Vegetable Cultivation Research Articles

Validating the place of Underutilized Indigenous Vegetable (UIV) Marketers: A case of Agrarian Communities, Southwestern Nigeria

Over the years, staple crops have faced several challenges, and a step away from over-reliance on them is very important to achieve food security in Nigeria. Indeed, underutilized vegetables are usually indigenous ancient crops that are still used reasonably in local, national, and even international communities. Hence, this study validates the spatial pattern and network of underutilized indigenous vegetable (UIV) marketers in Ondo State, southwestern, Nigeria with emphasis on fluted pumpkin (Telfaria occidentalis), African eggplant (Solanum macrocarpon) and Amaranth (Amaranthus virides). A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a total of 120 UIV marketers from 5 villages. Primary data were collected and gathered using structured questionnaires and responses from the interview were coded and analyzed with STATA and UCINET. The study further examines the factors influencing the performance of the UIV marketers and determines the predictors driving association membership using multiple linear regression and binary logistic regression, respectively. The analysis results revealed that the majority (90.83%) of the UIVs marketers are female with a large proportion of the marketers within the age range of 51-60 years. The primary occupation of most of the respondents is trading (51.67%). From the regression results, belonging to a vegetable association is not statistically significant and thus it can be concluded that being a member of a vegetable association does not affect the income of the marketers. This is in sync with the information gathered from the focus group interviews that the association only serve as a medium to get firsthand information on price, product quality, and vegetables demanded. However, from social network analysis, it can also be concluded that the major actors involved in UIV marketing are interrelated and that they transfer information between themselves with the association being the common ground for such exchange. The study recommends that the government should consciously push for the wide acceptance of vegetable cultivation and provide good network roads in rural areas.

Effects of gender and agricultural cooperatives on biodiversity conservation farming practices: evidence from an emerging economy

PurposeThis study explores the effects of gender and participation in agricultural cooperatives on biodiversity conservation farming practices in vegetable production.Design/methodology/approachThis study used data collected from a survey of 627 vegetable farmers in Viet Nam and employed the Ordered Probit regression model to examine the effects of gender and participation in agricultural cooperatives on biodiversity conservation farming practices.FindingsWe find that female vegetable farmers are more likely to conduct biodiversity conservation farming practices than male farmers. This gender difference is, however, removed when participation in agricultural cooperatives is controlled, suggesting that agricultural cooperatives effectively facilitate biodiversity conservation farming practices.Research limitations/implicationsIt is noted that our study is not free from some limitations. First, we conducted our study on vegetable farmers only. The biodiversity conservation practices in vegetable cultivation might be different from other types of farming. Future studies should be conducted with other types of agricultural cultivation. Second, we do not have enough data to explain why female farmers are more likely to adopt biodiversity conservation practices than male farmers. Future studies should capture biological and social aspects of gender differences to address this limitation.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature on biodiversity conservation by presenting empirical evidence on the effects of gender and agricultural cooperatives. Participation in agricultural cooperatives is revealed to facilitate the adoption of biodiversity conservation practices. In addition, we find that the education of farmers, the number of years that farmers have been living in the local area and the quality of land and water are positively related to the adoption of biodiversity conservation practices in vegetable production.

Economic Analysis of kharif Vegetable Cultivation in Palghar District of Maharashtra State, India

The study was undertaken with the specific objective to workout costs, returns and profitability in vegetables production of a sample of 90 vegetable cultivators of three tahsil of Palghar viz. Vasai, Palghar and Dahanu during 2023.Simple statistical tools such as arithmetic mean, average, percentage, ratios and frequency distribution were worked out. For working out cost of production, standard cost concepts viz., cost-A1, cost-A2 cost-B1, cost-B2, cost-C1, cost-C2, cost-C3 were used. The cost of cultivation of kharif brinjal, okra, cowpea, tomato, cucumber, bottle gourd and bitter gourd was Rs.130880, Rs.172317, Rs.74835, Rs.145956, Rs.166815, Rs.220387and Rs.209361for respectively. The gross returns obtained from kharif brinjal, okra, cowpea, tomato, cucumber, bottle gourd and bitter gourd was Rs.141240, Rs.271560, Rs.77532, Rs.280280, Rs.227850, Rs.337506 and Rs.345345 respectively. The benefit-cost ratio for kharif brinjal, okra, cowpea, tomato, cucumber, bottle gourd and bitter gourd was 1.08, 1.58, 1.04, 1.92, 1.37, 1.53 and 1.65 respectively. The promising benefit-cost ratios indicate a favorable environment for vegetable farming in Palghar, suggesting that with strategic crop selection and enhanced agricultural practices, the future of vegetable cultivation in the region is likely to be both profitable and sustainable.

Nutrient Use Efficiency and Cucumber Productivity as a Function of the Nitrogen Fertilization Rate and the Wood Fiber Content in Growing Media.

A peat substrate is made from peat from drained peatlands, which is a limited resource. A realistic estimate is that 50% of the world's wetlands have been lost. Peat is used in horticulture, especially for the cultivation of vegetables in greenhouses. The consequences of peatland exploitation are an increase in the greenhouse effect and a decrease in carbon stocks. Wood fiber can be used as an alternative to peat. The chemical properties of growing media interact and change continuously due to the small volume of growing media, which is limited by the growing container. This study aims to gain new knowledge on the impact of nutrient changes in the microbial degradation of carbon compounds in wood fiber and mixtures with a peat substrate on the content and uptake of nutrients required by plants. The cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) variety 'Dirigent H' developed in the Netherlands was cultivated in growing media of a peat substrate and wood fiber: (1) peat substrate (PS); (2) wood fiber (WF); (3) wood fiber and peat substrate 50/50 v/v (WF/PS 50/50); (4) wood fiber and peat substrate 25/75 v/v (WF/PS 25/75). The rates of fertilization were the following: (1) conventional fertilization (CF); (2) 13 g N per plant (N13); (3) 23 g N per plant (N23); (4) 30 g N per plant (N30). The experiment was carried out with three replications. As the amount of wood fiber increased, the humidity and pH of the growing media increased. The fertilization of the cucumbers with different quantities of nitrogen influenced the nutrient uptake. The plants grown in the 50/50 and 25/75 growing media had the best Cu uptake when fertilized with N23. When the plants grown in the wood fiber media and the 50/50 media were fertilized with N13, N23, and N30, the Mn content in the growing media at the end of the growing season was significantly lower than the Mn content in the media with conventional fertilization. Thus, nitrogen improved the uptake of Mn by the plants grown not only in the wood fiber, but also in the combinations with a peat substrate. Growing plants in wood fiber and fertilizing them with N13 can result in the optimum uptake of micronutrients. The number and biomass of cucumber fruits per plant were influenced by the amount of wood fiber in the growing media and the application of nitrogen fertilizer. The highest number of fruits and biomass of fruits per plant obtained were significantly higher when the cucumbers were grown in WF/PS 50/50 growing media with additional N13 fertilization.

Techniques for increasing tomato yield in Astrakhan region

Relevance. The use of mineral fertilizers in the cultivation of tomato in the first place should ensure the best conditions for the nutrition of plants during the entire growing season in accordance with their need.The research methodology was based on generally accepted methods for vegetable growing. The main goal of this study was to improve the zonal technology for cultivating tomato in open ground using leaf dressing with KCL and KNO3 preparations, aimed at increasing the level of yield during irrigation in the north of the Astrakhan region. Field experiments were carried out at the experimental irrigated land use area of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Caspian Agrarian Federal Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences" in the period from 2021 to 2023. The scientific novelty of the study was the theoretical and practical justification for the use of leaf dressing with KCL and KNO3 in the cultivation of vegetables, aimed at the formation of highly productive commercial products.Results. During the research work, a comparative analysis of various standards of use of drugs was carried out, highlighting the most promising option. Three-year studies found that the use of potassium fertilizer KCl with a concentration of 0.5%), 30... 40 days. after planting (flowering), 50 days. after planting and 60 days. after planting gave a significant increase in yield relative to the control option. Conclusions. Based on the results of the analysis, an average of five charges, the KCl treatment variant Background + 3 (concentration 0.5%) was identified, which had the highest yield of 130.56 t/ha. This option was significantly different from both control and other options under study. The increase relative to the control was + 4.08 t/ha or + 3.2%.

Advantages of compost tea: Promotion of nitrogen influx into the fruit and improvement of fruit nitrogen metabolism in tomato

The use of compost tea is important to improve food safety. However, the effect of compost tea on N uptake and partitioning in tomato is unclear. In this study, we measured temporal and spatial changes in nitrogen content, enzyme activities, and expression levels of nitrogen transporters genes in different organs of tomato treated with five nutrient solutions. The results showed that the expression levels of ammonium transporter protein genes (AMT1s) increased and that of a nitrogen transporters gene (NRT2.1) decreased under treatment with compost tea, which promoted NH4+ transport to the fruit and reduced nutrient wastage compared with the response to chemical fertilizers. In addition, the lowermost leaves on the stem showed reduced nitrate content, faster metabolism, and decreased chlorophyll a content, but fruit yield was not increased, in compost tea-treated plants. These changes were dependent on the expression level of the glutamine synthetase gene (GS1.1), which was increased in leaves and decreased in fruit. Compost tea influenced the expression of critical genes in the fruits and leaves, and improved the competitiveness of sexual reproductive growth as a sink for nitrogen. However, the benefits of compost tea were reduced when it was mixed chemical fertilizers. This research establishes a theoretical framework for optimization of organic vegetable cultivation and promoting the widespread production of organic crops.

Assessing Water Balance Influenced by Conservation Measures for Sustainable High-value Vegetable Cultivation: A Case Study of Battuvagu Watershed in Telangana, India

Rainfed areas are crucial for India’s agriculture, covering 50% of the total farmland and contributing 40% of the country’s food production. In recent years, the adverse effects of climate change have been found to be exacerbating the complex problems in vulnerable rainfed areas. While climate change affects many aspects of the environment, its impact on water resources is often swift and apparent, with far-reaching consequences for ecosystems, human well-being, and sustainable development. In this context, water budgeting at watershed level and its management are crucial towards promotion of climate resilient agriculture in the rainfed ecosystems. Comprehensive assessment of water balance was attempted, estimating the demand from agriculture, domestic and livestock needs and availability of water in terms of groundwater recharge from different sources and effective surface water stored in an agricultural watershed falling in Siddipet district of Telangana state of India. It involved collection of data on population, land use, and estimating irrigation water needs for crops, humans and livestock, followed by inventorying surface storage structures. Further, water inflow, runoff, and groundwater recharge were calculated using standard methods. The water balance was then determined by subtracting total demand from total availability. The study revealed that the water balance improved significantly, shifting from a deficit (-1.18 ha-m) of pre-project phase to a surplus (+67.91 ha-m) during post-watershed development. Thus, this study revealed the effectiveness of soil and water conservation measures taken up as a part of watershed development project in enhancing groundwater recharge and effective surface water storage capacity leading to positive water balance. The study also evaluated the use of groundwater in terms of stage of development in the pre and post project scenarios. The study concluded that there is a need for controlling the over extraction of groundwater through crop diversification especially towards market driven, less water consuming high value vegetable cultivation based on water availability with active people participation along with awareness building, propagation of efficient water application (micro-irrigation) methods, group mode of irrigation, and conjunctive use of surface and groundwater, etc. for long-term water security in the watershed.

Entrepreneurial Behavior of Vegetable Growers and Determinants: A Study in Ferozepur District of Punjab, India

The present study attempted to analyze the entrepreneurial behavior of vegetable growers and factors influencing entrepreneurial behavior of vegetable growers in Ferozepur district of Punjab during 2024. A multistage simple random sampling technique was used for the selection of the respondents. During the study total 120 vegetable growers were selected for the present study. Mean, frequency, percent, one sample t-test were used for the analysis of the collected data. The results of the study revealed that majority of the farmers (35 per cent) had experience of 5-10 years in vegetables cultivation. Farmers cultivated vegetables to avoid risk (4.26) and adopt recommended package of practices for vegetables cultivation (3.72). Access to reliable market and buyers greatly affect entrepreneurial behavior (4.57) were reported important constraint. Income enhancements through vegetable cultivation are the important motivation factor to the farmers. Favorable supportive policies in this regard may enrich the entrepreneurial ecosystem among the vegetable growers.

Facilitating positive emotions in people with challenges by combining conventional occupational training and a novel farming program: a feasibility study

ObjectiveJapan has a system of occupational therapy programs known as self-reliance training (training for daily living), which helps people with various disabilities lead more meaningful lives. Recently, it has been shown that green care farms are beneficial for dementia care and that agricultural and horticultural work has a positive impact on people with intellectual disabilities and mental disorders. This study examined the health-improving effects of farm activities and developed an attractive program for adolescents with developmental and intellectual disabilities who use independent training facilities. The program comprised agricultural and horticultural activities such as vegetable cultivation and management, flower planting, and flower arrangement.ResultsNo significant differences were observed in any of the measures for positive mood before and after the usual program (UP). However, anger-hostility and depression-dejection improved significantly after the farm program (FP) (p < .05). Self-efficacy improved significantly after both UP and FP (p < .10). Free responses were obtained from UP (131 responses) and FP (126 responses) participants; thematic analysis of FP participants’ statements revealed that positive comments included “confidence in accomplishing tasks,” “anticipation and joy of growing plants,” and “motivation for gardening activities.”

Status of organic vegetable cultivation in Palghar district

Status of organic vegetable cultivation in Palghar district

Vegetable growing in Atyrau region: status and prospects

The aim is to substantiate the development of vegetable growing industry in the process of diversification of the economy of Atyrau region. In the methodological aspect, the research on vegetable crops cultivation was carried out on the basis of the deduction method, the consequence of which is the logical conclusion that vegetable production of farms in the region is environmentally safe. Methods of analysis and synthesis were used in determining the competitive parameters of production and the level of its intensification in the period of rising prices for fuels and lubricants. Results - the current state of the vegetable sector of the region, problems and potential opportunities were analyzed, the profitability of the vegetable subcomplex was shown. Recommendations aimed at expanding the scope of management, providing agricultural enterprises with timely and objective information important for making management decisions have been developed. Conclusions - it is necessary to constantly intensify research and development work on the development of new vegetable varieties, their approbation and introduction into practice, which will increase productivity at lower costs. Sectors should pay attention to the quality of vegetable products, their shelf life, useful properties for human health and adaptation to local climatic conditions. The authors note the feasibility of establishing workshops for processing biomass waste and rejected low-grade products. It is concluded that the vegetable market has a high capacity and is characterized by stable demand, which makes it attractive for investment. Investments are the decisive factor of technological, economic and social renewal of economic entities. In dynamics, the innovation activity of agricultural entities is increasing, although it is lower than in the economic system as a whole. The state should become the coordinator of innovation processes in the industry. There are all prerequisites for building up the competitive advantages of the industry.

Soil Enzyme Responses and Crop Productivity Indices Assessment in Agricultural Soil Impacted with Heavy Metals

The present study assessed the productivity of cultivated garden vegetable among other ecological assessments in soil samples impacted with heavy metals. Assay of soil enzyme responses showed the activity of: catalase, peroxidase, lipase and ureasewith corresponding OD reading of 0.750, 2.05, 0.22 and 1.704 respectively. There were noticeable increases in the activity of ureaseandperoxidasewhilecatalaseandlipaseactivitywererelativelylowinthesampledsoil. Out of the 321g of the vegetable seedstested for viability, 45% representing 144.45g was used for the planting and further experiment. After three days of cultivation, germination process was recorded faster in the &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;T. oleifera &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;potted ridge while &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Amaranthus &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;and &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Solanum &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;sp seed took 3-4 day for break full dormancy. Determination of total chlorophyll a and b in the selected vegetables showed a correlative increase in chlorophyll a and b in soils contaminated with Zn, Cu and Fe in all the cultivated vegetables: T&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;. oleifera&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;, &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Amaranthus &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;and &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Solanum &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;sp, respectively. There are significant increase in total cholorphyl a (0.9mg/g) and b (0.8mg/g) contents from the results when compared with the control experiment as other soil contaminated with heavy metals such as: Pb, and As repressed the selected vegetables cultivated in the soil samples. However total chlorophyll a was seems lightly higher than cholophyl b in all the selected vegetable cultivated in soil. Analysis on the impact of heavy metals on the shootlength of the cultivated vegetables analysed for thirty-one days showed regressive increase in the shootlength of the cultivated vegetables as the period of harvest increases from 0-31 when compared with the control experiment. However Cd and As had the most estimated impact on the vegetables in all the cultivated soils and its impact progresses as the period of harvest increases. Dry matter weight contents of the cultivated vegetables cultivated in the polluted soils were analysed; also the same index was assessed in the vegetables from the unpolluted soils. There was a significant increase in the dry matter contents of the cultivated vegetables in soil polluted with Cu, Fe and Zn respectively. However, dry matter contents were seen progressively low in vegetables cultivated in soils polluted with Cd, As and Pb. When compared with the control experiment. The results from the present study have shown the vulnerability of agricultural soil and cultivated vegetables to effluent from industrial bias sources used for irrigation and its impact on agricultural productivity.

Identification and molecular analysis of watermelon chlorotic stunt virus infecting snake gourd in Saudi Arabia

Snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina) plants exhibiting typical begomovirus-like symptoms of stunted growth, leaf yellowing and mottling were observed at an open field in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia. Sequencing analysis of the amplified complete DNA molecules revealed that the plants were infected with watermelon chlorotic stunt virus (WmCSV), which is a bipartite begomovirus prevalent mostly in the Old World and a serious threat to cucurbit production in the Arabian Peninsula, Middle East and Africa. The two WmCSV DNA-A isolates (SG31A and SG52A) were 98.9% identical and showed their highest nucleotide (nt) sequence identities (98.7%) with the isolates from Iran and Saudi Arabia. The DNA-B isolates (SG31B and SG52B), on the other hand, were 97.4% identical and exhibited their highest nt sequence identities (99.5 and 97%) with isolates reported from Iran and Oman. In the phylogenetic dendrograms the identified isolates clustered closely with previously reported WmCSV isolates from Iran and Saudi Arabia. Infectivity assays revealed that the DNA-A components alone could not induce infection in Nicotiana benthamiana plants however, together with DNA-B these isolates successfully caused typical begomovirus symptoms and both components were detected successfully using Southern blot hybridization. This study highlights the importance of conducting extensive future begomovirus surveillance to detect spillover events that could threaten native vegetable production in Saudi Arabia. This is crucial as begomoviruses pose a serious threat to vegetable cultivation throughout the Middle East.

Sustainable and Low-Input Techniques in Mediterranean Greenhouse Vegetable Production

In the modern agricultural landscape, numerous challenges, such as climate change, diminishing arable lands, and the reduction of water resources, represent significant threats. The Mediterranean greenhouse farming model relies on low-input strategies to maximize both yield and quality. Its protected horticulture is essential for the year-round cultivation of high-value crops, ensuring efficient and sustainable production. In the realm of future agricultural strategies, leveraging internet-based approaches emerges as a pivotal factor for real-time and remote control of various agricultural parameters crucial for crop growth and development. This approach has the potential to significantly optimize agronomic inputs, thereby enhancing the efficiency of targeted vegetable production. The aim of the present review is to underscore the challenges related to the intensive greenhouse production systems emphasizing various strategies leading to low-input greenhouse vegetable production. The goal is to promote more sustainable and resource-efficient approaches in the cultivation of greenhouse vegetables. This review highlights several key strategies for optimizing the greenhouse environment, including efficient water management through conservation tillage, drainage water reuse, and selecting the most appropriate irrigation systems and timing. Additionally, light modulation and temperature control—using solar energy for heating and pad-and-fan systems for cooling—are crucial for enhancing both crop performance and resource efficiency. The review also explores low-input agronomical strategies, such as pest and disease control—including solarization and optimized integrated pest management (IPM)—as well as fertilization and advanced growing techniques. These approaches are essential for sustainable greenhouse farming.

Biostimulants Enhance the Nutritional Quality of Soilless Greenhouse Tomatoes.

The application of biostimulants in vegetable cultivation has emerged as a promising approach to enhance the nutritional quality of crops, particularly in controlled environment agriculture and soilless culture systems. In this study, we employed a rigorous methodology, applying various biostimulants amino acids, Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR), fulvic acid, chitosan, and vermicompost along with mineral fertilizers, both foliar and via the roots, to soilless greenhouse tomatoes during spring cultivation. The experiment, conducted in a coir pith medium using the 'Samyeli F1' tomato cultivar, demonstrated that plants treated with biostimulants performed better than control plants. Notable variations in nutritional components were observed across treatments. PGPR had the best effects on the physical properties of the tomato fruit, showing the highest fruit weight, fruit length, equatorial diameter, fruit volume, fruit skin elasticity, and fruit flesh hardness while maintaining high color parameters L, a, and b. PGPR and fulvic acid demonstrated significant enhancements in total phenolics and flavonoids, suggesting potential boosts in antioxidant properties. Amioacid and vermicompost notably elevated total soluble solids, indicating potential fruit sweetness and overall taste improvements. On the other hand, vermicompost stood out for its ability to elevate total phenolics and flavonoids while enhancing vitamin C content, indicating a comprehensive enhancement of nutritional quality. In addition, vermicompost had the most significant impact on plant growth parameters and total yield, achieving a 43% increase over the control with a total yield of 10.39 kg/m2. These findings underline the specific nutritional benefits of different biostimulants, offering valuable insights for optimizing tomato cultivation practices to yield produce with enhanced health-promoting properties.

The Influence of Microalgae Fertilizer on Soil Water Conservation and Soil Improvement: Yield and Quality of Potted Tomatoes

We aim to study the impact of microalgae fertilizer on soil nutrients, water conservation and crop yield and quality while also determining the optimal ratio of microalgae fertilizer to chemical fertilizer. Using “Xinoufen No.9” tomatoes as the test subject, we conducted pot experiments with four different treatments: control with 100% chemical fertilizer (CK), T1 (25% microalgae fertilizer + 75% regular chemical fertilizer), T2 (75% microalgae fertilizer + 25% regular chemical fertilizer) and T3 (100% microalgae fertilizer). The results show that an increased application of microalgae fertilizer enhanced the soil organic matter, ammonium nitrogen, available phosphorus and potassium content. T3 showed the most improvement followed by T2. The co-application of microalgae fertilizer with chemical fertilizer can significantly increase the stem girth, plant height and yield of tomatoes. At the same time, microalgae fertilizer effectively regulates leaf stomatal conductance, promoting tomato leaf respiration. As the stomatal conductance increases, the transpiration rate and net photosynthesis rate of all treatments improve, followed by a decline in intercellular CO2 concentration, with T2 exhibiting the best performance. Among all treatments, T2 treatment yielded the highest per-plant production (0.630 kg), followed by T3 (0.521 kg). This is because the microalgae fertilizer promotes the distribution of photosynthetic products to the fruit, enhancing the yield and quality of tomatoes. Additionally, the microalgae fertilizer also increases the content of soluble sugars, soluble protein, vitamin C and lycopene in the fruit while reducing the nitrate content. Compared to the control group CK, T2 increases the content of soluble sugars, vitamins and lycopene by 26.74%, 39.29% and 158.31%, respectively. Microalgae fertilizer also helps to improve soil water and thermal conditions, enhancing the water-use efficiency of tomatoes. Compared to CK, the water-use efficiency of T2 treatment increased by 54.05%. Correlation analysis indicates that water and fertilizer factors significantly affect tomato yield, with a correlation exceeding 70%. The net photosynthesis and transpiration rates significantly influence fruit quality, with correlations above 80%. By applying microalgae fertilizer, the efficiency of water and fertilizer use can be effectively improved, thus achieving the goal of water conservation and quality enhancement. Therefore, through comprehensive analysis, using the membership function method of indicators such as soil environment, crop yield, fruit quality and water-use efficiency, it is concluded that T2 is the optimal fertilization treatment. This study provides theoretical support for the application of microalgae biofertilizer technology in the cultivation of tomatoes and other vegetables in the northern, cold and arid regions.

Alternative vegetable cultivation option in semi-arid conditions: the example of broccoli

Alternative vegetable cultivation option in semi-arid conditions: the example of broccoli

Environmental management of the green asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) supply chain: a carbon footprint assessment in Southern Italy

PurposeThe objective of the research is to evaluate the carbon footprint of the green asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) supply chain, encompassing the agricultural production to the packaging stage in Italy, as it is the sixth largest producer and the second largest in Europe. It provides an assessment in the province of Foggia and highlights the global perspective of the carbon footprint application in agro-food systems.Design/methodology/approachThe carbon footprint (ISO 14067:2018) considers 1 t of packaged fresh asparagus as a functional unit in the agricultural production and packaging stage and is based on primary data collected in one of the leading companies of asparagus production in the province of Foggia, which markets about 0.21 kt of asparagus per year produced in about 31 ha. Data were integrated with face-to-face in-depth interviews and pre-filled checklists.FindingsFindings show that the carbon footprint of 1 t of packaged fresh asparagus is equivalent to 335.31 kgCO2eq, of which 61% in the agricultural stage and 39% in the packaging one. The majority of the emissions are associated with the fertigation and the diesel consumption for the transportation of workers. Farmers should adopt green electricity so as to reduce the emissions associated with the electric pump for the extraction of water from artesian wells. Moreover, it would be desirable to replace mineral urea phosphate with organic fertilizers.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, scholars have not yet investigated the environmental impacts of the green asparagus supply chain, even if it represents one of the most cultivated vegetables worldwide, with a global production that amounts to 8.5 Mt per year.

Spatial Heterogeneity and Key Influencing Factors of Soil Organic Carbon, Soil Total Nitrogen, and Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio in main plantations of Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii

Soil organic carbon （SOC） and soil total nitrogen （STN） serve as important indicators of the elemental balance within forest ecosystems reflecting soil fertility and quality. Accurate knowledge regarding the spatial variability of regional SOC, STN, and C∶N ratio and their influencing factors is of great significance for precise fertilization and soil health. In this study, a total of 117 topsoil samples （0-20 cm in depth） based on a 1 km×1 km grid were collected in the Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii plantation in Zhejiang Province. A combination of multi-dimensional statistical approaches （random forest model, structural equation model, redundancy analysis, and variation partitioning analysis） and diverse spatial analytical techniques （geostatistics, Moran's I index, etc.） were applied to reveal the spatial distributions and influencing factors of SOC, STN, and C∶N ratio in the Torreya. grandis cv. Merrillii region. The results showed that the average ω（SOC）, ω（STN）, and C∶N ratio were 17.63 g·kg-1, 1.48 g·kg-1, and 12.65, respectively, and their coefficients of variation were 68.08%, 67.41%, and 46.03%, respectively, indicating a moderate degree of variability. In general, the SOC, STN, and C∶N ratio of the Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii plantations were at an intermediate level in the national plantation. The semi-variance results showed that the nugget/sill values of SOC, STN, and C∶N ratio were 49.98%, 45.88%, and 49.93%, respectively, demonstrating a moderate level of spatial autocorrelation. The spatial distribution results showed that SOC, STN, and C∶N ratio decreased from northeast to southwest, with the majority of the region exhibiting above-medium fertility levels of SOC. The results of correlation analysis and redundancy analysis indicated that AN, AP, and AK were significantly correlated with both SOC, STN, and C∶N ratio （P&lt;0.05）. The results of random forest, structural equation model, and variation partitioning analysis evidenced that the main influencing factors of SOC and STN were soil-available nutrients （AN, AP, and AK）. Therefore, our results could provide important insights for enhancing soil carbon and nitrogen pools in special plantations in Zhejiang Province, enhancing the capacity of plantations to adapt to regional climate change through ecological measures such as appropriate fertilization practices and strategic understory vegetation cultivation.

Optimizing Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) Production through Integrated Nutrient Management: Enhancing Yield, Quality, and Sustainability

This study explores the synergistic effects of integrated nutrient management (INM) on the growth, yield, and quality attributes of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata). The present study was conducted during the Rabi season of 2022-23 at Lovely Professional University at a vegetable research farm in Punjab, India. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized block design with ten treatments replicated three times. Various combinations of organic and inorganic fertilizers, including vermicompost and neem cake were evaluated alongside the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF). Results indicated significant enhancements in most horticultural traits of cabbage across different treatments. Notably, the combination of RDF with vermicompost and neem cake (75% RDF: 5 t/ha: 2 t/ha) exhibited the most promising results, including increased head weight (125%), head formation percentage (22.17%), enhanced head yield (65.33%), improved compactness (98.60%), elevated ascorbic acid content (24.48%), and higher dry matter content (27.56%) than of control. These findings underscore the efficacy of integrated nutrient management strategies in optimizing cabbage production, emphasizing their potential for sustainable and high-quality vegetable cultivation.