Open Access Published by De Gruyter Open Access

Volume 6 Issue 1

January 2021

Issue of Open Agriculture

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Contents
Journal Overview

Although there is adequate information on the influence of plant population on root yield and size of carrot on flat and raised bed for rain fed production system, information on ridge-furrow bed preparation method is limited for irrigation production system. Therefore, in this study, field experiments were conducted for 2 years to determine the appropriate spacing of carrot on ridge-furrow carrot production practice under irrigation. Root yield increased significantly as the population increased. On the contrary, root size significantly decreased as population increased. The result of combined analysis over season and locations indicated that the narrowest spacing of 10 cm × 4 cm rows on the ridge and between plants, respectively, which accommodates 1,250,000 plants ha −1 gave significantly highest marketable carrot root yield of 26 t ha −1 followed by 22.6 t ha −1 with spacing of 20 cm × 4 cm which accommodates 1,000,000 plants ha −1 , but it produced the smallest individual root weight of 83 g which is mostly preferred for household consumption unlike jumbo roots. Therefore, in terms of root sizes and marketable yield, the current study identified that spacing of 10 cm × 4 cm is optimum on ridge-furrow carrot production practices.

Review Articles

Open Access May 4, 2021

A review of upgradation of energy-efficient sustainable commercial greenhouses in Middle East climatic conditions

Mattara Chalill Subin, Snehaunshu Chowdhury, Ramanujam Karthikeyan

Page range: 308-328

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Abstract

Greenhouse farming is considered as one of the most scientific approaches in agriculture, which are suitable for all climatic conditions, especially in Middle East, North America, and Europe. Sustainable greenhouses are innovative farming facilities for healthy vegetables and fruits in a controlled, conditioned indoor space. This article presents a literature review on the upgradation of a conventional to a sustainable greenhouse using modern engineering concept. This includes maintaining fully controlled indoor conditions such as temperature, relative humidity, and air velocity for specific agronomical parameters. The influence and improvements in upgradation of various heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) with the associated control systems and covering materials to reduce the energy consumption have been reviewed. Financial viability of conventional as well as upgraded greenhouses is highlighted. In Middle East climatic conditions, the major challenge is to control the optimal range of temperature (18–21°C), relative humidity (55 to 75%), and air velocity (0–1.3 m/s). It is found that the upgraded HVAC systems with climate control modules can increase the crop yield by 30%. Scientifically selected polycarbonate sheet covering materials are also found to increase the crop yield by up to 15% more than the conventional commercial greenhouses.

Open Access July 28, 2021

Plantago lanceolata – An overview of its agronomically and healing valuable features

Michal Pol, Knut Schmidtke, Sylwia Lewandowska

Page range: 479-488

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Abstract

This article gives an overview of the widely distributed herb ribwort plantain ( Plantago lanceolata ). Currently, this plant is mostly grown in grasslands, rarely in arable land, and its secondary metabolites are used in medicine. Studies cited in the article indicate its very rapid growth and deep rooting in the soil, which results in high drought tolerance and uptake of valuable nutrients from deep soil layers. An intensive symbiosis with various mycorrhizal fungi is characteristic of plantain for a high capacity for nutrient and water appropriation. It is also characterized by different contents of iridoid glycosides like aucubin and catalpol in shoots and roots of different varieties. The use of P. lanceolata is discussed on permanent and non-permanent grasslands where agriculturally specific varieties have been developed for grazing animals showing positive health effects in them. Information is provided on the cultivation of ribwort plantain, including studies on sowing and fertilization, the yield and infestation of the plant with pathogens, and the occurrence of iridoid glycosides in the plant. In addition, information is included on pests that threaten the plant’s cultivation.

Open Access March 22, 2021

Climate field schools to increase farmers’ adaptive capacity to climate change in the southern coastline of Java

Muhamad Khais Prayoga, Mieke Rochimi Setiawati, Silke Stӧber, Kustiwa Adinata, Meddy Rachmadi, Tualar Simarmata

Page range: 192-201

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Abstract

Demonstration plots (demo plots) have been used as participatory research methods to conduct Climate Field Schools (CFS) with farmers from May to October 2018. CFS aimed at improving the adaptive capacities of the farmers and obtaining appropriate technologies to be adopted in the two villages of Ciganjeng and Rawaapu. The demo plots were set up with a different treatment of organic manure (T 1 = 10 ton ha −1 of cattle compost; T 2 = 10 ton ha −1 of cattle compost + 10 ton ha −1 of Azolla pinnata ; and T 3 = 10 ton ha −1 of cattle compost + 2 ton ha −1 of Sesbania rostrata ) and different rice varieties. The farmers were fully responsible for the monitoring of the parameters (e.g., plant height, number of tillers, and grain yield). The demo plots results revealed that the application of organic manure T 2 has increased the soil C and N content by 64.6 and 40.00%, respectively, and rice yield by 27.8% compared to neighboring plots using inorganic fertilizers. The Mendawak variety at both CFS locations showed better performance compared to the other varieties. Moreover, the capacity of the research farmers involved in the CFS has been increased by 52.74% with a gain factor of 0.42 in Ciganjeng and 41.23% with a gain factor of 0.39 in Rawaapu moderately based on pretest and posttest results. It is concluded from the research process that farmers who built up their capacity on on-farm show a high level of confidence and can convey comprehensive information to other farmers.

Some previous studies on Spirulina platensis show that this species contains pigments that can be used as natural dyes in textiles. However, research on the usage of spirulina natural pigment in certain types of conventional textile handicraft home industries in Indonesia has not been conducted. The purpose of this study is to utilize the potential of Spirulina platensis as homemade natural dyes for the development of designs in textiles. Through an experimental methodology, various experiments starting from the extraction process and dyeing were conducted to find out the right way to produce home dyes using spirulina and techniques of surface textile design to apply them in textiles. This is useful as one of the solutions today, since an increasing number of consumers are consciously seeking sustainable products, with no exception to the types of textile products. Therefore, this will provide an opportunity for business collaboration ideas in agribusiness and craft textiles. Additionally, it can add to the nature of textile natural dyes derived from various plant species in Indonesia.

Soil salinity is a major limiting factor for crop productivity, which increases continuously due to climate change. This barrier can possibly be overcome with the occurrence of halotolerant endophytic bacteria which reportedly plays an important role in protecting plants against various environmental stresses. Therefore, plant growth-promoting microbes are used in agriculture as an inexpensive and eco-friendly technology to enhance crop productivity in saline areas. In this study, the three isolates with nitrogen fixation ability were applied for mitigation of salt stress. The isolates were coded as C3A1, C8D2, and K10P4 and applied to rice plants by seed priming method. Furthermore, they were given as single innoculant or combined as a consortium compared to control, which was without the addition of endophytic bacteria, while the inoculated seed was planted on saline semisolid Fahraeus media at 4 dS m −1 . The results showed that the single isolate of K10P4 endophytic bacteria increased the dry weight of rice plants, N uptake, and chlorophyll of plants in saline conditions. The combination of K10P4 isolate with C8D2 was synergistic and increased the population of endophytic bacteria in root tissue and chlorophyll content compared to the combination of C3A1 or three isolates. Meanwhile, the use of the 16S ribosomal RNA method on C3A1, C8D2, and K10P4 indentified the isolates as Ochrobactrum tritici (C3A1), Pseudomonas stutzeri (C8D2), and Pseudomonas stutzeri (K10P4).

About this journal

Scope

Veterinary Medicine
Agro-ecology
Soil science
Plant science
Horticulture
Forestry, Wood technology
Animal science
Entomology
Aquaculture
Hydrology, Irrigation
Food science
Nutrition
Agricultural economics
Bio-based economy
Agricultural engineering
Landscape management
Postharvest technology
Climate-based agriculture
Amelioration
Tropical agriculture
Microbiology
Agroforestry
Sustainable development
Biomass, Biofuel
Agronomy
Agricultural Extension Education
Rural development
Agricultural information and communication
Capacity Building
Mycology

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