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Papers by speranza panico

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of Soil Heavy Metal Contamination and Potential Human Health Risk inside Forests, Wildfire Forests and Urban Areas

Environments, Aug 16, 2023

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Research paper thumbnail of Combined effect of black locust invasion and fire on soils of Mediterranean shrublands and pine forests

Research paper thumbnail of Soil Biological Responses under Different Vegetation Types in Mediterranean Area

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022

The knowledge of the effects of fire on soil properties is of particular concern in Mediterranean... more The knowledge of the effects of fire on soil properties is of particular concern in Mediterranean areas, where the effects of vegetation type are still scarce also. This research aimed: to assess the properties of burnt soils under different vegetation types; to highlight the soil abiotic properties driving the soil microbial biomass and activity under each vegetation type; to compare the biological response in unburnt and burnt soils under the same vegetation type, and between unburnt and burnt soils under different vegetation types. The soils were collected at a Mediterranean area where a large wildfire caused a 50% loss of the previous vegetation types (holm oak: HO, pine: P, black locust: BL, and herbs: H), and were characterized by abiotic (pH, water, and organic matter contents; N concentrations; and C/N ratios) and biotic (microbial and fungal biomasses, microbial respiration, soil metabolic quotient, and hydrolase and dehydrogenase activities) properties. The biological resp...

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of Anthropic Impact on Soil Abiotic and Biotic Properties

Soil is a key component of terrestrial areas as it provides many services such as functionality o... more Soil is a key component of terrestrial areas as it provides many services such as functionality of the ecosystems, support organism life and their wellness and sustain plant or crop productivity. Therefore, soils maintain the environmental quality. In the last century, human density rapidly increased, causing strong environmental variations to satisfy their needs and leading to excessive land transformation. Land use changes determine deep alterations of ecosystem functionality that governs physical, chemical and microbiological processes. As soil formation is slower than its consumption, it is necessary to preserve over the time its quality. The research aimed: i) to assess the effects on soil abiotic and biotic properties of human impacts in different ecosystems (urban, agricultural and human managed forest); ii) to provide a minimum data set of soil properties as useful tool for decision-makers to monitor, conserve or improve the soil quality. The main results of the research highlighted that the main soil abiotic properties that were affected by different land-uses were: quantity and quality of organic matter, soil C:N ratio, water content, pH and some heavy metal content. In turns, these properties caused changes in the fungal and bacterial fractions of the soil microbial biomass. Bacteria appeared favored in soils with scarce content of mineralizable substrates and alkaline soil pH, and fungi in soils with water stress condition. In conclusion, only few abiotic and biotic soil properties (organic matter and water content, C:N ratio, bacterial and fungal biomass and microbial respiration) are good indicators of soil quality and crucial factors to take into account in programs for soil recovery

Research paper thumbnail of C and N Pools In Afforested Pine Forests and Natural Shrublands

Aims Plant cover and microclimatic conditions can profoundly alter the balance between productivi... more Aims Plant cover and microclimatic conditions can profoundly alter the balance between productivity and decay, with relevant effects on soil C and N pools. In this contest, the aim of the present study was to assess how, in Mediterranean areas, soil properties and C and N sequestration differs between afforested pine forests and natural shrublands in different microclimatic conditions at low and high elevations. Methods The study was performed along the soil pro le distinguishing between the organic layers, fermentation and humic layers, and surface mineral soils. The comparison between plant covers and elevations were carried out for C and N pools and soluble fractions, molecular characterization by solid state 13 C NMR of organic layers and by 1 HNMR of soil soluble fractions, potential mineralization rates and microbial and fungal amounts. Results Our data con rm that coniferous tree species sequester C faster than shrubs and herbaceous species especially at low elevation under favourable microclimatic conditions. Soil C and N pools re ect changes in the chemical composition of the upper organic layers and of soil soluble organic matter. In pine forests, the higher concentration of N in the upper organic layer speeds up the N loss in the fermentative layer and stimulates humus formation and C accumulation at low elevations. Conclusions Plant cover and microclimatic conditions drive the C sequestration rate and the soil organic matter stability. Chemical changes highlighted by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy can clarify patterns of decay processes and help to make predictions in a climate change scenario.

Research paper thumbnail of Integrated Approach for Quality Assessment of Technosols in Experimental Mesocosms

Sustainability, 2021

The assessment of Technosols quality in urban environments is pivotal for the maintenance of ecos... more The assessment of Technosols quality in urban environments is pivotal for the maintenance of ecosystems impacted by human activities. The study was performed on Technosols constructed in experimental mesocosms in the suburban area of Naples (Southern Italy) to highlight changes in the main soil properties over eight years and to identify the most suitable indices at quality monitoring. In this study, several chemical, biological, and integrated indices were analysed to evaluate the mineral accumulation, potential ecological risk, edaphon activity, fertility, and the overall soil quality. The Technosols showed alkaline pH, nitrogen ranged from 24.5 to 39.5 g kg−1, high organic matter contents above 40 g kg−1, and there were no evident processes of soil compaction. Heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) did not exceed the thresholds defined by the Italian law for urban soils, despite their volcanic components. During eight years, the chemical indices depicted changes in the...

Research paper thumbnail of Soil quality of a degraded urban area

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of Anthropic Activities on Soil Quality under Different Land Uses

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021

Anthropization often leads to land use transformation, causing deep changes to soil properties an... more Anthropization often leads to land use transformation, causing deep changes to soil properties and its quality. Land use change could be an environmental and socioeconomic problem, as it impacts soil quality and ecosystem services. There is an urgent need to understand the pressures affecting soil quality. The aim of the work is to quantify the impact of different land uses on soil abiotic and biotic properties and on its quality. To achieve the aims, soils from different land uses (forest, urban and agricultural) were collected in the surroundings of Naples and analyzed for pH, water content, contents of C and N, C/N ratio and total and available concentrations of Cu, Ni and Pb, microbial and fungal biomasses, basal respiration and metabolic quotient. Then, a soil quality index (SQI) was calculated for each land use. The results showed that soil abiotic and biotic properties of the agricultural sites differed from those of forest and urban sites. At agricultural sites, microbial ab...

Research paper thumbnail of Differences in soil carbon and nitrogen pools between afforested pine forests and natural shrublands in a Mediterranean area

Applied Soil Ecology, 2022

Abstract Plant cover and microclimatic conditions can profoundly alter the balance between produc... more Abstract Plant cover and microclimatic conditions can profoundly alter the balance between productivity and decay, with relevant effects on soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools. Despite their importance, the combined effects of plant cover and microclimatic conditions on soil C and N pools have been poorly assessed, especially in the Mediterranean environment. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to assess how, in Mediterranean areas, C and N pools differ between afforested pine forests and natural shrublands and to highlight the different impacts of plant cover on C and N sequestration at low and high elevations Along a forest floor-mineral soil continuum, plant cover and elevation effects were evaluated through measurements of C and N pools and water-soluble fractions, molecular characterization by 13C and 1H NMR, and microbial and fungal amounts and activities. Our data show that C accumulated more in afforested pine forest soils than in shrubland soils, especially at low elevations. In pine forests, the higher content of aromatic and O alkyl compounds in the upper organic layers and the abundance of aromatic and carboxylic components in the soluble fraction suggest a greater stability of soil organic matter than in shrublands. Additionally, the high concentration of N in the upper organic layer and its reduction in the fermentative layer stimulate soil C accumulation mainly in pine forests at low elevations. The abundant organic mass at high elevations in pine forests improves microbial growth, whereas the greater recalcitrance of organic residues at low elevations in pine forests leads to a decrease in the bacterial component compared with the fungal component. In conclusion, the plant cover effect appears to be strongly conditioned by elevation, and afforestation with pine at low elevations could favour long-term soil C storage.

Research paper thumbnail of Stability of mediterranean burnt soils under different plant covers

CATENA, 2021

Abstract In Mediterranean areas, fires are accelerators of soil degradation and the definition of... more Abstract In Mediterranean areas, fires are accelerators of soil degradation and the definition of the time extent to re-establish the soil community is a great challenge. The aims of the research were to evaluate, during two years after a fire: i) the potential recover of the soil abiotic properties; ii) the stability (resistance or resilience) of the soil microbial community; iii) the potential role of different plant covers on soil recover capability. To reach the aims, soil properties as organic matter content, C and N concentrations, microbial (MB) and fungal (FB) biomasses, respiration (Resp) and coefficient of endogenous mineralization (CEM) were measured twelve, fifteen, eighteen and twenty-four months after fire, and were compared to those in pre-fire soils. The results showed that the MB was less resistant in soils under herbs and black locust, and more resilient under pine and holm oak; FB showed low resistance till one year after fire regardless to the plant cover, and high resilience at two years after fire, especially under holm oak and pine; Resp greatly slowed down and did not recover the initial values regardless to the plant cover; CEM resisted to fire in soils under different plant covers. In conclusion, the soil abiotic properties were strongly affected by plant covers, whereas the biotic ones also by the time since fire. Finally, soils under holm oak were the most fire resistant.

Research paper thumbnail of Early post-fire changes in properties of Andosols within a Mediterranean area

Geoderma, 2021

Abstract The increasing frequency and extent of forest fires cause severe temporal effects on soi... more Abstract The increasing frequency and extent of forest fires cause severe temporal effects on soil properties, which knowledge about is controversial or lacking. So, the research aimed to evaluate changes in Mediterranean Andosol properties (pH, water and organic matter contents, C and N concentrations) and total and available Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Ni and Pb concentrations 1 and 2 years after fire occurrence, comparing them to the pre-fire ones. The results underline that, in the investigated Mediterranean Andosols, fire caused significant decrease in water and organic matter contents, C, Fe and Mg total concentrations as well as significant increase in pH, total Ca, K, Fe, Na concentrations and available Cu and Pb fractions. After fire, temporal changes of soil element concentrations occurred at different speeds, as Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg and Ni total concentrations changed already 1 year after fire occurrence; whereas, K and Na total concentrations changed only after two years. Finally, 2 years after fire none of the investigated soil properties reached the pre-fire values, suggesting a whole worsening of soil conditions. The early responses of soils to fire are useful to predict the evolution of the system, the relationships between below and above ground and to provide useful tools for management practices.

Research paper thumbnail of Linkage Between Site Features and Soil Characteristics Within a Mediterranean Volcanic Area

Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 2021

Altitude, exposure, and plant cover may have a significant impact on the soil system, affecting i... more Altitude, exposure, and plant cover may have a significant impact on the soil system, affecting its abiotic characteristics and, in turn, soil microbial composition and activity. In the Mediterranean area, the relationships among environmental features and soil characteristics are still scarcely investigated. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of altitude, slope exposure, and plant cover on soil abiotic characteristics and the responses of the soil microbial community. Surface soil was sampled at 32 field points of the Vesuvius Mountain (Southern Italy) at two slope exposures (North and South), two altitudes (600 and 900 m a.s.l), and under two different plant covers (pines and shrubs), and it was analyzed for soil abiotic and biotic characteristics. The results showed that soil characteristics mainly differed according to site altitude, but some characteristics also changed according to site exposure and plant cover. The soil organic carbon (Corg) showed significant hi...

Research paper thumbnail of Combined Effects of Wildfire and Vegetation Cover Type on Volcanic Soil (Functions and Properties) in a Mediterranean Region: Comparison of Two Soil Quality Indices

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021

Mediterranean regions are the most impacted by fire in Europe. The effects of fire on soil greatl... more Mediterranean regions are the most impacted by fire in Europe. The effects of fire on soil greatly vary according to several factors such as vegetation cover type, but they are scarcely studied. Therefore, this research aimed at evaluating the combined impacts of fire and vegetation on single soil characteristics and on the overall soil quality and functionality through two soil quality indices, simple additive (SQI) and a weighted function (SQIFUNCT). In order to reach the aims, burnt and unburnt soils were collected under different vegetation cover types (herbs and shrubs, black locust, pine and holm oak) within the Vesuvius National Park. The soils were analyzed for the main abiotic (water and organic matter content, total C, N, Ca, K, Cu and Pb concentrations, C/N ratio) and biotic (microbial and fungal biomasses, basal respiration, β-glucosidase activity) characteristics. On the basis of the investigated soil characteristics, several soil functions (water retention, nutrient su...

Research paper thumbnail of Relationships Between Leaf Exposure Time to Air Pollution and Metal and Particulate Matter Accumulation for Holm Oak Leaves

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 2020

Plants play a fundamental role by intercepting air particulate matter (PM) and improving air qual... more Plants play a fundamental role by intercepting air particulate matter (PM) and improving air quality. The link between the accumulation of pollutants and the leaf exposure time to air pollution remains unclear as it depends on different factors. The aim of this study is to test if the metal and PM accumulation in holm oak leaf is linked to exposure time to air pollution. For this study, 1-(1y) and 2-year (2y) old holm oak leaves were sampled in an urban area near Naples. Those leaves were analyzed to measure the amount of particulate matter (PM 2.5-10 and PM >10) and the Cr, Cu, Mn, and Ni metal concentrations. The results displayed that leaf Cr, Cu, and Mn accumulation are linked to exposure time, whereas leaf PM deposit was not directly linked to the exposure time. PM deposit on leaves could be influenced by rainfall events or by the saturation of leaves' surface.

Research paper thumbnail of Do Wildfires Cause Changes in Soil Quality in the Short Term?

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020

Wildfires have high frequency and intensity in the Mediterranean ecosystems that deeply modify th... more Wildfires have high frequency and intensity in the Mediterranean ecosystems that deeply modify the soil abiotic (i.e., pH, contents of water, organic matter and elements) and biotic properties (i.e., biomass and activity). In 2017, an intense wildfire occurred inside the Vesuvius National Park (Southern Italy), destroying approximately 50% of the existing plant cover. So, the research aimed to evaluate the fire effects on soil quality through single soil abiotic and biotic indicators and through an integrated index (SQI). To achieve the aim, soil samples were collected inside the Vesuvius National Park at 12 sampling field points before fire (BF) and after fire (AF). The findings highlighted that in AF soil, the contents of water and total carbon, element availability, respiration and the dehydrogenase activity were lower than in BF soil; in contrast, pH and hydrolase activity were significantly higher in AF soil. The microbial biomass and activity were affected by Al, Cr and Cu ava...

Research paper thumbnail of Leaf traits of Quercus ilex L. affect particulate matter accumulation

Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 2020

In urban areas, particulate matter (PM) is the most abundant airborne pollutant. Plants have been... more In urban areas, particulate matter (PM) is the most abundant airborne pollutant. Plants have been reported to filter PM, as leaves may intercept and adsorb it. The aims of the research were: i) to evaluate if leaves of Quercus ilex L., an ornamental species proven to be a good monitor of air quality, of different ages (1 and 2 years old) differed for the main leaf traits; ii) to assess the efficiency of Q. ilex L. leaves of different ages to intercept particulate matter of two sizes (PM > 10 and PM 10); iii) to highlight the leaf traits that enhanced the accumulation of PM > 10 and PM 10 on leaf surface. The research was performed at four municipalities on the outskirts of Naples (Southern Italy). In April 2018, Q. ilex L. leaves of one and two years old were collected and then described for length, width, area, thickness, circularity, dry matter content and petiole length. The tested hypotheses were: older leaves, that should have high values of the investigated leaf traits, intercept and accumulate greater amounts of PM; leaves with greater circularity, width and length, and with lower dry matter content are expected to accumulate more PM. The findings highlighted that Q. ilex leaves of different ages did not statistically differ neither for the investigated leaf traits nor for the amounts of accumulated PM > 10 and PM 10 ; the greater amount of PM was observed in Q. ilex leaves with higher circularity and lower dry matter content; smaller width leaves seem to favour the accumulation of PM > 10 and those with smaller length the accumulation of PM 10 .

Research paper thumbnail of Variations of agricultural soil quality during the growth stages of sorghum and sunflower

Applied Soil Ecology, 2020

Plant species and growth stage can differently affect the structure and functionality of soil mic... more Plant species and growth stage can differently affect the structure and functionality of soil microbial community. Besides, microorganism amount and functional diversity can dynamically respond to management practices, such as soil tillage and mineral fertilization that, in turn, can modify soil quality. In this study, we investigated the effects of two crop species, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), on soil microbial biomass, activity and diversity at a flat agricultural site. We evaluated the structure and the activity of microbial community in root-influenced soil (close to roots) and bulk soil (devoid of roots), during different plant growth stages, and we calculated a soil quality index, before sowing time and during the crops growth. The principal component analyses highlighted variations in soil properties at different plant growth stages, regardless of the crop species. At the first and the last stage of plant growth, microbial biomass, catabolic evenness, Shannon index and catabolic response to carbohydrates showed statistically lower values in root-influenced soil than in bulk soil. At the plant flowering, the lowest values of organic matter and N contents in root-influenced soil were related to an increase of catabolic responses to amino and carboxylic acids. Before plant harvesting, the highest soil metabolic quotient values were calculated, suggesting the presence of stress conditions for the soil microbial community and low energetic substrates use efficiency. Soil mineral fertilization induced decreases of soil pH and microbial diversity, favoring the fungal component rather than the bacterial one. Plant growth and crop management affected also soil N 2 O emission. Finally, a clear decrease of the soil quality index was measured during plant growth and statistically significant differences between close to roots and devoid of roots soils already occurred after two weeks since sowing.

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of different vegetation types on burnt soil properties and microbial communities

International Journal of Wildland Fire, 2020

The intensive wildfires recurring in the Mediterranean area modify soil physico-chemical properti... more The intensive wildfires recurring in the Mediterranean area modify soil physico-chemical properties, in turn inducing changes in soil microbial abundance and activity. Soils were sampled from burnt and adjacent unburnt sites within Vesuvius National Park 1 year after a large wildfire occurred in summer 2017. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the effects of fires on soil characteristics and to investigate whether different plant types contribute to mitigating or enhancing these effects. The results showed lower organic matter and water content and a higher C/N ratio in burnt than in unburnt soils. In particular, this trend was the same for all the plant types investigated, with the exception of soils covered by black locust tree and holm oak, which showed a higher C/N ratio in unburnt than in burnt soils. In soils covered by holm oaks, a shift in the bacterial and fungal fractions occurred between burnt and unburnt soils, whereas the amount of ammonia oxidisers was notab...

Research paper thumbnail of Species‐specific root proliferation of tree seedlings in tropical litter: do nutrients matter?

Oikos, 2019

This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been th... more This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as

Research paper thumbnail of Volcanic soil phytotoxicity in a burnt Mediterranean area

CATENA, 2019

Mediterranean regions, because of climate and vegetation, are affected by high incidence of wildf... more Mediterranean regions, because of climate and vegetation, are affected by high incidence of wildfires that modify soil characteristics. The aims of the present research were to investigate: 1) the phytotoxicity of soils collected before and after fire; ii) the probable variations in phytotoxicity of soils under different pre-existent vegetation covers (black pines, black locusts, holm oaks and herbaceous); iii) the probable variations in phytotoxicity of surface (0-10 cm) and deep (10-20 cm) soils. The impact of fires on soil phytotoxicity was estimated through root elongation, seed germination and germination index of Sorghum saccharatum L. and Lepidium sativum L. The research was performed inside the Vesuvius National Park (Naples, Southern Italy). The results highlighted that S. saccharatum L. was more sensitive to the effects due to fires. In fact, the assays performed by S. saccharatum L. highlighted a transition from inhibitory effects before fire to stimulating effects after fire, lower values for soils under black pines and holm oaks, and higher toxicity in deep than surface layers of soils.

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of Soil Heavy Metal Contamination and Potential Human Health Risk inside Forests, Wildfire Forests and Urban Areas

Environments, Aug 16, 2023

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Research paper thumbnail of Combined effect of black locust invasion and fire on soils of Mediterranean shrublands and pine forests

Research paper thumbnail of Soil Biological Responses under Different Vegetation Types in Mediterranean Area

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022

The knowledge of the effects of fire on soil properties is of particular concern in Mediterranean... more The knowledge of the effects of fire on soil properties is of particular concern in Mediterranean areas, where the effects of vegetation type are still scarce also. This research aimed: to assess the properties of burnt soils under different vegetation types; to highlight the soil abiotic properties driving the soil microbial biomass and activity under each vegetation type; to compare the biological response in unburnt and burnt soils under the same vegetation type, and between unburnt and burnt soils under different vegetation types. The soils were collected at a Mediterranean area where a large wildfire caused a 50% loss of the previous vegetation types (holm oak: HO, pine: P, black locust: BL, and herbs: H), and were characterized by abiotic (pH, water, and organic matter contents; N concentrations; and C/N ratios) and biotic (microbial and fungal biomasses, microbial respiration, soil metabolic quotient, and hydrolase and dehydrogenase activities) properties. The biological resp...

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of Anthropic Impact on Soil Abiotic and Biotic Properties

Soil is a key component of terrestrial areas as it provides many services such as functionality o... more Soil is a key component of terrestrial areas as it provides many services such as functionality of the ecosystems, support organism life and their wellness and sustain plant or crop productivity. Therefore, soils maintain the environmental quality. In the last century, human density rapidly increased, causing strong environmental variations to satisfy their needs and leading to excessive land transformation. Land use changes determine deep alterations of ecosystem functionality that governs physical, chemical and microbiological processes. As soil formation is slower than its consumption, it is necessary to preserve over the time its quality. The research aimed: i) to assess the effects on soil abiotic and biotic properties of human impacts in different ecosystems (urban, agricultural and human managed forest); ii) to provide a minimum data set of soil properties as useful tool for decision-makers to monitor, conserve or improve the soil quality. The main results of the research highlighted that the main soil abiotic properties that were affected by different land-uses were: quantity and quality of organic matter, soil C:N ratio, water content, pH and some heavy metal content. In turns, these properties caused changes in the fungal and bacterial fractions of the soil microbial biomass. Bacteria appeared favored in soils with scarce content of mineralizable substrates and alkaline soil pH, and fungi in soils with water stress condition. In conclusion, only few abiotic and biotic soil properties (organic matter and water content, C:N ratio, bacterial and fungal biomass and microbial respiration) are good indicators of soil quality and crucial factors to take into account in programs for soil recovery

Research paper thumbnail of C and N Pools In Afforested Pine Forests and Natural Shrublands

Aims Plant cover and microclimatic conditions can profoundly alter the balance between productivi... more Aims Plant cover and microclimatic conditions can profoundly alter the balance between productivity and decay, with relevant effects on soil C and N pools. In this contest, the aim of the present study was to assess how, in Mediterranean areas, soil properties and C and N sequestration differs between afforested pine forests and natural shrublands in different microclimatic conditions at low and high elevations. Methods The study was performed along the soil pro le distinguishing between the organic layers, fermentation and humic layers, and surface mineral soils. The comparison between plant covers and elevations were carried out for C and N pools and soluble fractions, molecular characterization by solid state 13 C NMR of organic layers and by 1 HNMR of soil soluble fractions, potential mineralization rates and microbial and fungal amounts. Results Our data con rm that coniferous tree species sequester C faster than shrubs and herbaceous species especially at low elevation under favourable microclimatic conditions. Soil C and N pools re ect changes in the chemical composition of the upper organic layers and of soil soluble organic matter. In pine forests, the higher concentration of N in the upper organic layer speeds up the N loss in the fermentative layer and stimulates humus formation and C accumulation at low elevations. Conclusions Plant cover and microclimatic conditions drive the C sequestration rate and the soil organic matter stability. Chemical changes highlighted by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy can clarify patterns of decay processes and help to make predictions in a climate change scenario.

Research paper thumbnail of Integrated Approach for Quality Assessment of Technosols in Experimental Mesocosms

Sustainability, 2021

The assessment of Technosols quality in urban environments is pivotal for the maintenance of ecos... more The assessment of Technosols quality in urban environments is pivotal for the maintenance of ecosystems impacted by human activities. The study was performed on Technosols constructed in experimental mesocosms in the suburban area of Naples (Southern Italy) to highlight changes in the main soil properties over eight years and to identify the most suitable indices at quality monitoring. In this study, several chemical, biological, and integrated indices were analysed to evaluate the mineral accumulation, potential ecological risk, edaphon activity, fertility, and the overall soil quality. The Technosols showed alkaline pH, nitrogen ranged from 24.5 to 39.5 g kg−1, high organic matter contents above 40 g kg−1, and there were no evident processes of soil compaction. Heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) did not exceed the thresholds defined by the Italian law for urban soils, despite their volcanic components. During eight years, the chemical indices depicted changes in the...

Research paper thumbnail of Soil quality of a degraded urban area

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of Anthropic Activities on Soil Quality under Different Land Uses

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021

Anthropization often leads to land use transformation, causing deep changes to soil properties an... more Anthropization often leads to land use transformation, causing deep changes to soil properties and its quality. Land use change could be an environmental and socioeconomic problem, as it impacts soil quality and ecosystem services. There is an urgent need to understand the pressures affecting soil quality. The aim of the work is to quantify the impact of different land uses on soil abiotic and biotic properties and on its quality. To achieve the aims, soils from different land uses (forest, urban and agricultural) were collected in the surroundings of Naples and analyzed for pH, water content, contents of C and N, C/N ratio and total and available concentrations of Cu, Ni and Pb, microbial and fungal biomasses, basal respiration and metabolic quotient. Then, a soil quality index (SQI) was calculated for each land use. The results showed that soil abiotic and biotic properties of the agricultural sites differed from those of forest and urban sites. At agricultural sites, microbial ab...

Research paper thumbnail of Differences in soil carbon and nitrogen pools between afforested pine forests and natural shrublands in a Mediterranean area

Applied Soil Ecology, 2022

Abstract Plant cover and microclimatic conditions can profoundly alter the balance between produc... more Abstract Plant cover and microclimatic conditions can profoundly alter the balance between productivity and decay, with relevant effects on soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools. Despite their importance, the combined effects of plant cover and microclimatic conditions on soil C and N pools have been poorly assessed, especially in the Mediterranean environment. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to assess how, in Mediterranean areas, C and N pools differ between afforested pine forests and natural shrublands and to highlight the different impacts of plant cover on C and N sequestration at low and high elevations Along a forest floor-mineral soil continuum, plant cover and elevation effects were evaluated through measurements of C and N pools and water-soluble fractions, molecular characterization by 13C and 1H NMR, and microbial and fungal amounts and activities. Our data show that C accumulated more in afforested pine forest soils than in shrubland soils, especially at low elevations. In pine forests, the higher content of aromatic and O alkyl compounds in the upper organic layers and the abundance of aromatic and carboxylic components in the soluble fraction suggest a greater stability of soil organic matter than in shrublands. Additionally, the high concentration of N in the upper organic layer and its reduction in the fermentative layer stimulate soil C accumulation mainly in pine forests at low elevations. The abundant organic mass at high elevations in pine forests improves microbial growth, whereas the greater recalcitrance of organic residues at low elevations in pine forests leads to a decrease in the bacterial component compared with the fungal component. In conclusion, the plant cover effect appears to be strongly conditioned by elevation, and afforestation with pine at low elevations could favour long-term soil C storage.

Research paper thumbnail of Stability of mediterranean burnt soils under different plant covers

CATENA, 2021

Abstract In Mediterranean areas, fires are accelerators of soil degradation and the definition of... more Abstract In Mediterranean areas, fires are accelerators of soil degradation and the definition of the time extent to re-establish the soil community is a great challenge. The aims of the research were to evaluate, during two years after a fire: i) the potential recover of the soil abiotic properties; ii) the stability (resistance or resilience) of the soil microbial community; iii) the potential role of different plant covers on soil recover capability. To reach the aims, soil properties as organic matter content, C and N concentrations, microbial (MB) and fungal (FB) biomasses, respiration (Resp) and coefficient of endogenous mineralization (CEM) were measured twelve, fifteen, eighteen and twenty-four months after fire, and were compared to those in pre-fire soils. The results showed that the MB was less resistant in soils under herbs and black locust, and more resilient under pine and holm oak; FB showed low resistance till one year after fire regardless to the plant cover, and high resilience at two years after fire, especially under holm oak and pine; Resp greatly slowed down and did not recover the initial values regardless to the plant cover; CEM resisted to fire in soils under different plant covers. In conclusion, the soil abiotic properties were strongly affected by plant covers, whereas the biotic ones also by the time since fire. Finally, soils under holm oak were the most fire resistant.

Research paper thumbnail of Early post-fire changes in properties of Andosols within a Mediterranean area

Geoderma, 2021

Abstract The increasing frequency and extent of forest fires cause severe temporal effects on soi... more Abstract The increasing frequency and extent of forest fires cause severe temporal effects on soil properties, which knowledge about is controversial or lacking. So, the research aimed to evaluate changes in Mediterranean Andosol properties (pH, water and organic matter contents, C and N concentrations) and total and available Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Ni and Pb concentrations 1 and 2 years after fire occurrence, comparing them to the pre-fire ones. The results underline that, in the investigated Mediterranean Andosols, fire caused significant decrease in water and organic matter contents, C, Fe and Mg total concentrations as well as significant increase in pH, total Ca, K, Fe, Na concentrations and available Cu and Pb fractions. After fire, temporal changes of soil element concentrations occurred at different speeds, as Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg and Ni total concentrations changed already 1 year after fire occurrence; whereas, K and Na total concentrations changed only after two years. Finally, 2 years after fire none of the investigated soil properties reached the pre-fire values, suggesting a whole worsening of soil conditions. The early responses of soils to fire are useful to predict the evolution of the system, the relationships between below and above ground and to provide useful tools for management practices.

Research paper thumbnail of Linkage Between Site Features and Soil Characteristics Within a Mediterranean Volcanic Area

Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 2021

Altitude, exposure, and plant cover may have a significant impact on the soil system, affecting i... more Altitude, exposure, and plant cover may have a significant impact on the soil system, affecting its abiotic characteristics and, in turn, soil microbial composition and activity. In the Mediterranean area, the relationships among environmental features and soil characteristics are still scarcely investigated. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of altitude, slope exposure, and plant cover on soil abiotic characteristics and the responses of the soil microbial community. Surface soil was sampled at 32 field points of the Vesuvius Mountain (Southern Italy) at two slope exposures (North and South), two altitudes (600 and 900 m a.s.l), and under two different plant covers (pines and shrubs), and it was analyzed for soil abiotic and biotic characteristics. The results showed that soil characteristics mainly differed according to site altitude, but some characteristics also changed according to site exposure and plant cover. The soil organic carbon (Corg) showed significant hi...

Research paper thumbnail of Combined Effects of Wildfire and Vegetation Cover Type on Volcanic Soil (Functions and Properties) in a Mediterranean Region: Comparison of Two Soil Quality Indices

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021

Mediterranean regions are the most impacted by fire in Europe. The effects of fire on soil greatl... more Mediterranean regions are the most impacted by fire in Europe. The effects of fire on soil greatly vary according to several factors such as vegetation cover type, but they are scarcely studied. Therefore, this research aimed at evaluating the combined impacts of fire and vegetation on single soil characteristics and on the overall soil quality and functionality through two soil quality indices, simple additive (SQI) and a weighted function (SQIFUNCT). In order to reach the aims, burnt and unburnt soils were collected under different vegetation cover types (herbs and shrubs, black locust, pine and holm oak) within the Vesuvius National Park. The soils were analyzed for the main abiotic (water and organic matter content, total C, N, Ca, K, Cu and Pb concentrations, C/N ratio) and biotic (microbial and fungal biomasses, basal respiration, β-glucosidase activity) characteristics. On the basis of the investigated soil characteristics, several soil functions (water retention, nutrient su...

Research paper thumbnail of Relationships Between Leaf Exposure Time to Air Pollution and Metal and Particulate Matter Accumulation for Holm Oak Leaves

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 2020

Plants play a fundamental role by intercepting air particulate matter (PM) and improving air qual... more Plants play a fundamental role by intercepting air particulate matter (PM) and improving air quality. The link between the accumulation of pollutants and the leaf exposure time to air pollution remains unclear as it depends on different factors. The aim of this study is to test if the metal and PM accumulation in holm oak leaf is linked to exposure time to air pollution. For this study, 1-(1y) and 2-year (2y) old holm oak leaves were sampled in an urban area near Naples. Those leaves were analyzed to measure the amount of particulate matter (PM 2.5-10 and PM >10) and the Cr, Cu, Mn, and Ni metal concentrations. The results displayed that leaf Cr, Cu, and Mn accumulation are linked to exposure time, whereas leaf PM deposit was not directly linked to the exposure time. PM deposit on leaves could be influenced by rainfall events or by the saturation of leaves' surface.

Research paper thumbnail of Do Wildfires Cause Changes in Soil Quality in the Short Term?

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020

Wildfires have high frequency and intensity in the Mediterranean ecosystems that deeply modify th... more Wildfires have high frequency and intensity in the Mediterranean ecosystems that deeply modify the soil abiotic (i.e., pH, contents of water, organic matter and elements) and biotic properties (i.e., biomass and activity). In 2017, an intense wildfire occurred inside the Vesuvius National Park (Southern Italy), destroying approximately 50% of the existing plant cover. So, the research aimed to evaluate the fire effects on soil quality through single soil abiotic and biotic indicators and through an integrated index (SQI). To achieve the aim, soil samples were collected inside the Vesuvius National Park at 12 sampling field points before fire (BF) and after fire (AF). The findings highlighted that in AF soil, the contents of water and total carbon, element availability, respiration and the dehydrogenase activity were lower than in BF soil; in contrast, pH and hydrolase activity were significantly higher in AF soil. The microbial biomass and activity were affected by Al, Cr and Cu ava...

Research paper thumbnail of Leaf traits of Quercus ilex L. affect particulate matter accumulation

Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 2020

In urban areas, particulate matter (PM) is the most abundant airborne pollutant. Plants have been... more In urban areas, particulate matter (PM) is the most abundant airborne pollutant. Plants have been reported to filter PM, as leaves may intercept and adsorb it. The aims of the research were: i) to evaluate if leaves of Quercus ilex L., an ornamental species proven to be a good monitor of air quality, of different ages (1 and 2 years old) differed for the main leaf traits; ii) to assess the efficiency of Q. ilex L. leaves of different ages to intercept particulate matter of two sizes (PM > 10 and PM 10); iii) to highlight the leaf traits that enhanced the accumulation of PM > 10 and PM 10 on leaf surface. The research was performed at four municipalities on the outskirts of Naples (Southern Italy). In April 2018, Q. ilex L. leaves of one and two years old were collected and then described for length, width, area, thickness, circularity, dry matter content and petiole length. The tested hypotheses were: older leaves, that should have high values of the investigated leaf traits, intercept and accumulate greater amounts of PM; leaves with greater circularity, width and length, and with lower dry matter content are expected to accumulate more PM. The findings highlighted that Q. ilex leaves of different ages did not statistically differ neither for the investigated leaf traits nor for the amounts of accumulated PM > 10 and PM 10 ; the greater amount of PM was observed in Q. ilex leaves with higher circularity and lower dry matter content; smaller width leaves seem to favour the accumulation of PM > 10 and those with smaller length the accumulation of PM 10 .

Research paper thumbnail of Variations of agricultural soil quality during the growth stages of sorghum and sunflower

Applied Soil Ecology, 2020

Plant species and growth stage can differently affect the structure and functionality of soil mic... more Plant species and growth stage can differently affect the structure and functionality of soil microbial community. Besides, microorganism amount and functional diversity can dynamically respond to management practices, such as soil tillage and mineral fertilization that, in turn, can modify soil quality. In this study, we investigated the effects of two crop species, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), on soil microbial biomass, activity and diversity at a flat agricultural site. We evaluated the structure and the activity of microbial community in root-influenced soil (close to roots) and bulk soil (devoid of roots), during different plant growth stages, and we calculated a soil quality index, before sowing time and during the crops growth. The principal component analyses highlighted variations in soil properties at different plant growth stages, regardless of the crop species. At the first and the last stage of plant growth, microbial biomass, catabolic evenness, Shannon index and catabolic response to carbohydrates showed statistically lower values in root-influenced soil than in bulk soil. At the plant flowering, the lowest values of organic matter and N contents in root-influenced soil were related to an increase of catabolic responses to amino and carboxylic acids. Before plant harvesting, the highest soil metabolic quotient values were calculated, suggesting the presence of stress conditions for the soil microbial community and low energetic substrates use efficiency. Soil mineral fertilization induced decreases of soil pH and microbial diversity, favoring the fungal component rather than the bacterial one. Plant growth and crop management affected also soil N 2 O emission. Finally, a clear decrease of the soil quality index was measured during plant growth and statistically significant differences between close to roots and devoid of roots soils already occurred after two weeks since sowing.

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of different vegetation types on burnt soil properties and microbial communities

International Journal of Wildland Fire, 2020

The intensive wildfires recurring in the Mediterranean area modify soil physico-chemical properti... more The intensive wildfires recurring in the Mediterranean area modify soil physico-chemical properties, in turn inducing changes in soil microbial abundance and activity. Soils were sampled from burnt and adjacent unburnt sites within Vesuvius National Park 1 year after a large wildfire occurred in summer 2017. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the effects of fires on soil characteristics and to investigate whether different plant types contribute to mitigating or enhancing these effects. The results showed lower organic matter and water content and a higher C/N ratio in burnt than in unburnt soils. In particular, this trend was the same for all the plant types investigated, with the exception of soils covered by black locust tree and holm oak, which showed a higher C/N ratio in unburnt than in burnt soils. In soils covered by holm oaks, a shift in the bacterial and fungal fractions occurred between burnt and unburnt soils, whereas the amount of ammonia oxidisers was notab...

Research paper thumbnail of Species‐specific root proliferation of tree seedlings in tropical litter: do nutrients matter?

Oikos, 2019

This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been th... more This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as

Research paper thumbnail of Volcanic soil phytotoxicity in a burnt Mediterranean area

CATENA, 2019

Mediterranean regions, because of climate and vegetation, are affected by high incidence of wildf... more Mediterranean regions, because of climate and vegetation, are affected by high incidence of wildfires that modify soil characteristics. The aims of the present research were to investigate: 1) the phytotoxicity of soils collected before and after fire; ii) the probable variations in phytotoxicity of soils under different pre-existent vegetation covers (black pines, black locusts, holm oaks and herbaceous); iii) the probable variations in phytotoxicity of surface (0-10 cm) and deep (10-20 cm) soils. The impact of fires on soil phytotoxicity was estimated through root elongation, seed germination and germination index of Sorghum saccharatum L. and Lepidium sativum L. The research was performed inside the Vesuvius National Park (Naples, Southern Italy). The results highlighted that S. saccharatum L. was more sensitive to the effects due to fires. In fact, the assays performed by S. saccharatum L. highlighted a transition from inhibitory effects before fire to stimulating effects after fire, lower values for soils under black pines and holm oaks, and higher toxicity in deep than surface layers of soils.