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Multi-Parametric Approach to Management Zone Delineation in a Hazelnut Grove in Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Roberta Martelli

    (Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences–DISTAL, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy)

  • Vincenzo Civitarese

    (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia Agraria (CREA), Centro di Ricerca Ingegneria e Trasformazioni Agroalimentari, Via della Pascolare 16, Monterotondo, 00015 Roma, Italy)

  • Lorenzo Barbanti

    (Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences–DISTAL, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy)

  • Abid Ali

    (Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences–DISTAL, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy)

  • Giulio Sperandio

    (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia Agraria (CREA), Centro di Ricerca Ingegneria e Trasformazioni Agroalimentari, Via della Pascolare 16, Monterotondo, 00015 Roma, Italy)

  • Andrea Acampora

    (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia Agraria (CREA), Centro di Ricerca Ingegneria e Trasformazioni Agroalimentari, Via della Pascolare 16, Monterotondo, 00015 Roma, Italy)

  • Davide Misturini

    (Agrinnovazione, Via Prese 22a, Pescantina, 37026 Verona, Italy)

  • Alberto Assirelli

    (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia Agraria (CREA), Centro di Ricerca Ingegneria e Trasformazioni Agroalimentari, Via della Pascolare 16, Monterotondo, 00015 Roma, Italy)

Abstract

The increase in high-density hazelnut ( Corylus avellana ) areas drives the interest in practices of precision management. This work addressed soil apparent electrical conductivity (ECa), RGB aerial (UAV) images, proximal sensing, and field scouting in delineating and validating management zones (MZs) in a 2.96 ha hazelnut grove in Italy. ECa data were fitted to a semi-variogram, interpolated (simple kriging), and clustered, resulting in two MZs that were subjected to soil analysis. RGB imagery was used to extract tree canopies from the soil background and determine two vegetation indices (VIs) of general crop status: the Visible Atmospherically Resistant Index ( VARI ) and the Normalized Green-Red Difference Index ( NGRDI ). Then, plant growth parameters were manually assessed (tree height, crown size, etc.) and a proximal VI, the Canopy Index (CI), was determined with the MECS-VINE ® vertical multisensor. MZ1 was characterized by lower ECa values than MZ2. This was associated with a lower clay content (9% vs. 21% in MZ1 vs. MZ2) and organic matter content (1.03% vs. 1.51% in MZ1 vs. MZ2), indicating lower soil fertility in MZ1 vs. MZ2. Additionally, hazelnut trees had significantly smaller canopies (1.42 vs. 1.94 m 2 tree −1 ) and slightly lower values of VARI , NGRDI , and CI in MZ1 vs. MZ2. In conclusion, our approach used ECa to identify homogeneous field areas, which showed differences in soil properties influencing tree growth. This is the premise for differential hazelnut management in view of better efficiency and sustainability in the use of crop inputs.

Suggested Citation

  • Roberta Martelli & Vincenzo Civitarese & Lorenzo Barbanti & Abid Ali & Giulio Sperandio & Andrea Acampora & Davide Misturini & Alberto Assirelli, 2023. "Multi-Parametric Approach to Management Zone Delineation in a Hazelnut Grove in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-12, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:13:p:10106-:d:1179572
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Elena Nera & Wim Paas & Pytrik Reidsma & Giulio Paolini & Federico Antonioli & Simone Severini, 2020. "Assessing the Resilience and Sustainability of a Hazelnut Farming System in Central Italy with a Participatory Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-27, January.
    2. Abid Ali & Valda Rondelli & Roberta Martelli & Gloria Falsone & Flavio Lupia & Lorenzo Barbanti, 2022. "Management Zones Delineation through Clustering Techniques Based on Soils Traits, NDVI Data, and Multiple Year Crop Yields," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-20, February.
    3. Alberto Assirelli & Elio Romano & Carlo Bisaglia & Enrico Maria Lodolini & Davide Neri & Massimo Brambilla, 2021. "Canopy Index Evaluation for Precision Management in an Intensive Olive Orchard," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-12, July.
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