96545 - Sustainable Fruit Tree Management

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student: 1) has the knowledge and tools for understanding the different sustainable production systems applied to tree systems (integrated production, organic production, etc.). 2) Knows the importance of biodiversity and strategies to increase it at farm, orchard and edaphic level. 3) Has the knowledge for correct and sustainable orchard management, including irrigation, soil management, fertilization, fruit thinning, harvesting. The student is also able to values local resources in order to reduce the carbon footprint of production. 4) Knows the techniques for obtaining an appropriate quality of the fruit according to its destination (fresh product, processed product, etc.).

Course contents

During the course, aspects concerning different sustainable orchard production systems will be addressed in a comprehensive manner, with a focus on agronomic strategies that can increase biodiversity and reduce the impact of climate change.

In detail, the topics covered in class will be the following:

GENERAL PART

• Historical origins and economic importance of fruit growing, nutritional importance of fruit.
  
  
• Tree description:  canopy description: trunk, branches, twigs, shoots, buds, leaves, flowers and fruits. The root system (structure and interaction with environment).
  
  
• Effects of endogenous and exogenous factors on plant growth: endogenous plant growth regulators and their influence on the plant-productive cycle. Synthetic plant growth regulators and their application in fruit growing. Exogenous factors: light, temperature, gravity.
  
  

• Vegetative and productive cycle:bud differentiation and flower formation. Flowering, pollination, fertilisation. Fruit growth and ripening cycle. Biochemical changes in ripening fruits, climacteric and aclimacteric fruits.

• Quality and harvesting index: ripening and harvest fruit indices. Post harvest storage.  Quality assessment parameters.

ORCHARD MANAGEMENT

• Tree propagation: sexual reproduction and tree multiplication. Seed development. Micro propagation, cutting technique, grafting. Bud genetic mutation.

• Orchard planting: integrated and organic fruit-growing systems. Environmental suitability. Choice of plant material, rootstocks and varieties with a view to economic and environmental sustainability. Planting layouts, defence systems against atmospheric events.
  
  
• Training system and pruning:  training forms and planting distances of the main fruit species. Physiological bases of pruning, pruning purposes. 

• Soil management: tillage, grassing, green manure, mulching and weeding.

• Fertilisation: soil and its fertility characteristics. Fertilisation of fruit trees, removals and absorption kinetics. Mobile and retained elements in the soil. Foliar fertilisation. Fertigation. Organic matter.

• Water resource management: water in the soil, determination of timing of irrigation and irrigation systems. Anti-weather, climate control irrigation.
  
  

The course includes laboratory, field activities, visits to commercial companies, fruit marketing plants, composting plants and/or nurseries. There will also be seminars on current topics held by experts.

Readings/Bibliography

Arboricoltura generale - a cura di Sansavini et al. Patron

Manuale di ortofrutticoltura. Innovazioni tecnologiche e prospettive di mercato - a cura di Sansavini et al., Edagricole.

Principi di arboricoltura a cura di Peano e Sottile. Edises

Teaching methods

Teaching is divided in lessons in classroom and practical activities in field, laboratories and company visits.

To participate to laboratory and field practical activities students are required to attend health and safety training courses. All information are available at the following link: https://www.unibo.it/en/services-and-opportunities/health-and-assistance/health-and-safety/online-course-on-health-and-safety-in-study-and-internship-areas

Assessment methods

The student learning acquisition will be evaluated at the end of the teaching lessons through a 20-minutes final exam, which aims to quantify the skills and expected expertise through an oral examination with no possibility to use books, notes, or any other supports.

The oral examination includes an interview on, at least, 3 topics discussed in class, with the aim to evaluate the student learning level, ability of critical analysis, capability to link the different topics taught in class, and apply the knowledge to the different environmental conditions.

The exam can be taken in english.

Teaching tools

The class will be run with the aid of digital slides. All slides used in class will be made available to students in advance via the virtuale platform.

The Professor is also available for additional explanations by appointment.

Scientific instruments made available by the Professor will be used during the exercises.

Office hours

See the website of Elena Baldi