Giuseppe Di Miceli

Cultivation on saline soils is becoming increasingly necessary to meet the growing global demand for food, particularly in the Mediterranean basin, where an estimated 25–35% of agricultural soils are affected by salinity-related constraints. Addressing this growing challenge requires more than the use of desalinated or purified irrigation water, which is often expensive, only partially effective, and limited by the increasing scarcity of freshwater resources. Therefore, the development of sustainable strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of soil salinity on crop production is urgently needed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of several bio-based amendments, applied individually or in combination, on basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) cultivated under saline soil conditions (EC_1:2.5: 2.0 dS m⁻¹). The tested amendments included gypsum for defecation from sludge (GDS), wood ash, Ecklonia maxima seaweed extract, and combinations of GDS with either wood ash or seaweed extract. For a crop cycle, a pot experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design, with three replicates of 10 pots each. Among the tested amendments, GDS, either alone or combined with wood ash, was associated with being the most effective in enhancing basil performance under saline conditions. These findings highlight the potential of bio-based amendments as sustainable tools for improving basil crop productivity in salt-affected soils.

Forage conservation is a strategic component of Mediterranean livestock systems, where seasonal drought, irregular rainfall, and high summer temperatures limit the availability of fresh forage. In these environments, hay and haylage are widely used as preservation strategies, yet their environmental performance remains insufficiently quantified under semi-arid conditions. It is hypothesized that the higher material and energy inputs required for haylage could be compensated for by the combined effects of biomass preservation efficiency and forage productivity, resulting in comparable or lower impacts per unit of conserved forage under Mediterranean farm conditions. To test this hypothesis, a life cycle assessment was conducted to compare hay and haylage production in a forage farm located in Sicily, Italy, considering the 2024–2025 season. The analysis adopted a cradle-to-farm-gate system boundary, and two complementary impact assessment methods, namely the CML-IA baseline method and the ReCiPe 2016 method, were applied. Environmental burdens were calculated per hectare of cultivated land and per ton of dry matter produced to capture both land-based and product-based performance. The choice of functional unit strongly influenced the interpretation of the environmental impact results. Per hectare, hay and haylage displayed comparable overall burdens, with haylage showing higher impacts in impact categories linked to plastic use and wrapping operations. Per ton of dry matter, however, haylage showed consistently lower impacts, attributed to greater biomass recovery and higher dry matter output, reflecting the combined effect of forage composition, crop productivity, and conservation efficiency. Hay systems showed greater burdens per unit of product under the evaluated farm conditions due to prolonged drying periods, repeated field operations, and higher biomass losses during harvesting and storage. The results suggest that, within the specific Mediterranean farm context analyzed, the combined effects of biomass preservation efficiency and crop productivity were important factors influencing environmental performance when impacts were expressed on an output basis. This case study contributes to current knowledge by identifying biomass recovery, rather than input minimization alone, as a key driver of sustainable forage conservation.

A critical challenge for modern agriculture is the adoption of sustainable and effective strategies, also in the medicinal and aromatic plant (MAP) sector. In many areas, MAP cultivation remains dependent on traditional farming systems, with a lack of innovative techniques. This study investigates the effect of the foliar application of two protein hydrolysates, one animal-derived (PH 1) and one plant-derived (PH 2), on oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) cultivated under rainfed conditions in a representative area of Sicily (Italy). The aim was to evaluate whether these types of biostimulants could enhance production yield compared to untreated plants. Results showed that both protein hydrolysates induced significant improvement of the agronomic responses compared to the control. Specifically, treatments stimulated a substantial enhancement in fresh biomass (increases from 1.9 to 6.5 t ha⁻¹) and dry biomass (increases from 0.9 to 2.4 t ha⁻¹). Total phenolics and antioxidant activity decreased by 15–24% and 7–15%, respectively, compared to control plants during the two years. However, the aromatic profile of the essential oils was not significantly affected by foliar application of the two protein hydrolysates. The use of these foliar biostimulants represents a sustainable and highly effective strategy to maximize productive parameters while maintaining the chemical stability required by the market, offering a significant contribution to the optimization of oregano cultivation.

This paper illustrates the results of a case study conducted in the Madonie Regional Park (Sicily, Italy) focusing on Prangos ferulacea (L.) Lindl. This species spontaneously grows in the area and plays an important role as forage plant, contributing to the production of traditional dairy products. A multidisciplinary approach was adopted to investigate the ecological characteristics and the chemical composition of the species, and to assess its effects on chemical and microbiological properties of raw milk and ricotta from grazing animals. Indices of bioindication were used to analyse the ecological features of the study area, and a change in the landscape has been observed. Samples of P. ferulacea were collected in the wild in specific plot areas. Chemical analyses were carried out to determine the main nutritional parameters of the species. Chemical and microbiological analyses were performed on raw milk and ricotta samples to evaluate their nutritional composition and quantify the main microbial groups. Raw milk showed no significant microbial differences between samples, with low levels of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and some Enterobacteriaceae and Escherichia coli (~10² CFU/mL), while pathogens like Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp., as well as spoilage yeasts were undetectable. Ricotta cheese showed a high hygienic profile, with LAB around 10⁴ CFU/g and no spoilage or pathogenic microbes detected, including STEC-negative E. coli. Additionally, SPME-GC/MS and LC/MS analyses were carried out to identify the phenolic compounds of the species with those of dairy products and showed how the contribution of P. ferulacea to ricotta was effective for the aromatic profile and negligible for the polyphenolic component.

Sulla coronaria L. Medik., a biennial forage legume typical of the Mediterranean basin, plays a significant role in foraging systems due to its high nutritional value, ability to increase ruminant live weight, and potential to reduce methane emissions. However, its allogamous nature complicates genetic improvement and the development of new varieties with desired traits. Given these challenges, this study aims to develop, for the first time, a successful protocol for the in vitro meristematic shoot regeneration of S. coronaria. The experiment utilizes four different flower explants (anther with filament, ovary, petals, and whole immature flower) collected from twenty distinct S. coronaria biotypes with three plant growth regulator (PGR) combinations and under both light and dark conditions. In terms of the regeneration response, the key factors appear to be the combinations of PGRs and the type of explant used. The interactions between all the factors do not seem to be significant.

The use of biostimulants in agriculture provides a sustainable and efficient technology to improve resource‐use efficiency. Biostimulants may boost vegetative growth, enhancing plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress. The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is sensitive to drought stress, particularly during fruit setting and fruit development stages. In Italy, long‐storage tomato genotypes characterised by drought resistance were selected. In this 2‐year study, the foliar application of different biostimulants (betaine, seaweed extracts, vegetal protein hydrolysate and animal protein hydrolysate) was evaluated to determine effects on yield and quality of a local tomato landrace (Pizzutello) cultivated in Sicily without irrigation. The highest dry matter (9.9%) and solid soluble content (6.9° Brix) were observed in plants treated with betaine. Plants treated with A. nodosum or animal protein hydrolysate showed the highest potassium concentrations, whereas those supplied with vegetal protein hydrolysate had the highest calcium concentrations. Tomato treated with betaine were found to have the highest nitrate concentrations. The highest marketable yield (13.8 t ha⁻¹) was recorded in plants treated with vegetal protein hydrolysate, with an increase of 17.4% compared to the control plants. The highest unmarketable yield was observed in control plants and in those treated with betaine (1.1 t ha^‐1). In conclusion, we can say that each biostimulant had a different effect on the different parameters analysed. Overall, the application of biostimulants has improved tomato growth, productivity and quality in limited water conditions. Our results highlight the potential of biostimulant applications to optimise both the yield and fruit quality of renowned local varieties. This study demonstrated the improvement in the agronomic performance of the Pizzutello tomato, which is particularly significant not only in response to the growing consumer demand for high‐quality traditional tomatoes, but also for the enhancement of the technological traits valued by the food industry.

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) mulching films have an important function in crop cultivation; at the end of their life, however, their removal and disposal become both an economic and environmental problem. One possible alternative to low-density polyethylene (LDPE) mulch is provided by certified soil-biodegradable mulch films, such as those produced by Novamont and commercially available under the trade name MaterBi^®. MaterBi is a biodegradable thermoplastic material made with starch and a biodegradable copolyester based on proprietary technology. In this study, we compared two biodegradable MaterBi^®-based films (commercial and experimental films) with bare soil and a low-density polyethylene to evaluate their effect on yield and on a number of qualitative characteristics (organoleptic and nutraceutical composition) of eggplant fruits (cv Mirabelle F1) grown in two different regions in Southern Italy (Sicily and Campania). In our study, the use of biodegradable MaterBi^® films improved not only yield and production parameters, such as the number and average weight of fruits, but also lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidant activity and phenolic and ascorbic acid content. For many parameters, responses differed according to the cultivation environment and, in particular, the site’s pedoclimatic conditions. Our results suggest that biodegradable MaterBi^®-based mulching films are a potentially valid alternative to traditional LDPEs, providing the production and quality benefits reported above and promoting environmental sustainability, thanks to their positive biodegradable properties.

In Sicilian forage systems, the introduction of native self-seeding annual legumes can be beneficial in low-input farming. Intercropping would be a valuable strategy for implementing pasture resources in Sicilian forage systems during late spring. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects on ewes’ milk production of continuous grazing with two different mixtures (i) sulla (Sulla coronarium L.), burr medic (Medicago polymorpha L.), and chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) (SuBuCh); and (ii) barrel medic (Medicago truncatula Gaertn.), snail medic (Medicago scutellata L.), and burr medic (BuSnBa). Twenty lactating ewes were homogeneously divided into four groups of five ewes. Each group was assigned to one of four 1500 m² grazing sectors consisting of two replicates of SuBuCh and BuSnBa. Ewes fed with the SuBuCh mixture showed higher milk yield, higher protein (5.17 vs. 4.85%, p < 0.001) and casein content (4.02 vs. 3.73%, p < 0.001), lower urea content (37.70 vs. 45.38 mg dL⁻¹, p < 0.001), and better clotting parameters compared to ewes grazing on the BuSnBa mixture. Finally, ewes in the SuBuCh group showed a smaller decrease in live weight at the end of the grazing period compared to BuSnBa ewes (−2.05 vs. −3.55 kg, respectively), although the difference did not reach a significant level. These preliminary one-year results seem to highlight the promising role of SuBuCh intercrop leading to a potential quantitative/qualitative improvement in grazing resources and the productive performance of grazing ewes in a semi-arid Mediterranean environment. However, it is of note that these outcomes might undergo variations when subjected to a prolonged trial extending beyond three years.