Teacher
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MANCINELLI Roberto
(syllabus)
Course contents Lectures in the class: 40 hours. Brief notes on the agro-ecosystem: energy flow, structure, operation, useful agricultural production and implications in the cycles of C, N, P, K and water. The pedoclimatic Mediterranean environment: localization and general characteristics; general effects of the Mediterranean climate. General aspects of forage crops: objectives, elements and constraints of the forage-livestock systems; specifications and definitions of fodder and forage crops; plant species of forage interest. Classification of forage crops: procedures for use and planting, durability, inclusion in a crop rotation, number of species, the position and altitude, irrigation. Typology and localization of forage crops. Effects of forage crops in the agroecosystem: agronomic characteristics of the main forage species in the Mediterranean environment; use and benefits of forage legumes in the Mediterranean environment. Main uses of forages depending on the type of farming and orientation of grassland in Italy. Criteria and evaluation characters of forage species: precocity, attitude regrowth, leaf ratio / stalks, vitality, competitiveness, resistance and adaptive characters. Evaluation and quality of fodder: chemical composition, dietary function or nutritional value, palatability. Processing value of forage and methods of measurement. Utilization of forage crops: green, preserved, direct grazing. Importance of green fodder: factors, environmental aspects and implications. Needs of forage conservation and methodologies. Conservation method of haymaking: stages, cutting, conditioning, harvesting and baling, losses. Preservation method silage: stages, cutting and collecting, compacting and closing of the silo; characteristics of the forage for silage; process management in silos; losses in storage in silos. Pastures: advantages, composition, influence of climate, evaluation, types; effects of grazing; types of pastures; pasture improvement. Grass and meadow: forage alternated; utilization of meadows; technical and management techniques itineraries; inclusion in the rotation, rotation and intercropping; characteristics of the main forage species grass meadow in agro-ecosystems in the Mediterranean climate.
Field exercises: 8 hours. Some concrete situations will be observed on field, concerning the following theoretical aspects discussed in the classroom. Some general aspects of forage crops. Some aspects of the classification of forage crops. Some types of forage crops. Some effects of forage crops in agricultural systems. Some species for the grass and meadow.
(reference books)
- Lesson slides, available on Dropbox at link provided by the teacher,- Suggested bibliography during the course. - Baldoni R., Giardini L., Coltivazioni erbacee - Foraggere e Tappeti Erbosi, Ed. Patron, 2002. Bologna
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