Agricultural Systems and Soil Science
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course will start from the definition of agroecosystems and will then focus on their components (crops, soil and atmosphere) and their interactions. First, atmospheric variables will be described and quantified, and their impact on crop development and growth will be defined. Second, the soil chemical, physical, and biological properties will be defined, as well as their impact on crop growth and on processes of interest for environmental preservation. Finally, the crop water balance and the basic elements about irrigation will be presented.
All these contents will help students to get acquainted with agroecosystems from a functional point of view, and - together with the class of Ecology - will lie down the bases to be used in subsequent classes to understand the practical applications of plants and soils in forestry, nature-based solutions, water management, and environmental remediation.
Most of the contents will be delivered via lectures, integrated with short sessions dedicated to calculations.
All these contents will help students to get acquainted with agroecosystems from a functional point of view, and - together with the class of Ecology - will lie down the bases to be used in subsequent classes to understand the practical applications of plants and soils in forestry, nature-based solutions, water management, and environmental remediation.
Most of the contents will be delivered via lectures, integrated with short sessions dedicated to calculations.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding. The students will:
· know and understand the basic characteristics of atmosphere and soil.
· know and understand the processes of the soil-crop-atmosphere system that affect crop growth and development, and those that are of environmental interest.
Applying knowledge and understanding. The students will be able to:
· understand the interactions among soil, crop and atmosphere for a given agroecosystem.
· run simple calculations about crop growth and development in response to fundamental soil and atmospheric properties.
· understand how soil, crop, and atmosphere can impact the processes of environmental interest.
· know and understand the basic characteristics of atmosphere and soil.
· know and understand the processes of the soil-crop-atmosphere system that affect crop growth and development, and those that are of environmental interest.
Applying knowledge and understanding. The students will be able to:
· understand the interactions among soil, crop and atmosphere for a given agroecosystem.
· run simple calculations about crop growth and development in response to fundamental soil and atmospheric properties.
· understand how soil, crop, and atmosphere can impact the processes of environmental interest.
Lesson period: First semester
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Soil definition: the soil as an open system. 1 CFU -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 salteration. -Alteration of phyllosilicates: clays. Structure of clays: 1: 1 clays, 2: 1 clays, heterovalent isomorphic substitutions.
-The soil physical properties: 1 CFU. 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: (1 CFU). 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. - Fertilization plans. - Soil analysis with laboratory exercises.
Agricultural system
1) The agro-ecosystem concept. Lectures 1 CFU.
Agro-ecosystem definition and characteristics: driving variables, input and externalities. Different types of agro-ecosystems. Principles of agroecology and regenerative agriculture. Conventional farming, organic farming, conservation agriculture, agroforestry.
2) Agrometeorology. Lectures 1 CFU.
Sun radiation, temperature, rain. Reference, crop and actual evapotranspiration. The soil-plant hydrological balance.
3) principles of cropping system management. Lectures 1 CFU
Mineral fertilization. Organic fertilization. Irrigation thecniques and planning. Drainage systems. Crop rotation and intercropping. Crop protection against weeds.
There are not differences between the attending and non-attending students
-The soil physical properties: 1 CFU. 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: (1 CFU). 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. - Fertilization plans. - Soil analysis with laboratory exercises.
Agricultural system
1) The agro-ecosystem concept. Lectures 1 CFU.
Agro-ecosystem definition and characteristics: driving variables, input and externalities. Different types of agro-ecosystems. Principles of agroecology and regenerative agriculture. Conventional farming, organic farming, conservation agriculture, agroforestry.
2) Agrometeorology. Lectures 1 CFU.
Sun radiation, temperature, rain. Reference, crop and actual evapotranspiration. The soil-plant hydrological balance.
3) principles of cropping system management. Lectures 1 CFU
Mineral fertilization. Organic fertilization. Irrigation thecniques and planning. Drainage systems. Crop rotation and intercropping. Crop protection against weeds.
There are not differences between the attending and non-attending students
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledges of mathematic, physic and computer science
Teaching methods
The course is composed by lectures and practical activities. Lectures are supported by slides, available for student's download. Practical activities will be carried out in the field, in laboratory and in computer room
Teaching Resources
Slides of the course, available in ARIEL. There is not specific material for not-attending students
Assessment methods and Criteria
written examination consisting in 4 open question. 2 question will be on soil science and 2 on agricultural systems. expected lengh of the replies is about 200 words. A maximum score of 5 points will be applied to each question. The vote is expressed out of thirty. The exam will last 2 hours. The calculator can be used. There are not differences between the attending and non-attending students.
Students with SLD or disability certifications are kindly requested to contact the teacher at least 15 days before the date of the exam session to agree on individual exam requirements. In the email please make sure to add in cc the competent offices: [email protected] (for students with SLD) o [email protected] (for students with disability).
Students with SLD or disability certifications are kindly requested to contact the teacher at least 15 days before the date of the exam session to agree on individual exam requirements. In the email please make sure to add in cc the competent offices: [email protected] (for students with SLD) o [email protected] (for students with disability).
AGR/02 - AGRONOMY AND FIELD CROPS - University credits: 6
Lessons: 48 hours
Professors:
Acutis Marco, Adani Fabrizio
Shifts:
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)