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Agriculture is mainly responsible for ammonia (NH3) volatilisation. A common effort to produce reliable quantifications, national emission inventories, and policies is needed to reduce health and environmental issues related to this emission. Sources of NH3 are locally distributed and mainly depend on farm building characteristics, management of excreta, and the field application of mineral fertilisers. To date, appropriate measurements related to the application of fertilisers to the field are still scarce in the literature. Proper quantification of NH3 must consider the nature of the fertiliser, the environmental variables that influence the dynamic of the emission, and a reliable measurement method. This paper presents the state of the art of the most commonly used direct methods to measure NH3 volatilisation following field application of fertilisers, mainly focusing on chamber method. The characteristics and the associated uncertainty of the measurement of the most widespread chamber types are discussed and compared to the micrometeorological methods.

Contaminated areas represent a crucial concern in contemporary planning all over the world. The absence of shared value for such areas leads to abandonment and soil sealing specially if such areas have lost their agricultural potential. The European Project LIFE/ENV/IT/275 Ecoremed has implemented a protocol for the bioremediation of contaminated soils in Campania region. The cultivation of no food crops (Poplar and Giant reed) is proposed as buffer crops waiting for the characterization of the areas. This facilitates the uptake of the mineral contaminants and the biodegradation of organic compounds reducing the risk for leaching and the run off of harmful contaminants that would occur on bare soils. The study discusses a new approach to land use change (LUC) assessment based on environmental and socio-economic factors, evaluated through GIS tool and decision support software (ArcGIS/ILWIS). Literature data have been used to assess the current value of the ecosystem services (ES) provided by such crops (€/ha/year) and the benefits that people obtained from ecosystems. Three scenarios have sorted out and compared through multicriteria analysis. Moving from the deep knowledge of the environmental condition of the territory the study shows the alternative ES values of the land use change starting from no-change scenario to energy crops (Poplar and Giant reed), to abandonment. Results show that is possible to asses an increase of the ES value, both in case of a private and public action, also referring to the opportunities for farmers income in the short and medium-long period.

Objectives Ammonia emissions represent a growing issue for European countries due to the rapid increase in livestock production and next National Emission Ceilings EU Directive adoption, which will limit emissions of NH3 as well as SO2, NOx and NMVOC applicable from 2020 and 2030. Recent researches are devoted to the individuation of standard methods for reliable assessment, consequently many European countries are now building national emissions inventory. The main issue is a lack of data about ammonia losses from buffalo manure, under Mediterranean climate. Buffalo is reared mostly in South Italy, and even if well studied, there are not researches about ammonia emissions. Besides measurement method itself, meteorological conditions influence emissions too. In this paper, ammonia emissions assessment from buffalo manure application to the field under Mediterranean climate is proposed, with aim of giving first data for this animal species. Methods During summer period of 2016 an experimental trial combining the use of three wind tunnel (WT) and Micrometeorological method specifically Integrate Horizontal flux (IHF) in circular plot was carried out. Buffalo slurry was applied with splash plate spreader for IHF and manually under WT. Acid traps were used to assess ammonia fluxes from WT. Acid solutions were replaced every 2 hours for the first two days and every three to four hours for the remaining two days. Glass tubes were employed for IHF method, sampled with same time step of WT. Meteorological data were acquired during the trial and soil samples were taken at the end of each day for pH and NH4-N and NO3-N. Results Results confirm the reliability of WT assessments in ammonia emissions compared to IHF method. The total ammonia fluxes is in the order of about 40% and 50% (of applied TAN) for WT and IHF, respectively. Moreover, it appears that ammonia loss had a positive relationship with air Temperature and wind speed

Objectives According to international and EU policies, complementary approaches for landscape and environment values assessment, in land use planning, are an essential prerequisite on a supra-regional scale. Study area is an area in transformation, now also affected by the institution of the Matese national park, between Campania and Molise regions. In this context, appropriate management policies and land use change (LUC), in favor of bio-energy crops, may help to create new economies and new spatial development perspectives aimed to change negative trends such as erosion risk, socio-economic problems and environmental impacts. The work intends to present a possible physical-mathematical approach for pragmatic determination of the predictable consequences for LUC environmental effects, through empirical analysis, simulation models and objective diagnosis, as support for the decision makers, already in the ex-ante evaluation stage. Methods Tools used in the framework adopted are GIS processing and spatial decision support analysis (ILWIS and ArcGIS software) for LUC scenarios construction. LUC possible impacts assessment on environmental components, was evaluated through science shared approaches of Ecosystem Services considering Habitat Quality and Soil Risk with Invest software, and of landscape metrics such as Patch number, Patch density, Simpson Index, through FRAGSTAT software. Results From the framework three scenarios are delineated. First scenario (Scenario 1) refers to the current development trend. Second scenario (Scenario 2) the energy crops spatial allocation is foreseen in areas with the highest LUC degree. The third scenario (Scenario 3) concerns land abandonment and downgrade in the same areas of scenario 2. Ecosystem services values of habitat quality and erosion risk in Scenario 2 showed highest improvement, in contrast to scenarios 1 and 3. On the other hand landscape metrics highlighted greatest risks of landscape homogenisation and mosaic structure simplification, just in Scenario 2. Consequently integrated assessments enforce for further investigation on LUC spatial distribution and for corrective and mitigation measures that would be applied.

The accumulation of non-essential heavy metals in agricultural soils and consequent environmental contamination raises concerns over their potential toxic effects on human health. Unfortunately, over the past years, the Campania Region (Southern Italy) has been subjected to illegal dumping of industrial or household waste. Particular attention is devoted toward the National Interest Priority Site (NIPS) Domitian Coast Flegreo and Agro Aversano because it is characterized by a patchy distribution of anthropogenic and geogenic pollutants. Contrary to other heavy metals, Cadmium (Cd) is of considerable environmental concern. Industrial and agricultural applications of cadmium include the production of batteries, alloys, and pigments and chemical fertilizer and pesticides[1]. Poplar is suitable to absorb and accumulate Cd in its roots and is usually used for phytoremediation of contaminated soils [1]. Nevertheless, direct determination of Cd in poplars roots is an expensive, time-consuming and destructive activity. To circumvent the drawbacks of conventional direct approach, scenario-based strategies obtained by using advanced hydrological modelling tools, like the HydroGeosphere (HGS) model, have been developed to examine both contaminants transport in groundwater and solute surficial distribution in a 3D environment. HGS model accuracy is strongly influenced by detailed information on surface topography, commonly described by a Digital Elevation Model (DEM). A high resolution DEM was generated by applying Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)that allows to set the flight quotas by adapting the aerial photos resolution to the object under investigation, and to acquire images in flexible date [2]. All in all, UAVs reduce also time and costs in retrieving aerial data [2]. In the present work, the assessment of Cd removal made by phytoextraction of poplars is evaluated by combining the HGS model with a fine resolution DEM, generated by UAV – photogrammetry. To achieve this aim, two different scenarios have been compared: the former is characterized by bare soil (BS), while the latter considers poplar plantation (PP).

Objectives Terraced landscapes are the most distinctive sign of human influence on territory modelling and a peculiar feature of cultural heritage worldwide. Indeed their construction has been essential to make mountain or steep slope areas habitable and arable, reducing the slope gradient and increasing soil permeability. Recently, they are barely sights and commonly abandoned due to their inadequate and insufficient competitiveness. This trend is causing serious problems of hydrogeological instability and, therefore, both European and Italian agricultural and environmental policy is focusing on the promotion of the protection of these areas. In particular, terraced landscapes wrap Amalfi Coast becoming a typical shape and enhancing its beauty. Moreover, they are a proof of the past and, for this reason, they are involved in UNESCO World Heritage List. In view of the above, the safeguard of this place and the development of a management and maintenance plan of these areas should be a priority. Understanding their evolution over the years is a prerequisite to implement a rescue plan suitable to the study area. Hence, the volumetric and geo-morphology changes of terraced landscapes in Amalfi Coast have been performed by analysing different photogrammetric Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), obtained by historical series of aerial photos. Methods The assessment of volumetric and geomorphologic changes have been implemented in Amalfi Coast, a stretch of coastline on the southern coast of Salerno Province in Southern Italy. To achieve this purpose, some historical series of aerial photos related to the area of interest over a fifty-year period have been taken into account and processed using Agisoft Photoscan Professional in order to generate a fine photogrammetric DEM for each year considered. Subsequently, the volumetric changes (m3) between the different DEMs have been evaluated by multiplying their horizontal grid resolution (m2) with their slope differences. Instead, also the slope degree differences have been analyzed. Eventually, the influence of terraces on the surface flow path have been estimated by the Relative Path Impact Index (RPII), computed on a smoothed DEM, purified of roads, trails and terraces. These indices have been computed using ArcGis. Results This research shows that the photogrammetric technique is a promising method to analyze the volumetric and geomorphological changes of terraced landscapes in Amalfi Coast. In particular, it allows to compare DEMs of different years and to quantify study area changes, which are significant because of the abandonment of this place and their insufficient maintenance.

The paper presents the advances of the research team in the framework of the EU Project LIFE/ENV/IT/275 aimed at providing scientific proofs in the using of no food crops to prevent marginalization or abandonment of wide agricultural areas. Moving from this, the study provides a GIS based approach for finding out a set of consistent scenario for testing the impacts of Land Use Change (LUC) for polluted areas at regional scale. The scenarios set out and their comparision through the multicriteria method could represent a more effective support for planner and decision makers. Further the study demonstrates that bioremediation could become an opportunity for improving the ESs values, improving the biodiversity of the territory.

In recent centuries, the athropogenic land use change caused extensive loss of habitat and is widely recognized as a major driver of the current biodiversity crisis (de Lima, Dallimer, Atkinson, Barlow, 2012). One of the main transformation of the land use is caused by agriculture. Understanding how to minimize the impacts on biodiversity of the LUC not just limited to the peri-urban areas, but also to agricultural land is one of the main issues in land management. Mitigation measures have to be devoted to contrast fragmentation and increasing insulation in more natural environments, avoiding, on the other hand, an increasing homogenization of the agricultural landscape. This paper presents the evaluation of three LUC scenarios in a NIP Area of Campania Region (Cervelli et al., 2016), in terms of impacts on wildlife. The work was developed within European LIFE/ENV/IT/275 Ecoremed projects. GIS applications techniques and Spatial Multicriteria Decision Analysis (Malczewskj, 2006) have identified the areas of 14 wildlife species-umbrella possible presence in landscape. The evaluations were integrated through the use of sensitivity data, based on habitat assessments, territory permeability, species conservation and rarity, extended to more than 300 taxa. The developed methodology allows the identification of potential conflict areas between LUC scenarios and species presence areas, in order to calibrate interventions and mitigation strategies. The methodology is, therefore, a support tool for the decision-maker, to define appropriate planning strategies aimed to ecological networks management, physical-territorial continuity among the natural environments maintenance, creation of a species mobility support systems, combating isolation and ensuring the maintenance of adequate biodiversity levels. Purpose of the work is to contribute to the definition of positive LUC for NIP area, not only in economic terms, but as integrated development opportunities of the territory.

The paper discusses a field study on the topics of the Land Use Change (LUC) applied to the Ecosystem services (ES). Specially, the study focuses on the assessment of the value of ES through different option in LUC according to progressive findings of the European Project LIFE/ENV/IT/275 Ecoremed that has implemented a protocol for the bioremediation of contaminated soils in Campania region. The cultivation of no food crops (Poplar and Giant reed) is proposed as buffer crops waiting for the characterization of the areas. This facilitates the uptake of the mineral contaminants and the biodegradation of organic compounds reducing the risk for leaching and the run off of harmful contaminants that would occur on bare soils. The study aims at testing a proposal in approaching Land Use Change (LUC) adding socio-economic factors to the environmental topics. The research experience evaluated ES economic value through GIS tool and decision support software (ArcGIS/ILWIS), using literature data to assess the current value of the ES provided for such crops (€/ha/year) as benefits that people obtained from ecosystems. Some key scenarios have sorted out and compared through multicriteria analysis. Those scenarios are based on a large data set produced within the Life project activity. Moving from the deep knowledge of the environmental condition of the territory the study shows the alternative ES values of the Land Use Change starting from no-change scenario (Poplar and Giant reed), to abandonment. The discussion gives evidence that is possible to asses an increase of the ES value, both in case of a private and public action.

La "Elaboración de una metodología para el aumento de la resiliencia y las capacidades de espuesta frente a sismos de la población de una zona urbana escogida del Distrito Nacional", nell'ambito del progetto internazionale (UE e UNDP tra gli altri ) "Estudio de la Amenaza Sísmica y Vulnerabilidad Física del Gran Santo Domingo", include due sotto-attività : Attività n. 3.1.2 "Análisis del fortalecimiento de capacidades de la conducta social"; Attività n. 3.1.3 "Plan de Comunicación a la Comunidad Urbana". Obiettivo dell'attività 3.1.2 è supportare le autorità locali e i tecnici nell'attivazione di strategie capaci di ridurre la vulnerabilità sociale urbana, aumentando la capacità di risposta della popolazione in caso di sisma attraverso l'istituzione di una metodologia per il rafforzamento del comportamento sociale del Distrito Nacional. L'obiettivo dell'attività 3.1.3"Plan de Comunicaciòn de Evacuaciòn para la comunidad urbana escogida" è definire una guida per l'elaborazione di un piano di comunicazione alla popolazione, che sia di supporto alle autorità competenti per la gestione del rischio sismico, attraverso la definizione di analisi, assunti metodologici e strategie per l'attuazione di strumenti di comunicazione. È stato, dunque, elaborato un esempio di Piano di Comunicazione, necessario per la promozione della cultura della prevenzione ai disastri.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is widely distributed within livestock farms, although not providing any reduction of excessive nutrients. This paper investigates AD coupled with ammonia stripping as an integrated management strategy for manure deriving from intensive livestock breeding. Biomethane potential tests were performed considering three different mixtures of feedstock, representative of a seasonal feeding of a real-scale AD plant in Southern Italy. Results show that the specific cumulative methane production obtained under the three conditions investigated ranged between 133 and 155 NmL CH4/g VS. Ammonia stripping allows considerably reducing the N content of the digestate. Specifically, N ranged from 1531.46 to 563.19 mg N-NH 4 + /L and from 1189.71 to 425.24 mg N-NH 4 + /L, for dairy slurry digestate and winter digestate, respectively.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a mature technology commonly used for manure treatment, both for the stabilisation of waste and for the production of energy. The introduction of new incentives could represent an opportunity for biogas production, when the current feed-in-tariffs, which improved the financial feasibility of AD plants producing electricity will end. This paper examines the feasibility of reconverting an existing AD biogas production plant into a biomethane production plant. The AD plant, in this case study, is a two-stage reactor situated in the centre of Italy and mainly fed with livestock manure from both cows and buffaloes. The economic analysis of two hypotheses is provided: i) continuing the electricity production from biogas after the end of the current incentives (2025); ii) considering the new incentives program for the biomethane and reconverting the plant, using hollow-fibre membranes for the purification of the raw biogas (SEPURAN® Green modules, EnviTec). For this purpose, investment and operating costs, based on plant monitoring data (2105.3 m3 d–1, Biogas production; 4432.9 kWh d–1, electricity production) as well as on market analysis for costs evaluation were considered. The mean biogas production for the considered year was about 30% less than the expected production, indicated by producer, highlighting the need for the optimisation of the management of the reactors. Moreover, based on the averaged methane production (June 2017-June 2018), results show that: i) plant conversion for the biomethane production is not suitable for small-scale plants, due to the high investment costs of upgrading technology (1.2 M€); ii) when current incentives end, the electricity production from biogas in the current plant may not be self-sufficient, due to the highly expensive operating costs. This paper provides a first analysis of the possible fate of the biogas plants under the new incentives.

During the manure storage, ammonia (NH 3 ) and methane (CH 4 ) emissions play an important role in the optimization of manure management of a farm. Different cover types were studied over the years: natural or composite materials; permanent or not. Quite recently, there has been a growing interest in biochar cover application on the storage tanks. Differently from other types of organic cover, biochar is able to capture target nutrients; nevertheless, more studies are needed to understand the mechanism of release when applied to the field together with manure as fertilizer. The aim of this study was to assess biochar absorbing capability while reducing ammonia (NH 3 ) and methane (CH 4 ) emissions simulating storage conditions. Results show that biochar is a promising floating cover for manure storage, which reduces emissions acting as a physical barrier.