Handbook for Composting and Compost Use in Organic Horticulture

Compost, as a product of recycling processes, can be a very appropriate input material for organic farming, provided the composting process is well-managed, the input materials are free of contaminants, and the resulting product is applied according to the system’s ecological needs. Compost is a very important input material for organic greenhouse production. Organic greenhouse production may vary in the level of intensity, but it is generally a system with high turnover rates of organic matter, high inputs of both nutrients and energy, and high production levels. Compost is used as an important source of organic matter and nutrients in greenhouse horticulture, and is an important component of growing media for nurseries. Compost plays an important role in building a resilient farming system, by providing both the energy sources and the nutrients to sustain soil biodiversity

Biostimulanten: soorten en werkingsmechanismen

Biostimulants are increasingly used in agriculture and horticulture as methods are sought to limit the use of artificial fertilizers and pesticides. These products may contain microbial or non-microbial substances as well as combinations thereof. Biostimulants are defined as products that stimulate the plant nutrient supply, independent of the nutrient content of the product, with the sole purpose of increasing plant nutrient use efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress, the availability of nutrients retained in the soil or in the rhizosphere and improving overall quality characteristics of the plant increasing. This report describes the different types of microbial and non-microbial biostimulants and discusses the knowledge that is available regarding their modes of action. The mechanisms behind the effects of these products differ, but there is also substantial overlap. Many products have an effect on the resistance and resilience to both abiotic and biotic stress by means of effects on plant hormones and plant physiology or through effects on soil resistance and resilience (e.g., the microbiome). Despite the enormous amount of knowledge that has been gathered about biostimulants in recent years, many open questions and obstacles remain in their application. The main obstacles in practical use are uncertainty about the exact composition of products and the conditions (e.g. abiotic conditions, crop, growth phase) under which the products are most effective

IL-4 and SDF-1 Increase Adipose Tissue-Derived Stromal Cell Ability to Improve Rat Skeletal Muscle Regeneration

Skeletal muscle regeneration depends on the satellite cells, which, in response to injury, activate, proliferate, and reconstruct damaged tissue. However, under certain conditions, such as large injuries or myopathies, these cells might not sufficiently support repair. Thus, other cell populations, among them adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ADSCs), are tested as a tool to improve regeneration. Importantly, the pro-regenerative action of such cells could be improved by various factors. In the current study, we tested whether IL-4 and SDF-1 could improve the ability of ADSCs to support the regeneration of rat skeletal muscles. We compared their effect at properly regenerating fast-twitch EDL and poorly regenerating slow-twitch soleus. To this end, ADSCs subjected to IL-4 and SDF-1 were analyzed in vitro and also in vivo after their transplantation into injured muscles. We tested their proliferation rate, migration, expression of stem cell markers and myogenic factors, their ability to fuse with myoblasts, as well as their impact on the mass, structure and function of regenerating muscles. As a result, we showed that cytokine-pretreated ADSCs had a beneficial effect in the regeneration process. Their presence resulted in improved muscle structure and function, as well as decreased fibrosis development and a modulated immune response