Short-Term Application of Polymer-Coated Mono-Ammonium Phosphate in a Calcareous Soil Affects the Pools of Available Phosphorus and the Growth of Hypericum 7 moserianum (L.)

Mineral phosphorus (P) fertilization in calcareous soils is not efficient enough to ensure optimal plant growth. Therefore, a higher P input is generally needed. Polymer-coated fertilizers are a promising fertilizer category that seems to affect soil extractable P, thus permitting a reduction in fertilizer rates. We tested this hypothesis in a short-term (45 days) field trial by evaluating both the agronomic and the environmental implications. In this study, two conventional fertilizers (single superphosphate, SSP; mono-ammonium phosphate, MAP) and a slow P-release fertilizer (polymer-coated MAP, PCMAP) were tested for their effects on soil P pools by combining different P rates and degrees of coating. The P soil test was determined with either Olsen or Mehlich-3 solution (available P), whereas the P soil release was estimated through water extraction. The efficiency of fertilizers was evaluated by assessing the growth of Hypericum × moserianum (L.) plants. As expected, both SSP and MAP influenced the soil Mehlich-3-P, Olsen-P, and water-P, as concentrations increased with the fertilizer rate. Conversely, PCMAP decreased the soil extractable P with increasing coating. The plant dry weight and P uptake linearly correlated with the fertilizer rate for SSP and MAP, whilst they achieved the maximum yield with PCMAP. This result indicates the underdosing for conventional fertilizers. With reference to the soil test P with water-P, the presence of change points showed low water-P release concentrations for PCMAP and SSP, and high water-P release for MAP. In conclusion, in the short-term period both soil extractable P and water-P depend on the type of fertilizer, whereas the amount of added P has rather a secondary role. PCMAP, in particular, ensures high plant P use efficiency with minimum environmental impacts

Short-Term Application of Polymer-Coated Mono-Ammonium Phosphate in a Calcareous Soil Affects the Pools of Available Phosphorus and the Growth of Hypericum × moserianum (L.)

Mineral phosphorus (P) fertilization in calcareous soils is not efficient enough to ensure optimal plant growth. Therefore, a higher P input is generally needed. Polymer-coated fertilizers are a promising fertilizer category that seems to affect soil extractable P, thus permitting a reduction in fertilizer rates. We tested this hypothesis in a short-term (45 days) field trial by evaluating both the agronomic and the environmental implications. In this study, two conventional fertilizers (single superphosphate, SSP; mono-ammonium phosphate, MAP) and a slow P-release fertilizer (polymer-coated MAP, PCMAP) were tested for their effects on soil P pools by combining different P rates and degrees of coating. The P soil test was determined with either Olsen or Mehlich-3 solution (available P), whereas the P soil release was estimated through water extraction. The efficiency of fertilizers was evaluated by assessing the growth of Hypericum × moserianum (L.) plants. As expected, both SSP and MAP influenced the soil Mehlich-3-P, Olsen-P, and water-P, as concentrations increased with the fertilizer rate. Conversely, PCMAP decreased the soil extractable P with increasing coating. The plant dry weight and P uptake linearly correlated with the fertilizer rate for SSP and MAP, whilst they achieved the maximum yield with PCMAP. This result indicates the underdosing for conventional fertilizers. With reference to the soil test P with water-P, the presence of change points showed low water-P release concentrations for PCMAP and SSP, and high water-P release for MAP. In conclusion, in the short-term period both soil extractable P and water-P depend on the type of fertilizer, whereas the amount of added P has rather a secondary role. PCMAP, in particular, ensures high plant P use efficiency with minimum environmental impacts

Sprofondamenti in aree urbane: il caso del parco “Ytzhak Rabin” (via Panama, Roma)

In Rome urban area, within the garden dedicated to Ytzhak Rabin (a portion of the Villa Ada park), occurrence of a few collapses has been observed for the first time in September 2012. In the surroundings, presence of underground cavities- mainly catacombs- is conversely well documented by previous studies. Local authorities were immediately informed of sinkholes formation, because collapses occurred very close to a playground located in a highly frequented sector of the garden. Propagation processes of the phenomena, periodically monitored since their first observation, significantly fastened after a period of heavy rainfalls on Rome area in January- February 2014. Thus, multidisciplinary geophysical investigations have been started in agreement with Civil Protection of Rome Municipality, who has taken preliminary safety measures (installation of fences and danger signals). Hitherto, 28 sinkholes have been identified, aligned along a WNW-ESE trending zone, testifying localized collapses of the roof of underground cavities, probably belonging to the palaeocristian catacomb systems dug nearby Via Salaria. Preliminary geophysical prospections have been performed in a small test area, in order to verify methods applicability and thus program a systematic survey of the whole garden. Drillings, and direct exploration of the accessible galleries, will complete the reconstruction of underground geometry and conservation state of vaults and pillars. Once completed the hazard assessment, the planning of urgent works is expected in order to restore the complete use of the garden.Published25 - 422TR. Ricostruzione e modellazione della struttura crostaleN/A or not JC

High-resolution aeromagnetic survey of Calabria (Southern Italy)

We present a 1:350,000 high-resolution magnetic anomaly map of Calabria (Southern Italy), obtained by merging the results from two low-altitude aeromagnetic surveys performed in southern and northern Calabria. Magnetic anomalies of Calabria are of low intensity, and mostly range from 11 to –9 nT. Northern Calabria is characterized by positive anomalies in the Tyrrhenian margin (Coastal Chain) that turn into negative values moving eastward in the Sila Massif. Southern Calabria is characterized by slightly positive anomaly values, interrupted by a null magnetic anomaly corridor roughly corresponding to the eastern margin of the Gioia Tauro basin. Finally, anomaly values turn systematically negative in the Messina Straits. Due to the unprecedented resolution (low flying height, spatial sampling along the flight line of ∼5 m and 1–2 km flight line spacing), the new map highlights, in detail, the geometry and setting of the upper crustal features. As Calabria is one of the most seismically active regions in Italy, hit by several high-magnitude earthquakes in recent centuries, the interpretation of this new map will hopefully contribute to new insights into the crustal geological setting, location and dimension of the main seismogenic sources.Published116-1231A. Geomagnetismo e Paleomagnetismo3SR. AMBIENTE - Servizi e ricerca per la SocietàJCR Journa

Indagini geofisiche e geochimiche di un sinkhole in formazione nell’area di Guidonia (Lazio)

The Plio-Quaternary Acque Albule Basin is already known for the occurrence of sinkholes; since the spring 2014, it has been ongoing the study of an active subsidence process, which formed a depressed area near the Guidonia village. During the last year, the phenomenon has become more intense giving rise to two collapses along the eastern rim of the depression. Thus, geophysical and geogeochemical investigation campaigns started in order to understand the genesis and evolution of the phenomenon. Survey results allowed a geological and structural characterization, showing the presence of “travertino” at the depression margins and its absence therein. It has been recognized, by the geophysics, features with NW-SE and NNE-SSW direction ascribable to a possible depression fracturing and consistent with regional structural trends. Thus, it has been possible to plan and perform geognostic investigation consisting in two drillings aimed to define the stratigraphy of the marginal and inner part of the depression.Published7 - 162TR. Ricostruzione e modellazione della struttura crostaleJCR Journa

The Alto Tiberina Near Fault Observatory (northern Apennines, Italy)

The availability of multidisciplinary and high-resolution data is a fundamental requirement to understand the physics of earthquakes and faulting. We present the Alto Tiberina Near Fault Observatory (TABOO), a research infrastructure devoted to studying preparatory processes, slow and fast deformation along a fault system located in the upper Tiber Valley (northern Apennines), dominated by a 60 km long low-angle normal fault (Alto Tiberina, ATF) active since the Quaternary. TABOO consists of 50 permanent seismic stations covering an area of 120 × 120 km2. The surface seismic stations are equipped with 3-components seismometers, one third of them hosting accelerometers. We instrumented three shallow (250 m) boreholes with seismometers, creating a 3-dimensional antenna for studying micro-earthquakes sources (detection threshold is ML 0.5) and detecting transient signals. 24 of these sites are equipped with continuous geodetic GPS, forming two transects across the fault system. Geochemical and electromagnetic stations have been also deployed in the study area. In 36 months TABOO recorded 19,422 events with ML ≤ 3.8 corresponding to 23.36e-04 events per day per squared kilometres; one of the highest seismicity rate value observed in Italy. Seismicity distribution images the geometry of the ATF and its antithetic/synthetic structures located in the hanging-wall. TABOO can allow us to understand the seismogenic potential of the ATF and therefore contribute to the seismic hazard assessment of the area. The collected information on the geometry and deformation style of the fault will be used to elaborate ground shaking scenarios adopting diverse slip distributions and rupture directivity models.PublishedS03275T. Sismologia, geofisica e geologia per l'ingegneria sismicaJCR Journa

AlpArray-Italy: Site description and noise characterization

Within the framework of the European collaborative research initiative AlpArray (http://www.alparray.ethz. ch), the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanolgia (INGV) deployed overall 20 broad-band seismic stations in Northern Italy and on two islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea (Capraia and Montecristo) during Fall-Winter 2015. The temporary deployment (16 stations) will run for two to three years and 4 INGV National Seismic Network accelerometric sites are now equipped with additional per- manent broad-band sensors. The 16 temporary stations are equipped with REF TEK 130 digitizers and Nanometrics Trillium Compact 120 s sensors, a couple have Nanometrics Trillium 120P sensors and one a Streckeisen STS2. For each site we describe the settings and discuss the noise levels, the site effects and the preliminary sensitivity analysis.Published39-528T. Sismologia in tempo realeJCR Journa