Operation Allelopathy: An Experiment Investigating an Alternative to Synthetic Agrochemicals

Synthetic herbicides represent a serious problem in modern agriculture because they are not biodegradable and can accumulate in the soil and in the groundwater, a situation that allows them to enter the trophic chain and ultimately leads to human exposure. Allelopathic chemicals offer an effective alternative to the synthetic compounds. The aim of this experiment is to highlight the differences between chemical and biological control of diseases in crops and to demonstrate the use of natural fungicides and herbicides as alternatives to synthetic chemicals. The experiment involves an evaluation by students of the potential of plant extracts as an alternative to synthetic agrochemicals to identify new ecological farming techniques that could be applied in agriculture. In an effort to encourage 1800 students in high school (14 to 16 years old) to have an interest in science, technology, and innovation, the third edition of the Summer Science Campus was organized by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology and the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports with support from the foundation Obra Social “la Caixa”

Response of vetch, lentil, chickpea and red pea to pre- or post-emergence applied herbicides

Broad-leaved weeds constitute a serious problem in the production of winter legumes, but few selective herbicides controlling these weeds have been registered in Europe. Four field experiments were conducted in 2009/10 and repeated in 2010/11 in Greece to study the response of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and red pea (Lathyrus cicera L.) to several rates of the herbicides pendimethalin, S-metolachlor, S-metolachlor plus terbuthylazine and flumioxazin applied pre-emergence, as well as imazamox applied post-emergence. Phytotoxicity, crop height, total weight and seed yield were evaluated during the experiments. The results of this study suggest that common vetch, lentil, chickpea and red pea differed in their responses to the herbicides tested. Pendimethalin at 1.30 kg ha-1, S-metolachlor at 0.96 kg ha-1 and flumioxazine at 0.11 kg ha-1 used as pre-emergence applied herbicides provided the least phytotoxicity to legumes. Pendimethalin at 1.98 kg ha-1 and both rates of S-metolachlor plus terbuthylazine provided the greatest common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.) control. Imazamox at 0.03 to 0.04 kg ha-1 could also be used as early post-emergence applied herbicide in common vetch and red pea without any significant detrimental effect

Herbicidal potential of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) essential oil components on bristly foxtail (Setaria verticillata (L.) P. Beauv.): Comparison with carvacrol, carvone, thymol and eugenol

Essential oils are a plentiful source of plant compounds for potential use in the development of natural herbicides. With this in mind, the phytotoxicity of ten major essential oil components of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) on the weed species bristly foxtail (Setaria verticillata (L.) P. Beauv.) was determined using a perlite-based Petri-dish bioassay. Their phytotoxicity was also compared with that of well-known phytotoxic essential oil components (carvacrol, thymol, carvone and eugenol) of oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) and clove (Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry) essential oils. Potential synergistic or antagonistic effects between carvacrol or eugenol with other components of lavender essential oil were investigated. Regarding the most phytotoxic components, terpinen-4-ol at 80 nL/cm3 completely inhibited the germination and root length of bristly foxtail, displaying similar phytotoxicity to carvone and thymol. Like carvacrol, lavandulol and linalyl acetate caused total (100%) germination and root length reduction of bristly foxtail at 160 nL/cm3, while the same effect was achieved by lavandulyl acetate at 320 nL/cm3. A synergistic effect was also observed when carvacrol or eugenol were combined with ocimene, 3-octanone, α-terpineol or terpinen-4-ol. Focusing on the development of alternative weed control strategies, lavender essential oils containing high concentrations of terpinen-4-ol, lavandulol or linalyl acetate could be useful for the production of natural herbicides. These essential oil components combined with selected oregano or clove essential oil components, increase phytotoxicity and weed control due to the synergistic effect observed when in mixture. © 2020 by the Serbian Biological Society

Response of vetch, lentil, chickpea and red pea to pre- or post-emergence applied herbicides

Broad-leaved weeds constitute a serious problem in the production of winter legumes, but few selective herbicides controlling these weeds have been registered in Europe. Four field experiments were conducted in 2009/10 and repeated in 2010/11 in Greece to study the response of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and red pea (Lathyrus cicera L.) to several rates of the herbicides pendimethalin, S-metolachlor, S-metolachlor plus terbuthylazine and flumioxazin applied pre-emergence, as well as imazamox applied post-emergence. Phytotoxicity, crop height, total weight and seed yield were evaluated during the experiments. The results of this study suggest that common vetch, lentil, chickpea and red pea differed in their responses to the herbicides tested. Pendimethalin at 1.30 kg ha�1, S-metolachlor at 0.96 kg ha�1 and flumioxazine at 0.11 kg ha�1 used as pre-emergence applied herbicides provided the least phytotoxicity to legumes. Pendimethalin at 1.98 kg ha�1 and both rates of Smetolachlor plus terbuthylazine provided the greatest common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.) control. Imazamox at 0.03 to 0.04 kg ha�1 could also be used as early post-emergence applied herbicide in common vetch and red pea without any significant detrimental effect

Long-term cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) productivity under reduced irrigation and weed control inputs

The long-term productivity data for the energy crops under reduced inputs are decisive for farmers’ decisions. An 11-year field study was conducted in central Greece to evaluate the productivity of two cardoon varieties under reduced irrigation and weed control inputs. During the initial six plant stage ages, the cardoon total dry biomass, seed, oil and potential energy yields, averaged 21.65, 1.92 and 0.53 t ha−1, as well as 364.719 GJ ha−1, respectively, with the var. C12, in most cases, the most productive. Both conditions of non-irrigation and weed competition caused a slight reduction in cardoon yield components. However, during the next five plant stage ages, the corresponding yields were dramatically reduced and averaged 11.10, 0.52 and 0.15 t ha−1, as well as 185.153 GJ ha−1, mainly due to reduced regrowth and the shorter height of cardoon stems. In this period, irrigation and weed management did not affect in most cases cardoon productivity. So, the under-reduced inputs cultivation of cardoon after the sixth year may not be economically acceptable for farmers. Conclusively, cardoon can be cultivated under reduced inputs, at least for 6 years, constituting one of the eligible energy crops for farmers in the hot and semi-arid Mediterranean fields. © 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Salinity tolerance evaluation of barley germplasm for marginal soil utilization

One greenhouse experiment was conducted to assess the tolerance to salinity and water deficit stresses of 184 barley varieties (breeding lines or registered varieties). Also, a 2-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth and yield components of 16 of these varieties, representing tolerant, intermediate tolerant and susceptible ones, grown simultaneously in saline and nonsaline soils. In the greenhouse, the K-means cluster analysis shown that 17 varieties were tolerant, 72 varieties intermediate tolerant, 16 varieties intermediate susceptible and 79 varieties susceptible. In the field, soil salinity reduced the germination of the barley varieties except for the varieties ICB 100126, Scarlett and Meteor. Barley varieties grown in the saline soil produced 33.2-to 83.4% lower dry biomass, 0.0-to 78.9% fewer ears and 0.0-to 81.5% lower grain yield than those of varieties grown in the nonsaline soil. In the saline soil, the greatest grain yield was provided by the vars. Galt Brea ‘S’ and ICB 100126 (4.87 and 4.31 t ha-1, respectively), without significant differences between saline and non-saline soils. In most barley varieties, chlorophyll content and photosystem II quantum yield were greater under saline than under non-saline conditions. The results of this research indicated that, in barley germplasm, a remarkable genetic variation exists which would contribute to barley production in saline soils. © the Author(s), 2021 Licensee PAGEPress, Italy

Penerapan Prinsip Building-Integrated Agriculture pada Desain Agricultural Center Building di Kota Kupang

One of the sectors most affected by population growth and changes in people's lifestyles in urban areas is the agricultural sector. Food management depends on the availability of land, clean water, and distribution processes, making agriculture the sector that contributes the highest carbon emissions globally. Along with technological developments, conventional planting methods that require vast land and energy can be overcome by planting methods in urban areas, known as Urban Farming. The design of the building will apply the principles of Building-Integrated Agriculture, which is able to meet the food needs of people in urban areas where plants can be grown in buildings by taking into account the need for light, both natural and artificial lighting, optimal air circulation to maximize ventilation in buildings, meeting water needs. And energy by utilizing renewable energy in planting equipment to integrate planting activities concurrently with educational activities in buildings. Presenting Urban Farming in the Kupang City in the form of an Agricultural Center Building will help to fulfill the need for vegetables and fruits with limited land and limited clean water and cut energy in the distribution of food in Kupang City.Salah satu sektor yang paling terdampak oleh peningkatan jumlah penduduk dan perubahan gaya hidup masyarakat di area perkotaan adalah sektor pertanian dimana pengelolaan bahan pangan bergantung pada ketersediaan lahan, air bersih dan proses pendistribusian yang menyebabkan pertanian menjadi sektor penyumbang emisi karbon tertinggi di dunia. Seiring terjadinya perkembangan teknologi, metode penanaman konvensional yang membutuhkan lahan dan energi yang sangat besar dapat diatasi dengan metode penanaman di area perkotaan atau yang dikenal sebagai Urban Farming. Perancangan bangunan akan menerapkan prinsip-prinsip Building-Integrated Agriculture, yaitu mampu memenuhi kebutuhan pangan masyarakat di area perkotaan dimana tanaman bisa dikembangbiakan dalam bangunan dengan memperhatikan kebutuhan cahaya baik pencahayaaan alami dan buatan, sirkulasi udara yang optimal agar memaksimalkan penghawaan dalam bangunan, pemenuhan kebutuhan air dan energi dengan memanfaatkan energi terbarukan dalam pengoperasian peralatan penanaman sehingga integrasi antara kegiatan penanaman dapat berjalan bersamaan dengan kegiatan edukasi dalam bangunan. Dengan dihadirkannya sebuah sarana pengenalan Urban Farming di area Kota Kupang berupa sebuah Agricultural Center Building, diharapkan dapat membantu pemenuhan kebutuhan akan sayur-sayuran dan buah-buahan dengan keterbatasan lahan dan air bersih yang terbatas serta memangkas energi dalam pendistribusian bahan pangan dan membantu penyerapan karbon dioksida di area Kota Kupang