Preliminary validation of an indirect method for discharge evaluation of Pertuso Spring (Central Italy)

This paper deals with the results of the first year of the Environmental Monitoring Plan, related to the catchment project of Pertuso Spring, which is going to be exploited to supply an important water network in the South part of Roma district. The study area is located in the Upper Valley of the Aniene River (Latium, Central Italy), in the outcrop of Triassic-Cenozoic carbonate rocks, and belong to an important karst aquifer. Pertuso Spring is the main outlet of this karst aquifer and is the one of the most important water resource in the southeast part of Latium Region, used for drinking, agriculture and hydroelectric supplies. Karst aquifer feeding Pertuso Spring is an open hydrogeological system aquifer characterized by complex interactions and exchanges between groundwater and surface water which influence the aquifer water budget. Thus, evaluation of groundwater discharge from this karst spring can be affected by difficulties in performing measurements because of the insufficient knowledge about water transfer processes in the hydrological cycle and geometry of drainage conduits. The aim of this paper is to assess the interactions between karst aquifer feeding Pertuso Spring and Aniene River based on stream discharge measurements and water geochemical tracer data in order to validate an indirect method for karst spring discharge evaluation. As a matter of fact, in this paper, there are presented the results of the application of Magnesium as a reliable tracer of karst spring discharge. This indirect method is based on the elaboration of surface water discharge measurements in relationship with Mg2+ concentration values, determined as for groundwater, coming from Pertuso Spring, as for surface water sample, collected upstream and downstream of Pertuso Spring, along Aniene River streamflow. The application of Magnesium as an environmental tracer provides a means to evaluate discharge of Pertuso Spring, as it came up to be a marker of the mixing of surface water and groundwater. On the other hand, the Magnesium ion concentration provides information for the identification of groundwater flow systems and the main hydrogeochemical processes affecting the composition of water within the karst aquifers

Planning for real: ICT as a tool in urban regeneration

One of the major worldwide issues in the informal settlements has been spotted in the absence or weakness of community awareness. The problem can be analysed through different perspectives, related to security and social behaviours, environmental care and energy consumption. In such a complex scenario, it has been considered that one of the biggest difficulties for the planning units of municipalities in metropolitan areas, who deal with illegal and marginal settlements upgrading projects, is to face with frictions and resistances in some degree to their decisions, projects and actions. In order to increase the awareness of citizenship, ICT can be considered as a revolutionary support in this context. Low cost and friendly tools could help to upgrade the educational level of low incoming people, opening the communities and increasing the sense of belonging to a urban context as well as a neighbourhood. Digital democracy through digital inclusion and e-learning can be aimed in order to let citizen know, participate, share, improve or criticise projects and actions

Hydraulic conductivity estimation using low-flow purging data elaboration in contaminated sites

Hydrogeological characterization is required when investigating contaminated sites, and hydraulic conductivity is an important parameter that needs to be estimated. Before groundwater sampling, well water level values are measured during low-flow purging to check the correct driving of the activity. However, these data are generally considered only as an indicator of an adequate well purging. In this paper, water levels and purging flow rates were considered to estimate hydraulic conductivity values in an alluvial aquifer, and the obtained results were compared with traditional hydraulic conductivity test results carried on in the same area. To test the applicability of this method, data coming from 59 wells located in the alluvial aquifer of Malagrotta waste disposal site, a large area of 160 ha near Rome, were analyzed and processed. Hydraulic conductivity values were estimated by applying the Dupuit's hypothesis for steady-state radial flow in an unconfined aquifer, as these are the hydraulic conditions in pumping wells for remediation purposes. This study aims to show that low-flow purging procedures in monitoring wells-carried out before sampling for groundwater characterization-represent an easy and inexpensive method for soil hydraulic conductivity estimation with good feasibility, if correctly carried on

Karst spring recharge areas and discharge relationship by oxygen-18 and deuterium isotopes analyses. A case study in southern latium region, Italy

Karst aquifer recharge areas are usually difficult to identify because of the complexity of these aquifers' characteristics. On the other hand, their identification is very important in the aim of protecting the groundwater resources that these aquifers host. Regarding this topic, this paper presents an approach aimed at identifying karst aquifer recharge areas by the application of oxygen-18 and deuterium isotopes composition of groundwater coupled with hydrological features. Oxygen-18 and deuterium isotope composition of Capodacqua di Spigno Spring, in the South of the Latium Region, has been applied with rainfall and discharge values related to the feeding aquifer of this spring. As δ18O and δ2H values of groundwater samples are natural tracers of the recharge area's elevation, we propose a model, based on the distribution of the basin surfaces involved as recharge areas, in relation to elevations. The model estimates, for any discharge value, the percentage of the topographic area involved in the aquifer recharge. The setting up of this simulated distribution is supported by a Weibull cumulative probability function. The results show that the measured discharges increase as larger areas with lower elevations are involved in the recharge process

Mixes of cover crops and Trichoderma asperellum for enhancing soybean crop yield and sustainability.

Cover crops during the off-season and multifunctional microorganisms represent strategic technologies with potential to enhance the sustainability of soybean production. This study aimed to investigate the effects of cover crop mixes and the application of multifunctional microorganisms on the economic analysis, gas exchange, yield components and grain yield of soybean plants. The experimental design followed a randomized block pattern, in a 6 x 2 factorial arrangement, with four replications. The treatments consisted of six cover crop combinations [fallow (control); millet (Pennisetum glaucum) with crotalarias (Crotalaria juncea, C. spectabilis and C. ochroleuca); millet and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajanus); millet and Urochloa ruziziensis; millet, U. ruziziensis and pigeon pea; millet and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum)], with or without the application of a Trichoderma asperellum pool. The combination of millet + U. ruziziensis and millet + U. ruziziensis + pigeon pea showed the highest dry matter production and yielded the greatest nutrients content in the straw, which could provide a reduction in fertilization for the following crop. The soybean plants cultivated after millet + U. ruziziensis and millet + U. ruziziensis + pigeon pea demonstrated elevated photosynthetic rates and improved the instantaneous water-use efficiency. The application of multifunctional microorganisms led to a 16 % increase in the photosynthetic rate of the soybean plants. The highest yield was achieved by the soybean plants cultivated in areas with millet + U. ruziziensis and millet + U. ruziziensis + pigeon pea. Moreover, the application of multifunctional microorganisms contributed to increase the pod count per meter, grains per pod, mass of 100 seeds and overall soybean grain yield

Controle químico da brusone em arroz de terras altas: efeitos nos fungos não alvos do filoplano.

A brusone em arroz de terras altas causa danos significativos, necessitando de uma a duas aplicações de fungicidas, para o controle da doença. No entanto, o efeito de fungicidas sobre fungos não alvos do filoplano do arroz e benéficos são desconhecidos. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar o efeito de fungicidas no controle da brusone nas panículas, sobre fungos não alvos do filoplano de arroz, e estudar a antibiose de fungos não alvos para M. oryzae. Foi realizado um experimento em campo, utilizando-se duas cultivares (Primavera e Bonança), quatro fungicidas (trifloxistrobina + propiconazol, azoxistrobina, tebuconazol e triciclazol) e testemunha, com delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso, em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, e quatro repetições. Foram avaliados a severidade da brusone nas panículas, o teor de clorofila nas folhas, o número de unidades formadoras de colônia cm-² de folha e a antibiose. A cultivar Primavera apresentou maior severidade de brusone nas panículas do que a Bonança. Os fungicidas azoxistrobina e trifloxistrobina + propiconazol diferiram significativamente da testemunha, com menores severidades de brusone nas panículas. O teor de clorofila não foi influenciado pelo tratamento com fungicida, mas houve diferença entre as cultivares. Os fungicidas tebuconazol, trifloxistrobina + propiconazol e azoxistrobina reduziram significativamente os fungos do filoplano, em relação à testemunha. O triciclazol proporcionou maior número de unidades formadoras de colônia cm-² de folha, não diferindo da testemunha. Dos quatro fungos testados, apenas Epicoccum sp. apresentou antagonismo para M. oryzae

Periodicity and quasi-periodicity effects on vibration band gaps

PERIODICITY AND QUASI-PERIODICITY EFFECTS ON VIBRATION BAND GAPS: NUMERICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON ONE-DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE

Identificação de fontes de resistência à Magnaporthe oryzae em arroz (Oryza sativa).

Identificar e selecionar doadores de alelos de resistência a Magnaporthe oryzae para a sua utilização em programas de melhoramento de arroz no Brasil.Conpeex 2010