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Silvio Calcagno

PhD
PhD in Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science - XXXV Cycle
Tutor: Salvatore Cosentino
Contacts

Office: Via Valdisavoia 5 - secondo piano
Email: silvio.calcagno@phd.unict.it
Phone: 095 4783414

 

  • 2019-2022: PhD course in Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science, University of Catania. Research project: “Castor oil as an innovative raw material for an energy supply chain in semi-arid environments”.
  • Dec 2017 - Oct 2019: Scholarship at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, supervisor Prof. Salvatore Luciano Cosentino. Research program: "Evaluation of endemic grasses and new biomass species for energy production suitable to the Mediterranean environment ".
  • Sep 2016 - Nov 2017: Scholarship at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, supervisor Prof. Salvatore Luciano Cosentino. Research program: "Characterization of endemic grasses and new species suitable for Southern European environments", in the frame of the EU funded Project OPTIMA "Optimization of Perennial Grasses for Biomass Production".
  • Mar 2015 - Aug 2016: Scholarship at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, supervisor Prof. Salvatore Luciano Cosentino. Research program: "Characterization of endemic grasses and new species suitable for Southern European environments ", in the frame of the EU funded Project OPTIMA "Optimization of Perennial Grasses for Biomass Production".
  • Nov 2010: Qualification as agronomist and forestry doctor (senior)
  • 2008-2009: Master’s Degree in Agricultural Sciences and Technologies, University of Catania. Degree thesis: “The structure stability of some volcanic soils of the Etna Park in the presence of holm-oak, oak and chestnut woods ”.  
  • 1999: High School diploma: Liceo Classico – Istituto Superiore “Ven. Ignazio Capizzi”, Bronte (CT).

The aim of the PhD project is to contribute to the creation, in semi-arid Mediterranean environment, of a biorefinery based on Castor. In order to reach the main goal, the project will be splitted in three main research lines: 1) the development of new varieties with a high oil content and high resistance to biotic and abiotic stress; 2) the optimization of the cultivation techniques through the evaluation of the reduction of the agronomical inputs; 3) the improvement of the energy conversion process in a perspective of circular economy and reuse of the waste. The castor oil will be converted in biodiesel and the de-oiled panels and the residual biomass will be used to produce bioethanol and biogas.

  • Patanè C, Pulvirenti L, Calcagno S, Siracusa L, Cosentino S.L, 2020. How do sowing time and plant density affect the pigments safflomins and carthamin in florets of safflower? Industrial Crops and Products, Volume 148 (2020) 112313.
  • Scordia D, Calcagno S, Piccitto A, Patanè C, Cosentino S.L, 2020.  The impact of soil water content on yield, composition, energy and water indicators of the bioenergy grass Saccharum spontaneum ssp. Aegyptiacum. Agronomy (2020) 849643.
  • Piccitto A, Corinzia S.A, Scordia D, Calcagno S, Ciaramella B.R, Cosentino S.L, Testa G, 2020. Evaluation of the thermal pretreatment on the methanogenic potential of two lignocellulosic crops: Arundo donax and Saccharum spontaneum. 28th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 6-9 july 2020.
  • Piccitto A, Corinzia S.A, Scordia D, Calcagno S, Ciaramella B.R, Patanè C, Cosentino S.L, Testa G, 2020. Biomethane potential of an old plantation of giant reed clones with two irrigation levels. 28th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 6-9 july 2020.
  • Scordia D, Testa G, Calcagno S, Corinzia S.A, Ciaramella B.R, Piccitto A, Patanè C, Cosentino S.L, 2020. Potential and actual yield of African fodder cane (Saccharum spontaneum ssp. aegyptiacum) on areas affected by biophysical constraints. 28th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 6-9 july 2020.
  • Scordia D, Testa G, Calcagno S, Corinzia S.A, Ciaramella B.R, Piccitto A, Patanè C, Cosentino S.L, 2020. Advanced biomethane production by Arundo donax under changing harvest time and nitrogen fertilization. 28th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 6-9 july 2020.
  • Corinzia S.A, Scordia D, Clifton-Brown J, Mos M, Testa G, Ciaramella B.R, Calcagno S, Piccitto A, Cracroft-Eley W, Cosentino S.L, 2020. Biomass yield and quality of several lignocellulosic perennial grasses on marginal land. 28th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 6-9 july 2020.
  • Ciraldo M.P, Scordia D, Testa G, Calcagno S, Corinzia S.A, Ciaramella B.R, Piccitto A, Cosentino S.L, 2020. Is the salinity stress mitigated by fertilization treatment on perennial energy grasses? 28th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 6-9 july 2020.
  • Corinzia S.A, Ciaramella B.R, Calcagno S, Scordia D, Piccitto A, Patanè C, Cosentino S.L, Testa G, 2020. Evaluation of Monoecious and Dioecious Hemp Genotypes in Southern Italy. Presentato al XLIX Convegno Nazionale della Società Italiana di Agronomia (SIA) dal titolo “Gestione sostenibile dei sistemi colturali” 16 – 18 settembre 2020, Bari.
  • Corinzia S.A, Scordia D, Calcagno S, Piccitto A, Testa G, Ciaramella B.R, Cosentino S.L, 2020. Leaf Gas Exchanges and Instantaneous Water Use Efficiency of Several Perennial Bioenergy Grasses. Presentato al XLIX Convegno Nazionale della Società Italiana di Agronomia (SIA) dal titolo “Gestione sostenibile dei sistemi colturali” 16 – 18 settembre 2020, Bari.
  • Ciaramella B.R, Corinzia S.A,  Piccitto A, Scordia D, Calcagno S, Cosentino S.L, Testa G, 2020. Adaptability of Industrial Hemp to Increasing Level of Heavy Metals in Soil. Presentato al XLIX Convegno Nazionale della Società Italiana di Agronomia (SIA) dal titolo “Gestione sostenibile dei sistemi colturali” 16 – 18 settembre 2020, Bari.
  • Zanetti F, Scordia D, Calcagno S, Acciai M, Grasso A, Cosentino S.L, Monti A., 2019. Trade-off between harvest date and lignocellulosic crop choice for advanced biofuel production in the Mediterranean area. Industrial Crops and Products, Volume 138 (2019) 111439.
  • Scordia D, Calcagno S, Testa G, Copani V, Corinzia A, Piccitto A, Ciaramella R, Patanè C, Cosentino S.L., 2019. Biomass yield, water use efficiency, energy content, and energy return on investment of diverse perennial grasses in autumn and winter harvest regimes in the Mediterranean area. 27th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 27-30 May 2019, Lisbon (Portugal).
  • Testa G, Piccitto A, Corinzia A, Ciaramella R, Calcagno S, Scordia D, Cosentino S.L., 2019. Evaluation Of The Methanogenic Potential Of Lignocellulosic Crops Cultivated In Mediterranean Environment. XLVIII Convegno della Società Italiana di Agronomia, 18-20 settembre 2019, Perugia (Italia).
  • Zanetti F, Scordia D, Cosentino S.L., Vecchi A., Calcagno S., Monti A., 2018.Harvesting Management Influences Long Term Productive Performances of Perennial Energy Grasses.  XLVII Convegno Nazionale della Società Italiana di Agronomia, 12-14 settembre 2018, Marsala (Italia).
  • Scordia D, Testa G, Copani V, Calcagno S, Corinzia A, Scalici G, Patanè G, Scandurra S, Patanè C, Cosentino S.L., 2018. Nitrogen Use Efficiency Of Long-Term Plantations Of Arundo donax And Miscanthus x giganteus. XLVII Convegno Nazionale della Società Italiana di Agronomia, 12-14 settembre 2018, Marsala (Italia).
  • Scordia D, Testa G, Copani V, Piccitto A, Calcagno S, Corinzia A, Patanè G, Virgillito S, Scalici G, Patanè C, Cosentino S.L., 2018.  A Follow Up Study Of Biomass Yield Of Saccharum spontaneum ssp. aegypticum Under Water Regimes. XLVII Convegno Nazionale della Società Italiana di Agronomia, 12-14 settembre 2018, Marsala (Italia).
  • Testa G, Calcagno S, Guarnaccia P, Corinzia A, Patanè G, Scordia D, Cosentino S.L., 2018. Evaluation Of An Hemp Genotype (Futura 75) For A Dual Purpose Production In Semi-Arid Mediterranean Environment. XLVII Convegno Nazionale della Società Italiana di Agronomia, 12-14 settembre 2018, Marsala (Italia).
  • Testa G, Piccitto A, Scordia D, Corinzia A, Calcagno S, Cosentino S.L., 2018. Evaluation of the methanogenic potential of two lignocellulosic crops. XLVII Convegno Nazionale della Società Italiana di Agronomia, 12-14 settembre 2018, Marsala (Italia).
  • Patanè C, Calcagno S, Patanè G, Corinzia A, Siracusa L, Pulvirenti L, Cosentino S.L., 2018.  Natural Colorants from Safflower Florets in Response to Sowing Time and Plant Densit. XLVII Convegno Nazionale della Società Italiana di Agronomia, 12-14 settembre 2018, Marsala (Italia).
  • Scordia D, Testa G,  Copani V,  Calcagno S, Corinzia A,  Virgillito S, Scandurra S, Patanè C, Cosentino SL., 2017. Energy content and energy return on investement of diverse perennial grasses in semi-arid Mediterranean environment. XLVI Convegno Nazionale della Società Italiana di Agronomia, 12-14 settembre 2017, Milano (Italia).
  • Guarnaccia P,  Testa G, Calcagno S, Patanè G,  Scordia D, Cosentino SL.,2017. Evaluation of hemp genotypes for a dual purpose production in a semi-arid mediterranean environment. XLVI Convegno Nazionale della Società Italiana di Agronomia, 12-14 settembre 2017, Milano (Italia).
  • Scordia D, Testa G, Calcagno S, Patanè G, Copani V, Patanè C, Cosentino SL, 2016. Side-by-side comparison of Mediterranean perennial grasses for lignocellulosic feedstock production. XLV Convegno Nazionale della Società Italiana di Agronomia, 20-22 settembre 2016 Sassari (Italia).
  • Scordia D, Testa G, Calcagno S, Scalici G, Sidella S, Virgillito S, Copani V, Patanè G, Cosentino SL., 2016. Is lignocellulosic bioethanol yield of perennial grasses affected by nitrogen fertilization and harvest time effect?. XLV Convegno Nazionale della Società Italiana di Agronomia, 20-22 settembre 2016, Sassari (Italia).
  • Scalici G, Testa G, Scordia D, Scifo M, Calcagno S, Cosentino SL., 2016. Evaluating Wild Miscanthus Germplasm for Biomass Potential in a Mediterranean Environment.  XLV Convegno Nazionale della Società Italiana di Agronomia, 20-22 settembre 2016, Sassari (Italia).