Unit AGRONOMY AND ARBORICULTURE

Course
Food science and technology
Study-unit Code
80180812
Curriculum
Tecnologie agro-alimentari
Teacher
Franco Famiani
CFU
12
Course Regulation
Coorte 2021
Offered
2022/23
Type of study-unit
Obbligatorio (Required)
Type of learning activities
Attività formativa integrata

ARBORICULTURE

Code 80080506
CFU 6
Teacher Franco Famiani
Teachers
  • Franco Famiani
Hours
  • 54 ore - Franco Famiani
Learning activities Affine/integrativa
Area Attività formative affini o integrative
Academic discipline AGR/03
Type of study-unit Obbligatorio (Required)
Language of instruction Italian
Contents Root system and vegetative and reproductive organs. Plant life cycle. Vegetative growth. Reproductive cycle. Climatic and soil requirements of trees. Tree propagation. Establishment of a new orchard. Orchard soil management, fertilization, irrigation, pruning and fruit harvesting. Utilization and storage of fruits.
Reference texts AA.VV. Arboricoltura generale. Pàtron Editore, Bologna (da consultare in parte).
E. Baldini - Arboricoltura generale. Editrice CLUEB, Bologna.
AA.VV. - Frutticoltura speciale. Edizioni REDA, Roma.
AA.VV. - Frutticoltura generale. Edizioni REDA, Roma.
R. Valli - Arboricoltura generale e speciale. EDAGRICOLE, Bologna.
AA.VV. - Linee guida per l'agricoltura biologica - fruttiferi e fragola. EDAGRICOLE, Bologna.
D.I. Jackson, N.E. Looney - Temperate and Subtropical Fruit Production - 2nd Edition, CABI Publishing, UK.
K. Lind, G. Lafer, K. Schloffer, G. Innerhofer, H. Meister - Organic Fruit Growing. CABI Publishing, UK.
Educational objectives The aim of the course is to provide students with knowledge of: botanical, biological and physiological characteristics of fruit trees; relationships of fruit trees with the environment; cultivation techniques. Particular emphasis will be given at the evaluation of qualitative characteristics of the fruits, in relation to their use both for direct consumption and for the production of processed foods.
Prerequisites In order to understand the subjects of the course on Agronomy and Arboriculture it is necessary to have a good background on fundamentals of biology.
Teaching methods Lectures on all the subjects of the course.

Excercise/Practical lectures, also in the lab and field, on: visual identification of fruit tree species; use of ripening indexes to establish the time for harvesting; evaluation of fruit qualitative characteristics; propagation of fruit tree species; application of different types of cultural practices.
Other information Attendance is not compulsory.
Place of teaching: Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of the Studies of Perugia.
Learning verification modality The evaluation of the knowledge acquired by the student will be done through an exam which consits of an oral test.
The oral test consists on an interview, of about 1 hour, aiming at evaluating the knowledge acquired by the student and his/her ability to use it. The oral test will also allow to to evaluate the communication skills of the student.
Extended program Theoretical lessons
Description, development and functions of the root system and aerial organs (buds, leaves, shoots, branches, trunk/stem, flowers, productive formations). Life cycle of a tree. Vegetative activity (activity of cambium, bud sprouting, shoot development, apical dominance, leaf fall, rest period). Fruiting cycle (bud floral induction and differentiation, sporogenesis, flowering, pollination, fecundation, sterility, fruit-set, fruit-drop, parthenocarpy, fruit development and ripening). Parameters and indexes related to fruit ripening and qualitative characteristics. Tree phenology. Relationships between vegetative and reproductive activities.
Relationships between fruit trees and pedological and climatic factors. Suitability of an environment to fruit tree cultivation.
Propagation of fruit tree species.
Choice of the cultivar, rootstock, tree training system and spacing.
Operations for the establishment of a new orchard.
Modalities and timing for the execution of cultural practices: soil management, fertilization, irrigation, pruning, harvesting. Influence of cultural practices on fruit qualitative characteristics. Utilization and storage of fruits.
Conventional, integrated and organic cultivation methods: rules, principles and techniques.
Botanical classification and cultivation schemes for the main fruit tree species of interest for food factories.

Practical lessons
Visual identification of fruit tree species. Use of ripening indexes to establish the time for harvesting. Evaluation of fruit qualitative characteristics. Propagation of fruit tree species. Examples of application of different types of cultural practices.

BASICS OF AGRONOMY AND ECOLOGY

Code 80180806
CFU 6
Teacher Euro Pannacci
Teachers
  • Euro Pannacci
Hours
  • 54 ore - Euro Pannacci
Learning activities Affine/integrativa
Area Attività formative affini o integrative
Academic discipline AGR/02
Type of study-unit Obbligatorio (Required)
Language of instruction Italian
Contents The course is based on the knowledges of Elements of Ecology and Agronomy.
Lectures: Elements of ecology; Ecosystems and agro-ecosystems; Climatic environment; Soil; Agricultural techniques and management of agro-ecosystems (agricultural drainage systems, tillage, dryland farming, irrigation, fertilization, crop rotation and intercropping, methods of planting crops, seed, weed control). Theoretical lessons and practical training: Exercises in the classroom and the laboratory; Practical case studies; Field trips.
Reference texts 1. F. Bonciarelli e U. Bonciarelli, agronomia, Edagricole scolastico, Bologna. 2003.

2. P. Ceccon, M. Fagnano, C. Grignani, M. Monti, S. Orlandini. Agronomia, Edisen, 2017.

3. Learning and teaching materials.
Educational objectives The course objective is to provide students with the basic knowledges of Ecology and Agronomy.

In particular:

Knowledge (know)
1. Components of agro-ecosystems
2. Climatic factors and microclimate at the base of crop production
3. Relations between agronomic fertility and chemical, physical, hydrological, and biological properties of the agricultural land
4. Cultivation System
5. agronomic techniques and sustainable management of agro-ecosystems

Skills (skills)
1. Measure and interpret the climate and microclimate parameters
2. Use the methods for the determination of agronomic traits and water status of the soil and interpret the analytical results
3. Manage the agronomic techniques in compliance with the qualitative, economic and environmental, and learn to predict the affects on the environment
4. Adapt the agricultural techniques to the climatic and environmental conditions of specific agricultural areas
5. Apply the main procedures for measuring the quality of seeds
6. Design agronomic interventions aimed at safeguarding the fertility of the soil, the environment and quality of agricultural production
7. Capacity for analysis and synthesis
8. Capacity of organization and planning

Behaviors (interpersonal skills)
1. Being able to work in multidisciplinary groups
2. Be aware of the ecological role of agricultural production techniques
Prerequisites Nothing
Teaching methods The course is organized as follows:

- Lectures on all topics of the course;

- Theoretical lessons and practical training;

- Field trips (at the Experimental Station of Papiano, PG and any farms) to see directly and practically aspects of technical and practical nature regarding some topics of the course (tillage, fertilizing, irrigation, tools, farm implements , etc.).
Other information Lectures attendance is optional, but strongly recommended
Learning verification modality The oral exam consists on a discussion aiming to ascertain the knowledge level and the understanding capability acquired by the student on the theoretical, methodological and practical contents mentioned in the program. The oral exam will also test the student ability to apply the acquired skills, the student communication skills and his autonomy in the organization and exposure of the theoretical and practical topics.
Extended program The goal of the course is to provide students with the fundamental knowledges of Ecology and Agronomy.

Lectures:

Elements of ecology

Ecosystems and agro-ecosystems

Climatic environment: Radiation; Atmosphere (composition and physical properties, interaction between atmosphere and solar radiation, Wind); Temperature (air and soil temperature, temperature and vegetation); Water (water cycle, atmospheric humidity, hydrometeors, evapotranspiration); Climate (elements and climatic factors, climatic classification).

Soil: physical and mechanical characteristics, chemical and biological properties; hydrology and air.

Agricultural techniques and management of agro-ecosystems:
- Agricultural drainage systems;

- Tillage (aims, tools, types);

- Dryland farming (principles and applications);

- Irrigation (aims, types, irrigation techniques, systems and irrigation methods);

- Fertilization (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the plant and in the soil, laws of fertilization, the technique of fertilization, mineral and organic fertilizers);

- Crop rotation and intercropping (principles and types);

- Methods of planting crops;

- Seed (agricultural and genetic characteristics);

- Weed control (classification of weeds, indirect and direct weed control methods, non-chemical and chemical weed control methods).

Theoretical lessons and practical training:

- Exercises in the classroom and the laboratory on the course topics (determining the physical characteristics of the soil; determination of seed characteristics, etc.)

- Practical case studies related to the knowledge acquired in the Course

- Directly and visual depth of the course topics through field trips.
Condividi su