The system concept and regulations mechanisms. Agroecosystem structure and organization. Energy fluxes and nutrient cycles. Sustainability and indicators use. LCA analysis. Environmental management system.
Textbooks:
Vazzana, C., 1998. Ecologia vegetale agraria. Patron Editore, Bologna(Biblioteca di Facoltà; Biblioteca del DIPSA – Sezione di Scienze Agronomiche e Gestione del Territorio Agroforestale; Librerie).
Altieri,M., 1991.Agroecologia. F. Muzzio Editore.
Material given by the teacher
Learning Objectives
Knowledge acquired:
To supply the student with fundamental knowledge of ecology.
To supply the student with fundamental knowledge of ecology on the structure and functioning of agroecosystems for sustainable management of agricultural practices.
Competence acquired (at the end of the course):
Knowledge of the structure of the agroecosystems (biotic and abiotic components), biochemical cycles, functional relations between organisms (food chain, food web), their competition and successional dynamics. Knowledge of the relevance and role of biodiversity in agriculture . Low/zero impact agrculturalsystems .
Skills acquired (at the end of the course):
Ability to analyze an agricultural system (holistic approach) considering the complexity of components.
Ability to analyze the environmental impact of agricultural practices on agroecosystems.
Ability to evaluate the functional role of agricultural biodiversity.
Prerequisites
Students are expected to be familiar with the principles and terminology of botany, biology and chemistry.
Teaching Methods
Total hours of the course (including the time spent in attending lectures, seminars, private study, examinations, etc...): 150
Hours reserved to private study and other individual formative activities:102
Contact hours for lectures (hours): 32
Contact hours for laboratory (hours): 0
Contact hours for laboratory-field practice: 16
Type of Assessment
Exam modality:
Oral evaluation
Course program
Agroecology: the systemconcept and regulationsmechanisms. Ecosystem and Agroecosystem: structure and organization; Biotic and abiotic components . Food chain and food web in natural ecosystems and in agriculture.Ecological niche. Ecological successions, complexity and maturity of natural ecosystems and agroecosystems. Ecological niche. Thermodynamics principles and energy fluxes; Biogeochemical cycles and nutrient cycles in agriculture. Sustainability concept in agriculture. Environmental impact of nursery farm. Use of indicators to quantify sustainability of nursery farms. LCA analysis. Environmental management system of nursery farm.