Agricultural Chemistry
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
Unit 1: To give the basis for the knowledge of the physiological and biochemical mechanisms of plants with particular attention to metabolism, photosynthesis, mineral nutrition and water relationship.
Unit 2: Soil characteristic to define soil fertility and soil use producing crops. Students wil acquire information about soil fertility in order to define a fertilization plan.
Unit 2: Soil characteristic to define soil fertility and soil use producing crops. Students wil acquire information about soil fertility in order to define a fertilization plan.
Expected learning outcomes
Unit 1: The course of Biochemistry and Plant Physiology completes the knowledge acquired in the first year. In particular it will give competence on the structure, organization and function of the plant system both at the physiological and biochemical level and on the interaction with the environment.
Unit 2: Knowledge of chemical, physical and biological properties of soil and their relationships. Soil analysis interpretation and predisposition of a fertilizer plan.
Unit 2: Knowledge of chemical, physical and biological properties of soil and their relationships. Soil analysis interpretation and predisposition of a fertilizer plan.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Prerequisites for admission
It is very useful that the student has acquired knowledge and understanding of the notions related to the courses of Botany, General and Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The learning shall be carried out by means of a two test.
Teaching unit: biochemistry and plant physiology
The oral examination is structured in 5 open questions on different subjects of the course and lasts 30 minutes. Each question is evaluated with a score from 0/30 to 6/30. The overall score is given by the sum of each application ones. For the evaluation are considered different aspects, such as the accuracy of the response, the terminology used to define the process and the level of depth of the answer.
Teaching unit: Agricultural chemistry
The written test consisting in 3 open questions and 5 multi-choice questions. Each open question will be evaluated with a score from 0/30 to 5/30 while the multi choice will be evaluated with a score from 0/30 to 3/30. The overall score is given by the sum of each score. The outcome of the written test will be communicated by email.
Teaching unit: biochemistry and plant physiology
The oral examination is structured in 5 open questions on different subjects of the course and lasts 30 minutes. Each question is evaluated with a score from 0/30 to 6/30. The overall score is given by the sum of each application ones. For the evaluation are considered different aspects, such as the accuracy of the response, the terminology used to define the process and the level of depth of the answer.
Teaching unit: Agricultural chemistry
The written test consisting in 3 open questions and 5 multi-choice questions. Each open question will be evaluated with a score from 0/30 to 5/30 while the multi choice will be evaluated with a score from 0/30 to 3/30. The overall score is given by the sum of each score. The outcome of the written test will be communicated by email.
Plant physiology and biochemistry
Course syllabus
Amino acids. Protein: structures and functions (0.5 CFU).
Principles of bioenergetics and thermodynamics. Phosphoryl group Transfers and ATP - Biological oxidation-reduction reactions. Kinetics of enzymatic catalysis. Michaelis-Menten's equation. Regulation of enzyme-catalyzed reactions (0.75 CFU).
Glycolysis and fermentation. Energy yield of glycolysis. The TCA cycle. Electron flux and oxidative phosphorylation. Energy yield of respiration. The pentose-P pathway (1 CFU).
Chemistry and physiology of photosynthetic pigments - Pigment light excitation and de-excitation - Photosynthetic units: photosystem I and photosystem II - Photosynthetic electron flow and photophosphorylation - Calvin cycle - Photorespiration - C3, C4 and CAM pathways for carbon dioxide fixation. Sucrose and starch biosynthesis. Eco-physiological aspects of photosynthesis (1 CFU).
Transport in plant cells. Chemical and electrochemical potentials. Diffusion, active and passive transport. The Nernst's equation. Carriers and ion channels. Role of the PM H+-ATPase (0.5 CFU).
Water chemical-physical properties. Water potential components. Root water absorption and xylem translocation. Plant transpiration: driving forces; stomatal regulation. Plant water balance. Translocation in the phloem (0.75 CFU).
The plant mineral nutrition. Physiological function of essential macro- and micro-nutrients. Nitrogen and sulphur reductive assimilations (0.75 CFU).
The secondary metabolism (0.25 CFU).
Plant hormones and plant growth regulators: physiological aspects and a brief introduction of their action mechanism (0.5 CFU).
Principles of bioenergetics and thermodynamics. Phosphoryl group Transfers and ATP - Biological oxidation-reduction reactions. Kinetics of enzymatic catalysis. Michaelis-Menten's equation. Regulation of enzyme-catalyzed reactions (0.75 CFU).
Glycolysis and fermentation. Energy yield of glycolysis. The TCA cycle. Electron flux and oxidative phosphorylation. Energy yield of respiration. The pentose-P pathway (1 CFU).
Chemistry and physiology of photosynthetic pigments - Pigment light excitation and de-excitation - Photosynthetic units: photosystem I and photosystem II - Photosynthetic electron flow and photophosphorylation - Calvin cycle - Photorespiration - C3, C4 and CAM pathways for carbon dioxide fixation. Sucrose and starch biosynthesis. Eco-physiological aspects of photosynthesis (1 CFU).
Transport in plant cells. Chemical and electrochemical potentials. Diffusion, active and passive transport. The Nernst's equation. Carriers and ion channels. Role of the PM H+-ATPase (0.5 CFU).
Water chemical-physical properties. Water potential components. Root water absorption and xylem translocation. Plant transpiration: driving forces; stomatal regulation. Plant water balance. Translocation in the phloem (0.75 CFU).
The plant mineral nutrition. Physiological function of essential macro- and micro-nutrients. Nitrogen and sulphur reductive assimilations (0.75 CFU).
The secondary metabolism (0.25 CFU).
Plant hormones and plant growth regulators: physiological aspects and a brief introduction of their action mechanism (0.5 CFU).
Teaching methods
Lectures.
Teaching Resources
- Taiz L., Zeiger E. Moller I.M. Plant Physiology and Development, Sixth Edition. ISBN-13: 978 1605353531
- Slides available on ARIEL website
- Slides available on ARIEL website
Soil chemistry
Course syllabus
The course introduces what soil is and which is its role in plant growth. Course will consider the different soil constituents and their role in defining soil fertility. In particular, all aspects relating to the soil will be studied: physical-chemical aspects such as pH and redox potential Cation-exchange capacity and adsorption. Air-soil and water-soil interaction will also be studied. Microelements and nutrients present in the soil will also be considered as well as the biological aspects of the soil and the biogeochemical cycles.
Teaching methods
Lectures.
Teaching Resources
Text book:
- Chimica Agraria, Violante, EDAGRICOLE
- Fondamenti di chimica del suolo, Sequi, Ciavatta, Miano; Pàtron Editore
- Slides available on Ariel webside
- Chimica Agraria, Violante, EDAGRICOLE
- Fondamenti di chimica del suolo, Sequi, Ciavatta, Miano; Pàtron Editore
- Slides available on Ariel webside
Plant physiology and biochemistry
AGR/13 - AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 48 hours
Professor:
Espen Luca
Soil chemistry
AGR/13 - AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY - University credits: 4
Lessons: 32 hours
Professor:
Scaglia Barbara
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
On Fridays from 9.00 to 12.00 or by appointment.
At the office or via MS Teams.
Reception:
to take an appointment
office- DISAA