Abstract
In Mediterranean cropping systems, it is important to utilise marginal lands for the cultivation of native food crops. Previous research on Crithmum maritimum L., a species native to southern Europe, has focused on its alimentary and chemical parameters. The aim of the present study was to identify the effects of irrigation and fertigation systems on C. maritimum in Mediterranean cropping systems. We planted C. maritimum seeds in an organic farm in Italy, and we carried out three experiments (fertigation, irrigation, and control) with three replications each. We evaluated plant phenological development and biomass production. We found that these treatments significantly influenced plant phenology and biomass parameters. Even with low irrigation and fertigation, this species showed a significant difference in the Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt, CHemischeIndustrie (BBCH) phase at harvest: in fact, there were 39 and 35 leaves on the main stem in the irrigation and fertigation treatments, respectively, while there were 29 leaves on the main stem in the rainfed unfertilised control. Biomass production also showed the same significant difference: 1.8 and 2.0 t ha−1 of total dry biomass in the irrigation and fertigation treatments, respectively, and 1.2 t ha−1 of total dry biomass in the rainfed unfertilised control. In conclusion, we recommend the use of C. maritimum for food production in Mediterranean organic cropping systems.
Highlights
The purpose of agriculture is to provide enough food to meet the nutritional demand of the current human population
In Mediterranean areas, to increase food productivity, it is important to utilise some marginal lands for the cultivation of non-food crops, reducing competition with food crops for land [5]
Despite growing in a very clayey soil, the treated plants managed to grow more than the control plants, even with minimal water and nitrogen inputs; weeds were controlled in the two months following transplantation and did not prove to be a limiting factor for production
Summary
The purpose of agriculture is to provide enough food to meet the nutritional demand of the current human population. The European Union has committed to complying with the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change by adopting a series of directives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 [3]. These directives aim to establish a common framework to limit greenhouse gas emissions and promote cleaner transport [4]. It is important to use surplus and marginal lands to promote regional economic structures, provide alternative sources of employment in rural areas, reduce CO2 emissions, and decrease vulnerability to short-term weather changes [6]. Water availability strongly affects the choice of crops in Mediterranean environments [7] where only few options are suitable for growing
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