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Del lavoro degli altri cerco di capitalizzarne lesperienza, facendone tesoro attraverso un processo teso esclusivamente ad arricchire la mia conoscenza, e senza altro fine se non quello di \"imparare come si fa\". Per quanto mi riguarda prediligo allestire una vera e propria \"messa in prova\", da osservare in diverse ore del giorno e in diverse condizioni di tempo atmosferico, che mi permetta di verificare quale sara la sua reazione vera alla luce. Credo che luso consapevole dei materiali, di certi materiali, sia un modo di superare il tempo. Da questo humus nascono nuovi alberi. Il grande processo connaturato al materiale costruttivo, che e sempre stato caratterizzato e risolto nella continuity tra la struttura materica del suolo e la struttura interna propria della costruzione (la pietra che diventa concio, il tufo che diventa blocco, l'argilla che diventa mattone) ha trovato brusca interruzione. L'abuso materico e il blocco nella catena di trasmissione delle tecniche, un tempo connesse alle specificity di ciascun luogo di provenienza, hanno cosi stimolato ingenue adesioni alle proposte piü commerciali che non rappresentano nemmeno una evoluzione per contrasto. Questa idea la possiamo verificare continuamente, perché le grandi opere del passato sono di fronte a noi concrete e fatali, compiute nella loro lezione teorica e nella loro fisicita; ma anche disponibili per natura a far parte di un altro tempo, perfino del nostro tempo. Credo che questa sia una distinzione interessante proprio perché ci pone di fronte ad un problema di scelta in fase di progetto: a mio avviso persistente e piü interessante di preesistente, proprio perché nella persistenza possiamo rinvenire la misura. Costruzione V.U. Credo che Lei sia un architetto molto poetico, proprio perché molto concreto.

Annual estimates of CO.sub.2 and dissolved carbon concentrations in the soil profile provide valuable insight into the dynamics of organic matter in soil and the effect of changes to vegetation cover. The aim of this study was to observe the spatial influence of litter decomposition in the first few centimeters of the soil for CO.sub.2 fluxes and to describe the processing of soil organic matter throughout the soil profile by comparing three small tropical watersheds. Data were collected biweekly for six months, from December 2015 to May 2016. CO.sub.2 was measured using an infrared gas analyzer in fixed chambers and the dissolved carbon of soil solution was analyzed in a TOC analyzer. No differences were found in the total soil CO.sub.2 fluxes (control flux treatments) between the three study areas. In both cacao agroforestry systems (managed and unmanaged), total CO.sub.2 fluxes were influenced by the decomposition of litter. CO.sub.2 emissions in the soil profile of the cacao agroforestry systems were highly variable, compared to the preserved forest, and highly dependent on the soil characteristics attributed to the type of vegetation cover. Although a definite pattern between the temperature and soil moisture was not identified, these parameters showed a strong relationship in controlling the release of CO.sub.2 between treatments. The organic and inorganic dissolved carbon patterns in the soil solution of the three areas revealed different responses of soil organic matter processing related to soil characteristics and vegetation. The results confirm the hypothesis that the top of soils (total CO.sub.2 fluxes) of both cacao agroforestry systems (managed and unmanaged) emits fluxes of CO.sub.2, which do not differ statistically from the preserved forest. However, depending on the soil characteristics, the cacao agroforestry system can result in an accumulation of CO.sub.2 and dissolved inorganic carbon in the soil profile that is prone to being transported by hydrological routes to groundwater and stream water.

Removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere is a major challenge for today’s society. A great source of potential for greenhouse gas sequestration is beneath our feet: agricultural soil. By accumulating soil organic carbon in soil, farmers can sequester carbon dioxide and simultaneously reach soils more resilient to extreme weather events. To encourage farmers to build up humus and thus sequester carbon, some humus programmes have been developed by non-governmental organisations. In this regard, action-based reward systems are on their way to challenging the established results-based approaches. Against this background, we analyse how action-based and results-based approaches, as well as other crucial features of humus programmes, affect farmers’ willingness to participate in a humus programme. We conducted a Discrete-Choice-Experiment and analysed it using a mixed logit model. The results show that farmers have a statistically significant preference for action-based humus programmes, shorter programme durations, higher incentives, and an annual and government-funded payment. More specifically, farmer participation is twice as likely if humus formation is rewarded for action rather than results. The willingness-to-accept calculation indicates that a results-based humus programme would cost the funding agency about €20 more per ton of carbon dioxide sequestered in the soil. Above all, humus programmes with an action-based approach and annual payments would increase farmers’ willingness to participate. Our results contribute to the development of targeted humus programmes and policies to increase carbon sequestration in agricultural soils.

The aim of the study was to determine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content in different forest humus types. The investigation was carried out in Chrzanów Forest District in southern Poland. Twenty research plots with different humus types (mor and mull) were selected. The samples for analysis were taken after litter horizons removing from a depth of 0–10 cm (from the Of- and Oh-horizon total or A-horizon). pH, organic carbon and total nitrogen content, base cations, acidity, and heavy metal content were determined. In the natural moisture state, the activity of dehydrogenase was determined. The study included the determination of PAH content. The conducted research confirms strong contamination of study soil by PAHs and heavy metals. Our experiment provided evidence that different forest humus types accumulate different PAH amounts. The highest content of PAHs and heavy metals was recorded in mor humus type. The content of PAHs in forest humus horizon depends on the content and quality of soil organic matter. Weaker degradation of hydrocarbons is associated with lower biological activity of soils. The mull humus type showed lower content of PAHs and at the same time the highest biological activity confirmed by high dehydrogenase activity.

Microbial shikimic acid is an important intermediate metabolite in the synthesis of aromatic amino acids which are precursors for forming humus during composting process. Generally, the pathways producing shikimic acid and its downstream products are collectively referred as shikimic acid pathway (SKP). Microbial SKP can produce phenols, and tyrosine. Pyrogallol is the precursor of phenols. And, tyrosine can form an ammoniated monomer. Therefore, regulation of SKP can promote shikimic acid production, which is beneficial in promoting humus production and humification. However, SKP present in microbial cells is distinctive because of providing precursors for humification process, which needs to be recognized during composting. Due to the different structures of various organic wastes, it is difficult to control the SKP efficiency and shikimic acid production. Therefore, it is valuable to review the synthesis of shikimic acid by microorganisms and propose how to promote SKP during different materials composting. Furthermore, we have attempted to illustrate the application of metabolites from SKP in forming humus during organic waste composting. Finally, a series of regulating methods has been outlined to enhance microbial SKP, which are effective to promote humus aromatization and to improve humus formation during different materials composting.

This study investigates the effects of the 2018 Vaia windstorm on the evolution of humus profiles in forest soils of the north-eastern Italian Alps five years after the disturbance. The humipedon in five soil conditions was compared: intact forest (IF) and permanent meadow (M) for undisturbed soils, and soil under herbaceous cover (G), under dead wood (W), and bare soil (B) for windthrow-affected areas. No difference in pH and soil organic matter content (SOM) emerged within the same soil horizon between IF and windthrow-affected soils. When compared to IF, however, in G and B, a thinning of all O horizons (OL, OF, and OH) was detected, resulting in SOM loss and an increase in pH in the top 15 cm of the humipedon, conditions approaching the values found in M. Amphi was the most frequently occurring humus system in IF, with a shift towards a Mull system observed in all windthrow-affected soils—a shift more marked in G and B, approaching M conditions, but less marked in W, where the O horizon remained thicker. This study underscores the importance of considering soil heterogeneity and humus dynamics when assessing forest recovery and resilience after a severe disturbance.

Farmers can counteract global warming by drawing carbon dioxide from the air into agricultural soils by building up humus. Humus programs were developed to motivate farmers for even more humus formation (= carbon sequestration) through an additional financial incentive. These programs are still at an early stage of development, which is why the number of participating farmers and research work is still low. This study is the first to analyze the willingness of German farmers to participate in hypothetical humus programs. The results of a discrete choice experiment show that a (higher) threshold for the payout of the premium, regional (rather than field-specific) reference values, and the risk of repayment clearly discourage farmers from participating. Program providers must more than double the premium (set at around 240 € per hectare and 0.1% humus increase) to maintain farmers’ willingness to participate despite a payout threshold. Regional reference values and an additional premium/repayment system would lead to an increase in the premium of around 20 € per hectare in order to keep the willingness to participate at the same level. The motivation to build up humus, the desire to maximize subsidies, and a higher livestock density have a positive influence on farmers’ decision to participate. Farm size and risk attitude have an impact on farmers’ preferences for program design. The study is relevant for policymakers and non-governmental organizations concerned with carbon management, as our findings highlight pathways for efficient, targeted designs of humus programs and carbon sequestration policies.

Aims Although plant–microbial interactions are essential to sustain terrestrial ecosystem functions, root–microbial interactions remain poorly understood. Therefore, understanding how functional trait diversity of fine roots mediates soil microbial diversity and composition provides insightful information to maintain forest ecosystem functions. Methods A total of 87 plots with 1–12 tree species richness gradient in three subtropical secondary forests were selected. Functional trait diversity (functional dispersion, FDis, and community-weighted mean, CWM) of fine roots was quantified. Soil microbial diversity and community composition were analyzed by high-throughput Illumina sequencing. Results Bacterial and fungal richness was primarily predicted by CWM of root diameter (CWM_diam) in the humus horizon, but by FDis of specific root length (FDis_SRL) in the mineral horizon. Microbial community composition in two soil horizons increased with FDis_SRL, including the abundance of copiotrophic bacteria (r-strategists, e.g., Proteobacteria , Actinobacteria ), Chloroflexi , saprotrophs and pathogens. FDis_SRL was also indirectly mediated microbial richness and composition via decreasing carbon:nitrogen ratio and increasing pH, total nitrogen, total and available phosphorus contents. Conclusions Overall, functional trait diversity of fine roots plays a pivotal role in mediating soil microbial richness and community composition in subtropical secondary forests. These results deepen our understanding of the important role of plant–microbial interactions in terrestrial biogeochemical processes.

It was time to take stock. We modified the humipedon classification key published in 2018 to make it easier and more practical. This morpho-functional taxonomy of the topsoil (humipedon) was only available in English; we also translated it into French and Italian. A standardized morpho-functional classification of humipedons (roughly the top 30–40 cm of soil: organic and organomineral surface horizons) would allow for a better understanding of the functioning of the soil ecosystem. This paper provides the founding principles of the classification of humipedon into humus systems and forms. With the recognition of a few diagnostic horizons, all humus systems can be determined. The humus forms that make up these humus systems are revealed by measuring the thicknesses of the diagnostic horizons. In the final part of the article, several figures represent the screenshots of a mobile phone or tablet application that allows for a fast recall of the diagnostic elements of the classification in the field. The article attempts to promote a standardized classification of humipedons for a global and shared management of soil at planet level.

A probabilistic assessment of spatial variability of humus content in soils in the river basin system and ravine catchment as its component was carried out using pedotransfer models of humus accumulation. The parameters of relationship between natural and anthropogenic factors, and the natural potential of ordinary chernozem in steppe agrolandscapes using a basin approach were obtained. To reveal the peculiarities of the spatial distribution of humus in soils of the Aidar River basin confined to its upper, middle and lower reaches within the boundaries of the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR), the statistical analysis of data from two tours of a large-scale survey (1970 and 2011) was performed, the long-term dynamics of humus content was revealed, statistically probabilistic situations were analyzed, a schematic map of modern spatial distribution of humus content was compiled, and the probability of its manifestation in various units of the river basin → ravine catchment system was estimated. The principles of studying natural factors in pedotransfer models of soil formation include consistent mathematical and statistical analysis using GIS technologies and calculations in the following thematic stages: (1) determination of dependencies of humus content and natural potential of ordinary chernozem in steppe agrolandscapes on particle-size distribution, soil profile thickness, terrain elevation a.s.l., and the specific features of territory moistening expressed by the hydrothermal index for different seasons of the year in the northern steppe; (2) formation of pedotransfer models for determining the humus content and natural potential of humus reserves in ordinary chernozem. Nonlinear pedotransfer models allow us to calculate the humus content in soils depending on the entire range of values (minimum, average, maximum) and, taking into account the leading factors, to construct an optimization surface for the relationship between humus content and natural factors.