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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of experimental amendments on yields of Trifolium subterraneum L., Pisum arvense L., and Lolium multiflorum Lam., and on soil characteristics. A two-year research was carried out comparing anaerobic digestate (AD) and olive-pomace compost (OPC) with mineral fertilizer (Min), commercial organic-mineral fertilizer (Org-min), and unfertilized control (Cont). Anaerobic digestate and OPC were firstly analyzed for their chemical characteristics. The most important parameters were recorded and soil properties were investigated. Anaerobic digestate showed the highest dry weight for ryegrass, the best yield in pea, and good level of dry matter in clover. Good responses were achieved by OPC. Anaerobic digestate increased total soil organic carbon by 14.4, 8.1 and 7.6% than Min, Org-min and Cont, respectively. Olive-pomace compost increased the same parameter by 16.3, 10.0, and 9.5%. The findings indicated the possibility to substitute mineral fertilizers with organi...

The application of conservative agricultural practices such as crop rotation, shallow tillage, and organic fertilizer could usefully sustain crop yield and increase soil fertility, thus playing an important role in the sustainable agriculture. This study was conducted to determine the effects of conservative agronomic practices on yield and quality of wheat. The effects of these practices on soil fertility were further investigated in this four-year study (2005–2008). Two cropping systems, durum wheat in continuous cropping, and in two-year rotation with leguminous crops, were investigated at Foggia (Southern Italy) in rain-fed conditions. Within each cropping system, two levels of crop management were compared: i) conventional, characterized by a higher soil tillage management and mineral fertilizers application; ii) conservative, with a lower soil tillage management and organic-mineral fertilizers. The seasonal weather greatly affected the wheat yield and quality, inducing lower production in years that...

The effects of organic fertilizer application on heavy metals accumulation in both soil and plants and on the main soil fertility parameters have been evaluated in a long-term field experiment. The research was carried out in a Mediterranean environment (Rutigliano, Southern Italy – 41° 01′ latitude N, 4° 39′ longitude E, 112 m a.s.l.) since the autumn of 2001 in permanent rain-fed meadows of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.). Two organic materials, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) compost and Olive Pomace (OPC) compost, were compared to nitrogen (cocksfoot) and phosphorus (alfalfa) mineral fertilizer treatments. The results showed that at the end of the first four years, the MSW and OPC composts application did not cause any heavy metals accumulation in soil and plants. Only the Zn reached a high level in the cocksfoot experimental soils. In addition, these organic materials allowed significant increases of extracted and humified soil organic carbon in the plots of both fodder...

The application of conventional agricultural practices, e.g. deep soil tillage and repeated, plentiful mineral fertilisation, can lead to a progressive deterioration of soil fertility, especially in Mediterranean environments characterised by scanty rains and high summer temperatures. As a consequence, to maintain high levels of both crop productivity and soil organic matter and to improve some soil properties, a reduction of agricultural inputs and a greater supply of organic material are needed. In the light of these considerations, we carried out a two-year field experiment in Southern Italy to determine the effects of reduced soil tillage and municipal solid waste compost application on growth parameters, production and quality of sugar beet crops, and on both soil chemical characteristics and mineral nitrogen deficit. Two soil tillage depths were compared: conventional tillage, till 40–45 cm and shallow tillage, at 15–20 cm. Within each soil tillage, the following N-fertilising strategies were tested: (1) mineral fertilisation, with 100 kg N ha−1; (2) organic fertilisation with municipal solid waste compost at 100 kg N ha−1; (3) mixed fertilisation, with 50% of organic N as municipal solid waste compost, and 50% of mineral N; and (4) slow-release organic-mineral N fertiliser, at 100 kg N ha−1. All these treatments were compared with a lower level of mineral fertiliser at 50 kg N ha−1, and with an unfertilised control. Our findings show first the absence of a significant difference in root and sucrose yields between reduced tillage and deep tillage; as shown by roots (36.02 t ha−1) and sucrose (3.41 t ha−1) yields for reduced tillage and 35.76 and 3.51 t ha−1, respectively, for the deepest tillage. Secondly, among the N treatments, the mixed organic-mineral N fertilisation gave productions statistically not different from mineral N fertilisation; as shown by root yields (36.38 versus 36.40 t ha−1) and sucrose yields (3.56 versus 3.65 t ha−1). Third, the mixed organic-mineral N induced a reduction of 13.2% in α-amino N content by comparison with the mineral treatment of 100 kg N ha−1. Fourth, our results showed that the applications of the municipal solid waste compost increased the extracted and the humified organic carbon by +27.7 and +25.4%, compared with the mineral fertiliser, and did not raise the content of heavy metals. These findings highlighted that in Southern Italy it is sustainable to adopt alternative sugar beet production, safeguarding crops’ quantitative and qualitative performance, decreasing the production costs and using the natural resources better.

A 3-year experiment was carried out in Mediterranean conditions on two maize–barley rotations to determine the effect of different levels and sources of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on the N uptake, efficiency, soil N deficit and crops yield. The potential for N savings by the use of N indicators was also studied. Five strategies of maize N fertilization were compared on plots laid out in a complete randomized design with three blocks: mineral N (200 kg N ha −1 ); organic-mineral N (100 kg N ha −1 as olive pomace compost plus 100 kg ha −1 of mineral N); mineral N (100 kg N ha −1 ); organic N (100 kg N ha −1 as olive pomace compost); unfertilized control. Winter barley was cultivated without fertilization. The use of organic fertilizer, as a partial substitution of mineral N, achieved the same yield of the highest mineral fertilizer treatment in maize (8.8 and 8.9 t ha −1 , respectively) and barley (3.2 and 3.5 t ha −1 ), ensured the highest increases of total organic carbon and the least N mineral soil deficit at the end of the experiment. Furthermore, N utilization efficiency indices did not change between the highest N treatments (mineral and organic-mineral N supply) in both crops, reflecting no difference in N utilization. High level of available N in the soil during the growing seasons strongly affected the total N uptake in both crops and, consequently, yield and N utilization efficiency. In fact, as mean of N treatments, the available N contributed to total N uptake for the 57.4% in the first growing period (maize 2000 and barley 2001) and 45.2% in the second one (maize 2001 and barley 2002). The findings of this research also indicate that the postanthesis N uptake was higher than preanthesis in maize (59.1 and 40.9% of the total N uptake, respectively) but lower in barley (32.8 and 67.2%), although it was correlated with yield in both crops, confirming that the reproductive stage is more important than the vegetative one in Mediterranean conditions. Finally, the results showed that the more reliable N indicator tests of yield for maize were the pre-sowing soil mineral N and the mean of SPAD readings, which presented a linear relationship. In barley, the best N indicator was the mean stem nitrate content, which showed a high correlation and linear relationship with yield.

Agronomic value and environmental impact of two composts were evaluated in a three-year field experiment (2002, 2003 and 2004) on alfalfa and cocksfoot in Southern Italy. The effects of Municipal Solid Waste compost (MSW), Olive Pomace Compost (OPC), mineral fertilizer (Min) (phosphorus as 75 kg ha−1 for alfalfa and nitrogen as 50 kg ha−1 for cocksfoot) and an unfertilized treatment (Contr) were compared on crop yield, soil characteristics and environment impact. During the cropping cycles, fresh and dry weights, plant nitrogen status (leaves SPAD readings and petiole nitrate content) and plant total N content were determined for calculating the protein content and the plant N uptake. Moreover, at the beginning and the end of the research, chemical soil characteristics and heavy metal levels were also determined. The results indicated that in cocksfoot fertilized with MSW and OPC composts, the mean cumulative dry weight increased by 20.85 and 16.51%, respectively compared to the control, but it was signif...

To assess the effect of tillage on soil impedance, the knowledge of spatial and temporal variability in the soil is necessary. Geostatistical approaches are very useful for characterisation of space–time variability of soil parameters. In this study, geostatistics were applied to soil impedance data, in order to study the effects of two soil tillage depths: mouldboard ploughing to 40–45 cm and surface disc harrowing to 20–25 cm. Soil strength was measured from January to April 2001 at 3·5 cm depth increments, from the surface to a depth of 52·5 cm. Mean gravimetric water content was also measured for two depths (0–25 and 26–50 cm). In order to treat the spatial–temporal variability of soil impedance, the multiple random function models approach was applied, where the set of the recording dates is treated as a realisation of inter-correlated random functions. The variography revealed a high temporal correlation between the soil strength measured at different depths over time. For each survey, the three-dimensional interpolated maps showed random variations of soil impedance on the surface, mostly affected by soil water content, and a clear stratification along the vertical profile. However, no discrimination between the strips differently managed was possible to be detected on three out of four dates.

Soil penetration resistance was evaluated in different crop residue management practices. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with five replications (block). The soil strength data, measured to a depth of 52·5 cm using a recording penetrometer, were corrected to a common water content and then submitted to a multivariate approach consisting of a combination of principal component analysis (PCA) and multivariate variance analysis, considering crop season and sampling date within season as repeated factors. The first two principal components (PC) explained 95% of the variance. The first one, related to the ∼25–52 cm deep layer, accounted for 84% of total variance, while the second PC, which seems to measure the penetration resistance at 3–25 cm depth, explained more than 11% of total variance. The results of variance analysis proved that crop residue management had significant effects on soil penetration resistance only for the first PC. Crop season, date of measurement within each season, the two-way interactions: season with date, season with management, date with management and the three-way interactions: season with date and block, and season with date and management were highly significant in both PCs. This study has also shown the location effect of penetrometer measurements is fundamental when soil characteristics are altered by crop residue management.

Achalasia, also known as Esophageal achalasia, is an esophageal motility disorder involving the smooth muscle layer of the esophagus and the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). It is characterized by incomplete LES relaxation, increased LES tone, and lack of peristalsis of the esophagus (inability of smooth muscle to move food down the esophagus) in the absence of other explanations like cancer or fibrosis. In our experience, the echo-guided injection technique is the first procedure to implement to cure patients. After endoscopic-echo-guided injection technique, in patients presenting with refractory symptoms, the authors believe in surgical technique (extramucosal myotomy) as a good alternative technique to be implemented.From 1999 to 2010, the authors have treated 36 patients (Group A), 24 male and 12 female (age 26-78) with diagnosis of esophageal achalasia. Patients underwent botulinum toxin injection during echo-guided identification of the lower esophageal sphincter. Results were compared with 32 patients (Group B) (age 36-78) who underwent blind treatment.Patients of Group A presented complete relief of obstruction, patients of Group B had an obstruction remission in the 86% of the cases. Results were confirmed by manometric assessments in the early months after endoscopic treatment.The authors emphasize the importance of the injection of botulinum toxin into the thicker area of the muscle layer of the lower esophageal sphincter. Patients undergoing echo-guided injection technique presented complete relief of obstruction, confirmed by manometric assessments in the early months after treatment.

The aim of the long-term research described is to determine the effects of straw incorporation, with or without the application of increasing doses of nitrogen (50-100-150 kg ha -1 ) and 500 m 3 ha -1 of water, on the yield and quality of durum wheat under continuous cropping. The experiment was begun in 1978 at Foggia (Southern Italy). Two varieties of durum wheat, cv. Valgerardo and cv. Appulo, have been grown. The effects of the treatments were greatly influenced by seasonal weather and by the specific behaviour of cultivars, which differed in their ability to use the nitrogen applied. The trial has given good results from straw and stubble incorporation, in comparison with burning, at present, widely practiced by farmers. Nitrogen fertilizer applied to crop residues was not very beneficial; the yields from the treatment with N only as a top dressing were almost the same of those from the treatments which received the lowest N dose (50 kg ha -1 , with or without water, while the highest ones (100 and 150 kg ha -1 ) gave lower yields, not compensated by a corresponding improvement of grain quality.

Achalasia of the esophagus involves the entire esophagus from the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) to the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) together with a wide spectrum of physiopathological and clinical variations. Therefore, the need to know exactly the different involvement either of the body of the esophagus or the LES for each case is underlined. In our experience, the cineradiology is the only technique that allows a complete morphologic and functional study of the disease. It is through cinesophagography that we can exactly establish the extension of myotomy according to the physiopathological aspects that will suggest the most accurate surgical treatment. It is our opinion to perform a short myotomy, to the gastroesophageal junction, through an abdominal approach in grade II and III achalasia, when the most important physiopathological aspects involve only the LES area (hypertonic LES or dischalasia). We extend the myotomy from the LES up to the aortic arch through a thoracic approach.From 1984 to 2002, we have treated 148 achalasic patients, 90 through an abdominal approach, 22 by VALS (Video Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery) and 36 through a thoracic approach. In the first 2 groups we performed a short myotomy with a Dor antireflux procedure, in the 3rd group we performed a long myotomy with a Belsey Mark IV antireflux procedure.Our trend to calibrate the surgical treatment on the physiopathological and morphofunctional data, allowed to optimize the post-operative clinical results, particularly with a better control of dysphagia.Surgical treatment of achalasia must be differentiated according to the pathophysiological basis in order to improve the surgical results.

International audience; We studied the effects of municipal solid waste compost applied to soil on sunflower nitrogen (N) uptake, N utilisation, yield, soil mineral N deficit and soil characteristics. One unfertilised control was compared with the optimal N dose for the sunflower crops in the test area (100 kg N ha-1) supplied as: organic fertilisation, with municipal solid waste compost; mineral fertilisation, with ammonium nitrate; and mixed fertilisation, with 50 kg N ha-1 from compost and 50 kg N ha-1 from mineral nitrogen. The results obtained showed that the compost, at the end of the experiment, modified the soil chemical properties. In particular, it significantly improved available phosphorus (111.3% increase for compost treatment in respect to 57.6% for the control), maintained almost the same level of exchangeable potassium (6.0% reduction for compost treatment in respect to 9.8% for the control), and significantly enhanced total soil organic matter (50.0% vs. 32.1%) and extracted organic carbon (16.6% vs. 11.8%). In addition, the application of this material did not increase the total content of heavy metals. The results showed that the municipal waste compost did not modify N uptake, utilisation, or efficiency of sunflower plants. The mean value of N uptake during the vegetative stage was 60.9%, while postanthesis N uptake reached only 39.1% and was positively and significantly correlated with yields and total N uptake, showing that the late N absorption could influence yield performance of sunflower cropped in Mediterranean conditions. Furthermore, the compost, alone or in association with mineral fertiliser, allowed similar yield performance as mineral fertilisation in oil yield (1.51, 1.48 and 1.58 t ha-1, for the three treatments, respectively) and protein yield (0.66, 0.64 and 0.65 t ha-1, respectively).

Surgical repair of an hiatal hernia results in changes in the local anatomy of the cardia and fundus that may be difficult to interpret by radiological examination. Endoscopy can clarify the radiological changes resulting from surgery, such as pseudodiverticula and pseudotumors, and, when conducted as part of the routine follow-up program, may reveal uncommon complications.

Cone resistance is an empirical measure of soil strength that can rapidly identify areas where soil depth or soil compaction may be limiting yields. However, large numbers of measurements would be required to describe and assess spatial variability, quite likely at prohibitive costs. It then needs to apply an interpolation method in order to estimate data in unsampled locations. In this paper, cone resistance measurements were made according to a three-dimensional grid in a 30×90 m2 field cropped to rain-fed durum wheat during crop season. At each sampling date, cone resistance data were interpolated using geostatistical techniques to produce three-dimensional maps. Cone resistance showed random variations on the horizontal surface, while in depth revealed the persistence of a quite shallow compacted zone. Late in the crop season, soil strength increased sensitively, reaching values greater than 2.5 MPa even at the surface. Moreover, to summarise cone resistance profile measurements made at different sites within the field, a particular geostatistical technique, called indicator kriging, was applied. The probability map of exceedence of 2.5 MPa through the rooted soil depth showed two wide areas of high impedance in March 2000. This research has confirmed the persistence of soil structure over time and has proved that geostatistical techniques may be used as a powerful tool in understanding and assessing of spatial variability of soils.

A two-year field experiment (2001 and 2003) was carried out in a Mediterranean environment to study the effects of municipal solid waste (MSW) compost application compared with mineral nitrogen (N) fertilization on the agronomic performance and N utilization of a tomato crop, in rotation with durum wheat. The research was conducted in the south of Italy where five N treatments and two soil tillage depths (40-45 cm and 10-15 cm) were compared. The N treatments were: MSW compost at 140 kg ha−1 (Ncom); mineral N fertilizer at 140 kg ha−1 (Nmin); MSW compost combined with mineral N fertilizer (Nmix) (70 kg ha−1 as organic N plus 70 kg ha−1 as mineral N); mineral N fertilizer at 70 kg ha−1 combined with two applications of foliar fertilizer (Nfito) (3 kg ha−1 as hydrolyzed proteins), and an untreated control (Contr). During cropping cycles, growth parameters and plant N status (SPAD readings and petiole nitrate content) were determined; at harvest the marketable, overripe, green fruit, total yield, yield compo...

The aim of this research was to study different ways of nitrogen (N) fertilization and soil tillage management to ensure high yield, quality and correct usage of the available resources. Therefore, a two-year field experiment (2001 and 2003) was carried out on a sugarbeet crop grown in a Mediterranean environment to evaluate the effects of two soil tillage depths (10-15 and 40-45 cm) and of a municipal solid waste (MSW) compost application, compared to mineral N fertilization. The following fertilization treatments were compared: MSW compost at 100 kg N ha−1 (Ncom); mineral N fertilizer at 50 kg ha−1 (N50) and at 100 kg ha−1 (N100); MSW compost combined with mineral N fertilizer (Nmix) (50 kg ha−1 as organic N plus 50 kg ha−1 as mineral N); slow release organic-mineral fertilizer (Nslow) and an unfertilized control (Contr). In each trial year, growth parameters, plant and soil N indicators, yield, quality, N uptake and N efficiency, soil chemical characteristics and N mineral deficit in the soil were dete...

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219965.].