27304 - Agrometeorology and Agricultural Ecology

Learning outcomes

 

The student will be able to know the principal meteorological variables, to choose the proper instruments to measure them and to elaborate the data. He will be able to assess the water balance and to determine the crop water use.The student will define the role of the ecology in the agricultural sciences and to evaluate the interaction between the plants and the agricultural  ecosystems in order to define the eco-sustainability. He will have his own opinion about the present environmental problems connected with the agriculture

Course contents

Previous knowledge 

The student for this course should have the knowledge of Methematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Also necessary the knowledge of teh English Language, in order to use the bibliogrphy in this Language.

Course content

Theory (40 hours)

Meteorological variables and agriculture. Temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, wind, evaporation and evapotranspiration. Definition, Instruments and units. Electromagnetic waves. Radiation and its laws. Solar radiation. Instruments and units. Definition of climate, climatic classifications and indexes. Examples of various climates.

The atmosphere. Its classification as related to the temperature. The interaction between atmosphere and radiation.The conditions, the resources and the organisms. Habitat, ecological niche.The energy, water and the nutrition elements. Water cycle. Ecological significance of the interaction between organisms Ecosystem. Phenology, various use of the data. Agro-phenological gardens. Definition, structure and function. Energy, productivity , agroecosystems. Monitoring of the natural and agricultural ecosystems. Causes of land and water degradation. Eutrofication. Phitoremediation. Sustainable agriculture. The role of the farmer.

 Exercitation   (10 hours)

Measurement units.  Exercises  on the Electromagnetic waves and its laws. Elaboration of meteorological data. Evaluation of relative humidity. Water balance

Exercitation   in open field (10 hours)

Visits to the agrometeorological stations in various areas. Measurements in situ of the meteorological data and of the depth of the water table.

Visits to lysimeters station.

Visit to the Agrophenological  stations.

 

Readings/Bibliography

File delle lezionoi

Ventura, Rossi Pisa. Strumenti  per l'agrometeorologia, 2004, ARACNE ed. Roma 

Benincasa , Maracchi, Rossi, Agrometeorologia, 1993, Patron ed. Bologna;

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

Ceccon, Borin , Elementi di Agrometeorologia e Agroclimatologia,

Teaching methods

 Lectures and exercitations written and in the field. Tests during the lectures and discussions with the students.

Exercitations in the agrometeorological stations, data recording ; in the phenological stations.

 

Assessment methods

The Course Agrometeorology and Agricultural Ecology is part of the integrated Course: "General Agronomy and Agricultural Ecology". The assessmnet of the integrated Course will take into account the competences and the knowledges aquired in both the teachings.

 

Assessment methods of the course. Agrometeorology and Agricultural Ecology":

Test during the course. Final written test with multiple answers, solution of problems regarding meteorological measurement and their agricultural applications. The student can also choose an oral examination. 

Teaching tools

Teaching tools:

Files of the lectures. Field excursions to the agro-meteorological  and Phenological stations of the Bologna University. Visits to experimental stations of environmental monitoring. Practical exercises.

Office hours

See the website of Paola Rossi