Search results for "soil"
showing 10 items of 3493 documents
Methodological approaches to the valuation of forest ecosystem services: An overview of recent international research trends
2021
Forests represent the most important source of ecosystem services (ES) on a global level both for the production of goods and for the provision of services and externalities, nevertheless scientific research in the economic field is lacking. Currently the number of documents relating to ES is 16 673, of which only 1 379 concern the forestry sector. The aim of this study is to provide an overview of scientific research trends in the field of economic evaluation of forest ecosystem services (FES). To this end, an on-line bibliographic survey was carried out on the main scientific search engines, which made it possible to quantify the works and at the same time to detect the main evaluation me…
Assessing different methodologies for irrigation scheduling in protected environment: a case study of green bell pepper
2022
This research aimed at assessing four different methodologies to estimate daily irrigation depth, based on the monitoring of soil water status (soil water content sensors, SWS, and tensiometers, TS) and atmospheric evaporative demand (weighing lysimeter, WL, and Piché evaporimeter, PE), of green bell pepper Capsicum annum L.) cultivated in a greenhouse. Furthermore, two different strategies to apply the daily irrigation depths, i.e., single watering (at 8:00 a.m.) or split into two equal applications (at 8:00 a.m. and at 4:30 p.m.), were also investigated. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design and according to a 4 × 2 factorial scheme with eight replications. The st…
Effect of biochar on the physical and structural properties of a sandy soil
2019
Abstract Biochar application to soil can be considered as a means to improve soil quality, thereby optimizing irrigation management and reducing irrigation needs, especially in dryland regions. This paper is aimed at investigating the effect of biochar (BC) on a desert sandy soil (Al Foah, United Arab Emirates) in terms of bulk density, porosity, water retention, plant available water (AWmax), aggregate stability (AS) and specific surface area (BET-SSA). BC was produced from forest biomass (Italy). Soil water retention was measured by the High Energy Moisture Characteristic (HEMC) and by pressure plate measurements, by using BC fractions equal to 0 (soil only), 0.014, 0.091, 0.23, 0.33 and …
Water-saving techniques for restoring desertified lands: some lessons from the field
2022
Nature-based solutions can significantly contribute to restoration projects in areas affected by desertification processes, where they are necessary for reversing land degradation. Currently, one innovative solution is The Cocoon™, which has been designed as a new ecotechnology for improving seedling establishment. The Cocoon consists of a doughnut-shaped container made of recycled cardboard that provides water and shelter at least during the first year of a seedling, which is the most critical for plant establishment. To determine the effectiveness of this ecotechnology under different conditions, the Cocoon was tested on a variety of soils, climates, vegetation, and land uses. Six plantin…
Updated single and dual crop coefficients for tree and vine fruit crops
2021
Abstract The present study reviews the research on the FAO56 crop coefficients of fruit trees and vines performed over the past twenty years. The main objective was to update information and extend tabulated single (K c ) and basal (K cb ) standard crop coefficients. The selection and analysis of the literature for this review have been done to consider only studies that adhere to FAO56 method, computing the reference ET with the FAO Penman–Monteith ET o equation and field measuring crop ET with proved accuracy. The crops considered refer to vine fruit crops, berries and hops, temperate climate evergreen fruit trees, temperate climate deciduous fruit trees and, tropical and subtropical fru…
Using field measurements and FAO-56 model to assess the eco-physiological response of citrus orchards under regulated deficit irrigation
2017
[EN] Micro-irrigation is considered one of the most efficient water distribution systems and allows increasing water use efficiency if coupled with effective water-saving irrigation management strategies as regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) or partial root-zone drying (PRD) techniques. However, application of these strategies makes it crucial the real-time monitoring of soil and crop water status, in order to identify appropriate irrigation scheduling parameters (irrigation timing and doses) and to prevent irreversible damage of plant system and/or crop yield reductions. Even if midday stem water potential (MSWP) is considered one of the most affordable indicator for direct determinations …
Irrigation water saving strategies in Citrus orchards: Analysis of the combined effects of timing and severity of soil water deficit
2021
[EN] The knowledge of the crop response to soil water deficit is essential to predict the actual crop water requirements under limited soil water conditions. The mathematical schematization of the crop response under RDI can allow identifying the exact irrigation timing. The threshold of soil water status below which crop transpiration decreases represents a key parameter for the water stress functions. The main objective of this paper was to investigate the effects of several RDI treatments, applied during the three stages of fruit growth, on soil-plant-water relations of drip-irrigated mandarin trees. Experiments were carried out in seven irrigation treatments: a control, irrigated at 125…
Effect of Wheat Straw as a Cover Crop on the Chlorophyll, Seed, and Oilseed Yield of Trigonella foeunm graecum L under Water Deficiency and Weed Comp…
2019
The effects of water stress on fenugreek crops are well documented. However, little is known about how these plants respond to water deficits under a soil-mulching system when the surface is protected. Therefore, the current research aims to demonstrate the possibility of reducing the impact of water stress and weed competition on the fenugreek crop through the use of wheat residues as a cover crop on the soil surface. A field experiment was carried out during the winter season (2016&ndash
Anthropogenic soils: general aspects and features
2015
In recent decades man's role in soil formation has become a matter of great concern among soil scientists. Man is now considered a soil-forming factor and anthrosolization is recognised as a soil-forming process that consists of a collection of geomorphic and pedological processes resulting from human activities. These human activities include deep working, intensive fertilization, the addition of extraneous materials, irrigation with sediment-rich waters and wet cultivation. In this paper we review the influence of man as a soil forming factor stressing also some peculiar aspects linked to their classification.
The Carini Experimental Station for Wastewater Reuse in Agriculture – Preliminary Indications
1992
A two year experiment, to study the feasibility of wastewater reuse for a safe irrigation in the Sicilian context, has been initiated. Eight plots in two fields, totalling 629 m2, were planted with cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.), the irrigation water being supplied by a pilot plant treating 22 m3/day of municipal wastewater. The plant consists of an extended aeration biological system followed by rapid sand filtration and a choice of disinfection systems. Analyses performed on all waters used in the experiment indicate that safe irrigation water, virtually pathogen-free, can be produced if careful operational techniques are adopted. Despite all possible care, however, soil samples tak…