LIFE CarbOnFarm Progress report

Transcription

1 Annex 7.5 Report Action B.3 Project sites of Piemonte: Beneficiary AGROSELVIT Two project sites were selected within Piemonte region: a horticultural commercial farm called Azienda agricola Grandi Luigi located in Grugliasco, near Turin (Fig. 1), and the Tetto Frati Experimental farm of University of Torino (Fig. 2). Grandi farm is an intensive vegetable farm with open field (11 ha) and protected cultivations (1 ha). Soil farm in not included in Nitrogen Vulnerable Zone, therefore 340 kg N ha-1 is the limit of Nitrogen input. Soil characteristics are the following: texture is sandy-loam, ph around 7, organic matter between 2.2 and 3.3%, and total N from 0.12 to 0.2%. Figure 1. CarbOnFarm field tests within Grandi horticultural farm The Tetto Frati Experimental Farm (Fig.2) lies in the municipality of Carmagnola. The total surface is 11 ha. It is equipped with experimental fields, greenhouses, tunnels, labs, machineries, buildings, shelters, tools and instruments to first manipulate experimental samples, etc. Meteorological data of air temperature and humidity, rainfall, wind direction and speed, solar radiation, and groundwater depth are continuously recorded, in the framework of the Regional Network. Soil properties: Typic Ustifluvent, loam texture, calcareous (ph 8.1), Tetto Frati is regularly frequented by university students and researchers, moreover from December of 2010 Tetto Frati is one of the experimental platforms for long-term ecosystem research of international project Expeer. For these reasons is an excellent site for hosting dissemination activities. Figure 2. Tetto Frati Experimental farm. 1

2 Lettuce and cabbage, representing two of the most common vegetables cultivated in the area, were chose for cultivation in Grandi farm (Fig. 3). Figure 3. Cabbage and lettuce growing on Grandi farm Figure 4. Compost distribution on Tetto Frati farm before maize seeding Maize was instead chosen for cultivation in Tetto Frati Experimental farm in order to investigate the effects of compost input on a well-known pivotal arable crop. The scientific expertise of Beneficiary AGROSELVIT was in fact greatly focused on this crop in the past years and it will allow a comprehensive understanding about the impact of SOM management on its performances. On both farms randomized plot were characterized by different type of organic fertilizer and level of Carbon input 1000 and 2000 kg ha-1 of compost (CMP), and 1000 and 2000 kg ha-1 of solid phases of anaerobic digestion (SSMP). Organic fertilizer are distributed once year during the spring, before soil till (Fig. 4). The agro-technical used for the cultivation of lettuce and cabbage in the farm Grandi and maize in the farm Tetto Frati, were as follows: Crop Date Operation Lettuce 19/5/2014 compost and solid digestate addition and ploughing 28-30/5/2014 harrowing, transplanting 23-27/6/2014 greenseeker 7/7/2014 harvesting Cabbage 8-9/8/2014 1/9/ /11/2014 subsoiler, fertilization, milling, transplanting II fertilization harvesting Maize 3/4/ /4/2014 8/4/ /5/ /6/ /7/ /10/2014 compost and solid digestate addition, ploughing catalyst addition, harrowing, seeding weeds control treatment inter-row surface harrowing, N fertilization greenseeker phytopatological control treatment harvesting 2

3 Grandi farm field scheme. Twenty-four randomized plots (28 m2 each one) were set with six treatments per four replicates: 0 Nitrogen, 1000 and 2000 kg of C ha-1 with compost (CMPB, CMPA); 1000 and 2000 kg of C ha-1 with solid phases of digestate (SSMPB, SSMPA), and traditional agronomic technique. compost Marco Polo basso compost Marco Polo alto matrice di partenza Marco Polo basso matrice di partenza Marco Polo alto concime N testimone 0N gestione porfirina CMPB CMPA SSMPB SSMPA N 0N PORF Tetto Frati farm field scheme. Twentyeight randomized plots (60 m 2 each one) were set with 7 treatments per 4 replicates: 0 Nitrogen, 1000 and 2000 kg of C ha -1 with compost (CMPB, CMPA); 1000 and 2000 kg of C ha -1 with solid phases of digestate (SSMPB, SSMPA); application of biomimetic catalyst (PORF) and traditional agronomic technique. 3

4 Project sites of Campania: Beneficiaries PRIMA LUCE, CRA ORT and UNIBAS Farms: Mellone (orchards); Prima Luce (horticultural crops), The selecting methodology of field plots for horticultural crop and orchard systems, was based on the data acquired by the EMI (Induced Electro Magnetism) system, which provide a visual maps of soil characteristics based on the spatial distribution of physical soil properties (texture, aggregation, porosity, electric conductivity, water content, water holding capacity etc.). This procedure define and quantify the homogeneity of contiguous soil plots, thus allowing to programme and evaluate the SOM treatments in correlation with the different soil properties. The data acquired with EMI system, are imported in GIS system and further analyzed by ESAP software (Electromagnetic Sampling Analysis) Exemplificative scheme of ESAP Flow chart program The SigDPA (Signal Data Pre-processing Algorithms) module of ESAP was developed as a tool in which to prepare and clean up raw survey information files for input into the RSSD module of ESAP. Import files should be in column aligned or comma-delimited text format containing both GPS and soil conductivity survey data. The file cannot contain more than sites and both SigDPA and RSSD are limited to 250 transects. Basic procedure: 1.Import data into SigDPA module of ESAP (Survey data file is in a column aligned ASCII text format for generic sensor file); 2. Check input data (signal correlation plots can be viewed by selecting plot menu); 3. Edit data (during this operation we can adjust EM signal from the EM38 to the datalogger); 4.Create the histograms for signal data; 5. Invoke signal decorrelation end signal validation; 6. Calculate SRS sample site selection RSSD module stands for Response Surface Sampling Design and its function is to generate a sampling design. The EM data is imported in a specific format and basic statistics can be generated to assess the quality of the data, Scatter plots and histograms of the data can also be viewed. The sampling design can be automatic with options for 6, 12 or 20 sampling points or user-generated with any number of sampling sites. The only stipulation is that each sampling point must be tied to a specific EM data point. The Calibrate module is where the conversion of EM data into EC takes place. The 4

5 EM survey data from the RSSD module is imported along with the soil analytical data from soil samples, if the statistical model is the option of choice. In the final EMI maps the different colours correspond to the selected different level of homogeneity of soil properties, thereby highlighting the spatial distribution of, either, minimum and maximum differences and allowing the individuation of representative sampling point for a more comprehensive evaluation of the effect of soil treatments Orchard systems Main features of selected orchard system System Peach Kiwi fruit Working Opening furrows, Shredding, Weeding on the row Opening furrows, Shredding, Weeding on the row Period Grass cover Mulch Irrigation max 3 (Vegetative growth, Summer, end of September) Natural grass cover 4 cuttings (From April onwards every about 60 days) Drip irrigation max 3 (Vegetative growth, summer, end of September) Natural grass cover 4 cuttings (From April onwards every about 60 days) Drip irrigation Volumes Fertilization (m3/ha) (N) units a week from March to July (60-70 units for year) units a week from March to July ( units for year) Selected field, EMI map and sampling zones for Kiwi orchard 5

6 Main soil properties of selected sampling zones of kiwi system Kiwi System EMI ph ECe Skeleton Coarse S Fine S Coarse L Fine L Clay ms/m µs/cm (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) Selected field, EMI map and sampling zones for Peach orchard 6

7 Main soil properties of selected sampling zones of peach system System Peach EMI ph ECe Skeleton Coarse sand Fine sand Coarse silt Fine silt Clay ms/m µs/cm (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) Exemplificative correlation of EMI data with soil properties EMI vs Clay (peach) y x R²

8 The field scheme for on farm compost distribution in orchards is as follows: two systems: kiwi and peach; two composts: A summer and B winter depending on the crop residues used in composting process; three doses 0-control, 1-10 tons ha-1, 2-20 tons ha-1 In each control plots (e.g. A0 and B0) a sub-plot will be established for the addition of 13C labelled on farm compost obtained by sorghum (red square in picture) 13C labelled compost Kiwi Area m2 Compost t/ha K_A K_A K_A K_A K_A K_A K_A K_A K_A K_B K_B K_B K_B K_B K_B K_B K_B K_B Peach Area m2 Compost t/ha P_A P_A P_A P_A P_A P_A P_A P_A P_A P_B P_B P_B P_B P_B P_B P_B P_B P_B C labelled compost 8

9 Horticultural system (Prima Luce) EMI maps for the selection of field plots for horticultural tests The field tests started in October 2014 with the preparation on field plots and compost distribution Horticultural crop: escarole, in double rows; internal distance between rows 0.4 m; external distance 1.40 m; plant distance in the row 0.35 m; each plot is forms by 9 double rows 23 m 23 m 12,5 m A1 B1 12,5 m C1 D1 12,5 m B2 C2 12,5 m D2 A2 12,5 m C3 D3 12,5 m A3 B3 The field scheme is based on 12 randomized plots (280 m2 each one) with 4 treatments: A control no fertilization; B traditional organomineral fertilizer (Oligomax 8/5/10) 250 kg ha-1; C on-farm compost 10 tons ha-1; D on-farm compost 20 tons ha-1 Project site Prima Luce The selected crops is endive escarole (Cichorium endivia L.) cultivated in open field. The treatments were: i) Organic plus mineral fertilization, for a total of 138 kg N ha-1; ii) On farm compost 10 t ha-1 of dry weight plus 63 kg N ha-1 of organic/mineral fertilization; iii) On farm compost 20 t ha-1 of dry weight plus 63 kg N ha-1 of organic/mineral fertilization; iv) Control without amendment and fertilization. 9

10 Amendments with composts for ii) and iii) and fertilization with a commercial organic fertilizer (Olivomax , 75 kg ha-1) for i), were performed on 1st October Endive escarole plants were transplanted on 10 October 2014 (57,000 plants ha 1) in double rows. In all fertilized and amended plots (i, ii and iii), 3,5 + 3,5 kg N ha-1 of an organic liquid fertilizer (Bio Energy, N 7 %) and kg N ha-1 of calcium nitrate (N 15.5 %), were distributed during crop cycle. During cultivation nitrate content, ph, EC, TDS and moisture of soil samples collected from each plots, has been monitored. Moreover, every 7-10 days, SPAD was measured on the leaves of endive escarole. Nitrate content and EC were influenced by treatments only after 50 days from the amendments, in particular in plots under the largest dose of compost (20 t ha-1). Moreover, compost amendments determined an increase of soil moisture in the plots under compost amendments. Conversely, ph was not influenced by treatments. During crop cycle, the use of mineral nitrogen is resulted essential for to improve plant growth and nutrition. Towards the end of cultivation, plants from not amended/not fertilized plots were very bleached. 10

11 Project site of Castel Volturno The set up of filed activities started with the plots preparation on April2014 (Fig.1) Figure 1. Plot formation at project site of Castel Volturno-April 2014 The field operation were as follow: Maize 28/4/2014 Main ploughing 12/5/2014 harrowing 22/5/2014 compost distribution, milling 30/5/2014 Biocatalyst addition 5/6/2014 mineral fertilizers 12/6/2014 seeding 24/6/2014 weeds control 15/7/2014 phytopatological control treatment 23/7/2014 SPAD measurements 1/09/2014 SPAD measurements 22/10/2014 harvesting The soil treatments were as follow (four replicates): TRAD mineral fertilization (N170 kg ha-1, P2O5 122 kg ha-1); COM-B: compost addition (10 t ha-1; P2O5 122 kg ha-1); COM-A compost addition (20 t ha-1; P2O5 122 kg ha-1); PORF: soil addition with biomimetic catalyst (0.5 kg ha-1, N 170 kg ha-1, P2O5 122 kg ha-1). Field plots and GHG chambers Weeds control treatment 11

12 rhizo-bulk soil sampling for PLFA analyses-castel Volturno 22/9/