Although several studies have investigated the aboveground production of perennial herbaceous spe... more Although several studies have investigated the aboveground production of perennial herbaceous species for biomass production, only a few details are available on their root systems and water balance. This paper provides a root system characterization and a water balance calculation for ten perennial herbaceous species (Arctium lappa L., Arundo donax L., Carex acutiformis Ehrh., Carex riparia Curtis, Glyceria maxima (Hartm.) Holmb., Helianthus tuberosus L., Iris pseudacorus L., Lythrum salicaria L., Miscanthus x giganteus Greef et Deu., Symphitum x uplandicum Nyman) cultivated with high fertilizer and water inputs in a fouryear study. Crop evapotranspiration (ETc) maintained the same seasonal trend for all studied species, with the highest cumulative seasonal average water losses for A. donax (1675.1 mm) and the lowest for G. maxima (1406.0 mm). During the growing season, crop coefficients followed a similar trend to that reported for ETc, with average seasonal values ranging from 1.9 for A. lappa and G. maxima to 2.6 for M. x giganteus. For all species soil moisture was higher in the deeper soil layers (20-50 and 50-90 cm) than in the upper (0-20 cm) where a high root system biomass was observed. At the end of the study, different root system biomass productions were found between species with the highest median value at 0-50 cm depth for M. x giganteus (62.6 Mg ha −1) and the lowest for S. x uplandicum (0.5 Mg ha −1). Since these topics have not been well investigated in other studies, our initial results need to be confirmed in different climatic conditions.
Background and aims Organic fertilizers and cover crops (CC) are considered crucial strategies to... more Background and aims Organic fertilizers and cover crops (CC) are considered crucial strategies to pursue the objective of increasing soil organic carbon (SOC). The present research focuses on an 'on farm experimentation' to assess the combined effects of organic fertilization with different biomasses, CC and irrigation on SOC stock. Methods A 4-year on-farm experimentation was co-developed with local farmers and a land reclamation authority in northeastern Italy on a biennial maize-soybean rotation. We examined the effects of two organic fertilizers (compost or digestate), three CC treatments (a fixed cover crop speciesx triticosecale; a succession of cover crop species-Sinapis alba and Lolium multiflorum; no CC) under rainfed and irrigated conditions on the SOC content and stock, and crops yields. Results All these integrated practices-except when digestate was applied in the field in the absence of a CC under rainfed conditions-determined a significant increase of the SOC stock after 4 years, matching the goals set by the '4 per mille' initiative. The highest SOC increase was observed under irrigated management and compost fertilization, regardless of the presence or absence of a CC (range: 9.3-10.3 Mg ha −1 in the first 0-40 cm of soil). Soybean grain yields were comparable with those obtained in farms of the same rural district under business as usual, but maize grain yields were lower. Conclusion SOC accumulation is achievable in the short term with abundant applications of organic biomass, but the strategy might lead to economic loss such as lower maize productivity.
Covering building rooftops with vegetation [Green roofs (GR)] holds promise for lowering building... more Covering building rooftops with vegetation [Green roofs (GR)] holds promise for lowering building temperatures, reducing stormwater runoff, and other ecosystem services, but it is unclear how this will impact greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. GHG emissions may also be influenced by vegetation type, substrate depth, and irrigation level and we sought to test this by comparing daytime greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (CH4, CO2, and N2O) and daily temperatures, from 48 GR microcosms in North-eastern Italy during a dry-hot summer season (June to September). The microcosms were planted with Sedum spp., cold season grasses, warm season grasses, or wildflowers to a substrate depth of 8 cm or 14 cm, and with an average irrigation level of 1 or 2 mm d-1 for a total of 16 treatments with 3 replicates. We found that vegetation type had a significant effect on temperature [median temp. of 24.8 °C (Sedum) vs 25.5 °C (warm season grasses)] and CH4, CO2, and N2O emissions. While all species emitted net CO2 (median values from 147 to 671 mg m-2 h-1) and captured net N2O (median values were negative from -0.06 to -0.28 mg m-2 h-1)— highlighting a potential GR ecosystem service with a beneficial effect on the environment— CH4 had net negative values (capture) only in microcosms with wildflowers (-0.07 mg m-2 h-1) whereas other treatments had a median emission of 0.09 mg m-2 h-1 . Substrate depth significantly affected CO2 and N2O fluxes with deeper substrate leading to higher CO2 emission (+ 60.7%) and greater N2O uptake (+ 30.8%). Irrigation level only significantly influenced N2O fluxes with a significantly higher uptake supplying 2 mm (-0.20 mg m-2 h-1) than in the 1 mm (-0.09 mg m-2 h-1) irrigation treatments. Our study suggests that, in a hot summer season, GRs can improve N2O and CH4 capture, but will likely increase CO2 emissions and that vegetation type and substrate depth can significantly alter emissions and are thus important design parameters.
Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, May 31, 2020
BACKGROUND: Aquaponics is considered a sustainable system for the production of fish and vegetabl... more BACKGROUND: Aquaponics is considered a sustainable system for the production of fish and vegetables. However, little is known about the effects of different system variables on vegetable quality. Hence, the aims of this study were to evaluate the influence of aquaponics on the composition and quality traits of three vegetable species in relation to stoking density of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), in comparison with those of plants grown in hydroponics.
This paper represents an union point between two emerging issues: the productive potential derive... more This paper represents an union point between two emerging issues: the productive potential derived from anaerobic digestion residues (ADRs) and the cultivation of sweet potato, an innovative species in Europe. The trial was carried out in open field condition in 2014 and 2015 comparing three fertilization treatments. ADRs were used to partially or completely substitute mineral N crop requirements: i) 50% N through ADRs and 50% N through mineral fertilizer (T50); ii) 75% N through ADRs and 25% N through mineral fertilizer (T75); iii) 100% N through ADRs (T100). Two controls treatments were also predisposed, one unfertilized (T0), and one with only mineral fertilization (TMIN). The highest significant aerial biomass yield (> 57 t ha −1) was showed by T75 whereas no differences were found among other treatments (46 t ha −1). The highest significant marketable yield was showed by T75 and T100 (16 t ha −1). The marketable yield showed the highest value in 2015 with almost 16 t ha −1 with an year effect on root size. During the experiment harvest index ranged from 20.5% (TMIN) to 26.9% (T100). The nitrogen agronomic efficiency was greatly lower (−59.1%) in 2014 as a result of the high rainfall amount compared to 2015. T75 treatment showed the highest nitrogen agronomic efficiency, apparent recovery efficiency and utilization efficiency. The highest content of nitrates in aerial biomass was detected in combination with the N organic treatments. The storage roots harvested in 2014 presented a higher concentration of glucose (+19.7%) and fructose (+29.4%) than that harvested in 2015. The concentration of glucose and fructose increased with the amount of nitrogen supplied with ADRs. The obtained results offer potentially useful data for producers order to demonstrate the usability of ADRs as an alternative to traditional mineral fertilization in sweet potato cultivation.
This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service... more This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. Highlights Micro aquaponic system (1.5 m 2) reliably mimics a full-scale system (>50 m 2). Cumulative energy demand of proposed micro AP system for a class of 25 students is 41.6 kWh student-1 year-1. "Production" and "Electricity" were the highest LCA environmental impact contributors. "Water consumption" was the lowest LCA environmental impact contributor.
The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of soil texture and primary tillage type on soil... more The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of soil texture and primary tillage type on soil CO 2 emission and maize biomass production after digestate liquid fraction (DLF) spreading. The study was conducted in 2014 in two open fields at Terrasa Padovana (farm 1) and Bovolenta (farm 2) in the Veneto Region of Italy. Soil CO 2 emission after digestate spreading was evaluated by comparing the effect of soil texture (sandy loam vs. clay loam) at farm 1 and the effect of long-term primary tillage management (>10 years) (ripping vs. plowing) in clay loam soil at farm 2. Unamended soil was considered the control at both farms. DLF was supplied before maize (Zea mays L.) sowing at a dose equal to 170 kg total nitrogen ha-1 using a splash-plate technique. DLF spreading determined a CO 2 emission peak 1 h after spreading at both farms, with median emission values of 8.93 and 4.35 g m-2 h-1 , respectively, from the sandy loam and clay loam soils at farm 1. At farm 2, primary tillage type did not exert a significant effect on CO 2 emission peak, with a median value of 5.85 g m-2 h-1. About three days after DLF distribution, soil CO 2 fluxes were less than 1 g m-2 h-1. The first soil harrowing and the first rainfall event after spreading determined significantly higher CO 2 emissions from amended plots than from unamended plots for a few hours. At farm 1, soil CO 2 emission during the maize growing season was significantly higher in the amended plots (+1.7 times) than in the unamended plots, which showed a median emission value of 0.29 g m-2 h-1 ; soil texture and tillage exerted no significant influence. Maize yield at dough stage was not significantly influenced by DLF at farm 1, with 22.7 ±1.6 Mg ha-1 and 18.7 ±2.8 Mg ha-1 in the clay loam and sandy loam soils, respectively. At farm 2, the distribution of DLF increased maize biomass production by +17% with respect to the unamended treatment that produced 18.0 ±2.4 Mg ha-1. Although the results reported in this article concern data from only one year, and further long-term experiments are needed to confirm our findings, they indicate that CO 2 emissions after digestate distribution are lower in a clay loam soil than in a sandy loam soil and are not affected by primary tillage type.
The role played by organic farming as an alternative system to conventional farming is widely que... more The role played by organic farming as an alternative system to conventional farming is widely questioned, since conflicting results on crop yields sometimes greatly affect system efficiency. As a result, prolonged monitoring studies on organic (OF) and conventional farming (CF) systems are still required, especially in real-life farm conditions, in which the entire production process is quantified. In this context, this study reports crop yields (winter wheat, maize, soybean) and energy efficiency, over a 13-year monitoring period, on a farm in northeast Italy in which two sectors are farmed following OF and CF practices. Results showed that organic yields were always lower than conventional ones, averaging 69%, although their range varied greatly over the years (from 45% to 90%) and depended on crop type. Several management constraints had effects on the lower yields, especially reduced available nutrients and cropping season, but also the timings and types of tillage operations. By contrast, OF practices usually had positive effects on the environment, due to reduced energy input mainly fertilisation (−33.4% MJ ha −1 y −1) and the generally higher productivity of invested energy (E Out E In −1 = 4.53 in OF and 4.28 in CF); energy use differences per product unit were mainly equal. Other factors, such as local climate and soil variability, may have influenced system performance, but as the two experimental sites were located at a distance of 3.5 km from each other, the data reported here are still valuable, in that they represent the results of 13 years of monitoring, during which farm management played a major role. This case study, although conducted in two separate sites, did not highlight the best overall solution at farm level, it does indicate that the agricultural systems applied would be better suited for different situations and targets (e.g., productive, energetic, ecologic).
Fish production in aquaculture is continuously increasing worldwide and the need for further incr... more Fish production in aquaculture is continuously increasing worldwide and the need for further increases is expected in the future. Aquaculture has several disadvantages considering environmental impact and water consumption, consequently aquaponic (AP) systems were proposed as one of the possible solutions for these issues. Although AP is an effective combination of vegetable and fish production, there is a mismatch between the nutrients provided by the fish compartment and the requirements of the plants. Once the system becomes limiting for the plant growth (usually P and/or K elements), the remaining N accumulates in the system water. Therefore it is necessary to replace periodically the system water. This work is focused on this specific phase: investigating the further utilization of the AP system water that is depleted of P and K, but still rich in N. This system water (FW) was used in a separate aquaponic mesocosm and compared with the same water supplemented with macro-nutrients (CFW) and with a hydroponic control (HC). Mizuna (M) and rocket salad (R) were used as short-cycle vegetables crops in a NFT system. Evapotranspiration in the system and water quality parameters were significantly influenced by the treatments. The starting N-NO 3 concentration, similar in all systems, decreased by 31.2% in FW, 72.0% in HC and 82.7% in CFW. SPAD, plant height and total yield highlighted the inability of FW to meet the nutritional needs of both species. The highest production was recorded for CFW followed by HC (-7.5%) and FW (-74.7%) probably due to the presence of organic compounds with biostimulant activity. Mizuna was able to absorb more nutrients, because of the production of a developed root system. FW must be integrated with macro-and mesonutrients in order to ensure a suitable production; the use of CFW for short-cycle vegetable cultivation is an effective solution to manage the fish water at the end of an AP cycle, achieving significant production, reducing nitrogen load and further reducing the environmental impact of the system.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License The present study assesse... more Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License The present study assessed the effects of two initial stocking densities (low-LD, 4.23 kg m-3 , moderate-MD, 8.05 kg m-3) on growth, health and fillet quality of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), and on yield of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and radicchio (Cichorium intybus group Rubifolium) produced in a low-tech recirculating aquaponic system. A total of 104 largemouth bass (initial body weight: 236 ± 38 g) were randomly stocked in eight 500 L tanks (four per stocking density) and monitored during a 70-day period. Vegetables yield was similar in LD and MD groups. Lettuce yield (6.33 kg m-2) was in line with typical values, whereas radicchio showed a negligible yield (1.34 kg m-2). Likewise, fish final weight (263 g, on average), specific growth rate (0.17% d-1), feed conversion ratio (2.72), and mortality (4.8%) did not differ between treatments. Fish morphometric indices, slaughter results and fillet quality were not affected by stocking density. In conclusion, the production of lettuce was successful in the tested system, whereas the production of radicchio did not achieve satisfactory results. Growth performances of the largemouth bass were poor and further investigations are required to optimize the rearing of this fish species in low-tech aquaponic systems.
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an essential source of food proteins and an important comp... more Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an essential source of food proteins and an important component of sustainable agriculture systems around the world. Thus, conserving and exploiting the genetic materials of this crop species play an important role in achieving global food safety and security through the preservation of functional and serependic opportunities afforded by plant species diversity. Our research aimed to collect and perform agronomic, morpho-phenological, molecular-genetic, and nutraceutical characterizations of common bean accessions, including lowland and mountain Venetian niche landraces (ancient farmer populations) and Italian elite lineages (old breeder selections). Molecular characterization with SSR and SNP markers grouped these accessions into two well-separated clusters that were linked to the original Andean and Mesoamerican gene pools, which was consistent with the outputs of ancestral analysis. Genetic diversity in the two main clusters was not distribu...
Aquaculture allows fish cultivation under controlled conditions and it is often considered as a s... more Aquaculture allows fish cultivation under controlled conditions and it is often considered as a sustainable solution that determines economic development while safeguarding environmental resources. Furthermore, over the past few decades wetland systems have been used for water treatment as they can break down pollutants through the interaction between plants, soil and microorganisms. For this reason, a trial was conducted at the University of Padova (Italy), combining these two systems. It took place in the North of Italy from 21/07/2011 to 18/11/2011. Two tanks were set up for aquaculture, both connected to a mechanical/biological filtration system, but only one with the inclusion of Tech-IA, a floating mat that allows herbaceous plants to float on the water surface, carrying out their purifying function without the aid of a substrate. About 30 kg of carp (Cyprinus carpio) were released in each tank. Several parameters were measured during the trial to assess the water quality and each carp was weighed at the end. The results obtained by the tank with Tech-IA showed better water quality data and a faster carp growth rate.
The current agricultural system faces several challenges, the most important being the ability to... more The current agricultural system faces several challenges, the most important being the ability to feed the increasing world population and mitigate climate change. In this context, the improvement of fertilizers’ agronomic efficiency while reducing their cost and environmental impact is one of the biggest tasks. Available literature shows that many efforts have been made to develop innovative fertilizers defined as ‘smart fertilizers’, for which, different interpretations and definitions have been used. This paper aims to define, classify, and describe the new frontier of the so-called smart fertilizers with a particular focus on field-scale studies on herbaceous species. Most of the analysed papers associate the ‘smart’ concept to the controlled and/or slow release of nutrients, using both terms as synonymous. Some others broadened the concept, including the controlled release of nutrients to reduce the environmental impact. Based on our critical analysis of the available literatur...
Abstract No-tillage (NT) has widely been promoted as a conservation practice that also offsets ag... more Abstract No-tillage (NT) has widely been promoted as a conservation practice that also offsets agriculture-driven greenhouse gases and boosts agroecosystem performance. While most studies have focused on the effects of no-till on nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide fluxes, much less attention has been paid to the impacts on methane (CH4) emissions. We conducted a meta-analysis to determine whether tillage management (conventional till, CT vs. NT) affects soil CH4 fluxes, and what management and environmental conditions regulate the effect. The regulating factors we identified include crop, climatic zone, soil class and experiment age (i.e. years since beginning NT). Our study included 41 papers, with a total number of 90 case studies, that covered arable lands of all five continents. On average, NT significantly decreased CH4 emissions from paddy fields, from 12.39 to 9.55 mg m−2 h-1 (p
This study evaluates the response of maize growing cycle length to meteorological variables at re... more This study evaluates the response of maize growing cycle length to meteorological variables at regional scale particularly, in the short-term period, considering global climate change. The experiment was carried out in Veneto Region (Northeast Italy) where maize phenological data collected by the regional network from 2005 to 2007 were combined with temperature data to analyse the relationship between BBCH stages and thermal sum. The effects of climatic changes in the near and medium term on maize phenology and on water requirements were also evaluated over a grid of climatic data obtained from different climatic models. The piecewise analysis gave the best fitting between BBCH and Growing Degree Days observed data characterized by two lines with different slopes with BBCH 70 (beginning of fruit development) as changing stage. The angular coefficient of the first line was 2.6 times than the second one (0.028) suggesting that the early stages of the growing cycle are more sensitive t...
Although several studies have investigated the aboveground production of perennial herbaceous spe... more Although several studies have investigated the aboveground production of perennial herbaceous species for biomass production, only a few details are available on their root systems and water balance. This paper provides a root system characterization and a water balance calculation for ten perennial herbaceous species (Arctium lappa L., Arundo donax L., Carex acutiformis Ehrh., Carex riparia Curtis, Glyceria maxima (Hartm.) Holmb., Helianthus tuberosus L., Iris pseudacorus L., Lythrum salicaria L., Miscanthus x giganteus Greef et Deu., Symphitum x uplandicum Nyman) cultivated with high fertilizer and water inputs in a fouryear study. Crop evapotranspiration (ETc) maintained the same seasonal trend for all studied species, with the highest cumulative seasonal average water losses for A. donax (1675.1 mm) and the lowest for G. maxima (1406.0 mm). During the growing season, crop coefficients followed a similar trend to that reported for ETc, with average seasonal values ranging from 1.9 for A. lappa and G. maxima to 2.6 for M. x giganteus. For all species soil moisture was higher in the deeper soil layers (20-50 and 50-90 cm) than in the upper (0-20 cm) where a high root system biomass was observed. At the end of the study, different root system biomass productions were found between species with the highest median value at 0-50 cm depth for M. x giganteus (62.6 Mg ha −1) and the lowest for S. x uplandicum (0.5 Mg ha −1). Since these topics have not been well investigated in other studies, our initial results need to be confirmed in different climatic conditions.
Background and aims Organic fertilizers and cover crops (CC) are considered crucial strategies to... more Background and aims Organic fertilizers and cover crops (CC) are considered crucial strategies to pursue the objective of increasing soil organic carbon (SOC). The present research focuses on an 'on farm experimentation' to assess the combined effects of organic fertilization with different biomasses, CC and irrigation on SOC stock. Methods A 4-year on-farm experimentation was co-developed with local farmers and a land reclamation authority in northeastern Italy on a biennial maize-soybean rotation. We examined the effects of two organic fertilizers (compost or digestate), three CC treatments (a fixed cover crop speciesx triticosecale; a succession of cover crop species-Sinapis alba and Lolium multiflorum; no CC) under rainfed and irrigated conditions on the SOC content and stock, and crops yields. Results All these integrated practices-except when digestate was applied in the field in the absence of a CC under rainfed conditions-determined a significant increase of the SOC stock after 4 years, matching the goals set by the '4 per mille' initiative. The highest SOC increase was observed under irrigated management and compost fertilization, regardless of the presence or absence of a CC (range: 9.3-10.3 Mg ha −1 in the first 0-40 cm of soil). Soybean grain yields were comparable with those obtained in farms of the same rural district under business as usual, but maize grain yields were lower. Conclusion SOC accumulation is achievable in the short term with abundant applications of organic biomass, but the strategy might lead to economic loss such as lower maize productivity.
Covering building rooftops with vegetation [Green roofs (GR)] holds promise for lowering building... more Covering building rooftops with vegetation [Green roofs (GR)] holds promise for lowering building temperatures, reducing stormwater runoff, and other ecosystem services, but it is unclear how this will impact greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. GHG emissions may also be influenced by vegetation type, substrate depth, and irrigation level and we sought to test this by comparing daytime greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (CH4, CO2, and N2O) and daily temperatures, from 48 GR microcosms in North-eastern Italy during a dry-hot summer season (June to September). The microcosms were planted with Sedum spp., cold season grasses, warm season grasses, or wildflowers to a substrate depth of 8 cm or 14 cm, and with an average irrigation level of 1 or 2 mm d-1 for a total of 16 treatments with 3 replicates. We found that vegetation type had a significant effect on temperature [median temp. of 24.8 °C (Sedum) vs 25.5 °C (warm season grasses)] and CH4, CO2, and N2O emissions. While all species emitted net CO2 (median values from 147 to 671 mg m-2 h-1) and captured net N2O (median values were negative from -0.06 to -0.28 mg m-2 h-1)— highlighting a potential GR ecosystem service with a beneficial effect on the environment— CH4 had net negative values (capture) only in microcosms with wildflowers (-0.07 mg m-2 h-1) whereas other treatments had a median emission of 0.09 mg m-2 h-1 . Substrate depth significantly affected CO2 and N2O fluxes with deeper substrate leading to higher CO2 emission (+ 60.7%) and greater N2O uptake (+ 30.8%). Irrigation level only significantly influenced N2O fluxes with a significantly higher uptake supplying 2 mm (-0.20 mg m-2 h-1) than in the 1 mm (-0.09 mg m-2 h-1) irrigation treatments. Our study suggests that, in a hot summer season, GRs can improve N2O and CH4 capture, but will likely increase CO2 emissions and that vegetation type and substrate depth can significantly alter emissions and are thus important design parameters.
Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, May 31, 2020
BACKGROUND: Aquaponics is considered a sustainable system for the production of fish and vegetabl... more BACKGROUND: Aquaponics is considered a sustainable system for the production of fish and vegetables. However, little is known about the effects of different system variables on vegetable quality. Hence, the aims of this study were to evaluate the influence of aquaponics on the composition and quality traits of three vegetable species in relation to stoking density of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), in comparison with those of plants grown in hydroponics.
This paper represents an union point between two emerging issues: the productive potential derive... more This paper represents an union point between two emerging issues: the productive potential derived from anaerobic digestion residues (ADRs) and the cultivation of sweet potato, an innovative species in Europe. The trial was carried out in open field condition in 2014 and 2015 comparing three fertilization treatments. ADRs were used to partially or completely substitute mineral N crop requirements: i) 50% N through ADRs and 50% N through mineral fertilizer (T50); ii) 75% N through ADRs and 25% N through mineral fertilizer (T75); iii) 100% N through ADRs (T100). Two controls treatments were also predisposed, one unfertilized (T0), and one with only mineral fertilization (TMIN). The highest significant aerial biomass yield (> 57 t ha −1) was showed by T75 whereas no differences were found among other treatments (46 t ha −1). The highest significant marketable yield was showed by T75 and T100 (16 t ha −1). The marketable yield showed the highest value in 2015 with almost 16 t ha −1 with an year effect on root size. During the experiment harvest index ranged from 20.5% (TMIN) to 26.9% (T100). The nitrogen agronomic efficiency was greatly lower (−59.1%) in 2014 as a result of the high rainfall amount compared to 2015. T75 treatment showed the highest nitrogen agronomic efficiency, apparent recovery efficiency and utilization efficiency. The highest content of nitrates in aerial biomass was detected in combination with the N organic treatments. The storage roots harvested in 2014 presented a higher concentration of glucose (+19.7%) and fructose (+29.4%) than that harvested in 2015. The concentration of glucose and fructose increased with the amount of nitrogen supplied with ADRs. The obtained results offer potentially useful data for producers order to demonstrate the usability of ADRs as an alternative to traditional mineral fertilization in sweet potato cultivation.
This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service... more This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. Highlights Micro aquaponic system (1.5 m 2) reliably mimics a full-scale system (>50 m 2). Cumulative energy demand of proposed micro AP system for a class of 25 students is 41.6 kWh student-1 year-1. "Production" and "Electricity" were the highest LCA environmental impact contributors. "Water consumption" was the lowest LCA environmental impact contributor.
The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of soil texture and primary tillage type on soil... more The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of soil texture and primary tillage type on soil CO 2 emission and maize biomass production after digestate liquid fraction (DLF) spreading. The study was conducted in 2014 in two open fields at Terrasa Padovana (farm 1) and Bovolenta (farm 2) in the Veneto Region of Italy. Soil CO 2 emission after digestate spreading was evaluated by comparing the effect of soil texture (sandy loam vs. clay loam) at farm 1 and the effect of long-term primary tillage management (>10 years) (ripping vs. plowing) in clay loam soil at farm 2. Unamended soil was considered the control at both farms. DLF was supplied before maize (Zea mays L.) sowing at a dose equal to 170 kg total nitrogen ha-1 using a splash-plate technique. DLF spreading determined a CO 2 emission peak 1 h after spreading at both farms, with median emission values of 8.93 and 4.35 g m-2 h-1 , respectively, from the sandy loam and clay loam soils at farm 1. At farm 2, primary tillage type did not exert a significant effect on CO 2 emission peak, with a median value of 5.85 g m-2 h-1. About three days after DLF distribution, soil CO 2 fluxes were less than 1 g m-2 h-1. The first soil harrowing and the first rainfall event after spreading determined significantly higher CO 2 emissions from amended plots than from unamended plots for a few hours. At farm 1, soil CO 2 emission during the maize growing season was significantly higher in the amended plots (+1.7 times) than in the unamended plots, which showed a median emission value of 0.29 g m-2 h-1 ; soil texture and tillage exerted no significant influence. Maize yield at dough stage was not significantly influenced by DLF at farm 1, with 22.7 ±1.6 Mg ha-1 and 18.7 ±2.8 Mg ha-1 in the clay loam and sandy loam soils, respectively. At farm 2, the distribution of DLF increased maize biomass production by +17% with respect to the unamended treatment that produced 18.0 ±2.4 Mg ha-1. Although the results reported in this article concern data from only one year, and further long-term experiments are needed to confirm our findings, they indicate that CO 2 emissions after digestate distribution are lower in a clay loam soil than in a sandy loam soil and are not affected by primary tillage type.
The role played by organic farming as an alternative system to conventional farming is widely que... more The role played by organic farming as an alternative system to conventional farming is widely questioned, since conflicting results on crop yields sometimes greatly affect system efficiency. As a result, prolonged monitoring studies on organic (OF) and conventional farming (CF) systems are still required, especially in real-life farm conditions, in which the entire production process is quantified. In this context, this study reports crop yields (winter wheat, maize, soybean) and energy efficiency, over a 13-year monitoring period, on a farm in northeast Italy in which two sectors are farmed following OF and CF practices. Results showed that organic yields were always lower than conventional ones, averaging 69%, although their range varied greatly over the years (from 45% to 90%) and depended on crop type. Several management constraints had effects on the lower yields, especially reduced available nutrients and cropping season, but also the timings and types of tillage operations. By contrast, OF practices usually had positive effects on the environment, due to reduced energy input mainly fertilisation (−33.4% MJ ha −1 y −1) and the generally higher productivity of invested energy (E Out E In −1 = 4.53 in OF and 4.28 in CF); energy use differences per product unit were mainly equal. Other factors, such as local climate and soil variability, may have influenced system performance, but as the two experimental sites were located at a distance of 3.5 km from each other, the data reported here are still valuable, in that they represent the results of 13 years of monitoring, during which farm management played a major role. This case study, although conducted in two separate sites, did not highlight the best overall solution at farm level, it does indicate that the agricultural systems applied would be better suited for different situations and targets (e.g., productive, energetic, ecologic).
Fish production in aquaculture is continuously increasing worldwide and the need for further incr... more Fish production in aquaculture is continuously increasing worldwide and the need for further increases is expected in the future. Aquaculture has several disadvantages considering environmental impact and water consumption, consequently aquaponic (AP) systems were proposed as one of the possible solutions for these issues. Although AP is an effective combination of vegetable and fish production, there is a mismatch between the nutrients provided by the fish compartment and the requirements of the plants. Once the system becomes limiting for the plant growth (usually P and/or K elements), the remaining N accumulates in the system water. Therefore it is necessary to replace periodically the system water. This work is focused on this specific phase: investigating the further utilization of the AP system water that is depleted of P and K, but still rich in N. This system water (FW) was used in a separate aquaponic mesocosm and compared with the same water supplemented with macro-nutrients (CFW) and with a hydroponic control (HC). Mizuna (M) and rocket salad (R) were used as short-cycle vegetables crops in a NFT system. Evapotranspiration in the system and water quality parameters were significantly influenced by the treatments. The starting N-NO 3 concentration, similar in all systems, decreased by 31.2% in FW, 72.0% in HC and 82.7% in CFW. SPAD, plant height and total yield highlighted the inability of FW to meet the nutritional needs of both species. The highest production was recorded for CFW followed by HC (-7.5%) and FW (-74.7%) probably due to the presence of organic compounds with biostimulant activity. Mizuna was able to absorb more nutrients, because of the production of a developed root system. FW must be integrated with macro-and mesonutrients in order to ensure a suitable production; the use of CFW for short-cycle vegetable cultivation is an effective solution to manage the fish water at the end of an AP cycle, achieving significant production, reducing nitrogen load and further reducing the environmental impact of the system.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License The present study assesse... more Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License The present study assessed the effects of two initial stocking densities (low-LD, 4.23 kg m-3 , moderate-MD, 8.05 kg m-3) on growth, health and fillet quality of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), and on yield of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and radicchio (Cichorium intybus group Rubifolium) produced in a low-tech recirculating aquaponic system. A total of 104 largemouth bass (initial body weight: 236 ± 38 g) were randomly stocked in eight 500 L tanks (four per stocking density) and monitored during a 70-day period. Vegetables yield was similar in LD and MD groups. Lettuce yield (6.33 kg m-2) was in line with typical values, whereas radicchio showed a negligible yield (1.34 kg m-2). Likewise, fish final weight (263 g, on average), specific growth rate (0.17% d-1), feed conversion ratio (2.72), and mortality (4.8%) did not differ between treatments. Fish morphometric indices, slaughter results and fillet quality were not affected by stocking density. In conclusion, the production of lettuce was successful in the tested system, whereas the production of radicchio did not achieve satisfactory results. Growth performances of the largemouth bass were poor and further investigations are required to optimize the rearing of this fish species in low-tech aquaponic systems.
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an essential source of food proteins and an important comp... more Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an essential source of food proteins and an important component of sustainable agriculture systems around the world. Thus, conserving and exploiting the genetic materials of this crop species play an important role in achieving global food safety and security through the preservation of functional and serependic opportunities afforded by plant species diversity. Our research aimed to collect and perform agronomic, morpho-phenological, molecular-genetic, and nutraceutical characterizations of common bean accessions, including lowland and mountain Venetian niche landraces (ancient farmer populations) and Italian elite lineages (old breeder selections). Molecular characterization with SSR and SNP markers grouped these accessions into two well-separated clusters that were linked to the original Andean and Mesoamerican gene pools, which was consistent with the outputs of ancestral analysis. Genetic diversity in the two main clusters was not distribu...
Aquaculture allows fish cultivation under controlled conditions and it is often considered as a s... more Aquaculture allows fish cultivation under controlled conditions and it is often considered as a sustainable solution that determines economic development while safeguarding environmental resources. Furthermore, over the past few decades wetland systems have been used for water treatment as they can break down pollutants through the interaction between plants, soil and microorganisms. For this reason, a trial was conducted at the University of Padova (Italy), combining these two systems. It took place in the North of Italy from 21/07/2011 to 18/11/2011. Two tanks were set up for aquaculture, both connected to a mechanical/biological filtration system, but only one with the inclusion of Tech-IA, a floating mat that allows herbaceous plants to float on the water surface, carrying out their purifying function without the aid of a substrate. About 30 kg of carp (Cyprinus carpio) were released in each tank. Several parameters were measured during the trial to assess the water quality and each carp was weighed at the end. The results obtained by the tank with Tech-IA showed better water quality data and a faster carp growth rate.
The current agricultural system faces several challenges, the most important being the ability to... more The current agricultural system faces several challenges, the most important being the ability to feed the increasing world population and mitigate climate change. In this context, the improvement of fertilizers’ agronomic efficiency while reducing their cost and environmental impact is one of the biggest tasks. Available literature shows that many efforts have been made to develop innovative fertilizers defined as ‘smart fertilizers’, for which, different interpretations and definitions have been used. This paper aims to define, classify, and describe the new frontier of the so-called smart fertilizers with a particular focus on field-scale studies on herbaceous species. Most of the analysed papers associate the ‘smart’ concept to the controlled and/or slow release of nutrients, using both terms as synonymous. Some others broadened the concept, including the controlled release of nutrients to reduce the environmental impact. Based on our critical analysis of the available literatur...
Abstract No-tillage (NT) has widely been promoted as a conservation practice that also offsets ag... more Abstract No-tillage (NT) has widely been promoted as a conservation practice that also offsets agriculture-driven greenhouse gases and boosts agroecosystem performance. While most studies have focused on the effects of no-till on nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide fluxes, much less attention has been paid to the impacts on methane (CH4) emissions. We conducted a meta-analysis to determine whether tillage management (conventional till, CT vs. NT) affects soil CH4 fluxes, and what management and environmental conditions regulate the effect. The regulating factors we identified include crop, climatic zone, soil class and experiment age (i.e. years since beginning NT). Our study included 41 papers, with a total number of 90 case studies, that covered arable lands of all five continents. On average, NT significantly decreased CH4 emissions from paddy fields, from 12.39 to 9.55 mg m−2 h-1 (p
This study evaluates the response of maize growing cycle length to meteorological variables at re... more This study evaluates the response of maize growing cycle length to meteorological variables at regional scale particularly, in the short-term period, considering global climate change. The experiment was carried out in Veneto Region (Northeast Italy) where maize phenological data collected by the regional network from 2005 to 2007 were combined with temperature data to analyse the relationship between BBCH stages and thermal sum. The effects of climatic changes in the near and medium term on maize phenology and on water requirements were also evaluated over a grid of climatic data obtained from different climatic models. The piecewise analysis gave the best fitting between BBCH and Growing Degree Days observed data characterized by two lines with different slopes with BBCH 70 (beginning of fruit development) as changing stage. The angular coefficient of the first line was 2.6 times than the second one (0.028) suggesting that the early stages of the growing cycle are more sensitive t...
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