Cost efficiency of different cropping systems encompassing the energy crop Helianthus annuus L.

ArticleCrop rotation and green manure are the most ancient and popular cropping systems. This study sought to analyze the economic efficiency of sunflower where pea (Pisum sativum L.) either harvested or incorporated at the flowering stage in the soil before the sowing of sunflower in Europe and the final agricultural profit of such a cultivation system. Therefore, the main objectiveof this paper is to report the production costs and to find out which of the tested cultivation system gets sunflower cultivation economically viable in Greece and in Mediterranean region. To assess the economic efficiency, three-year field experiments were established in two contrasting environments in central Greece (Trikala and Larisa) and contained three different cultivation practices using legumes comprised the main-factor (T1: control, T2: legume incorporated at the flowering stage, T3: legume incorporated after seed harvest), while nitrogen fertilization comprised the sub-factor (N1:0, N2:50, N3:100 and N4:150 kgNha-1).The results derived from this study revealed the positive effect of the legume incorporation treatment (T2:legume incorporated at the flowering stage) where the final yield increased up to 5tha-1regardless region. Moreover, depending on the year the T2 treatment increases the final yield 30–50%and a yield increase was also noticed to the treatment where the legume was harvested (T3: legume incorporated after seed harvest). Therefore the introduction of this scheme into future land use systems in Greece and more generally in Mediterranean basin should be seriously taken into consideration

Comparison of two perennial energy crops for biomass production at the end of their life cycle

Nowadays fossil fuels are decreasing, causing the world's interest in renewable energy sources to rapidly grow. One of the most interesting renewable and ecologically pure fuels is biomass, which is considered to be carbon neutral. Biomass is a promising source of energy, as it can be used directly as an energy resource. Its quality characteristics such as gross calorific value and ash content are of paramount importance so as to improve the combustion process. Furthermore, during the last three decades, there has been an increasing interest in the production of biomass pellets for domestic and industrial use. Alternative feed stocks will need to be sourced to meet the demand for biomass pellets. Investigation for new energy crops that produce high amounts of biomass under low inputs and of high energy efficiency are the main tasks of this field. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the biomass yield and the quality characteristics (gross calorific value and ash content) of two perennial energy crops (Cynara cardunculus L. and Panicum virgatum L.) growing in a typical soil (Fluventic Xerochrept) of the main agricultural land of central Greece. The comparison for both cultivated crops was made in order to show the results during their 8th growing year. The examined factors were the irrigation (two levels: irrigated and rainfed) and the nitrogen fertilization (two levels: 0 and 80 kg N ha-1 ) as well as their effect on the dry biomass yield and the gross calorific value. It was found that higher dry biomass yield was produced from cardoon (21.3 vs. 14.23 t ha-1 ), while the higher average gross calorific value was observed for switchgrass biomass (17.31 vs. 15.65 Mj kg-1 ). Finally, multiplying the dry biomass yield (t ha-1 ) with the gross calorific value (Mj kg-1 ) it was found that 334 and 245 Gj ha-1 from a cardoon and a switchgrass cultivation could be produced, respectively. Cardoon has better results than switchgrass probably due to the fact that switchgrass is growing from March till October; while cardoon’s growing period is from October to June and in such areas precipitation is in shortage during summer months. Both crops could achieve high amounts of energy per hectare and thus their introduction in future land use systems, for an environmentally friendly energy production should be seriously taken into consideration

Sorghum dry biomass yield for solid bio-fuel production affected by different N-fertilization rates

The objective of this study was to examine the effect on the dry biomass yield of two dfferent sorghum hybrids (H1 and H2) under five different N-fertilization levels (0, 70, 140, 210 and 280 kg ha-1 ) in a soil which was formed by lacustrine deposits of Karla Lake and is characterized from the downward movement of calcium carbonate from the surface horizons due to leaching (Fluventic Xerochrept) during 2017. The results demonstrated a significant effect (P < 0.05) of fertilization only for one hybrid. Biomass yield ranged from 22.2 to 37.5 t ha−1. For both hybrids, sorghum accumulated a high amount of biomass in stems. Dry stem/total biomass ratio was rather constant throughout the different fertilization treatments achieving 81.6 and 77.5% for the first (H1) and the second hybrid (H2), respectively. The second hybrid (H2) had a higher percentage of leaf biomass (20.1 vs. 13.8%) than the first (H1), but lagged behind in seed production (2.4 vs. 4.6%). Biomass dry matter partitioning and total dry weight are important selection criteria for energy crops, due to different gross calorific value and ash content but also because of the different economic importance they may have e.g. the seed is also used as animal feed. The above high biomass yields of sorghum, confirming the high potential of this crop, should be taken into serious consideration regarding land use planning, but further investigation for the gross calorific value and the ash content is needed as well as biomass characteristics that are quite important in case to improve the combustion process

Assessing the efficiency of different fertilizer type and levels on maize yield

Many commercial compounds exist that promise the increasing efficiency of urea fertilizers by inhibiting urease activity in soils. Such a compound gaining in commercial importance in the last decades is N-(n-butyl) thiophosphorictriamide, broadly known with its registered trade name of “Agrotain”. In this study, the effect of nitrogen fertilizer dressings using Agrotain versus conventional (urea) fertilizers was studied under field conditions. In particular, the effect of three different nitrogen dressings using conventional N-fertilizers and Agrotain was investigated on the growth and final yield of maize cultivation at 2 different sites (Palamas and Velestino) and two years (2014 and 2015) in central Greece. Urease inhibitor ensures crops N-nutrition for longer period compared to conventional fertilizers. This results in better utilization of supplied nitrogen, achieving ultimately higher yields. It was demonstrated that crop fertilized with Agrotain obtained greater chlorophyll contents and reached significantly higher biomass and grain yields comparing to the treatments receiving traditional nitrogen fertilization, due to the more effective nitrogen release and uptake by the crops. The differences between the examined fertilizers are possibly due to smoother and stable N-nutrition and the higher photosynthesis rates. Therefore, application of urease inhibitor fertilizers, such as Agrotain, might reduce nitrogen application dressings, reduce N-losses and nitrification, and their introduction to existing crop rotations is highly advisable. © 2020, Agricultural Academy, Bulgaria. All rights reserved

Lavender organic cultivation yield and essential oil can be improved by using bio-stimulants

Lavender is an aromatic-medicinal plant, cultivated in Greece and in Mediterranean basin in general. The aim of the current study was to investigate if the use of bio-stimulants could increase the yield of the flowering shoots and the essential oil content even from the establishment year. For the purposes of the study, in Microkastro Vojo Kozanis, lavender experimental field was established on November 2017 and the results refer to the experimentation years 2018 and 2019. The effect of four different formulations (bio-stimulants and foliar preparations; control, amalgerol 15,000 cc ha–1, millerplex 450 cc ha–1, sugarxpress 12,000 cc ha–1, in three equal applications) on flower yield, essential oil content and yield were studied in a completely randomized experimental design under five replicates. The bio-stimulants application produced significantly higher flower shoots and essential oil yield comparing with control. The use of millerplex resulted to higher essential oil yield in higher values than the reported in literature, while the use of 'amargerol' produced flowering shoots with stable essential oil content for both experimental years. Therefore, the use of the above mentioned bio-stimulants is suggested to be used from the establishment year and thereafter, while further investigation on essential oil quality should be considered

Innovative Nitrogen Fertilizers Effect on Cotton Cultivation

Fertilizer enhancement is determined by chemical and physical characteristics, environmental safety, and mechanical stress stabilization, etc. In order to assess the reaction of cotton cultivation to distinct kinds of fertilizer (Agrotain: fertilizers with urease inhibitor versus standard urea) and different nitrogen dressings on chlorophyll content and yield, field studies were performed at two distinct locations (Palamas and Velestino) for 2 years (2014 and 2015). Cotton variety Flora was cultivated using Agrotain (with urease inhibitor) versus standard (urea) fertilizers under various N-dressings (0, 70, 140, and 210 kg ha−1). It was found that plants fertilized with Agrotain obtained higher chlorophyll content and achieved considerably higher yield during the second experimentation year owing to the efficient release and uptake of nitrogen from the plants. The variations between the examined fertilizers may be due to smoother, more stable N-nutrition and greater rates of photosynthesis. Nitrogen Use Efficiency was the same independently fertilization type, reinforcing the hypothesis that Agrotain fertilizers can lead to less N-losses, which is confirmed from the higher Agrotain recovery fraction. Therefore, the application of urease inhibitor fertilizers may decrease N-application and N-losses and it is advisable to introduce them to nutrition situations. © 2020, © 2020 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Lavender organic cultivation yield and essential oil can be improved by using bio-stimulants

Lavender is an aromatic-medicinal plant, cultivated in Greece and in Mediterranean basin in general. The aim of the current study was to investigate if the use of bio-stimulants could increase the yield of the flowering shoots and the essential oil content even from the establishment year. For the purposes of the study, in Microkastro Vojo Kozanis, lavender experimental field was established on November 2017 and the results refer to the experimentation years 2018 and 2019. The effect of four different formulations (bio-stimulants and foliar preparations; control, amalgerol 15,000 cc ha–1, millerplex 450 cc ha–1, sugarxpress 12,000 cc ha–1, in three equal applications) on flower yield, essential oil content and yield were studied in a completely randomized experimental design under five replicates. The bio-stimulants application produced significantly higher flower shoots and essential oil yield comparing with control. The use of millerplex resulted to higher essential oil yield in higher values than the reported in literature, while the use of 'amargerol' produced flowering shoots with stable essential oil content for both experimental years. Therefore, the use of the above mentioned bio-stimulants is suggested to be used from the establishment year and thereafter, while further investigation on essential oil quality should be considered. © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Could bio-stimulators affect flower, essential oil yield, and its composition in organic lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) cultivation?

Soil-climatic conditions of Greece and Mediterranean basin in general are favor for the development of aromatic-medicinal plants. A great aromatic-medicinal plant that is cultivated on a large scale in Greece and in Mediterranean basin in general for its essential oil is lavender. Lavender organic cultivation is facing a serious problem with Rhizoctonia and Fusarium fungal infections resulting in the most cases to the destruction of the cultivation. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of bio-stimulators to flower and essential oil yield and its composition. For the purposes of the study field experiments were established in Microkastro Vojo Kozanis (40°14′44.25″N, 21°30′25.87″E) in 2018 and 2019, using a complete randomized experimental design. There was investigated the effect of different treatments (i). control, (ii). amalgerol 15000 mL ha−1, (iii). millerplex450 ml ha−1, (iv). sugarXpress 12000 mL ha−1, in three equal applications) on flower, essential oil yield and composition under five replicates. The results refer to the sixth and seventh lavender’ growing year. It was found that flower (spike) yield was decreased by 50% at the second experimentation year while the use of the bio-stimulators had a statistically significant effect compared with control, indicating their positive effect. In essential oil content case, amalgerol treatment was found to have the same content for both growing years. Finally, the identified essential oil components were 48, and there were found many differences to the composition between the tested treatments. © 2020 Elsevier B.V

Cost efficiency of different cropping systems encompassing the energy crop helianthus annuus L.

Crop rotation and green manure are the most ancient and popular cropping systems. This study sought to analyze the economic efficiency of sunflower where pea (Pisum sativum L.) either harvested or incorporated at the flowering stage in the soil before the sowing of sunflower in Europe and the final agricultural profit of such a cultivation system. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to report the production costs and to find out which of the tested cultivation system gets sunflower cultivation economically viable in Greece and in Mediterranean region. To assess the economic efficiency, three-year field experiments were established in two contrasting environments in central Greece (Trikala and Larisa) and contained three different cultivation practices using legumes comprised the main-factor (T1: control, T2: legume incorporated at the flowering stage, T3: legume incorporated after seed harvest), while nitrogen fertilization comprised the sub-factor (N1:0, N2:50, N3:100 and N4:150 kgNha-1). The results derived from this study revealed the positive effect of the legume incorporation treatment (T2: legume incorporated at the flowering stage) where the final yield increased up to 5 t ha-1 regardless region. Moreover, depending on the year the T2 treatment increases the final yield 30–50% and a yield increase was also noticed to the treatment where the legume was harvested (T3: legume incorporated after seed harvest). Therefore the introduction of this scheme into future land use systems in Greece and more generally in Mediterranean basin should be seriously taken into consideration. © 2019, Eesti Pollumajandusulikool. All rights reserved

Effect of irrigation and fertilization levels on mineral composition of cannabis sativa L. Leaves

A field experiment was conducted in central Greece to study, the effect of two irrigation (I1: 100% ETo, I2: 60% ETo) and N-fertilization levels (N1: 244, N2: 184 kg ha-1), on the nutrients concentration of Cannabis sativa leaves (cv. 'Fibranova'). The N, K, Ca, Mg, P -concentration in the leaves was ranged by 2.8 to 3.51%, 1.8 to 2.57%, 1.96 to 2.17%, 0.86 to 0.88%, and 0.3 to 0.37% respectively, while by the micronutrients the iron showed the highest concentration that ranged by 129 to 139.8 mg kg-1dw. The treatment I1F1, where the highest level of irrigation and N -fertilization was applied, compared to the other treatments, showed the highest dry biomass yield, however, in the leaves the highest concentrations of N, K, Mn and Cu were not observed. Moreover, it was found that the N, K, Ca, Mg, P and Fe removal only by one ton dry biomass of leaves was ranged by 28 to 35.12 kg, 18.01 to 25.65 kg, 19.6 to 21.7 kg, 8.34 to 8.75 kg, 3.01 to 3.70 kg and 0.129 to 0.140 kg, respectively. These results could contribute optimal fertilizer application and therefore to the reduction of production costs of the crop. © 2019 Academic Press