88232 - Orchard And Vineyard Management

Learning outcomes

The course will allow the students to use the available scientific knowledge and the modern technical tools to improve the ecological sustainability of cultural management and pest control in orchards, vineyards as well as in nurseries.

Course contents

Students attending this class must possess basic knowledge of tree biology and physiology to fully understand the subjects presented during the course. These competences are obtained during the first level degree and in the first year of the master program.

 

Module CANOPY MANAGEMENT (Prof. Carlo Andreotti)

-Introduction to the canopy structure (architectural models, fruiting habitus) and functionality;

-Relation between the vegetative and reproductive cycles. Pruning as a tool to manage the competition between organs (roots, shoots, bud induction and differentiation, flowers, fruits, etc) Pruning techniques. Dormant pruning, summer pruning, mechanical pruning, no pruning techniques;

- Orchard design: the effect of planting density, planting systems, tree height, canopy shape, row orientation on canopy light interception and distribution;

- Canopy training systems for low/intermediate/high density orchards. Main training systems for fruit trees. Training systems for grapevine;

- Management of fruit load. Alternate bearing and fruit thinning Plant growth regulators to control tree growth and fruit quality. Control of ripening in grapevine;

-Protection systems. Shading nets, hail nets, plastic tunnel against rain, wind barriers. Agrivoltaic systems in orchards;

-Production systems in nurseries. Nursery management and legislation.

 

 

Module SOIL AND WATER MANAGEMENT (Prof. Damiano Zanotelli).

-Introduction to main soil and water properties and soil-water interactions;

-Water management;

-Soil water availability, water transport and water needs;

-Soil and plant-based methods for monitor soil and plant water status;

-Deficit irrigation strategies for enhancing fruit quality, WUE and reduce water losses;

-Irrigation systems

-Soil Management: orchard of soil surface and ground-cover vegetation

-Weed control methods;

-Green Manure

-Control of soil sickness and replant problems

-Principles of agroecology in orchard management

-Nutrient Management; nutrient availability and cycling within trees and agro-ecosystem;

Soil and foliar nutrient supply; fertigation technique

Readings/Bibliography

Lecture notes and handouts made available before each lesson.

Selected chapters from FAO Irrigation and drainage paper 56 (available online).

Fundamental of temperate zone tree fruit production (2005);

Apple, Botany production and uses (2003)

Principles of Agronomy for Sustainable Agriculture (2016)

Principles of Modern Fruit Science (2019)

Selected research articles are used and available in the Library of UNIBZ or upon requests.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons make up 60% of the time allotted to this course. The remaining 40% of the time is dedicated to lab- and field-activities, and visits.

Assessment methods

Oral exam at the end of the course on the entire program (frontal lessons and exercises/excursions). At least three questions on different subjects of the course will be asked. The number of questions is dependent from the quality and completeness of the answers given by the candidate.

Teaching tools

Frontal lessons using ppt presentations. Use of software the computer room. Field exercises with the use of scientific instruments. Field visits.

Office hours

See the website of Carlo Andreotti

See the website of Damiano Zanotelli