1,721,046 research outputs found
The conversion of abandoned chestnut forests to managed ones does not affect the soil chemical properties and improves the soil microbial biomass activity
Full text linkRecently, several hectares of abandoned chestnut forests (ACF) were recovered into chestnut
stands for nut or timber production; however, the effects of such practice on soil mineral horizon
properties are unknown. This work aimed to (1) identify the better chestnut forest management
to maintain or to improve the soil properties during the ACF recovery, and (2) give an insight into
the effect of unmanaged to managed forest conversion on soil properties, taking in consideration
sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) forest ecosystems. The investigation was conducted in an
experimental chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) forest located in the northern part of the Apennine chain
(Italy). We identified an ACF, a chestnut forest for wood production (WCF), and chestnut forests
for nut production with a tree density of 98 and 120 plants ha-1 (NCFL and NCFH, respectively).
WCF, NCFL and NCFH stands are the result of the ACF recovery carried out in 2004. After 15 years
since the ACF recovery, generally, the effects on the main soil chemical properties were negligible.
Some differences occurred for the water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) and microbial biomass and
its activity. NCFL showed the highest WSOC content in the uppermost soil horizon likely due to
higher amount of roots which are source of labile organic compounds. The higher WSOC amount
might explain the greatest amount of microbial biomass in the A horizon of NCFL. Furthermore,
the microbial biomass harboring in the A horizon of NCFL has also shown both a better C use
efficiency and a larger soil organic carbon immobilization in the microbial biomass itself. Our data
would indicate that the ACF recovery into pure chestnut forests did not have negative impacts on soil
chemical and biochemical properties, though chestnut stands for nut production with a low plant
density are the most suitable ones
GIS-BASED PALEO-HYDROGRAPHICAL STUDY FOR TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNING OF THE RENO BASIN USING XVIII CENTURY ANDREA CHIESA HISTORICAL MAPS (BOLOGNA, ITALY)
Full text linkThis paper focuses on the use of GIS with historical maps of the Bologna plain. A. Chiesa was entrusted, in 1732, by the Senate of Bologna to create a geographical map of the entire plain, with particular reference to the waterways, in order to provide an overall view and to plan considerable land reclamation. After digital acquisition, the maps were georeferenced in a new two-stage technique, using the international UTM-WGS84 datum. The elements contained in the maps were digitized using different layers: points for settlements, polylines for the waterways and polygons for marshes. A database was created to complete the digital representation. These data were compared with the current hydrographic situation. The main interest is the understanding of the relationships between paleochannels and micromorphology, in order to prevent hydrogeological risk. The study of the A. Chiesa maps is important to understand the evolution of toponyms, to highlight the centuriation and as a decisional support in territorial development plans. The popularization of the digitally obtained layers over a topographic regional map must be carried out using a webGIS application that is accessible and immediately understandable by the general public
LEACHING TEST OF VITRIFIED FLY ASH AND CERAMIC SLAG FROM AN INCINERATOR OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE (MSW) TREATED WITH Ca(OH)2 AT DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS AND WITH MARLSTONE
Full text linkA public property site, situated on an alluvial terrace of the Idice Stream (Emilia Romagna Region-Italy) was contaminated by a layer of waste, constituted by vitrified fly ashes and ceramic materials produced by an incinerator of municipal solid waste. The waste had high contents of heavy metals which exceeded the Italian legal concentration limits for Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn (D. Lgs. 152/06, all. 5, tab.1). The in-situ remediation of the area was possible. In this study, alternative materials than the Portland cement were tested for the environmental restoration and the further naturalization of the area. Leaching tests were carried out treating the ashes with different concentrations of hydrated lime (CaOH2) and also with lime at 20% concentration and smectic marlstone. At the end of the leaching test, most of the heavy metals in the waste were immobilized in the waste by the lime/marlstone treatment
SOIL DEPLETION DUE TO URBANISATION IN THE AREAS NEAR THE PO RIVER (MUNICIPALITY OF CASTEL S. GIOVANNI, SORBOLO, BONDENO - ITALY)
Full text linkThe loss of soil resources in Italy is particularly evident in the vast plain of the Po River Valley, where urbanisation has led to a progressive depletion of land surface. Built-up areas now cover around 9%, on average, of the total surface area, but in the most densely inhabited communities, lying mainly along the major artery of the Via Emilia, this figure may exceed 20%. The trend shows no signs of relenting, above all because of the demand for large surfaces generated by the tertiary sector. The phenomenon thus needs to be carefully controlled, especially as regards land located near the Po River and its main effluents. The soils in these areas have different pedogenetic and micro-morphological characteristics and support particularly demanding agronomic activities; though the levels of agricultural productivity match the highest levels in Europe, management of the land generally entails the maintenance of efficient water regulation networks. In this context there is a pressing need to investigate the dynamics of changes in land use in relation to soil quality, particularly areas that have undergone urban development
POTENTIALLY TOXIC ELEMENT CYCLES AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MULTIPLE SOURCES IN THE IRRIGATION DITCHES FROM THE RAVENNA COASTAL PLAIN THROUGH TRACE ELEMENTS AND ISOTOPE GEOCHEMISTRY
Full text linkWhile monitoring the physico-chemical characteristics, trace elements and O-H-Sr-B isotopic data were obtained in superficial waters from a number of irrigations canals and ditches in the Ravenna coastal plain, in order to highlight the cycling of potentially toxic elements and the different sources of the solutes. Surveys were conducted during March and July 2008, and considered as representative of the waters in winter and summer, respectively. In summer, the water mass balance in the network is mostly controlled by the ingression of freshwaters from the Canale Emiliano Romagnolo (CER). The O-H isotopic data indicated that, in winter, waters are primarily recharged from Apennine catchments and undergo evaporation to different extents.The boron isotopic signature indicates the important role played by the marine component. A major seawater contribution was evidenced in canals close to the coastline; however, the process controlling the origin of dissolved boron is not solely related to direct mixing with sea water but comprises an additional source probably related to water-soil exchanges and boron of marine origin leaching, owing to the prolonged exposure of alluvial sediments to sea water. An additional boron contribution from the agricultural practice was is also evidenced. Calculation based on the conservative behaviour of chloride ions indicated that in canals and ditches not directly connected with the sea up to the 80% of the Sr budget did not originate from seawater, indicating a source from Al-silicate minerals and supporting the hypothesis of significant soil-water interactions and chemical exchanges.The positive correlation between pH and dissolved oxygen in winter waters is likely to reflect CO2 consumption during algal photosynthesis, favouring the in-situ generation of colloidal particles due to the oxidative precipitation of ferric iron oxy-hydroxides and probably small carbonate particles able to adsorb trace metals on their surface and contribute to the ecosystem dynamics facilitating the transport of metals and affecting their bio-availability and cycling. During summer, the input of freshwater from CER lowered the concentration of most ions and became superimposed to the evaporation-precipitation-exchange cycle, possibly dispersing the colloidal particles which could act as pollutant carriers and enhancing flocculation and precipitation, scavenging trace metals into the sediments
L’abitato d’altura dell’età del Bronzo di Monterenzio Vecchio (Bologna)
No full textL’abitato dell’età del Bronzo di Monterenzio Vecchio (Bologna), era situato in prossimità della cima dell’omonimo monte dell’Appennino Tosco-Emiliano (586 m.s.l.m.). Allo stato attuale delle ricerche sono state individuate tre fasi insediamentali, ciascuna delle quali è suddivisibile in due momenti principali: una preliminare opera di bonifica, a cui faceva seguito la fase di occupazione vera e propria. In base al materiale rinvenuto l’insediamento è riferibile alla fase iniziale del Bronzo recente (1340/1330-1250 a.C. ca.)
SOIL SURVEY AND CLASSIFICATION IN A COMPLEX TERRITORIAL SYSTEM: RAVENNA (ITALY) RELEVE PEDOLOGIQUE ET CLASSIFICATION DES SOLS DANS UN SYSTEME TERRITORIAL COMPLEXE: RAVENNE (ITALIE) RILEVAMENTO PEDOLOGICO E CLASSIFICAZIONE DEI SUOLI IN UN SISTEMA TERRITORIALE COMPLESSO: RAVENNA (ITALIA).
No full textWithin the PRIN 2007-2009 project, "Geochemical balance for the assessment of the agro-environmental quality in a complex territorial system: the case of Ravenna", thirteen profiles have been characterized from a pedologic point of view: nine in a coast pinewood, two in a farm and two in a city park. The profiles have been described, sampled and analysed to the purpose of giving a first outline of the pedologic complexity of areas under examination.
Inside the pinewood, soils are remarkably affected by the topographic position and the closeness of the surface aquifer. Typic Ustipsamments correspond to elevated aquifer depths, Typic Psammaquents correspond to limited depths and Aquic Ustipsamments, to intermediate ones.
The two farm soils fall within the Udifluventic Haplustepts, with a few distinctions determined by a different utilisation of the soil and by the depositional origin.
Also the two soils in the city park fall in the Udifluventic Haplustepts; however, in this case the anthropic interference suggested by the plenty brick fragments detected in the profiles is quite evident.
Keyword: soils classification; soil chemistr
PTEs, BACKGROUND LIMITS AND SUPERFICIAL ENRICHMENT FACTORS, IN LOW PLAIN SOILS OF RAVENNA MUNICIPALITY (ITALY) - EPT, LIMITES DE FOND ET FACTEUR D’ENRICHISSEMENT, IN SOLS DE PLAINE DE COMMUNE DE RAVENNE - PTEs, LIMITI DI BACKGROUND E FATTORI DI ARRICCHIMENTO SUPERFICIALE IN SUOLI DI PIANURA DEL COMUNE DI RAVENNA (ITALIA).
No full textScopo della ricerca è stato quello di verificare il contenuto naturale e la presenza di arricchimenti superficiali, di alcuni PTE in suoli del Comune di Ravenna (Italia). Sono stati campionati 48 siti e prelevati campioni di suolo alla profondità di 0-30 cm e 80-100 cm, andando a quantificare le aliquote totali ed assimilabili di Ag, Cd, Ni e Pb mediante ICP-OES, ed i contenuti totali di Ni e Pb mediante XRF.
La dotazione naturale risulta in linea con i valori di suoli non contaminati. In alcuni siti i valori superficiali di Ag, Ni, Cd e Pb superano i contenuti naturali dell’area. Le aliquote assimilabili sono sempre superiori in superficie che in profondità. Gli indici geochimici sottolineano la duplice provenienza dei sedimenti dell’area esaminata. Lo studio ha evidenziato arricchimenti superficiali per il Cd, nessuno per il Ni. L’analisi statistica ha evidenziato come le misurazioni effettuate con ICP-OES ed XRF restituiscono valori significativamente differenti
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