Agronomy for Mountain Areas
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The teaching of Mountain Agronomy has the general objective to:
- understand the bases of soil functioning, the main bio-geochemical cycles and its ecological role;
- know the internal mechanisms of the soil-cultivated plant system, relating to the cycles of the elements and the water cycle
- understand the structure of agroecosystems and the functional processes that link its various components (soil, atmosphere, cultivated plant)
- evaluate the main agronomic practices (crop management, hydraulic management, soil fertility and biological adversities) in relation to their effectiveness and environmental sustainability
- translate the knowledge acquired into practice relative to mountain agroecosystems, their specificity and the key elements for the enhancement of local agricultural production.
- understand the bases of soil functioning, the main bio-geochemical cycles and its ecological role;
- know the internal mechanisms of the soil-cultivated plant system, relating to the cycles of the elements and the water cycle
- understand the structure of agroecosystems and the functional processes that link its various components (soil, atmosphere, cultivated plant)
- evaluate the main agronomic practices (crop management, hydraulic management, soil fertility and biological adversities) in relation to their effectiveness and environmental sustainability
- translate the knowledge acquired into practice relative to mountain agroecosystems, their specificity and the key elements for the enhancement of local agricultural production.
Expected learning outcomes
Through the teaching, students will be able to:
- Illustrate the components of an agro-ecosystem (soil, atmosphere and cultivated plant) and their functional relationships.
- Describe the historical evolution of agriculture and its current role in the sustainable development agenda (e.g., Agenda 2030, new EU agricultural policy, climate change adaptation and mitigation)
- To characterize an agricultural territory from the agrometeorological point of view considering the meteo-climatic (radiation, temperature, precipitation) and edaphic factors (chemical-physical-biological and hydraulic characteristics of the soils).
- Describe the main agronomic management techniques (spatial and temporal organization of the crop system, hydraulic-agricultural arrangements, soil processing, fertilization, drainage and irrigation, interventions on biological adversities, digital agriculture)
- Evaluate different agronomic management techniques in relation to production objectives and potential short and long-term environmental impacts (e.g., energy / water consumption, pollution, soil degradation, biodiversity loss)
- Use basic quantitative agronomic data (chemical-physical analysis of soil / water / atmosphere and biological, plant production) for the evaluation of the most suitable agronomic techniques.
- Draw up a fertilization and irrigation plan.
- Illustrate the components of an agro-ecosystem (soil, atmosphere and cultivated plant) and their functional relationships.
- Describe the historical evolution of agriculture and its current role in the sustainable development agenda (e.g., Agenda 2030, new EU agricultural policy, climate change adaptation and mitigation)
- To characterize an agricultural territory from the agrometeorological point of view considering the meteo-climatic (radiation, temperature, precipitation) and edaphic factors (chemical-physical-biological and hydraulic characteristics of the soils).
- Describe the main agronomic management techniques (spatial and temporal organization of the crop system, hydraulic-agricultural arrangements, soil processing, fertilization, drainage and irrigation, interventions on biological adversities, digital agriculture)
- Evaluate different agronomic management techniques in relation to production objectives and potential short and long-term environmental impacts (e.g., energy / water consumption, pollution, soil degradation, biodiversity loss)
- Use basic quantitative agronomic data (chemical-physical analysis of soil / water / atmosphere and biological, plant production) for the evaluation of the most suitable agronomic techniques.
- Draw up a fertilization and irrigation 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
Course syllabus
-AGRONOMY AND CROPS IN THE MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT
Agroecology principles. Ecosystem Services. Sustainability and Agenda 2030. Analysis of the farming system. The farm: its properties and functions. Farm typologies: conventional, integrated, organic. Applied Agrometeorology and biogeochemical processes. Agronomic optimization of the crop in space and time (crop rotation, agroforestry), agronomic plans (soil preparation and tillage, sowing/planting, irrigation, stress management, fertilization), harvesting and conserving the products. Climate change adaptation, mitigation and resilience. Introduction to digital agriculture. Some examples of herbaceous and minor crops in mountain regions.
-SOIL CHEMISTRY
-Soil definition: the soil as an open system. -The main soil functions: productive function, protective function, naturalistic function. -The soil as a three-phase system: solid, liquid and gas phase. -Minerals and rocks: non-silicate minerals, classification and structure of silicate minerals. Processes of mineral alteration. -Alteration of phyllosilicates: clays. Structure of clays: 1: 1 clays, 2: 1 clays, heterovalent isomorphic substitutions. -The soil physical properties: real and apparent texture, structure, density and porosity. - Organic matter: non-humic component and humic component, accumulation and consumption processes in relation to soil fertility. Role in soil fertility. - Soil chemical properties: adsorption and exchange: main theories; the characteristics and composition of the soil exchange complex, degree of basic saturation, specific and non-specific cationic and anionic adsorption-The soil / water ratios. - Soil / air relationships: soil as a respiratory system - Red-ox potential of the soil. -pH current and potential. Acid, saline, sodium, submerged soils. Soils with abnormal pH and their correction. Biogeochemical cycles: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur and other meso and micro elements in relation to availability in the soil. - Fertilizers, soil improvers and corrective agents.
Agroecology principles. Ecosystem Services. Sustainability and Agenda 2030. Analysis of the farming system. The farm: its properties and functions. Farm typologies: conventional, integrated, organic. Applied Agrometeorology and biogeochemical processes. Agronomic optimization of the crop in space and time (crop rotation, agroforestry), agronomic plans (soil preparation and tillage, sowing/planting, irrigation, stress management, fertilization), harvesting and conserving the products. Climate change adaptation, mitigation and resilience. Introduction to digital agriculture. Some examples of herbaceous and minor crops in mountain regions.
-SOIL CHEMISTRY
-Soil definition: the soil as an open system. -The main soil functions: productive function, protective function, naturalistic function. -The soil as a three-phase system: solid, liquid and gas phase. -Minerals and rocks: non-silicate minerals, classification and structure of silicate minerals. Processes of mineral alteration. -Alteration of phyllosilicates: clays. Structure of clays: 1: 1 clays, 2: 1 clays, heterovalent isomorphic substitutions. -The soil physical properties: real and apparent texture, structure, density and porosity. - Organic matter: non-humic component and humic component, accumulation and consumption processes in relation to soil fertility. Role in soil fertility. - Soil chemical properties: adsorption and exchange: main theories; the characteristics and composition of the soil exchange complex, degree of basic saturation, specific and non-specific cationic and anionic adsorption-The soil / water ratios. - Soil / air relationships: soil as a respiratory system - Red-ox potential of the soil. -pH current and potential. Acid, saline, sodium, submerged soils. Soils with abnormal pH and their correction. Biogeochemical cycles: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur and other meso and micro elements in relation to availability in the soil. - Fertilizers, soil improvers and corrective agents.
Prerequisites for admission
-AGRONOMY AND CROPS IN THE MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT
Knowledge in Ecology, Botany, Biology
-SOIL CHEMISTRY
Knowledge in Inorganic and Organic chemistry
Knowledge in Ecology, Botany, Biology
-SOIL CHEMISTRY
Knowledge in Inorganic and Organic chemistry
Teaching methods
-AGRONOMY AND CROPS IN THE MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT
Conventional lecture, project-based learning, group work, process simulation, field visits (when possible), complex phenomena discussion for critical thinking development
-SOIL CHEMISTRY
Lectures
Conventional lecture, project-based learning, group work, process simulation, field visits (when possible), complex phenomena discussion for critical thinking development
-SOIL CHEMISTRY
Lectures
Teaching Resources
-AGRONOMY AND CROPS IN THE MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT
Agronomia. EdiSES edizioni, 2017, a cura di P.Ceccon et al.
Agronomia. Ed. Poseidonia, Bocchi S. Spigarolo R. 2019
Agroecology. The Ecology of Sustainable Food Systrems. CRC Press. Gliessman S.R.
-SOIL CHEMISTRY
Principles of Soil Chemistry, CRC Press; Author: Kim H.. The book is available at the library of the faculty. Slides on ARIEL
Agronomia. EdiSES edizioni, 2017, a cura di P.Ceccon et al.
Agronomia. Ed. Poseidonia, Bocchi S. Spigarolo R. 2019
Agroecology. The Ecology of Sustainable Food Systrems. CRC Press. Gliessman S.R.
-SOIL CHEMISTRY
Principles of Soil Chemistry, CRC Press; Author: Kim H.. The book is available at the library of the faculty. Slides on ARIEL
Assessment methods and Criteria
-AGRONOMY AND CROPS IN THE MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT
At the end of the course, an evaluation of the group work will me made. Furthermore, a final written and oral exam will be conducted.
-SOIL CHEMISTRY
The written exam consists of 3 open questions. A maximum score of 10 points will be applied to each question. The vote is expressed out of thirty. The exam will last 2 hours.
THE FINAL MARK IS CALCULATED BY USING THE WEIGHTED AVERAGE (DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF CREDITS) OF THE VOTES OBTAINED IN THE 2 SINGLE MODULES
At the end of the course, an evaluation of the group work will me made. Furthermore, a final written and oral exam will be conducted.
-SOIL CHEMISTRY
The written exam consists of 3 open questions. A maximum score of 10 points will be applied to each question. The vote is expressed out of thirty. The exam will last 2 hours.
THE FINAL MARK IS CALCULATED BY USING THE WEIGHTED AVERAGE (DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF CREDITS) OF THE VOTES OBTAINED IN THE 2 SINGLE MODULES
AGR/02 - AGRONOMY AND FIELD CROPS
AGR/13 - AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY
AGR/13 - AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY
Field activity: 20 hours
Practicals: 12 hours
Lessons: 80 hours
Practicals: 12 hours
Lessons: 80 hours
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
please send me an e-mail
Department of Environmental Science and Policy (ESP), Via Celoria 10, Milano
Reception:
appointment by e-mail
DiSAA - soil chemistry section - I Floor - office 1011