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The sustainable management and valorisation of agricultural and agro-industrial residues are essential to reduce environmental impacts, enhance resource efficiency, and support circular economy strategies. In Mediterranean regions, large quantities of residual biomass are annually produced from olive and citrus supply chains, representing promising feedstocks for biochar production. In this study, biochar was obtained at 600 °C in a fixed-bed reactor under a N2 atmosphere from four representative feedstocks: olive pruning (OPr), citrus pruning (CPr), olive pomace (OPo), and citrus peel (CPe). The resulting biochar was characterized in terms of physico-chemical, energetic, and structural properties, including proximate and ultimate analyses, fuel properties, cation exchange capacity (CEC), pH, elemental ratios (O/C, H/C, N/C), thermal stability, bulk density, metal content, and surface morphology (SEM), in order to assess parameters relevant to environmental potential applications. The results highlighted clear feedstock-dependent differences. OPoB and CPeB exhibited the highest thermal stability (0.56–0.66), indicating a strong potential for long-term carbon sequestration. CPeB showed the highest CEC (47.2 cmol kg−1). From an application-oriented perspective, this high CEC suggests that, when applied to soil at typical amendment rates (2–5 wt%), CPeB could potentially increase soil CEC by approximately 10–30%, thereby improving nutrient retention and cation availability. Energy yields were highest for citrus-derived biochar (42.0–47.5%), while OPoB exhibited the lowest solid yield due to its higher volatile content. SEM analysis revealed marked structural differences, with OPrB retaining an ordered lignocellulosic porous structure, whereas OPoB and CPeB displayed highly irregular morphologies, favorable for surface reactivity. Overall, this study demonstrates that olive and citrus residues are suitable feedstocks for producing biochar with differentiated properties, and that a rapid screening methodology can support feedstock selection and biochar design for targeted energy, soil amendment, and carbon management applications.

Obtaining high-quality seeds is important for two reasons: from a nutritional point of view, for species in which the seed is the edible part; and for producing quality seeds for reproduction, which is fundamental for successful cultivation. Producing seed for reproduction in hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), presents many challenges and requires specific precautions. The present study analyzed the ripeness of hemp fruits using a portable and low-cost VIS/NIR spectrometer that covered a spectral range of 740–1070 nm. This study proposed the first attempt to apply optical systems to the hemp seed sowing production chain. The aim is to facilitate the handling of seeds at harvest and the complex post-harvest seed management. Seeds from two monoecious European industrial hemp genotypes, Carmaleonte and Codimono, were collected at the three growth stages of fruit ripening according to the BBCH scale from 50% of ripe fruits (BBCH 85 stage) to fully ripe fruits (BBCH 89 stage). The reflectance spectra showed a decreasing order BBCH 89-87 > 85 with the most obvious difference between the curves observed at a wavelength of 955 nm. At this wavelength, the reflectance at the BBCH 85 stage was clearly lower than at the BBCH 87 and 89 stages. In terms of germination rate the seeds collected at BBCH-85 had a higher percentage respect the other growing stages. These results demonstrate that a simple, portable spectrophotometer can discriminate the different ripening stages of the hemp seeds, thus confirming the effectiveness of optical systems in improving the production of certified seeds.

Citrus is a subtropical fruit tree with high water requirements. This study aimed to determine the effects of water deficit on an orange orchard subjected to different water-saving strategies. The study was realised in an orange orchard in a semiarid area by adopting four different water management techniques: 100% crop evapotranspiration (control); SSDI—subsurface sustained deficit irrigation; RDI—regulated deficit irrigation; PRD—partial rootzone drying treatment during five growing seasons. The experimental design foresaw a randomised block design with six replicates per treatment (24 index plants). The results of the study showed that the water-saving strategies reduced irrigation water consumption by 25% (SSDI), 33% (RDI), and 49% (PRD) compared to the fully irrigated treatment without yield reduction, thus increasing water use efficiency. Mineral nutrition of the trees was slightly affected by irrigation treatments; element concentration in leaves was generally in the optimal range; only potassium showed values below the recommended leaf concentrations. Regarding fruit quality parameters, the vitamin C concentration in RDI showed significant differences with a value of 62.7 mg 100 mL−1 compared to 58.5 mg 100 mL−1 in the control. Plants subjected to SSDI and PRD strategies showed increased levels of pulp colour index with significant values of 10 and 9.90, respectively, compared to the control (8.44). By implementing targeted water management, citrus growers could save water and increase the ascorbic acid and sugar concentration in the fruits; anthocyanins also increased but not significantly. These findings open new market opportunities for citrus growers in marginal areas, where they cannot rely solely on producing citrus fruits to remain competitive.

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a high-yielding crop cultivated for fiber and seed production, generating substantial lignocellulosic residues such as hurds. These byproducts can be valorized through pyro-gasification, a thermochemical process that offers a sustainable alternative to combustion and produces biochar—a promising soil amendment due to its ability to enhance soil quality and mitigate drought stress. This research explores the viability of utilizing industrial hemp hurds as a direct feedstock for biochar production within the context of agricultural exploitation. The study specifically focuses on assessing the feasibility of converting raw, unprocessed hemp hurds into biochar through pyrolysis. A comprehensive characterization of the resulting biochar is conducted to evaluate its properties and potential applications in agriculture, establishing a foundational understanding for future agronomic use. Specific analysis included proximate and ultimate analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), SEM-EDS, and phytotoxicity testing. The biochar exhibited an alkaline pH (≥9), a low H/C ratio (0.37), and suitable macro- and micronutrient levels. Microstructural analysis revealed a porous architecture favorable for nutrient retention and water absorption. Germination tests with corn (Zea mays L.) showed a germination index above 90% for substrates containing 0.5–1% biochar. These findings establish a foundation for future research aimed at thoroughly exploring the agricultural potential of this material.

Quinoa attracts growing interest thanks to its nutritional value, biomass potential, and tolerance to cold, salinity, and drought, making it suitable for Mediterranean environments. Harvesting can be carried out with conventional wheat combine harvesters, although specific adjustments are required to ensure efficient seed–biomass separation and minimize losses. This study examined technical and environmental aspects of mechanized quinoa harvesting in southern Italy to identify the most effective threshing drum (TD) speed that limits losses while ensuring adequate seed separation. Field trials conducted in Puglia in 2022 and 2024, using modified combine harvesters and TD speeds between 600 and 900 rpm, showed wide variability in seed losses across settings. The 700-rpm setting yielded minimal losses in 2022 (Threshing Index, TI 6%), but proved inadequate in 2024 (TI 93%), as uneven ripening and lower yields compromised threshing efficiency. Conversely, 900 rpm produced the highest losses in 2022 (TI 67%) and the lowest cleaning efficiency with the highest residue percentage in 2024, confirming excessive mechanical aggressiveness. In 2024, 650 rpm showed relatively low losses (53%), but these were affected by reduced yield and incomplete detachment (TI 50%). In both years, 750 rpm provided the most stable performance, offering a balanced compromise between efficient seed detachment (TI 23% in 2022; 55% in 2024) and moderate seed losses (25% and 63%, respectively). Adaptive harvesting strategies, focused on appropriate machinery calibration and optimized agronomic practices, could promote the sustainable integration of quinoa into Mediterranean crop diversification systems.

The carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is a typical tree of the arid Mediterranean, and its cultivation contributes to the sustainability of local agroecosystems. In recent years, the economic and environmental importance of the carob tree has grown due to its use as a raw material in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. It also plays an ecological role in conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable agricultural systems by improving cultivation and mechanization strategies. Currently, national carob groves are facing competition from other more profitable crops such as olive, citrus, almond and horticultural systems. This has led to the marginalization of carob cultivation in several Mediterranean rural areas and increased the need to modernize and mechanize harvesting to enhance the potential of carob and its derived products. This study aimed to investigate the physical characteristics of the fruit (weight, length, width and fruit detachment force) in relation to the degree of ripeness, with the objective of providing useful information on the optimal harvesting period and introducing semi-mechanical harvesting systems.

Traditionally, sericulture is meant as the agricultural activity of silk production, from mulberry (Morus sp.pl.) cultivation to silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) rearing. The aim of the present work is to analyze the trends and outputs of scientific research on sericulture-related topics during the last two decades, from 2000 to 2020. In this work the authors propose a text-mining analysis of the titles, abstracts and keywords of scientific articles focused on sericulture and available in the SCOPUS database considering the above-mentioned period of time; from this article collection, the 100 most recurrent terms were extracted and studied in detail. The number of publications per year in sericulture-related topics increased from 87 in 2000 to 363 in 2020 (+317%). The 100 most recurrent terms were then aggregated in clusters. The analysis shows how in the last period scientific research, besides the traditional themes of sericulture, also focused on alternative products obtainable from the sericultural practice, as fruits of mulberry trees (increment of +134% of the occurrences in the last five years) and chemical compounds as antioxidants (+233% of occurrences), phenolics (+330% of occurrences) and flavonoids (+274% of occurrences). From these considerations, the authors can state how sericulture is an active and multidisciplinary research field.

High-density biomass plantations have played a key role in the national energy landscape in Italy since the 1990s but, to date, an inversion of tendency and a significant reduction of cultivated areas has been noted. Despite this, the existing plantations have seen their coppicing rotation become significantly lengthened, resulting in large quantities of biomass per hectare. This study aimed to identify the best raw material suitable for pellet production using whole trees or stems without branches from poplar plantations at the end of the third, sixth and ninth year of age. All types of pellets made reach the requirements of class A1 for diameter, length, moisture content, ash melting point, lower heating value, as well as nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), and heavy metals. None of the theses satisfied the bulk density parameters while for ashes and mechanical durability, a great variability was observed according to the different raw materials used. An improvement in terms of heating value was observed by transforming the poplar wood chips refined into pellets. The pelletizing process using high density poplar plantation as a raw material highlights the possibility of obtaining a product that meets many of the quality standards required on the market. These aspects are closely related to the innovation carried out in the agro-forestry sector for effective energetic sustainability.

Cocoon sorting is one of the most labor-demanding activities required both at the end of the agricultural production and before the industrial reeling process to obtain an excellent silk quality. In view of the possible relaunch of European sericulture, the automatization of this production step is mandatory both to reduce silk costs and to standardize fiber quality. The described research starts from this criticality in silk production (the manual labor required to divide cocoons into different quality classes) to identify amelioration solutions. To this aim, the automation of this activity was proposed, and a first prototype was designed and built. This machinery is based on the use of three cameras and imaging algorithms identifying the shape and size of the cocoons and outside stains, a custom-made light sensor and an AI model to discard dead cocoons. The current efficiency of the machine is about 80 cocoons per minute. In general, the amelioration obtained through this research involves both the application of traditional sensors/techniques to an unusual product and the design of a dedicated sensor for the identification of dead/alive pupae inside the silk cocoons. A general picture of the overall efficiency of the new cocoon-sorting prototype is also outlined.

Soil amendments (e.g., compost) require uniform incorporation in the soil profile to benefit plants. However, machines may not mix them uniformly throughout the upper soil layer commonly explored by plant roots. The study focuses on using image texture analysis to determine the level of mixing uniformity in the soil following the passage of two kinds of harrows. A 12.3-megapixel DX-format digital camera acquired images of soil/expanded polystyrene (in the laboratory) and soil/compost mixtures (in field conditions). In the laboratory, pictures captured the soil before and during the simulated progressive mixing of expanded polystyrene particles. In field conditions, images captured the exposed superficial horizons of compost-amended soil after the passage of a combined spike-tooth–disc harrow and a disc harrow. Image texture analysis based on the gray-level co-occurrence matrix calculated the sums of dissimilarity, contrast, entropy, and uniformity metrics. In the laboratory conditions, the progressive mixing resulted in increased image dissimilarity (from 1.15 ± 0.74 × 106 to 1.65 ± 0.52 × 106) and contrast values (from 2.69 ± 2.06 × 106 to 5.67 ± × 1.93 106), almost constant entropy (3.50 ± 0.25 × 106), and decreased image uniformity (from 6.65 ± 0.31 × 105 to 4.49 ± 1.36 × 105). Using a tooth-disc harrow in the open field resulted in higher dissimilarity, contrast, entropy (+73.3%, +62.8%, +16.3%), and lower image uniformity (−50.6%) than the disc harrow, suggesting enhanced mixing in the superficial layer.