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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil Conservation and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2022) | Viewed by 19683

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sabina Iole Giuseppina Failla

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Guest Editor

Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, Via S.Sofia 100, 95123 Catania, Italy
Interests: soil conservation tillage; labour and energy requirement in agricultural; plant protection with sprayers in greenhouse and open field; mechanical distribution of natural arthropods in greenhouse and in open field; biomass and bioenergy
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Dr. Elio Romano

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Guest Editor

CREA Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Via Milano 43, 24047 Treviglio, Italy
Interests: precision agriculture; digital farming; decision support systems; safety and ergonomic issues; sustainable mechanization
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Dr. Simone Bergonzoli

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Guest Editor

Council for Agricultural Research, Economics-Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, CREA-IT, 24047 Treviglio Bergamo, Italy
Interests: agricultural engineering; precision agriculture; biomass collection

Prof. Giampaolo Schillaci

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Guest Editor

Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Agricultural Machinery and Mechanization Section, University of Catania, Via S.Sofia, 100-95123 Catania, Italy
Interests: safety health welfare agrosystems; precision farming; agricultural crops mechanization
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable mechanization plays an increasingly essential role to ensure that agricultural production is not only more environmentally less impacting but is economically affordable, adaptable to local conditions, and resilient in respect to climate changes.

As stated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, sustainable mechanization considers technological, economic, social, environmental and cultural aspects when contributing to the sustainable development of the food and agricultural sector. It is applied to agricultural land preparation, supports timely seeding and planting, weed control, integrated pest management, precise fertilizer application, harvesting, preparation for storage, and value addition operations along the food supply chain in terms of on-farm processing, transport and marketing.

The pressure of the markets towards higher productions demand and of better quality on the one hand and the emergence of new and complicated phenomena such as climate change, degradation of soils, water and air, precariousness of socio-economic systems on the other hand would bring the agricultural systems into a continuous choice between the increase in external inputs and environmental impact.

Agriculture machines and practices and should be finalized to reducing long term depletion of natural resources and to ensure their conservation by maintaining a constant high level of production at the same time.

The technological innovations available in modern agricultural mechanization can play an important role in addressing both the need for an increase in production in quantity and quality, and a efficient use of inputs also improving quality and timing of work, welfare and safety for operators and reducing energy use, carbon and water footprint, and greenhouse gases emissions.

In this special issue, we invite you to present the results of research in main topics relating to the possibility of agricultural production to make use of practices and machines able to respect the use of the soil and its issues (i.e. erosion, salinization, compaction, reduction of organic matter), able to reduce water and air pollution through a more precision use of chemical and energy inputs, able to save safety, health and welfare of workers as well as of animal welfare.

Particular attention will be paid to issues relating to:

Evaluation of strategies, practices and machines for a sustainable Agricultural Mechanics;
Diffusion of new technologies, such as digital farming;
Development of new organic and conservative agriculture machines;
Assessment of the environmental and economic benefits coming from the adoption of new technologies in agricultural mechanization;
Modeling of information for the projection of the sustainable effect;
Economic evaluation of the inclusion of new technologies in agricultural fleet;
High-intensity cultivation and livestock systems and evaluation of sustainability indicators;
Assessment of the impact of increasing agricultural mechanization on natural resources in developing and developed countries.

Dr. Sabina Failla
Dr. Elio Romano
Dr. Simone Bergonzoli
Prof. Giampaolo Schillaci
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

Sustainable mechanization
Soil conservation practices
Organic agriculture
Carbon and water footprint
Precision agriculture
Digital farming
Decision Support Systems
Advanced machinery
Precision livestock farming
Safety and ergonomic issues

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 3169 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of the Stability Behavior of an Agricultural Unmanned Ground Vehicle

by Valda Rondelli, Enrico Capacci and Bruno Franceschetti

Sustainability 2022, 14(23), 15561; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142315561 - 23 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2198

Abstract

Precision farming is the newest agricultural approach in countries with highly mechanized field operations, and the role of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) in smart farming is becoming increasingly prominent. This work aimed to evaluate the stability of the DEDALO UGV developed by the University of BOLOGNA for precision orchard and vineyard management. The driving part of the machine is somewhat peculiar; it moves autonomously in the field combined with a tank to store water and pesticide mixture for crop protection, with an additional structure to carry agricultural implements. The study aimed to evaluate the stability of the agricultural unladen UGV, and mulcher and sprayer mounted configurations. In the case of the sprayer, the stability behavior was evaluated with an empty and full tank. The machine, in terms of stability, was studied both laterally and longitudinally. A theoretical model was developed based on the upstream side forces measured during experimental tipping tests. The results of the experimental data were compared with the theoretical predicted results to validate the model. In the lateral test, the average value of the limit stability angle was 48 degrees, while in the longitudinal test, it was 49 degrees. The results of the model were statistically correlative (R² > 95) and denoted that the most stable condition occurred in the case of the UGV fitted with the mulcher in the longitudinal tipping position (56 degrees), while the most unstable condition was the case of the unladen UGV in the longitudinal tipping position (40 degrees). Although the stability problem is not directly connected with the operator, as these machines do not require a driver, the lack of stability can lead to the UGV overturning with consequent risks for the surrounding environment and damage to the UGV body. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosystems Engineering - Strategies for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanics)

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18 pages, 6959 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Remote Sensing Monitoring of Durum Wheat under No Tillage Practices by Means of Spectral Indices Interpretation: A Preliminary Study

by Federico Calcagno, Elio Romano, Nicola Furnitto, Arman Jamali and Sabina Failla

Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 15012; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142215012 - 13 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1890

Abstract

Due to its advantages, remote sensing monitoring has been used in various applications and made noteworthy contributions to understanding soil and plant processes, as well as in the agriculture sector. The aim of the work is to compare the return of durum wheat crops in conservative agricultural practices in Mediterranean climate conditions by analysing the data from the Sentinel2 satellite through three spectral indices. The analysed spectral indices have different interpretations and therefore have been studied in different periods: (i) NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) for the evaluation of the vegetative vigour from January to June; (ii) NDWI (normalized difference water index) for the moisture of covered soil from January to June and of bare soil after harvesting from June to August; and (iii) NMDI (normalized multi-band drought index) for the variability of bare soil moisture from June to August. With reference to the machines used in cultivation practices, a further purpose of the study is to investigate the effects of automatic guidance versus manual guidance on production yields and on the spectral indices considered. The first results show that the NDVI follows crop phenological stages by reaching the maximum values in correspondence with the stem elongation and booting stages. Additionally, the NDWI showed the same trend as the NDVI during the current crop. After harvesting, the NDWI showed higher values in the plots cultivated under conservation tillage practices. In the same period, the NMDI showed the same results as the NDWI and a positive correlation, confirming that tillage practices could imply a lower ability to retain water in drought time. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosystems Engineering - Strategies for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanics)

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13 pages, 2002 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bio-Acidification of Cattle Slurry with Whey Reduces Gaseous Emission during Storage with Positive Effects on Biogas Production

by Fabrizio Gioelli, Marco Grella, Telma E. Scarpeci, Luca Rollè, Flavia Dela Pierre and Elio Dinuccio

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12331; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912331 - 28 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2130

Abstract

Livestock manure is the main source of ammonia (NH₃) and greenhouse gases emissions (GHG), which can be reduced by acidifying manure. This work assessed the effect of acidification of cattle slurry using whey on NH₃ and GHG emissions during storage, followed by its usage for biogas production. Tests were conducted to optimize the dose and the frequency at which whey was applied to cattle slurry. Two of the analyzed treatments, AS1-100 and AS1-10, showed reduced emissions when compared with the control AS1-0 without whey. In AS1-100, 100% of the optimized amount of whey was added to the slurry at the beginning of the test, while in AS1-10 whey was fractioned in 10 applications (one per day) corresponding to 10% of the total. Batch-type anaerobic digestion assays using AS1-100 and AS1-10 as feedstock resulted in a significant increase in methane production when compared with the anaerobic digestion of AS1-0 (+33% and +53%, respectively). The best results in terms of gas emissions abatement and methane production during anaerobic digestion were obtained when a low organic loading rate of whey was used. These results demonstrate that the use of whey for slurry acidification is a viable approach for potentially solving the economic and environmental problems of GHG and NH₃ emissions during slurry storage, whereby increasing energy and environmental sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosystems Engineering - Strategies for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanics)

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10 pages, 2521 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Measurement of Shear Characteristics of Paddy Soil in Poyang Lake Area

by Long Xue, Lan Li, Jianhui Zeng, Bohan Huang, Yuqi Zeng, Muhua Liu and Jing Li

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 11960; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141911960 - 22 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1271

Abstract

Understanding the shear characteristics of paddy fields is of great significance for the design of high-trafficability paddy wheels and to improve the trafficability of the tiller in paddy fields. Taking the paddy soil in Poyang Lake area of Jiangxi Province as the research [...] Read more.

φ

of paddy soil with water content of 37% by weight using an annular shear plate. The effects of different shear speeds, shear grouser heights, and shear plate diameters on the measured c and

φ

were investigated. The measured values of c and

φ

were 1.89–2.35 kPa and 10.2–11.4°(deg), respectively. With the increase in shear speed, shear plate diameter, and grouser height, the value of c increased. Shear plate diameter and shear speed had small effect on c, whose change rate did not exceed 7.8%. However, shear grouser height had a greater influence on c, and the measured c increased by 24.5%. The influence of the three factors on

φ

followed the order: shear speed > shear plate diameter > shear grouser height, but the variation in

φ

did not exceed 1.2°(deg). The optimal operational conditions were: shear plate diameter of 250 mm with inner diameter of 150 mm, shear grouser height of 10 mm, with a shear speed of π/120 rad/s, and the apparent cohesion and apparent internal friction angle are 1887.8 pa and 11.06° (deg), respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosystems Engineering - Strategies for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanics)

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13 pages, 4127 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Autonomous Vehicles Management in Agriculture with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) for Obstacle Avoidance

by Danilo Monarca, Pierluigi Rossi, Riccardo Alemanno, Filippo Cossio, Paolo Nepa, Andrea Motroni, Roberto Gabbrielli, Marco Pirozzi, Carla Console and Massimo Cecchini

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9393; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159393 - 1 Aug 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2672

Abstract

Obstacle avoidance is a key aspect for any autonomous vehicles, and their usage in agriculture must overcome additional challenges such as handling interactions with agricultural workers and other tractors in order to avoid severe accidents. The simultaneous presence of autonomous vehicles and workers on foot definitely calls for safer designs, vehicle management systems and major developments in personal protective equipment (PPE). To cope with these present and future challenges, the “SMARTGRID” project described in this paper deploys an integrated wireless safety network infrastructure based on the integration of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices and passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tags designed to identify obstacles, workers, nearby vehicles and check if the right PPE is in use. With the aim of detecting workers at risk by scanning for passive RFID-integrated into PPE in danger areas, transmitting alerts to workers who wear them, tracking of near-misses and activating emergency stops, a deep analysis of the safety requirements of the obstacle detection system is shown in this study. Test programs have also been carried out on an experimental farm with detection ranging from 8 to 12 meters, proving that the system might represent a good solution for collision avoidance between autonomous vehicles and workers on foot. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosystems Engineering - Strategies for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanics)

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23 pages, 2215 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Sociotechnological Sustainability in Pasture Management: Labor Input and Optimization Potential of Smart Tools to Measure Herbage Mass and Quality

by Leonie Hart, Elisabeth Quendler and Christina Umstaetter

Sustainability 2022, 14(12), 7490; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127490 - 20 Jun 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2601

Abstract

Investing labor time in herbage measurements is important for precision pasture management. In this study, the labor input of three smart herbage measurement tools—multispectral imagery linked to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a semi-automated rising plate meter (RPM), and near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) of cut herbage samples—and of direct observation was modeled based on the REFA work element method. Three to five users were observed during work execution to identify best-practice workflows. Time measurements were conducted using video footage. The resulting standard times of work elements were used to model labor input for herbage measurements in different farm sizes (i.e., milking platforms of 6–100 ha) and subdivisions of a farm’s milking platform (i.e., 4–45 paddocks). Labor time requirement differed between the smart farming tools (0.7–5.9 h) depending on the farm size and milking platform scenario. The labor time requirement increased for all tools with an increase in farm size and was lowest for the RPM. For the UAV tool, it did not increase noticeably when the division of the milking platform changed. Nevertheless, the potential to save time was identified for the UAV and the NIRS. Therefore, the automation of certain steps in the workflows would contribute to sociotechnological sustainable pasture management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosystems Engineering - Strategies for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanics)

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12 pages, 3964 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Comparison of Mechanical, Assisted and Manual Harvest of Origanum vulgare L.

by Antonio Comparetti, Carlo Greco, Santo Orlando, Salvatore Ciulla and Michele Massimo Mammano

Sustainability 2022, 14(5), 2562; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052562 - 23 Feb 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2948

Abstract

In Italy, the production of Origanum vulgare L. is lower than the national market demand, so there is an increasing interest in this crop, even if the manual harvest and bunch binding represent ca. 60% of the production cost. The aim of this work is to evaluate the harvest efficiency, as well as the working capacity, productivity and quality of mechanical harvesting by means of a reaper-binder designed for cereal and forage crops and assisted harvesting by means of a long-reach edge trimmer. In fact, the final aim is to suggest a machine and a method for oregano harvesting that could significantly reduce the time and, therefore, the cost of this crop operation, while achieving a product quality similar to that obtained by manual harvesting. Tests of mechanical and assisted harvesting were carried out using a reaper-binder after modifying it (i.e., reducing its forward speed, cutting height and bunch size to improve its working capacity, productivity and quality) and an edge trimmer, respectively. The tests of mechanical and assisted harvesting were compared with manual harvesting. In the testing field, with an irregular shape and an area of one hectare, nine rows were selected and divided into three replications, each comprising three tests, i.e., mechanical, assisted and manual harvesting. The modified reaper-binder allowed us to achieve working capacity and productivity rates much higher than those obtained with manual harvesting. Moreover, its harvest quality, in terms of bunch weight and binding height, favourably compares with that manually obtained. Furthermore, the edge trimmer allowed us to achieve working capacity and productivity rates lower than those obtained by means of the reaper-binder but much higher than in manual harvesting. Thus, the reaper-binder can minimise the harvest time and, therefore, cost while harvesting bunches slightly bigger than those manually harvested, even if it requires a high initial investment cost. Instead, the edge trimmer can be a cheap solution for reducing the harvest time and cost. Therefore, mechanical and assisted harvesting could spread oregano production in areas of inland Sicily and other Mediterranean regions that are often cultivated with low-profit herbaceous plant species or lie fallow. Thus, it would be possible to increase farmers’ incomes and job opportunities, as well as preventing or minimising the hydrogeological instability in these areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosystems Engineering - Strategies for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanics)

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20 pages, 1574 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Dairy Buffalo Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Affected by a Management Choice: The Production of Wheat Crop

by Elio Romano, Pasquale De Palo, Flavio Tidona, Aristide Maggiolino and Andrea Bragaglio

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 11108; https://doi.org/10.3390/su131911108 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2318

Abstract

Life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed in dairy buffalo farms representative of Southern Italian farming systems, similar due to several characteristics, with the exception of wheat production. This work evaluated the impacts derived from this management choice, comparing farms with wheat crop (WWC) or not (NWC). In agreement with the literature, economic allocation was chosen as a useful strategy to attribute equivalents to by-products, i.e., culled animals; the same criterion was also adopted to assign pollutants to wheat grain, limited to WWC farms. Environmental impacts in terms of Global Warming Potential (GWP, kg CO₂ eq), Acidification Potential (AC, g SO₂ eq), Eutrophication Potential (EU, g PO₄^3-eq), Agricultural Land Occupation (ALO, m²y) and Water Depletion (WD, m³) were estimated. The production of wheat crop significantly affected (p < 0.05) the Agricultural Land Occupation (ALO) category as WWC farms need adequate land. WWC farms could allow a significant reduction in eutrophication (EU) compared to NWC farms (p < 0.05). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosystems Engineering - Strategies for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanics)

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