Riccardo FedeliUniversità degli Studi di Siena | UNISI · Department of Life Sciences
Riccardo Fedeli
PhD
About
36
Publications
4,734
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290
Citations
Education
September 2018 - December 2020
University of Siena
Field of study
- Ecotoxicology and Environmental Sustanability
Publications
Publications (36)
In this work, we report the investigation of the effect of exposure of apple trees to the bioeffector wood distillate (WD), a plant biostimulant used for improving the nutritional profiling of crop plants. We measured the effect by evaluating the biochemical and nutritional profile of both pulps and skin of fruits. WD (0.2%, v/v) was applied once a...
In the context of sustainable agriculture, the search for soil improvers that boost crop growth without harming biodiversity is gaining much attention. Biochar, the solid residue resulting from the pyrolysis of organic material, has recently emerged as a promising bioproduct in enhancing crop yield, but there is a lack of information regarding its...
The adoption of innovative cultivation methods, such as hydroponics and aeroponics, is gaining attention due to the unprecedented demand for food that an increasing population is posing on agricultural systems, exacerbating the pressure on already limited arable land. Seeking sustainable and circular economy solutions is imperative, aiming to optim...
The present work investigated the effects of different doses of biochar (2.5%, 5%, 10%), a by-product of the pyrolysis of woody biomass, on the growth of oat plants (Avena sativa L., cv “Danko”) grown under different crude oil concentrations (0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 6%) added to the soil, evaluating both biometric (i.e. fresh weight) and biochemical (i.e...
This study aimed to assess the effects of B addition on lettuce grown in soil and hydroponically and to determine the adequate B concentration enhancing plant growth and development. B concentration was measured in the soil (available and total B) and lettuce. Additionally, photosynthetic parameters (NDVI, total chlorophyll content, photosynthetic...
This study investigated the suitability of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis for routine multi-elemental composition analysis, checking its analytical capabilities by measuring a wide array of certified reference materials of soil and plant origin. A portable XRF analyzer was used to evaluate 32 soil and 12 plant standard materials, using both the...
Fungi, particularly Pleurotus eryngii, emerges as a promising solution for sustainable non-animal protein production, requiring less land and growing on waste materials. In connection with population growth, sustainable solutions must be found to increase yield and product quality without resorting to the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers. Seve...
Ozone (O3) pollution is a critical issue for human health, crop yield, vegetation growth biodiversity, and food safety. Several protection strategies from O3-induced injuries have been proposed for crops. Here, we investigated if the foliar application of wood distillate (WD), a plant-based biostimulant applied once a week (0.2%, v/v) for four cons...
Citation: Carril, P.; Becagli, M.; Celletti, S.; Fedeli, R.; Loppi, S.; Cardelli, R. Biofertilization with Liquid Vermicompost-Activated Biochar Enhances Microbial Activity and Soil Properties. Soil Syst. 2024, 8, 54. https://doi.org/10.3390/ soilsystems8020054 Academic Editor: Claudio Cocozza Abstract: Biochar (Bc) and liquid vermicompost extracts...
In recent years, chickpea flour has been incorporated into various food products for improving their protein content and nutritional values. Based on the 'Farm to Fork' strategy, the need for the reduction of chemical pesticides is pushing the use of biobased products for cultivation. Wood distillate (WD), a byproduct of woody biomass pyrolysis, ha...
Soil salinization is an adverse phenomenon in agriculture that severely affects crop growth and yield. The use of natural products, such as wood distillate (WD, derived from the pyrolysis of woody biomass), could be a sustainable approach to enhance the tolerance of plants cultivated in the saline soils. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the pote...
The addition of biostimulants to nutrient solutions of hydroponically grown crops to speed up plant growth and improve plant yield and quality has been attracting more and more attention. This study investigated the effects of wood distillate (WD) addition to hydroponically grown lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plants. Two concentrations of WD, 0.2% an...
Salt stress is presently a major environmental concern, given the huge number of soils affected bythe presence of dissolved salts. Therefore, it is necessary to find solutions, preferably nature-basedones, to deal with this problem. In this study, biochar, a product made from plant biomass res-idues through the process of pyrolysis, was tested to a...
Plastic pollution is a pressing global issue, prompting the exploration of sustainable alternatives such as bioplastics (BPs). In agriculture, BPs have gained relevance as mulching films. This study investigated the effect of the presence in the soil of different concentrations (0-3%, w/w) of a corn starch-based bioplastic on basil (Ocimum basilicu...
Biochar (BC) boasts diverse environmental applications. However, its potential for environmental biomonitoring has, surprisingly, remained largely unexplored. This study presents a preliminary analysis of BC's potential as a biomonitor for the environmental availability of ionic Cd, utilizing the lichen Evernia prunastri L. (Ach.) as a reference or...
Seed priming with synthetic chemicals may be harmful to the environment and human health. Their replacement with bio-based compounds may overcome these concerns. In this study, we assessed the effectiveness of wood distillate (WD) in enhancing in vitro germination of crop plants using basil, chickpea, and lettuce as case studies. Seeds of the three...
Bio‐based products are nowadays useful tools able to affect the productivity and quality of conventionally cultivated crops. Several bio‐based products are currently on the market; one of the newest and most promising is the wood distillate (WD) derived from the pyrolysis process of waste biomass after timber. Its foliar application has been widely...
Wood distillate (WD) is a bio-based product applied to crop plants for its known action on growth promotion and yield enhancement, but studies are lacking on its effects on the germination of arable plants. To test such effects, we applied WD at six different concentrations on the diaspores of three threatened arable plants: Bromus secalinus, Centa...
The growing interest in bioplastics and bio-based crop management products in agriculture is driven by the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda. However, recent research has raised concerns about the sustainability of bioplastics due to their potential negative impact on crop growth and yield, with implications for the environment and h...
Boron (B) is a crucial micronutrient needed for plant growth. This study investigated the effect of B addition (0.5 mg kg-1-low, and 5 mg kg-1-high) on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plants grown in
the soil and hydroponically. The results showed that B addition causes a differential increase in lettuce leaves depending on the cultivation system. Soil...
Potato is the fourth most widely consumed staple food in the world. This study investigated the effectiveness of 0.2% wood distillate (WD), a biostimulant derived from the pyrolysis of waste plant biomass, in boosting the nutritional quality of potato tubers. The results showed that application of WD significantly increased the content of soluble s...
This study evaluated the genotype by environment interactions in the yield and nutraceu-tical traits of the orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) storage root in different agro-climatic zones of northern Ethiopia. Five OFSP genotypes were cultivated at three different locations following a randomized complete block design, and the yield, dry matter, b...
As a consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Europe is facing a shortage of chemical fertilizers for agriculture. Therefore, the use of byproducts of biomass anaerobic digestion, e.g., solid (SD) and liquid (LD) digestate, could be a key solution to cope with this problem. In this framework, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of...
Simple Summary
This study aimed to investigate the influence of the agro-climatic environment of Northern Ethiopia on the content of essential mineral elements of selected orange-fleshed sweetpotato genotypes, the potential contribution of each genotype’s essential mineral elements to the required daily allowance, and the potential risk to human he...
This study investigated the effect of soil contamination by different concentrations of gasoline on oat (Avena sativa L.) and tested the effect of biochar supply to the polluted soils on the performance of oat plants. Oat seeds were sowed in contaminated soils with different concentrations of gasoline: 0% (control), 1%, 2%, 6%, and 10% (v/w), and g...
The recent use of bioplastics in agriculture is considered an ecological choice, aimed at limiting the environmental impact of plastics, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. However, the impact of bioplastic residues on the environment is unclear as knowledge is lacking. This is the first study investigating the eff...
Wood distillate (WD) is a bio-based product stimulating plant growth and yield, environmentally safe, and allowed in Italy in organic farming. To the best of our knowledge, there are no studies on the effects of WD on spontaneous plants growing among crops, including their functional traits like biomass. To test such effects, we carried out a lab e...
In the quest for eco‐friendly products with biostimulant properties, foliar application of wood distillate (WD) was tested on the growth and yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). WD (pyroligneous acid) is a by‐product of plant biomass pyrolysis and is rich in biologically active substances like polyphenols, alcohols, acids and esters. In this wor...
This study investigated the effect of two different methods, i.e. air-drying and freeze-drying, of preservation of elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum L.) cultivated in Valdichiana, a traditional cultivation area of Tuscany, Italy, on its nutritional characteristics (i.e. soluble proteins. polyphenols, flavonoids, free radical scavenging activity,...
This study examined whether foliar applications of wood distillate (WD) have a protective effect on photosynthesis and the antioxidant power of lettuce when exposed to an ecologically relevant O3 concentration. Seedlings of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) were fumigated daily with 60 ppb of O3 for 30 days, five hours per day. Once per week, 50% of the...
Bio-stimulants are showing growing success and are gradually replacing synthetic fertilizers in agriculture. Wood distillate (WD), also known as wood vinegar or pyroligneous acid, is a by-product of biomass pyrolysis and is increasingly used as a bio-stimulant for crop production. This study investigated whether weekly foliar applications of 0.25%...
Vengono presentate nuove località e/o conferme relative a 61 taxa specifici e sottospecifici di piante vascolari della flora vascolare toscana, appartenenti a 56 generi e 25 famiglie: Delosperma (Aizoaceae), Ridolfia (Apiaceae), Dracunculus (Araceae), Gamochaeta, Hieracium, Matricaria, Rhagadiolus, Senecio, Tolpis (Asteraceae), Atriplex (Amaranthac...
This study investigated the dynamics of the accumulation and release of Hg 2+ in lichens, using Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach. as a model species. Thalli were incubated with solutions containing 1, 10, and 100 µM Hg 2+ and then exposed for 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months at the Botanical Garden of the University of Siena (a location free from local...
In the Valdichiana area (Tuscany, Italy) an ancient native landrace of elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum L.), locally known as “Aglione della Valdichiana”, has long been cultivated. The aim of this study was to check whether there are differences in the mineral and nutraceutical profiles of the Aglione della Valdichiana cultivated conventionally...
In this study, the release of Cu ²⁺ and Zn ²⁺ was investigated and modeled in the epiphytic lichen Evernia prunastri. Samples were incubated with solutions containing these metals at ecologically relevant concentrations (10 and 100 μM) and then transplanted to a remote area and retrieved after 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. The results showed that,...