The Role of Trees and Pastures in Organic Agriculture
Environmental concerns associated with annual row crop grain production – including soil erosion, soil carbon loss, intensive use of chemicals and petroleum, limited arable land, among others – could be addressed by converting conventional livestock production to an organic pasture based system. The inclusion of tree crops would further enhance the opportunity for feeding pasture- […]
Effects of biodynamic preparations 500 and 501 on vine and berry physiology, pedology and the soil microbiome
In the pursuit of increasing sustainability, climate change resiliency and independence of synthetic pesticides in agriculture, the interest of consumers and producers in organic and biodynamic farming has been steadily increasing in recent decennia. This is, in particular, the case for the vitivinicultural industry in Europe, where more and more producers are converting from organic […]
Multi-species summer cover crop in protected vegetable systems (DiverIMPACTS Practice Abstract)
In protected vegetable systems of the Mediterranean area, having bare soil for several weeks in late summer, post cash crop harvest, may induce soil degradation. Providing a soil cover in any period is key to preserve the soil’s biological activity and maintain good agronomic conditions (e.g. soil structure) for the following crops. A mixture of […]
Increasing crop diversification with flower strips to improve natural pest control and pollination (DiverIMPACTS Practice Abstract)
Conventional pest control based on the use of synthetic insecticides is very effective, however, this has important negative effects on the environment such as the loss of farmland biodiversity, especially in the group of invertebrates, including many beneficial organisms. Another key problem is the presence of insecticide residues in surface and groundwater or, potentially, in […]
Agronomic Efficiency of Animal-Derived Organic Fertilizers and Their Effects on Biology and Fertility of Soil: A Review
The review is published in the Journal of Agronomy. Healthy soils are essential for progressive agronomic activities. Organic fertilization positively affects agro-ecosystems by stimulating plant growth, enhancing crop productivity and fruit quality and improving soil fertility. Soil health and food security are the key elements of Organic Agriculture 3.0. Landfilling and/or open-dumping of animal wastes […]
Organic farming: basic principles and good practices – Dossier 2021
Demand for organically produced food is continuously increasing, as is the interest of governments. It is expected that the organic area will continue to grow but producers must change many things to transition to organic. The basic principles of organic agriculture are a great starting point for those interested in transitioning to growing their crops […]
DIVERFARMING: un'indagine sui suoli in agricoltura convenzionale e biologica
I pesticidi sono stati utilizzati nell’agricoltura europea per più di 70 anni, quindi il monitoraggio della loro presenza, dei livelli e dei loro effetti nella qualità e nei servizi dei suoli europei è necessario per stabilire protocolli per l’uso e l’approvazione di nuovi prodotti fitosanitari. Nel tentativo di affrontare questo problema, un team guidato dalla […]
