Is there any effects of organic food on human health?

In the last decade, the production and consumption of organic food have increased steadily worldwide. While there is increasing scientific evidence for biodiversity and environmental sustainability-related benefits of organic farming, there is still considerable scientific controversy about whether or not, and to what extent organic production methods result in food quality and safety, and human health gains. This review provides an update of the present knowledge of the impact of an organic versus a conventional food diet on health. Considering the nutritional value of organic products, the content of dry matter, minerals, vitamins and substances that give a better smell and taste of food, advantage is on the organic food side. In terms of the content of secondary metabolites of plants, products from organic production show significant advantages over products from conventional production. The content of polyphenols, carotenoids and vitamin C is 10-50% higher in products from organic production. The risk of food contamination by residues of pesticides and antibiotics is lower in organic than in conventional foods. Also, there is no evidence that there is a higher risk of microbiological and other natural toxins found in organically produced foods. Analyses of products from animal production, including milk, dairy products and meat, showed that products from organic production had significantly better characteristics compared to products from conventional production. This refers to the total content of useful fatty acids, especially the content of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), the content of which can be higher up to 60% in milk from organic production, then a better ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, higher antioxidant content and lower concentrations of drug and hormone residues in organic products

Essential Elements as a Distinguishing Factor between Mycorrhizal Potentials of Two Cohabiting Truffle Species in Riparian Forest Habitat in Serbia

True truffles (Tuber sp.) that establish ectomycorrhizal symbiosis (ECM) with trees in the Mediterranean and temporal regions have species specific abilities to assimilate soil born elements. Suitable habitats are usually inhabited by few truffle species, while distinguishing their symbiotic potentials appeared very difficult. Two species that commonly inhabit riparian forests in Serbia are the most prized one, Tuber magnatumPico (Piedmont white truffle) and not so highly valued Tuber brumaleVitt. In order to assess potential differences between their assimilation and accumulation abilities, the differences between contents of elements that may be the subjects of the symbiotic trade between the host plant and fungi were evaluated in accumulation target (ascocarps) and their source (the soil). Essential (K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, P, S, and Zn) and essential trace elements (Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, and Se) in truffles and soil samples were determined by means of inductively coupled plasma with optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Their concentrations (mg/kg) in ascocarps were in the range from 1.364 +/- 0.591 (Cr) to 10760.862 +/- 16.058 (K), while in soil ranged from 23.035 +/- 0.010 (Cr) to 20809.300 +/- 122.934 (Fe). Element accumulation potential (bioaccumulation factor) was calculated in the system truffle/soil. The statistical approaches were used for establishing the differences, while the possible differentiation between symbiotic potentials of two mycelia in the defined soil conditions was discussed

The most important crop measures in organic production of winter wheat

Organic products of winter wheat are believed to be more nutritious and safer foods compared to the conventional alternatives by consumers, despite the higher price of these products. The experiment with organic technology of winter wheat was conducted at the research and study field "Radmilovac", Faculty of Agriculture Belgrade in 2016/17 and 2017/18 year on the luvic chernozem soil type. Organic cropping system included tillage with a disc harrow at 20 cm with the complete maize crop residues incorporation and the pre-sowing tillage with a harrow. The basic fertilization was conducted in autumn with 3.000 kg ha-1 biohumus (commercial name „Biohumus Royal offert“, producer „Altamed“ Serbia) and top dressing in spring with 5.0 l ha-1 biofertilizer („Slavol“, producer „Agrounik“ Serbia). The common (cv. 'NS 40S') and durum (cv. 'Dolap') winter wheat cultivars were used, both developed and adapted for organic growing system. It was important to underline that organic cropping system, after 17 years of experiment (from the beginning of the establishment of the organic four-field crop rotation until 2017/18) increased soil organic matter, due to the application of organic fertilizer in combination with other practices as a part of this system (application of biofertilizers, incorporation of crop residues, etc.). Statistical analysis confirmed that year and genotype have greater impact on wheat productivity than their interactions. More favorable meteorological conditions in the first year led to obtaining significantly higher grain yields (4.84 and 4.45 kg ha-1) and a greater 1000-grain weight (41.6 and 40.2 g). There were also significant differences in the productivity of the studied wheat cultivars. The grain yield of common soft wheat (4.34 kg ha-1) was significantly higher than that of durum wheat (3.050 kg ha-1). The inclusion of high yielding genotypes, with enhanced utilization efficiency into low-input technology based on careful choice of cultural practices, could be the important step in organic farming systems

Supplementary data for the article: Popović-Djordjević, J.; Marjanović, Ž. S.; Gršić, N.; Adžić, T.; Popović, B.; Bogosavljević, J.; Brčeski, I. Essential Elements as a Distinguishing Factor between Mycorrhizal Potentials of Two Cohabiting Truffle Species in Riparian Forest Habitat in Serbia. Chemistry and Biodiversity 2019, 16 (4). https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.201800693

Supplementary material for: [https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.201800693]Related to published version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2920]Related to accepted version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2921

The impact of integrated growing system and top dressing in productivity of winter wheat

The examination of the effects of sustainable growing systems on the grain yield of winter wheat was conducted at the research and study field "Radmilovac" of Faculty of Agriculture (44o45’ N, 20o35’ E Serbia, 130 m above mean see level). Investigations was conducted in 2016/17 and 2017/18 on the luvic chernozem soil type, in completely randomized blocks. In intergrated growing system (IGS), based on low inputs, tillage was performed using a chisel plough at 25 cm with ≥30% of maize crop residues retaining on the soil surface and the pre-sowing tillage using a disc harrow and a harrow, basic fertilization in autumn with 600 kg ha-1 NPK and top dressing in spring with 60, 120 kg ha-1 N and control treatment, without top dressing. Two common winter wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum ssp. vulgare) Ilina and Zvezdana grew in this growing system. Statistical analysis confirmed that year, variety and top dressing had a significantly greater impact on grain yield and year and top dressing on weight of 1000 grains. Interaction of year*cultivar and year*top dressing had a significant effect on investigation parameters. More favorable meteorological conditions in the first year led to obtaining statistically significantly higher grain yields (5885.56:5585.56 kg ha-1). A higher yield per unit area was found in the Ilina variety (6012.22 kg ha-1) compared to the Zvezdana variety (5458.89 kg ha-1). With increasing N dose in top dressing, the weight of 1000 grains and the grain yield of winter wheat increased in both tested varieties (5437.5; 5704.17; 6065.00 kg ha-1). An integrated cultivation system on heavier soils has less positive effects than on soils with more favorable characteristics, especially in the higher dose of N

Seasonal water requirements of maize in the region of Vojvodina

Global climate changes, which are characterized by an increase in temperature, reduction of precipitation, especially during the summer months, significantly affect the overall production of spring sowing crops. Maize is the predominant crop in Serbia. It is grown in about 1 million hectares with average yield about 7,9 t/ha. Precisely for that reason, in this paper, the analysis of water deficit on the maize fields in the region of Vojvodina was performed. The total used agricultural land of the surveyed area is about 1,574,365.71 ha, while the maize grown area occupies about 551,028 ha (35%). A series of meteorological data from the previous 20 years (2000 - 2019) from 7 meteorological stations of the Administrative Districts from the regions covered by the survey were used for the analysis. Evapotranspiration, crop evapotranspiration (maize), effective rainfall and water deficit were calculated using FAO-56 methodology. The amount of water consumed during the evapotranspiration process in the vegetation period averaging about 625.07 mm (from 597.4 mm in the North Bačka District to 646.8 mm in the West Bačka District). Maize has the greatest water requirement during the tasseling and silking phases, in July, when the largest water deficit is observed, which averages 152.51 mm (from 143.6 mm in the South Banat District to 159.2 mm in the Srem District). The seasonal water deficit averages 347.24 mm (from 310.8 mm in the area of South Bačka District to 369 mm in the area of West Bačka District). As the availability of water is a key factor for high and stable maize yields, this research aimed to examine the water requirements in the area where the maize represents more than half of the total production

Alternative small grains in organic production

The beginnings of the development of organic production in Serbia are connected with the increase of the area under alternative small grain types, with which organic crop rotation began on many farms. The advantage of these species, except in terms of weed control in the beginning, especially if the soil is not used in production, is to provide the market with a high level of demanded and healthy food products. The needs for these products still exceed the amount produced, partly due to insufficient areas and largely due to lower grain yields of these growed species. There are a number of alternative plants that have been grown in the past, have been neglected and forgotten over time (spelt, buckwheat, etc.). However, today, before these species, new plant species are included in the production, which were not grown in our area before (quinoa, canary grass), and were very unknown to our producers. After a maximum of 100,000 ha under buckwheat (2015 year), the areas under this species are declining and so in 2019 year they amount to only 20,000 ha. Organic triticale production also had a maximum in 2015 (140,000 ha), but there was no significant decline in areas, so in 2019, a similar area remained. On the other hand, the areas under spelt have been constantly growing in the last ten years, from a modest few hundred ha in 2011, to almost 300,000 ha in 2019. Agricultural areas and soils of the Republic of Serbia have extremely favorable agroecological conditions for growing alternative small grain types in the system of organic production, especially on smaller areas. On the other hand, the fact that a certain amount of alternative small grain types is imported to Serbia, indicates that these plant species are not grown to the extent that they could, both in terms of importance and needs

Effects of different growing systems on the grain yield of winter wheat

The examination of the effects of different growing systems on the grain yield of winter wheat was conducted at the research and study field "Radmilovac" of Faculty of Agriculture (44o45’ N, 20o 35’ E Serbia, 130 m above mean see level). Investigations was conducted in 2016/17 and 2017/18 year on the luvic chernozem soil type, in completely randomized blocks with three repetitions. Conventional growing system (CGS) was aimed to achieve high grain yields and included ploughing using a mouldboard plough at 25 cm and pre-sowing tillage using a disc harrow and a harrow, basic fertilization in autumn with 600 kg ha-1 NPK (15:15:15) and top dressing in spring with high N dose (120 kg ha-1 N). In intergrated growing system (IGS), based on low inputs, tillage was performed using a chisel plough at 25 cm with ≥30% of maize crop residues retaining on the soil surface and the pre sowing tillage using a disc harrow and a harrow, basic fertilization in autumn with 600 kg ha-1 NPK (15:15:15) and top dressing in spring with 60 kg ha-1 N. In both growing systems grew two common winter wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum ssp. vulgare) Ilina and Zvezdana. Statistical analysis confirmed that year, growing system and genotype have a significantly greater impact on wheat productivity than their interactions. More favorable meteorological conditions in the first year led to obtaining statistically significantly higher grain yields in both growing systems (7,840 and 6,450 kg ha-1). A higher yield per unit area (7,470 kg ha-1) was found in the conventional compared to the integrated growing system (6,150 kg ha-1). In both growing systems, the Ilina variety had higher yields compared to the Zvezdana variety. An integrated cultivation system on heavier soils has less positive effects than on soils with more favorable characteristics, especially in the short term

EFFECTS OF TILLAGE SYSTEMS AND FERTILIZATION LEVEL ON THE WEEDINESS OF WINTER WHEAT

This paper deals with results of the effects of three tillage systems and differentnitrogen fertilizer level on floristic composition of weed community in winterwheat in investigated period on the chernozem-luvic soil type. The trial was carriedout on the estate experimental field of the Faculty of Agriculture - Zemun"Radmilovac" near Belgrade in Serbia. Tillage systems and fertilization withnitrogen fertilizers have a big influence on weed control and floristic composition,number of species and individuals and biomass of weeds in winter wheat. Theweed community in winter wheat crops was composed of 14 weed species in bothyear of investigation, respectively, with dominancy of terophytes. The obtainedresults showed that the dominant weed species were Avena fatua L., Papaverrhoeas L., Sinapis arvensis L. and Stellaria media (L.) Vill. from annuels and.Convolvulus arvensis L. from perennials prevailed in the weed community inwinter wheat crops.Conventional tillage system with nitrogen level in top dressing120 kg ha-1 had better effect in weed control than both of both investigatedconservation tillage systems (MTS and NTS) had. However, mulch tillage has notlagged behind the conventional tillage increased total weed number of individualsannual and perennial species especially fresh biomass. No-tillage system makesweed control difficult

Seasonal water requirements of maize in the region of Vojvodina

Global climate changes, which are characterized by an increase in temperature, reduction of precipitation, especially during the summer months, significantly affect the overall production of spring sowing crops. Maize is the predominant crop in Serbia. It is grown in about 1 million hectares with average yield about 7,9 t/ha. Precisely for that reason, in this paper, the analysis of water deficit on the maize fields in the region of Vojvodina was performed. The total used agricultural land of the surveyed area is about 1,574,365.71 ha, while the maize grown area occupies about 551,028 ha (35%). A series of meteorological data from the previous 20 years (2000 - 2019) from 7 meteorological stations of the Administrative Districts from the regions covered by the survey were used for the analysis. Evapotranspiration, crop evapotranspiration (maize), effective rainfall and water deficit were calculated using FAO-56 methodology. The amount of water consumed during the evapotranspiration process in the vegetation period averaging about 625.07 mm (from 597.4 mm in the North Bačka District to 646.8 mm in the West Bačka District). Maize has the greatest water requirement during the tasseling and silking phases, in July, when the largest water deficit is observed, which averages 152.51 mm (from 143.6 mm in the South Banat District to 159.2 mm in the Srem District). The seasonal water deficit averages 347.24 mm (from 310.8 mm in the area of South Bačka District to 369 mm in the area of West Bačka District). As the availability of water is a key factor for high and stable maize yields, this research aimed to examine the water requirements in the area where the maize represents more than half of the total production