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Superabsorbent hydrogels (SAHs) are three-dimensional cross-linked polymeric network, with the ability to absorb large quantities of water (or other fluids), keep their network stable even in the swollen state and release the water in response to specific environmental stimuli. In last decades, several SAHs have been developed and studied for their potential to improve soil physical properties for agricultural purposes, e. g. by increasing their ability to retain water, increasing the efficiency of water use, increasing the absorption capacity or promoting the uptake of nutrients by the plant. Although various studies have shown that SAHs can contribute to soil microstructural stability and improve soil-water interactions in general, the specific impact of water content on the hydrogel effect in soil remains largely unclear. Specifically, the SAH effects needs to be inquired in dynamic water content conditions.
The aim of this study was to evaluate how the water content affects soil-water-hydrogel interactions in different soils (i.e. sandy, loamy and silty soils). Two different SAHs were studied, a polyacrylamide and a self-made cellulose-based SAH added with humic acids. Untreated and SAH-treated (4 mg g−1) samples were analysed for soil water retention and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity coupling the Wind method (−1 to −80 kPa) with WP4-T dew point (-3000 to 15000 kPa). SAH deswelling dynamic was evaluated measuring the sample volume change from −1 to −7 kPa potential. Volume was measured reconstructing the 3D shape of the soil sample employing a 3D Point Cloud Reconstruction software.
Soil-SAH mixtures changed the water retention characteristics if compared to the controls. SAHs significantly increased the water entrapment and altered the pore-size distribution according to the soil types. It can be hypothesized that in the soil-SAH mixtures there was a texture-dependent rearrangement of soil particles, depending on the various interactions between hydrogel structures and soil constituents as a function of water content. These findings demonstrated the potential of SAHs to advantageously modify the soil hydraulic characteristics, but also showed that further studies are needed to better comprehend the behaviour of hydrogels in dynamic water content conditions in different soils.
Carlo Camarotto; Sara Pozza; Ilaria Piccoli; Giacomo Guerrini; Francesco Morari. Studying hydraulic characteristics of three soils amended with superabsorbent hydrogels. 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleCarlo Camarotto, Sara Pozza, Ilaria Piccoli, Giacomo Guerrini, Francesco Morari. Studying hydraulic characteristics of three soils amended with superabsorbent hydrogels. . 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCarlo Camarotto; Sara Pozza; Ilaria Piccoli; Giacomo Guerrini; Francesco Morari. 2020. "Studying hydraulic characteristics of three soils amended with superabsorbent hydrogels." , no. : 1.
Hydrogels (HGs) are conventionally defined as a natural or synthetic polymeric 3D networks with high hygroscopicity and water-swelling properties. Over the decades, HGs have been widely utilized in various fields of cosmetics, food additives, tissue engineering, drug delivery, and pharmaceuticals. Only recently HGs have been studied also for agronomic purpose. Indeed, their unique physical properties, including their porosity and swellability, make them ideal platforms for water and nutrient delivering. The aim of this study was to investigate the potentialities of two HGs, one formed by polyacrylamide and one by cellulose added with clay and humic acids, for improving soil porosity of three soil types (sandy “SD”, silty “SL” and clay “CL”). Soil pore network was characterized with X-ray computed microtomography (µCT) at 50 µm resolution and subsequent image analysis measuring total porosity (TP), pore size distribution (PSD), mean diameter (MD), connectivity density and degree of anisotropy. Soil samples were at first saturated and then dried trough freezing and drying cycles with acetone at -80°c.
Preliminary results showed that at water saturation HG increased TP of four- and two-fold, respectively for SL and CL soil, MD of 40 (SD), 519 (SL) and 164 µm (CL) while no effects were found on other pore architecture indices (e.g., connectivity or anisotropy). The PSD analysis highlighted that HG increased the macroporosity fraction (e.g., pore > 0.8 mm) only in SL (+36%) and CL (+11%) while the other pore classes were not affected. Present study demonstrated that in fine-textured soils at high water content, HG might be a valuable tool to increase not simply the TP but, in particular, the macroporosity fraction which may play a key role in soil functioning and ecosystem services. Future research will investigate the HG performances under dynamic soil moisture conditions on water holding capacity and hydraulic conductivity (Research supported by Fondazione CARIPARO, InnoGel, Progetti Eccellenza 2017).
Ilaria Piccoli; Pozza Sara; Carlo Camarotto; Andrea Squartini; Giacomo Guerrini; Francesco Morari. Investigating hydrogel potentialities for improving soil pore network by using X-ray computed microtomography. 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleIlaria Piccoli, Pozza Sara, Carlo Camarotto, Andrea Squartini, Giacomo Guerrini, Francesco Morari. Investigating hydrogel potentialities for improving soil pore network by using X-ray computed microtomography. . 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIlaria Piccoli; Pozza Sara; Carlo Camarotto; Andrea Squartini; Giacomo Guerrini; Francesco Morari. 2020. "Investigating hydrogel potentialities for improving soil pore network by using X-ray computed microtomography." , no. : 1.
Increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in agricultural soils is currently of special interest because it can help mitigate global warming through atmospheric carbon (C) sequestration. Recommended management practices, such as conservation agriculture (CA) and conventional tillage with cover crops (CC), could have significant implications for C sequestration potential. A field experiment was carried out in Northeast Italy to compare the implementation of CA and CC with conventional agriculture (CV). The experiment began in 2010 on three farms to evaluate SOC stock variation over a 6‐yr period. Two extensive soil sampling operations were conducted in 2011 and 2017 in 240 locations, for a total of 1,440 analysed soil samples, considering the SOC stratification within a 0–50 cm profile. The results suggested that CA changed the SOC distribution rather than the total amount of SOC. Compared to CV, after the introduction of CA, a general increase in SOC (0.25 Mg C ha−1 y−1) was observed in the 0–30 cm layer, while no stock variation was observed in the 0–50 cm layer. In contrast, compared to CV, the use of CC decreased the SOC stocks by 0.74 Mg C ha−1 y−1 in the 0–50 cm layer. Over a 6‐yr period, no benefit in SOC sequestration was observed with CA and CC. However, we hypothesise that these findings could still be affected by transitory dynamics, highlighting the low soil reactivity to soil‐improving agricultural systems. A longer study period would be required to better understand the potential benefits of CA and CC on SOC sequestration. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Carlo Camarotto; Ilaria Piccoli; Nicola Dal Ferro; Riccardo Polese; Francesca Chiarini; Lorenzo Furlan; Francesco Morari. Have we reached the turning point? Looking for evidence of SOC increase under conservation agriculture and cover crop practices. European Journal of Soil Science 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleCarlo Camarotto, Ilaria Piccoli, Nicola Dal Ferro, Riccardo Polese, Francesca Chiarini, Lorenzo Furlan, Francesco Morari. Have we reached the turning point? Looking for evidence of SOC increase under conservation agriculture and cover crop practices. European Journal of Soil Science. 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCarlo Camarotto; Ilaria Piccoli; Nicola Dal Ferro; Riccardo Polese; Francesca Chiarini; Lorenzo Furlan; Francesco Morari. 2020. "Have we reached the turning point? Looking for evidence of SOC increase under conservation agriculture and cover crop practices." European Journal of Soil Science , no. : 1.
A transition from conventional to more sustainable soil management measures (SMMs) is required to reverse the current soil organic matter (SOM) losses in the agroecosystems. Despite the innovations and technologies that are available to prevent SOM decline, top–down knowledge transfer schemes that incentivize a certain measure are often ineffective. Here, we discuss relevant outcomes from a participatory approach where researchers, farmers, practitioners and government officials have discussed opportunities and barriers around SMM application to prevent SOM decline. Within a series of workshops, stakeholders identified, scored, and selected SMMs to field-tests and evaluated the benefits and drawbacks from their application. Results showed that the stakeholders recognized the need for innovations, although they valued the most promising SMM as already available continuous soil cover and conservation agriculture. In contrast, more innovative SMMs, such as biochar use and the variable rate application of organic amendments through precision farming, were the least valued, suggesting that people’s resistance to new technologies is often governed by the socio-cultural perception of them that goes beyond the economic and technological aspects. The valuation of benefits and drawbacks by stakeholders on trialed measures emphasized that stakeholders’ perspective about soil management is a combination of economic, environmental, and socio-cultural aspects, thus corroborating the need for transdisciplinary bottom–up approaches to prevent SOM depletion and increase soil rehabilitation and SOM content.
Nicola Dal Ferro; Carlo Camarotto; Ilaria Piccoli; Antonio Berti; Jane Mills; Francesco Morari. Stakeholder Perspectives to Prevent Soil Organic Matter Decline in Northeastern Italy. Sustainability 2020, 12, 378 .
AMA StyleNicola Dal Ferro, Carlo Camarotto, Ilaria Piccoli, Antonio Berti, Jane Mills, Francesco Morari. Stakeholder Perspectives to Prevent Soil Organic Matter Decline in Northeastern Italy. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (1):378.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicola Dal Ferro; Carlo Camarotto; Ilaria Piccoli; Antonio Berti; Jane Mills; Francesco Morari. 2020. "Stakeholder Perspectives to Prevent Soil Organic Matter Decline in Northeastern Italy." Sustainability 12, no. 1: 378.
Only a few studies have quantified and measured ecosystem services (ES) specifically related to soil. To address this gap, we have developed and applied a methodology to assess changes in ecosystem services, based on measured or estimated soil property changes that were stimulated by soil management measures (e.g., mulching, terracing, no-till). We applied the ES assessment methodology in 16 case study sites across Europe representing a high diversity of soil threats and land use systems. Various prevention and remediation measures were trialled, and the changes in manageable soil and other natural capital properties were measured and quantified. An Excel tool facilitated data collection, calculation of changes in ecosystem services, and visualization of measured short-term changes and estimated long-term changes at plot level and for the wider area. With this methodology, we were able to successfully collect and compare data on the impact of land management on 15 different ecosystem services from 26 different measures. Overall, the results are positive in terms of the impacts of the trialled measures on ecosystem services, with 18 out of 26 measures having no decrease in any service at the plot level. Although methodological challenges remain, the ES assessment was shown to be a comprehensive evaluation of the impacts of the trialled measures, and also served as an input to a stakeholder valuation of ecosystem services at local and sub-national levels.
Gudrun Schwilch; Tatenda Lemann; Örjan Berglund; Carlo Camarotto; Artemi Cerdà; Ioannis Daliakopoulos; Silvia Kohnová; Dominika Krzeminska; Teodoro Marañón; René Rietra; Grzegorz Siebielec; Johann Thorsson; Mark Tibbett; Sandra Valente; Hedwig Van Delden; Jan Van Den Akker; Simone Verzandvoort; Nicoleta Vrînceanu; Christos Zoumides; Rudi Hessel. Assessing Impacts of Soil Management Measures on Ecosystem Services. Sustainability 2018, 10, 4416 .
AMA StyleGudrun Schwilch, Tatenda Lemann, Örjan Berglund, Carlo Camarotto, Artemi Cerdà, Ioannis Daliakopoulos, Silvia Kohnová, Dominika Krzeminska, Teodoro Marañón, René Rietra, Grzegorz Siebielec, Johann Thorsson, Mark Tibbett, Sandra Valente, Hedwig Van Delden, Jan Van Den Akker, Simone Verzandvoort, Nicoleta Vrînceanu, Christos Zoumides, Rudi Hessel. Assessing Impacts of Soil Management Measures on Ecosystem Services. Sustainability. 2018; 10 (12):4416.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGudrun Schwilch; Tatenda Lemann; Örjan Berglund; Carlo Camarotto; Artemi Cerdà; Ioannis Daliakopoulos; Silvia Kohnová; Dominika Krzeminska; Teodoro Marañón; René Rietra; Grzegorz Siebielec; Johann Thorsson; Mark Tibbett; Sandra Valente; Hedwig Van Delden; Jan Van Den Akker; Simone Verzandvoort; Nicoleta Vrînceanu; Christos Zoumides; Rudi Hessel. 2018. "Assessing Impacts of Soil Management Measures on Ecosystem Services." Sustainability 10, no. 12: 4416.
Sustainable land management (SLM) practices, aimed at balancing competitive agricultural production and environmental protection, have been encouraged throughout the EU through policy and subsidisation. Adoption of SLM practices that regulate biogeochemical cycles requires further study, especially given the effects of local pedo-climatic variability. Conservation agriculture (CA) and cover cropping (CC) as opposed to conventional agriculture (CV), were carried out in field experiments and evaluated with modelling studies in order to mitigate the loss of soil organic carbon (SOC) and water and air pollution. All experimental treatments utilised a three-year crop rotation (maize, soybean, and wheat), and crop residues remained either atop the soil surface (CA) or were incorporated with tillage operations (CC and CV). As of March 2016, 17-month recordings from three soil-water monitoring stations per treatment (9 in total) were combined with climatic data to estimate water and N fluxes in the 0–60 cm layer. Carbon fluxes were quantified considering SOC and biomass contents. The biogeochemical model DeNitrification DeComposition (DNDC) was employed to evaluate long-term (105-yr) C dynamics and quantify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as affected by SLM practices and climate conditions. Experimental results showed significant differences in crop production between treatments, with lower average yields in CA (5.4 Mg ha−1) than in CC (7.9 Mg ha−1) and CV (8.5 Mg ha−1). Continuous soil cover in CA and CC determined the soil-water balance through increased evapotranspiration and reduced percolation (−30%) relative to CV. On the other hand, CC and CV tillage operations significantly affected NO3-N concentrations, with higher soil solution concentrations in tilled (CV = 74.6 mg l−1; CC = 58.1 mg l−1) than in untilled (CA = 14.0 mg l−1) systems. Model results emphasised that SLM practices responded differently in the short and long terms due to initial inertia to C changes and lower N2O fluxes, followed by higher SOC sequestration, and increased N2O emissions. These results demand time–dependent studies that weigh agro-environmental benefits provided by SLM practices against management alternatives to find a suitable compromise for stakeholders.
C. Camarotto; N. Dal Ferro; I. Piccoli; R. Polese; L. Furlan; F. Chiarini; F. Morari. Conservation agriculture and cover crop practices to regulate water, carbon and nitrogen cycles in the low-lying Venetian plain. CATENA 2018, 167, 236 -249.
AMA StyleC. Camarotto, N. Dal Ferro, I. Piccoli, R. Polese, L. Furlan, F. Chiarini, F. Morari. Conservation agriculture and cover crop practices to regulate water, carbon and nitrogen cycles in the low-lying Venetian plain. CATENA. 2018; 167 ():236-249.
Chicago/Turabian StyleC. Camarotto; N. Dal Ferro; I. Piccoli; R. Polese; L. Furlan; F. Chiarini; F. Morari. 2018. "Conservation agriculture and cover crop practices to regulate water, carbon and nitrogen cycles in the low-lying Venetian plain." CATENA 167, no. : 236-249.
I. Piccoli; Carlo Camarotto; B. Lazzaro; L. Furlan; F. Morari. Conservation Agriculture Had a Poor Impact on the Soil Porosity of Veneto Low‐lying Plain Silty Soils after a 5‐year Transition Period. Land Degradation & Development 2017, 28, 2039 -2050.
AMA StyleI. Piccoli, Carlo Camarotto, B. Lazzaro, L. Furlan, F. Morari. Conservation Agriculture Had a Poor Impact on the Soil Porosity of Veneto Low‐lying Plain Silty Soils after a 5‐year Transition Period. Land Degradation & Development. 2017; 28 (7):2039-2050.
Chicago/Turabian StyleI. Piccoli; Carlo Camarotto; B. Lazzaro; L. Furlan; F. Morari. 2017. "Conservation Agriculture Had a Poor Impact on the Soil Porosity of Veneto Low‐lying Plain Silty Soils after a 5‐year Transition Period." Land Degradation & Development 28, no. 7: 2039-2050.