VIVAISMO ORTOFLORICOLO
Academic Year 2026/2027 - Teacher: FERDINANDO BRANCAExpected Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will have the knowledge necessary for managing nursery operations for the main horticultural and ornamental plants, through an analysis of the agronomic factors and techniques that contribute to the planning and implementation of nursery production, including with reference to new technical trends in the sector.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding abilities:
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to professionally apply their knowledge and understanding to the proper planning and management of nursery operations, ensuring environmental and economic sustainability in the diverse soil and climate conditions and socioeconomic conditions of Italy's specialized nursery areas.
Making judgments:
Students will be able to collect and interpret nursery data necessary to formulate judgments for the ongoing updating of their skills in professional nursery techniques.
Communication skills:
By the end of the course, students will be able to interact with industry professionals at various levels for a proper and fruitful exchange of scientific and technical knowledge and to conduct a comprehensive analysis of business conditions that can make horticultural nursery practices sustainable in various soil and climate, economic, and social contexts.
Learning skills:
By the end of the course, students will have developed the learning skills necessary to independently address issues related to horticultural nursery practices at a professional level.
Course Structure
Class, laboratory and field activities (28 hours).
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 in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on 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 previously stated in order to comply with the program.
Course Structure
Exercises, case studies, seminars, and visits to horticultural processing companies (28 hours). If the course is taught in a blended or distance learning format, any necessary changes to the previously stated curriculum may be made in order to comply with the planned program outlined in the syllabus.
Required Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of biology, chemistry and mathematics.
Attendance of Lessons
Attending the classes is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended, as numerous case studies are covered to understand the practical aspects of the topics covered.
Attendance is collected for statistical purposes only.
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
Characteristics of vegetable and flower nursery.
Structures and tools for nursery production.
Growing Substrates (physical, chemical, and biological characteristics; main substrates; regulatory requirements and substrate analysis)
Containers (materials, shape, and dimensions)
Gamic propagation, the choice of material for propagation (seed characteristics, germination requirements, seed dormancy, pre-germination treatments, seed and seedling quality)
Vegetative propagation (description and production techniques for tubers, rhizomes, bulbs, bulb-tubers, cuttings, micropropagated plants, and grafted plants)
Irrigation and nutrition of nursery plants
Textbook Information
1) Scariot V., De Pascale S., Ferrante A., Romano D., Florovivaismo – Principi e tecniche, Edagricole Bologna
2) Incrocci L., Malorgio F., Massa D., Pardossi A., Colture fuori suolo - Idroponica e coltivazione in substrato, Edagricole Bologna
3) Cattivello C., Zaccheo P., I substrati di coltivazione, Edagricole, Bologna
4) Lecture notes and handouts provided by the teacher
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Overview of horticultural nursery (definition, importance and characteristics) 1 and 4 | |
| 2 | Plants and structures for nursery activity 1 and 4 | |
| 3 | Growing substrates (physical, chemical and biological characteristics; the main substrates; regulatory requirements and substrate analysis) 2 and 4; 3 for further information | |
| 4 | Containers (materials, shape and size) 2 and 4 | |
| 5 | Propagation of horticultural species by gametic means (seed characteristics, germination requirements, seed dormancy, pre-germination treatments, seed and seedling quality) 1 and 4 |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
The exam includes an oral exam requiring a presentation on a topic agreed upon with the instructor.To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with applicable laws, interested students may request a personal interview to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their learning objectives and specific needs.Students may also contact the CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Inclusion - Services for Disabilities and/or DSA) contact instructor in our Department.Learning assessments may also be conducted online, if circumstances require. To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with applicable laws, interested students may request a personal interview to plan any compensatory and/or extenuating measures, based on their learning objectives and specific needs. Students may also contact the Department's CinAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration — Services for Disabilities and/or DSA) contact teacher (https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti).
Voto | Italiano | Inglese |
Non idoneo | Conoscenza e comprensione argomento: significative carenze e imprecisioni Capacità di analisi e sintesi: irrilevanti, frequenti generalizzazioni Utilizzo di referenze: completamente inappropriato | Knowledge and understanding of the topic: significant shortcomings and inaccuracies Ability to analyze and synthesize:irrelevant with frequent generalizations Use of references: completely inappropriate |
18-20 | Conoscenza e comprensione argomento: molto modesto, imperfezioni evidenti Capacità di analisi e sintesi: appena sufficienti Utilizzo di referenze: appena appropriato | Knowledge and understanding of the topic: very modest with evident imperfections Analysis and synthesis skills: barely adequate Use of references: just appropriate |
21-23 | Conoscenza e comprensione argomento: conoscenza poco più che sufficiente Capacità di analisi e sintesi: discreta capacità di analisi e sintesi, argomenta in modo logico e coerente Utilizzo di referenze: utilizza le referenze standard | Knowledge and understanding of the topic: knowledge is slightly above the minimum acceptable level Ability to analyze and synthesize: a fair bility to analyze and synthesize information, presenting arguments in a logical and coherent manner Using references: use standard references |
24-26 | Conoscenza e comprensione argomento: conoscenza buona Capacità di analisi e sintesi: ha buone capacità di analisi e di sintesi buone, gli argomenti sono esposti coerentemente Utilizzo di referenze: utilizza le referenze standard | Knowledge and understanding of the topic: good knowledge Analysis and synthesis skills: good analytical and synthesis abilities, arguments are presented consistently Using references: use of standard references |
27-29 | Conoscenza e comprensione argomento: conoscenza più che buona Capacità di analisi e sintesi: ha notevoli capacità di analisi e di sintesi Utilizzo di referenze: ha approfondito gli argomenti | Knowledge and understanding of the topic: knowledge more than good Ability to analyze and synthesize:considerable abilities of analysis and synthesis Use of references: the topic has been explored in depth |
30-30 e lode | Conoscenza e comprensione argomento: conoscenza ottima Capacità di analisi e sintesi: ha notevoli capacità di analisi e di sintesi Utilizzo di referenze: significativi approfondimenti | Knowledge and understanding of the topic: excellent knowledge Ability to analyze and synthesize:excellent abilities of analysis and synthesis Use of references: important insights |
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
1. Hydrological characteristics of a growing medium
2. Propagation by cuttings: chemical treatments to promote rooting
3. Seed treatments
4. Calculating irrigation frequency using sensors measuring the volumetric water content of the substrates
5. Fertilization in containers using fertigation
6. Herbaceous grafting: stages of production of grafted vegetable plants
7. Common catalog of vegetable species varieties
8. Calculating irrigation volume in pots