Distribution of metals in several vineyards of North Italy: from soil to wine

Nowadays we live in densely populated regions and this leads to many environmental issues. Among all pollutants that human activities originate, metals are relevant because they can be potentially toxic for most of living beings. We studied the fate of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in a vineyard environment analysing samples of plant, wine and soil. Sites were chosen considering the type of wine produced, the type of cultivation (both organic and conventional agriculture) and the geographic location. We took vineyards that cultivate the same grape variety, the Trebbiano). We investigated 5 vineyards located in the Ravenna district (Italy): two on the Lamone Valley slopes, one in the area of river-bank deposits near Ravenna city, then a farm near Lugo and one near Bagnacavallo in interfluve regions. We carried out a very detailed characterization of soils in the sites, including the analysis of: pH, electric conductivity, texture, total carbonate and extimated content of dolomite, active carbonate, iron from ammonium oxalate, Iron Deficiency Chlorosis Index (IDCI), total nitrogen and organic carbon, available phosphorous, available potassium and Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC). Then we made the analysis of the bulk chemical composition and a DTPA extraction to determine the available fraction of elements in soils. All the sites have proper ground to cultivate, with already a good amount of nutrients, such as not needing strong fertilisations, but a vineyard on hills suffers from iron deficiency chlorosis due to the high level of active carbonate. We found some soils with much silica and little calcium oxide that confirm the marly sandstone substratum, while other soils have more calcium oxide and more aluminium oxide that confirm the argillaceous marlstone substratum. We found some critical situations, such as high concentrations of Chromium, especially in the farm near Lugo, and we noticed differences between organic vineyards and conventional ones: the conventional ones have a higher enrichment in soils of some metals (Copper and Zinc). Each metal accumulates differently in every single part of grapevines. We found differences between hill plants and lowland ones: behaviors of plants in metal accumulations seems to have patterns. Metals are more abundant in barks, then in leaves or sometimes in roots. Plants seem trying to remove excesses of metal storing them in bark. Two wines have excess of acetic acid and one conventional farm produces wine with content of Zinc over the Italian law limit. We already found evidence of high values relating them with uncontaminated environments, but more investigations are suggested to link those values to their anthropogenic supplies.

Analisi idrogeologica dell'area carsica dei Monti Alburni (Salerno, Campania)

The Alburni Massif is the most important karstic area in southern Italy and It contains about 250 caves. Most of these caves are located on the plateau, between 1500 m a.s.l. and 700 m a.s.l., and only a few reach the underground streams that feed the springs and the deep aquifer. The main springs are Grotta di Pertosa-Auletta (CP1) and Auso spring (CP31), both located at 280 m a.s.l., the first on the south-eastern margin whereas the second on south-west margin, and the springs present in Castelcivita area, the Castelcivita-Ausino system (CP2) and Mulino di Castelcivita spring (CP865), located at 60 m a.s.l.. Some other secondary springs are present too. We have monitored Pertosa-Auletta’s spring with a multiparameter logger. This logger has registered data from November 2014 to December 2015 regarding water level, electric conductivity and temperature. The hydrodynamic monitoring has been supported by a sampling campaign in order to obtain chemical water analyses. The work was done from August 2014 to December 2015, not only at Pertosa but also at all the other main springs, and in some caves. It was possible to clarify the behavior of Pertosa-Auletta’s spring, almost exclusively fed by full charge conduits, only marginally affected by seasonal rains. Pertosa-Auletta showed a characteristic Mg/Ca ratio and Mg2+ enrichment, as demonstrated by its saturation index that always showed a dolomite saturation. All other spring have characteristic waters from a chemical point of view. In particular, it highlights the great balance between the components dissolved in the waters of Mulino’ spring opposed to the variability of the nearby Castelcivita-Ausino spring. Regarding the Auso spring the variable behavior in terms of discharge and chemistry is confirmed, greatly influenced by rainfall and, during drought periods, by full charge conduits. Rare element concentrations were also analyzed and allowed to characterize further the different waters. Based on all these data an updated hydrogeological map of the Alburni massif has been drawn, that defines in greater detail the hydrogeological complexes on the basis of lithologies, and therefore of their chemical characteristics.