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Innovations in Greenhouse Horticulture for Producing More With Less

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A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Horticultural and Floricultural Crops".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 15521

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Pradeep Kumar

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Guest Editor

Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur 342003, Rajasthan, India
Interests: protected cultivation; soilless culture and growing media; vegetable grafting; environmental stress physiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Colla

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Guest Editor

Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Interests: microgreens; sprouts; functional food; crop production; plant nutrition; fertilizers; organic farming; organic agriculture; nutrient management; biofertilizers; vegetable production; fruit quality; fertigation; hydroponics; vegetable crops; biofortification
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Dr. Mariateresa Cardarelli

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Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Interests: plant-microbe interaction; biostimulants; ornamental plants; mycorrhiza; quality and physio-biochemical changes in plants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Pratapsingh Khapte

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Guest Editor

National Institute for Abiotic Stress Management, School of Water Stress Management, Baramati, Pune, India
Interests: greenhouse cultivation; rootstock development; irrigation management; fruit quality

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The ever-increasing demands for nutritious foods under fast declining natural resources as well as due to rising threats of climate change instigating to adopt less risky and more resource use efficient production system. Growing high-value horticultural crops (fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops) under protective environments is one of the most viable options to realize high yield with superior quality produce from the given area and water resource, with lesser penalties for the environment. In fact, protected cultivation serves as a single-window solution for many productions related problems that crops often face in conventional open cultivation. In recent years, this sector is getting special impetus to sustainably meet the escalating world food demands vis à vis diminishing natural resources. A sizable number of scientists in the public and private sectors are engaged in providing innovative solutions for faster evolutionary growth of the greenhouse horticulture industry around the globe. Greenhouse cultivation technology is in fact a package technology involving many inter-disciplinary researches, hence the roles of researchers from horticulture and allied sectors are crucial in its overall development.

This Special Issue ‘Innovations in greenhouse horticulture for producing more with less’ intends to publish research and review papers focusing on recent scientific progress and innovations made in greenhouse horticulture towards achieving higher production of horticultural crops from lesser use of inputs/resources (area, water, nutrient, energy, manpower, etc.). We welcome papers on the topic covering ‘type of protective structure (hi-tech greenhouse to low-cost plastic/net cover and mulching), microclimate management (temperature, relative humidity, VPD, CO₂, radiation and LED lighting, etc.) and cultivation system (soil or soilless-hydroponics or vertical farming), crop modeling and phenotyping, new cultivars or rootstocks, growing media, organic and inorganic nutrient sources, fertigation and irrigation strategies, and IoT in greenhouse operation. In addition, plant growth, physio-biochemistry and molecular responses associated with different biotic and abiotic stressors, and integration of biostimulants and plant growth-promoting compounds, and microorganisms with plants that help improve horticultural crops productivity and stress tolerance.

Dr. Pradeep Kumar
Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Colla
Dr. Mariateresa Cardarelli
Dr. Pratapsingh Khapte
Guest Editors

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Keywords

protective cover and design
water, nutrient, and energy use efficiency
vertical farming and hydroponics
substrates/ growing media
advances in irrigation and fertigation
rootstocks / grafting
biostimulants and growth regulators
organic greenhouse cultivation

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 4411 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Growth and Productivity under Solar Radiation-Based Quantitative Nutrient Management in Hydroponic System

by Nethone Samba, Osamu Nunomura, Na Lu, Masahumi Johkan, Akimasa Nakano and Satoru Tsukagoshi

Agronomy 2024, 14(2), 296; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14020296 - 29 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1845

Abstract

Grafted cucumber plants were grown in a new hydroponic system (“Kappa Land”, Mitsubishi Chemical Aqua Solutions, Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). Two different nutrient management methods were applied to the plants as treatments: Electrical Conductivity-based Management (ECM) and Quantitative Nutrient Management (QNM). During the growth period, we examined plant growth characteristics and productivity, fruit growth characteristics and quality, and nutrient use characteristics. The results revealed that the QNM technique significantly reduced the nutrient supply rate per plant for Ca²⁺, SO₄²⁻, and N by 28.5%, 25.5%, and 23.3%, respectively. Similarly, the absorption rates per plant of SO₄²⁻, K⁺, and PO₄³⁻ were reduced by 17.8%, 11.9%, and 10.9%, respectively. However, N, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ absorption rates slightly increased in the QNM treatment. The nutrient wastes generated per kilogram of produced fruits were also reduced by 66.4%, 60.7%, and 30.2% for N, Ca²⁺, and SO₄²⁻, respectively. Although the QNM technique reduced the plant’s leaf area, it significantly increased its total length by 9.4%. The total and marketable yields were not significantly different between the ECM (9.0 and 8.0 kg plant⁻¹) and QNM (9.1 and 8.2 kg plant⁻¹) treatments. However, the QNM treatment produced the highest total dry matter of 617 g plant⁻¹, surpassing the ECM treatment by 6.9%. On the other hand, differences in nutrient management methods did not significantly affect fruit quality, including total soluble solids, water content, skin color, size, and shape. These results suggest that with the QNM method, it is possible to produce quality cucumbers with high nutrient use efficiency while protecting the environment from nutrient wastes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Greenhouse Horticulture for Producing More With Less)

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18 pages, 2378 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Photosynthesis, Yield and Quality in Wild Rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia L.) under Photoluminescent Greenhouse Covers

by Roberta Paradiso, Ida Di Mola, Stefano Conti, Lucia Ottaiano, Eugenio Cozzolino, Massimo Rippa, Pasquale Mormile, Giuseppe Melchionna, Antonino Testa, Luca Beltrame and Mauro Mori

Agronomy 2023, 13(9), 2372; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13092372 - 12 Sep 2023

Viewed by 922

Abstract

Manipulation of light spectral composition is a useful tool to drive morphological, physiological and metabolic responses in several crops, ultimately improving yield and quality. Novel materials for greenhouse covering are being developed in order to make a better use of the available sunlight: among these are the cover films or panels incorporating fluorescent additives which are able to convert UV solar radiation into visible light. In this research, we compared the physiological traits and the agronomical performance of wild rocket grown in pots in the winter–spring season, under four different greenhouse prototypes covered with poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA)-based panels. PMMA panels doped at 3% (Dop3) or 7% (Dop7) w/w with a blend of rare-earth elements (partially converting the solar UV radiation to red and blue wavelengths) were compared with an undoped (UD) and a whitewashed (WW) PMMA greenhouse. The rocket yield was higher in Dop3 (+30%), while it was unaffected in Dop7 and lower in WW (−39%), compared to the control (6.06 kg m⁻²). The leaf greenness decreased while both the ABTS and the hydrophilic antioxidant activities increased under the doped and the whitewashed greenhouses. The Dop3 treatment provided the best results in terms of yield and quality of greenhouse wild rocket in winter–spring cycle. However, the analysis of OJIP kinetics of chlorophyll fluorescence revealed that the main factor affecting the photosynthetic performance was the light intensity inside each greenhouse rather than the modulation of light spectrum, because of the different shading properties of the doping and whitewashing treatments. Although these results did not allow us to distinguish between the combined effects of shading and light spectrum modulation, the use of photoluminescent covers can be foreseen as a promising innovation in greenhouse horticulture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Greenhouse Horticulture for Producing More With Less)

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13 pages, 2954 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimal Substrate Moisture Content for Kiwifruit (Actinidia valvata Dunn) Seedling Growth Based on Analyses of Biomass, Antioxidant Defense, and Photosynthetic Response

by Dan-Dan Peng, Da-Gang Chen, Kai-Wei Xu, Petri Penttinen, Hao-Yu You, Hui-Ping Liao, Ran Yang and Yuan-Xue Chen

Agronomy 2023, 13(7), 1858; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13071858 - 14 Jul 2023

Viewed by 962

Abstract

The fruits of kiwifruit are well known for their abundant nutritional value and health benefits, but kiwifruit vines are susceptible to environmental factors such as drought or waterlogging. Optimum substrate moisture content (SMC) can decrease cultivation costs and improve the quality of seedlings in soilless cultivation. To quantify the water requirements of kiwifruit seedlings, a greenhouse study was conducted to investigate the growth, antioxidant defense, and photosynthetic parameters of seedlings of Actinidia valvata Dunn at six levels of SMC (20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 100%, and 120%). Results showed that shoot and root dry matter accumulation increased gradually with the increase in SMC from 20% to 100% and was lower at 120% SMC than at 100% SMC. Electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content were the lowest at 80% and 100% SMC. Antioxidant enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase, chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, photosynthetic electron transfer rate, and actual quantum yield were the highest at 80% and 100% SMC, but there was no significant difference in these parameters between the two treatments (80% and 100% SMC). However, the shoot and root dry weights of seedlings at 100% SMC were 13.20% and 33.02% higher than those at 80% SMC, respectively. In summary, 100% SMC provided optimal water supply for the photosynthetic efficiency and dry matter accumulation of shoots and roots. The results are expected to be useful for the mass production of high-quality kiwifruit seedlings in greenhouse or nursery containers, with the potential to save water. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Greenhouse Horticulture for Producing More With Less)

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18 pages, 529 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Combinatorial Effect of Fertigation Rate and Scheduling on Tomato Performance under Naturally Ventilated Polyhouse in Indian Humid Sub-Tropics

by Sonam Rawat, Lalit Bhatt, Pramod Kumar Singh, Poonam Gautam, Suresh Kumar Maurya, Priyanka, Leo Sabatino and Pradeep Kumar

Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 665; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030665 - 24 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1423

Abstract

Protected cultivation is a resource-efficient method of crop production, however, at the same time, it is resource intensive. An optimum rate and time of fertilizer application is required in order to maximize crop yield vis-à-vis resource use efficiency. However, these aspects are scarcely studied for tomato under low- and medium-tech greenhouses in Indian humid sub-tropics. In this regard, a two-year study was conducted to assess the effect of four NPK fertilization rates (i.e., 120, 100, 80, and 60% of the recommended dose of fertilizers, RDF) and three fertigation scheduling approaches—fertigation at different stages in different proportions of NPK, along with an additional treatment, i.e., farmers’ practice (soil-based application of recommended NPK) for tomatoes under a naturally ventilated polyhouse. The plant growth attributes, the tomato yield- and quality-related traits, the nutrient (NPK) accumulation by the plants, the water use efficiency (WUE), and economics were studied in response to different fertigation rates and scheduling approaches. These parameters were affected by both the rates of NPK fertilization and their time of application (scheduling) over the different growth stages. Among the different rates and time of fertigation, the recommended dose of fertilizer (100% RDF) (i.e., 300 kg N, 150 kg P₂O₅, and 150 kg K₂O per ha and their scheduling as 15% N, 10% P₂O₅, and 10% K₂O of RDF during 15–45 days after transplanting (P₁); 40% N, 40% P₂O₅, and 40% K₂O of RDF during 47–76 DAT (P₂); 30% N, 40% P₂O₅, and 40% K₂O of RDF during 77–107 DAT (P₃); and 15% N, 10% P₂O₅, and 10% K₂O of RDF during 108–138 DAT (P₄)) was found to be the optimum for fruit yield, WUE, and economics of tomato under protected condition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Greenhouse Horticulture for Producing More With Less)

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17 pages, 1108 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Organic Fertilizer Sources Distinctively Modulate Productivity, Quality, Mineral Composition, and Soil Enzyme Activity of Greenhouse Lettuce Grown in Degraded Soil

by Mariateresa Cardarelli, Antonio El Chami, Paola Iovieno, Youssef Rouphael, Paolo Bonini and Giuseppe Colla

Agronomy 2023, 13(1), 194; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13010194 - 07 Jan 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2210

Abstract

Intensive greenhouse vegetable production is often associated with a decline of crop productivity due to the increase of soil salinity and/or a reduction of biological fertility. The aim of the current work was to assess the effects of three organic fertilizers on morpho-physiological and agronomic traits of greenhouse lettuce as well as soil enzyme activity under poor soil quality conditions. The tested organic fertilizers (poultry manure, vinasse-based fertilizer, and insect’s frass fertilizer) were applied pre-planting at the same equivalent nitrogen (N) rate (90 kg N ha⁻¹). Laboratory incubation assay results showed that vinasse-based fertilizer was the most suitable fertilizer in supplying the mineral N in the short term. All fertilizers increased shoot fresh and dry weight compared to unfertilized control with a more pronounced effect (+75%) with vinasse-based fertilizer and insect’s frass. Insect frass reduced by 27% the leaf nitrate concentration in comparison with the other treatments. The toxic heavy metal Pb was 46% lower in all organically fertilized lettuce leaves. Soil enzymatic activities of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase (ArS), N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase), dehydrogenase, and total hydrolase (THA) were enhanced by poultry manure and insect’s frass in comparison with unfertilized control while vinasse-based fertilizer increased ArS, NAGase, and THA. Taken together, our data demonstrate that the application of organic fertilizers especially vinasse-based fertilizer and insect’s frass during intensive crop production is a suitable approach for mitigating the negative impact of soil salinity, enhancing soil biological fertility, and improving agronomic performance of greenhouse lettuce. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Greenhouse Horticulture for Producing More With Less)

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14 pages, 698 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Management of Root-Knot Nematode with Non-Chemical Methods for Sustainable Production of Cucumber under Protected Cultivation

by Narpinderjeet Kaur Dhillon, Sukhjeet Kaur, Anupam, Harwinder Singh Buttar, Kuldip Singh, Pratapsingh S. Khapte and Pardeep Kumar

Agronomy 2023, 13(1), 124; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13010124 - 30 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1799

Abstract

The multi-faceted benefits of growing crops under protected cultivation are gradually establishing it as a promising technology for vegetable cultivation in India. However, the adoption of successive cropping patterns in soil-based closed structures is leading to the buildup of soil-borne pathogens and pests, which are becoming a major hindrance to the sustainable production of these crops, particularly in the northern plains. Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are a critical threat to protected cultivation and farmers are required to contribute a significant amount of time and money for their management. To reduce the overdependence of chemicals, the present study explored the potential of plant-based by-products as amendments for the management of RKN in cucumbers grown under a plastic greenhouse. A pot trial was conducted to assess the efficacy of different plant-based amendments against nematodes in cucumber plants. The pot trial results revealed that the application of mustard cake (MC) and neem cake (NC) at 1 t ha⁻¹ either alone or as a combined application with farmyard manure (FYM) of 2.5 t ha⁻¹ was effective against RKN infestation, reflecting the improved plant growth parameters of cucumber. Based on the results of the pot trials, treatments with plant-based amendments and FYM i.e., T1: MC 1 t ha⁻¹; T2: NC 1 t ha⁻¹; T3: FYM 2.5 t ha⁻¹; T4: MC 1 t ha⁻¹ + NC 1 t ha⁻¹ + FYM 2.5 t ha⁻¹, along with the treated check carbofuran 3 G 2 kg (a.i.) ha⁻¹ (T5) and untreated check (T6), were evaluated in multi-locational field trials. The results revealed that the combined application of MC 1 t ha⁻¹ + NC 1 tha⁻¹ + FYM 2.5 t ha⁻¹ exhibited promising results in decreasing RKN infestation (56–58%) in all of the three RKN-infested polyhouses, with significantly enhanced yields at all of the three locations. Soil organic carbon also increased significantly in the amended plots, indicating improved soil health. The results of the present work hold good promise for the management of RKN in the protected cultivation of cucumber with an environment friendly approach, along with the additional incentives of improved soil health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Greenhouse Horticulture for Producing More With Less)

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10 pages, 281 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Growth, Leaf Pigment Content, and Antioxidant Potential of Ferns Grown in Peat Substrate Amended with Camelina Press Cake

by Anna Pietrak, Łukasz Łopusiewicz and Piotr Salachna

Agronomy 2022, 12(12), 3100; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12123100 - 07 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1337

Abstract

Using natural waste as a source of minerals and biostimulants can offer many advantages in the production of plants in containers. The research aimed to evaluate the usefulness of cakes obtained from the production of camelina seed oil (Camelina sativa) in the cultivation of ferns. The greenhouse experiment used ornamental ferns rich in health-promoting compounds: Onoclea sensibilis, Polypodium vulgare, and Polystichum polyblepharum. Plants were planted in pots filled with peat substrate mixed with camelina press cake in the form of pellets at a dose of 1 g/L or 5 g/L. Plants grown in 100% peat substrate constituted the control. It was found that the plants grown in the medium enriched with press cake were higher (P. vulgare and P. polyblepharum), wider (O. sensibilis and P. polyblepharum), and had increased dry weight (O. sensibilis and P. polyblepharum) regardless of the dose of the cake. Moreover, in all species, the addition of press cake significantly increased total chlorophyll content by 23.5–32.5% and carotenoids by 17.7–68.7% compared to the control. The effect of cake on the level of total polyphenols and flavonoids as well as antioxidant activity was unequal and depended mainly on the species and the waste dose. Overall, developing sustainable fern cultivation principles and understanding their nutritional properties could contribute to the broader use of ferns in green spaces, medicine, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Greenhouse Horticulture for Producing More With Less)

26 pages, 972 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Nursery Plant Production Models under Quarantine Pests’ Outbreak: Assessing the Environmental Implications and Economic Viability

by Michel Frem, Vincenzo Fucilli, Alessandro Petrontino, Claudio Acciani, Rossella Bianchi and Francesco Bozzo

Agronomy 2022, 12(12), 2964; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12122964 - 25 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1921

Abstract

The Apulia (southern Italy) ornamental sector has been facing regulatory obligations and trade limitations due to a Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) outbreak since 2013. Alternative options to encounter these constraints include the implementation of novel and sustainable ornamental production (NSM) practices. In this context, the purpose of this study is to assess simultaneously the environmental implications and economic viability of these options versus the conventional production options (CMs) among eight ornamental species (Abelia grandiflora, Bougainvillea cv Don Mario, Lantana camara cv Bandana rosa, Jasminum officinalis, Photinia fraseri cv Red Robin, Loropetalum chinense cv Black Pearl, Trachelospermum jasminoides, Viburnum lucidum). Life cycle assessment (LCA) and cost–benefit analysis (CBA) were used for this purpose. LCA revealed that NSM induced relatively less environmental impacts at the nursery level towards agricultural land occupation, climate change, fossil depletion, and water depletion. CBA showed that NSM increases moderately nursery business profitability in an economic sustainable way. An overall annual average gross margin of about EUR 192/1000 plants can be generated using NSM over the CM model. In general, this research provides a useful decision-support, helping nursery growers under the pressure of the threat of quarantine pests such as Xf to adopt NSM practices, which could be useful to produce ornamental and landscape plants with high sanitary quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Greenhouse Horticulture for Producing More With Less)

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13 pages, 479 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chicory Taproot Production: Effects of Biostimulants under Partial or Full Controlled Environmental Conditions

by Gabriele Paglialunga, Simona Proietti, Mariateresa Cardarelli, Stefano Moscatello, Giuseppe Colla and Alberto Battistelli

Agronomy 2022, 12(11), 2816; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12112816 - 11 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1231

Abstract

Two trials were conducted on chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) grown under greenhouse and growth chamber conditions with the aim to evaluate the potential of three biostimulants (seaweed extract (SWE), animal-derived protein hydrolysate (APH), and vegetal-derived protein hydrolysate (VPH) on improving quali-quantitative traits of taproot, in short and out-of-season production cycles. In the greenhouse trial, VPH biostimulant promoted the inulin yield on a per-hectare basis with respect to the untreated control and APH. Taproot fresh weights, dry weights, and diameter in VPH-treated plants increased in comparison with APH-treated ones. SWE-treated plants showed intermediate values of the root production parameters and the inulin yield, with no statistical difference with VPH, APH, and control. In the growth room trial, SWE, VPH, and control showed no significant differences in growth, root yield, and quality. The results demonstrated that VPH can be useful for improving root production and inulin yield of chicory under partial controlled conditions such as in a greenhouse, whereas no benefits of biostimulant applications on crop yield and quality traits were recorded in growth chambers under full control of micro-climate conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Greenhouse Horticulture for Producing More With Less)

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