Use of compost in urban greening to develop biodiverse herbaceous communities

Derelict urban soils are not suitable to grow ornamental traditional vegetation, but they can be effective in becoming areas of biodiversity and nature conservation. The compaction and very low quality of those soils, though do not enable a uniform covering and development of species and plant sizes, necessary to satisfy esthetical requests. Aim of our work was to evaluate the contribution of compost in improving the plant biodiversity and the self-sustainability in the cultivation of an herbaceous community sawn on derelict urban soil. The experimental study was carried out in eight, 2 m2 beds, filled with urban subsoil and sown with a mix of 29 autochthonous herbaceous species: annuals, biennials and perennials. The species selected for the trial are native in the surrounding countryside. We added compost, coming from selected municipal organic waste, in the first 15 cm of soil, then we sow the seed mixture on a thin layer (about 5-10 cm) of seeding substrate. The filling soil was poor in N (0.2 g kg-1) and Corg (4,3 g kg-1) and had alkaline pH (8.3), both this properties can affect negatively the growth of plants, the addition of compost could improve the content of N and Corg and decrease the value of pH. The vegetation was monitored every month since march, number of plants were counted inside a fixed quadrat. The plots with compost showed a more diverse vegetation in terms of species and a longer time of flowering

Wildflowers

Not availableIl progetto di ricerca VALFLORIA ? Innovazione e qualificazione dei prodotti per la valorizzazione della floricoltura toscana e la rinaturalizzazione di aree antropizzate - ha preso l?avvio nell?anno 2010 a seguito di un bando pubblico promosso dalla Regione Toscana, che ha condiviso con il mondo delle imprese floricole una serie di istanze emerse come prioritarie e ne ha fatto oggetto di una sia pur breve ma intensa attivit? di ricerca applicata. Questo manuale, realizzato nell?ambito del progetto, conclusosi nel corso del 2013, raccoglie una serie di esperienze sul campo e fornisce indicazioni nella direzione di una diversificazione produttiva; diversificazione quanto mai utile in un momento di grave crisi economica, come quella attuale, che si ripercuote in maniera pesante sugli acquisti di generi voluttuari come sono i prodotti floricoli. Il progetto ha affrontato sia temi generali legati alla valutazione di nuove specie, proponendone un metodo di screening preliminare, che temi specifici quali gli approfondimenti su alcune fisiopatie di specie di origine australiana, sui miscugli di wildflowers e su importanti aspetti in post-produzione. Sono stati testati infine anche nuovi approcci a metodologie di analisi dei processi produttivi floricoli con l?applicazione della metodologia LCA (Life Cycle Assessment), strumento per la valutazione degli impatti ambientali nei percorsi di certificazione ambientale. Dai tre anni di attivit? del progetto VALFLORIA nasce cos? questo manuale, strumento conoscitivo indirizzato in particolare a tecnici edoperatori del settore floricolo e in grado di fornire sia soluzioni immediatamente applicabili che indicazioni per una ulteriore implementazione di quanto sinora ottenuto, sempre con un occhio particolarmente attento ai risvolti ambientali delle produzioni agricole

La natura va a scuola. Linee guida per la creazione di un prato fiorito nel giardino delle scuole

No abstract availableLa necessit? di riportare la natura in citt? sembra quasi paradossale, ma ? un concetto di grande attualit? e con un significato sempre pi? pressante per il continuo aumento dell?urbanizzazione. L?idea di seminare un prato di fiori spontanei in ambienti urbani nasce dall?osservazione che sui suoli poveri questi fiori rivelano un notevole valore ornamentale e sviluppano un alto grado di diversit? vegetale. Il suolo urbano spesso ? di riporto e non contiene le necessarie quantit? di sostanza organica e di elementi nutritivi che fan s? che le piante possano crescere in maniera rigogliosa. I giardini in citt?, infatti, sono spesso popolati da una vegetazione stentata. I fiori spontanei, invece, seminati su questi stessi suoli, possono svilupparsi e creare delle comunit? vegetali ricche di specie diverse, che non richiedono interventi di irrigazione o di concimazione. Si tratta dunque di un modo sostenibile di gestire le aree urbane, riducendo anche drasticamente i costi. Inoltre, questo tipo di gestione comporta un minor disturbo dell?area a verde che pu? essere cos? tranquillamente frequentata dalla fauna attirata dai fiori, rappresentata da insetti in cerca di nettare e da uccelli granivori e insettivori. L?Agenzia Regionale per lo Sviluppo e l?Innovazione in Agricoltura (Arsia), la Regione Toscana e l?Istituto per lo Studio degli Ecosistemi (ISE) di Pisa del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) negli ultimi cinque anni hanno finanziato progetti e condotto studi su questa tematica, promuovendo una valida collaborazione con amministrazioni comunali e provinciali. In particolare, il rapporto con le scuole e con le autorit? scolastiche di Livorno ? stato estremamente proficuo ed il Prato Fiorito si ? rivelato un ottimo sistema per la gestione dei giardini scolastici e per la didattica. Il Prato Fiorito costituisce, infatti, un piccolo ecosistema che diventa un ?laboratorio all?aria aperta? per gli alunni che possono cos? partecipare a tutte le fasi dell?impianto, dalla preparazione del terreno alla semina, seguire le diverse fasi fenologiche delle piante, dall?emergenza delle plantule alla fioritura, osservare la micro e mesofauna attratta dalla vegetazione, nonch? studiare le dinamiche ecologiche e la catena trofica. Prendere spunti per disegni e creare composizioni scritte di vario genere diventa poi la naturale conclusione alle diverse osservazioni. In questo modo vengono superati i problemi legati alla mancanza di fondi e alla ridotta qualit? dei suoli nei complessi didattici e lo studio delle scienze viene proposto in modo stimolante ed estremamente divertente

Use of paper mill sludge for the acclimation of nursery trees to be planted in urban soil

Trees planted in urban areas often suffer in the phase of transplanting. Transplant is always a shock for plants, especially when they are moved from the nursery, where the environmental conditions are very favourable, to urbanized areas, where resources and maintenance are scarce. Moreover, some properties of urban soils, such as alkaline pH and compaction, make it difficult for trees to adapt. The industry of recycled paper produces tons of waste, which is a clean material composed mainly of cellulose that can be potentially used as a component in plant growth substrate. In the present experiment, the paper mill sludge pelletized has been added to the growing media with the aim of increasing the water storage in the substrate and, at the same time, of contrasting soil compaction. Three species, Quercus ilex, Lagerstroemia indica, Prunus serrulata ‘Kanzan’, have been planted in 40 L pots using two substrates: i) control, composed of peat, pumice, zeolites (chabasite) and compost; ii) experimental, composed of compost, zeolites (chabasite), pumice and pellet. The substrates were analysed for pH, bulk density, organic carbon, total nitrogen, and plants responses were monitored by measuring trunk diameter, shoot length and chlorophyll content. The experimental substrate resulted suitable to grow the trees in nursery. To use the waste in the experiment we undertook a path to get permission from the local authorities who manage the industrial waste

Effect of selenium enrichment on metabolism of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit during post‐harvest ripening

BACKGROUND Selenium (Se) enrichment of plants seems effective in enhancing the health‐related properties of produce, and in delaying plant senescence and fruit ripening. The current study investigated the effects of Se on tomato fruit ripening. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants were grown in hydroponics with different Se‐enriched nutrient solutions. Se, as sodium selenate, was added at rate of 0 mg L‐1 (control), 1 mg L‐1, and 1.5 mg L‐1. RESULTS Selenium was absorbed by roots and translocated to leaves and fruit. Se enrichment did not significantly affect the qualitative parameters of fruit at commercial harvest, instead it delayed ripening by affecting specific ripening‐related processes (respiration, ethylene production, color evolution) during postharvest. In the current experiment 100 g of tomato hydroponically grown with a 1.5 mg Se L‐1 enriched solution provided a total of 23.7 μg Se. Selenium recommended daily intake is 60 μg for women and 70 μg for men, thus the daily consumption of 100 g of enriched tomato would not lead to Se toxicity, but would provide a good Se diet supplementation. CONCLUSIONS The cultivation of tomato plants in a Se‐enriched solution appeared effective in producing tomato fruit with improved performances during storage and postharvest shelf life, and also with greater potential health‐promoting properties

The composting process from a waste management method to a remediation procedure

Composting is a controlled technology to enhance the natural aerobic process of organic wastes degradation. The resulting product is a humified material that is principally recyclable for agricultural purpose. The composting process is one of the most important tools for waste management, by the European Community legislation. In recent years composting has been increasingly used as a remediation technology to remove biodegradable contaminants from soil, and to modulate heavy metals bioavailability in phytoremediation strategies. An optimization in the recovery of resources from wastes through composting could enhance soil fertility and promote its use in the remediation biotechnologies of contaminated soils

Efficacy and Comparison of Different Strategies for Selenium Biofortification of Tomatoes

At appropriate concentrations, selenium (Se) is beneficial for humans. Tomato appears to be one of the best commodities for producing Se-biofortified fruit for dietary supplementation. To assess the efficacy of different enrichment protocols, a total of four on-plant and off-plant trials were conducted. Hydroponically grown tomato plants were sprayed with: (i) chemically synthesized Se nanoparticles (SeNPs) at 0, 1, and 1.5 mg Se L−1 at blooming; (ii) sodium selenate (Na2SeO4) or SeNPs solution at 0, 5, and 10 mg Se L−1 when the fruit entered the immature green stage. With regard to the off-plant trials, harvested mature green fruit were immersed in Na2SeO4 solution: (iii) at 0, 5, 10, and 20 mg Se L−1 for 15 s under a vacuum; (iv) at 0, 40, and 80 mg Se L−1 for 1 h. Spraying Na2SeO4 induced higher Se accumulation in plant tissue than SeNPs: both protocols were effective in enriching tomatoes. Postharvest Se enrichment via vacuum infiltration caused textural damage, whereas passive immersion in solution induced fruit Se accumulation without causing any damage. SeNPs appear to be quantitatively less effective than Na2SeO4, but might be environmentally safer. Elemental Se carried by NPs may be more easily incorporated into organic forms, which are more bioavailable for humans. Passive immersion may represent an alternative Se-enrichment strategy, allowing for the biofortification of harvested tomato fruit directly, with lower risks of environmental pollution

Compost and Wildflowers for the Management of Urban Derelict Soils

The aim of this study was to verify whether the use of source-separated municipal waste compost could improve the physical quality of urban soils and create better conditions for their management when planted with herbaceous species. A sandy soil in traffic islands was tilled to a depth of 10 cm, and half of the surface was treated with compost (3 kg/m 2 ). A mixture of 25 herbaceous annuals was then sown in the entire area. Organic carbon content and physical characteristics were determined at different times in the soil treated and not treated with compost. The vegetation was monitored in terms of its growth and flowering. The composttreated soil showed an increase in organic carbon content. Total porosity increased with time in the compost-treated soil, due to a higher volume of transmission pores, which play a role in water movement. Soil aggregate stability also improved in the compost-treated soil. The duration of flowering of the individual species and the overall quantity of flowers were greater in the compost-treated soil

Selenium Enrichment of Horticultural Crops

The ability of some crops to accumulate selenium (Se) is crucial for human nutrition and health. Selenium has been identified as a cofactor of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which is a catalyzer in the reduction of peroxides that can damage cells and tissues, and can act as an antioxidant. Plants are the first link in the food chain, which ends with humans. Increasing the Se quantity in plant products, including leafy and fruity vegetables, and fruit crops, without exceeding the toxic threshold, is thus a good way to increase animal and human Se intake, with positive effects on long‐term health. In many Se‐enriched plants, most Se is in its major organic form. Given that this form is more available to humans and more efficient in increasing the selenium content than inorganic forms, the consumption of Se‐enriched plants appears to be beneficial. An antioxidant effect of Se has been detected in Se‐enriched vegetables and fruit crops due to an improved antioxidative status and to a reduced biosynthesis of ethylene, which is the hormone with a primary role in plant senescence and fruit ripening. This thus highlights the possible positive effect of Se in preserving a longer shelf‐life and longer‐lasting quality