Yield response of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) to irrigation with saline water

Salinity causes yield reductions if threshold levels are exceeded, while it can cause the deterioration of some qualitative parameters and/or the improvement of others. Two years (2000-2001, 2006-2007) research was carried out to evaluate the effect of water quality on yield and quality of fennel, a vegetable very common in Apulia region. We compared two types of soil and two sodium absorption ratio of irrigation water obtained by dissolving in distilled water NaCl + CaCl2 (1:1) or only NaCl, and four electrical conductivity of water of 0.7 (control), 4, 8 and 12 dS m(-1). The soil type does not show any noticeable effect on the tested parameters. The salt type influenced the plant development and the total soluble solids contained in the bulbs. The plant height, the leaf and the bulb weight were, respectively, 6, 11 and 21% higher in NaCl + CaCl2 treatment as compared to NaCl one. The plant height, the leaf and the bulb weight dropped, respectively, by 33, 49 and 71%, shifting from 0.7 to 12 dS m(-1) salinity treatments. The dry matter content and total soluble solids increased with rising salinity. In fact, shifting from the control to the more saline treatment, the leaves and the bulbs dry matter increased, respectively, by 15 and 13%, and total soluble solids increased by 17%. Moreover, the increase in salinity favoured the production of flattened bulbs. The application of the Maas and Hoffman model to salinity response confirms the ranking of this species among moderately salt sensitive species, even though the critical threshold was the same for NaCl and NaCl + CaCl2 treatments (1.26 dS m(-1)), while the slope was higher in NaCl treatment (14.24% m dS(-1)) than NaCl + CaCl2 (10.39% m dS(-1))

Irrigation with saline-sodic water: effects on two clay soils

The results of a 4-year experiment aimed at evaluating the effect of irrigation with saline-sodic water on the soil are reported. The research was carried out at the Campus of the Agricultural Faculty of Bari University (Italy) on 2 clay soils (Bologna – T 1 and Locorotondo – T 2 ). The soils were cropped to borlotto bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.), capsicum ( Capsicum annuum L.), sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.), wheat ( Triticum durum Desf) grown in succession; the crops were irrigated with 9 saline-sodic types of water and subjected to two different leaching fractions (10% and 20% of the watering volume). The 9 solutions were obtained dissolving in de-ionised water weighted amounts of sodium chloride (NaCl) and calcium chloride (CaCl 2 ), deriving from the combination of 3 saline concentrations and 3 sodicity levels. The crops were irrigated whenever the water lost by evapotranspiration from the soil contained in the pots was equal to 30% of the soil maximum available water. The results showed that, though the soils were leached during the watering period, they showed a high salt accumulation. Consequently, the saturated soil extract electrical conductivity increased from initial values of 0.65 and 0.68 dS m -1 to 11.24 and 13.61 dS m -1 at the end of the experiment, for the soils T 1 and T 2 , respectively. The saline concentration increase in irrigation water caused in both soils a progressive increase in exchangeable sodium, and a decrease in exchangeable calcium and non-significant variations in exchangeable potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg)

Impact of long term soil management practices on the fertility and weed flora of an almond orchard

oil management techniques can definitely influence soil quality, and particularly soil organic matter content, biological complexity, structure, and water holding capacity. Tillage may also have a negative effect by increasing erosion and organic matter oxidation processes, which have unavoidable repercussions on fertility. The objective of the current research was to test the effects of five different management techniques applied for 35 years on a rain-fed almond grove (Prunus amygdalus Batsch) in a hot-dry environment on some physicochemical, hydrological, and biological parameters. The following soil management techniques were compared: no-till (NT), with weed control by preemergence herbicides; NT, with chemical weed control by foliar herbicides; NT, with weed control by mowing; tillage, with sowing and field bean green manuring; and conventional tillage. The current survey supplied interesting results, considering the typical soil and climate conditions of the tested area (southern Italy), characterized by high summer temperatures, low rainfall, clay loam soil, and an arable layer of 0.40 m. The most influenced values are those concerning the organic matter due to the supply of biomass resulting from weed mowing or field bean green manuring. The NT system with a single mowing in the spring seems to induce a higher water holding capacity (–15,000 hPa) as compared with the traditionally plowed soil. The biomass incorporation through field bean green manure resulted in a higher available water content (11.82%). All practices favoring an increase in organic matter induced a subsequent increase of microbial biomass content. The number of existing families and species of weed flora was largely influenced by different soil management techniques, as shown by the greater adaptation of grasses to the management practices involving weed control by foliar herbicide or mowing, and of several species associated with the technique involving the application of preemergence herbicides. In general, the almond orchard management involving minimum soil disturbance and the supply of biomass resulting from specially sown cover crops or weed development have shown substantial benefits to the physicochemical, hydrologic, and biologic soil properties

effect of reclamation on the structure of silty clay soils irrigated with saline sodic waters

Abstract The objective of the work was to evaluate, by using the micromorphometric method, the effects of reclamation on porosity of two different clay loam soils irrigated with saline-sodic waters. Soil samples of the Ap horizon were put in cylindrical containers and irrigated with 9 types of saline-sodic waters (3 levels of salinity combined with 3 levels of sodicity). After a 4-year period, correction treatments were initiated by addition of calcium sulphate and leaching until electrical conductivity and sodium absorption ratio values of the drainage water matched 3 dS m-1 and 9, respectively. After 2 years of correction treatments, undisturbed soil samples were taken from the surface layer and soil thin sections for porosity measurements. Both soils did not show critical macroporosity values (> 10%, below this threshold a soil is classified as compact). Nevertheless, the soils exhibited a different behaviour: total porosity of the Pachic Haploxeroll soil was not affected by difference in water salinity and alkalinity; on the contrary, the Udertic Ustochrept soil showed a lower porosity associated with higher salt concentration in the irrigation waters. This may be due to the different iron and aluminium sesquioxides content and, as a consequence, a different effect on soil aggregate stability

Effects of mineral and organic fertilization with the use of wet olive pomace on durum wheat performance

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Turning the rumor of the May 11, 2011, earthquake prediction in Rome, Italy, into an information day on earthquake hazard

A devastating earthquake was predicted to hit Rome on May 11, 2011. This prediction was never officially released, but it grew on the internet and was amplified by the media. It was erroneously ascribed to Raffaele Bendandi, an Italian self-taught natural scientist who studied planetary motions and related them to earthquakes. Indeed, around May 11, 2011, there was a planetary alignment, and this fed the credibility of the earthquake prediction. During the months preceding May 2011, the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) was overwhelmed with requests for information about this prediction, by the inhabitants of Rome and by tourists. Given the echo of this earthquake prediction, on May 11, 2011, the INGV decided to organize an Open Day at its headquarters in Rome, to inform the public about Italian seismicity and earthquake physics. The Open Day was preceded by a press conference two days before, to talk with journalists about this prediction, and to present the Open Day. During this 'Day', 13 new videos were also posted on our YouTube/INGVterremoti channel to explain earthquake processes and hazards, and to provide periodic updates on seismicity in Italy from the seismicity monitoring room. On May 11, 2011, the INGV headquarters was peacefully invaded by over 3,000 visitors, from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm: families, students with and without teachers, civil protection groups, and many journalists. This initiative that was built up in a few weeks has had very large feedback, and was a great opportunity to talk with journalists and people about earthquake prediction, and more in general about the seismic risk in Italy