Erbaceous Coltural Systems

Academic Year 2020/2021 - 2° Year - Curriculum Produzioni vegetali
Teaching Staff
  • Techniques for weed and fertilization management: Giovanni Mauromicale
  • Biomass crops for energy production: Danilo Scordia
Credit Value: 12
Scientific field: AGR/02 - Agronomy and field crops
Course Language: Italian
Taught classes: 56 hours
Exercise: 56 hours
Term / Semester:

Learning Objectives

  • Techniques for weed and fertilization management

    Provide in-depth knowledge on the role, functions and absorption of nutrients in cultivated plants, as well as on the biology, ecology, on the role and impact of weeds in agroecosystems.

    Students will acquire skills in fertilization plans and in fertilizer management techniques, as well as on the weeds management in the main Mediterranean crops by physical, mechanical, chemical, ecological, biological means and integrated control.

  • Biomass crops for energy production

    To study the principles of cultivation of annual and perennial herbaceous plants of potential interest for the production of energy, cellulose pulp and biocomposites in the context of cultivation systems that can be implemented in the Mediterranean environment.

    At the end of the course, the student will have acquired the necessary skills on the agronomic techniques of the main dedicated biomass crops for the Mediterranean environment, and on the main bioconversion processes for the production of renewable energy and non-energy products in a circular economy perspective.


Course Structure

  • Techniques for weed and fertilization management

    The course includes 28 hours of frontal lessons (or remotely) and 28 hours of practical lessons (seminars, case studies, such as fertilization plans and weeding plans for specific crops, and visits to some important agri-food companies). Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus. Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.

  • Biomass crops for energy production

    Lectures (28 hours), other activities, such as practical exercises, laboratory visits, group work, didactic experiences in the field (28 hours).

    Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus. Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.

    Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require.


Detailed Course Content

  • Techniques for weed and fertilization management

    Weed Management

    Concept of weed. Adaptation strategies of weeds. Seed-bank. Germination and physiological, environmental and agronomic factors. Population dynamics and agronomic factors affecting them. Damages caused by weeds. Competition between crops and weeds. Critical period of weed competition. Means of weed control, both direct and indirect. Direct means of weed control: mechanical, physical, chemical, biological, ecological and integrated. Herbicides and plant: penetration, translocation, biotransformation, mechanisms of action, selectivity. Environmental dynamics of herbicides. For the most widespread crops in the Mediterranean, will be considered the main weed species and their control techniques.

     

    Fertilization Management

    Concept of fertility. Form and dynamics in agroecosystems of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, calcium and magnesium. Micronutrients. Classification of fertilizers and techniques of administration. Fertilization and product quality. Fertilization environmentally friendly. Fertilization in organic farming. Foliar fertilization. Technical and agronomic principles of fertigation. Writing a fertilization program. Fertilization programs for the main Mediterranean crops.

  • Biomass crops for energy production
    • Introduction to the course and outline of the key points for the realization of projects for the production of renewable energy from biomass cultivation;
    • Regional, national and European legislation.
    • Cultivation of energy crops, oilseeds species, sugary/starchy species, lignocellulosic species, other species.
    • Crop residues from field crops, from woody crops, from silvicultural.
    • Logistics.
    • Waste from wood processing, food products.
    • Transformation processes: thermochemical and biochemical.
    • Processing plant for torrefaction, pyrolysis, gasification, combustion, bioethanol, biodiesel, biogas.
    • Sustainability (Energy, Environmental, Social, Life Cycle Assessment).

Textbook Information

  • Techniques for weed and fertilization management

    Testo 1: Giardini L., 2012 – L’Agronomia per conservare il futuro. Patron Editore, Bologna.

    Testo 2: Ceccon P., Fagnano M., Grignani C., Monti M., Orlandini S. (edited by), 2017 – Agronomia. EdiSES, Napoli.

    Testo 3: Perelli M. (edited by), 2009 – Nutrire le piante, trattato di scienza dei fertilizzanti. Arvan.

    Testo 4: Catizone P., Zanin G., 2002 – Malerbologia, Patron Editore, Bologna.

    Notes and schemes of the lessons provided by the teacher and published on STUDIUM (https://studium.unict.it/dokeos/2021/courses/23081/).

  • Biomass crops for energy production
    1. Textbook: Lo sviluppo delle colture energetiche in Italia. Il contributo dei progetti di ricerca SUSCACE e FAESI, a cura di Luigi Pari. ISBN: 978-88-6134-730-4
    2. Teacher material