72659 - Vegetable Crops

Learning outcomes

The course will provide knowledge on physiology, cultural methods and on improvement of yield and quality of vegetables grown in open field and greenhouse; with an extensive overview of sustainable cropping systems; using tomato as model crop.

Course contents

A) Prerequisites

The student who accesses this course has a good knowledge in basic subjects (physics, chemistry, biology and botany) and is skilled in agronomy, agro-meteorology, biochemistry, soil chemistry and the principles of horticulture that allow him/her to understand in depth the issues of both open field and greenhouse crops. These prerequisites are fully satisfied by the three-year bachelor in “sciences and technologies in agriculture and forestry” or similar.

Under the big theme of the innovations in Agriculture, the acquisition of knowledge of the main vegetable crops, grown in open field and greenhouses, is a priority for the formation of a graduate in agricultural disciplines and for a modern agronomist. This will allow them to chose and guide more efficient and sustainable productive systems.

B) Program / Content

The course consists of 4 teaching units covering:

1) A general overview on vegetable cropping systems will be given using as a reference the tomato crop (open field tomato, greenhouse tomato, on soil grown tomato, soilless grown tomato, table tomato and tomato for processing) (Total teaching unit 6 hours). The main issues stressed will be:

a) origin, biosystematics and biology;

b) soil management;

c) planting methods;

d) water management and irrigation;

e) nutrient management and crop fertilization.

2) Other vegetable crops (Total teaching unit 6 hours): origin, biology and crop facts of main vegetables grown in Mediterranean.

3) Fertigation and soil-less cultivation (Total teaching unit 6 hours):

a) preparation of the nutrient solution, fertilizers for fertigation and chelates;

b) open loop and closed loop soilless systems;

c) hydroponics, aeroponics and on-substrate crops;

d) growing media for soilless systems;

e) main soilless systems (NFT, floating hydroponics, aeroponics, bag and container systems, grodan)

4) transplants production (propagation of vegetables) (Total teaching unit 6 hours):

a) seed propagation, seed pre-germinating treatments;

b) choice of substrate and containers;

c) irrigation and fertilization in the nursery;

d) controlling the size and architecture of the plant.

Readings/Bibliography

Fundamental will be the use of material provided by the teacher and of lecture notes.

During the course, will be made available online a copy of the presentations made in the class.

For further information we recommend the following texts:

- Castilla N., Greenhouse Technology and Management, CABI, 2012.

- Heuvelink E., Tomatoes, CABI, 2005.

- AA.VV.,Good Agricultural Practices for greenhouse vegetable crops; FAO, 2013.

- Bosland P. e Votava E., Peppers: Vegetable and Spice Capsicums, CABI 2012.

- Robinson R., Decker-Walters D., Cucurbits, CABI, 1997.

- Brewster J., Onions and Other Vegetable Alliums, CABI, 2008.

- Dixon G., Vegetable Brassicas and Related Crucifers, CABI, 2006.

- Rubatzky V., Quiros C., Simon P., Carrots and Related Vegetable Umbelliferae, CABI, 1999.

Metodi didattici

Teaching methods

At presence learning in class plus learning activity through field visits and seminars on special topics (eg. Urban horticulture)

Language

English

Assessment methods

The course is part of the Integrated Course "72659 - Managing crop growth, yield and quality (C.I.) ".

Therefore, the evaluation of the course takes into account jointly the level of knowledge and skills acquired by the student in relation to the contents of all the teachings.

For this course, the skills will be assessed through a final oral examination, consisting of 3 questions. The duration of the oral examination is estimated at around 20-30 minutes.

The final grade is assigned based on the degree of preparation of the student and especially about its capabilities and critical connection between different subjects.

In addition to the official dates of exam, the teacher is available (if contacted by e-mail) for give exam periodically, consistently with his commitments and institutional research

Teaching tools

PC, projector, PowerPoint presentations, video / DVD.

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Orsini