Soil compaction problems and solutions
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- Last Updated on Thursday, 13 June 2013 13:09
- Published on Thursday, 13 June 2013 13:04
- Written by Marjolaine Hamelin
Soil compaction is a major problem for farmers and soil scientists. Indeed soil compaction decreases the yield of most agronomic crops worldwide. The alteration of soil structure by compaction limits water filtration and air access, reduces root penetration and inhibits soil living organisms. Nawaz et al. review advances in understanding, quantification and prediction of the effects of soil compaction. Sustainable remedies are also given.
Plants for desalination and environmental remediation
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- Last Updated on Friday, 14 June 2013 12:14
- Published on Friday, 24 May 2013 15:45
- Written by Marjolaine Hamelin
Climate change and pollution are increasing drought, salinity and heavy metal contamination in food crops, and, in turn, decrease yield and threaten food safety. Salinity is caused by an excess of NaCl in soils. Salinity is a major abiotic stress for plants over 800 million hectares of land worldwide. Lokhande et al. show that shoreline purslane (Sesuvium portulacastrum) can be used for sand-dune fixation, desalination and phytoremediation in coastal regions.
Bees like plant diversity
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- Last Updated on Friday, 29 March 2013 15:23
- Published on Friday, 29 March 2013 15:19
- Written by Marjolaine Hamelin
Life on earth is impossible without plants and other photosynthetic organisms. Plants are the most important living organisms for the ecosystem because plant harvest sun energy and, in turn, all other living organisms feed on plant directly or indirectly. Plants are used for food, fiber and most recently for fuel. Pollinisators such are bees are necessary for the reproduction and survival of many plant species, including plants for food. However, industrial agriculture and the use of pesticides have strongly declined bees and other insect pollinators. This bee decline has already decreased global food production. A review article by Nicholls and Altieri discusses in detail the problems of pollinators and how to solve this problem with novel farming practices.
Food security and pesticides
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- Last Updated on Thursday, 21 March 2013 10:51
- Published on Tuesday, 12 February 2013 09:23
- Written by Marjolaine Hamelin
The 7 billion global population should grow to 9.2 billion by 2050. This increased population will increase by 70 % the demand for food production, notably due to new dietary habits in developing countries towards high quality food such as meat and milk. Additional agricultural land is limited. More agricultural land will be used to produce biofuel or fibre instead of food. Thus, we need to grow food on even less land, with less water, using less energy, fertiliser and pesticide. Popp et al. review worldwide crop losses due to pests, and advanced methods to reduce losses using chemical and biological methods.
Farming systems to feed the changing world
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- Last Updated on Friday, 14 June 2013 12:43
- Published on Monday, 11 February 2013 09:23
- Written by Marjolaine Hamelin
Agricultural production is more and more unstable as a result of complex issues related to climate, markets and public policy. Farmers must therefore develop new farming systems adapted to changing conditions. For instance in south-western France, during summer, farmers increasingly move livestock from lower plains to high summer pastures in the Pyrenees mountains. This adaptation based on ancestral know-how is due to the increasing scarcity of herbage in lower plains in summer. Martin et al. review 41 new ideas for farming systems adapted to changing conditions.