Agronomy for Mountain Areas

The lerning objectives are:
- to understand the basics of soil functioning, the main bio-geochemical cycles and its ecological role;
- to have a systemic view of the ecological role of the soil and acquire the concepts of homeostasis and resilience aimed at identifying and implementing its protection and enhancement;
- to understand the mechanisms within the soil-cultivated plant system, related to the cycles of the elements and the water cycle;
- to know the general principles of agronomy and techniques for soil cultivation, for the purpose of the sustainability of the modern farm including the improvement of meadows, pastures, and mountain pastures
- to know the meteorological guide variables and their effects on plants and vegetation, agricultural and business systems.

The student will be able:
- to critically read a soil analysis, formulate a judgment and be able to draw up a fertilisation plan;
- to choose the most suitable crops for the mountain environment and recognise the risk factors associated with natural disorders;
- to have a systemic view of the management of soil, water and biodiversity resources in the ecosystem context of the multifunctional farm;
- to optimise the management of agro-ecosystems with a view to sustainability and knowing how to set rational rotations and agronomic consociations, also in the key of the modern agro-forestation of the farm;
- to know how manage the modern tools of knowledge and physical-chemical analysis (sampling, analysis and monitoring of soils and waters) in order to correctly evaluate and draw up balanced plans for agronomic intervention (fertilisation, irrigation and management plans for adventitious plants) and / or weeds);
- to be able to manage and improve the pastures.