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The impact of tillage on soil organic matter

2025-11-20T10:55:48Z

Title: The impact of tillage on soil organic matter Abstract: This study investigates the impact of long-term tillage on soil organic matter (SOM) content across two soil depths. Soil samples were collected from a number of sites with conventional tillage and from adjacent agricultural land that has remained untilled for over 20 years. Samples were taken at two depths (0–15 cm and 15–30 cm), and SOM was determined using the loss-on-ignition method. Statistical analysis using post-hoc pairwise comparisons (Holm-Sidak method) revealed a highly significant difference (p < 0.001) in SOM between tilled and untilled soils. However, no significant difference was observed between topsoil and subsoil SOM levels (p = 0.178). Within both depth layers, SOM was significantly higher in the untilled soil compared to the tilled soil (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively). Differences in SOM between depths within the same tillage treatment were not statistically significant (p > 0.2). These findings indicate that tillage is the primary factor influencing SOM content, causing a substantial decline in SOM regardless of soil depth, while depth alone had no significant effect and no interaction between tillage and depth was observed. Description: Dip. Agric.(Melit.)

The use of Xerophytes for sustainable landscaping in the Maltese Islands

2025-11-20T10:54:36Z

Title: The use of Xerophytes for sustainable landscaping in the Maltese Islands Abstract: The aim of this project is to give an overview of how xerophytes can be included to improve urban landscaping in Malta. Xerophytes are defined and explored. The study identifies the climate of the Maltese Islands and the reason these plants fit better in landscape. Great emphasis is placed on the need to practise water saving techniques, given the long period of droughts experienced on the Islands. The approach to ideal landscaping is discussed together with the challenges and opportunities that it brings. Current landscaping scenarios in Malta reveal areas where xerophytes can be introduced to make local neighbourhoods appear greener. Description: Dip. Agric.(Melit.)

First record of Duilius bipunctatus (Fieber, 1866) (Hemiptera : Auchenorrhyncha : Cixiidae), a Tamarix-feeding planthopper, from Malta

2025-11-10T07:29:48Z

Title: First record of Duilius bipunctatus (Fieber, 1866) (Hemiptera : Auchenorrhyncha : Cixiidae), a Tamarix-feeding planthopper, from Malta Authors: Gjonov, Ilia; Mifsud, David Abstract: The genus Duilius Stål, 1858 is a member of the planthopper family Cixiidae and the sole representative of the tribe Duiliini Emeljanov, 2002. Currently, 22 species of the genus are known, which are grouped into three subgenera: Duilius Stål (17 species), Duiliopsisde Bergevin, 1933 (1 species) and BitropisDlabola, 1985 (4 species) (Emeljanov, 2015, Bourgoin, 2019, Dmitriev et al. 2022 onward). Species in this genus are distinguished from other cixiids by the following morphological features: elongated and slender body, obsoletekeels on the postclypeus, lack of medianocellus, distinct median keel on the vertex and three mesonotal keels (Emeljanov 2002, 2015, Holzinger 2002). They are distributed in the Palaearctic and Ethiopian realms (Huang & Holzinger 2010). Most species are recorded from plants of the genus TamarixL. (Tamaricaceae) (Emeljanov 2012). Three species, namely D.bipunctatus(Fieber, 1866), D. seticulosus (Lethierry, 1874) and D. viridulus(Horváth, 1895), are recorded from Europe, having a mainly Mediterranean distribution. All three species are known to occur in Sicily, with which the Maltese islands share a common geological history, at least during the Glacial Maximum when the Sicilian south-eastern corner was connected to the Malta-Gozo insular system by a narrow strip of land (Cappadonia et al. 2018).

Apis florea in Europe : first report of the dwarf honey bee in Malta

2025-11-03T08:13:18Z

Title: Apis florea in Europe : first report of the dwarf honey bee in Malta Authors: Uzunov, Aleksandar; Galea, Thomas; Chen, Chao; Cilia, Giovanni; Costa, Cecilia; Mifsud, David Abstract: The Red dwarf honey bee (Apis florea), is a single-comb open-nesting member of the genus Apis with a natural distribution area stretching from the Indomalayan realm on the east to the Persian Gulf on the west. However, it is reportedly colonising new territories mainly due to anthropogenic activities. Nowadays it can be found from Taiwan on the east, to Jordan, the Arabian Peninsula and North-eastern Africa on the west. Here we present the first scientific record of a fully established colony of A. florea in Europe. The colony was found on Malta, a crossway of naval routes in the Mediterranean Sea. We documented the incident with photos, collected samples of workers and drones and sequenced the mtDNA COI gene to confirm assignment to A. florea. Also, we alert the competent authorities and the beekeeping community to be vigilant and ready to undertake effective eradication measures. In the paper, we discuss the risks and the potential consequences associated with the invasion of A. florea in Europe.