.png)
As part of the project, promoted by Italia Ortofrutta - National Union of Fruit and Vegetable Producers and the scientific responsibility of the Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences at the University of Perugia, good practices for sustainable hazelnut orchard management, optimizing the use of inputs such as water, fertilizers and pesticides, will be identified using digital precision agriculture tools.
The project, co-funded by 7 Hazelnut Producer Organizations such as AOA, AGRINOLA, ASPROCOR, COPRONT, CPN, ECOLAZIO, and EURONOCCIOLA, involves the establishment of four experimental fields where tests comparing precision and ordinary farming systems will be carried out. The fields have been made available by four Producer Organizations (POs) in areas located in the main national coril-growing areas-Lazio, Campania and Piedmont.
xFarm Technologies, the tech company that aims to digitize the agribusiness sector, is participating in the applied research project on hazel product as a technical partner.
The project started in early 2024, with the first stages of installation of the sensors, provided by xFarm Technologies, needed to conduct the experimental trials: professional weather station, leaf wetness sensor, bug trap, volumetric soil sensor, and automated and remote irrigation management. The ultimate goal will be to calibrate and validate agronomic and phytopathological models to provide POs with concrete tools, best practices, and validated and replicable protocols to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of hazelnut groves.
To do this, in addition to the sensors, under the supervision of the scientific body, the agronomic management platform xFarm, comprising the five modules Irrigation, Insect, Agrometeor, Satellite and Defense, whose predictive models and DSS will be put to the test during the experiments, was used by the pilot farms.
Within each Producer Organization, data from routinely managed crops will be compared with the results obtained within the plots where hazelnut cultivation takes place according to the directions given by the scientific body and taking advantage of the platform. "In the plots where Precision Agriculture techniques will be applied, irrigation will be managed remotely through the return of water volumes based on the real needs of the crop and specific soil conditions by applying the evapotranspirative balance. Through the help of sensors in the field, it will be possible to feed the DSS with crop context-specific data and constantly monitor the water status of the soil." - says Vincenzo Tommaseo, Agronomic Product Manager at xFarm Technologies.
Instead, fertilization management will take place through a fertilization plan based on the macronutrient balance (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) drawn up in collaboration between xFarm Technologies and OP technicians, and with the scientific supervision and coordination of theUniversity of Perugia. Fertilization should be able to meet the needs of the crop, depending on the soil endowment, the age of the planting, the type of fertilizer distribution, avoiding nutritional imbalances, also with the help of satellite images for the creation of prescription maps for precision fertilizer distribution. "The use of the Satellite module will also allow the creation of prescription maps for variable rate fertilization, with the aim of saving costs, increasing yields and reducing waste and impact on the environment."- adds Alessandro Bucciarelli, Head of Agronomic Products & R&D.
In terms of how to defend the crop against insects, thanks to the pheromone trap for catching and counting hazelnut bugs, and the use of the forecasting model based on GDDs (Growing Degree Days), it will be possible to intervene on infestations in a timely manner. Doing so will limit the use of plant protection products, increasing the effectiveness of interventions, with positive effects on the organoleptic qualities of the harvested product, which will be free of the defects caused by bug attacks.
Also in collaboration with the University of Perugia, an experimental protocol will be developed for the purpose of creating a forecasting model to support decisions in protection strategy against phytopathologies. The protocol will be applied, for the purpose of collecting data on the crop, on the target pathogens, Hazel Tree Powdery mild ew(Phyllactinia corylicola) and Stacco disease(Cytospora corylicola), and on the macro and micro climatic parameters of the production areas. Three rounds of experimentation over the three years will be required to collect the data needed for calibration and validation of the phytopathological models.
"The project represents a change of pace for Italia Ortofrutta's corilicultural P.O.'s, which, aware of their role as lead enterprises, intend to evolve hazelnut cultivation in a more environmentally friendly way," says Vincenzo Falconi director of Italia Ortofrutta . " In fact, through the project, the P.O.'s will be able to reduce the main inputs used in hazelnut cultivation ."
"Holding scientific responsibility for this project allows us to transfer our know-how and innovations directly to manufacturing companies in the interest of the entire industry," says Prof. Alessandra Vinci of the University of Perugia.
.svg)
