79249 - ENVIRONMENTAL AGRONOMY AND WEED SCIENCE

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student has acquired the basic elements for the study of agronomic and environmental analysis of the territory and agricultural ecosystems and the practical-applicative elements for the management of weed flora in silvopastoral, forestry, recreational and non-agricultural areas. In particular, the student is able to: know and apply agronomic techniques for the environmental protection of the territory; manage spontaneous flora in agricultural and non-agricultural areas; recognize the main weeds.

Course contents

79249 - ENVIRONMENTAL AGRONOMY AND MALERBOLOGY
1.0 General information on the spontaneous flora of the agroecosystem: concept of species, binomial classification, hierarchical structure of classification systems, Cronquist and APGIII classification, Main botanical families, Code of Botany and cultivated plants nomenclature. Concepts of flora, plant communities, vegetation, ecosystem and landscape. Peculiarities of the invasive flora and anthropocentric concept of their undesirability.
2.0 Classifications of the invasive flora: thermal requirements, photoperiodic requirements, biological cycle, survival strategies, gamic and agamic modes of re-colonization of the various ecological niches of the agro-ecosystem. R and K strategies, Grime classification, Raunkiær classification, Hellenberg indices. Holo-parasitic and hemi-parasitic plants. Xerophytic, hydrophytic, pioneer flora. Notes and examples of liana flora, allergenic flora. Origin of the various species: native, archaeophytes, neophytes, recent and remote exotics.
3.0 Concepts of competition, allelopathy: Mechanisms of radical and aerial competition, allelopathic interactions. Agronomic strategies to shift the balance of weed-crop interaction to the advantage of the latter.
4.0 Recognition of spontaneous flora: Botanical, ecological and agronomic aspects of the spontaneous flora of the most important botanical families: Asteraceae, Amaryllidaceae, Aizoaceae, Alismataceae, Amaranthaceae, Apiaceae, Apocynaceae, Araceae, Araliaceae, Aristolochiaceae, Aschlepiadaceae, Boraginaceae, Brassicaceae, Cactaceae, Cannabaceae, Campanulaceae, Capparaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Cheno podiaceae, Cistaceae, Convolvulaceae, Crassulaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Cyperaceae, Dipsacaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Equisetaceae, Ericaceae, Fabaceae, Gentianaceae, Geraniaceae, Hypericaceae, Iridaceae, Lamiaceae, Liliaceae, Lythraceae, Linaceae, Malvaceae, Oenotheraceae, Orchidaceae, Orobancaceae, Oxalidaceae, Papaveraceae, Phytolaccaceae, Plantaginaceae, Polygonaceae, Portulacaceae, Primulaceae, Ranunculaceae, Resedaceae, Rosaceae, Rubiaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Simarubaceae, Solanaceae, Urticaceae, Valerianaceae, Verbenaceae, Violaceae, Zygophyllaceae.
5.0 Recognition of the seedlings of the main weeds.
6.0 Gene flow modes of the weed flora: autogamous, anemogamous and entomogamous flora.
7.0 Gametic reproduction: Germination ecology, dormancy and longevity of seeds.
8.0 Asexual reproduction: asexual propagation organs (stolons, rhizomes, tubers, bulbs). Apomixis and viviparity. Examples of the various mechanisms of vegetative reproduction in some of the main botanical families such as Poaceae, Asteraceae, Liliaceae, Cyperaceae, Convolvulaceae, Rosaceae, Oxalidaceae, Iridaceae and Ranunculaceae.
9.0 Dissemination mechanisms: biotic (endo-zoochory, epi-zoochory, myrmecochory, autochory), abiotic (anemochory, hydrochory, barochory) and anthropochory.
10.0 Conventional management of weed flora: active ingredients and periods of use of commercial herbicides, mechanisms of action, selectivity, tolerance, resistance.
11.0 Biological management of weed flora: preventive agronomics, mechanical, physical, natural substances, living organisms.
12.0 Seed bank analysis: analysis methods, agronomic utility, “long-term” floristic monitoring, importance of the degree of burial, pre-emergence growth, recognition of the seeds of the main seed species.
13.0 Toxic and poisonous flora: Examples of toxicity and poisonousness in the various species with particular emphasis on botanical families rich in species that are dangerous for the health of humans and animals. Notes on the chemical categories that cause toxicity with notes on the relative mechanisms of action.
14.0 Climate and soil: ecological and agronomic aspects.
15.0 Analysis of the main forms of agriculture: Conventional, integrated, organic, biodynamic, “zero residue”, sustainable agriculture, notes on urban agriculture. Agriculture with genetically modified plants.
16.0 Environmental agronomy: ecological aspects, differences and similarities between ecology and agronomy, environmental criticalities of the various cropping systems of plains, hills and mountains, sustainability indicators, importance of the biodiversity of the agroecosystem.
17.0 Spontaneous flora as an agro-ecological indicator: pH, texture, temperature, water availability, salinity, previous agronomic management.
18.0 Cover crops: agro-ecological multifunctionality and agronomic potential for the management of weed flora.
19.0 Environmental impact of agriculture
19.1 Pollution from pesticides, nitrates and phosphates
19.2 Pesticide residues in agricultural products
19.3 Soil erodibility
19.4 Eutrophication of surrounding ecosystems
20.0 Environmental impact of agriculture and mitigation strategies: Pollution of surface and ground waters from pesticides, nitrates and phosphates, Diffuse and point source pollution: agronomic measures
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Riquadri laterali
Cronologia
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Readings/Bibliography

Pdf of lessons

Teaching methods

In-person lessons in the classroom

Assessment methods

Oral exam starting with a short essay by the student on "focus" on a topic of the program

Teaching tools

Plant material for the recognition of various plant species at various phenological stages

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Benvenuti