Sustainable agroecosystemModule SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF CROPPING SYSTEMS
Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: PAOLO GUARNACCIAExpected Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, the student should be familiar with the topics covered in the program and be able to apply this knowledge in the agricultural field.
Furthermore, the student will have to improve critical and judgment skills through activities that contribute to developing these skills, e.g., laboratory tests, writing reports, etc.).
Finally, the student will have to develop the ability to communicate what has been learned and possess the tools to allow him to continue his studies independently at the end of the course.
Course Structure
Required Prerequisites
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
Outline of General Agronomy
Soil degradation, erosion, salinity, phytoremediation techniques
Soil management: (i) Agronomic management of irrigation, timing of irrigation, (ii) soil tillage and conservative techniques
Crop physiology
Sustainable Agriculture and Organic Farming
Textbook Information
1. Agronomy (Edises, Italian Society of Agronomy)
2. Fundamentals of Agronomy (Bonciarelli F.)
3. Business and Environmental Agronomy (Giardini)
4. Teacher's Notes
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Concept of environmental, economic and social sustainability | Teaching provided by the teacher |
| 2 | Climate change, pollution and access to natural resources | Teaching provided by the teacher |
| 3 | Consumption of water, soil and landscape protection | Teaching provided by the teacher |
| 4 | Erosive phenomena and risks of soil desertification | Teaching provided by the teacher |
| 5 | Energy balances, life cycle analysis, carbon footprint and CO2 labelling | Teaching provided by the teacher |
| 6 | Soil fertility, organic matter and humic balance; | Teaching provided by the teacher |
| 7 | Sustainable crop systems and agronomical practices | Teaching provided by the teacher |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
Written reports of field visits
Written report and Power Point presentation on one of the program topics
Final oral exam
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
Sustainable agriculture concept
Soil fertility and techniques to regenerate it
Agricultural biodiversity and strategies to protect and enhance it
Sustainable cropping systems