Degree Course: Agricultural and Environmental Science Syllabus for A.Y. 2019/2020  

Purpose of the course: The course aims to provide the conceptual tools for the analysis and spatial assessment and understanding of the planning system within which they are located; also it intends to develop the ability to solve problems inherent spatial analysis in GIS and to address a territorial assessment procedure.

1. General Concepts
The land system and land formation process. The components of the land system. The rural territory: definition, properties, functions. Methods to classify the territory in degrees of rurality.
Framing the problem: planning the countryside. Evolution of the planning of the agricultural landscape from classical thought to sustainable planning. Multifunctionality of rural areas. The European Landscape Convention (2000): new definition and a new strategy for the landscape. The active part of the population and the notion of the character of the landscape.

2. General Planning Concepts
Purposes and principles of spatial planning. The forms of planning: local, urban, industry, strategic, environmental. Economic Planning. planning models
Birth and evolution of environmental planning. The ecological planning model McHarg (1969): the mapping overlay, the layer cake model and the environmental suitability matrix. The Steiner ecological planning model (1991). The model of the Land-Use Planning of FAO (1993). The sustainable planning experiences of rural land dell'ISOMUL (International Study Group on Multiple Use of Land).
Participation in the planning process. Techniques and tools for citizen involvement in planning choices and for the permanent information of the community.
The planning process and the plan training.
The formation of the cognitive framework of a plan
analytical part and territorial evaluation
Acquisition and integration of spatial data in a GIS base maps, themes (with depth of use and land cover), the socio-economic statistical data, remote sensing data.
The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the process of forming a plan.
Assessment conventional schemes: FAO procedure for the assessment of vocations. Attitudes of the territory (Land suitability). Operating capacity of soils (Land capability), the Vocation Agronomic General.
Methods in support of the assessment procedure: fuzzy logic and the membership functions, multi-criteria evaluation, analytic hierarchy process
3. Special Planning
The spatial plans: Provincial Regional. The general urban planning: the municipal master plan and detailed plans.
Planning in natural areas: national legislation and the Lazio region. The plan and the regulation of protected areas and parks The Natura 2000 Network and SCI management plans.
4. The structure of the Basin Plan.
5. The landscape planning.
Reference legislation
The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). The "Code of Cultural Heritage and Landscape" (Decree Urbani, 2002). Planning in protected natural areas. Spatial planning in Lazio (LR n. 19/2002 and subs. Mod. And additions): analysis of regional legislation to the various planning levels (regional, provincial, municipal) with specific reference to the skills of the agronomist and forest Doctor . The analysis of suitability and agropedologica relationship.

Lecture notes

Leone A., 2004. Environment and agroforestry territory. Guidelines for sustainable planning and environmental impact studies. Franco Angeli Editore, Milan, 432 pages

McHarg I.L., 1989. Designing with nature. Franco Muzzio Editore, Padua, 250 pp.

Mennella V.G.G. (edited by). Italy profile. Indicators and models for sustainable development of the territory and enhancement of the landscape. Ali & no Editrice, Perugia.

Steiner F., 2000. Building the landscape. An ecological approach to planning. McGraw
Hill.

C.R. Fichera 2007, (edited by). Multifunctionality of agriculture and sustainable development.
Technological innovation and enhancement of typicality in marginal areas. Iiriti Editore,
Reggio Calabria.

Dal Sasso P., Marinelli G., 2008 (edited by). Sustainable development in protected areas. Indicators e
models for the study and enhancement of the landscape. Claudio Grenzi Editore, Foggia.

European policies on food safety; elements and evolution of the concept of food products quality; the role of the animal feeding and nutrition on the quality and safety of the derived food product. Methods and analytical procedures for the evaluation of the quality if animal food products. Description of the main animal food production chains (dairy, meat, eggs, fish foods and beekeeping products) end the related aspects of food quality and safety. Climate changes and other environmental factors affecting the quality and safety of animal food products. Regulative frames for the quality and safety of animal food products. Control and self-control (via HACCP) in the animal food production chains.

The study materials (slides, normative acts, literature) will be provided by the Professor

First part: INTRODUCTION TO RURAL DEVELOPMENT
- defining aspects
- on the concepts of "development" and "rural"
- evolution of the concept of rural in time and space
- criteria and methods for identifying the urban-rural continuum - rural development as local development

Second part: THE ECONOMY OF RURAL AREAS
- decline in agriculture and impact on rural areas
- the territorial structure of economic development in Italy
- agricultural development and economic diversification in Italian rural areas
- the spatial diagnosis and construction of the SWOT matrix

Third part: RURAL DEVELOPMENT POLICIES
- historical development of rural development policies
- Keywords for rural development policy 2014-2020
- Regulation (EU) No. 1305/2013 on support for rural development
- Rural Development Programmes
- The LEADER
- Towards rural development policy 2021-2027

Fourth part: MULTIFUNCTIONALITY OF AGRICULTURE
- Multifunctionality and diversification
- Policies for multifunctionality
- Social agriculture, the new frontier of multifunctionality in agriculture

Papers and other documents on the various topics presented in the lessons.

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.

- Appunti e lucidi delle lezioni.
- Baldoni R., Giardini L., Coltivazioni erbacee - Foraggere e Tappeti Erbosi, Ed. Patron, 2002. Bologna

- Introduction, history and aim of plant breeding, concept of ideotype.
- Biology of plant reproduction: floral morphology, macro and microsporogenesis, macro and microgametogenesis, pollination, progamic phase, fertilization, embryogenesis, seed and fruit development. Molecular biology of flowering induction and flower development, genes controlling inflorescence, flower and floral organs identity, ABC(DE) model. Mode of reproduction (sexual reproduction, vegetative propagation, apomixis), sex determination (hermaphroditism, monoecism, dioecism), mating system (autogamy and allogamy), experimental characterization of plant reproductive system and of outcrossing rate. Male sterility (genetic, cytoplasmic and genetic-cytoplasmic, functional and conditional). Self-incompatibility (sporophytic and gametophytic). Apomixis, cytoembryological bases, genetic control, breeding of obligate and facultative apomictic species, perspectives of transferring apomixis to sexual species. Fruit set and development, parthenocarpy, biotechnological approaches to control fruit set. Fruit ripening, mutants affected in ripening and in pigment accumulation.
- Sources of genetic variability: gene pool concept, germplasm collection and storage, seed banks, germplasm evaluation, variability induced by mutagenesis, somaclonal variation.
- Intra and interspecific cross, sexual interspecific barriers, biotechnologies to facilitate interspecific crossing, in vitro fertilization and embryo rescue.
- Theory of selection: principles of theory of selection for monogenic and polygenic characters, penetrance and expressivity.
- Genetic population structure in autogamous, allogamous, vegetatively propagated and apomictic species.
- Breeding schemes for autogamous species: selection in existing populations: mass selection and pure line selection. Selection in segregating populations: pedigree, bulk and single seed descent methods, double haploids. Backcross method to transfer a dominant and a recessive allele, linkage drag, principles of marker assisted selection, multiline varieties, F1 hybrids in autogamous species.
- Breeding schemes for allogamous species: mass selection, recurrent selection, synthetic varieties, F1 hybrids in allogamous species, use of male sterility in hybrid production schemes.
- Principles of genetics of seed production: evaluation of new varieties, subscription to the Register of Varieties, maintenance selection and seed production, isolation, generations of seed multiplication. Legislation related to seed production and marketing. Biotechnologies for the protection of plant varieties (molecular markers for distinctiveness), estimation of genic flux and gene flux containment in conventional and genetically modified varieties.

Seminars: students will be invited to attend one or two seminars focussing on technical and/or scientific aspects related to topics of the course.
Practical activities: practical activity will be dedicated to the knowledge of genetic variability in a crop species, to the examination of mutants involved in reproductive biology, to technicalities to carry out controlled crosses and to a visit to a company or experimental station involved in breeding and/or seed production of crop species

- Barcaccia G. e Falcinelli M., Genetica e genomica, vol. II, 2005, Miglioramento genetico, Liguori.
- Lorenzetti F. et al., Miglioramento genetico delle piante agrarie, 2018, Edagricole.
- Materiale fornito dal docente tramite il Portale Docente.

Program
Frontal lessons
Technical production and marketing of feeds
- Legislation relating to the production, marketing and labelling of feeds
- Legislation on GMOs in animal feeding
- The feed industry
- The production of feeds
Technical production and marketing of additives
- Legislation in force for the regulation of trade, distribution and use of additives
- Classification of additives
- For use in animal feeds
Feeding of ruminants
- feeding and nutrition of dairy cattle
- feeding and nutrition of beef cattle
- feeding and nutrition of buffalo
- feeding and nutrition of sheep
- feeding and nutrition of goats
Feeding monogastrics
- feeding and nutrition of pigs
- feeding and nutrition of poultry
- feeding and nutrition equines
Use the software for diets formulation.

1. Dell'Orto, Savoini - Feeding of the dairy cow - Edagricole, 2005.

2. In-depth material provided by the teacher.

A link will be inserted to access the teaching material at the beginning of the course.

Specific techniques of risk assessment and analysis of accidents.
Environment and workplaces.
- Work environments in agriculture, livestock, forestry and fisheries
Fire Risk and emergency management:
- ATEX
Safety risks:
- Machinery, plants and agricultural and forestry equipment and on-board work equipment
- Electrical hazard
- Mechanical hazard
- Cargo handling: lifting and cargo handling equipment
- Falls from height(on-board and off-board)
Ergonomic and work organization related risks:
- Manual handling of loads
- VDU
Psychosocial risks:
- Work-related stress
- Mobbing and burnout syndrome
Physical agents:
- Noise and vibrations in the agricultural, forestry and fisheries.
- Hyperbaric atmospheres.
Chemicals, carcinogenic and mutagenic, asbestos:
- Exposure to chemical, biological, carcinogens used in agriculture
Risks related to particular activities:
- Confined environments and / or enviroments with suspicion of pollution
- Road activities
- Waste management
The risks of drugs, psychotropic and alcohol.
Organization of production processes.
Personal protective equipment
CEI sandards for structures and systems of agriculture, livestock and fisheries.

Exercise: 8 hours
2 visits at Teaching-Experimental Farm with analysis of the safety of machines and workplace.
2 classroom exercises for the risk assessment of noise, vibration and/or manual handling of loads.

"Work safety in agriculture" allows the achievement of "modulo B", for sector SP1 (agriculture, forestry, fishing) for Employees and Managers of the Prevention and Protection (subject to compulsory attendance at least 90% of the hours). For those who are not interested in the issue of that certificate the class attendance is optional.

Cecchini M., Monarca D., CD Rom "Sicurezza del lavoro in agricoltura" (available on-line at the link: https://moodle.unitus.it/moodle/course/view.php?id=93)

Viticulture
The program
Diffusion of wine grape cultivation in European and extra-European countries. Regional situation in Italy. Main species of the genus Vitis and their origin, use and distribution. Organography: permanent wood, types of buds, the shoot, the inflorescence, the bunch, the berry, types of growth of the root system. Main components of grape berry: sugars, organic acids, polyphenols, aromatic substances, stilbenes. Methods of characterization of species and varieties, ampelography and ampelometry, OIV descriptors list. Management of data and characteristics of Italian and European Vitis databases. Technical objectives of conservation of the grape germoplasm. The clonal selection. Annual cycle and phenological phases of the plant: flower induction and differentiation, bud dormancy, fertility, development of the shoot and of the berry. Grapevine propagation: in vivo and in vitro techniques, problems and objectives. Organization and regulations of nursery plant production. Rootstocks: selection criteria in relation to the environment and variety. Influence of climate and soil on plant growth and on the main qualitative parameters of the grapes. Main bioclimatic indices. The photosynthetic process and relation to environmental and endogenous factors. Criteria for choosing varieties and clones in conventional and organic viticulture. Plant response mechanisms to biotic and abiotic stresses, isoidric and anisohydric grape varieties. Vineyard management: winter pruning, acrotony management, fertility and its distribution on vine cane. Main trellis training systems. Main vegetative-productive indexes. Direct and indirect methods of vigor assessment, the use of precision viticulture. Soil management techniques. Green pruning management and its influence on berry quality. Prediction of grape harvest: grape sampling techniques and analysis of main qualitative parameters.

Fregoni M., 2005. Viticoltura di qualità. Editore Phytoline
- Palliotti A. Poni S., Silvestroni O. 2018. Manuale di Viticoltura. Edagricole
- Calò A., Scienza A., Costacurta A. 2006 - Vitigni d'Italia. Calderini, Edagricole