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Challenges in Sustainable Plant Cultivation and Produce Supply
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Challenges in Sustainable Plant Cultivation and Produce Supply

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 4550

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Michael Blanke

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
INRES- Hort Sciences, University of Bonn, Auf dem Huegel 6, D-53121 Bonn, Germany
Interests: sustainable horticulture; carbon footprint; LCA; resource conservation; soil; water
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The open access journal Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050, IF 3.889) is pleased to announce a new Special Issue entitled "Challenges in Sustainable Plant Cultivation and Produce Supply".

The submission deadline is 31 December 2023. Manuscripts may be submitted from now until 31 December 2023, as papers will be published on an ongoing basis.

I invite you and your collaborators to send manuscripts such as articles, reviews, and other types of publications (please find instructions from https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/instructions) for inclusion in this Special Issue.

The topics of the manuscripts can include (but are not limited to) reductions of fertilizers, pesticides, energy and water, water saving irrigation, alternatives and recycling of agricultural plastics for plant cultivation, measures to improve humus, savings in the use of fossil fuel and energy during cultivation and storage of arable crops, fruit and vegetables of temperate zone as well as (sub-)tropical crops and storage of the harvested produce.

I would appreciate if you could submit short abstracts of your work as soon as possible in order for them to be included in the list of planned papers, which will be uploaded on the SI website.

If you have questions or require more information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Kind regards,

Dr. Michael Blanke
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainability
  • environmental-friendly plant production
  • protected cultivation systems
  • humus accumulation
  • single-use plastics
  • disposal
  • storage
  • energy saving
  • fossil fuel saving

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1647 KiB  
Article
Induction of Time-Dependent Tolerance through Thermopriming in Tomatoes
by Tobias Körner, Jana Zinkernagel and Simone Röhlen-Schmittgen
Sustainability 2024, 16(3), 1163; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16031163 - 30 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 641
Abstract
The risk of potential yield losses due to heat waves and other challenging weather phenomena is globally increasing. So far, plant producers have only had limited possibilities to adapt their cultivation methods. Plants exposed to (any form of) stress naturally adapt to environmental [...] Read more.
The risk of potential yield losses due to heat waves and other challenging weather phenomena is globally increasing. So far, plant producers have only had limited possibilities to adapt their cultivation methods. Plants exposed to (any form of) stress naturally adapt to environmental changes by synthesizing and accumulating protective metabolites to become more tolerant to subsequent stress events. Priming, or thermopriming if induced by heat, relies on this concept to increase plant tolerance. However, it is still unclear how to apply heat stress under consideration of plant physiological costs and benefits in regard to the further development and growth of plants. In this study, 90 min thermopriming (at 40 °C) for seven consecutive days induced an accumulation of flavonols in leaves that were directly affected by the treatment and thus identified as suitable for inducing thermotolerance in tomato var. Adeleza seedlings. The initial costs on plant growth and development were compensated a few weeks after thermopriming and even benefited the plants later. Thereby, thermopriming may enable global plant production to cope with unpredictable and more frequently occurring environmental stress by a sustainable hardening method of seedlings that can be incorporated in the plant production cycle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges in Sustainable Plant Cultivation and Produce Supply)
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17 pages, 1527 KiB  
Article
Avocado (Persea americana cv. ‘Hass’) Fruit Mineral Composition at Canopy Level towards Sustainable Quality
by Muhammad Asad Ullah and Daryl Clifford Joyce
Sustainability 2024, 16(2), 750; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020750 - 15 Jan 2024
Viewed by 754
Abstract
Sustaining avocado fruit quality is crucial to maintain customer satisfaction and confidence. Among fruit qualities, mineral nutrient composition is an important contributor to postharvest robustness. Towards better understanding and addressing variability within the plant canopy, ‘Hass’ fruit from across seven orchard blocks were [...] Read more.
Sustaining avocado fruit quality is crucial to maintain customer satisfaction and confidence. Among fruit qualities, mineral nutrient composition is an important contributor to postharvest robustness. Towards better understanding and addressing variability within the plant canopy, ‘Hass’ fruit from across seven orchard blocks were individually characterised. From five representative trees in each block, five fruit were harvested (one from each of five positions: top (sun-exposed), bottom (shaded), middle (shaded), East (sun-exposed), and West (sun-exposed)). Fruit dry matter was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.001) in fruit from the top, East, and West sun-exposed positions. No significant (p > 0.05) effect of position was discerned for fruit weight at harvest or for either stem end rot (SER) or body rot (BR) incidence at eating soft. Shaded fruit had significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) [N], [K], [Mg], N:Ca, K:Ca, and K + Mg:Ca in their flesh. Significant negative linear correlations (p ≤ 0.001) were obtained between fruit DM and flesh [N] (r = −0.75), [K] (r = −0.67), and N:Ca (r = −0.57). SER and BR incidence were significantly positively correlated (p ≤ 0.01) with flesh and skin mineral ratios of N:Ca, K:Ca, Mg:Ca, and K + Mg:Ca. Skin and flesh [Ca] were significantly negatively correlated with SER (r = −0.51, p ≤ 0.01) and BR (r = −0.74, p ≤ 0.001) incidences. Soil cation (Ca, Mg, K) availability (%base saturation of cation exchange capacity (CEC)) was not (p > 0.05) correlated with skin or flesh mineral concentrations or ratios. Considered collectively, results suggest that selective harvest of sun-exposed fruit with inherently lower mineral nutrient ratios yields relatively robust fruit. Such fruit lots should better tolerate the rigours of harvest and postharvest treatment and handling. In this context, they should better maintain quality upon passage through long, in terms of accumulated time-temperature increments, export supply chains. In contrast, shaded fruit could be directed into shorter domestic supply chains. As a harvest strategy, segregating fruit lots from harvest could underpin the quality offered to consumers at the end of ‘short’ and ‘long’ supply chains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges in Sustainable Plant Cultivation and Produce Supply)
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15 pages, 2388 KiB  
Article
Effect of Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI) on the Growth and Development of Pear Fruit (Pyrus communis L.), var. Triunfo de Viena
by Javier Vélez-Sánchez, Fánor Casierra-Posada and Gerhard Fischer
Sustainability 2023, 15(18), 13392; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813392 - 07 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 708
Abstract
The irrigation of crops represents 70% of the world’s water use. For crops grown in high-altitude tropical climates, due to the decrease in rainfall with increasing altitude, along with the effects of global warming, it is necessary to propose alternatives for sustainable fruit [...] Read more.
The irrigation of crops represents 70% of the world’s water use. For crops grown in high-altitude tropical climates, due to the decrease in rainfall with increasing altitude, along with the effects of global warming, it is necessary to propose alternatives for sustainable fruit production with reduced water consumption. This study was carried out in Sesquilé, Colombia (South America), at an altitude of 2595 m a.s.l. for two successive years with pear trees, var. Triunfo de Viena. The objective of this work was to determine the effect of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) on the absolute and relative growth rates of the equatorial diameter of the fruits, the fresh and dry weights, the number of fruits, the yield per tree and the water potential of the fruits. In 2014, during the rapid growth phase of the fruit, one group of plants was irrigated at 100% of the crop evapotranspiration (ETc) (control), another at 74% and a third group at 60%. In 2015, the three groups were irrigated at 100%, 48% and 27% of the ETc. The use of RDI did not significantly affect the growth of the fruits. This study showed that the ‘Triunfo de Viena’ pear tree not only has sufficient adaptive reserves, but also has good ecological plasticity under water stress conditions in high-altitude tropical climates. In cases where water is a limiting factor for pear tree production, RDI can obtain production rates similar to those of a regularly irrigated crop, as long as this technique is used and implemented in phenological states of low sensitivity to water stress without exceeding the tolerance limits of the plants to the stressor. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges in Sustainable Plant Cultivation and Produce Supply)
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Review

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12 pages, 393 KiB  
Review
Novel Energy-Saving Strategies in Apple Storage: A Review
by Felix Büchele, Kiran Hivare, Kartik Khera, Fabio Rodrigo Thewes, Luiz Carlos Argenta, Tuany Gabriela Hoffmann, Pramod V. Mahajan, Robert K. Prange, Sunil Pareek and Daniel Alexandre Neuwald
Sustainability 2024, 16(3), 1052; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16031052 - 25 Jan 2024
Viewed by 810
Abstract
Storing apples for up to a year is a well-established practice aimed at providing a continuous, locally produced fruit supply to consumers and adapting to market trends for optimized profits. Temperature control is the cornerstone of postharvest conservation, and apples are typically kept [...] Read more.
Storing apples for up to a year is a well-established practice aimed at providing a continuous, locally produced fruit supply to consumers and adapting to market trends for optimized profits. Temperature control is the cornerstone of postharvest conservation, and apples are typically kept at temperatures ranging from 0 to 3 °C. However, the energy-intensive process of the initial cool-down and subsequent temperature maintenance poses significant financial challenges with adverse effects on the carbon footprint. Higher storage temperatures could reduce cooling-related energy usage but also pose the risk of enhanced ripening and quality loss. This work explores different storage technologies aiming to reduce energy consumption, such as 1-methylcyclopropene, ultra-low oxygen, and a dynamically controlled atmosphere with raised temperatures. The integration of advanced monitoring and control systems, coupled with data analytics and energy management, in apple storage is also discussed. These strategies can be implemented without cost-intensive construction measures in standard storage facilities. Furthermore, beneficial side effects of higher storage temperatures in terms of a reduced occurrence of storage disorder symptoms and higher maintenance of quality attributes are also discussed for this special issue on sustainable horticultural production systems and supply chains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges in Sustainable Plant Cultivation and Produce Supply)
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14 pages, 4927 KiB  
Review
Advances in the Sustainable Use of Plastics in Horticulture—Perspectives, Innovations, Opportunities, and Limitations
by Michael M. Blanke
Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 11629; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511629 - 27 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1121
Abstract
The use of plastics in horticulture is reviewed with respect to its sustainability based on the traditional criteria of triple Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycling) plus a re-place strategy, taking into account possible alternatives. Hail (and insect) nets made of HD-PE, with their [...] Read more.
The use of plastics in horticulture is reviewed with respect to its sustainability based on the traditional criteria of triple Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycling) plus a re-place strategy, taking into account possible alternatives. Hail (and insect) nets made of HD-PE, with their long-term use mostly on apple and polytunnels of LD-PE for cherry and strawberry as well as solarisation mulches (reuse), were found to be relatively sustainable solutions for their needs and are currently without alternatives. In contrast, standard black mulch, with its largest share among horticultural plastics, had the widest range of sustainable alternatives, ranging from biodegradable to spray mulch; few sustainable alternatives are available for fleeces and reflective mulches. For the third sustainable option, pilot recycling schemes were examined, such as PolieCoTM (Italy), MAPLATM (Spain), and ERDETM (Germany); they collect 30–50% of the agricultural plastics used in their respective areas, with a successful retrieval growth rate of ca. 20% per year in the case of ERDETM. For the fourth new R option (replace), future sustainability perspectives for the predominant black mulch are research into and development of better, biodegradable, non-fossilbased plastics, sprayable mulch; microbes for the digestion of deployed polyolefins and, for a certain limited range (on shade tolerant crops or in high-light intensity environment), hail nets and polytunnels that are equipped/substituted by/with solar panels (“agri pv”) for the concomitant sustainable production of green renewable energy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges in Sustainable Plant Cultivation and Produce Supply)
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