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4In Europe, farmers prefer the very Short Rotation Coppice (vSRC) cultivation model, with a 5 very high plant density (5500-14000 p ha -1 ) and a harvesting cycle of 1-4 years; while in Italy, 6 recently, the farmers prefer the Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) method, with a high plant 7 density (1000-2000 p ha -1 ) and a harvesting cycle of 5-7 years. This is because the most recent 8 poplar hybrids have enhanced productivity and improved the biomass quality (calorific 9 value), as a result of a better wood/bark ratio. 10In order to evaluate, from the energy and economic point of view, a poplar SRC, in the river 11 Po Valley, an ad hoc study was made and a specific model was developed. 12On the basis of this cultivation technique, an energy and economic evaluation of a poplar SRC

This study assessed spray drift generated by sprayer settings commonly used for pesticide application in poplar plantations (Populus spp.). Tests were conducted per the ISO 22866 methodology using a mounted air-assisted sprayer (Tifone VRP600) equipped with a swivel-cannon air conveyor (model Cannone 50S). Trials evaluated sprayer settings, combinations of nozzle types, airflow rates, and air direction in both adult and young poplar plantations. Overall, spray drift amounts registered downwind of poplar plantations were less than those obtained to derive reference drift curves during the EU Plant Protection Product registration process that used late-growth-stage fruit crops. In the adult poplar plantation, Venturi nozzles (TVI 8004 red) yielded the highest drift reductions compared to reference sprayer setting, especially at distances farthest from the sprayed area (86% between 40 and 47m). Highest total drift reductions were achieved when conventional nozzles (1.81mm ceramic disc-core) were combined with their spray direction modified for an inclined cannon spray unit. Alternatively, the young poplar plantation showed no drift reduction for distances farthest from the sprayed area, regardless of sprayer settings, which likely resulted from lower foliage density and widely-spaced rows. Yet, both Venturi nozzles combined with high fan flow rates and conventional nozzles combined with reduced fan flow rate showed total spray drift reductions of over 70% within the downwind sampling area. These experimental results represent the first set of data on spray drift amounts in poplar plantations, which is key for defining the reference curves and best practices to reduce spray drift in tall tree plantations.

7The air stream generated by the fan of pneumatic seeders -necessary to create a depression in the 8 sowing element of the machine and to guarantee correct seed deposition -can blow away solid 9 particles that have been detached from the seeds. In this study, experimental tests were carried out 10 to evaluate the performance of technical solutions by seeder producers to limit dust drift. A specific 11 test methodology has been developed to assess sowing machine performance. 12The tested technologies that convey the air to the soil, independent of their design, resulted in seed 13 particle drift to be reduced by more than 60% compared to a conventional machine with the fan 14 outlet oriented upwards. Particle drift was reduced by more than 70% if only an area between 5 and 15 20 m downwind the machine border was considered. This study has shown that the use of an 16 appropriate design can reduce the dispersion of toxic substances in the atmosphere during seeding 17 and that the methodology developed to carry out the trials could be used for seeder dust dispersion 18 classification. 19 20

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6The main problem with firewood production is the same as for other wood biofuels: storage. Usually, firewood is stored in logwood. The goal of this study was to determine the drying storage 8 dynamics of logwood used for firewood production under the typical work conditions forest 9 practise of southern Europe. Storage dynamics were evaluated for two different forestry tree species 10(poplar and black locust) with logwood disposed in uncovered piles for a period of 180 days 11 (March-September). In this study, the effect of the diameter of logs and their position inside the pile 12 on wood drying was evaluated. In each treatment This evaluation was performed considering the 13 main key drying physical parameters were monitored -temperature (T), moisture content (MC), 14heating value (HV) and dry matter (DM). 15The study found that initial values of key parameters were different for both forestry species, but at