In order to improve environmental sustainability of tomato cultivation and the quality of the harvested fruits, we tested (a) the digestate from anaerobic fermentation of buffalo slurries as partial replacing of NP fertilizers and (b) the biodegradable mulching to improve the nutrients and water availability for crop and to control weeds. In 2017–2018, a private farm of Campania region hosted a trial with four treatments deriving from the combination of two experimental factors: (1) fertilization strategy (standard farm NPK fertilization vs. digestate combined with reduced rates of NP fertilizers); (2) soil mulching (biodegradable mulching vs. no mulching). We measured fresh and dry aboveground biomass (fruits and stem + leaves), yields, fruits quality. Results pointed out: (1) combination of digestate with reduced rates of NP fertilizers did not decrease yields compared to complete mineral fertilization; (2) yields were improved in 2017 by synergic effects of soil mulching and combination of digestate and reduced rates of NP fertilizers; (3) in both the years, digestate combined with reduced rates of NP fertilizers and soil mulching determined the significant improving of fruits quality parameters interesting the processing industry, namely, fruit color, and firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity while antioxidant activity, contents of ascorbic acid, polyphenols, flavonoids, and lycopene showed responses variable with year or cultivar.

Tobacco cultivation is characterized by high amounts of waste biomasses whose disposal frequently represents a complex and expensive problem. A study was conducted to evaluate thepotential of pre-harvest light air-cured (Burley) and dark fire-cured (Kentucky) tobacco waste biomasses as a source of bioactive compounds (nutraceutical ingredients) such as polyphenols. Pre-harvest waste materials (topping fresh materials and residual stalks at final harvest) were collected to determine dry matter, total polyphenols content (TPC; Folin assay), and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,20-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-60-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt) antioxidant capacity. Polyphenols quali-quantitative profiles obtained by Orbitrap Q Exactive of both tobacco types were also determined. Total pre-harvest waste biomass amounted to 3956.9 and 1304.4 kg d.w. ha⁻¹ in light air-cured (Burley) and dark fire-cured (Kentucky) tobacco types, respectively. Polyphenols content, expressed as g kg⁻¹ dry weight (d.w.), ranged between 4.6 and 15.7 g kg⁻¹ d.w. and was generally greater in leaves than in stalks. Considering both leaves and stalks, the light air-cured (Burley) tobacco crop yielded 22.1 kg ha⁻¹ of polyphenols, while the dark fire-cured (Kentucky) tobacco yielded 12.0 kg ha⁻¹. DPPH and ABTS were significantly greater in leaves than in stalks waste biomass in both types of tobacco. The most abundant components were quinic and chlorogenic acids, rutin, and luteolin rutinoside.

The use of plant-based compost has been increasing within environmentally sustainable crop systems, as its incorporation into soil improves its structure and implies a slow release of nutrients to the plants. Due to the limited literature regarding compost application to industrial crops and the important role of the soil type, research was conducted on the industrial tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) hybrid Coronel F₁ at the Department of Agricultural Sciences of Naples, University Federico II, in 2019 and 2020. The study was based on the factorial combination of three fertilization types (compost, compost + mineral, and mineral) and three soil textures (clayey, loamy, and sandy). The highest crop yield was observed in loamy soil with mineral fertilization (+12.7% compared to clayey and loamy soils; +12.1% and +60.3% compared to compost + mineral and compost, respectively). Compost application increased plant dry weight (+23% compared to mineral fertilization), while sandy soil had a lower dry residue (−3%). The combination of loamy soil and compost exhibited the highest fruit dry matter percentage (approximately 7%). These findings suggest that applying compost to industrial tomato plants, alone or with mineral fertilizers, improves fruit quality and promotes crop system sustainability, and the optimal strategy depends on the target crop and soil type.

This study examines the effects of biodegradable mulches on melon production and quality in a Mediterranean environment, specifically focusing on Mater-Bi and Ecovio in comparison to conventional (low-density polyethylene) LDPE mulch. Biodegradable mulches influenced soil temperature, with Mater-Bi maintaining higher maximum soil temperatures conducive to crop growth, while Ecovio exhibited lower maximum temperatures beneficial in hot summer months. Results revealed a significant increase in melon yield with biodegradable mulches, with both Ecovio and Mater-Bi demonstrating higher yields at approximately 20.41 t ha⁻¹, showing an improvement of 23.4% compared to LDPE. Although mulching did not impact the number, weight, or distal diameter of marketable fruits, it affected the apical diameter, with Ecovio-treated plants displaying an 8.4% larger apical diameter compared to the average of all treatments. Furthermore, mulching influenced fruit quality parameters such as consistency, pulp thickness, sugar content, and anti-oxidant activity, with Mater-Bi exhibiting the best performance. Since both Mater-Bi and Ecovio possess strengths and weaknesses, selecting the optimal mulch depends on the farmer’s specific objectives and local growing conditions. Overall, the study suggests that biodegradable mulches, particularly Ecovio, offer a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic films, contributing to environmental preservation and enhancing melon yield and quality in Mediterranean agricultural settings.

A biennial experiment (2009 and 2010) was conducted at Calvi (Benevento, Southern Italy) to evaluate the effect of compost by organic fraction municipal solid waste (OFMSW), in combination with mineral nitrogen (N) fertilization, on yield and quality of three Dark Fire-cured (Kentucky) tobacco cultivars commonly cultivated at Benevento province (Campania region, Southern Italy). Six N fertilization treatments (N0 = soil N reserves available for plant growth; MIN = 135 kg ha⁻¹ of N applied as mineral fertilizer; C10 = 10 Mg d.w. ha⁻¹ compost; C10N = 10 Mg d.w. ha⁻¹ compost + 50% MIN; C20 = 20 Mg d.w. ha⁻¹ compost; C20N = 20 Mg d.w. ha⁻¹ compost + 50% MIN) were combined with the following cultivars: (i) Foiano, medium early maturing; (ii) Riccio Beneventano (local ecotype), medium maturing; (iii) SKL, medium maturing. Yield of cured leaves (Mg ha⁻¹) and growth components (number of leaves per plant, mean individual leaf area, leaf area per plant, specific leaf weight, stem diameter and height) and color parameters (L*, a*/b*) were measured. Leaf quality traits (nitrates, total N and alkaloids contents, score) and N use efficiency were also determined. The best growth and yield performance was reached in 2010 when plants were taller, developed both stems that were more robust and leaves having greater individual leaf area, and showed a higher leaf area per plant than in the first year. Regardless of the form of applied N (compost, mineral fertilizer, or a combination of both), tobacco plants appeared to be directly and positively influenced by increasing quota of readily available N received by each treatment, which was determined at the beginning of field growth by N soil balance and taking into account the percentage of N supplied by organic (compost) and mineral fertilizers. Results obtained with compost treatments, particularly when combined with mineral fertilizer (at C10N more than C20N), appeared comparable or sometimes better than those of full mineral fertilization although N fertilization by synthetic products was applied at very low doses.

The new perspective of using waste biomass to cultivate mushrooms as a source of protein for human nutrition, in line with the circular economy principles, is receiving increasing attention in the scientific community and represents great wealth in terms of environmental sustainability. Pleurotus eryngii is a mushroom also known as cardunculus mushroom due to its ability to grow on this plant. This study explores the potential intrinsic properties of cardunculus (for example, the presence of inulin in the roots) as raw material for the growth of cardunculus mushrooms, and the influence on heteroglycan content and nutrition parameters of the fruiting bodies. Both mycelium and fruiting bodies were used to determine the heteroglycan content in the presence of inulin or cardunculus roots rich in inulin. To produce heteroglycans from P. eryngii in greater quantities and shorter times without having to wait for the formation of the fruiting bodies, the mycelium could be used. The results showed that the presence of cardunculus biomass positively influences the heteroglycan content of P. eryngii. In terms of nutritional parameters, higher contents of polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity were detected in P. eryngii grown on the cardunculus stem and root substrate. In conclusion, recycling cardunculus biomass to generate growth blocks for edible mushrooms is a winning choice due to the opportunity to use this biomass waste, which is gaining more and more attention due to the increase in cultivated areas and the use of fruiting bodies of P. eryngii as a functional food and source of molecules with potential biological activities.