How to choose and characterize an experimental area

To ensure that the DEMETRA DSS solution is consistent with the problem of farmers in the ZVNs and institutions, an intense experimentation activity was carried on experimental areas: let’s find out how an experimental area is chosen and characterized.

PHASE 1: Identification of the object of study and the context

Before selecting experimental areas, companies and crops, it is necessary to understand the problem and the current situation on the territory.

To do so, all preliminary studies (task 3.1) related to legislation, documentation and data collection have been completed.

PHASE 2: Mapping of the critical areas at a regional level

Thanks to the preliminary study of the PAN Puglia, it was possible to identify the critical areas of the territory and map them.
The mapping of critical areas includes collecting information relating to the environmental (from a climatic, geological and hydrological point of view) and agricultural framework (territorial analysis, farms and crops, organic agriculture) of the main Apulian provinces.

Sampling sites identified in important regional agricultural areas, in collaboration with the project partners

STEP 3: Selection of sites for monitoring

Selecting an experimental area is based on the collection of technical-agronomic information, during the technical inspections.

Companies are asked to provide important data like main characteristics of the wells, crops and agronomic systems.

Collected information are then processed in order to choose the sites with the greatest scientific and agronomic interest and to characterize them

PHASE 4: Characterization of the experimental areas

The last stage consists in describing the experimental areas chosen, through the data collected.

This phase is fundamental to plan the agronomic monitoring, the chemical and biomolecular analyzes that will be carried out and to correctly calibrate the DSS.