Erbaceous Coltural Systems

Academic Year 2018/2019 - 2° Year - Curriculum Produzioni vegetali

Learning Objectives

• Techniques for weed and fertilization management

  Provide in-depth knowledge on the role, functions and absorption of nutrients in cultivated plants, as well as on the biology, ecology, on the role and impact of weeds in agroecosystems.

  Acquire skills in fertilization plans and in fertilizer management techniques, as well as on the weeds management in the main Mediterranean crops by physical, chemical and integrated control.

• Biomass crops for energy production

  Provide knowledge to rational management of biomass crops for energy in the supply chains for bioenergy production from thermoelectric, biogas, bioethanol and biodiesel. The course will also provide knowledge on the subjects necessary for the development of an agro-energy chain: Legislation, Biomass availability, Crop suitability, Logistics, Processes of bioconversion, Processing plant, End use, Sustainability (Energy, Environmental, Economic, Social).

Course Structure

• Techniques for weed and fertilization management

  The course will include lectures, applicative lessons, seminars, case studies, such as fertilization plans and weeding plans for specific crops, and visits to some important agri-food companies.

• Biomass crops for energy production

  Lectures, participated and / or cooperative, analysis of case studies, technical visits and exercises on farm and laboratory.

Detailed Course Content

• Techniques for weed and fertilization management

  Weed Management

  Concept of weed. Adaptation strategies of weeds. Seed-bank. Germination and physiological, environmental and agronomic factors. Population dynamics and agronomic factors affecting them. Damages caused by weeds. Competition between crops and weeds. Critical period of weed competition. Means of weed control, both direct and indirect. Direct means of weed control: mechanical, physical, chemical, biological, ecological and integrated. Herbicides and plant: penetration, translocation, biotransformation, mechanisms of action, selectivity. Environmental dynamics of herbicides. For the most widespread crops in the Mediterranean, will be considered the main weed species and their control techniques.

   

  Fertilization Management

  Concept of fertility. Form and dynamics in agroecosystems of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, calcium and magnesium. Micronutrients. Classification of fertilizers and techniques of administration. Fertilization and product quality. Fertilization environmentally friendly. Fertilization in organic farming. Foliar fertilization. Technical and agronomic principles of fertigation. Writing a fertilization program. Fertilization programs for the main Mediterranean crops.

• Biomass crops for energy production
  • Regional, national and European legislation.
  • Cultivation of energy crops, oilseeds species, sugary/starchy species, lignocellulosic species, other species.
  • Crop residues from field crops, from woody crops, from silvicultural.
  • Logistics.
  • Waste from wood processing, food products.
  • Transformation processes: thermochemical and biochemical.
  • Processing plant for torrefaction, pyrolysis, gasification, combustion, bioethanol, biodiesel, biogas.
  • Sustainability (Energy, Environmental, Economic, Social).
  • Life Cycle Assessment.

Textbook Information

• Techniques for weed and fertilization management

  Testo 1: Giardini L., 2012 – L’Agronomia per conservare il futuro. Patron Editore, Bologna.

  Testo 2: Ceccon P., Fagnano M., Grignani C., Monti M., Orlandini S. (edited by), 2017 – Agronomia. EdiSES, Napoli.

  Testo 3: Perelli M. (edited by), 2009 – Nutrire le piante, trattato di scienza dei fertilizzanti. Arvan.

  Testo 4: Catizone P., Zanin G., 2002 – Malerbologia, Patron Editore, Bologna.

  Notes and schemes of the lessons provided by the teacher and published on STUDIUM.

• Biomass crops for energy production
  1. Teacher's notes.
  2. PowerPoint presentations.