WESM LAB: Water, Energy and Soil Mechanics Laboratory

Areas: Agricultural engineering

The WESM LAB was established as an integrated laboratory combining the expertise of two scientific-disciplinary sectors of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering: Agricultural Hydraulics and Hydraulic-Forestry Engineering (AGRI-04/A) and Agricultural Mechanics (AGRI-04/B).

The laboratory represents a strategic infrastructure within DISTAL, aimed at the development, monitoring, and validation of solutions typical of agricultural and biosystems engineering. It is capable of carrying out hydraulic, hydrological, energy, mechanical, and agro-environmental analyses and tests, oriented toward sustainability, process optimization, and the integrated management of water–energy–soil–atmosphere resources.

Research Areas

The laboratory is structured into four main research areas:

1. Hydraulics and Water Quality

Supervisors: Prof. Attilio Toscano, Prof. Stevo Lavrnic, Dr. Giuseppe Mancuso

Activities: Assessment of water quality in agricultural systems through the analysis of key environmental indicators (including COD, BOD₅, TSS, TN, and TP) in irrigation water, agricultural runoff and drainage water, and effluents from nature-based (e.g., constructed wetlands) and engineered treatment systems. Activities include evaluating the effectiveness of water treatment and reuse strategies, monitoring treatment performance, and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations governing wastewater discharge and agricultural water reuse. Water quantity and pollutant transport assessments are carried out through field-based flow measurements in open channels, supporting hydraulic characterization and pollutant load estimation. Additional expertise includes hydraulic performance testing of irrigation systems and the design, development, and operation of pilot-scale experimental facilities in both laboratory and field settings.

Services and consultancy: Water quality monitoring and analytical services for agricultural applications, together with technical consultancy on sustainable water resources management, including the planning, allocation, and integrated use of conventional and alternative water sources to enhance agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability.

2. Soil Hydrology

Supervisors: Prof. Gabriele Baroni

Activities: Characterization of key soil physical-hydrological properties, including: bulk density of undisturbed soil samples, soil texture and particle size distribution, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and soil water retention curve. In addition to laboratory instrumentation, field nuclear techniques are employed for monitoring and mapping agro-forest environments, such as Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensing (CRNS) probes and Gamma Ray Spectrometry (GRS) sensors, enabling continuous monitoring of soil water status and non-invasive mapping of soil physico-chemical properties.

Services and consultancy: physical-hydrological characterization of soil samples; optimization of soil sampling strategies; technical-scientific support for installation, calibration, and use of sensors for monitoring the soil–plant–atmosphere system.

3. Bioenergy

Supervisors: Prof. Giovanni Molari, Prof.ssa Francesca Valenti, Prof. Mirko Maraldi

Activities: Study, development, and optimization of technologies for energy valorization of agricultural and agro-industrial biomass, with particular focus on anaerobic digestion processes and the production of biogas and biomethane, integrating biological and thermochemical approaches for comprehensive energy potential assessment.

Activities include: characterization of biomass and agricultural residues through physico-chemical analyses (TS, VS, COD, TP, pH), complemented by proximate analysis (ash and fixed carbon); laboratory-scale anaerobic digestion tests (BMP tests) under controlled (mesophilic) conditions using batch systems; evaluation of co-digestion strategies to improve energy yields and process stability; monitoring gas production and analyzing biogas composition (CH₄, CO₂, other gases) via gas chromatography; study of pre-treatments for lignocellulosic biomass to enhance degradability and methane yield; determination of biomass calorific value for energy content evaluation and comparison among different substrates.

Experimental activities are carried out using dedicated equipment such as temperature-controlled orbital shakers, Methan Tube® systems (batch and semi-continuous), thermodigesters, spectrophotometers, ovens, muffle furnaces, micro gas chromatographs, and Mahler calorimetric bomb.

Services and consultancy: evaluation of biogas potential of biomass and agro-industrial by-products; determination of calorific value; feasibility studies for energy valorization systems in agriculture.

4. Agricultural and Soil Mechanics

Supervisors: Prof. Giovanni Molari, Prof. Michele Mattetti, Dr. Massimiliano Varani

Activities: Acquisition and processing of data from integrated sensors (CANBUS/ISOBUS) on agricultural machinery to monitor performance under real operating conditions, benchmarking, and identification of inefficiencies, with development of data analytics tools to optimize efficiency, fuel consumption, and productivity. Development of methodologies for assessing reliability and durability of critical components (axles, transmissions, bearings) based on mission profiles and accelerated testing cycles, supporting predictive maintenance and reducing product development time. Experimental characterization of traction systems (wheels and tracks), including traction performance and soil interaction. Field validation of innovative agricultural machinery, integrating data analysis and modeling. Development of procedures for evaluating tractor ride comfort through vibration and ergonomic analyses. Study of machine–soil interaction to improve design, reduce energy consumption, and minimize soil impact.Services and consultancy: valutazione delle prestazioni in campo di macchine agricole innovative e loro tecnologie, analisi di dati raccolti in contesti operativi reali e definizione di metriche utili ad analisi tecniche, economiche, di sostenibilità.

Services and consultancy: field performance evaluation of innovative agricultural machinery and technologies; analysis of operational data; definition of technical, economic, and sustainability performance indicators.

Equipment available

· Accelerometers

· CANBUS data acquisition systems

· Filtration units

· Equipment for disturbed and undisturbed soil sampling

· Consolidation apparatus

· Precision seeder test bench

· Analytical balances

· Thermal balance

· Mahler calorimetric bomb

· Refrigerated automatic water sampler (field use)

· Laboratory fume hood

· Load cells and torque meters

· Bench centrifuge

· Muffle furnace

· Incubator

· Direct shear testing machine

· Methan Tube® (batch)

· Methan Tube® (semi-continuous)

· Micro gas chromatograph

· Flow meters

· Biomass homogenizer

· Portable digital pH meter

· Temperature-controlled orbital shaker

· Gamma Ray Spectrometry (GRS) sensors

· Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensing (CRNS) probes

· Multiparameter probe (pH/ISE/EC/DO/Turbidity)

· Spectrophotometers (field and laboratory)

· Instruments for soil water retention curve (HYPROP, WP4C – Meter Group)

· Soil texture and particle size distribution analyzer (PARIO – Meter Group)

· Saturated hydraulic conductivity meter (KSAT – Meter Group)

· Drying oven

· High-temperature thermostat

Teaching and Training Activities

Teaching activities cover all levels of higher education: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD programs. The laboratories host most of the experimental work for Bachelor’s and Master’s theses, as well as PhD research within DISTAL. They also support internships, practical training, and teaching exercises.