Chemical and microbiological changes in the soil mediated by different vegetative coverings in a Natal orange orchard

Proper soil cover management for citrus cultivation can contribute to increased productivity and improved soil quality. This study examined five different vegetative coverings [Urochloa brizantha; U. decumbens, U. ruziziensis, spontaneous vegetation, and herbicide application (glyphosate) in the total area] in the inter rows of a Natal orange orchard [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] grafted on the Swingle citrumelo (C. paradisi × Poncirus trifoliata). Their effects on the microbiological and chemical attributes of the soil and the vegetative development in the orchard were examined. Chemical (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, P, pH, H+Al, CECpH7, base saturation, and OM) and microbiological (carbon and nitrogen of microbial biomass, basal respiration, and metabolic quotient) soil attributes in the rows and inter-rows were evaluated for the orchard in 2018 and 2019. There was a significant difference for most variables in the 2 years studied, emphasizing 2019 for microbiological parameters and OM, with the latter being 14.8% lower in the treatment with glyphosate in the total area compared to the treatment with spontaneous vegetation. The results showed the benefits of vegetation cover with brachiaria in inter-rows of the Natal sweet orange orchard in the chemical and microbiological attributes of the soil, especially in carbon and nitrogen of the microbial biomass.

Occurrence of Antibiotic-Resistant Staphylococcus spp. in Orange Orchards in Thailand

Background: The widespread indiscriminate application of antibiotics to food crops to control plant disease represents a potential human health risk. In this study, the presence of antibiotic-resistant staphylococci associated with workers and orange orchard environments was determined. A total of 20 orchards (orange and other fruits) were enrolled in the study. Trees in the orange orchards were treated with ampicillin on a pre-determined schedule. Environmental samples (n = 60) included soil, water, and oranges; 152 hand and nasal samples were collected from 76 healthy workers. Antibiotic susceptibility profiles were determined for all staphylococcal isolates. Results: This investigation revealed that of the total Staphylococcus spp. recovered from the orange orchard, 30% (3/10) were resistant to erythromycin, 20% (2/10) were resistant to ampicillin, and 20% (2/10) resistant to both erythromycin and ampicillin. Conclusion: The application of antibiotics to orange trees in open production environments to halt the spread of bacterial disease presents risks to the environment and creates health concerns for Thai farmers using those agents. ARB on crops such as oranges may enter the global food supply and adversely affect public health.

Agroecological Service Crops Drive Plant Mycorrhization in Organic Horticultural Systems

Mycorrhizal symbiosis represents a valuable tool for increasing plant nutrient uptake, affecting system biodiversity, ecosystem services and productivity. Introduction of agroecological service crops (ASCs) in cropping systems may determine changes in weed community, that can affect the development of the mycorrhizal mycelial network in the rhizosphere, favoring or depressing the cash crop mycorrhization. Two no-till Mediterranean organic horticultural systems were considered: one located in central Italy, where organic melon was transplanted on four winter-cereals mulches (rye, spelt, barley, wheat), one located in southern Italy (Sicily), where barley (as catch crop) was intercropped in an organic young orange orchard, with the no tilled, unweeded systems taken as controls. Weed “Supporting Arbuscular Mycorrhiza” (SAM) trait, weed density and biodiversity indexes, mycorrhization of coexistent plants in the field, the external mycelial network on roots were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, crop P uptake, yield and quality were evaluated. We verified that cereals, used as green mulches or intercropped, may drive the weed selection in favor of the SAM species, and promote the mycelial network, thus significantly increasing the mycorrhization, the P uptake, the yield and quality traits of the cash crop. This is a relevant economic factor when introducing sustainable cropping practices and assessing the overall functionality of the agroecosystem.

Pemberdayaan masyarakat melalui pembuatan Selai Jeruk Kuok di Dusun Pulau Belimbing, Desa Kuok, Kec. Kuok, Kab. Kampar

Kuok Village is one of the villages in the Kuok sub-district which has an area of ​​6000 hectares. The population in this village is 8352 people. The majority of the population in the Kuok village works as farmers. One of the commodities that cultivated by farmers is the orange orchard. Oranges in this village are still managed in fresh form and have not been made into a by-product. Hence, the Unri Community Service Team diversified its oranges derivative products, namely marmalade. The purpose of this community service is to solve the decay of oranges during the harvest season by processing oranges into marmalade that can increase community income. The methods used are survey, socialization and training. The process of making this jam begins with peeling the oranges, then all that is taken is the oranges flesh then mashed, then boiled the orange juice until it boils, then added sugar and put it in until the temperature is 105ºC, then the jam is placed in a jar.

3D RECONSTRUCTION OF CITRUS TREES USING AN OMNIDIRECTIONAL OPTICAL SYSTEM

This paper presents a feasibility study on the use of omnidirectional systems for 3D modelling of agricultural crops, aiming a systematic monitoring. Omnidirectional systems with multiple sensors have been widely used in close-range photogrammetry (CRP), which can be a good alternative to provide data for digital agriculture management. The GoPro Fusion dual-camera is the omnidirectional system used in this work. This system is composed of two cameras with fisheye lenses that cover more than 180° each one in back-to-back position. System calibration, camera orientation and 3D reconstruction of an agricultural cultivated area were performed in Agisoft Metashape software. A 360° calibration field based on coded targets (CTs) from Agisoft Metashape software was used to calibrate the omnidirectional system. The 3D reconstruction of an orange orchard was performed using fisheye images taken with GoPro Fusion. The results show the potential of using an omnidirectional system for 3D modelling in agricultural crops, in particular citrus trees. Interior orientation parameters (IOPs) was estimated using Agisoft Metashape target/software with a precision of 9 mm. A 3D reconstruction model of the orange orchard area was obtained with an accuracy of 3.8 cm, which can be considered acceptable for agricultural purposes.

Electrical resistivity imaging for monitoring soil water motion patterns under different drip irrigation scenarios

The use of hydrogeophysical methods provides insights for supporting optimal irrigation design and management. In the present study, the electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) was applied for monitoring the soil water motion patterns resulting from the adoption of water deficit scenarios in a micro-irrigated orange orchard (Eastern Sicily, Italy). The relationship of ERI with independent ancillary data of soil water content (SWC), plant transpiration (T) and in situ measurements of hydraulic conductivity at saturation (Ks, i.e., using the falling head method, FH) was evaluated. The soil water motion patterns and the maximum wet depths in the soil profile identified by ERI were quite dependent on SWC (R2 = 0.79 and 0.82, respectively). Moreover, ERI was able to detect T in the severe deficit irrigation treatment (electrical resistivity increases of about 20%), whereas this phenomenon was masked at higher SWC conditions. Ks rates derived from ERI and FH approaches revealed different patterns and magnitudes among the irrigation treatments, as consequence of their different measurement scales and the methodological specificity. Finally, ERI has been proved suitable for identifying the soil wetting/drying patterns and the geometrical characteristics of wet bulbs, which represent some of the most influential variables for the optimal design and management of micro-irrigation systems.