Marco Fontanelli

• From 20/12/2011 Researcher at the Sezione Meccanica Agraria e Meccanizzazione Agricola (DAGA) of Dipartimento di Agronomia e Gestione dell’Agroecosistema (DAGA), University of Pisa (UP), Scientific Topic AGR/09, Farm machinery;
• From 01/10/2010 to 19/12/2011 grant researcher at Sezione MAMA del DAGA (UP), title of the grant “Advanced systems for the production of low water and energy requirement warm season turf-grass species”;
• From 01/03/2010 to 30/09/2010 grant researcher at Sezione MAMA del DAGA (UP), title of the grant “Physical weed control in warm-season turf-grass species”.
• From 15/06/2009 to 15/01/2010 grant researcher at Sezione MAMA del DAGA (UP), title of the grant “Physical weed control in urban and sub-urban areas of the Municipality of San Giuliano Terme”.
• August 2009, “visiting post-Doc grant researcher” presso l’Haskell Agricultural Laboratory, University of Nebraska (USA), supervisor Prof. Stevan Knezevic, in order to improve the knowledge in software R for statistical analysis innovative means for physical weed control.
• 2006-2008: PhD in Agro-Forestry Engineering (cycle XXI), specific topic “Farm Mechanization in organic and integrated farming systems” at Sezione MAMA del DAGA (UP) (associated institution) and Dipartimento di Ingegneria Agro-Forestale (DIAF) dell’Università degli Studi di Firenze (administrative institution). Supervisor Prof. Andrea Peruzzi. Title of the PhD thesis “Targeted distribution of activated steam for soil weed seedbank control”. PhD defended successfully on 16/03/2009.
• May-August 2008: Holder of a three month grant for internal mobility within the (2007-2010) Network of Excellence “Endure” (6th Framework programme, priority 5: “Food Quality and Security”) at DJF Research Centre, Flakkebjerg, University of Aarhus (DK), supervisor Senior Scientist Bo Melander.
• 2005: Holder of a research grant entitled “Optimization of machines for activated soil steaming and evaluation of its effects on weed seedbank” at Sezione MAMA del DAGA, funded by the PRIN national project entitled “Steam and Exothermic compounds, a low environmental alternative to methyle bromide for soil disinfection/disinfestation” (Supervisor Prof. Andrea Peruzzi).
• December 2004 - January 2005: Contract researcher at Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerche Agro-Ambientali (CIRAA) “Enrico Avanzi” (UP).
• May 2004: Master degree in Agricultural Sciences (full marks) at the Faculty of Agriculture (UP), thesis entitled “Weed management in organic pigeon bean (Vicia faba var. minor): effects of crop spatial arrangement and physical weed control treatments” (Supervisor Prof. Paolo Barberi, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna di Studi Universitari e di Perfezionamento di Pisa).
Research topics and activities:
• Physical weed (non-chemical) weed control in vegetable and arable crops, in urban and suburban areas and on ornamental/nursery crops;
• Low environmental impact soil disinfection;
• Conservation tillage;
• Low environmental impact poultry grow-out facilities;
• Physical sucker and weed control in vineyards;
• Mechanization of nursery, planting and post-planting management of warm-season turf-grasses;
• Prototype of an autonomous ground mobile unit for “precision” physical weed control in maize.