The course aims to provide a depth knowledge about the dynamics of the natural organic matter as well as the nutrients, in order to understand the factors regulating the plant growth, also as a function of the environmental changes leading to new scenarios. At the end of the course the student will have a wide knowledge about the dynamics of organic matter and the nutrients in the agronomic soils, as well as the nutritional properties of the soil-plant system. Moreover, the student will acquire informations about the possible use of organic waste matrices, rough or treated, in order to increase the soil organic component.
Providing knowledge for management soil conservation for a rational soil conservation, fertility maintenance and improvement of production yields and acquire knowledge for managing agricultural and media inputs public health, health and health plant welfare and maintenance of non-renewable resources to meet the needs of society and markets. At the end of the course the student will be able to develop and manage agronomically crop systems through sustainable farming techniques reference to substance management organic soil, at the fertilizer, irrigated techniques, sustainable weed control, alternative sources to fertilizers, the use of biomass crops for the production of bioenergies. It will also be able to build and apply simulation models for the forecasting of development and yield a crop.
The course is made of:
-Frontal lessons (28 hours);
- Application part (28 hours) (laboratory exercitations and/or on field experience) by transferring the theoretical concepts to practical experiences by examples allowing the student to acquire greater mastery of the subject to complete the training process.
If teaching is given in a mixed formula or remotely, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated in order to comply with the provided and reported Syllabus.
Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.
The course will be structured as follows:
If teaching is given in a mixed formula or remotely, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated in order to comply with the provided and reported Syllabus
Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it
Organic matter evolution of the soil; mineralization and humification processes; humic substances; influence of organic matter on the chemical, physical, biological properties of the soil; role of pedofauna and microrganisms in the evolution of soil organic matter; composting process; characteristics and possible use of sewage sludge; analytical methods for the study of soil organic matter.
General Agronomy
Climate Change
Biodiversity loss
Desertification, erosion, salinity
Soil pollution and phytoremediation techniques
Sustainable Agriculture, Organic Agriculture, Regenerative Agriculture
Agroforestry systems
Hedges and areas of ecological interest
Rotations and rotation
Regenerative tillage techniques
Associations, cover crops, and green manure
Assessment of the sustainability of farming systems: Life Cycle Assessment
1. Ciclo della Sostanza Organica del Suolo (P. Nannipieri; Ed. Patron)(2003).
2. Lecture notes.