27304 - Agrometeorology and Agricultural Ecology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student knows the main meteorological parameters, the concepts of interaction between plant organisms in agro-ecosystems, defining the terms of eco-sustainability. Captures the elements to develop their own opinion on current environmental issues of agricultural interest (climate change and pollution, etc..). In particular, the student is able to make measurements with the right tools and process the results, as well as to calculate water budgets and water requirements of the main species of interest to the ornamental, sport and landscape.

Course contents

Prerequisites- The student who accesses this teaching should have aof good capacity ofabstraction determined by good preparation in the fundamentals of mathematics and physics as well as the fundamentalsof ecology supplied to the first year of the three-year degree.
Within anagronomical context, acquiringthe ability to manage an agro-ecosystem requires a fullunderstanding of the basic processes of natural systems such as atmosphere, soil and the way they interact withplants interact, which nowadays is ofgrowing importance with the intensification of the need for sustainable practices. The course is divided in two teaching units, atheoretical and apractical one.

Theoretical teaching unit(36 hours) consists of 4 sections.
1. The Earth's atmosphere (10 hours)
- The static structure of the atmosphere
- The dynamic structure of the atmosphere: types of boundary layers
- Air masses, fronts and disturbances
-The solar radiation meant asthermal radiation
- Radiative budget atground level
- Atmospheric variables and units of measurement
- Measurement: Tools
- The weather station
- Climatic networksand meteorological services
2. The Soil(8 hours)
- Physical structure: density, grainsand porosity
- Hydrology of soil: water content, potential, dynamics
- Types and solute dynamics: transport and leaching

- Measurements of the state of soil
- The clay and humic-component: the soil structure
3. Interactions between meteorology and agriculture (10 hours)
- Precipitation and damage to crops
- Temperature and physiology, frostdamage
- Evapotranspiration
- Water balance and irrigation
4. Applied Ecology (8 hours)
- Ecosystems:structure and processes
- Resources, organisms, habitats
- Energy, productivity, food chains and ecological niche
- Water Cycle
- Ecosystems as dynamicalsystems
- Fate of pollutants, eutrophication
- Ecofarming
Know-how acquire in Theoretical unit
Upon completion of this course unit, students will have learned the information necessary to critically analyze the soil and climate necessary both in the design and maintenance of landscape, turfs and ornamental plants.

Practicalteaching unit(24 hours) consists of three sections:
1. Measurement instruments(8 hours)
This unit is based on the analysis of instrumentation used to recordmeteorological and environmental data, the illustration of their use and the way toprocess outputdata
2. Computer Tutorials (8 hours)
In this section, the student will learn to perform some processing to the computer on meteorological data from measurement stations
3. Deepeningseminars (8 hours)
This unit consisting of seminarson issues and topics touched during the lesons and of particularinterest of students
Know-how acquiredin Practical unit
Upon completion of this unit, the student will have learnedwhich iswork required whileusing meteorological and soil observation instruments, which are the most typical processing techniques and how to find environmentalinformation needed in the design and maintenanceof landscape, turfs, ornamental plants. The studentwill also understood by a directapproach activity which are the taskand applications related tothe know-how givenin the theoretical part.

Readings/Bibliography

PPT presentations used the lectures will be made ​​available to students in order to indicate the course of study, the contents of which are identified in the textbooks:
- Benincasa, Maracchi, Rossi, Agrometeorology, 1993 and Patron. Bologna (Lang:it)

- Vazzana, Ecologia Vegetale Agraria, 1998, Pàtron ed. Bologna (Lang:it)

Teaching methods

The course is divided into two teaching units, a theoretical and a practical one whichinterconnected both on contentsand in lecturescheduling, details of which will be determined on the basis of the schedule of classes. The aim of the practical part will be to give the student the skills necessary to a full understanding of the theoretical information provided in the theoretical teaching unit.

Assessment methods

The course is part of the Integrated Course "Agronomy, Agricultural Ecology and Lawn Technology (65943)" together with the teaching "Agronomy and Lawn Technology (65944)" therefore the assessment of the course takes into account jointly the level of knowledge and skills acquired by the student concerning the contents of the whole course.

In particular, the present teaching is assessed through a written test with multiple answers which will focus on the theoretical part, followed by an oral examination oriented to discussion on a selcetion of cocntents of lectures. Upon student decision, the assessment will be integrated with the discussion of a report about one of the topicscovered during the lectures, chosenin agreement with the teacher.

Teaching tools

PC, videoprojector, computer room

Office hours

See the website of Giuliano Vitali