Unit AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY

Course

Agricultural and environmental sciences

Study-unit Code

80783109

Curriculum

Agricoltura sostenibile

Teacher

Daniela Businelli

Teachers

Daniela Businelli

Hours

81 ore - Daniela Businelli

CFU

Course Regulation

Coorte 2021

Offered

2022/23

Learning activities

Caratterizzante

Area

Discipline della produzione vegetale

Academic discipline

AGR/13

Type of study-unit

Obbligatorio (Required)

Type of learning activities

Attività formativa monodisciplinare

Language of instruction

Italian

Contents

“Agricultural Chemistry” is a discipline that targets both the soil and the plant, as considered to be part of a unitary system that aims to optimize the characteristics of one according to the needs of the other. The course setting is aimed at achieving this goal.
In the plant part, emphasis is placed on the main metabolic processes that take place in it (photosynthesis, C metabolism, lipid and nitrogen metabolism), thus providing students with the basics to be able, in subsequent courses, to understand the nature of the nutritional, water and environmental requirements of the plant and, on the basis of possible abnormalities, to carry out agronomical practices that can correct them.
In the soil part, emphasis is placed on the genesis and chemical composition of its constituents, on the colloidal properties, on the element retention power, soil pH and buffer strength. Finally, factors affecting soil fertility are examined, trying to suggest methods that can minimize any criticality.

Reference texts

L. SCARPONI Elementi di Biochimica Agraria. Galeno Editrice, Perugia, 1985.
R. PINTON et al. (Coordinatori). Fondamenti di biochimica agraria. Patron Editore Bologna, 2016.
LEHNINGER (by Nelson and Cox). Principles of Biochemistry. Freeman and company, New York.
M. BUSINELLI. Chimica del Suolo. Morlacchi editore, Perugia, 2009.
K. TAN Principles of soil chemistry. CRC Press, Boca Raton, London, New York, 2010.

Educational objectives

The main objective of the course is to provide students with the basic knowledge of Agricultural Chemistry, a discipline that covers both the soil and the plant as considered part of a unitary system, and which aims to optimize the characteristics of the one in function of the needs of the other.

The main acquisitions will cover:

1. the biological and biochemical context in which each molecule, reaction or metabolic pathway is located.
2. the role of enzymes as catalysts of reactions in living organisms.
3. the chemical aspects of photosynthesis in different plant species.
4. the chemical aspects of the main anabolic and catabolic processes of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins.
5. the role of ATP as a source of energy for metabolic processes
6. the importance of coupled reactions for carrying out endoergonic processes in living organisms.
7. the chemical assimilation mechanisms of elements necessary for plant development and metabolism.
8. the soil as a substrate for plant growth.
9. the role of soil colloids as fertility factors.
10. the soil retention power for nutrients.
11. the soil ability to retain pollutants by avoiding groundwater contamination.
12. the soil resource control in agronomic and environmental field.
13. the relationships between soil and plant.
14. the pH role in conditioning soil nutritional characteristics.
15. the soil buffering ability.

The main skills (i.e. the ability to apply acquired knowledge) will be:

- to be able to use a scientific method of investigation, also in relation to application problems.
- to be capable and convincing in exposing their own professional assessments.
- to be able to carry out professional advice concerning fertility and the vulnerability of the soil pollutants.

Prerequisites

In order to understand, interpret and know how to apply theoretical principles and analytical techniques, subject of this course, it is necessary to have successfully passed the “Chemistry” examination (I year). Knowledge of the basic principles of general and organic chemistry is an indispensable prerequisite for the student who wants to attend this course; such preliminary knowledge is also required for non-attending students to be able to successfully undertake the study of the course, using the teaching material (UNISTUDIUM UNIPG Chimica Agraria).

Teaching methods

The course will be carried out as follows:
- Lectures on all subjects of the course.
- Laboratory exercises at the Agricultural Chemistry Lab on: physico-chemical bases of spectrophotometric analyses, enzymatic activity analyses and spectrophotometric determinations of protein content, chlorophylls and carotenes in plant materials. Use of molecular models of silicates. Calcimeters. Soil organic matter and CEC titrimetric determinations. Soil pH determination by potentiometric method. Critical evaluation of soil analysis certificates. The number and type of lab exercises will be established in accordance with the anti-covid regulations in force at the time of the course.

Students (a single group) will follow some guided exercises of 2 hours each, preceded by an introduction lecture. At the end of each practical exercise, each student will have to fill out a form reporting his name, data, calculations and results obtained: this form, given to the lecturer at the end of the exercise, will allow verifying the student’s participation. This participation, although not mandatory, can affect the final vote.

Other information

Prof. Daniela Businelli Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, DSA3. Agricultural Chemistry Research Unit. Location: New building, ground floor, to the right of the front door.

Tel. 075/5856228
E-mail daniela.businelli@unipg.it
Receipt by appointment, the request should be sent via e-mail. It is also possible to send questions and receive answers by e-mail.

Schedule and lesson time: link to the DSA3 website http://dsa3.unipg.it/didattica/informazioni-per-studenti/

Clipboard, lesson slides and course information are available on the UNISTUDIUM.
https: //www.unistudium.unipg.it/unistudium/

Attendance: Optional, but strongly recommended.

Learning verification modality

The exam is an individual oral test, before which the student is given a pen and papers, where he will write chemical reactions, graphics and everything he thinks fit to expose the subject. The test consists on an interview, of about 20-40 minutes long, aiming to ascertain the knowledge level and the understanding capability acquired by the student on theoretical contents and practical applications as indicated on the course program (i.e. enzymology, photosynthesis, metabolism, lipids, nitrogen cycle, pedogenesis, colloids, soil retention capacity, pH and buffering capacity of the soil). A student may also choose to be examined only on one of the two parts (plant or soil only), completing the test in the following examination dates. The partial test passed has no deadline. The oral test will also verify the student's communication skills and his autonomy in the organization and exposure of topics.

For information on support services for students with disabilities and / or DSA visit the web page http://www.unipg.it/disabilita-e-dsa

Extended program

Agricultural chemistry-
Plant:
Entalpy and entropy. Free energy. Redox potentials. Activation energy. Coupled reactions. Absorption energy and molecular excitation. Enzimology. Photosynthesis. Carbohydrate biosynthesis. Fermentation and respiration processes. Lipid metabolism. Nitrogen cycle. Biochemical bases of plant nutrition.

Agricultural chemistry- Soil:

Soil genesis. The role of hydrosphere, atmosphere and litosphere. Soil carbonates. Soil silicates: structural classification. Weathering and soil development. Genesis of organic fraction. Soil redox potential. Soil colloids. Clays: structural characteristics, properties and development of charge. Soil humus: extraction, fractionation and chemical composition. Oxides and hydroxydes. Soil retention capacity. Reactions of phosphates in soil. Soil pH and buffering capacity. Principles of plant nutrition.

Laboratory practical classes.