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Research fields

Our section  carries out studies on the management of agricultural ecosystems in semi-arid environments.

In particular, the section is involved in researches regarding:

• erosion processes due to the systems of soil management: tillage, cover crops in fruit orchards, crop rotation, etc.

• response of plants to abiotic stresses (drought, temperature, light) at physiological (osmotic adjustment, biomarkers) and biochemical level (antioxidant compounds and enzymes, enzymes involved in ripening processes, isotopic discrimination in carbohydrates)

• water balance of agricultural ecosystems

• mineral nutrition of fruit trees and herbaceous crops (fertirrigation)

• management of soil organic matter related to the use of pruning material and cover crops

• impact of fruit orchards on carbon balance and greenhouse effect in agricultural ecosystems

• transport of nutrients related to fruit quality

• role of secondary metabolites in fruit quality

• selection of novel rootstocks for fruit trees

• soil management techniques and geo-electrical analysis

Further activities regard the transfer of technology from research institutes to farmers and companies in agricultural sector, and the improvements of quality standards of products by the rational use of agricultural techniques and production factors.