Use of a weed risk assessment for the Mediterranean region of Central Italy to prevent loss of functionality and biodiversity in agro-ecosystems

The Mediterranean region is particularly prone to erosion. This is because it is subject to long dry periods followed by heavy bursts of erosive rainfall, falling on steep slopes with fragile soils, resulting in considerable amounts of erosion. In parts of the Mediterranean region, erosion has reached a stage of irreversibility and in some places erosion has practically ceased because there is no more soil left. With a very slow rate of soil formation, any soil loss of more than 1 t ha−1 yr−1 can be considered as irreversible within a time span of 50-100 years. The objectives of this study were i) to estimate the temporal and spatial distribution of soil erosion under climate change scenarios in study area ii) to assess the hydrological runoff processes. In this study, climate data, land use, topographic and physiographic properties were assembled for Egribuk Subcatchment at Seyhan River Basin in Turkey and used in a process-based Geographical Information System (GIS) to determine the hydrological sediment potential and quantify reservoir sedimentation. The estimated amount of sediment transported downstream is potentially large based on hydrological runoff processes using the Pan-European Soil Erosion Risk Assessment (PESERA) model. The detailed model inputs included 128 variables derived mainly from, soil, climate, land use/cover, topography data sets. The outcomes of this research were spatial and temporal distribution of erosion amount in t ha−1 yr−1 or month−1.

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Groundwater nitrate risk assessment using intrinsic vulnerability methods: A comparative study of environmental impact by intensive farming in the Mediterranean region of Sicily, Italy

Journal of Geochemical Exploration ◽

10.1016/j.gexplo.2015.05.002 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 156 ◽

pp. 89-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Antonino Pisciotta ◽

Gioacchino Cusimano ◽

Rocco Favara

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Environmental Impact ◽

Comparative Study ◽

Mediterranean Region ◽

Intrinsic Vulnerability ◽

Intensive Farming ◽

The Mediterranean

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Yield and qualitative characterisation of seeds of Amaranthus hypochondriacus L. and Amaranthus cruentus L. grown in central Italy

Italian Journal of Agronomy ◽

10.4081/ija.2017.993 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 63-73 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Abdel Nasser G. El Gendy ◽

Silvia Tavarini ◽

Giuseppe Conte ◽

Laura Pistelli ◽

Saber F. Hendawy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Seed Yield ◽

Mediterranean Region ◽

Oil Content ◽

Central Italy ◽

Growth Cycle ◽

Unsaponifiable Fraction ◽

Amaranthus Cruentus ◽

Amaranthus Hypochondriacus ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Growing Conditions

Amaranth can be considered a very interesting crop for the Mediterranean region, thanks to its inherent tolerance to disadvantageous growing conditions, along with the high nutritional and nutraceutical value of its seeds. The study aims to evaluate the seed yield, and the oil content and quality of two amaranth genotypes (species Amaranthus hypochondriacus L. and Amaranthus cruentus L., respectively) grown in central Italy, testing two types of soil (loamy and sandy soil). The two species showed a good performance in the tested environment, with satisfactory seed yield and relative short growth cycle. Significant differences between the two genotypes were observed in terms of seed yield. The crude oil content ranged from 7.5% to 6.0%, with linoleic, palmitic and oleic acids as the major fatty acids of the oil in both genotypes. The unsaponifiable fraction was rich in sterols (campesterol, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol), and interesting levels of squalene were found. This study demonstrated the unique nutraceutical properties of the seeds of two genotypes of A. hypochondriacus and A. cruentus, grown in central Italy environment, as a source of polyunsaturated fatty acid and squalene. These characteristics make amaranth a valuable alternative crop for specialty oil production in the Mediterranean region.

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