Abstract
The BIO-C-VITE project explores the potential of biochar to enhance the productivity and sustainability of vineyard cultivation by improving soil fertility, increasing grape yield, preserving fruit quality, and enabling carbon sequestration. The main objective of the BIO-C-VITE project is to generate representative data on the health status of vineyard soils amended with biochar, based on medium- and long-term field trials involving different grapevine cultivars and rootstocks, pedo-climatic conditions, management practices, and biochar types and application rates. Soil health is assessed using standardized physico-chemical and biological indicators, alongside carbon modelling approaches that can inform policy development, particularly in relation to the new EU Common Agricultural Policy and other environmental strategies. Main Results: 1. To assess the potential of biochar to restore and enhance soil health in vineyards by analysing plant and soil data from medium- and long-term field trials conducted in four key wine-producing regions, using soil health indicators established by EC/FAO/OECD and agricultural policy frameworks. 2. To develop and validate biological indicators of soil health through the analysis of microbial communities and soil fauna endpoints. 3. To evaluate the environmental impact, ecosystem services, and socio-economic implications of biochar amendments, and to provide policy guidelines for sustainable soil management and the incentivization of best agricultural practices, based on Life Cycle Assessment.
Project details
Unibo Team Leader: Serena Righi
Unibo involved Department/s:
Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "Augusto Righi"
Coordinator:
Università degli Studi di PADOVA(Italy)
Total Unibo Contribution: Euro (EUR) 50.299,00
Project Duration in months: 24
Start Date:
12/10/2023
End Date:
28/02/2026
