This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.
The aim of the present study was to characterize the physical-chemical and microbiological features of aerated compost teas (CTs) extracted with dechlorinated tap water and with two different additives, molasses and whey, in increasing doses. Plant pathogen suppression properties of CTs were also taken into account. Total nitrogen in CTs increased with rising doses of the additives used. In spite of this, nitrogen and mineral element contributions were limited but complementary for plant mineral nutrition. Although total heavy metal contents in CTs were low, an increase of their bioavailable forms (ionic and chelated forms, presence in microorganisms) should be taken into account. In addition, the distribution on soil of acid and/or chelating products by CTs could increase the bioavailability of heavy metals, especially in the case of several annual distribution cycles and of medium–long term treatments. Additives modulated the structure and composition of microbial communities and CTs, exhibiting a broad spectrum of suppressive properties against plant pathogens, especially when they were used in a raw form.
Assunta Maria Palese; Catello Pane; Domenica Villecco; Massimo Zaccardelli; Gessica Altieri; Giuseppe Celano. Effects of Organic Additives on Chemical, Microbiological and Plant Pathogen Suppressive Properties of Aerated Municipal Waste Compost Teas. Applied Sciences 2021, 11, 7402 .
AMA StyleAssunta Maria Palese, Catello Pane, Domenica Villecco, Massimo Zaccardelli, Gessica Altieri, Giuseppe Celano. Effects of Organic Additives on Chemical, Microbiological and Plant Pathogen Suppressive Properties of Aerated Municipal Waste Compost Teas. Applied Sciences. 2021; 11 (16):7402.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAssunta Maria Palese; Catello Pane; Domenica Villecco; Massimo Zaccardelli; Gessica Altieri; Giuseppe Celano. 2021. "Effects of Organic Additives on Chemical, Microbiological and Plant Pathogen Suppressive Properties of Aerated Municipal Waste Compost Teas." Applied Sciences 11, no. 16: 7402.
The livestock sector plays a fundamental role in human beings’ livelihood all over the world. However, significant changes have occurred in the last decades, transforming the livestock sector into a highly intensive economic activity with negative impacts on human health and the environment. Such a reality requires the identification of easy methods to apply to sustainable manure management. Composting is a clever approach to transform manure into a resource. Very limited scientific literature is available on techniques for composting in small and medium livestock farms. This paper describes, in detail, some on-farm composting plants made in Southern Italy within different rural contexts. A depth analysis of farm starting situation and nearby territory (resources/services) was performed to identify the least expensive/impactful composting logistics (reduction of ex novo farm investments and transport costs, etc.), making the action economically sustainable for farmers. This approach appears to be successful in guiding farmers towards the best composting technological option, based on pre-existent on-farm resources. These small-scale composting plants, reproducible in other similar contexts, allow one to turn manure into a product with a profitable placement on the market. For this reason, these manure management options should be widespread, especially under organic farming systems.
Assunta Maria Palese; Alessandro Persiani; Carmine D’Adamo; Maria Pergola; Vittoria Pastore; Rocco Sileo; Giuseppe Ippolito; Maria Assunta Lombardi; Giuseppe Celano. Composting as Manure Disposal Strategy in Small/Medium-Size Livestock Farms: Some Demonstrations with Operative Indications. Sustainability 2020, 12, 3315 .
AMA StyleAssunta Maria Palese, Alessandro Persiani, Carmine D’Adamo, Maria Pergola, Vittoria Pastore, Rocco Sileo, Giuseppe Ippolito, Maria Assunta Lombardi, Giuseppe Celano. Composting as Manure Disposal Strategy in Small/Medium-Size Livestock Farms: Some Demonstrations with Operative Indications. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (8):3315.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAssunta Maria Palese; Alessandro Persiani; Carmine D’Adamo; Maria Pergola; Vittoria Pastore; Rocco Sileo; Giuseppe Ippolito; Maria Assunta Lombardi; Giuseppe Celano. 2020. "Composting as Manure Disposal Strategy in Small/Medium-Size Livestock Farms: Some Demonstrations with Operative Indications." Sustainability 12, no. 8: 3315.
Olive oil is a widely used consumer product, so producers and consumers are increasingly looking for sustainable productions. The olive-oil production chain requires continuous improvements to gradually replace the most environmentally impactful practices with others that are more sustainable. This research aimed to evaluate the environmental impacts of the production of olive oil in the Campania region by comparing six olive oil production systems (two organic certified, two integrated, and two organic—hobbyists). The environmental impacts for the production of one liter of oil—from field cultivation to oil distribution—were quantified by applying the life cycle assessment methodology. Impact categories were calculated according to the CML method, with particular attention paid to global warming potential. The production of one liter of oil caused CO2eq emissions ranging from 0.22 to 3.39 kg. The least impacting cultivation method was the hobby one, which did not use pesticides and carried out organic fertilization. On average, packaging accounted for 60% of total impacts; consequently, the materials and formats choice by farms had strong effects on the environmental sustainability of oil production. This research highlights the problem of expressing sustainability judgments in agriculture, since there are no reference standards/targets that set limits beyond which agricultural productions are no longer sustainable.
Angela Maffia; Maria Pergola; Assunta Maria Palese; Giuseppe Celano. Environmental Impact Assessment of Organic vs. Integrated Olive-Oil Systems in Mediterranean Context. Agronomy 2020, 10, 416 .
AMA StyleAngela Maffia, Maria Pergola, Assunta Maria Palese, Giuseppe Celano. Environmental Impact Assessment of Organic vs. Integrated Olive-Oil Systems in Mediterranean Context. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (3):416.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAngela Maffia; Maria Pergola; Assunta Maria Palese; Giuseppe Celano. 2020. "Environmental Impact Assessment of Organic vs. Integrated Olive-Oil Systems in Mediterranean Context." Agronomy 10, no. 3: 416.
Horticultural farms are faced with the problem of disposing of huge amounts of agricultural by-products whose management requires sustainable solutions. Composting means to recycle organic waste to make compost—a high agronomic value product—able to positively affect soil quality: A good occasion to switch definitively from a conventional agriculture to an organic one. Nevertheless, composting can have negative direct/indirect environmental impacts. The aim of this research was to assess the sustainability of a windrow composting system, able to treat agricultural green waste of different typology (“light” and “heavy” with dry matter below or above 10%, respectively). Environmental impacts, energy consumptions, and production costs of all composting stages were evaluated by Life Cycle Assessment. Results show that the production of 1 ton of compost caused CO2eq emissions ranging from 199 to 250 kg and required between 1500 and 2000 MJ of energy; costs ranged between 98 and 162 euro, nevertheless lesser than the commercial green compost. The raw material typology affected significantly the composting process making compost based on “heavy” materials the most sustainable. These findings underline the need to spread this low technology process, easy to apply, especially in organic farms, and to promote the agronomic use of compost.
Maria Pergola; Alessandro Persiani; Vittoria Pastore; Assunta Maria Palese; Carmine D’Adamo; Enrica De Falco; Giuseppe Celano. Sustainability Assessment of the Green Compost Production Chain from Agricultural Waste: A Case Study in Southern Italy. Agronomy 2020, 10, 230 .
AMA StyleMaria Pergola, Alessandro Persiani, Vittoria Pastore, Assunta Maria Palese, Carmine D’Adamo, Enrica De Falco, Giuseppe Celano. Sustainability Assessment of the Green Compost Production Chain from Agricultural Waste: A Case Study in Southern Italy. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (2):230.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaria Pergola; Alessandro Persiani; Vittoria Pastore; Assunta Maria Palese; Carmine D’Adamo; Enrica De Falco; Giuseppe Celano. 2020. "Sustainability Assessment of the Green Compost Production Chain from Agricultural Waste: A Case Study in Southern Italy." Agronomy 10, no. 2: 230.
This work was designed to investigate the effect of mechanical tillage on glomalin content, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) abundance and diversity, and the concentration of water stable aggregates (WSA), in two adjacent olive groves located in Basilicata (Italy) that were managed over the course of 11 years in accordance with different horticultural models (conventional and sustainable). Soil sampling was performed at four depths between the trees within a row and between rows. In the end, WSA was found to be a highly sensitive indicator (especially in the “macro” fraction) of the effect of management on soil structure, showing the highest statistically significant values within the sustainable system. In the same regard, the diversity of the AM fungal community was negatively affected by conventional practices; on the other hand, a higher concentration of glomalin in the first 20 cm layer of the conventional system is here reported for the first time, as a likely result of disruption of the mycelium provoked by the mechanical tillage.
Luca Lombardo; Assunta Maria Palese; Filomena Grasso; Donald H. Duffy Iii; Caterina Briccoli Bati; Cristos Xiloyannis; Iii; Bati; Donald H. Duffy. Mechanical Tillage Diversely Affects Glomalin Content, Water Stable Aggregates and AM Fungal Community in the Soil Profiles of Two Differently Managed Olive Orchards. Biomolecules 2019, 9, 639 .
AMA StyleLuca Lombardo, Assunta Maria Palese, Filomena Grasso, Donald H. Duffy Iii, Caterina Briccoli Bati, Cristos Xiloyannis, Iii, Bati, Donald H. Duffy. Mechanical Tillage Diversely Affects Glomalin Content, Water Stable Aggregates and AM Fungal Community in the Soil Profiles of Two Differently Managed Olive Orchards. Biomolecules. 2019; 9 (10):639.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuca Lombardo; Assunta Maria Palese; Filomena Grasso; Donald H. Duffy Iii; Caterina Briccoli Bati; Cristos Xiloyannis; Iii; Bati; Donald H. Duffy. 2019. "Mechanical Tillage Diversely Affects Glomalin Content, Water Stable Aggregates and AM Fungal Community in the Soil Profiles of Two Differently Managed Olive Orchards." Biomolecules 9, no. 10: 639.
Aglianicone is an autochthonous variety of black berried wine grape cultivated exclusively in southern Italy, but with limited information on the molecular composition of its grapes. HRMAS NMR spectroscopy was used to identify the primary metabolome of Aglianicone grape pulp from two different vineyards and the observed metabolomic changes reflected the local terroir conditions or harvesting years. Moreover, the berries pulp metabolome was related to Apparent Electrical Conductivity (ECa) maps deriving from on-site near-surface geophysical measurements of vineyard soils obtained by an electromagnetic induction (EMI) technique. Most of primary metabolites of Aglianicone grape varied systematically as a function of the spatial variability of soil properties as well as vineyards terroir and harvesting years. Therefore, the proposed approach that couples HRMAS NMR spectroscopy with ECa maps of vineyard soils represents an innovative support for wine producers who can select the best vine/soil combination to ensure the maximum wine quality.
Pierluigi Mazzei; Giuseppe Celano; Assunta Maria Palese; Egidio Lardo; Marios Drosos; Alessandro Piccolo. HRMAS-NMR metabolomics of Aglianicone grapes pulp to evaluate terroir and vintage effects, and, as assessed by the electromagnetic induction (EMI) technique, spatial variability of vineyard soils. Food Chemistry 2019, 283, 215 -223.
AMA StylePierluigi Mazzei, Giuseppe Celano, Assunta Maria Palese, Egidio Lardo, Marios Drosos, Alessandro Piccolo. HRMAS-NMR metabolomics of Aglianicone grapes pulp to evaluate terroir and vintage effects, and, as assessed by the electromagnetic induction (EMI) technique, spatial variability of vineyard soils. Food Chemistry. 2019; 283 ():215-223.
Chicago/Turabian StylePierluigi Mazzei; Giuseppe Celano; Assunta Maria Palese; Egidio Lardo; Marios Drosos; Alessandro Piccolo. 2019. "HRMAS-NMR metabolomics of Aglianicone grapes pulp to evaluate terroir and vintage effects, and, as assessed by the electromagnetic induction (EMI) technique, spatial variability of vineyard soils." Food Chemistry 283, no. : 215-223.
Compost tea (CT) is an organic liquid product derived from quality compost carrying useful microorganism and molecules capable to protect and stimulate growth of the plants. It is gaining a lot of interest for improving productivity of conventional and/or organic vegetable crops. In this research, the effects of an aerated water-extracted CT obtained from vegetable composts, applied as foliar spray on pepper plants, was evaluated for two years. In the first year, total production increased by 21.9% whereas, in the second year, it increased by 16.3%. The increment of the yields was related to an increase of the number of fruits per plant, whereas the weight of the single fruit was not affected by treatment. In both years, physiological and nutritional status of pepper plants were increased, as resulted by leaf-SPAD assessed during crop cycle. Findings indicate the effectiveness of CT application in improving significantly yield performances of vegetable crops under greenhouse organic farming system.
Massimo Zaccardelli; Catello Pane; Domenica Villecco; Assunta Maria Palese; Giuseppe Celano. Compost tea spraying increases yield performance of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) grown in greenhouse under organic farming system. Italian Journal of Agronomy 2018, 229 -234.
AMA StyleMassimo Zaccardelli, Catello Pane, Domenica Villecco, Assunta Maria Palese, Giuseppe Celano. Compost tea spraying increases yield performance of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) grown in greenhouse under organic farming system. Italian Journal of Agronomy. 2018; ():229-234.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMassimo Zaccardelli; Catello Pane; Domenica Villecco; Assunta Maria Palese; Giuseppe Celano. 2018. "Compost tea spraying increases yield performance of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) grown in greenhouse under organic farming system." Italian Journal of Agronomy , no. : 229-234.
Maria Pergola; Alessandro Persiani; Assunta Maria Palese; Vincenzo Di Meo; Vittoria Pastore; Carmine D’Adamo; Giuseppe Celano. Composting: The way for a sustainable agriculture. Applied Soil Ecology 2018, 123, 744 -750.
AMA StyleMaria Pergola, Alessandro Persiani, Assunta Maria Palese, Vincenzo Di Meo, Vittoria Pastore, Carmine D’Adamo, Giuseppe Celano. Composting: The way for a sustainable agriculture. Applied Soil Ecology. 2018; 123 ():744-750.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaria Pergola; Alessandro Persiani; Assunta Maria Palese; Vincenzo Di Meo; Vittoria Pastore; Carmine D’Adamo; Giuseppe Celano. 2018. "Composting: The way for a sustainable agriculture." Applied Soil Ecology 123, no. : 744-750.
Compost teas are compost-derived liquid products that may potentially induce positive effects on treated crops, including disease suppressiveness and biostimulation of the overall improved plant status. In this work four teas, produced from agricultural and municipal waste compost, were applied in a processing tomato cropping system to gain sustainable diseases management. Field trials showed that teas had a positive impact on health and vegetative status of the plants subjected to natural leaf blights, and induced significant increases of yields. The occurrence of combined suppressive and biostimulation mechanisms, sustained by microbial communities, nutrients supply and carbon-based bioactive compounds, was assumed to underlie the observed effects of tea on plants. Furthermore, NMR spectra suggested that the supramolecular organic structures contained in compost teas may be involved in the inductive processes of biostimulation, including an auxin-like activity. Molecular profiles of organic matter dissolved in teas indicated that the interaction between hydrophobic groups and polysaccharidic moieties could be related to vegetative responses of treated plants. This study provides new insights concerning the comprehension of the overall functionality of compost teas and their applicability in a timely disease management of crop systems.
Catello Pane; Assunta Maria Palese; Riccardo Spaccini; Alessandro Piccolo; Giuseppe Celano; Massimo Zaccardelli. Enhancing sustainability of a processing tomato cultivation system by using bioactive compost teas. Scientia Horticulturae 2016, 202, 117 -124.
AMA StyleCatello Pane, Assunta Maria Palese, Riccardo Spaccini, Alessandro Piccolo, Giuseppe Celano, Massimo Zaccardelli. Enhancing sustainability of a processing tomato cultivation system by using bioactive compost teas. Scientia Horticulturae. 2016; 202 ():117-124.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCatello Pane; Assunta Maria Palese; Riccardo Spaccini; Alessandro Piccolo; Giuseppe Celano; Massimo Zaccardelli. 2016. "Enhancing sustainability of a processing tomato cultivation system by using bioactive compost teas." Scientia Horticulturae 202, no. : 117-124.
The use of compost tea (CT) is becoming interesting for applications in organic agriculture. CTs are oxygenated extracts of compost that give positive effects on the crops because contain bioactive molecules and microorganisms that improve plant growth and health. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of CTs applied as foliar spray and drenching, respectively, on kohlrabi and lettuce cultivation. The CT tested here was originated by an aerated water-extraction of two artichoke and fennel composts. CT treatments considerably improved crop yields. CT, in fact, increased lettuce and kohlrabi commercial yields higher 24% and 32%, respectively. Due to CT, the physiological and nutritional status of the plants increased, as noticed by foliar chlorophyll content assessment measured during crop cycles. The results provided encouraging indications about the practical application of CT in horticultural organic farming system.
Catello Pane; Assunta Maria Palese; Giuseppe Celano; Massimo Zaccardelli. Effects of compost tea treatments on productivity of lettuce and kohlrabi systems under organic cropping management. Italian Journal of Agronomy 2014, 9, 153 .
AMA StyleCatello Pane, Assunta Maria Palese, Giuseppe Celano, Massimo Zaccardelli. Effects of compost tea treatments on productivity of lettuce and kohlrabi systems under organic cropping management. Italian Journal of Agronomy. 2014; 9 (3):153.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCatello Pane; Assunta Maria Palese; Giuseppe Celano; Massimo Zaccardelli. 2014. "Effects of compost tea treatments on productivity of lettuce and kohlrabi systems under organic cropping management." Italian Journal of Agronomy 9, no. 3: 153.
Traditional olive growing can survive only by improving olive farmer income and recognizing its multifunctional role. In this study, we propose a sustainable management model which entails the recycling of urban wastewater and its distribution by drip irrigation and the use of soil management techniques based on the recycling of polygenic carbon sources internal to the olive orchard (cover crops, pruning material). The model was applied for a 8-year period in an olive orchard located in a semi-arid marginal area of Southern Italy. An analysis is performed to evaluate the economical sustainability of the proposed model in comparison to the conventional management system (rainfed conditions, tillage, empirical fertilization, biennial pruning and pruned material burning). Furthermore, the study assesses the environmental benefits coming from the application of the examined orchard management systems focusing especially on CO2 stocks in plants and soil, and anthropogenic and natural CO2 emissions. The sustainable model appears productive and profitable, socially and environmentally sustainable. The significant income received every year by olive growers can persuade them to remain in the territory limiting the urgent phenomena of orchard abandonment, preserving typical landscape, and carrying out an ecological control role against land degradation processe
Assunta Maria Palese; Maria Pergola; Mariafara Favia; Cristos Xiloyannis; Giuseppe Celano. A sustainable model for the management of olive orchards located in semi-arid marginal areas: Some remarks and indications for policy makers. Environmental Science & Policy 2013, 27, 81 -90.
AMA StyleAssunta Maria Palese, Maria Pergola, Mariafara Favia, Cristos Xiloyannis, Giuseppe Celano. A sustainable model for the management of olive orchards located in semi-arid marginal areas: Some remarks and indications for policy makers. Environmental Science & Policy. 2013; 27 ():81-90.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAssunta Maria Palese; Maria Pergola; Mariafara Favia; Cristos Xiloyannis; Giuseppe Celano. 2013. "A sustainable model for the management of olive orchards located in semi-arid marginal areas: Some remarks and indications for policy makers." Environmental Science & Policy 27, no. : 81-90.
Agricultural practices can play an important role in atmospheric CO2 emission and fixation. In this study, we present results on carbon fluxes in the biomass of two typical Mediterranean orchards indicating that proper canopy management coupled with other agricultural techniques could increase the absorption of atmospheric CO2 and its storage.We also discuss the potential environmental contribution of the orchards to enhancement of both soil and air quality. Trials were carried out in southern Italy on olive (Olea europaea L.) and peach orchards (Prunus persica L.) at different age and plant densities. At the end of each vegetative season, values of fixed atmospheric CO2 were calculated by measuring dry matter accumulation and partitioning in the different plant organs. In the early years, sequestered CO2 was primarily distributed in the permanent structures and in the root system while in mature orchards the fixed CO2 was distributed in leaves, pruning materials and fruit. Significant differences in amounts of fixed CO2 were observed in peach orchards cultivated using different planting and training strategies. The results underline the importance of training system, plant density and cultivation techniques in the absorption of atmospheric CO2 and its storage as organic matter in the soil
Adriano Sofo; Vitale Nuzzo; Assunta Maria Palese; Cristos Xiloyannis; Giuseppe Celano; Paul Zukowskyj; Bartolomeo Dichio. Net CO2 storage in mediterranean olive and peach orchards. Scientia Horticulturae 2005, 107, 17 -24.
AMA StyleAdriano Sofo, Vitale Nuzzo, Assunta Maria Palese, Cristos Xiloyannis, Giuseppe Celano, Paul Zukowskyj, Bartolomeo Dichio. Net CO2 storage in mediterranean olive and peach orchards. Scientia Horticulturae. 2005; 107 (1):17-24.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAdriano Sofo; Vitale Nuzzo; Assunta Maria Palese; Cristos Xiloyannis; Giuseppe Celano; Paul Zukowskyj; Bartolomeo Dichio. 2005. "Net CO2 storage in mediterranean olive and peach orchards." Scientia Horticulturae 107, no. 1: 17-24.