133 results on '"Testa, Giorgio"'
Search Results
2. Soil water availability on biomass yield and water indicators of diverse warm-season perennial grasses in dryness conditions
- Author
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Scordia, Danilo, Corinzia, Sebastiano Andrea, Cosentino, Salvatore L., and Testa, Giorgio
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
3. Global leaf and root transcriptome in response to cadmium reveals tolerance mechanisms in Arundo donax L
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Santoro, Danilo Fabrizio, Sicilia, Angelo, Testa, Giorgio, Cosentino, Salvatore Luciano, and Lo Piero, Angela Roberta
- Published
- 2022
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4. Organic Fertilizers and Bio-Waste for Sustainable Soil Management to Support Crops and Control Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Mediterranean Agroecosystems: A Review.
- Author
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Badagliacca, Giuseppe, Testa, Giorgio, La Malfa, Stefano Giovanni, Cafaro, Valeria, Lo Presti, Emilio, and Monti, Michele
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GREENHOUSE gases ,ORGANIC fertilizers ,SOIL management ,SUSTAINABLE agriculture ,FARM manure - Abstract
Agriculture is facing several challenges related to its sustainability. In this regard, the need to reduce its environmental impact related to the use of synthetic inputs and its potential role in mitigating global warming and climate change call for a review of crop management. In this context, and in the framework of achieving sustainable development goals, the use of organic fertilizers and bio-waste represents a valuable contribution to the agricultural transition towards a bioeconomy model by reducing the negative impacts of waste disposal. Farmyard manure, composts, digestate from agrifood processes, and biochar are, among organic fertilizers, commonly used to manage soils and support crop growth. These fertilizers can provide essential nutrients, improve structure, and enhance microbial activity, thus increasing soil fertility and agriculture sustainability. While organic fertilizers offer the benefits of soil fertility and plant nutrition, their impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is complex and varies depending on factors such as fertilizer type, soil conditions, and management practices. Although organic fertilizers may initially increase GHG emissions, they often lead to carbon sequestration in soils highlighting a negative C balance. Additionally, organic fertilizers promote a reduction in fossil fuel consumption used for synthetic fertilizer production, further contributing to GHG emissions' reduction. Therefore, while organic fertilizers pose challenges in managing GHG emissions, their various benefits warrant careful consideration and strategic implementation in agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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- View/download PDF
5. Yield Response and Leaf Gas Exchange of Sicilian Wheat Landraces.
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Corinzia, Sebastiano Andrea, Caruso, Paolo, Scandurra, Alessio, Anastasi, Umberto, Cosentino, Salvatore Luciano, and Testa, Giorgio
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DURUM wheat ,EMMER wheat ,WHEAT breeding ,WHEAT ,AGRICULTURE ,PHOTOSYNTHETIC rates - Abstract
Wheat landraces are traditional varieties that have evolved over generations in response to local environments and farming practices and therefore exhibit remarkable adaptability to challenging climatic conditions and low-input farming systems. While the suitability of Mediterranean landraces to non-optimal climatic conditions during anthesis and grain ripening stage have been previously assessed, the role of photosynthesis efficiency and stomatal control on this resilience remains unexplored. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between grain yield and the post-anthesis flag leaf gas exchanges of Sicilian wheat landraces under irrigated and rainfed conditions and to compare these traits to modern durum (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum) and bread wheat (T. aestivum) varieties. Results indicate that wheat landraces respond to water availability similarly to modern varieties, reducing stomatal conductance by 26.8% and net photosynthesis by 18.1% under rainfed conditions, resulting in 10.6% lower grain yield compared to irrigated conditions. However, some landraces demonstrate comparable or even higher flag leaf net photosynthesis rates and lower transpiration levels, leading to higher yields in both rainfed and irrigated conditions, confirming their value as a source of gene pool for wheat breeding programs in drought-prone Mediterranean regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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- View/download PDF
6. Transcriptional response of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) low ecotype to long-term salt stress by unigene-based RNAseq
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Sicilia, Angelo, Santoro, Danilo Fabrizio, Testa, Giorgio, Cosentino, Salvatore Luciano, and Lo Piero, Angela Roberta
- Published
- 2020
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7. A biorefinery model for the production of oil and biomethane using castor plants.
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Testa, Giorgio, Corinzia, Sebastiano Andrea, Calcagno, Silvio, Cosentino, Salvatore L., and Piccitto, Alessandra
- Subjects
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RENEWABLE natural gas , *CASTOR oil plant , *LIGNINS , *SEED yield , *ANAEROBIC digestion , *PLEUROTUS ostreatus , *BIOSURFACTANTS - Abstract
Castor (Ricinus communis L.) is an important oilseed crop worldwide whose inedible oil is widely used in the industrial, pharmaceutical, and agricultural sectors. Castor plants show high conversion potential for use as biorefining feedstocks. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of two nitrogen fertilization levels (0 and 120 kg N ha−1) on seed and oil yield. From a biorefinery perspective, the residual biomass of seed processing was analyzed in terms of fiber composition and biomethane production carrying out a biological pretreatment using two white‐rot fungi (Pleurotus ostreatus and Irpex lacteus). Nitrogen fertilization resulted in an increase in seed and oil yields and a difference in capsule husk composition. Fungal pretreatment of capsule husks showed promising effects on anaerobic digestion, increasing the biomethane yield compared to untreated biomass. The highest lignin degradation and the lowest cellulose loss during pretreatment were obtained with I. lacteus, and this fungal pretreatment resulted in the highest biomethane yield (103.2 NmL g−1 volatile solids) for the fertilized biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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8. I 'disegnatori' professionisti dell'Istituto Case Popolari nell'architettura romana della prima metà del Novecento
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Lanfranchi, Fabio and Testa, Giorgio
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Roma ,disegnatori ,ICP - Published
- 2023
9. RNASeq analysis of giant cane reveals the leaf transcriptome dynamics under long-term salt stress
- Author
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Sicilia, Angelo, Testa, Giorgio, Santoro, Danilo Fabrizio, Cosentino, Salvatore Luciano, and Lo Piero, Angela Roberta
- Published
- 2019
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10. Leaf Area Duration and Crop Radiation Use Efficiency Determine Biomass Yield of Lignocellulosic Perennial Grasses under Different Soil Water Content.
- Author
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Corinzia, Sebastiano Andrea, Crapio, Elena, Testa, Giorgio, Cosentino, Salvatore L., Patanè, Cristina, and Scordia, Danilo
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SOIL moisture ,LIGNOCELLULOSE ,ENERGY crops ,LEAF area ,GIANT reed ,WATER supply - Abstract
The aim of the present work was to assess the leaf area duration (LAD) and the radiation use efficiency (RUE) of six warm-season perennial biomass grasses (PBGs) in a two-year field trial in the semiarid Mediterranean climate under different soil water availability. Two ecotypes of giant reed (Arundo donax L., ARCT and ARMO), one ecotype of African fodder cane (Saccharum spontaneum L. subsp. aegyptiacum (Willd.) Hack., SAC) and three hybrids of Miscanthus (the commercial M. × giganteus J.M. Greef, Deuter ex Hodk., Renvoize, M × G, and two new seed-based hybrids, GNT9 and GNT10) were compared under three levels of soil water availability: rainfed, 50% and 100% of maximum crop evapotranspiration (ETm) restoration. The determination of RUE of perennial plants is controversial and has led to contrasting results in past studies. In the present work, LAD and RUE differed among crops and irrigation regimes, being positively affected by supplemental water inputs. SAC, ARCT and ARMO showed both high LAD and RUE, which determined the high biomass yield than both the commercial M × G and the improved Miscanthus hybrids GNT9 and GNT10. RUE was particularly high and less affected by soil water availability during the mid-season, while the effect of irrigation and the differences among the genotypes were larger during the late season. Adequate biomass yield can be achieved by sub-optimal soil water availability, thus reducing the water footprint and increasing the sustainability of these biomass perennial grasses selected for the Mediterranean climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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- View/download PDF
11. Effects of Sowing Dates and Genotypes of Castor (Ricinus communis L.) on Seed Yield and Oil Content in the South Mediterranean Basin.
- Author
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Cafaro, Valeria, Calcagno, Silvio, Patanè, Cristina, Cosentino, Salvatore Luciano, and Testa, Giorgio
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SEED yield ,SOWING ,CASTOR oil plant ,CATCH crops ,GENOTYPES ,OILSEEDS ,ENERGY crops - Abstract
To evaluate the performance of dwarf castor hybrids ('C1012', 'C857', 'C856'), compared to a local selected genotype, in four subsequent sowing dates (SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4), a trial was conducted at the experimental farm of the University of Catania (Sicily, Italy). The length of the growing season decreased with the increase of the sowing date in the average genotypes from 160 to 94 days, respectively, for the first and the last sowing date. According to the RED—Renewable Energy Directive, the genotype 'C856' was the earliest (112 days), resulting in suitability as a catch crop for biomass production. The results showed that early spring sowings negatively impact dwarf hybrid production (1.2 and 1.5 Mg ha
−1 in SW1 and SW2, in the average of the three hybrids), which reached the highest yield in the third sowing date (2.0 Mg ha−1 ), preferring warmer temperatures for the germination of seeds. On the contrary, the 'Local' genotype reached the highest yield (1.6 Mg ha−1 ) in the first sowing date and linearly decreased in the subsequent ones. Nonetheless, the third sowing date positively influenced the oil content and the oil yield in all dwarf genotypes except the 'Local' genotype, which showed the highest oil yield in the first sowing date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2023
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12. Seed Germination of Two Hybrids Obtained via Cross-Pollination between Miscanthus sinensis × Miscanthus sacchariflorus.
- Author
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Patanè, Cristina, Saita, Alessandro, Cosentino, Salvatore L., Iurato, Antonella, and Testa, Giorgio
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GERMINATION ,MISCANTHUS ,VEGETATIVE propagation ,POLLINATION ,SEED dormancy ,GIBBERELLIC acid ,ENERGY crops - Abstract
To date, economically and energy-costly vegetative propagation using rhizomes and tissue culture are the only options for the cultivation of Miscanthus spp. Some genotypes of miscanthus produce fertile seeds, offering a valid alternative to vegetative propagation. A preliminary study has been conducted on the seeds of two hybrids of miscanthus obtained via interspecific cross-pollination between M. sacchariflorus and M. sinensis: 'GRC14' (maternal: M. sacchariflorus) and 'GRC10B' (maternal: M. sinensis). Seeds were assessed for germination traits in a laboratory (at 25 °C in the dark) just after panicle harvest, and during 1-year storage at room temperature or at 8 °C. In a second experiment, the effects of gibberellic acid (GA
3 ) solution at different concentrations (0, 50, 100, 300, 500 ppm) on the germination of freshly matured seeds were assessed. Poor germination just after harvest (<30%) indicates the occurrence of a physiological dormancy. Indeed, two months later, germination rose up to 76.7% in 'GRC14' and 50.8%, in 'GRC10B', and peaked at 95.6% in 'GRC14' and at 78% in 'GRC10B', 6 months after harvest. After a total of 12 months, germination was significantly reduced in both hybrids (≈60%). Seeds stored at room temperature lost dormancy earlier than those stored at 8 °C. Overall, germination was significantly improved by GA3 , but the extent of the GA effect was genotype-dependent. In conclusion, a low establishment rate may result from direct seeding when fresh seed is used in the field. In this case, the use of GA3 is a possible strategy to ameliorate the impact of dormancy on seed germination. In the case of delayed sowings in late winter–early spring, seeds stored at room temperature after harvest may better perform than those stored at 8 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2023
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13. Phytoremediation of Cadmium-, Lead-, and Nickel-Polluted Soils by Industrial Hemp.
- Author
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Testa, Giorgio, Corinzia, Sebastiano Andrea, Cosentino, Salvatore Luciano, and Ciaramella, Barbara Rachele
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PHYTOREMEDIATION , *ENERGY crops , *HEMP , *AGRICULTURE , *HEAVY metals , *SOILS - Abstract
The restoration of polluted soils is crucial for ecosystem recovery services. Evidently, phytoremediation is a biological and sustainable technique that includes the use of plants to remediate heavy-metal-contaminated land; the plants should be tolerant to the contamination and capable of uptake or immobilization of the heavy metals in the soil. Moreover, defining an economically efficient approach to the remediation of a contaminated area, with the possibility of further utilization of phytoremediation biomass, renders energy crops a great option for this technique. Energy crops, in fact, are known for their ability to grow with low agricultural input, and later, the biomass product can be used to produce biofuels, bioenergy, and bioproducts in a sustainable and renewable way, creating economic potential, especially when these crops are cultivated in marginal lands. The aim of this work is to test two monoecious industrial hemp varieties in different levels of Cd, Pb, and Ni in soil. Both varieties were tolerant to levels of Cd and Pb contamination that were higher than the limit for commercial and industrial use, while Ni showed a significant effect at all the tested concentrations. The variety Futura 75 performed better than Kc Dora in terms of productivity and tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
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14. Effects of Nitrogen Fertilization and Soil Water Content on Seed and Oil Yield in Perennial Castor in a Mediterranean Environment.
- Author
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Calcagno, Silvio, Piccitto, Alessandra, Patanè, Cristina, Cosentino, Salvatore L., and Testa, Giorgio
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SOIL seed banks ,SEED yield ,SOIL moisture ,FERTILIZERS ,OILSEEDS ,NITROGEN fertilizers - Abstract
Castor (Ricinus communis L.) is an oilseed species that can be grown as a semi-perennial in Mediterranean environments, including the coastal areas of Sicily. The present study investigated the optimization of cultivation techniques for castor, with the crop being maintained over a two-year period, through the evaluation of different agronomical inputs in order to increase seed yield. The effects of irrigation (I) and nitrogen fertilization (N) on the seed and oil yield and their components were assessed in castor cultivated in a typical semi-arid environment. Four levels of irrigation (I0, I30, I60, and I100: 0, 30, 60, and 100% of crop evapotranspiration—ETm restoration, respectively) as the main plot and three levels of nitrogen fertilization (N) (0, 60, and 120 kg N ha
−1 ) as the sub-plot were considered. Irrigation mostly affected the number of racemes per plant, the number of capsules per raceme, and the seed weight. The oil content was, on average, 39.2% and 45.6% for the first and second year, respectively. The highest seed yield was obtained by I100N120 treatment (4154.0 kg ha−1) ; however, the combination of a high soil nitrogen level (N120) and medium water availability (I60) resulted in satisfactory seed and oil yields. The reduction in the irrigation water to an intermediate level could be also an environmentally friendly strategy not significantly affecting yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2023
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15. Soil Erosion Mitigation by Perennial Species Under Mediterranean Environment
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Cosentino, Salvatore Luciano, Copani, Venera, Scalici, Giovanni, Scordia, Danilo, and Testa, Giorgio
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- 2015
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16. Long-Term Yields of Switchgrass, Giant Reed, and Miscanthus in the Mediterranean Basin
- Author
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Alexopoulou, Efthymia, Zanetti, Federica, Scordia, Danilo, Zegada-Lizarazu, Walter, Christou, Myrsini, Testa, Giorgio, Cosentino, Salvatore L., and Monti, Andrea
- Published
- 2015
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17. D4.3 – Report on 'Screening-and comparison of industrial crops grown on contaminated land'
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Kotoula, Dania, Testa, Giorgio, Scordia, Danilo, Fernando, Ana Luisa, Baraniecki, Przemyslaw, and Cosentino, Salvatore
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Marginal Lands ,BioFuels ,Biomass ,Biobased - Abstract
Contaminated land, that is unsuitable for food production, represents an alternative option for crops producing feedstock for bioproducts and bioenergy, which would otherwise be in competition with food production. It has been estimated that there are more than 10 million major contaminated sites worldwide, while in the European Economic Area (EEA)-39 countries the registered contaminated sites are up to 650000. Even though often perceived solely as a problem, contaminated areas could instead become a real asset that needs to be valued. One of the aims of MAGIC project was to screen the most promising industrial crops for cultivation on contaminated and saline soils. The effects of the heavy metals Cd, Pb, Ni and Zn on fifteen industrial crops were examined, namely on: biomass sorghum, camelina, cardoon, castor bean, crambe, Ethiopian mustard, giant reed, hemp, lupin, miscanthus x giganteus, pennycress, safflower, switchgrass, tall wheatgrass, and wild sugarcane (African fodder cane). The experiments were conducted following the same methodology and protocols by all partners involved.
- Published
- 2022
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18. Physiological responses of Arundo donax ecotypes to drought: a common garden study
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Haworth, Matthew, Cosentino, Salvatore Luciano, Marino, Giovanni, Brunetti, Cecilia, Scordia, Danilo, Testa, Giorgio, Riggi, Ezio, Avola, Giovanni, Loreto, Francesco, and Centritto, Mauro
- Published
- 2017
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19. Allelopathic Effects of Cannabis sativa L. Aqueous Leaf Extracts on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth in Durum Wheat and Barley.
- Author
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Patanè, Cristina, Pellegrino, Alessandra, Cosentino, Salvatore L., and Testa, Giorgio
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DURUM wheat ,GERMINATION ,CANNABIS (Genus) ,BARLEY ,WHEAT seeds ,SEEDLINGS - Abstract
In this study, the allelochemical-induced effects of the leaf water extract of hemp (Cannabis sativa) on seed germination and seedling growth were investigated in durum wheat (Triticum durum) cv. Mongibello and barley (Hordeum vulgare) cv. Alamo. The seeds were imbibed in 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% solution concentrations, obtained from a 2% hemp leaf extract, and they were germinated at 20 and 10 °C. The 2% extract stock solution (i.e., 100% solution concentration) was obtained by extracting 20 g of leaf powder in 1 L distilled water (2%, w/v). A control of seeds imbibed in distilled water was considered. Germination was scored daily and at the end of the germination test, the final germination percentage (FGP), mean germination time (MGT), germination index (GI), and vigor index (VI) were calculated. The radicles and shoots of the germinated seeds of both species were also measured for their length and weight. The analyses revealed the presence of phenols in the hemp leaf extract, which were the highest in the 100% concentration (13.14 ± 0.20 mg gallic acid equivalent-GAE g
−1 extract). At 20 °C, increasing the concentration had either minor (in wheat) or no effects (in barley) on the seed germination. At 10 °C, the germination was reduced by the increasing concentration, suggesting a potential allelopathic effect of the extract. However, at 100% concentration, the seeds germinated significantly better that those at 75% concentration. At 20 °C, increasing concentration progressively depressed both the radicle and shoot elongation in both species. At 10 °C, the radicle elongation was depressed by the extract, irrespective of the concentration, whilst the shoots were as long as those of the control in wheat, and smaller at the 50 and 75% concentrations in barley. We can conclude that the water extract of hemp leaves can have a negative impact on wheat and barley seed germination and seedling growth, particularly at temperatures below optimal. However, the high concentration of phenols in the extract may stimulate seed germination and seedling growth. Thus, in semi-arid areas, such as those of the Mediterranean regions, sowings of wheat and barley after hemp at an optimal (i.e., 20 °C) or nearly optimal temperature are recommended in order to minimize the combined stressing effects of the temperature and allelopathic leaf extract upon plant establishment, which may limit a successful crop establishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
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20. Phytoremediation of Heavy Metal Contaminated Soils Using Safflower.
- Author
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Ciaramella, Barbara Rachele, Corinzia, Sebastiano Andrea, Cosentino, Salvatore Luciano, and Testa, Giorgio
- Subjects
SOIL pollution ,LEAD ,PHYTOREMEDIATION ,SAFFLOWER ,ENERGY crops ,HEAVY metals ,WATER supply ,SOILS - Abstract
The promotion and gradual replacement of fossil fuels with renewable sources increasing the competition between food and fuel. Therefore, energy crops could be produced on unproductive marginal land due to unfavorable conditions, such as limitations in nutrient and water availability or the presence of contaminants such as hydrocarbons or heavy metals. In the case of soils contaminated with heavy metals, one option could be the use of plants to extract or immobilize the contaminants in the soil in a process called phytoremediation. Carthamus tinctorius L. is an annual herbaceous plant with a deep root system, and the oil extracted from the seeds is an excellent oil for conversion into biofuel. It appears suitable to be used in the phytoremediation process, increasing the opportunity to valorize polluted areas and reducing the risk of abandonment of these lands. In this study, C. tinctorius was tested in soils contaminated with zinc, cadmium, lead, and nickel at different concentrations to evaluate the effects on yield and heavy metal content in the different parts of the plant. The experiment highlights the tolerance of Safflower to the cultivation in heavy-metal-polluted soil; in fact, a low reduction in biomass yield was observed. Among the evaluated heavy metals, the higher susceptibility was observed at the highest concentrations of zinc and cadmium. Generally, safflower concentrates heavy metals in the belowground biomass. The relative low concentrations of heavy metals in some parts of the aboveground biomass could suggest the possibility of using it as a feedstock for bioenergy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
21. I 'disegnatori' professionisti dell'ICP nell'architettura romana della prima metà del Novecento
- Author
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Lanfranchi, Fabio and Testa, Giorgio
- Published
- 2021
22. Induction and potential role of summer dormancy to enhance persistence of perennial grasses under warmer climates.
- Author
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Shihan, Ammar, Barre, Philippe, Copani, Venera, Kallida, Rajae, Østrem, Liv, Testa, Giorgio, Norton, Mark R., Sampoux, Jean‐Paul, and Volaire, Florence
- Subjects
ORCHARD grass ,PHENOTYPIC plasticity ,GRASSES ,PERENNIALS ,CLIMATE change ,SUMMER - Abstract
The persistence of perennial herbaceous species is threatened by increasing aridity. However, summer dormancy is a strategy conferring superior survival to grasses adapted to hot and dry summers. The role of temperature on the induction of summer dormancy was investigated in the perennial grass Dactylis glomerata to analyse the potential expression of this strategy under warmer climates.We tested seven populations of D. glomerata originating from Morocco to Norway across the same latitudinal gradient in a five‐site experiment. One population of the highly summer‐dormant grass Poa bulbosa was used as a reference. Plants were grown from autumn in pots under full irrigation for 1 year mostly under open‐air shelters. Heading date (ear emergence preceding flowering) was recorded and foliage senescence was assessed from end of spring until autumn. The maximum plant senescence under summer irrigation indicated the level of dormancy expression. Summer dormancy onset, release, expression and duration were modelled as a function of climatic variables.From north to south, the duration of summer dormancy of the Mediterranean populations of D. glomerata and P. bulbosa ranged from 0 to 122 days, and 79 to 200 days, respectively. P. bulbosa was always completely dormant, while dormancy expression of D. glomerata was positively correlated with the sum of temperatures from winter onset (R2 = 0.57) and with the mean of minimum temperatures in summer (R2 = 0.73). Dormancy onset, release and duration were also positively correlated with thermal time from winter onset, while the duration of summer dormancy was longer as maximum temperatures increased. Mapping the European regions with climates allowing the expression of summer dormancy in D. glomerata showed that the potentially inductive areas for this strategy may expand in parallel with increasing summer aridity under a future climate warming scenario.Synthesis. The large phenotypic variability of the expression of summer dormancy in D. glomerata was driven by temperature, suggesting that this strategy may have a greater role in higher latitudes to increase plant survival over the predicted hotter and drier summers. Leveraging this strategy for the choice and selection of suitable populations could enhance future adaptation of major perennial grasses to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
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23. 7 - Suitability of Perennial Grasses for Energy and Nonenergy Products
- Author
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Scordia, Danilo, Testa, Giorgio, van Dam, Jan E.G., and van den Berg, Douwe
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
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24. 1 - The Importance of Perennial Grasses as a Feedstock for Bioenergy and Bioproducts
- Author
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Cosentino, Salvatore L., Scordia, Danilo, Testa, Giorgio, Monti, Andrea, Alexopoulou, Efthymia, and Christou, Myrsini
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
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25. Prickly pear for biogas production: technical‐economic validation of a biogas power installation in an area with a high prevalence of cacti in Italy.
- Author
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Timpanaro, Giuseppe, Cosentino, Salvatore, Danzì, Carmelo, Foti, Vera T., and Testa, Giorgio
- Subjects
OPUNTIA ,BIOGAS production ,CACTUS ,SCIENTIFIC literature ,BIOGAS ,NUTRITION - Abstract
The prickly pear in Italy is mostly used for human nutrition, although different cultivars of Cactaceae are intended for different uses around the world. Currently, there is a new bio‐economy for the prickly pear linked to the use of cladodes and fruit wastes for energy and numerous biotechnological derivatives. This paper focuses on the technical and economic validation of a bioenergy‐production installation, as the scientific literature has shown for years that it is possible to use the prickly pear in diets mixed with other materials. The varietal reconversion of part of the prickly pears produced domestically by traditional Italian farms geared exclusively to the production of fruit for human consumption is proposed. In this way, the introduction of biomass prickly pear varieties facilitates the construction of a shared biogas plant (organised as a district) and a network between the different actors in the area. The results show that, with the methanogenic potential of prickly pear, equal to 240 mc t−1, it is possible to feed a 300 kW plant, particularly favoured by the current system of Italian public incentives for investments in agro‐energy. This result can be achieved in a short supply chain, through the organization of a district composed of 30–40 producers, with an average size of 5 ha of prickly pears, in an area on the slopes of the Etna volcano where there is other biomass such as citrus pulp residues and olive pomace to be used in mixtures with cladodes. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
26. What to harvest when? Autumn, winter, annual and biennial harvesting of giant reed, miscanthus and switchgrass in northern and southern Mediterranean area
- Author
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Monti, A, Zanetti, F, Scordia, D, Testa, Giorgio, Cosentino, Salvatore, Scordia, Danilo, Monti, Andrea, Zanetti, Federica, Scordia, Danilo, Testa, Giorgio, and Cosentino, Salvatore L.
- Subjects
Mediterranean climate ,Perennial plant ,Biomass ,Perennial grasses, Biofuels, Land use, Bioenergy, Biomass, Marginal lands ,Marginal lands ,Bioma ,Biofuel ,Bioenergy ,Perennial grasse ,2. Zero hunger ,Perennial grasses ,Marginal land ,biology ,Arundo donax ,Miscanthus ,15. Life on land ,biology.organism_classification ,Biofuels ,Land use ,Productivity (ecology) ,Agronomy ,Panicum virgatum ,Environmental science ,Agronomy and Crop Science - Abstract
Side by side biomass productivities, harvesting time (autumn vs. winter) and frequency (annual vs. biennial) of three perennial grasses were compared under northern and southern Mediterranean climates. Miscanthus ( Miscanthus × giganteus Greef et Deu.) was compared to giant reed ( Arundo donax L.) in Catania (37°24′N, 15°03′E), and to switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.) in Bologna (44°55'N, 11°45′E). Generally, giant reed produced about 50% higher biomass than miscanthus in Catania. Miscanthus almost halved biomass productivity in the driest year, while giant reed reduced biomass yield by only 30% under the same conditions. In Bologna, miscanthus and switchgrass produced similar amounts of cumulative biomass over 6 years. Switchgrass kept more stable annual yields than miscanthus, which, however, evidenced a higher potential under favorable climate conditions. Autumn harvest significantly reduced biomass productivity and quality (moisture content, ashes, cellulose and hemicellulose), particularly under South Mediterranean climate. In Catania, autumn biomass was 50% (giant reed) to 85% (miscanthus) lower than winter biomass, while in Bologna, autumn cut reduced switchgrass yield by 20%. Biennial harvesting resulted in almost 40% lower cumulative biomass yield than annual cut, after 6 years.
- Published
- 2015
27. THE USE OF SPENT MUSHROOM SUBSTRATE IN THE PRODUCTION OF THERMAL ENERGY IN TERMS OF A CIRCULAR ECONOMY.
- Author
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Padolecchia, Melania, Gallina, Giorgio, Lombardi, Andrea, Puglisi, Nunzio, Liberto, Verzì, and Testa, Giorgio
- Subjects
CULTIVATED mushroom ,EFFECT of heat on fungi ,SUSTAINABLE agriculture ,PLEUROTUS ostreatus ,ENVIRONMENTAL impact analysis - Abstract
Over the past few years, the growing attention to some steps in the chain of production has brought an increasingly important vision of the circular economy, as well as the use of production waste as an input for further production to reduce environmental impact and, ultimately, safeguard the planet. In this case, the Spent Mushroom Substrate (SMS) was studied, a product used by firms to cultivate mushrooms. The business examined in this paper is "Verzì Liberto", located in Contrada Scalilli - Paternò (CT). It has operated in the sector of cultivation and transformation of mushrooms and vegetables since 1989. In particular, the Spent Mushroom Substrate is used for the farming of Pleurotus Ostreatus and Agaricus Bisporus, more commonly known as the oyster and the Champignon mushroom. The aim of this paper is to find a suitable solution to the large quantity of SMS waste available in this sector with the aim of transforming it into a source of energy which respects the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018
28. The effect of summer drought on the yield of Arundo donax is reduced by the retention of photosynthetic capacity and leaf growth later in the growing season.
- Author
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Haworth, Matthew, Marino, Giovanni, Riggi, Ezio, Avola, Giovanni, Brunetti, Cecilia, Scordia, Danilo, Testa, Giorgio, Gomes, Marcos Thiago Gaudio, Loreto, Francesco, Cosentino, Salvatore Luciano, and Centritto, Mauro
- Subjects
GIANT reed ,LEAF growth ,GROWING season ,MEDITERRANEAN climate ,ARID regions ,DROUGHT tolerance ,ENERGY crops - Abstract
Background and Aims The development of Arundo donax as a biomass crop for use on drought-prone marginal lands in areas with warm to hot climates is constrained by the lack of variation within this species. We investigated the effect of morphological and physiological variation on growth and tolerance to drought under field conditions in three ecotypes of A. donax collected from habitats representing a climate gradient: a pre-desert in Morocco, a semi-arid Mediterranean climate in southern Italy and a warm sub-humid region of central Italy. Methods The three A. donax ecotypes were grown under irrigated and rain-fed conditions in a common garden field trial in a region with a semi-arid Mediterranean climate. Physiological and morphological characteristics, and carbohydrate metabolism of the ecotypes were recorded to establish which traits were associated with yield and/or drought tolerance. Key Results Variation was observed between the A. donax ecotypes. The ecotype from the most arid habitat produced the highest biomass yield. Stem height and the retention of photosynthetic capacity later in the year were key traits associated with differences in biomass yield. The downregulation of photosynthetic capacity was not associated with changes in foliar concentrations of sugars or starch. Rain-fed plants maintained photosynthesis and growth later in the year compared with irrigated plants that began to senescence earlier, thus minimizing the difference in yield. Effective stomatal control prevented excessive water loss, and the emission of isoprene stabilized photosynthetic membranes under drought and heat stress in A. donax plants grown under rain-fed conditions without supplementary irrigation. Conclusions Arundo donax is well adapted to cultivation in drought-prone areas with warm to hot climates. None of the A. donax ecotypes exhibited all of the desired traits consistent with an 'ideotype'. Breeding or genetic (identification of quantitative trait loci) improvement of A. donax should select ecotypes on the basis of stem morphology and the retention of photosynthetic capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
29. Does post‐anthesis heat stress affect plant phenology, physiology, grain yield and protein content of durum wheat in a semi‐arid Mediterranean environment?
- Author
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Cosentino, Salvatore L., Sanzone, Emanuele, Testa, Giorgio, Patanè, Cristina, Anastasi, Umberto, and Scordia, Danilo
- Subjects
DURUM wheat ,PLANT phenology ,GRAIN yields ,EMMER wheat ,GRAIN proteins ,WATER efficiency - Abstract
Increasing air temperature due to changing climate is projected to decrease the length of the growing season, hasten vegetative development and maturation, and ultimately affect yield of many C3 crops. Previous multilocation trials highlighted strong relationships between thermal trends in the interval "beginning of flowering‐end of grain filling" and grain yield, and protein content in durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn.). With the aim to confirm these relationships, nine durum wheat genotypes, including old (Capeiti 8, Senatore Cappelli and Trinakria) and modern (Amedeo, Arcangelo, Mongibello, Simeto, and Svevo) varieties and a Sicilian landrace (Russello) were grown at three different sites representing a climate gradient in Sicily, Italy. Moreover, the effect of post‐anthesis heat stress on these durum wheats was further investigated in two contrasting environments: open‐field (control—C) and greenhouse heat stress (HS). HS shortened the interval "beginning‐end of flowering" of 1.5 days across genotypes, and the "end of flowering‐beginning of grain filling" and maturation of 4.9 days, with a range of 1 day in Arcangelo to 11 days in Cappelli. Advances in main phenophases significantly decreased kernel weight (KW) and grain yield (GY), whereas grain protein content (PC) increased. As expected, a negative relationship was observed between GY and PC, while positive relationships were found for GY and grain‐filling duration (GFD), and GY and KW. Genotypes responded differently to heat stress, as evidenced by the net photosynthesis, transpiration rate, instantaneous water use efficiency and dry matter accumulation in kernels. Genotypes were ranked according to the heat susceptibility index (HSI): Amedeo, Arcangelo, Capeiti 8, Svevo and Trinakria resulted heat‐tolerant. These varieties were characterized by an early trigger of dry matter accumulation in kernels under HS (Amedeo, Arcangelo and Trinakria), or showed similar length of the GFD (Capeiti 8) between environments. The multilocation trial confirmed a negative relationship between maximum temperatures and grain yield, and a positive relationship between minimum temperatures and protein content during grain–filling periods. Research focusing on agronomic strategies, phenology and breeding for tolerance to heat stress is of strategic importance to cope with the detrimental effect of global warming in semi‐arid climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
30. Perennial grasses as lignocellulosic feedstock for second-generation bioethanol production in Mediterranean environment
- Author
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Scordia, D, Testa, Giorgio, Cosentino, Salvatore, and Scordia, Danilo
- Subjects
Arundo ,Perennial plant ,biology ,Biomass yield ,Ethanol ,Lignocellulose ,Miscanthus ,Saccharum ,lcsh:S ,Lignocellulosic biomass ,Arundo donax ,biomass yield ,ethanol ,lcsh:Plant culture ,biology.organism_classification ,lcsh:Agriculture ,lignocellulose ,Agronomy ,Bioenergy ,Ethanol fuel ,lcsh:SB1-1110 ,Agronomy and Crop Science - Abstract
In this paper the suitability of three perennial, herbaceous, lignocellulosic grasses ( Arundo donax , Saccharum spontaneous spp. aegyptiacum and Miscanthus x giganteus ) for the production of second-generation bioethanol in semi-arid Mediterranean environment was studied. Crops were established in spring 2002, supplying irrigation and nitrogen fertilization up to 2004/2005 growing season. Subsequently, crops were grown without any agronomic input and harvested annually. Data reported in this paper refers to 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 growing seasons. Aboveground dry matter (DM) yield was higher in Arundo (35.4±2.1 Mg ha –1 in 2009 and 32.2±1.9 Mg ha –1 in 2010 harvest) than in Saccharum (27.3±2.0 and 23.9±1.9 Mg ha –1 , respectively) and Miscanthus (19.6±2.8 and 17.2±1.6 Mg ha –1 , respectively). Structural polysaccharides of the raw material were higher in Miscanthus (63.4% w/w) followed by Saccharum (61.5% w/w) and Arundo (57.6% w/w). The same trend was identified for the cellulose content (41.0%, 36.8% and 34.6%, respectively). The highest values in the total hemicellulose complex were observed in Saccharum (24.7%), followed by Arundo (23.1%) and Miscanthus (22.4%). The composition of structural polysaccharides leads to a higher theoretical ethanol yield (TEY) from one dry ton of Miscanthus feedstock (kg DM Mg –1 ), followed by Saccharum and Arundo . On the other hand, the TEY per unit surface (Mg ha –1 ) was greater in Arundo than in Saccharum and Miscanthus . When compared to other lignocellulosic sources used in the second-generation bioethanol technology, such as agricultural residues, woody species and other herbaceous perennial crops, Arundo , Saccharum and Miscanthus showed a great potential in terms of TEY ha –1 . Given the high levels of biomass yield and composition of structural polysaccharides, the three species might be introduced into the Mediterranean cropping systems to supply lignocellulosic biomass for second-generation industrial plants or bio-refineries.
- Published
- 2014
31. PERENNIAL WIDESPREAD GRASSES AS LIGNOCELLULOSIC SOURCE IN MEDITERRANEAN SEMI-ARID AREA
- Author
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Scordia, D, Testa, Giorgio, Copani, Venera, and Cosentino, Sl
- Published
- 2014
32. SACCHARUM SPONTANEUM L. SSP. AEGYPTIACUM A NOVEL PERENNIAL GRASS FOR BIOMASS PRODUCTION IN SEMI-ARID MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENT
- Author
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Testa, Giorgio, Scordia, D, Copani, Venera, Guarnaccia, Paolo, and Cosentino, Sl
- Published
- 2014
33. PERENNIAL GRASSES FOR BIOMASS PRODUCTION IN MEDITERRANEAN AREA
- Author
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Cosentino, Sl, Scordia, D, Testa, Giorgio, Sidella, S, and Copani, Venera
- Published
- 2014
34. THE PROMISING PERENNIAL HERBACEOUS ENERGY CROP FOR MDITERRANEAN AREA GIANT REED (Arundo donax L.)
- Author
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Scordia, D, Testa, Giorgio, Alexopoulou, E, and Cosentino, Sl
- Published
- 2014
35. Agamic propagation of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) in semi-arid Mediterranean environment
- Author
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Copani, Venera, Cosentino, Salvatore, Testa, Giorgio, Scordia, D., and Scordia, Danilo
- Subjects
Giant reed ,agamic propagation ,Mediterranean environment ,rhizomes ,stem cuttings ,Arundo donax - Published
- 2013
36. Valorisation of typical products through characterising and promoting actions: morpho-biometric traits, sensory analysis and flavonol content in Cipolla di Giarratana
- Author
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Riggi, E, Siracusa, L, Lanza, Cm, Mazzaglia, Agata, Di Silvestro, I, La Rosa, S, Pellegrino, A, Ippolito, C, Testa, Giorgio, Scordia, D, Avola, G., and Scordia, Danilo
- Published
- 2013
37. Physiological and Productive Responses of Native Perennial Grasses to Environmental Constraints in Mediterranean Environments
- Author
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Copani, Venera, Cosentino, Salvatore, Testa, Giorgio, Virgillito, S, and Scordia, D.
- Subjects
perennial grasses ,transpiration ,WUE ,Biomass - Abstract
In the frame of OPTIMA project (Optimization of Perennial Grasses for Biomass production, 289642) four perennial grass species (Saccharum spontaneum spp. aegyptiacum, Sorghum halepense, Oryzopsis miliacea and Cimbopogon hirtus) were established at the Experimental Field of Catania University (Catania plain, 10 m a.s.l., 37°27'N, 15°03'E) in spring 2010 in a Mediterranean environment. Gas exchange measurements, using a gas exchange chamber (LICOR 6400 system, LI-COR Bioscience), have been carried out in the dry season between spring and summer 2012, therefore before the water stress (May), during water stress (June-July) and severe water stress (August), respectively, while productive measurements in winter 2011 and 2012. A long term plantation of giant reed managed in the same condition and grown in the same experimental field has been used as reference crop. Giant reed has been chosen as the reference crop since something is already known about this species regarding physiological traits in south Mediterranean environments. During the measurement time (May, June, July and August) the air temperature, relative humidity, intercepted PAR and soil moisture at 0-30, 30-60 and 60-90 cm were recorded. Cymbopogon and Oryzopsis behaved differently respect to giant reed, even though a decrease in net photosynthesis was observed from May to August. Before the water stress those two species reached 10 µmol CO2 m 2 -1-2 -1 s , while only 5 µmol CO2 m s during the severe water stress condition. Saccharum and Sorghum showed, instead, the same trend of the reference crop during the measurement time. Saccharum reached the highest value -2 -1 before the water stress (24-26 µmol CO2 m s ), while it was about two unit value lower than both Sorghum and -2 -1 giant reed during severe water stress (16 vs 14.5 µmol CO2 m s ). It is worth to mention that during the measurement of July and August the leaf temperature was close to 41 °C. Saccharum was the significantly highest yielding species both at the first and second year (9.8 and 18 t DM ha-1, respectively), while Sorghum, Cymbopogon and Oryzopsis were all not significantly different both at first and second year harvest (2.7 and 5.5 for Sorghum, 2.6 and 4.0 for Cymbopogon, 3.5 and 3.6 t DM ha-1 for Oryzopsis). These results show that there are significant differences among the wild perennial grasses both in terms of physiological and productive characters. Water and severe water stress lead to a reduced gas exchange of water transpired to the CO2 uptaken. Further studies need to be carried out to understand physiological mechanism of these new species., Proceedings of the 21st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 3-7 June 2013, Copenhagen, Denmark, pp. 326-329
- Published
- 2013
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38. Produzione di bioetanolo di seconda generazione dalla canna comune (Arundo donax L.)
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Scordia, Danilo, Cosentino, Salvatore., Copani, Venera, Testa, Giorgio, and Jeffries, Thomas W.
- Subjects
Agronomy and Crop Science - Published
- 2013
39. Exploring the potential of wild perennial grasses as a biomass source in semi-arid Mediterranean environments.
- Author
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Gulías, Javier, Melis, Rita, Scordia, Danilo, Cifre, Josep, Testa, Giorgio, Cosentino, Salvatore L., and Porqueddu, Claudio
- Subjects
PERENNIALS ,PLANT biomass ,GRASS growing - Abstract
In Mediterranean environments, few perennial grass species are available for cultivation in rainfed systems and marginal lands, where plants with excellent adaptation are required. The aim of the present work was to determine the potentiality of five native Mediterranean perennial grasses for lignocellulosic biomass production. Wild accessions of three hemicryptophytes (Ampelodesmos mauritanicus, Hyparrhenia hirta, and Piptatherum miliaceum) and two geophytes (Saccharum spontaneum ssp. aegyptiacum and Sorghum halepense) were collected at three Mediterranean sites (Sicily, Sardinia and Majorca), and their morphological, physiological, productivity and quality traits were evaluated in the field. The species differed in height, with S. spontaneum and A. mauritanicus being the tallest. The leaf mass ratio ranged from 0.23 to 1.0 g g
-1 among species. Maximum net photosynthesis was measured in the C4 species S. spontaneum and S. halepense (26.6 and 23.8 mmol CO2 m-2 s-1 , respectively). A. mauritanicus showed the lowest transpiration rate and the highest instantaneous water use efficiency (2.7 mmol H2 O m-2 s-1 and 6.9 mmol CO2 mmol H2 O-1 , respectively). S. spontaneum was the most productive species, yielding more than 18 Mg DM ha-1 as a three-year average. The highest content of acid detergent lignin was found in P. miliaceum, while A. mauritanicus was the species richest in hemicellulose and cellulose and poorest in ash. S. spontaneum showed the highest moisture content at harvest. Overall, the studied species showed interesting morphological, physiological, productive and qualitative traits. Nevertheless, additional research is necessary to investigate their long-term performance under different management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
40. Lignocellulosic biomass production of Mediterranean wild accessions (Oryzopsis miliacea, Cymbopogon hirtus, Sorghum halepense and Saccharum spontaneum) in a semi-arid environment.
- Author
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Scordia, Danilo, Testa, Giorgio, Copani, Venera, Patanè, Cristina, and Cosentino, Salvatore L.
- Subjects
- *
ENERGY crops , *BIOMASS energy , *RICEGRASSES , *CYMBOPOGON , *GRASSES , *JOHNSON grass , *SACCHARUM spontaneum , *GRASS yields - Abstract
Sustainable biomass production mostly relies on cultivation practices employing low external input supply. Wild germplasm might be suited for low-input techniques while providing enough output. The present study investigated four native Mediterranean perennial grasses ( Oryzopsis miliacea , Cymbopogon hirtus , Sorghum halepense , and Saccharum spontaneum L. ssp. aegyptiacum ), with an autumn and winter harvest regime in a 4-year field trial in Sicily (south of Italy). Species, cultivation year and harvest time had significant effects on whole season crop water use efficiency, energy efficiency and biomass quality. Species and cultivation year also significantly affected aboveground biomass yield and net energy yield. The total accumulated harvested yield over the 4-year experiment was the highest in Saccharum in both autumn and winter harvests (79.5 and 79.2 Mg DM ha −1 ), and the lowest in Cymbopogon (13.7 and 14.9 Mg DM ha −1 ). In both harvests, less than 20% of this total biomass was collected for all species at the first year (9.5–11.3% in Sorghum and 15.7–18.1% in Oryzopsis ). Peak biomass was reached at the third ( Saccharum and Sorghum ) or at the fourth year ( Orzyzopsis and Cymbopogon ) in autumn, and at the third year in winter harvest (all species). Water use efficiency was higher in the autumn than in the winter harvest (2.06 and 1.75 g L −1 , respectively), whilst the opposite was observed for energy efficiency (35.7 and 38.6 GJ ha −1 , respectively). Biomass structural compounds (hemicellulose, cellulose and acid detergent lignin) were higher in winter than autumn, while protein, lipid and ash contents were higher in autumn than winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
41. Future yields assessment of bioenergy crops in relation to climate change and technological development in Europe
- Author
-
Cosentino, Salvatore, Testa, Giorgio, Scordia, D, Alexopoulou, E., and Scordia, Danilo
- Subjects
business.industry ,future yields ,lcsh:S ,Climate change ,bioenergy ,lcsh:Plant culture ,Agricultural economics ,Energy policy ,Bioenergy crops ,Future yields ,Technological development ,Renewable energy ,Energy crop ,lcsh:Agriculture ,climate change ,Agriculture ,Bioenergy ,technological development ,Economics ,media_common.cataloged_instance ,bioenergy crops ,lcsh:SB1-1110 ,Energy supply ,European union ,business ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,media_common - Abstract
Bioenergy crops are expected to play an important role in reducing CO2 emission, in energy supply and in European energy policy. However, a sustainable bioenergy supply must be resilient to climate change and the impacts on agriculture at both global and regional scale. The purpose of this study was to forecast the potential distribution of several bioenergy crops based on agronomic and environmental constrains under current conditions and future scenarios (2020 and 2030) in European Union. Potential biomass yield, according to the category end use product achievable in each environmental zone of Europe at present and in the future available land have been also studied. Future yields were assessed according to two factors: technological development and climate change: the former was based on prospect of DG-Agriculture for conventional crops and expert judgments for bioenergy crops, while the latter based on relevant research papers and literature reviews which used site-specific crop growth models. Yields are expected to increase in northern Europe due to climate change and technological development, while in southerneastern Europe the negative effect of climate change will be mitigated by the technological development. The estimated total biomass production in Europe, on the basis of future yields and surplus land made available for energy crops, may not be sufficient to meet the needs of bioenergy supply as claimed in the European directive 2009/28/EC.
- Published
- 2012
42. Perennial Grasses: Important Biomass Source Feedstock for Bio-Based Products and Bioenergy
- Author
-
Alexopoulou, E, Christou, M, Cosentino, Salvatore, Monti, A, Soldatos, P, Fernando, A. L., Zegada Lizarazu, W, Scordia, D, and Testa, Giorgio
- Subjects
marginal land ,Biomass ,perennial grass ,biomass yields - Abstract
Perennial grasses considered as ideal feedstock for biobased products and bioenergy production. During the last two decades several grasses have been tested at european level in the framework of research projects. According to 4FCROPS project the most importnat perennial crops for Europe are: miscanthus, reed canary grasses, switchgrass, giant reed and cardoon. Two of them (reed canary grass and miscanthus) cultivated in a commercial scale with a total area of cultivation 29500 ha. Miscanthus and giant reed established by using rhizomes or plantlets, while all the other established by seed. Their lifetime is 15 years, while for cardoon it is reporting that its rotation cycle last 4 to 5 years. In 4FCROPS the yields of these crops as well as the raw material characteristics based on the findings of the main research projects that have been carried out in Europe the last two decades. Addionally, the economic viability of these crops were investigated though the developing of several economic case studies for specific sites in EU27 when the crops cultivated in both agricultural and marginal lands as well as with low an high inputs. In the same project the environmental impact analysis of the five selected perennial crops with annual energy crops and conventional crops potato showed that the perennial crops had lower impact compared to the annual ones and the conventional crops. Currently, the perennial grasses are being investigated in three research projects entitled: OPTIMA, OPTIMISC GRASSMARGIN and EUROBIOREF., Proceedings of the 20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 18-22 June 2012, Milan, Italy, pp. 201-206
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
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43. Evaluation of Planting Season of Giant Reed (Arundo Donax L.) to Save Irrigation Water in Semi-Arid Mediterranean Conditions
- Author
-
Cosentino, Salvatore, Copani, Venera, and Testa, Giorgio
- Subjects
energy crops ,arundo donax ,agamic propagation ,planting dates ,mediterranean environment ,Biomass - Abstract
The influence of transplanting time of Arundo donax L. in relation to vegetative clone plant propagation systems was studied for two subsequent growing seasons (2008-2011) at the Experimental farm of Catania University (Italy). A factorial experiment was carried out combining three times of transplanting (November 5th 2008, March 17th 2009, April 30th 2009), two clone propagation methods (rhizome cuttings and stem cuttings) at two soil water availability (irrigation only at the transplanting dates and irrigation from transplanting dates to end of summer). At each transplanting dates 23 mm of water were applied; in the irrigated treatment, from May to end of August, other 250.0 mm of water were applied. The time span between planting to emergence of the first stems has been 168 days (first planting dates), 41 days and 24 days for second and third planting dates respectively. Stem cuttings have shown a good plant establishment in the first and second planting dates; furthermore in all planting dates showed a positive effect on planting density due to supplementary irrigation whereas rhizomes did not. On the contrary rhizomes have a good establishment in the second and third planting dates. Generally speaking the second planting dates was the best for all propagation methods., Proceedings of the 20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 18-22 June 2012, Milan, Italy, pp. 527-530
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
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44. 4F Crops: Survey and Analyse the Parameters that Play an Important Role in the Successful Establishment of Non-Food Cropping Systems
- Author
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Alexopoulou, E, Cosentino, Salvatore, Soldatos, P, Reinhardt, G, Rettenmaier, N, Elbersen, W, Krasuska, E, Monti, A, Fernando, Al, Mackiewicz Talarczyk, M, Christou, M, Panoutsou, C, Zegada, W, Duarte, P, Millioni, D, Tenorio, Jl, Scordia, D, and Testa, Giorgio
- Subjects
non-food crops ,biofuels ,biomaterials ,Biomass - Abstract
As different sectors – food, feed, fiber, and fuels – compete for land, the yielding potential of the future nonfood crops has to be as efficient as possible in order to minimize the competition for land. The main objective of 4F CROPS project was to survey and analyze all the parameters that play an important role in successful nonfood cropping systems in the agriculture of EU27 alongside the existing food crop systems. The work started with the prediction of the future land use in short term (2020) and long term (2030), taking under consideration restrict factors for agriculture and the market were determined. This group of nonfood crops was subjected to a comparative cost analysis with conventional crops for the same time framework. Socioeconomic impacts, like farmers’ income, rural development, public development, and public acceptance were analyzed. Then environmental implications were assessed compared to their respective conventional products (fossil energy, conversional materials). Several environmental impacts were assessed like soil quality and soil erosion, air quality and climate change, water issues, biodiversity and landscape by using LCA and EIE methods. The regulatory framework of the nonfood crops were considered including existing policies, coexistence and safety measures when the crops used for both food and nonfood crops. The collected information was used for the formation of scenarios for the successful nonfood cropping alongside food cropping systems answering whether a completive bioeconomy is a viable option for EU27., Proceedings of the 19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 6-10 June 2011, Berlin, Germany, pp. 253-259
- Published
- 2011
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
45. Evaluation of a Mediterranean South forage farming system
- Author
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Testa, Giorgio, Cosentino, A. D., Copani, Venera, and Tuttobene, R.
- Published
- 2010
46. Current Propagation Options to Establish Arundo Donax L. in Mediterranean Environment
- Author
-
Copani, Venera, Cosentino, Salvatore, Testa, Giorgio, Scordia, D, and Cosentino, Ad
- Subjects
mediterranean environnement ,Arundo donax L ,agamic propagation ,planting date ,Biomass ,energy crops - Abstract
The influence of transplanting time of Arundo donax L. in relation to vegetative clone plant propagation systems was studied in 2009 at the Experimental farm of Catania University (Italy). A factorial experiment was carried out combining three times of transplanting (November 5th 2008, March 17th 2009, April 30th 2009), three clone propagation methods (rhizome cuttings, horizontal stem cuttings and vertical stem cuttings ) at two soil water availability (irrigation only at the planting dates and irrigation from planting dates to end of summer). At each planting dates 23 mm of water were applied; in the irrigated treatment, from May to end of August, other 250.0 mm of water were applied. The time span between planting to emergence of the first stems has been 172.8 days (first planting dates), 50.3 days and 40.1 days for second and third planting dates respectively. Horizontal stem cuttings produced the significantly highest stem density (4.2 stem m-2); horizontal stems have shown, in all planting dates, a positive effect on planting density due to supplementary irrigation whereas rhizomes and vertical stems did not. Generally speaking the second planting dates was the best for all propagation methods. Horizontal stems have shown a good plant establishment in the first and second planting dates; on the contrary rhizomes in the second and third while vertical stems have shown the worst establishment rate., Proceedings of the 18th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 3-7 May 2010, Lyon, France, pp. 522-525
- Published
- 2010
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
47. The Agamic Propagation of Giant Reed (Arundo Donax L.) by Means of Stem Cuttings
- Author
-
Cosentino, Salvatore, Copani, Venera, Testa, Giorgio, and Scandurra, S.
- Subjects
mediterranean environnement ,Arundo donax L ,agamic propagation ,Biomass ,energy crops ,stem cuttings - Abstract
The stem cuttings of giant reed crop with a certain number of dormant viable buds are suitable to produce new plants (by growth of node shoots and development of adventitious roots); preliminary studies show that the uses of stem cuttings is less expensive than rhizome cuttings. However in the semi-arid Mediterranean environment the soil water content can be a limiting factor. Bearing this is mind, an experimental research was carried out in spring-summer 2009, in the Catania plain (Southern Italy) to compare sprouting rate of giant reed cuttings from basal (BS), median (MS), apical (AS) area and a mix (XS) of them, in two soil water conditions: Irrigated (100% ETm restoration from transplant to end of dry summer season, 267.5 mm); Rainfed (irrigation only at the planting date, 17.5 mm ). The results indicate that the number of sprouted nodes at the end of August were 0.7 nodes m-2 (11.53% of the buried nodes), without any difference between part of the stems while in percentage of buried nodes, significantly higher in BS portion (17.88%) than in AS portion (6.27%). The sprouted nodes were significantly higher in the well watered condition (0.95 viable nodes m-2) than in rainfed ones (0.45 viable nodes m-2); equally stem density at the end of the number of stems per square meter emission was significantly affected by soil water conditions (1.63 and 4.28 stems m-2 in rainfed and irrigated condition respectively). Moreover the research allowed to point out that the minimum water requirement for stem sprouting was 25% of the available soil water content., Proceedings of the 18th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 3-7 May 2010, Lyon, France, pp. 518-521
- Published
- 2010
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
48. Evaluation of a Southern Mediterranean forage farming system
- Author
-
Testa, Giorgio, Cosentino, A. D., Copani, Venera, and Tuttobene, R.
- Subjects
Forage farming system ,Mediterranean environment ,Nebrodi mountains - Published
- 2010
49. First application of the Radiation Use Effiecincy (RUE) model for pastures of the Nebrodi Mountains
- Author
-
Bocchi, S, Testa, Giorgio, Cosentino, A. D., and Copani, Venera
- Published
- 2009
50. Propagation of Arundo donax L. by means of rhizomes and stem cuttings in semi-arid Mediterranean environment
- Author
-
Copani, Venera, Cosentino, Salvatore, Testa, Giorgio, Guarnaccia, Paolo, and Litrico, A.
- Subjects
arundo donax ,agamic propagation ,planting date - Published
- 2009
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