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Dr. Corrado Ciaccia
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA) – Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, 00184 Rome, Italy

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Research Keywords & Expertise

0 Agroecology
0 Organic Farming
0 Participatory Action Research
0 Food system redesign
0 Ecological weed management

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Organic Farming
Agroecology
Participatory Action Research
Food system redesign

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Journal article
Published: 15 May 2021 in Sustainability
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The implementation of agroecology principles within organic farming research is a crux to redesign sustainable agri-food systems. To govern this transition, the local research demand should be addressed by direct engagement of all stakeholders in the research process. The first step is the involvement of farmers and technicians, with the aim of restoring their decision-making role, switching governance to local scale. The co-design/co-management of Long-Term Experiments (LTEs) can be crucial to govern the above-described transition through networking and participatory activities. In this study, we report the experience of co-designing a new LTE in Southern Italy by local actors and scientists. Through a participatory action research methodology, an LTE was considered as a biophysical component of an agroecological living lab, a public–private environment aimed to design a local food system. The setup of parallel field trials in satellite farms stands for the other biophysical component, whereas the stakeholder platform represents the social one. Through definition of common objectives, a step-by-step process is presented, which highlights the interest of local organic actors to share ideas and perspectives for the territory, pointing out the inclusion of end-users (the consumers) in the process to complete the transition to sustainable food systems.

ACS Style

Corrado Ciaccia; Elena Testani; Angelo Fiore; Ileana Iocola; Marta Di Pierro; Giuseppe Mele; Filippo Ferlito; Marcello Cutuli; Francesco Montemurro; Roberta Farina; Danilo Ceccarelli; Alessandro Persiani; Stefano Canali; Mariangela Diacono. Organic Agroforestry Long-Term Field Experiment Designing Trough Actors’ Knowledge towards Food System Sustainability. Sustainability 2021, 13, 5532 .

AMA Style

Corrado Ciaccia, Elena Testani, Angelo Fiore, Ileana Iocola, Marta Di Pierro, Giuseppe Mele, Filippo Ferlito, Marcello Cutuli, Francesco Montemurro, Roberta Farina, Danilo Ceccarelli, Alessandro Persiani, Stefano Canali, Mariangela Diacono. Organic Agroforestry Long-Term Field Experiment Designing Trough Actors’ Knowledge towards Food System Sustainability. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (10):5532.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Corrado Ciaccia; Elena Testani; Angelo Fiore; Ileana Iocola; Marta Di Pierro; Giuseppe Mele; Filippo Ferlito; Marcello Cutuli; Francesco Montemurro; Roberta Farina; Danilo Ceccarelli; Alessandro Persiani; Stefano Canali; Mariangela Diacono. 2021. "Organic Agroforestry Long-Term Field Experiment Designing Trough Actors’ Knowledge towards Food System Sustainability." Sustainability 13, no. 10: 5532.

Journal article
Published: 16 February 2021 in Microorganisms
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Mycorrhizal symbiosis represents a valuable tool for increasing plant nutrient uptake, affecting system biodiversity, ecosystem services and productivity. Introduction of agroecological service crops (ASCs) in cropping systems may determine changes in weed community, that can affect the development of the mycorrhizal mycelial network in the rhizosphere, favoring or depressing the cash crop mycorrhization. Two no-till Mediterranean organic horticultural systems were considered: one located in central Italy, where organic melon was transplanted on four winter-cereals mulches (rye, spelt, barley, wheat), one located in southern Italy (Sicily), where barley (as catch crop) was intercropped in an organic young orange orchard, with the no tilled, unweeded systems taken as controls. Weed "Supporting Arbuscular Mycorrhiza" (SAM) trait, weed density and biodiversity indexes, mycorrhization of coexistent plants in the field, the external mycelial network on roots were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, crop P uptake, yield and quality were evaluated. We verified that cereals, used as green mulches or intercropped, may drive the weed selection in favor of the SAM species, and promote the mycelial network, thus significantly increasing the mycorrhization, the P uptake, the yield and quality traits of the cash crop. This is a relevant economic factor when introducing sustainable cropping practices and assessing the overall functionality of the agroecosystem.

ACS Style

Alessandra Trinchera; Elena Testani; Giancarlo Roccuzzo; Gabriele Campanelli; Corrado Ciaccia. Agroecological Service Crops Drive Plant Mycorrhization in Organic Horticultural Systems. Microorganisms 2021, 9, 410 .

AMA Style

Alessandra Trinchera, Elena Testani, Giancarlo Roccuzzo, Gabriele Campanelli, Corrado Ciaccia. Agroecological Service Crops Drive Plant Mycorrhization in Organic Horticultural Systems. Microorganisms. 2021; 9 (2):410.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alessandra Trinchera; Elena Testani; Giancarlo Roccuzzo; Gabriele Campanelli; Corrado Ciaccia. 2021. "Agroecological Service Crops Drive Plant Mycorrhization in Organic Horticultural Systems." Microorganisms 9, no. 2: 410.

Journal article
Published: 28 May 2020 in Plants
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This paper explores the effect of agroecological service crops (ASCs), i.e., crops included in the crop rotation for their ecosystem services, terminated with an in-line tillage roller crimper (ILRC) on weed community composition and their functional traits in comparison to a tilled control without ASC. A two-year study was performed in a long-term experiment with vegetables under organic management. Four different cereal crops were introduced as ASCs. Weed abundance and richness and the functional traits were assessed at three different stages, i.e., before and after ASC termination and before harvest of the following crop, melon. All the ASCs showed strong weed suppression, with few differences between the cereals tested. Weed communities with ASCs had later flowering onset and wider flowering span compared to the control, which positively affects weed dispersal and attraction of beneficial insects. However, weed communities with ASCs had higher values for traits related to competition (specific leaf area, seed weight and more perennials). A trade-off between weed suppression and selection of more competitive weed communities by the introduction of ASCs managed with the ILRC should be evaluated in the long-run. The use of the ILRC alternating with other soil management practices seems the more effective strategy to benefit from the minimal soil tillage while avoiding the selection of disservice-related traits in the weed community.

ACS Style

Corrado Ciaccia; Laura Armengot Martinez; Elena Testani; Fabrizio Leteo; Gabriele Campanelli; Alessandra Trinchera. Weed Functional Diversity as Affected by Agroecological Service Crops and No-Till in a Mediterranean Organic Vegetable System. Plants 2020, 9, 1 .

AMA Style

Corrado Ciaccia, Laura Armengot Martinez, Elena Testani, Fabrizio Leteo, Gabriele Campanelli, Alessandra Trinchera. Weed Functional Diversity as Affected by Agroecological Service Crops and No-Till in a Mediterranean Organic Vegetable System. Plants. 2020; 9 (6):1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Corrado Ciaccia; Laura Armengot Martinez; Elena Testani; Fabrizio Leteo; Gabriele Campanelli; Alessandra Trinchera. 2020. "Weed Functional Diversity as Affected by Agroecological Service Crops and No-Till in a Mediterranean Organic Vegetable System." Plants 9, no. 6: 1.

Journal article
Published: 13 December 2019 in Sustainability
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Industrial agriculture and its requirement for standardized approaches is driving the world towards a global food system, shrinking the role of farmers and shifting decision-making power. On the contrary, a holistic perspective towards a new food-system design could meet the needs of a larger share of stakeholders. Long-term experiments are crucial in this transition, being the hub of knowledge and the workshop of ‘participation in’ and ‘appropriation of’ the research in agriculture over a long term. We present a methodology applied during the creation of a small network of organic farmers in Italy and detail the steps of the co-innovation process implemented. After a context analysis of the area to define the type of research and degree of participation, three steps were performed: (1) Identification of stakeholders; (2) dialogic identification of common activities; and (3) validation and feedback from participants. In the first participatory step, five organic farms were engaged for the second and third steps. We organized meetings to discuss future plans, facilitating the interaction process between farmers and researchers. These activities led to: (i) the definition of a research protocol based on farmers’ research needs for a new long-term experiment; (ii) committing farmers to take an active role in the research; and (iii) hosting experimental satellite trials in their own farms.

ACS Style

Corrado Ciaccia; Marta Di Pierro; Elena Testani; Giancarlo Roccuzzo; Marcello Cutuli; Danilo Ceccarelli. Participatory Research towards Food System Redesign: Italian Case Study and Perspectives. Sustainability 2019, 11, 7138 .

AMA Style

Corrado Ciaccia, Marta Di Pierro, Elena Testani, Giancarlo Roccuzzo, Marcello Cutuli, Danilo Ceccarelli. Participatory Research towards Food System Redesign: Italian Case Study and Perspectives. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (24):7138.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Corrado Ciaccia; Marta Di Pierro; Elena Testani; Giancarlo Roccuzzo; Marcello Cutuli; Danilo Ceccarelli. 2019. "Participatory Research towards Food System Redesign: Italian Case Study and Perspectives." Sustainability 11, no. 24: 7138.

Chapter
Published: 18 October 2019 in Sustainable Development and Biodiversity
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Biodiversity is intended as the whole of living organisms within an ecosystem, whereby the ecosystem functioning strictly depends on the complex interaction among its biotic and abiotic components. Ecosystem services, as the set of benefits provided by the ecosystems to humans, are related to biodiversity conservation and promotion. Similarly, the agrobiodiversity, as the whole of cropped/bred and associated wild biodiversity under agricultural management, can foster agroecological services provided by agroecosystems. Understanding the linkages between agrobiodiversity and services should drive on the agricultural management strategies. By this, the agroecosystems should be designed through biodiversification in space and time, and managed in order to promote those agrobiodiversity traits connected to ecological services (functional biodiversity). However, since successfully diversification implies changes at field production as well as in downstream, the entire food system—and not only the primary production phase—should be considered to proceed towards the ultimate goal of sustainability. In this context, the adoption of agroecology principles, intended as the ecology of the entire food system, can drive towards biodiversified agroecosystems, which are the sustainable from an environmental, economical and social perspective. In this chapter, the actual food system is described, underlining the negative externalities associated to modern agriculture. Agroecology is described as a possible approach to change production paradigm, from the cropped field to the landscape scale, achieving new models for food provisioning in a globalized context. In the meanwhile, the central role of agrobiodiversity in this redesign approach is clarified, focusing on its definition, measurement and management practices aimed to foster the ecological services provided.

ACS Style

Ciaccia Corrado; Testani Elena; Roccuzzo Giancarlo; Canali Stefano. The Role of Agrobiodiversity in Sustainable Food Systems Design and Management. Sustainable Development and Biodiversity 2019, 245 -271.

AMA Style

Ciaccia Corrado, Testani Elena, Roccuzzo Giancarlo, Canali Stefano. The Role of Agrobiodiversity in Sustainable Food Systems Design and Management. Sustainable Development and Biodiversity. 2019; ():245-271.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ciaccia Corrado; Testani Elena; Roccuzzo Giancarlo; Canali Stefano. 2019. "The Role of Agrobiodiversity in Sustainable Food Systems Design and Management." Sustainable Development and Biodiversity , no. : 245-271.

Journal article
Published: 28 September 2019 in Agronomy
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Weeds can cooperate with the agroecosystem’s functioning by providing ecosystem services. Effective weed management should mitigate negative weed–crop interference, while maintaining a functional and balanced weed community. In a two-year trial, the in-line/roller crimper (RC) was used to terminate an agroecological service crop (ASC; here barley, Hordeum vulgare L.) before organic zucchini (Cucurbita pepo, L.) and compared with green manure (GM) ASC and tilled no-ASC with Mater-Bi mulch on the rows (No_ASC). Zucchini yield, soil N availability, weed density/cover, biomass, and community composition were assessed. Analysis of variance, exploratory statistical analysis, and non-parametric inferential approaches were run, respectively, on agronomic data, species-specific weed frequencies, and Shannon diversity. Zucchini yield was the highest in No_ASC, due to soil N immobilization under high C:N barley residues in GM and RC. Multivariate analysis discriminated RC from tilled systems, outlining a specific ensemble of weed species correlated to Shannon diversity. From zucchini fruit set, RC selectively favored Polygonum aviculare L. and Helminthotheca echioides (L.), reasonably because of their oligotrophy and creeping habit. Their dominance finally caused low RC weed control. Results highlight strong weed selective pressure by the mulch-based no-tillage. Understanding the mechanisms underpinning the impact of soil management practices on weed community can drive towards a tailor-made and more effective weed management.

ACS Style

Elena Testani; Corrado Ciaccia; Gabriele Campanelli; Fabrizio Leteo; Luca Salvati; Stefano Canali. Mulch-Based No-Tillage Effects on Weed Community and Management in an Organic Vegetable System. Agronomy 2019, 9, 594 .

AMA Style

Elena Testani, Corrado Ciaccia, Gabriele Campanelli, Fabrizio Leteo, Luca Salvati, Stefano Canali. Mulch-Based No-Tillage Effects on Weed Community and Management in an Organic Vegetable System. Agronomy. 2019; 9 (10):594.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Elena Testani; Corrado Ciaccia; Gabriele Campanelli; Fabrizio Leteo; Luca Salvati; Stefano Canali. 2019. "Mulch-Based No-Tillage Effects on Weed Community and Management in an Organic Vegetable System." Agronomy 9, no. 10: 594.

Journal article
Published: 12 July 2019 in Sustainability
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The Circular Economy concept implies the re-design of existing production systems in agriculture, by promoting agricultural waste recycling. In an organic zucchini—lettuce rotation, two different agroecological tools were considered: biofertilizer and presence or absence of green manure (GM+ and GM−). In particular, we compared: (i) anaerobic digestate from cattle manure, co-composted with vegetable wastes, with the presence of GM (AD GM+); (ii) olive pomace compost, re-composted, with the presence of GM (OWC GM+); (iii) municipal waste compost with GM (MWC GM+); (iv) municipal waste compost without GM (MWC GM−). These materials were tested with a commercial organic fertilizer without GM (COF GM−) as a positive control. The objectives were: (i) assessing the environmental sustainability of biofertilizers through carbon footprint analysis by greenhouse gas—GHG—emissions; (ii) evaluating the agronomic performance on the vegetable rotation, by energy output assessment. The total carbon emissions of biofertilizers production was 63.9 and 67.0 kg of CO2 eq Mg−1 for AD and OWC, respectively. The co-composting and re-composting processes emitted 31.4 and 8.4 kg CO2 per Mg of compost, respectively. In AD the ventilation phase of composting accounted for 37.2% of total emissions. The total CO2 emission values for the two-crop cycles were the highest in COF GM− and the lowest in OWC GM+, due to different fertilizer sources. On the average of the treatments, the input that induced the highest CO2 emission was irrigation (37.9%). The energy output assessment for zucchini and lettuce highlighted similar performance for all the treatments. Our findings demonstrated the validity of the tested processes to recycle agro-industrial wastes, and the potential of agroecological practices (GM) to mitigate GHG emissions.

ACS Style

Mariangela Diacono; Alessandro Persiani; Elena Testani; Francesco Montemurro; Corrado Ciaccia. Recycling Agricultural Wastes and By-products in Organic Farming: Biofertilizer Production, Yield Performance and Carbon Footprint Analysis. Sustainability 2019, 11, 3824 .

AMA Style

Mariangela Diacono, Alessandro Persiani, Elena Testani, Francesco Montemurro, Corrado Ciaccia. Recycling Agricultural Wastes and By-products in Organic Farming: Biofertilizer Production, Yield Performance and Carbon Footprint Analysis. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (14):3824.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mariangela Diacono; Alessandro Persiani; Elena Testani; Francesco Montemurro; Corrado Ciaccia. 2019. "Recycling Agricultural Wastes and By-products in Organic Farming: Biofertilizer Production, Yield Performance and Carbon Footprint Analysis." Sustainability 11, no. 14: 3824.

Journal article
Published: 11 July 2019 in Agronomy
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In greenhouses, where intensive systems are widely used for organic production, the differences between “conventionalized” and agroecological approaches are especially evident. Among the agronomic practices, green manure from agroecological service crops (ASCs) and organic amendments represent the main tools for soil fertility management with respect to the substitution of synthetic fertilizer with organic ones (the input substitution approach). Over a two-year organic rotation, we compared a conventionalized system (SB) and two agroecological systems, characterized by ASC introduction combined with the use of manure (AM) and compost (AC) amendments. A system approach was utilized for the comparison assessment. For this purpose, agronomic performance, soil fertility and the density of soil arthropod activity were monitored for the entire rotation. The comprehensive evaluation of the parameters measured provided evidence that clearly differentiated SB from AM and AC. The drivers of discrimination were soil parameters referring to long term fertility and soil arthropod dynamics. The study confirmed the higher productivity of SB but also no positive impact on soil fertility and soil arthropods, as highlighted by AM and AC. Based on the results, a trade-off between productivity and the promotion of long-term ecosystem diversity and functioning is needed for the assessment of systems of organic production.

ACS Style

Corrado Ciaccia; Francesco Giovanni Ceglie; Giovanni Burgio; Suzana Madžarić; Elena Testani; Enrico Muzzi; Giancarlo Mimiola; Fabio Tittarelli. Impact of Agroecological Practices on Greenhouse Vegetable Production: Comparison among Organic Production Systems. Agronomy 2019, 9, 372 .

AMA Style

Corrado Ciaccia, Francesco Giovanni Ceglie, Giovanni Burgio, Suzana Madžarić, Elena Testani, Enrico Muzzi, Giancarlo Mimiola, Fabio Tittarelli. Impact of Agroecological Practices on Greenhouse Vegetable Production: Comparison among Organic Production Systems. Agronomy. 2019; 9 (7):372.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Corrado Ciaccia; Francesco Giovanni Ceglie; Giovanni Burgio; Suzana Madžarić; Elena Testani; Enrico Muzzi; Giancarlo Mimiola; Fabio Tittarelli. 2019. "Impact of Agroecological Practices on Greenhouse Vegetable Production: Comparison among Organic Production Systems." Agronomy 9, no. 7: 372.

Original research
Published: 29 April 2019 in Ecology and Evolution
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The mycorrhizal fungi are symbiotic organisms able to provide many benefits to crop production by supplying a set of ecosystem functions. A recent ecological approach based on the ability of the fungi community to influence plant-plant interactions by extraradical mycelium development may be applied to diversified, herbaceous agroecosystems. Our hypothesis is that the introduction of a winter cereal cover crop (CC) as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)-host plant in an organic rotation can boosts the AMF colonization of the other plants, influencing crop-weed interference. In a 4-years organic rotation, the effect of two winter cereal CC, rye and spelt, on weed density and AMF colonization was evaluated. The AMF extraradical mycelium on CC and weeds roots was observed by scanning electron microscopy analysis. By joining data of plant density and mycorrhization, we built the mycorrhizal colonization intensity of the Agroecosystem indicator (MA%). Both the CC were colonized by soil AMF, being the mycorrhizal colonization intensity (M%) affected by environmental conditions. Under CC, the weed density was reduced, due to the increase of the reciprocal competition in favor of CC, which benefited from mycorrhizal colonization and promoted the development of AMF extraradical mycelium. Even though non-host plants, some weed species showed an increased mycorrhizal colonization in presence of CC respect to the control. Under intense rainfall, the MA% was less sensitive to the CC introduction. On the opposite, under highly competitive conditions, both the CC boosted significantly the mycorrhization of coexistent plants in the agroecosystem. The proposed indicator measured the agroecological service provided by the considered CCs in promoting or inhibiting the overall AMF colonization of the studied agroecosystems, as affected by weed selection and growth: It informs about agroecosystem resilience and may be profitably applied to indicate the extent of the linkage of specific crop traits to agroecosystem services, contributing to further develop the functional biodiversity theory.

ACS Style

Alessandra Trinchera; Corrado Ciaccia; Elena Testani; Valentina Baratella; Gabriele Campanelli; Fabrizio Leteo; Stefano Canali. Mycorrhiza-mediated interference between cover crop and weed in organic winter cereal agroecosystems: The mycorrhizal colonization intensity indicator. Ecology and Evolution 2019, 9, 5593 -5604.

AMA Style

Alessandra Trinchera, Corrado Ciaccia, Elena Testani, Valentina Baratella, Gabriele Campanelli, Fabrizio Leteo, Stefano Canali. Mycorrhiza-mediated interference between cover crop and weed in organic winter cereal agroecosystems: The mycorrhizal colonization intensity indicator. Ecology and Evolution. 2019; 9 (10):5593-5604.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alessandra Trinchera; Corrado Ciaccia; Elena Testani; Valentina Baratella; Gabriele Campanelli; Fabrizio Leteo; Stefano Canali. 2019. "Mycorrhiza-mediated interference between cover crop and weed in organic winter cereal agroecosystems: The mycorrhizal colonization intensity indicator." Ecology and Evolution 9, no. 10: 5593-5604.

Journal article
Published: 14 February 2019 in Agronomy
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The integration of Agroecological Service Crops (ASCs) into agroecosystems can provide several ecological services, such as nutrient cycling and disease and weed management. A two-year experiment on an organic orchard was carried out to compare barley (B) and horse bean (HB) ASCs with a control without ASC (Cont) in combination with fertilizers. Their effects on soil fertility and weed- and soil-borne fungi communities were evaluated by direct measurements, visual estimation, and indicators computation. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to identify latent patterns and redundancy among variables, whereas a correlation analysis was used to discriminate the compared systems within the PCA matrix. The empirical results of this study put in evidence the correlation among soil, weed, and fungal variables. A slight contribution of fertilizers on the system’s variability was observed, whereas a clear effect of ASCs was highlighted. The systems differed in weed communities, with the lowest density associated to B and the highest to Cont. B showed the highest fungal diversity, with changes in community compared to HB. HB showed a contribution on soil fertility, being associated to organic matter increase and N availability, and evidencing mixed impacts on soil quality and ecosystem functioning. Overall, the above-ground diversity and below-ground community results were inter-correlated.

ACS Style

Corrado Ciaccia; Anna La Torre; Filippo Ferlito; Elena Testani; Valerio Battaglia; Luca Salvati; Giancarlo Roccuzzo. Agroecological Practices and Agrobiodiversity: A Case Study on Organic Orange in Southern Italy. Agronomy 2019, 9, 85 .

AMA Style

Corrado Ciaccia, Anna La Torre, Filippo Ferlito, Elena Testani, Valerio Battaglia, Luca Salvati, Giancarlo Roccuzzo. Agroecological Practices and Agrobiodiversity: A Case Study on Organic Orange in Southern Italy. Agronomy. 2019; 9 (2):85.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Corrado Ciaccia; Anna La Torre; Filippo Ferlito; Elena Testani; Valerio Battaglia; Luca Salvati; Giancarlo Roccuzzo. 2019. "Agroecological Practices and Agrobiodiversity: A Case Study on Organic Orange in Southern Italy." Agronomy 9, no. 2: 85.

Journal article
Published: 01 July 2018 in Agronomy Journal
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ACS Style

Fabio Tittarelli; Gabriele Campanelli; Fabrizio Leteo; Roberta Farina; Rosario Napoli; Corrado Ciaccia; Stefano Canali; Elena Testani. Mulch Based No-Tillage and Compost Effects on Nitrogen Fertility in Organic Melon. Agronomy Journal 2018, 110, 1482 -1491.

AMA Style

Fabio Tittarelli, Gabriele Campanelli, Fabrizio Leteo, Roberta Farina, Rosario Napoli, Corrado Ciaccia, Stefano Canali, Elena Testani. Mulch Based No-Tillage and Compost Effects on Nitrogen Fertility in Organic Melon. Agronomy Journal. 2018; 110 (4):1482-1491.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Fabio Tittarelli; Gabriele Campanelli; Fabrizio Leteo; Roberta Farina; Rosario Napoli; Corrado Ciaccia; Stefano Canali; Elena Testani. 2018. "Mulch Based No-Tillage and Compost Effects on Nitrogen Fertility in Organic Melon." Agronomy Journal 110, no. 4: 1482-1491.

Journal article
Published: 15 May 2018 in Italian Journal of Agronomy
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In organic horticultural systems, cover crops could provide several ecological services, therefore, they can be defined agroecological service crops (ASCs). The objective of this two-year research was to study the suitability on melon production of different ASC termination strategies, in combination with organic fertilisers application. In a split-block design, the main-plot was the ASC management, comparing: i) green manure, in which the vetch was chopped and plowed into the soil; and ii) roller-crimper (RC), in which the vetch was flattened by a roller-crimper; with iii) fallow control, without vetch. The subplot consisted of offfarm organic inputs: i) commercial humified fertiliser; ii) anaerobic digestate fertiliser; iii) composted municipal solid wastes; which were compared to iv) unfertilised control (N0). At vetch termination, above soil biomass and nitrogen (N) content were determined. At harvesting, crop yield performance and quality, N status and N efficiency were investigated. Also, main soil characteristics were assessed at the end of the trial. Among the ASC managements, the slightly reduced yield in the RC plots particularly in combination with N0 might have been the result of less N supplied by the vetch during the melon cycle. Anyway, no negative effects were observed for yield quality. The use of the RC showed a great potential in enhancing soil fertility. Our study suggests the suitability in organic farming of properly matching management of ASC and fertilisation strategies on melon crop.

ACS Style

Mariangela Diacono; Corrado Ciaccia; Stefano Canali; Angelo Fiore; Francesco Montemurro. Assessment of agro-ecological service crop managements combined with organic fertilisation strategies in organic melon crop. Italian Journal of Agronomy 2018, 172 -182.

AMA Style

Mariangela Diacono, Corrado Ciaccia, Stefano Canali, Angelo Fiore, Francesco Montemurro. Assessment of agro-ecological service crop managements combined with organic fertilisation strategies in organic melon crop. Italian Journal of Agronomy. 2018; ():172-182.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mariangela Diacono; Corrado Ciaccia; Stefano Canali; Angelo Fiore; Francesco Montemurro. 2018. "Assessment of agro-ecological service crop managements combined with organic fertilisation strategies in organic melon crop." Italian Journal of Agronomy , no. : 172-182.

Journal article
Published: 01 September 2017 in Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
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Stockless systems, where plant and animal production are uncoupled, represent a common condition in Mediterranean areas. In organic systems, soil fertility is mainly managed by green manures, whereas composts of plant origin represent suitable soil conditioners. The low P content of these materials, together with the shortage of animal waste availability, determine potential nutrient depletion overtime and, in calcareous soils, P mining conditions. In a two-year field experiment in Central Italy, the effect of green manure vetch (Vicia villosa) (GM+) was compared with a control left fallow (GM-), combined with P-based fertilizers (F) on organic maize (Zea mays). Yields and N-P dynamics were evaluated by direct measurements, nutrient balance and efficiency index. N balance was higher than in GM+ GM- (+71.8 and -23.6 kg N ha-1, respectively). P enriched compost with RP (rock-phosphate) (EP), showed significant improvement in P use efficiency (meanly +34%) than other treatments (unfertilized control (RP), not P enriched compost (NEP)) and P equilibrium in the short run. On the other hand, P-fertilizers and maize residues soil incorporation determined P surplus in a long perspective (up to +10 kg P ha-1). Results emphasize the possibility of P reintegration in stockless organic systems without animal wastes.

ACS Style

C. Ciaccia; F. Ceglie; F. Tittarelli; Daniele Antichi; Stefano Carlesi; Elena Testani; S. Canali. Green manure and compost effects on N-P dynamics in Mediterranean organic stockless systems. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 2017, 17, 751 -769.

AMA Style

C. Ciaccia, F. Ceglie, F. Tittarelli, Daniele Antichi, Stefano Carlesi, Elena Testani, S. Canali. Green manure and compost effects on N-P dynamics in Mediterranean organic stockless systems. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. 2017; 17 (3):751-769.

Chicago/Turabian Style

C. Ciaccia; F. Ceglie; F. Tittarelli; Daniele Antichi; Stefano Carlesi; Elena Testani; S. Canali. 2017. "Green manure and compost effects on N-P dynamics in Mediterranean organic stockless systems." Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 17, no. 3: 751-769.

Journal article
Published: 05 December 2016 in Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems
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In Europe, the lack of specific rules regulating organic vegetable production in protected conditions has led to the implementation of extremely diversified systems of production, at different level of intensification. In this study, we compared three strawberry organic production systems based on the following main criteria of soil fertility management: input substitution (SB), a simplified system of organic production that mimics conventional agricultural practices and two systems characterized by a more complex soil fertility management, based on the introduction, in the rotation of agroecological service crops (ASCs) and compost (AC), and of ASCs and cattle manure (AM). Strawberry yields, in the compared systems, were not significantly different in both years of our research, while, as a whole, the yield in 2013 (30.3 Mg ha−1) was significantly higher than in 2014 (28.9 Mg ha−1). Crop nitrogen (N) needs, during the entire cycle of production, were satisfied according to the same pattern by SB, AC and AM, while green manuring and organic amendments in AM and AC determined a higher soil organic N content, compared with SB. As far as the production quality is concerned, both AM and AC treatments yielded strawberry fruits similar to SB, but with better characteristics in terms of color and phenolic content. AM and AC did not differentiate statistically in the two year period of our research.

ACS Style

F. Tittarelli; F.G. Ceglie; C. Ciaccia; G. Mimiola; M.L. Amodio; Giancarlo Colelli. Organic strawberry in Mediterranean greenhouse: Effect of different production systems on soil fertility and fruit quality. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 2016, 32, 485 -497.

AMA Style

F. Tittarelli, F.G. Ceglie, C. Ciaccia, G. Mimiola, M.L. Amodio, Giancarlo Colelli. Organic strawberry in Mediterranean greenhouse: Effect of different production systems on soil fertility and fruit quality. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. 2016; 32 (6):485-497.

Chicago/Turabian Style

F. Tittarelli; F.G. Ceglie; C. Ciaccia; G. Mimiola; M.L. Amodio; Giancarlo Colelli. 2016. "Organic strawberry in Mediterranean greenhouse: Effect of different production systems on soil fertility and fruit quality." Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 32, no. 6: 485-497.

Journal article
Published: 01 November 2016 in Journal of Environmental Management
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Rock phosphate constitutes a natural phosphorus (P) source for organic farming systems, but with a limiting direct agricultural use due to its poor inherent reactivity. Thus, this work studies the effect of the co-composting of rock phosphate with green wastes and elemental sulfur on phosphorus availability. Six composts were prepared combining different green wastes and rock phosphate in three different proportions (0%, 0.27% and 0.54% P fresh mass basis) and elemental sulfur in two proportions (0% and 0.5% S fresh mass basis). During composting, the temperature of the mixtures was monitored, as were physico-chemical and chemical parameters, especially those related to phosphorus. The co-composting of green wastes with rock phosphate improved phosphorus mobilization and also constituted a viable method to manage green wastes, obtaining P-enriched compost for organic farming systems. Sulfur addition favored the composting process and also phosphorus solubilization, especially in the mixture with the lowest proportion of rock phosphate.

ACS Style

M.A. Bustamante; Francesco Giovanni Ceglie; A. Aly; H.T. Mihreteab; C. Ciaccia; F. Tittarelli. Phosphorus availability from rock phosphate: Combined effect of green waste composting and sulfur addition. Journal of Environmental Management 2016, 182, 557 -563.

AMA Style

M.A. Bustamante, Francesco Giovanni Ceglie, A. Aly, H.T. Mihreteab, C. Ciaccia, F. Tittarelli. Phosphorus availability from rock phosphate: Combined effect of green waste composting and sulfur addition. Journal of Environmental Management. 2016; 182 ():557-563.

Chicago/Turabian Style

M.A. Bustamante; Francesco Giovanni Ceglie; A. Aly; H.T. Mihreteab; C. Ciaccia; F. Tittarelli. 2016. "Phosphorus availability from rock phosphate: Combined effect of green waste composting and sulfur addition." Journal of Environmental Management 182, no. : 557-563.

Original articles
Published: 05 August 2016 in Compost Science & Utilization
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In the past decade, the increasing environmental concerns regarding the use of non-renewable resources, such as peat, for growing media production has led to a search for alternative materials as substrate components. Until now, compost represents the most investigated one. Despite the critical aspects related to compost use (i.e., its high pH, salinity, and potential content of toxic elements), partial peat substitution with this material represents an achievable objective. In this study, green compost was evaluated as a component of peat substrates for organic sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) seedling production. Three compost rates (CR) were compared: 0 (peat without compost), 30, and 60% of compost v/v. Two pepper cultivars, one derived from a local (medium-Adriatic) germplasm (L) and a commercial hybrid (H), were tested. Furthermore, organic fertilizers based on hydrolyzed proteins, of animal (A) and vegetal (V) origin, were compared. Substrates were analyzed for characterization (pH, EC, nutrient contents, heavy metals). Seedling performances were evaluated in terms of size, biomass, nutrient uptake, and toxic element contents. Indices able to assess seedling resistance to transplant stress were also calculated. Results showed that CR60 treatment was able to produce seedlings with the same biomass of control. CR30, instead, assured the same chance to resist the transplanting stress of CR0. The performances of fertilizer A were significantly higher than those of fertilizer V. Local germplasm (L) showed the highest resistance to transplant stress, while H was more performing in nitrogen uptake. The risk of seedling contamination by toxic elements resulted negligible.

ACS Style

Elena Testani; Gabriele Campanelli; Fabrizio Leteo; Corrado Ciaccia; Stefano Canali; Fabio Tittarelli. Sweet Pepper ( Capsicum annuum L.) Organic Seedling Production: The Role of Compost, Cultivar, and Protein Hydrolyzate. Compost Science & Utilization 2016, 25, 1 -8.

AMA Style

Elena Testani, Gabriele Campanelli, Fabrizio Leteo, Corrado Ciaccia, Stefano Canali, Fabio Tittarelli. Sweet Pepper ( Capsicum annuum L.) Organic Seedling Production: The Role of Compost, Cultivar, and Protein Hydrolyzate. Compost Science & Utilization. 2016; 25 (2):1-8.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Elena Testani; Gabriele Campanelli; Fabrizio Leteo; Corrado Ciaccia; Stefano Canali; Fabio Tittarelli. 2016. "Sweet Pepper ( Capsicum annuum L.) Organic Seedling Production: The Role of Compost, Cultivar, and Protein Hydrolyzate." Compost Science & Utilization 25, no. 2: 1-8.

Journal article
Published: 01 August 2016 in Acta Horticulturae
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ACS Style

A. Trinchera; E. Testani; C. Ciaccia; G. Campanelli; F. Leteo; S. Canali. Rhizosphere interactions in an organic horticultural cropping system: effect of living mulch on artichoke mycorrhization. Acta Horticulturae 2016, 11 -18.

AMA Style

A. Trinchera, E. Testani, C. Ciaccia, G. Campanelli, F. Leteo, S. Canali. Rhizosphere interactions in an organic horticultural cropping system: effect of living mulch on artichoke mycorrhization. Acta Horticulturae. 2016; (1137):11-18.

Chicago/Turabian Style

A. Trinchera; E. Testani; C. Ciaccia; G. Campanelli; F. Leteo; S. Canali. 2016. "Rhizosphere interactions in an organic horticultural cropping system: effect of living mulch on artichoke mycorrhization." Acta Horticulturae , no. 1137: 11-18.

Journal article
Published: 15 February 2016 in Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems
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The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of growing in-season agro-ecological service crops as living mulch (LM) with vegetable crops, exploiting their potential to suppress weeds by filling the ecological niches otherwise occupied by weeds. Two field experiments were carried out in Denmark and Italy to compare different LM introduction strategies in organic vegetable cropping systems. In Denmark, leek (Allium porrumL.) was grown with dyers woad (Isatis tinctoriaL.) LM strips, while cauliflower (Brassica oleraceaL. var.botrytis) was intercropped with a broad sowed burr medic (Medicago polimorphaL., var. anglona) in Italy. Two LM times of sowing relative to cash crop transplanting––an early sowing (es LM) and a late sowing (ls LM)––were compared with a control with no LM (no LM). The effects of LM treatment on crop competitiveness, LM smother effect and weed populations were evaluated by direct measurement, visual estimation and competitive index methods. Comparison among hybrid and open pollinated cultivar responses to LM introduction was also performed. Results showed a significant higher cash crop biomass in ls LM than in es LM, with comparable yield to the weeded controls, except for es LM in Italy. Moreover, in the Danish experiment, the LM and weed biomasses were up to 5 times lower in the es LM and ls LM treatments than the weed biomass alone in no LM treatment. Reduction in weed biomass and abundance was observed also in ls LM in the Italian trial. Similarly, the competitive balance (Cb), which quantifies the ability of the cash crop to compete with neighbours, was higher in the es LM (+0.29) and ls LM (+0.72) compared with unweeded no LM control (−0.86) in Denmark. In the Italian experiment, the cauliflower showed more competitive ability against neighbours in ls LM (+0.53) and was a weak competitor in es LM (−1.51). The cash crop had higher competitive ability against LM (Cbc-lm) when sowing was more delayed in both experiments, while, in the Italian trial, the LM was more competitive against weeds (Cblm-w) in ls LM (+1.54) than in es LM (−0.41). The slight differences observed for biomass and competitive ability between the tested cultivars, highlighted similar suitability of both hybrid and open-pollinated cultivars to grow with LM. Our findings suggest the viability of the introduced LM in managing weeds and avoiding a smother effect on the crop, with particular effectiveness with delayed LM sowing.

ACS Style

Corrado Ciaccia; Hanne Lakkenborg Kristensen; Gabriele Campanelli; Yue Xie; Elena Testani; Fabrizio Leteo; Stefano Canali. Living mulch for weed management in organic vegetable cropping systems under Mediterranean and North European conditions. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 2016, 32, 248 -262.

AMA Style

Corrado Ciaccia, Hanne Lakkenborg Kristensen, Gabriele Campanelli, Yue Xie, Elena Testani, Fabrizio Leteo, Stefano Canali. Living mulch for weed management in organic vegetable cropping systems under Mediterranean and North European conditions. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. 2016; 32 (3):248-262.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Corrado Ciaccia; Hanne Lakkenborg Kristensen; Gabriele Campanelli; Yue Xie; Elena Testani; Fabrizio Leteo; Stefano Canali. 2016. "Living mulch for weed management in organic vegetable cropping systems under Mediterranean and North European conditions." Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 32, no. 3: 248-262.

Journal article
Published: 01 December 2015 in Acta Horticulturae
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ISHS XXIX International Horticultural Congress on Horticulture: Sustaining Lives, Livelihoods and Landscapes (IHC2014): International Symposia on Innovative Plant Protection in Horticulture, Biosecurity, Quarantine Pests, and Market Access May barley and rye extracts have an allelopathic inhibition effect on weed seedling root development by suppressing mycorrhization?

ACS Style

A. Trinchera; E. Testani; C. Ciaccia; F. Tittarelli; S. Canali. May barley and rye extracts have an allelopathic inhibition effect on weed seedling root development by suppressing mycorrhization? Acta Horticulturae 2015, 361 -368.

AMA Style

A. Trinchera, E. Testani, C. Ciaccia, F. Tittarelli, S. Canali. May barley and rye extracts have an allelopathic inhibition effect on weed seedling root development by suppressing mycorrhization? Acta Horticulturae. 2015; (1105):361-368.

Chicago/Turabian Style

A. Trinchera; E. Testani; C. Ciaccia; F. Tittarelli; S. Canali. 2015. "May barley and rye extracts have an allelopathic inhibition effect on weed seedling root development by suppressing mycorrhization?" Acta Horticulturae , no. 1105: 361-368.

Journal article
Published: 01 October 2015 in Acta Horticulturae
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ACS Style

S. Canali; Gabriele Campanelli; C. Ciaccia; F. Tittarelli; F. Bavec; P. Von Fragstein; G. Burgio; L. Ortolani; H.L. Kristensen. System assessment of organic living mulch for cauliflower ( Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis ) cropping systems. Acta Horticulturae 2015, 91 -100.

AMA Style

S. Canali, Gabriele Campanelli, C. Ciaccia, F. Tittarelli, F. Bavec, P. Von Fragstein, G. Burgio, L. Ortolani, H.L. Kristensen. System assessment of organic living mulch for cauliflower ( Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis ) cropping systems. Acta Horticulturae. 2015; (1103):91-100.

Chicago/Turabian Style

S. Canali; Gabriele Campanelli; C. Ciaccia; F. Tittarelli; F. Bavec; P. Von Fragstein; G. Burgio; L. Ortolani; H.L. Kristensen. 2015. "System assessment of organic living mulch for cauliflower ( Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis ) cropping systems." Acta Horticulturae , no. 1103: 91-100.