Soil Science, Agronomy and Crop Science, Spectroscopy
20
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Pedological classification systems as carriers of functional information in terroir interpretation and the formalization of the SCORE-V factorial framework Paola Bambina Geoderma, 2026 • Soil classification systems are interpreted as carriers of functional pedological information. • Taxonomic criteria are linked to soil functional attributes relevant to vine performance. • Terroir is formalised as a factorial system of interacting state factors. • The SCORE-V framework extends Jenny’s state-factor logic to terroir science. • SCORE-V provides a transferable conceptual structure for comparative terroir analysis. Understanding how soil variability contributes to wine composition remains a central challenge in terroir science. Although soil classification is widely applied in land evaluation and international data harmonization, its potential to encode functionally relevant edaphic conditions has been only marginally explored in viticultural contexts. This study investigates whether taxonomic descriptors from two major soil classification systems, WRB and Soil Taxonomy, capture pedological information that relates to wine metabolomic profiles. Eight vineyard soils from a Mediterranean wine district were characterized, classified, and linked to the chemical composition of the corresponding wines using multivariate statistical approaches. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) revealed that specific soil descriptors, particularly those associated with horizon architecture, physical behaviour, and secondary carbonate accumulation, account for structured variation in phenolic and aromatic composition. These results indicate that soil classification systems act as carriers of functional information, reflecting pedogenetic attributes that influence grapevine metabolism. In addition, the study introduces SCORE-V, a conceptual factorial model that formalizes the combined influence of Soil, Climate, Organisms, Relief, Ecosystem history, and Viti-vinicultural factors on wine composition. Inspired by Jenny’s state-factor model of soil formation, SCORE-V provides a theoretical scaffold for integrating pedological and viticultural knowledge into a unified interpretation of terroir. By bridging soil classification, metabolomics, and multivariate modelling, this work contributes to a process-based understanding of terroir and offers a foundation for future predictive frameworks supporting site-specific viticultural strategies.
Dose-Dependent Effects of Biochar on Soil Revealed by Fast Field-Cycling (FFC) NMR: From Molecular Water Dynamics to Soil Functionality Calogero Librici, Paola Bambina, Ettore Madonia, Veronica Ciaramitano, Delia Francesca Chillura Martino, Paolo Lo Meo, Pellegrino Conte Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry, 2026 Biochar is a multifunctional soil amendment that improves soil structure, enhances water‐holding capacity, and contributes to carbon sequestration. However, the dose–response relationship between biochar addition and soil behavior remains underexplored, particularly at high application rates. In this study, fifteen soil–biochar mixtures were prepared with biochar mass fractions from 0 to 1 ( f BC = 0–1) to evaluate in detail the changes induced in a Sicilian clay soil. The mixtures were investigated for pH, electrical conductivity, bulk density, water‐holding capacity, and water activity (Aw). Biochar addition caused pronounced increases in alkalinity, porosity, and water retention, following nonlinear dose–response trends with clear thresholds beyond f BC ≈ 0.3–0.5. FT‐IR spectroscopy revealed the progressive appearance of oxygenated and aromatic functional groups, accompanied by a reduction in signals from adsorbed water and native soil polar groups. Fast Field‐Cycling NMR relaxometry provided molecular‐scale insight into soil–water interactions. At high biochar contents, water proton T 1 relaxation times were markedly lengthened, indicating a reduced overall efficiency of surface‐driven relaxation. Correlation‐time ( τ c ) analysis further revealed the emergence of water populations with longer correlation times and a redistribution of relaxation pathways toward outer‐sphere dominated mechanisms. Overall, the results indicate that biochar improves soil water retention not by strong surface adsorption but through effective pore‐space storage, keeping water available for biological use. The combined spectroscopic and relaxometric approach establishes a direct link between molecular‐level water dynamics and macroscopic soil properties, highlighting the value of FFC‐NMR as a powerful tool for studying natural porous systems.
Predicting Soil Electrical Conductivity of Saturated Paste Extract Using Pedotransfer Functions in Northeastern Tunisia Oumayma Hmidi, Feyda Srarfi, Nadhem Brahim, Paola Bambina, Giuseppe Lo Papa Sustainability Switzerland, 2025 Soil electrical conductivity is a key indicator of soil salinity and sustainability, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Accurate estimation of EC is essential for managing soil salinity and ensuring crop productivity. Five pedotransfer functions (PTFs) were developed and evaluated for predicting electrical conductivity in a saturated paste extract using soil parameters, such as particle size analysis, pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity, and electrical conductivity in a 1:5 soil-to-water extract, in agricultural soils of northern Tunisia. The accuracy of each PTF was systematically evaluated. PTF1 represented an R2 value of 0.85, PTF2 showed an R2 of 0.71 for the stepwise regression model, PTF3 achieved an R2 of 0.84, PTF4, based on Lasso/Ridge regression, reached an R2 of 0.89, and PTF5 reached an R2 of 0.83. Our findings revealed regional variations in soil salinity, with certain areas showing elevated salinity levels that could affect agricultural sustainability. This research emphasizes the importance of developing ad hoc PTFs as a reliable tool for predicting soil salinity and, consequently, assuring sustainable soil management in northeastern Tunisia.
Probing Pedogenetic Imprints and Functional Properties of Moroccan Clayey Materials Through FFC NMR Relaxometry Paola Bambina, Calogero Librici, Ettore Madonia, Francesco Lanero, Roberta Bertani, Paolo Sgarbossa, Manal Monsif, Delia Francesca Chillura Martino, Paolo Lo Meo, Pellegrino Conte Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry, 2025 Understanding how soil formation processes influence the microstructure and the dynamic behavior of clay‐rich materials is essential for both pedological interpretation and technological assessment. In this study, we applied fast field cycling nuclear magnetic resonance (FFC NMR) relaxometry to investigate the microstructural heterogeneity of Moroccan clays developed under diverse pedogenetic conditions. Nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD) profiles were processed using a model‐free inversion algorithm to retrieve the distribution of correlation times. The latter provides a phenomenological mapping of proton–surface interactions across distinct dynamic domains. Complementary indicators of micro‐scale hydrological connectivity were, then, computed from the T₁ distributions, integrating both structural (SCI) and functional (FCI) heterogeneity. While the former indicates the breadth of molecular environments experienced by water across the system, the latter captures the dynamic contrast between fast‐ and slow‐relaxing populations associated with variations in surface accessibility and magnetic heterogeneity. The results showed that the clay sample from Khemisset exhibited the greatest relaxation heterogeneity, consistent with advanced pedogenetic reorganization related to redox‐driven redistribution of paramagnetic metals. In contrast, the clay samples from Berrechid and Tiflet displayed a more ordered architecture and lower magnetic heterogeneity, reflecting earlier‐stage pedogenetic development. This study demonstrated that FFC NMR relaxometry reveals the microstructural memory encoded into water dynamics, offering a powerful tool to infer the pedogenetic pathways leading to soil formation. Beyond its relevance for pedological studies, the method also offers valuable insights into the technological behavior of clays, supporting the selection of raw materials for industrial purposes based on their microstructural properties.
A Study on the Oxidative Functionalization of a Poplar Biochar Antonella Di Vincenzo, Ettore Madonia, Calogero Librici, Paola Bambina, Delia Chillura Martino, Susanna Guernelli, Paolo Lo Meo, Pellegrino Conte Molecules, 2025 This study investigates the functionalization of a poplar biochar (PB), obtained by high-temperature pyrolysis, under oxidative conditions typically used in organic synthesis. In particular, concentrated nitric acid, a sulfonitric mixture and a piranha mixture were applied as oxidants at different temperatures and reaction times. In order to assess the outcome of the reaction conditions on the characteristics of the resultant products, these were characterized by a combination of imaging (SEM), spectroscopic (ATR-FTIR, RAMAN) and FFC-NMR relaxometric techniques. The latter techniques, rationalized in terms of the Kohlrausch-type stretched exponential kinetic model, were analyzed using a recently developed heuristic Monte Carlo method, providing insights into the water dynamics within material pore networks. Additionally, the water-holding capacity of the modified biochars and their abilities to adsorb some model dyes were evaluated. The results clarify the relationship between oxidative treatment conditions and biochar properties, highlighting their impact on both structural modifications and water dynamics within the porous network, and enabling us to identify the best reaction conditions for optimizing the features of the oxidized product.
Soil effect on phenolic and volatile composition of Nero d'Avola red wines as revealed by a chromatography-based targeted metabolomic approach Paola Bambina, Clara Vitaggio, Matteo Pollon, Giuseppe Lo Papa, Pellegrino Conte, Luciano Cinquanta, Onofrio Corona Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 2024 In this study, the effects of the main soil chemical-physical parameters (i.e., texture, pH, total carbonates, organic matter, cation exchange capacity, electric conductivity, and mineral composition) on some of the most important oenological parameters (e.g., phenolics and volatile organic compounds) of red wines obtained from grapes of Vitis vinifera L. cv Nero d’Avola were studied. The study was conducted by means of a chromatography-based targeted metabolomic approach. The obtained results highlighted that the soil influenced both the phenolic and the volatile composition of the resulting wines. Wines phenolic composition appeared to be influenced by the texture and the cation exchange capacity, that are linked to the modulation of water and nutrient dynamics in soils. The volatile organic composition of the wines was mostly influenced by the cation exchange capacity and the organic matter, both related to soil fertility.
1H-NMR Spectroscopy Coupled with Chemometrics to Classify Wines According to Different Grape Varieties and Different Terroirs Paola Bambina, Alberto Spinella, Giuseppe Lo Papa, Delia Francesca Chillura Martino, Paolo Lo Meo, Luciano Cinquanta, Pellegrino Conte Agriculture Switzerland, 2024 In this study, 1H-NMR spectroscopy coupled with chemometrics was applied to study the wine metabolome and to classify wines according to different grape varieties and different terroirs. By obtaining the metabolomic fingerprinting and profiling of the wines, it was possible to assess the metabolic biomarkers leading the classification (i.e., phenolic compounds, aroma compounds, amino acids, and organic acids). Moreover, information about the influence of the soil in shaping wine metabolome was obtained. For instance, the relationship between the soil texture and the content of amino acids and organic acids in wines was highlighted. The analysis conducted in this study allowed extraction of relevant spectral information not only from the most populated and concentrated spectral areas (e.g., aliphatic and carbinolic areas), but also from crowded spectral areas held by lowly concentrated compounds (i.e., polyphenols). This may be due to a successful combination between the parameters used for data reduction, preprocessing and elaboration. The metabolomic fingerprinting also allowed exploration of the H-bonds network inside the wines, which affects both gustatory and olfactory perceptions, by modulating the way how solutes interact with the human sensory receptors. These findings may have important implications in the context of food traceability and quality control, providing information about the chemical composition and biomolecular markers from a holistic point of view.
Effect of soil type on some composition parameters of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Nero d'Avola grapes at different stages of ripening Paola Bambina, Matteo Pollon, Clara Vitaggio, Giuseppe Lo Papa, Pellegrino Conte, Luciano Cinquanta, Onofrio Corona International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2024 SummaryIn this study, the soil effect on the chemical composition of red grapes from Vitis vinifera L. (cv Nero d'Avola) was studied. The soil effect was evaluated by considering the main soil chemical–physical parameters (e.g., texture, pH, total carbonates, cation exchange capacity, electric conductivity, organic matter, and mineral composition) of four vineyards located in the southwestern coast of Sicily (southern Italy). Grapes' quality in relation to different soils was investigated by studying some composition parameters and the (in)/homogeneity of ripeness of grapes at the harvest date. Results suggested that the soil greatly affected the quality of Nero d'Avola red grapes. The most impactful soil parameters were cation exchange capacity, electric conductivity, pH, and mineral composition (especially P and Mn content) that are directly involved into grapevine nutrition. Through multivariate statistical analysis, it was highlighted that the soil effect was remarkable within a specific vintage. However, when more vintages are considered simultaneously, the vintage effect (conceivably through the inter‐annual climatic variability) is the major factor determining grapes quality.
