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Common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) is a widespread legume crop in the Mediterranean mega-environment, due to its versatile uses and its compatibility with organic and low-input farming systems. However, its adaptation to various such environments should be studied and varieties suitable for forage yield must be selected. This study aimed to explore forage yield stability of common vetch varieties based on the stability index, with a specific target to explore common vetch variety behavior in various environments. Six Greek varieties of common vetch were used over four environments for two years. The cultivation was conducted using a strip plot with the varieties randomized within each plot in both conventional and low-input cultivation systems. (Alexandros) and (Tempi) varieties showed stability for days to 50% of flowering (index &gt, 4000), while (Pigasos) and (Zefyros) for fresh forage yield (&gt, 200) across environments. Combined estimations, also showed stability of (Pigasos) and (Zefyros) for fresh forage yield. Comparisons between the conventional and low-input farming systems generally showed minor differences but revealed varieties that exhibit stable performance even in the low-input farming systems, where stability is generally a little higher. The AMMI and GGE biplot analysis depicted the stability performance of the varieties regarding the traits under experimentation. As far as the fresh forage and dry matter yield, (Zefyros) was the most stable and productive variety over all others. Correlations between traits displayed the positive relation of fresh forage yield with days for 50% flowering and dry forage yield. Positive correlations may be proved useful for indirect breeding through traits with high stability leading to the selection of traits that show low stability.

Chemical input reduction in agricultural systems is strongly demanded with the aim to improve the quality and the safety of food/feed products in an environmental sustainable perspective. Durum wheat is the most important food crop widely grown across the Mediterranean basin. However, the choice of tailored-genotypes can represent a key strategy in resource limiting conditions. The present study investigated the performance of fourteen commercial durum wheat varieties, in terms of morphologic, productive and quality traits under two cropping systems, conventional (CH) and no-chemical input (NC), for two growing seasons. The NC cropping system affected plant phenology, grain yield, and its components (i.e., ears m&minus, 2 and test weight). However, the negative influence exerted by the NC depended by the growing season (significant interaction between growing season and cropping system), which in turn affected the production behavior of genotypes (significant interaction between growing season and genotype). The additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) analysis showed that genotype (G) effect explained the 4.3% of the total variability, the environment (E) the 71.7% and the G &times, E interaction the 9.4%. The AMMI stability value (ASV) indicated that Meridiano, Claudio, Saragolla, and Normanno were the most stable genotypes among environments (combination of years and management systems). An integrated environmental assessment, including a soil nitrogen balance, can help to provide a more holistic approach to the sustainability of the no-chemical Mediterranean cropping systems based on cereal-legume rotation.

This study reports on the effects of two rhizome-based establishment procedures ‘miscanthus under maize’ (MUM) and ‘reference’ (REF) on the methane yield per hectare (MYH) of miscanthus in a field trial in southwest Germany. The dry matter yield (DMY) of aboveground biomass was determined each year in autumn over four years (2016–2019). A biogas batch experiment and a fiber analysis were conducted using plant samples from 2016–2018. Overall, MUM outperformed REF due to a high MYH of maize in 2016 (7211 m3N CH4 ha−1). The MYH of miscanthus in MUM was significantly lower compared to REF in 2016 and 2017 due to a lower DMY. Earlier maturation of miscanthus in MUM caused higher ash and lignin contents compared with REF. However, the mean substrate-specific methane yield of miscanthus was similar across the treatments (281.2 and 276.2 lN kg−1 volatile solid−1). Non-significant differences in MYH 2018 (1624 and 1957 m3N CH4 ha−1) and in DMY 2019 (15.6 and 21.7 Mg ha−1) between MUM and REF indicate, that MUM recovered from biotic and abiotic stress during 2016. Consequently, MUM could be a promising approach to close the methane yield gap of miscanthus cultivation in the first year of establishment.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) crop is often labelled as environmental-friendly for many objective reasons: limited amounts of N fertiliser, no irrigation, and limited use of pesticides. In addition, sunflower has a potential for providing multiple ecosystem services in diverse cropping systems (e.g. pollinators feeding). However agroecological innovations have been less developed or disseminated than for cereals or oilseed rape. Based on results from the sunflower research consortium in Toulouse (Mestries and Debaeke. 2016. Journées d’échanges Tournesol, 28 et 29 juin 2016, Toulouse (France)), we illustrate some innovating and promising approaches for more agroecological practices in sunflower cropping. Our results suggested that: integrated crop management could be proposed to limit the use of pesticides and mitigate crop damages; cover crops could be used as biofumigants to control soilborne diseases in sunflower; intercropping sunflower with soybean could be a valuable option for maximizing resource-use efficiency in low-input environments; sunflower yield could bemaintained at good level in very low input cropping systems. Previous examples point out how agroecological principles could be applied to sunflower crop to improve its production in low-input conditions, and enhance the ecosystem services deliverable by this oilseed crop., La culture de tournesol (Helianthus annuus L.) est souvent qualifiée de respectueuse de l’environnement en raison de sa faible dépendance aux apports d’engrais, à l’eau d’irrigation et aux applications de pesticides en végétation. Par ailleurs, le tournesol contribue à de nombreux services écosystémiques au premier rang desquels l’alimentation des pollinisateurs. Cependant, très peu d’innovations agroécologiques ont été mises en avant sur cette culture contrairement à ce qui a été développé en céréales ou en colza. En nous basant sur les travaux récents du consortium de recherche sur le tournesol basé à Toulouse (Mestries et Debaeke. 2016. Journées d’échanges Tournesol, 28 et 29 juin 2016, Toulouse (France)), nous illustrerons plusieurs approches innovantes et prometteuses pour augmenter la performance agroécologique de la culture de tournesol. Ainsi nos résultats montrent que : des méthodes de protection intégrée peuvent être proposées pour limiter l’application de pesticides et atténuer les pertes de rendement ; des cultures intermédiaires (brassicacées) pourraient être utilisées pour la biofumigation des sols et le contrôle de maladies telluriques en tournesol ; l’association culturale avec le soja pourrait constituer une option intéressante pour maximiser l’utilisation des ressources en bas intrants ; le rendement du tournesol peut être maintenu à un bon niveau dans des systèmes à très bas niveaux d’intrants. Les exemples précédents illustrent comment les principes de l’agroécologie peuvent également être appliqués au tournesol pour améliorer la production dans les situations à bas niveaux d’intrants et plus largement les services écosystémiques apportés par la culture.

A comparative study of organic and conventional arable farming systems was conducted in The Netherlands to determine the effect of management practices on chemical and biological soil properties and soil health. Soils from thirteen accredited organic farms and conventionally managed neighboring farms were analyzed using a polyphasic approach combining traditional soil analysis, culture-dependent and independent microbiological analyses, a nematode community analysis and an enquiry about different management practices among the farmers. Organic management, known primarily for the abstinence of artificial fertilizers and pesticides, resulted in significantly lower levels of both nitrate and total soluble nitrogen in the soil, higher numbers of bacteria of different trophic groups, as well as larger species richness in both bacteria and nematode communities and more resilience to a drying–rewetting disturbance in the soil. The organic farmers plough their fields less deeply and tend to apply more organic carbon to their fields, but this did not result in a significantly higher organic carbon content in their soils. The levels of ammonium, organic nitrogen, phosphate and total phosphorus did not differ, significantly between the soils under different management. Fifty percent of the conventional Dutch farmers also used organic fertilizers and the numbers of farmers using a green crop fertilizer did not differ between the two management types. Soil type – clayey or sandy soil – in general had a much stronger effect on the soil characteristics than management type. The soil type influenced pH, nitrate, ammonium, phosphate and organic carbon levels as well as numbers of oligotrophic bacteria and of different groups of nematodes, and different diversity indices. With the collected data set certain soil characteristics could also be attributed to the use of different management practices like plow depth, crop or cover crop type or to the management history of the soil.

International audience; In conventional agriculture, lettuce crops receive large amounts of pesticides to meet stringent industrial specifications and market requirements. Pesticides are used on lettuce to ensure high-yielding, attractive products free from foreign bodies and damage. Pesticide reduction is a major challenge for lettuce growers in this context. The objective of this study was to assess the risk arising from a reduction in pesticide applications by using a combination of alternative techniques for the management of pests and diseases in winter lettuce crops. Two alternative crop protection strategies (called low-input and intermediate) were designed by prototyping and then compared to a conventional lettuce protection strategy in independent trials carried out in three locations over two successive winters. The efficacy of each strategy for pestand pathogen control, as well as lettuce yield and quality, were assessed and compared. Pesticides were reduced by 32% in the intermediate crop protection strategy, and by 48% in the low-input crop protection strategy. At least 15% of lettuces were affected by pest and pathogen damage, whatever the strategy. Among possible pests or diseases, aphids were the only biotic stress which differed significantly between strategies (9.25% of lettuces infested and 2.7% of commercial losses under the low-input strategy, as compared to 0.83% of lettuces infested and 0% of commercial losses under the conventional strategy).Globally, biotic damage was less important than abiotic damage (frost and tip burn), and resulted in low commercial losses under all strategies. Similar yields and lettuce quality were recorded under the three systems. Therefore the performances of intermediate and low-input crop protection strategies were consistent with market expectations, and possible improvements are discussed. This work provides a methodology and landmarks for the design and dissemination of cropping systems targeted to leafy vegetables and less dependent on chemical control of pests and pathogens

International audience; Since the 1970s, winter wheat management in France has focused on growing high-yielding cultivars with the intensive use of external inputs. However, over the last 10 years, breeding priorities have changed in favour of the development of cultivars with multiple resistance to fungal diseases and lodging. Low-input strategies have also been developed, to reduce costs and to meet environmental targets. In this study, we assessed the economic, energetic and environmental performances of three cultivars (C) grown under four management intensities. Two of these cultivars (Isengrain and Tremie) are both high-yielding and disease-susceptible, whereas the third (Oratorio) is multiresistant to diseases and lodging but has a lower potential yield. The four crop management systems (CM) were designed with a decrease in input level (seeds, N fertilizer, fungicides, growth regulator) from CM1 to CM4. We set up a multi-year ant multi-site network to test the C-CM pairs in a wide range of environments. The evaluation of C-CM pairs was based on a set of indicators dealing with economics (profitability, input and machinery costs per tonne), environment (pesticide use, N recovery), and energy (energy use efficiency, energy costs). As regards profitability and costs per tonne, we assessed the vulnerability of the C-CM pairs to several grain and oil price scenarios. The demonstration of synergy between the two types of innovation (multiresistant cultivars, low-input management) is a major result: each makes the other more profitable, increasing its chances of adoption in the field. The ecology-based technology package, involving the use of lower-yielding multiresistant cultivars under lower external input levels, was more profitable when grain prices were low (less than (sic)123-157 per tonne (for low and high oil prices, respectively)). By contrast, the intensive technology package, consisting of high-yielding cultivars and high levels of external inputs (N, fungicides and growth regulators), was more profitable when grain prices exceeded (sic)123-157 per tonne (for low and high oil prices, respectively). However, it was less optimal in terms of fossil energy use and potential on environmental impact. In a context of fluctuating grain and oil prices and a need to preserve resources (e.g. fossil energy, water quality), our results demonstrate the potential benefits of using low-input crop management systems. with cultivars displaying multiple resistance to diseases and lodging (Oratorio-CM3). The loss of productivity (1 t ha(-1) less than for Isengrain-CM2) due to the lower yield potential of the multiresistant cultivar and the lower levels of inputs must be seen as a necessary evil if we are to decrease the overuse of resources. There is a need to adapt current procedures for cultivar evaluation, to promote the breeding of multiresistant cultivars for low-input systems. New cultivars should be evaluated under a range of conditions, from high- to low-input systems. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Publication Inra prise en compte dans l'analyse bibliométrique des publications scientifiques mondiales sur les Fruits, les Légumes et la Pomme de terre. Période 2000-2012. http://prodinra.inra.fr/record/256699; Intensive agriculture ensures high yields but can cause serious environmental damages. The optimal use of soil and atmospheric sources of nitrogen in cereal-legume mixtures may allow farmers to maintain high production levels and good quality with low external N inputs, and could potentially decrease environmental impacts, particularly through a more efficient energy use. These potential advantages are presented in an overall assessment of cereal-legume systems, accounting for the agronomic, environmental, energetic, and economic performances. Based on a low-input experimental field network including 16 site-years, we found that yields of pea-wheat intercrops (about 4.5 Mg ha−1 whatever the amount of applied fertiliser) were higher than sole pea and close to conventionally managed wheat yields (5.4 Mg ha−1 on average), the intercrop requiring less than half of the nitrogen fertiliser per ton of grain compared to the sole wheat. The land equivalent ratio and a statistical analysis based on the Price's equation showed that the crop mixture was more efficient than sole crops particularly under unfertilised situations. The estimated amount of energy consumed per ton of harvested grains was two to three times higher with conventionally managed wheat than with pea-wheat mixtures (fertilised or not). The intercrops allowed (i) maintaining wheat grain protein concentration and gross margin compared to wheat sole crop and (ii) increased the contribution of N2 fixation to total N accumulation of pea crop in the mixture compared to pea sole crop. They also led to a reduction of (i) pesticide use compared to sole crops and (ii) soil mineral nitrogen after harvest compared to pea sole crop. Our results demonstrate that pea-wheat intercropping is a promising way to produce cereal grains in an efficient, economically sustainable and environmentally friendly way.

Pesticide use should be reduced for sustainable agriculture. Low-input cropping systems, centered on hardy varieties that maintain their yield in the presence of pests, allow pesticide use to be reduced. Since yield potential is generally lower for hardy varieties than for high-yielding varieties, a balance must be found between production and pesticide reduction. In order to compute the optimal partitioning of agricultural area between intensive and low-input cropping systems, we present a model that allows yield and gross margins to be computed at the landscape scale, as a function of the proportion of the area under intensive and low-input systems. The model shows that two cases must be distinguished, depending on inoculum production by each of the coexisting systems. If the low-input system produces less inoculum (e.g. because resistant varieties are used), coexistence can be optimal, whereas if the low-input system produces more inoculum (e.g. because tolerant varieties are used), it is best to devote the whole area to a single system. The model gives the gross margin for each cropping system as a function of the proportion of low-input systems – and so predicts the proportion to which the farmers’ choices will lead – and illustrates the use of different (simplified) policies that would ensure that the optimum proportion is reached.

For low-input crop production, well-characterised varieties increase the possibilities of managing diseases and weeds. This analysis aims at developing a framework for analyzing grain yield using external varietal information about disease resistance, weed competitiveness and yield potential and quantifying the impact of susceptibility grouping and straw length scores (as a measure for weed competitiveness) for predicting spring barley grain yield under variable biotic stress levels. The study comprised 52 spring barley varieties and 17 environments, i.e., combinations of location, growing system and year. Individual varieties and their interactions with environments were analysed by factorial regression of grain yield on external variety information combined with observed environmental disease loads and weed pressure. The external information was based on the official Danish VCU testing. The most parsimonious models explained about 50% of the yield variation among varieties including genotype-environment interactions. Disease resistance characteristics of varieties, weighted with disease loads of powdery mildew, leaf rust and net blotch, respectively, had a highly significant influence on grain yield. The extend to which increased susceptibility resulted in increased yield losses in environments with high disease loads of the respective diseases was predicted. The effect of externally determined straw length scores, weighted with weed pressure, was weaker although significant for weeds with creeping growth habit. Higher grain yield was thus predicted for taller plants under weed pressure. The results are discussed in relation to the model framework, impact of the considered traits and use of information from conventional variety testing in organic cropping systems Udgivelsesdato: October For low-input crop production, well-characterised varieties increase the possibilities of managing diseases and weeds. This analysis aims at developing a framework for analyzing grain yield using external varietal information about disease resistance, weed competitiveness and yield potential and quantifying the impact of susceptibility grouping and straw length scores (as a measure for weed competitiveness) for predicting spring barley grain yield under variable biotic stress levels. The study comprised 52 spring barley varieties and 17 environments, i.e., combinations of location, growing system and year. Individual varieties and their interactions with environments were analysed by factorial regression of grain yield on external variety information combined with observed environmental disease loads and weed pressure. The external information was based on the official Danish VCU testing. The most parsimonious models explained about 50% of the yield variation among varieties including genotype-environment interactions. Disease resistance characteristics of varieties, weighted with disease loads of powdery mildew, leaf rust and net blotch, respectively, had a highly significant influence on grain yield. The extend to which increased susceptibility resulted in increased yield losses in environments with high disease loads of the respective diseases was predicted. The effect of externally determined straw length scores, weighted with weed pressure, was weaker although significant for weeds with creeping growth habit. Higher grain yield was thus predicted for taller plants under weed pressure. The results are discussed in relation to the model framework, impact of the considered traits and use of information from conventional variety testing in organic cropping systems