A Network Analysis for Environmental Assessment in Wine Supply Chain

In the agri-food sector, the Life Cycle Assessment method (LCA) is used to evaluate the environmental impact of a product. Within agri-food products, wine is among the most analysed products, not only for its economic importance but also for the environmental impact of its activity. The paper aims to identify the main trends in the wine sector revolving around environmental evaluation using the LCA method in the academic literature. The aim is to investigate the literature on life cycle assessment analysis of grape and wine production through the systematic grouping of papers into clusters of research. So, the purpose is to discuss the gaps and insights identified by the study in order to aid in the development of a comprehensive state of the art on the topic. Scopus and Web of Science were used to search all articles following a clear and replicable protocol. The results (keywords) were subjected to co-occurrence analysis using VOSviewer, after which the articles were further analysed. Through a bibliographic coupling analysis, the research results were grouped through a network analysis that allowed identifying the research trends on the topic. Three clusters were identified containing the main lines of research on the subject. The results show that nowadays the literature is focusing on concerns related to climate change and consumer awareness on sustainability issues and certifications as well as environmental impacts generated mainly in the production phase in the vineyard. The research results are of interest for future research on LCA analysis in the wine sector in order to contribute to the discussion on the current model in the global wine sector

Evaluation of herbaceous crops irrigated with treated wastewater for ethanol production

The competition for freshwater between agricultural, industrial, and civil uses has greatly increased in Mediterranean basin characterized by prolonged dry seasons. The aim of this study was to evaluate biomass production and the potential ethanol production of promising “no-food” herbaceous crops irrigated with low quality water at different ETc restitutions (0%, 50 and 100%). The research was carried out, in 2011 and 2012, in an open field near the full-scale constructed wetland (CW) municipal treatment plant located in the Eastern Sicily (Italy). The CW effluent has been applied in a experimental irrigation field of Vetiveria zizanoides (L.) Nash, Miscanthus x giganteus Greef et Deu. and Arundo donax (L.). Physical, chemical and microbiological analyses were carried out on wastewater samples collected at inlet and outlet of CW and pollutant removal efficiencies were calculated for each parameter. Bio-agronomical analysis on herbaceous species were made with the goal to evaluate the main parameters such as the plant dimension, the growth response and the biomass production. Biomass dry samples were processed with a three-step chemical pretreatment, hydrolysed with a mix of commercial enzymes and next fermented to obtain the yield of ethanol production. Average TSS, COD and TN removal for CW were about 74%, 67% and 68%, respectively. Although the satisfactory Escherichia coli removal, about 3.5 log unit for both beds on average, CW didn’t achieve the restrictive Italian law limits for wastewater reuse. As expected, irrigation was beneficial and the full ET replenishment increase the biomass productivity as compared to the other two treatment. The mean productivity of Vetiveria zizanoides and Myscanthus x giganteus were about 9, 26 and 38 t ha–1 and 3, 7 and 12 t ha–1 respectively in 0%, 50% and 100% ETc restitutions. Arundo donax gave higher values of dry biomass (78 t ha–1 in 100% ETc restitution in 2011 season), and potential ethanol production (about 3,744 kg ha–1). These results suggest the interest in the use of constructed wetland effluents for the irrigation of energy crops to obtain second generation ethanol, particularly in semiarid regions such as the Mediterranean area

Environmental and Agro-Economic Sustainability of Olive Orchards Irrigated with Reclaimed Water under Deficit Irrigation

This study explores the effects of the adoption of reclaimed water (RW) as source of irrigation in conjunction with the application of deficit irrigation strategies in an olive orchard (different genotypes) located within the “Valle dei Margi” farmhouse (Eastern Sicily). Specifically, the RW was obtained in situ by treating the wastewater coming from the farmhouse throughout a treatment wetland system (TW). The effects of RW on crop water status (CWS) was assessed by conducting plant-based measurements (i.e., leaf water potential, Ψ, and leaves relative water content, RWC) and determining satellite-based biophysical indicators. An economical and environmental evaluation of the proposed sustainable irrigation practices was carried out by using the life cycle assessment (LCA) approach.The RW quality showed high variability due to fluctuations in the number of customers at the farmhouse during the Covid-19 pandemic period. However, high removal efficiency of the overall TW was reached even if the RW quality did not always accomplish with the limits of the Italian regulations. A strong impact in the variation of Ψ was observed among the olive orchard under the different water regimes, evidencing how CWS performances are greatly conditioned by the genotype. However, no differences in leaves RWC and in satellite-based biophysical indicators were detected, despite the severe water deficit imposed (i.e., 50% of irrigation water reduction). Finally, the results of the LCA analysis underlined that the use of RW may permit to obtain important gains both in economic and environmental terms, thus representing a valid strategy for the olive cultivation

A Network Analysis for Environmental Assessment in Wine Supply Chain

In the agri-food sector, the Life Cycle Assessment method (LCA) is used to evaluate the environmental impact of a product. Within agri-food products, wine is among the most analysed products, not only for its economic importance but also for the environmental impact of its activity. The paper aims to identify the main trends in the wine sector revolving around environmental evaluation using the LCA method in the academic literature. The aim is to investigate the literature on life cycle assessment analysis of grape and wine production through the systematic grouping of papers into clusters of research. So, the purpose is to discuss the gaps and insights identified by the study in order to aid in the development of a comprehensive state of the art on the topic. Scopus and Web of Science were used to search all articles following a clear and replicable protocol. The results (keywords) were subjected to co-occurrence analysis using VOSviewer, after which the articles were further analysed. Through a bibliographic coupling analysis, the research results were grouped through a network analysis that allowed identifying the research trends on the topic. Three clusters were identified containing the main lines of research on the subject. The results show that nowadays the literature is focusing on concerns related to climate change and consumer awareness on sustainability issues and certifications as well as environmental impacts generated mainly in the production phase in the vineyard. The research results are of interest for future research on LCA analysis in the wine sector in order to contribute to the discussion on the current model in the global wine sector

Sorghum Biomass Production for Energy Purpose Using Treated Urban Wastewater and Different Fertilization in a Mediterranean Environment

With the aim at enhancing the sustainability of biomass production in the Mediterranean area, this paper analyzes, for the first time, the production of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) biomass for bioenergy production using urban treated wastewaters and bio-fertilization. For this purpose, the effects on biomass production of three different fertilizations (no-nitrogen control, biofertilizer, and mineral ammonium nitrate), four levels of constructed wetland (CW) wastewater restitutions (0%, 33%, 66% and 100%) of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and three harvesting dates (at full plant maturity, at the initial senescence stage, and at the post-senescence stage) were evaluated in a two year trial. For bio-fertilization, a commercial product based on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi was used. Mineral nitrogen (N) fertilization significantly increased dry biomass (+22.8% in the first year and +16.8% in the second year) compared to the control (95.9 and 188.2 g·plant−1, respectively). The lowest and highest biomass production, in 2008 and 2009, was found at 0% (67.1 and 118.2 g·plant−1) and 100% (139.2 and 297.4 g·plant−1) ETc restitutions. In both years, the first harvest gave the highest biomass yield (124.3 g·plant−1 in the first year and 321.3 g·plant−1 in the second), followed by the second and the third one. The results showed that in Mediterranean areas, constructed wetlands treated wastewaters, when complying with the European restrictions for their use in agriculture, may represent an important tool to enhance and stabilize the biomass of energy crops by recycling scarce quality water and nutrients otherwise lost in the environment

Evaluation of herbaceous crops irrigated with treated wastewater for ethanol production

The competition for freshwater between agricultural, industrial, and civil uses has greatly increased in Mediterranean basin characterized by prolonged dry seasons. The aim of this study was to evaluate biomass production and the potential ethanol production of promising “no-food” herbaceous crops irrigated with low quality water at different ETc restitutions (0%, 50 and 100%). The research was carried out, in 2011 and 2012, in an open field near the full-scale constructed wetland (CW) municipal treatment plant located in the Eastern Sicily (Italy). The CW effluent has been applied in a experimental irrigation field of Vetiveria zizanoides (L.) Nash, Miscanthus x giganteus Greef et Deu. and Arundo donax (L.). Physical, chemical and microbiological analyses were carried out on wastewater samples collected at inlet and outlet of CW and pollutant removal efficiencies were calculated for each parameter. Bio-agronomical analysis on herbaceous species were made with the goal to evaluate the main parameters such as the plant dimension, the growth response and the biomass production. Biomass dry samples were processed with a three-step chemical pretreatment, hydrolysed with a mix of commercial enzymes and next fermented to obtain the yield of ethanol production. Average TSS, COD and TN removal for CW were about 74%, 67% and 68%, respectively. Although the satisfactory Escherichia coli removal, about 3.5 log unit for both beds on average, CW didn’t achieve the restrictive Italian law limits for wastewater reuse. As expected, irrigation was beneficial and the full ET replenishment increase the biomass productivity as compared to the other two treatment. The mean productivity of Vetiveria zizanoides and Myscanthus x giganteus were about 9, 26 and 38 t ha–1 and 3, 7 and 12 t ha–1 respectively in 0%, 50% and 100% ETc restitutions. Arundo donax gave higher values of dry biomass (78 t ha–1 in 100% ETc restitution in 2011 season), and potential ethanol production (about 3,744 kg ha–1). These results suggest the interest in the use of constructed wetland effluents for the irrigation of energy crops to obtain second generation ethanol, particularly in semiarid regions such as the Mediterranean area

Effects of Solids Accumulation on Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Substrate, Plant Growth and Performance of a Mediterranean Horizontal Flow Treatment Wetland

In treatment wetlands (TWs), solids accumulation can result in hydraulic malfunction, reducing the operation life, and it could enhance biological activity by favoring biofilm development. It is still unknown whether the solids accumulation can affect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study aims to evaluate the solid concentration along a horizontal flow (HF) TW, and its role in GHG emissions, hydraulics, treatment performance, and vegetation development (Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.). The study was carried out in an eight-year-old full-scale HF-TW located in the Mediterranean region (Sicily, Italy). To collect data inside the HF unit, nine observation points (besides the inlet and the outlet) along three 8.5-m-long transects (T1, T2, and T3) were identified. The first transect (close to the inlet zone) showed a hydraulic conductivity (Ks) reduction approximately one order of magnitude higher than the other two. Results highlighted that GHG emissions increased during the summer, when the temperature and solar radiation were higher than in the rest of the year, matching the macrophyte growth rate. Theoretical methane (CH4) emissions followed the trend of volatile solids (VS), which was around 3.5 and 4 times in T1 to T2 and T3. Pore clogging affected carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which decreased from T1 to T3, with maximum monthly values in T1 (21.4 g CO2·m−2·d−1) being approximately double with respect to T2 (12.6 g CO2·m−2·d−1) and T3 (10.7 g CO2·m−2·d−1) observed in July. The same trend for chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency, decreasing from T1 to T3, was observed. Notwithstanding this behavior, the final effluent quality was very satisfactory, with an average value of COD removal efficiency above 90%

Energy characterisation of herbaceous biomasses irrigated with marginal waters

The paper reports the results of a research program aiming to evaluate the agronomic, and energy sustainability of the biomass production by perennial non-food herbaceous crops irrigated with different kinds of marginal waters. In fourdifferent sites (Bologna, Padova, Reggio Calabria, and Catania) the same four species (Arundo, Typha, Phragmites, and Lythrum), usually tested without irrigation, were planted and monitored during 2008-2010. The results show that a planting density of 10 m2 is necessary to obtain a maximum dry yield levels already from the second year of transplanting. The maximum productivity was obtained with Arundo (close to 100 Mg ha-1 y-1 in Bologna and 86 Mg ha-1 y-1 in Padova, 50-60 Mg ha1 y1 in the southern locations). Lythrum productivity ranged from 5.2 to 9.2 Mg ha-1 y-1 in all the RUs, with the exception of Reggio Calabria. Typha (around 10 Mg ha-1 y-1 at the third year) and Phragmites (5-8 Mg ha-1 y-1) gave significant production only in the northern locations. The HHVs were close to 15.5 MJ kg-1 for Phragmites (except for Catania and Reggio Calabria with 20.0 MJ kg-1) 18.0 MJ kg-1 for the Arundo (except for Catania with 20.0 MJ kg-1), 18.5 MJ kg-1 for the Typha and Lythrum (except for Catania with 20.0 MJ kg-1)

Cost-benefit of green infrastructures for water management: A sustainability assessment of full-scale constructed wetlands in Northern and Southern Italy

Sustainable water management has become an urgent challenge due to irregular water availability patterns and water quality issues. The effect of climate change exacerbates this phenomenon in water-scarce areas, such as the Mediterranean region, stimulating the implementation of solutions aiming to mitigate or improve environmental, social, and economic conditions. A novel solution inspired by nature, technology-oriented, explored in the past years, is constructed wetlands. Commonly applied for different types of wastewater due to its low cost and simple maintenance, they are considered a promising solution to remove pollutants while creating an improved ecosystem by increasing biodiversity around them. This research aims to assess the sustainability of two typologies of constructed wetlands in two Italian areas: Sicily, with a vertical subsurface flow constructed wetland, and Emilia Romagna, with a surface flow constructed wetland. The assessment is performed by applying a cost-benefit analysis combining primary and secondary data sources. The analysis considered the market and non-market values in both proposed scenarios to establish the feasibility of the two options and identify the most convenient one. Results show that both constructed wetlands bring more benefits (benefits-cost ratio, BCR) than costs (BCR > 0). In the case of Sicily, the BCR is lower (1) in the constructed wetland scenario, while in its absence it is almost double. If other ecosystem services are included the constructed wetland scenario reach a BCR of 4 and a ROI of 5, showing a better performance from a costing perspective than the absence one. In Emilia Romagna, the constructed wetland scenario shows a high BCR (10) and ROI (9), while the scenario in absence has obtained a negative present value indicating that the cost do not cover the benefits expected