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Papers by Stefano Amaducci

BACKGROUND. Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) used to be a traditional industrial crop in many regions of... more BACKGROUND. Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) used to be a traditional industrial crop in many regions of Europe and of the World. After many years of aban-don the crisis of agriculture and the need for natur-al raw materials cast a renewed interest over this crop. In the frame of the EU project "HEMP", field experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of agronomic factors over yield and fibre quality. METHODS. The effects of plant density (from 30 to 250 plants m -2) and available nitrogen (100, 160, and 220 kg ha -1) on fibre hemp were studied at Cadriano (BO) over three years 1996 -1998. These two factors were studied on different genotypes, sowing and har-vest times. Significant results for major crop para-meters are reported. RESULTS. Results confirmed that optimal production is obtained with a plant density of 90-100 plants m -2 . The weight of a single plant decreased exponential-ly as plant density increased. The same trend was ob-served in different years and with...

La transizione da metodi irrazionalmente intensivi di parte del mondo agricolo attuale a sistemi ... more La transizione da metodi irrazionalmente intensivi di parte del mondo agricolo attuale a sistemi di Agricoltura Conservativa è già iniziata anche in Italia, pur con qualche lentezza. I nuovi criteri, tecniche, attrezzature vengono man mano integrati con l'esperienza precedente a formare un agrosistema sostenibile, dal punto di vista ecologico, agronomico, sociale ed economico. I vantaggi ambientali ed agronomici sono ormai dimostrati in tante prove sperimentali (Tabaglio e Gavazzi 2009; Mazzoncini et al. 2011), al punto che i programmi di sviluppo rurale di alcune regioni prevedono apposite misure ambientali. La molla più efficace in questa conversione è la riduzione dei costi di produzione, seguita dalla preoccupazione per l'abbassamento della fer-tilità dei terreni, legato al calo della sostanza organica e della stabilità strutturale. La fattibilità della non lavorazione (no-tillage, NT) è già stata provata, compreso il fatto che in certe situazio-ni è inapplicabile, e nec...

Structure, Properties and Technical Applications, 2010

ABSTRACT IntroductionBackground Hemp Cultivation and ImprovementHemp HarvestingHemp ProcessingCon... more ABSTRACT IntroductionBackground Hemp Cultivation and ImprovementHemp HarvestingHemp ProcessingConclusions References

Industrial Crops and Products, 2015

ABSTRACT A collection of 24 clones of Arundo donax, from different geographical areas in Italy, E... more ABSTRACT A collection of 24 clones of Arundo donax, from different geographical areas in Italy, Europe, and China, were evaluated during the first 3 years from transplant. A field trial with 3 replicates was set up in the Po valley (northern Italy) in a sandy loam soil. At harvest, at the end of the second and third year after plantation, biomass yield, average stem number, average stem diameter, and single plant area were determined for each clone. For a selection of clones, chemical analysis and biochemical methane potential (BMP) were also performed. A large variation among clones was found for all the biometric parameters considered and also for biomass yield. It was interesting to note that some clones, while achieving similar biomass yield, had contrasting growth patterns, with some clones producing just a few large stems and others producing many thin ones. As a consequence, a different number of stems per plant area was also found among clones. Chemical analysis highlighted a significant difference among clones for ash (from 5.3% to 8.1%), lignin (from 6.9% to 10.6%), and hemicellulose (from 25.1% to 29.2%) content, while cellulose content was on average 43.4%. BMP ranging from 147 ml g−1 VS to 243 ml g−1 VS and was partially affected by lignin and ash content.

The increasing demand for energy and food, climate change and land availability are causing conce... more The increasing demand for energy and food, climate change and land availability are causing concerns over land-use conflicts within the “food- energy- environment trilemma”. The HEDGE-BIOMASS project addresses the promotion of a new perennial linear landscape element: bioenergy buffers. Bioenergy buffer strips (BBS) are narrow arable field margins and buffer strips along waterways converted to warm-season grasses and short-rotation woody crops for bioenergy applications. Within the HEDGE-BIOMASS project, an extensive review of scientific literature has been performed to identify the state of the art knowledge on perennial biomass crops with particular reference to their capacity to supply ecological services and to define the most suitable biomass supply chain management design. Implementing new bioenergy buffers could significantly enhance the pollination service and natural enemy control in arable crops by neighbouring presence of beneficial organisms on bioenergy buffer. A positi...

International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 2014

Narrow-band multispectral remote sensing techniques and thermal imagery were investigated for wat... more Narrow-band multispectral remote sensing techniques and thermal imagery were investigated for water stress detection in cereal crops. Visible and near infrared AISA Eagle (Specim, Finland) and thermal AHS-160 (Sensytech Inc., USA) imageries were acquired with an airborne survey on a farm-level experimental site where maize (Zea mays L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) were grown with three different irrigation treatments. Vegetation biophysical and eco-physiological measurements were collected concurrently with the airborne campaign. Leaf fluorescence yield ( F/F m ) resulted to be a good indirect measure of water stress. Therefore, F/F m measurements were compared against remotely sensed indicators: (i) the Photochemical Reflectance Index (PRI), (ii) the sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence at 760 nm (F 760 ), retrieved by the Fraunhofer line depth method and (iii) the canopy temperature (T C ) calculated decoupling soil and vegetation contributions. T C was related to F/F m with the highest determination coefficient (R 2 = 0.65), followed by PRI 586 (reference band at 586 nm) (R 2 = 0.51). The relationship with F 760 was significant but weaker (R 2 = 0.36). The coefficient of determination increased up to 0.54 when pigment concentration was considered by multiplying F/F m and chlorophyll content, confirming the close relationship between passive fluorescence signal, pigment content and light photosystem efficiency. PRI 586 , F 760 and T C maps were produced in maize and sorghum plots. The differences in the average values of PRI 586 , F 760 and T C extracted from the plots with different water treatments showed that water treatments were well discriminated in maize plots by the three remotely sensed indicators. This was confirmed by the visual observation of the PRI 586 , F 760 and T C maps, while in sorghum plots, F 760 and T C appeared more sensitive to water stress compared to PRI 586 .

Industrial Crops and Products, 2015

ABSTRACT Fiber hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a sustainable and high yielding industrial crop that ... more ABSTRACT Fiber hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a sustainable and high yielding industrial crop that can help to meet the high global demand for fibers. Hemp can be grown for fiber, seeds, and/or for dual purpose in a wide range of geographic zones and climates. Currently the main hemp producing regions in the world are China, Europe, and Canada. The number of new cultivars developed for each of these regions has gradually increased, with each region producing its own typical hemp cultivars for different purposes. In this article, the state of the art of fiber hemp breeding programs in Europe, China, and Canada are reviewed. The breeding strategies and tools used in the breeding of hemp cultivars are discussed. We also provide an overview of genetic diversity in hemp for different traits. In addition, the current knowledge of the main breeding goals for fiber hemp, which are an improvement of fiber quality and fiber yield, breeding for specific cannabinoid profiles, control of flowering behavior, male flowering control, and breeding of cultivars for specific environments are evaluated. Lastly, we discuss the inestimable value of next generation technologies to breed new hemp cultivars that are suitable for a biobased economy.

GCB Bioenergy, 2014

ABSTRACT To date only few studies have compared the soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration poten... more ABSTRACT To date only few studies have compared the soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration potential between perennial woody and herbaceous crops. The main objective of this study was to assess the effect of perennial woody (poplar, black locust, willow) and herbaceous (giant reed, miscanthus, switchgrass) crops on SOC stock and its stabilization level after six years from plantation on an arable field. Seven SOC fractions related to different soil stabilization mechanisms were isolated by a combination of physical and chemical fractionation methods: unprotected (cPOM and fPOM), physically protected (iPOM), physically and chemically protected (HC-μs+c), chemically protected (HC-ds+c), and biochemically protected (NHC-ds+c and NHC-μs+c). The continuous C input to the soil and the minimal soil disturbance increased SOC stocks in the top 10 cm of soil, but not in deeper soil layers (10-30; 30-60 and 60-100 cm). In the top soil layer, greater SOC accumulation rates were observed under woody species (104 g m−2) than under herbaceous ones (71 g m−2) presumably due to a higher C input from leaf-litter. The conversion from an arable maize monoculture to perennial bioenergy crops increased the organic C associated to the most labile organic matter (POM) fractions, which accounted for 38% of the total SOC stock across bioenergy crops, while no significant increments were observed in more recalcitrant (silt- and clay-sized) fractions, highlighting that the POM fractions were the most prone to land use change. The iPOM fraction increased under all perennial bioenergy species compared to the arable field. In addition, the iPOM was higher under woody crops than under herbaceous ones because of the additional C inputs from leaf-litter that occurred in the former. Conversion from arable cropping systems to perennial bioenergy crops can effectively increase the SOC stock and enlarge the SOC fraction that is physically protected within soil microaggregates.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Industrial Crops and Products, 2014

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a multiuse, multifunctional crop that provides raw material to a lar... more Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a multiuse, multifunctional crop that provides raw material to a large number of traditional and innovative industrial applications. A relatively simple, low input cultivation technique and the sustainability of its products are the main drivers for a future expansion of the hemp crop. In Europe, the large political support of bioenergy in recent years has fuelled numerous studies on the potential cultivation of hemp for bioenergy production. In China the main drivers for a renewed interest in hemp are its traditional applications. For any given destination, the main target of hemp cultivation is the maximization of biomass production, but each end-use destination has specific quality requirements in terms of properties of the bast fibre, characteristics of the oil and proteins in the seeds, or profile of secondary metabolites in the inflorescence.

Remote Sensing, 2014

This paper presents a method for mapping the nitrogen (N) status in a maize field using hyperspec... more This paper presents a method for mapping the nitrogen (N) status in a maize field using hyperspectral remote sensing imagery. An airborne survey was conducted with an AISA Eagle hyperspectral sensor over an experimental farm where maize (Zea mays L.) was grown with two N fertilization levels (0 and 100 kg N ha −1 ) in four replicates. Leaf and canopy field data were collected during the flight. The nitrogen (N) status has been estimated in this work based on the Nitrogen Nutrition Index (NNI), defined as the ratio between the leaf actual N concentration (%N a ) of the crop and the minimum N content required for the maximum biomass production (critical N concentration (%N c )) calculated through the dry mass at the time of the flight (W flight ). The inputs required to calculate the NNI (i.e., %N a and W flight ) have been estimated through regression analyses between field data and remotely sensed vegetation indices. MCARI/MTVI2 (Modified Chlorophyll OPEN ACCESS Remote Sens. 2014, 6 6550

Science of The Total Environment, 2014

This work analyzes the environmental impacts of milk production in an intensive dairy farm situat... more This work analyzes the environmental impacts of milk production in an intensive dairy farm situated in the Northern Italy region of the Po Valley. Three manure management scenarios are compared: in Scenario 1 the animal slurry is stored in an open tank and then used as fertilizer. In scenario 2 the manure is processed in an anaerobic digestion plant and the biogas produced is combusted in an internal combustion engine to produce heat (required by the digester) and electricity (exported). Scenario 3 is similar to scenario 2 but the digestate is stored in a gas-tight tank. In scenario 1 the GHG emissions are estimated to be equal to 1.21 kg CO2 eq.kg(-1) Fat and Protein Corrected Milk (FPCM) without allocation of the environmental burden to the by-product meat. With mass allocation, the GHG emissions associated to the milk are reduced to 1.18 kg CO2 eq.kg(-1) FPCM. Using an economic allocation approach the GHG emissions allocated to the milk are 1.13 kg CO2 eq.kg(-1) FPCM. In scenarios 2 and 3, without allocation, the GHG emissions are reduced respectively to 0.92 (-23.7%) and 0.77 (-36.5%) kg CO2 eq.kg(-1) FPCM. If land use change due to soybean production is accounted for, an additional emission of 0.53 kg CO2 eq. should be added, raising the GHG emissions to 1.74, 1.45 and 1.30 kg CO2 eq kg(-1) FPCM in scenarios 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Primary energy from non-renewable resources decreases by 36.2% and 40.6% in scenarios 2 and 3, respectively, with the valorization of the manure in the biogas plant. The other environmental impact mitigated is marine eutrophication that decreases by 8.1% in both scenarios 2 and 3, mostly because of the lower field emissions. There is, however, a trade-off between non-renewable energy and GHG savings and other environmental impacts: acidification (+6.1% and +5.5% in scenarios 2 and 3, respectively), particulate matter emissions (+1.4% and +0.7%) and photochemical ozone formation potential (+41.6% and +42.3%) increase with the adoption of a biogas plant. The cause of the increase is mostly emissions from the CHP engine. These impacts can be tackled by improving biogas combustion technologies to reduce methane and NOx emissions. Freshwater eutrophication slightly increases (+0.8% in both scenarios 2 and 3) because of the additional infrastructures needed. In conclusion, on-farm manure anaerobic digestion with the production of electricity is an effective technology to significantly reduce global environmental impacts of dairy farms (GHG emissions and non-renewable energy consumption), however local impacts may increase as a consequence (especially photochemical ozone formation).

Plant and Soil, 2008

Page 1. REGULAR ARTICLE Characterisation of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) roots under different growi... more Page 1. REGULAR ARTICLE Characterisation of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) roots under different growing conditions Stefano Amaducci & Alessandro Zatta & Marco Raffanini & Gianpietro Venturi Received: 22 February 2008 ...

Journal of Natural Fibers, 2007

This paper considers the first steps in some of the production chains of hemp.Effects of agronomi... more This paper considers the first steps in some of the production chains of hemp.Effects of agronomic techniques (such as crop density, sowing and harvesting period, and variety) are evaluated. Their influence on biometric characteristics of the crops is studied on the basis of harvesting and first transformation machines. Effects of the interaction between agronomic techniques and machines are considered with respect to the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the product obtained.

Journal of Industrial Hemp, 2005

ABSTRACT This paper reports the preliminary results of a microscopic study carried out on stem cr... more ABSTRACT This paper reports the preliminary results of a microscopic study carried out on stem cross sections of hemp. Stems were harvested from two field experiments carried out in 2001 and 2002 in the north of Italy to compare the monoecious genotype Futura 75 over four plant populations. Fibre characteristics such as cell shape, diameter, maturation and quantity of secondary fibre tended to vary with harvest time, plant density, and between and within internodes. After the end of internode elongation, fibre cells changed from oblong to round shaped and fibre maturation started and progressed to a maximum level. At various moments of the growing cycle, fibre maturity and presence of secondary fibre seemed higher at lower internodes and plant densities.

Journal of Industrial Hemp, 2002

... on Fibre Hemp Morphology and Production Stefano Amaducci Marco Errani Gianpietro Venturi ...M... more ... on Fibre Hemp Morphology and Production Stefano Amaducci Marco Errani Gianpietro Venturi ...Marco Errani and Gianpietro Venturi are affiliated with the Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agroalimentari–Università di Bologna, Italy. Journal of Industrial Hemp, Vol. ...

Industrial Crops and Products, 2012

The optimal combination of yield and quality of hemp fibres from field grown crops is around flow... more The optimal combination of yield and quality of hemp fibres from field grown crops is around flowering. Therefore prediction of flowering time would support in planning production and optimization of the cultivar choice for different agro-ecological zones. In the current paper the validation of a recently published model is carried out for four varieties across a wide range of sites and thus of air temperature-photoperiod combinations. The model was evaluated by comparing its output to field observations of the duration between emergence and 50% flowering. The model output and observed times from emergence to 50% of flowering generally corresponded well, but some discrepancies were apparent. The biggest discrepancies between estimates and actual data were observed at extreme latitudes. The level of accuracy of the model predictions is satisfactory for strategic decision regarding sowing and harvesting time and cultivar choice, but tactical decisions (e.g. time of harvest based on flowering time) cannot be accurately supported.

Industrial Crops and Products, 2000

Four fibre crops (hemp, kenaf, maize and sorghum) considered amongst the most suitable for the co... more Four fibre crops (hemp, kenaf, maize and sorghum) considered amongst the most suitable for the conditions of Northern Italy were compared in 1995 and 1997, over two irrigation regimes (rainfed conditions and restoration of 100% ETp) and in two locations (Bologna and Milano). Three harvests were carried out on each crop at different development stages. At each harvest time data

BACKGROUND. Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) used to be a traditional industrial crop in many regions of... more BACKGROUND. Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) used to be a traditional industrial crop in many regions of Europe and of the World. After many years of aban-don the crisis of agriculture and the need for natur-al raw materials cast a renewed interest over this crop. In the frame of the EU project "HEMP", field experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of agronomic factors over yield and fibre quality. METHODS. The effects of plant density (from 30 to 250 plants m -2) and available nitrogen (100, 160, and 220 kg ha -1) on fibre hemp were studied at Cadriano (BO) over three years 1996 -1998. These two factors were studied on different genotypes, sowing and har-vest times. Significant results for major crop para-meters are reported. RESULTS. Results confirmed that optimal production is obtained with a plant density of 90-100 plants m -2 . The weight of a single plant decreased exponential-ly as plant density increased. The same trend was ob-served in different years and with...

La transizione da metodi irrazionalmente intensivi di parte del mondo agricolo attuale a sistemi ... more La transizione da metodi irrazionalmente intensivi di parte del mondo agricolo attuale a sistemi di Agricoltura Conservativa è già iniziata anche in Italia, pur con qualche lentezza. I nuovi criteri, tecniche, attrezzature vengono man mano integrati con l'esperienza precedente a formare un agrosistema sostenibile, dal punto di vista ecologico, agronomico, sociale ed economico. I vantaggi ambientali ed agronomici sono ormai dimostrati in tante prove sperimentali (Tabaglio e Gavazzi 2009; Mazzoncini et al. 2011), al punto che i programmi di sviluppo rurale di alcune regioni prevedono apposite misure ambientali. La molla più efficace in questa conversione è la riduzione dei costi di produzione, seguita dalla preoccupazione per l'abbassamento della fer-tilità dei terreni, legato al calo della sostanza organica e della stabilità strutturale. La fattibilità della non lavorazione (no-tillage, NT) è già stata provata, compreso il fatto che in certe situazio-ni è inapplicabile, e nec...

Structure, Properties and Technical Applications, 2010

ABSTRACT IntroductionBackground Hemp Cultivation and ImprovementHemp HarvestingHemp ProcessingCon... more ABSTRACT IntroductionBackground Hemp Cultivation and ImprovementHemp HarvestingHemp ProcessingConclusions References

Industrial Crops and Products, 2015

ABSTRACT A collection of 24 clones of Arundo donax, from different geographical areas in Italy, E... more ABSTRACT A collection of 24 clones of Arundo donax, from different geographical areas in Italy, Europe, and China, were evaluated during the first 3 years from transplant. A field trial with 3 replicates was set up in the Po valley (northern Italy) in a sandy loam soil. At harvest, at the end of the second and third year after plantation, biomass yield, average stem number, average stem diameter, and single plant area were determined for each clone. For a selection of clones, chemical analysis and biochemical methane potential (BMP) were also performed. A large variation among clones was found for all the biometric parameters considered and also for biomass yield. It was interesting to note that some clones, while achieving similar biomass yield, had contrasting growth patterns, with some clones producing just a few large stems and others producing many thin ones. As a consequence, a different number of stems per plant area was also found among clones. Chemical analysis highlighted a significant difference among clones for ash (from 5.3% to 8.1%), lignin (from 6.9% to 10.6%), and hemicellulose (from 25.1% to 29.2%) content, while cellulose content was on average 43.4%. BMP ranging from 147 ml g−1 VS to 243 ml g−1 VS and was partially affected by lignin and ash content.

The increasing demand for energy and food, climate change and land availability are causing conce... more The increasing demand for energy and food, climate change and land availability are causing concerns over land-use conflicts within the “food- energy- environment trilemma”. The HEDGE-BIOMASS project addresses the promotion of a new perennial linear landscape element: bioenergy buffers. Bioenergy buffer strips (BBS) are narrow arable field margins and buffer strips along waterways converted to warm-season grasses and short-rotation woody crops for bioenergy applications. Within the HEDGE-BIOMASS project, an extensive review of scientific literature has been performed to identify the state of the art knowledge on perennial biomass crops with particular reference to their capacity to supply ecological services and to define the most suitable biomass supply chain management design. Implementing new bioenergy buffers could significantly enhance the pollination service and natural enemy control in arable crops by neighbouring presence of beneficial organisms on bioenergy buffer. A positi...

International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 2014

Narrow-band multispectral remote sensing techniques and thermal imagery were investigated for wat... more Narrow-band multispectral remote sensing techniques and thermal imagery were investigated for water stress detection in cereal crops. Visible and near infrared AISA Eagle (Specim, Finland) and thermal AHS-160 (Sensytech Inc., USA) imageries were acquired with an airborne survey on a farm-level experimental site where maize (Zea mays L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) were grown with three different irrigation treatments. Vegetation biophysical and eco-physiological measurements were collected concurrently with the airborne campaign. Leaf fluorescence yield ( F/F m ) resulted to be a good indirect measure of water stress. Therefore, F/F m measurements were compared against remotely sensed indicators: (i) the Photochemical Reflectance Index (PRI), (ii) the sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence at 760 nm (F 760 ), retrieved by the Fraunhofer line depth method and (iii) the canopy temperature (T C ) calculated decoupling soil and vegetation contributions. T C was related to F/F m with the highest determination coefficient (R 2 = 0.65), followed by PRI 586 (reference band at 586 nm) (R 2 = 0.51). The relationship with F 760 was significant but weaker (R 2 = 0.36). The coefficient of determination increased up to 0.54 when pigment concentration was considered by multiplying F/F m and chlorophyll content, confirming the close relationship between passive fluorescence signal, pigment content and light photosystem efficiency. PRI 586 , F 760 and T C maps were produced in maize and sorghum plots. The differences in the average values of PRI 586 , F 760 and T C extracted from the plots with different water treatments showed that water treatments were well discriminated in maize plots by the three remotely sensed indicators. This was confirmed by the visual observation of the PRI 586 , F 760 and T C maps, while in sorghum plots, F 760 and T C appeared more sensitive to water stress compared to PRI 586 .

Industrial Crops and Products, 2015

ABSTRACT Fiber hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a sustainable and high yielding industrial crop that ... more ABSTRACT Fiber hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a sustainable and high yielding industrial crop that can help to meet the high global demand for fibers. Hemp can be grown for fiber, seeds, and/or for dual purpose in a wide range of geographic zones and climates. Currently the main hemp producing regions in the world are China, Europe, and Canada. The number of new cultivars developed for each of these regions has gradually increased, with each region producing its own typical hemp cultivars for different purposes. In this article, the state of the art of fiber hemp breeding programs in Europe, China, and Canada are reviewed. The breeding strategies and tools used in the breeding of hemp cultivars are discussed. We also provide an overview of genetic diversity in hemp for different traits. In addition, the current knowledge of the main breeding goals for fiber hemp, which are an improvement of fiber quality and fiber yield, breeding for specific cannabinoid profiles, control of flowering behavior, male flowering control, and breeding of cultivars for specific environments are evaluated. Lastly, we discuss the inestimable value of next generation technologies to breed new hemp cultivars that are suitable for a biobased economy.

GCB Bioenergy, 2014

ABSTRACT To date only few studies have compared the soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration poten... more ABSTRACT To date only few studies have compared the soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration potential between perennial woody and herbaceous crops. The main objective of this study was to assess the effect of perennial woody (poplar, black locust, willow) and herbaceous (giant reed, miscanthus, switchgrass) crops on SOC stock and its stabilization level after six years from plantation on an arable field. Seven SOC fractions related to different soil stabilization mechanisms were isolated by a combination of physical and chemical fractionation methods: unprotected (cPOM and fPOM), physically protected (iPOM), physically and chemically protected (HC-μs+c), chemically protected (HC-ds+c), and biochemically protected (NHC-ds+c and NHC-μs+c). The continuous C input to the soil and the minimal soil disturbance increased SOC stocks in the top 10 cm of soil, but not in deeper soil layers (10-30; 30-60 and 60-100 cm). In the top soil layer, greater SOC accumulation rates were observed under woody species (104 g m−2) than under herbaceous ones (71 g m−2) presumably due to a higher C input from leaf-litter. The conversion from an arable maize monoculture to perennial bioenergy crops increased the organic C associated to the most labile organic matter (POM) fractions, which accounted for 38% of the total SOC stock across bioenergy crops, while no significant increments were observed in more recalcitrant (silt- and clay-sized) fractions, highlighting that the POM fractions were the most prone to land use change. The iPOM fraction increased under all perennial bioenergy species compared to the arable field. In addition, the iPOM was higher under woody crops than under herbaceous ones because of the additional C inputs from leaf-litter that occurred in the former. Conversion from arable cropping systems to perennial bioenergy crops can effectively increase the SOC stock and enlarge the SOC fraction that is physically protected within soil microaggregates.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Industrial Crops and Products, 2014

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a multiuse, multifunctional crop that provides raw material to a lar... more Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a multiuse, multifunctional crop that provides raw material to a large number of traditional and innovative industrial applications. A relatively simple, low input cultivation technique and the sustainability of its products are the main drivers for a future expansion of the hemp crop. In Europe, the large political support of bioenergy in recent years has fuelled numerous studies on the potential cultivation of hemp for bioenergy production. In China the main drivers for a renewed interest in hemp are its traditional applications. For any given destination, the main target of hemp cultivation is the maximization of biomass production, but each end-use destination has specific quality requirements in terms of properties of the bast fibre, characteristics of the oil and proteins in the seeds, or profile of secondary metabolites in the inflorescence.

Remote Sensing, 2014

This paper presents a method for mapping the nitrogen (N) status in a maize field using hyperspec... more This paper presents a method for mapping the nitrogen (N) status in a maize field using hyperspectral remote sensing imagery. An airborne survey was conducted with an AISA Eagle hyperspectral sensor over an experimental farm where maize (Zea mays L.) was grown with two N fertilization levels (0 and 100 kg N ha −1 ) in four replicates. Leaf and canopy field data were collected during the flight. The nitrogen (N) status has been estimated in this work based on the Nitrogen Nutrition Index (NNI), defined as the ratio between the leaf actual N concentration (%N a ) of the crop and the minimum N content required for the maximum biomass production (critical N concentration (%N c )) calculated through the dry mass at the time of the flight (W flight ). The inputs required to calculate the NNI (i.e., %N a and W flight ) have been estimated through regression analyses between field data and remotely sensed vegetation indices. MCARI/MTVI2 (Modified Chlorophyll OPEN ACCESS Remote Sens. 2014, 6 6550

Science of The Total Environment, 2014

This work analyzes the environmental impacts of milk production in an intensive dairy farm situat... more This work analyzes the environmental impacts of milk production in an intensive dairy farm situated in the Northern Italy region of the Po Valley. Three manure management scenarios are compared: in Scenario 1 the animal slurry is stored in an open tank and then used as fertilizer. In scenario 2 the manure is processed in an anaerobic digestion plant and the biogas produced is combusted in an internal combustion engine to produce heat (required by the digester) and electricity (exported). Scenario 3 is similar to scenario 2 but the digestate is stored in a gas-tight tank. In scenario 1 the GHG emissions are estimated to be equal to 1.21 kg CO2 eq.kg(-1) Fat and Protein Corrected Milk (FPCM) without allocation of the environmental burden to the by-product meat. With mass allocation, the GHG emissions associated to the milk are reduced to 1.18 kg CO2 eq.kg(-1) FPCM. Using an economic allocation approach the GHG emissions allocated to the milk are 1.13 kg CO2 eq.kg(-1) FPCM. In scenarios 2 and 3, without allocation, the GHG emissions are reduced respectively to 0.92 (-23.7%) and 0.77 (-36.5%) kg CO2 eq.kg(-1) FPCM. If land use change due to soybean production is accounted for, an additional emission of 0.53 kg CO2 eq. should be added, raising the GHG emissions to 1.74, 1.45 and 1.30 kg CO2 eq kg(-1) FPCM in scenarios 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Primary energy from non-renewable resources decreases by 36.2% and 40.6% in scenarios 2 and 3, respectively, with the valorization of the manure in the biogas plant. The other environmental impact mitigated is marine eutrophication that decreases by 8.1% in both scenarios 2 and 3, mostly because of the lower field emissions. There is, however, a trade-off between non-renewable energy and GHG savings and other environmental impacts: acidification (+6.1% and +5.5% in scenarios 2 and 3, respectively), particulate matter emissions (+1.4% and +0.7%) and photochemical ozone formation potential (+41.6% and +42.3%) increase with the adoption of a biogas plant. The cause of the increase is mostly emissions from the CHP engine. These impacts can be tackled by improving biogas combustion technologies to reduce methane and NOx emissions. Freshwater eutrophication slightly increases (+0.8% in both scenarios 2 and 3) because of the additional infrastructures needed. In conclusion, on-farm manure anaerobic digestion with the production of electricity is an effective technology to significantly reduce global environmental impacts of dairy farms (GHG emissions and non-renewable energy consumption), however local impacts may increase as a consequence (especially photochemical ozone formation).

Plant and Soil, 2008

Page 1. REGULAR ARTICLE Characterisation of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) roots under different growi... more Page 1. REGULAR ARTICLE Characterisation of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) roots under different growing conditions Stefano Amaducci & Alessandro Zatta & Marco Raffanini & Gianpietro Venturi Received: 22 February 2008 ...

Journal of Natural Fibers, 2007

This paper considers the first steps in some of the production chains of hemp.Effects of agronomi... more This paper considers the first steps in some of the production chains of hemp.Effects of agronomic techniques (such as crop density, sowing and harvesting period, and variety) are evaluated. Their influence on biometric characteristics of the crops is studied on the basis of harvesting and first transformation machines. Effects of the interaction between agronomic techniques and machines are considered with respect to the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the product obtained.

Journal of Industrial Hemp, 2005

ABSTRACT This paper reports the preliminary results of a microscopic study carried out on stem cr... more ABSTRACT This paper reports the preliminary results of a microscopic study carried out on stem cross sections of hemp. Stems were harvested from two field experiments carried out in 2001 and 2002 in the north of Italy to compare the monoecious genotype Futura 75 over four plant populations. Fibre characteristics such as cell shape, diameter, maturation and quantity of secondary fibre tended to vary with harvest time, plant density, and between and within internodes. After the end of internode elongation, fibre cells changed from oblong to round shaped and fibre maturation started and progressed to a maximum level. At various moments of the growing cycle, fibre maturity and presence of secondary fibre seemed higher at lower internodes and plant densities.

Journal of Industrial Hemp, 2002

... on Fibre Hemp Morphology and Production Stefano Amaducci Marco Errani Gianpietro Venturi ...M... more ... on Fibre Hemp Morphology and Production Stefano Amaducci Marco Errani Gianpietro Venturi ...Marco Errani and Gianpietro Venturi are affiliated with the Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agroalimentari–Università di Bologna, Italy. Journal of Industrial Hemp, Vol. ...

Industrial Crops and Products, 2012

The optimal combination of yield and quality of hemp fibres from field grown crops is around flow... more The optimal combination of yield and quality of hemp fibres from field grown crops is around flowering. Therefore prediction of flowering time would support in planning production and optimization of the cultivar choice for different agro-ecological zones. In the current paper the validation of a recently published model is carried out for four varieties across a wide range of sites and thus of air temperature-photoperiod combinations. The model was evaluated by comparing its output to field observations of the duration between emergence and 50% flowering. The model output and observed times from emergence to 50% of flowering generally corresponded well, but some discrepancies were apparent. The biggest discrepancies between estimates and actual data were observed at extreme latitudes. The level of accuracy of the model predictions is satisfactory for strategic decision regarding sowing and harvesting time and cultivar choice, but tactical decisions (e.g. time of harvest based on flowering time) cannot be accurately supported.

Industrial Crops and Products, 2000

Four fibre crops (hemp, kenaf, maize and sorghum) considered amongst the most suitable for the co... more Four fibre crops (hemp, kenaf, maize and sorghum) considered amongst the most suitable for the conditions of Northern Italy were compared in 1995 and 1997, over two irrigation regimes (rainfed conditions and restoration of 100% ETp) and in two locations (Bologna and Milano). Three harvests were carried out on each crop at different development stages. At each harvest time data