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In indoor vertical farms, energy consumption represents a bottleneck for both a system’s affordability and environmental footprint. Although switching frequency (sf) represents a crucial factor in determining the efficacy of light emitting diodes (LED) lighting systems in converting electricity into light, the impact of sf is still underexplored. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of LEDs sf on the productive and qualitative responses of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), also considering the resource use efficiency. Plants were grown for 14 days under red and blue LEDs (215 μmol m−2 s−1 and 16/8 h light/dark, with a red:blue ratio of 3) characterized by two different sf for the blue diode, namely high sf (850 kHz) and low sf (293 kHz). A fluorescent light (same light intensity and photoperiod) was included. LED sf did not alter plant morphological parameters, including fresh or dry biomass, leaf number, leaf area, or water use efficiency. A low sf increased the energy use efficiency (EUE) by 40% as compared to high sf. The latter enhanced the leaf antioxidant capacity, as a consequence of increased concentrations of caftaric and chicoric acids, isoquercetin, and luteolin, consistent with the upregulation of a few genes related to the biosynthetic pathway of phenolic compounds (4C3H and DFR). The study highlights that different sf may significantly affect the EUE as well as crop nutritional properties.
Laura Carotti; Giulia Potente; Giuseppina Pennisi; Karina Ruiz; Stefania Biondi; Andrea Crepaldi; Francesco Orsini; Giorgio Gianquinto; Fabiana Antognoni. Pulsed LED Light: Exploring the Balance between Energy Use and Nutraceutical Properties in Indoor-Grown Lettuce. Agronomy 2021, 11, 1106 .
AMA StyleLaura Carotti, Giulia Potente, Giuseppina Pennisi, Karina Ruiz, Stefania Biondi, Andrea Crepaldi, Francesco Orsini, Giorgio Gianquinto, Fabiana Antognoni. Pulsed LED Light: Exploring the Balance between Energy Use and Nutraceutical Properties in Indoor-Grown Lettuce. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (6):1106.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLaura Carotti; Giulia Potente; Giuseppina Pennisi; Karina Ruiz; Stefania Biondi; Andrea Crepaldi; Francesco Orsini; Giorgio Gianquinto; Fabiana Antognoni. 2021. "Pulsed LED Light: Exploring the Balance between Energy Use and Nutraceutical Properties in Indoor-Grown Lettuce." Agronomy 11, no. 6: 1106.
The growing population of tropical countries has led to a new awareness of the importance of vegetables as a source of essential foods and nutrients. The success of vegetable cultivation depends to a large extent on high-quality seedlings. This work aimed at evaluating the effects of different substrates and different nutrient solution concentrations on the development of lettuce and Chinese cabbage seedlings in a semi-arid tropical area. Three independent experiments were conducted at the Soil and Water Research Station at Yezin Agriculture University, Myanmar (Myanmar, 19.83° N; 96.27° E). In all experiments a randomized block design was implemented with four treatments and three repetitions. In the first experiment the adaptability of lettuce seedling to two substrates (namely a Hulls Manure mix composed by 50% of mature cattle manure and 50% of carbonized rice husk and a soil based substrate constituted by 70% local soil, 20% burned rice husk, and 10% fresh cattle manure) and two nutrient solutions with different electrical conductivities (ECs) (W0.1, stored rainwater with EC = 0.13 dS m−1 and NS1.2, nutrient solution with EC = 1.20 dS m−1) were tested. In the second and third experiments, two species (lettuce and Chinese cabbage) were assessed for their response to nutrient solution concentrations. In both crops, 4 fertigation treatments (W0.1; NS0.6; NS1.2; and NS1.8) were supplied, by modulating the concentration of a compound mineral fertilizer (15:15:15) in the following ranges: W0.1: 0 g L−1, electrical conductivity (EC) 0.13 dS m−1, NS0.6: 0.3 g L−1, EC of 0.60 dS m−1; NS1.2: 0.6 g L−1, 1.2 dS m−1 EC, and NS1.8: 0.9 g L−1, 1.8 dS m−1 EC. Adopting different substrates and applying different nutrient solutions significantly affected growth (fresh weight and leaf morphology) and some physiological parameters (stomatal conductance, leaf temperature, and leaf chlorophyll content) of lettuce and Chinese cabbage seedling. From the first experiment, the combination of the soil based substrate and NS1.2 treatments allowed us to improve the seedlings’ growth. In the second experiment, highest growth of lettuce and Chinese cabbage seedlings was associated with NS1.2 and NS1.8, respectively. The presented results allow for the optimization of both growing media and nutrient solution management when lettuce and Chinese cabbage seedling are produced in the Central Dry Zone of Myanmar.
Nicola Michelon; Giuseppina Pennisi; Nang Myint; Francesco Orsini; Giorgio Gianquinto. Optimization of Substrate and Nutrient Solution Strength for Lettuce and Chinese Cabbage Seedling Production in the Semi-Arid Environment of Central Myanmar. Horticulturae 2021, 7, 64 .
AMA StyleNicola Michelon, Giuseppina Pennisi, Nang Myint, Francesco Orsini, Giorgio Gianquinto. Optimization of Substrate and Nutrient Solution Strength for Lettuce and Chinese Cabbage Seedling Production in the Semi-Arid Environment of Central Myanmar. Horticulturae. 2021; 7 (4):64.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicola Michelon; Giuseppina Pennisi; Nang Myint; Francesco Orsini; Giorgio Gianquinto. 2021. "Optimization of Substrate and Nutrient Solution Strength for Lettuce and Chinese Cabbage Seedling Production in the Semi-Arid Environment of Central Myanmar." Horticulturae 7, no. 4: 64.
Within the scholarly debate, Urban Agriculture (UA) has been widely acknowledged to provide diverse environmental and socio-cultural ecosystem services (ESs) for cities. However, the question of whether these potential benefits are also recognized as such by the involved societal groups on the ground has not yet been investigated. This paper aims at (1) assessing the perceived ESs of UA, comparing the views of different societal groups in the city of Bologna, Italy (namely: UA project leaders, stakeholders and the general public) and (2) to identify differences in the evaluation of specific UA types (indoor farming, high-tech greenhouses, peri-urban farms, community-supported agriculture, community rooftop garden and urban co-op). In total, 406 individuals evaluated 25 ESs via a standardized Likert-scale survey. The study unveiled similarities and divergences of perceptions among the different societal groups. The statistical analysis indicated that the general public and UA stakeholders agree on the high relevance of socio-cultural ESs, while provisioning ESs was considered as less significant. UA types focusing on social innovation were expected to provide higher socio-cultural ESs whereas peri-urban activities were more closely linked to habitat ESs. We assume that involvement and knowledge of UA are determining factors for valuing the provision of ESs through UA, which needs to be considered for ES valuation, particularly in a policymaking context.
Esther Sanyé-Mengual; Kathrin Specht; Jan Vávra; Martina Artmann; Francesco Orsini; Giorgio Gianquinto. Ecosystem Services of Urban Agriculture: Perceptions of Project Leaders, Stakeholders and the General Public. Sustainability 2020, 12, 10446 .
AMA StyleEsther Sanyé-Mengual, Kathrin Specht, Jan Vávra, Martina Artmann, Francesco Orsini, Giorgio Gianquinto. Ecosystem Services of Urban Agriculture: Perceptions of Project Leaders, Stakeholders and the General Public. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (24):10446.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEsther Sanyé-Mengual; Kathrin Specht; Jan Vávra; Martina Artmann; Francesco Orsini; Giorgio Gianquinto. 2020. "Ecosystem Services of Urban Agriculture: Perceptions of Project Leaders, Stakeholders and the General Public." Sustainability 12, no. 24: 10446.
The study evaluated the feasibility of simplified hydroponics for the growth of rooted cuttings of geranium (Pelargonium zonale) for commercial purposes in local farms in Northern Italy. Tested systems included a control where soilless system on substrate (peat) (T-1), usually adopted by local farmers, was compared against an open-cycle drip system on substrate (peat) (T-2), and a Nutrient Film Technique system (T-3). For commercial features, assessed parameters included flowering degree (flowering timing, numbers of inflorescences plant−1, and number of flowers inflorescence−1), numbers of leaves plant−1, number of branches plant−1, final height of plant, and the aesthetic-commercial assessment index. Assessed parameters also included fresh and dry weight, SPAD Index, the water consumption, and the water use efficiency (WUE). The soilless systems typology significantly affected rooted cuttings growth, commercial features, and WUE. The adoption of an open-cycle drip system (T-2) resulted in a significant improvement of all the crop commercial characteristics as compared with other treatments, making plants more attractive for the market. The water consumption was higher in T-2 as compared with T-1 and T-3, but it allowed for the highest fresh weight, and therefore also the highest WUE. The results indicate that the typology of soilless system significantly enhances the commercial characteristics of geranium.
Luca Brentari; Nicola Michelon; Giorgio Gianquinto; Francesco Orsini; Federico Zamboni; Duilio Porro. Comparative Study of Three Low-Tech Soilless Systems for the Cultivation of Geranium (Pelargonium zonale): A Commercial Quality Assessment. Agronomy 2020, 10, 1430 .
AMA StyleLuca Brentari, Nicola Michelon, Giorgio Gianquinto, Francesco Orsini, Federico Zamboni, Duilio Porro. Comparative Study of Three Low-Tech Soilless Systems for the Cultivation of Geranium (Pelargonium zonale): A Commercial Quality Assessment. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (9):1430.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuca Brentari; Nicola Michelon; Giorgio Gianquinto; Francesco Orsini; Federico Zamboni; Duilio Porro. 2020. "Comparative Study of Three Low-Tech Soilless Systems for the Cultivation of Geranium (Pelargonium zonale): A Commercial Quality Assessment." Agronomy 10, no. 9: 1430.
Simplified soilless cultivation (SSC) systems have globally spread as growing solutions for low fertility soil regions, low availability of water irrigation, small areas and polluted environments. In the present study, four independent experiments were conducted for assessing the applicability of SSC in the northeast of Brazil (NE-Brazil) and the central dry zone of Myanmar (CDZ-Myanmar). In the first two experiments, the potentiality for lettuce crop production and water use efficiency (WUE) in an SSC system compared to traditional on-soil cultivation was addressed. Then, the definition of how main crop features (cultivar, nutrient solution concentration, system orientation and crop position) within the SSC system affect productivity was evidenced. The adoption of SSC improved yield (+35% and +72%, in NE-Brazil and CDZ-Myanmar) and WUE (7.7 and 2.7 times higher, in NE-Brazil and CDZ-Myanmar) as compared to traditional on-soil cultivation. In NE-Brazil, an eastern orientation of the system enabled achievement of higher yield for some selected lettuce cultivars. Furthermore, in both the considered contexts, a lower concentration of the nutrient solution (1.2 vs. 1.8 dS m−1) and an upper plant position within the SSC system enabled achievement of higher yield and WUE. The experiments validate the applicability of SSC technologies for lettuce cultivation in tropical areas.
Nicola Michelon; Giuseppina Pennisi; Nang Ohn Myint; Giacomo Dall’Olio; Lucrecia Pacheco Batista; Adeodato Ari Cavalcante Salviano; Nazim S. Gruda; Francesco Orsini; Giorgio Gianquinto. Strategies for Improved Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) through Simplified Soilless Cultivation under Semi-Arid Climate. Agronomy 2020, 10, 1379 .
AMA StyleNicola Michelon, Giuseppina Pennisi, Nang Ohn Myint, Giacomo Dall’Olio, Lucrecia Pacheco Batista, Adeodato Ari Cavalcante Salviano, Nazim S. Gruda, Francesco Orsini, Giorgio Gianquinto. Strategies for Improved Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) through Simplified Soilless Cultivation under Semi-Arid Climate. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (9):1379.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicola Michelon; Giuseppina Pennisi; Nang Ohn Myint; Giacomo Dall’Olio; Lucrecia Pacheco Batista; Adeodato Ari Cavalcante Salviano; Nazim S. Gruda; Francesco Orsini; Giorgio Gianquinto. 2020. "Strategies for Improved Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) through Simplified Soilless Cultivation under Semi-Arid Climate." Agronomy 10, no. 9: 1379.
In recent years, research on light emitting diodes (LEDs) has highlighted their great potential as a lighting system for plant growth, development and metabolism control. The suitability of LED devices for plant cultivation has turned the technology into a main component in controlled or closed plant-growing environments, experiencing an extremely fast development of horticulture LED metrics. In this context, the present study aims to provide an insight into the current global horticulture LED industry and the present features and potentialities for LEDs’ applications. An updated review of this industry has been integrated through a database compilation of 301 manufacturers and 1473 LED lighting systems for plant growth. The research identifies Europe (40%) and North America (29%) as the main regions for production. Additionally, the current LED luminaires’ lifespans show 10 and 30% losses of light output after 45,000 and 60,000 working hours on average, respectively, while the vast majority of worldwide LED lighting systems present efficacy values ranging from 2 to 3 μmol J−1 (70%). Thus, an update on the status of the horticultural LED sector, LEDs’ applications and metrics, and the intense innovation are described and discussed.
Ivan Paucek; Elisa Appolloni; Giuseppina Pennisi; Stefania Quaini; Giorgio Gianquinto; Francesco Orsini. LED Lighting Systems for Horticulture: Business Growth and Global Distribution. Sustainability 2020, 12, 7516 .
AMA StyleIvan Paucek, Elisa Appolloni, Giuseppina Pennisi, Stefania Quaini, Giorgio Gianquinto, Francesco Orsini. LED Lighting Systems for Horticulture: Business Growth and Global Distribution. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (18):7516.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIvan Paucek; Elisa Appolloni; Giuseppina Pennisi; Stefania Quaini; Giorgio Gianquinto; Francesco Orsini. 2020. "LED Lighting Systems for Horticulture: Business Growth and Global Distribution." Sustainability 12, no. 18: 7516.
In Northern Europe, the use of light–emitting diodes (LEDs) is widely adopted in protected horticulture, enabling to enhance plant growth by ensuring needed radiative fluxes throughout seasons. Contrarily, the use of artificial lighting in Mediterranean greenhouse still finds limited applications. In this study, the effects of supplemental LED interlighting on vegetative development, fruit growth, yield, and fruit quality of high-wire tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. ‘Siranzo’) during spring and summer season were addressed in a hydroponic greenhouse in Italy. Plants were either grown under natural solar radiation (control), or by adding supplemental LED interlighting. LED treatment featured red (R) and blue (B) light (RB ratio of 3) and a photosynthetic photon flux density of 170 µmol m−2 s−1 for 16 h d−1. Supplemental LED interlighting enhanced yield as a result of increased fruit weight and dimension. While no effects on soluble solids content and fruit color at harvesting were observed, supplemental LED interlighting accelerated ripening by one week in spring and two weeks in summer and this also resulted in increased cumulated productivity (+16%) as compared to control treatment. Overall, supplemental LED interlighting can represent a feasible technology for tomato greenhouse production also in the Mediterranean region.
Ivan Paucek; Giuseppina Pennisi; Alessandro Pistillo; Elisa Appolloni; Andrea Crepaldi; Barbara Calegari; Francesco Spinelli; Antonio Cellini; Xavier Gabarrell; Francesco Orsini; Giorgio Gianquinto. Supplementary LED Interlighting Improves Yield and Precocity of Greenhouse Tomatoes in the Mediterranean. Agronomy 2020, 10, 1002 .
AMA StyleIvan Paucek, Giuseppina Pennisi, Alessandro Pistillo, Elisa Appolloni, Andrea Crepaldi, Barbara Calegari, Francesco Spinelli, Antonio Cellini, Xavier Gabarrell, Francesco Orsini, Giorgio Gianquinto. Supplementary LED Interlighting Improves Yield and Precocity of Greenhouse Tomatoes in the Mediterranean. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (7):1002.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIvan Paucek; Giuseppina Pennisi; Alessandro Pistillo; Elisa Appolloni; Andrea Crepaldi; Barbara Calegari; Francesco Spinelli; Antonio Cellini; Xavier Gabarrell; Francesco Orsini; Giorgio Gianquinto. 2020. "Supplementary LED Interlighting Improves Yield and Precocity of Greenhouse Tomatoes in the Mediterranean." Agronomy 10, no. 7: 1002.
Soil salinization due to climate change and intensive use of water and soil is increasing exponentially. Cucurbitaceae species are cultivated worldwide and the identification of salinity tolerant genotypes to be used as rootstock or scion for securing yield stability in salt affected agricultural areas is a research priority. In the present greenhouse study, we assessed the response to salinity (0 mM a non-salt control and 150 mM NaCl dissolved in the nutrient solution) in the seedlings of 30 genotypes of cucurbits grown in a floating hydroponic system. The species tested included 16 genotypes of Cucumis melo L. (CM1-16), 6 Citrullus vulgaris Schrad. (CV1-6), 2 interspecific hybrids of Cucurbita maxima Duch. × Cucurbita moschata Duch. (CMM-R1 and 2), 4 bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. (LS1-4)), 1 Cucurbita moschata Duch. (CMO51-17), and 1 luffa (Luffa cylindrica Mill. (LC1)) species. Results highlighted different morphological and physiological traits between the species and genotypes and a different response to salt stress. We identified C. maxima × C.moscata interspecific hybrid CMM-R2, melon genotypes CM6, CM7, CM10, and CM16 together with watermelon genotypes CV2 and CV6 and bottle gourd LS4 as salt tolerant genotypes and possible candidates as salt resistant rootstock to be introduced in grafting programs.
Giuseppe Carlo Modarelli; Youssef Rouphael; Stefania De Pascale; Gölgen Bahar Öztekin; Yüksel Tüzel; Francesco Orsini; Giorgio Gianquinto. Appraisal of Salt Tolerance under Greenhouse Conditions of a Cucurbitaceae Genetic Repository of Potential Rootstocks and Scions. Agronomy 2020, 10, 967 .
AMA StyleGiuseppe Carlo Modarelli, Youssef Rouphael, Stefania De Pascale, Gölgen Bahar Öztekin, Yüksel Tüzel, Francesco Orsini, Giorgio Gianquinto. Appraisal of Salt Tolerance under Greenhouse Conditions of a Cucurbitaceae Genetic Repository of Potential Rootstocks and Scions. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (7):967.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiuseppe Carlo Modarelli; Youssef Rouphael; Stefania De Pascale; Gölgen Bahar Öztekin; Yüksel Tüzel; Francesco Orsini; Giorgio Gianquinto. 2020. "Appraisal of Salt Tolerance under Greenhouse Conditions of a Cucurbitaceae Genetic Repository of Potential Rootstocks and Scions." Agronomy 10, no. 7: 967.
Water use efficiency is a main research target in agriculture, which consumes 70% of global freshwater. This study aimed at identifying sustainable water management strategies for the lettuce crop in a semi-arid climate. Three independent experiments were carried out on a commercial variety of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) by applying different irrigation levels based on crop evapotranspiration (ETc), estimated through both the Hargreaves–Samani and Penman–Monteith equations. In the first experiment, one treatment was also guided by soil moisture sensors. In the second and third experiments, a factorial combination was used, combining the different irrigation levels with two soil mulching treatments, namely soil without mulch, and soil mulched with dried rice straw residues. The application of different irrigation levels significantly affected plant growth, yield, and physiology. Both the adoption of sensors for guiding irrigation and the application of mulching with straw promoted higher yield. As the irrigation water level was reduced, the WUE (water use efficiency) increased. WUE was also increased by covering the soil with mulch. The experiments point out that accurate management of irrigation water using a drip irrigation system associated with soil mulching increases yield and improves the WUE of lettuce crops in the Central Dry Zone, Myanmar.
Nicola Michelon; Giuseppina Pennisi; Nang Ohn Myint; Francesco Orsini; Giorgio Gianquinto. Strategies for Improved Water Use Efficiency (WUE) of Field-Grown Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) under a Semi-Arid Climate. Agronomy 2020, 10, 668 .
AMA StyleNicola Michelon, Giuseppina Pennisi, Nang Ohn Myint, Francesco Orsini, Giorgio Gianquinto. Strategies for Improved Water Use Efficiency (WUE) of Field-Grown Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) under a Semi-Arid Climate. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (5):668.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicola Michelon; Giuseppina Pennisi; Nang Ohn Myint; Francesco Orsini; Giorgio Gianquinto. 2020. "Strategies for Improved Water Use Efficiency (WUE) of Field-Grown Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) under a Semi-Arid Climate." Agronomy 10, no. 5: 668.
Canopy reflectance sensors are a viable technology to optimize the fertilization management of crops. In this research, canopy reflectance was measured through a passive sensor to evaluate the effects of either crop features (N fertilization, soil mulching, appearance of red fruits, and cultivars) or sampling methods (sampling size, sensor position, and hour of sampling) on the reliability of vegetation indices (VIs). Sixteen VIs were derived, including seven simple wavelength reflectance ratios (NIR/R460, NIR/R510, NIR/R560, NIR/R610, NIR/R660, NIR/R710, NIR/R760), seven normalized indices (NDVI, G-NDVI, MCARISAVI, OSAVI, TSAVI, TCARI), and two combined indices (TCARI/OSAVI; MCARI/OSAVI). NIR/560 and G-NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index on Greenness) were the most reliable in discriminating among fertilization rates, with results unaffected by the appearance of maturing fruits, and the most stable in response to different cultivars. Black mulching film did not affect NIR/560 and G-NDVI behavior at the beginning of the growing season, when the crop is more responsive to N management. Due to a moderate variability of NIR/560 and G-NDVI, a small sample size (5–10 observations) is sufficient to obtain reliable measurements. Performing the measurements at 11:00 and 14:00 and maintaining a greater distance (1.8 m) between plants and instrument enhanced measurement consistency. Accordingly, NIR/560 and G-NDVI resulted in the most reliable VIs.
Giorgio Gianquinto; Francesco Orsini; Giuseppina Pennisi; Stefano Bona. Sources of Variation in Assessing Canopy Reflectance of Processing Tomato by Means of Multispectral Radiometry. Sensors 2019, 19, 4730 .
AMA StyleGiorgio Gianquinto, Francesco Orsini, Giuseppina Pennisi, Stefano Bona. Sources of Variation in Assessing Canopy Reflectance of Processing Tomato by Means of Multispectral Radiometry. Sensors. 2019; 19 (21):4730.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiorgio Gianquinto; Francesco Orsini; Giuseppina Pennisi; Stefano Bona. 2019. "Sources of Variation in Assessing Canopy Reflectance of Processing Tomato by Means of Multispectral Radiometry." Sensors 19, no. 21: 4730.
Compared to rural agriculture, urban agriculture (UA) has some distinct features (e.g., the limited land access, alternative growing media, unique legal environments or the non-production-related missions) that encourage the development of new practices, i.e., “novelties” or “innovations”. This paper aims to (1) identify the “triggers” for novelty production in UA; (2) characterize the different kinds of novelties applied in UA; (3) evaluate the “innovativeness” of those social, environmental and economic novelties; and, (4) estimate the links between novelties and sustainability. The study was based on the evaluation of 11 case studies in four Western European countries (Italy, Germany, France and Spain). The results show that the trigger and origin of new activities can often be traced back to specific problems that initiators were intended to address or solve. In total, we found 147 novelties produced in the 11 case studies. More novelties are produced in the environmental and social dimensions of sustainability than in the economic. In most cases, external stakeholders played an important role in supporting the projects. The analysis further suggests that innovativeness enhances the overall sustainability in urban agriculture projects.
Esther Sanyé-Mengual; Kathrin Specht; Erofili Grapsa; Francesco Orsini; Giorgio Gianquinto. How Can Innovation in Urban Agriculture Contribute to Sustainability? A Characterization and Evaluation Study from Five Western European Cities. Sustainability 2019, 11, 4221 .
AMA StyleEsther Sanyé-Mengual, Kathrin Specht, Erofili Grapsa, Francesco Orsini, Giorgio Gianquinto. How Can Innovation in Urban Agriculture Contribute to Sustainability? A Characterization and Evaluation Study from Five Western European Cities. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (15):4221.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEsther Sanyé-Mengual; Kathrin Specht; Erofili Grapsa; Francesco Orsini; Giorgio Gianquinto. 2019. "How Can Innovation in Urban Agriculture Contribute to Sustainability? A Characterization and Evaluation Study from Five Western European Cities." Sustainability 11, no. 15: 4221.
Notwithstanding that indoor farming is claimed to reduce the environmental pressures of food systems, electricity needs are elevated and mainly associated with lighting. To date, however, no studies have quantified the environmental and economic profile of Light Emitting Diodes (LED) lighting in indoor farming systems. The goal of this study is to quantify the effect of varying the red (R) and blue (B) LED spectral components (RB ratios of 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 4) on the eco-efficiency of indoor production of lettuce, chicory, rocket and sweet basil from a life cycle perspective. The functional unit of the assessment was 1 kg of harvested fresh plant edible product, and the International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) method was employed for impact assessment. Even though most of the materials of the LED lamp and electronic elements were imported from long distances (14,400 km), electricity consumption was the largest contributor to the environmental impacts (with the LED lamps being the main electricity consumers, approximately 70%), apart from the resources use indicator, where the materials of the lamps and the mineral nutrients were also relevant. RB0.5 was the most energy-efficient light treatment but had the lowest eco-efficiency scores due to the lower crop yields.
Giuseppina Pennisi; Esther Sanyé-Mengual; Francesco Orsini; Andrea Crepaldi; Silvana Nicola; Jesús Ochoa; Juan Fernandez; Giorgio Gianquinto. Modelling Environmental Burdens of Indoor-Grown Vegetables and Herbs as Affected by Red and Blue LED Lighting. Sustainability 2019, 11, 4063 .
AMA StyleGiuseppina Pennisi, Esther Sanyé-Mengual, Francesco Orsini, Andrea Crepaldi, Silvana Nicola, Jesús Ochoa, Juan Fernandez, Giorgio Gianquinto. Modelling Environmental Burdens of Indoor-Grown Vegetables and Herbs as Affected by Red and Blue LED Lighting. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (15):4063.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiuseppina Pennisi; Esther Sanyé-Mengual; Francesco Orsini; Andrea Crepaldi; Silvana Nicola; Jesús Ochoa; Juan Fernandez; Giorgio Gianquinto. 2019. "Modelling Environmental Burdens of Indoor-Grown Vegetables and Herbs as Affected by Red and Blue LED Lighting." Sustainability 11, no. 15: 4063.
Urban gardens are spreading in many cities across Europe, with community gardening being a fundamental form of urban agriculture. While the literature reveals the essential role that community gardens can play in terms of learning and education, no studies have investigated the training needs for participants in community gardens to ensure their successful development. The goal of this article is to evaluate the training requirements of urban community gardens to ensure their successful implementation and their contribution to sustainability in European cities. Two questionnaires of users’ needs analysis were designed and implemented in Berlin, Bologna, Budapest, and Cartagena. The results unveiled the need to re-enforce the training in the formation and community building phases of community gardens towards ensuring the creation of an engaged gardening community to maintain activity, particularly for top-down activities (e.g., research-related gardens). Users claimed their need for being trained on crop management skills (e.g., maintenance, bed preparation, organic practices) and on communication skills to further disseminate their activity, thereby increasing the potential for citizen engagement. Such requirements could be overcome with the creation of urban gardens networks, where experiences and knowledge are shared among practitioners. Policy recommendations are provided based on the outputs of this study.
Jesus Ochoa; Esther Sanyé-Mengual; Kathrin Specht; Juan A. Fernández; Sebastián Bañón; Francesco Orsini; Francesca Magrefi; Giovanni Bazzocchi; Severin Halder; Doerte Martens; Noemi Kappel; Giorgio Gianquinto. Sustainable Community Gardens Require Social Engagement and Training: A Users’ Needs Analysis in Europe. Sustainability 2019, 11, 3978 .
AMA StyleJesus Ochoa, Esther Sanyé-Mengual, Kathrin Specht, Juan A. Fernández, Sebastián Bañón, Francesco Orsini, Francesca Magrefi, Giovanni Bazzocchi, Severin Halder, Doerte Martens, Noemi Kappel, Giorgio Gianquinto. Sustainable Community Gardens Require Social Engagement and Training: A Users’ Needs Analysis in Europe. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (14):3978.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJesus Ochoa; Esther Sanyé-Mengual; Kathrin Specht; Juan A. Fernández; Sebastián Bañón; Francesco Orsini; Francesca Magrefi; Giovanni Bazzocchi; Severin Halder; Doerte Martens; Noemi Kappel; Giorgio Gianquinto. 2019. "Sustainable Community Gardens Require Social Engagement and Training: A Users’ Needs Analysis in Europe." Sustainability 11, no. 14: 3978.
In the context of climate change and population growth, aquaculture plays an important role for food security, employment and economic development. Intensive recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) allow to treat and recycle fish effluents to reduce waste concentration in outflow water thereby reducing environmental contamination. RAS sustainability may be further improved using aquaponics, a circular productive system in which RAS wastewater is recovered for crop cultivation and recycled back to the fish tanks. In this study, water metabolism of a catfish RAS was assessed and the opportunity to produce lettuce with the RAS effluent was tested. Crop growth and water consumption in aquaponics were compared to those experienced in hydroponics at three nutrient solution concentration (EC of 1.6, 2.0 and 3.0 dS∙m−1), also considering water- (WUE) and nitrogen- use efficiency (NUE). A scenario for converting the RAS in a catfish-lettuce aquaponic system was, then, proposed. The RAS water balance included an input of 555 L∙day−1, out of which 32 L∙day−1 were lost by evaporation from the tubs whereas 460 L∙day−1 were discarded. The lettuce yield, NUE and WUE in aquaponics were respectively 20.3%, 22.3% and 20.6% lower than those obtained in hydroponics. Best performances in hydroponics were achieved with EC of 2.0 dS m−1. No difference in term of water consumption arose between the treatments, with average water use of 46 mL∙plant−1∙day−1. Considering the current RAS productivity of 329 kg year−1, a 10 m2 raft system hosting 160 lettuces would satisfy the nitrogen filtration demand. Once closed the water loop between the two productive sub-units, the current water input of 532 L∙day−1 could be reduced to the amount needed to replace the water lost by evaporation (50 L∙day−1) and the RAS water output would decrease from 555 to 103 L∙day−1.
R. Calone; G. Pennisi; R. Morgenstern; E. Sanyé-Mengual; W. Lorleberg; P. Dapprich; P. Winkler; F. Orsini; G. Gianquinto. Improving water management in European catfish recirculating aquaculture systems through catfish-lettuce aquaponics. Science of The Total Environment 2019, 687, 759 -767.
AMA StyleR. Calone, G. Pennisi, R. Morgenstern, E. Sanyé-Mengual, W. Lorleberg, P. Dapprich, P. Winkler, F. Orsini, G. Gianquinto. Improving water management in European catfish recirculating aquaculture systems through catfish-lettuce aquaponics. Science of The Total Environment. 2019; 687 ():759-767.
Chicago/Turabian StyleR. Calone; G. Pennisi; R. Morgenstern; E. Sanyé-Mengual; W. Lorleberg; P. Dapprich; P. Winkler; F. Orsini; G. Gianquinto. 2019. "Improving water management in European catfish recirculating aquaculture systems through catfish-lettuce aquaponics." Science of The Total Environment 687, no. : 759-767.
Indoor plant cultivation can result in significantly improved resource use efficiency (surface, water, and nutrients) as compared to traditional growing systems, but illumination costs are still high. LEDs (light emitting diodes) are gaining attention for indoor cultivation because of their ability to provide light of different spectra. In the light spectrum, red and blue regions are often considered the major plants’ energy sources for photosynthetic CO2 assimilation. This study aims at identifying the role played by red:blue (R:B) ratio on the resource use efficiency of indoor basil cultivation, linking the physiological response to light to changes in yield and nutritional properties. Basil plants were cultivated in growth chambers under five LED light regimens characterized by different R:B ratios ranging from 0.5 to 4 (respectively, RB0.5, RB1, RB2, RB3, and RB4), using fluorescent lamps as control (CK1). A photosynthetic photon flux density of 215 μmol m−2 s−1 was provided for 16 h per day. The greatest biomass production was associated with LED lighting as compared with fluorescent lamp. Despite a reduction in both stomatal conductance and PSII quantum efficiency, adoption of RB3 resulted in higher yield and chlorophyll content, leading to improved use efficiency for water and energy. Antioxidant activity followed a spectral-response function, with optimum associated with RB3. A low RB ratio (0.5) reduced the relative content of several volatiles, as compared to CK1 and RB ≥ 2. Moreover, mineral leaf concentration (g g−1 DW) and total content in plant (g plant−1) were influences by light quality, resulting in greater N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and Fe accumulation in plants cultivated with RB3. Contrarily, nutrient use efficiency was increased in RB ≤ 1. From this study it can be concluded that a RB ratio of 3 provides optimal growing conditions for indoor cultivation of basil, fostering improved performances in terms of growth, physiological and metabolic functions, and resources use efficiency.
Giuseppina Pennisi; Sonia Blasioli; Antonio Cellini; Lorenzo Maia; Andrea Crepaldi; Ilaria Braschi; Francesco Spinelli; Silvana Nicola; Juan A. Fernández; Cecilia Stanghellini; Leo F. M. Marcelis; Francesco Orsini; Giorgio Prosdocimi Gianquinto. Unraveling the Role of Red:Blue LED Lights on Resource Use Efficiency and Nutritional Properties of Indoor Grown Sweet Basil. Frontiers in Plant Science 2019, 10, 305 .
AMA StyleGiuseppina Pennisi, Sonia Blasioli, Antonio Cellini, Lorenzo Maia, Andrea Crepaldi, Ilaria Braschi, Francesco Spinelli, Silvana Nicola, Juan A. Fernández, Cecilia Stanghellini, Leo F. M. Marcelis, Francesco Orsini, Giorgio Prosdocimi Gianquinto. Unraveling the Role of Red:Blue LED Lights on Resource Use Efficiency and Nutritional Properties of Indoor Grown Sweet Basil. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2019; 10 ():305.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiuseppina Pennisi; Sonia Blasioli; Antonio Cellini; Lorenzo Maia; Andrea Crepaldi; Ilaria Braschi; Francesco Spinelli; Silvana Nicola; Juan A. Fernández; Cecilia Stanghellini; Leo F. M. Marcelis; Francesco Orsini; Giorgio Prosdocimi Gianquinto. 2019. "Unraveling the Role of Red:Blue LED Lights on Resource Use Efficiency and Nutritional Properties of Indoor Grown Sweet Basil." Frontiers in Plant Science 10, no. : 305.
Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.) requires large amounts of nitrogen (N) fertilizer to produce high yields. The intercropping of cauliflower with a leguminous species may help farmers to reduce N fertilizer rates, production costs and environmental pollution. Moreover, the recycling of crop residues can contribute to the nutritional support of subsequent crops in a rotation. In this study, cauliflower was cultivated in year one either alone or intercropped with annual clover (Trifolium resupinatum L.), using four N fertilization rates: 0, 75, 150, and 300 kg N ha−1 (referred to as N0, N1, N2, and N3 respectively). Following crop residue incorporation in year two, iceberg lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. capitata (L.) Janchen) was cropped on the same field without the supply of N fertilizer to assess the effect of cauliflower and clover residues as well as of residual N fertilizer rates on the growth and N uptake of lettuce. The presence of clover did not affect the marketable yields of the intercropped cauliflower, which were similar to the cauliflower sole-cropped. The N1 and N2 fertilizer rates maximized both growth and N uptake of the intercropped cauliflower, while with the N3, crop development was limited. In the N0 plot, the legume competed for N and depressed growth and N absorption of cauliflower. The sole-cropped cauliflower was, on the contrary, unaffected by the N fertilizer rates. The iceberg lettuce cultivated in succession benefited from the presence of clover in plots N1 and N2. When succeeded to the sole-cropped cauliflower, however, the iceberg lettuce produced less biomass and absorbed less N. Results from this study suggest that the intercropping system cauliflower-clover can be a sustainable tool to optimize N input and reduce N fertilizer requirements for the successive crop.
Marco Tempesta; Giorgio Gianquinto; Markus Hauser; Massimo Tagliavini. Optimization of nitrogen nutrition of cauliflower intercropped with clover and in rotation with lettuce. Scientia Horticulturae 2018, 246, 734 -740.
AMA StyleMarco Tempesta, Giorgio Gianquinto, Markus Hauser, Massimo Tagliavini. Optimization of nitrogen nutrition of cauliflower intercropped with clover and in rotation with lettuce. Scientia Horticulturae. 2018; 246 ():734-740.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarco Tempesta; Giorgio Gianquinto; Markus Hauser; Massimo Tagliavini. 2018. "Optimization of nitrogen nutrition of cauliflower intercropped with clover and in rotation with lettuce." Scientia Horticulturae 246, no. : 734-740.
E. Sanyé-Mengual; R. Kahane; G. Gianquinto; E. Geoffriau. Evaluating the current state of rooftop agriculture in Western Europe: categories and implementation constraints. Acta Horticulturae 2018, 325 -332.
AMA StyleE. Sanyé-Mengual, R. Kahane, G. Gianquinto, E. Geoffriau. Evaluating the current state of rooftop agriculture in Western Europe: categories and implementation constraints. Acta Horticulturae. 2018; (1215):325-332.
Chicago/Turabian StyleE. Sanyé-Mengual; R. Kahane; G. Gianquinto; E. Geoffriau. 2018. "Evaluating the current state of rooftop agriculture in Western Europe: categories and implementation constraints." Acta Horticulturae , no. 1215: 325-332.
F. Magrefi; E. Geoffriau; R. Kahane; B. Pölling; F. Orsini; G. Pennisi; G. Bazzocchi; H. Renting; F. Hoekstra; R. Morgenstern; M. Dubbeling; W. Lorleberg; G. Gianquinto. Training pioneering entrepreneurs in urban agriculture: a model of curriculum based on the URBAN GREEN TRAIN project experience. Acta Horticulturae 2018, 433 -438.
AMA StyleF. Magrefi, E. Geoffriau, R. Kahane, B. Pölling, F. Orsini, G. Pennisi, G. Bazzocchi, H. Renting, F. Hoekstra, R. Morgenstern, M. Dubbeling, W. Lorleberg, G. Gianquinto. Training pioneering entrepreneurs in urban agriculture: a model of curriculum based on the URBAN GREEN TRAIN project experience. Acta Horticulturae. 2018; (1215):433-438.
Chicago/Turabian StyleF. Magrefi; E. Geoffriau; R. Kahane; B. Pölling; F. Orsini; G. Pennisi; G. Bazzocchi; H. Renting; F. Hoekstra; R. Morgenstern; M. Dubbeling; W. Lorleberg; G. Gianquinto. 2018. "Training pioneering entrepreneurs in urban agriculture: a model of curriculum based on the URBAN GREEN TRAIN project experience." Acta Horticulturae , no. 1215: 433-438.
Urban agriculture has become a common form of urban land use in European cities linked to multiple environmental, social and economic benefits, as well as to diversified forms (from self-production allotments to high-tech companies). Social acceptance will determine the development of urban agriculture and specific knowledge on citizens’ perception is required in order to set the basis for policy-making and planning. The ecosystem services provided by urban agriculture can be determinant in this process. The goal of this paper is to evaluate the social acceptance and the perceived ecosystem services of urban agriculture in the city of Bologna (Italy), as an example of a Southern European city. In particular, we evaluated the preferences for urban land uses, for different typologies of urban agriculture and for the resulting products, the perceived provision of ecosystem services and the willingness to engage in new initiatives. A survey that investigated these topics (including open questions, closed questions and Likert-scale evaluation) was performed on the citizens of Bologna (n = 380) between October and November 2016. Results showed that urban agriculture is widely accepted by the inhabitants of Bologna, particularly regarding vegetable production. Although intensive farming systems were the least preferred forms to be implemented in Bologna, citizens highly accepted a large variety of urban agriculture goods, with preference for those obtained from plants as compared to animal products. The willingness-to-pay for urban food products was mostly the same as for conventional ones, although the participants recognised the social values, proximity and quality of the former. Socio-cultural ecosystem services were perceived as more valuable than environmental ones. Policy-making recommendations can be extracted from the results to facilitate the development of urban agriculture plans and policies.
Esther Sanyé-Mengual; Kathrin Specht; Thomas Krikser; Caterina Vanni; Giuseppina Pennisi; Francesco Orsini; Giorgio Prosdocimi Gianquinto. Social acceptance and perceived ecosystem services of urban agriculture in Southern Europe: The case of Bologna, Italy. PLoS ONE 2018, 13, e0200993 .
AMA StyleEsther Sanyé-Mengual, Kathrin Specht, Thomas Krikser, Caterina Vanni, Giuseppina Pennisi, Francesco Orsini, Giorgio Prosdocimi Gianquinto. Social acceptance and perceived ecosystem services of urban agriculture in Southern Europe: The case of Bologna, Italy. PLoS ONE. 2018; 13 (9):e0200993.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEsther Sanyé-Mengual; Kathrin Specht; Thomas Krikser; Caterina Vanni; Giuseppina Pennisi; Francesco Orsini; Giorgio Prosdocimi Gianquinto. 2018. "Social acceptance and perceived ecosystem services of urban agriculture in Southern Europe: The case of Bologna, Italy." PLoS ONE 13, no. 9: e0200993.
Urban Food Production (UFP) initiatives are expanding worldwide to enhance urban food production while contributing to the development of sustainable cities in a three-bottom perspective (environment, society, economy). Although the sustainability aspects of UFS have been addressed in the literature, there is a need to set a sustainability framework for UFP based on the concepts and the understanding of the stakeholders as a basis for quantifying their sustainability and for developing effective policy-making. This paper evaluates the concepts of the UFP sustainability from a stakeholders’ perspective through participatory methods and network analyses. Two different workshops were organized in the city of Bologna (Italy), where mind-mapping exercises to define the environmental, economic and social sustainability elements of UFP were performed. This bottom-up approach unveiled a comprehensive and complex vision of sustainable UFP, the relevance of certain sustainability elements and key aspects to take into consideration for the development of UFP and effective policy-making. The existence of bidimensional and tridimensional concepts indicated priorities, synergies and trade-offs among the dimensions of sustainability. The multi-scalar nature of UFP suggested that specific policies can be supported by global schemes (e.g., Sustainable Development Goals) and that UFP can be a local tool for democracy and equity at lower scales.
Esther Sanyé-Mengual; Francesco Orsini; Giorgio Gianquinto. Revisiting the Sustainability Concept of Urban Food Production from a Stakeholders’ Perspective. Sustainability 2018, 10, 2175 .
AMA StyleEsther Sanyé-Mengual, Francesco Orsini, Giorgio Gianquinto. Revisiting the Sustainability Concept of Urban Food Production from a Stakeholders’ Perspective. Sustainability. 2018; 10 (7):2175.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEsther Sanyé-Mengual; Francesco Orsini; Giorgio Gianquinto. 2018. "Revisiting the Sustainability Concept of Urban Food Production from a Stakeholders’ Perspective." Sustainability 10, no. 7: 2175.