AGRONOMIA GENERALE E COLTIVAZIONI ERBACEE

Academic Year 2026/2027 - Teacher: PAOLO GUARNACCIA

Expected Learning Outcomes

At the end of the training course, the student will acquire basic scientific and technical skills in natural factors of plant production and the technical and biological interventions able to regulate them to obtain, from the cultivation of plants, planned production in quantity, quality, and time, while respecting the protection of the environment. In addition, the student will acquire scientific and technical skills on the main herbaceous species of interest for the Mediterranean environment for appropriate knowledge and proper cultivation. By the end of the training course, through a paper and a computer presentation, the student will develop critical skills and judgment for evaluating herbaceous crops. The student can continue his studies and professional activity independently, having acquired valuable skills to design and implement a sustainable and productive agroecosystem.

In particular, at the end of the course, the students will be able to:

1. demonstrate the knowledge and understanding of the basics of agronomy and field crops, with particular regard to environment-agriculture relationships and agroecological models for the transition of agriculture towards sustainability and possible strategies for climate change mitigation;

2. apply knowledge and understanding skills with a professional approach, and demonstrate adequate skills to support arguments aimed at solving problems relating to anthropic action on agroecosystems and the definition and application of agroecological strategies and tactics able to optimize the productive response of crops and maximize ecosystem services, at the scale of the field, farm and territory;

3. collect and interpret data and information aimed at autonomously analyzing the dynamics, processes and effects of the management that are carried out within the agroecosystems in the Mediterranean environment, critically assessing their environmental and social impact and any scientific and ethical implications, as well as the identification of models, methods and tools for the design and management of resilient and regenerative agroecosystems;

4. communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions relating to topics of agronomic interest to specialists and non-specialists, using an agroecological approach;

5. develop, with specific reference to the discipline topics, learning skills that allow them to continue their university studies in subsequent cycles with a high degree of autonomy.

Course Structure

During the course, students will prepare a paper on a specific topic of the programme, individually or in groups. The paper will be presented during the exercises towards the end of the course. The final examination is oral and includes the recognition of herbaceous seeds, discussion of the paper and further questions on other topics foreseen in the course. The learning verification can also be done online, if conditions require it.

Information for students with disabilities and/or learning disorders.

As a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current regulations, students can ask for a personal interview to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures based on their specific needs and on the learning objectives of the discipline. It is also possible to refer to the departmental contacts of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Inclusion - Services for Disabilities and/or learning disorders). If conditions require teaching given in a hybrid mode or remotely, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated to comply with the program.

Required Prerequisites

General biology knowledge.

Attendance of Lessons

Attendance is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended.

Detailed Course Content

General agronomy: history of agriculture; agriculture and environment; plant production, the quality of agri-food products and the factors influencing it; the concept of ecosystem and agro-ecosystem; climate: classifications, The main elements, and relationships with agricultural plant production; plant growth, development, and productivity; farmland and its intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics; soil organic matter; the concept of fertility; the functions of agricultural land habitability and measures to regulate them: mass, heat, softness, hygiene conditions; soil working; water-soil relations; irrigation and quality of irrigated waters; drought management; water management and hydro-agricultural arrangements; crop rotation; sustainable cropping systems; control of spontaneous flora; nutrition of the agricultural soil; propagation of cultivated plants and characteristics of the breeding body.

Field crops: economic importance of arable crops; classification criteria and methods; cereals: common and durum wheat; barley, maize, sorghum, rice, minor cereals, pseudo-cereals; grain legumes: bean, chickpea, lentil, bean, lupin, chipper, pea, soya; oilseeds crops: rape, sunflower, brassica; field vegetables: artichoke, potato, tomato; fibre crops: flax, hemp, cotton; biomass for energy crops.

Textbook Information

- Teaching materials of the teacher

- Giardini L., 2012. L’agronomia per conservare il futuro. Pàtron.

- Ceccon P., Fagnano M., Grignani C., Monti M., Orlandini S. (editors), 2017. Agronomia. EdiSES

- Mosca G e Reyneri A. (editors), 2023. Coltivazioni erbacee. Edagricole - Università e Formazione

Course Planning

	Subjects	Text References
1	History of agriculture. Agriculture and the environment.	Teaching material provided by the teacher
2	Concept of ecosystem and agroecosystem. Modifications induced by human interventions in the agroecosystem.	Teaching material provided by the teacher
3	Yield and its components. The quality of agri-food products and the factors that influence it.	Teaching material provided by the teacher
4	The atmosphere. Definition, classification, factors and elements of climate. Solar radiation, temperature, precipitation and their relationship to cultivated plants.	Teaching material provided by the teacher
5	Soil intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics. Habitability functions: mass, heat, softness, hygienic conditions. Water-soil relations. Soil hydraulic-agricultural arrangements. Dryland farming. Irrigation. Organic matter of the soil and the concept of fertility. Soil tillage.	Teaching material provided by the teacher
6	Soil nutritional functions. Nutrients. Fertilization. Management of spontaneous flora.	Teaching material provided by the teacher
7	The reproductive body: intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics. Choice of the reproductive body. Crop rotation and its environmental significance. Sustainable crop systems.	Teaching material provided by the teacher
8	Economic importance of herbaceous crops. Criteria and methods of classification.	Teaching material provided by the teacher
9	Cereals: wheat, barley, maize, sorghum, rice, minor cereals, pseudo-cereals.	Teaching material provided by the teacher
10	Legumes: fava, chickpea, lentil, bean, lupin, cicerchia, pea, soya.	Teaching material provided by the teacher
11	Oilseeds: rape, sunflower, sesame, flax.	Teaching material provided by the teacher
12	Vegetables: artichoke, potato, tomato.	Teaching material provided by the teacher
13	Fibre crops: flax, hemp, cotton	Teaching material provided by the teacher
14	Biomass crops for energy.	Teaching material provided by the teacher

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

The assessment of learning will be carried out through an oral interview.

The assessment of student preparation will be based on the following criteria:

- Knowledge and understanding of the topic

- Analytical, synthesis, and exposure skills

- Ability to reason through a systematic approach

- Appropriate use of references

The student evaluation will be carried out according to the following grid:

Not suitable: insufficient knowledge and ability

18-20: Sufficient knowledge

21-23: Discrete knowledge and skills

24-26: Good knowledge and skills

27-29: Distinct knowledge and skills

30-30 and praise: excellent knowledge and skills

Learning assessment may also be carried out online if conditions require it.

To ensure equal opportunities and comply with current laws, students may request a personal interview to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures based on educational objectives and specific needs. Students can also contact the CInAP (Centro per l’integrazione Attiva e Partecipata — Servizi per le Disabilità e/o DSA) through the referring professor within the Di3A department (https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti).

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

General agronomy:

1. Ecosystem and agroecosystem.

2. Characteristics of the soil.

3, Conditions of habitability of the soil.

4. Water-soil relations.

5. Factors and elements of the climate.

6. Hydraulic-agricultural arrangements.

7. Control of spontaneous flora.

8. Dry farming.

9. Irrigation

10. Plant nutrition.

Herbaceous crops:

1. Diffusion, economic and agricultural importance of a crop.

2. Botanical description and main phenological stages.

3. Cultivation techniques.

4. Main varieties and yields.

5. Harvest time and use of the product.

Degree Course in

Management of Mediterranean agricultural production systems