This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.

Unclaimed
Elio Romano
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Via Milano 43, 24047 Treviglio, Italy

Honors and Awards

The user has no records in this section


Career Timeline

The user has no records in this section.


Short Biography

The user biography is not available.
Following
Followers
Co Authors
The list of users this user is following is empty.
Following: 0 users

Feed

Journal article
Published: 23 July 2021 in Sustainability
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The evaluation of the canopy in orchard cultivation is a key aspect for the main cultivation techniques, such as pruning, thinning, harvesting, production and improved fruit quality. The possibility of having a periodic screening of the state of development of the vegetation can be of practical support to growers. Research on the application of precision agriculture has provided tools for reading and interpreting crops, and the resulting information is potentially useful. Many of the systems under study provide after monitoring information processing systems that reduce the timeliness of intervention. Especially in intensive systems such as olive groves, knowing the precise intervention points is often essential. In the present work, a multi-parameter instrument was used for field monitoring on the agricultural tractor to analyse the canopy. The system allows measuring various indicators such as height and density of the canopy and the temperature and humidity of the ambient air and at the leaf level. The first evaluation of the data made it possible to identify areas with greater vegetative concentration and greater or lesser development. The system made it possible to identify with good approximation the homogeneous areas, based on the Canopy Index (CI) evaluation to be subjected to subsequent and specific management efforts, dividing them into low, ordinary, and high vegetative growth. The results highlight the possibility of directly combining operators able to intervene with the same passage, selecting based on differences in growth, typical varietal specificities, and areas of deficient development or that are affected by plant diseases, confirming the objective of defining the areas of the orchard that require different management and workload techniques.

ACS Style

Alberto Assirelli; Elio Romano; Carlo Bisaglia; Enrico Lodolini; Davide Neri; Massimo Brambilla. Canopy Index Evaluation for Precision Management in an Intensive Olive Orchard. Sustainability 2021, 13, 8266 .

AMA Style

Alberto Assirelli, Elio Romano, Carlo Bisaglia, Enrico Lodolini, Davide Neri, Massimo Brambilla. Canopy Index Evaluation for Precision Management in an Intensive Olive Orchard. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (15):8266.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alberto Assirelli; Elio Romano; Carlo Bisaglia; Enrico Lodolini; Davide Neri; Massimo Brambilla. 2021. "Canopy Index Evaluation for Precision Management in an Intensive Olive Orchard." Sustainability 13, no. 15: 8266.

Journal article
Published: 16 June 2021 in AgriEngineering
Reads 0
Downloads 0

At the CREA research facility of Treviglio (Bergamo, Italy), to provide farmers with valuable hints for the transition from conventional to precision agriculture, information on crop production dynamics (Maize and Triticale) has been obtained using real-time soil mapping (resistivity technique) and production quality and quantity monitoring with a commercial yield mapping apparatus. The geostatistical processing of data resulted in the same zoning for Triticale, meaning that the characteristics of soil influenced crop behavior more than the variability resulting from other factors, which suggests that improvements in product yields can be planned and achieved acting, for instance, on variable rate distribution of fertilizers. The importance of the acquired data can help farmers to manage factors that are external to their plots of land.

ACS Style

Massimo Brambilla; Elio Romano; Pietro Toscano; Maurizio Cutini; Marcello Biocca; Chiara Ferré; Roberto Comolli; Carlo Bisaglia. From Conventional to Precision Fertilization: A Case Study on the Transition for a Small-Medium Farm. AgriEngineering 2021, 3, 438 -446.

AMA Style

Massimo Brambilla, Elio Romano, Pietro Toscano, Maurizio Cutini, Marcello Biocca, Chiara Ferré, Roberto Comolli, Carlo Bisaglia. From Conventional to Precision Fertilization: A Case Study on the Transition for a Small-Medium Farm. AgriEngineering. 2021; 3 (2):438-446.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Massimo Brambilla; Elio Romano; Pietro Toscano; Maurizio Cutini; Marcello Biocca; Chiara Ferré; Roberto Comolli; Carlo Bisaglia. 2021. "From Conventional to Precision Fertilization: A Case Study on the Transition for a Small-Medium Farm." AgriEngineering 3, no. 2: 438-446.

Journal article
Published: 21 May 2021 in Remote Sensing
Reads 0
Downloads 0

One of the main questions facing precision agriculture is the evaluation of different algorithms for the delineation of homogeneous management zones. In the present study, a new approach based on the use of time series of satellite imagery, collected during two consecutive growing seasons, was proposed. Texture analysis performed using the Gray-Level Co-Occurrence Matrix (GLCM) was used to integrate and correct the sum of the vegetation indices maps (NDVI and MCARI2) and define the homogenous productivity zones on ten durum wheat fields in southern Italy. The homogenous zones identified through the method that integrates the GLCM indices with the spectral indices studied showed a greater accuracy (0.18–0.22 Mg ha−1 for ∑NDVIs + GLCM and 0.05–0.49 Mg ha−1 for ∑MCARI2s + GLCM) with respect to the methods that considered only the sum of the indices. Best results were also obtained with respect to the homogeneous zones derived by using yield maps of the previous year or vegetation indices acquired in a single day. Therefore, the survey methods based on the data collected over the entire study period provided the best results in terms of estimated yield; the addition of clustering analysis performed with the GLCM method allowed to further improve the accuracy of the estimate and better define homogeneous productivity zones of durum wheat fields.

ACS Style

Elio Romano; Simone Bergonzoli; Ivano Pecorella; Carlo Bisaglia; Pasquale De Vita. Methodology for the Definition of Durum Wheat Yield Homogeneous Zones by Using Satellite Spectral Indices. Remote Sensing 2021, 13, 2036 .

AMA Style

Elio Romano, Simone Bergonzoli, Ivano Pecorella, Carlo Bisaglia, Pasquale De Vita. Methodology for the Definition of Durum Wheat Yield Homogeneous Zones by Using Satellite Spectral Indices. Remote Sensing. 2021; 13 (11):2036.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Elio Romano; Simone Bergonzoli; Ivano Pecorella; Carlo Bisaglia; Pasquale De Vita. 2021. "Methodology for the Definition of Durum Wheat Yield Homogeneous Zones by Using Satellite Spectral Indices." Remote Sensing 13, no. 11: 2036.

Journal article
Published: 14 April 2021 in AgriEngineering
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Spraying pesticides using air induction nozzles is a well-known method to reduce drift. These drift-reducing nozzles have been tested on many different tree crops (such as apples, citrus, and grapes), but we are still lacking information on their utilization on hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) groves, although hazelnut is a major nut crop in Italy, and in recent years its cultivated area has been constantly growing. This paper reports a comparison between treatments carried out with cone and flat-fan low-drift nozzles versus two conventional nozzles. The distribution quality, the number of droplets per cm2 of the target area, and the drift in non-target trees adjacent to those treated were evaluated by analyzing the impact of the droplets on water-sensitive papers placed on the tree canopies. The results show that because no significative differences in terms of application quality were found between the tested nozzles, low-drift nozzles can be a good alternative to the standard nozzles to reduce the drift of pesticide applications in hazelnuts without altering the chosen distribution of the pesticide.

ACS Style

Marcello Biocca; Maurizio Cutini; Elio Romano; Federico Pallottino; Pietro Gallo. Evaluation of Drift-Reducing Nozzles for Pesticide Application in Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.). AgriEngineering 2021, 3, 230 -239.

AMA Style

Marcello Biocca, Maurizio Cutini, Elio Romano, Federico Pallottino, Pietro Gallo. Evaluation of Drift-Reducing Nozzles for Pesticide Application in Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.). AgriEngineering. 2021; 3 (2):230-239.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marcello Biocca; Maurizio Cutini; Elio Romano; Federico Pallottino; Pietro Gallo. 2021. "Evaluation of Drift-Reducing Nozzles for Pesticide Application in Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.)." AgriEngineering 3, no. 2: 230-239.

Journal article
Published: 14 April 2021 in Sustainability
Reads 0
Downloads 0

In this study, the life cycle assessment (LCA) principle was performed to estimate the environmental impact of three dairy farms that operate using different farming systems, namely, conventional (CON), organic (ORG), and high-quality (HQ) modes. In Italy, the typical style of high-quality (HQ) farming is commonly included in the conventional system but is more strictly regulated by the Decree of the Italian Ministry of Health N° 185/1991. Although the farms are not fully representative of each conduct, they showed intrinsic peculiarities, e.g., the cow-culling rate of each system. This rate requires a quantification as it may be related to loss of income. Allocation criteria were applied to attribute the quantities of pollutants to the co-products: wheat, involved in the congruence and number of cows culled, the latter being undesirable and therefore necessary to quantify. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) highlighted that the no-dairy products significantly mitigated (p < 0.05) some of the impacts’ categories. The allocation of culled cows decreased the impacts of the CON and particularly those of the ORG farms when the mass mode was adopted. HQ showed values similar to the results without allocation. Overall, the objective of identifying a “marker” of undesirable products, estimated by the culling rate, was partially achieved.

ACS Style

Elio Romano; Rocco Roma; Flavio Tidona; Giorgio Giraffa; Andrea Bragaglio. Dairy Farms and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): The Allocation Criterion Useful to Estimate Undesirable Products. Sustainability 2021, 13, 4354 .

AMA Style

Elio Romano, Rocco Roma, Flavio Tidona, Giorgio Giraffa, Andrea Bragaglio. Dairy Farms and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): The Allocation Criterion Useful to Estimate Undesirable Products. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (8):4354.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Elio Romano; Rocco Roma; Flavio Tidona; Giorgio Giraffa; Andrea Bragaglio. 2021. "Dairy Farms and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): The Allocation Criterion Useful to Estimate Undesirable Products." Sustainability 13, no. 8: 4354.

Letter
Published: 15 December 2020 in Sensors
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Sturgeon caviar quality relies not only on the perfect dosage of the ingredients but also on the long sturgeon breeding cycle (about 12–15 years) and the exact timing of the egg extraction. For the improvement and the promotion of Italian caviar, the development of an analytical system dedicated to fish products, and caviar, in particular, is fundamental. The use of near-infrared spectrometry (NIRS) technology is auspicious. The aquaphotomics approach proved to be an adequate analytical tool to highlight, in real-time, the differences in caviar quality stored with, or without, borax as a preservative. Seventy-five sturgeon caviar (Acipenser transmontanus) samples underwent spectral NIR characterization using a microNIR1700 in the 900–1700 nm range. Data processing was carried out according to the literature. Tenderometric and sensory analyses were also carried out in parallel. The results suggest that a process line under strict control and monitoring can result in high-quality caviar without any other preservative than salt. The challenge of producing caviar without any potentially-toxic preservatives could now be a reality. NIR spectroscopy and aquaphotomics can be, in the future, non-invasive methods to monitor the whole production chain.

ACS Style

Massimo Brambilla; Marina Buccheri; Maurizio Grassi; Annamaria Stellari; Mario Pazzaglia; Elio Romano; Tiziana M. P. Cattaneo. The Influence of the Presence of Borax and NaCl on Water Absorption Pattern during Sturgeon Caviar (Acipenser transmontanus) Storage. Sensors 2020, 20, 7174 .

AMA Style

Massimo Brambilla, Marina Buccheri, Maurizio Grassi, Annamaria Stellari, Mario Pazzaglia, Elio Romano, Tiziana M. P. Cattaneo. The Influence of the Presence of Borax and NaCl on Water Absorption Pattern during Sturgeon Caviar (Acipenser transmontanus) Storage. Sensors. 2020; 20 (24):7174.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Massimo Brambilla; Marina Buccheri; Maurizio Grassi; Annamaria Stellari; Mario Pazzaglia; Elio Romano; Tiziana M. P. Cattaneo. 2020. "The Influence of the Presence of Borax and NaCl on Water Absorption Pattern during Sturgeon Caviar (Acipenser transmontanus) Storage." Sensors 20, no. 24: 7174.

Journal article
Published: 27 November 2020 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Over the past years, in the agricultural field, geo-localization has been introduced in order to develop specific farming processes, optimize resources, and reduce environmental pollution. Researchers have found alternative driving methods to traditional ones, such as assisted and semi-automatic driving. The aim of this study was to monitor the musculoskeletal efforts necessary to carry out different kinds of driving. The muscular strain was assessed using surface electromyographic devices, the distribution of the pressure exerted by the operator’s body on the seat was observed by using two barometric pads applied on the seat back and on the seat, respectively, while the body movements and postures were analyzed through a Microsoft Kinect Camera 3D acquisition system. Results showed a significantly greater muscular activation during manual and assisted driving conditions. The pressure exerted by the operator on the barometric pads was significantly higher in manual and semi-automatic driving modes than in the assisted one. A remarkable increase in the average swinging speed of examined joints was also detected, as well as the distances run by the joints in semi-automatic driving. From our study, assisted driving seems to be the best driving mode both in terms of joint economy and from the efficiency of agricultural processes.

ACS Style

Elio Romano; Carlo Bisaglia; Aldo Calcante; Roberto Oberti; Alberto Zani; Denis Vinnikov; Andrea Marconi; Ermanno Vitale; Massimo Bracci; Venerando Rapisarda. Assessment of Comfort Variation among Different Types of Driving Agricultural tractors: Traditional, Satellite-Assisted and Semi-Automatic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, 17, 8836 .

AMA Style

Elio Romano, Carlo Bisaglia, Aldo Calcante, Roberto Oberti, Alberto Zani, Denis Vinnikov, Andrea Marconi, Ermanno Vitale, Massimo Bracci, Venerando Rapisarda. Assessment of Comfort Variation among Different Types of Driving Agricultural tractors: Traditional, Satellite-Assisted and Semi-Automatic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17 (23):8836.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Elio Romano; Carlo Bisaglia; Aldo Calcante; Roberto Oberti; Alberto Zani; Denis Vinnikov; Andrea Marconi; Ermanno Vitale; Massimo Bracci; Venerando Rapisarda. 2020. "Assessment of Comfort Variation among Different Types of Driving Agricultural tractors: Traditional, Satellite-Assisted and Semi-Automatic." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 23: 8836.

Journal article
Published: 22 November 2020 in Resources
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Agricultural practices that make use of variable-rate (VR) distribution, introduced by precision agriculture (PA), are based on many points of variability which obtain different and modular effects that can affect the efficacy and environmental impact of the treatment performed. The aim of the present research was to study the effect of different structural combinations of an agricultural sprayer on the required power, fuel consumption, and carbon emissions. The studied machine was equipped with a mechanical device that regulated the air outlet section in three openings. The fan was tested in five blade angles and in two gear ratios. The power requirement (kW) was calculated using a torque-meter. Moreover, fuel consumption (L h−1), energy demand (MJ L−1), and carbon emissions (kg CO2eq kg−1) were calculated by the power consumption of each test. The results showed that all components of the layout and their interaction influenced consumption and, consequently, emissions. In order to mitigate the environmental impact of treatments, the outcomes suggest the possibility of implementing this study into algorithms that make setup choices during distribution.

ACS Style

Sabina Failla; Carlo Bisaglia; Giampaolo Schillaci; Domenico Longo; Elio Romano. Sprayer Axial Fan Layout Affecting Energy Consumption and Carbon Emissions. Resources 2020, 9, 136 .

AMA Style

Sabina Failla, Carlo Bisaglia, Giampaolo Schillaci, Domenico Longo, Elio Romano. Sprayer Axial Fan Layout Affecting Energy Consumption and Carbon Emissions. Resources. 2020; 9 (11):136.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sabina Failla; Carlo Bisaglia; Giampaolo Schillaci; Domenico Longo; Elio Romano. 2020. "Sprayer Axial Fan Layout Affecting Energy Consumption and Carbon Emissions." Resources 9, no. 11: 136.

Journal article
Published: 29 August 2020 in Sustainability
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The cultivation of vegetables in greenhouses requires seedlings produced in nurseries with high levels of practice specialisation. The nurseries are dedicated to the early stages of growth, from sowing to the first leaves. There, the seeding density and the hydro-climatic conditions favour diseases. Plant protection treatments are carried out with the use of low-cost machines, whose efficiencies and safety conditions depend on the workers’ ability. The irrigation system with a mechanised horizontal spray boom could be an alternative solution to the hand-held spray gun. This research aimed to investigate the use of a horizontal boom sprayer for the distribution of pesticides in different pressure conditions and forward speeds compared with a spray gun, in relation to tomato growth stages. The tests were carried out on tomato seedlings grown in polystyrene seeding boxes and arranged on hanging benches. Deposits on the seedlings (µL cm−2) and losses in the soil (µL cm−2) were assessed by means of standard colorimetric analysis. In order to reduce the environmental pollution and increase the sustainability of the treatments, the pressure at the horizontal spray boom should be reduced and the arrangement of the outermost nozzles may also be better set on the boom.

ACS Style

Sabina Failla; Elio Romano. Effect of Spray Application Technique on Spray Deposition and Losses in a Greenhouse Vegetable Nursery. Sustainability 2020, 12, 7052 .

AMA Style

Sabina Failla, Elio Romano. Effect of Spray Application Technique on Spray Deposition and Losses in a Greenhouse Vegetable Nursery. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (17):7052.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sabina Failla; Elio Romano. 2020. "Effect of Spray Application Technique on Spray Deposition and Losses in a Greenhouse Vegetable Nursery." Sustainability 12, no. 17: 7052.

Journal article
Published: 06 August 2020 in Agronomy
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Irrigation with wastewater can strongly contribute to the reduction of water abstraction in agriculture with an especial interest in arid and semiarid areas. However, its use can have drawbacks to both soil and micro-irrigation systems, especially when the total solids in the wastewater are high, such as in digestate liquid fractions (DLF) from plant material. The aim of this study was thus to evaluate the performances of a serpentine shaped micro-emitter injected with a hydrocyclone filtered DLF (HF-DLF) from corn + barley biomass and evaluate the traits of the liquid released within a 8-h irrigation cycle. HF-DLF was injected at 10%, 25%, and 50% dilution compared to tap water (at pH = 7.84) and the system performances were measured. No clogging was found, which likely depended on both the shape of the emitter and the high-pressure head (200 kPa). HF-DLF dilution at 10%, 25%, and 50% consisted in +1.9%, +3.5, and −4.9% amount of liquid released compared to the control. Fluid temperature during irrigation (from 9:00 to 17:00) did not explain the difference in the released amounts of liquid. In 10% HF-DLF % and 25% HF-DLF, a pH difference of + 0.321 ± 0.014 pH units compared to the control was found, and such difference was constant for both dilutions and at increasing the time. In contrast, 50% HF-DLF increased pH by around a half point and such difference increased with time. Similar differences among treatments were found for the total solids in the liquid. These results indicate that 50% HF-DLF was accumulating materials in the serpentine. These results suggest that a low diluted HF-DLF could directly be injected in irrigation systems with few drawbacks for the irrigation system and contribute to water conservation since such wastewater are available from the late spring to the early fall, when water requirements are high.

ACS Style

Simone Bergonzoli; Massimo Brambilla; Elio Romano; Sergio Saia; Paola Cetera; Maurizio Cutini; Pietro Toscano; Carlo Bisaglia; Luigi Pari. Feeding Emitters for Microirrigation with a Digestate Liquid Fraction up to 25% Dilution Did Not Reduce Their Performance. Agronomy 2020, 10, 1150 .

AMA Style

Simone Bergonzoli, Massimo Brambilla, Elio Romano, Sergio Saia, Paola Cetera, Maurizio Cutini, Pietro Toscano, Carlo Bisaglia, Luigi Pari. Feeding Emitters for Microirrigation with a Digestate Liquid Fraction up to 25% Dilution Did Not Reduce Their Performance. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (8):1150.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Simone Bergonzoli; Massimo Brambilla; Elio Romano; Sergio Saia; Paola Cetera; Maurizio Cutini; Pietro Toscano; Carlo Bisaglia; Luigi Pari. 2020. "Feeding Emitters for Microirrigation with a Digestate Liquid Fraction up to 25% Dilution Did Not Reduce Their Performance." Agronomy 10, no. 8: 1150.

Conference paper
Published: 20 March 2020 in Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The precise monitoring of the inner microclimate of a greenhouse implies an increase of the production costs following the expensive needed sensor arrays. Currently, there is availability of low-cost sensors and cards for data storage and processing, but their application in real scale facilities is still under study. This research aimed to find a solution to manage and implement the outcome of various information (i.e. luminosity as well as air humidity and temperature) on the internal environment of a tunnel greenhouse to point out the most critical dynamics occurring during the growth cycle of basil plants in summer. Placing low-cost sensors inside a tunnel greenhouse made it possible to acquire data with an adequate rate (0.1 min−1) and spatiotemporal distribution throughout the facility. Data storage and processing took place thanks to an on purpose created weather station based on Arduino Yun Rev2 board. The highest variability of air temperature and moisture inside the greenhouse occurred when the solar radiation begins to heat the cover of the greenhouse (between 6.00 and 7.00 AM) and few hours after the maximum peak of solar radiation (843.4 ± 133.3 W/m2). Low-cost sensors combined with spatial fitting of the data provided insights about the effective microenvironmental conditions occurring on daily basis. This, implemented with IoT technologies, will be the base for the realization of economic monitoring systems.

ACS Style

Elio Romano; Massimo Brambilla; Pietro Toscano; Carlo Bisaglia. A Method to Implement a Monitoring System Based on Low-Cost Sensors for Micro-environmental Conditions Monitoring in Greenhouses. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering 2020, 775 -782.

AMA Style

Elio Romano, Massimo Brambilla, Pietro Toscano, Carlo Bisaglia. A Method to Implement a Monitoring System Based on Low-Cost Sensors for Micro-environmental Conditions Monitoring in Greenhouses. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering. 2020; ():775-782.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Elio Romano; Massimo Brambilla; Pietro Toscano; Carlo Bisaglia. 2020. "A Method to Implement a Monitoring System Based on Low-Cost Sensors for Micro-environmental Conditions Monitoring in Greenhouses." Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering , no. : 775-782.

Journal article
Published: 19 September 2019 in Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Winter pruning is a cultivation practice necessary for maintaining the balance between the vegetative and the productive activity of plants and requires many working days using hand scissors. This operation involves the subjects carrying out a series of gestures that are repeated with considerable frequency, which are all musculo-skeletal disorders risk factors (MSDs) for the hand-wrist area. The aim of this study was to investigate the forces applied to pruning tools. Using a sensor matrix, peak and average forces were measured which are exerted while cutting branches of 3 different diameters, from 5 wine-grape cultivars. Samples were tested on 8 participants using sensored scissors to record, in 6 hand areas, the forces necessary to cut. Results showed that while cutting, the factors which can impact the force employed (peak and average forces) by the subjects are branch diameter and percentage of branch humidity. Cut duration was inversely related to the size of the subject's hand. The middle finger area of the hand recorded the highest force average and peak levels, while the hand region least affected during the cuts was the farthest from the thumb. The study enabled the highlighting of which factors influence the forces employed by the operator while cutting grape branches, and to identify the hand regions where muscle activation is at its most. These findings can be relevant in preventing MSDs. Further studies need to be conducted with a larger number of subjects.

ACS Style

Elio Romano; Luciano Caruso; Domenico Longo; Ermanno Vitale; Giampaolo Schillaci; Venerando Rapisarda. Investigation of hand forces applied to a pruning tool - pilot study. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine 2019, 26, 472 -478.

AMA Style

Elio Romano, Luciano Caruso, Domenico Longo, Ermanno Vitale, Giampaolo Schillaci, Venerando Rapisarda. Investigation of hand forces applied to a pruning tool - pilot study. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine. 2019; 26 (3):472-478.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Elio Romano; Luciano Caruso; Domenico Longo; Ermanno Vitale; Giampaolo Schillaci; Venerando Rapisarda. 2019. "Investigation of hand forces applied to a pruning tool - pilot study." Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine 26, no. 3: 472-478.

Journal article
Published: 01 August 2018 in Biomass and Bioenergy
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Italian wine-making covers 18.4% of global production and represents the world's largest production. Cultivation of the vineyards foresees the winter pruning necessary for preparation of the next year's production. The annual pruned biomass (1–3 t ha−1) is considered waste and is managed by shredding or burning. The possibility of taking advantage of the pruned material in order to obtain biomass for heating purposes represents an alternative that can turn waste into a further product of the vineyard. The easiest form in which to manage the pruned biomass for energy purposes is that of wood chips. Chipping, however, requires specific equipment and has to deal with the problem of residual humidity. Moreover, transport to a processing center represents a critical extra cost. Aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a new mechanization system based on the harvest of the pruned biomass in small diameter (450 mm) round-bales, their natural drying in stacks and then in chip the whole round-bales with a purpose-designed mill, powered by the tractor power take-off (PTO) itself. The trials, carried out in a typical North-West Italian wine-producing area, show that the bottleneck represented by the high water content of prunings directly chipped in field, doesn't represent a limit with the proposed system that foresees a period (4 months) of natural drying of round baled prunings before their energy (thermal) use. Further transformation processes for bulk density increase (i.e. pellet formation) have been considered as upgrade of the system.

ACS Style

Carlo Bisaglia; Elio Romano. Utilization of vineyard prunings: A new mechanization system from residues harvest to CHIPS production. Biomass and Bioenergy 2018, 115, 136 -142.

AMA Style

Carlo Bisaglia, Elio Romano. Utilization of vineyard prunings: A new mechanization system from residues harvest to CHIPS production. Biomass and Bioenergy. 2018; 115 ():136-142.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Carlo Bisaglia; Elio Romano. 2018. "Utilization of vineyard prunings: A new mechanization system from residues harvest to CHIPS production." Biomass and Bioenergy 115, no. : 136-142.

Journal article
Published: 01 May 2018 in International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
Reads 0
Downloads 0
ACS Style

Angela Calvo; Elio Romano; Christian Preti; Giampaolo Schillaci; Roberto Deboli. Upper limb disorders and hand-arm vibration risks with hand-held olive beaters. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 2018, 65, 36 -45.

AMA Style

Angela Calvo, Elio Romano, Christian Preti, Giampaolo Schillaci, Roberto Deboli. Upper limb disorders and hand-arm vibration risks with hand-held olive beaters. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics. 2018; 65 ():36-45.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Angela Calvo; Elio Romano; Christian Preti; Giampaolo Schillaci; Roberto Deboli. 2018. "Upper limb disorders and hand-arm vibration risks with hand-held olive beaters." International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 65, no. : 36-45.

Journal article
Published: 04 November 2017 in Agriculture
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The phytotoxicity of four different composts obtained from pig slurry solid fraction composted by itself (SSFC) and mixed with sawdust (SC), woodchips (WCC) and wheat straw (WSC) was tested with bioassay methods. For each compost type, the effect of water extracts of compost on seed germination and primary root growth of cress (Lepidium Sativum L.) was investigated. Composts were also chemically analysed for total nitrogen, ammonium, electrical conductivity and heavy metal (Cu and Zn). The chemicals were correlated to phytotoxicity indices. The mean values of the germination index (GI) obtained were 160.7, 187.9, 200.9 and 264.4 for WSC, WCC, SC and SSFC, respectively. Growth index (GrI) ranged from the 229.4%, the highest value, for SSFC, followed by 201.9% for SC, and 193.1% for WCC, to the lowest value, 121.4%, for WSC. Electrical conductivity showed a significant and negative correlation with relative seed germination at the 50% and 75% concentrations. A strong positive correlation was found for water-extractable Cu with relative root growth and germination index at the 10% concentration. Water-extractable Zn showed a significant positive correlation with relative root growth and GI at the 10% concentration. These results highlighted that the four composts could be used for organic pellet production and subsequently distributed as a soil amendment with positive effects on seed germination and plant growth (GI > 80%).

ACS Style

Niccolò Pampuro; Carlo Bisaglia; Elio Romano; Massimo Brambilla; Ester Foppa Pedretti; Eugenio Cavallo. Phytotoxicity and Chemical Characterization of Compost Derived from Pig Slurry Solid Fraction for Organic Pellet Production. Agriculture 2017, 7, 94 .

AMA Style

Niccolò Pampuro, Carlo Bisaglia, Elio Romano, Massimo Brambilla, Ester Foppa Pedretti, Eugenio Cavallo. Phytotoxicity and Chemical Characterization of Compost Derived from Pig Slurry Solid Fraction for Organic Pellet Production. Agriculture. 2017; 7 (11):94.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Niccolò Pampuro; Carlo Bisaglia; Elio Romano; Massimo Brambilla; Ester Foppa Pedretti; Eugenio Cavallo. 2017. "Phytotoxicity and Chemical Characterization of Compost Derived from Pig Slurry Solid Fraction for Organic Pellet Production." Agriculture 7, no. 11: 94.

Journal article
Published: 06 September 2014 in International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture
Reads 0
Downloads 0

In Europe, because of the high production levels of livestock farming in general and pig farming in particular, animal waste management has become increasingly important to comply with the required lowering of livestock farming environmental pressure. Usually manures undergo solid/liquid separation, which generates one clarified liquid fraction and one nutrient-rich solid fraction suitable for in farm composting (both raw and in mixture with other bulking agents). This can be used to produce soil amendments, whose management can be further improved by pelletization that, against technological and environmental advantages, has the disadvantage of requiring a quite high energy input. Four different pelleted organic fertilizer formulations made of swine manure solid fraction (SMSF) composted both by itself and with sawdust (SMSF-SD), wood chips (SMSF-WC) and wheat straw were tested to highlight differences in physico-chemical and land distribution features. They were compared with two pelleted organic fertilizers ordinarily available at retailers. Results show that, as far as physical and chemical features are concerned, the greatest difference from the reference products used in this study is found in pellet size distribution after spreading since the disintegrating action of the rotating vanes does not affect the tested formulation with the same intensity as the commercial products. Distribution tests showed that SMSF-SD was the formulation with better longitudinal and transverse distribution, while SMSF was the one showing good transverse but poor longitudinal distribution. In farm pelletizing of SMSF composted with different organic waste materials as co-formulates can turn into organic fertilizer formulations comparable with pelleted organic fertilizers ordinarily available at retailers. SMSF-WC was the formulation with the best resistance to fragmentation induced by spreader vanes. SMSF-SD was the formulation showing better longitudinal and transverse distribution, while SMSF showed good transverse but poor longitudinal distribution. These promising results enhance the importance of co-composting as a way to increase livestock farming sustainability and produce better manure compost for wider agricultural uses.

ACS Style

Elio Romano; Massimo Brambilla; Carlo Bisaglia; Niccolò Pampuro; Ester Foppa Pedretti; Eugenio Cavallo. Pelletization of composted swine manure solid fraction with different organic co-formulates: effect of pellet physical properties on rotating spreader distribution patterns. International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture 2014, 3, 101 -111.

AMA Style

Elio Romano, Massimo Brambilla, Carlo Bisaglia, Niccolò Pampuro, Ester Foppa Pedretti, Eugenio Cavallo. Pelletization of composted swine manure solid fraction with different organic co-formulates: effect of pellet physical properties on rotating spreader distribution patterns. International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture. 2014; 3 (4):101-111.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Elio Romano; Massimo Brambilla; Carlo Bisaglia; Niccolò Pampuro; Ester Foppa Pedretti; Eugenio Cavallo. 2014. "Pelletization of composted swine manure solid fraction with different organic co-formulates: effect of pellet physical properties on rotating spreader distribution patterns." International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture 3, no. 4: 101-111.