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

Unclaimed
Roberto Comolli
Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Ambiente e della Terra, Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca, P.zza della Scienza, 1, 20126 Milano, 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: 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: 19 March 2021 in Agronomy
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Short rotation coppice (SRC) systems play an important role in producing renewable energy and contributing to soil organic carbon storage while providing potential mitigation for climate change. Our chronosequence study assessed the influence of 6 years of high-density (H) and very-high-density (VH) SRCs on soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation in an alluvial area of Piedmont (Italy) by investigating the effects of agronomic management (fertilization, irrigation, fertilization and irrigation, no treatment) using a spatial survey approach. A first sampling was performed at 40 points to characterize the variability of the initial SOC and other soil properties; 6 years after, a total of 80 samplings were carried out to verify changes in SOC. A mixed effect model procedure was used to evaluate the impact of 6 years of SRC and agronomic management on SOC, testing for autocorrelation among the model residuals. The results showed: (i) a higher accumulation potential of H-SRC (0.076 kg m−2 year−1) compared to VH-SRC (0.037 kg m−2 year−1); (ii) a significant positive influence of the initial SOC value and of fertilization associated with irrigation on the SOC sequestration; (iii) the importance of considering spatial variability at sites with high particle-size diversity in evaluating the SOC changes.

ACS Style

Chiara Ferré; Gaia Mascetti; Roberto Comolli. High-Density Poplar SRC Accumulates More Soil Organic Carbon Than Very-High-Density SRC. Agronomy 2021, 11, 584 .

AMA Style

Chiara Ferré, Gaia Mascetti, Roberto Comolli. High-Density Poplar SRC Accumulates More Soil Organic Carbon Than Very-High-Density SRC. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (3):584.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chiara Ferré; Gaia Mascetti; Roberto Comolli. 2021. "High-Density Poplar SRC Accumulates More Soil Organic Carbon Than Very-High-Density SRC." Agronomy 11, no. 3: 584.

Journal article
Published: 20 October 2020 in Urban Forestry & Urban Greening
Reads 0
Downloads 0

In a context of progressive urbanization, urban parks can play a pivotal role in carbon sequestration and stock. The study employs Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) emissions and removal by plants and soil in different urban green typologies, namely afforested areas, tree rows, social allotments, lawns, hedges, referring to a life span of 50 years. The present study aims to evaluate the carbon balance connected with planning, planting, and maintaining an urban park, the Parco Nord Milano (PNM), a green area located in the metropolitan area of Milan, Italy. The different emission data took into consideration planting and maintenance interventions, including the effects of equipment and vehicle choices, main operational activities, and the fate of vegetal residue from pruning, shrub and tree removal, and lawn mowing. The best performances in terms of CO2e balance per surface unit was obtained with tree rows and afforested area typologies (- 789 and – 527 Mg CO2e ha−1 50yrs-1, respectively), while the hedges showed the worst CO2e balance, (+ 176 Mg CO2e ha−1 50yrs-1). Different planting options, different pruning or thinning intensities or species selection can change this balance. In addition, converting residues from removed trees into wood products can improve the storage of CO2 for long periods. LCA has proved to be an effective tool to support the planning and maintenance of urban parks and the types considered. However, rational planning must also have to take into account user preferences and needs, and which ecosystem services can be maximized to ensure a better quality of life.

ACS Style

F.P. Nicese; G. Colangelo; R. Comolli; L. Azzini; S. Lucchetti; P.A. Marziliano; G. Sanesi. Estimating CO2 balance through the Life Cycle Assessment prism: A case – Study in an urban park. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 2020, 57, 126869 .

AMA Style

F.P. Nicese, G. Colangelo, R. Comolli, L. Azzini, S. Lucchetti, P.A. Marziliano, G. Sanesi. Estimating CO2 balance through the Life Cycle Assessment prism: A case – Study in an urban park. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 2020; 57 ():126869.

Chicago/Turabian Style

F.P. Nicese; G. Colangelo; R. Comolli; L. Azzini; S. Lucchetti; P.A. Marziliano; G. Sanesi. 2020. "Estimating CO2 balance through the Life Cycle Assessment prism: A case – Study in an urban park." Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 57, no. : 126869.

Journal article
Published: 02 March 2020 in Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The hilltop town of Bergamo, at the southern fringe of the Italian Alps, represents a typical example of the stepped emergence of a prehistoric settlement developing into a proto-historic urban center in the Iron Age. We present here unprecedented multidisciplinary evidence based on several near-site stratigraphies, supported by a robust radiocarbon chronology and by a continuous fine-resolution sedimentary and paleoecological record from a pond used for livestock watering, which was intercepted by drilling underneath the modern Catholic Cathedral. The obtained chronostratigraphy documents the development of arable and fallow land including cereals, legumes and livestock husbandry starting as early as 3355 yrs. cal BP (median of modeled calibrated ages, i.e., 15th century BC). This evidence indicates that already in the Middle Bronze Age the very center of the hilltop of the Bergamo Hill supported an early farming center. Land use reached an acme between 2980 and 2753 yrs. cal BP, triggering intense soil erosion by runoff processes. Paleobotanical evidence suggests uphill grapevine cultivation at the southern Alpine fringe at 2900 yrs. cal BP. Data support settlement continuity until around 2700 yrs. cal BP (8th century BC), before the growth of the Celtic town in the 6th–5th century BC. The location and development of the farming center yet in the Bronze Age might have been promoted by topographical diversification, high geomorphic weathering rate, soil suitability for agriculture and pastoralism, and water availability on the northern side of the hill, secured by orographic precipitation in warmer seasons.

ACS Style

Cesare Ravazzi; Roberta Pini; Mattia De Amicis; Lorenzo Castellano; Roberto Comolli; Davide Abu El Khair; Giulia Furlanetto; Diego Marsetti; Renata Perego. Paleoecological archives unraveling the early land-use history at the emergence of the Bronze Age settlement of Bergamo (Italian Alps). Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 2020, 276, 104205 .

AMA Style

Cesare Ravazzi, Roberta Pini, Mattia De Amicis, Lorenzo Castellano, Roberto Comolli, Davide Abu El Khair, Giulia Furlanetto, Diego Marsetti, Renata Perego. Paleoecological archives unraveling the early land-use history at the emergence of the Bronze Age settlement of Bergamo (Italian Alps). Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. 2020; 276 ():104205.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Cesare Ravazzi; Roberta Pini; Mattia De Amicis; Lorenzo Castellano; Roberto Comolli; Davide Abu El Khair; Giulia Furlanetto; Diego Marsetti; Renata Perego. 2020. "Paleoecological archives unraveling the early land-use history at the emergence of the Bronze Age settlement of Bergamo (Italian Alps)." Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 276, no. : 104205.

Research paper
Published: 10 January 2020 in Annals of Forest Science
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Besides the well-known effects on the native plant community, red oak may also impact the soil; the effects of afforestation with red oak involve both organic layers and mineral soil, resulting in changes in organic carbon quantity and quality and in soil acidification. Many alien species have become widespread in Europe; among these, red oak is a common invader of temperate forests. The effects of substitution of natural mixed forest by red oak forest on humus forms and soil properties were investigated in two paired plots: a 50-year-old (Bosco Vacaressino) and 80-year-old (Bosco Ginestre) forest stand. Soil sampling was performed from 3 layers at 40 and 49 points in Bosco Vacaressino and Bosco Ginestre respectively to determine humus forms, soil pH, organic carbon stock, carbon-nitrogen ratio (C:N), available phosphorus, and texture. Red oak resulted in a shift from Mull to Moder humus forms; soil acidification, higher C:N ratio, and soil organic carbon stock were observed compared with mixed forests. The major changes were reflected in a change toward less active humus forms; the effects of vegetation conversions were also visible in mineral layers; many of the modifications were more evident with increasing stand age.

ACS Style

Chiara Ferré; Roberto Comolli. Effects of Quercus rubra L. on soil properties and humus forms in 50-year-old and 80-year-old forest stands of Lombardy plain. Annals of Forest Science 2020, 77, 1 -19.

AMA Style

Chiara Ferré, Roberto Comolli. Effects of Quercus rubra L. on soil properties and humus forms in 50-year-old and 80-year-old forest stands of Lombardy plain. Annals of Forest Science. 2020; 77 (1):1-19.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chiara Ferré; Roberto Comolli. 2020. "Effects of Quercus rubra L. on soil properties and humus forms in 50-year-old and 80-year-old forest stands of Lombardy plain." Annals of Forest Science 77, no. 1: 1-19.

Journal article
Published: 26 September 2019 in Forests
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The introduction of invasive alien plant species (IAPS) can modify plant-soil feedback, resulting in an alteration of the abiotic and biotic characteristics of ecosystems. Prunus serotina, Quercus rubra and Robinia pseudoacacia are IAPS of European temperate forests, where they can become dominant and suppress the native biodiversity. Assuming that the establishment of these invasive species may alter native forest ecosystems, this study comparatively assessed their impact on ecosystems. This study further investigated plant communities in 12 forest stands, dominated by the three IAPS and native trees, Quercus robur and Carpinus betulus (three plots per forest type), in Northern Italy, and collected soil samples. The relationships between the invasion of the three IAPS and modifications of humus forms, soil chemical properties, soil biological quality, bacterial activity and plant community structure and diversity (α-, β-, and γ-diversity) were assessed using one-way ANOVA and redundancy analyses (RDA). Our comparative study demonstrated that invaded forests often had unique plant and/or soil properties, relative to native forests, and the degree of dissimilarity depended on the invasive species. Particularly, Q. rubra is related to major negative impacts on soil organic horizons and low/modified levels of microarthropod and plant biodiversity. R. pseudoacacia is associated with an altered base content of soil and, in turn, with positive feedback to the soil biological quality (QBS-ar) and plant diversity, but with a high cover compared with other alien plant species. P. serotina is associated with intermediate impacts and exhibits a plant species assemblage that is more similar to those of native forest stands. Our work suggests impact-based management decisions for the three investigated IAPS, since their effects on the diversity and composition of resident ecosystems are very different.

ACS Style

Rodolfo Gentili; Chiara Ferrè; Elisa Cardarelli; Chiara Montagnani; Giuseppe Bogliani; Sandra Citterio; Roberto Comolli. Comparing Negative Impacts of Prunus serotina, Quercus rubra and Robinia pseudoacacia on Native Forest Ecosystems. Forests 2019, 10, 842 .

AMA Style

Rodolfo Gentili, Chiara Ferrè, Elisa Cardarelli, Chiara Montagnani, Giuseppe Bogliani, Sandra Citterio, Roberto Comolli. Comparing Negative Impacts of Prunus serotina, Quercus rubra and Robinia pseudoacacia on Native Forest Ecosystems. Forests. 2019; 10 (10):842.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rodolfo Gentili; Chiara Ferrè; Elisa Cardarelli; Chiara Montagnani; Giuseppe Bogliani; Sandra Citterio; Roberto Comolli. 2019. "Comparing Negative Impacts of Prunus serotina, Quercus rubra and Robinia pseudoacacia on Native Forest Ecosystems." Forests 10, no. 10: 842.

Article
Published: 13 December 2018 in Agroforestry Systems
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Although there is greater awareness of spatial variability of factors affecting plant growth, regression methods with residuals independently and identically distributed, are still used. Thus, we compared spatial and non-spatial regression models in evaluating the relationships between tree growth of different species and clones and environmental factors in a polycyclic tree plantation of Italy (about 20-ha size). Soil samples were collected at 106 georeferenced locations and analyzed for the main soil parameters; trunk diameter was measured for 2513 trees and used as a proxy of plant growth; geostatistical procedures were applied to soil data so as to map soil characteristics. Poplar and alder cover indices and altitude as a proxy of groundwater depth were estimated at each tree location. The study provides evidence that considering spatial correlation can: (i) reduce the possibility of falsely declaring significant effects (Type I errors), and (ii) perform more precise predictions. Overall the model choice influenced the identification of significant regressors and the trunk diameter predictions, leading to implications on management decisions, quantitative estimation of wood productions and species comparisons. The spatial model showed which specific factors had a significant impact on plant growth and for which of them spatial variability might be worth investigating: the impact of soil texture on tree growth was evident, with difference among the investigated species and clones; soil organic carbon content affected poplar tree growth but not that of the valuable species; alder cover promotes development of trees; unlike the poplar trees, the trunk growth of the valuable species was limited by carbonate content.

ACS Style

Chiara Ferré; Annamaria Castrignanò; Roberto Comolli. Comparison between spatial and non-spatial regression models for investigating tree–soil relationships in a polycyclic tree plantation of Northern Italy and implications for management. Agroforestry Systems 2018, 93, 2181 -2196.

AMA Style

Chiara Ferré, Annamaria Castrignanò, Roberto Comolli. Comparison between spatial and non-spatial regression models for investigating tree–soil relationships in a polycyclic tree plantation of Northern Italy and implications for management. Agroforestry Systems. 2018; 93 (6):2181-2196.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chiara Ferré; Annamaria Castrignanò; Roberto Comolli. 2018. "Comparison between spatial and non-spatial regression models for investigating tree–soil relationships in a polycyclic tree plantation of Northern Italy and implications for management." Agroforestry Systems 93, no. 6: 2181-2196.

Journal article
Published: 01 November 2016 in Soil and Tillage Research
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Hilly slopes cultivated with vineyards are often affected by rainfall-induced shallow landslides that cause destruction and loss of the cultivations. For this reason, the assessment of mechanical contribution from grapevine roots is fundamental for slope stability analyses and consequently for the slope preservation. In this context, our work aims to quantitatively evaluate the soil reinforcement given by grapevine roots. The selected study area (13.4 km2), located in the region of Oltrepò Pavese in Northern Italy, is characterized by a high shallow landslides density and is constituted by vineyards in steep slopes. The tested soils are Haplic Calcisols, Petric Calcisols and Calcic Gleysols, with silt loamy or silty clay loamy textures, from high to very high carbonate content and low organic carbon and nitrogen contents. The rootstock of the grapevine is a combination of Vitis berlandieri and Vitis riparia with root systems, which reach average depths of up to 1.5 m. The grapevine root density (number of roots and Root Area Ratio) is rather variable and is strongly correlated to soil permeability. In fact, the results show that low permeable soils have small number of roots and occur near recent shallow slides. Despite the differences of soil features, type of bedrock, grapevine plants age, vineyards row orientation and season collection, a unique relationship between root diameter and root tensile strength has been identified. Root reinforcement, related to the grapevine root system and evaluated using Fiber Bundle Model, shows the lowest values in correspondence of sites characterized by the lowest soil permeability, as in the study case Calcic Gleysols. The sites with these soil features, actually, are also those most affected by shallow instability in the past, indicating that their great susceptibility to shallow landslides. The results of this study also highlight the role played by different amounts of grapevine root reinforcement on the slope stability during rainfall conditions, which could lead to triggering, on the study area

ACS Style

M. Bordoni; Claudia Meisina; A. Vercesi; Gian Battista Bischetti; E.A. Chiaradia; Chiara Vergani; S. Chersich; R. Valentino; M. Bittelli; Roberto Comolli; M.G. Persichillo; Alessio Cislaghi. Quantifying the contribution of grapevine roots to soil mechanical reinforcement in an area susceptible to shallow landslides. Soil and Tillage Research 2016, 163, 195 -206.

AMA Style

M. Bordoni, Claudia Meisina, A. Vercesi, Gian Battista Bischetti, E.A. Chiaradia, Chiara Vergani, S. Chersich, R. Valentino, M. Bittelli, Roberto Comolli, M.G. Persichillo, Alessio Cislaghi. Quantifying the contribution of grapevine roots to soil mechanical reinforcement in an area susceptible to shallow landslides. Soil and Tillage Research. 2016; 163 ():195-206.

Chicago/Turabian Style

M. Bordoni; Claudia Meisina; A. Vercesi; Gian Battista Bischetti; E.A. Chiaradia; Chiara Vergani; S. Chersich; R. Valentino; M. Bittelli; Roberto Comolli; M.G. Persichillo; Alessio Cislaghi. 2016. "Quantifying the contribution of grapevine roots to soil mechanical reinforcement in an area susceptible to shallow landslides." Soil and Tillage Research 163, no. : 195-206.

Journal article
Published: 01 February 2016 in Geoderma
Reads 0
Downloads 0

We aim to investigate the occurrence of forest humus forms (Moder, Amphi and Mull) in relation to environmental factors describing parent material, climate and tree species. Boosted regression trees (BRTs) were applied as modeling tool to analyze data of 238 plots of the BioSoil database covering the whole Italian forest territory. Though predictive ability was not very high, especially for the Amphi form, we could gain significant insight into factors controlling humus form differentiation. In the BRT analysis, the diversity of tree species was the most important predictor for Moder and Mull models and specific plant effects were evidenced. However, our results showed that the geographic distribution of Italian forest species was influenced by soil and climate conditions, partly explaining the high weight of tree species as factor. The importance of the soil nutritional status, due to parent material properties, in driving humus form differentiation was stated, highlighting the key role played by pH and calcium content, with the hitherto understated importance of phosphorus. This study further clarified the functioning of the still poorly understood Amphi form. Reduced effective soil volume (EfVol) combined with seasonality appeared to constrain pedofauna activity in otherwise favorable and nutrient rich systems, favoring the evolution of Amphi instead of Mull forms.

ACS Style

Anna Andreetta; Guia Cecchini; Eleonora Bonifacio; Roberto Comolli; Simona Vingiani; Stefano Carnicelli. Tree or soil? Factors influencing humus form differentiation in Italian forests. Geoderma 2016, 264, 195 -204.

AMA Style

Anna Andreetta, Guia Cecchini, Eleonora Bonifacio, Roberto Comolli, Simona Vingiani, Stefano Carnicelli. Tree or soil? Factors influencing humus form differentiation in Italian forests. Geoderma. 2016; 264 ():195-204.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Anna Andreetta; Guia Cecchini; Eleonora Bonifacio; Roberto Comolli; Simona Vingiani; Stefano Carnicelli. 2016. "Tree or soil? Factors influencing humus form differentiation in Italian forests." Geoderma 264, no. : 195-204.

Journal article
Published: 04 September 2015 in Biotechnology for Biofuels
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Environmental issues, e.g. climate change, fossil resource depletion have triggered ambitious national/regional policies to develop biofuel and bioenergy roles within the overall energy portfolio to achieve decarbonising the global economy and increase energy security. With the 10 % binding target for the transport sector, the Renewable Energy Directive confirms the EU's commitment to renewable transport fuels especially advanced biofuels. Imola is an elite poplar clone crossed from Populus deltoides Bartr. and Populus nigra L. by Research Units for Intensive Wood Production, Agriculture Research Council in Italy. This study examines its suitability for plantation cultivation under short or very short rotation coppice regimes as a potential lignocellulosic feedstock for the production of ethanol as a transport biofuel. A life cycle assessment (LCA) approach was used to model the cradle-to-gate environmental profile of Imola-derived biofuel benchmarked against conventional fossil gasoline. Specific attention was given to analysing the agroecosystem fluxes of carbon and nitrogen occurring in the cultivation of the Imola biomass in the biofuel life cycle using a process-oriented biogeochemistry model (DeNitrification-DeComposition) specifically modified for application to 2G perennial bioenergy crops and carbon and nitrogen cycling. Our results demonstrate that carbon and nitrogen cycling in perennial crop-soil ecosystems such as this example can be expected to have significant effects on the overall environmental profiles of 2G biofuels. In particular, soil carbon accumulation in perennial biomass plantations is likely to be a significant component in the overall greenhouse gas balance of future biofuel and other biorefinery products and warrants ongoing research and data collection for LCA models. We conclude that bioethanol produced from Imola represents a promising alternative transport fuel offering some savings ranging from 35 to 100 % over petrol in global warming potential, ozone depletion and photochemical oxidation impact categories. Via comparative analyses for Imola-derived bioethanol across potential supply chains, we highlight priority issues for potential improvement in 2G biofuel profiling. Advanced clones of poplar such as Imola for 2G biofuel production in Italy as modelled here show potential to deliver an environmentally sustainable lignocellulosic biorefinery industry and accelerate advanced biofuel penetration in the transport sector.

ACS Style

Miao Guo; Changsheng Li; Gianni Facciotto; Sara Bergante; Rakesh Bhatia; Roberto Comolli; Chiara Ferrè; Richard Murphy. Bioethanol from poplar clone Imola: an environmentally viable alternative to fossil fuel? Biotechnology for Biofuels 2015, 8, 134 .

AMA Style

Miao Guo, Changsheng Li, Gianni Facciotto, Sara Bergante, Rakesh Bhatia, Roberto Comolli, Chiara Ferrè, Richard Murphy. Bioethanol from poplar clone Imola: an environmentally viable alternative to fossil fuel? Biotechnology for Biofuels. 2015; 8 (1):134.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Miao Guo; Changsheng Li; Gianni Facciotto; Sara Bergante; Rakesh Bhatia; Roberto Comolli; Chiara Ferrè; Richard Murphy. 2015. "Bioethanol from poplar clone Imola: an environmentally viable alternative to fossil fuel?" Biotechnology for Biofuels 8, no. 1: 134.

Journal article
Published: 14 August 2015 in Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Reads 0
Downloads 0

This study analyses the seasonal trend of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) concentrations in air and soil from a high-altitude mountain pasture in the Italian Alps. PCB concentrations in soil were generally comparable to background levels and were lower than those previously measured in the same area. Only CB-209 unexpectedly showed high concentrations with respect to the other congeners. GC-MS-MS identification was very clear, rising a new problem of increasing PCB contamination concerning only CB-209, which is not present in commercial mixtures used in the past in Italy and Europe. Considering all of the congeners, seasonal PCB trends were observed both in air and in soil that were related to the temperature and precipitation measured specifically in the study area. Highly significant relationships were found between the temperature-normalised concentrations in soil and the precipitation amounts. A north/south enrichment factor was present only in soil with rapid early summer re-volatilisation kinetics from soil to air and autumn re-deposition events from air to soil. Fugacity ratio calculations confirmed these trends. Surface soils respond rapidly to meteorological variables, while subsurface soils respond much more slowly. Seasonal trends were different for the northern and southern sides of the mountain. A detailed picture of the interactions among temperature, precipitation, mountain aspects and soil features was obtained.

ACS Style

Paolo Tremolada; Niccolò Guazzoni; Roberto Comolli; Marco Parolini; Serena Lazzaro; Andrea Binelli. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in air and soil from a high-altitude pasture in the Italian Alps: evidence of CB-209 contamination. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2015, 22, 19571 -19583.

AMA Style

Paolo Tremolada, Niccolò Guazzoni, Roberto Comolli, Marco Parolini, Serena Lazzaro, Andrea Binelli. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in air and soil from a high-altitude pasture in the Italian Alps: evidence of CB-209 contamination. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2015; 22 (24):19571-19583.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Paolo Tremolada; Niccolò Guazzoni; Roberto Comolli; Marco Parolini; Serena Lazzaro; Andrea Binelli. 2015. "Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in air and soil from a high-altitude pasture in the Italian Alps: evidence of CB-209 contamination." Environmental Science and Pollution Research 22, no. 24: 19571-19583.

Journal article
Published: 15 January 2015 in Plant and Soil
Reads 0
Downloads 0

An adequate sampling strategy for the estimation of soil respiration depends on spatial heterogeneity in soil and plant characteristics. The objective of this work was the assessment of the spatial soil-plant interactions to define a sampling strategy of soil CO2 efflux. In a long-term poplar plantation in Italy, a joint analysis of spatial variability of soil and plant properties was performed using geostatistical data fusion techniques. Soil samples were collected at 64 points and analyzed for pH, organic carbon, nitrogen, available phosphorous and texture. Trunk diameter was measured for 446 trees. The analysis of the whole data set (soil and plant properties) revealed the presence of three main scales of variation: a nugget effect (micro-scale), 30 and 100 m. Most spatial variation (71 %) was observed at the longer range scale; soil spatial variability was reflected in the differences in plant growth and affected soil CO2 emissions significantly. The joint analysis of soil and plant properties allowed to model their spatial scale-dependent relationships. A map of a synthetic indicator of joint soil-plant variation can be used to choose the most representative plots for soil respiration monitoring.

ACS Style

Chiara Ferré; Annamaria Castrignanò; Roberto Comolli. Assessment of multi-scale soil-plant interactions in a poplar plantation using geostatistical data fusion techniques: relationships to soil respiration. Plant and Soil 2015, 390, 95 -109.

AMA Style

Chiara Ferré, Annamaria Castrignanò, Roberto Comolli. Assessment of multi-scale soil-plant interactions in a poplar plantation using geostatistical data fusion techniques: relationships to soil respiration. Plant and Soil. 2015; 390 (1-2):95-109.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chiara Ferré; Annamaria Castrignanò; Roberto Comolli. 2015. "Assessment of multi-scale soil-plant interactions in a poplar plantation using geostatistical data fusion techniques: relationships to soil respiration." Plant and Soil 390, no. 1-2: 95-109.

Journal article
Published: 01 December 2014 in Journal of Environmental Management
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Most of the plants employed to remove metals from contaminated soils are annuals and have a seed-to-seed life cycle of a few months, usually over spring and summer. Consequently, for most of the year, fields are not actively cleaned but are completely bare and subject to erosion by water and wind. The objective of this study was to evaluate the benefits of using Lupinus albus as a winter crop in a rotation sequence with a summer crop ideally selected for phytoextraction, such as industrial hemp. Lupin plants were grown in two alkaline soil plots (heavy metal-contaminated and uncontaminated) of approximately 400m2 each after the cultivation and harvest of industrial hemp. A smaller-scale parallel pot experiment was also performed to better understand the lupin behavior in increasing concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn. White lupin grew well in alkaline conditions, covering the soil during the winter season. In few months plants were approximately 40–50cm high in both control and contaminated plots. In fields where the bioavailable fraction of metals was low (less than 12%), plants showed a high tolerance to these contaminants. However, their growth was affected in some pot treatments in which the concentrations of assimilable Cu, Zn and Ni were higher, ranging from approximately 40–70% of the total concentrations. The lupin's ability to absorb heavy metals and translocate them to shoots was negligible with respect to the magnitude of contamination, suggesting that this plant is not suitable for extending the period of phytoextraction. However, it is entirely exploitable as green manure, avoiding the application of chemical amendments during phytoremediation. In addition, in polluted fields, white lupin cultivation increased the soil concentration of live bacteria and the bioavailable percentage of metals. On average live bacteria counts per gram of soil were 65×106±18×106 and 99×106±22*106 before and after cultivation, respectively. The percentages of bioavailable Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn and Cr, which were 5.7±0.7, 5.3±1.7, 1.2±0.1, 12±1.5 and 0.1±0.02%, respectively, before lupin growth, increased to 9.6±1.6, 7±2, 2±0.3, 14±1.5 and 0.1±0.02% after lupin harvest.On the whole, our results indicate that the winter cultivation of white lupin in sequence with a metal-accumulator summer crop can improve the recovery of soil quality during the phytoextraction period. It improves the safety of the area, limiting additional ecological and human health problems, and enhances soil health by avoiding the use of chemical amendments and by increasing the levels of viable microorganisms

ACS Style

Pietro Fumagalli; Roberto Comolli; Chiara Ferrè; Alessandra Ghiani; Rodolfo Gentili; Sandra Citterio. The rotation of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) with metal-accumulating plant crops: A strategy to increase the benefits of soil phytoremediation. Journal of Environmental Management 2014, 145, 35 -42.

AMA Style

Pietro Fumagalli, Roberto Comolli, Chiara Ferrè, Alessandra Ghiani, Rodolfo Gentili, Sandra Citterio. The rotation of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) with metal-accumulating plant crops: A strategy to increase the benefits of soil phytoremediation. Journal of Environmental Management. 2014; 145 ():35-42.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Pietro Fumagalli; Roberto Comolli; Chiara Ferrè; Alessandra Ghiani; Rodolfo Gentili; Sandra Citterio. 2014. "The rotation of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) with metal-accumulating plant crops: A strategy to increase the benefits of soil phytoremediation." Journal of Environmental Management 145, no. : 35-42.

Journal article
Published: 27 November 2014 in Biogeosciences
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Effects of forest conversion to poplar plantation on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks were investigated by sampling paired plots in an alluvial area of the Ticino River in Northern Italy. According to land registers and historical aerial photographs, the two sites were part of a larger area of a 200 yr old natural forest that was partly converted to poplar plantation in 1973. The soil sampling of three layers down to a depth of 100 cm was performed at 90 and 70 points in the natural forest (NF) and in the nearby poplar plantation (PP) respectively. The substitution of the natural forest with the poplar plantation strongly modified soil C stock down to a depth of 55 cm, although the management practices at PP were not intensive. After calculation of equivalent soil masses and of SOC stocks in individual texture classes, the comparison of C stocks showed an overall decrease in SOC of 5.7 kg m−2 or 40% in consequence of 37 years of poplar cultivation. Our case study provides further evidence that (i) spatial heterogeneity of SOC is an important feature in paired plot studies requiring a careful sampling strategy and high enough number of samples; (ii) land use changes through tillage are creating a more homogeneous spatial structure of soil properties and may require the application of dedicated spatial statistics to tackle eventual problems of pseudo-replicates and auto-correlation; (iii) short rotation forests are not properly represented in current reporting schemes for changes of SOC after land use change and may better be considered as cropland.

ACS Style

C. Ferré; Roberto Comolli; Adrian Leip; Gunther Seufert. Forest conversion to poplar plantation in a Lombardy floodplain (Italy): effects on soil organic carbon stock. Biogeosciences 2014, 11, 6483 -6493.

AMA Style

C. Ferré, Roberto Comolli, Adrian Leip, Gunther Seufert. Forest conversion to poplar plantation in a Lombardy floodplain (Italy): effects on soil organic carbon stock. Biogeosciences. 2014; 11 (22):6483-6493.

Chicago/Turabian Style

C. Ferré; Roberto Comolli; Adrian Leip; Gunther Seufert. 2014. "Forest conversion to poplar plantation in a Lombardy floodplain (Italy): effects on soil organic carbon stock." Biogeosciences 11, no. 22: 6483-6493.

Journal article
Published: 01 May 2014 in Soil Science Society of America Journal
Reads 0
Downloads 0

A better understanding of soil organic C (SOC) distribution in mountain soils is important for quantifying C emissions-removals involved in land use change processes, such as afforestation, reforestation, and deforestation activities. The highest part of Valchiavenna, a Northern Italy alpine area, is characterized by a great variety of landscapes owing to the different parent material, climatic conditions, topography, vegetation, and geomorphology. The interaction of these features has produced many soil types, such as Leptosols, Regosols, Cambisols, Umbrisols, Podzols, and Histosols, with large differences in total organic C (TOC) content. To predict TOC content, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) in the visible and near-infrared (VIS-NIR) range was applied. Nine soil profiles were sampled to represent a range of pedologic profiles and were analyzed with DRS in the wavelength interval of 350 to 2500 nm and for some chemical and physical parameters. Spectral data were transformed and then analyzed through partial least square regression (PLSR) and multiple linear regression. Soil parameters were also considered as covariates. The results indicate that the DRS technique linked with PLSR and applied to smoothed spectra was able to predict TOC and highlight the relationships between TOC and Al and Fe amorphous minerals. The wavelength in the visible range, with particular regard to the 520- to 560-nm interval, were the most influential in explaining TOC variation compared with NIR (700-1400 nm) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) bands (1400-2500 nm). This may suggest that changes in reflectance in the visible range can be caused by a significant variation in TOC in the alpine soil profiles. This calls for a closer examination of pedologic processes in mountain environments owing to advanced chemometric models to predict SOC content in mountain soils. © Soil Science Society of America

ACS Style

Claudio Colombo; Giuseppe Palumbo; Erika Di Iorio; Vincenzo Michele Sellitto; Roberto Comolli; Anna Maria Stellacci; Annamaria Castrignanò. Soil Organic Carbon Variation in Alpine Landscape (Northern Italy) as Evaluated by Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy. Soil Science Society of America Journal 2014, 78, 794 -804.

AMA Style

Claudio Colombo, Giuseppe Palumbo, Erika Di Iorio, Vincenzo Michele Sellitto, Roberto Comolli, Anna Maria Stellacci, Annamaria Castrignanò. Soil Organic Carbon Variation in Alpine Landscape (Northern Italy) as Evaluated by Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 2014; 78 (3):794-804.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Claudio Colombo; Giuseppe Palumbo; Erika Di Iorio; Vincenzo Michele Sellitto; Roberto Comolli; Anna Maria Stellacci; Annamaria Castrignanò. 2014. "Soil Organic Carbon Variation in Alpine Landscape (Northern Italy) as Evaluated by Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy." Soil Science Society of America Journal 78, no. 3: 794-804.

Journal article
Published: 01 August 2013 in Science of The Total Environment
Reads 0
Downloads 0

A reliable spatial assessment of the POPs contamination in soils is essential for burden studies and flux evaluations. Soil characteristics and properties vary enormously even within small spatial scale and over time; therefore soil capacity of accumulating POPs varies greatly. In order to include this very high spatial and temporal variability, models can be used for assessing soil accumulation capacity in a specific time and space and, from it, the spatial distribution and temporal trends of POPs concentrations. In this work, predictive contamination maps of the accumulation capacity of soils were developed at a space resolution of 1 × 1 m with a time frame of one day, in a study area located in the central Alps. Physical algorithms for temperature and organic carbon estimation along the soil profile and across the year were fitted to estimate the horizontal, vertical and seasonal distribution of the contamination potential for PCBs in soil (Ksa maps). The resulting maps were cross-validated with an independent set of PCB contamination data, showing very good agreement (e.g. for CB-153, R2 = 0.80, p-value ≤ 2.2 · 10− 06). Slopes of the regression between predicted Ksa and experimental concentrations were used to map the soil contamination for the whole area, taking into account soil characteristics and temperature conditions. These maps offer the opportunity to evaluate burden (concentration maps) and fluxes (emission maps) with highly resolved temporal and spatial detail. In addition, in order to explain the observed low autumn PCB concentrations in soil related to the high Ksa values of this period, a dynamic model of seasonal variation of soil concentrations was developed basing on rate parameters fitted on measured concentrations. The model was able to describe, at least partially, the observed different behavior between the quite rapid discharge phase in summer and the slow recharge phase in autumn.

ACS Style

Cristiano Ballabio; Niccoló Guazzoni; Roberto Comolli; Paolo Tremolada. Highly spatially- and seasonally-resolved predictive contamination maps for persistent organic pollutants: Development and validation. Science of The Total Environment 2013, 458-460, 546 -554.

AMA Style

Cristiano Ballabio, Niccoló Guazzoni, Roberto Comolli, Paolo Tremolada. Highly spatially- and seasonally-resolved predictive contamination maps for persistent organic pollutants: Development and validation. Science of The Total Environment. 2013; 458-460 ():546-554.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Cristiano Ballabio; Niccoló Guazzoni; Roberto Comolli; Paolo Tremolada. 2013. "Highly spatially- and seasonally-resolved predictive contamination maps for persistent organic pollutants: Development and validation." Science of The Total Environment 458-460, no. : 546-554.

Journal article
Published: 01 May 2013 in Science of The Total Environment
Reads 0
Downloads 0

This study investigates the contamination by 13 polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners in an altitudinal soil transect on Mt. Meru area, Northern Tanzania. A ∑13PBDEs mean concentration of 386±200 pg/g d.w. (4900±3500 pg ∑13PBDEs/g soil organic matter - SOM) was measured, pointing out that, in a prevalently agricultural area from the southern hemisphere, PBDE contamination can be even higher than in similar semi-remote environment of industrialized country of the northern one. The Mt. Meru PBDE pattern of contamination was characterized by the prevalence of intermediate brominated congeners (tetra- and penta-BDEs). Among the detected compounds, BDE-47 was the main congener, followed by BDE-99, BDE-190 and BDE-100. The distribution of PBDEs confirmed that organic carbon had a substantial impact on their accumulation in Tanzanian soils. The altitudinal profile of PBDEs (log TOC-normalized concentrations) fitted a second order polynomial model with altitude, with an initial concentration decrease, interpreted as a dilution effect from local/regional sources, and a following consistent increase with altitude according to the cold condensation theory. Evidences of distillation effect among PBDE congeners were also observed.

ACS Style

Marco Parolini; Niccoló Guazzoni; Roberto Comolli; Andrea Binelli; Paolo Tremolada. Background levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in soils from Mount Meru area, Arusha district (Tanzania). Science of The Total Environment 2013, 452-453, 253 -261.

AMA Style

Marco Parolini, Niccoló Guazzoni, Roberto Comolli, Andrea Binelli, Paolo Tremolada. Background levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in soils from Mount Meru area, Arusha district (Tanzania). Science of The Total Environment. 2013; 452-453 ():253-261.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marco Parolini; Niccoló Guazzoni; Roberto Comolli; Andrea Binelli; Paolo Tremolada. 2013. "Background levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in soils from Mount Meru area, Arusha district (Tanzania)." Science of The Total Environment 452-453, no. : 253-261.

Journals
Published: 01 January 2013 in Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Tanzania is an equatorial country characterized by warm temperatures, which should increase the volatilization of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), but this scenario could be different in mountainous areas like Mount Meru, a volcano situated in the East African Rift (Tz). We collected soil samples along an altitudinal transect upto 4577 m a.s.l., reporting the first data about POP contamination in this area (DDX, HCHs, HCB and PCBs). The DDX contamination pattern in Mt. Meru shows levels slightly higher than those of other remote places with a strong increase in the metabolites/DDT historical trend, which is different from DDX, PCBs, HCHs and particularly HCB as this shows very low contamination levels. Back trajectory analysis allowed a discussion about putative contamination sources, while analysis of the environmental features (climatic and pedological) allowed us to discriminate their relative importance. The distribution of POPs shows a strong correlation with soil organic matter and vegetation. SOM-normalization evidenced altitudinal dependence according to cold condensation for PCBs and HCHs, while DDX are present in larger amounts in the agricultural area at the volcano foot. OM-normalized concentrations suggested also a possible role of the OM composition on the POPs’ distribution.

ACS Style

Niccoló Guazzoni; Roberto Comolli; Andrea Binelli; Paolo Tremolada. Environmental variables affecting the distribution of POPs on Mt. Meru, Tanzania. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts 2013, 15, 1573 .

AMA Style

Niccoló Guazzoni, Roberto Comolli, Andrea Binelli, Paolo Tremolada. Environmental variables affecting the distribution of POPs on Mt. Meru, Tanzania. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts. 2013; 15 (8):1573.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Niccoló Guazzoni; Roberto Comolli; Andrea Binelli; Paolo Tremolada. 2013. "Environmental variables affecting the distribution of POPs on Mt. Meru, Tanzania." Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts 15, no. 8: 1573.

Journal article
Published: 01 November 2012 in Pedobiologia
Reads 0
Downloads 0

We studied an unmanaged alluvial forest in Northern Italy in order to better understand the soil carbon cycle and in particular the partitioning of soil respiration between autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration. We measured annual fluxes of soil respiration with a mobile chamber system at 16 per-manent collars and sampled soil organic carbon and root density at each collar in order to apply the indirect regression method for partitioning (Rodegheiro and Cescatti, 2006). The soil pool of organic carbon was very high down the 45 cm profile. The annual respiration rates ranged from 0.6 to 6.9 µmol carbon dioxide (CO2) m-2s-1 with an average value of 3.4 (±2.3) µmol CO2 m-2 s-1, and a cumulative flux of 1.1 kg C m-2y-1. The correlation between total soil respiration and soil temperature was high (R2=0.85), whereas the correlation with soil water content was weaker (R2=0.46). The heterotrophic component accounted for 66% of annual CO2 efflux. Soil temperature largely controlled the heterotrophic respiration (R2=0.93), while the autotrophic component followed irradiation. The indirect regression method enabled us to partition the seasonal course of undisturbed autotroph-ic and heterotrophic respiration. The role of photosynthesis in modulating soil respiration needs to be considered in terrestrial carbon cycle models.JRC.H.7-Climate Risk Managemen

ACS Style

Chiara Ferréa; Terenzio Zenone; Roberto Comolli; Günther Seufert. Estimating heterotrophic and autotrophic soil respiration in a semi-natural forest of Lombardy, Italy. Pedobiologia 2012, 55, 285 -294.

AMA Style

Chiara Ferréa, Terenzio Zenone, Roberto Comolli, Günther Seufert. Estimating heterotrophic and autotrophic soil respiration in a semi-natural forest of Lombardy, Italy. Pedobiologia. 2012; 55 (6):285-294.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chiara Ferréa; Terenzio Zenone; Roberto Comolli; Günther Seufert. 2012. "Estimating heterotrophic and autotrophic soil respiration in a semi-natural forest of Lombardy, Italy." Pedobiologia 55, no. 6: 285-294.

Journal article
Published: 02 June 2012 in Water, Air, & Soil Pollution
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The effect of different humic fractions on polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination in soils was tested in the field by means of 53 soil samples from a high-altitude grassland plateau in the Italian Alps. Three humic fractions (humin, humic acids, and fulvic acids) were characterized in parallel by quantifying 12 PCB congeners to establish a direct relationship between PCB levels and humic fraction concentrations. Humin (the most hydrophobic fraction) appears to be the most closely correlated with the amount of PCBs in soil (R 2 = 0.83), while fulvic acid shows the lowest correlation (R 2 = 0.49). The idea of preferential sorption of hydrophobic compounds in the humin fraction is discussed, and the humin carbon content (f huminC) is proposed as an improved parameter for evaluating the potential for POP accumulation in soils, replacing total organic carbon (f oc). Congener studies revealed that penta- and hexa-substituted-CBs show the optimal combination of physicochemical properties for equilibrating with the humin content in soil. Moreover, f huminC/f oc is conceptually equivalent to the empirical coefficients used in predictive K sa equations. In our samples, the f huminC/f oc was 0.55, a value in between the empirical coefficients proposed in the literature. In predictive equations, the use of f huminC instead f oc avoids the necessity of using an empirical parameter for a ‘generic’ condition by introducing an experimental parameter (f huminC) that takes into account local conditions (organic matter composition).

ACS Style

Paolo Tremolada; Niccoló Guazzoni; Luisa Smillovich; Fabio Moia; Roberto Comolli. The Effect of the Organic Matter Composition on POP Accumulation in Soil. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 2012, 223, 4539 -4556.

AMA Style

Paolo Tremolada, Niccoló Guazzoni, Luisa Smillovich, Fabio Moia, Roberto Comolli. The Effect of the Organic Matter Composition on POP Accumulation in Soil. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution. 2012; 223 (7):4539-4556.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Paolo Tremolada; Niccoló Guazzoni; Luisa Smillovich; Fabio Moia; Roberto Comolli. 2012. "The Effect of the Organic Matter Composition on POP Accumulation in Soil." Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 223, no. 7: 4539-4556.