From construction to diffusion of knowledge in agroecology
Author(s)
Cavalieri, Andrea
Date Issued
February 19, 2009
Type
Doctoral Thesis
Abstract
This doctoral project deals with the development of solutions to the need for actions, as suggested by the European Action Plan for Organic Food and Farming, to support the training and education of all stakeholders related to organic agriculture. In particular, ‘From construction to diffusion of knowledge in Agroecology’ is addressed to students, researchers and Institutions involved in the organic agriculture sector, and facing with weed control. In fact, among all plant production features, weed control still represents the bottle neck of the organic agriculture production system. For this reason, the work of thesis is made up and developed in two phases: a construction phase and a diffusion phase. The construction phase deals with the development of new solutions for organic weed control. The research has been centered on the possible use of essential oils for weed control in the phase of seed germination. Essential oils of lavender, cinnamon, peppermint and citronella, were tested in a scale up system on weed and crop seeds. The experiment was performed with controlled conditions (germination chamber) for temperature, humidity and light, as for the utilization of inert substrate such as filter paper into Petri dishes. These features allowed to check just the phytotoxic effect of compounds tested. In a second step, the research moved to semi controlled condition (green house). Light, humidity and the substrate utilized (loamy soil), made the experiment much closer to the natural environment which is characterized by more variability and biological activity and allowed to assess the real potentiality of the essential oils as bioherbicides. At the same time, experiments on the genotoxicity, bioconversion and biotransformation of essential oils were carried out. Results permitted to assert that essential oils are effective in reducing seed germination controlled conditions, while environmental factors and enzymatic and microbiological transformations make their application in the open field more difficult. Hence, further research is necessary to develop an appropriate technology of essential oils application. The diffusion phase could contribute to developing solutions to problems faced during the research. The diffusion phase, in fact, deals with the design and management of an E-Learning platform. The aim of an E-Learning platform is in this case to contributing to create a dynamic community of students, researchers and stakeholders with a focus on weed control in organic farming. This telematic “tool” can boost and improve communication and interaction between learners. In fact, while internet gives free
access to huge stores of information, E-Learning is structured and designed to support users in the task of turning information into knowledge. In this way, it should be possible to develop a common base of knowledge starting with research results and then promoting dialogue in learning groups to be extended to external and potential users, such as external networks of teachers and researchers in private institutions and agricultural Universities involved and willing to improve the organic agriculture sector either at national or international level.
Additional information
Dottorato di ricerca in Scienze ambientali
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