Crop production

Learning Objectives

• Agronomy and field crops

  The aim of this course is to provide the basic knowledge and skills about the environmental, biological and agronomic factors that may affect the yield and quality of herbaceous crops.

• Fruit tree crops

  The course aims to provide students with the knowledge necessary to assess the quality of fruit products. The topics treated are related to the fruit metabolism during the growth, maturation and storage processes. The course is composed by a general and a special part. In the first part, fruit quality characteristics and pre-harvest and post-harvest techniques that may affect it are dissected; in the special part the qualitative traits and the fruit physiology of the most important fruit crops are discussed

Course Structure

• Agronomy and field crops

  Lessons (28 hours) and hands-on activities (28 hours) by case studies and/or seminars, also on line.

  If teaching is performed in mixed mode or remotely, specific changes to the program outlined in the Syllabus may need to be made​.

   

  Information for students with disabilities and/or DSA
  As a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline. It is also possible to ask the departmental contacts of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs), in the persons of professors Giovanna Tropea Garzia and Anna De Angelis.

• Fruit tree crops

  The course consists in 28 hours of lectures and 28 hours of practical activities (case studies, seminars, technical visit). Lessons could be held through videoconference if needed. If teaching will be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus. Similarly, exames might also be carried out on line.
  As a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline. It is also possible to ask the departmental contacts of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or learning disorders), in the persons of professors Giovanna Tropea Garzia and Anna De Angelis.

Detailed Course Content

• Agronomy and field crops
  • Objectives and contents of the module. Ecosystem and agroecosystem concepts.
  • The agricultural plant production and the influence of the biotic and abiotic factors. The characteristics of production: product categories, yield, harvest index, harvest time, destination and product quality.
  • Classification of the qualitative characteristics for foodstuffs. Role of natural factors (soil, atmosphere, plant) and agronomic management (cultivar choice, fertilization, irrigation, crop protection) on the quality of plant production.
  • Main aspects (economic-agricultural significance, botanical characteristics, biology, environmental requirements), cultivation technique, product utilization and quality characteristics of the following herbaceous crops for the Mediterranean environment:
    • Cereals and pseudo-cereals (wheat, barley, buckwheat)
    • Leguminous crops (lentil, chickpea, bean, pea)
    • Sunflower
    • Open field crops (potato, globe artichoke)
    • Industrial crops (tomato)
• Fruit tree crops

  General part

  • Notes of organography and morphology of fruit trees
  • Botanical and commercial classification of fruits
  • Fruit quality
  • Fruiting process and ripening physiology
  • Cold treatment and storage of fruits

  Special part

  • Citrus
  • Olive
  • Apple and pear
  • Stone fruits
  • Table grape
  • Strawberry
  • Tropical and sub-tropical fruits
  • Kiwifruit
  • Minor fruit species
  • Dried fruits

Textbook Information

• Agronomy and field crops
  1. Giardini L. A come Agronomia. Pàtron Ed.
  2. Baldoni R., Giardini L. (coord.). Coltivazioni erbacee – Cereali e proteaginose. Pàtron Ed.
  3. Baldoni R., Giardini L. (coord.). Coltivazioni erbacee – Piante oleifere, da zucchero, da fibra, orticole ed aromatiche. Pàtron Ed.

  Didactic materials provided by the professor (lecture notes, PowerPoint presentations) in the website http://studium.unict.it

• Fruit tree crops
  1. Gestione della qualità e conservazione dei prodotti frutticoli, a cura di G. Colelli e P. Inglese. Edagricole 2020
  2. Principi di arboricoltura. A cura di Peano, C. e Sottile F. Edises, 2019

  Didactic materials provided by the professor (lecture notes) in the website http://studium.unict.it