27304 - Agrometeorology and Agricultural Ecology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student knows the main meteorological quantities and is able to carry out measurements with the most suitable tools and process the results as well as calculate water balances and the water requirements of the main crops. The student also acquires the basic knowledge of ecology to define its role in agricultural sciences and has mastered the concepts of interaction between plant organisms in agro-ecosystems to define the conditions of eco-sustainable agriculture; finally he learns the elements to elaborate his own opinion on current environmental problems of agricultural interest.

Course contents

Prerequisites:

The student who attends to this course has basic knowledge of mathematics and physics. This knowledge is acquired in high school and in the basic courses taught during the first year of the course.


Course contents:

Units of measurement, applications in the agrometeorological field of the problem of measurement and errors 2h

- Agrometeorology

Meteorological factors of agricultural interest (temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, etc.). 2h
Atmosphere, composition and dynamics 2h
Solar radiation and radiation laws. 2h
Energy and radiative balance applied to crops. 2h
Instrumentation and use of instruments. 2h
Agrometeorological station and measurement networks. 2h
Evaporation and evapotranspiration. 4h
The hydrological cycle and the water balance. 2h
Climate and climate indexes, climates of Italy. 2h
Climate change, consequences on agriculture. adaptation and mitigation to the new climate, in particular for food production. 8h

- Agricultural Ecology

Ecology references. Definitions of ecological niche, habitat, biotope, biomes. 2h
Ecological significance of interactions between organisms: competition, resistance, resilience of an ecosystem. 2h
Determination of growth of plants in crops. 2h

- Applications to agriculture

Abiotic stresses: Protection from frost; Hailstorm. 2h
Phenology and degree days. 2h
Plant-soil-atmosphere relations: stomata. 2h
Plant-soil-atmosphere relations: photochemical smog. 2h
Environmental monitoring, land degradation and strategies to prevent it. 2h
Declinations of agriculture: precision, conservative, biological. 2h

there will be also 4 hours of field work and 10 of classroom exercises on all the topics

Readings/Bibliography

AGROMETEOROLOGIA

• Ventura F., Rossi Pisa P., 2006. Strumenti per l'agrometeorologia. Aracne Editrice, Roma.
• Agrometeorologia. Basi, applicazioni e ruolo nella gestione dell'agroecosistema. Simone Orlandini, Anna Dalla Marta, Filiberto Altobelli (Curatori) Edagricole, 2024

or, in English:

• free book "Agricultural Meteorology and Climatology"

  https://www.fupress.com/catalogo/agricultural-meteorology-and-climatology/3808

   

ECOLOGIA AGRARIA:

• Baldoni G., Ecologia ed Agricoltura, Edagricole, Bologna, 1998

o alternativamente

• Vazzana C., Ecologia Vegetale Agraria, 1998, Pàtron ed. Bologna

Teaching methods

The course consists of theoretical lectures, exercises, field trips during which agro-meteorological instruments are shown, educational excursions, seminars of experts on specific topics.

Assessment methods

Exam: written test lasting 1h without the help of notes or books.

The written test consists of 6 exercises and open questions.

Each question allows you to get a maximum score of 5 points. to obtain the sufficiency it is necessary to score 18 points, maximum score is 30 cum Laude.

Exercises are performed in classroom, as training for the written exam

Students wishing to take the exam in English must request it to the teacher at least two days before the exam.

Six total exames per year, two of which at the beginning of 2026, one in January the other in February before the beginning of the second semester.

Students with learning disabilities (LD) or temporary or permanent disabilities: please contact the relevant University office promptly (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it). They will be responsible for suggesting any accommodations to the students concerned. However, these accommodations must be submitted to the orifessor for approval 15 days in advance, who will evaluate their suitability also in relation to the educational objectives of the course.

Teaching tools

The course consists of theoretical lessons in class, exercises, educational excursions, seminars by experts on specific topics.

Office hours

See the website of Francesca Ventura