0000000000923131
AUTHOR
Raffaele Leone
Study of quantitative and qualitative variations in essential oils of Sicilian Rosmarinus officinalis L.
In this study the chemical characterisation of 10 Sicilian Rosmarinus officinalis L. biotypes essential oils is reported. The main goal of this work was to analyse the relationship between the essential oils yield and the geographical distribution of the species plants. The essential oils were analysed by GC-FID and GC-MS. Hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis statistical methods were used to cluster biotypes according to the essential oils chemical composition. The essential oil yield ranged from 0.8 to 2.3 (v/w). In total 82 compounds have been identified, these represent 96.7–99.9% of the essential oil. The most represented compounds in the essential oils were 1.…
Effect of plant species on water balance in a pilot-scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland planted with Arundo donax L. and Cyperus alternifolius L. – Two-year tests in a Mediterranean environment in the West of Sicily (Italy)
Abstract In constructed wetland systems (CWs) for wastewater treatment, evapotranspiration (ET) is the most important water balance component in arid and semi-arid regions, where high performance levels are needed when treating contaminants and where it is also vital to preserve as much water as possible for reuse in irrigation. This study shows the results of a series of water balance measurements obtained between 2012 and 2013 from a pilot HSSF system in the West of Sicily (Italy). The system was made by two separate vegetated units: one with Arundo donax L. (giant reed) and the other with Cyperus alternifolius L. (umbrella sedge), and fed with urban wastewater following secondary treatme…
Study of quantitative and qualitative variations in essential oils of Sicilian Rosmarinus officials L.
In this study the chemical characterizations of 10 sicilian biotypes of Rosmarinus officinalis L. essential oils are reported. The main goal was to analyze the relationship between the essential oils yield and the geographical distribution of the species plants. The essential oils were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. The statistical methods Hierarchical Cluster Analysis and Principal Component Analysis were used to cluster biotypes according to the chemical composition of the essential oils. The essential oil yield ranged from 0.8 - 2.3 (v/w). 82 compounds have been identified, these represent 96.7-99.9% of the essential oil. The compounds mostly represented in the essential oils were: 1.8- C…
Assessing a Local Losses Evaluation Procedure for Low-Pressure Lay-Flat Drip Laterals
In the past, several research experiments have focused on the hydraulic characterization of traditional drip irrigation systems, and different design methodologies have been proposed with the aim of achieving very high emitter discharge uniformity (EU). The increasing use of low-pressure lay-flat drip laterals, characterized by a thin-walled polyethylene pipe, makes necessary a specific determination of their hydraulic properties, aimed to a correct design of such systems. Here, the validity of an empirical local losses estimation model was assessed for five different commercial lay-flat drip tapes. Moreover, the errors in the maximum lateral lengths obtained for a fixed emitter uniformity,…
Essential oil characteristics of wild Sicilian oregano populations in relation to environmental conditions
A study was carried out on the essential oil of Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum (Link) Ietswaart taken from thirteen wild populations found in different parts of Sicily, Italy. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship that exists between essentials oil extracted from Sicilian wild populations of O. vulgare ssp. hirtum (Link) Ietswaart and various weather/climate and topographic factors in order to provide more information on aspects that influence the production potential of this species. The essential oils from the samples were extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by a combination of gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and GC-mass spectrometry (GC-MS); se…
La politica di sviluppo rurale e le sue radici
La Politica Agricola Comune (PAC) oggi fondata su tre pilastri, la politica di mercato, la politica di strutture e la politica di sviluppo rurale, sin dalla sua nascita,nel 1957, ha svolto un ruolo fondamentale nello sviluppo della Comunità Economica Europea (CEE) prima e dell’Unione Europea (UE) oggi. La Comunità, tuttavia,nei primi anni di attività ha sempre privilegiato la Politica dei prezzi e dei mercati rispetto alle altre, che si riteneva potessero essere ancora appannaggio dei singoli Stati membri.La politica di sviluppo rurale nasce quando con l’Atto Unico, approvato nel 1985 ed entrato in vigore nel 1987, nell’ambito di una profonda riorganizzazione delle modalità d’intervento anc…
La riforma Fischler e la politica di sviluppo rurale per il 2007-2013
La riforma Fischler parte da un principio fondamentale: colmare il divario tra politica agricola e società facendo in modo che gli agricoltori ottimizzino il loro reddito, garantendo allo stesso tempo ai consumatori cibi sicuri e un ambiente più sano. La riforma ha l'obiettivo di rendere competitiva l’agricoltura con le odierne richieste del mercato, migliorare qualitativamente i prodotti e nel contempo salvaguardare l’ambiente e garantire un equo tenore di vita e di stabilità del reddito agli imprenditori agricoli.
Il dimensionamento idraulico delle ali erogatrici
Lo scopo del dimensionamento idraulico delle ali erogatrici è quello di ottenere una elevata uniformità di distribuzione delle portate erogate dai diversi apparecchi disposti lungo l’ala; tale fine può essere raggiunto mantenendo entro limiti prefissati, ma comunque di modesta entità, le variazioni di pressione in condotta. Per poter affrontare in maniera adeguata il problema di progetto, si deve conoscere da una parte la relazione funzionale che definisce la portata in funzione del carico Q(h) e dall’altra disporre di accurate procedure di stima delle perdite di carico.
Composition and variability of the essential oil of the flowers of Lavandula stoechas from various geographical sources
Samples of flowers of wild Lavandula stoechas L. spp. stoechas populations were collected in three areas of Sicily (Italy) and were characterized in agronomic and chemical terms. Essential oil (EO) was extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. GC-FID and GC-MS analyses permitted identification of 89 compounds from the EO. The samples were separated into 3 groups using PCA (Principal Component Analysis) statistical method, with reference to the chemical composition of the EO. All three Sicilian populations of lavender were identified as the fenchone chemotype with percentage content ranged between 52.8–71.1%. The population of Partinico showed the highest dry weight o…
Wild Sicilian Rosemary: Phytochemical and Morphological Screening and Antioxidant Activity Evaluation of Extracts and Essential Oils
To identify the best biotypes, an extensive survey of Sicilian wild rosemary was carried out by collecting 57 samples from various sites, followed by taxonomic characterization from an agronomic perspective. All the biotypes collected were classified as Rosmarinus officinalis L. A cluster analysis based on the morphological characteristics of the plants allowed the division of the biotypes into seven main groups, although the characteristics examined were found to be highly similar and not area-dependent. Moreover, all samples were analyzed for their phytochemical content, applying an extraction protocol to obtain the nonvolatile components and hydrodistillation to collect the essential oil…
Study of quantitative and qualitative variations in essential oils of Sicilian oregano biotypes
Essential oil (EO) was extracted using hydrodistillation from samples of Origanum vulgare subspecies hirtum (Link) Ietswaart, gathered from the wild in various parts of Sicily, Italy; GC-FID and GC-MS analyses were subsequently performed. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between essential oil yields and the geographical distribution of oregano wild populations based on variations in environmental factors as collection sites. Moreover, the purpose was to group Origanum vulgare subspecies hirtum biotypes according to the chemical composition of the EO. The seven principal components in the EO was thymol (24.0–54.4%), γ-terpinene (9.8–30.5%), ρ-cymene (5.2–18.7%), α-terpine…
Reuse of urban-treated wastewater from a pilot-scale horizontal subsurface flow system in Sicily (Italy) for irrigation of Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) turf under Mediterranean climatic conditions
Constructed wetlands (CW) are one of the most important biological technology for the treatment and reuse of wastewaters. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reuse of treated wastewater (TWW) from CW for irrigation of Bermudagrass turf (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) and assess the effects of TWW on the biometric and qualitative parameters of the turfgrass and on chemical–physical soil properties. The research was carried out in Sicily (Italy) in a pilot-scale horizontal subsurface flow system which was fed with urban TWW following secondary treatment from an activate sludge wastewater treatment plant. The pilot-system included three separate parallel units. The outflow TWW flowed downh…
Growth of Arundo donax L. and Cyperus alternifolius L. in a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland using pre-treated urban wastewater - a case study in Sicily (Italy)
Constructed wetland systems for wastewater treatment represent an excellent opportunity for the recovery of water resources in those areas subject to prolonged periods of water shortage. This paper presents a study of the efficiency of a pilot horizontal subsurface flow system using pre-treated urban wastewater from a small town in the West of Sicily. The pilot system had a total surface area of 100 m2 with two units. Unit A was planted with Arundo donax L. and unit B with Cyperus alternifolius L. The HLR was 10 cm d-1. The main objectives of research were to evaluate the growth and biomass yield of two macrophytes and determine the removal efficiency of physical-chemical and microbiologica…
Gli investimenti irrigui aziendali previsti nel POR Sicilia 2000-2006 e nel PSR Sicilia 2007-2013
Il Presente lavoro ha l’intento di analizzare i documenti legislativi e le misure attuative della Regione Sicilia, che riguardano l’irrigazione e la tutela delle risorse idriche. In particolare, il fine ultimo è di esaminare,attraverso il POR Sicilia 2000-2006 e il PSR Sicilia 2000-2006 e 2007-2013, le strategie regionali che direttamente o indirettamente hanno interessato, ed interesseranno nei prossimi anni, il settore irriguo.
Effects of Plant Density on the Number of Glandular Trichomes and on Yield and Quality of Essential Oils from Oregano.
Plants yields are influenced by agronomic techniques. Plant density is a complex issue and extremely important when maximizing both crop quality, and biomass and essential oil yields. Plants belonging to the Origanum vulgare subspecies hirtum (Link) Ietswaart were grown adopting four types of plant density and were characterized in biometric and chemical terms. The samples were analyzed using the ANOVA (Principal Component Analysis) statistical method regarding biometric aspects, EO yield and peltate hair density. Essential oil (EO) was extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed using GC-FID and GC-MS. GC-FID and GC-MS analysis led to the identification of 45 compounds from the EO. Plant …
EVAPOTRANSPIRATION, CROP COEFFICIENTS AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY OF CYPERUS ALTERNIFOLIUS L. AND TYPHA LATIFOLIA L. IN A PILOT-SCALE HORIZONTAL SUBSURFACE FLOW CONSTRUCTED WETLAND IN THE WEST OF SICILY (ITALY) UNDER MEDITERRANEAN CONDITIONS
In constructed wetland systems (CWs) for wastewater treatment, the efficiency of the system is highly affected by the system’s water balance. This study shows the results of a series of water balance measurements obtained in 2013 from a pilot horizontal-subsurface flow (HSSF) system in the West of Sicily (Italy). The system included three separate units, one planted with Cyperus alternifolius L., one planted with Typha latifolia L. and an unplanted unit. The system was fed with urban wastewater from an activated-sludge wastewater treatment plant. The aim of the study was to compare evapotranspiration rates (ET), crop coefficients (Kc) and water use efficiency (WUE) of two root emergent macr…
Gli impianti irrigui per la microirrigazione
La limitata disponibilità di risorse idriche impone la necessità di gestire con la massima attenzione l’irrigazione, eliminando qualunque fonte di spreco, sia attraverso il contenimento dei consumi che il miglioramento dell’efficienza d’uso. L’aumento dell’efficienza idrica può essere conseguita attraverso la scelta oculata di appropriati metodi di irrigazione caratterizzati da elevati valori dell’efficienza irrigua.Attualmente sono disponibili metodi irrigui che riducono i consumi d’acqua rispetto ai metodi tradizionali. Essi fanno ricorso generalmente ad un’elevata automazione e a tecniche impiantistiche all’avanguardia, per essere il più possibile efficienti sia nella distribuzione che n…
Water balance and pollutant removal efficiency when considering evapotranspiration in a pilot-scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland in Western Sicily (Italy)
Abstract In constructed wetland systems (CWs) for wastewater treatment, the performance of the system is affected by evapotranspiration (ET). This study shows the results of a series of water balance and pollutant removal efficiency analyses taken from a pilot horizontal-subsurface flow system (HSSFs) in the West of Sicily (Italy). The system comprised three separate units, one planted with Cyperus alternifolius L., one planted with Typha latifolia L. and an unplanted unit. The system was fed with urban wastewater from an activated-sludge wastewater treatment plant. The aims of the study were to determine water balance and pollutant removal rates when considering evapotranspiration in two r…
Agronomical evaluation of Sicilian biotypes of Lavandula stoechas L. spp. stoechas and analysis of the essential oils
The aim of this study was to characterize wild lavender, which was collected in three different areas of Sicily (Italy),according to agronomic and chemical evaluation. The collection sites were located in Pantelleria island, Partinico (a warm sub-area of Lauretum) and Castelbuono (a middle sub-area of Lauretum). All the populations were identified as Lavandula stoechas L. ssp. stoechas. Essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography– flame ionization detector (GC–FID) and GC–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). GC–FID and GC–MS analyses permitted the identification of 101 components from the essential oils. We analyzed only the flowers and leaves of L. stoechas …
Suolo e alimentazione: dalla rivoluzione verde all’agricoltura blu
Questo articolo nasce come sintesi di un lavoro didattico realizzato nell’anno accademico 2011/2012, dal titolo “Nutrirsi di Scienza” svoltosi all’interno della VI edizione della SPAIS “Scuola Permanente per l’Aggiornamento degli Insegnanti di Scienze Sperimentali”. Esso ha l’obiettivo di approfondire le conoscenze sul sistema suolo-produzioni agricole, attraverso l’esame delle singole componenti e dell’interazione delle diverse componenti del sistema considerato. In particolare, si è focalizzata l’attenzione sia sul suolo, analizzandone i processi di formazione, di degradazione e dell’uso in riferimento alle produzioni agricole, sia sui sistemi colturali, estensivi e intensivi, evidenziand…
La politica di sviluppo rurale in Agenda 2000
Agenda 2000 rappresenta il primo tentativo “ufficiale” di definire un modello di agricoltura multifunzionale, entro il quale coniugare i requisiti di competitività, redditività, qualità, sicurezza alimentare, sviluppo integrato, eco-compatibilità e tutela del territorio nelle aree rurali. L’Agenda sancisce un fatto straordinario in quanto la politica di sviluppo rurale diviene il secondo pilastro della PAC e diviene più autonomo rispetto alla politica di strutture con cui ha convissuto sino a questo momento.
Effects of plant species in a horizontal subsurface flow constructedwetland – phytoremediation of treated urban wastewater withCyperus alternifolius L. and Typha latifolia L. in the West of Sicily (Italy)
Abstract Plant species carry out a series of important biological, chemical and physical processes within a constructed wetland wastewater treatment system and make a significant contribution to wastewater purification. This paper compares two emergent macrophytes – Cyperus alternifolius L. and Typha latifolia L. – planted separately in a pilot horizontal subsurface flow system for the phytoremediation of treated urban wastewater in the West of Sicily (Italy). The total surface area of the three units within the pilot system was 99 m 2 . Six subunits were planted with two species and three subunits were left unplanted as the control. The main aim of the study was to demonstrate that, under …
Agronomical and chemical characterisation of Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav. biotypes from Sicily, Italy
In this study the agromomical and chemical characterization of 13 sicilian biotypes of Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav. (or Thymus capitatus Hoff. et Link.) collected from different areas of Sicily (Italy) and grown under the same agricultural and environmental condition are reported. The main morpho-productive parameters and quali-quantitative profile of essential oils were determined . Essential oils were extracts from the aerial parts of the plants by hydrodistillation. The essential oils were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis and Principal Component Analysis statistical methods were used to group biotypes according to the essential oils chemical composition. The esse…
VALUTAZIONE DELLE PERDITE DI CARICO LOCALIZZATE NELLE ALI GOCCIOLANTI INTEGRALI
L’indagine ha permesso di valutare gli effetti indotti sulle perdite di carico complessive, dalla presenza degli erogatori ed ha consentito di individuare un criterio di stima delle perdite di carico localizzate che tiene conto, oltre che della geometria del sistema condotta-gocciolatore, del numero di Reynolds (Re). Nel corso delle prove sperimentali si è proceduto alla caratterizzazione idraulica degli apparecchi erogatori esaminati, attraverso la determinazione della relazione portata pressione Q(h) e del coefficiente di variazione tecnologico (CVT). Le prove condotte hanno permesso quindi di individuare un criterio generale di dimensionamento idraulico delle ali erogatrici che tenga anc…
Pollutant removal efficiency of a pilot-scale Horizontal Subsurface Flow in Sicily (Italy) planted with Cyperus alternifolius L. and Typha latifolia L. and reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation of Arundo donax L. for pellet productionResults of two-year tests under Mediterranean climatic conditions
Constructed wetland systems (CWs) are developed biological technologies for the treatment and reuse of wastewater. The aims of this study were to evaluate the treatment performance of a pilot Horizontal Subsurface Flow system (HSSFs), to evaluate the reuse of treated wastewater (TWW) from CWs for the irrigation of giant reed (Arundo donax (L.)) and to assess the effects of TWW on the biomass yield of giant reed grown for pellet production. The research was carried out in Sicily (Italy) in a pilot-scale HSSFs which was fed with urban-treated urban wastewater following secondary treatment from an activated sludge wastewater treatment plant. Giant reed plots were irrigated with TWW from plante…