Basil crops are appreciated for their distinct flavour and appeal to various cuisines globally. Basil production is mainly implemented in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) systems. Soil-less cultivation (e.g., hydroponic) is optimal for producing basil, while aquaponics is another technique suitable for leafy crops such as basil. Shortening the production chain through efficient cultivation techniques reduces basil production’s carbon footprint. While the organoleptic quality of basil demonstrably benefits from successive cuts, no studies have compared the impact of this practice under hydroponic and aquaponic CEA conditions. Hence, the present study evaluated the eco-physiological, nutritional, and productive performance of Genovese basil cv. Sanremo grown in hydroponic and aquaponic systems (combined with tilapia) and harvested consecutively. The two systems showed similar eco-physiological behaviour and photosynthetic capacity, which were on average 2.99 µmol of CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹, equal numbers of leaves, and fresh yields of on average 41.69 and 38.38 g, respectively. Aquaponics yielded greater dry biomass (+58%) and dry matter content (+37%), while the nutrient profiles varied between the systems. The number of cuts did not influence yield; however, it improved dry matter partitioning and elicited a differential nutrient uptake. Our results bear practical and scientific relevance by providing useful eco-physiological and productive feedback on basil CEA cultivation. Aquaponics is a promising technique that reduces chemical fertiliser input and increases the overall sustainability of basil production.

Against the backdrop of climate change, soil loss, and water scarcity, sustainable food production is a pivotal challenge for humanity. As the global population grows and urbanization intensifies, innovative agricultural methods are crucial to meet rising food demand, while mitigating environmental degradation. Hydroponic and aquaponic systems, has emerged as one of these solutions by minimizing land use, reducing water consumption, and enabling year-round crop production in urban areas. This study aimed at assessing the yield, ecophysiological performance, and nutritional content of Lactuca sativa L. and Cichorium endivia L. var. crispum grown in hydroponic and aquaponic floating raft systems, with Oreochromis niloticus L. integrated into the aquaponic system. Both species exhibited higher fresh biomass and canopy/root ratios in hydroponics compared to aquaponics. Additionally, hydroponics increased the leaf number in curly endive by 18%. Ecophysiological parameters, such as the leaf net photosynthesis rate, actual yield of PSII, and linear electron transport rate, were also higher in hydroponics for both species. However, the nutritional profiles varied between the two cultivation systems and between the two species. Given that standard fish feed often lacks sufficient potassium levels for optimal plant growth, potassium supplementation could be a viable strategy to enhance plant development in aquaponic systems. In conclusion, although aquaponic systems may demonstrate lower productivity compared to hydroponics, they offer a more sustainable and potentially healthier product with fewer harmful compounds due to the reduced use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and the absence of chemical residue accumulation. However, careful system management and monitoring are crucial to minimize potential contaminants.

Our food system is slowly becoming more environmentally friendly in response to global challenges such as climate change, the environmental damage caused by intensive agriculture, the increasing human population, and the growth of cities. Soilless agriculture, which involves growing plants without the use of soil, is a unique type of environmentally friendly food-production system. There are several soilless agriculture techniques, including bioponics. Bioponics is a new technique that aims to replace chemical fertilizers with organic or natural ones. These environmentally friendly fertilizers are recycled from plant- or animal-based waste materials, through the activity of microorganisms like bacteria. Therefore, bioponics is a sustainable method of producing fruits and vegetables, as it not only limits the use of chemical fertilizers but also conserves water and land resources and recycles important nutrients.

In the current scenario of decreasing in precipitation and water resources, and increasing in temperature, it is pivotal to define multiple strategies to cope with the negative consequences on the crop production and food security. Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) is an important nut tree crop grown in several countries all over the world and mainly in the Mediterranean Basin area. Among the producer countries Italy is the second main worldwide producer, soon after Turkey. Despite the long-lasting and traditional cultivation of hazelnut in the hilly areas and a recent wider spread of its orchards to newly cultivated fertile plains, hazelnut is well known as a very sensitive species to both water stress and high temperatures. The main aim of this study was to evaluate growth performances and morpho-physiological adaptive responses to prolonged water stress in potted young hazelnut plants. Secondarily, the effect of biostimulant treatments in mitigating the effects of water and heat stresses were evaluated. The research was conducted on one-year-old cultivar micro propagated plants of cv “Tonda di Giffoni” grown in a cold polycarbonate greenhouse at the Department of Agricultural Sciences of the University of Naples “Federico II” during two consecutive growing seasons. Three irrigation levels (i.e. 100, 80, and 60% of the daily water requirement) were applied in combination with two different biostimulant treatments. In particular, they consisted in the application near the roots of protein hydrolysate or mycorrhizae inoculation. The first one was applied every two weeks with a dosage of 2.5 ml/l according to the chemical characteristics of the product, during the whole growing season; instead, the second one was applied with a single-dose of 15 g per plant at the beginning of each growing season. During the two seasons, growth rate (i.e. basal diameter, branch length, leaf number, leaf area, and buds), eco-physiological behaviour (i.e. gas exchanges measurements, Chlorophyll a fluorescence emission, SPAD index, and leaf water potential), and leaf functional traits were investigated. Results showed that the use of biostimulant and mycorrhizae positively influenced physiological behaviour and growth of plants by counteracting deficit irrigation stress effects. In conclusion, our study demonstrate how these type of treatments help to improve the quality of plants.