Marija Romic

University of Zagreb · Department of Soil Amelioration

The main objective of the proposed collaboration is to explore the value of recently patented water based Sprayable Biodegradable Polymer Membrane (SBPM, developed by CSIRO) through field experiments and numerical modeling. First part of the research will be focused on experimental settings and data collection regarding water balance monitoring with various sensors. The second part will include hydrological model calibration based on field data and performing simulations of water and solute behaviour under sprayable mulch.

"Recent advances in remote and proximal sensing technologies are enriching our geo-datasets with spatial and temporal observations that are stored in large geo-databases. At the same time, statistical geostatistical and machine learning methods have been developed to analyze these data for gaining a better understanding of soil, geological, agricultural and environmental processes, as well as the characterization and monitoring of natural hazards. The abundance of data taken at different locations and time provides a new challenge for scientists that is integrating diverse spatial and temporal datasets to describe the present conditions of the Earth and try to forecast future changes. This integration of different data, or multi-source data fusion, is needed to also investigate the sources and the consequences of several threats to urban, cultivated and natural environments, such as natural hazards, environmental pollution, and land management. To tackle the preceding problems and trying to design actions to recover the negative impacts of human activity on natural systems, we need new methods of multi-source spatial-temporal data fusion. Statistical, geostatistical, machine learning and artificial intelligence can play a key role in their development. In this special issue we are seeking original contributions on new methods for multi-source spatial-temporal data fusion in soil, geological, agricultural, environmental sciences, and land management." Guest-editors: Diego Di Curzio, Annamaria Castrignanò, Spyros Fountas, Marija Romić, Raphael Viscarra Rossel The submission to STOTEN will be possible by 31 January 2019, selecting "VSI:Multi-source data fusion" in the Elsevier Editorial System (EES; https://ees.elsevier.com/stoten/default.asp). For more information: diego.dicurzio@unich.it Call for Papers at: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/science-of-the-total-environment/call-for-papers/multi-source-data-fusion-of-big-spatial-temporal-data-in-soi DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MARCH 15th, 2019

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate changes are in causal relationship with agriculture. Agricultural production releases a significant amount of GHG, and at the same time climate changes affects directly the suitability of environment for plant and animal growing. Intensive agriculture is based on a large consumption of fertilizers and their production requires an ample energy and generates significant GHG emissions. One of the widely recognized approaches to reduce the GHG emissions is the reduced use of mineral fertilisers by their replacement with other forms of fertilizers. Untreated urban and agricultural waste represents a serious threat to environment; however after treatments could become a fertilizer that can replace the mineral one. The use of composted sewage sludge and olive pomace, and biochar derived from these wastes, as soil amendment, has been given an attention due to their positive effect on the soil structure, fertility, nutrient recycling, and yield. In Mediterranean area, P-low soils are widely present, and P fertilization is important strategy to optimize crop growth. At the same time, organic waste are often rich on P, particularly sludge waste. Considering the agricultural contribution to GHG emission and limitations in mineral fertilizers supply, the objectives of the project will focus on efficiency of sewage sludge and olive pomace as compost and biochar as soil amendments on increasing soil fertility and reducing GHG emissions compared to mineral fertilizers. The effect of waste amendments on physical and chemical properties and microbiological activity of terra rossa and rendzina soils, plant growth and physiological response, nutrients and toxic metals utilization, yield and quality of tested plant will be explored. The objectives of the proposed project are focused on analysis of existing application and development of new measures for reduction of GHG emissions in agriculture and they fulfil the goal of the call.