• Energy Research

Abstract The hemp market is fast growing due to demand for cannabidiol, nutraceutical and hemp fiber products. This work demonstrates the economical advantage of biomass gasification application to indoor hemp production. Gasifiers provide electrical energy, heat and biochar: these are highly valuable products for indoor growers where lights and thermal management are key costs of the business. Energy produced in an autonomous and renewable way increases the sustainability and in the facility. In this paper a small scale gasifier is fueled with certified “A1 plus” wood pellets to test its behavior and its biochar production rate. Biochar is used for hemp growing tests in an indoor hemp production facility. Results show how a 22 kW power plant is sufficient to guarantee almost complete sustainability in a 80 m2 facility. In the best case scenario where energy saving, biochar and thermal energy selling are considered, the gasifier investment has a payback time of about 3.5 years. At the end of the gasifier lifespan, the Net Present Value reaches 249 k€ considering a discount rate of 6%. Consequential results were also obtained from biochar application to pot growing substrates: there was a 7.7% increase in dry flower production and a 33.9% increase in total plant fresh biomass. Cannabinoids profiles resulted not affected by biochar application.

Nowadays one of the main challenges in agriculture is to increase crop yield and quality in a sustainable way. Organic farming system (OFS) is considered more eco-friendly than the conventional farming system (CFS). However, cash crops showed a reduced yield when cultivated in OFS, and among them processing tomato reported the highest yield gap between OFS and CFS. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate, both in greenhouse and field experiments, the combined effects of a cherry rootstock, genotype ‘Tomito’, and the applications of different microbial biostimulants (single species and consortia). The agronomic performance of a commercial processing tomato genotype, ‘H3402’, was assessed in order to increase fruit yield and quality in sustainable farming systems. In greenhouse experiment, the use of ‘Tomito’ as rootstock highlighted both the highest plant height (35 cm) and leaf chlorophyll content (25.20), while plants inoculated with A. brasiliensis showed the highest number of flowers (4.5). In field experiment, the combined use of grafting and microbial biostimulants increased marketable (on average 2.3 kg plant–1) and total yield (on average 2.5 kg plant–1) in comparison with the genotype ‘H3402’. All the investigated treatments reduced the number of fruits affected by blossom-end rot (on average –4.7 fruits plant–1), and A. brasiliensis also improved the fruit solid soluble content, recording values of 6.23 °Brix and 3.54 of Brix t ha–1.

L'orge est une céréale importante pour les milieux méditerranéens arides et semi-arides. Les projections climatiques futures montrent que les pays méditerranéens deviendront plus secs et plus chauds. Les objectifs de l'étude sont de : i) simuler les impacts de différentes projections climatiques et de différentes dates de semis sur le rendement ; ii) quantifier l'importance de la chaleur et de la sécheresse sur le rendement en orge à différents stades de croissance et dates de semis ; iii) quantifier les contributions des sources d'incertitude parmi la variabilité interannuelle, les options d'adaptation et les projections climatiques. Neuf emplacements à travers le bassin méditerranéen ont été utilisés pour calibrer et évaluer le modèle du système d'aide à la décision pour le transfert de technologie agricole (DSSAT). À chaque emplacement, les 40 sorties du modèle de circulation mondiale (GCM) (RCP4.5, Mid of the Century) ont montré une augmentation de la température moyenne de la saison de croissance entre 0,9 et 2,16 °C, tandis que les changements des précipitations de la saison de croissance se situaient entre -24 et +24 %. Par conséquent, à chaque emplacement, une projection plus sèche (sèche), moyenne (moyenne) et plus humide (humide) a été sélectionnée. Dans l'ensemble, il y a eu une réduction de 9 % du rendement céréalier sous le changement climatique ; mais la variation moyenne du rendement était de -27 %, +4 %, +8 %, pour les scénarios sec, moyen et humide, respectivement. Les résultats des simulations dans le scénario humide ont montré une plus grande variabilité de la réponse du rendement. Il y avait une interaction entre le type de sol, la quantité de pluie, la teneur en eau du sol extractible et la température maximale de l'air. En raison de cette relation, le stress hydrique au stade végétatif a été ressenti, affectant la croissance expansive. Dans le même temps, le nombre élevé de jours avec Tmax>34 °C a entraîné un épuisement plus important de l'eau du sol par la plante et donc des rendements plus faibles dans le scénario humide. La variabilité météorologique interannuelle a un impact sur le rendement de l'orge, quelles que soient les dates de semis et le climat futur prévu. En conclusion, l'impact du climat futur sur le rendement en orge en Méditerranée est négatif mais certains endroits seront moins touchés que d'autres. La cebada es un cultivo de cereales importante para los ambientes mediterráneos áridos y semiáridos. Las proyecciones climáticas futuras muestran que los países mediterráneos se volverán más secos y cálidos. Los objetivos del estudio son: i) simular los impactos de diferentes proyecciones climáticas y diferentes fechas de siembra en el rendimiento; ii) cuantificar la importancia del calor y la sequía en el rendimiento de la cebada en diferentes etapas de crecimiento y fechas de siembra; iii) cuantificar las contribuciones de las fuentes de incertidumbre entre la variabilidad interanual, las opciones de adaptación y las proyecciones climáticas. Se utilizaron nueve ubicaciones en toda la cuenca mediterránea para calibrar y evaluar el modelo del Sistema de Apoyo a la Decisión para la Transferencia de Agrotecnología (DSSAT). En cada ubicación, los 40 resultados del Modelo de Circulación Global (GCM) (RCP4.5, mediados de siglo) mostraron un aumento en la temperatura media de la temporada de crecimiento entre 0,9 y 2,16 °C, mientras que los cambios en las precipitaciones de la temporada de crecimiento estuvieron entre -24 y +24%. Por lo tanto, en cada ubicación se seleccionó una proyección más seca (seca), media (media) y húmeda (húmeda). En general, hubo una reducción del 9% en el rendimiento de los granos bajo el cambio climático; pero el cambio medio en el rendimiento fue de -27%, +4%, +8%, para los escenarios Seco, Medio y Húmedo, respectivamente. Los resultados de las simulaciones bajo el escenario húmedo mostraron una mayor variabilidad de la respuesta de rendimiento. Hubo una interacción entre el tipo de suelo, la cantidad de lluvia, el contenido de agua del suelo extraíble y la temperatura máxima del aire. Debido a esta relación, se experimentó estrés hídrico durante la etapa vegetativa, lo que afectó el crecimiento expansivo. Al mismo tiempo, el alto número de días con Tmax>34 °C causó un mayor agotamiento del agua del suelo por parte de la planta y, por lo tanto, menores rendimientos en el escenario húmedo. La variabilidad climática interanual afecta el rendimiento de la cebada independientemente de las fechas de siembra y el clima futuro proyectado. En conclusión, el impacto del clima futuro en el rendimiento de la cebada en el Mediterráneo es negativo, pero algunas localidades se verán menos afectadas que otras. Barley is an important cereal crop for the arid and semi-arid Mediterranean environments. Future climate projections show that Mediterranean countries will get drier and hotter. The objectives of the study are to: i) simulate the impacts of different climate projections and different sowing dates on yield; ii) quantify the importance of heat and drought on barley yield at different growth stages and sowing dates; iii) quantify the contributions of sources of uncertainty among inter-annual variability, adaptation options and climate projections. Nine locations across the Mediterranean basin were used to calibrate and evaluate the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) model. At each location the 40 Global Circulation Model (GCM) outputs (RCP4.5, Mid of the Century) showed an increase in mean growing season temperature between 0.9 and 2.16 °C, while changes of growing season rainfall were between -24 and +24%. Therefore, at each location a drier (Dry), mid (Mid), and wetter (Wet) projection was selected. Overall, there was a 9% reduction in grain yield under climate change; but the mean yield change was -27%, +4%, +8%, for the Dry, Mid, and Wet scenarios, respectively. The results of the simulations under the Wet scenario showed a higher variability of yield response. There was an interaction between the soil type, the amount of rainfall, the extractable soil water content and the maximum air temperature. Because of these relationship water-stress during the vegetative stage was experienced, affecting expansive growth. At the same time, the high number of days with Tmax>34 °C caused higher soil water depletion by the plant and therefore lower yields under the Wet scenario. The inter-annual weather variability impacts barley yield irrespective of the sowing dates and the future projected climate. In conclusion, the impact of future climate on barley yield in the Mediterranean is negative but some locations will be less affected than others. الشعير هو محصول حبوب مهم لبيئات البحر الأبيض المتوسط القاحلة وشبه القاحلة. تُظهر التوقعات المناخية المستقبلية أن بلدان البحر الأبيض المتوسط ستصبح أكثر جفافًا وسخونة. أهداف الدراسة هي: 1) محاكاة آثار التوقعات المناخية المختلفة وتواريخ البذر المختلفة على المحصول ؛ 2) تحديد أهمية الحرارة والجفاف على محصول الشعير في مراحل النمو المختلفة وتواريخ البذر ؛ 3) تحديد مساهمات مصادر عدم اليقين بين التقلبات السنوية وخيارات التكيف والتوقعات المناخية. تم استخدام تسعة مواقع عبر حوض البحر الأبيض المتوسط لمعايرة وتقييم نموذج نظام دعم اتخاذ القرار لنقل التكنولوجيا الزراعية (DSSAT). في كل موقع، أظهرت مخرجات نموذج الدوران العالمي الأربعين (RCP4.5، منتصف القرن) زيادة في متوسط درجة حرارة موسم النمو بين 0.9 و 2.16 درجة مئوية، في حين كانت التغيرات في هطول الأمطار في موسم النمو بين -24 و +24 ٪. لذلك، في كل موقع، تم اختيار بروز مجفف (جاف) ومتوسط (متوسط) ورطب (رطب). بشكل عام، كان هناك انخفاض بنسبة 9 ٪ في غلة الحبوب في ظل تغير المناخ ؛ لكن متوسط تغير الغلة كان -27 ٪، +4 ٪، +8 ٪، للسيناريوهات الجافة والمتوسطة والرطبة، على التوالي. أظهرت نتائج المحاكاة في إطار السيناريو الرطب تباينًا أعلى في استجابة العائد. كان هناك تفاعل بين نوع التربة وكمية الأمطار ومحتوى مياه التربة القابلة للاستخراج ودرجة حرارة الهواء القصوى. بسبب هذه العلاقة، تم التعرض للإجهاد المائي خلال المرحلة الخضرية، مما أثر على النمو الواسع. في الوقت نفسه، تسبب ارتفاع عدد الأيام التي يزيد فيها Tmax عن 34 درجة مئوية في ارتفاع استنفاد مياه التربة من قبل النبات وبالتالي انخفاض الغلة في ظل السيناريو الرطب. يؤثر تقلب الطقس بين السنوات على محصول الشعير بغض النظر عن تواريخ البذر والمناخ المتوقع في المستقبل. في الختام، فإن تأثير المناخ المستقبلي على محصول الشعير في البحر الأبيض المتوسط سلبي ولكن بعض المواقع ستكون أقل تأثراً من غيرها.

Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia) belongs to the Lamiaceae family and is a shrub cultivated in the Mediterranean region for essential oils used to produce cosmetic, aromatherapy, and pharmaceutical ingredients. Nowadays, interest in plant biostimulants is rising due to their ability to increase biomass production in a sustainable way. The scope of the present study was to assess the effects of two plant biostimulants, one based on hydrolyzed proteins (FITOSIM®) and one based on seaweed extracts (FITOSTIM ALGA®), on the cultivar Grosso for two consecutive years in three different farms, located in the Italian Tuscan-Emilian Apennine Mountains. A difference in the efficiency of treatments among farms was shown, probably due to the plant age. In 2020, FITOSTIM ALGA® increased inflorescence fresh weights (+35%), while FITOSTIM® and FITOSTIM ALGA® enhanced stem and total fresh weights (+23% and +22%, respectively) compared to the untreated control. In 2021, both treatments enhanced the fresh and dry weights of inflorescence (+47% and +38%, respectively), while FITOSTIM ALGA® also improved the total plant dry weights (+34%). The plant biostimulants did not affect the chemical composition of essential oils. Our results indicate plant biostimulants as a supplement for sustainable management practices, enhancing Lavandin’s performance in mountainous agricultural areas.

Biochar is a carbonaceous by-product of thermochemical conversion of ligno-cellulosic biomass. Its application to soil positively influences various soil physico-chemical properties. Biochar high specific surface area and high micro and macro porosity raise the soil water retention and nutrients absorptivity from the soil, enhancing biomass yield. However, biochar itself contains low nutrients amount and its amendment properties could be improved through organic matter addition, rich in microelements and nutrients. This work studies the integration of fresh organic matter and biochar in co-composting biochar process in order to investigate co-composted biochar (hereby called COMBI) effects on soil amelioration compared to biochar only. Specifically, biochar used in this study is the result of thermochemical conversion of lingo-cellulosic biomass waste through PP30 30 kW gasification power plant. Green matter comes from CREA Institute in Anzola (Bologna) hemp fields: after the fibers harvest, the organic wastes was collected and co-composted with biochar (15% v/v) to achieve a mature COMBI. The co-composting biochar process has been carried out in a 105 L volume composter for 3 weeks. It has been mixed by turning the composter to allow oxygenation during organic matter degradation reactions. The temperature profile, the humidity and the C/N content were monitored during the maturation process of COMBI. Then, COMBI has been applied to Cannabis sativa sp. pot growth test (Finola cultivar), where the effects of no amendment soil was used for control plants (C), 5% v/v biochar only amendment (5% B), 10% and 20% v/v co-composting biochar (10% COMBI and 20% COMBI) amendment soil were investigated and compared. The biomass production of Finola plants, the flowers weight and THC-CBD content were analyzed and ANOVA statistical analysis was performed among the four groups of plants. Proceedings of the 28th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 6-9 July 2020, Virtual, pp. 113-117