21 results on '"Mantino, A"'
Search Results
2. Outcomes of a comparison between pastoral and silvopastoral management on beef cattle productivity, animal welfare and pasture depletion in a Mediterranean extensive farm
- Author
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Ripamonti, Alice, Mantino, Alberto, Annecchini, Francesco, Cappucci, Alice, Casarosa, Laura, Turini, Luca, Foggi, Giulia, and Mele, Marcello
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
3. Agronomic performance of soybean and sorghum in a short rotation poplar coppice alley-cropping system under Mediterranean conditions
- Author
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Mantino, Alberto, Pecchioni, Giovanni, Tozzini, Cristiano, Mele, Marcello, and Ragaglini, Giorgio
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
4. What challenges impede the adoption of agroforestry practices? A global perspective through a systematic literature review.
- Author
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Tranchina, Margherita, Reubens, Bert, Frey, Marco, Mele, Marcello, and Mantino, Alberto
- Subjects
SYSTEMS availability ,CARBON sequestration ,SOIL erosion ,BIODIVERSITY conservation ,AGROFORESTRY ,ECOSYSTEM services - Abstract
Despite the extensive amount of evidence in the literature regarding the benefits of agroforestry systems including carbon sequestration, soil erosion reduction, climate change resilience, biodiversity conservation and other ecosystem services, the adoption of agroforestry practices presents several barriers for farmers and other stakeholders, thus requiring comprehensive examination from the scientific community. We performed a systematic literature review following the methodology described in the PRISMA framework, to provide a novel comprehensive and systematic overview of what is present in the literature regarding the obstacles stakeholders perceive with regards to agroforestry adoption, gathered through participatory research methods, which are methodologies that engage stakeholders in the research process. In this work, we highlighted and categorized 31 obstacles that stakeholders around the globe perceive according to the examined literature (n = 90) with regards to agroforestry adoption, pertaining to i) technical-agronomic, ii) socio-economic and iii) policy-legislative aspects. We produced a consultable database of the examined literature presenting the extracted and categorized data including 1) Region of interest; 2) Investigated agroforestry system; 3) Methodologies utilized in the papers; 4) Number, gender ratio and type of stakeholders; 5) Main relevant obstacles found in the paper. We highlighted the five most frequently encountered issues i) the availability or quality of knowledge or experience on technical and agronomic matters, or knowledge diffusion necessary to implement or maintain agroforestry systems ii) the perceived socio-economic issue related to the market, marketing of agroforestry products, supply chain or jobs in agroforestry; iii) issues related to the amount of labor or time necessary to implement or maintain agroforestry systems; iv) issues related to the upfront economic investment necessary to establish an agroforestry system and availability of capital; and v) issues related to the availability of technical support necessary to implement or maintain agroforestry systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
5. Diets supplemented with condensed and hydrolysable tannins affected rumen fatty acid profile and plasmalogen lipids, ammonia and methane production in an in vitro study
- Author
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Alice Cappucci, Alberto Mantino, Arianna Buccioni, Laura Casarosa, Giuseppe Conte, Andrea Serra, Federica Mannelli, Giuseppe Luciano, Giulia Foggi, and Marcello Mele
- Subjects
emissions ,ghg ,trees ,shrubs ,agroforestry ,Animal culture ,SF1-1100 - Abstract
The livestock sector constitutes 14.5% of global green-house gas (GHG) emissions and soil and water pollution due to nitrogen excretion. Methane and nitrogen excretions in ruminants can be mitigated by specific feeding strategies, and tannins reduce methanogenesis and ammonia syntheses. In our study, two kinds of condensed tannins (Mimosa and Gambier) and two kinds of hydrolysable tannins (Chestnut and Tara) were added (4 g/100 g DM) to a basal feed (barley: 48 g/100 g DM, wheat bran: 23 g/100 g DM, dehydrated alfalfa hay:15 g/100 g DM, soybean meal: 10 g/100 g DM and molasses: 2 g/100 g DM), inoculated with rumen fluid and fermented for 24 h. The methane, ammonia, fatty acid and plasmalogen lipid profile were determined. The results confirmed that tannins are an important family of heterogeneous compounds whose effect on rumen metabolism is strongly linked to their different characteristics. Chestnut tannin extract was shown to be a good compromise. It improved the sustainability of ruminant rearing by decreasing methanogenesis (control feed 0.159 vs chestnut feed 0.137 mmol/L rumen fluid; p = .0326), ammonia production (control feed 248 vs chestnut feed 179 mg/L rumen fluid; p
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
6. Competition for Light Affects Alfalfa Biomass Production More Than Its Nutritive Value in an Olive-Based Alley-Cropping System
- Author
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Alberto Mantino, Cristiano Tozzini, Enrico Bonari, Marcello Mele, and Giorgio Ragaglini
- Subjects
silvoarable ,agroforestry ,biomass ,legume ,forage ,pasture ,Plant ecology ,QK900-989 - Abstract
Cropping among trees with perennial legumes is one option for increasing agro-ecosystem services, such as improving the nitrogen supply and increasing soil protection by herbaceous vegetation. Moreover, cropping under the canopy of olive trees should diversify the farm production, compared to the traditional fallow management. Among perennial legumes, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) produces abundant biomass under Mediterranean rainfed condition. Based on this, a two-year field experiment was implemented in southern Tuscany in a rainfed olive orchard to test the competition for light effects on alfalfa biomass production and nutritive value. Light availability under the tree canopy was measured by hemispherical photos. In both years, the alfalfa yield of under-canopy varied according to the tree presence. A significant relationship between biomass production and light availability was recorded. The nutritive value of under-canopy alfalfa was similar to that of the open-grown alfalfa. However, same significant differences did however occur, between shaded and sole crop. When differences were found, under-canopy herbage was characterised by a higher content of crude protein and a lower content of fibre with respect to open-grown. In a hilly silvoarable olive orchard, alfalfa biomass accumulation was reduced mainly due to scarce light availability, therefore tree management such as pruning and plantation layout can enhance the herbage productivity. Studying shade tolerant forage legumes in order to enhance the yield and nutritive value of herbage production in rainfed agroforestry systems is essential.
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
7. Effect of Tree Presence and Soil Characteristics on Soybean Yield and Quality in an Innovative Alley-Cropping System
- Author
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Alberto Mantino, Iride Volpi, Martina Micci, Giovanni Pecchioni, Simona Bosco, Federico Dragoni, Marcello Mele, and Giorgio Ragaglini
- Subjects
agroforestry ,silvoarable ,intercropping ,poplar short rotation coppice (src) ,sustainable intensification ,Agriculture - Abstract
Agroforestry is indicated as a farming practice suited to enhance ecosystem services generated by cropping systems. However, farmers are often reluctant to implement agroforestry systems due to the potential yield loss of crops. In a field trial, soybean was intercropped with poplar short-rotation-coppice rows in an alley-cropping system with 13.5 m wide alleys, in order to assess the effect of tree presence on soybean yield and quality. The light availability (LA) was significantly affected by the tree presence, with an increasing effect along the season due to tree growth, being at its lowest in the tree−crop interface positions (West and East). Significant effects of the tree-distance and LA were registered on soybean yield, with the highest reduction of soybean yield in the West (−78%) and East (−35%) positions. Crude fat content in soybean grain did not vary among positions in the alley, while crude protein content was the lowest in the most shaded position (West −8% than the highest value). The assessment of spatial variability among plots of measured soil characteristics highlighted no significant effect of pedological conditions upon soybean yield. Thus, in our study, the LA effect was more important than soil characteristics in determining a detrimental effect of competition for resources between soybean and poplar. Conversely, soybean quality was affected by soil characteristics, since crude fat significantly correlated with soil nutrients, pH, soil organic matter and soil texture.
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
8. Light reduction affected agronomic performance and nutritive value of temporary grassland swards in a Mediterranean rainfed plot trial
- Author
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Tramacere, LORENZO GABRIELE, Mantino, Alberto, Massimo, Sbrana, Marco, Mazzoncini, Mele, Marcello, Giorgio, Ragaglini, and Antichi, Daniele
- Subjects
sustainable agriculture ,Intercropping, slats, shade, sulla, forage, transmittance, alfalfa, agroforestry, yield, sustainable agriculture ,Intercropping ,transmittance ,shade ,forage ,slats ,yield ,alfalfa ,sulla ,agroforestry - Published
- 2022
9. Simulating the effect of light availability reduction on grass and legume swards in a Mediterranean rainfed plot trial
- Author
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Tramacere, LORENZO GABRIELE, Mantino, Alberto, Iride, Volpi, Sbrana, Massimo, Mazzoncini, Marco, Cappucci, Alice, Mele, Marcello, Giorgio, Ragaglini, and Antichi, Daniele
- Subjects
sustainable agriculture ,ryegrass ,agroforestry ,forage crops ,sulla ,alfalfa - Published
- 2021
10. Competition for light affects alfalfa biomass production more than its nutritive value in an olive-based alley-cropping system
- Author
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Marcello Mele, Enrico Bonari, Cristiano Tozzini, Giorgio Ragaglini, and Alberto Mantino
- Subjects
Canopy ,geography ,geography.geographical_feature_category ,Perennial plant ,Forage ,Silvoarable ,fungi ,Biomass ,food and beverages ,Forestry ,lcsh:QK900-989 ,Biology ,Pasture ,Olive trees ,Legume ,Agroforestry ,Shade ,Agronomy ,lcsh:Plant ecology ,Orchard ,Pruning - Abstract
Cropping among trees with perennial legumes is one option for increasing agro-ecosystem services, such as improving the nitrogen supply and increasing soil protection by herbaceous vegetation. Moreover, cropping under the canopy of olive trees should diversify the farm production, compared to the traditional fallow management. Among perennial legumes, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) produces abundant biomass under Mediterranean rainfed condition. Based on this, a two-year field experiment was implemented in southern Tuscany in a rainfed olive orchard to test the competition for light effects on alfalfa biomass production and nutritive value. Light availability under the tree canopy was measured by hemispherical photos. In both years, the alfalfa yield of under-canopy varied according to the tree presence. A significant relationship between biomass production and light availability was recorded. The nutritive value of under-canopy alfalfa was similar to that of the open-grown alfalfa. However, same significant differences did however occur, between shaded and sole crop. When differences were found, under-canopy herbage was characterised by a higher content of crude protein and a lower content of fibre with respect to open-grown. In a hilly silvoarable olive orchard, alfalfa biomass accumulation was reduced mainly due to scarce light availability, therefore tree management such as pruning and plantation layout can enhance the herbage productivity. Studying shade tolerant forage legumes in order to enhance the yield and nutritive value of herbage production in rainfed agroforestry systems is essential.
- Published
- 2021
11. Effect of Tree Presence and Soil Characteristics on Soybean Yield and Quality in an Innovative Alley-Cropping System
- Author
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Iride Volpi, Giorgio Ragaglini, Giovanni Pecchioni, Simona Bosco, Alberto Mantino, Marcello Mele, Martina Micci, and Federico Dragoni
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Soil texture ,01 natural sciences ,agroforestry ,lcsh:Agriculture ,Agroforestry ,Intercropping ,Poplar short rotation coppice (SRC) ,Silvoarable ,Sustainable intensification ,Yield (wine) ,poplar short rotation coppice (SRC) ,biology ,business.industry ,Soil organic matter ,sustainable intensification ,fungi ,lcsh:S ,food and beverages ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,biology.organism_classification ,Agronomy ,Agriculture ,Field trial ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Environmental science ,silvoarable ,Spatial variability ,business ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,Cropping ,intercropping ,010606 plant biology & botany - Abstract
Agroforestry is indicated as a farming practice suited to enhance ecosystem services generated by cropping systems. However, farmers are often reluctant to implement agroforestry systems due to the potential yield loss of crops. In a field trial, soybean was intercropped with poplar short-rotation-coppice rows in an alley-cropping system with 13.5 m wide alleys, in order to assess the effect of tree presence on soybean yield and quality. The light availability (LA) was significantly affected by the tree presence, with an increasing effect along the season due to tree growth, being at its lowest in the tree&ndash, crop interface positions (West and East). Significant effects of the tree-distance and LA were registered on soybean yield, with the highest reduction of soybean yield in the West (&minus, 78%) and East (&minus, 35%) positions. Crude fat content in soybean grain did not vary among positions in the alley, while crude protein content was the lowest in the most shaded position (West &minus, 8% than the highest value). The assessment of spatial variability among plots of measured soil characteristics highlighted no significant effect of pedological conditions upon soybean yield. Thus, in our study, the LA effect was more important than soil characteristics in determining a detrimental effect of competition for resources between soybean and poplar. Conversely, soybean quality was affected by soil characteristics, since crude fat significantly correlated with soil nutrients, pH, soil organic matter and soil texture.
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
12. What is the future for agroforestry in Italy?
- Author
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Paris Pierluigi1, Camilli Francesca2, Rosati Adolfo3, Mantino Alberto4, Mezzalira Giustino5, dalla Valle Christina5, Franca Antonello6, Seddaiu Giovanna7, Pisanelli Andrea1, Lauteri Marco1, Brunori Antonio8, Giovanni Antonio Re6, Federico Sanna6, Giorgio Ragaglini4, Mele Marcello9, Ferrario Viviana10, Burgess, and Paul J.11
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,sustainable management ,Marginal areas ,Biodiversity ,Silvopastoral ,silvopastoral ,01 natural sciences ,Ecosystem services ,Grazing ,Agricultural policy ,Silvoarable ,business.industry ,Agroforestry ,production certification ,Forestry ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,CAP ,Olive trees ,marginal areas ,Geography ,Physiological ecology ,Agriculture ,Sustainable management ,Production certification ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,physiological ecology ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,silvoarable ,Arable land ,business ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,010606 plant biology & botany - Abstract
The successful promotion of agroforestry in Italy depends on both a recognition of tradition and the opportunities for innovation. In Italy, agroforestry has traditionally been a key component of landscape management. Complex systems, based on the integration among crops–livestock–fruit/forest trees, provided a wide variety of products (e.g. food, feed, fibers, fuelwood and timber) and other ecosystem services (e.g. soil erosion control and biodiversity preservation). Silvopastoral systems have been used for centuries and are still managed in marginal areas. The integration of fruits trees (in primis olive trees) with crops and grazing was widely practiced and is still profitable. Coltura promiscua was historically developed integrating fruit and forest trees and particularly multifunctional trees (e.g. Juglans regia L. and Prunus avium L.) to support vines and intercrops. Building on recent research, projects have also focused on innovation in agroforestry. The adoption of shade tolerant forage species and crops has been studied in silvopastoral and olive systems. Silvopastoral systems can significantly offset the greenhouse gas emissions produced by livestock and shield grazing animals from “heat waves”. Integration of fast growing timber trees (like Populus) in arable systems can help reverse the decline in plantation forestry in Italy. Finally, the constraints imposed by the EU agricultural policy, especially the prevalent provisions for monocrops severely limiting the introduction of innovative agroforestry approaches, are discussed. New political measures and certification actions are strongly required.
- Published
- 2019
13. Exploring the potential of perennial crops in reducing soil erosion: A GIS-based scenario analysis in southern Tuscany, Italy
- Author
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Alberto Mantino, Chiara Vallebona, and Enrico Bonari
- Subjects
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Perennial plant ,Geography, Planning and Development ,Land cover ,01 natural sciences ,Scenario analysis ,No-till farming ,Sustainable agriculture ,RUSLE ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,General Environmental Science ,Planning and Development ,Geography ,Agroforestry ,Forestry ,Perennial crops ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,GIS ,Soil erosion ,1409 ,2300 ,Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management ,Soil water ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,Erosion ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Arable land ,Water resource management ,Soil conservation - Abstract
Preserving soils is a major challenge in ensuring sustainable agriculture for the future. Soil erosion by water is a critical issue in the Mediterranean regions and usually occurs when high-erosive precipitation is in temporal association with poor vegetation cover and density. Modelling soil erosion risks over large spatial scales suffers from the scarcity of accurate information on land cover, rainfall erosivity and their intra-annual dynamics. We estimated the soil erosion risk on arable land in a Mediterranean area (Grosseto Province, southern Tuscany, Italy) and investigated its potential reduction as a response to the change in intra-annual distribution of land cover due to the increase of perennial forage crops. A GIS-based (R)USLE model was employed and a scenario analysis was performed by setting criteria for raising the performance of perennial forage crops. Statistical data on agricultural crops provided an insight into current intra-annual land cover dynamics. Rainfall erosivity was computed on the basis of 22-year hourly precipitation data. The model was used to: i) quantify the potential soil losses of arable land in the study area, ii) identify those areas highly affected by erosion risks iii) explore the potential for soil conservation of perennial crops, thereby enabling appropriate preventive measures to be identified. The erosion rates, averaged over an area of about 140’000 ha, are estimated to 33.42 Mg ha−1 y−1. More than 59% of the study area was subjected to soil losses higher than 11 Mg ha−1 y−1 (from moderate to severe erosion) and the highest rates are estimated for steep inland areas. Arable land with severe soil erosion rates (higher than 33 Mg ha−1 y−1) represent about 35% of the whole study area. The risk of soil loss by water erosion in the study area is estimated to be reduced on average by 36% if perennial crops are increased in terms of 35% of the total arable land. The soil erosion data produced compared well with the published local and regional data. This study thus provides useful preliminary information for landscape planning authorities and can be used as a decision support tool in quantifying the implications of management policies.
- Published
- 2016
14. An agrosilvopastoral experience in Tuscany
- Author
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Pier Mario Chiarabaglio, Achille, Giorcelli, Francesco, Pelleri, Mantino, Alberto, Pecchioni, Giovanni, Ragaglini, Giorgio, Marco, Mazzoncini, Antonio, Coli, and Marcello, Mele
- Subjects
greenhouse gases ,environmental sustainability ,agroforestry ,economic sustainability - Published
- 2018
15. Diets supplemented with condensed and hydrolysable tannins affected rumen fatty acid profile and plasmalogen lipids, ammonia and methane production in an in vitro study.
- Author
-
Cappucci, Alice, Mantino, Alberto, Buccioni, Arianna, Casarosa, Laura, Conte, Giuseppe, Serra, Andrea, Mannelli, Federica, Luciano, Giuseppe, Foggi, Giulia, and Mele, Marcello
- Subjects
- *
TANNINS , *RUMEN fermentation , *DIETARY supplements , *FATTY acids , *NITROGEN excretion , *WHEAT bran , *AMMONIA - Abstract
The livestock sector constitutes 14.5% of global green-house gas (GHG) emissions and soil and water pollution due to nitrogen excretion. Methane and nitrogen excretions in ruminants can be mitigated by specific feeding strategies, and tannins reduce methanogenesis and ammonia syntheses. In our study, two kinds of condensed tannins (Mimosa and Gambier) and two kinds of hydrolysable tannins (Chestnut and Tara) were added (4 g/100 g DM) to a basal feed (barley: 48 g/100 g DM, wheat bran: 23 g/100 g DM, dehydrated alfalfa hay:15 g/100 g DM, soybean meal: 10 g/100 g DM and molasses: 2 g/100 g DM), inoculated with rumen fluid and fermented for 24 h. The methane, ammonia, fatty acid and plasmalogen lipid profile were determined. The results confirmed that tannins are an important family of heterogeneous compounds whose effect on rumen metabolism is strongly linked to their different characteristics. Chestnut tannin extract was shown to be a good compromise. It improved the sustainability of ruminant rearing by decreasing methanogenesis (control feed 0.159 vs chestnut feed 0.137 mmol/L rumen fluid; p =.0326), ammonia production (control feed 248 vs chestnut feed 179 mg/L rumen fluid; p <.0001) and enhancing acetate synthesis (production rate: chestnut 68.68% vs 49.64% of control). Tannin extracts from trees and shrubs can be used to modulate rumen fermentation. The positive effect of chestnut tannin extract was demonstrated on methane and ammonia production. Tannins showed no protective action on C18:2 trans 11. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
16. Sistemi silvoarabili mediterranei: nuove esperienze in campo al Centro di Ricerche Agro-ambientali'Enrico Avanzi' di Pisa
- Author
-
Mantino, Alberto, Ragaglini, Giorgio, Antonio, Coli, Marco, Ginanni, Bonari, Enrico, Francesco, Pelleri, Pier Mario Chiarabaglio, Marco, Mazzoncini, and Marcello, Mele
- Subjects
sostenibilità ,sustainable intensification ,Agroforestry, sostenibilità, sustainable intensification, carbon sequestration ,Agroforestry ,carbon sequestration - Published
- 2017
17. What is the future for agroforestry in Italy?
- Author
-
Paris, Pierluigi, Camilli, Francesca, Rosati, Adolfo, Mantino, Alberto, Mezzalira, Giustino, Dalla Valle, Cristina, Franca, Antonello, Seddaiu, Giovanna, Pisanelli, Andrea, Lauteri, Marco, Brunori, Antonio, Re, Giovanni Antonio, Sanna, Federico, Ragaglini, Giorgio, Mele, Marcello, Ferrario, Viviana, and Burgess, Paul J.
- Subjects
AGROFORESTRY ,SILVOPASTORAL systems ,SOIL conservation ,SWEET cherry ,WALNUT ,AGRICULTURAL policy ,TREE farms ,ENGLISH walnut - Abstract
The successful promotion of agroforestry in Italy depends on both a recognition of tradition and the opportunities for innovation. In Italy, agroforestry has traditionally been a key component of landscape management. Complex systems, based on the integration among crops–livestock–fruit/forest trees, provided a wide variety of products (e.g. food, feed, fibers, fuelwood and timber) and other ecosystem services (e.g. soil erosion control and biodiversity preservation). Silvopastoral systems have been used for centuries and are still managed in marginal areas. The integration of fruits trees (in primis olive trees) with crops and grazing was widely practiced and is still profitable. Coltura promiscua was historically developed integrating fruit and forest trees and particularly multifunctional trees (e.g. Juglans regia L. and Prunus avium L.) to support vines and intercrops. Building on recent research, projects have also focused on innovation in agroforestry. The adoption of shade tolerant forage species and crops has been studied in silvopastoral and olive systems. Silvopastoral systems can significantly offset the greenhouse gas emissions produced by livestock and shield grazing animals from "heat waves". Integration of fast growing timber trees (like Populus) in arable systems can help reverse the decline in plantation forestry in Italy. Finally, the constraints imposed by the EU agricultural policy, especially the prevalent provisions for monocrops severely limiting the introduction of innovative agroforestry approaches, are discussed. New political measures and certification actions are strongly required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
18. New experience in Mediterranean areas: production and nutritive value of perennial forage species in agroforestry rainfed systems
- Author
-
Mantino, A. and Bonari, E.
- Subjects
forage species ,agroforestry - Abstract
Poster In the twenty-first century, climate change, caused by the rising concentrations of CO2 and other greenhouse gases, leads agriculture to apply techniques for reducing its emissions and to contrast the changed conditions. In such a context, perennial forage cropping systems would increase the capacity to store large amounts of C in the soil and therefore agroforestry represents one of the most important tool. The agroforestry systems can be realized by planting trees on cropping lands or introducing herbaceous plant species in forests or orchards with the aim to increase the global pasture area. Trees can store CO2 like organic carbon in their woody tissues and can also reduce the risk of soil erosion as they cover the ground for almost all the year and they reduce the speed of the wind (water and wind erosion, respectively). In addition, during the warm season the canopy shadow of the trees can create a cooler microclimate for grazing and a diurnal shelter for the livestock. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the sustainability of agro-silvo-pasture systems under Mediterranean conditions in order to produce new knowledge about the productivity and the nutritive value of under canopy meadows. Poplar plantations (Populus deltoides Marsch, var. Dvina) and olive orchads (Olea europea L.) were identified as agro-silvo-pasture systems. The poplar plantations are in the Natural Park of Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli (Pisa, Italy), while the olive orchards in Manciano (Grosseto, Italy). The soil of the poplar trial is a loam with subalcaline pH. The trial followed a randomized block design with two shadow treatments (shadowed and non-shadowed), eight pure plant species and three mixtures and four replicates. Plant species were: five legumes (Medicago sativa L., Trifolium repens L., Hedisarium coronarium, Onobrychis viciifolia Scop., Trifolium brachycalycinum Katzn et Morley), and three grasses (Dactylis glomerata L., Lolium perenne L., Bromus catharticus Vahl) and three mixtures (M. sativa and Dactylis glomerata; T. repens and L. perenne; B. catharticus and O. viciifolia). The poplar plantation layout is 6 x 6 m. The soil of the olive orchad trial is a clay-loam with sub-alkaline pH. The olive orchad systems followed the same experimental design as above. Plant specie were: M.sativa and a six perennial species meadow composed by three grasses (D. glomerata, Festuca arundinacea L., B. catharticus) and three perennial legumes (O. viciifolia, T. brachycalycinum, M. sativa). The layout of the olive orchads is 10 x 5 m, equivalents to 200 plants per hectare. The plots of both trials were sown on March 2014. During 2014 the forages will be harvest using the modified Corral method in order to assess the curves of growth and re-growth of the different species and mixtures. It is important to highlight that for assessing the curve of re-growth of each plant species and therefore to simulate their management in an alley-cropping system model when each species will reach the boot stage we will totally harvest the plots. Then, in the further harvest, we will mow without returning the portion already harvested. The harvest will be carried out at the same sward height and in a surface of one square meter for each replicate. The period of harvest will start at spring and will finish at the end of the growing season, at regular intervals of about 15 days. The nutritive value will be determined using several parameters such as the crude protein, the fiber quality and the in vitro digestibility by anaerobic batches.
- Published
- 2014
19. Competition for Light Affects Alfalfa Biomass Production More Than Its Nutritive Value in an Olive-Based Alley-Cropping System.
- Author
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Mantino, Alberto, Tozzini, Cristiano, Bonari, Enrico, Mele, Marcello, Ragaglini, Giorgio, and Rosati, Adolfo
- Subjects
ALFALFA ,BIOMASS production ,SOIL protection ,AGRICULTURAL productivity ,TREE pruning ,GRASSES - Abstract
Cropping among trees with perennial legumes is one option for increasing agro-ecosystem services, such as improving the nitrogen supply and increasing soil protection by herbaceous vegetation. Moreover, cropping under the canopy of olive trees should diversify the farm production, compared to the traditional fallow management. Among perennial legumes, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) produces abundant biomass under Mediterranean rainfed condition. Based on this, a two-year field experiment was implemented in southern Tuscany in a rainfed olive orchard to test the competition for light effects on alfalfa biomass production and nutritive value. Light availability under the tree canopy was measured by hemispherical photos. In both years, the alfalfa yield of under-canopy varied according to the tree presence. A significant relationship between biomass production and light availability was recorded. The nutritive value of under-canopy alfalfa was similar to that of the open-grown alfalfa. However, same significant differences did however occur, between shaded and sole crop. When differences were found, under-canopy herbage was characterised by a higher content of crude protein and a lower content of fibre with respect to open-grown. In a hilly silvoarable olive orchard, alfalfa biomass accumulation was reduced mainly due to scarce light availability, therefore tree management such as pruning and plantation layout can enhance the herbage productivity. Studying shade tolerant forage legumes in order to enhance the yield and nutritive value of herbage production in rainfed agroforestry systems is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
20. Carbon Budget of an Agroforestry System after Being Converted from a Poplar Short Rotation Coppice.
- Author
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Pecchioni, Giovanni, Bosco, Simona, Volpi, Iride, Mantino, Alberto, Dragoni, Federico, Giannini, Vittoria, Tozzini, Cristiano, Mele, Marcello, and Ragaglini, Giorgio
- Subjects
AGROFORESTRY ,HETEROTROPHIC respiration ,SORGHUM ,COPPICE forests ,CARBON cycle ,POPLARS ,ROTATIONAL motion - Abstract
Poplar (Populus L. spp.) Short Rotation Coppice systems (SRCs) for bioenergy production are being converted back to arable land. Transitioning to Alley Cropping Systems (ACSs) could be a suitable strategy for integrating former tree rows and arable crops. A field trial (Pisa, Central Italy) was set up with the aim of assessing the C storage of an ACS system based on hybrid poplar and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) and comparing it with that of an SRC cultivation system. The carbon budget at the agroecosystem scale was assessed in the first year of the transition using the net biome production (NBP) approach with a simplified method. The overall NBP for the SRC was positive (96 ± 40 g C m
−2 year−1 ), highlighting that the system was a net carbon sink (i.e., NBP > 0). However, the ACS registered a net C loss (i.e., NBP < 0), since the NBP was −93 ± 56 g C m−2 year−1 . In the first year of the transition, converting the SRC into an ACS counteracted the potential beneficial effect of C storage in tree belowground biomass due to the high heterotrophic respiration rate recorded in the ACS, which was fostered by the incorporation of residues and tillage disturbance in the alley. Additional years of heterotrophic respiration measurements could allow for an estimate of the speed and extent of C losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
21. Effect of Tree Presence and Soil Characteristics on Soybean Yield and Quality in an Innovative Alley-Cropping System.
- Author
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Mantino, Alberto, Volpi, Iride, Micci, Martina, Pecchioni, Giovanni, Bosco, Simona, Dragoni, Federico, Mele, Marcello, and Ragaglini, Giorgio
- Subjects
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HUMUS , *AGROFORESTRY , *SOYBEAN , *SOIL texture , *CROPPING systems , *TREE growth , *CROP yields - Abstract
Agroforestry is indicated as a farming practice suited to enhance ecosystem services generated by cropping systems. However, farmers are often reluctant to implement agroforestry systems due to the potential yield loss of crops. In a field trial, soybean was intercropped with poplar short-rotation-coppice rows in an alley-cropping system with 13.5 m wide alleys, in order to assess the effect of tree presence on soybean yield and quality. The light availability (LA) was significantly affected by the tree presence, with an increasing effect along the season due to tree growth, being at its lowest in the tree–crop interface positions (West and East). Significant effects of the tree-distance and LA were registered on soybean yield, with the highest reduction of soybean yield in the West (−78%) and East (−35%) positions. Crude fat content in soybean grain did not vary among positions in the alley, while crude protein content was the lowest in the most shaded position (West −8% than the highest value). The assessment of spatial variability among plots of measured soil characteristics highlighted no significant effect of pedological conditions upon soybean yield. Thus, in our study, the LA effect was more important than soil characteristics in determining a detrimental effect of competition for resources between soybean and poplar. Conversely, soybean quality was affected by soil characteristics, since crude fat significantly correlated with soil nutrients, pH, soil organic matter and soil texture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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