Tensegrity greenhouse: An innovative covering structural system with low shading

Based on the structural principle of “Tensegrity” (tensional integrity), an innovative typology of greenhouse was developed. The principle behind the study uses structural elements of small sections (bars and cables) and employs compressed elements included in a network of tensioned elements. The innovative greenhouse structure allows covering larger spans than the most common greenhouse typologies on the market, improving the surface area usable for crops and reducing the structural sections. The present research focuses on the evaluation of the shading caused by the structural elements inside the tensegrity greenhouse, compared with the most common commercial typologies. At this aim, simulations of illuminance factor (IF) at different distance from the ground level were assessed by means of Revit, a software for building information modelling (BIM), developed by Autodesk Inc., which allows analyzing the impact of natural light and shadows on the interiors of buildings. The IF of the tensegrity greenhouse model (TGM) was compared with the one calculated for different greenhouse typologies (planar pitched roof and vaulted roof) having the same area (118.75 m2) and height of the gutter (3.5 m) placed in Rome (Italy). For all kind of greenhouses, the daily variation of the IF was evaluated in two representative days of the year: June 21 and December 21. As result, the TGM showed a value per square meter of the IF Higher than about 20% compared to traditional structures

The Apulian Territory and the Typical Local Farmhouses: A Case of Study Through Landscape Analysis

The Apulian territory is strongly characterized by a rural architectural heritage with many historical features. Rural and agro-industrial buildings, their reuse or degradation, are the testimony of a history whose investigation is complex and varied over time. The Regional Territorial Landscape Plan, which entered into force in 2015, promotes the realization of a self-sustainable and lasting socio-economic development and education for an appropriate use of the regional territory. The knowledge, conservation, use and promotion of the Traditional Apulian Architectural Heritage are among its aims. This in fact constitutes the memory of a place, culturally identifies a local community and the territory. In-depth knowledge of the identifying characteristics of the rural heritage is essential before any recovery intervention specifically aimed at protecting and enhancing the buildings, the landscape and the environmental context. A recovery activity, mindful of these issues, can generate strategic resources for reaching wider objectives of regional development. This study aims to analyze the current relationship between ancient Apulian farmhouses that have been subject to functional restoration interventions and the landscape in which they are located, in order to outline strategies for the development and promotion of the related rural area

Innovative Tensile Structures for Protected Crop Facilities

Greenhouse structures are complex buildings that must meet different needs, such as the microclimate control inside the greenhouse, the strength of structural elements, as well as the radiometric and mechanical features of roofing materials. The covering system must allow the transmission of solar radiation for crop needs and guarantee resistance performances in relation to external actions, such as wind and snow loads. Starting from the main characteristics of agricultural commercial greenhouses and tensile structures, the proposal concerns with an innovative tensile supporting structure designed for the covering of protected crop facilities. The innovative tensile structural configuration was first studied by means of the selection of the construction materials and the cross sections of the structural components and afterward calculated using the structural analysis software SOFISTIK. The load analysis on the structure was carried out in accordance with the European standards UNI-EN 13031-1: 2004 and the Italian Technical Construction Code of 2018 related to the Eurocodes. The main results concern the comparison with the current structural types of commercial greenhouses: analysis of the steel weight of the structure and improvement of the structural response to external actions of the innovative tensile structure

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

New secondary materials from recycled agricultural lastic films.

The extensive and expanding use of plastic material in the Italian agriculture for several diverse application results in increased accumulation of plastic waste in rural areas. The current practices adopted by Farmers consist, unfortunately, of a mismanagement of the plastic material that is abandoned or buried in open fields or burnt in a not controlled way, with heavy environmental consequences and a loss of material and energy. In the present paper, an analysis of the most technical efficient and economically feasible solutions for the management of agricultural plastic waste is given. These solutions represent main results of the European Project “Labelagriwaste” and they enable the analysis and planning of agricultural plastic waste fluxes, together with the possibility to investigate different development scenarios and to consider new planning strategies for the management of agricultural plastic waste

Increased physical protection of soil carbon in the mineral soil of a poplar plantation after five years of free atmospheric CO₂ enrichment (FACE)

International audienceFree air CO2 enrichment (FACE) experiments in aggrading forests and plantations have demonstrated significant increases in net primary production (NPP) and C storage in forest vegetation. The extra C uptake may also be stored in forest floor litter and in forest soil. After five years of FACE treatment at the EuroFACE short rotation poplar plantation, the increase of total soil C% was larger under elevated than under ambient CO2. However, the fate of this additional C allocated belowground remains unclear. The stability of soil organic matter is controlled by the chemical structure of the organic matter and the existence of protection offered by the soil matrix and minerals. Fresh litter entering the soil enhances microbial activity which induces the binding of organic matter and soil particles into macro-aggregates. As the enclosed organic matter is decomposed, microbial and decomposition products become associated with mineral particles. This association results in the formation of micro-aggregates (within macro-aggregates) in which organic matter is stabilized and protected. FACE and N-fertilization treatment did not affect the micro- and macro-aggregate weight, C or N fractions obtained by wet sieving. However, Populus euramericana increased the micro- and small macro-aggregates weight and C fractions. The obtained macro-aggregates were broken up in order to isolate recently formed micro-aggregates within macro-aggregates (iM-micro-aggregates). FACE increased the iM-micro-aggregate weight and C fractions. This study reveals that: 1) Species has an effect on the formation of macro-aggregates. The choice of species in a plantation or the effect of global change on species diversity, may therefore affect the stabilization and protection of soil C in aggregates. And 2) Increased atmospheric CO2 concentration increases the stabilization and protection of soil C in micro-aggregates formed within macro-aggregates. This mechanism increases the C sink of forest soils under increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration

Plastic nets in agriculture ; a general review of types and applications

At the moment, there are a large number of agricultural net types on the market characterized by different structural features such as type of material, type and dimensions of threads, texture, mesh size, porosity / solidity and weight; by radiometric properties like color, transmissivity/reflectivity/shading factor; by physical properties like air permeability and several mechanical characteristics such as tensile stress, strength, elongation at break, and durability. Protection from hail, wind, snow, or strong rainfall in fruit-farming and ornamentals, shading nets for greenhouses and nets moderately modifying the microenvironment for a crop are the most common applications. A systematic review of the current state-of-the-art of structural parameters, standard and regulations, most common agricultural net applications, and their supporting structures has been developed by means of a literature study, technical investigations, concerning characteristics and use of nets. As a result, the survey highlighted that in many cases different, not even similar, net types were adopted for the same application and the same cultivations by various growers. Results show that neither growers nor net producers have clear ideas about the relationship between the net typology optimization for a specific application and the construction parameters of the net. The choice often depends on empirical or economic criteria and not on scientific considerations. Moreover, it appears that scientifically justified technical requirements for nets used in specific agricultural applications have not been established yet