Recent agricultural research aims to identify novel applications for plant extracts as efficient defenses against weeds, insects, or phytopathogenic agents. The main goal of the present study was to evaluate two new varieties of basil (Ocimum basilicum L., fam. Lamiaceae), Yellow basil, “Aromat de Buzau” variety and Red-violet basil, “Serafim” variety. The basil varieties were studied under different aspects regarding biochemical characterization using GC-MS, antioxidant activity evaluated under three methods (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP), and antimicrobial properties (for three G-bacteria: Perctobacterium carotovorum, Pseudomonas marginalis, Pseudomonas syringae and three phytopathogenic fungi: Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum, Botrytis cinerea). The results showed that linalool (39.28%; 55.51%), estragole (31.48%; 9.78%), and eugenol (5.42%; 7.63%) are the main compounds identified in the extracts, validating the high antioxidant activity of the studied essential oils and floral waters. When applied in high concentrations, essential oils have shown a potential bactericidal effect on P. carotovorum as well as a potential fungicidal effect on R. solani and B. cinerea.

Essential oils (EOs) extracted from various medicinal plants offer a promising alternative to non-selective chemical substances commonly employed in conventional agriculture. Their chemical composition includes several classes of chemical compounds with beneficial properties, such as monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and phenylpropanoids, which can selectively control microbiological elements in soil and plants. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the essential oils and floral waters obtained from a new variety of marigold (Tagetes patula L., fam. Asteraceae, “Nanuk” variety) across various parameters, including biochemical characterization using GC-MS, antioxidant activity evaluated under three methods (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP), antimicrobial properties (for three G⁻ bacteria: Perctobacterium carotovorum, Pseudomonas marginalis, Pseudomonas syringae and against three phytopathogenic fungi: Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum, Botrytis cinerea), and insecticidal activity. The results showed that when applied in high concentrations, marigold essential oil has a potential bactericidal effect on P. carotovorum, as well as a potential fungicidal effect on B. cinerea.

The high efficiency of vegetable crops is influenced, in addition to soil preparation works, weed, diseases and pests control, irrigation, etc. by precision sowing, which involves placing a certain number of seeds at an exact depth and distance. Thus, cost savings, a high reliability of production and especially a greater uniformity of crops are achieved, most often uniform and quality productions being obtained. For vegetable species in the case of which harvesting is practiced only once, uniformity of seed distribution is particularly important. In most cases, vegetable seeds have small size, irregular shape and small mass. These characteristics make the development of precision seeders for this type of seed quite difficult. Precision sowing of vegetable seeds ensures a correct sowing rate, which implies an optimal space for plant growth and development, thus improving crop yields. The paper presents a summary of the current state of precision seeders equipped with electrically operated distributors for vegetable seeds, as well as the preliminary results of research conducted by authors in this field.

In recent years, intense concerns about the increasing resistance of weed populations to herbicide treatments, the low availability of bioactive ingredients for vegetable crops, as well as the expansion of organic farms for these niche crops have stimulated the development of new non-chemical methods of control or new approaches to those already used. In general, vegetable crops exhibit increased sensitivity to weeds compared to other crops. Therefore, weed control in organic vegetable crops is a real challenge for farmers, mainly using the so-called physical combat methods. Therefore, weed destruction is accomplished by using manual, mechanical, thermal or mulching means. The paper presents the preliminary experimental results obtained under laboratory conditions, referring to an innovative model of equipment for the ecological weed control in vegetable crops. It will achieve the destruction of weeds, combining the thermal method based on using hot water with the mechanical one, by equipping the machine withenvironmentally friendlyactive parts. The results obtained constitute an important premise for developing efficient equipment for the ecological weed control that can be used within integrated control systems, specific for organic onion, bean and bell pepper crops.

In the context of the current climate change, it has become urgently necessary to develop adequate systems to protect horticultural crops. In Romania, the losses caused to these cultures by the extreme weather phenomena, as well as the lack of active intervention measures to combat or limit them, represent the main argument for addressing this field in particular. Vegetable crops are generally sensitive to extreme weather phenomena. In the climatic conditions in our country, the extreme phenomena occur between March and September, which coincides with the vegetation period of the crops. Of these, hail causes significant damage, and in some cases, at high intensity and long-lasting, can cause the calamity of vegetable crops. Another effect can arise in the drought years, when, in the absence of rainfall, the weeds enter into a fierce competition with vegetables, as regards the specific consumption of water and nutrients. The paper presents a review regarding the current methods of vegetable crops protection against the extreme weather phenomena and of weed control in these crops, grown in organic system. Combining the available solutions, adopting integrated strategies for non-chemical weed control can be an important premise for researchers and farmers to protect vegetable crops.

The quality of plant material obtained from cultivated medicinal and aromatic plants depends on several important factors, including harvesting, which must be carried out according to the requirements of each cultivation technology. Current producers, especially those who grow these species on small and medium-sized areas, face the high price of labour or its acute shortage, as well as limited access to specialized equipment. The paper provides a brief summary of current concerns about mechanised harvesting of inflorescences of medicinal species cultivated on a small-scale, with mechanisation generally being a guarantee of economic efficiency and quality.