Pneumatic press equipped with the Vortex system for white grapes processing: First results

The interaction between mechanical, computer and electronic technologies offers nowadays highly innovative solutions to be applied to the oenological machinery industry. Grapes pressing for the extraction of must from the grapes has a fundamental role for obtaining wines with high quality. The pneumatic presses commonly used work with a discontinuous cycle, taking on average about 3 hours for the extraction of the juice from the grapes. During this period, the presence of oxygen in contact with grapes can modify the qualitative characteristics of the future wine. The aim of the research was to study the \u201cVortex System\u201d applied to a pneumatic press and to evaluate the quality of wines obtained in reduction. The study was carried out in a modern winery in the province of Palermo (Italy) using cv. Catarratto lucido grapes. The machine used in the tests was a pneumatic press with a capacity of 1,900 / 2,500 kg by Puleo Srl company (Italy), equipped with the patent "Vortex System". It consists in the recovery of the inert gas by means of a passage and recirculation apparatus during grapes pressing allowing the must extraction in inert and controlled atmosphere, the non-oxidation of the product and a re-use of the gaseous component. Two operating modes were applied: AP (Air Pressing) mode, the traditional pressing mode in presence of oxygen, and NP (Nitrogen Pressing) mode with the Vortex System, performed under inert gas with nitrogen recovery. The following analytical determinations were performed on wines in triplicates: alcohol [%/vol], density [g/l], sugar [g/l], pH, total acidity [g/l], volatile acidity [g/l], malic acid [g/l], citric acid [g/l], tartaric acid [g/l], potassium [g/l], glycerin [g/l], ashes [g/l], absorbance at 420, 520 and 620 nm, polyphenols [mg/l], catechins [mg/l], free sulfur dioxide [mg/l], total sulfur dioxide [mg/l]. The use of the pneumatic press equipped with the Vortex System allowed to obtain excellent values of volatile acidity, absorbance at 420 nm, catechins in white wines and a rich aromatic component both in primary and secondary aromas

A system for the real-time geo-referenced measurement of soil parameters

The aim of this research is to develop a system for accurately measuring in real-time, collecting and processing a high amount of geo-referenced data of soil physical-mechanical parameters, e.g. cone penetrometer resistance, index of soil compaction, and draft force. The system for measuring the soil cone penetrometer resistance is comprised of a load cell, connected to a rod, ending with a cone, and is mounted on a frame, fixed to the front part of a tractor. The system for measuring the draft force required to till the soil is comprised of a load cell, mounted on the hitch hook of a tool carrier, towed by the tractor. Moreover, in order to test the usefulness of the system with different types of linkage tractor-implement, two other load cells were mounted, respectively, on the top link and the right point of the three-point hitch of the tool carrier. A portable computer, by means of a Virtual Instrument, developed in LabVIEW environment, acquires the signals of the load cells and of a DGPS mobile receiver. The results of the first tests, carried out in a field in inland Sicily, showed that: the system is able to log data with a sampling frequency adjustable from 1 to 10 Hz; it is able to accurately measure and collect in real-time a large amount of data, which can be easily processed by means of a data sheet, a GIS or another software usable for measuring the within-field spatial variability of soil physical-mechanical parameters; the absolute value of the force measured on the hitch hook of the tool carrier is proportionally correlated to that measured on any point of the three-point hitch of the same one

Spatially variable rate herbicide application on durum wheat in Sicily

Using the conventional farming system, durum wheat requires high rates of herbicide spraying. Herbicide residues can cause pollution of soil and ground water and, therefore, of the entire environment. In order to minimise the environmental impact of herbicides, a home made system for spatially variable rate crop input application was designed, developed and set up by the Department of Engineering and Technologies in Agriculture and Forestry (I.T.A.F.). This system consists of a DGPS, a portable computer, a specifically developed software and a device for applying rates proportionally related to the machine forward speed (DPA). Tests of spatially variable rate herbicide application were carried out in inland Sicily, on a field of 8.4 ha (where a three-year crop rotation, broad bean/vetch - durum wheat - durum wheat, was practised), using a sprayer modified for applying variable rates and equipped with the above mentioned system. The results are promising. The spatially variable rate herbicide application allowed an almost even grain yield over the entire field and a saving of 29% of herbicides with respect to the amounts normally used with the conventional farming system

Evaluation of potential biogas production in Sicily

The aim of the present work is to predict the Sicilian potential biogas production, using the below unmarketable raw materials. The statistical data about OFMSW, the number of animals bred on medium and large farms and the amounts of by-products of food processing industries have been evaluated, in order to compute the potential biogas production and energy in the nine provinces of Sicily. In Sicily (Italy) 5.05 million inhabitants (2012), living in nine provinces, could produce 0.8 million tons of the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW) per year. At present only 0.07 million tons (3.17 % ca. of MSW) are actually treated (2010). This fraction would be one of the raw materials inside the mixture usable for biogas production, in a region where no co-digestion plant is nowadays available. About 1.7 million tons of animal manure might be used for biogas production on medium and big farms. From food industry about 350 thousand tons of organic by-products might be collected. The total potential of biogas production in Sicily is 156.9 millions of m3 that is equal to 941.4 GWh of energy per year. Contribution from animal manure is 402 GWh, from OFMSW - 303 GWh and food industry - 236 GWh. The best possibilities for biogas production are in the provinces of Palermo, Messina and Ragusa, having a potential energy production of 177 GWh, 133.2 GWh and 132 GWh, respectively

Current state and future of biogas and digestate production

Over the past few years, the worldwide cost of energy has increased significantly, due to a growing global demand for energy and the decreasing availability of fossil fuel sources. Many countries are adopting environmental policies promoting the production and consumption of alternative, sustainable and renewable energy sources. Among these sources is green energy production through the anaerobic digestion of agricultural feedstock, like animal manure and food industry by-products, mainly aimed at producing biogas. Nevertheless, only a very small part of the biogas potential is currently used, while many European countries are facing huge problems caused by the overproduction of organic waste from industry, agriculture and households. Biogas production is an excellent way of using organic waste for energy generation, followed by the recycling of the digested substratum (digestate) as fertiliser. Many factors, like chemical composition and pH of raw materials, environmental temperature and microbial composition, influence the efficiency and reliability of the anaerobic digestion process. This paper reviews the current state and perspectives of biogas and digestate production, including the above factors influencing the biogas and digestate yields of anaerobic digestion

The current status of the agricultural sciences core curricula in Italian university faculties of agriculture

In Italian University Faculties of Agriculture the 1st cycle of studies concerns a BSc. degree offering completed application-oriented studies ensuring employability or an intermediate pivot-point degree towards an integrated MSc. In each first cycle program of studies offered by the Faculties of Agriculture a core curriculum exists and has the scope of providing students with a basic cultural background, common to every program of studies. In Italy the Faculties of Agriculture offer Agricultural Engineering programs of studies and no specialisation both for the 1st and the 2nd cycles of studies. Students can achieve the degree in Agricultural Sciences with a Agricultural Engineering specialisation, although until now no degree fulfils the requirements of FEANI for Engineers. It is possible to create a flexible new Agricultural Engineering 1st cycle program of studies to be implemented in the future, by adopting part of the core curriculum proposed by FEANI program. The learning outcomes and contents in Agricultural / Biological Sciences not covered by the core curriculum proposed by FEANI program of studies in the above new virtual program are defined in terms of courses, that could be included in the Agricultural Sciences part of the specialisations or as electives

Agricultural Engineering programmes meeting the FEANI and EurAgEng criteria in Italy

The only administrative change which took place in Italian institutions from the status described in the 1st Workshop, in the framework of Bologna process, is the updating of 3+2 years University study programmes. According to the ECTS credit system used in Italian institutions, the total student workload in one year is 60 CFU, which are considered equivalent to 60 ECTS; each CFU represents 25 hours of learning, both as aided learning and as individual studies. The 1st cycle degree study programme (\u201cLaurea\u201d) consists of 180 ECTS, while the 2nd cycle one (\u201cLaurea Magistrale\u201d) is constituted by 120 ECTS. No adjustment, alteration or difference concerning the quality assurance scheme used in Italy happened since the 5th USAEE Workshop. At present the Faculties of Agriculture of the Universities of Molise, Palermo, Sassari and Viterbo offer 1st cycle degree programmes of studies with titles related to Agricultural Engineering. Moreover, nowadays the Universities of Bari, Molise, Sassari and Viterbo offer 2nd cycle Agricultural Engineering degree study programmes. A proposal of virtual 1st and 2nd cycle study programmes, meeting the FEANI and EurAgEng criteria, the Italian cultural requirements and the criteria of the national University system, is shown in terms of course categories and ECTS credits

Sicilian potential biogas production from Citrus industry by-product

In Europe, Italy is the second nation after Spain in Citrus production and 49% ca. of national fruit production is located in Sicily. The by-product obtained from the industrial processing of Citrus fruits into juice and essential oils is called \u201cpastazzo\u201d or Citrus Waste (CW). This study is aimed at evaluating the Sicilian potential biogas and energy production from the above \u201cpastazzo\u201d and verifying the possibility of using this by-product for Anaerobic Digestion (AD) process within 30 km from processing plants. The areas cultivated with Citrus species in Sicily and their distribution in the various municipal districts were mapped and analysed by means of QGIS software, together with the main Citrus processing plants and the three existing AD plants. The statistical data about the amounts of the by-product of Citrus processing industry were evaluated, in order to compute the Sicilian potential biogas and energy production. In Sicily it is possible to obtain, through the use of \u201cpastazzo\u201d, a yearly production of 12,916,800 m3 ca. of biogas, equal to 24,250,930 kWh of electric energy and 25,463,477 kWh of thermal energy or 6,200,064 m3 of biomethane. This high potential biogas and energy production is not be currently used in a sustainable way from the energetic and economic points of view, because the existing AD plants are farer than 30 km from Citrus processing plants. The CW produced in Sicily could be used inside a bio-reactor, together with other raw materials (e.g. pomace and wastewater from olive oil mills, cereal straw, poultry manure and Italian sainfoin or Hedysarum coronarium), for AD process

Potential production of biogas from prinkly pear (opuntia ficus-indica L.) in sicilian uncultivated areas

The aim of this work is to evaluate the potential production of biogas and, indirectly, biomethane or electric and thermal energy, from prinkly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica L.), to be grown in a part of Sicilian uncultivated areas and co-digested together with the available livestock manure and slurry. In order to increase the Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and reduce the dependency from fossil ones, the conversion of biomass into biogas through Anaerobic Digestion (AD) process is paramount for producing biomethane, to be used as fuel for means of transport and agricultural machines or heating, or electric and thermal energy through Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants. Moreover, the digestate produced through AD process can be applied to soils as organic fertiliser in the place of chemical ones. Prinkly pear was supposed to be grown, by mechanising the harvest of cladods (modified stems), in a part of the Sicilian Used Agricultural Area that is currently uncultivated (totally 600, 000 ha ca.), identified by means of a GIS software. Thus it was possible to compute the potential production of biogas and, indirectly, biomethane or electric and thermal energy. The results show that the Sicilian potential production of biogas is 612, 115 103m3, from which 342, 784 103m3of biomethane could be extracted or 67, 038 MWh of electric energy and 70, 390 MWh MWh of thermal energy could be generated. Moreover the obtained digestate would be used as biofertiliser, within both conventional and organic farming. This work demonstrates that the production of RES, such as biogas from prinkly pear, represents a very profitable way of using the uncultivated areas: the income of the farmer would include not only that deriving from the sale of biomethane or electric and thermal energy but also the saving for replacing chemical fertilisers with digestate and the subsidy for producing biomethane as fuel for means of transport or electric and thermal energy from biogas

Mapping of penetrometer resistance in relation to tractor traffic using multivariate geostatistics

The traffic of agricultural machines can cause soil compaction and high variability of soil structure, both along normal lines and along those parallel to the field plane. The aim of this research is to investigate the potential of geostatistical techniques for understanding and evaluating the within-field spatial variability of soil compaction, caused by the traffic of agricultural machines and/or the action of tillage implements. In July 2003 soil cone penetrometer resistance was measured in a sandy-silt Cambisol of inland Sicily, where a three-year rotation wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) - wheat - tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) was adopted, along three parallel 3-m long transects, from the soil surface to a depth of 0.70 m. A multivariate geostatistical approach, including exploratory analysis, variography, stochastic simulation and post-processing of simulations was applied to produce thematic maps of penetrometer resistance and probability maps exceeding a critical value, corresponding to different examples of tractor movement. Penetrometer resistance variation was erratic at the surface but showed high spatial correlation between data measured at different depths. The maps of probabilistic compaction risk showed that the soil volume, exceeding the penetrometer resistance of 2.5 MPa, critical for root growth, increased from 20% to 40% after the tractor had passed through five times