COMPETITIVE ABILITY OF MAIZE IN MIXTURE WITH CLIMBING BEAN IN ORGANIC FARMING

Intercropped crops represent an important production system in organic farming, especially maize/climbing bean mixture due to its high content of protein in bean seeds for human diet, and producing silage for ruminants. To test this hypothesis, the effects of maize (Zea mays L.) sown as a sole crop and maize/climbing bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Cipro) mixtures on maize plant height, maize leaf area index, bean leaf area index and grain yield were investigated in field experiments on an organic farm following accepted rules of certification. The maize/climbing bean mixture increased maize plant height as well as maize and bean leaf area and reduced maize grain yield in comparison with maize sown as sole crop, but 477.5 kg ha-1seed yield of bean sown in mixture was obtained. Maize was a stronger competitor than bean. The overall conclusion is that maize/bean mixture has promise for producing valuable yield of maize and bean, but mixtures needs further investigation

Importance of Underutilized Field Crops for Increasing Functional Biodiversity

Despite the suggestions to include two or three crops into crop rotation that is widely considered to support the richer biodiversity on fields, industrial field crop production systems are still based mainly on monoculture, where the farmers produce permanently mainly one crop. Review and analyses of different possibilities showed that more diverse functional (also important for diverse nutritional and health products of food) biodiversity of underutilized field crops needs to be established, especially if beneficial social and economic effects of introducing underutilized crops into small-scale farms are taken into account. We can conclude that functional biodiversity based on rich crop rotations associated with underutilized crops increases biodiversity in the soil and has an effect on richer and sustainable behavior of cultural plants with good balance of pests and plant diseases

Economics of Peppers and Salad Cucumbers Production on an Open Land and in a Protected Space

The research is based on the economic analysis of growing peppers (Capsicum annum L.) and salad cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) in an open land and in a protected space. For this purpose the simulation models were developed for the growing of the peppers and salad cucumbers that were based on the technological-economic input data for two growing systems, in the open and in the protected space. The results of the economic analysis show that the growing of peppers and salad cucumbers in the protected space is more profi table than growing them in the open land. The growing of salad cucumbers in the protected space has proven to be more reasonable than growing peppers, as the coefficient of economics (Ce) of growing salad cucumbers reached the value Ce = 1.4, while the value in growing peppers was Ce = 1.1. This was also confirmed with two scenarios that were analysed using the sensitivity analysis

Organic farming as a potential for the development of protected areas

The objectives of organic farming are consistent with the objectives of protected areas. In this paper, possibilities for development of organic farming in protected areas are analyzed against the background of the current state of organic farming in Slovenia, current legislation regarding farming in protected areas, and economic and demographic characteristics of the selected protected areas in that country. Organic farmers are important providers of healthy, locally produced food, which can be an important component of tourism. Low interconnections between farmers, insufficient supporting legislation, limiting natural factors, and aspects of demographic structure inhibit the development of organic farming in protected areas

ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT AS A METHOD FOR EVALUATION DIFFERENT AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Ecological footprint could be a tool for evaluating impacts of different agricultural production systems (PS). Based on more years field experiments producing vegetables and field crops cological footprint of conventional (CON), integrated (INT), organic (ORG) and biodynamic (BD) farming systems in Maribor and CON, INT and ORG in Dolenci was calculated and interpreted using the SPIonExcel tool. Results showed a markedly lower ecological footprint of ORG and BD systems compared to CON and INT which are not significantlly different. Identified were possibilities for reducing ecological footprint – for CON and INT by reducing mineral fertilizers and pesticide inputs; for ORG and BD by changing fuels and reducing maschinery use

Financial Feasibility Analysis of Natura Rab Business: Case Study

In 2015 Natura Rab decided to provide three very important investments that will greatly change and facilitate its future business activities, especially the first project. The first and largest financial investment is the construction of the new organic shop with products at the central farm called Natura Rab. The second investment project is the new 2500 m2 olive plantation. The third investment in the analyzed family company is related to the beekeeping sector, and it involves several activities like buying new beekeeping equipment and new work vehicle. Before implementing the three investment projects, some financial parameters for the further assessment of investments were used, such as the net present value (NPV) and the internal rate of return (IRR). The investment value of the new shop is 38315.88 €, and the annual cash flow is 13,288 €. The net present value at the discount rate of 5.5% in the fourth year is 8260.55 €. The internal rate of return is 14.51%. The investment value for the second project, the new olive plantation, is 6620 €, and the annual cash flow is 2664.02 €. The net present value at the discount rate of 5.5% in the third year is 567.35 €. The internal rate of return is 10.04%. The investment value of the beekeeping sector for this year is 18428.50 €, and the annual cash flow is 41537.20 €. The net present value at the discount rate of 5.5% after the first year is 20943.25 €

EFFECT OF LIVING MULCH ON PEST/BENEFICIAL INTERACTION

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cover crops on pest/beneficial dynamics and to test the potential of living mulch on enhancing biological control against insect pests. The research, carried out in the frame of the InterVeg (Core Organic II) project, involved four European countries: Germany, Slovenia, Denmark and Italy. Three crops were tested: cauliflower, leek and artichoke. The preliminary results obtained in Italy on cauliflower, indicated that the living mulch did not affect the infestation of the cabbage butterfly, Pieris brassicae, showing no detrimental effect of this technique on pest dynamics. A very high level of parasitization against cabbage butterfly was detected either in the living mulch crop (88%) and in the sole one (63%). Living mulch showed to increase the spider and rove beetle activity density, while the carabid activity density was slightly higher in the sole crop