Ecological Crops Research Articles

Improving Tenebrio molitor Growth and Nutritional Value through Vegetable Waste Supplementation.

Huge amounts of vegetable wastes are generated by the food industry. Their bioconversion into valuable products (e.g., insect flours or biofertilizer) through insect farming is a promising solution to reduce their negative environmental and economic impacts. This study evaluates the growth of Tenebrio molitor larvae and their nutritional profile after supplementing their diets with vegetable wastes. Over a 6-week period, 45-day larvae were fed a diet comprising wheat bran supplemented (1:1) with cucumber or tomato wastes from both conventional and ecological crops. The control diet consisted of wheat bran and an equivalent amount of water to compensate for the waste moisture. Larval weight was measured weekly, and length measures were taken fortnightly. Nutritional composition and fatty acid profile were analyzed at the end of the study in 90-day larvae. Regardless of using vegetable waste from conventional or ecological harvesting, the weight of 6-week supplemented larvae almost doubled that of larvae fed with just wheat bran, and their length was 15% higher. Supplementation also increased larval polyunsaturated fatty acid percentage by 22-37%, with linoleic acid being the most abundant. Likewise, larval protein content reached 50% after supplementation. This study demonstrates that both cucumber and tomato wastes from conventional or ecological crops are excellent supplements for T. molitor's diet, improving their nutritional value and reducing the time necessary for larvae growth.

Survey of the occurrence of Giardia duodenalis cysts and Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in green leafy vegetables marketed in the city of Valencia (Spain)

The role of vegetables usually consumed without prior culinary treatment is known to contribute to the prevalence of foodborne diseases. Cysts and oocysts can contaminate food, which can then be the source of infection in humans. The aim of the study was to assess the occurrence of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. (oo)cysts in green leafy vegetables marketed in the city of Valencia (Spain) combining parasitological methods, two real-time qPCRs and light microscopy. An experimental field study was conducted on 129 vegetable samples, 64 from conventional farms and 65 from ecological (organic) farms. The samples were washed with water, and the resulting solution after removing the vegetables, was subjected to 24-hour sedimentation. The concentrated sediment was used for the search for protozoa. A positive result by both real-time PCRs, or a positive result by one qPCR and confirmation by microscopy was established as a positivity criterion. Giardia duodenalis was detected in 23.0 % of the samples, and Cryptosporidium spp. in 7.8 %. G. duodenalis (41.5 %) and Cryptosporidium spp. (20.0 %) were more frequent in ecological crops. The high level of contamination detected in organic vegetables may be due to the type of fertilizers and the quality of the water used for their irrigation and reinforces the need to take extreme hygiene measures in vegetables that are consumed raw.

Comparison of the antioxidant potential of some herbal teas produced from ecological and traditional crops

The growing public awareness of the dangers regarding chemicals used in traditional agriculture has led to consumers seeking valuable and contaminant-free products. Ecological agriculture has become synonymous with high health value and product safety. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity and the total polyphenolic content of infusions of herbal tea bags and loose teas from traditional crops, as well as infusions of loose teas from ecological crops. Raw material comprised dried flowers of Matricaria chamomilla and Tilia cordata, as well as dried leaves of Urtica dioica, Melissa officinalis and Mentha piperita. Herbal infusions were prepared using three brewing times: 5, 10 and 20 min. The analysis of antioxidant potential was performed using in vitro methods such as DPPH, ABTS and FRAP. The polyphenolic content was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The antioxidant activity of the studied tea infusion depended on the method by which the plants were cultivated and the brewing time. The ecological agriculture conditions seem not to stimulate the synthesis of antioxidants. However, the possibility to obtain other beneficial properties of the studied plants is an indication to carry out ecological cultivation.

Application of fertilization and microbiological preparations in ecological technologies of agricultural enterprises

One of the methods of agricultural enterprises ecologization is the use of fertilization and microbiological preparations. The paper presents the results of the field studies into the effectiveness of seeds preparation for sowing soybeans, amaranth and buckwheat by treatment with Baikal EM-1 and potassium humate. It was found to improve the biological properties of the soil and reduce the incidence of weediness of crops when using the Baikal EM-1, as well as increasing the growth and development of plants. As a result, the use of Baikal EM-1 led to an increase in green mass yield of soybeans by 8.5% and yield of its seeds by 7.9%. For amaranth, the values are 24.6 and 24.2%, respectively, and for buckwheat they are 4.9 and 32.5%. The effectiveness of potassium humate was lower: the green mass yield of amaranth increased by 5.9%, seeds – by 5.5%; the values for buckwheat were 3.9 and 30.7%, respectively. The results indicate the prospects for use of preparations in ecological crops technologies in agricultural enterprises.

Analysis of Selected Properties of Fruits of Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa L.) from Organic and Conventional Cultivation

Chokeberry fruits can be treated as very rich sources of bioactive compounds and, therefore, have a very high biological value. The purpose of the study was to compare selected chemical and physical properties of chokeberry fruits, both from organic and conventional cultivations located near Cracow. Chemical composition of the fruit, content of the antioxidant activity, bioactive compounds, and ultra-weak luminescence were analyzed. It was proved that chokeberry fruits are rich in bioactive compounds and that ecological crops produce fruits with a higher level of such compounds. Chokeberry fruits from organic farms were proven to have a higher content of bioactive ingredients and antioxidant activity than in traditionally grown fruits. The total amount of sugars was ambiguous because both the highest and the lowest values were determined in fruits from traditional cultivation. Photon emissivity determined on the basis of ultra-weak luminescence was higher in fruits from organic cultivations. A very high correlation was also found between the photon emissivity and the content of polyphenols as well as the antioxidant activity.

Energy Efficiency Strategies for Ecological Greenhouses: Experiences from Murcia (Spain)

There has been a continuous growth in ecological agriculture (EA) in recent years. It is recognized as a production system with rational energy use and low demand for fossil fuels. There are many studies relating to this subject, in contrast to the few studies regarding the use of energy and its impact on the environment in ecological greenhouses. This article analyzes the strategies adopted by a Transformational Agricultural Society (Sociedad Agraria de Transformación) in order to improve energy efficiency in ecological greenhouses, with regards to the use of fossil fuels. The methodology is based on the Working With People (WWP) Model, which involves social learning processes over 30 years in one of the largest regions of ecological crops in Spain. The results show that the measures taken to manage the greenhouses have achieved a decrease of over 80% in terms of fossil fuel consumption. The experience demonstrates that EA, as opposed to conventional agriculture (CA), is a system with great potential when it comes to reducing energy consumption and environmental improvements through various strategies.

Horticultural ecological crops in Poland – the dynamics of changes and perspectives for development

Horticultural ecological crops in Poland – the dynamics of changes and perspectives for development

Organic wild species crops: A tool to recover traditional knowledge, and to enhance biodiversity, food security and sustainable rural development

In the context of intense ecological and socioeconomic changes on Mediterranean regions, we performed semi – structured interviews to recuperate the traditional knowledge of plants. We analyse the reported species (and those added from the literature) to evaluate their ecological appropriateness for cultivation, and their ecological and market value. We selected the 46 species (35 of them reported by the informants) that scored high for organic cultivation. These results indicate the high potential of wild species to develop new ecological and economical valuable crops, and the high value of traditional knowledge as an information source. Keywords: Agroecology, NUS (Neglected and Underutilized Species), ethnobotany, organic farming, Mediterranean landscape

Biological Action of Plant Extracts on a Fungal Plant Biostimulant Strain of Trichoderma Viride

Abstract The antifungal activity of nine plant extracts manufactured by Hofigal Import Export S.A. Romania against the biocontrol fungal agent Trichoderma viride Pers. (isolate Tv 82) was assessed in vitro for the first time in Romania. In general, the development (mycelial growth and sporulation) was not inhibited by the six plant extracts (Satureja hortensis, Achillea millefolium, Allium sativum, Mentha sp., Hyssopus officinalis, Artemisia dracunculus 'Sativa'), with three exceptions (Rosmarinus officinalis, Valeriana officinalis, Tagetes patula), applied in a concentration of 20%. Among these, the extract of Tagetes patula has inhibited the Tv 82 development, applied as lower concentrations (10% and 5%), efficacy being 54.3% and 50%, respectively. In addition, the tested plant extracts of Satureja hortensis, Achillea millefolium, Mentha sp. proved stimulative effect on Tv 82 development. This approach add to the early studies on the selectivity of Trichoderma spp. to chemicals used in plant protection, new data referring to the use of antagonistic fungi, like Trichoderma spp., as a protective mean against phytopathogens. Also, these data sustain the possibility of applying plant extracts as an alternative in plant protection or to apply together chemical (pesticides) and biological means (plant extracts) especially to protect ecological crops, as vegetables, medicinal plants a.o.

PCR Based Screening of Fusarium sp. in some Organic Products

In the past few decades the issue of healthy, organic food has become of great importance among consumers and therefore food producers. It is the age of ecological food with the challenge of producing ecological crops. Fungi are of importance for human and animal health because of their ability to produce mycotoxin. The aim of our work was to develop a rapid, cost efficient method of identifying the fungal infection in different ecological products by using PCR screening methods. In this purpose 18 ecological products meaning seeds and flours, designated to be aliments or ingredients to different cosmetically products were purchased. DNA was isolated from collected samples and control. The screening was performed by PCR method using 4 specific primer pairs. In order to determine if the DNA suspension is proper for to be used, the samples were amplified with the specific primers for the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphat carboxylase gene (RuBisCo). Further on, the screening was performed for the presence of Fusarium and for 4 specific species of that genus. All the samples were positive for the presence of Fusarium genus DNA. The screen pointed out that from 12 screened samples five were positive for F. graminearum, two were positive for F. culmorum , five were positive for F. proliferatum, four were positive for F. verticiloides and for 6 the specie of fungus was not identified. With the present work we emphasized another issue that must be taken into account when the safety of these products is evaluated.

内蒙古半干旱生态脆弱矿区生态修复耦合机理与产业模式

These years,coal mining has promoted economic development and also caused serious ecological problems in mining area. The industry extension of ecological restoration and land reclamation is a hot research in aspects of ecological environment protection and industry adjustment optimization. They can form coupled systems which would extend the industrial chain with the treatment and recycling production as an opportunity and restore the damaged land at the same time. To reconstruct the damaged geography,to develop and apply of Mining-repair technologies to form a security stable geography conditions is the premise. Secondly,to restore the soil rapidly to good physicochemical properties under local conditions for vegetation and economic energy crops well growth and landscape construction. Finally,to provide a platform for the restoration and ecological industries create value. According to the technical characteristics of coupled systems, ecological restoration products and economic energy crops recycle producing by damaged land potential productivity respectively are about 219. 1551 and 0. 2115 million tons per year in mining area of Inner Mongolia.

Comparison of glucosinolate levels in commercial broccoli and red cabbage from conventional and ecological farming

Broccoli heads and red cabbage of both conventional and ecological origin were purchased from the market at monthly intervals over a 1-year period. After freeze-drying of the samples the glucosinolates were extracted, enzymatically desulphated and analyzed by HPLC-UV. Glucoraphanin, glucobrassicin and neo-glucobrassicin turned out to be the predominant glucosinolates in broccoli. Red cabbage contained similar amounts of glucoraphanin and glucobrassicin but, in addition, appreciable amounts of glucoiberin, progoitrin, sinigrin, gluconapin and glucoerucin, while neo-glucobrassicin occurred at trace levels only. No significance was found comparing the contents of glucoraphanin in the two cultivation groups for either broccoli or red cabbage. Organic broccoli and red cabbage both contained significantly higher amounts of glucobrassicin than their conventionally grown counterparts. Conventional crops of red cabbage yielded significantly higher quantities of gluconapin than ecological crops. Broccoli imported from Spain and Italy during the winter months yielded levels of glucosinolates similar to those of the home-grown products available in summer and autumn.

Chemical composition and dietary fibre of yellow and green commercial soybeans (Glycine max)

Proximate composition and dietary fibre (as non-starch polysaccharides) of yellow soybeans (from conventional, ecological, transgenic and non-transgenic crops) and green soybeans (from conventional and ecological crops) has been studied. Dietary fibre, fat and ash were significantly higher in yellow than in green samples, but moisture and available carbohydrates were significantly lower in yellow soybean than in green ones. Few statistical differences were found for protein between different samples. Soybean seeds were rich in dietary fibre (yellow: 13.7–16.5 g/100 g, green: 9.19–9.45 g/100 g). This component was evaluated as insoluble and soluble fibre, and subsequently, the neutral sugars and uronic acids were determined by gas liquid chromatography and spectrophotometry, respectively. Insoluble fibre became the predominant fibre fraction in yellow and green soybeans (74–78%), and was mainly composed of glucose, uronic acids, galactose, arabinose and xylose. Soluble fibre was between 22% and 26% in both kinds of samples and the principal monomers were uronic acids, galactose and arabinose. The major difference between total dietary fibres of yellow and green commercial samples was the proportion of galactose, which was an important constituent in yellow soybeans (21%) and a minor one in green soybeans (5%).

Application of solid-phase microextraction for determining phenylurea herbicides and their homologous anilines from vegetables

Residues of metobromuron, monolinuron and linuron herbicides and their aniline homologous were analyzed in carrots, onions and potatoes by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) performed with a polyacrylate fiber. A juice was obtained from food samples that were further diluted, and an aliquot was extracted after sodium chloride (14%) addition and pH control. At pH 4 only the phenylureas were extracted. A new extraction at pH 11 allowed the extraction of phenylureas plus homologous aniline metabolites. Determination was carried out by gas chromatography with nitrogen–phosporus detection (NPD) the identity of the determined compounds was studied by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Limits of quantification (LOQs) obtained with NPD and MS (selected-ion monitoring) were in the μg/kg order allowing determination of maximum residue levels (MRLs) established in the Spanish regulations. MRLs ranged from 0.02 to 0.1 mg/kg depending on the kind of food and herbicide. Under the proposed conditions matrix effects were low enough to permit calibration with samples proceeding from ecological (non-pesticide treated) crops. Twelve commercial samples of each carrots, onions and potatoes were analyzed and only three samples of potatoes contained residues of linuron at levels below MRLs.