AGRO NOLANOAGRO NOLANO

AGRO NOLANOAGRO NOLANO

The Agro-Nolano is the subject of The Agro-Nolano is the subject of our study.our study.It is situated between Mount It is situated between Mount Somma, the calcareous hills of Somma, the calcareous hills of Cancello and the Avella mountains Cancello and the Avella mountains and includes the territory of Nola and includes the territory of Nola and Acerra.and Acerra.This area is easily accessible and This area is easily accessible and suitable for human settlement.suitable for human settlement.It has been densely populated It has been densely populated since ancient times as can be since ancient times as can be witnessed by the numerous witnessed by the numerous presences of tombstones and presences of tombstones and historical findings.historical findings.

The Agro-Nolano is a flat and The Agro-Nolano is a flat and slightly mountainous area.slightly mountainous area.The climate is mild and strictly The climate is mild and strictly mediterranean with hot, sultry mediterranean with hot, sultry summers and rains in the autumn-summers and rains in the autumn-winter seasonswinter seasons

This area originated from the This area originated from the filling of early deep filling of early deep paleomorphologic follows. At the paleomorphologic follows. At the beginning of the quaternary era beginning of the quaternary era (1,5-2 million years ago) it was (1,5-2 million years ago) it was still a seabed.still a seabed.Then it was trasformed by Then it was trasformed by materials coming from the nearby materials coming from the nearby vulcanic areas and by colluviums vulcanic areas and by colluviums which exogenous agents had cut which exogenous agents had cut from the mountain surrounding from the mountain surrounding the plain.the plain.

For this reason most surface For this reason most surface layers of the ground are sandy-layers of the ground are sandy-clayey, not very firm and are clayey, not very firm and are mixed with ash and lapilla.mixed with ash and lapilla.

This makes the layers pervious This makes the layers pervious and fertileand fertile

More in-depth the first layer is of More in-depth the first layer is of vulcanic origin and successively vulcanic origin and successively the clayey layers which the clayey layers which aresometimes on tuffaceous banksaresometimes on tuffaceous banks

Stratigraphy shows some Stratigraphy shows some impermeable layers (clay and impermeable layers (clay and sand) which are alternated with sand) which are alternated with pervious layers of tuff and sea pervious layers of tuff and sea clayclay

These act as basis and cover of These act as basis and cover of the layersthe layersThe water table is found at The water table is found at different deptha: its level is higher different deptha: its level is higher in the areas contiguous to the hillsin the areas contiguous to the hills

The heighth of the first water level The heighth of the first water level found from the surface changes found from the surface changes according to the different seasons, according to the different seasons, to the springs which feed them to the springs which feed them and to quantities of water drawn and to quantities of water drawn outout

The first water level is more The first water level is more exposed to pollutionexposed to pollution

Over the last ten years the water Over the last ten years the water table has become lower due to table has become lower due to excessive exploitation, so it is excessive exploitation, so it is necessary to use the deeper onenecessary to use the deeper one