sustainable-horticulture
Sustainable horticulture is the practice of cultivating fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants in ways that minimize environmental impact, conserve natural resources, and maintain long-term soil and ecosystem health. For plant scientists, it bridges fundamental research in plant physiology, soil biology, and ecology with practical growing systems that reduce reliance on synthetic inputs. Understanding how plants interact with their environment under low-intervention conditions drives innovation in breeding, integrated pest management, and resource-efficient cultivation techniques.
open_in_new WikipediaEurope PMC · 2026-04-26
Spraying peach trees with a combination of zinc nanoparticles and spirulina algae extract nearly doubled fruit yield and dramatically improved sweetness and firmness while cutting post-harvest rot by nearly half. This simple foliar treatment could offer peach growers a practical, high-impact tool for boosting both quantity and quality of their harvest.
Fruit yield per tree more than doubled (+107.5%) under the optimal treatment of 2500 ppm spirulina extract combined with 6 mL/L zinc nanoparticles.
Fruit sweetness (measured as total soluble solids) increased by 83.7% and firmness improved by 62.9%, significantly enhancing eating quality.
Post-harvest fruit decay dropped by 44.5% with the combined treatment, reducing spoilage losses after harvest.
