First part: agroecosystems biophysical factors
The agricultural crop (growth indices). Climate and agricultural crops: solar radiation; evapotranspiration; temeperature; rainfall; effective rainfall.
Cultivated and natural soils: definition, functions, composition; soil profile; fertility and productivity.
Soil texture and particle size distribution: stony soils; sandy soils; silty soils; clay soils; loam.
Soil structure: general aspects and structure types; role of soil structure; assemblage and size of aggregates; stability of aggregates; porosity; factors acting on soil structure.
Soil chemical and physico-chemical properties: composition; soil solution and cation exchange capacity; soil pH; salinity anomalies.
Soil water: measuring soil moisture; soil water potential; water retention curve and its determination.

Second part: agroecosystem management
Soil tillage.
Irrigation: irrigation variables; watering rate; water use efficiency; irrigation timing; seasonal crop water requirements; irrigation methods; irrigation water quality.
Soil organic matter (SOM) and organic fertilizers: types of organic matter and their origin; soil transformations and humic balance; factor acting on SOM transformations; SOM functions; organic fertilization; commercial organic fertilizers.
Mineral fertilization: classification and market requirements of mineral fertilizers; nitrogen fertilizers; phosphate fertilizers; potassium fertilizers; composite mineral fertilizers; crop response to fertilizers; optimal fertilization rate; farm requirements and environmental constraints; fertilization plans; yield quality response to fertilization.
Weed management: preventive measures; physical direct means; chemical weed management.
Cropping systems: species sequence and rotations.

Textbook:
Authors: P. Ceccon, M. Fagnano, C. Grignani, M. Monti, S. Orlandini
title: AGRONOMIA
edition: EDISES 2017 (http://www.edises.it/universitario/agronomia.html)

Lesson slides and videos made available by the teacher