Estimating soil degradation in montane grasslands of North-eastern Italian Alps (Italy)

Grasslands cover a large portion of the terrestrial ecosystems, and are vital for biodiversity conservation, environmental protection and livestock husbandry. However, grasslands are degraded due to unreasonable management worldwide, i.e., soil erosion indirectly due to the damage of overgrazing on vegetation coverage and soil texture. An in-depth investigation is necessary to quantify soil erosion in alpine pastures, in order to manage grasslands more sustainably. In this work, we collected freely available satellite images and carried out intensive field surveys for the whole Autonomous Province of Trento (Northeastern Italian Alps) in 2016. The area (and volume) of soil erosions were then estimated and shown in maps. The average of the depths of soil erosion measured in field was used as a reference for estimating soil erosion of the entire study area. High-resolution DEMs difference in soil surface conditions was also computed in two representative areas between pre- and post-degradation to estimate the volume and the average depth of eroded soils. The degradation of soil in the study areas has been estimated in 144063 m2 and an estimated volume of 33610 ± 1800 m3. Results indicate that our procedure can serve as a low-cost approach for a rapid estimation of soil erosion in mountain areas. Mapping soil erosion can improve the sustainability of grazing management system and reduce the risk of pastureland degradation at large spatial scales

Barnyardgrass shows sensitivity to reduced doses of topramezone at different growth stages

Using less than the labelled dose of herbicides depends mostly on weed spectrum and growth stage of target weeds. The aim of the greenhouse experiment was to determine the efficacy of recommended (67.2 g a.i. ha-1) and reduced doses (44.8, 33.6, 22.4, 16.8 and 8.4 g a.i. ha-1) of topramezone combined with adjuvants (NIS and MSO) on barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli [L.] P. Beauv.) at two different growth stages: BBCH 13 and BBCH 21\u201322. The results showed unsatisfactory efficacy of topramezone applied alone at the recommended dose on both growth stages (>50%). When applied with adjuvants (MSO or NIS) at BBCH 13, topramezone 100% visually damaged barnyardgrass and reduced biomass >90%, at each applied dose. In contrast, at BBCH 21\u201322 only topramezone double dose achieved 73% visual damage. Reduced topramezone doses applied with adjuvants gave insufficient barnyardgrass control at tillering stage (< 40%). Results indicate the possibility of reducing the topramezone dose to more than 87% by adding adjuvants (MSO or NIS) but only when applied at early growth stage of barnyardgrass (BBCH 13). At BBCH 21\u201322 satisfactory barnyardgrass control cannot be achieved by using topramezone either alone or with adjuvants

Estimation of biological parameters for germination of Abutilon theophrasti Medik.

Background and Purpose: Velvetleaf seed longevity and prolonged emergence complicate&nbsp;assessing appropriate time for its control. Estimating biological parameters (base temperature and base water potential) is a first step towards development of emergence predictive model for this weed species in summer crops. Since, development of new model is time consuming, the aim of the research was to provide the data set of biological thresholds for Croatian ecotype and then to compare it with Italian velvetleaf thresholds to assess the implementation of AlertInf predictive weed emergence model from Italy to Croatia. Materials and methods: Laboratory experiments were conducted with 100 seeds per three replicates at seven constant temperatures (4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28°C) to estimate base temperature (Tb) and at seven water stress levels (0.00, -0.05, -0.10, -0.25, -0.38, -0.50, -0.80, -1.00 MPa) to estimate base water potential (Ψb). Results: The highest germination occurred at temperature &gt; 20°C with 3.6 days and at water stress level &gt;- 0.25 MPa with 4.9 days to complete 50% of germination (t50). The slowest t50 occurred at 4°C (41.9 days) and &lt; -0.38 MPa (10.1 days). Estimated Croatian velvetleaf biological parameters are: 4.5°C (Tb) and – 0.67 MPa (Ψb) with no significant difference compared to Italian ecotype, according to 95% confidence intervals overlapping. Conclusion: The results indicate that it could be possible to implement AlertInf model from Italy to Croatia for this weed species without additional adjustment. Nevertheless, next step of this implementation should include validation of estimated results in the field conditions. &nbsp; &nbsp;Key words: invasive weed species, velvetleaf, germination modelling, integrated weed management, base temperature, base water potentia

Estimation of biological parameters for germination of Abutilon theophrasti Medik.

Background and Purpose: Velvetleaf seed longevity and prolonged emergence complicate assessing appropriate time for its control. Estimating biological parameters (base temperature and base water potential) is a first step towards development of emergence predictive model for this weed species in summer crops. Since, development of new model is time consuming, the aim of the research was to provide the data set of biological thresholds for Croatian ecotype and then to compare it with Italian velvetleaf thresholds to assess the implementation of AlertInf predictive weed emergence model from Italy to Croatia. Materials and methods: Laboratory experiments were conducted with 100 seeds per three replicates at seven constant temperatures (4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28°C) to estimate base temperature (Tb) and at seven water stress levels (0.00, -0.05, -0.10, -0.25, -0.38, -0.50, -0.80, -1.00 MPa) to estimate base water potential (Ψb). Results: The highest germination occurred at temperature > 20°C with 3.6 days and at water stress level >- 0.25 MPa with 4.9 days to complete 50% of germination (t50). The slowest t50 occurred at 4°C (41.9 days) and b) and – 0.67 MPa (Ψb) with no significant difference compared to Italian ecotype, according to 95% confidence intervals overlapping. Conclusion: The results indicate that it could be possible to implement AlertInf model from Italy to Croatia for this weed species without additional adjustment. Nevertheless, next step of this implementation should include validation of estimated results in the field conditions.    Key words: invasive weed species, velvetleaf, germination modelling, integrated weed management, base temperature, base water potential</p

Estimation of biological parameters for germination of Abutilon theophrasti Medik.

Background and Purpose: Velvetleaf seed longevity and prolonged emergence complicate&nbsp;assessing appropriate time for its control. Estimating biological parameters (base temperature and base water potential) is a first step towards development of emergence predictive model for this weed species in summer crops. Since, development of new model is time consuming, the aim of the research was to provide the data set of biological thresholds for Croatian ecotype and then to compare it with Italian velvetleaf thresholds to assess the implementation of AlertInf predictive weed emergence model from Italy to Croatia. Materials and methods: Laboratory experiments were conducted with 100 seeds per three replicates at seven constant temperatures (4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28°C) to estimate base temperature (Tb) and at seven water stress levels (0.00, -0.05, -0.10, -0.25, -0.38, -0.50, -0.80, -1.00 MPa) to estimate base water potential (Ψb). Results: The highest germination occurred at temperature &gt; 20°C with 3.6 days and at water stress level &gt;- 0.25 MPa with 4.9 days to complete 50% of germination (t50). The slowest t50 occurred at 4°C (41.9 days) and &lt; -0.38 MPa (10.1 days). Estimated Croatian velvetleaf biological parameters are: 4.5°C (Tb) and – 0.67 MPa (Ψb) with no significant difference compared to Italian ecotype, according to 95% confidence intervals overlapping. Conclusion: The results indicate that it could be possible to implement AlertInf model from Italy to Croatia for this weed species without additional adjustment. Nevertheless, next step of this implementation should include validation of estimated results in the field conditions. &nbsp; &nbsp;Key words: invasive weed species, velvetleaf, germination modelling, integrated weed management, base temperature, base water potentia

Morfološka i funkcionalna intrapopulacijska varijabilnost sjemena korovne vrste Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.

The aim of the research was to determinate the degree of variation in morphological (seed weight) and functional polymorphism (final germination, dormancy, seed mortality and germination dynamic) within two seed populations of Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. Seeds were collected separately from 20 plants/population in Jastebarsko (45°40\u2718˝N; 15°39\u2703˝E), population-J and Popovača (45°34´1˝N; 16°40´43˝E), population-P in 2014. Seed weight of J and P populations had weak variability (CV-J = 18.2%, CV-P= 29.8%) with an average of 4.05 g (J) and 4.54 g (P). Estimated variability was strong for amount of death seeds in the J (CV = 67.6%), but weak for geminated (CV = 4.9%) and moderate for dormant seeds (CV = 51.0%). Variability within P population was moderate for both germinated and dead seeds (CV = 34.5%; 34.1%), while variability within amount of dormant seeds was weak (CV = 14.2%). Variability in medium germination (T50) was relatively low for both experimental populations (CV – J = 12.0%; CV – P = 22.4%). Despite determined intrapopulation variation, degrees of variability between researched parameters (final germination, dormancy and medium germination – T50) were weak or moderate and therefore acceptable for further experiment base on seed testing.Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi stupanj morfološke (masa sjemena) i funkcionalne (klijavost, dormantnost, smrtnost sjemena i dinamika klijanja) varijabilnosti unutar dvije populacije sjemena korovne vrste Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. (ambrozija) sakupljene u sjeverozapadnom dijelu Hrvatske: Jastrebarsko (45 ° 40\u2718˝N; 15 ° 39\u2703˝E), populacija-J i Popovača (45 ° 34´1˝N; 16 ° 40´43˝E), populacija-P. Prikupljeno je sjeme s 20 biljaka/populaciji u listopadu 2014. Rezultati istraživanja ukazuju na slabu varijabilnost (CV-J = 18,2%, CV-P = 29,8%) mase 1 000 sjemenki s prosječnom masom od 4,05 g (J) i 4,54 g (P). Intrapopulacijska varijabilnost bila je relativno visoka za udio mrtvog sjemena u populaciji-J (CV = 67,6%), ali vrlo slaba za udio klijavog (CV = 4,9%) te umjerena za udio dormantnog sjemena (CV = 51,0%). Varijabilnost unutar populacije-P bila je umjerena za udio klijavog i mrtvog sjemena (CV = 34,5%; 34,1%), a relativno slaba za udio dormantnog sjemena (CV = 14,2%). Dinamika klijanja (T10, T50 i T90) obje populacije bila je slabo ili umjereno varijabilna. Sredina klijanja (T50) bila je relativno slabo varijabilna za obje istraživane populacije (CV - J = 12,0%; CV - P = 22,4%)

Vegetated ditches for the mitigation of pesticides runoff in the po valley

In intensive agricultural systems runoff is one of the major potential diffuse pollution path- ways for pesticides and poses a risk to surface water. Ditches are common in the Po Valley and can potentially provide runoff mitigation for the protection of watercourses. The effec- tiveness depends on ditch characteristics, so there is an urgent need for site-specific field trials. The use of a fugacity model (multimedia model) can allows recognition of the mitiga- tion main processes. A field experiment was conducted in order to evaluate the mitigation capacity of a typical vegetated ditch, and results were compared with predictions by a fugacity model. To evaluate herbicide mitigation after an extreme runoff, the ditch was flooded with water containing mesotrione, S-metolachlor and terbuthylazine. Two other sub- sequent floods with uncontaminated water were applied 27 and 82 days later to evaluate herbicides release. Results show that the ditch can immediately reduce runoff concentration of herbicides by at least 50% even in extreme flooding conditions. The half-distances were about 250 m. As a general rule, a runoff of 1 mm from 5 ha is mitigated by 99% in 100 m of vegetated ditch. Herbicides retention in the vegetated ditch was reversible, and the second flood mobilized 0.03-0.2% of the previous one, with a concentration below the drinking water limit of 0.1 \u3bcg L-1. No herbicide was detected in the third flood, because the residual amount in the ditch was too low. Fugacity model results show that specific physical-chemi- cal parameters may be used and a specific soil-sediment-plant compartment included for modelling herbicides behaviour in a vegetated ditch, and confirm that accumulation is low or negligible for herbicides with a half-life of 40 days or less. Shallow vegetated ditches can thus be included in a general agri-environment scheme for the mitigation of pesticides runoff together with wetlands and linear buffer strips. These structures are present in the land- scape, and their environmental role can be exploited by proper management

Organic contaminants in Ganga basin: from the Green Revolution to the emerging concerns of modern India

The Ganga basin includes some of the most densely populated areas in the world, in a region characterised by extremely high demographic and economic growth rates. Although anthropogenic pressure in this area is increasing, the pollution status of the Ganga is still poorly studied and understood. In the light of this, we have carried out a systematic literature review of the sources, levels and spatiotemporal distribution of organic pollutants in surface water and sediment of the Ganga basin, including for the first time emerging contaminants (ECs). We have identified 61 publications over the past thirty years, with data on a total of 271 organic compounds, including pesticides, industrial chemicals and by-products, artificial sweeteners, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). The most studied organic contaminants are pesticides, whereas knowledge of industrial compounds and PPCPs, among which some of the major ECs, is highly fragmentary. Most studies focus on the main channel of the Ganga, the Yamuna, the Gomti and the deltaic region, while most of the Ganga’s major tributaries, and the entire southern part of the catchment, have not been investigated. Hotspots of contamination coincide with major urban agglomerations, including Delhi, Kolkata, Kanpur, Varanasi and Patna. Pesticides levels have decreased at most of the sites over recent decades, while potentially harmful concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organotin compounds (OTCs) and some PPCPs have been detected in the last ten years. Considering the limited geographical coverage of sampling and number of analysed compounds, this review highlights the need for a more careful selection of locations, compounds and environmental matrices, prioritizing PPCPs and catchment-scale, source-to-sink studie

Clinical Features, Cardiovascular Risk Profile, and Therapeutic Trajectories of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Candidate for Oral Semaglutide Therapy in the Italian Specialist Care

Introduction: This study aimed to address therapeutic inertia in the management of type 2 diabetes (T2D) by investigating the potential of early treatment with oral semaglutide. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between October 2021 and April 2022 among specialists treating individuals with T2D. A scientific committee designed a data collection form covering demographics, cardiovascular risk, glucose control metrics, ongoing therapies, and physician judgments on treatment appropriateness. Participants completed anonymous patient questionnaires reflecting routine clinical encounters. The preferred therapeutic regimen for each patient was also identified. Results: The analysis was conducted on 4449 patients initiating oral semaglutide. The population had a relatively short disease duration (42%  60% of patients, and more often than sitagliptin or empagliflozin. Conclusion: The study supports the potential of early implementation of oral semaglutide as a strategy to overcome therapeutic inertia and enhance T2D management