Corso di Laurea in Produzioni e Gestione degli Animali in Allevamento e Selvatici - PGAAS

The course contributes to reach the Bachelor learning objectives by promoting basic knowledge of the crop, cropping system and forage system mangement. The course aims at providing students with the tools and knowledge needed to identify the main crops, forages and the main plant species of natural coenoses of interest for livestock and wildlife, as well as techniques to manage them properly. 

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING SKILLS

Students will acquire specific technical knowledge of the topic, and will be able to:

• identify main local crops of interest as feed;
• identify the main phenologic stage of crops;
• identify seeds and/or fruits of the main crops;
• recognize the main agricultural practices, abiotic and biotic adversities affecting crops;
• recognize the main grassland forage species;
• recognize the main types of forages and the structures for their conservation;
• estimate the crop water and nutrient requirements.

ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

In the first part of the course students, will acquire basic knowledge of general agronomy. In the second part, this knowledge will be applied to an integrated analysis of the main field crops that have an interest as feed or forages, and to the strategies for their management, under the principles of sustainable production. In particular, students will acquire basic knowledge needed for interpreting and understanding cropping and forage systems of livestock farms, pastoral system management, and the nutritional, microbiological and health quality of farm forages.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

The course will provide students with the appropriate technical language useful to describe agricultural activities.

JUDGEMENT AUTONOMY

Students will be trained to evaluate the relationships between environmental factors and agronomic management practices, to interpret the reasons for choosing specific technical options and their possible consequences.

Lessons will be held in classroom and outdoor (see Programma for partitioning). During fieldwork students will observe, monitor and recognise several crops and forages. 

In case of a prolongation of the sanitary emergence, national and University rules will be followed. This might change the way lectures are given and organised.

The exam consists of a written, an oral and a practical test.

The written test, aimed to assess theoretical knowledge, consists of 3 open questions plus 2 short or multiple choice questions.

Tho oral test is mainly a discussion and integration of the written test.

The practical test, aimed to verify competences in the identification of the main crops, their phenology, main seeds and fruits, abiotic and biotic stress, forage types and their conservation methods, consists in the identification of plants, parts of plants, seeds and fruits in form of samples or photographs. Three identifications are proposed.

The final note is the weighted average of the written test (50% weight), the oral test (weight 20%) and the practical test (30%). All tests must be taken and passed on the same exam session.

No interim test will be offered

In case of a prolongation of the sanitary emergence, national and University rules will be followed. The exam might be an oral online test, and part of questions might be posed as an online quiz.

During the course, support activities (identification of the fore mentioned items) will be offered on students' request. During the week prior to the exam dates, a review will be offered on students' request to improve preparation and clarify specific topics. 

Course outline

Teaching could be modified according to possible limitations due to the sanitary emergence.

Knowledge of basic chemistry, ecology, plant biology and animal biology are preparatory.