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Agroecology and Precision Agriculture as Combined Approaches to Increase Field-Scale Crop Resilience and Sustainability

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  • Elisa Fischetti

    (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Centro di Ricerca Ingegneria e Trasformazioni Agroalimentari, Via della Pascolare 16, 00015 Rome, Italy)

  • Claudio Beni

    (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Centro di Ricerca Ingegneria e Trasformazioni Agroalimentari, Via della Pascolare 16, 00015 Rome, Italy)

  • Enrico Santangelo

    (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Centro di Ricerca Ingegneria e Trasformazioni Agroalimentari, Via della Pascolare 16, 00015 Rome, Italy)

  • Marco Bascietto

    (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Centro di Ricerca Ingegneria e Trasformazioni Agroalimentari, Via della Pascolare 16, 00015 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

This study coupled precision agriculture with agroecology to improve the agricultural systems’ sustainability in a climate variability context, characterized by fewer rainy days and more extreme events. A three-year comparative analysis was carried out in a durum wheat rotation, divided into two plots of 2.5 ha each, one managed with conventional methods (CP, sunflower as intermediate crop) and another managed with an agroecological approach (AE, field bean as green manure crop), featuring prescription maps for site-specific mineral fertilization. The statistical analysis of durum wheat parameters, soil characteristics, and economic variables was conducted alongside the examination of climatic data. In AE soil, the exchangeable calcium was statistically different from CP soil (6044 mg kg −1 and 5660 mg kg −1 , respectively). Cation exchange capacity was significantly higher in AE (32.7 meq 100 g −1 ), compared to CP (30.9 meq 100 g −1 ). In AE, wheat yield (2.36 t ha −1 ) was higher than in CP (2.07 t ha −1 ), despite extreme rainfall causing flooding in some parts of the AE plot. The economic balance was only 6% in favor of CP (EUR + 2157), confirming the AE approach’s resilience (EUR + 2027), despite the higher costs of cover cropping and site-specific fertilization. The novelty of integration between “smartish” precision agriculture and agroecology allows for sustainable management.

Suggested Citation

  • Elisa Fischetti & Claudio Beni & Enrico Santangelo & Marco Bascietto, 2025. "Agroecology and Precision Agriculture as Combined Approaches to Increase Field-Scale Crop Resilience and Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-19, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:3:p:961-:d:1576379
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gaetano Pellicone & Tommaso Caloiero & Ilaria Guagliardi, 2019. "The De Martonne aridity index in Calabria (Southern Italy)," Journal of Maps, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(2), pages 788-796, July.
    2. Marco Bascietto & Enrico Santangelo & Claudio Beni, 2021. "Spatial Variations of Vegetation Index from Remote Sensing Linked to Soil Colloidal Status," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-15, January.
    3. Enrico Santangelo & Claudio Beni & Loredana Oreti & Adriano Palma & Marco Bascietto, 2023. "Vulnerability of Wheat Crops to Flooding Outweighs Benefits from Precision Farming and Agroecology Practices: A Case Study in Central Italy," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-17, April.
    4. Jon T. Biermacher & B. Wade Brorsen & Francis M. Epplin & John B. Solie & William R. Raun, 2009. "The economic potential of precision nitrogen application with wheat based on plant sensing," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 40(4), pages 397-407, July.
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