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In the framework of circular economy, the need of new feedstock materials for the production of alternative new products is of high priority. Biowastes such as manure, sewage sludge (biosolids, BS) and food-waste are used as raw materials for the production of biochar. The present study aims at characterizing biochars produced from three distinct biowastes (i) manure from cattle waste (manure-derived biochar; MDB), (ii) biosolids (BS) from a conventional Urban Wastewater Treatment Plant (UWTP) (biosolids-derived biochar; BDB), and (iii) spent coffee grounds (SCG)-derived biochar (SCGDB). Samples were slowly pyrolyzed in a small-scale kiln with a capacity of 20–24 kg. The samples were heated under nitrogen atmosphere at approximately 6–7 °C min−1 up to the desired temperature (550 °C) and held for 1.5h. The physicochemical characterization of biochars showed the production of alkaline materials with similarities and variations in their characteristics, which depend to the type of feedstock used. The surface area of the raw materials was considerably low (<0.1 m2/g) and increased after pyrolysis to 14.03 m2/g, 3.98 m2/g and 1.53 m2/g for MDB, BDB and SCGDB, respectively. The high %C content, the low H/C ratio and the FTIR adsorption peaks revealed high aromaticity, polymerization and carbonization of the biochars and the presence of several functional groups. These, are some of the biochar properties which could lead to different sorption mechanisms of organic and inorganic contaminants. Also, they presented good stability in soil, which enables to be used as soil amendment and C sequestration mechanism. Finally, the produced biochars showed promising properties for environmental applications. Image 1 • Biowastes can be used as feedstock materials for the production of biochar. • Biochars from biosolids showed promising properties for environmental applications. • Biochar properties showed good stability as soil amendment. • Properties of the produced biochars are depended to the type of feedstock used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy crops are considered key actors in meeting the international and European carbon reduction targets, increasing the national energy security through renewable energy production, mitigating climate change impacts, and promoting sustainability. Multicriteria analysis is a suitable decision-making tool for the energy sector, where the final decisions have to consider for a range of aspects, and can be utilised as well for deciding on appropriate energy crops. In this paper, a popular multicriteria method, PROMETHEE, is employed for the identification of the most optimal energy crops for their exploitation in Cyprus. The criteria and the weights of each are defined, and accordingly five different scenarios are developed and examined. The obtained results indicated that the promotion of second-generation energy crops is more ideal in terms of the set objectives, as well as more sustainable than the exploitation of any first-generation energy crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most Mediterranean countries the current knowledge of soilless culture is still insufficient. Experiments were carried out to determine responses of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) to production using locally available gravel, an alternative, less costly, growth medium than imported perlite. Local gravel is a diabase volcanic rock produced in several Cyprus regions for building purposes. Local gravel and imported perlite were agronomically tested in a hydroponic, recirculated production system in a greenhouse. Use of local gravel for the hydroponic cultivation of tomato produced results similar to those with imported perlite. There does not appear to be a compelling reason not to use the gravel for soilless tomato production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing agricultural systems' resource efficiency is the key action for producing adequate food quantities in semi-arid Mediterranean regions while coping with water scarcity, environmental constraints and economic issues. Optimisation of irrigation and fertigation practices imposes different approaches, considering plant-water-soil relationships based on prevailing greenhouse microclimatic conditions, ensuring optimal production per drop of water and unit of fertiliser. In the content of "precision agricultural farming systems", nutrient uptake modelling, phyto-sensing, smart and sustainable technologies must be applied for monitoring and evaluating water and nutrients crops supply. However, in many cases, the use of irrigation and fertigation recipes given in the literature may not be compatible in the Mediterranean, as they usually originated based on northern European climatic conditions. The objective of this work is an attempt to understand various aspects of irrigation and fertigation management in vegetable fruiting crops such as tomato and cucumber towards nutrients and water resource sustainability in Mediterranean greenhouses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Countries located in the Mediterranean region share many common features in terms of agricultural sustainability and economic realities of modern farming, as they are affected by water scarcity, energy use and climate suitability. Greenhouses are considered as a mitigation measure to combat climate change and as a sustainable production system. The majority of greenhouses in the Mediterranean region are rudimentary, while those in Central and North Europe are characterized by equipment of a high technological level for greenhouse climate and fertigation management. However, the technological innovations and research originating from Central and North Europe glasshouses may not be appropriate for use in Mediterranean plastic greenhouses when considering the trade-off between agronomic needs and potential energy savings. Identifying energy measures suitable for the local climate will improve energy efficiency and crop performance toward the goal of greenhouse sustainability. This review mainly focuses on renewable and energy-efficient control systems in Mediterranean greenhouses, where crops such as tomato and cucumber are widely grown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]