The course aims to provide a deep knowledge on forage crops and forage systems in semi-arid Mediterranean environment. The acquired skills will allow the student to manage the production process in order to improve the farm feed self-sufficiency, the increase of forage supply and the quality of forage production in relation to the social, economic, cultural, ecological and landscape context in which the farm operates. In order to reach this goals, the study will cover the establishment of temporary grasslands, their productivity and quality; the qualitative and quantitative characterization of permanent grasslands and pastures, their management and possible improvement; the organization of stable and balanced forage systems at farm and regional scale.
The course will be structured as follows: