Agro-eco-systems, agronomy and the agronomist (3 h)
Growth, development and crop productivity (7 h): environmental and genetic factor governing crop growth and development; potential, attainable and actual yield, filling the gaps.
Crop ecology (26 h):
Aerial environment: radiation, humidity, temperature, wind, rainfall, weather and climate
Soil : soil formation, organic matter, mineral components, physical properties
Water relations: flow of water through a crop, evapotranspiration and its components, evaporation from a drying soil, water available for a crop, water stress.
Resource management (28 h):
Water management: estimation and management of water supply, irrigation scheduling, irrigation methods, salinity.
Soil management: plant nutrition, management of soil fertility, tillage, drainage, protection from erosion
Weed control
Monoculture, mixtures, intercropping
Precision farming
Modeling crop systems
Introduction to the main crops (6 h): cereals, pulses and forages
