Physicochemical and Biological Indicators of Soils in an Organic Farming System.

In developed countries, the ideas of ecological agricultural production, continuous cycle, and waste-free production technologies have gained popularity. The effect from the production and consumption of ecological agricultural products is determined by the least harm to the environment, increasing the competitiveness of products, and receiving additional profit from increasing prices for higher quality products. The production of organically safe products is based on the principle of biologization, i.e., the widespread use of biological preparations, a high proportion of legumes (sources of nitrogen), and avoiding chemical plant protection products, transgenic plants, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This study aims to increase the productivity of safflower and improve the physicochemical and biological indicators of dark chestnut soils through the use of biologized technologies in the organic farming system. Standard methods for assessment and statistical analysis of physical and chemical parameters of soils were carried out in zone 1 of West Kazakhstan. This made it possible to identify the most optimal technology for the cultivation of safflower. The study results showed that under the influence of the phytomeliorative action of safflower in the 0-20 cm layer of dark chestnut soils, one could note an increase in the content of nitrate nitrogen by 5.95%, an increase in the content of mobile phosphorus by 5.22%, and soil loosening by 0.010 g/cm3, with the structure of the soil being 64.43%. Strong biological activity of the soil was established by the crops of safflower. The highest yield of safflower oil about 0.23 t/ha with an oil content of 30.1% was obtained using the biologized technology option. The use of biological technology, along with biological yields, increases oil yield by 0.06 t/ha or 28.06%.

Disturbance and competition drive diversity effects in cabbage-aphid-onion systems with intra-specific genetic variation.

Decreased reliance on pesticides can be achieved through a clever use of eco-evolutionary knowledge via intercropping economically valuable crops with companion plants that can hamper pest outbreaks. We created a greenhouse multi-layered microcosm system to test two potato peach aphid clones, performing alone or in competition, on mixes of genetically variable cultivars of cabbage, with and without onion. The onion acted as a nuisance/disturbance for the pest, which was generally for the benefit of the cabbage albeit both plants sharing space and nutrients. The onion effect was context-specific and differed by aphid genotype. Onion variable nuisance negatively affected the numbers of one aphid genotype (green) across all contexts, while the other genotype (pink) numbers were decreased in two contexts only. However, the green performed better than the pink on all cases of cabbage di-mixes despite its numbers being capped when the onion was present. Further, there was also a general aphid propensity to wander off the plant along with a differential production of winged morphs to escape the onion-affected environments. Moreover, through a comparative increase in dry mass, which was subject to onion and aphid effects, a diversity effect was found where the cabbages of fully genetically variable microcosms sustained similar final dry mass compared with non-infested microcosms. Our findings provide fresh insights into the use of multi-layered contextual designs that not only allow disentangling the relative effects of genetic variation and modes of interaction, but also help integrate their benefits into pest management in view of companion planting.

The effect of an organic rumen-protected fat supplement on performance, metabolic status, and health of dairy cows.

BACKGROUND: Negative energy balance during the transition period is a concern for both conventional and certified organic dairy systems. During early lactation, supplemental strategies are used to cope with nutrient deficiencies that are associated with impaired health, production, and reproduction. As organic certified dairies in the United States face restricted access to dietary supplements, the evaluation of products especially formulated for organic production is needed. Our objective was to assess the effect of supplementing 0.45 kg/d of an organic rumen-protected fat (RPF) on health, metabolic status, and productive and reproductive performance of organic certified Holstein cows from 1 to 150 days in milk (DIM). Two-hundred and two cows were enrolled in a randomized blocked controlled trial conducted from January to July 2017 in a certified organic dairy located in Northern Colorado (USA). Two groups were randomly assigned to be individually supplemented with organic RPF (ORG; n = 100) or control pellets (CON; n = 102) once per day, in addition to the total mixed ration (TMR). Outcomes of interest included milk yield (kg/d) and milk components, serum concentration of glucose, and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), resumption of cyclicity, time-to-first artificial insemination (AI), conception at first AI, and conception within 150 DIM, disease occurrence, culling, mortality. RESULTS: A significant effect for the inclusion of RPF was found in daily milk yield; RPF supplemented cows had greater milk yield (1.6 kg/d) compared to CON cows up to 150 DIM (P = 0.03). During grazing, multiparous (MP) ORG cows had greater milk yield compared to MP CON cows, whereas no effect was found in primiparous (PP) cows. Health outcomes, serum metabolite concentrations, and reproductive performance were not affected by the inclusion of RPF. Body condition loss was smaller in the ORG group up to 80 DIM; however, there was no effect on body condition during the grazing season and in the overall study period. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that supplementation of RPF increased daily milk yield and prevented body condition loss during at 90 DIM. However, RPF supplementation did not affect health, serum metabolite concentration, milk components, and reproductive outcomes.

Evaluation of genotoxicity and coumarin production in conventional and organic cultivation systems of Mikania glomerata Spreng.

Mikania glomerata Sprengel, popularly known as "guaco," is used in Brazilian folk medicine for several inflammatory and allergic conditions. Besides, the popular use "guaco" is indicated by the Brazilian Ministry of Health as a safe and effective herbal medicine. The biological activity of M. glomerata extracts is due to the presence of the coumarins, a large family of phenolic substances found in plants and is made of fused benzene and α-pyrone rings. Considering that there are few data on the biological effects of the extracts of M. glomerata, mainly in genetic level, this work aims to evaluate, in vitro, the genotoxicity and coumarin production in M. glomerata in conventional and organic growing. The data showed that the organic culture system showed double the concentration of coumarin being significantly more productive than the conventional system. Besides, the results of comet assay suggest that extracts of M. glomerata cultivated in a conventional system was genotoxic, increased DNA damage levels while the organic extracts seem to have antigenotoxic effect possibly due to the concentration of coumarins. Additional biochemical investigations are necessary to elucidate the mechanisms of action of M. glomerata extracts, which were found to have a role in protection against DNA damage.

Concentrations of phytoestrogens in conventional, organic and free-range retail milk in England.

The effect of dairy management system (conventional, CNV; organic, ORG; free-range, FRG) and month on retail milk phytoestrogen composition was assessed for 12 consecutive months. ORG milk contained more secoisolariciresinol, matairesinol, lariciresinol, sum of plant lignans, daidzein, genistein, formononetin, naringenin, equol, sum of isoflavones and coumestrol, than CNV and FRG milk. This may be explained by the higher supply of pasture, and grazed or ensiled clover, in ORG dairy diets. Seasonal variation in milk phytoestrogen concentrations was higher for ORG than CNV and FRG systems. Phytoestrogen composition did not vary between FRG and CNV milk. Consuming organic milk can increase intake of potentially beneficial lignans and isoflavonoids, and in particular equol; but, any effects on human health from such milk compositional differences cannot be implied.

Multidimensional analysis of environmental impacts from potato agricultural production in the Peruvian Central Andes.

Rain-fed potato systems, being the most important cash crop in the Peruvian Central Andes, play a key role in food security. Quantifying the environmental impacts and understanding their complex interactions is an important step towards an improvement of the technical sustainability of these systems. From 2005 until 2015, 58 potato field plots located on a transect of Mantaro Valley, Junín, Peru were investigated at field level during the rainy cropping seasons. All external inputs used for crop production were measured and registered on fortnightly basis. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed (per ton yield fresh weight) to assess the most important potential environmental impact categories (EICs). Due to the intrinsic variability of the production systems, a cluster analysis (k-means algorithm) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were implemented to group and evaluate the classification based on the EICs values. Furthermore, latent variables were obtained using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to investigate the correlational structure of main biophysical inputs (kg ha-1) and EICs values (kg unit-eq. t-1). Similarly, data envelopment analysis (DEA) was used to quantify the relative environmental efficiency based on the EICs values (unit-eq. t-1, input) and the productivity level (kg ha-1, output). Overall LCA results showed considerable EICs values for acidification and eutrophication due to the inappropriate or sub-optimal use of fertilizer sources. Restricted use of machinery and low technology level caused low global warming potential and cumulative energy demand. Based on the cluster analysis, three groups were found mainly defined by the nature of the inputs and EICs values: inorganic, organic and mixed systems. LDA showed a good overall classification accuracy for the groups (98.3%), being cumulative energy demand the most important discriminant variable due to scarce machinery use. In addition, EFA proved that the first and second latent variables are correlated with an inorganic- and organic-oriented agriculture respectively, being the inorganic more associated with the EICs values. Environmental efficiency (from 0.04 to 0.61 on average) was linked to the quantity and source of the inputs, showing that potential environmental savings can be reached if more balanced input sources are used.

Meat and fat quality of Krskopolje pigs reared in conventional and organic production systems.

Data on production traits of the only Slovenian autochthonous pig breed, the Krskopolje pig, is very scarce. Krskopolje pigs are reared in conventional and organic production systems, which were compared in the present study. After weaning, 24 barrows were assigned within litter to either conventional (CON) or organic (ECO) rearing system. Group CON (n=12) was housed indoors in two pens (7.5 m2) with partly slatted floor. Group ECO (n=12) was held in a sty with sheltered area (concrete floor, bedded with straw, 16 m2) and outdoor paddock area (100 m2). The trial started when pigs had 68±8 kg BW and 157±6 days of age. Two diets were formulated with equivalent ingredients and composition. For ECO diet the ingredients used were ecological. Group ECO received a diet with 12.4 MJ metabolisable energy (ME) per kilogram and 12.9% CP and group CON a diet with 12.7 MJ ME/kg and 13.6% CP. Feed distribution was limited to 3.5 kg per pig daily. In line with the rules for organic production, ECO pigs were additionally given alfalfa hay ad libitum. After 73 days on trial, the pigs were slaughtered and carcass, meat and fat quality was evaluated. Meat quality traits (pH, colour, water holding capacity), fatty acid composition, lipid and protein oxidation, collagen content and solubility were analysed in longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle. Fatty acid composition, lipid oxidation, and vitamins A and E concentrations were determined in backfat. There were no significant differences in growth rate and carcass traits between ECO and CON pigs, however, ECO pigs tended (P<0.10) to have higher daily gain and lower dressing percentage, higher (P<0.001) pH 45 min and lower (P<0.01) pH 24 h postmortem, affecting (P<0.10) also water holding capacity and objective colour parameters (P<0.05) of LL muscle. There were no differences in intramuscular fat (IMF) content of LL muscle, however, IMF of ECO pigs had lower (P<0.05) proportion of saturated and higher (P<0.01) proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids accompanied by higher (P<0.001) values of thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS). In backfat, ECO pigs showed lower (P<0.05) vitamin E content, higher (P<0.001) TBARS, higher (P<0.01) degree of unsaturation (percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids), and also higher (P<0.05) vitamin A concentration than CON pigs, which can be related to alfalfa hay supplementation of ECO pigs. In brief, organic rearing of Krskopolje pigs did not affect performances but had an effect on meat and fat quality.

Modulatory role of vermicompost and vermiwash on growth, yield and nutritional profiling of Linum usitatissimum L. (Linseed): a field study.

Vermicompost, recommended inorganic fertiliser, vermiwash and their combinations were used in the present study to know their impact on the germination, growth, yield, oil content and nutritional status in seeds of two varieties of Linum usitatissimum L. LC-54 and LC-2063. Eight treatments, in 48 plots with three replicates, were studied and compared with control. Application of vermicompost enhanced growth and yield in both varieties of Linum. Vermicompost modulated the ratio of ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids in seeds of Linseed. Growing degree days (GDD) indicated the significantly shortened of crop life cycle with vermiwash. Vermiwash particularly increased the yield indices. Fatty acid profile through GC-FID showed the increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids (Æ©PUFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (Æ©MUFA) and saturated fatty acids (Æ©SFA) with Integrated Nutrient Management (INM). Different effects on nutritional status of LC-54 and LC-2063 seeds can be attributed to their unique genotypes. INM proved to be nutritionally balanced strategy with enhanced yield leading to better soil health. INM can be hypothesised as a transitional step to the organic agriculture after the green revolution, when compared with recommended inorganic fertiliser treatment and control. In terms of oil yield, highest oil content 34.85% and 33.67% was obtained with Integrated Nutrient Management in both the varieties, whereas treatments with vermicompost and vermiwash produced modulated and most suited ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 in Linseed seeds.

Responses to climatic and pathogen threats differ in biodynamic and conventional vines.

Viticulture is of high socio-economic importance; however, its prevalent practices severely impact the environment and human health, and criticisms from society are raising. Vine managements systems are further challenged by climatic changes. Of the 8 million hectares grown worldwide, conventional and organic practices cover 90% and 9% of acreage, respectively. Biodynamic cultivation accounts for 1%. Although economic success combined with low environmental impact is widely claimed by biodynamic winegrowers from California, to South Africa, and France, this practice is still controversial in viticulture and scientific communities. To rethink the situation, we encouraged stakeholders to confront conventional and biodynamic paradigms in a Participative-Action-Research. Co-designed questions were followed up by holistic comparison of conventional and biodynamic vineyard managements. Here we show that the amplitude of plant responses to climatic threats was higher in biodynamic than conventional management. The same stood true for seasonal trends and pathogens attacks. This was associated with higher expression of silencing and immunity genes, and higher anti-oxidative and anti-fungal secondary metabolite levels. This suggests that sustainability of biodynamic practices probably relies on fine molecular regulations. Such knowledge should contribute to resolving disagreements between stakeholders and help designing the awaited sustainable viticulture at large.

Influence of cultivar and of conventional and organic agricultural practices on phenolic and sensory profile of blackberries (Rubus fruticosus).

BACKGROUND: Consumer demand for organic products is increasing because of their claimed health benefits. Blackberries are a rich source of polyphenols, with high antioxidant activity; nevertheless, the impact of organic versus conventional agricultural practices on its phytochemical composition is unknown. 'Loch Ness' and 'Chester Thornless' were selected as blackberry cultivars for this study because of their desired sensory and technological properties, which make them more suitable for export. RESULTS: 'Loch Ness' variety presented a higher amounts of polyphenols and higher antioxidant activity when compared to the 'Chester Thornless' variety. The impact of agricultural practices on the phytochemical composition of the two varieties was contradictory. Under organic agricultural practices, levels of polyphenols increased for 'Loch Ness' and decreased for 'Chester Thornless', whereas the soluble solids content increased in both varieties. These changes in composition were correlated with changes observed in the blackberries' sensory profile. CONCLUSION: The effect of agricultural practices on the blackberries' chemical and sensory profile was dependent on the variety and cannot be generalized. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Biostimulants from food processing by-products: agronomic, quality and metabolic impacts on organic tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.).

BACKGROUND: Biostimulants have recently gained increased attention due to their multiple benefits for sustainable agriculture. In this study, three food processing by-products - fennel processing residues (FPR), lemon processing residues (LPR) and brewer's spent grain (BSG) - were investigated as potential sources of biostimulants. Their aqueous extracts as individual and associated applications were assessed for their effects on agronomic, quality and metabolic performance of organic tomato in comparison to extract of humic substances (HS) and untreated control (CTRL). RESULTS: Only FPR extracts stimulated shoot growth and tomato dry matter content, whereas all candidates improved tomato yield. FPR and BSG increased fruit mineral content and BSG-FPR-LPR in combination enhanced titratable acidity. FPR-treated fruits had also 20% more vitamin C than CTRL, and higher phenol content was obtained in those of BSG-LPR. Fruit metabolomic profile showed the tendency of all extracts, except BSG-LPR, to increase tomato citric acid and to decrease ß-glucose and methanol concentrations. The analysis revealed accordingly the indispensable role of FPR in combined applications for inducing an HS-like response in fruits. CONCLUSION: The results were indicative of the biostimulant activity of these extracts and demonstrated them, particularly FPR, as promising candidates for enhancing plant productivity and fruit quality. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

In vivo assessment of plant extracts for control of plant diseases: A sesquiterpene ketolactone isolated from Curcuma zedoaria suppresses wheat leaf rust.

As an alternative to synthetic pesticides, natural materials such as plant extracts and microbes have been considered to control plant diseases. In this study, methanol extracts of 120 plants were explored for in vivo antifungal activity against Rhizoctonia solani, Botrytis cinerea, Phytophthora infestans, Puccinia triticina, and Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei. Of the 120 plant extracts, eight plant extracts exhibited a disease control efficacy of more than 90% against at least one of five plant diseases. In particular, a methanol extract of Curcuma zedoaria rhizomes exhibited strong activity against wheat leaf rust caused by P. triticina. When the C. zedoaria methanol extracts were partitioned with various solvents, the layers of n-hexane, methylene chloride, and ethyl acetate showed disease control values of 100, 80, and 43%, respectively, against wheat leaf rust. From the C. zedoaria rhizome extracts, an antifungal substance was isolated and identified as a sesquiterpene ketolactone based on the mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectral data. The active compound controlled the development of rice sheath blight, wheat leaf rust, and tomato late blight. Considering the in vivo antifungal activities of the sesquiterpene ketolactone and the C. zedoaria extracts, these results suggest that C. zedoaria can be used as a potent fungicide in organic agriculture.

Implications of feed concentrate reduction in organic grassland-based dairy systems: a long-term on-farm study.

In response to increasing efforts for reducing concentrate inputs to organic dairy production in grassland-rich areas of Europe, a long-term study was conducted, which assessed the impacts of concentrate reductions on cows' performance, health, fertility and average herd age. In total, 42 Swiss commercial organic dairy cattle farms were monitored over 6 years ('Y0', 2008/09 until 'Y5', 2013/14). In comparison with overall data of Swiss herdbooks (including conventional and organic farms), the herds involved in the project had lower milk yields, similar milk solids, shorter calving intervals and higher average lactation numbers. During the first 3 project years farmers reduced the concentrate proportion (i.e. cereals, oilseeds and grain legumes) in the dairy cows' diets to varying degrees. In Y0, farms fed between 0% and 6% (dietary dry matter proportion per year) of concentrates. During the course of the study they changed the quantity of concentrates to voluntarily chosen degrees. Retrospectively, farms were clustered into five farm groups: Group '0-conc' (n=6 farms) already fed zero concentrates in Y0 and stayed at this level. Group 'Dec-to0' (n=11) reduced concentrates to 0 during the project period. Groups 'Dec-strong' (n=8) and 'Dec-slight' (n=12) decreased concentrate amounts by >50% and <50%, respectively. Group 'Const-conc' (n=5 farms) remained at the initial level of concentrates during the project. Milk recording data were summarised and analysed per farm and project year. Lactation number and calving intervals were obtained from the databases of the Swiss breeders' associations. Dietary concentrate amounts and records of veterinary treatments were obtained from the obligatory farm documentations. Data were analysed with GLMs. Daily milk yields differed significantly between farm groups already in Y0, being lowest in groups 0-conc (16.0 kg) and Dec-to0 (16.7 kg), and highest in groups Dec-slight (19.6 kg) and Const-conc (19.2 kg). Milk yield decreases across the years within groups were not significant, but urea contents in milk decreased significantly during the course of the project. Milk protein, somatic cell score, fat-protein ratio, average lactation number, calving interval and frequency of veterinary treatments did not differ by group and year. In conclusion, 5 years of concentrate reduction in low-input Swiss organic dairy farms, affected neither milk composition, nor fertility and veterinary treatments. Milk yields tended to decline, but at a low rate per saved kilogram of concentrate.

Agroecology and Health: Lessons from Indigenous Populations.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The article aims to systematize and disseminate the main contributions of indigenous ancestral wisdom in the agroecological production of food, especially in Latin America. For this purpose, it is necessary to ask whether such knowledge can be accepted by academia research groups and international forums as a valid alternative that could contribute to overcome the world's nutritional problems. RECENT FINDINGS: Although no new findings are being made, the validity of ancestral knowledge and agroecology is recognized by scientific research, and by international forums organized by agencies of the United Nations. These recommend that governments should implement them in their policies of development, and in the allocation of funds to support these initiatives. Agroecology and ancestral knowledge are being adopted by a growing number of organizations, indigenous peoples and social groups in various parts of the world, as development alternatives that respond to local needs and worldviews. Its productive potential is progressively being recognized at an international level as a model that contributes to improve the condition of people regarding nutritional food.

The influences of four types of soil on the growth, physiological and biochemical characteristics of Lycoris aurea (L' Her.) Herb.

Based on the characteristics of Lycoris aurea (L. aurea) natural distribution and local soil types, we selected four representative types of soil, including humus soil, sandy soil, garden soil and yellow-brown soil, for conducting the cultivation experiments to investigate key soil factors influencing its growth and development and to select the soil types suitable for cultivating it. We found that there existed significant differences in the contents of mineral elements and the activities of soil enzymes (urease, phosphatase, sucrase and catalase) etc. Among which, the contents of organic matters, alkali-hydrolysable nitrogen, Ca and Mg as well as the activities of soil enzymes in humus soil were the highest ones. In yellow-brown soil, except for Fe, the values of all the other items were the lowest ones. Net photosynthetic rate (Pn), biomass and lycorine content in humus soil were all the highest ones, which were increased by 31.02, 69.39 and 55.79%, respectively, as compared to those of yellow-brown soil. Stepwise multiple regression analysis and path analysis indicated that alkali-hydrolysable nitrogen, and Ca etc. were key soil factors influencing Pn, biomass and lycorine content of L. aurea. Thus, humus soil can be used as medium suitable for artificial cultivation of L. aurea.

INFLUENCE OF ORGANIC FOLIAR FERTILIZATION ON ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND CONTENT OF POLYPHENOLS IN OCIMUM BASILICUM L.

Basil is an important medicinal and culinary herb, cultivated on large areas in many countries. With the growing necessity of ecological products, organic crops need to be expanded, but a more complete characterization of such agriculture systems is required. The present paper aims to evaluate total phenolics and flavonoid contents, antioxidant activity of Ocimum basilicum L. under organic fertilization with four different foliar fertilizers (Fylo®, Geolino Plants&Flowers®, Cropmax®, Fitokondi®). The total content of phenolic compounds was stimulated by all foliar fertilizers used in the experiment. In the first year, the highest increase was obtained in plants fertilized with Fylo (29%) and Fitokondi (27%) while in the second year Fitokondi fertilizer treatment lead to the highest increase of total phenolics (28%) compared to the control plants. The production of total phenolics was enhanced in the second year probably because the experiment was started earlier on April compared to first year. Foliar fertilization of basil plants can thus be used to obtain increased yield and phenolic compounds synthesis with little effect on the physiological parameters that were analyzed, allowing better performance of basil under organic fertilization.

Understanding antimicrobial stewardship: Disease severity treatment thresholds and antimicrobial alternatives among organic and conventional calf producers.

Reductions in livestock antimicrobial use (AMU) can be achieved through identification of effective antimicrobial alternatives as well as accurate and stringent identification of cases requiring antimicrobial therapy. Objective measurements of selectivity that incorporate appropriate case definitions are necessary to understand the need and potential for reductions in AMU through judicious use. The objective of this study was to measure selectivity using a novel disease severity treatment threshold for calf diarrhea, and identify predictors of more selective application of antimicrobials among conventional dairy producers. A second objective of this study was to describe the usage frequency and perceptions of efficacy of common antimicrobial alternatives among conventional and organic producers. The cross-sectional survey was mailed to Michigan and Ohio, USA dairy producers and contained questions on AMU attitudes, AMU practices, veterinary-written protocols, and antimicrobial alternatives. The treatment threshold, defined based on the case severity where the producer would normally apply antimicrobials, was identified with a series of descriptions with increasing severity, and ordinal multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the association between the treatment threshold and individual or herd characteristics. The response rate was 49% (727/1488). Overall, 42% of conventional producers reported any veterinary-written treatment protocol, and 27% (113/412) of conventional producers had a veterinary-written protocol for the treatment of diarrhea that included a case identification. The majority (58%, 253/437) of conventional producers, but a minority (7%) of organic producers disagreed that antibiotic use in agriculture led to resistant bacterial infections in people. Among conventional producers, the proportion of producers applying antimicrobials for therapy increased from 13% to 67% with increasing case severity. The treatment threshold was low, medium, and high for 11% (47/419), 57% (251/419), and 28% (121/419) of conventional producers, respectively. Treatment threshold was not significantly associated with the use of protocols or frequency of veterinary visits; however, individuals with more concern for the public health impact of livestock AMU had a significantly higher treatment threshold (i.e. more selective) (p<0.05). Alternative therapies were used by both organic and conventional producers, but, garlic, aloe, and "other herbal therapies" with little documented efficacy were used by a majority (>60%) of organic producers. Overall, findings from this study highlight the need for research on antimicrobial alternatives, wider application of treatment protocols, and farm personnel education and training on diagnostic criteria for initiation of antimicrobial therapy.

Habitat management of organic vineyard in Northern Italy: the role of cover plants management on arthropod functional biodiversity.

The effect of cover plants on arthropod functional biodiversity was investigated in a vineyard in Northern Italy, through a 3-year field experiment. The following six ground cover plants were tested: Sweet Alyssum; Phacelia; Buckwheat; Faba Bean; Vetch and Oat; control. Arthropods were sampled using different techniques, including collection of leaves, vacuum sampling and sweeping net. Ground cover plant management significantly affected arthropod fauna, including beneficial groups providing ecosystem services like biological control against pests. Many beneficial groups were attracted by ground cover treatments in comparison with control, showing an aggregative numerical response in the plots managed with some of the selected plant species. Alyssum, Buckwheat and 'Vetch and Oat' mixture showed attractiveness on some Hymenoptera parasitoid families, which represented 72.3% of the insects collected by sweeping net and 45.7 by vacuum sampling. Phytoseiidae mites showed a significant increase on leaves of the vineyard plots managed with ground covers, in comparison with control, although they did not show any difference among the treatments. In general, the tested ground cover treatments did not increase dangerous Homoptera populations in comparison with control, with the exception of Alyssum. The potential of ground cover plant management in Italian vineyards is discussed: the overall lack of potential negative effects of the plants tested, combined with an aggregative numerical response for many beneficials, seems to show a potential for their use in Northern Italy vineyards.

Use of homeopathy in organic dairy farming in Spain.

Organic farming principles promote the use of unconventional therapies as an alternative to chemical substances (which are limited by organic regulations), with homeopathy being the most extensive. Traditionally, Spain has had little faith in homeopathy but its use in organic farming is growing. Fifty-six Spanish organic dairy farmers were interviewed to obtain what we believe to be the first data on the use of homeopathy in organic dairy cattle in Spain. Only 32% of farms use some sort of alternative therapy (16.1% homeopathy, 10.7% phytotherapy and 5.3% using both therapies) and interestingly, a clear geographical pattern showing a higher use towards the East (similar to that in the human population) was observed. The main motivation to use homeopathy was the need to reduce chemical substances promoted by organic regulations, and the treatment of clinical mastitis being the principle reason. The number of total treatments was lower in farms using homeopathy compared with those applying allopathic therapies (0.13 and 0.54 treatments/cow/year respectively) and although the bulk SCC was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in these farms (161,826 and 111,218 cel/ml, respectively) it did not have any negative economical penalty for the farmer and milk quality was not affected complying with the required standards; on the contrary homeopathic therapies seems to be an alternative for reducing antibiotic treatments, allowing farmers to meet the organic farming principles.

Reduction of nitrogen excretion and emission in poultry: A review for organic poultry.

Organic poultry is an alternative to conventional poultry which is rapidly developing as a response to customers' demand for better food and a cleaner environment. Although organic poultry manure can partially be utilized by organic horticultural producers, litter accumulation as well as excessive nitrogen still remains a challenge to maintain environment pureness, animal, and human health. Compared to conventional poultry, diet formulation without nitrogen overloading in organic poultry is even more complicated due to specific standards and regulations which limit the application of some supplements and imposes specific criteria to the ingredients in use. This is especially valid for methionine provision which supplementation as a crystalline form is only temporarily allowed. This review is focused on the utilization of various protein sources in the preparation of a diet composed of 100% organic ingredients which meet the avian physiology need for methionine, while avoiding protein overload. The potential to use unconventional protein sources such as invertebrates and microbial proteins to achieve optimal amino acid provision is also discussed.