This Special Issue of Soil Biology and Biochemistry presents papers from the Second General Annual Conference of European Geosciences Union (EGU), Soil System Sciences Division (SSS), Session SSS12, Recycling of Organic Wastes in Soils:... more
This Special Issue of Soil Biology and Biochemistry presents papers from the Second General Annual Conference of European Geosciences Union (EGU), Soil System Sciences Division (SSS), Session SSS12, Recycling of Organic Wastes in Soils: Biogeochemical and Environmental Issues. The conference was held at the Austria Center Vienna, 24\u201329 April 2005
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Abstract A Human-health Risk Assessment was performed for an agricultural site in North-East Italy undergone digestate application to (i) check the compliance of digestate land spreading with the Italian and European regulations on... more
Abstract A Human-health Risk Assessment was performed for an agricultural site in North-East Italy undergone digestate application to (i) check the compliance of digestate land spreading with the Italian and European regulations on contaminated agricultural soils and (ii) evaluate how resulting risk estimations can be influenced by the applied modeling assumptions. The assessment estimated the risk related to adults and children intake of Heavy Metals (HM) contained in crops at concentrations estimated by a soil-plant transfer model based on the substance-specific soil-water partition coefficients. Eight different scenarios were investigated, according to different digestate type (from biowaste and agro-industrial byproducts), digestate application techniques and soil background concentrations. Non-risky situations resulted in all scenarios involving digestate application. The totality of calculated non-carcinogenic Hazard Indexes ( ) and carcinogenic total risk ( ) resulted below 0.02 and 3E10−9, respectively. In contrast with the definition, non-carcinogenic risks were associated with the considered soil background concentrations, with s up to 1.7 for child receptors, while carcinogenic risk was calculated below the concern threshold (i.e., < 10−5). Accordingly, this study highlighted (i) non-concerning situations related with lawful application of digestates and (ii) the need to improve the modeling of bioavailability to plant of HMs background content of soil.
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The effect of a commercial municipal solid waste compost amendment at two rates on some soil microbial parameters in an organic system was studied in a three-year field experiment. The compost enrichment at highest rate significantly... more
The effect of a commercial municipal solid waste compost amendment at two rates on some soil microbial parameters in an organic system was studied in a three-year field experiment. The compost enrichment at highest rate significantly increased the total soil microbial activity (measured by FDA test), whereas did not change the density of cultivable bacteria and fungi (measured by standard plate count technique). The soil suppressiveness assessed under controlled conditions using the pathosystem Pythium - Beta vulgaris, was improved by the highest rate of compost, even if significant differences were not found
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... delle tecniche analitiche per la valutazione della qualità agronomica del compost Claudio Ciavatta, Luciano Cavani, Paola Gioacchini, Camilla Giovannini, Daniela ... 2. Il tenore di materiale plastico, eventualmente presente, del... more
... delle tecniche analitiche per la valutazione della qualità agronomica del compost Claudio Ciavatta, Luciano Cavani, Paola Gioacchini, Camilla Giovannini, Daniela ... 2. Il tenore di materiale plastico, eventualmente presente, del diametro fino a 3, 33 mm non può superare lo 0, 45 ...
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Research Interests: Art and Macroelementi
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Pre-trattamenti alcalini a moderata aggressivit\ue0 sono stati applicati su tre substrati quali Arundo (specie poliennale da biomassa), B 133 (ibrido di sorgo annuale da biomassa) e paglia di orzo (sottoprodotto agricolo) per migliorare... more
Pre-trattamenti alcalini a moderata aggressivit\ue0 sono stati applicati su tre substrati quali Arundo (specie poliennale da biomassa), B 133 (ibrido di sorgo annuale da biomassa) e paglia di orzo (sottoprodotto agricolo) per migliorare la produzione specifica di CH4. I pre-trattamenti sono stati condotti a 25 \ub0C per 24 h, con NaOH a tre differenti concentrazioni (0,05; 0,10; 0,15 N), oltre a un testimone non trattato. L\u2019incubazione anaerobica \ue8 stata condotta con un carico organico di 4 g SV l-1 a 35 \ub0C per 58 gg. In tutti i pretrattamenti testati \ue8 stato osservato un incremento nella produzione specifica di CH4, rispetto al substrato non trattato. Il maggior incremento (30%) \ue8 stato ottenuto con NaOH 0,15 N in Arundo. Tali risultati appaiono particolarmente interessanti, dimostrando come un modesto impiego di energia termica per il pre-trattamento si accompagni a significativi incrementi di CH4 prodotto. I pretrattamenti a base di soda non dovrebbero essere, inoltre, difficilmente implementabili nei moderni impianti di biogas
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Gli ammendanti compostati (compost) possono rappresentare una fonte di fosforo (P) alternativa a quello minerale, risorsa non rinnovabile, tuttavia poco si conosce sulla loro capacit\ue0 di fornire P disponibile per la nutrizione... more
Gli ammendanti compostati (compost) possono rappresentare una fonte di fosforo (P) alternativa a quello minerale, risorsa non rinnovabile, tuttavia poco si conosce sulla loro capacit\ue0 di fornire P disponibile per la nutrizione vegetale. In questo lavoro quattro compost (ACV; ACM 1; ACM2; ACF), sono stati testati per la loro capacit\ue0 di fornire P nel corso di due cicli di coltivazione di loietto in vaso: senza / con ausilio di fertilizzazione azotata (N-;N+; 112+112 gg). In N- solo ACM1 e ACF presentavano asportazioni di P maggiori rispetto al fertilizzante chimico N-P-K (+5%). In N+ tutti i compost presentavano asportazioni di P superiori a N-P-K (+7%), a parte ACV (-5%). I compost possono rappresentare una fonte di P disponibile alla nutrizione vegetale nel medio-lungo periodo, lasciando nel suolo dotazioni interessanti di P potenzialmente disponibile ad un successivo ciclo colturale, al contrario di quanto evidenziato con la fertilizzazione fosfatica chimica.Summary Compost may represent a source of phosphorus (P) alternative to the mineral one, a non-renewable resource, but little is known about their capacity to provide plant-available P. In this article four compost (ACV, ACM 1 , ACM 2 , ACF), have been tested in two cultivation cycles for their capacity to furnish P on ryegrass grown in pot, without and with mineral nitrogen supply (N-; N +; 112+112 days). In N-ACM 1 and ACF showed higher P (+5%) uptake compared to the chemical fertilizer (N-P-K). In N+ all compost showed higher P uptake in comparison to N-P-K (+7%), apart from ACV (-5%). Some compost may therefore represent a valuable source of P for plant nutrition in the medium-long term, leaving also appreciable level of potentially available-P in soil, oppositely to what showed following a phosphate chemical fertilization
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71 Fertilitas Agrorum 2 (1): 71-78 Copyright© by Centro Scientifico Italiano dei Fertilizzanti Un metodo standardizzato per la determinazione della stabilità della sostanza organica da compost Marco Grigatti1*, Wim J. Blok2, Adrie... more
71 Fertilitas Agrorum 2 (1): 71-78 Copyright© by Centro Scientifico Italiano dei Fertilizzanti Un metodo standardizzato per la determinazione della stabilità della sostanza organica da compost Marco Grigatti1*, Wim J. Blok2, Adrie Veeken3, Claudio Ciavatta1 1 Department of Agro-...
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La reattivit\ue0 delle sostanze umiche (SU) \ue8 strettamente legata alla presenza dei gruppi COOH e degli OH fenolici. Questi gruppi sono principalmente coinvolti nelle reazioni di complessazione dei metalli, capacit\ue0 tampone e... more
La reattivit\ue0 delle sostanze umiche (SU) \ue8 strettamente legata alla presenza dei gruppi COOH e degli OH fenolici. Questi gruppi sono principalmente coinvolti nelle reazioni di complessazione dei metalli, capacit\ue0 tampone e reazioni di decontaminazione dei suoli da xenobiotici. Le titolazioni potenziometriche sono la pi\uf9 semplice procedura analitica per determinare la concentrazione di questi gruppi funzionali. Le curve di titolazione potenziometriche sono funzioni sigmoidi e pertanto l\u2019elaborazione di queste funzioni sono complesse e di difficile interpretazione. Una procedura usuale per trattare la funzione sigmoide \ue8 la linearizzazione mediante la trasformazione esponenziale (logaritmica), logistica o probit dei dati. La trasformazione di una curva sigmoide \ue8 un procedimento esso stesso non lineare; perci\uf2 il valore chemometrico dei dati non \ue8 di semplice interpretazione. Nel presente lavoro viene proposto un metodo statistico di linearizzazione delle curve di titolazione potenziometrica di acidi umici estratti da torbe, leonarditi e ligniti senza dover effettuare alcuna trasformazione di scala. Nel metodo proposto sono selezionati i dati compresi solamente nell\u2019intervallo, media (X) e X + 2 volte la deviazione standard (s.d.); i dati in questo intervallo hanno mostrato un buon fitting con la funzione lineare. I dati al di fuori dell\u2019intervallo come le code della curva sigmode sono stati scartati in quanto sono deviazioni dalla linearit\ue0. Il modello lineare proposto spiega il 99 % della varianza
The structural characterization of humic acids (HAs) is a focal point in understanding and establishing a relationship between their structure and biological properties. However, the complexity of HAs seriously limits the application of a... more
The structural characterization of humic acids (HAs) is a focal point in understanding and establishing a relationship between their structure and biological properties. However, the complexity of HAs seriously limits the application of a single analytical technique. For a better understanding of HAs role in the environment, it is necessary to develop methods which can provide a complete characterization of HA structure. Humic acid extracted from the A horizon of a Chernozem (Boroll, USDA Soil Taxonomy) soil and their fractions (A, B and C+D) with different molecular size (MS) obtained by coupling size exclusion chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SEC-PAGE) were investigated using thermal (TG-DTA), spectroscopic (DRIFT) and isotopic ( d 13C) analyses. Moreover, the molecular structure of the high temperature stable fraction (residues obtained by stopping the heating of the sample in TG-DTA apparatus at 400\ub0C) was studied by DRIFT spectroscopy. The highest MS fraction (A) were characterized by the highest contents of aliphatic, carboxyl groups, carbohydrates and amino acids than the B and C+D fractions. Instead, the C+D fraction, that was 36% of HA (w/w), seems to be characterized by a higher content in aromatic compounds, in particular in benzoic derivatives, than the other fractions. A shift of &#948; 13C to more negative values was observed in the lowest MS fractions (B and C+D). The aromatic structure of A and B residues seems to be more complex than that of C+D residue
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Humic substances are a complex mixture of polymer chains of different molecular sizes and structure, which results from the degradation of organic matter in soils. Owing to their important role in the metabolic processes occuring in... more
Humic substances are a complex mixture of polymer chains of different molecular sizes and structure, which results from the degradation of organic matter in soils. Owing to their important role in the metabolic processes occuring in soils, and their interactions with metal and pesticides, there has been a great interest in determining the structure of these compounds. Normal Raman spectroscopy cannot be applied in their structural study because Raman signal is overlaped by their high fluorescence. However, Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) is a technique which allows the Raman vibrational study of very fluorescent materials since this technique induces a quenching of the fluorescence. This technique has been recently applied by us in the study of humic acids [1]. However, SERS spectra of humic substances are poorly resolved due to their structural complexity. An approach to the structural and interfatial behaviour research of humic substances is the surface-enhanced Raman study of small organic molecules existing in the humic chains as structural units. Additionally, the SERS spectra of these model molecules can afford valuable information concerning the recognition properties of these molecules in the presence of an interface.
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ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the extent to which agricultural land is responsible for the eutrophication of the Adriatic Sea. Considering soil as a non-point source of nutrients in drainage water, the problem was... more
ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the extent to which agricultural land is responsible for the eutrophication of the Adriatic Sea. Considering soil as a non-point source of nutrients in drainage water, the problem was approached by studying the nutrient loading and seasonal patterns in drainage water from cultivated soils. For the last seven years, we have systematically monitored the nutrient contents and volumes of drainage water from underground drainage systems installed in typical cultivated soils in the Emilia-Romagna Region. The resulting data has provided quantitative information concerning the actual amounts of N and P as well as other essential plant nutrients being removed from the soil. According to our data, phosphorus loadings from cultivated soils to the surface waters in the Po Valley have been largely overestimated. The concentration of P in water drained from agricultural land is at least an order of magnitude lower than that found in rivers flowing to the Adriatic Sea. Nitrate-nitrogen concentration and loadings are high during late winter and early spring when field capacity usually has been reached, evapotranspiration is low, and precipitation is high. In conclusion, these results clearly show that when normal agricultural practices are followed, the contribution of agricultural land (cultivated soils) in the Emilia-Romagna Region to marine coastal eutrophication is of some concern with regard to nitrogen and very low in regard to phosphorus.
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Research Interests: Environmental Science, Chemistry, Agronomy, Experimental Design, Biological Sciences, and 15 moreEnvironmental Sciences, Maize, Fertilizer, Crop Residue Burning, Soil Carbon, C sequestration, Microbial Biomass, Management Practice, Manure, Crop Rotation, Plant production, Energy Source, Cumulant, cattle manure, and Crop Residue
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Abstract In agriculture, the use of soil biodegradable mulch films could represent an eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastic films. However, soil biodegradable mulch films incorporated into the soil through tillage, being not... more
Abstract In agriculture, the use of soil biodegradable mulch films could represent an eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastic films. However, soil biodegradable mulch films incorporated into the soil through tillage, being not only a physical but also a biogeochemical input, is expected to influence the soil quality by affecting its functions. Therefore, the eco-compatibility of these biodegradable plastics needs to be evaluated for their impact on different soil functions. To understand the effect of biodegradable plastics on soil quality (i.e. microbial biomass, nitrogen cycle, and activity of soil enzymes involved in the biochemical processes of carbon and nitrogen), we added increasing quantities of biodegradable plastics in two different soils: a loamy (Cambisol) and sandy (Arenosol) soil. The results highlight that the carbon added through the biodegradable plastics influenced the processes linked to carbon and nitrogen cycles. Significant effects were observed mainly with the highest dose of biodegradable plastics added (1%), resulting in a higher growth of microbial biomass, increased carbon mineralisation, and increased immobilisation of available nitrogen. The results also underline the importance of evaluating the impact of biodegradable plastics in different soils because all the processes considered are also influenced also by soil physicochemical characteristics.
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Research Interests: Chemistry, Soil, Chromatography, Medicine, Multidisciplinary, and 15 moreSewage sludge, Humic Substances, Humic acid, Gel Permeation Chromatography, Electrophoresis, Fractionation, Compost, Gel electrophoresis, Organic Matter, Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis, Size Exclusion Chromatography, Electrophoretic Mobility, Bioresource technology, Inceptisol, and Inceptisols
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Research Interests: Botany, Environmental Science, Biology, Desertification, Soil ecology, and 15 moreForest soil nutrition, Humic acid, Crop Residue Burning, C sequestration, Litter Decomposition, Organic Matter, Plant Remains, Ribosomal DNA, Forest Soil Ecology, Energy Source, Community Composition, Cropping System, Soil microbial biomass, Crop Residue, and Internal transcribed spacer
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ABSTRACT