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The need to improve agroecosystem sustainability to secure yields, minimize environmental impacts and improve soil health is widely recognized. Organic production systems are one of the strategies that may be used to alleviate the negative environmental repercussions of conventional agriculture. In the present study, we compared the impact of conventional and organic production systems on the almond (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb) yield and quality of nuts of two cultivars (Marcona and Desmayo largueta), with both systems being managed on marginal hillslopes in the southeast of Spain. Our findings show that the organic production system in rainfed almond trees has positive effects on certain nut quality parameters, with a slight decrease in almond yield, specifically 9.5% for cv. D. largueta and 1.3% for cv. Marcona, with respect to the conventional system. The results obtained have varied depending on the cultivar. Statistically significant differences have been obtained for cv. Marcona in the sugar content (54.4 and 49.8 g kg−1 in organic and conventional, respectively) and the total phenol content (3.41 and 2.46 g GAE kg−1 for organic and conventional, respectively). In the case of cv D. largueta, statistically significant differences were found between the organic and conventional systems for antioxidant activity (14.8 vs. 8.68 mmol Trolox kg−1, DPPH), fatty acid content (229 vs. 188 g kg−1 dw), saturated fatty acids (36 vs. 28.7 g kg−1 dw), monounsaturated fatty acids (113 vs. 110 g kg−1 dw) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (60.3 vs. 49.6 g kg−1 dw). Here, we show for the first time how a rainfed organic system allows for higher-quality almonds, specifically with a higher content of phytochemicals beneficial for health, which, together with the higher price compared to conventional almonds, could compensate for the yield losses while preserving the sustainability of marginal agroecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The objective of this study was to compare the effects of conventional and organic production system on microbial activity in the soil cultivated with bean and maize crops. The trial in Đurđevo was set up according to the conventional farming system, while organic farming system was used in Futog. Two maize hybrids and two bean cultivars were used in the trial. Soil samples were collected in two periods during 2014 (before sowing, at flowering stage of bean crops, and at 9-11 leaf stage of maize) at two depths, at both locations. The following microbiological parameters were tested: the total number of micro­organisms, number of ammonifiers, Azotobacter sp., free nitrogen fixing bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, and activity of dehydrogenase enzyme. The results showed that the total number of microorganisms, number of free N-fixers and dehydrogenase activity were higher within organic production, while Azotobacter sp. was more abundant in conventional production. Variations in the number of ammonifiers, fungi and actinomycetes in relation to the type of production were not obtained. Significant differences in microbial activity were also obtained between period and depths of sampling.

A two-year study was conducted under conditions of organic and conventional growing technologies on calcareous chernozem soil after wheat as a preceding crop. Test factors were three varieties of soybean, which were sown at three different planting densities, this being a second test factor. Data were analysed by analysis of variance using split - plot experimental design, where the factors of examination, namely variety and sowing density and the differences between treatments were tested by LSD test. The aim of this study was to determine the yield and oil content in soybean grain depending on the genotype and planting density in organic and conventional cultivation. The average yield in the conventional production technology was 4.84 t ha-1 and was higher in comparison with organic production method where the recorded yield was 4.68 t ha-1. There was a higher percentage of oil in organic production (21.88 %) compared to conventional production (21.68 %).

Neste trabalho, objetivou-se comparar a qualidade da água de coco obtida de frutos de coqueiro anã verde, produzidos em dois sistemas distintos de produção: convencional e orgânico, mediante as análises físicas (cor da casca, peso, volume, comprimento e diâmetro), físico-químicas (sólidos totais, acidez titulável, pH, turbidez, açúcares solúveis totais e redutores) e os minerais: (Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Mn, P, sulfato, cloreto e C.E.); e análise sensorial. Foram realizados os seguintes parâmetros sensoriais: avaliação global, turbidez, doçura e sabor. Os frutos utilizados nesse experimento encontravam-se com 210 dias após a polinização das inflorescências e foram provenientes de dois plantios comerciais do município de Trairí- Ceará. O experimento foi desenvolvido no laboratório de Fisiologia e Tecnologia de Pós-Colheita da Embrapa Agroindústria Tropical, Fortaleza-CE. Foi observado, a partir dos resultados das análises físicas, que o coco produzido em sistema convencional é melhor do que os produzidos organicamente. Para todas as variáveis estudadas, porém apenas as medições de comprimento e peso mostraram diferenças importantes por meio do teste Tukey em um nível de 5% de probabilidade. Nas análises físico-químicas e análise sensorial não houve diferença significativa para os tratamentos.This work aimed to assess and compare the quality of coconut water produced in two different systems: standard and organic. The physical characteristics of the fruit were described (skin color, weight, water volume, length, and diameter), the physical-chemical characteristics of the water were assessed (total solid content, total titrable acidity, pH, turbidity, reducing and total soluble sugars), the mineral content was checked (Fe, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg, Mn, sulphate, chloride, and C.E.), and the sensory analysis was conducted assessing the following parameters: overall evaluation, turbidity, sweetness, and flavor. The fruits used in this experiment were harvested 210 days after the pollination of the flowers and were from two commercial plantations at the municipality of Trairí-Ceara.The experience was developed at the Physiology and Technology Post-Harvest Laboratory of Embrapa Tropical Agroindustry, Fortaleza-CE. We observed, from the results of the physical analysis, that the coconut produced in the standard system is better than that produced organically, for all of the studied variables. However, only the measurements of length and weight showed important differences through the Tukey test at the level of 5% probability. The physical-chemical and sensory analysis did not show significant differences between the treatments.

• Contamination of type B-trichothecenes and D3G in cereal products was investigated. • Mostly, organic products showed higher occurrence of the mycotoxins than conventional ones. • Co-occurrence of two or more different mycotoxins was observed in most of samples. • Conversion rate of DON to its glucosylated form, D3G, depended on cereal types. A total of 67 cereal samples consisting of conventionally and organically produced corn, wheat and rice were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to monitor the occurrence of type-B trichothecenes (deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3ADON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15ADON), fusarenon-X (FUS-X)), and deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside (D3G). The incidence rates were 94%, 88%, 86.5%, 31.3%, 29.8%, and 61.2% for DON, D3G, NIV, 3ADON, 15ADON, and FUS-X, respectively. The highest contamination levels of DON, D3G, NIV, 3ADON, and 15ADON were found in corn, followed by wheat and rice, whereas FUS-X exhibited high contamination in rice. Moreover, significant differences were observed between conventionally and organically produced corn samples, which revealed higher incidence and contamination levels of the target mycotoxins in organic samples rather than in conventional samples. A total of 93.6% of all DON-contaminated samples showed the transformation of DON to its glucosylated form, D3G, with average conversion rates of 14%, 17%, and 28% in rice, wheat, and corn samples, respectively. In addition, the co-occurrence of two or more different mycotoxins was observed in a high percentage of the analyzed samples. Therefore, the results indicated that a vigilant attitude should be adopted to reduce human exposure to all of these toxic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]