Background of ecological agriculture. The agroecosystem: factors, resources, processes and sustainability. Ecological role of biodiversity in agriculture. Design of alternative agricultural systems and technologies. Traditional agriculture. Organic agriculture. Alternative cropping techniques. Elements of ecological management of insects. Weeds: ecology and management. Plant pathogens: ecology and management. Soil quality management.
Didactic material supplied by the lecturer.
Altieri, M.A., Nicholls, C.I., Ponti, L., 2015. Agroecologia. Edagricole, Milan, Italy, 313 p.
Vazzana, C., 1998. Ecologia vegetale agraria. Patron Editore, Bologna, Italy, 394 p.
Learning Objectives
Knowledge: evolution of agroecology, methods and practices.
Competence: techniques of agroecological design, organic agriculture and alternative cropping systems.
Skills: capacity of analysis of biodiversity and of chemical, physical and biological soil quality.
Prerequisites
Courses to be used as requirements (required and/or recommended): no
Teaching Methods
CFU: 6
Total hours of the course: 150 (= 6 x 25)
Hours reserved to private study and other individual formative activities: 102
Hours for lectures: 32
Hours for laboratory: 0
Hours for practical activities (in aula and in field): 16
Hours for seminars: 0
Hours for stages: 0
Hours for Intermediate examinations: 0
Further information
Frequency of lectures and practices: recommended
Type of Assessment
Mode of examination: Oral exam
Evaluation parameters: capacity of organizing the achieved knowledge in a coherent discourse; capacity of critical reasoning on the study carried out; competence in using specialist wording, effectiveness, linearity.
Course program
PART I: BACKGROUND OF ECOLOGICAL AGRICULTURE. Ecological crisis of modern agriculture. Evolution of agroecological principles. Agroecology methodology and practice. The agroecosystem: factors, resources, processes and sustainability. Ecological role of biodiversity in agriculture. In-field biodiversity assessment methods.
PART II: DESIGN OF ALTERNATIVE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES. Calibrating sustainable technologies for alternative agriculture. Design of sustainable agroecosystems. Traditional agriculture. Organic agriculture.
PART III: ALTERNATIVE CROPPING TECHNIQUES. Polycultures. Cover crops and living mulches. Crop rotations and minimum tillage. Agroforestry.
PART IV: ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT OF INSECTS, WEEDS, PATHOGENS AND SOIL QUALITY. Elements of ecological management of insects. Weeds: ecology and management. Plant pathogens: ecology and management. Soil quality management.