Rachid Bouamri

This study investigated the synergistic effects of integrating date palm biochar, compost, and compost tea on soil fertility, microbial activity, and tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum “Roma”) growth under controlled conditions within an agroecological framework. Five treatments were evaluated: control soil, compost tea, date palm biochar combined with compost tea, compost combined with compost tea, and a combined application of date palm biochar, compost, and compost tea. Soil physicochemical properties, enzymatic activities, microbial populations, and plant growth parameters were assessed. The combined application of date palm biochar, compost, and compost tea resulted in the most pronounced improvements in soil properties, including a 51.9% increase in organic carbon, a 2.1% increase in total nitrogen, and enhanced cation exchange capacity. Soil enzymatic activities, including β-glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase, and urease, increased significantly, reflecting improved nutrient cycling, while microbial populations (bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes) were also significantly enhanced. These improvements were associated with superior plant performance, as evidenced by higher leaf nitrogen (2.19%), phosphorus (0.53%), and potassium (4.64%) concentrations, increased plant height and stem diameter, greater biomass accumulation, and improved chlorophyll content. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of date palm biochar, compost, and compost tea as sustainable alternatives to conventional fertilizers and provide the first evidence of the synergistic effects of this specific triple-amendment strategy as an integrated agroecological practice for improving soil quality and tomato production. Further research is required to validate these results under field conditions across diverse agroecological systems.

The one health approach recognizes the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health, emphasizing that human health should never be threatened in the pursuit of agricultural productivity. Indeed, within agricultural systems, this approach is particularly relevant, as the overuse of chemical inputs and the mismanagement of organic wastes can directly threaten human health. Overuse of chemical inputs can result in various health disturbances and contribute to the development of acute or chronic human diseases. Likewise, organic wastes constitute potential human health risks due to the presence of pathogens in these wastes such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Despite increasing research, many studies often lack integrated risk assessments of agrochemicals and organic waste within a “One Health” framework, leaving gaps in practical guidance for safe agricultural management. This review was conducted to address these gaps and answer the following questions: What are the human health risks associated with agrochemicals and mismanaged organic wastes? How can composting/compost mitigate these risks and support sustainable agricultural production? It examines the role of composting in managing organic wastes, producing high-quality compost, and reducing exposure to hazardous chemicals and pathogens. Furthermore, it outlines key characteristics of compost required to ensure safety for humans, plants, soil, and ecosystems. By integrating evidence on human health and crop productivity, this review provides insights for safe, sustainable agricultural practices within a unified One Health framework.

In the heart of Moroccan oases, date palm trees stand as the lifeblood of local communities, serving as both a livelihood cornerstone and a dietary treasure trove. Morocco has long been a leading date fruit producer. Yet, amidst the palm groves, several environmental, technical, and socio-economic challenges have threatened the sustainability of this ancient crop. This study assesses the constraints and limitations of the date palm production system in Tafilalet oases that have kept this crop from reaching its full potential. A total of 56 producers were interviewed using an open- closed survey, illuminating interviews with key informants, dynamic focus group discussions, and direct observations in palm groves. The findings reveal that primary restrictions and barriers impeding the progress of this sector are: producers’ moderate education level and the limited adoption of technological innovation, few opportunities given to young producers, palm groves’ fragmentation, poor management of date fruits, low imports of the necessary inputs (fertilisers, irrigation, etc.), and the poor organisation of the marketing circuit (storage and packaging). Advocate renewed commitment to preserve and modernise palm groves, blending heritage with modern practices for thriving, sustainable date palm production. It is entirely conceivable to produce organic dates in the region since producers use a few quantities of chemical products, notably fertilisers and phytosanitary products.

The sustainability of date palm production in Tafilalet’s palm groves is threatened by many constraints related to the dryland's severe environment, climate change, and improper human activities. Biotechnological innovations are new agricultural research discoveries increasingly used to improve...

The inflorescence rot is a very dangerous cryptogamic disease that is prevalent in all phoeniculture regions and causes heavy economic losses. The identification and characterization of the causal agent is a key step to tackling this disease, and such studies are very scanty in Morocco. This work was carried out in Darâa Tafilalet region South-East Morocco during 2020-2021 to isolate and identify the fungi that cause inflorescence rot on date palm and to try to combat the disease with various fungicides. We collected 48 infected samples from different varieties of date palm. The isolation results revealed that Mauginiella scaettae is the primary causal agent of date palm inflorescence rot at all sites investigated. In terms of in vitro experiments, we examined seven fungicides (difenoconazole, boscalid-pyraclostrobin combination, thiophanate-methyl, copper oxychloride, tribasic copper sulfate, copper sulfate, and wettable sulfur) based on their antifungal activity against the causal agent, M. scaettae. Data on the effects of these fungicides on pathogen mycelial growth, spore germination, and sporulation show that difenoconazole, the combination Boscalid-Pyraclostrobin, and Thiophanate-methyl totally controlled M. scaettae at only 25% of the recommended dose, whereas Copper Oxychloride, Tribasic Copper Sulfate, and Copper Sulfate had a significant inhibitory effect on all three stages. Wettable sulfur was the least effective.