Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
and an average temperature of 8.7 °C. Since 1986, the watershed has been equipped
with meteorological stations and instrumentation in order to monitor hydrometri-
cal heights and river discharge. Components of the hydrological balance are studied
since 1994 in forest structures characterized by different thinning regimes. Since
1999, the effect of different fire types on soil erosion and hydrology is also studied.
The flux stations have been established in 2003 over 35 years-old pine plantation
(1,175 m.a.s.l.) with 637 trees ha
−
1
. Mean diameter and height are 29.3 cm and
20 m, respectively, with a basal area of 45.4 m
2
ha
−
1
. In 2006, all sided Leaf Area
Index (LAI) was 6.55 0.18. Substrate is granite and soils are Ultic Haploxeralfs.
2.2.4 Borgo Cioffi (IT-BCi)
The Borgo Cioffi monitoring site has been running since July 2002 on a arable field
located on Gaetano Iemma's farm (Eboli, Salerno, 40.52375° N; 14.95744° E),
covering a total area of 150 ha in the centre of the Sele river Plain, an alluvial plain
featuring an intensive and high income agricultural activity. The station is located
about 20 m.a.s.l., which can be found south-west at a distance of about 5 km. The
16 ha field, in which all the experimental activities are carried out, is surrounded
by irrigated land, has no aerodynamic obstacles in the vicinity of the boundaries
able to influence the vertical profiles of atmospheric properties and it is irrigated by
means of an automatic central pivot system.
The farm hosts a water buffalo operation with over 800 adult cattle, and the
fields have been cultivated for decades to forage crops (alfalfa, winter and spring
grass, corn silage) and winter vegetables (fennel, cauliflower). Solid and liquid
manure are frequently applied at high rates.
The station is located approximately in the centre of the field, featuring an
approximately rectangular shape with sides of 270 and 600 m. The fetch in the
prevailing wind directions, south-west and north-east, is about 200 m. The slope is
almost flat with a 2 % downward gradient towards the south.
The soil, classified as a Calcic Kastanozem Skeletic (FAO
2008
) and derived
from calcium carbonate parent rock, boasts an alluvial origin and features a silt-
clay texture.
2.2.5 Castellaro (IT-Cas)
The site is located in Lomellina, a typical rural area of the Po Valley in Northern
Italy, in the municipality of Torre Beretti and Castellaro (Pavia) (45.07005° N;
8.71752° E, 88 m.a.s.l.). The ield extends for 400 700 m and it has been culti-
vated with hybrid corn (
Zea mais
L., variety pioneer for silage production) in 2006
and with rice from 2007 to 2010. The rice cultivar was Balilla (japonica rice short
grain), a typical management cycle starts with 25 cm deep ploughing in January,
