This study examined planting seasons, crop rotation, and seed utilization across nine Andean p rovinces i n Ecuador: Carchi, I mbabura, Pichincha, C otopaxi, T ungurahua, C himborazo, Cañar, Azuay, and Loja. A total of 67 farms, representing 60.9% of those surveyed, employed legumes such as peas, beans, broad beans, lupins, and green beans to enhance soil fertility through rotation or intercropping. Among the 110 farms surveyed, 59 (53.6%) implemented a combined crop rotation scheme (including both pastures-to-crop and crop-to-crop rotations), 27 (24.5%) utilized a crop-to-crop rotation, and 18 (16.4%) focused solely on pastures-to-crop rotation. High-quality or certified seeds developed by the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIAP) were used in 58 fields (19% of the surveyed fields), while the remaining 81% relied on self-saved seeds. These findings indicate that family farming in the Ecuadorian Andes is increasingly adopting sustainable agricultural practices that are resilient to climate change, thereby promoting biodiversity through the use of locally adapted agricultural resources.

This study assessed suitable lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cultivars and lighting conditions for indoor hydroponic cultivation in Mongolia, examining their applicability in a household-scale vertical farming system. Three cultivars— ‘Jeokchima,’ ‘Cheongsangchu,’ and ‘Meiguodashusheng’— were grown under two lighting treatments: LEDs and T5 LEDs. ‘Jeokchima’ demonstrated the most consistent and superior growth across both harvests, exhibiting significantly higher leaf length, SPAD value, dry weight, and leaf number compared to the other cultivars. The use of LED lighting enhanced all growth parameters, except for petiole length, compared to T5, highlighting its advantages in arid indoor environments. Based on these findings, a compact three-tier Deep Water Culture (DWC) system was designed as a model for urban households, facilitating year-round lettuce production in limited indoor spaces. This model shows promise for enhancing vegetable self-sufficiency and food security in Mongolia. Further research on optimizing light spectra, managing photoperiods, and diversifying cultivars is recommended.

To investigate the relationship between diseases and abnormal symptoms during the cultivation of summer Kimchi cabbage, we developed molecular markers for four pathogens: Pseudomonas marginalis pv. marginalis (Pmm), Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc), Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora (Ecc), and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. conglutianans (Foc). These markers produced specific bands for each pathogen, indicating their potential for pathogen detection. We conducted molecular diagnoses to analyze the infection status and examine the association of these four pathogens, along with Verticillium dahliae (VD), with the abnormal symptoms observed in highland summer Kimchi cabbage. The analysis successfully detected several pathogens; however, discrepancies were noted in pathogen detection for similar symptoms, highlighting the need for further research to pinpoint the exact causes. The primary pathogens identified were Foc, Xcc, and Ecc. In samples where no pathogens were detected, the abnormal symptoms were suspected to stem from boron deficiency, which can manifest as drying, or from water stress due to low humus content in soils, exacerbated by frequent rainfall. To accurately determine the causes of abnormal symptoms in highland summer Kimchi cabbage related to climate change, it is essential to expand molecular diagnostics to include a broader range of pathogens. Concurrent research on nutritional and physiological disorders is also recommended.

This study aimed to identify and evaluate potential alternative substrate materials for the cultivation of Lentinula edodes (shiitake mushrooms) to address the growing instability in the supply of oak sawdust. A selection of locally abundant resources, including citrus branches, buckwheat hulls, Cryptomeria japonica sawdust, Miscanthus, and Sasa quelpaertensis, was evaluated as potential substitutes for oak sawdust. The results indicated that Miscanthus is rich in iron and manganese, which are essential cofactors for lignocellulose-degrading enzymes, such as cellulases, laccases, and peroxidases. In vitro mycelial growth assays (column tests) indicated that Miscanthus facilitated the most rapid growth among the alternative substrates for the shiitake strains ‘Chamaram’, ‘L808, ’ and ‘Haleumang’.’ For the strains 'Sanjo 701' and 'Nongjingo’, both oak sawdust and Miscanthus demonstrated comparable mycelial growth rates. Further cultivation tests with the strain ‘L808’ revealed that Miscanthus, whether used independently or in combination with oak sawdust, resulted in cultivation periods, primordia formation, and yield characteristics comparable to those achieved with the oak sawdust medium. These findings suggest that Miscanthus has significant potential as an alternative substrate for shiitake cultivation. However, as the study employed small, laboratory-scale blocks weighing approximately 300 g, while farm-scale blocks typically weigh 1.3–1.5 kg, fruiting was limited to a first flush harvest. Consequently, additional validation using farm-scale blocks is necessary to assess their practical applicability.