Unit ORGANIC AND SUSTAINABLE CROPPING SYSTEMS
- Course
- Sustainable agriculture
- Study-unit Code
- A002182
- Curriculum
- Agricoltura biologica ed ecocompatibile
- Teacher
- Giacomo Tosti
- CFU
- 9
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2022
- Offered
- 2022/23
- Type of study-unit
- Obbligatorio (Required)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa integrata
HERBACEOUS AND HORTICULTURAL SYSTEMS
| Code | A002183 |
|---|---|
| CFU | 6 |
| Teacher | Giacomo Tosti |
| Teachers |
|
| Hours |
|
| Learning activities | Caratterizzante |
| Area | Discipline della produzione |
| Academic discipline | AGR/02 |
| Type of study-unit | Obbligatorio (Required) |
| Language of instruction | Italian |
| Contents | The course consists of two parts: • PART I (2 CFU, Agronomy and Environment): ecology and attributes of the agroecosystems, ecological intensification, energy fluxes, material cycles, resistance and resilience, environmental pollution from agricultural activities, functions and agroecosystem services. • PART II (4 CFU, Organic farming and sustainable cropping systems): cropping management and techniques in organic and other sustainable cropping systems. First (general) part: principles of the organic farming method, relevant legislation, organic farming and climate change, impact of organic and sustainable farming systems on the agroecosystem and monitoring. Second (specific) part: crop rotations, cover crops, intercropping, mixed cropping systems, conservation soil tillage, fertilization, organic crop management (cereal, field vegetables.). |
| Reference texts | Beside the teacher booklet (lecture notes), the following readings are recommended: - Agronomia (2017) A cura di: P. Ceccon, M. Fagnano, C. Grignani, M. Monti, S. Orlandini. Edises 620 pp. - Il manuale del biologico (2012). Edagricole New Business Media, Bologna,. – Caccioni, D., Colombo, L. (eds.), pp. 622 - Altieri, M.A., Nicholls, C.I., Ponti, L., 2015. Agroecologia: una via percorribile per un pianeta in crisi. (Agroecology: a feasible path for a planet in crisis). Edagricole, Bologna 328 pp. |
| Educational objectives | The student who successfully completes the course will have the ability to: • Demonstrate a solid knowledge of the basic principles of organic and sustainable farming systems. • Manage the agroecosystem according to such principles by implementing the management techniques acquired during the course. • Evaluate the strength and weakness of an agroecosystem in the frame of climate change and other environmental risks such: soil degradation, desertification, water crisis and loss of biodiversity. • Understand the agroecosystem sustainability in relation to UN 2030 Agenda “Sustainable Development Goals” and have the ability to critically analyse a cropping system with a view towards the global sustainability • Evaluate and design sustainable cropping systems |
| Prerequisites | In order to adequately follow the course, the student must previously have assimilated knowledge about agronomy, field crop and vegetable production. First degree (SAA) or 21 CFU of SSD AGR02 |
| Teaching methods | The course will be structured as follows: - Lectures on all subjects of the course. - Practical lessons and exercises at Fitolab and Fieldlab, and visits to organic and integrated farms. During the course the students will take part to the discussion on the following topics: • Resolution of technical problems (soil management, irrigation, fertilization, crop rotation). • Nutrient and soil organic matter budget. • Case study debate aimed at making linkages among different topics and finding appropriate solutions for sustainable cropping systems. Notes from all the lectures will be made available for the students on the web (Unistudium website) |
| Learning verification modality | During the course, the students will be assessed on the basis of their participation to the discussions concerning all the topics covered by lectures, exercises and farm visits. The final exam consists in an oral test (3-6 questions). The oral exam will also test the student communication skills and his autonomy in the organization and exposure of the theoretical topics. According with the teacher, the student could prepare a short seminar / technical relation on a study case, this work will complement the final oral exam that will be limited to 2-4 questions. |
| Extended program | Lectures: • PART I (Agronomy and Environment): - Agroecology: method and practice. - Agroecosystems: ecology, resources, processes and stability. - Agriculture, energy fluxes and material cycles: environmental pollution and food security. - Agroecosystem functions and services. • PART II (Organic farming and sustainable cropping systems): - History and evolution of organic farming. - Organic farming regulation. - Soil fertility. - Organic farming and climate change: adaptation and mitigation. - Soil conservation management. - Fertilization and composting. - Crop rotation, intercropping, cover crops, sustainable cropping system design and management. - Species and varieties for organic farming. - Organic production of cereals, legumes and vegetables. Practical lessons : • Exercises, practical lessons and farm visits. |
FORESTRY SYSTEMS
| Code | A002185 |
|---|---|
| CFU | 3 |
| Teacher | Daniela Farinelli |
| Teachers |
|
| Hours |
|
| 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 | Diffusion and economic and environmental importance of woods, legislation in Italy. Types of forest management, factors of instability and adversity of the woods, possibility of intervention for the protection and improvement of the woods. |
| Reference texts | Bernetti Giovanni, Roberto del Favero, Mario Pividori. Selvicoltura produttiva. Manuale pratico. Edagricole 2012 Piussi P. - Selvicoltura generale. UTET, Torino, 1994. Bernetti G., Selvicoltura speciale. UTET, Torino, 1995. Brunori A., Legno ed energia - come produrre energie con le biomassa legnose. Edagricole, Bologna, 2008. Book of slides by teacher |
| Educational objectives | Allow the student to manage the different forest woody types in relation to the function they perform. Being able to evaluate and estimate the wood production and their most correct use in respect of environment. |
| Prerequisites | Knowledge of forest botany |
| Teaching methods | Frontal lessons; practical lessons through visits to different woody forest types. |
| Learning verification modality | The exam consists of an oral test. The oral test consists on an interview of about 30 minuts long aiming to ascertain the knowledge level and the understanding capability acquired by the student on theoretical and methodological contents as indicate on the program. |
| Extended program | Diffusion and economic and environmental importance of woods, legislation in Italy. Types of forest management, factors of instability and adversity of the woods, possibility of intervention for the protection and improvement of the woods. |