other treatments resulted in SOC depletion. The increase in SOCs under NTCG was attributed to high C input and also low soil temperature, which reduce the SOC mineralization rate. Combining NT with postharvest controlled-grazing showed high potential to increase SOCs, which would help to mitigate climate change. However, it was associated with topsoil compaction. Therefore, long-term assessment under different environmental, crop, and soil conditions is still required.

Improved soil managements that include reduced soil disturbance and organic amendment incorporation represent valuable strategies to counteract soil degradation processes that affect Mediterranean tree cultivations. However, changes induced by these practices can promote soil N loss through denitrification. Our research aimed to investigate the short-term effects of no-tillage and organic amendment with solid anaerobic digestate on the potential denitrification in two Mediterranean orchard soils showing contrasting properties in terms of texture and pH. Denitrifying enzyme activity (DEA) and selected soil variables (available C and N, microbial biomass C, basal respiration) were monitored in olive and orange tree orchard soils over a five-month period. Our results showed that the application of both practices increased soil DEA, with dynamics that varied according to the soil type. Increased bulk density, lowered soil aeration, and a promoting effect on soil microbial community growth were the main DEA triggers under no-tillage. Conversely, addition of digestate promoted DEA by increasing readily available C and N with a shorter effect in the olive grove soil, due to greater sorption and higher microbial efficiency, and a long-lasting consequence in the orange orchard soil related to a larger release of soluble substrates and their lower microbial use efficiency.

Conservation agriculture comes with a set of principles to implementation and development of sustainable technologies with the aim of retaining sufficient quantities of vegetal remains on the soil surface for soil protection against erosion, water evaporation and surface leakage, for better use of rainfall and improve the physical, chemical and biological soil properties associated with long-term stable yeld. The research was aimed at determining the influence of new foliar fertilizers and soil tillage systems on assimilation. The research method used for assimilation and the physiological parameters determination of Turda 332 maize hybrid was non-destructive (the leaves have not been detached from the plant) and was based on the use of a CIRAS-3 leaf gas analyzer which simultaneously determines several physiological and environmental indicators. The highest values of assimilation were recorded in conservative tillage systems being between 37.9 şi 42.9 μmolm-2s-1 CO2 and the fertilized variant of the Haifa foliar product 40.74 μmolm-2s-1 CO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research at a national and international level in the field of agrotechnics has as a main objective the optimization of soil functions and the preserve of soil and water resources by applying systems of conservative agriculture, securing the crop productivity under efficiency and efficacy conditions. The aim of the paper is to know the impact the soil tillage system and graduation of quantity of vegetal debris have upon the soil moisture and temperature as well as upon the production of maize and soybean crop. The research was made in the experimental field organized at the Agricultural Research and Development Station Turda (ARDS Turda). The experience was placed on a chernozem, during 2015-2018, trifactor type. The rotation is soybean-wheat-maize, the results presented in the paper were obtained in the agricultural year 2015-2016, in the maize crop, and 2017-2018 in the soybean crop. The experimental factors established were: Factor A - Crop: a1 - soybean; a2 - wheat; a3 - maize; Factor B - Soil tillage system: b1 - conventional system: reverse plough + disk 2x + sowed + fertilized (witness); b2 - conservative system with minimum tillage: chisel + rotary harrow + sowed + fertilized; b3 - conservative system with direct sowing (sowed - fertilized - herbicides); Factor C - Vegetal debris: c1 - 60% (3 t/ha); c2 - 80% (4 t/ha); c3 - 100% (5 t/ha). The soil temperature was influenced a little by the soil tillage system, but the influence is significant in the case of vegetal debris. The moisture results show significant differences, ensured statistically in the case of direct sowing, as the quantity of vegetal debris increases. The soil moisture was higher when the crops were sowed and during the first phases of vegetation, then the differences decreased in time. Maize and soybean reacted better to soil loosening, mobilizing the soil fertility and mineralization of nutritive substances, ensuring a higher production in the conventional tillage system. The aim of applying conservative agricultural practices is to accumulate, preserve and value efficiently the water coming from rainfall in order to protect the soil and to avoid desertification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture in the Republic of Moldova accounts for 10-15% of gross domestic product (GDP) and represents the most important branch of production. In agriculture, soil is the main means of production. Agriculture currently practiced in the country faces a number of major problems that seriously affect rural development. Creating a balanced or positive balance of the organic substance in the soil is the main condition for preserving its long-term fertility and avoiding degradation of the arable layer by dehumidification, destructuring and excessive secondary compacting. This can only be achieved by the regular introduction into the soil of organic fertilizers - manure or green fertilizers (Cerbari, 2010; Cerbari et al., 2013). At present the livestock sector is practically destroyed, the number of cattle has decreased 6 times, while the volume of manure produced has decreased by 6 times. According to the statistical directories 3 million tons of manure is produced, of which 1.0-1.5 million tons are used as an energy source, and 1.5-2.0 million tons are dumped in the rubbish, a more serious source of pollution of rural areas. In the soil, according to statistical data, only 10-20 kg/ha/year of manure is introduced, which means nothing. As a result, the balance of humus in the soil became deeply negative -1.0 t/ha/year. The need for this article is dictated by the fact that the recommended procedure has the only real possibility to increase the flow of organic matter to the soil and to form a balanced or weakly positive balance for this organo-mineral natural system that plays the most important role in ensuring the food and environmental security of the country. The situation can only be changed by undertaking a series of legislative, organizational and financial measures. So, the remediation of the quality condition and the increased production capacity of the studied soil is possible only by increasing the flow of organic matter into the arable layer. The use of vetch as a green fertilizer is an effective process to achieve this objective (Cerbari et al., 2013). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research of productivity and economic efficiency of the soybean cultivation within the classical and conservative systems was carried out in the northern part of the Republic of Moldova. There were analyzed the meteorological data specific to the given area, there were determined: the degree and type of weed growth (three evaluations: before sowing, during sowing and before harvesting), the apparent soil density, the productivity and economic efficiency of two technological systems applied at the soybean cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agriculture of the Republic of Moldova is particularly prone to natural risks, especially droughts. The purposeof this paper is to present the state of sustainable development of the agricultural sector and opportunities forimplementation of the innovative land cultivation technologies. There are a number of socio-economic constraintsfor increasing the productivity in the traditional agricultural systems. In order to meet the growing competition onthe regional markets of agricultural products, modernization of agriculture in the Republic of Moldova is veryimportant. For investigation of the actual state of implementation of the conservative land cultivation technologieswere used specific methods and techniques such as statistical and economic analysis of economic indicators, casestudy approach, semi-structured interviews of agricultural producers. The study is also based on the statisticsreceived from the National Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry of Moldova.Economic analysis confirms that implementation of the No Till technology will reduce essentially the directproduction costs compared to traditional technology. However a more visible effect occurs starting with the 5-6year of the conservative land cultivation technologies’ implementation.

Deep tillage can be applied to face high-density soil horizons by improving the root system's access to deeper layers. In this sense, soil and ecosystem services related to nutrients cycling and water recharge can be improved. In this study, the spatial and temporal dynamics of soil water content (θ) were inferred using two-dimensional electrical resistivity (ER) surveys, that were applied to explore the soil profile treated by deep tillage under different citrus rootstocks (RS) implantation. A seasonal scale ER monitoring (Spring 2018, Summer 2019, and Winter 2019) was carried out at a selected study area, characterized by Ultisols and located in Southeastern Brazil. Three different citrus RS-types, represented by the varieties 'Cravo Santa Cruz lemon' (CSC), 'Sunki Tropical Tangerine' (ST), and 'Citrandarin Indio' (CI). Deep tillage was adopted before RS citrus-types planting by opening furrows and subsoiling up to 0.6 m depth. The interrows citrus plants were covered with Brachiaria decumbens (Syn. Urochloa) in all citrus RS-type plots. A native forest area ('Forest') was used as reference for all θ evaluations. The model for the ER-θ relationships was determined from measurements conducted on soil samples in the laboratory. Root water uptake (RWU), in terms of θ changes, was evaluated at the different treatments under study. The obtained results proved the suitability of ER method for identifying the ER-θ dynamics in the Ultisol profiles over time. Lower and more stable θ values were obtained in the 'Forest' and interrow areas. Among the evaluated citrus RS-types, CSC showed the highest water use efficiency due to the greatest root system development. [Display omitted] • ER is a useful technique for inferring the soil water content (θ) dynamics. • ER-θ adjusted models explain 45–80 % of the θ changes in Ultisol. • ER season-based analyses allow to compare θ dynamics under citrus rootstocks. • Greater root-water uptake (RWU) was indirectly related to lower θ. • Greater RWU was observed in CSC rootstock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the leaves fertilization influence upon wheat yield in two experiments carried out in conventional agriculture and conservative systems. The experimental fields comprised 6 leaves fertilizers variants and a control and were laid out at SCDA Teleorman on a Haplic Phaeozem. Two treatments were applied with 1.25% leaves fertilizer on a N90P40K0 agrochemical background proceeded from a complex 20-20-0 fertilizer, in the autumn, before sowing, and 50 kg N/ha Nitrocalcar, applied in the spring. Leaves fertilization, applied in the conservative system experiment, didn't bring forth a significant yield increase as compared to the control. Significant and distinctly significant increases of the wheat yield were obtained in the conventional agriculture system, from 5,795 kg/ha in the control up to 7,373 kg/ha in the Nutrifert S variant. The average conventional agriculture yield (6,978 kg/ha) was higher than the conservative agriculture one (5,457 kg/ha) by 27.8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reserva de carbono na matéria orgânica (MO) do solo é uma importante estratégia para atenuar a concentração de dióxido de carbono na atmosfera. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do plantio direto (PD), durante seis anos, sob quatro sistemas de cultura de outono na sucessão comercial soja-milho (guandu- anão-milheto, crotalária-sorgo, girassol-aveia-preta e nabo forrageiro-milho), no armazenamento de carbono nas frações particulada (>53 µm) e associada aos minerais (Carbon storage in the soil organic matter (SOM) is an important strategy to mitigate carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the no-tillage (NT) use for six years, under four autumn (dry-season) cover crops based maize and soybean crop rotations (pigeon pea-pearl millet, bengan hemp-sorghum, sunflower-black oat, and wild radish-maize), on C storage in the particulate (>53 µm) and mineral-associated (

The agriculture of the Republic of Moldova is particularly prone to natural risks, especially droughts. The purpose of this paper is to present the state of sustainable development of the agricultural sector and opportunities for implementation of the innovative land cultivation technologies. There are a number of socio-economic constraints for increasing the productivity in the traditional agricultural systems. In order to meet the growing competition on the regional markets of agricultural products, modernization of agriculture in the Republic of Moldova is very important. For investigation of the actual state of implementation of the conservative land cultivation technologies were used specific methods and techniques such as statistical and economic analysis of economic indicators, case study approach, semi-structured interviews of agricultural producers. The study is also based on the statistics received from the National Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry of Moldova. Economic analysis confirms that implementation of the No Till technology will reduce essentially the direct production costs compared to traditional technology. However a more visible effect occurs starting with the 5-6 year of the conservative land cultivation technologies' implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the paper, there are presented the research results aiming the promotion of the conservative agriculture concept in variants/schemes adapted to: - the soil's properties (medium to heavy texture - 30-42 % clay in the arable layer) - the main field crops cultivated in the sothern area of Romania, in order to obtain competitive, qualitative and quantitative yields (similar to the ones obtained in the conventional agriculture), with lower costs and higher profit for the farmers by improving the soil's properties and protecting the environment. The highest yields were obtained in the first trial - seeding after ploughing. There are significant differences between these results and the results obtained in the trials with direct seeding, due to the fact that the luvosoil at Simnic Research and Development Station is a ,,cold" soil, with a higher clay content, a lower aeration porosity - it needs a better mobilisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural land is a very important ecosystem that provides a range of services like food, maintenance of soil structure, and hydrological services with high ecological value to human wellbeing Ecosystem Services (ESs). Understanding the contribution of different agricultural practices to supply ESs would help inform choices about the most beneficial land use management. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are defined by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) as actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems, which address societal challenges (e.g., climate change, food and water security, or natural disasters) effectively and adaptively, while simultaneously providing human wellbeing and biodiversity benefits. Some actions farmers can implement in the new Rural Development Programs (RDP 2021–2022 and 2023–2027) can be considered as NbS and could affect the quantity, quality, and time of some ESs related to water regulation and supply, N adsorption and erosion protection. This study aims to evaluate these ESs in different scenarios in the upper Foglia river basin (Italy) and at a local scale (farming), and to highlight the issue to compensate farmers for the production of public goods which benefit the whole society (ESs) by the implementation of RDP's actions. These scenarios highlight how actions have positive effects on ecosystem services and their economic value related to land use management, on maintaining agricultural practices by integrating Water Frame Directive (2000/60/EC), Directive 2007/60/EC on the management of flood risks and highlighting the potential role of farmers in a high diversity landscape. This study highlights a new way to evaluate the processes of natural capital in the production of public goods, which benefits the whole society (ESs), by emphasizing the economic and environmental role of farmers in producing them and putting on the table data to trigger a PES (Payment for Ecosystem Services) mechanism. To facilitate decision making, robust decision support tools are needed, underpinned by comprehensive cost-benefit analyses and spatially modeling in which agriculture can be a strategic sector to optimize food production and environmental protection in harmony with the Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the positive impact of no-tillage (NT) on soil organic carbon (SOC), its potential to reduce soil CO2 emission still needs enhancing for climate change mitigation. Combining NT with controlled-grazing of crop residues is known to increase nutrient cycling; however, the impacts on soil CO2 effluxes require further exploration. This study compared soil CO2 effluxes and SOC stocks from conventional tillage with free grazing (CTFG), NT with free grazing (NTFG), NT without grazing (NTNG), NT without crop residues (NTNR) and NT with controlled-grazing (NTCG), in South Africa. Soil CO2 effluxes were measured 1512 times over two years using LI-COR 6400XT, once to thrice a month. Baseline SOCs data were compared against values obtained at the end of the trial. Overall, NTCG decreased soil CO2 fluxes by 55 and 29% compared to CTFG and NTNR, respectively. NTCG increased SOCs by 3.5-fold compared to NTFG, the other treatments resulted in SOC depletion. The increase in SOCs under NTCG was attributed to high C input and also low soil temperature, which reduce the SOC mineralization rate. Combining NT with postharvest controlled-grazing showed high potential to increase SOCs, which would help to mitigate climate change. However, it was associated with topsoil compaction. Therefore, long-term assessment under different environmental, crop, and soil conditions is still required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No tillage (NT) soil management has been considered a strategy for the implementation of environmental sustainability and a possible tool of soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. Considering the wide range of data on SOC change after NT application in relation to conventional tillage (CT) in different studies, further researches are needed over a diverse range of soil and climate before a proper estimation of the benefits can be provided by the NT. A data set composed of cereal cropping system studies, comparing the SOC content under CT and NT was compiled from the literature using the scientific repositories "Scopus" and "Science direct". This aims to i) discriminate and quantify the variation of SOC in relation to morphology (Flat area (FA) and Slope Area (SA)) and climates (Aridity index (Ai)); ii) provide a reliable forecast of C sequestration by NT in a specific environment. The results from collected datasets showed that SOC ratio between NT and CT was higher in sloping than flat areas and was also in correlation with the Ai. The average annual increase of SOC in NT in comparison to CT was 0.32 Mg ha−1y−1 and 0.21 Mg ha−1y−1 for SA and FA, respectively. The regression of the relative ratio (RR NT/CT) against Ai both for FA and SA showed a high statistical significance for FA. For SA the lack of significance is due to no response of the dependent variables to Ai changes and to the prevalent effect that NT has on the soil C erosion processes. These results highlighted that in SA, the SOC sequestration by NT is overestimated. These results provide concrete examples of the importance to discriminate soil morphology and climate when recommending NT soil management for soil C sequestration in order to individuate areas where NT can maximize its potentiality as a mitigation tool. Unlabelled Image • No tillage (NT) management has been considered a soil carbon sequestration tool. • A data set of studies comparing the soil C under CT and NT was compiled. • The study aimed to discriminate the C change in relation to soil morphology and climate. • Data showed an overestimation of C sequestration in slope area. • The relative SOC sequestration is inversely correlated to the aridity index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]