Hierarchization of the Italian region on the strength of the agricultural mechanization through clustering analysis

The aim of this paper has been to study the organization of the Italian agricultural enterprises through a cluster analysis. Starting from statistical data, the Italian Regions were then classified into homogeneous groups in proportion with the size of the farms, their agricultural mechanization level and the manpower employment. The suitability of this arrangement was supported by the variability among the groups, which was greater than that within the groups. Generally each group is formed both by adjacent and non-adjacent Regions and also by Regions geographically distant. A concise but clear picture pertaining the different structure of Italian farms were was pointed out

Exposure of farm workers to electromagnetic radiation from cellular network radio base stations situated on rural agricultural land

The electromagnetic field (EMF) levels generated by mobile telephone radio base stations (RBS) situated on rural-agricultural lands were assessed in order to evaluate the exposure of farm workers in the surrounding area. The expected EMF at various distances from a mobile telephone RBS was calculated using an ad hoc numerical forecast model. Subsequently, the electric fields around some RBS on agricultural lands were measured, in order to obtain a good approximation of the effective conditions at the investigated sites. The viability of this study was tested according to the Italian Regulations concerning general and occupational public exposure to time-varying EMFs. The calculated E-field values were obtained with the RBS working constantly at full power, but during the in situ measurements the actual power emitted by RBS antennas was lower than the maximum level, and the E-field values actually registered were much lower than the calculated values

An innovative pneumatic electrostatic sprayer useful for tendone vineyards

The aim of this note is to analyse the features of the ESS “150 RB14” electrostatic sprayer, an innovative model compared to the standard air-assisted sprayers traditionally used by Apulian growers (Southern Italy) in “tendone” vineyards. The experimental tests showed that the activation of the electrostatic system produced a significant increase in the mean deposit, but it was located only on the foliar layer of the canopy closer to the sprayer. However this result should also imply an increase in the deposits on the bunches when the electrostatic system is activated, even if further tests are necessary to verify this expectation. If this will be substantiated, the electrostatic sprayer ESS “150 RB14” would be suitable for the targeted applications usually performed in “tendone” table grape vineyards

The effects of the forward speed and air volume of an air-assisted sprayer on spray deposition in tendone trained vineyards

This paper reports the results of spray application trials in a tendone trained vineyard in order to evaluate the influence of forward speed and air volume on the foliar deposition of plant protection products (PPPs), maintaining roughly constant the volume applied. The trials used an air-assisted sprayer with a centrifugal fan and 4+4 adjustable fan-shaped diffusers, each with a nozzle-holder group. A full factorial experimental design was implemented, with three forward speeds and two airflow rates, organised with a randomised complete block design including three replicates. In order to consider the influence of canopy development, the tests (one spray application for each replicate of a mixture containing a water-soluble food dye as a tracer) were replicated during two phenological stages: i) the end of flowering; and ii) berry touch. Leaves were picked at random from the canopy after each spray treatment, and foliar PPP deposition was evaluated using a spectrophotometer. This analysis of foliar deposition showed that the airflow rates produced by the fan were unsuitable for the dense canopy typical of this type of vineyard. However, the special shape of the diffusers may make this sprayer effective if the main objective of pesticide applications in tendone trained table grape vineyards is to control bunch diseases

Investigation of workers’ exposures to vibrations produced by portable shakers

Herein note focussed the attention on the vibration levels issued by two portable shakers models build in different and subsequent times by the same building company, which presents different design and constructive solutions for both the handles. The two tools were used, during tests, by a single operator, expert in the use of this typology of tools due to his job activity during the olives harvesting campaigns; the measurements were carried out respecting the indications contained in the provisions UNI EN ISO 5349. A different dynamic behaviour of the two tools emerged from the tests. Has been highlighted, also, the importance of the evaluation of the vibrations produced by portable shakers with the purposes to carry out studies that aim to the research of technical solutions which allow the reduction of vibrations transmission through the handles and through the shoulder support device of the tool

Operator Dermal Exposure to Pesticides in Tomato and Strawberry Greenhouses from Hand-Held Sprayers

Protection of greenhouse crops in southern Italy usually requires 15–20 phytosanitary treatments per year, with volume rates in the range of 1000–2000 L ha1, depending on the plant growth stage. The most widespread sprayers are hand-held, high-pressure devices, which may expose operators to high levels of pesticides. This paper, also with the aim to lead toward a more sustainable use of greenhouses in agricultural productions, including some aspects of workers’ safety, reports the results of experimental tests aimed at measuring the amount of the mixture deposited on the worker’s body (potential dermal exposure, PDE) during pesticide applications to tomato and strawberry plants in a protected environment. Experimental tests on tomatoes were carried out taking into account two plant growth stages (flowering and senescence), two types of spray lance, two working pressures (1 and 2 MPa), and two walking directions (forwards and backwards). Those on the strawberries were carried out at the maturity of the fruit growth stage, comparing two hand-held sprayers (a standard spray gun and a short hand-held spray boom equipped with two nozzles) and working according to the common practice: forwards movement of the operator and high pressure (2 MPa). The results showed that with the tomato plants, the most important factor in reducing the deposit on the operator was the walking direction: on average, the PDE was 718 mL per 1000 L of the sprayed mixture (0.72h) while walking forwards and 133 mL (0.13h) while walking backwards. The reduction factor ranged from 3.0 at the flowering growth stage to 7.2 at the senescence growth stage. With respect to the strawberry plants, the PDE was significantly higher when the operator used the short hand-held spray boom (887 mL per 1000 L of the sprayed mixture, equivalent to 0.89h), rather than the spray gun (344 mL, 0.34h). In both cases, the most exposed body parts were the lower limbs, which accounted for 89–94% of the total PDE

Experimental Study of Disc Fertilizer Spreader Performance

We report the experimental results of tests aimed at assessing the eects of dierent settings on the mean radius of mineral fertilizer distribution using a disc fertilizer spreader. Our aim was to improve the performance of fertilizer distribution in sustainable agriculture. Three types of mineral fertilizers with dierent physical characteristics, commonly used in agriculture, were considered: urea, calcium ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate. A complete randomization method based on a four-factor experimental model was used to study the influence of the functional and operational parameters on the mean radius of fertilizer spread. Fixed model analysis of variance showed that fertilizer type, vane configuration and disc angular velocity explained 91.74% of the variance of the spread mean radius, while linear multiple regression analysis highlighted that the fertilizer dust fraction and disc angular velocity had an overall eect of 82.72%, the former showing an inverse correlation as high as 72.77%

Electrolyzer performance analysis of an integrated hydrogen power system for greenhouse heating a case study

A greenhouse containing an integrated system of photovoltaic panels, a water electrolyzer, fuel cells and a geothermal heat pump was set up to investigate suitable solutions for a power system based on solar energy and hydrogen, feeding a self-sufficient, geothermal-heated greenhouse. The electricity produced by the photovoltaic source supplies the electrolyzer; the manufactured hydrogen gas is held in a pressure tank. In these systems, the electrolyzer is a crucial component; the technical challenge is to make it work regularly despite the irregularity of the solar source. The focus of this paper is to study the performance and the real energy efficiency of the electrolyzer, analyzing its operational data collected under different operating conditions affected by the changeable solar radiant energy characterizing the site where the experimental plant was located. The analysis of the measured values allowed evaluation of its suitability for the agricultural requirements such as greenhouse heating. On the strength of the obtained result, a new layout of the battery bank has been designed and exemplified to improve the performance of the electrolyzer. The evaluations resulting from this case study may have a genuine value, therefore assisting in further studies to better understand these devices and their associated technologies

Hydrogen and renewable energy sources integrated system for greenhouse heating

The environmental impact and the cost of fossil fuel system for greenhouse heating are the major limits for the development of protected horticulture. Recent researches are focusing on greenhouses optimal climate control and reduction of energy consumption. The use of suitable microclimate control systems, energy efficiency strategies and renewable energy sources could improve the environmental performance of the greenhouses. Renewable energy sources can be used to produce hydrogen by electrolysis with very high gas purity. Hydrogen can serve the purpose of storing overproduced energy after meeting the requirements of the greenhouse, and later it can be employed as fuel, achieving a stand-alone power system. Therefore a research is under development at the University of Bari in order to investigate the suitable solutions of a power system based on solar energy (photovoltaic) and hydrogen, integrated with a geothermal heat pump for powering a self sustained heated greenhouse. The tests were carried out at the experimental farm of the University of Bari sited in Valenzano, Bari, Southern Italy, latitude 41° N, where two experimental greenhouses, with the same geometric and constructive characteristics, have been realized; the distance between the two greenhouses is 12 m; therefore there is no mutual shading. One of the two greenhouses is heated using a low enthalpy heat pump combined with a vertical ground heat exchanger, in comparison with the other unheated greenhouse. The electrical energy for heat pump operation is provided by a purpose-built array of solar photovoltaic modules, which supplies also a water electrolyser system controlled by embedded pc; the generated dry hydrogen gas is conserved in suitable pressured storage tank. The hydrogen is used to produce electricity in a fuel cell in order to meet the above mentioned heat pump power demand when the photovoltaic system is inactive during winter night-time or the solar radiation level is insufficient to meet the electrical demand of the heat pump during overcast cold sky. This note reports the main elements regarding the integrated system design and building and it shows preliminary results of testing operation