Sustainable Vegetable Production Research Articles

Optimizing organic fertilization towards sustainable vegetable production evaluated by long-term field measurement and multi-level fuzzy comprehensive model

Precision and efficient management of organic substitution fertilization is crucial in balancing soil health, environmental risks, and economic benefits for intensive crop cultivation. However, effectively determining the optimal organic substitution ratio in vegetable production remains uncertain and still relatively unexplored. We conducted a five-year vegetable field experiment and established four nitrogen-equivalent fertilization treatments: mineral fertilizer alone, and organic fertilizer substituting a quarter, half, and entirety of the mineral nitrogen. Employing a specialized multi-level fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model, our study assessed impacts of different organic substitution ratios on soil qualities, microbial diversity, vegetable yield and quality, environmental risks, and economic benefits in sustainable vegetable production of eastern China. Our results showed that the 50% organic substitution was optimal, significantly improving soil qualities and microbial characteristics, particularly in the topsoil layer. Compared to the control, this approach significantly reduced methane by 6.6–48.3%, nitrous oxide by 49.5–79.1%, and nitric oxide by 36.5–50.0%, while enhancing vegetable yield by 16.0–28.3% and its five-year average stability as well as quality as evidenced by increased protein, soluble sugar, and vitamin C contents. Economic analysis revealed that while it maximized environmental benefits, complete organic substitution did not consistently yield positive economic returns. In contrast, a 50% substitution ratio was identified as the most economically viable, representing a sustainable compromise that balances environmental health with economic feasibility. Further modeling analysis indicated an optimal comprehensive range between 42.9% and 64.5% for achieving the best balance of multiple objectives in vegetable fields. The study underscores the intricate organic substitution effects on intensive vegetable production, highlighting the necessity for tailored organic substitution strategies that integrate environmental sustainability with agricultural productivity and economic practicality.

Climate Change Effects on Sustainable Vegetable Production in India: A Review

This review explores the complex relationship between sustainable vegetable production and climate change, aiming to identify strategies for harnessing climatic shifts to promote resilience and productivity in the agricultural sector. One of the abundant sources of vitamins and minerals in vegetables contributes significantly to food and nutritional security. Vegetables are extremely vulnerable to erratic climate shifts and highly perishable. This study emphasizes the need for adaptable approaches to address issues caused by altered temperature patterns, erratic precipitation and increased extreme weather occurrences. The review highlights the integration of climate-resilient vegetable crop varieties into implementing innovative technologies like precision farming and greenhouse farming and emphasises the need for a holistic approaches. The importance of institutional support, community involvement and policy frameworks is explored to address this complex climate change paradox. By combining existing knowledge, this review provides insights into the numerous strategies required for sustainable vegetable production regarding climate change (Use of climate resilient varieties, Adoption of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices, Crop diversification). Consequently, this review article aims to examine the climate change effects on growing vegetables in a sustainable manner as well as its management strategies.

Emerging Insect Pests of Vegetable Crops under Changing Climate Scenario

Crop losses in vegetables vary greatly depending on plant variety, cropping season, geographical location, and pest damage potential. Vegetable crops are heavily impacted by insect pests and diseases due to their softness, fragility and short duration in comparison to other crops. An emerging insect pest is one that has been observed in a specific crop-infested area and has progressively increased in population over time. Emerging insect pests have the potential to cause economic harm. In other words, an emerging insect pest is a pest insect whose position has shifted from minor to major or secondary to primary pest. The number of existing minor pests is increasing, as is the arrival of new ones, such as mealybugs, fruit flies, stem borers, diamondback moths among phytophagous insects and red spider mites among acarine. Recent infestations, such as South American tomato pinworm and chili black flower thrips, have caused serious damage to tomato and chili harvests. This review envisages on the variables that contribute to the establishment of new invasive pests, the persistence of main pests, general pest management practices, and integrated pest management to achieve sustainable vegetable production.

Organic-based nutrient solutions for sustainable vegetable production in a zero-runoff soilless growing system

As the adoption of soilless production systems escalates to meet the rising demand for safe and healthy fresh produce, the growing environmental awareness and consumer's preference for sustainable production systems are stimulating the reduction of synthetic inputs. A greenhouse study using an auto-pot zero-runoff hydroponic system and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) as a model vegetable crop was conducted to evaluate the potential of substituting synthetic fertilizer nutrient solutions (NS) with organic-based NS. The use of organic NS resulted in lettuce plants with fewer leaves and a smaller leaf area, plant height, stem diameter, and fresh biomass compared to those grown with inorganic fertilizer. Among the organic NS used, NS B from fish farm waste (159.8 g) and E from plant sources (157.9 g) ensured crop yield performance slightly lower than the inorganic fertilizer NS (175.1 g), but higher than the other humic acid based-organic NS C and D. However, total chlorophyll (0.81 and 0.93 mg/g respectively) and carotene (0.23 and 0.26 mg/g, respectively) levels were higher in organically grown lettuce compared to the control (0.95 0.17 mg/g, respectively). Furthermore, plants grown organically in NS C and D had greater phenolic levels (3.36 and 3.22 g/100 g, respectively) as compared to those nourished with inorganic fertilizer (2.28 g/100g). All organically grown lettuce plants had lower levels of Ca, K, and Mg, and higher P compared to the control. Moreover, all organic NS resulted in lower leaf nitrate levels (ranging from 3.2 to 8.7 mg/kg) compared to the inorganic NS (259.8 mg/kg) based on dry weight. Our findings suggest that organic liquid fertilizers may enable the sustainable production of safe, nutritious, and healthy vegetable crops. However, further study is required to improve and overcome the limitations of such systems.

The Impact of Pesticide Residues on Soil Health for Sustainable Vegetable Production in Arid Areas

The assessment of pesticide residues in agricultural soils is an essential prerogative in maintaining environmental health standards. Intensive vegetable cultivation is practiced in the Al-Kharj area of the eastern Najd region of Saudi Arabia, where excessive applications of agrochemicals are reported to pollute vegetable-growing soils, challenging the sustainable management of soils and groundwater resources. This study aimed to monitor the levels of thirty-two types of pesticide residues in the soils of vegetable fields and the estimated potential health risk for humans due to non-dietary exposure to pesticides in soils in the Al-Kharj region. Pesticide residues were evaluated at 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm depths at 20 sampling sites from Al-Kharj. Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry, coupled with a quadrupole mass spectrometer with a GC column, was used in the analysis. The results indicated that agrochemical residues show prolonged soil pollution that may cause adverse impacts on human and environment. Herbicides Atrazine, Isoproturpon, and Linuron have been detected in the soils, and these pose many problematic environmental threats. Bromoxynil, Pendimetholin, and Diclofop-methyl could be used as per the recommendations to sustainably manage soil and water resources in the Al-Kharj area. Resmethrin, Methidathion, Ethoprophos, Tetramethrin, Bromophis-methyl, Bifenthion, Permethrin, Fenoxycarb, Cyfluthrin, Phosmet, and Azinophos-methyl can be used safely in the Al-Kharj agricultural area, maintaining sustainable soils and water resources. Applications of Carbaryl require sufficient care, while Endosulfan, Deltamethrin, Lindane, Chlorpyrifos, Chlorpyrifos-methly, Dimethoate, Heptachlor, and Mevinphos, which are detected in soils, require policy guidelines to limit the use to ensure sustainability. Policy interventions need to be formulated to increase the sustainability of soil management and groundwater resources in the Al-Kharj region to ensure the safety of people who are in direct contact with the agrochemicals used and to ensure the safety of agricultural products generated in this region.

Temperature Matters More than Fertilization for Straw Decomposition in the Soil of Greenhouse Vegetable Field

As the largest organic carbon input to agroecosystems, crop straw can solve the problem of soil quality degradation in greenhouse vegetable fields, harmonize the balance between soil nutrients and energy, and improve soil quality to maintain the sustainable production of greenhouse vegetables. However, the microbial mechanism of the straw decomposition process under different temperatures and fertilization treatments in greenhouse vegetable soils has not been clarified. Soil samples were used to investigate the biology of straw decomposition in the soil at three incubation temperatures (15, 25, and 35 °C) through a soil incubation experiment (60 d) under different fertilization treatments. Fertilization treatments for this long-term field experiment included chemical fertilizer (CF), substitution of half of the chemical N fertilizer with manure (CM), straw (CS), or combined manure and straw (CMS). The results showed that soil hydrolase activities tended to decrease with increasing temperature during straw decomposition. Compared with the CF, organic substitutions (CM, CMS, and CS) increased soil β-glucosidase, β-cellobiosidase, N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, and β-xylosidase activities during straw decomposition. Soil CO2 emission rates were the highest at each incubation temperature on the first day, rapidly declining at 25 °C and 35 °C and slowly declining at 15 °C. The soil CO2 cumulative emissions tended to increase with increasing temperature under different fertilization treatments. PCA showed that the responses of soil enzyme activities to temperature at 7, 15, and 30 d of straw decomposition were stronger than those of fertilization. In summary, both fertilization treatment and incubation temperature could influence soil CO2 emissions by affecting soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities during straw decomposition, whereas incubation temperature had a stronger effect on straw decomposition than fertilization, as indicated by PLS-PM and three-way ANOVA. Considering the influence for fertilization on the straw decomposition process at different incubation temperatures, the straw applications (CMS and CS) were more suitable to temperature changes.

Optimizing organic substitution: Balancing carbon sequestration and priming effects of a six-year field experiment for sustainable vegetable production

Organic substitution has been recognized to markedly influence soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics and carbon sequestration. However, the priming effect can alter SOC mineralization, contingent upon the varying proportions and intensities of mineralization introduced by fresh organic substrates. A comprehensive assessment to pinpoint the organic substitution level in intensive vegetable cultivation remains elusive. Thus, we carried out a 6-year field experiment, following four fertilization treatments at consistent nitrogen levels: solely mineral fertilizer; and organic fertilizers replacing 20 %, 50 %, and 100 % of mineral nitrogen fertilizer. We assessed carbon dioxide emissions derived from various sources, soil properties, nutrient availability, enzyme activity, 13C-phospholipid fatty acid, SOC stability, and nutrient stoichiometries via a 63-day incubation with 13C glucose. Our results showed that different levels of organic substitution significantly affected soil mineralization and priming effect. The microbial community was the primary determinant of priming effect, accounting for 59.4 % of the variation, with gram-positive bacteria (i.e., a15: 0) being instrumental. Moreover, organic fertilizers provided a large amount of labile substrate, diminishing the microbial requirement for enzyme production in SOC decomposition. Notably, 50 % organic substitution consistently outperformed others, consistently yielding 1.17 to 1.29 times more than alternative treatments. Furthermore, this approach exhibited the lowest cumulative priming effect, which declined by 26.9 % to 44.8 %, attributed to enhanced SOC stability. Therefore, a 50 % organic substitution effectively balances carbon sequestration and the priming effect, contributing to sustainable vegetable production. Collectively, our results highlight the importance of appropriate organic substitution rates in promoting carbon sequestration and reducing greenhouse gas emissions for producing higher vegetable yield. Further work should emphasize long-term field evaluations to validate our priming effect determinants and explore the comprehensive impacts on soil health and sustainable agriculture.

Effect of Furrow Straw Mulching and Straw Decomposer Application on Celery (Apium graveolens L.) Production and Soil Improvement

Straw mulching on wet beds is an effective method to alleviate continuous cropping obstacles in greenhouses. However, this technique cannot be applied in the production of leafy vegetables with high planting density. Straw mulching in furrows is an alternative method in this circumstance. In this study, celery (Apium graveolens L.), a vegetable that prefers a high planting density and wet soil, was used to test furrow straw mulching technology, and the effect of different straw amounts and straw decomposers on soil improvement and celery production was investigated. The results showed that straw mulching in furrows significantly reduced soil conductivity and nitrate nitrogen levels, increased the contents of soil organic carbon as well as phosphorus and potassium nutrients in the bed, and improved celery yield and quality, indicating the significant lateral movement of released nutrients between the furrow and bed. The positive effects of 15,000 kg/ha straw application were more pronounced than those of 7500 kg/ha and 11,250 kg/ha. In addition, straw decomposers accelerated nutrient release and improved celery yield and quality. A decomposer named “ZhuBang” containing Bacillus licheniformis was the most effective. We concluded that furrow straw mulching combined with straw decomposer application is an effective measure for the sustainable production of leafy vegetables in intensive vegetable production facilities.

Analisis Pemanfaatan Wakaf Hidroponik sebagai Solusi Pembiayaan Pendidikan di Tapos Depok,

This study aims to Analysis of the Utilization of Hydroponic Endowments as a Solution for Education Financing in Tapos Depok. This research using interview methods examines the analysis of hydroponic endowments as a funding source for education in Islamic boarding schools (pesantren). The research aims to explore the benefits and challenges of utilizing hydroponic farming to generate income for educational purposes. Through interviews with key stakeholders, the study reveals the advantages of hydroponic farming, such as efficient and sustainable vegetable production, leading to increased revenue for educational needs. The research also identifies technical and management challenges in hydroponic system operation, as well as marketing and distribution strategies. The findings highlight the educational aspects of hydroponic implementation, providing valuable learning experiences for students in modern agriculture, hydroponic technology, garden management, and entrepreneurial skills. The study underscores the significance of community support and collaboration in expanding market reach and emphasizes the role of Islamic boarding schools as local development agents contributing to economic growth and community welfare. Overall, the research shows that the application of hydroponic endowments as a financing solution has positively impacted the independence, sustainability, and education of Islamic boarding schools.

Environmental impact assessment of producing frozen spinach in central Italy

Europe has increased its production, processing, and export of vegetables in recent decades due to changing dietary patterns supporting a greater consumption of vegetables high in nutrition. The growing interest in environmental issues has led to advocacy for sustainable vegetable production and consumption. Thus, this study assessed the ecological impacts of producing 1 kg of frozen spinach (functional unit) by a food processor in central Italy (cradle-to-factory gate approach). We evaluated the global warming potential (GWP) for distributing the final to different destinations. We also compare the potential environmental credits for different spinach residue management strategies, residue reduction through improved process efficiency, and as a feedstock for biogas production (avoided maize silage) based on the total volatile solids content. The life cycle assessment was used following the CML_IA impact assessment method based mainly on primary data related to 2019/2020. The GWP was 1.55 kg CO2eq. with respect to the functional unit. Excluding the dominant cultivation phase, packaging, particularly corrugated board boxes, electricity, and wastewater treatment were significant contributors across the midpoint impact categories assessed. The GWP for distributing the packaged frozen to Australia was 24 times more impactful than regional inland distribution. When spinach residue is reduced to 20% and 10%, total impacts for all impact categories also decrease by 12% and 22%, respectively. The benefit of using the current amount of spinach residue to produce biomethane was less than 7% across all impact categories except terrestrial ecotoxicity (13%). Therefore, reducing spinach waste along the processing line and efficient end-of-packaging life management through recycling and reuse by the manufacturer can considerably reduce the environmental impacts of frozen spinach.

Innovative nitrogen management strategy reduced N2O emission while maintaining high pepper yield in subtropical condition

High N fertilizer inputs in subtropical vegetable systems under the warm and humid climatic conditions increase the risk of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. However, there is limited information available on integrated N management strategies to reduce N2O emissions from intensive open-field vegetable systems in subtropical region. Two plot-based field experiments were conducted in subtropical southwest China to examine the effects of different N management strategies on N2O emissions from a typical open-field pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) production system. Experiment 1 included five N rates (0, 175, 250, 325, and 400 kg ha−1) with conventional urea. Experiment 2 included a 0 N control and four N sources (conventional urea, organic fertilizer, nitrification inhibitor-based enhanced efficiency fertilizer ENTEC26, and controlled release urea) applied under an optimized N rate (250 kg N ha−1). The results of Experiment 1 showed that cumulative N2O emission and emission factor were 4.05 kg N ha−1 season−1 and 0.96%, respectively, under the conventional management (N400). N2O emissions increased exponentially with increasing N rates. Compared to the N400 treatment, application of conventional urea at the optimal rate (250 kg N ha−1) significantly reduced cumulative N2O emissions by 54% while maintaining similar pepper yield. The results from Experiment 2 indicated that the use of enhanced efficiency fertilizers at the optimal rate further reduced N2O emission by 30%− 50% compared to conventional urea, while increasing pepper yield by 6.7%− 9.0%. This resulted in a 36%− 53% reduction of yield-scaled N2O emission intensity. In particular, the use of nitrification inhibitor was 28% more effective than controlled release urea for N2O mitigation. These results suggest that the application of enhanced efficiency fertilizers at an optimum N rate could produce more vegetables while reducing N2O emission, thereby promoting sustainable vegetable production in the subtropic regions.

The Sustainable Niche for Vegetable Production within the Contentious Sustainable Agriculture Discourse: Barriers, Opportunities and Future Approaches

Agricultural productivity impacts the environment and natural resources in various ways. The severity of these impacts has triggered the emergence of natural resource management and the related, highly criticized science of agroecology. Vegetable production has known environmental impacts. However, the extent of its participation in sustainable production has not been adequately explored. This review sought to explore the spaciotemporal position of vegetables in a suite of existing sustainable agricultural practices, explore regional variations and discover lessons that can guide the future of vegetable production. There are regional differences regarding sustainable production practices and the associated barriers to their adoption. Generally, sustainable agricultural practices with a societal history in a region tend to be successful, unlike when they are “new” innovations. The major barriers to sustainable agricultural practices in vegetable production are economy-related (total investment cost) and crop-related and are also related to the technology transmission approaches. Unfulfilled expectations and a lack of community participation in technology development are noted challenges, which have led to dis-adoption. A farmer-centered approach to technology promotion could help. Comparatively, southern Africa has the most challenges in the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. From the lessons learned from other regions, agroecology in vegetable cultivation is not unachievable in Africa. The projected challenges mean that sustainable vegetable production is inevitable.

An assessment of good agriculture practices for safe and sustainable vegetable production in mid-hills of Nepal

The vegetable sector provides immediate income, nutrition, and food security and contributes significantly to the economy of Nepal. In recent decades, the sustainability of the vegetable sector has been challenged due to the unsystematic use of agrochemicals for commercializing production. Adopting Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) could reduce the use of agrochemicals in commercial vegetable production. This study conducted the assessment of GAP in Kathmandu Valley. A mixed-method approach, combining quantitative and qualitative methods, was adopted for the study, which included farmers' surveys, key informant interviews, and in-depth interviews. The results showed that farmers were adopting different GAP, such as cropping practices, livestock integration, soil fertility management practices, and integrated pest management practices. Upon adopting these practices, farmers reduced agrochemicals' use by more than 40%. The critical incentives for surveyed farmers to adopt GAP were soil health improvement, farmers' safety, and reduction in the use of agrochemicals while improving the farm's image. Further, the study revealed that farmers faced several challenges in adopting GAP. Management difficulty (I = 0.9) was identified as the most critical problem, followed by no premium price (I = 0.8), knowledge (I = 0.6), access to GAP inputs (I = 0.5), and other risks (I = 0.04). The study's findings imply that adopting GAP helps reduce the use of agrochemicals, consequently motivating farmers toward safe and sustainable vegetable production. The study recommends market-based solutions such as creating mass consumer awareness, ensuring premium prices with quality assurance mechanisms for making the GAP-based production profitable, and promoting its wider adoption. This is supported by facilitating farmers' access to government subsidies, price incentives, and insurance services and increasing access to GAP inputs. This study aims to generate evidence on a safe and sustainable vegetable production model that will be key to institutionalizing GAP in Nepal.

Phytohormones unlocking their potential role in tolerance of vegetable crops under drought and salinity stresses.

Globally, abiotic stresses are drastically reducing the productivity of vegetable crops. Among abiotic stresses, drought and salinity are more challenging constraints for the sustainable production of vegetables. A great variety of vegetables are facing dry and hot summer spells, poor water availability, and higher salinity mainly due to irrigation with brackish water. Vegetables are considered higher water-dependent crops, requiring water for proper growth and yield. Drought and salinity impair plant metabolism. The disruption in plant metabolism leads to a reduction in growth, developmental processes, and ultimately crop yield. Appropriate management measures are needed to cope with the adverse effects of drought and salinity. Different agronomic and molecular approaches contributed to improving tolerance. Therefore, the present review significantly explores the impact of phytohormones on vegetable crops under drought and salinity stresses. Phytohormones (salicylic acid, melatonin, jasmonates, Brassinosteroids, ascorbic acid, and numerous others) can be sprayed for improvement of plant growth, yield, and photosynthetic pigments by modulation of physiological and biochemical processes. In this manner, these phytohormones should be explored for sustainable production of vegetable crops growing under abiotic stress conditions.

English

Irrigated vegetable production is an important agricultural activity and a significant source of income for millions of smallholder farmers in the Sahel. There is little information on the potential effects of intensive vegetable production using African Market Garden (AMG) technology on vegetable yields and soil chemical properties. Three contiguous 500-m2 plots were established to evaluate three vegetable management practices: (1) AMG, (2) Improved Management (IM), and (3) Farmer Practice (FP). These management practices were arranged in a randomized block design. AMG and IM management practices produced higher yields as compared to farmer practices. Tomato and onion yield for IM were 50 and 300% higher than for AMG, respectively; while yields for FP were consistently lower. The soil chemical properties at the end of the experiment displayed marked changes in all treatments compared to the initial soil status. Except for pH, which decreased by 0.2, 0.4, and 1.1 pH units, respectively, for FP, IM, and AMG, soil chemical properties increased as a direct response to management practices. These findings indicate that regular and high rates of manure application combined with mineral fertilizer enhance sandy soil fertility in the Sahel. These findings are important for developing sustainable vegetable production in the Sahel. Key words: Vegetable production, Drip irrigation, Farmer’s practice, Productivity, Soil fertility.

The Effects of Shading and Nutrient Management on Yield Quality of Vegetable Fern

This study investigated the optimization of shading and organic fertilizer applications on vegetable fern growth and yield quality in order to develop guidelines for farmers interested in sustainable vegetable fern production. The experiment was conducted in a split-plot design in RCBD with four replications. There were three main plots; no shading, 75% shading, and 96% shading. The five sub-plots consisted of no fertilizer application (control), chemical fertilizer at a rate of 92.80 kg N ha−1, and cow manure at rates of 92.80, 185.60, and 278.40 kg N ha−1. A comparison between different shading and fertilizer treatments, combined, demonstrated that 75% shading with the application of cow manure at the rate of 185.60 kg N ha−1 was the most appropriate management for vegetable fern production, with the highest marketable yield recorded (1128.54 kg ha−1 month−1) and a 10-fold yield increase compared to the control (no shading and no fertilizer). This treatment also resulted in good yield quality (crunchy and tender), high concentrations of chlorophyll and vitamin C, and a safe amount of nitrate accumulation for consumers.

Application of Genetic Resources in the Development of New Lithuanian Vegetable Cultivars

The investigations of genetic resources in Lithuania started in 1924. Collections including more than 110 samples of different vegetable species have been accumulated and continue to expand. The breeding program is focused on productivity, quality traits and biochemical composition, and tolerance of unfavorable environmental factors in changing climates. Currently, over 95 cultivars and hybrids of vegetables have been released, about 40 of which are included in the EU Common catalogue of varieties of vegetable species. From 2012 to 2021, twelve cultivars were developed at the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, seven of which are fruit vegetables, four are root crops, and two are in the onion group. The breeding direction was to increase the sustainable production of vegetables and improve the quality of the products by using national and adapted genetic resources as valuable parental forms. For 10 years, vegetable plant hybrids and cultivars were developed to meet commercial cultivars' market requirements. The tomato cultivars 'Ainiai' H, 'Adas' H, 'Auksiai' H, 'Alvita' and cucumber cultivar 'Roliai' are distinguished by a good biochemical composition and taste, while the sweet pepper cultivar 'Gabija' has high productivity and fruit quality. The carrot hybrids 'Ieva', 'Rokita', 'Jola', garlic cultivar 'Dangiai', and onion cultivar 'Joriai' are distinguished by their productivity and good storage ability. The Jerusalem artichoke cultivar 'Sauliai' has tubers with white skin and the colour of the flowers is yellow.

Pollution Characteristics, Source Identification, and Health Risk of Heavy Metals in the Soil-Vegetable System in Two Districts of Bangladesh.

The consequences of climate change, food security, and self-sufficiency goals are driving excessive human activity onto vegetable farms in Bangladesh, and harmful heavy metal exposure is spreading. So, the study assessed the toxic metals (Pb, Cd, and Cr) exposure, characteristics, and human health risk regarding the soil-vegetable system of two distinct locations in Bangladesh using atomic absorption spectrometry. The average concentration of metals in soil and fertilizer/pesticide samples followed the same order (Cr > Pb > Cd), but for vegetable samples, the order was Pb > Cr > Cd, with some extra Pb compared to the World Health Organization (WHO) allowable limit (0.3mg/kg). Low levels of pollution with negligible ecological concerns were predicted for both locations by the soil quality indexing. But industrial influence boosted the Pb content in location B, and common sources (fertilizer/pesticide) for both locations might be responsible for a moderate level of Cd. The toxic metals transferred to vegetables followed the trend of Cd > Pb > Cr. However, the human health risks arising from harmful metals exposure at both locations were ineffective (< 1) in evaluating noncarcinogenic risk patterns through the target hazard quotient (THQ), total THQ, and hazard index (HI). Again, considering probable carcinogenic risk patterns, vegetable consumption with studied exposure levels of toxic metals followed within the acceptable range (between 1.0E-04 and 1.0E-06). Overall, location B is slightly more vulnerable than location A by considering metal exposure, pollution distribution, and risk evaluation in the study area (significant at p < 0.05). So, systematic monitoring and protective measures are required to ensure food safety and sustainable vegetable production.

China Requires a Sustainable Transition of Vegetable Supply from Area-Dependent to Yield-Dependent and Decreased Vegetable Loss and Waste

China, the largest country in vegetable supply, faces a transition to sustainable vegetable production to counteract resource waste and environmental pollution. However, there are knowledge gaps on the main constraints and how to achieve sustainable vegetable supply. Herein, we integrated the vegetable production and supply data in China, compared its current status with five horticulture-developed countries US, the Netherlands, Greece, Japan and South Korea, using data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and National Bureau of Statistics of China, and predicted the vegetable supply in 2030 and 2050 by a model prediction. The vegetable supply in China increased from 592 g capita-1 d-1 in 1995 to 1262 g capita-1 d-1 in 2018 and will keep constant in 2030 and 2050. Compared to the five countries, the greater vegetable supply is primarily achieved by higher harvested areas rather than higher yield. However, it is predicted that the harvested areas will decrease by 13.6% and 24.7% in 2030 and 2050. Instead, steady increases in vegetable yield by 11.8% and 28.3% are predicted for this period. The high vegetable supply and greater vegetable preference indicated by the high vegetable-to-meat production ratio cannot guarantee recommended vegetable intake, potentially due to the high rate of vegetable loss and waste. Under the scenarios of decreased vegetable loss and waste, the harvested area will decrease by 37.3-67.2% in 2030 and 2050. This study points out that the sustainable transition of Chinese vegetable supply can be realized by enhancing yield and limiting vegetable loss and waste instead of expanding the harvested area.

Enhanced-Efficiency Fertilizers Impact on Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Nitrous Oxide Emissions from an Open-Field Vegetable System in North China

Open vegetable fields in China are a major anthropogenic source of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions due to excessive nitrogen (N) fertilization. A 4 yr lettuce experiment was conducted to determine the impacts of controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs) and nitrification inhibitors (NIs) on lettuce yield, N2O emissions and net economic benefits. Five treatments included (i) no N fertilizer (CK), (ii) conventional urea at 255 kg N ha-1 based on farmers' practice (FP), (iii) conventional urea at 204 kg N ha-1 (OPT), (iv) CRF at 204 kg N ha-1 (CU) and (v) CRF (204 kg N ha-1) added with NI (CUNI). No significant differences were found in the lettuce yields among different N fertilization treatments. Compared with FP, the cumulative N2O emissions were significantly decreased by 8.1%, 38.0% and 42.6% under OPT, CU and CUNI, respectively. Meanwhile, the net benefits of OPT, CU and CUNI were improved by USD 281, USD 871 and USD 1024 ha-1 compared to CN, respectively. This study recommends the combined application of CRF and NI at a reduced N rate as the optimal N fertilizer management for the sustainable production of vegetables in China with the lowest environmental risks and the greatest economic benefits.