Sustainability is the most critical point in micro-scale indoor crop systems. It can be improved through the optimization of all of the production factors, such as water, nutrients, and energy. The use of light-emitting diodes (LED) allows the fine regulation of the light intensity and light spectrum to be obtained, with a significant reduction in energy consumption. The objective of this study was the optimization of a LED-based protocol of light management for Romaine lettuce cultivation in a micro-growing environment specifically designed for home cultivation. Four different growing cycles were tested. In each one, the light spectrum was modified by increasing the percentage of red light and decreasing the blue light. This resulted in a change in the light intensity which ranged from 63.2 to 194.54 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹. Moreover, the photoperiod was shortened to reduce the energy consumption and, in the last cycle, the effect of the daily alternation of dark and light was tested. The fresh and dry biomass produced were measured and the energy consumed in each cycle was monitored. The quality of lettuce was evaluated by measuring several physiological indexes, including chlorophyll a fluorescence, chlorophyll, sugars, nitrate, lipid peroxidation, carotenoids, and phenolic index. The results obtained showed that the productivity and the quality of lettuce can be positively affected by modulating the light quality and intensity, as well as other cultural practices. At the same time, the estimation of the electrical energy consumption indicated that little changes in the lighting recipe can significantly affect the energetic, environmental, and economic impact of home productions.

Halophytes are naturally adapted in saline environments, where they benefit from the substantial amounts of salt in the growth media. The need for salt-tolerant crops increases as substantial percentages of cultivated land worldwide are affected by salinity. There are few protocols, guidelines, or trials for glasswort (Salicornia (L.) and Sarcocornia (Scott), belong to the Amaranthaceae) field cultivation. The high salt tolerance and content in bioactive compounds make glassworts one of the most important candidates for future use both for fresh and processed food, due to their functional and health properties. This review describes the glassworts respect to their biodiversity and the most important factors affecting propagation, salt tolerance traits, agro-techniques and yields, food uses and nutraceutical properties.

Ultraviolet (UV) is a component of solar radiation that can be divided into three types defined by waveband: UV-A (315–400 nm), UV-B (280–315 nm), and UV-C (<280 nm). UV light can influence the physiological responses of plants. Wavelength, intensity, and exposure have a great impact on plant growth and quality. Interaction between plants and UV light is regulated by photoreceptors such as UV Resistance Locus 8 (UVR8) that enables acclimation to UV-B stress. Although UV in high doses is known to damage quality and production parameters, some studies show that UV in low doses may stimulate biomass accumulation and the synthesis of healthy compounds that mainly absorb UV. UV exposure is known to induce variations in plant architecture, important in ornamental crops, increasing their economic value. Abiotic stress induced by UV exposure increases resistance to insects and pathogens, and reduce postharvest quality depletion. This review highlights the role that UV may play in plant growth, quality, photomorphogenesis, and abiotic/biotic stress resistance.

The problems associated with the salinization of soils and water bodies and the increasing competition for scarce freshwater resources are increasing. Current attempts to adapt to these conditions through sustainable agriculture involves searching for new highly salt-tolerant crops, and wild species that have potential as saline crops are particularly suitable. The common ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.) is an edible halophyte member of the Aizoaceae family, which switches from C3 photosynthesis to crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) when exposed to salinity or water stress. The aim of this review was to examine the potential of using the ice plant in both the wild and as a crop, and to describe its ecology and morphology, environmental and agronomic requirements, and physiology. The antioxidant properties and mineral composition of the ice plant are also beneficial to human health and have been extensively examined.

Efficient soil moisture monitoring is fundamental to precision agriculture, enabling improved irrigation management, enhanced crop productivity, and sustainable water use. This review comprehensively evaluates soil moisture sensing technologies, classifying them into invasive and non-invasive approaches. The underlying operating principles, strengths, and limitations, as well as documented practical applications, are critically discussed for each technology. Invasive methods, including dielectric sensors, matric potential devices, heat-pulse sensors, and microstructured optical fibres, offer high-resolution data but require careful installation and calibration to account for environmental and soil-specific variables such as texture, salinity, and temperature. Non-invasive technologies—such as microwave remote sensing, electromagnetic induction, and ground-penetrating radar—enable large-scale monitoring without disturbing the soil profile; however, they face challenges in terms of resolution, cost, and data interpretation. Key performance factors across all sensor types include installation methodology, environmental sensitivity, spatial representativeness, and integration with decision-support systems. The review also addresses recent innovations such as biodegradable and Micro–Electro–Mechanical Systems sensors, the incorporation of Internet of Things platforms, and the application of artificial intelligence for enhanced data analytics and sensor calibration. While sensor deployment has demonstrated tangible benefits for irrigation efficiency and yield improvement, widespread adoption remains constrained by technical, economic, and infrastructural barriers, particularly for smallholder farmers. The analysis concludes by identifying research gaps and recommending strategies to facilitate the broader uptake of soil moisture sensors, with a focus on cost reduction, calibration standardisation, and integration into climate-resilient agricultural frameworks.

Ornamental containerized transplant production needs high doses of controlled release fertilizers (CFR), but it is known that there is an environmental risk caused by inadequate fertilization management. To the best of our knowledge, amino acid-(AaB) and seaweed extract-(SeB) based biostimulant application, in ornamental transplant production, is still poorly studied. Therefore, the aim of this work was to assess the hypothesis that, under reduced nutrient supply, SeB and AaB applications, via foliar spray, can promote quality and sustainability in the production of high-quality ornamental seedlings with a 90-day growing cycle. The CRF incorporated into the peat-growing medium was Osmocote Exact Mini in formulation N:P:K = 15 + 9 + 11 (3 months). Six treatments were compared in two economically important potted (0.3 L in volume) ornamentals: Abelia × grandiflora and Lantana camara: T1 = conventional full CRF dose: 4 gL⁻¹ per pot; T2 = limited CRF dose: 50% of T1; T3 = T2 + MC-Extra^® [SeB 0.5 gL⁻¹]; T4 = T2 + MC-Extra^® [SeB 1.0 gL⁻¹]; T5 = T2 + Megafol^® [AaB 1.5 mL L⁻¹]; T6 = T2 + Megafol^® [AaB 2.5 mL L⁻¹]. The research results showed that the application of 50% CRF plus biostimulant application resulted in plant performance greater than or equal to those raised under the conventional CRF full dose. In particular, S1 (Abelia × grandiflora ‘Edward Goucher’) and S2 (Lantana camara ‘Little Lucky’) behaved differently concerning the Megafol^® dose under 50% CRF; compared to T1, in A. × grandiflora young transplants, T5 increased root morphological characteristics, as well as number of leaves, leaf area, and dry biomass accumulation; in L. camara, T6 achieved higher performance. The application of biostimulants under 50% CRF also improved, in both A. × grandiflora and L. camara, the physiological and agronomical Nitrogen Use Efficiency, compared to a full CRF dose. This study can support decision-making in terms of agronomic technique choices in line with the sustainable development of high-quality ornamental transplant production.