Horticultural nursery

Knowledge and understanding abilities:

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.

Lessons (35 hours) and class, laboratory and field activities (56 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.

Basic knowledge of biology, chemistry and mathematics.

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.

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

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) Slides provided by the professor

Assessment is conducted through an oral exam.

The exam consists of three questions, each assigned a score from 6 to 10. The final grade will be determined by the sum of the three scores. To pass the exam, students must achieve a passing grade in each of the three questions.

Student preparation will be assessed based on the following criteria: learning ability and depth of understanding of the topics covered, ability to summarize and present, and the student's reasoning ability.

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: phases of production of grafted vegetable plants

7. Controlling seedling growth using physical and chemical treatments

8. Common catalog of vegetable species varieties

9. Calculating irrigation volume in pots