Agronomy and Crop Sciences Research and Education Center

Agronomists are concerned with the principles and practices of field crop production and the conservation of soils and land resources. Areas of emphasis include crop production and protection, nutrient and weed management, soil conservation and fertility for annual and perennial crops.

Ongoing research project:

Crop Production, management of Natural Resources, Conservation and Sustainable Agriculture
The importance of erosion in creating the very areas of our country now used for modern agriculture, accelerated erosion, in which soil erosion outpaces land formation, can have detrimental, even disastrous consequences for agriculture, the environment, and the biodiversity that inhabit fragile ecosystems. Sustainable agriculture must meet the three related economic, social and ecological challenges and its production methods must reflect the concerns of consumers . R esearch activity focuses on yield factors (no-till practices, cover crop management, fertilisation, irrigation, weed control) to increase the application of reliable agronomic practices within of the Mediterranean farming systems. Both our future food security and conservation of the global environment will in large measure depend on advances in the science and technologies of sustainable agriculture, particularly CA. Achieving such advances is indeed possible, although meeting these challenges will require increasing funding in specific research areas both in Italy and at a global level.
Annual crops: agronomic evaluation of different varieties of durum wheat and other cereals (hulled wheat and spelt), beans and spinach; understanding of crop nutrient use to develop fertilization strategies that optimize crop production and minimize nutrient leaching; research on weeds and methods of weed control, weed-crop interference, weed-crop competition, evaluation of the efficacy of herbicides and optimization of pesticide application.
Viticulture soil, water and vegetation management for the grape quality.

Soil erosion and land degradation
Soil erosion and land degradation are the most serious threats to agriculture production in central and southern Italy. The research unit evaluates the degradation mechanisms of soil fertility, the impact of agronomic practices in order to define the best soil management. In this scientific context studies about reliable, quick, and effective tools to be used for making decisions which will lead to sustainable land management such as VSA (Visual Soil Assessment) which is based on holistic valuation of key soil "state" and indicator of soil quality; VSA has already been defined for olive orchard, vineyard, wheat and annual crops.

Mycotoxin contamination
The goal of the mycotoxin contamination research is to develop strategies that reduce or eliminate the presence of mycotoxins in human foods and animal feeds. Research within the unit is focused on toxins mainly produced by fungi of the genus Fusarium and is aimed to the evaluation of the influence of agronomic practices and wheat varieties on micotoxin contamination in cereal chain food to individuate their suitable combination and lower the potential toxicity and risks for consumers.

Critical period for weed control
The success of a weed management program depends on matching control strategies to the relative crop and weed growth stages; critical periods for weed control differ between crops and are based on their competitiveness with weeds. Crops like carrot, lettuce, establish very slowly and/or do not have the necessary architecture to rapidly shade out weeds, whereas, crops like beans and cucurbits grow rapidly and do shade out weeds.
The unit research evaluates the time of weed emergence relative to the crop growth (wheat, beans, spinach) and as consequence the time in a crop's life cycle when it is most susceptible to competition from weeds (critical period). Influence of Fertilization Practises on pasta quality. This research project is aimed to optimize the N-fertilization of Durum Wheat in order to obtain the best pasta quality parameters, linked to the quantity and quality of grain proteins. Therefore, the reduction of costs by the optimum dosage of N at the right moment (with use of optical instrument's as Chlorophylmeter and NIR analyzer), the increasing of productivity and lowering of pollution by nitrate, represent advantages for context of sustainable agriculture.

Viticultural Zoning and precision viticulture development through information technology tools
The globalization rules and international trade issues lead the winemaking industry to review the traditional management system. The production needs to be fit to the market trend which ask for more innovation and competition skill.
For this reasons, the research group has been working for years to develop the precision viticulture tools as well site specific management through integration of informatics database about grapegrowing areas of various extension. Tools that need to be implemented include spatial analysis (G.I.S. and remote sensing), grapevine modelling , climatic modelling etc Digitalization of spatial and temporal data represents the basic support for technical decisions

Food Science and Technologies, degree course of 1^st level

• Plant structures and functions (plant morphology and physiology) 10
• Crop production (principles of Ecology and Agronomy; Annual and Perennial crops management) 10
• Grain sciences 4

Viticulture and Oenology, degree course of 1^st level

• Plant anatomy and morphology 8
• General agronomy and experimental methodology 7
• Principles of Viticulture (principles and practices of grapevine production physiological variables and agronomic practices affecting fruit ripening and composition) 8
• Precision Viticulture 7
• Woody plant cultivation 9

Food Science and Technologies, degree course of 2^nd level

• Plant breeding 4

Master of Sciences degree

• Management of Agro-Food chain

National Program

• PROBIO Project, consortia agreement EIE/06/167 SI2.448457, Bruxelles, Belgium
• Agroscopeampelos, Fondazione Tercas-Cassa di Risparmio della Provincia di Teramo
• National program of research SICERME, Ministry of Agriculture, Rome
• Annual Research Program funded by University of Teramo
• Scientific Cooperation Agreement F.lli De Cecco S.p.A, Fara S.Martino (Chieti)
• Scientific Agreement "La Quercia", Foggia
• Scientific Agreement CRIVEA (Centro per la Ricerca Viticola ed Enologica in Abruzzo)

International Program

• University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
• ECAF, European Conservation and Agriculture Federation, Bruxelles, Belgium
• Faculty of Agriculture, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
• FAO, Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations
• ONG DA.PA.DU, Bujumbura, Burundi
• University La Molina, Lima, Perù
• University of Londrina , Paranà, Brasile
• WASWC, World Association of Soil and Water Conservation, Thailand

Conferences and symposia organized by the group

• "Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, oltre la DOC e DOCG". Tornata dell'Accademia della Vite e del Vino. Atri, September 2008
• "Integrated promotion of the biodiesel chain". Teaching course and Round table Consortia agreement EIE- 167- PROBIO. Mosciano S. Angelo, May 2008
• Special lecture on Traceability of plant production . Mosciano S. Angelo, January 2008

1. hepherd, G., Stagnari, F ., Pisante, M ., Benites, J., 2008. Visual Soil Assessment - Field Guide For Annual Crops. Food And Agriculture Organization Of The United Nations, Roma. Isbn-978-92-5-105941-8. 26 Pp.
2. Shepherd, G., Stagnari, F ., Pisante, M ., Benites, J., 2008. Visual Soil Assessment - Field Guide For Olive Orchards. Food And Agriculture Organization Of The United Nations, Roma. Isbn-978-92-5-105941-8. 42 Pp.
3. Shepherd, G., Stagnari, F ., Pisante, M ., Benites, J., 2008. Visual Soil Assessment - Field Guide For Orchards. Food And Agriculture Organization Of The United Nations, Roma.   Isbn-978-92-5-105941-8. 26 Pp.
4. Shepherd, G., Stagnari, F ., Pisante, M ., Benites, J., 2008. Visual Soil Assessment - Field Guide For Vineyards. Food And Agriculture Organization Of The United Nations, Roma.   Isbn-978-92-5-105941-8. 42 Pp.
5. Shepherd, G., Stagnari, F ., Pisante, M ., Benites, J., 2008. Visual Soil Assessment - Field Guide For Wheat. Food And Agriculture Organization Of The United Nations, Roma.   Isbn-978-92-5-105941-8. 50 Pp.
6. Stagnari, F ., Codianni, P., Pisante, M ., 2008. Agronomic And Kernel Quality Of Ancient Wheats Grown In Central And Southern Italy. Cereal Research Communication, Vol. 36 (2), 313-326.
7. Castrignanò, A., Buttafuoco, G., Troccoli, A., Colecchia, S., Di Bitetto V., Pisante, M ., Basso F., Cafiero G., Cammarano D., Basso B., 2008. Multivariate Geostatistical Analysis For Delineation Of Management Zones Using Crop Index. Proceeding Of 18th International Conference On Agricultural Engineering (Ageng2008). Hersonissos (Greece) June 23rd - 25th, 2008. Cd-Rom.
8. Castrignanò, A., Basso, B., Pisante, M ., Buttafuoco, G., Troccoli, A., Cucci, G., Fiorentino, C., 2008. Delineating Management Zones Using Crop And Soil Variables With A Multivariate Geostatistic Approach. Proceedings Of 9th International Conference On Precision Agriculture. Denver (Usa) July 20th - 23rd, 2008. Cd-Rom.
9. Cammarano, D., Basso, B., Cafiero, G., Pisante, M ., Castrignanò, A., Troccoli, A., Buttafuoco, G., 2008. Simulating Spatial And Temporal Variability Of Wheat Yield And Grain Prtotein In Southern Italy. Proceedings Of 9th International Conference On Precision Agriculture. Denver (Usa) July 20th - 23rd, 2008. Cd-Rom.
10. Castrignanò, A.M., Fiorentino, C., Buttafuoco, G., Troccoli, A., Pisante, M ., Basso, B., 2008. A Combined Approach To Delineating Management Zones For Precision Agriculture. 10th Congress Of The European Society For Agronomy. 15-19 September 2008, Bologna, Italy. Italian Journal Of Agronomy Vol.3, No.3 Supplement, 147-148.
11. Ramazzotti S., Stagnari F., Pisante M. (2008) Integrated Soil and Water Management for Vineyards in Southern Italy: a Case Study. Italian Journal of Agronomy 3(3): 117-118.
12. Pisante M., Ramazzotti S. , Herrera Nuñez J.C., Moneta A.. (2008). Agroscopeampelos un progetto di ricerca interdisciplinare per il Montepulciano d'Abruzzo docg "Colline teramane". Atti dell'accademia della vite e del vino, Atri 6 settembre 2008
13. Ramazzotti S., Herrera Nuñez J.C., Moneta A., Pisante M . (2008)., Ricerca In Viticoltura. Atti dell'accademia della vite e del vino, Atri 6 settembre 2008
14. Suzzi G., Tofalo R., Chaves-Lopez C., Ramazzotti S., Stagnari F ., Di Fabio F., Pisante M. (2008). Isolation And Selection Of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae From Montepulciano D'abruzzo "Colline Teramane" Zones With Different Microclimatic Characteristics. Congresso Internazionale Della Vigna e Del Vino. Verona, Giugno 2008.
15. Ramazzotti S ., Filippetti I., Intrieri C. (2008). Expression of genes associated with anthocyanin synthesis in red-purplish, pink, pinkish-green and green grape berries from mutated 'Sangiovese' biotypes: a case study. Vitis 47(3): 147-151
16. PISANTE, M. (2007). Agricoltura Blu. La via italiana dell'agricoltura conservativa. Principi, tecnologie e metodi per una produzione sostenibile. IlSole24Ore-Edagricole, Bologna, 257 pp.
17. PISANTE, M. (2007). BLUE AGRICULTURE: Italy's Approach to Conservation Agriculture. Principles, technologies and methods for sustainable production. In No-Till Farming systems book. Special Publication III of the World Association of Soil and Water Conservation.
18. SHEPERD; G., STAGNARI, F., PISANTE, M., BENITES, J.R. (2007). Visual Soil Assessment. Field Guide: annual crops, olive, vineyard, in corso di stampa
19. PISANTE, M., DI BITETTO, V., COLECCHIA, S. , BASSO, B., CASTRIGNANÒ, A., TROCCOLI, A. (2007). Variabilità spaziale del suolo e risposta quanti-qualitativa del   frumento duro (Triticum durum Desf.). Atti del XXXVII Convegno nazionale della Società Italiana di Agronomia. Catania, 13-14 settembre 2007, 15-16.
20. STAGNARI, F., SPECA, S., PISANTE, M. (2007). Valutazione agronomica dell'effetto di diversi sistemi di gestione del suolo su produzione e caratteristiche qualitative di due genotipi di melone (Cucumis melo L.) Atti del XXXVII Convegno nazionale della Società Italiana di Agronomia. Catania, 13-14 settembre 2007, 317-318.
21. SUZZI, G., TOFALO, R., CHAVEZ LOPEZ, C., STAGNARI, F., ANGRISANI, R., RAMAZZOTTI, S., PISANTE, M. (2007). L'effetto della gestione del suolo sulla biodiversità dei lieviti. VigneVini, Speciale Biotecnologie, 7/8 2007: 2-4.
22. DE VITA, P., DI PAOLO, E., FECONDO, G., DI FONZO, N., PISANTE, M. (2007). Effect of no-tillage and conventional tillage systems on durum wheat yield, grain quality and soil moisture content in southern Italy. Soil and Tillage Research, 92: 69-78.
23. CASTRIGNANÒ, A.M., BUTTAFUOCO, G., PISANTE, M., VONELLA, A.V. (2006) Estimating within-field variation using a nonparametric density algorithm. Environmetrics, 17: 465-481. 
24. Ramazzotti S ., Intrieri C. (2006). Espressione dei geni associati alla sintesi delle antocianine in uve di biotipi mutati di Sangiovese. Frutticoltura 2: 54 - 59.
25. SUZZI, G., PISANTE, M., TOFALO, R., TORRIANI, S., RIZZOTTI L., STAGNARI, F., CHAVES LÓPEZ, C., TACCAGNA, L., VALMORRI, S. (2006). Biodiversità di lieviti isolati da mosti di uva Montepulciano d'Abruzzo in relazione a due sistemi di gestione del suolo. Industria delle bevande , XXXV: 237-244.
26. Intrieri C., Filippetti I., Ramazzotti S. (2006). Il sistema di allevamento "a siepe" con potatura semiminima: esperienze sulla cv. Sangiovese. Il "Sangiovese" vitigno tipico e internazionale: identità e peculiarità. Atti del II Simposio Internazionale. Firenze, 17-19 novembre 2004. 
27. Ramazzotti S. , Intrieri C. (2006). Espressione dei geni associati alla sintesi delle antocianine in biotipi di Sangiovese con uve a colorazione diversa delle bacche, derivanti da mutazioni gemmarie. In: Atti del II Simposio Internazionale " Il sangiovese" identità e peculiarità: vitigno tipico e internazionale. Firenze, 17-19 Novembre 2004.
28. PISANTE, M., IORI, M., DI MATTEO, A., STAGNARI, F., LANE, M. (2005). Soil erosion assessment in vineyards. In: Integrated soil and water management for orchard development. FAO Land and water bulletin 10, 131-135. ISBN 92-5-105347-2.  
29. BENITES J., PISANTE M., STAGNARI F. (2005) - Integrated soil and water management for orchard development, role and importance. FAO Land and Water Bulletin 10, 166 p., ISBN 92-5-105347-2. 
30. CASTRIGNANÒ, A.M., BUTTAFUOCO, G., PISANTE, M., VONELLA, A.V. (2005). How spatial and temporal variability can effect fertilization trial results. Precision Agriculture '05. Stafford, J.V. (ed.), Wageningen Academic Publishers, pp. 761-768. 
31. Intrieri C., Filippetti I., Lia G., Govi G., Ramazzotti S., Bucchetti B., Centinari M., Colucci E. (2005) . Prove di inerbimento in vigneti collinari non irrigati di Sangiovese e Chardonnay nella prospettiva di coltivazione integrata e biologica. Frutticoltura 2: 41-50.
32. PISANTE, M. , BENITES, J. (2004). The importance of cover crops in conservation agriculture. In: Jacobsen, S.E., Jensen, C.R., Porter, J.R. (eds.) Book of proceedings VIII ESA Congress, KVL, Copenaghen, Denmark, 11-15 July 2004, 647-648. 
33. INTRIERI C., FILIPPETTI I., LIA G., GOVI G., RAMAZZOTTI S., BUCCHETTI B., CENTINARI M., COLUCCI E. (2004). Grass swarding of a non-irrigated hillside vineyard under cv. Sangiovese. Estratto da: International seminar on Role and importance of integrated soil and water management for orchards development. Mosciano S.Angelo, Italy, 9-10 May 2004:1-2
34. Intrieri C., Filippetti I., Lia G., Govi G., Ramazzotti S., Bucchetti B., Centinari M., Colucci E. (2004) . Effetti dell'inerbimento sul comportamento vegeto- produttivo del vigneto. Atti convegno: Inerbimenti e tappeti erbosi. Quaderni di divulgazione scientifica. Vol. I: inerbimenti e sistemi agricoli sostenibili: 41- 47. 
35. Intrieri C., Filippetti I., Lia G., Ramazzotti S., Colucci E., Poni S. (2004) . Distanze sulla fila e gestione del suolo nel vigneto Supplemento all' Informatore Agrario 16: 19-24. 
36. Intrieri C., Filippetti I., Lia G., Ramazzotti S., Colucci E., Poni S. (2004). Intra-row spacing and soil management: long-term field-trial results with cv. Pignoletto. Proceedings of international symposium on "Quality management in horticulture and viticulture", Stuttgart, Germany, 10-11 may 2004: 192-202
37. Filippetti I., Ramazzotti S., Intrieri C. (2004). Bilancio del carbonio in funzione del tipo di potatura invernale. In: Validazione e applicazione del modello Stella per l'analisi dell'efficienza del vigneto. Informatore agrario 43: 109.
38. Intrieri C., Filippetti I., Ramazzotti S. (2004). Concetti di base sulle distanze di impianto in viticoltura. Informatore Agrario, 48: 41-47
39. Intrieri C., Ramazzotti S. (2004). L'impiantistica viticola e la meccanizzazione della vendemmia e della potatura: approcci integrati e innovativi. Phytomagazine n. 31: 1-11.
40. BENITES, J., PISANTE, M. (2003). Conservation Agriculture: Soil Moisture, Organic Matter, Soil Compaction, Implementing Conservation Agriculture. FAO publication AD/I/Y4949E.
41. BASSO, B., DE VITA, P., BASSO, F., DE FRANCHI, A.S., PISANTE, M., NIGRO, F., DI FONZO, N. (2003). Assessing and modelling spatial variability of yield and grain quality of durum wheat under extreme dry conditions. In: J.V. Stafford, A.Werner (eds.) Precision Agriculture: 53-61. 
42. BENITES, J., CASTRIGNANO', A.M., PISANTE, M., STELLUTI, M. (2003). Subdividing a field into contiguos management zones using a nonparametric density/algorithm. Extended Summary, Volume II, Second World Congress on Conservation Agriculture, Iguassu Falls, Parana - Brazil August, 11 to 15, 2003: 335-338. 
43. CANTERO-MARTÍNEZ, C., ANGÁS, P., AMEZIANE, T, PISANTE, M. (2003). Land and water management technologies. In: Proceedings of the Seminar on "Mediterranean Rainfed Agriculture. Strategies for Sustainability" Zaragoza, Spain, 2-3 June 2003, within the framework of the cooperation project between the European Commission (EuropeAid) and CIHEAM on Rainfed Agriculture in the Mediterranean. Options Méditerranéennes, Series A, 43, 33-48. 
44. CASTRIGNANÒ, A.M., MAIORANA, M., PISANTE, M., VONELLA, A.V., FORNARO, F., FECONDO, G. (2003). A methodology to define soil units in support to precision agricolture. Programme book of the joint conference of ECPA-ECPLF. Wageningen Academic Publishers, pp.381-382. 
45. GUIDUCCI, M., BONCIARELLI, U., STAGNARI, F., BENINCASA, P. (2004). Total N supply and profit from several green manure crops. In: Jacobsen, S.E., Jensen, C.R., Porter, J.R. (eds.) Book of proceedings - Addendum -VIII ESA Congress, KVL, Copenaghen, Denmark, 11-15 July 2004. 
46. MONOTTI, M., STAGNARI, F., CONTI, D., PETRINI, A., CAPPELLI, S., COCCHIARELLA, A.G., RAGGI, V., GARGANO, E., ORFEI, M., QUATTRUCCI, M. (2004). Valutazione di varietà di pisello proteico e di favino in ambienti centro-meridionali. L'informatore Agrario 39: 67-72.