Studio e verifica della funzionalità di una trapiantatrice con dispositivo adacquatore per il trapianto del radicchio

The transplant of the radicchio (Chicorium intybus L. var. silvestre Bishoff), a chicory variety cultivated in North-eastern Italy, is a very delicate operation because it is carried out in a period characterised by both high temperatures and elevated evapotranspiration and low precipitation. In the time range between the transplant and the taking root of the chicory plants (5-6 days), it is necessary to keep always wet the root zone. The possibility to put a minimum water amount closed to the plant roots, already during the transplanting operation, assures the success of this phase. The scope of this research is to verify the possibility of using a transplanting machine, with a watering device for wetting the soil around the module of the transplanted plants. Humic acids and pesticides are added to the water; therefore in this way they are distributed localised. During the first year of trials, positive effects are found on the percentage of the taking root of the chicory plants. At the end of the experimentation it will be possible to estimate the possibility of a real use of the machine by the farmers.