OAR@UM Community:

Effects of vegetation and land management on campus soil organic matter

2026-09-24T10:57:02Z

Title: Effects of vegetation and land management on campus soil organic matter Abstract: Soil organic matter (SOM) is a key indicator of soil quality, influencing nutrient availability, water retention, and overall ecosystem functioning. This study investigated the effects of land management practices and vegetation cover on SOM content in calcareous clay loam soils within the University of Malta campus. Six sites representing different land-use and vegetation treatments were examined: soil under olive trees, Aleppo pine trees, tilled agricultural soil, tilled non agricultural soil, natural vegetation, and a shallow valley site. Soil samples were collected from the upper 20 cm layer and analysed using the Loss on Ignition (LOI) method. Results showed significant differences in SOM among treatments. The highest SOM content was recorded under olive trees (11.98%), followed by Aleppo pines (10.33%), natural vegetation (9.07%), and the shallow valley site (8.22%). Lower SOM levels were observed in tilled non-agricultural soil (6.07%), while the lowest values occurred in tilled agricultural soil (4.96%). Statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA confirmed that land use and management practices significantly affected SOM content (P < 0.001). The findings indicate that permanent vegetation cover and minimal soil disturbance promote SOM accumulation through continuous organic inputs and reduced decomposition rates. In contrast, long-term tillage and cultivation accelerate organic matter loss. Although the LOI method may overestimate absolute SOM values in calcareous clay-rich soils, it remains effective for comparing treatments under identical analytical conditions. Overall, the study highlights the importance of vegetation cover and conservation-oriented land management practices in maintaining soil organic matter and improving soil quality in Mediterranean calcareous soils. Description: Dip. Agric.(Melit.)

Agricultural marketing centres in Malta and abroad

2026-09-24T10:54:44Z

Title: Agricultural marketing centres in Malta and abroad Abstract: The Maltese agricultural marketing centre is known as il-Pitkalija and it holds a near-monopoly on agricultural marketing in Malta and as a system it has its advantages and disadvantages. Farmers in Malta are on the decline and have gradually been relegated to field workers that cannot make ends meet without constant sacrifice. Agriculture in Malta is considered heavily laborious despite the revolution of modern technology especially in the age of digital solutions that epitomise the informational era. A hierarchy between players in the pitkalija prevails and it risks harming the legitimacy of the Maltese agriculture centre and bring into question fairness and equity of the pitkal auction system. The oligopoly of pitkala risks short-changing farmers, especially with pressure on the remaining links in the food chain that collectively profit on a distance between farmer and consumer by the process of marketing. Regulating and organising the auction bring the responsibility to make or break the profits, livelihood and potential of the farmers and therefore intermediary players in the food supply chain are in a position of power. Through this research, a desk-based investigation of whether the pitkalija is ideal for farmers and consumers in Malta is being conducted, proceeding to outline foreign solutions to agricultural marketing with a view to determine whether there are any lessons to be learned to bring local agriculture in line with modern standards and a fair deal for genuine farmers exploring solutions represented by farmer cooperatives, alternative supply chains and digital tools. Description: Dip. Agric.(Melit.)

Koperattiva Rurali Manikata : a versatile Maltese agricultural co-operative

2026-09-24T10:27:12Z

Title: Koperattiva Rurali Manikata : a versatile Maltese agricultural co-operative Abstract: Agricultural cooperatives have played a significant role in the economic and social development of Malta since the establishment of the cooperative movement in the late 1940s. While most Maltese agricultural cooperatives have traditionally focused on production, marketing, and the provision of services to farmers, Koperattiva Rurali Manikata (KRM) represents a distinctive and more diversified model of agricultural cooperation. This study examines the versatility of KRM and evaluates its contribution to agriculture, environmental conservation, cultural heritage preservation, rural tourism, education, and community development. The research adopts a qualitative desk-study approach based on the systematic review and analysis of secondary sources, including academic literature, legislation, policy documents, cooperative reports, and historical records. Site visits to Razzett tal-Qasam and the Rural Heritage Trail were also undertaken to document activities and facilities and to contextualise information obtained from documentary sources. Data were analysed using document analysis, thematic analysis, and comparative analysis techniques. The findings indicate that KRM differs significantly from traditional agricultural cooperatives operating in Malta. While maintaining its agricultural identity, KRM has successfully integrated multifunctional agricultural practices with environmental stewardship, heritage conservation, educational initiatives, community engagement, and rural tourism. The study also demonstrates that KRM embodies the principles of rural development cooperatives by involving a broad range of stakeholders and addressing wider community needs beyond agricultural production alone. The research concludes that KRM represents a unique and innovative model within the Maltese cooperative movement. Its multifunctional approach illustrates how agricultural cooperatives can contribute not only to economic sustainability but also to social cohesion, environmental protection, cultural preservation, and rural development. The study further contributes to addressing a notable gap in the literature concerning comparative analyses of Maltese agricultural cooperatives and the broader role of multifunctional rural cooperatives. Description: Dip. Agric.(Melit.)

Data-driven agriculture : big data applications across large-scale farming systems and lessons for Malta

2026-09-24T10:23:58Z

Title: Data-driven agriculture : big data applications across large-scale farming systems and lessons for Malta Abstract: The digitalisation of agricultural systems represents one of the most consequential technological transitions in the history of food production. This study critically evaluates Big Data applications across thirteen agricultural domains and assesses their transferability to Malta’s small-scale, water-stressed Mediterranean farming system, a country classified as the most water-stressed in Europe. Employing a four-part methodology, a systematic literature review of sources published between 2010 and 2025, a structured comparative case study analysis of six jurisdictions (United States, Brazil, Netherlands, Australia, Israel, and Cyprus), the development of an original Integrated Big Data Agricultural Value-Chain Framework (IBDAVC), and the Maltese Digital Agriculture Readiness and Priority Model (MDARP), the study documents substantial productivity gains from Big Data adoption internationally: yield prediction accuracy within 5–10% of harvest values, irrigation water savings of 20–40%, fertiliser reductions of 12–18%, and disease detection accuracy exceeding 90%. Applied to Malta, this evidence reveals an acute and worsening crisis: annual groundwater abstraction already exceeds the sustainable recharge rate by approximately 11 million m³, nitrate concentrations in agricultural catchment runoff reach up to 471 mg/L, nearly ten times the EU Groundwater Directive limit, across the Wied il-Għasel watershed, and system dynamics modelling projects catastrophic groundwater decline under all climate scenarios without corrective action. Applied through the MDARP, the interventions are ranked by contextual fit: a Precision Agriculture Service Unit ranks highest (3.93/5), followed by shared soil and salinity mapping (3.70/5), with smart irrigation scheduling scoring 3.43/5 on the strength of exceptional environmental need and policy alignment. The study concludes that while Malta’s structural constraints, 69.7% of holdings under one hectare, only 55% of farmers receiving CAP subsidies, farmland costing 24 times the EU average, are genuine, appropriately designed shared-service models and targeted public investment can enable meaningful digital agricultural transformation, provided enabling layers of data infrastructure, analytics capability, governance architecture, and human capital are developed in parallel. Description: Dip. Agric.(Melit.)