Soil amendments using organic fertilizers are widely used to dispose of animal waste, reduce environmental pollution and improve soil and fruit quality. A new study assessed the influence of plant- and animal-based soil amendments on soil nutrient availability, CO2 respiration (soil health indicator), yield and phytochemicals of artichoke (Cynara cardunculus cv. 179) heads. After two years of organic soil amended with plant-based fertilizer (alfalfa meal), soil respiration and content of organic matter (OM) was higher than when using animal-based fertilizers (fish meal, blood meal, and chicken manure). Conversely, marketable yield from soil amended with chicken manure and a fish meal was higher but with heads having less concentration of phytochemicals than those modified with alfalfa meal. Plant-based fertilizer can be an ideal option to improve soil and head quality of artichokes, but animal-based sources might be an appropriate choice for organic farmers when yield and cost are the main concerns. A second study also assessed the influence of organic and conventional production systems on growth, yield, quality and soil chemical properties of 7 artichoke cultivars. Overall the open pollinated cv. Imperial Star had the lowest yield and head quality. Plants grown in a conventional field have higher growth, physiological responses, and returns in comparison with an organic field; however, the latter produced higher quality artichoke heads with an increase in chlorogenic acid by 31% and cynarin by 12%. Notably, soil respiration-CO2 in the organic field increased by 20-fold compared to the conventional field. Our study suggests that organic farming was the best system to improve soil and artichoke head quality, but it may not be the best option for farmers when yield is the primary target short-term.
