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L e soluzioni basate sulla natura (NBS) rappresentano una strategia dell'Unione Europea per migliorare il rapporto tra il mondo costruito, le risorse naturali e le persone in ambito antropizzato. Con un approccio olistico prevedono di ripristinare la circolarità dei fenomeni che la città ha interrotto e affrontare in modo sostenibile le criticità ambientali urbane, proponendosi di migliorare il benessere dei cittadini e le opportunità di lavoro. La mancanza di norme specifiche in questo ambito può essere affrontata proponendosi di fornire i riferimenti per l'adozione di un corretto approccio al rapporto Città-Natura in relazione al capitale naturale urbano e all'applicazione di NBS al fine di rinaturalizzare la città, individuando un percorso di transizione verso la resilienza degli ecosistemi urbani e la mitigazione e adattamento ai cambiamenti climatici.

Soil fauna and microbial communities drive key ecosystem functions such as carbon sequestration and nitrogen mineralisation. The soil microbiome itself is shaped by land-use and soil management, e.g. plant diversity. Detailed knowledge about the relationships involved would provide options for baseline accounting and/or soil management. However, current models for assessing carbon sequestration are poorly equipped to represent the soil biota composition, functional diversity and activity. We hypothesize that the effect of plant diversity on carbon sequestration, playing a key role on shaping soil microbiome, may be differentiated from its effect as a mere source of carbon. To test the hypothesis, a modelling exercise will be carried out using the ROTHC-model and data from EU long-term experiments (LTE). Data collection in the LTEs will include all relevant aspects of the soil microbiome, i.e. particularly regarding its composition and activity. The ROTHC-model includes a BIO pool that represents carbon stored in the microbial biomass. Not only have pool size and turnover rate of the BIO pool been poorly validated, but the concept falls short in taking soil biodiversity into account. Furthermore, the model may be extended to include C from plant roots. Based on the outcomes of a multivariate analysis focusing on carbon use efficiency (CUE), the inclusion of the effect of the soil biome may be improved. Several possible adaptations of the RothC model will be tested with data from selected LTEs and evaluation made relative to time series of measured SOC from selected LTEs reserved for validation. Then conclusions may be drawn for a policy-relevant indicator, e.g. regarding the impact of the soil microbiome on carbon sequestration. This approach for model development will be discussed.

Restoration interventions of natural ecosystems, as well as degraded urban areas, require an accurate selection of plants, not only considering the genotype, but also the adopted growing techniques. Native species are to be preferred (often mandatory in restoration interventions and in some municipal regulations), being able to guarantee high eco-physiological responses, especially to post-transplanting plant stress. This feature is intrinsic of each species, but it is also highly influenced by agronomic techniques. The growing techniques usually adopted in the ornamental sector are aimed at obtaining high quality standard. Nevertheless, not always these methods lead to satisfactory post-transplanting performances, especially if transplanting cares, e.g., irrigation, are not available. Another critical issue in restoration interventions is the use of potted plants grown on peat-based substrates, which must be reduced/avoided in line with high sustainability requirements of this special sector as well as of waste policies. With the aim to evaluate post-transplanting responses of the Euro-Mediterranean native Viburnum lantana L., a one-year cultivation trial was conducted by testing different peat-free substrates, followed by transplanting in a degraded area of the "Parco Regionale Lombardo della Valle del Ticino". Tested growing media were: 1) peat:pumice 70:30 v v-1, as control treatment; 2) coconut coir dust:pumice 70:30 v v-1; 3) coconut coir dust:green compost 55:45 v v-1; 4) coconut coir dust:stabilized wood fibre 60:40 v v-1. Cuttings were planted in 4 L pots directly adding a controlled release fertilizer to the substrate, integrated with a top-dress controlled release one in the following early spring. Plant growth was monitored throughout the entire vegetative cycle by both non-destructive biometric measures (i.e., plant height, collar diameter) and eco-physiological parameters (i.e., gas exchange, efficiency of photosystem II and SPAD index). At the end of the cultivation cycle, some plants were sampled to assess root and shoot biomass productions and tissue nutrient contents, while 12 plants per treatment were transplanted in field in three randomized blocks. Irrigation was provided after the transplant and then plants were subjected to the environmental conditions (i.e., sunny, dry summer). At 100 days after transplanting both eco-physiological and destructive biometric parameters were collected (i.e., shoot biomass and leaf necrotic area). Plants grown in the tested peat-free substrates showed a faster response to transplanting stress respect to control plants, which showed higher phylloptosis and wider necrotic leaf area. This higher efficiency in recovery from transplanting stress was also highlighted by the ecophysiological measures.

Cities are centres of human and economic activities, and in its flurry, are also producers of great quantities of discarded materials and products, effectively functioning as concentrators of natural resources, perpetuating the current linear system of "take-make-dispose" (EMF - Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2017). In order to tackle this issue, there has been an evergrowing push for the adoption of better resource management and waste prevention in urban areas, going in line with the concept of Circular Economy (Zeller et al., 2019). The definition of Circular Economy, given in the first publication of the COST Action Circular City (Langergraber et al., 2020), is an economic system that aims at minimising waste and input of energy and return them as many resources as possible. In order to do so, the different economic systems must bear in mind to minimise resources input and output, emissions to air, water and soil and energy leakage. This could be achieved by slowing, closing and narrowing energy and material loops. In urban environments, specifically, this can be ensured by managing the energy and material flows specific to this environment (water, nutrients, commodities, organics, energy) in such a way that the amount of waste generated is minimal or none at all (Langergraber et al., 2020). However, the implementation of circularity in urban areas comes with added challenges which needs must be addressed. Paiho et al. (2020) attempted to develop a comprehensive list of these challenges, which belong to the following categories: i) "Business" category, ii) "Policy" category, iii) "Technical" category and iv) "Knowledge" category. To deal with these circularity challenges, Langergraber et al. (2020) proposed to apply Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) as the basis for achieving the Circular City concept. By establishing solutions which are simultaneously cost-effective, resource efficient and locally adapted, NBS can serve as tools of application of circular economy within cities (Langergraber et al., 2020; Nika et al., 2020). NBS methodology is extremely interesting, as the inherent focus on resource recovery ensures an improved management of not just water but also the carbon, nutrients, energy and potentially other elements that can be used in interconnected systems (Nika et al., 2020). Several NBS units can together form resource recovery system to cycle above mentioned elements. In that way, the ethodology introduced with the concept of NBS can be proved to fulfil the goals previously set out. While biological processes are the foundation for NBS, other units based on chemical and physical principles may be required to effectively "close the loop". These additional units are designated as "Supporting Units", and their mass and energy balances need also to be studied in detail. As a follow-up of the paper of Kisser et al. (2020), this work will provide a characterisation of urban solid and liquid resource flows, (including water, nutrients, potential energy and organics) which pass through selected NBS and Supporting Units, expanding on that characterization through the study of real-life cases. In particular, we will present the currently implemented NBS units for resource recovery and the applicable solid and liquid urban waste streams and the supporting units dedicated for producing separate input streams at the source level (like urine or concentrated black water) or concentrated fertilizers and disinfected recovered products. Recovery efficiency of systems (where NBS and supporting units are combined) operated at micro or meso scale, applied at TRL higher than 5, is reviewed. The importance of collection and transport infrastructure, treatment and recovery technology and (urban) agricultural or urban green reuse on the quantity and quality of inputs and outputs material will be debated. Finally, the current main circularity and application challenges to be considered (e.g. from the infrastructure, legislation, social and environmental services, multi-stakeholders view-points) will be discussed.

Non-Thermal Plasma (NTP) treatments have been proposed to improve crop yield and quality. NTP-treated water is indeed enriched in radical oxygen and nitrogen species and its application might influence the antioxidant molecule contents potentially improving the nutraceutical proprieties of treated plants. Despite the potentiality of this practice, the effect of NTP on real (i.e., commercial or semi-commercial) growing conditions has been poorly investigated. The NTP devices was used to treat crop canopy and root zone through the irrigation water on soilless cultures in a prototype greenhouse at CREA-OF in Pescia, Italy. The effect of NTP was evaluated on some antioxidant molecules in two varieties of Salanova® lettuce (green and red) and the edible flowers of two varieties of Begonia cucullata Willd. (white and red). The NTP treatment showed a positive effect on few antioxidant molecules, such as the anthocyanins in red lettuce and begonia flowers (Fig. 2) while it had a negative effect on other compounds, such as phenols and carotenoids in red lettuce and begonia flowers, respectively. The NTP treatment increased the chlorophylls of white and red begonia flowers while the same parameter was decreased in green and red lettuce. The NTP influence on the antioxidant molecules of food crops has been highlighted, but its effect depends on the plant species, edible organ, and variety. Further investigation regarding the timing and intensity of NTP treatment are needed.

Nowadays, the detection of microplastics (MPs) is an emerging critical issue in environmental and analytical science. Thus far, there is no standardized method for the identification and quantification of MPs (Nguyen et al., 2019). One method can be the visual identification without further chemical identification, which has a high potential of false counts. Therefore, chemical identification is indispensable to monitor. To determine the mass of plastic within the sample, mass spectrometry could be combined with pyrolysis gas chromatography or thermal extraction desorption gas chromatography. Both methods allow the chemical identification of the polymer types as well as the determination of mass of MPs in the sample; nonetheless, through these processes, the sample is destroyed and particle sizes and numbers cannot be calculated. In addition, these methods are time - and reagent-consuming analytical procedures because they require concentration or separation steps that present also a limiting factor in terms of sample load. Currently, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) is widely recognized as a reliable tool for nondestructive analysis and it is a rapidly expanding research area. In particular, Fourier transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy (FTIR-PAS) has been applied in many fields, such as soil physical and chemical properties analysis (Xing et al., 2016), identification of plant diseases (Andrade et al., 2008), gas monitoring (Wang and Wang, 2016), and food safety (Yang and Irudayaraj, 2001). However, the scope of FTIR-PAS to identify MPs nature remains unexplored. To set up a general spectral database, different plastic samples from different suppliers were measured with a FTIR Perkin-Elmer Spectrum GX2000 spectrometer (running under Spectrum 5.0 software) with a MTEC 300 detector (MTEC, Ames, IA). Samples were placed in the photoacoustic cup for direct determination in the infrared photoacoustic spectrum. Before the determination was made, helium was purged for 5 min (at a slow flow rate of 5 cm 3 sec -1 to prevent fine particles spreading) to reduce the infrared absorption interference from carbon dioxide and water in the air. All spectra were collected in the wavenumber range of 4000 to 400 cm -1 at 4 cm -1 resolution. Each sample was scanned 256 times in succession: the final spectra was the merging version resulting from all these scans. All spectra were made compatible so they contain the same number of wavenumber datapoints in the considered spectral range (x axis). Spectra with a low signal-to-noise ratio were excluded afterwards. An initial charcoal blank spectrum was run to test the spectrometer performance and as a reference for calculating the sample spectra in photoacoustic units. At the end of the analysis, sample spectra were processed using The Unscrambler 10.4 software to detect differences, if present, among different type of polymers. After the collection of all database spectra, it was possible to distinguish among samples and all materials could be well separated by cluster analysis. The statistical hierarchical cluster analysis well separated spectra of different polymers. A dendrogram was obtained when normalized spectra from the FTIR-PAS database were subjected to a hierarchical cluster analysis. A number was assigned to each spectra and a library with database entries was created. From the results of the analysis, FTIR-PAS has proven to be a versatile, bias-free tool to succeed at the prefixed task. It could overcome the disadvantage of time-costing (measurements take only about 20-30 min/sample totally; as a comparison, the fastest thermal degradation methods take approximately 2-3 h per sample) and rapidly assess chemical composition of microplastics without any chemical pretreatment. Due to differences in their chemical structure and composition, polymers exposed to Fourier transform infrared photoacoustic radiation displayed characteristic absorption patterns which allow the distinction. In this work, through statistical analysis and clustering of spectra, the basis for an adaptable reference database for the analysis of MPs has be provided. Moreover, the database can be expanded with new spectra in the future, by allowing the implementation. Finally, as FTIR-PAS has been successfully used for the identification of many components of complex matrices, such as bulk sediment samples using calibration databases between spectra of the sediment and known values of the detrital component, in the next future similar models for the detection of microplastics in food could be established. Bibliography Yang H, Irudaraj J. 2001. Characterization of Beef and Pork using Fourier-Transform Infrared Photoacoustic Spectroscopy. LWT Food Sci Technol 34(6): 402-409. Andrade L, Freitas P, Mantovani B, Figueiredo M, Lima R, Lima S, Rangel M, Mussury R. 2008. Detection of soybean rust contamination in soy leaves by FTIR photoacoustic spectroscopy. Eur Phys J Spec Top 153,539-541. Wang J, Wang H. 2016. Ammonia, carbon dioxide and water vapor detection based on tunable fiber laser photoacoustic spectroscopy. Optik 127(2): 942-945. Xing Z, Du C, Tian K, Ma F, Shen Y, Zhou J. 2016. Application of FTIR-PAS and Raman spectroscopies for the determination of organic matter in farmland soils. Talanta. 158:262-269. Nguyen B, Claveau-Mallet D, Hernandez LM, Xu EG, Farner JM, Tufenkji N. 2019. Separation and Analysis of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Complex Environmental Samples. Acc Chem Res. 52(4):858-866.

Studies on the use of peat-free growing media to grow potted ornamental plants are nowadays increasing, due to environmental concerns around the exploitation of peat. However, few studies focus on the substrate mixture used in the cutting production, which, together with the choice of hormone to promote the development of roots, are the key elements for a successful propagation phase. The most important features required for substrate used for rooting cutting are porosity and water retention. Moreover, the development and quality of cuttings is influenced by the source material characteristic, irrigation management, and phytohormone type. To promote the formation and development of adventitious roots, synthetic hormones (suitable concentrations of auxine and cytokinins) or fitormones (brassinosteroids) are often applied, although their use can produce opposite effects on different species. As example, the formation of adventitious root in hypocotyl cuttings of mung bean is promoted by auxin and inhibited by brassinosteroid, while in soybean very low concentration of 24-epibrassinolide stimulated adventitious root formation. With the aim of evaluate the effect of brassinosteroids on rooting, cutting from two ornamental Mediterranean commercial shrubs, Prunus laurocerasus L. and Crataegus pyracantha coccinea L. plants were sampled at the end of November and rooted on a free-peat substrate, containing coconut coir dust:pumice 70:30 v v-1. For each species, 12 cm-leafed-cuttings (with 4-6 leaves) were prepared and treated through the immersion of cutting portions of 1 cm for 5 seconds in: a) 4000 ppm of both indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA); b) 5 ppm 22S,23Shomobrassinolide (SSHB); c) 25 ppm 22S,23S-homobrassinolide (SSHB); d) water (without hormones; control treatment). A half of treated cuttings (120 cuttings) was maintained in a greenhouse in alveolar containers equipped with a fog system for 120 days, while the other half was collected in different periods (0, 8, 32, and 115 days after cutting preparation) and subjected to protein extraction and analysis, to obtain more information concerning ornamental shrub rhizogenesis. At the end of the trial (after 120 days) each treatment was evaluated in term of rooting percentage, fresh and dry root weight, length, and root area. In C. pyracantha coccinea cuttings treated with SSHB had similar growth of cuttings treated with auxins, while some biomass parameters highlighted better performance of auxins compare with SSHB for P. laurocerasus rooting. Generally, the data showed that SSHB had a positive influence on the formation of lateral roots, but the response was genotype and SSHB concentration dependent.

Fertigation represents one of the most efficient techniques to optimize the delivery of nutrients and water to the crop. It may preserve the cultivation system from nutrient leaching that is harmful for the environment. However, an empirical estimation of the actual crop requirements, in intensive vegetable production systems, may lead to a large waste of nutrients and water even if microirrigation is adopted thus making useless the adoption of such a technology. Vegetable crops are very sensitive to fertigation and an incorrect management can easily limit growers' incomings since defects or excesses are both detrimental for the achievement of high yield and quality. Leafy vegetables, for example, may accumulate excess nitrate in the harvested product, which are armful for human health, or show poor shelf life in presence of uneven distribution of fertilisers and water throughout the cultivation period. All the above aspects pose a threat for the economic and environmental sustainability of leafy vegetables. Many different tools for precision agriculture nowadays aim at improving nutrient and water use efficiency in intensive cropping systems. Simulation models may offer some characteristics that make growers' decisions easier and faster. These tools can be integrated in decision support systems to assist growers in combination with sensing technologies for monitoring plant nutrient and water status. In this work we calibrated a photosynthesis-based model to simulate plant growth thus providing fundamental parameters for the estimation of crop evapotranspiration and nutrient uptake such as leaf area index and biomass accumulation. The final output of the model is a dynamic simulation of the macronutrient concentrations to be maintained by the fertigation system to match the actual plant needs. Experimental data were collected on lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. capitata L.; Salanova®-type) grown on rockwool slabs, under optimal (i.e., not limiting) growing conditions, with a plant density of 22 pt/m2 . The calibration was based on different cultures carried out during the 2018-2019 autumn-winter-spring season under greenhouse conditions. The analysis of simulated versus measured data showed a high capability of the model to predict crop requirements.

The new approach to the valorization of urban areas, which includes solutions based on IoT, AI and open georeferenced big data, guarantees a new, more efficient and more sustainable management based on process optimization. In this scenario, forest management is also changing thanks to innovative solutions based on concepts such as transparency, dissemination and use of public data, data shared by citizens and a sharing of information between administrations and communities. The new management model aims therefore at involving citizens trying to tackle the overall environmental changes, according to development models consistent with the objectives of environmental, economic and social sustainability.

Lo studio ha avuto come obiettivo quello di valutare le potenzialità di nuovi substrati per apportare elementi di innovazione riguardo all'eliminazione totale della torba (substrati torba free) durante la fase di propagazione di piante ornamentali arbustive destinate ad opere a verde in contenitore, al fine di garantire elevata adattabilità anche nella fase successiva post-trapianto e in condizioni non ottimali.

Riverscapes have a crucial role and they must be safeguarded in order to ensure social, environmental and economic development. In order to ensure sustainability, ecological restoration and restoration strategies, the maintenance and improvement of the environmental quality is indispensable and policy makers, scientists and civil society are often today involved in the development of criteria and indicators for environmental governance management objectives. For these reasons, the active participation of citizens is essential to ensure effective protection of the environment at local level, especially in areas affected by the ageing population, emigration and a declining economy. This work explores the weaving of local knowledge, experiences, perceptions, and values of water and place by working with diverse communities and people that know Chiauci, a little village in Alto Molise, in Central Italy. This eco-social research project discovered concerns and needs of a territory through the understanding of the perception by local residents and goers of a recent-built artificial basin, and to consider their adaptation. Structured questionnaire surveys and unstructured interviews were conducted among adults and young people. We critically examined the opportunities and the tensions to people's past, present, and future connections and relationships with the local water environment and their senses of self and/or community. The results showed that drought is a severe crucial climatic event in this area. Moreover, we have identified "top tips" concerning the participatory knowledge and values. These can contribute to co-working with communities to enable and empower citizen engagement with places and local water issues for resilient futures. Local perceptions should be a key to find the process and solutions, by taking into consideration all stakeholders in order to integrate with scientific knowledge. Our findings contribute new understandings of "hydrocitizenship".

Role of biochars in soil fertility management of fruit crops

Green infrastructure contribute to sustainable development of cities. In particular, green walls and roofs are highly efficient in reducing the temperature variation inside buildings and the consumption of energy both in warm and cold climates. In non-insulated buildings, typical of historical cities, the impact of green walls and roofs is greater than in insulated ones but, in general, it depends on plant species. The selection of suitable plant species is a challenge as the theory and practice of choice the right plants is poorly understood and lacking. Here, a methodology to develop objective criteria to select plants for sustainable urban green infrastructures basing on energetic, environmental (in particular, ecological), and social aspects. The challenges of plant selection, which also represent the potentially competing interests, include among others (i) the preservation of native biodiversity in urban environments; (ii) the allelopathic and toxicological assessment and emissions of plants and (iii) shifting weather conditions that include prolonged periods either with or without rain or spikes in either very high or very low temperatures (they will depend on the geographic region). The methodology developed could be used for the selection of plant to avoid negative ecological impacts and achieve energetic benefits in urban landscapes.

We report on the combination of multiple techniques (aircraft, eddy covariance and chambers) to assess CH4 emissions of several landfills in Italy. Chambers were able to characterize the spatial variability of the continuum of the landfill but not the presence of preferred localized fugitive emissions. The deploying of light aircraft and payloads in remote access areas to characterize large-scale emissions with the presence of multiple sources supported measures in areas not covered by the eddy covariance tower footprint. Landfills emissions where biogas extraction was present were on average an order smaller than landfill without any extraction, demonstrating the benefit of biogas extraction not only in terms of energy production but also of avoided GHGs emissions.

L'uso del carbone attivo è piuttosto diffuso nella coltura in vitro (Pan e Van Staden, 1998; Thomas, 2008); il suo impiego, infatti, è associato al miglioramento dei risultati in alcune fasi di crescita di diverse tecniche, quali micropropagazione ed embriogenesi somatica, rivelandosi di particolare utilità per numerose specie, soprattutto arboree (Bon et al., 1988; Mohamed-Yasseen, 1994; Dumas e Monteuuis, 1995; Capuana e Debergh, 1997; Andrade e Merkle, 2005; Sul e Korban, 2005; Zouine et al., 2005; Sosa-Rodriguez et al., 2014). Recentemente è stato proposto, come alternativa all'uso del carbone attivo, il biochar, prodotto ottenuto da un processo di rapida pirolisi di sostanze organiche, comprendenti anche residui di origine agricola o forestale. Il suo impiego è stato finora sperimentato quasi esclusivamente in pieno campo, con risultati di notevole interesse (Yamato et al., 2006; Chan et al., 2007; Blackwell et al., 2009; Baronti et al., 2010; Gaskin et al., 2010). Sono stati perciò avviati alcuni studi per verificare le possibilità di un suo utilizzo nella coltura in vitro (Di Lonardo et al., 2013). Si tratta di indagini preliminari in un ambito alquanto ristretto, per cui non possono ancora essere fornite indicazioni definitive circa la sua efficacia e/o convenienza; le prime osservazioni disponibili, comunque, fanno ritenere la sua utilizzazione un'alternativa possibile e promettente per diversi aspetti.

The characterization of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by landfills is an important topic because, although they represent a percentage below 1% of total emissions, can represent a risk for public health and environment. Some of them, such as benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene and xylene isomers (BTEX) are in fact toxics or carcinogenic. Monitoring these compounds especially in landfills is thus essential although their concentrations, high at the source, are then diluted in the air. In 2015, a VOCs characterization from the biogas emitted from five landfills (Ampliamento Masseria, Masseria, Resit X, Novambiente and Resit Z) in"Terra dei Fuochi" area (Naples) was done to evaluate and describe its composition. Around 100 compounds belonging to 7 different chemical classes were identify from the biogas by using sorbent tubes and Thermal Desorption Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Average concentrations of BTEX were approximately 29 mg/m3 in Ampliamento Masseria, 5-6 mg/m3 in Masseria and in Resit X, 3 mg/m3 in Novambiente and 0.5 mg/m3 in Resit Z. High concentrations of the terpene limonene, ?-pinene and p-cymene have been also detected. These preliminary results highlighted the potential risk for people living in the surrounding area and the need to apply strategies and policies for people security and air quality. The use of biogas for producing electric energy may decrease the concentrations of toxics VOCs reducing their burden in the atmosphere.

The beneficial effects of biochar, obtained from the carbonization of orchard pruning residues were analyzed on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mil.) in a pot experiment with four substrates. Lettuce plants were grown in poor soil (PS), poor soil plus biochar (PSB), poor soil plus compost (PSC) and poor soil ((in term of carbon content and nitrogen content) plus compost and biochar (PSCB). Tomato plants were grown in poor soil (PS), poor soil plus biochar (PSB), rich soil (in term of carbon content and nitrogen content) (RS) and rich soil plus biochar (RSB). The effects of different substrates were assessed by chemical, physical and microbiological analysis of soil. Additionally, a first screening was done on the potential toxicity of biochar on plant seeds, using Lepidium sativum as model species, and earthworm (Lombricus terrestris) as bioindicator of the soil quality (Standard methods: ISO 17512-1:2008). To accomplish this aim, the main chemical parameters of the substrates were analyzed: moisture, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), ash, organic matter (OM), cation exchange capacity (CEC), total nitrogen (N), total and available phosphorus (P) and organic carbon (Corg). The main nutritional traits (free sugar, phenols, protein content, etc) were determined in plants. The amounts of toxic elements were assessed in plants and substrates. In detail, sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and main polychlorinated biphenyls were analyzed after automated Soxhlet extraction using 1:1 (v/v) acetone/hexane (EPA methods 3541) and quantified by GC-MS. The heavy metal concentrations were analyzed by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (ISO 11466). For microbiological analysis, the activity of 19 hydrolytic enzymes was assessed by API-ZYM system together with the analysis of total aerobic viable, cellulolytic and spore-forming bacteria. Experimental results showed that biochar was not toxic to biotic soil communities (seeds and earthworms). The chemical analysis of PS lettuce plants indicated that biochar increased EC, OM, total N, Corg, total and available P in PSB and PSCB. However, the highest increments were obtained in PSBC. The chemical analysis of soil growing tomato plants demonstrated that the biochar addition increased EC, OM, Corg, total N and moisture in PSB and RSB; whereas total and available P increased in PSB and RSB, respectively. Again, the highest increments were obtained in RSB. No variations were recorded in Cd, Cr, Co and Pb content between the different treatments. Microbiological analysis confirmed that biochar increased the microbe biomass and the enzymatic activities. Analyses of substrate-microbe-plant system provide an experimental framework that help defining the benefit and toxicity of biochar addition on physical and chemical properties of PS and RS, as well as the interactions with microbial communities.

http://www.meteo.fr/icuc9/Poster/TUKUP.pdf

Objectives and Materials and Methods Biochar soil amendment is globally recognized as a strategy to improve soil fertility and to mitigate climate change. However, recently published researches, highlighted as the biochar effects on crops are more dependent by the site characteristics (climate, soil and other environmental parameters), than the intrinsic biochar characteristics, chemical and physical. In this view, the soil fertility could constrain the expected beneficial biochar effects. In our research, we have applied different levels of soil fertility to assess the effects of the biochar amendment on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The experiment was done on pot in a greenhouse during summer 2014. Lettuce plants were grown on poor soil (in term of carbon content and nitrogen content) (PS), poor soil plus biochar (PSB), poor soil plus compost (PSC) and poor soil plus compost and biochar (PSCB). Tomato plants were grown on poor soil (PS), poor soil plus biochar (PSB), rich soil (in term of carbon content and nitrogen content) (RS) and rich soil plus biochar (RSB). Each treatment was replicated 10 times. The biochar was obtained from the carbonization of orchard pruning residues and it was applied at rate of 65 g kg-1 dry weight of soil. The compost used was a commercial product (composted olive mill wastes) and it was applied at rate of 50 g kg-1 dry weight of soil . The lettuce and tomato plants were fully irrigated through the experimentation until harvest, after 9 weeks. Morphological traits of six plants for each treatment were weekly recorded and analyzed by Image J software. In detail, for lettuce the following leaves parameters were taken: number, area, length, width and perimeter; for tomato the measurements were taken on number of leaflets and compound leaves, stem height and branching. At harvest, the following tomato fruits parameters were measured: number, length and diameter. At the end of experiment, stem and root biomass allocation (fresh and dry weights) of lattuce and tomato plants were determined. Leaf water potential, gas exchange and chlorophyll content were measured during the experimentation on five randomly selected plants for each treatment. Results and Conclusion The lettuce experiment demonstrated that the morphological plant traits, both above and below ground, increased in plants grown in PSB, PSC and PSCB, compared to PS. Ecophysiological traits indicated that the transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, leaf assimilation rate potential and water leaf potential were significantly higher in PSB respect to PS, while no significant differences were found between PSC and PSCB. The tomato experiment demonstrated a not so evident biochar effects on morphological and ecophysiological plant traits among substrate treatments. Our results indicated that biochar added to non-fertile soil increase yield of lettuce, thus, biochar could effectively be used to implement low-input cropping systems. On the other hand, biochar shows neutral/negative effects on tomato yield, without adding benefits to high-inputs crops as recently observed in field experiment.

Introduzione L'emissione di composti in atmosfera contribuisce alle alterazioni della composizione dell'atmosfera stessa, quindi alla qualità dell'aria negli ambienti urbani, ma anche all'inquinamento atmosferico in generale ed ai cambiamenti climatici. Le emissioni antropiche sono in maggior parte dovute alle attività industriali ed ai trasporti, ed indirettamente ai consumi ed allo stile di vita degli individui, e si concentrano nei centri abitati alterando il normale equilibrio dell'atmosfera. Numerosi studi internazionali hanno evidenziato come queste alterazioni siano strettamente correlate ad un aumento del tasso di mortalità e di morbidità: dato che la popolazione che vive in città (attualmente il 50%; dovrebbe raggiungere il 70% nel 2050) così come le emissioni di gas inquinanti e gas serra continuano ad aumentare, strumenti innovativi, non solo normativi ma anche di monitoraggio, possono giocare un ruolo di grande importanza per la tutela della salute dei cittadini. Obiettivo Impiegare tecniche micrometeorologiche quali l'eddy covariance, oggi molto utilizzata per la quantificazione dei flussi di gas in ambienti agro-forestali, per misurare le emissioni di inquinanti in ambito urbano; quindi caratterizzare il legame tra emissioni, concentrazioni, e parametri meteorologici quali il trasporto ed il rimescolamento turbolento. Come caso studio è stata individuata la città di Firenze di cui si possiede una serie storica di quasi un decennio. Risultati I risultati evidenziano come la città di Firenze sia una forte fonte emissiva soprattutto nel periodo invernale a causa del contributo legato al riscaldamento domestico. Una significativa relazione è stata infatti trovata confrontando le medie mensili di temperatura e le emissioni. Inoltre, confrontando i periodi 2005-2008 (ante-crisi) e 2009-2012 (crisi economica), si notano differenze nelle emissioni soprattutto nei mesi invernali, con una riduzione nel 2009-2012 di circa il 15% rispetto al 2005-2008. Le condizioni di stabilità atmosferica e di rimescolamento turbolento sono comunque determinanti al pari delle emissioni nel regolare la concentrazione di composti in atmosfera. Conclusioni Un elemento fondamentale nella valutazione degli effetti dell'inquinamento atmosferico è rappresentato dalla corretta misura dell'esposizione della popolazione agli inquinanti. Le centraline di rilevamento della qualità dell'aria sono strumenti importanti per stimare l'esposizione della popolazione, ma non sono esaustive in quanto non permettono di verificare direttamente l'effetto di politiche restrittive, quali ad esempio i blocchi del traffico, che agiscono invece sulle emissioni. Le tecniche presentate in questo lavoro, permettono di caratterizzare le emissioni e quindi il "metabolismo" di un contesto urbano, fornendo uno strato informativo aggiuntivo di supporto alle decisioni inerenti la protezione della salute pubblica.

Sono riportati i risultati di una ricerca sulla conservazione a medio termine di Castanea sativa coltivato in vitro e conservato alle temperature di 4° e 8° C.

Il biochar o carbone vegetale è un materiale costituito da una grana fine e porosa 10-15 volte superiore alla porosità di un suolo ed è costituito prevalentemente da carbonio organico. La buona capacità di ritenzione delle sostanze nutritive e dell'acqua potrebbero fare del biochar un ammendante ideale per la coltivazione delle piante in vaso e, grazie al suo alto potere di adsorbimento di sali, potrebbe garantire l'impiego nel florovivaismo anche di acque di mediocre qualità (saline). I risultati di una prova svolta su lauroceraso (Prunus laurocerasus L.) e fillirea (Phillyrea latifolia L.), utilizzando substrati con diverse percentuali di biochar ed acque irrigue a diversa salinità (800 ?S/cm e 1800 ?S/cm) hanno dimostrato che l'aggiunta del biochar al substrato di coltivazione non ha influito sull'accrescimento delle piante e ha fortemente limitato i danni da salinità nella specie sensibile, il lauroceraso.

I sottoprodotti derivati dalla trasformazione delle olive sono costituiti da acqua di vegetazione (refluo liquido) e da sansa vergine (refluo solido). Le sanse vergini, che fino al recente passato sono state prevalentemente destinate ai sansifici per l'estrazione mediante solventi chimici dell'olio, possono essere impiegate, come ammendante, in agricoltura. A causa dell'elevato contenuto in acqua delle sanse, l'estrazione dell'olio residuo diventa difficile e costosa, richiedendo un preliminare processo di essiccamento o l'uso di macchine centrifughe, tanto che i sansifici sempre più frequentemente rifiutano queste sanse. Negli ultimi anni il problema è andato aggravandosi anche a causa della riduzione dei consumi, e quindi del valore commerciale, dell'olio di sansa. Di conseguenza, mentre in passato la sansa costituiva una fonte di reddito per il frantoiano, cosa che non ha stimolato la ricerca di impieghi alternativi, attualmente sta diventando, al pari delle acque di vegetazione, un sottoprodotto da smaltire, e quindi un onere. Recentemente, sono state intensificate le ricerche per trovare soluzioni alternative, con particolare riferimento all'utilizzazione agronomica diretta delle sanse o alla produzione di composti attraverso un processo di trasformazione biologica aerobica. L'utilizzazione delle sanse come ammendante su terreni agrari sembra offrire ottime prospettive ma, ovviamente, è necessario valutare, in relazione alle caratteristiche del tipo di refluo, tutte le implicazioni sul piano colturale e sul terreno per ottimizzarne l'uso ed evitare rischi ambientali. Le sanse hanno un pH acido, un elevato contenuto in polifenoli e in sostanze grasse. L'obiettivo della ricerca è stato quello di indagare sull'uso della sansa unita al Biochar (carbone vegetale) come possibile ammendante in campo agricolo. Il Biochar o carbone vegetale si ottiene dalla pirolisi di biomasse vegetali, come i residui ed i sottoprodotti agricoli, contiene dall'80 al 90% in carbonio, ha una lunga permanenza nel suolo ed un pH basico. La sperimentazione è stata condotta in vaso, su loietto (Lollium perenne L.). L'apporto è stato in tutte le tesi di 30 t ha-1 per vaso . Dai primi risultati della sperimentazione risulta che la produzione di loietto è aumentata in tutte e due le tesi con sansa e biochar confrontando i risultati con il controllo e con le tesi solo con sansa.I primi risultati hanno dimostrato inoltre l'inclusione di sansa e biochar al terreno ha determinato un incremento del peso dell'apparato radicale, senza influire sostanzialmente sul numero e sulla lunghezza delle radici.

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