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Perú is the world greatest exporter of blueberry, crop that needs acid soil pH and high content of organic matter. The later is obtained from forest topsoil or peat (from north of Europe), unsustainable fact. This study shows a friendly environmental and sustainable alternative, organo-mineral substrates made by wastes (“Agrotec”). Four treatments [Control (C), Chicken manure (CM), Agrotec A (AA) and Agrote B (AB)] were used for basal dressing, where 6 months age blueberry plants were planted. It was followed a completely randomize block experimental design monitoring either edaphic and plant physiology parameters for ~9 months. Soil results showed how CM supply a high —but punctual— dose of nutrients and organic matter. Contrarily, designed substrates Agrotec A and B released nutrients gradually because were previously stabilized, which triggered a slow mineralization within soil. Thus, soil parameters under CM application showed an unstable behaviour respect to AA and AB. Physiological results showed a fruit yield increase with AA a AB (100 and 44%) compared to CM. Even though they are preliminary results in field conditions, It seems that designed substrates are efficient along the time and a sustainable alternative for blueberry soil adequation., Perú es el mayor exportador mundial de arándano, el cual necesita suelos con pH ácido y altos contenidos de materia orgánica. Esta última se obtiene del horizonte superficial de los suelos forestales o de turberas (procedente del norte de Europa), lo cual es una práctica insostenible. Este estudio muestra alternativas sostenibles, los substratos órgano-minerales elaborados a base de residuos (“Agrotec”). Cuatro tratamientos [Control (C), Gallinaza (CM), Agrotec A (AA) y Agrotec B (AB)] fueron usados como abonado de fondo, donde plantas de arándano de 6 meses de edad fueron transplantadas. Se realizó un diseño experimental de bloques al azar monitoreando tanto los parámetros edáficos como fisiológicos durante ~9 meses. Los resultados del suelo mostraron como la gallinaza aportó una gran cantidad —pero puntual— de nutrientes y materia orgánica. Por el contrario, los substratos diseñados Agrotec A y B liberaron gradualmente los nutrientes debido a su precvio proceso de estabilización, lo cual permite una mineralización más lenta en el suelo. Los resultados fisiológicos mostraron un incremento en el rendimiento con AA y AB (100 y 44%) comparado a la gallinaza. Aunque son resultados preliminares en campo, los substratos diseñados son eficientes a lo largo del tiempo y son una alternativas sostenibles para la adecuación del suelo para el arándano.

Increasing urbanization worldwide calls for more sustainable urban development. Simultaneously, the global biodiversity crisis accentuates the need of fostering biodiversity within cities. Policies supporting urban nature conservation need to understand people’s acceptance of biodiversity-friendly greenspace management. We surveyed more than 2000 people in 19 European cities about their attitudes towards near-natural urban grassland management in public greenspaces, and related their responses to nine sociocultural parameters. Results reveal that people across Europe can support urban biodiversity, yet within the frames of a generally tidy appearance of public greenery. Younger people and those using greenspaces for a greater variety of activities were more likely to favor biodiversity-friendly greenspace management. Additionally, people who were aware of the meaning of biodiversity and those stating responsibility for biodiversity conservation particularly supported biodiversity-friendly greenspace management. Our results point at explicit measures like environmental education to increase public acceptance of policies that facilitate nature conservation within cities.

Increasing urbanization worldwide calls for more sustainable urban development. Simultaneously, the global biodiversity crisis accentuates the need of fostering biodi versity within cities. Policies supporting urban nature conservation need to understand people’s acceptance of biodiversity-friendly greenspace management. We surveyed more than 2,000 people in 19 European cities about their attitudes toward near-natural urban grassland management in public greenspaces, and related their responses to nine sociocultural parameters. Results reveal that people across Europe can support urban biodiversity, yet within the frames of a generally tidy appearance of public greenery. Younger people and those using greenspaces for a greater variety of activities were more likely to favor biodiversity-friendly greenspace management. Additionally, peo ple who were aware of the meaning of biodiversity and those stating responsibility for biodiversity conservation particularly supported biodiversity-friendly greenspace management. Our results point at explicit measures like environmental education to increase public acceptance of policies that facilitate nature conservation within cities.

Los hongos entomopatógenos (HEs) son efectivos agentes de control biológico de especies fitófagas —causantes de pérdidas de rendimiento y calidad de los cultivos. Estudios recientes destacan nuevos caracteres funcionales en la ecología de los HEs: endófitos de plantas vasculares, antagonistas frente a patógenos, promotores del crecimiento y mejoradores nutricionales de la planta huésped. No obstante, la mayoría de los estudios previos se han realizado en condiciones controladas, minimizando los factores ambientales que pueden condicionar su comportamiento. En esta tesis, dos HEs, Beauveria bassiana (cepa EABb 04/01–Tip) y Metarhizium brunneum (cepa 01/58-Su), caracterizados por su uso en prácticas de biocontrol, se inocularon en trigo cultivado en suelos naturales no estériles, a fin de observar sus efectos en el crecimiento, rendimiento y nutrición de la planta. Se evaluó en primer lugar el comportamiento de trigo duro y blando cultivado en dos vertisoles calcáreos tras la aplicación de B. bassiana y M. brunneum usando diferente metodología —aplicación directa de la suspensión fúngica al suelo o revestimiento de la semilla—, en condiciones de laboratorio y usando suelos no estériles. Ambos hongos demostraron ser competentes en la rizosfera, persistentes en el suelo a lo largo de todo el cultivo y colonizadores de trigo duro y blando. En el cultivo de trigo blando se incrementó la biomasa aérea en un 17.4% con B. bassiana aplicada a la semilla y un 20.6 y 26.9% con la aplicación de M. brunneum al suelo y a la semilla, respectivamente, a los 69 días después de la siembra. En el trigo duro, la aplicación de B. bassiana y M. brunneum directamente al suelo disminuyó leve pero significativamente la biomasa aérea en cosecha (5.3% y 6.1%, respectivamente) y el rendimiento en grano (6.6% y 5.5%, respectivamente), mientras que la aplicación a la semilla de ambos hongos incrementó hasta en un 4.3% y 2.9% la biomasa aérea en cosecha y rendimiento de grano, respectivamente. En trigo blando no se vieron diferencias significativas de rendimiento a pesar de que este llegó a incrementarse con la aplicación de B. bassiana a la semilla hasta en un 10.5% respecto al control. La aplicación al suelo de ambos HEs y la aplicación a semilla de B. bassiana incrementó la absorción y la concentración de Mn en el grano de trigo duro. Metarhizium brunneum incrementó significativamente la cantidad de Zn en el trigo blando cultivado en el suelo con los valores de Zn más bajos. Finalmente, la concentración de Zn en grano estuvo inversamente relacionada con la producción de este. En el siguiente experimento en cámara de cultivo se examinó como afectan las propiedades edáficas al rendimiento del trigo duro inoculado con B. bassiana y M. brunneum —aplicación a la semilla— y cultivado en 12 suelos agrícolas. Las plantas fueron fertilizadas con todos los nutrientes excepto P y Zn. Las plantas inoculadas con B. bassiana tuvieron mayor rendimiento en grano e índice de cosecha (17% y 14%, respectivamente), mientras que en las tratadas con M. brunneum el aumento no fue significativo (6% y 6%, respectivamente). El incremento en el rendimiento en grano del trigo inoculado con B. bassiana estaba positiva y significativamente correlacionado con los niveles de P disponible del suelo y en el del inoculado con M. brunneun con el contenido de óxidos de Fe poco cristalinos. Además, el incremento en la biomasa aérea de las plantas inoculadas con B. bassiana respecto al control estaba inversa y significativamente correlacionado con los niveles de Zn disponible en el suelo. Se observó también un efecto dilución (disminución de la concentración en grano por un incremento en el rendimiento) para P y Zn. Sin embargo, se incrementó la removilización de Zn al grano y el contenido total de Zn en el mismo con el tratamiento de B. bassiana. Finalmente, en dos campos de la Campiña de Córdoba —y durante 2 campañas sucesivas (2015- 2017)— se examinó el comportamiento y efecto de las dos cepas de HEs sobre trigo duro cultivado en vertisoles calcáreos pobres en Zn. Los hongos se aplicaron directamente al suelo (campaña 2015– 2016) o por revestimiento de la semilla (campaña 2016–2017). La persistencia de ambos hongos en el suelo durante la primera campaña fue relativamente baja. El re–aislamiento de M. brunneum en plantas de trigo fue del 16.6% y 4.1% con la aplicación al suelo y a la semilla, respectivamente, mientras que B. bassiana fue re–aislada únicamente tras la aplicación a la semilla (16.6%). La diferencia en la producción de grano entre la primera y segunda campaña (~1 frente a ~4 t ha-1, respectivamente) se debió en esencia a la mayor precipitación en la segunda. Ambos hongos incrementaron la biomasa aérea en 5 de los 7 muestreos realizados antes del espigado en el periodo de estudio, 3 de los cuales con P < 0.10 con ambos hongos y 2 con P < 0.05 con B. bassiana. Además, el tratamiento con B. bassiana incrementó significativamente la longitud radicular y el área superficial en las raíces más finas con ambos métodos de aplicación, mientras que la longitud radicular y el área superficial total de la raíz lo hizo únicamente con la aplicación al suelo. El rendimiento final del cultivo no se vio significativamente afectado por ningún HE ni por la forma de aplicación. Finalmente, M. brunneum incrementó la concentración de P y Na en grano con la aplicación al suelo mientras que B. bassiana aplicada a la semilla disminuyó la vitrosidad del grano. En esta tesis, las cepas de HEs, Beauveria bassiana EABb 04/01–Tip y Metarhizium brunneum 01/58- Su han demostrado, en resumen, su potencialidad como biofertilizantes y bioestimulantes, pero condicionadas a factores ambientales y métodos de aplicación que deben de tenerse presentes antes de la inoculación. Entomopathogenic fungi (EF) are effective biocontrol agents against phytophagous species, which can severely impair crop quality and yield. Recent studies have revealed new traits in EF ecology and exposed previously unknown roles as vascular plant endophytes, pathogen antagonists, growth promoters and nutritional enhancers for host plants. However, most of the studies uncovering the new roles were performed under controlled conditions and hence with a minimal influence of environmental factors. In this doctoral work, the entomopathogenic fungal strains Beauveria bassiana EABb 04/01–Tip and Metarhizium brunneum 01/58-Su, which are typically used for biocontrol purposes, were inoculated on wheat grown in non-sterilised natural soils in order to examine their effects on plant growth, yield and nutrition. Experiments involved assessing the performance of durum and bread wheat grown in two calcareous Vertisols under the effect of B. bassiana and M. brunneum directly applied to the soil or used for seed dressing, and also under growth chamber conditions and on nonsterilised soils. Both fungi proved rhizosphere-competent, persistent in soil throughout the crop cycle and effective colonizers of the two wheat species. Seed dressing with B. bassiana increased aerial dry matter (ADM) 69 days after sowing (DAS) in bread wheat by 17.4%; on the other hand, application to soil and seed dressing with M. brunneum increased this variable by 20.6 and 26.9%, respectively. By contrast, direct application of B. bassiana and M. brunneum to the soil slightly but significantly decreased ADM at harvest in durum wheat by 5.3 and 6.1%, respectively, and grain yield by 6.6 and 5.5%, respectively. On the other hand, seed dressing of either fungus increased ADM and grain yield by 4.3 and 2.9%, respectively. Bread wheat exhibited no significant differences in grain yield despite its levels with B. bassiana seed dressing being up to 10.5% higher than with the Control treatment (no fungus added). Application to soil of either fungus, and seed dressing with B. bassiana, increased Mn absorption and grain concentration in durum wheat. Metarhizium brunneum significantly increased the Zn content of bread wheat grown in the soil with the lowest available Zn levels. Finally, Zn grain concentration was inversely correlated with yield. A growth chamber was used to examine the effects of edaphic properties on performance in durum wheat seed-dressed with B. bassiana or M. brunneum and grown on 12 different agricultural soils. Plants were supplied with all nutrients except P and Zn. Fungal inoculation increased grain yield and harvest index significantly with B. bassiana (17 and 14%, respectively), but not with M. brunneum (6 and 6%, respectively). The increase in grain yield was positive and significantly correlated with soil available phosphorus in plants inoculated with B. bassiana, and also with soil content in poorly crystalline Fe oxides in those inoculated with M. brunneum. The increase in ADM resulting from inoculation with B. bassiana was negatively correlated with soil available Zn. There was also a dilution effect (viz., grain nutrient concentrations were decreased by effect of an increased grain yield) for P and Zn. However, inoculation with B. bassiana increased Zn remobilization and plant Zn uptake. In an additional experiment, two experimental fields in the countryside Cordoba, southern Spain, were used to examine the behaviour and effects of the two EF on durum wheat grown on Zn-poor calcareous Vertisols over two consecutive seasons (2015–2017). The fungi were either directly applied to the soil (2015–2016 season) or used for seed dressing (2016–2017 season). Fungal persistence of both species in the soil was low in the first season. Re-isolation of M. brunneum within wheat plants was 16.6% with soil application and 4.1% with seed dressing. On the other hand, re-isolation of B. bassiana within durum wheat was only observed with seed dressing and amounted to 16.6%. The difference in grain yield between the first and second season (~1 t ha–1 vs 4 t ha–1) was basically a result of increased precipitation in the second. Both fungi increased ADM in 5 of the 7 samplings conducted before the wheat heading stage for the period of study (3 of them significantly at P < 0.10 with both fungi and 2 at P < 0.05 with B. bassiana). Additionally, B. bassiana increased root length and root surface area in the finest roots with both application methods, and application of this fungus to soil significantly increased total root length and root surface area at the stem elongation stage. Grain yield was significantly affected by neither fungus nor application method. Finally, M. brunneum increased P and Na grain nutrient concentrations, whereas B. bassiana applied by seed dressing decreased grain vitrosity. In summary, the EF strains Beauveria bassiana EABb 04/01–Tip and Metarhizium brunneum 01/58-Su can be effective biofertilizers and bioestimulants provided the potential effects of environmental factors and application method are assessed before inoculation.

Grasslands are widespread elements of urban greenspace providing recreational, psychological and aesthetic benefits to city residents. Two urban grassland types of contrasting management dominate urban greenspaces: frequently mown, species-poor short-cut lawns and less intensively managed, near-natural tall-grass meadows. The higher conservation value of tall-grass meadows makes management interventions such as converting short-cut lawns into tall-grass meadows a promising tool for urban biodiversity conservation. The societal success of such interventions, however, depends on identifying the values urban residents assign to different types of urban grasslands, and how these values translate to attitudes towards greenspace management. Using 2027 questionnaires across 19 European cities, we identify the assigned values that correlate with people's personal greenspace use and their preferences for different types of urban grasslands to determine how these values relate to the agreement with a scenario of converting 50% of their cities’ short-cut lawns into tall-grass meadows. We found that most people assigned nature-related values, such as wildness, to tall-grass meadows and utility-related values, such as recreation, to short-cut lawns. Positive value associations of wildness and species richness with tall-grass meadows, and social and nature-related greenspace activities, positively correlated with agreeing to convert short-cut lawns into tall-grass meadows. Conversely, disapproval of lawn conversion correlated with positive value associations of cleanliness and recreation potential with short-cut lawns. Here, people using greenspaces for nature-related activities were outstandingly positive about lawn conversion. The results show that the plurality of values assigned to different types of urban grasslands should be considered in urban greenspace planning. For example, tall-grass meadows could be managed to also accommodate the values associated with short-cut lawns, such as tidiness and recreation potential, to support their societal acceptance., Basic and Applied Ecology, 50, ISSN:1439-1791, ISSN:1618-0089