My PhD research is focused on nitrogen use efficiency in cauliflower intercropped and in succession with other vegetable species in a mountain environment. The study aimed to understand how the cauliflower affects the yield of the other species, and how sustainable the intercropping system is in terms of nitrogen-fertilizer use. For the latter scope, different sources of fertilizer both mineral and organic were tested and an analysis of the optimal fertilizer rate needed to reach high yields has been made. Different remote sensing tools were compared to assess the relationship between vegetation indices and the crop nutritional status. In addition, the study included the application of the isotopic technique through the use of 15-N enriched fertilizer. The purpose is investigate the fate of nitrogen incorporated in crop residues of both cauliflower and other intercropped species.

Remote sensing application on vegetable crops. I am testing different devices such as a hyperspectral camera mounted on a drone and a handheld spectroradiometer to investigate the nutritional status of cauliflower. The main task consist of investigating the existing relationship among leaves light reflectance, cholorphyll, and nitrogen uptake of the crop. The observed crop has been cultivated in succession to a leguminous species so that it could exploit the N2 fixation of the latter, reducing the need for external nitrogen fertilizer.

Farm Audit on fresh products for the compliance to the Standard GLOBALGAPSupport to Administration Area for GLOBALGAP Certification SchemeSupport to Training/Formation AreaTranslations Italian -> English of:- Procedures NSF-CMi for the certification scheme GLOBALGAP IFA & Approved Modified Checklist Version 4.0- Tesco NURTURE certification scheme

Remotely controlled spectroradiometers and fluorimeter testing in order to detect water and nutritional stresses in soilless grown lettuce transplants. My work aimed to select fluorescence and reflectance vegetation indices able to discriminate different nitrogen and water status on lettuce grown in a greenhouse environment.Optimization of the fertilization management was the main target.Devices used: Mini Multispectral Camera (Tetracam Inc.), Multiplex (Force-A), ASD FieldSpec Pro (ASD inc.).