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Organic Management Approaches and Practices to Support Sustainable Horticultural and...
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Organic Management Approaches and Practices to Support Sustainable Horticultural and Fruit Plants Production

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 7882

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Nay Myo Win

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Apple Research Center, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Daegu 43100, Republic of Korea
Interests: fruit quality; fruit yield and production; smart farming; agricultural mechanization; cultivation practices; anthocyanin; gene expression analysis; anthioxidant metabolites; ethylene; postharvest manag
Prof. Dr. Inkyu Kang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Horticultural Science, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
Interests: postharvest technology; fruit quality; pomology; plant physiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The challenges that we are facing in modern agriculture are how to increase the sustainability of agricultural production under the effects of climate change mitigation. Agricultural activities including cultivation, production, distribution, storage, and consumption of agricultural products directly influence the quality of natural resources and human life. Hence, the production of horticultural and fruit plants with environmentally friendly and organic farming approaches is important for social, environmental, and economic sustainability. To achieve these goals, the introduction of innovative and organic management practices can help farmers to reduce chemical inputs, decrease pollution, increase soil and water quality, and improve biodiversity.

The aim of this Special Issue is to contribute to the scientific knowledge on the effectiveness of organic management approaches and practices for the sustainable production of horticultural and fruit plants. We encourage the submission of manuscripts focused on organic farming systems for growing fruit crops, smart farming systems for growing fruit crops, crop cultivation under organic management approaches and practices, sustainable agricultural practices of horticultural and fruit crops, cultivation techniques and fruit quality, eco-friendly cultivation and production of fruit crops, controlled environmental conditions and treatments on the development and quality of fruit crops, and research on plant nutrition and antioxidant metabolism of fruit crop production.

Dr. Nay Myo Win
Prof. Dr. Inkyu Kang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • organic farming
  • smart farming
  • cultivation technology
  • eco-friendly production, crop physiology
  • fruit quality
  • antioxidant metabolism
  • plant nutrition

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 3816 KiB  
Article
Impact of Nitrogen Fertilization on Fruit Parameters of Four Cucurbita maxima Cultivars Grown in Poland
by Karolina Kaźmińska, Aleksandra Korzeniewska, Renata Słomnicka, Agnieszka Gniazdowska and Grzegorz Bartoszewski
Agriculture 2025, 15(1), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15010042 - 27 Dec 2024
Viewed by 480
Abstract
Cucurbita maxima Duchesne is a cucurbit species cultivated worldwide due to its economic and nutritional value. C. maxima winter squash fruits are rich in carotenoids and dietary fiber, making them valuable raw materials for food products, especially for infants and children as ingredients [...] Read more.
Cucurbita maxima Duchesne is a cucurbit species cultivated worldwide due to its economic and nutritional value. C. maxima winter squash fruits are rich in carotenoids and dietary fiber, making them valuable raw materials for food products, especially for infants and children as ingredients in pomaces, mousses, and juices. Therefore, both the yield and quality of fruits are economically important traits. These traits depend mainly on factors such as cultivar and plant growing conditions, including nitrogen fertilization. This study aimed to evaluate the nitrate content in the fruit as well as the yield and fruit parameters of four winter squash cultivars, Bambino, Justynka F1, Otylia F1, and Mammoth Gold, under different nitrogen fertilization regimes of 100%, 50%, and 30% of the standard nitrogen dose. Two field experiments were conducted in 2021 and 2022. This study revealed that the nitrogen dose had a significant effect on the nitrate content in the fruit flesh. A lower nitrogen dose resulted in a lower nitrate content in the fruit. In addition, a decrease in fruit yield occurred when the plants were fertilized with 30% of the standard nitrogen dose, whereas when the plants were fertilized with 50% of the standard nitrogen dose, the fruit yield remained relatively unaffected. The cultivars used in the experiment differed significantly in terms of the traits studied. The lowest nitrate content in fruit flesh was found for Justynka F1; however, the most favorable fruit parameters were obtained for Otylia F1, for which, in both years of the experiment, high yield and fruit weight, dry matter content, and the thickest flesh among the tested cultivars were achieved. This study contributes to the understanding of fruit quality and cultivation techniques for winter squash under the climatic conditions of Poland. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Management Approaches and Practices to Support Sustainable Horticultural and Fruit Plants Production)
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12 pages, 2291 KiB  
Article
Control of Apple Scab in Commercial Orchards Through Primary Inoculum Management
by Noure Jihan Boualleg, Maria Victoria Salomon, Pere Vilardell, Borja Aramburu and Jordi Cabrefiga
Agriculture 2024, 14(12), 2125; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14122125 - 23 Nov 2024
Viewed by 696
Abstract
Apple scab, caused by Venturia inaequalis, is one of the most important diseases in apples in all production regions and its sustainable control is still a challenge. The aim of this work was to optimize the control of apple scab through different [...] Read more.
Apple scab, caused by Venturia inaequalis, is one of the most important diseases in apples in all production regions and its sustainable control is still a challenge. The aim of this work was to optimize the control of apple scab through different environmentally friendly inoculum management strategies, specifically the removal of fallen leaves in winter and the treatment of ground leaves with the biological agent Trichoderma asperellum (T34 BIOCONTROL®) to inhibit or prevent inoculum development in commercial orchards. The results obtained from 4 years of trials in commercial orchards demonstrated that the combination of fungicide treatments and leaf litter management, particularly through aspiration, significantly reduced the development of apple scab in comparison with strategies commonly used by growers that are based solely on fungicide application. Both the incidence and severity of the disease in leaves and fruit decreased by over 90% when inoculum management and fungicide treatments were combined. These results highlight that reducing the source of inoculum by removing fallen leaves is an effective strategy that complements fungicide or biological control agent applications. In conclusion, combining eco-friendly strategies with standard fungicides and monitoring environmental conditions can help to reduce the frequency of phytosanitary applications, ultimately contributing to the goal of minimizing their use in the control of apple scab. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Management Approaches and Practices to Support Sustainable Horticultural and Fruit Plants Production)
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20 pages, 6660 KiB  
Article
Leguminous Green Manure Intercropping Promotes Soil Health in a Citrus (Citrus reticulata) Orchard
by Yuxin Xie, Yulin Jing, Yajie Wang, Rongchun Zheng, Qiurui Xu, Zhenyu Sun and Tingyu Duan
Agriculture 2024, 14(11), 1897; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14111897 - 26 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1096
Abstract
The intercropping of green manure is an important and sustainable production method in citrus orchards (Citrus reticulata). However, few studies focus on the impact of annual and perennial green manure on soil health, particularly soil microbiome and properties in acid soil. Our [...] Read more.
The intercropping of green manure is an important and sustainable production method in citrus orchards (Citrus reticulata). However, few studies focus on the impact of annual and perennial green manure on soil health, particularly soil microbiome and properties in acid soil. Our research objective was to explore the potential effects on soil health by intercropping with annual and perennial leguminous green manures in acid soil citrus orchards of southwestern China. The leguminous green manures used were alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa). The results showed that intercropping with green manure increased the total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and available phosphorous in the soil by 48.67~74.67%, 50.00~96.67%, and 44.48~45.04%, respectively. Intercropping with alfalfa significantly increased the activity of soil sucrase 63.75%, and intercropping with hairy vetch increased the activity of β-1,4-glucosidase 44.38% in the soil compared to the monoculture treatment. Intercropping hairy vetch and alfalfa altered the diversity and composition of the soil microbial community and enriched the soil with beneficial fungi and bacteria, including Mortierella and Streptomyces. The richness increased by 58.72% and 17.90% in alfalfa intercropping treatment. In conclusion, intercropping leguminous green manure improved the nutrients and activity of the enzymes in the soil and enriched the antagonistic microbiome in the soil, promoting soil health in the citrus orchard. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Management Approaches and Practices to Support Sustainable Horticultural and Fruit Plants Production)
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15 pages, 4521 KiB  
Article
Hybrid Percolation–Ultrasound Method for Extracting Bioactive Compounds from Urtica dioica and Salvia officinalis
by Ana-Maria Tăbărașu, Florin Nenciu, Dragoș-Nicolae Anghelache, Valentin-Nicolae Vlăduț and Iuliana Găgeanu
Agriculture 2024, 14(9), 1561; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091561 - 9 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1232
Abstract
Enhancing the efficacy of biofertilizers and biopesticides for horticultural applications presents numerous challenges, given the need to balance effectiveness with environmental and economic factors. Achieving these goals requires rigorous research into advanced technologies and formulations capable of effectively replacing or complementing traditional chemical [...] Read more.
Enhancing the efficacy of biofertilizers and biopesticides for horticultural applications presents numerous challenges, given the need to balance effectiveness with environmental and economic factors. Achieving these goals requires rigorous research into advanced technologies and formulations capable of effectively replacing or complementing traditional chemical inputs, without compromising crop yield or quality. The present study aimed to develop a versatile and yet accessible hybrid percolation–sonication system and method, designed to optimize polyphenol extraction from nettle and sage plants. The resulting extracts were combined and applied on organic tomato crops, to evaluate their biofertilizer and biopesticide effectiveness, in comparison to conventional chemical inputs. Operating the equipment in a hybrid percolation–sonication system led to a 36% increase in polyphenols extraction for nettle and a 29% increase from sage. Regarding the effect on tomatoes, data showed that plants treated with biofertilizer extracts were over 42.88% more productive than control samples and 17.67% more productive than tomatoes treated with chemical fertilizers. Tomato plants treated with biofertilizers grew approximately 10% taller and developed stems that were 5% thicker compared to those treated with chemical fertilizers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Management Approaches and Practices to Support Sustainable Horticultural and Fruit Plants Production)
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11 pages, 2501 KiB  
Article
Effect of Powdery Mildew on the Photosynthetic Parameters and Leaf Microstructure of Melon
by Mei Tian, Rong Yu, Wanbang Yang, Song Guo, Shengfeng Liu, Huiying Du, Jinjin Liang and Xingxu Zhang
Agriculture 2024, 14(6), 886; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14060886 - 4 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1218
Abstract
Powdery mildew is a fungal disease devastating to crops, causing significant quality and yield loss. As one of the most important fruits in the world, melon also is damaged by powdery mildew. The present study investigated the effect of powdery mildew on the [...] Read more.
Powdery mildew is a fungal disease devastating to crops, causing significant quality and yield loss. As one of the most important fruits in the world, melon also is damaged by powdery mildew. The present study investigated the effect of powdery mildew on the photosynthetic parameters and leaf microstructure of melons, the ultrastructure of the leaf surface, photosynthetic index, chlorophyll content, yield, and quality index of five thick-skinned and differently shaped melon varieties. The net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, leaf water use efficiency, and chlorophyll levels were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in Kangbing F3800 plants compared to the other four varieties. In the case of powdery mildew infection, the total number of stomata in the upper and lower epidermis was particularly high in the Zhongtian No. 8 and Zhongtianxueqiong varieties, respectively. The stomatal length and width were highest in the upper epidermis of Zhongtian No. 12 leaves and in the lower epidermis of Zhongtian No. 8 leaves compared to the other varieties. The total yield and meat thickness were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the Zhongtianxueqiong variety than the others, along with the low edge sugar content. Overall, powdery mildew impacted differently the photosynthetic and leaf surface characteristics of the five melon varieties. Kangbing F3800 emerged as the most resistant variety, making it the preferred choice for introducing and promoting thick-skinned melon varieties in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Management Approaches and Practices to Support Sustainable Horticultural and Fruit Plants Production)
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15 pages, 16353 KiB  
Article
Heat Stress and Water Irrigation Management Effects on the Fruit Color and Quality of ‘Hongro’ Apples
by Van Giap Do, Youngsuk Lee, Juhyeon Park, Nay Myo Win, Soon-Il Kwon, Sangjin Yang and Seonae Kim
Agriculture 2024, 14(5), 761; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14050761 - 14 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2154
Abstract
Increasing fruit crop production sustainability under climate change, particularly increasing temperatures, is a major challenge in modern agriculture. High temperatures affect apple fruit quality and decrease its color. Herein, we constructed an experimental field under temperature simulation to evaluate climate change mitigation strategies [...] Read more.
Increasing fruit crop production sustainability under climate change, particularly increasing temperatures, is a major challenge in modern agriculture. High temperatures affect apple fruit quality and decrease its color. Herein, we constructed an experimental field under temperature simulation to evaluate climate change mitigation strategies for apples. ‘Hongro’ apples were subjected to three treatments: (1) cultivation inside a vinyl house for heat treatment (heat induction), (2) cultivation under water irrigation (heat reduction), and (3) cultivation under normal atmospheric temperature (control). At harvest, the fruits of the heat treatment group exhibited poor coloration, with a lower gene expression and pigment accumulation than those of the water irrigation and control groups. Furthermore, the fruit quality of the heat treatment group decreased, with a lower soluble solid content (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA), and smaller fruits. Additionally, a higher fruit disorder (cracking and spots) ratio was observed in the heat treatment group than in the water irrigation and control groups. However, the fruits of the water irrigation group exhibited higher quality indexes (flesh firmness, SSC, and TA) and less cracking than those of the heat treatment and control groups. Heat reduction, including water irrigation, may be used for orchard management to prevent climate change-induced increasing temperatures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Management Approaches and Practices to Support Sustainable Horticultural and Fruit Plants Production)
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