International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Research

13 pages, 381 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Health Is Wealth: Study on Consumer Preferences and the Willingness to Pay for Ecological Agricultural Product Traceability Technology: Evidence from Jiangxi Province China

by Ximing Chen, Jie Shang, Muhammad Zada, Shagufta Zada, Xueqiang Ji, Heesup Han, Antonio Ariza-Montes and Jesús Ramírez-Sobrino

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(22), 11761; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182211761 - 9 Nov 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2704

Abstract

The application of traceability technology is an important way to solve food safety problems. Different traceability technologies bring different effects to consumers. Existing studies have not explored consumers’ preferences in regards to product traceability technology applications, and they have not analyzed their willingness [...] Read more.

The application of traceability technology is an important way to solve food safety problems. Different traceability technologies bring different effects to consumers. Existing studies have not explored consumers’ preferences in regards to product traceability technology applications, and they have not analyzed their willingness to pay. Therefore, this study focused on organic rice, an ecological agricultural product. The study was based on a survey from Jiangxi Province, China. It used a selective experiment method in order to analyze consumer preferences and the willingness to pay for ecological agricultural product traceability technology. The results show that consumer preferences are as follows: blockchain technology application attributes, traditional traceability-technology-application attributes, high credit-supervision attributes, and international-certification attributes. In terms of willingness to pay, consumers have the highest willingness to pay for the application of blockchain technology, which they are willing to pay CNY 21.902 more per kg for this attribute. At the same time, consumers are also willing to make additional payments for traditional traceability-technology-application attributes, high credit-supervision attributes, and international-certification attributes. Their willingness to pay is CNY 20.426, CNY 17.115 yuan, and CNY 11.049, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Greenhouse and Horticulture)

22 pages, 2011 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Analysis of Global Research Trends on Greenhouse Technology: Towards a Sustainable Agriculture

by José A. Aznar-Sánchez, Juan F. Velasco-Muñoz, Belén López-Felices and Isabel M. Román-Sánchez

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(2), 664; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17020664 - 20 Jan 2020

Cited by 73 | Viewed by 9925

Abstract

Greenhouse farming is an agricultural management system that has demonstrated its efficiency in intensifying food production. These systems constitute a feasible alternative for ensuring food supply, which is one of the greatest challenges faced by humankind in the twenty-first century. Technology has been [...] Read more.

Greenhouse farming is an agricultural management system that has demonstrated its efficiency in intensifying food production. These systems constitute a feasible alternative for ensuring food supply, which is one of the greatest challenges faced by humankind in the twenty-first century. Technology has been able to meet the challenges related to greenhouse farming in both contributing to overcoming its limitations, correcting adverse impacts and ensuring system sustainability. The objective of this article is to analyse the global research trends in greenhouse technology over the last two decades, in order to identify the main driving agents, the most outstanding research lines and possible gaps in the literature. Different methodologies have been used for the analysis; both quantitative and qualitative. The principal results show that there are different relevant lines of research related to different aspects of greenhouse farming: the use of water for irrigation, the design of the optimum structure of the greenhouse, conserving the soil in the best growing conditions, energy consumption of the system as a whole, climate control within the facility and pest control. The research is characterized by the being composed largely of ad hoc studies, which hinders the international collaboration between researchers and institutions. The research approach has shifted from being focused on increasing production and cost savings to aspects related to resource conservation and sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Greenhouse and Horticulture)

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11 pages, 2685 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Refrigeration Capacity and Effect of Ageing on the Operation of Cellulose Evaporative Cooling Pads, by Wind Tunnel Analysis

by Antonio Franco-Salas, Araceli Peña-Fernández and Diego Luis Valera-Martínez

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(23), 4690; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16234690 - 25 Nov 2019

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3670

Abstract

This study investigates the temperature reduction capacity and water consumption of a fan-pad system installed in a greenhouse located in the coastal regions of Almería. The suitability of this system for coastal zones with high environmental humidity during the summer is analyzed. Historical [...] Read more.

This study investigates the temperature reduction capacity and water consumption of a fan-pad system installed in a greenhouse located in the coastal regions of Almería. The suitability of this system for coastal zones with high environmental humidity during the summer is analyzed. Historical temperature and relative humidity series are studied, obtaining the thermal difference and maximum, medium, and minimum monthly water consumption of the pads based on the operation data of the pads. Despite the high relative humidity of the air in the hottest hours of the day, a decrease of 5.92 °C in the mean temperature and a water consumption of 13.55 l/h per square meter of an evaporative cooling pad are obtained in the month of August. Additionally, the operation of a cellulose evaporative cooling pad installed for 3 years in a greenhouse is analyzed in a wind tunnel and compared with that of a new pad of the same model. Over time and with low maintenance, the porosity of the pad decreases due to salt incrustation. The salt incrustation makes airflow more difficult in the pad, increasing the pressure drop by 170.04%; however, the air saturation efficiency of the pad increases by 6.6% due to the greater contact time between the air and the water. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Greenhouse and Horticulture)

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23 pages, 2000 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Six Collective Challenges for Sustainability of Almería Greenhouse Horticulture

by Antonio J. Castro, María D. López-Rodríguez, Cynthia Giagnocavo, Miguel Gimenez, Leticia Céspedes, Abel La Calle, Marisa Gallardo, Pablo Pumares, Javier Cabello, Estefanía Rodríguez, David Uclés, Salvador Parra, Jesús Casas, Francisco Rodríguez, Juan S. Fernandez-Prados, Daniela Alba-Patiño, Mónica Expósito-Granados, Beatriz E. Murillo-López, Lina M. Vasquez and Diego L. Valera

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(21), 4097; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16214097 - 24 Oct 2019

Cited by 62 | Viewed by 11417

Abstract

Globally, current food consumption and trade are placing unprecedented demand on agricultural systems and increasing pressure on natural resources, requiring tradeoffs between food security and environmental impacts especially given the tension between market-driven agriculture and agro-ecological goals. In order to illustrate the wicked [...] Read more.

Globally, current food consumption and trade are placing unprecedented demand on agricultural systems and increasing pressure on natural resources, requiring tradeoffs between food security and environmental impacts especially given the tension between market-driven agriculture and agro-ecological goals. In order to illustrate the wicked social, economic and environmental challenges and processes to find transformative solutions, we focus on the largest concentration of greenhouses in the world located in the semi-arid coastal plain of South-east Spain. Almería family farming, predominantly cooperative, greenhouse intensive production, commenced after the 1960s and has resulted in very significant social and economic benefits for the region, while also having important negative environmental and biodiversity impacts, as well as creating new social challenges. The system currently finds itself in a crisis of diminishing economic benefits and increasing environmental and social dilemmas. Here, we present the outcomes of multi-actor, transdisciplinary research to review and provide collective insights for solutions-oriented research on the sustainability of Almeria’s agricultural sector. The multi-actor, transdisciplinary process implemented collectively, and supported by scientific literature, identified six fundamental challenges to transitioning to an agricultural model that aims to ameliorate risks and avoid a systemic collapse, whilst balancing a concern for profitability with sustainability: (1) Governance based on a culture of shared responsibility for sustainability, (2) Sustainable and efficient use of water, (3) Biodiversity conservation, (4) Implementing a circular economy plan, (5) Technology and knowledge transfer, and (6) Image and identity. We conclude that the multi-actor transdisciplinary approach successfully facilitated the creation of a culture of shared responsibility among public, private, academic, and civil society actors. Notwithstanding plural values, challenges and solutions identified by consensus point to a nascent acknowledgement of the strategic necessity to locate agricultural economic activity within social and environmental spheres.This paper demonstrates the need to establish transdisciplinary multi-actor work-schemes to continue collaboration and research for the transition to an agro-ecological model as a means to remain competitive and to create value. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Greenhouse and Horticulture)

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22 pages, 2258 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Profit Analysis of Papaya Crops under Greenhouses as an Alternative to Traditional Intensive Horticulture in Southeast Spain

by Mireille N. Honoré, Luis J. Belmonte-Ureña, Asensio Navarro-Velasco and Francisco Camacho-Ferre

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(16), 2908; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16162908 - 14 Aug 2019

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 6029

Abstract

The high-yield agricultural model in Almería is based on eight different crops. Having led fruit and vegetable exports in Spain for more than 50 years, a decrease in melon and watermelon growing areas in Almería caused a change in supply that affected the [...] Read more.

The high-yield agricultural model in Almería is based on eight different crops. Having led fruit and vegetable exports in Spain for more than 50 years, a decrease in melon and watermelon growing areas in Almería caused a change in supply that affected the model’s profit. Papaya cultivation could reactivate the profit of the agricultural model in Almería and also improve the available product range. The papaya crop needs greenhouse infrastructures high enough to contain the growth and size of the plants during a cycle crop, which is possible in most of the greenhouses of the Horticultural production model of Almería. The papaya harvests obtained in the region meet the quality requirements demanded by European markets. Furthermore, yields obtained are equal or higher than yields obtained by other producing countries. This crop improves profit compared with the profit obtained from the rotation of other horticultural crops that have been traditionally grown in the region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Greenhouse and Horticulture)

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14 pages, 1911 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effectiveness of Chemical and Thermal Treatments on Control Rhizopus stolonifer Fruit Infection Comparing Tomato Cultivars with Different Sensitivities to Cracking

by Liliana Alfaro-Sifuentes, Melchor Juan, Rosalba Troncoso-Rojas, David Erick Meca, María Antonia Elorrieta and Juan Luis Valenzuela

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(15), 2754; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16152754 - 1 Aug 2019

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3594

Abstract

Tomatoes are among the most important horticultural crops; however, it is estimated that 30% of tomato yield is lost due to postharvest rot due to Rhizopus stolonifer, a fungus which requires lesions to initiate the infectious process. Tomato fruit cracking is a [...] Read more.

Tomatoes are among the most important horticultural crops; however, it is estimated that 30% of tomato yield is lost due to postharvest rot due to Rhizopus stolonifer, a fungus which requires lesions to initiate the infectious process. Tomato fruit cracking is a physiopathy which causes significant economic losses, since cracking is the door used by the fungus. In this experiment, 14 cultivars of tomato of different types were used. Fruit sampling was carried out in the middle of the crop cycle, coinciding with the peak of yield; then, the fruits were divided into two groups: one group was inoculated with Rhizopus in order to assess the effectiveness of washing, whilst the other was treated with sterile water. The fruits of each group were divided into lots to be treated with six washing treatments: dipping in hot water at 20, 40 and 60 °C for 20 s; the fruits were then sprayed with the following solutions: 0.6% of Hydrogen Peroxide 23% + Peracetic acid 15%; commercial bleach at 0.5% and 2% of Hydrogen Peroxide 50%. The control sample was not washed. The results show that there was an influence of cultivar on fruit cracking, which was strongly related with Rhizopus infection. Three cultivars were not susceptible to cracking, and therefore, were not sensitive to Rhizopus infection. The effectiveness of different washing treatments of tomato fruits depends on several factors; nonetheless, hot water treatment has been shown to be more effective than the use of chemical products such as commercial bleach or hydrogen peroxide. Another factor, the susceptibility of cultivars to cracking, determines the effectiveness of the washing treatment. The results provide an important basis for making decisions about the washing management of tomato fruits in packaging houses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Greenhouse and Horticulture)

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12 pages, 1669 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Whitefly Control Strategies against Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus in Greenhouse Zucchini

by Estefanía Rodríguez, Mª Mar Téllez and Dirk Janssen

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(15), 2673; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16152673 - 26 Jul 2019

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 5957

Abstract

(1) Background: Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), transmitted by tobacco whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is of major concern in the cultivation of zucchini. The threat of this virus motivates reliance on chemical vector control but European consumers’ demands [...] Read more.

(1) Background: Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), transmitted by tobacco whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is of major concern in the cultivation of zucchini. The threat of this virus motivates reliance on chemical vector control but European consumers’ demands for vegetables grown free of pesticides provides an important incentive for alternative pest management; (2) Methods: Different whitefly management strategies and ToLCNDV incidences were surveyed in commercial zucchini greenhouses in south-east Spain. In an experimental greenhouse, three different whitefly control strategies, biological, chemical, and integrated (IPM), were evaluated in a replicated trial to determine the most effective strategy for virus suppression (3) Results: Whitefly was present in all commercial zucchini crops surveyed, whereas fewer crops had Amblyseius swirskii or other natural enemies. During three consecutive years, pest management was increasingly based on chemical treatments. Yet, ToLCNDV was widespread in zucchini greenhouses. Experimental results showed that the order of best strategy for virus suppressing was integrated management (73%) > biological control (58%) > chemical control (44%); and (4) Conclusions: IPM was the best strategy for virus suppression. The results can assist in the design of appropriate control strategies for chemical pesticide reduction and decision-making in pest management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Greenhouse and Horticulture)

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19 pages, 7658 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Auxiliary Companies of the Horticultural Sector as a Competitiveness Element: The Case of Almeria (Spain)

by Jaime de Pablo Valenciano, Juan Uribe-Toril, Juan Milán-García, José Luis Ruiz-Real and José Antonio Torres Arriaza

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(14), 2575; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16142575 - 18 Jul 2019

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3487

Abstract

The horticultural model of Almeria (Spain) based on the operation of greenhouses is an international reference and has been considered as an economic miracle. Alongside this agricultural development has been the deployment of the diverse productive activity of auxiliary companies. The objective of [...] Read more.

The horticultural model of Almeria (Spain) based on the operation of greenhouses is an international reference and has been considered as an economic miracle. Alongside this agricultural development has been the deployment of the diverse productive activity of auxiliary companies. The objective of this article is to understand how these companies operate and analyze their factors of competitiveness, competing needs, and future competitive improvements, taking as reference four of the most important subsectors (machinery, greenhouse infrastructure, plastics, and seeds). The Delphi method was used and through a panel of experts the conditioning factors of each of the variables to be analyzed (factors, needs, and competitiveness improvements) was chosen. Of the 120 companies that were sent questionnaires, 72 participated. The sectors that make up the auxiliary companies are heterogeneous and therefore the results obtained have differed among them. The synergies between the greenhouse crops and the auxiliary companies are an example of diversification of productive activity that can be extrapolated to other production areas worldwide. The future of the auxiliary companies is linked to that of the intensive agriculture and the key variables must be underscored by competitiveness and sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Greenhouse and Horticulture)

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11 pages, 3455 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Plant Growth Promotion and Biocontrol of Pythium ultimum by Saline Tolerant Trichoderma Isolates under Salinity Stress

by Brenda Sánchez-Montesinos, Fernando Diánez, Alejandro Moreno-Gavira, Francisco J. Gea and Mila Santos

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(11), 2053; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16112053 - 10 Jun 2019

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 5748

Abstract

This present study evaluates three isolates of Trichoderma as plant growth promoting or biological control agents: Trichoderma aggressivum f. sp. europaeum, Trichoderma saturnisporum, and the marine isolate obtained from Posidonia oceanica, Trichoderma longibrachiatum. The purpose is to contribute to [...] Read more.

This present study evaluates three isolates of Trichoderma as plant growth promoting or biological control agents: Trichoderma aggressivum f. sp. europaeum, Trichoderma saturnisporum, and the marine isolate obtained from Posidonia oceanica, Trichoderma longibrachiatum. The purpose is to contribute to an overall reduction in pesticide residues in the fruit and the environment and to a decrease in chemical fertilizers, the excess of which aggravates one of the most serious abiotic stresses, salinity. The tolerance of the different isolates to increasing concentrations of sodium chloride was evaluated in vitro, as well as their antagonistic capacity against Pythium ultimum. The plant growth promoting capacity and effects of Trichoderma strains on the severity of P. ultimum on melon seedlings under saline conditions were also analysed. The results reveal that the three isolates of Trichoderma, regardless of their origin, alleviate the stress produced by salinity, resulting in larger plants with an air-dry weight percentage above 80% in saline stress conditions for T. longibrachiatum, or an increase in root-dry weight close to 50% when T. aggressivum f. sp. europaeum was applied. Likewise, the three isolates showed antagonistic activity against P. ultimum, reducing the incidence of the disease, with the highest response found for T. longibrachiatum. Biological control of P. ultimum by T. aggressivum f. sp. europaeum and T. saturnisporum is reported for the first time, reducing disease severity by 62.96% and 51.85%, respectively. This is the first description of T. aggressivum f. sp. europaeum as a biological control agent and growth promoter. The application of these isolates can be of enormous benefit to horticultural crops, in both seedbeds and greenhouses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Greenhouse and Horticulture)

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11 pages, 2446 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Global Research on Malaria and Plasmodium vivax

by José Antonio Garrido-Cardenas, José Cebrián-Carmona, Lilia González-Cerón, Francisco Manzano-Agugliaro and Concepción Mesa-Valle

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(11), 1928; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16111928 - 31 May 2019

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 5231

Abstract

Background: Malaria is one of the infectious diseases of greatest interest to the scientific community and of greatest concern to international health authorities. Traditionally, the focus has been on Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes the most severe form of the [...] Read more.

Background: Malaria is one of the infectious diseases of greatest interest to the scientific community and of greatest concern to international health authorities. Traditionally, the focus has been on Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes the most severe form of the disease in Africa. However, in the last twenty years, the Plasmodium vivax parasite, responsible for a large number of cases in Latin America, the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia, the Horn of Africa, and Oceania, has also generated enormous interest due, among other things, to the published evidence that it can cause severe malaria. Methods: In this paper, the international scientific publication on malaria and P. vivax has been analyzed using the Scopus database to try to define global trends in this field of study. Results: It has been shown that events such as the emergence of resistance to certain drugs can break a trend. The important role of non-malaria-endemic countries such as the USA or Switzerland in malaria research is also evident. Conclusions: International cooperation will be essential for the eradication of the disease. Moreover, in this sense, the general vision given by the bibliometric analysis of malaria caused by P. vivax is fundamental to paint the picture regarding the current situation and encourage international cooperation and control efforts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Greenhouse and Horticulture)

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14 pages, 3351 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Production and Quality of Different Varieties of Papaya Grown under Greenhouse in Short Cycle in Continental Europe

by Mireille N. Honoré, Luis J. Belmonte-Ureña, Asensio Navarro-Velasco and Francisco Camacho-Ferre

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(10), 1789; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16101789 - 20 May 2019

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 4626

Abstract

In Europe, papaya consumption is growing due to its nutritional properties. The proximity of consumer markets to Southeast Spain allows fruits to be harvested at a more advanced stage of maturity compared to exporting countries from outside Europe, a timeline which improves the [...] Read more.

In Europe, papaya consumption is growing due to its nutritional properties. The proximity of consumer markets to Southeast Spain allows fruits to be harvested at a more advanced stage of maturity compared to exporting countries from outside Europe, a timeline which improves the quality of the papaya. Experiments have been carried out to assess the adaptation of papaya to protected cropping systems (under greenhouse) in the region. In this paper, we showed the results obtained in an experiment with five varieties, taking the most cultivated variety as control, which was grafted on its own female rootstock, in addition to another four new varieties that were introduced. Transplanting was made with early sex-identified plants in the nursery. Cultivation was developed in a 446-day cycle, almost 15 months and fruits were always harvested from the soil, due to the height that the plant reached in that period. The best yield parameters and fruit characteristics were obtained from hermaphrodite Intenzza papaya grafted on female papaya rootstock, although there were also other varieties which gave results that made possible its cultivation under this production system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Greenhouse and Horticulture)

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15 pages, 4514 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Path Loss Determination Using Linear and Cubic Regression Inside a Classic Tomato Greenhouse

by Dora Cama-Pinto, Miguel Damas, Juan Antonio Holgado-Terriza, Francisco Gómez-Mula and Alejandro Cama-Pinto

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(10), 1744; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16101744 - 17 May 2019

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 3884

Abstract

The production of tomatoes in greenhouses, in addition to its relevance in nutrition and health, is an activity of the agroindustry with high economic importance in Spain, the first exporter in Europe of this vegetable. The technological updating with precision agriculture, implemented in [...] Read more.

The production of tomatoes in greenhouses, in addition to its relevance in nutrition and health, is an activity of the agroindustry with high economic importance in Spain, the first exporter in Europe of this vegetable. The technological updating with precision agriculture, implemented in order to ensure adequate production, leads to a deployment planning of wireless sensors with limited coverage by the attenuation of radio waves in the presence of vegetation. The well-known propagation models FSPL (Free-Space Path Loss), two-ray, COST235, Weissberger, ITU-R (International Telecommunications Union—Radiocommunication Sector), FITU-R (Fitted ITU-R), offer values with an error percentage higher than 30% in the 2.4 GHz band in relation to those measured in field tests. As a substantial improvement, we have developed optimized propagation models, with an error estimate of less than 9% in the worst-case scenario for the later benefit of farmers, consumers and the economic chain in the production of tomatoes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Greenhouse and Horticulture)

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18 pages, 3691 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of the Effect of Concentrations of Four Whitening Products in Cover Transmissivity of Mediterranean Greenhouses

by Alejandro López-Martínez, Diego Luis Valera-Martínez, Francisco Domingo Molina-Aiz, María de los Ángeles Moreno-Teruel, Araceli Peña-Fernández and Karlos Emmanuel Espinoza-Ramos

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(6), 958; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16060958 - 18 Mar 2019

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2989

Abstract

The present work analyses the traditional method of applying whitening products on Mediterranean greenhouses. Four commercial whitening products (agricultural solar protectors, ASPs), applied at four doses, were compared with a non-whitened cover. The traditional product “Blanco de España” with 99% calcium carbonate (CaCO [...] Read more.

The present work analyses the traditional method of applying whitening products on Mediterranean greenhouses. Four commercial whitening products (agricultural solar protectors, ASPs), applied at four doses, were compared with a non-whitened cover. The traditional product “Blanco de España” with 99% calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) and other three products with 97% CaCO₃ that incorporate adhesives were tested. The use of adhesives in ASP did not influence the effect of the different products on the inside temperature, and at the same dose all four products show a similar behaviour. The findings support the maximum dose recommended by other authors of 0.50 kg L⁻¹ (50/100), above which the transmissivity of the greenhouse cover decreases by over 50%. The effect of ASP on the transmissivity of the cover depends principally on the dose applied, but also on the climatic conditions (solar radiation, cloud cover, etc.) and on the time of year (solar elevation). The habitual use of a constant dose throughout the year does not seem to be the most adequate. Recommended doses should vary according to the time of year and the desired degree of transmissivity reduction. The adhesive components are shown to provide a high degree of protection against heavy rain. The study recommends a standardised method of ASP application, establishing a method that allows the grower to verify the concentration of the product that will remain on the greenhouse cover. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Greenhouse and Horticulture)

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16 pages, 1629 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Aquifer Sustainability and the Use of Desalinated Seawater for Greenhouse Irrigation in the Campo de Níjar, Southeast Spain

by José A. Aznar-Sánchez, Luis J. Belmonte-Ureña, Juan F. Velasco-Muñoz and Diego L. Valera

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(5), 898; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16050898 - 12 Mar 2019

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 4679

Abstract

In the Campo de Níjar (southeast Spain), an intensive horticulture model under plastic has been developed based on the use of groundwater. For many years, aquifers have been overexploited, almost generating an environmental collapse. The construction of a desalination plant was planned to [...] Read more.

In the Campo de Níjar (southeast Spain), an intensive horticulture model under plastic has been developed based on the use of groundwater. For many years, aquifers have been overexploited, almost generating an environmental collapse. The construction of a desalination plant was planned to improve this situation and to achieve sustainable aquifer management. However, the aquifer is still being overexploited, since farmers scarcely use desalinated seawater for irrigation. In this paper, farmers irrigating with desalinated seawater are characterized, since they contribute to aquifer sustainability. The study aimed to identify the variables which condition the use of this water resource, as well as the kinds of incentives that encourage this option. For this purpose, a survey was undertaken within a sample of 110 farmers. A cluster analysis and a binary logistic regression were employed. The results from the cluster analysis allowed the characterization of farmers who use desalinated seawater for irrigation. Furthermore, the regression model showed the variables that determine a more intensive use of this irrigation source, such as crop diversification, availability of different water resources and the conductivity of aquifer water available for irrigation. The incentives promoting the use of desalinated seawater for irrigation that most encourage farmers are the implementation of tax relief, price reductions and the obligation to install rainwater collection systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Greenhouse and Horticulture)

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11 pages, 516 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Greenhouse Soil Biosolarization with Tomato Plant Debris as a Unique Fertilizer for Tomato Crops

by Pablo García-Raya, César Ruiz-Olmos, José Ignacio Marín-Guirao, Carlos Asensio-Grima, Julio César Tello-Marquina and Miguel de Cara-García

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(2), 279; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16020279 - 19 Jan 2019

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5126

Abstract

Intensive greenhouse horticulture can cause various environmental problems. Among these, the management, storage, and processing of crop residues can provoke aquifer contamination, pest proliferation, bad odors, or the abuse of phytosanitary treatments. Biosolarization adds value to any fresh plant residue and is an [...] Read more.

Intensive greenhouse horticulture can cause various environmental problems. Among these, the management, storage, and processing of crop residues can provoke aquifer contamination, pest proliferation, bad odors, or the abuse of phytosanitary treatments. Biosolarization adds value to any fresh plant residue and is an efficient technique for the control of soil-borne diseases. This study aims to examine an alternative means of managing greenhouse crop residues through biosolarization and to investigate the influence of organic matter on yield and quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum, L.) fruit. With this purpose, the following nutritional systems were evaluated: inorganic fertilization with and without brassica pellets (Fert, Fert +, and Fert ++), fresh tomato plant debris with and without brassica pellets (Rest, Rest +, and Rest ++), and no fertilizer application (Control). The addition of organic matter was equal across all the treatments except for the control with regard to yield and quality of the tomato fruit. In light of these results, the application of tomato plant debris to the soil through biosolarization is postulated as an alternative for the management of crop residues, solving an environmental problem and having a favorable impact on the production and quality of tomatoes as a commercial crop. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Greenhouse and Horticulture)

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