Search results for "soil"

An analysis of carbon storage protected areas with relation to agroforestry management and biodiversity

2008

This work investigated the role of land cover and land use change (LUC) as a soil ability to store carbon and reduce carbon dioxide emission in a Mediterranean area. Using a paired site approach we estimated the effect of land cover change on the carbon stock from 1972 to 2008 in a natural reserve (Grotta di S. Ninfa) in the West of Sicily. Fifteen paired sites representative of five land use change were selected. We studied the effect of land use on soil organic carbon (SOC) content in bulk soil and 2000-1000 µm, 1000-500 µm, 500-250 µm, 250-63 µm, 63-25 µm and <25 µm size fractions. Furthermore, laboratory incubation of the soil samples was conducted to measure carbon dioxide evolution in…

Soil carbon in Mediterranean ecosystems and related management problems

2011

The ecology of the cork-oark (Quercus suber L.) stands in NW Sicily

2017

The uneven presence of the cork oak (Quercus suber L.) within its distribution range seems to be affected not only by its climatic requirements but also by rather specific edaphic needs. In fact, most of the known populations throughout the Mediterranean area thrive on acidic soils deriving from metamorphic or volcanic rock outcrops. However, some Italian populations of this species behave as if they were independent on the chemical and physical characteristics of the substrate, e.g. growing on calcareous soils, which are considered less suitable. This is the case of some populations in central Italy (Latium) and NW Sicily (Trapani Mts. and Palermo Mts.). A multidisciplinary investigation c…

Sistemi per la valutazione del compattamento dei terreni agrari

2005

The traffic of agricultural machines can cause soil compaction, reducing, above all, its porosity. The measurement of soil cone penetrometer resistance is the easiest and quickest method for monitoring and assessing soil compaction. The aim of this research is to test two mechanised systems for the geo-referenced measurement and, therefore, producing maps of soil cone penetrometer resistance. The first system was developed mounting an electronic penetrometer and a DGPS mobile receiver on a tracked minitransporter. The second system was built mounting, on a frame fixed to the front part of a tractor: four load cells; a system for signal conditioning and data acquisition; four rods and penetr…

Database Species-Area Relationships in Palaearctic Grasslands

2012

The Database Species-Area Relationships in Palaearctic Grasslands (GIVD ID EU-00-003) is an initiative of the European Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) and primarily functions as repository for all data sampled during the EDGG Research Expeditions. During these expeditions two types of highly standardised sampling of dry grassland vegetation in the Palaearctic realm are carried out: (i) nested-plot sampling on squares of 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 m2; (ii) additional normal releves of 10-m2 plots. For all plot sizes, the terricolous vascular plants, bryophytes, and lichens are recorded that are superficially present (shoot presence). Additionally, for all 10-m2 plots species cover i…

The CO2 diffusive degassing in Linosa Island (Sicily Channel)

2008

Soils, environmental awareness and ecological footprint in the European countries

2008

Elaborazione e validazione di modelli dell’impatto antropico e dei cambiamenti climatici sulle qualità dei suoli in Sicilia, con particolare attenzio…

Il declino della sostanza organica e l’erosione idrica sono due fattori di rischio di degrado del suolo fra i più diffusi in Sicilia. In che misura è possibile contrastarli modificando le attività antropiche ed in particolare quelle in ambito agricolo? Lo scopo della presente ricerca di dottorato è stato quello di mettere a punto dei modelli che permettessero di spiegare le relazioni esistenti fra le azioni dell’uomo in ambito agricolo con la sostanza organica e con l’erosione idrica nei suoli siciliani, tenendo conto anche del clima. Le due indagini sono state svolte separatamente, in parallelo, in aree agricole della Sicilia occidentale per la sostanza organica, sull’intero territorio sic…

An integrated geomorphologic-economic approach for valuing direct damage in agricultural areas caused by erosion process in a mediterranean environme…

2010

Morphometric analysis of two calanchi areas in Sicily (Italy) by exploiting high resolution Digital Elevation Models

2013

In the Mediterranean areas, specifically in Sicily (Italy), irregular rainfalls, strong seasonal changes, scarce vegetation cover and, frequently, outcropping of clayey deposits favor water erosion phenomena. Badland landscapes are the result of severe erosion processes, characterized by steep slopes, sparse vegetation, high drainage density, rapid erosion rates and a shallow or non existing regolith profile. In this investigation we focused on the calanchi badland type, consisting of heavily dissected terrain with steep, unvegetated slopes and channels that rapidly incise and extend headwards. This research was carried out in two calanchi sites located in Sicily. The geometry of 25 badland…