Part 1. Monitoring tools of cropping systems for precision agronomic applications.
Remote sensing to support precision agronomic management. Multispectral and hyperspectral satellite platforms suitable for agronomic applications of precision agriculture. Application of remote sensing to the monitoring of agricultural crops. Qualitative and quantitative approaches for the estimation of biophysical variables of agricultural crops and soil. Radiative transfer models. The problem of modeling inversion, hybrid methods. Applications of remote sensing to agricultural soil monitoring on a farm and field scale. Sensors and methods for proximal surveys of vegetation properties.

Part 2. Cropping systems analysis tools for precision and digital farming applications.
Introduction to spatial data analysis methods. Introduction to geostatistics. Definition of zoning into homogeneous areas from an agronomic point of view. Zoning methods. Basic concepts for the preparation of prescription maps of agronomic practices.
Simulation models and decision support systems in precision agriculture. Simulation modelling: the crop. Motivation and basic concepts; simulation of phenological development; simulation of biomass growth; tools currently available. Simulation modelling: the soil. Movement of water in the soil; nitrogen availability and greenhouse gas emissions; use cases.
Decision Support Systems (DSS): agronomic applications and case studies.

Part 3. Precision agronomic practices.
Soil tillage: generalities, definitions, equipment, tillage techniques, use of precision systems in soil tillage, examples of variable intensity soil tillage based on maps and based on sensors.
Sowing: classification and operation of seeders, parameters to be considered for quality sowing, map-based variable dose sowing, adjustment of seeders in variable mode.
Precision fertilization. General concepts for precision fertilization. Nitrogen fertilization. Phosphate fertilization. Potassium fertilization. Organic fertilization. The correction of pH. Variable rate fertilization equipment in precision agriculture.
Precision irrigation. Decision-making, zoning for precision irrigation. Support systems (DSS) for irrigation. Precision irrigation techniques and systems.
Precision agriculture for herbaceous crops: case studies.
Exercises in the laboratory (computer) and in the field.

R.Casa (ed.) 2016. Agricoltura di precisione: metodi e tecnologie per migliorare l’efficienza e la sostenibilità dei sistemi colturali. Edagricole New Business Media
Slides and material distributed by the teacher.